Billboard recently released its list of the 100 Most Powerful Female Executives in Music, including many Nashville-based executives.
Lori Badgett (Senior vp/team manager, Nashville Entertainment; City National Bank). Badgett has spent more than 20 years providing financial services to companies and individuals in the music business throughout the country. In 2011, Badgett helped launch and now manages the Nashville office for City National Bank.
Ali Harnell (Senior vp, AEG Live). Harnell has managed the Southeast region for AEG Live since 2004 where she oversees all aspects of booking and operation and national touring activity for Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, and others. She is the co-creator of the international country music festival C2C and has produced the annual All For The Hall benefit concerts in Nashville since 2009.
Linda Edell Howard (Partner, Adams and Reese). Howard has been a strong advocate for creators’ rights. She Adams and Reese in 2001 and opened the firm’s Music Row office. She has almost 30 years of experience in the areas of entertainment, new media and technology, and domestic and international intellectual property law and is the leader of the Entertainment/New Media team.
Cris Lacy (Vp A&R, Warner Music Nashville). One of the label’s top breakthrough stories this year has been 23-year-old William Michael Morgan with his debut hit single “I Met A Girl,” which came nearly four years after Lacy signed him to the label.
Cindy Mabe (President, Universal Music Group Nashville). UMG Nashville’s roster of artists keeps lining up the accolades, from breakthrough artists Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton in 2015, to newcomers Brothers Osborne winning Vocal Duo of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.
Mary Ann McCready (Founding co-owner/president, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy). McCready was the first female VP of National Sales and Marketing for a major record company and the first female recipient of the CMA’s Founding President’s Award. FBMM represents entertainers, members of the music business, and professional athletes.
Lou Taylor (CEO, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group). Business manager Taylor leads a primarily female 78-person staff, overseeing a roster that includes Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor and the Las Vegas residencies of Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears.
Sarah Trahern (CEO, Country Music Association). In addition to spearheading this year’s 50th annual CMA Awards, which aired Nov. 2 on ABC, Trahern helped the CMA earn another honor. Thirty of country music’s biggest artists teamed for the three-song medley “Forever Country,” which became one of only three songs to debut on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart in its 58-year history.
Kelli Turner (CFO/executive vp operations and corporate development, SESAC). Turner was appointed Executive Vice President, Operations, Corporate Development and CFO of SESAC in July 2014. Turner is charged with overseeing finance, corporate development, licensing and administrative functions. Turner played a key role in increasing SESAC’s revenue from $182 million to $206 million in 2016, in part through a deal with Universal Publishing Production Music.
Sally Williams (GM, Ryman Auditorium). The incoming chairman of the Country Music Association has increased attendance 175 percent over eight years and oversaw a $14.5 million expansion in time for the Nashville institution’s 125th anniversary in 2017.
Young Guns Publishing Signs Brandon Hood
/by Jessica NicholsonBack Row: Jesse Willoughby, Kobalt; Cliff Downs, President, Young Guns; Stephanie Cox, Kobalt; Mary Lauren Teague, Loeb and Loeb; Laura Alexander, Kobalt. Front Row: Will Hamrick, VP/GM, Young Guns; Brandon Hood, writer, Young Guns; Aubrey Rupe, Creative Director, Young Guns
Young Guns Publishing has signed writer/producer Brandon Hood to its publishing roster, exclusively administered by Kobalt.
Hood was born and raised in Blairsville, Georgia, coming from a long lineage of musicians. After graduating from Young Harris College in ’05 with a degree in classical guitar, he moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, graduating in ’07. While performing as a road musician, Hood signed his first publishing/production deal in 2010.
Hood said, “I’m so excited to be starting a new chapter of my career with a company that has proven to be so supportive and encouraging.”
“It is exciting to watch the continued growth of the Young Guns Publishing team. With the addition of Brandon, we look forward to all he will be able to accomplish as an already established songwriter and producer,” said Will Hamrick, VP/GM Young Guns Publishing.
Hood’s songs have been recorded by Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Jana Kramer, LOCASH, and Jerrod Niemann, among others.
In Pictures: BMI Wraps Maui Songwriters Festival
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Back Row: BMI songwriter Paul Doucette, sponsors Danny and Claudia Goodfellow, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI songwriters Shawn Camp, Charlie Worsham, Aubrie Sellers, Marti Frederiksen, Ethan Ballinger and Dallas Wayne and BMI’s Mary Loving. Front Row: BMI’s Mason Hunter, BMI songwriter Lukas Nelson, songwriter Lee Ann Womack, BMI songwriters Willie Nelson, Eric Church and Liz Rose. Photo: Erika Goldring
BMI hosted its second annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival on Maui from December 1-3.
The three-day, multi-genre festival offered three days of story and song with some of the industry’s top songwriters, including Eric Church, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, Aubrie Sellers, Liz Rose, Robert Earle Keen, Charlie Worsham and many more.
BMI songwriters Charlie Worsham (L) and Liz Rose (R) pose before their show at the Grand Wailea. Photo: Erika Goldring
Robert Earl Keen. Photo: Erika Goldring
Eric Church. Photo: Erika Goldring
Date Set For 2017 ‘Billboard’ Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 2017 Billboard Music Awards will return to ABC, airing Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 8 p.m. ET.
Nominees or performer announcements have not been revealed at this time.
Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on a 12-month reporting period ending in March of 2017.
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards drew its third-largest audience with an average of 9.8 million viewers and a 3.2/10 in Adults 18-49.
Benefit Concert Set For Savannah Welch
/by Jessica NicholsonKevin Welch and Savannah Welch
A benefit concert has been set for actress/musician Savannah Welch, known for her roles in Boyhood and Tree of Life, and a member of the band The Trishas. Welch suffered severe injuries and lost her leg in a tragic accident on Nov. 2 in Wimberley, Texas.
On Dec. 13, Kevin Welch (Savannah’s father) and The Dead Reckoners will reunite for a special, one-time performance. Kevin Welch will perform alongside fellow The Dead Reckoners band members Kieran Kane, Mike Henderson, Tammy Rogers and Harry Stinson. Hosted by Wally Wilson and Skyville Live studio in Nashville, the evening will also include special guests.
Kevin Welch is a former Nashville resident for more than 30 years, and charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The show will begin at 7 p.m., with tickets available at eventbrite.com.
RIAA Gold & Platinum Certifications Announced For November 2016
/by Jessica NicholsonOld Dominion earned this past months’ only Gold album for country with its debut project, Meat and Candy. In addition, Eric Church has amassed several Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications.
Multi-Platinum Single
Platinum Single
Gold Single
Lauren Alaina’s ‘Road Less Traveled’ To Release Jan. 27
/by Jessica NicholsonLauren Alaina is flexing her songwriting muscle on her upcoming album for Mercury Nashville/19/Interscope Records, due Jan. 27. Alaina co-wrote all 12 tracks on the upcoming Road Less Traveled, including the album’s title track, which is also her current Top 20 single.
She penned “Road Less Traveled” with pop star and songwriter Meghan Trainor, along with Jesse Frasure. The project was produced by busbee, who has worked with Maren Morris and Keith Urban.
Among the writers on the project are Dan Couch, Seth Ennis, Lindsey Lee, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackleton, Caitlyn Smith, and Emily Weisband, who co-wrote five of the album’s 12 tracks.
“I am so excited to get this album out,” shares Alaina. “I wrote for it for three and a half years. I’ve grown so much as a person, a songwriter and an artist in that time. These songs are a true representation of who I am, where I’ve been and where I’m going. This album has pushed me to accept who I am and be 100 percent honest about it. Road Less Traveled is truly ME. I can’t wait to share my stories, my music and myself with the world.”
Road Less Traveled Track Listing:
1. Doin’ Fine (Lauren Alaina, Emily Shackleton, busbee)
2. My Kinda People (Lauren Alaina, Emily Weisband, busbee)
3. Three (Lauren Alaina, Seth Ennis, Jordan Reynolds)
4. Road Less Traveled (Lauren Alaina, Jesse Frasure, Meghan Trainor)
5. Queen of Hearts (Lauren Alaina, Lindsey Lee, Victoria Banks)
6. Think Outside the Boy (Lauren Alaina, Emily Shackleton)
7. Painting Pillows (Lauren Alaina, Lindsay Jack Rimes, Alex Masters)
8. Next Boyfriend (Lauren Alaina, Emily Weisband, Matt McVaney)
9. Crashin’ the Boys Club (Lauren Alaina, Emily Weisband, Johan Fransson)
10. Same Day Different Bottle (Lauren Alaina, Caitlyn Smith, Dan Couch)
11. Holding the Other (Lauren Alaina, Emily Weisband, Eric Olson)
12. Pretty (Lauren Alaina, Felicia Barton, Emily Weisband)
Top Nashville Executives Make ‘Billboard’ Women In Music List
/by Jessica NicholsonBillboard recently released its list of the 100 Most Powerful Female Executives in Music, including many Nashville-based executives.
Lori Badgett (Senior vp/team manager, Nashville Entertainment; City National Bank). Badgett has spent more than 20 years providing financial services to companies and individuals in the music business throughout the country. In 2011, Badgett helped launch and now manages the Nashville office for City National Bank.
Ali Harnell (Senior vp, AEG Live). Harnell has managed the Southeast region for AEG Live since 2004 where she oversees all aspects of booking and operation and national touring activity for Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, and others. She is the co-creator of the international country music festival C2C and has produced the annual All For The Hall benefit concerts in Nashville since 2009.
Linda Edell Howard (Partner, Adams and Reese). Howard has been a strong advocate for creators’ rights. She Adams and Reese in 2001 and opened the firm’s Music Row office. She has almost 30 years of experience in the areas of entertainment, new media and technology, and domestic and international intellectual property law and is the leader of the Entertainment/New Media team.
Cris Lacy (Vp A&R, Warner Music Nashville). One of the label’s top breakthrough stories this year has been 23-year-old William Michael Morgan with his debut hit single “I Met A Girl,” which came nearly four years after Lacy signed him to the label.
Cindy Mabe (President, Universal Music Group Nashville). UMG Nashville’s roster of artists keeps lining up the accolades, from breakthrough artists Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton in 2015, to newcomers Brothers Osborne winning Vocal Duo of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.
Mary Ann McCready (Founding co-owner/president, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy). McCready was the first female VP of National Sales and Marketing for a major record company and the first female recipient of the CMA’s Founding President’s Award. FBMM represents entertainers, members of the music business, and professional athletes.
Lou Taylor (CEO, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group). Business manager Taylor leads a primarily female 78-person staff, overseeing a roster that includes Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor and the Las Vegas residencies of Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears.
Sarah Trahern (CEO, Country Music Association). In addition to spearheading this year’s 50th annual CMA Awards, which aired Nov. 2 on ABC, Trahern helped the CMA earn another honor. Thirty of country music’s biggest artists teamed for the three-song medley “Forever Country,” which became one of only three songs to debut on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart in its 58-year history.
Kelli Turner (CFO/executive vp operations and corporate development, SESAC). Turner was appointed Executive Vice President, Operations, Corporate Development and CFO of SESAC in July 2014. Turner is charged with overseeing finance, corporate development, licensing and administrative functions. Turner played a key role in increasing SESAC’s revenue from $182 million to $206 million in 2016, in part through a deal with Universal Publishing Production Music.
Sally Williams (GM, Ryman Auditorium). The incoming chairman of the Country Music Association has increased attendance 175 percent over eight years and oversaw a $14.5 million expansion in time for the Nashville institution’s 125th anniversary in 2017.
Weekly Register: Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks Dominate Country Albums Chart
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks has a strong hold on the Top 10 country album rankings this week, as his recently-released albums Christmas Together and Gunslinger take three of the top five slots this week. Garth and Trisha Yearwood‘s Christmas Together is at No. 2 with 30K sold, while the Christmas album combined with Gunslinger lands at No. 3 with 23K. The solo Gunslinger project is at No. 4 on the country albums ranking with 19K.
However, it is Miranda Lambert who takes the top ranking this week, with The Weight Of These Wings moving 31K, for a total of 153K. Brett Eldredge‘s Christmas project Glow rounds out the Top 5, with 14K sold this week.
Several albums have reached the 500K units mark, enough to earn Gold certification. Those titles include Blake Shelton‘s If I’m Honest, Thomas Rhett‘s Tangled Up, and Joey + Rory‘s Hymns. Also of note is Gillian Welch’s latest, Boots No. 1- The Official Revival Bootleg, comes in at No. 30 selling 3.8K.
Overall album sales have declined 16 percent year to date, while overall digital album sales have declined 20.6 percent. Country album sales are down 6.7 percent, while country digital sales are down 16.8 percent year to date.
The Voice contestant Sundance Head
TRACK SALES
The Voice contestant Sundance Head debuts at No. 1 country and No. 14 overall on the digital tracks sales charts, with “Me and Jesus” selling 28K. Fellow The Voice contestant Billy Gilman‘s rendition of Martina McBride’s “Anyway” debuts at No. 4 country and No. 22 overall, moving 21K units.
Keith Urban‘s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” lands at No. 2, with 27K. Little Big Town‘s “Better Man” lands at No. 3, with 21K, while Florida Georgia Line (ft. Tim McGraw), lands at No. 5 with “May We All” moving 16K.
Overall digital track sales are down 24.7 percent year to date, while country track sales are down 22.7 percent year to date.
All information courtesy of Nielsen Soundscan.
Creative Nation Signs Duo Muscadine Bloodline
/by Jessica NicholsonFrom (L-R): Creative Nation’s Luke Laird and Beth Laird, Muscadine Bloodline’s Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton; Jeff Skaggs, Creative Nation.
Independent Nashville music company, Creative Nation has signed new duo Muscadine Bloodline to its roster. The duo is made up of Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster from Mobile, Alabama. The two moved to Nashville in 2015 and officially formed the duo last December.
“Working with Creative Nation just made sense. I’m very lucky I get to surround myself with so many talented folks every day,” says Muncaster.
Stanton says, “When I walked into the Creative Nation office on Music Row, it felt like a home filled with a very talented family. Luke and Beth really cared about what we wanted to do and saw our vision. Nashville isn’t always open to change and thinking outside the box, but Creative Nation defies that mindset and that’s why it felt wrong not to join the team.”
Creative Nation hit songwriter/producer and co-owner, Luke Laird, adds, “I first heard Muscadine Bloodline on Spotify and was immediately captivated by their music. I just knew we had to work together. Their writing style combined with their seasoned live performance makes for a killer combination. I’m truly honored to have them join the team.”
Co-owner & CEO, Beth Laird, says, “Their songs, harmonies and live performance are undeniable and they are great guys with an incredible worth ethic that fit right in with our team.”
Muscadine Bloodline joins Creative Nation’s roster of artists and songwriters, including: Barry Dean, Kassi Ashton, Lori McKenna, Luke Laird, Maggie Chapman, Natalie Hemby, Steve Moakler and Tyler Johnson.
Nashville Artists Claim Five Spots On ‘Forbes’ Highest-Paid Musicians List
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan
At $170-million, Taylor Swift is Forbes’ highest paid musician—and celebrity for that matter—from June 2015-2016. Based in Nashville is Swift’s record label (Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group), management (Swift-owned 13 Management), music publisher (Sony/ATV) and PR (Tree Paine’s Premium PR).
Additional Nashville-based entertainers on the annual list include Garth Brooks at No. 6 at $70 million, with touring totals soaring into the nine-figure territory.
Outside of the Top 10 are Kenny Chesney at No. 13 with $56 million, tied with Justin Bieber. Luke Bryan takes No. 19 with $53 million from touring, and endorsement deals. Toby Keith sits at No. 22 with $47.5 million from touring, a Ford endorsement deal and his chain of restaurants and brand of Mezcal.
The Forbes list measures pretax income before deducting management fees. Numbers are based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen and the RIAA, as well as interviews with managers, agents, lawyers—and some stars themselves. See the full list at forbes.com.