Mayor Karl Dean announced today that Music Row veteran Randy Goodman will serve as co-chairman of the Nashville Music Council. Goodman most recently served as president of Lyric Street Records in Nashville. Goodman is a member of the Country Music Association board of directors and served as president and chairman of the board in 2008 and 2009. He is also a trustee for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Randy is the right person to promote our Music City brand and to help Nashville continue to attract and retain musicians and other creative people,” said Mayor Dean, who also serves as co-chairman of the Nashville Music Council. “He will help us continue to improve music education in Nashville,” Mayor Dean said. “He is the right guy to convince companies that Nashville is the place to be if they want to do business in the music industry. And, like me, he believes you can never have too much live music happening in our city.”

The Nashville Music Council was launched in 2009 as a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau to capitalize on Nashville’s identity as Music City.

“Mayor Dean has been the strongest advocate, friend and supporter of the music industry of all the elected officials I have worked with in my 30 years in the business,” Goodman said. “To get the chance to serve as a co-chair is an honor and an exciting opportunity for me. I am eager to give back and to help Mayor Dean help the entertainment industry thrive as a business in a city that attracts musicians from all genres.”

Over the past year, the Nashville Music Council has also established a partnership with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center to help incubate startups in digital media and entertainment.  Additionally, it created an education plan for 2012 and helped develop plans for Nashville’s first artists’ residence, The Ryman Lofts.
For more information, visit www.nashvillemusiccouncil.com.
 

Dallas and Nashville-based artist development company BE Music & Entertainment has announced its new management team. The company recently opened its Nashville office.
BE Music & Entertainment Pres. Michael Blanton has named Chelsea Drimmel as Artist Development Manager for the Nashville office and Elisabeth Jordan as Artist Development Manager for the company’s Dallas office. Both will be responsible for overseeing all operations in their respective offices. BE is headed by Blanton with Carl Kornmeyer, and is a subsidiary of Dallas-based London Broadcasting Company headed by Terry London.
Artist managers David McCollum, James Hodgin, and Chris DeTray and Assoc. Artist Manager Jami Crockett also join the BE team following a merger with Dryve Artist Management. The merger includes artists Dave Barnes (whose song “God Gave Me You” is Blake Shelton’s new single), Dove Award winner Chris August, Jackopierce, Cary Pierce, Manafest, Derek Webb, Shawn McDonald, Nathan Angelo, Slugs & Bugs, Stephen Gause, Bryan Brown, Downhere, All Sons & Daughters and Andrew Ripp.
“In a music business where rules are being rewritten and ingenuity is the necessary status quo, we relish the opportunity of this new partnership. The BE Music creative vision of the future, experienced leadership, and fairness model align perfectly with our team and we couldn’t be more excited,” says McCollum.
The company has also announced a relationship with Nashville production team Sorted Noise, which specializes in artist branding and TV/film production and licensing. BE is also building audio/video production space in the Terrazzo development in the Gulch with offices, writing rooms, performance space and more. For general inquiries about BE, contact info@BEMusicEntertainment.com.

Willie Robertson, co-creator of live entertainment brokerage firm Robertson Taylor, passed away July 9, 2011 after a short but determined fight against cancer.
His company’s board, management team and staff describe him as an “inspirational and passionate leader, business partner and friend.”
Robertson was also a dedicated philanthropist, and founded charity Nordoff Robbins, which used music to brighten the lives of those in need. He was actively involved in the organization since he helped start it 36 years ago.
Robertson teamed with Bob Taylor and Ian France to establish Robertson Taylor in 1977, offering insurance for live entertainment events.
Upon Robertson’s passing, Taylor said, “Ian France and I were his partners and friends for in excess of 40 years and to say that he will leave a gap in our lives is truly an understatement. Willie was a prolific producer of business and a tough and challenging partner throughout our long and incredibly successful relationship.
“Over the years he made many life-long friends who have been in regular contact with his family and I over the last few weeks. The support has been overwhelming coming from all across the world.
“I am extremely saddened by this news after such a short illness but, I am equally determined that all his good work will go on.”
Robertson Taylor is headquartered in London, with offices in Nashville, Los Angeles and other cities.
Donations in memory of Robertson can be made to Nordoff Robbins at www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk.

Katie Armiger is releasing a deluxe package with added content of her current album, Confessions of a Nice Girl via iTunes Sept. 20. The deluxe edition features four new original songs including her single, “I Do, But Do I” plus a dance mix of her hit, “Best Song Ever.” Also included are videos for “Best Song Ever,” and “I Do, But Do I.”
“I wanted to do something special to get new material out to my fans that have shown me so much support over the years,” says Armiger. “I knew immediately when I heard ‘I Do, But Do I’ that I had to record it and I am so grateful that fans have embraced it as much as I have and already voted it #2 on the GAC Top 20 Countdown.”
 
 
 
VP Records and Warner Music Nashville will release Reggae’s Gone Country’ on Aug. 30, a musical roots-connecting dialogue between Kingston and Nashville. The compilation features classic country hits covered by Jamaica’s top musicians (Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Tessanne Chin, Etana, Luciano, Sly & Robbie) as well as supporting vocals provided by original recording artist and country icon Larry Gatlin of The Gatlin Brothers. Country music devotee Cristy Barber, VP of Marketing and Promotions at VP Records, the world’s largest reggae label envisioned this project two years ago and teamed up on lead production with John Rich, and the acclaimed Jamaican saxophonist and top reggae producer Dean Fraser.
“Reggae’s Gone Country is taking some of Jamaican’s favorite classic American country songs and putting their beats and whole instrumentation around it while still having that root of country… It is this crazy cool idea,” says John Rich.
 
Track Listing
1. California – Romain Virgo & Larry Gatlin
2. He’ll Have To Go – Luciano
3. Wolverton Mountain – Richie Stephens
4. Crazy – Etana
5. The Chair – Tarrus Riley
6. He Stopped Loving Her Today – Beres Hammond
7. Suspicions – Duane Stephenson
8. Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes – Tessanne Chin
9. Feel So Right – Gramps Morgan
10. King Of The Road – Freddie McGregor
11. El Paso – Sanchez
12. Flowers On The Wall – L.U.S.T.
13. The Gambler – Busy Signal
14. Straight Tequila Night – Tarrus Riley [iTunes Bonus Track]

Cheyenne Kimball has left Gloriana, the band announced today (7/11) via a statement on its website.
The group shared the news through this post:

We need you to know that Gloriana will absolutely continue on. We couldn’t imagine our lives any other way.
We are 100 percent committed to all of you, our fans and supporters. As planned, we will debut our new music video this week and will continue touring and supporting “Wanna Take You Home” while finishing up our new album. We wish Cheyenne the best of luck in whatever lies ahead for her.

The band’s remaining line-up is still intact with brothers Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin, and Rachel Reinert.
Gloriana’s current single “Wanna Take You Home” is climbing the charts as the band preps the release of its sophomore studio album on Emblem Music Group/ Warner Bros. Records.