Pictured (L-R): Lee Thomas Miller, Brad Paisley, Kelley Lovelace, Chris DuBois. Photo By: Ben Enos
Several Country music-focused programs are among the BBC’s offerings slated for later this year as part of the organization’s new music strategy under the banner BBC Music. BBC Music’s wide-ranging programming will include the inaugural BBC Music Awards, as well as new programming and partnerships. BBC director general
Tony Hall and new director of music
Bob Shennan unveiled the music initiatives on Monday.
This fall, BBC Four and Radio 2 will present
Country Legends: Nashville and Beyond, a series of programming that will consider Country music’s storied history. Coverage will include three programs focusing on Nashville,
Kenny Rogers, and a previously
announced one-hour special concert featuring
Brad Paisley and songwriters
Lee Thomas Miller, Chris DuBois and
Kelley Lovelace. The concert will be introduced by
Bob Harris, a previous winner of the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award and the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement award.
Among other TV plans, BBC Two is working on a series with the working title
The Soundtrack of the Twentieth Century for 2016. It will chronicle the rise of popular music across the 20th century, including the music of
Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Eminem, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and more.
The new
BBC Music Awards on BBC One is another key part of the new music strategy. The awards show will offer live performances and awards in categories including British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and International Artist of the Year. A full-length documentary focusing on the band
Genesis is also in the works, and promises to reunite all original members of the band, including
Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and
Mike Rutherford for the first time since 1975.
“Today’s the start of something very special for everyone who loves music,” Hall said. “BBC Music is a celebration of the brilliant musical talent across our country. We’ll be joining up music on television, radio, [digital player] iPlayer and online like never before. There’ll be new shows, new partnerships and whole new ways to enjoy music on the BBC.”
The broadcaster promises more music overall on the country’s most-watched network.
Amazon Smartphone To Be Available Exclusively at AT&T
/by Jessica NicholsonAmazon hopes to differentiate itself in a market dominated by Apple and Samsung with a phone boasting 3D features. The phone would include retina-tracking technology embedded in four front-facing cameras, or sensors, to make some images appear 3-D, similar to a hologram.
Amazon is expected to introduce the device during an event in Seattle on Wednesday (June 18), and the company aims to begin shipping the phones by the end of September.
ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Returns To Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesCampers from across the country can expect tons of artist interaction including songwriting with The Band Perry, visiting the Wildhorse Saloon with The Swon Brothers, studio day with Lee Brice and producer Ross Copperman, karaoke with Brett Eldredge and Wynonna, a trip to the Bluebird Café with Casey James, dinner and a meet and greet with JT Hodges, and a Grand Ole Opry performance with Chris Janson.
The Camp, a week-long residential program open to individuals with Williams syndrome, has a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education. ACM Lifting Lives funds the costs of the Camp in addition to providing scholarships to several campers, enabling the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to advance its mission of improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, training and service.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Music Camp and the fifth year that ACM Lifting Lives has been involved.
Industry Ink (6/17/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonFour new additions have been made to the Triple 8 Management team. Jared Crouch, formerly with CAA Los Angeles, has joined as a day-to-day manager. Emily Miller has been added to the marketing team, where she will aid in expanding digital marketing initiatives. Chelea Williams joins the in-house merch department as online merch manager.
Republic Nashville Director of Southwest Promotion Mark Gray will join the team as day-to-day manager for Eli Young Band. He replaces Jenn Poppe who has moved to Illinois to be closer to family. Poppe will exit Triple 8 at the end of July and will be available for project management and freelance work. She can be reached at jennifer.a.poppe@gmail.com or at 615-498-7171.
• • •
CCM singer-songwriter Jamie Grace recently earned an RIAA Digital Gold Certification for “Hold Me (feat. TobyMac),” which garnered 500,000 single downloads.
Pictured (L-R): Producer Christopher Stevens, Gotee Records President Joey Elwood, Jamie Grace, TobyMac
• • •
MCA recording artist David Nail invited college students enrolled at Grammy U to his tour stop in Irvine, Calif., with Lady Antebellum on their Take Me Downtown Tour. The college students attended Nail’s soundcheck for his concert being held later that evening at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Nail also took part in a question-and-answer session with the students.
David Nail with students enrolled in Grammy U
• • •
The location remains open.
Robby Johnson Signs with Contrast Music
/by Jessica NicholsonRobby Johnson
Country singer Robby Johnson has signed with Contrast Music for a North American distribution deal through RED Distribution. Johnson’s debut single, “South of Me,” has garnered nearly three million views on YouTube.
RED will oversee physical and digital releases of his new single, “Feel Good Song,” as well as the song’s video and Johnson’s upcoming album. Johnson worked with Ryan Smith, the director behind Jason Aldean’s “My Kind of Party” video, on the clip.
IEBA Announces New Board Member
/by Jessica NicholsonJohn Bolton
The members of IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association), a non-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals, have elected John Bolton, Vice President of Entertainment for SMG, to their Board of Directors in the “Buyer/Promoter” category. He replaces outgoing director Leslie Master of Live Nation.
As part of the corporate team at SMG Entertainment, Bolton works with stadiums and arenas across the country to present over 28,000 live events annually. Bolton supervises a national network of regional marketing directors who are responsible for some 140 arena marketing professionals.
In addition to his role as General Manager for SMG in Tulsa, Bolton acted as Regional Vice President for SMG for its venues in Puerto Rico and the West Coast. Bolton was responsible for creating five new festivals and events in Tulsa that attract more than 200,000 people per year. Bolton earned “Venue Executive of the Year” recognition from IEBA in 2011 and from Pollstar in 2012, as well the “Venue Excellence Award” from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) in 2011.
He fulfilled two terms on IEBA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 2005 to 2008 and from 2009 to 2012. Bolton also serves as the current Chair of the Board of Directors for IAVM.
IEBA’s 44th annual conference will be held Sept. 27-30, 2014, at Nashville’s Omni Hotel. For more information, visit ieba.org.
Kershaw To Release George Jones Tribute Album
/by Troy_StephensonThe 14-track album includes Kershaw’s renditions of “White Lightning,” “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “The Grand Tour,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Race Is On,” among others. Two new songs are also included and Kershaw has tapped Georgette Jones (daughter of Jones and Tammy Wynette) for the classic duet, “Near You.”
Kershaw says, “George Jones was and still is the King of Country Soul music and there is no other and there never will be another. I had to do this tribute album to Jones because I believe that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have ever discovered the talent that God gave me.”
Do You Know Me? – A Tribute To George Jones is produced by Kershaw and will be released through his label, Big Hit Records. The album will be available in stores as well as digitally through iTunes and Amazon. Digital pre-sales are available starting June 23, 2014.
Do You Know Me? – A Tribute To George Jones track listing:
1. The Grand Tour
2. Once You’ve Had The Best
3. She Thinks I Still Care
4. Why Baby Why
5. Walk Through This World With Me
6. When The Grass Grows Over Me
7. Window Up Above
8. White Lightning
9. Near You (featuring Georgette Jones)
10. He Stopped Loving Her Today
11. The Race Is On
12. Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes
13. Do You Know Me (new song)
14. The Route That I Took (new song)
Warner/Chappell Music Signs Alaina
/by Jessica NicholsonLauren Alaina
Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with entertainer Lauren Alaina. Alaina was the runner-up on American Idol season 10 before signing with Mercury Nashville/19/Interscope Records.
Alaina’s debut album, Wildflower, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart. She later toured with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Sugarland, and is working on her forthcoming sophomore project.
17th Ave. S. Property Changes Hands
/by Sarah SkatesAmylase Entertainment, which has ties to Dippin’ Dots ice cream, was previously housed in the building. When Dippin’ Dots entered bankruptcy a few years ago, the compay was acquired by Oklahoma based Fischer Enterprises. As part of the transaction, Fischer Enterprises also acquired the Music Row property which it has now unloaded.
Row veterans will remember the address as the home of Island Bound Music.
BBC's New Music Strategy To Feature Nashville Performers
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lee Thomas Miller, Brad Paisley, Kelley Lovelace, Chris DuBois. Photo By: Ben Enos
Several Country music-focused programs are among the BBC’s offerings slated for later this year as part of the organization’s new music strategy under the banner BBC Music. BBC Music’s wide-ranging programming will include the inaugural BBC Music Awards, as well as new programming and partnerships. BBC director general Tony Hall and new director of music Bob Shennan unveiled the music initiatives on Monday.
This fall, BBC Four and Radio 2 will present Country Legends: Nashville and Beyond, a series of programming that will consider Country music’s storied history. Coverage will include three programs focusing on Nashville, Kenny Rogers, and a previously announced one-hour special concert featuring Brad Paisley and songwriters Lee Thomas Miller, Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace. The concert will be introduced by Bob Harris, a previous winner of the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award and the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement award.
Among other TV plans, BBC Two is working on a series with the working title The Soundtrack of the Twentieth Century for 2016. It will chronicle the rise of popular music across the 20th century, including the music of Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Eminem, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and more.
The new BBC Music Awards on BBC One is another key part of the new music strategy. The awards show will offer live performances and awards in categories including British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and International Artist of the Year. A full-length documentary focusing on the band Genesis is also in the works, and promises to reunite all original members of the band, including Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford for the first time since 1975.
“Today’s the start of something very special for everyone who loves music,” Hall said. “BBC Music is a celebration of the brilliant musical talent across our country. We’ll be joining up music on television, radio, [digital player] iPlayer and online like never before. There’ll be new shows, new partnerships and whole new ways to enjoy music on the BBC.”
The broadcaster promises more music overall on the country’s most-watched network.
Artist Pics (6/17/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonTyler Farr and Thompson Square recently joined Hank Williams, Jr. onstage for a rendition of his classic “Family Tradition” during the 2nd Annual Taste of Country Music Festival, held June 13-15 at Hunter Mountain Resort in Hunter, N.Y. The festival, produced by Townsquare Media and Chet-5 Festivals, saw an attendance of more than 40,000 people.
Pictured (L-R): Townsquare Media’s Executive VP-Live Events Dhruv Prasad; Chet-5 Festival’s Gary Chetkof; Tyler Farr; Hank Williams, Jr.; Thompson Square’s Shawna Thompson and Keifer Thompson; Townsquare Media’s VP – Live Events Matt LaRose.
• • •
Father and son Georgia natives Thomas Rhett and Rhett Akins teamed for a concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Ga. to help raise more than $40,000 for Great Strides Valdosta in honor of their cousin Sophie, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
“Cystic Fibrosis is a terrible disease, and when it happens to one of your family members it puts it that much more at the forefront of your mind and makes you want to do anything you can to help out,” said Thomas Rhett.
Rhett Akins and Thomas Rhett (R) perform to help raise money for Great Strides Valdosta.
• • •
Florida Georgia Line recently performed their hit “Cruise” with Nelly during the Miss USA competition. The duo returned to the stage later in the evening to perform “This Is How We Roll,” their fifth chart-topping single from their Republic Nashville debut album Here’s To The Good Times.
Florida Georgia Line performs during the Miss USA competition. Photo: Patrick Prather