The Academy of Country Music today (7/25) announced several staff promotions and a recent hire. “The Academy’s staff has more than doubled in the past five years, and we are excited to recognize the good work of so many of our newest staff members,” said Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Academy of Country Music.
Lauren Brauchli is upped to Manager, Creative, PR & Production. She joined the company over a year ago and reports to Lisa Lee, Senior Vice President, Creative, PR & Production. Brauchli’s experience includes being a key contributor to the award-winning documentary Bound By Hope: One Family’s Story.
Amy Cannon is promoted to Manager, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. She joined the Academy last summer, when her work on sponsorship procurement with Teresa George at Cornerstone Communications was brought in house at the Academy. She reports to George, Senior Vice President, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. They are based in Nashville, while most of the ACM staff is in Encino, California.
Jenny Driessen advances to Social Media Manager, Creative, PR & Production. She joined the ACM in 2010 as an events department intern and was promoted to Coordinator, Membership & Events. She reports to Brooke Primero, Senior Vice President, Publicity.
Tommy Moore is promoted to Coordinator, Administration & Operations. Moore, a recent graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, joined the Academy in December. He coordinates overall administration of the ACM office with a focus on ticketing, operations, finance, and Board of Directors communication. He reports to Moon and Erick Long, Senior Vice President, Operations & Events.
Addie Saloman is upped to Coordinator, Membership & Industry Relations. She joined the Academy last November as an assistant. Saloman will maintain the Academy’s awards voting research, liaise with the committees and coordinate key Academy industry events. Saloman graduated from Belmont University and reports to Michelle Goble, Senior Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations.
New hire Kathryn Nauman joins as Assistant, Membership & Industry Relations. She graduated from Arizona State University and interned at the Academy and Clear Channel Radio. She also reports to Goble.
Darryl Worley and Friends Plan Benefit in Jackson
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Top- Worley, Marvel; Below- Salley, Brown
Songwriters Jerry Salley, Kendell Marvel and Jim “Moose” Brown will join Darryl Worley for the Darryl Worley and Friends Songwriters’ Event in Jackson, TN on Tues., July 31.
The performance, held at Bumpus Harley-Davidson, will benefit a variety of organizations including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center in accordance with the Darryl Worley Foundation.
The show begins at 7 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m. allowing guests to bid on auction items. Tickets begin at $75 and second-tier tables are available for $700. For more information, contact contact Angie Bumpus at 731-422-5508.
This Worley event precedes his songwriters’ event and Tennessee River Run in Savannah, TN in mid September. The event’s upcoming 11th anniversary includes a concert in downtown Savannah, golf tournament, bass tournament, motorcycle ride, boat poker run, kids’ fishing tournament, arts and crafts fair and a 5k.
The last two Darryl Worley and Friends Songwriters’ events have helped raise more than $67,000 for the Foundation.
Lewis to Play “Fox & Friends” Concert Series
/by FreemanThe concert is open to the public at Fox News studios in Manhattan, located at 48th and 6th. Attendees will have free food all morning courtesy of Famous Dave’s BBQ.
Lewis will perform music from his upcoming solo album, The Road, which is due out September 11 via Blaster Records and Warner Music Nashville. Co-produced by Lewis with James Stroud, The Road features the current single “Endless Summer” and nine other new tracks.
McFadden Elevated at Tenacity Records
/by FreemanMcFadden originally joined the Tenacity promotion team in early June, where he has been working with artists Bill Gentry and Darryl Worley. Previously McFadden worked in promotion at R&J Records and Momentum Music Group, and has over 30 years experience working in radio and records.
Reach McFadden here and Haley here.
The Charlie Daniels Band Plans Annual Christmas 4 Kids Concert
/by Sarah SkatesFan club pre-sale tickets will be available starting Sept. 15 and all other tickets will be available starting Sept. 29 at www.christmas4kids.org.
Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization founded over 25 years ago. The funds generated by the annual concert and Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event are used to give over 400 children a day-long shopping excursion. The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their schools aboard a luxury tour bus, lunch, a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a Walmart shopping spree, where the kids receive new winter coats and $150 in spending money.
Kenny Chesney Joins Farm Aid Lineup
/by Eric T. Parker“Growing up in a small town outside Knoxville, family farmers were a big part of our community,” said Chesney, who is from Luttrell, Tenn. “I am proud to play on the Farm Aid stage again, especially in Central Pennsylvania, where agriculture is at the heart of the community.”
Chesney joins the 2012 lineup featuring Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds). Jack Johnson, ALO, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will also perform.
Ticket prices range from $35.75 to $99.75 and available at Live Nation and Ticket Master websites. VIP Packages are available exclusively at www.ticketsforcharity.com.
Farm Aid has raised more than $40 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement.
UMG Acquisition of EMI Divides Indie Community
/by Sarah SkatesSince then, European regulators have expressed similar concerns, and requested Universal and EMI divest a significant amount of assets—about $300 million worth according to the New York Times— in order to win government approval of the transaction. The European Commission wants to reduce the combined market share to less than 40% in any given territory.
As a result, indie labels now stand to benefit from the proposed transaction because they could purchase the assets EMI is selling.
EMI imprints and/or back catalogs up for bids include Virgin, Mute, and Chrysalis—labels that were born as indies and later sold to EMI. UMG boss Lucian Grainge, who would prefer to keep these catalogs out of the hands of the other majors, is trying to entice the entrepreneurs who founded the indies to purchase them back. He is even offering financing to indies. Virgin founder Richard Branson is reportedly working with Patrick Zelnik, the head of the French label Naïve, on a bid for Virgin. Mute founder Daniel Miller is also eyeing his former catalog.
According to the NYT, these opportunities have internally strained Impala, the international indie label trade organization which staunchly opposes the UMG/EMI transaction. Some of Impala’s most prominent members now stand to gain from the deal the group is fighting, including Zelnik who is an Impala board member.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reports that the European Commission may not be satisfied with UMG’s proposed back catalog divestments and may urge Universal to sell off the rights to newer music, which could expose the label group to breach of contract lawsuits.
Moreover, UMG may have to pay nearly the entire $1.9 billion purchase price before antitrust regulators in Europe have approved the deal, according to the WSJ.
Universal has until Aug. 1 to file proposed measures to appease the European Commission, which would then have until Sept. 27 to rule on the acquisition.
Paisley Rumored For “Idol” Judging Slot
/by FreemanPhoto: Jim Shea
Brad Paisley: guitar slinging country star, CMA Awards co-host, book author, and next American Idol judge?
According to deadline.com, Paisley is one of the male personalities currently being considered by American Idol producers for the show’s 12th season. Paisley would fill the role vacated by Steven Tyler, who announced he was leaving the show earlier in July.
“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” said Tyler in a statement. “I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back — but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.”
The Paisley rumor follows the big announcement on Monday (7/23) that superstar Mariah Carey has been tapped as the new female Idol judge, replacing the outgoing Jennifer Lopez. Remaining original Idol judge Randy Jackson will reportedly also stay on board.
It could be an important move for Paisley if true, as country stars have benefited greatly from reality TV exposure in recent years. Notably, Blake Shelton broadened his appeal and won America’s heart as a mentor on NBC’s The Voice, and Keith Urban opted for a position with the show’s Australian version. Additionally, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland recently participated in the first season of Duets, and Martina McBride is currently mentoring participants on the new E! series Opening Act. Celebrity Apprentice winner John Rich will also pop up on The Next: Fame Is At Your Doorstep, which premieres on the CW in fall.
ACM Announces Staff Promotions
/by Sarah SkatesLauren Brauchli is upped to Manager, Creative, PR & Production. She joined the company over a year ago and reports to Lisa Lee, Senior Vice President, Creative, PR & Production. Brauchli’s experience includes being a key contributor to the award-winning documentary Bound By Hope: One Family’s Story.
Amy Cannon is promoted to Manager, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. She joined the Academy last summer, when her work on sponsorship procurement with Teresa George at Cornerstone Communications was brought in house at the Academy. She reports to George, Senior Vice President, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. They are based in Nashville, while most of the ACM staff is in Encino, California.
Jenny Driessen advances to Social Media Manager, Creative, PR & Production. She joined the ACM in 2010 as an events department intern and was promoted to Coordinator, Membership & Events. She reports to Brooke Primero, Senior Vice President, Publicity.
Tommy Moore is promoted to Coordinator, Administration & Operations. Moore, a recent graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, joined the Academy in December. He coordinates overall administration of the ACM office with a focus on ticketing, operations, finance, and Board of Directors communication. He reports to Moon and Erick Long, Senior Vice President, Operations & Events.
Addie Saloman is upped to Coordinator, Membership & Industry Relations. She joined the Academy last November as an assistant. Saloman will maintain the Academy’s awards voting research, liaise with the committees and coordinate key Academy industry events. Saloman graduated from Belmont University and reports to Michelle Goble, Senior Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations.
New hire Kathryn Nauman joins as Assistant, Membership & Industry Relations. She graduated from Arizona State University and interned at the Academy and Clear Channel Radio. She also reports to Goble.
The Mavericks Reveal Album Release Date and Tracklist
/by Eric T. Parker'In Time' Album Artwork: Stephen Averill/Mark Tucker
The Mavericks latest album, In Time, is slated for release September 25 in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the band’s first major label album release.
Cuban-American frontman Raul Malo wrote or co-wrote all 10 songs on the The Valory Music Co. project, in addition to co-producing the album with Niko Bolas. The group’s current single, “Born To Be Blue” (music video attached below) lands at No. 58 on this week’s CountryBreakout Chart.
“The idea that we came together and made this record is a testament to faith, fate, and chance,” said Malo. “All three were essential in the making of In Time. In turn, this is the record we are most proud of.”
In Time Tracklist:
Back In Your Arms Again (Raul Malo, Gary Nicholson, Seth Walker)
Lies (Raul Malo, Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero)
Born To Be Blue (Raul Malo, James House)
Come Unto Me (Raul Malo)
In Another’s Arms (Raul Malo)
Fall Apart (Raul Malo)
That’s Not My Name (Raul Malo, Wally Wilson)
Amsterdam Moon (Raul Malo)
As Long As There’s Loving Tonight (Raul Malo, Alan Miller, Seth Walker)
Call Me When You Get To Heaven (Raul Malo)
Snapshots (7/25/12)
/by MichelleSongwriter/recording artist and SESAC affiliate Cledus T. Judd has signed an exclusive agreement with Warner Chappell Music Publishing/Amylase Entertainment for representation. Judd, along with Warner Chappell and Amylase executives, stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters recently for a visit.
(L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Warner Chappell’s B.J. Hill & Alicia Pruitt, Amylase Entertainment’s Tracey Jones, Judd, Amylase Entertainment’s Whit Jeffords and Curt Jones, SESAC’s Tim Fink, Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland and Phil May. Photo: Peyton Hoge
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The Academy of Country Music welcomed ACM Award winner Dwight Yoakam for a visit earlier this month. While at the Academy he previewed songs from his upcoming album, 3 Pears, which will be released Sept. 18 on Warner Bros. Records. Yoakam will be honored with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award at the 6th Annual ACM Honors event on Sept. 24 in Nashville.
(L-R): Tree Paine, Warner Music Nashville; Bob Romeo, ACM CEO; Dwight Yoakam; Laura McCorkindale, Bluebird House; Michelle Goble, ACM Senior Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations) Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the ACM
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Eli Young Band took fan appreciation to the next level recently by calling their fans directly for several hours on Sunday (7/22). They wanted to personally thank their fans for recent career successes including chart topper “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”
(L-R): Chris Thompson, James Young, Mike Eli, Jon Jones Photo: HBPR and Triple 8 Management