Prescription Songs’ Nashville outpost has signed pop artist Quinn Lewis to their roster. A native of Brisbane, Australia, Lewis has called Nashville his home for three years, as he has been collaborating with pop producers and writers, with plans for his on album in the near future.
He previously released the EP Addicted.
Prescription Songs’ Katie Fagan and Quinn Lewis
(Top Row, L-R): Yola Carter, Drive-By Truckers, Iron & Wine. (Bottom Row, L-R): Lukas Nelson, The Secret Sisters, Amanda Shires
The Americana Music Association announced today the second round of performers slated to appear at the 18th Annual Americanafest: The Americana Music Festival & Conference Sept. 12-17 in Nashville. Nearly 300 artists and bands are participating in the six-day festival, and the latest announced to perform include Hayes Carll, Elizabeth Cook, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, Drive-By Truckers, Joshua Hedley, John Hiatt & the Goners, Phoebe Hunt, Iron & Wine, Lori McKenna, The Last Bandoleros, Lukas Nelson, The Secret Sisters, Amanda Shires and The Wild Reeds, and many more.
Americanafest conference registrations (currently $299 for members/$399 for non-members) offer priority admission into all showcases, sanctioned parties and events, and daytime panels, and can be purchased here. At this time, only Conference Registrants may purchase Honors & Awards show tickets. A festival wristband for the nightly shows is available for $75 and grants admission into all showcase venues as well as select sanctioned parties and special events.
Second Round of Artists Confirmed to Play Americanafest:
The Accidentals
Amanda Shires
Angaleena Presley
Becky Warren
Ben Smith & Jimmy Brewer
Birdtalker
Bonnie Whitmore and Her Band
Boo Ray
Boy Named Banjo
Buddy Miller
The Cactus Blossoms
Cary Morin
Charly Markwart
Cody Canada & The Departed
Colin Hay
Cory Branan
Cris Jacobs
Dalton Domino
Darling West
Darrin Bradbury
David Ramirez
The Dead South
Dean Owens
Doug Seegers
Drive-by Truckers
Dustbowl Revival
Elijah Ocean
Elizabeth Cook
Emily Barker
Flatland Cavalry
Great American Canyon Band
Hayes Carll
Humming House
Iron & Wine
J.P. Harris
Jade Jackson
Joan Osborne
John Hiatt & the Goners
Joshua Hedley
Kaitlin Butts
The Kernal
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
The Last Bandoleros
Lee Roy Parnell
Lilly Hiatt
Lori McKenna
LUCETTE
Lukas Nelson
Marc Broussard
Mark O’Connor featuring the O’Connor Band
Matthew Ryan
The Mavericks & Friends
Michigan Rattlers
Nicole Atkins
Noam Pikelny
Nora Jane Struthers
North Mississippi Allstars
Phoebe Hunt
Quaker City Night Hawks
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Rogue + Jaye
Romantica
Sammy Brue
The Secret Sisters
Shannon McNally
Steelism
The Steel Wheels
Suzanne Santo
SZLACHETKA
The Texas Gentlemen
The Tillers
Timmy The Teeth
Tom Brosseau
Tommy Womack
Travis Linville
Twisted Pine
Whiskey Shivers
Whitney Rose
The Wild Reeds
Willie Nile
The Wood Brothers
Wood & Wire
Woody Pines
Yola Carter
Photo credit: Peter Bohler
David Renzer has been promoted to Chairman/CEO of Spirit Music Group. Renzer was previously Chairman of the company, which is currently enjoying the global success of the No. 1 Ed Sheeran album, with eight songs co-written by Spirit- B Unique/Polar writer Johnny McDaid. Other recent successes include cuts on albums by Rag N Bone Man, Chris Stapleton, and various No. 1 country singles, among many others.
As Chairman of Spirit, Renzer has spearheaded the expansion of the company’s global activities through a variety of acquisitions, including the establishment of its successful Spirit Music Nashville office, the establishment of UK company Spirit/B-Unique Music, as well as new divisions including Spirit Music Latino and Spirit Production Music/Spirit Music Collective.
In his position, Renzer will continue to oversee the independent publisher’s global activities, expansion plans, and its 75,000 song catalog spanning seven decades across every musical genre. Renzer will work closely with the company’s financial partners, strengthen the company’s global platform, grow the catalog, expand A&R outreach, and along with his team at Spirit develop and implement the company’s strategic objectives.
“Spirit has been one of the fastest-growing independent music publishing companies and I’m thrilled with the progress that we have made and am proud of the team that we have built. We are also excited about the future of our company as we continue our ambitious growth. Spirit is truly a great home for songwriters, composers, and artists and an innovative home equipped to manage all music rights. A special thank you to our Board and financial partners for believing in our vision,” said Renzer.
Prior to joining Spirit, Renzer was Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, where he was responsible for overseeing the activities of the company’s 57 offices in 47 countries. Under his leadership, Universal Music Publishing Group grew through signings and catalogue acquisitions, including the BMG Music Publishing, Zomba, Polygram, and Rondor catalogues. UMPG also became the global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian, and Classical Music.
Renzer was recently re-elected to serve on the board of the National Music Publishers Association, and also serves on board of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and co-founded the Creative Community for Peace. He has also served as the Chairman of the Music and Entertainment Division of the City of Hope, and founded Songs of Hope, raising over $3 million for the City of Hope. He is based out of both Spirit’s New York and Los Angeles offices.
Scott Stachelski
Scott Stachelski has been promoted to VP, Finance at Sony Music Nashville.
Sony Music Nashville COO Ken Robold says, “Scott’s 21 years of experience in the record business combined with his in-depth knowledge of label finance and dedication to his career makes him an obvious choice for advancement. I’m proud to promote Scott to Vice President of Finance for Sony Music Nashville.”
“I would like to thank Ken Robold for his confidence in me and I look forward to his continued guidance,” responds Scott Stachelski. “I am eager to continue taking on the challenges of our evolving industry, and, as a member of the Sony Music Nashville team under the leadership of Randy Goodman, striving to achieve even greater success for our artists and label group.”
Stachelski, joined the label group in 2006 as Director of Finance, will continue to oversee the finance department and Sony Music Nashville’s day to day financial operations, including internal and external reporting, deal analysis, forecasting, budgeting and analysis.
A Clark, New Jersey native, Stachelski is a graduate of Pace University – Lubin School of Business with a BBA in Public Accounting and a CPA. Prior to moving to Nashville and joining the Sony Music Nashville team, he was Director of Financial Reporting for Sony BMG Entertainment, Senior Internal Auditor for BMG Entertainment and began his career in Public Accounting.
Singer-songwriter Shania Twain speaks onstage for her exhibit opening at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on June 27, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Chapter 569
What are the odds?
That seemed to be the theme at the grand opening of the exhibit “Shania Twain: Rock This Country” at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening (June 27). Both museum chief Kyle Young and Shania Twain, herself, were at a loss to explain how a poor, orphaned girl from a remote mining village in Canada became the largest-selling female artist in country music history and one of the 10 best-selling recording artists of all time.
“However in the hell I got here, thank you,” said Shania. “All we can do is marvel,” said Kyle. “Shania’s story is now part of the country music story.”
Both were speaking at a lovely, celebratory cocktail supper staged in the museum’s Rotunda. Kyle reminded the crowd of Shania’s lowly roots and that she now has two of the 10 best-selling albums in the history of country music. She is also the first artist in history with three consecutive RIAA Diamond albums, as the exhibit reminds us.
“I want to begin by thanking Kyle Young — that introduction was very moving and touching,” said Shania. “I’m a little overwhelmed, but very moved. The exhibit walked me through not just my career, but my life. Thank you for representing me so beautifully.
“My beginnings were very difficult. But they prepared me to stand on my own. I had no one to fall back on. All I had was the future.
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 27: Shania Twain (L) and CEO of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young (R) view Shania Twain’s exhibit opening at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on June 27, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
“I’m so broken hearted to have lost Norro Wilson. He stepped in, much like a parent, when I first came to Nashville and looked out for me and really cared.
“When I first moved to Nashville, I was a little different. I swore a lot — ‘f’ this and ‘f’ that. I spoke like a lumberjack. I had to curb that. I had to prepare myself for what was to come.”
She stressed that her strength and independence allowed her to prosper. With producer and ex-husband Mutt Lange by her side, she became an international superstar. When he left, she was alone again.
“Then I had to reacquaint myself with independence again,” she recalled, “making my own way in life. I also reacquainted myself with my largest group of supporters, the fans. Now I see them as a lifeline and as people I understand.”
She spoke of her upcoming comeback album, saying that it makes no apologies and that it deals with her present as well as with her past, good or bad.
“I’m who I am,” said Shania. “I’m standing here, and I’m grateful. For now, I choose to live in the moment.”
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 27: Kelsea Ballerini (L) and Shania Twain (R) view her exhibit opening at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on June 27, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Leading the enthusiastic applause for the Queen of Country Pop was Kelsea Ballerini, attending as a major Shania fan. So were David Briggs, John Briggs, Jimmy Carter, Tim Wipperman, Tom Roland, Bob Doerschuk, Rob Simbeck, Seab Tuck, Sarah Trahern, Phil Ponder, Jensen Sussman, Leslie Fram, Earle Simmons, Stacy Schlitz, Royce Risser, Fletcher Foster and Charlie Chase.
Charlie Monk was making one of his first public forays in the wake of quintuple heart bypass surgery two months ago. “Is there anything here a sick man can eat?” he asked. “Are you sick?” I replied. “You look fine to me.” And he did.
In fact, the food was fabulous. There for your cocktail-dining pleasure were Siracha deviled eggs, mini pressed Cuban sandwiches, summer-sausage cubes, steamed kale and veggie Oriental dumplings, white-bean salad, Bloody-Mary shrimp, spinach and artichoke stuffed braised mushroom caps, cheeses, cured meats, blackberries, pickled veggies and crackers with pimento cheese and/or hummus spreads.
The buffet line stayed busy.
After snacking and yakking, we headed up to the exhibit on the third floor. It is a dazzling display of photos, costumes, artifacts and awards.
“How on earth? What are the odds?” marveled Kyle Young. “The odds are one in 7.5 billion. I think that’s how many people there are on earth today. Only one of them has become Shania Twain.”
The Recording Academy has inked a four-year agreement with AEG for Los Angeles’ Staples Center to host the Grammy telecast when the show returns to Los Angeles in 2019 following its 60th anniversary celebration in New York this coming January.
“We very much consider Staples Center our home and are grateful for the successful relationship we’ve cultivated throughout the years with AEG and the entire Staples Center team,” said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. “We look forward to continuing this relationship and bringing the Grammys back to the Entertainment Capital of the World.”
The Grammy Awards have been held at the Los Angeles Staples Center for 17 out of the last 18 years. Additionally, AEG has been home to the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live since 2008.
“We are thrilled that Staples Center will continue to be home to the Grammy Awards,” said AEG President & CEO Dan Beckerman. “We have always enjoyed a strong relationship with the Recording Academy and have a tremendous amount of respect for Neil Portnow, who has always been a collaborative partner to AEG. We look forward to welcoming back the Grammys when they return to Los Angeles in 2019.”
“Staples Center has been the home of not only Music’s Biggest Night, but the most important nights in music since we first opened,” said Lee Zeidman, President of Staples Center and L.A. LIVE. “We designed many aspects of Staples Center in partnership with the Recording Academy and look forward to extending this important relationship for years to come.”
CBS will continue to broadcast the show live on both coasts and the 2019 show will mark the 47th consecutive year the network has broadcast the Grammy Awards. CBS has a commitment to broadcast the show through 2026.
Three Hounds Music, a new independent music publishing and artist development company, has officially opened an office in Nashville, while maintaining an office in Houston, Texas.
Houston-based entrepreneur, musician and music publisher Tom Harrison joined forces with Tyler Bell, an artist/writer manager, publisher and audio engineer, and Bobby Terry, a studio and live musician, songwriter and producer, to form Three Hounds Music.
The Three Hounds family includes songwriters David Tolliver (Tim McGraw, Jerrod Neiman, Brantley Gilbert) of duo Halfway To Hazard, Sarah Beth Terry, Chris Cavanaugh (Kip Moore, Lonestar, Steve Holy) and Kevin Brandt (Montgomery Gentry, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis) in addition to Bobby Terry (Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Gretchen Wilson) and new Americana duo Fleener.
Photo #1 L-R: Stuart Dill, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Entertainment Liaison; Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp founder; Dierks Bentley; Tiffany Moon, EVP/Managing Director, Academy of Country Music; Ross Copperman, ACM Award winning songwriter/producer and ACM Lifting Lives Board Member; Elizabeth Roof, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Senior Research Specialist. Photo #2 L-R: Beth Moore, ACM Lifting Lives Board Member and Director of Community Development, VUMC; Tiffany Moon, EVP/Managing Director, Academy of Country Music; Bobby Bones, Nationally Syndicated On-Air Personality and ACM Board Member; Mamie Shepherd, Manager of Seacrest Studios at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt; Melita Rippy, Entertainment Industry Relations, VUMC
The 8th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp took place in Nashville last week, with campers from around the country participating in a week of activities and excursions around Music City. The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education.
Two-time ACM Awards co-host Dierks Bentley and renowned songwriter/producer Ross Copperman lead campers in a songwriting session, creating “I Love Big,” an original song based on campers’ personal experiences and inspirations.
On Friday, Nationally Syndicated On-Air Personality Bobby Bones 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, platinum selling recording artist Jerrod Niemann dropped by and participated in a karaoke event at Winner’s Bar & Grill with the campers and performed some of his hits.
Moved by a sweet dedication of Niemann’s smash hit “What Do You Want,” he shocked a camper by joining in on an ovation-worthy duet.
The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Photo #3 L-R: Jerrod Niemann with ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers
Photo credit: Marina Chavez
South African rock band Seether has signed with United Talent Agency for worldwide representation. Seether has released seven studio albums since moving to the U.S. in 2002. Poison the Parish, the group’s newest release, was released on May 12 on Canine Riot Records (via Concord Music Group).
The band now resides in the U.S., with Seether singer/songwriter and guitarist Shaun Morgan residing in Nashville.
Morgan produced the album (the first he’s produced in its entirety), alongside engineer and mixer Matt Hyde at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio. Poison the Parish’s single, “Let You Down,” topped the Mediabase active rock airplay chart for three weeks at No. 1.
Seether is managed by Danny Nozell, Steve Ross, and Kyle McClain at CTK Management.
The ACM has announced the Industry Award winners for the 52nd Academy Of Country Music Awards. Voted on by the Academy’s professional members, the ACM Industry Awards honor the behind-the-scenes industry professionals and venues in country. The Academy of Country Music Industry Award, Studio Recording Award and Special Award winners will be announced and celebrated during the 11th Annual ACM Honors, a night dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place Aug. 23 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS: