Randy Travis Aligns With New Team Members

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2011 marked the 25th year of Randy Travis’ storied career, and he’s beginning 2012 with new management and publicity teams.

Going forward, the multi-platinum star’s career will be guided by Vector Management’s Ken Levitan and Jeff Davis of SUM Management. Davis’ working association with Travis spans over 24 years, and he will be creatively aligned with Levitan to continue developing opportunities for Travis. Levitan has worked with Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Fray, Trace Adkins, Kings of Leon and many more.

Additionally, Travis has tapped Webster & Associates Public Relations & Marketing to handle his publicity matters. CAA’s Marc Dennis will continue to represent Travis for booking and live performances.

In 2011 Warner Bros. released Anniversary Celebration, featuring Travis collaborating with the stars he influenced, to commemorate the singer’s 25 years of recording. In 1986 he broke out with “On The Other Hand” and went on to land 18 No. 1 hits, with sales totaling over 20 million.

Levitan and Davis will reportedly announce several new career initiatives for Travis in 2012.

Artist Growth Debuts Offering Mobile Toolbox For Musicians

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Artist Growth, a Nashville based company offering a sophisticated set of cloud-based business management tools for artists, officially launches today. Musicians Matt Urmy and Jonathan Sexton created the app that works on any mobile device to integrate finances, calendars, inventory, contacts, social media and mentoring resources from industry experts.

Joe Galante and Dr. Harry Jacobson, investors in Artist Growth, marked its debut with a party last night at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Mayor Karl Dean was scheduled to give a keynote address, while Vince Gill and Cowboy Jack Clement were set to make special appearances. Galante calls the system, “the record business in a box.”

Artist Growth reps will showcase the product later this week at the NAMM Show in Anahaim, followed by MIDEM in Cannes, France; Folk Alliance convention in Memphis, and South by Southwest in Austin.

As previously reported, other investors include echomusic founder Mark Montgomery and Moontoast founder Joe Glaser.

Urmy told Venture Nashville that the company has already raised $1 million in outside capital, and that the influx is continuing in 2012. According to the report it is also likely that the technology can be applied to areas other than music, including healthcare and education.

“It empowers artists to participate in the business side of music without being too distracted from their creativity,” explains Urmy, who conceived the idea in 2009 with Sexton. They began developing the application 18 months ago.

A low price point makes the app even more attractive. The monthly starter rate is $4.95, and a 30-day trial is being offered for 99 cents. The app is available in the Android Market, and Apple’s App Store.

Here’s a breakdown of what Artist Growth offers:

1. Combines every aspect of business in one place, helping artists understand what their career means to a label, manager, bandmate, or investor.

2. Cloud-based technology. Access Artist Growth and all resources via any web-based or mobile platform, with wireless syncing across multiple devices and users.

3. Simplified, customized daily tasks. Artist Growth’s Action Packs package to-do lists curated by industry professionals, using push notifications to organize everything from promoting a show to writing a business plan.

4. In-app financial management. Snap photos of receipts on the road, input directly to tax filing systems, and keep track of fan merchandise inventory all in one place.

5. A library of expertise. Access to career tips, tools, and advice from record executives, producers, artists, managers, and other industry experts on Artist Growth’s AGtv video portal, and more than 30K industry contacts via the Indie Bible.

Debate Over Piracy Acts Continues With Wikipedia Blackout

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A message posted on Wikipedia.com.

Internet and tech companies are in an uprising against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), bills making their way through Congress which have drawn support from copyright holders in the music and film industries.

Wikipedia is instituting a self-imposed blackout tomorrow in protest. Designed to draw attention to the bills, Wikipedia will go offline at midnight ET tonight (1/16) and resume operations 24 hours later.

Other sites joining the blackout include user-submitted news site Reddit, tech blog Boing Boing and the Cheezburger network of comedy sites. WordPress, a platform which helps bloggers build websites, is offering users a protest-SOPA widget to be place on their own blogs.

Other internet giants who have spoken out against the legislation include Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, eBay, and AOL.

The RIAA announced its support of the bill when it was introduced to the House of Representatives in October.

Last week a panel of experts assembled at Nashville’s Ocean Way Studios to discuss SOPA’s implications.

The Obama administration released its first statement about the bills on Saturday (1/14), noting that it would not support legislation that mandates “tamper[ing] with the technical architecture of the Internet through manipulation of the Domain Name System (DNS).”

DNS blocking is no longer part of SOPA or PIPA.

Currently, SOPA is in the U.S. House of Representatives, and PIPA is under consideration in the Senate. The
 Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN Act) has been proposed as an alternative.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/18/12)

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Canaan Smith

It’s Ballad Week, with Phil Vassar, Laura Bell Bundy, Georgette Jones and Mark Wayne Glasmire all offering slower tempo numbers.

Rascal Flatts is still on hand to bring a rocker, so that’s a nice change of pace. The mid-tempo winner belongs to the Zac Brown Band. Is it just me, or does Zac sound more and more like James Taylor? The third single good enough to compete for Disc of the Day belongs to our winner, JT Hodges.

As far as this week’s newcomer prize goes, I was all set to present it to Hodges, but it turns out that he had a Show Dog platter last summer (Hunt You Down) that I was also enthusiastic about. So that leaves softly earnest Canaan Smith as our DisCovery Award winner.

JT HODGES/Goodbyes Made You Mine
Writer: JT Hodges/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Don Cook, Mark Wright & Ross Copperman; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Adeline 29/Sings Station/Boomer Sooie/Ross Copperman/EMI Blackwood/Jon Mark Nite/EMI April, BMI/ASCAP; Show Dog Universal
—This has a certain “presence.” He’s not only a solid writer, but his vocal performance is up-close and personal, packed with personality and exuding confidence. The deep-twang guitar and driving production are also pluses. A star is born?

DOTTSY/Meet Me in Texas
Writer: Guyanne McCall; Producer: Justin Trevino; Publisher: Tracy Pitcox, BMI; Heart of Country (track) (www.heartoftexascountry.com)
—Dottsy reprises her ‘70s hits “I’ll Be Your San Antone Rose,” “Storms Never Last,” “Trying to Satisfy You,” and “(After Sweet Memories) Play Born to Lose Again” on her comeback CD. Its title tune is a gentle two-step. Her more mature, somewhat narrower range makes her vocal less than the strongest you’ve ever heard, but she gets the job done with warmth.

PHIL VASSAR/Don’t Miss Your Life
Writer: Phil Vassar/Charlie Black; Producer: Phil Vassar; Publisher: Phylvester/Big Hitmakers/Rainy Graham/Songs of Salt Air, ASCAP/BMI; Rodeowave
—Vassar continues to make music as powerfully as ever. His new ballad is the latest take on the businessman who is too busy to enjoy his children growing up. An older man points him in the right direction. This pushes all the right emotional buttons. I’m in.

TYSON BOWMAN/Thank God for People
Writer: Tyson Bowman/Lance Lambert/Judy Rodman; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Guitar Shark (track) (www.tysonbowman.com)
—The ballad’s lyric about people helping one another is solid. But his voice is a completely generic honky-tonk baritone that is ordinary in the extreme.

RASCAL FLATTS/Banjo
Writer: Tony Martin/Wendell Mobley/Neil Thrasher; Producer: Dann Huff & Rascal Flatts; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Casa Jaco/Warner-Tamerlane/Boatwright Baby/BMG Gold/We Jam Writers/BMG Crysalis/Songs of Peer, BMI/ASCAP; Big Machine
—Are you sitting down? The new Rascal Flatts single has the banjo as a focus instrument. Mind you, the surrounding track rocks with plenty of crunch, electric guitar screams and percussion pounding. Exciting.

GEORGETTE JONES/Strong Enough to Cry
Writer: Max Barnes/Rory Lee; Producer: Justin Trevino; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Heart of Texas (track) (www.georgettejonesmusic.com)
—I’ve always been in this gal’s corner. The Nashville industry can’t seem to get past the fact that she’s Tammy and George’s daughter and listen with open ears. So it’s off to Texas, where this title tune to her new CD shows that she’s a super-fine country vocalist in her own right. The ballad is beautifully produced with perfect steel accents, delicately placed guitar notes, sweet fiddle sighs and a breath-taking harmony vocal by, I think, that Texas wonder Amber Digby.

ZAC BROWN BAND/No Hurry
Writer: Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/James Otto; Producer: Keith Stegall & Zac Brown; Publisher: Weimerhound/Lil’ Dub/Angelika/Warner-Tamerlane/Eldorotto, BMI; Atlantic (track)
—Single #5 from the ZBB CD You Get What You Give is a lilting ode in praise of kicking back. And what country act would you rather relax with while the harried workaday world rushes by? The richly textured “No Hurry” is following the multi-week chart topper “Keep Me in Mind,” so I look for big things from it.

MARK WAYNE GLASMIRE/Going Home
Writer: Mark Wayne Glasmire; Producer: John Albani & John Wayne Glasmire; Publisher: Traceway, ASCAP; Traceway (track) (www.markwayneglasmire.com)
—Sung at the top of his tenor range, this conveys immense yearning. The buzzy harmonica passages, plus subtle keyboard and fiddle backing are adroitly mixed and very ear catching. A folk-country gem.

LAURA BELL BUNDY/That’s What Angels Do
Writer: Jon Mabe/Jason Sellers/Michael Dulaney; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Publisher: none listed; UMG (track) (www.laurabellbundy.com)
—Formerly noted for her bounce, Bundy returns with a soaring, dramatic ballad of rescue and redemption. She marches confidently forward with every precisely placed vocal note while guitars shudder, pierce and shriek around her head. This lady can sing.

CANAAN SMITH/We Got Us
Writer: Canaan Smith/Tommy Lee James/Stephen Barker Liles; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; UMG (track) (www.canaansmith.com)
—Boyish sounding and likable. The gently shuffling track supports a poor-kids-rich-in-love lyric that’s just sweet enough.

MusicRow Promotes Jon Freeman

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MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson is proud to announce the promotion of Jon Freeman to Managing Editor.

In his new role, Freeman will be responsible for assigning and editing web-based news content as well as contributing news and feature posts for musicrow.com. He will continue to oversee the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart and related matters as Chart Director. Additionally, he will partner with Sr. News Editor Sarah Skates in assigning, writing, and editing content for MusicRow’s print editions.

“I knew immediately after meeting Jon Freeman that his enthusiasm and authentic desire to fly high above the status quo was an excellent match to my own philosophy,” explains Robertson. “I am very excited to have him at MusicRow in this expanded capacity. His contributions to MusicRow’s comprehensive and unparalleled editorial content, the hit-predicting CountryBreakout Chart, and managing daily operations are highly valued.”

Freeman joined MusicRow in January 2005 as Chart Manager, and has since been a regular contributor in print and online. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Management Information Systems, and later studied Music Business at Belmont University. Prior to joining MusicRow, he interned with the Americana Music Association and ASCAP Nashville while working at The Great Escape’s former Broadway location.

Jon continues to be available at jfreeman@musicrow.com.

Dates Announced For CMA Songwriters Series In U.K. And Ireland

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Bill Anderson, Clint Black and Bob DiPiero

The Country Music Association’s popular CMA Songwriters Series is coming to the U.K. and Ireland for the first time and dates have recently been announced for London, Belfast, and Dublin. The international tour will be known as CMA & BMI Present the CMA Songwriters Series.

“Music enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland are among our most ardent global fans,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The audiences there have a deep admiration for the art of songwriting and the artists. The popularity of our music and the receptive audiences make this an opportune time to travel the series abroad.”

Songwriters participating in the Series include Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, former CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Clint Black, and host Bob DiPiero, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Tickets are on sale now at the following locations:

Feb. 22
London – Islington Assembly Hall, Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1
https://agmp.ticketabc.com/events/cma-songwriters-seri/
Ticket prices £15 or £10 at the door or in advance.

Feb. 23
Dublin – Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Tickets available at www.wavtickets.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie or local phone: 1-890-200078 or outside of Ireland 353-1-4780766
Ticket price 20 Euros at the door or in advance.

Feb. 25
Belfast – Empire Music Hall, 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JQ
Tickets available through  www.belfastnashville.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk.  Walk in at any Ticketmaster outlet or Belfast Welcome Center.  Phone:  02890-246609
Ticket price £20 at the door or in advance.

SoundExchange Royalty Distribution Nearing $1 Billion

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SoundExchange distributed $292 million in royalty payments last year, up 17 percent from the prior year. The royalties are paid by Internet radio, satellite radio and cable TV music-only channels for their use of sound recordings, and are distributed by SoundExchange to recording artists, record labels, and a non-featured artist fund.

This brings total royalties distributed since the organization’s inception to more than $900 million. Based on last year’s distribution, it is likely the organization will hit the $1 billion mark soon.

SoundExchange’s distributions continue to grow each quarter, with the most recent being its largest to date. Fourth quarter 2011 distribution totaled $89.5 million with more than 18,000 payments.

The PRO’s 2010 administration rate was 6.7 percent, and the organization is projecting its 2011 administration rate to be even lower.

Photo: Keb Mo Joins Forces With Second Harvest

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Grammy winning artist Keb Mo hosted a special volunteer shift at Second Harvest Food Bank in Nashville last Thursday (Jan. 12). In collaboration with CMT One Country, Keb Mo treated the other volunteers to a live performance that included his new single “We Don’t Need It.” Following his performance, Keb Mo helped volunteers sort and package food for the organization’s BackPack program, which provides children with packs of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations. The program serves more than 6,200 children in Middle Tennessee.

For a limited time, Keb Mo is also offering fans an autographed copy of his current release The Reflection for a $25 donation to Second Harvest. More info here.

(L-R): Lucia Folk (Sr. Director Public Affairs, CMT), Keb Mo and Jaynee Day (President and CEO Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee)

Jake Owen Reschedules Concerts

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Photo: @JakeOwen Twitter

Jake Owen has been forced to cancel the rest of his January tour dates following surgery today (Jan. 17) to mend a broken collarbone he sustained in a snowboarding accident.

Owen was in Crested Butte, CO attending the BMI Songwriter’s Festival and crashed on the mountain Friday, Jan. 13 after hitting a 17 inch block of ice. The 30 year old singer is expected to make a full recovery, but his progress during rehab will determine when he will be able to start performing again.

Owen told Storme Warren, who was covering the songwriting event, “Man, it wasn’t like I was doing anything crazy. That’s why this is such a freak accident but the reality is if you’re not falling, you’re not learning.”

Owen was taken to the ER in Colorado and then to Nashville orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Dovan who confirmed multiple fractures in Owen’s collarbone and recommended surgery the following day.

“I’m so bummed that I have to postpone some shows but I promise you this, I’ll be back out on the road as soon as possible,” said Owen. “I probably won’t be able to hold a guitar for a while but I can still perform.”

Owen’s shows from Jan. 18 and 19 at Joe’s Bar in Chicago, IL have already been rescheduled for April 18 and 19, and the Island Resort & Casino shows from Jan. 20 and 21 have been rescheduled for April 20 and 21.

Avenue Bank Expands Team

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Clockwise from top left: Gaines, Grubbs, Yates, Small

Avenue Bank Chairman and CEO Ronald L. Samuels has announced a round of hirings, as well as a promotion in the company’s Nashville offices.

Paula Gaines has joined Avenue as Treasury Management Specialist, and brings with her 25 years experience in the financial services industry. She is a Certified Treasury Professional and currently serves as VP of the Nashville Chapter of the Association for Financial Professionals. Most recently she held the post of VP, Treasury Management Sales with First Tennessee.

Tony Grubbs has become a part of Avenue’s team as Mortgage Originator. Most recently, he was a Senior Mortgage Analyst with Eagle Bank in St. Louis, and has 20 years experience in residential lending.

Erika Lamanna Small has been promoted to Private Client Banking Assistant. She originally came on board at Avenue in May 2011 as a Concierge Banker. She received her M.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 2011, and her B.A. in Economics from Elon University in 2009.

Finally, Alex Yates has been named to the team as Concierge Banker at the Cummins Station branch. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2010 with a B.A. in Banking & Finance.