(L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Secrets of the List author David Ross, and BMI’s Kay Clary. Photo: Drew Maynard
Chapter 397
Oh, the trials of being a Party Boy – Should I go and celebrate with one of my best old pals or salute Music Row’s new Platinum puppy? The answer is, of course, do both: Nobody said this job was going to be easy.
So it came to pass that on Tuesday eve (5/22), we began the cocktail party at BMI to fete the publication of Secrets of the List, the debut book by David Ross. Waiters circulated with mini crab cakes, bacon-wrapped asparagus, smoked salmon on toast points, mozzarella-and-tomato skewers and other delights.
“I first met David in 1981 when I was a waitress at the Music Row watering hole Close Quarters,” recalled BMI’s Kay Clary, adding that at the time Ross was inventing himself as our “town crier” with his innovative publication of MusicRow. “It is hard to imagine us without MusicRow as a resource.” She introduced the magazine’s current owner/publisher, Sherod Robertson.
(L-R): Newlyweds Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman with David Ross
Sherod read congratulations from Suzanne Clement, the assistant to the Dean at the Curb College at Belmont University, and added his own felicitations. “Today is all about David and not about MusicRow,” he said. “We’re very proud of you. We have something very unusual – It’s a plaque!” It actually was kind of special – at the bottom was space for a card to be signed by everyone there. “We’re very excited to see where Secrets of the List takes you.”
“I hate surprises,” quipped Ross. “I used to know everything that was going on at MusicRow.
“I first met BMI as a songwriter, so it’s really a pleasure for me to have this party here. This is my first event as an author, so this is a new thing for me.
“If you’re going to be successful at anything, you have to have friends, supporters and loyal followers, and you all have been that for me. I love all you guys.” A portion of last night’s sales of the book will be donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame, he added.
The cast of characters attending was multi-generational, ranging from young tech nerds to industry vets. This is because the book is about maximizing marketing using email and social media, and we all need to learn about that.
Schmoozing fabulons included Jon Walker, Jeff Walker, Mark Wright, Janie West, Whitney Daane, Garth Shaw, Victoria Shaw, Vanessa Parker-Davis, Sherrie Austin, Tom Baldrica, Tom Corley, Tim McFadden, Tony Conway, Martha Moore, Mike Martinovich, Mike Milom, Jay Frank, Pat Finch, Dan Keen, Dean Unkefer, Ed Benson, Neal Spielberg, Eileen Littlefield, Jimmy Harnen, Katie Gillon, Jana Talbot, Woody Bomar, Lisa Harless, Kitty Moon Emery and Debbie Schwartz Linn.
• • • •
(L-R): Capitol Records Nashville SVP Marketing Cindy Mabe, Capitol Records Nashville SVP Promotion Steve Hodges, Producer Jeff Stevens, Bryan, Red Light Management’s Kerri Edwards, Capitol Records Nashville COO Tom Becci
Onward! Meanwhile, across the river on the C and D parking lots of LP Field, Luke Bryan took the stage (5/22) to whoop it up on account of that increasingly rare phenom, a Platinum record.
He couldn’t resist ad libbing. Luke was romping through hits such as “Rain Is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby,” and during “Drunk on You,” he interjected, “I guess I’m drunk on you and high on Platinum Time!” He also flung the contents of a Solo Cup over the heads of the crowd. “We’re just gonna kinda play ‘em and have a good time,” he proclaimed. He and the band sounded especially good. So kudos to whoever was in charge of sound.
The album in question is Tailgates & Tanlines. As usual, Luke Bryan was cheerful and ingratiating.
Scene makers at this sunshiny Platinum party included Joanna Carter, Jimmy Carter, Steve Bogard, Steve Buchanan (to whom we offered congratulations on landing the network TV series Nashville), Dan Hill, Dale Bobo, John Grady, Rob Simbeck, Charlie Chase, Lisa Konicki, Walter Campbell, Mike Vaden, Sarah Trahern, Tracy Gershon and Donna Hughes. Oddly enough, the fiesta attracted few interlopers or local on-lookers. I guess nobody expected us to be there in such an out-of-traffic locale. Especially during rush hour.
Miller Lite beer stations were numerous and convenient. Food trucks offered pizza, smoked barbeque and ice cream shakes. Carl Black Chevy had tented tailgate parties.
If you wanted to keep rocking that night (5/22), there was the Opry salute-to-the-military show, featuring a red-carpet walk of those who serve, instead of the stars. Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, John Conlee, Ronnie Milsap, Montgomery Gentry, Mark Wills and more were on the bill.
“This show continues the Opry’s long and very important tradition of recognizing our nation’s armed forces with a hail and ‘thank you’,” said Opry VP and GM Pete Fisher. The show will air as the premiere episode of GAC’s new Noteworthy at the Opry series on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. It will also be seen by US military around the world as part of the American Forces Television Network.
Musicians Jimmy Capps, Bob Babbitt To Be Honored
/by Sarah SkatesJimmy Capps
Separate events will highlight the achievements of renowned studio musicians Jimmy Capps and Bob Babbitt.
Acclaimed guitarist Jimmy Capps will take a seat on Sat., June 16 in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s popular series “Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians.” A first-call session guitarist for over five decades, Capps has contributed to classic hits and contemporary favorites by John Denver, Alan Jackson, George Jones, the Louvin Brothers, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, George Strait and Tammy Wynette.
Hosted by Bill Lloyd, the program will include a brief performance and an interview illustrated with vintage recordings, photos and film clips.
The program will be held in the museum’s Ford Theater, and is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and program passes are required for admittance. Immediately following, Capps will sign limited edition, commemorative Hatch Show Print posters. Visit the museum’s website for admission and signing details. The program will be streamed live at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.
• • • •
Bob Babbitt
Music City, Inc. will unveil its 60th commemorative sidewalk marker when bassist icon Bob Babbitt is inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame. Babbitt will join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Steve Winwood for the induction ceremony on Tues., June 5 at 12:30 p.m. in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville.
Babbitt is most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records’ studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966-1972. The group has received three Grammy Awards and played on hit songs including “My Girl,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Separately, Babbitt contributed bass licks to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder, “Mercy Mercy Me” by Marvin Gaye, and “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips.
The induction ceremony, which is sponsored by GAC, is free and open to the public. Durango Boot Company and Black River Entertainment are also supporting sponsors of the event.
CMA’s SRO Awards Nominees Announced
/by Sarah SkatesBallots will be sent to CMA members in the following categories: Affiliated, Artist, Engineer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Publicist, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, TV/Video/Media, and Venue. Final voting for the SRO Awards will take place online from May 25-June 11. Ballots will be tabulated by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Finalists were determined during the first step of the balloting process when voters submitted nominations in each category.
CMA’s SRO Awards 2012 Final Nominees are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Business Manager of the Year
Coach/Truck Driver of the Year
FOH (Front of House) Engineer
Lighting Director of the Year
Manager of the Year
Monitor Engineer of the Year
Production Manager of the Year
Publicist of the Year
Talent Agent of the Year
Tour Caterer of the Year
Tour Manager of the Year
Touring Musician of the Year
Venue of the Year
Video Director of the Year
An individual or company cannot win two consecutive years in the same category.
“Brothers of the Sun Tour” Readies for Kick Off
/by Sherod Robertson(L-R): Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney wrap up a week of rehearsals in Nashville for their "Brothers of the Sun Tour."
The Brothers of the Sun Tour, with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, kicks off its 21-stadium outing on June 2 in Tampa, FL. By the time it wraps up in Foxboro, MA on Aug. 25, the run will have traveled more than 19,000 miles over 88 days with 20 buses and more than 80 tractor trailers.
The tour will also feature guests Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen.
“It doesn’t seem that long ago when it was just 14 of us crammed into a 12-bunk bus we called ‘the iron lung,’ ’cause it leaked diesel fumes inside the bus,” said Chesney. “There weren’t enough bunks for everybody so we took turns sleeping on the couch and floor, but we were living our dream and having fun. And even though we have a lot more stuff now, we’re still having a blast and just as passionate about playing music and taking it out to the fans, whether it be in a club or stadium.”
“It’s been a lot of fun rehearsing in Nashville, but rehearsals are over. It’s time to pack the trucks and head to Tampa,” added McGraw. “I’m pretty sure there are towns in Louisiana with smaller populations than we have on our road crew. It takes a village and a lot of hard work by a lot of people, but I’m just excited for the fans because we’ve got one hell of a show planned for them!”
The 283-member tour crew will be fed by a traveling catering staff that will serve three meals a day. Almost 3,200 meals will be prepared for the tour in the five days surrounding the opening show in Tampa. Show day also includes the “Stage Bar & Grill,” which serves hamburgers and hot dogs on stage from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm. Grill chefs include the stage manager, truck drivers and members of Chesney’s band. Over the course of the tour, the production team will consume more than 50,000 bottles of water.
Having stadium shows on both Saturdays and Sundays requires two teams to build and tear down the massive staging. From start to finish, each team will spend 91 hours at each stadium. Staging for both Chesney and McGraw’s set includes an LED video wall with nearly 2,400,000 pixels. Lighting for Chesney’s set includes 80 strobes and 48 Syncrolites that are placed throughout the stadium to send five foot diameter beams of light criss-crossing the night sky.
“I use the word ‘passion’ a lot because it takes a lot of passionate and dedicated people to make this happen day in and day out,” said Chesney. “And most of the people that were with us a decade ago are still here. We’re a family.”
Industry folks, Chesney, and more industry folks at his rehearsal Monday (5/21) at Bridgestone Arena
This week, Chesney invited members of the industry to his final rehearsal to get a sneak peak of the performance. It was pretty obvious from the opening minutes of the show this is going to be a must-see tour for 2012.
A really cool feature is the 12-panel video wall which opens up to reveal 80 strobes of power that would surely send “Tanning Mom” into euphoria. The set list is a perfect mix of Chesney’s chart-toppers, older songs, and new material from his upcoming 13th studio album, Welcome To The Fishbowl.
(L-R): GAC President Ed Hardy and Chesney
Chesney told the guests he will also be joined on tour by the 245lb Blue Marlin he caught himself (see photo above) as, “a reminder not to take myself too seriously.”
The show is full of fun and energy, packed with hits and a powerful light show, but when Chesney strips it all down and performs “You And Tequila” with only his guitar, absolutely nothing is lost and proves to be one of the most intimate yet powerful performances of the show.
When the headliners join together to perform their duet, “Feel Like A Rock Star,” at the end of the show, the audience is sure to be feeling like rock stars right along with them.
Great American Country serves as media sponsors of the tour. “GAC is excited and proud to be the media partner for the Brothers of the Sun tour,” said GAC President Ed Hardy. “We’ve had many opportunities to work with Kenny over the years and are honored that he is allowing us to be a part of his team. To have Tim on the bill with him makes this the killer tour of the year.”
Americana Awards Nominees Coming Next Week
/by Sarah SkatesThe Americana Honors & Awards will be presented Sept. 12 at the Ryman Auditorium, where Bonnie Raitt will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
CMA Supports W.O. Smith School
/by MichelleThe CMA Foundation is donating $50,000 to benefit summer music education programs for 170 low-income students at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School. The donation is part of CMA’s Keep the Music Playing initiative, which supports music education on behalf of the hundreds of artists who perform for free during CMA Music Festival.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to bridge the school year by making music education available for these low-income children during the summer,” said Kitty Moon Emery, Chair of The CMA Foundation Board of Directors. “Supporting music education is an investment in the future of our city. Statistics demonstrate that students involved in arts programs have higher graduation rates and the benefits of music education translate to their other core curriculum.”
To date, CMA and The CMA Foundation have provided more than $6.1 million to support the initiative, purchasing more than 4,000 instruments for 80 Metro Nashville Public Schools and providing the tools and incentives to help keep students engaged in school. The figure also includes a $1 million endowment gift to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting.
For information about the school visit www.wosmith.org.
Photo courtesy of W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School
Rascal Flatts’ “Changed” Goes Gold
/by Caitlin RantalaChanged was produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts. It features five songs written by the members of the band and has garnered praise from the Associated Press, New York Times, NPR, USA Today and more.
Rascal Flatts is currently nominated for the 2012 CMT Music Award for Group of the Year for the “Banjo” video. Fans can vote through June 4 at www.cmt.com and the results will be revealed at the June 6 show.
The group is also nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the category of Choice Country Group. The awards will air on FOX on July 22. Fans can vote at www.TeenChoiceAwards.com.
Kevin Costner Launches Mini-Series And CD
/by Eric T. ParkerThe soundtrack from the series features music from his country/rock band, Kevin Costner & Modern West. Music from the album is currently available on iTunes and Amazon. The show tells the true American story of a family feud that nearly launched a war between Kentucky and West Virginia.
A slew of network promotional appearances got underway on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The star will also visit ABC’s Good Morning America today (5/24) and Live! with Kelly later in the day. On Fri., May 25, he’ll join the hosts of the morning show, FOX & Friends. Costner will also stop by for a 2-part episode for The Tavis Smiley Show within the week.
Costner’s band is gearing up for a summer concert tour across the U.S. and Canada to promote its current single, “The Angels Came Down,” which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Christian Digital Songs Chart. Its third CD, From Where I Stand, is expected to be released in the U.S. this summer.
Industry Ink Thursday (5/24)
/by Sarah SkatesEntrepreneur Christina Rahm Cook and Dan Hodges Music, LLC have entered into a joint publishing agreement and signed songwriter Chad Raymon. Hodges says, “I’ve worked with Chad for some time and Christina has followed his career closely. We are both thrilled with the opportunity to work with him long term.” DHM Administration, a division of Dan Hodges Music, LLC has been assigned worldwide administration rights for the venture. Pictured (L-R): Brittany Spyksma, Christina Cook, Chad Raymon, Dan Hodges, Susan Hodges. Photo: Robbie Quinn
Jake Dungan
• [Updated] Congrats to Jane and Mike Dungan on yesterday’s (5/23) birth of their first grandchild. Jacob “Jake” Graham Dungan was born at 2:17 p.m. to Jennifer and Chris Dungan. He weighed 8 lbs., 12 oz. and is 21 inches long.
• Joe Nichols and Show Dog-Universal have parted ways.
• Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ On The Patio returns for the summer tonight (5/24) with a performance by Charlie Worsham. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and show starts at 5:30 p.m. The series will be held the fourth Thursday of every month, from May to October, on the WMN Patio.
Aderra Media Works, which makes collectible flash drives with exclusive pre-loaded content, is expanding into the country market with a Nashville office. Drives can come with concert footage and recordings, behind-the-scenes video, unreleased tracks, or an entire catalog of albums. They can also be used for regular USB storage, and feature technology that allows for future materials to be updated onto the device. www.AderraMediaWorks.com
• Black River Entertainment’s Dawn Delvo is working to be the first woman in Nashville to raise $100,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through her Woman Of The Year campaign. She recently hosted a successful All Access For LLS Celebrity eBay Auction and is collecting donations through June 7 at www.allaccessforlls.com. Email her at dawn@blackriverent.com or find her on Facebook.
• Dwight Yoakam will give the Superstar Keynote Q&A at the 3rd Annual Billboard Country Music Summit, set for June 4-5 at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville. He joins a growing slate of speakers and panelists, including Luke Bryan and Willie Nelson.
• A new restaurant is coming to midtown/Music Row. Bishops Hot Chix will be at 112 19th Ave. S., according to the Nashville Post.
The May installment of ASCAP's popular monthly showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe featured Young Guns Publishing songwriters Cyndi Thomson, Gimm+Icky, Ben Reno, Cassidy Ford, Kimberly Paige and Phoebe Sharp. Young Guns Publishing, a division of Ramblin' Music, was founded in May 2011. Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Jeff Garrison of Gimm+Icky, Ben Reno, Kimberly Paige, Pheobe Sharp, Tripp Weir of Gimm+Icky, Cyndi Thomson, Cassidy Ford and Ramblin' Music President Cliff Downs
CMT Music Awards Adds Performers
/by Caitlin RantalaKeith, along with actress Kristen Bell will additionally handle hosting duties for the fan-voted awards event. Previously announced performers include Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.
Additionally, Luke Bryan will host the 2012 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year Special premiering Saturday, June 2 at 1 pm/CT. Bryan will present the nominees for the coveted Video of the Year category in the one-hour special.
The 2012 CMT Music Awards will air live Wednesday, June 6 at 7 pm/CT on CMT and CMT.com.
Bobby Karl Works The Room
/by Bobby Karl(L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Secrets of the List author David Ross, and BMI’s Kay Clary. Photo: Drew Maynard
Chapter 397
Oh, the trials of being a Party Boy – Should I go and celebrate with one of my best old pals or salute Music Row’s new Platinum puppy? The answer is, of course, do both: Nobody said this job was going to be easy.
So it came to pass that on Tuesday eve (5/22), we began the cocktail party at BMI to fete the publication of Secrets of the List, the debut book by David Ross. Waiters circulated with mini crab cakes, bacon-wrapped asparagus, smoked salmon on toast points, mozzarella-and-tomato skewers and other delights.
“I first met David in 1981 when I was a waitress at the Music Row watering hole Close Quarters,” recalled BMI’s Kay Clary, adding that at the time Ross was inventing himself as our “town crier” with his innovative publication of MusicRow. “It is hard to imagine us without MusicRow as a resource.” She introduced the magazine’s current owner/publisher, Sherod Robertson.
(L-R): Newlyweds Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman with David Ross
Sherod read congratulations from Suzanne Clement, the assistant to the Dean at the Curb College at Belmont University, and added his own felicitations. “Today is all about David and not about MusicRow,” he said. “We’re very proud of you. We have something very unusual – It’s a plaque!” It actually was kind of special – at the bottom was space for a card to be signed by everyone there. “We’re very excited to see where Secrets of the List takes you.”
“I hate surprises,” quipped Ross. “I used to know everything that was going on at MusicRow.
“I first met BMI as a songwriter, so it’s really a pleasure for me to have this party here. This is my first event as an author, so this is a new thing for me.
“If you’re going to be successful at anything, you have to have friends, supporters and loyal followers, and you all have been that for me. I love all you guys.” A portion of last night’s sales of the book will be donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame, he added.
The cast of characters attending was multi-generational, ranging from young tech nerds to industry vets. This is because the book is about maximizing marketing using email and social media, and we all need to learn about that.
Schmoozing fabulons included Jon Walker, Jeff Walker, Mark Wright, Janie West, Whitney Daane, Garth Shaw, Victoria Shaw, Vanessa Parker-Davis, Sherrie Austin, Tom Baldrica, Tom Corley, Tim McFadden, Tony Conway, Martha Moore, Mike Martinovich, Mike Milom, Jay Frank, Pat Finch, Dan Keen, Dean Unkefer, Ed Benson, Neal Spielberg, Eileen Littlefield, Jimmy Harnen, Katie Gillon, Jana Talbot, Woody Bomar, Lisa Harless, Kitty Moon Emery and Debbie Schwartz Linn.
• • • •
(L-R): Capitol Records Nashville SVP Marketing Cindy Mabe, Capitol Records Nashville SVP Promotion Steve Hodges, Producer Jeff Stevens, Bryan, Red Light Management’s Kerri Edwards, Capitol Records Nashville COO Tom Becci
Onward! Meanwhile, across the river on the C and D parking lots of LP Field, Luke Bryan took the stage (5/22) to whoop it up on account of that increasingly rare phenom, a Platinum record.
He couldn’t resist ad libbing. Luke was romping through hits such as “Rain Is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby,” and during “Drunk on You,” he interjected, “I guess I’m drunk on you and high on Platinum Time!” He also flung the contents of a Solo Cup over the heads of the crowd. “We’re just gonna kinda play ‘em and have a good time,” he proclaimed. He and the band sounded especially good. So kudos to whoever was in charge of sound.
The album in question is Tailgates & Tanlines. As usual, Luke Bryan was cheerful and ingratiating.
Scene makers at this sunshiny Platinum party included Joanna Carter, Jimmy Carter, Steve Bogard, Steve Buchanan (to whom we offered congratulations on landing the network TV series Nashville), Dan Hill, Dale Bobo, John Grady, Rob Simbeck, Charlie Chase, Lisa Konicki, Walter Campbell, Mike Vaden, Sarah Trahern, Tracy Gershon and Donna Hughes. Oddly enough, the fiesta attracted few interlopers or local on-lookers. I guess nobody expected us to be there in such an out-of-traffic locale. Especially during rush hour.
Miller Lite beer stations were numerous and convenient. Food trucks offered pizza, smoked barbeque and ice cream shakes. Carl Black Chevy had tented tailgate parties.
If you wanted to keep rocking that night (5/22), there was the Opry salute-to-the-military show, featuring a red-carpet walk of those who serve, instead of the stars. Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, John Conlee, Ronnie Milsap, Montgomery Gentry, Mark Wills and more were on the bill.
“This show continues the Opry’s long and very important tradition of recognizing our nation’s armed forces with a hail and ‘thank you’,” said Opry VP and GM Pete Fisher. The show will air as the premiere episode of GAC’s new Noteworthy at the Opry series on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. It will also be seen by US military around the world as part of the American Forces Television Network.