Next Big Nashville Soundland is drawing top nationwide talent as well as some of the brightest up-and-comers from the Nashville scene. The recently revealed line-up includes Foster the People, Caitlin Rose, Ghostland Observatory, M Ward, Justin Townes Earle, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Those Darlins, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Robert Ellis, PUJOL, and Madi Diaz.
Now in its sixth year, the music event will take place in Nashville Sept. 21–24.
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years with Next BIG Nashville but, looking forward, we saw an opportunity to push the idea of the festival even further. And that new vision deserved a new name,” said NBN co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins of the new moniker Soundland. “This new event now gives us an opportunity to embrace the entire creative community – from arts to film to food and more.”
Beyond the music lineup, SoundLand will be adding outdoor stages, arts, local food trucks and more interactive fun, culminating in an all-day party at Public Square Park in downtown on Sat., Sept. 24.
“Alongside the music festival, we’ve completely reinvented the industry component; moving away from a traditional conference with panels into what we’re calling Field Trips,” said Kevin Brown, Partner in Next BIG Nashville. “Sponsors have really gravitated toward what we’re doing in 2011, and fans have too. We’re off to a screaming start.”
Next Big Nashville’s Soundland Shares Line-up
/by Sarah SkatesNow in its sixth year, the music event will take place in Nashville Sept. 21–24.
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years with Next BIG Nashville but, looking forward, we saw an opportunity to push the idea of the festival even further. And that new vision deserved a new name,” said NBN co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins of the new moniker Soundland. “This new event now gives us an opportunity to embrace the entire creative community – from arts to film to food and more.”
Beyond the music lineup, SoundLand will be adding outdoor stages, arts, local food trucks and more interactive fun, culminating in an all-day party at Public Square Park in downtown on Sat., Sept. 24.
“Alongside the music festival, we’ve completely reinvented the industry component; moving away from a traditional conference with panels into what we’re calling Field Trips,” said Kevin Brown, Partner in Next BIG Nashville. “Sponsors have really gravitated toward what we’re doing in 2011, and fans have too. We’re off to a screaming start.”
Next Big Nashville's Soundland Shares Line-up
/by Sarah SkatesNow in its sixth year, the music event will take place in Nashville Sept. 21–24.
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years with Next BIG Nashville but, looking forward, we saw an opportunity to push the idea of the festival even further. And that new vision deserved a new name,” said NBN co-founder Jason Moon Wilkins of the new moniker Soundland. “This new event now gives us an opportunity to embrace the entire creative community – from arts to film to food and more.”
Beyond the music lineup, SoundLand will be adding outdoor stages, arts, local food trucks and more interactive fun, culminating in an all-day party at Public Square Park in downtown on Sat., Sept. 24.
“Alongside the music festival, we’ve completely reinvented the industry component; moving away from a traditional conference with panels into what we’re calling Field Trips,” said Kevin Brown, Partner in Next BIG Nashville. “Sponsors have really gravitated toward what we’re doing in 2011, and fans have too. We’re off to a screaming start.”
Joe Nichols To Host ACM Honors
/by Sarah SkatesThis is Nichols’ first time hosting the show, and the second time it will be held at the Ryman Auditorium, which will be recognized at the event as ACM Venue of the Year. Nichols, an ACM Award winner, says leading the evening is “definitely a high point in my career.”
Tickets will be made available to the public via Ticketmaster, with on-sale details coming next week.
Those being honored at the event include Special Award recipients Garth Brooks, John Dorris, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Reba, Taylor Swift and the film Country Strong. Hank Cochran will also be honored posthumously. The evening also recognizes winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not presented during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards. See the complete list of winners.
Memorial Services For Kenny Baker, Jack Barlow
/by Sarah SkatesKenny Baker
A memorial service is scheduled for late bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker. The revered musician was a longtime member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. See the full obituary.
Lance Leroy and Bobby Osborne will host the memorial service on Wed., Aug. 3 at 7 PM at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Music Valley Drive.
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Jack Barlow
Country singer Jack Barlow died July 29 after struggling with a longtime illness. He was 87.
The Illinois native had a hit in the 1960s with first release “I Love Country Music.” He went on to record four albums and release numerous singles including “Catch the Wind.” Barlow was a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry during this time.
By the 1970s he began singing jingles for Big Red chewing gum and others. He later voiced commercials for Busch Beer, Budweiser, Chrysler, Dollar General, Kraft, Uncle Ben’s Rice, Dodge, and Kellogg’s.
Barlow got his start in the music business as a radio DJ, following his time in the Navy during WWII.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Dianne, several children and grandchildren.
A public memorial will be held Aug. 13 from 5-9 p.m. at Harpeth Hills Memory Garden Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN 37221.
Hirings At Cold River, TJ Martell
/by Sarah SkatesCold River Records has hired Jenelle Scott as Day to Day Manager for flagship artist Katie Armiger. Scott’s background includes time at Webster & Associates PR, handling accounts for Wynonna Judd and Lee Brice.
“We’re thrilled that Jenelle chose the Katie Project as her next mission. She has layers of experience and we know she’ll hit the ground running,” remarked label head Pete O’Heeron.
Scott is already on the job and will join Armiger on the road next week in Colorado where the singer is opening dates for Brice and Darius Rucker.
Effective today, Scott can be reached at jenelle@coldriverrecords.com.
• • • •
Cindy Francis Lovelace
The T.J. Martell Foundation’s Southern Region office has added one staffer and promoted another. The music biz led charity for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research has hired Cindy Francis Lovelace as Director of Development for the Southern Region, and promoted Melissa Goodwin to Director of Administration for the entire Foundation. Laura Heatherly remains onboard as CEO.
Lovelace has served on the Martell Board for four years and celebrates six years as a breast cancer survivor. She has over thirty years experience in media and marketing. While in radio, she was instrumental in establishing partnerships with the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, CMA, Tin Pan South, and Steeplechase, as well as leading major charitable fundraising alliances with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Goodwin has been with the T.J. Martell Foundation since 2005. As Office and Events Manager for the Southern Region, she coordinated the Ride for a Cure and Wirtgen Golf Tournament. In the new role as Director of Administration for all three offices, she will focus on human resources, finance, and contracts in addition to still working on Ride for a Cure.
Black River Beefs Up Marketing Dept.
/by Sarah SkatesKatie McCartney
Black River Entertainment has tapped Katie McCartney as Director, Marketing. In the new role, she will handle the day-to-day marketing activities of all artists on the label’s roster.
McCartney was most recently with Sony Music Entertainment as Manager of Marketing and Artist Development. Prior to that the MTSU grad held promotion and marketing posts at Lyric Street Records.
“We are thrilled that Katie is joining our team at Black River,” shares General Manager Greg McCarn. “She brings a great skill set and marketing background to the table and her enthusiasm and dedication are contagious.”
“I’m beyond excited for the amazing opportunity to become a part of the Black River family,” adds McCartney.
Mike McVay Headed To Cumulus
/by FreemanMcVay Media also recently added radio veteran Charlie Cook as President, and it will soon be renamed McVay/Cook & Associates. Cook’s new weekly radio column for MusicRow, “Charlie Cook On Air,” started last week.
RIAA’s Bainwol In Auto Talks
/by adminReportedly, Bainwol has not actually accepted the new position, but talks have progressed sufficiently for him to inform the RIAA Board of Directors he might soon be departing.
Under Bainwol’s watch, the RIAA has enjoyed high profile success in battling music piracy including a recent finding against file sharing site Limewire and a deal with ISPs to more aggressively discourage subscribers from pirating movies and music.
Obviously it is premature to know who might replace Bainwol should he depart, but insiders are already pointing to current RIAA President Cary Sherman.
RIAA's Bainwol In Auto Talks
/by adminReportedly, Bainwol has not actually accepted the new position, but talks have progressed sufficiently for him to inform the RIAA Board of Directors he might soon be departing.
Under Bainwol’s watch, the RIAA has enjoyed high profile success in battling music piracy including a recent finding against file sharing site Limewire and a deal with ISPs to more aggressively discourage subscribers from pirating movies and music.
Obviously it is premature to know who might replace Bainwol should he depart, but insiders are already pointing to current RIAA President Cary Sherman.
CCM Artist Dan Peek, Formerly of America, Dead at Age 60
/by Robert K OermannPeek’s CCM work topped the gospel charts and earned a Grammy Award nomination, but he was best known for his earlier tenure in the pop group America. He sang and played on such America hits as “A Horse with No Name” (1972), “I Need You” (1972), “Ventura Highway” (1972), “Tin Man” (1974), “Lonely People” (1975) and “Sister Golden Hair” (1975).
He wrote “Lonely People,” as well as such America tunes as “Rainy Day,” “Everyone I Meet Is From California,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Saturn Nights,” “Simple Life” and “Woman Tonight.”
He left the group in 1977. He renewed his Christian faith and embarked on a second career while former partners Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell continued America as a duo. Peek’s CCM debut album, All Things Are Possible, was released in 1979. It was nominated for a Grammy. Its title tune was a No. 1 CCM hit, crossed over to the mainstream pop charts and became a top-10 A/C hit.
The CCM field was quite young at the time. Dan Peek was a pioneer of the genre alongside such other former pop stars as Barry McGuire, Richey Furay, Larry Norman and Noel Paul Stookey.
Peek’s second CCM collection, 1984’s Doer of the World, also had a title tune that became a top-10 hit on the gospel charts. Peek’s 1986 album, Electro Voice, included a remake of America’s “Lonely People” with rewritten, Christian-oriented lyrics. It and the album’s title tune both became top-10 gospel hits.
Other albums included Cross Over (1987), Bodden Town (1999) and Caribbean Christmas (2000). During the 1990s, Peek also recorded four CCM albums as a member of the group Peace.
Dan Peek published an autobiography titled An American Band: The America Story in 2004. No cause of death has been made public.