BMI Celebrates During ‘Tennessee Whisky and Cigars’ Party
BMI’s Nashville office celebrated its partnerships with AT&T, HD Radio, Texas Roadhouse, and more via a Tennessee Whisky and Cigars party at BMI Nashville’s rooftop terrace. Drinks were provided courtesy of George Dickel Master Distillery.
The partnerships allow BMI to support songwriters and music composers with festival appearances, writing workshops, and additional events.
Additional partners aiding BMI’s mission include SunTrust, Avenue Bank, Epiphone, Diageo, City National Bank, and Beam Suntory.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Diageo’s Allison Ferreira, George Dickel Master Distiller Allisa Henley and BMI’s Jody Williams.
Randy Houser Earns RIAA Gold Certification
Randy Houser‘s hit, “Like A Cowboy,” which Houser penned with Brice Long, has been certified gold by the RIAA. “Like A Cowboy” has garnered more than 500,000 sales and on-demand streaming units.
Houser is currently on Luke Bryan‘s Kick The Dust Up Tour, and Bryan surprised Houser with the news during a tour stop in Sacramento, and presented him with a gold plaque during a collaboration with Houser and fellow tourmate Dustin Lynch midway through the concert.
Pictured (L-R): Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, and Randy Houser.
CTM Writer’s INK’s Chris Roberts To Release Album
Chris Roberts. Photo: Amanda Van Sandt
Chris Roberts, a writer/artist with CTM Writer’s INK, will release his first solo album, The Way West, on Oct. 30 via TuneCore, iTunes, and online at catchthismusic.com. The project features 11 tracks, all co-written by Roberts. The Way West was produced by Jason Gantt, and includes collaborations with Sam Ashworth, Johnny Bulford, Chris Gelbuda, Scott Stepakoff, and more.
“I think this solo record is long overdue,” said Roberts, a founding member of the band One Flew South. “I’ve been singing and recording in groups and on demos for other people for years and just realized I don’t have an album of just me.”
Roberts has toured with artists including Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett, and Dave Matthews. He spent several years on New York City’s Broadway circuit, as a cast member in The Civil War, Tommy, and Godspell.
Roberts signed to CTM Writer’s INK in 2014.
Former Country Music Hall of Fame Media Relations Exec To Release Debut Novel
Tina Wright
Tina Wright, the former longtime head of media relations at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, has written her debut novel. Heaven in the Dark, a love story spanning two continents and two generations, will be released on Oct. 20.
No Shave November for St. Jude Preps with Josh Turner
/by Eric T. ParkerNo Shave November is back! The fifth annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will kick off with a Day 1 photo, set to take place Monday, Nov 2 at the CMA Building 9:15am. This year’s Chairman of the Beard is Josh Turner.
Cap the shaggy month off at a yet-to-be-decided Nashville location for the Beard Bash with awards, Tues., Dec 1.
Registration and donation portals for the November project are available at NSN4SJK.com. Donations raised through November will help St. Jude continue to find cures and save children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
To date, a total of $540,000 has been raised from No Shave November for the organization.
Warner/Chappell Production Music Names VP, Business Development
/by Jessica NicholsonDavid MacMahon Mount
David MacMahon Mount has joined Warner/Chappell Production Music as VP, Business Development. He will be responsible for the management and growth of the company’s U.S. business.
Mount previously worked at APM Music, with experience in the production music industry, business development, broadcast programming, emerging markets and sales leadership across several industries. Mount is also a musician and songwriter.
Warner/Chappell Production Music President & CEO Randy Wachtler said, “David’s proven track record both inside and outside the production music industry will be a valuable asset to the team and to our current and future clients. We are thrilled to have him on board and are excited to further develop our success within the North American market.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to be representing such an iconic company in the music industry. In a rapidly evolving and competitive marketplace, Warner/Chappell Production Music is consistently producing the best high quality music available, a critical need for all clients and productions. Coupled with a full service approach and dedication to our clients, Warner/Chappell Production Music will continue to be the go-to music library in the industry,” added Mount.
ABC News Special Will Cover Country’s Crossover Hits
/by Craig_ShelburneRobin Roberts
Fifteen of the most popular country crossover songs will be the subject of a new ABC special that will air Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. ET. The one-hour special is titled Countdown to the CMA Awards: Country’s Greatest Crossover Hits With Robin Roberts.
Brett Eldredge, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood will be performing their versions of the classic songs on the show. In addition, the special includes appearances by Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Lee Greenwood, Randy Houser, Sam Hunt, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, The Band Perry, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, and Chris Young.
According to ABC press materials:
In addition, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live will build up to the CMA Awards with performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Brett Eldredge, Kip Moore, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young and more. From Oct. 31–Nov. 1, ABC Radio will also feature a two-hour special hosted by Roberts featuring an in-depth look at this year’s CMA Awards nominees and songs.
The CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Nov. 4 on ABC.
Warner/Chappell Brings Global A&R Conference To Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jon Platt (CEO, Warner/Chappell Music), Nicolle Galyon (W/C Songwriter), Lee Miller (W/C Songwriter), Liz Rose (W/C Songwriter), Cameron Strang (Chairman, W/C and Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Records), Ben Vaughn (EVP, Warner/Chappell Nashville), Tim Nichols (W/C Songwriter), Jody Williams (VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville)
Warner/Chappell welcomed several of its top executives from around the world to Nashville this month for the publishing company’s global A&R conference. Warner/Chappell CEO Jon Platt chose Nashville for the inaugural event because of the Nashville office’s recent chart success, as well as the city’s deep-rooted support for the songwriting community.
“Nashville was the perfect location to gather our very talented colleagues from around the globe and collaborate in real time, and Ben Vaughn and the Warner/Chappell Nashville team were excellent hosts. The conference allowed us to share ideas, learn from one another, and spawn some potential collaborations—across different genres and coming from different parts of the world—that might have otherwise not have happened. Everyone brought their ‘A’ game and we’re a stronger unit for it,” said Platt.
Pictured (L-R): Warner/Chappell Songwriters Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller, Liz Rose, Tim Nichols.
In addition to meetings, the event featured a BMI-sponsored evening at the Country Music Hall of Fame — which included a museum tour, cocktails, dinner and a writers round featuring Warner/Chappell songwriters Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller, Liz Rose, and Tim Nichols—as well as an ASCAP-sponsored dinner at Prima Restaurant.
Pictured (L-R): Ben Vaughn (EVP, Warner/Chappell Nashville), Jon Platt (CEO, Warner/Chappell Music), John Titta (EVP, Creative Services, ASCAP), Clark Miller (EVP, Operations, North America, Warner/Chappell Music)
“The Nashville music community is proving time and again to be a global ‘Music City’ and it was a real honor for Jon Platt to have the Global A&R Conference in Nashville,” said Ben Vaughn, EVP of Warner/Chappell Nashville. “Warner/Chappell has best-in-class A&R and it was a productive and enriching experience to grow relationships with peers that truly appreciate our extremely talented songwriters.”
Pictured (L-R): Derek George (W/C Songwriter), Clark Miller (EVP, Operations, North America, Warner/Chappell Music), Michael Martin (VP, ASCAP), Ben Vaughn (EVP, Warner/Chappell Nashville), Brandon Lay (W/C Songwriter), Ashley Gorley (W/C Songwriter), Cale Dodds (W/C Songwriter), Jon Platt (CEO, Warner/Chappell Music), Seth Ennis (W/C Songwriter), John Titta (EVP, Creative Services, ASCAP), Brett James (W/C Songwriter), Marc Emert-Hutner (VP, ASCAP)
LifeNotes: Producer/Guitarist John Jennings Passes
/by Robert K OermannJohn Jennings. Photo: Clark Thomas
Producer, guitarist and recording artist John Jennings, best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter, died on Saturday, Oct. 17 at age 62. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Jennings was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer in March 2014. He wrote a song about his health struggle at the time titled “I Believe Love Will Save My Life.”
As a young musician in the D.C. clubs, Jennings was introduced to the then-unknown Mary Chapin Carpenter by The Starland Vocal Band’s Bill Danoff (the writer of its hit “Afternoon Delight” and co-writer of “Take Me Home Country Roads”).
Jennings and Carpenter began performing shows together. They recorded an album to sell at their shows in 1986. It was picked up by Columbia Records in Nashville and released as Hometown Girl in 1987.
He co-produced all of Carpenter’s subsequent Nashville efforts, including nearly a dozen Top 10 country hits. These records garnered five CMA Awards and five Grammy Awards. Jennings and Carpenter co-wrote her singles “Never Had It So Good” (1989) and “Going Out Tonight” (1991).
John Jennings has also produced albums for Janis Ian, John Gorka, Robin & Linda Williams, Bill Morrissey, The Rankin Family and Beausoleil. He lived in Nashville for several years, beginning in 1993. As a guitarist, he has played on albums by The Indigo Girls, Iris DeMent, Kathy Mattea, Cheryl Wheeler, George Jones, Joe Diffie, Ricky Skaggs, Darol Anger and Tony Rice. In addition, he has recorded the solo albums Buddy (1997), I Belong to You (1998), More Noise From Nowhere (2001), Four (2005), It’s All Good (2007) and Everybody Sing in 2010.
Born in Luray, Va., in 1953, John Jennings was a self-taught guitarist who began forming bands when he was in the sixth grade. At high school in Falls Church, Va., he played in a number of teen rock bands. Following his graduation in 1973, he played in folk, rock and pop groups. He also did some ad-jingle writing. He was an early member of the hard-rock group Pentagram.
As a result of his success with Mary Chapin Carpenter, he won more than 20 Wammie Awards (Washington Area Music Association). In 1998, he was elected president of the D.C. chapter of The Recording Academy.
Because of his illness, he withdrew from touring with Carpenter last year.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
BMI Foundation Announces Nashville Songwriting Scholarship Details
/by Troy_StephensonThe BMI Foundation has established a Nashville Songwriting Scholarship. It will be an annual competition open to emerging country music songwriters nationwide who will compete for a $5,000 scholarship.
BMI Foundation Board Member and Nashville music industry executive, Clay Bradley, serves as Director of the competition.
Entrants must be current students of a U.S. college or university and between the ages of 17 and 24. Entries are open to the following genres: Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots. All lyrics and music must be original. Online applications opened Oct. 1, 2015 and must be submitted no later than Feb. 15, 2016. For more information, visit bmifoundation.org/nashville.
The program has been generously funded by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in celebration of its 75th anniversary.
CMA Awards Add Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Blake Shelton
/by Craig_ShelburneJason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and Blake Shelton are the latest artists to join the performance lineup at the CMA Awards.
Aldean is nominated in the Album of the Year category for Old Boots, New Dirt, produced by Michael Knox. Bryan will compete for Entertainer of the Year (an award he claimed in 2014) and Male Vocalist of the Year.
In addition, Hunt is nominated for Best New Artist, as well as Single and Song of the Year for “Take Your Time.” Shelton is on the ballot for Male Vocalist , while “Lonely Tonight,” his collaboration with Ashley Monroe, is up for the Vocal Event trophy.
Previously announced performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maddie & Tae, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood, as well as one-of-a kind collaborations from Eric Church with Hank Williams, Jr.; Thomas Rhett with Fall Out Boy; and Keith Urban with John Mellencamp.
Hosted by Paisley and Underwood, the CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Nov. 4.
KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards Expands Staff
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Ethan Helms, Jacoby Knott, and Cait Murphy.
Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment (KPE), announced a staff promotion and new hires today for her management firm that handles the careers of Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Kelleigh Bannen, CB30, Jon Langston, and Chancie Neal.
Jacoby Knott has been promoted from Executive Assistant to Kerri Edwards to Digital Marketing Manager. Jacoby will oversee all digital responsibilities for the KPE roster, including social media, account programs and new online endeavors. The Paris, Tenn., native graduated summa cum laude from MTSU. She can be reached at jacoby@KPENTERTAINMENT.CO
Ethan Helms has been hired as Tour Digital Coordinator and will be responsible for capturing digital content for all the artists managed by KPE. Ethan will also be a liaison with sponsors on Bryan’s headline tours. Helms is originally from Belzoni, Miss., and graduated from Belmont University. Prior to joining KPE, Ethan was a regional radio promoter for Cold River Records. Ethan can be reached at Ethan@KPENTERTAINMENT.CO
Cait Murphy has been hired as the new Executive Assistant to Kerri Edwards after an internship with the management company. She is originally from Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from Belmont University. Murphy can be reached at Cait@KPENTERTAINMENT.CO
The company also operates a publishing arm of Peanut Creek Music, a joint venture with Sony/ATV, as well as a partnership with Kobalt Music Publishing representing songwriter Mike Mobley.
Additionally, KP Entertainment has partnered with Fly Hi Productions and operates the management of Luke Bryan’s “Farm Tour.”
Cracker Barrel Preps Home Collection with LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman
/by Eric T. ParkerKimberly Schlapman with daughter Daisy Pearl. Photo: Instagram
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Kimberly Schlapman, member of country group Little Big Town, have announced an upcoming collection of 50 home goods and kitchenware items ranging from $3.99 to $39.99 available exclusively at all 635 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations and online at crackerbarrel.com.
“From grandmother’s aprons to flea market finds, I have always had a great love for all things home,” Schlapman said. “Cracker Barrel and I have designed a collection of some of my favorite things, and I’m thrilled to share them with you. I hope these goodies sing to you as they do to me and that they find a special place in your home to give you that cozy, nostalgic feeling.”
“What made this partnership special from the start is Kimberly’s love of Cracker Barrel and our shared passion for bringing friends and family together for a great meal,” said Laura Daily, senior vice president of retail for Cracker Barrel. “To watch her excitement as the Oh Gussie! retail line came to life was an absolute joy for us, and we’re thrilled to share it with our guests.”
Schlapman hosts her own cooking show entitled Kimberly’s Simply Southern, which has aired on Great American Country and Cooking Channel. In April 2015, Kimberly released her first cookbook, OH GUSSIE! Cooking and Visiting in Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen (published by William Morrow Cookbooks).
Industry Ink: BMI, RIAA, Catch This Music, Tina Wright
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI Celebrates During ‘Tennessee Whisky and Cigars’ Party
BMI’s Nashville office celebrated its partnerships with AT&T, HD Radio, Texas Roadhouse, and more via a Tennessee Whisky and Cigars party at BMI Nashville’s rooftop terrace. Drinks were provided courtesy of George Dickel Master Distillery.
The partnerships allow BMI to support songwriters and music composers with festival appearances, writing workshops, and additional events.
Additional partners aiding BMI’s mission include SunTrust, Avenue Bank, Epiphone, Diageo, City National Bank, and Beam Suntory.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Diageo’s Allison Ferreira, George Dickel Master Distiller Allisa Henley and BMI’s Jody Williams.
Randy Houser Earns RIAA Gold Certification
Randy Houser‘s hit, “Like A Cowboy,” which Houser penned with Brice Long, has been certified gold by the RIAA. “Like A Cowboy” has garnered more than 500,000 sales and on-demand streaming units.
Houser is currently on Luke Bryan‘s Kick The Dust Up Tour, and Bryan surprised Houser with the news during a tour stop in Sacramento, and presented him with a gold plaque during a collaboration with Houser and fellow tourmate Dustin Lynch midway through the concert.
Pictured (L-R): Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, and Randy Houser.
CTM Writer’s INK’s Chris Roberts To Release Album
Chris Roberts. Photo: Amanda Van Sandt
Chris Roberts, a writer/artist with CTM Writer’s INK, will release his first solo album, The Way West, on Oct. 30 via TuneCore, iTunes, and online at catchthismusic.com. The project features 11 tracks, all co-written by Roberts. The Way West was produced by Jason Gantt, and includes collaborations with Sam Ashworth, Johnny Bulford, Chris Gelbuda, Scott Stepakoff, and more.
“I think this solo record is long overdue,” said Roberts, a founding member of the band One Flew South. “I’ve been singing and recording in groups and on demos for other people for years and just realized I don’t have an album of just me.”
Roberts has toured with artists including Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett, and Dave Matthews. He spent several years on New York City’s Broadway circuit, as a cast member in The Civil War, Tommy, and Godspell.
Roberts signed to CTM Writer’s INK in 2014.
Former Country Music Hall of Fame Media Relations Exec To Release Debut Novel
Tina Wright
Tina Wright, the former longtime head of media relations at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, has written her debut novel. Heaven in the Dark, a love story spanning two continents and two generations, will be released on Oct. 20.