Pictured (L-R): AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year Natalie Hemby, Publisher’s Pick co-writer (“Rich”) Laura Veltz, presenter and songwriter Don Schlitz, Artist-Writer of the Year and Publisher’s Pick co-writer (“Rich”) Maren Morris with co-writer Jessie Jo Dillion. Photo: Getty Images
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) hosted the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards Monday night (May 8) at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Presented for the first time by the Academy of Country Music, the event honored Nashville’s independent publishers, songwriters, artists and music champions (full list below) with an evening of performances.
“Last night was truly indicative of how great it is to be a part of the independent songwriting and publishing community in Nashville right now,” said AIMP Nashville Executive Director, John Ozier. “The level of talent in the room was incredible and the camaraderie is what keeps the AIMP Nashville continuing to grow as an organization.”
Old Dominion performs Maren Morris’ “80s Mercedes.” Photo: Getty Images
Caitlyn Smith and Walker Hayes perform Miranda Lambert’s “Vice.” Photo: Getty Images
The show kicked off with Old Dominion performing a rendition of Maren Morris’ “80s Mercedes,” followed by Walker Hayes and Caitlyn Smith performing Miranda Lambert’s “Vice.” Devin Dawson performed Brett Young’s “Sleep Without You” before Don Schlitz took the stage to announce Morris’ “Rich” as the 2017 AIMP Publisher’s Pick, with a performance of the song by 2017 AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year Natalie Hemby.
Brandy Clark performs “Kill A Word.” Photo: Getty Images
Carly Pearce sang Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Jon Pardi, along with Bart Butler, announced Morris as the 2017 AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year before Ryan Beaver belted Pardi’s “Head Over Boots.” The evening closed with a performance of Eric Church’s “Kill A Word” by Brandy Clark and the Brothers Osborne’s announcement of “Blue Ain’t Your Color” as the 2017 AIMP Song of the Year.
Pictured (L-R): Big Yellow Dog Music’s Matt Lindsey (VP, Creative), Kerry O’Neil (Co-owner), Carla Wallace (Co-owner) and Lauren Funk (Creative Manager). Photo: Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): TJ Osborne, Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey and John Osborne. Photo: Getty Images
“The Academy of Country Music was thrilled to support the AIMP as presenting sponsor of the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards,” said Pete Fisher, Academy of Country Music CEO. “All music begins with a song and we are excited to celebrate the independent publishing community who works so hard to give incredible songs life.”
The 2017 AIMP nominees are listed below, with winners indicated in each category. Read MusicRow‘s Bobby Karl review at MusicRow.com.
AIMP Rising Independent Songwriter of the Year
Kelly Archer
Luke Dick
Justin Ebach
Adam Hambrick
Jesse Lee
Jordan Schmidt
AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year
Ryan Beaver
Devin Dawson
Walker Hayes
Natalie Hemby
Carly Pearce
Caitlyn Smith
AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Brandy Clark
Eric Church
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Brett Young
AIMP Song Champion of the Year
Jeff Carlton
Courtney Crist
Celia Froehlig
Shannan Hatch
Bart Herbison
Jeff Skaggs
AIMP Publisher’s Pick
“Leaving Nashville” written by Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods
Big Yellow Dog Music, Shakala Publishing
“Love Can Go To Hell” written by Brandy Clark, Scott Stepakoff
Kobalt Music, Sea Gayle Music, Ten Ten Music Group
“Love Triangle” written by Nicolle Galyon, RaeLynn, Jimmy Robbins
Big Machine Music, Prescription, Round Hill Music
“Rich” written by Jessie Jo Dillion, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
Big Machine Music, Big Yellow Dog Music, Kobalt Music, Revelry Music
“Tacoma” written by Bob DiPiero, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Round Hill Music
“Wheels” written by Steve Moakler, Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Creative Nation Music
AIMP Song of the Year
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” written by Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen Cornman Music, Hillarodyrathbone Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music
“Head Over Boots” written by Luke Laird, Jon Pardi
Creative Nation Music, Song Factory Music
“Vice” written by Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
SMACKSongs
“Kill A Word” written by Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
Little Louder Music
“Sleep Without You” written by Kelly Archer, Justin Ebach, Brett Young
Big Machine Music, Downtown Music, Red Creative, Word Country
“80s Mercedes” written by busbee, Maren Morris
BMG, Big Deal Music, Big Yellow Dog Music
AIMP Independent Writer of the Year
busbee
Ross Copperman
Zach Crowell
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally
AIMP Independent Publisher of the Year
BMG
Big Loud Shirt / Round Hill Music
Big Yellow Dog Music
Combustion Music
Creative Nation Music
SMACKSongs
Industry Ink: BMI, Keith Stegall, Writer’s Den Music Group, K-LOVE Fan Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonKeith Stegall Honored With BMI’s Million-Air Awards
Pictured: BMI’s Jody Williams, BMI songwriter Keith Stegall and BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Steve Lowry
BMI’s Jody Williams and David Preston dropped by BMI songwriter Keith Stegall’s home to present the decorated songwriter with two more Million-Air Awards. Marking the milestone of millions of radio air plays, Stegall was presented with designations for one million plays of “Sexy Eyes” and five million plays of “Don’t Rock The Jukebox.”
Writer’s Den Music Group Signs Noel McKay
Pictured (L-R, back row): Bobby Rymer, Writer’s Den; Shannan Hatch, SESAC; Sarah Feldman, Writer’s Den. (Front row): Noel McKay
Bobby Rymer and Sarah Feldman of Writer’s Den Music Group are pleased to announce the signing of writer/artist Noel McKay to a worldwide publishing agreement. Writer’s Den recently signed McKay’s fellow High Plains Jamboree member Brennen Leigh.
“So many of my established music business and songwriter friends have told me Writer’s Den is one of the good ones. The enthusiasm for great songs is contagious. I’m extremely happy to be writing for them.” says McKay.
Rymer said, “I was already a fan of Noel, but I knew we wanted to work with him after asking him where an idea for a song came from and he responded”, “The music business is fraught with people with emotional problems. That’s where.”
K-LOVE Fan Awards Coming To Select Theaters Nationwide
The awards, hosted Matthew West and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, will take place May 28 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Artists attending will include Danny Gokey, Jeremy Camp, Britt Nicole, Matthew West, Jesus Culture, Crowder, Mandisa, MercyMe, for King & Country, and more.
2nd Annual AIMP Nashville Awards Winners
/by Haley CrowPictured (L-R): AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year Natalie Hemby, Publisher’s Pick co-writer (“Rich”) Laura Veltz, presenter and songwriter Don Schlitz, Artist-Writer of the Year and Publisher’s Pick co-writer (“Rich”) Maren Morris with co-writer Jessie Jo Dillion. Photo: Getty Images
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) hosted the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards Monday night (May 8) at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Presented for the first time by the Academy of Country Music, the event honored Nashville’s independent publishers, songwriters, artists and music champions (full list below) with an evening of performances.
“Last night was truly indicative of how great it is to be a part of the independent songwriting and publishing community in Nashville right now,” said AIMP Nashville Executive Director, John Ozier. “The level of talent in the room was incredible and the camaraderie is what keeps the AIMP Nashville continuing to grow as an organization.”
Old Dominion performs Maren Morris’ “80s Mercedes.” Photo: Getty Images
Caitlyn Smith and Walker Hayes perform Miranda Lambert’s “Vice.” Photo: Getty Images
The show kicked off with Old Dominion performing a rendition of Maren Morris’ “80s Mercedes,” followed by Walker Hayes and Caitlyn Smith performing Miranda Lambert’s “Vice.” Devin Dawson performed Brett Young’s “Sleep Without You” before Don Schlitz took the stage to announce Morris’ “Rich” as the 2017 AIMP Publisher’s Pick, with a performance of the song by 2017 AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year Natalie Hemby.
Brandy Clark performs “Kill A Word.” Photo: Getty Images
Carly Pearce sang Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Jon Pardi, along with Bart Butler, announced Morris as the 2017 AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year before Ryan Beaver belted Pardi’s “Head Over Boots.” The evening closed with a performance of Eric Church’s “Kill A Word” by Brandy Clark and the Brothers Osborne’s announcement of “Blue Ain’t Your Color” as the 2017 AIMP Song of the Year.
Pictured (L-R): Big Yellow Dog Music’s Matt Lindsey (VP, Creative), Kerry O’Neil (Co-owner), Carla Wallace (Co-owner) and Lauren Funk (Creative Manager). Photo: Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): TJ Osborne, Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey and John Osborne. Photo: Getty Images
“The Academy of Country Music was thrilled to support the AIMP as presenting sponsor of the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards,” said Pete Fisher, Academy of Country Music CEO. “All music begins with a song and we are excited to celebrate the independent publishing community who works so hard to give incredible songs life.”
The 2017 AIMP nominees are listed below, with winners indicated in each category. Read MusicRow‘s Bobby Karl review at MusicRow.com.
AIMP Rising Independent Songwriter of the Year
Kelly Archer
Luke Dick
Justin Ebach
Adam Hambrick
Jesse Lee
Jordan Schmidt
AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year
Ryan Beaver
Devin Dawson
Walker Hayes
Natalie Hemby
Carly Pearce
Caitlyn Smith
AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Brandy Clark
Eric Church
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Brett Young
AIMP Song Champion of the Year
Jeff Carlton
Courtney Crist
Celia Froehlig
Shannan Hatch
Bart Herbison
Jeff Skaggs
AIMP Publisher’s Pick
“Leaving Nashville” written by Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods
Big Yellow Dog Music, Shakala Publishing
“Love Can Go To Hell” written by Brandy Clark, Scott Stepakoff
Kobalt Music, Sea Gayle Music, Ten Ten Music Group
“Love Triangle” written by Nicolle Galyon, RaeLynn, Jimmy Robbins
Big Machine Music, Prescription, Round Hill Music
“Rich” written by Jessie Jo Dillion, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
Big Machine Music, Big Yellow Dog Music, Kobalt Music, Revelry Music
“Tacoma” written by Bob DiPiero, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Round Hill Music
“Wheels” written by Steve Moakler, Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Creative Nation Music
AIMP Song of the Year
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” written by Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen Cornman Music, Hillarodyrathbone Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music
“Head Over Boots” written by Luke Laird, Jon Pardi
Creative Nation Music, Song Factory Music
“Vice” written by Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
SMACKSongs
“Kill A Word” written by Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
Little Louder Music
“Sleep Without You” written by Kelly Archer, Justin Ebach, Brett Young
Big Machine Music, Downtown Music, Red Creative, Word Country
“80s Mercedes” written by busbee, Maren Morris
BMG, Big Deal Music, Big Yellow Dog Music
AIMP Independent Writer of the Year
busbee
Ross Copperman
Zach Crowell
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally
AIMP Independent Publisher of the Year
BMG
Big Loud Shirt / Round Hill Music
Big Yellow Dog Music
Combustion Music
Creative Nation Music
SMACKSongs
Artist Updates: Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Rodney Atkins
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker Goes Undercover
Undercover Boss is produced by Stephen Lambert, Greg Goldman, Chris Carlson and Greg Lipstone for Studio Lambert/All3Media America.
“I’ve been in the music business for a long time, and this is an experience I will never forget,” Rucker said. “Our industry is all about cultivating and sharing great music, so having the opportunity to go undercover and authentically participate in an artist’s early days was just incredible.”
Carrie Underwood, Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation Partner To Fully Fund Girls Team Sports Projects
The pledge marks the third Sports Matter donation on behalf of CALIA by Carrie Underwood and The DICK’S Foundation, as a part of its broader $500,000 commitment to support girls youth sports across the country. Two grants were previously awarded in 2016: $100,000 to Underwood’s alma mater, Checotah (Okla.) School District’s Girls Athletic programs and $100,000 to Aldine Independent School District’s Girls Athletic programs in Houston, Texas.
“Sports were a big part of my life growing up, so it’s important to me that girls across the country get those same opportunities,” said CALIA Lead Designer, Carrie Underwood. “Through Sports Matter, CALIA and The DICK’S Foundation, we are empowering hundreds of girls across the country to learn, grow and dream, teaching them to do what they love later in life.”
Rodney Atkins To Host 7th Annual Music City Gives Back Concert
“Nashville is a special place in the way that people in this community truly support one another and this is another great example of Nashville and the music industry coming together to support the kids and future of our community,” said Atkins. “As an artist, I’m blessed to be able to call Nashville home and grateful for the opportunity to give back through music with this event every year.”
The concert is free and open to the public and performances will begin at 4:55 p.m. Select artists will also be available to sign autographs in the free, no-ticket-required sponsor activation area from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where guests can have a drink, get some food and meet their favorite artists.
Exclusive: Key West Songwriters Festival Celebrates 22 Years
/by Jessica NicholsonNatalie Hemby performs at San Carlos Theater during Key West Songwriters Festival
Today, numerous singer-songwriters descend on Key West to celebrate the 22nd annual Key West Songwriters Festival.
A massive lineup that includes Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Cam, Lauren Alaina, Shawn Camp, William Michael Morgan, Michael Ray, Luke Combs, Aaron Watson, Steve Cropper and Robert Earl Keen play alongside a party of Nashville luminaries and rising writers. The five-day festival, slated for May 10-14, will feature more than 50 free shows at various venues around the area, incorporating performances from more than 200 songwriters.
Key West Songwriters Festival founder Charlie Bauer has been managing venues in Key West since 1988, when he opened Hog’s Breath Saloon. The venue featured three shows a day, featuring singer-songwriters. A struggling songwriter presented him with the idea of offering performing rights organizations the chance to bring writers to Key West to play shows. Key West Songwriters Festival’s first year came in 1995, and featured six songwriters, including Shel Silverstein and Mickey Newbury.
Performing rights organization BMI stepped in as a partner and sponsor in 1996, helping to grow the festival into one of the country’s most unique songwriter festivals.
“At the time Mark Mason was with BMI and he offered for me to come back to Nashville with him, to introduce me to publishers and really crank it up to the next level,” Bauer recalls. “I was also booking songwriters to play the Hog’s Breath, so I was well-received in Nashville. I had a bar in Key West where songwriters could come down and play some of their original stuff and kind of get feedback on their original music and make some money too, so I was pretty popular when I came up to Nashville.”
Though the festival has attracted top artists over the past two decades, Bauer says the emphasis is still on the songwriters, and that the event’s growth has been organic.
“If you follow the chronologic lineups of our show over the years, a lot of the major artists were down here performing as singer-songwriters either on their own or with publishers. Everybody from Lee Brice to Randy Houser to Florida Georgia Line to Maren [Morris] and Kacey [Musgraves], all these people were down here sometimes four or five years in a row. Almost all of them have been down here performing. Our alumni is pretty much everyone who has been around the past 25 years or so.
Wendell Mobley performs at Sloppy Joe’s during Key West Songwriters Festival.
“We want the singer-songwriters here. We don’t try to get the big name acts. What has happened is a lot of them became big name acts and it’s cool that they will still come down, because they are not getting paid for these shows.”
Bauer says 90 percent of the festival is made of free concerts. Additionally, there are seven larger theater shows throughout the event. Each day will feature music at venues including Pier House Resort Beach, Sloppy Joe’s, Green Parrot Bar, and special events including the NSAI “Bluebird at Blue Heaven” show and the closing concert at Casa Marina Resort.
“It’s one of the few festivals where you can see so much free music. I’ve tried to keep it as a local event. I get a lot of tempting offers for people to come in and have outside vendors for food and other things, but we try to keep it local for local businesses.”
As word of Key West Songwriters Festival has spread over the past several years, Bauer says the festival has continually attracted more of Nashville’s music industry.
“It used to be kind of a way for writers to get away from Nashville to have some more fun, and now the industry’s kind of followed them down here.”
Charlie Feldman (BMI), Robert Earl Keen, and Charlie Bauer.
As country music and Nashville’s songwriters have incorporated various musical styles into their work over the past several years, so has the Key West Songwriters Festival. “We are following along with the lead that country music is heading. There’s a lot of pop involved and a lot of Nashville writers are not necessarily country writers. They go there to co-write and to work on their craft. When they come down to the festival, it’s fun to hear them perform songs that you wouldn’t necessarily hear on the country station, and maybe not on radio at all. It’s fun to let them cut loose and hear them play stuff they have written.”
Given the long-running popularity of Key West Songwriters Festival, Bauer says he is considering launching a new festival in late 2017 or early 2018.
“We are thinking of going a little more pop-oriented, and there is a lot of Latin influence here, too. Some of those performers are coming down from Miami and LA, too, and mixing up the genres a bit. “
Proceeds from the Key West Songwriters Festival will benefit the BMI Foundation, which supports creation, performance, and study of music via awards, scholarships, grants and commissions.
Bob DiPiero, Robert Earl Keen, Charlie Worsham
Warner Music Nashville Kicks Off 8th Annual Pickin’ On The Patio With Hunter Hayes May 24
/by Dan_StrassbergThe event, sponsored by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Tiger Beer, Aramark, Mighty Swell Sparkling Cocktails and Dr. Pepper, will start at 5:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5:00 p.m. Pickin’ on the Patio is held the last Wednesday of every month from May through September on the WMN Patio at 20 Music Square East.
Mark your calendars for the next one on June 28. In addition to May 24, and June 28, the Pickin’ on the Patio event will also be held on July 26, Aug. 23, and Sept. 27.
Americana Association Honors & Awards Nominees Announced
/by Jessica Nicholson(L-R), Back Row: Mike Cooley (Drive-By Truckers), Jason Isbell, Jerry Douglas, Caitlin Canty, Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Abi Tapia (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) / L-R, Front Row: Joey Ryan (The Milk Carton Kids), Jed Hilly, Executive Director (The Americana Music Association℠) and Kenneth Pattengale (The Milk Carton Kids) / Photo: Rick Diamond, Getty Images
The nominees for the Americana Music Association’s 16th annual Honors & Awards were announced on May 9 during an event at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, hosted by Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. Performers during the event included Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, and Isbell’s former Drive-By Truckers bandmates Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley.
This year’s ceremony will be held Sept. 13 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, during the Americana Music Festival and Conference, which runs from Sept. 12-17.
This year’s nominees include:
Album of the Year
American Band, Drive-By Truckers, Produced by David Barbe
Close Ties, Rodney Crowell, Produced by Kim Buie and Jordan Lehning
Freedom Highway, Rhiannon Giddens, Produced David Bither, Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell
The Navigator, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Produced by Paul Butler
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, Sturgill Simpson, Produced by Sturgill Simpson
Artist of the Year:
Jason Isbell
John Prine
Lori McKenna
Margo Price
Sturgill Simpson
Duo/Group of the Year:
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Drive-By Truckers
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
The Lumineers
Emerging Artist of the Year:
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Amanda Shires
Brent Cobb
Sam Outlaw
Song of the Year:
“All Around You,” Sturgill Simpson, Written by Sturgill Simpson
“It Ain’t Over Yet,” Rodney Crowell (feat. Rosanne Cash & John Paul White), Written by Rodney Crowell
“To Be Without You,” Ryan Adams, Written by Ryan Adams
“Wreck You,” Lori McKenna, Written by Lori McKenna and Felix McTeigue
Instrumentalist of the Year:
Spencer Cullum, Jr.
Jen Gunderman
Courtney Hartman
Charlie Sexton
Luke Combs To Release Debut ‘This One’s For You’ On June 2
/by Jessica NicholsonThis One’s For You is produced by Scott Moffatt, while Sammy Mitchell and Jackie Boyz produced the track “One Number Away.”
This One’s For You follows Combs’ independently released EPs, including Can I Get An Outlaw (2014), The Way She Rides (2014) and This One’s For You – EP (2015).
Combs has already performed at the Tortuga Music Festival and will join Brantley Gilbert’s eight-month Devil Don’t Sleep Tour through September 2017 in addition to performances at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, CMA Music Fest and Stagecoach Festival this summer.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this album. These songs mean so much to me and all my friends who I wrote them with,” shares Combs. “This project has been such a long time in the making and I can’t wait for the fans to hear it. I sincerely hope they enjoy the album because they are the reason I do what I do.”
This One’s For You will be available for pre-order at digital retailers and LukeCombs.com starting April 28.
This One’s For You Track Listing
1. Out There (Luke Combs, James McNair, Ray Fulcher, Jacob Bryant)
2. Memories Are Made Of (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Cody Webb)
3. Lonely One (Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Erin Ashley O’Keefe)
4. Beer Can (Luke Combs, James McNair, Ray Fulcher)
5. Hurricane (Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Taylor Phillips)
6. One Number Away (Luke Combs, Robert Williford, Sammy Mitchell, Steven Andre Battey)
7. Don’t Tempt Me (Luke Combs, Robert Williford, Joseph Michael Costa)
8. When It Rains It Pours (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Jordan Walker)
9. This One’s For You (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Pat Cooper)
10. Be Careful What You Wish For (Luke Combs, Rob Crosby, Ray Fulcher)
11. I Got Away With You (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Tyler Reeve)
12. Honky Tonk Highway (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Rob Crosby)
LOCASH, Maggie Rose Kick Off BMI’s New Rooftop Summer Concert Series
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Rooftop On The Row” will include five concerts throughout the summer, and will include a mix of up-and-comers and established veterans. William Michael Morgan, Fairground Saints, Emily Earle, Aaron Lewis, and Walker McGuire are among the artists tapped to perform during the summer shows, with many more to be announced.
“We’re excited to host some of Nashville’s best country acts on the rooftop of BMI,” said Mason Hunter, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Events. “We’ve got great music, top notch cocktails and an unbeatable view, making for an unforgettable evening. The whole series is going to be great.”
Warner Music Nashville Promotes Tim Foisset To VP, Streaming
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner Music Nashville has promoted Tim Foisset from Senior Director to Vice President, Streaming. The position reports to Senior Vice President, Radio & Streaming Kristen Williams.
“Tim is an integral part of the Radio & Streaming team, especially as we continue to see an evolution in how people discover and consume music,” said Williams. “He greets one of the most quickly-developing parts of our industry with an innovation and dedication that will serve our WMN artists well in the months and years to come.”
Foisset will continue to focus on maximizing marketing opportunities and revenue potential with Warner Music Nashville’s streaming partners including Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Pandora, Amazon, Napster, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, YouTube, VEVO, TouchTunes and more. His role as VP will allow him to drive the overall streaming strategy for WMN’s artists, new releases and catalog, in addition to guiding dedicated members of the Radio & Streaming team to execute.
“I’m excited to continue working with our great partners and artists, and grateful for the opportunity to work closely with Espo, Matt Signore, Peter Strickland, Kristen Williams and the most forward-thinking team in Nashville,” said Foisset. “Streaming is a big part of the future of our business, and I’m truly inspired to help navigate this label toward that future.”
Foisset began his career in 1998 at Burly Bear Network and later joined Fuse Networks as the Manager of Consumer Marketing. He moved to Razor & Tie in 2005 as Director of Digital Marketing, where he managed the label’s relationships with digital partners and oversaw online marketing initiatives.
Leslie Fram, Tracy Gershon, Sarah Trahern, Jessica Sobhraj Join Music Biz’s Leading Ladies Panel
/by Lorie HollabaughThe panel, set for Tuesday, May 16, will close the Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out series of panels, which will kick off with a welcome presentation from Erin Crawford, SVP and General Manager of Nielsen Music, who will share exclusive insights, including female-focused data and fan affinity analytics, on the marketability of female artists. Ann Powers, a critic and correspondent at NPR Music, will then lead a keynote conversation with Julie Greenwald, Chairman and COO of the Atlantic Records Group, and GRAMMY-winning recording artist Kelly Clarkson. They will each share their experiences in the music business and discuss their path to success on their own terms.
The full agenda for the Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out event can be found at musicbiz2017.sched.com
Music Biz 2017 runs from May 15-18 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.