Pictured (Clockwise, from top left): Avery Bashaw, Aaryn Cantu, Jen Dalton, John Smalt, Kelly Kresen, and Alec Edmonds.
Triple 8 Management partners George Couri and Bruce Kalmick have made staff additions in both the company’s Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee offices. The staff changes include five new hires and one promotion in management and marketing, creating a total of 35 Triple 8 team members. The Triple 8 Nashville team has also moved their offices from Music Row to a newly renovated space in Wedgewood-Houston.
Joining the company are Aaryn Cantu, Jen Dalton, Alec Edmonds, Kelly Kresen and Jon Smalt. Additionally, former Marketing Assistant Avery Bashaw will take on a new role as Marketing Manager.
“Bruce, Jesse, Paul, and I are always looking to serve artists in more ways, and we have made it a priority to find driven, smart, dedicated professionals who share our vision” said Couri.
Jon Smalt joins Triple 8 Management as a Manager in the Nashville office. He is bringing with him artists Devon Gilfillian and Becca Mancari. He has drummed professionally for 10+ years, managed artists and produced records. He also owns two boutique music festivals.
Kelly Kresen joins the team as Day-to-Day Manager for Kaleo and will work out of the Nashville office. Kresen comes to Triple 8 from her role as VP of Partnerships and Strategy for Los Angeles-based music management company, Gin + Tonic. Prior to relocating to Nashville in July 2017, Kresen was a business and legal affairs executive at APA.
Jen Dalton joins Triple 8 Management as a Marketing Director. She has spent the last 13 years as a Regional Promotion Manager for Concord Music Group, RCA Records and Epic Records. Prior to that, she was the Music Director at KUBE-FM/Seattle, the Marketing, Events and Music Director at KKRZ-Portland and the Promotions Director for KNRK-Portland. Dalton will work out of Triple 8’s Austin office, where she has lived for eight years.
Aaryn Cantu joins the team as Marketing Assistant. Cantu has interned for Triple 8 on two separate occasions and will be based out of the Austin office.
Alec Edmonds completed internships at Triple 8 Management and Universal Music Group. Edmonds joins the team as a Day-to-Day Management Assistant in the Nashville office.
Avery Bashaw has been promoted from Marketing Assistant to Marketing Manager. In her new role, she will continue to work out of Triple 8’s Austin office.
Industry Ink: Sony Music Nashville Staffing Changes
/by Jessica NicholsonSony Music’s Fount Lynch Exits
Fount Lynch
Sony Music Nashville’s VP, Media Fount Lynch will exit the company for an as-of-yet undisclosed new role. No word on plans for a replacement at Sony Music Nashville at this time. Lynch started his role at Sony in 2014, after 14 years with UMG, where he began his career as an intern in the label’s marketing/PR department in January 2001.
Sony Music Nashville Adds Assoc. Director, Promotion and Artist Development
Olivia Laster
Meanwhile, Sony Music Nashville EVP of Promotion and Artist Development Steve Hodges has announced the appointment of Olivia Laster to Associate Director, Promotion and Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville.
Prior to accepting the position of Associate Director Promotion and Artist Development, Laster worked at Sony Music Nashville as Promotion Specialist for Arista Nashville. While in this position, she aided in the facilitation of brand partnerships with Sarah Cannon’s Band Against Cancer, Sandals Resorts and Hard Rock Hotels, as well as incorporated radio promotion into various label departments’ strategies. She worked on artist projects including Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, LANCO and Seth Ennis, among others.
Olivia Laster graduated from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She is a member of SOLID.
Downtown Music Publishing Acquires Rights To Alabama’s “Dixieland Delight”
/by Jessica NicholsonDowntown Music Publishing has added a classic hit to its catalog, having acquired 100 percent of the rights to “Dixieland Delight,” which was written by Ronnie Rogers and appeared in 1983 as the lead single from Alabama‘s The Closer You Get album.
The track has been covered by Tim McGraw and Old Crow Medicine Show, and has become a staple of football games around the Southeast.
“Modern music publishing is often equated with chasing the charts or signing a new artist,” said Andrew Sparkler, Downtown’s SVP Business Development. “While we’re extremely enthusiastic about our roster of active songwriters and the work of our global A&R team, we will always be humbled by the opportunity to represent iconic songs like “Dixieland Delight;” words and music that have stood the test of time and become such an integral part of the fabric of America’s diverse popular culture.”
Downtown’s Nashville office has been aggressively expanding its catalog in the past year, with the signing of John Prine, acquiring the catalogs of Major Bob Music and launching Songs Without Borders. In the past year, Downtown has had 11 singles on the country radio charts, including three No. 1 singles.
Weekly Register: Kenny Chesney, Cody Jinks Offer Top Country Debuts
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Cody Jinks, Kenny Chesney
Warner Music Nashville/Blue Chair artist Kenny Chesney‘s Songs For The Saints crowns this week’s top country albums rankings, according to Nielsen Soundscan. As reported earlier today, the project moved 77K in total consumption in its debut week.
Triple 8 Management Expands Staff, Reveals Relocation
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Clockwise, from top left): Avery Bashaw, Aaryn Cantu, Jen Dalton, John Smalt, Kelly Kresen, and Alec Edmonds.
Triple 8 Management partners George Couri and Bruce Kalmick have made staff additions in both the company’s Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee offices. The staff changes include five new hires and one promotion in management and marketing, creating a total of 35 Triple 8 team members. The Triple 8 Nashville team has also moved their offices from Music Row to a newly renovated space in Wedgewood-Houston.
Joining the company are Aaryn Cantu, Jen Dalton, Alec Edmonds, Kelly Kresen and Jon Smalt. Additionally, former Marketing Assistant Avery Bashaw will take on a new role as Marketing Manager.
“Bruce, Jesse, Paul, and I are always looking to serve artists in more ways, and we have made it a priority to find driven, smart, dedicated professionals who share our vision” said Couri.
Jon Smalt joins Triple 8 Management as a Manager in the Nashville office. He is bringing with him artists Devon Gilfillian and Becca Mancari. He has drummed professionally for 10+ years, managed artists and produced records. He also owns two boutique music festivals.
Kelly Kresen joins the team as Day-to-Day Manager for Kaleo and will work out of the Nashville office. Kresen comes to Triple 8 from her role as VP of Partnerships and Strategy for Los Angeles-based music management company, Gin + Tonic. Prior to relocating to Nashville in July 2017, Kresen was a business and legal affairs executive at APA.
Jen Dalton joins Triple 8 Management as a Marketing Director. She has spent the last 13 years as a Regional Promotion Manager for Concord Music Group, RCA Records and Epic Records. Prior to that, she was the Music Director at KUBE-FM/Seattle, the Marketing, Events and Music Director at KKRZ-Portland and the Promotions Director for KNRK-Portland. Dalton will work out of Triple 8’s Austin office, where she has lived for eight years.
Aaryn Cantu joins the team as Marketing Assistant. Cantu has interned for Triple 8 on two separate occasions and will be based out of the Austin office.
Alec Edmonds completed internships at Triple 8 Management and Universal Music Group. Edmonds joins the team as a Day-to-Day Management Assistant in the Nashville office.
Avery Bashaw has been promoted from Marketing Assistant to Marketing Manager. In her new role, she will continue to work out of Triple 8’s Austin office.
Natalie Hemby Inks New Publishing Deal
/by Jessica NicholsonNatalie Hemby
Natalie Hemby, known for penning No. 1 songs including “Downtown” (Lady Antebellum) and “Pontoon” (Little Big Town), has inked a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.
The Nashville native has also written chart-topping songs including Little Big Town’s “Tornado,” Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar,” “Only Prettier,” “Baggage Claim” and “Automatic,” in addition to 10 tracks on Lambert’s double-album The Weight Of These Wings. Other hits in Hemby’s catalog include Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t Rush” (ft. Vince Gill), Justin Moore’s “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” “A Little More Love,” with Jerrod Niemann and Lee Brice, and the Labrinth hit, “Jealous.”
“Universal Music Publishing has always been a company not only passionate about music and songs, but also about the songwriters. I am beyond excited to be a part of such a dynamic group of people who are heartfelt and dedicated to their writers,” said Hemby.
“We’ve always had a deep admiration for Natalie’s writing and artistry. She is an extremely versatile tunesmith with a once in a lifetime voice who can balance hit songs with lyrical integrity,” said Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Natalie is a dream come true and we’re elated she chose UMPG to represent her.”
In addition to writing hit songs for other artists, this singer-songwriter released the documentary and album Puxico in 2015. She co-produced and co-wrote the songs featured in the project. Last year, she opened shows for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s Soul II Soul Tour, as well as shows for Amy Grant and Gill. Most recently, she’s opened shows for Lambert and Little Big Town on their The Bandwagon Tour.
Brothers Osborne Expand Headlining World Tour, Team With The Wild Feathers And Lucie Silvas
/by Jessica NicholsonThe duo is currently on the road with Dierks Bentley’s Mountain High Tour, and will perform their single “Shoot Me Straight” on the ABC television special CMA Fest, which airs Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. CT.
Brothers Osborne – World Tour Dates:
Aug. 26: Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre
Aug. 31: Laramie, WY @ University of Wyoming Arena Auditorium
Sept. 5 Bethlehem, PA @ Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
Oct. 7 Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Oct. 17 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House*^
Oct. 18 Abbotsford, BC @ Abbotsford Centre*
Oct. 19 Penticton, BC @ South Okanagan Events Centre*
Oct. 20 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall*
Oct. 21 Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Centre*
Oct. 24 Saskatoon, SK @ O’Brian’s Event Centre
Oct. 25 Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts
Oct. 26 St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre^
Oct. 27 Madison, WI @ The Sylvee^
Oct. 28 Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live^
Nov. 1 Toronto, ON @ Rebel Complex*
Nov. 2 Kitchener, ON @ Elements*
Nov. 3 London, ON @ London Music Hall*
Nov. 8 Asheville, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Civic Center Auditorium^
Nov. 9 Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre~
Nov. 10 Fort Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre^
Nov. 25 Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy Glasgow+
Nov. 27 Newcastle, England @ O2 Academy Newcastle+
Nov. 28 Manchester, England @ Academy Manchester+
Nov. 30 Nottingham, England @ Rock City+
Dec. 1 Porthcawl, Wales @ Planet Rock Festival
Dec. 2 London, England @ O2 Kentish Town Forum+
* Support from The Wild Feathers
+ Support from Lucie Silvas
^ Fan club pre-sale begins August 7 at 10am local time, general on-sale August 10
~ Fan club pre-sale begins August 14 at 10am local time, general on-sale August 17
LOCASH Inks Deal With BBR Music Group/BMG
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Back Row, L-R): Andrea Knipp, Promotion Coordinator, BBR Music Group; Matt Holmberg, Secondary Radio Promotion, BBR Music Group; Renee Leymon, VP of Radio Syndication & Group Strategy, BBR Music Group; Ross Schilling, Vector Management; Carson James, Sr. VP Promotion, BBR Music Group; Ken Tucker, VP of Promotion, Wheelhouse Records; Brittany Pellegrino, Director of Promotion; Wheelhouse Records; Cait Gordon, Director of Promotion; Wheelhouse Records. Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Jon Loba, EVP, BBR Music Group; Preston Brust, LOCASH; Chris Lucas, LOCASH; Ken Levitan, Vector Management
BBR Music Group/BMG has announced the signing of country duo LOCASH as the latest addition to its roster of artists. LOCASH’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas have been assigned to the Wheelhouse Records imprint, where they will join labelmates Trace Adkins, Granger Smith, Runaway June and Walker McGuire.
LOCASH has earned Gold-certified tracks like “I Love This Life” and their No. 1 chart-topper, “I Know Somebody,” which earned them nominations for ACM Awards for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, CMT Music Awards for Duo Video of the Year, and CMA Awards for Vocal Duo of the Year. In addition to their own radio success, Brust and Lucas have penned hits for country artists including Keith Urban (the No. 1 song “You Gonna Fly”) and Tim McGraw (the Platinum-certified “Truck Yeah”).
“LOCASH has accomplished so much on their own, people in the industry have really embraced them,” said Jon Loba EVP, BBR Music Group. “Their entrepreneurial spirit mimics our own and we are so excited to work with them and look forward to watching them soar.”
“We’ve known Loba for years and had our sights on BBR since before we signed our first deal but knew we had to get the timing right, now it just feels like all of the stars have finally aligned and this is where we’re supposed to be,” said Brust. “It is a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment, we’re such big fans of everybody on the roster and are honored to be named alongside such incredible artists.”
“They have put together an incredible team at BBR and with the full support of BMG behind them, there’s no better team to help take our career to the next level,” said Lucas. “Talking with Zach Katz, who has made such an incredible impact on the music business and everybody on the BBR team, we could just immediately tell our music was going to be in the right hands and as a songwriter and artist, there is no better feeling.”
John Hiatt Finds Harmonic Energy On Eclipse-Inspired New Album
/by Lorie HollabaughHiatt places The Eclipse Sessions alongside two of his other notable works — 1987’s mainstream breakthrough Bring the Family, which sprung from an impulsive four-day session with an all-star combo led by Ry Cooder, and 2000’s Crossing Muddy Waters, an unplanned and largely unplugged effort that garnered a Grammy Award nomination and set Hiatt on the rootsier path he’s still pursuing today. “The three albums are very connected in my mind,” Hiatt says. “They all have a vibe to them that was unexpected. I didn’t know where I was going when I started out on any of them. And each one wound up being a pleasant surprise.”
True to its title, Hiatt and his band were hard at work on August 21st, 2017 when a solar eclipse traveled the length of the U.S. “I think we recorded three songs that day, and then we took a break to go outside and watch everything happen,” Hiatt says. “It seemed everything stopped for a minute or two. It was like a magical little bit of time, a harmonic convergence or something. Like everybody was on the same page.”
The Eclipse Sessions will be available across digital platforms, and on CD, vinyl, as well as a limited split metallic & white vinyl edition available at independent retailers. The album is available for pre-order now.
Hiatt has also announced his initial tour dates in support of The Eclipse Sessions, which launch Saturday, October 20th in New Orleans, LA at the House of Blues. Preceding The Eclipse Sessions Tour, John Hiatt and The Goners featuring Sonny Landreth will perform live dates throughout August celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1998 album, Slow Turning.
Music Professionals Network Jammcard Expands To Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonCoined as “LinkedIn For Musicians” by Forbes, Jammcard has been used to assemble live bands for artists including Zedd and Maren Morris (for their performance of “The Middle” at the Billboard Music Awards). Vetted applicants can use the Jammcard app to search for not only musicians, but for producers, stage managers, lighting directors, tour managers, engineers and other professionals. The app also allows members other search options such as searching for candidates by genre or what gear they use.
Jammcard is now accepting applicants from Nashville to join the network, and they are planning their next invite-only celebration, the JammJam, slated for next week in Nashville.
Several in the Nashville community have offered praise for the new offering.
“Jammcard is the ultimate musicians network!” says Aaron Farmer, who has provided musical support for artists including Florida Georgia Line. “You have all these amazing players who you can relate to, collab with, and build some solid friendships along the way! With Nashville being such a thriving community of musicians, Jammcard seems like it was the only thing missing!”
“I’m amped about Jammcard coming to music city!” said Daru Jones, drummer for Jack White, among others. “Looking forward to experiencing the diversity of amazing talents from country, rock, soul and hip-hop.”
For more information on the network, visit jammcard.com.
Chesney’s ‘Songs For The Saints’ Benefit Album Rockets To Top Of Album Sales Chart
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney’s heart for helping those in need has earned him some extra accolades as well. His new album, Songs for the Saints, has achieved the No. 1 sales debut in the country, and also debuted at the top of the country album chart, and at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 right behind Drake’s Scorpion. Chesney crafted the album in response to the destruction brought upon the Virgin Islands by Hurricane Irma, and proceeds from the project go to benefit Chesney’s Love for Love City Fund, for Virgin Island relief.
“This album means the world to me, because of what it’s about and what it means to the people of the Virgin Islands,” Chesney said. “A lot of who I am is because of the time I’ve spent down there, and how it’s shaped the man I’ve become. It’s how I see the world, and how my music has evolved. So the fact No Shoes Nation has supported this record – a record where all the proceeds go to island recovery – does my heart good. There’s a lot of life, and a lot of truth in these songs. The more you listen, the more you’ll find. And I hope these songs, which really celebrate the spirit of the people, will keep inspiring us all no matter what we’re facing, and give back for years to come.”
The album debuted with sales in excess of 64,600 copies, and including consumption, totals over 77,300 albums in its first week, making it one of the year’s/country’s most successful debuts without a ticket bundle.
“Get Along,” the first single from the album, recently became Chesney’s 30th chart-topper.