Dean Dillon
® will celebrate the songwriting career of
Dean Dillon by naming him a
BMI Icon at the Company’s 61st annual BMI Country Awards. The invitation-only event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville, to honor the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed country songs of the previous year.
The BMI Icon award is given to “songwriters who have had a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” An all-star musical tribute will pay homage to Dillon, who joins a list of past honorees that includes
Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and others.
“Since signing with BMI, Dean has risen through the ranks to become one of the most prolific and consistent hit makers in the country format. He was inspired by and wrote with songwriting greats including Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard, and has now himself become a mentor to many in our industry,” said BMI’s President
Del Bryant. “Dean Dillon exemplifies a true icon of his craft and has become a vital link between the master songwriters of the past and the up and comers of today. We at BMI could not be more proud to celebrate his accomplishments,” Bryant added.
From hitchhiking to Nashville with little more than a guitar and a notebook of songs in 1973 to a stint playing
Hank Williams in the Country Music Show at Opryland and a variety of recording and publishing deals, Dillon’s career has followed anything but a linear path. The one constant, though, was the remarkable quality of his songwriting.
While charting eight of his songs as a recording artist, with “I’m Into the Bottle (To Get You Out of My Mind)” breaking into the Top 30, Dillon contributed some of country’s most revered works writing for other artists. His first No. 1 hit was “Lying Here in Love With You,” recorded by
Jim Ed Brown and
Helen Cornelius and co-written with
Gary Harrison. He continued through the late 1970s, writing for major players such as
George Jones, notably penning “Tennessee Whiskey.” The 1980s saw many hits for
George Strait including his first Top 10 hit, “Unwound,” followed by many No. 1 hits such as “The Chair,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would Have Left Her” and “Ocean Front Property.”
His most recent hits have included George Strait’s “Here for a Good Time” and “Livin’ For the Night” as well as “It’s a Little Too Late” performed by
Toby Keith and “I’m Alive” by
Kenny Chesney and
Dave Matthews. An industry veteran of 40 years, Dillon continues to write to this day and has even stepped back into the world of recording again, this time a duet with longtime friend Strait titled “West Texas Town.”
Dillon’s career boasts 26 songs that exceed one million performances and a combined total of 31 BMI Country and Pop awards. George Strait alone has recorded 54 of his songs. In 2002, Dillon was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2011, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Country Song of the Year for George Strait’s “Breath You Take.”
Bakersfield Sound Hall Of Fame Exhibit Extended Through 2014
/by Lorie HollabaughThe exhibit received plenty of critical acclaim as well: The Wall Street Journal proclaimed it to be “high spirited and handsomely mounted,” urging readers to “applaud the Country Music Hall of Fame for spotlighting a seminal musical movement that can still thrill and delight.”
“The Bakersfield Sound exhibition has been incredibly popular with our visitors,” said CMHOF Director Kyle Young. “By extending its run, we are ensuring that even more music fans can learn about a key component of music history. This exhibition has also been rich with live programming opportunities—we’ve had Kay Adams, Country Music Hall of Fame members Merle Haggard and Jean Shepard, Red Simpson, members of Buck Owens’ family and many more here since the opening—and this extra year will allow us to further expand on the exhibit story with more great programs.”
The Bakersfield Sound exhibit will continue to be accompanied by an ongoing series of school and family programs, including live performances, panel discussions, films, instrument demonstrations and more, through December 2014.
Duos Win at 12th Annual Americana Music Honors & Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonAmericana Music Awards. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, along with Shovels & Rope, were among the evening’s biggest winners at Wednesday evening’s (Sept. 18) 12th Annual Americana Music Honors & Awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium. Harris and Crowell took home Duo of the Year as well as Album of the Year for Old Yellow Moon, and anchored an all-star finale performance of the hit “Leaving Louisiana in Broad Daylight” (co-written by Crowell). Crowell and Harris also performed “Chase the Feeling” during the awards show. South Carolina band Shovels & Rope received the Emerging Artist of the Year honor, along with the Song of the Year trophy for “Birmingham,” from the group’s O’ Be Joyful project.
“We might very well not be here, as a genre and as an association, were it not for Emmy and Rodney,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “That we are celebrating them tonight not for the work they did 35 years ago, but for the work they did this year, on the same show that we’re awarding another duo that is only on its first album, speaks volumes about where we’re headed. What an amazing night.”
Lifetime achievement honors were handed out to Duane Eddy, Dr. John, Robert Hunter and American roots music label executive Chris Strachwitz, all in attendance. Dwight Yoakam was honored with the Artist of the Year trophy (he was not in attendance), presented by Langhorne Slim and The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams.
The Americana Honors & Awards house band led by Buddy Miller, included Don Was, Larry Campbell, Marco Giovino, John Deaderick, Jim Hoke and the McCrary Sisters.
The Americana Honors & Awards, presented by Nissan, aired live on AXS TV, NPR.org, Sirius/XM’s “Outlaw Country” and WSM. Austin City Limits will broadcast an edited special Nov. 23. Voice of America and Bob Harris of BBC2 will broadcast overseas in the following weeks.
The awards show is the capstone event of the Americana Festival and Conference, presented by Nissan, which runs through Sunday, Sept. 22, with daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel and nighttime performances with more than 130 stacked musical showcases at key venues throughout Nashville.
Read MusicRow’s full review of the program here.
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2013 Winners:
Album of the Year: Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Artist of the Year: Dwight Yoakam
Duo Group of the Year: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Song of the Year: “Birmingham,” Shovels & Rope
Emerging Artist of the Year: Shovels & Rope
Instrumentalist of the year: Larry Campbell
Trailblazer Award: Old Crow Medicine Show
Spirit of Americana / Free Speech in Music Award co-presented by the Americana Music Association and the First Amendment Center: Stephen Stills
Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist: Duane Eddy
Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive: Chris Strachwitz
Lifetime Achievement for Performance: Dr. John
Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriter: Robert Hunter
President’s Award: Hank Williams
Big Machine Label Group Appoints Director of Administration
/by Jessica NicholsonJessica Myers
Big Machine Label Group has appointed Jessica Myers as Director of Administration. Myers, a Nashville native and Middle Tennessee State University graduate, will facilitate and oversee all aspects of licensing for Big Machine Label Group, as well as various publishing administration duties for Big Machine Music. Most recently she served as the Director of Copyright Administration at Bluewater Music, handling catalogs for over 100 clients in more than 50 countries. Her extensive knowledge also allowed Myers to work with developers on new registration software currently available to publishers around the world.
“Jessica has jumped right in and not only picked up the ball, but defined a clear vision for building out our licensing and admin department. Her experience and collaborative spirit made her a perfect fit for Big Machine,” said BMLG COO Andrew Kautz.
Myers is also actively involved in the Copyright Society of the South. Previously, she has served as University Outreach Chair and Secretary of S.O.L.I.D (Societies of Leaders in Development). In 2009, Myers was presented with the Nashville Emerging Leader Award (NELA) in Entertainment and Music Business by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
She will report to BMLG COO Andrew Kautz and can be reached at jessica.myers@bigmachinemusic.com and 615-345-4534.
NMPA Celebrates Writers During Bluebird Showcase
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, songwriter Tom Douglas, NMPA president and CEO David Israelite. Photo: NMPA/Bev Moser
The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) held a songwriters showcase Monday (Sept. 16) night at the Bluebird Café in Nashville where songwriters Tom Douglas, Wendell Mobley, Shane McAnally and Marti Frederiksen performed. Plaques were given during the event to McAnally recognizing his platinum songs “Downtown,” “Better Dig Two,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and “Alone With You,” as well as his gold single “Merry Go Round.” Mobley was given a plaque for his gold single, “How Country Feels,” while Douglas received multi-platinum awards for his singles “I Run To You” and “The House That Built Me.” Frederiksen received a platinum plaque for “Undo It,” and a gold plaque for “Mama’s Song” during the evening’s festivities.
Pictured (L-R): Songwriters Tom Douglas, Wendell Mobley, Shane McAnally, and Marti Frederiksen perform during NMPA’s Songwriter Showcase held at Nashville’s Bluebird Café
Photo: NMPA/Bev Moser
Publisher Notes: Warner/Chappell, ole, Dan Hodges Music
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner/Chappell Nashville has completed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with country music songwriter Danny Orton. Orton’s credits include cuts by Rascal Flatts, Chicago, and Tim McGraw. He also co-wrote the new single for Dan+Shay, “19 You & Me.”
Pictured, Back row: Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Rohan Kohli (Ozone Entertainment), Matt Michels (Warner/Chappell). Front row: BJ Hill (Warner/Chappell), Danny Orton, Blain Rhodes (Warner/Chappell).
• • •
ole has signed a worldwide publishing deal with artist/songwriter Josh Dorr; the agreement also includes Dorr’s catalog of more than 150 copyrights. “I’m very excited to be part of a team that believes in me and my music and can help take me to the next level as a songwriter,” states Dorr. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to make that journey with. I’m glad to be part of team ole!”
Dorr had his first ole cut with singer/songwriter Casey James. A Wyoming native, Dorr grew up playing football and turned to music and songwriting in his late teens. In 2010, he moved to Nashville and began writing with several top songwriters. With ole writer Bruce Wallace and ole legacy writer Kaci Bolls, Dorr penned “Down Goes The Cowboy,” which placed in the Top 3 in the International Songwriting Competition. Dorr also co-wrote the theme song for the television series Open Season (Pursuit Channel) and had the song “I’d Look Good On You” featured in the USA Network’s Necessary Roughness.
Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard (ole VP, Corporate Affairs and Development); Ben Strain (ole Creative Director, Nashville); John Ozier (ole GM, Nashville Creative); ole writer Josh Dorr; Kelly Donley (Safford & Motley) and Scott Safford (Safford & Motley).
• • •
Nickie Lancaster has joined Dan Hodges Music as Creative Director. She is a graduate of University of Tennessee in Knoxville and comes from a sports management background, having served in positions with YMCA, Williamson County Parks and Recreation, D1 Sports, ESPN, Nashville Predators and Knoxville Ice Bears. Lancaster can be reached at nickie@danhodgesmusic.com.
Old Crow Medicine Show Inducted Into Grand Ole Opry
/by Michael_SmithPictured (L-R): Steve Buchanan, President, Opry Entertainment Group, Old Crow Medicine Show – Gill Landry, Kevin Hayes, Cory Younts, Critter Fuqua, Chance McCoy, Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig and Pete Fisher,Vice-President and general manager Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo
Tuesday evening (Sept. 17) Opry members Dierks Bentley and Marty Stuart inducted Old Crow Medicine Show into the Grand Ole Opry. Years ago, some of the band’s first performances in Nashville took place on the Opry’s sidewalks. In honor of those early days, the band performed for fans waiting outside the Opry last night, playing songs like “Brave Boys” and “Hesitation Blues.”
On the venue’s stage, Opry VP and General Manager Pete Fisher joined Bentley and Stuart to present the band with its Opry member award. “Congratulations, Old Crow, on being a part of the coolest club there is,” said Bentley, while Stuart added, “You offer a whole new energy and love for country music in the 21st century.”
Old Crow Member Ketch Secor, who was recently feted for his first No. 1 song, spoke on behalf of the group, saying, “We’re standing out here on the most beloved broadcast anywhere on earth. I think we made it big on radio! … We the Old Crows are just so proud to be entrusted to carry on the traditions of the Grand Ole Opry’s good-natured riot.”
After performing “Wagon Wheel,” the band invited fellow members Bentley, Stuart, Connie Smith and Del McCoury to join them for “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “I Saw The Light.”
“Old Crow has over the years become a favorite of Opry audiences and everyone backstage, as well,” said Fisher. “It’s fun for so many of us that in many ways Old Crow looks and sounds a lot like some of the great early Opry bands like Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys—bands which helped propel the Opry to national prominence. Tonight represents a great full circle, and as the great Jimmy Dickens says, ‘The circle can’t be broken.’”
Old Crow Medicine Show adding their name plaque to the Opry Member Gallery. Photo: Chris Hollo
Following the induction, the band added a plaque bearing its name to the Opry Member Gallery backstage at the Opry House.
Old Crow Medicine Show will perform concerts on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 27 at 10 a.m.
Songwriter Dean Dillon To Be Honored As BMI Icon
/by Jessica NicholsonDean Dillon
Broadcast Music, Inc.® will celebrate the songwriting career of Dean Dillon by naming him a BMI Icon at the Company’s 61st annual BMI Country Awards. The invitation-only event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville, to honor the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed country songs of the previous year.
The BMI Icon award is given to “songwriters who have had a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” An all-star musical tribute will pay homage to Dillon, who joins a list of past honorees that includes Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and others.
“Since signing with BMI, Dean has risen through the ranks to become one of the most prolific and consistent hit makers in the country format. He was inspired by and wrote with songwriting greats including Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard, and has now himself become a mentor to many in our industry,” said BMI’s President Del Bryant. “Dean Dillon exemplifies a true icon of his craft and has become a vital link between the master songwriters of the past and the up and comers of today. We at BMI could not be more proud to celebrate his accomplishments,” Bryant added.
From hitchhiking to Nashville with little more than a guitar and a notebook of songs in 1973 to a stint playing Hank Williams in the Country Music Show at Opryland and a variety of recording and publishing deals, Dillon’s career has followed anything but a linear path. The one constant, though, was the remarkable quality of his songwriting.
While charting eight of his songs as a recording artist, with “I’m Into the Bottle (To Get You Out of My Mind)” breaking into the Top 30, Dillon contributed some of country’s most revered works writing for other artists. His first No. 1 hit was “Lying Here in Love With You,” recorded by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius and co-written with Gary Harrison. He continued through the late 1970s, writing for major players such as George Jones, notably penning “Tennessee Whiskey.” The 1980s saw many hits for George Strait including his first Top 10 hit, “Unwound,” followed by many No. 1 hits such as “The Chair,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would Have Left Her” and “Ocean Front Property.”
His most recent hits have included George Strait’s “Here for a Good Time” and “Livin’ For the Night” as well as “It’s a Little Too Late” performed by Toby Keith and “I’m Alive” by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews. An industry veteran of 40 years, Dillon continues to write to this day and has even stepped back into the world of recording again, this time a duet with longtime friend Strait titled “West Texas Town.”
Dillon’s career boasts 26 songs that exceed one million performances and a combined total of 31 BMI Country and Pop awards. George Strait alone has recorded 54 of his songs. In 2002, Dillon was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2011, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Country Song of the Year for George Strait’s “Breath You Take.”
Weekly Register: Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban
/by Sherod RobertsonKeith Urban’s Fuse from Capitol Records Nashville debuted strongly this week on the top of the Country chart (and No. 1 overall) with 98k albums sold. The No. 2 position went to Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party selling another 53k, his 4th week (900k RTD), followed by Warner Bros. Sheryl Crow‘s debut Country album, Feels Like Home, at No. 3 (No. 7 overall) selling 36k in its first week.
Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s To The Good Times sold another 19k units (1.1M RTD) while Blake Shelton‘s Based On A True Story sold 11k (887 RRD). Also debuting this week is George Jones’ Amazing Grace selling 2k.
The top Country track this week (No. 11 overall) is Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” selling 99k (607k RTD). Urban and Miranda Lambert‘s duet single, “We Were Us,” sells 32k in its first week out, sitting at No. 8 (No. 40 overall).
Next week releases will include Billy Currington‘s We Are Tonight, who is featured on the current issue of MusicRow Magazine, Chris Young‘s A.M., and Justin Moore‘s Off The Beaten Path.
650 AM WSM General Manager Tom English Resigns
/by Jessica NicholsonTom English
650 AM WSM General Manager Tom English has resigned. English’s last day with the historic radio station will be Friday, Sept. 27. He has accepted a currently undisclosed opportunity outside of radio.
“This past 18 months has been some of the best of my career,” English said in a statement. “As I’ve said before, Steve Buchanan basically handed me the keys to this priceless Classic, said ‘Don’t wreck it’ and let me drive. I cannot thank him enough for that support and trust. And I cannot thank this amazing team enough for their hard work, patience and the education they have afforded me. No team with whom I have ever worked has more passion and dedication toward a radio station.”
English was appointed General Manager of 650 AM WSM in 2012. He has served in numerous capacities during his 30-year career in broadcasting. Previously, English served as VP/Market Manager for Clear Channel Radio in Nashville (including WSIX). He was with the station for eight years, and was named Clear Channel Innovation Award-winner in 2005 and 2006. He also served as chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters in 2008.
Applications are being accepted for the General Manager position at 650 AM WSM at rymanhp.com.
Kobalt Label Services Adds Quinn
/by Jessica NicholsonDiarmuid Quinn
Kobalt Label Services (KLS) has named Diarmuid Quinn as President of Kobalt Label Services – North America, according to Richard Sanders, Chairman of Kobalt Label Services and President of Kobalt Music Group.
Reporting to Sanders, Quinn’s role will include leading and staffing up Kobalt’s growing label services operations in the U.S., signing artists for global release campaigns, as well as developing North America marketing campaigns for international KLS clients.
“Kobalt is changing the music industry, and Diarmuid Quinn is the right person to help us execute our vision,” said Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt Music Group.
Most recently, Quinn was Chief Executive of management/marketing company TourDForce Productions, which worked with Martina McBride, Richard Marx, the Beach Boys, Mark Knopfler and others. Previously, Quinn served as COO of Warner Bros. Records/President of Reprise Records until a company restructuring in 2010. Quinn also co-produced the documentary Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down A Dream.