ASCAP Commemorates CRS 45th Anniversary

ASCAP celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Country Radio Seminar (CRS) at its 53rd Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards on Monday, Nov. 2. CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne and former ASCAP executives Judy Harris (owner, Judy Harris Music), and Charlie Monk (CRS Director Emeritus) accepted the honor from ASCAP Board Member Barry Coburn.

The Country Radio Seminar was founded in 1969 to connect country radio with the country music industry. Harris and Monk were ASCAP executives who saw value in promoting the growth of country radio. ASCAP hosted the first seven years of planning meetings and ASCAP’s annual songwriter showcases have been among its most popular features.

 

Cole Swindell Celebrates Gold and Platinum Status

Cole Swindell was surprised on Wednesday (Nov. 4) with a gold and platinum plaque for his self-titled debut album, and its three chart-topping singles, “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” and “Chillin’ It.”

“I was literally just talking about how cool it would be to have a plaque with the gold album and three platinum singles, but to be surprised with it this week was amazing,” Swindell said. “A lot of work went into this by a lot of people, so this is ‘our’ plaque.”

Swindell may soon add another No. 1 to that list. His fourth single from the the album, “Let Me See Ya Girl,” is at No. 2 on the country radio charts.

 

ACM Welcomes A Thousand Horses

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Republic Nashville recording artists A Thousand Horses to the office while the band was in Los Angeles. While at the Academy, they performed songs from their current album, Southernality, and signed up for professional ACM membership as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

Watch a video of the band’s performance below.

Thanks to Converse, Inc., aspiring Nashville musicians will have the opportunity to record their original music alongside a team of experienced engineers in one of Nashville’s top studios, at no cost.

Converse, Inc. has will debut its first-ever Converse Rubber Tracks pop-up studio in Nashville, beginning Monday, Nov. 30, at Grand Victor Sound Nashville.

Nashville musicians of all ages and genres are invited to apply for studio time. If selected they will be given the opportunity to to record their music at Grand Victor Sound studio, at no cost to them. Each artist will retain all rights to their own music.

“As the birthplace of some of the greatest acts in music history, Nashville has a deep-rooted connection to music and we’re thrilled to bring the Converse Rubber Tracks experience to the city for the first time,” said Jed Lewis, Converse Global Music Marketing Director. “Converse is dedicated to thriving music communities world-wide, and we hope to inspire Nashville’s next generation of emerging artists by providing them valuable resources through this platform.”

Grand Victor Sound Nashville was built at the request of Chet Atkins, and first opened in 1965, when it was known as RCA Victor Nashville Sound Studios. Among the artists who have recorded at Grand Victor Sound Nashville are Dolly Parton, George Strait, George Jones, Hunter Hayes, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, and more.

Born out of the desire to give back to the global music community and encourage creativity, Converse Rubber Tracks began four years ago, and has brought the recording experience to musicians in San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Toronto, Montreal, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Mexico City, Barcelona, and many more, giving over 1,600 emerging musicians valuable recording time at state-of-the-art studios with a team of experienced engineers, at no cost to the artists.

Following this pop-up, the series will return to Nashville with two additional, week-long pop-up studios in 2016, providing ongoing opportunities for emerging artists within the city to create music and unleash their creative spirit.

The pop-up studio will run through Friday, Dec. 4. To register to apply for studio time, visit converse.com/rubbertracks.

Sony Music Nashville, Universal Music Group Nashville, Warner Music Nashville, and Big Machine Label Group kept the celebrations going long after the CMA Awards were over last night (Nov. 4).

 

Sony Music Nashville

Sony Music Nashville celebrated with an after-party at The Bell Tower. The CMA telecast included performances by Sony Music Nashville artists and eight-time show hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, as well as Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert, who extended her record-setting run with a sixth consecutive win as Female Vocalist. “Burning House” singer/songwriter Cam also appeared on the CMA Awards to help present the award for New Artist of the Year.

Universal Music Group Nashville

Universal Music Group Nashville celebrated their after-party presented by Marriott Rewards at the Musicians Hall of Fame. UMGN winners include: Entertainer – Luke Bryan; Album – Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller; Male Vocalist – Chris Stapleton; New Artist – Chris Stapleton; Vocal Group – Little Big Town; Single of the Year – Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”; Musical Event – “Raise ‘Em Up” (Keith Urban featuring Eric Church).

Warner Music Nashville

Following Blake Shelton’s performance of his Top 10 single, “Gonna,” Warner Music Nashville artists and staff gathered to cap the evening at their yearly celebration on Music Row.

Big Machine Label Group

Artists and industry A-listers loaded into Rosewall for the annual late night Big Machine Label Group CMA Awards after-party. Amped with a surging Beats photo wall, festive Crown Royal cocktails and a Cessna partnership, the celebration was in full swing even as sunrise loomed and guests noshed on an assortment of fusion bites. Mingling were Reba, Steven Tyler, Florida Georgia Line, Ronnie Dunn, Jennifer Nettles, The Band Perry, Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Maddie & Tae, RaeLynn, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, Drake White, The Mavericks, A Thousand Horses, Levi Hummon, Seth Alley, Ashley Campbell, Tara Thompson and Savannah Keyes. Guests also raised a glass to honor the record label’s 10-year anniversary with President/CEO Scott Borchetta and staff.

 

The legacies of Johnny Cash and George Jones were acknowledged with industry-related CMA awards last night (Nov. 4), prior to the CMA Awards telecast in Nashville.

Cash was recognized with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, accepted on his behalf.

In press materials, the award is described this way:

This award is for an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music. The award was established to recognize an artist who has achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales and public representation at the highest level. The artist receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on fans and industry alike.

Willie Nelson accepted the award that bears his name in 2012, followed by Kenny Rogers in 2013.

In addition, Jones’ dedication to traditional country music was saluted with the Joe Talbot Award. This is only the fifth time since 2001 that the honor has been bestowed — and the first time since 2007. Jones’ widow, Nancy Jones, accepted the award on his behalf.

The Joe Talbot Award is described this way:

This award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of Country Music’s values and tradition. The award may be presented to a person (living or deceased) as determined by the CMA Board of Directors to recognize an initiative or long-term contribution.

The awards were presented by Jana Kramer.