Blake Shelton Makes Grand Ole Opry Return With Gwen Stefani & The Voice Alumni
Blake Shelton. Photo: Chris Hollo
Blake Shelton returned to the Grand Ole Opry House on Saturday (Sept. 10) to perform two back-to-back shows. The Opry member sang hits “Boys ‘Round Here” and “God’s Country,” as well as his latest single “No Body.”
Shelton also brought out a special guest, Grammy-winning multi-Platinum recording artist, Gwen Stefani, who officially made her Grand Ole Opry debut in May 2020 virtually from Oklahoma. The pair performed “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere.”
Multiple NBC’s The Voice alumni graced the stage on Saturday, including season 21 runner up Wendy Moten and season 17 winner Jake Hoot. Todd Tilghman, the winner from season 18, also took the circle, making his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Caroline Bouldin Upped To Creative Manager At Jody Williams Songs
Caroline Bouldin
Jody Williams Songs has elevated Caroline Bouldin from Coordinator to Creative Manager.
Bouldin began her tenure as an intern with JWS upon the company’s inception in the spring of 2020. A junior at Belmont University when she started, she was then hired as Coordinator during her senior year.
“Caroline’s contemporary, commercial country tastes bring a new and distinctive perspective to our catalog. In her previous role as Coordinator, Caroline’s singular interest in the success of our writers coupled with her exceptional attention to detail significantly elevated the company,” notes Nina Fisher, Senior Creative Director. “We are confident that she will take on the role of Creative Manager with just as much pride and conviction”.
Bouldin adds, “Since joining Jody Williams Songs, I have been inspired by our extraordinary roster of songwriters and our innovative, collaborative team. I have immense gratitude for Jody Williams and Nina Fisher for their leadership, guidance and confidence. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter has in store.”
TIM Publishing Adds Jordan Mohilowski To Writer Roster
Pictured (L-R): Jason Ingram (TIM Pub), Jordan Mohilowski, Stacey Willbur(TIM Pub) and Chris Tomlin (TIM Pub)
TIM Publishing has inked an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with award-winning songwriter and producer Jordan Mohilowski.
Previously signed to Disney Music Publishing and Fairtrade, Mohilowski was the longtime drummer for CCM band The Afters, and is currently creating music in the acoustic pop band In Paradise. Nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2021 Dove Awards, Mohilowski has earned cuts from MercyMe, Walker Hayes, Cain, The Afters, and Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts. He has also earned ad placements with Apple, Wal-Mart and Gatorade, as well as sync placements on American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, Shark Tank, Selling Sunset, Disney, NBC, ABC, TBS and many more.
“I honestly can’t believe I get to wake up each day and create songs for a living. I am so humbled that Chris [Tomlin], Jason [Ingram], and Stacey [Wilbur] have come around me and are ready to champion me into this new season,” Mohilowski shares. “It’s an honor and a dream come true to be a part of the TIM Team.”
“We are so honored to come alongside Jordan and the music he is creating,” Willbur adds. “He is one of the most talented, passionate, and hard-working songwriter/producers in the industry. We are excited to see the future unfold this coming season and look forward to having him on the TIM Publishing Team.”
Pickers Original Vodka Unveils Newest Mural Honors Ben Eyestone
Pickers Original Vodka Mural Series honors Ben Eyestone
Pickers Original Vodka has unveiled the next mural in its series promoting Nashville musical artists and the Music Health Alliance, honoring the memory of Ben Eyestone. Created by local artist Bryan Deese, the mural is located at The Purple Building at 5 Points (107 North 11th Street in Nashville, Tennessee).
Eyestone, was a 28-year-old drummer with severe abdominal pain. As an uninsured, working musician, he tried to obtain a colonoscopy for 12 weeks and encountered barriers to treatment at every turn, ultimately dying on July 12, 2017 from colon cancer. To ensure that what happened to Eyestone never occurs again, MHA has created the Ben Eyestone Fund to cover the costs of a menu of diagnostic healthcare services serving working, uninsured or underinsured, and music industry professionals with lower income and obvious diagnostic needs.
“On behalf of the family of Ben Eyestone, and our team at Music Health Alliance, we are so incredibly thankful for the partnership and support from Jeff and Jenny Pennington and Pickers Vodka to ‘Heal the Music,’” says Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance founder and CEO. “This mural honors a beloved musician and beautiful human who lost his life much too soon. It is an important reminder that we are all in this together to help music makers just like Ben gain access to life-saving healthcare.”
As part of the mural series, one dollar for every bottle of Pickers Original Vodka sold at Middle Tennessee bars, restaurants, and venues that support live music will be donated to Music Health Alliance. For every one dollar donation, MHA provides $30 in life-saving healthcare resources.
Industry Ink: Blake Shelton, Jody Williams Songs, Jordan Mohilowski, Music Health Alliance
/by Lydia FarthingBlake Shelton Makes Grand Ole Opry Return With Gwen Stefani & The Voice Alumni
Blake Shelton. Photo: Chris Hollo
Blake Shelton returned to the Grand Ole Opry House on Saturday (Sept. 10) to perform two back-to-back shows. The Opry member sang hits “Boys ‘Round Here” and “God’s Country,” as well as his latest single “No Body.”
Shelton also brought out a special guest, Grammy-winning multi-Platinum recording artist, Gwen Stefani, who officially made her Grand Ole Opry debut in May 2020 virtually from Oklahoma. The pair performed “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere.”
Multiple NBC’s The Voice alumni graced the stage on Saturday, including season 21 runner up Wendy Moten and season 17 winner Jake Hoot. Todd Tilghman, the winner from season 18, also took the circle, making his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Caroline Bouldin Upped To Creative Manager At Jody Williams Songs
Caroline Bouldin
Jody Williams Songs has elevated Caroline Bouldin from Coordinator to Creative Manager.
Bouldin began her tenure as an intern with JWS upon the company’s inception in the spring of 2020. A junior at Belmont University when she started, she was then hired as Coordinator during her senior year.
“Caroline’s contemporary, commercial country tastes bring a new and distinctive perspective to our catalog. In her previous role as Coordinator, Caroline’s singular interest in the success of our writers coupled with her exceptional attention to detail significantly elevated the company,” notes Nina Fisher, Senior Creative Director. “We are confident that she will take on the role of Creative Manager with just as much pride and conviction”.
Bouldin adds, “Since joining Jody Williams Songs, I have been inspired by our extraordinary roster of songwriters and our innovative, collaborative team. I have immense gratitude for Jody Williams and Nina Fisher for their leadership, guidance and confidence. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter has in store.”
TIM Publishing Adds Jordan Mohilowski To Writer Roster
Pictured (L-R): Jason Ingram (TIM Pub), Jordan Mohilowski, Stacey Willbur(TIM Pub) and Chris Tomlin (TIM Pub)
TIM Publishing has inked an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with award-winning songwriter and producer Jordan Mohilowski.
Previously signed to Disney Music Publishing and Fairtrade, Mohilowski was the longtime drummer for CCM band The Afters, and is currently creating music in the acoustic pop band In Paradise. Nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2021 Dove Awards, Mohilowski has earned cuts from MercyMe, Walker Hayes, Cain, The Afters, and Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts. He has also earned ad placements with Apple, Wal-Mart and Gatorade, as well as sync placements on American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, Shark Tank, Selling Sunset, Disney, NBC, ABC, TBS and many more.
“I honestly can’t believe I get to wake up each day and create songs for a living. I am so humbled that Chris [Tomlin], Jason [Ingram], and Stacey [Wilbur] have come around me and are ready to champion me into this new season,” Mohilowski shares. “It’s an honor and a dream come true to be a part of the TIM Team.”
“We are so honored to come alongside Jordan and the music he is creating,” Willbur adds. “He is one of the most talented, passionate, and hard-working songwriter/producers in the industry. We are excited to see the future unfold this coming season and look forward to having him on the TIM Publishing Team.”
Pickers Original Vodka Unveils Newest Mural Honors Ben Eyestone
Pickers Original Vodka Mural Series honors Ben Eyestone
Pickers Original Vodka has unveiled the next mural in its series promoting Nashville musical artists and the Music Health Alliance, honoring the memory of Ben Eyestone. Created by local artist Bryan Deese, the mural is located at The Purple Building at 5 Points (107 North 11th Street in Nashville, Tennessee).
Eyestone, was a 28-year-old drummer with severe abdominal pain. As an uninsured, working musician, he tried to obtain a colonoscopy for 12 weeks and encountered barriers to treatment at every turn, ultimately dying on July 12, 2017 from colon cancer. To ensure that what happened to Eyestone never occurs again, MHA has created the Ben Eyestone Fund to cover the costs of a menu of diagnostic healthcare services serving working, uninsured or underinsured, and music industry professionals with lower income and obvious diagnostic needs.
“On behalf of the family of Ben Eyestone, and our team at Music Health Alliance, we are so incredibly thankful for the partnership and support from Jeff and Jenny Pennington and Pickers Vodka to ‘Heal the Music,’” says Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance founder and CEO. “This mural honors a beloved musician and beautiful human who lost his life much too soon. It is an important reminder that we are all in this together to help music makers just like Ben gain access to life-saving healthcare.”
As part of the mural series, one dollar for every bottle of Pickers Original Vodka sold at Middle Tennessee bars, restaurants, and venues that support live music will be donated to Music Health Alliance. For every one dollar donation, MHA provides $30 in life-saving healthcare resources.
Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Kane Brown To Headline Stagecoach 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan, Kane Brown, and Chris Stapleton
Luke Bryan, Kane Brown and Chris Stapleton will headline the upcoming 15th anniversary of Stagecoach on April 28-30, 2023 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
The three-day event will also feature performances by Jon Pardi, Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Gabby Barrett, Parker McCollum, Tyler Childers, ZZ Top, Breland, Turnpike Troubadours, Bryan Adams, Elle King, Morgan Wade and more. Passes go on sale this Friday (Sept. 16) at 12 p.m. CT at stagecoachfestival.com.
Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse will returnsfor its fourth year with new chefs, pit bosses and BBQ vendors. Also returning to the festival for a second consecutive year are California’s homegrown, Compton Cowboys. The crew of ten Black horseback riders are bringing their horses to Stagecoach to tell their compelling story of community engagement and share in the experience.
High Class Hillbilly owner and singer Nikki Lane’s exclusive Stage Stop Marketplace and Horseshoe Stage, which features alt-country burgeoning artists, will be on hand in the YeeHaw tent. The Honky Tonk Dance Hall will also make a comeback with DJ, producer and songwriter Diplo curating the sets.
SiriusXM Spotlight Sessions will moves to the T-Mobile Mane Stage in 2023 with a full line-up including many Highway Finds to be revealed in the coming months.
Mitchell Tenpenny Notches History-Making No. 1 At Country Radio
/by Lydia FarthingMitchell Tenpenny. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Mitchell Tenpenny is celebrating his recent history-making trip to the top of the country charts with his current single, “Truth About You.”
The Gold-selling tune marks the shortest span between No. 1 songs in the modern chart era with just three weeks since Tenpenny’s last chart topper. On Aug. 22, the Riser House/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville artist’s co-penned collaboration with labelmate Chris Young, “At The End Of A Bar,” reached No. 1.
“It takes a huge team and support to bring a song to No. 1,” Tenpenny notes. “I’m so thankful to everyone, including the fans, who believed this song was special and helped bring it to the top of the charts. To have this No. 1 just three weeks after being part of my last one is unbelievable. Thank you country radio. You’ll never know how much this means to me. I’m just overwhelmed with thankfulness.”
This Friday (Sept. 16), Tenpenny will release his new studio album, This Is The Heavy, on which he co-wrote all of the project’s 20 songs. He also co-produced the record alongside Jordan M. Schmidt.
In January 2023, he will embark on his headlining “This Is The Heavy Tour,” kicking off in Salt Lake City, Utah on Jan. 26 at The Union Event Center.
Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam, Tyler Childers To Perform At ‘Kentucky Rising’ Benefit
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam and Tyler Childers are among the artists set to perform at the upcoming “Kentucky Rising” benefit, a special one-night-only concert at Lexington’s Rupp Arena on Oct. 11.
Organized in response to the devastating flooding in the area earlier this summer, tickets go on sale this Friday (Sept. 16). Details can be found at KentuckyRising.com.
One hundred percent of net proceeds from the concert will benefit the “Kentucky Rising Fund” to support flood relief work and recovery efforts in Eastern Kentucky, including support for the victims, their families and first responders. Under guidance from the Blue Grass Community Foundation, the “Kentucky Rising Fund” will strategically support both immediate needs and long-term recovery projects as they emerge.
LeAnn Phelan To Host Free, Five-Day Songwriting Workshop This Week
/by Lydia FarthingMusic industry veteran LeAnn Phelan will lead a free, five day LP Creative Therapy Workshop for Songwriters. These one-hour Zoom Workshops will take place at 5:30 p.m. from Sept. 12–16, with replays available.
Phelan has had a passion for developing songwriters over the last 25 years, serving in A&R at Sony Records, as Co-Head of Creative at ASCAP, and as owner of LP Creative MGMT. However, during the COVID pandemic, she launched an additional endeavor called LP Creative Therapy Workshops.
“Besides being live and individually curated to each group, LP Creative Therapy Workshop provides education to songwriters relating to the business around their creativity. We learn from publishers, managers, attorneys, hit songwriters, and newly signed songwriters,” Phelan notes. “I get to know the people that show up and curate the experience based on where their interests lie. Basically, I give them what they want, and I add in what I know they need.”
The upcoming workshops are open to all, including songwriters all across the globe, and are not genre-specific. To register for the LP Creative Therapy Workshop, click here.
BMI Reveals Stage Lineup For Austin City Limits Festival In October
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI is returning to Zilker Park for the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 7-9 & 14-16, bringing its curated, musically diverse lineup to ACL for the 18th year.
The festival kicks off on Oct. 7 with indie-pop group Girlhouse, followed by Lilyisthatyou, and Austin-based indie-rock band Sarah and the Sundays, along with several others. Additional Weekend One performers include sibling duo Aly & AJ, Darkbird, and Isaac Dunbar.
Weekend Two will include the trailblazing Lily Rose, psych-rock and indie-folk band The Brummies, and post-punk rockers Urban Heat. Other acts include R&B songwriter Siena Liggins and storytellers Sloppy Jane.
“BMI is always excited to return to Zilker Park for Austin City Limits, and this year is no exception,” says Mason Hunter, AVP Creative, Nashville. “We love working with C3 and are thrilled to be partnering with them for another four years, so that we can continue to invest in the Austin community and highlight our best and brightest talent on the BMI stage.”
For well over a decade, the BMI stage at ACL has had a hand in launching some of music’s biggest stars, including Miranda Lambert (‘03), Alessia Cara (‘15), Luke Combs (‘16), City and Colour (‘08), Jon Pardi (‘11, ‘14), and Maren Morris (‘16), who went on to win a Grammy within a year of appearing on the BMI ACL stage.
BMI Stage Lineup:
Weekend One – Friday, October 7
Girlhouse
Lilyisthatyou
Sarah and the Sundays
Saturday, October 8
Katzu Oso
Jessia
Charlotte Sands
Aly & AJ
Sunday, October 9
Chicocurlyhead
Darkbird
Isaac Dunbar
Weekend Two – Friday, October 14
Early James
Dro Kenji
Lily Rose
Saturday, October 15
Izzy Heltai
Ben Reilly
Sloppy Jane
The Brummies
Sunday, October 16
Siena Liggins
Joshua Ray Walker
Urban Heat
Jackson Dean
CMA Announces 2022 International Awards Nominees
/by Lorie HollabaughThe CMA has revealed the nominees for the 2022 CMA International Awards, honoring artists and industry executives who have supported and impacted the growth and promotion of country music internationally.
Nominees are recognized in multiple categories and voted on by international CMA members along with a select panel of U.S.-based professionals with extensive knowledge in the international country music industry. These nominees from Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S. are honored for their continued efforts in expanding country’s reach around the globe.
Lindsay Ell, Ashley McBryde, Brothers Osborne, and Tenille Townes are among the nominees for International Artist Achievement Award. Voting for the 2022 CMA International Awards is open now through Sept. 26 with winners to be announced later this year.
“I am thrilled to be honoring these deserving international partners as we continue to see sustained country music growth globally,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “At our core, we exist to expand country music across the world, and each of these nominees has been an instrumental force in helping us further that mission by elevating and celebrating country music around the globe in their own territories. I can’t wait to celebrate each of them in the coming months!”
“All of our international award nominees have worked passionately and diligently in international markets for years,” says Milly Olykan, Vice President, International Relations and Development. “Country music has an amazing community of industry executives around the world, and each of these individuals have played a major part in building and continuing those relationships. They are all ambassadors and representatives for our genre, and we are grateful for their knowledge, expertise and friendship.”
2022 CMA International Awards Nominees:
Jo Walker Meador International Award:
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.
This award recognizes outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending performance opportunities and building live audiences for country music outside of the United States.
This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music outside of the United States.
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a United States-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period.
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in his/her country.
This award recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of country music as well as brought attention to the country music format in their foreign based territory.
Frank Rogers Elevated To Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughFrank Rogers. Photo: Courtesy of Spirit Music Group
Frank Rogers has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville.
In his new role, Rogers will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Spirit Music Group’s global roster and creative activities, as well as continuing to oversee Spirit Music Nashville’s operational activities.
In addition to being a publishing executive, Rogers is a multi-Platinum producer and songwriter who has produced 44 No. 1 singles, more than 80 top 20 singles and over 60 RIAA certified albums or singles for artists such as Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Allison Krauss, Frank Ray, and Scotty McCreery.
Rogers has 18 CMA nominations, with one win, and 27 ACM nominations, with five wins. He has produced 17 Grammy-nominated songs or albums, including four winners. He has been named Billboard‘s No. 1 Hot Country Producer Award five times, MusicRow’s Producer of the Year four times, and was included on Billboard’s Country Power Players list in 2020 and 2022.
As a songwriter he’s co-written many chart toppers, including “I’m Gonna Miss Her” (Brad Paisley); “Alright” and “This” (Darius Rucker); “Five More Minutes,” “This Is It,” “In Between,” and “You Time” (Scotty McCreery); and “Backroad Song” (Granger Smith). His songs have been recorded by Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, Hootie And The Blowfish, Lee Brice, Kidd Rock, Billy Gibbons, Matthew West, and many more.
In 2016, Spirit Music Group inked a multi-facted deal with Rogers and his company, Fluid Music Revolution, forming the Spirit/Fluid joint venture. The deal empowered Rogers to bring new artists, producers and writers to the company, and he also joined Spirit’s roster as a songwriter, with the company administering all of his new compositions worldwide. Rogers was appointed CEO of Spirit Music Group Nashville in 2019.
“I’m confident Frank is the right person to lead Spirit Music Group’s global creative team in this next exciting chapter. Frank brings a wealth of experience to our business, both as a multi-Platinum songwriter/music producer in his own right and as a highly accomplished music publishing executive with a proven history of delivering hit after hit with our roster,” notes Jon Singer, Chairman, Spirit Music Group. “We are thrilled to provide Spirit Music Group’s global roster of artists, songwriters and producers of every genre the very best in executive talent and a creative executive at the helm who knows how to build business and careers for our writers. What Frank has accomplished with Spirit Music Nashville is a great example of what a music publishing community firing on all cylinders can accomplish and we look forward to seeing him apply his creative strategy throughout our global offices.”
“I am honored to continue and to expand my relationship with Spirit Music Group,” Rogers adds. “Jon Singer, Ross Cameron and Joe Borrino have been great partners over the last several years and I look forward to continuing to build on Spirit’s impressive foundation. I am excited to work with all of Spirit’s songwriters and staff with the goal of expanding our global presence while making Spirit Music Group the preeminent independent music publisher in the world.”
Fisk Leader Dr. Paul Kwami Passes
/by Robert K OermannDr. Paul T. Kwami (center) with The Fisk Jubilee Singers. Photo: Jason Davis, Getty Images for Fisk Jubilee Singers
Dr. Paul T. Kwami, the director of The Fisk Jubilee Singers died Saturday (Sept. 10) at age 70.
Kwami took the 151-year-old Nashville musical institution into the modern era. During his 28-year tenure as the group’s leader, The Fisk Jubilee Singers won its first Grammy Award, undertook its first African tour, was honored with a National Medal of Arts and entered the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, among other accomplishments.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers were Nashville’s first stars. Founded in 1871, the group popularized slave spirituals. They were the first act to circumnavigate the globe on tour and performed before all the crowned heads of Europe. The group has been recording since 1909.
Paul Theophilus Kwami was born and raised in the West African nation of Ghana. He became a pianist and music teacher before emigrating to the U.S. in 1982 to pursue graduate studies at Fisk University.
While a student in Nashville, he was a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1983-85. He earned his master’s degree at Western Michigan University, then returned to Fisk to become the Jubilee Singers director in 1994.
In 1999, the singers portrayed their 19th-century musical ancestors for reenactment segments of a PBS documentary in the American Experience series. They were signed to Curb Records and released the CD In Bright Mansions in 2003. One of the CD’s tracks, “Poor Man Lazarus” won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association.
The following year, Kwami began updating the ensemble’s repertoire and outreach. The group was soon collaborating on stages and in the studio with pop, folk, gospel and country stars, from Neil Young to Shania Twain. Among the group’s collaborators since have been Hank Williams Jr., Danny Glover, Faith Hill, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Keb’ Mo’, The Fairfield Four, Lee Ann Womack, CeCe Winans and Natalie Cole.
In 2000, the Jubilees became the subjects of the book Dark Midnight When I Rise. This evolved into an acclaimed PBS documentary film, Jubilee Singers: Sacrifice and Glory. A second book about the group was 2010’s Tell Them We Are Singing for Jesus.
In 2006, The Fisk Jubilee Singers were honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame. The group was celebrated at the Recording Academy Honors ceremony in Nashville, along with Loretta Lynn and others in 2007. This is also when the singers were honored with a Tennessee Governors Award in the Arts. Later that year, the choir toured Kwami’s homeland, Ghana.
The ensemble was chosen to receive a National Medal of Arts in 2008. Paul Kwami earned a doctorate of music degree from Chicago’s American Conservatory of Music in 2009.
Under Kwami’s directorship, the Fisk Jubilee Singers performed at venues including the Apollo Theatre, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, White House and several Spanish and Italian halls.
Kwami also stepped up the group’s recording activities. Its new-millennium collections have included Sacred Journey (2007), The Fisk Jubilee Singers (2011), Roll Jordan Roll (2015) and I Want to Be Ready (2021).
Its 2021 recording Celebrating Fisk! The 150th Anniversary Album won a Grammy Award in the Best Roots Gospel Album category. Also in that year, The Fisk Jubilee Singers were honored by the Americana Music Association with the AMA’s Legacy of Americana award.
The Grammy-winning album was produced by Shannon Sanders. He reported that the current members of The Fisk Jubilee Singers gathered last week at the hospital where Kwami was ill. They sang “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” outside his room.
Paul Kwami served as a board member for the W.O. Smith Community Music School, the Nashville Advisory Council, the Gospel Music Association Foundation and the Schermerhorn Symphony Committee.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., Notes Progress In Annual Address
/by Liza AndersonRecording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., delivered the annual address to the organization on Friday (Sept. 9), emphasizing the significance of Academy membership and each affiliate’s unique opportunity to create a lasting impact on the music community. In the address, he also highlighted key initiatives and milestones for the Academy and welcomed the organization’s 2022 New Member Class.
Comprised of nearly 2,000 diverse music creators and professionals, the Academy’s 2022 New Member Class displays the organization’s continued progress toward cultivating a community that encompasses the ethnicities, genres and crafts that power the music industry.
“After years of listening, learning and putting in the work, we’re beginning to see results of our efforts to diversify the Academy’s membership come to life,” Mason shared. “Our members are the lifeblood of this organization, powering everything we do from the inside out. When we have diverse people representing all corners of the industry contributing unique perspectives, progress is achieved at a rapid pace. The journey is just beginning, and I can’t wait to work alongside our new and existing members to build on the Academy’s commitment to effecting real, meaningful change.”
Full statistics surrounding the demographics of the new class can be found here, and click here to read quotes from new members.
This marks the fourth year the Academy has administered a community-driven and peer-reviewed annual cycle to create a more diverse and engaged membership base representative of the evolving musical landscape. Since implementing the new model in 2019, the number of women has increased by 19 percent, and membership among traditionally underrepresented communities has increased by 38 percent, now accounting for 31 percent and 33 percent of the Academy’s current membership, respectively.
Mason also noted the five new Grammy Awards categories as well as the new Special Merit Award, Best Song For Social Change.
Additional Academy milestones and initiatives featured in the annual member address included the Academy’s efforts leading the fight for the Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act in California and the RAP Act on the federal level that would restrict the use of rap lyrics and other creative works in court, and the deadline for Academy members to register for District Advocate Day, taking place on Oct. 6.