Ken Ehrlich– Click for video.
Veteran music and television producer Ken Ehrlich and his production company AEG Ehrlich Ventures will continue to produce the Grammy Awards through 2017. This is Ehrlich’s 35th year as a producer of Music’s Biggest Night®. The upcoming 57th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, and will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Ehrlich’s association with the Grammys began in 1980 with the 22nd annual show, when then-executive producer Pierre Cossette asked Ehrlich to produce the show. Since that time, ratings have continued to be among the highest in the live event spectrum with this year’s 56th Grammy Awards garnering more than 30 million viewers—the second-largest audience for the awards broadcast since 1993. The annual Grammy Awards telecast has won 22 Emmys.
From his earliest days in television as the producer/creator of the award-winning public television series Soundstage, Ehrlich went on to work on the Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, VH1 Divas, Fashion Rocks, numerous superstar television specials and Celine Dion’s Las Vegas residency. He will produce A Very GRAMMY Christmas which airs Friday, Dec. 5, on CBS from 9 – 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“Ken’s vast knowledge and genuine love of music, as well as his expertise and vision, have made him an outstanding producer—and ultimately the executive producer—of the Grammy Awards for 35 years now,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “As one of the key architects of our signature ‘Grammy Moments,’ he continues to elevate the content, quality, and production value of our annual telecast. We couldn’t be more pleased to continue our long-standing partnership and, more importantly, I am proud to call him my good friend.”
For the Grammy Moments, Ehrlich has coordinated pairings including Eminem and Elton John; Prince and Beyoncé; Jay Z, Paul McCartney and Linkin Park; and Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton.
“I consider it an honor to have been associated with the Grammy Awards and CBS for so many years, and to be able to continue this relationship over the next three years,” said Ehrlich. “I am proud of the standard of excellence that the Grammys have maintained over the years, and particularly proud of the audience successes and critical acclaim the show has garnered in the years since Neil Portnow, [and CBS leaders] Leslie Moonves, Nina Tassler, Jack Sussman and I have become partners in presenting Music’s Biggest Night.”
Paul Jankowski Authors Book on Brand Building
/by Sarah SkatesIncluded is consumer insight research, consumer case studies, and the principal channels through which consumers can be reached and influenced. Nashvillian Jankowski writes about the core values which impact buying behavior, and five key points of access for brands to engage New Heartland consumers: music, food, sports, outdoors and social media. There is a free chapter download here.
Jankowski previous authored the book, How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland. His career includes time as Chief Marketing Officer for Elvis Presley Enterprises, VP/Media Marketing with SFX Entertainment (Live Nation), and Dir. of Global Entertainment Relations for Gibson Guitar Corp.
Kobalt Unveils Integrated Artist-Writer Services Portal
/by Jessica NicholsonAdditionally, the publishing section of the portal now allows writers to view digital collection data from Spotify, YouTube, and iTunes in real-time. KLS and publishing clients can also use the Kobalt Portal to follow the synch pipeline at each stage of the licensing process. Publishing clients can also take out advances on their income through the portal.
Willard Ahdritz, founder and CEO of Kobalt said: “This is another giant step toward creating an industry platform that offers a more transparent future for artists, songwriters and publishers around the world. The incorporation of label services as a third strand of the Kobalt Portal completes its transition into the world’s first fully comprehensive rights tool. With one hit song today creating billions of transactions, our portal offers an unparalleled level of transparency, enabling Kobalt clients to understand what is happening with their music throughout the global market.”
The Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Passes
/by Sarah SkatesDuring his more than 40 years with The Stones, Keys became an integral part of the band, bonding with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and playing on the classic albums Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St.
Throughout his career he also contributed to recordings by legendary artists John Lennon, Joe Cocker, Barbra Streisand, B.B. King, Carly Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The Texas native settled in Middle Tennessee in the early ‘90s.
The Rolling Stones released this statement following Keys’ death: “The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys. Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed.”
'The Voice' Marks 20 Million Singles Sold
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Carson Daly. Photo: NBC
During Monday’s (Dec. 1) episode of The Voice, host Carson Daly announced the NBC music competition has “reached a major milestone in its seventh season” by hitting the 20 million mark for iTunes downloads.
Four judges–Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams–stood by the host to kick off Monday’s show in front of a plaque reading “20,000,000 Singles Sold.”
“That is a testament to our talented artists, amazing band and the guidance of all of our coaches,” said Daly. “To all The Voice fans, thanks for all your support.”
According to Billboard:
Performances entering Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs chart have included Bradbery’s Pam Tillis cover, “Maybe It Was Memphis” (167,000 sold) and the Swon Brothers‘ take on Kenny Loggins‘ “Danny’s Song” (158,000 sold), reports the industry magazine’s Phil Gallo. Pope’s version of Miranda Lambert‘s “Over You” stands out as the top-selling track (363,000 sold), while her remake of Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” also made a substantial mark (202,000 sold).
Industry Ink: Frankie Ballard Earns Gold, Round Hill Music, Sugar Hill Records
/by Jessica NicholsonFrankie Ballard
Warner Bros. Records’ Frankie Ballard has earned gold certification from the RIAA for his No. 1 hit single, “Sunshine & Whiskey.” Ballard performed last week at The Grove’s 12th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Spectacular in Los Angeles, alongside Fifth Harmony, Darlene Love, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
The one-hour syndicated TV special A Hollywood Christmas at the Grove will air on CBS affiliates nationwide through Jan. 4, 2015.
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Josh Saxe has been added as Associate Director of A&R. He joins Round Hill Music Nashville from BMG Chrysalis Nashville, where he was involved in managing the company’s song catalog data, as well as helping streamline the system of song delivery. Saxe is co-chair on the Leadership Council of Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP).
• • •
Pictured (L-R): Megan McNair – Sugar Hill Director of Marketing and Media Relations, Liz Longley, Cliff O’Sullivan – Sugar Hill General Manager and Senior Vice President, Gary Paczosa – Sugar Hill Vice President of A&R, Ashley Moyer – Sugar Hill Manager of Artist and Media Relations
Liz Longley has signed with Sugar Hill Records, and is slated to release a new project for digital distribution in March 2015. Longley’s self-titled release was produced by fellow Berklee College of Music graduate Gus Berry at Nashville’s Ocean Way Studios, and features special mixes from Sugar Hill’s Gary Paczosa.
Longley has taken home top prizes at the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest Songwriting Competition. Longley’s music has had several television placements on networks such as ABC and Lifetime and Sirius XM radio airplay.
More Apartments Could Be Coming To The Row
/by Sarah SkatesImage capture—Map data copyright 2014 Google, Nashville Davidson County
Another apartment complex could be coming to Music Row. Local developers Gary Belz and Brad Daniel will go before the metro planning commission on Dec. 11 to request rezoning of six parcels in the 1200 block of 16th Ave. S. They are seeking the zoning be changed from office and residential to specific plan-residential, according to the Nashville Post.
The longtime business partners hope to begin work in about six months on the 135-unit residential structure.
In recent years, many new residential buildings have come to Music Row, including the complexes 1101 18th, TenTen on The Row, Note 16, Midtown Place and Artisan on 18th.
Ken Ehrlich to Continue as Exec. Producer of Grammy Telecast
/by Sarah SkatesKen Ehrlich– Click for video.
Veteran music and television producer Ken Ehrlich and his production company AEG Ehrlich Ventures will continue to produce the Grammy Awards through 2017. This is Ehrlich’s 35th year as a producer of Music’s Biggest Night®. The upcoming 57th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, and will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Ehrlich’s association with the Grammys began in 1980 with the 22nd annual show, when then-executive producer Pierre Cossette asked Ehrlich to produce the show. Since that time, ratings have continued to be among the highest in the live event spectrum with this year’s 56th Grammy Awards garnering more than 30 million viewers—the second-largest audience for the awards broadcast since 1993. The annual Grammy Awards telecast has won 22 Emmys.
From his earliest days in television as the producer/creator of the award-winning public television series Soundstage, Ehrlich went on to work on the Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, VH1 Divas, Fashion Rocks, numerous superstar television specials and Celine Dion’s Las Vegas residency. He will produce A Very GRAMMY Christmas which airs Friday, Dec. 5, on CBS from 9 – 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“Ken’s vast knowledge and genuine love of music, as well as his expertise and vision, have made him an outstanding producer—and ultimately the executive producer—of the Grammy Awards for 35 years now,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “As one of the key architects of our signature ‘Grammy Moments,’ he continues to elevate the content, quality, and production value of our annual telecast. We couldn’t be more pleased to continue our long-standing partnership and, more importantly, I am proud to call him my good friend.”
For the Grammy Moments, Ehrlich has coordinated pairings including Eminem and Elton John; Prince and Beyoncé; Jay Z, Paul McCartney and Linkin Park; and Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton.
“I consider it an honor to have been associated with the Grammy Awards and CBS for so many years, and to be able to continue this relationship over the next three years,” said Ehrlich. “I am proud of the standard of excellence that the Grammys have maintained over the years, and particularly proud of the audience successes and critical acclaim the show has garnered in the years since Neil Portnow, [and CBS leaders] Leslie Moonves, Nina Tassler, Jack Sussman and I have become partners in presenting Music’s Biggest Night.”
Artist Updates: Luke Bryan, Josh Turner, Willie Nelson
/by Eric T. ParkerLuke Bryan.
Luke Bryan is in Georgia with family this week after the passing of his brother-in-law Ben Lee Cheshire, 46, (husband to Bryan’s late sister Kelly) over the weekend. The cause of death was not immediately made public. Bryan will be officiating the service, along with Rev. Andy Hardin. Cheshire leaves behind three children.
Bryan suffered the loss of his biological brother (in 1996, at the age of 26) and sister (in 2007, at the age of 39). Bryan’s 2013 “Drink A Beer” hit No. 1 in dedication to his late siblings, while his recent CMA Award acceptance speech for Entertainer of the Year included a nod to those “angels in heaven.”
In accordance with the news, Bryan will no longer be attending or performing at tonight’s CMT Artist of the Year show (Dec. 2), which is set to honor the superstar along with four additional artists.
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Pictured (L-R): Josh Turner, Trey Fanjoy
Video director Trey Fanjoy cozied up to MCA Nashville’s Josh Turner on set of Turner’s “Lay Low” music video. The shoot took place at a 200-year-old cabin in Rock Island, Tenn. “Lay Low” is Turner’s current radio single and the lead song off his upcoming 2015 album release. Behind-the-scenes footage including commentary from Turner and Fanjoy is also available.
Read MusicRow’s write-up about his exclusive album preview party earlier this season.
• • •
Willie Nelson.
The legendary Willie Nelson has announced two nights of music planned March 3 and 4 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets will be available Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. from $39.50 for each of the evenings. Each show set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticketmaster outlets, the Ryman box office, and phone (800-745-3000) orders will be available.
Levi Hummon Signs With Deston Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Whitney Daane, Desmond Child, Levi Hummon & Fletcher Foster.
Singer-songwriter Levi Hummon has signed an exclusive music publishing contract with Desmond Child and Deston Entertainment, in collaboration with Kobalt Music Publishing.
The son of Grammy-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon and humanitarian Rev. Becca Stevens, Levi counts Child as a close friend of the family. Child says, “The first time I heard Levi sing, I knew he had star quality and the natural instincts to develop not only into a great writer but also a true artist.”
“Levi is a special talent, and we are thrilled to be working with him, as well as Desmond and Deston Entertainment,” added Kobalt’s Sr. VP Creative, Whitney Daane.
Levi’s song, “Make it Love” was featured in Child’s documentary film, TWO: The Story of Roman & Nyro, making it on the short list of nominations for the Oscar’s “Best Original Song.” Levi recently signed with Big Machine/Valory Records and is currently writing and recording his first full-length album to be released in 2015. Levi Hummon is represented by Fletcher Foster and Iconic Entertainment.
The Doobie Brothers to Receive ASCAP Voice of Music Award
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan and Loretta Muñoz, ASCAP President Paul Williams, the Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald, ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and Jason Silberman, ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento at the 2014 ASCAP Country Music Awards
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has announced that it will honor rock icons The Doobie Brothers with the prestigious ASCAP Voice of Music Award during its 32nd annual Pop Music Awards. The invitation-only gala will take place on April 29, 2015 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. The event will also celebrate the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed pop songs of 2014.
The ASCAP Voice of Music Award honors ASCAP members whose music gives voice to the spirit of a generation. The Doobie Brothers take their place among a stellar list of past recipients, each one an influential music great: Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi, Amy Grant, George Strait, Diane Warren and Jimmy Webb.
“Over the years the Doobie Brothers have given us one memorable song after another,” remarked ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “Their ever-changing sound has embraced classic rock, pop, country and soul, but terrific songwriting has always been at the heart of what they do. I am thrilled to honor the Doobies for more than four decades of music that continues to speak to generations of listeners.”
The 32nd ASCAP Pop Music Awards will precede the 10th annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, the only national conference dedicated to the craft and business of songwriting and composing. The EXPO will take place April 30th – May 2nd, 2015 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.