Journalist Robert K Oermann, Artist Anna Jaap Team For Exhibit Highlighting Nashville’s Hidden Histories

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Al Capone’s bookmaker John Welch built this structure between 1929 and 1932. En route between Chicago and Florida, the notorious gangster used it as his rest stop and hideout. Today, it is a recording studio called The Castle. Nearly 500 top artists have recorded at The Castle. Among them are Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Alabama, Johnny Cash, Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, and more.

A new exhibit highlighting unique locations in Nashville’s history, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” will open at the Nashville Library with a special reception Feb. 18 in the Courtyard Gallery from 3-5 p.m. Nashville artist Anna Jaap and journalist/MusicRow contributor Robert K. Oermann collaborated on the new exhibit of photos and stories of hidden historical locations that were inspired from the nearly three decades that Nashville resident Oermann spent driving, studying, and researching Music City’s history.

Portrait subjects include homes where Hank Williams and Patsy Cline once resided, Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay’s home, churches with Civil Rights Movement history, Nashville’s first auto factory, and the spot where Lay’s Potato Chips were once made.

 “Celebrating great art and artists is part of Nashville Public Library’s mission to connect our community,” said Library Director Kent Oliver. “We are pleased to showcase these portraits that give viewers such insight into our city.”

The new exhibit will run until June 18.

Both the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant and the City Reservoir (on 8th Ave. S.) were built in 1889. They are on the National Registry of Historical Places, and both are still serving the community.

‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Chart Station To Be Featured During CRS

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MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart panel station KZPK, based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, will be featured at this year’s Country Radio Seminar.

KZPK’s OM JJ Holiday and GSM Stephanie Theisen will take part in the panel Objects Are Larger Than They Appear: Small Markets That Do Big Things, which focuses on successful promotions that go above and beyond small-market scale, leading to increased revenue, greater brand awareness, and happy listeners and staff.

The panel will also include Sony Music Nashville’s RG Jones, and station WBYT FM (South Bend, Indiana)’s PD Jesse Garcia and GSM Erica Ogle.

The discussion will take place Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. at Legends Ballroom A-C, on level 2 of the Omni Hotel.

Country Radio Seminar runs from Feb. 22-24 at Nashville’s Omni Hotel. For more, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Jessie Jo Dillon Signs With Big Machine Music

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Pictured (L-R): Back Row – BMM’s Senior Director Publishing Alex Heddle; Front Row – BMM’s Assistant Publishing Jillian Whitefield, Jessie Jo Dillon, BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar Photo courtesy of Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music has signed Jessie Jo Dillon to an exclusive co-publishing agreement. Dillon earned a Grammy nomination in 2011 in the Best Song Category for her first-ever cut, George Strait’s “The Breath You Take,” a song she co-wrote with Casey Beathard and her father, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Dean Dillon.

Dillon co-wrote “Girl Next Door,” “Daughter” and “You Can Come Over” with Brandy Clark for her latest album as well as “Rich” with Maren Morris for her CD Hero. George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Nettles and more, have also all recorded Jessie Jo’s songs, and she joins a roster that includes Jonathan Singleton, Laura Veltz and Josh Thompson, among others.

“While Jessie Jo has felt like family to our team for a long time, we are honored that she chose us to represent her and her songs,” said BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar. “She is a special songwriter who has a magical ability to craft a song that resonates with everyone.”

“I am over the moon to be joining the Big Machine Music tribe alongside some of my favorite songwriters and publishers,” said Dillon. “Mike and the Big Machine Music team have always been big believers in me and my writing so this really feels like coming home.”

Nashville Presenters Announced For Sunday’s Grammy Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Rhett

Presenters for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards telecast will include three-time Grammy winner and current nominee Kelly Clarkson; three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw and five-time Grammy winner Faith Hill; and current Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett.

Taking place at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by James Corden, the awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Additional presenters include five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion; singer/songwriter Jason Derulo; current Grammy nominee Halsey; singer/ songwriter Camila Cabello; current Grammy nominees The Chainsmokers; actress Laverne Cox; pop/funk band DNCE; actress Taraji P. Henson; actress/model Paris Jackson; previous Grammy nominee Nick Jonas; previous Grammy nominee Jennifer Lopez; singer/songwriter Katharine McPhee; two-time Grammy winners and current Grammy nominees Pentatonix; actress Gina Rodriguez; TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; current Grammy nominee Solange; and previous Grammy nominee and actor John Travolta.

Previously announced performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sturgill Simpson, Gary Clark Jr., Adele, William Bell, Chance The Rapper, Daft Punk, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Tori Kelly, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Lukas Graham, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Anderson .Paak, Katy Perry, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Weeknd.

The 59th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Webster PR to Host Third Annual Legendary Lunch

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Webster Public Relations will be presenting their Legendary Lunch event Feb. 22 at the Hilton Downtown. Now in its third year, the luncheon gives radio reps and the media an opportunity to mix and mingle with over 30 legendary country acts in the same room, including Bill Anderson, Roy Clark, John Conlee, Crystal Gayle, Brenda Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Tanya Tucker and more.

Bill Cody of WSM-AM will be broadcasting live from the Legendary Lunch and will be simulcast on the Heartland Network, and media are invited to attend the red carpet arrival and press conference held prior to the lunch.

“We are honored to team with Webster Public Relations to present the 3rd Annual Legendary Lunch,” said Chris Kulick, WSM General Manager. “I know that 650 AM WSM listeners and Heartland viewers will continue to embrace these legendary and iconic artists, as they have for many years!”

Weekly Chart Report (2/10/17)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

UMG Nashville Reveals “Team UMG At The Ryman” Lineup

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A star-studded lineup has been revealed for Universal Music Group Nashville’s “Team UMG at the Ryman” at CRS 2017, to be held Feb. 23, 2017 at the Ryman Auditorium. This year’s performers are Lauren Alaina, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Josh Tuner, and Keith Urban.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the show will start at Noon. As in previous years, seminar registrants will receive a boxed lunch prior to the event. CRS attendees will have the option to either walk or use shuttles, provided by UMG Nashville, going from the Omni Hotel to the Ryman Auditorium between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, Mike Dungan comments, “The box lunches aren’t anything to write home about, but the show is fantastic! Always the most anticipated event at CRS, we will see you there!”

To review more of this year’s agenda, please visit countryradioseminar.com.

ASCAP Announces Songwriters Selected for 2017 GPS Project

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Pictured, Front row (L-R): ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, GPS Project songwriters Madeleine, Emma Place, Rob Carona and Tommy Kratzert, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad. Back row (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, GPS Project songwriters Ian Christian, Martin McDaniel, Lainey Wilson and Katie Cole, and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart. Not pictured: GPS Project songwriters Anna Vaus, Madeleine Slate, Robyn Collins and Blake Griffith, and ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe. [Click photo to enlarge]

The ASCAP Nashville creative team has announced the songwriters selected for the 6th annual ASCAP GPS Project. The GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) program showcases songwriters the creative team has identified as ready or very close to being ready for a publishing deal. Over the course of the year, the writers will be paired with publishers who will listen and critique their songs, and then participate in a follow-up meeting to help develop the writer and solidify the relationship. By the end of the year, the writer will have met with at least five publishers. In 2016, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Robert Filhart added a GPS Project writers retreat and a songwriters round to the program, which will continue in 2017.

The ASCAP GPS Project class of 2017 includes songwriters Rob Carona, Ian Christian, Katie Cole, Robyn Collins, Blake Griffith, Tommy Kratzert, Madeleine, Martin McDaniel, Emma Place, Madeleine Slate, Anna Vaus and Lainey Wilson.

The publishers participating in the 2017 ASCAP GPS Project include Writers Den, Disney Music Publishing, BMG, Big Machine, This Music, Wrensong, Black River, Big Yellow Dog, Sea Gayle, King Pen Music, Razor and Tie and Sony ATV.

Lance Carpenter Joins BMI

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Pictured (L-R): Mandolin Entertainment’s Mandi Dixon, Parallel Entertainment’s Tim Hunze and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Seated: BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter.

Newly-signed BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter stopped by the company’s Nashville office to celebrate on Feb. 9. Carpenter has several cuts, including the Kelsea Ballerini chart-topper “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

The singer-songwriter is signed to Parallel Entertainment for publishing and Mandolin Entertainment for artist management.

Still Working Music, Big Deal Music Sign Dylan Altman

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Pictured (L-R): Dale Bobo (Big Deal), Chuck Fleckenstein (Still Working), Sara Beal (Still Working), Alex Orbison (Still Working), Dylan Altman, Pete Robinson (Big Deal), Chelsea Kent (Still Working), Tommy Lee James (Still Working), Greg Gallo (Big Deal). [Click photo to enlarge.]

Still Working Music and Big Deal Music have signed hit songwriter Dylan Altman. Dylan has had top charting songs with Jake Owen (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night”), Jason Aldean (“Take A Little Ride”), and Tim McGraw (“Watch The Wind Blow By”). He has also had cuts with artists such as Chase Bryant, Eli Young Band, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, and others.

“I’ve long viewed Dylan Altman as ‘one of ours’ even when he wasn’t, just because he so often was penning great songs with our other Still Working writers. It is an honor to now add Dylan and his immense writing skill to our Still Working roster – doing so with the superb team over at Big Deal is the cherry on the top. Welcome Dylan Altman!” says Alex Orbison, President of Still Working Music.

“All of us at Big Deal are huge fans of both Dylan and the folks at Still Working. We look forward to a long, fun and successful partnership,” says Pete Robinson, SR VP/GM Big Deal Music Nashville.

Still Working Music was founded in 1990 by Barbara Orbison and is now run by her sons, Alex Orbison (President) and Roy Orbison, Jr. (Co-President). Its catalog includes hits by Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Lost Frequencies. Still Working Music’s extensive catalog also contains cuts by One Direction, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Easton Corbin, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, and Joe Walsh.

Current Still Working Music writers are Tommy Lee James, Gordie Sampson, Jon Randall, Ryan Lafferty, Chase Bryant, Derrick Southerland, Matt Nolen, and Alana Springsteen.

Big Deal Music has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.