Forty-five new members have been selected to participate in the 24th class of Leadership Music. The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry.
“The Leadership Music Class of 2013 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of music businesses,” said Jamie Cheek, managing partner at Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, chaired the committee. “Once again, the selection committee has done an outstanding job in selecting members for a great Leadership Music class, and I am certain all will find the eight month experience enlightening and rewarding.”
Members of the Class of 2013 are: Rachel Barnhard, Digital Marketing, Borman Entertainment; Anthony Barton, Sr. VP, CMT; Holly Bell, Sr. VP, City National Bank; Teddi Bonadies, General Manager, Rodeowave Entertainment; David Boyer, Associate Business Manager, Flood, Bumstead, McCready, & McCarthy; Craig Campbell, President, Campbell Entertainment Group; Sarah Cates, Sr. Director, Curb College Initiatives, Belmont University; Misty Cochran, Director of Advertising and Promotions, Nashville Symphony; George Couri, President/Owner, Triple 8 Management (Austin, TX); Tiffany Dunn, Sr. Counsel, Loeb & Loeb; Marghie Evans, Managing Partner, Do Write Music; Nicole Gaia, President/Owner, NPG PR; Mary Forest Findley, VP, Sales and Marketing, Country Aircheck; Blair Garner, Host, After MidNite, Premiere Radio Networks; Jim Griffin, Managing Director, OneHouse (The Plains, VA); Chris Harris, Artist Manager, Rainmaker Management; Aaron Hartley, Sr. Manager of Administration, CMA; Frank Hernandez, Opera Singer; Jeremy Holley, VP, Consumer and Interactive Marketing, Warner Music Group; Honey Hopkins, Director, Music City Music Council; Tim Hunze, Owner/Partner, Parallel Music Publishing; Jennifer Jacobsen, VP, Industry and Government Relations, Sony Music Entertainment, (Washington, DC); Brian Jones, VP, Bobby Roberts Company; Thomm Jutz, Owner, TJ Tunes; Kelly King, Owner, King Pen Music/Rascal Flatts Entertainment; Will Korioth, Owner, WhiteWater Amphitheatre (New Braunfels, TX); Justin Levenson, Manager, Licensing Operations, SESAC; Jim McCormick, Staff Songwriter, BMG Chrysalis; Marc Meisel, Executive Producer, Prime Ventures (Gainesville, FL); Aaron Mercer, Sr. Director, Commercial Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ellen Meyer, President, Watkins College of Art, Design & Film; Cassie Petrey, Owner, Crowd Surf; Stacey Portnoy, Marketing Manager, Samsung (Bellevue, WA); Laurie Pozmantier, Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (Los Angeles, CA); Jeff Price, CEO/Founder, TuneCore (Brooklyn, NY); Brooke Primero, Sr. VP, PR and Marketing, ACM (Los Angeles, CA); Scott Register, Head of A&R, Think Indie Distribution/Birmingham Mountain Radio (Birmingham, AL); Paula Roberts, Executive Director, National Museum of African American Music; Paul Roper, President, Dualtone Records; John Shackleford, Managing Partner, Shackleford, Melton & McKinley (Dallas, TX); Lesly Tyson, VP, Promotion, Sony Music Nashville; Don VanCleave, General Manager, The Artists Organization; Jeff Van Driel, Director, Business and Legal affairs, Naxos of America; Brian Wagner, Marketing Manager, Ryman Auditorium; Colin Willis, Sr. VP, Sales and Business Development, Next Big Sound.
Pistol Annies Welcome Fans to The Henhouse
/by FreemanPistol Annies at the Wrigley Field show in Chicago on June 9. Photo: Blu Sanders
The Pistol Annies have created a new online community for fans called The Henhouse. Fans are invited to join and share their inspirations and explore the discoveries of other Annies fans.
“Tune in to ‘Live from the Henhouse’ with Hippie Annie (Ashley Monroe), Holler Annie (Angaleena Presley) and me, Lone Star Annie, for advice that your momma won’t give you,” said Miranda Lambert.
“Be as creative as you want; show us your inner Annie or Andy!” added Ashley.
The site also features Henhouse Radio, which plays an eclectic mix from Old Crow Medicine Show to Blake Shelton to Tom Petty. The Henhouse can be found at www.pistolannies.com/henhouse.
The Pistol Annies have also been added to more dates on Miranda’s “On Fire” tour. In September, the trio will head out for a series of headlining dates.
Pistol Annies on Miranda Lambert “On Fire” tour dates:
July 6 – Varysburg, NY – Jam in the Valley at Buffalo Hill Village
July 7 – Scranton, PA – Toyota Pavilion
July 12 – Orange Beach, AL – The Amphitheater at the Wharf
July 13 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
July 14 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 26 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center
July 27 – Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
July 28 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair
August 10 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Civic Center
August 11 – Hinckley, MN – Grand Casino Hinckley Event Center
August 12 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fair
August 17 – Fayetteville, AR – Taste of Country Festival at Arkansas Music Pavilion
August 18 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair
September 4 – Dawson Creek, BC – EnCana Events Centre
September 6 – Lethbridge, AB – Enmax Centre
September 7 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre
Pistol Annies-only shows:
September 15 – Frederick, MD – Great Frederick Fair
September 23 – Pomona, CA – Los Angeles County Fair
September 28 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa
September 29 – Ft. Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas
September 30 – Norman, OK – Riverwind Casino
UMG/EMI Merger Path Lined With Hurdles
/by Sarah SkatesUniversal Music Group
still has a few hurdles to clear before it can purchase EMI’s recorded music division. UMG said today (6/20) that the European Commission has responded to the proposed merger with a statement of objections.
When very large corporations merge it is not uncommon for regulators to ask them to sell off pieces or make other concessions to receive antitrust clearance.
Meanwhile, the $1.9 billion transaction is also under scrutiny in the US. According to Reuters, Universal Chairman Lucian Grainge and EMI CEO Roger Faxon, the top players in the deal, will appear Thurs., June 21 before an antitrust subcommittee to speak on behalf of the merger. Live Nation’s Irving Azoff is also scheduled to appear in support. Opposing the transaction in front of the subcommittee will be Warner’s Edgar Bronfman Jr., Martin Mills of the Beggars Group (4AD, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, XL Recordings) and Gigi Sohn of the public advocacy group Public Knowledge. The subcommittee is holding these hearings despite the fact that is has no formal influence over federal antitrust regulators.
UMG, owned by Vivendi, is buying EMI’s recorded music unit from Citigroup, which broke apart the publishing and label divisions in order to sell them off. The European Commission has already approved Sony/ATV’s $2.2 billion purchase of EMI Music Publishing.
Willie Nelson to Host Celebrity Golf Tournament
/by FreemanGolf begins at 10 am, and there will be a silent auction starting at 11 am. The day will conclude with a Night Life Golf competition. Attendees will also be treated to music from Paula Nelson, Sonny Throckmorton, Folk Uke, Zach Edwards, Jeena & Her Band of Brothers, Billy Joe Shaver, and Jamey Johnson with more expected to be added.
To register, visit www.willienelsongolftournament.com.
Blogs Set Off Facebook Frenzy
/by Sarah SkatesDavid Lowery, lead singer of Cracker and an instructor at the University of Georgia, unleashed an abrasive 4000 word diatribe on the subject at a blog called The Trichordist. It was in response to a post on NPR’s All Things Considered blog by intern Emily White, 21, who openly admitted that she doesn’t pay for music. White wrote:
This is a tiny portion of Lowery’s response, which includes many pertinent points:
As MusicRow readers well know, the industry has been fighting illegal downloading and file-sharing for years, with little headway being made.
Today when the subject surfaces, social media quickens the spread of news, links, comments and opinions. So far, songwriters, publishers, studio managers, publicists and reporters have weighed in on the blogs penned by Lowery and White. Share your own thoughts below.
Lady A Sells Out Australian Shows
/by Caitlin RantalaBefore heading overseas, the tour continues this week in the US with stops scheduled in Birmingham, AL (6/21), Atlanta, GA (6/22), Greenville, SC (6/23) and Indianapolis, IN (6/24). For a full list of tour dates, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.
Tuesday Snapshots (6/19/12)
/by FreemanFlying Island artist Gwen Sebastian made her Grand Ole Opry debut this past weekend and sang two songs including her current single “Met Him In A Motel Room.” Sebastian has visited the Opry many times, but never performed on the stage before this weekend.
(L-R): Pete Fisher, VP/GM Grand Ole Opry; Sebastian; Little Jimmy Dickens. Photo: Chris Hollo
• • • •
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently honored Jimmy Capps in its series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians. Capps discussed his career, including sessions with Alan Jackson, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and more; as a touring musician with the Louvin Brothers; as a member of the Grand Ole Opry band; and as a regular on RFD-TV’s Larry’s Country Diner.
(L-R) Back Row: Ray Edenton, Billy Linneman, Harold Bradley, Chip Young, David Briggs, Jimmy Capps, Eddie Bayers, Reggie Young, Weldon Myrick, Jerry Kennedy, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Wayne Moss. Front Row: Gordon Stoker and program host Bill Lloyd. Photo: Donn Jones
• • • •
BMI showcased some of its up-and-coming talent at boutique Two Old Hippies on June 14. Performers at the clothing store and venue in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood included Elise Davis, Brinn Black, and Kara McLeland.
(L-R): Davis, BMI’s Julie Stuckey, Black, and McLeland. Photo: Drew Maynard
“Ronnie Milsap’s Country Cut” Contest Announced
/by Freeman“This really opens it up to receive material from a broader range of songwriters, different than what Ronnie would’ve normally been pitched going into the recording of a new album,” said Creative Director, John Ritchie. “We’re going to find an amazing song.”
The judging panel will present Milsap with 25 finalists, and Milsap will select the winning song. The submission deadline is August 10, and it costs $20 to enter one song ($10 for each additional song). To enter visit www.americansongspace.com.
Industry Judges:
John Ritchie, Creative Director, American Songspace
Caine O’Rear, Editor, American Songwriter Magazine
Ken Madson, Manager, Average Joes Manangement
Noah Gordan, Head of A&R, Average Joes Entertainment
Matt Bjorke, Editor, Roughstock.com
Clay Hunnicutt, Senior VP of Programming Clear Channel Media & Entertainment
Colt Ford, Artist, Average Joes Entertainment
Caitlin Rose, Artist, ATO Records
Craig Shelburne, Writer, CMT.com
Shannon Hatch, Sr. Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC
Bradley Collins, Director Writer and Publisher Relations, BMI
Laying A Legend To Rest
/by Robert K OermannThe Music Row icon, Country Music Hall of Fame member and legendary BMI executive was fondly remembered at a visitation Sunday (6/17) at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Rotunda and eulogized Monday at funeral services conducted at First Lutheran Church in downtown Nashville. She died of congestive heart failure at age 83 on Wednesday morning, June 13.
The Rev. Becca Stevens, who co-officiated at the funeral with the Rev. Brian Hooper, likened the passing of Frances Preston to the falling of a mighty oak tree. Stevens is married to BMI songwriter Marcus Hummon, and she recalled the many occasions when Preston treated them so warmly at BMI banquets. She told the attendees how blessed they had been to have known such greatness.
“On the eighth day of Creation, God created music,” said Stevens. “Frances carried music to the farthest corners of the world.”
Vince Gill reflected that Preston was powerful, but that she wielded her power with grace and kindness. He sang “Go Rest High on That Mountain” in honor of his fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member.
Soprano Terri Richter provided some of the funeral service’s most memorable music. She sang “Ave Maria,” “O Divine Redeemer” and an a cappella “The Lord’s Prayer” and led the congregational singing of “Amazing Grace.”
Deanna Loveland performed harp instrumentals as mourners entered the sanctuary. Organist Mark Beall played “O God Be Merciful to Me” and “A Mighty Fortress” as Preludes to the service.
The church was decorated with massive white floral arrangements. The church bulletin’s cover was a reproduction of an abstract oil painting by the deceased’s late brother Doug Williams, also depicting a flower arrangement.
More than 300 Music Row dignitaries attended, including Preston’s fellow Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris, Jo Walker Meador, Brenda Lee and Harold Bradley. The mourners also included Gary Morris, Steve Cropper, Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen and William Lee Golden, Michael Bolton, Amy Grant, Ray Stevens, Deborah Allen, Norro Wilson, Roger Murrah, Layng Martine, Dennis Morgan, Paul Kennerley, David Conrad, Tony Brown, David & Carolyn Corlew, Roy Wunsch & Mary Ann McCready, Jim Halsey, Kyle Young, Joe Galante, Troy Tomlinson, Jim Free, Dick Gary, Bob & Laura Heatherly, Ansel Davis, Bill Denny and many of the deceased’s BMI colleagues.
At Sunday’s visitation, BMI songwriters including Paul Overstreet, Lee Clayton, Marshall Chapman, Hugh Prestwood and Jon Tiven reflected alongside Jim Foglesong, Dane Bryant, Evelyn Shriver, Sen. Doug Henry, John & Delores Seigenthaler, Rose Drake, Susan Nadler, Mark Wright and John Esposito. Frances Williams Preston is only the second person to have laid in repose in the Rotunda. Eddy Arnold was the first, in 2008.
As visitors entered the Hall of Fame’s lobby on Sunday, they were greeted by large floral tributes sent by Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert, the Country Music Association, Vince Gill & Amy Grant, the Nashville Songwriters Association and more. Singer-songwriter Joe South sent a lavender satin pillow surrounded by lavender roses. Its inscription read simply and eloquently, “She saw the light.”
Frances Williams Preston was laid to rest with a graveside ceremony at Spring Hill Cemetery on Monday afternoon.
Leadership Music Names Class of 2013
/by Sherod Robertson“The Leadership Music Class of 2013 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of music businesses,” said Jamie Cheek, managing partner at Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, chaired the committee. “Once again, the selection committee has done an outstanding job in selecting members for a great Leadership Music class, and I am certain all will find the eight month experience enlightening and rewarding.”
Members of the Class of 2013 are: Rachel Barnhard, Digital Marketing, Borman Entertainment; Anthony Barton, Sr. VP, CMT; Holly Bell, Sr. VP, City National Bank; Teddi Bonadies, General Manager, Rodeowave Entertainment; David Boyer, Associate Business Manager, Flood, Bumstead, McCready, & McCarthy; Craig Campbell, President, Campbell Entertainment Group; Sarah Cates, Sr. Director, Curb College Initiatives, Belmont University; Misty Cochran, Director of Advertising and Promotions, Nashville Symphony; George Couri, President/Owner, Triple 8 Management (Austin, TX); Tiffany Dunn, Sr. Counsel, Loeb & Loeb; Marghie Evans, Managing Partner, Do Write Music; Nicole Gaia, President/Owner, NPG PR; Mary Forest Findley, VP, Sales and Marketing, Country Aircheck; Blair Garner, Host, After MidNite, Premiere Radio Networks; Jim Griffin, Managing Director, OneHouse (The Plains, VA); Chris Harris, Artist Manager, Rainmaker Management; Aaron Hartley, Sr. Manager of Administration, CMA; Frank Hernandez, Opera Singer; Jeremy Holley, VP, Consumer and Interactive Marketing, Warner Music Group; Honey Hopkins, Director, Music City Music Council; Tim Hunze, Owner/Partner, Parallel Music Publishing; Jennifer Jacobsen, VP, Industry and Government Relations, Sony Music Entertainment, (Washington, DC); Brian Jones, VP, Bobby Roberts Company; Thomm Jutz, Owner, TJ Tunes; Kelly King, Owner, King Pen Music/Rascal Flatts Entertainment; Will Korioth, Owner, WhiteWater Amphitheatre (New Braunfels, TX); Justin Levenson, Manager, Licensing Operations, SESAC; Jim McCormick, Staff Songwriter, BMG Chrysalis; Marc Meisel, Executive Producer, Prime Ventures (Gainesville, FL); Aaron Mercer, Sr. Director, Commercial Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ellen Meyer, President, Watkins College of Art, Design & Film; Cassie Petrey, Owner, Crowd Surf; Stacey Portnoy, Marketing Manager, Samsung (Bellevue, WA); Laurie Pozmantier, Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (Los Angeles, CA); Jeff Price, CEO/Founder, TuneCore (Brooklyn, NY); Brooke Primero, Sr. VP, PR and Marketing, ACM (Los Angeles, CA); Scott Register, Head of A&R, Think Indie Distribution/Birmingham Mountain Radio (Birmingham, AL); Paula Roberts, Executive Director, National Museum of African American Music; Paul Roper, President, Dualtone Records; John Shackleford, Managing Partner, Shackleford, Melton & McKinley (Dallas, TX); Lesly Tyson, VP, Promotion, Sony Music Nashville; Don VanCleave, General Manager, The Artists Organization; Jeff Van Driel, Director, Business and Legal affairs, Naxos of America; Brian Wagner, Marketing Manager, Ryman Auditorium; Colin Willis, Sr. VP, Sales and Business Development, Next Big Sound.
SoundExchange Crosses $1 Billion Payment Threshold
/by Sarah SkatesMichael Huppe, president of the non-profit digital performance rights organization, credits the rising distributions to increased collections, and improvements in data management and technology to track performances.
SoundExchange collects and distributes royalties from non-interactive digital services, including satellite radio and streaming services such as Pandora. By comparison, on-demand digital services including Spotify and Rhapsody typically pay royalties directly to record companies, bypassing SoundExchange.
Terrestrial radio does not pay royalties to artists or labels, instead it only pays songwriters and publishers. The recent headline making deal between Big Machine Label Group and Clear Channel is shaking up that formula, with the radio giant set to pay BMLG and its artists directly without going through SoundExchange.
While SoundExchange paid out $292 million last year, terrestrial radio royalties remain more lucrative. For the 2011 fiscal year, BMI and ASCAP distributed a combined total of $1.62 billion in performance royalties.