John Hamlin
After eight years of providing country music fans with engaging live music shows such as the genre-bending “CMT Crossroads” and the fan favorite summertime award show “CMT Music Awards” while working as CMT’s Sr. VP of Music Events and Talent, John Hamlin is set to expand his portfolio of quality music programming through the launch of his content production and artist management company, Switched On Entertainment.
Switched On Entertainment has inked a multi-year production deal with CMT. Under the new arrangement, Hamlin will executive produce live events for CMT including “CMT Crossroads,” “CMT Artists of the Year,” and “CMT Music Awards.” “I’ll be the show runner and executive producer of the shows in a very similar capacity, trying to continue to make these shows with a very distinct CMT personality point of view,” Hamlin says. “The arrangement gives me a chance to focus 100 percent on the creative production of these live shows for CMT. It’s also very gracious of CMT, because it allows me to have my own company where I’m not exclusive in terms of events outside of the country music space.”
Hamlin will continue to be based in Nashville, and will retain an office space at CMT.
Hamlin says he is already in negotiations to work on an upcoming non-country music event show. “I can do a select few [non-country] productions for other networks, but CMT has the ‘first look’ on country music programming from me. If I have a great country idea, I run it by [CMT President] Brian [Philips] and Jayson [Dinsmore] to see if they want it at CMT. If they choose to pass on it, I can take it elsewhere. I do not have an exclusive on anything non-country.”
Jayson Dinsmore
As a result of Hamlin’s changing role at the network, Dinsmore and fellow senior CMT executive Leslie Fram will take on new responsibilities. As CMT’s Executive VP of Development, Dinsmore will oversee production on all music series and events. Meanwhile, Sr. VP of Music Strategy Fram will oversee CMT’s music talent department.
“My working relationship with Leslie and Jayson is terrific,” Hamlin comments. “They are both really good at giving me the tools I need to be successful. They are both great collaborators and great problem solvers, and I’m really lucky to have them as co-conspirators on the ‘CMT Music Awards,’ ‘CMT Artists of the Year,’ and everything else in between. Brian Philips has the uncanny ability to get the best out of his executives. Now that I am no longer an in-house staffer for CMT, I am an executive and show runner who Brian, Jayson and Leslie are relying upon to continue to grow the personality and brand of CMT’s live music shows.”
Hamlin’s career encompasses a range of media experience to draw from, including touring stints with Tina Turner and Journey. He spent 20 years as a producer for CBS News’ award-winning show, “60 Minutes,” producing segments on The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and others. He still occasionally contributes to the program.
Leslie Fram
Simultaneously, Hamlin will continue management duties for Nashville pop band Hot Chelle Rae and IRS Nashville/Capitol Records artist Marc Scibilia, bringing them under Switched On Entertainment’s management division.
“All of the people I admire in Nashville who are very successful—Scott Borchetta, Ken Levitan, Clarence Spalding, and Coran Capshaw among them—all of those people have a multitude of businesses under the banner of their core companies,” Hamlin reasons. “Vector represents chefs and restaurants now, and rock artists. In 2015, if you are an entrepreneur in the entertainment space, having a diverse company is just smart business.”
Fortunately, artist management and live music programming production require many of the same skills. “They have in common managing expectations, as well as managing the needs, desires and business goals of music artists. Both of those career paths rely on a similar set of people skills, corralling people together to do what is in the best interests of everybody. Management is not easy, and if I didn’t enjoy managing the artists I manage, I wouldn’t do it. Managing people you like makes a hard job a lot easier.
“This is the best possible scenario for CMT and for me,” Hamlin sums. “We are doing this as partners, collaborators and supporters of one another’s business goals. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. They are helping me to build my own business, and we continue to build and expand upon the important core brand of CMT, which is live music.”
Jake Owen Partners With Lifestyle Brand Salt Life
/by Jessica NicholsonJake Owen with Salt Life president Jeff Stillwell
Jake Owen is expanding his beach loving musician image via a new multi-year partnership with popular lifestyle and beach apparel brand Salt Life.
The cross-promotional partnership will incorporate a Jake Owen signature collection of casual apparel. Additionally, Salt Life has signed on as one of the singer-songwriter’s tour sponsors. Owen joins a team of athletes, including Cameron Kirkconnell, Timmy Curran, Captain Jimmy Nelson, Blake Koch, Sarah Jarrett, and Max Fleming, who endorse the Salt Life lifestyle.
Depictions of “salt life” living have become a mainstay theme in Owen’s music videos and stage shows. Owen’s coastal-themed Days of Gold Tour brought a decidedly beachy vibe to more than 50 cities in 2014. Meanwhile, some of his most well-known hits, such as “Beachin'” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” further exemplify the Vero Beach, Fla., native’s love of sand and surf.
Salt Life launched in 2006, and brings in more than $30 million in sales through distribution deals with sporting good retailers, specialty shops, department stores and surf shops.
“I have been a fan of what the brand has to offer for quite a while. It complements the life I live,” Owen says. “I grew up on the water in Vero Beach, Florida and if I am not on stage you can usually find me on the water. I am a big clothing guy and I do enjoy getting dressed up,” he continues. “I have to say I am most comfortable in board shorts, T-shirts and some flip-flops. The Salt Life relationship is a natural extension of who I am and I am really looking forward to working on the design of my collection and getting to know some of the other team members. I am a fan of a lot of them already.”
Salt Life President Jeff Stillwell states, “We are excited to welcome Jake to our team here at Salt Life. We have a number of tremendous athletes on our team and thought it was time to add some music to it as well. Music is the ultimate connector, especially with the Salt Life lifestyle. Jake’s music exemplifies our brand and we look forward to a very successful relationship with him.”
In the video below, watch Owen and Stillwell discuss their love of growing up while “living the Salt Life.”
Maddie & Tae Prep Debut Album After Platinum Success
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Back: Dot Records’ Michelle Kammerer, Kris Lamb, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Dot Records’ Chris Stacey, Bernadette Gibbons. Front: Dot Records’ Mallory Allgood, Maddie Marlow, Tae Dye, Dot Records’ Brooke Nixon. Photo: Getty Images for Dot Records
Yesterday (Aug. 18), Big Machine Label Group founder/CEO/pres. Scott Borchetta welcomed a crowd of industry and media to Nashville’s The Cordelle for a five-song set from newcomers Maddie & Tae in promotion of the duo’s forthcoming debut album, Start Here.
“Nashville is the best at artist development,” said Borchetta. “It’s so hard to cut through.” Once Mike Molinar, vice president of Big Machine Music Publishing, pitched the duo he had been developing along with their catchy tune “Girl In A Country Song,” Borchetta was hooked.
Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye ended up as the first act signed to their newly formed imprint Dot Records, releasing “Girl In A Country Song.” At the album party, the duo was surprised with a pair of platinum plaques in honor of the million-selling achievement of the single. General manager Chris Stacey delivered the news. “As proud as I am that this is your first No. 1, I’m sure it’s not going to be your only,” he said after a performance of the hit single.
Although standout tracks “Waitin’ On A Plane” and “Smoke” were not highlighted in the five-song acoustic set, the girls’ songwriting was on full display.
“At a time when so much focus is on other things, these girls seem to really focus on the music,” said country star and surprise guest Lee Ann Womack. Maddie gushed about her idol, whose hometown was three hours north of Marlow’s in Texas. She talked about waiting for CMT to play Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” video every morning before school. When the two began commuting to Nashville, they would pass Little Rock, Ark. and started singing “Little Past Little Rock,” which the two invited Womack to lead.
Pictured (L-R): Maddie Marlow, Lee Ann Womack, Tae Dye. Photo: Getty Images for Dot.
Additional tracks performed included “Shut Up And Fish,” (written when the girls were 15), “Downside of Growing Up,” (Maddie’s favorite) and “Sierra” (about the other girl), which has been available since November 2014.
“We write real music, and we are thankful Dot Records got behind us,” said the girls.
The full length album, Start Here, hits retail shelves Aug. 28. Before then, the newcomers will be making many press appearances including a TODAY visit on Sept. 1. They are also continuing their stint on Dierks Bentley’s Sounds of Summer Tour before embarking on their headlining Start Here Tour kicking off Oct. 7 at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.
In Pictures: Kenny Chesney, Cam, Steven Tyler, Maddie & Tae
/by Jessica NicholsonKenny Chesney brought his Big Revival Tour to New Jersey this past Saturday (Aug. 15) where a packed MetLife Stadium crowd also included special guests from iHeartMedia.
Pictured (L-R): Morris Higham Management’s Basak Kizilisik and Buffy Cooper; iHeartMedia’s newly named leader of its iHeartCountry team, Rod Phillips; Chesney; Tom Poleman, President of Nat’l Programming Platforms, iHeartMedia; Tom’s wife; and iHeart’s VP Artist Relations Marissa Morris and Hot AC Brand Mgr/Nat’l Programming Platforms/ PD of New York’s 103.5 KTU Rob Miller.
Arista Nashville artist Cam performed during the WSIX/Nashville annual Guitar-B-Que event, held at Loser’s in Nashville on Aug. 12.
Pictured (back, L-R): Michael Bryan, iHeartMedia Nashville SVP/Programming; Cam; The Bobby Bones Show’s Bobby Bones; iHeartMedia’s newly named leader of its iHeartCountry team, Rod Phillips; and (front, L-R): WSIX MD/Dir. Promotions Kimsey Kerr, and WSIX’s Amy Paige.
MusicRowPics: Ricky Gunn
/by Kelsey_GradyGunn performs in the MusicRow conference room.
Ricky Gunn visited the MusicRow offices recently to perform songs from his full-length debut album King of this Town, including his current single “Livin’ Like Me.” The album was recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio.
Gunn’s life changed forever when his grandfather gave him an acoustic guitar and taught him three basic chords. Since then, the Columbus, Ga., native has been honing his craft for more than 16 years, taking it to the next level as a full-time career a decade ago. All the while, he has been climbing toward success, earning opening spots for Travis Tritt, Tyler Farr and Gary Allan, as well as trophies from the Georgia Music Awards, and a spot on the first season of Nashville Star.
Gunn plays about 100 dates per year, and was such a hit during the 2015 CMA Music Festival during his performance at Hard Rock Café, the venue invited him back. In fact, that is where he headed right after his visit to MusicRow. His busy touring schedule also helped him earn a sponsorship from 8 Seconds Canadian Whisky, so he brought a bottle to share with the staff.
Gunn and his band visit MusicRow staffers.
Industry Ink: BMI, CAA, CTK Management, T. Graham Brown
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI has teamed with Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association for the upcoming Songwriters Music Series, which will take place at various venues at The Village of Baytowne Wharf from Oct. 1-3, 2015. The sixth annual event will showcase 14 Nashville-based BMI songwriters, including Aaron Barker, Kendell Marvel, Alissa Moreno, Steve Bogard, Brent Cobb, Will Rambeaux, Sherrie Austin, Trent Summar, Karla Davis, Hailey Steele, Jamie Lee Thurston, Hugh Mitchell, Even Stevens and Carl Anderson.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit sandestin.com
KC and The Sunshine Band Inks Nashville Deals
KC and The Sunshine Band has signed new Nashville-based management and booking deals. For management, KC and the Sunshine Band aligned with Danny Nozell of CTK Management, who also represents Dolly Parton, among others. Meanwhile, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), with agents Rob Light, Rod Essig, Robert Norman, and Emma Banks, will handle concert and appearance bookings.
The band will continue with Nashville’s Webster Public Relations for publicity.
“I am really excited to be working with the whole team at CAA. I feel such great energy with all that is going on in my career,” said Harry Wayne “KC” Casey. “With that change, I also signed with manager Danny Nozell of CTK Management. I am really looking forward to 2016 and all that CAA and CTK have to offer.”
Pictured (L-R): CTK Management’s JB Rowland, Jerilyn Sawyer, Danny Nozell, Casey, Webster Public Relations’ Kirt Webster, CTK Management’s Kyle McClain and Travis Sutliff.
T. Graham Brown Signs New Booking Agreement
T. Graham Brown
Country and Gospel artist T. Graham Brown has signed a new booking agreement with Gladys Van Dyke. Brown recently earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Roots Gospel album for Forever Changed.
“We’re so excited to be touring to support our new project. We know we have a unique show and we can’t wait to take our music and our message all over the country” said Brown. He adds, “Gladys will be able to book shows that will allow us to do just that, because she’s one of the best out there at what she does.”
Lionel Richie To Be Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year
/by Troy_StephensonLionel Richie
Lionel Richie will be honored as the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy, and Bill Silva, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.
The 26th annual benefit gala dinner and concert will be held in Los Angeles two nights prior to the 58th annual Grammy Awards. Confirmed performers include Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, and Pharrell Williams.
“Each year our MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honors an extraordinary artist and humanitarian who lends their considerable time and talents to raising the funds necessary to continue to meet the ever-increasing need for our programs and services,” said Portnow. “And it is truly a privilege to be paying tribute to Lionel, whose musical gifts and philanthropy have touched millions of people around the world.”
“I’m really very proud of this,” said Richie. “As far as I’m concerned, this is the highest honor in our music business because it means you have a career. You’ve survived the journey, if you will. The people who have been there defy categories. When you say Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney — are you kidding me? When I got in this business I wanted to be like them. When you get recognition like this, it’s everything. It really is the top of the mountain when it comes down to what your industry gives as recognition for great work, and the opportunity to help raise funds to sustain MusiCares’ critical safety net of programs for members of the music community is momentous to me.”
Dallas Davidson’s Play It Again Publishing Expands Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonTop (L-R): Bradley Collins (BMI), Charles Davidson, Jody Williams (BMI). Bottom (L-R): Dallas Davidson (Pres. PIAP), Trea Landon, Austin Marshall (Exec. VP PIAP).
Hit songwriter/producer Dallas Davidson‘s Play It Again Publishing has welcomed songwriter Trea Landon to its roster. Claxton, Ga., native Landon took up music performance and songwriting during his teenage years, before putting together a band and touring around the Southeast. He moved to Nashville after attending Georgia Southern University.
Nashville-based Play It Again Publishing is also home to song crafters Kyle Fishman, Brian Kolb, Houston Phillips and Maggie Rose. The publishing outfit was founded in 2015 by Davidson and Executive VP Austin Marshall.
“We’re so excited for Trea to join the Play It Again family,” Davidson said. “There has been a lot of buzz about Trea throughout Georgia and I can’t thank my buddies back home enough, especially Charles Davidson, for introducing us. I look forward to watching Trea continue to grow as a singer-songwriter.”
“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with Play It Again Music Publishing,” Landon said. “Dallas [Davidson] is a great person to learn from and I’d kill to be half the writer he is.”
ACM Reveals 2015-16 Officers
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Ben Vaughn, Ken Tucker, Duane Clark, Tiffany Moon, Paul Barnabee, Paul Moore, Tim DuBois.
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has announced its newly elected officers for the 2015-2016 term, including Paul Barnabee (Sony Music Nashville), Ken Tucker (Apple), Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell Nashville), Duane Clark (FBMM), Paul Moore (PGM Connections), Tim DuBois, and Tiffany Moon (ACM). Titles are included below.
The ACM Board of Directors elections will be ratified in the fall, and new board members will be announced at that time.
Newly elected ACM officers:
Chairman of the Board – Paul Barnabee
President – Ken Tucker
Vice-President – Ben Vaughn
Treasurer – Duane Clark
Parliamentarian – Paul Moore
Sergeant-at-Arms – Tim DuBois
Secretary – Tiffany Moon
Can Tomatoes Sell Tickets And Beer? Meet-Up Set For Tomorrow
/by Sherod RobertsonIndustry members are invited to join in the discussion at 3rd and Lindsley Wednesday evening (Aug. 19) at 6 p.m. Presented by WME, the panel will discuss the challenges facing women in the live music realm.
Speakers tapped for this installment include Ali Harnell, Sr. VP of AEG Live; Santo Puella, talent buyer for 3rd & Lindsley; and WME agent Abby Wells Baas.
A complimentary performance by singer-songwriter Natalie Stovall and The Drive with special guests Ruthie Collins, Nathan Chapman, Sonia Leigh, Jamie O’Neal, Brooke Eden and others will immediately follow the meeting. The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Industry members interested in attending should RSVP here.
CMT Sr. VP of Music Strategy Leslie Fram, Rounder VP of A&R and artist manager Tracy Gershon, and MTSU Chair, Department of Recording Industry Beverly Keel came together a year ago to create and engage an open discussion about the role of women in country music, forming the Change The Conversation initiative.
Exclusive Interview: John Hamlin Launches Production, Management Venture
/by Jessica NicholsonJohn Hamlin
After eight years of providing country music fans with engaging live music shows such as the genre-bending “CMT Crossroads” and the fan favorite summertime award show “CMT Music Awards” while working as CMT’s Sr. VP of Music Events and Talent, John Hamlin is set to expand his portfolio of quality music programming through the launch of his content production and artist management company, Switched On Entertainment.
Switched On Entertainment has inked a multi-year production deal with CMT. Under the new arrangement, Hamlin will executive produce live events for CMT including “CMT Crossroads,” “CMT Artists of the Year,” and “CMT Music Awards.” “I’ll be the show runner and executive producer of the shows in a very similar capacity, trying to continue to make these shows with a very distinct CMT personality point of view,” Hamlin says. “The arrangement gives me a chance to focus 100 percent on the creative production of these live shows for CMT. It’s also very gracious of CMT, because it allows me to have my own company where I’m not exclusive in terms of events outside of the country music space.”
Hamlin will continue to be based in Nashville, and will retain an office space at CMT.
Hamlin says he is already in negotiations to work on an upcoming non-country music event show. “I can do a select few [non-country] productions for other networks, but CMT has the ‘first look’ on country music programming from me. If I have a great country idea, I run it by [CMT President] Brian [Philips] and Jayson [Dinsmore] to see if they want it at CMT. If they choose to pass on it, I can take it elsewhere. I do not have an exclusive on anything non-country.”
Jayson Dinsmore
As a result of Hamlin’s changing role at the network, Dinsmore and fellow senior CMT executive Leslie Fram will take on new responsibilities. As CMT’s Executive VP of Development, Dinsmore will oversee production on all music series and events. Meanwhile, Sr. VP of Music Strategy Fram will oversee CMT’s music talent department.
“My working relationship with Leslie and Jayson is terrific,” Hamlin comments. “They are both really good at giving me the tools I need to be successful. They are both great collaborators and great problem solvers, and I’m really lucky to have them as co-conspirators on the ‘CMT Music Awards,’ ‘CMT Artists of the Year,’ and everything else in between. Brian Philips has the uncanny ability to get the best out of his executives. Now that I am no longer an in-house staffer for CMT, I am an executive and show runner who Brian, Jayson and Leslie are relying upon to continue to grow the personality and brand of CMT’s live music shows.”
Hamlin’s career encompasses a range of media experience to draw from, including touring stints with Tina Turner and Journey. He spent 20 years as a producer for CBS News’ award-winning show, “60 Minutes,” producing segments on The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and others. He still occasionally contributes to the program.
Leslie Fram
Simultaneously, Hamlin will continue management duties for Nashville pop band Hot Chelle Rae and IRS Nashville/Capitol Records artist Marc Scibilia, bringing them under Switched On Entertainment’s management division.
“All of the people I admire in Nashville who are very successful—Scott Borchetta, Ken Levitan, Clarence Spalding, and Coran Capshaw among them—all of those people have a multitude of businesses under the banner of their core companies,” Hamlin reasons. “Vector represents chefs and restaurants now, and rock artists. In 2015, if you are an entrepreneur in the entertainment space, having a diverse company is just smart business.”
Fortunately, artist management and live music programming production require many of the same skills. “They have in common managing expectations, as well as managing the needs, desires and business goals of music artists. Both of those career paths rely on a similar set of people skills, corralling people together to do what is in the best interests of everybody. Management is not easy, and if I didn’t enjoy managing the artists I manage, I wouldn’t do it. Managing people you like makes a hard job a lot easier.
“This is the best possible scenario for CMT and for me,” Hamlin sums. “We are doing this as partners, collaborators and supporters of one another’s business goals. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. They are helping me to build my own business, and we continue to build and expand upon the important core brand of CMT, which is live music.”