The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation has elected its new board members and officers for 2013. Pat Alger is the organization’s new chair and Ken Paulson is the vice-chair. Layng Martine, Jr. will continue to serve as secretary and Mike Dye will continue to serve as the board’s treasurer. The announcement was made today (Jan. 11) by outgoing chair John Van Mol, CEO of DVL Public Relations & Advertising.
“After years of hard work by so many former and current board members and through the generosity of numerous friends and music industry leaders, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will at last become a physical reality,” said Alger via a statement. “At this exciting time, it is a tremendous honor to be elected Chair of this all-volunteer board, made up of these great songwriters and dynamic business leaders. There is still a lot of work to do and money left to raise, but what an incredible team we have in place to do it.”
Board of Directors
Pat Alger: Songwriter, Hall of Fame member
Steve Bogard: Songwriter, Director of the Copyright Forum
Mike Dye: CEO of Mercury Supply Company
Kye Fleming: Songwriter, Hall of Fame Member
Rich Hallworth: CEO of Corizon
Wayland Holyfield: Songwriter, Hall of Fame Member
David L. Maddox: Assistant Professor of Music Business, Belmont University
Layng Martine, Jr: Songwriter
Robert K. Oermann: Nashville entertainment journalist, music critic, author and historian
Ken Paulson: President and CEO of the First Amendment Center
Dr. Bo Thomas: Vice-President for University Advancement, Belmont University
Troy Tomlinson: President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville
Mike Vaden: Director of Decosimo/Vaden
John Van Mol: CEO of DVL Public Relations & Advertising
CMA To Host International Country Music Summit in France
/by Jessica NicholsonWynonna
The Country Music Association continues to expand its international reach; the organization will host its first International Country Music Marketing Summit at Disneyland Paris on March 1.
The summit will include panels, research presentations, opportunities to network and a CMA Songwriters Series event featuring Wynonna, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, singer-songwriter Brett James and songwriter Dallas Davidson. The CMA Songwriters series will be hosted by Bob DiPiero.
“With immediate and convenient access to country music, the world market is fertile ground for our industry and artists,” said Steve Moore, CEO of the CMA, via a release. “Country artists are selling out major venues; our CMA Songwriter Series is returning to the UK and Ireland in February and new events like the ‘C2C: Country to Country’ Country Music Festival at the 02 Arena in London in March are a strong indication of the burgeoning popularity of the music and the need for this type of educational platform across the world.”
Early Bird registration for the event is available for $100. For information, visit CMAworld.com/internationalsummit. An application for media credentials is available at CMApress.com.
CMHoF Sets All-Time Attendance Record
/by Sarah SkatesUnique exhibitions, live programs and events attracted museum-goers. Among the current exhibitions are The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and California Country; Taylor Swift: Speak Now—Treasures from the World Tour and Patsy Cline: Crazy for Loving You.
“We would like to thank our local, national and international visitors for such strong support,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Our attendance revenue last year increased more than 15% over 2011, which was also a record year. Through November 2012, our operating revenues increased by about 9% over prior year, and we expect that number to hold through December 2012. In these challenging economic times, we don’t take this for granted.
“Finally, Nashville continues to thrive as a tourism destination, and we are happy to contribute to and benefit from this. There’s an incredible synergy happening in our city, and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
Flying Island Entertainment Names New President
/by Jessica NicholsonShelia Shipley Biddy
Shelia Shipley Biddy has been named President of Flying Island Entertainment.
In the role, Shipley Biddy will continue to supervise and direct the promotion department, as well as take on more of a leadership role in the company, overseeing all aspects of the company including marketing. She will also cultivate new business partnerships which include special marketing projects for the label and clients, and develop artist promotions for the label’s Classic Country Media Services.
“Over the past 18 months I have had the pleasure of working with Shelia,” Flying Island Entertainment co-founder Louis Newman says via a release. “She never fails to impress with her keen knowledge, determination and grasp of what it takes to make it in the fast-paced, ever-changing entertainment environment. Shelia’s track record speaks for itself and she is a true leader for the music industry and I am thrilled to announce her as President.”
“While Flying Island Entertainment continues to be focused on its radio promotion service to all reporting stations, we are actively expanding into a full-service entertainment company and label operation for hire,” says Shipley Biddy. “We have a diverse, experienced staff that is available to serve the needs of a growing indie artist/label community by providing outsourced label services and specialty marketing plans. I am proud to lead the Flying Island team and honored that [co-founders] Nancy Eckert and Louis Newman trust me with the additional responsibility.”
Flying Island Entertainment launched in 2011; Shipley Biddy was previously Director of National Promotion for the organization.
Shipley Biddy was one of the first women to helm a major record label when she ran Decca Records. Her music industry career has included work in radio promotion, marketing, sales, artist management, music publishing and artist development.
Shipley Biddy can be reached at shelia@flyingislandentertainment.com and 615-478-8480.
BMLG, Red Light Management Team with Belmont University
/by Jessica NicholsonElla Mae Bowen
Nashville’s Belmont University has long been known as a place that turns out talented musicians and aspiring industry professionals each year. This year, Big Machine Label Group and Red Light Management have teamed with Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business to provide four Belmont student musicians with a choice internship.
The internship aims to give the students real-world performance experience with a signed artist. Four student musicians were chosen during auditions last November to perform with Big Machine Records artist Ella Mae Bowen. Each of the students will learn new material, rehearse with Ella Mae and perform a show at the end of the semester. Additionally, touring musicians, producers, road managers and booking agents will share information about the various aspects of the music industry.
“Our intent is to give Belmont students a real life experience,’ says Red Light Management’s Tracy Gershon, who will supervise the internship. “They will have scheduled rehearsals with Ella Mae and see what it is really like being a touring musician. In addition, they will hear from industry tastemakers and professional musicians, whose practical insight is invaluable.”
“As I record my debut album, I feel that this program will be a great way to work out arrangements with a live band,” says Bowen. “With an undeniable passion, Belmont has always been a great source for up-and-coming musicians and I believe this internship will be mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”
Industry Pics (1/11/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonKelly Clarkson stops by CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan to discuss her wedding plans to Starstruck Entertainment’s Brandon Blackstock and her new single “Don’t Rush,” featuring Vince Gill.
Pictured (L-R): Kelly Clarkson and Cody Alan. Photo: Dingo O’Brien
• • •
Stoney Creek Records band Parmalee visited the Country Music Hall of Fame on Jan. 8, where the band became Honorary Friends and Family members of the institution. The band is made of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, along with cousin Barry Knox and life-long best friend Josh McSwain.
Pictured (from back to front): Pamela Johnson (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Vice President of Development), Jay Orr (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Vice President of Museum Programs), Sharon Burns (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Vice President of Sales and Marketing), Heather Freeland (BBR Management, Associate Manager), Brittany Perlin (Dashboard Media, Associate Publicist), Stephen Linn (BBR Management, Senior Vice President), Rachel Weingartner (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Membership Manager), Scott Thomas, Barry Knox, Josh McSwain and Matt Thomas
• • •
Singer-songwriters Jon Stone and Kristy Osmunson, known together as American Young, celebrated their recent signing to Curb Records with members of the Curb Records and SESAC staff. Stone penned fellow Curb Records artist Lee Brice‘s hit, “A Woman Like You.”
Pictured (L-R), back row: Curb’s Kelly Lynn, John Ozier, Dennis Hannon, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Todd Thomas. Front row: Jon Stone, Kristy O and Curb’s Taylor Childress.
Photo: Peyton Hoge
MusicRowPics: Brad Long Artist Visit
/by Caitlin RantalaOn Tuesday (1/08), Blackwater Entertainment’s Brad Long stopped by MusicRow headquarters to share some music off his new album.
His acoustic set included “Long Lost Smile,” a song that previously received a thumb’s up from MusicRow’s Robert Oermann. Long also played “Dust,” My Kinda Woman” and “See You When I See You.”
A resident of Conway, S.C., Long appears regularly on “The Carolina Opry” and “Good Vibrations.” For more information, visit bradlong.net.
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MusicRow No. 1 Song
/by Eric T. ParkerLittle Big Town
Little Big Town worked up enough spins this week with “Tornado” to land at No. 1 on our MusicRow Chart. This, the quartet’s title track and second single from its fifth studio album, was written by Natalie Hemby and Delta Maid.
We have been looking forward to the record-breaking possibilities of Capitol Nashville’s Tornado since its release a few months ago, and the quartet has sure delivered now with two chart-topping singles from the project. This dark and stormy tune comes on the heels of “Pontoon,” which held our No. 1 position for five consecutive weeks in August 2012.
Little Big Town has since performed “Tornado” on FOX’s ACA Awards last month and has since made a stop at the network’s X Factor and New Years Eve Live!
Watch the official music video for “Tornado” and visit this week’s MusicRow chart below.
Kaleidoscope Media Hires New Publicist
/by Eric T. ParkerMichelle Lorge
Founder and owner of Kaleidoscope Media, Angie Gore, announced Michelle Lorge has been added as Publicist for the public relations and marketing company.
As the newest addition to Kaleidoscope Media, Lorge will assist the team in media strategy, development and client roster pitches. She will report directly to Scott Stem, Senior Director of Publicity and Accounts.
Prior to joining Kaleidoscope, Lorge operated her own publicity company, Forever Publicity. Previously, she served stints with Hot Schatz PR, NPG PR, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sweet Talk Publicity. The Wisconsin native graduated from Belmont University with a B.A. in Public Relations in 2009.
Lorge may be reached at michelle@kaleidoscope-media.com or 615-321-3211.
'Nashville' By The Numbers
/by Sarah SkatesPer month:
$200,000 on cast/crew housing
$80,000 on catering
$55,000 on fuel
$45,000 on vehicle rental
Per episode:
$460,000 to local vendors
Per season:
$1.6 million on camera equipment rental
George also revealed that $1 million was spent to build a sound stage facility that can be used for other projects as well as Nashville, and would boost the local film infrastructure.
New state incentives are working to recruit film and television productions, particularly those with smaller budgets. Previously, only projects with $1 million or higher budgets qualified, but changes lowered the minimum production value to $200,000.
According to the NBJ, estimates of Nashville’s direct spending in Tennessee total $44 million. Seventeen percent ($7.5 million) of that spending will be covered by a reimbursable grant if the show airs all 22 episodes.
The growing number of films shot entirely, or in part, in Tennessee include 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter, 1993’s The Thing Called Love (Sandra Bullock), 1999’s The Green Mile, 2001’s The Last Castle and the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line. More recently, Water For Elephants (Reese Witherspoon), Leatherheads (George Clooney), Hannah Montana: The Movie (Miley Cyrus), Country Strong (Gwyneth Paltrow) were filmed in Tennessee. Movies made in the Volunteer State that are set for release in 2013 include Nicole Kidman’s Stoker, the Harrison Ford flick 42, and The Identical starring Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta and Seth Green.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Elects Board Members, Officers
/by Jessica Nicholson“After years of hard work by so many former and current board members and through the generosity of numerous friends and music industry leaders, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will at last become a physical reality,” said Alger via a statement. “At this exciting time, it is a tremendous honor to be elected Chair of this all-volunteer board, made up of these great songwriters and dynamic business leaders. There is still a lot of work to do and money left to raise, but what an incredible team we have in place to do it.”