Nashville-based Artist Growth earned the most votes in the “Best Music App” category during the MTV O Music Awards. The five-month-old startup company beat out fellow nominees like Spotify and Live Nation for the prize. In recent months, Artist Growth has announced a partnership with BMI to help streamline live performance royalties for participating artists.
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Country Radio Seminar is offering a “Crazy Days of Summer” discount on CRS 2013, which will be available from July 2 to July 31. During that period, a special $349 registration will be available until the end of the month or until 349 individuals have registered. Following the promotion, the CRS $399 Early Bird rate will go into effect. CRS 2013 is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1 in downtown Nashville. Register here.
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Big Machine Label Group is building on its love of racing and cars, as it has announced a long-term music partnership with Hot Wheels. The companies will celebrate the agreement with a “Double Loop Dare” tomorrow (6/30) during the X Games Los Angeles, which will air live on ABC beginning at 10:15 am. Two Team Hot Wheels drivers will pull off the stunt, driving their cars through 60 foot tall loops. See a preview here.
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Dale Turner
Radio promotion veteran and on-air personality Dale Turner has joined Radio Informer Inc. as VP Sales and Label Relations. In this role, Turner will oversee the compilation of Radio Informer’s Country CD sampler which is serviced to radio outlets and industry executives every month. The next issue ships on July 9. Turner, whose career includes time with RCA and Lyric Street Records, will also maintain his current morning show hosting duties at WDKN/Dickson, TN. Reach Turner here.
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The Society of Leaders in Development recently hosted its 10th Annual Music Row Yard Sale at Bridgestone Arena during the CMA Music Festival, raising $3500 for the Vanderbilt Music Therapy Program. The event collects memorabilia and promotional items from companies in the music industry and offers fans a chance to buy them during Music Fest.
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Congratulations to Dawn Delvo (of Black River Entertainment) and Rick Olszewski, who were named the 2012 Man & Woman of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Tennessee Chapter. Both honorees are from Nashville and collectively raised over $164,000 for the organization.
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Emily Mueller
Emily Mueller has announced the launch of [listen + connect] creative, a creative services consultancy for songwriters and producers. Among the services the company offers are A&R, catalog management, and songplugging. A graduate of Belmont University, Mueller’s experience includes time working with Sarah Buxton’s catalog at Tom-Leis Music as well as working with Taylor Swift producer Nathan Chapman. She is currently working with up-and-coming songwriter Brett Tyler and producer Eddie Gore. Contact her here.
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Western boot company Lucchese has retained Jim Havey Public Relations for representation of its new Nashville flagship store, which opened June 1 in the Gulch neighborhood. Located at 503 12th Ave. S., the 4,000 square foot space aims to blend the city’s music and fashion scenes.
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Nashville-based application development company WV Magic Design has changed its name to DevDigital. Founded in 2005, the company builds custom products for multiple platforms and has created products for Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, and more. For more info, visit www.devdigital.com.
Nail to Release Digital EP
/by Caitlin Rantala“It’s hard to believe the life that ‘Someone Like You’ has taken on,” Nail says. “It’s proof that people hunger for great songs – and they are open to different interpretations of songs they love… And then it’s being played by Blair Garner, added at CMT and even talked about by a pop radio station in New York! With all that, and people continuing to ask, we met with the label and asked what they could do. 1979 was their response.”
See the “Someone Like You” video here.
Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood Join ASCAP
/by Sarah SkatesMarc Driskill joined Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood in St. Louis recently to welcome them to ASCAP. The show was one of Lady A's last U.S. concerts before heading to Europe and Australia. Pictured (L-R): Charles Kelley, Marc Driskill, and Dave Haywood. Photo: Adam Boatman
Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood recently joined ASCAP as writer and publisher members.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Charles and Dave join ASCAP,” said Marc Driskill, VP and GM, ASCAP Nashville. “They are two of music’s most talented songwriters and their artistry has inspired millions around the world. We are thrilled to represent them and we welcome them to the ASCAP family.”
In addition to their major success with Lady A, Kelley and Haywood have co-written numerous songs for other artists, including Luke Bryan’s hit “Do I,” and songs recorded by Miranda Lambert, Josh Kelley, Parachute and more.
Lady Antebellum’s new single, “Wanted You More,” is from the band’s Grammy winning album Own The Night. The video, directed by Noble Jones and shot in Nashville last month, premiered last week on VEVO. See it here.
Hunter Hayes Earns Gold; Plans Tour and TV Stops
/by Eric T. Parker“Wanted” is the second single off Hayes’ Atlantic Records self-titled debut album. His first single, “Storm Warning” is nearing Gold certification as well. To date, Hayes has sold a combined total of over one million digital singles.
Hayes is so far the only country artist to play every instrument, write/co-write every song, and co-produce his debut album. He has been performing across the US and Canada on his Most Wanted headlining tour and recently announced plans to join Carrie Underwood this Fall on her 2012 Blown Away tour.
Hayes is scheduled to perform “Wanted” on CBS’ The Talk, July 24 at 1 pm CT. He recently made his national television debut on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman and also performed on Good Morning America as well as with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Signings: Brent Wesley, Josh Osborne
/by FreemanSinger/songwriter Brent Wesley has inked a deal with Sea Gayle Music Publishing. Following his participation in ASCAP’s Country Music Workshop under the direction of Bonnie Baker, Wesley won the 2011 ASCAP Foundation Leon Brettler Award and got the chance to perform at Lincoln Center in New York. He later participated in ASCAP’s GPS Project, pairing him with Sea Gayle’s Liz O’Sullivan.
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Celia Froehlig, VP of Black River Publishing, has announced the re-signing of songwriter Josh Osborne. “Josh was the first writer I signed back in 2010 when I joined Black River Publishing,” says Froehlig. “He is and will continue to be a valued member of our BRE family.” Osborne’s current credits include “Come Over” (Kenny Chesney) and “Neon” (Chris Young). He also has writing credits on upcoming releases by Greg Bates, Gwen Sebastian, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves and more.
L-R: VP of Black River Publishing Celia Froehlig, Osborne, Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr
AristoMedia Releases International Report
/by Sarah SkatesClick to see the newsletter
The AristoMedia Group has released the June 2012 issue of its Aristo International Report. Highlights in this report include:
• A recap and photo gallery of the successful 2012 Global Events showcases, held each year at the beginning of CMA Music Festival week in Nashville.
• A Q&A with Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly, who discusses the rising popularity of the genre in the U.S. and abroad.
• The upcoming Canadian CMA Awards, to be held this year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• A profile of “Big Daddy” Lance James, who has been waving the Country music flag in South Africa for more than 50 years.
• A look at Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night world tour, which is selling out in Australia.
• Info on Aderra Media Works and its innovative, custom USB drives.
• Photos, international festival news and more.
See the full report here.
Industry Ink (6/29/12)
/by Freeman• • • •
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Dale Turner
Radio promotion veteran and on-air personality Dale Turner has joined Radio Informer Inc. as VP Sales and Label Relations. In this role, Turner will oversee the compilation of Radio Informer’s Country CD sampler which is serviced to radio outlets and industry executives every month. The next issue ships on July 9. Turner, whose career includes time with RCA and Lyric Street Records, will also maintain his current morning show hosting duties at WDKN/Dickson, TN. Reach Turner here.
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The Society of Leaders in Development recently hosted its 10th Annual Music Row Yard Sale at Bridgestone Arena during the CMA Music Festival, raising $3500 for the Vanderbilt Music Therapy Program. The event collects memorabilia and promotional items from companies in the music industry and offers fans a chance to buy them during Music Fest.
• • • •
Congratulations to Dawn Delvo (of Black River Entertainment) and Rick Olszewski, who were named the 2012 Man & Woman of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Tennessee Chapter. Both honorees are from Nashville and collectively raised over $164,000 for the organization.
• • • •
Emily Mueller
Emily Mueller has announced the launch of [listen + connect] creative, a creative services consultancy for songwriters and producers. Among the services the company offers are A&R, catalog management, and songplugging. A graduate of Belmont University, Mueller’s experience includes time working with Sarah Buxton’s catalog at Tom-Leis Music as well as working with Taylor Swift producer Nathan Chapman. She is currently working with up-and-coming songwriter Brett Tyler and producer Eddie Gore. Contact her here.
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Nashville-based application development company WV Magic Design has changed its name to DevDigital. Founded in 2005, the company builds custom products for multiple platforms and has created products for Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, and more. For more info, visit www.devdigital.com.
Americana Music Festival & Conference Sets Performers
/by Eric T. ParkerNashville will host the 13th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, Sept. 12-15 at the Sheraton Downtown hotel, and the first round of performers for the festival has been announced.
Artists slated to play the showcases during the event include Billy Joe Shaver, Punch Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Richard Thompson, Sara Watkins, The Deep Dark Woods, Shovels & Rope, John Hiatt, Eilen Jewell, Rodney Crowell, honeyhoney, and John Fullbright. Additional artists and new events for the festival will be announced soon.
Bonnie Raitt. Photo: Marina Chavez
The conference features a series of panels and workshops designed to educate, discuss, advance and inspire attendees. Additionally, Bonnie Raitt has been scheduled to deliver the Keynote Interview and receive a lifetime honor at the weeks 11th Annual Americana Honors and Awards ceremony at the Ryman. Booker T. Jones and Richard Thompson are also scheduled to receive lifetime achievement honors.
For each evening of the event, the music festival will bring more than 100 acts to clubs throughout Nashville. Conference registrants and the ticket-holders are admitted to shows. Last year, the festival saw more than 12,000 fans.
For a full list of entertainment and information on registration, click here.
Aaron Lewis Album Gets Release Date
/by Caitlin RantalaCo-produced by Lewis and James Stroud (Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Chris Young), The Road follows Lewis’ debut solo EP, Town Line, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart last year. The forthcoming album contains ten brand-new songs, including first single “Endless Summer.” It also contains the Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson/Bobby Pinson-penned “Granddaddy’s Gun,” marking the first time in the Staind frontman’s career that he has cut a song he didn’t have a hand in writing.
The songs that make up The Road mirror the country roots of Lewis’ childhood. “This music and these songs represent who I am and where I come from,” says Lewis, who still resides in rural western Massachusetts.
The Road Track Listing:
1. 75
2. The Road
3. Endless Summer
4. Red, White & Blue
5. Lessons Learned
6. Forever
7. Granddaddy’s Gun
8. State Lines
9. Anywhere But Here
10. Party in Hell
Tour dates, ticket information, on-sale dates, and fan club promotions will be available at www.aaronlewismusic.com.
Songwriter and Painter Susanna Clark Passes Away
/by FreemanSusanna Clark with Guy Clark (L) and Townes Van Zandt (R) at Van Zandt's house in 1989. Photo: Alan Mayor
MusicRow sends its condolences to family and friends of songwriter and painter Susanna Clark, who passed away in her sleep at home earlier this week after a lengthy illness. She was 73.
Long an important part of Nashville’s creative community, Susanna Clark’s songs have been recorded by her husband Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many others. Her song “Come From the Heart” (co-written with Richard Leigh) was a hit for Kathy Mattea in 1989.
A native of Atlanta, Texas, she met Guy Clark in Oklahoma in 1969 and the couple relocated to Nashville in 1971. They were married on songwriter Mickey Newbury’s houseboat in 1972 and befriended songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and Rodney Crowell.
Clark was also a former art teacher whose paintings were used for the covers of Willie Nelson’s Stardust, Guy Clark’s Old No. 1 and Emmylou Harris’ Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town. A line from “Easy From Now On,” a song Clark co-wrote with Carlene Carter, formed Harris’ album title and inspired the cover painting.
A spokesperson for the family says that there will be no funeral service, in accordance with Susanna’s wishes.
Moore Partners with Cabela’s
/by Caitlin Rantala“I’ve always tried to partner with people and companies that I respect,” says Moore. “I couldn’t be happier to be associated with a company like Cabela’s. The lifestyle that they promote and embrace is an exact reflection of how I grew up and how I intend to raise my family. I respect and admire the folks from Cabela’s immensely. It should be a lot of fun and hopefully, together, we can reach the next goals we each have in place.”
Moore will be appearing this summer at the grand opening for Cabela’s new store location in Rogers, Arkansas.