Razor & Tie Celebrates New SoBro Location
Razor & Tie recently celebrated a kick-off party in Nashville, Tenn., for the company’s new space in SoBro. The space, located at 511 Eighth Ave. S., will house Razor & Tie’s music publishing division. The new location will serve as a “hub” for artists, songwriters, and producers to collaborate, and includes recording studios, writer and listening rooms, rehearsal space, and a performance area.
Razor & Tie co-owners Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam explain, “We are excited to develop a new space in a hot new area of Nashville where we can continue to provide our writers and artists with the right “vibes” to create great music.”
Chris Parham (mayor’s office) , Craig Balsam (Co-Owner Razor & Tie), Mayor Karl Dean, and Cliff Chenfeld (Co-Owner Razor & Tie) celebrate the grand opening of Razor & Tie’s new building in Nashville, Tenn.
SOLID Raises Over $25,000 To Support Big Brothers Big Sisters
SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) recently hosted the fifth annual Music Row Madness in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids’ Sake at AMF Pla Mor Lanes. The organization landed on raising a final amount of $25,358, totaling more than $120,000 in contributions during the five-year partnership. Over 20 teams were represented with sponsorships from Fifth Third Bank, Creative Artist Agency, Steven Durr Designs, Events by Janie, Jewell Roofing, Marbaloo and Clearbox Rights. There were more than 100 participants with prizes awarded throughout the evening with the Top Team Fundraiser being CAA’s I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gutter.
Emma Tur of Warner Music Group and Basak Kizilisik of Morris Higham Management planned this year’s event. “Music Row Madness 2015 was such a huge success,” says Tur. “Individuals that work in Nashville’s music industry came together for a night of fun that resulted in raising over $25,000. Giving back to Nashville’s community is a foundational part of our organization, and we couldn’t be happier about the outcome. We look forward to partnering for years to come!”
SOLID celebrates its Music Row Madness event.
Opry Launches Artist-Curated Collection With Kellie Pickler
/by Sherod RobertsonThe Grand Ole Opry launched its first artist-curated merchandise collection– Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler home goods collection– at a special launch party backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House yesterday evening (April 14). The collection of home goods, inspired by Kellie Pickler’s great-grandmother Selma Drye, includes Pickler’s touch on unique frames, candles, pillows, dishes, aprons, canisters and select furniture pieces. The country artist was on hand between performances on two Opry shows last night to talk about her great-grandmother Selma Drye and how she inspired the various items in the collection.
(L-R): Kim O’Dell, Director of Retail, Opry; Kellie Pickler; Pete Fisher, Vice President/General Manager, Opry, celebrating the launch of “Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler” home goods collection backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
“When you get a house, it takes a while to make it feel like a home,” said Pickler. “My great-grandmother had a simple, loving touch that made her house a home like no other. It’s really nice being able to take things I know she would have loved and create a line inspired by her.”
“When we began thinking about working with artists on curated Opry collections and spoke with Kellie about the opportunity, we immediately fell in love with the stories she told of her great-grandmother, Selma Drye,” said Kim O’Dell, the Opry’s Director of Retail. “We knew the way Kellie described Selma’s unique style and authentic way of living was perfectly in line with the types of product experiences true to the Opry. We’re excited to work with Kellie, and more artists in the future, all of whom will have their own influences and unique connections to the Opry.”
Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler is available online and in both Grand Ole Opry retail stores.
Robertson Family Adds ‘Musical’ To Dynasty
/by Sherod RobertsonThe Robertson Family‘s unlikely rise to fame as reality television stars featured on A&E’s Duck Dynasty now includes a musical.
Duck Commander Musical opens tonight, Wednesday, April 15 in the Crown Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The musical is a tale of faith, food, family and the pursuit of the American dream based on the best-selling book The Duck Commander Family, written by Korie and her husband, Willie, CEO of the family’s Duck Commander empire. The 90-minute musical features an original score that fuses country, rock, gospel and pop, performed by a seven-piece band.
“Our theater agent had read the book and came to us with the idea,” Korie reflects. “We loved the concept because it’s an inspiring story of faith, love, and family– through the good times and the bad– and it’s something the entire family can see in Las Vegas.”
Tony Award-nominated director Jeff Calhoun directed and choreographed “Duck Commander Musical.” Asa Somers wrote the book and Steven Morris, Robert Morris and Joe Shane wrote the score. The cast includes Broadway veterans Mimi Bessette as Miss Kay, Ben Thompson as Willie, Tad Wilson as Phil and Russell Arden Koplin as Missy.
The Robertsons spent time working with the cast to make sure the experience is as authentic as possible for fans and newcomers alike.
Click here for ticket information, behind-the-scenes footage and photos.
Going Once, Twice, Sold! Leaders To Offer Time To Highest Bidder
/by Jessica NicholsonNumerous Leadership Music alumni have donated an hour of their time to share industry expertise with the highest bidders.
Those taking part include: record label executives Mike Dungan (UMG), John Esposito (WMG), Jim Catino (Sony) and Jim Ed Norman (Curb); entrepreneur and mentor Joe Galante; publishers Cindy Forman (UMG) and John Ozier (ole); booking agent Jeff Gregg (CAA); Mike Sistad from ASCAP and Mark Mason from BMI; artist manager Tom Lord; the CMA’s Sarah Trahern; musicians Jonathan Yudkin and Dave Pomeroy; songwriters Tom Douglas, Brett James and Victoria Shaw; performance coach Bill Cakmis; Erika Wollam Nichols from the legendary Bluebird Café; and IEBA’s Pam Matthews.
The auction will continue until April 23. Proceeds will benefit Leadership Music’s annual Program for established industry leaders.
Click here to bid on any of the music industry experiences.
Garth Brooks Announces Tour Stop In Tennessee
/by Troy_StephensonTrisha Yearwood will also be part of the shows that will take place at the Thompson Boling Arena on Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30. Both shows are scheduled to start at 7:30pm.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 24th at 10:00 AM EST. There will be an eight-ticket limit per purchase and tickets can only be be purchased at www.KnoxvilleTickets.com/Garth or 1-844-4GarthB (1-844-442-7842). No tickets will be sold at the venue box office or outlets on April 24th.
Tickets will cost $69.23 plus a $5.75 service charge for a total of $74.98.
Nielsen Report: 32 Million People Attend At Least One Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonAccording to a study by Nielsen Entertainment, 32 million people attend at least one music festival annually. A segment of these festival attendees are ardent music fans, with one-third of festival goers attending more than one music festival per year.
Nearly half (46 percent) are age 18-34, which offers another incentive for marketers to court the millennial demographic. These millennial festival fans are more engaged than the general population on social media and other digital platforms. They are 98 percent more likely to discover new music on Spotify than the average music consumer. They also show greater levels of engagement on social media outlets such as Snapchat (67 percent more likely to use than the general population), Vine (69 percent), and Tumblr (81 percent).
The study found that these festival-goers also spend more than the general population on music. In general, festival attendees spend an average of $207 on live events, digital music and streaming.
The festival audience is evenly split between men (49 percent) and women (51 percent).
Click here for the full report.
AristoMedia International Report: April 2015
/by Jessica NicholsonClick to view the full report.
The AristoMedia Group has released its Aristo International Report for April 2015, highlighting country music happenings around the globe. The company has been issuing this quarterly review since 2008.
Highlights in this issue include:
• The success of the recent Country to Country (C2C) Festival in UK & Europe
• An overview of the happenings down under
– The Golden Guitars
– Nashville Goes To Tamworth
– The 5th Annual CMC Awards
– CMC Rocks Queensland
• An Executive Q&A With CMA CEO Sarah Trahern
• An Update On the Canadian Scene
• A Summary of the recent CMA International Awards
• Some U.S. Artist News
• A Report on the Irish Fest in Nashville
• Special Achievements for AristoMedia and Arranger/Conductor Bill Walker
• A Photo Gallery of Highlights
The AristoMedia Group has issued a quarterly review of global activities since 2008. The report is distributed to executives, artists and media representatives worldwide.
Jack White To Take A Break From Performing
/by Troy_StephensonTickets for these shows are $3 per ticket and limited to one ticket per person. All tickets will be sold at the venue door starting at 12 p.m. local time on the day of the show — first come, first served and cash only.
Joining White on his jaunt across these locations will be musicians making up an acoustic quartet, including Fats Kaplin, Lillie Mae Rische and Dominic Davis.
To keep up to date, fans can visit www.thirdmanrecords.com or follow them on Twitter @ThirdManRecords.
LifeNotes: ‘Austin City Limits’ Founder Bill Arhos Dies
/by Eric T. ParkerBill Arhos.
Bill Arhos, former executive producer/president/GM of Austin City Limits, passed away April 11 in Austin, Texas at the age of 80.
Arhos led the show’s production since its start, from 1974-1999, then as president/GM from 1986. He has served on the boards of PBS and the CMA.
Arhos was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Rice University, in 2007. He was an inaugural inductee to the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside Willie Nelson, Darrell Royal, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble.
Austin City Limits is the longest running music series in American television history, now with its own music festival (ACL Music Festival, 2002), and concert venue (ACL Live at the Moody Theater, 2011). The program was created by KLRU and broadcast by PBS for the past 20 years. Since then it has received the institutional Peabody Award, is an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark and the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts.
Industry Ink: Razor & Tie’s New SoBro Location, SOLID’s Music Row Madness
/by Jessica NicholsonRazor & Tie Celebrates New SoBro Location
Razor & Tie recently celebrated a kick-off party in Nashville, Tenn., for the company’s new space in SoBro. The space, located at 511 Eighth Ave. S., will house Razor & Tie’s music publishing division. The new location will serve as a “hub” for artists, songwriters, and producers to collaborate, and includes recording studios, writer and listening rooms, rehearsal space, and a performance area.
Razor & Tie co-owners Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam explain, “We are excited to develop a new space in a hot new area of Nashville where we can continue to provide our writers and artists with the right “vibes” to create great music.”
Chris Parham (mayor’s office) , Craig Balsam (Co-Owner Razor & Tie), Mayor Karl Dean, and Cliff Chenfeld (Co-Owner Razor & Tie) celebrate the grand opening of Razor & Tie’s new building in Nashville, Tenn.
SOLID Raises Over $25,000 To Support Big Brothers Big Sisters
SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) recently hosted the fifth annual Music Row Madness in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids’ Sake at AMF Pla Mor Lanes. The organization landed on raising a final amount of $25,358, totaling more than $120,000 in contributions during the five-year partnership. Over 20 teams were represented with sponsorships from Fifth Third Bank, Creative Artist Agency, Steven Durr Designs, Events by Janie, Jewell Roofing, Marbaloo and Clearbox Rights. There were more than 100 participants with prizes awarded throughout the evening with the Top Team Fundraiser being CAA’s I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gutter.
Emma Tur of Warner Music Group and Basak Kizilisik of Morris Higham Management planned this year’s event. “Music Row Madness 2015 was such a huge success,” says Tur. “Individuals that work in Nashville’s music industry came together for a night of fun that resulted in raising over $25,000. Giving back to Nashville’s community is a foundational part of our organization, and we couldn’t be happier about the outcome. We look forward to partnering for years to come!”
SOLID celebrates its Music Row Madness event.
Ken Levitan, Anastasia Brown Added As Part of NaFF Board
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Ken Levitan, Anastasia Brown.
Anastasia Brown (independent film and television producer and music supervisor, Format Entertainment) and Ken Levitan (founder and co-president, Vector Management) have been added in part to the Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) board of directors. This ahead of the 10-day festival fast approaching from April 16-25.
Additional new directors include Natasha Corrieri (customer service specialist, ServisFirst Bank), Steven Gaydos (executive editor, Variety Magazine), and Dawn Solér (senior vice president of music, ABC Television).
“These new board members raise the optics of our festival internationally,” said Ted Crockett, NaFF executive director. “With their help, we will continue to create one of the most exciting film festivals in the world. Our goal is to draw more film production to our state and help make deals for our festival’s stand-out filmmakers. Nashville is not only Music City – it is also Movie City. Each of these individuals possesses a deep professional background and passionate commitment to intelligent film and entertainment.”
Current NaFF Directors are: Kelly Frey (board president), of Frost Brown Todd; Taryn Anderson (board vice president), Flood Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; Cynthia Tyler (board secretary), Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; Stephanie Mundy Self (board treasurer); Shannon Casey, CAA; Yuri Cunza, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Bob Jackson, Ground Zero Post; Tyler Middleton, Graffam Middleton; Brandyn Payne, Sitel World Corporation; Bob Rains, Tennessee Film Entertainment & Music Commission; Courtney Ross, Nashville Chamber of Commerce; Jim Scherer, Whizbang; Ana Schwager, Southwest Airlines; and Bret Wolcott, TV Producer.