Pictured (L-R): Jbeau Lewis, David Boyer
Members of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) have elected Jbeau Lewis, Agent at United Talent Agency (UTA), to their Board of Directors.
In addition, David Boyer, Associate Business Manager at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, has been appointed IEBA Treasurer.
Lewis is a music agent at UTA, where he represents established and emerging recording artists. Lewis works with a broad range of UTA music and touring clients that spans multiple genres and includes Mariah Carey, Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Rachel Platten, Flo Rida, LANY, and The Smashing Pumpkins. In addition, Lewis played a key role in UTA’s 2015 acquisition of The Agency Group, the world’s largest independent music agency.
Prior to UTA, Lewis spent 11 years in the music department at CAA. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English.
Lewis will serve the remainder of the term of outgoing director Kevin Neal of WME.
Boyer is a business manager at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, where he guides the business and financial affairs of The Black Keys, Eli Young Band, Sam Hunt, Scotty McCreery, and Andrew Bird, among others.
Before beginning his work at FBMM in 2001, Boyer was a signed recording artist. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. He has served as Treasurer for the Nashville Film Festival and was a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2013.
IEBA will host its 46th Annual Conference from Oct. 9-11 at the Omni Nashville and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Jerrod Niemann Issues Single With Curb Labelmate Lee Brice
/by Craig_ShelburneJerrod Niemann released “A Little More Love,” a duet with Lee Brice, on iTunes on Friday (April 29). The duet will be the lead single from Niemann’s upcoming album on Curb Records, which is also Brice’s label home. Curb Records announced in March that Niemann has signed to the label.
Niemann is co-producing the album with Jimmy Lee Sloas. “A Little More Love” was written by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Natalie Hemby and Kristi Neumann.
Brice and Niemann have been friends since 2002 and written songs together, including the track “Shinin’ on Me” from Niemann’s Free The Music project, as well as “You’ll Always Be Beautiful,” recorded by Blake Shelton). However, the recording marks the first music they have released collaboratively.
“Lee and I have always talked about recording some music together,” Niemann said. “We hope this tune will have our fans smiling and singing along with their windows down and the radio up all summer long!”
IEBA Elects Jbeau Lewis To Board, Appoints David Boyer As Treasurer
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R): Jbeau Lewis, David Boyer
Members of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) have elected Jbeau Lewis, Agent at United Talent Agency (UTA), to their Board of Directors.
In addition, David Boyer, Associate Business Manager at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, has been appointed IEBA Treasurer.
Lewis is a music agent at UTA, where he represents established and emerging recording artists. Lewis works with a broad range of UTA music and touring clients that spans multiple genres and includes Mariah Carey, Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Rachel Platten, Flo Rida, LANY, and The Smashing Pumpkins. In addition, Lewis played a key role in UTA’s 2015 acquisition of The Agency Group, the world’s largest independent music agency.
Prior to UTA, Lewis spent 11 years in the music department at CAA. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English.
Lewis will serve the remainder of the term of outgoing director Kevin Neal of WME.
Boyer is a business manager at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, where he guides the business and financial affairs of The Black Keys, Eli Young Band, Sam Hunt, Scotty McCreery, and Andrew Bird, among others.
Before beginning his work at FBMM in 2001, Boyer was a signed recording artist. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. He has served as Treasurer for the Nashville Film Festival and was a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2013.
IEBA will host its 46th Annual Conference from Oct. 9-11 at the Omni Nashville and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Nashville Symphony, AFM Local 257 Musicians Ratify New Contract
/by Craig_ShelburneThe Nashville Symphony and the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257, have ratified a new contract, completing the restoration of musicians’ salaries to their 2013 levels by early 2018. The agreement was reached three months ahead of schedule and will go into effect Aug. 1.
“Over the past three years, our institution has made tremendous strides in restoring the Nashville Symphony to fiscal vitality,” said board chair James C. Seabury III. “None of this would have been possible without the collaboration and cooperation of our orchestra musicians, who have made enormous sacrifices on behalf of the entire institution.”
The new agreement provides for a 4.5 percent increase to the musicians’ base salaries for the 2016-17 season and provides two additional increases totaling 5.3 percent for the 2017-18 season. In addition, the contract provides for restoring one second violin position to the ensemble in the second year of the agreement.
“The musicians of the Nashville Symphony have worked very hard over the past few years and continue to excel,” said AFM Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy. “This agreement is a step in the right direction as we continue to work toward getting the Nashville Symphony musicians to the pay level their artistic achievements deserve.”
Nashville Symphony President and CEO Alan Valentine said, “Together we have achieved things that many would never have thought possible: the building of a world-class concert hall, eight Grammy Awards, two critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall performances, and much more. Working with the musicians of our orchestra is one of the most gratifying parts of my job, and I am utterly thrilled about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
Laura Ross, violinist and union steward, affirmed the cooperative spirit between the orchestra musicians and management. “The cordial atmosphere during negotiations was welcome, and this agreement is validation that our hard work and continued excellence are appreciated. We are proud to represent Music City, and it is gratifying to know that our community supports our efforts.”
Eric Church Unveils “Record Year” Video, Gibson Hummingbird Dark Customized Guitar
/by Jessica NicholsonThe video, which was shot in an abandoned schoolhouse near Nashville, features Church’s new, signature customized edition of the Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar, which Church has dubbed Hummingbird Dark.
The instrument offers translucent ebony burst lacquer finish, dark mother of pearl fingerboard inlay, black body binding, and a matching new Hummingbird Dark pickguard. Upgraded performance features include a more slender body depth for a superior tonal balance and an LR Baggs VTC pickup for completely natural acoustic sound reproduction when amplified.
Church can be seen performing on his Hummingbird Dark during the Stagecoach Festival today (Friday, April 29) in Indio, California.
Weekly Chart Report (4/29/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Old Dominion’s “Snapback” Succcess Leads To LIDS Deal
/by Craig_ShelburneOld Dominion has partnered with sports retailer LIDS and headwear manufacturer New Era for a strategic partnership coinciding with the country band’s latest hit, “Snapback.”
The announcement of a hat design contest represents LIDS’ first-ever music partnership, as well as Old Dominion’s first with a corporate brand.
From now until June 20, shoppers are encouraged to design a hat for the band and submit their design image via Twitter or Instagram by tagging LIDS and Old Dominion while including the hashtags #OldDominionLids and #contest. A design image can also be uploaded through LIDS’ dedicated contest microsite. Old Dominion is supporting the design contest through continuous social promotion to fans and recorded vignettes now playing in participating stores.
A winning hat design will be selected each week for the duration of the contest, and the entrant will receive two free tickets to a show agreed upon between the winner and LIDS to see Old Dominion on Kenny Chesney‘s 2016 Spread the Love Tour. After eight weeks of design selections, those eight designs will be put forward for a fan vote to determine the grand prize winner. The winning fan will receive a VIP ticket and travel package to a tour stop complete with an Old Dominion meet-and-greet backstage.
With the help of New Era, LIDS will also put the grand prize winner’s design into production on a New Era snapback to be sold at participating stores throughout the country. LIDS will also carry the New Era hat that appears in Old Dominion’s “Snapback” music video.
“Working with a company like LIDS just makes sense for us,” said Old Dominion’s lead singer Matthew Ramsey. “Every night we play a song we wrote that has now become a hit and was inspired by seeing so many of our fans wearing Snapbacks. Our fans are LIDS customers and we are excited to partner up and bring them into the Old Dominion family.”
“We are excited to partner with a group of musicians that exemplify the core values of our brand,” said LIDS co-founder Glenn Campbell. “This band is known for its passion and commitment to the music, the same way our patrons are known for their dedication to their favorite sports teams. Their ambition and love of ‘snapbacks’ makes Old Dominion the perfect partner for LIDS.”
Florida Georgia Line Release New Single, Announce Album
/by Craig_ShelburneFlorida Georgia Line released a new single titled “H.O.L.Y.” to country radio on Friday (April 29). It’s the lead single from their third album, Dig Your Roots, which is scheduled for a summer release on Big Machine Label Group.
The duo’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley once again enlisted longtime collaborator Joey Moi to produce the single, which was written by busbee, Nate Cyphert and William Larsen.
“We really put in the time making sure this song was the strongest it could be and we’re pushing ourselves on all levels: vocally, lyrically, melodically,” said Kelley. “I promise the fans, the wait was worth it.”
Hubbard added, “As we continue to grow and mature in our lives, we really wanted our music to start reflecting those changes. ‘H.O.L.Y.’ definitely lets the fans see a deeper side to us and we’re excited about this next chapter.”
Florida Georgia Line is currently on their Dig Your Roots Tour, which runs through October. In addition, the duo shot a music video for “H.O.L.Y.” on location at The Twelve Apostles, just outside of Melbourne, Australia. Their wives, Brittney Cole Kelley and Hayley Hubbard, also appear in the video. The project premiered on Vevo on Friday.
Scotty McCreery Plans 14-City Book Tour, TV Appearances
/by Jessica NicholsonNow, McCreery will release his first book, Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward The Dream, on Tuesday (May 3) and will make several stops across the country in support of the endeavor. He wrote the book with author Travis Thrasher.
McCreery will hold book signings at bookstores and venues in 14 cities, beginning in New Jersey on Tuesday, and ending in his hometown of Garner, North Carolina, on May 14.
In addition, he is scheduled to perform on NBC’s Today on Tuesday and to appear on FOX & Friends on Wednesday.
Martina McBride, Cam, Jennifer Nettles To Open American Country Countdown Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonMartina McBride, Jennifer Nettles and Cam will kick off the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards. The trio will take the stage together for the first time, performing McBride’s 2003 hit, “This One’s For the Girls.”
“I always look forward to singing this song because it resonates with so many different people of all different ages,” said McBride. “With Jennifer and Cam joining me for the first time, the song will be even more fun and I’m so happy we’ll be performing this together.”
The two-hour show will also feature performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Cam, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Chris Janson, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, and Toby Keith’s tribute to Merle Haggard, with Haggard’s longtime band the Strangers.
The American Country Countdown Awards will air live from the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
Hillary Scott To Perform At Gospel Music Association Honors
/by Jessica NicholsonHillary Scott and The Scott Family are among the performers slated for the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Honors celebration, set for Tuesday, May 10 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena. Scott and her family will perform “Thy Will,” the debut single from her upcoming faith-based project Love Remains.
Additional performers include Amy Grant, Jason Crabb, The Voice‘s Jordan Smith, and more.
GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees include Hezekiah Walker, Howard Rachinski, The Nelons and Russ Taff.
The event also honors individuals and organizations that are impacting culture both past and present. This year’s honorees include BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations and Hope For Harvest founder Catherine Brewton, Jars of Clay for Blood: Water Mission, Michael W. Smith for Rocketown, and the Gospel Music Trust Fund.