Steve Moore
The County Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors announced today that
Steve Moore has submitted his resignation as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 30, 2013.
Moore said, “After nearly four years in this position, and given the phenomenal success that the CMA team has achieved, this seemed like an appropriate time to step aside and pursue other corporate and philanthropic opportunities.”
Troy Tomlinson, the Country Music Association Board of Directors Chairman said, “Steve Moore’s dedication and hard work as a CMA Board member, CMA Board leader, and as CEO have taken our organization to new levels of success. He’s been a tremendous asset to CMA due to his high regard in the industry as a resourceful and tenacious advocate for Country Music.”
After serving as Interim CEO, then becoming CEO two and a half years ago, Moore was instrumental in securing the new long-term extension of the television partnership for the annual CMA Awards, the CMA Music Festival special, and the “CMA Country Christmas” special all on the ABC Television Network.
Under Moore, the 2013 CMA Music Festival hit a record attendance with an increase of 13 percent, more artist participation than ever before, and 11 music stages. He created and led the newly-formed The CMA Foundation. He also created the new CMA position of Community Outreach Manager to create a liaison with the music community, education community, and The CMA Foundation Board of Directors. Under his watch, CMA also created CMA EDU, a dynamic college community outreach that brings the power of Country Music to colleges. It was launched at three Middle Tennessee college campuses and several ambassador campuses nationwide.
Moore was also instrumental in re-invigorating the international Country Music agenda by instituting such things as the U.K. Songwriters Series, the first ever International Marketing Summit in Paris, France, and the inaugural Country 2 Country (C2C) Country Music Festival at the legendary O2 center in London in 2013.
A longtime member of the CMA Board of Directors (since 1989), Moore was elected President in 2008 and Chairman in 2009 before being asked to fill in as interim director of CMA after former CEO Tammy Genovese resigned in December 2009.
As a CMA Board member, Moore contributed his experience and knowledge to the Association through some of the most pivotal years in the organization’s history: from the move of Fan Fair from the state fairgrounds to downtown Nashville in 2001 and the creation of a companion, primetime network television special in 2004; the strategic move of the CMA Awards to New York City in 2005 and the subsequent return to Nashville to the downtown arena; the implementation of a massive research initiative in 2008 that has far-reaching benefits for the industry; and the creation of CMA’s music education program “Keep the Music Playing,” which has contributed more than $7.6 million since 2006 to purchase more than 4,000 instruments providing students in Metro Nashville Public Schools a strong reason to stay in school.
Moore has been prominent in the Nashville music community for 21 years, going back to his appointment as the first Executive Director of the popular concert venue Starwood Amphitheater and extending through his work as Senior Vice President of one of the world’s largest concert promotion, special event, and touring companies AEG Live!. His innovations and successes have earned him three SRO Awards as Promoter of the Year.
In 1985, Moore moved to Nashville from his home state of Texas to open Starwood Amphitheater on the outskirts of town. In 1992, he launched Moore Entertainment and continued to work with Country acts and blues festivals. After nine years, Moore sold his business to TBA Entertainment. He left in 2004 to reinvent his independent operation as Moore Entertainment Group, LLC, where he created the “CMT On Tour” franchise.
In April 2005, he entered a multi-year deal with AEG Live! and was named Senior Vice President. His activities included organizing tours; booking Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Tim McGraw into a run of sold-out New Year’s Eve concerts at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena; and a three-year effort that led to Sir Paul McCartney’s first-ever Music City performance at Bridgestone in July 2010.
An honored humanitarian, Moore is the founder and president of the Shalom Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational, nutritional, and medical assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Guatemala. He and his wife, Charmione, have three sons, Remick, Sterling, and Hunter.
Country Music Hall of Fame to Highlight Pickler's 'Dancing' Win
/by Jessica NicholsonKellie Pickler and Derek Hough win Dancing with the Stars.
Kellie Pickler’s Dancing with the Stars finale costume and mirrorball trophy will be on display on the second floor of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s core exhibition beginning July 3, 2013. Pickler wore the two-piece chiffon, rhinestone-embellished ensemble during her last dance of the season, the Instant Jive, which earned her a perfect score, the championship title and the coveted mirrorball trophy.
Pickler was paired with professional dancer and choreographer Derek Hough on season 16 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Pickler recently released the single “Someone Somewhere Tonight,” and plans to release a new album later this year.
Industry Ink (7-2-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonSketch of Artisan on 18th Apartments
The Music Row area is set to get yet another apartment building. The Nashville-based Stonehenge Real Estate Group will soon break ground on a 153-unit project. Artisan on 18th will be located at the intersection of 18th Ave. S. and Chet Atkins Place, with plans to open by summer 2014. According to the Nashville Post, five buildings that currently house music businesses will be razed in order to construct the apartments.
Stonehenge also developed Music Row’s Note 16 apartments and Eleven North in the Gulch.
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The catalog includes compositions from a variety of TV shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Breaking Bad, Dawson’s Creek, The Nanny, Rescue Me, and films including Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, Groundhog Day, Rudy, Jumanji, Legends of the Fall, Moneyball, Mr. Deeds, The Patriot, The Quick and the Dead, Superbad, Step Brothers, Stuart Little, and Hotel Transylvania, among others.
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ASCAP songwriters Jessi Alexander, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne and Trevor Rosen were the featured writers-in-the-round at The Circle Sessions, held at Joe’s Bar in Chicago on Wednesday, June 26. The Circle Sessions is a semi-monthly acoustic showcase, presented by Joe’s Bar and Black Label Booking, that unites some of Nashville’s most talented country music songwriters to share the stories behind their hit songs and perform them acoustically in an intimate setting. The unique event serves to bring the in-the-round concept to new audiences outside of Music City.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Jessi Alexander, Trevor Rosen, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne, Black Label Booking’s Mike Abramson, Joe’s Bar’s Montse Azmani, Black Label Booking’s Ryan Allen and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart.
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Skillet, a Christian rock band that formed in Memphis, Tenn. in 1996, celebrated the release of their project Rise last week in New York. Atlantic Records hosted a party at New York’s Hudson Hotel to commemorate the band’s new project and the RIAA Platinum certification of their 2009 release Awake and their hit single “Monster.” Attending the event festivities included Atlantic Records’ Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO), Julie Greenwald (Chairman/COO) and Pete Ganbarg (EVP/Head of A&R). Adding to the platinum honors were the RIAA Gold certifications for the band’s singles “Hero” and “Awake & Alive.”
Pictured (L to R): Zachary Kelm (Q Management), Seth Morrison, Jen Ledger, Korey Cooper, Craig Kallman (Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO ), Julie Greenwald (Atlantic Records Chairman/COO), John Cooper and Pete Ganbarg (Atlantic Records EVP and Head of A&R).
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Moe Bandy
Third Coast Talent Agency has signed on to represent artist Moe Bandy. Bandy’s singles include “Bandy The Rodeo Clown,” “Till I’m Too Old To Die Young,” “Americana,” “Hank Williams You Wrote My Life,” “It’s a Cheatin’ Situation,” “Just Good Ol’ Boys,” “Barstool Mountain,” “I Cheated Me Right Out of You,” and more.
Third Coast also represents Jeannie Seely, Gene Watson, Janie Fricke, Little Jimmy Dickens and Johnny Rodriquez.
Southern Ground Music & Food Festival Adds To Lineup
/by Jessica NicholsonPreviously announced artists include Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson and The Family Band, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, The Head and the Heart, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Eli Young Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and sit-in guests John Fogerty and Jason Mraz.
The Southern Ground Music & Food Festival is promoted by JAM, Outback Concerts, and Sound Events and produced by JAM, Outback Concerts and ROAR.
Glenn Sweitzer Wins Telly Award for Brantley Gilbert Veterans Day Video
/by Jessica NicholsonGlenn Sweitzer
Video producer Glenn Sweitzer has been named as a Bronze winner in 34th Annual Telly Awards’ Internet/Online Programs, Segments or Promotional Pieces in the Charitable/Not-For-Profit category. Sweitzer garnered the honor for producing a Veterans Day video featuring Brantley Gilbert.
The clip was filmed last November on Veterans Day and highlights Gilbert’s visit to the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System’s Nashville Campus VA Hospital (arranged through one of Musicians On Call’s Bedside Performance Programs). Gilbert spent the morning talking with and performing for hospitalized veterans.
“I am thrilled to win a Telly Award, and I share this honor with Brantley and Musicians On Call,” said Sweitzer. “I believe in Musicians On Call’s mission, and I am always happy to help them however I can. I’d like to dedicate this award to our national heroes – our military veterans.” Sweitzer is also a Musicians On Call Advisory Board member.
Sweitzer has garnered four Telly Bronze Awards and one prestigious Telly Silver Award – all for documentary-style video work composed throughout the past year. The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and honors outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films.
Watch the video below:
Craig Morgan Signs with F3 Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonCraig Morgan
Craig Morgan has signed a deal with Nashville-based artist management and television development/production company F3 Entertainment. F3 Entertainment launched in 2013 by music industry executive Ken Madson and outdoor industry veteran J.T. Harden. The company aligns with Morgan’s interests not only in music, but also his love of the outdoors and creating and producing television projects, including the TV series Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with Craig Morgan,” says Madson. “Craig is a fantastic musician, knowledgeable businessman and true humanitarian. I’m proud that Craig sees his future with F3 Entertainment.”
F3 Entertainment’s management roster also includes artists Dee Jay Silver, JJ Lawhorn, Moonshine Bandits, Ty Stone, Ira Dean, football legend Jim McMahon, and former MLB player Ryan Klesko. The F3 television division produces Hard Core Hunting TV for Pursuit Channel, consults MMA promotion Showdown Fights and shepherds a slate of shows in development.
Ken Madson can be reached at ken@f3entertainment.com. J.T. Harden can be reached at jt@f3entertainment.com. The F3 Entertainment Nashville office can be reached at 615-283-4730.
RIAA Updates Gold and Platinum Rules
/by Sarah SkatesSales of albums in physical format will still become eligible for certification 30 days after the release date. The 30-day rule exists to take into account potential returns of physical product – CDs, cassettes, vinyl, etc.—that could be shipped to brick and mortar retailers and returned.
The Digital Single Award, created in 2004, does not include the 30-day rule because there are very few digital returns.
The RIAA says the re-examination of the digital album sales was prompted by the recent Jay-Z/Samsung promotion, in which the electronics company purchased one million digital copies of the rapper’s Magna Carta Holy Grail to give away to its customers. The deal stimulated industry conversation about the sale’s meaning and implications for the modern music business. Billboard did not count the one million units because they were free and therefore didn’t meet the $3.49 threshold.
Artist Updates (7-1-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Swift
Taylor Swift has been added to the performance lineup at the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. She will join labelmate Tim McGraw, who is headlining the event with Mariah Carey. Cher, Pitbull, Selena Gomez and Usher will also take part in the two-hour special.
The event will air from 8 p.m.—10 p.m. on NBC.
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Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley teamed with his fans at his recent concert in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to bring in 900 pounds of food through the Feed Our Vets charity.
This marks Paisley’s second year to participate with the organization, which helps supply veterans and their families with nutritious meals.
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Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery is set to join Premier Vacations’ Duck Commander Cruise, when the Carnival Victory Ship sets sail next summer. The cruise will depart from the Port of Miami, with visits to Key West and Cozumel from July 17-21, 2014.
For more information, visit duckcommandercruise.com.
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Crystal Gayle, MusicRow publisher Sherod Robertson, and Sherry Lynn celebrated the release of Lynn’s Beautiful Life album during a release party at the CMA offices on June 27.
Lynn’s sophomore album features the current single, “Beautiful Life,” a duet with Gayle.
Pictured (L-R): Crystal Gayle, MusicRow publisher Sherod Robertson and Sherry Lynn.
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James Otto, Meghan Linsey, Phoenix Stone and Lyndsey Highlander recently performed a round together at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on June 26.
Pictured (L-R): Phoenix Stone, Meghan Linsey, James Otto, Lyndsey Highlander
Shaun Silva: Striving To Elevate Nashville
/by Sarah SkatesHe encourages Nashville record labels and ad agencies to stop looking elsewhere for their visual needs and to look in their backyard. “There are plenty of creative people and creative companies in this town that can achieve, and have for years achieved, other companies’ goals and needs. Anytime these companies are looking for an advertising agency to take them to the next level and they look beyond Nashville, it hurts the local industry. We want those companies to help their own community thrive. Everybody needs to figure out why it’s important to take care of your own first.”
Silva believes creating stronger film and television incentives would help attract business to Tennessee. “It’s going to take a community of people coming together and figuring out what will convince outsiders that it is worth bringing a production to Nashville, instead of staying in L.A. or New York or Chicago or Florida. Everybody is watching the budgets and that’s important, so if we can help them save money or give them an incentive in a tax break, it would help get them here. That’s what’s happening in Atlanta, so people are picking Atlanta over Nashville. We have a really strong group at the film commission right now that are pushing for new incentives. If you are going to make a real impact, you have to look at the cities that have had success and figure out why. We’ve got a TV show named Nashville, so it makes sense to shoot it here, but if the name of that show wasn’t Nashville, it wouldn’t be here. Period. So it’s important that we all come together as a community who wants their industry to thrive and find ways to bring more work into this town. You can’t get comfortable. We have to build upon it.”
For the complete interview with Silva, pick up a copy of MusicRow’s June/July 2013 issue. It was mailed to subscriber members and is available at the MusicRow offices or here.
Industry Ink (7-1-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonBlair Garner
The Chicago-located National Radio Hall of Fame will include Blair Garner, host of “America’s Morning Show” on Cumulus Media’s country station WNSH, N.Y., as one of the six inductees in the 2013 class. Garner will join Steve Dahl, Garry Meier, Paul W. Smith, John Lanigan, Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo, Charley Steiner and (posthumously) radio manufacturer Powel Crosley, Jr.
Garner, longtime host of “After Midnight with Blair Garner,” recently joined the Cumulus country station “94.9 Nash FM” to host the morning program. Unlike in years past, the class of 2013 was not balloted but was chosen by Hall chairman Bruce DuMont and ratified by the 20-member steering committee.
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Chris Tatum
PLA Media has hired Chris Tatum as Senior Publicist. Tatum will manage the day-to-day publicity needs of a variety of entertainment and corporate clients for the public relations and marketing firm.
“I knew when I saw Chris’ resume, I wanted him on our team,” says PLA Media President & CEO Pam Lewis. “His broadcast news background and understanding of how a newsroom works, gives him an edge in putting, and keeping, our clients in a positive media spotlight.”
Tatum’s first day at PLA Media was June 19. Prior to that, Tatum was President and Founder of his own public relations company, Anew PR. Tatum has worked with several high profile corporate clients throughout his career, including Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas,” and United Methodist Communications. He has also provided publicity services for Merrill Osmond, Lee Greenwood, Ricky Skaggs and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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Jake Gear
Magic Mustang Music has added Creative Assistant Jake Gear. He will be responsible for managing the catalog, pitching songs and providing direct support to Creative Director, Keithan Melton and Sr. Creative Director, Juli Newton-Griffith.
Most recently, Gear held a position as Coordinator of Music and Media Licensing at CMT in Nashville. Gear can be reached at jake@magicmustang.com.
Steve Moore Resigns As CEO of Country Music Association
/by Jessica NicholsonSteve Moore
The County Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors announced today that Steve Moore has submitted his resignation as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 30, 2013.
Moore said, “After nearly four years in this position, and given the phenomenal success that the CMA team has achieved, this seemed like an appropriate time to step aside and pursue other corporate and philanthropic opportunities.”
Troy Tomlinson, the Country Music Association Board of Directors Chairman said, “Steve Moore’s dedication and hard work as a CMA Board member, CMA Board leader, and as CEO have taken our organization to new levels of success. He’s been a tremendous asset to CMA due to his high regard in the industry as a resourceful and tenacious advocate for Country Music.”
After serving as Interim CEO, then becoming CEO two and a half years ago, Moore was instrumental in securing the new long-term extension of the television partnership for the annual CMA Awards, the CMA Music Festival special, and the “CMA Country Christmas” special all on the ABC Television Network.
Under Moore, the 2013 CMA Music Festival hit a record attendance with an increase of 13 percent, more artist participation than ever before, and 11 music stages. He created and led the newly-formed The CMA Foundation. He also created the new CMA position of Community Outreach Manager to create a liaison with the music community, education community, and The CMA Foundation Board of Directors. Under his watch, CMA also created CMA EDU, a dynamic college community outreach that brings the power of Country Music to colleges. It was launched at three Middle Tennessee college campuses and several ambassador campuses nationwide.
Moore was also instrumental in re-invigorating the international Country Music agenda by instituting such things as the U.K. Songwriters Series, the first ever International Marketing Summit in Paris, France, and the inaugural Country 2 Country (C2C) Country Music Festival at the legendary O2 center in London in 2013.
A longtime member of the CMA Board of Directors (since 1989), Moore was elected President in 2008 and Chairman in 2009 before being asked to fill in as interim director of CMA after former CEO Tammy Genovese resigned in December 2009.
As a CMA Board member, Moore contributed his experience and knowledge to the Association through some of the most pivotal years in the organization’s history: from the move of Fan Fair from the state fairgrounds to downtown Nashville in 2001 and the creation of a companion, primetime network television special in 2004; the strategic move of the CMA Awards to New York City in 2005 and the subsequent return to Nashville to the downtown arena; the implementation of a massive research initiative in 2008 that has far-reaching benefits for the industry; and the creation of CMA’s music education program “Keep the Music Playing,” which has contributed more than $7.6 million since 2006 to purchase more than 4,000 instruments providing students in Metro Nashville Public Schools a strong reason to stay in school.
Moore has been prominent in the Nashville music community for 21 years, going back to his appointment as the first Executive Director of the popular concert venue Starwood Amphitheater and extending through his work as Senior Vice President of one of the world’s largest concert promotion, special event, and touring companies AEG Live!. His innovations and successes have earned him three SRO Awards as Promoter of the Year.
In 1985, Moore moved to Nashville from his home state of Texas to open Starwood Amphitheater on the outskirts of town. In 1992, he launched Moore Entertainment and continued to work with Country acts and blues festivals. After nine years, Moore sold his business to TBA Entertainment. He left in 2004 to reinvent his independent operation as Moore Entertainment Group, LLC, where he created the “CMT On Tour” franchise.
In April 2005, he entered a multi-year deal with AEG Live! and was named Senior Vice President. His activities included organizing tours; booking Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Tim McGraw into a run of sold-out New Year’s Eve concerts at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena; and a three-year effort that led to Sir Paul McCartney’s first-ever Music City performance at Bridgestone in July 2010.
An honored humanitarian, Moore is the founder and president of the Shalom Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational, nutritional, and medical assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Guatemala. He and his wife, Charmione, have three sons, Remick, Sterling, and Hunter.