Owner/CEO Suzanne Strickland
Suzanne Strickland and Scot Sherrod have officially launched RareSpark Media Group, Inc., offering music publishing, production, development and management services. The company’s first signings are songwriter/producer Jon McElroy, Victoria Banks, Jim Reilley, and E Marlowe.
McElroy’s cuts include Lee Brice’s “Happy Endings” and “Upper Middle Class White Trash,” Neal McCoy’s “The Shake,” and Patty Loveless’ “She Drew A Broken Heart.” Banks, the 2010 CCMA Female Artist and Songwriter of the Year, has had cuts by Sara Evans and Jessica Simpson. Singer-songwriter/producer Reilley is formerly of The New Dylans and has cuts by Vince Gill, Hal Ketchum, Jack Ingram, and Sam Bush. Rising writer E Marlowe is a past winner of the CMT/NSAI song contest.
Scot Sherrod will oversee day-to-day operations as VP/GM. “We are forging ahead in this ever-evolving industry,” he says, “continually finding new ways to help the songwriter develop, build, and manage their career—constantly striving to increase their brand, building enterprises for each individual that will financially sustain them through their art.”
Scot Sherrod
Owner/CEO Suzanne Strickland brings more than a decade as a songwriter and CCM touring artist to the venture. She also spent 10 years as director of operations for A&M Recovery Services, Inc., a mortgage field services company. “Our deals will fundamentally be the same for every songwriter as far as ownership, but we will tailor every deal from a creative perspective to meet the needs of each individual,” she says. “Being based in Nashville, the epicenter of songwriting, is important to us. However, we are passionate about coming up with new and innovative ways of marketing our songwriters in the industry and the marketplace without limiting ourselves geographically, or with regard to platform and genre.”
In recent years Sherrod has represented, produced, composed and/or performed works licensed in theatrical trailers and movies including Zombieland, Bounty Hunter, Knight and Day, Airbender, Green Lantern and Lost Boys III, as well as a national ad for Volvo. He previously spent 12 years at Major Bob Music and two years at Muy Bueno Music Group. As a producer he worked with Juno Award winner George Canyon. He also helped place “More Than A Memory” with Garth Brooks.
RareSpark is located at 508 E. Iris Dr., Nashville, TN 37204; Phone: (615) 678-5709; Email: info@raresparkmedia.com. www.raresparkmedia.com
Ben Vaughn to Lead Warner/Chappell Nashville
/by Freeman“Ben’s incredible track record of songwriter development speaks for itself,” said Platt. “His A&R vision, leadership skills and business instincts have made him one of Nashville’s most dynamic and influential executives. I have worked closely with Ben for years and I’ve no doubt he is the perfect fit for Warner/Chappell and its mission to be the first-choice home for the world’s most extraordinary songwriters.”
In 2010 Vaughn was tapped to lead EMI Publishing’s Country division, making him the youngest executive to head a major publisher in Nashville, a post which he held until the company was acquired by Sony/ATV in 2012. In total, Vaughn spent 10 years with EMI, signing writers including Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, among others. The move reunites Vaughn with Platt, who previously served as President of North America Creative for EMI Music Publishing until Summer 2012, and marks a talent coup for Warner/Chappell Chairman/CEO Cameron Strang.
“Ben will bring an additional level of creativity and innovative thinking to our senior team and our thriving Nashville operations,” said Strang. “With Ben working with our General Manager, Phil May, we will continue to build our ability to provide great services to our songwriters and publishing partners, taking their success to new heights.”
Warner/Chappell Nashville’s track record over the past year has included nine No. 1 hits and a 15.1 percent share of Country radio airplay. The company has newly signed songwriters including Dean Alexander, Josh Abbott, TJ and John Osborne, and Laura Veltz.
Toby Keith Previews “Hope On the Rocks” For Fans
/by Eric T. ParkerFans can visit www.tobykeith.com/hopeontherockssweeps/ and sign up to hear the entire deluxe version of the album and enter the sweepstakes through Friday, Oct. 26. Weekly prizes have been awarded throughout the month, including custom corn hole game boards, branded guitars, red Solo cup plaque, and tour tickets, all of which are leading up to the Grand Prize Mexican vacation to Cabo San Lucas.
Pre-order Hope on the Rocks here.
American Country Awards Adds Performers
/by Sarah SkatesHosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, the event at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas will also feature appearances by Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Casey James, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch and Chris Young. Additional performers and presenters to be announced soon.
Voting for all categories remains open until Mon., Nov. 12 at www.theacas.com. Voting for Artist of the Year continues until Fri., Dec. 7.
Aldean swept the ACAs last year, taking home six awards, including Artist of the Year. He is nominated five times this year. Bryan earned seven ACA nominations this year, Lady A captured six, and Bentley and Little Big Town scored one each.
American Country Awards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (Teen Choice 2012, Kids’ Choice Awards). Fletcher Foster, Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers. Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the live special.
Colt Ford Plots Fall Tour
/by Freeman“I’m really excited to be headed back out West,” says Ford. “I’m bringing my buddy JJ Lawhorn on the road with us. We’ll be visiting a lot of great cities on the tour and can’t wait for it to kick off!”
Answer To No One Tour dates:
10/26 – Mesa, AZ
10/27 – Tucson, AZ
10/28 – San Bernardino, CA
10/31 – San Juan Capistrano, CA
11/1 – Bakersfield, CA
11/2 – San Jose, CA
11/3 – Sacramento, CA
11/4 – Springfield, OR
11/6 – Portland, OR
11/7 – Boise, ID
11/8 – West Valley City, UT
11/9 – Denver, CO
Rascal Flatts Plan DVD Release
/by Sarah SkatesFans will see exclusive performance footage of the group’s biggest hits and interviews from the road. It shares stories behind the songs, and shows the recording process at Jay DeMarcus’ home studio, where the album was produced with Dann Huff.
The flick made a one-night-only debut in movie theaters across the country in conjunction with the album release earlier this year. The group celebrated with fans at the AMC Theater in New York City’s Times Square.
Rascal Flatts will kick off the winter leg of the Farmers Insurance Presents Changed Tour on Jan. 10, 2013 with special guests The Band Perry.
Since Rascal Flatts’ debut in 2000, the band has sold over 21 million albums, and 25 million digital downloads.
RareSpark Reveals First Signings
/by Sarah SkatesOwner/CEO Suzanne Strickland
Suzanne Strickland and Scot Sherrod have officially launched RareSpark Media Group, Inc., offering music publishing, production, development and management services. The company’s first signings are songwriter/producer Jon McElroy, Victoria Banks, Jim Reilley, and E Marlowe.
McElroy’s cuts include Lee Brice’s “Happy Endings” and “Upper Middle Class White Trash,” Neal McCoy’s “The Shake,” and Patty Loveless’ “She Drew A Broken Heart.” Banks, the 2010 CCMA Female Artist and Songwriter of the Year, has had cuts by Sara Evans and Jessica Simpson. Singer-songwriter/producer Reilley is formerly of The New Dylans and has cuts by Vince Gill, Hal Ketchum, Jack Ingram, and Sam Bush. Rising writer E Marlowe is a past winner of the CMT/NSAI song contest.
Scot Sherrod will oversee day-to-day operations as VP/GM. “We are forging ahead in this ever-evolving industry,” he says, “continually finding new ways to help the songwriter develop, build, and manage their career—constantly striving to increase their brand, building enterprises for each individual that will financially sustain them through their art.”
Scot Sherrod
Owner/CEO Suzanne Strickland brings more than a decade as a songwriter and CCM touring artist to the venture. She also spent 10 years as director of operations for A&M Recovery Services, Inc., a mortgage field services company. “Our deals will fundamentally be the same for every songwriter as far as ownership, but we will tailor every deal from a creative perspective to meet the needs of each individual,” she says. “Being based in Nashville, the epicenter of songwriting, is important to us. However, we are passionate about coming up with new and innovative ways of marketing our songwriters in the industry and the marketplace without limiting ourselves geographically, or with regard to platform and genre.”
In recent years Sherrod has represented, produced, composed and/or performed works licensed in theatrical trailers and movies including Zombieland, Bounty Hunter, Knight and Day, Airbender, Green Lantern and Lost Boys III, as well as a national ad for Volvo. He previously spent 12 years at Major Bob Music and two years at Muy Bueno Music Group. As a producer he worked with Juno Award winner George Canyon. He also helped place “More Than A Memory” with Garth Brooks.
RareSpark is located at 508 E. Iris Dr., Nashville, TN 37204; Phone: (615) 678-5709; Email: info@raresparkmedia.com. www.raresparkmedia.com
Montgomery Gentry Releases EP
/by Eric T. ParkerThe single lands at No. 43 after 3 weeks on this week’s MusicRow Chart. Track listing is included below.
Additionally, Montgomery Gentry is featured on Average Joe’s Muddy Christmas album with its re-release of “Merry Christmas From The Family.”
For more information, visit www.montgomerygentry.com
Friends and Family track listing:
1) I’ll Keep the Kids
2) Where I Come From (Remix) [feat. Colt Ford & the Lacs]
3) Ain’t Out of the Woods Yet [feat. Colt Ford] (from the recent Colt Ford Declaration of Independence album)
4) Good Ol’ Boys (Dukes of Hazzard theme)
MusicRowPics: Kristen Kelly Artist Visit
/by Caitlin RantalaSony’s Kristen Kelly stopped by MusicRow headquarters yesterday afternoon (10/23) to share her songs and some of the stories behind them.
“This is a song about the first time I saw my ex and finally felt nothing,” she said before playing the song “Feeling Nothing,” a co-write with Paul Overstreet. Afterwards, Kelly introduced the next song by saying, “And this is the true story of how my ex ended up being my ex.” She went on to play her current single, “Ex Old Man,” her first top 30 hit.
Her set list also included “Drink Myself Outta Love with You” and “Miss Me.”
Kelly was most recently on Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour. When asked how the tour was she laughed. “It didn’t suck,” she said.
Kelly’s comfortable being on the road, however. Prior to her country career she was in a rock-cover band for several years. In fact, she’s so comfortable with touring that while she was on tour with Paisley, she had a tattoo artist come in and ink her on the tour bus. Her most recent tattoo says, “Let It Break Your Heart,” the title of one of her songs and a reminder to feel all the ups and downs in life.
Kelly’s self-titled EP will be out next Tuesday, Oct. 30. For more information, visit kristenkellymusic.com.
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Lady A To Perform With Symphony
/by Sarah SkatesOpening the concert will be a cappella group Breath of Soul which was selected by the trio through online submissions. GAC will tape the performance and air it beginning Wed., Dec. 5 at 7 PM/CT.
The ticket pre-sale is going on now, with the public on-sale scheduled for Fri., Oct. 26 at 10:00 AM/CT. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is also sponsoring the event.
Lady A is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year at the Nov. 1 CMA Awards. The group will release its first concert film, Own The Night World Tour, on Dec. 4.
Premiere Networks Presents “2012 CMA Awards Preview” Broadcast
/by Caitlin RantalaThe 46th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Underwood, will air live on Thursday, Nov. 1 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.