Bruce Hinton
Bruce Hinton might just be the happiest tourist in Nashville this week. On Monday night (June 6), the former chairman of MCA Nashville will be cheerfully mingling with past staffers and MCA artists at an unofficial company reunion. The following night, he’ll be celebrated as a founder of the City of Hope celebrity baseball tournament, which is marking its 26th annual game this year.
Hinton came up with the idea for the game after touring the City of Hope campus near Los Angeles in 1991. Although he had been making personal donations to the medical research organization, the visit convinced him to become even more involved. Today he’s quick to praise City of Hope’s research findings as well as their efficiency as a charitable organization.
After making a name for himself in the music industry in Los Angeles, Hinton moved to Nashville in 1984 in the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of MCA Nashville. In 1989, he was named president and then elevated to chairman in 1993. In 2002, Hinton stepped down to become Chairman Emeritus. The track record during that era is still impressive. During the 1990s, MCA Nashville was named Label of the Decade by Billboard and R&R.
These days, the 79-year-old Hinton divides his time between summers in Park City, Utah, and winters near Palm Springs, California. Yet he’s quite happy to chat over the phone about his upcoming trip to Music City.
MusicRow: How did you create the City of Hope game in Nashville?
Hinton: I was looking at what we then called Fan Fair, and I thought it was great that we had all the music. But there’s this whole country music lifestyle that’s about family and being outdoors and sports, and I thought, “What a great way to kick off Fan Fair week if we had a celebrity softball game.” It totally fits anything you’d want to think about, for the country lifestyle or the country music lifestyle. I went up and down Music Row to all the label heads and they said, “Oh sure, we’re on board.”
A little aside: I went to the general manager of the Nashville Sounds stadium and told him what I wanted to do. I said, “You can have the concessions and the parking, so it’s a good thing for the city and you’re making a profit.” He was kind of a crusty character and he said, “Well, I guess … but I’m telling you, you’ve got a loser.” I said, “What do you mean?” He had had some “names” come in and perform and he said, “I’ve tried that stuff and it just doesn’t work.”
This was back in the day and the baseball teams were WSM and WSIX, the No. 1 and No. 2 country radio stations in town. For ratings, they were so competitive. And I said, “You just watch, people will be here.” The first year, they totally ran out of concessions about halfway through! They didn’t have one Coke or one hot dog or anything left. So, I think I made my point.
Was it an easy sell for artists to get involved?
Yes, it really was. Speaking of that, who better for me to acknowledge than Vince Gill? There’s been 25 games and I want to say he’s been there for maybe 23 of them. One year I understand the President of the United States wanted to have a game of golf with him. (laughs) Priorities, priorities, what can I say?
And just over the weekend, Trisha Yearwood got back to me and she’s going to sing the national anthem. She’s one of the first people to show up and participate. Actually every superstar in the first couple of years were all there, and for many years forward. And I look at who’s been there recently, like Florida Georgia Line. I think it’s great that the new, white-hot artists are participating also.
2015 City of Hope. Photo: Bev Moser
I know Trisha Yearwood was one of your artists when you were at MCA.
Oh, I remember very well going to Douglas Corner with Tony Brown and we saw her. There was a country band that was performing that she was friends with. She worked up some of her songs with them and she just blew me away. Trisha and I have been not only business friends, but I think we’re personal friends. She’s very special.
I wanted to ask about that time in Nashville history. How would you describe the city in the 1990s?
The golden years. (laughs) We were label of the year for 10 years, and the trades called us the label of the decade. It just doesn’t get any better! You think about the artist roster that we had from Vince to George Strait and Trisha and Reba McEntire, on down the line. I look back on that and I can’t believe it. Even George Jones was on our label in his later years and I loved working with he and Nancy. Those are really precious memories.
When I was researching your career, I saw that you served on a lot of boards. That’s a big time commitment. Why was it important for you to be involved in so many organizations?
Well, each one I thought made a major contribution to Nashville. To give you an idea, when I served on the TPAC board, no one from the music industry had ever served on that board before. I remember one guy who shall remain nameless who owned a mega-corporation. On my first year on the board, he pulled me aside and said, “Just tell me, why is it that Music Row doesn’t want to participate in the community?” So, there’s your answer. I felt like we needed to be represented and not just be this enclave that’s never gone outside of Music Row.
In the 1980s and 1990s, before the internet was so prevalent, I would imagine that being on those boards would have been a good way to communicate and to know what everybody was doing.
Yeah, I think it was the best thing I could have ever done. We were very successful as a label, but at the same time, “Downtown” as we called it back then, was saying, “Hey, there really is something to this Music Row.” Back then, downtown folks looked at us as the hayseeds up there on Music Row. We didn’t get any respect! And that’s the bottom line. What you don’t know, you don’t know, and I thought they’ve got to get to know who we are and what we’re about. That was all part of it.
Owen Bradley
You moved to Nashville in 1984, right?
Yeah, that’s exactly right, and what a wonderful time to come in. Owen Bradley was still around. I put him way up on a pedestal and we had a great affinity for each other. He came from big bands and I knew everything there was to know about big bands as a high school kid. I knew every chair [of the orchestras] of Duke Ellington and Woody Herman and Stan Kenton and Count Basie. I knew every one of their names. He couldn’t quite figure out where that came from! We just got along famously, and of course, that was really neat that Owen and Chet Atkins were there. I thought so highly of those people. Anyone who starts something, kudos to them. And they started something so special that’s better than ever today.
When it comes to your legacy in the music business, how do you want to be remembered?
It’s a good question that I’ve never thought of an answer to, so I’m ad libbing here, but… you know, I was in the music industry because I was a total, total fan of the music. I figured out my junior year in college that I was never good enough to make it as a musician. It’s a long story short, but I thought, “You know, there’s a music business too.” Remember, this was before there was such a thing as [studying the music business at] Belmont. I thought, “Wait a minute, if I can find a way to get into this record thing, I’ll be working with these people that I admire so much.” That was really what it was about. I wanted to be in the music business, making a difference.
On a side note that you can pull in, it’s also important to mention that when I became president and chairman of the division, it was very important to me about what kind of culture we had. We had a culture of respect and caring and everyone pulling together for their best effort, and they were recognized as such. I am very proud of that. I look at that 10-year legacy, I’m just glad to say that I was there. Can you imagine the focus it takes to do that over a 10-year period? And they did it.
Exclusive: Bruce Hinton Reflects On City Of Hope, MCA Nashville
/by Craig_ShelburneBruce Hinton
Bruce Hinton might just be the happiest tourist in Nashville this week. On Monday night (June 6), the former chairman of MCA Nashville will be cheerfully mingling with past staffers and MCA artists at an unofficial company reunion. The following night, he’ll be celebrated as a founder of the City of Hope celebrity baseball tournament, which is marking its 26th annual game this year.
Hinton came up with the idea for the game after touring the City of Hope campus near Los Angeles in 1991. Although he had been making personal donations to the medical research organization, the visit convinced him to become even more involved. Today he’s quick to praise City of Hope’s research findings as well as their efficiency as a charitable organization.
After making a name for himself in the music industry in Los Angeles, Hinton moved to Nashville in 1984 in the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of MCA Nashville. In 1989, he was named president and then elevated to chairman in 1993. In 2002, Hinton stepped down to become Chairman Emeritus. The track record during that era is still impressive. During the 1990s, MCA Nashville was named Label of the Decade by Billboard and R&R.
These days, the 79-year-old Hinton divides his time between summers in Park City, Utah, and winters near Palm Springs, California. Yet he’s quite happy to chat over the phone about his upcoming trip to Music City.
MusicRow: How did you create the City of Hope game in Nashville?
Hinton: I was looking at what we then called Fan Fair, and I thought it was great that we had all the music. But there’s this whole country music lifestyle that’s about family and being outdoors and sports, and I thought, “What a great way to kick off Fan Fair week if we had a celebrity softball game.” It totally fits anything you’d want to think about, for the country lifestyle or the country music lifestyle. I went up and down Music Row to all the label heads and they said, “Oh sure, we’re on board.”
A little aside: I went to the general manager of the Nashville Sounds stadium and told him what I wanted to do. I said, “You can have the concessions and the parking, so it’s a good thing for the city and you’re making a profit.” He was kind of a crusty character and he said, “Well, I guess … but I’m telling you, you’ve got a loser.” I said, “What do you mean?” He had had some “names” come in and perform and he said, “I’ve tried that stuff and it just doesn’t work.”
This was back in the day and the baseball teams were WSM and WSIX, the No. 1 and No. 2 country radio stations in town. For ratings, they were so competitive. And I said, “You just watch, people will be here.” The first year, they totally ran out of concessions about halfway through! They didn’t have one Coke or one hot dog or anything left. So, I think I made my point.
Was it an easy sell for artists to get involved?
Yes, it really was. Speaking of that, who better for me to acknowledge than Vince Gill? There’s been 25 games and I want to say he’s been there for maybe 23 of them. One year I understand the President of the United States wanted to have a game of golf with him. (laughs) Priorities, priorities, what can I say?
And just over the weekend, Trisha Yearwood got back to me and she’s going to sing the national anthem. She’s one of the first people to show up and participate. Actually every superstar in the first couple of years were all there, and for many years forward. And I look at who’s been there recently, like Florida Georgia Line. I think it’s great that the new, white-hot artists are participating also.
2015 City of Hope. Photo: Bev Moser
I know Trisha Yearwood was one of your artists when you were at MCA.
Oh, I remember very well going to Douglas Corner with Tony Brown and we saw her. There was a country band that was performing that she was friends with. She worked up some of her songs with them and she just blew me away. Trisha and I have been not only business friends, but I think we’re personal friends. She’s very special.
I wanted to ask about that time in Nashville history. How would you describe the city in the 1990s?
The golden years. (laughs) We were label of the year for 10 years, and the trades called us the label of the decade. It just doesn’t get any better! You think about the artist roster that we had from Vince to George Strait and Trisha and Reba McEntire, on down the line. I look back on that and I can’t believe it. Even George Jones was on our label in his later years and I loved working with he and Nancy. Those are really precious memories.
When I was researching your career, I saw that you served on a lot of boards. That’s a big time commitment. Why was it important for you to be involved in so many organizations?
Well, each one I thought made a major contribution to Nashville. To give you an idea, when I served on the TPAC board, no one from the music industry had ever served on that board before. I remember one guy who shall remain nameless who owned a mega-corporation. On my first year on the board, he pulled me aside and said, “Just tell me, why is it that Music Row doesn’t want to participate in the community?” So, there’s your answer. I felt like we needed to be represented and not just be this enclave that’s never gone outside of Music Row.
In the 1980s and 1990s, before the internet was so prevalent, I would imagine that being on those boards would have been a good way to communicate and to know what everybody was doing.
Yeah, I think it was the best thing I could have ever done. We were very successful as a label, but at the same time, “Downtown” as we called it back then, was saying, “Hey, there really is something to this Music Row.” Back then, downtown folks looked at us as the hayseeds up there on Music Row. We didn’t get any respect! And that’s the bottom line. What you don’t know, you don’t know, and I thought they’ve got to get to know who we are and what we’re about. That was all part of it.
Owen Bradley
You moved to Nashville in 1984, right?
Yeah, that’s exactly right, and what a wonderful time to come in. Owen Bradley was still around. I put him way up on a pedestal and we had a great affinity for each other. He came from big bands and I knew everything there was to know about big bands as a high school kid. I knew every chair [of the orchestras] of Duke Ellington and Woody Herman and Stan Kenton and Count Basie. I knew every one of their names. He couldn’t quite figure out where that came from! We just got along famously, and of course, that was really neat that Owen and Chet Atkins were there. I thought so highly of those people. Anyone who starts something, kudos to them. And they started something so special that’s better than ever today.
When it comes to your legacy in the music business, how do you want to be remembered?
It’s a good question that I’ve never thought of an answer to, so I’m ad libbing here, but… you know, I was in the music industry because I was a total, total fan of the music. I figured out my junior year in college that I was never good enough to make it as a musician. It’s a long story short, but I thought, “You know, there’s a music business too.” Remember, this was before there was such a thing as [studying the music business at] Belmont. I thought, “Wait a minute, if I can find a way to get into this record thing, I’ll be working with these people that I admire so much.” That was really what it was about. I wanted to be in the music business, making a difference.
On a side note that you can pull in, it’s also important to mention that when I became president and chairman of the division, it was very important to me about what kind of culture we had. We had a culture of respect and caring and everyone pulling together for their best effort, and they were recognized as such. I am very proud of that. I look at that 10-year legacy, I’m just glad to say that I was there. Can you imagine the focus it takes to do that over a 10-year period? And they did it.
Americana Music Association, Record Store Day Launch ‘Americana Music Month’
/by Jessica NicholsonMore than 100 independent record stores are participating throughout the month providing free music samplers, special deals on new and classic Americana albums, and in-store promotions all month long. In Nashville, those stores include Grimey’s, The Groove, and Fond Object Records. Other Tennessee stores include Chattanooga’s For The Record and Knoxville’s Disc Exchange.
This event precedes the annual Americana Music Festival & Conference (AmericanaFest) which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee Sept. 20-25, 2016. More than 200 acts will perform over the course of the multi-day event. For more information and a listing of current performers for AmericanaFest 2016, visit americanamusic.org.
Industry Pics: EAMC, ACM, CMHoF
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville Music Execs Speak At Event Arena Marketing Conference
Pictured (L-R): Asha Goodman, Sacks & Co.; Lisaann Dupont, Ryman Auditorium; Tyne Parrish, The Green Room; Jake Basden, Big Machine. Photo: Steve Lowry
“Women In Live Entertainment” panel. Photo: EAMC
The speaker lineup also included a panel titled “Women In Live Entertainment,” featuring Leslie Fram (CMT), Sally Williams (Ryman Auditorium), Carolyn Snell (manager for Reba and The Shadowboxers), Angela Miles Powell (Ticketmaster) and Pam DeVille (CAJUNDOME) with moderator Tammy Koolbeck (VenuWorks). A panel also featured Steve Buchanan (Opry Entertainment Group) discussing the impact ABC Nashville had on Music City, with writer Cindy Watts.
ACM Welcomes Craig Morgan
Pictured (L-R): Tiffany Moon, ACM and Craig Morgan. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Black River Entertainment recording artist Craig Morgan to the office while he was recently in Los Angeles. While at the Academy, Morgan performed songs off his brand new album A Whole Lot More To Me, along with his current single, “I’ll Be Home Soon.”
Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Celebrates Sam Phillips With Boppin’ The Blues Concert
Pictured (Back row, L-R): Webb Wilder; Halley Phillips and son Noah Yeager; JD McPherson; Sally Wilbourn; and Sonny George, Eddie Angel, Bill Swartz and Mark D. Winchester of The Planet Rockers. (Front row, L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray and Abi Tapia, Jerry Philips, Margo Price and Micah Hulscher. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored the legacy of Sam Phillips on Saturday, May 28 with a concert in the CMA Theater. Featuring a wide range of artists inspired by the icon, the lineup included son Jerry Phillips and the Planet Rockers, Webb Wilder, Margo Price, and JD McPherson.
Boppin’ the Blues was presented in support of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit Flying Saucers Rock & Roll: The Cosmic Genius of Sam Phillips, which wraps up soon on June 12.
Warner/Chappell Music Signs Donovan Woods
/by Jessica NicholsonDonovan Woods
Warner/Chappell Music has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with songwriter/recording artist Donovan Woods. The Ontario, Canada native has released four solo projects, and has penned songs for Tim McGraw, Charles Kelley, Billy Currington, Alan Doyle and more.
“I’m really excited to join the team at Warner/Chappell Nashville,” said Donovan. “They were the first publisher I got to know when I arrived in Nashville, and they were supportive and encouraging right off the bat, so it makes sense to me that the next chapter in my work moves forward with them.”
Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Nashville, added, “We’re very happy to be a part of Donovan’s career as he continues to further expand into the Nashville market. From Tim McGraw and Charles Kelley, to the city’s top A&R, everyone is coming to understand how powerful Donovan’s songwriting is, and we can’t wait to help him take things to the next level.”
Woods has also announced a string of North American tour dates, including stops in Nashville, New York, and Toronto, in support of his latest album; Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled will be released in the U.S. this summer.
Leadership Music Welcomes 47 To Class Of 2017
/by Jessica NicholsonParticipants first attend an orientation and alumni welcome reception in September, a two-day Opening Retreat in October, followed by six all-day sessions once a month, ending in May with graduation at a two-day Closing Retreat.
“The Leadership Music Class of 2017 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of those that work within the music business,” said Diane Pearson, Senior Vice President, City National Bank who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, co-chaired the selection committee with Mike Craft, President of Leadership Music and Senior Vice President Finance, Big Machine Label Group.
“We had a record number of applications this year, and choosing 47 applicants from among those who applied is one of the most challenging tasks for the selection committee. The selection committee, composed of 28 alumni from every facet of the industry, deliberates over a four-week period, and makes every effort to choose the most balanced and diverse class possible. We all consider it a privilege to serve on this committee.”
The organization, which was founded in 1989 by 12 music industry alumni of Leadership Nashville, has graduated more than 1,100 individuals. The program creates a forum for established music industry leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry, and provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences while building lasting relationships with classmates and alumni.
Leadership Music Class of 2017:
· Whit Adamson, President, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters
· Marshall Altman, Producer/President, Galt Line Music, Inc.
· Darcy Anderson, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
· Justine Avila, Executive Director, Music City Music Council
· Rob Baker, Artist Manager, Longshot Management
· Katherine Beakes, Director, Finance, Universal Music Group Nashville
· Josh Bennett, Nashville Head, Nielsen Music
· Chris Blair, President/Owner, The Listening Room
· Amy Bryan, Director of Talent Buying Division, REACH
· Amanda Cates, Head of Marketing & Digital Strategy, Maverick Management
· Susan Chertkof, Senior VP, Business & Legal Affairs, RIAA (Washington, DC)
· RAC Clark, President, Lion’s Heart Entertainment (Los Angeles)
· Jeff Cuellar, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, AC Entertainment (Oak Park, IL)
· Melinda Drennan, Partner, Dodd, Drennan & Associates
· Josh Easler, Vice President, Promotion, Arista Records
· Emily Evans, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Country Music Association
· Jon Folk, President, Red 11 Music
· Mary Gauthier, Singer/Songwriter
· Gino Genaro, Vice President, Country Music Management, Thirty Tigers
· Asha Goodman, Vice President, Sacks & Company
· Kevin Grosch, CEO, Made In Network
· Todd Henry, Deputy Chief of Police, Metro Nashville Police Department
· Megan Joyce, Vice President/Head of Business & Legal Affairs, Warner Music Nashville
· Gary Kraen, Vice President, Operations & Programming, Tuned In Broadcasting
· Beth Laird, Co-owner, Creative Nation Music
· Jennifer Lane, Principal, The Vaden Group
· Wayne Milligan, Director, Special Services & Royalty Compliance, Tri-Star Sports & Entertainment Group
· Kevin Montler, Legal Director, Global Music, Google (San Bruno, CA)
· Jonell Mosser, Singer/Songwriter
· Jessica Myers, Director, Rights Management & Licensing, Big Machine Label Group
· Dhruv Prasad, Executive VP, Live Events, Townsquare Media (Greenwich, CT)
· Lisa Purcell, Vice President, Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
· Bob Reeves, Vice President, 1608 Promotions
· Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer Publisher Relations, BMI
· Steve “Stevo” Robertson, Senior VP, A&R, Atlantic Records
· Liz Rose, Owner, Liz Rose Songs
· Shannon Sanders, Songwriter/Producer,
· Sally Seitz, Artist & Label Relations, Apple Music/iTunes
· Barrett Sellers, Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
· Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music, EA
· Reid Shippen, Mixer/Producer/Engineer
· Matthew “Chewy “Smith, President, CID Entertainment/Blue Dot Entertainment
· Sarita Stewart, Assistant Professor of Entertainment Industry Studies, Belmont University
· Trent Summar, Songwriter
· Josh Van Valkenburg, Sr. VP, Nashville A&R, Sony ATV Music Publishing
· Bayard Walters, President, Cromwell Group, Inc.
· Kristin Wilkinson, Musician
LifeNotes: Pop/Country Stylist Floyd Robinson Passes
/by Robert K OermannFloyd Robinson
Floyd Robinson, best known for his 1959 top-20 pop hit “Makin’ Love,” has died at age 83.
Born in 1932, Robinson was a Nashville native who decided on a career in music while he was still a youngster. He formed his first band, The Eagle Rangers, and the group entertained at local teen dance parties and school functions. While he was still in high school, Robinson had his own radio shows on WLAC and WSM.
The Eagle Rangers served as the touring band for such stars as George Jones, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold and Jimmy Dickens. They also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1958, Floyd Robinson wrote the novelty song “The Little Space Girl.” It was recorded by his cousin, Jesse Lee Turner, and became a pop hit.
The following year, Chet Atkins signed Robinson to RCA Records and produced “Makin’ Love.” The song was particularly popular overseas and had cover versions recorded in French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish.
RCA released the Floyd Robinson LP in the wake of that hit, but the singer-songwriter never charted again. He continued to record teen-oriented singles for the labels Jamie, Dot, Groove and United Artists in the 1960s.
In 1973, Robinson resurfaced as the inventor of “Christian animal music.” During the next few years, he issued at least 14 LPs of children’s evangelical music.
Among the titles were Charlie the Hamster Sings the Ten Commandments, Ricky the Cricket Bible Songs, The Adventures of Bernie the Billy Goat: Songs for Sunday School, Woody Woodchuck Sings Bible Stories, Charlie the Hamster Sings Christmas Songs, Barney the Bear Sings Bible Stories and The Adventures of Finley the Fish.
In 1977, the estate of David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian) sued Robinson because his recordings supposedly sounded too much like The Chipmunks. The matter was settled out of court, and Robinson discontinued making his animal records.
In the 1990s, Floyd Robinson published two books, 1992’s instruction manual Guitar Playing Made Easy and 1994’s novel The Guitar. His teen-pop records were reissued on CD in 1994.
Floyd Robinson died on May 28. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Sherry Peacock and Donna Decker, brother William, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
All services will be private. For online condolences, please visit hendersonvillefh.com.
Nick Fradiani To Release Debut Project For Big Machine Records In August
/by Jessica NicholsonAmerican Idol season 14 winner Nick Fradiani will release his debut album, Hurricane, on Aug. 5 via Big Machine Records/19 Recordings. Fradiani is teasing the project with snippets of select tracks, posting every Friday now through Aug. 5.
He co-wrote 11 of the 12 tracks on Hurricane, including his pop/Hot AC hit “Get You Home.”
“I worked so hard on this record and couldn’t be happier to finally get it to the fans,” said the singer/songwriter. “From writing, to radio tours and recording sessions, the past year has flown by and am so excited for everyone to hear what I have been working on. I couldn’t have done this without the fans and their support has been such a driving force.”
United Record Pressing Acquires California-Based Vinyl Manufacturer
/by Jessica NicholsonBill Smith Custom Records, founded in 1980 by father and son team of Bill and Kevin Smith, has been a leading regional manufacturer of vinyl records for independent record labels and artists on the West Coast.
“I have been privileged to work with many talented artists and wonderful people for almost four decades” said Kevin Smith, president of Bill Smith Custom Records. “I have reached a transition point in my career, and I am pleased to know that our assets and customers will be in the hands of such a passionate and dedicated organization as is United Record Pressing. Their commitment to quality and service resonates with what we have always strived to deliver.”
By integrating Bill Smith Custom Records’ presses into its 24-hour-per-day operation at United’s new modern facility in Nashville, United Record Pressing expects to significantly increase production.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bill Smith Custom Records into the United Record Pressing family,” said Mark Michaels, Chairman/CEO of United Record Pressing. “Kevin and his team have done a terrific job serving their customers and caring for their equipment. We look forward to building upon that foundation.”
United Record Pressing expects to have the newly acquired presses running in Nashville by mid-July.
In Pictures: APA’s Nashville Office Relocates To One Nashville Place
/by Jessica NicholsonIn order to house its expanding staff, talent agency APA recently relocated to a spacious 14,900-square-feet office on the top floor of One Nashville Place, located at 150 4th Ave. N. in downtown Nashville. They will celebrate the move next week with an open house to showcase its upscale new location.
The new facility provides APA more than double the space of its previous 7,000-square-feet location at 3010 Poston Avenue. Panoramic views overlook downtown Nashville, as well as Nissan Stadium and the Cumberland River. Other amenities include sleek interiors, an abundance of natural lighting, and the convenience of being in close proximity to the hustle and bustle of downtown.
“If we have clients performing at the Ryman Auditorium or the Schermerhorn Symphony Center or the amphitheater, any of the downtown venues, we can walk there,” says APA Sr. VP Steve Lassiter. “It will be extremely convenient for CMA Music Fest coming up.”
The company’s new location offers some much-needed breathing room from APA’s former property. “We had 7,000 square feet in the old building,” says Lassiter. “We were completely out of space. We had assistants in the hallways, people sharing offices. We felt it was time to move downtown.”
Since the relocation, APA has hired three additional agents, as well as a staffer to handle tour sponsorships and branding. They have also relocated a television agent from their Beverly Hills office.
After looking at five available properties, APA signed the lease at One Nashville Place in November 2015. They plan to sell APA’s former property at Poston Avenue.
“The timing was perfect,” says Lassiter. “When we looked at the space in September, there was a law firm that had just vacated the space, and it was clearly the perfect one that suited our needs.”
APA represents clients including BlackHawk, Charlie Daniels Band, Clint Black, Crystal Gayle, David Lee Murphy, Don Williams, Doug Seegers, Dolly Parton, Hailey Whitters, Jesse James Decker, Keith Anderson, Leon Russell, Little Texas, Phil Vassar, Sawyer Brown, Tanya Tucker, Tonic, Travis Tritt, and more.
HGTV Lodge To Feature 5+ Performances A Day During CMA Fest
/by Eric T. ParkerHGTV Lodge at the 2015 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Courtesy HGTV
HGTV returns to Nashville’s CMA Music Festival with its 3,500 sq. ft. HGTV Lodge with live musical performances by popular artists Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Jake Owen, Cole Swindell, and many more.
From Thursday, June 9 to Sunday, June 12 festival-goers also can attend performances and autograph signings with Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and the Scott Family, Kip Moore, Thompson Square, Frankie Ballard, Old Dominion, Maddie & Tae, Cassadee Pope, Eric Paslay, Jack Ingram, Brandy Clark, Chris Carmack, Aubrie Sellers, Aaron Lewis, Margo Price, and a special ASCAP songwriter’s round. Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander will serve as the HGTV Lodge emcee during the four-day event. HGTV stars Drew and Jonathan Scott will also be present.
“We’re giving our fans a one-of-a-kind experience in a venue that is unlike any other at the Festival,” said Shannon Jamieson Driver, Senior Vice President, Network Marketing and Creative Services, Scripps Networks Interactive. “We’re back in a big way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the HGTV Lodge.”
Schedule of Events* at 2016 CMA Fest’s HGTV Lodge:
Thursday, June 9:
10:00 a.m.: Brandy Clark performance
12:00 p.m.: Jake Owen performance
1:30 p.m.: Keith Urban performance
3:30 p.m.: Kip Moore performance
5:00 p.m.: Aubrie Sellers performance
Friday, June 10:
10:00 a.m.: Chris Carmack, Star of ABC’s Nashville performance
11:30 a.m.: Thompson Square performance
12:30 p.m.: Frankie Ballard performance
1:30 p.m.: Cole Swindell performance
4:00 p.m.: Charles Kelley performance
5:00 p.m.: Eric Paslay performance
Saturday, June 11:
10:00 a.m.: Aaron Lewis performance
11:00 a.m.: Margo Price performance
12:30 p.m.: ASCAP Songwriters performance
2:00 p.m.: Drew and Jonathan Scott presentation
5:00 p.m.: Martina McBride performance
Sunday, June 12:
10:00 a.m.: Hillary Scott and the Scott Family performance
12:30 p.m.: Old Dominion performance
2:00 p.m.: Cassadee Pope performance
3:00 p.m.: Jack Ingram performance
4 :00 p.m.: Maddie & Tae performance
*All performances and times subject to change without notice.