Anthony Martini Takes Reins As Royalty Exchange CEO

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Anthony Martini. Photo: Nabil Miftahi

Anthony Martini has been named CEO of Royalty Exchange, the world’s first online platform to turn music royalties into an asset class that anyone can invest in. Effective immediately, he replaces founding CEO Matthew Smith, who will remain with the company as Chairman.

Martini has a long history of advocating for the financial empowerment of artists. He began his career as an artist manager, including a senior role at Crush Management, where he discovered and developed rapper Tyga, among other acts. He later joined pioneering music licensing platform Jingle Punks, where he played an instrumental role in its sale to Canadian publisher Anthem Entertainment. Most recently, Martini founded the artist-first independent record label Commission Records, signing hit acts such as Lil’ Dicky and MadeinTYO. He sold a majority stake in the company to Big Noise in 2019.

“I’m incredibly happy that we found Anthony and that he agreed to step into the CEO role,” says Royalty Exchange founder and chairman Smith. “He has the experience, vision, drive, and relationships—not to mention charisma—to lead Royalty Exchange into its next chapter.”

“I’ve always enjoyed the thrill of finding the next big artist, but this time I’ve found the next big company,” says Martini. “Royalty Exchange is disrupting the financial landscape of the music business in favor of those who actually create the value in this industry—the artists. That’s a mission I can get behind and take to the next level. I joined Royalty Exchange because it’s the only company built to serve all artists, not just the most successful few. Superstar artists already make plenty of money, so they shouldn’t be the only ones to profit from today’s music catalog gold rush. Our marketplace allows any artist, big or small, to set their own terms and tap into this unprecedented demand for music royalties.”

Martini joins Royalty Exchange at a critical juncture in the pioneering platform’s history. Last year, the company marked 1,000 catalog transactions completed across the marketplace. To focus the demand of its 27,000 registered investors, Royalty Exchange recently expanded its marketplace into a new section called The eXchange. Here, artists set their own price for their catalogs and get offers directly from potential investors which enables them to select only the best and highest offers.

Margo Price And Nathaniel Rateliff To Perform On ‘CMT Crossroads’

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Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff, backed by longtime band The Nights Sweats, will take the stage together for a new episode of the series CMT Crossroads, premiering Friday, March 26 on CMT.

CMT Crossroads shows the far-reaching roots of country music by pairing country artists with musicians from other genres. The series debuted in January of 2002 with Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams and since has showcased musical partnerships including Ray Charles and Travis Tritt, Bon Jovi and Sugarland, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire, Def Leppard and Taylor Swift, Sting and Vince Gill, John Mayer and Keith Urban, Mumford & Sons and Emmylou Harris, Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood, Stevie Nicks and Lady A, Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves, Alicia Keys and Maren Morris, and more.

Price and Rateliff’s episode will be the first since Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini’s episode premiered in March 2020.

“I am excited to be playing CMT Crossroads. Through the last five years the band and I constantly crossed paths with Margo Price and her band at Farm Aids, The Outlaw Fest, Newport Folk and more places,” says Rateliff. “Our first chance to hang together was on Willie Nelson’s bus at Farm Aid. Ever since this I have loved watching her and the band play. She is a hell of a performer and songwriter.”

“I am so excited to sing with my friend Nathaniel and both of our bands at Crossroads,” says Price. “Through the years the two of us have sat in and sang with both Willie and his son Lukas, but we have never sang together on our own material. I’m really looking forward to collaborating after all this time.”

CMT Crossroads: Nathaniel Rateliff & Margo Price is produced by CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and Ellie Chandler and will premiere on Friday, March 26 at 10 p.m. ET.

Wells Fargo Private Bank’s Nashville Entertainment Group Ups Danielle Lares-Bouharoun

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Danielle Lares-Bouharoun

Wells Fargo Private Bank has promoted Danielle Lares-Bouharoun to Managing Director in the company’s Wealth Management organization.

Lares-Bouharoun has worked with sports and entertainment figures, as well as entrepreneurs, executives and family wealth offices over her 30-year career in banking. In her new role she oversees Wells Fargo Private Bank’s Nashville Entertainment Group office and has responsibility for clients nationwide. She most recently held the role of Senior Private Banker.

She is a member of the CMA and The Recording Academy, as well as a graduate of Leadership Music.

Congratulate Lares-Bouharoun at danielle.lares-bouharoun@wellsfargo.com.

Franklin Theatre Launches Phased Reopening For 2021

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Photo: Courtesy The Franklin Theatre

The Franklin Theatre has announced its phased reopening plan for 2021, with its box office reopening with limited hours beginning on Friday, March 12.

The current reopening plan, which will be modified as needed based on any future COVID-related restrictions, will bring back limited-capacity weekend movies and limited-capacity plus livestream performances through June. Until the state guidelines indicate otherwise, the theater’s capacity is approximately 75 guests, which accounts for adequate social distancing.

The box office’s limited hours will run through April and will be 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to new shows going on sale over the next several weeks, many 2021-2022 shows are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased online at FranklinTheatre.com, over the phone at 615-538-2076 or in person at the box office.

Beginning in July, the theater will begin presenting movies and live performances with increasing regularity and possible increased capacity. The Franklin Theatre will continue to follow the governor’s Tennessee Pledge and CDC guidelines and update reopening plans as needed.

“We are emerging from an incredibly challenging season for The Franklin Theatre,” says Heritage Foundation COO, Meg Hershey. “While we had to temporarily close the doors to public events, we are diligently working behind the scenes to reschedule some of the amazing programming that was planned for last year. We couldn’t be more excited about getting this cherished venue back open to continue its mission, bringing inspiring arts and entertainment experiences to our community.”

The theater is currently open for private rentals, including Monday nights through April where local non-profit, Studio Tenn, is hosting its popular virtual talk show, Studio Tenn Talks: Conversations with Patrick Cassidy. In addition, as part of its mission to be a platform for local philanthropy, The Franklin Theatre is currently working in partnership with local video production companies and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to provide an opportunity for non-profits to film affordable promotional videos to support their participation in The Big Payback, CFMT’s annual 24-hour giving event that kicks off on Wednesday, May 5 at 6 p.m.

Circle Network To Launch On Peacock With Blake Shelton Takeover

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Blake Shelton. Photo: Andrew Eccles

Circle Network is celebrating “Spring Blake” this year as it teams up with Blake Shelton for a network takeover that will feature Shelton-themed episodes and star-studded performances from some of his closest friends. Viewers can tune into “Spring Blake” this Saturday, March 13 starting at 12 p.m. ET on Circle.

Just in time for the takeover, Circle’s country lifestyle programming is now available on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. The network is Peacock’s first channel addition dedicated to country lifestyle and music programming. Circle’s distribution has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2020 and now reaches a monthly audience of nearly 150 million via ad-supported streaming distribution partnerships, in addition to its linear distribution.

“There are more than 130 million people in the United States who identify as country music fans, and with Peacock, we are able to reach more of this growing fan base than ever before,” says Scott Bailey, President of Opry Entertainment Group.  “We look forward to adding our artist-centered programming, like Opry Live, to their collection of high-quality content and channels.”

“Blake is an iconic country music star, and we are excited to have him take over Circle Network for a night of all things Blake Shelton,” says Drew Reifenberger, Circle Network General Manager. “Viewers will get an inside look into our favorite episodes and moments featuring Blake—from visits to the iconic ‘Ole Red’ hotspot, to live performances with his close friends and fellow country music stars. This also comes at a perfect time as we launch our partnership with Peacock, allowing even more country fans to take part in the journey.”

Runaway June’s Natalie Stovall, who was a part of #TeamBlake on NBC’s The Voice, will kick off the Shelton marathon at 12 p.m. ET with episodes from her show The Southern Weekend, where she’ll visit Shelton’s Ole Red restaurant in Nashville and meet Canaan Smith at Prince’s Hot Chicken for a hot chicken challenge. Other highlights include joining Luke Combs and Craig Morgan for a duck hunt on Morgan’s lifestyle show Craig’s World, a reunion with Shelton’s former tour mates Howard and David Bellamy on their Bellamy Brothers’ Honky Tonk Ranch, and more. The evening will also feature Shelton’s Opry Live with Dustin Lynch and Trace Adkins, as well as the premiere of this year’s Conservation AID concert benefiting The National Wild Turkey Foundation with Shelton, Lynch, Morgan, Chris Janson, Jimmie Allen, Lindsey Ell and Chuck Wicks.

“Spring Blake” will continue all March long at Ole Red. Circle and Ole Red are partnering up to launch a “Spring Blake” sweepstakes, with two lucky winners receiving a Personal Redphone, a Zoom meet and greet with Shelton, and a Spring Blake at Home Kit full of supplies to celebrate in true “Spring Blake” fashion. The kit will also include an Ole Red drumhead signed by Shelton.

Sony Music Nashville Signs Willie Jones In Partnership With The Penthouse

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Pictured (L-R): Jonnie Forster, manager and owner of The Penthouse; Willie Jones; Jim Catino, Sony Music Nashville EVP, A&R. Photo: Sandor Torgyik

Sony Music Nashville has signed Willie Jones to an exclusive deal in partnership with The Penthouse.

“Whoa! I can’t wait to see what’s down this road,” says Jones. “I appreciate everyone who has been part of the Willie Jones story so far, and I’m truly blessed. Now, let’s get it.”

The Shreveport, Louisiana native blends hip-hop and country music. Jones has earned critical acclaim for his debut album Right Now, which features the poignant patriotic single “American Dream.” The video clip of this anthem was jointly premiered on CMT and BET, a first for the networks.

YouTube video

Jones is represented by Jonnie Forster at The Penthouse for management and John Huie at CAA for booking. He is signed to a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville.

Keith Urban And Mickey Guyton To Host 2021 ‘ACM Awards’

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Keith Urban, Mickey Guyton

The Academy of Country Music announced today (March 11) that 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, and New Female Artist of the Year nominee Mickey Guyton, will host the 56th ACM Awards.

This will mark a return for Urban as host, and Guyton’s first time with hosting duties.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be co-hosting with my friend Mickey,” says Urban. “I love that finally everyone will get to see her infectious energy and uber creative spirit in full light.”

“Last year I had the opportunity to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards with someone I long admired, Keith Urban, and this year I am incredibly excited to share hosting duties with him,” says Guyton. “As I’ve said before ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’ and it’s such an honor to step onto the ACM stage as the first ever Black woman to host the show. Over the years, the Academy of Country Music has always been a home for me through opportunities both onstage and throughout their work on diversity and inclusion. This is a moment of great significance for me and I am so thrilled to share it with all the fans.”

“Following Mickey’s groundbreaking and emotional performance featuring Keith Urban at last September’s ACM Awards, the producers knew that they would make a perfect hosting duo,” says ACM, dick clark productions and CBS in a joint statement. “Since then, Mickey had a stratospheric rise and Keith has continued to top the charts. They will make a dynamic pairing that captures the warmth, humor, and comfort that the fans are looking for, and join a legendary list of talented artists that have hosted the ACM Awards over the years.”

Urban is nominated in the Music Event of the Year Category for his collaboration with P!nk on his latest single, “One Too Many,” for which he received an additional nomination as the song’s producer. He is also nominated for his collaboration with Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, and Chris Tomlin on “Be A Light.” To date, Urban has won 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, securing his first win in 2001.

Guyton was nominated for her first ACM Award in 2016 for New Female Vocalist. This last year, she performed her first solo ACM Awards performance of “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” with labelmate Urban’s accompaniment on piano. She is up for New Female Artist of the Year at this year’s awards.

CBS will present the 56th ACM Awards live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, April 18 (8:00-11:00 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Entertainment Companies Comment On Passage Of American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021

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On March 10, Congress passed President Joe Biden‘s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package.

The package was proposed by President Biden to help speed up the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is scheduled to sign the bill into law on Friday (March 12).

Several representatives of the American music and entertainment community issued the following statement on the passage of the COVID-19 relief and economic stimulus bill:

“The American Rescue Plan provides absolutely essential economic relief for workers in the American creative community who continue to face an uncertain path back to work due to the pandemic. This legislation’s extension of CARES Act and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation benefits into early September, as well as critical tax forgiveness for the first $10,200 of unemployment insurance claimed in 2020, will provide much-needed certainty for creative community workers and their families. We are also grateful for the inclusion of additional funds for shuttered venue operators and live entertainment businesses, and continued support for the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses are in desperate need of these funds.

We are hopeful that enactment of the American Rescue Plan is one more step toward a future where music and entertainment are again at the center of our lives and communities, and where creative community workers can put the hardship of the pandemic behind them. Until then, we will continue to work as one community to advocate for greater, enhanced relief and ensure policymakers at all levels understand American creators’ outsized contribution to our economy and our culture.”

The joint statement is from the following:
Actors’ Equity Association
American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
American Photographic Artists
Artist Rights Alliance
Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston
ASCAP
The Authors Guild
BMI
CERF+ the Artists Safety Net
Copyright Alliance
CreativeFuture
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Digital Media Association (DiMA)
ExtendPUA.org
Freelancers Union
Future of Music Coalition
The Graphic Artists Guild
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
Lawyers for the Creative Arts (Chicago)
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Music Artists Coalition (MAC)
Music Managers Forum – US (MMF-US)
Music Workers Alliance (MWA)
Musicians for Musicians
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
National Independent Talent Organization (NITO)
National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)
National Writers Union (NWU)
Recording Academy
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
SAG-AFTRA
SESAC
Songwriters Guild of America
Songwriters of North America (SONA)
SoundExchange
St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA)
Volunteer Lawyers for The Arts
Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA)

Songwriting University Announces Christmas Songwriting Contest Winner

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Pictured (L-R): Joe Beck, Billy Sprague, grand prize winner Abigail Orsborn, Michael Blanton, and Gary Glover. Photo: Courtesy of Man of War Creative Studios

Nashville’s Songwriting University, in partnership with the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and Gibson Gives, announced the winners of their first annual Christmas Songwriting Contest.

This year’s grand prize winner is Abigail Orsborn for her song, “Two Christmases.” In 2nd place, receiving $500 and a brand new Gibson Les Paul guitar is H. Jack Williams with “One Little Boy.”

The third, fourth and fifth place winners receive a two-hour songwriting session with a hit songwriter and the sixth through tenth place finalists receive a one-year subscription to SU/MasterClass.

“We were so honored to partner with Scott Hamilton and his foundation for this contest,” says Michael Blanton, one of Songwriting University’s founders. “To be able to provide some levity and light at the end of such a dark year was an honor and a testament to the healing power of song.”

SU provided a distinguished panel of songwriters, artists, producers and music professionals to select the 10 finalists who were awarded thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including a check for $1,500 in addition to the Gibson Les Paul guitar for the grand prize winner.

This panel included award-winning songwriters Buddy Greene and Wayne Kirkpatrick, along with record executive Blanton.

Other finalists include:
3rd – “The Only Thing I Want More” by Cam Monroe
4th – “Why Christmastime” by Derek Toomey
5th – “Angels In the Snow” by Julie Broschard
6th – “A Much More Silent Night” by Lori Lee Loving
7th – “Peace for Your Christmastime” by David Powers
8th – “Highly Favored” by Dave Lemieux
9th – “It’s a Santa Claus Thing” by Darrell John
10th – “Christmas Cookies” by Jennifer Smestad

Pandora, SiriusXM And Stitcher Takes Stand For Sonic Diversity

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Pandora, SiriusXM and Stitcher launched Stand For Sonic Diversity, a call to action to diversify voices in media and advertising. The audio brands are taking a stand by making a measurable commitment to casting more Black voices on its platforms.

The company launched a website, Stand For Sonic Diversity, which outlines its ambitious goals to diversify voices in advertising and media.

Some goals include:
  • Diversifying its internal talent rosters with a goal of having BIPOC talent represent 50% of the roster.
  • Striving to have Black voices represent at least 15% of the total advertising voiceover roster.
  • Diversify casting with the goal of increasing Black voice talent cast by 30% over 2020 levels.
  • Refuse to support casting where white voice actors are cast in Black roles.
  • Diversify voices cast for the “general market,” rather than defaulting to the use of a white voice.
  • Audit casting practices on a regular basis to ensure adherence to diverse casting practices.

“Despite the fact that the U.S. population is nearly 40% non-white, the voices we hear broadcast in the media via voiceover talent are still broadly white by default,” says Executive Creative Director for SiriusXM/Pandora, Roger Sho Gehrmann. “We have made a commitment to enact meaningful, measurable change and invite other companies in our space to do the same. It’s time to take a Stand for Sonic Diversity.”

Gehrmann will participate in a discussion at SXSW next week entitled Breaking The Sonic Color Line which will discuss the lack of diversity in on air voices. The virtual panel discussion will take place on March, 19 and will also feature MC Lyte; CEO of YR Media, Kyra Kyles; and Vice President of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences, Joan Baker.