Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group Celebrate Grammys
Artists and executives at Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group celebrated after the Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Pictured (L-R): Big Machine President/CEO Scott Borchetta and Republic Records Founder/CEO Monte Lipman. Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry. Photo: Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
Celebration of Life Service Set for Larry Henley
Larry Henley
A Celebration of Life service has been set for singer-songwriter Larry Henley, who 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.”
The service will be held Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the first floor lobby of BMI (located at 10 Music Sq. E.). Those wishing to honor Henley can make donations to Alive Hospice, located at 1718 Patterson Street in Nashville.
Demolition Music Publishing Adds To Writer Roster
Demolition Music Publishing has signed Michael August, a New Jersey native who has made Nashville his home for the past two years.
Demolition’s President, Jon D’Agostino says the young company was proud to add Michael to their roster of writers because “Michael is that talented singer-songwriter who brings his ‘A’ game and ‘A+’ attitude to every writing session with the goal to write a hit and get it cut!”
DMP President Jon D’Agostino, and DMP writers Adam Searan and Jason Eustice, welcome Michael August to the songwriting team.
IEBA To Offer Summer Scholarships
International Entertainment Buyers Association has announced it will continue its Summer Internship Scholarship program and will award $15,000 in scholarships to 10 students interning in the entertainment business this summer. Each student will receive an individual scholarship of $1,500. Applications are available now at www.ieba.org. The application deadline is April 3, 2015.
In 2014, 10 summer scholarships were distributed to students at eight universities interning in eight states across the country. Internships included Hangout Fest, AC Entertainment, ROAR, Live Nation Clubs and Theaters, Rodeo Fame, and Progressive Global Agency.
Pictured (L-R): Zach Swon of The Swon Brothers, Sinita Tatum (IEBA Student Member and 2014 MTSU graduate now employed with Neste Event Marketing), Kelly Feild (Belmont Student and 2014 IEBA Scholarship Recipient), and Colton Swon of The Swon Brothers.
Grammy Creators Alliance Aims To Shape Legislation
/by Sarah SkatesNeil Portnow, Jennifer Hudson and Ryan Tedder announce the Grammy Creators Alliance on Sunday’s awards show. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage.com
“What if we’re all watching the Grammys a few years from now, and there’s no Best New Artist award because there aren’t enough talented artists or songwriters who are actually able to make a living from their craft?” Recording Academy Pres./CEO Neil Portnow wondered on the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards telecast. “Could that really happen? Or more importantly, could any of us ever let that happen? As great artists remind us this evening, music matters. Music has tremendous value in our lives. So while new ways of listening to music evolve, one thing should never change: For the artists, songwriters and producers, we must promise them that new technology and distribution will pay them fairly.”
Portnow, Jennifer Hudson and Ryan Tedder came together on the Grammy stage to announce the launch of the Grammy Creators Alliance. The Recording Academy established the alliance to advocate for changes to copyright laws on behalf of musicians and the industry.
Goals of the Grammy Creators Alliance include:
• To advise Congressional leaders as they develop legislation that will ensure fair pay for all creators on all platforms.
• To work within the industry to ensure fair royalty rates to creators on all platforms.
• To engage the creator community and empower them to advocate for their rights.
Find out more at http://www.grammy.com/Alliance.
Grammy Creators Alliance founding members include: Adam Levine, Alicia Keys, deadmau5, Dr. Luke, Jennifer Hudson, Jimmy Jam, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Lady Antebellum, Ryan Tedder, Steven Tyler
Voting Open For 15th Annual NSAI/CMT Song Contest
/by Jessica NicholsonTen finalists are competing for the top prize, which will be announced in March 2015.
The Grand Prize Winner will win a mentoring session with 2006 NSAI Song Contest Winner (now Warner Music Nashville recording artist), Charlie Worsham, as well as additional prizes, including: a one-year single song contract with Little Louder Music Publishing, live performances at the 2015 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and The Bluebird Cafe, a three-day trip to Nashville and more.
Finalists include:
Kristen Hemphill (co-writer James Bennett) – Clicks
Donna King – This Kind of Cold
Alexa Meadows (co-writers: Ran Jackson and Ricky Jackson) – Find Me
Taming Renee (Allison Schulz and Brandon Wind) – If I Stay
Katherine Ross – At Least I Pray
Steven Shehane – You
Matt Stell – Country Love Song
Paul Stephens (co-writers: Jason Afable and Eric Mallon) – That Smile Though
Derek Toomey – Drink It In
Becky Warren – Call Me Sometime
Voting is limited to one vote per person per song during the voting period. Songs from the Top 10 finalists can be viewed at nsai.cmt.com.
Rhonda Vincent Is Big Winner At SPBGMA Bluegrass Awards
/by Sarah SkatesRhonda Vincent and The Rage at the SPBGMA Awards.
Rhonda Vincent was named Entertainer of the Year by The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) on Sunday, Feb. 8. The organization held its annual awards and convention at the Sheraton Music City in Nashville.
Vincent, the night’s big winner, also took home Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage won Bluegrass Band of the Year. The Rage member Josh Williams was honored with the Master’s Gold Award, which commemorates winning Guitar Performer of the Year a total of ten times. Band member Hunter Berry took home Fiddle Performer of the Year.
Tim Graves was inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats.
41st annual award winners
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year: Bertie Sullivan
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year: Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN
Bluegrass DJ of the Year: Kyle Cantrell – Sirius XM 061, Nashville, TN
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Tom T. Hall & Dixie Hall
Bluegrass Album of the Year: Pull Your Savior In by Larry Stephenson Band on Whysper Dream Music
Bassfiddle Performer of the Year: Butch Cooksey
Dobro Performer of the Year: Tim Graves
Guitar Performer of the Year: Tim Stafford
Mandolin Performer of the Year: Danny Roberts
Banjo Performer of the Year: Ben Greene
Fiddle Performer of the Year: Hunter Berry
Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary): Rhonda Vincent
Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): Lorraine Jordan
Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary): Russell Moore
Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional): Marty Raybon
Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary): The Gibson Brothers
Gospel Group of the Year (Traditional): The Farm Hands
Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall): Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Vocal Group of the Year: The Gibson Brothers
Instrumental Group of the Year: The Grascals
Entertaining Group of the Year: The Farm Hands
Entertainer of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Song of the Year: “That’s Kentucky” by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road for Pinecastle Records
Round Hill Music Plans Joint Venture
/by Jessica NicholsonThe joint venture will use Sony/RED for record distribution.
Feel Music’s creator Krasno, is a founding member of the band Soulive and a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and guitarist (Derek Trucks Band “Already Free” and Tedeschi Trucks Band “Revelator”).
Industry Ink: BMLG, Larry Henley, Demolition Music Publishing, IEBA
/by Jessica NicholsonRepublic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group Celebrate Grammys
Artists and executives at Republic Nashville and Big Machine Label Group celebrated after the Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Pictured (L-R): Big Machine President/CEO Scott Borchetta and Republic Records Founder/CEO Monte Lipman. Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry. Photo: Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
Celebration of Life Service Set for Larry Henley
Larry Henley
A Celebration of Life service has been set for singer-songwriter Larry Henley, who 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.”
The service will be held Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the first floor lobby of BMI (located at 10 Music Sq. E.). Those wishing to honor Henley can make donations to Alive Hospice, located at 1718 Patterson Street in Nashville.
Demolition Music Publishing Adds To Writer Roster
Demolition Music Publishing has signed Michael August, a New Jersey native who has made Nashville his home for the past two years.
Demolition’s President, Jon D’Agostino says the young company was proud to add Michael to their roster of writers because “Michael is that talented singer-songwriter who brings his ‘A’ game and ‘A+’ attitude to every writing session with the goal to write a hit and get it cut!”
DMP President Jon D’Agostino, and DMP writers Adam Searan and Jason Eustice, welcome Michael August to the songwriting team.
IEBA To Offer Summer Scholarships
International Entertainment Buyers Association has announced it will continue its Summer Internship Scholarship program and will award $15,000 in scholarships to 10 students interning in the entertainment business this summer. Each student will receive an individual scholarship of $1,500. Applications are available now at www.ieba.org. The application deadline is April 3, 2015.
In 2014, 10 summer scholarships were distributed to students at eight universities interning in eight states across the country. Internships included Hangout Fest, AC Entertainment, ROAR, Live Nation Clubs and Theaters, Rodeo Fame, and Progressive Global Agency.
Pictured (L-R): Zach Swon of The Swon Brothers, Sinita Tatum (IEBA Student Member and 2014 MTSU graduate now employed with Neste Event Marketing), Kelly Feild (Belmont Student and 2014 IEBA Scholarship Recipient), and Colton Swon of The Swon Brothers.
ACM Announces First-Ever ‘NOW That’s What I Call Music!’ Album
/by Eric T. ParkerThe latest installment in the best-selling album series will feature two discs spanning the ACM Awards’ 50-year history. Recent hits such as “The House That Built Me” and “Need You Now” (disc one) are paired with classics such as “Always on My Mind,” “Why Not Me,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (disc two). Other songs are featured from Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Alabama, Faith Hill, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and many more.
The album will be released on March 31, prior to the 50th ACM Awards airing on Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS. All of the Academy’s proceeds from sales of the album will go to ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the ACM, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.
A track listing is expected to be released soon.
Grammy Ratings Slip, Still Dominate Primetime
/by Sarah SkatesEric Church performs on the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles
Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage.com/Grammy.com
Ratings for last night’s (Feb. 8) Grammy Awards may have hit a six-year low, but the trophyfest on CBS still won the night by a longshot.
The show averaged 25.3 million viewers according Nielsen, an 11 percent slide from the 2014 broadcast which attracted 28.5 million.
Viewership among the key demographic of 18-to-49 year-olds received an 8.5 rating and was down 14 percent year over year.
Meanwhile, on CBS’s website, unique users of Grammy content hit record highs, up 133 percent year over year. Live streaming of “Grammy Live” was up more than 40 percent with 7.5 million streams.
Are Country Radio Listeners “Morning People”?
/by Jessica NicholsonOne key finding from the Edison Research study is that country music listeners more likely than the overall population to describe themselves as “morning people.” Country fans also say they are in a consistently better‐than‐average mood throughout the morning. The presentation on Feb. 26 will focus on how to appeal to these active country fans, and will be broken out into half-hour increments.
The new study is the latest in a series of Edison/CRS research presentations. Edison surveyed more than 1,500 listeners about their morning habits and media usage, as well as conducting dozens of one‐on‐one interviews in three different markets.
The 2015 CRS research presentation delves into major issues, such as in‐car usage, radio ownership, the need for service elements, and favorite morning show topics and
features, but also into the small details of listeners’ morning routines. Broadcasters have always asked their morning talent to focus on the “typical” listener’s lifestyle; this study will give them more information to do just that.
Vince Gill And Amy Grant Announce Ryman Holiday Residency
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): Amy Grant, Vince Gill
Vince Gill and Amy Grant have announced an eight-night residency for their annual Christmas at The Ryman this December.
Two additional shows have been added to their 2015 dates, after all six shows sold out in 2014.
The concerts for 2015 are scheduled for Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22 and 23., Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 14 and cost $125, $75, $55 and $35. Tickets will be available via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, ryman.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
“Christmas audiences are special,” Grant explains. “They tend to involve the whole family, and their emotions are a wonderful mix of anticipation and reverence. It’s a thrilling experience for both of us.”
“These holiday tours have become our favorites,” Gill agrees.
Shania Twain Gets New Day-To-Day Manager
/by Jessica NicholsonAaron Kinssies
Sandbox Entertainment has recently hired Aaron Kinssies, who will serve as day-to-day manager for Shania Twain, and will work closely with Sandbox Entertainment president, Jason Owen.
Kinssies spent the first decade of his career tour managing various artists including Jo Dee Messina, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, The B-52’s, CeCe Winans, and SheDaisy. He later moved to Dennis Entertainment, where he has worked for the past five years, and held the role as an associate manager.
Aaron can be reach at aaron@sandboxmgmt.com