Florida Georgia Line. Photo: John Shearer
Florida Georgia Line member Brian Kelley‘s play May We All is being adapted to a movie musical, and the film has now found a director: filmmaker Andy Fickman.
Fickman, who directed the 2006 rom-com She’s the Man and the Kevin James CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, joins Kelley’s CuzBro Productions—alongside partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell— as well as Lively McCabe Entertainment, and BMG. May We All was first announced in October 2019 as a stage production, which has experienced delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film does not yet have a projected release date.
“My partners and I are really excited to welcome Andy to the May We All fam!” says Kelley. “Not only do we connect on a country music-lovin’ level, but I admire his work as a director and truly believe he’ll bring the heart of our script to life. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for everyone to finally be able to enjoy May We All – from the stage to the big screen.”
May We All is “a story of disappearing small-town America as seen through the hopeful eyes of its youth,” according to a press release. It follows an aspiring country singer named Jenna Coates, who reluctantly returns home after trying to pursue a career in Nashville. What she ultimately discovers, though, is that her roots may be all that she needed after all.
The musical’s score will feature two original songs co-written by Kelley and his FGL partner Tyler Hubbard, along with renditions of classics from Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, John Denver, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Old Dominion, Jessica Andrews, and LOCASH, among others.
The stage iteration of May We All will be directed by Shelley Butler and will feature a book written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson, and Eric Pfeffinger, with arrangements and orchestrations by Brian Usifer.
Fickman—who has also directed musicals, most recently spearheading an successful production of Heathers the Musical—says, “Growing up in Texas, loving country music, and being a massive Florida Georgia Line fan, it is a dream come true to be joining the May We All creative team. The script uses powerful, heartwarming songs from some of country music’s most celebrated artists to examine the complexities of how our hometowns shape and mold our hopes and aspirations. I can’t wait for the world to join us on this uplifting, musical journey.”
Musically Fed To Host Nashville Food Drive For Live Entertainment/Music Industry Personnel
/by LB CantrellMusically Fed is hosting a food drive in Nashville for live entertainment and music industry personnel on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Under normal circumstances, Musically Fed works with artists, promoters, management and venues to donate unused backstage meals to community organizations that feed the homeless, hungry and food insecure. In response to the health crisis, Musically Fed stepped up to the plate when it saw its own industry in need of assistance. Mobilizing in cities heavily populated with music professionals, Musically Fed has and will continue to host drive-thru events where cars will be able to receive food supplies.
This food drive follows CMA’s recent announcement outlining funds to five nonprofit partners, which includes Musically Fed. This support, along with previous nonprofit investments, is funded through CMA’s $3 million long-term COVID-19 commitment that started early last year.
Pre-registration is required. Affected individuals wishing to sign up should contact info@musicallyfed.org or call 480-951-1882.
Live Event Industry To President Biden: ‘We Are Here To Help’
/by LB CantrellSeveral live entertainment companies joined together in a letter to President Biden, formally offering their venues, staff, and expertise to the COVID-19 vaccination effort.
The companies included in the letter are: AEG, Bandit Lites, Broadway League, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Live Nation, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Oak View Group (OVG), and We Make Events.
With thousands of empty venues throughout America, and furloughed staff, these companies feel that they are up to the task of acting as vaccination centers.
“While we have been effectively shuttered by the pandemic, we have vast resources that, if fully utilized, could provide invaluable mechanisms in our country’s vaccine distribution. In fact because we are shuttered, we are able to offer the full weight of our industry to support vaccine distribution beginning immediately,” the letter reads.
The letter, dated Jan. 26, 2021, is in full below:
Matt Signore Appointed Board President At Porter’s Call
/by Lorie HollabaughMatt Signore
Matt Signore has been appointed the President of the Board of Franklin, Tennessee-based nonprofit Porter’s Call.
Porter’s Call is celebrating 20 years of offering counsel and support to touring recording artists. Since its beginning, the mission of Porter’s Call has been to be there for artists from all genres. They have since provided more than 55,000 hours of counseling services. With their staff of five, an average of 40-50 individuals are invited each week into the welcoming space located in historic downtown Franklin to get the help they need at no charge.
A 30-year music industry executive, Signore’s served a four-year stint as COO of Warner Music Nashville that concluded in December, following his previous 15 years at Warner Music Group. In addition to this appointment, Signore is also launching Sempre Cosi, an independent venture focused on mentoring executives and artists, while helping companies develop their people strategy. He officially kicked off his role as Porter’s Call Board Chair earlier this week during their virtual board meeting.
“When I met Matt four years ago, we became instant pals,” said Founder and Executive Director of Porter’s Call, Al Andrews. “During the course of our friendship, I saw his deep love and concern for artists. As he assumes the role of Board President, he arrives at a time where his years of experience of leadership in the music industry and his heart for artists coincides with our need to grow. In order to meet the growing number of artists needing help during these difficult and unprecedented months, we are honored to have him lead the way. In addition, we will be having more Italian meals at board functions.”
“I am so blessed to have the opportunity to further support Porter’s Call,” said Signore. “Al is a true angel as he and the Porter’s Call team have been changing artist’s lives for twenty years. Partnering with my dear friend at this moment is an honor. I know very well that my entire career, and frankly the career of every music executive, is made possible by the creativity, work, and sacrifice of artists. We should all approach supporting them and their health, in every way possible, as an obligation.”
Sourav Nayak Joins Soundstripe As VP of Finance
/by Lorie HollabaughSourav Nayak
Soundstripe, a provider of unlimited, royalty-free music, stock video, and sound effects for use in videos, podcasts, and other media projects, has brought aboard Sourav Nayak as Vice President of Finance.
In his new role, he will be overseeing the Nashville-based company’s financial strategy, capital raising, product pricing, financial planning and analysis, and treasury, reporting to Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Micah Sannan and Travis Terrell.
Prior to Soundstripe, Nayak was Vice President of Finance at Arcadia, a clean energy start-up focused on providing members access to clean and sustainable energy sources through an underlying single energy bill. During his time at Arcadia, Nayak helped raise over $60 million in capital to help finance the growth of the company. Before joining Arcadia in 2018, Nayak spent six years at WGL Holdings, where he was a Director within the Corporate Development group. During his time there, he led structured finance transactions totaling over $400 million, supporting the development of solar projects. Nayak also previously held positions at Nova Capital Partners, in the Treasury and Proprietary Lending groups at American Express, and as a Senior Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. Nayak holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and BS in Engineering from the University of Maryland.
“Growing almost 5,000% in three years and landing in the Inc. 2020 Top 5 fastest-growing private media companies was a huge accomplishment and a wild ride, and at the same time, has really highlighted the need for a strong leader over our financial team who is familiar with handling this kind of exponential growth,” said Co-Founders and Co-CEO, Sannan. “With 20 years of experience in corporate finance and investments, investment banking, financial strategy, and capital raising verticals for high-growth industries, Travis and I knew Sourav was the right person to support Soundstripe as we continue to find new ways to build our creative community.”
“I was impressed with how much Soundstripe had achieved in just four years of operation, from building the music product, expanding that into podcasts and gaming, and then adding stock video late last year,” said Nayak. “Having raised $6 million in Series A funds from Vocap Investment Partners and Craft Ventures in 2019, I look forward to working with Micah and Travis to support Soundstripe’s continued expansion.”
Florida Georgia Line Member Brian Kelley Taps Andy Fickman To Direct Musical ‘May We All’
/by Taylor WeatherbyFlorida Georgia Line. Photo: John Shearer
Florida Georgia Line member Brian Kelley‘s play May We All is being adapted to a movie musical, and the film has now found a director: filmmaker Andy Fickman.
Fickman, who directed the 2006 rom-com She’s the Man and the Kevin James CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, joins Kelley’s CuzBro Productions—alongside partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell— as well as Lively McCabe Entertainment, and BMG. May We All was first announced in October 2019 as a stage production, which has experienced delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film does not yet have a projected release date.
“My partners and I are really excited to welcome Andy to the May We All fam!” says Kelley. “Not only do we connect on a country music-lovin’ level, but I admire his work as a director and truly believe he’ll bring the heart of our script to life. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for everyone to finally be able to enjoy May We All – from the stage to the big screen.”
May We All is “a story of disappearing small-town America as seen through the hopeful eyes of its youth,” according to a press release. It follows an aspiring country singer named Jenna Coates, who reluctantly returns home after trying to pursue a career in Nashville. What she ultimately discovers, though, is that her roots may be all that she needed after all.
The musical’s score will feature two original songs co-written by Kelley and his FGL partner Tyler Hubbard, along with renditions of classics from Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, John Denver, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Old Dominion, Jessica Andrews, and LOCASH, among others.
The stage iteration of May We All will be directed by Shelley Butler and will feature a book written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson, and Eric Pfeffinger, with arrangements and orchestrations by Brian Usifer.
Fickman—who has also directed musicals, most recently spearheading an successful production of Heathers the Musical—says, “Growing up in Texas, loving country music, and being a massive Florida Georgia Line fan, it is a dream come true to be joining the May We All creative team. The script uses powerful, heartwarming songs from some of country music’s most celebrated artists to examine the complexities of how our hometowns shape and mold our hopes and aspirations. I can’t wait for the world to join us on this uplifting, musical journey.”
Stan Barnett Joins APA Nashville
/by Taylor WeatherbyStan Barnett
Veteran agent Stan Barnett has joined APA Nashville. Jim Gosnell, CEO of APA, announced Barnett’s addition Tuesday (Jan. 26).
“Stan’s incredible knowledge, expertise and devotion for all things country music only begins to enumerate the many qualities that make him one of the most successful and valued agents in our industry,” says Gosnell. “I’m very excited about the transformation taking place in Nashville and its evolution into a multi-faceted microcosm of the music business, with substantial opportunities for artists to pursue cross-over platforms. The goal at APA Nashville is to continue our full-service representation of that arena, and having an agent like Stan join our talented team is paramount to that agenda as we usher in a new era with a reinforced commitment to excellence.”
Barnett was previously with Creative Artists Agency, where he signed Lady A, Brandy Clark, Joe Nichols, and bluegrass icon Ralph Stanley during his 21-year tenure. He was also instrumental in launching the agency’s Fair & Festival department.
A longtime member of the Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, The International Buyers Association and The Nashville Association of Talent Directors, Barnett also serves on the Board of Directors for Stars and Stripes. His achievements have earned him many industry honors, including the NATD Talent Agent of the Year award and two IEBA Talent Agent of the Year awards.
Producer Alex Kline Breaks Ground With Top 15 Hit “Somebody Like That”
/by Lorie HollabaughAlex Kline
Alex Kline is making history this week as the first solo female producer to have a Top 15 country radio hit by a female artist, with Tenille Arts‘ “Somebody Like That.”
The single, co-written with Arts for her album, Love, Heartbreak & Everything in Between, has reached 65 million streams, further establishing Kline as a game-changing producer and songwriter helping shape the future of country. The single debuted at No. 2 of the iTunes Country chart and No. 10 on the iTunes all-genre chart, spent three weeks at No. 1 at Radio Disney Country, went No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and just debuted at No. 97 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. On Spotify, the song peaked at No. 11 on the United States Viral 50 chart as well.
“I like the balance I’ve found between writing, playing, and producing,” said Kline. “There’s a unique synergy in combining multiple creative approaches and how each inspires the other. One of the most exciting things to me right now is finding an artist I love and tapping into what makes them unique and helping to make that shine, whether it be one of my own musical influences like Terri Clark or a new up and coming star like Tenille Arts.”
Kline’s production credits include working with Terri Clark, Tara Thompson, Adam Brand, Erin Enderlin, John King, Jordan Rager, Maggie Rose and Jillian Cardarelli, among others. As a writer she’s penned songs for Ronnie Dunn (“Damn Drunk”), Reba McEntire (“The Bar Is Getting Lower”), Mitchell Tenpenny (“I Get the Picture”), Gary Allan (“Slide”), and Meghan Patrick (“Praying Right”), as well songs on albums for Terri Clark (Raising the Bar), Cassadee Pope (Rise and Shine), Jordan Rager (Habits and Hearts), and many more.
Her current projects in development include writing and producing the follow-up to Arts’ Love, Heartbreak & Everything in Between album, and producing Stephanie Quayle’s forthcoming album featuring her latest single, “By Heart.”
Spirit Music Group Strikes Multi-Faceted Deal With Grammy Winner Joy Williams
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Derek Wells, Senior Director A&R Spirit Music Nashville/President 2MixMusic; Clay Hunt, Red Light Management; Joy Williams; Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville; Katie Flynn, Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville
Spirit Music Group and Spirit Music Nashville announced they have entered into a multi-faceted agreement with four-time Grammy award-winning artist and songwriter Joy Williams.
The deal includes the acquisition of compositions from her various song catalogs, including her Grammy-winning work as part of the duo The Civil Wars, as well as several masters that she controls. In addition, Spirit will administer Williams’ most recent solo album Front Porch, as well as her compositions going forward.
“Joy Williams and her music are a treasure,” said Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “Spirit Music is honored to represent her catalog and is excited to help her continue to create, record and share great music with the world.”
“It’s rare to acquire a catalog that includes both the composition and master recordings of someone like Joy Williams, who is an award-winning songwriter and artist in multiple genres. We are proud to be the stewards of such a unique and beloved catalog as hers,” said Joe Borrino, COO, Spirit Music Group.
“I am thrilled to dive in head-first with the Spirit team. I think my best songs are ahead of me, and I’m looking forward to walking down the path of the craft with this crazy (wonderful) group of supportive souls,” said Williams.
Spirit’s acquisition of Williams’ songwriting catalog for The Civil Wars encompasses the albums Live at Eddie’s Attic (2009), Poison & Wine (2009), 2011 Grammy-winning Best Folk Album Barton Hollow (2011), and The Civil Wars (2013), including Grammy-winning works “Barton Hollow” (Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2011), “Safe & Sound” with Taylor Swift (Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2012), and “From This Valley” (Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2013).
Williams’ solo material covered in the acquisition includes her albums One of Those Days (2009), Songs from This/Songs From That (2009), We Mapped the World (2010), Venus (2015), and Venus (Acoustic) (2016), as well as the song “Stand By You,” which was recorded by Rachel Platten and peaked at No. 37 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard Adult Top 40. The company will also administer Williams’ most recent solo album Front Porch, which was nominated for the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
Apple Unveils Time To Walk For Fitness+ With Dolly Parton, Shawn Mendes, More
/by Lorie HollabaughFans can now get fit with Dolly Parton‘s help with Apple’s new Time to Walk audio walking experience on Apple Watch for Fitness+ subscribers. Parton is one of four new celebrity guests who talk you through your walk on the new experience, which was created to encourage users to walk more often and reap the benefits from one of the healthiest activities.
These original Time to Walk episodes invites users to immerse themselves in a walk alongside influential and interesting people as they share meaningful stories, photos, and music. Each audio-only episode ranges from 25-40 minutes, and is shaped by the guest’s personal, life-shaping moments and lessons learned, as they share meaningful memories, thoughts on purpose and gratitude, moments of levity, and other topics recorded while walking outside or in locations that are meaningful to them. The narrative comes to life through photos that appear on Apple Watch, perfectly timed to amplify a corresponding moment the guest shares. Following the stories, each guest speaker introduces a short playlist of songs that motivated and inspired them so the listener can continue their walk to a soundtrack intimately connected to each guest.
“I’ve loved walking ever since I was a little girl in the Smoky Mountains,” Parton said. “I think it’s so important to be able to get out and walk if we can during this time. I do my best thinking when I walk. And while many of us feel confined during this time, I’m hopeful that people will take a walk down memory lane with me and we can all feel a little more freedom taking the time to walk together.”
Other new episodes include NBA player Draymond Green reflecting on the virtues of failure and tuning out criticism, musician Shawn Mendes sharing on how a slower pace has helped him personally and creatively, and Emmy Award winner Uzo Aduba talking about lifelong relationships and keeping the faith.
Time To Walk can be used anytime, anywhere with Apple Watch and AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones. New episodes will appear in the Workout app on Apple Watch from a different guest each Monday through the end of April.
Mark Irwin Inks With Sprockets Music Publishers
/by Lorie HollabaughMark Irwin, Publishing Director for Sprockets Music Publishers, Elizabeth Brahan
Mark Irwin has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sprockets Music Publishers.
Irwin has numerous cuts to his credit including the No. 1 singles “Here In The Real World” (Alan Jackson), “Neon Light” (Blake Shelton), “Highway Don’t Care” (Tim McGraw featuring Keith Urban and Taylor Swift) and “Redneck Crazy” (Tyler Farr). He moved to Nashville from the Northeast, and landed his first cut “Meet Me Under The Mistletoe” with Randy Travis for his Old Time Christmas album. Soon after, he co-penned Jackson’s “Here In The Real World,” which was a two-time CMA Song of the Year nominee and an ACM Song of the Year nominee.
Irwin’s other notable cuts include McGraw’s “Looking For That Girl,” Tim and Faith’s “Sleeping In The Stars,” Chris Janson’s “Power of Positive Drinking,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Bama Breeze,” and “That’s How They Do It In Dixie” by Hank Williams, Jr. Irwin is also prominently featured in the official Bluebird Cafe documentary Bluebird.
“Mark’s track record shows what an amazing talent he is. His longevity also proves that he has his finger on the pulse of a creative and ever-changing business,” said Elizabeth Brahan, Publishing Director for Sprockets Music Publishers. “He is one of the most loved and respected writers in town, not only because of his amazing career, but also because his work ethic is second to none. He has an extraordinary ability to connect with new artists. We’re honored that he wants to make Sprockets Music Publishers his home, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
“I am excited to have a champion like Elizabeth in my corner and a company like Sprockets to help us achieve the success we’re shooting for,” said Irwin. “At this point in my career, being part of this awesome team has re-lit my fire!”