Outback Presents Adds Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President
Danny Eaton
Outback Presents has tapped Dallas-based concert promoter Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President, bringing decades of experience to his new role.
Eaton started out producing concerts in Dallas and Austin, Texas including dates with ZZ Top, Kris Kristofferson, ELO, and Black Sabbath. He became integrally involved with the management team for ZZ Top in the ‘70s, followed by time with Eaton Page Productions, and 462 Concerts, a dominate force in Dallas for two decades. In 2004 he joined AEG and successfully rebuilt the once bankrupt Nokia Live Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 2010 he was named Sr. VP for Live Nation in Dallas.
“Danny is a longtime friend who I admire and trust,” said Outback Presents President Mike Smardack. “His accomplishments as a promoter I have always looked up to. We are very excited to have Danny join our team.”
“I am honored and happy to join forces with Mike Smardak, Vaughn Millette, Brian Dorfman, and the rest of the Outback team,” said Eaton. “I have known Mike for many years and I have always admired his concert promotion strategies and skills. My plan is to help the company grow its already prolific business and help expand the Outback brand. I am beyond excited about this new adventure with Outback.”
Contact Eaton at danny.eaton@outbackpresents.com or 469-372-1100.
Warner Music Nashville Commits To Offset Emissions
Spanning 36,000 acres, the WMN-sponsored Crow Lake Wind project resides east of Chamberlain, SD. Photo Courtesy: South Pole
Warner Music Nashville is offsetting a portion of its carbon emissions through a partnership with South Pole, a leading provider of global climate action solutions. They are working together on the Crow Lake Wind project near Chamberlain, South Dakota which harnesses wind power to provide homes with clean energy. At full capacity, the project could serve 129,000 homes.
The Crow Lake Wind project has a unique cooperative ownership structure, which has been good for the community, resulting in jobs, tax income, payments to landowners where the project takes place, and wind turbine experience for local college students.
“I have had a lifelong passion for the environment, but it was our internal WMGreen team that took the initiative to identify and adopt a project of this scale,” said Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “I am especially proud to support the Crow Lake Wind project because it highlights the intersection of environmental, social and economic issues. Saving the planet is also saving its people.”
New Candle Line Benefits MusiCares
Bethany and Erik Leighty crafted a special MusiCares candle as part of the partnership, with $5 from each sale of this scent going to the organization.
Members of the music industry Bethany and Erik Leighty have started Wooded Creek Candle Co., with a $1 of every candle sold being donated to MusiCares. Erik works as a touring production manager and Bethany is a graphic designer for a live music booking agency, and when the pandemic struck last year they felt compelled to give back.
Since then, their candles have been used in corporate gifts baskets by the CMA and Sterling Entertainment, as well as the upcoming MusiCares’ Music on a Mission, a virtual event to honor the resiliency of the music community during the pandemic. Set for Friday, March 12, the event will feature performances by HAIM, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko and John Legend.
FGL’s Amazon Global Livestream Event Set For Thursday
/by Lorie HollabaughFlorida Georgia Line’s exclusive global livestream event “Life Rolls On From The FGL House” will take place this Thursday (Feb. 25), due to being rescheduled following the winter weather in Nashville.
FGL raises a glass to their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On, alongside Amazon Music and CMT for a full-band concert during the event, live from their own venue. Hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan, the livestream kicks off at 7 p.m. CT on the Amazon Music Twitch channel and within the Amazon Music mobile app. The performance will also be available to watch on the Amazon Music Twitch channel for three days afterwards.
FGL House is located in downtown Nashville, near the site of the Christmas Day bombing. Amazon Music, FGL, CMT, and Big Machine Label Group have each donated to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Neighbors Fund to support local merchants affected by the bombing. Grants from the fund are made available to nonprofits providing services for both immediate and long-term needs for those impacted from the explosion. Fans can learn more by visiting cfmt.org/
Industry Ink: Outback Presents, Warner Music Nashville, MusiCares
/by Sarah SkatesOutback Presents Adds Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President
Danny Eaton
Outback Presents has tapped Dallas-based concert promoter Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President, bringing decades of experience to his new role.
Eaton started out producing concerts in Dallas and Austin, Texas including dates with ZZ Top, Kris Kristofferson, ELO, and Black Sabbath. He became integrally involved with the management team for ZZ Top in the ‘70s, followed by time with Eaton Page Productions, and 462 Concerts, a dominate force in Dallas for two decades. In 2004 he joined AEG and successfully rebuilt the once bankrupt Nokia Live Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 2010 he was named Sr. VP for Live Nation in Dallas.
“Danny is a longtime friend who I admire and trust,” said Outback Presents President Mike Smardack. “His accomplishments as a promoter I have always looked up to. We are very excited to have Danny join our team.”
“I am honored and happy to join forces with Mike Smardak, Vaughn Millette, Brian Dorfman, and the rest of the Outback team,” said Eaton. “I have known Mike for many years and I have always admired his concert promotion strategies and skills. My plan is to help the company grow its already prolific business and help expand the Outback brand. I am beyond excited about this new adventure with Outback.”
Contact Eaton at danny.eaton@outbackpresents.com or 469-372-1100.
Warner Music Nashville Commits To Offset Emissions
Spanning 36,000 acres, the WMN-sponsored Crow Lake Wind project resides east of Chamberlain, SD. Photo Courtesy: South Pole
Warner Music Nashville is offsetting a portion of its carbon emissions through a partnership with South Pole, a leading provider of global climate action solutions. They are working together on the Crow Lake Wind project near Chamberlain, South Dakota which harnesses wind power to provide homes with clean energy. At full capacity, the project could serve 129,000 homes.
The Crow Lake Wind project has a unique cooperative ownership structure, which has been good for the community, resulting in jobs, tax income, payments to landowners where the project takes place, and wind turbine experience for local college students.
“I have had a lifelong passion for the environment, but it was our internal WMGreen team that took the initiative to identify and adopt a project of this scale,” said Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “I am especially proud to support the Crow Lake Wind project because it highlights the intersection of environmental, social and economic issues. Saving the planet is also saving its people.”
New Candle Line Benefits MusiCares
Bethany and Erik Leighty crafted a special MusiCares candle as part of the partnership, with $5 from each sale of this scent going to the organization.
Members of the music industry Bethany and Erik Leighty have started Wooded Creek Candle Co., with a $1 of every candle sold being donated to MusiCares. Erik works as a touring production manager and Bethany is a graphic designer for a live music booking agency, and when the pandemic struck last year they felt compelled to give back.
Since then, their candles have been used in corporate gifts baskets by the CMA and Sterling Entertainment, as well as the upcoming MusiCares’ Music on a Mission, a virtual event to honor the resiliency of the music community during the pandemic. Set for Friday, March 12, the event will feature performances by HAIM, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko and John Legend.
Shelby Kennedy Tapped To Lead Expansion Of Amazing Radio USA
/by Sarah SkatesPictured clockwise from top left: Paul Campbell, Shelby Kennedy, Mike Savage and Erin Frankenheimer. Photos courtesy of Amazing.
Online music platform Amazing has announced a new North American senior team as it continues its expansion of Amazing Radio USA.
Leading the charge is longtime Nashville music business player Shelby Kennedy as President, North America. Joining him is New Orleans-based Vice President Erin Frankenheimer, and L.A.-based Director of Talent and Programming Mike Savage. All three formerly served in Entertainment Relations for TuneCore.
They will work with artists and labels, hire new DJs, and continue to grow the re-vamped CMJ brand, including CMJ Music Marathon, which was purchased by Amazing in 2020.
“I’ve known about Amazing for almost ten years,” said Kennedy. “What it does for artists has always been exceptional, in terms of offering promotion and a route to a real career. Now, with the enhanced service offerings, new benefits, and more outlets for content, it’s time to ‘ramp up.’ My colleagues and I are excited to support America’s emerging artists, bringing their music the attention it deserves.”
The announcement comes alongside increases in Amazing’s promotional services to artists, with the launch of un-curated audio stream First Spin and video channel First Look augmenting Amazing Radio UK, Amazing Radio USA, CMJ Music Marathon, and the video strand One Night Stand.
In January 2021, the company launched Amazing Artists, offering independent artists and labels unlimited lossless uploads to their digital locker, enhanced profile pages, private URLs, unlimited video links, and the chance to be featured in the company’s audio and video channels, priced at about $3 per month.
“We have been promoting independent artists from the UK for more than a decade,” said Founder & CEO, Paul Campbell. “The acquisition of CMJ, launch of our US radio station, new video programming, and now the enhanced digital service to musicians, show we are very serious about becoming a major force in the USA too. I’m incredibly excited that three of the music industry’s finest are now on board to help us make a difference for working musicians.”
Reach team members at firstname@amazing.us.
Morris Light & Sound To Be Acquired By Solotech
/by Lorie HollabaughSolotech, a global leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology, is acquiring Nashville-based Morris Light & Sound.
The acquisition will strengthen Solotech’s live productions and systems integration divisions in the U.S., expand its already extensive inventory, and add to its team of industry professionals. This synergy will maximize Morris Light & Sound customers’ access to a larger pool of expertise and state-of-the-art technology around the globe.
Morris Light & Sound was formed nearly 30 years ago by longtime manager Dale Morris to outfit tours for country hitmakers Alabama. Morris created a unique business model that not only represented and managed artists, but also provided full production services all under one roof. “The audiences that Alabama drew were unprecedented in country music at that time,” Morris said. “We needed a sound system that would project their music over the sounds of the crowd, so I turned to an audio company in L.A. who configured sound systems for rock groups which was what we needed. I purchased the system out of necessity for Alabama and that’s how we got started in production.”
“We are excited to have the Morris brands acquired by Solotech, a highly respected company in the industry,” said Zack Morris, COO of Morris Enterprises. “Our company cultures and values such as collaboration and exceptional performance complement each other, and we’re confident our clients will continue to receive an elevated experience.”
Solotech has collaborated with top artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and venues like The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Bridgestone Arena.
Joe Lasher Signs With Warner Chappell Music Nashville And KJM Music
/by Lorie HollabaughL-R): Kelly Janson (KJM), Lasher, Will Overton (WCM), Ben Vaughn (WCM)
Joe Lasher has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Kelly Janson‘s KJM Music.
Hailing from Weaverville, North Carolina, Lasher’s sound is influenced by genres ranging from traditional country and gospel, to rock and heavy metal. Lasher has over 500 shows under his belt, and has shared the stage with Brett Young, Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, and more. Last year the emerging singer-songwriter released “Messed Up,” which he co-wrote along with a video that premiered on CMT.com.
KJM Music and WCM previously signed songwriter Mitch Ogelsby, who landed a two week No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for Chris Janson’s “Done” last August.
Josh Turner To Perform First Virtual Livestream Show From Ole Red
/by Lorie HollabaughJosh Turner will perform his first-ever intimate livestream concert on the platform Sessions in front of a limited, socially-distanced live audience at Ole Red in Nashville on March 10. The Sessions livestream global exclusive event will be accessible in over 230 countries.
“It’s very exciting to see the growing number of artists embracing these hybrid shows,” said Tim Westergren, Sessions co-founder and former founder and CEO of Pandora. “Josh can simultaneously provide the intimate experience of a venue with limited capacity while also reaching a global audience. We believe this will become a standard practice for artists as they discover the power of our platform to engage virtual fans, drive substantial additional revenue and amplify the impact of local performances.”
“Because of platforms like Sessions Live, myself and all artists have the unique opportunity to connect with fans on an intimate and genuine level–all over the world. We’ve all had to cancel tour dates not only domestically but internationally as well. I’m thankful for the people who understand the tech side of things and continue to present opportunities for artists to connect with fans and continue to do what we love during these times,” said Turner.
Turner, who has sold more than 8 million units and topped more than 3 billion in global streaming, recently celebrated his 150th performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Other artists who have used Sessions for their shows include Hank Williams Jr., Lee Brice, Jon Langston, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, The Shadowboxers, Mason Ramsey, Scotty McCreery, and Temecula Road.
Dan Auerbach Plans Release of Recordings From Late Singer Tony Joe White
/by Lorie HollabaughA new album of never-before-heard Tony Joe White tunes, Smoke from the Chimney, is set to be released by Easy Eye Sound on May 7.
The nine-song project, produced by Dan Auerbach and rounded out by Nashville studio musicians, got its start as a number of raw voice and guitar demos from White’s home studio before being transformed into full band arrangements harkening back to the albums White recorded in the late ’60s and early ’70s in Nashville and Muscle Shoals.
A track from the project, “Boot Money” has been released along with an animated video from director Robert Schober which colorfully places White and Auerbach in the recording studio to kick off the tune before following along while White lives out the song’s storyline.
Among the musicians on the album are legendary keyboardist Bobby Wood (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett), Nashville pedal steel ace Paul Franklin, next-generation guitar hero Marcus King, and Grammy and ACM award-winning fiddler Stuart Duncan, just to name a few.
Since meeting White backstage at an Australian music festival in 2009, Auerbach sought to make a record with him. For nearly a decade, White’s son Jody tried to line up session time for them but Tony Joe demurred. “For one reason or another, my Dad would never just want to go into a studio and write with somebody, or go work with somebody,” said Jody. “He liked to do it at his place, and his way, and it turned out how it turned out, you know what I mean? So, this album really all worked out perfectly. He was making these tracks for Dan all along, but we just didn’t know it.”
“Jody and I had been talking about this record for so long, and it didn’t happen for a reason,” said Auerbach. “It’s because it wasn’t supposed to happen. I was in a nervous cast of characters until the last few years, and if you’d given it to me any earlier, it wouldn’t have been right. I felt like all these people on the record were the right people and they laid in there behind Tony Joe. It felt really magical when we were making it happen. These songs feel like a collection to me and they all seem to work together, in a weird way, even though they’re so different. There’s some heartbreaking ballads and some really raunchy carnal blues. But it all works together like scenes of a movie.”
Smoke from the Chimney Track List:
Rising Artist Nick Wayne Signs With EMPIRE Nashville Publishing Division [Exclusive]
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Sarah-Beth Gerlecz (Counsel, EMPIRE), Eric Hurt (VP of A&R, EMPIRE), Heather Vassar (VP of Marketing, EMPIRE), Nick Wayne, William Dyer (Product Manager, EMPIRE), Janine Ebach (CEO, Ebach Entertainment), Leslie Roberts (Executive Director, Creative, BMI). Photo: Steve Lowry
Nashville artist and writer, Nick Wayne, has signed with EMPIRE Nashville’s publishing arm. Formerly with Black River Entertainment, Wayne has had his songs recorded by Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Lady A, and more. EMPIRE and Janine Ebach‘s Ebach Entertainment will concurrently work with Wayne in the country market, while expanding his presence in the pop/R&B world as a songwriter and artist.
Wayne’s musical influences of classic country, soul, and the blues can be heard across the Nashville native’s projects of Two Sides, Coffee Black, and Bourbon Neat. His three-song EP AMERICAN ORIGINAL[s], released in June 2020, delivers a blend of traditional and southern rock influence along with his own soulful delivery as he celebrates one-of-a-kind girls who make their own rules.
Wayne began to creatively release songs under his Coffee Black and Bourbon Neat projects in March of 2019. Coffee Black includes “Maybe I Do,” “I Knew It Was You,” and “I Love You More”. Bourbon Neat consists of “Drink,” “Til the Wine’s All Gone,” and “Drunk Again (feat. Hannah Ellis)”. Wayne’s acoustic cover video of “If The World Was Ending,” now at 6 million views, amassed 1 million views in only three weeks.
Jesse Frasure Enters Top Three On ‘MusicRow’ Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJesse Frasure breaks into the top three this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He is a co-writer on Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes,” and Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage.”
Josh Osborne moves back up to No. 1 this week, with co-writer credit on Morgan Wallen’s “7 Summers” and “Sand In My Boots,” as well as Rascal Flatts’s “How They Remember You,” Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” Carly Pearce’s “Next Girl,” and Darius Rucker’s recent No. 1 “Beers And Sunshine.”
Ashley Gorley is at No. 2 with Morgan Wallen’s “Warning” and “Sand In My Boots,” Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” and Cole Swindell’s “Single Saturday Night.”
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Spotify Reveals Upgrades: 80+ New Markets, HiFi Tier, New Creator Tools
/by Sarah SkatesSpotify hosted the virtual event Stream On Monday (Feb. 22) to discuss its new tools for creators, international expansion, new podcasts, and a hi-fi listening option.
Many celebrities participated in the event including Khalid, FINNEAS and Billie Eilish, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Halsey, Bruce Springsteen, President Barack Obama, and Justin Bieber, who closed out the livestream with a new version of his hit “Anyone.”
Among the highlights, Spotify announced expansion to more than 80 new markets and more than 36 new languages. It also revealed that premium subscribers will have the ability to upgrade to CD-quality, lossless audio in select markets later this year with a new subscription plan, Spotify HiFi.
New creator tools include upgrades to:
• Marquee, a sponsored song recommendation program
• Discovery Mode, an audience development tool which allows prioritization of tracks within Spotify’s algorithm
• Canvas, short looping visuals attached to a track (see Halsey’s video below)
• RADAR, the global emerging artist program
• Spotify Clips, which features artists in short videos on a playlist experience
Upgrades for podcasters include an Anchor + WordPress partnership, video podcasts which combine audio and visual storytelling, and new models for monetization.
Among the new podcasts announced on the livestream is one pairing former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen for Renegades: Born in the USA, an eight-episode series exploring race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America.
President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen have joined up for the eight-episode podcast ‘Renegades: Born in the USA.’
According to the company, it paid more than $5 billion to rights holders in 2020, and its library contains more than 70 million tracks, 4.5 billion playlists, and more than 2 million podcasts, made by over eight million creators.