[Updated]: DMG Nashville has entered into a partnership with in2une Music, to continue promoting Lucy Hale‘s debut single, “You Sound Good To Me,” as well as future releases from her debut album.
“We are beyond excited to be in the Lucy Hale business,” in2une Nashville president Dale Connone says. “We look forward to our alliance with DMG Nashville and breaking ‘You Sound Good To Me’ at Country radio.”
• • •
Bigger Picture Group has closed its doors, MusicRow has confirmed.
Bigger Picture’s roster included artist ventures with Craig Campbell, Ryan Kinder, Blackjack Billy, Rachel Bradshaw, Smithfield, Chelsea Bain and Chris Janson. Lucy Hale was signed to a joint venture with DMG Nashville/Bigger Picture.
Craig Campbell was the company’s biggest success story. He sold one million tracks combined from his 2011 self-titled debut album and current album Never Regret. His autobiographical single, “Family Man” was a top 15 hit, followed by fan-favorite “Fish.” His latest hit, “Keep Them Kisses Comin,’” is the follow-up single to smash “Outta My Head.”
Bigger Picture artists on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart today (May 8) include Campbell at No. 11 with “Keep Them Kisses Comin,'” and Chelsea Bain at No. 80 with “Cowboy in a Cadillac.”
Producer Keith Stegall was an original founder of Bigger Picture but was no longer involved with the company.
Michael Powers served as President of Bigger Picture Group, overseeing all aspects of the operation, including radio promotion, artist management, marketing, and sales. He previously served as President of Bigger Picture Artist Ventures, a division within the Bigger Picture Group.
Alan Kates was a partner in Bigger Picture Group, and also acts as President of Songs of Bigger Picture, and EVP of Business Development for BPG. He also manages producer Stegall.
Bob Cahill was Exec. VP/GM and oversaw operations, artist management, marketing and sales initiatives. Prior to Bigger Picture, his career includes time at EMI Records, Live Nation Artists, V2 Records and Rhino Records.
David Robkin is CEO and oversees finance and strategic direction for the company. He joined Bigger Picture three years ago.
Exiting staffers include Jay Bradley, Matt Corbin, Liz Cost (reach her at 617-650-0986), Jay Cruze (reach him here), Chris DeCarlo, Brad Helton, Jody Mazer, Allen Mitchell, Michael Powers, Joe Putnam, Matt Rovey, Kimmie Trosdahl and Shea Windley.
Jan Perry Rodgers has exited her post as Office Manager & Executive Assistant. She can be reached at janpr@comcast.net.
Nashville Artists Ready for GMA Summer Concert Series
/by Eric T. ParkerOn May 23, Lady Antebellum will kick off the multi-genre events, which are planned in Rumsey Playfield each Friday through the end of August. Paisley will wrap the summer series on Aug. 29.
Additional superstars booked for the ABC-TV events include Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Robin Thicke, and more. Full line-up below.
Concerts are free and open to the public and will take place live during ABC-TV’s Good Morning America broadcast, from 7-9 a.m. ET.
Concert Schedule:
May 23: Lady Antebellum
May 30: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson*
June 6: Demi Lovato
June 13 Paramore
June 20: Jennifer Lopez*
June 27: Afrojack
July 4: Jason Derulo
July 11: Keith Urban
July 18: Zedd
July 25: Kings of Leon
Aug. 1: Enrique Iglesias
Aug. 8: Luke Bryan
Aug. 15: Florida Georgia Line
Aug. 22: Robin Thicke
Aug. 29: Brad Paisley
*Requires free, advance tickets to become available closer to the performance date
Artist Pics (5/9/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonCMT Radio’s Cody Alan chatted with Dierks Bentley at his last Riser Tour rehearsal in Nashville, Tenn. The Riser Tour kicks off today (May 9) in Charlotte, N.C., and will continue through the summer with special guests Chris Young, Chase Rice and Jon Pardi.
Pictured (L-R): Dierks Bentley, Cody Alan
• • •
Natalie Stovall and The Drive made their Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday (May 6). Lead singer Stovall first graced the Opry stage for the first time in the Spring of 1995 at the age of 12.
Pictured (L-R): Natalie Stovall and the Drive at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Rachel Black, Hollo Graphics, Inc.
• • •
The cast of ABC’s Nashville completed its four-city concert tour Tuesday evening (May 6) in New York City. The performance included Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack, Will Chase and Chaley Rose. Previous tour stops included sold-out shows in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Scott Edwards, tour manager; Gary Craig, drums; Colin Linden, guitar; Steve Buchanan, President Opry Entertainment Group; Tim Lauer, keyboard, Jim Hoke, steel guitar/harmonica/guitar; John Dymond, bass. (middle row, L-R): Chris Carmack, Sam Palladio. (front row, L-R): Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Will Chase, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson. Photo By ©2014 Heidi Gutman/ABC
Dot Records Adds Promo Staff
/by Jessica Nicholson“I look at the team that we have assembled here at Dot and the entire Big Machine Label Group and I know that we cannot only compete, but win. Newly named Director of National Promotion Kris Lamb is such a perfect fit to spearhead this team, where we have such an amazing balance of experience, relationships, intelligence, promo skill and hustle. I cannot wait to unleash this team on our first single!” exclaimed Stacey.
Under Stacey’s leadership, the Dot Records’ team will consist of staff members with multi-genre backgrounds as well as internal hires within the Big Machine Label Group:
Kris Lamb (Director of National Promotion) is upped in the label group family, where he most recently served as the West Coast Regional for Big Machine Records and was integral in the careers of Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery and The Cadillac Three. He will relocate to Nashville and can be reached 615.846.7750.
James Marsh (Director of Southwest Promotion) joins the team from Warner Bros. Records, where he served as Southwest Regional Promotions Manager. Based in Dallas, TX, he is available at 615.846.7747.
Bill Lubitz (Director of West Coast Promotion) will remain based in Las Vegas, Nev., where he was most recently at Black River Entertainment in National Radio Promotion and West Coast Regional. He can be contacted at 615.846.7752.
Michelle Tigard-Kammerer (Director of Midwest/Northeast Promotion) previously Sr. Director of Brand Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Country Radio Broadcasters and will be located in Nashville. She can be reached at 615.846.7751.
EJ Bernas (Director of Southeast Promotion) comes from Curb and Universal, where he served as Sr. Director of Promotion. Remaining in Nashville, he can be contacted at 615.846.7749.
Rachel Dobson (Promotion Manager) joins the label from Capitol Records Nashville & EMI Records Nashville, where she served as Promotion Coordinator. She will be based in Nashville and is available via 615.846.7748.
Garrett Hill (Executive Assistant) previously interned with the company and is working as the Traffic Coordinator for the label group. He can be reached at 615.846.7746.
Comparably, Dot Records will be headquartered in Nashville and will utilize the combined resources of Big Machine and Republic Records.
No artist signings have been announced.
Weekly Chart Report (5/9/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonApple Close To Acquiring Beats Electronics For $3.2 Billion
/by Sherod RobertsonIf the deal closes, this would be Apple’s largest acquisition and would position the company in the music streaming subscription arena competing with rivals such as Spotify.
Beats Electronics produces audio products and equipment and is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. The company was founded by rapper and hip-hop producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine.
Beats Music‘s streaming service launched January 2014. The service was spun out of Beats Electronics, receiving a $60 million investment to bring the product to market. The core of the streaming service was formed by Beats’ $14 million acquisition of digital music company MOG in 2012.
LifeNotes: Butch Carr
/by Jessica NicholsonCarr died April 18 at age 62.
Carr has been an engineer and songwriter in Nashville more nearly 40 years. His most recent engineering credits include work for Kenny Chesney (Life On A Rock), Willie Nelson (To All The Girls…), Sammy Kershaw (All In The Same Boat), Tracy Lawrence (Headlights, Taillights and Radios), among many others.
Ken Robold Exits Southern Ground Artists
/by Jessica NicholsonKen Robold
Industry veteran Ken Robold has exited his post as president of Southern Ground Artists. He is currently pursuing new opportunities.
He was named president of Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Artists in 2013, overseeing the record label, publishing and studio divisions. Robold previously served as Exec. VP and GM of Universal Music Group Nashville. The role was the culmination of a nearly 22-year career at PolyGram Records/Universal Music Group.
He is also Chairman of the ACM Board of Directors.
The SGA roster included artists The Wood Brothers, The AJ Ghent Band, Blackberry Smoke, and Levi Lowrey. Southern Ground Artists launched in 2011.
He can be reached here.
19th Annual Key West Songwriter's Festival Launches
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI‘s 19th annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival kicked off with an opening concert from headliner Anders Osborne on Sunset Pier at the Ocean Key Resort. The evening continued with performances from some of music’s biggest songwriters including Natalie Hemby, Wendell Mobley, Dean Dillon, Dylan Altman, Tony Joe White and more. The event, which runs through May 11, will feature more than 50 showcases and concerts at venues throughout the island.
Pictured (L-R): BMI Executive Director of Writer/Publisher Relations Mark Mason, Anders Osborne, Key West Mayor Craig Cates, Key West Songwriter’s Festival founder Charlie Bauer, and BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams. Photo: Erika Goldring
[Updated]: Bigger Picture Group Closes
/by Sarah Skates[Updated]: DMG Nashville has entered into a partnership with in2une Music, to continue promoting Lucy Hale‘s debut single, “You Sound Good To Me,” as well as future releases from her debut album.
“We are beyond excited to be in the Lucy Hale business,” in2une Nashville president Dale Connone says. “We look forward to our alliance with DMG Nashville and breaking ‘You Sound Good To Me’ at Country radio.”
• • •
Bigger Picture Group has closed its doors, MusicRow has confirmed.
Bigger Picture’s roster included artist ventures with Craig Campbell, Ryan Kinder, Blackjack Billy, Rachel Bradshaw, Smithfield, Chelsea Bain and Chris Janson. Lucy Hale was signed to a joint venture with DMG Nashville/Bigger Picture.
Craig Campbell was the company’s biggest success story. He sold one million tracks combined from his 2011 self-titled debut album and current album Never Regret. His autobiographical single, “Family Man” was a top 15 hit, followed by fan-favorite “Fish.” His latest hit, “Keep Them Kisses Comin,’” is the follow-up single to smash “Outta My Head.”
Bigger Picture artists on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart today (May 8) include Campbell at No. 11 with “Keep Them Kisses Comin,'” and Chelsea Bain at No. 80 with “Cowboy in a Cadillac.”
Producer Keith Stegall was an original founder of Bigger Picture but was no longer involved with the company.
Michael Powers served as President of Bigger Picture Group, overseeing all aspects of the operation, including radio promotion, artist management, marketing, and sales. He previously served as President of Bigger Picture Artist Ventures, a division within the Bigger Picture Group.
Alan Kates was a partner in Bigger Picture Group, and also acts as President of Songs of Bigger Picture, and EVP of Business Development for BPG. He also manages producer Stegall.
Bob Cahill was Exec. VP/GM and oversaw operations, artist management, marketing and sales initiatives. Prior to Bigger Picture, his career includes time at EMI Records, Live Nation Artists, V2 Records and Rhino Records.
David Robkin is CEO and oversees finance and strategic direction for the company. He joined Bigger Picture three years ago.
Exiting staffers include Jay Bradley, Matt Corbin, Liz Cost (reach her at 617-650-0986), Jay Cruze (reach him here), Chris DeCarlo, Brad Helton, Jody Mazer, Allen Mitchell, Michael Powers, Joe Putnam, Matt Rovey, Kimmie Trosdahl and Shea Windley.
Jan Perry Rodgers has exited her post as Office Manager & Executive Assistant. She can be reached at janpr@comcast.net.
ASCAP Urges Politicians to "Stand With Songwriters" On Capitol Hill
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): ASCAP Publisher Board member Leeds Levy, songwriter Josh Kear, Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ASCAP Writer Board member Dan Foliart and ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento.
Award-winning songwriters and composers from different music genres spent Wednesday, May 7 meeting with elected officials to insist on music licensing reform as part of the inaugural American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP Vice Chairman Jimmy Webb (“Wichita Lineman”), Josh Kear (“Need You Now”), Carly Simon (“You’re So Vain”), Randy Newman (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Alan and Marilyn Bergman (“The Way We Were”), Jon Batiste (“Creative”), Narada Michael Walden (“Freeway of Love”), and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart (“Crazy on You”) came to D.C. to perform at a Tuesday, May 6 “We Write the Songs” concert at the Library of Congress, sponsored by The ASCAP Foundation.
During the concert, they discussed the challenges facing songwriters in today’s digital music marketplace and urged policymakers to support updates to federal laws that regulate how songwriters license their works. Joined by ASCAP Board members, including Valerie Simpson (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”), most of the performing songwriters remained in D.C. today to continue the mission.