BMI re-elected six members of its Board of Directors during the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today (Oct. 6) at BMI’s office in Nashville.
The following Board members have been re-elected to new four-year terms:
Paul Karpowicz, current Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and President, Meredith Local Media Group;
Susan Davenport Austin, Presiding Director, BMI Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, Sheriden Broadcasting Corporation, and Senior Managing Director, Brock Capital Group LLC;
Craig Dubow, retired Chairman, President and CEO, Gannett Co., Inc.;
Philip Jones, former Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and past President, Meredith Corporation Broadcast Group;
Virginia Hubbard Morris, Chairman & CEO, Hubbard Radio, LLC and Vice President, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.;
Neil Smith, President, GNS Media, LLC
Continuing in their terms on the Board of Directors are: Michael O’Neill, President and CEO, BMI; Caroline Beasley, EVP and CFO, Beasley Media Group, Inc.; Amador Bustos, President and CEO, Bustos Media Holdings, LLC; Michael Fiorile, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dispatch Broadcast Group; Bill Hoffman, President, Cox Media Group; Catherine Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc.; Jerome Kersting, former President, Tribune Broadcasting and past EVP/CFO, Clear Channel Radio; Dave Lougee, President, TEGNA Media; Steven Newberry, President and CEO, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation; Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW Network; and Jack Sander, former Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and retired Vice Chairman, Belo Corporation.
Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Ranks Second in U.S. Ticket Sales
/by Craig_ShelburneNashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville has sold the second-highest amount of concert tickets in the U.S. over the last nine months, according to a third-quarter report from Pollstar, a touring trade publication. The arena ranks sixth in concert tickets sold worldwide so far this year.
Based solely on total concert and show attendance, Bridgestone Arena’s ticket sales have reached total of 504,153. When including the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and Nashville Predators home hockey games, Bridgestone Arena has hosted nearly 1 million people in the building year to date.
“Bridgestone Arena continues to set the standard of excellence for sports and entertainment venues in the United States,” Bridgestone Arena Senior Vice President of Booking David Kells said. “This ranking is due to the support of our fans, building staff, great performers, promoters, Metro Davidson County and the entire music community. We still have work to do to make us the No. 1 venue in the U.S., but we are pleased with the progress we’ve made.”
Bridgestone Arena underwent $11.2 million in renovations this summer, and included the addition of metal detectors at each entrance, in-bowl LED lights, 7,000 seats in the Lower Bowl, new concession stands and renovated restrooms.
Here are Pollstar’s Top-10 U.S. Venues (Show & Concert Ticket Sales):
1. Madison Square Garden (New York)
2. Bridgestone Arena (Nashville)
3. Staples Center (Los Angeles)
4. Forum (Inglewood, Calif.)
5. Allstate Arena (Rosemont, Ill.)
6. Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
7. American Airlines Center (Dallas)
8. Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
9. Phillips Arena (Atlanta)
10. Amalie Arena (Tampa Bay, Fla.)
In Pictures: Miranda Lambert, Steve Cropper, Bud Wendell, Johnny Cash Honored At Music City Walk of Fame
/by Jessica NicholsonMiranda Lambert receives a star on the Music City Walk of Fame. Photo: Donn Jones.
Miranda Lambert, the late Johnny Cash, Steve Cropper and E.W. “Bud” Wendell were honored yesterday (Oct. 6) with stars on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame.
Lambert is a five-time reigning CMA and six-time reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and a GRAMMY winner with four Albums of the Year. Her fifth album, Platinum, debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Album Chart and Billboard’s Country Albums Chart. Friend and fellow recording artist Dierks Bentley was on hand to honor Lambert.
Cropper has co-written some of music’s biggest classics, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” with friend Otis Redding. He is also an accomplished producer, working with the likes of Wilson Pickett, John Mellencamp and John Prine, and masterful guitar player, having toured with Neil Young and Jimmy Buffett. He was also an original member of the Blues Brothers Band. Cropper has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Wendell is one of Nashville’s foremost hospitality executives, having served as vice president of WSM and general manager of the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland theme park. He ultimately served as president and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment, overseeing the launch of the Nashville Network, acquisition of Country Music Television, expansion of the Opryland Hotel, renovation of the Ryman Auditorium and opening of the Wildhorse Saloon. The Country Music Hall of Fame’s Peter Cooper was in attendance to honor Wendell.
Cash is among the few artists to sell more than 90 million records. The country music icon is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has earned 17 GRAMMY awards, including in 2004 for Best Short Form Video for his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” Cash’s siblings Tommy Cash and Joanne Cash Yates were on hand to honor the late singer-songwriter.
Pictured (L-R): Tommy Cash, Steve Cropper, Miranda Lambert, E.W. “Bud” Wendell, Joanne Cash Yates. Photo: Donn Jones
Pictured (L-R): Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert. Photo: Donn Jones
Steve Cropper. Photo: Donn Jones
Pictured (L-R): Peter Cooper, E.W. “Bud” Wendell. Photo: Donn Jones
CRB Offers Early Look at Country Radio Seminar 2016 Agenda
/by Jessica NicholsonThe three-day event will offer attendees panels and educational presentations centered around hot topics, sales, technology, social media, programming, and more.
CRS Agenda Committee chairman Tom Hanrahan states, “Our 2016 Agenda Committee has been working hard since our initial meetings in June to deliver world class content for CRS 2016. I’m continually amazed by their hard work and dedication. This preview of the agenda demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver our best to CRS attendees. I can’t wait for February to get here!”
Talent lineups and more agenda specifics will be released leading up to the event.
The CRS 2016 Agenda-At-A-Glance includes:
(*Schedule subject to change*)
Monday, February 8:
8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Registration Opens
3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
3:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Artist Humanitarian Award Presentation
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Daily Featured Speaker
5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Grand Ole Opry
9:45 p.m. CRS After Hours
Tuesday, February 9:
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Programming Mentoring Breakfast
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Sales Mentoring Breakfast
9:00-9:50 a.m. Daily Featured Speaker
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CRS Research Presentation
11:30 a.m.-1:50 p.m. UMG Nashville Sponsored Luncheon
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Radio as The Insurgent: What if “They” Were Here First?
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Beyond the News Feed – Using Social Media For More Than “Listen Now”
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. While You Were Out: To The Beach and Back
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Big Market Sound in Any Size Town Part:1 Imaging Secrets Revealed
3:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m. The New Listener Journey Map
3:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m. Women in the Industry: Breaking Barriers and Balance
3:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m. Big Market Sound in Any Size Town Part II: Get Prepped
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Revenues on the Horizon: Local Advertisers Talk Radio
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Big Market Sound In Any Size Town Part III: Mastering The Music
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. The Story of the Tortoise and the Hare – Country Charts vs. Pop Charts
7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. CRS After Hours
Wednesday, February 10:
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Women Mentoring Breakfast
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Tech Breakfast
9:00 a.m.-9:50 a.m. Daily Featured Speaker
10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. Put Me In Coach! The Best Talent Coaches Converge
10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. What YOU Want To Know About Digital and Social
10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. Promotions Start To Finish
11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. Listeners: Are You Speaking Their Language?
11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. Social Content Creation Bootcamp
Noon-1:50 p.m. BMLG Sponsored Luncheon
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Winning The First Occasion
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. From the Outside Looking In: Other Formats Give Their Take On Country
2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Frenemy: Competitor or Brand Extension?
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Featured Speaker
5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m. New Faces Cocktail Reception
6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. New Faces of Country Music Dinner and Show
10:00 p.m. CRS After Hours
LifeNotes: Country, Pop Hitmaker Billy Joe Royal Passes
/by Robert K OermannBilly Joe Royal
Country and pop song stylist Billy Joe Royal has died at age 73.
The Georgia native became a pop star with his version of songwriter Joe South’s “Down in the Boondocks” in 1965. The song was recorded for the country market by both Penny DeHaven and Freddy Weller, predicting Royal’s later career.
Billy Joe Royal followed his breakthrough hit with South’s “I Knew You When.” Linda Ronstadt made the country charts with this song in 1983. Royal introduced South’s “These Are Not My People” in 1967. Weller made it a big country hit in 1969.
“Hush,” also written by South, charted on the pop charts for Royal in 1967. Deep Purple made it a major rock hit in 1970.
Billy Joe Royal’s last big pop hit was 1969’s “Cherry Hill Park.”
He resurfaced in Nashville in 1985 as a country act singing Gary Burr’s “Burned Like a Rocket.” The song was a top-10 hit and rising when the Challenger rocket exploded with its astronauts inside. This is said to have stalled its progress.
Royal rebounded with 1987’s country hits “Old Bridges Burn Slow,” “Members Only” (a duet with Donna Fargo) and “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow,” one of his biggest country radio hits. Its video was No. 1 on CMT. His 1987 LP The Royal Treatment became a Gold Record.
Billy Joe Royal lived in Music City for 20 years. During this time, he sang such country hits as “Out of Sight and on My Mind” (1988), “Tell It Like It Is” (1989), “Love Has No Right” (1989), “Till I Can’t Take It Anymore” (1989) and “Searchin’ For Some Kind of Clue” (1989).
He last made the country charts with 1992’s “I’m Okay.” Royal was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1988. In later years, he toured on the “oldies” circuit.
Billy Joe Royal died suddenly on Tuesday, Oct. 6. He is survived by daughter Savannah Royal and by stepsons Trey and Joey Rivabank. He also remained close to ex-wife Michelle Royal.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.
Couple Surrenders In Dave Brainard Assault
/by Jessica Nicholson(L-R): Nichole Hargrove, Dustin Hargrove. Photo: Metro Nashville Police
A Maury County, Tenn., couple has surrendered in the assault of music producer Dave Brainard and his friend Deborah DeLoach, reports The Tennessean.
Dustin Carl Hargrove and Nichole M. Hargrove, both of Columbia, both surrendered to Metro Nashville Police on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Dustin Hargrove was charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault. Nichole Hargrove was charged with misdemeanor assault.
The couple allegedly struck Brainard and his friend DeLoach with their car during the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 27, on Demonbreun near the roundabout in Nashville’s Music Row area.
“The victims reported that Nichole Hargrove got out of the Infiniti and began screaming at Deloach and Brainard,” police said in a press release on Tuesday.
Dustin Hargrove’s bond was set at $7,500 and Nichole Hargrove’s was set at $1,000 on Tuesday.
According to Nashville police, the couple was found through an investigation led by Detective Anthony Chandler, with the aid of tips given to Nashville Crime Stoppers. Chandler made an unanticipated stop at the Hargrove residence on Tuesday, which led the couple to concede their involvement in the assault.
According to police, the Hargroves visited Nashville on Sept. 26 to attend a wedding reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
BMI Re-Elects Six Members to Board of Directors
/by Jessica NicholsonThe following Board members have been re-elected to new four-year terms:
Paul Karpowicz, current Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and President, Meredith Local Media Group;
Susan Davenport Austin, Presiding Director, BMI Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, Sheriden Broadcasting Corporation, and Senior Managing Director, Brock Capital Group LLC;
Craig Dubow, retired Chairman, President and CEO, Gannett Co., Inc.;
Philip Jones, former Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and past President, Meredith Corporation Broadcast Group;
Virginia Hubbard Morris, Chairman & CEO, Hubbard Radio, LLC and Vice President, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.;
Neil Smith, President, GNS Media, LLC
Continuing in their terms on the Board of Directors are: Michael O’Neill, President and CEO, BMI; Caroline Beasley, EVP and CFO, Beasley Media Group, Inc.; Amador Bustos, President and CEO, Bustos Media Holdings, LLC; Michael Fiorile, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dispatch Broadcast Group; Bill Hoffman, President, Cox Media Group; Catherine Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc.; Jerome Kersting, former President, Tribune Broadcasting and past EVP/CFO, Clear Channel Radio; Dave Lougee, President, TEGNA Media; Steven Newberry, President and CEO, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation; Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW Network; and Jack Sander, former Chairman, BMI Board of Directors and retired Vice Chairman, Belo Corporation.
CMHoF To Honor Garth Fundis on Saturday
/by Eric T. ParkerGarth Fundis
Garth Fundis will be honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Music Masters series on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 p.m. in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition Trisha Yearwood: The Song Remembers When.
Long-time Yearwood producer Fundis will share insights into his long career working with Yearwood, as well as additional artists including Don Williams, Keith Whitley, and Sugarland.
Following the program in the museum’s Ford Theater, Fundis will sign copies of a Hatch Show Print poster commemorating the day.
In the mid-1990s, Fundis presided over the Nashville division of the record label Almo Sounds. He also owned Sound Emporium Recording Studios and served as A&R at RCA. He has been President/Creative Director at Slate Creek Records.
Attendees must have a program pass to guarantee admission to this event. Program passes are free with Museum admission or membership and distributed two hours prior to the event at the Museum’s box office on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is general admission and limited.
Museum members only may also reserve their program passes in advance by phone (615-416-2050) or via reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org. Reservations are accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is at capacity. The program will also be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.
Jason Aldean Tour Semi Crashes in Canada
/by Craig_ShelburneJason Aldean. Photo: CMA
A semi truck carrying tour equipment for Jason Aldean flipped on the Trans Canada highway early this morning (Oct. 6), following his performance in Kamloops, a city in British Columbia. Because the semi was hauling musical equipment, the crash forced Aldean to postpone his Burn It Down concert stop in Prince George. Originally scheduled for tonight, it will now take place on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
“The driver suffered minor injuries when the truck went off the right-hand side of the road, striking a rock, causing the truck to flip,” said Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Cheryl Bush. “The truck contained music equipment belonging to Jason Aldean’s band, which had just performed in Kamloops and was on the road to its next tour stop in Prince George.”
According to KFJC News in Kamloops, Bush says the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Wrensong’s Ree Guyer Buchanan Talks Breaking Old Dominion
/by Sarah SkatesOld Dominion
MusicRow recently checked in with Wrensong’s Ree Guyer Buchanan to find out about the path that took Old Dominion from hard-working indie band to rising major label stars. Old Dominion is comprised of Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, Whit Sellers, and Brad Tursi, all seasoned songwriters and musicians. The band’s Sony Music Nashville debut Meat and Candy will be released Nov. 6. It was produced by Shane McAnally.
Here’s what Buchanan had to say about the project:
This is a preview of the Publisher Town Hall Meeting, which will be featured in the upcoming Publisher Issue of MusicRow magazine.
In the time since this interview was recorded, John Marks has exited SiriusXM.
Hill Entertainment Group Adds Michael Sloane
/by Troy_StephensonMichael Sloane
Hill Entertainment Group has announced that Michael Sloane has joined the entertainment, management and solutions company.
Sloane will oversee Hill Entertainment Group’s digital marketing strategy as the company joins the increasing number of management firms to add digital to its menu of in-house services.
“We are excited to have Michael Sloane join the Hill Entertainment team to head up our digital strategy and initiatives,” said founder Greg Hill, “In our changing marketplace, management companies need to offer more and more services that play on our brand building expertise. Sloane’s experience speaks for itself and is a great addition to our team.
A former Director of Interactive at Big Machine Label Group, Sloane worked with artists such as Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line and was involved with campaigns for major pop stars from all genres while working for echomusic and later Live Nation.
“I’ve worked with Greg in several capacities over my career and have always been struck by his unique perspective on the industry,” says Sloane. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Hill Entertainment Group and look forward to driving innovation on behalf of his clients.”
Hill Entertainment Group currently represents recording artists Jana Kramer, Rodney Atkins, The Swon Brothers and Naomi Judd, as well as LANco and Legendary Coaches.