LANCO Celebrates Gold Single With Lobster Lunch
LANCO recently celebrated their Gold-certified, two-week No. 1 hit single “Greatest Love Story” with their team at Sony Music Nashville, Red Light Management, Warner/Chappell and WME with a lobster lunch, which is the fulfillment of a promise Ben Vaughn made to Josh Easler months before “Greatest Love Story” topped the charts. The gathering also celebrated plans to release LANCO’s debut album Hallelujah Nights on Jan. 19, 2018.
Vaughn vowed Easler, a Maine native and VP of Arista Nashville’s promo team, that if the single hit No. 1, they would celebrate with lobster from his home state. As the song climbed the charts, Vaughn even went as far as sending a live lobster to Easler’s Sony Music Nashville office to further solidify his commitment. Making good on the promise, Warner Chappell and LANCO’s team at Red Light Management provided the lobster lunch, catered by Cousins Maine Lobster.
Pictured (Back row, L-R): Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Josh Easler, VP Promotion, Arista Nashville; Steve Hodges, EVP Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville; Ken Robold, EVP & COO, Sony Music Nashville; Ben Vaughn, President, Warner Chappell Nashville. Front row (L-R): Tripp Howell, Eric Steedly, Brandon Lancster, Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Becky Gardenhire – Partner, WME
Little Big Town Invites Gladys Knight To Conclude Ryman Residency
Little Big Town welcomed special guest Gladys Knight as they celebrated the final night of the group’s 2017 residency at Nashville Ryman Auditorium. Throughout the dates, the quartet welcomed a slew of special guests from all genres.
Gladys Knight with Little Big Town.
Little Big Town with Sandbox Management’s Jason Owen, Leslie Cohea and Sally Williams, Opry GM. [Click to enlarge]
Dailey & Vincent Perform At Carnegie Hall
Grand Ole Opry stars Dailey & Vincent, along with their band, returned for the third consecutive year to Carnegie Hall in New York City on Monday (Nov. 27), kicking off their Spirit of Christmas Tour with the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) performance of Appalachian Winter: A Bluegrass Christmas. They were joined by a 400-plus member choral ensemble at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage to debut “Rhapsody In Bluegrass,” by American composer Joseph Michael Martin.
Pictured (L-R): Jamie Dailey, Shaun Richardson, composer / conductor Joseph Martin, Darrin Vincent, accompanist Brad Nix, Bob Mummert, Jessie Baker, Patrick McAvinue, Buddy Hyatt, Jeff Parker, and Cory Piatt
Cumulus Files For Chapter 11
/by Jessica NicholsonCumulus Media has filed to reorganize in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with $2.4 billion in debt. The radio giant has reached an agreement with 69 percent of its term loan holders. The company’s pre-packaged restructuring agreement will reduce the company’s debt by more than $1 billion.
Cumulus expects all operations, programming and sales to continue as normal throughout the restructuring process. A release from the company notes that Cumulus has ample cash on hand, as well as funds generated from ongoing operations, to support the business during the financial restructuring.
Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media Inc., said, “Over the last two years, we have focused on implementing a business turnaround to reverse the company’s multi-year ratings, revenue and EBITDA declines, create a culture that fosters motivated and engaged employees, and build an operational foundation to support the kind of performance we believe Cumulus is capable of delivering. As we have demonstrated in many measurable ways – including increased ratings, revenue market share gains, improved employee satisfaction, reduced employee turnover and, over the last several quarters, our return to year-over-year EBITDA and revenue growth – that turnaround has not only been successful but is continuing. However, as we have noted consistently, the debt overhang left by previous years of underperformance remains a significant financial challenge that we must overcome for our operational turnaround to proceed.
“The actions we are taking today to address our balance sheet are a critical step forward for Cumulus. We will use this restructuring process to relieve the financial constraints on our continued progress, allowing us to focus our resources on investing in our business and people to strengthen our competitiveness and ultimately drive growth. We have ample cash to support our operations and service our advertisers, vendors and affiliates during this period, and we look forward to becoming an even stronger partner to all of them when we complete this important phase of our turnaround strategy.
“We appreciate the tremendous efforts of the Cumulus team throughout the business turnaround and thank our employees for continuing to be the true force driving our success.”
Bobby Bones Announces Million Dollar Show 3 Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughiHeartMedia’s Bobby Bones has announced the lineup for Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots’ Million Dollar Show 3, the annual concert to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, set for Jan. 22, 2018 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, newcomer Nikita Karmen, and other surprise guests will perform at the third annual benefit, along with Bones & The Raging Idiots, his musical comedy band composed of Bones and sidekick Producer Eddie from The Bobby Bones Show.
Tickets for the event go on sale this Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. CT at ragingidiots.com or at Ticketmaster.com. Every Million Dollar Show so far has quickly sold out, and more than six million dollars has been raised for St. Jude to date.
Bozeman Media Relocating
/by Jessica NicholsonBozeman Media, led by owner Janet Bozeman, is relocating to Phoenix, Arizona. The company’s new landline number will be 623-322-8497, though email contacts will remain the same.
Bozeman has recently worked on projects for Hannah Kerr, Centricity Music, Jordan Feliz, Derek Minor, Tim Lovelace, Steven Malcolm, Calvin Simon, and more. During her career, Bozeman has also worked at Sony Music Nashville and Sparrow Records, before becoming an indie publicist in 2000.
Danielle Bradbery Offers Musical Reintroduction During Nashville Tour Stop
/by Jessica NicholsonDanielle Bradbery is offering fans a deeper look into her own perspective and life experiences on her upcoming sophomore BMLG Records album, I Don’t Believe We’ve Met, out Dec. 1.
She performed six tracks including “Sway,” the album’s lead single, during a set at Nashville’s ONE at Cannery Row on Tuesday (Nov. 28), the first in a four-show run at the venue.
Bradbery, who co-wrote seven of the album’s 10 tracks, has offered fans early looks at tracks from the album in recent months, releasing songs including “Potential,” “Human Diary,” “Hello Summer,” and more.
Pictured (L-R): BMLG’s Allison Jones, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Bradbery, BMLG’s Jimmy Harnen and BMLG’s Matthew Hargis
Walker Hayes Celebrates Gold With “You Broke Up With Me”
/by Jessica NicholsonWalker Hayes performs during album release party in Nashville. Photo: Rachel Deeb
Ahead of the Dec. 8 release of Walker Hayes‘ debut Monument Records album, boom., the singer-songwriter celebrates the Gold certification of the album’s lead single “You Broke Up With Me,” which has accumulated more than 500,000 combined units moved.
The single was penned by Hayes, Thomas Archer and Kylie Sackley.
Hayes was surprised with a Gold plaque during his album release show Tuesday evening (Nov. 28) in Nashville.
“It is hard to describe how [a Gold record] feels,” says Hayes, “I am so grateful for the support from everyone who made this happen. I appreciate all the people who got on board with this project and this song. I’m so honored to have ‘You Broke Up With Me’ go Gold.”
Hayes, along with Caitlyn Smith, are the flagship artists following this year’s relaunch of the Monument Records label, led by co-presidents Jason Owen and Shane McAnally. The label takes the name of Fred Foster’s label, which was previously home to Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, and many of Willie Nelson’s early recordings. The original Monument opened in the 1950s and closed in 1990.
Pictured (L-R): SMACKManagement’s Michael Baum, Monument Records President Jason Owen, Walker Hayes, Monument Records SVP Marketing and Label Operations Katie McCartney, Monument Records President Shane McAnally, SMACKManagement Robert Carlton. Photo: Ford Fairchild/FOCO Creative Titles
Average Joes Entertainment Promotes Andrew Davis
/by Jessica NicholsonAndrew Davis
Average Joes Entertainment has promoted Andrew Davis to Manager, Marketing/Artist Management. Davis will also oversee e-commerce for the company and the relaunch of Average Joes Superstore.
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Music Business/Entrepreneurship, Davis was previously marketing coordinator for the company.
“Customers can now order custom products and take advantage of exclusive deals and hot new designs available only through the Superstore,” said Davis. “Our ‘On Demand’ product offerings allow our artists to be as creative as possible and have the ability to offer an array of products to their fans thereby expanding and enhancing brand awareness. One of our clients, Colt Ford, took to social media with four t-shirt designs, fans picked their favorites and we launched the top-voted shirt the next day.”
In order to service varied customer preferences, multiple payment options have been enabled including Amazon Pay and Apple Pay. Brands represented through the Average Joes Superstore include Average Joes Entertainment, AVJ Records, Backroad Records, Buck You, Mega Truck Series, Slinger Apparel, Average Joes Comic Series and more.
Troy Cartwright Becomes BMI Affiliate
/by Lorie HollabaughTroy Cartwright with BMI’s Bradley Collins
Troy Cartwright recently visited BMI’s Nashville office to affiliate as a BMI songwriter. The young Dallas native signed with Sunfire Entertainment in 2015, released a critically acclaimed debut album, and cracked the top 25 on the Texas Music Chart. He has shared bills on the road with Hayes Carll, Randy Rogers, Turnpike Troubadours, Green River Ordinance, and more.
Cartwright is currently working on new music for 2018.
In Pictures: LANCO, Little Big Town, Dailey & Vincent
/by Jessica NicholsonLANCO Celebrates Gold Single With Lobster Lunch
LANCO recently celebrated their Gold-certified, two-week No. 1 hit single “Greatest Love Story” with their team at Sony Music Nashville, Red Light Management, Warner/Chappell and WME with a lobster lunch, which is the fulfillment of a promise Ben Vaughn made to Josh Easler months before “Greatest Love Story” topped the charts. The gathering also celebrated plans to release LANCO’s debut album Hallelujah Nights on Jan. 19, 2018.
Vaughn vowed Easler, a Maine native and VP of Arista Nashville’s promo team, that if the single hit No. 1, they would celebrate with lobster from his home state. As the song climbed the charts, Vaughn even went as far as sending a live lobster to Easler’s Sony Music Nashville office to further solidify his commitment. Making good on the promise, Warner Chappell and LANCO’s team at Red Light Management provided the lobster lunch, catered by Cousins Maine Lobster.
Pictured (Back row, L-R): Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Josh Easler, VP Promotion, Arista Nashville; Steve Hodges, EVP Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville; Ken Robold, EVP & COO, Sony Music Nashville; Ben Vaughn, President, Warner Chappell Nashville. Front row (L-R): Tripp Howell, Eric Steedly, Brandon Lancster, Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Becky Gardenhire – Partner, WME
Little Big Town Invites Gladys Knight To Conclude Ryman Residency
Little Big Town welcomed special guest Gladys Knight as they celebrated the final night of the group’s 2017 residency at Nashville Ryman Auditorium. Throughout the dates, the quartet welcomed a slew of special guests from all genres.
Gladys Knight with Little Big Town.
Little Big Town with Sandbox Management’s Jason Owen, Leslie Cohea and Sally Williams, Opry GM. [Click to enlarge]
Dailey & Vincent Perform At Carnegie Hall
Grand Ole Opry stars Dailey & Vincent, along with their band, returned for the third consecutive year to Carnegie Hall in New York City on Monday (Nov. 27), kicking off their Spirit of Christmas Tour with the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) performance of Appalachian Winter: A Bluegrass Christmas. They were joined by a 400-plus member choral ensemble at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage to debut “Rhapsody In Bluegrass,” by American composer Joseph Michael Martin.
Pictured (L-R): Jamie Dailey, Shaun Richardson, composer / conductor Joseph Martin, Darrin Vincent, accompanist Brad Nix, Bob Mummert, Jessie Baker, Patrick McAvinue, Buddy Hyatt, Jeff Parker, and Cory Piatt
Fisk University To Become All-Steinway School
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“This is only the beginning,” said Philip Autry, D.M.A., music discipline coordinator. “Becoming an All-Steinway School will ensure that Fisk is positioned to recruit the best young musical talent. Our students and faculty will have access to the best instruments to achieve their technical and artistic goals.”
The All-Steinway School initiative is a two-million dollar effort to replace older teaching instruments and concert grands with state-of the-art, Steinway grand pianos of the appropriate size. The initiative will include an endowment to pay for future maintenance and growth while providing music scholarships for deserving students. Several Tennessee universities have transitioned into All-Steinway Schools, including Belmont University and Lipscomb University.
The Johnny Cash Museum Teams With Clothier Manuel For New Exhibit
/by Jessica NicholsonManuel with Johnny Cash. Photo: Manuel American Designs
The Johnny Cash Museum will celebrate what would have been Cash’s 86th birthday with a new exhibition opening on Feb. 26, 2018. “The Man in Black: The Style of Johnny Cash, Curated by Manuel” will feature costumes, measurements, materials and designs that branded the entertainer’s legendary image.
“Johnny Cash made wearing black a fashion statement,” says Icon Entertainment Group President Bill Miller. “Through the years, he had a number of custom designers create his stage wear, but his favorite was Manuel, who dressed him through the end of his career. We’re excited to exhibit costumes from a number of designers with commentary by Manuel. Visitors to the exhibit will also be able to take a peek into Manuel’s Johnny Cash client files.”
“I am very excited to be a part of, once again, the legacy of one of the most iconic country music musicians in my lifetime,” says Manuel of Cash. “I am so happy to be partnering with Bill and Shannon Miller to curate this exhibition for the Johnny Cash Museum. I think we are going to have fun, like crazy!”
“The Man in Black: The Style of Johnny Cash, Curated by Manuel” will remain on exhibition for 18 months. Since opening its doors in April 2013, The Johnny Cash Museum has expanded twice adding a café and additional exhibition space. The latest wing of exhibits profile “Walk the Line,” The Carter Family and Cash Covers in addition to green screen technologies that enable fans to get a picture with Cash.