Industry Ink: Johnny Cash Trust, IBMA, Deluge Music and Gravity Gone Music, Marbaloo

/by

Johnny Cash Trust Names Lou Robin As Business Manager Emeritus

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

Veteran concert promoter and artist manager Lou Robin, who has worked with the Cash family for more than 45 years, has stepped into the role of Business Manager Emeritus for the Cash Trust, it was announced by Trustee for the John R. Cash Revocable Trust, Cathy Sullivan.

In the new role, Robin will continue to utilize his knowledge and experience to further the Cash legacy working on special projects. He will relinquish day-to-day management responsibilities to allow him to spend more time with his wife Karen, his children, and grandchildren.

“We are thrilled to recognize Lou for the incredible contributions he has made to the Cash and Carter families,” said Sullivan. “None of this would be possible without his constant and unwavering dedication. It is an honor to have his ongoing counsel to protect and promote the legacy of John and June.”

“Lou has helped bring my father and mother, John and June, to generations of fans,” said John Carter Cash. “We are lucky to have this expertise for future generations as well. It is a blessing to have Lou as a personal mentor and lifetime friend.”

In addition to producing 100 Cash concerts a year, Robin played a role in the licensing of Cash’s music, name and likeness, merchandising and a significant part in his recording career with Sony and American Recordings. Robin founded Artist Consultants Productions in 1957 and was responsible for promoting more than 5,000 concerts worldwide with major artists such as The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, The Tijuana Brass, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Robin began promoting concerts with Johnny Cash in 1969 and then became manager for both John and June from 1973 until their passing in 2003. From that time on, he continued to serve the Trust in the role of Manager of Business Affairs.

“I’m pleased to be able to use my knowledge to help continue the growth of this important American Icon’s image,” said Robin.

 

IBMA Adds Director, Communications and Professional Development

Shannon Turner

Shannon Turner

Shannon Turner joined the International Bluegrass Music Association as director, communications and professional development. Turner was previously an independent media/promotion executive and freelance writer.

Turner is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Bluegrass.

 

Deluge Music, Gravity Gone Music Ink Co-Publishing Deal

Pictured, Back row (L-R): David Robkin, Managing Member, Deluge Music; Mark Friedman, President, Deluge Music. Pictured, Front row (L-R): Stephanie Greene, Gravity Gone Music; Oran Thornton,

Pictured, Back row (L-R): David Robkin, Managing Member, Deluge Music; Mark Friedman, President, Deluge Music. Pictured, Front row (L-R): Stephanie Greene, Gravity Gone Music; Oran Thornton,

Deluge Music and Gravity Gone Music have signed a co-publishing agreement with songwriter/producer Oran Thornton.

Deluge Music was formed in 2015 by Mark Friedman, David Robkin, and Larry Mazer, and has offices in Nashville and Los Angeles. Gravity Gone Music owner Stephanie Greene runs the Nashville office.

 

Marbaloo Launches Internship Program

Screen Shot 2016-01-07 at 11.10.33 AM

Marbaloo has launched its first internship program, MarbaLearn. The program offers for-credit and paid internships for students, with opportunities available in the areas of research, marketing, project management, publicity, journalism, social media, e-commerce, fan communities, tour marketing, copywriting, content curation, content creation, graphic design, photography, and video editing.

The deadline for applying is Jan. 31. For more information, visit marbalearn.com.

SESAC Signs Songwriter/Producer Dave Pittenger

/by
Pictured (L-R): Magic Mustang Publishing’s Juli Newton-Griffith, Pittenger and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Pictured (L-R): Magic Mustang Publishing’s Juli Newton-Griffith, Pittenger and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Songwriter/producer Dave Pittenger has signed with SESAC for representation.

Pittenger, who co-wrote Tyler Farr’s “Better In Boots,” is signed with Magic Mustang Publishing, and stopped by SESAC’s Nashville office to visit with executives and make the partnership official.

DISClaimer: Jennifer Nettles, Eric Chesser Shine

/by

Jennifer Nettles, Unlove You

The fallout from Dolly’s triumphant Coat of Many Colors holiday TV movie continues into this first DisClaimer column of 2016.

The film hit an emotional home run and was such a ratings blockbuster that they aired it twice. By the time they add up all the streamed and TiVo’d views, it could wind up as the most successful TV movie in history.

Here’s why it relates to today’s reviews. You see, the two best singles in this stack come from people who were in that film. Jennifer Nettles played Dolly’s mom. Stella Parton had a role as one of her aunts. Both of these women shine like beacons on their new outings this week. Jennifer Nettles earns the Disc of the Day.

Our first DisCovery Award of the year goes to Eric Chesser. He’s a 27-year-old fellow from a town outside of Chicago who sounds to me like he’s launching a promising career as a country singer-songwriter. We wish him the best.

JENNIFER NETTLES/Unlove You
Writers: Jennifer Nettles/Brandy Clark; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Jennifer Nettles/House of Sea Gayle/Highway 508/Clearbox, ASCAP; Big Machine
-Stunning. This burning ballad builds to a crescendo of anguish. The relationship is going nowhere, but she can’t deny her smoldering feelings. Power and passion in every note.

COLE SWINDELL/You Should Be Here
Writers: Cole Swindell/Ashley Gorley; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Combustion Engine/Jodie’s Favorite/WB, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-It’s a perfect day. Perfect in every way but one. A loved one who has passed on isn’t here to share it with him. Aching and moving.

Eric Chesser

ERIC CHESSER/I Can’t Read Your Mind
Writer: Eric Chesser; Producers: Larry Beard/Eric Chesser; Publishers: Eric James/BIG BIG, ASCAP; BIG BIG (CDX)
-He has a sturdy, resonant baritone, and he puts it to good use on this self-penned, well-crafted ballad. She’s in a mood, and he can’t figure out why or how. A strong debut.

STELLA PARTON/Mountain Songbird
Writers: Stella Parton/Tom T. Hall/Dixie Hall; Producer: Stella Parton; Publisher: Good Home Grown, BMI; Raptor (CDX)
-Sweet. This is a lovely, acoustic, Appalachian tune, rippling with delicate picking and floating on female vocal harmonies. Clear and pure as a woodland brook.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE/Drink You Away
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA (ERG)
-I’m a big fan of this guy. This is a real cool single, but I don’t hear it as all that “country.”

VIOLET DELANCEY/When The Clock Strikes Midnight
Writer: Violet Delancey; Producer: Brent Truitt; Publisher: Honky Tonk Fairytale, ASCAP; VD (track)
– The title tune to this gal’s CD is a toe-tapper with a nifty twang guitar (Bryan Sutton) and a steel (Paul Franklin) that “answers” her vocal phrases. Her voice is light, but she’s surrounded by such hot picking, harmony singing (Randy Kohrs and Brent Truitt) and production finesse that it’s easy to overlook. The piano solo by Jeff Taylor is cool too.

ALLIE LOUISE/It’s Gettin’ Old
Writers: Allie Louise/Doug Kahan; Producer: John Jaszcz; Publisher: none listed; Sixth Beat (track)
-Bopping and full of personality. It is also a very well-written girl-to-girl slice of advice.

JUSTIN MOORE/You Look Like I Need a Drink
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Matt Dragstrem/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: Round Hill Works/Farm Town Songs/Big Loud Proud Crowd, BMI/ASCAP; Valory (ERG)
– Crunchy and thumping. His drawling, Dixie-fried delivery is just right to tell this tale of a good ol’ boy who’s knows he’s getting dumped.

LAURA McCORMICK/Just Around The Corner
Writers: Rick Rowell; Producers: Laura McCormick/Rick Rowell; Publisher: Kit, ASCAP; LMM (track)
-A lively country rocker, full of upbeat optimism, positivity and hope. The chorus voices and handclaps at the finale lift the already-inspiring tune even higher. A winner.

JIMMY CLAY FRIZZELL/Where Do I Go From Here
Writers: Jimmy Clay Frizzell/Jimmy Parker; Producers: Jimmy Clay Frizzell/David Frizzell; Publishers: Feat of Clay/Eastern Seaboard, BMI; Nashville America
-He’s the nephew of the illustrious Lefty, David and Allen Frizzell. Like them, he’s a hard country stylist. Alas, he’s not nearly as good a vocalist. In fact, he barely stays on melody.

Creative Nation Names Sarah Lai To Senior Role, Adds Tyler Johnson To Roster

/by
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Lai, Tyler Johnson.

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Lai, Tyler Johnson.

Creative Nation has moved Sarah Lai into the role of Senior Director of Marketing + Publicity. In this newly created position, Lai will oversee all marketing, digital and publicity initiatives for the company’s roster of songwriters and artists. She will also handle day-to-day management responsibilities for “Girl Crush” co-writer Lori McKenna. Previously, Lai’s company (SLPR) has worked with Creative Nation since 2014.

Lai can now be contacted at sarah@creativenationmusic.com.

Creative Nation has also added Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Tyler Johnson, in a partnership with Los Angeles-based Pulse Music Publishing. Johnson’s credits include Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, P!nk, Miley Cyrus, One Republic, Elle King and Mikky Ekko. Johnson spent the last few years developing new country artist Cam, co-writing eight tracks and co-producing Cam’s debut release, Untamed. He is currently working with new artist Rafferty who broke into the scene last fall with his song “Apple Pie” (co-written/co-produced by Johnson), which was featured on the latest iPhone 6 commercial.

Johnson joins current Creative Nation roster, which includes Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, Maggie Chapman, Steve Moakler and Native Run.

Big Deal Music Signs Ross Lipsey To Publishing Deal

/by
Ross Lipsey Signing Photo

Pictured, Back row (L-R): Greg Gallo, Big Deal; Dale Bobo, Big Deal; Bradley Collins, BMI. Front row (L-R): Pete Robinson, Big Deal; Ross Lipsey, writer; Noah McPike, attorney, Almon/McPike.

Ross Lipsey has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Big Deal Music.

“Ross is a tremendous artist, singer, and songwriter,” says Pete Robinson, GM/Senior VP of Big Deal Music.

“We’re honored and thrilled to have a talent like Ross on the Big Deal team,” mentioned Greg Gallo, Sr. Director of Creative.

Originally from Monterey, Louisiana, Lipsey moved to Nashville last year after graduating from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood Win People’s Choice Awards

/by

Peoples Choice Awards logo

Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood were announced as winners of the 2016 People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday night (Jan. 6) in Los Angeles.

Lady Antebellum earned the fan-voted prize for Favorite Country Group, Shelton won in the Favorite Male Country Artist category and Underwood received the Favorite Female Country Artist award.

In addition, Taylor Swift won in the categories of Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Pop Artist. Megan Trainor’s Title was named Favorite Album.

The ceremony aired on CBS.

Carrie Underwood Visits ‘MusicRow’ To Accept Four Chart Honors

/by
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Chart Director Troy Stephenson, Carrie Underwood, MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Molly Hannula

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Chart Director Troy Stephenson, Carrie Underwood, MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Molly Hannula

Carrie Underwood visited the MusicRow offices today (Jan. 6) to accept four No. 1 Challenge Coins in recognition of her chart-topping hits on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart over the past two years.

No. 1 Challenge Coins honor the performer and songwriters on each No. 1 single on the industry’s leading secondary radio chart. Underwood co-wrote three of the titles. MusicRow began the honor in 2014.

Underwood’s four No. 1 songs on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart since 2014 are:

“Smoke Break” (Songwriters: Underwood, Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey) October 15, 2015
“Little Toy Guns” (Songwriters: Underwood, Destefano, Lindsey) May 14, 2015
“Something In The Water” (Songwriters: DeStefano, Brett James, Underwood) November 26, 2014
“Somethin’ Bad” Artist: Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood (Songwriters: DeStefano, James, Priscilla Renea) September 25, 2014

View a comprehensive list of No. 1 Challenge Coin recipients at MusicRow.com.

Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Molly Hannula, Eric T. Parker, Sherod Robertson, Carrie Underwood, Craig Shelburne, Jessica Nicholson, Robert K. Oermann. Photo: Jessie Schmidt

Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Molly Hannula, Eric T. Parker, Sherod Robertson, Carrie Underwood, Craig Shelburne, Jessica Nicholson, Robert K. Oermann. Photo: Jessie Schmidt

Crowd Surf’s Cassie Petrey Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List

/by
Cassie Petrey

Cassie Petrey

Crowd Surf co-founder Cassie Petrey is included on the music portion of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Petrey founded the digital marketing company in 2007 with longtime friend Jade Driver.

“I look forward to this Forbes piece releasing every year and always get extremely inspired by all the talented people that the magazine features,” said Petrey. “I’m so humbled, honored, and excited to be listed alongside such amazing company.”

Crowd Surf provides catered and specialized marketing services to a roster of clients including The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Steven Tyler, William Michael Morgan and April Kry.

Today, the company has evolved into a 35-person team with four offices.

UMG Enters Virtual Reality Partnership With iHeartMedia

/by

UMG-iHeartMedia

Universal Music Group (UMG) has partnered with iHeartMedia in a deal focused around virtual reality (VR) that will enable the companies to connect artists, music fans and brands and sponsors in a series of immersive entertainment experiences.

The companies will leverage their strengths, including UMG’s roster of star artists and extensive music library, as well as iHeartMedia’s approximately 245 million monthly broadcast listeners, to develop entertainment experiences that make immersive VR performances and experiences accessible to U.S. audiences for the first time at scale.

In addition, UMG and iHeartMedia will invite brands to partner with them to develop, produce and distribute these experiences, using integrated approaches to connect their brands and products to both artists and consumers.

Through this initiative, one VR experience by a UMG artist will be added to each major marquee iHeartMedia event in 2016, including the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartRadio Country Festival, the iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party, the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, the iHeartRadio Music Festival and the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, with this first-ever VR music series launching at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 3, 2016 which will broadcast live on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on TBS, TNT and truTV. The companies will collaborate on full shows from four individual artists, shot and distributed in VR, at the iHeartRadio VR Concert Series held at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles.

“At UMG, we are focused on harnessing cutting-edge technology to pioneer new creative and commercial opportunities for artists, labels and fans,” said Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group. “By combining iHeartMedia’s music events and hundreds of millions of listeners with the ability of our artists to forge powerfully emotional connections with their fans, we are ideally positioned to use VR technology to create authentic experiences that benefit our artists, consumers and marketing partners.”

“Our greatest strength at iHeartMedia is that we curate for our listeners – in this case, working with UMG to create a completely new entertainment experience using state-of-the-art VR technology,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “And now, as advertisers seek to tie their brands and products to music and artists in innovative ways, we can use our industry-leading reach and best-of-breed music events to unlock the combined power of music and VR as a revolutionary marketing tool. We’re excited to work with UMG in a partnership unlike any in the music and entertainment industry.”

Girlilla Marketing Hires Emily Cohen As Account Director

/by
Emily Cohen

Emily Cohen

Emily Cohen has joined Girlilla Marketing as an account director, building creative campaigns for the company’s roster, including Ben Rector, Darius Rucker, Dead & Company, Kristin Chenoweth, Liam Hemsworth, Tyler Farr, Zac Brown Band and more.

Cohen most recently worked in Nashville for the music streaming service Rdio, newly acquired by Pandora, where she served as senior manager of label and artist relations. She built strong relationships in Music City’s vast country, Americana, folk and Christian music communities, and developed unique marketing avenues such as the Nashville Rising new artist feature and key Rdio Select genre playlists to highlight emerging and established artists.

“Emily’s expertise in the streaming world, coupled with her past experience in publishing and traditional media, make her a great asset to the entire Girlilla Marketing roster,” said Girlilla’s Founder and CEO, Jennie Smythe. “We are extremely excited to have her in a leadership role as Account Director, and know the relationships she’s built and supported will create key marketing opportunities for our clients and staff.”

Originally from California, Cohen previously worked for Rdio at their headquarters in San Francisco where she curated content, built and tracked marketing campaigns and opened new opportunities for content partners to prioritize within Rdio. She also spent time handling publicity, radio promotions and new media marketing at Light in The Attic Records, and marketing at San Francisco Magazine.