Round Hill Music has added three new employees to its Nashville team: Glen Thomasson, Charlotte Rowe, and Trey Wehrmeyer.
Thomasson has been named Vice President, Finance/Controller. He joins Round Hill from Viacom, where he served as a Senior Director in their Global Business Services center and was responsible for global ancillary revenue accounting, master data governance, and residuals processing. Prior to Viacom, Glen served two years as the Chief Financial Officer of Bigger Picture Group and five years with EverGreen Copyrights, where he held the role of Vice President of Finance and Royalties.
Rowe joins the company as Senior Coordinator, Sync Licensing and Creative. Prior to joining Round Hill, Charlotte worked as a Licensing Research Coordinator with YouTube via Vaco in New York, where she was responsible for working with metadata in their Content Management System and maintaining the music asset database. She most recently worked as a Licensing Agent at the Harry Fox Agency in New York.
Wehrmeyer joins Round Hill as Coordinator, Royalty Services. Wehrmeyer previously worked as a Copyright and Royalties Assistant at Modern Works Music Publishing, where he was responsible for processing receipts, drafting license agreements, and preparing royalty statements for distribution.
“I am pleased to welcome our new arrivals in finance, sync, and royalties to the Round Hill Music family,” says Mark Brown, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Round Hill Music Nashville. “The addition of these new team members will help us continue to deliver great service for our clients.”
Round Hill Music Nashville’s writer roster includes Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, Jimmy Robbins, Danny Myrick, Wade Kirby, Katie Pruitt, Devin Guisande, SHEL, Gareth Dunlop, Schmarx & Savvy, and Suzie McNeil. Through its partnership with Big Loud, Round Hill also represents Craig Wiseman, Rodney Clawson, Sarah Buxton, Matt Dragstrem, Joey Moi, The Warren Brothers, Chris Tompkins, and Jamie Moore.
Halfway To Hazard Announce Nashville Residency
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (Back row, L-R): Elliot Pilzer, Ira Dean, Colt Prather, Sam Hayes (Radio Romance), Josh Gramling (Radio Romance), Moises Padilla (Radio Romance). Front row L-R: David Tolliver (Halfway to Hazard), Adam Smithwick (Radio Romance), Chad Warrix (Halfway to Hazard), Ben Williamson
Halfway to Hazard has announced an ongoing residency at Analog in the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The monthly series, “Halfway to Hazard & Friends,” kicked off last Tuesday, July 10, with a performance by bandmates Chad Warrix and David Tolliver, as well as surprise special guests Chris Young, Radio Romance, American Young‘s Jon Stone, Ira Dean (formerly of Trick Pony) and Colt Prather.
“This monthly residency at Analog has given us the opportunity to showcase all of our multi-genre artist, actor, sports personality, and musician friends that we have made over the last 12 years of adventurous travels,” says Warrix. “And, of course, we get to remind people of our music too, plus win over some new fans in the process. It definitely doesn’t hurt that we can do this a couple miles down the road from our own houses here in what seems to be the current most popular city in America.”
“It was great to be back in Nashville playing live… it’s been too long!” states Tolliver. “Having some of our best friends in the business join together onstage makes it that much sweeter. We’re looking forward to the upcoming shows. Analog is a fantastic venue and adds to the audience experience.”
The Kentucky duo’s next show is Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 6:00 p.m. and ticket information can be found at huttonhotel.com.
Pictured: Chris Young and Ira Dean. Photos courtesy of Deb Wallace Photography
MGM Lawsuit Against Victims Creates Public Relations Firestorm
/by Sherod RobertsonMandalay Bay
MGM Resorts International, the company that owns Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the Route 91 Harvest festival venue, has sued the victims of the location’s mass shooting, which occurred during the Route 91 Harvest festival on Oct. 1, 2017, killing 58 people and leaving more than 500 injured.
The filing, a complaint for declaratory judgment in federal court in Las Vegas, cites a 2002 federal act called the SAFETY Act and seeks to remove MGM’s liability for the rampage and place it on Contemporary Services Corporation, the security vendor MGM hired for the concert.
While MGM is not seeking compensation from the survivors, backlash has grown from the filing, which includes the names of the victims of the 2017 mass shooting and their loved ones as defendants.
While perhaps a strategic legal move, the optics of the filing has caused a public relations nightmare for MGM and its properties. Some people have taken to social media to call out the company by using the hashtag, #BoycottMGM.
Eric Rose, a partner at California-based crisis management firm Englander Knabe and Allen, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that MGM should have explained its actions before media outlets began reporting the lawsuit against the victims. He also believes MGM will see immediate losses from cancelled bookings and a reduction in new reservations.
Yesterday, MGM Resorts tweeted, “We have filed what is known as an action for declaratory relief. All we are doing, in effect, is asking for a change in venue from state to federal court. We are not asking for money or attorney’s fees. We only want to resolve these cases quickly, fairly and efficiently.”
Industry Ink: Jeffrey Steele, ACM, Frank Ray, Barfrog Music
/by Jessica NicholsonJeffrey Steele’s Songwriting Bootcamp Opens In August
Jeffrey Steele. Photo: Tin Pan South
Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele is gearing up for his Songwriting Boot Camp, scheduled to begin Aug. 27 online. Sponsored by 3 Ring Circus Music, the camp will feature nine weeks of inspiration and educational content, coaching from Steele, and much more. Boot camp alumni have gone on to score publishing deals, compose songs recorded by key artists, and write No. 1 singles, such as Blake Shelton’s “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” co-written by boot camper Jennifer Adan and Lee Brice’s “A Woman Like You” co-written by boot camper Phil Barton.
Enrollment is open now at thinklikeawriter.com and sign-ups close on Aug. 13.
Maddie & Tae Visit ACM
PIctured (L-R): Pete Fisher, ACM CEO with Maddie & Tae
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Universal Music Group Nashville recording duo Maddie & Tae to the office while they were in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Maddie & Tae gave the ACM staff a sneak peek listen to several tracks on their upcoming album, including their current single, “Friends Don’t.”
Frank Ray Notches Chart-Topping Hit On Texas Regional Chart
Pictured (L-R): Lynn Tinsey, Richlynn Group; Oscar Chavira, (Ray’s Manager) White Knuckle Productions; Frank Ray; Kate Richardson, Richlynn Group.
Re Mattei Signs With BarFrog Music
Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Easton Corbin To Perform On Special 90’s Night Show
/by Lorie HollabaughSanders grew up listening to and was influenced to pursue his career by the songs and artists in the 90s. This special by-popular-demand edition “90s NIGHT” will be co-hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan and Katie Cook, and will include a few surprise guest appearances and performances.
Tickets for the “90s NIGHT” are $20 and available here. Proceeds will go to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation. CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown will host its three hour show from this special edition “90s NIGHT” and the episode will air Aug. 4 and 5 at 9 am ET/8 a.m. CT on CMT.
The 2ndAnnual sold-out 90s Night at Marathon Music Works in March featured Cole Swindell, LOCASH, Tyler Farr, Michael Ray, Chris Lane and Sanders performing with their favorite 90s country heroes including Tracy Lawrence, Diamond Rio, John Michael Montgomery, Blackhawk, Tim Rushlow, Aaron Tippin and Joe Diffie.
Sanders has written songs for Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Tyler Farr and more including the No. 1 singles “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” for Cole Swindell and “Hell of A Night” for Dustin Lynch. He has toured with Cole Swindell, Eric Paslay, and CAM and shared stages with Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch, Easton Corbin, Gary Allan and more.
Cole Swindell’s All Of It Tour To Launch In August
/by Jessica NicholsonCole Swindell will celebrate his official album release week with the “All of It Tour” launching in tandem with his upcoming third album All of It on Aug. 17. Swindell will go straight to the fans in six cities to play songs from the album giving them one of the first live listens of the album. All Of It launches on the morning of Aug. 17 as Swindell performs as part of NBC’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY live from the Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York City before catching a flight for the opening night of a six-show run later that night at The Ready Room in St. Louis, Missouri.
All of It Tour dates include:
Aug. 17 @ St. Louis, MO – The Ready Room
Aug. 19 @ Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live
Aug. 20 @ Grand Rapids, MI- The Intersection
Aug. 21 @ Fort Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre
Aug. 22 @ Cleveland, OH -House of Blues
Aug. 23 @ Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Tickets for the All of It Tour will be available for pre-sale through the Down Home Crew on Thursday, July 19 and the general public on Friday, July 20. Each ticket purchased online for these shows will come with the choice of a standard CD or digital download of Cole’s new album, All Of It.
Round Hill Music Adds Three To Nashville Team
/by Lorie HollabaughThomasson has been named Vice President, Finance/Controller. He joins Round Hill from Viacom, where he served as a Senior Director in their Global Business Services center and was responsible for global ancillary revenue accounting, master data governance, and residuals processing. Prior to Viacom, Glen served two years as the Chief Financial Officer of Bigger Picture Group and five years with EverGreen Copyrights, where he held the role of Vice President of Finance and Royalties.
Rowe joins the company as Senior Coordinator, Sync Licensing and Creative. Prior to joining Round Hill, Charlotte worked as a Licensing Research Coordinator with YouTube via Vaco in New York, where she was responsible for working with metadata in their Content Management System and maintaining the music asset database. She most recently worked as a Licensing Agent at the Harry Fox Agency in New York.
Wehrmeyer joins Round Hill as Coordinator, Royalty Services. Wehrmeyer previously worked as a Copyright and Royalties Assistant at Modern Works Music Publishing, where he was responsible for processing receipts, drafting license agreements, and preparing royalty statements for distribution.
“I am pleased to welcome our new arrivals in finance, sync, and royalties to the Round Hill Music family,” says Mark Brown, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Round Hill Music Nashville. “The addition of these new team members will help us continue to deliver great service for our clients.”
Round Hill Music Nashville’s writer roster includes Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, Jimmy Robbins, Danny Myrick, Wade Kirby, Katie Pruitt, Devin Guisande, SHEL, Gareth Dunlop, Schmarx & Savvy, and Suzie McNeil. Through its partnership with Big Loud, Round Hill also represents Craig Wiseman, Rodney Clawson, Sarah Buxton, Matt Dragstrem, Joey Moi, The Warren Brothers, Chris Tompkins, and Jamie Moore.
Luke Wooten Launches Warehouse West Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Bruce A. Gates, Nicole Dovolis, Luke Wooten
Grammy-winning producer-engineer Luke Wooten, with entrepreneur Bruce A. Gates, has launched indie music publishing and artist development company Warehouse West Entertainment in Nashville. The new company is located at 618 West Iris Drive in Nashville.
The new development will include in-house rehearsal and recording space, writing offices, A&R support, marketing and more. Wooten owns recording studio Station West in Nashville and has worked with artists including Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, The Steel Drivers and more. Gates previously founded venture capital firm Three Oaks Asset Management, and management consulting firm Three Oaks Strategies.
Also joining the Warehouse West team is Creative Director Nicole Dovolis. Dovolis arrived in Nashville with a UCLA degree in Music History in 2014 and previously worked with Big Machine Label Group and most recently CAA.
“During my 25 years in Nashville,” says Wooten. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to help capture some of the greatest musical talents in this town. Nothing is more exciting than seeing a new artist blossom. With Nicole’s label and booking experience and Bruce’s entrepreneurial background in venues and large events, the Warehouse West team is built to help artists, regardless of genre, succeed and thrive.”
“Teaming up with music pros like Luke and Nicole on this project has been a blast,” says Gates. “I’m looking forward to seeing some Artists’ dreams become reality under the Warehouse West banner. We’re also excited about matching up experienced and younger songwriters with Artists to create some great new songs.”
“I fell in love with country music and moved to Nashville because of records such as those Luke produced,” says Dovolis. “I’m so honored to have this opportunity. Joining this team is a dream come true.”
For more, visit warehousewestent.com.
Delta Rae Plans Nashville Residency
/by Jessica Nicholson“We have always had two sides to our sound,” explained Delta Rae member Brittany Holljes. “Liz sings warm summer love songs and by contrast I give voice to our swampy, mysterious tracks. The core of our inspiration is the power of that contrast. It’s Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Life and Death. This Revival experience will play off those forces in a way to give our audience both butterflies and goosebumps. We promise it will deliver on everything Delta Rae does best. It’s by far the most creative and exciting show we’ve ever crafted.”
Delta Rae is rounded out with Holljes’ brothers Eric (vocals, piano) and Ian (vocals, guitar) as well as Mike McKee (drums) and Grant Emerson (bass). Storytelling and southern magic have always been part of the Holljes siblings’ upbringing. Since signing to The Valory Music Co., Delta Rae has released two EPs – A Long And Happy Life, and The Blackbird Sessions, which produced the single “No Peace in Quiet.”
The Basement is located at 1604 8th Ave. S. in Nashville.
Mark Schultz Preps New Album, ‘Follow’
/by Jessica NicholsonMark Schultz
Singer-songwriter Mark Schultz is placing the final touches on his first full-length project in six years, Follow.
Set to release Aug. 17, 2018, the album features Schultz’s brand new songs “Hope is Rising,” “Time Goes So Fast,” “Psalm 91” and others, as well as his timeless fan-favorites such as the worship anthems “God of Glory” and “I Am.”
The title track was inspired by a story Schultz heard about a girl with a rough upbringing and no father-figure. “Follow: is set to hit radio airwaves in late July 2018, with the full album, Follow, releasing August 2018. Pre-orders for the album will begin on July 27, 2018.
In Pictures: Kenny Chesney, Lee Brice, Cody Johnson, Banner Music
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney Celebrates Record-Breaking “Get Along”
Photo Credit: Jill Trunnell
Kenny Chesney celebrated his 30th chart-topping career single “Get Along” with his radio family this past weekend in Kansas City (July 14), where he played to a record-breaking crowd of 57,528 at Arrowhead Stadium. This latest No. 1 is from his upcoming album Songs for the Saints, due July 27, and crowns him as the artist with the most No. 1 hits in the history of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart.
Lee Brice Hosts Nashville Show For Folds Of Honor
Pictured (L-R), back row: Red Light Management’s Haley McLemore, Jake Owen, Ginger Gilbert Ravella, Lee Brice, Dallas Davidson, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. (L-R), front row: Red Light Management’s Enzo DeVincenzo, Tyler Farr, Chuck Wicks, Rob Hatch, SESAC’s Lydia Schultz. Photo: Peyton Hoge
Lee Brice recently hosted the first of a three-show series at Analog at Hutton Hotel benefiting Folds Of Honor. Rob Hatch, Jake Owen, Tyler Farr, Dallas Davidson and emcee Chuck Wicks sang several rounds of songs acoustically and told stories throughout the special evening. Ginger Gilbert Ravella, a Gold Star wife who lost her husband Troy in 2006, spoke on behalf of Folds of Honor, thanking Lee and everyone in the audience for their support. The second and third shows in the series will take place August 27, as Lee honors Women of Country, and October 1, when he and several friends pay tribute to Route 91 Festival’s one-year anniversary.
Cody Johnson At Windy City Smokeout
Pictured (L-R): WEBG Lance Houston, WMN National Director Of Promotion Katie Bright, Cody Johnson, WKHX Brian Thomas + girlfriend Dovie, WUSN Kenny Jay, Spotify John Marks
Cody Johnson took time out during his performance at last weekend’s Windy City Smokeout in Chicago to meet with some local radio programmers, including reps from WEBG, WKHX, and WUSN.
Banner Music Hosts Margarita Monday