Randi Lesnick
Nashville-based
Randi Events, led by founding CEO
Randi Lesnick, has been named on of the 40 “Best High-end Luxury Event Planners” in the world by
The International Man, an online portal that offers rankings and editorial on luxury goods and services. Randi Events is included on the list, along with
David Tutera and
Wolfgang Puck.
Randi Events’ exclusive client list has included Big Machine Records, Warner Bros. Records, General Mills, CAA, Beats, Samsung, AIG, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
“This honor means so much to me and my incredible staff, who work day and night to deliver the best service to our clients. ‘No’ is not an option for us at Randi Events. We strive to make the impossible…possible! And we appreciate
International Man for recognizing that,” said Lesnick.
• • •
Paul Jankowski
Nashville-based Access Brand Strategies has re-branded as
New Heartland Group. For more than 12 years, the agency has helped leading brands connect with U.S. customers who live in the New Heartland, an area composed of the Southwest, Midwest and parts of the Southeast. The area claims 13 of the top 20. U.S. cities, ranked by population.
Clients including Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Lipton and Mountain Dew have worked with New Heartland Group, which was founded by
Paul Jankowski. Jankowski is the author of the upcoming book
Speak American Too: Your Guide to Building Powerful Brands in the New Heartland. The agency recently partnered with Prince Market Research to conduct the first-ever consumer study regarding New Heartland vs. Non-New Heartland consumers. The research will be released in full on Sept. 16.
• • •
Kelly Symone
Kelly Symone has been hired as the new Director of Promotion & Marketing, West Coast at Nine North/Turnpike Music. Symone will begin in her new role on Friday, Aug. 1.
“I’m thrilled that a person of Kelly’s intelligence, background and skills is joining this team,” Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Nashville president Larry Pareigis said. “She will continue our seven-year tradition of being Nashville’s go-to virtual label for promotion, social media strategy & associated services to maximize exposure at Reporting and Indicator/Activator Country radio.”
Symone has previously worked as a radio personality at KBGY, KHYL, and KNTY. She has also worked with Quarterback, Blaster and HitShop Records as West Coat regional Director. Symone, who will continue to be based in Sacramento, can be reached at kelly@ninenorthmail.com.
• • •
Warner/Chappell will take over Nashville’s Whiskey Jam in Loser’s parking lot on July 28. Hosted by Josh Hoge and Ward Guenther, the free, 21+ show will feature Native Run, Lauren Alaina, Michael Ray, William Michael Morgan, Brandon Lay, Sean McConnell, Drew Baldridge, and Runaway Saints.
Doors open at 5 p.m.
LifeNotes: Top Song Scout Don Lanier Passes
/by Robert K OermannDon Lanier
During his 1980s tenure as Director of A&R for MCA Records in Nashville, Don Lanier found the songs that helped turn George Strait and Reba McEntire into country superstars. He was also a hit songwriter, himself. Lanier died on Wednesday, July 23, at age 78.
Raised in West Texas, he became friends with future producer/executive Jimmy Bowen when both were in junior high school. Lanier was nicknamed “Dirt” at this time, and the moniker remained with him.
With Lanier on lead guitar and Bowen on bass, they became key members of the band The Rhythm Orchids. In 1957, they backed Bowen and bandleader Buddy Knox on their co-written hits “I’m Stickin’ With You” and the Knox No. 1 smash “Party Doll.” Other Lanier/Bowen/Knox songs included “Hula Love” and “Rock Your Little Baby to Sleep.”
Both Bowen and Knox recorded for Roulette Records. So did Lanier, who created teen singles for that company, as well as for Dot, Gee and Apt in 1957-62.
Bowen subsequently moved to Los Angeles and became a record producer. In 1964, he brought Lanier to L.A. to become a contractor for his recording sessions. After arranging musicians for Bowen’s sessions as Dean Martin’s producer, Lanier became in-demand as a musician contractor throughout the West Coast recording scene.
Lanier also continued to write songs. His “Here We Go Again” became a hit for Ray Charles in 1967 and for Nancy Sinatra in 1969. His songs have also been recorded by Hank Snow, Glen Campbell, Bobby Vee and Norah Jones, among others.
Among Lanier’s songwriting collaborators were Tommy Overstreet, Tom Thacker, Joe Bob Barnhill and Red Steagall. He also continued to play lead guitar, contributing to records by Lee Hazelwood, Phil Everly, Bill Haley, Dean Martin and more.
Bowen brought Lanier to Nashville when he took over MCA Records in 1984. Lanier became renowned and respected in Music City for his “ears,” that is, his ability to hear future hit songs. In addition to Strait and McEntire, he found tunes for Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn and many of the other MCA artists of the 1980s.
Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A memorial celebration was held there on Sunday, July 27 at 1 p.m., with the funeral service at 2 p.m. The funeral home is located at 660 Thompson Lane.
Artist Updates: Miranda Lambert, Native Run
/by Jessica NicholsonMiranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert and The Band Perry are set to join Jennifer Lopez, Duran Duran, Kiss, Usher, Pita Ora, Afrojack and more as part of the Fashion Rocks TV special. The show will be aired for the first time from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sept. 9, beginning at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
Ryan Seacrest will host the show, and additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.
• • •
Show Dog-Universal artist Native Run recently made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, performing two songs from their debut album, including the single “Good On You.”
Pictured (L-R): Steve Buchanan, Rachel Beauregard, Bryan Dawley.
• • •
Holly Williams
Holly Williams will perform during the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s summer fundraiser series, Hot Nights at the Hall, Presented by Xfinity. The performance is free to members, and staged in the museum’s 6th floor event hall. Hosted by WSIX FM’s Amy Paige, the event will feature an acoustic set by Williams, complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.
Individual tickets are available for $20 per show; individual museum memberships begin at $45. Show tickets can be purchased by calling 615-291-8419, or online at countrymusichalloffame.org/hotnights.
Stellar Gospel Music Awards Leaving Nashville
/by Jessica Nicholson“I am excited about moving The Stellar Awards to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in a bigger, more elegant venue,” said Don Jackson, founder & executive producer of The Stellar Awards. “The 30th Anniversary of The Stellar Awards will mark the longest running black awards show in television and we wanted to commemorate this historic occasion in a first class venue that we know our Gospel music stars and guests will enjoy.”
The show will air in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets during the Easter holiday season from April 5 – May 3, 2015.
Artist submissions for Stellar Awards consideration will be accepted from Sept. 1 – Sept. 30, 2014. Per changes to last year’s eligibility criteria, projects qualified for consideration this year must have a release date between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014. Additional rules, regulations and the online submission form will be posted at www.thestellarawards.com.
The show is open to the public, with hotel and ticket packages on sale beginning Aug. 4, 2014. To reserve a Stellar awards package, call 1-800-675-3267 between the hours of 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. (PST) and mention The Stellar Awards to receive this special pricing. Individual show tickets for SAGMA members will go on sale Aug. 15, 2014 and general public show tickets will go on sale Aug. 29, 2014. Show ticket prices range from $50-$200.
Nashville's July 4 Celebration Earns Millions In Visitor Spending
/by Jessica NicholsonBilly Currington
Nashville’s July 4th Let Freedom Sing! celebration brought in $7.63 million in direct visitor spending, according to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC). An estimated 284,000 people attended the free event, which included a headlining concert from Billy Currington, and a fireworks show choreographed to live music from the Nashville Symphony.
“Based on our research, we believe this is the largest one-day event held in Tennessee’s history,” said Ken Levitan, chairman of the NCVC board of directors and president of Vector Management. “July 4th has grown tremendously over the years and is now recognized as one of the top-rated celebrations in the country. The quality of the event combined with the carefully planned collaboration among the NCVC, the city and Metro departments resulted in a successful event, record room night sales and record attendance.”
Industry Ink (7/25/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonRandi Lesnick
Nashville-based Randi Events, led by founding CEO Randi Lesnick, has been named on of the 40 “Best High-end Luxury Event Planners” in the world by The International Man, an online portal that offers rankings and editorial on luxury goods and services. Randi Events is included on the list, along with David Tutera and Wolfgang Puck.
Randi Events’ exclusive client list has included Big Machine Records, Warner Bros. Records, General Mills, CAA, Beats, Samsung, AIG, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
“This honor means so much to me and my incredible staff, who work day and night to deliver the best service to our clients. ‘No’ is not an option for us at Randi Events. We strive to make the impossible…possible! And we appreciate International Man for recognizing that,” said Lesnick.
• • •
Paul Jankowski
Nashville-based Access Brand Strategies has re-branded as New Heartland Group. For more than 12 years, the agency has helped leading brands connect with U.S. customers who live in the New Heartland, an area composed of the Southwest, Midwest and parts of the Southeast. The area claims 13 of the top 20. U.S. cities, ranked by population.
Clients including Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Lipton and Mountain Dew have worked with New Heartland Group, which was founded by Paul Jankowski. Jankowski is the author of the upcoming book Speak American Too: Your Guide to Building Powerful Brands in the New Heartland. The agency recently partnered with Prince Market Research to conduct the first-ever consumer study regarding New Heartland vs. Non-New Heartland consumers. The research will be released in full on Sept. 16.
• • •
Kelly Symone
Kelly Symone has been hired as the new Director of Promotion & Marketing, West Coast at Nine North/Turnpike Music. Symone will begin in her new role on Friday, Aug. 1.
“I’m thrilled that a person of Kelly’s intelligence, background and skills is joining this team,” Nine North/Turnpike Music/Edgehill Nashville president Larry Pareigis said. “She will continue our seven-year tradition of being Nashville’s go-to virtual label for promotion, social media strategy & associated services to maximize exposure at Reporting and Indicator/Activator Country radio.”
Symone has previously worked as a radio personality at KBGY, KHYL, and KNTY. She has also worked with Quarterback, Blaster and HitShop Records as West Coat regional Director. Symone, who will continue to be based in Sacramento, can be reached at kelly@ninenorthmail.com.
• • •
Doors open at 5 p.m.
RPM Entertainment Eliminates Promotion Staff
/by Jessica Nicholson“It was a tough decision to make based on the progress we made as a label over the last few years,” said RPM President Scott Siman. “But the bottom line is the playing field was not conducive to us breaking through as an independent label at mainstream country radio.”
Executive VP April Rider will manage Maggie Rose and Chasin’ Crazy. Jack Christopher will continue as VP, Radio Relations for RPM managed clients. VP, Marketing James Stewart will continue in the same capacity on behalf of managed clients. Meanwhile, Jon Conlon, Will Robinson and Chris DeCarlo have exited.
“I can’t say enough about the staff we assembled,” said Siman. “They did a fantastic job under incredibly difficult odds. Jon Conlon, Will Robinson and Chris DeCarlo brought their A-game everyday. Other labels would be smart to grab them up. And even though we eliminated the national director position a few months back, I would be remiss not to thank my long time associate Rocco Cosco for all he did for the acts.”
'Billboard' Names Lionel Richie 2014 'Legend of Live'
/by Eric T. ParkerLionel Richie
Lionel Richie has been announced as the 2014 Legend of Live recipient for Billboard’s 11th Annual Touring Conference & Awards, to be Nov. 20 at The Edison Ballroom in New York City. The honor recognizes individuals or bands who have made lasting contributions to live music and the touring business.
Culminating the two-day (Nov. 19-20) Roosevelt Hotel conference of keynotes, interviews, sessions parties and showcases, the Annual Billboard Touring Awards will feature Richie as the latest in a line of previously honored legends, which have included Sir Elton John, Journey, promoter Michael Cohl, promoter Jack Boyle, agent Frank Barsalona, the Allman Brothers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Neil Diamond, and 2013 recipient and first Country artist to receive the trophy, George Strait.
Raised in Tuskegee, Ala., Richie’s exposure to Country among other genres influenced his first band, the Commodores, and his songwriting. Conway Twitty recorded “Three Times a Lady,” Alabama recorded “Deep River Woman,” and Kenny Rogers released “Lady” in 1980 before Richie produced Rogers’ full-length Share Your Love album the subsequent year. In 2012, Mercury Nashville released Richie’s Country collaborative album, Tuskegee, a collection of 13 hits from album sales in excess of 100 million. Additionally, the Academy of Country Music featured an all-star Country concert special for the star, which aired on the CBS Television Network.
The Touring Awards will additionally honor box office achievements from the industry’s top artists, professionals, venues of the year, a humanitarian recognition and a concert marketing and promotion award.
Garth Brooks Adds Additional Allstate Arena Shows
/by Jessica NicholsonAdditional shows have been added, slated for Friday, Sept. 5, Saturday, Sept. 6, Thursday, Sept. 11, Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13. Tickets for all shows, including the previously announced Sept. 4 show, went on sale at 10 a.m. this morning (Friday, July 25).
There is a ticket limit of six. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000, or Ticketmaster Express at 1-866-448-7849. No sales will be available at the venue box office or at Ticketmaster outlets on July 25.
Ticket prices are $65.50, which includes the $56.94 ticket price, a $2.56 tax and a $6.00 service charge.
A Conversation With Kenny Rogers Opens Exhibit
/by Sherod RobertsonThe expert-led conversation will take place in conjunction with the debut of Kenny Rogers: Through the Years, a biographical exhibit in the museum’s East Gallery opening Aug. 15, 2014, and running until June 14, 2015.
Rogers will recount memories from throughout his history-making life and career during the interview, which will be held in the museum’s CMA Theater. Archival photographs and video will supplement the storytelling. The event is included with museum admission and free for museum members; seating is limited and a program pass is required. The interview will be streamed live online here.
Opening weekend programs include a songwriter session on Aug. 16 with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz, who penned Rogers’s signature story song “The Gambler” and a film screening of 2001’s Kenny Rogers: Live by Request on Aug. 17. A companion book also entitled Kenny Rogers: Through the Years will accompany the exhibit.
Rogers has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has charted a single in each of the last seven decades. According to the RIAA, he has one diamond album, 19 platinum albums, and 31 gold albums. His accolades include three Grammys, six Country Music Association awards, and eight Academy of Country Music awards. Rogers was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
The exhibit will feature dozens of artifacts including costume pieces from the Gambler TV movie series, Dolly Parton’s rhinestone-embellished velvet jacket and dress she wore during a performance of “Islands in the Stream” with Rogers, and a die-cast metal replica of the Camaro race car driven by Kenny Rogers in the film Six Pack.
For more information on the Country Music Hall of Fame, click here.
Weekly Chart Report (7/25/14)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report