Funeral Services Set For Craig Morgan’s Son Jerry Greer

Jerry Greer

Jerry Greer

[Updated, July 13, 2016, 5:07 p.m. CST]

Funeral arrangements have been set for Jerry Greer, son of singer-songwriter Craig Morgan and wife Karen Greer. Services in memory of Jerry Greer are open to family and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 15 from 5-7pm at Walnut Street Church of Christ, located at 201 Center Avenue in Dickson, TN. The funeral will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 33 Burton Hills Blvd. in Nashville.

Arrangements for Jerry Greer are under the direction of the Taylor Funeral Home. Flowers may be sent to the family at Walnut Street Church of Christ.

Jerry was preceded in death by grandfather William Edward Horn, grandmother Betty Sue Crockett and cousin Brant Keith Kelley. Jerry is survived by his parents Craig and Karen Greer; his sister Marisa Davis, niece Bailey and nephew Jameson; his sister Alexandra Beaird, her husband Ryan and nephew Cruze; his brother Kyle Greer and his fiancé Chelsea Rogers; and his brother Wyatt Greer.

The family and friends of Jerry Greer have established a memorial scholarship fund to honor Jerry’s energy, athleticism, and love of life. The Jerry Greer Memorial Scholarship will ensure that future athletes of Dickson County High School, particularly those with dyslexia, can celebrate Jerry’s life through the opportunities they will receive through this fund. Donations to the Jerry Greer Memorial Scholarship fund may be sent to: Tri-Star Bank 719 East College St., Dickson, TN  37055.

According to an obit for Greer, “Jerry Michael Hardy Greer is the son of Craig and Karen Greer. He was 19 years old on the day of his going home. Jerry was the smile that instantly lit up any room. He was a superstar without even trying. He was a natural athlete that accomplished what most spend a lifetime attempting to achieve. He was a devoted and dedicated son, brother and friend. He loved his God, his family, his friends and his country more than anything. His passions were football, soccer and the outdoors. He will be greatly missed by everyone who came in contact with him. He will be forever in our thoughts, in our words, and in our hearts.”

[Updated, 9:58 p.m., Monday, July 11, CST]

The Humphreys County (TN) Sheriff’s Department recovered the body of Jerry Greer this evening after a search that began Sunday following a boating accident on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. A 2016 graduate of Dickson County High School, Jerry planned to play football for Marshall University in the fall.

The family is grateful for the outpouring of support and requests prayers at this time as they privately mourn this terrible loss. Jerry is survived by parents Craig and Karen Greer, sister Aly Beaird and brother-in-law Ryan Beaird, brother Kyle Greer and fiancé Chelsea Rogers and brother Wyatt Greer.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

 

[Previous story, 8:41 a.m. CST]

Craig Morgan’s Son Missing After Boating Accident

Jerry Greer, the 19-year-old son of country artist Craig Morgan and wife Karen Greer, is missing after a boating accident.

Recovery efforts to locate him are underway, according to a statement released jointly by Morgan’s publicist and record label, as well as Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis.

The accident occurred Sunday (July 10) on Kentucky Lake in Humphreys County, Tennessee. The family resides in Dickson County.

The statement concluded, “The family is grateful for everyone’s support and prayers and requests privacy during this difficult time.”

ASCAP Revamps ACE Repertory Database

ASCAP logoASCAP has launched a redesigned version of its searchable repertory database ASCAP Clearance Express (ACE), which contains information regarding more than 10 million musical works in the ASCAP repertory.

The new, mobile-friendly interface allows music creator members, publishers, licensees and the public to more easily search, share and download repertory information. ACE users can search the database using multiple criteria simultaneously, such as song title and performer. The database lists the total share controlled by ASCAP for each work, and users can now get the aggregate writer and aggregate publisher shares for any work in the database.

“ASCAP is driving changes aimed at building a more efficient, effective and transparent music industry, no matter what the future looks like,” said Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP CEO. “The ACE redesign is just the first of many new digital innovations ASCAP has in the works to create the best quality experience for stakeholders. We are looking forward to rolling out more new ASCAP digital tools for our members and our community.”

For more information on ACE, visit ascap.com/ace-title-search/about.aspx

Randy Houser, Songwriters Toast “We Went” At No. 1 Party Inside Tootsies

Pictured (L-R): Producer Derek George, SESAC songwriter Justin Wilson, Houser, and ASCAP songwriters John King and Matt Rogers.

Pictured (L-R): Producer Derek George, SESAC songwriter Justin Wilson, Houser, and ASCAP songwriters John King and Matt Rogers.

For Nashville songwriter John King, Randy Houser is the recording artist who gave him his first No. 1 chart-topping song, with “We Went.”

Houser is also a generous tipper.

“This dude’s the best singer, maybe in the world,” said King, to the cheers of the industry crowd packed into Tootsies Orchid Lounge for a No. 1 party hosted by ASCAP and SESAC. “Three years ago, I was doing a 10 o’clock slot at [Nashville restaurant/venue] Puckett’s and I was doing a three-hour set. I didn’t have a record deal or a publishing deal. Nobody knew me. I saw this dude sitting in the back at the bar. He had a trucker hat on and a beard. I was playing the last set, and I was in the middle of an original song. This guy walks up and drops a $100 bill in the tip bucket. It was Randy Houser, three years ago. I don’t know if you even remember this. Since that day, and even before then, he’s always been one of my favorite artists. He’s what artists like me aspire to be.”

Now, King is signed as both a songwriter and artist with Black River Entertainment, and celebrating his first chart-topping single with a song Houser recorded. “We brought the whole dang wagon from Georgia for this,” quipped King.

The music industry crowd packed the upstairs bar area at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to honor ASCAP writers King and Matt Rogers and SESAC writer Justin Wilson for “We Went.” Representatives from ASCAP, SESAC, Black River Entertainment, Broken Bow Records, ole, Magic Mustang, Razor & Tie, CMA, CRB, and more were on hand to honor the Houser and the songwriters.

“It’s a really hard thing to get a No. 1 song in the country,” said Houser, who gave thanks to BBR and Stoney Creek Records. “One thing I always love about my label is they have always been one of the little engines that could. The people that nobody saw coming, that came and whipped your ass. It’s a really special and unique thing they have there. They have really gritty people…they are the people that are on the phone and getting it done. That’s what I’ve always loved. I see people that are in the grind. That’s the coolest thing. For myself, I never saw a quick rise to fame. You keep grinding, and things happen. I’m very proud of all my people at Stoney Creek.”

“We Went” is the fourth No. 1 song for Houser, and the first single from Houser’s fourth studio album, Fired Up, which released in March.

Pictured (L-R): (front row) George, Wilson, Houser, King, Rogers, (back row) Razor & Tie's Brad Kennard, Black River's Dave Pacula, SESAC's Shannan Hatch, Magic Mustang's Juli Newton-Griffith and Lydia Schultz, ASCAP's Beth Brinker, Black River's Kelly Bolton, Ole's John Ozier, and Broken Bow Records' Carson James and Jon Loba.

Pictured (L-R): (front row) Derek George, Justin Wilson, Randy Houser, John King, Matt Rogers, (back row) Razor & Tie’s Brad Kennard, Black River’s Dave Pacula, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Magic Mustang’s Juli Newton-Griffith and Lydia Schultz, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Black River’s Kelly Bolton, ole’s John Ozier, and Broken Bow Records’ Carson James and Jon Loba.

MusicPreneur Panelists Offer Insight Into Career Growth

Pictured (L-R): Justine Avila, Music City Music Council (Executive Director); Andrew Cohen, YEP Executive Dir/Suit Music (Managing Partner); John Zarling, Big Machine Label Group (SVP, Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy); Leslie Fram, CMT (SVP, Music Strategy); Makenzie Stokel, EVAmore (COO); Jody Williams, BMI (VP, Writer/Publisher Relations); Heather McBee, Nashville Entrepenuer Center (VP, Accelerator Programming. Photo: Lauren Newman

Pictured (L-R): Justine Avila, Music City Music Council (Executive Director); Andrew Cohen, YEP Executive Dir/Suit Music (Managing Partner); John Zarling, Big Machine Label Group (SVP, Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy); Leslie Fram, CMT (SVP, Music Strategy); Makenzie Stokel, EVAmore (COO); Jody Williams, BMI (VP, Writer/Publisher Relations); Heather McBee, Nashville Entrepenuer Center (VP, Accelerator Programming. Photo: Lauren Newman

The newest MusicPreneur series began Tuesday (July 12) with a panel discussion about growing and maintaining a career in the music business.

Panelists included: Leslie Fram, CMT (SVP, Music Strategy); Makenzie Stokel, EVAmore (COO); Jody Williams, BMI (VP, Writer/Publisher Relations); and John Zarling, Big Machine Label Group (SVP, Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy). Andrew Cohen of Suit Music served as moderator.

The panel included a discussion about work-life balance, the role of mentorship, networking secrets, social media’s impact, working for an indie versus a major company, and other topics.

The next session will take place Tuesday, August 9 at 5:30 at Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center. The panel is titled Buses, Bookings & Box Offices: Opportunities in the Live Music Biz.

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC), Music City Music Council (MC2) and the Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) present the MusicPreneur series. It 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.

Industry Ink: Creative Nation, Belmont University, Starstruck Entertainment, Vol State

Lori McKenna Celebrates ‘The Bird & The Rifle’ With Album Release Party

Processed with VSCO with g3 preset

Creative Nation and BMI hosted a private album release party yesterday (July 12) to celebrate Lori McKenna’s new album The Bird & The Rifle. Members from all segments of the industry came out to toast the songstress at The Country venue and before leaving, enjoyed an acoustic performance by McKenna of the title track.

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset

Pictured (L-R): Luke Laird, Creative Nation; Leslie Roberts, BMI; Lori McKenna, Beth Laird, Creative Nation; producer Dave Cobb

 

Belmont University’s PipeLine Project Calls On Music Entrepreneurs

Screen Shot 2016-07-13 at 12.31.45 PM

Belmont University’s prestigious Pipeline Project, an undergraduate research team partnered with the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, is calling on entrepreneurs who have engaged in start-ups in the music or music-tech industries.

This summer, sponsored by key players in Nashville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Pipeline 6.0 is researching the needs of those entrepreneurs who are creating, launching, and growing music or music-tech entities. The study aims to provide perspectives on Nashville’s standing in the burgeoning field of music technology, so that the city can continue to provide for creators of all types who keep our industry running. Music Entrepreneurs can take part in the survey here, by answering a 5-10 minute questionnaire. Those who answer the questionnaire may enter for the chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. 

The Pipeline Project began over six years ago as an effort by Belmont to foster innovation within the music and entertainment industries. Pipeline has partnered with industry members  from Warner Music to the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP). Only eight students are chosen each year to participate in the project.

 

Starstruck Entertainment, Vol State Team For Music Scholarship

Cliff Williamson and Steve Bishir in one of the two Vol State recording studios.

Cliff Williamson and Steve Bishir in one of the two Vol State recording studios.

Starstruck Entertainment, which manages Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson, has teamed with Volunteer State Community College to offer a scholarship to an aspiring singer/songwriter enrolled as a Music or Entertainment Media Production major for the fall semester, starting Aug. 22.

“For years, via internship programs, our industry has provided opportunities to music business graduates,” said Cliff Williamson, chief operating officer for Starstruck Entertainment. “Our goal with the Starstruck Scholarship is to elevate that to a place where deserving students can get financial assistance, have a relationship with Starstruck, and receive an outstanding education focused on their talent and dreams.”

To apply, visit volstate.edu. Auditions for the scholarship will be held in early August.

Starstruck Writers Group, 10,000 Hours Extend Deal With Alex Kline

Pictured (L-R): Cliff Williamson, Starstruck Entertainment; Shannan Hatch, SESAC; Courtney Allen, Starstruck Entertainment; Alex Kline; Erin Enderlin, 10,000 Hours; Neil Zacharuk, 10,000 Hours

Pictured (L-R): Cliff Williamson, Starstruck Entertainment; Shannan Hatch, SESAC; Courtney Allen, Starstruck Entertainment; Alex Kline; Erin Enderlin, 10,000 Hours; Neil Zacharuk, 10,000 Hours

Starstruck Writers Group and 10,000 Hours have renewed their co-publishing agreement with producer/songwriter Alex Kline.

“I could not be more excited to continue our relationship with Alex Kline. She is a triple threat; incredibly talented songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Her passion for her craft and her work ethic make her a publisher’s dream. We are looking forward to being a part of her continued success,” says Courtney Allen, creative director at Starstruck Writers Group.

Most recently, Kline produced Tara Thompson’s debut EP on Valory Music Co. She co-wrote the first single, “Someone to Take Your Place,” as well as three of the other songs. Kline also co-produced, programmed, and co-wrote Maggie Rose’s current single “Same Sky.” Her songs have been recorded by Jess Moskaluke and Lonesome River Band; she has produced Scott Stevens and Australian artist Adam Brand.

Kline also produced Erin Enderlin’s sophomore release, I Let Her Talk.

“The first time I saw Alex perform, I was immediately intrigued by her unique sound. She has a killer ability to capture and bring to life unique song ideas, and she’s a mad genius in the studio, sure to be a force as a producer in Nashville and beyond,” says Enderlin, co-owner of 10,000 Hours, LLC.

“I am thrilled to continue working with my dream publishing team. It’s inspiring to wake up every day and be able to work with such great people who believe in what I do and have the kind of drive and determination to make incredible stuff happen. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the next year holds,” commented Kline.

CMA Announces 5 New Hirings

Pictured (Top L-R): Kevin Coffey, Courtney Ledford, Chris Harrington. (Bottom L-R) Kathy Gillihan, Angela Roland

Pictured (Top L-R): Kevin Coffey, Courtney Ledford, Chris Harrington. (Bottom L-R) Kathy Gillihan, Angela Roland

The Country Music Association has announced five staff additions: Kevin Coffey as Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships; Courtney Ledford as Senior Manager of Market Research; Chris Harrington as Manager of Event Ticketing; Angela Roland as Awards and Industry Relations Assistant; and Kathy Gillihan as Administrative Assistant/Receptionist.

Coffey’s experience includes corporate account management for artist brand endorsements and digital marketing, as well as extensive merchandising experience. Coffey has shepherded multi-year partnership agreements with a multitude of companies, including Fortune 500 brands that have executed marketing campaigns in more than 40 countries.

As Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Coffey will be responsible for introducing corporate brands to the country music consumer and to CMA in order to support CMA’s mission of growing country music around the world. He will focus on innovative business development for CMA and the country music industry overall to generate strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives through various CMA events. Coffey will lead the ideation, development, and execution for key partnership marketing campaigns.

“Given his diverse range of experience, we are excited to add Kevin to our Strategic Partnerships team, particularly given his experience with worldwide digital marketing efforts,” said Emily Evans, Director of Strategic Partnerships. “The partnerships space continues to evolve beyond the exchange of physical assets to more digital and social assets, so Kevin’s knowledge and innovative ideas will significantly impact the growth of our partnerships at CMA.”

Ledford joins CMA on the heels of five years in San Francisco working in the technology industry. Most recently, she held the position of Data Operations Manager for a technology start-up that crowdsourced data for consumer product goods clients. In this role, Ledford was responsible for managing research projects from inception to insight delivery for clients such as Kraft and Proctor & Gamble.

Ledford holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Ledford will be responsible for developing and managing industry-specific research initiatives in support of CMA strategic priorities and uncovering actionable insights about the country music audience and their consumption of music across the growing array of platforms and choices.

“Courtney’s combination of technology, data analytics, and overall research experience is the right mix of skills to add to the CMA Research team at this time,” said Karen Stump, Senior Director of Consumer Research. “As music consumers continue to rapidly adopt new technology and platforms for music consumption, broader methods for assessing their choices and usage is key. Courtney’s combined background in innovative research methods and technology will add value to the research projects undertaken by CMA in the future.”

Harrington has worked in the sports and entertainment field for 12 years with stops with the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators. He began his career in guest services management before moving into sales and spending his last five years in ticket operations management. Harrington is a graduate of Marymount University in Arlington, Va. with a degree in Business Management and Communications.

Harrington will be responsible for managing event ticketing for all CMA events including but not limited to CMA Music Festival, CMA Awards, CMA Country Christmas, and CMA Songwriters Series shows. He will also be responsible for fan interaction when it comes to ticketed events.

“Chris is a perfect addition to the CMA Live Events team and complements our commitment to deliver events of the highest standard,” said Chris Crawford, Senior Director of Live Events. “Over the years we have had the opportunity to work closely with Chris. His understanding of consumer relations and ticketing expertise will be invaluable to maintaining that standard for future CMA events.”

Roland comes to CMA from Buddy Lee Attractions where she worked as an Agent Assistant. Prior career experience includes working at Conway Entertainment Group as well as an eight-year stint at Crew One Productions as Operations and Business Manager. She will be assisting in the general responsibilities of the department, including day-to-day membership communication, member recruitment, and industry outreach.

“Angela has an extensive background in the industry and possesses the energy and passion we need to aggressively evaluate our member needs within the organization,” said Brandi Simms, Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations. “We are all very excited to have Angela join us.”

Gillihan comes to CMA with more than 10 years experience in administration and management. Gillihan will serve as the first point of public interaction for CMA, answering phones and greeting and directing visitors. Her responsibilities will include providing administrative support to the Manager of Operations and the finance team year round as well as supporting the Manager of Operations with logistics of CMA staff events. She will be responsible for securing and managing Finance and Administration interns as well as other various accounting duties.

“We are so fortunate to have Kathy as our first point of contact at CMA,” said Melissa Maynard, CMA Operations Manager. “As a native Nashvillian she brings a knowledge and understanding of our city and Country Music that can’t be taught. She knows how this industry impacts our community and has seen it evolve over the years, and brings a tremendous understanding to the administration side of her position having worked as an administrator for an assisted living company for six years and also working for a local plastic surgeon. Her refreshing demeanor is an asset to CMA reception.”

Made In Network Expands Staff, Names Katy Kirby As VP Marketing

Katy Kirby

Katy Kirby

Nashville media and technology company Made In Network has announced numerous new team members.

Katy Kirby joins the executive team at Made In Network as Vice President of Marketing. Previously, Kirby ran marketing and communications for Thirty Tigers. Kirby has over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry, beginning her career in video and film production working with clients such as 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN Productions, Dateline NBC, The Daily Show, and Associated Press Television.

Additionally, Made In Network has expanded its creative and client services staff.

Katie Vaca, Bradley Montesi and Marshall Burnette join as Content Creators, who conceptualize, oversee, and execute creative video content output while continuing to develop and realize a creative vision for Made In accounts.

Vaca is an experienced motion graphics designer and director, working with clients such as Thomas Nelson and CMT. Montesi, a Nashville native, relocated from Austin, Texas, having worked at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios for multiple projects, with Richard Linklater’s Detour Filmproduction, and as a freelance director of music videos and commercials. Burnette has directed commercials and online content for brands such as Chevrolet, Nutrena, and Delta Dental, as well as his own short films and music videos.

Ashley Spurgeon, freelance columnist for the Nashville Scene, joins the team as staff writer. Made In Network’s long­standing client Salt Life tapped local talent and creator Christin Sites as their official channel host. Recent Belmont graduate Kristoff Hart rounds out the new team in the client services department.

Says CEO and co­founder Kevin Grosch, “We are very excited to be adding so many talented people from around Nashville to our team. We are growing exponentially and it was really important to find people that contribute to us building a strong culture based on creativity. Each of our new team members will help better serve our existing clients and will allow us to expand our offerings. It’s a very exciting time at Made In.”

Founded in 2013, Made In Network is a video­first media company and YouTube network consisting of 40 curated channels garnering 70+ million views per month. Additionally, Made In Network works with creators and brands to grow their YouTube business, both on the platform and beyond.

Dean Brody, Brett Kissel Lead 2016 CCMA Award Nominations

 

Dean Brody

Dean Brody

Nominees were announced for the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards on Wednesday morning (July 13). The CCMAs offer 42 award categories total. The CCMAs will be hosted by the Canadian television personality Jessi Cruickshank, and broadcast on CBC on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) with an encore airing on CMT Canada at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

On the heels of a successful year, Dean Brody heads into the 2016 CCMA Awards season with five nominations: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.

Brett Kissel also boasts five nominations; four in the artist award category: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year, and one industry nomination for Record Producer of the Year.

Brett Kissel

Brett Kissel

With an four nominations each are Gord Bamford (Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year); Johnny Reid (Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Video of the Year and Producer of the Year); Dallas Smith (Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year andInteractive Artist of the Year) and The Washboard Union (Group or Duo of the Year, Rising Star, Video of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year).

And with three nominees each are Cold Creek County (Group or Duo of the Year, Rising Star and Video of the Year); Jess Moskaluke (Female Artist of the Year, Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year) and Bobby Wills (Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year).

The 2016 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award nominees were revealed last night on Entertainment Tonight Canada. This award, voted on by Canadian country music fans, is once again stacked with powerhouse male artists: Dean Brody, Brett Kissel, Johnny Reid, Dallas Smith and Yoan. Voting for the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award is open now.

Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music.

Nominees:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Edge Of The Storm – Wes Mack
Hearts On Fire – Chad Brownlee
I Got This – George Canyon
Tin Roof – Gord Bamford
Tougher Than Love – Bobby Wills

FANS’ CHOICE
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith
Yoan

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell
Kira Isabella
Madeline Merlo
Jess Moskaluke
MacKenzie Porter

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Autumn Hill
Cold Creek County
High Valley
The Road Hammers
The Washboard Union

ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Lovelocks
Jessica Mitchell
Lindi Ortega
The Washboard Union
The Western Swing Authority

RISING STAR
Alee
Cold Creek County
David James
River Town Saints
The Washboard Union

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Airwaves” – Brett Kissel
“Bring Down The House” – Dean Brody
“Cheap Seats” – Dallas Smith
“Don’t Let Her Be Gone” – Gord Bamford
“Won’t You Be Mine” – Bobby Wills

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR – Presented by olé
Chad Kroeger, Meghan Patrick: “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” (Performed by Meghan Patrick)
Dean Brody: “Bring Down The House” (Performed by Dean Brody)
Deric Ruttan, Craig Wiseman: “Came Here To Forget” (Performed byBlake Shelton)
Gord Bamford, Wade Kirby, Phil O’Donnell: “Heard You In A Song” (Performed by Gord Bamford)
Matt Johnson, Michael Pyle, Bobby Wills: “Won’t You Be Mine” (Performed by Bobby Wills)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR – Presented by Coors Banquet
“Bring Down The House” – Dean Brody
“Hearts On Fire” – Chad Brownlee
“Kiss Me Quiet” – Jess Moskaluke
“Maybe It’s The Moonshine” – The Washboard Union
“Our Town” – Cold Creek County
“What Love Is All About” – Johnny Reid

INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Leah Daniels
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Wes Mack
Jess Moskaluke
Dallas Smith

MUSICIAN AWARDS

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luanne Carl
Lisa Dodd
Doug Elash
Justin Kudding
Travis Switzer

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Jimmy Boudreau
Ben Bradley
Rich DaSilva
Chad Melchert
Rob Wells

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Denis Dufresne
Shane Guse
Julie Kennedy
Ali Raney
Tyler Vollrath

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jason Barry
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay
Darren Savard
Brennan Wall

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Scott Galloway
Darryl Havers
Mike Little
Bart McKay
Carly McKillip

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dave Barber – Banjo
Denis Dufresne – Mandolin
Shane Guse – Mandolin
Robin Pelletier – Mandolin
Tyler Vollrath – Mandolin

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Ellis
Smokey Fennell
Mitch Jay
Doug Johnson
Ed “Pee Wee Charles” Ringwald

RADIO AWARDS

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Docc Andrews – CJJR FM – Vancouver, BC
Dayna Bourgoin – CKKL FM – Ottawa, ON
Larry Donohue – CFCW AM – Edmonton, AB
Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM – Ottawa, ON
Scott Phillips – CKRY FM/CISN FM – Calgary, AB/Edmonton, AB

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET
Shilo Bellis – CJXL FM – Moncton, NB
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON
Roo Phelps – CIGV FM – Kelowna, BC
Brendan Seeley – CKGY FM – Red Deer, AB
Jody Seeley – CFXO FM – High River, AB

INDUSTRY AWARDS

BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Feldman Agency
Invictus Entertainment Group
Paquin Artists Agency
Sakamoto Agency
United Talent Agency

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Boots & Bourbon Saloon – Toronto, ON
Cook County Saloon – Edmonton, AB
Cowboys Dance Hall – Calgary, AB
The Crazy Horse Stonegrill Steakhouse & Saloon – Ottawa, ON
Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary, AB

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Big Valley Jamboree – Camrose, AB
Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, ON
Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
Cavendish Beach Music Festival – Cavendish, PE
Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, MB

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Canadian Coast to Coast – CJVR FM
Canadian Country Spotlight – Media BemBem Inc.
Chevy Top 20 Countdown – CMT
Coors Banquet One Horse Town – CMT
The Drop: Gord Bamford – CMT

MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Cache Entertainment Inc.
Chief Music Management
Invictus Entertainment Group
MDM Recordings Inc.
RGK Entertainment Group Inc.

MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
CCS Rights Management/Little Red Bungalow
ole
Royalty Music Publishing Inc.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada
Universal Music Publishing Canada
Warner/Chappell Music Canada

RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
MDM Recordings Inc.
Open Road Recordings Inc.
Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Universal Music Canada
Warner Music Canada

RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Steve Coady – Warner Music Canada
Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Jim Cressman – Big Star Recordings Inc.
Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
Brianne Deslippe – Universal Music Canada
Ron Kitchener – Open Road Recordings Inc.

RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Edge Of The Storm — Design Team: Kyle Bottoms [Four-Age Productions], Simon Paul; Photography: Phil Crozier, Andy Hines [Tray Photo] (Artist: Wes Mack)
Hearts On Fire — Design Team: Antoine Moonen; Photography: Carmen Choney (Artist: Chad Brownlee)
Pick Me Up — Design Team: Patrick Duffy [Attention]; Photography: Juan Pont Lezica (Artist: Brett Kissel)
Songs About a Girl — Design Team: Sheila Hash, Brandon Heard; Photography: MacKenzie Jean (Artist: David James)
Turnin’ Up a Sundown — Design Team: Bronwin Parks [Feisty Creative]; Photography: Mark Maryanovich (Artist: Tristan Horncastle)

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR – Presented by Fanshawe College
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
OCL Studios – Chestermere, AB
Revolution Recordings – Toronto, ON

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Chris Baseford, Vince Gill, Jeff Johnson, Chad Kroeger, Carly McKillip, Justin Niebank: Grace & Grit (Artist: Meghan Patrick)
Jason Blaine, Phil O’Donnell, Deric Ruttan:Country Side (Artist: Jason Blaine)
George Canyon, Jeff Johnson, Johnny Reid:  I Got This (Artist: George Canyon)
Mickey Jack Cones, Brett Kissel, Bart McKay: Pick Me Up (Artist: Brett Kissel)
Bob Ezrin: What Love Is All About (Artist: Johnny Reid)

RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Google Play
HMV Canada Inc.
iTunes Canada
Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack
Walmart Canada

RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Biro – Sakamoto Agency
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
Alex Vyskocil – Live Nation Entertainment
Rob Waloschuk – Performance Promotions Ltd.
Lindsay Weryshko – Calgary Stampede

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis: “Cheap Seats” (Dallas Smith); “Don’t Let Her Be Gone” (Gord Bamford); “Hearts On Fire” (Chad Brownlee); “So Much For Taking It Slow” (Bobby Wills)
Andy Hines: “The Way You Let Me Down” (Wes Mack)
Ben Knechtel: “Airwaves” (Brett Kissel)
Colin Minihan: “Bring Down the House” (Dean Brody)
David Tenniswood: “Kiss Me Quiet” (ess Moskaluke)

Nominations in some categories were not revealed. Submissions for On-Air Personality of the Year (Large Market/Medium Market/Small Market), Radio Station of the Year (Large Market/Medium Market/Small Market) are juried, so there are no nominees in these categories. The CCMA Discovery Award is determined by a jury of industry professionals. Also, the categories of Top Selling Album of the Year, Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year, and Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year are all determined by sales.

 

 

David Nail Introduces ‘Fighter’ To Nashville Music Industry

David Nail Fighter

David Nail delivered a handful of songs from his new album, Fighter, at a shoulder-to-shoulder gathering at Ruby on Tuesday night (July 12).

Nail bantered with emcee Cody Alan prior to the performances and also chatted on stage with producer Frank Liddell and fellow songwriters Barry Dean, Jonathan Singleton and Abe Stoklasa. Fighter is scheduled for a release on Friday on MCA Nashville.

“It’s definitely the most I’ve written for a record,” said Nail, who wrote or co-wrote seven of the 11 tracks. He explained that Liddell and his colleagues started putting writing appointments on Nail’s calendar right after the holidays. Within 10 days, Nail had two important songs written – “Home” and “Fighter” – so he approached Liddell about recording some demos.

“That’s really when the whole thing was kind of born,” Nail said. “Frank’s a genius on a lot of levels, but right off the bat, Frank wasn’t going to entertain that we were going to go in and cut demos. He just said, ‘If we’re going to go in and cut, let’s do it the right way, let’s do it the big way, and let’s do it the expensive way.’”

Throughout the evening, Nail explained the background of songs like “Good at Tonight” (which he recorded with his buddies Brothers Osborne) and “Night’s on Fire” (which he nabbed by directly reaching out to Singleton). He said that people have complimented him on the solo-written “I Won’t Let Go” by saying it sounds like a Vince Gill song. Gill appears on the recorded version. Other guests on the project include Lori McKenna on “Home” (co-written by Dean, McKenna and Nail) and Bear Rinehart and Bo Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE on another Nail solo write, “Old Man’s Symphony.”

Nail will be a guest on the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday (July 19).