Pictured (L-R): Author and journalist Deborah Evans Price and Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.
For author Deborah Evans Price, Christmas has already arrived.
Her new book, Country Faith Christmas (Regnery Publishing), features 37 favorite Christmas memories, holiday traditions, and scriptures from country artists. Among the contributors are Luke Bryan, Dolly Parton, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Canaan Smith. Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman provided a foreword for the book, along with her own favorite Christmas memory and recipe.
“I loved the idea of getting people to talk about their Christmas traditions, and favorite recipes and memories,” said Price, who has been recognized by the CMA and GMA for her achievements as a journalist.
“I love [the story of] Charlie Daniels giving [his wife] Hazel a bowling ball for Christmas back when they were first married and didn’t have much money. He worked some extra gigs and surprised her, ‘cause she was on a bowling team and didn’t have her own ball. I love that story. They have been married for 51 years now and are such a great couple. Charlie wrote four Advent devotionals. He knows the Bible and is a great Bible scholar and to have him sit down and write those, it was so kind of him to do that.”
“We have Reba in this book,” Price added. “She looks gorgeous in all the photographs. I love the story of her sister, Susie, wrapping up Reba’s old basketball shoes from high school and giving them to her, and then we have a picture of her and Susie with the shoes, which is great.”
These vignettes are set alongside an assortment of Christmas photos and savory holiday recipes, including: Christmas coconut noodles from Eric Paslay’s mother; Phil Vassar’s pumpkin bread; Mickey Guyton’s blueberry dump cake; and whole grain gingerbread courtesy of Brad Paisley’s mother, Sandy.
“I really have to thank the mothers,” Price said. “They tracked down the recipes and the childhood photos and were such a great help putting this book together.”
The passion project came with a tight deadline. “We signed on to do the book in March and it was due in June. We really had to rush to get it together, but everybody has been so helpful, with artists jumping on the phone to do interviews,” she said.
Scotty McCreery was the first artist Price interviewed for Country Faith Christmas. “We were having dinner one night with Scotty when he was in town, along with his publicist, Scott Stem. I told him I was working on the book, and he was gracious and did the interview right then. So we finished Scotty’s chapter with the production team and we were able to send that out to show other people what we were doing and how we were going to incorporate childhood photos, recipes and design elements into each artist’s chapter.”
Price is quick to credit the artists and artists’ publicists for their aid throughout the process. “I couldn’t have done this without them. We got to the end and we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we don’t have Luke Bryan’s chili dog recipe!’ And Jessie [Schmidt, Bryan’s publicist] was a great help,” Price said.
Country Faith Christmas also includes a CD. The compilation, Country Faith Christmas: 14 Songs of the Season From Today’s Leading Country Music Stars, features Carrie Underwood (“Do You Hear What I Hear”), Dolly Parton (“Joy To The World”), Martina McBride (“Silent Night”), Alan Jackson (“Let It Be Christmas”), Hunter Hayes (“Go Tell It On The Mountain”), and more.
Pictured (L-R): Deborah Evans Price and Craig Morgan
Price released the first book in the series, Country Faith, in 2013. She has since expanded the Country Faith brand with a new jewelry line in collaboration with Los Angeles’ Bob Siemon Designs, a faith-based jewelry manufacturer that crafted merchandise for the 2004 movie The Passion of the Christ.
“They sent us photos and asked what we thought would most appeal to a country music consumer,” Price said of the line, which includes bracelets, keychains, necklaces and more.
After HarperCollins released the first Country Faith book, Price brought the rights to the Country Faith brand. “That’s how we were able to do the jewelry deal, because we own the name. I’ve learned a lot through this. I’m not a business person, but I’m learning to be,” she said.
There is more to come under the Country Faith brand. “Next year there will be two more albums coming out. A Country Faith hymns collection will come out around Easter, so we are selecting songs for that now. We have a wish list of 20-25 hymns we are in the process of getting the licenses for. In the fall, we will have a second volume of Country Faith which will be country songs from a faith-based perspective.”
Country Faith Christmas is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com, target.com, and more.
Artist Updates: Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Kip Moore, Griffin House
/by Craig_ShelburneBrothers Osborne Toast Their New Album With Christmas Party
Brothers Osborne.
Carrying holiday cheer into East Nashville, Brothers Osborne celebrated the upcoming release of their debut album with a festive party at the Basement East on Tuesday night (Dec. 1). John and TJ Osborne spoke briefly from the stage to welcome the industry crowd, then previewed their album, Pawn Shop, over the sound system while guests (including labelmates Kacey Musgraves and Lauren Alaina) posed with friends in the photo booth and snacked on Christmas cookies. Featuring the hit single, “Stay a Little Longer,” Pawn Shop will be released on Jan. 15 on EMI Nashville.
Carrie Underwood Sings “Heartbeat” on UK’s The X Factor
Carrie Underwood. Photo: Syco/Thames/Corbis/Dymond
Carrie Underwood performed her new single, “Heartbeat,” on the UK series, The X Factor, in London on Sunday (Nov. 29). She received a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Rita Ora, and Nick Grimshaw. The song is the second single from Underwood’s new album, Storyteller.
Kip Moore Extends His Wild Ones Tour
Kip Moore will continue headlining his Wild Ones Tour in early 2016. The first stop of the 17-city tour will be Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Jan. 28, with dates scheduled through February 27 in Anaheim, California. The Cadillac Three and Chase Bryant will open shows on select dates.
“The feedback from the fans this fall has been so insane and we’re having so much fun that we’re just not ready to end this tour yet,” said Moore. “We live for our live show. That’s how this whole journey started and I’m looking forward to playing some of our favorite cities at the beginning of the year, as well as having my buddies from The Cadillac Three and Chase Bryant along for the ride.”
Griffin House Releases “Paris Calling” From Upcoming Album
Griffin House
Nashville singer-songwriter Griffin House has released a song titled “Paris Calling” to show his support after terrorist attacks in Paris. House studied in Paris as a college student and wrote the new song about living in Nashville, but dreaming about going back to France.
“For me, Paris will always be a place that can be described by three words: magical, surreal, and enchanting. My heart is in love there – in love with life itself. I celebrated the completion of my album with a return this summer to my favorite city on Earth,” says House. “I was so saddened by this awful tragedy and the suffering it has brought to such a beautiful city and their beautiful people. I send this song out to the people of Paris, who I know will not let this darkness get in the way of the joyous life that abounds in the City of Light.”
Griffin will donate all proceeds from the sale of the single “Paris Calling” through the end of the year to Secours Populaire, a non-profit organization that aims to fight against poverty and exclusion in France and throughout the world. House’s album, So On and So Forth, will be released on March 4.
ASCAP Names Lisa Selden As SVP, Administration Services
/by Troy_StephensonLisa Selden
ASCAP announced today (Dec. 2) that Lisa Selden will join its executive leadership team as Senior Vice President, Administration Services, effective Jan. 1, 2016.
Selden will oversee processing and payment of royalties services for clients of Administration Services. She will also identify opportunities to develop new competitive service offerings for existing and new domestic and international customers as market needs evolve.
Selden has 15 years of experience with multi-platform and digital businesses, most recently as SVP, Strategy, Operations and Business Development for Viacom Music Brands. During 10 years with Viacom, she launched its music publishing business, and increased revenue and profitability from its media assets by innovating ways to monetize content across the web, television and mobile. Selden held earlier positions with Napster 2.0 and HBO. She has an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a B.A. from Syracuse University.
“Lisa brings an innovative, entrepreneurial mindset and client service experience to this position. She has worked at the digital, cutting edge of traditional companies as they strive to leverage their assets in productive new ways to meet changing industry dynamics,” said Alice Kim, ASCAP Chief Strategy and Development Officer. “As we seek to expand capabilities for all of our members and customers, Lisa’s approach will be essential to helping ASCAP continue to flourish in tomorrow’s performing rights landscape.”
“Lisa is a key addition to the strong executive team that we are building to evolve ASCAP’s mission to meet the demands of the new music marketplace,” added ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews.
Mickey Jack Cones Launches Cor Entertainment, Co-Venture With Combustion Music
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Mickey Jack Cones, Cor Entertainment; Chris Van Belkom, Combustion Music; Jordan Walker and Johnny McGuire of Walker McGuire; Chris Farren, Combustion Music; Kenley Flynn, Combustion Music.
Producer Mickey Jack Cones has launched Cor Entertainment, including the subsidiaries Cor Music Publishing, and Cor Artist Services. The company has entered into a co-venture with Combustion Music.
The first artist signed to the new venture is duo Walker McGuire, which includes Jordan Walker of Vernon, Texas, and Johnny McGuire of Fairway, Kansas. The duo formed in 2012, and spent years performing at Nashville writers nights. The duo was featured by radio show hosts Big D and Bubba each week on the radio talent show, Chasin’ The Dream.
“I will definitely keep producing, but I’m branching out and able to have a little more creative control,” says Cones. “When you are just producing there are so many other elements that can make or break that album and artist. I feel I have new perspective to offer. I’ve been on the Rascal Flatts tour, I’ve done some tour management, I’ve been on radio tours. With the right act, I feel like I can bring all of that to the table to help streamline things where all these sidesteps are involved to get from A to Z.”
For a full profile on Mickey Jack Cones, click here.
Hirings & Promotions: Skyline Music Agency, Ryman Auditorium, The Doobie Brothers, Josh Turner
/by Jessica NicholsonSkyline Music Opens Nashville Office, Expands Team
“As the agency for country rock pioneers like Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Poco and Pure Prairie League, we’ve always done a lot of business there,” said Bruce Houghton, President of Skyline Music. “More recently some of our growing Americana roster including Darlingside, Star and Micey and Feufollet have found a great partner in Nashville’s Thirty Tigers. This, in addition to my spending more time in Nashville as part of Leadership Music’s current class, and we knew immediately that we had to be a part of the city’s exciting growth.”
As part of Skyline Music’s expansion, James Leslie has been promoted to Agent at Skyline and is based full-time in Nashville. Also, Adam Davis has joined Skyline Music as one of its three agents based in Los Angeles.
Hypebot.com, the Skyline-published music tech and new music industry site, will also house its Nashville operation at InDo.
Hirings, Promotions at Ryman Auditorium
Jason Oschwald
Jason Oschwald has joined Ryman Auditorium as Director of Marketing. Oschwald joins the venue from a 10-year stint at Feld Entertainment where he most recently was Director of Event Marketing & Sales. In his new role at the Ryman, Oschwald will oversee all concert and event marketing including proprietary events such as Bluegrass Nights and Sam’s Place. He also will work closely with sponsors on activations and programming. Oschwald can be reached at joschwald@ryman.com
Gary Levy, previously Senior Facility and Event Services Manager, has been promoted to Director of Operations. Part of the Ryman team since 2008, Levy joined the venue from the Florida Marlins. Levy will focus on guiding the quality, growth and profitability of the Ryman’s daytime, event and facility operations.
David Collier has been named Senior Events Manager. A 20-year veteran with the company, Collier started his career at the Opryland Hotel in 1995. He is responsible for all private rentals of the Ryman and manages the Ryman front of house event staff.
Genevieve Laas, previously Assistant to the General Manager, has been promoted to Booking & Events Manager. Laas will book and produce both Bluegrass Nights and Sam’s Place. She also will collaborate with the team on both private & public event bookings and operations. Laas joined the Ryman from the Grand Ole Opry and has been with the company since 2012.
The Doobie Brothers Add Little Feat’s Bill Payne To Touring Band
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers have added Bill Payne as resident keyboard player in their touring band. Payne is known for his own band, Little Feat, as well as performing on studio albums for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Pink Floyd, and more. He previously collaborated with The Doobie Brothers both in the studio and on the road.
Payne is still a member of Little Feat, and, while not a member of Leftover Salmon any longer, is still very much a part of their extended family and will still be sitting in with them when schedules allow.
Josh Turner’s Guitar Tech Promoted To Stage Manager
Riq Lazarus
Riq Lazarus, formerly the guitar tech/backline manager for Josh Turner, has been promoted to the position of stage manager.
He has been with Turner’s organization for five years.
‘Country Faith Christmas’ Book Shares Stars’ Favorite Memories
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Author and journalist Deborah Evans Price and Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.
For author Deborah Evans Price, Christmas has already arrived.
Her new book, Country Faith Christmas (Regnery Publishing), features 37 favorite Christmas memories, holiday traditions, and scriptures from country artists. Among the contributors are Luke Bryan, Dolly Parton, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Canaan Smith. Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman provided a foreword for the book, along with her own favorite Christmas memory and recipe.
“I loved the idea of getting people to talk about their Christmas traditions, and favorite recipes and memories,” said Price, who has been recognized by the CMA and GMA for her achievements as a journalist.
“I love [the story of] Charlie Daniels giving [his wife] Hazel a bowling ball for Christmas back when they were first married and didn’t have much money. He worked some extra gigs and surprised her, ‘cause she was on a bowling team and didn’t have her own ball. I love that story. They have been married for 51 years now and are such a great couple. Charlie wrote four Advent devotionals. He knows the Bible and is a great Bible scholar and to have him sit down and write those, it was so kind of him to do that.”
These vignettes are set alongside an assortment of Christmas photos and savory holiday recipes, including: Christmas coconut noodles from Eric Paslay’s mother; Phil Vassar’s pumpkin bread; Mickey Guyton’s blueberry dump cake; and whole grain gingerbread courtesy of Brad Paisley’s mother, Sandy.
“I really have to thank the mothers,” Price said. “They tracked down the recipes and the childhood photos and were such a great help putting this book together.”
The passion project came with a tight deadline. “We signed on to do the book in March and it was due in June. We really had to rush to get it together, but everybody has been so helpful, with artists jumping on the phone to do interviews,” she said.
Scotty McCreery was the first artist Price interviewed for Country Faith Christmas. “We were having dinner one night with Scotty when he was in town, along with his publicist, Scott Stem. I told him I was working on the book, and he was gracious and did the interview right then. So we finished Scotty’s chapter with the production team and we were able to send that out to show other people what we were doing and how we were going to incorporate childhood photos, recipes and design elements into each artist’s chapter.”
Price is quick to credit the artists and artists’ publicists for their aid throughout the process. “I couldn’t have done this without them. We got to the end and we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we don’t have Luke Bryan’s chili dog recipe!’ And Jessie [Schmidt, Bryan’s publicist] was a great help,” Price said.
Country Faith Christmas also includes a CD. The compilation, Country Faith Christmas: 14 Songs of the Season From Today’s Leading Country Music Stars, features Carrie Underwood (“Do You Hear What I Hear”), Dolly Parton (“Joy To The World”), Martina McBride (“Silent Night”), Alan Jackson (“Let It Be Christmas”), Hunter Hayes (“Go Tell It On The Mountain”), and more.
Pictured (L-R): Deborah Evans Price and Craig Morgan
Price released the first book in the series, Country Faith, in 2013. She has since expanded the Country Faith brand with a new jewelry line in collaboration with Los Angeles’ Bob Siemon Designs, a faith-based jewelry manufacturer that crafted merchandise for the 2004 movie The Passion of the Christ.
“They sent us photos and asked what we thought would most appeal to a country music consumer,” Price said of the line, which includes bracelets, keychains, necklaces and more.
After HarperCollins released the first Country Faith book, Price brought the rights to the Country Faith brand. “That’s how we were able to do the jewelry deal, because we own the name. I’ve learned a lot through this. I’m not a business person, but I’m learning to be,” she said.
There is more to come under the Country Faith brand. “Next year there will be two more albums coming out. A Country Faith hymns collection will come out around Easter, so we are selecting songs for that now. We have a wish list of 20-25 hymns we are in the process of getting the licenses for. In the fall, we will have a second volume of Country Faith which will be country songs from a faith-based perspective.”
Country Faith Christmas is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com, target.com, and more.
ASCAP’s Paul Williams To Be Honored by AIMP NY
/by Eric T. ParkerPaul Williams, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board
ASCAP President & Chairman Paul Williams will be honored with the 2015 Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Indie Award for his accomplishments and years of service to the music community. The presentation will be made at the AIMP NY chapter’s holiday party on December 2 at the Princeton Club in New York City by Caroline Bienstock, AIMP NY Chapter Executive Director and Carlin America, CEO.
“Paul Williams is one of the most universally-loved individuals in our industry, a true activist on behalf of creators and copyright holders, and a unique talent who has created a large body of timeless songs,” said Bienstock. “The AIMP is delighted to recognize his accomplishments and passionate leadership as an advocate for creators.”
Songwriter, singer, actor and recovery advocate Williams has served as ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board since 2009. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and three Grammy Awards and is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs include “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “An Old-Fashioned Love Song,” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “The Rainbow Connection.” This year, Williams was recognized with the Ivor Novello – PRS for Music Special International Award, and with a World Soundtrack Award for “The Apology Song” in the animated film, The Book of Life. He also co-authored the 2014 best-seller, Gratitude and Trust: Recovery is Not Just for Addicts, with Tracey Jackson.
In related news, ASCAP’s Nashville office preps two workshop sessions with Christopher Harris during the Christian Music Songwriters Workshop for December 7-8 from 6-9 p.m. Applicants should submit two original songs (with lyric sheet), a brief biography (including address, phone and email) to ascapchristianworkshop@gmail.com by Dec. 5.
Blaster Records Confirms Layoffs Amid Restructuring
/by Eric T. ParkerBlaster Records has announced a downsizing this afternoon (Dec. 1) largely affecting its promotion staff. Layoffs include Promotions VP Bob Reeves in addition to regionals Glenn Noblit, Tyler Waugh, Dave Collins, and Bart Allmand.
The label will continue to operate in Nashville and Cleveland, focusing on developing new artists from the ground up where radio is not the primary focus. The enterprise will also invest energy and resources in a publishing venture, which has been in development over the past year.
President Derek Simon confirmed the announcement to MusicRow.
Blaster’s roster includes Montgomery Gentry, James Otto, Dallas Smith, Chuck Wicks, Jared Ashley and Christian Lopez Band.
Dierks Bentley Lines Up European Tour Dates For 2016
/by Troy_StephensonDierks Bentley. Photo: GreenRoom PR
Dierks Bentley has announced an overseas tour slated for April 2016 that will include shows in Dublin, London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Bentley has completed two previous European tours and has also performed a sold-out show at the O2 in Manchester.
Tucker Beathard will join the tour as the opening act. Beathard is signed to BMLG’s Dot Records and Big Machine Music.
“We’ve been coming to Europe and slowly building a fan base since 2006, but it feels like something has really clicked recently,” shares Bentley. “The volume and size of the crowd last year really blew my band and I away and we’ve been talking about coming back ever since we walked offstage. We can’t wait for this tour!”
2016 European Tour Dates:
April 21-Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia Theater
April 22-London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
April 23-Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
April 24-Glasgow, UK @ Clyde Auditorium
Tickets will go on sale this Friday (Dec. 4) at 9 a.m. local time at dierks.com.
Mark Your Calendar — December 2015
/by Eric T. ParkerDecember 4
Johnny Cash/Johnny Cash’s Man In Black: Live in Denmark 1971/Columbia-Legacy Recordings
Jessie James Decker/This Christmas/Big Yellow Dog
December 11
Cam/Untamed/Arista Nashville-RCA Records
Chris Carmack/Pieces of You [EP]
December 1
No Shave November Beard Bash
December 2
6th annual CMT Artists of the Year from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
December 8
Songwriters Hall of Fame ballots due
December 9
ACM nomination ballot closes
December 10
Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors airs at 9/8c on NBC
December 12
31st annual Symphony Ball at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 17
American Country Countdown’s Top 10 Stories of 2015 at 8 p.m. ET
December 31
Nashville’s Jack Daniels Bash on Broadway with Kings of Leon
December 7
David Fanning/What’s Next/Stoney Creek
Chris Lane/Fix/Big Loud Records
Drake White/Livin’ The Dream/Dot Records
Brecken Miles/The Anchor/Rhyme Partners
Crosby Lane/Crucified
December 14
Crosby Lane/Crucified/Mansion
Jeff Cook/Christmas Joy/Heartland Records-Quest
Jeff Cook/Rock N Roll Guitar/Heartland Records-Quest
Cash Creek/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Heartland Records
Magnolia Belle/Christmas In Vegas/Heartland Records
Marketing Agency FlyteVu Expands Staff
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Ryan Milby, Natalie Logan
FlyteVu, a full-service marketing agency founded in October 2015 by former CAA agent Laura Hutfless and former WMN executive Jeremy Holley, has expanded its staff. Ryan Milby has been hired to oversee Creative, while Natalie Logan has been hired to oversee publicity.
Milby’s experience includes more than a decade of work in interactive art direction and web-based design. He served as Interactive Design Manager at Warner Music Group and has produced digital platforms and creative content for artists including Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Randy Travis, Brett Eldredge, as well as late night host Jimmy Fallon.
Logan was previously an Account Supervisor at Rogers & Cowan in Los Angeles where she planned and executed public relations campaigns in an array of industries. She has worked with clients such as Maserati, The Recording Academy, The Venetian Macao, Mondrian Los Angeles, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Columbia Sportswear, UPTV, and more. Additionally, she has worked on Academy Award campaigns and managed on-site activations at festivals and events including Sundance Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival, and New York Fashion Week.
“We’re excited to have Natalie and Ryan join the FlyteVu family and help further our commitment to help brands navigate the music landscape. Their individual experiences will be a valuable resource as we continue to grow our team,” said Holley.