Digital Media Association Names Garrett Levin As CEO

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Garrett Levin

The Digital Media Association (DiMA) has named Garrett Levin as its new CEO, replacing Chris Harrison, who exited in December 2018. In his new role, Levin will lead DiMA in its mission to support the growth and success of the entire digital media ecosystem through pro-innovation policies that benefit creators, consumers and copyright holders alike.

Levin is currently the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for IP Law & Policy for the National Association of Broadcasters, where he serves as the point person for NAB’s efforts on all copyright-related policy and legal issues. Before joining NAB, Levin was senior counsel to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy on a wide range of intellectual property and telecommunications issues, including music licensing and modernization of the U.S. Copyright Office. From 2012 to 2014, he served as an attorney advisor at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, providing domestic and international copyright policy advice to a range of Executive Branch agencies. He is a graduate of NYU and Duke University.

The Digital Media Association trade group includes Amazon, Apple, Google, Pandora, and Spotify among its members.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Garrett to DiMA as our next CEO,” the organization said. “His robust policy and legal experience around all facets of copyright, telecommunications, and intellectual property issues will be invaluable as DiMA continues to be the leading voice in Washington for policies that promote growth, consumer choice, and creativity within the music industry. At a time when the U.S. is the most important streaming market in the world, his leadership will be critical as we seek to harness the power of the streaming economy for artists, creators and all members of the music industry family.”

“The companies we represent are an essential element in the 21st century music industry, providing more choice to consumers, changing the ways that artists connect with their fans, and delivering steadily growing revenues to both established and emerging artists, songwriters, labels and publishers,” Levin said. “I am eager to work with the DiMA companies and stakeholders throughout our industry as together we build the digital present and future of music.”

Luke Bryan Adds Gillette Stadium Show To Sunset Repeat Tour

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Luke Bryan today announced he is adding a stop at Gillette Stadium on his Sunset Repeat Tour on June 21. The concert will include special guests Cole Swindell, Brett Young and EMI/32 Bridge Entertainment recording artist Jon Langston. DJ Rock will also appear.

The June 21 show will be the third trip to Gillette Stadium for Bryan, as the country music star performed two shows in July 2016 as part of his “Kill The Lights Tour” and made his Foxborough debut in August 2014 on his “That’s My Kind Of Night Tour.”

Tickets to the June 21 show will go on sale to the public Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com. Kraft Sports + Entertainment is the official promoter of the Sunset Repeat Tour show at Gillette Stadium.

Eli Young Band Announces ‘Greatest Hits’ Album

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Eli Young Band announced today that their album This Is Eli Young Band (Greatest Hits) will be released on March 29 via The Valory Music Co.. The band announced the new tunes and preorder details via Facebook Live yesterday (Feb. 28) while in New York City for a tour stop honoring their home state of Texas.

“This is the first time you’ve ever been able to get some of that older music, new music, and the hits all in one place,” shared EYB’s Mike Eli during the Facebook Live.

The Greatest Hits will feature Eli Young Band No. 1’s “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and “Crazy Girl”  as well as new songs “Where Were You” and their current charting single, “Love Ain’t.”

YouTube video

This Is Eli Young Band (Greatest Hits) Track Listing:
1. “Love Ain’t” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane Mcanally)
2. “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Will Hoge, Eric Paslay)
3. “Drunk Last Night” (Laura Veltz, Josh Osborne)
4. “Crazy Girl” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)
5. “Always The Love Songs” (David Lee Murphy, George Ducas)
6. “Dust” (Jon Jones, James Young, Kyle Jacobs, Josh Osborne)
7. “Saltwater Gospel” (Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley)
8. “Guinevere” (Mike Eli, James Young, Scooter Carusoe)
9. “Skin & Bones” (Mike Eli, Phil Barton, Lori Mckenna)
10. “When It Rains” (Eli Young Band)
11. “Small Town Kid” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
12. “Highways And Broken Hearts” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
13. “Where Were You” (Luke Dick, Matt Jenkins, Josh Osborne)
14. “Crazy Girl (Acoustic)” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)

This Is Eli Young Band (Greatest Hits) is available for pre-order now.

Ali Harnell Joins Live Nation As President And Chief Strategy Officer, Women Nation

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Ali Harnell

Live Nation today announced that veteran concert promoter Ali Harnell has joined the company to spearhead women’s initiatives. In this newly-created division, Harnell will lead strategy and internal and external efforts to advance and support women in the live music business, as well as create and develop female-led and female-driven content.

With an employee base that is 45 percent female, Live Nation is dedicated to finding ways to serve and empower its female staff. Live Nation’s existing programs targeted to women include 21 chapters of We Nation, its signature employee-led group focused on empowering and connecting; Future Nation, a gender-balanced career development program; and the Women Nation Fund, an investment fund designed to provide capital to female entrepreneurs in the promotions and events industry.

Harnell will look to expand many of these efforts, forge partnerships with industry groups, drive research, and work to level the playing field for women in the live music business. She will report to Michael Rapino, CEO and President, Live Nation Entertainment and Bob Roux, President, US Concerts and be based in Nashville and Los Angeles.

“Ali’s decades of experience and insight into the opportunities and challenges for women in the live music business make her a powerful champion for the women of Live Nation,” said Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment. “Our goal is to work together to find scalable ways to empower the women at our company, and across the industry as a whole.”

“I am truly excited to dive into this new venture where I can combine my experience and relationships with my passion to help drive this historical and aspirational time of change for women,” said Harnell. “It feels especially apropos to announce this on the first day of Women’s History Month.”

Harnell was most recently Senior Vice President of Global Touring for AEG Presents. Prior to that, she spent 14 years as SVP for AEG/The Messina Group, overseeing the operations and talent buying for their Southeast regional business. In that capacity, she also co-created and curated talent for U.K. based country music festival, Country2Country. Earlier in her career, Harnell ran Pace Concerts Southeast where she booked Starwood Amphitheater, was a pivotal player in reviving concert activity at the Historic Ryman Auditorium and created the three-day music festival Nashville River Stages.  She began her career in 1990 in New York City at the William Morris Agency before joining Delsener/Slater Enterprises where she served as Vice President, booking the famed Irving Plaza, Roseland Ballroom and other venues.

Harnell has twice been named IEBA’s Promoter of the Year and was named Venue Today’s Woman of Influence. She is a five-time Billboard Women in Music honoree, a four-time Billboard Nashville Power Player and has been named to the Nashville Business Journal “Women in Music City” list four times. She has received multiple nominations for CMA and ACM Promoter of the Year, Pollstar’s Talent Buyer of the Year, and the Bill Graham Promoter of the Year.

Mary Lauren Teague Launches Management Company Dotted i Entertainment

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Mary Lauren Teague. Photo: Heather Durham Photography

Mary Lauren Teague, formerly with Loeb & Loeb LLP, has launched the management company Dotted i Entertainment, with artist-writer Rory Feek as her first client.

As an attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP, Teague was part of the legal team behind numerous transactional, intellectual property protection, and enforcement matters within the entertainment industry and was recognized by Variety in its annual “Legal Impact Report.” Her new venture allows Teague to delve into strategic career planning for her clients, in a variety of areas including music, books, television, touring and more.

“I wanted to get to work more closely with Rory and his family and be a part of continuing to build something bigger than ourselves,” Teague says. “His outlook and perspective are very unique, and I have tremendous respect for him, and am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of his story.”

A native of Selmer, Tennessee, Teague attended Belmont University and currently serves as an adjunct professor of music business at the University. Teague is on the leadership team for the Troubadour Society Advisory Committee at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, a CMA member, and a SOLID and Grammy Next alumna.

Teague can be reached at marylauren@dottedient.com.

Michael Knox Promoted To Sr. VP, peermusic Nashville

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Michael Knox

peermusic has promoted Michael Knox to Senior Vice President, peermusic Nashville, as announced today by Kathy Spanberger, President & Chief Operating Officer, peermusic. Knox, who previously served as Vice President of peermusic Nashville before his promotion, will continue to oversee all aspects of the company’s Nashville operation. In addition to his work with peermusic, Knox is also an accomplished producer who has produced 23 No. 1 songs and is well known for his work with superstar Jason Aldean.

“Michael’s creative and business leadership has been the reason peermusic has had such incredible success and growth in the country music space over the past few years. This promotion is a well-deserved acknowledgement of all of his contributions to the company. Personally, I am in awe of his abilities, especially his wicked sense of humor (!), and feel very fortunate to be able to work with him every day,” said Spanberger.

“I want to thank Kathy and the rest of the peermusic team not only for this promotion, but for the privilege to work with our amazing staff and the incredibly talented roster of artists and writers we have at peermusic Nashville. We’re all working together to build something really special here and I’m very proud to be part of it,” said Knox.

During his time leading peermusic’s Nashville office, the company has built itself into one of country music’s top independent publishers. It published the 2013 ASCAP Song of the Year with Randy Houser’s “How Country Feels” (co-written by Neil Thrasher and Vicky McGehee) and the 2016 SESAC Country Song of the Year with Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” (co-written by Michael Tyler and Jaron Boyer).

peermusic currently has the number one most-added song at radio with Jason Aldean’s “Rearview Town” (produced by Knox and co-written by Neil Thrasher). The company’s writers also celebrate four songs on the country charts this week, including two songs in the Top 10, with Jason Aldean’s “Girl Like You” at No. 4 (produced by Knox and co-written by Jaron Boyer and Michael Tyler), Riley Green’s “There Was This Girl” at No. 8 (co-written by Erik Dylan), and Cole Swindell’s “Love You Too Late” (co-written by Brandon Kinney) and Jason Aldean’s “Rearview Town.”

Knox is on the ACM Board of Directors and has previously served on the CMA Board of Directors.

Thomas Rhett Reveals Upcoming Album ‘Center Point Road’ With New Single

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Thomas Rhett announced his fourth studio album, Center Point Road, is due out May 31 on The Valory Music Co., and released the project’s leading single “Look What God Gave Her” today (March 1).

Center Point Road is named after the street in his Tennessee hometown that shaped and influenced much of his life experiences. More details about the project will be revealed later.

“Look What God Gave Her” was written by Rhett, Rhett Akins, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and J Cash. It’s available for purchase and streaming now.

“I think I played this song 2,000 times in a month after we first wrote it,” said Thomas Rhett. “It makes me want to dance. It makes me want to move. And to me, the song really is a celebration of how awesome my wife is. I know I’ve done that in the past, but I’ve never really done it in an uptempo way.”

YouTube video

Center Point Road is available for pre-order here.

Nashville Band The Prescriptions Sign With Single Lock Records

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Nashville-based rock band The Prescriptions have signed with Florence, Alabama-based Single Lock Records, and will release their debut album for the label, titled Hollywood Gold, on April 5. Previously-released singles off the record include “She Is Waiting,” “Cuts Like A Knife,” “Broken Wing,” and the title track.

Single Lock Records was founded in 2013 by John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars), alongside Ben Tanner and Will Trapp. The label’s artists include White, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Steelism, among others.

The Prescriptions’ Hays Ragsdale moved to Nashville in 2014, after family friend Chas Williams convinced him to try creating his sound in Music City. Ragsdale later teamed with bassist Parker McAnnally, and later guitarist Jack Thomason and drummer John Wood. The band has been recording their latest project in Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios.

Hollywood Gold Tracklist:
1) Setting Sun
2) Hollywood Gold
3) She Is Waiting
4) Broken Wing
5) I’m Out
6) Can’t Ask For More
7) Cuts Like A Knife
8) Loose Ends
9) Night Before I Lost My Mind
10) All Your Life
11) Days Go By

Mark Your Calendar—March 2019

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Single Add Dates

March 4
Chris Janson/Good Vibes/Warner Bros. Records
Kip Moore/The Bull/MCA Nashville
Thomas Rhett/Look What God Gave Her/Valory
HARDY/Rednecker/Big Loud Records
David Lee Murphy/No Zip Code/Reviver Records
Michael Zaib/Broken Hearts Should Be A Crime/Trestle Ridge
Bailey James/Devil Won’t Take Me Down/KA4 Productions
Kelsie May/Fool For You/MC1 Nashville
Linde LeChance/Green Eyes/SMG

March 11
King Calaway/World For Two/Stoney Creek Records

March 18
Michael Corin/Little Bit Reckless/SMG
Lady Redneck/Duct Tape My Broken Heart/LR Records

March 21
Liz Moriondo/You Made Me (Momma’s Song)/Gone Fishin’ Records
Jason Benoit/I Won’t Go/Vicktory Music Group

March 25
Randy Rogers Band/Crazy People/Thirty Tigers
Cash Creek/My One and Only Weakness/Heartland Records Nashville
Arlene Quinn/Jackpot/Willow Sound

Album Release Dates

March 1
Lonnie Spiker/Five/Megalith Nashville

March 8
Maren Morris/GIRL/Columbia Records Nashville
Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine/8:47/Big Machine Records

March 22
Steven Curtis Chapman/Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass Grows

March 29
George Strait/Honky Tonk Time Machine/MCA Nashville
Jake Owen/GREETINGS FROM…JAKE/Big Loud Records
LOCASH/Brothers/Wheelhouse Records-BBR Music Group
Steve Earle/GUY/New West Records
Michael Johnathon/Dazed and Confuzed/PoetMan Records

Industry Events

March 8-17
SXSW

March 14
Sixth annual iHeartRadio Music Awards airing live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on FOX

March 19
Final round voting closes for 2019 ACM Awards

March 26
MusicRow‘s Rising Women On The Row celebration at the Omni Nashville Hotel [tickets required]

March 26 – 30
NSAI’s Tin Pan South

Weekly Chart Report (3/1/19)

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