Pictured (L-R): 2017 Class of Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees: Mel Owens, Charlie Ochs, Todd Harding (The Good Morning Guys), Susan Moore (The Good Morning Guys), Brian Gary (The Good Morning Guys), Tim Closson, and Jim Mantel. Photo: Angelea Presti
The elite of country music’s radio industry gathered on Wednesday (June 21) to celebrate the induction of the Country Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.
This year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees included Tim Closson, the late Joe Wade Formicola, Mel Owens, Jim Mantel, Charlie Ochs, the late Linda Lee, and Good Morning Guys’ Susan Moore, Brian Gary, and Todd Harding. Each nominee for induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame must have at least 20 years experience in radio, with 15 of those being in the country genre.
Country Radio Broadcasters Board Vice President and All Access Country Editor R.J. Curtis welcomed guests to the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“It validates their career and life’s work,” he said of the honor’s impact on honorees. “It’s better than giving away a car or $10,000.”
UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, who was the first label head to serve on the Board of the Country Radio Broadcasters, was honored with with the President’s Award. He is the third active board member to receive the President’s Award in the 20-year history.
Dungan recalled the impact of country radio, and especially the Country Radio Seminar on artists’ careers, detailing how an early performance from Keith Urban at Country Radio Seminar launched a career filled with numerous chart toppers, including his most recent, “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Martina McBride was honored with the Career Achievement Award, commemorating a career that includes six No. 1 hits, 14 Grammy nominations and nearly 20 million albums sold.
McBride thanked numerous radio programmers and label promoters who have been part of her career from the beginning. She also thanked former label head Joe Galante for his long-term support of her career.
“One time he came to see a show, and he commented that all my songs really sound and feel like me,” she said. “I was never told what I could or could not record and was immensely supported by Joe Galante.
“I wanted to have songs on the radio and I wanted to have songs that mattered, and you allowed me to do both,” she concluded.
Music industry executive and former chairman of Sony Music Nashville Joe Galante presented Martina McBride with the 2017 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award.
Photo: Angelea Presti
Each of the honorees and/or the colleagues and family members honoring them mentioned highlights and funny tales from their lengthy careers in radio.
The late Joe Formicola son Joseph recalled how Formicola made an on-air plea to large businesses in Detroit, asking for a $10,000 check from the community to benefit cancer research. Within moments of making that on-air plea, a check had been delivered to the radio station.
Mac Daniels introduced Charlie Ochs, and recalled how when Ochs was on-air in the Washington, D.C. area, then-President George H.W. Bush’s security detail would call and request recordings of Charlie’s on-air work for Bush to listen to when he traveled outside of the Washington area.
Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, Mike Dungan, was recognized as the recipient of the 2017 CRB President’s Award. Photo: Angelea Presti
Kid Rock made a special appearance to honor Linda Lee, who recently died after a battle with cancer. “We were a tight community and I became friends with Linda,” he said. “She was happy as hell all the time. I was in touch with her throughout her battle. I knew she was a fan of me, but I was a fan of hers.”
The Good Morning Guys’ Bryan Gary ended the evening a fiery, impassioned acceptance speech.
“Every one of us in this room is in the coolest damn industry. We set the mood for the day for listeners. We play music and talk about things. I want to give [listeners] something they haven’t had. It’s because of country music that we have a door to the listeners.”
Black River Publishing’s Dave Pacula Promoted To VP
/by Jessica NicholsonDave Pacula
Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr announced the promotion of Dave Pacula from Creative Director to Vice President of Black River Publishing.
“Black River Publishing is in good hands with Dave Pacula,” says Kerr. “His dedication to our Black River family and to the art of songwriting is refreshing! The team of writers and staff that he has continued to assemble is truly incredible. I can’t wait to see where all of this leads!”
Excited about the work ahead, Pacula added, “This promotion is a true honor. I’m very grateful to Gordon Kerr and the whole Black River family for the opportunity to work alongside some of the most talented and innovative songwriters and executives in the industry.”
Nearing three years with Black River Entertainment, the New York native is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has an audio technology diploma from SAE Institute of Technology. Previous posts include five years at Universal Music Publishing Group as Creative Manager and most recently serving as the Creative Director at Ten Ten Music Group.
Reporting to Gordon Kerr, Pacula can be reached at dpacula@blackriverent.com or by phone at 615-780-3070 x 6218.
FBMM Names Marty Craighead Office Manager, Adds Account Assistants
/by Sarah SkatesCraighead, a Nashville native, joins FBMM after spending five years as an executive assistant at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. She has also worked as an executive assistant at ASCAP and as a manager of administrative services at Universal Records South. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in political science. She is a member of SOURCE and founding member and former board member of the Nashville Association of Professional Recording Services.
Tim Tighe, a native of Columbus, Ohio, previously worked as an executive talent producer at Variety Award Television and as the sales and marketing director at L.A. Exposures. He is a 2010 graduate of Ohio University with a BSS degree in music business.
Jason Lorenzon, a native of Spotswood, N.J., graduated this spring from Belmont University with a degree in business with an emphasis in accounting. Prior to joining FBMM, he completed internships with Faulkner, Mackie & Cochran, P.C., and Capstone Business Advisors. He also worked as an accounting consultant for Burning River Booking. During his time at Belmont, he served as VP of professional services for Belmont’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi.
“Marty, Jason and Tim are great additions to our team,” said Jamie Cheek, president of FBMM. “They each bring valuable skills and experience that will translate into excellent work for our clients and company.”
[Update]: Arrangements For Nashville Music Industry Executive Bob Heatherly
/by Lorie HollabaughA celebration of life for late industry executive Bob Heatherly will be held in Nashville on Monday, July 17 at 4:00 pm at Green Door Gourmet’s Grand Barn (7007 River Road Pk).
Burial will take place in Arkansas, with arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home in Newport, Ark. Visitation will be at the funeral home Friday, June 23, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Graveside services are 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24 at Remmel-McCall Cemetery. Details here.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the T.J. Martell Foundation, 1114 17th Ave. S., Suite 101, Nashville, TN, 37212.
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Beloved longtime Nashville industry executive Bob Heatherly has passed away. The well-known industry personality spent years working at various labels in town including positions at Columbia Records and as VP/Sales & Promotion at Atlantic Records prior to joining country legend Charley Pride in launching Music City Records. Prior to retiring, Heatherly served as President and CEO of the indie label.
Heatherly is survived by his wife Laura and could often be found by her side as she worked tirelessly on behalf of the T.J. Martell Foundation in its efforts to discover groundbreaking cancer research and patient treatments. The Newport, Arkansas, native called Nashville his home for over 40 years, and a celebration of life service will be held in Nashville at a later date which will be announced. A family service is being held at Jackson Funeral Home in Arkansas.
Michael Sloane To Head Strategy For VIP Ticketing And Meet-And-Greet Agency Wonderful Union
/by Eric T. ParkerMichael Sloane
Michael Sloane, formerly of Hill Entertainment Group and Big Machine Label Group, has moved to Wonderful Union to oversee business strategy and organization at the agency.
Wonderful Union is a global fan engagement agency which handles VIP ticketing initiatives, exclusive meet-and-greets, design and development and other events for Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Lady Antebellum, Backstreet Boys and more.
Sloane will manage the multi-tiered agency’s mergers & acquisitions, operations, partnerships & sponsorships and sales, allowing the company to continue growing domestically and overseas. Wonderful Union has fully-staffed offices in Hamburg, Los Angeles, Nashville, Tokyo, and Toronto.
“I’ve worked closely with Eddie [Meehan] and Wonderful Union in other capacities throughout my career and have been amazed by their continued innovation and expansion of services in an ever changing marketplace,” says Sloane. “I am thrilled to be a part of the team and look forward to helping the company continue to grow and expand while continuing the high quality service clients have come to expect from Wonderful Union.”
Meehan adds “We are very excited to welcome Michael to the Wonderful Union team. He’s one of the best digital strategists in the industry and his capabilities will undoubtedly be a great resource for our employees and clients worldwide.”
Alex Williams’ Big Machine Debut Set For August Release
/by Lorie HollabaughThe project was produced by Julian Raymond, recorded live, and tracked in just two days. That kind of take-no-prisoners, throttle-up intensity sets the tone for the project, which is colored throughout by Williams’ fierce independent streak.
“It seems like there’s a lot of people out there just trying to get through the day,” reflects Williams. “They’re working a job they don’t love or following somebody else’s dreams just because it’s safe and it keeps them comfortable. I didn’t want to be like that.”
BETTER THAN MYSELF Track List:
1. “Better Than Myself” | Alex Williams, Greg Becker
2. “Hellbent Hallelujah” | Alex Williams, Neal Coty, Jimmy Melton
3. “More Than Survival” | Alex Williams, Marshall Altman
4. “Freak Flag” | Alex Williams, Marshall Altman
5. “Week Without A Drink” | Alex Williams, Brandon Kinney, Jimmy Yeary
6. “A Little Too Stoned” | Alex Williams, Greg Becker
7. “Old Tattoo” | Alex Williams
8. “Strange Days” | Alex Williams, Marshall Altman
9. “Pay No Mind” | Alex Williams, Greg Becker
10. “Can’t Get Enough Of You” | Alex Williams, Marshall Altman
11. “Few Short Miles (Bobby’s Song)” | Alex Williams
12. “Last Cross” | Alex Williams, Greg Becker
Country Radio Hall Of Fame Inducts Class Of 2017
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): 2017 Class of Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees: Mel Owens, Charlie Ochs, Todd Harding (The Good Morning Guys), Susan Moore (The Good Morning Guys), Brian Gary (The Good Morning Guys), Tim Closson, and Jim Mantel. Photo: Angelea Presti
The elite of country music’s radio industry gathered on Wednesday (June 21) to celebrate the induction of the Country Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.
This year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees included Tim Closson, the late Joe Wade Formicola, Mel Owens, Jim Mantel, Charlie Ochs, the late Linda Lee, and Good Morning Guys’ Susan Moore, Brian Gary, and Todd Harding. Each nominee for induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame must have at least 20 years experience in radio, with 15 of those being in the country genre.
Country Radio Broadcasters Board Vice President and All Access Country Editor R.J. Curtis welcomed guests to the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“It validates their career and life’s work,” he said of the honor’s impact on honorees. “It’s better than giving away a car or $10,000.”
UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, who was the first label head to serve on the Board of the Country Radio Broadcasters, was honored with with the President’s Award. He is the third active board member to receive the President’s Award in the 20-year history.
Dungan recalled the impact of country radio, and especially the Country Radio Seminar on artists’ careers, detailing how an early performance from Keith Urban at Country Radio Seminar launched a career filled with numerous chart toppers, including his most recent, “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Martina McBride was honored with the Career Achievement Award, commemorating a career that includes six No. 1 hits, 14 Grammy nominations and nearly 20 million albums sold.
McBride thanked numerous radio programmers and label promoters who have been part of her career from the beginning. She also thanked former label head Joe Galante for his long-term support of her career.
“One time he came to see a show, and he commented that all my songs really sound and feel like me,” she said. “I was never told what I could or could not record and was immensely supported by Joe Galante.
“I wanted to have songs on the radio and I wanted to have songs that mattered, and you allowed me to do both,” she concluded.
Music industry executive and former chairman of Sony Music Nashville Joe Galante presented Martina McBride with the 2017 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award.
Photo: Angelea Presti
Each of the honorees and/or the colleagues and family members honoring them mentioned highlights and funny tales from their lengthy careers in radio.
The late Joe Formicola son Joseph recalled how Formicola made an on-air plea to large businesses in Detroit, asking for a $10,000 check from the community to benefit cancer research. Within moments of making that on-air plea, a check had been delivered to the radio station.
Mac Daniels introduced Charlie Ochs, and recalled how when Ochs was on-air in the Washington, D.C. area, then-President George H.W. Bush’s security detail would call and request recordings of Charlie’s on-air work for Bush to listen to when he traveled outside of the Washington area.
Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, Mike Dungan, was recognized as the recipient of the 2017 CRB President’s Award. Photo: Angelea Presti
Kid Rock made a special appearance to honor Linda Lee, who recently died after a battle with cancer. “We were a tight community and I became friends with Linda,” he said. “She was happy as hell all the time. I was in touch with her throughout her battle. I knew she was a fan of me, but I was a fan of hers.”
The Good Morning Guys’ Bryan Gary ended the evening a fiery, impassioned acceptance speech.
“Every one of us in this room is in the coolest damn industry. We set the mood for the day for listeners. We play music and talk about things. I want to give [listeners] something they haven’t had. It’s because of country music that we have a door to the listeners.”
Cage The Elephant To Release ‘Unpeeled’ On July 28
/by Jessica NicholsonThe album’s generous 21 tracks feature 18 curated songs from past albums, in addition to three reimagined versions of other existing songs.
“Many times you’re adding sonic layers looking for something to hide behind, and what you don’t realize is that that vulnerability and that nakedness might be the most compelling and interesting thing about the song,” said the band’s Matt Shultz.
The band released the video for “Whole Wide World,” which was originally penned and performed by Wreckless Eric. The track was reimagined during Cage The Elephant’s hometown concert at the Ryman Auditorium.
Cage The Elephant, which originally hails from Kentucky, includes singer Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, drummer Jared Champion, bassist Daniel Tichenor, lead guitarist Nick Bockrath and Matthan Minster on keyboard and backing vocals.
Unpeeled Track Listing
01 Cry Baby
02 Whole Wide World
03 Sweetie Little Jean
04 Spiderhead
05 Take It Or Leave It
06 Too Late To Say Goodbye
07 Punchin’ Bag
08 Shake Me Down
09 Telescope
10 Instant Crush
11 Trouble
12 Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked
13 Rubber Ball
14 Aberdeen
15 Golden Brown
16 Cold Cold Cold
17 How Are You True
18 Come A Little Closer
19 Back Against The Wall
20 Cigarette Daydreams
21 Right Before My Eyes
Americana Music Association Announces Lifetime Achievement Honorees
/by Lorie HollabaughRobert Cray will receive the AMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance. Cray has been bridging the lines between blues, soul and R&B for over four decades and has five Grammy wins. After bursting onto the scene as band leader for the Robert Cray Band in 1974, he and his band became responsible for bringing the timeless soul sound of their mentors John Lee Hooker, Etta James and Albert Collins to a younger audience. Throughout his career, he has performed with Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, BB King, Bonnie Raitt and the late Chuck Berry, among others.
The Hi Rhythm section will receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. During the ’70s, they served as the late producer Willie Mitchell’s secret weapon for his vision of Memphis soul, providing their incomparable musicianship for hit Hi Records albums by artists like Al Green and Ann Peebles at the historic Royal Studios in Memphis, Tenn. Originally formed in the late ’60s, members include the late Mabon “Teenie” Hodges (guitar), Rev. Charles Hodges (organ), LeRoy “Flick” Hodges (bass), Howard Grimes (drums), the late Al Jackson, Jr. (drums) and Archie “Hubbie” Turner (keyboard).
Iris DeMent is receiving the Americana Association’s 2017 Trailblazer Awar
Graham Nash is the recipient of the Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award, co-presented by the First Amendment Center. A two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee for his roles as a member of the Hollies and supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (and later Young), the Grammy award-winning singer’s passionate voice continues to be heard in support of peace and social and environmental justice. The No Nukes/Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) concerts he organized with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in 1979 remain seminal benefit events. In 2011, Nash was instrumental in bringing MUSE back to the forefront with a concert to benefit Japan disaster relief and groups promoting non-nuclear energy worldwide.
HighTone Records founders Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg are the recipients of the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive. In the mid-’80s, they bonded over their wide-ranging roots music tastes and sought out an opportunity to create a label home for the melting pot of influences that is now Americana music. For 25 years, HighTone Records produced 300 album releases and a number of landmark projects including the release of the first and longest running #1 Americana Radio Airplay album, Tulare Dust: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard, and even a Grammy award for Dale Alvin’s King of California.
The Americana Honors & Awards Show will take place at the Ryman Auditorium on September 13. Tickets for the 16th annual Americana Honors & Awards are made available for purchase with an AMERICANAFEST conference registration, which can be purchased here.
DisClaimer: Eli Young Band Heads To Never Land, Heidi Raye Lands DisCovery Award
/by Robert K OermannPhoto Credit: Joseph Llanes
Summer officially started on Wednesday, and country music is ready.
Unleashing sounds tailored to the season this week are Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert and Granger Smith.
Another summer-sounding song earns our Disc of the Day award. It’s the gorgeous, top-down celebration “Never Land” by the Eli Young Band.
The DisCovery Award this week goes to a personable singer named Heidi Raye. I’m confident that we’ll be hearing much more from her.
JOSH TURNER/All About You
Writer: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– This has a nice, funky sound that’s a really attractive change of pace for this artist. The bright, lively tempo is just right for summer listening.
LITTLE BIG TOWN/when Someone Stops Loving You
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Chase McGill/Lori McKenna; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: None listed
– Jimi’s torrid tenor is one of the most underrated vocal instruments in contemporary country music. He blazes brilliantly throughout this bonfire heartache ballad performance.
KENNY CHESNEY/All The Pretty Girls
Writers: Nicole Galyon/Tommy Lee James/Josh Osborne; Producer: Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/A Girl Named Charlie/BMG Platinum/SWMBMGBMI/Once in a Blue Tune/Anderson Fork in the Road/Smackville/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP
– Toss beach balls on the sand while this bouncer blasts from a boombox.
LINDSAY ELL/Waiting On You
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publishers: None listed
– Well sung and produced with clarity and exquisite taste. Eminently programmable. She’s been in the news this week because a radio station punished her for dating a perceived competitor, Bobby Bones. Just listen to the music, folks.
MIRANDA LAMBERT/Pink Sunglasses
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Luke Dick/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf & Eric Masse; Publishers: Round Hill Works/Big Loud Proud Crowd/Farm Town/Sony-ATV Tree/Little Loudere/Emileon/HappyGoWrucke/Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse, BMI
–Embarrassing piffle.
HEIDI RAYE/Worth a Shot
Writers: Heidi Raye/Justin Ebach; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– Quite promising. This nifty little “attitude” ditty is sung with chuckling, winking, pert personality. The “shot,” you see, is whiskey.
TYLER FARR/I Should Go to Church Sometime
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– It’s certainly an interesting premise for a song. But since it never really resolves itself after he works himself into a lather, it is ultimately rather unsatisfying.
ELI YOUNG BAND/Never Land
Writers: Mike Eli/James Young/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Ross Copperman & Jeremy Stover; Publisher: Small Town Kid/Young James Young/NYAC/EMI Blackwood/Rezolant/EMI April/Sony-ATV, BMI
– The group returns strongly to form with this wooshing rush of a performance. The production is stunning. The melody is addictive. The mood is inspiring. Turn it up and play it again.
CHARLEY PRIDE/Music in My Heart
Writers: Country Johnny Mathis; Producer: Billy Yates; Publisher: Avid Group, BMI
– The title tune of Pride’s first new album in more than six years is a toe tapper that is as country as grits. Twang that steel.
GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– This master showman stages another bid for chart success with this mid-tempo reflection on sudden romance. The echoey atmosphere in the arrangement gives his vocal extra impact.
Adam Doleac Releases Self-Titled EP, Named SiriusXM Highway Find
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry artist and songwriter Adam Doleac recently released a self-titled EP via 287 Records on June 16.
The Hattiesburg, Mississippi native co-wrote all six tracks on the album, including “Whiskey’s Fine.” Lindsay Rimes, Taylor Phillips, Tom Douglas, and Jon Nite are a few of the songwriting heavyweights who contributed to the project.
Doleac, a former college baseball player, moved to Nashville in 2010. He is signed with 287 Entertainment for management, Sony/ATV for publishing and with WME for booking. He was recently named as a SiriusXM Highway Find artist, and debuted the song on-air with host Storme Warren.
“Being selected as the latest Highway Find artist is a huge honor for me, as it has been the launch pad for so many successful artists. Also, my mom has been asking me when I was going to be chosen as a Highway Find, so I know that she is thrilled,” Doleac said. “To finally be releasing new music is exciting. It’s nice to be able to hand someone a CD and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve been up to for the last couple of years.’ As a songwriter, it is always great to have cuts from other artists – but now I get the chance to put out music that tells my story as a songwriter and my vision as an artist.”
Adam Doleac Track List
“Bigger Than Us” (Adam Doleac / Lindsay Rimes / Michael Heeney)
“Shady” (Adam Doleac / Brock Berryhill / Taylor Phillips)
“Refill” (Adam Doleac / John Gurney / Matt Roy / Taylor Phillips)
“Everybody Needs Somebody” (Adam Doleac / Jon Nite / Tom Douglas)
“Whiskey’s Fine” (Adam Doleac / Monty Criswell)
“Some Girls” (Adam Doleac / Lindsay Rimes / Monty Criswell / Luke Sheets)