RCA Studio A Celebrates Return To 1960s-Era Glory

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Credit: PLA Media

A celebration was held Tuesday night (Nov. 7) to mark the completion of the renovation of historic RCA Studio A. Mayor Megan Barry, proprietors of the studio, BR549’s Chuck Mead and the Music Row community gathered for the official lighting ceremony of the replica signage featuring the iconic RCA dog “Nipper” and his Victrola phonograph. This completes a nearly three-year interior and exterior restoration that has returned the studio building to its 1960s-era glory.

“This is about more than returning an iconic image to Music Row,” Mayor Barry said at the celebration on the front lawn. “It’s really the culmination of the preservation and restoration of a cultural and historic landmark. Nashville is proud to be home to one of the world’s most important recording studios.”

Pictured (L-R): Mayor Barry, Will Pinkston and owners Aubrey Preston and Chuck Elcan

The dog and phonograph adorned the façade of Studio A until RCA retired the logos in 1968. Studio A obtained permission from Technicolor, which now owns the historic RCA marks, to recreate the image on the front of the building. Former Ryman Auditorium curator Brenda Colladay worked with Nashville sign maker Joslin & Son Signs to examine photos from the ‘60s and create replica signage of the dog and phonograph alongside RCA’s old lightning-bolt logo.

Three years ago, musicians and preservationists rallied around Studio A after developers announced plans to demolish the building and replace it with condos and a restaurant. Philanthropists Mike Curb, Chuck Elcan and Aubrey Preston stepped forward, purchasing the historic landmark to save it from the wrecking ball. Shortly before the 50th anniversary of Studio A in 2015, the federal government added the site to the National Register of Historic Places.

Opened in 1965, Studio A’s client list — past and present — is a Who’s Who of music stars. Past clients include country legends Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, and George Strait as well as newer artists like Hunter Hayes, Jamey Johnson, and Kacey Musgraves. Pop and rock artists who have worked at the Studio A complex include Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees, and newer artists like Sara Bareilles and Kesha.

Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton) is the Studio A producer-in-residence leading the studio into the future.

Aubrey Preston address Studio A supporters. Credit: Anthony Scarlati

Did you know? RCA’s iconic Nipper and Victrola were based on “His Master’s Voice,” a painting by 19th-Century English artist Francis Barraud depicting a terrier listening quizzically to a phonograph. The painting served as the basis for a trademark image acquired in 1899 by Gramophone and adopted by several producers of playback machines and record labels — including the Victor Talking Machine Company, which later became part of Radio Corporation of America, or RCA.

Credit: Sony Music Archives

Reba, Brooks & Dunn Add 2018 Vegas Dates

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Reba McEntire, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have announced they will return to Las Vegas in 2018 for additional shows of their hit residency, “Together in Vegas,” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Tickets for 12 new 2018 dates, scheduled March 14 – 24, and Aug. 15 – 25, will go on sale to the public Friday, Nov. 17 at noon PT.

The new 2018 dates going on sale are:
March: 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24
August: 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25

Previously announced 2017 dates on sale now with limited tickets still available are:
Nov. 29 and December: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10

Since opening in June 2015, “Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas” has paid tribute to veterans and military personnel during Brooks & Dunn’s performance of their hit “Only in America.” As an additional salute in honor of Veteran’s Day, the trio are offering a special half-price military discount on tickets to select 2018 shows purchased during the month of November. (Offer must be redeemed in-person at The Colosseum box office). Details at thecolosseum.com.

Weekly Chart Report 11/10/17

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Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour To Keep Rolling In 2018

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Alan Jackson performs on the 51st Annual CMA Awards. Photo: ABC/Image Group LA

Alan Jackson is extending his Honky Tonk Highway Tour into 2018. This announcement follows his show-ending CMA Awards performance Wednesday night (Nov. 8), celebrating his 2017 induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jackson and his band, The Strayhorns, closed out “Country Music’s Biggest Night” with back-to-back performances of “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” and “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” (the latter with hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley).

The next leg of his tour opens January 19, visiting arenas, amphitheatres, and festivals.

Jackson is again teaming up with CID Entertainment to offer fans VIP experiences at many of his 2018 shows.

Honky Tonk Highway Tour 2018

Friday, January 19 – Lexington, KY (Rupp Arena) **++
Saturday, January 20 – Little Rock, AR (Verizon Arena) ^^++
Thursday, February 8 – Independence, MO (Silverstein Eye Centers Arena) ^^
Friday, February 9 – Indianapolis, IN (Bankers Life Fieldhouse) ^^
Thursday, February 15 – San Antonio, TX (San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo) **
Friday, February 16 – Grand Prairie, TX (Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie) ^^
Friday, March 23 – Toledo, OH (Huntington Center)
Saturday, May 24 – Pittsburgh, PA (Venue TBD)
Friday, April 27 – Baltimore, MD (Royal Farms Arena)
Saturday, April 28 – Albany, NY (Times Union Center) ^^
Friday, May 4 – Tuscaloosa, AL (Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre)
Saturday, June 23 – Orange Beach, FL (The Wharf) ^^
Friday, July 27 – Central Point, OR (Country Crossing Music Festival) **
Saturday, July 28 – Mountain Home, ID (Mountain Home Country Music Festival) **
Thursday, August 16 – Vienna, VA (Wolf Trap)
Friday, August 17 – Gilford, NH (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion) ^^
Saturday, September 15 – Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center) ^^


**Date is already onsale
^^Tickets onsale Friday, November 17
++with special guest Lauren Alaina

Sony Music Nashville Artists Shine on 51st CMA Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Ken Robold, EVP/COO, Sony Music Nashville; River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs; Matthew Ramsey of RCA Nashville’s Old Dominion; RCA Nashville/Zone 4’s Kane Brown; and Randy Goodman, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville. Photo: Alan Poizner

Sony Music Nashville staff, artists and guests celebrated a successful night at the CMA Awards on Wednesday with a party at The Bell Tower in downtown Nashville.

14-time CMA Award winner Brad Paisley, marked his 10th consecutive year as co-host of the show. Lead nominee for the night, Miranda Lambert received her record-extending 7th Female Vocalist of the Year award.

The evening’s all-star performances included “The Rest of Our Life” by Arista Nashville’s Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, whose first collaborative studio album streets Nov. 17; “Heaven South” by Arista Nashville’s Paisley and RCA Nashville/Zone 4’s Kane Brown; “I Could Use a Love Song” by Columbia Nashville’s Maren Morris (also performing “Seeing Blind” with Niall Horan); “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” by RCA Nashville’s Old Dominion; and “To Learn Her” by Vanner Records/RCA Nashville’s Lambert.

Pictured (L-R): Columbia Nashville’s Maren Morris and Randy Goodman, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville. Photo: Erika Goldring Photography.

Pictured (L-R): ShopKeeper Management’s Crystal Dismon and Marion Kraft; Randy Goodman, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Vanner Records/RCA Nashville’s Miranda Lambert; Rob Stringer, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment. Photo: Alan Poizner.

Pictured (L-R): Rob Stringer, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment; RCA Record’s P!NK; Vanner Records/RCA Nashville’s Miranda Lambert; and, Randy Goodman, Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Nashville. Photo: Erika Goldring Photography.

Maverick Acquires Big Loud Management

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Management company Maverick has acquired Big Loud Management for an undisclosed sum, according to Billboard. Big Loud Management’s artists include Florida Georgia Line, Chris Lane, and Dallas Smith, as well as non-country artists Ernest K, Matt Kearney and Mackenzie Porter.

The deal does not include Big Loud’s label and publishing divisions. In 2014, Guy Oseary launched the Maverick venture with Cortez Bryant, Ron Laffitte, Adam Leber, Gee Roberson, Scott Rodger, Larry Rudolph, and Caron Veazey. Nashville management company Spalding Entertainment joined the Maverick umbrella in 2014. In Nashville, Big Loud Management and Spalding will maintain separate offices.

Among the collective’s additional clients are Britney Spears, Madonna, U2, Shania Twain, and more.

CMA Awards Win Night For ABC-TV With More Than 14 Million Viewers

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“Total Eclipse of the Garth”: Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood keep the crowd laughing with parody tunes at The 51st Annual CMA Awards.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards won the ratings race on Wednesday night, and saw an uptick from 2016.

Airing live on ABC-TV from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the show drew 14.29 million viewers, up from 12.5 million in 2016, and 13.6 million in 2015. (Last year’s event aired opposite Game 7 of a historic World Series). Among adults 18-49, the 2017 CMA awards drew a 3.2 rating, an increase from 2.9 in 2016.

Source: The Nielsen Company, posted on Zap2it.com.

CMA Awards Viewership (live and same day)

2016—12.5 million viewers
2015—13.6 million
2014—16.1 million
2013—16.8 million
2012— 13.6 million
2011—16.3 million
2010—16.45 million
2009—17.2 million
2008 —15.9 million

BMLG Celebrates CMA Awards, Welcomes Return of Sugarland

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Pictured (L-R): Back Row – Brett Young; Drake White; Midland’s Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson; Trent Harmon and Lauren Jenkins; Front Row – BMLG COO Andrew Kautz, Carly Pearce, BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta, BMLG SVP Creative Sandi Spika Borchetta, Danielle Bradbery and EVP BMLG/President BMLG Records Jimmy Harnen

Big Machine Label Group hosted its annual CMA Awards After Party in Nashville at FGL House to celebrate “Country Music’s Biggest Night” and the reunion of Sugarland.

BMLG’s Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn and Thomas Rhett were part of the awards show’s all-star opening, singing “Hold My Hand.” McEntire performed “Legends” alongside Kelsea Ballerini as well as presented Entertainer of the Year to Garth Brooks to close the show. Thomas Rhett performed his latest chart-topping single “Unforgettable.”

Brett Young presented Song of the Year to Little Big Town, who accepted on behalf of BMLG labelmate Taylor Swift for penning the band’s “Better Man.” (Swift’s highly-anticipated sixth studio album reputation will be released tomorrow).

Alongside label family, friends and industry executives BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta toasted with Big Machine Platinum Filtered Premium Vodka to the return of Sugarland, who had presented on the awards show earlier in the night. At the after-party, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush took the stage to perform smash hits including “Baby Girl” and “Stay.”

Among those in attendance were Mayor Megan Barry, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and ABC’s The Bachelorette’s Luke Pell.

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images for BMLG

Sugarland returns for an acoustic set of their smash hits.

Pictured (L-R): Carly Pearce, Drake White, Trent Harmon, Danielle Bradbery, Brett Young

Pictured (L-R): EVP BMLG/President BMLG Records Jimmy Harnen, Brett Young and BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta

 

Warner Music Nashville Celebrates 2017 With CMA After-Party

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Warner Music Nashville toasted awards season ahead of the 51st Annual CMA Awards this week with a spirited celebration surrounded by its label family, artists and management teams, gathering with WMN Chairman and CEO John Esposito to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. From Chris Janson, RaeLynn and Brett Eldredge’s No. 1 debuts on the Billboard country albums charts, to Blake Shelton, High Valley and Cole Swindell’s sold-out tour stops, the WMN family had much for which to be thankful for.

Additionally, following the 51st Annual CMA Awards, artists, staff and industry guests gathered at the George Jones Museum downtown, pictured below.

Photos by John Shearer/Getty Images for Warner Music Nashville

Pictured (L-R) Row 4: Monique Benjamin (SVP Finance), William Michael Morgan, Megan Joyce (SVP Business & Legal Affairs), Curtis Rempel (High Valley), Brad Rempel (High Valley), Matt Signore (COO), Morgan Evans, Ben Kline (SVP Global Revenue & Touring)
Row 3: Cale Dodds, Tim Foisset (VP Streaming), Frankie Ballard, Cole Swindell, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO), Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, Sophie Dawn (Walker County), Ivy Dene (Walker County)
Row 2: Shane Tarleton (SVP Artist Development), Dan Smyers (Dan + Shay), Shay Mooney (Dan + Shay), Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R), Michael Ray, Devin Dawson, Ryan Kinder, Ashley McBryde, Cris Lacy (SVP A&R)
Row 1: Tegan Marie, Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming), RaeLynn, Hunter Hayes, Bailey Bryan, Wes Vause (SVP Publicity), Randy Travis.

Pictured (L-R): Michael Ray, Curtis Rempel, Brett Eldredge, Brad Rempel, and Cale Dodds.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville John Esposito, Ashley McBryde, and Brett Eldredge

Pictured (L-R): Devin Dawson, Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville John Esposito, and Morgan Evans

Adkins Publicity Signs Tanya Tucker

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Tanya Tucker

Tanya Tucker has joined recently-launched public relations company Adkins Publicity.

Tucker is the latest in a string of signings with the company, which owner Scott Adkins launched after exiting Webster PR. Others recently added to the Adkins Publicity roster include Gene Watson, Lucas Hoge, Phil Vassar, The Bellamy Brothers, Naomi Judd and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Tucker, a CMA and ACM-winning vocalist known for hits including “Delta Dawn,” “Two Sparrows In A Hurricane,” and “A Little Too Late,” recently performed on TBN’s Huckabee, NBC’s TODAY Show and graced the cover of Closer Weekly. She also recently appeared on Inside Edition, Fox News Edge, The Insider, Lifeminute, Celebrity Page and SiriusXM.