Riverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Over two years since it was announced, Riverfront Park’s Ascend Amphitheater will celebrate its grand opening ribbon cutting July 30.
Eric Church will then christen the venue during the Live Nation Concert Series presented by Journey’s (the Nashville-headquartered teen retail chain) with two sold-out acoustic evenings July 30-31. A free, four-day community open house will be held Aug. 2 from 1:00-5:00 p.m complete with tours of the amphitheater and performances by local bands and DJs.
The park includes a 1.5 acre lawn known as “The Green,” as well as previously announced multi-use greenway trails, which serve as a connection to city greenways and parks north, south, east and west. Also featured are ornamental gardens (with 267 trees representing over 38 species helping achieve Level 1 arboretum status), Nashville’s first downtown dog park, WiFi access, exercise and sports facilities, including two basketball half-courts and over-scaled customized swings.
The 11 acre parcel is currently on track to receive LEED Gold Certification for its green roof (with solar panels and media charger), 400,000‐gallon rain harvesting tank, geothermal heating, cooling and ice machine system, 48 bike parking spaces and bike repair station.
Aimed at becoming the “front porch” of Nashville, the project’s design is intended to reflect the Cumberland River it sits beside. Sinuous curves throughout the park and multi‐coursed limestone walls and building face are intended to feel as if they are being carved out of the earth. Site walls (rebar fence and railing) and the amphitheater steel skeleton and open roof structures reflect those of abandoned gantry cranes from the barge industry and steel structured bridges.
“Ascend Amphitheater and Riverfront Park transform a prime piece of downtown real estate with great music and beautiful green space for all of our residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Karl Dean.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean leads a Riverfront Park Project Team tour. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Ticketed events will close the park, where the state‐of‐the‐art electronic shell accommodates acoustic performances through small microphones over the orchestra to feed advanced digital signal processing and loudspeakers to create the same reflections an orchestra would hear from a physical hall. It is one of only a handful of outdoor electronic shells in the world.
The amphitheater provides seating for approximately 6,800 (2,200 removable chairs, lawn capacity of 4,500 and approximately 100 premium box seats between the reserved seating and lawn). A 45‐foot grade overlook offers sightlines of no more than 300 feet to the 55‐foot x 100‐foot stage.
The artist wing of the amphitheater supports five dressing rooms of varying sizes with private baths. In addition, “The Alley” is an artist lounge area where a private outdoor deck is provided. “The Mockingbird Cafe” has a full kitchen and provides dining for the stage crew or a small event. The 2500‐square‐foot “Riverfront Room” sits below the stage facing the park green with an adjacent outdoor, natural stone terrace to accommodate meet‐and‐greet events with artists or private community events.
2015 Ascend Amphitheater Dates
7.30-31 – Eric Church (sold-out)
8.1 – Chicago & Earth Wind and Fire
8.4 – Phish (sold-out)
8.5 – Jill Scott
8.6 – My Morning Jacket with Moon Taxi
8.7 – Counting Crows with Citizen Cope and Hollis Brown
8.8 – Steely Dan with special guest Elvis Costello
8.9 – Sublime with Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.14 – NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb, and Colony House
8.15 – Idina Menzel
8.16 – Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick
8.18 – Sublime With Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.22 – Australian Pink Floyd with LedZeppelin2
8.28 – Old Crow Medicine Show
8.29 – Under the Sun Tour
9.1 – ZZ Top with Blackberry Smoke
9.5-6 – Widespread Panic
9.23 – Daryl Hall and John Oates
9.27 – Janet Jackson (sold-out)
10.2 – Lynyrd Skynryd
10.8 – Chris Tomlin with Rend Collective
10.9 – Florence and the Machine
10.10 – Grace Potter with Lake Street Dive
10.11 – Jackson Browne
10.13 – All Time Low and Sleeping with Sirens
Country is Choice Among Teens as Nominees Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughJack Black, Sarah Hyland, Bella Thorne, and other stars are slated to appear on the broadcast, which features teen picks of the hottest things happening in television, movies, and music. The show will air live on FOX at 8:00 p.m. EST. For more information on the show, go to www.teenchoice.com.
Luke Bryan Crashes Riviera Maya Again in January
/by Lorie HollabaughBryan once again partners with CID Presents for this ultimate fan experience, where fans can choose from three tropical resorts and receive royal treatment all weekend long including all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, offsite excursions, an official Crash My Playa merchandise package, and more. For more information on the beach bash, visit www.crashmyplaya.com.
Ascend Amphitheater Unveiled, Preps Free Open House
/by Eric T. ParkerRiverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Over two years since it was announced, Riverfront Park’s Ascend Amphitheater will celebrate its grand opening ribbon cutting July 30.
Eric Church will then christen the venue during the Live Nation Concert Series presented by Journey’s (the Nashville-headquartered teen retail chain) with two sold-out acoustic evenings July 30-31. A free, four-day community open house will be held Aug. 2 from 1:00-5:00 p.m complete with tours of the amphitheater and performances by local bands and DJs.
The park includes a 1.5 acre lawn known as “The Green,” as well as previously announced multi-use greenway trails, which serve as a connection to city greenways and parks north, south, east and west. Also featured are ornamental gardens (with 267 trees representing over 38 species helping achieve Level 1 arboretum status), Nashville’s first downtown dog park, WiFi access, exercise and sports facilities, including two basketball half-courts and over-scaled customized swings.
The 11 acre parcel is currently on track to receive LEED Gold Certification for its green roof (with solar panels and media charger), 400,000‐gallon rain harvesting tank, geothermal heating, cooling and ice machine system, 48 bike parking spaces and bike repair station.
Aimed at becoming the “front porch” of Nashville, the project’s design is intended to reflect the Cumberland River it sits beside. Sinuous curves throughout the park and multi‐coursed limestone walls and building face are intended to feel as if they are being carved out of the earth. Site walls (rebar fence and railing) and the amphitheater steel skeleton and open roof structures reflect those of abandoned gantry cranes from the barge industry and steel structured bridges.
“Ascend Amphitheater and Riverfront Park transform a prime piece of downtown real estate with great music and beautiful green space for all of our residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Karl Dean.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean leads a Riverfront Park Project Team tour. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Ticketed events will close the park, where the state‐of‐the‐art electronic shell accommodates acoustic performances through small microphones over the orchestra to feed advanced digital signal processing and loudspeakers to create the same reflections an orchestra would hear from a physical hall. It is one of only a handful of outdoor electronic shells in the world.
The amphitheater provides seating for approximately 6,800 (2,200 removable chairs, lawn capacity of 4,500 and approximately 100 premium box seats between the reserved seating and lawn). A 45‐foot grade overlook offers sightlines of no more than 300 feet to the 55‐foot x 100‐foot stage.
The artist wing of the amphitheater supports five dressing rooms of varying sizes with private baths. In addition, “The Alley” is an artist lounge area where a private outdoor deck is provided. “The Mockingbird Cafe” has a full kitchen and provides dining for the stage crew or a small event. The 2500‐square‐foot “Riverfront Room” sits below the stage facing the park green with an adjacent outdoor, natural stone terrace to accommodate meet‐and‐greet events with artists or private community events.
2015 Ascend Amphitheater Dates
7.30-31 – Eric Church (sold-out)
8.1 – Chicago & Earth Wind and Fire
8.4 – Phish (sold-out)
8.5 – Jill Scott
8.6 – My Morning Jacket with Moon Taxi
8.7 – Counting Crows with Citizen Cope and Hollis Brown
8.8 – Steely Dan with special guest Elvis Costello
8.9 – Sublime with Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.14 – NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb, and Colony House
8.15 – Idina Menzel
8.16 – Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick
8.18 – Sublime With Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.22 – Australian Pink Floyd with LedZeppelin2
8.28 – Old Crow Medicine Show
8.29 – Under the Sun Tour
9.1 – ZZ Top with Blackberry Smoke
9.5-6 – Widespread Panic
9.23 – Daryl Hall and John Oates
9.27 – Janet Jackson (sold-out)
10.2 – Lynyrd Skynryd
10.8 – Chris Tomlin with Rend Collective
10.9 – Florence and the Machine
10.10 – Grace Potter with Lake Street Dive
10.11 – Jackson Browne
10.13 – All Time Low and Sleeping with Sirens
Haber Business Management Becomes Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman
/by Sarah SkatesThe name change was prompted by the passing of founder Gary Haber in April 2014.
Founded in 1967, Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman (“GR&F”) is a leading full-service business management firm for entertainers, executives and select high net worth individuals. Clients include Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher, Julianne Hough, Boyce Avenue, Peter Frampton, and more.
The firm has eighteen partners and over 200 staff members delivering comprehensive financial services in the fields of music, motion pictures, television, sports, literature and other creative and performing arts.
Average Joes Signs Trailer Choir
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Big Vinny, Butter
Average Joes Entertainment has welcomed Trailer Choir to its roster of artists for the record label.
The duo, Big Vinny (also featured on NBC’s The Biggest Loser) and Marc Fortney (Butter), are currently in the studio writing and recording new music due out next year in addition to being featured on the upcoming Mud Digger 6 album, set for release in the coming weeks.
“We’re very happy to have Trailer Choir as part of the family,” said Shannon Houchins, CEO of Average Joes. “Their fans have been waiting a while for new music and we’re thrilled to be releasing their upcoming project.”
The group was previously a trio signed with Show Dog.
Average Joes launched in 2008 with flagship artist Colt Ford. Since its inception, the entertainment company has expanded to housing three labels, a management company, a publishing entity and a film and television production company. Additional projects includes Colt Ford, The LACS, Bubba Sparxxx, Charlie Farley, Lenny Cooper, Moonshine Bandits, Demun Jones, Sarah Ross, Twang and Round, Moccasin Creek, I4NI, Cypress Spring, Exit 24 and Redneck Social Club.
Industry Walks Into Winners Bar To Celebrate ‘A Guy Walks Into A Bar’
/by Troy_Stephenson(L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, Patrick Joseph Music’s Pat Higdon, ASCAP songwriter Brad Tursi, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI singer-songwriter Tyler Farr, ASCAP songwriter Jonathan Singleton, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, BMI songwriter Melissa Pierce, Big Deal Music’s Pete Robinson, and Disney’s Patrick Clifford.
Winner’s Bar in Nashville was the location for the No. 1 party to celebrate Tyler Farr’s “A Guy Walks Into A Bar.” Even though several similes were used to describe the warm temperature inside, the venue held sentimental value. Farr saw songwriter Jonathan Singleton perform “A Guy Walks Into A Bar” acoustically during a publisher event at that very location. It took off from there.
Along with co-writers Melissa Peirce and Brad Tursi, Farr and Singleton were honored during the ASCAP and BMI hosted event.
Leslie Roberts from BMI welcomed those in attendance and praised Peirce for her first No. 1 song. With it, Peirce was presented a guitar for reaching the top for the first time. Mike Sistad of ASCAP applauded Tursi for writing his first No. 1 song and Singleton for his sixth.
The song is published by Patrick Joseph Music, Big Machine Music and Big Deal Music.
Those taking the stage recognized all of the publishers, producers Jim Catino and Julian King, 377/Red Light management, and Columbia Records.
Also there to bestow honors were members of CMA and CRB. Cooper Samuels of Avenue Bank announced a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of the songwriters.
Peirce took to the microphone and gave special acknowledgement to Columbia’s radio promo team. “You all have been working this for as long as I’ve been pregnant.” Peirce is due to give birth to a baby boy in three weeks. Peirce continued with reference to her soon-to-be-born son, “I look forward to being able to tell him that if he works really hard then things will happen. There is still magic left in this world.”
Brad Tursi celebrated his first No. 1 song while he has co-writing credits on two other songs that are currently on the chart. Kenny Chesney’s “Save It For A Rainy Day” and, his band, Old Dominion’s “Break Up With Him.” After college and then living in New York for a while, Tursi decided to move to Nashville. “Moving here was that best thing that I ever did, so thank you Nashville,” he said.
For Farr, this is his third No. 1 song as an artist. He ended the party by thanking the writers for making a “real country song with a hook.” He added, “I’ll stand by that kind of music until they put me in the ground.”
(L-R Front row): co-writer Brad Tursi (Old Dominion); Mary Allison, Events & Promotion Specialist, Columbia Nashville; Brooke Meris, Manager, Regional Promotion, Columbia Nashville; co-writer Melissa Peirce; Samantha Borenstein, Manager, Regional Promotion, Columbia Nashville; Dave Dame, Director, Regional Promotion, Columbia Nashville; co-writer Jonathan Singleton; David Friedman, Director, National Promotion, Columbia Nashville; (Back row): R.J. Meacham, Director, National Promotion, Columbia Nashville; Columbia Nashville recording artist Tyler Farr. Photo: Steve Lowry
(L-R): Norbert Nix, VP, Promotion, Columbia Nashville; Jim Catino, VP, A&R, Sony Music Nashville; Columbia Nashville artist Tyler Farr; new Sony Music Nashville senior leadership executives Ken Robold, Exec. VP & COO; and Steve Hodges, Exec. VP, Promotion & Artist Development. Photo: Alan Poizner
CRB Elects New Board
/by Lorie HollabaughAppointed to the Board are: John Crenshaw (Cumulus Media), Keith Kaufman (Center Stage Promotions), Mike Culotta and Scott Huskey (RWPC) as well as Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media) and George Couri (Triple 8 Management), who are new to the Board.
Re-elected to the Board are: Chuck Aly (Country Aircheck), R.J. Curtis (All Access), John Esposito (Warner Music Nashville), Dan Halyburton(Falls Media Group), Jeff Kapugi (WUSN-FM), Jon Loba (BBR Music Group) and John Shomby (Max Media).
Board members with continuing terms are: Carole Bowen (WKIS-FM), Beverlee Brannigan (Scripps Co.), Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Consulting), Johnny Chiang (KKBQ-FM), Andy Denemark (United Stations), Mike Dungan (UMG), Clay Hunnicutt (Big Loud Records), Nick Martin (Big River Broadcasting), Mike McVay (Cumulus Media), Charlie Morgan (Emmis Communications), Gary Overton, Joel Raab (Country Radio Consultants), Tim Roberts (WYCD), Royce Risser (UMG), Annie Sandor (Curb), Jeff Walker (The AristoMedia Group) and John Zarling (Big Machine Label Group).
Charlie Monk continues as a Lifetime Director Emeritus.
In other CRB news, the Country Radio Seminar is offering a special, limited-time $349 super-saver registration rate for CRS 2016, which will be held Feb. 8-10. The special rate will only be available July 15 through Aug. 15 or to the first 349 registrants, whichever happens first. The first 349 registrants will also be guaranteed a coveted ticket to the New Faces Show, which has been sold out in advance for the past four years, and will receive access to artist digital liners. Following the expiration of the Summer Super Saver rate, an early bird rate of $429 will then be offered. Registrations will be available for purchase at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.
Artist News: CMA Music Fest on ABC, Kix Brooks’ Steak Out, Chris Young, Dolly Parton
/by Lorie HollabaughCMA Music Festival TV Special
CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock will air Tuesday, Aug. 4 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. It was filmed during the event in June and features Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Randy Houser, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Maddie & Tae, Kip Moore, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Chris Young, and Zac Brown Band.
Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town returns to host CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock. Photo: Hunter Berry / CMA
Chris Young Smokes Up Stage In Chicago
Chris Young cranked up Chicago over the weekend as he headlined Saturday’s (July 11) Windy City Smokeout. More than 12,500 people crowded downtown, the festival’s largest audience to date. Chicago was the third date on the singer’s four-day run.
Chris Young headlines for a capacity crowd at the Windy City Smokeout in Chicago. Photo: Brent Gibbs
Kix Brooks is premiering his new television series Steak Out with Kix Brooks today (July 14) at 8 p.m. CT on the Cooking Channel.
The half-hour episodes go to Denver, New York City, and beyond, visiting the best traditional and modern steakhouses in the country.
The multi-faceted entertainer is also busy with Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Dolly’s ‘Coat of Many Colors’ on NBC
Alyvia Lind and Dolly Parton on the set of Today.
Dolly Parton gave the young girl who will portray her in the upcoming made-for-TV movie Coat of Many Colors a thrill on the Today show yesterday (July 13) when she gave her the news that she had won the coveted part. Alyvia Lind will play Dolly as a young girl in the movie based on Parton’s upbringing and rooted around her autobiographical song “Coat of Many Colors.”
The new movie will be executive produced by Parton and is part of a deal the singer struck with NBC for a series of standalone movies based on her life and songs that she is developing with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.
A clip of Alyvia’s grand surprise from Dolly can be viewed here.
Artist Pics: Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Rachel Platten, Jason Crabb
/by Kelsey_GradyKelsea Ballerini Performs For CMA EDU
Black River recording artist Kelsea Ballerini participated in a Q&A session and performed for CMA EDU chapter executives Sunday night at CMA headquarters in Nashville.
The students, who represent leadership from the 24 CMA EDU chapters around the country, also enjoyed a presentation by Broken Bow Records’ Chase Bryant, and a performance by Tyler Farr.
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Kayla Schoen/CMA
Sony Artists Perform For Shazam’s Summertime Barbeque
Columbia’s Rachel Platten and Arista Nashville’s Cam performed for Shazam’s summertime barbeque on Thursday (July 9). Rachel took a break from her promotional tour of the breakout hit “Fight Song,” while Cam flew up on her day off from promoting her iHeart Radio On The Verge single “Burning House.”
Pictured (L-R): Nick Fishbaugh (Senior Director, Global Music Partnerships, Shazam), Peter Szabo (SVP, Head of Music & US Ad Sales, Shazam), Cam, Rachel Platten, Rich Riley (CEO, Shazam)
Jason Crabb Tapes Live Concert
GRAMMY winner and 21-time Dove Award winning artist Jason Crabb taped a live concert on July 1 outside Nashville for his upcoming studio project Whatever the Road, which releases on Reunion Records Sept. 18.
Jason Crabb. Photo: Aaron Crisler/Nelon PR
Music Biz Convention Expands For 2016 Nashville Return
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Our first year in Nashville exceeded all of our expectations, which prompted our move to a bigger property that will allow us to grow the event with more hotel rooms, more meeting space, and more sponsorship opportunities,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “In that vein, we are happy to announce that major label group WEA has already agreed to sponsor the Music Biz 2016 Welcome Reception on Monday evening. Music City, its Mayor Karl Dean, and the Music City Music Council have all been incredibly kind to us, and we’re elated to have an encore in Nashville for Music Biz 2016.”
During Music Biz 2015, awards were presented to The Who, Jack White, Meghan Trainor, Martina McBride, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, The Doobie Brothers, and John Kunz of Waterloo Records & Video. There was also a live-to-acetate performance by Ashley Monroe at Third Man Records’ Blue Room, a night of YouTube-sponsored live performances at The Wildhorse Saloon, the third annual Metadata Summit, Music Startup Academy sessions, the Entertainment and Technology Law Conference, and other sessions aimed at artists, managers, publishers, labels, startups, and more.