Top (L-R): Katie McCartney and Drew Bland. Bottom (L-R): Lisa Mastrianni and Katelyn Lester
Monument Records, led by Jason Owen and Shane McAnally, has added an in-house promotion team, led by Drew Bland, who will oversee executives based in various regions across the country.
Katie McCartney has been promoted to General Manager, while Lisa Mastrianni joins as Director, Regional Promotion and Katelyn Lester joins as Manager, Regional Promotion. One additional regional will be announced in the coming weeks.
“There has never been a more crucial time to invest in music, and in the creative community we are all part of, and that’s what we’re doing with the expansion of Monument,” said Owen.
Bland comes to Monument Records from Seattle’s KKWF, where he was the Program Director. In Bland’s 15-year career in radio, he has programmed major market radio stations in Phoenix, Orlando and Seattle. He has won an ACM Award for Station of the Year and a CMA Award for his work.
“We wanted a head of promotion that will approach radio as we approach everything we do, with a unique and limitless view. Drew’s background as a PD, and his overall vision for what a promotion staff can do, made him an obvious choice,” said McAnally.
“I am grateful to be joining Monument Records at this exciting time. It’s thrilling to start this new career chapter combining my programming background to the incredible team led by the most progressive professionals in the business” said Bland. “I can’t wait to leave the house and hit the road with our amazing regional team and dynamic artists to visit each market.”
McCartney joined Monument in 2017 to help re-launch the imprint, she had previously spent time at Universal Music Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, and Lyric Street Records, among others, and has worked on major marketing campaigns for superstar acts such as Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Lauren Alaina, and Brothers Osborne. As General Manager, she oversees the team and all label operations.
“In an ever shifting landscape, it was important to keep the team small and nimble, and most importantly to find individuals that have unique views on how to thoroughly infiltrate markets on the ground level,” said McCartney.
The team will begin promoting Walker Hayes’ new single “Trash My Heart,” which releases digitally on April 24 and impacts radio in June.
Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Nashville Studios Listed For $10 Million
/by Jessica NicholsonSouthern Ground Nashville. Photo: loopnet.com
Zac Brown‘s Southern Ground Nashville studios, located at 114-116 17th Ave. S. in Nashville, have been listed for sale for $10 million, with Exit Real Estate handling the sale.
The studios were built in 1903, then serving as the sanctuary for Addison Ave. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1968, Monument Records founder Fred Foster purchased the building and converted it into Monument Studio. Kris Kristofferson’s first three albums were recorded in the studio.
According to Southern Ground Nashville’s official site, the studio was purchased by Chip Young in 1975 and renamed Young’un Sound. Later, Al Jolson, Jr., son of performer Al Jolson, bought the studio, renaming it Masterlink Studio and using it as a facility specializing in audio for video remixing. Neil Young’s 2005 Prairie Wind album was recorded in the studio. In 2010, Jolson shut down the studio and it sat vacant for two years, before Zac Brown purchased the building in 2012, upgrading it into a modern-day recording facility. Currently, the three-story, 9,100 square foot space includes multiple recording spaces, a conference space, kitchen, recessed lighting, hardwood floors and more.
Southern Ground Nashville. Photo: loopnet.com
Southern Ground Nashville. Photo: loopnet.com
Country Radio Broadcasters Announces 2020-2021 Agenda Committee
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Radio Broadcasters have announced the professionals who will serve on the 2020-2021 CRS Agenda Committee under Chairman Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield) and Vice-Chair Joey Tack (KNCI/Sacramento).
The new agenda committee members are Carletta Blake (WGAR/Cleveland), Raffae
“As we prepare for a very important Country Radio Seminar in 2021 with all the recent changes in our industry, I think this team of professionals from many facets of Country music will help create an agenda of content that will be much needed as we head into the next 12 months,” said 2020-2021 Agenda Chairman Michaels. “I’d like to thank everyone who applied as we heard from so many qualified people, which gave us a very deep pool to select from.”
The CRS 2021 Agenda Committee is made up of volunteer industry members from all sectors of the country radio, streaming, and record industries. The committee is responsible for planning sessions, panels, and events for the upcoming year’s Country Radio Seminar. Country Radio Seminar 2021 will be held Feb. 17-19, 2021, at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
Jason Isbell Gives A Nod To Independent Record Stores With Early Album Release
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Isbell has opened sales of his new album Reunions a week early as a thank you to indie record stores and their customers for their years of support and to help them as they struggle during this challenging time of COVID-19. The album is only available through independent records stores like Schoolkids Records, and pre-orders are being taken now.
The 10-song album is scheduled for release May 15, and David Crosby and Rival Sons singer Jay Buchanan contribute to the new collection. Fans are able to purchase a special “Dreamsicle”-colored LP in celebration of a song on the album, as well as a standard LP and CD, and purchases will include a print of Isbell’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul “Red Eye.” The Record Store Day website offers options to search nearby indie record stores and preorder the album.
Isbell reflects on the upcoming project in a new profile in GQ magazine out today.
Gospel Music Association Offers Growth Through New Virtual Academy Program
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Gospel Music Association has launched a virtual program for songwriters, artists, and worship leaders. The GMA Academy program offers the tools creatives at all levels need to advance in their careers, and includes access to their educational audio library (with more than 75 hours of educational content), three song evaluations per year, virtual sessions with industry experts, a mentoring session with an industry professional, and group coaching with the GMA staff, among other benefits.
More information on the virtual academy can be found at gospelmusic.org..
One Vision Music Group Inks With The Orchard
/by Lorie HollabaughOne Vision Music Group has signed an agreement with The Orchard to handle the label’s global physical and digital distribution.
A subsidiary of the multimedia entertainment and development company Visionary Media Group, One Vision Music Group will be launching American Idol finalist Kree Harrison‘s new project Chosen Family Tree this summer via the partnership.
“The Orchard’s perspective on business was non-conventional to say the least,” says Visionary Media Group CEO Cory B. Savage. “Their outside of the box strategies when distributing music is what attracted us most when we were choosing a distribution partner. Visionary Media Group/One Vision Music Group has many of the same core values. Believing in the art and the artist is our first priority. We are excited for our journey with The Orchard and for our future successes.”
Warner Chappell Music Signs Publishing Deal With Karley Scott Collins
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jessi Vaughn (WCM), Karley Scott Collins, Ben Vaughn (WCM), Scott Safford (Safford Motley)
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Karley Scott Collins.
Collins is represented by CAA’s Darin Murphy. Collins began acting at a young age and earned roles on ABC’s Once Upon A Time and When You Find Me. She began writing her own songs at age 9 and in 2018, she began making trips to Nashville to pursue a career in music.
Collins said, “I pour my heart and soul into all of my songs, and it was really important to me to have a team behind me who valued those songs as much as I do. Ben, Jessi, and the WCM team genuinely love songs and the people who write them, and have done some incredible things for music and songwriters in this city and beyond. I’m so excited to have the best team in the business as my partner; and I look forward to everything we’ll do together in the future.”
Ben Vaughn, President & CEO WCM Nashville added, “From the moment we heard the depth and breadth of Karley’s lyrics and melodies we knew we had to represent her songs. She has something meaningful to say with her lyrics and has one of the most powerful instruments to say it with – her vocals.”
Monument Records Adds Radio Promotion Team
/by Jessica NicholsonTop (L-R): Katie McCartney and Drew Bland. Bottom (L-R): Lisa Mastrianni and Katelyn Lester
Monument Records, led by Jason Owen and Shane McAnally, has added an in-house promotion team, led by Drew Bland, who will oversee executives based in various regions across the country.
Katie McCartney has been promoted to General Manager, while Lisa Mastrianni joins as Director, Regional Promotion and Katelyn Lester joins as Manager, Regional Promotion. One additional regional will be announced in the coming weeks.
“There has never been a more crucial time to invest in music, and in the creative community we are all part of, and that’s what we’re doing with the expansion of Monument,” said Owen.
Bland comes to Monument Records from Seattle’s KKWF, where he was the Program Director. In Bland’s 15-year career in radio, he has programmed major market radio stations in Phoenix, Orlando and Seattle. He has won an ACM Award for Station of the Year and a CMA Award for his work.
“We wanted a head of promotion that will approach radio as we approach everything we do, with a unique and limitless view. Drew’s background as a PD, and his overall vision for what a promotion staff can do, made him an obvious choice,” said McAnally.
“I am grateful to be joining Monument Records at this exciting time. It’s thrilling to start this new career chapter combining my programming background to the incredible team led by the most progressive professionals in the business” said Bland. “I can’t wait to leave the house and hit the road with our amazing regional team and dynamic artists to visit each market.”
McCartney joined Monument in 2017 to help re-launch the imprint, she had previously spent time at Universal Music Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, and Lyric Street Records, among others, and has worked on major marketing campaigns for superstar acts such as Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Lauren Alaina, and Brothers Osborne. As General Manager, she oversees the team and all label operations.
“In an ever shifting landscape, it was important to keep the team small and nimble, and most importantly to find individuals that have unique views on how to thoroughly infiltrate markets on the ground level,” said McCartney.
The team will begin promoting Walker Hayes’ new single “Trash My Heart,” which releases digitally on April 24 and impacts radio in June.
Now Open! New Submissions For MusicRow’s 2020 Annual Artist Roster Print Issue
/by LB CantrellSubmissions for MusicRow‘s upcoming Artist Roster print issue are now being accepted through next Wednesday, April 29, 2020 with the official form below. Previously included labels and companies will be solicited separately.
This issue includes company listings and rosters for Nashville record labels, managers, publicists, lawyers, talent agents, publicity and artist services companies (business managers, digital music, legal, marketing, radio promotion, and organizations).
Submissions are now closed.
For impactful advertising opportunities in the Artist Roster print issue, email Sherod Robertson at srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here.
Morgan Evans Launches ‘The Highway 1 Sessions’ Docuseries
/by Jessica NicholsonMorgan Evans.
Morgan Evans will release a new docuseries titled The Highway 1 Sessions, which brings Evans’ fans along with him for a trip along California’s Pacific Coast Highway.
Eight years ago, the Warner Music Nashville artist left his native Australia and went through a period of self-discovery as he navigated his way through the entertainment industry. In the new docuseries, he takes fans through that process with him. A Warner Music Nashville/Indigo Frame collaboration, the five-part limited series premieres tonight, April 22 at 8 p.m. CT, with a new episode every Wednesday on Evans’ YouTube channel.
“I feel like in times when you know you’re not in the right spot is when you really find out who you are,” Evans explains in the beginning scenes of the Patrick Tracy-directed project. “You know that it feels so wrong, so there must be something out there that’s at least more right than that.”
Since moving to Nashville and signing with Warner Music Nashville, he has been chosen as one of Country Radio Seminar’s New Faces of Country Music honorees, and has earned more than 450 million career streams, including his recent single “Diamonds.” He has also topped the charts with his previous singles “Kiss Somebody” and “Day Drunk,” which spent 25 weeks at No. 1 in Australia. Both tracks are from his debut project Things That We Drink To, which was named Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards in Australia.
SiriusXM To Launch ‘Stagecouch Weekend’ With Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood
/by Lorie HollabaughSiriusXM and Goldenvoice are hosting SiriusXM’s Stagecouch Weekend, a special broadcast taking place over the original scheduled weekend for Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival April 24-26.
Stagecouch Weekend will feature exclusive, new performance sets from this year’s Stagecoach lineup and its headliners, broadcast each day from artists’ homes. Thomas Rhett headlines Friday’s broadcast, while Carrie Underwood closes things out on Saturday and Eric Church rounds out the weekend on Sunday.
Stagecouch Weekend will air on SiriusXM’s The Highway on Friday, April 24, Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 from 12:00 pm to 5 p.m. ET each day, followed by an encore broadcast each night, via satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
The three-day broadcast will also feature new ‘at-home’ Stagecoach performances from artists participating in this year’s festival including Ashley McBryde, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Jon Pardi, Midland, Old Dominion and more.
“In this challenging time, we want to continue to help bring artists and fans together, just as they would at Stagecoach,” said Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Music Programming, SiriusXM. “With the amazing help of the many great Country music artists involved, this prestigious annual event will come to life like it never has before on The Highway.”
“Celebrating Stagecoach weekend with SiriusXM, all of our artists, partners, fans and community is something we all hold so dear to our hearts,” says Stagecoach Talent Buyer Stacy Vee. “We couldn’t let this weekend in April go by quietly, so we decided to throw a house party. I hope everyone enjoys what we have put together!”