Weekly Register: Chris Stapleton And Sam Hunt Dominate, Old Dominion Makes Strong Debut

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Old Dominion. Photo: Dove Shore

Chris Stapleton continues to top the Nielsen Soundscan country albums sales chart this week, with From A Room: Vol. 1 again at No. 1 with 11K. Now That’s What I Call Country 10 (Various Artists) is at No. 2, with 8K. Lady Antebellum‘s Heart Break re-enters the Top 5 at No. 3, with 7.3K. Stapleton’s 2015 debut album Traveller is again in the Top 5 this week, to land at No. 4 with 6.3K sold. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit‘s The Nashville Sound rounds out the Top 5 with 5K.

Two top debuts this week include Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary‘s No. 10 debut on the country albums chart, with American Grandstand selling 3.1K. Parker McCollum debuts at No. 15 with Probably Wrong selling 2K.

On the country digital songs chart, Sam Hunt again dominates with “Body Like A Back Road” at No. 1, selling 46K. The song is now at 1.341 million units RTD.

Brett Young‘s “In Case You Didn’t Know” is at No. 2, with 17K. Billy Currington‘s “Do I Make You Wanna” is at No. 3 with 17K. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood‘s “The Fighter” is at No. 4 with 16K, and Dustin Lynch‘s “Small Town Boy” rounds out the Top 5 with 15K. The top country debut is Old Dominion‘s “Written In The Sand,” landing at No. 6 country and selling 15K.

Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.

Warner Music Nashville Adds Rohan Kohli As Director, A&R

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Rohan Kohli

Warner Music Nashville has welcomed a new member to their A&R team with the addition of Rohan Kohli. Kohli, who has been named Director of A&R, will report to EVP Scott Hendricks.

“Warner Music Group was built on artist relationships, and we here at Warner Music Nashville have created and fostered one of the most artist-friendly cultures in any label in the music business anywhere,” said WMN Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “In keeping with our family philosophy, Rohan has made a career of connecting with artists. Our A&R team is made up of individuals who, in addition to their artist-facing values, possess a wide and varied taste in music that reflect the breadth of our genre. Rohan’s well-rounded experience will bring us a fresh perspective on the kind of talent we aim to pursue. I’ve long considered artists and repertoire the foundation of any label, and with Rohan our foundation just got stronger.”

Added Hendricks: “We are very fortunate to have Rohan on our team. He is well-respected in the music community for his discerning musical tastes and his relationships with artists, songwriters and publishers.”

Kohli graduated from Emory University in Atlanta with a degree in economics. He began at Ozone Entertainment in New York as a manager for bands including Boys Like Girls and Hey Monday, as well as songwriters/producers Sam Hollander and Dave Katz. He moved to Los Angeles and transitioned into full-time writer/producer management before settling in Nashville in 2013, where he worked with talents such as Paul DiGiovanni, Andy Albert and more.

“As an outsider, Warner was always a place that I held in high esteem,” said Kohli. “Being here now is an honor and a privilege. I’m looking forward to working with the A&R team, label staff and artists whom I respect most in this industry.”

Landon Dirickson Opens Nashville-Based Dirickson Law

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Landon Dirickson

Nashville-based entertainment attorney Landon Dirickson has opened Dirickson Law, a practice with a focus on the negotiation of various entertainment contracts, intellectual property rights, general business and corporate law.

His client roster includes recording artists, songwriters, producers, film and television actors, artist managers and entertainment industry professionals. Among his clients are Hunter Hayes, Jay DeMarcus, Walker Hayes, singer/songwriter Mitch Rossell, pop/EDM artist SVRCINA, actor Jason Marsden and contemporary R&B artist/producer “Mr. Talkbox.”

“I’m truly excited to hang out my own shingle as I continue working with some of our industry’s most creative individuals,” Dirickson said. “I’m thankful for the opportunities of the past 12 years and look forward to this new phase of my career.”

Dirickson was most recently a partner at Davis, Dirickson, PLLC. He is a graduate of Belmont University and the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Dirickson can be reached at landon@diricksonlaw.com or 615-669-5584.

Curb Promotes RJ Meacham To National Director, Promotion And Chart Strategy

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RJ Meacham

Ryan Dokke, Vice President of Promotion for Curb Records, announced today the elevation of radio promotion executive RJ Meacham to the position of National Director of Promotion and Chart Strategy.

“I couldn’t be more excited to elevate RJ to this new position at Curb Records. His passion for our artists, their music, and his joint leadership with Mike Rogers of our promotion team makes this well-deserved promotion a ‘no-brainer.’ Over the past year, RJ has helped cultivate key relationships with radio programmers and guided key chart strategies culminating in our No. 1 success with Dylan Scott’s “My Girl.” I look forward to working even more closely with RJ as Curb Records continues to expand into its next chapter,” comments Dokke.

Meacham will be responsible for formulating plans for the set-up and launch of the label’s new music and will manage chart strategies on behalf of the department’s promotion efforts. He will continue working with the label’s flagship artists to enrich their relationships with radio and will work with the regional staff to achieve airplay goals on behalf of the department.

“Being in the trenches with friends – new and old – this past year has been a blast. I’m excited about what we’ve accomplished so far and even more so about where we’re headed as a team. I’m grateful for being given the opportunity to assume even more responsibility and look forward to working closely with our staff – and radio – to bring Curb’s music to the forefront,” adds Meacham.

With over three decades of experience, Meacham has held key positions at several major labels (Monument, Asylum, BNA, Columbia, Sony), and has been influential in the set-up and execution of countless hit records, working with Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, LeAnn Rimes, Hank Williams Jr., Tyler Farr, Kellie Pickler, Craig Morgan, Maren Morris, among others.

Meacham joined Curb Records in 2016 as Senior Director, Country Promotion & Chart Strategy, where he has been part of the team behind the chart success of the label’s current roster, including record-breaking artists Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann and the recent breakthrough success of Dylan Scott’s No. 1 RIAA certified Gold hitsingle, “My Girl.” The single is one of only seven songs in chart history to reach the No. 1 slot after 46+ weeks.

Nick Di Fruscia Named ACM VP, Awards & Membership

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Nick Di Fruscia has been named Vice President, Awards & Membership at the Academy of Country Music. In the newly created role, Di Fruscia will oversee all Awards voting and processes and lead membership initiatives, while also contributing to the Academy’s artist and industry relations efforts both in Nashville and on the West Coast. The position is based out of the Academy’s headquarters in Encino and reports to Pete Fisher, Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Country Music.

Di Fruscia joins the Academy’s membership team from The Recording Academy, where he was Director/Awards and served for nearly a decade overseeing the pop and country categories for The Grammy Awards.

An L.A. native, Di Fruscia attended San Diego State University, where he studied Business Administration. He moved to Los Angeles in 2000 where he began his career at Chalkboard Music, Inc. as Creative Director and Manager. In his position Di Fruscia worked on a variety of projects with artists including Cher, Donna Summer, Elton John, Diane Warren, and many more. Previous career stops also include his own consultancy, 33 Music Consulting, where he advised and managed artists, producers and television/film composers, and Director of Music Licensing at MySpace.

“As the Academy charts its future course, we enthusiastically welcome Nick to lead this vital area of our organization,” said Pete Fisher, CEO of the Academy. “Through his tenure at The Recording Academy, I, along with many members of our country music industry, have had the opportunity to see Nick’s talents, observing first-hand the passion, integrity and attention to detail he brings to every facet of his work.”

“I am so excited to be a part of an organization that I have so much respect for. Country music has been such a big part of my career and one of my true passions. I look forward to working with Pete and the ACM Board and staff to continue the proud legacy of the ACM Award and what it means to the country music community,” said Di Fruscia.

Beginning today, Di Fruscia can be reached at nick@acmcountry.com.

Kyle LaValley Joins Mercy Lounge As Talent Buyer

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Nashville’s Mercy Lounge has added Kyle LaValley to their staff as a talent buyer. In her new position LaValley will book talent at flagship venue Mercy Lounge, as well as sister venues Cannery Ballroom and The High Watt. She will work alongside veteran Nashville booker John Bruton.

Prior to joining the Mercy Lounge complex, LaValley worked as a talent buyer at Majestic Live from 2015 to 2017. She booked talent at the Majestic Theatre, The Frequency, HighNoon Saloon, The Blue Note, Rose Music Hall and more. Her previous experience includes positions at The Windish Agency, The Empty Bottle and Thalia Hall.

“We are seriously impressed by Kyle’s work ethic, professional relationships and industry experience,” said Mercy Lounge owner Todd Ohlhauser. “We are excited to have her as a part of the Mercy Lounge family to make an impact at our three locally-owned venues.”

“I’ve always been drawn to Nashville and its rich musical lineage,” LaValley says. “Very much looking forward to joining the Mercy Lounge team and continuing to book quality acts in these impressive rooms.”

Willie Watson Preps ‘Folksinger Vol. 2’ For September Release

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Photo: Meredith Munn

Willie Watson is set to release his first album since parting ways with Old Crow Medicine Show in 2011. The album, Folksinger Vol. 2, will be released Sept. 15 on Acony Records. The album was recorded on analog tape at Nashville’s Woodland Sound Studios and produced by David Rawlings. It features 11 tracks of American folk music, including songs made popular by Leadbelly, Reverend Gary Davis, Furry Lewis and Bascom Lamar Lunsford.

In addition to The Fairfield Four on three tracks, the album features Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show’s Morgan Jahnig and Punch Brothers’ Paul Kowert.

Los Angeles-based Watson is part of the Dave Rawlings Machine and will make his acting debut in the Coen Brothers’ latest project, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. He is also slated to perform as part of Americanafest, which runs from Sept. 12-17 in Nashville.

 

FOLKSINGER VOL. 2 TRACK LIST
1. Samson And Delilah (feat. The Fairfield Four)
2. Gallows Pole
3. When My Baby Left Me
4. Dry Bones
5. Walking Boss
6. On The Road Again (feat. The Fairfield Four)
7. The Cuckoo Bird
8. Always Lift Him Up And Never Knock Him Down
9. John Henry
10. Leavin’ Blues
11. Take This Hammer (feat. The Fairfield Four)

Dolly Parton’s ‘Christmas Of Many Colors,’ Jack White’s ‘American Epic Sessions’ Earn Emmy Noms

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American Epic Sessions Gets Outstanding Musical Direction Emmy Nomination

The musical/documentary The American Epic Sessions, directed by Bernard MacMahon, has been nominated for a Primetime EMMY for Outstanding Musical Direction. The documentary features Nas, Jack White, Elton John, Alabama Shakes, Steve Martin, Taj Mahal and many other legendary artists recording live direct-to-disc on the first-ever electrical recording system from the mid-1920s. Bernard MacMahon, Duke Erikson from Garbage, Jack White, and T Bone Burnett have all been nominated for their work on the film, which was 10 years in the making. The independent feature broadcast through PBS is the final part of a four-part documentary series called American Epic.

Dolly Parton’s NBC Biopic Receives TV Movie Emmy Nomination

(Photo by: Annette Brown/NBC)

Dolly Parton‘s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle Of Love also received an Emmy nomination in the Television Movie category. The two-hour NBC-TV holiday movie stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, and Gerald McCraney, with Dolly Parton making a special guest appearance. 

“I am so very proud and excited to have Christmas of Many Colors be nominated for an Emmy award,” says Dolly Parton. “Special thanks to my partner and executive producer Sam Haskell, a wonderful cast and crew, Steve Herek (our producer) and Pamela Long for a great script. And a special thanks to all of the many fans that watched it.”

The 69th Emmy Awards will telecast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 17 on CBS.

Round Hill Music Announces Four New Additions To Nashville Team

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Round Hill Music has added four new staffers to its Nashville team.

Emily Frye and Erin Ruth Schleiff have joined the Royalty Services team as Coordinators. Frye joins Round Hill from SESAC, where she was a royalty distribution and research services team administrator responsible for processing TV and film cue sheets and ensuring affiliate registrations were current. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.

Schleiff comes to Round Hill Music from Capitol CMG Publishing. She graduated from SUNY Oneonta, and during her tenure at Capitol CMG, she served as copyright and royalty administrator focusing on royalty tracking, statement auditing, financial analysis, and copyright conflict resolution.

Chelsea Grim and Darcie Van Etten are also joining the Round Hill administration team as Coordinators. Grim joins Round Hill Music from Bluewater Music Services. The Belmont graduate served as copyright coordinator for Bluewater, where she managed song registrations and dealt with the company’s foreign affiliates.

Van Etten joins Round Hill Music direct from her role as an intern to the administration department. The Belmont graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration previously interned at both at TKO Artist Management and Country Radio Broadcasters Inc. before joining Round Hill.

Valerie Gray Joins Anderson Benson

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Valerie Gray

Valerie Gray has joined Anderson Benson, a locally owned and independent insurance broker, as Marketing Analyst and Account Manager.

Having served the bulk of her entertainment insurance career with Robertson Taylor International Insurance, now a legacy company of Integro, she brings knowledge and experience within the music and entertainment industry to Anderson Benson.

Gray says, “I am excited to start a new challenge with Anderson Benson, and look forward to working with this phenomenal team. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on exceptional service in delivering insurance and risk management services to the music and entertainment industry.”

George Anderson, President and co-founder of the Nashville-based company, states Gray has worked diligently to build an impressive reputation that has earned her both the respect of clients as well as respective insurance carriers.