Industry Pics: AIMP, WMBA, Jameson Rodgers, Morgan Wallen

AIMP Nashville Chapter Hosts Songwriter Series For 2019 Class

Pictured (L-R): Chris Van Belkom (Combustion Music), Kari Barnhart (Regions Bank), Michael Martin (Endurance Music Group), Dale Bobo (Big Deal Music Group), Jimmy Robbins, Ben Goldsmith, Dave Pittenger, Ree Guyer (AIMP Nashville VP; Wrensong), Emily Falvey, Claire Douglas, Griffen Palmer, Jake Rose, John Ozier (AIMP Nashville President; Reservoir), Deric Ruttan, Brad Peterson (Regions Bank).

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville chapter hosted its fifth annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series on Monday (Sept. 30) at Analog at Hutton Hotel. Jimmy Robbins and Deric Ruttan hosted two songwriters rounds, featuring rising songwriters. The 2019 class includes Claire Douglas (Riser House Publishing), Emily Falvey (SMACKSongs), Ben Goldsmith (Big Deal Music Group), Griffen Palmer (Big Loud Publishing), Dave Pittenger (Big Yellow Dog Music), and Jake Rose (Endurance Music Group).

The class included six emerging writers who have not had a song charting higher than a Top 20 on the Billboard or Mediabase country charts, and were selected by a committee made of industry professionals, based on submissions from current AIMP Nashville members.

WMBA Features Live Nation/Women Nation’s Ali Harnell

Pictured (L-R): Mary Larimer, Emily Bukowski, Ali Harnell, Mallory Allgood, Lauren Simon

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) held its September Membership Meeting at ASCAP this past week, featuring guest speaker Ali Harnell (President and Chief Strategy Officer of Women Nation, a newly-created division of Live Nation). Prior to her work at Live Nation, Harnell spent 15 years as Sr. VP of AEG Presents, where she co-founded the international country music festival Country2Country.

Harnell emphasized the importance of being confident in your decisions, personally and professionally, and speaking up for what you believe in. She encouraged members to manifest their dreams by sharing examples from her own journey.

Jameson Rodgers Makes Opry Debut

Jameson Rodgers. Photo: Alan Poizner

Columbia Nashville/River House Artists’ Jameson Rodgers made his debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry Wednesday (Sept. 25), surrounded by friends, family and extended team. He performed his debut single “Some Girls,” as well as “Missing One” and the unreleased ballad “Desert.” Rodgers co-wrote Chris Lane’s hit “I Don’t Know About You” and has been opening shows for Luke Combs’ Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour.

Morgan Wallen Celebrates RIAA Heavy Metal

Pictured (L-R): Seth England (Partner, Big Loud), Morgan Wallen, Kevin “Chief” Zaruk (Partner, Big Loud), Jackie Jones (VP Artist & Industry Relations, RIAA), Troy “Tracker” Johnson (Manager, Big Loud/Maverick)

Big Loud Records’ Morgan Wallen wrapped his summer run with Florida Georgia Line’s Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour this weekend in Irvine, California, and had something extra special to celebrate. He was surprised with four plaques, commemorating the Gold certified “The Way I Talk,” Platinum No. 1 single “Up Down” (ft. FGL), the Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 “Whiskey Glasses,” and the Gold debut album If I Know Me.