LifeNotes: The Time Jumpers' Dawn Sears

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Dawn Sears

Dawn Sears


Dawn Sears, 53, vocalist and member of Rounder Record’s four-time Grammy-nominated band The Time Jumpers, died Thursday night, Dec. 11. Diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2012, Sears fought the disease and championed efforts for lung cancer research.
In addition to having been a Time Jumper,  she was also a long-time member of Vince Gill’s touring band. She contributed vocals to several of Gill’s albums, including I Still Believe in You and Next Big Thing. In the mid-’90s, Sears became the first act signed to Decca Records’ relaunched country outpost. Prior to that, Sears released three singles with Warner Bros. Records, after signing with the label in 1991.
She is survived by her husband, the fiddler and fellow Time Jumper Kenny Sears and daughter Tess. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Recently, the Dawn Sears & Friends Benefit for Lung Cancer Research, held Nov. 30 in Gallatin, Tenn., raised more than $100,000 for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Reba, Riders in the Sky and The Time Jumpers were among the performers at the event.

Gill, Hillman, Pedersen, Lanois Added To Emmylou Harris Tribute Celebration

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Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris


Vince Gill, Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen and Daniel Lanois are the latest performers announced as part of the esteemed lineup of artists taking part in The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris: An All-Star Concert Celebration.
In addition to the newly announced performers, the concert will feature a lineup of music stars, including: Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mavis Staples, Martina McBride, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Conor Oberst, Trampled By Turtles, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Iron & Wine, Shawn Colvin, Shovels & Rope, Sara Watkins and The Milk Carton Kids.
Grammy Award-winners Don Was and Buddy Miller will serve as music directors that will lead an all-star band backing the performers at this incredible concert event taping. Keith Wortman is the creator and executive producer of the show along with Harris’ manager Ken Levitan.
“Emmylou Harris is a once-in-a-lifetime music artist,” says Wortman. “With the addition of Vince Gill, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and Daniel Lanois, whom all mean so much to her, we have joined together to create a once-in-a-lifetime concert event in her honor.”
The taping will take place at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, on Jan. 10.

Weekly Chart Report (12/12/14)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

BobbyWill-ProgrammerPlaylist

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.country Domains Available to Public

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Minds-+-Machines-.country-domain-Newly available domains ending in .country are now available to the public from registry operator Minds + Machines in association with Uniregistry.
Early adopters of the registry include Dolly Parton, Eli Young Band, Sam Hunt and the Academy of Country Music, which registered ACM.country, ACMawards.country, and Academy.country and more. The Academy will use the new .country domains to promote events throughout 2015 and beyond.
“The Academy of Country Music was the first to have the vision to promote country music with a country music awards show and it is only fitting that we have current Academy visionaries join us in promoting country music through a massive transformation of the Internet,” said Antony Van Couvering, CEO of Minds + Machines.
The launch of the top-level domain is part of a restructuring of the Internet’s naming system that gives consumers and businesses alike a choice in relevant and affordable domain names.
To register a name within .country visit Minds + Machines or Uniregistry or contact any leading registrar.

ASCAP CEO LoFrumento Announces Retirement

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ASCAP's John LoFrumento

ASCAP’s John LoFrumento


ASCAP’s John LoFrumento has announced that he will retire as CEO of the performing rights organization, effective Jan. 1.
LoFrumento spent 33 years at ASCAP, with 17 of those year in the CEO role. LoFrumento’s career began in accounting, where he worked his way to a vice president and controller role at American Express prior to joining ASCAP as a controller in 1981. He worked his way through organization’s ranks, becoming CEO in 1997.
“When I became CEO in 1997, we set a course aimed at transforming ASCAP into a new kind of organization that would be ready to meet the demands of the 21st century, and I am so proud of what we have achieved,” LoFrumento said in a statement to staff. “Through a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in all areas of our operation, ASCAP has become the world’s most sophisticated and efficient music rights organization, home to more than 520,000 of the world’s greatest music creators. And I am able to retire with tremendous confidence in ASCAP’s future, knowing that the Board’s search for a new CEO is well underway.”
ASCAP is home to many of music’s top songwriters and artists, including Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Drake, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Brandy Clark, and Jennifer Nettles.
“I started out as an accountant and I never imagined I would end up in a career that brought me the absolute joy of helping to serve and protect the world’s greatest songwriters – many of whom have become great friends,” LoFrumento summed in the memo. “It has been an incredible journey — not always easy, but endlessly exciting and fulfilling.”
LoFrumento’s successor will be named shortly.

The Peach Pickers To Bring Georgia Show to Ryman Auditorium

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GOMM 15 Deck Cover111After a sold-out show earlier in 2014 at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley, songwriting trio The Peach Pickers (Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, and Rhett Akins) will return to host the second annual Jameson Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind: Peach Pickers and Friends Host a Night of Georgia Music, on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.
The show moves to a larger venue next year, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 12, with proceeds benefiting the Georgia Music Foundation. The benefit’s first show at 3rd & Lindsley featured surprise appearances from Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell, along with Georgia songwriters Pat Alger, Tony Arata and Brent Cobb.
“Ben, Rhett and I were so humbled to have so many friends come together last year,” explains The Peach Pickers’ Davidson. “All of us in Nashville today who are from Georgia share this bond that’s connected to the land, but also to the deep musical roots in our state. As chair of the Georgia Music Foundation, I had the opportunity to see the students from the James Brown Academy perform this fall, I was so moved to see what a profound impact that programs that provide music education and teach about music heritage have on students.”
Tickets are $49.50 and $39.50, and will be available at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, ryman.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

WMG Releases Fiscal Year-End Report

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Warner Music Group Corp. today (Dec. 11) announced its full-year financial results for the period ended Sept. 30, 2014.
Total revenue increased 5.2 percent to $3.02 billion. Total digital revenue grew 10.9 percent to $1.2 billion and represented 39.5 percent of total revenue.
Net loss was $303 million.
Recorded music revenue grew 5.6 percent to $2.5 billion, due to income from Parlophone Label Group, which WMG purchased last year. Digital revenue from recorded music grew 10.4 percent to $1.1 billion.
Music publishing revenue rose 3 percent to $517 million.
wmg 2014 balance sheet

Industry Ink: Marcus & Colvin, Reviver Records, Tri Star Hosts Food Drive

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Farrah Usmani

Farrah Usmani


Marcus & Colvin, LLP, has added Farrah A. Usmani, Esq., as a senior associate to its entertainment industry practice. Usmani spent several years in business affairs at CAA, and earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2012.
Attorneys Kent Marcus and Jeff Colvin formed the firm in 2011, providing an entertainment law firm offering focused business affairs and legal counsel for artists and companies in the music industry.  Usmani can be reached farrah@mcentlaw.com or at 615-341-0755.

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samantha landrum11Reviver Records has added singer-songwriter Samantha Landrum to its roster. Her upcoming single, “I’ll Still Need Your Shoulder,” is slated to release in 2015. The Laurel, Miss., native began performing by joining her family’s business, The Landrum Homestead & Village, a recreation of a late 1800s settlement.

Landrum’s latest release for Reviver is the Christmas single, “Light A Candle.”

“Samantha brings a unique talent to our brand,” says Reviver Records President and CEO David Ross. “The entire team is excited about bringing her music to the forefront of the music industry and to lead the Samantha Landrum charge at radio. We truly think that Samantha has the talent, drive and determination to become one of the industry’s most respected female vocalists. We can’t wait to be part of that story.”

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Tri star LogoTri Star Sports & Entertainment Group (11 Music Circle South) is facilitating donations to Second Harvest Food Bank by providing donation boxes to Music Row area business. This will make it easy for employees and visitors to those businesses to make donations of canned food items. Tri Star will then pick up the boxes and goods on or around Dec. 23. Companies who would like to receive a box should email Sonja@team-tristar.com for more information. In addition, Tri Star has a donation box at their office where individuals can drop off food. The most-needed items this season include: peanut butter, canned meat (chicken or tuna), canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta, and cereal.

Jordan Rager Signs Deal with Ole, Blue Chrome Key Publishing

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Pictured, seat (L-R): Jordan Rager and Producer Jeremy Stover. (Standing, L-R): Peter Hartung, Co-Manager of Jordan Rager, and John Ozier, ole General Manager of Creative Nashville. Not pictured: Barry Williams, Co-Manager of Jordan Rager.

Pictured, seat (L-R): Jordan Rager and producer Jeremy Stover. (Standing, L-R): Peter Hartung, co-manager of Jordan Rager, and John Ozier, ole General Manager of Creative Nashville. Not pictured: Barry Williams, co-manager of Jordan Rager.

ole and Blue Chrome Key Publishing have inked a deal that gives ole worldwide administration rights to singer/songwriter Jordan Rager.

After appearing on The Voice at the age of 17, he has toured with Justin Moore and played shows with Kip Moore, Casey James, Love & Theft, Gretchen Wilson, Bo Bice, and David Allen Coe. Rager recently signed a record deal with Broken Bow Records and is currently recording his debut album with producer Jeremy Stover, a fellow ole songwriter.

“Jordan is only 20 years old, but he’s already accomplished more than many musicians do in an entire lifetime,” said John Ozier, General Manager of Creative at ole. “From his upcoming album with Jeremy, to his touring success, to his original appearance on The Voice, Jordan’s certainly off to a great start. We’re happy he chose to work with us at ole and are excited to help him reach new heights with his music.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to get some truly amazing opportunities in my career, and working with ole – Blue Chrome Key is yet another big step forward for me musically,” said Rager. “I’ve had a blast working with their staff, especially Jeremy, and we’ve only just gotten started. I’m excited for the road ahead.”

Nine North Promotes Jeff Davis To VP Role

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Jeff Davis

Jeff Davis


Nine North/Turnpike Music has promoted Jeff Davis to the role of VP, Promotion & Marketing, effective immediately.
Davis’ industry career has included radio gigs in Gainesville, Charlotte, Tallahassee, Daytona Beach, and Jacksonville, before he switched over to radio promotion. Nine North Records/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Music was launched by Larry Pareigis in 2007 as Nashville’s first virtual label. The company has worked with Tracy Lawrence, Ashley Monroe, Joey+Rory, Court Yard Hounds, and others.
“I’m honored to be chosen to step up,” says Davis. “Larry and Kevin have built an amazing team, and their vision and passion inspires me on a daily basis! I look forward to all that we have on the horizon in 2015 and beyond!”

“Jeff has worked hard for this title and deserves it,” adds Larry Pareigis, President, Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Music Nashville. “He delivers a blast of youth, vigor and passion that brings true excitement to this team and the partners that work with us.”
Davis can be reached at jeff@ninenorthmail.com.