BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 525
Lisa Harless (Regions Bank), Christopher Robertson (Watkins Art Contest Winner), Melodie Michael (Regions Bank), Brian O’Meara (Regions Bank). Robertson was presented the bike after creating the winning artwork and logo used in all Tin Pan South 2016 marketing materials.
There are so many reasons to attend the kick-off party for Tin Pan South.
First of all, it ushers in one of Nashville’s coolest annual festivals – 10 venues showcasing hundreds of songwriters. It has a $1.9 million impact on the city, I am told.
The opening party attracts many who are performing. Loads of industry supporters attend, so you’re going to run into beaucoups fabulons. Also, the food is always excellent, thanks to Maggiano’s.
The party on Monday (April 4) was staged in the lobby of the Region’s Bank in the Music Row Roundabout. As the evening goes on, this area becomes more and more congested and more and more loudly echoey. In a good, wacky way.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Bogard, Bart Herbison (NSAI), Rob Crosby and Wood Newton
Songwriters gabbing away included Jimbeau Hinson, Wood Newton, Steve Bogard, James Dean Hicks, Marcus Hummon, Larry Weiss, Rob Crosby, Randy Perkins, Anthony Smith, Billy Burnette and the vividly purple-ishly blue-haired and robustly tanned rocker Jim Peterik (Ides of March’s “Vehicle,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”). I thought it was especially nice that Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Dennis Morgan and Rory Michael Bourke stopped by.
Irene Kelley said, “I’m in bluegrass now. I don’t know who anybody is in country music anymore.” In a similar vein, Paul Childers demurred, “I’m not a country writer. I’m more of a jazz/pop singer/songwriter.” I said, “That’s okay. There’s room for everyone.” Who wouldn’t be nice? He’s the great, great grandson of Jim Beam.
Doobie Brother Tom Johnston (“China Grove,” “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’”) did media interviews while daughter Lara Johnston hovered nearby. Both are showcasing during Tin Pan South. Chris Robertson was there: He is the Watkins College of Art student who designed the very nice Nashville Scene cover of the festival guide.
Pictured (L-R): Lisa Harless (Regions), Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers), Diane Johnston, Lara Johnston, Bart Herbison (NSAI) and Brian O’Meara (Regions)
Let me pause at this point to remind you of how busy the buffet line was. There was a steady stream of party people loading their plates with mini Italian meatballs, cucumbers with herb cheese, chicken pesto sliders, imported cheeses on gourmet crackers, tomato caprese skewers and BBQ brisket sliders. There was also a dessert station containing puddings and assorted specialty cookies.
Doak Turner and his partners were on hand promoting his musicstartshere.org website. Also on the tech frontier is Nick Palladino III, who is with MOO Creative. Preshias Harris was promoting Bailey Callahan. Publicists Katharine Richardson and Lynn Tinsey had a number of clients in tow.
“My mother says great things about you,” said Presley Tucker. He is a treetop-tall smiling dude who is the son of Tanya. I almost gasped when I met him, because I remembered him from when he was a toddler.
Working the room were Regions Bank’s sparkly host Lisa Harless, plus John Ozier, Craig Campbell, Barry Coburn, NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Charlie Monk, Chris Keaton, Jim Flammia, Sherrill Blackmon, Ralph Murphy, journalist Eric Patton, Tracy Gershon, Jed Hilly, Dave Pomeroy, Mark Moffatt, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame director Mark Ford, Bill Cakmis, Deford Bailey III and Tony Brown.
MusicRow’s Craig Shelburne said he had already worked out his festival schedule. Have you? Good luck, since overall tix are sold out. But you can still get single-show admissions to Blue Bar, the Commodore Grill, the Station Inn, Whiskey Rhythm Saloon, 3rd & Lindsley, The Country (what? where?), the Bluebird Café, Douglas Corner or the Hard Rock.
Pictured (L-R): Heidi Raye, Tony Brown, and Melanie Howard
SESAC Signs Drew and Jonathan Scott Of HGTV’s ‘Property Brothers’
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jonathan Scott; Ellen Truley, Sr. VP, Corporate Relations; Dennis Lord, Exec. VP, Creative and Business Affairs; Drew Scott. Photo: Conduit Media
SESAC has signed Drew and Jonathan Scott to its roster. The brothers have released two original compositions, “Hold On,” and “Let The Night Shine In,” both penned with SESAC’s Victoria Shaw, who also produced the music.
Drew and Jonathan Scott, stars of HGTV’s shows including Property Brothers, Property Brothers At Home, and Brother vs. Brother, grew up playing music with their family. As teenagers, Drew and Jonathan, along with brother JD, formed the band Western Union, performing for family and friends.
In 2015 they headed to Nashville, and teamed with Shaw and Chad Carlson on “Hold On” and “Let The Night Shine In.” The tracks were included on the brothers’ hit HGTV special, Property Brothers At Home On The Ranch.
The video for “Hold On” can be seen below.
Nashville Band Roots Of A Rebellion Wins BMI’s Road To Roo
/by Jessica NicholsonRoots of a Rebellion backstage before their winning Road to Roo show at Mercy Lounge. (photo by Jake Giles Netter)
Nashville reggae group Roots of a Rebellion won a slot to perform at Bonnaroo after being crowned state champs at the Road to Roo competition on Mon., April 4.
Sponsored by Lightning 100, MillerCoors and BMI, the competition began with more than 350 state submissions, and was narrowed down to one winner in a six-week concert competition.
The Knoxville city winner, Josiah and the Greater Good, traveled to Nashville for the state finals at Mercy Lounge, and came in second place.
Roots of a Rebellion will travel to Manchester, Tennessee, to perform at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in June.
ROAR-Roots of a Rebellion tears through their set at Road to Roo to clinch a performance spot at Bonnaroo. (photo by Jakes Giles Netter)
Knoxville-based Josiah and the Greater Good, Road to Roo runners-up, perform at Mercy Lounge for the state finals. (photo by Jake Giles Netter)
BMG Signs Emily Reid To Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Back row, L-R): Morgan Kenney, WME; Mark Noel, Longshot Management; Chris Oglesby, BMG; Rob Beckham, WME. (Front row, L-R): Kevin Lane, WME; Emily Reid; Sara Knabe, BMG; Kos Weaver, BMG; Daniel Lee, BMG. (Not pictured: Rob Baker, Longshot Management)
Emily Reid, a Belmont University graduate and recent transplant from Toronto, Canada, has signed an exclusive publishing deal with BMG. Reid is managed by Rob Baker and Mark Noel of Longshot Management. Rob Beckham and Morgan Kenney of WME complete the team.
“To use Emily’s favorite adjective, we think she’s ‘outrageous’ and look forward to walking alongside her on this musical journey. She brings big vocal talent, fresh perspective, killer songs and an upbeat outlook and work ethic that is impossible to ignore,” says BMG’s Sara Knabe.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Emily join the Longshot family. Emily is an exceptional talent and an even better human being – we can’t wait for the world to find out what we already know,” says Longshot’s Baker.
WME Nashville co-head Beckham adds, “Emily brings a unique sound to our country roster. Not only is she incredibly talented, but she’s surrounded by a fantastic team of industry executives and we expect her to accomplish great things.”
Reid is a CCMA Discovery Finalist who has opened for artists including Dierks Bentley and Charlie Worsham. She cowrote “Two in a Million” which was the series finale duet for Disney’s Austin & Ally. Reid was also a featured artist for the Canadian clothing company, Roots.
PledgeMusic Names Dominic Pandiscia As CEO
/by Craig_ShelburneDominic Pandiscia
PledgeMusic, the digital platform that helps raise funds for independent artists, has announced Dominic Pandiscia as its new Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, company founder Benji Rogers will continue to serve as a member of the company’s Board of Directors and will now lead innovation and outreach to the creative community in the newly-created position of Chief Strategy Officer.
Pandiscia is an accomplished music and media executive who brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role. He previously served as President of Caroline, Capitol Music Group’s independent services division, where he led the company to three straight years of record market share growth.
His tenure ushered in the company’s first No. 1 album debuts in its 33-year history—achieved in partnership with each artist’s respective label and across four different musical genres— with 2015’s Alabama Shakes, All Time Low, Five Finger Death Punch and Tyrese releases.
Pandiscia’s appointment follows significant expansion for the company. The March 2016 acquisition of NoiseTrade and Set.fm expanded PledgeMusic’s user base to more than 3 million highly-active music fans engaging with over 50,000 artists and musicians.
“PledgeMusic holds a truly unique position in the increasingly crowded digital music landscape and I feel privileged to take the helm for its next chapter,” Pandiscia said. “Our user base was radically expanded with the recent acquisitions of NoiseTrade and Set.fm and we look forward to further empowering artists to attract passionate new audiences while deepening the relationship with their current fan base. I am eager to dig in and work with Benji Rogers and the entire PledgeMusic team to best serve our communities and create new ways to market and connect to fans.”
“It has been a great honor to lead the PledgeMusic family up to this point and I could not be more proud of all that we have achieved together,” Rogers added. “Dominic is exactly the type of artist-first executive that PledgeMusic needs as we grow and scale and I am excited to work alongside him in this new growth phase for the company.”
Benji Rogers
UMPG Nashville Signs Songwriter Mark Fuhrer Through Joint Venture With Droptine Music
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R, Back Row): Cyndi Forman, UMPG Nashville VP, Creative; Missy Wilson, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG Nashville; Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP A&R; (L-R, Front Row) Travis Gordon, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Mark Fuhrer; Rachel Winston, Droptine A&R Manager
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed an exclusive, global publishing deal with songwriter Mark Fuhrer via the company’s joint venture with Droptine Music. The announcement was made Wednesday (April 6) by Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville.
“We’re excited to add Mark and Droptine to our family. We think his future is limitless with his craft of songwriting,” said Earls.
“I couldn’t be more honored and humbled to be working with Universal and Droptine. I am looking forward to all the musical endeavors this opportunity will bring,” added Fuhrer.
Born and raised on Long Island, Fuhrer came to Nashville to pursue a career in country music and earned a Bachelors of Science in Songwriting from Belmont University.
Continuing to develop his talent and versatility, Furhrer is currently spending as much time in the studio as possible, collaborating with some of the best writers in Nashville including the band Levon, Chris Young, Chris Lindsey, Tim James, Matt Warren, Jay Clementi and Dave Berg.
Carrie Underwood Celebrates 23 No. 1 Videos On CMT
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): CMT personality Katie Cook, Carrie Underwood, CMT Sr. VP Music & Talent Leslie Fram.
CMT personality Katie Cook and Sr. VP Music & Talent Leslie Fram presented Carrie Underwood with a plaque celebrating her outstanding number of top-ranking music videos on CMT. The plaque was presented during events surrounding the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards this past weekend in Las Vegas.
Underwood’s “Heartbeat” video hit No. 1 on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown on Sat., April 2, marking it as her 23rd video at the top spot. Signed to 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville, Underwood has had 21 solo No. 1 videos, as well as one with Brad Paisley (“Remind Me”) and one with Miranda Lambert (“Somethin’ Bad”).
Industry Ink: Randy Rogers, Belmont University, Johnathan Kayne, Centricity Music
/by Jessica NicholsonRandy Rogers Starts Artist Management Company
Randy Rogers. Photo: Terry Wyatt
Randy Rogers of The Randy Rogers Band has launched an artist management company, Big Blind Management. The company is based in New Braunfels, Texas, and has inked Red Shahan as its first signing. The Randy Rogers Band will continue to be managed by 377/Red Light out of Nashville.
“Starting a management company is something that I have been thinking about for quite some time,” he continues. “Because our band tours so much, I have the opportunity to meet many talented people on the road. My goal is to help some of these artists in understanding the lesson I learned a long time ago from my friend Kent Finlay: ‘There’s music and then there’s the music business.’ Robin Schoepf, my partner in the management company, has been my personal day-to-day manager for more than 13 years. We have seen it all and are interested in working alongside artists we believe in.”
Artists moving to the new company from Schoepf’s Ro-Jo Management include Seth James, Jamie Lin Wilson, and Randy Rogers as a solo artist.
Belmont University Songwriters Association Welcomes Lineup Of Hit Songwriters
Pictured (L-R): BUSA Vice President Ashleigh Smith, Josh Mirenda, Justin Weaver and BUSA President Emma Place.
Belmont University Songwriters Association (BUSA) brought in a lineup of songwriters for a week of seminars. Guests included Lance Carpenter, Justin Weaver, Josh Mirenda, Emily Weisband and Devin Dawson. Speaking to a full audience of up-and-coming songwriters and artists each day, the writers shared their expertise on the industry and played a few of their favorite songs that they have written.
Jonathan Kane Joins NStyle Country
Johnathan Kayne
Designer Johnathan Kayne has joined as NStyle Country’s newest correspondent, using NStyle Country’s online platform to discuss Nashville’s biggest stars. He will also conduct interviews relating to celebrities and Nashville fashion.
Centricity Music Signs Grayson Reed
Pictured (L-R): Mike Grayson, Molly Reed, Centricity’s Ben Stauffer
Nashville-based Centricity Music has signed Grayson Reed. The husband-and-wife duo Grayson Reed includes singer-songwriter Mike Grayson, founder of CCM band MIKESCHAIR, and Molly Reed, a Nashville songwriter with songs recorded by Danielle Bradbery and Ashley Gearing.
Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan South Kick-off Party
/by Bobby KarlBOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 525
Lisa Harless (Regions Bank), Christopher Robertson (Watkins Art Contest Winner), Melodie Michael (Regions Bank), Brian O’Meara (Regions Bank). Robertson was presented the bike after creating the winning artwork and logo used in all Tin Pan South 2016 marketing materials.
There are so many reasons to attend the kick-off party for Tin Pan South.
First of all, it ushers in one of Nashville’s coolest annual festivals – 10 venues showcasing hundreds of songwriters. It has a $1.9 million impact on the city, I am told.
The opening party attracts many who are performing. Loads of industry supporters attend, so you’re going to run into beaucoups fabulons. Also, the food is always excellent, thanks to Maggiano’s.
The party on Monday (April 4) was staged in the lobby of the Region’s Bank in the Music Row Roundabout. As the evening goes on, this area becomes more and more congested and more and more loudly echoey. In a good, wacky way.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Bogard, Bart Herbison (NSAI), Rob Crosby and Wood Newton
Songwriters gabbing away included Jimbeau Hinson, Wood Newton, Steve Bogard, James Dean Hicks, Marcus Hummon, Larry Weiss, Rob Crosby, Randy Perkins, Anthony Smith, Billy Burnette and the vividly purple-ishly blue-haired and robustly tanned rocker Jim Peterik (Ides of March’s “Vehicle,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”). I thought it was especially nice that Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Dennis Morgan and Rory Michael Bourke stopped by.
Irene Kelley said, “I’m in bluegrass now. I don’t know who anybody is in country music anymore.” In a similar vein, Paul Childers demurred, “I’m not a country writer. I’m more of a jazz/pop singer/songwriter.” I said, “That’s okay. There’s room for everyone.” Who wouldn’t be nice? He’s the great, great grandson of Jim Beam.
Doobie Brother Tom Johnston (“China Grove,” “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’”) did media interviews while daughter Lara Johnston hovered nearby. Both are showcasing during Tin Pan South. Chris Robertson was there: He is the Watkins College of Art student who designed the very nice Nashville Scene cover of the festival guide.
Pictured (L-R): Lisa Harless (Regions), Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers), Diane Johnston, Lara Johnston, Bart Herbison (NSAI) and Brian O’Meara (Regions)
Let me pause at this point to remind you of how busy the buffet line was. There was a steady stream of party people loading their plates with mini Italian meatballs, cucumbers with herb cheese, chicken pesto sliders, imported cheeses on gourmet crackers, tomato caprese skewers and BBQ brisket sliders. There was also a dessert station containing puddings and assorted specialty cookies.
Doak Turner and his partners were on hand promoting his musicstartshere.org website. Also on the tech frontier is Nick Palladino III, who is with MOO Creative. Preshias Harris was promoting Bailey Callahan. Publicists Katharine Richardson and Lynn Tinsey had a number of clients in tow.
“My mother says great things about you,” said Presley Tucker. He is a treetop-tall smiling dude who is the son of Tanya. I almost gasped when I met him, because I remembered him from when he was a toddler.
Working the room were Regions Bank’s sparkly host Lisa Harless, plus John Ozier, Craig Campbell, Barry Coburn, NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Charlie Monk, Chris Keaton, Jim Flammia, Sherrill Blackmon, Ralph Murphy, journalist Eric Patton, Tracy Gershon, Jed Hilly, Dave Pomeroy, Mark Moffatt, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame director Mark Ford, Bill Cakmis, Deford Bailey III and Tony Brown.
MusicRow’s Craig Shelburne said he had already worked out his festival schedule. Have you? Good luck, since overall tix are sold out. But you can still get single-show admissions to Blue Bar, the Commodore Grill, the Station Inn, Whiskey Rhythm Saloon, 3rd & Lindsley, The Country (what? where?), the Bluebird Café, Douglas Corner or the Hard Rock.
Pictured (L-R): Heidi Raye, Tony Brown, and Melanie Howard
Special Concerts: Steven Tyler, Kacey Musgraves, ‘Nashville’ Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonSteven Tyler To Perform At Lincoln Center On May 2
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler will perform an intimate concert, titled Steven Tyler…Out On A Limb, at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall on May 2. Award-winning director Brett Ratner and Tyler are collaborating to benefit Janie’s Fund, Tyler’s charitable initiative to help girls overcome the trauma of abuse and neglect.
Named after Aerosmith’s song “Janie’s Got a Gun,” Janie’s Fund (launched in November 2015) is a collaboration between Tyler and leading non-profit organization Youth Villages. Tyler will be backed by the Nashville band, Loving Mary. Tyler is signed to Dot Records, an imprint of Nashville’s Big Machine Label Group.
“I’m digging deep and finding some real buried treasure for this one. I’ve never performed quite like this before,” said Tyler. “I’m telling it like it is and getting to perform with some extremely talented musicians and dear friends from Nashville.”
Kacey Musgraves To Perform In Colorado On 4/20
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves will perform at the Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado, on April 20. According to a press release issued by her management company, Sandbox Entertainment, Musgraves will “bring ‘High Time’ to Denver,” and will be “providing a special treat for her Denver fans.”
Not coincidentally, the date (a.k.a. “4/20”) is an unofficial holiday for pot smokers. Colorado first allowed recreational marijuana on Jan. 1, 2014. “High Time” is the lead track on Musgraves’ latest album, Pageant Material.
‘Nashville’ Stars Add Dates On International Summer Tour
Shane Barrett To Lead Publishing Division Of Cold River Records
/by Jessica NicholsonShane Barrett
Cold River Records has brought on Shane Barrett (on behalf of his company Shane Barrett Music, LLC) to lead a new publishing division, Placer Creek Music Publishing. The first signing to Placer Creek is Maggie Baugh.
“Shane has such a great reputation in the songwriting community and his ear is one of the best in the business,” said Cold River Records President Pete O’Heeron.
Barrett previously held positions at olé and MCA Records. In addition to securing hits such as “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band, Barrett has landed cuts with Luke Bryan, Billy Currington, Montgomery Gentry, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, and most recently Jason Aldean and Wynonna.
“Maggie is a multi-instrumental artist and a prolific songwriter with a bright future,” stated Barrett. “I’m excited to work with such a passionate team at Cold River and I look forward to working with Maggie and the CRR catalogue to develop a track record of excellence in music.”
Barrett can be reached at shanebarrettmusic@gmail.com.
Maggie Baugh