In January Carrie Underwood welcomed Almay and numerous beauty editors to Nashville to launch her campaign as their Global Brand Ambassador.
Major brands are working hard to connect with Country music fans, due to the genre’s growing popularity. An article in
Marketing News explores the trend, which has brands Coors Light, Cover Girl, Diet Coke, Lipton Tea and Ram Trucks partnering with country star endorsers.
Damon Whiteside, CMA Sr. VP of Marketing and Partnerships told the magazine, “Brands are now more proactive about reaching out to country artists, whereas before, we had to do more of an educational process with them…Now artists can be a little bit more choosy about what brands fit their image.”
Country fans are more affluent than 10 years ago, with annual household incomes averaging $75,000 in 2013, versus $54,000 in 2003 (Nielsen). This has attracted more partnerships with luxury and tech brands than in the past.
According to the article, the CMA’s year-round brand partners are American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Patrón and Chevrolet, with about 50 more brands sponsoring CMA’s events.
Blake Shelton is the most effective celebrity endorser, reports The Marketing Arm, which ranks celebrities based on consumer awareness, likability and trustworthiness.
Carrie Underwood ranks No. 2 on the list, followed by
Reba McEntire at No. 5 and
Faith Hill at No. 6.
Big Brands Want To Woo Country Fans
/by Sarah SkatesIn January Carrie Underwood welcomed Almay and numerous beauty editors to Nashville to launch her campaign as their Global Brand Ambassador.
Major brands are working hard to connect with Country music fans, due to the genre’s growing popularity. An article in Marketing News explores the trend, which has brands Coors Light, Cover Girl, Diet Coke, Lipton Tea and Ram Trucks partnering with country star endorsers.
Damon Whiteside, CMA Sr. VP of Marketing and Partnerships told the magazine, “Brands are now more proactive about reaching out to country artists, whereas before, we had to do more of an educational process with them…Now artists can be a little bit more choosy about what brands fit their image.”
Country fans are more affluent than 10 years ago, with annual household incomes averaging $75,000 in 2013, versus $54,000 in 2003 (Nielsen). This has attracted more partnerships with luxury and tech brands than in the past.
According to the article, the CMA’s year-round brand partners are American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Patrón and Chevrolet, with about 50 more brands sponsoring CMA’s events.
Blake Shelton is the most effective celebrity endorser, reports The Marketing Arm, which ranks celebrities based on consumer awareness, likability and trustworthiness. Carrie Underwood ranks No. 2 on the list, followed by Reba McEntire at No. 5 and Faith Hill at No. 6.
Linn Launches AmpliFLY Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonStephen Linn
Stephen Linn, formerly a Sr. Director of Music Programming and Promotion with CMT, has launched AmpliFLY Entertainment, a consulting firm specializing in strategic artist development, branding and music marketing.
“When you’re on stage, you’re an artist; when you’re not, you’re running for governor,” Linn said. “We’ll help with all of the ‘running for governor’ stuff.”
Most recently, he served as Sr. VP at BBR Management, the artist management division of the Broken Bow Records Label Group.
Linn can be contacted at stephen@ampliflyent.com or 615-306-9407. For more information, visit ampliflyent.com.
Revolution Pictures Adds Head of Music and Brand Relations
/by Jessica NicholsonMaranda McGeary
Nashville-based Revolution Pictures has added Maranda McGeary as Head of Music and Brand Relations.
McGeary will collaborate with artists, labels, brands and agencies to develop video content, while also serving as Revolution’s Director Representative. Previously, McGeary worked as Marketing Manager at MillerCoors, and has collaborated with brand clients including Coca-Cola and Verizon Wireless.
Revolution Pictures launched in 1997, and has produced content for Verizon, Ram Trucks, Samsung and Hyundai. The company has produced videos for Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood and others.
For all business-related inquiries, contact McGeary at maranda@revolutionpictures.com
Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Celebrates Expansion
/by Michael_SmithThe celebration is open to the public and will take place on an outdoor stage at the corner of Demonbreun and 5th Ave. S., featuring performances by Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Ann Womack, Buddy Miller and more, in addition to appearances by Mayor Karl Dean and other special guests.
“This expansion is a major milestone for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “It also embodies the exciting momentum shaping Nashville today, especially downtown. All of us at the museum are so proud to help lead the current growth that is defining one of the country’s most culturally significant regions.”
Debuting exhibits at the newly expanded museum, which doubles its previous size, include the ACM Gallery, the Fred and Dinah Gretsch Family Gallery, and the Design Gallery: A Window into the Collection. These join previously unveiled sections of the expansion which include the 800-seat CMA Theater, the Taylor Swift Education Center, the letterpress operation Hatch Show Print, and the Event Hall, among others.
For more information, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.
5th Annual Music Row Rally Set For April 15
/by Jessica NicholsonBig Loud Shirt’s Craig Wiseman
Songwriter Craig Wiseman and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee will hold the 5th annual Music Row Rally on Tues., April 15.
The event will be held in the Big Loud Shirt parking lot located at 1111 16th Ave. S. Wiseman will be joined by Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and a few local food trucks, including fan favorites Riffs Fine Street Foods, Deg Thai, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, and Smoke Et Al from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ten percent of all profits made by the food trucks will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. A $1 donation is requested from all attendees at the door as an additional way to give to this incredible charity.
The Music Row Rally leads in to the 10th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit, slated for Tues., June 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium. Presented by O’Charley’s and hosted by Wiseman, Country duo Florida Georgia Line will headline the benefit for the third year in a row. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
Writers Roundup (4/3/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonAshley Monroe
Warner Music Nashville singer/songwriter Ashley Monroe will perform in Nashville on Monday, June 5 at 3rd and Lindsley beginning at 5 p.m. CT. She will be joined by special guests Striking Matches.
To purchase tickets, visit 3rd & Lindsley’s site.
Monroe penned several songs featured in ABC’s Nashville, and will star in a one-hour show Nashville: On The Record, which airs April 23 on ABC.
• • •
Jeffrey Steele
3 Ring Circus Music will host the YMCA Songwriters Night at 3rd & Lindsley on Thursday, April 17 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. The lineup includes Jeffrey Steele, Alissa Moreno, The Shuggah Pies, Brandon Hood, Adam James, Alyssa Bonagura, Charlie Crowe, Jimmy Stewart, Willow Park and others.
The event will benefit the Brentwood Family Y of Middle Tennessee. Tickets are available by visiting 3rd & Lindsley’s site.
• • •
There’s a new songwriters round in Nashville, this one combining the richness of songs and coffee.
“Songwriters Singing For Coffee—Where Lyrics and Lattes Collide” launched its first show at Starbucks in Green Hills on April 2. Songwriters Billy Yates, Greg Friia, Scott Reeves and Pete Sallis performed several of their well-known songs.
For a list of upcoming shows, visit songwriterssingingforcoffee.com.
Photos by Bev Moser.
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Leah Turner To Release Debut EP May 6
/by Jessica NicholsonThe California native’s career took a leap forward when she happened to meet singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins during a college class; Loggins encouraged Turner to pursue her musical dreams in Los Angeles. There, she worked with David Foster and other industry execs, but Turner says her heart has always been in Country music. “Roots run deep, you know? My roots were in Country music, so I prayed about it and felt I needed to move to Nashville,” Turner told MusicRow during a recent visit. Once in Music City, Turner began lining up co-writing sessions, and eventually met Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino. “I played him a worktape, and he said he wanted to sign me to a deal. I was so excited; I couldn’t believe it,” says Turner. “That was a year ago.”
Turner will soon hit the road with Arista Nashville artist Brad Paisley‘s summer tour and celebrate the release of her upcoming EP.
“Take the Keys” (Leah Turner/Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure)
“Pull Me Back” (Leah Turner/Jon Nite/Jimmy Robbins)
“Bless My Heart” (Leah Turner/Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Hillary Lindsey)
“Beat Up Bronco” (Leah Turner/Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Hillary Lindsey)
“My Finger” (Leah Turner/Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure)
Starting today, fans can pre-order the EP Leah Turner.
Artist Pics (4/2/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonDierks Bentley performed at Nashville’s Station Inn Tuesday night (April 1) with a host of industry friends.
Dierks Bentley performs at Nashville’s Station Inn. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser
Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser
Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser
• • •
Tuesday night (April 1), during an exclusive listening event for her latest album Everlasting at Nashville’s BMI office, Martina McBride was presented with a custom “Nancy” comic strip by illustrator Guy Gilchrist.
Pictured (L-R): Jody Williams, BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations; Martina McBride; Guy Gilchrist, “Nancy” Comic Illustrator. Photo: Steve Lowry
• • •
After his performance at iHeartRadio Country Festival in Austin, RCA Nashville artist Dee Jay Silver is gearing up for the Saturday launch of his weekly syndicated radio show, The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver.
Pictured (L-R): Silver and “The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver” OM Keith Kaufman. Photo credit: Ivor Karabatkovic
• • •
On Wednesday (April 2), singer-songwriter-guitarist Frankie Ballard performed his recent chart-topping single “Helluva Life” on NBC’s Today Show.
Pictured (L-R): Kathi Lee Gifford (co-host of NBC’s TODAY Show), Frankie Ballard, Hoda Kotb (co-host of NBC’s TODAY Show). Photo: Sweet Talk Publicity
Industry Ink (4/2/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Academy of Country Music awards will be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton and broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
• • •
SESAC has signed Sharon Koltick, lead singer and bassist of the Nashville rock band Kink Ador. Koltick stopped by the organization’s offices to visit with SESAC’s Dennis Lord and manager Bennett Davidson from Bluewater Music.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Koltick, and Bluewater Music’s Bennett Davidson. Photo: Peyton Hoge.
• • •
Singer-songwriter Holly Williams will join the celebration by offering prints of these photos for purchase through her clothing boutique, H. Audrey, located across the street from The Bluebird Cafe. These archival printed, signed (or estate signed) editions and framed photographs will be exhibited through Sept. 21, 2014.
Morrison Hotel Gallery (MHG) was founded in 2001 by former record company executive Blachley, retail music industry professional Richard Horowitz, and photographer Diltz. In 2012, author, director and photographer Timothy White joined the team, launching an additional West Coast Gallery at The Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood.
Warner/Chappell Music Appoints A&R Manager
/by Jessica NicholsonTravis Carter
Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp., has appointed Travis Carter to the role of A&R Manager. Carter will report to Ben Vaughn, Exec. VP, Warner/Chappell Nashville.
Carter, a former touring musician, previously held roles at publishing companies Love Monkey Music and Tom-Leis Music, as well as at Sony Music, where he worked as an A&R Consultant.