Pictured (L-R): CMHOF’s Kyle Young, Abi Tapia, LSMF honoree Bonnie Garner, honoree Marcie Allen, honoree Bebe Evans, Gary Scruggs and CMHOF’s Lisa Purcell attend the Twelfth Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, honoring Bebe Evans and Marcie Allen Van Mol hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on February 26, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Bebe Evans and her niece Marcie Allen Van Mol were honored at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 12th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Tuesday night (Feb. 26) in the museum’s Ford Theater. The museum presents the forum annually to recognize music industry leaders who continue the legacy of Louise Scruggs, a formidable businesswoman and trailblazer who set new professional standards in artist management.

In an in-depth interview illustrated with photos, film footage, and recordings, the women discussed their careers and the importance of maintaining an artist-centered focus while embracing industry change. Evans and Van Mol, the daughter and granddaughter of pioneering WLAC disc jockey Bill “Hoss” Allen, grew up in Nashville’s music industry, and channeled the knowledge they received from Allen into remarkable careers of their own.

• Walk The Moon: March 1, Waldorf Astoria, Las Vegas
• Jake Owen: May 16, The Rustic, Houston
• Jessie J: June 15, Abbey Road Studios, London
• Brett Young: Sept. 12, Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville
• Portugal. The Man: Oct. 11, The Troubadour, Los Angeles
• Fitz and the Tantrums: Nov. 8, Conrad Washington, DC

MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees ahead of its eighth annual Rising Women on the Row celebration.

The breakfast event will salute women in the Nashville music industry on Tuesday, March 26, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

The event’s featured speaker will be announced next week. City National Bank, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, and Loeb & Loeb are again the Presenting Sponsors for the 2019 Rising Women on the Row.

FOR TICKETS TO RISING WOMEN 2019, CLICK HERE

Sandi Spika Borchetta (Big Machine Label Group, Sr. VP Creative)

Sandi Spika Borchetta

Sandi Spika Borchetta oversees all visual elements for the Big Machine Label Group including more than 25 music video releases in 2018 alone, which garnered seven No. 1 CMT clips. Big Machine Label Group music videos overseen by Borchetta have garnered over 4.5 billion views. With more than two decades of experience in the music industry, she may be most noted for designing Taylor Swift’s 2009 “Love Story” gown, in addition to Reba McEntire’s “Red Dress,” worn during the 1993 CMA Awards and revived at the 2018 ACM Awards, now a part of the permanent collection at the Country Music Hall of Fame. That artistry recently found her inducted in the Tennessee State Museum Costume and Textile Institute for design work with additional artists including Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Rogers, LaToya Jackson, Carly Pearce and Sheryl Crow. Honored in 2014 as Billboard’s Women in Music. Charitably, she oversees the Music Has Value brand and Fund, which was part of the 2017 Starkey Hearing Foundation Humanitarian of the Year honors, and serves on the board of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She additionally contributes to the TJ Martell Foundation, American Cancer Research, City of Hope, MusiCares, and General Mills’ Outnumber Hunger initiative.

Janine Ebach (Curb|Word Music Publishing, VP)

Janine Ebach

Janine Ebach launched Word Publishing’s country publishing division in 2013, and has gone on to celebrate multiple No. 1 songs, including the Platinum-selling singles “Sleep Without You” (Brett Young) and “Singles You Up” (Jordan Davis), in addition to the Gold-selling “Heartache On The Dancefloor” (Jon Pardi) and more recently ‘Good Girl’ (Dustin Lynch). Additional cuts and singles have been recorded by George Strait, Josh Turner, Craig Morgan, Dan + Shay, Love & Theft, Parmalee, Lindsay Ell, Randy Houser, Eric Paslay, Trent Harmon, Russell Dickerson, Danielle Bradbery, Keith Urban, and Tim McGraw with Faith Hill. In 2018, Curb Records and Word Entertainment merged, and Ebach was elevated to Vice President, Curb|Word Music Publishing. Ebach’s current roster includes a Total of 71 Writers across multiple genres that she and the team work with, including artist writers. A graduate of Belmont University, Janine Ebach launched her career at THiS Music in 2007 before joining Word Publishing. For nearly seven years, Ebach has been involved with W.O. Smith School, where she currently serves on the board. Ebach is the current recipient of the AIMP’s Song Champion of the Year Award.

Kelly Janson (Manager, Kelly Janson Management)

Kelly Janson

Kelly Janson is a powerhouse machine who does it all. She always sees the glass half full, not afraid to get her hands dirty and never afraid to be told no. She is an artist manager, publisher and songwriter. She manages Chris Janson, who is her husband, Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville recording artist and the youngest, living member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris has enjoyed two No. 1 hits, including the career-making debut, “Buy Me A Boat,” which they initially released independently, while in between record label contracts. Kelly’s negotiations to distribute previously unreleased Sony Music masters gave Janson product to sell on the road prior to the explosion of “Buy Me A Boat” and signing his deal with Warner Music Nashville in 2015. Kelly oversees all things career-related for Janson. With her KJM publishing company, which is a co-venture with Warner/Chappell, she signs writers and has also written songs recorded by Janson, Tim McGraw, and Clay Walker, among others. Janson, who is closing in on the release of his third studio album, has been featured in the opening and closing performance slots on the CMA Awards and the ACM Awards, and recently secured an endorsement deal with Hohner Harmonicas and is an ambassador for Bass Pro Shops / Cabelas. Kelly’s industry background includes serving as A&R consultant and television correspondent for a nationally syndicated TV show. The couple wed in 2010 and together, the Janson’s have four children.

Meredith Jones (Creative Artists Agency, Agent)

Meredith Jones

Meredith Jones guides the careers of artists including Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Whiskey Myers, Chase Rice and Tenille Townes. Jones helped strategically navigate Morris’ recently-announced 2019 international GIRL: The World Tour, which sold out in minutes across nearly every market. Overseeing college and university bookings on behalf of the entire music department, Jones and her team book more than 600 dates a year across all genres. She works with radio host Bobby Bones to create opportunities which include sold-out stand-up tours, two No. 1 New York Times best-selling books and television shows such as Dancing With the Stars and American Idol. Meredith was named to CAA’s Global Fellows, a leadership development program for agents, and serves as a mentor to the next generation of agents as a Trainee Program Advisor. In 2018, she helped ideate CAA’s THE HUBB, an internship and career-ready college student summit. She is a founding member of both FORWARD, an employee program that provides professional development for women within the company, and the agency’s female-led EVOLVE committee, dedicated to providing the most respectful and safe work environment. She also serves on the Development Committee with PENCIL Foundation and is in the current Leadership Music class.

Lenore Kinder (Paradigm Talent Agency, Agent)

Lenore Kinder

Lenore Kinder is at the helm of the touring careers of Kacey Musgraves, Tori Kelly, Weyes Blood, Lucie Silvas, Anna Moon, Elise Davis, TAELA, and LUME. In addition to managing the live aspect, she strategically identifies opportunities in film, TV, branding, and other avenues that elevate her clients’ repertoire. Prior to transitioning to the agency side, Kinder gained 10 years-experience as a talent buyer for AEG Presents & Messina Touring Group. She garnered a number of accolades, including Pollstar’s Rising Star award, and ACM’s Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year recognition, curating North American tours for Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and The Lumineers. She is also responsible for growing the tours of Mumford & Sons, Adele, and Imagine Dragons from clubs to arenas in the Southeast region. Kinder accelerated her career with a move to Nashville in 2006 after serving as Director of Operations at local Knoxville, Tennessee venue Blue Cats.

Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI, Sr. Director of Operations)

Jennifer Turnbow

As Sr. Director of Operations at Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization, Jennifer Turnbow oversees day-to-day operations and finances for the 50-year-old organization and its 2008 acquired entity, The Bluebird Cafe. Turnbow serves as co-director of NSAI’s annual fundraiser, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, which has become the largest songwriter-only festival in the U.S. over the past decade. At NSAI, she plays an integral role in advocacy for American songwriters, including on Capitol Hill for the passage of the Music Modernization Act. Since its victory, Turnbow has overseen the selection of songwriters for the board of the Mechanical Licensing Collective and Dispute Resolution and Unclaimed Funds Committees. Additionally, Turnbow staffed the Copyright Royalty Board trial for NSAI, which won songwriters the largest pay raise in digital mechanical royalty history. Her service extends to Nashville women’s organization SOURCE, where she is serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors. She is also a 2016 graduate of Leadership Music. Following her graduation from Vanderbilt University in 2005, she launched her career at NSAI as the organization’s Finance Director.

Sony Music Nashville and WME will commemorate Women’s History Month with a special show at City Winery on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Titled “A Celebration of Women’s History Month,” the event will feature performances from Rachel Wammack, Hannah Dasher, Carlton Anderson, Robert Counts, Seaforth, and more. The newcomers will honor some of country music’s most legendary female artists, by covering hit songs and spotlighting their accomplishments over the decades.

The show will be hosted by media personalities Ashley Eicher and Hunter Kelly, of the All Our Favorite People podcast.

All event proceeds will go to benefit She Is The Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating change for women and building an equal future for music through various programs and initiatives.

General admission tickets are available for $25 at citywinery.com.

Dr. Doyuen Ko

Dr. Doyuen Ko, associate professor of audio engineering in Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, was recently awarded a $350,000 grant for a study he’s pursuing on digital preservation of aural heritage in conjunction with his colleague at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Ko’s work will digitally replicate the acoustics of three historic structures, including Columbia recording studios A and B on Music Row (which Belmont University owns and operates), to establish protocols for preserving the aural heritage of culturally significant sites.

This work enables virtual interaction through physics-based reconstructions of acoustical dynamics. A two-step process is involved in aural heritage preservation. First, researchers must capture and document the acoustics of a space and then create virtual acoustics using captured data via digital audio technologies.

The researchers will develop, test and share their aural heritage process via three case studies, which represent culturally, architecturally and temporally distinct examples of endangered aural heritage. Those include the Columbia studios as well as the Rochester Savings Bank, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the interior architecture of the 3,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site at Chavín de Huántar, Peru. The work is expected to be completed within three years.

Ko, along with co-principal investigator Dr. Sungyoung Kim (RIT) and aural heritage consultant Dr. Miriam Kolar, noted in their grant proposal that building acoustics influence human experience, particularly in religious, performance and other public gathering spaces. “For centuries, across music history, composers and performers have viewed performance rooms as musical instruments, with distinct tonal, spatial and dynamic character,” they wrote. “Composers have sought to include the interaction of players and rooms within their music, and instrument makers consider a room response to sound.”

Belmont University is uniquely equipped for the Music Row studies in terms of geographic location and facilities, including a hemi-anechoic chamber and a 250-seat film sound mixing stage with a DOLBY ATMOS immersive audio system, the first university-based installation in the world.