CMA Music Festival set a new attendance record with 87,680 fans attending the event daily. Photo: Dusty Draper/CMA
The 2015 CMA Music Festival sold out seven months in advance, prompting large, enthusiastic crowds at the numerous free stages and interactive areas, resulting in record-setting daily attendance. With the festival behind us, here are the impressive stats showing the event’s impact on Music City last week:
2015 CMA Music Festival Facts:
87,680 fans per day, setting a new record
9.6 percent increase of fans over last year
500-plus artists participated
250 hours of concerts
11 stages, seven of which were free
25,000 fans attended Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Saturday
40 corporate brands
$11 million-plus donated by CMA to music education since 2006
$150,000 raised by Celebrity Auction ($100,000 in 2014)
50 states and 20 countries represented by Festival attendees
38,748 total active users on CMA Music Festival app
43,412 clicks on the festival schedule pdf
5.5 million views on Snapchat featured story
284,855 unique visitors on cmafest.com during the Festival week (up 13 percent over last year)
48 percent of attendees were visiting CMA Music Festival for the first time
31 percent of attendees traveled by airplane
72,000-plus visitors passed through the turnstiles
63 percent increase in merchandise sales over 2014
700 journalists, photographers, producers, and videographers
The Festival was filmed for a three-hour television special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airing Tuesday, Aug. 4 on ABC. It was hosted for the third time by reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town. The special debuted in 2004 and this is the 11th year it will air on ABC. Robert Deaton is the executive producer.
Tickets for 2016 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, are selling fast with 62 percent of available tickets already sold to returning fans. The national on-sale date is Friday, June 19 and fans can order tickets by visiting CMAfest.com or calling the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378).
Fans pack the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during Chase Rice’s performance Friday. For the first time in Festival history, Riverfront Park hit capacity crowds with 25,000 attendees during Saturday at the 2015 CMA Music Festival. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Thursday’s Artist of the Day Little Big Town cut the ribbon to AT&T U-verse® Fan Fair X at the Music City Center, kicking off the 2015 CMA Music Festival. (L-R): Brian Collins, Vice President of Wireline Consumer Marketing, AT&T Home Solutions; Sally Williams, Vice President, Business and Partnership Development of Ryman Auditorium and CMA Board President Elect; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; John Esposito, CEO Warner Music Nashville and CMA Board President; Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook; and Frank Bumstead, Chairman Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and CMA Board Chairman. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Eric Church joined Keith Urban for a performance of their No. 1 song “Raise ‘Em Up” during Sunday night’s concert at LP Field during the 2015 CMA Music Festival. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The Sixth Annual CMA Celebrity Auction inside Fan Fair X raised $150,000 for the CMA Foundation to support music education initiatives. Photo: John Russell/CMA
CMA Music Fest: Chris Young, Randy Houser, Swon Brothers, Tanya Tucker, Kayla Adams
/by Kelsey_GradyChris Young Celebrates Three Consecutive Gold Singles And Gold Album
After celebrating his 30th birthday Friday (June 12), Chris Young spent Saturday as the CMA Artist of the Day on the Close Up stage. RCA Records Nashville surprised him with plaques commemorating milestone sales for three consecutive Gold singles: “Aw Naw,” “Who I Am With You,” and “Lonely Eyes,” and a Gold album certification for Neon. To cap off the weekend, the star was elated to take the stage at LP Field in his hometown Saturday night, receiving a standing ovation from the packed stadium.
Pictured (L-R): Alaina Vehec (Director, Digital Sales, Sony Music Nashville), Chris Young, Caryl Healey (VP, Sales, Sony Music Nashville), Taylor Lindsey (Director, A&R, Sony Music Nashville). Photo: Katie Kauss
Randy Houser Receives Standing Ovation With “Like A Cowboy”
Randy Houser gave a show-stopping delivery of his Top 5 hit, “Like A Cowboy” at LP Field on Friday night, bringing the crowd to their feet. Without so much as a soundcheck going into his set that night, Houser and his band also powered through the chart-topping “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and Houser’s rollicking new single, “We Went.”
Randy Houser performs at LP Field on Friday, June 12. Photo: Donn Jones
The Swon Brothers Rock The Riverfront Stage at CMA Music Fest
Pictured (L-R) Front row: Vanessa Parker-Davis (Publicist/Splash! PR), Paul Barnabee (Sony Music SVP Marketing), Lesly Simon (Sony Music VP of Radio Promotions/Arista), Zach Swon, Colton Swon, Mike Craft (Sony Music SVP Finance and Operations), Jennifer Tressler (VEVO, SR. Manager Programming & Industry Relations), Risha Rodgers (WME), Sarah Westbrook (Sony Music Director of Marketing), Jeri Cooper (Hill Entertainment Group) Luke Cooper and Holland Hill. Back row: Allen Brown (Sony Music VP, Media & Corporate Communications), Josh Hunter (Hill Entertainment Group), Bob Foglia (Sony Music Marketing and Media Manager), John Sigler (Sony Music Director of National Promotion), Greg Hill (Hill Entertainment Group), Scott Whitley (Hill Entertainment Group), Will Overton (Droptine Music) and Hilary Thoemke (Hill Entertainment Group)
Kayla Adams Pink Guitar Giveaway Winner
SSM Entertainment artist Kayla Adams gave away two pink guitars at her CMA Fest Booth this year. The first winner was 19-year-old Mary Katelyn Price from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Mary Katelyn will be studying music at Belmont University, Adams’ alma mater, beginning this fall.
Photo: Martha Moore/so much MOORE media
Tanya Tucker Plays The Riverfront Stage
Pictured (L-R): APA Nashville’s Frank Wing, Chris Looney, Jeff Howard, Tanya Tucker, Steve Lassiter, Cass Scripps
No. 1 Party: ‘Say You Do’ Writers Find Hit By Getting Lost
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R): “Say You Do” songwriters Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen and Matthew Ramsey with ASCAP songwriter-artist Dierks Bentley. Photo: Ed Rode
CMA Music Fest may be over, but the industry keeps on partying. Yesterday (June 15) ASCAP hosted a No. 1 party for Dierks Bentley’s “Say You Do.” Immediately afterward, his UMG Nashville labelmate Kacey Musgraves celebrated her new album with a listening party at Play, but that’s another story.
“Say You Do” is Bentley’s 13th career No. 1, and the first one he didn’t write. Accordingly, he thanked his label team and album executive producer Arturo Buenahora for conducting an extensive song search for Riser. This is the third No. 1 from the project. The title track and follow-up single went to radio yesterday.
“Say You Do” was written by Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen and Matthew Ramsey. All three thanked Bentley for his devotion to the craft of songwriting and for being open to cutting outside songs when he is such a talented writer himself.
While McAnally was marking his eleventh No. 1 at the party, he was also basking in a twelfth charttopper—as a co-wrtier on Kenny Chesney’s “Wild Child” which hit No. 1 yesterday.
Old Dominion bandmates Ramsey and Rosen were toasting their first and second No. 1s, respectively. In concert, the band performs “Say You Do” and have loved the thrill of fans singing it back to them.
Rosen thanked McAnally for floating him with a monthly draw when he was between publishing deals. The no-strings-attached deal evolved into their publishing relationship. “I can’t even believe I get to be a part of this,” said Rosen.
ASCAP’s Mike Sistad led the ceremony. Publishers Music Of RPM, Rehits Music, SMACKSongs, Sonic Geo Music and Universal Music Publishing were on hand to congratulate the group. “I stand in awe of your talent,” saluted Rehits’ Ree Guyer Buchanan. UMPG’s Cyndi Forman recalled loving the song so much she played the work tape over and over. Mike Dungan represented UMG Nashville. Charlie Monk spoke on behalf of the CRB. Riser producer Ross Copperman was there to celebrate as well.
Ramsey recalled Sistad’s support early in his career. “Mike heard a glimmer in there,” he said. The PRO rep gave him some valuable advice which he took to heart: “Nobody works harder at this than you—except your wife.”
Ramsey also received words of wisdom from his grandfather before he moved to Nashville, who told him “to get lost on purpose.” In Ramsey’s early days he would drive around exploring the city.
He’s still following that advice, but in a more metaphorical way. When McAnally showed up to write what would become “Say You Do,” he was working with the lines “Say you might/ For tonight,” but didn’t know where the lyrics were going. They decided to get lost on purpose and find out. Turns out it led straight to No. 1.
Industry Ink: Dan Hodges Music, Show Dog, Renee Bell, Emporium Presents, Pitch Please Pluggers
/by Lorie HollabaughMichelle Attardi
Dan Hodges Promotes Michelle Attardi
Michelle Attardi has been promoted to Creative Director at Dan Hodges Music. Attardi graduated from Berklee College of Music with honors and has worked at the company for two years, where she is responsible for writer management and song placement for the DHM staff writers and clients. In her new position she will also serve as a liaison between the creative and administrative arms of the company.
“Michelle appreciates the creative process and the people behind it,” said DHM owner Dan Hodges. “She strives to find areas for growth for herself and others and is a complement in all we do.” She can be reached at michelle@danhodgesmusic.com.
Emporium Presents
Dan Steinberg’s Square Peg Concerts and Jason Zink’s Sherpa Concerts have come together to form Emporium Presents. Steiny and Zink have been producing shows together in one form or another since the mid-nineties. The promoters have shared three offices (Denver, Nashville and Seattle), and a fairly sizable staff to produce hundreds of events together annually.
All phone numbers and addresses for the Colorado, Tennessee and Washington offices will remain the same. The Nashville office is located at 3819 Sentinel Dr., Nashville, TN 37209, 615-301-8728. However they now share the new website www.emporiumpresents.com and have new email addresses: steiny@emporiumpresents.com and jason@emporiumpresents.com.
Renee Bell with Winston
Renee Bell Opens Winston Dog
Dog owner and former music industry executive Renee Bell recently opened Winston Dog, a boutique and fluff out bar for dogs of all sizes, in the Hill Center of Green Hills. A weekend of grand opening celebrations will take place on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.
The boutique features a fluff out bar where dogs can get a paw scrub, a spritz, a nail trim and more, as well as a high-end collection of canine couture items.
Ten percent of all sales from the grand opening weekend will benefit Tiny But Mighty, an organization focused on celebrating the unbreakable bonds between dogs and people as well as raising awareness and funds for animal welfare and rescue groups including the Nashville Humane Association. Details at winstondog.net.
Pitch, Please Hosts Writers Round
Songplugger group Pitch, Please will host a songwriting round at Soulshine Pizza on June 24. The pitch group consists of representatives from Warner/Chappell, Big Machine Music, ThiS Music, HoriPro, Big Loud Shirt and Kobalt.
Events will begin at 5:00 p.m. Writers include Josh Mirenda, Matt Dragstrem, Jake Scott, Mike Walker, Hunter Phelps, Emily Weisband, Michael Hardy and Laura Veltz.
Katie Kettelhut
Show Dog Hires Katie Kettelhut
Katie Kettelhut has been named Promotion Coordinator for Show Dog Nashville. Kettelhut graduated from the Minnesota School of Business with honors and worked as an intern at TKO Artist Management prior to joining the label. Reach her at katie.kettelhut@showdogmail.com.
Signing Pics: New West Inks All Them Witches, SESAC Signs David Adam Byrnes
/by Sarah SkatesNew West Signs All Them Witches
New West Records has signed Nashville psych-rock band All Them Witches. The band’s forthcoming third studio album will be released in the fall.
New West President John Allen said, “When I first saw All Them Witches live I was immediately struck by their creativity and raw energy as a rock band. If there’s one defining factor of all New West artists it’s that they all know who exactly they are and there’s immense gravity in that. We at New West are very excited to be part of All Them Witches’ epic vision and believe their potential is limitless.”
The band’s single, “Charles Williams,” from 2014 album, Lightning At The Door, received impressive airplay on WRLT Lightning 100. All Them Witches also played a prime spot at Bonnaroo over the weekend.
Pictured (front row L-R): Ben McLeod, Robby Staebler, Allan Van Cleave of All Them Witches;
(Back Row): John Strohm, Loeb and Loeb; Michael Parks, All Them Witches; John Allen, New West; Santo Pullella, management
SESAC Signs David Adam Byrnes
Artist/songwriter David Adam Byrnes has signed with SESAC for representation. The Arkansas native recently released new single, “Alcoholiday.” He has opened shows for Chris Young, David Nail, Colt Ford, Justin Moore and Thompson Square.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Byrnes. Photo: Bev Moser
Cold River Records’ Katie Armiger Takes A Career Break
/by Troy_StephensonKatie Armiger
Cold River Records’ President Pete O’Heeron announced that artist Katie Armiger will be taking a “breather” to pursue other career aspirations. During the last nine years Armiger has released four albums with Cold River Records, headlined two national tours, and made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
“It has been the thrill of a lifetime to work with her and watch her blossom into one of the best singer-songwriters of her generation,” says O’Heeron. “Katie is a special talent and an even better person. Watching her grow and reach for her goals has been so much fun…. We care deeply for Katie as a person and artist. To our radio partners, we thank each of you for your support and friendship through the years. We hope to have an opportunity to thank each of you in person and we will be in touch very soon.”
O’Heeron adds that there are currently no plans to reduce staff at Cold River and will have more information about the label’s future in the next few days.
Heather McBee Upped At Project Music Vertical
/by Lorie HollabaughHeather McBee
Heather McBee has been named Program Director for the Project Music Vertical Program. McBee rises to the position from Industry Lead for Project Music’s accelerator program.
In her new position McBee will focus on expanding Project Music from a 14-week accelerator program to a year-round offering for music tech companies. She will also serve as a mentor to entrepreneurs and management teams that participate in the center’s accelerators. Project Music graduated eight startup companies from its program in April, and the companies have already collectively raised over $2 million in private investment.
“I am excited to have Heather join our team in this expanded role,” said Stuart McWhorter, President and CEO of The Nashville Entrepreneur Center. “Her background and experience in the music industry, along with her earlier success at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center as the Industry Lead for Project Music, significantly enhances our continued support of music-based businesses.”
McBee has 25 years of experience in marketing, sales and operations in the music industry. She served as VP/Marketing & Web Initiatives at Sony Nashville and at Cumulus Media’s America’s Morning Show as Operations Director where she worked until 2014. At Cumulus she helped launch the nationally syndicated program and acted as liaison for record labels and affiliates.
“I am thrilled to see the EC continue to strategically invest by adding a veteran of Heather’s caliber to the staff. She will be an important resource to all project music companies,” said former Sony Music Chairman and EC Master Mentor, Joe Galante.
McBee said, “I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue working with Stuart (McWhorter) and Joe (Galante) to build the EC’s presence in music and music tech. Music-minded entrepreneurs have very unique needs, and this is our chance to build a community to foster more growth and development in one of Nashville’s core business verticals.”
Bobby Karl Works The Kacey Musgraves Listening Party
/by Bobby KarlKacey Musgraves hosts the event onstage at Play.
Chapter 496
Grammy and CMA winning Kacey Musgraves has another feather in her cap—she just tossed the most innovative listening party in Nashville-music history.
On Monday (June 15), she invited Music Row to the dance club PLAY to hear her sophomore Mercury Nashville CD Pageant Material. This is a gay-centric venue on Church Street. Its flamboyant drag queens were there to act out seven of Musgraves’ new songs on the runway. Attendees, male and female, were expected to don the party favors—sparkly plastic tiaras and shiny “Pageant Material” sashes.
Kacey Musgraves “Pageant Material” album listening party at Play on Monday (June 15).
“I am half a drag queen,” joshed Mike Dungan in welcoming the crowd. “I don’t know if you are tomatoes or zucchinis.
“How do you top the most talked-about record of the past year?” he asked, referring to Musgrave’s outstanding debut for the label. The answer was, “with a masterpiece.”
“I just want to have so much fun tonight,” said Musgraves. “I am so excited about this record….Thank you so much for being here.” She described Pageant Material as “a retro-western thing” and said it was recorded “mostly live” in RCA Studio A.
Highlights of the collection’s listening session included the vibrant “Dime Store Cowgirl,” wistful “Late to the Party,” lighthearted “Pageant Material,” breezy uptempo “Cup of Tea,” yearning waltz “Fine” and, especially, the evocative “This Town” and the wry “Family Is Family,” in addition to the “Biscuits” single.
Kacey Musgraves “Pageant Material” album listening party at Play on Monday (June 15).
Guests enjoyed “Southern Asian” hors d’ouvres like Japanese corn dogs, barbecue egg rolls, “french-fry” daikon, peanut chicken satay, pot stickers and steak skewers. Many had never been in a gay bar. Others couldn’t wait to tip and/or pose for photos with The Princess, Aurora Sexton, Sunday Morning, Melonia and Tracy Ottomy.
“I love my gays,” said Musgraves.
Celebrating the newest tunes of “the Katy Perry of country” were Mike Vaden, Bri Stewart, Susan Nadler, Charlie Chase, Michael Baum, Whitney Daane, Autumn House-Tallant, Ashley Arrison, “anti-tomato” crusader Leslie Fram, Sherod Robertson, Cindy Mabe, Cyndi Forman, Jody Williams, Donna Hughes, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally, Royce Risser and Rod Essig, as well as the Kacey Musgraves band.
Pageant Material will be released on June 23.
Musgraves is also slated to join Zodiac Vodka’s Tennessee launch party as a celebrity judge at Acme Feed & Seed Bar in Nashville on Tuesday, June 16. The invitation-only event will feature top bartenders from Nashville establishments including No. 308, ACME Feed & Seed, Bob’s Steak & Chop House, The Crying Wolf, City House and Old Glory.
2015 CMA Music Fest Facts: Did You Know?
/by Sherod RobertsonCMA Music Festival set a new attendance record with 87,680 fans attending the event daily. Photo: Dusty Draper/CMA
The 2015 CMA Music Festival sold out seven months in advance, prompting large, enthusiastic crowds at the numerous free stages and interactive areas, resulting in record-setting daily attendance. With the festival behind us, here are the impressive stats showing the event’s impact on Music City last week:
2015 CMA Music Festival Facts:
87,680 fans per day, setting a new record
9.6 percent increase of fans over last year
500-plus artists participated
250 hours of concerts
11 stages, seven of which were free
25,000 fans attended Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Saturday
40 corporate brands
$11 million-plus donated by CMA to music education since 2006
$150,000 raised by Celebrity Auction ($100,000 in 2014)
50 states and 20 countries represented by Festival attendees
38,748 total active users on CMA Music Festival app
43,412 clicks on the festival schedule pdf
5.5 million views on Snapchat featured story
284,855 unique visitors on cmafest.com during the Festival week (up 13 percent over last year)
48 percent of attendees were visiting CMA Music Festival for the first time
31 percent of attendees traveled by airplane
72,000-plus visitors passed through the turnstiles
63 percent increase in merchandise sales over 2014
700 journalists, photographers, producers, and videographers
The Festival was filmed for a three-hour television special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airing Tuesday, Aug. 4 on ABC. It was hosted for the third time by reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town. The special debuted in 2004 and this is the 11th year it will air on ABC. Robert Deaton is the executive producer.
Tickets for 2016 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, are selling fast with 62 percent of available tickets already sold to returning fans. The national on-sale date is Friday, June 19 and fans can order tickets by visiting CMAfest.com or calling the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378).
Fans pack the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during Chase Rice’s performance Friday. For the first time in Festival history, Riverfront Park hit capacity crowds with 25,000 attendees during Saturday at the 2015 CMA Music Festival. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Thursday’s Artist of the Day Little Big Town cut the ribbon to AT&T U-verse® Fan Fair X at the Music City Center, kicking off the 2015 CMA Music Festival. (L-R): Brian Collins, Vice President of Wireline Consumer Marketing, AT&T Home Solutions; Sally Williams, Vice President, Business and Partnership Development of Ryman Auditorium and CMA Board President Elect; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; John Esposito, CEO Warner Music Nashville and CMA Board President; Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook; and Frank Bumstead, Chairman Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and CMA Board Chairman. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Eric Church joined Keith Urban for a performance of their No. 1 song “Raise ‘Em Up” during Sunday night’s concert at LP Field during the 2015 CMA Music Festival. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The Sixth Annual CMA Celebrity Auction inside Fan Fair X raised $150,000 for the CMA Foundation to support music education initiatives. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Jennifer Shaffer Rises At Streamsound
/by Lorie HollabaughJennifer Shaffer
Jennifer Shaffer has been upped to National Director of Promotion at Streamsound Records. Shaffer joined the label 11 months ago and previously did stints in promotion at Sidewalk, Rodeowave, Warner Music Nashville, Lyric Street, and Columbia Records.
“Jennifer is very passionate about our roster and is a natural fit for this position,” states Streamsound CEO/President Steve Richardson. “We are happy to promote such a great staff member on our team.”
“I am very thankful for the confidence Steve Richardson has instilled in me as I move into the national role,” says Shaffer. “We have an amazing promotion team and a talented roster, and I am looking forward to our future.”
Streamsound is home to artists Kristian Bush, Austin Webb, Dakota Bradley and Jaida Dreyer.
Teddi Bonadies recently exited Streamsound’s promo department, where she served as VP/Promotion & Strategic Marketing.
MusicRow Pics: Jordyn Stoddard Visits MusicRow
/by Sarah SkatesStoddard is promoting her debut album Southern Tide, and performed the title track for MusicRow. Stoddard estimates she listened to thousands of songs when deciding what to record on the project.
Her set included the self-penned “Wild Side,” as well as current single “Like Me ‘Til You Love Me,” which was written by Eric Paslay, Matt Nolen and Chris Wallin. Stoddard also cut a song called “The Clown” by hitmakers James Slater, Hillary Lindsey and Dallas Davidson.
Stoddard started writing songs when she was 12 and is a self-taught guitar player. She has opened for Montgomery Gentry, Jerrod Niemann, and Love & Theft.
(L-R): MusicRow’s Kelsey Grady, Troy Stephenson, Eric Parker, artist Jordyn Stoddard, Sherod Robertson and Sarah Skates