[Updated]: Industry Ink (3/26/14)

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trace adkins

Trace Adkins


[Updated, 5:17 p.m. CT]
Country artist Trace Adkins‘ wife Rhonda Adkins has filed for divorce in Williamson County, citing irreconcilable differences, according to ABC News. She is asking for primary custody of the couple’s three children, for Trace Adkins to pay child support, alimony and all her legal fees.
The couple has been married for 16 years, and both live in Brentwood, Tenn., just south of Nashville.

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[Previous story, 10:05 a.m. CT]

 
SoundExchange has announced two key promotions within the company’s senior management team. Anjula Singh, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, is promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Colin Rushing, General Counsel, is promoted to Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective immediately.
As Chief Financial Officer, Singh has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and audits. Singh began her career as an auditor at KPMG L.L.P., a global audit, advisory and tax services firm. Prior to SoundExchange, Singh served as Director of Corporate Accounting for The AES Corporation, a global Fortune 200 affordable energy company.
Formerly General Counsel for SoundExchange, Rushing helped expand the organization’s international presence and increase regulatory and advocacy initiatives on behalf of the creative community and more. Previously, he was an attorney at WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., where his focus was intellectual property and media law.

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Wide Open Music Group has brought Amanda Flynn into the fold as Creative Director. She will represent and manage the catalogs of Trent Tomlinson, Ash Bowers, Tim Owens, Steve Williams and her own material.

“Amanda was the breath of fresh air we were starving for. She not only knows and loves country music, she’s also very well respected and extremely professional for such a young lady and Lord knows that’s not easy to find,” Wide Open Founder and Owner Steve Williams said. “She’s so passionate and fiercely driven by great songs and we are so fired up to have her on board.”
Pictured (L-R): Steve Williams, Ash Bowers, Amanda , Trent Tomlinson, BMI's Perry Howard

Pictured (L-R): Steve Williams, Ash Bowers, Amanda Flynn, Trent Tomlinson, BMI’s Perry Howard.

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Josh Thompson recently visited Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, with producer/director Stokes Nielson and Butch Waugh (artist relations), where Thompson taped an episode of Country Now’s “Hear & Now: Live From Blackbird Studio.” Thompson performed three songs from his upcoming release Turn It Up, including the single “Cold Beer With Your Name On It.”

Pictured (L-R): Stokes Nielson, Josh Thompson and Butch Waugh.

Pictured (L-R): Stokes Nielson, Josh Thompson and Butch Waugh.

George Strait's "Give It All We Got Tonight" Earns Platinum Status

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MCA Nashville’s George Strait celebrated the newly-minted Platinum status of his recent single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” at his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour rehearsal in Nashville on Friday (March 21). Prior to Strait’s sold-out Bridgestone Arena show, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan presented him with a plaque to celebrate one million digital singles sold of “Give It All We Got Tonight,” off his album, Love Is Everything.
For more information on Strait’s Nashville concert, read MusicRow‘s review of Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour visit.

Pictured (L-R): MCA Nashville recording artist George Strait, UMG Nashville's Mike DunganPhoto Credit: Terry Calonge

Pictured (L-R): MCA Nashville recording artist George Strait, UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan.
Photo Credit: Terry Calonge

Artists Raise $36K For ACM Lifting Lives Through Club Shows

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ACM-Lifting-LivesIn the past three months ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has been the recipient of $36,000 raised through club shows across the country. Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen, Kristian Bush, Tyler Farr, Kyle Park, Chase Rice, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Josh Thompson, Randy Rogers Band and The Swon Brothers donated a portion of ticket sales from these club shows to ACM Lifting Lives, which will go to help fund organizations that are improving lives through the power of music.
Venues hosting the shows included Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas; Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif.; Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta; Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte, N.C.; Denim & Diamonds in Mesa, Ariz.; Denim & Diamonds in Wichita Falls, Texas; Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, Ohio; Joe’s Bar in Chicago; and Rockin Rodeo in Midland, Texas.
As part of the initiative, fans who attended were encouraged to take a photo of their ticket and tweet it tagging @ACMAwards, using #ACMLiftingLivesBenefit. One lucky fan won a trip to the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas via the Twitter contest.

Downtown Music Publishing Inks Deal With Parallel Music

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downtown music publishing logoDowntown Music Publishing has signed Parallel Music to a worldwide publishing administration agreement, which was announced today (March 26) by DMP COO/General Counsel Andrew Bergman and Parallel Managing Partner Tim Hunze.
Nashville-based Parallel Music was established in August 2011 as a partnership between Hunze, JP Williams and CT Wyatt. Parallel’s catalog includes “Mama’s Broken Heart” (Miranda Lambert), “Til My Last Day” (Justin Moore), and “Better Dig Two” (The Band Perry), as well as cuts by Tim McGraw, David Nail, Keith Urban, Eli Young Band, Eric Paslay, Randy Houser and Jon Pardi.
“We are thrilled to be working with Tim and the entire Parallel Music Publishing team,” said Bergman. “In just under three years, they have already developed an incredible catalog and signed a roster of very talented writers.”
“I am excited to join the Downtown Music Publishing family,” added Hunze. “I admire their vision and growth and look forward to helping add value to their already amazing company.”

Two Tennessee School Districts Named Best For Music Education

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namm foundation111The NAMM Foundation has named 2014’s Best Communities for Music Education, and two Tennessee school districts are included. The Clarksville Montgomery County School System and the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools were selected among the 376 honorees for the Best Communities for Music Education.
East Ridge High School in East Ridge, Tenn., and Lausanne Collegiate School in Bartlett, Tenn., were two of 96 individual schools named as SupportMusic Merit Award winners.
More than 2000 schools and school districts participated in this year’s survey, resulting in a 21 percent increase in designations.
“These schools and districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director. “Strong, engaging programs that offer students access to music cannot thrive in a vacuum. The Best Communities designation and the SupportMusic Merit Award bring hard-won visibility to music classes, programs and departments that are keeping music education alive in our schools.”
For a full list of of districts named as 2014’s Best Communities for Music Education, visit nammfoundation.org. A full list of SupportMusic Merit Award-winning schools is also available.
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9000 members around the world.

David Huff Helms New Doobie Brothers Album

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Pictured (L-R): Pat Simmons, John McFee, David Huff, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald

Pictured (L-R): Pat Simmons, John McFee, David Huff, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald


David Huff helmed production of the recently announced album which pairs the Doobie Brothers with country superstars. Among the artists teaming with the Doobies for the Sony Music Nashville release are Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann and Love and Theft.
Huff, a longtime fan of the Doobie Brothers, is eager to introduce the band to a new generation of fans. “The Doobie Brothers are such an important band in the history of music,” he said. “The hits transcend time, so with this new collection we are just adding modern production and collaborations with the country stars.”
Huff, younger brother of renowned producer Dann Huff, splits time between Nashville and L.A. producing pop and country artists. “I think it will be the first time that Nashville will hear how very talented he is,” said Dann, who co-produced four tracks on the album. “We’ve been making music together almost our whole lives. This really was his baby and I see it as David’s entry into the country market. I am just honored that I got to witness him work on a few songs.”
In addition to the Doobie’s founding members, Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, who continue to front the band, the album will feature legendary singer Michael McDonald, who exited in 1982 but is returning for this project, and John McFee, whose history with the Doobies dates back to 1978.

Industry Signings: Sony Music Nashville Signs Dorr

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Singer/songwriter and Wyoming native Josh Dorr became Sony Music Nashville’s newest recording artist this week.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Dorr, and A&R VP Jim Catino.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Josh Dorr, and A&R VP Jim Catino.

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Patrick Joseph Music, a joint venture with Songs Music Publishing, has signed ASCAP member Ben Caver to its roster of songwriters.
PJM President Pat Higdon commented, “Ben is a wonderful writer and we are extremely excited to add him to our roster. He has a distinct vocal style and a fresh approach to crafting songs. He blends Country, Pop and R&B influences in what he describes as Southern Pop. No matter what you call it, it sounds like a formula for HITS to me!”
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Caver came to Nashville in 2003 to attend Belmont College. He has had songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and more.
Pictured (L-R): Safford Motley PLC's Scott Safford, PJM President Pat Higdon, Ben Caver, PJM Creative Manager Stevie Erickson and ASCAP Associate Director of Membership Ryan Beuschel.

Pictured (L-R): Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford, PJM President Pat Higdon, Ben Caver, PJM Creative Manager Stevie Erickson and ASCAP Associate Director of Membership Ryan Beuschel.

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Producer/publisher Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars) has signed singer-songwriter Peyton Parker to an artist development agreement with Twenty Ten Music. The Georgia native moved to Nashville in 2013 and was a recent winner of the Southern Ground Social Club’s Open Mic Showdown.
Twenty Ten Music is a publishing and production company owned by Peacock and David Kiersznowski. The TTM catalog includes The Civil Wars, Ruby Amanfu, k.s. Rhoads, and The Daylights. Peacock’s current production credits include The Civil Wars, Kris Allen, The Lone Bellow, Holly Williams, Ben Rector, Brett Dennen, and “Misery Chain” for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell featuring Joy Williams, from the soundtrack to the movie 12 Years A Slave.

Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth (Creative Director, Twenty Ten Music), Peyton Parker, Charlie Peacock (Producer/Publisher, Twenty Ten Music)

Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth (Creative Director, Twenty Ten Music), Peyton Parker, Charlie Peacock (Producer/Publisher, Twenty Ten Music)

CRS Names Agenda Committee Leadership

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crs 20151Jeff Green (Partner, Stone Door Media Lab) has been named Chairman for the 2014-2015 CRS Agenda Committee, while Tom Hanrahan (Regional Program Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment) and John Trapane (SW Regional, EMI Nashville) have been named Co-Vice Chairman. All three will serve the 2014-2015 term and will manage the agenda for the upcoming Country Radio Seminar (CRS 2015).
Green co-formed Stone Door Media Lab in 2012. He previously servced five years as VP, Operations at Country Aircheck. His background includes 22 years in executive posts at the Americana Music Association, Radio & Records, Country Music Association and Music & Media.
Hanrahan is in his 29th year in Country radio, having programmed Country music for 18 years. He has been with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for 17 years. He currently serves as Regional Programming Manager for CCME, overseeing Birmingham, Montgomery and Gadsden, Ala.
Trapane’s radio station stops include KIKK/KILT in Houston, 93Q Country Houston and 106.7 The Fox in Detroit, as well as stints at Giant/Reprise, Dreamcatcher and Capitol Records. He is currently the SW Regional for EMI Nashville.
CRS continues to accept applications for the CRS 2015 Agenda Committee at countryradioseminar.com. Professional members of the radio and recording industries may submit applications through Friday, April 4. Applications can be sent to Sheree Latham at sheree@crb.org.

In Photos: Tin Pan South 2014's Tuesday Shows

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Clark, McAnally, Osborne at Listening Room

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne at The Listening Room. Photo: Bev Moser.


Songwriters have descended on Nashville this week for the annual Tin Pan South shows, which will take place in 10 venues across Nashville.
Tuesday (March 25) kicked off the event with performances from songwriters including Matthew Perryman Jones, Kingston, Jeffrey Steele, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Brice Long, Rose Falcon, John Oates, LoCash Cowboys and many others.
All photos by Bev Moser.
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Weekly Register: ACM Awards Around The Corner

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0003711704772_500X500Country album sales are down 13 percent week over week, as last week saw strong debuts from Luke Bryan and Sara Evans, while overall album sales are up 3 percent from last week, with several Top 10 debuts from YG, Foster The People, Skrillex, The Pretty Reckless, Enrique Iglesias and Taking Back Sunday.
Walmart’s exclusive 2014 ACM Awards Zinepak by Various Artists is this week’s top debut at No. 5 (No. 28 overall), selling 12k units. The album features several artists set to perform at the upcoming ACM Awards on Sunday, April 6, including Entertainer of the Year nominees Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait and Taylor Swift. Fan voting for the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award will close on April 6. Another noteworthy debut this week is MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row performer Jo Dee Messina’s Me (Dreambound Records), selling 2.5 k units.
Eric Church’s The Outsiders (EMI Nashville) returns as the top Country album (No. 14 overall), selling 18k units this week (476k RTD). Church’s “Give Me Back My Hometown” has reigned at No. 1 on MusicRow’s Chart for two consecutive weeks. The top overall album remains Frozen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Various Artists, selling 202k this week, and 1.6 million RTD. Meanwhile, the top overall debut is YG’s My Krazy Life, appearing at No. 2, with 61k units sold.
YTD, overall album sales are down 15.5 percent, while Country album sales are down 12.5 percent. The same week last year, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience debuted at No. 1 overall, selling 968k units, while Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer, Different Park held the top Country debut, with 43k units sold.

Tracks

WeeklyRegister032614Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan’s “This Is How We Roll” endures as the top Country track (No. 10 overall), selling 78k units this week (614k units RTD). Dan + Shay’s “Show You Off” is the top Country debut at No. 30, selling 13k units. Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” continues to enjoy the No. 1 spot overall, selling 370k units this week (3.3 million RTD). The top overall debut is Calvin Harris’ “Summer” at No. 26, with 45k units sold.
YTD, overall track sales are down 11.5 percent, while Country track sales are down 16.2 percent. The same week last year, Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason” was the top overall track, selling 241k units, while Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” held the top Country position, selling 75k units.
Next week’s numbers will include Michael W. Smith’s Hymns, Johnny Cash’s Out Among the Stars, Jerrod Niemann’s High Noon and Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Deluxe].