Keith Urban Helps Musicians on Call Celebrate 10th Anniversary

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Musicians On Call celebrated its 10th anniversary in Nashville with a special visit from Keith Urban and the patients at The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial. Urban serenaded the young patients as part of MOC’s Bedside Performance Program, where musicians across the country have delivered the healing power of music to over half a million patients. Urban delivered acoustic renditions of some of his biggest hits including “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” ”Wasted Time,” “You Look Good In My Shirt,” and “Somebody Like You,’ for the thrilled patients, families, and caregivers in attendance during his MOC visit.

“The power of music to not only connect people, but to bring comfort into someone’s life is something quite divine,” Urban said. “Visiting with these kids and their families yesterday was truly inspiring, as was the chance to play for them and bring a little light to their day, even if for a few moments. I’m very grateful to Musicians On Call for the good work they do and honored to be a small part of that.”

MOC will kick off its 10th anniversary celebration with a series of high profile hospital visits, a community engagement campaign, and a high profile celebration event in the Fall.

“It was an absolute honor to have country music icon Keith Urban join us to help deliver the healing power of music,” said Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President. “Musicians On Call is celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Nashville programs and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off this year-long celebration.”

 

CBS Radio And Entercom To Create Radio Platform

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Entercom Communications (Philadelphia) and CBS Corporation’s have announced a merger—pending approval by Entercom shareholders, expected to close during the second half of 2017—by which Entercom will combine with CBS Radio to create a radio platform with a nationwide footprint of 244 stations, including 23 of the top 25 U.S. markets, as well as digital capabilities and events platform.

“This agreement is great for shareholders and achieves our previously stated objectives by separating our radio business in the best possible way,” said Leslie Moonves, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation. “Entercom is a superbly run company, and together with CBS Radio’s powerful brands and remarkable people, we are creating an organization that will be even better positioned to succeed in this rapidly evolving media landscape.”

David J. Field, President and CEO of Entercom, who will lead the combined company, said, “These two great companies, with their impressive histories, complementary assets, and premier content and brands, are a perfect strategic and cultural fit, enabling us to deliver local connection on a national scale and drive accelerated growth. We look forward to welcoming our talented new colleagues at CBS Radio, and we have the utmost respect for their significant contributions to the industry.”

Andre Fernandez, who will continue as President and CEO of CBS Radio through the closing of the transaction, said, “I couldn’t be more proud of the CBS Radio team and all of the exciting breaking news, live events, and business initiatives happening every day across the country. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for us as we join with an organization with an equally deep tradition in radio broadcasting. The opportunities for the new company are enormous – thanks to our combined collection of industry-leading stations and brands.”

The merger will create a local media and entertainment company with strong, complementary assets on a national scale, including:

  • A sports platform with the rights to broadcast 45 pro sports teams, and 100+ popular local sports talk shows, as well as the CBS Sports Radio Network, which is made up of 300 affiliated radio stations across the country
  • News and news/talk format, with some of the most-listened-to news and talk radio stations nationwide
  • Music and entertainment formats with popular personalities who are leading influencers of custom curated music and entertainment experiences that drive music discovery
  • Creator of more than 4,500 live original events per year, including music festivals and large shows
  • Digital content that expands local on-air talent
  • Monetization of intellectual property for dozens of major-market radio shows
  • Legendary local stations

The combined companies’ pro forma revenue on a trailing 12 months basis was approximately $1.7 billion – which would make it the second-largest radio station owner in the United States – and adjusted EBITDA was nearly $500 million, including expected transaction synergies. The merger will create a well-capitalized company with a market cap of over $2 billion.

The combination of CBS Corporation’s radio business with Entercom will be effected through a “Reverse Morris Trust” transaction, which is expected to be tax-free to CBS and its shareholders. Immediately following the completion of this exchange offer, CBS Radio will merge with an Entercom subsidiary, with the new CBS Radio shareholders receiving Entercom shares in exchange for their CBS Radio shares in the transaction. After completion of the merger, CBS Radio shareholders will receive approximately 105 million Entercom shares, or 72% of all outstanding shares of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. Existing Entercom shareholders will own 28% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Centerview Partners are serving as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Entercom. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as financial advisor, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel to CBS Corporation.

A division of CBS Corporation, CBS Radio owns 117 radio stations in 26 markets – including all of the top 10 radio markets as ranked by Nielsen Audio.

Entercom is the fourth-largest radio broadcasting company in the United States, reaching and engaging more than 40 million people a week through its 127 highly rated stations in 27 top markets across the country. Entercom delivers superior ROI by connecting its customers and audiences through its leading local brands and local marketing solutions, which include over 4,000 events each year, and its SmartReach Digital product suite.

Sturgill Simpson, Little Big Town Join Lineup of Grammy Performers

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Sturgill Simpson, Little Big Town

Little Big Town, Sturgill Simpson,William Bell with Gary Clark Jr., and Chance The Rapper are the latest stars announced as performers on the upcoming 59th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 12.

The five join a star-studded lineup that already includes Adele, Daft Punk, Dave Grohl, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Maren Morris, Anderson .Paak, A Tribe Called Quest, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and The Weeknd.

Simpson is nominated for Album Of The Year and Best Country Album for A Sailor’s Guide To Earth. Bell is nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “The Three Of Me” and Best Americana Album for This Is Where I Live. Chance The Rapper is up for seven Grammys, including Best New Artist.

During last year’s Grammy awards, Little Big Town was honored with the Best Country Group/Duo Performance for “Girl Crush.”

Hosted by James Corden, the awards will be telecast live at 8 p.m. ET on CBS-TV.

Garth Brooks Added To Randy Travis Tribute Concert

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Garth Brooks

Joining the star-studded tribute to Randy Travis on Feb. 8, 2017, will be reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks.

“Mary and I are so blessed to have amazing friends all over this industry. Garth Brooks is an amazing artist who always entertains everyone in the house, I am humbled by his involvement,” said Travis.

The event, titled 1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time: A Heroes and Friends Tribute to Randy Travis, will also feature performances from over 30 artists including Alabama, Rodney Atkins, Kane Brown, Mark Chesnutt, James Dupre, Jeff Foxworthy, Montgomery Gentry, Ben Haggard, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Neal McCoy, Scotty McCreery, William Michael Morgan, Joe Nichols, Paul Overstreet, Shane Owens, Michael Ray, Collin Raye, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers, Daryle Singletary, Michael W. Smith, The Bellamy Brothers, The Randy Travis Band, Ricky Traywick, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner, Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, Wynonna, Chris Young, with more still to be announced.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Randy Travis Foundation; a 501(c)3 non-profit that raises money for stroke research and rehabilitation. Tickets for the historic night are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations and the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

Cameo Carlson Launches mtheory Nashville

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Cameo Carlson

Cameo Carlson has exited her role as Head of Digital and Business Development at Borman Entertainment to partner with artist management/development company mtheory. Carlson has been named President of mtheory Nashville, establishing the company’s Nashville division.

Mtheory, which has offices in New York and Los Angeles, has helped managers including TMWRK, Element One, Young Turks, Blood Company, Nettwerk and Future Classic build some of the business’s biggest recent breakouts, including Major Lazer, Twenty One Pilots, The xx, Skrillex, Father John Misty and Flume.

At Borman, Carlson spent six years overseeing initiatives for artists ranging from Keith Urban and Alison Krauss to My Morning Jacket, among others. A former Executive Vice President at Universal Motown Republic and Manager of Label Relations and Music Programming at iTunes, Carlson holds two U.S. Patents and has been recognized as a Top Mobile Executive and “Digital Queen” by Billboard. She serves as a mentor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s Project Music, is a 2010 alumna of Nashville’s Leadership Music, a member of SOURCE, a member of the SXSW Accelerator Advisory Board and currently co-manages social and mentoring group Digital Divas.

“I will be forever grateful to Gary [Borman] and the Borman Entertainment team,” said Carlson. “Their professionalism, ethics and unmatched dedication to servicing their clientele have prepared me for this next career chapter. I’m looking forward to using what I learned there to support the broader artist management community through my partnership with mtheory. I’m so excited about the partnership because I’ve long felt that the role of the manager has shifted dramatically and managers have a huge opportunity to grow their artists by augmenting their capabilities. mtheory has been helping managers address this challenge for over seven years.”

“We are excited to partner with such a respected and innovative executive such as Cameo,” said J.T. Myers, CEO of mtheory. “At mtheory, we recognize the increasing importance of strong artist management in order to develop career artists and help them reach their overall goals. We also understand how important a deep understanding of country music and the Nashville marketplace is to building successful artists in the genre. So we are very excited to combine Cameo’s outstanding marketing expertise and Nashville track record with our holistic approach to career marketing.”

“Cameo has been a tremendous asset to our company,” said owner Gary Borman, CEO of Borman Entertainment. “She has led our digital initiatives over the past six years, and has served to establish what will remain one of the strongest digital marketing departments, I believe, at any management company. I wish her and mtheory great success in this new venture.”

Cameo can be reached at [email protected] or at (615) 348-8260.

Major Bob Music Signs New SESAC Writer Harrison Kindy

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Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, Major Bob Music Owner/President Bob Doyle, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, songwriter Harrison Kindy, and Major Bob Music’s Tina Crawford and Chandler Thurston.

Songwriter Harrison Kindy, who just became a SESAC-affiliated writer, has signed his first publishing deal with Major Bob Music.

“So excited to be working with a great young writer/producer like Harrison Kindy,” said Tina Crawford, VP/Major Bob Music. “We are going to do great things together.”

MusicRowPics: CJ Solar Pens A Barn Burner With “Just Another Day In The Country”

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CJ Solar. Photo: Haley Crow

For singer-songwriter CJ Solar, accepting an internship at publishing and recording company Sea Gayle was likely one of the best decisions he made while studying at Nashville’s Belmont University.

“My neighbor was working at Sea Gayle and helped me get an internship,” Solar says. “Marc [Driskill] listens to the interns’ music and was like, ‘Hey, if you’ve got any music let me know.’ I had just demoed some songs I was going to try to get a publishing deal with, so I brought them to him, and he played them for some of the other staff. A week later they wanted to sign me.”

Now, Solar has released his latest single for Sea Gayle Records, the harmonica-soaked, rock guitar-fueled “Just Another Day In The Country,” a musical ode to hunting, fishing, beer drinking and other leisurely pastimes.

The track is included on Solar’s latest EP Hard One To Turn Down. During his visit to the MusicRow office, the Louisiana native also offered a rendition of “Blue Bandana,” a track fellow Sea Gayle artist Jerrod Niemann released as a single in 2015. Solar wrote the track with Ben Goldsmith and Andrew Scott Wills

MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson and CJ Solar. Photo: Haley Crow

Solar recently shot the video for “Just Another Day In The Country” at a friend’s property in Mississippi.

“It was a ‘party in a field’ kind of thing,” Solar says. “It was like, ‘Let’s do as much stuff as we can in one day.’ We set up in front of a barn and did a performance and just fished, hung out, and shot some empty beer cans. It was fun.”

Solar will bring his live show to Nashville during Country Radio Seminar, with shows at the Omni Hotel on Feb. 23 (5 p.m.) and Feb. 24 (9 a.m.).

CJ Solar with MusicRow staffers.

BMG Signs Travis Meadows

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Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lee (BMG), Chris Oglesby (BMG), Kevin Lane (BMG), Travis Meadows, Kos Weaver (BMG), Sara Knabe (BMG)

BMG has signed singer-songwriter Travis Meadows. The Jackson, Mississippi native has penned radio singles including Jake Owen’s “What We Ain’t Got,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Riser.” He also contributed “Knives of New Orleans” to Eric Church’s Mr. Misunderstood project, and “Dark Side” on Church’s The Outsiders.

Meadows also earned industry acclaim for own albums Killin’ Uncle Buzzy, which took an honest look at coping with addiction, and its follow-up Old Ghosts and Unfinished Business.

Mark Your Calendar — February 2017

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Industry Events

February 12
59th Annual Grammy Awards

February 22
MusicRow Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards

February 22-24
CRS 2017

February 25
An Evening For 65 Roses Cystic Fibrosis Foundation benefit at the Loveless Barn at 6 p.m.

February 27
The T. J. Martell Foundation’s 9th Annual Nashville Honors Gala at the Omni Hotel

Single Add Dates

February 6
Sam Hunt/Body Like A Backroad/MCA Nashville
Jamie Lee Thurston/Givin’ Up Breathin’/Thurston For Entertainment
Adam Craig/Just A Phase/Stoney Creek Records
Kane Brown Feat. Lauren Alaina/What Ifs/RCA Nashville
Denny Strickland/We Don’t Sleep/Red Star Productions
Christina Taylor/I Don’t Look Good In Your T-Shirt/Go Long Entertainment-SMG Nashville
Jeremy Bowman/American Party/SMG Nashville

February 13
Mo Pitney/Everywhere/Curb Records
Brooke Eden/Act Like You Don’t/Red Bow Records
Frankie Ballard/You’ll Accomp’ny Me/Warner Bros-WAR
Olivia Dvorak/Don’t Come Knocking/Spin Doctors Promotions
Cash Creek/The Hard Way/Heartland Records Nashville

February 20
Carly Pearce/Every Little Thing/Dot Records

February 27
Midland/Drinkin’ Problem/Big Machine
Kip Moore/More Girls Like You/MCA Nashville

Album Release Dates

February 3
Reba McEntire/Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope/Nash Icon-Capitol Christian Music Group
Cypress Spring/Denim/Average Joes

February 10
Brett Young/Brett Young/BMLG Records
Old Crow Medicine Show/Best Of
Lari White/Old Friends, New Loves (double-disc EP)
Cash Creek/The Hard Way/Heartland Records Nashville

February 17
Alison Krauss/Windy City/Capitol Records
Nikki Lane/Highway Queen/New West Records
Jenny Gill/The House Sessions [EP]

February 24
Little Big Town/The Breaker/Capitol Records Nashville
Aaron Watson/Vaquero/Big Label Records
Various/The Shack: Music From And Inspired By The Original Motion Picture/Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment

Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Cam, More to Play Opry at CRS

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This year’s Grand Ole Opry at CRS lineup has been announced, and will feature performances by the Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Crystal Gayle, LoCash, Cam, Michael Ray, Chris Lane, Carly Pearce, and Dailey & Vincent. The Feb. 22 show kicks off the three-day event at the Omni, and the show will begin at 7 p.m. immediately following the CMA Welcome Reception in the performance hall.

All CRS registrants can attend the show, which has been a part of CRS since 2012 and features the Opry’s signature barn backdrop and famous microphone stand on stage in the transformed performance hall.