Jody Gerson Appointed Chairman, CEO of UMPG

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Jody Gerson. Photo: Austin Hargrave

Jody Gerson. Photo: Austin Hargrave


Universal Music Group (UMG) has appointed Jody Gerson as Chairman and CEO of the company’s music publishing division, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), effective January 1, 2015. Gerson, who has served as co-president of Sony/ATV Publishing since 2008, will be based at UMPG’s headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., and will report to UMG Chairman and CEO, Lucian Grainge.  She will succeed Zach Horowitz, who, as previously reported, has stepped down from his role as UMPG Chairman and CEO.
Grainge said, “Jody Gerson is simply one of the best music publishers in the business, and we are thrilled that she will be bringing her creativity, savvy and vast experience to UMPG.  Jody represents a new breed of music industry leadership, with a keen understanding of the evolving role of music publishers in the digital era and a track record of artist successes that places her among all-time greats.  I’m excited for what we will accomplish together.”
Grainge continued, “On behalf of everyone at the company, let me extend our profound gratitude to Zach for his adept stewardship of UMPG and his decades of service to UMG.   His versatility as an executive and leader is extremely rare and we wish him only the best.”
Gerson’s first signing at Sony/ATV Music Publishing was then-unknown singer-songwriter Lady Gaga. She also played a part in the careers of Enrique Iglesias, Mac Miller, Pitbull, RedOne, Shakira and Pharrell Williams, among others. Gerson’s career began at Chappell music (Warner/Chappell’s predecessor). After six years at Chappell, Gerson joined EMI as head of the company’s east coast publishing division. In 1996, she signed a 15-year-old Alicia Keys, who went on to sell more than 10 million albums nationwide. Gerson signed Norah Jones in 2003.
Additionally, Gerson served as a producer of the successful films Drumline and ATL.  She is currently serving as executive producer for Drumline 2 for VH1.

Date Set For 62nd Annual BMI Country Awards

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Broadcast Music, Inc. will celebrate top Country songwriters during the company’s 62nd annual BMI Country Awards, set for Tuesday, Nov. 4 at BMI’s Nashville offices. BMI will honor the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year, and salute the writers and publishers behind the past year’s 50 most-performed songs from BMI’s Country catalog.
They will also honor the BMI Icon Award, the organization’s highest honor, which is given to “songwriters who have had a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” This year’s recipient of the BMI Icon award will be announced in coming weeks.
In 2013, the 61st annual BMI Country Awards honored Dean Dillon as a BMI Icon; Dillon has penned numerous songs for artists including George Strait, who has recorded more than 50 of Dillon’s songs during his career. Additionally, Rodney Clawson was named Country Songwriter of the Year, while Troy Verges‘ and Hunter Hayes‘ co-written tune “Wanted” earned the Song of the Year title. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was honored as Publisher of the Year in 2013.

Mark Your Calendar – August 2014

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CMAfestIndustry Events

August 5
CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
August 5-6
BMI will host Sync THIS! Events will be private except Aug. 6 High Watt performance
August 10
The Teen Choice Awards air on Fox, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
August 12
Artist Roster print magazine street date
August 14
Live On The Green at the Public Square Park in downtown Nashville
August 18
28th annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament at Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville
August 21

  • Leadership Music 25th Anniversary Celebration, The Rosewall
  • Live On The Green at the Public Square Park in downtown Nashville

August 22
CMA second ballot due 5pm CT
August 24
MTV’s Video Music Awards air live from the Forum, in Inglewood, CA
August 26
Nashville Lifestyles Women in Business with keynote from Leslie Fram, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
August 28
Live On The Green at the Public Square Park in downtown Nashville

nativerunSingle Add Dates

August 4
Thomas Rhett/Make Me Wanna/Valory
Maggie Rose/Girl In Your Truck Song/RPME
Lucas Hoge/Flip Flops/Reviver Records
Jamie Jones/Soulshine/Render
Alexandra Kay/No More/Nettwork
Elisa Grace/Sweet Memories/Edgehill Nashville
August 11
Jake Owen/What We Ain’t Got/RCA Nashville
Native Run/Good On You/Show Dog-Universal
Lindsay Ell/Shut Me Up/Stoney Creek
Grayson Rogers/Party Rocker/HMG
August 18
Tyler Farr/A Guy Walks Into A Bar/Columbia Nashville
Montgomery Gentry/Headlights/Blaster
Jared Blake/Stomp/Skiddco Records
Michael Scott/Radio Song/Saba Records
Pawnshop Kings/Love Like Jesus/Sony Music
August 25
Stevie Lee Woods/California Girls Have Gone Country/Krazy Town Records
Ray Scott/Drinkin’ Beer/deciBel Nashville
J. Michael Harter/Holy Cowgirl/GMV Nashville-Anozira Records

Sunny-SweenyAlbum Releases

August 5
Sunny Sweeney/Provoked/Thirty Tigers
LeAnn Rimes/Dance Like You Don’t Give a …Greatest Hits Remixes/Curb
Billy Joe Shaver/Long In The Tooth/Lightning Rod-Thirty Tigers
August 12
Sam Hunt/X2C [four-track preview]/MCA Records Nashville
August 19
Various/Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe/Big Machine Records-Motley Records-Eleven Seven Music
Chase Rice/Ignite The Night/Columbia Nashville-Dack Janiels
Joel Crouse/Even The River Runs/Show Dog-Universal Music
Randy Travis/Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am/Warner Bros.
Amy Grant/In Motion: The Remixes/Sparrow Records
August 26
Brad Paisley/Moonshine In The Trunk/Arista Nashville

I.R.S. Records Signs Muddy Magnolias

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Muddy Magnolias


I.R.S. Records, helmed by John Grady, has signed duo Muddy Magnolias. Composed of Brooklynite Jessy Wilson and Texan Kallie North, the duo blends Country sounds with funk, jazz and r&b. They also have considerable songwriting chops; Wilson has penned songs for Fantasia and John Legend.
The duo met when BMI’s Wardell Malloy introduced Wilson to BMI’s Clay Bradley. Bradley then introduced Wilson to North and a duo was born.
I.R.S. Records also represents Striking Matches and recordings from the late Cowboy Jack Clement.

Weekly Chart Report (8/01/14)

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Horowitz Steps Down From UMPG Chairman and CEO Post

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Zach Horowitz

Zach Horowitz


Zach Horowitz has stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, a position he has held since April 2012, after spending 12 years as president and COO of Universal Music Group. According to Hollywood Reporter, he has been with Universal Music Group for more than three decades.
“After a wonderful 30 years at Universal Music Group it is time for me to move on and explore other opportunities,” said Horowitz in a departure email to staff.
Horowitz began as an attorney at CBS before being named global head of business and legal affairs for MCA Records. From there he rose to COO at MCA Music Entertainment. After Polygram was purchased in 1999, he was named president and COO of what became Universal Music Group.
Horowitz aided in acquiring and integrating Geffen, Interscope, and Polygram Holdings under Universal, which then included Def Jam, Island, A&M, Motown, and Deutsche Grammophon.
UMPG’s roster includes the music of Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Desmond Child, Eminem, Billy Joel, Justin Timberlake and many others.

Brice, Houser, Niemann Fulfill Dream by Sharing Opry Stage

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Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry General Manager; Randy Houser; Lee Brice; Jerrod Niemann. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry 2014.

Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry General Manager; Randy Houser; Lee Brice; Jerrod Niemann.
Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry.


Longtime friends and fellow artists Lee Brice, Randy Houser, and Jerrod Niemann fulfilled a shared dream Wednesday evening (July 30)–to perform together on the Grand Ole Opry stage. The trio offered an acoustic set that included Niemann’s “Drink To That All Night,” Randy Houser’s “Like A Cowboy,” and Brice’s “I Don’t Dance.”
“The Grand Ole Opry experience last night was truly a dream come true,” said Niemann. “Lee, Randy and I are still wondering how we went from sitting in the Opry seats watching our heroes sing to being three guys up there on that Opry stage playin’ music together. We’re so lucky and so thankful!”
“It’s always great to come home to Nashville and play the Opry. It’s a huge honor and to get to share the experience with my buddies Lee and Jerrod, after all we’ve been through together, made it that much more memorable,” Houser added.
“I love the Opry. I’ve played everywhere and it’s still the only place that makes me nervous – it’s just so special,” Brice told the crowd. “When I got the call to perform, I asked if I could invite Randy and Jerrod to join me, and tonight, with all of you, we’re getting to make one of our dreams come true.”
Pictured (L-R):

Pictured (L-R): Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry.

CMA Partners with iTunes to Promote TV Special

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cmaThe Country Music Association (CMA) and iTunes have announced the companies will join forces to promote the Aug. 5 ABC-TV special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock.
Starting this week (July 31), songs by festival performers will be featured on a dedicated CMA Music Festival station on iTunes Radio. During three-hour broadcast, viewers will then be invited to visit a specially created CMA Music Festival store to purchase music.
“CMA is thrilled to partner with iTunes on this multi-platform promotional program to support airplay and sales for the stellar lineup of artists featured in the show,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships. “We have created a powerful, integrated model to bring television, social media, digital radio, and retail together for the advancement of the Country Music industry.”
Last week, CMA announced another partnership to promote the TV special with Music Choice, the free video on-demand provider for digital cable television, mobile phone and cable modem users in the U.S.

Wynonna To Bring 'A Simpler Christmas' This December

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WynonnaWynonna and her band The Big Noise will embark on A Simpler Christmas Tour in December. Now in its second year, the tour will feature Wynonna performing holiday favorites alongside her greatest hits. A Simpler Christmas Tour will launch Dec. 3 in Springfield, Ohio, and will wrap Dec. 21 in Newberry, S.C.

“Every year I look forward to our Christmas tour,” says Wynonna. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the perfectionism and the expectations that this time of the year often brings. I love singing the music that inspires me to remember the real reason for the season. My hope is that people can come to the show, forget about their ‘to do’ list, and for the time we are together, simply enjoy themselves.”
The entertainer and author is currently working with husband/producer/drummer Cactus Moser on material for her eighth studio album, set for release on Curb Records in 2015.
A Simpler Christmas Tour dates:
Dec. 3: Clark State Performing Arts Center, Springfield, Ohio
Dec. 5: Plaza Theatre in Glasgow, Ky.
Dec. 6: Norton Center for the Arts in Danville, Ky.
Dec. 7: Punxsutawney Community Center in Punxsutawney, Pa.
Dec. 10: Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, Fla.
Dec. 11: Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Dec. 14: Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Fla.
Dec. 18: Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Dec. 20: Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virgina Beach, Va.
Dec. 21: Newberry Opera House in Newberry, S.C.

Artist Updates: 'Nashville Songwriter', The LACS

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nashville songwriter11Music biographer Jake Brown will release Nashville Songwriter: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music‘s Greatest Hits on Sept. 9 (BenBella Books). Brown interviewed several of Nashville’s top songwriters to chronicle the stories behind many of Country tops songs.
Willie Nelson‘s “Always On My Mind,” Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take The Wheel,” George Strait‘s “Fool Hearted Memory,” Brad Paisley‘s “Mud On The Tires,” and George Jones‘s “Tennessee Whiskey” are a few of the songs featured in the book.

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Pictured (L-R): Scott Kwapiszeski, Andy Eutsler, Bobby DeGonia, Brad Allen and Cory Shultz. Photo: Flick Wiltshire

Pictured (L-R): Scott Kwapiszeski, Andy Eutsler, Bobby DeGonia, Brad Allen and Cory Shultz. Photo: Flick Wiltshire


LiveWire recently released the video for “Drivin’  You Outta My Mind.” The video was filmed, produced and directed by Flick Wiltshire, and Clif Doyal of Way Out West Records.

The clip was shot at Little Sahara State Park in western Oklahoma. The video for “Drivin’ You Outta My Mind” can be seen at CD Tex.

For more information, visit livewirecountry.com.

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The LACS


The LACS will launch the 22-city Nothing In Particular-Road to LACtoberfest tour in support of their upcoming “fan favorites” project, Nothing In Particular, to be released Oct. 14. The tour begins Aug. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla., and will end with LACtoberfest at Big Nasty/ATV Park in Bloomingdale, Ga., on Oct. 17-18. For more information, visit thelacsmusic.com.