Submissions for the upcoming MusicRow Artist Roster issue are now being accepted.
The issue includes company listings and rosters for Nashville record labels, publicists, managers, talent agencies and artist services.
The deadline for entries is Friday, July 8.
To submit, please complete the form and send to [email protected].
Advertising: To reserve Artist Roster ad space, e-mail [email protected]. Get Rate Card
Roc Nation Nashville, a newly-formed division of Jay Z’s Roc Nation, has entered into a publishing partnership with Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group. Under the agreement, WCM will publish Roc Nation Nashville’s music publishing repertoire. This marks the latest pact between Roc Nation and WCM, which first joined forces in 2013, when the companies signed global publishing agreements for Jay Z and Roc Nation’s music publishing roster.
Jesse Frasure. Photo: Allen Clarke
Roc Nation Nashville and WCM have also established a venture, Rhythm House, with songwriter/producer/publisher/DJ Jesse Frasure. Rhythm House will include Frasure’s own writing and production activities, as well as the signing and development of other composers and producers. Frasure was most recently Vice President of A&R for Major Bob Music.
Coinciding with the launch of Roc Nation Nashville, WCM has promoted BJ Hill to Vice President of A&R. Hill, who was most recently Senior Director of A&R, will split his time between Rhythm House and WCM. Prior to WCM, he was with Universal Music Group and Jody Williams Music.
BJ Hill
Jay Brown, President, Roc Nation stated, “There is nothing like working with the right individuals, at the right time, forming the right partnership. Launching Roc Nation Nashville with Warner/Chappell Music Nashville is a natural extension of the relationship we started so many years ago, and our venture with Jesse Frasure and his Rhythm House take the possibilities to a next level. Jesse’s talent, understanding of the craft and creativity are unmatched. We’re also excited to work with BJ Hill. He has a passion and respect for artists and their artistry and we look forward to working alongside him as we grow the Roc Nation Nashville roster.”
“I am thrilled to welcome Roc Nation to Music City and to our Warner/Chappell Nashville family,” said Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President of Warner/Chappell Music Nashville. “All of us at WCM are excited to expand our already successful relationship that started with Jon Platt, JAY Z, and Jay Brown. We’re also fortunate to work with Roc Nation’s Tamara Conniff, and are incredibly happy that Jesse Frasure is on board with the new partnership. Jesse’s one of the most creative, dynamic, and multi-talented figures on the music scene today, and his new venture is a fantastic way to help Roc Nation make the Nashville music market more diverse and exciting. To top it off, we’re excited to watch longtime publishing colleague BJ Hill flourish in his expanded role.”
Frasure added, “I’m honored and grateful to begin this next chapter with partners like Roc Nation and Warner/Chappell, whom I’ve admired throughout my career. Having this opportunity—combined with having a longtime friend and industry-respected individual like BJ Hill join the Rhythm House team—is a dream come true.”
Pictured (L-R): Leslie Fram, Jody Williams, and Makenzie Stokel.
The third annual MusicPreneur series, presented by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Music City Music Council and Young Entertainment Professionals, will begin July 12.
Among the panelists during the series will be CMT’s Leslie Fram, BMI’s Jody Williams, and EVAmore’s Makenzie Stokel.
This year’s topics include career growth and maintenance, the live music business, and technology’s impact on access to music. The series is incorporated into the EC’s year-round Project Music initiative and each session includes networking time, a panel discussion with Q&A and a “Resource Village” of partners for young professionals and entrepreneurs. All sessions are held at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, located at 41 Peabody Street in Nashville. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
“MusicPreneur provides a unique opportunity to support Nashville’s growing scene of young professionals,” states Joe Galante, EC Board Member and Co-Chair of MC2. “The entrepreneurial spirit at the EC coupled with the Council’s experienced industry leaders have the ability to showcase the expanding opportunities in the entertainment industry to YEP membership and others new to the community.”
Session I: Tuesday, July 12 / 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Topic: Growing & Maintaining A Career In The Music Biz
About: A multigenerational dialogue about the tips and tricks for growing and maintaining a career in the music industry. It will include a discussion about work/life balance, the role of mentorship, networking secrets, social media’s impact, working for an indie versus a major company, the entrepreneurial path and other insights to growing and maintaining a career in the entertainment industry.
Moderator Andrew Cohen (Suit Music, YEP Board Member). Panelists: Leslie Fram (SVP/Music Strategy, CMT), Jody Williams (Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI), and Makenzie Stokel (COO, EVAmore)
Session II: Tuesday, Aug. 9 / 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Topic: Buses, Bookings & Box Offices: Opportunities in the Live Music Biz
About: Panelists will be guided through representing the artist, manager, promoter and booking agent perspectives through a multifaceted dialogue outlining the growing impact of live music and merchandise revenues, the challenges faced by touring artists and their teams and the innovation and career opportunities in live music.
Moderator/Justine Avila (Executive Director, Mayor’s Music City Music Council)
Session III: Tuesday, Sept. 13 / 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Topic: Tech-Yea: How Tech is Changing Access to Music
About: The session will explore how technology’s impact is enabling faster, more frequent releases and enabling more music engagement than ever. Panelists will discuss how artists and labels are using technology to break the traditional release model, engage fans and market themselves while being challenged by shrinking margins and smaller revenue streams.
Moderator/Heather McBee (VP, Accelerator Programming, EC)
Byron Kennedy
BBR Music Group has added Byron Kennedy has Director of West Coast Regional Promotion for its Wheelhouse Records imprint.
Kennedy spent the last 15 years at CBS Radio working his way through various formats to Program Director of KNCI and VP of Programming for the entire Sacramento, California, cluster. Additionally, Kennedy launched several CBS Radio stations in both Sacramento and Phoenix and worked previous stints in Honolulu and Fresno radio markets.
Kennedy will report directly to Teddi Bonadies, and will begin July 11. He can be reached at 916-798-1025 and [email protected]
Jon Platt
Jon Platt, Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO, has been added to the Board of Directors for the National Music Publishers’ Association.
NMPA Board Chairman Irwin Robinson said, “We are so pleased to have Jon join our Board. He brings with him a wealth of varied experience in both the business and creative areas of our world. His experience speaks for itself and he is a major addition to the board.”
NMPA President & CEO David Israelite added, “Jon’s reputation and record of finding and nurturing the industry’s top songwriters is legendary. For decades he has fostered the biggest talent in the business and amassed lasting friendships and limitless knowledge.” Israelite added, “It is a privilege to have Jon on the Board, and I know his insight will elevate NMPA just as he has elevated the careers of those he has found and promoted.”
Ray Mariner
Ray Mariner has been announced as Warner Music Group/Team WEA’s new Mgr./West regional promotion.
Mariner’s background includes 10 years on air at Star 94/Atlanta and another 10 years working pop radio promotion for Columbia Records. Most recently Ray served as PD of Cumulus/New Orleans where he oversaw both country & sports talk formats.
Mariner has begun his new role and will be relocating from New Orleans to Denver. He can be reached 770-298-7365 and his email will be [email protected].
Several songwriters gathered at the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) headquarters this month as part of SongHubs, a program of the Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society program. Led by songwriter Phil Barton, Australian writers, producers, and artists were paired with Nashville songwriters for creative partnership and heightening their craft.
Participants included Kylie Sackley, Lindsay Rimes, Mia Fieldes, Adam Argyle; Jim Beavers, Seth Ennis, Ashley Gearing, Kevin Griffin, Lee Groves, Jason Matthews, Nash Overstreet, Liz Rose, and Emily Shackelton.
This year’s members were songwriter/producer/The Potbelleez band member Ilan Kidron and songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist/ engineer Pip Norman. Joining them were Nashville resident APRA AMCOS members Alex Lloyd, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Danielle Blakey, Joel Chapman, Lindsey Jackson, Missy Lancaster, Morgan Evans, Nat Dunn, O’Shea, Nikita King and Kaylee Bell.
Mike Dungan, Vince Gill, Roy Clark, Emmylou Harris, NMC Director David Sanders, John Conlee, NMC Board Member Charles Sanders, Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Pete Fisher, Bill Cody, NAMM Foundation Director Mary Luehrsen. Photo: Abigail Hodes
The National Music Council brought its annual American Eagle Awards presentation to Nashville for a second year in a row on Saturday (June 25). The Eagle Awards are presented in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long-term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage. This year, music legends Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill were honored, along with the iconic Grand Ole Opry. This year’s event marks the 33rd year of formal presentations of the awards.
Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher and Bill Cody. Photo: Abigail Hodes
Pictured (L-R): Coby Cooper, WCIA-TV VP/GM and IBA Board Chair; Dennis Lyle, President & CEO, IBA; LOCASH’s Chris Lucas and Preston Brust; Jerry Schnacke, Senior VP of Sales, iHeart Media-Chicago/IBA Director; BMI’s Dan Spears.
BMI helped the Illinois Broadcasters Association celebrate the best in broadcasting in the state by sponsoring a performance by Reviver recording artist, LOCASH, at the IBA’s Silver Dome Awards dinner held last week in Champaign, Illinois.
LOCASH, which is fronted by BMI songwriters Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, performed songs from their new album The Fighters (including “I Love This Life” and “I Know Somebody”) for an audience of radio and TV executives from across the country.
Kenny Chesney honors young fan with Philadelphia Eagles helmet. Photo: Jill Trunnell
In town for his 14-stadium Spread the Love Tour, Kenny Chesney performed for 48,322 people at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Chesney brought a little girl onstage and presented her with an official Philadelphia Eagles football helmet. The tour stop also featured performances by Miranda Lambert, Big & Rich and Old Dominion.
Pictured (L-R): Jimmy Harnen, President, Republic Nashville; Brett Young; Pete Fisher, General Manager, Grand Ole Opry; Van Haze, Red Light Management. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
Republic Nashville artist Brett Young made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night (June 25), when the California native performed his current Top 30 single “Sleep Without You” and the emotional “You Ain’t Here to Kiss Me.”
“I grew up listening to the legends who have performed on this stage before me,” Young said. “Never in a million years did I imagine that a country boy from California would have this opportunity and I am beyond grateful.”
Young’s upcoming festival performances include: Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 29; Faster Horses in Brooklyn, New York, on July 15; and Watershed in George, Washington on July 30 and Aug. 5.
Brett Young. Photo Credit: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
Pictured (L-R): Beth Moore, Director of Community Development, Vanderbilt University; Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Board; Tiffany Moon, EVP/Managing Director, Academy of Country Music; RaeLynn; Stuart Dill, VUMC entertainment industry liaison. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Academy of Country Music
ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp welcomed campers from around the country to Nashville, to work with several country artists and songwriters for a week. The annual residential camp studies Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education.
On Friday, Warner Music Nashville’s latest signing RaeLynn dropped by the Seacrest Studios to spend time with the campers and participated in a Q&A on-air for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
On Sunday, Montgomery Gentry dropped by and participated in a karaoke event with the campers at Winner’s Bar & Grill and performed some of their greatest hits.
Producer/songwriter Ross Copperman and artist Eric Paslay also took part, helping the campers to craft a song together.
The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Pictured (L-R): Stuart Dill, VUMC Entertainment Industry Liaison Director; Elizabeth Roof, Senior Research Specialist, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center; Eddie Montgomery; Troy Gentry; Lisa Lee, SVP Creative & Content Production, Academy of Country Music; John Dennis, Dennis Entertainment; Alicia Lanier Jones, Dennis Entertainment
RaeLynn takes part in a Q&A session for ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp. Photo: Getty Images
Ross Copperman (L) and Eric Paslay (R) work with campers to write a song. Photo: Getty Images
John Prine
Wixen Music Publishing has signed an administration and song placement agreement with John Prine, going into effect Friday (July 1).
The agreement includes all songs that Prine controls, including fan favorites like “Lake Marie,” “Unwed Fathers” and “One Red Rose.”
“John Prine is one of America’s great national treasures, and a songwriter’s songwriter,” said company president Randall Wixen. “It is with the greatest honor and respect that we begin our relationship with Mr. Prine and his family. To say that we are excited about working with one of our industry icons would be an understatement. We are eager to begin the process of seeking new uses for his songs.”
With an office in Los Angeles and a sister company, Wixen Music UK Ltd. in London, the companies administer the song catalogs of artists including the Doors, Neil Young, Tom Petty, The Black Keys, Andrew Bird, and Fitz & The Tantrums.
Chase Rice will ship a new single, “Everybody We Know Does,” to country radio on Tuesday (June 28).
Written by Jeremy Bussey and Travis Denning, the single draws more on his country influences than his previous radio release, “Whisper,” which was described at the time as a “kinetic, dubstep tune.”
“Everybody We Know Does” is now at digital retailers. The track comes from Rice’s upcoming album on Columbia Nashville/Dack Janiels Records.
“These last few years have been a whirlwind, being out on the road building our live show and working on new music for the next record. I’ve lived a lot and had some incredible experiences and opportunities, but I’ve also been spending some time out at my farm, just unplugging for a bit and reflecting on what music means to me and what it means to all of the people who have shown up and supported me over the years,” said Rice.
“That’s why this song, ‘Everybody We Know Does,’ is really special to me. We went in and recorded it with some of Nashville’s top studio musicians, so it’s our sound and our lives reflected in this song. It’s who we are, and that’s ultimately what brings us all together,” he added.
Ralph Stanley
Funeral arrangements for Ralph Stanley took place Tuesday, June 28, at Hills of Home Park. The service was open to the public.
Hills of Home Park is located on Carter Stanley Highway on Smith Ridge between Coeburn and McClure, Virginia. The park is the location for Stanley’s annual music festival.
In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
[Previous story, posted June 23, 2016]:
Grand Ole Opry star Ralph Stanley—whose haunting voice became known to millions on the hugely successful album O Brother, Where Art Thou—has died at age 89.
Stanley was the last living figure of the founding generation of bluegrass music, since Bill Monroe, Carter Stanley, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs had all preceded him in death. He was also the Opry’s oldest member.
The mountain-music icon won a 2001 Grammy Award for his performance of “O Death.” That song’s acclaimed parent album, O Brother, Where Art Thou, also earned the Grammy for Album of the Year. Selling in excess of eight million copies, this was the soundtrack album for a George Clooney film of the same name. The Stanley Brothers’ classic version of “Angel Band” was on the album too.
Ralph Edmund Stanley was born in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, in the same region that also produced The Carter Family, a major influence on him. Ralph Stanley began playing banjo as a teenager. After serving in the Army, he joined older brother Carter Stanley (1925-1966) in forming The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1946.
For the first dozen years of its existence, the group climbed to regional fame in Bristol on WCYB’s Farm and Fun Time radio show. Deeply impressed by the sound of Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, the Stanleys initially incorporated many of that group’s songs into their repertoire.
But they soon began introducing original songs. These were usually penned by Carter Stanley, although Ralph composed a number of banjo instrumentals.
The Stanley Brothers signed with Columbia Records in 1949. Furious that they were basing their sound on “his” music, Monroe left the label in protest and signed with Decca. The two acts later reconciled.
During their Columbia years, the Stanleys recorded many of their signature songs, including “The White Dove,” “Little Glass of Wine,” “The Angels Are Singing in Heaven Tonight” and “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.”
They signed with Starday/King Records in the 1956, which is where the bulk of the Stanleys’ catalog resides. Stanley Brothers records from their affiliation with these labels included “Rank Stranger,” “Little Maggie,” “Gonna Paint the Town,” “Ridin’ That Midnight Train” and a bluegrass version of Hank Ballard’s r&b hit “Finger Poppin’ Time.”
During this period, the brothers became popular on the collegiate folk circuit. They performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959 and 1964.
In the early 1960s, The Stanley Brothers hosted their own TV show in central Florida. In 1965, they appeared in Fincastle, VA at what is now regarded as the first bluegrass festival.
Carter Stanley’s escalating alcoholism led to his death from complications of liver cirrhosis in late 1966 at age 41. He had been the team’s lead singer and chief songwriter. Grief-stricken Ralph was uncertain whether or not to proceed, but fans urged him to carry on with The Clinch Mountain Boys. The group trained such future bluegrass greats as Charlie Sizemore, Larry Sparks, Melvin Goins and Roy Lee Centers.
Kentucky teenagers Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley joined Stanley’s band in 1970 and recorded the acclaimed Cry From the Cross and Something Old, Something New albums with the master during their tenure in his group. In addition to Skaggs and Whitley, Stanley is cited as an influence by Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris and Jim Lauderdale, not to mention a galaxy of bluegrass artists.
Beginning in 1971, Ralph Stanley recorded for more than 40 years for Rebel Records. He won an IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) award for 1998’s double CD on Rebel, Clinch Mountain Country. It featured him singing with George Jones, Bob Dylan, Hal Ketchum, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, Diamond Rio, Alison Krauss, John Anderson, Connie Smith, Junior Brown, Vern Gosdin and more.
His 2001 Rebel release, Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, found him collaborating with Dolly Parton, Pam Tillis, Gillian Welch, Maria Muldaur, Sara Evans, Joan Baez, Melba Montgomery, Lucinda Williams, Jeannie Seely, Gail Davies and others. This also won an IBMA award.
Ralph Stanley focused more and more on traditional Appalachian sounds as he aged, frequently performing a cappella gospel songs. Son Ralph Stanley II and grandson Nathan Stanley eventually became lead singers of The Clinch Mountain Boys.
Tennessee’s Lincoln University gave Ralph Stanley an honorary Doctorate degree in 1976. Thereafter, he was loftily dubbed “Dr. Ralph.” He was presented with a National Heritage Fellowship honor by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1984.
Stanley was invited to perform at the inaugurations of both Jimmy Carter (1977) and Bill Clinton (1993). In 1992, The Stanley Brothers were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
The Grand Ole Opry made Ralph Stanley a cast member in 2000. The Library of Congress named him a Living Legend in that same year. In 2002, he won another Grammy. This one was for an album recorded with Jim Lauderdale titled Lost in the Lonesome Pines.
Further honors were showered on him in subsequent years. He was given a National Medal of Arts honor in 2006, an Outstanding Virginian award in 2008, an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Yale in 2014 and an election as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, also in 2014.
His final album was 2015’s Ralph Stanley and Friends. Co-produced by Lauderdale and Buddy Miller, it featured admirers Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury, Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show, Robert Plant and more.
Ralph Stanley died on June 23 of complications from skin cancer. He is survived by wife Jimmie Stanley and children Lisa Stanley Marshall, Tonya Armes Stanley and Ralph Stanley II. He’s also survived by grandchildren Nathan Stanley, Amber Meade Stanley, Evan Stout, Ashley Marshall, Alexis Marshall, Taylor Stanley and Ralph Stanley III, plus great-grandchild McKenzie Stanley.