Air Hawg Music Publishing, Sea Gayle Team To Sign Dave Turnbull

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Pictured (L-R): Air Hawg Music’s Cory Lovelace; Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill; Lovelace, Air Hawg Music’s Karen Lovelace; Turnbull; DuBois; Sea Gayle’s Jake Gear and Christina Wiltshire

Pictured (L-R): Air Hawg Music’s Cory Lovelace; Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill; Air Hawg Music’s Kelley Lovelace and Karen Lovelace; Dave Turnbull; Sea Gayle’s Chris DuBois, Jake Gear and Christina Wiltshire

Air Hawg Music Publishing, a newly-launched publishing company led by Kelley Lovelace, has signed songwriter Dave Turnbull as its first writer, in conjunction with Sea Gayle Music.

Turnbull achieved a Triple Play Award from the CMA for his 2012 hits Kenny Chesney’s “The Boys of Fall,” Brad Paisley’s “Anything Like Me” and “Old Alabama” featuring Alabama. He has also had hits with artists including Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins and Craig Campbell’s charting single, “Outskirts Of Heaven.”

Turnbull said, “I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Air Hawg and Sea Gayle. Kelley Lovelace was the first person to ever believe in me as a writer in this town and give me a shot at a publishing deal almost 20 years ago, and Chris DuBois was the second. They are the two people I respect the most in terms of creative input and it’s a true pleasure to be working with them together in this new venture. I’m also extremely excited to be working with Marc Driskill, Jake Gear, Mike Owens, Christina Wiltshire and Brandon Gregg and certainly all the writers at Sea Gayle who have been so welcoming to me.”

“God is good and timing is everything!” says Kelley Lovelace. “After 20 years of friendship and ‘big talk’ of starting a publishing company, we finally did it! I’m so humbled and proud that a veteran hit songwriter like Dave has blessed Air Hawg Music Publishing by signing as our first writer. Also, we are extremely thankful to partner with my lifelong friends Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois and Marc Driskill at Sea Gaye Music. And we are anxious to work with the rest of the team at Sea Gayle, Mike Owens, Jake Gear, Christina Wiltshire and Brandon Gregg, to help Dave continue his incredible success. He is writing better than ever and I truly believe his best songs are brewing right now.”

Sea Gayle’s Chris DuBois added, “We are so thankful and excited for the opportunity to partner with Kelley Lovelace and Air Hawg Music in signing Dave Turnbull as their first writer. Kelley and Dave are two of my closest friends and favorite writers in town. They have always felt like family to everyone at Sea Gayle, so we couldn’t be happier to make it official. We look forward to working closely with Kelley to help grow Dave’s career and add to his already impressive list of awards.”

Chicks With Hits Aid Backpacks of Love Children’s Program

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Chicks with Hits recently put together backpacks for the Keith Edmonds Foundation “Backpacks of Love” program. The backpacks are given to children who are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and provide essentials for the child’s immediate needs and items to provide comfort such as a stuffed animal, blanket, night light, a book or journal.

Eric Church and his wife also donated $10,000 toward purchasing the backpacks and contents through the Chief Cares Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

“The Chicks with Hits group went above and beyond in building backpacks that will go to children that are in immediate need,” said Edmonds, himself a survivor of child abuse. “There is a report of child abuse made every 10 seconds in the United States. Together we are doing our part in showing love to these children that are going through such adverse circumstances.”

ACM Lifting Lives Board Announced

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acm lifting livesACM Lifting Lives has announced its board of directors for the 2016 – 2017 term, including newly elected Chairman Ed Warm, President Debbie Carroll, Vice-President Tree Paine, and Secretary Tommy Moore. Dwight Wiles continues his role as Treasurer.

The Lifting Lives Board of Directors is made up of an equal number of ACM Board Members, referred to as representative directors, as well as leaders in non-profit and corporate organizations that aren’t ACM Board Members, referred to as public directors. This year, there were 10 representative director positions and nine public director positions elected/appointed by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.

New REPRESENTATIVE directors include:

  1. Paul Barnabee, Sony Music Nashville
  2. Rod Essig, CAA
  3. Chris Farren, Combustion Music
  4. Gayle Holcomb, WME
  5. Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
  6. Daniel Miller, Red Light Management / Fusion Music
  7. Kimberly Schlapman
  8. Ken Tucker, Apple
  9. Troy Vollhoffer, PGP/Country Thunder Music Festivals
  10. Butch Waugh, Studio2bee

New PUBLIC directors include:

  1. Mark Bloom, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
  2. Ross Copperman
  3. Ann Edelblute, The HQ
  4. Fletcher Foster, Iconic Entertainment Group
  5. Michael McAnally Baum, SMACKSongs/SMACKProductions
  6. Beth Moore, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  7. Tree Paine, Premium PR
  8. Lisa Paulsen, Entertainment Industry Foundation
  9. Meredith Seacrest, Seacrest Foundation
  10. Dwight Wiles, Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

Stars Come Out for Stars and Strings Benefit in Chicago

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Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler Farr, Randy Houser, Chase Rice, Dan + Shay, and Big & Rich are performing at the 2nd Annual Stars and Strings Concert at the Chicago Theater tonight (Nov. 9). CBS Radio and US99 are presenting the sold-out show, which will help raise funds for Folds of Honor, an organization which provides educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers.

More than one million dependents are adversely affected by military deployments and nearly nine out of 10 do not qualify for federal scholarships.

Industry Ink: Lightning 100, Radio Rehab, Charlie Monk, Bandtwango

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Lightning 100 Hosts Open House

lightning 100

Lightning 100 is hosting an Open House to celebrate the success of several initiatives and campaigns over the past year, including being awarded the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award, the National Association of Broadcasters’ Education Foundation Service to America Award, which honors exceptional public and community service of America’s broadcasters, and other accolades. The Open House, which is not open to the public, will be held Nov. 16 at the Lightning 100 Studio in Marathon Village.

 

GrassRoots Goes to Radio Rehab

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GrassRoots Promotion is launching a radio syndication division with the syndication of “Radio ReHab with Dana Williams.” The syndication division is in partnership with CloudCast Radio, a radio programming distributor and media agency serving radio stations in any size market. “Radio ReHab with Dana Williams” is a three-hour program focusing on country music from the 90’s and beyond and includes behind the scenes stories, artist drop-in interviews, new music features, never-before heard song demos and more. The program will be offered as a market exclusive in any size market on barter.

 

Charlie Monk Gets Namesake in Geneva

Charlie MonkCharlie Monk is celebrating his sixth decade in the music business, and his achievements were recently honored when he attended his 60th high school class reunion in his Geneva, Alabama, hometown. During his visit the town presented him with his very own street, Charlie Monk Lane.

“Everybody in Geneva, Alabama, population 4,500, knew that I was the poorest kid in town but they knew that I was a hard worker and many of them gave me jobs and encouragement,” Monk says. “It took a village to raise me. I am unbelievably honored with this recognition and thank the mayor and city council for having the ceremony during a reunion of my 1957 high school graduating class.”

 

Bandtwango Launched By Alexander and Allocco

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Pictured (L-R): John Alexander and Carl Allocco

John Alexander and Carl Allocco have launched a new fundraising platform called Bandtwango. In addition to raising capital, they guide and advise artists on new projects then curate and connect them with trusted industry affiliates including radio promotion teams, publicists, social media marketers and more in a customized plan so each artist can select what’s most beneficial to their individual plans and timelines.

Alexander has 30-plus years of music business experience, including work in marketing, promotion, ad sales and artist development for companies such as Great American Country, Black River Entertainment and Jones Radio Networks.

Allocco is a New York-based creative professional, and singer-songwriter with major label recording, publishing and management deals to his credit. Allocco has also guided web and creative services development for non-profit and music companies.

Jeannie Seely to Release New Album in January

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Jeannie Seely

Jeannie Seely will release a new album, Written In Song on Jan. 13. The new CD features 14 tracks written or co-written by Seely herself, which were recorded by legends like Merle Haggard, Dottie West, Ernest Tubb, and Ray Price. The project is her first new album since 2011’s Vintage Country.

Distributed by Smith Music Group, the album also includes songs featuring some special guests like “Senses” with Connie Smith and Marty Stuart, and “We’re Still Hangin’ In There Ain’t We Jessi” with Jan Howard and Jessi Colter.

Written In Song is such an exciting project for me for many reasons,” states Seely. “It consists of 14 songs that I have written over the years, most of them recorded by my peers and my heroes. It’s also very rewarding to know that these songs have stood the test of time and are just as viable today. I am extremely grateful to the musicians and singers who made them sound brand new.”

Written In Song Track Listing
1. Sometimes I Do
2. He’s All I Need
3. I’m Never Gonna See You
4. Senses
5. Anyone Who Knows What Love Is
6. You Don’t Need Me
7. My Love For You
8. Leavin’ And Sayin’ Goodbye
9. The Pain Once You’re Gone
10. He Always Got What He Wanted
11. Life Of A Rodeo Cowboy
12. Enough To Lie
13. Who Needs You
14. We’re Still Hangin’ In There Ain’t We Jessi

Exclusive: Touring Career Workshop—Leading With Heart And Wisdom

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Chris Lisle

Chris Lisle

Chris Lisle of Chris Lisle Lighting Design has a passion for his work that is matched only by his care for the members of the concert touring community. His 25-plus year career has included work in several segments of touring, including production, lighting design, and tour management. He has worked with Miranda Lambert, Robert Plant, Chris Young, and more.

Now in its sixth year, the Touring Career Workshop will offer a myriad of sessions centering on breaking into the touring industry, retirement options for touring professionals, tax information, freelance opportunities, maintaining health on the road, and more. The Touring Career Workshop, a free event, is slated for Nov. 9 at Soundcheck Nashville Annex.

After launching in 2011, the workshop grew to 300 attendees in 2015. This year, Keith Urban’s production manager Randy Fletcher will present a keynote presentation on the evolvement of the touring industry. Also speaking are Erik Leighty (Miranda Lambert, Paramore), Jim Runge (The Black Keys, Major Lazor), Mark Miles (IEBA, Lambert) and more.

Lisle, who serves as the workshop’s Executive Director, spoke with MusicRow about this year’s Touring Career Workshop, the state of the touring industry, and his advice for newcomers.

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MusicRow: How did Touring Career Workshop begin?

Chris Lisle: Many touring production staff members don’t have any kind of benefits, unless they work for a great company. Friends and colleagues coming to me and asking, ‘Who do you like to use for an accountant?’ Or ‘How do you do your health insurance?’ I also saw someone close to me go through some really tough things in their later years because they didn’t address a lot of things financially and physically that they should have in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Erik Parker [Touring Career Workshop Co-Founder and Associate Director] and I discussed giving small sessions where people could come and learn how to get insurance or how to get the most out of your tax deductions. We even get into personal things like how to make marriage work on the road or how to raise kids when you are being a part-time parent when you travel so much. Staying fit on the road, just these skills they are not getting anywhere else.

MR: What Touring Career Workshop sessions are you most excited about this year?

CL: We try to always do new stuff every year, but we also know the ones that are most attended. Our most-attended ones are always about getting in and staying in the touring business. Sessions about the health insurance, legal contracts, and accounting are big. This year we have a parenting session. It’s one that is close to my heart. How do you parent when you are only home three days per week?

We’ve also got a tour manager panel this year. I’m always excited about it because they give their perspectives on how they run their tours and handle conflict management. A tour bus holds 12 people. They work together all day in the venue then they get on the bus and there is always that one person who is smelly or plays their music too loud. We grill them to tell the next generation what they can expect as far as conflict resolution on the road. 

MR: Artists are relying on income from touring more than ever. What effects has that had on our industry?

CL: It’s no secret that record sales are not what they used to be and touring sales are up. So the touring business as a whole, not just from the artists and band side, but from the production side, is huge right now.

I’ve been doing concert lighting for 25 years and I’ve never seen Nashville or the industry the way it is right now, in terms of demand for not only show production but for technicians, sound people and lighting people, etc. They are in high demand.

MR: Are you finding that sometimes employers are having trouble filling spots?

CL: I do. The good thing with this is that we have a couple of great schools like Belmont,

MTSU and The Blackbird Academy that are training people to take on some of these roles. We are doing our best. I definitely know from a lighting end this past summer, we hit a point where we were out of people. Right now, I have a video person that I am showing how to do lights, to kind of get the most. We are seeing a lot of this. We are molding people to what they need to be and giving them work.

MR: What other services do you offer in addition to the Touring Career Workshop?

CL: We started our All Access program two years ago. We have three counselors working with us, and touring personnel can go to any of those counselors and TCW pays for the first two sessions, no questions asked. We never know the person’s name, we just get an invoice from [the counselor]. I’ve even had situations where the counselor calls and says, ‘I have a person who can’t afford it, but they need at least three more sessions,’ then cool, let’s get them in there and let’s do it. That’s all about us wanting to make sure if you are going through stuff, you can talk it out.

MR: What advice do you give to young people wanting to enter the touring business?

CL: Honestly, technical skill is great, but personality is key. You are your own business. You have to sell yourself constantly. Yes, I want you to know how to run lights, or whatever your path is, but you have to get along with others for months on end and find that next gig. The key is your networking tree. I explain how even in my career, one contact branches out to become 50. That’s how you get work to progress your career.

The Sixth Annual Touring Career Workshop will take place Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Soundcheck Nashville Annex, beginning at 6 p.m. For more information on the Touring Career Workshop or the All Access program, and to register for the Touring Career Workshop, visit touringcareerworkshop.com.

This year, the Touring Career Workshop has partnered with Stagecall, which collects bikes for underprivileged children in Nashville. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new bike and/or cash donations.

FLO Code Rebrands As Dozen Software

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Chris Downs

Chris Downs

Software engineering company FLO Code is changing its name to Dozen Software, it was announced today. Co-founded in 2012 by CEO Chris Downs, the company was recently purchased back by Downs from Mark Montgomery, who acquired the team in 2014 to work under the umbrella of his innovation agency FLO{thinkery}. The Dozen Software team played an essential role in the creation Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay Rum and the video-first media company Made In Network.

“I’m proud to have accomplished all that we did with Mark Montgomery and FLO{thinkery} as FLO Code, and I’m thrilled to continue that work as Dozen Software,” noted Downs. “The timing was right to come together in 2014 and now the time has come to expand and do what our team does best. Our goals remain the same in creating powerful platforms, user friendly websites and apps with simple, and smart functionality.”

Dozen Software, whose name originated from the twelve members that power the company, plans to launch multiple additional projects before the close of the year. The first initiative is IQuity, Inc., a specialty diagnostics company focused on autoimmune research and development of innovative technology and analytics that can shorten the diagnostic process for providers and their patients in three medical specialties: neurology, gastroenterology and rheumatology. The second initiative, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, provides the largest natural habitat refuge for captive elephants in North America, and is located on 2700 acres in Middle Tennessee.

 

PBS To Release Eight-Episode Music Exploration Series

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SOUNDBREAKING: Stories From The Cutting Edge Of Recorded Music, an eight-episode PBS series that explores the impact of recorded music on the modern world, will make its U.S. broadcast debut weekdays on PBS from Nov. 14-23, 2016.

The series features more than 150 exclusive and original interviews with such luminaries as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Rosanne Cash, Don Was, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, Barry Gibb, Elton John, B.B. King, Dave Stewart, Lindsey Buckingham, Steven Van Zandt, Rick Rubin and many more.

SOUNDBREAKING was the last project produced by Sir George Martin, who passed on March 8. The series will offer rare archival studio footage from the invention of the microphone to digital streaming.

“Music is the only common thread and universal language that binds us together regardless of race, nationality, age or income. And recorded music is how we experience it and what makes it accessible,” Martin said of the project prior to his passing. “SOUNDBREAKING afforded me the opportunity to tell the story of the creative process of so many of the artists I have worked with throughout my life.”

The television series is the centerpiece of a multi-platform interactive project, including a website and companion book in partnership with PBS, The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE and The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation.

Each episode will be made available for next-day digital purchase following its broadcast via multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video. The series will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, November 29.

To learn more, visit soundbreaking.com.

Industry Ink: Writer’s Den Music Group, Academy of Country Music

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Writer’s Den Music Group Hosts Second Unsigned Writer’s Retreat

Pictured (L-R): Aby Gutierrez, Betsy Lane, Anna Vaus, Brittany Kennell, Emily Hackett, and Andrew Tufano

Pictured (L-R): Aby Gutierrez, Betsy Lane, Anna Vaus, Brittany Kennell, Emily Hackett, and Andrew Tufano

Writer’s Den Music Group recently hosted their second Unsigned writer’s retreat at Bell Bottom Farm in Cedar Hill, Tennessee. Songwriter’s participating were Anna Vaus, Aby Gutierrez, Andrew Tufano, Betsy Lane, Brittany Kennell and Emily Hackett.

 

ACM Welcomes River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs

Pictured (L-R): Lynn Oliver-Cline, River House Artists; Erick Long, ACM; Luke Combs; Brooke Primero, ACM. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

Pictured (L-R): Lynn Oliver-Cline, River House Artists; Erick Long, ACM; Luke Combs; Brooke Primero, ACM. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music welcomed River House Artists/Columbia Nashville recording artist Luke Combs to the office while he was in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Combs previewed songs from his upcoming album This One’s For You, along with his current single, “Hurricane.”