Blanco Brown Expected To Make Full Recovery Following Car Accident

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Blanco Brown is currently recovering from his recent car crash in Atlanta and has been relocated out of the ICU following an additional 12-hour plus surgery. The BBR Music Group artist is continuing his recovery in the hospital and his team of doctors do not anticipate Brown requiring any additional surgeries and expect him to make a full recovery.Brown was involved in a head-on collision near his home in Atlanta on Aug. 31 and sustained significant injuries, undergoing a 12-hour surgery to address the traumas. In a statement released from his label, Blanco, his family and his friends wish to express that they have been humbled and deeply touched by the outpouring of love from all over the world. They would like to thank everyone for their support and ask for continued prayers for Blanco during this time.

Kent Blazy, Brett James, Tia Sillers, Kix Brooks, Steven Curtis Chapman Among Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Nominees

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This year’s nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame have been revealed, including eight nominees in the Songwriters category, and four in the Songwriter/Artists category.

Nominees in the Songwriters category include Kent Blazy, Shawn Camp, Don Henry, Brett James, Tony Martin, Steve Seskin, Tia Sillers, and George Teren. Nominees in the Songwriter/Artists category include Kix Brooks, Steven Curtis Chapman, Steve Earle, and Phil Vassar.

Each of the nominees earned their first Top 20 songs at least two decades ago. Two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be elected by their songwriter peers to join the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in these categories. Two more will be voted on by a separate body of veteran voters to elect a veteran songwriter and veteran songwriter/artist, both of whom must have earned their first significant (Top 20) songs at least 30 years ago. As part of that process, nominees in those categories are not announced.

The five inductees-elect are typically honored at the organization’s annual Gala, where they are officially inducted into the Hall of Fame; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been rescheduled to 2021. This year’s class will be honored alongside the Class of 2021 in a special double-sized Gala next fall. Details on the 2021 event will be forthcoming.

ABOUT THE NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME 2020 NOMINEES:

Category 1 – SONGWRITERS
KENT BLAZY
Kent Blazy grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, playing in various local bands. By the mid-’70s, he was touring as a guitar player for Canadian legend Ian Tyson. After a first-place win in a national songwriting competition, Kent decided to make the move to Nashville. In 1982, Gary Morris sent Kent’s “Headed For A Heartache” to No. 5 on the country chart. Soon after, other cuts followed with The Forester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo and Moe Bandy. In 1987, Kent was introduced to new demo singer Garth Brooks. The two began writing together, and their first collaboration, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” became Brooks’ first No. 1 single and NSAI’s 1989 Song of the Year. Their writing partnership yielded four additional Top 5 songs with “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up),” “Somewhere Other Than The Night,” “It’s Midnight Cinderella” and “She’s Gonna Make It.” Kent also was a co-writer on the Brooks & George Jones duet “Beer Run,” as well as on “That’s What I Get For Lovin’ You” by Diamond Rio, “My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me” by American Idol finalist Danny Gokey, and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” by Chris Young.

SHAWN CAMP
Shawn Camp grew up on a farm outside of Perryville, Arkansas. Through both parents, who sang and played guitar, he was infused with a love of music. Shawn picked up a guitar at age five and by age 20 had moved to Nashville, where he found work in the late ’80s as a fiddle player in backing bands for The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Reed, Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood. After charting a pair of self-penned singles in 1993 as a recording artist on Warner Bros. Records (“Fallin’ Never Felt So Good” and “Confessin’ My Love”), Shawn turned his attention to writing songs—earning his first No. 1 hits in 1998 with “Two Piña Coladas” by Garth Brooks and “How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn. In 2006, he had Top 5 singles with “Nobody But Me” by Blake Shelton and “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner. Shawn also co-wrote Turner’s “Firecracker,” as well as “River Of Love” by George Strait and “Love Done Gone” by Billy Currington. Shawn’s songs have been recorded by many bluegrass artists. Additionally, he is a member of the award-winning band The Earls of Leicester, a three-time Bluegrass Entertainer of the Year honoree.

DON HENRY
California native Don Henry began writing songs at age 13. By the late 1970s, he was ready to give Nashville a try. His early success came from cuts by T.G. Sheppard and John Conlee, who singled “Blue Highway.” Conlee also recorded “Class Reunion,” as did The Oak Ridge Boys, Gene Watson and Ray Charles. Kathy Mattea has recorded a several of Don’s songs, including “Beautiful Fool,” “Whole Lotta Holes,” and the heart-wrenching “Where’ve You Been.” Also recorded by Patti Page and Dailey & Vincent, that song earned 1990’s Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 1989 ACM Song of the Year, the 1990 CMA Song of the Year and the 1990 NSAI Song of the Year. In 1993 Don released a critically acclaimed album on Sony Records titled Wild In the Backyard. Many of those songs, such as “Harley” and “Mr. God” have become staples in his solo acoustic performance repertoire. Among other hits from Don’s catalogue are “Heart Vs. Heart” by Pake McEntire, “Has Anybody Seen Amy?” by John & Audrey Wiggins and “All Kinds Of Kinds” by Miranda Lambert. Don also records and performs in the duo The Don Juans.

BRETT JAMES
Midway through medical school, Oklahoma City native Brett James left college to pursue music in Nashville. After several years as an Arista/Career recording artist, he continued writing for others, scoring early cuts by Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride. In 2001, “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews became Brett’s first No. 1 hit. In 2006, the chart-topping “Jesus Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood earned the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2005 ACM Single of the Year, the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2006 NSAI Song of the Year. Now with more than 300 major-label cuts, Brett’s catalogue includes hits such as “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker, “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood, “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins, “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney, “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young and “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert. Brett also has a Top 5 Latin hit with “The One You Love (Todo Mi Amor)” by Paulina Rubio. Brett was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010.In 2020, he released a new self-written album titled I Am Now.

TONY MARTIN
Born in Georgia and raised in Nashville, Tony Martin has been around country songwriting his entire life. The son of classic Country composer Glenn Martin, Tony grew up at the feet of other stellar songwriters such as Sonny Throckmorton, Mickey Newbury and Hank Cochran. During his time as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper, Tony was writing parody songs for fun when his father urged him to take his talent more seriously. On his 10th attempt, Tony wrote “Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye,” which his father successfully pitched to George Strait. The song proved to be the dream scenario for a songwriter. It was Tony’s first demo, first cut, first single, first hit and first No. 1. Since that time, Tony has added more chart-topping hits to his resume. Among those are “Banjo” by Rascal Flatts, “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” by Lee Ann Womack, “Just To See You Smile” by Tim McGraw, “Living And Living Well” by George Strait, “No Place That Far” by Sara Evans, “Settle For A Slow Down” by Dierks Bentley, “Third Rock From The Sun” by Joe Diffie, “Time Is Love” by Josh Turner and “You Look Good In My Shirt” by Keith Urban.

STEVE SESKIN
New York-born Steve Seskin began his songwriting career when he moved to San Francisco in 1972. Upon the advice of Crystal Gayle, Steve visited Nashville in 1985 and began co-writing. He first hit the country chart in 1990 with “Wrong” by Waylon Jennings. He has enjoyed particular success with both John Michael Montgomery (“Life’s A Dance,” “If You’ve Got Love,” “No Man’s Land”) and Neal McCoy (“No Doubt About It” and “For A Change”). His “Don’t Laugh At Me” by Mark Wills was named the 1998 NSAI Song of the Year. The version by Peter, Paul and Mary became the impetus for the Operation Respect/Don’t Laugh at Me project, a curriculum designed to teach tolerance in schools. Other Steve Seskin hits include “Daddy’s Money” by Ricochet, the Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry” by Tim McGraw and “I Think About You” by Collin Raye. That song’s video was named the ACM 1997 Video of the Year, while the song and video were awarded by the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence. A successful performer and recording artist on his own, Steve has recorded numerous CDs for his own label. He divides his time among Nashville, Northern California and touring.

TIA SILLERS
Growing up in Nashville, Tia Sillers became hooked on songwriting as a high-school student when she attended her first songwriters round. Years later her first publishing deal yielded “Lipstick Promises” by George Ducas in 1995. Also that year, Kenny Wayne Shepherd made Tia’s “Deja Voodoo” a Top 10 rock hit. Three years later, Shepherd delivered a No. 1 rock hit with “Blue On Black,” which earned the 1998 Billboard Music Award for Rock Track of the Year. (The song was re-recorded in 2019 by Five Finger Death Punch with Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert & Brian May.) In 2008, Tia’s co-written “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack with The Sons of the Desert became a chart-topping multi-genre smash that earned the 2000 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2000 ACM Song and Single of the Year, the 2000 CMA Song and Single of the Year, the 2001 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, the 2001 BMI Country Song of the Year and the 2000-2001 NSAI Song of the Year. Other notable songs from Tia’s catalogue include “Land Of The Living” by Pam Tillis, “There’s Your Trouble” by The Dixie Chicks, “I Cry” by Tammy Cochran, “That’d Be Alright” by Alan Jackson, “A Joyful Noise” by Jo Dee Messina and “Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love” by Trisha Yearwood.

GEORGE TEREN
Massachusetts native George Teren moved to Nashville in 1987. During the 1990s, George’s songs were recorded by artists such as Billy Dean, Neal McCoy, Andy Williams and John Michael Montgomery. In 1997, George celebrated his first Top 5 single, “She’s Sure Taking It Well” by Kevin Sharp, as well as his first No. 1 single, “Running Out Of Reasons To Run” by Rick Trevino. Two years later, George concluded the decade with the No. 3 “Busy Man” by Billy Ray Cyrus and soon began the 2000s with more hits: “Man Of Me” by Gary Allan, “A Good Way To Get On My Bad Side” by Tracy Byrd with Mark Chesnutt, “Homewrecker” by Gretchen Wilson and “Stealing Cinderella” by Chuck Wicks. Three more songs from George’s catalogue—“Real Good Man” by Tim McGraw, “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton and “Ladies Love Country Boys” by Trace Adkins—all reached No. 1 on the country chart. George is a multiple award-winning writer and producer of music for radio and TV with a Clio, a Mobius and a number of Tellys and Emmys to his credit. He has composed themes for the NBA, ABC College Football and CBS Winter Olympics.

 

Category 2 – SONGWRITER/ARTISTS
KIX BROOKS
Raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, Kix Brooks was playing guitar by age 6, entertaining audiences by age 12 and writing songs by age 14. After stints working on an oil pipeline in Alaska and as an advertising copywriter in Maine, he moved Nashville in 1979. He first hit the charts as a singer-songwriter on an independent label in 1983, then signed with Capitol Records for his debut solo album in 1988. Between 1983 and 1992, Kix’s songwriting yielded three No. 1 country hits—“I’m Only In It For The Love” by John Conlee, “Modern Day Romance” by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and “Who’s Lonely Now” by Highway 101—plus a No. 2 hit with “Sacred Ground” by McBride & The Ride. During the 1990s and 2000s, Kix teamed with Ronnie Dunn to form Brooks & Dunn. Kix co-wrote many of the band’s hits, including “Brand New Man,” “Lost And Found,” “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing,” “My Next Broken Heart,” “Only In America” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” With more than 30 million records sold, they are the highest-selling duo in the history of country music. Together, they earned more than 75 major industry awards—including the CMA’s Vocal Duo of the Year a record 14 times—culminating in their 2019 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
Steven Curtis Chapman grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, where he learned to play guitar at a young age by hanging out in his father’s music store. Following a brief college career as a pre-med student, Steven moved to Nashville to pursue music. The 1987 release of his debut album, First Hand, launched a flood of awards for his self-penned hits, including “His Eyes” (the GMA’s 1989 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “His Strength Is Perfect” (the GMA’s 1990 Inspirational Song of the Year), “The Great Adventure” (the GMA’s 1993 Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Go There With You” (the GMA’s 1994 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Heaven In The Real World” (the GMA’s 1995 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Let Us Pray” (the GMA’s 1998 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year) and “Dive” (the GMA’s 2000 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year). Other award-winning songs from Steven’s catalogue include “I Can See The Hand Of God” by The Cathedrals (the GMA’s 1990 Southern Gospel Song Of The Year) and “Voice Of Truth” by Casting Crowns (the GMA’s 2005 Inspirational Song of the Year). One of the most-honored artists in the history of Christian music, Steven is a 10-time winner of the GMA’s Songwriter of the Year award (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2009), as well as NSAI’s 1999 Songwriter/Artist of the Year.

STEVE EARLE
Steve Earle grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he began playing guitar at age 11. Dropping out of school at age 16, he moved to Houston. Then in 1974, Steve moved to Nashville, where he worked blue-collar jobs by day and played music by night before landing a gig playing bass in Guy Clark’s band. Ever restless, Steve formed his own band, The Dukes, in 1982—the same year that Johnny Lee took Steve’s self-penned “When You Fall In Love” into the Top 20. Moving on from his previous publishing- and record- deals, Steve released his first full-length album on MCA in 1986. The title track, “Guitar Town,” reached the Top 10 that year, followed by another Top 10, “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left,” the next year. In 1987, Steve’s “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied” reached No. 26 on the rock chart. In 1988—the year Patty Loveless reached No. 2 with Steve’s “A Little Bit In Love”—he hit No. 10 on the rock chart with “Copperhead Road,” the title track of his landmark album. Other classic songs from Steve’s pen include “My Old Friend The Blues” (also recorded by T. Graham Brown, Joe Nichols, The Grascals), “Nothing But A Child” (also recorded by Nicolette Larson, Kathy Mattea, Lee Ann Womack), “The Devil’s Right Hand” (also recorded by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger) and Miranda Lambert’s Top 20 hit “Kerosene.”

PHIL VASSAR
Phil Vassar was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. During his college years, he began playing piano and singing in local clubs. Moving to Nashville to pursue music, Phil found the going slow for several years until 1997 when some of his initial songs were recorded by Blackhawk, Skip Ewing, and The Sons of the Desert. Then in 1998, Phil’s songs started gaining traction as singles for a variety of artists. During the next two years, he garnered six chart-topping hits from Collin Raye, Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina (including the No. 1 “Bye, Bye”) and Tim McGraw (including the No. 1 “My Next Thirty Years”). During that time, he was named NSAI’s 1998 Songwriter of the Year and ASCAP’s 1999 Country Songwriter of the Year. In late 1999, Phil signed a record deal with Arista Nashville. Released the following year, his debut album generated the self-penned hits “Carlene,” “Rose Bouquet,” “Six-Pack Summer,” “That’s When I Love You” and “Just Another Day In Paradise,” Phil’s first No. 1 as an artist. Propelled by that success, he was named ASCAP’s 2001 Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. Other hits by Phil as an artist include “American Child,” “In A Real Love” and “Last Day Of My Life.” He was named NSAI’s 2006 Songwriter/Artist of the Year.

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit To Play Socially Distanced Tennessee Shows To Support NIVA

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Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit are set to perform at The Caverns Above Ground Concert Series in Pelham, Tennessee, on Oct. 9-11, 2020. One dollar from each ticket sale will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). The concerts will take place outdoors and in pods on a hillside above The Caverns cave music venue and overlooking the picturesque Payne Cove.

“Whether above ground or below ground, the natural beauty at The Caverns is astounding,” says Todd Mayo, The Caverns owner. “We’re grateful our above-ground land gives us the opportunity to be among the first venues in the country to bring people together in a responsible manner for socially-distanced concerts.”
Guests will arrive at staggered times, be asked COVID-19 screening questions, receive a temperature check, and enjoy the show from two-person, four-person and six-person socially-distanced pods. Pods are spaced with a minimum of 6’ distance between each other with 13’ foot paths between pods to maintain social distancing. The seated concerts are “bring your own chair.” Masks will be mandatory, except when guests are in their pods. All concessions and merchandise will be ordered through an app and delivered contactless to pods eliminating lines and limiting the need for guests to leave pods.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. CT. More information and tickets can be found at thecaverns.com/above-ground.

Katie Antle, Dexter Bensman Join Innovo Management

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Pictured: Antle, Bensman

Innovo Management has welcomed two new members to the Innovo team, Katie Antle and Dexter Bensman.

Antle joins the company as Creative Director, Project Management while Bensman joins as Sales Director, Project Management. The two will co-head the project management division of the company and will be instrumental in offering rebrands, client acquisitions, and furthering the mission of Innovo Management, to put the art first.

“It’s a weird time right now and so many superb people are out of work. We had tons of amazing interviews, and it was quickly apparent to us that we needed to double our hiring needs. We’re so excited to welcome Katie Antle and Dexter Bensman to the Innovo family,” said Sam Saideman, Co-Founder of Innovo Management.

Both Antle and Bensman will be based in Nashville at the Innovo headquarters at 100 Taylor St., Unit A19, Nashville, TN, 37208.

Innovo works with artists including Yonas, danny G, Sansol the Artist, Sam Johnston and Dakota Ryley.

The Ryman Auditorium Will Soon Have A New Outdoor Stage

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Rendering of PNC Plaza Outdoor Stage | Courtesy of Centric Architectur

The Ryman Auditorium will soon get a permanent outdoor stage, called PNC Plaza, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. The stage will be set on the Fourth Avenue North side of the property, outside Cafe Lula, and will not touch the original 1892 auditorium. The Ryman first announced plans for an outdoor stage in 2019.

The stage is possible thanks to a new multi-year sponsorship deal between the Ryman and PNC Bank, making PNC the official banking sponsor for the Ryman. PNC will also become a presenting sponsor of Ryman Community Day, an annual event that invites Tennessee residents to experience the Ryman’s immersive daytime tour free of charge. All events at the Ryman follow strict COVID-19 operating plans developed in partnership with the company’s official wellness partner, Vanderbilt Health, that include physical distancing, limited in-venue capacity, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.

“PNC’s passion for music education and building strong, vibrant communities that engage in the arts aligns with our core values here at the Ryman,” said Gary Levy, Ryman Auditorium general manager. “This relationship will elevate experiences at the Ryman, both inside and out, throughout the year with the addition of the outdoor stage and enhanced activations during Ryman Community Day, to name a few. We’re excited to have PNC as our official financial sponsor.”

“Music is a great platform to connect people,” said Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Tennessee. “It has the power to transcend boundaries of age, time and background. We hope the PNC Plaza at the Ryman will connect communities, neighborhoods and generations to create a stronger, more vibrant region.”

Concord’s Wisely Joins Board of Directors, Selby Rises To Chief Publishing Executive

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Pictured: Jim Selby, Jake Wisely

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, Jake Wisely, partner and Chief Publishing Executive at Concord, will soon join the Board of Directors of Concord, the music and entertainment company he co-founded.

Wisely will pass the title of Chief Publishing Executive on to current Concord COO, Jim Selby, who will report to Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci. Wisely will remain a partner and shareholder in Concord and will maintain an advisory role in the day to day operations of Concord Music Publishing, while also maintaining the company’s Executive Member seat on the NMPA Board of Directors.

“The Concord Board of Directors and I are pleased to name Jim Selby as my successor,” said Wisely. “Since joining Concord in 2016, Jim has been an invaluable member of the team, helping to forge our discipline and culture, focusing on synergies between Concord businesses and maximizing value for all stakeholders. Jim is a consummate music fan, well-versed in our roster and catalog, and will ensure that Concord’s songwriters and composers are diligently served.”

Pascucci commented, “Concord would not be what it is today without Jake Wisely and The Bicycle Music Company. Jake was critical to the establishment of Bicycle as a world-class publishing operation, which then became the foundational platform for Concord along with Concord Music Group. Since the combination of those two companies in 2015, Jake has proven himself to be an extraordinary manager and strategic thinker, whose contributions have been invaluable in building the company through new partnerships and investments. I look forward to working with him in his new role as a member of the Concord Board of Directors.” He continued, “Jim was a natural choice when deciding who should guide Concord Music Publishing in its continued growth. He knows all areas of the Concord business, is a champion for our artists, songwriters and composers and will transition to Chief Publishing Executive seamlessly over the coming months. I am excited to see our publishing business flourish under his leadership.”

Selby rose to the position of COO at Concord after four years as GM overseeing Label Shared Services for imprints such as Concord Records, Craft, Fantasy, Fearless, KIDZ BOP, Loma Vista and Rounder, and then as Chief Revenue Officer. Born and raised in Canada, Selby spent 16 years at Naxos of America, where he was CEO from 2007 to 2014. He then joined Ole Media Management as the publisher’s SVP of Digital. Selby is a past member of the A2IM Board of Directors, where he was Chairman for two years, and has enjoyed direct involvement in more than 35 Grammy Award-winning projects.

“I am thrilled to carry on the work that Jake started at Concord Music Publishing,” said Selby. “It is an honor to serve our songwriters and composers as the industry forges ahead in the digital era during these challenging times. I want to thank Concord’s executive team and Board of Directors for their support through the years and the trust that they have bestowed on me to lead Concord Music Publishing.”

Concord Music Publishing will continue to grow and diversify its catalog and roster under Jim Selby through acquisition, investment and new signings. He will be supported by the global Concord Music Publishing executive team, including John Minch (President, International Publishing and executive in charge of Boosey & Hawkes), Kim Frankiewicz (EVP, Worldwide A&R), Duff Berschback (EVP, Business & Legal Affairs), Kent Hoskins (Chief Financial Officer), Brooke Primont (SVP, Sync) and Dana Siegel (SVP, Brand Management and Music Marketing), as well as a team of more than 200 creative and administrative music publishing and shared services employees.

Wisely first discussed building a music publishing business in 2004 with current Concord Chairman, Steve Smith, leading to the 2005 acquisition of The Bicycle Music Company. Operating as Bicycle over the following decade, Smith, Wisely and current Concord Chief Business Development Officer, Steven Salm, acquired numerous businesses and catalogs across both publishing and recorded music with the backing and support of Wood Creek Capital Management.

Bicycle merged with Concord Music Group in 2015, which began a period of seismic growth under current Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci, then operating as Concord Bicycle Music. The company acquired Razor & Tie in 2015 and Mexican label/publisher Musart/Edimusa in 2016. Imagem Music Group was acquired in 2017, including Boosey & Hawkes and Rodgers & Hammerstein. In 2018, Concord Bicycle, Imagem and Razor & Tie were merged and simply branded Concord, with three core business units: Concord Music Publishing, Concord Recorded Music and Concord Theatricals. In 2019, Concord acquired famed Latin Tropical label and publisher Fania and German classical music publisher Sikorski. In 2020, Concord acquired an interest in PULSE Music Group, forming an exclusive joint venture with an emphasis on new pop hits, purchased the song catalog of superstar band Imagine Dragons, and signed a trifecta of deals with Nashville hitmaker Hillary Lindsey, including a catalog purchase, co-publishing agreement and joint venture.

Spotify Integrating Virtual Event Listings Via Songkick And Ticketmaster

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Spotify has now made it easier for listeners to learn about the virtual events for artists they love or are discovering for the very first time. The company is working with live stream concert discovery app Songkick and Ticketmaster and starting today (Sept. 15) all Spotify listeners will be able to find virtual event listings on artist profiles and in the Concerts hub. Artists can also set a virtual event as their “Artist Pick,” so listeners can see it at the top of the artist’s profile.

Those wanting events listed to share should work through Songkick to get the events listed, and a select number of Ticketmaster events will also be automatically listed on Spotify. As long as the shows are listed through these partners, the virtual event itself can be hosted on a multitude of platforms—Twitch, Instagram Live, YouTube Live, a hosted website, or the method of choice. Spotify will be emailing out personalized virtual events recommendations to listeners for artists they love to help get the word out.

SiriusXM’s Jim Meyer To Retire, Jennifer Witz To Become CEO

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SiriusXM has announced that CEO James E. Meyer will retire Dec. 31, 2020 and will be succeeded by Jennifer C. Witz, President, Sales and Marketing, who will become SiriusXM’s new CEO. Sean S. Sullivan has been named Exec. VP and CFO, effective Oct. 26, 2020, to succeed David F. Frear.

Following his retirement, Meyer will remain on SiriusXM’s Board of Directors and will serve as Vice Chairman. Witz will be appointed as a member of the Board, while George W. Bodenheimer has announced his decision to resign from the Board, effective immediately.

Witz has been with SiriusXM for over 18 years, most recently serving as President, Sales, Marketing and Operations of SiriusXM since March 2019. Prior to that, she served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from August 2017 until March 2019. In her time at the Company, Witz has served in a variety of senior financial and operating roles including Senior Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Finance. Prior to SiriusXM, Witz served as VP, Planning and Development at Viacom, Inc., and VP, Finance and Corporate Development at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Sullivan has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AMC Networks Inc., a global entertainment company, since June 2011. From September 2010 to June 2011, he was the Chief Corporate Officer of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, the predecessor of AMC Networks Inc. and then a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp. Prior to that, Sullivan was Chief Financial Officer of HiT Entertainment, a children’s entertainment company, from 2009 to 2010.

Gregory B. Maffei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sirius XM Holdings Inc. stated, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Jim for his outstanding service, helping to create the leader in audio entertainment in North America. During his tenure as CEO, SiriusXM has grown to become a diversified audio entertainment provider that is poised to reach more than 150 million people, the largest addressable digital audio audience in North America. We are a better company for his stewardship. We look forward to continuing to work with him on the Board and to build on SiriusXM’s strong momentum.”

Maffei continued, “Our Board of Directors is thrilled to unanimously appoint Jennifer as the next CEO. With nearly two decades of success at the Company, no one is better suited for this position. Jennifer brings the thorough understanding of our business from every angle. She has played a key role in significantly growing SiriusXM’s subscriber base. Jennifer will lead the Company’s strong executive team as it continues building out its platforms and executes on its growth strategies.”

“It has been a privilege to lead SiriusXM, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last eight years,” Meyer said. “This Company has never been in a better position. We have transformed our business, growing SiriusXM and its offerings, welcoming the team from Pandora through our game changing combination and increasing our scale in podcasting with Simplecast and the pending acquisition of Stitcher. Today, we deliver the best content with a consumer reach that is unmatched in audio entertainment in North America. My decision to retire has long been in the works, and now is the right time to begin this transition. I could not be handing the reins over to a stronger leader than Jennifer. I know firsthand how talented and innovative she is, and I believe she will drive SiriusXM to new heights. This is a key time for SiriusXM, and I look forward to working with Jennifer to ensure a smooth transition as we execute on our near-term priorities.”

Witz commented, “I am honored to take on the role of CEO and lead SiriusXM at this exciting time. We have the best audio content available anywhere and incredible growth platforms. At SiriusXM, we are rolling out new programming, introducing new technology and expanding our OEM relationships, while pursuing new avenues of growth at Pandora and strengthening our position in the podcasting space. It has been an extraordinary privilege working with Jim and learning from him over the years. SiriusXM has tremendous opportunities ahead. I look forward to working closely with Scott Greenstein, Sean Sullivan and the rest of our talented management team and our incredible employees to capture those opportunities, drive growth and enhance stockholder value.”

A release from SiriusXM highlighted several of Meyer’s accomplishments during his tenure as CEO of the company, including growing the subscriber base to 34.3 million as of June 30, 2020. Following the completion of the Stitcher transition, the SiriusXM’s listener base will grow to 150 million across the combined properties. The company grew to expected revenues of nearly $7.7 billion in 2020, compared to $3.4 billion in 2012. He oversaw the acquisitions of Pandora and Simplecast, and the pending acquisition of Stitcher.

Meyer said, “Sean brings two-plus decades of financial and operating experience, strong leadership abilities and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry. We are thrilled he is joining the team. I want to thank David for his many years of dedication to the Company and excellent contributions to SiriusXM.”

Kevin Jonas, Sr. Launches Nashville-based Publishing House Jonas Group Publishing (Exclusive)

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Pictured: Kevin Jonas, Sr. (Founder and CEO), Denise Jonas (Founder), Terri Jo Box (Songwriter), Roger Hodges (Artist Manager with Jonas Group Entertainment). Photo: Courtesy of Jonas Group Publishing

Jonas Group Entertainment, led by founder/CEO Kevin Jonas, Sr., has opened the Nashville-based publishing division, Jonas Group Publishing, with flagship writer Terri Jo Box.

The company will begin building out its publishing staff and signing more writers to the roster over the next year.

Jonas, Sr., 55, helped guide the early careers of his three sons, Kevin, Joe and Nick, collectively known as the superstar group the Jonas Brothers. The sibling trio rose to popularity via a series of Disney Channel shows, before releasing their 2007 self-titled album, which was certified Platinum. Last year, they returned to the spotlight with their first single in six years “Sucker,” which earned a Grammy nomination earlier this year for Best Pop/Duo Group Performance.

In 2005, Jonas, Sr. launched the talent management company Jonas Group Entertainment, which counts rock group PUBLIC, Melanie Pfirrman, LIVVIA, Mandy Harvey, Lucy Cloud, and author Shaina Kohli Russo on the roster.

Along the way, he co-wrote songs including Jonas Brothers’ “When You Look Me In The Eyes” and Michael W. Smith’s “I Still Have The Dream.”
However, Jonas, Sr.’s musical roots can be traced to Nashville. “My love of Nashville goes way back as a writer and an artist,” he says.

When Jonas was in high school, he began singing clubs and talent contests around Charlotte, North Carolina, performing country classics from Alabama and Kenny Rogers.

One of his fellow contestants in one of those North Carolina talent competitions was a young singer named Randy Traywick—who went on to find country music stardom by the name Randy Travis.

“I remember I would win the contest one week, he would win another week,” Jonas, Sr. said. “He beat me in the finals,” Jonas, Sr. adds.

Jonas, Sr. went on to enter Bible College, and he and his wife moved to Arizona. Still his sights were on music, and he would fly to Nashville and tried unsuccessfully at the time to break into the Nashville music scene. He and his wife soon started a family, and took on an early management role in his sons’ careers as they showed an early talent for music.

Having spent years managing artists to success in the Top 40 space, his love of country music comes full-circle with the new publishing venture. “I’ve always loved the craft of songwriting and I have so much respect for songwriters,” he says.

Flagship writer Box is known for co-writing songs such as Ashley McBryde’s “Bible and a .44” and Miranda Lambert’s “Dear Old Sun,” from her ACM-winning The Weight of These Wings double album.

“That’s the little song that could,” she says of “Bible and a .44.” “Ashley came in with all the pieces. It was her heart and the story about her dad. That song’s been a good run for us, since Eric Church did a live performance of it and Trisha Yearwood put it on her last record, and performed it with Patty Loveless. It’s funny because you go into work that day and write a song and you have no idea where the song is going to take you.”

Beginning in 2010, Box also owned and hosted the songwriters showcase Music Row Freakshow at Nashville venue The Local. Jonas, Sr. had traveled to Nashville numerous times during his career, and met Box through the writers’ round.

“I was amazed at the talent at this show,” Jonas, Sr. said. “She was a shepherd and encourager and emcee over this group and she also wrote incredible songs. I felt like she was a perfect choice as the leader for this group of people and to launch our publishing efforts in Nashville.”

Box began touring around Texas before moving to Nashville, and has been writing full-time for the past decade.

“The roots of Nashville we both have in country and CCM and the wings of Top 40 that he has, it was a no-brainer for me to have the best of both worlds, working with Kevin,” Box says. “He’s also focused on integrity, so that was another thing that drew me to being part of the company. They also set up my situation to where it didn’t look like a lot of deals, because I am able to have creative control in helping to build the company and consulting on writers and artists we work with. He has a long-term game plan. I’m excited about what we are building here in Nashville.”

Initially, Jonas Group Publishing will focus on country music but intends to add to the roster songwriters in various genres, including Contemporary Christian and rock/pop.

“I would love to find some of the incredible talent in the Christian world. I’ve been fortunate to have mainstream Top 40 success, but having a presence in church music and CCM music has been a lifetime passion of mine. But, the rising pop and alt-pop producers in Nashville also inspire me. There is a multi-genre story that is rising fast in Nashville and we want to be part of it.” Jonas, Sr. says.

Jacob Davis Inks Publishing Deal With UMPG Nashville (Exclusive)

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Jacob Davis. Photo: Katelyn Brown

Jacob Davis has signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. Davis earned his first No. 1 as a songwriter in 2019, as a co-writer on his brother Jordan Davis’ hit “Take It From Me,” which has earned more than 250 million streams. He also co-wrote Jordan Davis’ song “Detours.”

Terry Wakefield, Senior Vice President A&R, UMPG Nashville, said: “I have been friends with Jacob over the last four years, and I’m grateful we now have the opportunity to work together. Jacob is a dynamic songwriter and storyteller. We are thrilled to have him as part of the Universal family.”

Davis commented, “I’m over to moon be a part of the team that Troy [Tomlinson], Terry and rest of the staff is building at Universal. The excitement of that team overwhelmed me the first time I walked into the building…and it feels good to call it home.”