Chapter 386
To quote the late, great Jerry Reed, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.”
Monday evening (1/23) was a confluence of hotness in Music City. You see, “Crazy Girl” isn’t just another No. 1 record, it’s THE No. 1 record of 2011. Lady Antebellum hasn’t just another No. 1 record, but TWO No. 1 records in a row, “Just a Kiss” and “We Owned the Night.” Both are co-written with red-hot Dallas Davidson. The band’s label, Capitol Nashville, is currently also hot, hot, hot with back-to-back chart-toppers for Eric Church (“Drink in My Hand”) and Luke Bryan (“I Don’t Want This Night to End”). It also has Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley in the Top 10.
Monday’s bashes celebrated all of that and more.
At BMI (1/23), the lobby was packed, because, “Everybody loves Lee Brice; everybody’s pulling for him,” explained Jody Williams. And, “Everybody loves Liz Rose. So that makes a lot of people,” gathering to support the “Crazy Girl” co-writers. Plus, there are the four members of the Eli Young Band and their friends and relatives.
(L-R): Sony / ATV Tree’s Terry Wakefield, Eli Young Band’s James Young, co-writer Lee Brice, Cake Taker Music’s Gilles Godard, co-writer Liz Rose, Eli Young Band’s Jon Jones and Mike Eli, producer Mike Wrucke, Eli Young Band’s Chris Thompson, Cake Taker Music’s Arthur Buenahora, Mike Curb Music’s Drew Alexander, and BMI’s Leslie Roberts. Photo: Steve Lowry
Jody had to hustle to hand out their awards and still make it to The Boun’dry to celebrate Lady A’s two chart toppers. Group members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood are both BMI affiliates, as is Dallas.
The celebration (1/23) was held in the venue’s third-floor space The Phoenix Room, festively festooned with paper lanterns hung from the ceiling and party lights massed on the cornices. Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, Davidson’s co-conspirators in The Peach Pickers, joined Lance Miller, Daniel Miller, Rick Murray, Sarah Trahern, Ed Morris, Alicia Warwick, Linda Edell, Donna Hughes, Bob Paxman, Bobby Young (on the eve of his “31st birthday,” RIGHT), Mary Hilliard Harrington, Perry Howard, Vernell Hackett, Suzanne Gordon, Julie Boos, Clay Bradley and Clarke Schleicher in making merry.
“This is a great and special event,” said Mike Dungan in greeting the throng. He noted that Lady A is now out on its first headlining tour and emphasized the character that Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley consistently display. Normally, you expect “misbehavior” and/or “attitude” by this point in a stellar career. Instead, Dungan noted that these three are, “respectful,” “joyful” and “focused.”
“If somebody wanted to paint a picture of the state of songwriting in Nashville, they would look no further, than ‘Just a Kiss’ and ‘We Owned the Night,’” stated Jody. Lady A’s album is now approaching Double Platinum and is up for a Grammy, he added. These are Charles and Dave’s sixth and seventh No. 1 singles as writers. “Then there’s Dallas Davidson,” Jody marveled. Dallas has four singles on the charts right now, is BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year (along with Rhett). He has co-written 16 hits and 11 No. 1 smashes in his career to date.
(L-R): Jody Williams (BMI), Dallas Davidson, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Ben Vaughn (EMI Music Publishing). Photo: Adam Boatman
Jody called producer Paul Worley to the stage as, “The best friend a hit singer ever had.” Steve Markland of Warner-Chappell (Dave and Charles) and Ben Vaughn of EMI Publishing (Hillary and Dallas) were summoned to the stage as well. Everybody got plaques.
Ron Cox announced that Avenue Bank is making a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project on the band’s behalf. Tim Fink noted that Hillary Scott is SESAC’s Country Songwriter of the Year and that the organization is making a donation to her charity, My Life Speaks. That group is building orphanages in Haiti. Dallas Davidson also made a donation to it, and gave vintage guitars to Charles and Dave.
(L-R): Dallas Davidson, Charles Kelley, Tim Fink (SESAC), Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Ben Vaughn (EMI Music Publishing). Photo: Adam Boatman
“I thank God for bringing Lady Antebellum into my life,” Dallas told the crowd.
The man who brought Dave and Charles to Warner-Chappell was in the house. B.J. Hill gave out some more plaques, followed by the CMA’s Steve Moore and Brandi Simms.
“Great songs make great radio,” said the CRB’s Bill Mayne. “Country radio world-wide loves you…Thank you for kicking off CRS by bringing your tour this year.”
“It would be very easy to take this stuff for granted, but they don’t and we don’t,” said Mike Dungan in conclusion.
For the past 11 years, Mike has led his staff in annual acoustic celebrations with the Capitol roster. Lady Antebellum upheld the tradition by capping the party with lushly harmonized renditions of their two honored tunes, accompanied only by Dave’s guitar and percussion by Hillary’s new hubby, Chris Tyrrell.
“We just want to say a huge ‘thank-you’ to each and every one of you,” Hillary said. “We’re having a blast,” added Dave.
The bash attracted Capitol’s biggest national and international brass, including Roger Faxon, Leo Corbin, Matthew Tilley, Greg Thompson and Colin Finkelstein. Now that’s what you call hot.
Bobby Karl Works EYB and Lady A No. 1 Parties
/by Bobby KarlChapter 386
To quote the late, great Jerry Reed, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.”
Monday evening (1/23) was a confluence of hotness in Music City. You see, “Crazy Girl” isn’t just another No. 1 record, it’s THE No. 1 record of 2011. Lady Antebellum hasn’t just another No. 1 record, but TWO No. 1 records in a row, “Just a Kiss” and “We Owned the Night.” Both are co-written with red-hot Dallas Davidson. The band’s label, Capitol Nashville, is currently also hot, hot, hot with back-to-back chart-toppers for Eric Church (“Drink in My Hand”) and Luke Bryan (“I Don’t Want This Night to End”). It also has Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley in the Top 10.
Monday’s bashes celebrated all of that and more.
At BMI (1/23), the lobby was packed, because, “Everybody loves Lee Brice; everybody’s pulling for him,” explained Jody Williams. And, “Everybody loves Liz Rose. So that makes a lot of people,” gathering to support the “Crazy Girl” co-writers. Plus, there are the four members of the Eli Young Band and their friends and relatives.
(L-R): Sony / ATV Tree’s Terry Wakefield, Eli Young Band’s James Young, co-writer Lee Brice, Cake Taker Music’s Gilles Godard, co-writer Liz Rose, Eli Young Band’s Jon Jones and Mike Eli, producer Mike Wrucke, Eli Young Band’s Chris Thompson, Cake Taker Music’s Arthur Buenahora, Mike Curb Music’s Drew Alexander, and BMI’s Leslie Roberts. Photo: Steve Lowry
Jody had to hustle to hand out their awards and still make it to The Boun’dry to celebrate Lady A’s two chart toppers. Group members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood are both BMI affiliates, as is Dallas.
The celebration (1/23) was held in the venue’s third-floor space The Phoenix Room, festively festooned with paper lanterns hung from the ceiling and party lights massed on the cornices. Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, Davidson’s co-conspirators in The Peach Pickers, joined Lance Miller, Daniel Miller, Rick Murray, Sarah Trahern, Ed Morris, Alicia Warwick, Linda Edell, Donna Hughes, Bob Paxman, Bobby Young (on the eve of his “31st birthday,” RIGHT), Mary Hilliard Harrington, Perry Howard, Vernell Hackett, Suzanne Gordon, Julie Boos, Clay Bradley and Clarke Schleicher in making merry.
“This is a great and special event,” said Mike Dungan in greeting the throng. He noted that Lady A is now out on its first headlining tour and emphasized the character that Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley consistently display. Normally, you expect “misbehavior” and/or “attitude” by this point in a stellar career. Instead, Dungan noted that these three are, “respectful,” “joyful” and “focused.”
“If somebody wanted to paint a picture of the state of songwriting in Nashville, they would look no further, than ‘Just a Kiss’ and ‘We Owned the Night,’” stated Jody. Lady A’s album is now approaching Double Platinum and is up for a Grammy, he added. These are Charles and Dave’s sixth and seventh No. 1 singles as writers. “Then there’s Dallas Davidson,” Jody marveled. Dallas has four singles on the charts right now, is BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year (along with Rhett). He has co-written 16 hits and 11 No. 1 smashes in his career to date.
(L-R): Jody Williams (BMI), Dallas Davidson, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Ben Vaughn (EMI Music Publishing). Photo: Adam Boatman
Jody called producer Paul Worley to the stage as, “The best friend a hit singer ever had.” Steve Markland of Warner-Chappell (Dave and Charles) and Ben Vaughn of EMI Publishing (Hillary and Dallas) were summoned to the stage as well. Everybody got plaques.
Ron Cox announced that Avenue Bank is making a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project on the band’s behalf. Tim Fink noted that Hillary Scott is SESAC’s Country Songwriter of the Year and that the organization is making a donation to her charity, My Life Speaks. That group is building orphanages in Haiti. Dallas Davidson also made a donation to it, and gave vintage guitars to Charles and Dave.
(L-R): Dallas Davidson, Charles Kelley, Tim Fink (SESAC), Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Ben Vaughn (EMI Music Publishing). Photo: Adam Boatman
“I thank God for bringing Lady Antebellum into my life,” Dallas told the crowd.
The man who brought Dave and Charles to Warner-Chappell was in the house. B.J. Hill gave out some more plaques, followed by the CMA’s Steve Moore and Brandi Simms.
“Great songs make great radio,” said the CRB’s Bill Mayne. “Country radio world-wide loves you…Thank you for kicking off CRS by bringing your tour this year.”
“It would be very easy to take this stuff for granted, but they don’t and we don’t,” said Mike Dungan in conclusion.
For the past 11 years, Mike has led his staff in annual acoustic celebrations with the Capitol roster. Lady Antebellum upheld the tradition by capping the party with lushly harmonized renditions of their two honored tunes, accompanied only by Dave’s guitar and percussion by Hillary’s new hubby, Chris Tyrrell.
“We just want to say a huge ‘thank-you’ to each and every one of you,” Hillary said. “We’re having a blast,” added Dave.
The bash attracted Capitol’s biggest national and international brass, including Roger Faxon, Leo Corbin, Matthew Tilley, Greg Thompson and Colin Finkelstein. Now that’s what you call hot.
Article Traces History of Women on The Row
/by Sarah SkatesMusic Row hasn’t always been easy street for women in the music business. An article in the Nashville City Paper by Kay West includes interviews with some of the industry’s pioneering females, and others including Joe Galante and MusicRow’s own Robert K. Oermann.
Frances Preston signing Dolly Parton to BMI in the late 1960s. Front (L-R): Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Back (L-R): Bill Earl Owens, and Preston. Photo: BMI.com
In the article, Frances Preston recalls opening BMI’s first Nashville office from her home—where she still lived with her parents. Jo Walker-Meador discusses becoming the first female executive director of the CMA, only after Minnie Pearl stuck up for the young woman who had already been toiling away at the upstart organization for four years.
The report covers other women leading the industry in the ‘60s and ‘70s such as Maggie Cavender, who became the first executive director of the Nashville Songwriters Association, and Dianne Petty who helped bring SESAC’s headquarters to Nashville from New York.
Well-known executives and friends Connie Bradley and Donna Hilley first met while working at an advertising and PR firm, and went on to head ASCAP and Sony-Tree, respectively. Nancy Shapiro paved the way for future females as executive director of the Nashville chapter of NARAS.
West reports on the present-day situation: “Five of the 11 VPs at Sony Music are women, as is half of Capitol/EMI’s senior executive roster. All were hired by the men running the label. What remains elusive: a female head of a major label.”
Read more.
Artist Photos (1/26/12)
/by FreemanEmmylou Harris celebrated her 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, Jan. 21. The special occasion was marked with appearances and performances from Harris, Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell (with whom Harris is recording a duets album), Shawn Colvin, Buddy Miller, Kimmie Rhodes and The Whites.
Emmylou Harris performs with Vince Gill (L) at her Grand Ole Opry 20th anniversary. Photo: Chris Hollo
• • • •
Retro duo The Secret Sisters (Laura and Lydia Rogers) were recently invited to become “Friends and Family” members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Sisters will spend much of February touring through Europe before returning home to do a show in Russellville, Alabama.
(L-R) back: Rachel Weingartner (Membership Coordinator), Pamela Johnson (Vice President, Development), Jay Orr (Vice President, Programs); front: Laura Rogers and Lydia Rogers (The Secret Sisters)
Industry Toasts Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer”
/by FreemanBMI and ASCAP celebrated the creative powers behind Keith Urban’s recent No. 1 hit “Long Hot Summer” (Capitol Nashville) at a party held yesterday (Jan. 25) at Cabana. Urban co-wrote the song with Grammy winner Richard Marx, and it’s his 13th overall No. 1.
During the event Urban invited two fans, whom he found on YouTube performing the song, to join him onstage for a sing-along.
(L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, producer Dann Huff, co-writer Richard Marx, Keith Urban, BMI’s Jody Williams, Universal Music Publishing Group’s Pat Higdon, and Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan. Photo: Rick Diamond
Richard Marx and Keith Urban perform their No. 1 single “Long Hot Summer” with talented fans Leslie Strong and Patrick Woolam. Photo: Rick Diamond
Band Perry, Shelton To Perform With Glen Campbell On Grammy Telecast
/by Eric T. ParkerMusic’s Biggest Night will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be hosted by LL COOL J. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Shelton is up for two awards: Best Country Solo Performance for “Honey Bee” and Best Country Album for Red River Blue. The Band Perry is nominated in the all-genre Best New Artist category.
Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include current nominees Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney, and Nicki Minaj.
Genevieve Jewell Leads The Collective’s Nashville Office
/by Sarah SkatesGenevieve Jewell
Beverly Hills based management and production company The Collective has opened a Nashville office under the leadership of Genevieve Jewell.
Jewell previously served as a manager at Borman Entertainment, where she worked with Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Michael Franti and Alison Krauss among others. Before that Jewell worked with Nettwerk Management. In 2008, Billboard named her one of their “Top 30 Executives Under the Age of 30.”
Joining her at The Collective is management client Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown.
In the three years since launching its music division, The Collective Music Group, the company has signed Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Counting Crows, Slash, Big Boi, Enrique Iglesias, and more.
“The Nashville music community has long played an integral role in the careers of many of the artists we represent so we’re excited to have found in Genevieve the ideal candidate to extend our presence there,” said The Collective CEO Michael Green.
“I am thrilled to join The Collective and open their Nashville office,” Jewell said. “This is a true all-encompassing entertainment company that does a remarkable job of building sustainable careers and brands for their clients, no matter what genre they are. Michael has put together an incredible group of bright, forward-thinking people from all areas of the industry including sponsorship, radio, touring, TV/film and digital production, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this team.”
The Collective’s Nashville office is located at 209 10th Ave. S., Suite 402 Nashville, TN 37203, and Jewell can be reached at GJ@thecollective-la.com.
Chris Young Makes a Donation to MTSU
/by Freeman“We are pleased that Chris chose to donate some of his touring equipment to the University,” said Joe Bales, Vice President for Development and University Relations. “This donation represents his latest efforts to give back.”
Craig Doman, Director of Production Services, added “a great big thanks to Chris Young for thinking of us. We accept his donation with gratitude and look forward to incorporating his gift into our many services,” Doman continued. “Our staff, which includes more than 100 students, will greatly benefit.”
Earlier today (Jan. 26), Young was nominated for ACM Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “Tomorrow.” His current single “You” is inside the Top 5 everywhere, and he’s currently on the road as part of Miranda Lambert’s On Fire tour.
12South Entertainment Launches In Nashville
/by FreemanGonzalez has more than 15 years experience as a music talent agent, including nine years with CAA in Beverly Hills. While there she worked with Jesse McCartney, Ashlee Simpson, Nikka Costa, Will Hoge, Van Hunt and Phantom Planet among others. Most recently she was VP Operations for MAC Presents, where she oversaw sponsorship activation logistics, IT services, and publicity. Her career also includes time with Atlanta venues the Dark Horse Tavern and The Point, as well as stage management for the city’s Music Midtown Festival.
“I’ve worn many hats over the years in the music industry and at the end of the day, I’m still just a passionate music lover,” says Gonzalez. “The goal of my company is to search for new and additional revenue streams for artists.”
Current 12South Entertainment clients include The CMO Club, MultiplyLive, TEDxNashville, and The Steven Roth Band.
Reach Gonzalez here.
Lady A Owns The Night With Ticket Sales Gold
/by Caitlin RantalaHigh demand has caused advance sell-outs at some of the nation’s biggest arenas like the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Allstate Arena in Chicago, American Airlines Center in Dallas and the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
“We have been really involved in the planning of our tour every step of the way…I remember drawing out an idea for our set design on a paper plate, so to now see it come to life is just crazy,” said Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “We are just so invested in every moment and making it a great experience for the fans, and we’re really excited for everything 2012 has in store.”
Fresh off celebrating their No. 1 hits “We Owned The Night” and “Just A Kiss” in Nashville this week, Lady A received five ACM nominations this morning (1/26), including Album Of The Year for Own The Night.
How To Become Famous? Hack Your Hit
/by bossrossWriter: Jay Frank; Published by Futurehit, Inc. Nashville, TN
Jay Frank’s second book, Hack Your Hit, is scheduled for release Jan. 31, 2012. His first book, Futurehit.DNA garnered excellent reviews. It was a long form discussion of how to make a song “more hitworthy” and easier to discover based upon historical changes in the technology that control how we listen to music.
On Hack Your Hit, the author has returned with a punchy writing style and 41 short chapters that each reveal a single marketing tip. Ideas range across social media and even things as simple as why male artists should use images of pretty women. Frank succinctly advises, “Hot chicks get clicks.” He also preaches the wisdom of sending handwritten thank-you notes. Why? “Because it makes an impact, and one that gives you a crucial edge. To be memorable above all other artists, you must do the things that 99% of the other artists don’t, and one of those things is sending thank-you notes.”
But there are also buckets of implementable ideas based in the digital realm. Frank offers a healthy serving of innovative ways for an artist to speed up the career growth process and discover those fans that are most likely to be attracted to your music. Twitter, Facebook, Google Alerts and Google Search are some of the frequently mentioned players. Tips for cultivating Superfans, getting maximum impact on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and strategic ways to utilize Google’s incredible search results are expertly harnessed to boost sales and visibility.
The real power in Hack Your Hit however, is its premise. The sheer quantity of great ideas gathered in one place, elevates the work to a valuable resource and more importantly, an inspiration. As the author humbly notes in the intro, “…the best hacks are not all mine.” Regardless, the savvy reader/musician will find Frank an invaluable guide as together they methodically pick and choose those ideas that fit best their unique situation.
And if anyone doubts the writer’s devotion to self promotion, page 76 should wipe away any such thoughts. Here, while telling his readers they must have a gimmick, he instructs them how to describe his book, asking them to “memorize it and use it as a secret handshake for other musicians.” In fact, Frank promises, “If you post that phrase on your Twitter account, I’ll send you a secret link to download a free bonus hack chapter not included in this book.”
So let’s see if it works? Here’s the twitter-ready phrase, and it’s a fitting end to this review.
“Man, you gotta read Hack Your Hit! There’s a ton of great secrets on how to become famous.”