Musical Chairs at Kobalt, Sony, and KP/Red Light

Stephanie Cox

Longtime publisher Stephanie Cox recently joined Kobalt Music as VP Creative. She most recently worked for Monument Publishing as part of Sony Music Nashville. Cox reports to Kobalt Senior VP Creative, Whitney Daane, head of the Nashville operation. She can be reached at stephanie.cox@kobaltmusic.com.

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Cheri Cranford has exited her post at Sony Music Nashville after almost 25 years with the company. She says, “it has been a great ride beginning at Arista with Tim, through the RCA Label Group years with Joe and Butch, and most recently my time, although short, with Gary O. Now I will look forward to the next chapter.” She can be reached at cheri.cranford@comcast.net.

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Kerri Edward’s KP Entertainment/Red Light Management office has hired Jacoby Knott. The recent MTSU graduate earned a degree in Business Administration/Management and previously interned at Skyville Records, Jewell Entertainment and Taillight TV. She can be reached at 615-259-5437.

Signings: Brent Wesley, Josh Osborne

Singer/songwriter Brent Wesley has inked a deal with Sea Gayle Music Publishing. Following his participation in ASCAP’s Country Music Workshop under the direction of Bonnie Baker, Wesley won the 2011 ASCAP Foundation Leon Brettler Award and got the chance to perform at Lincoln Center in New York. He later participated in ASCAP’s GPS Project, pairing him with Sea Gayle’s Liz O’Sullivan.

L-R: ASCAP’s Marc Driskill, Sea Gayle Music co-founder Brad Paisley, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Brent Wesley, Sea Gayle’s Liz O’Sullivan and Chris DuBois. Photo: Anna Maki

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Celia Froehlig, VP of Black River Publishing, has announced the re-signing of songwriter Josh Osborne. “Josh was the first writer I signed back in 2010 when I joined Black River Publishing,” says Froehlig. “He is and will continue to be a valued member of our BRE family.” Osborne’s current credits include “Come Over” (Kenny Chesney) and “Neon” (Chris Young). He also has writing credits on upcoming releases by Greg Bates, Gwen Sebastian, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves and more.

L-R: VP of Black River Publishing Celia Froehlig, Osborne, Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr

Industry Ink (6/29/12)

Nashville-based Artist Growth earned the most votes in the “Best Music App” category during the MTV O Music Awards. The five-month-old startup company beat out fellow nominees like Spotify and Live Nation for the prize. In recent months, Artist Growth has announced a partnership with BMI to help streamline live performance royalties for participating artists.

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Country Radio Seminar is offering a “Crazy Days of Summer” discount on CRS 2013, which will be available from July 2 to July 31. During that period, a special $349 registration will be available until the end of the month or until 349 individuals have registered. Following the promotion, the CRS $399 Early Bird rate will go into effect. CRS 2013 is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1 in downtown Nashville. Register here.

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Big Machine Label Group is building on its love of racing and cars, as it has announced a long-term music partnership with Hot Wheels. The companies will celebrate the agreement with a “Double Loop Dare” tomorrow (6/30) during the X Games Los Angeles, which will air live on ABC beginning at 10:15 am. Two Team Hot Wheels drivers will pull off the stunt, driving their cars through 60 foot tall loops. See a preview here.

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Dale Turner

Radio promotion veteran and on-air personality Dale Turner has joined Radio Informer Inc. as VP Sales and Label Relations. In this role, Turner will oversee the compilation of Radio Informer’s Country CD sampler which is serviced to radio outlets and industry executives every month. The next issue ships on July 9. Turner, whose career includes time with RCA and Lyric Street Records, will also maintain his current morning show hosting duties at WDKN/Dickson, TN. Reach Turner here.

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The Society of Leaders in Development recently hosted its 10th Annual Music Row Yard Sale at Bridgestone Arena during the CMA Music Festival, raising $3500 for the Vanderbilt Music Therapy Program. The event collects memorabilia and promotional items from companies in the music industry and offers fans a chance to buy them during Music Fest.

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Congratulations to Dawn Delvo (of Black River Entertainment) and Rick Olszewski, who were named the 2012 Man & Woman of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Tennessee Chapter. Both honorees are from Nashville and collectively raised over $164,000 for the organization.

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Emily Mueller

Emily Mueller has announced the launch of [listen + connect] creative, a creative services consultancy for songwriters and producers. Among the services the company offers are A&R, catalog management, and songplugging. A graduate of Belmont University, Mueller’s experience includes time working with Sarah Buxton’s catalog at Tom-Leis Music as well as working with Taylor Swift producer Nathan Chapman. She is currently working with up-and-coming songwriter Brett Tyler and producer Eddie Gore. Contact her here.

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Western boot company Lucchese has retained Jim Havey Public Relations for representation of its new Nashville flagship store, which opened June 1 in the Gulch neighborhood. Located at 503 12th Ave. S., the 4,000 square foot space aims to blend the city’s music and fashion scenes.

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Nashville-based application development company WV Magic Design has changed its name to DevDigital. Founded in 2005, the company builds custom products for multiple platforms and has created products for Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, and more. For more info, visit www.devdigital.com.

FTC Approves Sony Group Purchase of EMI Music Publishing

The pending sale of EMI Music Publishing to a group led by the Sony Corporation has been approved by the Federal Trade Commission, it was reported by Reuters today (6/29).

The deal, valued at $2.2 billion, was given the go-ahead by U.S. regulators and no divestitures will have to be made. Antitrust regulators in Europe approved the sale in April, provided the new company sell publishing rights of Robbie Williams and Lenny Kravitz among others.

The combined companies will be the world’s largest music publishing catalog, boasting songs such as “Over The Rainbow,” “Rolling in the Deep,” “New York, New York,” and many more.

“The financial arrangement behind the deal is complex, and does not give Sony complete control,” points out the New York Times’ Media Decoder blog. “Because of Sony’s joint venture with the Michael Jackson estate for its existing publishing arm, Sony/ATV, it must maintain EMI as a separate company. And while Sony/ATV will administer the EMI catalog, Sony and the Jackson estate will own only 38 percent of it.”

Other investors involved include Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, Hong Kong’s Jynwel Capital, Blackstone’s GSO Capital Partners, and David Geffen.

Prior to this news, Billboard reported that EMI Music Publishing president “Big” Jon Platt would be departing his position with the company after 17 years. His final day on the job is today.

The Federal Trade Commission is still debating the sale of Universal Music’s pending purchase of EMI’s recorded music division from Citigroup for $1.9 billion. Hits Magazine notes that EMI chief Roger Faxon “half-heartedly” approved of the merger during recent FTC discussions, though its approval could leave him without a job. According to Hits, Faxon’s contract states that within 30 days of the first of the two regulatory investigations finishing, he must choose to stay with either publishing or recorded music.

Photo Show: City National Salutes SOURCE, Creative Nation, WMBA

Creative Nation Showcase at The Basement
Monday night (6/25) Creative Nation songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean rounded up co-writers Rhett Akins, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, Natalie Hemby, Matt Jenkins, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Jonathan Singleton for a performance at The Basement. The group debuted 10 songs to an industry crowd during the event that marked Creative Nation’s first show since the company announced its grand opening last month.

Pictured (L-R): Beth Laird, Creative Nation Co-Owner and General Manager; Luke Laird, Creative Nation Co-Owner and Songwriter/Producer; Kacey Musgraves; Natalie Hemby; Shane McAnally; Brett Eldredge; and Barry Dean, Creative Nation Songwriter. Photo: Thomas Gentry

 

City National Salutes SOURCE Honorees
City National Bank celebrated this year’s SOURCE Award recipients with a fun Nash Trash tour of Music City followed by dinner at Virago. The awards, honoring pioneering females in the music business, will salute Shelia Shipley Biddy, Connie Bradley, Karen Conrad, Judy Harris, Pat Rolfe, Kay Smith and Judy Wray. All of this year’s honorees are founding members of the organization. The 10th annual SOURCE Awards will be held Aug. 23 at the new home of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at Municipal Auditorium.

Pictured (L-R) Back Row: Sarah Brosmer, Bebe Evans, Debbie Linn, Betty Sanders, Lisa Palas, Linda Payne, Judi Turner, Martha Henderson, Susan Myers, Karen Morgan, Kay Clary, Sally Williams, Holly Bell, Lainie Allbee, Trina Smith, Sherri Lynn - Jugg Sister, Courtney Crist, Pamela Johnson, Erika Wollam Nichols, Diane Pearson; Front Row: Mary Unobsky, Lori Badgett, Jessica Rogers, Brenda Kay - Jugg Sister, Shelia Shipley Biddy, Karen Conrad, Judy Harris, Kay Smith, Judy Wray, Pat Rolfe, Laurie Hughes, Katie Plauche Morris and Mandy Gallagher.

 

WMBA Meeting Welcomes Cindy Heath
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) welcomed Monarch Publicity’s Cindy Heath as the guest speaker for the organization’s monthly membership meeting at NSAI last week. Heath, who also serves on WMBA’s Board of Directors, shared her experience of navigating the music business and gave insight on being a female entrepreneur.

Pictured (L-R): Front Row: Amery Fridenstine, Trina Lloyd-Weidner, Becky McIntosh; Middle Row: Brandi Simms, Cindy Heath, Becky Lynn Street; and Back Row: Kama Upton, Leona Edwards

Roots Three/ole Sign Hit Producer/Writer Jeff Coplan

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard, Chief Creative Officer/ole; Ron Kitchener, President Roots Three Music; Jeff Coplan and Denny Carr, Director of A&R, Roots Three Music

Roots Three Music and ole have entered a worldwide co-publishing deal with hit songwriter/producer Jeff Coplan. The deal also includes a futures component.

Coplan has helped develop and produce RCA recording artists Love and Theft, and co-wrote the band’s current hit “Angel Eyes.” It is the lead single from the band’s upcoming release. Coplan is also working with BlackjackBilly, who is busy touring and finishing its first album.

Coplan, a Montreal native living in Nashville, is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. With international hits on the pop, rock, dance, and country charts, he has written and/or produced songs that have collectively sold over 6 million copies. Coplan has worked with The Moffatts, The Bahamen, Amber, Lindsay Lohan, Bowling for Soup, Nick Carter, and She Moves.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be signing with Roots Three Music/ole,” says Coplan. “Their passion for songs, multi-genre approach and international reach make them the perfect fit for me.”

Director of A&R for Roots Three Music/ole Denny Carr states, “I’m overjoyed to welcome Jeff Coplan into the Roots Three/ole family. The synergies between his artist development skills, songwriting and producing chops are perfect for our model moving forward.”

Industry Ink (6/26/12)

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville chapter hosted a standing room only event called “Music In Advertising” at Cabana on June 11. The panel   focused on music trends and projects the guest music supervisors are currently working.

(L-R): Kevin Lamb (Executive Director); Dianna Maher (Co-Executive Director); Craig Currier (peermusic); Amy Rosen (Grey NY); Karen Macmillian (Nettwerk Music Group); John Melillo (Melillo Music); Sarah Gavigan (Sarah Gavigan Music); Randy Wachtler (PMA). Photo: Alan Mayor

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Donica Christensen's missing banjo.

Sugar Hill Records Director of Artist & Media Development Donica Christensen reports that several  instruments from her personal collection were taken when her home was burglarized Friday, June 22.

Among the missing instruments are a 1982 Gibson 5-string banjo with no serial number, built by Bill Sullivan. The neck has a hearts and flowers inlay, and a Steve Huber tone ring. Also missing is a very old (early-to-mid 1800s) fiddle, an Antonius and Hieronymous Amati copy. The bow is a Pernambuco, silver mounted round stick. Additionally, the burglars took a bright blue left handed guitar of unspecified brand. If you have any information, contact Donica at 540-339-7701.

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Belmont University recently announced the members of its Pipeline Project for 2012, a group of students who will participate in the school’s music industry think tank. The group is dedicated to illuminating problems in the industry and exploring possible solutions.

(L-R): Ryan McAdoo, Sarita Stewart (faculty advisor), Theo Halls, Kelsie Saison, Phil Haddad, Erik Coveney, Rachel Glidden, Kendall Durkee, Matt Maher

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The Hot Seat, which is led by VP Jason Turner and specializes in radio marketing, satellite TV tours, and online video content, has moved offices. The company’s new location is at 33 Music Sq. W., Suite 100B. Turner’s new phone number is 615-690-7000 and his email is jason@hotseatonline.com.

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(L-R): Jay Orr, CMHOF vice-president of museum programs, Niles and Mick Buck, CMHOF curatorial director.

Veteran publicist Susan Niles and her siblings recently donated a variety of primitive instruments from the 1920s to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Among the donations were a musical pitchfork, a musical saw, and musical glasses that were all played by their father Darwin Niles Sr. in a Vaudeville act in New York City. Sheet music from the same era was also donated.

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Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) is hosting YEP Night at the Basement tomorrow (6/27) starting at 6 pm. The event features performances from Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne, Brian Keane, Chase Foster, Forest Whitehead, Matthew McGinn, Jordan Dean, and Steph Jones.

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Epiphone Guitar recently signed on as the exclusive guitar sponsor of the Bluebird Cafe’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, which kicked off during CMA Music Festival. During the official party, Bluebird founder Amy Kurland and GM Erika Wollam Nichols presented Epiphone guitars to Jay Patten and Toni Sehulster, leaders of the band that has played at every Bluebird birthday and Christmas show.

(L-R): Bluebird Café GM Erika Wollam Nichols; Jay Patten, holding his Limited Edition 50th Anniversary "1961" Casino TD guitar; Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland; and Toni Sehulster with her Jack Casady Signature Bass. Photo: Glenda Paradee

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PLA Media has added country singer/songwriter Jordan Anderson to its publicity roster. Anderson’s debut single “Key To My Heart” is beginning to reach listeners. She joins fellow PLA clients Lynn Anderson, Justin Moore, William Lee Golden, and Jessica Frech.

Hannah Showmaker Joins Parallel

Parallel Entertainment is pleased to welcome recent Belmont University graduate Hannah Showmaker to its Nashville office. In her new role, Showmaker will work on both the management and publishing sides of Parallel Entertainment helping with day-to-day operations as well as with clients and administrative duties.

“I’ve wanted to work in the country music industry ever since I was a little girl watching CMT and GAC,” said Showmaker.

Hannah, 22, is originally from Charleston, Mo. She graduated from Belmont this past May with a degree in Music Business and a minor in Public Relations. Her resume also includes time at Red Bull, The Country Network and PLAMedia.

“Parallel Entertainment is thrilled to have found such a talent as Hannah,” said C.T. Wyatt, talent management. “We expect great things to come from our new relationship with her.”

Congratulate Hannah at Hannah@parallelentertainment.com.

Warner/Chappell Signs Dean Alexander, Adds New Staffer

Warner/Chappell Music, along with Parallel Music Publishing, has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with singer/songwriter Dean Alexander. The artist is currently working on his debut album for Warner Music Nashville.

(L-R): Alicia Pruitt (Sr Director, A&R, Warner/Chappell), Steve Markland (VP A&R Warner/Chappell), Dean Alexander, BJ Hill (Sr Director, A&R, Warner/Chappell), Tim Hunze (Parallel Music Publishing), Phil May (GM/VP, Warner/Chappell), and C.T. Wyatt (Manager, Parallel Entertainment).

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Blain Rhodes

Additionally, Warner/Chappell Nashville has hired Blain Rhodes as Creative Coordinator. A native of Brunswick, GA, Rhodes began his career working on the road with Luke Bryan and followed that gig with a stint at William Morris.

 

Artist Updates: Carrie Underwood, Love and Theft

Carrie Underwood is slated to make her first appearance in the popular CMA Songwriters Series, when it returns to Boston on Tuesday, July 31 at Royale in the downtown Theater District.

Joining Underwood for the event will be some of her hit co-writers Brett James (“Cowboy Casanova”), Luke Laird (“So Small”), and Hillary Lindsey (“Just a Dream”). As usual, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bob DiPiero will host and perform at the event. Tickets go on sale Friday (June 29) and are $50 for VIP seating, $39 for reserved, and $25 for general admission.

Underwood recently performed her first-ever U.K. concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which sold out within 90 minutes of tickets going on sale. This week, Underwood heads on to Australia for a series of shows.

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RCA Nashville’s Love and Theft has signed with EMI Music Publishing Nashville. The duo of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson currently has the single “Angel Eyes” approaching top 10 on all the charts. Love and Theft’s upcoming self-titled album for RCA will be in stores July 24.

(L-R): Back: EMI's Laura Wright, Missy Wilson, Ben Vaughn. Front: EMI's Tom Luteran, Barker-Liles, Gunderson, EMI's Josh Van Valkenburg