Nashville To Enter Phase 1 Of Reopening Plan Beginning May 11

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Nashville restaurants can begin reopening to diners on May 11, as part of Phase 1 of Nashville Mayor John Cooper‘s phased reopening plan for the city. Cooper made the announcement during his daily coronavirus task force briefing on Thursday (May 7).

“The goal is to get as gently back to work while managing the presence of the disease in our community,” Mayor Cooper said. “In setting a new policy response to a new disease, we don’t have all the answers. We are learning and adjusting. There will be difficult choices ahead. The next phase will be harder in many ways as we must continue effective and forced social distancing while restarting the economy.”

On Monday (May 11), bars that serve food and restaurants, as well as retail stores and commercial businesses can reopen at 50% capacity. This marks the first time Nashville restaurants have been open since March 20. However, live music is not allowed in restaurants and bars during Phase 1. Other businesses such as entertainment venues, bars that do not serve food, gyms and salons are to remain closed.

According to Cooper’s previously-announced “Roadmap for Reopening Nashville,” if Nashville sees a significant and sustained increase in the number of active cases during Phase 1, stricter social distancing measures and policies will be put in place again.

The Roadmap includes the following policies for Phase 1:

Retail and other commercial businesses may open with physical distancing maintained and at ½ capacity, cleaning of carts, explicit expectations for frequent hand hygiene and wearing of cloth masks by employees and patrons.

  • Screen daily all employees with temperature and respiratory symptom checks. Employees with temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit must leave the premises immediately.
  • Post information about health precautions for patrons, employees and staff (such as maintaining an appropriate physical distance while lining up for checkout). Automate doors, reduce the number of people using elevators, provide hand sanitizer to the extent possible.
  • Advise employees with any symptoms of illness to be tested and to stay home until they receive test results. Establish policies that make it possible for employees to isolate and quarantine.
  • Restaurants and bars serving food from a menu may open at ½ capacity maintaining strict physical distancing.
  • Screen daily all employees for respiratory symptoms and with temperature checks. Employees with temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit must leave the premises immediately.
  • Post information about health precautions for patrons, employees and staff (such as maintaining a distance while lining up for checkout). Automate doors, reduce the number of people using elevators, provide hand sanitizer to the extent possible.
  • Advise employees with any symptoms of illness to be tested and to stay home until they receive test results. Create policies that make it possible for employees to isolate and quarantine.
  • Physical distancing must be maintained in kitchens and dining rooms.
  • Bar areas must remain closed.
  • Live music shall not be permitted.
  • Self-service food and shared condiments are not permitted.
  • Require that restaurants clean all surfaces after single use by patron.
  • Recommend use of disposable menus.
  • Employees required to wear cloth masks.
  • Take-out alcohol sales will remain. Can serve alcohol at tables.

During this period, other social distancing measures should remain in place:

  • Except when performing essential services, those over age 65 and those with high risk factors should remain safer at home.
  • Work from home should continue whenever possible.
  • Cloth masks should be worn in public

MTV, CMT, VH1 Coming To YouTube TV

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ViacomCBS and Google have expanded their distribution agreement, allowing YouTube TV to introduce 14 ViacomCBS channels to its lineup. CMT, MTV, VH1, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network and TV Land will launch on YouTube TV this summer, while BET Her, MTV2, Nick Jr., NickToons, MTV Classic and TeenNick are slated to launch on YouTube TV later this year.

YouTube TV and broader YouTube platforms will continue to distribute ViacomCBS’ premium services, such as SHOWTIME. YouTubeTV will continue to carry CBS broadcast stations, CBS Sports Network, Pop TV, Smithsonian Channel and The CW.

This marks the fourth major distribution agreement ViacomCBS has inked in recent months, following the merger of Viacom and CBS in December 2019. In March the company finalized its affiliate renewals with Meredith and Nexstar. Last month, it announced a carriage deal with Verizon, to include its full portfolio.

“We are thrilled to have reached an expanded agreement with YouTube TV that recognizes the full power of our newly combined portfolio as ViacomCBS,” said Ray Hopkins, president of ViacomCBS’ U.S. networks distribution. “Google has been an excellent partner, and we look forward to bringing even more of our entertainment networks to YouTube TV subscribers for the first time.”
YouTube TV, which costs $49.99 per month, includes live and on-demand content from more than 70 networks.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Announces Two New Executive Hires

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Caldwell, Pender

Sony/ATV has added two new executives to its Nashville office. Cam Caldwell joins as VP, Business Affairs, while Courtney Pender joins as VP, Human Resources.

As VP of Business Affairs, Caldwell reports directly to Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston and is responsible for negotiating all publishing and administration agreements, joint-ventures, and catalog acquisitions for the Nashville office, as well as overseeing litigation. Prior to joining Sony/ATV, Caldwell spent 10 years in private practice law and most recently worked as an attorney at Loeb & Loeb, LLP. Caldwell completed his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and received his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

“Cam is sure to be a unique and valuable addition to the company’s legal team, and we are grateful to have him join the Sony/ATV family,” said Gaston.

Pender will provide HR leadership and support to employees based in the US, Canada and Latin America. In this role, she is responsible for creating and implementing strategic initiatives and best practices that will encourage a healthy, diverse, and productive work environment for Sony/ATV’s employees. Pender previously worked as the Senior HR Business Partner at PopHealthcare, LLC, where she managed people operations for various teams within the company and supported growth initiatives which increased workforce capability, created organizational design and structure, and facilitated on-going process improvements. She has also worked at Fresinus Medical Care North America and at Bridgestone, where she focused on organizational design and development, change management, recruitment and selection, performance management, employee and managerial development, and company alignment across teams. Pender earned her degree from Middle Tennessee State University, received her MBA from Western Governors University and has two HR certifications.

“Courtney has extensive experience in driving and achieving successful business results, and we are excited to work with her on creating a brighter future for Sony/ATV and its staff,” said Elicia Felix-Hughey, SVP, Global Human Resources

Cox Media CEO Kim Guthrie Exits After 22+ Years

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Kim Guthrie. Photo: Cox Media Group

Kim Guthrie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Media Group (CMG), has decided to exit her position after a 22-plus year career with the company.

Steve Pruett, Executive Chairman of Cox Media Group, will serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer until a permanent CEO is appointed soon. Pruett stated, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank Kim for her decades of service to Cox Media Group and her leadership during the company’s transition to new ownership. She has been instrumental in positioning CMG for future success as an industry-leading media company.” Guthrie will work with Pruett through the transition.

Guthrie said, “We have built a strong foundation for future growth, including an exceptional senior management team, a successful carveout from Cox Enterprises, and deep, long-term relationships with our communities, customers and partners. I have full confidence in this great team at CMG and I look forward to watching CMG’s future achievements.”

The company’s operations include 33 market-leading television stations in 20 markets, 54 award-winning radio stations in 10 markets and numerous multi-platform streaming video and digital platforms. Cox Media Group’s portfolio includes affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and MyNetworkTV, as well as several valuable independent stations.

Dierks Bentley Discusses His Work With Hot Country Knights On Their Debut Album [Interview]

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In what they describe as the “best stuff to come out of Nashville from a man band in several decades,” the Hot Country Knights released their debut album The K Is Silent on Friday (May 1).
The Capitol Records Nashville band, comprised of band leader Douglas (“Doug”) Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray (“Rayro”) Roburn, keytar/fiddle player Terotej (“Terry”) Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery, delivered a 10-track record, produced and co-written by country superstar Dierks Bentley.

The album features hit writers Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Jon Randall, Jon Nite, Chase McGill and more, and ’90s icons Travis Tritt and Terri Clark join the Knights as collaborators on two of the tracks.

Bentley recently talked to MusicRow about his work with the stellar ’90s-influenced band, 30 years in the making.

“My manager realized this is not going to go away,” Bentley said of Red Light Management’s Mary Hilliard Harrington. “She wanted it to go away, but realized this is not going to go anywhere. So, if you can’t beat them, join them. She just leaned in on it. She just put together this crazy writing retreat in Colorado leading into our Seven Peaks festival, which was really fun.

“We wrote some songs with this project in mind and came back to Nashville and the Hot Country Knights went in the studio and cut these songs. I’ve told everyone from very beginning that this is a seriously fun project. It’s fun but it’s serious, and we put a lot of time into the writing and to the musicianship on the record. We really tried to make sure that the production was such that it felt like the ’90s but also felt contemporary. We wanted people that knew ’90s country and the producers in town [to be in on it]. Some of these songs modulate twice, which is funny. It’s just there—little bits and pieces of production where people hear it and think, ‘Oh my God, it’s so funny that those guys added that little piece of production to some of the songs.’ Some fans might not get that but people that live here would, so it’s a little of something for everybody.”

On songs like the sensual duet with Terri Clark on “You Make It Hard” and the ‘cheeky’ ode to road life on “Asphalt,” Bentley says he doesn’t consider them parody songs.

“We didn’t want to write a parody album. It’s gotta be the kind of stuff where my mom back in Phoenix can listen to it and not get the joke. She hears ‘You Make It Hard’ and she just thinks it’s a beautiful love song. She hears ‘Asphalt’ and thinks it’s just a song about the road, which was the goal,” Bentley says with a laugh. “Someone will say to me, ‘Do you think they got the joke?’ And I’m like, ‘No, it’s so great that they didn’t. That’s perfect.’ With songs on the record like ‘Pick Her Up’ with Travis Tritt that are straight forward with no joke on the inside, that just throws people off a little bit more, like ‘What is this?’ I feel like it was kind of like a mission accomplished on that front. I’m excited about that.”

“You Make It Hard” is another byproduct of Harrington, who is credited as a songwriter on the tune.

“I think that’s her first [songwriter credit],” Bentley said. “When we’re making the album, it wasn’t a checklist but there’s certain colors that songwriters in the ’90s used that we don’t use as much on songs today. With ‘Moose Knuckle Shuffle,’ you’ve got your line dance song, we have ‘The USA Begins With US’ because it’s a great patriotic song. ‘Then It Rained’ has a little bit Garth Brooks’ ‘The Thunder Rolls’ [influence], it’s got the drama. We were just really like missing that Tim and Faith thing. We were in the studio listening to the album, and we just wrote it right there. Jim Beavers spearheaded it. We wrote it in the studio in about half an hour.”

The Hot Country Knights had big plans for the release of their debut project, with a 13-city trek tour, including stops at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and the Talladega Superspeedway. The 2020 One Knight Stand Tour was slated to feature Hannah Dasher, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack and Lainey Wilson as openers for the Knights, but has since been postponed.

“We were allotted to play the ACMs with Travis Tritt,” Bentley said. “Four and half minutes with him on there doing a medley of our stuff and his, and then April 29 was our Ryman gig. Mary had a very ambitious, well thought-out game plan lined up and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get a chance to execute it, but it’s been fun regardless.”

The K Is Silent is available for purchase and streaming everywhere now. Read more of the conversation with Bentley in the upcoming MusicRow Artist Roster print issue.

NSAI To Offer Songwriter Grants Through Newly-Launched Writer Foundation

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has launched a non-profit organization, the WRITER Foundation (We’re Ready In Time of Emergency Relief). The foundation will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, May 13 at noon CT for $1,000 assistance grants. Songwriters can apply for the grant at writerfoundation.org and grants will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis to applicants who meet qualifications. Applicants do not need to be an NSAI member to qualify. Any professional writer or composer in the United State is eligible except for NSAI and WRITER Foundation Board Members.

“We created the WRITER Foundation after receiving a generous grant from SONY/ATV,” said WRITER Foundation Treasurer Bart Herbison. “Songwriters are in great need now since the live segment of the global music industry has essentially shut down. Performance royalty income will be dramatically affected. Advertising revenues have dropped precipitously also impacting songwriter royalties. And songwriters who perform or produce songs have witnessed those income streams dwindle.”

To be eligible, a songwriter/composer must qualify as a “professional,” defined as “currently earn the majority of their annual income from songwriting or related activities.” The WRITER Foundation application for the grants will ask writers to provide a written explanation of how their income has been adversely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to limited available grant money, the application asks that writers do not apply unless they need the funds to subsist.

The new WRITER Foundation Board of Directors members will review the applications, including Josh Osborne, Lori McKenna, Jennifer Turnbow, Bart Herbison, Tim Nichols, Erika Wollam-Nichols and Jimmy Yeary.

The WRITER Foundation has received donations from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation and Concord Music Publishing. Sony/ATV CEO Jon Platt made the initial contribution.

Adam Epstein Appointed Head Of A&R At Demolition Music Publishing

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Adam Epstein has joined Demolition Music Publishing as head of its A&R department. Epstein will focus on artist development, catalog exploitation and new strategic opportunities for the Demolition Music team. He will be based in Nashville but will be covering multiple territories including Los Angeles, New York and some international markets.

Epstein has 25 years of industry experience including publishing, performing rights, marketing and artist management. Prior to Demolition Music, he served as A&R Director at Concord Music where he was involved in client relations for its roster including Mark Ronson, Daft Punk, John Shanks and The Piano Guys. He also held several positions in publishing with stints at Universal Music Publishing, Peer Music, Deston Songs and BMI, where he worked closely with Desmond Child, Lady Antebellum, Maroon 5, Tricky Stewart, Ester Dean and David Foster.

“We were so lucky to find Adam when we did,” said Demolition Music President, Jon D’Agostino. “He and I are a couple of New Yorkers with a love of great music and building relationships. His knowledge, experience, passion, and street savvy bring some exciting ingredients to the Demolition brand, and fits our mission perfectly.”

“This is an exciting time to join the Demolition Music team,” said Epstein. “They have an incredible creative energy and a passion for success. I am looking forward to an amazing future with them!”
The Demolition Music roster includes Joe Leathers, HAVEN, Evan Coffman, Adam Searan, John Milstead, Michael August, and Jon D’Agostino.

Radio Cares Emergency Radiothon Raises $500,000 For Feeding America

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Radio Cares, the organization created in response to the hunger crisis in America during the COVID-19 pandemic, together with over 10,000 radio stations across the United States, raised $500,146 for Feeding America in its one-day Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon last Thursday (April 30.)

The nationwide broadcast event continued its fundraising effort through the weekend, drawing donations from all 50 states. The radiothon closed with a $20,000 donation from Scott and Sandi Borchetta and Big Machine Label Group, putting efforts over the half-million dollar mark of total funds raised. All funds raised go directly to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund, and will provide five million meals for Americans living with hunger.

The initiative was developed and led by Ron Stone, President/CEO, Adams Radio Group, and Brian Philips, EVP, Content & Audience, Cumulus Media/Westwood One. The movement came together in less than three weeks.

Ron Stone, President & CEO, Adams Radio Group, said, “I will be forever grateful to every broadcaster that made the decision to participate in this historic Radiothon. Together we accomplished something that had never been done before in our 100 plus years, a nationwide radio event to raise money to help those who truly need our help. It is my sincere hope that this is the first of many annual events to come.”

“For us, it is impressive that this money is the sum of so many smaller individual contributions; sacrifices from determined people who made up a democracy of giving, at a time when money is tight,” said Brian Philips, EVP, Content & Audience, Cumulus Media/Westwood One. “Listeners answered the call from their favorite stations, large and small, unified by the cause of American hunger. Our listeners represent the most generous cross-section of America. There exists a bond among them that no crisis can break. Cumulus is always proud when what we do moves people.”

Warner Chappell Music Inks Publishing Deal With Sean Douglas

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Sean Douglas

Warner Chappell Music has signed an exclusive, global publishing agreement with songwriter/producer Sean Douglas. Douglas was a co-writer on Thomas Rhett‘s 6x multi-platinum hit “Die A Happy Man.” He has also worked with Demi Lovato on “Sorry Not Sorry,” Jason Derulo on “Talk Dirty,” and with David Guetta on “Hey Mama,” among other works.

Los Angeles-based Douglas worked closely with Thomas Rhett on his album Life Changes, which became the first country release of 2017 to top the Billboard 200 chart. Douglas also worked on Lizzo’s “Like A Girl” and “Soulmate” from her Grammy-winning album Cuz I Love You, as well as songs including Sia’s “Original” and Selena Gomez’s “Ring.”

Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair and CEO, Guy Moot, said: “I’ve known Sean for quite some time, and I’m constantly impressed by the expanding range and constant growth of his talent. He has the rare gift of writing songs that transcend genre and time. A true collaborator and natural writer, he’s become a trusted and invaluable partner to so many emerging and legendary stars. We’re very proud to have him in the Warner Chappell family.”

Warner Chappell Music President of A&R, U.S., Ryan Press, and Vice President of A&R, Katy Wolaver, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sean back to the fold. He’s one of the most authentic songwriters on the scene, quick to embrace new challenges and eager to work with a diversity of artists and fellow songwriters across the music community. There’s no limit to what he can do, and we’re excited to work with him to take his career to new heights.”

Douglas noted: “What I love about being a songwriter is having the freedom to write in a different style every day and to keep growing musically. Guy, Ryan, Katy and the entire Warner Chappell team have been incredibly supportive in that pursuit, going above and beyond to champion my music and create new opportunities for it. I’m thrilled to be back and working with them again.”

Metro Nashville Public Health Department Offering Free Masks

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The Metro Nashville Public Health Department is now offering free cloth masks at three health center locations beginning today (May 6). Masks will be available between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Lentz Public Health Center on 2500 Charlotte Avenue, at Woodbine Health Center at 224 Oriel Ave., and at the East Nashville Center at 1015 East Trinity Lane.

The masks are being provided by Governor Bill Lee’s Unified Command Group and are being made available to follow the introduction of Metro Public Health Order 4, which asks all people who can safely wear a mask to do so in public settings, to help combat the spread of COVID-19. The order also requires businesses and facilities open to the public to post signage requesting those entering the facility to wear a mask.

Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest the use of cloth masks can limit the spread of the virus, particularly by those who are infected but do not have symptoms of COVID-19. Cloth masks should not be worn by children under the age of two or by those who would jeopardize their health or safety by wearing one.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, there have been 3,033 total cases of COVID-19 in Davidson County to date, and 30 deaths. To date, 1,513 people in Davidson County have recovered from from COVID-19.