Industry Ink: Moraine Records, PLA Media, Kid Rock, Steve Smith

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Moraine Records Adds To Roster

Shannon LaBrie. Photo: Rae Marshall

Moraine Records, part of Moraine Music’s Artist Alliance, has signed Shannon LaBrie to the roster. In 2016, LaBrie released the album War & Peace, which reached the Top 10 on iTunes.

Dianna Maher, President of Moraine Music Group, comments, “Shannon is a true force of nature, and her combination of talents as a vocalist, songwriter, and musician makes her an exciting addition to our company. She delivers inspired music on every level!”

PLA Media Adds Sarah Ray To Roster

Sarah Ray

PLA Media has added lifestyle blogger and home designer Sarah Ray of Our Vintage Farmhouse to its roster.

“We are elated to be working with such a powerhouse in the online space,” PLA Media President and CEO Pam Lewis said. “On top of being a business savvy mother, Sarah Ray is an artist with a heart of gold. She has her finger on the pulse of style and design for the modern southern family, and we can’t wait to see what she conquers next.”

PLA Media’s roster also includes the Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum, and Tina Turner Museum, as well as artist and actor Gary Morris.

Kid Rock, Steve Smith To Match Tips From Virtual Performances

Kid Rock and Steve Smith, Nashville’s Lower Broadway honkytonk kingpin, have announced they will match all “tips” made through live performances beginning at noon on April 15, and streamed on Facebook pages for Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk Central, Rippy’s Honky Tonk, as well as the Facebook page and website of Honky Tonk School for 72 hours.

“Just like playing in the clubs, our musicians make their living from the tips they received from our patrons so we are encouraging people to tip them during these performances,” says Smith. “These musicians love to perform and entertain, so just like the rest of America, they are going stir crazy not being able to perform for the people. This is just a way to get them performing again and hopefully bringing some happiness into the homes of those that would rather be on Broadway during this time.”

“Like most of us, I am a big supporter of all musicians and especially for those who work hard for the Honky Tonk Godfather and myself,” says Kid Rock. “These guys and gals work for us everyday. A lot of them you know. So listen, any tips you donate during the live stream are appreciated, but over the next 72 hours will be matched by my Big Ass Honky Tonk, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s and Honky Tonk Central. Thank you and stay safe.”

Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Steakhouse and The Diner have continued to pay their employees since Mayor Cooper issued all bars to close in downtown Nashville due to social distancing laws amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Honky Tonk School has organized this effort to help musicians make ends meet until the bars open and they can go back to entertaining in person.

To donate directly to the Honky Tonk School to keep the music playing visit the Honky Tonk School Musician’s Streaming Fund or donate through Venmo.

CJ Solar Sets ‘Coming My Way’ EP For May

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CJ Solar will release his new EP, Coming My Way, on May 1, led by his new single “Watered Down Whiskey,” which released to country radio on Friday (April 14).

“A lot of folks have heard me play these songs either on the road or online during the quarantine, and I’m excited to finally have the whole package available for everyone to hear,” said Solar. “There’s a ton of heart and soul in these songs, and I hope that comes through with every listen.”

CJ co-wrote all six songs in the collection, which follows the EPs Get Away With It and Hard One To Turn Down. Solar has written country radio hits for Morgan Wallen (“Up Down”) and Jameson Rodgers (“Some Girls”) as well as cuts for Jason Aldean (“I Don’t Drink Anymore”) and songs recorded by Jerrod Niemann, Justin Moore and others.

Over the past year, Solar earned two Top 15 hits on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, with “Airplane” and “American Girls.” He was nominated for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year at the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, and took home Independent Artist of the Year award at the 2019 CountryBreakout Awards.

Coming My Way EP Track Listing:
“Coming My Way” – CJ Solar, Michael Hardy, Jake Mitchell
“Better Memory” – Smith Ahnquist, CJ Solar, Neil Medley
“Wild Hair” – CJ Solar, Jacob Davis, Bob DiPiero, Jason Gantt
“Rain” – CJ Solar, Brent Anderson, Mark Fuhrer
“She’ll Run” – Brent Anderson, Jordan Brooker, CJ Solar
“Watered Down Whiskey” – Charlie Berry, CJ Solar

Country Recording Artist, Songwriter Jimmy Jay Dies At 84

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James T. Pickard, Sr., the country recording artist and songwriter known as Jimmy Jay, passed away on April 6, following a battle with cancer. He was 84.

Under the name Jimmy Jay, Pickard was a country recording artist in the 1960s. He recorded songs “You’re Still With Me,” “I Might As Well Go Home,” “Bayou Girl,” and many others. As a musician, he also toured with artists such as Conway Twitty and Eddy Raven.

As a songwriter, his songs were recorded by many country artists, including: “Neon Row” by Eddy Raven and George Straight, “Why Not Tonight” by Neal McCoy, and “You Put It There” by Conway Twitty.

Pickard is survived by wife of 54 years, Jeanie Pickard, his sister, Sandy Killam, his four children and daughter-in-law, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, Pickard’s family asks donations be sent to Avow Hospice Naples.

Gospel Music Association Reschedules GMA Honors & Hall of Fame Ceremony

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The 7th annual GMA Honors & Hall of Fame ceremony has been rescheduled for 2021, the Gospel Music Association announced on Tuesday (April 14). The ceremony will now be held May 12, 2021; the event was previously slated to take place at Nashville’s Lipscomb University campus on May 6, 2020.

The previously announced inductees include 4Him (CCM), Bill Hearn (non-performing), Commissioned (Gospel) and The Isaacs (Southern Gospel). The 2020 honorees are Chris Tomlin for Angel Armies, Steve Moore for The Shalom Foundation, Wes Campbell and Dave Wagner for Thriving Children’s Foundation (TCA), and Willie Moore Jr. for Bethany Christian Services.

The GMA Honors & Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony supports the preservation efforts and educational programs of the GMA Foundation. The event celebrates individuals and organizations in gospel music that are making considerable contributions to the world through their humanitarian efforts, as well as their talents. The GMA Honors’ inaugural ceremony was held in 2014; among the honorees that year included Brown Bannister, The Gaither Vocal Band, Take 6, the late Rich Mullins, Dr. Bobby Jones, Don Moen, Michael Guido and the non-profit organizations Show Hope and World Vision.

Victor Zaraya Named Chief Revenue Officer At Concord

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Victor Zaraya has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Concord. Zaraya will continue to be based out of Concord’s New York office and will report to COO Jim Selby. Current KIDZ BOP Senior Vice President, Sasha Junk, will succeed Zaraya as President of KIDZ BOP.

As CRO, Zaraya will work across Concord’s business areas in publishing, recorded music, and theatricals, to provide strategic guidance and maximize revenues and efficiencies across the company. He will collaborate with Concord’s other leaders to align revenue-related functions such as distribution and licensing negotiation and implementation, tracking and analysis of income and developing business strategies that acknowledge key trends in the various industries in which Concord participates.

“Vic is one of the many talented people who joined Concord as a result of our Razor & Tie acquisition in 2015,” said Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci. “We have all had the pleasure of working with him since then and know him to be a skilled, experienced executive with solid entrepreneurial instincts borne out of his years working in the indie sector of the business. KIDZ BOP is well-positioned to continue its extraordinary growth under Sasha Junk’s leadership, allowing Vic to now move into the critical CRO role, replacing Jim Selby who recently became our COO. As Concord continues to grow and evolve, we are focused on creating opportunities for advancement for everyone on our team, as evidenced by Vic’s and Sasha’s promotions. Vic will be an exceptional CRO and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish on behalf of our artists, writers and other creative partners.”

Prior to joining Concord, Zaraya spent the last 20 years growing one of the world’s largest independent music companies, Razor & Tie (including KIDZ BOP). He negotiated touring partnerships, licensing, distribution and marketing deals, and established infrastructure and revenue models that stabilized and expanded the company’s business. A founding member of the team that built KIDZ BOP, Zaraya helped transform the brand from a CD compilation series into an integrated global brand that connects with kids and families through its music and videos, consumer products and live tours. KIDZ BOP has sold over 21 million albums, generated 4.5 billion streams and played hundreds of live shows since the brand debuted in 2001.

“Vic is a seasoned music executive and we look forward to his leadership focused strategically on Concord artist compensation,” said Selby. “I am very confident that he can position Concord well for the rapid changes occurring in the global music environment.”

“I am excited to join Concord’s leadership team and would like to express my gratitude to Scott Pascucci, Jim Selby and all of the executives for giving me the opportunity to succeed in this role,” said Zaraya. “I look forward to working with our global staff to find new and creative solutions to help us thrive during this very challenging time.”

Lady Antebellum Helps Craft Bubbly New Hit On Season Two Premiere Of ‘Songland’

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Photo (L-R): Ryan Tedder, Charles Kelley, Shane McAnally, Hillary Scott, Ester Dean and Dave Haywood. Photo Credit: NBC Universal

Lady Antebellum was the guest artist on last night’s (April 13) season two premiere of NBC’s Songland, where they ultimately chose the catchy winning song “Champagne Night.”

Penned by the show’s mentor Shane McAnally, alongside aspiring songwriter Madeline Merlo and the trio, the fun-spirited pick-me-up tune was crafted specifically for Lady A as it underwent a series of edits and studio sessions. Serving as a lighthearted ode to a simplified, humble interpretation of the high-life, “Champagne Night” has immediately jumped to the No. 1 spot on iTunes’ all genre chart and is available on all digital platforms.

In addition to the new track’s release, Lady A and cast members took the song’s meaning to heart during self isolation and expressed its easygoing message through a new video as well.
 

Riley Roth Signs With Altadena, Warner Chappell Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Stephanie Taylor (Stephanie Taylor Law), Christina Wiltshire (Creative Director, Warner Chappell), Noreen Prunier (Creative Director, Altadena), BJ Hill (VP, Warner Chappell), Daniel Lee (President, Altadena), Riley Roth, Julia Keefe (Creative Coordinator, Altadena)

Riley Roth has signed a publishing deal with Altadena and Warner Chappell Nashville.

Roth arrived in Music City by way of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and is currently signed to a label deal with Altadena and repped by Justin Cahill at CAA for booking. She completed her debut EP with Grammy-nominated producer, busbee, prior to his untimely passing late last year. Roth has already received choice playlisting on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and has co-written the majority of the songs she’s recorded.

“Riley is one of the most naturally gifted and hardest working artists I know,” said Altadena President Daniel Lee. “I’m thrilled to continue this journey with our amazing partners at Warner Chappell, and I can’t wait to see the vision that Riley, busbee, and I shared come to fruition.”

Roth’s latest single, “Girls Kiss First,” will be released digitally this Friday (April 17). The track was written by busbee, Katie Pearlman, and Lily Meola and was produced by busbee. Roth will be performing the track live on Instagram today (April 14) at 5 p.m. CST, with a special guest appearance from labelmate Ryan Griffin.

Ebach Entertainment, UMPG Nashville Sign Josh Melton

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Janine Ebach‘s Ebach Entertainment and UMPG Nashville have signed a publishing deal with Josh Melton.

Melton moved to Nashville in 2014 and alongside working at a nursing home to pay the bills he spent evenings working at Nashville’s FGL House and Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge Food+Drink, where Ebach first discovered him.

“It’s your classic Nashville discovery story- I heard Josh sing in a bar and was blown away by his rich vocal, original songs and positive attitude,” Ebach said. “Not only has he been hustling in Nashville for a handful of years but he’s a guy you just want to root for. I’m equally as excited to partner with Troy Tomlinson, Missy Roberts and the entire Universal Publishing Nashville team on Josh, along with his manager, Chris Perkins.”

Melton signed with WME for touring representation in 2019 and has opened shows for Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Jimmie Allen, among others. His song “Everybody Knows” has earned 1 million streams and he will release new music in May.

“I’m humbled to be a part of this amazing team,” Melton said. “I have the support of some of the best industry professionals in the game, and I cannot wait to see where this crazy thing called a dream takes us!”

Anastasia Brown Named Chief Content Strategist At Visionary Media Group

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Anastasia Brown has been appointed to Chief Content Strategist of Visionary Media Group.

In her new role, Brown will direct the creation and allocation of all digital and physical content across all platforms for the company’s music, film, television and scoring projects. In addition to steering the content creation for VMG’s flagship recording artist, American Idol finalist Kree Harrison, signed to the subsidiary One Vision Music Group, Brown will also be working on film productions and scores.“Anastasia Brown brings an exceptional level of experience and stature in the music industry to VMG,” says CEO Cory B. Savage. “Her expertise and incredible eye for spotting talent is unmatched. I couldn’t be happier to have Anastasia on our team as we help artists prosper in the entertainment industry.”

Prior to joining VMG, Brown had carved out a path that encompasses music, film and television constructing a creative bridge between Nashville and Hollywood. With a career featuring milestones including DOVE and Emmy wins and Grammy and Oscar nominations, Brown’s traversed a three-decade career honing expertise as a music supervisor, artist manager, music publisher, film/soundtrack/TV producer, author, TV personality, A&R/label executive and content creator.

While heading up Miles Copeland’s Nashville division of Firstars Management and Ark 21 Records, Brown worked with Keith Urban, Waylon Jennings, Peter Frampton and Leon Russell in various capacities to both launch and propel their careers. Serving as distribution consultant and music supervisor for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, Brown coordinated the distribution of the documentary For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville on ABC. As a TV music consultant for Warner Nashville, she made 27 sync placements in a six-month period, including songs by Blake Shelton, the Zac Brown Band, Brett Eldredge and Hunter Hayes.

In the production arena, Brown has developed four TV series and two films including the Sony Classics biopic on the life of Hank Williams, Sr., I Saw the Light. On the other side of the camera, Brown starred as a judge for three seasons of the USA Network talent competition Nashville Star. Brown also led the charge to grow a self-sustaining film, TV, scoring and post-production industry in Nashville establishing Southern Lights, a Content Creation Alliance in 2019.

“My long-term goal is to grow a prolific and self-sustaining film, TV, podcast and gaming production center as well as an audiovisual scoring industry in Nashville, and with VMG’s leadership and dedication, this goal is finally becoming a reality,” says Brown. “Content has been and always will be ‘king.’ VMG will provide the resources to attract and grow content creators, and support innovative production strategies for creative works to be launched from idea through completion. Their unique brand of business strategy will benefit recording artists, songwriters, producers of soundtracks, and the development of authentic films, TV, podcast and gaming entertainment. VMG has cutting-edge technology that will transform the ability to distribute content internationally. My career over these last three decades has encompassed bits and pieces of all that VMG is supporting me to lead, all under one roof.”

MV2 Entertainment Launches Label Imprint

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MV2 Entertainment has launched the label imprint New Lost City Records, with the flagship artists Nora Collins and Blake Henderson.

Collins has been an artist-writer with MV2 Entertainment since 2016. She recently extended her publishing deal with MV2 and is set to release her new single “Neon Healing” on May 15 under the new label imprint.

Oklahoma native Henderson currently works in the oilfield as a wireline operator. His first single, “Tomorrow’s Problem,” will release April 24.

“New Lost City Records is a bold, exciting step for us to release new music with forward-thinking strategies relevant to today’s market,” said MV2 General Manager Tony Harrell. “We have strong releases on the horizon and an incredible support team behind them.”

“I couldn’t be more excited and grateful to have the opportunity to continue my journey with the amazing MV2 team,” said Collins. “I’m so proud of my upcoming project and can’t wait to release it under New Lost City Records!”

“I’m so excited and blessed to have the opportunity to sign with New Lost City Records,” said Henderson. “I’m looking forward to working with such a driven, professional, and accomplished team. My family and I are thankful beyond measure.”