SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country was live from the Nashville studios on Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19, as a part of the Americana Music Festival. Live performances included Carlene Carter & Marc Wiseman, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Boogie Down Piano Party and “Americana’s Most Wanted Guitar-Pull.”
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives. Photo: Parker Young
Carlene Carter. Photo Credit: Parker Young
• • •
The progressive, tradition-based artists responsible for the resurgence of Downtown Nashville’s Lower Broad reunited in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater for a one-of-a-kind show, playing the songs that inspired Music City’s “new scene” in the mid-90’s. Featuring performances by BR5-49, Paul Burch, and Greg Garing, R.B. Morris, and more, the show also included the musicians’ behind-the-scenes stories of the Lower Broad revival.
BR5-49. Photo: Rick Diamond
• • •
Roots music champion Ry Cooder sat down with Barry Mazor on Friday, September 19 for an exclusive, rare interview about his impact on the American music landscape over the past fifty years. Cooder discussed his distinct legacy that covers his groundbreaking solo albums of the 1970s, his recordings with the Rolling Stones and Rodney Crowell, and soundtracks for such films as The Long Riders and Paris, Texas.
Pictured (L-R): Music journalist and author Barry Mazor, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young, Ry Cooder, the Americana Music Association’s Jed Hilly and Mark Moffatt backstage. Photo: Rick Diamond
• • •
SoundExchange President, Michael Huppe hosted a gathering at Soulshine Pizza in Nashville in association with the Americana Music Festival and Conference on Friday, Sept. 19. Linda Bloss-Baum, who was recently appointed Sr. Director of Industry Relations, was also mingling. Jim Lauderdale entertained the crowd with an acoustic set while pizza, salad, wings and hummus were served with drinks on the upstairs patio.
Photo: Bev Moser
Photo: Bev Moser
UMG Nashville Eyes UK/Ireland Music Market
/by Eric T. ParkerBartlett launched his London-based market consulting venture in 2014. UMGN imprints receiving the label relations, brand partnerships and touring strategy services include Capitol Nashville, EMI Nashville, MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville.
“We’re excited to have Mike as part of our ever-growing international team,” said Brad Turcotte, VP Marketing at UMGN, who has overseen international strategy since March. “Mike will work closely with me to further build our overseas strategy.”
Bartlett is a 15-year record label veteran in the UK. He has worked across multiple genres, launching albums by artists including Gregory Porter, Rod Stewart, Alison Krauss and oversaw sales exceeding 100,000 units for the Nashville TV soundtrack. His team has provided marketing and promotion services for releases from Big Machine, Concord Music Group, Verve Records and Blue Note Records.
Arista Nashville Taps Regional Cliff Blake
/by Sarah SkatesCliff Blake
Cliff Blake will join the Arista Nashville promotion team on Oct. 1, serving as Director, Regional Promotion.
Most recently Director, Northeast/Midwest Promotion for Republic Nashville, Blake’s new post brings him back into the Sony Music Nashville family, where he previously spent more than five years as part of the Columbia Nashville promo team.
A New Hampshire native, Blake’s extensive industry background spans 25 years in broadcasting, followed by 16 years in the record industry, during which he has been a three-time nominee for Regional Promotion Director of the Year.
Lesly Tyson, Arista Nashville’s Vice President, National Promotion, said, “I am so honored to welcome Cliff back home to Sony Nashville. He is one of the most respected record promoters in our format, and a perfect fit for the Arista family.”
On joining the Arista team, Blake shares, “The sands of our business are constantly shifting, but with open eyes, you can learn a lot on every beach you walk. This is an incredible and timely opportunity to walk the journey with some of my best friends in the music business—a rare and wonderful homecoming with colleagues at Arista, as well as at Columbia and RCA.”
Nashville Stars Join Mavis Staples Tribute Concert
/by Troy_StephensonGrammy Award-winner Don Was will serve as music director and lead the all-star band backing the performers. Keith Wortman is the creator and executive producer of the event. Was and Wortman’s recent work together includes concert events honoring Johnny Cash, Levon Helm and Gregg Allman. The Mavis Staples tribute will be recorded for multi-platform distribution.
“There isn’t anyone Mavis doesn’t touch on a deep level,” said Was. “Not just musicians, but humans everywhere. She is truly one of the most powerful and inspiring American singers of all time.”
YouTube Adds Realtime Analytics
/by Eric T. ParkerThe option includes current view counts, minutes watched, levels of engagements (likes, dislikes, comments, etc.) and demographic views. Two reports cover the last 48 hours and the last 60 minutes.
“This report can give you early insights into the performance of your most recently published videos and might help you to adjust their promotion strategy going forward,” said the Google-owned company in a recent blog post.
Although there is a brief lag time, the two graphs are automatically updated on the analytics page, which is set to the time zone of the viewer.
Content owners are able to view data from the last five published videos.
Realtime data does not support filtering, playlists or shows at this time. Therefore, the geographic filter, the date picker, the comparison and the download functionalities are disabled in the interface.
Property Reports: Overnight Fire, and Rendering of New SESAC Building
/by Sarah SkatesImage captured from News Channel 5’s video of the fire at 19 Music Sq. W. Click for the video.
Google Maps image of 19 Music Sq. W.
The bright red, barn shaped building at 19 Music Sq. W. caught fire overnight and has been declared a total loss. Businesses located in the building include Encore Publicity, Only One Tailoring, Pura Vida Vintage clothing, and the offices of attorneys James Rose, Marshall Snyder, and Michael Mills.
According to News Channel 5, the fire started on the top floor, and was likely an electrical fire. Songwriters were in the building when the fire broke out around 9:15, and they escaped with little to no injuries. Though the fire was mostly contained to the top floor, water and smoke damaged the remainder of the property.
• • • •
Panattoni Development Co. has released a rendering of SESAC’s new building, to be located at 35, 37, 39 and 41 Music Sq. E.
The Nashville Post reports that local firm Tuck Hinton Architects designed the 95,000-square-foot building. Approximately half of the space has been leased, and Panattoni Nashville is working with Colliers International to lease the remainder.
Rendering of the new SESAC building
Artist Updates: Florida Georgia Line, Zac Brown Band, Kayla Adams, Laura Story
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto courtesy Tyler Hubbard.
Both Florida Georgia Line members are now off the market. Tyler Hubbard proposed to girlfriend Hayley Stommel on Monday, Sept. 22. Hubbard posted a photo to social media of the pair celebrating the engagement, drinking champagne while in a helicopter.
“This is what a lucky man looks like right here. Not sure why but I sure am blessed to call this angel my fiancé,” Hubbard tweeted.
The other half of Florida Georgia Line, Brian Kelley, married Brittney Marie Cole in December 2013.
• • •
Kayla Adams
Kayla Adams‘ debut music video, “Sober & Sorry,” will be featured on Virgin Airlines during the month of October.
The video will be showing on flights to and from Australia, and on all U.S. domestic runs.
The clip was produced by Huntley Ritter (Bring It On, We Are Marshall), and directed by Yarrow Kraner for Stafford Multimedia.
• • •
Zac Brown Band performed at Wrigley Field recently. This marks the band’s second iconic ballpark performance this year, following a show at Fenway Park earlier in the summer.
Zac Brown Band and crew celebrate playing at Wrigley Field. Photo courtesy Southern Reel.
• • •
Laura Story with husband Martin and their newborn twins. Photo: The Media Collective
CCM artist Laura Story and husband Martin welcomed fraternal twin boys Benjamin Cary and Griffin James on Sept. 18. They weighed 6.5 lbs and 6.3 lbs, respectively. The twins join two-year-old sister Josie.
“Martin and I are so thrilled to finally meet these little guys! God has truly blessed our family,” said Story.
Grand Ole Opry To Celebrate 89th Birthday Oct. 10 and 11
/by Jessica NicholsonCraig Morgan. Photo: Chris Hollo
The Grand Ole Opry presented by Humana will celebrate its 89th birthday on Oct. 10 and 11, with four weekend Opry shows, plus the Opry’s birthday cake, a concert by Opry member Craig Morgan, backstage tours, free music on the Opry Plaza and more.
Lady Antebellum and Chris Janson are confirmed for two shows on Friday, Oct. 10, while Trace Adkins, Keb’ Mo’ and Clare Bowen (of ABC’s Nashville), are slated for Opry performances during two shows on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Morgan will perform a special Opry Birthday Concert at 3 p.m. on Oct. 11, while Greg Bates will headline the Opry Plaza beginning at 5 p.m. on Oct. 11. The plaza will offer food, fun, and free music on the stage throughout the day.
Industry Pics: Americana Music Fest Week
/by Kelsey_GradySiriusXM’s Outlaw Country was live from the Nashville studios on Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19, as a part of the Americana Music Festival. Live performances included Carlene Carter & Marc Wiseman, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Boogie Down Piano Party and “Americana’s Most Wanted Guitar-Pull.”
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives. Photo: Parker Young
Carlene Carter. Photo Credit: Parker Young
• • •
The progressive, tradition-based artists responsible for the resurgence of Downtown Nashville’s Lower Broad reunited in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater for a one-of-a-kind show, playing the songs that inspired Music City’s “new scene” in the mid-90’s. Featuring performances by BR5-49, Paul Burch, and Greg Garing, R.B. Morris, and more, the show also included the musicians’ behind-the-scenes stories of the Lower Broad revival.
BR5-49. Photo: Rick Diamond
• • •
Roots music champion Ry Cooder sat down with Barry Mazor on Friday, September 19 for an exclusive, rare interview about his impact on the American music landscape over the past fifty years. Cooder discussed his distinct legacy that covers his groundbreaking solo albums of the 1970s, his recordings with the Rolling Stones and Rodney Crowell, and soundtracks for such films as The Long Riders and Paris, Texas.
Pictured (L-R): Music journalist and author Barry Mazor, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young, Ry Cooder, the Americana Music Association’s Jed Hilly and Mark Moffatt backstage. Photo: Rick Diamond
• • •
Photo: Bev Moser
Photo: Bev Moser
Todd Wagner Announced As Keynote Speaker at CRS 2015
/by Troy_StephensonTodd Wagner
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Todd Wagner has been announced as the keynote speaker for Country Radio Seminar 2015. Wagner’s address will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville.
“We are thrilled that Todd has agreed to join us for a unique discussion,” said CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne. “We’ve been looking for the right person to speak on ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ in the marketplace for several years. When you consider his body of work with success in innovation, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, Todd Wagner is the perfect person to share his perspective with our industry!”
Wagner received a B.S. from Indiana University, and then a law degree from the University of Virginia. In 1995, Wagner joined Mark Cuban to launch Broadcast.com, which broadcasts live sporting events, corporate events and radio stations over the Internet. They took the company public in 1998, where it set an opening-day record with shares climbing 249 percent.
Wagner’s business interests also include a stake in the Dallas Mavericks, as well as the Weinstein Company. Additionally, he is a founder and co-chairman of Content Partners LLC. Most recently, Wagner helped launch Chideowhich in January 2014. As the first interactive charity broadcast network, Chideo is the only place where fans can discover and inspire one-of-a-kind content and experiences from their favorite personalities – all while making the world a better place.
CRS 2015 will be held Feb. 25-27, 2015, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information.
Warren Named VP, Market Manager For Cumulus Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonAllison Warren
Cumulus has announced that Allison Warren has been named VP and Market Manager for Cumulus Nashville. She previously served as Director of Sales for Entercom’s Austin stations. She has also served as Director of Sales for Entercom’s Madison, Wis., and Milwaukee locations, as well as Marketing Director for both Entercom and CBS Radio’s Denver stations.
Jeff Brown, Sr. VP for Cumulus said, “Allison was a key part of my team in Denver some years back. She did great work there and has since built a portfolio of successes in vibrant radio markets including Austin, Madison and Milwaukee. Her results-driven, collaborative leadership style will infuse our Nashville operations with the energy and focus needed at this pivotal point in the cluster’s growth. Allison will be an incredible asset to Cumulus’ leadership team.”
Warren added, “I am honored to have been chosen to lead the Cumulus Nashville team. I am excited to reunite with Jeff Brown, connect with the team, and become part of the Nashville business community. It’s a great time for radio and Cumulus Nashville hosts six strong brands delivering local, personal and engaging content. With our ability to deliver innovative solutions, we are poised for success.”