Leslie Fram, Mickey Guyton, Trisha Yearwood To Be Honored At ‘Hometown to Hometown’ Event

/by

Mickey Guyton, Leslie Fram, Trisha Yearwood

Nashville’s fourth annual “Hometown to Hometown” event from Save The Music and SongFarm.org is set for Monday, June 5 at City Winery.

This year’s event will honor CMT’s Leslie Fram, Mickey Guyton and Trisha Yearwood for their contributions to the music industry and their passion for music education.

Hosted by CMT Hot 20 Countdown’s Cody Alan and Rissi Palmer, the annual fundraiser will feature special acoustic performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Madeline Edwards, Caylee Hammack, Karyn Rochelle, Leslie Satcher and Brittney Spencer, with appearances by Tracy Gershon (President, TG Management & Consultants; Co-Founder, Northern Light Music), Cindy Mabe (Chair & CEO, Universal Music Group Nashville), Melinda Newman (Executive Editor, West Coast & Nashville, Billboard), and Julie Williams (Artist, CMT Next Women of Country and Black Opry).

All funds raised from this year’s “Hometown to Hometown” event will support music technology programs in under-resourced high schools in Nashville, Georgia and Texas, helping impact the lives of thousands of students.

“Since Save The Music first teamed up with Ross Copperman and SongFarm.org in 2019, the Nashville songwriter community has funded nine music education programs through this annual event, reaching thousands of students from North Carolina to Nashville to Texas to Washington State. This year’s event is going to be the biggest and best ever as we celebrate an all-female roster of songwriters, executives and artists.  We’re incredibly grateful to Leslie, Mickey, Trisha and all of this year’s performers for empowering young people to reach their full potential through the power of making music,” says Henry Donahue, Executive Director of Save The Music.

For the past 25 years, Save The Music has donated over $70 million in instruments and music technology equipment to over 2,500 public schools nationwide. With the support of sponsors and donors, including CMT, Gibson Gives, MAXISIQ and MTV Entertainment Studios, “Hometown to Hometown” continues to make a significant impact on music education in the area.

Concord Music Publishing Promotes Jen Hubbard To Director, Sync A&R

/by

Jen Hubbard. Photo: Audrey Spillman

Concord Music Publishing has appointed Jen Hubbard to the newly formed role of Director, Sync A&R.

Hubbard joined Concord in 2018 and most recently served as Director of A&R out of the Nashville office. She will continue to work with artists, producers and writers including Ruelle, Madi Diaz, Paige Blue, Jung Youth, Lucas Arens, Fleurie, Jeff Bowman, Tofer Brown, Jeremy Lutito, Aaron Chafin and more. Hubbard was instrumental in signing indie-pop artist Charli Adams and has served as the lead contact in the Nashville office for writers, artists and producers outside of the country market.

In her new role, Hubbard will be responsible for the development and management of Concord’s U.S. songwriter roster for the purpose of sync activity, bridging the gap between the A&R and Sync teams. She will support Concord’s overall strategy to streamline sync-forward initiatives and provide more opportunities for writers across film, television, ads, gaming and more.

Hubbard reports to Brad Kennard, SVP of A&R with support from Kourtney Kirkpatrick, VP of Publishing Sync and Brooke Primont, EVP of Global Sync.

Beginning her career with Razor & Tie in 2014, Hubbard served as Creative Coordinator and then Creative Manager. Over the course of her career, she has contributed and assisted with the creation of music for numerous placements in film and prominent television series including This is Us and Nashville, as well as cuts for Platinum artists such as Lady A, Brothers Osborne, Calum Scott, Birdy, Chloe Moriondo, Joy Oladokun, Patrick Droney, Valley, Randall King, Scotty Sire, Matt Stell, LoCash, Runaway June, Molly Tuttle, Adam Doleac, Caylee Hammack, Charli Adams, Hunter Hayes and more.

‘CMA Fest: 50 Years Of Fan Fair’ Documentary To Air On Hulu

/by

Lauren Alaina poses with fans at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Thursday, June 7 during the 2018 CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville.

The CMA has announced the launch date for its original documentary, CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair, featuring the story of one of the world’s largest and longest-running country music festivals.

YouTube video

Debuting on Hulu on July 5, the documentary is told through exclusive one-on-one interviews, never-before-seen archival content and CMA Fest performances. It celebrates the festival’s humble beginnings as Fan Fair in 1972, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, its move to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982, and then ultimately to downtown Nashville in 2001. CMA Fest now draws 80,000 fans a day, across four days, with attendees from all 50 states and 39 countries.

The 75-minute film features exclusive interviews with many notable country artists including Bill Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Shy Carter, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Mark Miller, Dolly Parton, Jeannie Seely, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Young, and many more.

The project marks CMA’s first feature-length film, with CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern and CMA Senior Vice President, Marketing, Content & Communications Strategy Kelly Striewski serving as the film’s executive producers.

“CMA Fest has taken several shapes throughout its storied history,” says Trahern. “As we step into our 50th year, our hope with this film is to underscore the one thing that has remained with the festival—its heart. We are thrilled to share the evolution and magic of this incredible event with the Hulu audience.”

“What better way to tell the story of CMA Fest than through the eyes of the artists, our industry and the fans,” adds Striewski. “This film highlights the truly unique connection that exists within CMA Fest and how this festival has continued to grow the country community throughout its 50 years. We couldn’t be happier to have this story debut on Hulu.”

“We have a long and valued partnership with CMA and are excited to expand on that by adding this extraordinary film to the Hulu slate,” says Rob Mills, Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “We can’t wait to share this with music lovers everywhere, who will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the heart of CMA Fest and its many contributions to the country music community.”

Casey Childers To Lead ONErpm U.S. Digital Strategy Team

/by

Casey Childers

Long-time ONErpm employee Casey Childers has been promoted to lead the new Digital Strategy department at the company.

Nashville-based Childers was most recently Senior Project Manager at ONErpm, where she was the central marketing strategist for artists including Chri$tian Gate$, Jordi, PLVTINUM, Taylor Acorn, Elohim and Against the Current. She will report to ONErpm’s Head of US Marketing Jenna LoMonaco.

“Our goal is to be able to provide the help artists need to grow their social footprint in a way that is true and organic to them” states LoMonaco. “With Casey and the Digital Strategy team’s work, we can now provide hands-on help with social growth, engagement, and new forms of revenue. We aim to continue to not only provide transparent and innovative technology to ONErpm’s artists but also focus on true Artist Development by a team of dedicated experts.”

ONErpm has launched the Digital Strategy Department to offer artists a one-on-one social media strategy to guide them on the best ways to amplify their message and obtain new ways to engage with fans and increase monetization. The ONErpm Digital Strategy team ensures artists are reaching their greatest potential, boosting the possibilities to reach fans who are eager to discover and consume new music.

In recent years, music consumption via social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube makes up 32% of all music consumption with a billion people now using short-form video platforms around the world, around three times the global audience of DSPs. In 2022, ONErpm executed a trial run for 15 targeted artists in various genres to grow their YouTube revenue based on best practices and artist participation focusing not only on the fan relationships but also forming a direct strategy on how to best use the platforms as a means to generate more revenue. At the end of the 3-month experiment, all artists who completed the program saw a 100% increase in their Youtube revenue.

River House Artists Adds Three To Team

/by

Pictured (L-R): Liz Scherff, Taylor Aretz and Sydney Riley

River House Artists (RHA) has added three new team members to their Nashville-based office.

Taylor Aretz has joined RHA as Artist Development Specialist, a newly created role responsible for overseeing marketing efforts for the label’s roster. She joins after six years at Warner Music Nashville, most recently serving as a Manager of Artist Development where she worked on marketing efforts for artists such as Chris Janson, Randall King, Austin Snell and others. Aretz also worked cross-functionally across all departments to further seamless release campaigns for her group of artists.

Liz Scherff has joined RHA as a Digital Coordinator, reporting to Director of Marketing/Digital Strategy Kristin Watson Byrne. Scherff comes to RHA from Black River Entertainment, where she was a Promotions Coordinator in their in-house radio department and worked on music for Kelsea Ballerini, Ray Fulcher, MaRynn Taylor and more.

Finally, Sydney Riley has joined RHA as a Creative Services Coordinator and reports to Manager of Creative Services Taylor Brink. Riley is a recent graduate of MTSU’s Music Business program and interned at River House her senior year, focusing on the Digital and Marketing departments.

“We are so thrilled to add Taylor, Liz and Sydney to our team,” says Zebb Luster, GM of River House Artists. “We feel so fortunate to have Taylor’s experience and expertise in-house. Liz comes into her new role with great enthusiasm for our roster and fan engagement, and Sydney was an invaluable intern. We look forward to seeing the ways in which we all grow together.”

RHA’s label roster includes Luke Combs, Jameson Rodgers, Georgia Webster, Ryan Charles, Trey Lewis and Austin Snell. The company’s management roster includes Grant Gilbert, Reid Haughton and Zach Seabaugh. Their publishing roster includes Snell, Gilbert, Haughton, Seabaugh, Drew Parker, Ray Fulcher, Nicolette Hayford, Neil Medley, Billy Strings, Driver Williams, Jordan Rowe, Kasey Tyndall, Dan Alley, Knox Morris and Lukas Scott.

2023 BMI Christian Awards To Honor Dorothy Leonard Miller In June

/by

The upcoming 2023 BMI Christian Awards are set to take place at the organization’s Nashville headquarters on June 20.

Hosted by BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts; President & CEO, Mike O’Neill; and VP of Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley, the night will celebrate the top songs and publishers behind this past year’s most-performed songs in Christian music.

BMI will crown the Christian Songwriter of the Year, Christian Song of the Year and Christian Publisher of the Year, and the invitation-only event will pay special tribute to this year’s BMI Spotlight Award recipient, Dorothy Leonard Miller, for her dedication to the genre and illustrious career.

Miller serves as CEO/Founder of  Daywind Music Group and New Day Christian Distributors, one of the first female-owned and operated music businesses, and has led the companies to become the most predominant source for original content and distribution services for the Christian market. Since 1986, many top artists and writers in Southern Gospel music have found a home at Daywind Music, impacting millions of people annually through live performances, music sales, streams, radio and television including Greater Vison, Dianne Wilkinson, Karen Peck & New River, Jason Cox and more. In receiving the BMI Spotlight Award, Miller joins an exclusive group of honorees including Randy Edelman, Frank Gari and Mike Post.

“Dottie’s dedication and passion for Christian music is something to marvel at,” says Roberts. “She started this idea in her garage decades ago and her faith, hard work and determination has led her to become one of the most successful people in this business. It’s truly an honor to have the chance to highlight her impactful contributions at the BMI Christian Awards along with so many other meaningful creators in our community.”

Jake Owen’s Latest Album ‘Loose Cannon’ To Fire Off June 23

/by

Jake Owen. Photo: Matt Paskert

Jake Owen is celebrating summer with the release of his seventh studio album, Loose Cannon, due out via Big Loud Records on Friday, June 23.

Owen is dropping four new songs from the album this Friday, May 26, including “On The Boat Again,” “Solo, Solo,” “Nothing” and “Hot Truck Beer.” The upcoming 16-track album offers fans a collection of summertime staples penned by some of Nashville’s best writers including Ashley Gorley, Brent Cobb, Rodney Clawson, Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird and more, as well as a collection of artist-writers including Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Jordan Fletcher, Hunter Phelps and more.

“I can’t wait to share this new wave of music with my fans,” Owen says. “This album is a long time coming and feels like the best version of me. Grab your buddies, put the boat in the water, pour a cold one out, and we’ll catch y’all out on the lake. It’s the best time of year and we’re ready to celebrate.”

One of the four new instant-grat tracks, “On The Boat Again” interpolates the familiar chorus of Willie Nelson‘s classic “On the Road Again” and adapts it for boating season. To help put everyone in a summer mood, Owen will perform “On The Boat Again” this Memorial Day on ABC’s Good Morning America. He’ll also host a special fan album preview pop-up show that evening at The Rockaway Hotel in New York City.

Owen is also set to perform this Saturday, May 27, at Charlotte Motor Speedway following the Coca-Cola 600 qualifying and the ALSCO Uniforms 300 Xfinity Series.

Loose Cannon Tracklist:
“Hot Truck Beer” (Jordan Fletcher, Jim McCormick, Austin Nivarel)
“Go Getter” (Brent Cobb, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Ratiere)
“Solo Solo” (Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Blake Pendergrass, Hunter Phelps)
“On The Boat Again” (Willie Nelson, Devin Dawson, Kyle Fishman, Rocky Block, Blake Pendergrass)
“Hearts and Habits” (Thomas Archer, Jamie Moore, Jared Mullins, Ben Stennis)
“When It All Shakes Out” (Jacob Davis, Jordan Dozzi, Josh Jenkins)
“Hope Less” (Jared Mullins, Ben Stennis)
“It Don’t, He Won’t and You Do” (Jordan Dozzi, Justin Ebach, Chase McGill)
“Friends Don’t Let Friends” (Jessie Jo Dillon, Hunter Phelps, Ben Stennis)
“Boy In The Chevrolet” (Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Bobby Pinson)
“Shrank” (Lalo Guzman, Walker Hayes, Hunter Phelps)
“Nothing” (Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Earle Hagen, Reid Haughton, Herbert Spencer, Cole Taylor)*
“Somewhere South With Rum” (Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins)
“The Ending” (Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Chris Tompkins)
“Hey Can I Buy You A Beer” (John Byron, Rocky Block, Travis Wood)
“Loose Cannon” (Matt Roy)

All songs produced by Joey Moi
* co-produced by Kyle Fishman

Spencer Crandall Inks With Warner Chappell & Stem

/by

Pictured (L-R): Hudson Hill Management’s Jeff Cherry, Warner Chappell’s Sara Latimer and Christina Wiltshire, Spencer Crandall, Stem’s Alison Junker and Jeff Tobias, Lewis Brisbois’ Matt Cottingham, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn. Photo: Nina Long

Rising country artist Spencer Crandall has added to his team, signing with Warner Chappell Music for publishing and Stem for distribution and label services.

Crandall has earned more than 300 million global streams since breaking onto the scene in 2016 with tunes such as “Made,” “My Person” and “Girls Like You.” His most recent project, Western, has already notched over 60 million streams since its October 2022 release.

“The partnerships with Warner Chappell and Stem make so much sense for us right now. These teams are made up of some of the hardest working people in country music,” says Crandall. “I really respect how these teams grow artists, especially independently, and I couldn’t be more excited to do this next chapter with them.”

“I’ve never met an artist as business-focused, goal-oriented and driven as Spencer,” shares Christina Wiltshire, Sr. Director, A&R at Warner Chappell. “His fan club is called the Stadium Gang because he won’t stop until he’s playing stadiums. I want to help him get there.”

Crandall’s alignment with Stem follows the company’s recent expansion into Nashville. Stem provides a financial platform for artists to run their own businesses. With its innovative technology, artists can track, divide, disperse and even donate revenue to various recipients, designating percentages and simplified splits in real-time.

“Stem is incredibly thrilled to be working with Spencer Crandall, a wildly talented artist who has proved himself to be a powerhouse in the independent space,” shares Stem’s Jeff Tobias and Alison Junker. “We look forward to supporting Spencer in this exciting new chapter of music!”

Crandall recently joined forces with another country riser, Shaylen, to release a new track, “To Be Continued… feat. Shaylen.” He also just wrapped his 36-stop “Western Tour” and will perform at CMA Fest on June 11.

CRB Issues Initial Determination For Phonorecords III Appeal

/by

The Copyright Royalty Board has issued its initial determination in the remand/appeal of Phonorecords III, which upheld the 15.1% headline rate increase that was determined in 2018.

Now, a 15-day window opens for rehearing motions. Then the U.S. Copyright Office also must undertake a legal review for error, which they have up to 60 days to complete.

Following those steps, a determination will be published, starting a clock of at most 6 months for DSPs to make retroactive adjustments/arrearage payments, meaning the arrearage payments would come early next year.

National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) President & CEO David Israelite says, “We are pleased the court finally has confirmed the result of Phono 3, a case which was decided in 2018. This initial remand decision upholds the 15.1% headline rate increase we fought for, however the length of time we have waited for this decision proves the Copyright Royalty Board system is woefully flawed. Now songwriters have some certainty about their rates, and we will ensure they receive the hundreds of millions of dollars that digital streaming companies owe them during this adjustment period.”

Of the initial determination, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Executive Director Bart Herbison shares, “The testimonies of the three songwriter witnesses in this trial were powerful, convincing and illustrated the difficulty of songwriters earning a living in the streaming era—as well as the importance and value of the composition in the commercial music process. Steve Bogard, Liz Rose and Lee Miller, all NSAI board members, were moving and informative and played a huge role in the historic increase.”

Herbison adds, “The process is long and difficult requiring time and preparation. We are thankful to these songwriters and to the NMPA.”

Colbie Caillat Makes Solo Grand Ole Opry Debut

/by

Photo: Grand Ole Opry/Chris Hollo

Singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat made her solo debut at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, May 20.

Caillat performed three songs during her segment, including her current single “Worth It” as well as her Platinum-selling hits “Bubbly” and “Try.” She was joined backstage during the evening by “Worth It” co-writers Liz Rose and AJ Pruis, who came to show support on her special night.

Produced by Jamie Kenney, “Worth It” was released last month and has already racked up over 3.5 million streams across all platforms. Caillat will also perform “Worth It” at the National Memorial Day Parade this Monday, May 29, at 1 p.m. CT live nationwide across ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW stations.