Victor Zaraya has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Concord. Zaraya will continue to be based out of Concord’s New York office and will report to COO Jim Selby. Current KIDZ BOP Senior Vice President, Sasha Junk, will succeed Zaraya as President of KIDZ BOP.
As CRO, Zaraya will work across Concord’s business areas in publishing, recorded music, and theatricals, to provide strategic guidance and maximize revenues and efficiencies across the company. He will collaborate with Concord’s other leaders to align revenue-related functions such as distribution and licensing negotiation and implementation, tracking and analysis of income and developing business strategies that acknowledge key trends in the various industries in which Concord participates.
“Vic is one of the many talented people who joined Concord as a result of our Razor & Tie acquisition in 2015,” said Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci. “We have all had the pleasure of working with him since then and know him to be a skilled, experienced executive with solid entrepreneurial instincts borne out of his years working in the indie sector of the business. KIDZ BOP is well-positioned to continue its extraordinary growth under Sasha Junk’s leadership, allowing Vic to now move into the critical CRO role, replacing Jim Selby who recently became our COO. As Concord continues to grow and evolve, we are focused on creating opportunities for advancement for everyone on our team, as evidenced by Vic’s and Sasha’s promotions. Vic will be an exceptional CRO and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish on behalf of our artists, writers and other creative partners.”
Prior to joining Concord, Zaraya spent the last 20 years growing one of the world’s largest independent music companies, Razor & Tie (including KIDZ BOP). He negotiated touring partnerships, licensing, distribution and marketing deals, and established infrastructure and revenue models that stabilized and expanded the company’s business. A founding member of the team that built KIDZ BOP, Zaraya helped transform the brand from a CD compilation series into an integrated global brand that connects with kids and families through its music and videos, consumer products and live tours. KIDZ BOP has sold over 21 million albums, generated 4.5 billion streams and played hundreds of live shows since the brand debuted in 2001.
“Vic is a seasoned music executive and we look forward to his leadership focused strategically on Concord artist compensation,” said Selby. “I am very confident that he can position Concord well for the rapid changes occurring in the global music environment.”
“I am excited to join Concord’s leadership team and would like to express my gratitude to Scott Pascucci, Jim Selby and all of the executives for giving me the opportunity to succeed in this role,” said Zaraya. “I look forward to working with our global staff to find new and creative solutions to help us thrive during this very challenging time.”
Gospel Music Association Reschedules GMA Honors & Hall of Fame Ceremony
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 7th annual GMA Honors & Hall of Fame ceremony has been rescheduled for 2021, the Gospel Music Association announced on Tuesday (April 14). The ceremony will now be held May 12, 2021; the event was previously slated to take place at Nashville’s Lipscomb University campus on May 6, 2020.
The previously announced inductees include 4Him (CCM), Bill Hearn (non-performing), Commissioned (Gospel) and The Isaacs (Southern Gospel). The 2020 honorees are Chris Tomlin for Angel Armies, Steve Moore for The Shalom Foundation, Wes Campbell and Dave Wagner for Thriving Children’s Foundation (TCA), and Willie Moore Jr. for Bethany Christian Services.
The GMA Honors & Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony supports the preservation efforts and educational programs of the GMA Foundation. The event celebrates individuals and organizations in gospel music that are making considerable contributions to the world through their humanitarian efforts, as well as their talents. The GMA Honors’ inaugural ceremony was held in 2014; among the honorees that year included Brown Bannister, The Gaither Vocal Band, Take 6, the late Rich Mullins, Dr. Bobby Jones, Don Moen, Michael Guido and the non-profit organizations Show Hope and World Vision.
Victor Zaraya Named Chief Revenue Officer At Concord
/by Lorie HollabaughVictor Zaraya has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Concord. Zaraya will continue to be based out of Concord’s New York office and will report to COO Jim Selby. Current KIDZ BOP Senior Vice President, Sasha Junk, will succeed Zaraya as President of KIDZ BOP.
As CRO, Zaraya will work across Concord’s business areas in publishing, recorded music, and theatricals, to provide strategic guidance and maximize revenues and efficiencies across the company. He will collaborate with Concord’s other leaders to align revenue-related functions such as distribution and licensing negotiation and implementation, tracking and analysis of income and developing business strategies that acknowledge key trends in the various industries in which Concord participates.
“Vic is one of the many talented people who joined Concord as a result of our Razor & Tie acquisition in 2015,” said Concord CEO, Scott Pascucci. “We have all had the pleasure of working with him since then and know him to be a skilled, experienced executive with solid entrepreneurial instincts borne out of his years working in the indie sector of the business. KIDZ BOP is well-positioned to continue its extraordinary growth under Sasha Junk’s leadership, allowing Vic to now move into the critical CRO role, replacing Jim Selby who recently became our COO. As Concord continues to grow and evolve, we are focused on creating opportunities for advancement for everyone on our team, as evidenced by Vic’s and Sasha’s promotions. Vic will be an exceptional CRO and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish on behalf of our artists, writers and other creative partners.”
Prior to joining Concord, Zaraya spent the last 20 years growing one of the world’s largest independent music companies, Razor & Tie (including KIDZ BOP). He negotiated touring partnerships, licensing, distribution and marketing deals, and established infrastructure and revenue models that stabilized and expanded the company’s business. A founding member of the team that built KIDZ BOP, Zaraya helped transform the brand from a CD compilation series into an integrated global brand that connects with kids and families through its music and videos, consumer products and live tours. KIDZ BOP has sold over 21 million albums, generated 4.5 billion streams and played hundreds of live shows since the brand debuted in 2001.
“Vic is a seasoned music executive and we look forward to his leadership focused strategically on Concord artist compensation,” said Selby. “I am very confident that he can position Concord well for the rapid changes occurring in the global music environment.”
“I am excited to join Concord’s leadership team and would like to express my gratitude to Scott Pascucci, Jim Selby and all of the executives for giving me the opportunity to succeed in this role,” said Zaraya. “I look forward to working with our global staff to find new and creative solutions to help us thrive during this very challenging time.”
Lady Antebellum Helps Craft Bubbly New Hit On Season Two Premiere Of ‘Songland’
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto (L-R): Ryan Tedder, Charles Kelley, Shane McAnally, Hillary Scott, Ester Dean and Dave Haywood. Photo Credit: NBC Universal
Lady Antebellum was the guest artist on last night’s (April 13) season two premiere of NBC’s Songland, where they ultimately chose the catchy winning song “Champagne Night.”
Penned by the show’s mentor Shane McAnally, alongside aspiring songwriter Madeline Merlo and the trio, the fun-spirited pick-me-up tune was crafted specifically for Lady A as it underwent a series of edits and studio sessions. Serving as a lighthearted ode to a simplified, humble interpretation of the high-life, “Champagne Night” has immediately jumped to the No. 1 spot on iTunes’ all genre chart and is available on all digital platforms.
In addition to the new track’s release, Lady A and cast members took the song’s meaning to heart during self isolation and expressed its easygoing message through a new video as well.
Riley Roth Signs With Altadena, Warner Chappell Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Stephanie Taylor (Stephanie Taylor Law), Christina Wiltshire (Creative Director, Warner Chappell), Noreen Prunier (Creative Director, Altadena), BJ Hill (VP, Warner Chappell), Daniel Lee (President, Altadena), Riley Roth, Julia Keefe (Creative Coordinator, Altadena)
Riley Roth has signed a publishing deal with Altadena and Warner Chappell Nashville.
Roth arrived in Music City by way of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and is currently signed to a label deal with Altadena and repped by Justin Cahill at CAA for booking. She completed her debut EP with Grammy-nominated producer, busbee, prior to his untimely passing late last year. Roth has already received choice playlisting on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and has co-written the majority of the songs she’s recorded.
“Riley is one of the most naturally gifted and hardest working artists I know,” said Altadena President Daniel Lee. “I’m thrilled to continue this journey with our amazing partners at Warner Chappell, and I can’t wait to see the vision that Riley, busbee, and I shared come to fruition.”
Roth’s latest single, “Girls Kiss First,” will be released digitally this Friday (April 17). The track was written by busbee, Katie Pearlman, and Lily Meola and was produced by busbee. Roth will be performing the track live on Instagram today (April 14) at 5 p.m. CST, with a special guest appearance from labelmate Ryan Griffin.
Ebach Entertainment, UMPG Nashville Sign Josh Melton
/by Jessica NicholsonJanine Ebach‘s Ebach Entertainment and UMPG Nashville have signed a publishing deal with Josh Melton.
Melton moved to Nashville in 2014 and alongside working at a nursing home to pay the bills he spent evenings working at Nashville’s FGL House and Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge Food+Drink, where Ebach first discovered him.
“It’s your classic Nashville discovery story- I heard Josh sing in a bar and was blown away by his rich vocal, original songs and positive attitude,” Ebach said. “Not only has he been hustling in Nashville for a handful of years but he’s a guy you just want to root for. I’m equally as excited to partner with Troy Tomlinson, Missy Roberts and the entire Universal Publishing Nashville team on Josh, along with his manager, Chris Perkins.”
Melton signed with WME for touring representation in 2019 and has opened shows for Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Jimmie Allen, among others. His song “Everybody Knows” has earned 1 million streams and he will release new music in May.
“I’m humbled to be a part of this amazing team,” Melton said. “I have the support of some of the best industry professionals in the game, and I cannot wait to see where this crazy thing called a dream takes us!”
Anastasia Brown Named Chief Content Strategist At Visionary Media Group
/by Lorie HollabaughAnastasia Brown has been appointed to Chief Content Strategist of Visionary Media Group.
In her new role, Brown will direct the creation and allocation of all digital and physical content across all platforms for the company’s music, film, television and scoring projects. In addition to steering the content creation for VMG’s flagship recording artist, American Idol finalist Kree Harrison, signed to the subsidiary One Vision Music Group, Brown will also be working on film productions and scores.“Anastasia Brown brings an exceptional level of experience and stature in the music industry to VMG,” says CEO Cory B. Savage. “Her expertise and incredible eye for spotting talent is unmatched. I couldn’t be happier to have Anastasia on our team as we help artists prosper in the entertainment industry.”
Prior to joining VMG, Brown had carved out a path that encompasses music, film and television constructing a creative bridge between Nashville and Hollywood. With a career featuring milestones including DOVE and Emmy wins and Grammy and Oscar nominations, Brown’s traversed a three-decade career honing expertise as a music supervisor, artist manager, music publisher, film/soundtrack/TV producer, author, TV personality, A&R/label executive and content creator.
While heading up Miles Copeland’s Nashville division of Firstars Management and Ark 21 Records, Brown worked with Keith Urban, Waylon Jennings, Peter Frampton and Leon Russell in various capacities to both launch and propel their careers. Serving as distribution consultant and music supervisor for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, Brown coordinated the distribution of the documentary For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville on ABC. As a TV music consultant for Warner Nashville, she made 27 sync placements in a six-month period, including songs by Blake Shelton, the Zac Brown Band, Brett Eldredge and Hunter Hayes.
In the production arena, Brown has developed four TV series and two films including the Sony Classics biopic on the life of Hank Williams, Sr., I Saw the Light. On the other side of the camera, Brown starred as a judge for three seasons of the USA Network talent competition Nashville Star. Brown also led the charge to grow a self-sustaining film, TV, scoring and post-production industry in Nashville establishing Southern Lights, a Content Creation Alliance in 2019.
“My long-term goal is to grow a prolific and self-sustaining film, TV, podcast and gaming production center as well as an audiovisual scoring industry in Nashville, and with VMG’s leadership and dedication, this goal is finally becoming a reality,” says Brown. “Content has been and always will be ‘king.’ VMG will provide the resources to attract and grow content creators, and support innovative production strategies for creative works to be launched from idea through completion. Their unique brand of business strategy will benefit recording artists, songwriters, producers of soundtracks, and the development of authentic films, TV, podcast and gaming entertainment. VMG has cutting-edge technology that will transform the ability to distribute content internationally. My career over these last three decades has encompassed bits and pieces of all that VMG is supporting me to lead, all under one roof.”
MV2 Entertainment Launches Label Imprint
/by Jessica NicholsonMV2 Entertainment has launched the label imprint New Lost City Records, with the flagship artists Nora Collins and Blake Henderson.
Collins has been an artist-writer with MV2 Entertainment since 2016. She recently extended her publishing deal with MV2 and is set to release her new single “Neon Healing” on May 15 under the new label imprint.
Oklahoma native Henderson currently works in the oilfield as a wireline operator. His first single, “Tomorrow’s Problem,” will release April 24.
“New Lost City Records is a bold, exciting step for us to release new music with forward-thinking strategies relevant to today’s market,” said MV2 General Manager Tony Harrell. “We have strong releases on the horizon and an incredible support team behind them.”
“I couldn’t be more excited and grateful to have the opportunity to continue my journey with the amazing MV2 team,” said Collins. “I’m so proud of my upcoming project and can’t wait to release it under New Lost City Records!”
“I’m so excited and blessed to have the opportunity to sign with New Lost City Records,” said Henderson. “I’m looking forward to working with such a driven, professional, and accomplished team. My family and I are thankful beyond measure.”
Ross Copperman Maintains No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart For Six Weeks
/by LB CantrellRoss Copperman is spending his sixth week at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. The credits that are holding him in the pinnacle spot are Brett Young’s recent No. 1, “Catch,” as well as Luke Bryan’s “What She Wants Tonight,” Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey’s “The Other Girl,” and Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s duet “Nobody But You.”
Craig Wiseman (No. 2), Ashley Gorley (No. 3), Shane McAnally (No. 4) and Jonathan Singleton (No. 5) round out the top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded 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.
Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Launches Interactive Songwriting Programs
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is bringing two of its most popular programs, including the weekly Songwriter Sessions and its education program Words & Music, to Instagram Live. Beginning April 14, the museum will host its weekly Songwriter Sessions, with viewers encouraged to pose questions to the featured songwriters via Instagram. The Songwriter Sessions will begin at 8:00 p.m. CT and will be hosted by the CMHOF’s director of public programs Abi Tapia.
Among the upcoming featured songwriters are Laura Veltz, Luke Laird, Caitlyn Smith, Eric Paslay, Brandy Clark and Charlie Worsham.
Words & Music At Home will be an extension of the Words & Music program and will begin Thursday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Tenille Townes will perform and will participate in an interview about songwriting, led by CMHoF outreach and music programs manager Adam Ollendorff.
“Music is a powerful gift that unites us, stimulates creativity and provides relief while we stay home and implement social distancing,” said Lisa Purcell, the museum’s senior vice president, education, development and community engagement. “This is why the museum will take our most popular songwriting programs live online and invite the world to participate with us.”
Upcoming Songwriter Sessions:
April 14
Laura Veltz, whose compositions include “Bones” (Maren Morris), “Speechless” (Dan + Shay) and “What If I Never Get Over You” (Lady Antebellum).
April 21
Luke Laird, whose compositions include “Hard to Forget” (Sam Hunt), “American Kids” (Kenny Chesney) and “Space Cowboy” (Kacey Musgraves).
April 28
Caitlyn Smith, whose compositions include “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” (Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend), “You Can’t Make Old Friends” (Country Music Hall of Fame members Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers) and her own single “Long Time Coming.”
May 5
Eric Paslay, whose compositions include “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” (Jake Owen), “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Eli Young Band) and his own hit “Friday Night.”
May 12
Brandy Clark, whose compositions include her singles “Bigger Boat,” which features Randy Newman, “Hold My Hand” and “Who You Thought I Was.”
May 19
Charlie Worsham, whose compositions include “Love You To The Moon” (Kip Moore) and his own singles “Mississippi In July” and “Old Time’s Sake.”
Billy Ray Cyrus Joins Higher Together Concert Set For April 20
/by Jessica NicholsonBilly Ray Cyrus. Photo: Tish Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus will join Ari Lennox, Wiz Khalifa, Joey “CoCo” Diaz and more will take part in the virtual concert Higher Together: Sessions From Home, a 4/20 virtual celebration set for Monday, April 20 beginning at noon PST. Hosted by Weedmaps a tech and software provider for the cannabis industry, the concert will bring together artists, comedians and entertainers to perform exclusive sets from their homes.
Cyrus will debut his new single “Hillbilly Ray,” along with an accompanying music video, as part of his 4/20 set. The track is an update on the 1970s theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies.
“Be a Bogart. If you care, don’t share. Don’t pass your joint or pipe around, it’s just not safe to do right now. Let’s all take a breather, chill out on 4/20 and jam to some new music. We’re gonna have a good time,” Cyrus shared.
The free Weedmaps’ Higher Together: Sessions From Home event can be viewed at weedmaps.com/420 beginning at 12 p.m. (PST) / 3 p.m. (EST) on Monday, April 20.