Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, More Among Performers For Austin City Limits Hall Of Fame Celebration

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An all-star slate of guest performers have been announced for the upcoming 2022 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Inductions & Celebration on Oct. 27, honoring singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow and Texas music pioneer Joe Ely.

Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, Brittney Spencer, Marcia Ball, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock will all salute the newest class of inductees with performances and tributes. The inductees will be honored at the star-studded ceremony at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

Crow and Ely will also perform at the celebration. ACL Hall of Famer, steel guitarist and producer Lloyd Maines will return as Music Director, leading the ACL All-Stars house band, featuring guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chris Gage, bassist Bill Whitbeck and drummer Tom Van Schaik.

The event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets are on sale at acltv.com/hall-of-fame. All proceeds will go to benefit Austin PBS. Musical highlights and inductions from the celebration will air as a special Austin City Limits on Jan. 7, 2023 on PBS.

Established in 2014, the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of artists and key individuals who have played a vital part in the pioneering music series’ nearly half-century as a music institution. The seventh annual Hall of Fame in 2021 welcomed Lucinda Williams, Wilco and Alejandro Escovedo to its ranks.

Lauren Daigle To Play Three Nashville Dates On ‘Behold: A Christmas Tour’

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Lauren Daigle is bringing her “Behold: A Christmas Tour” back this holiday season with three nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium from Dec. 6-8.

The special performances will feature some of Daigle’s seasonal favorites from her Christmas album, Behold: A Christmas Collection. The mini-tour will also include two nights at the Saenger Theatre in her home city of New Orleans.

Fans can register now at laurendaigle.com for ticket pre-sale, which begins Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. local time.

“Music has always been a huge part of my family’s holiday celebration,” Daigle notes. “So for me, being able to do these shows every year, to share these songs with others, brings joy to my heart.”

Daigle’s Look Up Child spent 100 weeks at No. 1 and holds the record for the greatest number of weeks at the top of any individual album chart. Additionally, the Grammy-winning crossover hit, “You Say” became the longest-running No. 1 song of any genre on the Billboard Hot charts at an incredible 132 weeks, and has been certified 5x-Platinum by the RIAA.

Her latest single, “Hold On To Me” marks her sixth No. 1 and extends her record of most number ones by a female artist on the chart.

“Behold: A Christmas Tour” 2022 Dates:
December 6 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
December 7 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
December 8 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
December 10 – Saenger Theatre – New Orleans, LA
December 11 – Saenger Theatre – New Orleans, LA

Industry Ink: ASCAP, The Everly Brothers, Andrew Farriss, Casi Joy

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ASCAP Celebrates Top Country Writers At Special Nashville Hitmakers Night

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP VP of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad, 8x ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews

ASCAP celebrated its top country music songwriters and publishers earlier this week during ASCAP Nashville Hitmakers Night at Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen.

Members and top executives, including ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and ASCAP VP of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad, gathered to toast ASCAP’s 2020-2021 Country Music Award winners and 2020-2022 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

 

The Everly Brothers Receive Commemorative Tennessee Music Pathways Marker

Family of The Everly Brothers, along with city and state officials gather at Everly Brothers Park. Photo: Visit Knoxville

The Everly Brothers were recently honored with the unveiling of a new Tennessee Music Pathways marker in Everly Brothers Park. Family of The Everly Brothers, along with city and state officials, gathered in Knoxville to celebrate the achievement.

Everly Brothers Park is the only commemorative park in the U.S. to honor the rock-and-roll duo of Don and Phil Everly, and features inlaid plaques with signatures and quotes from famous musicians on the impact The Everly Brothers have had on their careers and rock music around the world. Distinguished as one of the most innovative and original styles of 1950s rock-and-roll, The Everly Brothers’ blend of country music, rhythm ‘n’ blues and pop harmonies were rooted in vintage country brother duets.

“Visit Knoxville is honored to partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to unveil the Tennessee Music Pathways marker at Everly Brothers Park,” notes Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “The Everly Brothers began performing as a duo in Knoxville, and their music has inspired artists through the decades ever since. Spaces like this further cement Knoxville’s place in American music history, and draws visitors from around the world.”

“The Tennessee Music Pathways were created to preserve, promote and inspire Tennessee’s rich and diverse musical heritage,” adds Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell. “The Everly Brothers not only helped shape the state’s rich music history but shaped rock-and-roll music around the world, and for that, we are grateful to celebrate them today.”

 

Andrew Farriss Signs With TKO For Booking Representation

Andrew Farriss

Country and Americana singer-songwriter Andrew Farriss has signed with TKO Booking Agency for exclusive booking representation. Farriss is best known as the creative force and co-founder of the three-time Grammy-nominated band INXS.

Farriss released his solo EP, Love Makes the World, in 2020, which spawned two hit singles–the title track, which hit No. 5 on the Australian country chart and “All the Stars Are Mine.” He followed in March 2021 with the release of his self-titled debut album, which hit No. 3 on the ARIA album chart. His current single, “You Are My Rock,” is now making its way up the Billboard Indicator and Americana charts in the United States.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Andrew Farriss into the TKO family,” states Andrew Goodfriend, agent at TKO. “He is a legend in the rock community and a truly gifted songwriter, and we look forward to helping him chart the next chapter in his celebrated career.”

“I am so excited to work with TKO,” Farriss adds. “They represent a wide array of great artists as diverse as I am, so it’s a great fit! With my new music charting in the United States on both the Americana and Billboard charts, I’m looking forward to getting out and performing shows for the fans.”

 

Casi Joy Joins Mint Talent Group’s Artist Roster

Casi Joy

Country-pop recording artist Casi Joy has inked with booking agency Mint Talent Group, whose roster includes artists such as Art Garfunkel, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Grandmaster Flash, Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, and the Allman Brothers band.

Working with country icon Blake Shelton, Joy made a notable turn on NBC’s The Voice in 2017. Now, With over 350,000 followers and counting on social media and upwards of 40 million combined views online, her vulnerability and creative voice have built a strong fanbase.

The Kansas City native has shared stages with some of country’s biggest names throughout her career, including Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Dustin Lynch and others. Joy spent this summer playing numerous festivals and headlining shows throughout the midwest, all following her June signing to Nashville-based label Vere Music.

“I am thrilled to be working with Mint!” Joy shares. “They have such a vast understanding of all areas of music. I’ve been living on the road for years now, going wherever the music takes me, and I can’t [wait] for Mint to keep me right where I wanna be: the stage!”

Veteran Music Row Leader Terry Choate Passes

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Terry Choate

Known as a consummate “song man,” Terry D. Choate died yesterday (Sept. 14) in North Carolina.

During his career on Music Row, Choate was a song plugger, record producer, label executive, music publisher, instrumentalist, audio engineer and a music supervisor for television.

In recent years, he has been noted as the producer of a string of albums by Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers. These include Pilgrimage (2009), Sing Their Family Gospel Favorites (2004), A Christmas Celebration (2003) and A Gatlin Brothers Christmas (2002). Choate also produced and championed traditionalist Teea Goans, helming her 2010 release The Way I Remember It, 2015’s Memories to Burn, 2017’s Swing, Shuffle & Sway and other recordings.

Terry Choate produced 2007’s Jumpin’ Time for Nashville’s acclaimed western-swing ensemble The Time Jumpers. The group has since been nominated for several Grammy and Americana awards.

Other production clients have included Del Reeves, Simon & Verity, Jay Booker, The Osmonds, Tammy Cline and Gene Stroman. In addition, he was a steel guitarist who appeared on records by John Conlee, Marie Osmond and others.

A native North Carolinian, Terry Choate began his show-business career by working as a radio announcer in 1968-75. He was at Tree International in 1975-84. Initially, the publishing company hired him as a song plugger. He rose to become a music manager and an in-house demo producer. He was an audio engineer on 1980 albums by Rafe Van Hoy, Bobby Braddock and Rock Killough, all of whom were Tree writers.

In 1984, new Capitol Records chief Jim Foglesong hired Terry Choate as the label’s A&R manager. The label moved into its new office at 1111 16th Ave. S. and dramatically increased the size of its staff and roster.

The artist roster included Mel McDaniel, Sawyer Brown, Michael Martin Murphey, Thom Schuyler, Lane Brody, Becky Hobbs and Anne Murray. The last-named won Single and Album of the Year CMA honors in 1984 with “A Little Good News.” Murray and Dave Loggins won Duo of the Year in 1985, the same year that Sawyer Brown won the CMA Horizon Award.

By 1987, Choate had been promoted to Director of A&R for both Capitol and its EMI America imprint. Under his leadership, the roster expanded with the additions of New Grass Revival, Tanya Tucker, Dobie Gray, Dan Seals, Barbara Mandrell, Kix Brooks, Tom Wopat, Suzy Bogguss, T. Graham Brown, Don Williams, The Osmonds and Johnny Rodriguez.

Seals won a CMA Single of the Year award for “Bop” in 1986, as well as the Duo of the Year award with Marie Osmond. Meanwhile, Capitol’s Nashville office moved into rock music in 1985-89 by signing Jason & The Scorchers, Walk the West, The Questionaires and The Thieves. In 1989, the label introduced Garth Brooks.

In addition to his label duties, Terry Choate was highly active in a number of Music Row organizations. He served as vice president of the Nashville chapter of The Recording Academy, was a board member of the NSAI and organized the annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions. He became the board chair of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation. He was also a member of the AFM, the ACM and the Nashville Entertainment Association.

When Jimmy Bowen replaced Jim Foglesong, he replaced all of the latter’s Capitol executives in 1990. Choate formed his Crosswind Corporation and began to prosper as an independent record producer.

Choate had type 1 diabetes. In 2020, he was found unresponsive in a diabetic coma at his Nashville apartment. Paramedics saved his life.

In May, he developed a sepsis infection in his left foot, which had to be partially amputated the following month. Since that surgery, Choate has remained in the hospital and in hospice. He has been unconscious the majority of the time. Doctors were unable to explain why he couldn’t wake up.

His wife, Cheri, retired early from her teaching profession to care for him. Last month, a GoFundMe account was established to raise funds to help pay for the family’s mounting medical bills.

According to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s executive director Mark Ford, Terry Choate died Wednesday morning while in hospice care. He was 68 years old.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Americana Awards Share The Wealth As Brandi Carlile Leads 2022 Music Celebration

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Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile perform onstage for the 21st Annual Americana Honors & Awards. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

No one dominated the 21st annual Americana Honors & Awards, which was fitting for a ceremony that repeatedly stressed the importance of family and community.

Billy Strings (Artist of the Year), The War and Treaty (Duo/Group), Allison Russell (Album), Brandi Carlile (Song), Sierra Ferrell (Emerging Artist) and Larissa Maestro (Instrumentalist) took home the top six Americana prizes. The Lifetime Award honorees were The Fairfield Four, Chris Isaak, The Indigo Girls, Stax/Motown executive Al Bell and the late Don Williams.

During the three-plus hour ceremony, Carlile took the stage to collaborate vocally with Russell and The Indigo Girls. During the showcase of her own song “You and Me on the Rock,” she joyously shared the stage with the captivating female duo Lucius.

In summing up the mood of the evening, The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter observed, “Americana music is the sound of family.” Joey Ryan of the co-hosting Milk Carton Kids added, “You guys are our family, and we came here to root for each other.” Presenter Ann Powers of NPR said simply, “We ARE family.”

Allison Russell. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

In accepting her award, Russell echoed them, saying, “I wasn’t lucky with the family I was born to or fostered by. This community saved me.” This was theme of her winning solo debut album.

That Americana community is more diverse than ever, with artists spread widely over musical styles, ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientation. Instrumentalist winner Maestro is of Filipino descent and commented at length about Black and minority representation in the genre. Carlile observed that music by The Indigo Girls was banned because the duo is lesbian. “They were fundamental to my coming of age,” she said. “My first act of baby activism was fighting my way through religious protesters to an Indigo Girls concert.”

The evening was punctuated by multiple standing ovations. The first performance to earn one was The Fairfield Four’s singing of “Rock My Soul.”

This group, founded in Nashville in 1921, won the Legacy of Americana award. Last year’s winner was The Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose director, Paul Kwami, died this week. A moment of silence was observed in his honor.

The War & Treaty’s soulful performance of “That’s How Love Is Made” was greeted by an even more enthusiastic standing ovation. After they won the Duo/Group of the Year award, member Tanya Trotter said, “The road has been long and hard, but it has been worth it.”

This was followed by a standing ovation for Don Williams, who died in 2017. The country-music hitmaker of 1974-91 won the President’s Award. “What you heard in those songs is who Don Williams was,” said presenter Garth Fundis, the country superstar’s producer. Lukas Nelson saluted Williams with a performance of “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good.”

Emerging Artist winner Ferrell drew the next standing ovation. She delighted the crowd in The Ryman Auditorium with her dazzling couture (with matching sequined silver mask and gown), her mountain-twang vocals and effortless showmanship. She sang “At the End of the Rainbow” with the crowd arching its arms overhead to imitate rainbows. “I never thought I’d be up here,” she said when she accepted her award.

Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Lyle Lovett’s presentation of the Lifetime Performance honor to Chris Isaak was another crowd pleaser. He saluted him with “We Gave Each Other Covid, Now We’re Friends.” Then Isaak offered a dramatically range-y vocal on “Somebody’s Crying.”

Album winner Allison Russell performed a dynamic, propulsive “You’re Not Alone” with Carlile as well as Sista Strings and Maestro.

Robert Plant announced a new Americana award called The Buddy and presented it to its namesake and first recipient, Buddy Miller, the longtime leader of the Americana Music Association’s house band. Miller received another standing ovation. Miller was surprised by the announcement. “I have no idea why I’m getting this,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed. This is so moving.” He then performed “Wide River to Cross” with The McCrary Sisters.

Hayes Carll presented the Song of the Year to “Right On Time” by Carlile, Dave Cobb, Tim Hanseroth and Phil Hanseroth. “What an honor!” Carlile exclaimed. “The most important thing about this song is that it says that sometimes the shit is gonna hit the fan.”

A standing ovation greeted Al Bell when he was presented with his Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Executive AMA honor. “What an august evening and occasion,” he said. “I feel your spirit.”

When Carlile offered her “You and Me on the Rock,” she received yet another standing ovation. She was followed by Russell’s Outside Child winning for Album of the Year along with producer Dan Knobler. “I feel so honored to be part of this community,” Russell said tearfully. “I have been unbelievably lucky.”

The Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Carlile presented The Indigo Girls with the AMA’s Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music award. “No one does activism alone,” said the duo’s Emily Saliers. “The struggle for equality if going to take years. We all need to keep the flame of social justice alive.” Amy Ray led the duo’s performance of “Galileo,” with Carlile offering harmonies.

Several of the gala’s finest musical moments were provided by non winners and AMA legends. These included Morgan Wade, Adia Victoria and Neal Francis. J.P. Harris saluted alt-country singer Luke Bell, who died last month of an apparent suicide. Lucinda Williams drew a standing ovation for her gripping rendition of “Can’t Let Go.” Lovett sang “Willin’” with Little Feat’s Bill Payne on piano. The Milk Carton Kids reimagined Jackson Browne’s “Something Fine” as an acoustic duet.

Ann, Alfreda and Regina McCrary returned to honor their late sister Deborah McCrary, who passed away in June. “She is missed terribly,” said Regina. “One of the last things she said to me was ‘Don’t leave me.’ So every show, we mention her name.” The trio dedicated a slow, bluesy treatment of “Amazing Grace” to Deborah. The McCrarys are the daughters of the late Rev. Sam McCrary, who founded honorees The Fairfield Four.

The McCrarys also led the finale song with the whole cast joining in. It was “I’ll Take You There,” co-written by honoree Bell and originally introduced on Stax by The Staple Singers.

Presenters included Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Shannon Sanders, Elizabeth Cook, Nikki Lane, John Seigenthaler, Allison Moorer and the AMA’s executive director Jed Hilly. Jerry Douglas announced Strings as the Artist of the Year, but Strings was not in attendance.

The awards are voted on by the 3,400 members of the Americana Music Association. The AMA ceremony will be broadcast by Circle Network in November and on Austin City Limits in 2023.

Bowen * Young Preview Upcoming Debut Album With New Track ‘Skeletons’

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Bowen * Young

Bowen * Young, the husband and wife duo of Clare Bowen and Brandon Robert Young, are set to release their self-titled debut album in early 2023. The pair shared a first taste of what’s to come with the dark, mid-tempo rocker, “Skeletons,” written by Bowen, Young, and Amie Miriello.

“We instantly loved it because it spoke to us on such a personal level, and we knew it would speak to so many other people for a myriad of reasons,” recalls Bowen. “We knew we had to write it.”

“We all have our own version of the past—heartbreak and demons,” Young adds. “When you find your person, you love them for all of who they are.”

The two first came together in 2013 when Young was a last-minute replacement for Bowen’s duet partner during her first solo set at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Since then, Bowen spent time on the show Nashville and performing off-screen with artists such as Vince Gill, Zac Brown Band, and more. Meanwhile, Young has spent a decade touring with John Hiatt and collaborating with Emmylou Harris, Colin Linden, and Mikky Ekko. Now, the two are gearing up to release their debut, collaboration project.

Fans can also catch Young at this week’s AmericanaFest at a panel discussion today (Sept. 15) on “Music and the Mind: Musicians and Mental Health Post Pandemic.”

Jimmie Allen To Host Celebrity PBA Challenge

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Jimmie Allen will host The Jimmie Allen PBA Challenge presented by Bowlero, a celebrity bowling event, on Oct. 5 at Bowlero Matthews in Matthews, North Carolina.

With a live show beginning at 5 p.m. CT and bowling beginning at 7 p.m. CT, the event will feature performances from Allen along with Chris Young, Chuck Wicks, and Neon Union. They will be joined by Terrell Owens and Darius Rucker on the lanes later in the evening. The country stars will also be competing alongside PBA Tour stars Pete Weber, Kyle Troup, Sean Rash, Ronnie Russell, and AJ Johnson.

Each artist will be paired with a PBA player for a doubles competition, with the artists bowling the odd-numbered frames and the PBA players bowling the evens. In addition to the main tournament, the event will feature a Celebrity Super Clash, in which each celebrity rolls one shot and the lowest score is eliminated in each round until only one celebrity remains.

“Since the moment my friend Cortland Finnegan introduced me to bowling, I’ve been hooked,” Allen comments.  “I’ve been a fan of the PBA for years as a viewer. But I’m excited for the next part of my journey with the PBA, and that is to make bowling a worldwide sport with the same respect that’s given to basketball, baseball, and football.”

Allen discovered his love for bowling during the pandemic, calling it his “pandemic passion.” After being introduced to the sport, he quickly made it a goal to become an expert, bowling several hours a day in different cities while on tour in addition to at home in Nashville. He currently belongs to five bowling leagues and plans to try out for the Professional Bowlers Association in 2023.

The Jimmie Allen PBA Challenge presented by Bowlero will air on Oct. 16 on Fox, varying per market before or after local NFL games.

Kobalt Neighbouring Rights Rebrands, Unveils New Platform Powered By The Orchard

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Kobalt Neighbouring Rights, the largest neighboring rights agency in the world, has changed its name to Kollective Neighbouring Rights (KNR). With the new name, it’s also launching a new platform powered by global distribution and artist and label services leader The Orchard.

KNR will continue to assist clients with the collection of worldwide performance rights. Now leveraging The Orchard’s enhanced technology, global reach and infrastructure, the company’s roster of clients will receive a full range of global administration and performance royalty maximization services, including a new website, advanced technology and customer accounting, and a revamped client portal. Clients will also have the support data and reporting needs to manage, assert and collect payment for their artist and/or label share of performance rights income.

These new features are set to begin rolling out on Oct. 4 and continue into 2023.

“Today marks the start of a new era for KNR. We are excited to build on our relationship with The Orchard to unveil an upgraded custom-built system that will help serve our global clients in enhanced, more streamlined ways, while continuing to provide best-in-class service,” notes Ann Tausis, KNR CEO. “There are still untapped markets in neighboring rights, and we’re looking forward to utilizing the global footprint of The Orchard to initiate collections for our clients in additional territories. I’m very excited about the rebrand and our new identity.”

Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard adds, “The Orchard provides first-class solutions, cutting edge technology, expert guidance, and brand transparency to our clients. Expanding these services to KNR’s roster will further empower performers to maximize their neighboring rights collections as they navigate a global web of complex and evolving revenue streams.”

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) acquired KNR, along with AWAL, a leading provider of services to independent recording artists, in May 2021. KNR and AWAL are part of a suite of artist and label services offerings from SME enhanced by the technology and network of The Orchard.

My Music Row Story: Girlilla Marketing’s Jennie Smythe

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Jennie Smythe

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.

Jennie Smythe, the CEO of Girlilla Marketing, began her career in the mid-1990s working for Elektra Entertainment, Spivak-Sobol Entertainment, Disney’s Hollywood Records and more. In the early 2000s, she moved to YAHOO! Music as Director of Marketing and Promotion, which eventually led her to move to Nashville to work for Warner Bros. Records’ New Media Department and then as Clear Channel’s Senior Director of Content and Marketing. In January of 2008, Smythe launched Girlilla Marketing, which celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2018.

Smythe serves on the boards of Country Music Association, CMA Foundation (2019 Chair Person, 2022 Chair Person) and Music Health Alliance. She is also a former board member of Academy of Country Music, a graduate of Leadership Music (class of 2010), a member of SOURCE and a proud supporter of St. Jude. Smythe has been featured in Billboard, MusicRow, Fast Company, People, HITS, The Tennessean and has been included for 3+ years as a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards.

Smythe 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?

Denver, Colorado. My dad was a marketing guy for an oil company, so we moved around quite a bit towards the later end of my childhood. I ended up in high school in Phoenix and went to NAU at Flagstaff because I figured I would just go snowboarding during class, but there was no snow. (Laughs)

Since you couldn’t go snowboarding, what did you do?

I always knew I wanted to be in the music business, but I didn’t know anything about the music business. I would tell people that I wanted to work at a record company. I had no idea what department or specialty, I was just obsessed. When I found out that you could do that for a living, there was nothing more that I wanted to do. I ended up dropping out of college and going to a music conservatory because they had an intern program. That is how I ended up at Elektra in LA when I was 19. When I arrived in Hollywood at 19 and had my internship, I already thought I had made it. Anything past that point in my life has been like a bonus.

What did you do there?

After my internship, they hired me as a receptionist. If somebody else went on maternity leave or got sick, I would cover their desks, so eventually I ended up working in every department. I eliminated things that I didn’t really want to pursue or that I felt like maybe I wasn’t talented enough in.

What was next?

I just started taking jobs. I was at several record companies, including Disney and Hollywood Records. I was at several management companies.

Then I took a huge jump to go work at Yahoo. Even though I was still in the music business, I was at a tech company, so I had to learn how to be less of a music business person based in the United States and more of a global content person that was a citizen of the world. That literally changed the path of my life personally and professionally.

Girlilla Marketing’s Ashley Alexander, Stevie Escoto, Jennie Smythe

How did you get to Nashville?

I had to cover country music at Yahoo, so I had to learn country. I came to Nashville for CRS and literally could not believe what I had seen. I was like, “Wait a second. Are you telling me that for a week out of the year, everybody comes together to see each other all at once? They have shows and celebrate each other, and they all get along well enough to do that?” I walked away from my first CRS a little shell shocked because I was overwhelmed, but in the back of my mind, I thought “That’s how this is supposed to be.”

Country music online at that time was always just a smidge behind all the other genres. I was able to contribute by accelerating that a little bit. Bill Bennett was running Warner Bros. and he called. Lynette Garbonola was literally the only digital person at Warner Bros. and she needed help. I packed up my stuff and I moved to Nashville.

I thought I’d be here for a few years and then probably end up in the Bay. I had no idea what was in store. The DSPs didn’t exist, Facebook was just for college students, and Instagram was never even in my mind. I went from Warner Bros. and then helped Clear Channel start the iHeart brand. Then I started Girlilla in 2008.

Jennie with her children, Chess and Daphne

What was your biggest hurdle working in the digital space in country music when you started?

The biggest fight was explaining to publishers that the internet wasn’t 100% evil and that there were opportunities there, even though artists aren’t compensated nearly what they should be. Because there was so much illegal downloading going on at the time, the value was really based in the information, not the strategy to stop the internet. We had seen that already with Napster, so being in that hybrid space of time between Napster and before a platform like Spotify, that was a very murky area in the music business.

No one knew how to put the parameters around it legally or explain to consumers what a download was versus a stream. That was actually a really difficult consumer messaging situation, especially in country. With country radio being the biggest driver of country music, [teaching country fans what streaming is] was hard. That was definitely a challenge from the marketing side.

What pushed you to start Girlilla Marketing?

It was really simple. I felt the need to advocate on behalf of the artists that I loved and respected to help them navigate the waters. They were complicated then, but not nearly as complicated as they are now. Now, I’m doing the same thing, it’s just 10 times more layered than it was 10+ years ago.

Members of the Girlilla Marketing team

It’s been 14 years since you started your company. What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of sharing my life with some of the people that I work with. When we started, we were single, some of us had college debt, we didn’t have houses, or any of that. Sometimes when I’m walking through the building, I get overwhelmed at the idea that these people have children and houses.

I’m extremely grateful for my clients and for the work, and I still passionately love what I do. There’s nothing that gets me out of bed faster than a good idea. But it’s the idea that I’m building and have built something with them that they share in.

Who have been some of your mentors?

Jay Frank, was 100% the MVP of my professional life. I miss him every single day. Sarah Trahern and Joe Galante are some. My office mates, Ashley Alexander and Stevie Escoto, mentor me as much as I mentor them.

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?

Amazing. I literally created the company that didn’t exist when I was coming up. I just look around at the office sometimes and take it in. When they forget that I’m there and they are playing music and laughing, talking about snacks and what they’re going to do together outside of the office, I lose it every time. I hate their music choices, there’s definitely a generational gap. (Laughs) But just the idea that there’s a room in the world where those awesome, smart, talented, funny people get together and their common ground is marketing and music, and they feel comfortable enough to let their hair down… I’m good.

23rd Annual NSAI Song Contest Kicks Off October 1

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), along with presenting sponsors The Bluebird Cafe and CMT, have announced details for the 23rd Annual Song Contest beginning Oct. 1.

Songwriters around the world are invited to submit songs and/or lyrics for a chance to win up to $5,000 cash, a one-year single-song contract with Anthem Entertainment, an American Dream Series Taylor Guitar, tickets to the 2023 CMT Music Awards, a Bose L1 Pro8 Portable System, a 3-day trip to Nashville, and one of two mentor sessions.

The winner of the Song Category gets a one-on-one mentor session with artist, songwriter, and Grammy-nominated engineer Blanco Brown, while the Lyric Category winner will get the opportunity to learn from hit songwriter, artist, and producer Nicolle Galyon in a one-on-one mentor session.

Each year the contest provides an opportunity for songwriters of all genres to have their songs and lyrics evaluated and judged by industry professionals. Up to 22 entries will place in the contest, and the live final judging phase for the Song Category will feature the top 10 finalists’ entries vying for the Grand Prize. Final judging will take place in February 2023.

Beginning Oct. 1, entries can be submitted online at nsaisongcontest.com or mailed to the NSAI office (ATTN: Song Contest, 1710 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203). All entries mailed in must include the submission form, entry fee, printed lyric sheet, and one audio CD (unless a Lyric-Only entry).

Entry fees are $35 per song or lyric entry for current NSAI members and $45 per song or lyric entry for non-NSAI members. There is no limit to the number of songs or lyrics that songwriters can submit, and all entries must be submitted or post-marked by Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. CT.