There’s something marvelous about the fact that every year, the first big music-biz party of the season is also always one of the very best.
I refer, of course, to the annual Grammy Nominees Party. Staged on Jan. 11 this year at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, the gig had it all – schmoozing fabulons, great food, stargazing, lovely music and enormous joie de vivre.
“Thank you for joining us here tonight,” said the Recording Academy’s Nashville chapter executive director Alicia Warwick. “On behalf of the board, we are proud to recognize this outstanding group of nominees.”
She reminded the crowd that the Grammys are all about celebrating diversity. This is reflected locally in the fact that Nashville chapter members are nominated in 26 different categories.
So the party attendees included blues nominees Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph, country stars Little Big Town and Thomas Rhett, members of the nominated reggae band Morgan Heritage, Americana greats Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and bluegrass stars Rhonda Vincent, Bobby Osborne and Noam Pikelny, plus CCM performers Danny Gokey, Matt Maher and Bernie Herms. Gospel and CCM Grammy-nominated songwriters were especially well represented. Chuck Butler, Ben Glover, David Garcia, Alvin Love III, Dwan Hill and Jonathan Smith rsvp’d. Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum worked the red carpet, as did nominee Glen Campbell’s widow Kim Woolen and daughter Ashley Campbell.
“A Grammy nomination is a true reflection of your dedication to your craft,” said Warwick. “We are honored to have many of our nominees here tonight. Please give them a round of applause.”
Cocktail party attendees were serenaded by a suite of jazz standards performed by the superb John Birdsong Trio. Buffet tables held truffled mac & cheese, poached shrimp bruschetta on flatbread, blistered brussel sprouts, chicken skewers with root vegetables, shaved pear/apple & walnut salad, cipillini & fig tarts and beef sliders with mayo, tomato and bacon jam. Yum.
The bars stayed busy as the crowd swelled. Sally Williams, Jody Williams, Jennifer Hanson, Jed Hilly, John Huie, T.K. Kimbrell, Terry Hemmings, Sherod Robertson, Shawn Silva, Shannan Hatch, Steve Buchanan, Ben Fowler, Brett James, E. T. Brown and Lori Badgett made merry.
Ron & Regina Stuve, David & Carolyn Corlew, Erika Wollam Nichols, Allison Brown Jones, Christy Walker-Watkins, Hunter Kelly, Victoria Shaw, Ralph Murphy, Chandra LaPlume, Leslie Roberts, Mark Bright, Dan Hill, Rod Essig, George Flanigen, and the proverbial cast of thousands wished each other Happy New Year.
Chris Keaton introduced me to Jeff Fincher, Lipscomb’s assistant dean of its College of Entertainment and the Arts. Who seemed way too young for that gig. But, then, everybody seems young to me nowadays.
Judy Simmons told anecdotes about choosing the Symphony’s Harmony Award recipients. You will recall that last year’s baffling honoree was Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. The accolade supposedly recognizes a person “who best exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s musical community.”
“Are you ready for the Snow Apocalypse?” wisecracked Pat McMakin as we headed for the door. We’d been in Publix just a couple of hours earlier, and it was mobbed. Schools and businesses were canceling their Friday openings left and right.
Mind you, the whole time we were at the Grammy party, the temperature was 65 degrees. I have covered this event during blizzards, thunderstorms and sub-zero conditions. But this was the first one where we were all too warm. Which is why it seemed so wacky that freezing rain was predicted for the following morning, and the entire city was in a weather panic.
Universal Music Publishing And Disney Music Publishing Expand Global Administration Relationship
/by Lorie HollabaughEffective Jan. 1, 2018, the agreement significantly builds upon the companies’ existing global relationship, since UMPG currently administers DMP’s publishing catalogs in South East Asia, and many territories in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with UMPG into Europe and beyond. Their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit make for the perfect match for Disney Music Publishing,” said Ken Bunt, President, DMG.
“Disney is home to one of the most iconic catalogs in history, one that spans cultures, generations and genres,” said Jody Gerson, UMPG CEO and Global Chairman. “We are honored to expand our global collaboration with Disney and we look forward to developing outstanding creative opportunities that build on the company’s outstanding legacy.”
UMPG is a leading global music publisher with 44 offices in 37 countries, and DMP is an umbrella for the 34 individual publishing companies holding worldwide rights to the music catalogs controlled by The Walt Disney Company.
Services Set For Vet Music Row Exec Eddie Mascolo
/by Robert K OermannEdward (“Eddie”) H. Mascolo
Visitation for the late Eddie Mascolo will begin Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 16), 4-7 p.m., at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Franklin.
The widely loved Music Row record-promotion executive passed away at age 76 on Friday, Jan. 12, following a battle with cancer. Mascolo was a 1991 graduate of Leadership Music and was an avid participant in the annual Country Radio Seminar events.
A native of the Pittsburgh, PA area, Edward H. Mascolo began his music career as an independent pop record promoter in 1968-69. His skills garnered immediate recognition from national record companies. Decca Records was the first major label to hire him. From 1970-75, he was the Southeast regional promotion director for PolyGram Records.
In 1975, RCA Records hired him as its manager of promotion for the Southeast and Southwest regions. As such, he became a key figure in the RCA pop-crossover successes of Dolly Parton (1980), Waylon Jennings (1980), Ronnie Milsap (1981), Alabama (1981), Sylvia (1982), Deborah Allen (1983) and Kenny Rogers (1983). Mascolo made history in 1984 when he became the first Nashville executive to be appointed as a major-label director of national pop promotion. Based in both Music City and Manhattan, he worked with such RCA pop stars as Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Eurythmics, The Pointer Sisters and Rick Springfield.
From there, he was elevated to Senior Vice President of Product Development at RCA. In 1988, Mercury Records named him its Senior Vice President of Country Promotion. That label’s roster featured Kathy Mattea, The Statler Brothers and The Kentucky HeadHunters, among others. In 1994, Eddie Mascolo became the vice president and general manager at River North Records. The company had already signed Peter Cetera as its flagship pop artist. Its Nashville division included Holly Dunn, Rob Crosby and Steve Azar on its country artist roster.
Starstruck Entertainment hired him as its vice president of radio promotion in 1999. The company’s main artist was/is Reba McEntire. As the senior vice president of promotion at McCluskey & Associates, Mascolo next worked with a variety of artists, including Vince Gill, Collin Raye and BlackHawk.
He joined Turner & Nichols & Associates and Trey Turner Management in recent years. This is where he became instrumental in the breakthrough of Easton Corbin and in the on-going stardom of Rascal Flatts.
Following Tuesday’s visitation, a second one is scheduled for 9:30-11 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Jan. 17. The funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m. St. Matthew Catholic Church is at 535 Sneed Rd. W., Franklin, TN 37069. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.
Eddie Mascolo is survived by Carol, his wife of 55 years, as well as by sons Mark and Brian and by his five grandchildren.
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammys 2018 Nashville Nominees Party
/by Bobby KarlThere’s something marvelous about the fact that every year, the first big music-biz party of the season is also always one of the very best.
I refer, of course, to the annual Grammy Nominees Party. Staged on Jan. 11 this year at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, the gig had it all – schmoozing fabulons, great food, stargazing, lovely music and enormous joie de vivre.
“Thank you for joining us here tonight,” said the Recording Academy’s Nashville chapter executive director Alicia Warwick. “On behalf of the board, we are proud to recognize this outstanding group of nominees.”
She reminded the crowd that the Grammys are all about celebrating diversity. This is reflected locally in the fact that Nashville chapter members are nominated in 26 different categories.
So the party attendees included blues nominees Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph, country stars Little Big Town and Thomas Rhett, members of the nominated reggae band Morgan Heritage, Americana greats Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and bluegrass stars Rhonda Vincent, Bobby Osborne and Noam Pikelny, plus CCM performers Danny Gokey, Matt Maher and Bernie Herms. Gospel and CCM Grammy-nominated songwriters were especially well represented. Chuck Butler, Ben Glover, David Garcia, Alvin Love III, Dwan Hill and Jonathan Smith rsvp’d. Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum worked the red carpet, as did nominee Glen Campbell’s widow Kim Woolen and daughter Ashley Campbell.
Cocktail party attendees were serenaded by a suite of jazz standards performed by the superb John Birdsong Trio. Buffet tables held truffled mac & cheese, poached shrimp bruschetta on flatbread, blistered brussel sprouts, chicken skewers with root vegetables, shaved pear/apple & walnut salad, cipillini & fig tarts and beef sliders with mayo, tomato and bacon jam. Yum.
The bars stayed busy as the crowd swelled. Sally Williams, Jody Williams, Jennifer Hanson, Jed Hilly, John Huie, T.K. Kimbrell, Terry Hemmings, Sherod Robertson, Shawn Silva, Shannan Hatch, Steve Buchanan, Ben Fowler, Brett James, E. T. Brown and Lori Badgett made merry.
Ron & Regina Stuve, David & Carolyn Corlew, Erika Wollam Nichols, Allison Brown Jones, Christy Walker-Watkins, Hunter Kelly, Victoria Shaw, Ralph Murphy, Chandra LaPlume, Leslie Roberts, Mark Bright, Dan Hill, Rod Essig, George Flanigen, and the proverbial cast of thousands wished each other Happy New Year.
Chris Keaton introduced me to Jeff Fincher, Lipscomb’s assistant dean of its College of Entertainment and the Arts. Who seemed way too young for that gig. But, then, everybody seems young to me nowadays.
“Are you ready for the Snow Apocalypse?” wisecracked Pat McMakin as we headed for the door. We’d been in Publix just a couple of hours earlier, and it was mobbed. Schools and businesses were canceling their Friday openings left and right.
Mind you, the whole time we were at the Grammy party, the temperature was 65 degrees. I have covered this event during blizzards, thunderstorms and sub-zero conditions. But this was the first one where we were all too warm. Which is why it seemed so wacky that freezing rain was predicted for the following morning, and the entire city was in a weather panic.
25th Annual Alive At The Bluebird Concert Series To Wrap With Garth Brooks
/by Eric T. ParkerBrooks will be joined on the Bluebird Cafe stage with fellow writers Kent Blazy, Pat Alger, Victoria Shaw and Tony Arata for a show costing $250.00.
“We are tremendously grateful to the songwriter community for the steadfast support of Alive at the Bluebird for 25 years,” said Alive Hospice President/CEO Anna-Gene O’Neal. “Garth started his career in the intimate company of these dedicated professionals, and so we are thrilled that he can join us for this special anniversary year.”
At least 27 Bluebird shows will take place with 130 artists and songwriters scheduled, including John Oates, Clint Black, Keb Mo’, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Hunter Hayes and Kathy Mattea.
Two special items have been donated to Alive Hospice to be auctioned during the 25th Annual Alive at the Bluebird concert series. An original “Wings to Fly” oil painting donated by acclaimed artist Deann Hebert and an Epiphone FT-100 acoustic guitar donated by Earl E. Owens, a prominent Nashville manager, producer, promoter and public relations executive who was cared for by Alive Hospice last year. The guitar will be autographed by all artists and writers performing during the Alive at the Bluebird series, and both items will be available for bidding online at bluebirdcafe.com and in person on the final night of the series.
Admission for most Alive at the Bluebird shows follows the standard Bluebird Cafe reservation policy. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday shows are available at 8:00 a.m. one week prior to the posted show, and weekend shows may be reserved on the preceding Monday beginning at 8 a.m. at bluebirdcafe.com. Please refer to the same website for admission pricing. Brooks’ show will go on sale Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 a.m. CT.
Alive at the Bluebird Concert Series Schedule (Subject to Change)
January 11 — John Oates & Jim Lauderdale
January 12 — Beth Nielsen Chapman, Graham Gouldman,
Gordon Kennedy, Keb Mo’
January 13 – 6:30 p.m. Gary Harrison, Rick Huckaby, Michael White, Jenn Schott
January 13 – 9:30 p.m. Tom Douglas, Marc Beeson, JT Harding, Marcus Hummon
January 16 — Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Rob Hatch, Lance Miller
January 17 — The Warren Brothers, Mark Irwin, Josh Kear
January 18 — Hunter Hayes, Dave Barnes, Gordie Sampson, Emily Weisband
January 19 — Tony Arata, Fred Knobloch, Jellyroll Johnson & friend
January 20 – 6:30 p.m. Victoria Shaw, Clint Black, Roger Cook, Bob DiPiero
January 20 – 9:30 p.m. Erin Enderlin, Alex Kline, Jeffrey Steele, Tara Thompson
January 23 — Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Jim Photoglo, Mike Reid
January 24 — Bernie Nelson, Kathy & Michael Bonagura, Dave Gibson
January 25 — An Evening with Kathy Mattea, celebrating 35 years
January 26 — Jon Vezner, Pat Alger, Don Henry, Tom Paxton
January 27 – 6:30 p.m. Phillybilly, Carlton Anderson, Marv Green, Payton Smith
January 27 – 9:30 p.m. Steve Seskin, Crystal Bowersox, Gary Nicholson, Chris Wallin
January 30 — The Muscle Shoals show with Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler, James LeBlanc, Mark Narmore.
January 31 — Ashley Gorley, Chris DeStefano & friends
February 1-Kent Blazy, Pat Alger, Victoria Shaw, Tony Arata, Garth Brooks
The Lonely Biscuits To Release ‘The Universe In You’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Lonely BIscuits
Nashville indie-rock trio The Lonely Biscuits have released “Blue Glass”, the first single off their debut full-length record The Universe In You, today. The Biscuits teamed with Cage The Elephant guitarist Nick Bockrath to produce the new song, which appears on their upcoming new project, due out March 30 via Soundly Music.
“Blue Glass” coincides with the launch of the independent zine, Ordinary Thoughts, which is curated by lead singer Grady Wenrich. Wenrich started Ordinary Thoughts to share and highlight art being created by friends like Cyle and Cain Barnes of The Weeks, Ian Bush of Diarrhea Planet, Grant Gustafson of Blank Range, Mackenzie Howe of The Wild Reeds, Aaron Martin and Kole Sharp of Okey Dokey, Liza Anne, Becca Mancari, Wrenne Evans and more. The zine release party is set to take place today in Nashville at Red Arrow Gallery and will consist of an art show and performances by The Lonely Biscuits and their friends.
The Lonely Biscuits have released two EPs to date, including the The San Francisco EP which included their hit single “Talk About” and a cover of Liz Phair’s “Never Said.”
Zac Brown Band Teams With OneRepublic, Leon Bridges On New Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughThey’ll hit multiple markets on the new 27-date tour including two nights at Fenway Park, two dates at Citi Field in Flushing, New York, and two Camden, New Jersey dates at the BB&T Pavilion, along with San Francisco, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., among others.
“‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ is a reference to the never-ending pursuit of excellence,” explains Brown. “This summer, we’ll bring the fans along that journey with us.”
Pre-sale tickets are available to ZBB fan club members beginning Tuesday, Jan. 16, with general ticket on-sale beginning Friday, Jan. 19, with the exception of Fenway Park, which will go on sale Jan. 18. VIP packages will be available to Zamily members beginning January 16th and to the public on Jan. 19. Packages include tickets as well as opportunities for backstage tours, pre-show lounge access and exclusive ZBB swag.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE TOUR DATES:
Sat., June 9 / Sioux Falls, SD / Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Fri., June 15 / Boston, MA / Fenway Park
Fri. June 22 / Hershey, PA / Hersheypark Stadium
Sat., June 23 / Syracuse, NY / Lakeview Amphitheater
Sun., June 24 / Darien Center, NY / Darien Lake Amphitheater
Sat., June 30 / Atlanta, GA / SunTrust Park^
Fri., July 13 / Toronto / Rogers Centre
Sat., July 14 / Detroit, MI / Comerica Park^
Thu., July 19 / Camden, NJ / BB&T Pavilion
Fri., July 20 / Camden, NJ / BB&T Pavilion
Fri., July 27 / Washington, DC / Nationals Park^
Sat., July 28 / Flushing, NY / Citi Field^
Sun., July 29 / Flushing, NY / Citi Field^
Thu., August 2 / Cuyahoga Falls, OH / Blossom Music Center
Fri. , August 3 / Noblesville, IN / Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Sat., August 4 / Cincinnati, OH / Great American Ball Park#
Fri., August 10 / Minneapolis, MN / Target Field^
Sat., August 11 / East Troy, WI / Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sun., August 12 / East Troy, WI / Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Fri., August 31 / Seattle, WA / Safeco Field^
Thu., September 13 / Charlotte, NC / PNC Music Pavilion
Fri., September 14 / Raleigh, NC / Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Sat., September 15 / Virginia Beach, VA / Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Thu., September 20 / San Francisco, CA / AT&T Park*
Sat., September 22 / San Diego, CA / PETCO Park*^ OneRepublic as Direct Support
# Leon Bridges as Direct Support
* Direct support for The Eagles
Jack White Reveals Track Listing For ‘Boarding House Reach’
/by Jessica NicholsonOn March 23, Jack White will release his first new album in nearly four years, titled Boarding House Reach, via Third Man Records/Columbia. The album album marks White’s third solo album.
For the new project, White holed up in an apartment and used only the same recording equipment he had when he was 15 years old, including a quarter-inch, four-track tape recorder, a simple mixer, and basic instrumentation.
While White wrote all the songs on the album, and offered vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, organ and synthesizer work, he also assembled a lineup of musicians including drummer Louis Cato (Beyoncé, Q-Tip, John Legend, Mariah Carey), bassists Charlotte Kemp Muhl (The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger) and NeonPhoenix (Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z), synthesizer players DJ Harrison and Anthony “Brew” Brewster (Fishbone, The Untouchables), keyboardists Neal Evans (Soulive, Talib Kweli, John Scofield) and Quincy McCrary (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pitbull), percussionists Bobby Allende (David Byrne, Marc Anthony) and Justin Porée (Ozomatli), and backing vocalists Esther Rose and Ann & Regina McCrary of Nashville’s gospel trio, The McCrary Sisters, as well as longtime collaborators like drummers Daru Jones (Nas, Talib Kweli) and Carla Azar (Autolux, Depeche Mode, Doyle Bramhall II). Singer-songwriter C.W. Stoneking also appears, contributing a stirring spoken word performance to the album’s “Abulia and Akrasia.”
The album was recorded at White’s Third Man Studio in Nashville, as well as at Sear Sound in New York, and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. The project was mixed at Third Man Studio in Nashville.
White will celebrate Boarding House Reach with a number of just-announced headline festival performances, including Atlanta, GA’s Shaky Knees Music Festival (May 4-6), Boston Calling (May 25-27), and the Governor’s Ball Music Festival in New York (June 1-3). Additional dates will be unveiled soon and every online ticket purchased for North American headline shows will include a physical copy of BOARDING HOUSE REACH on CD with the option to upgrade to the standard black vinyl single LP. For updates and tickets, visit jackwhiteiii.com/tour-dates.
BOARDING HOUSE REACH TRACK LIST
1. Connected By Love
2. Why Walk A Dog?
3. Corporation
4. Abulia and Akrasia
5. Hypermisophoniac
6. Ice Station Zebra
7. Over and Over and Over
8. Everything You’ve Ever Learned
9. Respect Commander
10. Ezmerelda Steals The Show
11. Get In The Mind Shaft
12. What’s Done Is Done
13. Humoresque
Futureshirts Acquires Music City Networks Interactive
/by Jessica NicholsonWeb design and eCommerce business Music City Networks Interactive (MCN), led by music industry veteran Lang Scott, has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Futureshirts.
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Music City Networks Interactive closed its doors, with several MCN employees being hired by Futureshirts. Many of MCN Interactive’s clients will transition to Futureshirts for website hosting/maintenance, digital strategy, eCommerce and fulfillment needs.
Scott launched MCN Interactive 17 years ago. He tells MusicRow he has a new, undisclosed venture in the works.
“While this ends a long and adventurous chapter, it begins another in which I leave you in capable hands,” Scott told longtime clients in a memo. “It has truly been an honor and privilege to work with you (and serve you) over the past two decades! As we each embark into 2018 and new endeavors, it is my wish and prayer that you enjoy continued success, good health and blessings on both your business and personal lives! So many of you are also my friends…and I want you to know that I will always be grateful for your trust and patronage through the years!”
Futureshirts launched in 1996 in Billings, Montana, and later relocated to Nashville.
Carrie Underwood Celebrates Athletes, Everyday Heroes In New Song “The Champion”
/by Lorie HollabaughSUPER BOWL LII — “2017 Promo Shoot” — Pictured: Carrie Underwood — (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC Sports)
Carrie Underwood has teamed up with Ludacris for her brand new song, “The Champion,” which is being released globally today. She’ll open NBC’s Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 with a special video filmed last year for the anthem, which she co-wrote with songwriters Brett James, Chris DeStefano, and Christopher Bridges PKA Ludacris, who Underwood asked to collaborate on the event song.
NBC Sports will also incorporate “The Champion” into its upcoming coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
“When we met with Carrie last year to discuss the Super Bowl open, we each brought ideas. Carrie presented first. After she spoke, we looked at each other and said ‘that’s the one,’” said Fred Gaudelli, Executive Producer of NBC Sunday Night Football and the network’s Super Bowl LII presentation. “Later on, our Olympics producers listened to ‘The Champion’ and decided that it would be a perfect complement for our Winter Games coverage. We are excited to highlight ‘The Champion’ in two events on the global stage in February.”
“When we were writing ‘The Champion,’ our main focus was to celebrate athletes at the top of their game, but we also wanted the song to resonate with people in their everyday lives,” says Underwood of the inspirational anthem. “We hope the lyrics will inspire people to push themselves beyond their limits to conquer anything they are trying to accomplish or overcome. There’s a champion in every single one of us!”
Underwood, who has been the face and voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football show open for the last five seasons, has been busy in the studio working on her new album which will be released on Capitol Records Nashville.
Weekly Chart Report 1/12/18
/by Alex Parry