Stephanie Holzer
has been promoted from department coordinator to Team WEA’s Regional Promotion Manager/Southwest. Holzer graduated with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt University. She begins her new role in January 2015, and will relocate to Texas in mid-2015.
Holzer can be reached at
stephanie.holzer@wmg.com or at 615-214-1477.
A replacement for the coordinator role will be announced soon.
• • •
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots played a special charity concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Entertainer Jason Aldean crashed the show held at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, helping raise more than $60,000 for the hospital. In addition, Country music singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsay Ell performed with The Raging Idiots, and St. Jude patient Caleb served as guest announcer for the evening.
Bobby Bones and Jason Aldean on stage.
• • •
Rocker Jim Peterik (Ides of March/Survivor) celebrated the release of his new book Through the Eye of the Tiger at Leadership Music’s Learning Network Wednesday night (Nov. 19) at the First Amendment Center.
The celebration was a join event with Copyright Society of the South. Peterik, who performed his self-penned classics, “Vehicle,” “The Search is Over” and “Eye of the Tiger,” was joined at one point by special guest, Kelly Keaggy, frontman of Night Ranger.
Peterik will be signing copies of his book tonight (Friday, Nov. 21) at Nashville’s Two Old Hippies, beginning at 6 p.m.
Pictured (L-R): Leadership Music Executive Director, Debbie Linn, Peterik, LM President Diane Pearson, LM’s Judi Turner and Sherrill Blackman, who interviewed Peterik.
• • •
ASCAP Amped will present a two-hour performance on Dec. 2 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley. The show will feature Chris Cavanaugh, Kalisa Ewing, and David Ray.
Industry Ink: Team WEA, Jason Aldean, Leadership Music, ASCAP
/by Jessica NicholsonStephanie Holzer
Stephanie Holzer has been promoted from department coordinator to Team WEA’s Regional Promotion Manager/Southwest. Holzer graduated with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt University. She begins her new role in January 2015, and will relocate to Texas in mid-2015.
Holzer can be reached at stephanie.holzer@wmg.com or at 615-214-1477.
A replacement for the coordinator role will be announced soon.
• • •
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots played a special charity concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Entertainer Jason Aldean crashed the show held at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, helping raise more than $60,000 for the hospital. In addition, Country music singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsay Ell performed with The Raging Idiots, and St. Jude patient Caleb served as guest announcer for the evening.
Bobby Bones and Jason Aldean on stage.
• • •
Rocker Jim Peterik (Ides of March/Survivor) celebrated the release of his new book Through the Eye of the Tiger at Leadership Music’s Learning Network Wednesday night (Nov. 19) at the First Amendment Center.
The celebration was a join event with Copyright Society of the South. Peterik, who performed his self-penned classics, “Vehicle,” “The Search is Over” and “Eye of the Tiger,” was joined at one point by special guest, Kelly Keaggy, frontman of Night Ranger.
Peterik will be signing copies of his book tonight (Friday, Nov. 21) at Nashville’s Two Old Hippies, beginning at 6 p.m.
Pictured (L-R): Leadership Music Executive Director, Debbie Linn, Peterik, LM President Diane Pearson, LM’s Judi Turner and Sherrill Blackman, who interviewed Peterik.
• • •
Suzanne Gordon To Exit Great American Country
/by Sherod RobertsonSuzanne Gordon
Great American Country Vice President of Programming Suzanne Gordon has announced she is leaving the cable network at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities. A television veteran with over 30 years of experience in the broadcasting, syndication, and cable television business, she has overseen all aspects of original commissioned productions and acquisitions for the network.
Gordon shares, “I’ve had a great run the last eight years at GAC, and I am so proud of the many concerts, documentaries, red carpets, and new artist specials we’ve produced. I’m grateful for the many long-lasting relationships I have made, and although I have enjoyed working for such a strong national brand, I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my career.”
Her production and director credits include a large variety of projects from talk shows to documentaries to music specials for cable and syndication including PBS, The Nashville Network, Opry Live, Shop At Home Network, Film House, and many more.
After the end of the year, she can be reached at suzanne.gordon@comcast.net or (615) 585-8800.
Hub International Insurance Launches Entertainment Practice
/by Jessica Nicholson“We are the only broker in North America that brings together deep expertise in each of these eight entertainment specialties, and has the geographic footprint of over 300 office locations around the world,” said Andrew Forchelli, President of Hub’s Entertainment Industry Solutions. “This combination allows us to meet the needs of our entertainment clients regardless of what they’re doing or where they’re doing it.”
The company’s specialty in music and touring includes coverage for entertainers, festivals, promoters, and suppliers. Venues coverage includes performance venues for live audiences, while contingency coverage includes event cancellation and non-appearance.
Hub’s Entertainment practice has offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Miami and Toronto. The practice will also support the 300+ Hub offices throughout North America to serve the needs of local productions, venues and on-location opportunities and deliver a combination of localized service and national entertainment expertise.
Hub International’s Nashville-area office is located at 783 Old Hickory Blvd, Ste. 351, Brentwood, TN 37027 and by calling 615-630-7625.
Weekly Chart Report (11/21/14)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report
CMA Presents Music Discovery Research Findings
/by Jessica NicholsonCMA Senior Director of Market Research Karen Stump (far right) presents consumer music discovery research to CMA members during the annual membership meeting Thursday in Nashville. Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA
The Country Music Association presented its Music Discovery Research findings, regarding music discovery behaviors among music fans, to CMA members recently during the annual membership meeting in Nashville.
The study also sought to identify top music discovery sources and their impact on music purchasing.
“An important part of our mission as the trade association for the format is to provide meaningful research and tools to help our constituents advance their business interests by gaining a better understanding of the general music consumer as well as the core Country fan,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The annual membership meeting was the perfect platform to present these important findings directly to our stakeholders in the industry.”
Research was conducted among 1,600 Adults 18+ who had “discovered” a new song within a seven-day period around the research field dates (July 22–31). The reported findings represent consumer actions that occurred within the same seven-day window.
Among the key findings presented by Karen Stump, CMA Senior Director of Market Research:
CMA Foundation Salutes Joe Galante, Kitty Moon Emery
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R): Frank Bumstead, CMA Board President and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; Joe Galante, CMA Foundation Board Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA
In recognition of their volunteer service to the CMA Foundation Board of Directors, former Chairman Kitty Moon Emery and outgoing Chairman Joe Galante were presented with mementos commemorating their many contributions to the Board. The presentation was made by CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern at the annual CMA Board membership meeting in Nashville yesterday (Nov. 20).
To date, the CMA Foundation has awarded more than $10 million to organizations that support music education across the United States. The funds are donated on behalf of the artists who support CMA Music Festival each June, meeting fans and performing for free.
CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011. The Foundation exists to provide financial support to worthwhile causes that are important to CMA and the Country Music community. The group places special emphasis on serving the needs of CMA’s core constituents and nonprofit organizations with initiatives that preserve the legacy of the format, support music education, and respond to other needs identified by CMA.
Pictured (L-R): Frank Bumstead, CMA Board President and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; Kitty Moon Emery, former CMA Foundation Board Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA
Warner/Chappell Music, Neon Cross Sign Spillman
/by Jessica NicholsonJeremy Spillman
Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, along with publisher Neon Cross, have signed a worldwide publishing agreement with songwriter Jeremy Spillman.
Spillman said, “Warner/Chappell has felt like home since day one and working with Jay Joyce is a dream come true. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville, said, “Jeremy Spillman is a show-up-every-day, thoughtful, & diverse songwriter that co-writers love to spend time creating music with. It’s a real honor to support his songs working in conjunction with Jay Joyce & Neon Cross.”
“Jeremy Spillman is the perfect addition to our team,” said Jay Joyce, Founder, Neon Cross. “He has always been one of my favorite writers—he works hard and is committed to his art. I can’t wait to see the crazy places this partnership will take us.”
In just the past year, Spillman has had a diverse collection of songs recorded by such renowned artists as Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Frankie Ballard, and Charlie Worsham.
Upcoming Songwriting Competitions: ASCAP, ISC
/by Jessica NicholsonAll sessions will be held at ASCAP’s Nashville office on the following dates: Monday, Dec. 1 (6 p.m.-9 p.m.), Tuesday, Dec. 2 (6 p.m.-9 p.m.), and Thursday, Dec. 4 (2 p.m.-5 p.m.).
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 25, 2014. Submissions should include MP3s of two original songs (with lyric sheets), and a brief biography including address, phone number and email.
Applicants should send submissions to ascapchristianworkshop@gmail.com.
• • •
ISC’s Love Song promotion is for songs about love, falling in love, heartbreak, etc. One Overall winner from the promotion will receive 4,000 Radio Airplay credits ($100 value), and their love song included on the Jango.com Love Songs station with artists like Bruno Mars, Christina Perri, Jason Mraz, Adele, Journey, and others. They will also receive promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, an artist spotlight feature in the Radio Airplay blog and newsletter, plus top placement in rotation on Jango.com’s Love Song station.
Nine runners up receive 500 Radio Airplay credits each, promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, and top rotation on the Independent Love Songs station. Winners will be announced in February 2015. Click here to enter.
ISC’s Pick Your Cause promotion is for songs about any sort of social cause. One Overall winner from the promotion will receive 4000 Radio Airplay credits ($100 value), promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, an artist spotlight feature in the Radio Airplay blog and newsletter, plus top placement in rotation on Sounds Of Social Cause.
Nine runners up receive 500 Radio Airplay credits each, promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, and top rotation in on the Sounds Of Social Cause station. Winners will be announced in February 2015. Click here to enter.
Ty Herndon on Being Gay: 'I'm Still The Same Person'
/by Sarah SkatesTy Herndon
Ty Herndon sat down with Entertainment Tonight and People to share his truth about being a Country music singer who is also gay. The ET interview will air tonight (Nov. 20). “I’m still the same person. Fans just know a little more about me now,” he said.
He also discussed the significance of Kacey Musgraves’s LGBT-approving hit “Follow Your Arrow” winning CMA Song of the Year.
Herndon, best known for the ‘90s hits “What Mattered Most,” “Living in a Moment” and “It Must Be Love,” continues to make music and tour. His latest album, Lies I Told Myself, was released in 2013. In the ET interview, he said the biggest lie he told himself is “that I couldn’t be gay in Country music.”
Supporting Herndon during his public coming out is longtime partner Matt, and fellow Country singer Chely Wright, who also came out in recent years.
Herndon said he hopes gay children know, “They can be loved by God, they can be married one day, they can have a family, they can give their parents grandkids. And they’re not broken, they’re not sinners and they’re perfectly beautiful.”
Bob DiPiero Receives CMA Chairman's Award
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): Frank Bumstead, CMA Board President and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; DiPiero; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; John Esposito, CMA Board President-elect and President/CEO of Warner Music Nashville. Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA
A member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and longtime host of the popular CMA Songwriters Series, Bob DiPiero was recognized today (Thursday November 20, 2014) during the CMA Board of Directors meeting in Nashville. He was presented the CMA Chairman’s Award by CMA Board Chairman Ed Hardy.
“Bob has been a creative force and passionate supporter of songwriters and the CMA Songwriters Series in the U.S. and in Europe – expanding the genre and creating new fans everywhere he goes,” Hardy said. “Bob is highly regarded as a songwriter, but serving with him on the CMA Board, I have a much deeper appreciation for his business acumen, his absolute dedication to the creative process, and his trademark sense of humor.”
“This award is truly a highlight of my ongoing career,” said DiPiero. “To be awarded this by Ed Hardy in front of the CMA Board members humbles me. The dream goes on.”
The Chairman’s Award is given annually at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board. At the presentation, Hardy praised DiPiero’s leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of the format and CMA Songwriters Series, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2014.