Pictured (L-R): Amber Williams, Haley Steinbuchel, Taylor Viegut
The Country Music Association has named Amber Williams as Vice President of Communications and Talent Relations; Haley Steinbuchel as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator; and Taylor Viegut as Digital Coordinator.
The following staff members have been promoted to new roles: Catherine Blackwell has been named Senior Director of Marketing, Marty Filogamo rises to Brand and Design Specialist, and Tiffany Kerns becomes Director of Community Outreach.
Williams comes to CMA from running the New York City office of PR and marketing agency Beck Media & Marketing. Prior to her work at Beck Media, Williams served as Senior Director of Artist and Media Relations for Universal Music Group in Nashville, overseeing national publicity plans and album release campaigns for seven years. Her roster included Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Reba, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood.
Before joining UMG, she worked in Los Angeles as Senior Publicist for Hallmark Channel with talent such as Bruce Dern, Bridget Fonda, Wynonna Judd, and Burt Reynolds; and in the Publicity, Promotions, and Talent Relations department at Columbia Tristar International Television/Sony Pictures, focusing on series Dawson’s Creek, Days of Our Lives, and Just Shoot Me. Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Public Relations and Communications with a minor in Advertising from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Williams will report to CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside.
“We are excited to welcome Amber’s diverse background and skillset to the CMA team,” said Whiteside. “With experience in television, music, and digital, she has an intrinsic and unique understanding of the platforms that propel CMA’s mission. She will be critical in driving the CMA Communications strategic initiatives along with current Director of Media Relations, Jay Jones.”
Before joining CMA as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, Steinbuchel worked for the M Street restaurant group in Nashville. Her background includes membership and event sales, as well as event planning and execution. At M Street, she pioneered a partnership program to broaden the organization’s community reach, which extended into a rewards program for salaried employees. She also has touring merchandise and concourse management experience.
Steinbuchel will report to CMA Director of Strategic Partnerships Emily Evans.
Viegut comes to CMA from the Social Strategy and Public Relations team at Crowd Surf in Nashville. Viegut’s background experience extends across social media and web management in e-commerce, digital communications, event marketing, analytics, and content development. A Wisconsin native, Viegut graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Strategic Communications & Communications Arts.
Veigut will report to CMA Director of Digital Strategy Meryl Johnson.
Ashley Gorley Honored During ASCAP’s “I Create Music” Expo
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Co-Head of A&R at Warner-Chappell Music Katie Vinten, ASCAP Publisher board member Jon Platt, ASCAP President Paul Williams, songwriter Ashley Gorley, ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews, and ASCAP Executive Vice President of Membership John Titta at ‘You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market’ during the 2017 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP
Writer Ashley Gorley was recognized during yesterday’s opening day (April 13) of ASCAP’s “I Create Music” Expo in L.A. with a special plaque acknowledging his milestone achievement of penning 30 No. 1 hits. Gorley performed as part of ASCAP’s Annual Membership Meeting, along with Michael McDonald, Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s, and Brett McLaughlin, and was then featured on the panel “You Should be Here: A Peek Into the Country Music Market.” Gorley’s co-panelists for the session were moderator Beth Brinker, Creative Manager/ASCAP Nashville, and songwriters Zach Crowell and Matt Jenkins.
During the panel, ASCAP President Paul Williams and Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO Jon Platt presented Gorley with the plaque recognizing his amazing slate of hits. Gorley was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2009, as well as Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year in 2013 and 2016.
Gorley also appeared on ASCAP’s “We Create Music” panel, which brought together a group of creators to discuss what binds songwriters from all genres together. Also featured on that panel, which was moderated by Melinda Newman, were Jeff Cardoni, James Fauntleroy, Sam Hollander and Dave Pirner.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Creative Manager Beth Brinker, songwriter/producer Zach Crowell, songwriter Ashley Gorley, and songwriter Matt Jenkins speak onstage at ‘You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market’ during the 2017 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Ashley Gorley, composer Jeff Cardoni, and singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy speak onstage during the 2017 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
Signings: BMI, Full Circle Music, BMG Management, Kent Wells Productions
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI Signs Jamie McLaughlin
Pictured (L-R): Jamie McLaughlin, Jody Williams of BMI
Singer/songwriter Jamie McLaughlin has joined BMI. The son of BMI songwriter Pat McLaughlin, Jamie has been busy writing and performing at Nashville venues.
Full Circle Music Signs Connect Worship
BMG Management, Kent Wells Productions Sign Taylon Hope
Taylon Hope
Eleven year-old singer-songwriter Taylon Hope recently signed a management & development deal with BMG Management & Kent Wells Productions soon after the release of her new single, “Showin’ My Roots.”
“Taylon possesses a tremendous amount of talent. It didn’t take much to convince me that this young lady is going to see an extraordinary amount of success with her career,” said BMG Management President, Jeff Riley.
“Taylon Hope is one of the most talented young artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” Wells says. “She has a bright future ahead of her.”
Almo/Irving Publishing Plans Family Reunion Show In Nashville
/by Robert K OermannMore than 20 writers who were once affiliated with Almo / Irving Music are scheduled to perform at Third & Lindsley in a “Family Reunion Show.” They include Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members such as Mike Reid, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Craig Wiseman and Pat Alger, as well as such tunesmiths as Gillian Welch, Tony Mullins, Anthony Smith, April Barrows and David Hungate.
The Nashville office of Rondor Music was established by David Conrad and Mary Del Frank Scobey in 1981. Known as Almo / Irving for its ASCAP and BMI divisions, it was a creative haven for such talents as Emmylou Harris, Paul Kennerley, Bekka Bramlett, John Anderson, Kye Fleming and the late Kent Robbins and Waylon Jennings.
“There are basically two kinds of music publishers — creative ones and banks,” observes former A&M Records chairman Jerry Moss. “Almo / Irving always sought to remain in the creative camp.”
“There was no better place to learn about songs and songwriting,” comments Darrell Franklin, who came up with the “Family Reunion” concept. “I wanted to figure out a way to that we could celebrate a company that was the foundation of so many amazing careers.”
“Being with the staff and writers and hearing some of the songs that made up the best years of my professional life is going to be a total blast,” says Conrad. Universal bought Almo / Irving and its catalog in 2000.
Proceeds from the “Family Reunion” will benefit the W.O. Smith Community Music School. Doors for Tuesday’s show will open at 6:00 p.m. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.There will be a $20 minimum donation taken at the door. Tickets can also be purchased online at 3rdandlindsley.com.
Weekly Chart Report (4/14/17)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Cumulus Media Promotes Three To Executive VP Roles
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Bob Walker, Dave Milner, Mike McVay
Cumulus Media has promoted three executives to newly-created EVP posts. Mike McVay, Senior Vice President, Content & Programming, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Content & Programming. Dave Milner, Senior Vice President, Operations, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Operations. Bob Walker, Senior Vice President, Operations has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Operations.
Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cumulus Media, said: “These promotions recognize the strong performance of these key members of our senior leadership team. Mike, Dave and Bob are terrific executives and have each been instrumental to the success we’ve achieved during the first year of executing our turnaround plan for the company.”
McVay and Walker are based in Atlanta, while Milner is based in San Francisco.
EXCLUSIVE: Song Suffragette Kalie Shorr To Perform At Rising Women On The Row
/by Eric T. ParkerKalie Shorr
Song Suffragettes member Kalie Shorr will bring her musical talents to MusicRow’s sixth annual Rising Women On The Row sold-out event on April 25.
The 2017 selected honorees previously announced are Tatum Allsep (Founder/Executive Director—Music Health Alliance), Virginia Davis (Managing Partner and Artist Manager—G Major Management), Kerri Edwards (President—KP Entertainment), Kella Farris (Business Manager—Farris, Self & Moore), Laura Hutfless (CEO and Founding Partner—FlyteVu Agency), Juli Newton-Griffith (Vice President—Magic Mustang/BMG). MusicRow has announced business manager Lou Taylor as the featured speaker.
Shorr is represented by CAA, Writerslist for publishing, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy for business management and Cassetty Entertainment for management.
The 22-year-old Portland, Maine native’s “Fight Like A Girl” became the second best-selling single by a debut country female in 2016 (behind only Maren Morris) with 35,000 singles sold and over 1.6 million Spotify streams. Shorr became a SiriusXM Highway Find, a CMT Artist Discovery and a Taste Of Country Critic’s Pick.
The singer-songwriter penned every original song on her EP, Slingshot, produced by Aaron Eshuis (Ryan Hurd). Radio Disney Country has added all five tracks from the EP into rotation. So far this year, Shorr has been named a “New Artist You Need To Know” by Rolling Stone and one of only seven Taste Of Country “RISERS” artists for 2017.
The youngest of six children, Shorr got her start on YouTube when Perez Hilton scouted her talent and tapped her as an opening act to the Backstreet Boys for his birthday party. Taking extra coursework to graduate high school, Shorr moved to Nashville and took a gig selling hot dogs and cigarettes. She became part of the first Song Suffragettes in 2014 and has performed at CMA Fest.
City National Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2017 Rising Women on the Row.
Kings Of Leon To Headline First Tennessee Park’s Inaugural Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonKings Of Leon is set to headline First Tennessee Park’s first major concert in the stadium’s history, on Sept. 29. First Tennessee Park is home to the Nashville Sounds.
Tickets for the event go on sale April 21 at 10 a.m.
“We’re very excited to bring Kings of Leon in as the first major concert event in the history of First Tennessee Park,” said Sounds General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Adam Nuse. “To bring in a renowned group back home is a thrilling way to showcase this beautiful ballpark.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to be the first act to play First Tennessee Park. It’s always special for us to play our hometown, but being the first, in such an awesome venue, is going to be something we’ll never forget,” said Kings of Leon member Jared Followill.
Last year, Kings of Leon previewed their latest album, Walls, with a performance at another Nashville venue, Ascend Amphitheater.
The show at First Tennessee Park is part of the band’s Walls tour. The second leg of the tour launches April 28 in Chula Vista, California.
MusicRowPics: MV2’s Nora Collins Offers New Tracks
/by Jessica NicholsonNewcomer Nora Collins recently performed material from her latest EP during a visit to the MusicRow offices.
In 2016, Collins signed with management company MV2 Entertainment, founded by Clay Myers and Tony Harrell, though she began working informally with Myers approximately one year before the signing.
“Clay started setting me up with people to write with and a year later, I got a formal signing offer. I signed last March and moved to Nashville last April. So I’ve been here for a year,” Collins said.
Collins began writing songs at age 14, and soon after was playing shows around her home state of Wisconsin. For the past five years, Collins has played over 200 shows each year.
After releasing several home-spun music collections, Collins released her first EP for MV2 in 2016, and co-wrote four of the EP’s five tracks. During her visit to MusicRow, she performed songs, including “Lights On A Highway,” which she co-wrote with Bart Butler and Larry McCoy.
Collins is beginning work on a new EP and will perform at the Key West Songwriters Festival in May.
Songwriter Tim Nichols Celebrates Five BMI Million-Air Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI’s David Preston and BMI songwriter Tim Nichols celebrate Tim’s Million-Air awards
Songwriter Tim Nichols stopped by BMI’s Nashville office to celebrate his impressive collection of Million-Air awards for five of his hit songs. The awards mark millions of radio spins per song, and the songs honored were “I Got The Boy,” with one million plays, “That’d Be Alright,” with two million, “Live Like You Were Dying,” with five million, “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” with three million, and “I’ll Think Of A Reason,” with three million performances.
CMA Announces Hirings, Promotions
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Amber Williams, Haley Steinbuchel, Taylor Viegut
The Country Music Association has named Amber Williams as Vice President of Communications and Talent Relations; Haley Steinbuchel as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator; and Taylor Viegut as Digital Coordinator.
The following staff members have been promoted to new roles: Catherine Blackwell has been named Senior Director of Marketing, Marty Filogamo rises to Brand and Design Specialist, and Tiffany Kerns becomes Director of Community Outreach.
Williams comes to CMA from running the New York City office of PR and marketing agency Beck Media & Marketing. Prior to her work at Beck Media, Williams served as Senior Director of Artist and Media Relations for Universal Music Group in Nashville, overseeing national publicity plans and album release campaigns for seven years. Her roster included Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Reba, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood.
Before joining UMG, she worked in Los Angeles as Senior Publicist for Hallmark Channel with talent such as Bruce Dern, Bridget Fonda, Wynonna Judd, and Burt Reynolds; and in the Publicity, Promotions, and Talent Relations department at Columbia Tristar International Television/Sony Pictures, focusing on series Dawson’s Creek, Days of Our Lives, and Just Shoot Me. Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Public Relations and Communications with a minor in Advertising from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Williams will report to CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside.
“We are excited to welcome Amber’s diverse background and skillset to the CMA team,” said Whiteside. “With experience in television, music, and digital, she has an intrinsic and unique understanding of the platforms that propel CMA’s mission. She will be critical in driving the CMA Communications strategic initiatives along with current Director of Media Relations, Jay Jones.”
Before joining CMA as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, Steinbuchel worked for the M Street restaurant group in Nashville. Her background includes membership and event sales, as well as event planning and execution. At M Street, she pioneered a partnership program to broaden the organization’s community reach, which extended into a rewards program for salaried employees. She also has touring merchandise and concourse management experience.
Steinbuchel will report to CMA Director of Strategic Partnerships Emily Evans.
Viegut comes to CMA from the Social Strategy and Public Relations team at Crowd Surf in Nashville. Viegut’s background experience extends across social media and web management in e-commerce, digital communications, event marketing, analytics, and content development. A Wisconsin native, Viegut graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Strategic Communications & Communications Arts.
Veigut will report to CMA Director of Digital Strategy Meryl Johnson.