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
CMA Music Festival Adds Performers To Nightly Concerts
/by Jessica NicholsonCharlie Daniels Band
CMA Music Festival’s Nightly Concerts at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium just got a little more star-studded. Frankie Ballard, Clint Black, Charlie Daniels Band, Exile, Marshall Tucker Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ray Stevens, and The Oak Ridge Boys have all been announced as performers.
They join previously-announced Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Cole Swindell, Steven Tyler, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Hank Williams, Jr., and Chris Young. Artists and schedules are subject to change.
Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys will sing the national anthem on Thursday, the opening night of the Festival. Ballard will take national anthem duties on Friday, followed by Marshall Tucker Band on Saturday and Stevens on Sunday.
Clint Black. Photo: Kevin Mazur
Daniels, who was announced March 29 as a 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, will open the concerts with the first set on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Black will join Nitty Gritty Dirt Band during the Saturday night lineup. Exile will appear on Sunday.
The 2016 CMA Music Festival runs Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12 in downtown Nashville. As one of the most highly-anticipated portions of the festival, the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium sold out before talent was announced.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 2016 Photo Credit: Courtesy Webster Public Relations
Exile 2016 Photo Credit: Courtesy Webster Public Relations
Luke Bryan Leads Finalists For American Country Countdown Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan dominates this year’s American Country Countdown Awards finalists list, with seven category nods, including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, two titles in for Song of the Year (“Home Alone Tonight” and “Strip It Down”), Album of the Year (for Kick The Dust Up), Digital Song of the Year (“Kick the Dust Up”) and Touring Artist of the Year.
The nominations were revealed Wednesday morning (April 6).
Sam Hunt follows with five, Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band each with four, and Florida Georgia Line with three.
Additionally Carrie Underwood has been added as a performer. Underwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year (for Storyteller). She joins previously-announced performers Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and more.
The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards will air live from the Forum in Los Angeles on Sun., May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The two-hour event is the first country music awards show to air live from Los Angeles in more than 10 years.
The American Country Countdown Awards are based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks. This year’s host and additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.
Finalists and winners for all categories are based on radio airplay charts, sales and streaming data from April 1, 2015 to March 28, 2016 provided by BuzzAngle Music. Touring data is from Pollstar. The NASH Icon Award is chosen by The American Country Countdown.
The awards show is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro (CEO, dick clark productions), Mike Mahan (President, dick clark productions), Mark Bracco (Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, dick clark productions), Kix Brooks, Richard Godfrey and Tom Forrest are executive producers.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Florida Georgia Line
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Cam
Carrie Underwood
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
A Thousand Horses
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
BREAKTHROUGH MALE OF THE YEAR
Chris Janson
Michael Ray
Sam Hunt
BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE OF THE YEAR
Cam
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
A Thousand Horses
Dan + Shay
Old Dominion
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Stay A Little Longer” – Brothers Osborne
“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
“Strip It Down” – Luke Bryan
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Storyteller” – Carrie Underwood
“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton
“Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt
“Jekyll + Hyde” – Zac Brown Band
DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town
“Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
DIGITAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Anything Goes” – Florida Georgia Line
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt
“Tangled Up” – Thomas Rhett
TOURING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Luke Bryan
Shania Twain
Zac Brown Band
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