Industry Snapshots (10-3-13)

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Billy Currington kicked-off the first CMA EDU meeting of the year at Belmont University on Monday (Sept. 30) with a Q&A session and performance for the packed room of students.

Pictured (L-R): Dan Keen, Belmont CMA EDU Faculty Advisor; Billy Currington; Hilary Thoemke, Belmont Chapter President; Lauren Klausing, CMA Strategic Partnerships

Pictured (L-R): Dan Keen, Belmont CMA EDU Faculty Advisor; Billy Currington; Hilary Thoemke, Belmont Chapter President; Lauren Klausing, CMA Strategic Partnerships.

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Warner/Chappell has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with Country songwriter Neil Medley. Medley has had cuts with Luke Bryan, The Brothers Osborne and Brent Cobb.

Pictured: (Front Row) Blain Rhodes (WC), Neil Medley, Matt Michels (WC). (Back Row) Steve Markland (WC), Alicia Pruitt (WC) BJ Hill (WC)

Pictured: (Front Row) Blain Rhodes (WC), Neil Medley, Matt Michels (WC). (Back Row) Steve Markland (WC), Alicia Pruitt (WC), BJ Hill (WC).

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Mercury Records artist Chris Stapleton visited the CMA office on Monday (Sept. 30) to perform an acoustic set for the staff.

Chris Stapleton performs for the CMA staff. Photo: Sarah Abell / CMA

Chris Stapleton performs for the CMA staff. Photo: Sarah Abell / CMA

Starwood Amphitheater Property Sold For $5.5 Million

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bilde-1The property that once housed Starwood Amphitheater, Nashville’s longtime outdoor concert venue that closed its gates forever in 2006, has been purchased again in a foreclosure sale, according to the Tennessean. The 65-acre spread was bought by Newport, Calif.-based Orange Murfreesboro LLC, which held the loan, for $5.5 million two weeks ago.
Vastland Starwood Development LLC, the Nashville-based company that owned the property, originally purchased it for 4.25 million in 2007 and tore down the on-site shed with the hopes of building a $100 million town home and retail complex, but plans changed amidst the recent economic downturn and the property went into foreclosure.
Several years ago focus on the property shifted from music when the TVA designated Starwood Commons, the property at Murfreesboro Road and Hobson Pike in Antioch, as a possible data center site. HCA considered the site but eventually bought acreage at The Crossings on Franklin Road instead.
Artists like James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Nickelback, and Jimmy Buffett all played the Starwood stage at some point during the amphitheater’s 20-year run.

"Opry Goes Pink" For Breast Cancer Awareness Oct. 22

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771614368de7df13b2aa5d07_174x88LeAnn Rimes will flip the switch, bathing the Grand Ole Opry’s signature barn in pink light on Oct. 22 in honor of the Opry’s fifth annual “Opry Goes Pink” show benefiting breast cancer awareness. October is breast cancer awareness month, and the Opry is joining Women Rock For The Cure that evening as Rimes, Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis all perform for the cause. Activities recognizing breast cancer survivors will be held throughout the evening as well, and Mandisa, (who is making her Opry debut), will perform her current single, “Overcomer,” which shines a light on cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease.
In commemoration of the special night and to aid the cause, five dollars from every ticket sold to the Opry’s 7 p.m. show will be donated to Women Rock For The Cure. Tickets for “Opry Goes Pink” are available at opry.com.

Gretchen Wilson To Release Christmas Album October 8

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gretchen wilson christmasGretchen Wilson will release her debut holiday album Christmas In My Heart on Oct. 8. The 10-song album will include traditional carols and other holiday songs. It will be the third album released this year on Wilson’s Redneck Records label.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Wilson. “We really took our time and came up with a fun mix of classic songs and found some great new songs to record.”
Several writers contributed to Wilson’s latest project, including Greg Barnhill (“Christmas In My Heart”), Robert Simbeck and Frank Michels (“Santa I’ve Been Naughty”) and Trent Willmon, Jenee Fleenor and Rob Byus (“If You See Rudolph”).
The album was mastered using the “Mastered For iTunes” format and can be pre-ordered on iTunes here.
Christmas In My Heart Track Listing:

  1. “Christmas In My Heart”
  2. “Santa I’ve Been Naughty”
  3. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
  4. “If You See Rudolph”
  5. “Nuttin’ For Christmas”
  6. “Silent Night”
  7. “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas”
  8. “The Christmas Song”
  9. “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”
  10. “Blue Christmas”

Danielle Bradbery To Release Debut Project in November

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danielle bradbery11Danielle Bradbery, season 4 winner of The Voice, will release her self-titled project on Big Machine Records on Nov. 19. The project was helmed by producer Dann Huff.
“It feels like I just walked off The Voice stage so it’s crazy to think I’m about to release my first album,” exclaims Bradbery. “Nashville has been so welcoming to me throughout this entire process and I couldn’t be more proud of the music we’ve created. I am so excited to get all the songs into the hands of the fans who gave me this amazing opportunity in the first place!”
Bradbery released her current single, “Heart of Dixie,” in mid-July, and will begin opening for Brad Paisley‘s Beat This Summer Tour in November. She will appear on television again in an upcoming episode of The CW’s network show Hart of Dixie.
The official tracklist for Bradbery’s self-titled project has yet to be be released.

Berklee College of Music To Offer Degrees Online

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berklee college logoBerklee College of Music will soon offer accredited bachelor degrees online.
The college’s online division, Berklee Online, will offer 120-credit bachelor of professional studies degrees in music business and music production. The music business degree offers courses on licensing, management, marketing, and touring, with a focus on mobile music, streaming, funding, and developing revenue sources. The music production degree provides a background in Berklee’s approach to music production, with courses on software programs, recording, engineering, mixing, and more. All courses are taught by Berklee faculty members or industry experts. New courses will also focus on composing and producing electronic music, direct-to-fan marketing, and music video editing.
Berklee Online begins accepting applications Oct. 7, 2013, and will issue early acceptance notices to students beginning Dec. 13, 2013. The inaugural class begins in the fall of 2014.
A $16,500 per year tuition will make the online degree 60 percent less expensive than the physical college. The online degree program will accept a maximum of 300 students to its inaugural class. Online degrees will be accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
“Berklee has learned a lesson from our front row seat observing the music industry, namely, lead the change or be a victim of it. With an online degree, we can expand access to the powerful tools of contemporary music making to many more students. And coupled with MOOCs, which are free, and online education that is less expensive, we have created a multi-faceted global search for talent,” said Berklee President Roger Brown.

ASCAP Appoints Titta As Executive VP, Creative Services

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John Titta

John Titta


ASCAP Chief Executive Officer John LoFrumento has appointed John Titta to Executive VP, Creative Services, effective Wednesday (Oct. 2). Reporting directly to LoFrumento, Titta will be responsible for overseeing the membership staff in all musical genres and will also oversee the operations of the Los Angeles, New York and Nashville membership offices.
“John Titta is truly an outstanding music industry leader with a long list of diverse accomplishments and a wealth of experience running a creative operation,” says LoFrumento. “Throughout his career, he has been an advisor, partner, friend and advocate of songwriters, all which make him a perfect fit for ASCAP. His strong relationships with a variety of members of the music community, developed over years and coupled with a deep understanding of the professional needs of our members, will strengthen our already impressive membership team. Under John’s leadership, I’m confident that ASCAP members will continue to receive the very highest standard of service and support.”
Titta joins ASCAP after serving as CEO of MPCA Music Publishing, a company he founded in 2006. Titta spent the majority of his music career as a music publisher, but he started his life in music as a musician and music teacher.
Titta became VP, A&R of PolyGram Music Publishing in 1988, signing artists Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Pearl Jam, Brian McKnight, k.d. lang, Billy Ray Cyrus and songwriter Jimmy Webb. From 1993–2006, Titta served as Sr. VP/General Manager of Warner/Chappell Music in New York. As head of Warner/Chappell’s East Coast operations, he signed such acts as Trey Songz, Fat Joe, Missy Elliott, Kid Rock, Collective Soul, India.Arie, Gavin DeGraw, Cassandra Wilson, Dan Wilson (Adele, Dixie Chicks, Semisonic), Uncle Kracker, Shaggy, Duane Eddy, Bruce Hornsby and James Brown.
Titta also serves on the Board of Directors for The Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Grand Ole Opry's Pete Fisher To Receive Inspiration Award

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Pete Fisher

Pete Fisher


The first annual Inspire Nashville celebration will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Benefiting Nashville-based non-profit Possibilities Inc., the Inspire Nashville event honors and celebrates the Nashville community and the individuals who advance the community through achievement and service.
Pete Fisher, GM and VP of the Grand Ole Opry, has been named as this year’s inaugural Inspiration Award recipient. The award goes to individuals whose commitment to bettering the community motivates others through high professional achievement and valiant personal service to others.
Big & Rich, Vince Gill and Wynonna will perform at this intimate “only-in-Nashville” gathering, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Chateau de Amore Alphin residence.
“Pete, to me, has one of the hardest jobs in the world. As General Manager of the Opry, to please the great veterans, the newcomers and everything in between is not easy. But, he does so with dignity and class every step of the way. Pete makes everyone at the Opry feel like they are the most important people there,” says Gill.
For more information and ticket purchasing, visit inspirenashville.net.

The Band Perry and Fall Out Boy Come To A Crossroads

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The Band Perry and Fall Out Boy

The Band Perry and Fall Out Boy

The Band Perry is teaming up with rockers Fall Out Boy for a new CMT Crossroads episode, slated to air this November. The two will collaborate on a Nashville stage on Wednesday (Oct. 2) at Rocketown, swapping stories and trading lyrics. The long-running, hybrid performance program is known for pairing unlikely matches including Carrie Underwood with Steven Tyler, and Taylor Swift with Def Leppard.

The episode will feature the rockers performing hits like their recent smash “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” along with the Perrys, who will no doubt perform several of their own multi-platinum hits with some help from the punk rockers. Fall Out Boy is no stranger to Music City – they reunited this year after a three-year hiatus and stopped in Nashville earlier this Summer to play a show on their comeback tour at the Ryman. They recently announced they’ll release a surprise new punk album produced by Ryan Adams, Pax Am Days, Oct. 15.
The CMT Crossroads episode will debut Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. ET on CMT.

Paisley To Be Honored With Harmony Award

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Brad Paisley. Photo: Jim Shea

Brad Paisley. Photo: Jim Shea


Brad Paisley has been named as the recipient of the Nashville Symphony’s 2013 Harmony award. Paisley will be honored during the 29th annual Symphony Ball, which will take place Dec. 14 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Each December during the Symphony Ball fundraiser, the Nashville Symphony presents the Harmony Award to an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community.
Previous recipients of the honor include Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Chet Atkins, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Keith Urban.
“As one of country music’s biggest stars, Brad has made a huge impact by staying true to his artistic and personal vision,” says Alan Valentine, CEO and President of the Nashville Symphony, “We can’t think of anyone today more deserving of this award, which over the years has honored the many artists who’ve helped make Nashville the thriving creative capital that it is today. Without a doubt, Brad’s talents and contribution to the music of Nashville have been outstanding.”
Paisley will attend the Symphony Ball to accept the award and to perform a song with the orchestra.