Music Business Association Announces Preliminary Program for 2018 Conference

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The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announced the preliminary agenda for Music Biz 2018, which will be held May 14-17 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. The event will celebrate the Association’s 60th anniversary with a diverse program of keynotes, panels, workshops, award presentations, and other sessions, including a Keynote Presentation from YouTube/Google’s Lyor Cohen; the third annual Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out, featuring a Keynote from Republic Records’ Wendy Goldstein; the Awards Breakfast, featuring presentations to the RIAA’s Cary Sherman and Dimple Records’ Radakovitz Family; the Awards Luncheon, featuring presentations to Scooter Braun (who will also Keynote) and singer/songwriter Julia Michaels; and other returning favorites such as the sixth annual Metadata Summit, the Brand Summit, the Entertainment & Technology Law Conference, and the second annual Digital Music Workshop series featuring Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes Connect, Facebook, Pandora, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music. Joining them will be new sessions such as the Fund Your Future Summit, Podcasting Summit, NEXT GEN NOW panel, and Indie Artist & Songwriter Forum. This four-day program will explore today’s ever-evolving music landscape, while celebrating the legacy of those individuals and organizations who paved the way for monetizing music by creating and sustaining the music business. To see the currently confirmed program, visit musicbiz2018.sched.com.

The conference will feature a variety of high-level speakers, including Lori Feldman of Warner Bros. Records and Marieke Bianchi of Warner Music Nashville, who will discuss brand partnerships and the data behind them; Cherie Hu of Billboard/Forbes and Jackie Augustus of SB Projects, who, along with other young executives, will explore the future of the music industry; musician/songwriter/activist Justin Tranter and singer/songwriter/producer Shane McAnally, who will discuss LGBTQ storytelling in music in a panel powered by GLAAD. For a list of currently confirmed speakers, visit http://musicbiz2018.sched.com/directory/speakers.

“After drawing our largest audience since 2001 last year — with more than 2,000 attendees converging in Nashville — we are thrilled to celebrate our 60th anniversary in Music City,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “Over the last six decades, Music Biz has cemented its position as the central hub for music professionals in all sectors of the business, including the full breadth of the commercial business, major and independent labels, publishers, artists, managers, songwriters, lawyers, startups, students, and more. We are pulling out all the stops for Music Biz 2018, with a program that offers unparalleled opportunities to discuss and debate the major issues facing our industry with the executives and artists who will shape its future.”

The conference will kick off on Monday, May 14, with a series of exclusive Digital Music Workshops hosted by Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes Connect, Facebook, Pandora, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. These workshops will give attendees an insider edge on exposing, marketing and promoting their music on these platforms. This year’s Entertainment & Technology Law Conference will provide a crash course on the most pressing legal matters impacting the music business. Two new events will be launched —the Fund Your Future Summit, powered by Lyric Financial, and a Podcasting Summit.

Tuesday, May 15, will begin with the sixth annual Metadata Summit, which has grown to become the definitive gathering of the metadata community. Billboard/Forbes’ Cherie Hu and SB Projects’ Jackie Augustus will lead the NEXT GEN NOW: Young Execs Rewriting Our Industry panel, which will take a look at the future of the music business as up-and-coming executives bring fresh ideas to the table. The Indie Artist & Songwriter Forum, powered by Songtrust, will give these committed creators a place to address their unique challenges. The third annual Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out event, powered by Nielsen Music, will be headlined by a Keynote Presentation from Republic Records’ EVP of A&R Wendy Goldstein.

Music Biz will hand out its industry-focused awards on Wednesday, May 16, at the Awards Breakfast & Presentations, sponsored by the Country Music Association (CMA). This year, RIAA CEO Cary Sherman will receive the Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement, and the Radakovitz Family, owners of iconic Sacramento, CA-based record chain Dimple Records, will receive the Independent Spirit Award. In addition, Donio will deliver the annual President’s Address and Music Biz Chairman Fred Beteille of Facebook will deliver the Chairman’s Message and announce this year’s Scholarship Foundation recipients along with the 2018-2019 Music Biz Board of Directors.

This year’s Brand Summit is a must-attend program for both brand executives looking to make music a part of their corporate identity and artists/labels looking for increased visibility through brand partnerships. Wednesday’s finale will be a Keynote Presentation from YouTube/Google Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen, who will discuss his career journey, his current role at YouTube/Google, and his thoughts on the future of the music business.

The conference’s final day will begin with this year’s Career Day event, which has helped attendees from past years land internships and jobs at major music companies such as CAA, Redeye Distribution, and Sony Music Entertainment, among others. The Music Biz Awards Luncheon, sponsored by BuzzAngle Music, will honor singer/songwriter Julia Michaels, who will receive a Breakthrough Artist Award, and Scooter Braun, who will receive the Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award and end the ceremony with a Keynote Conversation.

Each day will be filled out by a variety of other sessions and panels covering a diverse array of topics including Artist Tools, Asset Protection, Live Streaming, Blockchain, Brand Partnerships, Connected Car & Home, Consumer Insights, Copyright, Fan Engagement, Financial Literacy, Gen Z, Global Marketing, Hi-Res Audio, Indie Artists & Labels, Interactive Downloads, International Relations, Law, Licensing, Merchandising, Metadata, Monetization, Playlisting, Publishing, Sales Metrics, Streaming, Sync, Ticketing, Touring, Trademarks, UGC, Unclaimed Royalties, and Virtual Reality.

 

ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo Announces First Round Of Panelists

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ASCAP has announced the first wave of music creators who will take the stage at their 2018 “I Create Music” EXPO. Among these ASCAP members from across genres and generations are Jason Mraz, Marc Cohn, Darrell Brown, Dan Wilson, Claudia Brant, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, Paul Williams, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

The 2017 “I Create Music” EXPO included nearly 200 panelists from across the music business covering dozens of compelling topics, from Congressional legislation benefiting songwriters to expanding the role of women in film music to a case study with the team behind Justin Bieber’s Purpose. The keynote speaker for this year’s “I Create Music” Expo will soon be announced; Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Justin Timberlake have previously served as keynote speakers.

Registration is now open for this year’s EXPO, which will be held Monday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 9 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

Industry Ink: BMI, Opry City Stage, City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, Aaron Tippin

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BMI Songwriter David Malloy Honored With Five Million-Air Awards

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Jim Malloy, David Malloy, BMI’s David Preston and Phil Graham gather for a photo with Malloy’s 5 Million-Air awards. Photo: Steve Lowry

BMI’s Jody Williams and David Preston presented BMI songwriter David Malloy with a multitude of Million-Air certificates. Malloy received the awards for penning hit songs “Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight” (Eddie Rabbitt), “Suspicions” (Eddie Rabbitt / Tim McGraw), “Love Will Turn You Around” (Kenny Rogers), “Drivin’ My Life Away” (Eddie Rabbitt) and “I Love A Rainy Night” (Eddie Rabbitt). The songs received 1 million, 3 million, 3 million, 5 million and 6 million broadcast performances respectively. When played back-to-back, the songs would total over 126 years of continuous airplay.

A BMI Million-Air Award is given to songwriters, composers, and publishers whose songs accumulate more than one million U.S. broadcast performances.

 

Songwriters Celebrated At Opry City Stage In NYC

Pictured (L-R): Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally, Ben Glover, Scott Sharrard and Vince Gill. Photo: Opry City Stage

The Bluebird Cafe, NMPA and NSAI held a brunch at the Studio at Opry City Stage on Jan. 26 to celebrate Grammy-nominated writers Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally, Ben Glover, and Scott Sharrard. Brett James hosted the event, which also included a surprise performance from Vince Gill.

 

Date Set For 2018 City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Game

A group photo of both teams at the 27th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game at First Tennessee Park on June 10, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for City Of Hope [Click photo to enlarge]

The 28th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game will return to Nashville’s First Tennessee Park on Saturday, June 9. This year’s artist lineup will be announced at a later date.

 

Aaron Tippin Joins Harrison Ford, John Travolta At Living Legends Of Aviation Awards

Pictured (L-R): Aaron Tippin, Harrison Ford, Thea Tippin, Tom Tippin

Country singer Aaron Tippin joined Hollywood luminaries including Harrison Ford and John Travolta on Jan. 19 for the 15th annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Los Angeles.  During the event, Tippin, as well as wife Thea and son Tom, performed two of Tippin’s career hits, “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” and “You’ve Got To Stand for Something.”

“What an honor to get to hang out with Harrison Ford and John Travolta at the ‘Living Legends of Aviation Awards,'” says Tippin. “The coolest thing about both of them is that they love aviation as much as I do, so, of course, that’s what we talked about all night.”

The “Living Legends of Aviation” annual awards gala is the most prestigious recognition event in aviation. Travolta, “The Official Ambassador of Aviation,” hosted the event, while Ford was in attendance to present the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award to accomplished pilot Peter Paul Luce.

Pictured (L-R): Aaron Tippin, Thea Tippin, John Travolta, Tom Tippin. Photos courtesy Larry Grace Photography

Round Hill Music Celebrates 25th Number One With Maren Morris Hit

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Round Hill Music Nashville has reached a milestone this January as it celebrates its 25th Country Airplay No. 1 with Maren Morris’ “I Could Use A Love Song,” co-written by Round Hill’s Jimmy Robbins. The No. 1 comes on the heels of recent chart-toppers “I’ll Name The Dogs” by Blake Shelton, “Small Town Boy” by Dustin Lynch (which spent four weeks at atop the charts), “Fast” by Luke Bryan, and “Think A Little Less” by Michael Ray.

Round Hill Music Nashville’s roster includes Dallas Davidson, Jimmy Robbins, Wade Kirby, and Danny Myrick. The company owns the catalogs of Big Loud Shirt, Bob DiPiero, Josh Kear, Marti Frederiksen, Big Tractor Music, and Root 49, among others. Hits from these catalogs include “Amazed,” “Gone,” “I Saw God Today,” “Undo It,” “Need You Now,” “Before He Cheats,” “Cruise,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “She’s Country,” among many other country classics.

In addition to its own roster of writers, Round Hill has a joint venture with Big Loud’s publishing company and the two share a roster that includes Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Matt Dragstrem, Sarah Buxton, and Hall of Fame songwriter Craig Wiseman.

“It is a real privilege to be associated with such exceptional songwriters and remarkable catalogs,” said Round Hill’s Mark Brown. “Likewise, to have the opportunity to work with our amazing team of top-notch executives and team members companywide is a real honor. We are all so proud of every one of our writers and their outstanding achievements. Congrats to everyone.”

“Having 25 number one country songs in four years for a company our size is quite remarkable and is a result of the hard work of our songwriters along with the guidance and help from our team,” said Round Hill CEO Joshua Gruss. “Thank you to Mark Brown, all of our associated songwriters, our partners at Big Loud, and the Round Hill staff in Nashville for helping us achieve this milestone.”

January marks a historic month for Round Hill Music with the acquisition of Carlin Music and the partnership with Zync Music.

CMA, ASCAP Showcase Songwriters At Sundance Film Festival

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Pictured (L-R): Tenille Townes, Steven Lee Olsen, Jillian Jacqueline and Jordan Davis perform during CMA Songwriters Series Thursday, Jan. 25 at the 2018 Sundance ASCAP Music Café. Photo: Fred Hayes/Sundance

The CMA Songwriters Series made a stop at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Jan. 25-26, where songwriters Jordan Davis, Jillian Jacqueline, Steven Lee Olsen and Tenille Townes performed as part of the special 2018 Sundance ASCAP Music Café.

Currently in its 14th season, CMA Songwriters Series has presented more than 100 shows in 17 cities. Artists and writers who have participated in the series include Jessi Alexander, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Tom Douglas, Brett Eldredge, Miranda Lambert, Hilary Lindsey, Little Big Town, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Kacey Musgraves, Tim Nichols, Liz Rose, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Craig Wiseman, Chris Young, and more.

Luke Bryan Welcomes Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Morgan Wallen, Carly Pearce For Stadium Tour

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Luke Bryan will bring his What Makes You Country Tour to 13 stadiums this year, and he will bring along Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Morgan Wallen and Carly Pearce for select dates.

Bryan’s tour will include the first-ever country show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, set for July 28. Bryan will also visit New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (June 2), Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park (June 16), Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium (June 23), Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field (June 30), Boston’s Fenway Park (July 5/6), Minneapolis’s Target Field (July 21), Denver’s Mile High Stadium (Aug. 4),  St. Louis’ Busch Stadium (Aug. 25), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (Sept. 1), Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium (Oct. 13) and Detroit’s Ford Field (Oct. 26).

The stadium portion of the tour will launch May 31 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

Bryan made the announcements today at The Steps at WME in Nashville, and brought his tourmates for a Q&A session to preview the tour.

“I think at one point, I think Pardi and Sam had the one and two biggest song of last year, and to be a new artist and come out like Carly did…I just love hearing fans singing these big hits they hear on the radio…”

“I’ve been trying to play Farm Tour for six years,” Pardi quipped.

“That’s the beauty of Nashville,” Bryan said. “Sam’s also out headlining his own stuff, but the fact that we can all come out and create a fun package for fans, at the end of the day I get so excited to put these guys in the best scenario possible, to showcase what they are and where they are going and what they are going to be.”

Bryan recalled his own first experience with stadium shows, opening for Kenny Chesney. “That’s the beauty of Kenny, how he leads by example. I never will forget, we were in Columbia, South Carolina at the Gamecocks Stadium and my bus was parked by the main entrance and I never will forget. I think the doors opened at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9 o’clock, I watched a line of people, 30 people wide and as far as you could see, file into a stadium and I truly learned the enormity of putting 70,000 people in a college stadium like Kenny was doing. The way Kenny just made you feel at home, it made a lasting impression on me, and it was the best experience to walk in to.”

Sam Hunt revealed that fans can expect new music on the tour.

“I’ve finally gotten my life more organized than I have in years,” said a newly-clean shaven Hunt during the press conference. “Getting married helped a lot in that department. I had planned on having music out before then…I do have some songs. I’m going in February, through March and April, and I plan on having new music out before we strike out on the road, when I may not have as much time to write.”

 

Brantley Gilbert To Play Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater With Classical Orchestra

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For Brantley Gilbert‘s Nashville tour spot on May 4, the hard-hitting Georgia boy will be joined by conductor Jim Gray and classical orchestration from The Ones That Like Me Orchestra.

The orchestra has bolstered everyone from Imagine Dragons, Patti LaBelle, Ben Folds, Flaming Lips, Miranda Lambert, and Barbara Streisand. In addition, Gray has worked with jazz legends Branford Marsalis and Diane Krall, as well as the Los Angeles, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, San Diego, Charlotte Symphonies and Boston Pops.

Staind’s Aaron Lewis and Josh Phillips will join as special guests.

“There are so many great songwriters in Nashville, I think it’s easy to get caught up in what an artist stands for – and maybe lose what those songs are,” Gilbert says. “Every song I write is a piece of my life, and over time, I’ve learned a lot of other people’s lives, too. That’s special, and this seemed like a very special – and different – way to present these songs…It’s the last thing people expect, I know. But I think when folks hear how these songs fill out with the classic instruments, they’re going to be surprised at what’s there.

“There are some things we all really like,” Gilbert continues, “like a lot of loud guitars, drums that punch you in the stomach, and that can really kick you into another gear, especially in the winter. But to me, it’s when you strip songs down and put’ em back together, that’s when it gets interesting. I know Aaron and I are going to kill it out there, and I can only imagine how awesome hearing these songs a whole new way is going to be!”

Tickets for Nashville’s show will be available to members of the BG Nation in a pre-sale starting on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. CT and will be available to the public on Friday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. CT.

Stars Of ‘Nashville’ To Play Final Concert Celebration In Music City

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Stars of CMT’s hit television series Nashville will celebrate the city that they dramatically have brought to life and their home for six seasons with the NASHVILLE In Concert: Final Season Celebration at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, on March 25.

“The cast of NASHVILLE are incredibly excited to play what is surprisingly their first true ‘hometown’ concert,” said Steve Buchanan president, Opry Entertainment.  “It will be a bittersweet farewell to a city they love as production will soon wrap for the final season currently airing on CMT.”

CMT’s NASHVILLE In Concert: Final Season Celebration will feature cast members Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella as well as Rainee Blake, Kaitlin Doubleday, Jake Etheridge and Nic Luken.

Tickets and VIP Packages for NASHVILLE In Concert: Final Season Celebration at the Grand Ole Opry House will go on sale February 2 at 10 am at opry.com/nashvilletour.

Cast members Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio will head to the UK and Ireland in April for the NASHVILLE Farewell Tour as well. The shows will feature songs from the series as well as artists’ original material, and tour stops include Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, London, Dublin and Belfast. Due to exceptional fan demand of the shows in the UK and Ireland, additional seating had to be opened up for the London O2 show on April 21 and shows were added in Dublin and Belfast for April 23 and 24 respectively.

March 25        Nashville, TN (USA)               Grand Ole Opry House
April 14          Birmingham                             Genting Arena
April 15           Leeds                                        First Direct Arena
April 17           Glasgow                                   SSE Hydro
April 18           Manchester                             Manchester Arena
April 20           Cardiff                                     Motorpoint Arena
April 21           London                                    O2 Arena
April 23           Dublin                                      3 Arena
April 24           Belfast                                     SSE Arena

Kip Moore Announces Second Set Of Plead The Fifth Tour Dates

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Kip Moore

Kip Moore announced the second leg of his headlining Plead The Fifth Tour today (Jan. 30), kicking off in Kingston, Ontario on March 22. The new dates follow the fall leg of the tour which wrapped with a sold-out stint.

Moore has invited Drake White to rejoin him on the trek following a fun-filled fall run, and has also enlisted Fairground Saints to join. Tickets will go on sale on Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. CT.

New Plead The Fifth Tour Dates:

3/22 Kingston, ON Rogers K-Rock Centre
3/23 Barrie, ON Mavericks Music Hall
3/24 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
3/25 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
3/27 Sault Ste Marie The Machine Shop
3/29 Ottawa, ON Algonquin Commons
3/30 London, ON London Music Hall
4/5 Charlotte, NC Fillmore
4/6 Myrte Beach, SC House of Blues
5/10 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theater
5/11 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theater
5/12 Penticton, BC South Okanagan Events Centre
5/14 Medicine Hat, AB Esplanade Theatre
5/15 Prince Albert, SK EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts
5/17 Winnipeg, MB Club Regent Event Centre

CMA Songwriters Series Hosts London Show During C2C Festival

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The CMA Songwriters Series is returning to London’s indigo at The O2 Thursday, March 8 as part of the sixth annual Country 2 Country festival. Hosted by songwriter Brett James, the sold-out show will also feature performances by Luke Combs, Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Kip Moore. This marks the fifth London appearance for the Country Music Association’s critically-acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series.

Currently in its 14th season, CMA Songwriters Series has presented more than 100 shows in 18 cities including Austin, Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Park City (at Sundance), Phoenix, Toronto and Washington, D.C. at the renowned Library of Congress and John F. Kennedy Center. Artists and songwriters who have participated in the series include Jessi Alexander, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Tom Douglas, Brett Eldredge, Miranda Lambert, Hilary Lindsey, Little Big Town, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Kacey Musgraves, Tim Nichols, Liz Rose, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Craig Wiseman, Chris Young, and more.