Kenny Rogers will be performing holiday favorites and his classic hits across the U.S. and Canada when his 33rd Christmas tour – Christmas & Hits Through The Years with Special Guest Linda Davis – launches this November. The 25-date run begins Nov. 12 in Niagara Falls, Ontario and wraps Dec. 23 in Westbury, New York.
2014 KENNY ROGERS // CHRISTMAS & HITS THROUGH THE YEARS TOUR
With Special Guest Linda Davis
Nov. 12 ,Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 13, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 14, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 15, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 20, Moncton, NB, Canada, Casino New Brunswick
Nov. 21, Halifax, NS, Canada, Halifax Metro Centre
Nov. 22, Sydney, NS, Canada, Centre 200
Nov. 28, Fort Pierce, FL, Sunrise Theatre
Nov. 29, Sarasota, FL, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Nov. 30, Saint Petersburg, FL, Mahaffey Theater
Dec. 2, Florence, SC, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center
Dec. 5, New Buffalo, MI, Four Winds Casino Resort – Silver Creek Event Center
Dec. 6, Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre
Dec. 7, Evansville, IN, Ford Center
Dec. 11, Wheeling, WV, Capitol Theatre
Dec. 12, Van Wert, OH, Niswonger Performing Arts Center
Dec. 13, Wabash, IN, Honeywell Center
Dec. 14, Zanesville, OH, Secrest Auditorium
Dec. 16, Greenville, SC, Peace Center For The Performing Arts
Dec. 17, Richmond, VA, Altria Theater
Dec. 18, Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino – Event Center
Dec. 19, Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
Dec. 20, Jim Thorpe, PA, Penn’s Peak
Dec. 21, Norfolk, VA, Chrysler Hall
Dec. 23, Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre at Westbury
Nashville Managers Make The Hollywood Reporter's List of Most Powerful Managers
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lou Taylor, Mary Ann McCready
The Hollywood Reporter released its list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Business Managers, and two Nashville managers were included on the list.
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment’s Lou Taylor is featured on the list. Taylor represents artists including Britney Spears and Steven Tyler, as well as Casey James, Jamie Lynn Spears, Corey Crowder and others. Tri Star Sports and Entertainment is located at 11 Music Circle South in Nashville. Taylor maintains an impressive footprint in the industry in both Nashville and LA.
Nashville-based Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy’s Mary Ann McCready was one of the managers featured. She has represented artists including Blake Shelton and Keith Urban. McCready was a featured speaker during MusicRow‘s 2013 Rising Women on the Row, and was one of Billboard‘s top “Women in Music” in 2011 and 2012. She was the first VP, National Sales and Marketing for a major label, and the first female recipient of the CMA’s Founding President’s Award.
Industry Ink: Sony/ATV Teams with Belmont, Urban Visits AMS, RareSpark Moves, Copyright Law Event
/by Sherod RobertsonThe program will allow students to have two songs reviewed by Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Creative Team. The team then selects a limited number of students to perform their songs live for the Sony/ATV team during showcases held each semester. After the live performances, a limited number of students will be extended an invitation to attend a day in the Sony/ATV studio with an engineer.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville President and CEO Troy Tomlinson said, “We make a real point at Sony/ATV of being part of the community in Nashville and this new partnership with Belmont is a great example of that. We know the University is overflowing with talented students and by launching the All Access program we will now have a direct way to identify them so we can help them to reach their full potential. This is all about uncovering the next generation of songwriters and artists.”
James I. Elliott, Chair of Songwriting in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, added, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have their music heard by Troy Tomlinson and his Creative Team. We look forward to the process and have high hopes that Sony ATV Music Publishing will discover some future hit makers at Belmont.”
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Keith Urban recently visited America’s Morning Show, with hosts Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks, and Blair Garner.
Pictured (L-R): Keith Urban, Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks, and Blair Garner
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The new location is 1602 17th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212. All other contact information for RareSpark Media Group stays the same.
Copyright Law Update for Songwriters and Publishers
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Mr. Collins is a member of the U.S. House Judiciary Sub-committee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and The Internet. The event will also include special guests, including a brief songwriter showcase.
Belmont University’s Columbia Studio A is located at 34 Music Square East. Parking is available in the lot behind (off of Music Cir. S) 34 Music Square East. You may enter Columbia Studio A from the back of the building.
The event is free; however, guests should RSVP to copyright@clearboxrights.com.
2014 IEBA Award Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonIEBA Executive Director Pam Matthews and Chris Young
Photo: Getty Images
Trade organization IEBA wrapped its 44th annual conference Tuesday (Sept. 30) with a ceremony honoring promoters, buyers, casinos, fairs, festivals, talent agents, and venues. The Doobie Brothers performed, and were inducted into the IEBA Hall of Fame, along with their longtime manager Bruce Cohn, as well as veteran agent and manager Jim Halsey and event producers Bob and Peggy Kaltenbach (Klein’s Entertainment).
2014 IEBA AWARD WINNERS:
Casino of the Year: Little River Casino Resort – Manitsee, MI
Casino Buyer of the Year: Kell Houston – Houston Productions
Club Buyer of the Year: Adam Weiser – AEG Live
Corporate Buyer of the Year: Michael Boltzman – AEG Live Events
Fair of the Year: Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
Fair Buyer of the Year: R.J. Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
Festival of the Year: Country Thunder USA – Twin Lakes, WI
Festival Buyer of the Year: Nicole Moore – Neste Event Marketing
International Buyer of the Year: Rod Tate – Calgary Stampede (Canada)
Promoter of the Year: Ali Harnell – AEG Live / The Messina Group
Talent Agent of the Year: Jay Williams – WME
Venue of the Year: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Venue Executive of the Year: David Kells – Bridgestone Arena
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Farwell – Outback Concerts
MC Hammer at Sunday’s Tailgate Party. Photo: Getty Images
The Doobie Brothers with Vince Gill at IEBA’s Honors and Awards Ceremony.
Photo: Getty Images
No. 1 Party: Thomas Rhett's "Get Me Some of That"
/by Jessica NicholsonBack Row (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, BMI’s Bradley Collins, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, producer Luke Laird, Luke Bryan, Kerri Edwards, Tom Luteran, Scott Borchetta, George Briner, Virginia Davis and BMI’s Jody Williams.
First Row (L-R): Rhett Akins, Michael Carter, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett. Photo: Steve Lowry
BMI and ASCAP hosted a gathering at Nashville venue The Sutler yesterday (Sept. 30) to celebrate CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Thomas Rhett‘s chart-topping single “Get Me Some of That.” Penned by fellow CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Cole Swindell, as well as Rhett Akins and Michael Carter, the songs is Thomas Rhett’s second consecutive chart-topper from his debut album.
MusicRow‘s June/July 2014 issue, featuring Thomas Rhett and father Rhett Akins, was prominently featured during the celebration. “How cool that a father and son celebrate success together,” said BMI’s Jody Williams.
It marked the first No. 1 for songwriter (and Luke Bryan’s bandleader) Michael Carter. It was also the first No. 1 for Luke Laird as a producer.
Kerri Edwards gifted Swindell a painting of the guitar that Swindell’s father used to play. She also gifted Carter with a painting of one of his favorite guitars.
Luke Bryan, a co-publisher on “Get Me Some of That,” joined to celebrate the song’s success, as did producer Laird and BMLG president/owner Scott Borchetta.
“When you believe for many years that someone can do something, then they go out to do it,” marveled Bryan. “It’s amazing when you follow your heart and your heart is right. [Carter] takes a lot of things on himself to take care of our backs. We tour like 140 days a year. Then he comes home and writes like 180 days, to the point I can’t get him to go fishing with me,” Bryan quipped. “We all grew up on country music and didn’t know anything else, and it’s cool that now we are driving the needle.”
Ron Cox of Avenue Bank presented a donation from Avenue Bank on behalf of the songwriters to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Shelia Shipley Biddy Introduces Life Story In New Autobiography
/by Troy_StephensonShipley Biddy highlights her career experiences in the music and entertainment industry and the hurdles presented before her as a woman who became one of the first females seated at the helm of a major label.
Shipley Biddy landed her first music industry job as a receptionist at Monument Records. She made her way up the ranks to become a leader in radio promotion (at RCA and MCA) and eventually became the first female to head-up a Nashville record label—Decca Records.
She was instrumental to the success of artists including Mark Chesnutt, Gary Allan and Lee Ann Womack.
The Music In My Rearview Mirror is now available on amazon.com and via Kindle. It will be available on the Kindle as an exclusive release through Dec. 31, 2014. Five percent of the proceeds from orders placed via Amazon Smile will be donated to Music Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization established to create a safe and confidential place for the nationwide music community to gain the best healthcare and insurance solutions through defined and transparent advocacy services.
Industry Ink: Leadership Music, Stoney Creek Records, Outback Concerts
/by Jessica NicholsonLeadership Music’s Off the Record series recently welcomed two pioneering female A&R VPs, Martha Sharp and Mary Martin. Sharp spent the majority of her career at Warner Bros., while Martin worked at RCA and at Mercury. The event, a joint lunch with members of SOURCE, took place Sept. 30 at Nashville’s Sambuca restaurant, and was moderated by MTSU’s Beverly Keel.
Pictured (L-R): are Leadership Music Executive Director Debbie Schwartz Linn, Martin, Keel and Sharp.
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Derek Gunn
BBR Music Group has hired Derek Gunn as Director of Regional Promotion/West Coast for Stoney Creek Records.
Gunn spent the past 15 years at KBUL in Reno, most recently as Program Director.
He can be reached at derek@stoneycreekrecords.com or at 775-287-1722. The job is based in Reno, Nev.
• • •
Upton has been heavily involved in the Nashville community. She is the current Alumni Chair in the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID), and a past president of the WMBA, among other honors.
Upton can be reached at kama@outbackconcerts.com or at 615-242-3323.
Photo Roundup: IEBA Conference 2014
/by Sherod RobertsonShow Dog-Universal duo Native Run took to the stage Sept. 29th at CAA’s IEBA Showcase during IEBA’s 44th Annual Conference in Nashville. Native Run’s Bryan Dawley and Rachel Beauregard played a four-song set, including songs from their recently released self-titled EP, inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Event Hall high atop Music City. Native Run is currently on the road with David Nail on the singer’s I’m A Fire Tour. Their first single, “Good On You,” recently impacted country radio and is currently at No. 50 and climbing on MusicRow‘s CountryBreak Radio Chart.
(L-R): Bryan Dawley (Native Run), Darin Murphy (CAA), Rachel Beauregard (Native Run), John Marks (Sirius XM), Jeff Gregg (CAA) Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Angaleena Presley kicked off the 2014 IEBA Conference in Nashville, TN on Saturday, Sept. 27 with a performance at SiriusXM’s Media Mixer Party showcasing songs from her Oct. 14 solo debut, American Middle Class.
(L-R): John Marks, SiriusXM Sr. Director of Country Programming; Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing President; Angaleena Presley; Buzz Brainard, SiriusXM Host; and Nicole More, Neste Event Marketing VP of Sales/Entertainment Producer. Photo: Getty Images
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Chase Bryant, LoCash Cowboys, Phil Vassar and Chris Young were among the attendees/performers during this year’s IEBA.
Chase Bryant, Jeff Gregg and guests during IEBA. Photo: Getty Images
Phil Vassar performs during the annual IEBA Conference. Photo: Getty Images
LoCash Cowboys perform during the IEBA conference. Photo: Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): Greg Oswald (co-head, William Morris Endeavor Nashville), Chris Young, Rob Beckham (co-head, William Morris Endeavor Nashville). Photo: Getty Images
Mark Your Calendar – October 2014
/by Eric T. ParkerOctober 6
Carrie Underwood/Something In The Water/Arista Nashville-19
Dierks Bentley/Say You Do/Capitol Nashville
The Railers/Kinda Dig The Feeling/Warner Bros-WMN
October 13
Kenny Chesney/Til It’s Gone/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville
The Band Perry/Gentle On My Mind/Republic Nashville
Eric Paslay/She Don’t Love You/EMI Nashville
Lo-Fi/When You’re Over Me/Gasoline Records
Andy Ross/What We Do For Fun Around Here/Buckshot Collective
Crab Apple Lane/Hit The Ground Runnin’/Chevelle Records
David Aldo/Got It All Right Here/Render
October 20
Chris Chitsey/Lonely In Tucson/Premier Nashville
Josh Abbott Band/Hangin’ Around/Atlantic-WMN
Lady Antebellum/Freestyle/Capitol
October 27
Jo Dee Messina/He’s Messed Up/Dreambound Records
October 7
Jason Aldean/Old Boots, New Dirt/Broken Bow Records
Hal Ketchum/I’m The Troubadour/Music Road Records
Various/The Best of Me [Soundtrack]/EMI Nashville-Relativity Music
Old Dominion/Old Dominion [EP]/ReeSmack-Thirty Tigers
Doug Seegers/Going Down To The River/Rounder Records
Brian Collins/Healing Highway/Blue Light Entertainment
October 14
Florida Georgia Line/Anything Goes/Republic Nashville
The Swon Brothers/The Swon Brothers/Arista Nashville
October 21
Little Big Town/Pain Killer/Capitol Records Nashville
October 24
Angaleena Presley/American Middle Class/Slate Creek Records
October 27
Taylor Swift/1989/Big Machine
Sam Hunt/MONTEVALLO/MCA Records Nashville
Darius Rucker/Home For The Holidays/Capitol Records Nashville
Gretchen Wilson/Still Here For The Party/Redneck Records
October 28
BlackHawk/Greatest Hits & More/Loud & Proud Records
Caitlyn Smith/Everything to You [EP]
September 30-October 4
IBMA World of Bluegrass 2014 and Film Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina
October 2
IBMA’s 25th annual Awards at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
October 3
Island Hopper Songwriter Festival on Fort Myers Beach
October 7
45th annual Dove Award at Lipscomb University in Nashville
October 21
T.J. Martell Foundation 39th New York Honors Gala, to be held at Cipriani in New York
October 27
CMA final ballot due 5pm CT
October 31
Deadline to enter the 15th Annual NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT
Nettles Returns To Host 'CMA Country Christmas'
/by Jessica NicholsonJennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles returns to host this year’s CMA Country Christmas, which will tape before a live audience on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The program will air on ABC.
Artists slated to perform include Dan+Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel, Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, and Carrie Underwood.
“After being the host of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ for five years now, it is hard to pick one thing I love about it. There are so many fun moments,” Nettles said. “Whether it is the performances or duets, getting to perform Christmas songs with great artists is really fun for me. It’s really a fun show all around.”
CMA Country Christmas is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton serves as Exec. Producer, while Paul Miller is Director and David Wild is the writer.
“The taping for ‘CMA Country Christmas’ is a jump-start for the holiday season and has become a family tradition for many Nashville residents,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Adding to the celebration is our annual toy drive, which provides new toys for children in need, shining a spotlight on a worthy endeavor in a way that reflects the values and giving nature of our artists, the industry, and this city.”
For the third year, audience members are being encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to the taping. Nashville-based non-profit group Generosity will have volunteers onsite with specially marked bins to collect toys beginning at 5 p.m. CT on Nov. 7. Last year, the group collected more than 5,000 toys.
Kenny Rogers, Linda Davis To Embark on Christmas Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonNov. 12 ,Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 13, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 14, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 15, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada,Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort – The Avalon Ballroom Theatre
Nov. 20, Moncton, NB, Canada, Casino New Brunswick
Nov. 21, Halifax, NS, Canada, Halifax Metro Centre
Nov. 22, Sydney, NS, Canada, Centre 200
Nov. 28, Fort Pierce, FL, Sunrise Theatre
Nov. 29, Sarasota, FL, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Nov. 30, Saint Petersburg, FL, Mahaffey Theater
Dec. 2, Florence, SC, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center
Dec. 5, New Buffalo, MI, Four Winds Casino Resort – Silver Creek Event Center
Dec. 6, Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre
Dec. 7, Evansville, IN, Ford Center
Dec. 11, Wheeling, WV, Capitol Theatre
Dec. 12, Van Wert, OH, Niswonger Performing Arts Center
Dec. 13, Wabash, IN, Honeywell Center
Dec. 14, Zanesville, OH, Secrest Auditorium
Dec. 16, Greenville, SC, Peace Center For The Performing Arts
Dec. 17, Richmond, VA, Altria Theater
Dec. 18, Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino – Event Center
Dec. 19, Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
Dec. 20, Jim Thorpe, PA, Penn’s Peak
Dec. 21, Norfolk, VA, Chrysler Hall
Dec. 23, Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre at Westbury