Virgin Hotels, part of the brand established by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, will open its third U.S. property in Nashville. The address will be One Music Row, and it is expected to open in 2016. Although not confirmed, this address is likely the site at One Music Square West, where a historic home was demolished yesterday (April 16). See story here.
The luxury hotel will include 240 guest rooms, multiple concept suites, food and beverage outlets, and a cutting edge recording studio. Specifically, the Wall Street Journal reports it will have 30 suites, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and spa.
“Nashville’s time is now, and we want to be part of that excitement,” said Branson in a press release. “We hope our first venture in Nashville will open the doors for more Virgin opportunities and more global travelers to enjoy Nashville’s southern hospitality.”
Virgin Hotels Chief Executive Raul Leal told WSJ, “Obviously, our brand has a strong music heritage and so does Nashville.”
Nashville’s D.F. Chase Inc. is developing the property. David Chase said, “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring a global brand with such strong roots in music, entertainment, travel, hospitality and technology to our city. Virgin has 60 million customers from around the world, and we believe this partnership validates Nashville’s position as one of the premier destinations in the U.S. Details of the deal structure are still in discussion, but for us it was all about the location.”
Other Virgin Hotels are being built in New York and Chicago, the latter of which will open this fall. Additional locations under consideration for Virgin Hotels properties include Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Washington DC, and London.
Layoffs Hit Clear Channel Music + Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonA Clear Channel spokesman noted the company is “aligning our sales organizations…to give more resources, authority and accountability to the most productive members of our team so we can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
Clear Channel Music + Entertainment owns 850 radio stations in the United States.
Nashville Celebrates Jason Aldean's "When She Says Baby"
/by Jessica NicholsonThe music industry gathered at Nashville’s Pour House on Wednesday (April 16) to celebrate Jason Aldean‘s chart-topping song “When She Says Baby,” which was co-written by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip.
“When She Says Baby” is the fifth single from Aldean’s 2012 Night Train release, and marks Akins’ 17th chart-topping song, and Hayslip’s 15th. Together, Hayslip and Akins now have 10 No. 1 songs they have penned together.
Pictured, Back Row (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel, and Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown and Jon Loba. Front Row, L-R: producer Michael Knox, co-writer Rhett Akins, Jason Aldean, co-writer Ben Hayslip, and ASCAP’s Michael Martin. Photo: Steve Lowry
Troubadours Privately Conclude CMHoF's Expansion Week
/by Eric T. ParkerNot only has the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum officially expanded to over 350,000 sq. ft. this week, but membership is also growing. Notably the Troubadour Society, a group of young professionals who have contributed to $40,000 in museum support from dues and sponsorships since 2012.
Yesterday evening (April 16), a segment of the nearly 400-member group convened in the Hall’s Rotunda for the first of four exclusive, annual events, offering complementary wine and beer alongside fresh vegetables, cornbread turkey poppers, and chips and spinach dip before museum doors were opened.
Ten-thousand of the new square footage are devoted to gallery space, including the Taylor Swift Education Center, which is located at the beginning of the museum, along with the Design Gallery alcove, currently featuring Glen Campbell memorabilia. At the opposite end, the Dinah & Fred Gretsch Family Gallery and ACM Gallery cap one’s journey through the museum, offering an interactive exploration through many contemporary artifacts and displays.
Helmed by the CMHoF’s Rachel Weingartner and the Troubadour Society Committee of around 20 individuals, the goal is to unite the future of the Hall with the history.
Perks include invitations to many museum events, All for the Hall pre-sale and VIP after party in May, and a yearly Nightfall at the Hall, aimed at outreach for industry and non-industry executives alike, who care about the hall. More information for a $60 annual program is available to individuals under 40 years old.
The Troubadours will soon gather for an exclusive mixer to design Hatch Show Prints.
The Lost Trailers' Lead Singer Resigns
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Wyatt
Jason Wyatt has resigned as lead singer of the duo The Lost Trailers.
“I really appreciate these last few years with the Trailers,” says Wyatt. “I have loved playing to all of the great fans around the country. All I can say is stay excited… there’s a lot more to come.”
Wyatt plans to restart his solo career and focus on the growth of his music production, songwriting and artist development company, Jason Wyatt Productions. Wyatt has also been tapped as a consultant and producer for American Country Star, a Nashville-based national music competition for aspiring Country artists.
His solo album is slated for a 4th quarter 2014 release.
The Lost Trailers notched two Top 40 Country hits during the 2011-2014 tenure with Wyatt.
Virgin Hotel Coming To Music Row
/by Sarah SkatesThe luxury hotel will include 240 guest rooms, multiple concept suites, food and beverage outlets, and a cutting edge recording studio. Specifically, the Wall Street Journal reports it will have 30 suites, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and spa.
“Nashville’s time is now, and we want to be part of that excitement,” said Branson in a press release. “We hope our first venture in Nashville will open the doors for more Virgin opportunities and more global travelers to enjoy Nashville’s southern hospitality.”
Virgin Hotels Chief Executive Raul Leal told WSJ, “Obviously, our brand has a strong music heritage and so does Nashville.”
Nashville’s D.F. Chase Inc. is developing the property. David Chase said, “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring a global brand with such strong roots in music, entertainment, travel, hospitality and technology to our city. Virgin has 60 million customers from around the world, and we believe this partnership validates Nashville’s position as one of the premier destinations in the U.S. Details of the deal structure are still in discussion, but for us it was all about the location.”
Other Virgin Hotels are being built in New York and Chicago, the latter of which will open this fall. Additional locations under consideration for Virgin Hotels properties include Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Washington DC, and London.
Historic 1800s Music Row Building Demolished
/by Sherod Robertson1 Music Square West on April 16, 2014. Photo: @SuzanneSimsLee
The Queen Anne style building located at 1 Music Sq. W. is no more.
Construction crews tore down the iconic building yesterday (4/16) that sat across from ASCAP at the corner of Division and Music Square West (the lower end of 17th Ave. S.). Members of the Music Row community drove by the landmark countless times. According to public records, the building was originally recorded as a single family home with six bedrooms and six baths and is estimated to have been built in 1836, containing 6605 square feet on .52 acres.
ASCAP’s Suzanne Lee shared via Twitter, “It *was* the most gorgeous house on Music Row. R.I.P.” “All of us at ASCAP are mourning the loss of this beautiful landmark,” added Lee. A sentiment undoubtedly shared by many on the Row.
Announced today (4/17), Virgin Hotels, part of the brand established by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, will open its third U.S. property in Nashville most likely at this location.
Property on The Row is a hot commodity these days. Developments in-the-works include SESAC’s new $20 million home on Music Sq. E., an 18-story mixed-use property at the roundabout at 1515 Demonbreun, and the purchase of Edgehill Village for $9.2 million. Most recently, a group of property owners went before the Metro Planning Commission on March 13 regarding a development at 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 Music Sq. W.
Word Inks Deal With Curb For Global Film Distribution
/by Jessica NicholsonThe inaugural slate of films includes The Perfect Summer, My Name Is Paul, The Trail (Let God), Hope for Hurting Hearts, Mother India, Season of a Lifetime, Veil of Tears, and more, which will be showcased at the 2014 CANNES Film Market in Cannes, France.
Word recently launched The Son of God Tour 2014 as a two-hour live event, a Word Entertainment collaboration with producer/actress Roma Downey‘s and producer Mark Burnett‘s company LightWorkers Media.
Curb Entertainment launched in 1984 to concentrate on film production and distribution. The company’s record division is Curb Records.
Glen Campbell Moved to Care Facility
/by Jessica NicholsonGlen Campbell
Glen Campbell has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for over three years, and the Grammy-winning singer, 78, has recently moved into a facility, according to people.com
“He was moved to an Alzhemier’s facility last week,” said a family friend. “I’m not sure what the permanent plan is for him yet. We’ll know more next week.”
The Goodbye Tour was filmed for a documentary called Glen Campbell … I’ll Be Me, which will make its debut Friday at the 2014 Nashville Film Festival. The documentary follows Campbell, his wife, and their three adult children as they cope with Campbell’s disease and perform on the road together.
Apple Reportedly Planning Song-Discovery Feature For iOS
/by Jessica NicholsonThe song-identification would be integrated in a way that consumers will not need to separately download it. Among the ways the technology can be used will be through Apple’s voice-activated search feature, Siri, it has been reported.
The company is slated to preview the latest mobile software update, iOS 8, during its annual developer conference June 2 in San Francisco.
The company continues to add new features focusing on music. Last year, Apple introduced iTunes Radio, and had 63 percent of the paid digital download market, according to researcher NPD Group.
Eric Church To Release 'The Outsiders' On Vinyl
/by Jessica NicholsonThis is Church’s second vinyl project in honor of National Record Store Day; last year, he released a vinyl version of his live album, Caught in the Act: Live.
The Outsiders (vinyl version) track listing:
Side 1
1. “The Outsiders”
2. “A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young”
3. “Cold One”
4. “Roller Coaster Ride”
Side 2
1. “Talladega”
2. “Broke Record”
3. “Like a Wrecking Ball”
4. “That’s Damn Rock & Roll”
Side 3
1. “Dark Side”
2. “Devil, Devil (Prelude: Princess of Darkness)”
Side 4
1. “Give Me Back My Hometown”
2. “The Joint”
3. “The Outsiders (Extended Version)” – bonus track
4. “Come Together” – bonus track
Church recently announced the launch of The Outsiders World Tour, beginning on Sept. 11 in Bossier City, La. Special guest for the entire tour is Dwight Yoakam, with Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, and Halestorm alternating as opening act. The first tour dates will go on sale this Friday, Apr. 18, with more on-sale dates to be announced soon.