For the first time, voting members of The Recording Academy will cast their Grammy Awards votes online rather than by paper ballot, according to new rules and regulations established by The Recording Academy. The move will allow greater access and flexibility for the Recording Academy’s 13,000 voting members, including touring artists. The move helps eliminate the possibility of invalid ballots, and protects against fraudulent voting. All voting members in good standing are eligible to vote online in both rounds for the 60th annual Grammy Awards.
“As an Academy, it’s imperative that we continue to meet the needs of music creators everywhere, and this year’s transition to online voting is an enormous step forward in the evolution of our voting process,” said Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy. “We work diligently to ensure we’re keeping up with our ever-changing industry and team up with music people year round, across all genres and disciplines, to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the creative community.”
The move is one of several following the Academy’s annual review of all proposed amendments, which are voted on and ratified at the Recording Academy’s semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May.
Additionally, all music creators, including songwriters, producers, mixers, mastering engineers and featured artists credited with at least 33 percent or more playing time on the winning album will be eligible to receive a Grammy in the Album of the Year category. Songwriters were not previously recognized in this category.
Additional changes for the upcoming 60th annual Grammy Awards are as follows:
Nominations Review Committees Established For Rap, Contemporary Instrumental, And New Age Fields
Beginning this year, Nominations Review Committees will be created and implemented for the Rap, Contemporary Instrumental, and New Age Fields. A Nominations Review process was established in 1989 as an additional round of checks and balances to eliminate the potential for a popularity bias that puts emerging artists, independent music, and late-year releases at a disadvantage. Since then, Nominations Review Committees have been established across 15 awards fields.
Album Definition Expanded To Allow For More Inclusion In Classical, Dance, And Jazz Fields
To be eligible for GRAMMY® consideration, an album must comprise a minimum total playing time of 15 minutes with at least five distinct tracks or a minimum total playing time of 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement. Prior to this amended album definition, the only delineation was 15 minutes and five tracks. The definition expansion allows for greater inclusion of music creators who produce longer pieces, particularly in the Classical, Dance, and Jazz Fields.
Amendments To The Music For Visual Media Field
As a general rule, only one version of a track is permitted for entry in the GRAMMY Awards process. Moving forward, an exception will be made in the Best Song Written For Visual Media category, allowing the film version of a track to be entered in the category, even if a different version of the track is submitted in other categories.
In the Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media category, eligibility guidelines have been amended to require soundtrack albums for a documentary or biopic to contain 51 percent or more of newly recorded music.
Additional amendments were made to the Technical GRAMMY Award qualifications, and procedural updates were made to Nominations Review Committees. For information on the GRAMMY Awards process, visit www.grammy101.com.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards will take place Jan. 28, 2018 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
ACM Announces Studio Recording Award Nominees
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy to honor the musicians, producers, engineers and professionals who contribute so much to the artistry of country music.
STUDIO RECORDING AWARD NOMINEES:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Curb Records Names Cheryl Broz To VP, Pop Promotion And Radio Marketing
/by Jessica NicholsonCheryl Broz
Curb Records has appointed Cheryl Broz to the position of Vice President of Pop Promotion and Radio Marketing. Based at the company’s headquarters in Nashville, Broz will guide the strategic direction for promotion and marketing efforts across Pop & Rock. Broz will begin her new role June 19.
“There has never been a better time for great hit songs to be exposed to multiple formats. The solid relationships that Cheryl has built across mainstream radio will be a tremendous asset to our artist roster. We are thrilled to have her join us here at Curb.” comments Jim Ed Norman, CEO of The Curb Group.
VP/GM Taylor Childress adds, “On behalf of Chairman, Mike Curb, and CEO Jim Ed Norman, it’s my distinct pleasure to welcome Cheryl Broz to our Curb family. From the beginning there was zero doubt she was our ideal candidate for this challenging and exciting role. Cheryl has the knowledge, reputation and practical experience needed to guide our diverse artist roster as Curb continues to expand into the top-40, Hot AC, AAA, Rock, and Alternative formats.”
Starting her career as a Music Director at KRBE in Houston, Broz’s solid leadership skills were honed by holding key positions in several pop music departments including Columbia; Island, Def Jam Records / Universal Music Group and Arista Records. Additionally, Cheryl played an integral role in developing the game-changing “Music Reactive Department” at EMI Christian Music Group where she led the promotion efforts for the entire EMI/CMG roster to all mainstream formats.
During her career, Broz has been instrumental in breaking records for superstar artists including Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara, Rihanna, Leona Lewis, American Authors, Usher, Pink, Outcast, Avril Lavigne, Dido, P. Diddy, Sarah McLachlan, Stacie Orrico, Santana, Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby Mac, Thousand Foot Krutch, Anberlin and others.
“I have always been passionate about the artists and records that I have had the privilege to represent. I am excited for the opportunity to take a leadership role in promoting and marketing Curb’s music to a wider audience at radio,” comments Broz on her new position.
Most recently, Broz was the Exclusive Consultant & Independent Promotion for Adult and Alternative formats for Def Jam / Universal Music Group.
Broz can be reached at: cbroz@curb.com or 615-293-9867.
For King & Country Take Artist, Group/Duo, And Song Of The Year At K-LOVE Fan Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughFor KING & COUNTRY Credit: Jason Davis/Getty Images for K-LOVE
For KING & COUNTRY were the big winners at the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry, which was broadcast for the first-time ever in 500+ movie theaters across the country through Fathom Events. The duo took home trophies for Artist of the Year, Duo of the Year and Song of the Year with “Priceless,” at the fifth annual awards, which were hosted by Matthew West and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Among the others honored during the evening were Danny Gokey for Male Artist of the Year, Lauren Daigle for Female Artist of the Year, Big Daddy Weave for Worship Song of the Year with “The Lion And The Lamb” and Zach Williams for Breakout Single of the Year with “Chain Breaker.”
Big Daddy Weave, Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon, Crowder, Danny Gokey, for KING & COUNTRY, Jesus Culture, Mandisa, Matthew West, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Tauren Wells, Zach Williams and more performed during the evening as well.
Unique this year was the new partnership between K-LOVE and the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which resulted in two military heroes and their families being awarded move-in ready, mortgage free homes through the partnership.
K-LOVE Fan Awards Winners:
Artist of the Year – for KING & COUNTRY
Male Artist of the Year – Danny Gokey
Female Artist of the Year – Lauren Daigle
Group/Duo of the Year – for KING & COUNTRY
Worship Song of the Year – Big Daddy Weave “The Lion and the Lamb”
Song of the Year – for KING & COUNTRY “Priceless”
Breakout Single of the Year – Zach Williams “Chain Breaker”
Film/Television Impact Award – The Case For Christ
Book Impact Award – Levi Lusko
Sports Impact Award – Ben Zobrist
Crowder joined by K-LOVE artists. Credit: Jason Davis/Getty Images for K-LOVE
Third Man Records Signs Joshua Hedley
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jack White, Joshua Hedley
Nashville-based Third Man Records has signed country singer-songwriter Joshua Hedley. Hedley has been making country music since age 8, and has been a sideman for artists including Justin Townes Earle. Hedley has become a mainstay at Nashville clubs including Robert’s Western World.
He joins a roster that includes Margo Price, Lillie Mae, and Craig Brown, among others.
Third Man creator Jack White has had his own successes in the country market, with his work on Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose album, and the American Epic companions Best of Country and Best of the Carter Family.
Hedley performed Tuesday evening (June 14) at The Basement East in Nashville.
BMI Promotes Mike Steinberg, Alison Smith
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI has promoted two members of its executive team.
Mike Steinberg has been elevated to EVP, Creative & Licensing, and will lead the newly-named Creative Group, which will encompass BMI’s songwriter and composer teams in Nashville, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Puerto Rico and London, as well as the company’s strategic partnership division. Steinberg will continue to oversee BMI’s Licensing organization, driving all of BMI’s domestic revenue. Steinberg joined BMI in 1996 as Assistant VP of Business Affairs and Licensing and was ultimately promoted to SVP of the group in 2011.
Alison Smith has been promoted to EVP, Distribution, Publisher Relations and Administration Services, working closely with BMI’s publishers on their royalty distributions and administration needs, as well as streamlining the flow of information and developing new data streams, bonus structures and payment methodologies across all music platforms. She will continue to oversee all of BMI’s domestic and international royalty distribution and administration services to its more than 750,000 members. Smith began her career working as an assistant in BMI’s Nashville office and has subsequently held multiple roles of increasing responsibility throughout her 31-year tenure at the company.
Smith’s and Steinberg’s new roles reflect a restructuring of BMI’s Writer/Publisher department following the retirement of Phil Graham, BMI’s SVP of Writer/Publisher Relations, who announced earlier this year that he is leaving the company after a distinguished 40-year career.
Bonnaroo 2018 Dates Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughThe festival’s 16th year on the farm brought in over 65,000 attendees watching music over the four-day event including performances from U2, a super jam featuring Chance the Rapper performing Outkast’s “Hey Ya,” a bluegrass revival featuring the great Bobby Osborne, and the new Other stage which welcomed thousands of dancing revelers all weekend.
U2’s Bono professed his appreciation for the unique experience, saying “What an extraordinary thing Bonnaroo is. Thank you for naming it after me.”
Grammy Awards Move To Online Voting, Will Recognize Songwriters In Album Of The Year Category
/by Jessica NicholsonFor the first time, voting members of The Recording Academy will cast their Grammy Awards votes online rather than by paper ballot, according to new rules and regulations established by The Recording Academy. The move will allow greater access and flexibility for the Recording Academy’s 13,000 voting members, including touring artists. The move helps eliminate the possibility of invalid ballots, and protects against fraudulent voting. All voting members in good standing are eligible to vote online in both rounds for the 60th annual Grammy Awards.
“As an Academy, it’s imperative that we continue to meet the needs of music creators everywhere, and this year’s transition to online voting is an enormous step forward in the evolution of our voting process,” said Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy. “We work diligently to ensure we’re keeping up with our ever-changing industry and team up with music people year round, across all genres and disciplines, to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the creative community.”
The move is one of several following the Academy’s annual review of all proposed amendments, which are voted on and ratified at the Recording Academy’s semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May.
Additionally, all music creators, including songwriters, producers, mixers, mastering engineers and featured artists credited with at least 33 percent or more playing time on the winning album will be eligible to receive a Grammy in the Album of the Year category. Songwriters were not previously recognized in this category.
Additional changes for the upcoming 60th annual Grammy Awards are as follows:
Nominations Review Committees Established For Rap, Contemporary Instrumental, And New Age Fields
Beginning this year, Nominations Review Committees will be created and implemented for the Rap, Contemporary Instrumental, and New Age Fields. A Nominations Review process was established in 1989 as an additional round of checks and balances to eliminate the potential for a popularity bias that puts emerging artists, independent music, and late-year releases at a disadvantage. Since then, Nominations Review Committees have been established across 15 awards fields.
Album Definition Expanded To Allow For More Inclusion In Classical, Dance, And Jazz Fields
To be eligible for GRAMMY® consideration, an album must comprise a minimum total playing time of 15 minutes with at least five distinct tracks or a minimum total playing time of 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement. Prior to this amended album definition, the only delineation was 15 minutes and five tracks. The definition expansion allows for greater inclusion of music creators who produce longer pieces, particularly in the Classical, Dance, and Jazz Fields.
Amendments To The Music For Visual Media Field
As a general rule, only one version of a track is permitted for entry in the GRAMMY Awards process. Moving forward, an exception will be made in the Best Song Written For Visual Media category, allowing the film version of a track to be entered in the category, even if a different version of the track is submitted in other categories.
In the Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media category, eligibility guidelines have been amended to require soundtrack albums for a documentary or biopic to contain 51 percent or more of newly recorded music.
Additional amendments were made to the Technical GRAMMY Award qualifications, and procedural updates were made to Nominations Review Committees. For information on the GRAMMY Awards process, visit www.grammy101.com.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards will take place Jan. 28, 2018 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
BREAKING: Leslie DiPiero Named GM At Tree Vibez Music
/by Jessica NicholsonLeslie DiPiero
Tree Vibez Music has named Leslie T. DiPiero as the artist development and music publishing company’s General Manager. Tree Vibez Music was founded in 2015 by Florida Georgia Line members Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
In this new role, DiPiero will continue to build upon more than two decades of experience and success in the industry working with and nurturing top songwriters and artists, while advancing the talent and resources of Tree Vibez Music.
“Brian and Tyler have changed the course of musical history as songwriters and artists,” shares DiPiero. “They are unstoppable trailblazers, visionaries, and dream-makers. I am beyond excited to work for them along with their business manager Lou Taylor and Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group.”
DiPiero joins Tree Vibez Music following tenures with Buddy Killen Music, Beckett Music Group (a co-venture with Almo Irving and Sony), Song Planet, and becoming a partner at Tom-Leis Music.
Under DiPiero’s guidance, the Tom-Leis Music catalog has garnered song recordings by Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Justin Moore, hit TV show Nashville, and many others. In 2013, she opened Nashville’s Advanced Alternative Media office which has garnered over 100 cuts since launching in Music City.
DiPiero currently serves on the Advisory Board of The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and is an alumna of Leadership Music Class of 2007. She is married to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Bob DiPiero.
Leslie DiPiero can be reached at leslie@treevibezmusic.com.
Granger Smith’s “Backroad Song” Earns RIAA Gold Certification
/by Alex ParryPictured (L-R): President, Repertoire & Marketing, U.S. BMG, Zach Katz; BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records’ Jennifer Shaffer; Byron Kennedy; Carson James; Granger Smith; Executive Vice President, BBR Music Group, Jon Loba; BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records’ Brittany Pellegrino; Teddi Bonadies; JoJamie Hahr; Lexi Wilson; Renee Leymon
Wheelhouse Records artist Granger Smith recently accepted a Gold certification plaque from the RIAA for his No. 1 hit “Backroad Song.” Alongside reps from BBR Music Group, BMG, his band, crew and support team, Smith received the honor in front of a record crowd during his Riverfront Stage performance at this year’s CMA Music Fest.
“It has been a childhood dream of mine to achieve a national No. 1 song,” says Smith. “Now, with this Gold certification, that dream has been amplified. To my incredible Wheelhouse team, the confidence of country radio, my incomparable band, crew and support team, my family and friends, and all those who make up Yee Yee Nation – I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“The minute I met Granger and his team, I knew it wasn’t a matter of if but when he would get his first Gold record,” says Jon Loba, EVP, BBR Music Group. “His commitment to music, touring, alter-ego Earl Dibbles Jr. and feeding his rabid YEE YEE Nation fan base made his signing to BBR/Wheelhouse our fastest ever. The entire label knew we would have long-term success with him, but you can’t predict the short-run. Typical for Granger, the bar was set high with his hope to have a No. 1 airplay single and Gold record on his first single. I am so happy that with the help of our fantastic partners he once again accomplished exactly what he set out to do. Platinum record, here we come!”
Play It Again’s Trea Landon Releases Self-Titled EP
/by Jessica NicholsonTrea Landon
Play It Again Records artist Trea Landon released his debut self-titled EP on June 9 during CMA Music Festival.
The six-song EP features five tracks co-written by Landon. Other writers on the project include Play It Again’s Dallas Davidson, along with Ashley Gorley, Kelly Lovelace, Justin Wilson, John Belt, Casey Yarbrough, Bryan West and more.
Landon, a Claxton, Georgia native, caught the attention of hit songwriter Dallas Davidson, who signed Landon to a publishing deal. Since then, Landon has co-written with hit writers and/or artists including Craig Campbell, Chris Young, and Rob Hatch.
“This EP release has been a long time coming – as my debut, I’m incredibly blessed to see this kind of response before it’s even out,” said Landon. “I’m so thankful to Pandora, The Highway and Spotify for taking a chance on my music right out the gate, and I’m looking forward to seeing what fans think of it.”
1. There’s That Smile (Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace)
2. Taking Me Back (Trea Landon, Justin Wilson)
3. A Little Bit (Trea Landon, Bryan West, Casey Yarbrough, Jerry Jacobs, John Belt)
4. Nobody Goes (Trea Landon, Casey Yarbrough)
5. When I Get There (Trea Landon, Nick Alligood)
6. Shot In The Dark (Trea Landon)