BMI Honors Gospel In Nashville

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BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Fri., Jan. 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, and 2008 Trailblazers honoree Vanessa Bell Armstrong were among the artists who paid homage to the honorees. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant also presented an award for Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year to Marvin Sapp and his esteemed collaborator Matthew Brownie in recognition of their co-written hit “Never Would Have Made It,” which was recorded by Pastor Sapp.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Bread Founder Launches NashFilms Records

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Robb Royer

Robb Royer, founding member of ‘70s rock band Bread, has opened NashFilms Records on Music Row. With a background also including work as a producer and director, Royer originally planned to start a motion picture production company, but it evolved into a record label when he began working with pop/dance artist Karissa Hope la Cour and released her current single “Moved By The Music.”

NashFilms has an in-house studio and video production bay. The team includes Jessie Royer-Holmes heading day-to-day operations, production manager Harrison Holmes, and Don Murry Grubbs handling publicity. Joe Mattis, President of SlugFest Records Nashville, has been brought in to act as head of the label’s Advisory Board. Next up, NashFilms is planning the release of music project The Finnigan Bros.: The 1990 Sessions.

Top Artists Support Worthy Causes

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Many big name artists are set for benefit concerts in Nashville over the next few weeks. On Feb. 2 Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Keith Anderson, Jennifer Hanson, Mark Nesler, and Matt Gary will turn out for the Gift of Music benefit at the Wildhorse Saloon. The 7 PM fundraiser for the W.O. Smith Music School is being presented by The Dustin J. Wells Foundation, which was established to honor the memory of Dustin (son of Dennis J. Wells, D.D.S., and nephew of music producer Kent Wells) who lost his life in a 2005 car accident. Last year’s Gift of Music concert raised more than $50,000. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and start at $45. VIP tickets are $500.

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Lorrie Morgan, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Diffie and guest Jesse Whitley will perform at the Life Through Music Concert to benefit Grammy-winning Nashville bassist Chris Kent who has Multiple Myeloma. The concert will be Thurs., Feb. 5, 7 PM at the Cannery Ballroom. Tickets start at $25, and VIP tickets including artist meet & greet and drinks are available for $65. For tickets go to www.mercylounge.com or www.ticketweb.com.

Lady A Making National TV Rounds

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Lady Antebellum has scheduled several upcoming national television performances, including NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 22, and a two-song performance on The Early Show’s “GRAMMY Concert Series” on CBS, Sat., Feb. 7. Additionally, in anticipation of the Grammy nominated band’s opening slot on Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival tour of arenas and stadiums, Lady A will be featured on DirectTV’s Concert Series through March 15. “I Run To You” is the third single from the trio’s hit debut album and is working its way up the Country Breakout chart.

Publishers Snap Up Rights To Hall of Famers’ Songs

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Primary Wave Music Publishing, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, has purchased the late Tennessee Ernie Ford’s catalog from his estate, Billboard reports. The transaction includes about 170 songs by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Also a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Ford released nearly 50 albums during his career. Though Ford is best known for his biggest hit “16 Tons,” he did not write the song and therefore it is not included in the catalog.

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Gospel Music Hall of Famer BeBe Winans has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Evergreen Copyrights. According to Billboard, the deal is comprised of songs on his upcoming albums, including a reunion project with CeCe Winans. His latest single, “Right Now (We Need One Another),” features Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd and CeCe.

Clear Channel Hires Lindy, Despite Looming Layoffs

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Clear Channel Communications will begin restructuring across the board next week, making changes expected to save the company $400 million, according to The NY Post. With 30,000 employees worldwide, CCC’s plan includes laying off workers in its radio, outdoor advertising and international divisions. In an attempt to consolidate duties and cut programming costs, CCC might also adopt a “national programming” model that would require less local-level staffing, the Post says. Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners purchased CCC last year for $17.9 billion.

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Scott Lindy, Sirius’s former Sr. Country PD, is taking over as Clear Channel Atlanta’s Director of Operations, as well as handling PD duties for the cluster’s WUBL (94.9 the Bull)/Atlanta. He left the satcaster in September during its merger with XM. Succeeding the recently promoted Clay Hunnicutt, Lindy begins his new duties in Atlanta next week.

Circuit City Going Under

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Circuit City will liquidate its nationwide chain of more than 500 consumer electronics stores. After courting prospective buyers and investors, as well as filing Chapter 11 in November, the nation’s second-biggest consumer electronics retailer announced today (1/16) that it had run out of viable options to stay afloat. The closures will leave the chain’s 30,000 people without work. In the Nashville area, Circuit City has stores in Clarksville, Cool Springs, Bellevue and Madison.

Turmoil on Gaylord Board

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Gaylord Entertainment is in a dispute with its largest shareholder, TRT Holdings, over the way Gaylord executives are running the company. TRT, which owns properties including the Omni Hotel chain, yesterday (1/15) sent an open letter to shareholders criticizing Gaylord’s senior management and seeking support to elect four of its own people, including TRT CEO Robert Rowling, to the Gaylord Board of Directors. In the letter, TRT accuses Gaylord of poor financial performance relative to peer group, excessive overhead, corporate waste, and lack of accountability to shareholders.

A statement released by Gaylord defends its management and says that electing TRT execs to its board would be a conflict of interest because of the Omni Hotels. Gaylord counters that TRT is trying to take control of the company without “a full and fair price being paid to all Gaylord shareholders.”

Tin Pan South Dates Announced

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has set March 31–April 4, 2009 as the dates for its renowned Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. Regions Bank is back as the presenting sponsor of the 17th annual event. A Tin Pan South Preview Party, scheduled for March 3 at The Rutledge, will feature songwriter performances and announcements about the Festival line-up, venues, tickets and more.

An annual fundraiser for NSAI’s work on behalf of songwriters, last year’s Festival featured nine Nashville venues hosting over 350 songwriters performing 80 shows. Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival, drawing over 9,000 fans in 2008.

Regular updates regarding the 17th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and the sale of the popular Fast Access passes can be found at www.nashvillesongwriters.com and www.tinpansouth.com beginning Jan. 19. Fast Access passes will go on sale March 4, 2009.

Americana Auction Open, Conference Planning Underway

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The Americana Music Association is hosting an auction to raise funds for its 2009 Americana Music Festival & Conference, set to take place in Music City Sept. 16-19. Auction items include a Gibson-donated guitar signed by Robert Plant, Levon Helm and other artists who appeared at the 2008 Americana Honors & Awards show; a songwriter mentor session with Jim Lauderdale; passes for Austin City Limits’ 35th Anniversary show featuring Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel; concert tickets and autographed Hatch Show Prints. New items are being added all the time, and the auction will proceed through the winter months at www.americanamusicauction.com.

With plans well underway for the 10th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, today (1/15) the non-profit organization began accepting applications to showcase at the event. An annual part of the conference is the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, scheduled this year for Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Conference registrations are currently at the early bird discounted rate of $250 for members and $350 for non members. Conference registration and showcase information at www.americanamusic.org.