TKO Artist Management has promoted Michelle Garramone to the role of Brand Coordinator. Garramone graduated from Belmont University in May 2012. She worked at TKO Artist Management as a part-time receptionist and was promoted to full-time brand assistant upon graduation. She can be reached at wildshot@tkoartistmanagement.com.
Emily Gallo has been hired as an assistant. Gallo graduated from the College of Charleston and first worked at TKO as a summer intern in 2012. She can be reached at emily@tkoartistmanagement.com.
• • •
Tommy Cecil recently signed on as a BMI writer. Cecil, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who writes for HoriPro Entertainment Group, played at the Key West Songwriters Festival earlier this month.
Pictured are (L-R): HoriPro’s Lee Krabel and Butch Baker, Tommy Cecil, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.
• • •
APA Nashville has signed bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent to their roster. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the award-winning and multi-talented Dailey & Vincent. Adding them to our roster will open many exciting doors of opportunity in the future,” comments APA’s Cass Scripps.
Pictured (L-R): Zac Koffler (APEX Entertainment Management), Ray Shelide (APA), Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Cass Scripps (APA), Matt McGuire (APA), Michael Stevens (APA)
• • •
IMMERSE, the Gospel Music Association’s Music Training Experience, has announced two scholarship opportunities, including the “Music Makes” scholarship to attend the upcoming IMMERSE event, as well as three $5,000 scholarships to “reVIEWyou” winners in the songwriting, singer/songwriter-female and singer/songwriter-male categories. Hosted by Plumb, the Tuesday Night Songwriter Showcase (May 28) will feature artists Matt Hammitt, Jon Steingard, Seth Mosely, Kevin Max, David Zach, Meredith Andrews, Karen Peck and others.
The event’s Monday night concert (May 27) will feature MIKESCHAIR. IMMERSE will take place May 26-29 at Nashville’s Lifeway Christian Resources building. IMMERSE allows rising songwriters and business professionals to get hands-on training directed by industry leaders.
• • •
SOLID‘s annual yard sale will take place Saturday, June 8 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It is an opportunity to fans from across the country to connect with their favorite stars and for industry personnel to clear out their promo closets. Donations are needed for the event. Desired items include press items from awards shows, unused promo from album releases and tours, posters, press kits, ANYTHING signed (clothing, albums, posters), T-shirts, jackets, meet & greet opportunties and much more.
SOLID will provide bins and pick up any merchandise to be donated. The deadline for donations is June 1. To donate to SOLID’s annual yard sale, contact Eric Wright at musicmarketer@gmail.com or Jeff Hoehne at jeff.hoehne@gmail.com.
Final Nominees Announced for CMA 2013 SRO Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonBallots will be sent to CMA members in the following categories: Affiliated, Artist, Engineer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Publicist, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, TV/Video/Media and Venue. Final voting for the SRO Awards will take place online from May 24-June 12. Ballots will be tabulated by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Finalists were determined during the first round of the balloting process when voters submitted nominations in each category.
CMA’s SRO Awards 2013 Final Nominees are as follows (in alphabetical order):
CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Jamie Cheek – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Dwight Wiles – Smith, Wiles & Co., P.C.
CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Kelley Beck – Blake Shelton
Caleb Garrett – Kenny Chesney
Tim Olson – Toby Keith
CATEGORY 3 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Greg Huffman – Jake Owen
Jeff Parsons – Blake Shelton
David Payne – Taylor Swift
CATEGORY 4 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Trevor Ahlstrand – Martina McBride
Paul Normandale – Hunter Hayes
Steve Richards – Taylor Swift
CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Robert Allen – 13 Management
Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment
Clint Higham – Morris Artists Management
CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Canady – Blake Shelton
Greg Fowler – Jake Owen
Erica Worden – Taylor Swift
CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Brad Baisley – Blake Shelton
Jordan Kolenc – Taylor Swift
Evan Richner – Jason Aldean
CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Arthur Kemish – Taylor Swift
Meesha Kosciolek – Martina McBride
Art Rich – Blake Shelton
CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
Paula Erickson – Erickson Public Relations
Mary Hilliard Harrington – The GreenRoom
Ebie McFarland – Essential Broadcast Media, LLC
CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
Rod Essig – Creative Artist Agency
Jay Williams – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC
Rob Beckham – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC
CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Louis Messina – The Messina Group
Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
Debra Rathwell – AEG Live
CATEGORY 12 – TOUR CATERER OF THE YEAR
Dega Catering
TaDa! Catering
TourCats Catering
CATEGORY 13 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
David Cook – Taylor Swift – Keyboard
Robby Emerson – Jake Owen – Bass
Steve Sinatra – Hunter Hayes – Drums
CATEGORY 14 – VENUE OF THE YEAR
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tenn.
Joe’s Bar – Chicago, Ill.
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
CATEGORY 15 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
Olivier Goulet – Taylor Swift
Michael Tinsley – Taylor Swift
Additional Performers Announced for 2013 CMT Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Swift, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan and Pistol Annies were previously announced as performers. Presenters will be announced soon.
Veteran live event producer Michael Dempsey will return to executive produce the 2013 CMT Music Awards alongside director Joe DeMaio. John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux serve as executive producers for CMT.
Artist News: Thompson Square, Little Big Town, Chely Wright, TobyMac
/by Sarah SkatesThompson Square
Thompson Square will debut single “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, May 21. The track officially impacts Country radio June 10 and is available at iTunes now.
Keifer Thompson co-wrote the song with Brett James and David Lee Murphy.
It is the follow-up to Thompson Square’s No. 1 hit “If I Didn’t Have You,” which has sold over 600,000 downloads.
The duo celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary last week.
• • •
Chely Wright and wife Lauren Blitzer Wright welcomed identical twin sons George Samuel and Everett Joseph on Saturday, May 18 in New York City.
• • •
Little Big Town will world-premiere the video for current single “Your Side of the Bed” Thursday, May 22 on ABC’s Good Morning America. The video can be viewed in its entirety exclusively on goodmorningamerica.com all day Thursday. Also, a special CMA Music Festival announcement will also take place during the show’s 8:30 a.m. hour.
The video, shot last month by Becky Fluke (Pistol Annies, The Civil Wars), takes place at the historic Tennessee Theater and The Oliver Hotel in Knoxville, Tenn.
“Your Side of the Bed,” written by Little Big Town and Lori McKenna, follows up previous No. 1 hits “Pontoon” and “Tornado.”
Little Big Town
• • •
Hard Rock to Celebrate Willie Nelson's 80th Birthday
/by Caitlin RantalaThe event, held on June 6, will also kick off the Hard Rock International Artist Spotlight Willie Nelson merchandise program, benefiting the Biodiesel Alliance and the Animal Welfare Institute. A VIP reception begins at 6 p.m., while the event starts at 7 p.m.
Hard Rock’s Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight t-shirt, pin and bandanna will be available online at www.hardrock.com and at Hard Rock Cafe, Hotel and Casino locations in New York, New Orleans, Maui, San Antonio, Nashville and Houston.
Carlo’s Bakery, setting of the hit TLC show Cake Boss, will be making a special birthday cake for the country legend to present to him at the June 6 celebration.
Industry Ink (5-21-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonEmily Gallo has been hired as an assistant. Gallo graduated from the College of Charleston and first worked at TKO as a summer intern in 2012. She can be reached at emily@tkoartistmanagement.com.
• • •
Tommy Cecil recently signed on as a BMI writer. Cecil, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who writes for HoriPro Entertainment Group, played at the Key West Songwriters Festival earlier this month.
Pictured are (L-R): HoriPro’s Lee Krabel and Butch Baker, Tommy Cecil, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.
• • •
APA Nashville has signed bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent to their roster. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the award-winning and multi-talented Dailey & Vincent. Adding them to our roster will open many exciting doors of opportunity in the future,” comments APA’s Cass Scripps.
Pictured (L-R): Zac Koffler (APEX Entertainment Management), Ray Shelide (APA), Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Cass Scripps (APA), Matt McGuire (APA), Michael Stevens (APA)
• • •
The event’s Monday night concert (May 27) will feature MIKESCHAIR. IMMERSE will take place May 26-29 at Nashville’s Lifeway Christian Resources building. IMMERSE allows rising songwriters and business professionals to get hands-on training directed by industry leaders.
• • •
SOLID will provide bins and pick up any merchandise to be donated. The deadline for donations is June 1. To donate to SOLID’s annual yard sale, contact Eric Wright at musicmarketer@gmail.com or Jeff Hoehne at jeff.hoehne@gmail.com.
Warner Music Nashville To Host Lindsay Walleman Memorial
/by Jessica NicholsonLindsay Walleman
Warner Music Nashville will host a memorial, “For the Linds (Remembering & Celebrating the life of Lindsay Walleman)” on Tuesday, June 4. The event will take place on the Warner Music Nashville patio from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. The event will include music, cocktails and a picture slide show of Walleman throughout her life. Those wishing to make a donation can give to the FTL Sarcoma Fund that is currently being established. More details on the fund are forthcoming.
Walleman died of cancer on April 9, 2013. She was Manager of Midwest/Northeast Promotions, W.A.R. team at Warner Music Nashville.
RSVP for “For The Linds,” at wmn.rsvp@wmg.com.
Randy Owen To Headline Benefit Concert During CMA Fest Week
/by Sarah SkatesAlso performing at the concert during CMA Music Festival week will be hit tunesmiths Dallas Davidson, Frank Myers, Brian White, Anthony Smith, Kylie Sackley, Dave Turnbull, Rob Hatch, Allen Shamblin and Dan Couch.
General admission tickets start at $15, VIP packages are also available. Details at afsp.org/middletn.
Artists Respond To Oklahoma Tornado Tragedy
/by Jessica NicholsonArtist Reactions:
This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in. I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all—Toby Keith (via a statement)
Our prayers and thoughts are with those in Oklahoma dealing with the aftermath of the storms Gods Speed—Craig Morgan
The devastation in Oklahoma is heartbreaking. I hope everyone effected can find some kind of safety and peace tonight
#prayersforoklahoma—LeAnn RimesAll my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados. Stay safe everyone!!!!—Reba McEntire
Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen…it doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen—Carrie Underwood
Pray for everyone devastated by these storms, but especially for those families in Moore, OK right now…God, wrap your arms around this community—Trisha Yearwood
My heart is breaking. So much devastation. Praying for all affected & those still in the wake of this storm be safe!—Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott
Our hearts are crushed for Oklahoma, keeping you in our thoughts and prayers—The Band Perry
God Bless Oklahoma victums [sic]- prayers are with all the families – will wake up tomorrow and start working on the best way to help—Kix Brooks
Crazy footage. Praying for Oklahoma right now—Chris Young
Performers Announced For 'Country Weekly' Kick-Off Party
/by Jessica NicholsonAll proceeds from the event will benefit Musicians On Call Nashville, a non-profit organization that brings music to the bedsides of healthcare facility patients.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m. Attendees will get their own star treatment with a red carpet arrival, lights and a backdrop for photos. The event is sponsored by Boot Barn, Durango and Roper.
For more information on the event, ticket options and MOC Nashville, please visit musiciansOnCall.org.
Ratings Report: Trace Adkins Wins 'Celebrity Apprentice'
/by Sarah SkatesTrace Adkins and Donald Trump.
Vote Kellie tonight on “Dancing…”
Last night’s (May 19) major network television line up was packed with country music talent. Here’s how early ratings are stacking up, according to Zap2It.com:
• The season finale of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice (NBC) scored a 1.5 in adults 18-49, down 32 percent from a 2.2 for last year’s season finale. About 5.26 million viewers tuned in to see Trace Adkins win. During the season finale, Adkins raised $564,000 for the American Red Cross, which contributed to his total of $1.5 million for the charity. Joining him on the show to contribute to the cause were The Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, Billy Ray Cyrus and Wynonna Judd. Adkins performed “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Love Will.”
• ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’ Superstar Summer Night (CBS) earned a 1.2 adults 18-49 rating, with about 6.19 million viewers.
• The 2013 Billboard Music Awards (ABC) won the night. Taylor Swift swept the show, which came in at number one among adults 18-49 and with total viewers. The show scored a ten-year high 3.6 rating among adults 18-49, and attracted 9.47 million viewers.
• • • •
• Kellie Pickler’s hot streak continues on the season finale of Dancing With The Stars tonight (May 20) on ABC. The country star and dance partner Derek Hough will vie for the viewer-voted win at 7 p.m. CT, and the champions will be announced on tomorrow night’s show at 8 p.m. CT.
• Last Thursday’s (May 16) season finale of American Idol slumped compared to last year’s ratings. The ABC show earned a 3.6 adults 18-49 rating, about 44 percent lower than last year. It averaged 14.31 million viewers, coming in below the 20 million mark for the first time in history. Still, it was number one among adults 18-49 and with total viewers. Nashvillian Kree Harrison was named runner up of the competition.
Keith Urban and Taylor Swift join Tim McGraw for his ACM special.