Pictured (L-R): WMN’s Cris Lacy, Rhythm House’s Stevie Frasure, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Jesse Frasure, Smacksongs’ Lee Krabel, Michael Ray, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Josh Osborne, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, ReHits’ Ree Guyer and Abbe Nameche, Rezonant Music Publishing’s Tim Wipperman, Downtown Music Publishing’s Matt Turner. Photo: Steve Lowry
Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray celebrated his third No. 1 song, “One That Got Away,” on Tuesday (July 23) backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, just before his performance for the evening. Some of the songwriters responsible for the song, Josh Osborne and Jesse Frasure, were on hand to celebrate; their co-writers Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen were not available, as the Old Dominion members were on tour.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker was the always-lovely host. She got things started and thanked ASCAP’s partner, First Tennessee Bank. Brinker was on hand to talk about Rosen and Ramsey, as well as Osborne—who had notched his 18th No. 1 with the Michael Ray hit.
“They are out there on the road, chasing their dreams,” Brinker said of Rosen and Ramsey. “It’s so special because they started their careers as songwriters and having success with other artists and they have followed their dreams and had so much success as a band, and then they continue to write great songs that come to life through other artists like Michael.
“If I had to say what is Josh Osborne’s trademark, I wouldn’t say his amazing voice—because, Lord knows—it would be his very thoughtful influence and he does that in his lyrics and he does that in his melodies, he does that with the relationships that he has and it’s so special to see the way that he very thoughtfully has influenced this genre, and continues to do that. It’s a cool thing to know that there’s always going to be a place on the radio like the ones that Josh Osborne writes,” Brinker said.
BMI’s Josh Tomlinson stepped up to the mic to talk about Frasure and Ray.
When speaking on Frasure, Tomlinson said: “He’s proven time and time again that you cannot pigeon-hole him into one particular sound. His influences and styles range all across the board and span multiple genres. He just gets cooler and cooler.”
“Michael Ray has a classic sound,” Tomlinson continued. “His ability to cut the best song stems from his relationships within the songwriting community and the friendships he has created by embracing them.
“He’s seen an incredible amount of professional and personal growth this year, it’s also worth mentioning that his future wife is in the room right now, Carly Pearce—that won’t be ‘one that got away.’ Zing,” Tomlinson joked.
Next up to the mic was Rhythm House’s VP of Creative and Jesse’s wife, Stevie Frasure. She claimed that she didn’t know that she was going to speak, but delivered a thoughtful and eloquent thank you to Jesse, the songwriters, Michael Ray, Cris Lacy and Warner Music Nashville, as well as producer Scott Hendricks.
She made a point to thank Tina Crawford at Major Bob Music. “Thank you to Tina Crawford for pitching songs for us even after Jesse left Major Bob and those songs are kind of left behind. You hope that someone still has the passion and appreciates the song as much as you do, so I just want to say thank you, Tina.”
Wrensong Publishing’s Ree Guyer then made her way to the stage, along with Rezonant Music Publishing’s Tim Wipperman, to talk about Trevor Rosen. “Not only has Trevor has six No. 1’s with Old Dominion, this is his fifth outside cut as a writer. We wish he was here. He is an amazing human being and is so much fun to work with.
“Michael, when I first met you, you were coming around to every single publisher in town and getting to know us and you’re an amazing, nice person and I love that you go out and look for songs,” Guyer continued. “And that you don’t have to write them all. You just find your favorite songs and you cut them. And this is poof of that.”
Pictured (L-R): Adrian Michaels (WMN, National Director, Radio & Streaming, WEA), Diane Monk (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Victoria Nugent (VP Strategic Marketing, WMN), Kate Myers (Coordinator, WEA Radio & Streaming), Jessie Frasure, Chad Schultz (WMN VP Radio Marketing), Shari Roth (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Michael Ray, Stephanie Hagerty (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Josh Osborne, Matt Signore (COO, WMN), Cris Lacy (EVP A&R, WMN), Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN ), Ben Kline (EVP / GM), Ray Mariner (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
SMACKSongs’ Lee Krabel spoke on behalf of Ramsey, Rosen and Osborne. “Matt and Trevor were some of SMACK’s earliest signees and they set the bar for what we expect of our artists and writers in terms of their work ethic and song quality, and still to this day, we hold all of our artists up to the standard of Old Dominion and Matt and Trevor.
“And for Josh, as one of our fearless leaders at SMACK, Josh is always one of the first people to write with our young writers. They always come back a better writer and multiple times they have come to me and said they feel like they could write a No. 1 hit the next day after writing with Josh,” Krabel said.
“How about that day with Josh? Jesse’s gonna start getting them the day after!” Osborne joked.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg made sure to thank everyone involved: Michael Ray, Scott Hendricks, Cris Lacy, the Warner Music Nashville radio promotion staff, and Morris Higham (Ray’s management).
“I just have to say what an honor and a privilege it is to work with a man like Josh Osborne,” Valkenburg said. “There are very few songwriters who have ever graced this town with obviously the talent that he has, but he’s a man of his word, he’s honest, he’s kind and he’s not afraid to be vulnerable at the right time. We all need to be aware in this moment of how special a man like him is.”
Cris Lacy—Warner Music Nashville’s Sr. VP, A&R—then made her way to the stage to speak on Michael Ray. She read a message from John Esposito, Warner’s Chairman & CEO, that praised Michael’s growth and thanked the songwriters and publishers.
Lacy impressed the crowd, and Ray himself, with the current statistics for “One That Got Away.” She also made sure to recognize some of the radio promotion staff that championed the song up the charts: Diane Monk, Shari Roth, Stephanie Hagerty, Ray Mariner, Kate Myers, and Chad Schultz. WEA’s leaders Adrian Michaels and Kristen Williams presented Ray with a plaque.
Michael Ray on stage with Josh Osborne, Jesse Frasure and WMN’s Adrian Michaels and Cris Lacy. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
Frasure echoed Lacy’s admiration. “We know that promo is one of the hardest jobs in country music, so thank you guys. As songwriters, you are our livelihood now days,” Frasure said. “It’s amazing when outside songs find their way. For an outside song to find a way, it’s sort of a miracle and it takes a lot of these individuals.”
Frasure also made sure to thank his wife, and relish in the growing success of Rhythm House. “Rhythm House, and my lovely wife who runs our publishing company, and Vanna [Moua, Rhythm House’s Creative Assistant], we’re celebrating three years this summer. We’re celebrating our three year anniversary and every one of our writers has a single out come Monday.”
Osborne made sure to highlight the comedic moments of the event when he stepped up to the mic. The always hilarious Osborne thanked his co-writers and publishers, and the Warner Music Nashville team.
“I have to say about Michael Ray, we wrote for the first time about three years ago, and he was still kind of launching,” Osborne continued. “I went home and told my wife, ‘I want that guy to make it so bad. He is so nice, he’s working his ass off. People like that, we need them in our industry, and I just want this guy to make it so bad.’ Of course, he didn’t cut the song we wrote that day but I still wanted him to make it,” he quipped.
“I think this makes up for it!” Ray interjected.
Pictured (L-R): WSM’s Bill Cody, CAA Nashville Founder John Huie, Opry Entertainment Group’s Senior VP of Programming and Grand Ole Opry GM Sally Williams, Jesse Frasure, Michael Ray, Josh Osborne, WMN’s Executive VP of A&R Cris Lacy and Morris Higham Management’s Buffy Cooper. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
The man of the hour was emotional when it was his turn to speak. “One thing I’ve learned in this last year is that I’m nothing without a great team,” Ray said. He started with his future wife, Carly Pearce. “During the ACMs when the team was fighting [to get the song up the charts], she was my rock and my glue and everything in my world, so thank you for being you and thank you for loving me through my crazy times, which leads me to my incredible radio team.
“Give it up for some of the hardest working people,” Ray continued. “Because if I wasn’t calling Carly on the edge, I was calling Adrian, I was calling Shari, I was calling everybody. Luke Combs had been there for so long that they changed the No. 1 slot to just say ‘Luke Combs,'” he joked.
Ray thanked his Morris Higham management team, who “Made me feel like I had a voice.” He singled out Morris Higham’s Buffy Cooper, Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland, Warner Music Nashville’s Wes Vause, CAA’s Aaron Tannenbaum, his band and his road crew.
“It all starts with a song.” Ray continued. “And best song wins in my book, whether I write or not. We have the best songwriters in the world here in Nashville. It means the world to me that I get to be a part of a song that Jesse and Josh and Matt and Trevor wrote. It means the world to me that they trusted me when they could have sent it to anybody else.
“I am very fortunate to be on stage and to see the gratification every night of a lot of people’s hard work,” Ray concluded. “So thank you guys for working hard for me. Thank you for working hard for other artists.”
Downtown Music Publishing Names Cliff Audretch III To VP Role [Exclusive]
/by Jessica NicholsonCliff Audretch III
Downtown Music Publishing has appointed Cliff Audretch III as Vice President Creative. He will join Downtown’s Nashville-based Creative team, alongside Natalie Osborne and Matt Turner, reporting directly to Sr. VP, Creative Steve Markland.
Audretch will be responsible for scouting, developing, and signing new artists, songwriters, and producers, as well as creating opportunities for Downtown clients and copyrights in the global marketplace.
“Cliff is an excellent addition to our seasoned and accomplished team, here at Downtown,” said Markland. “We are thrilled to have someone with his extensive experience and creative knowledge on board, working with our global team.”
Prior to joining Downtown, Audretch served as a talent manager representing songwriters and producers at Patriot Management, where he established the company’s Nashville division. He also ran his own publishing company, Greatshakin’ Music, launched in conjunction with Warner Chappell Music in 2013.
Audretch has held senior A&R and creative positions at Show Dog-Universal Music, Universal South Records, and Windswept Publishing, getting his start in the mid-‘90s at E-Squared Records—where he worked alongside partners Steve Earle and Jack Emerson. In his various roles, Audretch has worked with and developed talent responsible for multiple country hits such as “Boots On” by Randy Houser, “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses, the Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts, and Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy in Me.”
Michael Ray Celebrates Third No. 1 Backstage At The Grand Ole Opry
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): WMN’s Cris Lacy, Rhythm House’s Stevie Frasure, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Jesse Frasure, Smacksongs’ Lee Krabel, Michael Ray, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Josh Osborne, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, ReHits’ Ree Guyer and Abbe Nameche, Rezonant Music Publishing’s Tim Wipperman, Downtown Music Publishing’s Matt Turner. Photo: Steve Lowry
Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray celebrated his third No. 1 song, “One That Got Away,” on Tuesday (July 23) backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, just before his performance for the evening. Some of the songwriters responsible for the song, Josh Osborne and Jesse Frasure, were on hand to celebrate; their co-writers Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen were not available, as the Old Dominion members were on tour.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker was the always-lovely host. She got things started and thanked ASCAP’s partner, First Tennessee Bank. Brinker was on hand to talk about Rosen and Ramsey, as well as Osborne—who had notched his 18th No. 1 with the Michael Ray hit.
“They are out there on the road, chasing their dreams,” Brinker said of Rosen and Ramsey. “It’s so special because they started their careers as songwriters and having success with other artists and they have followed their dreams and had so much success as a band, and then they continue to write great songs that come to life through other artists like Michael.
“If I had to say what is Josh Osborne’s trademark, I wouldn’t say his amazing voice—because, Lord knows—it would be his very thoughtful influence and he does that in his lyrics and he does that in his melodies, he does that with the relationships that he has and it’s so special to see the way that he very thoughtfully has influenced this genre, and continues to do that. It’s a cool thing to know that there’s always going to be a place on the radio like the ones that Josh Osborne writes,” Brinker said.
BMI’s Josh Tomlinson stepped up to the mic to talk about Frasure and Ray.
When speaking on Frasure, Tomlinson said: “He’s proven time and time again that you cannot pigeon-hole him into one particular sound. His influences and styles range all across the board and span multiple genres. He just gets cooler and cooler.”
“Michael Ray has a classic sound,” Tomlinson continued. “His ability to cut the best song stems from his relationships within the songwriting community and the friendships he has created by embracing them.
“He’s seen an incredible amount of professional and personal growth this year, it’s also worth mentioning that his future wife is in the room right now, Carly Pearce—that won’t be ‘one that got away.’ Zing,” Tomlinson joked.
Next up to the mic was Rhythm House’s VP of Creative and Jesse’s wife, Stevie Frasure. She claimed that she didn’t know that she was going to speak, but delivered a thoughtful and eloquent thank you to Jesse, the songwriters, Michael Ray, Cris Lacy and Warner Music Nashville, as well as producer Scott Hendricks.
She made a point to thank Tina Crawford at Major Bob Music. “Thank you to Tina Crawford for pitching songs for us even after Jesse left Major Bob and those songs are kind of left behind. You hope that someone still has the passion and appreciates the song as much as you do, so I just want to say thank you, Tina.”
Wrensong Publishing’s Ree Guyer then made her way to the stage, along with Rezonant Music Publishing’s Tim Wipperman, to talk about Trevor Rosen. “Not only has Trevor has six No. 1’s with Old Dominion, this is his fifth outside cut as a writer. We wish he was here. He is an amazing human being and is so much fun to work with.
“Michael, when I first met you, you were coming around to every single publisher in town and getting to know us and you’re an amazing, nice person and I love that you go out and look for songs,” Guyer continued. “And that you don’t have to write them all. You just find your favorite songs and you cut them. And this is poof of that.”
Pictured (L-R): Adrian Michaels (WMN, National Director, Radio & Streaming, WEA), Diane Monk (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Victoria Nugent (VP Strategic Marketing, WMN), Kate Myers (Coordinator, WEA Radio & Streaming), Jessie Frasure, Chad Schultz (WMN VP Radio Marketing), Shari Roth (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Michael Ray, Stephanie Hagerty (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming), Josh Osborne, Matt Signore (COO, WMN), Cris Lacy (EVP A&R, WMN), Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN ), Ben Kline (EVP / GM), Ray Mariner (Manager, WEA Radio & Streaming. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
SMACKSongs’ Lee Krabel spoke on behalf of Ramsey, Rosen and Osborne. “Matt and Trevor were some of SMACK’s earliest signees and they set the bar for what we expect of our artists and writers in terms of their work ethic and song quality, and still to this day, we hold all of our artists up to the standard of Old Dominion and Matt and Trevor.
“And for Josh, as one of our fearless leaders at SMACK, Josh is always one of the first people to write with our young writers. They always come back a better writer and multiple times they have come to me and said they feel like they could write a No. 1 hit the next day after writing with Josh,” Krabel said.
“How about that day with Josh? Jesse’s gonna start getting them the day after!” Osborne joked.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg made sure to thank everyone involved: Michael Ray, Scott Hendricks, Cris Lacy, the Warner Music Nashville radio promotion staff, and Morris Higham (Ray’s management).
“I just have to say what an honor and a privilege it is to work with a man like Josh Osborne,” Valkenburg said. “There are very few songwriters who have ever graced this town with obviously the talent that he has, but he’s a man of his word, he’s honest, he’s kind and he’s not afraid to be vulnerable at the right time. We all need to be aware in this moment of how special a man like him is.”
Cris Lacy—Warner Music Nashville’s Sr. VP, A&R—then made her way to the stage to speak on Michael Ray. She read a message from John Esposito, Warner’s Chairman & CEO, that praised Michael’s growth and thanked the songwriters and publishers.
Lacy impressed the crowd, and Ray himself, with the current statistics for “One That Got Away.” She also made sure to recognize some of the radio promotion staff that championed the song up the charts: Diane Monk, Shari Roth, Stephanie Hagerty, Ray Mariner, Kate Myers, and Chad Schultz. WEA’s leaders Adrian Michaels and Kristen Williams presented Ray with a plaque.
Michael Ray on stage with Josh Osborne, Jesse Frasure and WMN’s Adrian Michaels and Cris Lacy. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
Frasure echoed Lacy’s admiration. “We know that promo is one of the hardest jobs in country music, so thank you guys. As songwriters, you are our livelihood now days,” Frasure said. “It’s amazing when outside songs find their way. For an outside song to find a way, it’s sort of a miracle and it takes a lot of these individuals.”
Frasure also made sure to thank his wife, and relish in the growing success of Rhythm House. “Rhythm House, and my lovely wife who runs our publishing company, and Vanna [Moua, Rhythm House’s Creative Assistant], we’re celebrating three years this summer. We’re celebrating our three year anniversary and every one of our writers has a single out come Monday.”
Osborne made sure to highlight the comedic moments of the event when he stepped up to the mic. The always hilarious Osborne thanked his co-writers and publishers, and the Warner Music Nashville team.
“I have to say about Michael Ray, we wrote for the first time about three years ago, and he was still kind of launching,” Osborne continued. “I went home and told my wife, ‘I want that guy to make it so bad. He is so nice, he’s working his ass off. People like that, we need them in our industry, and I just want this guy to make it so bad.’ Of course, he didn’t cut the song we wrote that day but I still wanted him to make it,” he quipped.
“I think this makes up for it!” Ray interjected.
Pictured (L-R): WSM’s Bill Cody, CAA Nashville Founder John Huie, Opry Entertainment Group’s Senior VP of Programming and Grand Ole Opry GM Sally Williams, Jesse Frasure, Michael Ray, Josh Osborne, WMN’s Executive VP of A&R Cris Lacy and Morris Higham Management’s Buffy Cooper. Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry
The man of the hour was emotional when it was his turn to speak. “One thing I’ve learned in this last year is that I’m nothing without a great team,” Ray said. He started with his future wife, Carly Pearce. “During the ACMs when the team was fighting [to get the song up the charts], she was my rock and my glue and everything in my world, so thank you for being you and thank you for loving me through my crazy times, which leads me to my incredible radio team.
“Give it up for some of the hardest working people,” Ray continued. “Because if I wasn’t calling Carly on the edge, I was calling Adrian, I was calling Shari, I was calling everybody. Luke Combs had been there for so long that they changed the No. 1 slot to just say ‘Luke Combs,'” he joked.
Ray thanked his Morris Higham management team, who “Made me feel like I had a voice.” He singled out Morris Higham’s Buffy Cooper, Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland, Warner Music Nashville’s Wes Vause, CAA’s Aaron Tannenbaum, his band and his road crew.
“It all starts with a song.” Ray continued. “And best song wins in my book, whether I write or not. We have the best songwriters in the world here in Nashville. It means the world to me that I get to be a part of a song that Jesse and Josh and Matt and Trevor wrote. It means the world to me that they trusted me when they could have sent it to anybody else.
“I am very fortunate to be on stage and to see the gratification every night of a lot of people’s hard work,” Ray concluded. “So thank you guys for working hard for me. Thank you for working hard for other artists.”
The Oak Ridge Boys Announce Upcoming Christmas Album, Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Oak Ridge Boys will release their eighth holiday album, Down Home Christmas, on Oct. 25 via Lightning Rod Records/Thirty Tigers. The project is the group’s third in collaboration with producer Dave Cobb.
The release of Down Home Christmas will be followed by their Down Home Christmas Tour, set to launch Nov. 13 in Branson, Missouri and include stops in 28 cities. The trek marks the group’s 30th Christmas tour.
“Down Home Christmas began much like the other seven Christmas albums we have recorded. But things changed. Most of the songs I had collected were put on the shelf, and we started looking for songs that addressed specific subjects related to Christmas,” says The Oaks’ Duane Allen. “Dave Cobb was the producer/coach/motivator for this project. He encouraged us to dig a little deeper into our souls, to capture the magic of each song. With very simple instrumentation, the four Oak Ridge Boys’ voices are out front, and in your face, with the awesome, huge sound of RCA Studio A wrapped around, but not over-powering it.”
“Down Home Christmas is a project that we are happy to share with the world and, rest assured, you will hear these songs on our upcoming 30th annual Christmas tour,” says Joe Bonsall. “The instrumentation is sparse, yet incredibly put together, and the vocals are rich and vibrant. Many of the songs were freshly written by a stable of Nashville’s top songwriters.”
Track Listing:
1. The Family Piano (Aaron Raitiere)
2. Angels (Aaron Raitiere)
3. Bring Daddy Home For Christmas (Channing Wilson, Aaron Raitiere)
4. Reindeer On The Roof (Jake Mitchell, Aaron Raitiere)
5. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr)
6. Hallelujah Emmanuel (Robert Jason, Paul Bradley Jr.)
7. Down Home Christmas (Mando Saenz, Aaron Raitiere)
8. South Alabama Christmas (Jamey Johnson)
9. Don’t Go Pullin’ On Santa Claus’ Beard (Anderson East, Aaron Raitiere)
10. Amazing Grace (John Newton)
Oak Ridge Boys Down Home Christmas Tour:
NOV 13 -The Mansion Theatre / Branson, Mo.
NOV 14 – The Mansion Theatre / Branson, Mo.
NOV 15 – Orpheum Theatre / Sioux Falls, Iowa
NOV 16 – Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel / Deadwood, S.D.
NOV 17 – Aberdeen Civic Arena / Aberdeen, S.D.
NOV 18 – Wild Rose Casino & Resort / Jefferson, Iowa
NOV 19 – Hartman Arena / Park City, Kan.
NOV 20 – The Mansion Theatre / Branson, Mo.
NOV 21 – The Mansion Theatre / Branson, Mo.
NOV 22 – Peoria Civic Center Theater / Peoria, Ill.
NOV 23 – The Vern Riffe Center For The Arts / Portsmouth, Ohio
NOV 24 – River City Casino / St. Louis, Mo.
NOV 30 – Memorial Hall / Independence, Kan.
DEC 01 – McCain Auditorium / Manhattan, Kan.
DEC 04 – UMBC Events Center / Baltimore, Md.
DEC 05 – Riviera Theatre / N. Tonawanda, N.Y.
DEC 06 – Palace Theatre / Greensburg, Pa.
DEC 07 – Roland E. Powell Convention Center / Ocean City, Md.
DEC 11 – Paramount Theater / Anderson, Ind.
DEC 14 – Honeywell Center / Wabash, Ind.
DEC 15 – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center / Renfro Valley, Ky.
DEC 18 – Mayo Civic Center Presentation / Rochester, Minn
DEC 19 – Five Flags Center / Dubuque, Iowa
DEC 20 – Shooting Star Casino Hotel / Mahnomen, Minn.
DEC 21 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
DEC 22 – Rialto Square Theatre / Joliet, Ill.
Industry Ink: WMBA, BMI, IEBA
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lauren Simon, Mallory Allgood, Kelsey Wise, Tali Canterbury, Dana Dickie, Mary Larimer, Emily Bukowski. (Not Pictured: Thalia Ewing & Charlene Bryant.)
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) held its July Membership Meeting this week, featuring Tali Canterbury (Founder/CEO of 50 Egg Music). WMBA members gathered at Belmont University to hear Canterbury share how her career journey led her to start her own company, 50 Egg Music, where she champions hit artists and songwriters alongside business partners Jonathan Singleton and Grammy-nominated Luke Combs. She previously worked in A&R and Publishing at Big Machine Label Group, while working to earn her Juris Doctorate in 2016.
While addressing the group, Canterbury stressed the importance of follow-through at work. She encouraged WMBA members to hold themselves to a higher standard in the music industry, and to challenge industry norms when necessary in order to effect positive change. Canterbury also challenged members to advocate for themselves by voicing their opinions and boldly asking for what they need within the workplace.
BMI Hosts Rooftop on the Row
Pictured: BMI’s Mason Hunter, Maddie & Tae, BMI’s Branden Bosler and Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar. Photo: Nathan Zucker
BMI presented another installation of its Rooftop on the Row series on July 23, featuring UMG Nashville duo Maddie & Tae and Warner Music artist Troy Cartwright.
Pictured (L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s James Marsh, Troy Cartwright, BMI’s Jody Williams, Red Light Management’s Jenni Tackett and BMI’s Mason Hunter. Photo: Bryant Bural
IEBA’s Pam Matthews Honored With Women of Influence Award
Entertainment industry publication VenuesNow presented IEBA Executive Director Pam Matthews with a Women of Influence Award at a private reception held yesterday during IAVM’s VenueConnect conference in Chicago. The honor is given in recognition of extraordinary achievement in the live entertainment industry.
Other honorees were Maureen Anderson (International Ticketing Association), Kate McMahon (Messina Touring Group), Beth Paul (Bon Secours Wellness Arena), Michele “Mel” Raines (Pacers Sports & Entertainment), and Rena Wasserman (Nederlander Concerts). IEBA’s 49th Annual Conference will be held Oct. 27-29, 2019 at the JW Marriott Nashville.
Ingrid Andress Makes ACM Visit
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Blythe Scokin, bluejacket; RAC Clark, Interim ACM Executive Director; Ingrid Andress; Wes Vause, Warner Music Nashville. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Warner Music Nashville recording artist Ingrid Andress to the office while she was in Los Angeles last week. While at the Academy, Andress performed her current single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” along with a few other tracks she recently debuted this year.
Nashville Lands At No. 6 On Cvent’s Top Meeting Destination List
/by Lorie HollabaughCvent determines top destinations around the world based on booking activity through the company’s venue sourcing sites. Over 11,000 global cities were evaluated based on activity for the 2018 calendar year, and a list of the Top 50 U.S. cities was selected from that information. The rankings are based on factors that include the number of requests for proposals cities receive and are awarded, the number of hotel room nights booked and the percentage of qualified meeting venues.
“The new Cvent ranking is further proof of Nashville’s global popularity,” Mayor David Briley said. “Our hospitality industry is a big reason for that, with top-notch hotels and venues with amazing staff that make visitors feel immediately welcome no matter where they’re from. In return, we benefit as a city from the tax revenues generated from visitor spending that goes into our neighborhoods, schools and more.”
“Nashville remains in high demand as a convention destination by continuing to offer a high-level of customer service and being friendly and authentic to visitors from around the world,” said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “We should all be proud of the hospitality industry’s continued momentum in bringing 15.2 million visitors last year and generating $6.5 billion in visitor spending. This kind of economic activity employs tens of thousands of Nashvillians and generates significant tax revenue for the city’s budget.”
The top ten U.S. cities, including Nashville, include:
Nashville Pop Artist Lennon Stella Teams With The Chainsmokers For New Single
/by Jessica NicholsonLennon Stella
Nashville pop artist and former Nashville actress Lennon Stella has teamed with The Chainsmokers and producer DJ Illenium for the new single “Takeaway,” released via Disruptor Records/Columbia Records.
Nominees Announced For 2019 IBMA Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonBalsam Range, Sam Bush Band, The Earls of Leicester, Del McCoury Band, and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers will vie for the Entertainer of the Year honor. Additionally, three inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame have been announced, including dobro player Mike Auldridge, banjo player Bill Emerson, and band The Kentucky Colonels. Five Distinguished Achievement Award honorees include broadcaster Katy Daley, label founder Mickey Gamble, former Executive Director of IBMA Dan Hays, musician Allen Mills, and Japanese bluegrass magazine Moonshiner.
Tickets for the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show are available by logging onto worldofbluegrass.org or by calling 1-800-514-3849. The show will also be broadcast live on SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction) at 7:30 p.m. EDT, streamed via Facebook Live, and will be made available for rebroadcast by radio stations worldwide, thanks to the sponsorship of Chiesi USA, Virginia Tourism, Deering Banjos, Compass Records, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, BMI, and Boston Bluegrass Union.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Balsam Range
Sam Bush Band
The Earls of Leicester
Del McCoury Band
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Balsam Range
I’m With Her
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Sister Sadie
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush Band
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Earls of Leicester
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
The Travelin’ McCourys
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Appalachian Road Show
Carolina Blue
High Fidelity
Mile Twelve
Billy Strings
SONG OF THE YEAR (7 nominees, due to a tie)
“Dance, Dance, Dance”
Artist: Appalachian Road Show
Writers: Brenda Cooper/Joseph Cooper/Steve Miller
Producers: Barry Abernathy, Darrell Webb, Ben Isaacs
Executive Producer: Dottie Leonard Miller
Label: Billy Blue Records
“The Girl Who Invented the Wheel”
Artist: Balsam Range
Writers: Adam Wright/Shannon Wright
Producer: Balsam Range
Executive Producer: Mickey Gamble
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“The Guitar Song”
Artist: Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury
Writers: Bill Anderson/Jamey Johnson/Vicky McGehee
Producer: Joe Mullins
Associate Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
“The Light in Carter Stanley’s Eyes”
Artist: Peter Rowan
Writer: Peter Rowan
Producer: Peter Rowan
Associate Producer: Tim O’Brien
Label: Rebel Records
“Next Train South”
Artist: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Writer: Mac Patterson
Producers: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Dave Maggard, Ken Irwin
Label: Rounder Records
“Take the Journey”
Artist: Molly Tuttle
Writers: Molly Tuttle/Sarah Siskind
Producer: Ryan Hewitt
Label: Compass Records
“Thunder Dan”
Artist: Sideline
Writer: Josh Manning
Producer: Tim Surrett
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
City on a Hill
Artist: Mile Twelve
Producer: Bryan Sutton
Label: Independent
Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass
Artist: Del McCoury Band
Producers: Del and Ronnie McCoury
Label: McCoury Music
For the Record
Artist: Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
Producer: Joe Mullins
Associate Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me
Artist: Carolina Blue
Producers: Bobby Powell, Tim and Lakin Jones
Executive Producers: Lonnie Lassiter and Ethan Burkhardt
Label: Pinecastle Records
Sister Sadie II
Artist: Sister Sadie
Producer: Sister Sadie
Label: Pinecastle Records
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Acres of Diamonds”
Artist: Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers
Producer: Joe Mullins
Associate Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
“Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout”
Artist: Claire Lynch
Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
“I Am a Pilgrim”
Artist: Roland White and Friends
Producers: Ty Gilpin, Jon Weisberger
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“I See God”
Artist: Marty Raybon
Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
“Let My Life Be a Light”
Artist: Balsam Range
Producer: Balsam Range
Executive Producer: Mickey Gamble
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Cotton Eyed Joe”
Artist: Sideline
Producer: Tim Surrett
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“Darlin’ Pal(s) of Mine”
Artist: Missy Raines with Alison Brown, Mike Bub, and Todd Phillips
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records
“Earl’s Breakdown”
Artist: The Earls of Leicester
Producer: Jerry Douglas
Label: Rounder Records
“Fried Taters and Onions”
Artist: Carolina Blue
Producers: Bobby Powell, Tim and Lakin Jones
Executive Producers: Lonnie Lassiter and Ethan Burkhardt
Label: Pinecastle Records
“Sunrise”
Artist: Sam Bush & Bela Fleck
Producers: Akira Otsuka, Ronnie Freeland
Label: Smithsonian Folkways Records
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Burning Georgia Down”
Artist: Balsam Range with Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble
Producer: Balsam Range
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
“Darlin’ Pal(s) of Mine”
Artist: Missy Raines with Alison Brown, Mike Bub, and Todd Phillips
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records
“The Guitar Song”
Artist: Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury
Producer: Joe Mullins
Associate Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
“Please”
Artist: Rhonda Vincent and Dolly Parton
Producers: Dave Cobb, John Leventhal, Frank Liddell
Label: MCA Nashville
“Soldier’s Joy/Ragtime Annie”
Artist: Roland White with Justin Hiltner, Jon Weisberger, Patrick McAvinue, and Molly Tuttle
Producers: Ty Gilpin, Jon Weisberger
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Shawn Camp
Del McCoury
Russell Moore
Tim O’Brien
Danny Paisley
FEMALE VOCALIST
Brooke Aldridge
Dale Ann Bradley
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Rhonda Vincent
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gina Furtado
Mike Munford
Noam Pikelny
Kristin Scott Benson
Scott Vestal
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Beth Lawrence
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hunter Berry
Becky Buller
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Justin Moses
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Smith
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Josh Williams
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alan Bibey
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Frank Solivan
Nashville Celebrates Aaron Pritchett’s No. 1 Canadian Single
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Invictus/Big Star Recordings artist Aaron Pritchett, songwriters Jimmy Yeary, Jessi Alexander, and Corey Crowder. (Photo Michael Weir)
Invictus Entertainment and Canadian record label Big Star Recordings hosted an event last night (July 23) in Nashville celebrating Aaron Pritchett’s No.1 single “Better When I Do.” The song, which was written by Jessi Alexander, Corey Crowder, and Jimmy Yeary, reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Nielsen BDS chart.
Number one plaques were presented by Invictus/Big Star Recordings VP Louis O’Reilly to Pritchett, the songwriters, and the publishers, including THIS Music, Tree Vibez Music, Sony/ATV, and Warner Chappell.
Pritchett has been one of Canada’s most popular country artists and a mainstay at Canadian country radio over the past two decades. He is a multiple CCMA award winner, has had 13 Top 10 radio hits, and is in the midst of his 70+ date “Out On the Town” tour.
(L-R): Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran, Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, THIS Music’s Anna Weisband, songwriter Jimmy Yeary, Invictus/Big Star Recordings artist Aaron Pritchett, songwriter Jessi Alexander, Tree Vibez’s Leslie DiPiero, THIS Music’s Rusty Gaston, THIS Music’s Mya Hanson, Sony/ATV’s Laura Castillo, Tree Vibez’s Emily Peacock, songwriter Corey Crowder. (Photo Michael Weir)
LOCASH Ink Co-Pub Deal With BMG
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Chris Oglesby, VP Creative, BMG Nashville; Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Nashville; LOCASH’s Chris Lucas, Preston Brust; Jake Gear, Sr. Creative Director, BMG Nashville; Ross Schilling, Vector Management
BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records artists LOCASH have signed a new co-publishing agreement with BMG Nashville.
The duo’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas have penned hits for other artists, including Keith Urban’s “You Gonna Fly” and Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah,” as well as their own chart-topping singles “I Know Somebody” and “I Love This Life.”
Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Nashville, said “We’ve been wanting to work with these guys for years and that day is finally here!”
Jake Gear, Sr. Creative Director, BMG Nashville, “We’ve long admired Preston and Chris—both creatively as songwriters and artists. We’re excited to have these guys as part of the BMG publishing team and ready to plug in creatively to maximize their writing for both LOCASH records and to continue their success of cuts on other artist projects. Their drive and hustle are absolutely infectious…this is going to be fun.”