Industry Ink (2/7/14)

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KingSpirit Music recently hosted a private acoustic writers in the round at Warner Bros. Records for the A&R staff,  which was catered by Boca Loca Cantina. This is the first of many that KingSpirit Music will be doing for recorded labels, managers and producers.
Pictured (L-R): James LeBlanc(Writer), Kalisa Ewing(artist/writer), David Reyes (owner/chef of Boca Loca Cantina) and Todd Wilkes of KingSpirit Music

Pictured (L-R): James LeBlanc(Writer), Kalisa Ewing(artist/writer), David Reyes (owner/chef of Boca Loca Cantina) and Todd Wilkes of KingSpirit Music

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blair garner11111Cumulus Country station WKDF/Nashville will begin airing the Blair Garner-hosted “America’s Morning Show” on Monday, Feb. 10. The show features co-hosts Terri Clark and Chuck Wicks. Erika Grace Powell will provide celebrity news, and Robin Meade will give national news.
Current WKDF morning co-host Becca Walls will move to middays, while current midday host Darlas Rai will move to evenings on station WSM-FM, which has been without a radio personality.
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upncoming111111Up & Comin’ is searching for the next Country, Hip-Hop, Alternative, R&B, Rock or Pop complete artist, group or band for a chance to win a recording deal, a $10,000 cash prize and global exposure for their music. At a time when YouTube is the dominant platform for discovering independent artists, Up & Comin’ will highlight original music creators on their quest to fame. Season 2 of the competition returns for a worldwide search and a 25-episode run to ultimately discover the next complete artist.
Updated information on auditions, applications, and other information can be found at www.upandcomin.jacobseye.com. The registration period ends March 7, 2014.
The show is produced by Massey, Bob Holmes (“Christmas in Rockefeller Center”), Willie “Bum Bum” Baker (Record Producer for PINK, India Arie, BoyzIIMen) and a team of entertainment industry experts that have worked with the biggest names in the business.

Nancy Shapiro To Be Featured Guest At Rising Women on the Row Breakfast

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Nancy Shapiro

Nancy Shapiro


Nancy Shapiro, Senior Vice President, Member Services for The Recording Academy, will serve as the special guest at MusicRow’s third annual Rising Women on the Row ceremony.
To be held March 21, 8:30am, at the Omni Nashville, the breakfast event will feature a sit-down discussion with Shapiro in addition to honoring Julie Boos (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy), Caryl Healey (Sony Music Nashville), Kelly Rich (Big Machine Label Group), Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media), and Alicia Pruitt (Warner/Chappell Music). Read more about the honorees here.
Shapiro began her impressive career with The Recording Academy in 1985 as Executive Director of the Nashville Chapter. She worked toward establishing five new branches in Texas, Florida, the Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. as South Regional Director and National Field Director. She currently manages The Recording Academy’s 12 chapters, overseeing national education programming, fundraising events, professional development initiatives and operations, which serve over 20,000 members.
Appointed by Mayor Karl Dean to the Music City Music Council, Shapiro serves as Chair of the Music Makes Us Advisory Board for Metro Nashville Public Schools. She has also served on the boards of the Country Music Association; National Museum of African American Music; Tennessee Film, Music, and Entertainment Commission; Leadership Music; Country Music Retirement Center; the W.O. Smith Community Music School; the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the Ear Foundation. She has received the Executive Award from the National Women Executives, the Founders Award from Music Row Industry Summit, the Women of Influence Award from Southern Living magazine, and was honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Sixth Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum.
RWOTRCity National Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for the event for the third year.
Click here for more information.
Click here to read more about the honorees.

10th Annual 'Stars For Second Harvest' Benefit Coming To Ryman

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second harvest111O’Charley’s and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee will celebrate the 10th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.
Hosted by founder of Big Loud Shirt Industries and hit songwriter Craig Wiseman, the show will feature unplugged acoustic style performances by some of country music’s most acclaimed songwriters and performers. Last year’s benefit concert and live auction held at the Ryman raised $100,000, providing 400,000 meals to the hungry in Middle Tennessee through Second Harvest Food Bank. Over the last decade the show has raised $611,032.
“Stars for Second Harvest is one of my favorite events each year,” said Wiseman. “I am honored to be part of such a tremendous benefit in helping to raise awareness for the hungry in Middle Tennessee. We are proud to welcome O’Charley’s as our presenter for the 10th straight year. Their significant contributions and support have not only made this event possible, but have also provided a million meals to local families in the process. My hope this year is to reach $250,000 in sales for our 10th anniversary.”
“We are excited to reach our 10th anniversary milestone for Stars for Second Harvest,” said Jaynee Day, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. “We are beyond grateful for the awareness and support this show has brought to hungry people in need.”
Concert tickets are on-sale beginning today for $35.00 plus applicable service charges and are available via Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, Ryman box office, Ryman.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. For preferred VIP seating of $50.00, please contact Second Harvest Food Bank at 615-329-3491.
Proceeds from the concert benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger.

Writer's Den Signs Fuller

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Pictured (seated, L-R): John Rolfe, Writer's Den attorney; Melissa Fuller;Bobby Rymer, Writer's Den partner. (standing, L-R) - Writer's Den writers Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.

Pictured (seated, L-R): John Rolfe, Writer’s Den attorney; Melissa Fuller; Bobby Rymer, Writer’s Den partner. (standing, L-R) – Writer’s Den writers Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.


The Writer’s Den Music Group has signed singer/songwriter Melissa Fuller to her first worldwide publishing agreement.
“I’m so excited to be working with Melissa,” said company partner Bobby Rymer. “She’s an incredibly talented songwriter with a strong work ethic. I love that combination and look forward to trying to keep up with her!”
Fuller, a Wyoming native, released her Crazy Dream EP in 2012 and is working on a new album for release this spring. She was chosen by the Recording Academy and Hitlab as an Emerging Artist Competition Finalist during the 55th Grammy Awards week early last year.
“Bobby Rymer is my mentor, sage, publisher and truly one of the most incredible people I’ve met after eight years in Nashville,” said Fuller. “I’m absolutely honored to be working with him and the other songwriters in our office, including Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.”
Writer’s Den was formed in 2007 by Rymer and entrepreneur Gaylen Rust. Songwriters Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler are signed to Writer’s Den. The company also represents the catalogs of Bonnie Bishop, Tami Hinesh, Trent Jeffcoat and Adam Wright.

Weekly Chart Report (2/7/14)

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chartimageTo access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report, click here or above.
MusicMasterPP

Lonestar Begins Acoustic Tour Tonight

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lonestar1Lonestar will kick off their 2014 Acoustic Tour tonight in Scottsdale, Ariz. Comprised of Richie McDonald (lead vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitar & backing vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Dean Sams (keyboards & backing vocals), the Grammy nominated group will be traveling cross country with dates on the east and west coast as well as points in between.
“We are really excited to kick off 2014 back on the road in support of our latest album, Life As We Know It,” says Sams. “This February and March, we are bringing the tour back to the basics with an all new, stripped down, acoustic show. This setting allows us to really showcase our songs in their original form of just voice and instruments, without all the production. Unlike anything we’ve ever done before, the show will be full of audience interaction that will be social media driven and allow fans the unique opportunity to come on stage with us. We look forward to seeing all of our fans at our shows!”
LONESTAR 2014 Acoustic Tour Dates:
Feb. 6 Scottsdale, Ariz. – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 8 Redding, Calif. -Cascade Theatre
Feb. 9 Chico, Calif. – California State University Chico – Laxson Auditorium
Feb. 13 Tucson, Ariz. – Fox Tucson Theatre
Feb. 14  El Cajon, Calif.- Sycuan Casino
Feb. 15 Santa Clarita, Calif. – College of The Canyons Performing Arts Center
Feb. 16 Modesto, Calif. – Gallo Center for the Arts – Mary Stuart Rogers Theatre
Feb. 17 Folson, Calif. – Harris Center
Feb. 28 Tulsa, Okla. – Mabee Center
March 12  Orono, Me. – University of Maine – Collins Center for the Arts
March 13 Red Bank, N.J. – Count Basie Theatre
March 14 Greenville, S.C. – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
March 15 Bradford, Pa. – Bradford Area High School Auditorium
March 22 Biloxi, Miss. – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hard Rock Live

Sarah Davidson To Release EP March 25

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sarah davidson11Sarah Davidson will release her self-titled EP on Suretone Entertainment on March 25. Recorded in Nashville, TN at Ocean Way Studios and Mix Dream Studio in Nashville, Davidson enlisted producers Brian Kolb (Jerrod Niemann) and Dino Paredes (A&R executive and GM of Rick Rubin’s American Recordings) to helm the project.

Davidson will appear as a cast member on TNT’s new unscripted series Private Lives of Nashville Wives. Davidson penned and recorded the title track for the series, “Bright Lights Big City,” and songs off the EP will be featured throughout the season. Private Lives of Nashville Wives premieres on TNT Feb. 24 at 10/9 p.m. CT.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah into the Suretone Entertainment family,” says Suretone Entertainment Chairman, Carl Stubner. Davidson has signed on with Suretone for label and management representation. “She is exceedingly talented and this debut EP really shows her diversity and range. Sarah is one of those artists born with an empathy that shines through her music and allows her to connect with her audience on a deeper level. With that and the platform of the TNT series, we know this is just the beginning for her.”
Walmart will begin exclusive physical distribution of the album on March 25; the project will be release on iTunes the same day. Physical EPs will be available after the exclusivity period everywhere retail is sold. The album can be streamed at soundcloud.com
“Sarah Davidson” Track Listing:

  1. Drink You Up
  2. Ride Around
  3. Get Out
  4. No Sad Songs
  5. Run Wild
  6. Bright Lights Big City (Walmart Bonus Track)

Clear Channel, Horizon Media Form Partnership

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clear-channelClear Channel and Horizon Media, a privately-owned media services agency, have created a $100 million, multi-year cross-platform partnership providing Horizon and its clients with exclusive access to select integrated, first-to-market opportunities across Clear Channel’s business and platforms.
The alliance will enable the companies to leverage Clear Channel’s assets­ including out of home, broadcast, mobile, digital and events­ to benefit Horizon’s clients, proving the effectiveness and ROI of broadcast and out of home through deep integrated marketing partnerships.
The alliance provides Horizon Media with exclusive rights to several programs, including select Artist Integration Programs, World Premieres, customized shows at Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio Theaters in New York and Los Angeles, and more. In addition, the agency will have access to the full array of creative talent at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for special content creation opportunities.
The partnership will also allow for the co-creation of new psychographic targeting systems utilizing Horizon’s proprietary tools and insights fused with unique music and consumer research built on Clear Channel Media’s industry-leading national reach. The valuable research insights developed throughout the partnership will fuel further media mix model development.
“We’re excited about this ground-breaking partnership and the positive impact it will have for our clients’ business,” said Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media. “I’ve been impressed with the transformation of Clear Channel into a multi-platform company that can provide national reach while activating locally and providing measurable ROI.”
“Clear Channel and Horizon are committed to the same goal — providing our advertising partners with superior ROI on their marketing expenditures,” said Bob Pittman, Clear Channel’s Chairman and CEO. “We are excited to create new ways to use our unique assets and the powerful, engaged and interactive relationships we have with consumers 24/7 — and we’re looking forward to taking the innovation to a new level for Horizon partners through this groundbreaking new relationship and creative alliance.”

Thompson Square Launches 'Just Feels Good Tour' Tonight

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thompson square111

Thompson Square


Thompson Square kicks off its 2014 Just Feels Good Tour tonight (Feb. 6) in Jackson, Calif. The revamped show includes 86 moving lights and 18 individual high-definition video screens, though Keifer and Shawna Thompson also create an intimate, interactive concert experience for their fans.
“I don’t think we’ve been this pumped since we’ve been in Nashville. We’ve had some great opportunities over the past couple of years to be on three major tours. Each tour was amazing and we’re grateful to have been a part of them all, but this year we just want to do our own thing and get back to a one show, one band and one great crowd kind of mind set,” says Keifer Thompson.
“We also wanted to showcase more songs off our sophomore album Just Feels Good,” adds Shawna. “We made this record for our fans and want to show them our live interpretation of these songs that were so carefully chosen for our second album. We have a lot of surprises and have worked very hard to make this our best tour to-date.”
2014 Just Feels Good Tour dates include:
2/6/14 Jackson, Calif. Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel
2/7/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/8/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/10/14 Friant, Calif. Table Mountain Casino
2/12/14 Las Vegas Silverton Casino
2/22/14 Michigan City, Ind. Stardust Event Center
3/1/14 Kansas City, Mo. Uptown Theater
3/2/14 Plant City, Fla. Florida Strawberry Festival
3/4/14 Austin, Texas Rodeo Austin
4/10/14 Florence, Ariz. Country Thunder
6/12/14 Lancaster, Pa. American Music Theater
6/15/14 Hunter Mountain, N.Y. Taste of Country Music Festival
6/21/14 Hot Springs, Ark. Timberwood Amphitheater
7/24/14 Twin Lakes, Wis. Country Thunder
8/09/14 Detroit Lakes, Minn. WE Fest
8/16/14 Brownsville, Ore. The Williamette Country Music Festival
For more information, visit thompsonsquare.com.

Bonnaroo To Announce Lineup Feb. 19

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bonnarooThis June, 80,000 people will trek to the farm in Manchester, Tenn., for the 13th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to watch a world class music lineup perform on 13 stages over four days and participate in the unique communal culture that is Bonnaroo. For fans who can’t make the trip to Tennessee, Xbox and Bonnaroo are bringing the festival to living rooms everywhere!
The 2014 Bonnaroo Lineup Announcement Megathon, aka BLAM!, will be broadcasted exclusively on Xbox and syndicated on Bonnaroo.com on Wednesday, Feb. 19, with the pre-show event starting at 7 p.m. EST and BLAM! at 9 p.m. EST. BLAM! hosts, Taran Killam (Saturday Night Live) and comedian Hannibal Buress, will reveal the lineup Bonnaroo-style party featuring a SuperJam with the Flaming Lips and Ben Folds, plus special guests.

“Bonnaroo transcends the festival weekend, and with Xbox, we’re creating a virtual destination befitting of the live experience,” says Jonathan Mayers of Superfly Presents, co-founders of Bonnaroo with AC Entertainment. “The partnership shows our commitment to serving our global community with innovative Bonnaroo content year round.”