(L-R): Carla Wallace, Mary Ann McCready and Kelly Rich
Three of the Nashville music industry’s most talented and hardest-working women were named Billboard Women In Music honorees. Nearly 200 executives were nominated and whittled down to 41 honorees that made the final list.
• Kelly Rich, Senior VP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive, Big Machine Label Group, lands at No. 27 on the list. Rich leads the company’s interactive and digital efforts; BMLG’s Twitter followers for its label and all its artists, have increased 104 percent from year to year. Rich lists her mentor as Big Machine Label Group CEO/founder Scott Borchetta. She has been named a Billboard Women In Music honoree twice.
• Mary Ann McCready, President, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, comes in at No. 31 on the list. The company’s clients include Keith Urban, Kings of Leon, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, and Blake Shelton. McCready founded FBMM in 1990, is a trustee of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was the first female recipient of The CMA President’s Award. McCready has previously been named a Billboard Women In Music honoree. She lists her mentor as former president/CEO of Cedarwood Publishing, Bill Denny.
• Carla Wallace, Co-owner/GM, Big Yellow Dog Music, lands at No. 37. With singles on the chart every week since January, the independent publishing company’s hits this year include “Drunk on You,” Luke Bryan; “Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood; and “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright,” George Strait; as well as singles by Gloriana, Lady Antebellum, and Darius Rucker. The company placed a song in the film The Bourne Legacy, and scored an international cut on Susan Boyle’s album. Wallace, who received MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row honor earlier this year, lists co-owner Kerry O’Neill as her longtime mentor.
• • • •
Ellen Truley
The issue also profiles women in leadership roles at each of the three performing rights organizations, including Nashville’s own Ellen Bligh Truley, VP of Corporate Relations at SESAC. She produces the organization’s annual awards events for all genres, as well as the annual songwriter boot camp. Truley and her team also handle branding initiatives for SESAC at Grammys on the Hill, and partnerships with Land Rover, Maker’s Mark, Icelandic Glacial Water and Red Bull. Her department oversees SESAC magazine, and the organization’s social media and mobile marketing, which were key to making a big splash with the recent news that the organization is offering monthly royalty distributions. Other profiles feature Lauren Iossa, Sr. VP of Communications and Media at ASCAP; and Alison Smith, Sr. VP of Performing Rights at BMI.
• • • •
Other Women In Music notables:
18. Tifanie Van Laar-Frever, Senior buyer, Walmart. She’s making sure country fans can find product on retail shelves.
28. Marcie Allen, President, MAC Presents. The Nashville native moved her sponsorship and live events agency to New York a few years ago, but continues to be a major player in country music and beyond. In the last year her initiatives included placing The Band Perry for Samsung/AT&T at the Cotton Bowl, further developing social media partnerships and obtaining clients from the fashion world.
29. Kathy Spanberger, peermusic president/CEO. Among her wins this year was working with peermusic Nashville creative director Michael Knox to ink a co-publishing agreement with Neil Thrasher.
38. Kate McMahon, VP/senior director of marketing, the Messina Group/AEG Live. She worked on the sold-out George Strait dates featuring Martina McBride, as well as the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Brothers of the Sun tour, where she handled partnerships with American Express, Corona Light, Costa Sunglasses and GAC.
40. Beka Tischker, Producer/writer manager, Advanced Alternative Media. She works with Dr. Luke and lists Victoria Shaw as mentor. The Belmont alum’s career has included time in Nashville, where she is building a presence for AAM.
Complete list here.
Lady Antebellum Announces New Charitable Effort LadyAID
/by Jessica NicholsonLady Antebellum announced a new charitable effort, LadyAID, on Monday (Dec. 3) to bring awareness to and generate support for children in need on a local, national and global level.
The organization will benefit children in the state of Tennessee through supporting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Nationally, LadyAID will support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and on a global level, myLIFEspeaks and The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee will provide administrative services for the organization.
“All these organizations are connected,” Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood said during a press conference held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. “We recognize we have a platform and we want to speak up and have an organization that can wave the flag for kids. We want to raise our voice for people in need.”
The trio also announced an upcoming event to support LadyAID. The inaugural fundraising event Ping Pong & Songs, inspired by the trio’s love of playing ping pong while on tour, will take place in early 2013.
Radio personality Gerry House (formerly of Nashville radio station WSIX), Nashville mayor Karl Dean and the Country Music Association’s CEO Steve Moore were on hand for the press conference. To honor the trio’s charitable efforts, Moore presented Lady Antebellum with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.
Donations to LadyAID can be made by visiting www.ladyAID.org.
Disney Music Publishing Inks Melissa Peirce
/by MichelleDisney Music Publishing, Nashville has signed Melissa Peirce to its growing writer roster in a partnership deal between Disney Music Publishing and Pat Higdon’s Patrick Joseph Music.
Peirce says, “Pat and (Disney Music Publishing Vice President) Kos Weaver are two of the most respected song men and publishers in Nashville. Getting to work with them both, along with Barbara VanderLinde, Mio Vukovic, and the rest of Disney is a dream publishing home, and I feel very lucky to be a part of their team.”
Peirce is a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and has written on albums that have collectively sold over 10,000,000 units. Her songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Joss Stone, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Eli Young Band, Randy Montana and John Paul White (The Civil Wars), among others. Peirce has written two Top 10 singles including David Nail’s “Red Light” and Reba’s “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain,” both earning numerous awards. She also co-penned Eli Young Band’s current chart climbing single, “Say Goodnight.”
(L-R): standing: Pat Higdon, Patrick Joseph Music; Kos Weaver; Austen Adams, Crownover Blevins, PC; seated: Melissa Peirce
Shania Embarks on Two-Year Vegas Residency
/by Eric T. ParkerShania Twain performs with background singers Ryan Kowarsky, Dan Kowarsky and sister Carrie-Ann Brown. Photo: Denise Truscello
Caesars Palace welcomed Shania Twain to its Colosseum in Las Vegas over the weekend (12/1-2) for two sold out performances of Shania: Still The One. The weekend engagements begin a two-year residency for the star who will perform dozens of shows at the venue.
Photo: Truscello
A 13-piece band included Twain’s sister, Carrie-Ann Brown, for backup vocals alongside dancing violinists and cellists throughout a selection of the singer’s hits (full set list below). According to reports, highlights included a flying motorcycle, one white and one black horse, confetti, pumped-in fragrances, costumes designed by Marc Bouwer and four male dancers with choreographing by So You Think You Can Dance’s Mandy Moore.
First-run performances are sold out through Dec. 15, however Twain’s March and April dates are currently available for purchase from $55 to $250. Twelve newly announced shows have been added for May and June to go on sale Dec. 14. A complete list of dates include:
Dec. 2012: 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15
Mar. 2013: 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30
Apr. 2013: 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
May 2013: 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31
June 2013: 1
Click here for tickets and more information www.shaniainvegas.com.
Produced by AEG Live and directed by Raj Kapoor, the spectacle is designed to take fans on a journey through the Country superstar’s life and music career with help from production designer Michael Cotton and lighting designer Peter Morse.
Opening night setlist included:
1. I’m Gonna Getcha Good
2. You Win My Love
3. Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
4. Up!
5. Ain’t No Quitter
6. No One Needs to Know
7. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under
8. Any Man of Mine
9. That Don’t Impress Me Much
10. Honey, I’m Home
11. If You’re Not In It For Love (I’m Outta Here)
12. Carrie Anne (Hollies cover with RyanDan)
13. Come On Over
14. Rock This Country
15. Today Is Your Day
16. You’re Still the One
17. From This Moment On
(Encore)
18. Man! I Feel Like a Woman
Watch a video preview below:
Mark Your Calendar–December 2012
/by Eric T. ParkerAlbum Releases
December 4
Florida Georgia Line/Here’s To The Good Times/Republic Nashville
Lisa Matassa/Somebody’s Baby/It Is What It Is Records-Nine North Records
Yarn/Leftovers Volume 2/RPM Entertainment
December 11
Jim Lauderdale & Buddy Miller/Buddy & Jim/New West Records
Various/The Music Of Nashville: Original Soundtrack (Season 1, Volume 1)/Big Machine
December 3
Big & Rich/Party Like Cowboyz/Warner Bros.-W.A.R.
Lee Brice/I Drive Your Truck/Curb
Jillian Kohr/What You’ve Done
Josh Pruno/23rd Psalm/Lawrence Music Group
December 4
Doug Briney/Deja Vu All Over Again/CBM Records
December 17
The Henningsens/American Beautiful/Arista
LeAnn Rimes/Borrowed/Curb
Austin Webb/It’s All Good/Streamsound
Holiday Singles
Tim McGraw/Mary And Joseph/Big Machine Records
Lorrie Morgan/Wrapped Up In Love/Octabrook Records
Craig Morrison/Santa Claus Boogie/Lucky 53s-GMV Nashville
Clinton Gregory/Peace On Earth Again/Melody Roundup Records
Kyle Park/Winter Wonderland
Phil Vassar/Merry Christmas Darling/Rodeowave Entertainment
Tanya Tucker/Merry Christmas Wherever You Are
December 3
December 4
Tunes for Tots toy drive and benefit show at 6:30 p.m. at Blue Bar/Lucy’s Country Café
December 5
Grammy Nominations Concert at Bridgestone Arena, airing on CBS
December 7
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill open Soul2Soul at the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas
December 8
CMT Artists of the Year special
December 10
American Country Awards, airing on Fox
December 11
Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral downtown
December 13
14th annual A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts. 8pm ET on CBS.
December 15
Miracle on Music Row. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at O.liv Body Bar in Edgehill Village
December 20
CMA Country Christmas. ABC telecast
December 31
Jimmy Ritchey Signs With BMG Chrysalis
/by Jessica NicholsonPicture (l-r): Darrell Franklin, Exec. Vice President, BMG Chrysalis; Jimmy Ritchey; and Sara Johnson, Sr. Dir., Creative, BMG Chrysalis
Hit singer-songwriter and producer Jimmy Ritchey recently signed an exclusive agreement with BMG Chrysalis.
Ritchey co-wrote Jake Owen‘s No. 1 hit, “The One That Got Away,” with Owen and Dallas Davidson. Ritchey’s producer credits include newcomer Greg Bates, Owen, Clay Walker and Mark Chesnutt.
Additional writing credits for Ritchey include “Startin’ With Me” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” both hits recorded by Owen, and “I Gotta Get To You,” which was a hit for George Strait.
Apple Releases iTunes 11 with Artist Pages
/by Eric T. ParkerApple debuted a belated iTunes 11 to consumers yesterday (11/29) with major updates to iCloud and Artist Pages. The software updates were originally set for release in October after being unveiled as part of the September iPhone event.
iCloud integrations allow users to pause content on iPhones, iPads, or Macs to resume on another. A download option allows content to be made available for offline listening, and music libraries are able to display additional un-purchased album tracks to complete the album.
Ergonomic updates for the software include song queue revisions, emphasis on cover art, and personal recommendations. Apple now allows gift card redemption via camera, able to photograph the 16-character card codes for redemption.
Download the latest version on Apple’s website. Don’t miss the debut of MusicRow’s Digital Toolbox print issue directory next month, covering iTunes Cloud, mobile hardware, and digital royalties.
MusicRow No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerDierks Bentley. Photo: Jim Wright
Dierks Bentley’s latest single, “Tip It On Back,” gives him another reason to do so as it ratcheted up to the No. 1 position of this week’s MusicRow Chart.
Penned by Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Tully Kennedy, the song stands out from Bentley’s 19 previous singles as the first release not written by the singer. The track appears as the fourth single from his CMA-nominated Home album.
“Times are tough, so relax, drink up and let your troubles fade away,” reported Robert K. Oermann about the single for MusicRow’s DISClaimer. “His vocal has even more personality than usual, and the swirling echo of electric guitars surrounding him is a little bit of sonic magic. Intensely involving.”
Watch the Wes Edwards directed music video here.
Next month, Bentley will be featured during three primetime specials including the Grammy Nomination concert; the American Country Awards in accordance with his Album of the year nomination; and the CMA Country Christmas.
Nashville Executives Make Billboard’s ‘Women In Music 2012’ List
/by Jessica Nicholson(L-R): Carla Wallace, Mary Ann McCready and Kelly Rich
Three of the Nashville music industry’s most talented and hardest-working women were named Billboard Women In Music honorees. Nearly 200 executives were nominated and whittled down to 41 honorees that made the final list.
• Kelly Rich, Senior VP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive, Big Machine Label Group, lands at No. 27 on the list. Rich leads the company’s interactive and digital efforts; BMLG’s Twitter followers for its label and all its artists, have increased 104 percent from year to year. Rich lists her mentor as Big Machine Label Group CEO/founder Scott Borchetta. She has been named a Billboard Women In Music honoree twice.
• Mary Ann McCready, President, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, comes in at No. 31 on the list. The company’s clients include Keith Urban, Kings of Leon, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, and Blake Shelton. McCready founded FBMM in 1990, is a trustee of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was the first female recipient of The CMA President’s Award. McCready has previously been named a Billboard Women In Music honoree. She lists her mentor as former president/CEO of Cedarwood Publishing, Bill Denny.
• Carla Wallace, Co-owner/GM, Big Yellow Dog Music, lands at No. 37. With singles on the chart every week since January, the independent publishing company’s hits this year include “Drunk on You,” Luke Bryan; “Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood; and “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright,” George Strait; as well as singles by Gloriana, Lady Antebellum, and Darius Rucker. The company placed a song in the film The Bourne Legacy, and scored an international cut on Susan Boyle’s album. Wallace, who received MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row honor earlier this year, lists co-owner Kerry O’Neill as her longtime mentor.
• • • •
Ellen Truley
The issue also profiles women in leadership roles at each of the three performing rights organizations, including Nashville’s own Ellen Bligh Truley, VP of Corporate Relations at SESAC. She produces the organization’s annual awards events for all genres, as well as the annual songwriter boot camp. Truley and her team also handle branding initiatives for SESAC at Grammys on the Hill, and partnerships with Land Rover, Maker’s Mark, Icelandic Glacial Water and Red Bull. Her department oversees SESAC magazine, and the organization’s social media and mobile marketing, which were key to making a big splash with the recent news that the organization is offering monthly royalty distributions. Other profiles feature Lauren Iossa, Sr. VP of Communications and Media at ASCAP; and Alison Smith, Sr. VP of Performing Rights at BMI.
• • • •
Other Women In Music notables:
18. Tifanie Van Laar-Frever, Senior buyer, Walmart. She’s making sure country fans can find product on retail shelves.
28. Marcie Allen, President, MAC Presents. The Nashville native moved her sponsorship and live events agency to New York a few years ago, but continues to be a major player in country music and beyond. In the last year her initiatives included placing The Band Perry for Samsung/AT&T at the Cotton Bowl, further developing social media partnerships and obtaining clients from the fashion world.
29. Kathy Spanberger, peermusic president/CEO. Among her wins this year was working with peermusic Nashville creative director Michael Knox to ink a co-publishing agreement with Neil Thrasher.
38. Kate McMahon, VP/senior director of marketing, the Messina Group/AEG Live. She worked on the sold-out George Strait dates featuring Martina McBride, as well as the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Brothers of the Sun tour, where she handled partnerships with American Express, Corona Light, Costa Sunglasses and GAC.
40. Beka Tischker, Producer/writer manager, Advanced Alternative Media. She works with Dr. Luke and lists Victoria Shaw as mentor. The Belmont alum’s career has included time in Nashville, where she is building a presence for AAM.
Complete list here.
Carrie Underwood To Star In NBC’s ‘The Sound of Music’
/by Jessica NicholsonThe three-hour event will air during the 2013 holiday season. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (producing team for NBC’s Smash) have partnered with NBC for the musical. “We’re thrilled to be presenting the Broadway version of The Sound of Music live,” said Zadan and Meron via a release, “and having Carrie Underwood as the star brings it to a new generation who will fall in love with it for the first time as many millions of people already have. It’s a particular joy to us as producers to see this amazing artist stretch into new territory with this classic musical.”
“To have a star like Carrie Underwood perform Maria in The Sound of Music—and in such a very special and unique production—is exciting beyond words,” said Ted Chapin, President, Rodgers & Hammerstein. “Part of the magic of Rodgers and Hammerstein is how their work has adapted itself to so many different incarnations, and I am certain the fresh spirit Underwood brings to her own songs will transition into exciting versions of the classic songs we all know and love.”
Underwood previously starred as youth minister Sarah Hill in the 2011 movie Soul Surfer and had a guest TV role in an episode of How I Met Your Mother. She also starred in her own holiday television variety special in 2009.
ACM Announces Changes To New Artist Category
/by Sarah SkatesThe Academy’s New Artist awards can change year-to-year, at the discretion of the board of directors, based on eligible candidates. Eligibility is determined on many factors including radio success. Changes might include combining or separating the duo and group categories.
For example, in 2012, only one trophy was presented, for overall New Artist of the Year. In 2011, three trophies were awarded: Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo or Group, and overall Top New Artist.
For the 2013 awards, the top three artists from the first round of ACM professional voting (which opens Mon., Dec. 3) will be considered finalists for New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist and New Vocal Duo or Group. They will compete via the Great American Country (GAC) fan vote at GACtv.com, combined with the ACM professional membership vote, to determine the winners for those Awards.
Winners in each of the three categories will automatically become nominees for the overall New Artist of the Year award, which will also be determined by a combined fan and professional membership vote. The New Artist award will be revealed on the live telecast of the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be held next spring on an as-yet-unannounced date.
Nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards will be revealed in February 2013, date to be announced.
Professional membership voting timeline
1st Ballot Opens – Monday, December 3, 2012
1st Ballot Closes – Monday, December 10, 2012
2nd Ballot Opens – Monday, January 14, 2013
2nd Ballot Closes – Monday, January 21, 2013
3rd Ballot Opens – Monday, March 11, 2013
3rd Ballot Closes – Monday, March 18, 2013