Tanya Tucker, Jack Ingram, Lori McKenna, Brandy Clark Among Americana Fest Performers

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Tanya Tucker, Jack Ingram; (L-R, bottom row): Lori McKenna, Brandy Clark

The Americana Music Association announced today the first 115 of close to 300 acts slated to perform at their annual Americana Fest, which runs from Sept. 10-15 in Nashville, Tenn. Among the artists part of first group announced are Tanya Tucker, Jack Ingram, Lori McKenna, Brandy Clark, American Aquarium, Aubrie Sellers, Caroline Spence, The Dip, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, J.S. Ondara, The Marcus King Band, Rainbow Girls, Kelsey Waldon, and more.

2019 Americana Fest Festival Wristbands are now available online here. Festival Wristbands allow admission into all evening showcase venues and select sanctioned special events.

List of Artists and Bands Confirmed to Showcase at Americana Fest 2019:

Ken Burns, PBS Partner With Belmont University For ‘Country Music’ Educational Initiative

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(L-R): Marty Dickens, chairman of Belmont’s Board of Trustees; Ken Burns, director/producer of “Country Music”; Julie Dunfey, producer of “Country Music”; Dr. Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University; and Dayton Duncan, writer/producer of “Country Music”

Acclaimed Country Music director Ken Burns joined Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher yesterday (May 29) to unveil two Martin D-28 Guitars signed by 76 of the 101 country music artists interviewed for the highly anticipated eight-part, 16-hour film scheduled to premiere on PBS stations on September 15.

Among the signatures on the guitars, which will be on display in Belmont’s Gallery of Iconic Guitars, are: Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Kris Kristofferson, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks and others. Thirty-seven of those who signed the guitars are Country Music Hall of Fame members and 15 have since passed away.

In addition, Burns announced a collection of educational resources prepared by PBS and the Belmont faculty that will reach middle and high school students across the country. The materials, including video and lesson plans drawn from the research that went into the film, will explore American history through country music, illustrating the extent to which this distinctly American art form reflects the times in which it evolved. Materials will cover the musical style, the genre’s history, and the workings of the music industry. Students and teachers will be able to access the collection for free on PBS Learning Media which reaches one million users each month throughout the school year.

“As with all of our films, we work with partners to help teachers and other educators share this history with students,” said Burns. “The history of country music provides an engaging, thoughtful and often soulful way to help students understand unique parts of the American story. Perhaps most importantly, from this unique art form, which was created by so-called ordinary Americans often struggling with extraordinary hardship, we see how the ‘rub’ of American cultures gives birth to country – and really gives birth to who we are as a people.”

“Belmont’s lengthy history as a magnet for young people interested in studying music, songwriting, performance, motion pictures and the entertainment industry made our sponsorship of Country Music a perfect pairing,” added Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher. “We are honored to now be able to showcase the signed guitars that serve as such a unique and visible emblem of this project, but we’re even more excited to demonstrate the talents of our faculty to high school and middle school students across the country. These men and women are experts in their fields and can lend great insights to country music’s role within, and impact on, American history.”

Derek Austin Signs Co-Pub Deal With JRM Publishing And Round Hill Music

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Derek Austin has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with JRM Publishing and Round Hill Music Nashville.

Austin grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota and learned to play guitar and started writing his own songs during college in Washington. After college, he spent time in Alaska as an Air Traffic Controller before ultimately making the move to Nashville to pursue his real passion, music. He is currently writing songs for his first album.

“Derek has already hit the ground running writing some amazing songs and I can’t wait for the world to hear them. He has an authentic and powerful voice and a story to tell. We are incredibly lucky to be working with him,” says Jimmy Robbins.

“Our partnership with Jimmy Robbins and JRM Publishing continues to flourish with the addition of Derek. We look forward to achieving even more success,” said Mark Brown, SVP & GM of Round Hill.

JRM Publishing is a boutique publishing company based out of Nashville with a diverse roster of writers including Jimmy Robbins, Eric Arjes, Derek Austin, and kyd the band. 

Round Hill Music Nashville has celebrated over 25 No. 1 songs since opening its doors in 2014. Its roster of writers includes Eric Arjes, Derek Austin, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley,  Wade Kirby, kyd the band, Danny Myrick, Katie Pruitt, and Jimmy Robbins. Through its partnership with Big Loud Shirt, Round Hill also represents Craig Wiseman, Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem, Joey Moi, Jamie Moore, and Chris Tompkins. Other notable catalogs include those of Bob DiPiero, Florida Georgia Line, Josh Kear, and Marti Frederiksen.

Back row (L-R): Josh Saxe, Round Hill A&R, Mark Brown, Round Hill A&R, Jimmy Robbins, Sarah Robbins, JRM Publishing.  Front row (L-R): Matthew Beckett, Legal counsel, Chip Petree, Legal counsel, Derek Austin

Grammy Music Education Coalition, NAMM Host Nashville Music Tech Conference

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The Grammy Music Education Coalition (GMEC) with funding from The NAMM Foundation is supporting the Metro Nashville Public Schools Music Technology Conference, a two-day gathering May 30-31 at Martin Luther King Magnet High School that offers relevant music education training, tools, recording technology equipment, sessions, and workshops for over 100 teachers.

Keynote speaker Professor Beverly Keel of Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Recording Industry kicked off the conference today to engage teachers in an interactive discussion on preparing students for careers in music through 21st century trends and technology.

Following the keynote presentation, the Music Technology Conference will feature panel discussions and sessions on the basics of sound systems, student assessment software, Quaver Curriculum, technology for instrumental ensembles, best practices, and more from Belmont University speakers, as well as organizations like MusicFirst, Quaver Music, Romeo Music, and others. Teachers will get the chance to learn from individuals in the music industry how to incorporate these topics in their classrooms.

The conference builds off the work that GMEC has done in Nashville schools, such as helping fund a new recording studio. GMEC with The NAMM Foundation is also investing in Philadelphia schools with programs like DASH (Destined To Achieve Successful Heights) which brings innovative classes such as songwriting, music production, music business, publishing, and more to Philadelphia schools.

Music Technology Conference Topics:
  • Preparing Students for a Career in Music
  • Sound System and Recording Technology Basics
  • Free Web-Based Music Applications
  • MusicFirst Tech-Based Learning Management System
  • Educating the “Next Musician”
  • Digital and Online Assessments in the Music Classroom
  • K-12 Best Practices in Music Technology
  • Teaching Music in the Cloud
  • Quaver Music Curriculum
  • Technology in the Instrumental Music Classroom
  • Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations
  • Digital Learning Spaces in the Music Classroom

Warner Chappell Music Acquires Gene Autry Music Group

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Gene Autry. Photo: Gene Autry Estate

Warner Chappell Music has acquired the four publishing companies comprising the Gene Autry Music Group. Together, these catalogues contain more than 1,500 songs, including classics such as Autry’s signature song, “Back In The Saddle Again,” and the holiday favorite, “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” as well as “Just Walkin’ In The Rain” and “You Belong To Me.” In addition, Warner Chappell Music will be administering many of the Autry estate’s master recordings to facilitate one-stop synchronization licensing.

“Gene Autry is an icon in American culture and a pioneer in the evolution of both country and pop music,” said Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair & CEO, Guy Moot, and Co-Chair & COO, Carianne Marshall. “He was not only an incredibly gifted and prolific songwriter, but he assembled an extraordinary publishing catalogue filled with timeless classics and undiscovered gems. We are honored and privileged to be the stewards of this outstanding body of work and help preserve and enhance Gene Autry’s monumental legacy.”

Autry’s 70-year career encompassed work in radio, film, television, and live performances, including rodeo. He recorded over 640 songs, including more than 300 which he wrote or co-wrote, selling more than 100 million records. Autry has been honored by both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Autry also starred in 93 feature films and 91 television episodes of The Gene Autry Show. His popular Melody Ranch weekly radio show ran for 16 years. As Chairman of the Board of a broadcasting and business empire, he owned a string of radio and television stations across the country, along with hotels and other business interests. He was the original and long-time owner of the California Angels Major League Baseball team. In 1988, he founded the Autry Museum of the American West, located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

“The Gene Autry Music Group has a long association with Warner Chappell Music,” said Autry’s widow, Jackie Autry. “I’m delighted that Gene’s songs and music catalogues have found a good home with them. I know the music will be treasured and respected for years to come.”

Nashville’s Music Row Named One Of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced that Nashville’s Music Row was named to its 2019 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, an annual list that spotlights important examples of our nation’s architectural and cultural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.

Despite its role in the identity, economy, and culture of the city and Nashville’s reputation as Music City for more than 60 years, vital pieces of Nashville’s Music Row are being lost to growing pressure from Nashville’s rapid pace of development. Since 2013, there have been more than 50 demolitions on Music Row, as compared to the 13 demolitions that took place from 2000-2012. The majority of those demolitions were for new developments permitted by Specific Plan rezonings, for high-rise apartments and offices with no provisions to serve the music industry.

By naming Music Row to its 11 Most Endangered list, the National Trust is signaling its grave concern over the non-music industry related development on Music Row in recent years.

“Music Row is exactly the kind of cultural district that many other cities have been trying to create,” said Katherine Malone-France, interim chief preservation officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The sweeping arc of the past and present of the music industry can be felt in Nashville’s modest late-19th century bungalows and small-scale commercial buildings that have inspired and incubated the creation of music for generations. If demolitions and zoning exemptions continue, this one-of-a-kind musical ecosystem will be lost forever.”

The Metro Planning Department recently released its draft Music Row Vision Plan and is accepting public comment on the plan until June 3. Metro Nashville will hold elections Aug. 1 for mayor and members of Metro Council, marking an opportunity for citizens and fans of Music Row nationwide to voice their support for ensuring the community and character that makes Music Row a one-of-a-kind cultural district endures for generations.

The National Trust and its partner Historic Nashville, Inc. are asking the Metro Planning Department and Metro Nashville’s elected officials to make key changes to the draft Music Row Vision Plan and to enact the creation of new preservation tools including:

  1. Discontinue Specific Plan exemptions that ultimately encourage demolitions;
  2. Eliminate recommendations for increased building height allowances anywhere in the Music Row area;
  3. Designate Music Row as a Cultural Industry District in recognition of its unique role in Nashville’s economy and its worldwide significance
  4. Provide support to create a non-profit entity to promote and preserve Music Row that would manage a revolving fund to preserve significant properties for use by music businesses; provide financial options (such as low or no-interest loans) to music businesses for expansion, rehabilitation, retention, and innovation, and promote Music Row to attract new music businesses.
  5. “With the loss of so many historic resources since Music Row’s designation as a National Treasure in 2015, it’s critical that the city coalesces plans to protect this neighborhood—which is internationally renowned for its contribution to music culture—and keeps it viable for the creative class that built our music industry,” said Tim Walker, executive director of the Metro Nashville Historical Commission.

The National Trust’s national audience are encouraged to sign a letter to Nashville lawmakers urging them help preserve the area.

21st Annual SunTrust Hot Dog Day Set For June 6

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For over 20 years SunTrust has been hosting its annual Hot Dog Day every June and this year’s event, co-hosted by the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum, is set for June 6 at SunTrust on Music Row, 1026 17th Avenue South from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

As always there will be plenty of food, fun, and great entertainment provided by Warner Chappell Music featuring sets by Ben Gallaher and Johnny Dailey.

iHeartRadio Canada Launches Pure Country Brand

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iHeartRadio Canada has launched Canada’s first-ever, national country radio brand, Pure Country. Rolling out across 13 Canadian radio stations from Northern B.C. to Truro, NS , as well as the iHeartRadio Canada app and PureCountry.ca, Pure Country delivers everything country listeners love, now with a new name and look.

Pure Country is anchored by local morning and afternoon drive shows, while iHeartRadio Canada host Shannon Ella hosts a nationally syndicated midday show weekdays on all Pure Country stations. Ella joins the Pure Country team after on air positions with Today’s Country BX93 in London and KHJ in Fredericton.

Additional programming on Pure Country includes the iHeartRadio Pure Country Countdown, hosted by Sophie Moroz and Jeff Hopper, airing Saturday and Sundays on all Pure Country stations across Canada. The hosts count down the 20 biggest songs of the week, plus brand new music with “What’s On Tap”, a throwback with “Pure Country Yearbook”, and music from the “Feature Artist of the Week.”

Pure Country also airs the Bobby Bones Show during the evenings, and Bobby Bones Country Top 30 Countdown on the weekends from Nashville. Pure Country will also get exclusive access and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the biggest country festivals this summer, including Cavendish Beach Music Festival and Boots and Hearts Music Festival.

Nashville’s Hutton Hotel To Host Summer Songwriting Retreats

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Photo: Courtesy Hutton Hotel Nashville

Hutton Hotel in Nashville will host a series of weekend Writers Retreats in July, August and September 2019.

Aspiring songwriters will be able to learn from other writers and sound engineers during each of the three four-day workshops. Guests will spend time in the hotel’s writer studios learning about the creative process, see the sights of Nashville, and leave the weekend with their first recordings. The Writers Retreats will be under the direction Adam Taylor, Technical Production and Writers Studio Manager, who has recorded eight Grammy-nominated albums, and Jill Schmidt, Director of Programming for Analog at Hutton Hotel.

The retreat will host an intimate group of up to four guests for each weekend, each staying in their own one bedroom suite or Executive King room at the iconic hotel. Songwriter Jamie Floyd will host in July and September, and Pete Sallis will host in August.  Sound engineer Sean Sullivan will work with the writers to learn how to lay down tracks in the Studios.

The Writers Retreat package includes accommodations in Hutton Hotel’s Executive King, Midtown One-Bedroom or West End One-Bedroom suites; a food and beverage credit of $250 to use throughout the stay; welcome reception in the Writers Studios; time with a songwriter in the Writers Studios; time with a sound engineer in the Writers Studios; solo time in the hotel’s Writers Studios for writing and brainstorming.  Rates for the Writers Retreats begin at $2,420 plus tax for three nights for an Executive King.

Maren Morris and Zedd recorded their smash hit “The Middle” at the Hutton Hotel’s Writers Studios. Dierks Bentley and Ryan Tedder helped idealize the concept each of the writer’s studios, which opened in 2017.

SOURCE Honors 2019 Hall Of Fame Inductees During Nashville Luncheon

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Pictured (standing, L-R): Grace Reinbold, Sarah Brosmer, Beverly Keel, Erika Wollam-Nichols. (Sitting, L-R): Gayle Hill, Judi Turner Trisha Walker-Cunningham
Photo: Ed Rode

SOURCE Nashville held its monthly luncheon at ASCAP on May 23, celebrating the seven women who will soon be inducted into the SOURCE Hall of Fame.

The 2019 inductees are Sarah Brosmer (WMFD Radio, Ray Stevens Music, MusiVerse, a division of PolyGram, Compleat Records, MCA Records, Sony Records, Lytle Management), Gayle Hill (Epic Records, G Hill & Company, Sound City Tours), Beverly Keel (Nashville Banner, Polydor Records, American Profile, People magazine, Tennessean, UMG Nashville, MTSU); Grace Reinbold (World Wide Media, What A Trip! Inc., rockUnashville), Judi Turner (Country Music Association, Network Ink, Turner &  Company, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Leadership Music), Trisha Walker-Cunningham (Radio Luxembourg London, UK, MC Promotions London, UK, TWI, Trisha Walker International, Nashville, TN) and Erika Wollam-Nichols (Greater Nashville Arts Foundation, Pro-Tours, NSAI, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, WPLN; Nashville Public Radio, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, The First Amendment Center, The Bluebird Cafe).

Presented by Springer Mountain Farms, this year marks the 17th anniversary of the SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards. Set for Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in the Historic Municipal Auditorium (401 Gay Street, Nashville, TN 37201), the annual awards show will honor and induct a select group of “Women Behind The Music” into the SOURCE Hall of Fame.

SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and inducted based upon peer recommendations, biographies, accomplishments, reputation, the number of years each individual has worked within the entertainment industry, and level of community involvement.