Kobalt Signs Jessi Alexander

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Kobalt Music Publishing’s Nashville office has signed an exclusive, worldwide deal with Grammy-nominated hitmaker Jessi Alexander, it was announced today by Richard Sanders, President of Kobalt Music Group and Whitney Daane, SVP Creative of Kobalt Music Publishing America.
Through the new deal, Kobalt’s global creative team will represent Alexander for all new works and will provide worldwide synch licensing and copyright administration.
Alexander’s recent No. 1 hits include Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” and Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It.” Among her other notable co-writes are the country/pop crossover smash “The Climb” for Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana: The Movie,  Shelton’s upcoming song “Mine Would Be You” and Celine Dion’s “Didn’t Know Love.”
“I’m super excited about getting to work with the Nashville creative team and look forward to partnering up with them for the next phase of my career,” said Alexander.
In making the announcement, Daane said, “Jeff Skaggs, Stephanie Cox and I are thrilled to be working with a writer of Jessi’s caliber and versatility. We have all been fans of her songwriting for years and look forward to working with our global creative team to expand on her already impressive track record of hits.”

Pictured at the recent signing celebration in Nashville is Jessi Alexander (Seated in Front). Pictured Back Row (L to R): Whitney Daane, Kobalt SVP of Creative; Jeff Skaggs, Kobalt Sr. Director of Creative; and Austen Adams, attorney for Alexander.

Pictured standing (L-R): Whitney Daane, Kobalt SVP of Creative; Jeff Skaggs, Kobalt Sr. Director of Creative; and Austen Adams, attorney. Seated: Jessi Alexander

CMA Gives International Awards

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Chris Young and The Band Perry were on-hand to assist in honoring radio personnel and artists in Australia with CMA Awards. During Australia’s CMC Rocks the Hunter Festival (March 15-17), Country artist Chris Young presented the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award to David Burton. Burton has been an on-air Country radio personality in Australia for the last nine years. Based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Burton appears on Country station 4GR.

PIctured (L-R): CMA Board member Marion Kraft, Burton, Chris Young and CMA Board member Rob Potts.

PIctured (L-R): CMA Board member Marion Kraft, Burton, Chris Young and CMA Board member Rob Potts.


Meanwhile, The Band Perry surprised artist Jasmine Rae with the Global Country Artist Award. Rae has one of the fastest-rising careers of any local artist in Australia. Her debut album Look It Up yielded three No. 1 singles.
Pictured (L-R): The Band Perry's Neil and Kimberly Perry, Rae, The Band Perry's Reid Perry, and CMA Board member Rob Potts.

Pictured (L-R): The Band Perry’s Neil and Kimberly Perry, Rae, The Band Perry’s Reid Perry, and CMA Board member Rob Potts.

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CMR Nashville and Django Promotions CEO and Owner Lee Williams was presented with the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award during the CMA International Country Music Summit at Disneyland Paris on March 1. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by radio broadcasters outside the United States who have made important contributions to the development of Country Music in their country.

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Pictured (L-R): CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore, CMA Director of International Relations Bobbi Boyce, and Williams. Photo Credit: Ky Chung


 

Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit To Spotlight 'Nashville'

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Nashville The ABC hit drama Nashville will get its own spotlight exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, beginning April 5. “Nashville: Like A Country Song“ which will feature costumes, props and more from the television series, will be located within the museum’s permanent exhibition on the second floor, will run through Oct. 31, 2013.
Artifacts on display in “Nashville: Like a Country Song” include:
-A metallic-toned cocktail dress, with bronze paillette overlay and copper sequins and beading, and snakeskin-look platform peep-toe shoes, worn by Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) when she performed “Wrong Song” with Juliette Barnes.
-A beaded, strapless mini-dress, worn by Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) when she and Rayna Jaymes performed “Wrong Song.”
-A 2009 Gretsch G6121-1955 Chet Atkins solid body guitar and personalized strap played by Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten) in the pilot episode of Nashville.
-A Boho-inspired black lace dress with silky skirt, worn by Scarlett O’Connor (Clare Bowen).
-A Gibson LG-2 guitar belonging to Gunnar Scott (Sam Palladio).
-Framed art featured in the episode “You Win Again,” in which fictional record label Edgehill Republic throws a party to celebrate the platinum success of the Rayna Jaymes-Juliette Barnes duet “Wrong Song.”
-A script of the Nashville pilot episode, autographed by cast members Powers Boothe, Bowen, Britton, Eric Close, Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Palladio,  Panettiere and Robert Ray Wisdom.

Nashville airs on the ABC Television Network on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. CT and is executive produced by Dee Johnson (“Boss,” “The Good Wife”), R.J. Cutler (“The September Issue,” “The War Room”) and Oscar®-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri (“Thelma and Louise”).

CMT Adds Two Program Publicity Vice Presidents

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Cindy McClean Finke

Cindy McLean Finke

CMT has promoted Cindy McLean Finke to Vice President, Program Publicity and Communications, while Stephanie Molina joins the network as Vice President, Program Publicity for the West Coast office. Both will report to Lisa Chader, Sr. VP, Corporate Communications, CMT. Finke is based at the network’s headquarters in Nashville, and Molina is based in CMT’s West Coast office.

“Cindy and Stephanie make a fantastic and experienced team, and are uniquely suited to lead CMT’s press efforts at a time of lightning-fast growth at the network,” said Chader. “Both are well-respected within the entertainment industry and amongst their peers, and I’m thrilled to have them in leadership roles.”

Finke joined the CMT Corporate Communications team as Senior Publicist in 2002. Since then she has led publicity efforts for such shows as the critically-acclaimed series, CMT Crossroads; CMT Music Awards; CMT Artists of the Year; films under the CMT Original Movies franchise, and more. In addition to leading the efforts on most Nashville and music-based shows and events, she will handle publicity for Dog and Beth: On The Hunt and the network’s first animated project, Bounty Hunters, premiering later this summer.

Prior to CMT, Finke was a publicist at E! Entertainment Television and The Style Network, creating and managing publicity campaigns for primetime series and specials including The E! True Hollywood Story, Celebrity Homes and Nigella Bites. Finke has also worked in the publicity department for Showtime Networks Inc.

Stephanie Molina

Stephanie Molina

Leading original programming publicity efforts on the West Coast, Molina will work closely with Jayson Dinsmore, EVP Programming and Development, and his team. Molina comes to CMT from Rogers & Cowan,  where she was VP of Television, handling such accounts as Food Network, Oxygen, G4, BET, 19 Entertainment, Electric Entertainment, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe as well as representation of Nigel Lythgoe Productions (NLP) in conjunction with Shine America.

Prior to Rogers & Cowan, Molina was with PR agency, BWR, where she also represented American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance, and its executive producers, as well as developed and executed the plan for AEG and 19 Entertainment’s corresponding nationwide tours for seven seasons. She has also worked with Bunim/Murray and Twentieth Century Fox’s syndicated court shows.

 

Artist Snapshots (3-26-13)

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Restless Heart visited Larry’s Country Diner recently to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary.

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Photo Credit: Phil Johnson

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At Saturday’s Grand Ole Opry, Arista Nashville’s Kristen Kelly is shown here welcoming “Walmart singer” Kayla Sloan to Music City. Kayla – a Logan, W.V., Walmart employee who sings to shoppers at the store and has become an internet sensation – made her debut at the Opry, and received a standing ovation.

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Kristen Kelly with Kayla Sloan

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Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN) stopped into St. Louis on Taylor Swift’s Red Tour. He visited with Danny Montana of WIL.

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Pictured (L-R): WMN’s Mark Niederhauser, Brett Eldredge, and WIL’s Danny Montana.

Industry Ink (3-26-13)

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rymanNashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium has been named Venue of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. This marks the third time that the iconic venue has been honored with the industry-voted award. The 48th annual ACM Awards show will be held Sunday, April 7, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and televised live at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
Industry awards, including Venue of the Year, will be formally presented September 10 at the Ryman during the ACM Honors event.
 

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desalvo11DeSalvo Law Firm PLLC has relocated its office from historic Germantown to West End Avenue at 18th Avenue near the Row. The firm, specializing in entertainment, copyright, and trademark law, now can be found at 1720 West End Avenue, Suite 403, Nashville, TN 37203. Founding member and industry veteran, Ramona P. DeSalvo, says, “We are growing over the next few months, adding new attorneys, and offering a broader range of creative services.” Sharing the new space is entertainment attorney Christian Barker who holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee, an MBA and J.D. from Stetson University in Florida, and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Barker also attended the year-long Intellectual Property Exchange at University of New Hampshire School of Law.
For more information about the firm, please contact (615) 600-4741.

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March Music, Inc. and LioLamb Music are under new ownership. Staff for the companies include President Kimberly Mullen (also of Granite Music Group/Rock Solid Granite Music), David Allen Haggard (Creative Director), Chad Mullen (Sr. Director of Marketing) and Shelby Mullen (Administrative Director). March Music Inc., LioLamb Music and Granite Music have also welcomed new staff writer Corey Lee Barker to their roster. The Granite Group can be reached here.

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Warner Music Nashville’s Northeast Regional Promotion representative Katie Bright and husband Grant welcomed their first child, William Leo Christenson, on March 21 at 8:49 p.m. Christenson weighed 7 lbs, 10 oz and was 21 inches long. Congratulate Katie here.

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ACM Opens Voting for Entertainer of the Year, New Artist of the Year

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Fan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year is now open for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music awards. Fans can vote at voteACM.com.
The awards will be given out during the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network. 
Entertainer of the Year voting (powered by the Ram Truck Brand) will give fans the opportunity to vote for the Academy’s top honor. Nominees include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. ACM New Artist of the Year presented by Kohls nominees include Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line.
Nominees are doing everything they can to garner votes. Swift, up for Entertainer of the Year, recently posted a Vote ACM photo online, featuring an image of Swift as a 6-year-old.

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Gilbert, a New Artist of the Year nominee, also posted an artistic photo encouraging fans to vote.

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Kramer posted a video encouraging her fans’ votes for New Artist of the Year.
http://youtu.be/fLk2IRLp-hI
Florida Georgia Line also posted a series of videos reminding fans to vote for the duo as New Artist of the Year.

YouTube video

 

Music Films at the Nashville Film Festival

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naffThe Nashville Film Festival (NaFF), scheduled for April 18-25 at Regal Green Hills Cinema, will offer numerous music-related films. Here are a few of the highlights, as well as a list of the major features which will be shown before their national release. See the complete line up at nashvillefilmfestival.org.
Select Music Films
Beware of the Dogs (Director: Jeff Kennedy) The Sheepdogs were thousands of dollars in debt and struggling to break out of their native Saskatchewan when their demo won a contest that landed them on the cover of Rolling Stone. Featuring Kid Rock and Jimmy Fallon and live performances by the band. World Premiere.
FOLK (Director: Sara Terry) FOLK follows singer-songwriters of different ages Raina Rose, Hilary Claire Adamson and Dirk Hamilton. World Premiere.
Good Ol’ Freda (Director: Ryan White) Freda Kelly, The Beatles’ loyal secretary, tells her stories for the first time in 50 years.
Jim Lauderdale: The King of Broken Hearts (Director: Jeremy Dylan) Grammy-winner Lauderdale is an Americana stalwart. His story is told through interviews with him, Elvis Costello, Buddy Miller, John Oates, Jerry Douglas, and many more.
Muscle Shoals (Director: Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier) Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Bono, and others bear witness to the importance of the ‘Muscle Shoals Sound’ and FAME Studios.
Music Wood (Director: Maxine Trump) Famed guitar-makers travel to remote Southeast Alaska to negotiate with Native American loggers.
This Ain’t No Mouse Music! (Director: Chris Simon, Maureen Gosling) Chris Strachwitz (Arhoolie Records) takes viewers on a hip-shaking stomp from Texas to New Orleans, Cajun country to Appalachia, searching for the musical soul of America.
Very Extremely Dangerous (Director: Paul Duane, Nation: Ireland) Jerry McGill slipped from a rock ’n’ roll career into a life of crime, robbing banks and running from the FBI while touring and appearing in movies.
Presentation Films
Opening Night Selection (April 18): Mud (Director: Jeff Nichols) – Starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Sparks. An outlaw on the run searches for his true love and a clean getaway.
Closing Night Selection (April 25): Unfinished Song (Director: Paul Andrew Williams) – Starring Terrence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave, this film about seniors joining a singing group led by a charming and youthful director is said to make viewers laugh and cry.
Dead Man’s Burden (Director: Jared Moshe) – Starring Clare Bowen (from Nashville TV show). Set in New Mexico during the Civil War, this violent Western depicts a family in the lethal grip of its own civil war.
Hits from the Sundance Film Festival: The Kings of Summer, Sightseers, The Spectatular Now and Stories We Tell.
Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film: Kon-Tiki.

Pistol Party Presses Plastic

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pistol annies annie up“It ain’t final until it’s vinyl.”
That’s a saying people used to have about the vicissitudes of the music business. For the Pistol Annies, the slogan was revived via a listening party staged at United Record Pressing on Monday (March 25).
“We got to see our album actually being pressed, which is cool,” said group member Miranda Lambert at the event. “This is an album that’s meant to be vinyl.”
Guests toured the record-pressing plant, which was making gold-colored vinyl LPs of the group’s new Annie Up as they entered. In the event space upstairs, they then listened to selections from it.
“This place reminds us of why we got into the music business,” said Sony Chairman & CEO Gary Overton. “It was for those big, round things with grooves.”
Annie Up producers Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay and Glenn Worf presided. Liddell said that the female trio’s music had grown “exponentially” since its first album. Worf described the new album as “a brave record and a beautiful record.” Ainlay said it was in stark contrast to, “this era of paint-by-numbers records.”
“Their sense of artistry is astonishing, making their music on their own terms,” added Worf. “They’re among the most fearless people I’ve ever known. These three women have more balls than all of our male country artists.”
The producers first played the finger-popping, bluesy “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On,” which opens the album. The acoustic rocker “Damn Thing” features a throbbing upright bass and washboard percussion. “Girls Like Us” is a husky femme ballad. The thumping “Unhappily Married” drew audience chuckles with its tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The sweet, album-closing “I Hope You’re the End of My Story” is a waltz-time romance.
After the tunes, Pistol Annies members Ashley Monroe, Lambert and Angaleena Presley greeted the guests. “Did y’all like it?” asked Monroe. She was answered with a resounding cheer. “You’re all invited to my house for a jukebox party,” offered Presley.
Ainlay told the crowd that the album was recorded with the three women sitting in a circle facing one another. “It was essentially that easy and that fun,” he said. “Go out and sell this record for us, so that we get to go back and do this again.”
As guests departed, they were presented with the finished, gold-colored, vinyl copies of the album.
 
 
 
 
 

MusicRowPics: Second Annual Rising Women on the Row

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The second annual MusicRow “Rising Women on the Row” breakfast at Maggiano’s (Friday, March 22) sponsored by City National Bank gathered folks from throughout the community to schmooze and to honor five women who are making their marks on the Nashville music industry.
The honorees this year were UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, Monarch Publicity’s Cindy Heath, the CMA’s Brandi Simms and UMG’s Cindy Mabe.
See photos from the event below.
 
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