Nashville’s Music Community Salutes Jo Walker-Meador

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Pictured: Jo Walker-Meador in the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in her Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum interview on Nov. 12, 2014. Photo: Donn Jones for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Members of the Nashville music community are paying tribute following the death of Country Music Hall of Fame member and longtime Country Music Association (CMA) Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador, who died Tuesday (Aug. 15) at age 93.

Walker-Meador, native of Orlinda, Tennessee, joined the CMA as an office manager. When the CMA’s founding Executive Director Harry Stone resigned in 1962, she was promoted to the role. Walker-Meador’s vision for country music led to the creation of the Country Music Hall of Fame (created in 1961), the CMA Awards (created in 1967 and nationally televised since 1968), the CMA Music Festival (which launched as Fan Fair in 1972), and more. For Robert K. Oermann’s full MusicRow LifeNotes obit, click here.

“Jo was a champion for country music around the world and a groundbreaker for women in the entertainment business,” says CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “On a personal note, I will miss her guidance, humor, and friendship. She was the first meeting I set up before I took this job. She taught me lessons in how to gracefully navigate the Board. She was always diplomatic in her storytelling and she had some great ones to share. Over the last six months she was a little more candid and I always looked forward to our time together. She will be greatly missed by all. My heart is broken.”

“She was an amazing, extremely classy, caring, giving wonderful woman,” CMA Board Director and country music artist Kix Brooks says. “All of my dealings with her were what you would consider the essence of class. Jo Walker-Meador moved the CMA, and the entire Nashville music business in a large way from what it was to what it is. She had an amazing talent for always looking forward. Of course, her being a woman during that time, you look at those old pictures of the CMA that are full of men and then there is Jo Walker, knowing what she probably had to deal with in a man’s world, especially in that era. She is to be celebrated. There is a handful of women in our town—her, Donna Hilley, Connie Bradley, Frances Preston that come to mind—that really excelled in a man’s world and did a lot for the way this town was run and for respecting women in the music business. I really applaud her legacy for that. I really do think when someone lives a good long life and accomplishes some of the things that she did, it’s really not sadness that I view the news with. I have to kind of smile and go, ‘Life well lived.’”

“Jo Walker-Meador looked at a mid-sized Southern town and envisioned something grander,” says Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young. “She listened to music that was regional and knew that it could have worldwide impact. And then she quietly and gracefully ushered these things into being. She created grand scenes, then stood behind them. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum would not exist without her, and my life is one of millions that are better because of Jo Walker-Meador.”

“The world of country music has lost an irreplaceable force. It was my great privilege to work with Jo,” says Ed Benson, former CMA Executive Director. “Over the years I had the opportunity to see how she used her warm and caring personality and her unique skills to gain friends and supporters all over the world. Jo had an incredible memory for details. She could remember not only the names of the many people with whom she came in contact, but usually the names of their spouses and children too. Jo had a big vision for the power of country music and a determination that it could grow in popularity. She was one of the early supporters of international development. I traveled around the world with her meeting with top industry leaders and government officials to promote country’s growth. She spoke only English, but she knew the international language of music had great value. And of course that personality endeared her to so many. I never met a harder worker than Jo. She was an inspiration to all who had the privilege to work with her. I have been lucky to remain close to her since she retired and I felt she loved me like the son she never had.”

“I always felt like my day was better just by being with Jo,” says Robert Deaton, executive producer for CMA Fest, CMA Awards, and CMA Country Christmas. “When working on one of our shows, she would always leave me with a piece of advice. She would take me by the hand and whisper a legend’s name in my ear as a reminder to not forget where we came from. She was all about love. The love of country music, our artists, and the love of our community. We should all honor the legacy of Jo Walker-Meador. Her mark on our music will last forever. She was one of a kind and will be dearly missed.”

“Besides being a respected role model in the music industry, Jo was also a warm, caring lady,” says Bill Denny, CMA Board member and former Board president/chairman. “She always had time to listen and to offer help. The music industry and the Country Music Association in particular, greatly benefited from her unique ability to pull people together to get a project underway and to see it thru to completion. We will miss her.”

“Jo is so many things to me! She hired me in 1985 as the CMA Administrative Services Manager – she even called my high school principal to make sure I was a good person. She quickly became my mentor and the reason I committed to CMA and created my life there,” says Tammy Genovese, former CMA Executive Director. “Jo was a woman who made it to the top. If she could do it, so could I. So I buckled down, went back to school and earned my MBA, got married, had my kids, and finally did make it to the top – with her as my champion all the way. She was also such a personal inspiration to me and my family. I called her my ‘Nashville Mom’ and I think most of the time she claimed me… I will miss her forever, but know she is happy in Heaven with her precious Bob and watching all her friends and family from around the world celebrate her life. Love you Jo!”

“Jo Walker-Meador was an incredible, pioneering leader in the evolution and growth of the CMA and building the foundation for our future successes,” says Ed Hardy, former CMA Board chairman. “When I was asked by the board to step in and fill the CEO role on an interim basis in 2013, she was one of the very first people who called to offer her help and I gladly accepted it and treasured her counsel. Her legacy as one of the very first women in leadership in the country music industry will endure forever. Until recently, Jo still attended so many CMA functions. She will truly be missed by me and I’m sure by all of my colleagues on the CMA Board and Staff.”

Dolly Parton presents the CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excllence to Jo Walker-Meador during the 1991 CMA Awards. Photo: Beth Gwinn / CMA

“Her dream was to coach basketball, but she wound up coaching country music all over the world,” says Brenda Lee, Country Music Hall of Fame member and former CMA Board member. “I was always amazed at Jo’s memory. She could remember everything and anything. The last Board talk she gave was astounding. She adored the people in country music – the fans, the artists, the singers, all the innerworkings. She adored it. And that’s what we all loved about her. She loved us. It wasn’t just a job to her. She cared. She was a wonderful, kind, sweet person that absolutely gave all. The people meant more to her than the bright lights and city folks. She got the word out, not that it wasn’t before, but it went to a different level with Miss Jo. I was honored to know her personally for a long, long time. I will miss her spirit, laughing with her, having lunch with her and being around the great person that she was. It’s like a bright light went out and will be out for a bit, but Sarah will carry on that tradition and make that light shine again. We can rely on that for sure.”

“I am very saddened about the passing of Jo Walker-Meador!” says Steve Moore, former CMA CEO and Board Chairman. “Almost everyone knows of her legendary passionate leadership and inspirational gifts she dedicated to the music community, but what I remember most was her friendship, passion and love for any and all of us who had the pleasure of being in her presence! Love you Ms. Jo!!”

“Jo was the very face and epitome of grace and aplomb,” says Jim Ed Norman, CMA Board member and CEO of Curb Records. “It may have been a man’s world she accommodated but it ‘wouldn’t be nothing’ without Jo Walker-Meador. Every time we spoke, without knowing it, or forcing it, she reminded me about the importance of kindness, truth and humility. Selfish as it may be, a great regret of mine will be not having spent even more time with her.”

“I had the honor to serve as Chair & President of CMA during Jo’s tenure,” says Ralph Peer II, CMA Board member and Chairman/CEO of peermusic. “Jo was of ultimate importance to the growth in stature and size of CMA as she had an uncanny ability to keep us all going in the same direction for the benefit of everyone in country music. I miss her already!”

“Jo Walker Meador, now joins the ranks of spirited and passionate female leaders such as Frances Preston, Donna Hilley, Maggie Cavender and others who have left everlasting marks on the growth and success of country music,” says David M. Ross, CMA Board member and owner of BossRoss Media. “Her humor, grace and tireless efforts on behalf of country music will be greatly missed.”

“I cannot even describe how sad I am to learn of Jo’s passing,” says former CMA Director of Media Relations and current 888 Management’s Scott Stem. “Everyone in the country music industry owes a debt to Jo Walker-Meador, and I hope everyone will take a moment today to be thankful that she was here and for all that she accomplished. She was a trailblazer for women in this industry without a doubt, but in truth, she was a trailblazer for all of us. She was among the most gracious people I’ve ever met and always made everyone feel important. I first met her soon after getting my first job in the industry when I was green and barely knew anything and she treated me with the same respect that I saw her treat heads of companies with. Throughout the near 30 years I’ve known her, that never changed. I always looked forward to seeing her when she would visit CMA during my time there. She always had wisdom to share. Her memory was impeccable and she could recall events that happened 40 years ago with amazing clarity. She would make it a point to speak with everyone in the building. She was classy, a visionary, intelligent, hard-working, kind, strong and a uniter of people. The country music industry is better for having had Jo Walker-Meador in it. Nashville is better for having had Jo Walker-Meador in it. May she rest in peace.”

“Miss Jo was a beautiful expression of class, charm, grace and a life well lived. I will miss her smile and encouraging words,” says Troy Tomlinson, CMA Board member and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Publishing.

“Jo was an inspiration to a couple of generations of artists and executives in Nashville’s music industry,” says Jody Williams, CMA Board President-Elect and VP, Creative for BMI Nashville. “Along with dear friend Frances Preston, former CEO of BMI, Jo was responsible for creating community among all of the businesses on Music Row.  She led by example, was smart as a whip and accomplished so much for the CMA – securing the organization as the premiere country music trade association in the world. And she did all of this as one of the few female executives in the business, working with and leading hundreds of male business leaders.  In addition, she always greeted you with a big smile and was a natural born nurturer.”

“I don’t think that Jo’s impact on our community can be understated,” says Sally Williams, CMA Board Chairman and SVP of Programming & Artist Relations for Opry Entertainment. “Under her leadership, the CMA propelled our artists and industry to new heights, laying the groundwork for where we are today.”

Jo Walker-Meador inducting Mac Wiseman to the Country Music Hall of Fame in the 2014 Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Erika Goldring for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

BMG Rolls Out Royalty Portal App, Expects Artist Portal Before 2018

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BMG has made its royalties portal, MyBMG, available as an app for Android and iOS for its songwriters.

The portal allows up-to-date, worldwide information on the value and source of income from songs worldwide. And before the end of the year, MyBMG is expected to incorporate BMG’s recording artist clients into one single publishing and recorded portal.

Engineered by BMG’s technology team, the app also sought consultation from a songwriter team including including Grammy-nominated Jenn Decilveo (“Rise Up”), Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, and Broadway composer Maury Yeston.

Project leader Anke Becker said, “It was a very different experience to the usual process of software development. We were working hand-in-hand with songwriters trying to tease out exactly the information which is most important to them and then ensuring we present that data in as accessible a way as possible. The result we believe is the most user friendly royalties application on the market. We wanted to not only make the product the most transparent, but also make the process of creating and innovating the product transparent and inclusive.”

Based on the latest MyBMG 3.0 web portal launched in March this year, the app include features such as current period (pipeline) royalty information and highly intuitive analytics to give clients insights into their earnings by song, country and source, as well as trends.

Stewart said, “This is a great tool and a wonderful move forward towards helping songwriters understand where they stand, something that has been badly needed since the dawn of copyright. I am proud to be part of the BMG family making steps towards a better future for creatives and leading the way in fair trade for artists.”

Yeston said, “It is incredible how far we have come from the old days of the paper royalty statement. I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to bring a real songwriter’s point of view to the design of the new BMG app. It’s the kind of collaborative approach I like about BMG. I am certain that the involvement of us songwriters will give a far more authentic and personal experience for users of the app.”

Sebastian Hentzschel, SVP Group Technology at BMG says, “MyBMG is the centrepiece of our drive to empower songwriters by giving them the information they need to manage their careers. The introduction of the mobile app is just a natural continuation to our unrelenting effort to service our artists with the transparency and fairness they deserve. We are going to continuously push out new, amazing features in the coming months and years.”

Ryan Follese To Drop Self-Titled Debut This Friday

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Ryan Follese surprised his fans today with an announcement that his full-length, self-titled country debut will be released digitally this Friday (Aug. 18) on BMLG Records.

Follese penned the collection’s 12 tracks with writers like his father Keith Follese (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill), mother Adrienne Follese (Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride), brother Jamie Follese (Hot Chelle Rae), and producer Cameron Montgomery (Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj). The EP was co-produced by Dann Huff.

“I am so excited to put out this full album for the fans who grew up alongside me to those who I’ve just met out with Sam Hunt, FGL and Locash this year,” said Follese. “You have all been a part of my return home, to my roots, and I’m really thankful for your patience during the writing process. I truly believe these songs have always been a part of me, and I hope you’ll feel something too.”

Ryan Follese Track List:
1. “Lose A Little Sleep” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery *
2. “Put A Label On It” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
3. “Float Your Boat” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
4. “One More Round” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
5. “Sounds Like You” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
6. “No Headlights” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery, Ben Schofield, Stephen Schofield
7. “Summer Like You” | Ryan Follese, Jamie Follese, Jesse Lee, Cameron Montgomery
8. “Growing Up” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery, Josh Montgomery
9. “One Thing Right” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery *
10. “Wilder” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
11. “Roots” | Ryan Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jamie Follese, Keith Follese, Cameron Montgomery
12. “Sing It” | Ryan Follese

*Produced by Cameron Montgomery and Dann Huff

Dolly Parton To Release First Children’s Album, ‘I Believe In You’

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Dolly Parton announced the release of I Believe In You, her first album written and recorded for children, will release with Sony’s RCA Nashville and Dolly Records on Oct. 13. All proceeds will benefit Parton’s Imagination Library.

A digital release of the new album will be available in advance, Sept. 29.

All 14 tracks on I Believe In You (below) were written and performed by Parton. Tom McBryde, Richard Dennison and Tom Rutledge produced various tracks with executive producers Paul T. Couch and Parton.

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville SVP A&R, Jim Catino; EVP Marketing/New Business John Zarling; Dolly Parton; Danny Nozell, President, CTK Management; Sony Music Nashville’s EVP Promotion/Artist Development Steve Hodges; and Kirt Webster, President, Webster PR. Photo: JB Rowland

“My first album was released 50 years ago and it’s been an amazing 50 years since then. I am very excited that now I’m coming out with my first children’s album in all of those 50 years. I’m proudest of all that all of the proceeds from this CD will go to the Imagination Library,” Dolly said. “It’s been 20 years since the Imagination Library was launched. We’ve seen 100 million books get into the hands of children and hopefully there will be many more.”

Since its beginning in 1996 in Dolly’s hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, the Imagination Library has expanded into four countries serving more than one million brand new books each month.

At a press conference yesterday, Aug. 15, children and special guests witnessed the unveiling of the I Believe In You album cover, track listing and performances of “I Believe in You,” “Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny” and “Brave Little Soldier” in addition to reciting her Coat Of Many Colors book. The press conference ended with Dolly answering questions and taking family photos with all the guests.

What other work have you released for kids?

I write kids songs all the time. We [have] put a compilation of kids songs we sold through the Imagination Library, but never put a public album out. I also write songs for the little playhouse [at Dollywood].

What inspired these songs?

There’s a few songs that talk about attitude with a good message. These are all songs that uplift children and really talk to them. We have a lot of sick children and one of the songs is called “Chemo Hero” that is related to my own family. My niece Hannah Dennison was diagnosed with Leukemia and was at Vanderbilt hospital for years so I wrote a little song for her and all the other sick children. Most of these songs are inspired by the books we give out through the Imagination Library.

How was writing different for this album?

It gives me a chance to be more playful and relax. I keep tree houses and playhouses for all my nieces and nephews when they come to visit me. Usually when I write these children’s songs I go up in a treehouse and try to put myself back in their place to become a kid again. It’s so easy to tailor make [songs] to my nieces and nephews that I’m with all the time because I hear what they’re going through and what their feelings are. It think it puts me in a more tender place rather than a commercial place to make money.

Will there be a holiday movie this year?

We were very excited that we got nominated for an Emmy for The Christmas Of Many Colors, and Coat of Many Colors did so well with the ratings. It makes you know people are looking for family, faith-based movies. I don’t think we have enough of that—the world is so out there anymore. We may eventually do another of the Coat of Many Colors. I’d love to do enough to where all the kids were born, because the last one Mama was pregnant with twins and I had another sister, Rachel, born after.

We’re still working on Jolene, trying to decide if we’re going to do it as a movie or series, or both. We don’t have an air date but that’s one of the hot ones coming up. I’m going to be producing movies and we’ve got some things in the works with more of the songs I’ve written.

Why was it important for you to be involved with Kenny Rogers’ final show?

You never know who the kinds of people [fans] will tag you to. We really didn’t have all that many hit records. We were just so magical when we were together, and of course “Islands In The Stream” was a huge, huge hit. He said, ‘I’m not doing it without Dolly.’ And I’m looking forward to having the audience see us sing the last time live. Although I hope to still be friends with Kenny and that he’ll be around a long time.

How did you decide to be a part of Kesha’s album, Rainbow, released this week?

Kesha? Is that how you [pronounce] her name? I’m so far behind the times…

Mostly, I know her because of her mother. Her mother wrote “Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You” that I did as a duet with my brother Randy years ago. So when Kesha became famous she called to ask me to sing on “Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You.” I said, “Well, of course we have to do it.” I really think it turned out great, I really put my heart and soul in to it. And her mother was there when we recorded it. She told me how she wrote it, living with a hippie in a van, and how it all came about. I hope her album does great!

Any plans to tour in the near future?

No plans for touring. We were successful with the Pure & Simple Tour. We were happy and proud we did so well. We toured for six months. It’s the biggest tour I’ve ever done since I started. So I’m going to concentrate on the TV things, and producing—trying to spend a little more time with my family.

 

I Believe In You Track Listing
I Believe in You*
Coat of Many Colors (new recording)+
Together Forever*
I Am a Rainbow*
I’m Here*
A Friend Like You*
Imagination*
You Can Do It*
Responsibility*
You Gotta Be*
Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny+
Chemo Hero+
Brave Little Soldier+
Bonus track (spoken audio): Coat of Many Colors

*produced by Tom McBryde and executive produced by Paul T. Couch
+produced by Tom Rutledge and Richard Dennison and executive produced by Dolly Parton

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Eric T. Parker, Dolly Parton, MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson

Savur Threadgold Moves Nashville Office To Music Row Area

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Manhattan-based law firm Savur Threadgold LLP has moved its Nashville branch to a new office space in the historic Music Row district, located at 1027 17th Ave. S., Fl. 2.

The firm, which represents VP Music Group, Mexican Summer, Rough Trade Publishing, Bank Robber Music, and Lever & Beam Artist Management among others, originally opened its Nashville office in January of 2016, with Daniel Novick as its managing attorney. Licensed to practice law in California, New York, and Tennessee, Novick represents clients in the entertainment industry and emerging businesses worldwide with respect to contract negotiations, trademark and copyright, new media & intellectual property licensing, technology, and corporate matters.

Among Novick’s clients are recording artists Kelly McGrath, Chris Mann, Kylie Morgan, Jay Allen, Matt Thomas, Julia Cole, Patrick Thomas, The Royal Foundry, and The Dangerous Summer, as well as songwriters Erik Belz, Deanna Walker, and Rick Beresford. Novick also represents companies such as House of Blues Studios, The Vocal Company, Rock City Studios, Bang Productions, Anacrusis, and Evamore.

Kenny Chesney Live Album Reveals Tracks With Taylor Swift, Eric Church

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Kenny Chesney celebrates the unbridled energy and fervor of his legion of No Shoes Nation fans on his upcoming new Live In No Shoes Nation album, due out Oct. 27. The new project captures spontaneous moments from his tours through the years and includes a total of 30 tracks, which apparently took Sony by surprise.

“As I was listening to some of these tapes, I decided: they’re as much the people who’ve been coming out to the shows as anybody’s! I shouldn’t be the only one listening – and that sent me down a tube into all these summers out there rocking,” explains Chesney. “When I told the record company how many songs, they thought I’d lost my mind… And that was before we added ‘Young,’ which really started and defined this chapter, to the list!”

The project features plenty of Chesney fan favorites as well as appearances by his friends, co-writers and tour-mates, ranging from Eric Church, Mac McAnally, David Lee Murphy, and Old Dominion, to Grace Potter, Taylor Swift and the Zac Brown Band.

“No Shoes Nation not only knows no boundaries, we love all kinds of music,” Chesney allows. “It’s why Grace Potter is as loved as Eric Church, why David Lee Murphy gets the same response as Zac Brown and his guys. We love life, we love music and we all really love each other!”

Live in No Shoes Nation Track Listing: 
Flora–Bama
Summertime
Big Star (with Taylor Swift)
Boston
When I See This Bar (with Eric Church)
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
Anything But Mine
Down The Road (with Mac McAnally)
Guitars And Tiki Bars
Hemingway’s Whiskey
Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (with Zac Brown Band)
I’m Alive
Save It for a Rainy Day (with Old Dominion)
Pirate Flag
Somewhere With You
I Go Back
One Step Up
American Kids
You And Tequila (with Grace Potter)
Young
There Goes My Life
Out Last Night
Dust On The Bottle (with David Lee Murphy)
Coastal
The Boys of Fall
Noise
Old Blue Chair
The Joker / Three Little Birds (with Dave Matthews)
Happy on the Hey Now

Olivia Rudeen Signs With Deluge Music

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Pictured (L-R): Mark Friedman (President Deluge Music) Olivia Rudeen and
Emily Dryburgh (Deluge Music Creative Manager)

Singer/songwriter Olivia Rudeen has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Deluge Music.

Rudeen grew up in Colorado and moved to Nashville in 2013. She has had songs featured in several TV shows, including Nashville.

“When I heard her songs I had the same feeling I did back in 2008 when I heard Brandy Clark for the first time! Olivia is multi talented and one to watch for sure!” says President Of Deluge Music Mark Friedman.

Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt Take Home Teen Choice Honors

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Two country artists took home honors from the recent Teen Choice Awards when it aired Sunday (Aug. 13) from the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

Carrie Underwood earned Choice Country Artist, while Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like A Back Road” earned Choice Country Song.

The honor marks Underwood’s sixth Teen Choice Award, including her third consecutive as Choice Country Artist. Underwood was also nominated in the Choice Country Song category this year, as part of “The Fighter” with Keith Urban.

This marks Hunt’s first Teen Choice Award. He was also nominated for Choice Country Artist, Choice Summer Tour, and Choice Song: Male Artist (for “Body Like A Back Road”) this year.

Additionally, The Voice, which stars Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton, won the Choice Reality TV Show honor.

CMA Music Festival 2017 Brings In $57.7 Million In Direct Visitor Spending, Down Slightly From 2016

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The 2017 CMA Music Festival, which took place June 8-11 in downtown Nashville, brought in $57.7 million in direct visitor spending for the city, according to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Direct visitor spending dipped slightly for 2017, as compared to last year’s June 9-12 event which brought in 59.5 million in direct visitor spending. 2015’s event brought in $60.4 million in direct visitor spending.

Last year brought a daily attendance of 88,500 fans. Daily attendance totals for 2017 was not available at press time.

The number of visitors attending decreased from 85 percent in 2016 to 80 percent in 2017, as the number of Nashville locals attending increased to 20 percent of total attendees. The number of international visitors to CMA Music Festival remained approximately the same as past years, at 11.2 percent of total attendees.

The event saw an increase in attendance for millennials (25.8 percent in 2017 vs. 21.2 percent in 2016) and families (12.6 percent in 2017 vs. 8.8 percent in 2016).

New features this year included the free Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater and the Budweiser “Forever Country” Park Stage, as well as the VIP Nash Pass, all providing more activations for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

“It was a historic and exciting year for all of us in Nashville as all eyes were on our city with CMA Music Festival and the Stanley Cup Finals, both with a national TV audience,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. “CMA Music Festival has long welcomed fans from around the globe, and much of their interest in visiting, and desire to return, is due in part to the generous hospitality that our neighbors, those that call Nashville home, extend to our visiting fans. We are glad that more people from our community participated as well.”

The three-hour ABC Television Network special CMA Fest, co-hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini, airs Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. CT, bringing even more global marketing exposure to Nashville.

 

 

 

 

Music City Roots Presents Dylan, Cash And The Nashville Cats Show

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The Country Music Hall of Fame will join Music City Roots to present an evening of music inspired by the museum’s Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City exhibition. The special show is set for tomorrow night (Aug. 16) at 7 p.m. at Liberty Hall inside The Factory at Franklin.

Tickets are $15 for reserved seats or $10 for general admission and can be purchased at musiccityroots.com or at the door. The first 50 people to arrive at the concert will receive an exhibit book for Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats, and every ticket buyer will receive a coupon for $3 off museum adult general admission.

Legendary “Nashville Cat” Lloyd Green and veteran West Coast session musician Jay Dee Maness, who both played pedal steel guitar on the Byrds’ 1968 classic album Sweetheart of the Rodeo, will perform instrumental versions of songs from that album. They will be accompanied by an ace band that includes bassist Dennis Crouch, drummer John Gardner, and guitarists Russ Pahl and Al Perkins. Tracy Nelson will perform songs that she originally recorded in San Francisco and Nashville in the late 1960s while fronting Mother Earth. Charlie Worsham will pay tribute to some of his musical heroes who are featured in the exhibit, and Jon Randall and friends will also perform on the special show. 

The concert will be live-streamed at musiccityroots.com/livestream. The exhibition Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City runs through Feb. 18, 2018.