Loudilla Johnson
, who co-founded the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) died in Franklin, TN on Wednesday, May 7, at age 75.
Along with her sisters
Loretta Johnson (1941-2009) and
Kay Johnson, she started the first Loretta Lynn Fan Club in 1963 at their family ranch in Wild Horse, Colo. The club was such a success that other Country stars began asking Lynn how to start and run fan clubs. This led the Johnsons to form IFCO in 1965.
IFCO began as an association of 75 fan clubs. It grew to unite and advise more than 375 such organizations, publish the monthly
Tri-Son News periodical, create a website and stage fan-appreciation concerts and talent shows.
In 1968, IFCO put on its first concert at that year’s Country Music Disc Jockey Convention, four years before Fan Fair began. After years of staging its annual shows at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds during Fan Fair, in 1995 IFCO moved its Fun Fest show to The Ryman Auditorium. In recent years, IFCO Fun Fest has been held at venues ranging from The Belcourt Theater to the Cadillac Ranch nightclub.
The Johnson sisters relocated to Nashville in 1991. Fan Fair was re-branded as the CMA Music Festival in 2004.
Over the years, the IFCO Fun Fest has showcased a who’s-who of country entertainers, including
Keith Urban, Barbara Mandrell, Charley Pride, Gary Morris, The Bellamy Brothers, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum, Terri Clark, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Jason Aldean, Connie Smith, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Joe Diffie, Aaron Tippin, Lynn Anderson and
Gene Watson.
IFCO also presented its annual Tex Ritter Award to industry individuals whom the Johnsons viewed as particularly beneficial to fans. Past recipients have included
Louise Scruggs, Jim Halsey, Bill Anderson, Maybelle Carter, Ernest Tubb, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Irving Waugh, Bud Wendell, Ralph Emery, Faron Young, Sam Lovullo, Crook & Chase, Roy Clark, David McCormick, Conway Twitty, Mae Boren Axton and
Mel Tillis.
Because their concert proceeds have always gone to charities, the Johnson Sisters were presented with the Ernest Tubb Humanitarian Award at the 2002 R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) banquet.
Loudilla Johnson is survived by sister Kay Johnson, brother
Everett Johnson, sister-in-law
Carlene Johnson and by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Private family services will be held.
[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.
Frist Center Highlights Photography By Marty Stuart
/by Sarah SkatesPortrait of Johnny Cash taken in September 2003 by Marty Stuart.
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts will present American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart from May 9-November 2, 2014 in the Conte Community Arts Gallery, which is free to the public.
American Ballads is composed of more than 60 photographs from three bodies of work: “The Masters” of country music; the “Blue Line Hotshots” he has met on his travels on America’s back roads; and the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and others in the South Dakota “Badlands.”
In his introduction to the publication that accompanies the exhibition, Stuart writes “…I often found myself in the company of Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Porter Wagoner, Merle Travis, Grandpa Jones, Ernest Tubb, and Stringbean. They always welcomed me, treated me like family, and gave me reasons to believe I was a part of the tribe. Whether at a concert, the Opry, a recording studio, a truck stop, or poker game, any time any one of these people were present I viewed it as history in motion. However, other than the fans, I seldom saw anyone present with a camera to capture the proceedings.”
Stuart and his mother Hilda Stuart will discuss photography at a free event at the Frist on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Artist Updates (5/8/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonZac Brown
Zac Brown and wife Shelly welcomed their fifth child and first son, Alexander Frost Brown, on Monday, May 5.
Alexander weighed 11 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 22.5 inches long.
• • •
Shania Twain
Shania Twain has become the Global Ambassador for cat conservation organization Panthera‘s newly launched leopard conservation initiative Project Pardus.
Project Pardus highlights the leopard’s (“pardus” in latin) perilous state and aims to halt leopard killings.
• • •
Hosted by Ed Helms, the SuperJam also features the Lonesome Trio, Sarah Jarosz, Lake Street Dive, The Black Lillies, Shovels & Rope,The Lone Bellow, Robert Ellis, Della Mae, Bryan Sutton, and Dave Johnston of Yonder Mountain String Band.
Bonnaroo will take place June 12-15 in Manchester, Tenn.
Black River Entertainment's Lubitz Exiting
/by Jessica NicholsonBill Lubitz
Black River Entertainment‘s West Coast regional Bill Lubitz is leaving to pursue another opportunity. Lubitz took on the role in 2011.
Lubitz also shared duties as Director of National Promotion with Mike Wilson. Wilson continues in that role.
Black River VP/Promotion Bill Macky is currently searching for a replacement. Resumes can be sent to macky@blackriverent.com.
LifeNotes: IFCO's Loudilla Johnson Passes
/by Robert K OermannLoudilla Johnson
Loudilla Johnson, who co-founded the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) died in Franklin, TN on Wednesday, May 7, at age 75.
Along with her sisters Loretta Johnson (1941-2009) and Kay Johnson, she started the first Loretta Lynn Fan Club in 1963 at their family ranch in Wild Horse, Colo. The club was such a success that other Country stars began asking Lynn how to start and run fan clubs. This led the Johnsons to form IFCO in 1965.
IFCO began as an association of 75 fan clubs. It grew to unite and advise more than 375 such organizations, publish the monthly Tri-Son News periodical, create a website and stage fan-appreciation concerts and talent shows.
In 1968, IFCO put on its first concert at that year’s Country Music Disc Jockey Convention, four years before Fan Fair began. After years of staging its annual shows at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds during Fan Fair, in 1995 IFCO moved its Fun Fest show to The Ryman Auditorium. In recent years, IFCO Fun Fest has been held at venues ranging from The Belcourt Theater to the Cadillac Ranch nightclub.
The Johnson sisters relocated to Nashville in 1991. Fan Fair was re-branded as the CMA Music Festival in 2004.
Over the years, the IFCO Fun Fest has showcased a who’s-who of country entertainers, including Keith Urban, Barbara Mandrell, Charley Pride, Gary Morris, The Bellamy Brothers, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum, Terri Clark, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Jason Aldean, Connie Smith, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Joe Diffie, Aaron Tippin, Lynn Anderson and Gene Watson.
IFCO also presented its annual Tex Ritter Award to industry individuals whom the Johnsons viewed as particularly beneficial to fans. Past recipients have included Louise Scruggs, Jim Halsey, Bill Anderson, Maybelle Carter, Ernest Tubb, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Irving Waugh, Bud Wendell, Ralph Emery, Faron Young, Sam Lovullo, Crook & Chase, Roy Clark, David McCormick, Conway Twitty, Mae Boren Axton and Mel Tillis.
Because their concert proceeds have always gone to charities, the Johnson Sisters were presented with the Ernest Tubb Humanitarian Award at the 2002 R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) banquet.
Loudilla Johnson is survived by sister Kay Johnson, brother Everett Johnson, sister-in-law Carlene Johnson and by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Private family services will be held.
Brad Paisley To Release New Album in August
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley
Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley will release his as-of-yet untitled ninth regular studio project on Aug. 26.
To promote the project, Paisley will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America as part of their Summer Concert Series on Aug. 29.
Paisley’s current single, “River Bank,” was co-written by Kelley Lovelace.
Industry Ink (5/8/14)
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
• • •
Dave Grohl Performs Surprise Acoustic Set in Nashville
/by Troy_StephensonDuring his performance at the Bluebird, Grohl’s set list included gems “Times Like These,” “Friend of a Friend,” “Learn to Fly,” and others.
Artist Pics (5/8/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonColumbia Nashville recording artist Leah Turner hosted a StageIt show earlier this week. The singer-songwriter performed songs from her newly released self-titled digital EP, including “Take the Keys” and her current single, “Pull Me Back.” Turner will take part in her first nationwide tour opening for Brad Paisley beginning May 16.
• • •
Crystal Gayle sat for a rare public interview and performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum on Saturday, May 3. In support of the spotlight exhibit Crystal Gayle: When I Dream, which opened May 2, Gayle discussed her career in the Country and pop fields, and performed songs from her catalog. Crystal Gayle: When I Dream features fashion, awards, letters, family photos and more from Gayle’s career. The exhibition will run through Nov. 3, 2014.
Pictured (L-R): Rob Price, Peggy Sue Wright, Blue Jay Patten, Crystal Gayle, Will Barrow, Bill Gatzimos, Duane Norman and John Kearns.
• • •
Travis Tritt recently attended the 2014 Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky. Tritt performed alongside Richie Sambora, Johnny Gill, Mary Wilson and many others at The Barnstable Brown Gala. Tritt and his wife have attended the Kentucky Derby every year for the last 16 years.
Pictured (L-R): Travis Tritt with wife, Theresa Tritt, and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.