Warner Bros. Records Rebrands As Warner Records

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After 61 years, music label Warner Bros. Records is being rebranded as Warner Records across the globe, complete with a new logo.

The new branded name will have minimum impact on the Nashville office as the majority of their artists are signed to Warner Music Nashville.

This rebranding is the latest step in the company’s evolution, following Aaron Bay-Schuck joining as U.S. Co-Chairman & CEO in October 2018, Tom Corson being appointed U.S. Co-Chairman & COO in January 2018, and Phil Christie being named President of the UK label in 2016. The name change also follows the U.S. company’s recent move to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown LA’s Arts District.

The news follows the recent rebranding of Warner’s publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music.

Warner Bros. Records was founded in March 1958 as an arm of Warner Bros. Pictures, whose “shield” logo was adopted by the fledgling label and has been used by the company ever since. In 2004, when Warner Music Group was sold by Time Warner and became the world’s largest independent major music company, it was agreed that Warner Bros. Records would continue to use the Warner Bros. name and logo for 15 years.

“For the first time in the label’s history, we’ve had the opportunity to create a distinct, modern identity entirely of our own,” said Corson and Bay-Schuck. “The timing couldn’t be better, since we all feel the label is at a moment of reinvention that builds on our legacy, while moving into a future driven by fearlessness and creativity. We have a growing roster of world-class artists, a rejuvenated team, and an incredible new location. It’s a new day for Warner Records, an iconic label that was born in the California sun, and is at home everywhere on earth.”

“We’re signing and developing the next generation of British artists to move global culture, so we wanted the Warner Records brand to have the power and freedom to mean different things to different people around the world,” said Christie. “A new logo isn’t meaningful on its own, and our label will always be defined by the originality of our artists, our music, and our people.”

The new Warner Records brand identity and logo were developed in partnership with Emily Oberman and her team at Pentagram, the world’s largest independently owned design studio. Pentagram has worked with many prestigious companies and events such as Rolls Royce, London Fashion Week, Rotten Tomatoes, and Sundance Institute, and Sotheby’s, as well as music projects for the likes of The Rolling Stones and The National, among many others.

Kassi Ashton, Travis Denning, Hardy To Play Faster Horses ‘Next From Nashville’ Stage

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Faster Horses Festival announced the lineup for its DISH Presents Next From Nashville Stage. The festival’s stage built for the most buzz-worthy new Nashville acts will host Kassi Ashton, Dillion Carmichael, Davisson Brothers, Travis Denning, Ross Ellis, Everette, Caylee Hammack, Hardy, Levi Hummon, Lauren Jenkins, Seaforth, Matt Stell, Rachel Wammack and Waterloo Revival on July 19-21 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Previously announced acts for the three-day “Party Of The Summer” include headliners Toby Keith, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band alongside performers Brothers Osborne, LANCO, Kip Moore, Maren Morris, Cassadee Pope, Michael Ray, Mitchell Tenpenny, Brett Young and more.

“Faster Horses is special for so many reasons,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “We built this event from zero. The blank field was our canvas, all we had was our imagination and passion for our work. To be awarded with an ACM Award for those efforts, I could not be more proud of the incredible team that created and sustains this event. We are also so thankful to the ACM’s and it’s members. We could not be more fired up to head into our seventh year.”

 

TriScore Music Acquires RPM Music Group

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New Nashville-based music publisher TriScore Music has entered the publishing rights acquisition business with the purchase of RPM Music Group. TriScore principals Steve Broome and Andy Green, who also are affiliated with TriBridge Residential, one of the premiere real estate development and investment firms in the Southeast, announced the deal today. TriBridge Residential has over $1.3 billion in assets under management.

TriScore has also partnered with RPM principals Blake Chancey and Scott Siman, who will be working closely with them to make additional catalog and rights acquisitions. “It’s the perfect complement to our real estate business, and we look forward to building up the catalog,” said Broome.

“I am thrilled to announce our first acquisition,” said Broome. “We can’t think of better people to work with than Blake Chancey and Scott Siman, true leaders in the music industry.”

The deal brings into TriScore rights associated with major copyrights including songs by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Cher, Amy Grant, Sam Hunt, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and Old Dominion. Songs include Grammy winner “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and No. 1 singles “Say You Do,” “Break Up With Him,” “Make You Miss Me,” “Save It For a Rainy Day,” “I’m Moving On,” “Leave the Pieces,” and “Chainsaw,” among others.

Founded in 2007, RPM has been one of Nashville’s most successful indie publishing companies over the last decade. Founders Chancey and Siman are both former executives at Sony Music, and are both second generation music men. Chancey produced records with David Ball, the Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry and Mary Chapin Carpenter, among others. He is a Grammy Award winner and has produced two Diamond-selling albums. His father Ron headed up A&R at several major labels, including ABC/Dot and MCA Music where he signed George Strait, and produced such acts as the Oak Ridge Boys and Conway Twitty.

Siman was a leading music attorney before moving to Sony and later taking over management for Tim McGraw. He is a former President and Chairman of the Academy of Country Music, and as a Country Music Association board member spearheaded the effort to establish the CMA Music Fest. He serves as President of EM.Co, a music marketing and management firm. His father Si produced the first major country music television show, The Ozark Jubilee, which took country music from its rural roots to America’s suburbs and cities, and he is credited with landing record deals for such Country Music Hall of Fame members Chet Atkins, Porter Wagoner and The Browns.

Rounder Records Signs The War And Treaty

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The War and Treaty. Photo: Courtesy Rounder Records

Rounder Records has signed duo The War and Treaty, with their first project for the label set to release next year.

Rounder President John Strohm remarked, “We are beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work with The War and Treaty, a group that utilizes incredible vocal talent and extraordinary songwriting chops to deliver an affirming message of unity and inclusiveness that is very welcome in this age. They encompass many of Rounder’s genre traditions while crafting a fresh, exciting sound that is entirely their own.”

The duo, comprised of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter, formed in 2014. Their rootsy soul brand of music and gospel-steeped harmonies have made them local favorites in the Nashville music scene and beyond. Earlier this month, they earned two nominations at the Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards, including Duo/Group of the Year and Emerging Act of the Year.

The War and Treaty just finished several tour dates opening for Al Green, and have support slots scheduled with Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell, as well as festival appearances for Dierks Bentley’s Seven Peaks Music Festival, among others. They were also the subject of a CBS Sunday Morning profile on May 26, which delved into Michael’s history as an Iraqi War veteran, Tanya’s early career as both an actor and musician, as well as their current success as The War and Treaty.

Billy Ray Cyrus Releases 16th Studio Album

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Billy Ray Cyrus releases his 16th studio project today, titled The SnakeDoctor Circus. The album reunites Cyrus with Don Von Tress, who wrote the multi-platinum smash “Achy Breaky Heart” on Cyrus’ record-breaking debut album Some Gave All. Cyrus penned “Some Gave All” about a Vietnam veteran in 1989 only to meet Von Tress, whom is also a Vietnam veteran, a few years later.

Cyrus is of course riding high on Lil Nas X‘s smash hit “Old Town Road,” which features Cyrus’ vocals on a remixed version. “Old Town Road” has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA. Lil Nas X and Cyrus recently released the official video for the track.

The SnakeDoctor Circus Track Listing:
1. Guns, Gold & Guitars
2. The Reckoning
3. Barely Enough
4. Goddess of Democracy
5. I Think Your Time’s Come
6. The Blood of the Devil
7. Angel in my Pocket
8. Take It Easy Greazy
9. I’ve Been Around

Industry Ink: Music Health Alliance, Marushka Media, Whitehouse Records

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John Berry Presents Check To Music Health Alliance

Pictured (L-R): Tatum Hauck Allsep, Music Health Alliance CEO/Founder; John Berry;Shelia Shipley Biddy, COO/Certified Senior Advisor ®; and Robin Berry. Moments By Moser Photography

John Berry presented Music Health Alliance CEO/Founder Tatum Hauck Allsep and COO/Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy with a check for $54,700, following his recent “We All Come Together” benefit in Nashville.

 

Marushka Media Celebrates Three Years

This week marks the three-year anniversary of Marushka Media, the boutique PR agency founded by creative entrepreneur Jackie Marushka. She currently works with a dozen clients, including Riders in the Sky, Parker McCollum, Clare Dunn, We Are Messengers, Randy Rogers Band, Jimmy Wayne, Charles Esten, The Americana Music Association, Angaleena Presley, Lee Brice, Drake White and more.

 

Emma White Launches Whitehouse Records

Emma White. Photo: Nada Taha

Nashville artist Emma White has launched Whitehouse Records, a co-venture with fellow Nashville entrepreneur Jennifer Coyle. The label’s first release is White’s single “Ten Year Town” (not to be confused with songwriter Hailey Whitters’ recent single by the same name).

Whitehouse Records aims to meet the need for greater female talent development in Nashville’s music industry. A majority woman-owned business, the company also offers publishing, touring and management services.

Members Of dcTalk, Petra, Whiteheart, Jars of Clay Form New Supergroup

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Kevin Max (dcTalk), John Schlitt (Petra), Billy Smiley (Whiteheart) and Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) have united to collectively perform their biggest hits as the CCM All Star Review. The new group will debut with a headlining performance at the No Greater Love Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Aug. 11.

With sales exceeding 30 million records between them, the members have collectively generated more than 45 No. 1 songs and earned more than 15 Grammy and 60 Dove Award wins and nominations.

“With the advent of the popularity of rock coming full circle to festivals and theatres, the timing is right for a new show that really celebrates the history of Christian rock and pop,” says Smiley.

“A lot of the fans of Petra, dcTalk, WhiteHeart and Jars of Clay are bringing their kids to the shows,” adds Schlitt. “And many people had never seen some of these great musicians live and just had the music on vinyl, cassettes, or CD’s.”

The supergroup will be backed by the Union of Sinners and Saints, the Schlitt and Smiley-fronted group that recently released their own self-titled debut album.

“2020 might be the year we see an interest in the history of quality CCM music of the past by taking it to some of the festivals we all played at for years, and some other major events happening around the country,” says Max.

Randy Travis Releases First New Song In Six Years

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Randy Travis. Photo: Robert Tractenberg

Randy Travis is releasing his first new song in six years with “One In A Row.” The tune about missing someone was penned by Buddy Jewell and Thom McHugh, and was recorded years before Travis’ stroke but never widely released to audiences.

Travis fans can catch him up close and in person during CMA Music Fest, and he will have a booth in Fan Fair X at Music City Center (Booth 142) with his new book, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life, for purchase and daily photo opportunities. He also has an upcoming book tour planned for select markets.

Book Tour Dates:
May 25 – Plano, Texas – Barnes & Noble
June 6 – Nashville, Tenn. – Fan Fair X at CMA Fest: 11:00 a.m. – Meet and Greet at Randy Travis Booth
June 7 – Nashville, Tenn. – Fan Fair X at CMA Fest: 12:15 p.m. – Close Up Stage Interview; 1:15 p.m. – Meet and Greet at Jesus Calling Booth; 3:00 p.m. – Meet and Greet at Randy Travis Booth
June 8 – Nashville, Tenn. – 1:00 p.m. – Brentwood Barnes & Noble; 4:00 p.m. – Meet and Greet at Randy Travis Booth
June 9 – Nashville, Tenn. – Fan Fair X- 11:00 a.m. – Meet and Greet at Randy Travis Booth
July 14 – Fort Worth, Texas – Chief Records

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Lady Antebellum Honored For Three Billion Streams On Pandora

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Pictured (L-R): Pandora’s Head of Country Music Programming Jennifer Danielson, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Pandora’s Head of Country Music Beville Dunkerley, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Pandora’s Artist Marketing and Industry Relations Manager Alina Thomas, Red Light Management’s Callie Cunningham, BMLG Records President Jimmy Harnen. Photo: Courtesy BMLG

Lady Antebellum are back with their first single for BMLG Records, titled “What If I Never Get Over You.” The trio’s Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood were recently honored by Pandora with a Billionaire Plaque to recognize Lady A for crossing the three billion streams mark on the Pandora platform.

BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta and BMLG Records President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen joined Lady A to celebrate following the band’s historic first-week adds at country radio with “What If I Never Get Over You.”

Maren Morris, Apple Team To Release ‘Reimagined’ Hits Package

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Maren Morris and Apple Music are releasing a brand new acoustic EP, Maren Morris: Reimagined featuring reworked acoustic renditions of three of her biggest hits with producer Dave Cobb. The EP is coming exclusively to Apple Music.

As a companion to the EP, Apple Music will also be releasing a special short film that takes fans behind the scenes in the studio as Morris shares the meaning behind “GIRL” “The Bones,” and “The Middle” while giving each song a new, vocal-centric treatment.

“I think the mark of a good song is you can rearrange it up and it still is a very defining song,” said Morris about the new EP and working with Dave Cobb on making it. “Dave you know, his production is so rootsy and very soulful and Americana and he just understands that sound so intensely. I love the way it turned out.”

The Maren Morris: Reimagined EP and the companion film will be available exclusively on Apple Music beginning May 31.

Maren’s GIRL is still the top Day 1 and Week 1 Female Country Album worldwide on Apple Music and holds the record for the top pre-added country album globally by a female artist to date on Apple Music.

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