Pictured (L-R): Phyllis Deen Hill, Cindy Mabe, Sally Williams, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Nancy Shapiro, Gayle Holcomb, Mary Del Scobey. Not Pictured, Posthumous Honoree Terrell Tye. (Photo: Denise Fussel)

The 13th Annual SOURCE Awards celebrated the achievements of seven notable women in the music industry on Tuesday night (Sept. 29) in Nashville. The gala event, held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inside Municipal Auditorium, honored Phyllis Deen Hill, Gayle Holcomb, Cindy Mabe, Mary Del Scobey, Nancy Shapiro, Terrell Tye and Sally Williams.

In addition, Jeannie Seely – the longtime host of the SOURCE Awards – received a special recognition from the organization, presented by her co-host, Brenda Lee. Nashville mayor Megan Barry, who is the first woman elected to that position, spoke prior to the presentations.

Although the SOURCE Awards are intended to spotlight women’s achievements in the music business, many of the recipients used their moment at the podium to share a few laughs, reminisce about their early careers and acknowledge the support of their friends and family.

Hill, who will turn 70 this year, has worked for dozens of companies – but not because she can’t hold down a job, as one of her friends suggested. Instead, she remarked that she had to work as much as she could, because music industry jobs don’t pay very much, which elicited a knowing laugh from the audience. Her experience includes working for Sun Records, TNN and Hee Haw. One of her newest employers, Bill Anderson, gave a heartfelt video testimonial on her behalf.

Holcomb has been a presence at William Morris Agency, now known as WME, for 31 years. She’s been actively involved with the Academy of Country Music for 24 years as well. During her speech, she spoke highly of Jo Walker-Meador, who gave her a start in the business, as well as her father, who encouraged her along the way. Early on, she represented artists like The Oak Ridge Boys, Janie Fricke, Ronnie Milsap and Gary Morris. Via video, Trisha Yearwood spoke about their professional relationship as well as their close friendship. Holcomb and her husband, Nick Masters, are now based in California.

Mabe, named the President of Universal Music Group Nashville in 2014, thanked former RCA label head Joe Galante and current UMG label head Mike Dungan for their leadership. She also praised her three children and her husband, who is a police officer. Mabe moved to Nashville in 1993 and attended Belmont University. Prior to UMG, she oversaw the marketing and day-to-day strategic planning at Arista Nashville. Through her role at UMG, she has carefully guided Luke Bryan’s rise to fame. The superstar shared a video testimonial thanking her for everything she’s done for his life and his career. Many members of the UMG staff were on hand to congratulate her personally.

Scobey, who grew up in the Nashville area, was hired by publisher Tom Collins in 1977 to work part-time at Pi-Gem/Chess Music. After graduating from college, she joined full-time and worked with songwriters like Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan, Kent Robbins and many others. In 1982, she and David Conrad opened the Nashville office of Almo/Irving Music, one of the most successful music publishers of the 1980s and 1990s. She retired in 2004. Songwriter and ASCAP President Paul Williams submitted a comical video testimonial, yet emphasized Scobey’s “wonderful and sweet advice.” In her speech, she spoke about the lifelong relationships she established with songwriters. She also thanked her husband, Stan, for making the new chapter of her life fun.

Shapiro recalled that her parents told her that everybody has a talent – even though nobody could figure out what hers was. Ultimately she realized that it was nurturing others, a skill she brought to her career at The Recording Academy after spending 12 years as a stay-at-home mother. After a video speech from Neil Portnow on behalf of the Recording Academy, Shapiro admitted that she never thought of herself as a female employee, but rather as part of a team. She noted, “One day, there will be no more firsts for women because we will have done it all.” She took a moment to point out her grandchildren in the audience, beaming like a proud grandmother.

Tye entered the music business in 1976 when she was hired by Cowboy Jack Clement to work on copyright administration. She started a publishing company with producer Jim Rooney in 1987, along with producer Allen Reynolds and engineer Mark Miller. That partnership led to Forerunner Music, which signed Pat Alger as their first writer. While leading the company for over 13 years, the catalog racked up hits by Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Hal Ketchum, Kathy Mattea and Trisha Yearwood. Tye died in 2010. In a video segment, Reynolds remembered her as a great publisher with an unforgettable smile. Her sons, Josh and Zack, accepted the award on her behalf.

Williams has managed the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville since 2008. She is only the eighth person to hold that position in the venue’s 120-year history. She oversaw a multi-million dollar expansion that was completed this year. Three members of Old Crow Medicine Show thanked her in a video testimonial for her belief in them. Concluding the night, Williams credited her co-workers, her husband, and the “amazing and accomplished women” that came before her.

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has released the third iteration of its touchstone Music Metadata Style Guide, which provides a set of common naming conventions and data entry standards for companies to use when listing, ingesting, and managing digital music. In addition to a fresh new design courtesy of research and design firm AudienceNet, the updated guide adds several new sections and introduces the Classical Metadata Style Guide, the first to specifically address Classical music, which requires specialized formatting that differs substantially from that of modern popular music.

Compiled by Music Biz’s Digital Supply Chain & Operations Workgroup, co-chaired by Jill Chapman and Chris Read, the Music Metadata Style Guide adds new sections covering unique naming conventions for Karaoke, Tributes, Cover Bands, and Explicit Releases as well as a refreshed layout for improved readability and DDEX referencing.

The Workgroup also received major contributions from Classical music digital distribution company Dart Music and County Analytics Founder and Director Paul Jessop as it created the new Classical Metadata Style Guide, which explains how to properly format album and track titles; indicate work numbers, key signatures, movements, and more; and define artist roles, among other Classical-focused topics. By following these standards, artists, labels, and digital services can ensure that Classical fans will be able to easily find, stream, share, and buy the tracks or albums they want.

“We’re proud of the work that our Digital Supply Chain & Operations Workgroup along with our partners AudienceNet, Dart Music, and County Analytics did to overhaul the look and feel of our Music Metadata Style Guide and excited to be the first to address the specific metadata needs of the Classical music community with the Classical Metadata Style Guide,” said Robby Towns, Director of Digital Strategy and Community at Music Biz. “Ever since the original Music Metadata Style Guide was introduced at Music Biz 2013, we have made significant strides in establishing metadata as a priority for artists, labels, digital services, and anyone else who sells digital music. This update represents one of our biggest steps forward yet, providing detailed standards that will allow Classical fans to find exactly what they’re looking for in a much more efficient way.”

The updated Music Metadata Style Guide and Classical Metadata Style Guide can be downloaded by clicking here.

Pictured (L-R): Jamie Dailey, Bill Anderson, Dierks Bentley, Darrin Vincent and Bill Cody

Dierks Bentley celebrated his 10th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry last night (Sept. 29). During his set, Bentley performed hits including “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Settle For A Slowdown,”  “Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go),” “Home,” and “Riser.” He was also joined by friends Dailey and Vincent for the bluegrass tune “Rovin’ Gambler,” and his dog Jake, who was also there during his Opry induction 10 years ago.

Presented with a print marking ten years of Opry membership by 54-year Opry member Bill Anderson, Bentley said, “The Opry is my home. This means the world to me tonight. We’ve been on the road so much of the past ten years it’s good to be home.”

“The Opry and Dierks have such a great, unique connection,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “From those early days when a new kid in town was beginning to understand what the Opry meant to the music he loved, to the award-winning superstar we saw on the Opry stage tonight, it’s been a great decade of hits and memorable Opry performances. We’ve watched Dierks become a husband, a father, and a respected artist who can move from one musical style to another seamlessly. We’re looking forward to the next 10 years.”

The Opry will be hosting a star-studded 90th Birthday Bash this weekend.

Dierks Bentley with his dog Jake

Cingle Records’ Rainey Qualley Visits CMA

Cingle Records’ artist Rainey Qualley visited the CMA and performed a four-song set for the staff recently. The new artist was excited to place her name plate on the commemorative plaque where the CMA displays artists who have given Special Performances and brought the gift of song to the CMA.

Pictured (L-R): Brenden Oliver (CMA Membership & Balloting), Rainey Qualley and
Carrie Tekautz (CMA Membership & Balloting)

Workshop Management Opens in Nashville

Josh Terry has launched Workshop Management, a full-service artist management company based on Nashville’s Music Row.

Terry’s management roster includes Mat Kearney (Republic Records), Mayday Parade (Fearless Records), Marie Miller (Curb Records), Emily Hearn and producer Chad Copelin.

Workshop Management is located at 800 18th Avenue South, Suite C, Nashville, TN 37203. Terry can be reached by email at josh@workshopmgmt.com or by phone at 615-864-8043.

Big Idea Entertainment, Capitol Christian Distribution Ink Long-Term Agreement

Big Idea Entertainment and Capitol Christian Distribution have announced a new long-term agreement. Included in the agreement is the physical retail distribution rights for video products in the United States and Canadian Christian retail markets, as well as exclusive worldwide rights, including digital distribution for all recorded music products.

Capitol Christian Distribution will begin shipping orders and processing returns on Oct. 1, 2015.