WME Signs Chase Fouraker

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Pictured (L-R): Austin Mullins (WME), Blaire Hanks, co-manager Andrew Perlowich, Jay Williams (WME), Chase Fouraker, Elise Anderson (Nashville Music Media) and co-manager Ricky Young (Photo by Lyndsey McFarlane).

Nashville newcomer Chase Fouraker has signed with William Morris Endeavor for exclusive booking representation. The Florida native released his debut single “Delirious” in March. His followup single “Where We Left Off” will release May 4.

“I’ve been so humbled by this experience so far, and I can’t think of a better agency to represent me than WME,” said Fouraker.

Grand Ole Opry To Open Acuff House For Limited-Time Exhibit

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Roy Acuff and Les Leverett backstage in Acuff’s dressing room.
May 7, 1988. Photo: Donnie Beauchamp

For the first time, the Grand Ole Opry is opening the doors to the Acuff House, the home built for Roy Acuff in the shadow of the Grand Ole Opry House, to showcase the limited-time exhibit Family Reunion: The Opry Family Photo Album.

The exhibit will showcase behind-the-scenes moments at the Grand Ole Opry via the work of 32-year Opry staff photographer Les Leverett, who captured onstage and offstage moments for stars including Acuff, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, and more.

The Acuff House will also share the story of Roy Acuff, through artifacts and videos highlighting his 50-plus years as the consummate showman on the Opry stage. Acuff lived in the home built for him by the Opry from 1983 until his death in 1992.

The exhibit opens April 30 and runs through Oct. 31.

Leverett’s work has also been featured on hundreds of album covers. Among his many honors are a Grammy Award for best album cover photography for Porter Wagoner’s 1966 album Confessions of a Broken Man and Billboard’s Best Country Cover for Dolly Parton’s 1973 album Bubbling Over. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2001 and from the California Bluegrass Association in 2006. In January 2015, Leverett was formally recognized and honored by the Tennessee Senate in a joint resolution for his significant and iconic work that documents the history and traditions of country music. In 2009, Leverett came out of retirement to serve as the official photographer for the weekly television program, The Marty Stuart Show.

Opry stars (L-R). Minnie Pearl, Wilma Lee Cooper, Jan Howard, Skeeter Davis, June Carter and Kitty Wells. Photo: Les Leverett, Oct. 7, 1961

The Grand Ole Opry Archives acquired thousands of slides, prints, negatives, and color transparencies from the Les Leverett collection in February 2017. The collection contains thousands of images that have never before been printed or published as well as Leverett’s handwritten notes pertaining to dates, locations, and subjects depicted; press clippings; and a homemade, typewritten index that contains additional details.

“We are delighted to be able to showcase even a small portion of the incredible work Les Leverett produced during his 32 years with the Grand Ole Opry,” said Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and CEO. “These photographs are of paramount importance to country music history and to our company’s heritage. We take very seriously our job as caretakers of this collection and look forward to some of the collection’s truly incredible photographs being seen by fans around the world.”

Acuff House tours can be purchased as part of tour packages also including Grand Ole Opry House backstage tours. Packages will be available seven days a week based upon Opry House availability. Additional package information is available at opry.com and by calling 1-800-SEE-OPRY.

George Jones, Tammy Wynette performing at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Les Leverett

 

New Carrie Underwood Single ‘Cry Pretty’ Out Today

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Carrie Underwood released her debut single for Capitol Nashville, “Cry Pretty,” today. The song, which she co-produced with David Garcia, is the first track from her new Capitol Nashville project, which is due out later this year.

She penned the song with “Love Junkies” Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna, and will debut the new song on the upcoming ACM Awards on CBS on Sunday night (April 15) in Las Vegas.

She described the song to fans on her website:

“The first single is a song I love so much and can’t wait to share with you. It’s called “Cry Pretty” and I wrote it with three incredible women: Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna, who also write under the name Love Junkies. I joined one of their writing sessions last year to see if we could come up with some magic…and we did! The title refers to when emotions take over and you just can’t hold them back. It really speaks to a lot of things that have happened in the past year and I hope when you hear it, you can relate those feelings to those times in your life. It’s emotional. It’s real. And it ROCKS! I’m so excited I’ll be performing it live on the ACM Awards this weekend, so I hope you’ll all tune in to see it!”

ACM Awards Collaborations To Honor ’90s Country Hits

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Sunday night’s 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards show will feature plenty of superstar collaborations and must-see performances, and for the first time, the ACMs will also debut “ACM Flashbacks” to honor classic country hits and/or the artists whose music continues to influence musicians and fans alike.

With this new feature, the ACM Awards will celebrate hits from a specific year or honor an individual artist and their accomplishments through unique collaborations and one-of-a-kind renditions of their iconic songs. This year, the awards will honor three of country’s hits from 1993 with Toby Keith and Blake Shelton performing Keith’s celebrated No. 1 debut single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” Alan Jackson and Jon Pardi performing Jackson’s ACM Award-winning hit “Chattahoochee,” and Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson performing Reba’s Grammy award-winning hit “Does He Love You.”

Other star-studded collaborations include Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina performing the multi-platinum, No. 1 hit “What Ifs,” Keith Urban and Julia Michaels performing Urban’s new single “Coming Home,” and Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line performing on the chart-topping smash hit “Meant to Be.”

Dan + Shay, Darius Rucker and Chris Young will also join the show’s lineup of previously announced solo performances by Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini,Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert,Little Big Town, Midland, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Brett Young. Previously announced presenters include David Boreanaz, Drew Brees, AJ Buckley, Cam, Sam Elliot, Eve, Ashton Kutcher, Dustin Lynch, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn, Max Thieriot and Lindsey Vonn.

 The 53rd ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night (April 15) at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Television.

BREAKING NEWS: Nominees Announced For 2018 Innovation In Music Awards

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Nominees have been announced for the 2018 Innovation in Music Awards (IMA), which recognize music industry professionals and companies who are innovating and distinguishing themselves in music creation, music discovery and developing innovative strategies in music marketing.

The second annual ceremony will be held June 3 at the Westin Hotel in Nashville and will be hosted by Bill Werde, Director of the Bandier Music Industry Program in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Nominees and executives will gather in Las Vegas this Saturday evening, April 14, at the IMA nominee reception at the MGM Grand. Sponsored by Tito’s Vodka and the C-Grams charity app, the event will celebrate the 32 artists, producers, executives, broadcasters, and programmers up for awards.

SiriusXM Senior Vice President of Programming Steve Blatter is joined by Red Light Management founder and CEO Coran Capshaw and UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan as the nominees for Innovator of the Year. Winners of this award, along with five others, will be announced prior to the awards.

“Challenges in the music industry call for creative strategies and risk taking at the highest levels to be successful and shape the future of the business,” said Pete O’Heeron, Chairman of the Innovation in Music Awards. “These nominees represent that progressive mindset.”

A committee of music professionals determines the honorees. The categories include:

1) INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
For the music professional who has demonstrated an overall commitment to new music, new music discovery and innovative programs to break new artists.

Nominees
Steve Blatter, SiriusXM
Coran Capshaw, Red Light Management
Mike Dungan, Universal Music Group Nashville

2) IMPACT in INNOVATION AWARD
For a music professional who has committed an entire career to innovative initiatives and music creation, advocacy and discovery.

To be announced at a later date.

3) INNOVATION in MUSIC, EXECUTIVE
For the executive who has shown exemplary fortitude and/or marketing savvy in bringing a new artist or artists to the market and has demonstrated unique ideas and/or programs which pioneer new music and empower the creators.

Nominees
Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance
Cindy Mabe, Universal Music Group Nashville
Shane Tarleton, Warner Music Nashville
Sally Williams, Opry Entertainment Group
John Zarling, Sony Music Nashville

4) INNOVATION in MUSIC, BROADCAST
An on-air individual or off-air programmer who provides a diligent voice for new and innovative music.

Nominees
Buzz Brainard, SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour
Monica Escobedo, Good Morning America
Julie Gurovitsch, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Chris Thile, Live From Here

5) INNOVATION in MUSIC, RADIO PROGRAMMING
Airplay equations help the committee decide the programmer/radio station showing the strongest diligence in exposing new and ultimately successful music.

Nominees
Johnny Chiang, KKBQ/Houston
Nate Deaton, KRTY/San Jose
Shelly Easton, WXTU/Philadelphia
Lance Houston, WEBG/Chicago
Rod Phillips, iHeart Country

6) INNOVATION in MUSIC, CREATIVE/ARTIST
Individual who best displays a unique and successful creative initiative. Their music will depart from the norm and attract new fans.

Nominees
Dan Auerbach, Artist/Producer
Kenny Chesney, Artist/Producer
Dave Cobb, Producer
Midland, Artist
Kacey Musgraves, Artist

7) INNOVATION in MUSIC, DIGITAL MEDIA/MARKETING
Individual or team that best utilizes technology innovatively in programming, marketing or selling music.

Nominees
Jay Frank, Universal Music Group
John Marks, Spotify
Jennie Smythe, Girlilla Marketing

8) INNOVATION in MUSIC, LIVE PERFORMANCE
For the concert promoter, artist booker, venue, artist or touring entity who has distinguished themselves for profound innovation in the concert experience.

Nominees
Amy Howe, Ticketmaster
Louis Messina, AEG
Ed Warm, Joe’s on Weed Street & Smokeout Fest, Chicago

The Second Annual Innovation In Music Awards features award presentations, musical performances and moments honoring the nominees. For information, visit www.innovationinmusic.net.

Industry Ink: Edison Research, Vintage TV, SSM Music

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Edison Research Adds Ivey

Laura Ivey

Longtime radio research executive Laura Ivey has joined Edison Research, where she will be directing various aspects of Edison’s growing practice in audio and social media. She will also take a role in Edison’s election research.

Ivey, who has had a variety of roles at Arbitron and Nielsen dating back to 1996, most recently was Account Director for the Southeast region for Nielsen’s radio ratings. Says Ivey, “Social science of the kind Edison produces is a particular passion of mine. I’m really excited to join the team there and help Edison’s efforts to serve its clients with quality data and analysis.”

 

British Music TV Producer/Broadcaster Vintage TV Comes To Nashville

British music television producer and broadcaster Vintage TV has expanded its production base to Nashville, Tennessee, and has already begun to film U.S.-based musicians in the city. With original shows that include “Needle Time,” “Live With…,” “My Vintage” and “The Friday Night Rock Show,” Vintage TV is the U.K.’s most prolific original music content producer.

Producing 25-30 hours of new music television shows per month, Vintage TV has become one of the largest music TV providers. Attracting a monthly following of more than 10 million viewers in the U.K. alone, Vintage TV has established itself as the music-lover’s TV channel of choice – a destination for music content highlighting established and emerging artists from around the globe.

“Vintage TV has been a long-time partner for our overseas label colleagues and we are thrilled to have them in the U.S. market,” said Brad Turcotte, VP of Marketing for Universal Music Group. “They have a very keen eye on top-tier production value and quality of content, and they are passionate about country music.  We’re delighted to welcome their type of passion into our fold.”

The organization plans to create regular content featuring U.S.-based musicians of all genres.

Vintage TV’s first U.S.-produced content spotlights Grammy-winning talent and emerging artists including Brothers Osborne, Southern Halo and Frontmen of Country. Vintage TV currently broadcasts in the U.K., Canada and China with plans to enter the US, Latin American and Korean markets by end of year.

 

SSM Entertainment Signs Debbie Anthony

Pictured (L-R): Label President Patti Olsen-Garafola, Debbie Anthony and Label CEO Dean Scallan

Debbie Anthony has signed with SSM Entertainment, located on Music Row. She joins a growing roster of artists at SSM Entertainment/SSM Nashville Records including; Branch and Dean, Alexandra Demetree, AC Jones, Wes Hayden and Ashley Barron.

 

 

 

 

AIMP Discusses A&R During Nashville Panel

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From left: Brad Peterson (Regions Bank); Chris Van Belkom (Combustion Music); John Ozier (AIMP Nashville Executive Director, ole); Tim Hunze (Parallel Music); Cris Lacy (SVP, A&R at Warner Music Nashville); Stephanie Wright (VP, A&R at Universal Music Group Nashville); Taylor Lindsey (VP, A&R at Sony Music Nashville); Ree Guyer (Wrensong), Dale Bobo (Big Deal Music), Michael Martin (ASCAP), and John Barker (ClearBox Rights).

The Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville welcomed a trio of top A&R execs for a discussion on the strategies and challenges in the current artist development landscape and today’s A&R process.

The event, held at ASCAP’s Nashville offices, included comments from Cris Lacy (Warner), Taylor Lindsey (Sony), and Stephanie Wright (Universal). The event was moderated by AIMP Board member Tim Hunze.

 

Bonnaroo Announces SuperJam Lineup With Sheryl Crow, Moon Taxi

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The 2018 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has released the lineup for its SuperJam event. This year’s live collaboration pays tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member headlined Bonnaroo in 2006 and 2013.

Led by musical directors Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket) and Craig Pfunder (VHS or Beta), “Into the Great Wide Open – A SuperJam Celebrating the Music Of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers” will include performances from Sheryl Crow, Sameer Gadhia (Young the Giant), Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso), David Shaw (The Revivalists), Moon Taxi, Vanessa Carlton, Langhorne Slim, Japanese Breakfast, Frenship, Rayland Baxter, Bucky Baxter, Durand Jones & The Indications, Larkin Poe, The Wild Feathers, Jalen N’Gonda and more. Additional special guests will take the stage during the SuperJam.

Set to feature more than 150 musical artists, this year’s edition of the four-day multi-stage camping festival will take place June 7-10 on The Farm at Great Stage Park, the 700-acre event space located 60 miles southeast of Nashville in Manchester, Tennessee.

House Leaders Introduce New Music Modernization Act

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After several years of discussions and hearings, this week the House Judiciary Committee is slated to vote on a package of music licensing reforms introduced today (April 10) by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Representatives Issa (R-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) called the new “Music Modernization Act” (H.R. 5447). The new bill includes the original Music Modernization Act, the CLASSICS Act, the AMP Act, and a market-based rate standard for statutory licenses.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the bill tomorrow. The bill will then head to the House floor for a vote before the full chamber. A Senate hearing on the legislative package is likely to occur in May, with a markup in the Judiciary Committee soon after.

“The introduction of this new package bill, by the senior leadership of the House Judiciary Committee, is an unmistakable sign of more progress on several well-studied music licensing reforms, including the long-overdue CLASSICS Act,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman & CEO, RIAA. “It is a consensus bill widely supported by thousands of artists and songwriters, dozens of music organizations and leading technology companies. It is ready for a committee vote.

“There should be no debate that the greatest generation of music deserves to be paid when their recordings are played on digital radio. The time is now. These reforms have the potential to shape our industry’s future as they serve those in the music community who need them the most. We are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Goodlatte, along with Ranking Member Nadler, and Representatives Issa, Johnson, Collins, Jeffries, Smith and Deutch as they work to make these critical reforms a reality.”

“The Music Modernization Act (MMA) is the most significant update to music copyright law in a generation and represents unprecedented compromise among songwriter, music publisher, artist, record label, and digital music groups,” said NMPA CEO David Israelite. “The Music Modernization Act will help ensure a healthy digital music ecosystem, most importantly for the songwriters who create the music that makes such an ecosystem even possible.  It was not easy to achieve a consensus package, but we are grateful for music champions like Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Nadler who have worked to foster agreement and we are eager for them to move this bill forward.  A special thanks to Congressman Doug Collins for being the driving force behind the MMA.”

“Today’s reintroduction of the Music Modernization Act signals we are one step closer to reforming our outdated music licensing system and providing songwriters a better future,” commented ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “We thank Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Nadler and Reps. Collins and Jeffries for their leadership and keeping America’s songwriters a priority.”

“Since first proposed four years ago at GRAMMYs on the Hill®, it has been a goal of the Academy and its members to pass a music omnibus, or ‘music bus,’ bill that helps our songwriter, performer, producer, and engineer members,” said President/CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow. “With the introduction of the Music Modernization Act, this dream of bringing fairness to all creators is now close to reality.”

“The AIMP is pleased to see that the U.S. Congress is moving forward with the Music Modernization Act, which was introduced today by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.),” said AIMP president Michael Eames, AIMP New York Exec. Director Alisa Coleman, and AIMP Nashville Exec. Director John Ozier in a joint statement. “For too long, songwriters and publishers have been forced to deal with an outdated music licensing system that doesn’t work in today’s online world. Now for the first time, the music and technology industry as well as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have come together to address these issues and give rights-holders more control over the licensing and collection of their works. The Act solves a variety of issues that afflict all songwriters and publishers but will significantly help independent songwriters and independent publishers by adopting a more modern and realistic rate standard, establishing a central public database to ease royalty payments from digital services, removing evidence limitations placed on rights-holders arguing for more accurate royalty rates, allowing PROs to be heard by more than the same two judges, and once and for all establishing that digital services must pay for the use of pre-1972 recordings. Our thanks go out to Rep. Goodlatte and all the representatives who worked on and support this bill, as well as the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) for spearheading the effort and all of our fellow industry trade groups who have helped push it forward. We strongly urge Congress to pass this measure.”

The Key Pieces of the New Music Modernization Act include:

The Music Modernization Act (H.R. 4706, S. 2334) is the most significant update to music copyright law for songwriters in a generation. The bill improves both how, and how much, songwriters are paid. The bill reforms Section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act to create a single licensing entity that administers the mechanical reproduction rights for digital uses of musical compositions – like those used in interactive streaming models offered by Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, Google and others. It also repeals Section 114(i) and, consistent with most federal litigation, utilizes random assignment of judges to decide ASCAP and BMI rate-setting cases – two provisions that will enable fairer outcomes for songwriters and composers.

The CLASSICS Act (H.R. 3301, S. 2393) is overdue legislation that addresses one of copyright law’s most glaring loopholes: the lack of payment for the streaming of recordings made before 1972. Legacy artists who recorded music before 1972 are not entitled to be paid royalties under federal copyright law when their music is played on digital radio (think Pandora and SiriusXM). Many legacy artists are no longer able to tour in order to earn a living, so this unfortunate gap in the law has an enormous effect on their livelihoods. The CLASSICS Act would treat legacy artists the same way their contemporaries are treated. Notable: Pandora supports this bill, along with the Digital Media Association (DiMA), and the NAACP recently endorsed the legislation, among others.

The AMP Act (H.R. 881, S. 2625) improves and simplifies the payment of royalties owed to music producers, mixers and engineers by allowing royalty collection/distribution organization SoundExchange to directly pay these music creators. This formalized, streamlined process provides a consistent and permanent arrangement for studio professionals to receive their much- deserved payments for their contributions to the creation of music.

Market-Based Rate Standard For Statutory Licenses. The new bill would require a market-based rate standard for sound recordings for statutory licenses. This provision would allow the Copyright Royalty Board which sets rates for statutory services to consider the rates and terms that would have been negotiated in the marketplace between a willing buyer and a willing seller.

Music Biz To Honor Tower Records’ Russ Solomon

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The Music Business Association has announced that the Music Business Hall of Fame, which will celebrate the achievements of industry executives, companies, media, venues, institutions, and others who have significantly contributed to the growth and continued success of the music business, has chosen the late Tower Records Founder Russ Solomon, who passed away on March 4, as its first inductee.

The Hall of Fame will have its official launch as part of the Music Biz 2018 Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 17 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Acclaimed actor and director Colin Hanks, who directed the 2015 Tower Records documentary All Things Must Pass, will pay tribute to Solomon.

“As we celebrate our 60th Anniversary, the timing was perfect to introduce the Music Business Hall of Fame, which will give us the opportunity to highlight those who have had a tremendous and lasting impact on the business, while providing an example to the next generation who will carry it forward,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “I had spoken with Russ to tell him he would be the first inductee, and he was humbled and excited to have been selected and planned to be in Nashville for the ceremony. While we were shocked and saddened to learn of his sudden passing, we feel this will be such a fitting tribute to a man who revolutionized music retail with Tower Records. We can think of no one better than Russ to be the first, and for all future Hall of Fame inductees to follow.”

“Russ was indeed one of a kind, and I’m incredibly grateful that I was not only able to help tell his story with All Things Must Pass, I also learned a great deal from him. But far more importantly I got to know Russ and am lucky to have been able to call him a friend,” said Colin Hanks. “Much like the members of the Tower Records family, I will miss Russ dearly but take comfort in seeing his legacy live on and am honored to induct him into the Music Business Hall of Fame.”

Additionally, Hanks will attend a screening of All Things Must Pass at the 2018 Nashville Film Festival that will be held at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 17 at the Regal Hollywood 27.

Music Business Hall of Fame inductees will be selected annually by the Music Biz Board of Directors, which consists of top executives from a wide cross-section of the industry, including major and independent labels and distributors, digital music services, wholesalers, and independent record stores.