Clothier Manuel To Receive Nation’s Highest Folk Arts Honor

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Photo by Yuri Figueroa

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the newest recipients of the NEA National Heritage Fellowships, and Nashville tailor Manuel Cuevas is among the recipients. Awarded annually by the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA National Heritage Fellowships highlight the breadth and excellence of the artistic traditions found in communities all across the U.S.

Known for his rhinestone-adorned, embroidered suits that were indispensable for country and western stars, Manuel has clothed everyone from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash, and James Dean to John Wayne. His clothes have earned exhibitions at the Frist Art Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum, and are displayed extensively at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The 2018 recipients will receive a $25,000 award and be honored in Washington, D.C. at an awards ceremony on Sept. 26 and at a free concert at Sidney Harman Hall on Sept. 28, which will be streamed live at arts.gov.

The 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellows are:

  • Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim (Milwaukie, OR)—Palestinian embroiderer
  • Eddie Bond (Fries, VA)—Appalachian old-time fiddler
  • Kelly Church (Allegan, MI)—Anishinabe (Gun Lake Band) black ash basketmaker
  • Marion Coleman (Castro Valley, CA)—African-American quilter
  • Manuel Cuevas (Nashville, TN)—tailor
  • Ofelia Esparza (Los Angeles, CA)—Chicana altarista (Day of the Dead altar maker)
  • Barbara Lynn (Beaumont, TX)—R&B musician
  • Don & Cindy Roy (Gorham, ME)—Franco-American musicians
  • Ethel Raim (New York, NY)—traditional music and dance advocate

In addition to their artistic value, each of the Heritage Fellows’ art forms also reflects the community they come from and the history of the tradition, whether it’s a material art form such as Manuel’s iconic suits and the patterns of Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim’s embroidery or a musical art form like Don and Cindy Roy’s Franco-American music.

“The 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellows have dedicated their lives to mastering these distinctive art forms and sharing them with new audiences both within their communities and nationwide,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts. “We look forward to celebrating them and their incredible artistic accomplishments this fall.”

 

Royalty Exchange Expands To Nashville

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Nick Terzo

Royalty Exchange, an online marketplace for royalties, has expanded its presence with a satellite location in Nashville.

Leading the Nashville office is Royalty Exchange VP of Strategic Development Nick Terzo, who has relocated from the company’s Denver, Colorado, headquarters to establish the new division. Terzo has held roles at such labels as Maverick Records, Columbia Records, and Hollywood Records, in addition to starting his career at ASCAP.

Also relocating to Nashville is Artist Relations Manager Clayton Dickson, while Nashville resident Dustin Bank rounds out the team as Royalty Administration Manager.

“Nashville is the songwriter capital of the country, so we felt it only fitting to bring the financial solutions we’ve created for them directly to this community,” said Royalty Exchange CEO Matthew Smith. “Nick’s lifelong dedication to artist advocacy and lasting industry relationships make him the ideal choice to spearhead our mission in this vibrant city.”

“The craft of songwriting is essential to the continued existence of the music we all love,” said Terzo. “I’m honored to play a small part in supporting songwriters’ careers and their art through fair, meaningful financial options. I’m looking forward to working more closely with both songwriters, their representatives, and the organizations that support them.”

Chris Young Adds 15 Dates To 2018 Headlining Tour

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Chris Young has extended his Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour, adding 15 more dates through December. The shows will kick off Oct. 25 in Evansville, Indiana, with stops in Milwaukee, Detroit, Baltimore, Long Island and more before wrapping Dec. 8. Special guests Dan + Shay, Morgan Evans and Dee Jay Silver will join Young on the added dates.

At its close in December, the “Chris Young Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour” will have played 55 arena shows from coast to coast.  Tickets and VIP packages for the added dates go on sale Thursday, June 28, and American Express Card Members can purchase tickets in select markets before the general public June 26 through June 27. A limited number of exclusive VIP Packages will also be available for sale starting June 21. Various packages include premium tickets, access to a pre-show VIP Hang (includes an exclusive performance and special Q&A session), limited-edition lithographs, autographed memorabilia and much more.

A complete listing of tour dates, tickets and VIP packages can be found at ChrisYoungCountry.com.

Oct. 25 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center**
Oct. 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Entertainment & Sports Center**
Oct. 27 – Champaign, IL – State Farm Center**
Nov. 1 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens**
Nov. 2 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena++
Nov. 3 – Dayton, OH – Wright State University Nutter Center**
Nov. 8 – Norfolk, VA – Constant Convocation Center++
Nov. 9 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center**
Nov. 10 – Syracuse, NY – The Onecenter War Memorial Arena**
Nov. 29 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena**
Nov. 30 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena**
Dec. 1 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena**
Dec. 6 – Baltimore, MD – Royal Farms Arena+
Dec. 7 – Long Island, NY – NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum ~
Dec. 8 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena*+

**with Dan + Shay, Morgan Evans and Dee Jay Silver
*+ Dan + Shay and Morgan Evans
++with Morgan Evans and Dee Jay Silver
+Morgan Evans
~ support acts to be announced soon

Emmylou Harris Earns Lifetime Achievement Honor

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Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy via a star-studded TV event next month.

Harris joins native Tennessean Tina Turner, plus the British rock group Queen, the seminal New Orleans band The Meters, pop singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, vintage “jump blues” stylist Louis Jordan and renowned “Wrecking Crew” drummer Hal Blaine in being honored by the Academy. Their special will tape in Los Angeles at The Dolby Theater on Saturday, July 14.

Also in the spotlight will be this year’s Trustees Awards winners, film composer John Williams, Fillmore concert impresario Bill Graham and famed Sire Records founder Seymour Stein. In addition, the special will salute this year’s Technical Grammy recipients, recording-studio innovators/inventors Tony Agnello and Richard Factor.

The Louis Jordan and Bill Graham awards are posthumous. Collectively, the Lifetime, Trustee and Technical honors are known as the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards.

“This year’s Special Merit Awards recipients are a prestigious group of diverse and influential creators who have crafted or who have contributed to some of the most distinctive recordings in music history,” said Neil Portnow, the Academy’s President/CEO. “Their outstanding accomplishments and passion for their craft have created a timeless legacy.”

In addition to Harris, the TV special will feature appearances by Trisha Yearwood, Sammy Hagar, Ledisi, Angela Bassett, Henry Rollins, Mickey Dolenz and Herb Alpert. More performers and presenters will be announced in the weeks to come.

The show will air this fall as part of the PBS Great Performances series of specials.

Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. On Oct. 5, 2018, the museum will open a major new exhibit devoted to her career.

Ed Cash, “What A Beautiful Name,” Capitol CMG Publishing Honored At 2018 BMI Christian Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Al Andrews of Porter’s Call, Capitol CMG’s Brad O’Donnell, Songwriter of the Year Ed Cash, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Capitol CMG’s Karrie Dawley, Capitol CMG’s Jimi Williams, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry

Songwriter Ed Cash was the evening’s top winner during the 2018 BMI Christian Awards, held Tuesday evening (June 19) at the BMI offices in Nashville. The celebration feted the top 25 songs played on U.S. Christian radio during the past year, honoring the writers and publishers behind the top songs in Christian rock, contemporary Christian, inspirational, southern and urban gospel.

Cash was named Songwriter of the Year, having penned the hits “Home,” “Jesus,” and “My Victory.” Cash was also on hand to offer a performance of “Home.”

The evening was hosted by Jody Williams, VP, Creative, Nashville and Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Creative, Nashville.

“Every year the BMI Christian Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate and honor all genres of inspirational music and the impact its creators have made on the music industry and on its fans around the globe,” says Roberts. “It is always a privilege for us at BMI to dedicate an evening to the great accomplishments and successes of the talented songwriters and artists that create this incredible music that inspires, comforts, entertains, uplifts and challenges us as human beings to live more spirit-filled lives.”

Tauren Wells

Soulful singer Tauren Wells, who recently performed in Music City as part of Chris Tomlin’s Good Friday Nashville concert, offered a rendition of “Hills and Valleys,” while newcomer Riley Clemmons performed “Broken Prayers.”

The Song of the Year title went to “What a Beautiful Name” written by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood and published by Capitol CMG Paragon. The song topped Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart on February 25, 2017 and held the top position for 38 weeks, making it the second-longest-leading number one in the history of the chart. “What a Beautiful Name” has also earned two Dove Awards and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 60th annual GRAMMY Awards.

For the second consecutive year, Capitol CMG Publishing (Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, River Oaks Music Company, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song, Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music) took home the Publisher of the Year award. The company had the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, including “Home,” “Jesus,” “Living in the Promised Land,” “Love Broke Through,” “Oh My Soul,” “One Step Away,” “The Lion and the Lamb,” and “What a Beautiful Name.”

Williams also honored Porter’s Call founder and executive director Al Andrews, for his work in counseling recording artists. Porter’s Call, a Franklin, Tennessee-based organization, supports and counsels recording artists and families through various issues. BMI songwriters the Warren Brothers, Charlie Worsham, Brandon Heath and Chris Tomlin also sent in video tributes for Andrews and Porter’s Call.

Riley Clemmons

Moo TV Accepting Applications For General Manager Position

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Moo TV, the company that specializes in the hardware and operations that drive the touring video components for many of the largest and most successful tours, is seeking to fill its General Manager position.

Moo TV President Scott Scovill says, “We have an amazing team in place. We are running smooth and organized, and we aren’t looking to fix any glaring problems. Our culture is a source of great pride and we feel strongly that Moo TV is a great place to work. We had one area in particular we felt that we could improve and that is the GM spot. We look forward to seeing what new leadership in that position might bring.”

Industry veteran Craig Stahl has stepped in as the interim GM until the position is filled. The Steel Mill, CenterStaging LA, CenterStaging NY, and Moo Creative make up Moo TV’s family of companies.

Moo TV is seeking a GM with the following characteristics:

  • A history of confident leadership and autonomous operations.
  • A natural communicator that can communicate clearly and effectively up and down stream.
  • The ability to analyze financials and understand how to budget a large operation.
  • An individual that will be a great fit for a family style culture.
  • A firm understanding of the Nashville music business landscape, preferably someone who is strongly networked throughout the music community.
  • Utmost integrity and absolute honesty is required.

All serious inquiries should be directed to: iwanttowork@mootv.com. The company states that all submissions will be kept confidential.

Warner Music Nashville Partners With Cody Johnson

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Cody Johnson

Warner Music Nashville has inked a partnership with rising country artist Cody Johnson. Johnson is now signed to CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville.

Johnson’s 2016 album, Gotta Be Me, landed at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. Earlier this year, he headlined the Houston Rodeo at NRG stadium in front of 60,000 fans. In 2017, Johnson sold more than 350,000 hard tickets; he launched a nationwide tour April 2018 that will continue through the summer.

Johnson has released six independent albums, with nearly 300 million on-demand streams accumulated largely in the last year and a half. The Sebastapol, Texas, native started gaining traction in country music following a string of jobs ranging from amateur bull riding to working at the local prison.

Johnson is also represented by Durango Artist Management, Red 11 Music and HBPR.

 

Shooter Jennings To Release ‘Shooter’ In August

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Low Country Sound and Elektra Records will release the upcoming self-titled album from Shooter Jennings on Aug. 10. Shooter was produced by Jennings’ longtime friend and collaborator, Low Country Sound founder Dave Cobb at RCA Studio A on Nashville’s Music Row.

Jennings worked with several writers on the album, including Cobb, Faren Miller, and Aaron Ratiere.

Shooter Track Listing:
1. Bound Ta Git Down (Jennings)
2. Do You Love Texas? (Jennings/Dave Cobb)
3. Living In A Minor Key (Jennings/Faren Miller)
4. D.R.U.N.K. (Jennings/Aaron Ratiere)
5. Shades & Hues (Jennings)
6. I’m Wild & My Woman is Crazy (Jennings/Aaron Ratiere/Powell/Cobb)
7. Fast Horses & Good Hideouts (Jennings/Quaid/Cobb)
8. Rhinestone Eyes (Jennings)
9. Denim & Diamonds (Jennings/Dave Cobb)

 

The Valory Music Co. Adds Christy DiNapoli

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Christy DiNapoli has been named Southwest Director of Promotion & Marketing for The Valory Music Co. DiNapoli will be promoting the imprint’s roster including Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Tyler Rich and Delta Rae.

DiNapoli’s past stints have included Warner Bros. Records and MTM Music Group. He has worked with artist management teams on an array of clients including Little Texas and Walker Hayes. DiNapoli has also served on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Country Music, Nashville Orchestra and Young Leaders Council.

DiNapoli will report to The Valory Music Co. GM George Briner and can be reached at 615-651-8720 and christy.dinapoli@valorymail.com.

 

 

Submissions For CMA Broadcast Awards Close June 30

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Eligible members of the Country Music Association can now submit applications online for the 2018 CMA Broadcast Awards for Broadcast Personality, Station and National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

The deadline for submissions is Saturday, June 30 at 6 p.m. CT.

To submit an entry, CMA member radio stations and broadcast personalities in the U.S. and Canada can log on to broadcast.CMAawards.com, where guidelines and instructions for entries are posted.

CMA Broadcast Awards are presented for Personality and Station of the Year in four categories that are determined by market size (major, large, medium, and small), as well as CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year. All CMA Broadcast Awards entries must reflect performances and events between June 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018. CMA’s panel of judges, which includes distinguished radio and industry professionals, will view and evaluate each entry.

CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be notified in early October and recognized at The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, which will be held in November in Nashville. The annual, three-hour awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the ABC Television Network.

Nominees and winners for the 2018 CMA Broadcast Awards and The 52nd Annual CMA Awards are determined by more than 7,400 professional members of CMA.

The first ballot and instructions for The 52nd Annual CMA Awards will be emailed Monday, July 2 to CMA members in good standing who are eligible to vote. Voting for the first ballot closes Thursday, July 12 (6:00 PM/CT). The second ballot will be emailed to CMA members Monday, Aug. 6. Voting for the second ballot closes Thursday, Aug. 16 (6:00 PM/CT). The final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer.

Winners of The 52nd Annual CMA Awards will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Monday, Oct. 1.

Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 23 (6:00 PM/CT). All balloting is tabulated by the professional services firm Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The CMA Awards eligibility period is July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.