Tom Baldrica To Leave Show Dog-Universal

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Tom Baldrica

Tom Baldrica


Show Dog-Universal’s VP, Promotion and Radio Marketing Tom Baldrica is exiting the label after joining in 2012. Baldrica will leave his post on Friday, Aug. 1.
“Show Dog-Universal President Mark Wright and I had a two-year agreement,” said Baldrica. “Those two years are now complete and I have chosen to move on. I want to thank Mark, George Nunes, Bill Kennedy and Rick Moxley for the opportunity to work alongside them. And, a sincere ‘thank you’ to the Show Dog-Universal promotion team and staff for their support and hard work. I leave with gratitude and appreciation.”
Baldrica previously served two years as president of Average Joes Entertainment. Prior to his work at Average Joes, he spent 17 years with Sony Nashville, working in radio promotions and marketing. He was named VP, Marketing for Sony Nashville in 2006.
Baldrica can be reached at bnabatman@gmail.com or at 615-715-6378.

IBMA To Launch Film Festival

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ibma1111The inaugural IBMA Film Festival will be held during the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass event, to be held in Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 30-Oct. 4. The film festival will highlight eight film projects, including “Banjo Romantika” (Lee Bidgood), “The Porch Light Sessions” (Anna Schwaber), “At the Feed and Seed” (April Janow), “The Cricket” (Andrew Cartoun), “G2-Mind Over Matter” (David Elfgren), “Herschel Sizemore: Mandolin in B” (Rick Bowman), “The History of Future Folk” (Jeremy Walker), and “The Tao of Bluegrass-A Portrait of Peter Rowan” (Christine Funk).
“We have several goals for the film festival:  to introduce the bluegrass industry to new bluegrass-related films, to promote the creation of these films, and then to provide a platform and a showcase for our members who have created these films,” said Nancy Cardwell, Executive Director of IBMA. “We feel this will be a benefit not only to the filmmakers in our industry, but to the many bluegrass fans that attend World of Bluegrass.”
All eight films in the IBMA Film Festival will have multiple showings Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. The showings, held near the Bluegrass Expo Hall inside the Raleigh Convention Center, are free and open to the public. Some filmmakers will attend the screenings to participate in “Q&A” sessions with the audience.
For more information about the films, along with movie trailers, scheduled viewing times and locations, visit ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass/film-festival.

Industry Ink (7/29/14)

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CTM Writers Ink, the publishing division of Catch This Music, has signed Autumn McEntire Sizemore to its roster.
“We’re thrilled to add Autumn to our unique team of creators,” says Eddie Robba, president/CEO of CTM Writers Ink and Catch This Music. “Autumn brings phenomenal energy that undeniably aligns with our vision for continued growth and success.”
After graduating from Belmont University, Sizemore signed her first publishing contract with Still Working Music Group, and earned her first songwriting cut on Danielle Peck’s debut album. Sizemore, who lives in Nashville with husband Mark and their son Brecken, is the son of Pake McEntire and niece to Reba McEntire.

Pictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Autumn McEntire Sizemore and Eddie Robba.

Pictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Autumn McEntire Sizemore and Eddie Robba.

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nikki mitchell songwriting contestThe Nikki Mitchell Foundation and Hank Cochran’s The Pen Fund invite aspiring songwriters to get creative for a cause with the New Moon Full Life Songwriting Contest. Entries are being accepted through Saturday, Nov. 29. There is a $20 entry fee for the competition. The fee will go to the Nikki Mitchell Foundation, with a portion going to Hank Cochran’s The Pen Fund, to aid songwriters battling pancreatic cancer. For more information, visit contest.nikkimitchellfoundation.org.
One or more Full Moon Full Life artists will record the winner’s song and perform it at Full Moon Full Life 2015.

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AIMP LogoThe Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville and Fifth Third Bank welcome the Production Music Association for a Production Music 101 panel held Aug. 6 at ASCAP’s Connie Bradley Board Room from 12:30-2:00p.m. Moderated by Hunter Williams (PMA), confirmed panelists are Randy Wachtler (Warner/Chappell Production), Brian Brasher (Pitch Hammer Music), Paul Jones (Auralation Music) and Lindsey Williams (Composer/Really Big Bison Music), who will address topics such as creation of production music libraries, licensing/monetization of libraries, and worldwide view or reach of production music.
This event will is $10 for AIMP members and $20 for guests.  Pre-registration is required as lunch is provided and can be done until Aug. 1 here.

Luke Bryan Announces Sixth Annual "Farm Tour"

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unnamedLuke Bryan will again present his “Farm Tour” this October and will donate a portion of the proceeds to local college scholarships. The “Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship” will go to students from a farming family within the communities visited during the tour. Bryan broke a record last year by performing for over 115,000 fans during the “Farm Tour” in eight towns.
This year, he’ll add stops in Gainesville, Fla. and Knoxville, Tenn., where the tour will begin on Oct. 1, 2014.
The Farm Tour ticket presale will begin for Luke Bryan’s Fan Club, the Nut House, on July 29 at 10 a.m. local time for Knoxville, Gainesville, Auburn and Statesboro. The public on sale for those shows begins at 10 a.m. on Aug. 1. The Nut House ticket presale for Macon, Columbia, Athens and Tallahassee will launch on Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. local time, with the public on sale beginning at 10 a.m. local time on Aug. 8.
Special VIP experiences will be available for Farm Tour 2014. The “Harvest Time VIP Experience” includes a general admission ticket that comes with an exclusive VIP viewing area with premium view of the stage, a parking pass, access to VIP only restrooms, limited edition Farm Tour poster, private cash bar and more.
For additional Farm Tour 2014 information, including where to get tickets, go to www.lukebryan.com/farmtour
Farm Tour 2014 Dates:
Oct. 1         Knoxville, Tenn.-Maple Lane Farms
Oct. 2         Auburn, Ala.-Ingram Farms
Oct. 3         Tallahassee, Fla.-Cross Creek Place
Oct. 4         Gainesville, Fla.-Whitehurst Cattle Farm
Oct. 8         Statesboro, Ga.-Perry Field
Oct. 9         Athens, Ga.-Meldon Farm
Oct. 10       Columbia, S.C.-Culler Farms
Oct. 11       Macon, Ga.-Midway at Central City Park
(dates & cities subject to change)

ACM Lifting Lives Accepting Submissions For 2014 Grant Cycle

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ACMLiftingLivesACM Lifting Lives has announced it will be accepting submissions for the 2014 Grant Cycle from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2014. For information on submitting a grant request, visit acmliftinglives.org. Funding decisions and notifications will be made in November 2014.
ACM Lifting Lives, the Academy of Country Music’s philanthropic arm, is dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Through grant cycles, ACM Lifting Lives provides funding to programs that promote education and healing with a musical connection.
Among the organizations that have previously received funding are Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tenn.; Bridges Academy in Nashville, Tenn.; Free Arts for Abused Children in Los Angeles; Music National Service Initiative in the Bay Area, Calif.; Musicians on Call in Nashville, Tenn.; Notes for Notes in Nashville, Tenn., Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Calif.; Peace thru Music in Ventura, Calif.; Porter’s Call in Franklin, Tenn.; Possibilities! in Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.; Rock for Kids in Chicago; Tapping Individual Potential (T.I.P.) in Nashville, Tenn.; The Art of Elysium in Los Angeles; Vanderbilt Music Therapy Program in Nashville, Tenn.; and W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School in Nashville, Tenn.
Through partnerships with artists and those in the music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund. Funding from ACM Lifting Lives includes disaster relief, helping communities in need, music education in schools, music camps for those with disabilities, and programs that use music therapy to help veterans and wounded warriors.

Big & Rich Prep New Album, Single on Own Label

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GravityIn celebration of 10 years of making music, Big Kenny and John Rich have revealed plans for a new Big & Rich album, titled Gravity. The duo’s fifth studio album will launch on Sept. 23, with the lead-off single, “Look at You” making its way to No. 39 on this week’s MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.
In addition to the latest recording project, the duo has formed its own label, Big & Rich Records, a partnership with Kobalt Label Services.
“We continue to embrace all the change that happens in our business of entertainment,” says Big Kenny. “As artists, we are now at the place where we can finally gain complete creative control. That’s huge. It allows us to be true to ourselves and be the trailblazers we’ve always risked being.”
Big & Rich will tour through the summer with shows spanning across the U.S. and Canada. Cities among upcoming stops for the tour include Orlando, Grand Rapids, Spokane, Hampton, Panama City and more.
For more information, visit: bigandrich.com.
Gravity Track Listing:
1. Look At You
2. Lovin’ Lately (feat. Tim McGraw)
3. Gravity
4. Brand New Buzz
5. Rollin’ Along
6. Run Away With You
7. Lose A Little Sleep
8. Don’t Wake Me Up
9. That Kind of Town
10. Thank God For Pain
11. I Came To Git Down

Bravo Development Purchases Studio A Building

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Supporters gather at the historic RCA Studio A on Music Row.

Supporters gather at the historic RCA Studio A on Music Row on June 30.


Bravo Development, led by Tim Reynolds, has purchased the Music Row-area building that houses Studio A. The building and property were purchased for $4.075 million, according to The Tennessean.
On June 30, musician Ben Folds and many others in Nashville’s music community gathered at RCA Studio A, located at 30 Music Square West, to discuss the importance of preserving Studio A, along with other historic landmarks in the Music Row area. This came after Folds penned an open letter pleading for the preservation of RCA Studio A. Harold Bradley also released a statement regarding RCA Studio A.
Reynolds previously told MusicRow of his commitment to preserve the studio. “If we consummate the sale, we intend to preserve and incorporate the studio into our overall design,” Reynolds said at the time of the rally. “We are in the early stages of speaking to our engineers and architects to determine if it is feasible or possible. If at any point it is decided that it’s not, then my company Bravo Development will withdraw from the project. We think that it could overall be a beautiful design and preserve the history of that studio, but it must make economical sense in order to do that. We are in the early stages of determining that.”
Built in 1964, the studio was established by producer and pioneer Chet Atkins. Originally known as RCA Studio A, or RCA Victor Nashville Sound Studio, numerous recording artists have made albums there over the years.
In 1979, producer Owen Bradley took over the space, changing its name to Music City Music Hall.
In 1989, producer Warren Peterson took over, bringing the new name Javalena and accommodating artists such as Neil Diamond, Mark Chesnutt, and early projects by Gary Allan. In ’99, Peterson closed down the space and it sat empty for three years before Folds resurrected the studio. After nearly a decade of dedicated private use, Ben’s Studio re-opened to the recording community for commercial sessions.

Industry Ink (7/28/14)

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David Epstein

David Epstein


Warner/Chappell Production Music has tapped David Epstein as Director of Licensing for Warner/Chappell Production Music’s trailer music division, Non-Stop Trailers. David will be responsible for developing Non-Stop Trailers’ Film Trailer business in North America.
Epstein was most recently Sales & Marketing Executive for Sony/ATV’s production music arm Extreme Music, where he focused on the Trailers & Film/TV Departments. His prior experience includes Sales & Marketing roles with Interscope Records & NBC Universal.

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Pictured (L-R): SGM's Ashley Hamlin, Ryan Laird, SGM President Mike Mouret, and SGM's Danielle Thorn.

Pictured (L-R): SGM’s Ashley Hamlin, Ryan Laird, SGM President Mike Mouret, and SGM’s Danielle Thorn.


Brentwood, Tenn.-based Studio Gold Music has signed singer-songwriter Ryan Laird to a publishing and artist development contract. Studio Gold Music currently represents Mary Francis, Derrick Hampton, and Paul Cunningham.
A native of Fergus, Ontario, Canada, Laird earned a Canadian Country Music Award in 2012 for his Top Ten hit, “I’m Your Man.” That same year, he was nominated for a CCMA Rising Star Award. Now living in Nashville, Laird is co-writing and working on his upcoming release. He is also the founding partner/artist for the Bigger Than That Foundation, a musical concert initiative which promotes anti-bullying.
“All of us at Studio Gold Music are delighted to have Ryan join the SGM team. Ryan Laird is not only a super-talented and philanthropic performing artist, but a fantastic songwriter as well. His music is upbeat, enthusiastic and positively contagious,” said Mike Mouret, President of Studio Gold Music. “Ryan is a very dedicated and productive writer, and possesses a great flow of musical inspiration.”
Studio Gold offers traditional music publishing, single-song publishing, artist development, and related promotional activities.

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Pictured (L-R): Jason Paxton, Casey Joe Kelly, Sirius XM’s senior director of country programming John Marks, Waylon Owings, Josh Coleman and Smiley Norris.

Pictured (L-R): Jason Paxton, Casey Joe Kelly, Sirius XM’s senior director of country programming John Marks, Waylon Owings, Josh Coleman and Smiley Norris.


South Carolina Country band Outshyne recently earned their first No. 1 song on SiriusXM’s The Highway, as “Moonlight Crush” topped The Highway’s “Hot 45 Countdown.”  The single has sold more than 5,000 downloads per week at iTunes, totaling more than 78,000 downloads to date.

Show Dog-Universal Partners With Star Farm For Radio Promotion

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Michael Powers

Michael Powers


Star Farm Nashville and Show Dog-Universal Music have partnered on radio promotion efforts. The label will add the Star Farm Nashville team to its radio promotion efforts, effective immediately. Star Farm was founded by company president Michael Powers (formerly president of Bigger Picture Group), along with General Manager/Exec. VP of Promotion Matt Corbin. The company offers project management services including radio promotion, creative services, music video production, marketing, publicity and distribution.
“Partnering with Show Dog – Universal Music is a strategic move on behalf of the label to double their efforts in this competitive environment,” comments Corbin. “This is exactly the kind of work for which our company is designed. The label can now combine the full breadth of our relationships and influence with their own, giving that extra punch to their projects and further emphasizing their priorities at radio.”
“Show Dog – Universal Music has developed some great talent and we have a longstanding relationship with Mark Wright that goes back a few years, as does our relationship with Toby Keith,” adds Powers. “I was part of the promotion team that delivered one of Toby’s biggest career records, “Should Have Been A Cowboy,” back in my Mercury Records days. We’re excited to be working with Mark, Toby, and the solid promotion department at Show Dog – Universal Music.”

'Forbes' Keeps Keith, Swift, Chesney as Country Cash Kings

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Taylor Swift and Toby Keith

Taylor Swift and Toby Keith


Today (July 28), Forbes released its Country Cash Kings list, calculating 13 top artists’ concert ticket sales, royalties for recorded music and publishing, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and other business ventures from June 2013-14.
1) Toby Keith, $65 million
2) Taylor Swift, $64 million
3) Kenny Chesney, $44 million
4) Jason Aldean, $37 million
5) Luke Bryan, $34 million
6) Zac Brown Band, $29 million
7) Keith Urban, $28 million
8) Rascal Flatts, $27 million
9) George Strait, $26 million
10) Florida Georgia Line, $24 million
11) Tim McGraw, $23.5 million
12) Blake Shelton, $23 million
13) Brad Paisley, $23 million
“2014 Near Misses” include Eric Church, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Hunter Hayes and Kacey Musgraves.
Compared to the 10 slots the magazine reported in 2013, the top three earners remained static. Aldean and Bryan saw the largest revenue jumps, up $20 million and $17 million from last year, respectively. Breaking onto this year’s list are Urban, FGL and Shelton, while Underwood dropped out of the list completely.
Figures include pretax income before agent, manager and lawyer fees are deducted and originate from Pollstar, the RIAA, industry insiders and some of the artists themselves.
Earlier this month, the publication released its Celebrity 100 List, which included Swift (No. 17), Toby Keith (No. 51) and Chesney (No. 71). At the beginning of 2014, Forbes‘ “30 Under 30″ list included both Hayes, 22, and Swift, 24.