Mike Meade Adds VP Stripes at Buddy Lee Attractions

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Mike Meade

Mike Meade

Buddy Lee Attractions has promoted Mike Meade to Vice President of the agency. Meade heads up the agency’s speaker and guest appearances division and under his direction the company has inked Pete Rose, Naomi Judd, Brooke Hogan, Sonia Leigh, and many others.

“Mike has been a contributing member of the BLA staff for almost twenty years; he’s been instrumental in the agency’s growth and become a mentor for the younger agents,” stated CEO/President of Buddy Lee Attractions Donna Lee. “His loyalty, dedication and experience are fitting for this role. As a seasoned industry veteran, he’s grown with the changes and has successfully incorporated new approaches to assist the agency in keeping current with the trends and ahead of the curve.”

Meade started with the agency as an intern in 1996 and over the course of his initial 10-year term with the company helped launch the careers of the Dixie Chicks, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Tracy Lawrence, and more. In 2006 he joined TLE, Lawrence’s management company, then worked at New Frontier Touring representing artists like the Avett Brothers and Monty Montgomery before forming his own company, The Meade Group, in 2009. In 2012, Meade returned to Buddy Lee as an agent and spearheaded the newly-formed special appearances division.

“Buddy Lee Attractions became ‘home’ during my first internship,” said Meade. “BLA continues to embrace its ‘family’ business strategy and that alone lends itself to the successful foundation this company was built upon. BLA is historically characterized by its passion to invest in, and develop, an artist and his/her career. That’s the philosophy I cut my teeth on and I am extremely proud to be part of this organization of heart.”

UMPG Extends Deal with Striking Matches

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Before the Striking Matches show at the Bud Light stage during CMA Music Fest 2015. Pictured (L-R): Missy Wilson, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Kent Earls, EVP/GM UMPG Nashville; Justin Davis; Sarah Zimmermann; Cyndi Forman, UMPG Nashville VP Creative; and Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP A&R.

Before the Striking Matches show at the Bud Light stage during CMA Music Fest 2015. Pictured (L-R): Missy Wilson, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Kent Earls, EVP/GM UMPG Nashville; Justin Davis; Sarah Zimmermann; Cyndi Forman, UMPG Nashville VP Creative; and Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP A&R.

Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis of I.R.S. Nashville duo Striking Matches have extended their exclusive global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville. The announcement was made by Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville.

“From the moment we met Striking Matches, we knew they were the true triple threat…great singers, great songwriters and great musicians,” said Earls.

Since 2011, UMPG has dedicated significant resources to develop and help advance the career of Striking Matches through releasing their debut EP, securing multiple high-profile synch placements, and promoting their repertoire. The company arranged for the then-unknown songwriters to perform for Frankie Pine, music supervisor for ABC’s Nashville, who featured their song “When the Right One Comes Along” on the show. Eight of their songs have since appeared on the series in its first three seasons.

In March, the band released a debut album Nothing But the Silence, produced by T Bone Burnett. Striking Matches are currently on tour to support the record, with multiple dates scheduled in the U.S. and U.K. throughout the summer and into the fall.

“UMPG has become a family to us and we are so excited to continue our journey with them. The support they have given us is immeasurable and we can’t wait to see where this next chapter leads us,” said Davis and Zimmermann.

Erin Enderlin, Alex Kline Team For Cotton Gin Productions, Scott Stevens EP

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Scott StevensCotton Gin Productions artist Scott Stevens is set to release his debut, self-titled EP July 21. The project was produced by Cotton Gin partners and songwriters Erin Enderlin and Alex Kline, with Kline playing all instruments.

A Knoxville native, Stevens first began playing guitar and singing after being laid up by a snowboarding accident at 16. He is celebrating the release of his new EP with a free, full-band show at The Basement in Nashville on July 21.

Cotton Gin’s Enderlin and Kline are both accomplished writers and performers in their own right. Enderlin’s songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Tyler Farr and more and she has received multiple honors from the Nashville Songwriters Association International for songs including “Monday Morning Church” and “Last Call.”

Kline was a founding member of the Sony Nashville band The Lunabelles. She has penned two hits for artist Jess Moskaluke and co-wrote the Lonesome River Band’s current bluegrass single, “Lyla Mae.” Kline builds her own tracks by playing, recording and programming everything on her demos and has produced albums for new artist Tara Thompson, the second CD from musical partner Enderlin, and Stevens’ self-titled debut.

Scott Stevens track listing:
1) “Rent Money” (Erin Enderlin, Steph Jones and Alex Kline)
2) “Hands On” (Oscar Charles, Erin Enderlin and Scott Stevens)
3 “Bad Ideas” (Erin Enderlin, Alex Kline and Scott Stevens)
4) “Keep On Doin’ It” (Phil Barton, Alex Kline and Scott Stevens)
5) “Around A Bonfire” (Ryan Beaver and Erin Enderlin)
6) “Call Me When You’re Drunk” (Alex Kline, Scott Stevens and Mike Sprinkle)

Former WSM-AM PD Al Wyntor Passes

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candle lifenotes11Local radio and TV personality Al Wyntor passed away peacefully Sunday (July 5). He was 68.

Born Irvin Rusley in Carrington, ND, Wyntor became a Music City TV staple in the late ‘80s as co-host of TNN’s Video Morning show. He later hosted the syndicated radio show Nashville Insider, which aired on dozens of country stations around the country.

He is survived by his children, Jim (Amy) Rusley, Jeni Rusley, Chris (Brandy) Rusley, and Lindie Rusley, and nine grandchildren. The family will receive friends on July 9 from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Hillsboro Church of Christ, 5800 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville and a celebration of life will be conducted at 12 p.m. Interment will follow in Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

SESAC To Acquire Harry Fox Agency From NMPA

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sesac hfaSESAC, Inc. today (July 7) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Harry Fox Agency (HFA), the leading U.S. mechanical rights organization. The Harry Fox Agency is owned by the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA). The proposed transaction has been approved by the NMPA Board and is subject to NMPA member approval.

The New York Times reports the purchase price is upwards of $20 million.

According to SESAC, this transaction positions it to be the only music rights organization in the United States with the ability to offer singular licenses for the works of its affiliated writers and publishers that aggregate both performance and mechanical rights. This would allows greater efficiency in licensing for music users, as well as enhanced value for music creators and publishers.

According to SESAC Chairman and CEO John Josephson, “Licensing is fragmented across both multiple types of rights, as well as multiple territories for the streaming services that represent the future growth opportunity of the music industry. The result is a complex, opaque and currently inefficient licensing regime that fails to deliver the best outcomes for creators and publishers, as well as end users What excites us about this transaction is the ability it provides to make the licensing process both simpler and more efficient, and in so doing create additional value for music creators and publishers, as well as the digital music platforms.”

SESAC’s acquisition of HFA is part of a previously announced strategy under its new leadership team to pursue a simplified and more efficient, multi-right, multi-territory licensing model utilizing an ongoing focus on information technology and data science to meet the developing needs of music users, distributors, writers, composers, publishers and other stakeholders. The transaction enables SESAC to offer music streaming and other digital platforms greater efficiency and transparency in the music licensing process.

“I am thrilled that we have found the perfect strategic buyer in SESAC given their forward-looking approach to rights management and commitment to servicing publishers and songwriters efficiently in the new digital music economy,” said NMPA President & CEO, David Israelite. “Not only will this transaction ensure that mechanical licensing continues in the method best for creators, it will also strengthen NMPA for the many battles we are fighting on behalf of all songwriters and music publishers.”

Through its commercial relationships with over 48,000 music publishers, HFA has created one of the largest and most comprehensive databases of musical works in the world, including metadata on over 6.7 million compositions and 21.4 million unique master recordings. SESAC will integrate this database with its own. In addition, SESAC plans to introduce an expanded suite of services for publishers on the HFA platform including micro-licensing on social video networks, automated license verification with RADKey™ and premium YouTube Content ID administration services via its Rumblefish subsidiary.

HFA’s Slingshot platform provides royalty tracking, administration and payment services and solutions to virtually every digital music service of scale in the market today. SESAC plans to invest heavily in this segment of HFA’s business in order to create a best of breed suite of data and administration services to digital service providers.

A rep for SESAC tells MusicRow there are no immediate plans for HFA to relocate to Nashville, where SESAC is headquartered.

Country Stars Salute Lynyrd Skynyrd In New Concert Special

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Lynyrd Skynyrd one more for the fansLast November Lynyrd Skynyrd took the stage at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga. to perform their classics alongside Trace Adkins, Alabama, Gregg Allman, Blackberry Smoke, Cheap Trick, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Gov’t Mule, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Randy Houser, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson, Aaron Lewis, moe., O.A.R., Robert Randolph and Donnie Van Zant.

The One More For The Fans event was recorded and will be released July 24 as a two-disc CD /DVD on Loud & Proud Records in partnership with Blackbird Presents. AXS TV will premiere the concert event on Sunday, July 19 at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00pm PST.

Keith Wortman, creator and executive producer of the concert, broadcast special and music release, worked with executive producers Ken Levitan and Ross Schilling. Don Was led the all-star house band as musical director for the evening.

In 1976, as part of the campaign to save the Fox Theatre from demolition, Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded their live album, One More From The Road, at the landmark theatre.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band is led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar). Along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone, the band also includes Mark “Sparky” Matejka (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Peter Keys (keyboards) and The Honkettes (Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase) on background vocals. They will perform Oct. 2 at Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater.

Lynyrd Skynyrd—One More For The Fans track listing:
1. Whiskey Rock A Roller – performed by Randy Houser
2. You Got That Right – performed by Robert Randolph & Jimmy Hall
3. Saturday Night Special – performed by Aaron Lewis
4. Workin’ For MCA – performed by Blackberry Smoke
5. Don’t Ask Me No Questions – performed by O.A.R.
6. Gimme Back My Bullets – performed by Cheap Trick
7. The Ballad of Curtis Loew – performed by moe. & John Hiatt
8. Simple Man – performed by Gov’t Mule
9. That Smell – performed by Warren Haynes
10. Four Walls of Raiford – performed by Jamey Johnson
11. I Know A Little – performed by Jason Isbell
12. Call Me The Breeze – performed by Peter Frampton
13. What’s Your Name – performed by Trace Adkins
14. Down South Jukin’ – performed by Charlie Daniels & Donnie Van Zant
15. Gimme Three Steps – performed by Alabama
16. Tuesday’s Gone – performed by Gregg Allman
17. Travelin’ Man – performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd With Johnny and Ronnie – Ronnie on big screen
18. Free Bird – performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
19. Sweet Home Alabama – performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd and the entire line-up

Top Tunesmiths at ‘Wine, Women, and Song’ Fundraiser

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Screen Shot 2015-07-06 at 2.54.04 PM“Wine, Women and Song,” featuring Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg and Suzy Bogguss returns to Nashville July 23 at The Listening Room for a fundraiser to benefit Music & Memory. Hit songwriter Lori McKenna will perform an acoustic set to open the show.

Music & Memory is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly. By providing access and education, the goal is to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry.

Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman says, “We see the power of music every week and have started bringing in iPods and playing music for the patients and it truly is incredible. We just want to bring awareness to the organization as well as raise money to help fund nursing homes in the area.”

The group is asking for donations of old iPods, iPhones and iTunes gift cards. Music & Memory will take the donated devices, wipe them clean and load them with personalized playlists for individual patients.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. All proceeds go directly to Music & Memory.

Alan Jackson To Release ‘Angels And Alcohol’ Next Week

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alan jackson angels and alcohol album 2015Next week Alan Jackson will release his first studio album of all new music in three years. Angels and Alcohol will hit stores and digital retailers on Friday, July 17.

The UMG Nashville album was produced by his longtime collaborator and friend Keith Stegall who has produced every one of Jackson’s 23 albums over the past 25 years with the exception of Like Red On A Rose, produced by Alison Krauss.

Angels and Alcohol includes seven self-penned songs, including lead single “Jim and Jack and Hank,” which is at country radio now.

Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide and ranks as one of the 10 bestselling vocalists of all-time in all genres.

Angels and Alcohol track listing:
1) “You Can Always Come Home” (Alan Jackson)
2) “You Never Know” (Alan Jackson)
3) “Angels and Alcohol” (Alan Jackson)
4) “Gone Before You Met Me” (Michael White, Michael Heeney)
5) “The One You’re Waiting On” (Adam Wright, Shannon Wright)
6) “Jim and Jack and Hank” (Alan Jackson)
7) “I Leave A Light On” (Alan Jackson)
8) “Flaws” (Alan Jackson)
9) “When God Paints” (Troy Jones, Greg Becker)
10) “Mexico, Tequila and Me” (Alan Jackson)

The Parlor Studio Celebrates 15 Years On Music Row

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15th birthday partyThe Parlor Studio will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a party to be held on July 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Some of the biggest names in country music have worked at The Parlor Studio over the past 15 years including Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, George Jones, and many others.

Robin Ruddy and husband Larry Sheridan bought the space as a bungalow from Randy Travis in 1997. They converted it into a 4,200 sq. ft. recording studio and office complex which opened in 2000. They recently installed a Trident 80C analog console.

“I’m thrilled to announce this celebration of our 15th year of being in business,” says Ruddy. “In light of the industry’s technological advances, keeping a commercial recording studio busy in Nashville since 2000 is a true triumph.”

The Parlor Studio is located at 1317 16th Ave. S. in Nashville.

Dates Set For 2015 CMA Awards, Nominations Announcement

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Logo for the 49th Annual CMA Awards“Country Music’s Biggest Night™” will air live Wednesday, Nov. 4 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Steven Tyler, whose debut country single was recently released to radio, will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America to reveal multiple categories of the final nominees live on that morning’s broadcast.

Balloting for “The 49th Annual CMA Awards” began today (July 6).

The first ballot and instructions were emailed today to CMA members in good standing who are eligible to vote. Voting for the first ballot closes Thursday, July 16 (6:00 PM/CT).

The second ballot will be emailed to CMA members Tuesday, Aug. 11. Voting for the second ballot closes Thursday, Aug. 20 (6:00 PM/CT).

The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thursday, Oct. 8. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 27 (6:00 PM/CT).

The 2015 CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by more than 7,400 professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958.

The eligibility period for the 2015 CMA Awards is July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

All balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.