Cindy McLean Finke
CMT has promoted Cindy McLean Finke to Vice President, Program Publicity and Communications, while Stephanie Molina joins the network as Vice President, Program Publicity for the West Coast office. Both will report to Lisa Chader, Sr. VP, Corporate Communications, CMT. Finke is based at the network’s headquarters in Nashville, and Molina is based in CMT’s West Coast office.
“Cindy and Stephanie make a fantastic and experienced team, and are uniquely suited to lead CMT’s press efforts at a time of lightning-fast growth at the network,” said Chader. “Both are well-respected within the entertainment industry and amongst their peers, and I’m thrilled to have them in leadership roles.”
Finke joined the CMT Corporate Communications team as Senior Publicist in 2002. Since then she has led publicity efforts for such shows as the critically-acclaimed series, CMT Crossroads; CMT Music Awards; CMT Artists of the Year; films under the CMT Original Movies franchise, and more. In addition to leading the efforts on most Nashville and music-based shows and events, she will handle publicity for Dog and Beth: On The Hunt and the network’s first animated project, Bounty Hunters, premiering later this summer.
Prior to CMT, Finke was a publicist at E! Entertainment Television and The Style Network, creating and managing publicity campaigns for primetime series and specials including The E! True Hollywood Story, Celebrity Homes and Nigella Bites. Finke has also worked in the publicity department for Showtime Networks Inc.
Stephanie Molina
Leading original programming publicity efforts on the West Coast, Molina will work closely with Jayson Dinsmore, EVP Programming and Development, and his team. Molina comes to CMT from Rogers & Cowan, where she was VP of Television, handling such accounts as Food Network, Oxygen, G4, BET, 19 Entertainment, Electric Entertainment, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe as well as representation of Nigel Lythgoe Productions (NLP) in conjunction with Shine America.
Prior to Rogers & Cowan, Molina was with PR agency, BWR, where she also represented American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance, and its executive producers, as well as developed and executed the plan for AEG and 19 Entertainment’s corresponding nationwide tours for seven seasons. She has also worked with Bunim/Murray and Twentieth Century Fox’s syndicated court shows.
ASCAP Elects Board of Directors
/by Sarah SkatesNewly elected writer member in the at-large field is composer Alf Clausen. In addition to Williams, the writer members who were re-elected in the at-large field are: songwriter Marilyn Bergman; composer Richard Bellis; composer Bruce Broughton; composer George Duke; composer Dan Foliart; songwriter Wayland Holyfield; songwriter Valerie Simpson; songwriter Jimmy Webb; and composer Doug Wood. Re-elected in the Symphonic and Concert field is composer Stephen Paulus.
The publisher directors re-elected in the at-large field are: Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV; Caroline Bienstock, Bienstock Publishing; Barry Coburn, Ten Ten Music; John L. Eastman, Edwin H. Morris & Co.; Zach Horowitz, Universal Music; Laurent Hubert, BMG Gold Songs; Dean Kay, Lichelle Music; Leeds Levy, Leeds Music; Matt Pincus, Songs Music Publishing; Irwin Z. Robinson, Cromwell Music; and Cameron Strang, Warner Bros. Music. Re-elected in the Symphonic and Concert field is publisher James Kendrick, Schott Music Corporation/European American Music Corporation.
Nashville Music Scene Covers 'Garden and Gun'
/by Sarah SkatesInside, three articles delve into Nashville’s non-country scene. A story about Eighth Avenue South proclaims it the “Next Music Row,” because it is home to Jack White’s Third Man Records, Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio, Grimey’s/The Basement and Cannery Row. While those are fantastic businesses, most industry troops wouldn’t dethrone the original Music Row just yet.
Elsewhere the issue spotlights The Black Keys (Auerbach and Patrick Carney) and thirteen artists ranging from rock to folk/country including Lane, Shelly Colvin, Escondido, JEFF The Brotherhood, Johnnyswim, Leagues, Jamie Lidell, Natural Child, Caitlin Rose, Sol Cat, Turbo Fruits, The Weeks and Wild Cub. G&G is streaming tracks from some of these artists.
In recent months, the publication has also featured Holly Williams and Connie Britton.
G&G isn’t the first media outlet to note the growth of music businesses off The Row. The Tennessean also tackled the subject recently. Both articles failed to mention the numerous thriving businesses that still call Music Row home. For example, Big Machine Records made a sizable commitment to The Row with its new office space.
Readers comment below: Do you think a few businesses moving away from 16th and 17th Avenues is a growing trend or just a coincidence?
The Band Perry Previews 'Pioneer'
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jim King, Senior Vice President of Business Operations & Technology for BMI; Clay Bradley, Assistant Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations for BMI; Scott Borchetta, President/CEO of Big Machine Label Group; Kimberly Perry; Reid Perry; Neil Perry; Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations for BMI
The Band Perry, along with BMI’s Jody Williams and Clay Bradley, BMLG president/CEO Scott Borchetta and a handful of industry members and media, gathered at BMI’s Nashville offices yesterday (March 25) to hear the trio’s sophomore offering, Pioneer. Williams greeted the crowd, saying, “We are in The Band Perry business.” Neil, Kimberly and Reid Perry sat on stools as the album played, offering insight into each track as the industry crowd nibbled on hors d’oeuvres.
The first two songs played were already familiar to most in the audience–the trio’s No. 1 single “Better Dig Two” and the rising single “DONE.”–an ironic title, considering it is obvious that this trio is just getting started. The Band Perry’s penchant for detailed and at times whimsical storytelling is perfectly in tact, and deepened by their experiences over the past two years.
Having spent more than 600 days on the road–many of those days away from family–they parlayed the feelings of solitude into “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely.” On “Back To Me (Without You)” the breakup of a friendship for Kimberly (as well as the siblings’ inclination to offer advice to each other) is chronicled in song.
In previewing the title track, Kimberly explained that while some might think of covered wagons or rural landscapes when they think of a pioneer, her definition is more basic. “A pioneer is someone who goes into the unknown. We didn’t know where we would go with this album. Coming off ‘If I Die Young’ and everything from our first album…we did not want to be a one-hit wonder.” The tender ballad captured the spirit of fearlessness, creativity, restlessness and insatiable curiosity that embodies the pioneers of all generations.
Kimberly stated that the trio wanted “bold statements and crazy moments” all over the record. That may have been showcased best in the tracks “Forever Mine, Nevermind” and “Chainsaw.” The trio listened to rock band Queen while making the record, and that influence showed on “Forever Mine, Nevermind” (co-written by Brad Paisley). The trio displays some Queen-esque harmonies to kick off the track, along with guitar work from Paisley. The bluesy tale of revenge “Chainsaw” was described by Kimberly as “the love child of The Judds and Led Zeppelin.”
“Mother Like Mine” is a touching tribute to the trio’s mother Marie, a tune that explores what the world would be like if their mother ran it. At the song’s conclusion, the crowd turned and applauded Marie, who was in attendance. The preview ended with “End of Times,” which the trio says is a sort of bookend to “Better Dig Two.”
Pioneer releases April 2.
Kobalt Signs Jessi Alexander
/by Sarah SkatesKobalt Music Publishing’s Nashville office has signed an exclusive, worldwide deal with Grammy-nominated hitmaker Jessi Alexander, it was announced today by Richard Sanders, President of Kobalt Music Group and Whitney Daane, SVP Creative of Kobalt Music Publishing America.
Through the new deal, Kobalt’s global creative team will represent Alexander for all new works and will provide worldwide synch licensing and copyright administration.
Alexander’s recent No. 1 hits include Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” and Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It.” Among her other notable co-writes are the country/pop crossover smash “The Climb” for Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana: The Movie, Shelton’s upcoming song “Mine Would Be You” and Celine Dion’s “Didn’t Know Love.”
“I’m super excited about getting to work with the Nashville creative team and look forward to partnering up with them for the next phase of my career,” said Alexander.
In making the announcement, Daane said, “Jeff Skaggs, Stephanie Cox and I are thrilled to be working with a writer of Jessi’s caliber and versatility. We have all been fans of her songwriting for years and look forward to working with our global creative team to expand on her already impressive track record of hits.”
Pictured standing (L-R): Whitney Daane, Kobalt SVP of Creative; Jeff Skaggs, Kobalt Sr. Director of Creative; and Austen Adams, attorney. Seated: Jessi Alexander
CMA Gives International Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Young and The Band Perry were on-hand to assist in honoring radio personnel and artists in Australia with CMA Awards. During Australia’s CMC Rocks the Hunter Festival (March 15-17), Country artist Chris Young presented the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award to David Burton. Burton has been an on-air Country radio personality in Australia for the last nine years. Based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Burton appears on Country station 4GR.
PIctured (L-R): CMA Board member Marion Kraft, Burton, Chris Young and CMA Board member Rob Potts.
Meanwhile, The Band Perry surprised artist Jasmine Rae with the Global Country Artist Award. Rae has one of the fastest-rising careers of any local artist in Australia. Her debut album Look It Up yielded three No. 1 singles.
Pictured (L-R): The Band Perry’s Neil and Kimberly Perry, Rae, The Band Perry’s Reid Perry, and CMA Board member Rob Potts.
• • •
CMR Nashville and Django Promotions CEO and Owner Lee Williams was presented with the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award during the CMA International Country Music Summit at Disneyland Paris on March 1. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by radio broadcasters outside the United States who have made important contributions to the development of Country Music in their country.
Pictured (L-R): CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore, CMA Director of International Relations Bobbi Boyce, and Williams. Photo Credit: Ky Chung
Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit To Spotlight 'Nashville'
/by Jessica NicholsonArtifacts on display in “Nashville: Like a Country Song” include:
-A metallic-toned cocktail dress, with bronze paillette overlay and copper sequins and beading, and snakeskin-look platform peep-toe shoes, worn by Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) when she performed “Wrong Song” with Juliette Barnes.
-A beaded, strapless mini-dress, worn by Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) when she and Rayna Jaymes performed “Wrong Song.”
-A 2009 Gretsch G6121-1955 Chet Atkins solid body guitar and personalized strap played by Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten) in the pilot episode of Nashville.
-A Boho-inspired black lace dress with silky skirt, worn by Scarlett O’Connor (Clare Bowen).
-A Gibson LG-2 guitar belonging to Gunnar Scott (Sam Palladio).
-Framed art featured in the episode “You Win Again,” in which fictional record label Edgehill Republic throws a party to celebrate the platinum success of the Rayna Jaymes-Juliette Barnes duet “Wrong Song.”
-A script of the Nashville pilot episode, autographed by cast members Powers Boothe, Bowen, Britton, Eric Close, Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Palladio, Panettiere and Robert Ray Wisdom.
CMT Adds Two Program Publicity Vice Presidents
/by Jessica NicholsonCindy McLean Finke
CMT has promoted Cindy McLean Finke to Vice President, Program Publicity and Communications, while Stephanie Molina joins the network as Vice President, Program Publicity for the West Coast office. Both will report to Lisa Chader, Sr. VP, Corporate Communications, CMT. Finke is based at the network’s headquarters in Nashville, and Molina is based in CMT’s West Coast office.
“Cindy and Stephanie make a fantastic and experienced team, and are uniquely suited to lead CMT’s press efforts at a time of lightning-fast growth at the network,” said Chader. “Both are well-respected within the entertainment industry and amongst their peers, and I’m thrilled to have them in leadership roles.”
Finke joined the CMT Corporate Communications team as Senior Publicist in 2002. Since then she has led publicity efforts for such shows as the critically-acclaimed series, CMT Crossroads; CMT Music Awards; CMT Artists of the Year; films under the CMT Original Movies franchise, and more. In addition to leading the efforts on most Nashville and music-based shows and events, she will handle publicity for Dog and Beth: On The Hunt and the network’s first animated project, Bounty Hunters, premiering later this summer.
Prior to CMT, Finke was a publicist at E! Entertainment Television and The Style Network, creating and managing publicity campaigns for primetime series and specials including The E! True Hollywood Story, Celebrity Homes and Nigella Bites. Finke has also worked in the publicity department for Showtime Networks Inc.
Stephanie Molina
Leading original programming publicity efforts on the West Coast, Molina will work closely with Jayson Dinsmore, EVP Programming and Development, and his team. Molina comes to CMT from Rogers & Cowan, where she was VP of Television, handling such accounts as Food Network, Oxygen, G4, BET, 19 Entertainment, Electric Entertainment, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe as well as representation of Nigel Lythgoe Productions (NLP) in conjunction with Shine America.
Prior to Rogers & Cowan, Molina was with PR agency, BWR, where she also represented American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance, and its executive producers, as well as developed and executed the plan for AEG and 19 Entertainment’s corresponding nationwide tours for seven seasons. She has also worked with Bunim/Murray and Twentieth Century Fox’s syndicated court shows.
Artist Snapshots (3-26-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonRestless Heart visited Larry’s Country Diner recently to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary.
Photo Credit: Phil Johnson
• • •
At Saturday’s Grand Ole Opry, Arista Nashville’s Kristen Kelly is shown here welcoming “Walmart singer” Kayla Sloan to Music City. Kayla – a Logan, W.V., Walmart employee who sings to shoppers at the store and has become an internet sensation – made her debut at the Opry, and received a standing ovation.
Kristen Kelly with Kayla Sloan
• • •
Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN) stopped into St. Louis on Taylor Swift’s Red Tour. He visited with Danny Montana of WIL.
Pictured (L-R): WMN’s Mark Niederhauser, Brett Eldredge, and WIL’s Danny Montana.
Industry Ink (3-26-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonIndustry awards, including Venue of the Year, will be formally presented September 10 at the Ryman during the ACM Honors event.
• • •
For more information about the firm, please contact (615) 600-4741.
• • •
March Music, Inc. and LioLamb Music are under new ownership. Staff for the companies include President Kimberly Mullen (also of Granite Music Group/Rock Solid Granite Music), David Allen Haggard (Creative Director), Chad Mullen (Sr. Director of Marketing) and Shelby Mullen (Administrative Director). March Music Inc., LioLamb Music and Granite Music have also welcomed new staff writer Corey Lee Barker to their roster. The Granite Group can be reached here.
• • •
Warner Music Nashville’s Northeast Regional Promotion representative Katie Bright and husband Grant welcomed their first child, William Leo Christenson, on March 21 at 8:49 p.m. Christenson weighed 7 lbs, 10 oz and was 21 inches long. Congratulate Katie here.
ACM Opens Voting for Entertainer of the Year, New Artist of the Year
/by Jessica NicholsonFan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year is now open for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music awards. Fans can vote at voteACM.com.
The awards will be given out during the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.
Entertainer of the Year voting (powered by the Ram Truck Brand) will give fans the opportunity to vote for the Academy’s top honor. Nominees include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. ACM New Artist of the Year presented by Kohls nominees include Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line.
Nominees are doing everything they can to garner votes. Swift, up for Entertainer of the Year, recently posted a Vote ACM photo online, featuring an image of Swift as a 6-year-old.
Gilbert, a New Artist of the Year nominee, also posted an artistic photo encouraging fans to vote.
Kramer posted a video encouraging her fans’ votes for New Artist of the Year.
http://youtu.be/fLk2IRLp-hI
Florida Georgia Line also posted a series of videos reminding fans to vote for the duo as New Artist of the Year.