Columbia Nashville Adds Two To Promo Department

/by

Senior Vice President, Promotion, Columbia Nashville Shane Allen has announced the addition of Lauren Longbine as Director, Southeast Promotion to the label. Lyndsay Church has been named Director, Northeast Promotion, effective immediately. Both positions will report to Allen.

“The entire Columbia team is extremely excited to have Lauren join our staff. Her reputation as a promotion all-star and sincere passion for her artists and their music is undisputed,” he said.

Longbine joins from Big Machine Label Group, where she served as Director of Southwest/Midwest Regional Promotion & Marketing, leading promotions effort in the region for artists including Florida Georgia Line, Brett Young, and Danielle Bradbery. A University of Kansas alumna, she was also previously an account executive at Steel City Media.

“I’m very grateful to Steve Hodges and Shane Allen for this exciting opportunity to take on a new region in the next chapter of my career. The Columbia Nashville team is white-hot right now, and I can’t wait to hit the ground running!” enthused Longbine.

Longbine will assume her role beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

Church joined Columbia Nashville as Manager, Regional Promotion in 2016, supporting the label’s roster of artists including Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Tenille Townes. Her previous stops include Red Light Management, Capitol Records Nashville, and Loomis, Sayles & Company.

Lyndsay Church

Lauren Longbine

Aaron Watson Makes A “Time Capsule” Family Holiday Album, Talks New Music For 2019

/by

Aaron Watson

When Aaron Watson’s fans request new music, he listens.

“For the past four or five years, my fans have just been harassing me for a Christmas record,” Watson tells MusicRow Magazine. “We’ve been flirting with the ideas of doing one for the past couple of years, but it always seemed like we ran out of time.”

This year, he’s made good on the idea.

Instead of just heading into the studio to lay down a collection of solo tracks, Watson decided to make the project a family affair, recording the album with his wife Kimberly and three children, Jake (12), Jack (10) and Jolee Kate (8).

An Aaron Watson Family Christmas, available now, features a slate of classic Christmas songs, as well as a couple of originals.

To record the album, the Watson family canceled a June vacation and decided to do a 12-day “staycation” at their home in Texas. Mornings were spent swimming and cooking out in the scorching 100-degree Texas heat.

“The kids would be swimming and listening to Christmas music on the speakers,” he recalls. “They got such a kick out of it.”

While evenings were spent in the “studio”—Kimberly’s closet, where Aaron strung Christmas lights and set up recording equipment, microphones and his computer.

The whole family sings on “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” while Jolee Kate sings on Christmas Time Is Here, with Jack offering a scripture reading. Eldest son Jake sings on “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.”

Aaron Watson with wife Kimberly and children Jake, Jack and Jolee Kate.

“The kids would put on the headphones and sing their hearts out. I think this is one of the best little Christmas records and I’m biased because my babies are singing on it,” he says. “For me, it’s so special because it is like a time capsule, just with their little voices and how sweet they are. They won’t sound like this for long and they are at the right age…if they were too young being part of a project like this might be challenging and if they are too old, it kind of loses the sweetness.”

Kimberly appears on a few tracks, including “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bells,” and the flirty “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and Aaron says it took a little convincing to get her to sing on the album.

“She’s never sang on anything before, but I’ve heard her sing in church,” he says. “She has a sweet, beautiful voice, but she just kept avoiding me like the plague. We ran through [“Baby It’s Cold Outside”] the first couple of times and I was like, ‘You’re not evening singing!’

“I still laugh about it, because I was going from the loving husband to the frustrated producer. She was acting shy and embarrassed, but we are literally in her closet surrounded by her clothes, it’s not like we were live on television. Finally, she just sang her heart out, and it sounded great.”

Elsewhere on the album, Watson gives a nod to classic country with the self-penned “Lonely Lonestar Christmas,” and offers a touching take on “She Stared At Him All Night,” penned by solo artist and former Sons of the Desert member Drew Womack.

Rather than record a straight-ahead country holiday album, Watson infuses it with shadings of big band music.

“One of the reasons I wanted to sing ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ with Kimberly is that Dean Martin had one of my favorite versions of this song. The girl he had singing with him has a very airy, soft voice like the girls used to sing in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and Kim’s voice is just like that. The kids just got such a kick out of hearing their mama sing.”

Watson recalls growing up listening to music from Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

“I was born about 50 years too late but I’ve always loved that music. I probably sing that stuff better than country music,” he notes, adding that he hopes to one day record a Sinatra cover album.

As it is, Watson has plenty more country music and touring in the works. On January, he will launch another headlining trek beginning in Goliad, Texas.

2019 will mark Watson’s 20th year as a music artist and according to Watson, he celebrate with a new (non-holiday) album, Red Bandana, which is slated for June 21, 2019. The album includes 20 tracks, all penned by Watson.

“It’s been tough focusing on anything else because for the past two years I’ve been writing for this new album, and I wrote all 20 songs. It was important that I wrote this album. I wanted 20 new songs, to give the fans both quality and quantity. I think I’m starting to catch my stride as a singer and songwriter, so it’s exciting.”

Nominees Announced For 30th Annual Pollstar Awards

/by

Several Nashville artists, executives, and venues earned top nominations in the recently-announced 30th annual Pollstar Awards.

Taylor Swift is among the nominees for Major Tour of the Year for her reputation tour, alongside tours from Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Drake, Ed Sheeran and U2. Swift is also nominated for Best Pop Tour. Nashville resident and Tennessee native Justin Timberlake is also nominated for Best Pop Tour, for his Man Of The Woods tour.

In the Best Country Tour are Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour), Kenny Chesney (Trip Around the Sun Tour), Luke Bryan (What Makes You Country Tour), Keith Urban (Graffiti U World Tour), Thomas Rhett (Life Changes Tour 2018), and Shania Twain (NOW Tour).

Kane Brown is nominated in the Best New Headliner category, as well as the Best Support/Special Guest category for his opening slot on Chris Young’s Losing Sleep World Tour. Luke Combs is also nominated in the Best New Headliner category.

Country artists take three of the Best Support/Special Guest category nominations, with Brown nominated alongside Kacey Musgraves (for her opening slot on Harry Styles’ tour) and Kelsea Ballerini, nominated for her opening slot on Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour.

Manchester, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo festival was nominated in the Music Festival Over 30K Capacity category, while the Ryman Auditorium earned a Theater of the Year nomination. Bridgestone Arena earned an Arena of the Year nomination, while Ascend Theater earned a Best Outdoor Concert Venue nod.

Brad Paisley‘s campaign with Nationwide Insurance earned a nomination for Best Brand Partnership/Live Campaign, while Vince Gill earned a Best Touring Musician nomination for his work with The Eagles.

Among the nominees for Marketing/PR exec are Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland, and Sacks & Co.’s Asha Goodman. The Back In The Day award nominees include Morris Higham Management’s Dale Morris, and McGhee Entertainment’s Doc McGhee. Among the nominees for the Bill Graham Promoter of the Year honor are Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell and AEG Presents’ Ali Harnell. WME’s Jay Williams is also nominated for the Bobby Brooks Agent of the Year honor.

The 30th annual Pollstar Awards will conclude the Pollstar Live! conference, to be held Feb. 11-13 at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The nominees were selected by a panel of more than 2,000 agents, managers, promoters, venue operators, and professionals who work in the live entertainment industry. Pollstar has also revealed changes to the program for the 30th anniversary event, both in terms of award categories and in the methodology calculating winners. These changes are geared to increase relevancy, recognize the evolution of the industry, and acknowledge the standard-bearers for the preceding touring year. While the Pollstar Awards will remain predominantly an industry peer-voted honor, Pollstar will for the first time weigh actual box office performance (gross revenue and ticket sales) as factors in determining winners for many awards. Also, certain executives and artists must be affiliated with specific tours, venues and events from the preceding touring year in order to maintain relevance to the year being considered.

“For 30 years, the Pollstar Awards have been the definitive recognition for achievement in the touring industry, and we are honored and privileged to again recognize the elite artists, venues, and executives in the world of live entertainment,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, parent company of Pollstar. “This is a thrilling time to be in the business of live, and we remain inspired by the level of professionalism, creativity and fan engagement exhibited by those who make up our nominees for the 2019 Pollstar Awards, and across the industry.”

New categories have been added, including some honoring new headliners, residencies, and non-music tours. Other, more irreverent, categories recognize the awards’ 30th anniversary, and will honor some of the industry’s larger-than-life personalities and the unique aspects of the touring business. These categories include “The Unavailable,” “Best Hang,” “Most Dreaded Phone Call,” and the “Back In My Day” awards.

“The changes made for the 2019 Pollstar Awards reflect our ongoing efforts to present the most relevant and accurate representation of the ‘year in touring’ and the highest achieving artists and professionals that make up this dynamic, passionate business,” said Ray Waddell, president of OVG’s Media & Conferences division. “We also wanted to try and have some fun because, while this industry is definitely made up of the hardest working men and women in show business, they also know how to have a good time.”

 

30th Annual Pollstar Awards Nominations

Major Tour of the Year
Ed Sheeran | ÷ Tour
Taylor Swift | Reputation Tour
Bruno Mars | 24K Magic World Tour
Beyoncé & Jay-Z | On The Run II Tour
Drake | Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
U2 | eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour

Best Rock Tour
Foo Fighters | Concrete and Gold Tour 2018
Panic! At The Disco | Pray for the Wicked Tour
U2 | eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour
Metallica | WorldWired Tour
Imagine Dragons | ƎVOLVE World Tour
Def Leppard/Journey | Def Leppard & Journey Tour
Eagles | An Evening With The Eagles

Best Hip-Hop/R&B
Drake | Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
Beyoncé & Jay-Z | On The Run II Tour
Post Malone | Beerbongs & Bentleys Tour
Travis Scott | Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour
Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock & More) | The Championship Tour
Childish Gambino | This Is America Tour

Best Pop Tour
Ed Sheeran | ÷ Tour
Pink | Beautiful Trauma World Tour
Taylor Swift | Reputation Tour
Bruno Mars | 24K Magic World Tour
Justin Timberlake | The Man Of The Woods Tour
Harry Styles | Harry Styles: Live On Tour

Best Country Tour
Chris Stapleton | Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour
Kenny Chesney | Trip Around the Sun Tour
Luke Bryan | What Makes You Country Tour
Keith Urban | Graffiti U World Tour
Thomas Rhett | Life Changes Tour 2018
Shania Twain | NOW Tour

Best Latin Tour
J Balvin | Vibras Tour
Luis Miguel | México Por Siempre Tour
Ozuna | Aura Tour
Shakira | El Dorado World Tour
Romeo Santos | Golden Tour
Bad Bunny | La Nueva Religion Tour

Best Comedy Tour
Kevin Hart | The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour
Sebastian Maniscalco | Stay Hungry Tour
Dave Chappelle & Jon Stewart |
Jim Jefferies | The Night Talker Tour
Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld Live
Steve Martin & Martin Short | Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest of Your Life

Best Support/Special Guest
Kacey Musgraves | Harry Styles – Harry Styles: Live
Kane Brown | Chris Young – Losing Sleep World Tour
Kelsea Ballerini | Keith Urban – Graffiti U World Tour
The Struts | Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold Tour 2018
Migos | Drake – Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour
Lauv | Ed Sheeran – ÷ Tour

Best Residency
Billy Joel | Madison Square Garden Arena
Bruce Springsteen | Walter Kerr Theatre
Celine Dion | Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Elton John | Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Jennifer Lopez | Zappos Theater in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Backstreet Boys | Zappos Theater in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Best Soft Ticket Act
10,000 Maniacs
Air Supply
America
Donny & Marie
Earth Wind & Fire
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Best Non-Music Tour of the Year
Pod Tours America
Becoming: An Intimate Conversation With Michelle Obama
Peppa Pig’s Surprise
WWE Monday Night Raw
Cirque du Soleil Crystal
Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour Presented by Pull-Ups

Best New Headliner
Greta Van Fleet
Billie Eilish
Harry Styles
Luke Combs
Kane Brown
Post Malone

Music Festival Over 30K Capacity
Coachella | Indio, CA
Lollapalooza | Chicago, IL
Stagecoach | Indio, CA
Austin City Limits Music Festival | Austin, TX
Bonnaroo | Manchester, TN
BottleRock Napa Valley | Napa, CA
Outside Lands | San Francisco, CA

Music Festival Under 30K Capacity
Newport Folk Festival | Newport, RI
The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival | Gulf Shores, AL
Desert Daze | Lake Perris, CA
Forecastle | Louisville, KY
Moon River | Chattanooga, TN
The Ohana Fest | Dana Point, CA

Nightclub of the Year
Brooklyn Steel | Brooklyn, N.Y.
9:30 Club | Washington, D.C.
The Anthem | Washington, D.C.
Irving Plaza | New York, N.Y.
Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Thalia Hall | Chicago, IL

Theatre of the Year
Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN
Radio City Music Hall | New York, NY
Beacon Theatre | New York, NY
Chicago Theater | Chicago, IL
Fox Theater Oakland | Oakland, CA
Fox Theatre Atlanta | Atlanta, GA
Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland | Kansas City, MO

Arena of the Year
The Forum | Inglewood, CA
Madison Square Garden Arena | New York, NY
Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN
STAPLES CENTER | Los Angeles, CA
Barclays Center | Brooklyn, NY
Golden 1 Center | Sacramento, CA
02 Arena | London, UK

Best Outdoor Concert Venue
Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO
Hollywood Bowl | Los Angeles, CA
Forest Hills Stadium | Queens, NY
Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA
Ascend Amphitheatre | Nashville, TN
Gorge Amphitheatre | George, WA
Merriweather Post Pavilion | Columbia, MD

Best New Concert Venue
The Sylvee | Madison, WI
Avenir Centre | Moncton, New Brunswick, CA
Fiserv Forum | Milwaukee, WI
Pier 17 At South Street Seaport | New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera House | Philadelphia, PA
The Armory | Minneapolis, MN
Elsewhere | Brooklyn, NY

Venue Executive of the Year
Keith Sheldon, Barclays Center
Jeff Nickler, BOK Center
David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Laurie Jacoby, MSG
Chris Wright, NYCB Live, home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
James Rasmussen, Golden 1 Center
Becky Colwell, Greek Theatre

Talent Buyer of the Year
Stacy Vee, Goldenvoice
Amy Corbin, C3 Presents
Don Strasburg, AEG Presents
Geoff Gordon, Live Nation
Huston Powell, C3 Presents
Sonia Grover, First Avenue
Stacie George, Live Nation

Bill Graham Award-Promoter of the Year
Louis Messina, Messina Touring Group
Ryan McElrath, Live Nation Touring
Brian O’Connell, Live Nation Country
Gregg Perloff, Another Planet Entertainment
Arthur Fogel, Live Nation Global Touring
Ali Harnell, AEG Presents

International Promoter of the Year
Simon Moran, SJM Concerts
Barrie Marshall, Marshall Arts Ltd
Jim King, AEG Presents
Denis Desmond, MCD Productions
Michael Chugg, Chugg Entertainment
Folkert Koopmans, FKP Scorpio

Bobby Brooks Award – Agent of the Year
Marty Diamond, Paradigm Talent Agency
Jay Williams, William Morris Endeavor
Andrew Simon, Creative Artists Agency
John Marx, William Morris Endeavor
Adam Kornfeld, Artist Group International
Cheryl Paglierani, United Talent Agency
Cara Lewis, Cara Lewis Group

International Booking Agent of the Year
Emma Banks, Creative Artists Agency
James Whitting, CODA
Neil Warnock, United Talent Agency
Rod MacSween, International Talent Booking
Steve Strange, X-Ray Touring
Jon Ollier, Creative Artists Agency

Booking Agency of the Year
William Morris Endeavor
Paradigm Talent Agency
Creative Artists Agency
United Talent Agency
Artist Group International
Agency for the Performing Arts

Rising Star
Joe Giordano Jr., BOK Center
Michael Owens, Chesapeake Energy Arena
Jared Braverman, Live Nation
Brittanie Delava, AEG Presents
Cheryl Paglierani, United Talent Agency
Lesley Olenik, Live Nation

Personal Manager of the Year
John Silva, Silva Artist Management
Stuart Camp, Grumpy Old Management
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Coran Capshaw, Red Light Management
Jeffrey Azoff, Full Stop Management
Dre London, London Entertainment

Road Warrior
Jake Berry | U2
Gus Brandt | Foo Fighters + Team Coco
Keith Keller | Drake
Marty Hom | Fleetwood Mac, Shakira, Paula Abdul
Jim Runge | Empire Of The Sun
Bob “Hydro” Mullin | Justin Timberlake

Best Production/Transportation Company
Upstaging, Inc.
Rock-it Cargo
Premier Global Production
Beat The Street
StageCo
Egotrips, Inc.

Best Brand Partnership/Live Campaign
Honda Civic Tour w/ Charlie Puth
Nationwide Insurance w/ Brad Paisley
Ikea w/ Boston Calling
Bud Light w/Post Malone
Hollister w/ Khalid
American Express w/ Ariana Grande
Gap w/ Leon Bridges

Best Touring Musician
John Mayer, Dead & Company
Elton John
Mike Campbell, Fleetwood Mac
Mark Rivera, Billy Joel
Trey Anastasio, Phish
Vince Gill, Eagles

Marketing/PR Exec
Michele Bernstein, William Morris Endeavor
Allison McGregor, Creative Artists Agency
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Michelle McCarthy, Prudential Center
Asha Goodman, Sacks & Co
Eddie Clemens, United Talent Agency
Kate McMahon, Messina Touring Group
Kathi Brennan Scharnikow, AEG Presents

Best Hang
The Forum Club @ The Forum
Greek Theatre
Austin City Limits Music Festival
BOK Center
Osheaga
Stagecoach

The Lifer
Larry Vallon, AEG Presents
Ron Delsener, Live Nation
Alex Hodges, Nederlander Concerts
Bob Roux, Live Nation
Dan Weiner, Paradigm Talent Agency
Frank Riley, High Road Touring

The Unavailable Award
Jeffrey Shuman, Goldenvoice
Johnny Beach, Bowery Presents
Bob Roux, Live Nation
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Jay Williams, William Morris Endeavor

Most Frequently Name-Dropped
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Michael Rapino, Live Nation
Marc Geiger, William Morris Endeavor
Coran Capshaw, Red Light Management
Rob Light, Creative Artists Agency
Scooter Braun, SB Projects

The Back In My Day
Ron Delsener, Live Nation
Alex Hodges, Nederlander Concerts
Dale Morris, Morris Higham Management
Don Fox, Beaver Productions
Doc McGhee, McGhee Entertainment
Jason Stone, Live Nation

Most Dreaded Phone Call
Irving Azoff, Full Stop Management
Aaron Pinkus, Paradigm Talent Agency
Kirk Sommer, William Morris Endeavor
Don Fox, Beaver Productions
Gerry Barad, Live Nation
Howard Rose, Howard Rose Agency
Jeff Frasco, Creative Artists Agency

Most Terrifying Agent
Marsha Vlasic, Artist Group International
Brent Smith, William Morris Endeavor
Cara Lewis, Cara Lewis Group
Marc Geiger, William Morris Endeavor
Frank Riley, High Road Touring
Howard Rose, Howard Rose Agency
Ken Fermaglich, United Talent Agency

 

 

 

Bart Allmand Launches New Podcast Thinkin’ & Drinkin’

/by

Songwriter, musician and label executive Bart Allmand will give music fans a look inside the lives of songwriters and musicians as part of his upcoming new podcast, Thinkin’ & Drinkin’. The podcast, which launches Dec. 3,  takes listeners into the studio to hear guests including Jeffrey Steele, Jessi Alexander, and Bob DiPiero, as well as Dave Rude (singer/guitarist for rock supergroup Tesla), offer insight into navigating the slippery world of the music industry.

“This podcast is basically the result of my wife, Amy, wanting me to write a book about my 30 years of being in the music biz doing everything from unclogging a toilet in a hotel room to accepting music an award from BMI for one of the songs I wrote,” said Allmand. “Well, I didn’t want to write a book, so she thought a podcast might be the way to go, that way my friends can tell their own stories and not blame me. I hope listening to these podcasts might shed a little new light on someone familiar or shine a new light on a brand new name. Sometimes the names have been changed to protect the innocent…but MOST of the truth is here.”

As a promotions executive, Allmand has held positions at labels including 16th Avenue Records, RCA, and Monument, where he was instrumental in launching the career of the Dixie Chicks. He was also pivotal in the careers of Martina McBride, Clint Black, Alabama, The Judds, and more. Allmand’s songwriting catalog boasts over 50 cuts, including chart-topping hits for Brooks & Dunn and Steve Holy. His career also includes time at Blaster Records and Big Loud Mountain.

The first season of Thinkin’ & Drinkin’ will be available on iTunes on Dec. 3.

Thinkin’ & Drinkin’ Season One Line-up:
Ep. 1: Jeffrey Steele – singer, songwriter
Ep. 2: Gordon Kennedy – musician, producer, songwriter
Ep. 3: Bob DiPiero – songwriter
Ep. 4: Kyle Cook – vocalist, guitarist for Matchbox 20
Ep. 5: Jessi Alexander – singer, songwriter
Ep. 6: Dave Rude – singer, songwriter, guitarist for Tesla
Ep. 7: Jason Charles Miller – singer, guitarist for Godhead
Ep. 8: Charlie Crowe – guitarist for Brooks & Dunn

Logan Mize To Join Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce On The Way Back Tour

/by

Logan Mize has been tapped to join co-headliners Russell Dickerson and Carly Pearce on their TheWay Back Tour starting Jan. 24 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mize’s most recent single, “Better Off Gone,” is featured on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, Wild Country and Chillin’ On A Dirt Road playlists as well as similar lists on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora and YouTube, and his video for “Better Off Gone” has been viewed more than 470,000 times. “Better Off Gone” will impact country radio on Feb. 4.

“We’ve spent a lot of time touring on our own for most of 2018,” Mize said. “So, looking forward to next year, I’m anxious to get out there with new and old friends alike. We’re excited and very grateful that Russell and Carly have asked us to come along and share their audience. This is going to be a fun one!”

Mize’s Better Off Gone Tour will conclude 2018 with 16 shows across the West Coast before joining forces with Dickerson and Pearce in January.

2019 The Way Back Tour Dates:
Jan. 24: Cleveland, OH; House of Blues
Jan. 25: Madison, WI; The Sylvee
Jan. 26: Fort Wayne, IN; The Clyde Theatre
Jan. 31: Lexington, KY; Manchester Music Hall
Feb. 2: Myrtle Beach, SC; House of Blues
Feb. 21: Baton Rouge, LA; Texas Club
Feb. 22: Nacogdoches, TX; Banita Creek Hall
Feb. 23: Tulsa, OK; Cain’s Ballroom
Feb. 28: Champaign, IL; The City Center
March 1 Grand Rapids, MI; 20 Monroe Live
March 2 Chicago, IL; Joe’s on Weed

SOURCE Honoree Sherytha Scaife Passes

/by

Sherytha Scaife

Sherytha Scaife, whose long career in Music City incorporated song publishing, museum management, record labels and philanthropy, passed away on Tuesday (Nov. 27).

She was the widow and business partner of Cecil Scaife (1927-2009). They were Arkansas natives who entered the music business when he became the promotion manager at Sun Records during its heyday in Memphis in the 1950s.

They moved to Nashville in the early 1960s. Sherytha was hired as a charter employee at the then-new Country Music Hall of Fame when it opened in 1967. She became the institution’s first curator in 1974.

The Scaifes established their Music Incorporated publishing company in the 1970s. It grew to contain one of the largest catalogs of Christian music in America. Cecil was one of the founders of the Gospel Music Association. The couple also operated the secular firm Tennessee Music Publishing, as well as a recording studio. The Scaifes’ record labels included Songs of Faith, Halo and Classic Christmas.

Cecil Scaife was a founding force behind the creation of the music business program at Belmont University. He retired for health reasons in 1998, but his wife carried on in the music industry. Sherytha Scaife oversaw The Cecil Scaife Music Business Scholarship Endowment at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont. In addition, she was on the university’s board of directors.

She also created the annual Cecil Scaife Visionary Award. Among its recipients have been Tony Brown, Mike Curb, Harold Bradley, Marsha Blackburn, Amy Grant, Wynonna and David Briggs.

In 2010, Sherytha was honored with a SOURCE Award. These honors given to women in the music industry are held at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum.

Sherytha Scaife was a glamorous 86-years-old. She is survived by her son Joe Scaife, a producer and engineer, as well as by her music-business daughters LaQuita, LaRawn and LaQuela. She had six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Mt. Olivet Funeral Home. Visitation was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by her Celebration of Life.

Warner/Chappell Nashville Signs Aussie Duo Seaforth

/by

Pictured: Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Laura Worley (LH7 Management), T.D. Ruth (Serling Rooks), Jessi Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Poppy (Shenanigoats), Mitchell Thompson (Seaforth), Pimento (Shenanigoats), Olive (Shenanigoats), Tom Jordan, Pippy (Shenanigoats), Alison Junker (Warner/Chappell), Patrick W. Ogilvy (Serling), Katie Jelen (Warner/Chappell), Brian Teefey (LH7 Management). Goats provided by Shenanigoats & featured as a nod to Seaforth’s matching goat tattoos

Aussie duo Seaforth has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Nashville. Earlier this month, Seaforth opened for Kane Brown at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The duo recently released two songs, “Talk to Me” and “Love That,” via RCA Records Nashville.

Seaforth includes childhood friends Mitchell Thompson and Tom Jordan, whose moniker comes from the Australian suburb where they grew up.

YouTube Rolls Out Student Discount Plans For YouTube Music, YouTube Premium

/by

YouTube has launched a discounted rate for college and university students, following similar launches by Spotify and Apple Music. Earlier this week, YouTube revealed a $4.99 per month plan for YouTube Music Premium subscribers who are enrolled full-time in a college or university. The new price, discounted from $9.99, includes ad-free access to music, playlists, remixes, live performances and more.

Additionally, YouTube is offering students YouTube Premium for $6.99, discounted from $11.99. Students who sign up by Jan. 31, 2019 can lock in YouTube Premium at a special rate of just $5.99.

 

Clarence “Casey” Anderson Dies At 92

/by

Casey Anderson

Services will be held this morning for Clarence Selmer “Casey” Anderson. The widely loved music industry figure died on Monday, Nov. 26 at age 92.

Casey Anderson was one of the founders of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). He was the father of country star Lynn Anderson (1947-2015) and the husband of the late singer-songwriter Liz Anderson (1930-2011).

Casey is credited as the cowriter on several of his wife’s compositions, including 1967’s “The Fugitive,” which became Merle Haggard’s first No. 1 hit. He and Liz co-hosted the TNN cable-TV travel series Side By Side in the 1980s.

Casey Anderson was born in North Dakota in 1926. He was a Navy mechanic in 1945-47. Just days prior to his death, he rode in the Nashville Veteran’s Day Parade.

He married Liz in 1946, and they had daughter Lynn in 1947. The family moved to California in 1951 in order for Liz to pursue her songwriting career. Casey sold cars and became a member of the world-champion equestrian drill team The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse in 1957-66.

He and Liz co-wrote “The Ballad of the Pony Express” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pony Express U.S. mail service. Casey also rode in its 1960 reenactment.

Liz Anderson’s songwriting began to pay off in the 1960s. Her early successes included “Be Quiet Mind” (Del Reeves, 1961), “Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart” (Conway Twitty, 1966), “Strangers” (Merle Haggard, 1965), “Just Between the Two of Us” (Bonnie Owens & Merle Haggard, 1964), “I Cried All the Way to the Bank” (Norma Jean, 1965) and “Pick of the Week” (Roy Drusky, 1964).

Chet Atkins signed her to RCA, and the Andersons moved to Nashville in 1966. Daughter Lynn subsequently earned a contract with Chart Records. Liz wrote several of her daughter’s early hits, including “Ride Ride Ride,” “If I Kiss You,” “Keeping Up Appearances,” “Mother May I,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Flattery Will Get You Everywhere” in 1966-69.

In 1967, Casey and Liz Anderson were among the co-founders of the NSAI.

During this same era, Liz’s recording career at RCA included such self-penned singles as “Go Now Pay Later,” “So Much for Me So Much for You,” “The Wife of the Party” and “Mama Spank” in 1966-67. She and Casey co-wrote her 1970 single “All Day Sucker.”

In later years, Casey and Liz Anderson co-hosted the 1988 TNN series, which was geared toward retirees. They also collaborated on a number of songs celebrating their shared western heritage. Some of these were collected on the 2012 CD The Cowgirl Way.

Casey Anderson is survived by granddaughters Lisa Sutton and Melissa “Bunny” Hempel and grandson Gray Stream, as well as a grandson and six great-grandchildren.

The celebration of his life was on Friday, Nov. 30 in Woodland’s Dignity Hall off Thompson Lane.

Pictured: NSAI board member Brett James, Lynn Anderson, Exec. Director Bart Herbison, Casey Anderson, then-NSAI President Lee Miller at the Stephen Foster Award presentation in 2015.

Apple Music Coming To Echo Devices In December

/by

Apple Music subscribers will soon be able to enjoy Apple’s 50 million songs on Echo devices when they will be available on Echo beginning Dec. 17. Country fans should be especially excited about the new advancement since Top Country is the most-requested music to wake up to on Echo devices.

Customers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artists, and album or any of the playlists made by Apple Music editors from around the world. They will also be able to ask Alexa to stream expert-made radio stations centered on popular genres like Hip-Hop, decades like the 80s, and even global music like K-Pop.

“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices. “We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday.”