Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon Coming to Downtown Nashville

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Icon Entertainment’s Bill Miller has revealed plans to open Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon, a 15,000 square foot restaurant and venue, in downtown Nashville.

The new venue will be located at 121 Third Ave. S., in the building originally slated to become the Merle Haggard Museum and Merle’s Meat + 3 Saloon. A representative for Icon Entertainment confirms plans for the Haggard museum and restaurant, which were originally announced in October 2017, are no longer moving forward.

Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon is slated to open in late Spring 2019, and joins the growing number of downtown artist-affiliated entertainment venues by artists like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson and others.

The restaurant will offer up traditional southern meat and three fare (with a little soul food tossed in for good measure) in collaboration with the Swett family and David Swett, owner of Swett’s famed meat and three in Nashville. Swett provided kitchen and menu design on the project as well as recipes and employee training for the kitchen.

“I’m beyond thrilled to expand our extremely successful relationship with the Cash Estate through this ground-breaking food and beverage concept,” Miller says. “My relationship with the Cash family extends to nearly my entire life, and there’s no greater pleasure for me and my family than continuing our partnership well into the future. The impression Johnny Cash left on Nashville is indelible and this venture further confirms that his presence will be a dominant force here for many years to come.”

“On behalf of the Cash family and estate, I am honored and excited to have this additional alliance with Bill Miller to expand celebrating the lives of John and June Cash,” said Cathy Sullivan, representative of The John R. Cash Trust. “Johnny Cash is still a vibrant force in the Nashville community and beyond. It is a fitting tribute to bring this unique venue where families and friends may gather in a way that brings new life to the Cash family style of entertaining.”

Icon Entertainment, founded by Miller, currently owns and operates the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, House of Cards and Skull’s Rainbow Room in Nashville. Icon has also acquired commercial real estate totaling six properties and over 110,000 square feet in downtown Nashville.

In Pictures: Patty Griffin, Brett Young, Lee Ann Womack, Deana Carter At Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe

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Brett Young performs at Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe. Photo: Erik Philbrook and Fred Hayes

The 21st annual Sundance ASCAP Music Café, held Jan. 25 through Feb. 1 at the Sundance Film Festival, hosted a range of performances from some of today’s best emerging and established songwriters and performers. On Jan. 26, Patty Griffin performed songs from her forthcoming self-titled album.

Jan. 27 featured a guest performance from singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg. Later in the week, ASCAP, the Bluebird Cafe and the ACademy of Country Music hosted an in-the-round performance featuring Lee Ann Womack, Deana Carter, Carlton Anderson and Jacob Davis.

ASCAP welcomed reigning Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year and BMLG Records artist Brett Young back to the Sundance ASCAP Music Café stage for an encore performance on Feb. 1. Young debuted on the Café stage in 2018.

Patty Griffin performs at Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe. Photo: Erik Philbrook and Fred Hayes.

Pictured (L-R): Carlton Anderson, Lee Ann Womack, Deana Carter and Jacob Davis at the ACM/Bluebird Cafe songwriters round at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café 2019. Photo: Erik Philbrook and Fred Hayes

Pictured (L-R): Recording artist Stephen Kellogg and ASCAP’s Beth Brinker at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café 2019. Photo: Erik Philbrook and Fred Hayes

Pictured (L-R): Lee Ann Womack, Carlton Anderson, Deana Carter and Jacob Davis at the ACM Bluebird Cafe songwriters round at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café 2019. Photo: Erik Philbrook and Fred Hayes

Spotify Acquires Podcast Companies Gimlet And Anchor

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Spotify has acquired two podcasting companies, Gimlet and Anchor, in a move to expand and become the leading global podcast publisher. Gimlet is home to podcast shows like “Homecoming,” which was recently adapted into a critically acclaimed show on Amazon Prime, and the internet culture hit “Reply All.” Anchor had 15 billion hours of content on the platform during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Based on radio listening data, over time more than 20 percent of all Spotify listening will be non-music content.

“There are endless ways to tell stories that serve to entertain, to educate, to challenge, to inspire, or to bring us together and break down cultural barriers,” said Spotify Founder/CEO Daniel Ek. “The podcast format is really evolving and while podcasting is still a relatively small business today, I see incredible growth potential for the space and for Spotify in particular. In just shy of two years, we have become the second-biggest podcasting platform. And, more importantly, users love having podcasts as a part of their Spotify experience. Our podcast users spend almost twice the time on the platform, and spend even more time listening to music. We have also seen that by having unique programming, people who previously thought Spotify was not right for them will give it a try.

“Just as we’ve done with music, our work in podcasting will focus intensively on the curation and customization that users have come to expect from Spotify. We will offer better discovery, data, and monetization to creators. These acquisitions will meaningfully accelerate our path to becoming the world’s leading audio platform, give users around the world access to the best podcast content, and improve the quality of our listening experience while enhancing the Spotify brand.”

Brandi Carlile Sets 2019 Tour Dates, Headline Show At Madison Square Garden

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Brandi Carlile will continue her extensive tour through 2019 including a special debut headlining performance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Sept. 14. Additional stops include Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, St. Paul’s Minnesota State Fair, Philadelphia’s The Mann and The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley, among others. Tickets for the newly announced shows go on sale this Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. local time.

Carlile will also perform during the live Grammy broadcast this Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS. She is the most nominated female artist at the 61st Grammy Awards with six nominations including Album Of The Year and Best Americana Album for By The Way, I Forgive You, as well as Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, “The Joke”), Song Of The Year, Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance for “The Joke.”

Brandi Carlile Confirmed 2019 Tour Dates:
April 12—Dallas, TX—The Bomb Factory
April 13—Dale, TX—Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 27—Wilkesboro, NC—Merlefest
May 24—Shelburne, VT—Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green
May 25—Shelburne, VT— Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green
May 26—Boston, MA—Harvard University Athletics Complex
June 1—Quincy, WA—The Gorge Amphitheater
June 14—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 16—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 20-23—Telluride, CO—Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 29—Chicago, IL—Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island*
July 25—Floyd, VA—FloydFest
August 23—Troutdale, OR—Edgefield
August 24—Troutdale, OR—Edgefield
August 29—Bayfield, WI—Big Top Chautauqua
August 30—Bayfield, WI—Big Top Chautauqua
August 31—St. Paul, MN—Minnesota State Fair
September 6—Philadelphia, PA—The Mann†
September 14—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden
September 21—Berkeley, CA—The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley
* = with special guest Lucius
† = with special guest Mavis Staples
BOLD = on sale this Friday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. local time

Justin Moore Sets Release Date For Fifth Studio Album ‘Late Nights And Longnecks’

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Justin Moore will release his fifth studio album, Late Nights And Longnecks, on April 26 via The Valory Music Co.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, he debuted the video for the album’s lead single, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” which Moore penned with his longtime producer Jeremy Stover, as well as Paul DiGiovanni and Chase McGill. The writers were reflecting on how tragedies in schools, first-responder situations and military losses affect entire communities.

Directed by Cody Villalobos, a former EMT, the video features real fire fighters and former policemen as actors, and the classroom is a replica from an elementary school in Nevada. Coincidentally, the piece was filmed on Veterans Day 2018, and former military personnel were on set to help with details on how to wear the gear and the use of the equipment.

YouTube video

Country Music Hall Of Fame’s Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum To Honor Bebe Evans And Marcie Allen Van Mol

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Marcie Allen Van Mol, Bebe Evans

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Bebe Evans and her niece, Marcie Allen Van Mol, at its 12th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The museum annually presents the forum to recognize music industry leaders who continue the legacy of Louise Scruggs, a formidable businesswoman and trailblazer who set new professional standards in artist management.

In an in-depth interview, illustrated with photos, film footage, and recordings, the women will discuss their careers and the importance of maintaining an artist-centered focus while embracing industry change. Evans and Van Mol, the daughter and granddaughter of pioneering WLAC disc jockey Bill “Hoss” Allen, grew up in Nashville’s music industry, and channeled the knowledge they received from Allen into remarkable careers of their own.

Evans has worked for Charlie Daniels for nearly 40 years, and currently serves as his director of touring. She has coordinated numerous international tours and dozens of iterations of Daniels’ Volunteer Jam all-star benefit concert; she has also overseen Daniels’ recording and book projects. Evans was honored at the 2013 SOURCE Awards, recognizing women in Nashville’s music industry.

As president and founder of MAC Presents, Van Mol is a leader in brokering creative, high-profile partnerships between corporate brands such as AT&T, Citi, Verizon, and Southwest Airlines, and recording artists including Kelsea Ballerini, Chance the Rapper, the Rolling Stones, and Keith Urban. Before founding MAC Presents, Van Mol owned MAD Booking and Events, where she produced hundreds of concerts and festivals around the South. She is an adjunct professor at New York University and has been prominently ranked in various Billboard power ratings.

The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum is co-presented by CMT and First Tennessee, with support provided by the Gibson Foundation. This program is free and open to the public, and will be live streamed.

Louise Scruggs (1927-2006) was married to Country Music Hall of Fame member and banjo great Earl Scruggs. In the mid-1950s, she began booking and managing his bluegrass band, Flatt & Scruggs. She was the first woman in country music to assume these roles, and astutely guided her husband’s career for half a century. The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum was first presented in 2007; past honorees include, Denise Stiff, Liz Thiels, Mary Martin, Bonnie Garner, Sarah Trahern, Nancy Shapiro, Kay Clary, Jo Walker-Meador, Dixie Hall, Traci Thomas and Cindy Mabe.

Grammy Music Education Coalition Announces Nashville, Philadelphia Commitments

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Pictured (L-R): Paul Katz, CEO/Founder Entertain Impact; Tarik Ward, Director of Music Programs, ELMA Music Philanthropies, GMEC Board Member; Lee Whitmore, Executive Director, GMEC; Brenda Robinson, Entertainment Attorney, Swanson Martin & Bell LLP, GMEC board member; Macy Gray, artist; Charyn Harris, Executive & Artist Logistics at Macy Gray Inc.

The Grammy Music Education Coalition (GMEC) has announced its 2019 plans which includes an All-Star Ambassador program and the launch of intensive programs in Philadelphia and Nashville.

This year, the GMEC is focused on funding and services for Nashville and Philadelphia public school systems, with a goal to invest $1 million in each district during the inaugural year, while overseeing and coordinating programs of its coalition partners. The Nashville investment includes an elementary music coach, a program coordinator, and professional development through spring/summer music and audio technology events for all teachers.

The coalition aims to invest $5 million into each of these two districts over the next three years.

The GMEC partners range from the The Grammy Museum and The Recording Academy to the NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Little Kids Rock, VH1 Save the Music Foundation and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (full list below).

Starting this spring, the GMEC will launch an All-Star Ambassador program consisting of a diverse group of musicians who all have personal connections to music education and have committed to spreading awareness and raising funds for music education. Bebe Rexha will embark on a national campaign, created by Havas, in the spring. Additional GMEC Ambassadors include Rita Ora, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Marley, Luis Fonsi, Caroline Jones, Lang Lang, Matt Sorum, Mindi Abair, Regina Spektor and rock band War on Drugs.

“The GRAMMY Music Education Coalition is thrilled to be celebrating universal music education participation by American elementary, middle and high school students,” said Executive Director Lee Whitmore. “Today, we join with our GMEC member and partner, the GRAMMY® Museum Foundation, to inspire a future vision for careers and the arts for young people from around the Los Angeles area.”

The GMEC is also announcing its Founders Circle, Board members, and Executive Advisory Council.

Founders Circle Members
• The Dancing Tides Foundation
• The ELMA Music Foundation
• HARMAN
• Walker Family Foundation
• Wells Fargo Foundation

Board
• Roger Brown
• Richard Foos
• Jon Harris
• Neil Portnow
• Brenda Robinson
• Rusty Rueff
• Jeff Walker
• Tarik Ward
• Cheryl Zimlich

Executive Advisory Council
• Monique Felder
• Ruby Marchand
• Philip Nicol
• Susan Nesbit
• Ami Spishock

Active and pending Coalition members:
• GRAMMY Museum Foundation
• Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation
• Rock and Roll Forever Foundation
• Adopt the Arts Foundation
• The 39th Experience
• Berklee City Music
• Berklee College of Music
• Bohemian Foundation
• Conagra Brands
• David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation
• The ELMA Philanthropies Services Inc.
• Entertain IMPACT
• Ghetto Youths Foundation
• GRAMMY® Museum
• Lang Lang International Music Foundation
• Little Kids Rock
• Metro Nashville Public Schools
• The Musicians Foundation
• Musicians Institute
• NAfME
• NAMM
• NAMM Foundation
• Nat King Cole Generation of Hope
• Patti and Rusty Rueff Foundation
• Quadrant Research
• Recording Academy
• School District of Philadelphia
• Shout! Factory
• Sony / ATV Music Publishing
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation
• Walker Family Foundation
• Warner Music Group

Ambassador corps:
• Bebe Rexha
• Caroline Jones
• Fitz and The Tantrums
• Kristin Chenoweth
• Lang Lang
• Luis Fonsi
• Matt Sorum (Guns n’ Roses)
• Mindi Abair
• Noelle Scaggs
• Stephen Marley
• Regina Spektor
• Rita Ora
• War on Drugs

Copyright Royalty Board Finalizes Rates And Terms For Publisher Payouts

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The Copyright Royalty Board published the finalized Final Rates and Terms for songwriters’ mechanical royalties, determining the amount labels and digital services are to pay music publishers, on Tuesday (Feb. 5); following last year’s announcement of the decision. The rates are effective for 2018 through 2022, with rates escalating from 10.5 percent of revenue to 15.1 percent of revenue.

Digital music companies now have 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling.

National Music Publishers Association president/CEO David Israelite commented on the development, saying via social media: “NMPA and NSAI fought hard to increase songwriter royalties by 44+%. The digital music companies now have 30 days to decide whether to appeal that ruling, and in effect declare war against songwriters. Apple has announced it will not appeal. The others won’t say. We will know soon whether some digital companies want to be partners or want to attack the songwriters who make their businesses possible. Stay tuned.”

Industry Ink: Quinton Digital, Maks Gabriel, Steel Blossoms

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Amanda Quinton Launches Quinton Digital

Pictured (front, L-R): Jordan Lipsey, Amanda Quinton, Maria Abdelnour. (Back, L-R): Lindsey Patkos, Kelsey Brown. Photo: Erika Rock

Amanda Quinton has opened artist development and digital marketing company Quinton Digital Inc. in Nashville. Kelsey Brown joins Quinton Digital as Director of Digital & Creative Strategy, having recently moved to Nashville from Los Angeles, where she was part of the digital marketing and strategy team at Dick Clark Productions.

Jordan Lipsey and Maria Abdelnour join the company as Account Managers. Lipsey is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and worked as an Agent Assistant at United Talent Agency prior to joining Quinton Digital. Abdelnour previously held roles at Townsquare Media and Girlilla Marketing while working as a freelance writer.

Nashville-based photographer Lindsey Patkos will oversee graphic design and photography for Quinton Digital’s roster, which includes Show Dog Nashville, Marie Osmond, Matt Stell, Walker Montgomery, Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation, Stephanie Quayle, Lena Stone, Dave Fenley and more. Quinton also manages pop artist Marisa Maino and singer/songwriter Adam Wakefield.

 

Maks Gabriel Aligns With Lady Luck

Maks Gabriel has signed with Lady Luck Songs. Gabriel is a Canadian-American producer-songwriter who has written and produced hits for numerous Canadian artists including Belly, Massari, Mia Martina, Danny Fernandes and Tyler Medeiros. He also received a Juno nomination for Dance Recording of the year for his work on Mia Martina’s album Devotion.

Upon moving to Nashville he started writing and producing for major label artists. His tracks have been featured in hit TV shows including Nashville, The Mindy Project and True Blood.

 

Steel Blossoms Ink With Billy Jam Records

Pictured: Sara Zebley and Hayley Prosser of Steel Blossoms, pictured with Jerry Salley,
Creative and A&R Director of Billy Jam Records of Nashville

Duo Steel Blossoms have signed with Nashville-based bluegrass/Americana label Billy Jam Records. Members Sara Zebley and Hayley Prosser met by chance at a festival in their home state of Pennsylvania, where they were each performing with separate acts. They soon established themselves as a duo. The duo’s first album on Billy Jam Records is set for release April 26.

“I could not be more excited about having Steel Blossoms as the first act signed to this label,” Billy Jam Creative and A&R Director Jerry Salley says. “These girls have an unparalleled gift for crafting clever, insightful songs, and for making a personal connection with their fans.”

Zac Brown Band Joins BMG

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Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band has inked a new global licensing agreement with BMG, to release their upcoming studio album. The new project, which follows 2017’s Welcome Home, will be marketed through BMG and BMG’s Nashville-based recordings business, BBR Music Group, through the Wheelhouse Records imprint.

“We’ve always approached our work and music in our own way, only doing what feels right for us,” said Zac Brown. “We’re excited to have BMG as a new partner, they understand our vision and sound and will help shape this next chapter in a way that’s uniquely ours.”

Jon Loba, EVP, BBR Music Group, said, “Zac Brown Band is a musical phenomenon. Not only are they world-class musicians who have achieved 15 No. 1 radio singles, they are one of the very few acts in any genre that can sell out stadiums. We have long admired Zac not only for his music, but his philanthropic efforts through his music.”

Thomas Scherer, EVP, Repertoire & Marketing, Los Angeles, said, “The entire team is thrilled Zac Brown Band has chosen BMG as their new home and we welcome them to our family. We look forward to working together, as both our BMG recorded music and Wheelhouse Records teams deliver this exceptional release to his eagerly awaiting fans around the world.”

The band is gearing up to launch the second leg of their Down The Rabbit Hole Love Tour this March. They will embark on The Owl Tour in summer 2019. They recently released their latest single, “Someone I Used To Know.”

Zac Brown Band is Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (guitar, vocals), Clay Cook (guitar, keys, vocals), Chris Fryar (drums), Coy Bowles (guitar, keys), Daniel de los Reyes (percussion), and Matt Mangano (bass).