Cyndi Forman
Cyndi Forman has been promoted to Sr. VP, A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. Forman joined UMPG in 2002, and previously served as VP, Creative for the company.
“Cyndi represents the very heart and soul of Universal Music Publishing,” said Troy Tomlinson, Chairman/CEO of UMPG’s Nashville division. “Her love for songwriters, her positive attitude and energizing personality permeates our entire team and our writer roster.”
Forman has been a mainstay in Nashville’s music community for nearly 25 years, working with songwriters and artists including UMPG artist-writers Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, Ryan Hurd, Chris Young, Caylee Hammack, and Hunter Hayes. After graduating from Belmont University, she became Creative Director for Balmur Entertainment. In 2002, she joined Almo Irving Music, shortly before the company became part of Universal Music Publishing Group.
Forman was honored as one of MusicRow Magazine’s Rising Women on the Row in 2013, and in 2018 she was honored by Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, alongside ASCAP, with the Music City Milestone Award recipient, which honors a Belmont graduate who has earned superlative success in the music industry.
Forman spoke with MusicRow Magazine about her new role as UMPG Nashville’s Sr. VP, A&R, and the state of music publishing.
MusicRow: How does this new title change the scope of your work for UMPG?
Forman: My role will continue to consist of the fundamentals of any A&R/Creative role, to identify, sign and promote songwriters. I do feel that after 24 years of working in the publishing community, I’m positioned as a leader to expand my influence with signings in the broader music community that I’m so passionate about.
MR: UMPG has added several new and established artists to its fold in recent months, such as working with Maren Morris, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, and one of the latest signings, singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith. Sam Ellis recently celebrated his first No. 1 song with Lady Antebellum’s “What If I Never Get Over You.”
Forman: My passion is developing new talent. It’s so rewarding and it’s so fulfilling, helping them live out their dreams. I’m fortunate to be at a company where we can sign new songwriters, sign established talent, and buy catalogs to continue growing the company.
Sam Ellis is a perfect example of developing and nurturing a writer, and being along for that ride. That was his first No. 1 and we signed him seven years ago. He never gave up and we didn’t either, so this year is going to be a fun one with him. I signed Sam about the same time I signed Hunter Hayes. Tinti Moffat sent me a couple of songs and I really believed in what he could do as a songwriter, but also, his passion was production.
MR: Publishers are regularly signing individuals who are writers and artists in equal measure. Is that something you look for specifically when signing writers?
Forman: Absolutely, but I always say we want them to be a songwriter first and foremost, before anything else, and for a few reasons. First, I find the most successful artists in our genre tell their own stories through their own words. And if we are lucky enough to snag a few cuts while we are developing them, that helps tell their story. It’s about balancing those two sides; I think it works as long as the artist and the song plugger work together to balance the writing schedule and communicate about which songs to keep for their artistry, and which songs to pitch [to other artists].
MR: What role has music streaming played in music publishing A&R?
Forman: If we are looking to sign someone that has a streaming presence or an online presence, it helps us get to know them and their music. On the other side, the development side of things, if we are working with someone who does not have their music out there where we think it deserves to be out there, it certainly opens up a platform for us to easily do that.
MR: What are the biggest challenges you see in A&R right now?
Forman: Finding the time to develop writers, and also making sure your writers are in the correct writing rooms and being developed. Also, balancing developing writers, versus the true song plugging side of things, but we are so passionate about both.
MR: As more songwriters write for multiple genres, how do you work to make sure their song are given proper consideration in other genres?
Forman: The biggest challenge in the past has really been getting these A&R communities in the other genres to recognize that we have writers that can write more than just country music. I think the recent success of songs that have been country collaborations has helped. When artists like Kane [Brown], Maren [Morris] and Sam [Hunt] have that crossover ability, that helps everybody. We now are getting calls from managers and A&R reps from outside of Nashville asking about songs, and that’s been encouraging.
MR: As you look at the next few years, what developments do you see happening in songwriting and music publishing?
Forman: I’m excited about the integrity of the songs I’m seeing in some of these new writers and artists. I’m hoping that trend continues, because that’s what we are passionate about, the storytelling.
In a world where we ware constantly talking about how the conversation has to change about female [artists], we are proud to say we have two of the most recent ACM nominees for New Female Artist of the Year, with Caylee [Hammack] and Ingrid [Andress]. We are excited to be part of those new females coming along.
EXCLUSIVE: Cyndi Forman Promoted To Sr. VP, A&R At UMPG Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonCyndi Forman
Cyndi Forman has been promoted to Sr. VP, A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. Forman joined UMPG in 2002, and previously served as VP, Creative for the company.
“Cyndi represents the very heart and soul of Universal Music Publishing,” said Troy Tomlinson, Chairman/CEO of UMPG’s Nashville division. “Her love for songwriters, her positive attitude and energizing personality permeates our entire team and our writer roster.”
Forman has been a mainstay in Nashville’s music community for nearly 25 years, working with songwriters and artists including UMPG artist-writers Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, Ryan Hurd, Chris Young, Caylee Hammack, and Hunter Hayes. After graduating from Belmont University, she became Creative Director for Balmur Entertainment. In 2002, she joined Almo Irving Music, shortly before the company became part of Universal Music Publishing Group.
Forman was honored as one of MusicRow Magazine’s Rising Women on the Row in 2013, and in 2018 she was honored by Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, alongside ASCAP, with the Music City Milestone Award recipient, which honors a Belmont graduate who has earned superlative success in the music industry.
Forman spoke with MusicRow Magazine about her new role as UMPG Nashville’s Sr. VP, A&R, and the state of music publishing.
MusicRow: How does this new title change the scope of your work for UMPG?
Forman: My role will continue to consist of the fundamentals of any A&R/Creative role, to identify, sign and promote songwriters. I do feel that after 24 years of working in the publishing community, I’m positioned as a leader to expand my influence with signings in the broader music community that I’m so passionate about.
MR: UMPG has added several new and established artists to its fold in recent months, such as working with Maren Morris, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, and one of the latest signings, singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith. Sam Ellis recently celebrated his first No. 1 song with Lady Antebellum’s “What If I Never Get Over You.”
Forman: My passion is developing new talent. It’s so rewarding and it’s so fulfilling, helping them live out their dreams. I’m fortunate to be at a company where we can sign new songwriters, sign established talent, and buy catalogs to continue growing the company.
Sam Ellis is a perfect example of developing and nurturing a writer, and being along for that ride. That was his first No. 1 and we signed him seven years ago. He never gave up and we didn’t either, so this year is going to be a fun one with him. I signed Sam about the same time I signed Hunter Hayes. Tinti Moffat sent me a couple of songs and I really believed in what he could do as a songwriter, but also, his passion was production.
MR: Publishers are regularly signing individuals who are writers and artists in equal measure. Is that something you look for specifically when signing writers?
Forman: Absolutely, but I always say we want them to be a songwriter first and foremost, before anything else, and for a few reasons. First, I find the most successful artists in our genre tell their own stories through their own words. And if we are lucky enough to snag a few cuts while we are developing them, that helps tell their story. It’s about balancing those two sides; I think it works as long as the artist and the song plugger work together to balance the writing schedule and communicate about which songs to keep for their artistry, and which songs to pitch [to other artists].
MR: What role has music streaming played in music publishing A&R?
Forman: If we are looking to sign someone that has a streaming presence or an online presence, it helps us get to know them and their music. On the other side, the development side of things, if we are working with someone who does not have their music out there where we think it deserves to be out there, it certainly opens up a platform for us to easily do that.
MR: What are the biggest challenges you see in A&R right now?
Forman: Finding the time to develop writers, and also making sure your writers are in the correct writing rooms and being developed. Also, balancing developing writers, versus the true song plugging side of things, but we are so passionate about both.
MR: As more songwriters write for multiple genres, how do you work to make sure their song are given proper consideration in other genres?
Forman: The biggest challenge in the past has really been getting these A&R communities in the other genres to recognize that we have writers that can write more than just country music. I think the recent success of songs that have been country collaborations has helped. When artists like Kane [Brown], Maren [Morris] and Sam [Hunt] have that crossover ability, that helps everybody. We now are getting calls from managers and A&R reps from outside of Nashville asking about songs, and that’s been encouraging.
MR: As you look at the next few years, what developments do you see happening in songwriting and music publishing?
Forman: I’m excited about the integrity of the songs I’m seeing in some of these new writers and artists. I’m hoping that trend continues, because that’s what we are passionate about, the storytelling.
In a world where we ware constantly talking about how the conversation has to change about female [artists], we are proud to say we have two of the most recent ACM nominees for New Female Artist of the Year, with Caylee [Hammack] and Ingrid [Andress]. We are excited to be part of those new females coming along.
The Palm’s Rae Krenn To Receive T.J. Martell’s First Sunshine Award
/by Lorie HollabaughThe T.J. Martell Foundation will bestow its first Sunshine Award to The Palm Restaurant’s Rae Krenn during the Nashville Comedy Festival on April 13. Krenn has been the hostess at The Palm for more than 20 years, and has met and befriended everyone from country greats Charlie Daniels and Blake Shelton to former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.
“My mom was from Lismore, Australia, and she loved Rae,” says T.J. Martell Southern Region Vice President Mike Smardak. “It just makes me happy to see her smiling face and be around her. She’s a treasure.”
Krenn is known throughout Nashville for her unwavering hospitality, warm demeanor and oftentimes risqué banter. Some refer to Krenn as the “Unofficial Mayor of Nashville” due to the five-foot Aussie knowing everyone in town. Born in Sydney, Australia in 1951, Krenn journeyed to the U.S. in the ’80s when her eldest daughter, Sherrié Austin, landed a role in the hit American TV show The Facts of Life. The whole family then moved continents, landing in L.A. and eventually migrating to Nashville after the 1994 earthquakes in California.
She will receive her award at the Nashville Comedy Festival’s No Laughing Matter event to be held at Liberty Hall at the Factory at Franklin. Slated to perform at the event (officially titled No Laughing Matter —A Night of Comedy for a Cure to Benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation: Music’s Promise for Curing Cancer) are comedians Karen Mills, Dusty Slay, Pat McGann, Aaron Weber, Steven Bargatze and Killer Beaz. Bone Hampton is set to host.
CMT, WSMV News 4, The Red Cross To Hold Tornado Relief Telethon Today
/by Lorie HollabaughThe telethon will air live on WSMV News 4 and featured on all CMT social platforms.
Country artists, local TV personalities and volunteers will be answering phones live during the telethon taking donations, sharing personal stories, and offering support to tornado victims following the devastation that swept through the area earlier this week.
Outside of the telethon, donations can be made to the American Red Cross by visiting rdcrss.org/cmt. Proceeds from the sale of a special CMT Country Gives Back t-shirt will also benefit the American Red Cross Southern Tornado and Flood Relief Program.
Gibson Giving Guitars To Musicians Affected By Nashville Tornadoes
/by Jessica NicholsonGibson’s charitable arm Gibson Gives has announced an initiative to provide a guitar to any musician whose instrument was damaged, lost or destroyed by the tornadoes.
“Our goal is to get a guitar back into the hands of anyone who has had their guitar damaged or destroyed in the recent Tennessee storm,” says Dendy Jarrett, Executive Director of Gibson Gives. “As a Nashville, Tennessee based company, we are also engaging with our artists and other partners to provide support across many areas.”
Musicians who lost their guitar in the recent storm can send their story to the Gibson Gives Guitar Recovery Plan at donation.request@gibson.com. Guitars will be provided at Gibson’s discretion, based on proof of damage or loss. Replacement guitars given out may be demo models, prototypes or shop worn, across Gibson’s various guitar brands.
Gibson moved its headquarters to Nashville’s Cummins Station in July 2019.
Reservoir Teams With Americana Music Publisher One Riot, Signs The Secret Sisters
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: John Ozier (Reservoir EVP Creative), Lydia Slagle (The Secret Sisters), Laura Rogers (The Secret Sisters), Holly Lowman (Red Light Management), Ash Wolk (One Riot), Kirby Lee (Red Light Management), Greg Gallo (Reservoir VP Creative)
Music publisher Reservoir has teamed with Nashville-based, Americana/Roots boutique music publisher One Riot, to sign and develop new songwriters and manage writer catalogs. One Riot is headquartered out of Reservoir’s Nashville office and has creative offices in Los Angeles and New York.
The first signing under the Reservoir and One Riot joint venture is duo The Secret Sisters. The deal includes future titles from the sibling duo, including their Brandi Carlile-produced recent project Saturn Return.
“We are very excited to have signed our very first publishing deal as songwriters and to be joining the One Riot family. It’s been our desire to take our songwriting to the next level and we can’t wait to see what this partnership will inspire in us,” said The Secret Sisters. “Grateful for a team of good folks who believe in us!”
“One Riot was established to focus on the music that we hold closest to our hearts; music that embodies honesty and authenticity,” said Founder Amy Patton. “That is the legacy of many of the incredible artists in this genre and is the core of what we hope to cultivate within our community of songwriters. We couldn’t think of a better way to launch than with The Secret Sisters, who embody everything we love about this genre, as the first signing along with Reservoir, who shared our vision right out of the gate.”
“Reservoir’s expertise in creative, administration, and synch coupled with One Riot’s passion for the music and songwriters in this space, is a winning combination,” adds Reservoir EVP, Creative John Ozier. “Americana music spans a broad spectrum of styles including folk, country, blues, roots, gospel, soul, rock, and more, but one thing it all has in common is that it is song-driven music. The genre is often underserved due to the ambiguity of its definition, but it is our privilege to work alongside One Riot to amplify and celebrate the amazing musicians in this space, starting with The Secret Sisters.”
Pictured (L-R): Golnar Khosrowshahi (Reservoir Founder and CEO), Amy Patton (One Riot Founder), Rell Lafargue (Reservoir President and COO)
Mitchell Tenpenny To Lead Nashville Tornado Relief Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonDierks Bentley‘s Whiskey Row has teamed with Cumulus to hold a tornado relief concert in Nashville on Monday, March 9, hosted by Mitchell Tenpenny. Others performing during the benefit include HARDY, Devin Dawson, The Band CAMINO, Jessie James Decker, The Sisterhood, Runaway June‘s Naomi Cooke, and more. A first show, slated for 7 p.m., has already sold out and a second show has been added for 10 p.m.
All ticket sales from the event and all proceeds from bar sales during the show will benefit Hands on Nashville, as will all funds raised from a raffle that will be held alongside the event. Hands on Nashville is one of several organizations aiding those affected by the storm that hit Nashville early on March 3.
The 21-and-over shows will be held on the second floor of Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in downtown Nashville.
CMA Promotes Evans, Kerns
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Emily Evans, Tiffany Kerns
The Country Music Association has announced two promotions in support of ongoing strategic efforts. Emily Evans has been elevated to Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, while Tiffany Kerns adds Vice President, Community Outreach to her current role as CMA Foundation Executive Director.
“Both Emily and Tiffany have been key strategic leaders on our CMA team for a number of years,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Both possess a high level of integrity and are innovators in their respective fields. I’m pleased that both Emily and Tiffany will be interacting and engaging with our country music community and our CMA Board of Directors on a much deeper and more frequent level.”
In her new role, Evans will oversee programs and projects that support CMA’s mission and short-and long-term objectives, including the CMA Songwriters Series, CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship, various CMA industry task forces as well as the implementation of a company-wide CRM program. She will be responsible for overseeing all awards processes and special awards events, which include the CMA Awards, CMA Touring Awards, CMA Triple Play Awards, and the Country Music Hall of Fame inductions, among others. In addition, Evans will continue to lead all integrated marketing efforts with the organization’s network partner ABC in order to secure high-quality and high-value broadcast, social and digital content integrations.
Evans previously held the title of Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships. Prior to joining CMA in 2014, Evans held positions with st8tmnt, 13 Management, MAC Presents, and MAD Booking and Events. Originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, Evans graduated summa cum laude from Carson-Newman University with a degree in business management and marketing.
In addition to her current team consisting of Michelle Kirk (Director, Integrated Marketing), Megan Sykes (Director, Sales Development & Strategy), Kevin Coffey (Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships) and Lara Henley (Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships), Brenden Oliver (Senior Manager, Awards & Strategic Initiatives) and Michael Farris (recently promoted to Business Intelligence Lead) will now report to Evans. Contact Evans at eevans@cmaworld.com.
Kerns will continue to oversee CMA’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, as Executive Director and adds Vice President, Community Outreach to her role, creating and implementing CMA’s community outreach initiatives including the CMA Foundation as well as CMA EDU, the organization’s collegiate development program. She will also oversee CMA’s membership practices and programming to ensure transparency and integrity for CMA Awards voting, including the CMA Awards, CMA Touring Awards, CMA Triple Play Awards, and various CMA industry awards. Kerns will also provide strategic direction and management of CMA membership development, evaluating the effectiveness of existing structures and developing strategies to ensure effective membership recruitment and retention.
Prior to joining CMA in 2012, Kerns worked for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She is a 2018 Women in Music City Award recipient and led the CMA Foundation to receiving the 2017 National Stand for Music Award supporting music education advocacy. Originally from Bradenton, Florida, Kerns graduated from the University of Tennessee—Knoxville with a degree in political science and a minor in business administration.
In addition to her current team consisting of Lindsey Jones (Project Manager, Community Outreach), Falon Keith (Grants Associate) and Kate Kaltenbach (recently promoted to Manager, Membership Engagement), Angela Strader (recently promoted to Manager, Board & Membership Services) will now report to Kerns. Contact Kerns at tkerns@cmaworld.com.
Lady Antebellum Offers Fresh Takes From ‘Ocean’ On New Live Album
/by Lorie HollabaughLady Antebellum is releasing Live: In The Round today, featuring five standout tracks from their studio album Ocean that were recreated in one take at Nashville’s Skyways Studios.
The project offers up an unconventional mix of Ocean’s No. 1 hit “What If I Never Get Over You” along with the immediate follow-up, “What I’m Leaving For,” the heartland-rock track “Boots,” “Be Patient With My Love,” a striking ode to commitment that balances raw feelings with squealing guitars, as well as the title track. The album is available now at all digital retailers.
“We really enjoyed getting to strip down some of our favorites songs from OCEAN and put focus on the lyrics that drew us in from the beginning,” Lady A’s Charles Kelley said. “It was refreshing to get back in the studio with just the three of us and our road band. We were able relive those initial feelings and reflect on how these songs have already made such a huge impact on our career.”
Live: In The Round Track List:
1. “What If I Never Get Over You” | Sam Ellis, Jon Green, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz
2. “Be Patient With My Love” | Charles Kelley, Dave Barnes, Ben West
3. “What I’m Leaving For” | Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath, Laura Veltz
4. “Boots” | Charles Kelley, Ross Copperman
5. “Ocean” | Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Abe Stoklasa
Ingrid Andress Shares ‘Lady Like’ Track Listing
/by Lorie HollabaughIngrid Andress has revealed the track list for her upcoming debut album, Lady Like, due out March 27. The album features Andress as a co-writer and co-producer on every song and includes her nearly Top 10 country single “More Hearts Than Mine,” which made history as the only solo female debut to crack the Top 20 on the Country Airplay chart in 2019.
The busy Colorado native will hit the stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this weekend for back-to-back sold out nights to kick off Dan + Shay’s The (Arena) Tour, then join Thomas Rhett in May for the opening nights of his Center Point Road tour before heading out on Tim McGraw’s massive Here On Earth stadium tour this Summer.
Zach Williams Celebrates Two RIAA Certifications
/by Jessica NicholsonZach Williams with his RIAA Platinum and Gold certified records
Provident Label Group artist Zach Williams is celebrating two RIAA certifications, including Gold status for his 2016 album Chain Breaker, and Platinum status for his debut single by the same name.
Williams recently released a new track, “Empty Grave,” in celebration of the Easter season, and he will soon launch a spring run of concert dates on his The Rescue Story Tour, which launches March 5 and goes through May 9.