
Pictured (L-R): Mike Curb, Aubrey Preston, Chuck Elcan
The purchase of the historic
RCA Studio A complex was officially completed on Dec. 23 with the partnership of two additional preservationists,
Mike Curb and
Chuck Elcan, with
previously announced Aubrey Preston.
Under the umbrella of the newly formed Studio A Preservation Partners, the $5.6 million purchase from Bravo Development offers each a one-third interest in the property. The building was previously subject of a controversial demolition plan that included condos and a restaurant. The new buyers plan to continue running the property as a working recording studio with
Ben Folds, who has leased and operated Studio A since 2002. Limited access for education and special events will also be offered.
“We’re proud to be part of preserving RCA Studio A for the next generation of musicians, songwriters, recording artists, and producers,” said Preston, a Leiper’s Fork real estate entrepreneur. “It’s essential that we protect the infrastructure and heritage that anchors Nashville’s creative economy, and Mike and Chuck are perfect partners for this project. As a team, we’re looking forward to working with the preservation community to ensure Studio A’s long-term protection and share its incredible story.”
Curb has pioneered the preservation of Nashville’s most famous recording studios including Music Row’s RCA Studio B, the historic Quonset Hut, Columbia Studio A, and the Columbia/Sony Building. The histories of the Quonset Hut and RCA Studios A and B are inextricably linked. In the mid-1950s, brothers
Owen Bradley and
Harold Bradley opened the Quonset Hut studio – laying the foundation for what became Music Row. Not long afterward,
Chet Atkins helped found the studio that later would become known as RCA Studio B. By the mid- ’60s, Atkins and the Bradley brothers determined that Music Row needed a larger modern studio, and joined forces to convince RCA to build the facility that became known as the Studio A complex.
“Studio A is at center stage in Music Row’s history and I’m pleased to be able to help save it,” Curb said. “The creative, entrepreneurial work that began nearly 50 years ago, when our industry’s pioneers had the vision to create Studio A, now will continue on into the future.”
“Whether we’re talking about the recording studios where our music was made or the supper tables where Music City’s recording artists wrote some of their best-selling songs, Nashville is blessed with cultural assets,” said Elcan, a real estate and healthcare entrepreneur behind the Loveless Cafe. “I’m honored to be involved with Mike and Aubrey in preserving Studio A, which really is a unique piece of our musical history.”
—
Opened in 1965, Studio A became a Music Row landmark that helped propel the “Nashville Sound” to international prominence and has served as a go-to recording destination for countless music legends for nearly five decades. Famed names patronizing the studio have included
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, The Monkees and
George Strait as well as newer artists like
Hunter Hayes, Kacey Musgraves, Sara Bareilles, and
Kesha. Although it was
contested that
Elvis Presley recorded there, representatives indicate to documents citing the contrary.
Curb, Elcan, and Preston decided to jointly buy Studio A on the heels of intense advocacy efforts led by Folds, his management team of
Sharon Corbitt-House and
Mike Kopp, and songwriter-producer
Trey Bruce. The “Save Studio A” campaign garnered global attention. Internationally acclaimed artists including
Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, and
Keith Urban weighed in with support.
“Trey and our team felt compelled to get involved and raise awareness about the urgent need to save Studio A,” Folds said. “I heard from hundreds of thousands of music fans around the world – along with organizations like the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, The Recording Academy, and the American Federation of Musicians – who flooded our inboxes and social platforms with comments in support of the movement. We’re grateful that Mike, Chuck, and Aubrey stepped forward to provide their collective support.”
Folds added: “This is what it looks like when an entire community comes together to protect our music heritage and culture, and advance our future. This is Nashville at its very best.”
Country Stars On 'Pollstar's' Top 20 Tours List
/by Sarah SkatesThree country stars ranked on Pollstar’s Year End Top 20 Worldwide Tours chart, based on gross box office receipts from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2014.
Luke Bryan grossed $62.8 million, coming in at No. 17 on the list. The WME artist sold more than 1.2 million tickets at 72 concerts. His average ticket price was about $50.
George Strait ranked No. 18 on Pollstar’s list, grossing $61.8 million on his farewell run which had an average ticket price of almost $109. Strait sold more than a half million tickets and played 26 shows. His booking is handled by The Erv Woolsey Agency.
Jason Aldean secured the No. 20 spot by grossing $52.5 million. He sold more than one million tickets over the course of 70 shows. Tickets to see the WME artist averaged $48.
The top three slots on the list are occupied by One Direction ($282M), Justin Timberlake ($184M) and The Rolling Stones ($165M).
Read more and see the full chart.
Charlie Daniels 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam Coming in August
/by Jessica NicholsonCharlie Daniels
The Charlie Daniels Band’s 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam presented by Copperweld will feature performances from the Charlie Daniels Band, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kentucky Headhunters, Montgomery Gentry, the Outlaws, Lee Roy Parnell and Travis Tritt. The Volunteer Jam will take place Aug. 12, 2015 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The first Volunteer Jam was held in 1974 at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, and included members of the Marshall Tucker Band and the Allman Brothers Band. The next year, Volunteer Jam II took place at Murphy Center on Middle Tennessee State University’s campus. The event has grown into an annual favorite for fans and artists alike.
“We never had any idea how big it would become, broadcasting around the world and on Voice of America,” Daniels says. “We thought it was a hometown thing. We never realized it would become an international event. I hope to see more Nashville Volunteer Jams in the future. I’m very very excited to continue the Jam tradition 40 years later. Ain’t it good to be alive and be in Tennessee.”
Tickets for the 2015 event go on sale Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. CT at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets range from $17.48 to $500 (VIP seating). Profits benefit The Journey Home Project, which helps aid veterans of the United States Armed Forces, as well as The Predators Foundation.
95.5 Nash Icon serves as the event’s official radio partner, while the event is produced and promoted by Corlew & Associates in association with Mike Smardak/Outback Concerts.
Nashville Music Venue The Basement To Open Second Location
/by Jessica NicholsonThe new venue, Basement East, will be located at 917 Woodland Street, and is set to open in March 2015. The Basement is currently operated on 8th Ave. S., below Grimey’s New & Preloved Record Store. The 8th Ave. location opened in 2005, and is curated by Mike “Grimey” Grimes.
'Live From the Artists Den' Enlists Zac Brown Band To Launch Ninth Season
/by Jessica NicholsonZac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band will help launch the ninth season of Live From The Artists Den, which premieres on public television Jan. 30. The band will offer a performance at the historic Forest Hills Stadium in New York.
The new season also features performances from Alabama Shakes (performing at Nashville’s Loveless Barn), as well as Cage the Elephant and Damien Rice.
The music series is funded in partnership with Barnes & Noble, Citi, Lexus and Samsung to create free secret shows throughout the year.
Americana Spring Celebration Coming To Blackberry Farm
/by Troy_StephensonSheryl Crow
The 5th Annual Americana Spring Celebration will be held April 23-26, 2015 at Blackberry Farm in East Tennessee. This year’s musical lineup will feature nine-time Grammy-winning recording artist Sheryl Crow, three-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’, and critically acclaimed songstress Holly Williams playing to benefit the not-for-profit artist advocacy group.
“We are honored that artists of this caliber will be participating in our Americana Spring Celebration. This event has become an important fundraiser complementing the wide array of events we produce throughout the year,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, adding, “and it just keeps getting better and better.”
Reservations are available by calling 1-800-557-8864 or visiting blackberryfarm.com.
2015 International CES Draws Top Brands To Vegas Convention
/by Sarah SkatesBob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia Inc., will give a headline address with Ryan Seacrest at CES’s C Space at ARIA on Wednesday, Jan. 7. C Space is the official destination for the marketing, advertising, content and creative communities at the event.
More CES keynoters will include CBS Corp. president and CEO, Leslie Moonves; Ford Motor Co. president and CEO Mark Fields; Samsung Electronics’ president and CEO, Boo-Keun Yoon; chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche; and Intel CEO, Brian Krzanich.
Elsewhere, top executives from Condé Nast, Fox Networks Group, Google, McDonald’s, and The Walt Disney Co. will join the Brand Matters keynote for a panel discussion. Leaders from Electrolux, General Motors, Philips and Qualcomm will take part in a discussion regarding How Mobile is Fundamentally Changing Our World.
For entertainment professionals who need help navigating the large event, CES offers the specialized Entertainment Matters program.
Additionally, the hit TV program Shark Tank will host an open call for entrepreneurs who wish to appear on the show.
Weekly Register: Craig Wayne Boyd Dominates Tracks Chart
/by Sarah SkatesCraig Wayne Boyd and Blake Shelton on “The Voice.”
Country album sales experienced a 22 percent bump week over week (up 1.379 million), on the most recent Nielsen Soundscan chart (week ending 12/21/14). But year-to-date sales are still slumping -9.7 percent (32M TY vs. 35.4M LY).
Top 5 Country Albums TW
Garth Brooks, 81K
Carrie Underwood, 66K
Jason Aldean, 52K
Florida Georgia Line, 35K
George Strait, 26K
During the same week last year, Brooks also reigned, owning the No. 1 country spot by moving 199K copies of Blame It All On My Roots.
This week, The Voice winner Craig Wayne Boyd continued to score on the country tracks chart. He placed four songs in the Top 10, including No. 1 “My Baby’s Got A Smile On Her Face” (99K), No. 3 “In Pictures” (30K), No. 6 “The Old Rugged Cross” (28K), and No. 9 “Boots On” ft. Blake Shelton (23K).
Taylor Swift stayed at No. 1 on the overall Top 200 album chart, with 1989 earning total activity of 375K units. Swift is in a race with the Frozen soundtrack to become the best-selling album of 2014. In the eight weeks since release, Swift has sold 3.335 million copies, and 4 million including TEA (track equivalent albums). By comparison, Frozen has sold 3.46 million copies, and 4.25 million including TEA, since its release in late 2013.
Studio A Officially Saved, Curb and Elcan Complete Deal
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Mike Curb, Aubrey Preston, Chuck Elcan
The purchase of the historic RCA Studio A complex was officially completed on Dec. 23 with the partnership of two additional preservationists, Mike Curb and Chuck Elcan, with previously announced Aubrey Preston.
Under the umbrella of the newly formed Studio A Preservation Partners, the $5.6 million purchase from Bravo Development offers each a one-third interest in the property. The building was previously subject of a controversial demolition plan that included condos and a restaurant. The new buyers plan to continue running the property as a working recording studio with Ben Folds, who has leased and operated Studio A since 2002. Limited access for education and special events will also be offered.
“We’re proud to be part of preserving RCA Studio A for the next generation of musicians, songwriters, recording artists, and producers,” said Preston, a Leiper’s Fork real estate entrepreneur. “It’s essential that we protect the infrastructure and heritage that anchors Nashville’s creative economy, and Mike and Chuck are perfect partners for this project. As a team, we’re looking forward to working with the preservation community to ensure Studio A’s long-term protection and share its incredible story.”
Curb has pioneered the preservation of Nashville’s most famous recording studios including Music Row’s RCA Studio B, the historic Quonset Hut, Columbia Studio A, and the Columbia/Sony Building. The histories of the Quonset Hut and RCA Studios A and B are inextricably linked. In the mid-1950s, brothers Owen Bradley and Harold Bradley opened the Quonset Hut studio – laying the foundation for what became Music Row. Not long afterward, Chet Atkins helped found the studio that later would become known as RCA Studio B. By the mid- ’60s, Atkins and the Bradley brothers determined that Music Row needed a larger modern studio, and joined forces to convince RCA to build the facility that became known as the Studio A complex.
“Studio A is at center stage in Music Row’s history and I’m pleased to be able to help save it,” Curb said. “The creative, entrepreneurial work that began nearly 50 years ago, when our industry’s pioneers had the vision to create Studio A, now will continue on into the future.”
“Whether we’re talking about the recording studios where our music was made or the supper tables where Music City’s recording artists wrote some of their best-selling songs, Nashville is blessed with cultural assets,” said Elcan, a real estate and healthcare entrepreneur behind the Loveless Cafe. “I’m honored to be involved with Mike and Aubrey in preserving Studio A, which really is a unique piece of our musical history.”
—
Opened in 1965, Studio A became a Music Row landmark that helped propel the “Nashville Sound” to international prominence and has served as a go-to recording destination for countless music legends for nearly five decades. Famed names patronizing the studio have included Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, The Monkees and George Strait as well as newer artists like Hunter Hayes, Kacey Musgraves, Sara Bareilles, and Kesha. Although it was contested that Elvis Presley recorded there, representatives indicate to documents citing the contrary.
Curb, Elcan, and Preston decided to jointly buy Studio A on the heels of intense advocacy efforts led by Folds, his management team of Sharon Corbitt-House and Mike Kopp, and songwriter-producer Trey Bruce. The “Save Studio A” campaign garnered global attention. Internationally acclaimed artists including Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, and Keith Urban weighed in with support.
“Trey and our team felt compelled to get involved and raise awareness about the urgent need to save Studio A,” Folds said. “I heard from hundreds of thousands of music fans around the world – along with organizations like the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, The Recording Academy, and the American Federation of Musicians – who flooded our inboxes and social platforms with comments in support of the movement. We’re grateful that Mike, Chuck, and Aubrey stepped forward to provide their collective support.”
Folds added: “This is what it looks like when an entire community comes together to protect our music heritage and culture, and advance our future. This is Nashville at its very best.”
Levitan, Waxman To Open Eatery at Country Music Hall of Fame
/by Jessica NicholsonKen Levitan
Vector Management founder Ken Levitan and celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman have teamed with the Country Music Hall of Fame to open a new casual taco restaurant, Bajo Sexto, inside the Country Music Hall of Fame. The new eatery is set to open in spring 2015.
Bajo Sexto will be open daily, and will include late-night hours. A limited menu will include tacos, flautas, hand-made tortillas, as well as wine, beer, and margaritas. The Country Music Hall of Fame already houses lunch eatery Two Twenty Two Grill. Nearby, in the attached Omni Hotel, reside restaurants and eateries Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Kitchen Notes, Barlines, and Bongo Java.
Waxman partnered with Levitan earlier this year to open Adele’s in the Gulch area.
Grand Ole Opry Member Little Jimmy Dickens Hospitalized
/by Jessica NicholsonLittle Jimmy Dickens
Country entertainer Little Jimmy Dickens was admitted to a Nashville area hospital on Christmas Day, and is in critical care due to an undisclosed illness.
Dickens turned 94 on Dec. 19.
Cards and well wishes can be sent to him at the Grand Ole Opry at the following address:
Jimmy Dickens
c/o Grand Ole Opry House
2804 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Dickens has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1948, and became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. His hits include “Country Boy,” “Out Behind The Barn,” “May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose” and others.