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.
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.
ASCAP Country Music Awards To Be Held at Nashville's Music City Center
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP 2012 Songwriter of the Year Ben Hayslip
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will host the 51st annual ASCAP Country Music Awards on Monday, November 4, 2013 at the newly opened Music City Center in downtown Nashville. The invitation-only black tie gala will honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed country music songs from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013.
The 51st annual awards ceremony will also include the announcements of the ASCAP Country music Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. The evening will feature live performances of the top five most performed songs of 2012 by the award-winning songwriters and the artists who recorded them. Special awards, including the ASCAP Founder’s Award, will be given out to recognize the leaders and legends of Nashville’s songwriting community.
The award winners for 2012 were Ben Hayslip (2012 ASCAP Country music Songwriter of the Year), Brad Paisley (2012 ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year) and Lyle Lovett (2012 ASCAP Golden Note Honoree). “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” written by Eric Paslay and Terry Sawchuk and published by Cal IV Entertainment, was named ASCAP 2012 Country music Song of the Year, as was “Honey Bee,” written by Hayslip and published by Warner/Chappell and THiS Music. Sony/ATV/EMI Music Publishing was named ASCAP Country music Publisher of the Year in 2012.
Grand Ole Opry To Host “All-American All-Star Week”
/by Michael_SmithThe Grand Ole Opry will host an “All-American All-Star” week of shows and events in honor of the nation’s birthday from July 2 – 6.
Alison Krauss will perform on Wednesday (July 3), celebrating her 20th anniversary as an Opry member. She will be joined by Larry Sparks and Jamey Johnson.
Carrie Underwood will perform on Friday (July 5) and Saturday (July 6). She will be joined by The Band Perry on Friday, Lennon & Maisy of ABC’s Nashville on Saturday and other special guests on both nights.
On July 3, 5 and 6, the Opry will throw Plaza Parties, featuring free performances by Nashville artists Carolyn Martin (July 3), Justin Myers (July 5) and Blue Mother Tupelo (July 6). Opry Plaza Parties throughout the week will also include food and fun with lawn games, giveaways, and a dunk tank each night, with proceeds from the dunk tank benefiting American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
For more information, visit opry.com.
Mark Your Calendar– July 2013
/by Eric T. ParkerJuly 9
Travis Tritt/The Calm After…/Post Oak Recordings
Michelle Wright/Strong/Savannah Music
Michael Martin Murphey/Red River Drifter/Red River Entertainment
July 16
JJ Lawhorn/Original Good Ol’ Boy/Average Joes
Jason Cassidy/Keep It Country/A-Blake Records
Court Yard Hounds/Amelita/Columbia Records
Joey + Rory/Inspired: Songs of Faith and Family/Gaither
July 23
Guy Clark/My Favorite Picture Of You/Dualtone Records
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan/Dos Divas/Red River Entertainment
July 30
Glen Campbell/See You There/Surfdog Records
Vince Gill & Paul Franklin/Bakersfield/MCA Nashville
July 4
July 6
Toby Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
July 18
Nashville Dancin’
July 19
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Hot Nights with Sarah Darling
July 22
First round CMA ballot closes at 5:00 p.m. CT
July 1
Chris Stapleton/What Are You Listening To/Mercury
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic Nashville
Hannah Michelle Weeks/More Than One Kind Of Love/HunnyBee
July 2
Colby Dee/He Don’t Know/Donard Music Group
Joe Allen/Looks Like It’s Raining/Stubborn Horse Records
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA-Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 4o/Hey Girl Hey/Rhymetown Entertainment
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
July 29
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Sony/ATV Celebrates Signings
/by Jessica NicholsonSony/ATV recently signed Jody Stevens to an exclusive publishing agreement. Stevens worked on Luke Bryan’s album Tailgates and Tanlines and forthcoming Crash My Party release, with his dad producer, Jeff Stevens. Bryan and his manager Kerri Edwards were on hand to celebrate the signing. Jody Stevens was formerly a member of duo Fast Ryde.
Pictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, Luke Bryan, Stevens, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran
• • •
Sony/ATV recently re-signed Michael Carter to an exclusive publishing agreement. Carter co-wrote Craig Campbell‘s single “Outta My Head” as well as multiple Luke Bryan recordings. Additionally, Carter has recent cuts by Chris Young and Thomas Rhett. Bryan and Kerri Edwards joined his longtime band leader, Carter, to celebrate.
Pictured (L-R): Capitol artist Luke Bryan, Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, Carter, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, Sony/ATV’s Abbey Adams.
David Ross Joins HitShop Records
/by Sherod Robertson“The addition of David Ross to our executive staff is a giant leap forward for HitShop’s futuristic music model,” shares HitShop President, Skip Bishop. “David’s forward-thinking brilliance and his clear analytical understanding of the contemporary marketplace embody the vision and strategy that we are pursuing at HitShop. In order to fuel the continuing additions to our artistic and cutting-edge roster, we’ll require the music industry’s brightest minds. We certainly have achieved that by bringing David to our team.”
Ross says, “I’ve watched and respected Skip Bishop’s tremendous accomplishments for many years. When he suggested this HitShop role and I realized it would utilize many of the skills I’ve refined and used throughout my career, it was an easy choice. Plus I’ve always had a secret passion to work at a record label. Even in the short time I’ve been with this talented group of committed professionals, it’s already feeling like a home run.”
The 411 with David Ross:
Will you elaborate on HitShop’s new content channel, Nekst.biz?
The new channel is essentially a branded content concept similar to what is already being done by corporations like Expedia, Facebook, Coca-Cola, Toshiba, Red Bull and many more. It’s an innovative way to engage the community and to my knowledge no one has tried it in country music. Our hope is to fill a niche and not duplicate or get in the way of any of the excellent trade publications, like MusicRow, Billboard, Aircheck and All Access that are serving the community with breaking news and daily updates.
What are you most excited about at HitShop?
HitShop is a great entrepreneurial challenge. Building a new label using cutting edge tactics and innovative new media music discovery strategies—the Hitshop vision—is a perfect fit for me. For example, we just released an EP from Weston Burt and it debuted at No. 18 on the iTunes chart. That’s pretty incredible considering Weston has yet to gain traction at country radio. A lot of digital dials got turned in that process. Tim Gerst who heads the digital department is deranged, but simply brilliant. And of course we still acknowledge the power and importance of radio airplay.
Describe some of the other areas of marketing that you will be involved in.
I’m also really excited about the chance to help build the roster with Skip Bishop from the ground up. We just signed Natalie Stovall and The Drive and I promise you they are incredible. Paul Worley is producing them, which says a lot. And we have a bunch of cool announcements lining up over the next few weeks that we can’t wait to tell everyone about. I share Skip’s vision that the best way to insure a label does well in the commerce department is to present cutting edge, artistic music and that’s our mission.
Ross can be reached at david@hitshoprecords.com
Manager Fred Kewley Passes
/by Robert K OermannFred Kewley
Fred Kewley, noted for managing several top country, pop and folk artists, has died at age 70.
Kewley died at his home in Franklin, Tenn., on Sunday, June 23, and his memorial service is scheduled for July 15.
In Nashville, he is particularly noted for having managed Country Music Hall of Fame member Chet Atkins during the latter years of the legend’s life.
He was the executive producer of the 1987 Cinemax cable TV special A Session with Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player. This show was also marketed as Chet Atkins and Friends and later became a 2010 PBS fund-raising special. It co-starred Atkins with Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, The Everly Brothers, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings and others. Kewley was also involved in several Atkins albums.
In addition, he managed Nashville pop/country singer Michael Johnson. Earlier in his career, he guided folk-pop artist Harry Chapin to stardom. Other management clients included singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie and jazz guitarist Earl Klugh.
Frederick Norman Kewley was a graduate of Cornell University, where he was the director/arranger of the school’s a cappella vocal group The Sherwoods. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
He is survived by wife Cathy Maciejewski Kewley, sons Josh and Joe, daughter Rebecca, their mother Sandy Kewley, brother Joe and sister Jan.
Fred Kewley’s memorial service will be conducted on Monday, July 15, at 5:55 p.m. at Ben’s Studio — formerly known at RCA Studio B — at 30 Music Sq. W. He will be buried on July 16 at Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (223 Rosa Parks Ave., Suite 301, Nashville, TN 37203) or to The Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research (1111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714).
Pickin' on the Patio Welcomes John Oates and Jon Wolfe
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks (SVP A&R, WMN), Jon Wolfe, John Oates, Cris Lacy (VP A&R, WMN), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), Chris Stacey (SVP Promotion, WMN)
John Oates and Jon Wolfe were featured as performers yesterday (June 27) during Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio event.
Thanks to sponsors Budweiser, Riffs and Spring Hill Bourbon, the packed crowd of attendees enjoyed Oates and Wolfe’s performances as the second event for 2013.
Pickin’ on the Patio is held on the WMN patio the fourth Thursday of every month from May through September. The next event to be held on July 25.
For more information, visit: warnermusicnashville.com.
New Myspace Garners Interest
/by Michael_SmithMyspace is primarily attracting a millennial demographic after launching a $20 million advertising campaign across multiple platforms, aimed at younger people.
The site’s new mobile app, which is currently ranked at only No. 147 on the iPhone’s list of free apps, faces competition from other music apps including Shazam (No. 72), Slacker Radio (No. 76) and SoundCloud (No. 103).
The company also faces additional challenges. Merlin CEO Charles Caldas recently criticized Myspace in an email to VentureBeat, accusing the company of playing music from several independent labels without their permission. Myspace responded, saying, “We have offered a relationship with Merlin that provides equal opportunities to Merlin’s labels and Merlin’s artists that we have provided to ALL labels and artists whether they are Indie Artists, Major Artists or Unsigned artists.”
ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Comes to Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is in session this week in Nashville, Tenn. with campers from around the country visiting Music City for a week of songwriting, recording and performing with several of Country music’s brightest stars.
Jake Owen visited the campers during a recording session with producer Ross Copperman at Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios. Lauren Alaina stopped by the Wildhorse Saloon to spend time with the campers, while they shared stories from their week and then participated in a line dancing lesson.
The campers wrote a song with Jerrod Niemann and Lance Miller, then performed karaoke with Love and Theft at Winner’s bar (see video below).
The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome, while providing music enrichment through performance and education. The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Pictured (L-R): Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Lauren Alaina; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director; Rondal Richardson, Entertainment Industry Relations Manager at Vanderbilt University.
Pictured (L-R): Ross Copperman, Producer; Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Jake Owen; Rondal Richardson, Entertainment Industry Relations Manager, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and Bruce Bowman, Chairman, ACM Lifting Lives.