Skyville Records Scores Sony Distribution

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Stealing Angels

Skyville Records has entered an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Sony Music Nashville. The fall debut from Stealing Angels will be the first release via the new partnership.

Under the agreement, Sony Music Nashville will offer manufacturing, sales, copyright administration and website development. Under the creative direction of producer Paul Worley, Skyville will find, develop and produce the talent, as well as handle promotion, business development and legal affairs for its roster.
“Paul Worley has amassed an amazing track record through the years,” remarks Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. “Supported by his talented staff and roster, Skyville is poised for an exciting future, and we’re privileged to share in it.”
“Our partnership with Sony Nashville is a distinctive one,” declares Kevin Herring, Skyville Records President. “This speaks volumes about Gary’s vision for the future and for our mutual commitment to reshaping the music business in the 21st Century.”
Industry veterans Worley, Wally Wilson and Glen Morgan joined forces in 2004 to launch Skyline Publishing. Wayne Halper joined the organization in 2009 as head of business and legal affairs. After many years of successful chart action, the partners founded Skyville Records in 2010, with a focus and emphasis towards toward recognizing and nurturing the talents of new artists and artist/songwriters.

A Message from Al & Dawn Bunetta

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Dear Friends & Family,
The past few weeks have been indescribable for our family. Losing our beloved son Juri Bunetta was a tragedy like no other. But through this event, we found out so much more about him, the rest of our family and even ourselves.
We learned that true friendship has no limits or boundaries. It is timeless. And we learned of the lasting and large impact our son had on the lives of not only his family, but also his peers at school and at work. We will take solace in these stories and memories for the days, weeks and years to come.
To all of you who have comforted us and helped our family navigate through this unknown, we thank you. We are truly humbled by your sustained love and prayers. Let us all move forward with love and forgiveness for one another. We will turn this sorrow and anger into joy and understanding. Thank you.
-Al & Dawn Bunetta

FBMM Promotes Julie Boos, Trey Dunaway

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Julie Boos


Nashville-based business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy (FBMM) has announced that Julie Boos, business manager, Nashville; and Trey Dunaway, chief compliance officer and vice president of tax and royalties; have become vice presidents and owner/shareholders of the firm.
Dunaway and Boos join founding owners Chuck Flood, Frank Bumstead and Mary Ann McCready, as well as more recent owners Jamie Cheek, Duane Clark, and Carmen Romano. According to the firm, these promotions complete and solidify its second generation of ownership.
Boos is a 1992 graduate of Kansas State University and a 2006 graduate of Belmont’s Massey School of Business where she earned her MBA. The Hiawatha, KS, native is president of the Nashville Film Festival Board and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Music.

Trey Dunaway


Dunaway is a 1996 honors graduate of Vanderbilt, who earned his MBA in 1997 from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management. He became a CPA in 2003. The Thomson, GA, native has also earned the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist designation. He is the former director of finance for the Universal Music Group, a current member of the AICPA and TN Society of CPAs, and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Music.
Established in 1990, FBMM specializes in comprehensive business management for music artists, athletes and more. It has offices in Nashville and New York City, with clients including Kings of Leon, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, My Chemical Romance, Pearl Jam, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Gnarls Barkley, Dierks Bentley, MGMT, and John Hiatt.

[update] Nick Hunter Memorial Celebration

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[Updated] Organizers are offering a live Internet stream for Nickfest, a celebration of Nick Hunter’s life and legacy to be held January 25, 2011, at 6 p.m. at 2602 Soundstage (2602 Westwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37204).
For those not able to make it to Nashville for Nickfest (or if you know friends of Nick that can’t), click HERE and join us live via uStream. Let us know you’re watching by using the chat box. We won’t be chatting with you on the broadcast but we’d like to know you’re watching. Please pass along to anyone you know that might want to join us by internet.
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Friends of late music executive Nick Hunter are organizing Nickfest, a celebration of his life and legacy, to be held Tues., January 25, 2011, at 6 p.m. at 2602 Soundstage (2602 Westwood Dr. Nashville, TN 37204).
Music industry colleagues and fellow baseball buddies are encouraged to attend and bring their favorite Nick Hunter stories to share. Organizers say dress for the evening will be standard “Nick Attire.”
Hunter’s family, including wife Margie and children Kate and Sam, are assembling a photo gallery to be displayed at the memorial and would like friends to send images of Nick (digital or print) to [email protected] or to 2709 Woodlawn Drive, Nashville, TN 37212.
Please RSVP for the memorial by January 18 to [email protected].
Those wishing to make memorial donations can send them to the American Cancer Society, the Nashville Humane Association, or to 2709 Woodlawn Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. Donations will also be collected at Nickfest.
Organizers suggest the following accommodations for out-of-town guests:
Hampton Inn Suites, 2330 Elliston Place. 615-320-6060
Courtyard by Marriot, 1901 West End Ave. 615-327-9900
Holiday Inn Select Vanderbilt, 2613 West End Ave. 615-327-4707

ACM Nominations Coming Next Week

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Ronnie Dunn and Miranda Lambert


On Tues., Feb. 1 Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn will announce the nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Nominations for the 46th annual event will be revealed that morning at a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
The ACM Awards, known as Country Music’s Party of the Year™, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Last year’s nominations announcement aired on the CBS Early Show.

“Memphis Mafia” Member Lamar Fike Passes

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Lamar Fike, an enduring member of Elvis Presley’s so-called “Memphis Mafia,” as well as a Music Row businessman, has died in Arlington, Texas.
Mr. Fike was 75 years old. Born in Cleveland, Mississippi on Nov. 11, 1935, he was briefly a radio disc jockey at KEBE in Jacksonville, FL. He joined Presley’s inner circle in 1957. After Red West, he was the longest tenured of the Memphis Mafia members.
He remained by Presley’s side during the star’s Army service in Germany. Following their return, he became Presley’s tour manager.
Beginning in 1961, he alternated between being in Presley’s camp and serving as the road manager for Brenda Lee. In 1963, Mr. Fike moved to Nashville to run the Hill and Range Publishing office. He continued in this capacity until 1972.
He brought Presley such songs as “Kentucky Rain,” “Indescribably Blue” and “It Hurts Me.”

Elvis and Lamar Fike


When Presley began starring in Las Vegas, Mr. Fike became his lighting director. He remained by Presley’s side up until the star’s death in 1977.
In later years, Lamar Fike returned to Nashville to work as an assistant to record producer and label executive Jimmy Bowen, most notably during Bowen’s tenure as the head of Capitol Records, 1989-1995.
Mr. Fike was the co-author of the 2005 book Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. He also appeared in the documentaries The Elvis Mob (2004) and All the King’s Men (1997). At the time of his death, he was reportedly writing his memoir, Fike: An Uncommon Journey.
Mr. Fike had been hospitalized for lymphoma, on and off, since last October. He died Friday, January 21, according to fellow Memphis Mafia member Marty Lacker. The Brown, Owen, Brumley Funeral Home in Ft. Worth, Texas is handing the funeral arrangements. Mr. Fike wished to be cremated. According to Lacker, a memorial service will be held in Mart, Texas at a date to be announced later.

CMA To Receive LM's Dale Franklin Award

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The Country Music Association will be the 2011 recipient of the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award, it was announced today (1/24). The organization will be bestowed with the honor Tuesday, May 17 at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel.
“Leadership Music is excited to recognize CMA as the 2011 recipient of the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award,” says Jamie Cheek, president of Leadership Music Board of Directors. “As one of the foremost leaders in the music business, CMA has played an integral role in supporting many great artists as well as numerous businesses and organizations, including Leadership Music. We look forward to an extraordinarily special and intimate evening celebrating CMA’s accomplishments and years of service to our industry and community.”
The Dale Franklin Award was created in 2004 to recognize a music industry leader who exemplifies the highest quality of leadership and leading by example. Since the honor’s inception in 2004, recipients have included Tony Brown (2004), Gerry House (2005), Emmylou Harris (2006), Frances W. Preston (2007), The Bradley Family: Owen, Harold, Jerry, Connie and Patsy (2008); Garth Brooks, Jim Foglesong and Allen Reynolds (2009); and Fred Foster, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson (2010).
Analysis: Over the last three years, groups of individuals have been honored for the Dale Franklin Award but CMA is the first ever organization to be recognized. Leadership Music Exec. Dir. Karen Oertley explains that, while the award has historically been given to individuals, the criteria language specifies only that it will be awarded to a music industry “leader.” The Leadership Music board of directors felt that CMA’s initiatives such as the Awards, Music Festival, and Songwriter Series, combined with the generous donation of all net proceeds ($2.9 million) from the 2010 CMA Music Festival for flood relief and music education made all speak very favorably toward CMA’s leadership role in the community.
Tickets for this invitation-only event will be available in March.

Publishing Notes: Kobalt, BMG

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Kobalt Music Group is expanding its core business beyond music publishing to include the administration and marketing of other rights such as neighboring rights, synch rights for master recordings, and others to be announced later this year.
The company has worked for the last 18 months to develop a global extended rights collections platform which combines multiple rights into one large database. Kobalt’s new online synch database and licensing system will debut in late spring 201l at www.kobaltmusic.com.
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BMG has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Notable Music Co., the entity founded by Cy Coleman. In addition to Coleman’s prestigious catalogue, BMG will represent the rights of Notable Music Co.’s full catalogue including the works of Bobby Hebb, Clifton Davis, Rosanne Cash, Wax Poetics, Chico Mann, Adriane Young, Aja West/The Mackrosoft and new masters by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sam Phillips.
BMG also announced that its North American division has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) which sees BMG handling all of the artist’s administration, collection and exploitation efforts worldwide on both back catalogue and recent releases.

Engineer Jim Williamson Passes

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Jim Williamson, the recording engineer known for work with Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, passed away at his Nashville area home on Jan. 20. He was 75, and died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Williamson played a role in recordings classics such as Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” and Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album.
In fact, Williamson was behind the board when Dylan recorded “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” He handled it with ease when Dylan insisted on recording the song in a single take, in the dark.
Williamson ran the boards for Country Music Hall of Fame producers Don Law, Owen Bradley, Ken Nelson and Billy Sherrill. He is also credited with being one of the first Nashville engineers to provide musicians with headphones during the recording process.
Williamson also helped a young Kristofferson, working as a studio janitor at the time, record the demos that ultimately led to his signing at Monument Records.
“He was a great listener and a father figure to a lot of people,” says hit producer Garth Fundis. “He was a really awesome man—honest to a fault.”
“He was one of the finest engineers I ever worked with in Nashville,” agrees Haggard, who enlisted Williamson for more than 10 years.
Williamson was a devoted family man who would have celebrated his 50th anniversary with wife Edith this year. He is survived by Edith; daughter Debbie Williamson, of San Diego; daughter Suzy Pender, of Nashville; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son, Jimmy Williamson.
Williamson’s body is being cremated. Per his wishes, services will be private. No public memorial will be held.

Jim Williamson and granddaughter Claire Pender on Easter Day 2010.

Surprise Party Honors Galante

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Thirty nine years is a long career span to be in one industry. But when it’s all at the same company—and as its leader for most of the time—then the proper word is “remarkable.” And so it seemed perfectly natural that a group of friends organized an evening with an invitation that read, “Join Us As We celebrate Joe Galante’s remarkable 39 years with RCA, BMG and Sony Music.” The party was hosted by a who’s who of industry heavyweights [see invitation graphic for a list] and held under a large tent next to Ronnie and Janine Dunn’s barn. Oh yeah, the invite also warned, “Please keep this a secret. It’s a surprise for Joe.”
About 135 guests (Joe’s fans—we were holding fans with his face on them) were waiting inside the tent when the “Chairman” arrived. As he told the crowd later, “I thought I was going with my wife Phran to an animal rescue fund raising event.” He was really surprised. (Keeping a secret among that many people in the music industry is pretty remarkable in itself.)
Seen schmoozing merrily under the big top and offering congratulations was an amazing collection of artists and industry leaders including Troy Tomlinson, Allen Butler, Skip Bishop, Steve and Ree Guyer Buchanan, Mary Ann McCready, Robert Deaton, Dale Morris, Tom Collins, Alan Kates, Tammy Genovese, David Gales, Jimmy Rector, Keith Stegall, David Corlew, Michael Vaden, Craig Wiseman, Clay Bradley, Pat Higdon, Tony Conway, Lisa Harless, Mark Bright, Mike Dungan, Luke Lewis, Clarence Spalding, Tom Baldrica, Allen Brown and Doc McGhee. Also present were Alan Jackson, The Warren Brothers, Renee Bell, Terry Hemmings, Barbara Mandrell, K.T. Oslin, Cindy Mabe, Ed Hardy, Sarah Trahern, Greg Hill, Whitney Daane, Nancy Russell, Paul Barnabee, Clint Higham and Lorrie Morgan.


(L-R): Joe Galante, Martina McBride and John McBride

Butch Waugh kicked off the program…which began with a short video containing a photo collage and a humorous vintage video clip of an evening when K.T. Oslin guest hosted Ralph Emery’s TNN evening talk show. She had Mr. Galante as a guest and after a bit of banter, she told the crowd that industry exec’s are so important, “but they’re not very interesting.” The tent crowd loved it…
Next was a group of speakers that told “Joe” stories. Kenny Chesney recalled that he was performing in an East TN bar when he heard that Joe had signed him to the label. “Joe changed my life,” Kenny testified with total sincerity.
Chesney also told a funny story of how it took some time to get used to Joe’s way of doing things, especially since Joe was from New York. “I had just finished recording some tracks and called Joe hoping he might come down the street to hear them that minute. I was brought up to say ‘Hey what are you doing? Are you busy?’ But when I said that to Joe, he snapped, ‘What do you mean what am I doing? I’m trying to keep this label train on its tracks. Of course I’m busy….”
Chesney’s story highlighted something that Joe’s friends in the tent already knew. He’s always been focused, organized and serious about giving 110% and not especially interested in small talk. But as several artists noted, if Joe believed in you, having him working to make your career successful was a treasured asset.
Kix Brooks praised Joe’s ability to “say the right things at the right time,” to him and partner Ronnie Dunn when the famous duo hit a rough patch in 2000. “Galante was able to renew our faith in what we were doing and inspire us, thereby adding an additional 10 career years,” Brooks said gratefully.
John Rich thanked Galante for getting “two shots.” “First with Lonestar, and then later as a solo act. He believed in what I was doing and gave me the chances.” (Speaking of shots, there were “39 Years” party-favor shot glasses, filled with tequila.)
Gerry House emceed, injecting a few of his trademark zingers in between speakers. House is another executive already sorely missed since he recently stepped down from his morning radio show post. (But that’s a story for another party…)
As the evening drew to a close, for those of us who witnessed many of Joe’s 39 years, it felt like more than just the end of a great party, it felt like the end of a era…

(L-R): Phran Galante, Barbara Brooks, Nancy Russell, Ronnie Dunn, Clint Higham, Butch Waugh, Joe Galante, Renee Bell and Kix Brooks