BMG Chrysalis Signs Drew Ramsey

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BMG Chrysalis has signed songwriter Drew Ramsey. Ramsey and production partner Shannon Sanders are a Grammy-winning team with hit songs recorded by artists including India.Arie (“I Not My Hair,” “The Truth”), John Legend (“Good Morning”), Jonny Lang (“Turn Around”), Nicole C. Mullen (“Dancin’ In The Rain”), and Robert Randolph and the Family Band (“Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With That”).
Ramsey is part of the songwriting program at Nashville’s Belmont University.

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lee, John Allen, Drew Ramsey, Sara Johnson, Kevin Lane and Kos Weaver.

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lee, John Allen, Drew Ramsey, Sara Johnson, Kevin Lane and Kos Weaver.

Weekly Chart Report (4/18/14)

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weekly chart report1Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

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JoshThompson-ProgrammerPlaylist111

Industry Ink (4/17/14)

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ElevenEleven Records /Republic Nashville’s artist Savannah Keyes recently stopped by BMI Nashville to become an official BMI songwriter. Keyes is currently recording her debut album, which is being produced by Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Keyes, 19 Entertainment’s Jim Weatherson, and BMI’s Jody Williams.Photo: Drew Maynard

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Keyes, 19 Entertainment’s Jim Weatherson, and BMI’s Jody Williams.
Photo: Drew Maynard

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Creative Agency Mountain celebrated its official Nashville launch with “Party Like A Boss” on Friday, April 10 at a space on Demonbreun Hill. The event was billed as the “inaugural celebration of Nashville’s movers and shakers, artists, doers, creators, entrepreneurs and hustlers.”

Pictured (L to R): Henry Pile, VP Sales and Marketing, Consensus Point; Jacob Jones, owner/founder Mountain;Austin Gray.

Pictured (L to R): Henry Pile, VP Sales and Marketing, Consensus Point; Jacob Jones, owner/founder Mountain;
Austin Gray, Owner, Entire World.

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Charles Esten

Charles Esten


Actor Charles “Chip” Esten, who plays “Deacon Claybourn” on ABC’s hit television show Nashville, is the featured guest at today’s (April 17) installment of “NSA Presents…” hosted by Nashville School of the Arts. The event held in the Roxy Theatre on the school’s campus is described as having a format similar to “Inside the Actors Studio” and “CMT Crossroads.” Created by and for the students, the program allows students to learn from their featured guest through a Q&A session, interspersed with performances by the students including Chip Esten. Wells Adams, the morning radio personality on Lightning 100 will moderate the event.
Julia Hoge, NSA school counselor and organizer of the “NSA Presents…” series (and wife of Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Will Hoge) says, “It is both our duty and mission as Nashville’s arts school to provide each student with a complete education, which includes helping them find ways to translate their passions into careers and exposing them to professionals who have created their own artistic success.“

Layoffs Hit Clear Channel Music + Entertainment

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clear channel logoOn April 16, Clear Channel Music + Entertainment began what they called an ‘alignment’ of radio station sales staff in local market and cluster levels, according to Billboard. Twenty-two people are reported to have been affected, in Clear Channel markets of all sizes. Thus far, layoffs have been confirmed in the Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla. offices.
A Clear Channel spokesman noted the company is “aligning our sales organizations…to give more resources, authority and accountability to the most productive members of our team so we can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
Clear Channel Music + Entertainment owns 850 radio stations in the United States.

Nashville Celebrates Jason Aldean's "When She Says Baby"

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The music industry gathered at Nashville’s Pour House on Wednesday (April 16) to celebrate Jason Aldean‘s chart-topping song “When She Says Baby,” which was co-written by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip.
“When She Says Baby” is the fifth single from Aldean’s 2012 Night Train release, and marks Akins’ 17th chart-topping song, and Hayslip’s 15th. Together, Hayslip and Akins now have 10 No. 1 songs they have penned together.

Pictured, Back Row (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel, and Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown and Jon Loba. Front Row, L-R: producer Michael Knox, co-writer Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, co-writer Ben Hayslip, and ASCAP’s Michael Martin. Photo: Steve Lowry

Pictured, Back Row (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel, and Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown and Jon Loba. Front Row, L-R: producer Michael Knox, co-writer Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, co-writer Ben Hayslip, and ASCAP’s Michael Martin. Photo: Steve Lowry

Troubadours Privately Conclude CMHoF's Expansion Week

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Troubadour-event
Not only has the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum officially expanded to over 350,000 sq. ft. this week, but membership is also growing. Notably the Troubadour Society, a group of young professionals who have contributed to $40,000 in museum support from dues and sponsorships since 2012.
Yesterday evening (April 16), a segment of the nearly 400-member group convened in the Hall’s Rotunda for the first of four exclusive, annual events, offering complementary wine and beer alongside fresh vegetables, cornbread turkey poppers, and chips and spinach dip before museum doors were opened.
Ten-thousand of the new square footage are devoted to gallery space, including the Taylor Swift Education Center, which is located at the beginning of the museum, along with the Design Gallery alcove, currently featuring Glen Campbell memorabilia. At the opposite end, the Dinah & Fred Gretsch Family Gallery and ACM Gallery cap one’s journey through the museum, offering an interactive exploration through many contemporary artifacts and displays.
Helmed by the CMHoF’s Rachel Weingartner and the Troubadour Society Committee of around 20 individuals, the goal is to unite the future of the Hall with the history.
Perks include invitations to many museum events, All for the Hall pre-sale and VIP after party in May, and a yearly Nightfall at the Hall, aimed at outreach for industry and non-industry executives alike, who care about the hall. More information for a $60 annual program is available to individuals under 40 years old.
The Troubadours will soon gather for an exclusive mixer to design Hatch Show Prints.

The Lost Trailers' Lead Singer Resigns

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Jason Wyatt

Jason Wyatt


Jason Wyatt has resigned as lead singer of the duo The Lost Trailers.
“I really appreciate these last few years with the Trailers,” says Wyatt. “I have loved playing to all of the great fans around the country. All I can say is stay excited… there’s a lot more to come.”
Wyatt plans to restart his solo career and focus on the growth of his music production, songwriting and artist development company, Jason Wyatt Productions. Wyatt has also been tapped as a consultant and producer for American Country Star, a Nashville-based national music competition for aspiring Country artists.
His solo album is slated for a 4th quarter 2014 release.
The Lost Trailers notched two Top 40 Country hits during the 2011-2014 tenure with Wyatt.

Virgin Hotel Coming To Music Row

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virgin hotelsVirgin Hotels, part of the brand established by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, will open its third U.S. property in Nashville. The address will be One Music Row, and it is expected to open in 2016. Although not confirmed, this address is likely the site at One Music Square West, where a historic home was demolished yesterday (April 16). See story here.
The luxury hotel will include 240 guest rooms, multiple concept suites, food and beverage outlets, and a cutting edge recording studio. Specifically, the Wall Street Journal reports it will have 30 suites, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and spa.
“Nashville’s time is now, and we want to be part of that excitement,” said Branson in a press release. “We hope our first venture in Nashville will open the doors for more Virgin opportunities and more global travelers to enjoy Nashville’s southern hospitality.”
Virgin Hotels Chief Executive Raul Leal told WSJ, “Obviously, our brand has a strong music heritage and so does Nashville.”
Nashville’s D.F. Chase Inc. is developing the property. David Chase said, “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring a global brand with such strong roots in music, entertainment, travel, hospitality and technology to our city. Virgin has 60 million customers from around the world, and we believe this partnership validates Nashville’s position as one of the premier destinations in the U.S. Details of the deal structure are still in discussion, but for us it was all about the location.”
Other Virgin Hotels are being built in New York and Chicago, the latter of which will open this fall. Additional locations under consideration for Virgin Hotels properties include Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Washington DC, and London.

Historic 1800s Music Row Building Demolished

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historicbuilding

1 Music Square West on April 16, 2014. Photo: @SuzanneSimsLee

The Queen Anne style building located at 1 Music Sq. W. is no more.

Construction crews tore down the iconic building yesterday (4/16) that sat across from ASCAP at the corner of Division and Music Square West (the lower end of 17th Ave. S.). Members of the Music Row community drove by the landmark countless times. According to public records, the building was originally recorded as a single family home with six bedrooms and six baths and is estimated to have been built in 1836, containing 6605 square feet on .52 acres.
ASCAP’s Suzanne Lee shared via Twitter, “It *was* the most gorgeous house on Music Row. R.I.P.” “All of us at ASCAP are mourning the loss of this beautiful landmark,” added Lee. A sentiment undoubtedly shared by many on the Row.
Announced today (4/17), Virgin Hotels, part of the brand established by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, will open its third U.S. property in Nashville most likely at this location.
Property on The Row is a hot commodity these days. Developments in-the-works include SESAC’s new $20 million home on Music Sq. E., an 18-story mixed-use property at the roundabout at 1515 Demonbreun, and the purchase of Edgehill Village for $9.2 million. Most recently, a group of property owners went before the Metro Planning Commission on March 13 regarding a development at 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 Music Sq. W.

Word Inks Deal With Curb For Global Film Distribution

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word entertainmentlogo11Word Entertainment has partnered with international feature film production and distribution company Curb Entertainment to distribute Word Entertainment’s faith-based films outside the U.S.
The inaugural slate of films includes The Perfect Summer, My Name Is Paul, The Trail (Let God), Hope for Hurting Hearts, Mother India, Season of a Lifetime, Veil of Tears, and more, which will be showcased at the 2014 CANNES Film Market in Cannes, France.
Word recently launched The Son of God Tour 2014 as a two-hour live event, a Word Entertainment collaboration with producer/actress Roma Downey‘s and producer Mark Burnett‘s company LightWorkers Media.
Curb Entertainment launched in 1984 to concentrate on film production and distribution. The company’s record division is Curb Records.