Ritholz Levy Fields Expands Nashville Offices, Adds Senior Associate
Jenna Harris
Entertainment law firm Ritholz Levy Fields has expanded its offices in Germantown, and has hired senior associate Jenna Harris to join the firm’s growing litigation and fashion practices.
Harris brings a broad-based litigation practice to the firm’s Nashville office, with a primary focus on intellectual property and commercial litigation and experience in complex disputes relating to entertainment, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets. Harris also assists clients with business-minded counseling and transactional matters in the music, media, entertainment, fashion, technology, e-commerce and consumer products industries.
Adam Ritholz, founder and managing partner of Ritholz Levy Fields, says: “We are very pleased and fortunate to have Jenna join us. She brings a unique blend of expertise and talents to our practice and we look forward to what we are sure will be a long and successful association.”
“I am thrilled to take the next step in my career with Ritholz Levy Fields. Joining a firm with a strong national presence and broad entertainment practice will give me the opportunity to represent a wide range of clients with litigation and trademark needs,” says Harris. “Ritholz Levy Field’s sophisticated fashion practice is something I especially look forward to expanding in Nashville, as that industry has developed rapidly in our city over the last few years and continues to do so.”
CMT’s Leslie Fram, Radio Disney’s Phil Guerini and Opry Entertainment’s Jordan Pettit to Participate in NATD Speaker Series Panel
The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will host the next installment of their Breaking Artists Speaker Series, focusing on new artist pathways through strategic partners including CMT, Opry Entertainment and Radio Disney.
Leslie Fram, SVP of Music Strategy and Talent for CMT; Phil Guerini, VP Music Strategy Disney Channels Worldwide and GM, Radio Disney Networks and Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy for Opry Entertainment Group, will speak on a panel to NATD members and guests on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the CMA Event Space, Level One. Cassetty Entertainment’s Todd Cassetty will moderate the discussion. This event is free for NATD members (membership can be renewed for 2019 here); all other attendees can purchase tickets for $10 here.
Carrie Underwood Surprises Elementary School Choir During CMA Fest
Carrie Underwood gave students from Old Hickory, Tennessee’s Andrew Jackson Elementary School the surprise of a lifetime. The superstar stopped by the school’s Eagle Honor Choir’s rehearsal days before they were set to perform Underwood’s hit “The Champion” at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in June.
Under the direction of music specialist Franklin Willis, the students released a music video for “The Champion” in May, which caught Underwood’s attention. Watch the music video here. The school, which is part of Metro Nashville Public Schools, is a grantee of the Country Music Association’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, which works to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. Willis is also a three-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, an honor bestowed to selected music educators around the country for their exemplary work. For more information about the CMA Foundation, visit CMAfoundation.org.
Carrie Underwood appears as part of “CMA Fest” this Sunday (Aug. 4) at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
Chris Janson Sets New Album Release For October 18
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Janson will release his third album for Warner Music Nashville on Oct. 18. Titled Real Friends, the album features his current single “Good Vibes,” penned by Janson, Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell.
Janson has released two additional tracks in advance of the album release, including “Say About Me” and “Waitin’ On 5.”
Old Dominion’s Album ‘Happy Endings’ Reaches Heavy Metal Status
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Taylor Lindsey, VP A&R SMN; Dennis Reese, SVP Promotion RCA Records Nashville; Caryl Atwood, SVP Sales/Streaming SMN; Will Hitchcock, Manager Morris Higham Management; Ken Robold, COO/EVP SMN; Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung, and Whitt Sellers; Randy Goodman, Chairman/CEO SMN; Clint Higham, President Morris Higham Management; Paige Altone, Sr. Director Marketing SMN; and Jim Catino EVP A&R SMN. Photo Credit: Alan Poizner
Old Dominion’s sophomore album Happy Endings has officially reached Gold certification by the RIAA. The album produced three No. 1 singles: “No Such Things As A Broken Heart” (Platinum), “Written In The Sand” (Platinum), and “Hotel Key” (Gold).
The band will follow up Happy Endings with their recently-announced, self-titled third studio album set for release on Oct. 25. Old Dominion will be co-producing the new album for the first time alongside longtime collaborator Shane McAnally. The group released “Never Be Sorry,” from the new album on Friday, and recently named “One Man Band” as their next radio single due to popular demand. The track already has more than 47 million streams.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Speeding Royalty Payments With Major Admin Upgrades
/by Lorie HollabaughSony/ATV is introducing real-time inter-company processing for all foreign earnings from every territory in which the company operates. As a result, foreign earnings will now be reported and paid in the same period in which they are collected. For example, a U.S. songwriter with earnings in December 2019 from one or more overseas territories will now receive these royalties in the next regular distribution rather than in the following period, as is industry standard.
In addition, Sony/ATV will offer a new Cash Out service which will allow its writers to request some or all of their current royalty balance to be paid immediately, instead of having to wait until the next distribution. This service will be offered to the company’s writers without a fee. Once they have made any withdrawals, they will then receive the remainder of their balance during the next regular distribution.
“I am proud to announce these ambitious new initiatives that will help to deliver our strategy to be the best service company in the world for songwriters,” said Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt. “Powered by our industry-leading administration operations and best-in-class technology, we can now give our songwriters even greater control over their royalties and ensure that they get paid quicker than ever before.”
Real-time, inter-company processing and the Cash Out service will start to be made available over the next year to all Sony/ATV songwriters who are signed up to the company’s royalty portal and app SCORE, which gives songwriters and their teams real-time access to their current royalty account and historic earnings. The account information on the portal and app is constantly updated so songwriters are able to see their latest earnings from all sources as soon as the company receives them rather than having to wait until their next royalty statement. SCORE also provides an overview of historic earnings information that can be searched and organized by song title, income source, time period and territory.
Warner Chappell Music Adds Summer Overstreet
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Christian Barker (Attorney), Jessi Vaughn (WCM), Summer Overstreet, Christina Wiltshire (WCM), Ben Vaughn (WCM)
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) has signed a global publishing agreement with rising singer/songwriter, Summer Overstreet.
The Nashville native and daughter of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame songwriter Paul Overstreet, she started writing songs at an early age and has been collaborating with artists Gone West and Avenue Beat, among others.
Guitar Center Opens New Audio Visual Experience Center, Custom House
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto by Yu Howe. © 2019.
Guitar Center is announcing the grand opening of Nashville-based Custom House, a new AVDG and Guitar Center Professional multi-functional experience center. This new location features the latest in audio and video solutions from a collaboration between Guitar Center Professional and GC’s Audio Visual Design Group. Located in Berry Hill at 2810 Azalea Place, the facility was developed as a platform to help provide clients with state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind A/V solutions focusing on the entertainment, residential and commercial market sectors.
The Custom House team in Nashville now has the combined resources of a leading integrator/design-build firm AVDG and GC Pro and will be able to serve clients with fully customized audio and video solutions for businesses, houses of worship, bars/restaurants, music venues, corporate headquarters and more.
“With the opening of Custom House, we are now able to provide Nashville and the Southeast region with new, expanded resources and services to handle our clients’ residential or commercial space needs,” said Doug Carnell, Guitar Center Vice President of Business Solutions. “Nashville has been rapidly expanding, and we wanted to give our customers a full understanding of what the AVDG/GC Pro teams can do for them. Custom House is an experience center that not only showcases the latest state-of-the-art customized A/V solutions, but also provides clients an environment to relax and discuss their specific needs with Custom House staff.”
Industry Ink: Ritholz Levy Fields, NATD, CMA
/by LB CantrellRitholz Levy Fields Expands Nashville Offices, Adds Senior Associate
Jenna Harris
Entertainment law firm Ritholz Levy Fields has expanded its offices in Germantown, and has hired senior associate Jenna Harris to join the firm’s growing litigation and fashion practices.
Harris brings a broad-based litigation practice to the firm’s Nashville office, with a primary focus on intellectual property and commercial litigation and experience in complex disputes relating to entertainment, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets. Harris also assists clients with business-minded counseling and transactional matters in the music, media, entertainment, fashion, technology, e-commerce and consumer products industries.
Adam Ritholz, founder and managing partner of Ritholz Levy Fields, says: “We are very pleased and fortunate to have Jenna join us. She brings a unique blend of expertise and talents to our practice and we look forward to what we are sure will be a long and successful association.”
“I am thrilled to take the next step in my career with Ritholz Levy Fields. Joining a firm with a strong national presence and broad entertainment practice will give me the opportunity to represent a wide range of clients with litigation and trademark needs,” says Harris. “Ritholz Levy Field’s sophisticated fashion practice is something I especially look forward to expanding in Nashville, as that industry has developed rapidly in our city over the last few years and continues to do so.”
CMT’s Leslie Fram, Radio Disney’s Phil Guerini and Opry Entertainment’s Jordan Pettit to Participate in NATD Speaker Series Panel
The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will host the next installment of their Breaking Artists Speaker Series, focusing on new artist pathways through strategic partners including CMT, Opry Entertainment and Radio Disney.
Leslie Fram, SVP of Music Strategy and Talent for CMT; Phil Guerini, VP Music Strategy Disney Channels Worldwide and GM, Radio Disney Networks and Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy for Opry Entertainment Group, will speak on a panel to NATD members and guests on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the CMA Event Space, Level One. Cassetty Entertainment’s Todd Cassetty will moderate the discussion. This event is free for NATD members (membership can be renewed for 2019 here); all other attendees can purchase tickets for $10 here.
Carrie Underwood Surprises Elementary School Choir During CMA Fest
Carrie Underwood gave students from Old Hickory, Tennessee’s Andrew Jackson Elementary School the surprise of a lifetime. The superstar stopped by the school’s Eagle Honor Choir’s rehearsal days before they were set to perform Underwood’s hit “The Champion” at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in June.
Under the direction of music specialist Franklin Willis, the students released a music video for “The Champion” in May, which caught Underwood’s attention. Watch the music video here. The school, which is part of Metro Nashville Public Schools, is a grantee of the Country Music Association’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, which works to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. Willis is also a three-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, an honor bestowed to selected music educators around the country for their exemplary work. For more information about the CMA Foundation, visit CMAfoundation.org.
Carrie Underwood appears as part of “CMA Fest” this Sunday (Aug. 4) at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
Weekly Register: Blanco Brown, Luke Combs Continue To Top Sales Charts
/by Jessica NicholsonTop 5 Country Streaming Songs (streams this week/streams to date):
Blanco Brown, “The Git Up”: 24 million/131 million
Blake Shelton, “God’s Country”: 11 million/161 million
Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Glasses”: 9.7 million/238 million
Luke Combs, ” Beer Never Broke My Heart”: 9.2 million /108 million
Luke Combs, “Beautiful Crazy”: 8.2 million/482 million
Top 5 Country Albums By Total Consumption:
Luke Combs, This One’s For You – 23K
Dan + Shay, Dan + Shay -15.5K
Luke Combs, The Prequel EP – 13K
Morgan Wallen, If I Know Me – 13K
Chris Stapleton, Traveller – 12K
The Cars’ Ric Ocasek Signs With SESAC
/by Jessica NicholsonDuring his time as a member and primary songwriter of The Cars, Ocasek penned enduring hits such as “Drive,” “Shake It Up,” “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Just What I Needed.” The Cars’ 1978 eponymous debut certified 6x Platinum, and from there, the band earned 13 Billboard Top 40 singles (four of them Top Ten hits), across a string of six studio albums that sold more than 17 million records in the U.S.
“As a multi-faceted artist, Ric continues to inspire with his creative influence and subtle bravado,” says John Josephson, Chairman and CEO, SESAC. “His remarkable career as songwriter and musician has made a significant impact on American music, and SESAC is proud to welcome Ric to our affiliate family.”
Ocasek’s music has been used in popular television shows including Dead to Me, Stranger Things and Arrested Development. The use of The Cars’ “Moving In Stereo” (co-written by Ocasek and Greg Hawkes) in the classic film Fast Times At Ridgemont High has become a popular culture reference in its own right.
Ocasek has also released several solo albums, including Beatitude (1982), Fireball Zone (1990), Troublizing (1997) and Nexterday (2005). In addition, Ocasek has developed his career as a producer, working with bands and artists including Suicide and Bad Brains, as well as Weezer and No Doubt.
In 2010, Ocasek reunited with the surviving original members of The Cars, and in 2011 the band issued the album Move Like This.
Garth Brooks Announces Crystal Palace As Second Dive Bar Tour Stop
/by Lorie HollabaughGarth Brooks has revealed the second stop on his Dive Bar tour will be at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, California, on Aug. 15.
The news was first announced last night on Brooks’ Inside Studio G weekly Facebook live series, where he shared the personal importance of the legendary venue. The Crystal Palace is the spot where Garth popped the question to now-wife Trisha Yearwood at an event in May 2005.
Local country radio station KUZZ got to announce the date of the concert this morning, and tickets will be available to win exclusively through radio, with more details to follow.
“Dive Bar,” which features a collaboration with Blake Shelton, is from Garth’s upcoming album, FUN, which will be released soon. The California stop follows the first show on Brooks’ Dive Bar Tour, which took place at Joe’s on Weed Street in Chicago on July 15.
Songwriter Scott Stepakoff Inks New Publishing Deal
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): SMACKSongs Robin Palmer, Scott Stepakoff, and SMACKSongs Shane McAnally and Lee Krabel. Photo Credit: Daniel Vorlet
SMACKSongs, led by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, has signed Scott Stepakoff to a publishing deal.
Since moving to Nashville in 2004, Stepakoff has landed cuts with top artists such as Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini, Jake Owen, Brandy Clark, Kip Moore, Craig Morgan, Dylan Scott, and Walker Hayes, among others. Although he spends most of his time writing with and for other artists, Stepakoff has released several of his own projects showcasing his abilities as a vocalist in addition to a songwriter.
“I am so fired up to be part of the SMACK team,” shares Stepakoff. “I have had the honor of writing songs with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne over the years, and I am a big fan of the family/songwriter driven environment they have built at SMACK. You really get the feeling when you walk in the building that you are in on something special. I am grateful to Robin Palmer and Lee Krabel for believing in what I do, and bringing me into a place where everyone truly operates at the top of their game. I look forward to my future with the SMACK family!”
“I’ve had the privilege of writing with Scott for years, so it’s a very seamless transition for us to now be working together. He is a songwriter’s songwriter and always makes everyone in the room better,” said McAnally. “I am so honored he is trusting SMACK to help take his career to the next level, which our team will undoubtedly do.”