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
Emmylou Harris Earns Lifetime Achievement Honor
/by Robert K OermannHarris 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
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (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
/by Sherod RobertsonMoo 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:
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
/by Jessica NicholsonCody 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
/by Jessica NicholsonLow 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.
The Valory Music Co. Adds Christy DiNapoli
/by Jessica NicholsonDiNapoli’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
/by Jessica NicholsonEligible 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.
Warner Music Nashville Names Brooke Hardesty As Sr. Director, Interactive Marketing
/by Jessica NicholsonBrooke Hardesty
Warner Music Nashville has promoted Brooke Hardesty to Senior Director, Interactive Marketing. Hardesty oversees a team of two and will continue reporting to Sr. VP Artist Development Shane Tarleton.
“Brooke’s creativity and innovative approach to interactive marketing has elevated our entire Artist Development team,” Tarleton says. “I am thrilled to work alongside Brooke and her staff as we march arm in arm towards the future, creating new paths to promoting our artists.”
In her six years with Warner Music Group, Hardesty has created digital experiences ranging from live event activations to social media campaigns. She has spearheaded the interactive strategy for multiple albums, in addition to fan-voted inclusions in the CMT Awards, People’s Choice Awards and ACM Awards for artists on the WMN roster. Her previous roles include radio promotion at Word Entertainment.
“Helping artists connect directly with their fans through unique, interactive experiences is one of my greatest passions,” Hardesty says. “Being a fan is what drove me to join the music industry, and it’s a privilege to connect listeners to the artists and songs they love. I am thrilled to be a part of the Warner Music Nashville family and the leader of my incredible and hardworking team. I look forward to continuing to position our artists as leaders in the genre and digital realm.”
Cody Jinks Gears Up For First Rounder Records Release In July
/by Lorie HollabaughLifers includes tracks like “Holy Water,” the confessional-feeling “Stranger,” and “Head Case,” the title track/ode to hardworking folks, “Lifers,” and the zesty two-stepper “Can’t Quit Enough.” The project is Jinks’ eighth, and follows his last release, I’m Not The Devil, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard country chart, No. 3 on the independent music chart, and Top 30 on the pop chart.
The album release will be followed by Jinks’ inaugural Loud and Heavy Fest, a multi-stage day of music, arts and food on Aug. 18 at the scenic Panther Island Pavilion along the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas, the city where he was raised. The line-up capped by Jinks and his band includes his friends and favorites Whiskey Myers, Corrosion of Conformity, Whitey Morgan, Colter Wall, Nikki Lane, The Sword, Paul Cauthen, Sunny Sweeney and Ward Davis.
Rounder Records Signs The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
/by Jessica NicholsonBluegrass group The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have inked three new partnerships, including a label deal with Rounder Records, management deal with Rainmaker Music Management, and aligning with Crossover Touring.
Their move to management with Mike Drudge at Rainmaker Music Management places them on a roster alongside Del McCoury, Hot Rize, The Travelin’ McCourys, Sierra Hull, The Gibson Brothers and The Kruger Brothers.
“Every once in a while, a band comes along that gets everyone’s attention because they are doing things right, have the perfect chemistry, and are creating a sound that resonates.” Drudge says. “The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys could very well be the salvation of struggling traditional festivals while being the ‘ambassadors of real’ to the fringe events. They are the right band, with the right team, at the right time.”
“Watching The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys play for the first time at IBMA brought a big smile to my face. It’s been that way ever since,” says Rounder co-founder Ken Irwin. “These guys love traditional bluegrass and know how to do it right with the same spirit, drive, heart and enthusiasm of the first generation bands. We’re very excited to be working with them and look forward to helping spread their love of the music to new generations of bluegrass fans.”
The band’s first single is set to release in July.