Ballard, Crouse Become CMHoF "Friends and Family" Members

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Warner Bros. Records guitarist-singer Frankie Ballard was recently invited to become an honorary “Friends and Family” member of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Last Thursday (March 6), Ballard met the staff and toured several revered exhibits.
The Michigan native is on the road promoting “Helluva Life,” featured on his new album, Sunshine & Whiskey.

Pictured (L-R): Pamela Johnson (Vice President of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Elice Cuff (Sweet Talk Publicity) Credit: Courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Pictured (L-R): Pamela Johnson (Vice President of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Elice Cuff (Sweet Talk Publicity).
Credit: Courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

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Show Dog-Universal Music’s Joel Crouse was invited to become an honorary “Friends and Family” member of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Tuesday (March 11).
Crouse has opened for Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and the Goo Goo Dolls. His single, “Why God Made Love Songs” is currently at radio.
Pictured (L-R): Pamela Johnson (Vice President of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum),Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum),Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Jenny Alexander (Director of Institutional Giving, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Pictured (L-R, back row): Pamela Johnson (VP of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Rachel Weingartner (Membership Manager, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Ali Tonn (Director of Education and Public Programming, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Jenny Alexander (Director of Institutional Giving, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum). Front: Joel Crouse

Artist Pics (3/13/14)

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Carrie Underwood joined rock band Thousand Foot Krutch onstage during a recent Winter Jam concert at Tulsa, Okla.’s BOK Center. Underwood joined the band for the song “Let The Sparks Fly.”

Photo credit: Angela Huckeby

Photo credit: Angela Huckeby

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Sara Evans joined VH1 Big Morning Buzz hosts Nick Lachey and Jim Shearer after her performance during a day of media tapings.

Pictured (L-R): Nick Lachey, Sara Evans, Jim Shearer. Photo: Steve Stuts

Pictured (L-R): Nick Lachey, Sara Evans, Jim Shearer. Photo: Steve Stuts

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Eric Paslay performed his hit single “Friday Night” from his self-titled debut album on Fox & Friends.

Pictured (L-R): Fox & Friends host Elisabeth Hasselbeck & Eric Paslay

Pictured (L-R): Fox & Friends host Elisabeth Hasselbeck with Eric Paslay.

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Thompson Square and team took some time off to sail on Sydney Harbor in Australia, ahead of the chart-topping duo’s performance at Australia’s largest international country music festival, CMC Rocks the Hunter, this weekend.
Pictured: BBR Management's Shawn Pennington; WME's Greg Oswald; Christian Easterling (Thompson Square's tour manager); Shawna Thompson and Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square.

Pictured: BBR Management’s Shawn Pennington; WME’s Greg Oswald; Christian Easterling (Thompson Square’s tour manager); Shawna Thompson and Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square.

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Jerrod Nieman‘s High Noon Adventure kicked off in Mexico on Friday, and ran from March 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Niemann and guests The Swon Brothers and Dee Jay Silver welcomed fans with several days of music and fun.
The event wrapped with a concert from Niemann, who will release the Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville project High Noon on March 25.

Front row (l-r): Arista’s Ryan Dokke; Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton; Arista’s Jenny Shearin; Dee Jay Silver; Zach Swon and Colton Swon; Robin Rhodes (Premiere); Jerrod Niemann; Arista’s Lauren Thomas, Ali O’Connell, and Lesly Tyson; and Whitney Allen, Jackie Stevens, and Melissa Moldovan (“The Big Time with Whitney Allen”), and Arista’s Jeri Cooper. Foreground: B-Dub (KUPL).

Back row (L-R): Kerry Wolfe (WMIL); RJ Curtis (All Access); Mike Kennedy (KBEQ); songwriter Lance Miller; Brian Michel (WUBL); Ken Boesen (WKIS) and partner Dan Johnson; Arista’s Andy Elliott; Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner); Arista’s John Sigler; Jaye Albright (A&O&B); Mike McNamee (“The Big Time with Whitney Allen”); Todd Nixon (WCKT/WCTQ); Hoss Michaels (KXKT); Tim Conlon (WKIS); and Dan Stone (WNCY). Front row (L-R): Arista’s Ryan Dokke; Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton; Arista’s Jenny Shearin; Dee Jay Silver; Zach Swon and Colton Swon; Robin Rhodes (Premiere); Jerrod Niemann; Arista’s Lauren Thomas, Ali O’Connell, and Lesly Tyson; and Whitney Allen, Jackie Stevens, and Melissa Moldovan (“The Big Time with Whitney Allen”), and Arista’s Jeri Cooper. Foreground: B-Dub (KUPL).


Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Sales VP Caryl Healey; Rdio’s Emily Cohen; The Swon Brothers: Colton and Zach Swon; Jerrod Niemann; Rhapsody’s Brandy Campbell; Sony Music Nashville Director, Digital Sales, Alaina Vehec; and Dee Jay Silver. Photo credit: Vincent van den Berg

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Sales VP Caryl Healey; Rdio’s Emily Cohen; The Swon Brothers: Colton and Zach Swon; Jerrod Niemann; Rhapsody’s Brandy Campbell; Sony Music Nashville Director, Digital Sales, Alaina Vehec; and Dee Jay Silver. Photo credit: Vincent van den Berg

Music Row Executive Launches Campaign for Metro Council

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Jeff Syracuse


Jeff Syracuse, manager of Licensing Operations at BMI’s Nashville office, has announced his 2015 candidacy for Metro Council. Syracuse has been a member of the Nashville music industry for 15 years.
Syracuse aims to represent District 15 in the Donelson area, which is home to the Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Music Valley and more. “Donelson is in a prime location as the city grows,” Syracuse says. “It is rapidly becoming very attractive to a growing and diverse population from young professionals to active seniors.”
Syracuse, a Middle Tennessee resident since 1998 and a Donelson resident since 2002, has served in a number of leadership roles in the Donelson community, including President of the Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce, The Donelson Gateway Project, and The Friends of Two Rivers Mansion. He is also a Founding Board Member of the community organization Hip Donelson, and a founding board member of the Donelson Hills Neighborhood Association. Additionally, he was named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” honorees for 2014.
Syracuse’s campaign for Metro Council holds the theme “The Soul of a City Lies in the Hearts of the People,” and will focus on strengthening local non-profit organizations and schools that serve the community.
“Nashville is experiencing incredible growth and investment, and has become a world-class destination for both tourism and new residents,” Syracuse says. “I want to help lead Donelson during this time of transition, and attract new business and investment while preserving the character and history of our community.”
His campaign is funded by Friends of Jeff Syracuse for Metro Council 15th District, with Jenny White is serving as Treasurer.
For more information, visit jeffsyracuse.com.

ASCAP Signs Smithfield's Fiedler

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Robert Filhart, Smithfield's Trey Smith and Jennifer Fiedler, Bigger Picture's Jason Campbell, ASCAP's Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Smithfield’s Trey Smith and Jennifer Fiedler, Bigger Picture’s Jason Campbell, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan.


Singer-songwriter Jennifer Fiedler, from the Country duo Smithfield, recently joined performing rights organization ASCAP. Smithfield is signed with Bigger Picture Group, and will soon begin working on their debut project with producer Matt Rovey.
A native of Waxahachie, Texas, Fiedler met bandmate Trey Smith at the age of 10 through family friends. They reconnected years later while in college and began performing concerts together throughout their home state. The duo made their move to Music City in 2011, where they were soon signed to Bigger Picture Group.

Florida Georgia Line, BMLG Aid Fight Against Hunger

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FLGALine

Pictured (L-R): Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley


Florida Georgia Line has partnered with Big Machine Label Group, Feeding America and General Mills as part of the company’s third annual Outnumber Hunger campaign, which has provided more than 25 million meals to Americans in need.
“Through our experiences with Outnumber Hunger, we have learned the far reach of hunger in America, affecting people from all different backgrounds,” said the band’s Tyler Hubbard. “This year, we’re proud to take an even bigger role in the fight against hunger and rally the nation to help those in need.”
Florida Georgia Line and other Big Machine Label Group artists will be featured on boxes for more than 90 General Mills products, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Yoplait. Each product will contain a code that can be entered online to help Feeding America secure meals on behalf of a local food bank.
“Our artists are proud to raise their voices with General Mills and Feeding America to highlight the troubling hunger issues that so many Americans face day-to-day,” said Big Machine Label Group Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta. “This powerful group of partners is using its collective voice to rally Americans and help the 49 million people across our country who struggle with hunger.”
Outnumber Hunger’s 2014 campaign will include a live concert on Friday, April 4 at The LINQ in Las Vegas, featuring Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, The Cadillac Three, Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery. The concert is part of the ACM’s Party for a Cause Festival, leading up to the 49th Annual ACM Awards on April 6.
For more information, visit feedingamerica.org.

Car Drives Into Crowd at SXSW

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Statesman Jay Jonner

Photo: Jay Janner/AP. Click to see more.


An alleged drunken driver hit a crowd of pedestrians at SXSW overnight, killing two and injuring 23. The man and woman who died were riding a moped on E. 11th St., according to the Austin Chronicle.
The crowd was milling behind a police barricade set up to restrict traffic outside the venues Cheer Up Charlies and the Mohawk on Red River Street. The line-up at Charlies included Kurt Vile, and Cloud Nothings, and at the Mohaw included Cities Aviv, X, and Teen.
According to the Chronicle, the driver of the vehicle was fleeing from police when he plowed into the crowd. The car also hit a cab and a parked van. The man fled the scene on foot and was arrested after being tasered by police.
The official @SXSW Twitter feed read, “If you were on the scene at the car/pedestrian accident on Red River March 13, please call APD – 512-974-5186.”
SXSW is scheduled for March 7-16 in Austin. The SXSW Music festival runs March 11-16. More from The L.A. Times.
 

Creative Nation Opens Office on Music Row

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creative nation office111

Nashville music publishing and management company Creative Nation has opened its doors in a new location on Music Row. Helmed by Luke and Beth Laird, Creative Nation represents artists Maggie Chapman and Native Run, as well as songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird. The new office is located at 1508 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212.

Luke Laird has notched 14 No. 1 songs for artists including Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Blake Shelton. He recently earned a Grammy award for his producing work on Musgraves’ debut project, Same Trailer, Different Park. In 2013, Beth Laird earned the prestigious honor of being named one of MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row. Her music publishing experience includes time at BMG Music Publishing, Windswept Music Publishing, and work in writer/publisher relations at BMI.
For more information, visit creativenationmusic.com.

NSAI Song Contest Presented By CMT Names Winners

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nsai cmt1The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and CMT have honored the song “Plain White Tee,” written by Matt Casey, Keith Dozier and David Wagner, with the Grand Prize in the 2013 NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT.
The song was one of a total of 2,000 entries. Casey, Dozier and Wagner will receive mentoring sessions with singer/songwriter/actor Paul Williams and songwriter Brett James. Other prizes include meetings with major Nashville music publishers as well as a year of national and regional media exposure, tickets to the 2014 CMT Music Awards, an Apple iPad, and more.
The CMT Listeners’ Choice Award in this year’s contest went to “Like He Did For Her” composed by Rachel Hutcheson and Nick Foxer. Fans cast more than 274,450 online ballots at CMT.com, and 33 percent chose “Like He Did For Her” over the other nine finalists.
This year’s Lyric Only Winner is “Whiskey Misery,” written by Pamela Talley-Parker. Pamela earned a mentoring session with NSAI’s “Songwriter of the Decade” (1990-1999), Tom Shapiro, as well as additional prizes.
Additionally, Dozier, Hutcheson and Foxer will perform during this year’s Tin Pan South, slated for March 25-29.

Hunter Hayes Aims to Beat Guinness World Record

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hunter hayes storyline111Hunter Hayes and ConAgra Foods have teamed up to help end child hunger while attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Most Concerts Played in multiple cities in a 24-hour period.
The current record stands at eight shows in 24 hours, set by the Flaming Lips. Hayes aims to perform 10 shows in 10 cities in 24 hours. Hayes will launch the “Hunter Hayes’ 24 Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger” on Friday, May 9 with a performance on Good Morning America in New York City.
ConAgra is also issuing a challenge to break its own record of the most meals donated in 24 hours. For more information, visit childhungerendshere.com.
The “24 Hour Road Race” is presented in part by Martin Guitar, Procter & Gamble, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Ahold USA. Hunter is a Martin Guitar ambassador and will perform on a Martin OM-42 at each show, which will be auctioned at the end of the event to benefit the cause. Mercedes-Benz USA is the official car vehicle of the “24 Hour Road Race.”
“Hunter Hayes 24 Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger” Cities and Door Times:
May 9
8 a.m.-New York, N.Y.-Good Morning America
9:15 a.m.-Boston, Mass.-Paradise Rock Club
11:30 a.m.-Worcester, Mass.-Palladium Upstairs   (Acoustic Show)
1:45 p.m.-Providence, R.I.-Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
4:15 p.m. -New London, Conn. -Garde Arts Center
6:45 p.m.-New Haven, Conn.-Toad’s Place
9 p.m.-Stamford, Conn.-Palace Theatre
11:30 p.m.-South Orange, N.J.- South Orange Performing Arts Center
May 10
2 a.m.-Asbury Park, N.J.-The Stone Pony  (Acoustic Show)
5 a.m.-Philadelphia, Pa. -Trocadero
Hayes will release his upcoming album, Storyline, on Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville on May 6. Storyline will follow Hayes’ self-titled debut project, as well as the deluxe package Encore, which released in June 2013.

Hunter Hayes’ Storyline Track Listing

  1. Wild Card (Hayes/Laird/Dean)
  2. Storyline (Hayes/Verges/Paslay)
  3. Still Fallin (Hayes/Pierce)
  4. Tattoo (Hayes/Verges/Dean)
  5. Invisible (Hayes/Baker/Elam)
  6. …interlude (Hayes/Baker/Elam/Dean/Buckmaster)
  7. You Think You Know Somebody (Hayes/Ellis)
  8. Flashlight (Hayes/Verges/Dean)
  9. When Did You Stop Loving Me (Hayes/Ellis)
  10. …like I was saying (jam) (Hayes/Ellis)
  11. Secret Love (Hayes/Ellis)
  12. Nothing Like Starting Over (Hayes/Verges/Sampson)
  13. If It’s Just Me (Hayes/Baker/Elam)
  14. Love Too Much (Hayes/Ellis)

 

Griffin Named President of Musicians On Call

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Pete Griffin


Pete Griffin has been named as the new President of Musicians On Call (MOC). In this role, he will lead strategic development, increase fundraising for MOC’s programs, and help increase branding and work of the organization.
Griffin spent nearly nine years at MTV in advertising sales and international marketing. He later managed the Public Affairs team, aiding in creating and running MTV’s social action campaigns; those efforts led to the team earning a 2008 Emmy Award for best Community Service Campaign.
Griffin most recently served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and as President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. In his new role, Griffin will be traveling to all MOC branches over the coming weeks to meet with volunteers and supporters before returning to New York, where he will officially assume the title on March 17.
Musicians On Call was founded in 1999, and aims to bring live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities; the organization’s volunteers have performed for more than 400,000 people nationwide. In addition to headquarters in New York City, Musicians On Call has organization branches located in Nashville; Philadelphia, Pa.; Miami, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles.