Thompson Sqare
The Third Annual
No Shave November is gathering teams for the coming month. Each team will forgo shaving for the entire month, rallying friends and family to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The donations will help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.
Thompson Square’s
Keifer Thompson has been named the 2013 Honorary Chairman Of The Beard. “This has to be the most absurdly wonderful recognition I’ve received to date,” said Thompson, who was last year’s top fundraising artist. “For No Shave November to have raised so much money to further the tremendous work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is something every participant should be incredibly proud of. At the same time, for all of us to have done it by spending a month as a sloth is pretty ridiculous. I’m actually not sure if I’m honored to be the scraggly face of this thing or not!”
This year’s event encourages artists, radio stations, air personalities, companies and individuals everywhere to participate and join a team. Each team will encourage as many men (and women) to join and donate at least $30 to St. Jude. The event raised more than $38,000 in 2011 and a whopping $138,000 in 2012.
2013 participating artists who have started their own teams include Thompson Square,
Benton Blount,
Craig Campbell,
Randy Houser,
Dylan Scott and
Austin Webb. Companies include Big Machine Label Group, Blaster Records, BBR Music Group,
Country Aircheck,
Country Weekly,
MusicRow, Sony Music Nashville, Tenacity Records, Universal Music Group/Nashville and Warner Music Nashville. Radio stations and shows include the Bobby Bones Show, KAJA/San Antonio, KTEX/McAllen, TX, WCYQ/Knoxville, WDXB/Birmingham, WKML/Fayetteville, NC, WSIX/Nashville and WUSY/Chattanooga. Media partners include
All Access and
MusicRow. Supporters include ZZ Top and Mountain Man of Duck Dynasty fame.
To sign up for No Shave November, click
here.
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Names New CFO
/by Jessica NicholsonSteven Macri
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has named Steven Macri as CFO, effective immediately. Macri will be based in New York City and will report to John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. In this role, Macri will oversee the administrative, financial and risk management operations for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. He will also develop financial strategies and tactical initiatives to further the company’s operations across all lines of business.
“Steven has a proven track record of successfully generating revenue growth and improving margins for large global corporations,” said Hogan. “He is a seasoned strategic and financial planning and analysis professional whose financial leadership experience will be an asset to the Clear Channel management team.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the Clear Channel Media and Entertainment team at such an exciting time,” said Macri. “The company has an incredible set of assets and I’m looking forward to assisting John and his team in achieving the next stage of growth.”
Macri previously worked at LogicSource Inc., a strategic sourcing company where he served as CFO (Chief Financial Officer.) Prior to LogicSource, he was Executive VP and CFO at Warner Music Group, Corp. where he oversaw global financial operations, treasury/risk management, information systems and taxes for the company. Macri received his M.B.A. from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and his B.A. in Accounting, cum laude, from Syracuse University.
Nashville To Get New 24-Hour Diner Downtown
/by Lorie HollabaughConstruction is slated to start next month on the restaurant, which is owned by six partners including Tootsie’s co-owner Steve Smith and will reportedly cost nearly two million. Additional stories will be built on top of the existing structure, which will also be expanded in the back and will include a rooftop patio. The new 32-story, 300-unit SoBro apartment tower that developer Tony Giarratana is planning to build will reportedly curve around the new Diner’s location.
The Diner will serve fare such as hand-carved prime rib, steaks, and chops, and each floor will include a bar serving alcohol and espresso drinks. The restaurant may soon have some company in the downtown area as well, since Chattanooga restaurateurs Lee Epstein and Jacob Lemus are rumored to be pursuing leased space to expand their City Café Diner concept to Nashville.
No Shave November Gathering Teams To Benefit St. Jude
/by Michael_SmithThompson Sqare
The Third Annual No Shave November is gathering teams for the coming month. Each team will forgo shaving for the entire month, rallying friends and family to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The donations will help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.
Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson has been named the 2013 Honorary Chairman Of The Beard. “This has to be the most absurdly wonderful recognition I’ve received to date,” said Thompson, who was last year’s top fundraising artist. “For No Shave November to have raised so much money to further the tremendous work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is something every participant should be incredibly proud of. At the same time, for all of us to have done it by spending a month as a sloth is pretty ridiculous. I’m actually not sure if I’m honored to be the scraggly face of this thing or not!”
This year’s event encourages artists, radio stations, air personalities, companies and individuals everywhere to participate and join a team. Each team will encourage as many men (and women) to join and donate at least $30 to St. Jude. The event raised more than $38,000 in 2011 and a whopping $138,000 in 2012.
2013 participating artists who have started their own teams include Thompson Square, Benton Blount, Craig Campbell, Randy Houser, Dylan Scott and Austin Webb. Companies include Big Machine Label Group, Blaster Records, BBR Music Group, Country Aircheck, Country Weekly, MusicRow, Sony Music Nashville, Tenacity Records, Universal Music Group/Nashville and Warner Music Nashville. Radio stations and shows include the Bobby Bones Show, KAJA/San Antonio, KTEX/McAllen, TX, WCYQ/Knoxville, WDXB/Birmingham, WKML/Fayetteville, NC, WSIX/Nashville and WUSY/Chattanooga. Media partners include All Access and MusicRow. Supporters include ZZ Top and Mountain Man of Duck Dynasty fame.
To sign up for No Shave November, click here.
Industry Ink (10-8-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Rich Egan (Hard 8 Mgmt), Brian Davis, Brantley Gilbert
Back: Steve Tusman (Davis’ Mgr), Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Alicia Pruitt (Warner/Chappell), Blain Rhodes (Warner/Chappell), Arlis Albritton (Davis’ Mgr).
Singer-songwriter Brian Davis has signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Nashville and its publishing partner, Brantley Gilbert’s Write Or Die Music. Davis has written songs cut by his frequent co-writing partner, Valory Recording artist Gilbert (“Lights of My Hometown,” “One Hell Of An Amen,” “Read Me My Rights), Curb recording artist Lee Brice (“More My Style”), and Sony Music Nashville newcomer Tyler Farr (“Wish I Had A Boat”) among others.
• • •
Dera Shelton has been promoted to the position of Executive Assistant; Shelton graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been with the firm for over two years and will provide administrative management for the growing firm.
• • •
After its successful launch in 2012, the Mini Marathon distance will return. The 2.6-mile race starts at 6:45 a.m. at the start line adjacent to Centennial Park. At mile two of the race course, Mini Marathon participants will continue east on Broadway to 2nd Avenue, head North on Union Street, over the Woodland Street Bridge and finish at LP Field on 1st Street. Fifty of Nashville’s favorite live bands will perform along the course.
For more information or to register for the event, visit competitor.com
BMI Elects Three To Board At Annual Meeting
/by Lorie HollabaughO’Neill, it was announced earlier this year, will assume the title of President upon current President Del Bryant’s retirement. O’Neill joined BMI in 1995 as Director, Group and National Accounts, from the CBS network, where he was Director, CBS Affiliate Relations. He was appointed Assistant VP, Media Licensing in 1997, and VP, Sales and Administration, Media Licensing in 1999. In 2006, BMI named O’Neill Sr. VP, Licensing, and four years later to Sr. VP, Repertoire and Licensing. He holds a BA degree in Business Administration from Montclair University and an MBA from Rutgers University.
Cheng is Executive VP and Chief Product Officer, Digital Media, for the Disney/ABC Television Group, whose portfolio of networks includes ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Family and Disney Channel.
Lougee is President of the Broadcasting Division for Gannett Co., Inc., which operates 23 television stations in the U.S.
During the meeting, current Board member Paul Karpowicz, President, Meredith Broadcasting Group, CT, was also elected Vice Chairman. N. John Douglas, Chairman and CEO, AIM Broadcasting, LLC, Palo Alto, Calif., and Kenneth J. Elkins, St. Louis, Mo., are retiring from the Board of Directors. Both continue to serve as Honorary Directors. All newly-elected board members will serve terms that expire in 2017.
Skaggs To Reside During 2013 CMHoF Distinction
/by Eric T. ParkerRicky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs has been announced as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2013 Artist-in-Residence, which recognizes a musical master credited with contributing a significant body of work to American popular music. The distinction will feature two presentations in the Hall’s CMA Theater on November 18 and 19.
Skaggs’ shows will feature a Country music theme for the first evening; special guests that night will include Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Gordon Kennedy and The Whites. The second evening will celebrate Skaggs’ bluegrass roots with Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites. Both nights will feature Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder.
“Ricky Skaggs has created his own career path,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “He is highly respected in country, bluegrass and gospel music, and he has a way of blending these styles that delights music fans. Ricky has been a great friend to the museum for many years.”
Tickets for the Hall’s shows range from $35-$55 and will be available to Museum Honor Society members at noon on Oct. 16, Museum Members through October 17, and the general public on Friday, Oct. 18 at noon. Visit countrymusichalloffame.org for purchasing information.
Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and won 14 Grammys, 11 IBMA awards, eight CMA awards and nine ACM awards. In August 2013, Skaggs released his autobiography, Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music. Since 1997, Skaggs has released music on his own label, Skaggs Family Records, alongside Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, the Del McCoury Band and The Whites.
Previous Artist-in-Residence honorees include Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith and Kenny Rogers.
Keith Urban Partners With HSN To Release Guitar Line
/by Michael_SmithKeith Urban. Photo courtesy keithurban.net.
Keith Urban has partnered with retailer HSN to offer an affordable line of guitars to musicians. The URBAN™ Guitar Collection, which includes two one-hour instructional DVDs, custom, limited edition acoustic and electric guitars and more, will be available for purchase on HSN, HSN.com and HSN Mobile on Sunday, November 3 at 12:01 a.m. EST. A portion of the proceeds from the Guitar Collection will go to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and The Grammy Foundation.
“I’ve watched some of the greatest guitarists in the world perform and I’ve seen people just learning how to play,” said Urban. “The looks on their faces are almost always the same and the connection with the instrument is genuine.”
The URBAN Collection features an acoustic and electric version of the “Phoenix Edition” guitar, and will be available in Brazilian Burst, Emerald Brazilian Burst, Rich Black and Vintage Natural Ivory. The entire 21-piece collection includes a custom amplifier, coated guitar strings, embroidered guitar strap, guitar picks and more.
“We are thrilled to welcome Keith Urban to HSN,” said Joy Mangano, President of HSN subsidiary Ingenious Designs. “Great stories and great storytelling are at the heart of everything we do and I can’t think of a better guitarist and storyteller than Keith. His guitar playing skills are legendary and the passion he has for music will surely inspire our viewers to pick up a guitar and play when Keith makes his debut in November.”
The singer recently released his seventh studio album FUSE, which debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre charts in the United States, Canada and Australia. He is currently performing on his Light The Fuse Tour.
For more information, visit keithurban.net.
Industry Ink (10-7-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonIn a surprise celebration backstage at the taping of their first CMT Crossroads, Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry of The Band Perry were presented with gold plaques for their sophomore album, PIONEER, by Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta, Republic Nashville President & Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen and album producer Dann Huff.
Pictured (L-R): Dann Huff, Scott Borchetta, Reid Perry, Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry, Jimmy Harnen. Photo: Rick Diamond.
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Big Deal Music has signed singer-songwriter Hannah Blaylock. Blaylock is the former lead singer of trio Eden’s Edge and is working on her forthcoming solo project.
Pictured: Jody Williams of BMI, Dale Bobo of Big Deal, Hannah Blaylock, Linda Edell Howard of Adams and Reese, Greg Gallo of Big Deal and Pete Robinson of Big Deal.
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Lifenotes: Hit Songwriter / Sideman X. Lincoln Passes
/by Robert K OermannHe is perhaps best known as the co-writer of “Goin’ Down Hill” with John Anderson. In 1983, this top-10 hit was the follow-up single to Anderson’s signature song “Swingin.’”
Lincoln was born Billy Lee Tubb in San Antonio, TX. His family moved to Nashville, and he attended Donelson High School. He is the brother of hit country songwriter Glenn Douglas Tubb, the cousin of Grand Ole Opry star Justin Tubb and the nephew of Country Music Hall of Fame member Ernest Tubb.
After performing in the rockabilly act The Tubb Brothers and recording as “Ronny Wade” for King Records, he became a regular in Nashville nightspots such as Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. He also recorded for Dot Records.
Lincoln toured as a sideman with Bob Luman, Roger Miller, Sheb Wooley, Hank Williams Jr., LeRoy Van Dyke, Sammi Smith, George Jones, Deborah Allen and others.
A bass player and guitarist, he joined the John Anderson Band in 1981 and remained with the group until 2000.
X. Lincoln, which was his legal billing, is survived by wife Connie, daughter Victoria Leigh Tubb, stepdaughter Lynda Joyce Kerney, grandsons Bryce Louis Planchard and Jesse Drew Planchard, brother Glenn Douglas Tubb and sisters Betty Tubb Drozer, Loretta Tubb Jordan and Marietta Tubb Raiber, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial jam session will be held at the AFM office, 11 Music Circle North, on Sunday, Oct. 13.
CRS Early Bird Rate Deadline Approaching
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Radio Seminar Board and Agenda Committee gathered in Nashville last week to discuss ideas for the upcoming seminar.
“Plans are coming together to make this year’s event an unforgettable one and one you can not afford to miss,” said Country Radio Seminar Executive Director, Bill Mayne. “Ideas are flying in and the planning teams are building an incredible list of events and panels for the CRS 2014 attendees to enjoy.”
Those registering for CRS will receive a ticket to the annual New Faces Show until the event is sold out. The show has sold out in advance for the past three years. Country Radio Seminar 2014 will be held at the downtown Nashville Convention Center February 19-21, 2014. To register for the three-day event, please visit countryradioseminar.com.