Southern Ground Artists Solidifies Radio Team

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Zac Brown’s label, Southern Ground Artists (SGA), has hired in-house radio promotions executives Neda Tobin (Southeast) and Paul Williams (Northeast). They join the existing staff, which includes Mara Sidweber (West Coast, Southwest) and Chuck Swaney (Midwest, Southwest), and will work out of SGA’s new Music Row offices in Nashville. Jeff Solima, a long-standing member of Zac Brown Band’s radio team, will continue to consult for Zac Brown Band.

The team will principally focus on radio for Zac Brown Band, building on the momentum that has earned the band nine consecutive No. 1 radio singles. The radio team will also work with Southern Ground Artists’ Blackberry Smoke and Sonia Leigh.

Neda Tobin (Southeast) most recently worked for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill out of the Red Light Management office. Prior to Red Light, she spent eight years working the Southwest region for Lyric Street. Contact: [email protected], 214-417-7448.

Paul Williams (Northeast) relocated to Nashville seven years ago to work in radio marketing for Sony. The move to SGA reunites him with Sidweber, a former colleague from his time as Program Director at KPLX/Dallas. Contact: [email protected], 615-715-7884.

Mara Sidweber (West Coast, Southwest) has represented Zac Brown Band at radio since its first single, and first No. 1, “Chicken Fried” in June 2008. Contact: [email protected], 469-231-6302.

Chuck Swaney (Midwest, Southwest) was also a part of initial Bigger Picture/ZBB crew, before spending the past two and a half years at EMI and returning to the ZBB team in July. Contact: [email protected], 248-202-4116.

SOLID Presents Industry Awards at Anniversary Party

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(L-R): SOLID Treasurer Mike Whitaker, SOLID VP Heath Baumhor, ACM's Bob Romeo, Tandy Rice, Sony/ATV's Troy Tomlinson, This Music's Rusty Gaston, SESAC's Shannon Hatch, UMG's Mike Dungan, CMA's Steve Moore, SOLID Secretary Sarah McGrady, SOLID President Jon Romero. Photo: knapptimecreative

SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) wrapped a month long celebration of its 15th anniversary with a reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 25. Awards were presented to members of the industry who have boosted the organization of young music industry professionals. The event brought SOLID full circle, as its very first meeting was held at the Hall of Fame.

Industry Award: Mike Dungan, Universal Music Group; and Steve Moore, Country Music Association
Inspiration Award: Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV
Impact Award: Bob Romeo, ACM
Alumni Award: This Music Rusty Gaston, This Music
Friends of SOLID Award: SESAC
Honorary Member Award: Tandy Rice

“SOLID is honored to recognize these industry veterans while celebrating 15 years as an organization,” says SOLID President Jon Romero. “This event was a great opportunity for SOLID and its members to show top executives what we are capable of, while giving us the opportunity to connect with them throughout the evening’s festivities.”

The member application for 2013 is available online at www.solidnashville.com.

McCoury and Bush Team Up For Tour

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As World of Bluegrass Week hits full swing in Nashville, bluegrass pickers extraordinaire Sam Bush and Del McCoury have announced they will be playing a series of dates together beginning in November.

“I first saw Del at the Roanoke Bluegrass Festival in 1966 and have been waiting for this opportunity to tour together ever since,” says Bush. “We invite you to come join the fun as two old friends make music and swap stories onstage.”

At the 2012 IBMA Awards taking place tonight (9/27) at the Ryman Auditorium, McCoury will be co-host the ceremony where he has earned nine Entertainer of the Year Awards. Bush is currently nominated for IBMA Awards for Mandolin Player of the Year, and Instrumental Group of the Year (with his band), as well as a CMA Award nominee for Musician of the Year.

Sam Bush & Del McCoury Tour Dates 2012
November 15th – The Paramount – Peekskill, NY
November 16th – Norwalk Concert Hall – Norwalk, CT
November 17th – Stockbridge Theatre at Pinkerton – Derry, NH
November 18th – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
November 19th – The City Winery – New York, NY
December 1st – The Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL

Luke Bryan Preps Lineup for Farm Tour 2012

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Bryan performs Farm Tour 2011. Photo: Michael Monaco

In October, Luke Bryan will set out on his fourth annual Farm Tour 2012 with newly-named openers including the Peach Pickers (Dallas Davidson and Rhett Akins), plus singer/songwriters Chancie Neal and Cole Swindell.

Farm Tour 2012 will play eight dates through several southern states, including five in his home state of Georgia (full dates below). Proceeds from the events will help create scholarships for students from farming families who attending local colleges. In total, the trek will award 20 scholarships.

For the fourth consecutive year, GAC will film its “Top 20” at the sold-out Clemson, South Carolina show to air on Friday, October 12.

For specific ticket and venue information, including where to get tickets locally, click here.

Farm Tour 2012 dates:
October 3 – Claxton (Statesboro), GA
October 4 – Clemson, SC (sold-out)
October 5 – Auburn, AL
October 6 – Valdosta, GA
October 10 – Villa Rica, GA
October 11 – Colbert (Athens), GA
October 12 – Tallahassee, FL
October 13 – Macon, GA

“Beautiful People” List Includes Many From Music Row

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Denise Jackson. Photo: Nashville Lifestyles

Several familiar faces from Music Row grace the pages of Nashville Lifestyles’ new “25 Most Beautiful People” list. Among those featured in the current issue are Cody Alan, CMT Radio Live; Jenny Gill, singer/songwriter and daughter of Vince Gill; Stacy McCloud Green, FOX 17 entertainment reporter; Denise Jackson, wife of Alan Jackson and cancer survivor; Mike Moore, asset manager and creative assistant at Big Machine Label Group; Jerrod Niemann, country music artist; Tree Paine, VP, Publicity, Warner Bros. Records; Phoenix Stone, singer/songwriter, founding member of Backstreet Boys, and CEO/co-founder of Stonehall Entertainment; and Jaci Velasquez, Christian recording artist and radio personality on 94.1FM The Fish.

Lisa Marie Presley, who recently released the album Storm & Grace produced by T Bone Burnett, is featured on the cover. Among the other honorees are pro athletes, community leaders and more special residents.

Tree Paine. Photo: Nashville Lifestyles

“Each year we are delighted to discover an entirely unique group of Nashvillians,” said Stacie Standifer, publisher of Nashville Lifestyles. “While we have had some incredibly strong personalities and inclusions over the years, I honestly feel that this is one of our best magazines to date.”

The honorees were unveiled at a private party Sept. 25 at Flyte. 

See the full list and photos at www.nashvillelifestyles.com. 

Kenny Chesney Unveils New Mobile Apps

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Kenny Chesney has released a new suite of mobile apps that integrates his signature No Shoes Radio, his web store, social media channels, and more into one experience. The apps are now available on multiple platforms, including iPhones, iPads, Androids, and Apple desktop computers.

“I wanted these apps to be an extension of my albums and shows,” said Chesney, who had a hands on role in the design process. “Even in the middle of the winter, fans can open up the app wherever they are, listen to a little No Shoes Radio, take a photo that looks like it came straight out of my music video, and feel like they’re back at the party all year long.”

The apps were developed by Nashville-based Aloompa, who originally developed No Shoes Radio in addition to apps for festival brands Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and Electric Zoo.

“Our ongoing experience with iconic festivals lent itself perfectly to working with Kenny Chesney, one of the biggest touring acts in music.” said Drew Burchfield, founder of Aloompa.

The new apps will allow users to listen to No Shoes Radio and keep Twitter/Facebook friends updated with what they’re hearing, as well as request songs to be played. The mobile version will allow different “skins” for visual customization, the ability to purchase Chesney tickets and merchandise, and a photo filter effect to match the visual style of Chesney’s albums.

Download the apps here.

IEBA Conference To Host WME’s Patrick Whitesell, Paula Abdul

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Paula Abdul

The International Entertainment Buyers Association announced the first round of artists and executives confirmed to participate in it’s annual conference, set for Oct. 7-9 in downtown Nashville.

Paula Abdul will receive the IEBA Career Achievement Award and participate in the panel discussion “How Reality TV Has Affected the Music Industry.” The panel will also include American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle, Dick Clark Productions’ Barry Adelman, and RPM Management’s Scott Siman, with entertainment journalist Fred Bronson as moderator.

Patrick Whitesell

Hollywood power broker WME Co-CEO Patrick Whitesell will sit down with Billboard Editorial Director Bill Werde for a discussion.

Seven major agencies will host showcases at IEBA. BLA’s and CAA’s line-ups have been announced. BLA’s party on Oct. 8 will feature performances by Steve Holy, Rachel Farley, Parmalee and Florida Georgia Line. Earlier the same day, CAA will showcase Joe Nichols, Aaron Lewis, Sarah Darling and DJ DU.

Melinda Doolittle

Among other acts set to perform are The Guess Who, Imperial Acrobats of China, America’s Got Talent’s Zuma Zuma, World Champion of Magic Jason Latimer, Dance Y’All, Jason D. Williams and Rocker’s Collective, and more to be announced.

Registration is almost sold out, details and full schedule at www.ieba.org.

 

MusicRowPics: Brent Cobb Artist Visit

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Carnival Music’s Brent Cobb stopped by MusicRow headquarters earlier this week to preview a handful of songs for the staff. The Georgia native initially relocated to Los Angeles to make an album with his cousin Dave Cobb, who had produced Shooter Jennings’ album No Place Left to Leave. Cobb eventually returned home and started touring the region, befriending fellow Georgian Luke Bryan who introduced him to the community in Nashville.

Cobb played songs including his current single “Love On Me,” “Pavement Ends” (featured on the new Little Big Town album), “Forever After All,” and “Good Old Days.” His self-titled EP on Carnival is currently available in the iTunes store.

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Appelate Court Denies Curb’s Request For Injunctive Relief in McGraw Case

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On Tuesday (9/25), a Tennessee Court of Appeals in Nashville upheld a 2011 Chancery Court decision to deny Curb Records’ request for a preliminary injunction to bar Tim McGraw from joining another record label.

At least for the time being, McGraw will be able to continue making music at his new label home Big Machine Records.

Curb Records’ original injunction request to be denied claimed the loss of McGraw caused the label to suffer irreparable harm. In the appeal, Curb argued that “breach of an exclusive personal services contract by a unique and exceptional performer constitutes irreparable harm.”

While the court agreed that McGraw was “unique” and “exceptional,” it upheld the original decision on the grounds that the “requested injunction would essentially place McGraw in a position of choosing between the end of his recording career or the indefinite continuation of a relationship with Curb that has become contentious.”

The court also maintained the opinion that Curb Records did not own the new recordings (including current single “Truck Yeah”) that McGraw has made as a Big Machine Records artist. As both parties agreed to an injunction hearing with no evidence, allowing a trial on the matter would prevent McGraw from moving forward in his career, a result which the court found “inappropriate.” This opinion gives McGraw ownership of recordings made after December 1, 2011.

Curb Records issued a statement addressing the court’s decision, saying “The fundamental issue in this case is whether Tim McGraw fully performed under his contract with Curb Records. That issue has yet to be ruled on by any court, and will be the subject of a full trial on the merits scheduled for later this year.”

The label originally sued McGraw in May 2011, and McGraw followed shortly after with a countersuit of his own. Curb argues that McGraw breached his contract by recording Emotional Traffic “even before the 2009 release of his previous album (Southern Voice) and without consulting Curb Records as to the contents of this record.” McGraw’s suit maintained that the material was recorded in 2009-2010 and that Curb was preventing its release to keep him on the roster indefinitely.

Faith Hill to Debut New Single in Social Sphere

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Faith Hill is set to debut her new single and lyric video for, “American Heart,” during a live chat with Twitter fans on September 30. The single, from her forthcoming album, will be simultaneously released to Country radio.

The social media event will take place prior to NBC’s Sunday Night Football, at 7:00 pm ET where fans can tweet questions to the hashtag #AskFaith.

“This song inspires,” says Hill. “It grabs a hold of a very special place that we all have in our hearts. We wanted to do something special for our fans who have been so supportive of me through the years – something a little different and something just for them. No better way than the socials.”

“American Heart” was co-written by Jonathan Singleton and Jim Beavers, co-produced by Byron Gallimore and Hill, and recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville.

A :30 clip of the song can be previewed here.