Jen Conger
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Jen Conger quickly moved up the ranks to become a business manager at FBMM after becoming the first female associate business manager in the firm’s history and doing so at a record pace of under 10 years. In Conger’s almost two decades of experience within the music industry, she has mentored a broad list of accomplished artists who have collectively received 17 Grammy Award wins, along with many ACM, CMA, Billboard and Golden Globe awards. She is a member of the ACM, the CMA, SOURCE, The Recording Academy and The Country Music Hall of Fame Troubadour Society, as well as an alumna of the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) and a member of the Leadership Music’s Class of 2020.
Conger played an integral role in the development and execution of seven sold-out concerts held at Bridgestone Arena, in which the proceeds—over $4 million to date—benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame. For the last nine years, she has organized a clothing and instrument donation on behalf of her clients, with donated items totaling over $110,000 given to the W.O. Smith Music School, and in 2018, was involved in the preparation of a sold-out benefit concert in October of that year, which raised over $700,000 net for various music industry-oriented charities, including MusiCares.
Conger will be honored as part of the current class of MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row on Oct. 20. For more details about the class and the event, click here.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town called Greensboro, Georgia. I went to high school in Athens, Georgia. My parents would drive an hour each way to take me to school there. I ended up going to college in Nashville at Vanderbilt.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
What did you study?
I studied U.S. history and English and minored in film studies. I wanted to be in film director. I got accepted to NYU, but my parents didn’t want me to go too far away. I came here and didn’t know anything about the music industry.
What did you do after graduation?
I had gotten an internship at a music video production company. They made music videos for country artists. I had been the executive assistant to one of the owners and the bookkeeper left soon after I started. I raised my hand because I was a struggling kid right out of college trying to make ends meet. I thought, “I don’t necessarily know accounting, but I’m good with math and money, so how about I try out this whole bookkeeping thing.” I just fell into it, but had a knack for it. I thought if this was something I was interested in, I needed to focus on a place that actually does this.
Is that how you ended up at FBMM?
Yes. A friend of mine let me know about a job opening at FBMM. That was 18 years ago, I’ve been here ever since. I fell into it, went back to school and got my masters in accounting, and just have been learning as I go along the way.
What did you learn right away when you fell into business management?
People need financial advisors. Unfortunately, you’re not being taught this in school. So often we have musicians who suddenly have all this fame, but the reality is that the money comes long after the fame. Having a team in place that’s being a good steward to your money is so important. So is having people on your team who know the music industry versus someone who is not well versed on royalties and touring, et cetera. It can get artists in a lot of trouble.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
Since you didn’t originally set out to be in the music industry, when did you feel like you were in the right place?
Probably two years into working at FBMM. I went out on tour with a client and loved it. I loved seeing how the bills that I was paying were reflected on tour. The video bill, the trucking bill, the bus bill… Seeing it coming together live. That’s when I realized this was going to be a career for me.
Business managers are unsung heroes of the music industry. What are some of your proudest moments that you’ve worked on behind the scenes?
We’re not in the limelight and that’s okay. We get the work done. I think sometimes we make it look too easy. We’re getting the work done so that the artist isn’t having to worry about it, but the artist isn’t seeing the mountains that we’re moving every day to get those things done.
I have one client in particular that has put on multiple shows benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame. I’ve been at the forefront of that, organizing it and haggling with vendors to try to get as much money to the Country Music Hall of Fame as possible. At the end of the night, being able to let the Hall of Fame know that we’ve got three quarters of a million dollars heading their way is pretty cool.
What advice would you give a new business manager?
The devil is in the details. It’s important to check your decimal points. (Laughs) Be accountable. When you screw up, chances are you’re going to think that it’s way worse than it actually is. There’s probably a long line of people who’ve made the same mistake, so be accountable and own it. Most importantly, learn from that mistake so you don’t repeat it. I tell new hires some of the really big faux pas that I made moving up. [Through my errors], they’re able to understand that even though I may have made a huge error, I’m still here because I learned from it and I grew from it versus trying to be defensive.
Who have been some of your mentors?
From a personal standpoint, my mother is amazing. Her sacrificing for us and being our chauffeur. (Laughs) She had cancer in her early thirties with two young kids; and she sacrificed and did what she needed to do for her family. From a personal level, I’m always trying to emulate that. I’ve got two kids and try to be a fraction of the kick ass mom that she was.
Professionally, Chuck Hull has been a great mentor. He is a tour manager for one of my artists. He’s been in the business for 40 something years. He has worked with some no names you’ve probably never heard of like Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and John Hiatt. He has taken me under his wing for the last 20 years and has educated me about the touring world—both the historical side of things and how things have changed over time. He’s like a surrogate father to me.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
What do you think are some of the best qualities about our industry?
That it’s constantly evolving. The technology is constantly evolving. The revenue streams are constantly evolving. There’s not a cookie cutter idea of what an artist should look like anymore. It used to be cookie cutter but we’re definitely moving away from that and I think that’s a wonderful thing.
What’s a moment you’ve had that your little kid self would think is so cool?
I got a shout out at an award show when my client won Entertainer of the Year. Business managers are never in the limelight, and we’re definitely never mentioned in acceptance speeches, so that was a big deal. [Laughs] And then meeting Dolly Parton.
What is something people might not know about you?
I know a lot of film trivia. My favorite movies are Goodfellas and The Godfather: Part II. My favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard.
You will be honored at MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Oct. 20. What has your experience been like as a woman in the industry?
Being a woman in the music industry is not easy. It’s still very much a good ol’ boys club. Again, I think we’re moving away from that, which is wonderful.
As women, we have to look out for each other. I’ve seen too many times this hazing mentality of, “It wasn’t easy for me, so I’m not going to bend over backwards to help this next generation.” We need to erase that mentality from our brains because it’s not helping. It’s only making the issue worse. We have to all work with each other and cheer for each other along the way.
Industry Ink: MuttNation, BMI, Studio2Bee & John Shomby, Adam Hood
/by Lydia FarthingMiranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation Provides 2 Million Pet Meals
Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation, in partnership with Greater Good Charities’ Goods Program, is providing 2 million pet meals to help families facing economic hardships. The Goods Program delivers product to pre-vetted and trained Ambassador groups who distribute the product to local end recipient groups in need. This donation will be delivered to more than 30 Goods Ambassadors with pet food pantries in over 30 cities.
“During times of crisis, it’s important to keep families and their pets together,” Lambert explains. “We are proud to partner with Greater Good Charities and hope our GOODS Program donation will help families and their pets stay united in their homes during these challenging times.”
In August, MuttNation provided financial support to more than a dozen animal shelters that took in nearly 4,000 beagles removed from a research facility in Virginia, and assisted with medical bills to help shelters ready the beagles for adoption.
BMI Kicks Off AmericanaFest With Special Rooftop Show
BMI’s Nina Carter, BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill, and BMI’s Mason Hunter with The Heavy Heavy. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
BMI threw their annual AmericanaFest KickOff Party on the rooftop of their Nashville offices last week (Sept. 13). The evening featured performances from the retro-inspired rock band The Heavy Heavy and contemporary blues and soul musician Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.
The Heavy Heavy opened up the night and performed some tunes from their EP Life and Life Only. The five-member band is currently on tour across the U.S. and Germany, and is expected to release their first album in 2023. Grammy-nominated Kingfish followed, giving a bluesy, soulful performance to the AmericanaFest audience. The 23-year-old artist has headlined two national tours and performed with Jason Isbell, Vampire Weekend, and Buddy Guy.
BMI’s next rooftop event will be held Sept. 27 as part of the Rooftop on the Row series.
Studio2Bee & John Shomby’s Country Radio’s Coach Join Forces
Nashville-based artist development firm Studio2Bee Entertainment has aligned with John Shomby’s Country Radio’s Coach, Inc. Both firms will maintain their separate imprints, yet share services, strategies and staff.
“It’s a growth maneuver for both organizations that puts symbiotic missions under one roof,” notes Skip Bishop, CEO and Co-Founder of Studio2Bee along with Butch Waugh. “We were using John’s expertise and services with our clients and decided to join forces. For decades we’ve been great friends with John. Besides being brilliant he’s darn fun to be around,” Bishop continues. “He is a tsunami of creative, positive energy and a welcomed addition to our leadership team.”
“It was a no-brainer to get involved with Skip, Butch and the crew at Studio2Bee,” adds Shomby. “They are super creative, forward-thinking and I really need to make up for all those years I was late on their music.”
Before starting Country Radio’s Coach, Inc., Shomby programmed multiple-format major market radio positions and most recently held an executive programming position with Cumulus Media in Nashville. Meanwhile, Studio2Bee was created in 2014 by former Sony executives Bishop and Waugh.
Adam Hood Rings In The Release Of Bad Days Better At Bobby’s Idle Hour
Pictured (L-R): Alexandra Light, Director of Marketing & Operations at Soundly Music; Zach Farnum, Publicist at 117 Entertainment; Adam Hood and Britni Hood
Adam Hood recently celebrated his fifth studio album release with a full band show at Bobby’s Idle Hour in Nashville following a packed AmericanaFest.
Bad Days Better is currently ranked No. 14 on the Americana Albums Chart. The album’s “Harder Stuff” featuring Miranda Lambert and “Flesh and Blood” are No. 26 and No. 58, respectively. The Lambert-graced track is also No. 11 on the Texas Radio chart.
Spencer Crandall Takes Fans On A Journey With Upcoming Album ‘Western’
/by Liza AndersonSpencer Crandall. Photo: Nina Long
Independent country singer-songwriter Spencer Crandall believes that a great album should answer three questions: Where do you come from? Where are you now? Where are you going?
After breaking into the country scene in 2016, Crandall has grown his following to nearly 3 million strong. With viral hits such as “My Person” and “Made,” he has racked up 250 million global artist streams. Now, Crandall is getting ready to answer his three important questions with his new studio album Western, due out Oct. 21.
Spencer Crandall at Urban Cowboy. Photo: OH Creative.
Unafraid to pull from his own experiences, Crandall puts everything he has into creating music his audience can relate to. That was evident at east Nashville’s Urban Cowboy on Tuesday (Sept. 20) as he took industry members through the six chapters of his newest album.
The theme of the 20-track album was inspired by Crandall’s relatives and their move out west in 1880s to create a better life.
“Although [the album] is my authentic storytelling and my stories, I believe it’s everyone’s stories. We all have a western journey. We all have a hero’s journey that we need to go on. We all have a dream and a version of a life well-lived in our heads,” he says.
Western‘s story is told through six chapters: Scorpion, Mustang, Revolver, Pickaxe, Desert and Gold. Each chapter contains a collection of songs that depict a part of the journey, alternating between presenting the obstacles and refocusing on the goals of the ride “out west.”
The first chapter, Scorpion, portrays the fear of starting the quest to become your best self. This section features the track “K[no]w Better,” which describes the act of doing the opposite of what you know is best. The second chapter, titled Mustang, symbolizes the freedom and bravery to chase your dreams and live life to the fullest. Home to the song “Didn’t Do,” this chapter talks about overcoming the paralyzing fear of regret.
Pictured (L-R): Spencer Crandall, Austin Mullins (WME), Jeff Cherry (Hudson Hill Mgmt.). Photo: Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo
The six tracks of the third chapter, Revolver, represent the six bullets held within the handgun’s chamber. This section outlines the cycle of a toxic relationship with songs such as “Girls Like You.” The next chapter, Pickaxe, follows by describing the hard work it takes to break that cycle, and the effort that must be put in to achieve your goals. Pickaxe houses the track “Made,” which Crandall featured in his Opry debut on Friday (Sept. 16), and more.
The fifth chapter, Desert, focuses on the contemplation of life choices and the changes that need to be made in order to reach the desired destination. The final chapter, Gold, centers around the idea that the journey defines a life well-lived, and lessons are learned or “gold is found” every step of the way.
Crandall plans to hit the road on “The Western Tour” next month, and the full album will be released on Oct. 21.
Western Track Listing:
1. “There is A Fire” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Nathan Johnson, Asher Peterson, Jonah Oh
2. “K[no]w Better” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall, Royale Lynn, Jeff Cherry
3. “Get Away From Me” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Michael August, Carlo Colasacco
4. “The Ballad of the Mustang” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall
5. “Didn’t Do” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Haley Mae Campbell, Lydia Dall
6. “7 and 70” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Aubrey Toone, Charlie Brennan
7. “What Do We Do Now?” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Scott Porter, Joe Tounge
8. “Friends” // Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Nate Dodge
9. “Girls Like You” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Lauren McLamb
10. “No New Memories” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Gus Ross, Luke Eisner
11. “Future in the Past” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Lauren McLamb
12. “To Be Continued…” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Nate Dodge
13. “Red Flags” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Gus Ross, Luke Eisner
14. “Made” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Andrew Beason, Ian McConnell, Jeff Cherry
15. “You’re Still The One” // Written by Shania Twain, Robert John Lange
16. “Side of the Stage” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall, Lauren McLamb
17. “Enough” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Austin Brown, Jeffrey East, Steven Martinez
18. “Getting There” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Tofer Brown, Lauren Huntgate
19. “Anyone” // Written by Justin Bieber, Jonathan Bellion, Andrew Wotman, Alexander Izquierdo, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack, Raul Cubina
20. “Our Forever” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Kelly Archer, Rhett Akins
My Music Row Story: FBMM’s Jen Conger
/by LB CantrellJen Conger
Jen Conger quickly moved up the ranks to become a business manager at FBMM after becoming the first female associate business manager in the firm’s history and doing so at a record pace of under 10 years. In Conger’s almost two decades of experience within the music industry, she has mentored a broad list of accomplished artists who have collectively received 17 Grammy Award wins, along with many ACM, CMA, Billboard and Golden Globe awards. She is a member of the ACM, the CMA, SOURCE, The Recording Academy and The Country Music Hall of Fame Troubadour Society, as well as an alumna of the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) and a member of the Leadership Music’s Class of 2020.
Conger played an integral role in the development and execution of seven sold-out concerts held at Bridgestone Arena, in which the proceeds—over $4 million to date—benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame. For the last nine years, she has organized a clothing and instrument donation on behalf of her clients, with donated items totaling over $110,000 given to the W.O. Smith Music School, and in 2018, was involved in the preparation of a sold-out benefit concert in October of that year, which raised over $700,000 net for various music industry-oriented charities, including MusiCares.
Conger will be honored as part of the current class of MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row on Oct. 20. For more details about the class and the event, click here.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town called Greensboro, Georgia. I went to high school in Athens, Georgia. My parents would drive an hour each way to take me to school there. I ended up going to college in Nashville at Vanderbilt.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
What did you study?
I studied U.S. history and English and minored in film studies. I wanted to be in film director. I got accepted to NYU, but my parents didn’t want me to go too far away. I came here and didn’t know anything about the music industry.
What did you do after graduation?
I had gotten an internship at a music video production company. They made music videos for country artists. I had been the executive assistant to one of the owners and the bookkeeper left soon after I started. I raised my hand because I was a struggling kid right out of college trying to make ends meet. I thought, “I don’t necessarily know accounting, but I’m good with math and money, so how about I try out this whole bookkeeping thing.” I just fell into it, but had a knack for it. I thought if this was something I was interested in, I needed to focus on a place that actually does this.
Is that how you ended up at FBMM?
Yes. A friend of mine let me know about a job opening at FBMM. That was 18 years ago, I’ve been here ever since. I fell into it, went back to school and got my masters in accounting, and just have been learning as I go along the way.
What did you learn right away when you fell into business management?
People need financial advisors. Unfortunately, you’re not being taught this in school. So often we have musicians who suddenly have all this fame, but the reality is that the money comes long after the fame. Having a team in place that’s being a good steward to your money is so important. So is having people on your team who know the music industry versus someone who is not well versed on royalties and touring, et cetera. It can get artists in a lot of trouble.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
Since you didn’t originally set out to be in the music industry, when did you feel like you were in the right place?
Probably two years into working at FBMM. I went out on tour with a client and loved it. I loved seeing how the bills that I was paying were reflected on tour. The video bill, the trucking bill, the bus bill… Seeing it coming together live. That’s when I realized this was going to be a career for me.
Business managers are unsung heroes of the music industry. What are some of your proudest moments that you’ve worked on behind the scenes?
We’re not in the limelight and that’s okay. We get the work done. I think sometimes we make it look too easy. We’re getting the work done so that the artist isn’t having to worry about it, but the artist isn’t seeing the mountains that we’re moving every day to get those things done.
I have one client in particular that has put on multiple shows benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame. I’ve been at the forefront of that, organizing it and haggling with vendors to try to get as much money to the Country Music Hall of Fame as possible. At the end of the night, being able to let the Hall of Fame know that we’ve got three quarters of a million dollars heading their way is pretty cool.
What advice would you give a new business manager?
The devil is in the details. It’s important to check your decimal points. (Laughs) Be accountable. When you screw up, chances are you’re going to think that it’s way worse than it actually is. There’s probably a long line of people who’ve made the same mistake, so be accountable and own it. Most importantly, learn from that mistake so you don’t repeat it. I tell new hires some of the really big faux pas that I made moving up. [Through my errors], they’re able to understand that even though I may have made a huge error, I’m still here because I learned from it and I grew from it versus trying to be defensive.
Who have been some of your mentors?
From a personal standpoint, my mother is amazing. Her sacrificing for us and being our chauffeur. (Laughs) She had cancer in her early thirties with two young kids; and she sacrificed and did what she needed to do for her family. From a personal level, I’m always trying to emulate that. I’ve got two kids and try to be a fraction of the kick ass mom that she was.
Professionally, Chuck Hull has been a great mentor. He is a tour manager for one of my artists. He’s been in the business for 40 something years. He has worked with some no names you’ve probably never heard of like Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and John Hiatt. He has taken me under his wing for the last 20 years and has educated me about the touring world—both the historical side of things and how things have changed over time. He’s like a surrogate father to me.
Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger
What do you think are some of the best qualities about our industry?
That it’s constantly evolving. The technology is constantly evolving. The revenue streams are constantly evolving. There’s not a cookie cutter idea of what an artist should look like anymore. It used to be cookie cutter but we’re definitely moving away from that and I think that’s a wonderful thing.
What’s a moment you’ve had that your little kid self would think is so cool?
I got a shout out at an award show when my client won Entertainer of the Year. Business managers are never in the limelight, and we’re definitely never mentioned in acceptance speeches, so that was a big deal. [Laughs] And then meeting Dolly Parton.
What is something people might not know about you?
I know a lot of film trivia. My favorite movies are Goodfellas and The Godfather: Part II. My favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard.
You will be honored at MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Oct. 20. What has your experience been like as a woman in the industry?
Being a woman in the music industry is not easy. It’s still very much a good ol’ boys club. Again, I think we’re moving away from that, which is wonderful.
As women, we have to look out for each other. I’ve seen too many times this hazing mentality of, “It wasn’t easy for me, so I’m not going to bend over backwards to help this next generation.” We need to erase that mentality from our brains because it’s not helping. It’s only making the issue worse. We have to all work with each other and cheer for each other along the way.
Chris & Morgane Stapleton, Lauren Daigle, Keith Urban, More Commit To MHA’s Heal The Music Day
/by Lorie HollabaughThe fifth annual Heal The Music Day will take place Oct. 21 with music makers across all genres invited to join Chris and Morgan Stapleton, Lauren Daigle, Keith Urban, Rodney Crowell, and more to raise awareness and funding to support Music Health Alliance (MHA).
Launched in 2017, Heal The Music Day is the brainchild of Crowell and aims to raise awareness and support for the emergency and ongoing medical needs of the creative community, 76% of whom are self- employed or part of a small business and often uninsured or under-insured for healthcare.
“In the world of the working musician, good health is something most of us take for granted–that is, until something goes wrong,” says Crowell. “The healthcare advocates at MHA ensure that no music professional must face a healthcare crisis alone. It is crucial to support MHA’s work to heal the music and the best part is that music makers don’t have to do anything that they are not already doing. Pledges can be as simple as a percent of a concert, event, creative work, or single donation made for Heal The Music Day Oct. 21.”
Music Health Alliance’s free services range from access to doctors, specialists, diagnostic testing, hospitals, medicine, health insurance, Medicare and senior care, mental health support, dental and vision resources, end of life care, and financial assistance resources during times of illness. For every $1 donated, MHA can provide $30 in healthcare support and services.
“Heal The Music Day is not only our largest fundraiser, but also an opportunity for the music industry to step up and support their fellow musicians in need,” adds Tatum Allsep, MHA Founder and CEO. “The need for our services has increased more than 65% this year over last, with mental health support growing more than 300% over the past two years. Our goal is to raise more than $300,000 this year to meet the continued increase in critical need and ensure that nobody working in the music industry will ever have to walk a health crisis alone. Heal The Music Day is a great investment into the long-term health and wellness of the music industry as a whole.”
Bobby Bones Signs With UTA
/by Lorie HollabaughBobby Bones. Photo: Courtesy of The GreenRoom
Radio and TV personality Bobby Bones has signed with UTA for representation. The company will help Bones continue to build on his career across several verticals, including radio, television, touring, and books.
Bones serves as host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated iHeartRadio Bobby Bones Show, which broadcasts to 185 stations and is the No. 1 morning show in the country category with millions of monthly listeners. His work on the show resulted in Bones becoming the youngest-ever inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
On the TV side, Bones currently serves as host of the USA Network competition series, Snake in the Grass. He has previously been host and executive producer for the National Geographic series, Breaking Bobby Bones, as well as Opry, which features exclusive highlights from the Grand Ole Opry stage each week. Additionally, he’s served as an in-house mentor on ABC’s American Idol for four seasons, and was crowned champion of Dancing with The Stars’ 27th season.
As an author, Bones is a two-time New York Times No. 1 best-seller following the success of his books Bare Bones and Fail Until You Don’t: Fight. Grind. Repeat. Bones also recently wrote his first-ever children’s book, Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School.
The multi-hyphenate personality also founded the Nashville Podcast Network, a collection of podcasts providing listeners with an inside look at Nashville’s lifestyle and pop culture, which is home to his popular BobbyCast that currently has over 20 million downloads. An avid sports fan, Bones also recently launched 25 Whistles with Bobby Bones (A Football Podcast), a 25-episode series focused on college and NFL football.
Bones is also an avid philanthropist, giving back to communities through various avenues, including helping raise over $16 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; leading efforts for a range of causes, including natural disaster relief, COVID-19, frontline workers, veteran care and support, and more; and partnering with Purina to bring awareness to the benefits of service dogs in helping veterans with PTSD and other post-combat challenges.
Bones will continue to be represented by Red Light Management and The GreenRoom PR.
NSAI Honors Songwriters At Ryman Marathon
/by Robert K OermannDecade honorees Taylor Swift (Songwriter-Artist of the Decade) and Ashley Gorley (Songwriter of the Decade) pictured on the red carpet. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI
The annual Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) songwriter awards honored nearly 40 writers Tuesday evening (Sept. 20) during a four-hour extravaganza staged at the Ryman Auditorium.
Major awards were given to Matthew West (Songwriter/Artist of the Year), Garth Brooks (Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award), Ashley Gorley (Songwriter of the Year) and the double-brother team consisting of Jacob & Jordan Davis with Josh & Matt Jenkins (Song of the Year). Gorley was also crowned the organization’s Songwriter of the Decade.
Taylor Swift performing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI
At the end of the night, it became clear that the sold-out crowd was there to see Taylor Swift win Songwriter/Artist of the Decade. The superstar was greeted by a shrieking standing ovation and repeated shouts during her speech. Then, the Swifties sang along with every word of her Grammy-nominated, 10-minute opus “All Too Well.”
The show was hosted by the NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Jennifer Turnbow, Lindsay Glover and board president Steve Bogard. The event began with West and CCM artist Anne Wilson performing “Me on Your Mind” (West/Wilson/Jeff Pardo). West’s win was only the second time in the NSAI’s 33-year awarding history that the honor has gone to a Christian-music artist.
“It is an understatement to say how humbled I am before this audience of songwriters,” he said. “Who am I that God has blessed me so much?”
The celebration of Gorley’s songwriting began with Parmalee doing “Take My Name” (Gorley/Matt Thomas/David Fanning/Ben Johnson) and Hardy singing “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Gorley/Hardy/Johnson/Hunter Phelps). Then Bogard presented the President’s Keystone Award to Sony Music Publishing’s Jon Platt. The executive gave $500,00 to aid the songwriting community during the pandemic. In his honor, Little Big Town performed the touching “Rich Man,” penned by the group’s Jimi Westbrook.
Song of the Year winners Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Matt Jenkins and Josh Jenkins accept their award. Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI
One of the NSAI’s annual traditions is to salute the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written,” as voted on by its songwriter members. Songwriters Matt McGinn, Jenn Schott and Nathan Spicer sang their co-written “7500 OBO” (recorded by Tim McGraw) as the first of these 10 tunes. Nashville pop artist Gayle rocked out on her hit “ABCDEFU,” co-written by her with Sara Davis and Dave Pittenger. Sam Hunt sang “23” along with his co-writers Chris LaCorte and Josh Osborne (collaborator Shane McAnally was absent).
Alana Springsteen sang the Chris Stapleton hit “You Should Probably Leave” (Stapleton/Gorley/Chris DuBois). The delightfully goofy phenom “Fancy Like” was sung by its writers Walker Hayes, Shane Stevens, Josh Jenkins and Cameron “Cambo” Bartolini (who broke out a kazoo). The Kenny Chesney hit “Knowing You” was performed by its creators, Brett James, Kat Higgins and Adam James.
Garth Brooks accepting the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI
Trisha Yearwood took the stage to present hubby Garth with his Lifetime Achievement award. “This is really fitting, because it honors what he cherishes most, the songwriter,” she said. “No one will ever deserve this honor more….a poet, a good man, a song’s best friend and my best friend, Garth Brooks.”
Pat Alger sang their co-written “The Thunder Rolls.” Kent Blazy did “Ain’t Goin’ Down,” which he and Brooks co-wrote with Kim Williams. Tony Arata sang his own “The Dance.” Luke Combs performed “The Beaches of Cheyenne” (Brooks/Bryan Kennedy/Dan Roberts).
“Songwriters—there are no bigger dreamers on the planet,” said Brooks in accepting his honor. “There is nobody more important to music than the songwriter.” Turning to Yearwood, he added, “You are the greatest award I ever got to hold.”
The 10-songs countdown continued with the Morgan Wallen hit “Sand In My Boots” (Gorley/Hardy/Osborne), performed by Larry Fleet. Each of these performances was accompanied by a video interview with its writers explaining how the song came to be. “Half of My Hometown” was sung by Kelsea Ballerini, Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins, who wrote the song with McAnally and Ross Copperman. The sister duo Tigirlily did “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” (McAnally/Ashley McBryde/Carly Pearce). Co-writers Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis sang their Cody Johnson hit “’Til You Can’t.”
There was a tie in the voting, so the 11th song of the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” was “Things a Man Oughta Know.” It was performed by Jonathan Singleton, who co-wrote it with Lainey Wilson and Jason Nix. The NSAI’s Song of the Year was “Buy Dirt,” sung by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins. “This song has been a life changer for me,” said Jordan Davis, who recorded it with Luke Bryan.
Ashley Gorley, Songwriter of the Decade and 2022 Songwriter of the Year in the audience. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI
The NSAI’s previous Songwriter of the Decade was Craig Wiseman (2000-2009). “I am here tonight to pass the torch,” he said, citing the fact that Ashley Gorley has written 63 No. 1 hits. Thomas Rhett sang “What’s Your Country Song” (Rhett/Gorley/Jesse Frasure/Rhett Akins/Parker Welling). Then Johnson, Phelps and Wyatt McCubbin sang a five-song medley of Gorley’s hits. Babyface crooned Rhett’s hit “Unforgettable” (Gorley/Rhett/Frasure/McAnally) and gave a well-deserved shout-out to the house band featuring lead guitarist Colin Linden.
“What a strange dream,” marveled Gorley. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m blown away. You all make me feel special. A wild ride it’s been.
“Ten years is a long time,” added the Songwriter of the Decade honoree. “But it’s not as long as 11 years, which is how long I was in Nashville before I had a hit on the radio. And I’m grateful for those years, because it teaches you how hard it is.
“Being a part of a community with people like me, you feel like you’re part of a family…. It’s a huge deal to have somebody believe in you. I am very, very honored. You really, really made me feel loved tonight.”
Jon Platt, Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO, watching on as Little Big Town performed “Rich Man” in honor of him receiving the President’s Keystone Award. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI
Pandemonium broke out when Swift was introduced as the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade. “For me, tonight is brimming with camaraderie,” she began. “This is an award that celebrates my family, my co-writers, my team and my fiercest friends. When it comes to songwriting and my life, they are one and the same.”
Swift recalled her teen years on Music Row, learning to write, and thanked the Nashville songwriting community for its generosity toward her 15 years ago. She described her categorization of her songs as “quill lyrics,” “fountain-pen lyrics” and “glitter-gel pen lyrics,” and cited mega-hit examples of each writing style.
“I love doing this,” Swift added. “Writing songs is a calling. I’d still be doing it if I’d never been recognized for it.”
With just her acoustic guitar for accompaniment, she moved to the center-stage mic and delivered “All Too Well” (Swift/Liz Rose). The audience stood and enthusiastically sang/shouted the song with/to her to climax the marathon night of music.
Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival Doubles Attendance In Successful Second Year
/by Lorie HollabaughLarry Gatlin performs during the 2022 Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival on Aug. 20, 2022. Photo: R. Diamond/Getty Images
The second annual Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival 2022, which took place Aug. 18-21, wrapped with a successful event that saw doubled attendance, more stages, and new panels and professional writing sessions.
Nestled in the heart of The Great Smoky Mountains, the three-day conference and music event featured a variety of talent spanning multiple genres, and included more than 25 No. 1 hit writers and 60 selected songwriters. Highlights from this year’s festival included the opening night celebration at Ober Gatlinburg with the induction of the late multi-award-winning hit songwriter Kim Williams into the Gatlinburg Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Brady Seals shares the stage with guitarist, Andrew “Ziggy” Zendejas during his release party at Ober Gatlinburg. Photo: Jack Boucher
Brady Seals of Little Texas wowed concert-goers as he performed a full-band show and release party. The entertainer played his current single, “Farm Boy,” as well as his recent remake of the ’70s smash hit “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” and more.
The special Legends of Bluegrass show at Ole Smoky featured Jerry Salley, Irene Kelley, Carl Jackson, and Thom Jutz. On Saturday night, attendees were treated to “An Intimate Evening with Larry Gatlin,” who performed a string of hits he’s written during his four-decade career. Also on the show were Tommy “C. Thomas” Howell, and Onoleigh.
In addition to these events, the weekend was filled with performances from top songwriters including Shane Stevens, Tony Arata, Danny Wells, Steve Dean, Will Nance, and more.
“This year far exceeded our expectations,” notes Cara Hogan, Executive Director of The Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival. “We’ve already received a tremendous amount of positive feedback including repeated compliments from attendees about how much fun they had, that the connections they made were invaluable, how unique the event is, and that they are already looking forward to next year. We expect 2023 to be even bigger and better!”
The 2023 Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival will take over The Great Smoky Mountains from Aug. 17-20.
Jerry Salley & Carl Jackson perform at Ole Smoky. Photo: Rick Diamond
Matthew West Wins Big At 2022 ASCAP Christian Music Awards
/by Liza AndersonMatthew West. Photo: Sean Hagwell.
ASCAP is holding its 44th annual Christian Music Awards today (Sept. 21) across all social media platforms. The event celebrates the past year’s most performed ASCAP Christian songs, and the awards feature exclusive photos, performances and interviews from some of the winning songwriters and publishers posted with the hashtag #ASCAPAwards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Singer-songwriter Matthew West clinched the ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year for the fifth time, recognizing his work on hits “Look What You’ve Done,” “My Jesus,” “Scars in Heaven,” “Weary Traveler” and “What If.” Co-written by West, “My Jesus” has been named the Christian Song of the Year. The debut single from artist Anne Wilson topped both the Christian Airplay and Hot Christian Songs charts. The track was also nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
For the 20th consecutive year, Capitol CMG Publishing claims the title of ASCAP Christian Music Publisher of the Year for songs such as “Be Alright,” “Child of Love,” “In the House,” “Next to Me” and more. The Capitol CMG publishing team will come together to celebrate the honor and accept the award on an ASCAP social media-shared video.
Additionally, the virtual ceremony will present an exclusive video performance by David Spencer of “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” his hit song for Katy Nichole. Blessing Offor and Sam Ellis will tell the story behind the award-winning “Brighter Days,” and Jordan St. Cyr and co-writer A.J. Prius will explain how they created “Weary Traveler” with West.
For the full list of ASCAP Christian Music Awards winners, click here.
Rachel Fontenot Exits UMG Nashville
/by Sherod RobertsonRachel Fontenot
UMG Nashville Vice President of Marketing & Artist Development, Rachel Fontenot, will exit her post at the end of this month to pursue new opportunities. Her last official day set for Sept. 30, 2022 .
She was promoted to her current position at Universal Music Group Nashville in 2020. In this role, she lead the artist projects and development team while continuing to oversee her roster.
Fontenot initially joined UMG Nashville in 2019 to oversee day-to-day artist development and marketing efforts for Lauren Alaina, Gary Allan, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Brandon Lay, Parker McCollum, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, Shania Twain, Brothers Osborne and others.
Fontenot began her career with BMG Nashville and held several positions within the company including production, sales, artist development and marketing. She served as Director of Marketing at Sony BMG where she oversaw the marketing campaigns and international marketing efforts for the entire Sony Music Nashville roster. Fontenot also launched her own artist consulting firm in 2017 where she focused on marketing strategy and artist development while maximizing her well-established relationships with record labels, artists and managers.
Fontenot can be reached at rachel.fontenot@comcast.net.
Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Phil Wickham, More To Perform On GMA Dove Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Gospel Music Association has announced the first round of artists performing on the upcoming 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards on Oct. 18 at Nashville’s Allen Arena.
Erica Campbell, Jekalyn Carr, Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, and Gateway Worship Español featuring Daniel Calveti, Becky Collazos, Christine D’Clario and Josh Morales have all been tapped to perform on the awards, which will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on Oct. 21, with an encore presentation on Oct. 28.
The sold-out event will be hosted by multi-chart toppers and award-winning superstars Erica Campbell and Chris Tomlin.
Further details, including more performers and presenters, will be announced in the coming weeks.