Back Row L to R: Blain Rhodes; Director A&R UMGN; David Crow, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Mike Harris, COO UMGN; Brian Wright, SVP A&R UMGN; Rob Femia, VP Business & Legal Affairs UMGN. Front Row (L-R): Mike Dungan, Chairman & CEO UMGN; Tyminski; Cindy Mabe, President UMGN
Members of the Nashville music industry gathered at venue Ruby earlier this week to hear music from one of Universal Music Group Nashville’s latest signings.
Music veteran Dan Tyminski has been part of Alison Krauss and Union Station since the mid-’90s and is well-known for the track “Man Of Constant Sorrow,” and providing the singing voice of George Clooney’s character Ulysses Everett McGill in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
He goes by Tyminski on his upcoming Mercury Nashville solo album, which draws on a myriad of pop, country, bluegrass, blues, and folk inspirations. He found a kindred collaborator in producer Jesse Frasure, who has produced and/or written tracks for Meghan Trainor and Florida Georgia Line.
Billboard writer Tom Roland and Tyminski discuss Tyminski’s new music.
Each attendee listened to selected outtakes from the album on headphones, as specially-created videos elevated each audio track, including “Southern Gothic,” “Perfect Poison,” and “Bloodline.”
A title and release date have not been set for the project.
The album isn’t the first time Tyminski has lent his talents to other musical genres. In 2013, Swedish producer Avicii tapped Tyminski for the electronic-country hybrid “Hey Brother,” which topped the charts in 15 countries.
Pictured (L-R): Triple 8’s Paul Steele, UMGN’s Mike Dungan, UMGN’s Cindy Mabe, Tyminski, Triple 8’s George Couri, Triple 8’s Kaitlin Harper, Triple 8’s Bruce Kalmick
MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Jessica Nicholson, and Eric Parker at a preview party for Tyminski’s new album.
Dolly Parton’s ‘Christmas Of Many Colors,’ Jack White’s ‘American Epic Sessions’ Earn Emmy Noms
/by Lorie HollabaughAmerican Epic Sessions Gets Outstanding Musical Direction Emmy Nomination
The musical/documentary The American Epic Sessions, directed by Bernard MacMahon, has been nominated for a Primetime EMMY for Outstanding Musical Direction. The documentary features Nas, Jack White, Elton John, Alabama Shakes, Steve Martin, Taj Mahal and many other legendary artists recording live direct-to-disc on the first-ever electrical recording system from the mid-1920s. Bernard MacMahon, Duke Erikson from Garbage, Jack White, and T Bone Burnett have all been nominated for their work on the film, which was 10 years in the making. The independent feature broadcast through PBS is the final part of a four-part documentary series called American Epic.
Dolly Parton’s NBC Biopic Receives TV Movie Emmy Nomination
(Photo by: Annette Brown/NBC)
Dolly Parton‘s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle Of Love also received an Emmy nomination in the Television Movie category. The two-hour NBC-TV holiday movie stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, and Gerald McCraney, with Dolly Parton making a special guest appearance.
“I am so very proud and excited to have Christmas of Many Colors be nominated for an Emmy award,” says Dolly Parton. “Special thanks to my partner and executive producer Sam Haskell, a wonderful cast and crew, Steve Herek (our producer) and Pamela Long for a great script. And a special thanks to all of the many fans that watched it.”
The 69th Emmy Awards will telecast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 17 on CBS.
Round Hill Music Announces Four New Additions To Nashville Team
/by Lorie HollabaughRound Hill Music has added four new staffers to its Nashville team.
Emily Frye and Erin Ruth Schleiff have joined the Royalty Services team as Coordinators. Frye joins Round Hill from SESAC, where she was a royalty distribution and research services team administrator responsible for processing TV and film cue sheets and ensuring affiliate registrations were current. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.
Schleiff comes to Round Hill Music from Capitol CMG Publishing. She graduated from SUNY Oneonta, and during her tenure at Capitol CMG, she served as copyright and royalty administrator focusing on royalty tracking, statement auditing, financial analysis, and copyright conflict resolution.
Chelsea Grim and Darcie Van Etten are also joining the Round Hill administration team as Coordinators. Grim joins Round Hill Music from Bluewater Music Services. The Belmont graduate served as copyright coordinator for Bluewater, where she managed song registrations and dealt with the company’s foreign affiliates.
Van Etten joins Round Hill Music direct from her role as an intern to the administration department. The Belmont graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration previously interned at both at TKO Artist Management and Country Radio Broadcasters Inc. before joining Round Hill.
Valerie Gray Joins Anderson Benson
/by Sherod RobertsonValerie Gray
Valerie Gray has joined Anderson Benson, a locally owned and independent insurance broker, as Marketing Analyst and Account Manager.
Having served the bulk of her entertainment insurance career with Robertson Taylor International Insurance, now a legacy company of Integro, she brings knowledge and experience within the music and entertainment industry to Anderson Benson.
Gray says, “I am excited to start a new challenge with Anderson Benson, and look forward to working with this phenomenal team. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on exceptional service in delivering insurance and risk management services to the music and entertainment industry.”
George Anderson, President and co-founder of the Nashville-based company, states Gray has worked diligently to build an impressive reputation that has earned her both the respect of clients as well as respective insurance carriers.
LifeNotes: Steel Guitar Great Kayton Roberts Passes
/by Robert K OermannSteel Guitar Hall of Fame member Kayton Roberts has died at age 83.
He is perhaps best known as a key member of Hank Snow’s band, The Rainbow Ranch Boys, for more than 30 years, but Roberts also backed many others.
Among the many stars he worked with during his long career were John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Riders in the Sky, Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Marty Stuart and Aaron Tippin. With Snow and others, he was often seen on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Roberts died on July 13 in White House, Tennessee.
Kayton Roberts is survived by his children Louis Roberts, Jan Roberts-Williams and Martin Roberts, as well as by five grandchildren.
Visitation will be on July 23 from 4-5 p.m. at The Church at Grace Park, 506 Hester Drive, in White House, TN. A celebration of the life of Kayton Roberts will follow.
Industry Pics: ASCAP, WSM 650 AM, Kasey Tyndall
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP Holds Bluebird Cafe Showcase
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta, Tenille, Ben Glover, Adam Hambrick, Reed Pittman and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart.
The July installment of ASCAP’s long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe was held on Wednesday, July 12 and featured reigning ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year and 30+ #1 hitmaker Ben Glover; Red Creative Group songwriter-artist Adam Hambrick, who recently celebrated his first #1 with “How Not To,” recorded by Dan + Shay; emerging songwriter Reed Pittman, in his Bluebird debut; and Big Yellow Dog/Sony Music Nashville songwriter and recently-signed recording artist Tenille.
WSM 650AM Holds “Guitar Pull” With Bobby Bare and Friends
Pictured (L-R): Payton Taylor, David Starr, Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart, Bobby Bare, WSM’s Devon O’Day and 117 Group’s Zach Farnum
Payton Taylor, David Starr, Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart, Bobby Bare, WSM’s Devon O’Day and 117 Group’s Zach Farnum after an extra special “Guitar Pull” on Nashville Today on WSM 650 AM.
Kasey Tyndall Joins Wheeler Walker Jr.’s Tour
Kasey Tyndall and Wheeler Walker, Jr.
Kasey Tyndall joined Wheeler Walker Jr in Atlanta as part of his Ol Wheeler Tour. Tyndall, a Sony/ATV songwriter, is opening shows for Wheeler throughout July. Her current single “Everything Is Texas” has garnered over 250,000 streams on Spotify.
Ben Wells Signs With writerslist
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Noah McPike (Dickinson Wright PLLC), Bradley Collins (BMI), Christy DiNapoli (writerslist), Ben Wells and Nick R. Cua (writerslist)
writerslist has signed Ben Wells to an exclusive publishing agreement. His new single, “Do Some Drinkin,” is also available.
writerslist was founded in 2016 with Nick R. Cua, co-Founder and COO and Christy DiNapoli, Sr. VP of its Music Publishing division.
“Ben is a great addition to our roster. His talent as a songwriter and artist paired with the innovative team at writerslist, will be a winning combination for us all,” stated DiNapoli.
“I am excited to join the roster of talent at writerslist to help further develop my career,” says Wells. “Songwriting is truly my passion and I’m thrilled to have a unique publishing partner.”
Jeremy Camp Preps New Album, Tour For Fall
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“I can’t wait for everyone to hear these songs,” shares Camp about the new album and tour. “After all these years, it’s amazing how the well to draw from never runs dry, when we rely on Him. The Lord continues to give deeper and deeper songs that speak to different seasons of life. With this new album, we’re doing some things we’ve never done before. I’m releasing five songs with five different music videos for each song, before the album even comes out. And I’m definitely ready to play these songs live. On ‘The Answer Tour’ we’ll be playing new songs of course but also bringing back some very early ones. It’s a very exciting season.”
Camp is also launching a headlining tour in support of the new album, The Answer Tour, with special guest Royce Lovett beginning on Oct. 1 in Albuquerque, NM.
Mercury Nashville Celebrates Signing Of Tyminski
/by Jessica NicholsonBack Row L to R: Blain Rhodes; Director A&R UMGN; David Crow, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Mike Harris, COO UMGN; Brian Wright, SVP A&R UMGN; Rob Femia, VP Business & Legal Affairs UMGN. Front Row (L-R): Mike Dungan, Chairman & CEO UMGN; Tyminski; Cindy Mabe, President UMGN
Members of the Nashville music industry gathered at venue Ruby earlier this week to hear music from one of Universal Music Group Nashville’s latest signings.
Music veteran Dan Tyminski has been part of Alison Krauss and Union Station since the mid-’90s and is well-known for the track “Man Of Constant Sorrow,” and providing the singing voice of George Clooney’s character Ulysses Everett McGill in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
He goes by Tyminski on his upcoming Mercury Nashville solo album, which draws on a myriad of pop, country, bluegrass, blues, and folk inspirations. He found a kindred collaborator in producer Jesse Frasure, who has produced and/or written tracks for Meghan Trainor and Florida Georgia Line.
Billboard writer Tom Roland and Tyminski discuss Tyminski’s new music.
Each attendee listened to selected outtakes from the album on headphones, as specially-created videos elevated each audio track, including “Southern Gothic,” “Perfect Poison,” and “Bloodline.”
A title and release date have not been set for the project.
The album isn’t the first time Tyminski has lent his talents to other musical genres. In 2013, Swedish producer Avicii tapped Tyminski for the electronic-country hybrid “Hey Brother,” which topped the charts in 15 countries.
Pictured (L-R): Triple 8’s Paul Steele, UMGN’s Mike Dungan, UMGN’s Cindy Mabe, Tyminski, Triple 8’s George Couri, Triple 8’s Kaitlin Harper, Triple 8’s Bruce Kalmick
MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Jessica Nicholson, and Eric Parker at a preview party for Tyminski’s new album.
Lindsay Ell To Release Full-Length Debut ‘The Project’ Aug. 11
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Project, produced by Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), follows their acclaimed collaboration on Ell’s debut EP Worth The Wait. The album features current single “Waiting On You.”
“This new music is the best I’ve ever done,” the multi-instrumentalist shares. “I called the album The Project because that’s exactly what this whole process was. I’ve discovered who I am, what I want to say and how I want to say it. I’m so excited to finally have an album that is me, and I can’t wait for fans to hear it.”
The Stoney Creek Records artist is currently supporting superstar Brad Paisley on his Weekend Warrior World Tour throughout the U.S. and Canada.
THE PROJECT TRACK LIST:
1) “Waiting On You” (Lindsay Ell, Adam Hambrick, Andrew DeRoberts)
2) “Champagne” (Lindsay Ell, Walker Hayes, Fred Wilhelm)
3) “Castle” (Lindsay Ell, Abbey Cone, Josh Kerr)
4) “Good” (Lindsay Ell, Adam Hambrick, Andrew DeRoberts)
5) “Wildfire” (Lindsay Ell, Kristian Bush)
6) “Mint” (Lindsay Ell, Justin Ebach)
7) “White Noise” (Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kear, Ross Copperman)
8) “Criminal” (Lindsay Ell, Chris Stevens, Fred Wilhelm)
9) “Just Another Girl” (Lindsay Ell, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
10) “Space” (Caitlyn Smith, Heather Morgan, Mags Duval)
11) “Always Kiss The Girl” (Bobby Hamrick, Jarrad Kritzstein, Carly Pearce)
12) “Worth The Wait” (Lindsay Ell, Travis Meadows)
Freeman Wizer Joins Spirit Music Nashville As Sr. Director/Creative
/by Lorie HollabaughSpirit Music Nashville has appointed Freeman Wizer Senior Director of Creative for the company.
An Arkansas native with over 16 years publishing experience in Nashville, Wizer was previously with the Sea Gayle creative staff where he helped secure cuts by Blake Shelton, Jerrod Niemann, Justin Moore and Toby Keith. Prior to his work at Sea Gayle, Freeman Wizer worked at Universal Music Publishing Group where he landed a No. 1 song with Tim McGraw’s “One of Those Nights” and secured cuts for artists including Kelly Clarkson, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, and more. Wizer joined the company as an intern in 2001 while he earned his BBA and MBA from Belmont University’s Music Business program.
“Freeman is a respected and well-liked creative executive in Nashville,” said President, Spirit Music Nashville Daniel Hill. “He brings a great combination of creative expertise, passion, experience, and energy to the Spirit Music Nashville team.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the Spirit Music Nashville team and see great things for Spirit on the horizon. Our company is growing quickly and there’s a tremendous vision for the future. I’m looking forward to complimenting that vision as we move forward,” said Wizer.