BMI Celebrates Holidays With Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Women’s Brunch

 

Last week, BMI rang in the holiday season on Music Row with two of its long-standing industry events. On Tuesday (Dec. 4), the performing rights organization welcomed industry women at its annual holiday women’s brunch sponsored by City National Bank and spearheaded by BMI’s Leslie Roberts. On Thursday (Dec. 6), BMI hosted its 24th annual Christmas Tree Lighting event to kick off the holiday season on Music Row. Sponsored by Anderson Benson, the event has become a long-standing holiday tradition for many industry members.

 

Kip Moore Visits ACM

The Academy of Country Music welcomed MCA Nashville recording artist Kip Moore to the office while he was in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Moore performed his current top 10 single, “Last Shot,” and other songs from his latest album, Slowheart.

 

Curb/Word Publishing Puts On Pop-Focused Songwriting Camp

Curb/Word Publishing recently brought together writers from Nashville, LA and Atlanta for a pop focused songwriting camp. The writers worked at the legendary Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Cotati, CA. Writers represented publishers such as Curb/Word, Disney, Big Deal, Prescription and Kobalt.

“The goal of this camp was to create an isolated and inspiring environment for the writers, producers and artists in attendance to create some special songs,” said Joel Timen VP Curb A&R and Publishing.

The Bluebird Cafe has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development for Tennessee Songwriters Week, which will take place February 17-23, 2019. During the week the Bluebird will hit the road for a string of open mic nights in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City. The events emphasize a state statute honoring songwriters passed earlier this year, and will provide four winners with the chance to perform their original material at the historic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. 

“To have the chance to expand our Open Mic throughout the state is so exciting and offers the chance to explore the wealth of songwriting talent that is inherent to Tennessee,” said Erika Wollam Nichols, general manager of The Bluebird Café.

The Bluebird Cafe’s long-time open mic night host songwriter, Barbara Cloyd, will host each event and a panel of local judges will select the top songwriter from each event. Those four winners will convene at The Bluebird Cafe on March 31 during Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival to perform for an audience that includes publishing professionals. Each winner also earns an additional prize pack, including passes to Tin Pan South.

Songwriters Events:

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 – Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 – The Camp House in Chattanooga

Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 – WDVX in Knoxville

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 – The Down Home in Johnson City

“Music is a universal language and is celebrated, performed and heard every day of the week in Tennessee and around the world,” said Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Fans have been impacted by music recorded in Tennessee, which starts with the crafting of the song itself. Songwriters are the lifeblood of music that created the Soundtrack of America.”

The state statute annually designates the last full week of February as “Tennessee Songwriters Week.” The week is designed to celebrate the foundation of the craft, recognize past and present songwriters, and pave the way for future artists.  Local businesses are encouraged to participate in Tennessee Songwriters Week by programming special events such as open mic nights and songwriter showcases that celebrate songwriters and drive visitation.

Tennessee’s deep musical roots are the cornerstone of Tennessee Tourism’s “The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee” brand. The economic impact of tourism in Tennessee hit a record $20.7 billion, resulting in the collection of $1.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2017.  

Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell have joined forces on a brand new duet, “What Happens In A Small Town,” about the fury of a stubborn love and its unrelenting memories. The tune, written by Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Josh Dunne and Rhett Akins, was produced by Dann Huff and features Ell on guitar.

“It was great that they wanted me to play,” Ell said. “To be part of a song like this is great, but to be asked to play on someone’s song who I respect so much takes it up another level. Obviously playing in front of Dann Huff is something else, but he knew how to really push me to get a vocal that contains everything situations like this one are made of. Music, especially music that rocks this hard, crashes through pride, ego and whatever else is in the way. Being able to play on this opened up the feelings to me. When I went in to do the vocal, it was all about really channeling that pain.”

“This song builds and burns,” Gilbert said. “It really has that want for someone you can’t have, and having to live in all the places they are. I wanted to have someone on the record who could match those feelings, to really push the song. It’s not just any female singer who makes sense, and we knew that. Lindsay is a whole other kind of artist, and she understands that power.”

For Gilbert, the song definitely has a ring of truth to it as he went through a breakup and eventually a reconciliation with his now wife, Amber.

“Songs that come from your life just have another kind of power,” Gilbert said. “People can hear the difference, and they know. For this song, obviously I’m not the only guy–or girl–who’s been there, but I’m lucky and blessed enough to have been able to put it back together.”

“What Happens In A Small Town” arrives at radio December 14.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will offer free museum admission this Sunday (Dec. 16) in partnership with Ford Motor Company for the museum’s 10th Ford Community Day, headlined by Runaway June. The day will also feature Songwriter Sessions with Pat Alger and Jamie Floyd and a Musician Spotlight with Dom Flemons.

In an effort to thank the middle Tennessee community and country music fans for their support, the Museum will offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday as well as free tours of Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B, special discounts on merchandise and memberships, and a variety of programs and events for all ages.

“As a non-profit organization and one of the leading arts institutions in the United States, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum makes it a priority to give back to the local community,” said Steve Turner, chairman of the museum’s board of officers and trustees. “Each year, the Ford Motor Company Fund generously allows the museum to open its doors for free to the public. We are grateful for their support and excited to make the museum available to our community for what is sure to be a memorable day.”

“The Middle Tennessee Ford Dealers along with Ford Motor Company Fund look forward to again offering the opportunity to enjoy the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s premier educational experiences at no cost,” said John Barker, Owner, Two Rivers Ford. “Ford’s ties to country music run deep. Henry Ford launched many of his early models at fiddling competitions across the U.S., knowing that country music and the stories behind it were strongly connected to the everyday American. As a long-time partner of the Hall, the Ford Motor Company Fund is proud to support Ford Community Day as it allows us to honor our traditions of supporting music and giving back to our community.”

Round Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment Host Writer Retreat

Round Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment recently led The Good Write songwriter retreat at Trimble House in Nashville on Dec. 4-5. The two-day event brought together songwriters for writing collaborations, as well as an unsigned writer mentorship session, in partnership with NSAI.

 

Jerry Duncan Promotions Adds Laura Prestage

Record promotion company Jerry Duncan Promotions has named Laura Prestage as Promotions Coordinator. Prestage will oversee responsibilities previously held by Lisa Smoot, who was recently promoted from Director, Promotions to Vice President. Prestage will oversee office day-to-day operations and radio promotion with Music Row stations.

Prestage, an MTSU graduate and the daughter of Lisa Smoot (and granddaughter of Jerry Duncan) can be reached at laura@duncanpromo.com and 615-329-1032.

 

Kalie Shorr, Savannah Keyes To Host Radio Disney Country Feature

Artists Kalie Shorr and Savannah Keyes are set to host a new Radio Disney Country daily feature, “Let The Girls Play,” aimed at highlighting music from female country artists, both superstars and rising artists. The feature launched Dec. 5.

Radio Disney Country can be heard on the Radio Disney App, iHeartRadio App, KRDC FM/AM – Los Angeles, TuneIn, the Radio Disney Country ‘Spotlight’ on Radio Disney and SiriusXM, Apple Music and Spotify playlists.

 

SOLID RAISES NEARLY $5K FROM ANNUAL TURKEY BOWL

Music industry organization SOLID raised nearly $5,000 at their 33rd annual Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament for Middle Tennessee-based The Onsite Foundation. The organization also donated more than 29,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank.

This year’s Turkey Bowl, held at Vanderbilt University, included participation from eight industry teams: APA, CAA, CMT, FBMM, SMACK Songs, Triple8 Management, Universal and WME.