Pandora Teams With Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris For “Sound Of Summer” Campaign

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Pandora has teamed with artists including Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris for the summer release of its “Sound On” brand campaign, which features personalized playlists tailored to individual users, songs of summer predictions, and live experiences/activations around the country.

“As the temperature heats up, so does the speculation over what will become this year’s song of summer,” said Brad Minor, VP of brand marketing & communications at Pandora. “The reality is, everyone’s song of summer is different and is revealed over time. At Pandora, we want to create inspiring experiences on our platform – and out in the world – to empower our listeners to discover the unique summer soundtrack that helps them live their lives at full volume.”

Pandora is teaming up with DJ Khaled for a “Sound of Summer” kick-off party on May 22—the first in a series of events popping up across the country. The series will culminate with a surprise performance featuring one of the biggest names in music, who Pandora predicts will be a fixture on summer playlists. Additional activations will roll out at Hangout Fest, Electric Forest, Firefly Music Festival, Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival, CMA Fest and WorldPride.

This summer’s rollout marks the third iteration of Pandora’s seasonal “Sound On” campaign, which first launched in November 2018 with a winter theme focused on shared holiday moments. In March 2019, Pandora extended the campaign with a large-scale spring installment, amplifying the emotional hallmarks of the season: renewal, inspiration and discovery.

Independent Digital Distributor Syntax Creative Moving Headquarters To Nashville

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Independent digital distributor Syntax Creative is moving its headquarters from San Diego, California to Nashville, Tennessee.

Syntax represents nearly than 60,000 songs from more than 130 record labels, including Crossroads Label Group, Central South, Elevation Church, Mountain Fever, Pinecastle Records, Frontline Records, Vineyard Worship, Influencers Church, Woodlands Church, Saddleback Church, Great Comfort Records, Grrr Records, Humble Beast, Illect Recordings, Rapzilla, Gateway Assembly, Chrematizo Label Group, Darkchild Gospel, Secret Stash Records, Shake It Records, and BEMA Media among others.

“After 20 years of hearing people say, ‘That’s my favorite city,’ when they found out where I’m from, I finally get to move to my favorite city,” Syntax CEO Timothy Trudeau said. “It’s time to think less about the weather and more about what would be best for our clients and our respective families.”

Since 2001, Trudeau has been traveling to Nashville for business as a lion’s share of Syntax’s clients are Nashville-based and digital service partners Google, Apple and YouTube also have offices in Nashville.

“We’ve had years of deep relationships with people that we only meet once in a while,” said Syntax VP of Operations Brandon Musser, who has been with Syntax since its inception. “I’m looking forward to having closer proximity, and the ability to meet more often. And on a personal note, it’ll be nice not to have to water my lawn!”

To learn more, visit: syntaxcreative.com.

Lil Nas X, Midland, Old Dominion To Highlight Spotify House Performances During CMA Fest

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Spotify has revealed the performer lineup for its Spotify House series during CMA Fest in Nashville, from June 6-9 at Blake Shelton’s and Opry Entertainment Group’s Ole Red venue.

Arguably one of the biggest draws for the event’s nighttime rooftop series will be Lil Nas X, the rapper behind the runaway hit “Old Town Road,” which sits atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a seventh week, and even fended off Taylor Swift’s new single “Me!” from the top spot.

Midland, Old Dominion, Tanya Tucker, Hunter Hayes, Lauren Alaina, and Maddie & Tae are also slated to perform, in addition to some surprise guest performers during the week. Others on the bill include Morgan Evans, Tenille Townes, Emily Ann Roberts, Mitchell Tenpenny, Filmore, James Barker Band, and Cassadee Pope. 

The Spotify House daytime schedule will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Nightly headlining shows and late-night jam sessions will be scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. All shows will be open to the public and space will be limited to first-come, first-served.

Independent Digital Distributor Syntax Creative Moving Headquarters To Nashville

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Independent digital distributor Syntax Creative is moving its headquarters from San Diego, California to Nashville, Tennessee.

Syntax represents nearly than 60,000 songs from more than 130 record labels, including Crossroads Label Group, Central South, Elevation Church, Mountain Fever, Pinecastle Records, Frontline Records, Vineyard Worship, Influencers Church, Woodlands Church, Saddleback Church, Great Comfort Records, Grrr Records, Humble Beast, Illect Recordings, Rapzilla, Gateway Assembly, Chrematizo Label Group, Darkchild Gospel, Secret Stash Records, Shake It Records, and BEMA Media among others.

“After 20 years of hearing people say, ‘That’s my favorite city,’ when they found out where I’m from, I finally get to move to my favorite city,” Syntax CEO Timothy Trudeau said. “It’s time to think less about the weather and more about what would be best for our clients and our respective families.”

Since 2001, Trudeau has been traveling to Nashville for business as a lion’s share of Syntax’s clients are Nashville-based and digital service partners Google, Apple and YouTube also have offices in Nashville.

“We’ve had years of deep relationships with people that we only meet once in a while,” said Syntax VP of Operations Brandon Musser, who has been with Syntax since its inception. “I’m looking forward to having closer proximity, and the ability to meet more often. And on a personal note, it’ll be nice not to have to water my lawn!”

To learn more, visit: syntaxcreative.com.

Lil Nas X, Midland, Old Dominion To Highlight Spotify House Performances During CMA Fest

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Spotify has revealed the performer lineup for its Spotify House series during CMA Fest in Nashville, from June 6-9 at Blake Shelton’s and Opry Entertainment Group’s Ole Red venue.

Arguably one of the biggest draws for the event’s nighttime rooftop series will be Lil Nas X, the rapper behind the runaway hit “Old Town Road,” which sits atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a seventh week, and even fended off Taylor Swift’s new single “Me!” from the top spot.

Midland, Old Dominion, Tanya Tucker, Hunter Hayes, Lauren Alaina, and Maddie & Tae are also slated to perform, in addition to some surprise guest performers during the week. Others on the bill include Morgan Evans, Tenille Townes, Emily Ann Roberts, Mitchell Tenpenny, Filmore, James Barker Band, and Cassadee Pope. 

The Spotify House daytime schedule will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Nightly headlining shows and late-night jam sessions will be scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. All shows will be open to the public and space will be limited to first-come, first-served.

Westwood One’s The Ty Bentli Show Welcomes Adrian Kulp As Senior Executive Producer

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Adrian Kulp

Cumulus Media has announced that Westwood One’s internationally syndicated The Ty Bentli Show welcomes Adrian Kulp to the team as Senior Executive Producer. In his new role, Kulp will oversee digital, programming, and production of The Ty Bentli Show, which can be heard in markets across the U.S. and UK from its flagship Nashville radio station WKDF-FM (NASH FM 103.3).

Kulp previously spent nearly 10 years as a television executive with positions including: Vice President of TV Development at Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions (The Goldbergs, Rules of Engagement), Vice President of TV Development at Chelsea Handler’s Borderline Amazing; and a stint at CBS’s The Late Late Show. He is also an internationally recognized, best-selling author and has contributed as a writer for The Huffington Post and Parents Magazine. He is also the creator of the online parenting destination “Dad or Alive”.

Kulp succeeds Glenn Johnson, who recently relocated to become Operations Manager of Cumulus Pensacola.

Industry Ink: Michael Knox, Eric Paslay, Parker McCollum, ASCAP

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Music Producer Michael Knox To Launch ‘KNOX Country Podcast’

Music producer Michael Knox is set to launch the bi-weekly podcast KNOX Country Podcast, to complement his recently-launched nationally-syndicated radio show KNOX Country 360. The podcast is produced by Michael Knox and Donny Walker (former executive at Westwood One, Cumulus Media, BDS, Billboard Magazine), and is hosted by Knox and Shalacy Griffin, currently the Senior Vice President of Operations for Music Knox, LLC. The podcast will be available on most major podcast services.

“I’m really excited for everyone to experience our podcast. We’ve been working on our radio show, KNOX Country 360, and the podcast is an extension of that. My guests will show you why Nashville is one of the most creative places in the world,” said Knox.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the KNOX Country 360 show and podcast. I have enjoyed seeing our industry through the various perspectives of our guests. This experience has not only been educational but extremely entertaining,” said Griffin.

Tune in to KNOX Country Podcast: knoxcountry360.com/podcast.

 

Eric Paslay Launches Podcast To Support People With Diabetes

This week, Eric Paslay is launching his first ever podcast, Level With Me,  to create a community and voice for people who manage diabetes. As someone who lives with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), Paslay understands the challenges that come with managing the chronic auto-immune disease, and he hopes his podcast can provide an outlet for others like him to share their personal diabetes story. Each episode visits the hometown of someone from across the country who has a unique T1D story to share. The first half of the episode offers a look into the daily life of that person, while the second half features an interview with Paslay to take a deeper look into the diabetes journey.

Level with Me is available for download on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher beginning the week of May 20. Listeners can also tune here to hear the podcasts and find out more information about Level with Me.

 

Parker McCollum Plays Sold-Out Show At Billy Bob’s Texas

Pictured (L-R): Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light/377 Management; Henry Glascock, WME; Parker McCollum; Robert Gallagher, Entertainment Director, Billy Bob’s; and Marty Travis, General Manager, Billy Bob’s. Photo: Courtesy Marushka Media

Country artist Parker McCollum celebrated a sold-out show at Billy Bob’s Texas on May 18, playing to more than 5,000 fans.

“We couldn’t be happier for Parker. His fan base has grown with every play here culminating in a complete sell-out of 5,500 tickets well in advance of the show. Congratulations Team McCollum!” said Robert Gallagher, Entertainment Director, Billy Bob’s Texas.

McCollum also recently co-starred in a music video with Danielle Bradbery in a cover of the hit song “Shallow,” from the movie A Star Is Born.

 

ASCAP To Hold 11th Annual “We Write The Songs” Event

Today (May 21) The ASCAP Foundation and The Library of Congress will jointly present the 11th annual “We Write the Songs” event at the Coolidge Auditorium in The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The evening celebrates the gift by The ASCAP Foundation to the Library of Congress of the original manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters of some of America’s greatest creators of words and music.

The evening is hosted by Chief of the Library of Congress Music Division Susan H. Vita and ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, and will include performances by several of ASCAP’s leading songwriter and composer members. Performers at the event will include: Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s (“Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got The Beat”), Don Felder (“Hotel California,” “Victim of Love”), Felix Cavaliere (“Beautiful Morning,” “People Gotta Be Free”), Andrea Martin (“Breathe”), Kany Garcia (“Hoy Ya Me Voy”) and composer Siddhartha Khosla (television series This is Us).

“We Write the Songs” takes place the evening before ASCAP’s “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, May 22, all of the “We Write the Songs” music creators will meet with Members of Congress to discuss the challenges facing songwriters in the digital music age and urge them to protect songwriters from further regulation.

Industry Ink: Michael Knox, Eric Paslay, Parker McCollum, ASCAP

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Music Producer Michael Knox To Launch ‘KNOX Country Podcast’

Music producer Michael Knox is set to launch the bi-weekly podcast KNOX Country Podcast, to complement his recently-launched nationally-syndicated radio show KNOX Country 360. The podcast is produced by Michael Knox and Donny Walker (former executive at Westwood One, Cumulus Media, BDS, Billboard Magazine), and is hosted by Knox and Shalacy Griffin, currently the Senior Vice President of Operations for Music Knox, LLC. The podcast will be available on most major podcast services.

“I’m really excited for everyone to experience our podcast. We’ve been working on our radio show, KNOX Country 360, and the podcast is an extension of that. My guests will show you why Nashville is one of the most creative places in the world,” said Knox.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the KNOX Country 360 show and podcast. I have enjoyed seeing our industry through the various perspectives of our guests. This experience has not only been educational but extremely entertaining,” said Griffin.

Tune in to KNOX Country Podcast: knoxcountry360.com/podcast.

 

Eric Paslay Launches Podcast To Support People With Diabetes

This week, Eric Paslay is launching his first ever podcast, Level With Me,  to create a community and voice for people who manage diabetes. As someone who lives with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), Paslay understands the challenges that come with managing the chronic auto-immune disease, and he hopes his podcast can provide an outlet for others like him to share their personal diabetes story. Each episode visits the hometown of someone from across the country who has a unique T1D story to share. The first half of the episode offers a look into the daily life of that person, while the second half features an interview with Paslay to take a deeper look into the diabetes journey.

Level with Me is available for download on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher beginning the week of May 20. Listeners can also tune here to hear the podcasts and find out more information about Level with Me.

 

Parker McCollum Plays Sold-Out Show At Billy Bob’s Texas

Pictured (L-R): Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light/377 Management; Henry Glascock, WME; Parker McCollum; Robert Gallagher, Entertainment Director, Billy Bob’s; and Marty Travis, General Manager, Billy Bob’s. Photo: Courtesy Marushka Media

Country artist Parker McCollum celebrated a sold-out show at Billy Bob’s Texas on May 18, playing to more than 5,000 fans.

“We couldn’t be happier for Parker. His fan base has grown with every play here culminating in a complete sell-out of 5,500 tickets well in advance of the show. Congratulations Team McCollum!” said Robert Gallagher, Entertainment Director, Billy Bob’s Texas.

McCollum also recently co-starred in a music video with Danielle Bradbery in a cover of the hit song “Shallow,” from the movie A Star Is Born.

 

ASCAP To Hold 11th Annual “We Write The Songs” Event

Today (May 21) The ASCAP Foundation and The Library of Congress will jointly present the 11th annual “We Write the Songs” event at the Coolidge Auditorium in The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The evening celebrates the gift by The ASCAP Foundation to the Library of Congress of the original manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters of some of America’s greatest creators of words and music.

The evening is hosted by Chief of the Library of Congress Music Division Susan H. Vita and ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, and will include performances by several of ASCAP’s leading songwriter and composer members. Performers at the event will include: Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s (“Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got The Beat”), Don Felder (“Hotel California,” “Victim of Love”), Felix Cavaliere (“Beautiful Morning,” “People Gotta Be Free”), Andrea Martin (“Breathe”), Kany Garcia (“Hoy Ya Me Voy”) and composer Siddhartha Khosla (television series This is Us).

“We Write the Songs” takes place the evening before ASCAP’s “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, May 22, all of the “We Write the Songs” music creators will meet with Members of Congress to discuss the challenges facing songwriters in the digital music age and urge them to protect songwriters from further regulation.

Kacey Musgraves CMHoF Exhibit Opening To Feature Conversation In July

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As part of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2019 exhibit lineup, Kacey Musgraves will trace her non-traditional musical journey beginning July 2. Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors will open is set to run through June 7, 2020, featuring stage wear, handwritten lyrics and personal artifacts. Highlights are said to include:

  • Tip jar used by Musgraves and ex-duo partner Tatum when they performed as yodeling duo Texas Two Bits
  • Detention notice received for “continuous classroom disruption” during high school
  • Manuscript for “Fallin’,” a song written by Musgraves with Miranda Lambert
  • Manuscript for “Slow Burn,” written by Musgraves and the co-producers of her album Golden Hour, Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk
  • Satin dress embellished with sequins, beads, rhinestones and tasseled fringe, designed by Enrique Urbina. Musgraves wore the dress at the 2014 Grammy Awards
  • Western-inspired black Atelier Versace pantsuit ensemble with gold-beaded fringe worn by Musgraves at the 2018 CMA Awards

“Kacey Musgraves is progressive, yet has a sound rooted in tradition. She writes songs that have messages not necessarily heard before in this genre. She is winning accolades and bringing country music to new audiences, breaking barriers and doing this all on her own terms,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are excited to share the remarkable musical journey of this young country music star—from her beginnings as a yodeling cowgirl to her present status as one of the biggest names in music today.”

“I absolutely adore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Musgraves, “and it’s a privilege to have them curate an exhibit that will showcase pieces from moments all the way back to my childhood that are very special to me.”

In support of the exhibition’s opening, Musgraves will participate in a conversation in the museum’s CMA Theater on Saturday, July 6, at 2 p.m., sharing personal stories and memories associated with the artifacts included in Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, May 29. More information is available at countrymusichalloffame.org.

Kacey Musgraves CMHoF Exhibit Opening To Feature Conversation In July

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As part of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2019 exhibit lineup, Kacey Musgraves will trace her non-traditional musical journey beginning July 2. Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors will open is set to run through June 7, 2020, featuring stage wear, handwritten lyrics and personal artifacts. Highlights are said to include:

  • Tip jar used by Musgraves and ex-duo partner Tatum when they performed as yodeling duo Texas Two Bits
  • Detention notice received for “continuous classroom disruption” during high school
  • Manuscript for “Fallin’,” a song written by Musgraves with Miranda Lambert
  • Manuscript for “Slow Burn,” written by Musgraves and the co-producers of her album Golden Hour, Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk
  • Satin dress embellished with sequins, beads, rhinestones and tasseled fringe, designed by Enrique Urbina. Musgraves wore the dress at the 2014 Grammy Awards
  • Western-inspired black Atelier Versace pantsuit ensemble with gold-beaded fringe worn by Musgraves at the 2018 CMA Awards

“Kacey Musgraves is progressive, yet has a sound rooted in tradition. She writes songs that have messages not necessarily heard before in this genre. She is winning accolades and bringing country music to new audiences, breaking barriers and doing this all on her own terms,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are excited to share the remarkable musical journey of this young country music star—from her beginnings as a yodeling cowgirl to her present status as one of the biggest names in music today.”

“I absolutely adore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Musgraves, “and it’s a privilege to have them curate an exhibit that will showcase pieces from moments all the way back to my childhood that are very special to me.”

In support of the exhibition’s opening, Musgraves will participate in a conversation in the museum’s CMA Theater on Saturday, July 6, at 2 p.m., sharing personal stories and memories associated with the artifacts included in Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, May 29. More information is available at countrymusichalloffame.org.