ET Brown, Lydia Schultz Promoted At SESAC

ET Brown, Lydia Schultz

SESAC has promoted ET Brown and Lydia Schultz, who will share dual management roles leading SESAC’s Nashville Creative Services department. Brown and Schultz have each been promoted to Sr. Director, Creative Services. In their new roles, they will work closely with President and COO, Kelli Turner, who’s based in Nashville, and report to Sam Kling, SVP of Creative Operations.

The move follows the exit of former SESAC VP, Creative Services Shannan Hatch, who recently joined music publishing outfit Fourward Music as President.

In his expanded role, Brown will manage SESAC Pop/Rock and Americana genres. In addition, Brown will lead the efforts of identifying and cultivating new talent while working closely with industry organizations to develop opportunities that bring value to SESAC songwriters and publishers.

Schultz will manage the country genre in Nashville while providing support and guidance to existing affiliates as well as discovering new talent in the songwriting community. Schultz will continue to generate and maintain long-standing relationships within the industry while developing new songwriter initiatives.

“I’m proud to announce the respective promotions of both ET and Lydia,” says Kling. “As a team, both ET and Lydia have worked seamlessly to ensure second-to-none service to the songwriting community over the years. Their passion for music and complementary skill sets, along with their close-knit relationships, only reinforces why they are best suited to lead the Nashville Creative Services team.”

Brown joined SESAC’s licensing team in 2009 quickly moving to the Creative Team in 2010. He has worked closely with Skid Row, Nothing More, Blackstone Cherry, Killswitch Engage, as well as Americana greats Margo Price, Jim Lauderdale, Webb Wilder, Hayes Carll, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. His deep admiration for the craft of songwriting has been instrumental in curating and participating in events throughout the community including the Nashville Film Festival, GRAMMY Next, and TONS. Brown is a graduate of Belmont University, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in the Music Business program. He is a member of the Americana Association, AIMP, CMA, ACM and the Recording Academy.

Schultz joined the SESAC Creative Services team in 2016. Since then, she has supported SESAC affiliates Blanco Brown, Matt McGinn, Michael Whitworth, Erin Enderlin, Jenny Tolman and many more. She has curated SESAC’s monthly Bluebird Show, SESAC CMA acoustic shows, as well as songwriter events in the Southeast region. Schultz is continually offering feedback on music and guidance on developing artists and songwriters. Prior to her time with SESAC, she worked for Magic Mustang Music as Creative Director; Broken Bow in their legal and finance department; and assisted songwriting legend JD Souther. Schultz graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Music Business program. She has participated in SOLID, GRAMMY NEXT and is a member of the Americana Association, AIMP, CMA, ACM and the Recording Academy.

Keith Urban Announces First Official European Tour In Over A Decade

Keith Urban is heading overseas for his first official European tour in more than a decade next Spring, titled Keith Urban Live. The tour kicks off May 2 in Amsterdam and will include stops in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, as well as four stops in the UK.

Urban is celebrating his 40th Top 10 single with his latest hit “We Were.” The song was co-written by Eric Church, Ryan Tyndell and Jeff Hyde.

Keith Urban Live Tour European dates:
May 2:         Amsterdam
May 5:          London
May 8:          Manchester
May 12:        Glasgow
May 14:        Birmingham
May 20:        Munich
May 22:       Frankfurt
May 23:       Cologne
May 25:        Hamburg
May 26:        Berlin
May 29:        Copenhagen
May 30:        Stockholm
May 31:        Oslo

 

Morgan Wallen To Launch Whiskey Glasses Roadshow Tour

Morgan Wallen has announced a brand-new headlining tour for 2020. The Monster Energy Outbreak Tour Presents: Morgan Wallen’s Whiskey Glasses Roadshow will kick off Jan. 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and roll through May 1 in Denver, featuring special guests Jon Langston and Ashland Craft. The tour will hit 19 cities nationwide including Indianapolis, Raleigh, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and more.

“This year so far, I’ve mostly played shows as the opening act. While I love that, and appreciate everyone who’s made that possible, I’m ready to get into rooms where I know the energy will all be directed towards our music and our production,” shares Wallen. “It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to headline, so I can’t wait to see some of the same faces I’ve gotten to know from before and get to know a bunch of new ones. I know it’s going to be the best one yet. Jon is one of my good buddies and has his own star rising, so I’m super pumped he accepted the offer to come out. Ashland is a new talent, one that most aren’t familiar with yet, but that will change soon. So I ask y’all to show up early and show both of them love. You won’t be disappointed.”

Pre-sales for tickets begin October 14 and will go on-sale to the general public October 18. As 2019 winds down, Wallen’s heartbreaker “Chasin’ You,” is making gains at country radio and he joins Luke Combs’ sold-out Beer Never Broke My Heart tour.

MONSTER ENERGY OUTBREAK TOUR PRESENTS: MORGAN WALLEN’S WHISKEY GLASSES ROADSHOW Tour Dates:
January 2 | Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
January 3 | Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
January 4 | Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
January 9 | New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
January 10 | Houston, TX – House of Blues
January 11 | Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory
January 16 | Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
January 17 | Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
January 18 | Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
March 19 | Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
March 20 | Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
March 21 | North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
April 9 | Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
April 11 | Boston, MA – House of Blues
April 17 | Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 23 | San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
April 29 | Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House
April 30 | Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
May 1 | Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

Curb/Word Entertainment Promotes Colt Murski To Publishing VP Role

Colt Murski

Curb | Word Entertainment has promoted Colt Murski to VP, Country Publishing & Creative. Murski is a Texas native, a graduate of Belmont University and has been with the company since 2005, most recently serving as Senior Creative Director.

His responsibilities include overseeing the creative operations of the country roster that includes American Young, Rodney Atkins, Ruthie Collins, Tim Dugger, Jackson Michelson, Mo Pitney, Dylan Scott, Matt Alderman, Jason Blaine, Brian Bunn, Jennifer Denmark, Hannah Ellis, Curt Gibbs, Tiffany Goss, Phillip Lammonds, Don May, Billy Montana, Wil Nance, Molly Reed, Liz Sharpe, Bobby Tomberlin and Adam Wood.

Curb | Word has had success in 2019 with chart-topping hits that include Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” Brett Young’s “Here Tonight,” Dustin Lynch’s “Good Girl” and a Top 5 hit with Jon Pardi’s “Night Shift.”

The promotion follows the resignation of former Curb/Word Entertainment VP, Publishing Janine Appleton Ebach in September.

Brothers Osborne To Receive ASCAP’s Vanguard Award

Brothers Osborne will be honored with the ASCAP Vanguard Award during the upcoming 57th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, set for Nov. 11 in Nashville.

The honor recognizes ASCAP members whose work is helping to mold the future of music. Previous recipients have included Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, St. Vincent, Third Day, Band of Horses and Sara Bareilles.

“John and TJ Osborne successfully honor the past and the future with their passionate country rock sound,” said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. “Together with John’s masterful guitar picking and TJ’s pitch-perfect baritone, they offer a fresh take on the modern country duo. We are thrilled to honor them with the ASCAP Vanguard Award.”

To date, the duo has earned a Gold album with 2016’s Pawn Shop, as well as the Platinum singles “It Ain’t My Fault” and “Stay A Little Longer.” On Oct. 11, they will release the live project Live at the Ryman, and are currently touring as part of Chris Stapleton’s The All American Road Show Tour.

Brothers Osborne is the reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year and are nominated in the category again this year for the upcoming CMA Awards on Nov. 13. They are also nominated for Single and Music Video of the Year, both for “Burning Man,” their collaboration with Dierks Bentley. They are also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for “All My Favorite People’ with Maren Morris. Brothers Osborne has earned four CMA trophies, five ACM trophies and are five-time Grammy nominees.

Industry Pics: Maren Morris, Kane Brown, ASCAP, BMI, The Recording Academy

Maren Morris Celebrates Platinum In The Big Easy

(L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s COO/EVP Ken Robold and Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman, Maren Morris, and SMN SVP Sales/Streaming Caryl Atwood. Photo credit: Catherine Powell

Maren Morris was surprised with an RIAA Platinum certification plaque for her No. 1 hit “Girl” backstage following her performance at Miranda Lambert’s Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars tour stop at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans last Friday (Oct. 4). The Platinum hit was the lead single from Maren Morris’ sophomore album GIRL. Morris is the most-nominated artist for the 2019 CMA Awards airing on ABC on Nov. 13.

 

Plaque Attack For Kane Brown

(L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Sr. Director Marketing Jennifer Way, VP Creative Services Tracy Fleaner and EVP A&R Jim Catino; Kane Brown; Sony Music Nashville’s COO/EVP Ken Robold and SVP Sales/Streaming Caryl Atwood; EFG Management’s Martha Earls and Brown’s producer Dann Huff  Photo credit: Alex Alvga

Kane Brown was surprised late last week with four RIAA certification plaques while cutting vocals at Sound Stage studio on Music Row. In March, Brown’s sophomore album Experiment and its lead single “Lose It” were certified Gold and Platinum, respectively. Last week, “Good As You” was certified Platinum and Kane Brown’s current single “Homesick” was certified Gold.

 

ASCAP Brings Bluebird Vibe To Napa For Notes For Education

(L-R): Josh Mirenda, ASCAP’s Holly Chester, Hannah Dasher, Notes For Education’s Debi Leal, Jonathan Singleton, ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski Webber, Deric Ruttan. Photo: Ed Rode

Napa Valley and Nashville-based non-profit organization Notes For Education presented The Bluebird Cafe at Gargiulo Vineyards, a benefit for music education programs in local schools featuring an ASCAP hit songwriters round on Oct. 3. The event was hosted on the grounds of Gargiulo Vineyards. Sponsored by ASCAP, the event was set against a backdrop of the vineyard’s rolling hills at sunset, and the songwriters round featured ASCAP hitmakers Josh MirendaDeric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton, and emerging Sony Music Nashville songwriter-artist Hannah Dasher.

 

BMI Brings A Taste Of Music City To Alabama

ARHA’s JB Hampton, BMI singer-songwriter Paul McDonald, ARHA’s Shea Perkins, Visit Mobile President & CEO David Clark, BMI singer-songwriter Tyler Reeve and BMI’s Jessica Frost pose together after the show in Mobile, Alabama.

BMI and the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association partnered together to bring Nashville songwriters to two BMI customer and ARHA member venues on the Alabama Coast last week. BMI singer-songwriters Tyler Reeve and Paul McDonald, both Alabama natives, performed to enthusiastic crowds at Alchemy in Mobile, Alabama, on Oct. 2, and GT’s On The Bay in Orange Beach, Alabama on Oct. 3.

 

Jim Cooper Celebrates District Advocate Day On The Row

(L-R): Musician Philip Towns, Musician Anderson East, musician, songwriter and record producer Shane McAnally, musician Caitlyn Smith, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), musician and member of Lady Antebellum Dave Haywood and President and CEO of The Recording Academy Deborah Dugan attend the District Advocate Meeting w/ Rep. Jim Cooper on October 02, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/WireImage for The Recording Academy )

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter hosted a District Advocate Day event, featuring Recording Academy president, Deborah Dugan, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood, and members of Nashville’s local music community, to celebrate Nashville’s role in music creation and highlight industry concerns. The event at RCA Studio A included performances by Shane McAnally, Caitlyn Smith, and Anderson East.

 

Dan+Shay Add Second Nashville Show To 2020 Tour

Dan+Shay. Photo: Catherine Powell

Dan+Shay have added three additional tour dates to next year’s Dan+Shay The (Arena) Tour.

The tour will launch March 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and now includes a second show on March 7. They have also added new dates in Columbus, Ohio (March 8) and a stop on Oct. 8 at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center, following an already-announced Sept. 25 date at Madison Square Garden.

The trek follows their sold-out Dan+Shay The Tour earlier this year. The Grammy-winning duo, known for smash hits including “Tequila” and “Speechless,”  recently concluded a stint on Florida Georgia Line’s Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour and will join Shawn Mendes later this month for a tour in Australia.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets for the new Dan+Shay The (Arena) Tour dates before the general public beginning today, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m. ET through Thursday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. local. Tickets for the tour, presented by AEG Presents, go on sale to the general public starting Friday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. local time. For complete presale details and ticket information, visit danandshay.com.

Music Health Alliance Adds To Board of Directors

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Joseph Conner, EJ Gaines, Adrien Good, Ben Vaughn, Liz Rose, Mike Molinar.

Nashville-based non-profit Music Health Alliance has added to its Board of Directors. The 19-member board helps to develop strategic plans for MHA to further its mission to protect, direct and connect members of the music community with healthcare and financial solutions.

Newly-added board members include Essential Broadcast Media’s Joseph Conner, Capitol CMG/Motown Gospel’s EJ Gaines, FBMM’s Adrien Good, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Liz Rose Music’s Liz Rose, and Warner Chappell Music’s Ben Vaughn.

Led by founder/CEO Tatum Allsep and COO/Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy, MHA is entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations. The organization has served more than 10,000 members of the creative community in more than 39 states, and spared 541 families from bankruptcy due to a medical crisis. MHA has saved more than $47 million in healthcare costs including insurance premium savings, medical bill reductions and discounted medications.

Music Health Alliance’s free services range from access to doctors and hospitals, medicine, health insurance and finding financial assistance during times of illness. Its services are free to any person who has worked in the music industry for two or more years, or who has credited contributions to four commercially released recordings or videos. Spouses, partners, and children of qualifying individuals may also receive access to the non-profit’s services from birth to end of life.

Music Health Alliance Board of Directors:
President – Kris Wiatr, Wiatr & Associates, LLC
Vice President – Jay Williams, WME
Treasurer – Earle Simmons, SunTrust Bank
Secretary – Dr. Michael Allsep, Air Command and Staff College
Founder/CEO – Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance
Joseph Conner, Essential Broadcast Media
Rodney Crowell, Producer/Songwriter/Recording Artist
Christie Hauck, Christie Retail Group/Goozy
Linda Edell Howard, Adams and Reese LLP
Cindy Hunt, Monarch Publicity
EJ Gaines, Capitol CMG/Motown Gospel
Adrien Good, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy
John Lytle, Lytle Management
Mike Molinar, Big Machine Music
Tina Parol, The Disney Company
Liz Rose, Liz Rose Music
Jennie Smythe, Girlilla Marketing
Rebecca Warner Strang, Harry Norman Realtors/Philanthropist
Ben Vaughn, Warner Chappell Music

Little Louder Music Signs Jackson Dean

Pictured (L-R): Little Louder’s Jefferson Brown, Jackson Dean, Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora

Singer/songwriter Jackson Dean has signed a publishing deal with Nashville independent publishing house, Little Louder Music.

The Maryland native has opened on tour slots for Brothers Osborne, Jake Owen, Kane Brown, Dylan Scott and more. He will go into the studio this fall to record new music for an upcoming release.

Little Louder Music was founded in 2013 and is the songwriting home for Casey Beathard, Tucker Beathard, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde, Jonathon Sherwood and Boy Named Banjo members William Reames and Barton Davies. Little Louder recently had its second No. 1 of 2019 with Eric Church’s “Some of It,” following Dierks Bentley’s chart topper “Burning Man.” Additionally, Keith Urban’s new single “We Were,” Eric Church’s “Monsters” and Justin Moore’s “Why We Drink” are currently climbing the country radio charts.

PR Roundup: Marushka Media, Elicity, Morris PR, Alison Auerbach PR

Marushka Media Expands

Jackie Marushka has expanded her Nashville-based public relations agency, Marushka Media, with a new office in Santa Fe. In addition to news of her new office, she has signed her first New Mexico-based client: Rio Grande Studios, a state-of-the-art recording studio housed in a two-century-old adobe building in Albuquerque.  Rio Grande Studios boasts an impressive client list including Walt Disney Pictures, Sony Music, Netflix and Lionsgate. Individual clients include comedian Chris D’Elia, Switchfoot, Underoath, producer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie, and recent winner of The Voice Chevel Shepard.

 

Nashville Music Media Rebrands Into Elicity

(L-R:) Brittany Finley, Avery King, Elise Anderson and Heather Hourigan
Photo credit: Chrissy Yoder

Boutique publicity firm Nashville Music Media has rebranded as Elicity Public Relations. The company was founded in 2011 by Owner/Publicist Elise Anderson and has recently added Brittany Finley as Senior Publicity Manager and Heather Hourigan as Publicity and Brand Partnerships Manager joining Avery King, who was recently promoted to Director of Publicity.

Bluegrass/Americana Artists Darin & Brooke Aldridge Ink Joint PR Deal

Morris Public Relations and Alison Auerbach Public Relations have jointly signed bluegrass/Americana artists Darin & Brooke Aldridge for publicity and artist development. Darin & Brooke Aldridge are signed to Rounder Records and managed by Brian Smith/Leadership Artists.

Morris Public Relations is owned by Erin Morris Huttlinger and AAPR is owned by Alison Auerbach. The two publicists have worked joint projects for nearly 25 years. Their combined rosters include Vince Gill, The Time Jumpers, Nefesh Mountain, Teea Goans, Sean Della Croce, Stephanie Urbina-Jones, Pete Huttlinger Music, Joe Robinson and others.