Jamey Johnson, Shannan Hatch
Jamey Johnson has signed with music rights organization SESAC for representation.
“There is no doubt that Jamey Johnson is one of the most successful and well-respected songwriters in the industry,” says John Josephson, SESAC’s Chairman and CEO. “Jamey is a storyteller, crafting lyrics and music that transport listeners to another time and place, whether that place is a war zone or a night out with friends. SESAC is proud to welcome him to our affiliate family.”
“There is an old set of laws on the books where the courts decide how much songwriters get paid,” Johnson says. “It isn’t fair the courts are adhering to these archaic laws that were written before streaming music was even conceptualized. SESAC isn’t bound by those restrictions, so it made perfect sense to join the organization and eventually move my catalog there.”
In addition, Johnson has great relationships with several SESAC staff members, including Shannan Hatch. “Shannan is like family to me, which is another reason it makes perfect sense,” Johnson says.
“The energy at SESAC is something I haven’t experienced in my professional career, and it’s great,” Johnson adds. “I need to be surrounded by people who are motivating me to write. One of those motivators is knowing that I have someone looking after the money generated from my writing, and that I am actually going to get the royalties that I feel like I have earned.”
Johnson is one of only a few songwriters who have won two Song of the Year awards from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. George Strait recorded Johnson’s song, “Give It Away,” in 2006 and garnered a No. 1 record, which also won both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year awards. In addition, Johnson took his song “In Color” to the top of the charts and garnered Song of the Year honors from both the CMA and ACM in 2009.
An Alabama native, Johnson moved to Nashville in 2000 after serving eight years in the Marine Corps. Trace Adkin’s hit song, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” was among Johnson’s first cuts as a newcomer to Music Row. That same year, Johnson released his debut single, “The Dollar” from the album of the same name.
His influential 2008 album, That Lonesome Song, was certified platinum for 1 million in sales, and his innovative 2010 double album, The Guitar Song, which debuted at No. 1 on the country album charts, received a gold certification. In 2012, he released a Grammy-nominated project honoring one of his heroes, Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, that paired him with Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Ray Price, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Vince Gill and Merle Haggard.
In addition to writing and recording his own music, Johnson’s upcoming projects include co-writes with John Carter Cash of unfinished works of Cash’s late father, Johnny Cash, that were recently found in archives. Johnson also is collaborating on projects with Sammy Kershaw and Willie Nelson.
This spring, he launches an eight-city tour billed as the Stagecoach Spotlight Tour: Jamey Johnson, featuring special guests Margo Price and Brent Cobb.
Jamey Johnson Signs With SESAC
/by Jessica NicholsonJamey Johnson, Shannan Hatch
Jamey Johnson has signed with music rights organization SESAC for representation.
“There is no doubt that Jamey Johnson is one of the most successful and well-respected songwriters in the industry,” says John Josephson, SESAC’s Chairman and CEO. “Jamey is a storyteller, crafting lyrics and music that transport listeners to another time and place, whether that place is a war zone or a night out with friends. SESAC is proud to welcome him to our affiliate family.”
“There is an old set of laws on the books where the courts decide how much songwriters get paid,” Johnson says. “It isn’t fair the courts are adhering to these archaic laws that were written before streaming music was even conceptualized. SESAC isn’t bound by those restrictions, so it made perfect sense to join the organization and eventually move my catalog there.”
In addition, Johnson has great relationships with several SESAC staff members, including Shannan Hatch. “Shannan is like family to me, which is another reason it makes perfect sense,” Johnson says.
“The energy at SESAC is something I haven’t experienced in my professional career, and it’s great,” Johnson adds. “I need to be surrounded by people who are motivating me to write. One of those motivators is knowing that I have someone looking after the money generated from my writing, and that I am actually going to get the royalties that I feel like I have earned.”
Johnson is one of only a few songwriters who have won two Song of the Year awards from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. George Strait recorded Johnson’s song, “Give It Away,” in 2006 and garnered a No. 1 record, which also won both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year awards. In addition, Johnson took his song “In Color” to the top of the charts and garnered Song of the Year honors from both the CMA and ACM in 2009.
An Alabama native, Johnson moved to Nashville in 2000 after serving eight years in the Marine Corps. Trace Adkin’s hit song, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” was among Johnson’s first cuts as a newcomer to Music Row. That same year, Johnson released his debut single, “The Dollar” from the album of the same name.
His influential 2008 album, That Lonesome Song, was certified platinum for 1 million in sales, and his innovative 2010 double album, The Guitar Song, which debuted at No. 1 on the country album charts, received a gold certification. In 2012, he released a Grammy-nominated project honoring one of his heroes, Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, that paired him with Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Ray Price, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Vince Gill and Merle Haggard.
In addition to writing and recording his own music, Johnson’s upcoming projects include co-writes with John Carter Cash of unfinished works of Cash’s late father, Johnny Cash, that were recently found in archives. Johnson also is collaborating on projects with Sammy Kershaw and Willie Nelson.
This spring, he launches an eight-city tour billed as the Stagecoach Spotlight Tour: Jamey Johnson, featuring special guests Margo Price and Brent Cobb.
Tin Pan South Fast Access Passes On Sale Today, New App Available
/by Lorie HollabaughFast Access Passes for Tin Pan South went on sale today (Feb. 28), at 10 a.m. CT at tinpansouth.com.
Fast Access Passes permit patrons to bypass the cover charge at the door and allow advance entrance space permitting. Tin Pan South runs March 28-April 1 at 10 of Nashville’s top music venues.
“This is the silver anniversary of Tin Pan South, and it is our biggest event both in terms of shows and participating songwriters,” said Jennifer Purdon Turnbow, Nashville Songwriters Association International Senior Director of Operations. “The new app makes it easy for attendees to plan how they want to spend their week not only seeing shows but also checking out our amazing city.”
Industry Pics: Drake White, Brandy Clark, Ryan Kinder, CeCe Winans, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery
/by Jessica NicholsonDrake White Celebrates At CRS
Drake White kicked off the CRS 2017 New Faces show on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Omni in Nashville, TN. His Big Machine Label Group/Dot Records family was there to show support.
Front Row (L-R): BMLG SVP Creative Sandi Borchetta, BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta, Drake White, Dot Records GM Chris Stacey, Vector Management’s Trey Wilson
Back Row (L-R): Dot Records Promo Staff Bill Lubitz, Michelle Kammerer, AJ Calvin, Bernadette Gilbbons, Kris Lamb, James Marsh
Warner Music Artists Celebrate ‘Warner Wednesday’ At CRS
Warner Music artists including Ryan Kinder and Brandy Clark celebrated with team members during the annual ‘Warner Wednesday’ party held during CRS, on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Pictured (L-R): Mallory Opheim (WMN), Brandy Clark, Tim Roberts (WYCD), Katie Bright (WMN)
Pictured (L-R): Ryan Kinder, Brad Austin (WXCY), Anna Cage (WAR), Newman (WRBT), Carli Manchaca, Stephanie Holzer (WEA), Devin Dawson, Diane Monk (WEA)
CeCe Winans Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut
On Saturday, Feb. 25, Cece Winans made her Grand Ole Opry debut celebrating the release of her No. 1 Billboard Gospel debut, “Let Them Fall In Love.”
Pictured (L-R): Emoni Wilkins, Angela Primm, Gale Mayes, Cece Winans, and Vince Gill. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
Martina McBride, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Help Launch CCHI Nashville
Photo: Metro Nashville Government
On Monday, Feb. 27, Women’s Heart Alliance (WHA), Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and country music superstar Martina McBride announced the Cities and Communities with Heart Initiative (CCHI) Nashville, a collaborative, multi-year effort to stop women in Nashville from needlessly suffering and dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD). CCHI Nashville is a first-of-its-kind effort to harness the diversity and energy of the Nashville community to make a broad impact on heart disease and stroke among its women.
In 2017, CCHI Nashville’s five program components will be initiated, including:
BMI Sponsors “Toby Keith: My Way” Panel At CRS
Pictured (L-R): Jessica Frost (BMI), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Toby Keith, Dan Spears (BMI) and Bill Mayne, Executive Director of the Country Radio Seminar. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI.
On Friday, Feb. 24, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) sponsored “Toby Keith: My Way” at CRS where the BMI songwriter and country music icon discussed his career, the strong relationship he has with the men and women of the military, and his dedication to charitable initiatives.
Scotty McCreery Visits CMC During Australia Trek
Pictured (L-R): guitarist Jeff Harper; McCreery; and guitarist Dylan Rosson.
Photo: Scott Stem
Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Mattingly Form Management Co-Venture
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto by: Daniel White
Steven Curtis Chapman and artist manager Mark Mattingly have launched a new management company together, The Stable Collective. The company will focus on growing Chapman’s music through brand development and touring as well as creating strategic partnerships outside the music realm. Future goals for the company, where Chapman will oversee artistic direction and songwriting and Mattingly will head business development, will include working with other emerging and developed artists. No other artists have been announced as part of the venture at this time.
Creative Trust, Inc. handled Chapman’s management for nearly 30 years, and Chapman will still work with Creative Trust for business management duties.
“After 30 years in this space, it’s an exciting thing to be able to bring my years of experience and passion for being a part of creating redemptive and impactful art and join forces with Mark and his expertise in the formation of The Stable Collective,” Steven Curtis Chapman said. “Mark has been a significant part of helping guide my career over the last few years. He’s a very talented, super hard working guy and I’m honored to be partnering with him. We’re excited to explore the new frontiers of music and find fresh ways and means to communicate ageless truth…celebrating and building on the great things that have been accomplished with a firm belief that even greater things are yet to come.”
“It’s such an honor to partner with someone who’s not only as accomplished as Steven is, but who’s also one of the most well respected people in our industry,” said Mattingly. “My years of working with Steven have allowed me to see firsthand that everything he does he does with excellence – from perfecting the craft of songwriting, to his ministry and the way he selflessly and tirelessly cares for people, to the wisdom and passion he’s pouring into this new endeavor we’re launching. We could not be more excited to find and create new, innovative ways to continue bringing great art to the world.”
The Stable Collective is located in Franklin, Tennessee. Mattingly can be reached at 615.236.9373 or at mark@thestablecollective.com.
Music Knox Names Donny Walker To VP, Strategic Partnerships Role
/by Jessica NicholsonDonny Walker
Producer Michael Knox has appointed Donny Walker as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for his production/management company Music Knox, LLC.
In his new role, Walker will develop unique promotional partnerships in key radio and touring markets nationally for Music Knox and its roster. Walker will work alongside Senior Vice President Shalacy Griffin, who oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, which includes Reviver Records recording artist Michael Tyler. Tyler’s debut album 317 is available March 17, 2017 and he is currently on the “Ones to Watch” tour with labelmates LOCASH.
“I’ve known and respected Donny for a long time. He brings a lot of experience to the table and we are excited to add him to the Music Knox team” says Music Knox President/CEO Michael Knox.
“I’ve always felt that my skill set could help with artist management so joining Michael Knox’s team will be an exciting new path for me both professionally and personally” Walker said. “This is an incredible opportunity; from the first time I saw Michael Tyler perform, it was obvious that he is an extremely talented artist and songwriter.”
Walker recently exited his role as Senior Director of Syndicated Radio for Westwood One where he spent 12 years managing the affiliate sales effort for many award winning nationally syndicated radio shows including Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks and The Lia Show. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing the affiliate sales of the Cumulus NASH syndicated product line including Nash Nights Live with Shawn Parr, The Blair Garner Show, Country Gold with Terri Clark and Ty, Kelly and Chuck Mornings.
Walker started his radio career at Billboard Magazine working in the chart department and then joined BDS to launch their first real-time radio-monitoring product Radio Track.
Michael Knox is most noted for his production work with Jason Aldean, as well as production credits for Thomas Rhett (“It Goes Like This”), Trace Adkins (“Just Fishin’” and This Ain’t No Love Song”), Kelly Clarkson‘s collaboration with Aldean (“Don’t You Wanna Stay”), Ludacris‘ collaboration with Aldean (“Dirt Road Anthem”), Luke Bryan & Eric Church‘s collaboration with Aldean (“The Only Way I Know”), Montgomery Gentry (“Where I Come From”), Josh Thompson (“Beer On The Table” and “Way Out Here”) and Frankie Ballard (“Tell Me You Get Lonely” and “A Buncha Girls”) among others.
Michael Knox also serves as Vice President for peermusic Group in Nashville. Under the creative purview of Knox, peermusic Nashville has built itself into one of Nashville’s top independent publishing companies. In 2013 they enjoyed the ASCAP Song of the Year “How Country Feels” (Randy Houser) and in 2016 SESAC honored peermusic with Country Song of the Year “Somewhere On A Beach” (Dierks Bentley).
Weekly Register: Alison Krauss Takes ‘Windy City’ To No. 1
/by Jessica NicholsonAlison Krauss
Alison Krauss has taken the No. 1 spot on this week’s country albums chart with the debut of Windy City, selling 38K (36K album only), No. 4 overall.
Garth Brooks‘ Ultimate Collection remains at No. 2 this week with 29K.
Reba‘s Sing It Now collection, which spent the last two weeks atop the country albums chart, is at No. 3 this week, with 14K.
Jessie James Decker‘s Gold EP debuts in the Top 5, landing at No. 4 this week, with 12K sold.
Rounding out the Top 5 on the country albums rankings this week is Brantley Gilbert‘s The Devil Don’t Sleep, with 10K sold.
Sam Hunt
Meanwhile, Sam Hunt tops the country tracks chart (and lands at No. 4 overall) with “Body Like A Back Road” moving 64K (247K RTD).
Dustin Lynch‘s “Small Town Boy” gets a big debut, landing at No. 2 country (and No. 24 overall), with 32K sold.
Keith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood’s “The Fighter” is at No. 3, with 25K, while Little Big Town‘s “Better Man” is at No. 4 with 23K. Jon Pardi‘s “Dirt On My Boots” lands at No. 5, with 21K.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert Set For Merle Haggard Tribute Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonThe family of Merle Haggard, Blackbird Presents and Willie Nelson will host an all-star concert event taping, titled Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, April 6, 2017.
The concert, which will begin at 7 p.m. CT, honors what would have been Haggard’s 80th birthday and the one-year anniversary of his passing.
The event will feature performances from Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, John Mellencamp, Dierks Bentley, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., The Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, Ronnie Dunn, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lucinda Williams, Ben Haggard, John Anderson, Connie Smith and Bobby Bare. Additional performers to be announced in the coming weeks.
Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum and Theresa Haggard are the creators and executive producers of the show. Don Was, Ben Haggard and Buddy Cannon will serve as music directors and preside over a house band backing the performers at the taping. The event will be filmed and recorded for multi-platform distribution throughout traditional media (worldwide broadcast, music, and digital). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Tickets on sale Friday, March 3, 2017 at 11 a.m. CT online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, all Ticketmaster locations and the Bridgestone Arena box office.
Bobby Bones, Ann Powers, More to Speak at TedxNashville
/by Lorie HollabaughBobby Bones, Ken Paulson, Ann Powers, and more have been tapped as speakers for the 2017 TEDxNashville Illuminate event on March 17-18 at TPAC. The trailblazers in their fields will talk of their experiences, knowledge, visions, and more on topics including the future of space travel, Chinese philosophy, robotics, criminal justice, urban street art, mindfulness, superbugs and more. The annual event, now in it’s eighth year, has grown to become one of the premiere TEDx conferences around the country, selling out each year.
Rodney Crowell and Kris Allen have signed on as performers for the event.
More information on the event can be found at tedxnashville.com.
The full line up of 2017 TEDxNASHVILLE conference speakers:
Dr. Julie Adams (Vanderbilt Professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering)
Miles Adcox (CEO of ONSITE)
Dr. Jerome Burt (Clinical Psychologist at Heritage Medical Associates)
Judge Sheila Calloway (Nashville Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge)
Maneet Chauhan
Bobby Bones
Eva Boros ( Founding member of Nashville Walls Project)
Dr. James Crowe (Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Director, Vanderbilt Vaccine Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
Tom Eastham (United Space Alliance at the Kennedy Space Center (May 1979 to April 2011))
Lisha Lecari (Director, Music and the Brain)
Natalie Hinkel (Planetary Astrophysicist VIDA Postdoctoral Scholar Vanderbilt University),
Shaka Mitchell (TN Regional Director at Rocketship Education)
David Owens (former head of Griffin Tech current Innovation professor at Vanderbilt)
Ken Paulson (Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU, former editor-in-chief of USA Today and current President of the Newseum Institute’s First Amendment Center)
Kira Pollack (TIME Magazine Director of Photography and Visual Enterprise)
Ann Powers (Critic and Correspondent, NPR Music)
Michael Puett (Professor of Chinese History at Harvard University)
Dr. Stephen Schlozman (Assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital; Author of Zombie Autopsies)
Dr. David Vago
Dr. David Wright ( Vanderbilt Director of LIGHT–Laboratories for Innovation in Global Health Technologies)
Garth Reaches Touring Milestone: Five Million Tickets In 60 Cities
/by Lorie HollabaughGarth Brooks continues to top himself, breaking another touring record last Friday night (Feb. 24) with a record five millionth ticket sold in just 60 cities played on his Garth Brooks World Tour. Brooks was recognized for the feat during his show Friday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB, where wife Trisha Yearwood interrupted her own set to surprise him with the big news.
Yearwood invited Jared Smith, President of Ticketmaster and Michael Evans, President of Arenas for Live Nation to the stage to present Brooks with a commemorative plaque honoring the five million tickets sold in 100 cities during the 1996-1998 world tour along with a second plaque honoring the five millionth ticket sold in just 60 cities during this current tour. Garth Brooks and Ticketmaster have been working together for more than 20 years.
Following that presentation, Bob Nicholson, Oilers Entertainment Group CEO & Vice Chair and Susan Darrington, General Manager of Rogers Place joined the two on stage to unveil a new banner hanging from the rafters celebrating the five millionth ticket sold and Brooks’ nine sold-out concerts at the new Rogers Place in Edmonton. The banner will hang alongside the championship banners of the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Oil Kings. As Garth then tried to leave the stage, Trisha stopped him for another surprise – a special video message from Wayne Gretzky that played on the big screen.
In just over two years the tour has sold over five million tickets, making it the biggest tour in the world and breaking records held by acts like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The tour is presented by Amazon Music Unlimited.
Industry Ink: Leadership Music, CMA, YEP
/by Jessica NicholsonLeadership Music Deadline Approaching
CMA Reveals Research Data, Welcomes Attendees For CRS
Pictured (L-R): CMA Senior Manager of Market Research Courtney Ledford, CMA Senior Director of Market Research Karen Stump, and CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms after CMA’s breakout session “Trending and Spending: The Country Radio Consumer” Thursday during the 2017 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
Photo: Devin Garrett / CMA
As thousands of Country radio broadcasters traveled to Nashville for Country Radio Seminar (CRS), CMA hosted events to welcome attendees, share valuable insights revealing the power of the Country Music radio consumer, and offer best practices regarding entries for the CMA Broadcast Awards.
“In the 60 years since CMA was founded, Country Music has grown in a way the Association’s visionary founders could have only imagined,” said CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside. “Today the Country Music genre is stronger than ever and has become the single largest radio format, a direct result of the tireless efforts of the men and women working in Country radio.”
On Thursday, CMA’s research team showcased data revealing the spending power of Country radio listeners compared to listeners of other popular radio formats. The presentation provided the radio industry with key insights regarding how advertisers can connect with the Country Music radio audience across six key categories—retail, communications, financial services, automotive, restaurants, and travel—accounting for more than $1.4 billion in annual radio ad spending. To view “Trending and Spending: The Country Music Radio Consumer” research deck, visit CMA’s research page by clicking here. CMA members can visit my.cmaworld.com for exclusive studies.
Rounding out CMA’s formal events at CRS was Friday’s breakout session, “And the CMA Broadcast Award Goes to…,” with CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms. CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year and Board member Lon Helton also spoke on the panel. Hundreds of Country radio stations and personalities vie for the prestigious CMA Broadcast Awards each year, so attendees learned eligibility requirements and best practices for Broadcast Awards consideration.
RaeLynn Joins YEP At The Opry
Pictured (L-R): Caroline Melby, YEP Board Member; Amelia Varni, YEP Executive Director; RaeLynn, artist; Katie Roth, YEP Board Member; Emma Joseph, Grand Ole Opry Manager of Digital Content Development & Promotion.
YEP members Caroline Melby, Amelia Varni, and Katie Roth met with Warner Music Nashville artist RaeLynn backstage at the Grand Ole Opry recently.