Deana Carter visit
visited the
MusicRow office yesterday (Feb. 27) to perform songs from her album
Southern Way of Life (Little Nugget Records). After a six-year hiatus, Carter returns with a considerable arsenal of new songs, all wrapped in her distinctive, honeyed vocal.
Carter has lived in Los Angeles over the past few years, writing songs for television and films. She still managed to launch a No. 1 song on the Country charts, with “You And Tequila.” “
Alicia Pruitt called me and I got signed to Warner/Chappell [Music Publishing], and we did nearly three years of publishing and songwriting,” she says. “You and Tequila” was co-written with
Matraca Berg and recorded by
Kenny Chesney and
Grace Potter.
Southern Way of Life is released on her own Little Nugget Records, which is a tribute to Nugget Records, the independent label imprint her father,
Fred Carter, Jr., once owned.
Carter performed the project’s gorgeous and honest first single, “Do Or Die,” accompanied only by her miniature Taylor guitar. “When I wrote this, I was sitting on the kitchen floor, praying and asking, ‘What’s going to happen? Do I need to do something else, or go back and get a graduate degree?’ The shows were becoming fewer at the time, and I just started putting my thoughts and worries and feelings into my music. Not long after the time I wrote this song, I got the Kenny Chesney cut, and that fueled this project.”
She followed up with the clever “I Know Better,” which was co-written with
Anne Preven in Los Angeles. “About half the album was written in Los Angeles, and half was written in Nashville,” says Carter. She reports that she has enough song material for two additional albums.
Carter finished with the confident and carefree “That’s Just Me,” co-written with
Kacey Musgraves. “We wrote it in about an hour, and it was our first time writing together. She had her guitar and it was on this opening tuning that I loved. I threw out the line about the blown out light bulb on the cafe sign, and it just went from there.”
She says living in Los Angeles has given her a good look at the vibe in the California city since the launch of the ABC show
Nashville. “They are clamoring to be around people from Nashville. In Los Angeles, they don’t have the singer-songwriter guitar pulls that are so common in Nashville,” she says. “Where the songwriter just plays the song, stripped down, without a synth or other type of music. Where you can sit down and convey a message in a song and people are mesmerized.”
Carter reported that she has co-writes in Music City set for the coming months, and that she is considering a more permanent move back to Nashville. She finished her acoustic set with her signature 1996 hit, “Strawberry Wine.”
Photos by Kelsey Grady.
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Vector And Proper Artist Management Unite
/by Michael_SmithVector Management and London-based Proper Artist Management have united to provide management services for current and future clientèle. Vector’s co-presidents Ken Levitan and Jack Rovner have partnered with London-based Proper Artist’s Peter Rudge. Proper Artist Management will be re-branded as Vector Management.
“Peter is one of the all time greats whom I’m honored to have known for over 30 years. We are thrilled to be working with him and his team,” said Rovner.
“Vector has always been a globally minded management company,” adds Levitan. “By partnering with Proper, we are excited to bring even more international opportunities to our artists.”
Prior to establishing Proper Artist Management, Rudge served as Global Head of Music at Octagon Music. He has managed or co-managed several artists during his career, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, Lynyrd Skynrd, Diana Ross, Sophie B Hawkins and more.
“We are excited to be joining forces with Ken, Jack and the Vector team and adding to their experience, wide ranging assets and infrastructure,” said Rudge. “In an industry where management companies are required to provide greater expertise in all areas of the business, Vector can now confidently offer existing and new clients a global footprint that is second to none. Management can be a lonely game but finally after many years, I feel we’ve found a home.”
Vector Management has offices in New York, London, Los Angeles and Nashville.
2014 Tin Pan South Lineup Revealed
/by Jessica NicholsonParticipating venues include The Listening Room Cafe, Station Inn, The Bluebird Cafe, Belcourt Taps, Commodore Grill, Douglas Corner Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, and many others.
Tin Pan South runs from Tuesday, March 25- Saturday, March 29.
Tickets went on sale this morning. Tickets and a full lineup listing are available at tinpansouth.com.
Industry Ink (3/3/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonMichelle Lorge
Sweet Talk Publicity has added Michelle Lorge as Publicity Manager. Lorge will report directly to Sweet Talk Publicity president Jensen Sussman and she can be reached at mlorge@sweettalkpr.com.
“I’m excited to have Michelle on board. Her creativity, passion and dedication will be a shining addition to the Sweet Talk staff,” shares Sussman.
Sweet Talk Publicity is a boutique firm specializing in entertainment and music media relations, representing Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Frankie Ballard, Will Hoge, Maggie Rose, Dallas Smith, Corey Smith and Joe Bachman.
* * *
NASH FM 98.5 will feature exclusive NASH programming content including “America’s Morning Show” with Blair Garner, Terri Clark and Chuck Wicks, “NASH Nights Live” with Shawn Parr and Elaina Smith and “Kickin’ It with Kix” with Kix Brooks and Suzanne Alexander. The station will also feature Program Director T.J. McKay in the afternoon.
Jenni Finlay
Jenni Finlay Promotions has expanded to offer artist management and marketing services as well as radio promotion. The Austin-based radio promotions company has represented Caitlin Rose, Gurf Morlix, Slaid Cleaves and more.
The company now manages James McMurtry, and will offer marketing, management and digital strategies to clients.
Ryman Hospitality Explores Distribution Opportunities
/by Sarah SkatesIn January, it was revealed that Ryman Hospitality’s Opry Entertainment Group is involved with a new musical version of Hee Haw. Opry execs Steve Buchanan and Sally Williams are producing the show which features music penned by songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.
In 2013, Ryman’s Opry and Attractions Group posted increased revenues of 8 percent, growing to $76.1 million. Ryman’s fourth-quarter 2013 profits reversed a late-2012 loss of $15.0 million, coming in at $30.2 million.
Americana Music Association To Showcase Artists at SXSW
/by Jessica NicholsonOn March 12 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, Parker Milsap, Haden Triplets, Wanda Jackson, Willie Watson, John Fullbright and Bobby Rush will be featured. The performance begins at 8 p.m.
On March 14, Mowgli’s, Boy & Bear, Felice Brothers, Wood Brothers, Jackson, Sons of Feathers, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Rodney Crowell, Lucinda Williams, and Shakey Graves will perform. The event begins at 2 p.m. and runs through 1 a.m. The March 14 showcase will take place at The Gatsby.
For more information, visit americanamusic.org.
NSAI To Hold 'Spring Training 2014' in March
/by Jessica NicholsonAmong the sessions will be the “Big Loud and Proud” panel, featuring Seth England and Chris Tompkins, and moderated by Craig Wiseman. A panel on “The Publisher/Writer Relationship” will be led by Warner/Chappell’s BJ Hill and Blain Rhodes.
A session titled “How To Get Your Music Out There” will be led by Karen Blair, Kevin Grosch, Jason Markey, Simon Perry, and Michele Vice-Maslin, and moderated by David Hooper. “Inside the Writer’s Room” will feature Josh Kear and Shane McAnally. A closing interview and performance will feature Desmond Child.
All Spring Training registrants will have access to Tin Pan South Fast Access Passes a full week before they go on sale to the general public, and at a special discounted rate of $80 ($20 off the regular price).
For more information and to register, visit tinpansouth.com.
Artist Updates (2/28/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonLukas Nelson and P.O.T.R.
Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R. got into the 2014 awards season spirit when the film they scored, Satellite Beach, took home the Bruce Corwin Award at the 29th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Feb. 9 in Santa Barbara, Calif. This is the first film that Nelson and the band have scored.
The movie’s win is in the category of Best Live Action Short Film Under 30 Minutes. The short, directed brothers Luke Wilson (Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums, Idiocracy) and Andrew Wilson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Hall Pass), is about the journey of the Endeavor space shuttle as it travels through Los Angeles to the California Science Center and on to the Kennedy Space Center.
• • •
Taylor Swift
Keds® has signed on as a sponsor for Taylor Swift‘s The RED Tour, making stops throughout Asia this June. The critically acclaimed tour will visit Tokyo, as well as Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, where the tour is presented by Cornetto.
Each venue on Swift’s Asian outing will feature the Keds® Style Studio, a unique interactive pop-up brand experience. Throughout the length of the Asian leg, Keds® will be running a series of giveaways that include seat upgrades and backstage tours.
• • •
Jo Dee Messina. Photo: Krista Lee Photography
Jo Dee Messina, in partnership with the Made In Network, will be creating a new music video for her latest single “A Woman’s Rant” with the help of her fans, who are invited to film clips of their personal interpretation and reactions of the scenes portrayed in the song. Due out Tuesday, March 18, Messina’s new ME album is set for release on her own Dreambound Records/eOne Music Distribution.
Video clips can be sent to womansrant@jodeemessina.com. For more information, visit jodeemessina.com.
MusicRowPics: Dallas Smith
/by Jessica NicholsonDallas Smith visit
Canada native Dallas Smith visited the MusicRow office on Friday (Feb. 27) to preview songs from his EP, Tippin’ Point, which releases in the U.S. and Canada on March 4. Smith began his three-song acoustic set with the Rodney Clawson-penned song “Wrong About That.” “Wrong” aptly showcased Smith’s commanding, rock-tinged voice. “There’s something about the phrasing in Rodney’s songs that are so great to sing to,” says Smith.
The project is produced by Joey Moi (Nickelback, Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen), who Smith has known from the beginning of his career. Smith previously fronted rock band Default, and says he has always had a love of Country music. When he decided to add a more Country flavor to his sound, he turned to producer Moi. Smith was invited to Nashville, where he began co-writing with songwriters, including writers at Big Loud Shirt. After Big Loud Mountain was created, they signed Smith to their roster.
Now signed to Big Loud Mountain and Republic Nashville, Smith will open for Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s To The Good Times Tour in April.
Smith continued his MusicRow performance with “Slow Rollin’.” Though singer-songwriter Smith has no co-writes on his upcoming EP, he expects that to change on his full-length album. “I co-wrote songs on my debut album, and on this one, we got so many great songs pitched to us. I just wanted the the best song to win. When we make the project a full-length, maybe I’ll have some of my own songs on it.”
Smith closed out the performance with “Tippin’ Point,” which set the record for becoming the fastest Canadian Country single to reach gold status. The song was penned by Jaren Johnston, and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. “I feel so honored that they trusted me with one of their songs,” says Smith.
Photos by Kelsey Grady.
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Leadership Music Accepting Applications For Class of 2015
/by Jessica NicholsonThe eight-month, Nashville-based, learning program begins in September and is designed to expose participants to every phase of the music industry and to be the link connecting people with the issues. Participants are required to attend an orientation, all-day sessions once a month on Fridays, plus two-day opening and closing retreats during the program. One-time tuition for the program is $1,000.
Application forms, program dates, policies and FAQ’s are available online March 1st at leadershipmusic.org/apply/.
According to Debbie Schwartz Linn, executive director of the 25-year-old organization, “The Class of 2014 began with 43 members who were chosen from among several hundred applicants. Our goal is to select a passionate, balanced and diversified class, who are, individually and collectively, the best and brightest leaders in their field and represent all segments of the music industry. Each year, the selection committee has the challenge of selecting from so many more qualified applicants than we have available slots to fill. I guess you would say that’s a good problem to have, but it is often frustrating for those who have applied multiple times. We strongly encourage applicants to keep applying if not selected. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and well worth the effort.”
Applications must be submitted via the on-line process no later than March 31, 2014.
MusicRowPics: Deana Carter
/by Jessica NicholsonDeana Carter visit
Deana Carter visited the MusicRow office yesterday (Feb. 27) to perform songs from her album Southern Way of Life (Little Nugget Records). After a six-year hiatus, Carter returns with a considerable arsenal of new songs, all wrapped in her distinctive, honeyed vocal.
Carter has lived in Los Angeles over the past few years, writing songs for television and films. She still managed to launch a No. 1 song on the Country charts, with “You And Tequila.” “Alicia Pruitt called me and I got signed to Warner/Chappell [Music Publishing], and we did nearly three years of publishing and songwriting,” she says. “You and Tequila” was co-written with Matraca Berg and recorded by Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter.
Southern Way of Life is released on her own Little Nugget Records, which is a tribute to Nugget Records, the independent label imprint her father, Fred Carter, Jr., once owned.
Carter performed the project’s gorgeous and honest first single, “Do Or Die,” accompanied only by her miniature Taylor guitar. “When I wrote this, I was sitting on the kitchen floor, praying and asking, ‘What’s going to happen? Do I need to do something else, or go back and get a graduate degree?’ The shows were becoming fewer at the time, and I just started putting my thoughts and worries and feelings into my music. Not long after the time I wrote this song, I got the Kenny Chesney cut, and that fueled this project.”
She followed up with the clever “I Know Better,” which was co-written with Anne Preven in Los Angeles. “About half the album was written in Los Angeles, and half was written in Nashville,” says Carter. She reports that she has enough song material for two additional albums.
Carter finished with the confident and carefree “That’s Just Me,” co-written with Kacey Musgraves. “We wrote it in about an hour, and it was our first time writing together. She had her guitar and it was on this opening tuning that I loved. I threw out the line about the blown out light bulb on the cafe sign, and it just went from there.”
She says living in Los Angeles has given her a good look at the vibe in the California city since the launch of the ABC show Nashville. “They are clamoring to be around people from Nashville. In Los Angeles, they don’t have the singer-songwriter guitar pulls that are so common in Nashville,” she says. “Where the songwriter just plays the song, stripped down, without a synth or other type of music. Where you can sit down and convey a message in a song and people are mesmerized.”
Carter reported that she has co-writes in Music City set for the coming months, and that she is considering a more permanent move back to Nashville. She finished her acoustic set with her signature 1996 hit, “Strawberry Wine.”
Photos by Kelsey Grady.
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