Muserk Promotes Quentin Bradley

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Artificial intelligence-driven global rights management agency Muserk has promoted Quentin Bradley to Head of Product. Bradley previously handled Global Rights Management. He will based out of the company’s Nashville office, reporting to Muserk’s CEO/Founder Paul Goldman.

Bradley will help oversee Muserk’s work in the music, film, television, and video space, including rights management, monetization, royalty reporting, and distribution. He will be a major liaison with the company’s Business Development department. The Berklee College of Music grad has worked as a musician, professional services technical engineer, and more.

“Quentin has such a deep understanding not only for our product but for the company’s core values” said Goldman. “His dedication to the company and his skill to agilely create new standard operating procures and the ability to implement them make him an invaluable part of the team.”

“It’s simple,” said Bradley. “I love music, I love technology, and I love problem-solving. I couldn’t ask for a more fulfilling role, nor could I ask for a better team with which to work. Muserk’s collective knowledge of copyright and technology is invaluable, and it’s an honor to be a part of the group building solutions directed at the industry’s biggest challenges.”

Westwood One Launching ‘Nights With Elaina’ Show In February

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Elaina Smith

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is launching a new syndicated radio show, Nights with Elaina, hosted by award-winning radio and podcast host Elaina Smith, on February 3.

Smith has hosted shows in San Diego, Florida, and on over 100 stations simultaneously on NASH Nights Live, as well as hosting the syndicated weekend show, With Elaina and the award-winning podcast Breaking Thru with Elaina.

“Today’s country music genre is young, fresh and modern, and Nights with Elaina fits the bill perfectly,” said Charles Steinhauer, Chief Operating Officer, Westwood One. “Elaina is a force of nature when it comes to connecting with her listeners and some of the biggest names in entertainment today. She’s ‘always-on’ and available to be heard every weekday night, over the weekend, and on-demand with her podcast and socials, making Elaina the quintessential modern broadcast personality.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to have spent the last six years of my life with the best country music fans in the nation every single weeknight, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to continue connecting with them with a new show, Nights with Elaina,” said Smith. “If there is one thing I’ve learned that listeners and stars have in common, it’s that we’re all just trying to figure out life and have fun while doing it.”

DISClaimer: Morgan Wallen, Jason James Lead New Music Releases

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Happy New Year, country-music fans.

Today, we have all kinds of contemporary country sounds, from rock-country to bluegrass-country, from rap-country to country-country.

In the last category, put your hands together for a Texas wonder named Jason James. He is country, country, country, and is my DisCovery Award winner, hands down.

The Disc of the Day belongs to that consistent charmer, Morgan Wallen.

TAYLON HOPE/Could’ve Been A Country Song
Writers: Bill DiLuigi/Taylon Hope; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed; SESAC/BMI; GTR (track)
– She’s still a teen, but she sure knows her way around a song. This soaring rocker depicts rural romance with verve and panache. The nicely crafted lyric is married to a propulsive production that fires on all cylinders. Very promising.

SAM HUNT/Sinning With You
Writers: Sam Hunt/Paul DiGiovanni/Josh Osborne/Emily Weisband; Producer: Bryce Cain/Zach Crowell; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– I love the minimalism of this. The stark production throws all the emphasis on the ultra romantic, sensual lyric and the sincerity of the vocal performance. Excellent work.

SONG SUFFRAGETTES/The Man
Writer: Taylor Swift/Joel Little; Producers: Taylor Swift/Joel Little; Publisher: UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA – UBEM, EMI Music Publishing, LatinAutor, Sony ATV Publishing, BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., CMRRA, LatinAutor – SonyATV, SOLAR Music Rights Management; Label: SS
– Awesome job, ladies — 17 members of the Nashville female, singer-songwriter collective have teamed up for this delightful “Me2” video and track. It’s a cover of a current Taylor Swift song that totally suits the group’s ethos. The Suffragettes have been challenging country’s gender discrimination for five years now, but never more forcefully than here. Check it out, because it is super bodacious. (For the record, the sisterhood-is-powerful voices assembled here belong to Chloe Gilligan, Sarabeth Taite, Reyna Roberts, Maddison Krebs, Tasji, Regan Stewart, Emily Brooke, Erin Grand, Caroline Marquard, Mia Morris, Michelle Pereira, Nora Collins, Gray Robinson, Raquel Cole, Stevie Woodward, Lexi Lauren and Carter Faith — that’s in the order of their appearance in the video).

BLAKE SHELTON & GWEN STEFANI/Nobody But You
Writers: Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Tommy Lee James; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Downtown/BMG Rights/Words & Music/Big Deal, no performance rights listed; Warner Music
– Lusciously romantic. The lyric is dynamite, and the echoey production shudders and thunders quietly behind Blake’s intense lead-vocal performance. Gwen’s harmony and soft interjections are mixed in a gently ear-tickling fashion. A dandy listening experience.

FLAT RIVER BAND/Every Dog Has Its Day
Writer: Chad Sitze; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Early Bird (track)
– Hillbilly charming. The sound is kinda bluegrass-with-a-beat. The fiddle and dobro make merry with the snappy drumming and deep bass while the three group members dish out their flannel-shirt, trio harmonies.

MORGAN WALLEN/This Bar
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Michael Hardy/Jackson Morgan/Jake Scott/Ernest K. Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– I love everything about this. Love his stone-country writing, his roadhouse attitude, his drawling singing voice and the tempo, tempo, tempo production. I even love Morgan’s individualistic fashion sense. This man is a star.

JASON JAMES/Seems Like Tears Ago
Writer: Jason James; Producer: John Evans; Publisher; Jason James, BMI; Melodyville (track)
– Say “amen,” somebody. This guy is so country it hurts, and I mean, “hurts so good.” The spirit of George Jones hovers over this steel-drenched honky-tonk lament. If you love real country music, stop what you’re doing right now and spin this on YouTube. Sign me up for the fan club.

THE CADILLAC THREE/All The Makin’s of a Saturday Night
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Josh Dunne/Neil Mason; Producers: Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– These guys continue to plow the ground between hard rock and country, this time adding a quasi-rap vocal performance. It’s not at all my cup of tea, but ESPN has been using the track during its college-football broadcasts.

MATT KENNON/Love Is Stronger
Writer: Mike Mobley; Producer: Paul Worley; Publisher: none listed; Roaddawg (track)
– It’s a power ballad with a potent message of recovery and triumph. He’s not the world’s greatest vocalist, but he gets the job done thanks to urgency and oomph.

HARDY, LAUREN ALAINA, & DEVIN DAWSON/One Beer
Writers: Hillary Lindsay/Jake Mitchell/Michael Wilson Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi/Derek Wells; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– Ya have a couple of brews, and the next thing ya know, yer in a trailer park with babies running around all over the place. Hick hop.

Canaan Smith Kicks Off Headlining Tour In February

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Canaan Smith is kicking off 2020 with his new headlining Pour Decisions Tour. Named after Smith’s latest release, the trek launches February 21 in Rootstown, OH, hitting several cities through March, with special guests REDFERRIN, Noah Schnacky and Kylie Morgan joining on select dates.

“This is gonna be a big year, and I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than by hitting the road and heading to a few of my favorite cities,” said Smith. “A new year means new music, and the Pour Decisions Tour is just a taste of what’s coming up. I can’t wait for people to hear what I’ve been workin’ on.”

“Pour Decisions” was written by Smith with Corey Crowder, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, and Ernest K Smith, and tells the unapologetic story of a breakup and the “pour” decisions that ensue. Smith was the first artist signed to Round Here Records, the brainchild of Florida Georgia Line superstars Tyler Hubbard and Kelley, and released two other party tunes in 2019, “Beer Drinkin’ Weather” and the rowdy “Country Boy Things,” along with an emotional ode to his wife, “Life Ain’t Fair.” He’s currently at work in the studio on more new music due out soon.

Canaan Smith’s Pour Decisions Tour Dates:
February 21 – Rootstown, OH – The Dusty Armadillo *+
February 22 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s on Weed Street *+
March 6 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s *^
March 7 – Greenville, SC – The Blind Horse Saloon *^
March 21 – Columbia, SC – St. Pat’s in Five Points
March 27 – Savannah, GA – Saddle Bags *+
March 28 – Tifton, GA – Terminal South *+

* REDFERRIN
+ Noah Schnacky
^ Kylie Morgan

Jim Selby Elevated To Chief Operating Officer At Concord

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Credit: Holly Tutor Photography

Jim Selby has been promoted at Concord from Chief Revenue Officer to Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Selby will report directly to Concord CEO Scott Pascucci and will continue to be based in Nashville. In this new role, Selby will oversee IT, rights optimization, repertoire management, royalty administration, licensing administration, D2C operations and distribution among other global strategic initiatives for Concord.

Selby joined Concord as General Manager of Concord Music Group, where he helped to develop an efficient shared services team for the growing recorded music area of Concord’s business. He was soon elevated to Chief Revenue Officer where he oversaw the company’s strategic revenue collections as well as music technology investments. Prior to Concord, Selby was SVP of ole Media Management (now Anthem Entertainment) and was CEO of Naxos of America for 16 years.

“Jim is an exceptional executive and we are fortunate to have him as a colleague,” said Pascucci. “Our rapid and diverse growth has required us to be adept at integration and persistent at revenue collection, and Jim has excelled at both. His broad skill set will be well-deployed in his new role. Congratulations to him on a very well-deserved promotion.”

“I am extremely proud to be a part of Concord and would like to thank Scott and the rest of the executive team for this opportunity,” said Selby. “Our rapid growth in recent years has required much hard work and innovation and I am excited to be able to focus on sharpening our operating services to better serve our roster of artists, playwrights, composers and songwriters.”

 

ASCAP Experience Announces Second Annual ‘In The Round’ Concert At Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe

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ASCAP and the Bluebird Cafe will lead the second annual Nashville ASCAP Experience “In The Round” concert on Jan. 14 beginning at 6 p.m. CT, which will preview the upcoming ASCAP Experience—set for April 1-3 in downtown Los Angeles at the InterContinental Hotel.

Chris DeStefano, J.T. Harding, Brett James and Cassadee Pope will headline the event, which will be hosted by ASCAP VP, Membership Mike Sistad.

Previous keynote speakers and panelists have included Chris Stapleton, Lee Ann Womack, Ashley Gorley, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Justin Timberlake, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor and Tom Petty.

For tickets and more information about the 15th annual ASCAP Experience visit ascapexperience.com. The promo code “BLUEBIRD” can be used for 10% off non-member pricing through Jan. 22.

For tickets and more information about the Bluebird in-the-round event visit: bluebirdcafe.com/calendar. The Bluebird Cafe is located at 4104 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Women’s Music Business Association Elects 2020 Officers And Committee Co-Chairs

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Pictured (L-R): Ellen Mundy, Kaleigh Imbriale, Emily Boardman, Kelsey Wise, Nina Schollnick, Dana Dickie, Lauren Simon, Baylee Kuss

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has revealed newly-elected Officers and Committee Co-Chairs for 2020, including  Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment), Nina Schollnick (CSM Management), Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group), Kaleigh Imbriale (TEDxNashville), Ellen Mundy (WORKS Entertainment), Baylee Kuss (Big Deal Music Group), and Lauren Simon (Capitol CMG). They join existing officer Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group), now in the second year of her term as Treasurer.

Brandi Simms has been elected Chairperson for the WMBA Board of Directors. mtheory LLC’s Cameo Carlson also joins as a new Board Member.

Current WMBA Officers, Committee Co-Chairs and Board members are listed below:

WMBA Officers:
President – Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment)
Vice President – Nina Schollnick (CSM Management)
Secretary –  Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group)
Treasurer – Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group)

Committee Co-Chairs:
Events & Education – Kaleigh Imbriale (TEDxNashville) & Ellen Mundy (WORKS Entertainment)
Membership & Marketing – Baylee Kuss (Big Deal Music Group) & Lauren Simon (Capitol CMG)

WMBA Board of Directors:
Chairperson – Brandi Simms (Moo TV/Moo Creative/The Steel Mill)
Cameo Carlson (mtheory LLC)
Lindsey Clark (Deaton Flanigen)
Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting)
Cindy Hunt (Monarch Publicity)
Legal Counsel – Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP)
WMBA President – Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment)
WMBA Vice President – Nina Schollnick (CSM Management)
WMBA Secretary –  Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group)
WMBA Treasurer – Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group)

Nashville Live Music Veteran Stephen Gudis Passes Away

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Stephen Gudis

Nashville live music veteran Stephen Gudis passed away on Jan. 6.

After decades in the business, Gudis’ career stops included work in event production, tour/stage management and promotion. He most recently served as television stage manager for Farm Aid, as well as production stage manager for Event Production LLC. He founded The Production Department, LLC and was a board member of the Parnelli Awards.

Gudis began his work in Nashville working for Pace Concerts in 1989. He would eventually work on the Country Music Award shows, as well as with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Charlie Daniels. Gudis has also been credited for producing the Concert Industry Consortium (CIC), the predecessor conference to Pollstar Live!, in Nashville.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tenn.. A Celebration of Life Event will take place in a few weeks, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to MusiCares or the Tennessee Kidney Foundation.

Cody Webb Inks Deal With Copperline Music Group

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(L-R): Back row: Senior Executive Producer Adrian Kulp, Copperline Music Group’s Rusty Harmon, Co-host Chuck Wicks. (L-R) front row: Producer Lauren Smith, Copperline Music Group’s Cody Webb, Host Ty Bentli, Co-host Sami Shea, and Producer Bryan Webb

Cody Webb has signed a record deal with Copperline Music Group. The official announcement was made today (Jan. 8) on the nationally syndicated morning show, “The Ty Bentli Show.”

The South Carolina native independently released three singles in 2019, with a CMT video premiere for “Gettin’ Somewhere,” as well as headlining a 20-state tour and being featured in the official intro video for the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville. He also earned a co-writing cut for “Memories Are Made Of” – co-written with Luke Combs and Ray Fulcher on Combs’ debut album, This One’s For You. Webb is currently working on his forthcoming debut album and is set for a breakout year in 2020 with his new label home.

 

Stephanie Meyers Named Outback Presents Show Coordinator

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Stephanie Meyers joins Outback Presents as a newly-appointed Show Coordinator.

Meyers, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago’s music business program, comes to Outback following a five-year stint with Goldenvoice where she served as Ticketing Manager for several Los Angeles-based clubs and theaters. Prior to Goldenvoice, she worked as Artist Relations Manager for the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival based in Logan Square, Chicago.

“It’s extremely inspiring to be surrounded by so much talent here at Outback Presents,” says Meyers. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the growing team and expand my knowledge of talent buying. I look forward to what 2020 has to bring!”

Meyers can be reached via email at stephanie.meyers@outbackpresents.com.