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Brian Mansfield To Join Shore Fire Media

September 24, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Brian Mansfield

Veteran music journalist Brian Mansfield is exiting his 18-year role at USA Today, to join public relations firm Shore Fire Media in the newly created senior role of Content Director. Mansfield will begin his new role at Shore Fire on Oct. 13. He will work out of the Nashville branch of Shore Fire, and will oversee two junior staff members in the New York office.

His responsibilities will include creating content channels and developing social media strategies.

Shore Fire Media represents more than 50 acts, including Zac Brown Band, Lee Brice, and Aaron Watson, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Lana Del Rey, and organizations including Downtown Music Publishing, the Americana Music Association, and more. Shore Fire has a staff of 26, with offices in Brooklyn and Nashville.

Mansfield is a former member of the board of directors of the Country Music Association.

Industry Ink: Essential Broadcast Media, Cole Swindell, Kip Moore, Fontanel

September 24, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Essential Broadcast Media Gets New Digs

Essential Broadcast Media has moved to 2001B Blair Blvd. Nashville TN, 37212. The phone number is the same: 615-327-3259.

Additionally, Bailey Sharpe has joined the team as Executive Administrator. She joins owner Ebie McFarland, and staffers Scott Stem, Stephanie Rew, Darlene Rodriguez, Olivia Hanceri, and Kailey Pearce. She can be reached at bailey@ebmediapr.com.

Annette St. Onge

Fontanel Hiring

Fontanel has hired Annette St. Onge as Director of Entertainment and Events, as the venue focuses on having entertainment seven nights per week.

The destination is adding more musical performances, and weekly activities such as Nashville Improve, Sips & Strokes, and Cigar Nights. The Hauntanel Hayride and Haunted Trails event will be held October 23 and 24.

Fontanel has five stages for music performances, including the Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater and the Silo Music Stage.

Swindell Gets Platinum Certification

Cole Swindell’s “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” is the second single from the Georgia native’s self-titled debut album to be certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song is Swindell’s third consecutive No. 1 single, following his mega hit “Chillin’ It” and Gold-certified “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.”

His Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville album, Cole Swindell, has sold 3.3 million downloads and over 430,000 albums, along with more than 130 million streams.

Kip Moore Tapes Front and Center, CMA Songwriter Series

The acclaimed public television show Front and Center and the Country Music Association teamed up for a special taping of the CMA Songwriters Series with Kip Moore. The event took place Monday night at the Iridium in New York City.

Moore performed with renowned songwriters Brett James and Jaren Johnston, frontman of The Cadillac Three.

Prior to the taping, James, Johnston, and Moore took time out from soundcheck to welcome and meet with teachers from Education Through Music, which is supported by the CMA Foundation. The CMA Foundation is investing $145,000 in music education in New York City inner-city schools through the organization.

l-r) Jaren Johnston, Kip Moore, and Brett James before a special taping of the CMA Songwriters Series for "Front and Center" at the Iridium Monday in New York. Photo Credit: Jim Belmont Photography

Pictured (L-R): Jaren Johnston, Kip Moore, and Brett James before a special taping of the CMA Songwriters Series for “Front and Center” at the Iridium Monday in New York. Photo: Jim Belmont

Bobby Karl Works “Blake Shelton Week”

September 24, 2015/by Bobby Karl

Blake Shelton brought music back to the Row for the final installment of Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio 2015. Thousands of people filled the streets to celebrate with the reigning five-time CMA Vocalist of the Year. Shelton performed an hour-long set that included many of his 20 No. 1 singles, all featured on his forthcoming album Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits due October 23. Photo: Alan Poizner

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 507

It’s Blake Shelton Week here in Music City.

Thousands thronged the streets of Music Row last night (Sept. 23) for his free concert. Even more heard his fifth anniversary celebration as a Grand Ole Opry cast member on Tuesday (Sept. 22). Today (Sept. 24), BMI and ASCAP are throwing a bash for five of his most recent No. 1 hits at Losers. More on this to follow.

Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton. Photo: Chris Hollo

The fun began with Blake’s appearance on the Opry. The show’s chief Pete Fisher presented him with a fifth of whiskey to commemorate the fifth anniversary. Not just any fifth, mind you. This one looked just like a fifth of Jack Daniels, except instead of “Jack Daniels,” the distinctive white-on-black label script read, “Blake Shelton.” It also read, of course, “Old No. 5,” and on the back Pete had inscribed the megastar’s “distilling” process.

Trace Adkins was the one who invited Blake to become an Opry cast member and the one who inducted him. He was on hand to sing “Hillbilly Bone” with Blake. “He’s still as cranky as ever, and that’s why I love him,” said Blake of Trace.

A heavenly host of fabulons gathered at Warner Bros. Records on Wednesday for a party celebrating Blake’s 20 No. 1 hits. By the way, there have been 15 of them in a row. Soon to be 16. Warner Bros. honcho John Esposito told us so, adding that Blake has won nine CMA awards, is a five-time CMA male vocalist, co-hosts the ACMs and is a four-time winning coach on TV’s The Voice. “Blake could sing the phone book,” Espo averred. He said that the A&R department is the heart and soul of his label while introducing producer Scott Hendricks. “I hope we’ve made you proud with the records we’ve made,” said Scott.

Then it was Blake’s turn to take the mic. “This is unbelievable,” he began. “This whole day, I’ve been running into people I haven’t seen in a long time. I ran into Jim Ed Norman. He looks the same as he did 100 years ago! It makes me realize how important the Nashville community has been to my success. More than ever, I realize how important great songs are. Thanks to the songwriters.”

Scott and his staff have sifted through 20,000 songs for Blake’s records. Frankly, I don’t think I would have the patience.

“It’s just been a magical day….I feel like it’s not about me,” Blake added later. “There are the songwriters, the record label, my agents….and that’s why I wanted to do something free for the community, for the fans.” The fans were there. Typical of the devoted, dedicated country lovers, many had found out about this Music Row event and travelled to Nashville, just to attend. Chris Cannon and his Channel 5 crew aired awesome helicopter video views of the assembled multitude.

(L-R): Kevin Herring (SVP, Promotion), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Scott Hendricks (EVP, A&R), Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Brandon Blackstock (Starstruck Management). Photo: Alan Poizner

(L-R): Kevin Herring (SVP, Promotion), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Blake Shelton, Scott Hendricks (EVP, A&R), Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Brandon Blackstock (Starstruck Management). Photo: Alan Poizner

Among the lucky ones in the party space and patio above the crowd were Charlie Cook, Charlie Chase, Lorianne Crook, Rob Simbeck, Rob Beckham, Kyle Young, Mary Ann McCready, Julie Boos, Gold and Platinum RIAA plaque maker Deborah Lotz (who is moving here from L.A., another coup for us), Leslie Fram, R.J. Curtis, John Marks, Stuart Dill, rising star Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Narvel Blackstock (we tried to get Kay West to pry him for Reba divorce details, but she wouldn’t do it), Cindy Watts, Shauna Russell, Tom Roland and Sherod Robertson.

The songwriters and other creative citizens who contributed to those 20 chart toppers were given crystal trophies. The ones I schmoozed included David Kent & Kristi Manna (“Austin”), Paul Overstreet (“Some Beach”), J.T. Harding (“Sangria”) and Ryan Hurd (“Lonely Tonight”).

There will be more of these folks at today’s Blake bash celebrating his most recent No. 1 hits.

Blake Shelton performs for the final installment of Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio 2015 to thousands of fans. Photo: MusicRow

Future of Music In Cars: Ford, Apple

September 24, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Ford Opens In-Dash Technology For App Developers

Apps like Pandora are displayed on screen and display many of the app features customers use on their phones.

Ford has opened up its in-dash touch screen technology for app developers to help enhance the in-car user experience. This means that external app developers will have access to voice recognition, push notifications, access to vehicle information sensors.

There are more than a dozen design templates to help develop a look and feel for apps with the automaker’s new SYNC® 3 technology, which allows for phone apps to appear on the onboard system as they appear on the phone.

Since Ford rolled out the automotive industry’s first developer program in 2013, more than 13,000 developers have registered and more than 24,000 software development kits have been downloaded. There are more than 90 AppLink-compatible smartphone apps now running on iOS and Android devices around the world, including Pandora, Spotify and more.

Apple “Internally Commits” To Electric Car

The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Apple has accelerated the development of an electric car, applying its expertise in developing hardware (design, batteries, sensors) and software integration.

Targeting 2019, the paper notes the technology giant has spent more than a year weighing the project’s feasibility before internally committing to its codename: Titan. Rumors that the 600-person team will triple, including staffing experts in driverless cars. Though, the paper is quick to note that “the Cupertino, Calif., company doesn’t currently plan to make its first electric vehicle fully autonomous.”

Songwriter Paul Overstreet Plans Theater Musical

September 24, 2015/by Robert K Oermann

Paul Overstreet

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Paul Overstreet begins staging his first musical next week. Overstreet is having workshop run-throughs of his musical Sneaky Old Time at The Ruskin Group Theater in Santa Monica, Calif. He says the show is a narrative constructed around his 30-year catalog of hits.

The show is seeking a Nashville venue as it develops.

Overstreet’s hits as a songwriter include “When You Say Nothing At All,” “On the Other Hand,” “Love Can Build a Bridge,” “Forever and Ever Amen,” “Diggin; Up Bones,” “Daddy’s Come Around,” “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “Some Beach,” among many others.

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.

Country Music Execs Rank Among Billboard’s ’40 Under 40′

September 24, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Their clients include the ACM Awards, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Hunter Hayes, Blake Shelton, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Dan+Shay, Fancy, and more. All under the age of 40, these execs have forged high-powered careers, with work that impacts country artists and fans on a daily basis. Billboard ranks them among fellow powerful industry execs in this year’s list of the Top 40 Under 40 Music Power Players.

Jeremy Holley

Jeremy Holley, 37, is Sr. VP, Consumer and Interactive Marketing for Warner Music Nashville, including a label roster that boasts artists Blake Shelton, Ashley Monroe, Brett Eldredge, and more. Among his recent successes has been the career growth of Hunter Hayes.

Jason Owen

Jason Owen, 39, is President/CEO of Sandbox Entertainment, where he represents artists including Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, and Kacey Musgraves.

Bobby Reynolds, 39, is VP of Booking for AEG Live in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, he crafted a multi-year residency for Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Mike Mahan, 39, is president of Dick Clark Productions. He has worked on television productions including the American Music Awards, ACM Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and the Golden Globes. The ACM Awards’ 50th anniversary drew 15.8 million viewers.

Scooter Braun, 34, is the founder of SB Projects. His clients include pop artists Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen and Tori Kelly, alongside former Nashville resident Fancy, and country duo Dan+Shay. Braun says his wife’s work as founder of nonprofit organization F— Cancer gives him perspective on his work.

Colt Ford Preps Greatest Hits Package

September 23, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Answer To No One: The Colt Ford Classics, will chronicle the entertainer’s music from 2008 through 2014. Set for release on Oct. 23 via Average Joes Entertainment, the project includes his duets with Brantley Gilbert (“Dirt Road Anthem”), Jason Aldean (“Drivin’ Around Song”), and collaborations with Jake Owen (“Back”), Eric Church (“Country Thang”), Jamey Johnson (“Cold Beer”), John Michael Montgomery (“Ride Through The Country”), and Nappy Roots with Nic Cowen (“Waste Some Time”).

“I’m doing this album for the fans,” Ford says, laughing that he’s never had a song in the Top 40. “These are greatest hits to those guys. My life’s on this album. I’m thankful for those who gave me a chance when I first came to Nashville. I’ve been blessed to have worked with so many talented artists who have contributed their time and talent and for being a part of my records.”

Answer To No One track list:

1. Answer To No One (Feat. JJ Lawhorn)
2. The High Life (Feat. Chase Rice)
3. Crank It Up
4. Back (Feat. Jake Owen)
5. Huntin’ The World
6. Waste Some Time (Feat. Nappy Roots & Nic Cowen)
7. Cut ‘Em All (Feat. Willie Robertson)
8. Country Thang (Feat. Eric Church)
9. Drivin’ Around Song (Feat. Jason Aldean)
10. Cold Beer (Feat. Jamey Johnson)
11. Ride Through The Country (Feat. John Michael Montgomery)
12. Chicken & Biscuits (Feat. James Otto)
13. No Trash In My Trailer
14. Dirt Road Anthem (Feat. Brantley Gilbert)

Artist Updates: Carrie Underwood, Hunter Hayes, Reba, Old Dominion

September 23, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Carrie Underwood To Headline C2C 2016

Carrie Underwood will headline three performances at Country to Country 2016. Having performed at the inaugural event in 2013, Carrie will return to play all three nights of the festival. C2C will be held at London’s O2 Arena, Dublin 3 Arena, and for the first year, an additional 3rd night, at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium.

Underwood will play C2C 2016 on the following dates:
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium – March 11
London The O2 Arena – March 12
Dublin 3 Arena – March 13

Hunter Hayes Celebrates Birthday With CMT Instant Jam

Hunter Hayes celebrated his 24th birthday earlier this month with a surprise “CMT Instant Jam” concert for fans in Lexington at local club Cosmic Charlie’s. On the morning of the pop-up show, Hayes revealed to fans via Twitter that they could get wristbands for the exclusive show at Sorority Circle on the University of Kentucky campus.

Before the show, Hayes was presented a birthday cake and special University of Kentucky jersey with his name and the #24. “CMT Instant Jam: Hunter Hayes” premieres this Saturday, September 26 at 10pm ET/9pm CT and includes live performances from Hayes while giving a behind-the-scenes look at the hours leading up to his surprise show.

Pictured (L-R): John Hamlin, EP, Switched On Entertainment; Leslie Fram, SVP Music Strategy and Talent, CMT; Hunter Hayes; Margaret Comeaux, VP Music & Event Production, CMT. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Reba To Guest Host ‘The Talk’

Reba is set to guest host The Talk on Monday, Sept. 28. The episode will air on CBS at 1 p.m. CT.

Reba will fill in for Sharon Osbourne, and will discuss current hot-button topics. She will also chat with actor Chris O’Donnell alongside hosts Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Aisha Tyler, and Sheryl Underwood.

Old Dominion Visit With ‘ACC/Kickin’ It With Kix Host’ Kix Brooks

RCA Nashville’s Old Dominion enjoyed a little hang time during a visit this week with ACC/Kickin’ It with Kix host Kix Brooks. Featuring their current smash single, “Break up with Him,” the band’s full-length debut album, Meat and Candy, will be out on Nov. 6.

Pictured (L-R): Old Dominion’s Whit Sellers, Brad Tursi, Trevor Rosen, and Matthew Ramsey, Brooks, and Old Dominion’s Geoff Sprung.

Newcomer Signs with ole and Jeremy Stover’s Publishing Company

September 23, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Pictured (L-R): back: Gilles Godard (ole, VP Corporate Affairs and Development), Shellien Kinsey (ole, Creative Coordinator), Mike Whelan (ole, Sr. Director, Creative), Emily Mueller (ole, Creative Manager), and Ben Strain (ole, Creative Director). Front: Jeremy Stover (ole songwriter), Adam Hambrick, and John Ozier (ole, GM, Creative).

ole and Jeremy Stover‘s Red Creative Group have signed a worldwide publishing deal with newcoming country singer/songwriter Adam Hambrick. Under the deal, ole will handle global co-publishing for Hambrick’s future copyrights.

“Adam is a talented songwriter and performer who has already tasted success on his own, and ole is committed to utilizing our world-class publishing resources to kick his career into overdrive,” said John Ozier, GM of Nashville Creative at ole.

“I’ve believed in Adam’s songwriting from the first note I heard, and I couldn’t be happier to see him join ole and Red Creative Group,” said Stover. “I’ve always been impressed with the professionalism, knowledge, and most importantly, results of the ole staff. I’m excited to work with them to bring Adam’s career to the next level.”

“I’ve been a big fan of ole ever since I started working with [ole songwriter] Jeremy back in 2011, and I’m thrilled to have their support,” said Hambrick. “Everyone at ole has been extremely welcoming and focused on finding the biggest audience possible for the music they love. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

Raised in Corinth, MS, and now based in Nashville, Hambrick released his first album, Fighting from the Ground, in late 2010. The following year, he caught the ear of Stover when Justin Moore recommended him. This led to the duet “Old Habits,” which Moore recorded with Miranda Lambert and featured on Moore’s 2013 album Off the Beaten Path. Stover then co-produced Hambrick’s most recent album, Wheels or Wings, with Andrew DeRoberts.

Hambrick joins current ole writers include Rush, Tyler Farr, Josh Dorr, Gord Bamford, Brett Jones, Dave Turnbull, Jeremy Stover, Marty Dodson, and Ian Thornley. ole has ongoing Ventures with Last Gang Publishing, Roots Three Music, Jackoby Publishing, and most recently, ole-Bluestone Publishing, ole’s venture with Timbaland. ole’s legacy catalogs and writers include Max Webster, Coney Hatch, and Ian Thomas.

Grand Ole Opry To Release Commemorative ‘Family Album’

September 23, 2015/by Troy_Stephenson

The Grand Ole Opry will release a special hard cover commemorative edition, Grand Ole Opry 90th Anniversary Family Album, on Sept. 29.

The Family Album includes more than 400 exclusive photos from the Opry archives spanning the show’s nine decades. Also included are the invitation guests received to Keith Urban’s official Opry induction reception and a letter written by then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush on Air Force Two stationary thanking Minnie Pearl for her warm hospitality during one of the couple’s Opry visits.

Among 90 years-worth of stories told and milestone Opry moments shared throughout the Family Album:

Johnny Cash and June Carter meeting backstage at Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s most famous former home.
Dolly Parton serenading Porter Wagoner with “I Will Always Love You” on stage during what would be the pair’s final Opry performance.
Opry visits by a cast of characters including President Richard Nixon, journalists Bob Schieffer, Charles Osgood, Lester Holt, Robin Roberts, and others; Elvis Presley; The Byrds; James Brown and Academy Award winners Sissy Spacek; Kevin Costner; and Robert Duvall.
Artists such as Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban becoming official members of the Opry family.

Also featured in the Family Album are pages celebrating the 60+ members of the current cast including superstars such as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton.

Grand Ole Opry 90th Anniversary Family Album will be available at opry.com as well as all Opry Nashville retail locations.