Clio Music Awards Jury Selected

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The Clio Awards have announced the jury selection for Music Marketing and Use Of Music at the upcoming Clio Music Awards to be held this Oct. 3 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom during Advertising Week in NYC. Nashville-based Wayne Leeloy of G7 Entertainment and Donna McQueen with Red Light Management are both on the 2018 Jury.

Launched five years ago and created in partnership with Billboard, Clio Music underscores the visceral power of music to connect consumers and brands. It lives as a section within the annual Clio Awards event dedicated to honoring work that spans artist self-promotion, music marketing, brand collaborations, and the use of music in advertising.

Key dates, fees, and a full list of mediums and categories can be found at clios.com/music.

Clio Music 2018 Jury:
Music Marketing:
Jessica Beutler Abel, Executive Vice President, Client Services, MAC Presents
Alisann Blood, SVP of Brand Partnerships, Maverick Management
Jennifer Breithaupt, Global Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, Citi
Scott Carter, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Epic Records
Ian Daly, Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation
Nathan Gregory, Music Brand Partnerships Executive, CAA
Joy Howard, CMO, Sonos
Manuel Hubault, VP Brand Partnerships, UMGB
Chad Issaq, EVP, Business Development & Partnerships, Superfly
Jackie Jantos, VP Brand and Creative, Spotify
Davor Krvavac, Executive Creative Director, B-Reel
Wayne Leeloy, Head of Strategy & Innovation, G7 Entertainment
Donna McQueen, VP Brand Partnerships, Red Light Management
Joe Mulvihill, Entertainment Manager, LiveWire Entertainment
Emma Quigley, Head of Music & Entertainment, PepsiCo
Katie Robinson Addis, Global Head of Marketing, Red Bull Records
Alexis Rodriguez, Head of Global Marketing Solutions, Shazam
Jim Roppo, EVP & General Manager, Republic Records
Carolyn Williams, Senior Vice President, Marketing, RCA Records

Use of Music:
Ed Alexander, Global Head of Music Marketing, Beats by Dr. Dre
Ed Bailie, Director/ Music Supervisor, Leland Music/ Leland Originals
Kelly Bayett, Creative Director/ Partner, Barking Owl
Bob Bowen, Head of Music, Amazon Studios
Ben Dorenfeld, Senior Music Producer, Anomaly
Maura Duval Griffin, Director of Business Development and Music Licensing, Audiomachine
Jennifer Frommer, SVP, Creative Content & Licensing, Columbia Records
Alex Hackford, Senior Artist & Repertoire/ Music Affairs, Sony Interactive Entertainment America
Nick Keenan, Head of Music, VML
Liz Lewis, VP of Sync for Advertising and Video Games, Warner Bros. Records
Greg Moore, Joint Music Director, Adelphoi Music
Brad Rains, Senior Vice-President, Brand Partnerships & Commercial Licensing, Atlantic Records
Rebecca Rienks, Music Supervisor, NBC Entertainment
Marco Zermeño, Executive Production Manager & Latin America Head of Integrated Production, P&G

Nashville’s Creative Community Comes Together For Pop Unsigned Writer Camp

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Photo Credit: Leah McEachern

Last week, 24 unsigned pop artists, writers, and producers came together to form the first Nashville Underground Pop Camp and Showcase. The purpose of this camp was to give the pop focused artists, writers, and producers in Nashville a chance to collaborate and network.

Each participant had one co-write every day for three days. At the end of each day they would play their songs from that day for industry professionals and receive feedback. After everyone’s songs were played, the floor was then opened to questions and discussion between the writers and the industry speakers.

This sparked discussion about the prevalence of pop music within Nashville and gave writers relevant tips and advice on how to navigate their careers from here rather than LA. The three days of the camp came to a close with a showcase at The Back Corner (including 300 guests in attendance) where Liv Miraldi, Iolite, Estef, James Droll, Chelsea Lankes, and Jordan Pruitt performed – all of whom were writers in the camp.

Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Jordan Pruitt performs. Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Photo Credit: Leah McEachern

Beth Nielsen Chapman To Make Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Noted songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman will make her Grand Ole Opry debut on April 14, adding another accolade to her performing career. 

Chapman will release her new album, Hearts of Glass, on April 27. The project, her 13th, marks her first collection since Chapman was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016. On Hearts of Glass, Chapman has recorded her own versions of songs that were recorded by Willie Nelson (“If My World Didn’t Have You”) and Waylon Jennings (“Old Church Hymns & Nursery Rhymes”), as well as reworked versions of album cuts and several new compositions.

Chapman’s numerous songwriting credits include Faith Hill’s “This Kiss,” Martina McBride’s “Happy Girl,” Lorrie Morgan’s “Five Minutes,” Willie Nelson’s “Nothing I Can Do About It Now,” Tanya Tucker’s “Strong Enough to Bend,” and Trisha Yearwood’s “Down on My Knees,” among many others.

She will make multiple appearances in Nashville in the next few weeks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Songwriter Session (April 7), SESAC Presents: In the Round at The Bluebird Café (April 10), and the WMOT Finally Friday radio broadcast at the Nashville Palace (April 13).

ACM, Stagecoach Announce Collaboration

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Two of Southern California’s leading country music authorities, the Academy of Country Music® and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, have teamed up to give country fans the chance to experience country music on the West Coast by winning passes to 2018 Stagecoach and tickets to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2019.

Stagecoach will be featured in interactive fan activations at select ACM Party for a Cause® events taking place April 13-15, 2018 in Las Vegas, leading up to the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, with prizes including Stagecoach merchandise and pass giveaways. The Academy will also take over Stagecoach’s official Instagram (@stagecoach) for a portion of ACM Awards weekend, to give country fans a behind-the-scenes peek at Country Music’s Party of the Year®.

At Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival taking place April 27-29, 2018 in Indio, California, the Academy of Country Music will host a fan activation booth giving festival-goers the opportunity to spin-to-win Academy merchandise and other prizes, including tickets to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2019. Artists and industry attendees will also be invited to enjoy an ACM branded artist lounge backstage throughout the weekend.

“I am beyond excited about teaming up with the Academy of Country Music. Our organizations share a passion for creating quality events and opportunities for artists and fans alike,” said Stagecoach Festival Director Stacy Vee.

“The ACM is thrilled to collaborate with Southern California’s preeminent country music festival, Stagecoach. It seemed like a logical, natural fit to bring together these two West Coast forces to create additional opportunities for our country music fans,” said Erick Long, ACM Senior Vice President, Events & Partnerships.

89 Artists Add Names Petitioning Congress To Pass CLASSICS Act

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A coalition of music artists, supported by eight leading music organizations, continues to grow, with 89 additional musicians joining the call on Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act. This bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress, with the number of artists supporting CLASSICS now totaling 302.

Currently, artists who recorded their work before Feb. 15, 1972 are not required by federal law to be paid when their work is played on digital radio and digital streaming services. The CLASSICS Act would ensure that music creators who made those recordings are compensated.

The CLASSICS Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and will be a part of the music copyright package scheduled for markup by the House Judiciary Committee the week of April 9. Companion legislation in the U.S. Senate, (S. 2393), is sponsored by Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and in recent weeks Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have signed in support of the legislation.

The growing coalition of artists urging passage of the CLASSICS Act is supported by music community leaders including A2IM, American Federation of Musicians, Content Creators Coalition, the Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.

The artists recently joining the coalition to pass the CLASSICS Act includes:

Albert Hammond
Janita
Allen Toussaint (Estate)
Jesse Colin Young (of the Youngbloods)
Allman Brothers Band
Jewel
Aloe Blacc
Joe Williams (Estate)
Ann-Margret
John Lennon (Estate)
Anthony Hamilton
Johnny Rivers
Betty Everett (Estate)
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman
Big & Rich
Jonatha Brooke
Big Joe Turner (Estate)
Judy Collins
Bill Gaither
Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
Billy Preston (PMGI Billy Preston’s Legacy)
Laurence Corky Laing
Billy Talent
Lionel Richie
Blackwood Brothers Quartet
Louis Jordan (Estate)
Blake Morgan
Mac Davis
Bob Crosby (Estate)
Martha Reeves
Bruce Springsteen
Maurice White (Estate)
Camper Van Beethoven
Mel Schacher
Candi Staton
Michael McDonald
Cathedral Quartet
Mike Curb Congregation
Chris Clark
Milt Jackson (Estate)
Chuck Berry (Estate)
Oak Ridge Boys
Clara Ward (Estate)
Outkast
Claudette Robinson/The Miracles
Pat Boone
Cracker
Patty Smyth
Curtis Stigers
Paul McCartney
Cyrille Aimee
Petula Clark
Danny Hutton
Portugal. The Man.
David Barbe
Randy Crawford
David Lowery
Ricky Nelson (The Ricky Nelson Company)
David Poe
Ringo Starr
David Sanborn
Rob Thomas
Dickey Betts
Rush
Dinah Washington (Estate)
Ryan Cabrera
Dorothy Norwood
Sam Moore
Don Brewer
Shawn Mendes
Duane Betts
Simon Kirke (Bad Company)
Elf Power
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Estate)
Ella Fitzgerald (Estate)
Smokey Robinson
Engelbert Humperdinck
Tennessee Ernie Ford (Estate)
Ethel Merman (Estate)
The Beatles
Frank Zappa (Estate)
The Empty Pockets
Glen Campbell (Estate)
The Nelons
Gunnar Printz “Mert” Madsen
Tracy Bonham
J.D. Sumner (Estate)
Trombone Shorty
Jackie “Moms” Mabley (Estate)

Riley Roth Inks Joint Publishing, Development Deal With Busbee, BMG

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Pictured (L-R):Mike Sistad (ASCAP); Ralph Murphy (ASCAP); Stephanie Taylor (Stephanie Taylor Law, PLLC); Riley Roth; Kos Weaver (Executive VP, BMG); Daniel Lee (VP Creative, BMG); busbee

Songwriter and artist Riley Roth has entered into a joint publishing and development deal with hit songwriter and producer busbee and BMG.

A Pennsylvania native, Riley began making regular trips to Nashville when she was 16, at which time she met ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy, who in turn introduced her to BMG’s Daniel Lee. After working informally for almost two years, Daniel introduced Riley to busbee and the three agreed to work together shortly thereafter.

Said VP of Creative Daniel Lee, “Riley represents every positive trait you hope to find in a young artist and none of the negatives that can so often make those situations challenging. She holds her own in every setting: in a writing room, on stage, and interacting with industry professionals at every level.”

Said busbee, “Riley has that rare ability to communicate directly to listeners at every level, and to her peers in particular. It’s a product of her heart, her dedication, her skill, and her work ethic, and when an artist can marry those traits with the right songs and records, anything is possible.”

Said Riley, “All I’ve ever wanted to do was make music. I’m grateful to see that dream come true and to work every day with such an incredible team, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come!”

CMA Adds Two Staffers

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The Country Music Association has hired two staffers to support key strategic initiatives. Milly Olykan will join CMA as Vice President of International Relations and Development, furthering the association’s global expansion initiatives, and Falon Keith has joined CMA as Grant Associate, continuing to support and grow CMA’s philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation.

“Expanding the reach of country music globally has long been our focus at CMA,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We created this role to help focus and escalate these efforts on behalf of our industry. Our staff, community and Board of Directors have worked closely with Milly since the inception of C2C in 2013. We’re thrilled to welcome her to CMA, where she will no doubt hit the ground running and continue to expand country music to an even larger global audience.”

Olykan comes to CMA from AEG Presents in London, where she was Vice President of Live Music and Major Arena Events. For AEG she developed in-house commercial content for The O2 and was the founding Festival Director and Co-Promoter of C2C Country to Country. Other projects for AEG included her management of Sundance Film and Music Festival, the first Sundance Film Festival outside of the United States, and the launching of numerous events including BRITs Week, Hola! London and Country Music Week. Prior to AEG Presents, Olykan worked in artist management, promotion, and tour management where she produced festivals for IMG Artists and booked tours for Universal Music. She was awarded the Jo Walker Meador International Award in March, and has served on the CMA Board since 2014. She’ll begin her new role at CMA in mid-May where she will report to Trahern and be based in Nashville.

Keith joins CMA from the YMCA of Middle Tennessee where she supported the charitable efforts of the YMCA’s development team as Philanthropy Administrator. Prior to the YMCA, Keith served as Communications Intern at Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, assisting in social media development. In her new role, she manages the CMA Foundation’s relationships with grant recipients and assists in supporting Foundation efforts and events. Keith is a native of York, Pennsylvania and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sales. Keith reports to CMA Director of Community Outreach Tiffany Kerns.

ROAR’s Bernie Cahill, Greg Suess Launch Activist Artists Management

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Bernie Cahill and Greg Suess, founding partners of Roar, along with fellow partner and Head of Roar’s Nashville office Matt Maher have left the company and launched Activist Artists Management, a full-service talent management, integrated media and advisory firm.

Cahill, Suess and Maher comprised the majority of the partners at Roar, and Liz Norris ran the New York Office. Roar’s entire music department and client list under Cahill has also exited and joined Activist, which now employs 23 associates— including 11 managers—with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta.

Activist new global headquarters is located at the Activist Building located at 8500 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.

“Activist was created for authentic artists that are striving to make a difference through their art – simply put we have the team here that can help them move the world,” said Cahill.

Adds Suess, “we are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together at Roar and are looking forward to continuing to provide our clients with the highest level of forward-thinking representation in this next, exciting endeavor.”

Activist will provide comprehensive management services for its clients including music management, talent and brand management, and film and TV development.

Cahill will continue to represent artists including Dwight Yoakam, Grateful Dead, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ben Rector, Bob Weir, Clare Bowen, Dead & Company (co-managed with Irving Azoff), David Alan Grier, Sal Masekela, and Stephanie Izard.

Maher will head Activist’s Nashville office where he will continue to serve as the day-to-day manager for a number of Activist’s recording artists. Maher was previously a partner at Roar and the head of the Roar Nashville office where he helped to expand the roster and build the music careers of Dwight Yoakam, Ben Rector, and Zac Brown Band in their rise from regional success to a GRAMMY Award-winning stadium act. Maher, along with Cahill and Suess, continue to be partners with Zac Brown in the award-winning Z. Alexander Brown wine label.

Suess will advise clients at Activist across a wide range of transactions, content strategies, seed and growth capital, strategic alliances, joint venture agreements, licensing agreements, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, and marketing and distribution agreements. Previously, Suess was a co-founder at Roar where he established its corporate division and was a strategic advisor to Vice Media, and strategic advisor to, and investor in, Appetize, Cinedigm, Genius Brands, Influential.co, Ticketfairy and Virgin Hotels – Nashville, all of whom have joined Activist as clients. He will also continue to advise Activist’s clients in their non-profit endeavors; while at Roar, he led fundraising initiatives that resulted in more than $50M in funding for their various causes, including $35M for Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground where he is still an active advisory board member.

Norris, who was previously Roar’s Head of Media and Brand Strategy, will join Activist as a partner and head their New York office. Norris will focus on media and brand strategies for all Activist clients and will continue to create promotional opportunities and awareness around album releases, book releases, tours, film premieres and product launches.

The Khan family, owners of NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, The Four Seasons Toronto among other holdings, have made a strategic investment into Activist and have separately established the Activist content and venture fund focused on investments in media/entertainment/hospitality/consumer prooducts, services and technologies.  Cahill and Suess have a relationship with the Khan family through previous investments and partnerships including The Virgin Hotels – Nashville, Appetize Technologies, Fair, and The Real Coconut.

 

Jeremy Camp, Matthew West, Rend Collective Unite For Summer Tour

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Jeremy Camp, Matthew West, Rend Collective with special guest Koryn Hawthorne will play Compassion International’s Summer Lights Tour on the East Coast throughout the month of July.

This marks the second year for the popular tour that will visit a mix of venues including amphitheaters and churches in markets such as Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, Baltimore and more. Ticket pre-order begins tomorrow, April 4, with tickets available nationwide on April 6 at summerlightstour.com.

“Summer Lights Tour” Dates:
* All dates subject to change.
7/12: Detroit, Mich.; Bethesda Christian Church
7/13: Chicago; Centennial Chapel Olivet Nazarene University
7/14: Kansas City, Mo.; Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
7/15: Murfreesboro, Tenn.;  *venue to be announced **Jeremy Camp, Rend Collective and Koryn Hawthorne only
7/19: Virginia Beach, Va.; Rock Church
7/20: Baltimore, Md.; UMBC Events Center **Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and Koryn Hawthorne only
7/21: Botkins, Ohio; Only Believe Ministries Christian Church
7/22: Corbin, Ky.; Corbin Arena

Americana Music Association Benefit Concert To Honor Female Songwriters

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A benefit concert for the Americana Music Association will take place May 9 at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York. The show, which is supported by music industry organization Change the Conversation, will pay tribute to some of music’s greatest female songwriting talents.

Those appearing include Amy Helm, The Barr Brothers, Cassandra Jenkins, Courtney Marie Andrews, Craig Finn from The Hold Steady, Deva Mahal, Elizabeth & The Catapult, Jade Bird, Kam Franklin from The Suffers, Kanene Pipkin from The Lone Bellow, Lola Kirke, Nicki Bluhm, and Vera Sola, with others to be announced. Each performer will honor the music of pioneering women including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Bessie Smith, Carole King, Mahalia Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris.

The show is being produced by Jesse Lauter (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Hannah Gold (City Winery/ Luck Reunion) and Drew Thurlow (Sony Masterworks, SVP of A&R), with music direction from Josh Kaufman (Bob Weir, The National). Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Lola Kirke from Mozart in the Jungle.

All proceeds will benefit the Americana Music Association.

Tickets for the tribute show will be made available for purchase by members of the Americana Music Association® during an exclusive pre-sale on Thursday, April 5 beginning at 9 a.m. EST. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 6 starting at 9 a.m. EST at axs.com.