CASE Act Passes U.S. House Of Representatives

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The Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act of 2019, H.R. 2426) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last night (Oct. 22) with a vote of 410-6.

The CASE Act, which Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) introduced in the House in May 2019, would establish the Copyright Claims Board in the U.S. Copyright Office.

The bill aims to offer an alternative dispute resolution program for small copyright claims, and a solution for independent creators to fulfill their rights, without having to hire an attorney and go through federal court. The Copyright Claims Board, a three-judge panel, would hear and rule on small-claims infringement cases of less than $15,000 per infringed work, and less than $30,000 total per claim.

The bill now heads to Senate for a vote before it can become law.

 

Luke Bryan’s ‘Crash My Party’ Named ACM Album Of The Decade

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(L-R): Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment; Lori Badgett, ACM President; Chuck Aly, ACM Vice-President and Special Awards Committee Co-Chair; Luke Bryan; Jeff Stevens; Cindy Mabe, President Universal Music Group Nashville; Mike Dungan, Chairman/CEO Universal Music Group Nashville; RAC Clark, ACM Interim Executive Director

Luke Bryan received the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party in a surprise presentation during his performance at the 11th annual “Opry Goes Pink,” to help support the fight against breast cancer at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Tuesday night (Oct. 22). The recipients of this award include Bryan, the album’s producer, Jeff Stevens, and Capitol Records Nashville.

Bryan joins as the final recipient of the seven all-new ACM Decade Award categories. The ACM Album of the Decade Award recognizes an album that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors considered include success at radio of singles released from album, album concept, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

“I’ve worked with Luke for many, many years and have seen first-hand his passion, endless energy and live performances. The Crash My Party album captured his vision and excitement with songs that you can’t get out of your head. We are honored to acknowledge Luke and his team’s accomplishments and career success over the past decade,” said RAC Clark, ACM Interim Executive Director.

Bryan’s four-time Platinum-selling album Crash My Party was released in 2013 and firmly planted his career as a superstar entertainer. Crash My Party was the largest sales debut for a country male artist since 2004, selling nearly 530,000 albums its first week and debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Country sales chart. The album went on to sell over four million copies and contains six consecutive No. 1 singles, “Crash My Party,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” Drink A Beer,” “Play It Again,” “Roller Coaster,” and “I See You.”

 

Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert To Headline 2020 Tortuga Music Festival

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Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw are set to headline the eighth annual Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on April 17-19, 2020.

The lineup will also include Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Barenaked Ladies, Gabby Barrett, Lee Brice, Blanco Brown, Billy Currington, Jordan Davis, Gone West ft. Colbie Caillat, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Hirie, Chris Lane, Jon Pardi, Jon Langston, LOCASH, Pitbull, Runaway June, Cole Swindell, Toots and the Maytals, Vanilla Ice and Morgan Wallen, with more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

The three-day weekend beach retreat combines entertainment while raising money for ocean conservation and will take place on the shores of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. Each year Tortuga Music Festival raises funds and promotes awareness of the issues that the world’s oceans currently face, as well as supporting marine conservation and research. Festival guests can learn about where a portion of the proceeds from their passes go onsite at the festival at Rock The Ocean’s Conservation Village, which offers exhibits within the festival grounds where fans can experience games, interactive touch tanks, cooking exhibitions, the latest ocean technology, and learn how they can help make a difference

Tortuga passes will go on sale Friday, Nov. 1 at tortugamusicfestival.com.

Ingrid Andress Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Pictured: Gina Keltner (Director of Talent and Logistics, Grand Ole Opry), Ingrid Andress, Jeannie Seely. Photo: Chris Hollo/Opry

Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records artist Ingrid Andress recently made her debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, offering a performance of her single “More Hearts Than Mine,” and her anthemic “Lady Like.”

Next week, she will launch her headlining tour with a show at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall. The Lady Like Tour Part II runs through December, with stops in markets including Boston, San Diego, and Philadelphia. In February, she will join Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and more as part of Keith Urban’s All for the Hall benefit concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Pictured: Blythe Scokin (Founder & CEO, bluejacket), Shane Tarleton (SVP Artist Development, Warner Music Nashville), Gina Keltner (Director of Talent and Logistics, Grand Ole Opry), Ingrid Andress, Jeannie Seely, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Nashville). Photo: Chris Hollo/Opry

Carrie Underwood Celebrates 27th No. 1 Hit “Southbound” With Nashville Party

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP songwriter David Garcia and BMI songwriters Carrie Underwood and Josh Miller celebrate their No. 1 hit “Southbound.” Photo: Steve Lowry

Carrie Underwood was honored for her 27th No. 1 hit, “Southbound,” on Monday (Oct. 21) during a party held at BMI’s Nashville office.

The song also marks Underwood’s 14th No. 1 song as a songwriter; the BMI-aligned Underwood penned the sunny, party-ready track alongside Josh Miller (BMI) and David Garcia (ASCAP).

The No. 1 party comes just weeks after Underwood brought her headlining Cry Pretty Tour 360 to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for a sold-out show. On Nov. 13, she will host the CMA Awards for the 12th consecutive year, this time alongside Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton. She is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.

Among those celebrating “Southbound” were BMI’s Jody Williams and MaryAnn Keen, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Cindy Mabe, and publishers including Cornman Music’s Brett James and Nate Lowery, Universal Music Publishing Group’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, and Spirit Music Group’s Frank Rogers.

“Carrie, you’re the premier voice of this generation,” UMPG’s Tomlinson said. “You’re the face of country music around the world.” He also thanked the Capitol Nashville team and Underwood’s manager Ann Edelblute. “You get the job done and you do it with grace…you are a rock star.”

BMI’s Williams recalled a recent conversation had with his fellow CMA Board member, songwriter Lori McKenna. “We were talking about artists being in the writing session with more seasoned writers and the mixed results that can come about from that combination. As we talked, Lori’s face just lit up and she said, ‘There are a few exceptions and I’m talking about Carrie Underwood. She’s not a good writer, she’s a great writer, and she can hold her own in writing with anyone.’ That was just an impromptu comment from one of Nashville’s most renowned writers and for her to categorize Carrie in this way is a huge compliment. She knows what she wants to sing about and she knows who she is singing to.”

Spirit Music Group’s Rogers praised both Garcia’s talent and work ethic, saying, “He’s one of the hardest workers. He won the ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year award like six weeks ago. He gets his award and we go to dinner and he starts looking at his watch. He goes, ‘I’ve got to go back to the studio because I have a demo vocal at 10 p.m.. The artist is cutting on Friday so this is the only chance we have to get it to them.’ Well, he got the cut,” he said, to the applause of the crowd. “You deserve all the good things that happen to you. We are thrilled at Spirit to be part of your world.”

Rogers also said to Underwood, “Thank you for being a forward-looking artist in our industry…you care about making music that means something to you, and to your fans, and that’s why you are a guiding light in country music.”

“This is the first [No. 1] we get to spend together as part of Universal Music Group, so it is pretty special,” UMG Nashville’s Mabe told Underwood. “The Cry Pretty album is an album of taking creative chances and sharing deeply vulnerable and personal testament….I’m convinced that Carrie’s voice is so powerful because she speaks and has a voice for those who do not, and you can see them come out in droves every night to connect with her in concert, from little girls, to grown men, straight, gay, all ethnicities and ages, and especially women. Perhaps the thing that I have learned from her despite all the pressure as a woman, a wife and working mom, boss and entertainer, cultural influencer, and performer, is that she’s always working to use her platform to shine on others, including creating opportunities for other female artists, exposing new acts and encouraging fans to champion each other.”

She also offered high praise for Underwood’s current Cry Pretty Tour 360. “It’s mesmerizing no matter how many times you’ve seen it, and I’ve seen it six times,” Mabe said.

Pictured (L-R, top row): BMI’s Jody Williams, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Universal Music Group’s Cindy Mabe, Spirit Music Group’s Frank Rogers, Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery and Brett James; (L-R, bottom row): ASCAP songwriter David Garcia and BMI songwriters Carrie Underwood and Josh Miller. Photo: Steve Lowry

Underwood’s “Southbound” co-writers Garcia and Miller are also co-writers on the Florida Georgia Line/Bebe Rexha smash hit, “Meant To Be,” which earned BMI Pop Song of the Year last year. Miller has also penned chart-toppers including Chris Lane’s “Take Back Home Girl” (feat. Tori Kelly), and Kip Moore’s “More Girls Like You.” He also has numerous cuts on albums from Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Chase Rice and more.

“This is my dream job and it’s icing on the cake to get to celebrate things like this,” Miller said. Of Underwood, he said, “I remember I was a senior in high school and seeing you win American Idol. And to think that I’m up here…you’re a superstar and you are a superstar human. You are an artist and you have a voice and just thank you for doing everything you do, because your artistry is bigger than just shows and music.”

Garcia, who both wrote for and co-produced Underwood’s current album Cry Pretty, moved to Nashville in 2009. He’s earned four Grammy Awards for songs including Mandisa’s “Overcomer” and the album of the same title, as well as songs recorded by TobyMac. Garcia is the reigning ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year, and also took home the honor in 2015 and 2016. He also co-wrote Moore’s “More Girls Like You,” and co-wrote three tracks on NF’s album Perception.

Garcia took the time to praise Underwood not only as a songwriter, but as a producer. “When you look on the back of the record and it says ‘co-produced by Carrie Underwood,’ Carrie was in my studio in Berry Hill every session. Every day we had someone come over, she was right there. I’m so proud of this song, but I’m so proud of this record, too. Thank you for making this possible. We had an incredible record label that trusted us. Josh, I couldn’t be more proud of you, dude, just watching you do everything.”

“I’m so proud of this entire album. It is definitely me to the fullest extent,” Underwood said. “To be able to work with David throughout, it was just a blessing. It feels good singing these songs on the road every night. Getting to write with both of these guys, it was wonderful to have such talent in the room and get to know you guys. I’m excited to celebrate ‘Southbound,’ that last piece of the puzzle that we knew we needed. You’ve got to have those light, fun moments in the show and it’s such an honor to get to kick the show off with ‘Southbound.’”

She also thanked manager Ann Edelblute, the Capitol Music Nashville team, and country radio.

“It never, ever gets old. Every time you reach that No. 1 spot, it’s like you get to celebrate for the first time, every time.”

UMPG also made a donation to MusiCares on behalf of the songwriters, while Pinnacle Bank made a donation to Underwood’s The C.A.T.S. Foundation.

Pictured: MusicRow Magazine’s Sherod Robertson presents David Garcia, Carrie Underwood and Josh Miller with their No.1 MusicRow Challenge Coins for “Southbound.”

CMA Foundation Honored In New York

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CMA and CMA Foundation Board Member Chris Young presents CMA Foundation Executive Director Tiffany Kerns, on behalf of the CMA Foundation, with the Arts Education Award at the Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Awards on Monday, Oct. 21 in New York City. Photo: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA

The Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Awards, held Oct. 21 in New York City, honored the CMA Foundation with its Arts Education Award. The honor recognizes the CMA Foundation’s commitment to improving and advancing arts education in public schools, after-school programs, summer camps and more.

The honor was presented to CMA Foundation Exec. Director Tiffany Kerns and to CMA/CMA Foundation Board Member Chris Young during the event. Others honored during the evening included musician Ben Folds, painter Luchita Hurtado, the honorable Earle I. Mack, and actor Ben Platt.

“As someone who has experienced firsthand the real benefits of learning music at an early age, I’m honored to help shine a spotlight on the CMA Foundation and the important work they are doing to make music more accessible in our schools,” says Young.

“It is an honor for the CMA Foundation to receive the Arts Education Award,” says Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation. “Our team works passionately to make sure that we are following our ongoing mission of providing high-quality music education in our public schools and help shape the leaders of our future generations.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of this year’s tremendous group of National Arts Awards honorees – all visionaries in the arts. We honor them for their own artistic contributions and for their advocacy on behalf of creating more opportunity for all to engage with the arts. Their persistence to strengthen the arts in communities across America will continue to serve as an inspiration,” says Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

Established in 2011, the CMA Foundation has invested more than $27 million, giving students access to a high-quality music education and providing educators the resources they need to create and sustain thriving programs.

Industry Pics: ACM, PEDIGREE Foundation, Dancin’ In The District, Maren Morris

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Academy Of Country Music Announces Bebe Rexha As Additional Recipient Of ACM Music Event Of The Decade Award For “Meant To Be”

Pictured (L-R): Bebe Rexha and ACM Interim Executive Director RAC Clark. Photo: Jack Gorlin

The Academy of Country Music revealed Warner Records artist Bebe Rexha as an additional recipient of the ACM Music Event of the Decade Award for “Meant to Be” featuring Florida Georgia Line, who were previously honored. Rexha received her award in a surprise backstage presentation on Oct. 20 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles while on tour with the Jonas Brothers. With this win, Rexha joins the string of the seven all-new ACM Decade Award categories.

The ACM Music Event of the Decade Award recognizes a recording performed by artists who do not regularly perform together that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors considered include success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

“Bebe’s an artist who proves that music has no limitations. Artist collaborations are one of the biggest creative forces in all genres of music today. So when you put two artists like Bebe and FGL together, you’re going to get a great hit song and we are so thrilled to be able to recognize that,” said RAC Clark, ACM Interim Executive Director.

 

Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes & Easton Corbin Perform At The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert at CMA Theater To Benefit PEDIGREE Foundation

Pictured (L-R): Easton Corbin, Hunter Hayes, Jillian Cardarelli, Lee Brice

In an effort to help the millions of shelter and rescue dogs across the country find homes, the Hallmark Channel and the PEDIGREE Foundation teamed up for a television special, The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert, that aired last night on Hallmark Channel. The concert special features country artists Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes and Easton Corbin from the Country Music Hall of Fame CMA Theater that was filmed earlier this month. Rising country artist Jillian Cardarelli performed during the Sponsor Reception prior to the show taping while Hallmark Channel’s own Larissa Wohl served as emcee for the evening.

The television special will help raise grant funds for PEDIGREE Foundation as part of Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After initiative, which has already helped over 40,000 pets find homes. With estimated totals from the two-day event that also included a golf tournament, at $325,000, PEDIGREE Foundation and Hallmark Channel are hoping to raise even more funds with the Text to Donate option. Viewers can make a donation by texting “Dogs Rule” to 615-392-1626 or visit their website at PEDIGREEFoundation.org.

 

Dancin’ In The District Raises $10,000 For Music Health Alliance

Nashville residents and music fans recently celebrated the return of Dancin’ In The District with music on The Riverfront from Leftover Salmon, JoJo Herman & Slim Wednesday, Space Capone, Alanna Royale, and Tennessee Muscle Candy, along with Nashville Legends Jam featuring Pat McLaughlin, Rodney Crowell, The McCrary Sisters, and Joe Bonamassa.

This year’s event supported the work of Music Health Alliance, a non-profit organization whose free advocacy services help protect, direct, and connect members of the music community with healthcare and financial solutions. This year’s Dancin’ In The District event raised $10,000 and presented MHA with a check on Heal The Music Day (Oct. 18).

“Music Health Alliance shares the same mission as Acme Radio Company and Dancin’ in the District which is supporting the authentic music community here in Nashville. These musicians are living with a day job and a dream, and MHA makes sure they don’t have to worry about how they’re going to receive healthcare while they’re doing it. The partnership was an easy choice and we couldn’t be more honored to present them with this check,” said Dancin’ In The District Founder, Tom Morales.

 

Maren Morris And Ryan Hurd Celebrate With Radio Partners

Photo: Courtesy Sony Music Nashville

Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd celebrated with radio partners and Columbia Nashville promotion team before Morris’ sold out Nashville show at Ascend Amphitheater on Friday night (Oct. 18).

Industry Ink: Song Suffragettes, RCA Inspiration, Jennie Smythe, Lisa Chader, Lucia Folk

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Song Suffragettes Gets Presenting Sponsor

Pictured (L-R): Song Suffragettes’ Todd Cassetty; Song Suffragettes’ Kasey Tyndall, Candi Carpenter, Kalie Shorr; The LSSW Group’s Leslie Schwartz, Eden Lopez, Liz Weikes, Paula Steinberg; Song Suffragettes’ Kaity Rae, Ashley Elle; Song Suffragettes’ Helena Capps

All-female musical collective Song Suffragettes announced its first presenting sponsor, The LSSW Group at J.P. Morgan Securities. Based in New York, the four female partners of The LSSW Group serve wealth management and investment needs of the music industry.

“Song Suffragettes hit the five-year mark this year and given the continued success of the show, we’ve been looking for sponsors to assist as we grow our all-female performance brand,” says Todd Cassetty, founder of Song Suffragettes. “After meeting Eden Lopez, Leslie Schwartz, Paula Steinberg and Liz Weikes, working with The LSSW Group made perfect sense. This relationship will help us evolve new female-centric initiatives, and it is the glowing definition of women supporting women.”

 

Justin Tomlinson Returns To RCA Inspiration

Justin Tomlinson

RCA Inspiration has appointed Justin Tomlinson as Associate Director of Digital Marketing. Tomlinson will lead strategic implementation of digital marketing campaigns for all RCAI artists, and ensure marketing campaigns support all promotion and consumption efforts.

Most recently, Tomlinson worked at Sony Music Nashville, overseeing day-to-day digital strategy for the roster. His career has also included time at BET Networks, RCA Inspiration/Sony Music, and Sony Music as Digital Strategy Manager.

 

Girlilla Marketing’s Jennie Smythe Shares Cancer Battle

Girlilla Marketing CEO/founder Jennie Smythe opened up about her battle with breast cancer in an article from People Magazine. Smythe shared how a routine mammogram likely saved her life and detailed her courageous battle against the disease.

 

Lisa Chader, Lucia Folk Launch The Change Agent-cy

Chader, Folk

Former CMT/Viacom executives Lucia Folk and Lisa Chader have announced the launch of The Change Agent·cy – a consulting firm that guides entertainment and corporate clients in supporting the causes and charities they care about in measurable, impactful ways. The Change Agent·cy serves as a resource on social and civic issues, advising on comprehensive, integrated social impact strategies and advocacy, providing constituents the necessary tools to take positive action while strengthening, and remaining true to, their overall brands.

Folk is President and CEO of The Change Agent·cy; Chader serves as Chief Communications Officer.

Using a multi-tiered, scalable approach, The Change Agent·cy offers a variety of services including corporate social responsibility planning, marketing, PR and events; reputation, image management and artist development related to social causes; streamlined processes for charity request fulfillment; and more. A menu of services can be accessed at thechangeagentcy.com.

CMA Fest 2019 Yields Over $2.2 Million For Music Education

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This year’s CMA Fest featured over 300 artists performing on 11 stages around the city, and every artist participating donated his/her time during the four-day festival to help support music education around the country.

Thanks to the generosity of not only the artists performing at CMA Fest but the fans in attendance, a portion of the net proceeds totaling over $2.2 million has been donated to the CMA Foundation. Since its inception in 2011, the CMA Foundation has invested over $27 million towards their mission of ensuring every child has access to high-quality music education and providing educators with the resources they need to create and sustain thriving programs.

“CMA is thrilled to be donating more than $2.2 million this year to the CMA Foundation,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We wouldn’t be able to make this investment without the continued support from our artist community as well as our dedicated fans.”

The 49th annual CMA Fest will take place June 4–7, 2020.

Live Nation Entertainment Inks Booking Deal With Nashville’s The Basement East

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Live Nation Entertainment has inked an exclusive multi-year booking agreement with Nashville’s The Basement East. As part of the venture, promoter Richard Sloven joins Live Nation Nashville’s team as Talent Buyer/Promoter.

“For decades, co-owners Dave Brown and Mike Grimes have fueled the Nashville live music scene, not only by giving Nashvillians the chance to see great touring acts, but also by thoughtfully nurturing local artists,” said Brian Traeger, Live Nation President – Tennessee. “Over the last two years, along with General Manager Tara Charles and Talent Buyer Richard Sloven, they have successfully raised the bar in all areas at The Basement East, from programming and customer service to aesthetics and acoustics. We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with this incredible team and important venue and so happy to welcome Richard to the Live Nation family.”

“We are very excited to be partnering in this joint venture with Live Nation. With Richard Sloven continuing his role at ‘The Beast,’ we are certain it will serve all involved and bring even more amazing live music to the Nashville community,” says Mike Grimes of The Basement East.

The Basement East has fortified the Nashville music scene since opening its doors in 2015, and hosts an ongoing lineup of sought-after performers. Known as ‘The Beast,’ the venue serves as the sister club to The Basement’s original 8th Avenue venue.