CMA Announces Three Hires

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Pictured (L-R): Emily Arvanitis (Photo: Pamela Hothorn/CMA); Megan Sykes (Photo: Pamela Hothorn/CMA); Michelle Kirk (Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Kirk)

The Country Music Association (CMA) has announced three new hires, including two new positions within CMA’s Strategic Partnerships department. Emily Arvanitis joins CMA as Live Events Coordinator, Michelle Kirk joins as Director, Integrated Marketing, and Megan Sykes joins as Director, Sales Development & Strategy.

Arvanitis returns to CMA, having interned with the organization’s Live Events team from 2016 to 2017. While interning with CMA, she provided ticket, credential and talent support during several live events including The 50th Annual CMA Awards, CMA Country Christmas, and CMA Fest. Most recently, Arvanitis held the position of Executive Assistant at Sandbox Entertainment, acting as the point of contact between the company’s leadership and internal and external clients in addition to developing and administering office systems and procedures. In her new role with CMA, Arvanitis will provide support to the department in all elements of production, logistics and administrative functions, in addition to assisting with the coordination and execution of all CMA events. Arvanitis reports to Chris Crawford, CMA Senior Director, Live Events. Reach her at [email protected].

Kirk returns to CMA in the newly created role of Director, Integrated Marketing, previously working with CMA’s Strategic Partnerships team from 2012 to 2015. Most recently, Kirk held the position of Brand Partnerships Agent at WME, pitching clients for partnership opportunities including television commercials, branded digital content, social media promotions, public relations campaigns, licensing products and experiences, and elevating tour sponsorships. In her new role with CMA, Kirk will be responsible for developing strategies for and managing relationships with key marketing and digital partners as well as other strategic partners including the ABC Television Network relationship. Kirk will also develop and implement strategic, year-round integrated marketing campaigns with marketing and digital partners that support CMA Fest, CMA Awards, CMA Country Christmas, CMA Songwriters Series, the CMA Foundation, as well as additional special events and initiatives. Kirk reports to Emily Evans, CMA Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships. Reach her at [email protected].

Sykes joins CMA in a second newly created role of Director, Sales Development & Strategy. Prior to CMA, Sykes held the position of Agent, Music Brand Partnerships at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where her duties included executing talent and brand programs for clients, with experience in managing multi-level programs involving on-site activation, exclusive content, print/radio/TV advertisements, digital media, song licensing, retail promotions, sweepstakes and award show integrations. In her new role, Sykes will generate new long-term corporate alliances and sponsorships, in addition to growing existing relationships for CMA’s flagship events (CMA Fest, CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas) as well as the CMA Foundation. She will be responsible for the creation and implementation of business development planning, including implementing advanced account management tactics to increase the scope of value of corporate partnerships for CMA and the industry at large. Sykes also reports to Evans. Reach her at [email protected].

Weekly Register: Dan + Shay Holds Top Two Country Streaming Song Positions

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Dan+Shay. Photo: Patrick Tracy

Dan + Shay holds the top two slots on this week’s Country On-Demand Streaming Songs chart, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The duo’s “Speechless” is at No. 1 with 9 million streams (176 million to date), followed by “Tequila” at No. 2 with 8.2 million streams (355 million to date). Mitchell Tenpenny‘s “Drunk Me” is at No. 3 with 8.1 million (156 million to date), followed by Luke Combs‘ “She Got The Best Of Me” with 7.8 million (177 million to date) and Kane Brown‘s “Heaven” at No. 5 with 7.4 million (505m to date).

Dan + Shay also holds the top two spots on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, with “Speechless” moving 17K followed by “Tequila” with 11K. Luke Combs takes the No. 3 and No. 4 spots respectively, with “She Got The Best Of Me” (8.4K) followed by “Beautiful Crazy” (8K). Jake Owen‘s “Down to the Honkytonk” is at No. 5 with 6.9K.

Dan + Shay’s “Speechless” also tops this week’s Digital Core Genre/Country sales chart with 10K (206K to date), followed by Kelsea Ballerini‘s “Miss Me More” at No. 2, with 7K. Combs’ “She Got The Best Of Me” is at No. 3 with 6.8K. Jimmie Allen‘s “Best Shot” is at No. 4 with 5.4K, and Dan + Shay’s “Tequila” is at No. 5 with 5.2K.

Combs is at the pinnacle of this week’s Country Albums sales chart, with This One’s For You moving 26K, followed by Dan + Shay’s self-titled effort at No. 2 with 21K. Kane Brown’s Experiment is at No. 3 with 14K, followed by Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller at No. 4 with 12K. Thomas Rhett‘s Life Changes rounds out the Top 5 with 12K.

ASCAP Announces Sundance Festival Music Cafe Lineup

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Lee Ann Womack, Patty Griffin, Carlton Anderson, and Deana Carter are among the artists on ASCAP’s eclectic music lineup for its 21st Annual Sundance ASCAP Music Café, taking place Jan. 25 – Feb. 1, 2019 during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Beginning at 2 p.m. each day, the Café will feature a mix of artists including Beulahbelle, Stephen Bishop, Claudia Brant, Dounia, The Dumes,Everlast, Flor de Toloache, Herizen, iDKHOW (I Dont Know How But They Found Me), Leland, Patrick Martin, MILCK, Shim Moore, Neff-U & Priscilla Renea, Judith Owen, Park88, JP Saxe, Warbly Jets and NewSong Competitionwinner Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers. A special ACM & Bluebird Cafe Songwriters Series on Jan. 30 and 31 will feature Womack and Carter as well as Anderson and Jacob Davis. Also on Wednesday, Jan. 30, the Café will present a dedicated performance of music from Sundance Film Festival selection Abe by Seu Jorge and Jaques Morelenbaum.

“For 21 years, we have partnered with our friends at the Sundance Film Festival to bring the Sundance ASCAP Music Café to Park City and shine a spotlight on the magic of music in film,” said Loretta Muñoz, ASCAP Assistant Vice President, Membership. “The wonder of the Café is that for eight straight days, our artists and audiences get to experience one-of-a-kind performances – and there are always a few surprises. We cannot wait for what we know will be another stunning run. Join us and discover the artist that could be your next obsession!”

The Sundance ASCAP Music Café takes place at 751 Main Street, Park City, Utah, and is open to all festival credential holders.

Music City Management Adds Centricity Music’s Jason Gray To Roster

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Music City Management’s Josh Petersen and artist Jason Gray

Nashville-based Music City Management has added Centricity Music recording artist and songwriter Jason Gray to its artist roster. Gray has earned two No. 1 hits, including “Nothing Is Wasted,” which held the No. 1 spot at radio for nine weeks, as well as “With Every Act of Love,” which hit Top 10 on the Christian Airplay Chart, in addition to five Top 5 singles.

“Jason is one of the most talented and smart songwriters I have ever met,” shares Josh Petersen, Music City Management’s owner and president. “I couldn’t be more excited for our new journey together and look forward to helping him tell share his stories and deliver his songs to new audiences.”

Opening its doors in 2012, Music City Management also represents Marc Martel, whose voice was most recently featured in 2018’s 20th Century Fox Queen biographical film, Bohemian Rhapsody, which just won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture-Drama.

Gray was heard this past holiday season on Martel’s version of “O Come All Ye Faithful,” which was the highest-charting new Christmas radio single release, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard National Airplay chart for their last chart of 2018. Gray also headlined his annual Christmas tour, “Christmas Is Coming,” and was joined by Curb | Word artist Stars Go Dim.

King Calaway Signs With BMG/BBR Music Group

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King Calaway. Photo Credit: Alex Ferrari

BMG/BBR Music Group has signed the band King Calaway to its roster. The group’s self-titled debut EP will be released Jan. 25 via BBR’s Stoney Creek Records imprint.

Members Caleb Miller, Chris Deaton, Simon Dumas, Jordan Harvey, Chad Michael Jervis, and Austin Luther each made their own way to Nashville chasing their dreams from across the globe, hailing from towns in the American Midwest and the Atlantic seaboard to the small coastal country of Gibraltar and the Central Belt of Scotland. They came together as King Calaway in early 2018, and offer a fresh new take on country with a sound reminiscent of the Eagles. The band is guided by a co-production team that includes Robert Deaton and Ross Copperman.

“King Calaway is that rare combination of incredible individual talent combined with amazing group chemistry,” says Jon Loba, EVP/BBR Music Group. “Their skill as musicians, vocalists and entertainers, along with Robert Deaton and Ross Copperman’s creative vision has very quickly fueled the passions and excitement of not only those of us in the BBR Music Group but also BMG and Bertelsmann globally.  We can’t wait to introduce them to partners and audiences around the world!”

“The six musicians who make up King Calaway are a fresh take on contemporary country music,” adds Robert Deaton. “These young men hail from all corners of the globe, but when put together on a stage, they are one and magic happens.”

“The six of us are beyond excited to be working with the great teams at BMG and BBR. They’ve already dedicated so much time and effort into this project, and we’re incredibly grateful,” noted King Calaway’s Chad Michael Jervis. “We’re ready for the world to hear all the songs we’ve worked so hard on.”

Already firmly laying roots in Nashville, King Calaway will make its debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage on March 1. The band is booked by United Talent Agency and managed by 24 Entertainment.

Industry Ink: Big Machine/John Varvatos Records, Big Loud Records, Rose Music Group

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Big Machine/John Varvatos Records Names National Director, Promotion

Allison Smith

Big Machine/John Varvatos Records has named Allison Smith as National Director, Promotion. The label is spearheaded by Big Machine Label Group President, CEO and Founder Scott Borchetta and fashion mogul John Varvatos. Launched in 2017, Big Machine/John Varvatos Records was formed to help discover and develop new rock talent. In its inaugural year the label catapulted California-based band Badflower to the top of the rock charts with their smash single “Ghost.”

Based in Chicago, Smith previously spent 13 years at Virgin/Capitol Records as a Midwest Regional Director of Promotion. She also held stints at Lava Records and London-Sire.

 

Big Loud Records Adds Promotion Coordinator

Brittani Koster

Big Loud Records has added Brittani Koster as Promotion Coordinator. She will report to Big Loud Records VP, Promotion Stacy Blythe and can be reached at [email protected]. Koster moves into the role vacated by Maggie Abrams, who has exited for a soon-to-be-announced new opportunity.

Koster previously worked as Promotions and Label Coordinator for Rebel Engine Entertainment, and holds a degree from University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 

Rose Music Group Names Cyd Blanchard As Associate Booking Agent, Domestic Tours/Festivals

Cyd Blanchard

Nashville-based talent management, booking and promotion agency Rose Music Group has named Cyd Blanchard as Associate Booking Agent for Domestic Tours/Festivals. Blanchard is the longtime talent buyer for The 5 Spot’s Sunday Night Soul music series and owner of Ciann Photography.

Rose Music Group, founded in 2006, focuses on promoting Soul, Funk/Jazz, Blues and Americana artists, with a client roster including Reverend Sekou, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Jason Eskridge, Johnny Neel and others.

 

Maria Ivey Launches IVPR In Nashville

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Maria Ivey has opened IVPR, a new festival and artist PR firm located in Nashville. Ivey previously operated the Nashville office of The Press House for the past five years.

IVPR currently represents clients Sam Bush, The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, MerleFest, DelFest, High Sierra Music Festival, Radney Foster, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kelsey Waldon, Doom Flamingo, Rising Appalachia, LUTHI, Blue Rose Music (Tim Bluhm, Jackie Greene, among many others), and more.

Ivey can be contacted at [email protected].

Celebration Of Life Planned For Musician Victor Mecyssne

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By Robert K. Oermann

A Celebration of Life in remembrance of musician Victor Mecyssne is being scheduled for this coming weekend. Regarded as one of the forerunners of Nashville’s Americana music scene, Mecyssne passed away on Dec. 17, 2018 in Canada at age 66. In addition to being a singer-guitarist, he made his mark as an actor, a songwriter and a photographer.

The native Nashvillian absorbed blues, jazz and country sounds as a youngster, and his hard-to-classify style reflected those eclectic influences. For example, his 1998 LP Hush Money featured such diverse supporting players as Lucinda Williams, Tim Carroll and Duane Jarvis.

His output also included the albums Personal Mercury (1995), Skinnybones (2001), Mystery Loves Company (2007) and Those Nashville Blues (2008). As the leader of his band The Ragtops, Mecyssne was a regular entertainer at The Bluebird Café, Radio Café and other local venues beginning in 1985. He also toured beyond Tennessee’s borders, appearing in 48 states and throughout Europe.

For more than 15 years, he was a semi-resident musician and actor at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN. Among his roles there was “Burl Sanders” in Smoke on the Mountain.

In 2000, the Nashville Ballet choreographed six of Victor Mecyssne’s songs into a ballet titled “Short Stories.” Its premiere was staged at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

He married Joelle Anthony in 2004 and took her last name. They migrated to Canada in 2007, settling in the far western province of British Columbia. Victor Anthony (Mecyssne) became a Canadian citizen in 2014.

He passed away in their home on Gabriola Island, BC with Joelle by his side.

The Celebration of Life event for Victor Mecysnne was held on Sunday, Jan. 13 at the Cloister Clubhouse in Nashville. The family wished for attendees to “Bring an instrument!”

UMG Recordings Purchases House Of Blues Studios Nashville

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House of Blues Nashville. Photo: House of Blues

According to the Metro Nashville and Davidson County Property Assessor, UMG Recordings purchased Nashville’s House of Blues Studios, including buildings at 516-518, and 520 E. Iris Drive in the Berry Hill area. The properties were purchased Nov. 16, 2018 for approximately $4.3 million. The listings also show UMG Recordings purchased a building at 514 E. Iris Drive.

The 1,146 square foot building at 517 E. Iris Drive, and the 1,130 square foot building located at 520 E. Iris Drive were constructed in 1945, while the 6,476 square foot building located at 518 E. Iris Drive was constructed in 1964. Prior to House of Blues taking over the studios in 2009, the studio was known as East Iris Studios.

Among the albums recorded in the studios are Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour, Kesha’s Rainbow, Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell’s The Traveling Kind, and numerous others.

Music Row Tavern Bobby’s Idle Hour To Close Jan. 12, With Tentative Plans For New Location

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Longtime songwriter hangout Bobby’s Idle Hour will close Jan. 12, MusicRow has confirmed. The building, located at 1028 16th Ave. S., has long been a favored social establishment for songwriters and musicians.

“This displaces a lot of good people,” Lizard Thom Case, owner of Bobby’s Idle Hour for the past five years, told MusicRow. Case says he hopes to reopen the venue in a new location, though nothing has been set at this time.

The name “Bobby’s” is a tribute to Bobby Herald, who took over the bar in 1978. The songwriter-centric venue moved to its current location in 2005 before the bar’s current owner, songwriter Lizard Thom Case, took over ownership in 2013.

Last year, it was announced that development company Panattoni had purchased the building, along with five nearby properties, with plans to turn the property into a six-story office building.