Industry Ink (8-2-13)

nashville is nowville logoT.J. Martell Foundation will launch the first Nashville Is Nowville charity event on Sept. 7 at the Corporate Flight Management “hangar” in Smyrna, Tenn. The event, created to celebrate all things “Nashville,” will feature live performances by musicians Ryan Kinder and Joanna Smith, catering from local restaurants, as well as Nashvillian and Project Runway’s Amanda Valentine debuting her new fashion line.
CFM is located at 276 Doug Warpoole Road in Smyrna, Tenn.
Tickets and VIP tables are available now at tjmartellfoundation.org.

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stageit111Live & interactive virtual concerts online venue StageIt has plans to open a Nashville office. The company, founded in Los Angeles, has hired 19-year-old Morgan Torp-Pedersen to lead the Artist Relations department.
Prior to joining StageIt, Torp-Pedersen worked with the JaneDear girls as a personal assistant and produced Nelly Joy‘s debut music video “Trampoline.” She also opened publishing company Dansk Acres Publishing and worked for AXS TV as a production assistant.
Torp-Pedersen is based in Nashville and can be reached at 615-766-7928 or at [email protected].

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Jeremy Ash

Jeremy Ash


Capitol CMG Publishing‘s Jeremy Ash has been promoted to Director of Film/TV Music. He will transition out of his day-to-day role as Creative Director where he worked with songwriters including Ben Glover, Chris Stevens, Fred Wilhelm and Jeremy Bose, among others. Ash will work closely with the teams at Universal Music Publishing and Universal Music Enterprises as well as the Capitol CMG labels.
“Jeremy has excelled in film and TV placements over the past few years so this is a natural fit for him,” says Eddie DeGarmo, President of Capitol CMG Publishing.

Two Nashville Production Studios Merge

PK Pictures PK Pictures|NuMynd Studios has merged with Zoe Creative Services to offer television, video and new media production, according to Nashville Business Journal.
Together, the client list of the two companies has included Country Music Association, CMT, GAC, Sony, Microsoft, Exxon, Walmart, along with Olympic media events and BMI awards shows.
PK Pictureszoe creative logo was created in 1986 and holds a production/studio facilities on Elm Hill Pike. Zoe Creative Services was founded in 2002 by D.J. Goller and is located at downtown Nashville’s Cummins Station. It is a full-service production and post-production facility.
“The team from Zoe Creative will broaden and deepen our talent and resource base. We anticipate increased production work for the Nashville community and we will be able to attract more and bigger projects to the city,” PK Pictures|NuMynd Studios CEO Greg Page said. “Nashville’s reputation for television, video and new media production is growing every day and we’re positioned to play a leading role in all these areas.”
“With decades of experience, this combination of production talent with outstanding facilities ensures that all of our clients will get the highest quality product possible,” said Goller. “The first-rate staff and personal service that clients have come to know at Zoe Creative Services are a perfect fit with the talent and experience that PK Pictures has to offer.”
Details on a new location and name for the post-merger company have not yet been announced.

'MusicRow' No. 1 Song

Photo Credit: Adam Taylor

Florida Georgia Line. Photo Credit: Adam Taylor


After only 10 weeks, Florida Georgia Line has taken our MusicRow No. 1 spot with their current single “Round Here.” This notches the duo’s third single from their debut Republic Nashville release Here’s To The Good Times to reach the pinnacle of the chart.
“Round Here” was produced by Joey Moi and boasts writer credits from Rhett Atkins, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins.
MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann reviewed the single in June 2013, noting: “It’s official: The entire country music format is now songs about dirt-road partying. Now that that’s settled, this is fantastically well-sung, irresistibly catchy, bodaciously rhythmic and dazzlingly produced.”
The Peter Zavadil-directed music video traces the Florida and Georgia natives’ parallel paths in their hometowns of Ormond Beach, Fla., and Monroe, Ga. Take a look at the boys in their natural habitat:

Warner/Chappell Production Music Appoints President, CEO

Randy Wachtler

Randy Wachtler


Warner/Chappell Production Music, Warner Music Group’s production music arm, has appointed Randy Wachtler as President & CEO. Wachtler is based in Nashville and will report to Cameron Strang, Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music. Wachtler replaces Randy Thornton, who has left the company.
Wachtler founded production music company 615 Music, which has earned more than 70 awards for excellence in music composition including two National Emmy awards. The company was acquired by Warner Music Group in 2010 and Wachtler was named EVP, North America, for Warner/Chappell Production Music, a post he left in January 2012.
Randy co-founded the Production Music Association (PMA), is a board member of AIMP-Nashville (the Association of Independent Music Publishers), and has served on the boards of Leadership Music and NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences).

Hiring, Promotions at Country Music Association

Tawni Fite

Tawni Fite


The Country Music Association has named Tawni Fite Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships. Fite joins CMA from PepsiCo, where she served as the Mid-Atlantic Region Food Service Senior Field Marketing Manager for two years and worked as a contractor for the company. Prior to her role at PepsiCo, Fite was the beverage company’s account executive at international advertising agency TracyLocke for five years. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Coopers Honors Program where she majored in English and minored in journalism.
“Tawni is a consummate professional who brings to CMA a wealth of experience from a brand perspective, and we are very lucky to have her join our team,” said Sheri Warnke, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
Ben Bennett

Ben Bennett


Several staffers have been promoted at the organization as well. Ben Bennett has been promoted to Director of Digital Strategy, Catherine Blackwell has been elevated to Senior Marketing Manager, and Amanda Eckard has risen to Director of Creative Services. Bennett has been with CMA for five years and joined the company as its first Online and Mobile Marketing Manager.
Throughout his tenure, Bennett has helped propel CMA-branded digital media to an audience of more than 1.9 million, and as director, he will continue to oversee development and maintenance of all CMA consumer digital platforms.
Catherine Blackwell

Catherine Blackwell


Blackwell joined CMA in 2004 as Membership Administration Assistant and previously worked as Marketing Manager. She is a graduate of Nashville State Community College and worked at Spring Hill Music Group in Sales and Accounts Receivable before joining CMA.
Amanda Eckard

Amanda Eckard


A graduate of Belmont University, Eckard was previously with TNN/CMT’s public relations department before joining CMA in 2001 as an Editorial Assistant. Since then she has served as both Coordinator and Manager of Creative Services, and recently executed an entire brand redesign of the CMA corporate logo and related entities, including the CMA Songwriters Series and CMA Close Up.

Artist Updates: Ricky Skaggs, Jack White, Hunter Hayes

SkaggsHornsby_Lg

(L-R): Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby


• Ricky Skaggs and renowned pianist Bruce Hornsby will perform music from their new live CD, Cluck Ol’ Hen at an upcoming show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 5. Skaggs’ longtime band Kentucky Thunder will also be on hand to perform the batch of brand new songs and bluegrass classics as well as an expansive version of Hornsby’s hit “The Way It Is” with Skaggs and Hornsby at the October show.
• Rocker Jack White has been slapped with a restraining order by ex-wife/model Karen Elson for reported harassment allegations, according to The City Paper. Two years after the two threw a “breakup party” celebrating their split, they are now tussling in court over parenting rights for their two kids. The affidavit accuses White of having a violent temper and sending harassing emails and text messages. The two will go toe to toe in court Aug. 29 over their parenting issues. As previously reported, The City Paper will close its doors Aug. 9.
• Hunter Hayes will round out his summer with a trip overseas to Japan in late August before he kicks off his first headlining tour in October. Hayes will play two full shows at Tower Records Shibuya and Tower Records Osaka during the trip and will also join Jason Mraz for a special show at Studio Coast in Tokyo Aug. 26.

Charlie Cook On Air: Comic Con Comes To Nashville?

Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


I have been to the Country Radio Seminar. I have been to National Association of Broadcaster conventions, the Conclave, the big electronics convention in Las Vegas and even a few Radio and Record Conventions. I have never been to Comic-Con and that is the one I want to attend more than anything. I have added Comic-Con to my very shallow bucket list. I am making my plans right now to attend next year’s gathering.
This year more than 130,000 people attended Comic-Con at the 2.6 million square foot San Diego Convention Center. From what I’ve heard about the convention, more than half of those 130,000 attendees are dressed up like its Halloween on Krypton. Now, the San Diego convention is not the only one but it is the biggest and many other locales have started their own versions. In fact, there are at least 12 more from Ashbury Park, N.J. to Williamsport, Pa.
For fun I thought I would imagine that Comic-Con comes to Nashville and envision how country music stars would dress at Comic-Con.
Avengers: The Zac Brown Band. The Avengers originally consisted of Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk. You see it now, right?
Iron Man: Kenny Chesney. You seen those guns? I am sure they are all iron. A billionaire, entrepreneur, playboy.
Captain America: Toby Keith. No additional comment needed.
The Hulk: Lee Brice. I love Lee but the shirts need to bump up a size.
Spider-Man: Brad Paisley. He weaves the best lyrical webs. (You try this. It is not as easy as it looks.)
Thor: Blake Shelton. Thor is the husband of the golden-haired goddess Sif. Sif in Viking is Miranda Lambert.
X Men: Florida Georgia Line. You know, of course, the X stands for X-tra power and it seems to me FGL is getting extra play on other formats.
Storm: Carrie Underwood. You’ve seen the costume, right?
Fantastic Four: Little Big Town. They had a fantastic year. And many of you may not know but Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman give back big time by serving on the CMA and ACM boards. They always show up for the meetings and give big effort during the meetings.
Not to be overshadowed by just Marvel characters, this year the Game of Thrones characters were the hot outfits. I cannot assign these characters though. I do not watch the show and I might easily assign one of our favorite country music performers the character of a murdering wildlings.
The convention also includes scores of other TV shows, like Bones, Castle, the Big Bang Theory and True Blood. Can you imagine, Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw on Bones, Maggie Rose as Penny, Hunter Hayes as Leonard and Brett Eldridge as Sheldon?
Anyhow, anyone wanna go to San Diego next summer with me?
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

Weekly Chart Report (8/2/13)

SPIN ZONE

Independent artist Elizabeth Lyons (R) visited WCOW’s Arnie Andrews (L) recently in promotion of her new single and video "Everything Tonight,” written co-written with producer Matt Nolen and Ryan Tyndell. The single also has a music video, which was directed by Mason Dixon.

Independent artist Elizabeth Lyons (R) visited WCOW’s Arnie Andrews (L) recently in promotion of her new single and video “Everything Tonight,” co-written with producer Matt Nolen and Ryan Tyndell. The single also has a music video, which was directed by Mason Dixon.


Florida Georgia Line continues to enjoy massive popularity, with “Round Here” topping MusicRow’s chart this week with 3225 spins. Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” remains at No. 2, spending its ninth consecutive week in the Top 10. Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” moves up one ranking, landing at No. 3. Kenny Chesney’s “When I See This Bar” jumps to No. 4, while Billy Currington’s “Hey Girl” climbs to No. 5. Rounding out the Top 10 this week is Lee Brice’s “Parking Lot Party” at No. 6, Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed” at No. 7, Chris Young’s “Aw Naw” at No. 8, Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” at No. 9 and Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” at No. 10.
Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” is the week’s greatest gainer, shooting to No. 61 with 401 spins in its first week on MusicRow’s chart. Darius Rucker’s “Radio” climbs 11 spots, moving to No. 27 with an additional 334 spins. Aldean’s “Night Train” breaks the Top 10, landing at No. 10 with an extra 310 spins. Tim McGraw’s “Southern Girl” jumps to No. 16 with an added 284 spins. Finally, Blake Shelton’s “Mine Would Be You” moves up 6 spots, sitting at No. 19 with another 282 spins.
MusicRow’s chart welcomes eight excellent debuts this week, with Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night” debuting at No. 61, Uncle Kracker’s “Blue Skies” at No. 65, Josh Thompson’s “Cold Beer With Your Name On It” at No. 70, Cole Swindell’s “Chillin’ It” at No. 75, Sarah Darling’s “Little Umbrellas” at No. 77, Rachel Holder’s “Lord Help Me” at No. 78, George Ducas’ “Cowtown” at No. 79 and DOWNDAY’s “Back in The Day” at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: Renegade Radio Nashville, WBYZ, WJVL, KZZY, KICR, KTHK, KXKZ, KYEZ, KYKX, WKWS, WXXK
Sidewalk Records’ Morgan Frazier helped CC Tulsa/ KTGX 106.1 The Twister celebrate the station's 1 Year Birthday at a recent concert at Big Splash Water Park with on-air afternoon duo "Bud and Broadway" and several hundred listeners. Pictured (L-R) Jerry Broadway (KTGX), Morgan Frazier, Bud Ford, JJ Ryan (PD), and Roger Fregoso (Sidewalk Records).

Sidewalk Records’ Morgan Frazier helped CC Tulsa/ KTGX 106.1 The Twister celebrate the station’s one year Birthday at a recent concert at Big Splash Water Park with on-air afternoon duo “Bud and Broadway” and several hundred listeners. Pictured (L-R): Jerry Broadway (KTGX), Morgan Frazier, Bud Ford, JJ Ryan (PD) and Roger Fregoso (Sidewalk Records).


Upcoming Singles
August 5
Austin Webb/Slip On By/Streamsound
Jennifer Nettles/That Girl/UMG
Jason Mitchell/Stomp/WeBlast/Tenacity
Luke Bryan/That’s My Kind Of Night/Capitol
August 6
Brett Eldredge/Bring You Back/Atlantic
August 8
Angie Johnson/Swagger/Sony Music
August 12
Josh Thompson/Cold Beer With Your Name On It/Show Dog-Universal
Kristy Lee Cook feat. Randy Houser/Wherever Love Goes/Broken Bow Records
Will Hoge/Strong/Prospector/Crescendo
August 19
Due West/Slide On Over/Sovereign 3 Records
Jolie Holiday/Waffle House/Shamrock Records
Cole Swindell/Chilin’ It/Warner Music Nashville
Laura Bell Bundy/Two Step/Big Machine
September 3
Tim Sweeney/Baby I Try For You/Oil House Records
Jared Daniels/Foot On the Dashboard/Shade Records

TN-Playlist-080113-PP

Sugarhill-UK-071713

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Luke Bryan/That’s My Kind of Night/Capitol – 61
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill – 65
Josh Thompson/Cold Beer With Your Name On It/Show Dog-Universal Music – 70
Cole Swindell/Chillin’ It/Warner Bros. – 75
Sarah Darling/Little Umbrellas/764 Records – 77
Rachel Holder/Lord Help Me/Curb – 78
George Ducas/Cowtown/Spin Doctors – 79
DOWNDAY/Back in The Day/Render – 80
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Luke Bryan/That’s My Kind of Night/Capitol – 28
The Henningsens/I Miss You/Arista Nashville – 26
Jake Owen/Days of Gold/RCA Nashville – 19
Danielle Bradbery/The Heart of Dixie/Big Machine – 15
Colt Ford feat. Jason Aldean/Drivin’ Around Song/Average Joe’s – 14
Rachel Holder/Lord Help Me/Curb – 14
Darius Rucker/Radio/Capitol – 13
Josh Thompson/Cold Beer With Your Name On It/Show Dog-Universal Music – 12
Frankie Ballard/Helluva Life/Warner Bros. – 11
Lonestar/Party All Day/4 Star Records – 10
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Luke Bryan/That’s My Kind of Night/Capitol – 401
Darius Rucker/Radio/Capitol – 334
Jason Aldean/Night Train/Broken Bow – 310
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 284
Blake Shelton/Mine Would Be You/Warner Bros. – 282
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Coleman Brothers/Back On The Farm/Fishing Hole Records – 188
Jake Owen/Days of Gold/RCA Nashville – 172
Johnny Rivers/My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It/Soul City Records – 156
Sawyer Brown/Shadows of the Heartland/Beach Street Records – 150
Chelsea Bain/James Dean/Instigator – 149

Krystal Keith takes her music to KSON San Diego on the first stop of her radio promo tour.  Pictured (L-R) Lisa Owen (SDU), Kevin Callahan (PD), Krystal Keith and Rick Moxley (SDU)

Krystal Keith takes her music to KSON San Diego on the first stop of her radio promo tour. Pictured (L-R) Lisa Owen (SDU), Kevin Callahan (PD), Krystal Keith and Rick Moxley (SDU)


Over the weekend, Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN) played WKLB’s Country Block Party at the House of Blues. Pictured (L-R): Katie Bright (WMN), Dawn Santulocito (WKLB), Brett Eldredge and Ginny Rogers (WKLB).

Over the weekend, Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN) played WKLB’s Country Block Party at the House of Blues. His debut album Bring You Back will be released by Atlantic Records on August 6. Pictured (L-R): Katie Bright (WMN), Dawn Santulocito (WKLB), Brett Eldredge and Ginny Rogers (WKLB).


 

Kenny Chesney To Break From Touring

Photo: courtesy of Sony Music Nashville

Photo: courtesy of Sony Music Nashville


Kenny Chesney fans won’t be seeing the country entertainer on the road in 2014. Chesney, who is currently in the middle of his No Shoes Nation Tour, has plans to take next year off to focus on the follow-up project to Life On A Rock, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The forthcoming album will be the singer’s 17th studio album.
Chesney, who is known for his relentless touring, previously took a year off from the road in 2010.
“I love touring more than anyone in the world,” Chesney says. “I love the band, the crew, the whole team — and it’s weird to not be looking at next year’s stage design, but I shouldn’t make albums to service the tour. So I’m going to put the music first, dial it back and do the strangest thing in the world: not hit the road next summer.”
The “When I See This Bar” singer recently sold the 1 millionth ticket for his No Shoes Nation Tour.

2013 NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT Accepting Submissions

nsai song contest1The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Country Music Television (CMT) have launched the 2013 NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT. Submissions are being accepted through Oct. 31, 2013.
Prizes will be awarded to one Grand Prize Winner, one CMT Listeners’ Choice Award winner, one Lyric-Only winner, 10 Runners-Up, and 10 Honorable Mentions. The Grand Prize Winner, CMT Listeners’ Choice Award Winner, and Lyric-Only winner will all receive a full year of industry access, as well as national and regional media exposure. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive one-hour mentoring sessions with both singer/songwriter Brett James and singer/songwriter/actor and executive Paul Williams. Additional prizes include meetings with professional music publishers, an A&R meeting with one major record label, performance opportunities at the 2014 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and at The Bluebird Cafe, a three-day trip to Nashville, a one-year NSAI membership and more. All entrants will receive a personalized judging report.
Recent winners of the NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT include Charlie Worsham (2006) and Andy Timmons (2011). Another recent Grand Prize winner, Bill Diluigi, won a mentoring session with Lionel Richie.
All submissions must be postmarked by Oct. 31 and the contest is open to all genres. Entries can be submitted via mail to NSAI (a printable entry form can be found at nsai.cmt.com) or online at sonicbids.com/NSAICMTSongContest. Entry fees are $35 per song for current NSAI members or $45 per song for non-NSAI members. There is no limit to the number of song entries an applicant can submit. For more information, visit nsai.cmt.com or nashvillesongwriters.com.