Agricultural technology company Rantizo is set to use its drone spraying technology to help fight COVID-19 in large-scale venues this spring.
Rantizo, based in Iowa City, Iowa, is in discussions to use its drone spraying platform to help sanitize open areas and seating for spectator events that have been shuttered as a result of COVID-19. The company is set to roll out its SaaS (sanitization as a service) this week, to spray stadiums as a one-time service, or to spray repeatedly between games or events, depending on venue needs once restrictions lift and sports/events spectators begin again utilizing large open-air venues.
Users would be charged an initial setup fee as well as a per unit price determined by area or number of seats.
Rantizo CEO Michael Ott said, “To sanitize stadiums at this magnitude, traditionally would require dozens of workers and hours or days. That simply isn’t practical right now. With our drone sprayers, we can get into the stadiums, spray the seats quickly, efficiently, and accurately, with minimal exposure or need for human effort. Once we map out the field, it’s really easy to repeat. So many people rely on sports for an unquantifiable number of reasons. I think now, more than ever, they would represent a state of normalcy that we are all desperately searching for. When situations arise like these…unprecedented times, innovation is key to overcoming them. I’m very pleased that the Rantizo platform is a means for doing that and that we are able to help protect our communities and hopefully help facilitate some normalcy in the near future.”
“We had a MLB organization reach out to us a few weeks back looking to use our drone sprayers as a way to sanitize their stadium,” Rantizo Director of Sales, David Pieper explained. “From there, we reached out to a few local organizations who confirmed the need and interest as well. We completed some initial autonomous testing with them just last week and it went very well.”
Leadership Music Defers Class of 2021 Due To COVID-19
/by Lorie HollabaughA special Leadership Music committee will be formed expressly to plan events for alums to stay connected during the next 12 months, either in-person or online until things get back on track for 2021.
In a letter Executive Director Debbie Linn states: “The program is the core of Leadership Music, and the primary focus of the many things we do throughout the year. Many alums serving on the program day committees work hard and spend countless hours to ensure every program day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for each class. For the class, one of greatest benefits of the program is the shared experience and the connection and sense of community that develops as they spend time with one another. It is the glue that creates the special bond for each class. In the 32-year history of Leadership Music, we have canceled only one program day. Every year at this time, we are graduating the current class, selecting and announcing the new class, and in July beginning to plan the program for the incoming class. But given the uncertainty of the next several months, we determined that our ability to plan and deliver our trademark high-quality, off-the-charts program experience for the Class of 2021 would be at risk.
“For that reason, the Leadership Music Board of Directors decided to press pause and defer the program for the Class of 2021. We always say it is easier to move a mountain than a program day, so canceling an entire program year was certainly not an easy decision. But with the recommended social distancing and what is anticipated for the next few months, it is a decision the Board of Directors felt is in the best interest of the alums who plan the program and the future alums who experience it.”
Tennesseans Can Request Absentee By Mail Ballots For August Elections Now
/by Lorie HollabaughTennesseans can request a ballot to vote absentee by mail beginning today (May 8) for the Aug. 6 State and Federal Primary and County General election without having to leave their home.
“Election offices are already accepting absentee by-mail ballot requests for the August election. One of the most popular reasons to vote absentee is being 60 years or older.” said Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage those voting absentee by-mail this year to make their request now.”
Tennessee state law provides numerous ways to vote absentee by mail. A written request must include your name, address, social security number, date of birth, address to mail the ballot to, reasons you meet the qualifications to vote absentee by mail, and your signature. While not required, a phone number is recommended in case your election commission needs any additional information.
For the August election, to receive a primary ballot, you must request either a Republican or Democratic primary ballot. If a party is not specified, you will only receive the general election ballot. To submit a request by email, you must attach a document with all the necessary information and your scanned signature. Requests must be received by the local election commission no later than seven days before the election. For the Aug. 6 State and Federal Primary and County General Election, complete absentee by mail requests must be received by July 30.
Judah And The Lion To Host ‘Friends at Home Fest’ On Instagram
/by Lorie HollabaughNashville band Judah & the Lion will host a special Friends at Home Fest live on Instagram this Saturday, (May 9) starting at 4:30 p.m. CT to show some love and support for the musicians and crew members currently unable to make a living due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosted by Judah Akers, the concert will also feature performances from Judah & The Lion’s Nate Zuercher and Brian Macdonald plus NEEDTOBREATHE‘s Bear Rinehart, AWOLNATION, Jon Foreman, K.Flay, Devin Dawson, Mat Kearney, Raelynn, Colony House, Andrew Ripp, J.J Redick of the New Orleans Pelicans, Tyson Motsenbocker, Dusty Slay and more.
The friends will play songs, catch up, and have a good time all from a safe distance while collecting money for musicians and crew members unable to tour due to the coronavirus with all donations benefiting MusiCares, United Way, and CrewNation.
Big Yellow Dog Music Adds Vampsy To Roster
/by Lorie HollabaughVampsy.
Vampsy has signed a publishing and label deal with Big Yellow Dog Music. He has released his first single, “My Kind of People,” today.
Hailing from England originally, Vampsy grew up traveling across the U.S., eventually landing in Nashville where he attended Vanderbilt University for one semester before realizing music was his true calling. Despite hardships along the way, including a tornado hitting his house and the global pandemic, Vampsy inspires hope with a touch of retro-synth rock n’ roll edge in the first of new music to come this year.
“With everything the universe has thrown at him, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking Vampsy might have a negative slant on the world,” says Big Yellow Dog Music Creative Manager of Film & TV Sync Sophie Hopkins. “But just wait until you hear his first release out of BYD. His retro-inspired song ‘My Kind of People’ is beaming with hope and nods to music from eras past. It’s just one incredible example of why we’re so excited to have him on board! He’s definitely our kind of people.”
Listeners can also hear Vampsy’s “My Kind of People” by way of the new Reddit campaign thanking the “idiots” and heroes that have gotten us through the COVID-19 crisis.
Nashville Symphony Extends Suspension Of All Concert Activity Through July 3
/by Jessica NicholsonIn the interest of public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nashville Symphony has extended the suspension of all concert activity at Schermerhorn Symphony Center through July 3, 2020. The orchestra has also postponed two scheduled performances at Ascend Amphitheater and has cancelled the entirety of its Community Concerts series in June.
The list of postponed or cancelled Nashville Symphony concerts is below:
POSTPONEMENTS (Rescheduled Dates to be Announced)
Tower of Power – Step Up Tour 2020 (June 10)
Rocketman In Concert with the Nashville Symphony (June 11 & 12)
The Music of Pink Floyd with the Nashville Symphony at Ascend Amphitheater (June 13)
Maxwell with the Nashville Symphony (June 16 & 17)
NAS with the Nashville Symphony at Ascend Amphitheater (June 20)
Batman (1989) Live in Concert (July 2 & 3)
COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES CANCELLATIONS
Musicians Corner at Centennial Park (June 4)
Key Park, Lafayette (June 6)
Crockett Park, Brentwood (June 7)
The Estate at Cherokee Dock, Lebanon (June 10)
Historic Rock Castle, Hendersonville (June 23)
Cumberland University, Lebanon (June 24)
Christy McDonald’s Debut ‘Proud’ Out Today
/by Lorie HollabaughChristy McDonald is celebrating the release her debut EP with Big Yellow Dog Music today (May 8). The new three-song EP Proud includes the title track, a message to her late mother, along with the infectious soul grabber “Are You With Somebody,” that claimed a spot on last month’s Brand New Music playlist on Amazon.
McDonald’s first cut “HaLELouYa” which she co-wrote with producer Nathan Chapman and Danny Radar, landed on DJ Robin Schulz’s album release. The album debuted at No. 4 on the iTunes World Chart, and received major airplay on KISS FM-L.A. and SIRIUS XM’s No. 1 Hits channel, eventually surpassing over 12 million spins. “HaLehLouYa” just landed a global branding campaign for Nivea which has aired in Germany, Belgium and France, and the Middle East.
“Her song “Proud” speaks to all the moments in life when you wish somebody was there to see you succeed,” said Big Yellow Dog co-owner Carla Wallace. “Christy’s voice is a true original and is as captivating as her personality.”
Maren Morris Teams With Amazon Music For Live EP
/by Jessica NicholsonMaren Morris has released a live EP via Amazon Music today (May 8).
The project, Maren Morris Live From Chicago, captures Morris’ inaugural performance from her GIRL: The World Tour on March 9, 2019, which was livestreamed globally by Amazon Music.
“Feeling so nostalgic for shows lately so here’s a few tracks from opening night of GIRL: The World Tour,” Morris says.
In March, Morris’ album GIRL was certified Gold by the RIAA; the album broke the record for the largest-ever debut streaming week for a country album by a woman, locking down more than 23.96 million streams in its debut week. Morris is the leading nominee at this year’s ACM Awards, where she is up for accolades including Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. Her latest single, “To Hell & Back,” was the second most-added at country radio, with 41 first-week station adds.
The new single follows her country radio chart-topping “The Bones,” which marked the first time time since 2016 that a solo female country artist earned two No. 1 singles from the same album. “The Bones” also entered the Top 20 on Top 40 radio, and reached No. 1 Mediabase Hot A.C. and on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs chart.
Weekly Radio Report (5/8/20)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.
‘Taylor Swift City of Lover’ Special Coming To ABC May 17
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Swift. Photo: David Hogan/TAS Management
Taylor Swift may not be holding her much-anticipated Lover Fests this year—all of the superstar’s tour dates for 2020 were canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—but she is still bringing the music from her recent album Lover to her fans. Swift announced the ABC television special Taylor Swift City of Lover will air May 17 at 10 p.m. ET.
After its TV broadcast, the concert will be available on demand on Hulu and Disney+ the following day.
“Hope everybody is happy and healthy and staying safe,” Swift said as she announced the concert on Good Morning America on Friday (May 8). “So I played this concert in September called ‘The City of Lover’ show and it was in Paris. It was so much fun. It was actually a show we put together just to celebrate the Lover album coming out and we filmed it.”
According to a release, the concert was filmed in September 2019 at L’Olympia Theater in Paris, France. Swift performed songs from her multi-platinum album Lover before an intimate crowd of fans from 37 countries. The television special will also include behind-the-scenes moments with Swift.
“While we are all home, Taylor Swift and her family of fans will be able to have a moment together and experience a never-before-seen, intimate performance, and we are so thrilled to be able to offer this to our own family of viewers on ABC,” added Eric Avram, Vice President, Talent and Booking, ABC Entertainment.
Agriculture Company Rantizo To Offer Drones To Help Sanitize Large-Scale Venues
/by Jessica NicholsonAgricultural technology company Rantizo is set to use its drone spraying technology to help fight COVID-19 in large-scale venues this spring.
Rantizo, based in Iowa City, Iowa, is in discussions to use its drone spraying platform to help sanitize open areas and seating for spectator events that have been shuttered as a result of COVID-19. The company is set to roll out its SaaS (sanitization as a service) this week, to spray stadiums as a one-time service, or to spray repeatedly between games or events, depending on venue needs once restrictions lift and sports/events spectators begin again utilizing large open-air venues.
Users would be charged an initial setup fee as well as a per unit price determined by area or number of seats.
Rantizo CEO Michael Ott said, “To sanitize stadiums at this magnitude, traditionally would require dozens of workers and hours or days. That simply isn’t practical right now. With our drone sprayers, we can get into the stadiums, spray the seats quickly, efficiently, and accurately, with minimal exposure or need for human effort. Once we map out the field, it’s really easy to repeat. So many people rely on sports for an unquantifiable number of reasons. I think now, more than ever, they would represent a state of normalcy that we are all desperately searching for. When situations arise like these…unprecedented times, innovation is key to overcoming them. I’m very pleased that the Rantizo platform is a means for doing that and that we are able to help protect our communities and hopefully help facilitate some normalcy in the near future.”
“We had a MLB organization reach out to us a few weeks back looking to use our drone sprayers as a way to sanitize their stadium,” Rantizo Director of Sales, David Pieper explained. “From there, we reached out to a few local organizations who confirmed the need and interest as well. We completed some initial autonomous testing with them just last week and it went very well.”