Pictured (L-R): Sarah Cates, Larry Gatlin, Sharon Vaughn, Marcus Hummon, Rivers Rutherford, Mark Ford. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2019 Wednesday morning (Aug. 7). Dwight Yoakam, Larry Gatlin, Rivers Rutherford, Marcus Hummon, Sharon Vaughn and Kostas Lazarides will be formally inducted during the awards show on Oct. 14, to be held at Nashville’s Music City Center.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was launched in 1970 and includes more than 200 inductees, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and more.
Washington, D.C.-born Marcus Hummon has enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter, recording artist, producer, studio musician, playwright and author. A diplomat’s son, Marcus spent his youth in Africa and Italy. After several years playing in various bands, he found his way to Nashville. As a songwriter, Marcus has co-written hits such as “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Ready To Run” by The Dixie Chicks, “Born To Fly” by Sara Evans, “One Of These Days” by Tim McGraw, “Only Love” by Wynonna, “The Cheap Seats” by Alabama and “Love Is The Right Place” by Bryan White. “Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts earned Marcus a 2005 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as NSAI Song of the Year. A 2007 version by Selah w/ Melodie Crittenden, was a Top 5 Christian song and earned NSAI’s 2007 Song of the Year. Marcus has written an opera (Surrender Road, staged by The Nashville Opera Company in 2005) and six musicals, three of which were featured as part of the New York New Musical Festival in 2005, 2006 and 2011 respectively. Marcus has scored two films: Lost Boy Home and The Last Songwriter, a documentary that he co-produced.
Kostas Lazarides was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to Billings, Montana. Fascinated by music, the only child was drawn early to the songs of Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. As a youth, Kostas began slipping into local honky-tonks to play with live bands. By the early ’70s, he was performing his original songs on the Northwest club circuit and had built a solid following. After nearly two decades of modest success one of his songs crossed the desk of producer Tony Brown, who was searching for material for Patty Loveless. In 1989, Loveless recorded Kostas’ “Timber, I’m Falling In Love,” making it his first cut, first single and first chart-topping song. Loveless would later take more Kostas songs to the Top 10: “The Lonely Side Of Love,” “On Down The Line” and “Blame It On Your Heart,” which was named the 1994 BMI Country Song of the Year. Other Kostas hits include “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” and “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose” by Dwight Yoakam, “Going Out Of My Mind” and “Love On The Loose Heart On The Run” by McBride & The Ride, “Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man” by Travis Tritt and “I Can Love You Better” by the Dixie Chicks. He was named 1989 NSAI Songwriter of the Year.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Rivers Rutherford began his musical education at the age of seven, when he took up the piano and guitar. At age 15, he was hired to play piano on the Memphis Queen riverboat. From there he played clubs on Beale Street before attending the University of Mississippi on a piano scholarship. A songwriting workshop with producer/writer Chips Moman led to a publishing contract and later to a first cut with The Highwaymen. In 1993, Rivers moved to Nashville. A staff songwriting deal followed three years later and by 1998 a string of hits began: “Shut Up And Drive” by Chely Wright, “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” by Montgomery Gentry, “Ladies Love Country Boys” by Trace Adkins, “Living In Fast Forward” by Kenny Chesney, “Real Good Man” by Tim McGraw, “Stealing Cinderella” by Chuck Wicks, “These Are My People” by Rodney Atkins, “Unconditional” by Clay Davidson and “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley w/ Dolly Parton. His co-written “Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You” by Brooks & Dunn was named the 2002 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Rivers was named 2006 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year.
Sharon Vaughn is a Florida native whose first notable success as a songwriter came in 1976 when Waylon Jennings recorded her “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” on country’s first platinum album, Wanted: The Outlaws. (Willie Nelson’s version would top the charts in 1980.) Sharon’ first hit single was with The Oak Ridge Boys’ 1977 smash “Y’all Come Back Saloon.” Since then, Sharon has written more than a dozen Top 40 Country hits, including “Broken Promise Land” by Mark Chesnutt, “Til A Tear Becomes A Rose” by Keith Whitley & Lorrie Morgan, “I’m Not That Lonely Yet” by Reba McEntire, “Lonely Too Long” by Patty Loveless, “Out Of My Bones” by Randy Travis, “Powerful Thing” by Trisha Yearwood and “Trip Around The Sun” by Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride. In 2008, Sharon provided Pop tunes to famed American Idol alumni Clay Aiken and Jon Peter Lewis. She has lived and worked for years in Stockholm, Sweden, where her song “Release Me” by Agnes became a hit in over 40 countries. In addition to more than 100 cuts over the past several years, Sharon has also written songs for musical theatre.
Larry Wayne Gatlin began his musical career at age 7 singing Gospel music in West Texas with his younger siblings. After college, Larry joined the Imperials and was performing with them in Las Vegas when he was discovered by Dottie West. Once she heard his songs, she sent him a plane ticket to Nashville and signed him to her publishing company. His early songs were recorded by West, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Presley (“Help Me”) and Johnny Rodriguez (“I Just Can’t Get Her Out Of My Mind”); however, as an artist himself, Larry had 28 self-penned hits reach the Top 20 between 1975 and 1990. The vast amount of Larry’s catalog is solo-written. Among his signature songs are “All The Gold In California,” “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” “Statues Without Hearts,” “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love,” “Night Time Magic,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You),” “The Lady Takes The Cowboy Every Time” and “Broken Lady” (1976 Grammy for Best Country Song). Larry starred on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies in 1993. In recent years, his Gospel songs have been recorded by many artists. Larry was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Dwight Yoakam was born in the coal mining community of Pikeville, Kentucky, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. During high school, he took part in the music and drama programs; also singing and playing guitar in a variety of local bands. After graduation, he briefly attended Ohio State University before dropping out to move to Nashville in the late 1970s. When Dwight’s brand of modern honky tonk failed to mesh with the pop-oriented “Urban Cowboy” climate of the time in Music City, he moved to Los Angeles. There he met a kindred spirit in guitarist Pete Anderson. Their edgy band found success in the city’s rock and punk clubs. By the mid-1980s, Dwight had signed with Reprise Records. When his debut album, produced by Anderson, was released in 1986, it launched him to stardom. Throughout his career Dwight has written most of the songs on most of his albums. His credits as a songwriter/artist include “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Little Ways,” “Please, Please Baby,” “I Sang Dixie,” “I Got You,” “It Only Hurts Me When I Cry,” “Try Not To Look So Pretty,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” “Fast As You” and “You’re The One,” also recorded by Flatt Lonesome and named the 2016 IBMA Song of the Year.
Rhiannon Giddens, Frank Johnson To Be Honored With Inaugural Legacy Of Americana Award
/by Jessica NicholsonRhiannon Giddens
The Americana Music Association and the National Museum of African American Music have partnered to establish the inaugural Legacy of Americana Award, which will be presented to roots music artist Rhiannon Giddens and late folk musician Frank Johnson.
The award will be given during the upcoming 18th annual Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 11 at the Ryman Auditorium. The Legacy of Americana Award has been instituted to honor an artist, writer, producer or educator who has either made a lasting impression through music or inspired art to recognize the legacy of Americana music traditions. Replicas of the awards will be showcased at the National Museum of African American Music, which is scheduled to open in early 2020 in downtown Nashville.
“African American artists play pivotal roles in the tapestry of Americana music,” said H. Beecher Hicks III, CEO and President of NMAAM. “Through the Legacy of Americana Award and our new partnership with the Association, we hope to shine a light on forgotten artists like Frank Johnson, whose stories may have been lost to history, and on innovators like Rhiannon Giddens, who is pushing Americana and American music forward by exploring the past.”
“We are honored to partner with the National Museum of African American Music and present the first Legacy of Americana Award to Rhiannon Giddens and Frank Johnson,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “Without a legacy, art would not outlive its creator. These two exemplary artists embody the spirit of this award. Furthermore, it is imperative to continue celebrating those who have made lasting impressions or have inspired art that recognizes the legacy of Americana music traditions, and this honor is a rightful step in the direction of preserving that history.”
A MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient, Giddens has shared this dedication throughout her career by carrying on the underrepresented origins of African roots music. In the U.S., her work traces a lineage of string music back to the late Johnson, who was a traveling fiddle musician and brass band leader of the most well-known group in his home state of North Carolina during the 19th century. Yet, the formative fiddle musician and his contributions have largely been forgotten in the context of musical history after his passing in the late 1800s. The Legacy of Americana Award aims to shine a light on both of these musicians’ unparalleled influences on American roots music.
\
The American Music Association’s Americana Honors & Awards serve as the premier event of the annual Americanafest, which will be held Sept. 10-15 in Nashville. Giddens is also scheduled to speak on a panel alongside writer John Jeremiah Sullivan during Americanafest’s music industry conference, which will be headquartered at The Westin Nashville on Wednesday, Sept. 11 through Friday, Sept. 13. On that Friday afternoon, the two will be discussing the erasure of American music history at the comprehensive music business forum.
Apple Music Brings Studio Quality Sound To Streaming With Apple Digital Masters
/by Lorie HollabaughApple Digital Masters aims to provide uncompromising studio sound, virtually indistinguishable from the original master recordings, with less noise and higher fidelity.
By encoding from high-resolution masters, Apple music engineers are able to capture all of the detail of a recording in a size that is convenient for streaming and downloading. Using 24-bit files means less noise and higher encoding efficiency, and Apple has distributed their industry-leading encoder for free to mastering engineers worldwide and by using these software tools engineers are able to create “test pressings” of exactly what the audience will hear. The result is music that is virtually indistinguishable from the original hi-res master recordings.
Apple Digital Masters provide premium quality audio without any additional cost on Apple Music and the iTunes Store. All former Mastered for iTunes songs will continue to be available under the Apple Digital Masters program.
On The Row: Trea Landon
/by Jessica NicholsonTrea Landon. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
With a warm, endearing vocal and his earnest approach to songwriting, newcomer Trea Landon is the latest artist to take his cues more from ‘90s country traditionalists such as George Strait and Alan Jackson than from the more recent hip-hop and R&B-loving country crowd.
Landon is an alumnus of Georgia Southern University, the same alma mater that boasts Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell. Landon moved from his hometown of Daisy, Georgia, to Nashville in 2015; within weeks, he was signed to Dallas Davidson’s Play It Again Music.
Davidson heard Landon’s music through a mutual friend, an entertainment lawyer from Georgia.
“I played a writers round at Tin Roof and I had never played in Nashville, ever. My friend’s friend came and I sent him my demos the next day and he sent them to Dallas,” Landon recalls.
Landon is signed with Warner Music Nashville and aligned with G Major Management, management home to artists including Thomas Rhett.
Trea Landon with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Landon recently introduced the world to his music via the track “Get The Girl” (penned by Justin Wilson, Paul Jenkins, Brandon Ratcliff and Pete Good).
“The first day I heard it, it definitely spoke to me. It’s basically about like, somebody that’s been hurt and been through a lot of stuff and has a wall up. Every day, average pickup lines aren’t going to work on this person.” Landon says.
Landon penned another recently-released track, “Loved By A Country Boy,” alongside Davidson, Kyle Fishman, and Justin Wilson—though the group didn’t set out to write a song that day.
“Luke and Dallas own a boat down in Panama and we took a trip last year to get away from the music industry. We were like, ‘Let’s go catch some red fish, drink some beer, hang out.’ We got down there and ended up writing a song, which is what we intended not to do. And now it’s the first single.”
“Loved By A Country Boy” releases to country radio on Aug. 26.
Trea Landon with MusicRow staff. Photo: Victoria Chaitoff
Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces Inductees For 2019
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Sarah Cates, Larry Gatlin, Sharon Vaughn, Marcus Hummon, Rivers Rutherford, Mark Ford. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2019 Wednesday morning (Aug. 7). Dwight Yoakam, Larry Gatlin, Rivers Rutherford, Marcus Hummon, Sharon Vaughn and Kostas Lazarides will be formally inducted during the awards show on Oct. 14, to be held at Nashville’s Music City Center.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was launched in 1970 and includes more than 200 inductees, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and more.
Washington, D.C.-born Marcus Hummon has enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter, recording artist, producer, studio musician, playwright and author. A diplomat’s son, Marcus spent his youth in Africa and Italy. After several years playing in various bands, he found his way to Nashville. As a songwriter, Marcus has co-written hits such as “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Ready To Run” by The Dixie Chicks, “Born To Fly” by Sara Evans, “One Of These Days” by Tim McGraw, “Only Love” by Wynonna, “The Cheap Seats” by Alabama and “Love Is The Right Place” by Bryan White. “Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts earned Marcus a 2005 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as NSAI Song of the Year. A 2007 version by Selah w/ Melodie Crittenden, was a Top 5 Christian song and earned NSAI’s 2007 Song of the Year. Marcus has written an opera (Surrender Road, staged by The Nashville Opera Company in 2005) and six musicals, three of which were featured as part of the New York New Musical Festival in 2005, 2006 and 2011 respectively. Marcus has scored two films: Lost Boy Home and The Last Songwriter, a documentary that he co-produced.
Kostas Lazarides was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to Billings, Montana. Fascinated by music, the only child was drawn early to the songs of Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. As a youth, Kostas began slipping into local honky-tonks to play with live bands. By the early ’70s, he was performing his original songs on the Northwest club circuit and had built a solid following. After nearly two decades of modest success one of his songs crossed the desk of producer Tony Brown, who was searching for material for Patty Loveless. In 1989, Loveless recorded Kostas’ “Timber, I’m Falling In Love,” making it his first cut, first single and first chart-topping song. Loveless would later take more Kostas songs to the Top 10: “The Lonely Side Of Love,” “On Down The Line” and “Blame It On Your Heart,” which was named the 1994 BMI Country Song of the Year. Other Kostas hits include “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” and “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose” by Dwight Yoakam, “Going Out Of My Mind” and “Love On The Loose Heart On The Run” by McBride & The Ride, “Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man” by Travis Tritt and “I Can Love You Better” by the Dixie Chicks. He was named 1989 NSAI Songwriter of the Year.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Rivers Rutherford began his musical education at the age of seven, when he took up the piano and guitar. At age 15, he was hired to play piano on the Memphis Queen riverboat. From there he played clubs on Beale Street before attending the University of Mississippi on a piano scholarship. A songwriting workshop with producer/writer Chips Moman led to a publishing contract and later to a first cut with The Highwaymen. In 1993, Rivers moved to Nashville. A staff songwriting deal followed three years later and by 1998 a string of hits began: “Shut Up And Drive” by Chely Wright, “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” by Montgomery Gentry, “Ladies Love Country Boys” by Trace Adkins, “Living In Fast Forward” by Kenny Chesney, “Real Good Man” by Tim McGraw, “Stealing Cinderella” by Chuck Wicks, “These Are My People” by Rodney Atkins, “Unconditional” by Clay Davidson and “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley w/ Dolly Parton. His co-written “Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You” by Brooks & Dunn was named the 2002 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Rivers was named 2006 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year.
Sharon Vaughn is a Florida native whose first notable success as a songwriter came in 1976 when Waylon Jennings recorded her “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” on country’s first platinum album, Wanted: The Outlaws. (Willie Nelson’s version would top the charts in 1980.) Sharon’ first hit single was with The Oak Ridge Boys’ 1977 smash “Y’all Come Back Saloon.” Since then, Sharon has written more than a dozen Top 40 Country hits, including “Broken Promise Land” by Mark Chesnutt, “Til A Tear Becomes A Rose” by Keith Whitley & Lorrie Morgan, “I’m Not That Lonely Yet” by Reba McEntire, “Lonely Too Long” by Patty Loveless, “Out Of My Bones” by Randy Travis, “Powerful Thing” by Trisha Yearwood and “Trip Around The Sun” by Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride. In 2008, Sharon provided Pop tunes to famed American Idol alumni Clay Aiken and Jon Peter Lewis. She has lived and worked for years in Stockholm, Sweden, where her song “Release Me” by Agnes became a hit in over 40 countries. In addition to more than 100 cuts over the past several years, Sharon has also written songs for musical theatre.
Larry Wayne Gatlin began his musical career at age 7 singing Gospel music in West Texas with his younger siblings. After college, Larry joined the Imperials and was performing with them in Las Vegas when he was discovered by Dottie West. Once she heard his songs, she sent him a plane ticket to Nashville and signed him to her publishing company. His early songs were recorded by West, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Presley (“Help Me”) and Johnny Rodriguez (“I Just Can’t Get Her Out Of My Mind”); however, as an artist himself, Larry had 28 self-penned hits reach the Top 20 between 1975 and 1990. The vast amount of Larry’s catalog is solo-written. Among his signature songs are “All The Gold In California,” “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” “Statues Without Hearts,” “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love,” “Night Time Magic,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You),” “The Lady Takes The Cowboy Every Time” and “Broken Lady” (1976 Grammy for Best Country Song). Larry starred on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies in 1993. In recent years, his Gospel songs have been recorded by many artists. Larry was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Dwight Yoakam was born in the coal mining community of Pikeville, Kentucky, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. During high school, he took part in the music and drama programs; also singing and playing guitar in a variety of local bands. After graduation, he briefly attended Ohio State University before dropping out to move to Nashville in the late 1970s. When Dwight’s brand of modern honky tonk failed to mesh with the pop-oriented “Urban Cowboy” climate of the time in Music City, he moved to Los Angeles. There he met a kindred spirit in guitarist Pete Anderson. Their edgy band found success in the city’s rock and punk clubs. By the mid-1980s, Dwight had signed with Reprise Records. When his debut album, produced by Anderson, was released in 1986, it launched him to stardom. Throughout his career Dwight has written most of the songs on most of his albums. His credits as a songwriter/artist include “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Little Ways,” “Please, Please Baby,” “I Sang Dixie,” “I Got You,” “It Only Hurts Me When I Cry,” “Try Not To Look So Pretty,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” “Fast As You” and “You’re The One,” also recorded by Flatt Lonesome and named the 2016 IBMA Song of the Year.
Artist Action: Thomas Rhett, Watershed Festival, Casey Donahew
/by Lorie HollabaughThomas Rhett Goes Rhettro With New Chubbies Collection
Watershed Closes Out Another Successful Year
Zac Brown Band Credit: Bubba Sellars
Watershed Music and Camping Festival rounded out another unforgettable, bucket-list experience last weekend as over 25,000 fans filled the Gorge Amphitheatre for three-days of sun-kissed fun and star-studded entertainment. Friday night highlights included performances by Kip Moore, Chris Young and a thrilling set from Miranda Lambert also featuring Pistol Annies to cap off the first night. Fans also enjoyed performances from some of the hottest newcomers on the DISH Presents Next From Nashville stage, where artists including Ingrid Andress, Travis Denning, Seaforth, Caylee Hammack, Lauren Jenkins, Brandon Lay and more played. Saturday featured performances from Cody Johnson, Midland, Brothers Osborne and more before the headlining set by Zac Brown Band. Sunday’s stacked lineup included Maren Morris, Kane Brown and more before headliner Jason Aldean took the stage and capped off the weekend.
Casey Donahew And Wife Melinda Aid Lone Star Teachers In A Texas-Sized Way
Kathie Lee Gifford, Martina McBride & More Join Music City Food + Wine Festival
/by Lorie HollabaughGifford, an Emmy award winner, New York Times best-selling author, and wine enthusiast will conduct an interactive tasting of her eponymous GIFFT Wines created in partnership with Scheid Family Wines over the course of the weekend in the Meet the Maker tent. Additionally, Gifford will MC the Friday Night Throwdown, which pairs chefs Carla Hall (author, TV personality) and Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, Queenie’s Steakhouse, Love Shack, White Elephant Saloon, Gemelle) as they go head-to-head in a lively cooking demo, captaining teams featuring celebrity sous chefs from the Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. Each team’s charity of choice will receive a charitable donation, with the winning team earning an additional donation.
McBride, host of Martina’s Table on Food Network, will join fellow TV host Tyler Florence for a spirited joint Cooking Demo on Friday night. McBride and Florence will join forces and share some of their favorite recipes they make for their own families when they’re entertaining at home. McBride is also the author of two cookbooks: Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life and Around the Table, which she’ll sign during her Book Signing. Multiple cookbook author Florence will also take part in a Book Signing and Saturday’s Harvest Night.
Conant, who was also a Food & Wine Best New Chef, will lead an interactive Cooking Demo, host a Book Signing and serve a signature dish featuring his award-winning Italian cuisine, during Harvest Night.
Music City Food + Wine Festival is proud to announce the addition of some of the city’s most beloved chefs and restaurants, including chefs Brandon Frohne (Holler & Dash Biscuit House); Genevieve Ingham (Sur La Table); Jay Pennington (Urban Grub); Jeffery Chambless Rhodes (Liberty Common); and Andrew Wiseheart (Lady Bird), who will be cooking Friday, September 20.
Sunday’s Gospel Brunch will also welcome chefs RJ Cooper (Saint Stephen); Laurence Faber (The Barn at Blackberry Farm); Romain Fournel (Stompin Grounds Market); Genevieve Ingham; and Emma Livingston (The Old School Nashville), each serving up Sunday brunch favorites.
Music City Food + Wine Festival ticket options include an All-In Ticket, as well as Friday Evening Ticket, Saturday Ticket, Harvest Night Ticket, and Gospel Brunch Ticket. For more information visit musiccityfoodandwinefestival.
Vivendi Enters Into Preliminary Negotiations With Tencent
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(PRNewsfoto/Universal Music Group,Tencent)
Vivendi has entered into preliminary negotiations with Chinese media and technology company Tencent Holdings Limited to sell a 10% share of Universal Music Group at a preliminary equity valuation of nearly $34 billion. In addition, Tencent would have a one-year call option to double the stake and acquire an additional 10% of the company at the same price and terms.
Vivendi and Tencent are also concurrently considering areas of strategic commercial cooperation which could help UMG capture growth opportunities offered by the digitalization and the opening of new markets. Together with Tencent, Vivendi hopes to improve the promotion of UMG’s artists as well as identify and promote new talents in new markets, and the deal could bring Universal Music artists closer to consumers in Asian markets. In addition to the discussions, Vivendi also plans to continue the process to sell an additional minority stake in UMG to other potential partners.
Since 2014, Vivendi has been focused on building a world-class content, media and communications group with European roots. In content creation, Vivendi owns powerful, complementary assets in music (Universal Music Group), movies and series (Canal+ Group), publishing (Editis) and mobile games (Gameloft).
Luke Combs Breaks Randy Travis’ Country Album Record
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto (c) 2019 David Bergman for Sony Records Nashville — Luke Combs photo shoot near Nashville, TN on May 1, 2019.
Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You has clinched its 44th week at the top of the Country Albums chart, making it the longest album reign ever for a male artist, breaking a record set by Randy Travis’ Always and Forever, which spent 43 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 in 1987-1988.
Combs’ album also holds the second-longest run at No. 1 for a country album overall, following Shania Twain’s 1997 album Come On Over, which spent 50 weeks atop the Country Albums chart.
Additionally, Combs’ current single “Beer Never Broke My Heart” is at No. 1 on both Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and the Mediabase chart, making Combs the only country artist to have his first six singles reach the No. 1 spot. Following the release of Combs’ latest EP, The Prequel, all five tracks from the project were included in the top 25 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart, an accomplishment not reached in 60 years, since Johnny Cash in 1959.
First Tennessee Bank Expands Music Industry Group, Appoints Jarrod Grubb To Sr. VP Role
/by Jessica NicholsonJarrod Grubb
First Tennessee Bank has expanded its music industry banking team with the appointment of Sr. Vice President Jarrod Grubb, located at their Music Row office. Grubb previously served as Sr. Vice President with First Tennessee’s Private Client Services division.
“Our group operates with an entrepreneurial spirit and independence that’s rare in the banking industry. Each team member also has a genuine love for the music industry, which has allowed us to provide a level of service that’s second to none. Jarrod shares these ideals and is the perfect addition to our team,” said Andrew Kintz, executive vice president of First Tennessee’s Music Industry Group and Private Client Services operation in Middle Tennessee.
With nearly 15 years of banking experience, Grubb will serve as Music Relationship Manager and report to Kintz. Grubb joined First Tennessee in 2005 and began working in the Private Client Services division in 2008, where he served both high net worth and music industry clients.
In addition to Grubb and Kintz, the core team of bankers in the Music Industry Group includes Music Relationship Managers Bryan Bolton and Mark Ford. The Music Industry Group provides specialized financial services to music industry businesses and individuals—including publishers, live music companies, promotion and development firms, management firms, agencies, labels, producers, artists, songwriters, attorneys and other music industry centers of influence—both locally and nationally.
Industry Ink: NS2, FBMM, Johnny Neel
/by LB CantrellNS2 Announces Promotions In Marketing And Booking
Pictured (L-R): Olivia Christian, Emma Germano
National Shows 2 (NS2), the Nashville-based, full-service concert promotion company, has announced the recent promotions of marketer Olivia Christian to Senior Marketing Manager and Emma Germano to Booking Coordinator.
Christian, who joined NS2 two and a half years ago, is responsible for the marketing and advertising of over 150 concerts nationwide annually, as well as all advertising and promotions for NS2’s events at the CMA Theater at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Christian spearheaded the company’s foray into email marketing and handles PR duties and internal communications for both NS2 and parent company Frank Productions.
Previously, Christian served as Marketing Manager for Tennessee Performing Arts Center and War Memorial Auditorium, as well as Junior Account Executive at Kaleidoscope Media.
Germano served as Administrative Assistant, training for her new role under NS2 President Darin Lashinky, for a year and a half. Her previous experience includes internships at FlyteVu and Red Light Management.
Both Christian and Germano are alumni of Nashville’s Belmont University.
FBMM Promotes Three To Senior Account Assistants
FBMM, an entertainment business management firm that represents some of the biggest names in the music industry, has promoted Lauren Dempsey, Roxanne Estacio and Michael Fierro to senior account assistants.
“At FBMM, we value our clients and their financial goals. Lauren, Michael and Roxanne have shown that they are devoted to our clients through their strategic approach, creative mindset and expertise,” said Jamie Cheek, president and owner at FBMM. “We know they will continue to make a positive impact on our clients’ financial well-being, and we look forward to watching them grow with the company.”
Dempsey joined the FBMM team in June 2017. Prior to her employment with FBMM, she served as an accounting services and royalties assistant at Bluewater Music Services Corp. and day-to-day bookkeeper for VEVA Sound. She graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in music business.
Estacio joined the FBMM team with more than eight years of finance and accounting experience. Her previous experience includes serving as an international benefits team leader for Schlumberger and as a finance/payroll specialist for ITT Corporation in Dubai, handling payroll and pensions for more than 18,000 employees. She graduated from the University of St. LaSalle in the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce with an emphasis in management accounting.
Fierro started his career with FBMM in July 2017. Before joining FBMM, Fierro had a 20-year career in the U.S. Army, including managing million-dollar programs and budgets. Fierro graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Touro University International and cum laude with associate degrees in business administration and arts and science from Germanna Community College.
A Night For Johnny Neel To Be Held At 3rd & Lindsley
Johnny Neel
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019 at 3rd & Lindsley, some of Nashville’s rock, country and blues artists will gather to help out fellow musician Johnny Neel, the former Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and Dickey Betts Band member who suffered a stroke early July.
Artists appearing at A Night For Johnny Neel include Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers Band), Jonell Mosser, Shaun Murphy, East Kin, Jenny Gill, Rattlebone, Criminal Element, and more.
Tickets are a suggested donation of $20 and are available at 3rdandlindsley.com or at the door (while they last). If you would like to donate, but cannot attend, please visit Johnny’s GoFundMe page.