Country Music Association Launches COVID-19 Webinar Series

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The Country Music Association is launching a series of webinars, with each centered on an aspect of living and doing business as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

CMA offers year-round, member-only tools and resources to those working in the country music industry, but this series of webinars will be available for public access as well.
See the full webinar schedule and registration links below.

YOUR CHANGING AUDIENCE AND CONSUMER – NEW RESEARCH
Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 AM/CT
It is often said the most valuable question any business should be able to answer is “How is my customer changing?” Be the first to see the latest COVID-19 research insights on consumer behavior in a study done in partnership with the international research and consulting company SmithGeiger – who surveyed 1,300 Americans to uncover their shifts in media and shopping behavior during this unique time.
You should tune in if: You want to hear from experts on what to expect of the consumer landscape, spending behavior, and more. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

LEADING WITH CLARITY – COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS
Thursday, May 7 at 12:00 PM/CT
The need to effectively communicate with employees and customers has never been more important. Join CMA and experts on crisis communications to hear the latest insights into some of the unique employee and management communication challenges created by COVID-19. Learn some of the topics you need to be prepared for and how to effectively get any message across to an audience during this time of uncertainty.
You should tune in if: You’re looking for helpful tips and advice on how to effectively communicate with your employees and customers regarding COVID-19. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

GETTING BACK TOGETHER – VENUE AND EVENT HEALTH PLANNING
Thursday, May 12 at 1:00 PM/CT
Your audiences are anxious to get back to being together – but what is the new normal today for safe events?
The reopening of venues and the events that will start to take place require new thinking and preparation in the time of COVID-19. Join CMA and the team at SmithGeiger to explore what the top issues are in staging events and group activities (including those in your place of business). Learn about respected resources that your team can turn to and how to stay up to date on the latest guidance.
You should tune in if: You have your eyes set toward the future and want to be proactive in thinking through what “recovery” looks like. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MARKETING TO AUDIENCES – WHAT ARE THE CREATIVE APPROACHES
Tuesday, May 19 at 1:00 PM/CT
Smart brands and companies know that now is not the time to hide from the audience – instead it is a time for leadership. Connecting with audiences requires you understand the three concepts of successful advertising in the stressful world of COVID-19. Join us as SmithGeiger walks you through examples and ideas of advertising today. Learn some of the top concepts in connecting with consumers with the right approach that reflects their personal needs.
You should tune in if: You are looking for creative ways to connect with your audience and tips for navigating “advertising” in a time of crisis. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Walker Hayes Reaches Double Platinum With "You Broke Up With Me"

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Walker Hayes’ single “You Broke Up With Me” has reached double platinum status. The achievement makes Hayes’ hit one of only 25 double platinum country songs and one of only five debut singles to reach that status in the past three years.

The RIAA’s Jackie Jones was on hand to tell Hayes about his achievement, as well as Bobby Bones, who was originally set to surprise Hayes on his “Bobby Bones Super Easy Trivia Show,” but Hayes was eliminated during an early trivia round, so Bones didn’t have a chance to surprise Hayes on the show. Ultimately, Bones had Hayes on The Bobby Bones Show today (April 29) to present him with the plaque.

“It seriously feels like a miracle,” said Hayes. “I’ve been on quite a long journey, and getting this affirmation is huge. Excited doesn’t even begin to cover how I felt when I first found out, and truthfully how I still feel thinking about It. I used to intro ‘You Broke Up With Me’ at shows by saying ‘This went platinum’ and now I can be like ‘This is a multi-platinum record.’ Grateful for this song’s success and now I am ready to do it all over again with my new one ‘Trash My Heart.’”

Mechanical Licensing Collective To Be Headquartered In Nashville

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Kris Ahrend.

The Mechanical Licensing Collective has chosen Nashville as the home base for the organization, with plans to add up to 100 full-time employees, with the majority of those to be based in Nashville.
The Mechanical Licensing Collective is still determining a specific office location within Nashville. In January, it was announced the organization would be led by CEO Kris Ahrend.

“Locating The MLC’s headquarters in Nashville further cements the city’s reputation as the national hub for the music industry,” Ahrend said in a statement. “Nashville is an extraordinary city with a strong talent pool and a terrific entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re excited to build a brand new, globally recognized data and technology startup right here in Music City.”

A graduate of Binghamton University and the Washington & Lee School of Law, Ahrend worked as a law clerk for the Western District of the Virginia District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals before joining the Intellectual Property & Litigation Group of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP in New York. Ahrend began his career in the music industry working in the Law Department at Sony Music, where he provided legal services to all of Sony’s US divisions, including its publishing company. He subsequently worked in the business and legal affairs department at Sony BMG Music Entertainment before accepting a senior executive role at Rhino Entertainment.

In 2013, Ahrend left Rhino to assume a senior executive role within Warner Music Group, where he led a large legal, financial, and administrative shared services organization that he helped to create. In 2016, Ahrend was promoted to President of U.S. Shared Services and tapped to lead the development and launch of Warner Music’s new Center of Excellence for Shared Services in Nashville, where he oversaw the operations of 15 different functional teams providing a variety of administrative, financial, and legal services to Warner Music’s U.S.-based publishing teams, record labels, and corporate divisions.

He serves on the boards of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Downtown Partnership, and is a member of the Music City Music Council.

The Mechanical Licensing Collective was designated by the United States Copyright Office, and created by U.S. music publishers and songwriters (backed by the National Music Publishers’ Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Songwriters of North America), as a new entity to license and administer rights under the Music Modernization Act which was signed into law in 2018. The law ensures that the mechanical rights of songwriters and music publishers are properly licensed and royalties fully paid by digital services, and it improves how those royalty rates are determined. It also establishes a publicly accessible mechanical rights database to ensure accurate, transparent copyright ownership information.

New Documentary Details Johnny Cash’s Relationship With His First Wife Vivian

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Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash

While fans of movies such as Walk The Line are well-versed in late music legend Johnny Cash‘s 35-year relationship with his late wife June Carter Cash, a new documentary centers on Johnny Cash’s relationship with his first wife, Vivian Liberto. Cash and Liberto wed in 1954, and were parents to four daughters, including Rosanne, Kathy, Cindy and Tara. The couple divorced in 1966, and Johnny married June Carter in 1968. June and Johnny had one son, John Carter Cash, and were married until they died just months apart in 2003.

The documentary, titled My Darling Vivian, is now streaming for free on Amazon Prime Video. The doc was slated to be shown as part of South by Southwest’s Film Festival Collection, before the conference was canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary was directed by Matt Riddlehoover and produced by Dustin Tittle.

My Darling Vivian offers never-before-seen footage, photographs of Vivian Liberto and Johnny Cash, and letters the two exchanged while Johnny served in the United States Air Force. The couple’s daughters are also featured in the documentary, chronically tracing Vivian’s life, and the rise and fall of her relationship with Cash.

George Strait To Launch Ace In The Hole Radio Channel On SiriusXM

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George Strait is one of the artists who will launch a SiriusXM channel on May 1, alongside pop and rock icons such as the Eagles, Rolling Stones, Metallica and more.

Titled Ace In The Hole Radio, after Strait’s longtime touring band, the channel will include personal stories and insights on his life and career from Strait himself, as well as playing the superstar’s biggest hits, which includes 60 No. 1 singles throughout his career.

The curated channels will begin rolling out in conjunction with SiriusXM’s Stream Free period, which has been extended through the end of May.

“It’s like catching lightning in a bottle for SiriusXM to be able to offer authorized channels from these iconic artists, not only to our subscribers, but at a time when our app is free to everyone,” said SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein. “These channels, combined with our already incredible set of artist-dedicated channels, makes SiriusXM the ultimate audio destination to bring fans closer to the artists they love, and at a time when people can use some great music.”

Adrian Michaels, WEA’s National Director of Radio & Streaming, To Exit Warner Music

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Adrian Michaels

Adrian Michaels, WEA’s National Director of Radio & Streaming, will be exiting Warner Music Nashville when his contract ends at the end of May.

“We are sad to see Adrian go, but excited for his next opportunity,” says a representative from Warner Music Nashville.

Michaels joined Warner Music Nashville in 2014 and has worked with artists such as Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans, Kenny Chesney, Devin Dawson, Michael Ray, and many others. He was formerly Sr. VP of Curb Records for 10 years, where he worked with Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice and others. Prior to Curb, Michaels worked the Southwest region for RCA.

His departure leaves the position vacant. Inquiries and resumes for the position can be emailed to Kristen William, SVP of Radio & Streaming, at [email protected] and Tom Martens, VP of Radio & Streaming, at [email protected].

Spotify’s Premium Subscribers Increased By 6 Million In First Quarter Of 2020

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Spotify released its first quarter earnings results for 2020 on Wednesday (April 29), and records show the streaming service has added 6 million premium subscribers in the first quarter of 2020, for a total of 130 million subscribers, a 31% year-over-year increase. According to Spotify’s report, the company’s Family Plan was a large driver of the subscription increase.

The company’s Total Monthly Active Users have also increased by 15 million in the first quarter of 2020, reaching 286 million monthly active users, a 31% year-over-year increase.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company stated it has lowered its revenue projections for the year, decreasing its expectations from an earlier range of €8.08 billion-€8.48 billion, down to €7.65 billion-€8.05 billion (approximately $8.29 billion to $8.73 billion) in sales.

In a letter to shareholders, the company stated it saw a “notable decline” in daily active users and consumption in hard hit markets including Italy and Spain, though they have seen listening begin to rebound in the past few weeks. They have seen usage in car, wearable and web platforms drop, though Spotify audiences through TV and Game Consoles has grown. For Ad-Supported monthly active users in the United States, game consoles have been one of the top three platforms in terms of consumption for the better part of the month, and connected device usage generally is up more than 40% among Ad-Supported users globally.

As of 2020 Q1, the company has 5,779 full-time employees globally. The company stated it plans to slow hiring for the rest of the year “until we have better visibility into the economic impact of COVID-19.” The company has reduced open headcount by roughly 30% from prior growth expectations. The company also stated it will “continue to focus our investments in areas of strategic importance, and remain committed to our longterm targets for hiring in Research & Development. Additionally, we are committed to retaining all existing employees, but are mindful about the absolute level of hiring until we have more clarity on the global economic picture and the length of our work from home status.”

Tenille Townes’ Album ‘The Lemonade Stand’ To Debut June 26

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Tenille Townes. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Tenille Townes is set to release her debut album, The Lemonade Stand, on June 26 via Columbia Nashville and RCA Records.

The project was produced by Jay Joyce and includes 12 tracks co-written by Townes, including five songs from her Road to the Lemonade Stand EP as well as her latest release, “The Most Beautiful Things,” which Townes debuted earlier this month to critical acclaim.

The new album also features “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking),” which was recently certified Gold in Canada and reached No. 1 on the BDS Canada and Mediabase Canada country radio charts earlier this year. The song was Townes’ second chart-topping single following her Canadian Platinum-certified “Somebody’s Daughter.” Townes is the only female in Mediabase Canada history to achieve two No. 1 singles.

“The Lemonade Stand is a collection of songs that mean so much to me and are the way I see the world in this season of my life right now,” said Townes. “I want this music to be like a gathering place, where people can come and be filled up. I hope this record reminds people of who they are, that they are not alone, and reminds them of their dreams. This record is the dream that I had when I was a seven-year-old kid singing along in the backseat of the car. She would really be freaking out right now.”

THE LEMONADE STAND TRACK LIST:
1. “Holding Out For The One”
2. “Where You Are”
3. “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)”
4. “Lighthouse”
5. “White Horse”
6. “I Kept The Roses”
7. “When I Meet My Maker”
8. “Come As you Are”
9. “The Way You Look Tonight”
10. “Find You”
11. “Somebody’s Daughter”
12. “The Most Beautiful Things”

Facebook To Allow Users To Monetize Livestreams

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Facebook has introduced a new plan to let users charge for their livestreams, which will provide musicians and creators with the ability to monetize their performances and events.

Facebook and Instagram Live have become a go-to spot for musicians for their livestreams since the coronavirus pandemic canceled all artist tours, but monetizing those streams has not been possible previously, except for donations to certain non-profits.

The company also announced it will be expanding its “Stars” tipping system to musicians in which a performer can receive “tips” when users send them a “Star.”

Ross Ellis Launches Daily Showcase ‘Ross Writes’

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Photo: Ross Ellis presents “Ross Writes.” Photo: Jeff Ray

Sony Music Nashville recording artist Ross Ellis launched “Ross Writes” on April 9, to showcase his expansive catalog of songs and offer fans some at-home entertainment while we shelter in place to fight COVID-19. Performing daily at 6 p.m. CT on Facebook and Instagram Live, Ellis shares a different song he’s written during each performance. To check out past episodes and watch new ones, visit his Instagram or Facebook.

“This is something I’d been thinking about for a while, but when this coronavirus mess broke out, I thought it’d be a great way to connect with fans until we can all be together again,” shares Ellis. “I have written so many songs over the years since moving to Nashville. This is a great way to both showcase my ‘day job’ as a writer and highlight some of the incredible songwriters I go to work with every day.”

In the middle of recording his debut album for Sony Music Nashville when the “safer at home” order was released, the singer/songwriter has already notched 17 performances and shows no signs of stopping the daily sessions any time soon.

“I have enough songs to take us all the way through 2025 if we have to,” Ellis laughs. “These live sessions have been great though…seeing the comments. Getting feedback from fans in real time will definitely help us decide what makes this album and what doesn’t!”

“Ross Writes” To Date:
4/9- Ross Writes No. 1 – “Shadows On The Wall”
4/11- Ross Writes No. 2 – “2000 and You”
4/12- Ross Writes No. 3 – “Forever to Me”
4/13- Ross Writes No. 4 – “How Do You Sleep”
4/14- Ross Writes No. 5 – “Love Blind,” “Without You,” “Barefoot Dancer,” “Other Side Of The Phone” and “Neon Church”
4/15- Ross Writes No. 6 – “Wish You Would”
4/16- Ross Writes No. 7 – “While It Lasted”
4/17- Ross Writes No. 8 – “This Road” and “White Picket Plans”
4/18- Ross Writes No. 9 – “Old Fashioned”
4/20- Ross Writes No. 10 – “Doin’ Alright”
4/21- Ross Writes No. 11 – “Let Me Let You Go”
4/22- Ross Writes No. 12 – “Mess We Make”
4/23- Ross Writes No. 13 – “Let It Be Me”
4/24- Ross Writes No. 14 – “Made For”
4/25- Ross Writes No. 15 – “Last Place I Had It”
4/26- Ross Writes No. 16 – “Before And After You”
4/27- Ross Writes No. 17 – “Land of the Lost”