The women of Americana are in the spotlight more than ever this winter.
Rosanne Cash swept all three Americana categories at the Grammy Awards. Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Brandi Carlile, Amy Speace and Rhiannon Giddens (of The Carolina Chocolate Drops) are all promoting strong new music.
And both of the top discs in this week’s edition of “DisClaimer” come from female singer-songwriters. Actually, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gretchen Peters are two of Nashville’s finest writers, regardless of gender. Gretchen Peters gets the edge as the Disc of the Day, but you really need to own both of these women’s recordings. Gretchen guests on Beth’s, by the way.
The DisCovery Award goes to another act that’s on the current Americana radio chart. That would be Canada’s The Bros. Landreth.
GURF MORLIX/Dirt Old Buffalo
Writers: Gurf Morlix; Producer: Gurf Morlix; Publishers: Crankbait/Bug, SESAC; Rootball (track)
-This longtime Americana favorite has made his mark as a producer (Lucinda Williams) and a guitarist (Warren Zevon), as well as the creator of eight solo CDs. His latest, Eatin’ At Me, leads off with this dark word portrait of his hometown and its lost, rust-belt citizens. His hushed rasp matches the lyric perfectly, and it goes without saying that his stark electric-guitar work is gripping, too. The collection isn’t exactly a million laughs, but it is nonetheless heartily recommended.
GRETCHEN PETERS/Blackbirds
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Scarlet Letter
-The title tune of this recent Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee’s new CD is a murder ballad with a minimalist production dominated by an electric guitar’s chopped. haunting notes. You’ll hang on every line. But, then, that’s the case for everything this stupendous talent writes. If you care anything at all about songwriting craftsmanship, buy this collection at once.
JOEY MISKULIN/Avalon
Writers: Goodwin; Producer: Joey Miskulin; Publishers: none listed; MusicWagon
-The new solo CD by this Grammy-winning member of Riders in the Sky is called The Other Side of the Fence. It is a jazz accordion (I’m serious) instrumental collection containing standards he heard growing up in Chicago. The lively, lilting “Avalon” dates from 1921, and is best known via a vocal version by Al Jolson. Miskulin’s zippy accordion riffs are abetted by the solos of Denis Solee’s clarinet and Andre Reiss’s guitar. This is the soundtrack of my next dinner party, for sure.
CRAIG MARKET & THOMM JUTZ/Nowhere To Ride
Writers: Craig Market/Thomm Jutz; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Craig Market; Publishers: Drop D/ThommSongs/Bluewater, BMI/SESAC; NTH (track)
-This is the title tune of a splendid set by two Nashville troubadours, performing with simple, rippling, twin acoustic guitars and brotherly, folkie harmonizing voices. The warmth in their performances glows through every one of these 12 tracks.
BOB DYLAN/That Lucky Old Sun
Writers: Smith/Gillespie; Producer: Jack Frost; Publishers: none listed; Columbia (track)
-As you have probably heard by now, Dylan’s latest, Shadows in the Night, is a collection of him singing songs associated with Frank Sinatra. The original popularizer of this Nashville pop standard was actually another Frank, Frankie Laine (1949). As flawless as this new instrumental arrangement is, Bob Dylan simply does not have the pipes for the song’s upper register, to be perfectly “frank.”
KEVIN SO/Countryside
Writers: Kevin So; Producer: Kevin So; Publisher: none listed; Wingtone (track)
-Singer-songwriter Benita Hill tipped me off to this guy. I was completely unaware of him, but others evidently aren’t. In addition to Hill, his songwriting collaborators include such notables as Keb’ Mo,’ Jan Buckingham and Lisa Aschmann. This title tune to his disc-and-DVD combo is a lulling rural ode. For a little more twang, check out the witty “June Carter Cash.” For some folk-pop, try “Five Days in Memphis.”
The Bros. Landreth
THE BROS. LANDRETH/I Am The Fool
Writers: Wally Landreth; Producer: Murray Pulver; Publisher: Wallace Landreth, SOCAN/ASCAP; Slate Creek (track)
-Country-rock with stinging, grinding guitar work; a tough, snappy backbeat; a bluesy, drawling lead vocal and tight sibling harmonies. The CD is titled Let It Lie. Extremely promising.
BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN/Simple Things
Writers: Beth Nielsen Chapman/Darrell Brown/Jim Brickman; Producers: Beth Nielsen Chapman & Darrell Brown; Publishers: BNC/Brickman/Universal/Grey Ink/Chrysalis, ASCAP/SESAC; BNC (track)
-I love everything this lady records. Her latest, UnCovered, is a collection of hits she’s written for others, but has never recorded, herself. You know these songs as sung by Tanya Tucker (”Strong Enough to Bend”), Alabama (”Here We Are”), Faith Hill (”This Kiss”), Lorrie Morgan (”Five Minutes”), Willie Nelson (”Nothin’ I Can Do About It Now”) and the like. Her take on this Jim Brickman favorite serves as the CD’s title tune. Her heart-in-throat vocal, as always, is a thing of lustrous wonder. The Kim Carnes harmony parts are beautifully layered. Other guests on this terrific collection include Morgan, Pam Tillis, Bekka Bramlett, Suzi Bogguss, Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, Vince Gill, Duane Eddy, Jessi Colter, Amy Grant, Muriel Anderson, Darrell Scott and George Marinelli. Miss this one at your peril.
MAC WISEMAN/You’re A Flower Blooming in the Wildwood
Writers: traditional; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Peter Cooper; Publishers: public domain; Wrinkled (track)
-When he was a little boy, Mac watched his mother listening to country radio and patiently transcribing song lyrics in notebooks. The repertoire of his new CD is drawn from those notebooks. The album is thus titled Songs From My Mother’s Hand. This sweet mountain tune is typical of the set, with its gentle, acoustic backing and the still-caressing singing of the man dubbed “The Voice With a Heart.” The 89-year-old, new Country Music Hall of Fame member is joined here by young Sierra Hull on mandolin and backing vocal. Others in this super-sympathetic folknik cast include Jelly Roll Johnson, Jimmy Capps, Alissa Jones Wall and Thomm Jutz.
LES KERR/The Sun Also Rises
Writers: Les Kerr; Producer: none listed; Publisher: O.N.U., ASCAP; O.N.U. (track)
-Nashvillians are accustomed to experiencing Kerr with his Bayou Band. But he also books solo acoustic shows, which his hearty tenor and deft guitar picking are more than capable of carrying. His new As Is CD is a document of one of those solo performances, a recent WDVX “Blue Plate Special” appearance in Knoxville. He kicks off the set with this light-hearted ditty in praise of Bourbon Street. How timely, since Mardi Gras festivities were this week in the Crescent City. The 12 Southern-themed songs are interspersed with the songwriter’s anecdotes and descriptions. He dedicates the album to his beloved late wife, Gail Kerr.
ASCAP Names Leader of Transformation Management Office
/by Sarah SkatesLynne Lummel
ASCAP has promoted Lynne Lummel to Executive Vice President of its newly created Transformation Management Office (TMO), which will help the organization implement innovative new tools and services.
Lummel was previsously Sr. VP of Distribution and Repertory, overseeing the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments each year to ASCAP members. Under her leadership, Distribution and Repertory expenses were reduced by double-digits, productivity doubled and the number of performances processed for payment grew tenfold to 500 billion in 2014. Lummel was also instrumental in introducing video and audio pattern-recognition technologies at ASCAP that expanded the organization’s ability to obtain musical performance data.
“The ASCAP Transformation Management Office will be essential in helping ASCAP implement new best-in-class, innovative tools and services for our constituents and Lynne is the perfect person to lead it,” said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “During her tenure at ASCAP, she has always been an agent of change, driving fundamental innovations in licensing, in repertory and in our distribution systems. Through her vast knowledge of ASCAP’s operations and complex business systems, Lynne’s work has resulted in tremendous efficiencies while enhancing the services we provide to our members and licensing partners. I’m excited to have her lead this new TMO.”
Industry Ink: Henley Memorial To Be Rescheduled
/by Sarah SkatesLarry Henley Memorial To Be Rescheduled
The memorial service for Larry Henley will be rescheduled due to the weather. It was originally set for today (Thursday, Feb. 19) at BMI. Singer-songwriter Henley died Dec. 18, 2014 at the age of 77. His compositions included “Wing Beneath My Wings,” “‘Til I Get It Right,” “He’s a Heartache,” “Is It Still Over,” “Lizzie and the Rainman,” and “Bread and Butter.” Those wishing to honor Henley can make donations to Alive Hospice, located at 1718 Patterson Street in Nashville.
Larry Henley
Big Names at Barn Dance
Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and Cory Chisel will team up for the Celebrity Barn Dance & Benefit Concert on Saturday, March 28 to benefit MusiCares®, Music Health Alliance, Bonaparte’s Retreat and New Beginnings at Lake Charles. The second annual fundraiser will be at The Jaeckle Centre in Thompson’s Station, a premier equine facility and the largest barn in the south.
VIP tickets include a meet and greet, wine tasting and dinner prepared by award-winning chef Dean Fearing of the Austin Ritz-Carlton. Patrons with general admission tickets are invited to bring their own beverages. Tickets at www.thebarndance.com.
DRX Showcase Highlights Up and Comers
Jeff Bates will guest host the Digital Rodeo DRX Artist Showcase to be held Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at 3rd and Lindsley. The monthly showcase highlights rising country artists. Kaitlyn Baker, Sim Balkey, Hannah Bethel, Rivers & Rust and Megan Moreaux are set for February’s event. Members of the music industry that RSVP to showcase@digitalrodeo.com will receive a limited number of complimentary drinks during the show. The live performance will be streamed at digitalrodeo.com.
Russian-born Country Performer Signs with Industry Veterans
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R) Back: BMG’s Daniel Lee (Senior Director, Creative) and Kevin Lane (Creative Director); Clay Myers (Big Stage Music); BMG’s Chris Oglesby (VP, Creative); Front: Trey Turner (Big Stage Music); Alina Smith, BMG’s Sara Knabe (Senior Director, Creative) and Kos Weaver (Executive Vice President).
BMG Chrysalis US and Big Stage Music have signed a co-publishing agreement with Russian-born singer/songwriter Alina Smith. Big Stage Music is a newly formed artist development publishing company launched by publishing veteran Clay Myers and artist manager Trey Turner.
Nashville-based Smith debuted her first country single, the self-produced “Free Beer,” on Feb. 17. A full-length album is forthcoming.
At the age of six, Smith toured extensively throughout Europe with a prestigious performance group before moving to the US. With stints in Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles, Smith has written with top local talent and played hundreds of shows at venues such as Hotel Cafe, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall and The Mint. She placed first in the KTLA-TV Battle of the Bands and received awards from the Great American Song Contest, Temecula Music Festival, Johnny Mercer Foundation and Hollywood Music Awards.
“The Nashville community has been buzzing about Alina,” said Kos Weaver, Executive Vice President at BMG Chrysalis Nashville. “She offers the rare triple threat of artist power, songwriting chops and production skills. We are fortunate to have her and to be partnered with our good friends Clay and Trey.”
“Alina Smith is a true talent that we are honored to be representing and we cherish the opportunity to be working with the great team at BMG in this venture,” commented Myers.
Academy Of Country Music Announces Additional Ticket Packages
/by Troy_StephensonThere are also a limited number of VIP packages available, for more information please call 817-892-4400.
“In April, we sold out faster than ever and now we’re excited to be able to open up the 50th ACM Awards and Party for a Cause Festival. This year’s staging is being designed to be interactive and dynamic, and making that production change opened up space to accommodate as many fans as possible to Country Music’s Party of the Year,” said Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for the Academy.
The 50th ACM Awards will be broadcast live for the first time from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. ACM Award winners Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return to co-hosts.
Sandbox Entertainment Adds Hill’s Day-to-Day Manager to Staff
/by Jessica NicholsonSandra Westerman
Sandra Westerman has joined the team at Sandbox Entertainment, where she will continue her current role as day-to-day manager for Faith Hill.
Sandra brings over 25 years of music business experience to Sandbox, first starting her career at ICM and APA in Los Angeles. She then moved into management at Borman Entertainment, working with artists including Dwight Yoakam, Violent Femmes, Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum.
Sandra became Hill’s day-to-day manager in 1994 and has since been responsible for managing corporate partnerships, projects including Sunday Night Football and Nashville Rising, and overseeing day-to-day aspects of her career.
Westerman can be reached at sandra@sandboxmgmt.com
DISClaimer: A Slice of Americana
/by Robert K OermannRosanne Cash swept all three Americana categories at the Grammy Awards. Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Brandi Carlile, Amy Speace and Rhiannon Giddens (of The Carolina Chocolate Drops) are all promoting strong new music.
And both of the top discs in this week’s edition of “DisClaimer” come from female singer-songwriters. Actually, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gretchen Peters are two of Nashville’s finest writers, regardless of gender. Gretchen Peters gets the edge as the Disc of the Day, but you really need to own both of these women’s recordings. Gretchen guests on Beth’s, by the way.
The DisCovery Award goes to another act that’s on the current Americana radio chart. That would be Canada’s The Bros. Landreth.
GURF MORLIX/Dirt Old Buffalo
Writers: Gurf Morlix; Producer: Gurf Morlix; Publishers: Crankbait/Bug, SESAC; Rootball (track)
-This longtime Americana favorite has made his mark as a producer (Lucinda Williams) and a guitarist (Warren Zevon), as well as the creator of eight solo CDs. His latest, Eatin’ At Me, leads off with this dark word portrait of his hometown and its lost, rust-belt citizens. His hushed rasp matches the lyric perfectly, and it goes without saying that his stark electric-guitar work is gripping, too. The collection isn’t exactly a million laughs, but it is nonetheless heartily recommended.
GRETCHEN PETERS/Blackbirds
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Scarlet Letter
-The title tune of this recent Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee’s new CD is a murder ballad with a minimalist production dominated by an electric guitar’s chopped. haunting notes. You’ll hang on every line. But, then, that’s the case for everything this stupendous talent writes. If you care anything at all about songwriting craftsmanship, buy this collection at once.
JOEY MISKULIN/Avalon
Writers: Goodwin; Producer: Joey Miskulin; Publishers: none listed; MusicWagon
-The new solo CD by this Grammy-winning member of Riders in the Sky is called The Other Side of the Fence. It is a jazz accordion (I’m serious) instrumental collection containing standards he heard growing up in Chicago. The lively, lilting “Avalon” dates from 1921, and is best known via a vocal version by Al Jolson. Miskulin’s zippy accordion riffs are abetted by the solos of Denis Solee’s clarinet and Andre Reiss’s guitar. This is the soundtrack of my next dinner party, for sure.
CRAIG MARKET & THOMM JUTZ/Nowhere To Ride
Writers: Craig Market/Thomm Jutz; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Craig Market; Publishers: Drop D/ThommSongs/Bluewater, BMI/SESAC; NTH (track)
-This is the title tune of a splendid set by two Nashville troubadours, performing with simple, rippling, twin acoustic guitars and brotherly, folkie harmonizing voices. The warmth in their performances glows through every one of these 12 tracks.
BOB DYLAN/That Lucky Old Sun
Writers: Smith/Gillespie; Producer: Jack Frost; Publishers: none listed; Columbia (track)
-As you have probably heard by now, Dylan’s latest, Shadows in the Night, is a collection of him singing songs associated with Frank Sinatra. The original popularizer of this Nashville pop standard was actually another Frank, Frankie Laine (1949). As flawless as this new instrumental arrangement is, Bob Dylan simply does not have the pipes for the song’s upper register, to be perfectly “frank.”
KEVIN SO/Countryside
Writers: Kevin So; Producer: Kevin So; Publisher: none listed; Wingtone (track)
-Singer-songwriter Benita Hill tipped me off to this guy. I was completely unaware of him, but others evidently aren’t. In addition to Hill, his songwriting collaborators include such notables as Keb’ Mo,’ Jan Buckingham and Lisa Aschmann. This title tune to his disc-and-DVD combo is a lulling rural ode. For a little more twang, check out the witty “June Carter Cash.” For some folk-pop, try “Five Days in Memphis.”
The Bros. Landreth
THE BROS. LANDRETH/I Am The Fool
Writers: Wally Landreth; Producer: Murray Pulver; Publisher: Wallace Landreth, SOCAN/ASCAP; Slate Creek (track)
-Country-rock with stinging, grinding guitar work; a tough, snappy backbeat; a bluesy, drawling lead vocal and tight sibling harmonies. The CD is titled Let It Lie. Extremely promising.
BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN/Simple Things
Writers: Beth Nielsen Chapman/Darrell Brown/Jim Brickman; Producers: Beth Nielsen Chapman & Darrell Brown; Publishers: BNC/Brickman/Universal/Grey Ink/Chrysalis, ASCAP/SESAC; BNC (track)
-I love everything this lady records. Her latest, UnCovered, is a collection of hits she’s written for others, but has never recorded, herself. You know these songs as sung by Tanya Tucker (”Strong Enough to Bend”), Alabama (”Here We Are”), Faith Hill (”This Kiss”), Lorrie Morgan (”Five Minutes”), Willie Nelson (”Nothin’ I Can Do About It Now”) and the like. Her take on this Jim Brickman favorite serves as the CD’s title tune. Her heart-in-throat vocal, as always, is a thing of lustrous wonder. The Kim Carnes harmony parts are beautifully layered. Other guests on this terrific collection include Morgan, Pam Tillis, Bekka Bramlett, Suzi Bogguss, Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, Vince Gill, Duane Eddy, Jessi Colter, Amy Grant, Muriel Anderson, Darrell Scott and George Marinelli. Miss this one at your peril.
MAC WISEMAN/You’re A Flower Blooming in the Wildwood
Writers: traditional; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Peter Cooper; Publishers: public domain; Wrinkled (track)
-When he was a little boy, Mac watched his mother listening to country radio and patiently transcribing song lyrics in notebooks. The repertoire of his new CD is drawn from those notebooks. The album is thus titled Songs From My Mother’s Hand. This sweet mountain tune is typical of the set, with its gentle, acoustic backing and the still-caressing singing of the man dubbed “The Voice With a Heart.” The 89-year-old, new Country Music Hall of Fame member is joined here by young Sierra Hull on mandolin and backing vocal. Others in this super-sympathetic folknik cast include Jelly Roll Johnson, Jimmy Capps, Alissa Jones Wall and Thomm Jutz.
LES KERR/The Sun Also Rises
Writers: Les Kerr; Producer: none listed; Publisher: O.N.U., ASCAP; O.N.U. (track)
-Nashvillians are accustomed to experiencing Kerr with his Bayou Band. But he also books solo acoustic shows, which his hearty tenor and deft guitar picking are more than capable of carrying. His new As Is CD is a document of one of those solo performances, a recent WDVX “Blue Plate Special” appearance in Knoxville. He kicks off the set with this light-hearted ditty in praise of Bourbon Street. How timely, since Mardi Gras festivities were this week in the Crescent City. The 12 Southern-themed songs are interspersed with the songwriter’s anecdotes and descriptions. He dedicates the album to his beloved late wife, Gail Kerr.
Charity Events: Jeffrey Steele & Friends Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonJeffrey Steele
Jeffrey Steele & Friends Benefit Concert
Jeffrey Steele will host the 8th annual Jeffrey Steele & Friends benefit concert on March 10 at the Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin. Performers will include Steele, Delbert McClinton, Chris Janson, LoCash, Alyssa Bonagura, Alissa Moreno, Adam James, The Shuggah Pies, and more.
The evening will also include a live auction. Only VIP tickets are still available for this event. For tickets visit franklintheatre.com.
The fundraiser benefits the Alex Le’Vasseur Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The fund supports programs and projects for overlooked youth in Middle Tennessee.
Julianne Drenon
Benefit for Julianne and Tom Drenon
A benefit concert will be held Monday, Feb. 23, beginning at 7 p.m. at Tin Roof Nashville, to benefit Julianne and Tom Drenon, and their five-year-old daughter Charlese, who recently lost their home to a fire.
No Veteran Left Behind Concert
Individual tickets are $125 per person. Tables are $1000. For tickets, visit wearebuildinglives.org.
The organization has achieved success over the past six years thanks to the support of artists including Three Doors Down, Teddy Gentry, Marty Stuart, Keni Thomas, Big Kenny, and Eric Lee Beddingfield, among many others.
Bluebird in the Boro
Tickets are $100 and will include dinner from Five Senses restaurant in Murfreesboro.
Each evening concert will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit alivehospice.org.
Hirings and Promotions: Goldenvoice, New Heartland Group
/by Jessica Nicholson“It is exciting to see this happen for Stacy,” said Paul Tollett, President and CEO of Goldenvoice. “Her appreciation for all the different types of country music, combined with the relationships she’s established in Nashville, made this role a natural fit for her.”
Vee will continue to support Tollett on day-to-day activities related to booking all other festival talent buying opportunities and managing the experience of agents, managers and musicians that do business with Goldenvoice.
• • •
Harrison joins from Girlilla Marketing, where Jordan was a Sr. Account Manager. Dean joins New Heartland Group as a recent graduate of Lipscomb University.
New Heartland Group’s recent branded entertainment partnerships include Blake Shelton with Pizza Hut, and Dierks Bentley with Mountain Dew.
Weekly Register: Blackberry Smoke Debuts At No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesBlackberry Smoke
Blackberry Smoke grabbed the No. 1 spot on the country album chart selling 19K of Holding All The Roses. This is the band’s fourth studio album and its first for Rounder.
Other country album debuts include Robert Earl Keen (6.7K) and Love & Theft (2.9K).
Miranda Lambert’s “Little Red Wagon” rode in to the No. 2 country tracks spot, snagging a 105 percent bump thanks in part to her performance of the song on the Grammy Awards.
Drake surprised fans with a digital-only release, which debuted at No. 1 overall with total consumption of 535K (495K album sales). The Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack came in at No. 2, with total consumption of 258K (210K albums).
Top 5 Country Albums this week
Blackberry Smoke, 19K
Sam Hunt, 17K
Jason Aldean, 14K
Florida Georgia Line, 11K
Miranda Lambert, 11K
Top 5 Country Tracks this week
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 52K
Miranda Lambert “Little Red Wagon” 31K
Thomas Rhett “Make Me Wanna” 28K
Blake Shelton ft. Ashley Monroe “Lonely Tonight” 27K
Zac Brown Band “Homegrown” 26K
YTD Albums
Overall +.2%
Country -8.5%
YTD Tracks
Overall -11.6%
Country -18.1%
SoundExchange Adds Two to VP Roles
/by Jessica NicholsonMark Eisenberg and Jacqueline Petersen
SoundExchange has expanded its executive team with the addition of Mark Eisenberg as Sr. VP, Strategic Initiatives, and Jacqueline Peterson as Sr. VP, Communications.
Eisenberg previously served as Global Head of Content Acquisition and Strategy for MixRadio. Prior to his work at MixRadio, he spent more than 15 years as Executive Vice President and Head of Business & Legal Affairs for the Global Division Business Group at Sony Music Entertainment.
Peterson transitioned to SoundExchange from a role as Sr. VP of Corporate Communications at Live Nation Entertainment. She previously worked as Strategic External Communications Director for Caesars Entertainment Corporation. In her role at SoundExchange, Peterson will lead the company’s internal and external communications, marketing, and public relations efforts.
“I’m extremely excited to welcome Mark Eisenberg and Jacqueline Peterson to our team. Their collective experience in the music industry is immeasurable. Both have proven track records of strategic leadership and helping the industry succeed,” said SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe. “SoundExchange is only as good as the people who work for it and we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent. With these new additions, our team is stronger than ever and poised to achieve even greater success in 2015. Their knowledge and experience of the music industry will be invaluable to SoundExchange and we are thrilled to have them join our organization.”