Lineup Revealed For Fourth Annual AmericanaFest NYC

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Lincoln Center Out of Doors and the Americana Music Association have revealed the lineup for the Roots of American Music Weekend, highlighted for the fourth year by AMERICANAFEST NYC, and taking place Aug. 12-13.

The artist lineup includes performances by Bonnie Raitt, The Jayhawks, Don Bryant, Traveller, Flaco Jiménez, Amanda Shires, and Low Cut Connie. The weekend also features a special “Celebration of Chuck Berry,” with music director Vernon Reid.

The 47th edition of the Out of Doors festival runs July 26–Aug. 13, filling the Lincoln Center campus with a diverse range of music, dance, spoken word, and family events featuring dozens of artists from across the city, country, and world all completely free and open to the public. Lincoln Center has also joined forces with renowned restaurants and notable chefs to offer a broad range of culinary offerings to accompany its outdoor summer programming.

ANNUAL ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC WEEKEND AMERICANAFEST NYC
Saturday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. Hearst Plaza:
Traveller
Flaco Jiménez
Amanda Shires

Saturday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. Damrosch Park Bandshell:
The Jayhawks
A Celebration of Chuck Berry with musical director Vernon Reid Low Cut Connie

Sunday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. Damrosch Park Bandshell:
Bonnie Raitt
Don Bryant

All events are free with no tickets required. Events take place on Lincoln Center’s plazas between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, from West 62nd Street to West 65th Street (except where noted).

For more information, please visit americanamusic.org or LCOutOfDoors.org.

Cumulus Names John Kaufman Sr. VP, Revenue Strategy & Operations

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Cumulus Media has appointed John Kaufman as Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Operations. In the newly-created position, Kaufman will lead the optimization of revenue at Cumulus with a focus on pricing and inventory management across the network and radio station groups.

Kaufman joined Cumulus after 20-plus years in revenue management positions in the travel and hospitality industry, including Executive Vice President of Revenue Management and Electronic Marketing at Extended Stay Hotels, and Vice President of Global Revenue Management at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He joined iHeartMedia/Clear Channel in 2009 as Senior Vice President, Revenue Management, and advanced to President of Business Operations for the company. In 2014, he started his consultancy, JK Steele Consulting, LLC, and helped launch the start-up company Spaces (ParcMate) in 2015 as President and Chief Operating Officer. Kaufman holds a BA degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

“John’s strategic and operational expertise and deep understanding of the critical function that pricing and inventory management plays in maximizing revenue will be a tremendous asset to our operations,” said Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cumulus Media, “In this new leadership role, he will increase the company’s revenue management capabilities through intelligent and attractive pricing strategies and systems. John will also support our team of more than 900 sales professionals in 90 U.S. markets as they serve our advertisers with local impact and national reach.”

“Seeing all the great change underway at Cumulus, I am so pleased to be joining Mary and her leadership team at this exciting time, and look forward to helping the company continue in its evolution,” said Kaufman of the new role.

He will be based in New York and will report to Berner.

Miranda Lambert’s ‘Wings’ Reaches Platinum Heights

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Miranda Lambert’s latest album The Weight of These Wings has reached another peak, as it has just been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Released on Nov. 18, 2016, The Weight Of These Wings is Lambert’s sixth studio album and debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart with 122,000 albums sold and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 all genre chart. The project included the hit single “Vice,” and was awarded the Album of the Year trophy at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April.

The 24-song collection was produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Eric Masse and includes tracks penned by Gwen Sebastian, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Anderson East, Liz Rose, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Monroe and more.

CMA Opens First Round Of Voting Today For ’51st Annual CMA Awards’

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The Country Music Association (CMA) opens the first round of voting today (July 10) for this year’s CMA Awards. Current members will be emailed the official ballot today. Polls for the first round of voting will close at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 20.

Categories eligible for voting include Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Musician of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.

The second ballot voting period will run from Aug. 14-24, while the final ballot voting period will run from Oct. 2-24.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards airs live Wednesday, Nov. 8 on ABC-TV. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return as hosts for the 10th consecutive year.

Tree Vibez Music, Big Machine Music Sign Joint Venture With Daniel Ross

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(L-R): Back Row – Tree Vibez Music’s Emily Peacock, Adam Romaine, Leslie DiPiero and Tyler Hubbard, BMM’s Mike Molinar, Michelle Attardi, Jillian Whitefield and Alex Heddle; Front Row – Daniel Ross.   Photo: Seth Hellman for Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music and Tree Vibez Music have signed songwriter/producer Daniel Ross to a publishing deal in a joint publishing venture.

Ross moved to Nashville after graduating from Western Carolina University in 2015 and quickly immersed himself into the songwriting scene. The Hope Mills, North Carolina native spent his formative years playing in and producing local bands around the Southeast.

“Daniel’s music is current, commercial and shows an immense respect for the craft of songwriting,” says Mike Molinar, BMM General Manager. “I am incredibly honored to have him join our team of uniquely talented songwriters and equally excited to collaborate with our friends at Tree Vibez Music on this partnership.”

“BK and I knew from our first writing session that Tree Vibez Music would sign Daniel one day,” said FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. “There was energy and flow to his songwriting that we knew was fresh. And, to team up with Big Machine from the publishing side is different and really exciting for us!

“We are thrilled to welcome Daniel into the family – and to further extend our family to this new partnership with the Big Machine Music team,” said TVM General Manager Leslie DiPiero. This is going to be an incredible journey!”

“This is a dream crew to work with and I’m blown away that this is a reality for me,” says Ross about the new partnership. “I’ve never been more excited about creating music.”

Pictured (L-R): Back Row – Tree Vibez Music’s Leslie DiPiero and Tyler Hubbard, BMM’s Mike Molinar and Michelle Attardi; Front Row – Daniel Ross. Photo: Seth Hellman for Big Machine Music

Steven McMillan Promoted To Director At Round Hill Music

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Steven McMillan has been named Director of Tracking at Round Hill Music.

A graduate of Middle Tennessee State with a Bachelor’s degree in Recording Industry Management, McMillan was previously Manager of Royalty Services for the company. Prior to joining Round Hill, he was the Manager of Financial Operations for Big Loud Bucks Administration & Information, where his responsibilities included collecting and distributing royalties for all clients, managing writer recoupable accounts, demo billing, royalty redirections, catalog valuations, desktop auditing, and Master Mechanical Royalties for label clients.

“I want to congratulate Steven on his promotion,” said Round Hill Music SVP/GM Mark Brown. “He’s been an asset to our company and I’m excited to see him take on this new role.”

Inaugural VenuesNow Conference Reveals LA Speaker Lineup

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The inaugural VenuesNow Conference, slated for July 12-14 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, aims to bring together thought-leaders and visionaries to discuss the issues and challenges facing the sports, entertainment and venue industry. The conference will focus on areas including music, concerts, technology, safety and security, branding and sponsorship.

Among this year’s speakers are Mac Presents’ Marcie Allen, Red Light Management founder Coran Capshaw, McGhee Entertainment’s Doc McGhee, Messina Touring Group’s Louis Messina, Live Nation’s President of North American Concerts Bob Roux, WME partner and co-head Nashville Rob Beckham, CID Entertainment Founder/CEO Dan Berkowitz.

VenuesNow is produced by Oak View Group’s Tim Leiweke and former Billboard Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring Ray Waddell.

For more, visit venuesnowconference.com.

Black River Publishing Adds Eric Hurt As Sr. Director Of Creative

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Eric Hurt. Photo: Black River Entertainment

Black River Entertainment’s VP of Publishing Dave Pacula has announced the hiring of publishing veteran Eric Hurt as Sr. Director of Creative.

“We are excited to welcome Eric Hurt to the Black River family!” says Pacula. “He is a perfect fit with our creative team and his extensive and diverse experience in multiple genres will be a great asset to our songwriters.”

Nearing 20 years in the music industry, Hurt has witnessed the ever-changing Nashville music scene first hand.

“It’s becoming a very versatile town where multiple genres of music are working together and pushing each other creatively, which is making it important for publishers to have a roster that reflects that evolution so that they are ahead of the curve.”

Hurt continued, “Black River’s roster achieves just that. I am thrilled to now be a part of Black River where all of our artists, writers and producers work hard to push musical boundaries and strive for something unique and authentic. I’m very much looking forward to helping our roster grow and finding new opportunities both within and outside of Nashville.”

Prior to joining Black River, Hurt spent time at Zavitson Music Group, Universal Music Publishing / Brentwood-Benson, Still Working Music and ForeFront Records. Most recently, Hurt served as Sr. Director of Creative at Spirit Music Group.

Hurt can be reached at ehurt@blackriverent.com or by phone at 615-780-3070 x 6205.

Shania Twain Gives Back With New Album

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With the Sep. 29 launch of her brand new album, NOW, Shania Twain is offering exclusive album packages to benefit Shania Kids Can. Shania promised herself that if she were ever in a position to give back, she would find a way to help children reach their full potential.

After overcoming the hardships, loss and poverty of her youth, Twain is now one of the most iconic country stars in the world and is helping to provide the best possible opportunities for youth today facing similar challenges through the Shania Kids Can Foundation. Established in 2010, the organization was created to help underprivileged children with academic, nutritional, therapeutic and extra-curricular support providing a safe, secure environment where a child can thrive and reach their personal best.

Package options for NOW range from the new Shania deluxe album, Shania Kids Can merchandise and autographed memorabilia to tickets to an intimate pre-release listening party, one-of-a-kind performance outfits worn by Shania, the custom motorcycle used in Shania’s Still the One Live from Las Vegas stage show, dinner in Nashville with Shania and much more. For additional details and package descriptions, PledgeMusic.com/projects/shania-kids-can.

Big & Rich Ready To Rock Again On ‘Did It For The Party’

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Big & Rich are cranking up the energy to 10 in their usual fashion on their latest CD Did It For The Party, which is due out Sept. 15. Upbeat rockers like “Congratulations (You’re A Rockstar)” and “No Sleep” punctuate the new project balanced out with softer side ballads like “Turns Me On.”

The album features 13 new songs produced by Big Kenny and John Rich, including their new single “California,” and fans who pre-order the album now will receive the track as an instant grat track along with the title tune. The album will also be promoted at Walmart stores nationwide through a newly announced partnership with TWIX.

“This new record is gonna rock America’s boots off,” said John Rich. “Can’t wait for y’all to hear it!” Big Kenny adds, “It’s been a blast working on this album and we can’t wait for everyone to hear our new songs!”

Did It For The Party Track Listing:
1. California
2. Did It For The Party
3. Congratulations (You’re A Rockstar)
4. Turns Me On
5. Wake Up Wanting You
6. Smoke In Her Eyes
7. No Sleep
8. We Came To Rawk
9. Funk In The Country
10. The Long Way Home
11. Freedom Road
12. My Son
13. Lie Cheat Or Steal