(L-R): Kevin Lamb (VP, Nashville), Kathy Spanberger (President and COO), Michael Knox (Sr. Creative Director), Neil Thrasher, Kim Wiggins (Creative Manager) and Chip Petree (Copyright Exchange / Petree Law)
peermusic is beefing up its roster with the signing of award-winning songwriter Neil Thrasher as a staff writer. With numerous hits to his credit, Thrasher’s latest success is Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos On This Town,” and the upcoming Rascal Flatts single, “Banjo.”
Thrasher’s 20-year career includes writing or co-writing hits including “There Goes My Life” and “I Lost It” for Kenny Chesney, “Fast Cars and Freedom” and “Take Me There” for Rascal Flatts, and “What Do You Say” for Reba McEntire. He was honored as the 2004 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and as writer of the 2010 Gospel Music Association Country Song of the Year “Somebody Like Me” (Jason Crabb). “I am very excited about my new partnership with peermusic,” explains Thraher. “Everyone has made me feel at home and I’m looking forward to our future together.”
“When Michael Knox joined the company he and I developed a game plan as to how we would move forward,” says Kevin Lamb, Vice President, peermusic Nashville. As was the case with Vicky McGehee, Neil was at the top of our list of writers we wanted to work with. Neil rounds out that core, and comes to us with not only talent and respect, but a lot of energy. It’s a great way to start the year.”
“I am very excited to finally be working with Neil,” adds Knox, Producer/Creative Dir. “We’ve known each other for over 10 years and I’ve always been a huge fan. There’s nothing better than working with someone you respect so much and on top of that, be able to call them a friend.”
A Birmingham native, Thrasher grew up surrounded by music. His father was a member of the gospel group the Thrasher Brothers, who were later inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He soon followed in his father’s footsteps, moving to Nashville and pursuing his own music career. In 1996 he signed to Atlantic Records as part of the duo Thrasher Shiver and began landing cuts for other artists like Diamond Rio and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Galante Shares Experience With Rising Entrepreneurs
/by Sarah SkatesJoe Galante
Joe Galante is taking on a new role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center. He will maintain a desk and hours at the center to help Entertainment and Digital Media startup companies. In fact, he’s already supporting new companies such as Artist Growth and Populr.me, where he’s an investor. “I’m excited to work with the entrepreneurs that are creating the next evolution of this sector and keeping Nashville competitive locally, nationally and globally,” he explains.
“As we’ve been getting the Center up and running, one of my strongest calls-to-action has been for Nashville’s industry leaders to work through the Center to share their incredible depth of knowledge with Nashville’s entrepreneurs,” said Michael Burcham, President and CEO of the Entrepreneur Center. “The value that mentors like Joe add to the startup process cannot be overstated and we’re incredibly excited that he is joining us as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence.”
In April 2010, Galante stepped down as Chairman of Sony Music Nashville after 39 successful years with the same label family.
The Entrepreneur Center opened its doors in August 2010 after recommendations from the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Resources to help Middle Tennessee’s entrepreneur community include incubation space, training, networking, educational materials, and mentoring.
Pickler to Host Nashville Humane Association’s “Unleashed”
/by Caitlin RantalaThe Nashville Humane Association will have dogs of all shapes and sizes up for adoption, strutting their stuff on the runway with celebrity walkers including Jimmy Wayne, Julie Roberts, Allison Demarcus, Sarah Darling, Karla Lawson, Shane Tallent, Heather Byrd, Mike Smith, Margaret Ellis, Jeffrey Garner, Dean Miller, Russell Hitchcock and more. The runway will feature the work of local fashion designers, jewelry designers and interior decorators who have created custom “canine couture” pieces for the show. The pieces will be auctioned live to the highest bidder to benefit Nashville Humane Association.
Tickets to Unleashed are $80 for general admission ($50 is tax-deductible and includes wine/beer during cocktail hour only and dinner), $150 for Catwalk admission ($120 is tax-deductible and includes wine/beer, special reserved seating, dinner and a gift). Catwalk and General tables can also be purchased for groups of 10. To purchase tickets, go to www.nashvillehumane.org.
For more info, please contact Lisa Reeves, Event and Public Relations Manager at 615-354-6342 or lisa@nashvillehumane.org or Darcy Lashinsky at darcy.lashinsky@hotmail.com.
Curb Releases Advance McGraw Single
/by Freeman“The One That Got Away” is one of two planned advance single releases from Emotional Traffic, and the second is expected soon. The 12 track album features production from Darran Smith and a guest appearance by R&B star Ne-Yo.
Previously released tracks from the album include McGraw’s current single “Better Than I Used To Be,” as well as No.1 hit “Felt Good On My Lips” and “Right Back Atcha Babe” which was released digitally on Dec. 20.
Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley Score Gold Singles
/by Eric T. ParkerLuke Bryan Goes Gold
The single, which experienced the highest weekly digital track sales of Bryan’s career with 128,000 downloads, is currently No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart
Bryan will be joining Jason Aldean on the 2012 leg of his My Kinda Party Tour, kicking off in Greenville, SC on Jan. 20.
Bryan’s previous single, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” joined his 2009 single “Do I” and received RIAA platinum certification.
••••
Dierks Bentley Goes Gold
Bentley’s sixth studio album is scheduled for release on Feb. 7 with its current single and title track “Home” is currently No. 6 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.
Peermusic Adds Hit Songwriter To Roster
/by Sarah Skates(L-R): Kevin Lamb (VP, Nashville), Kathy Spanberger (President and COO), Michael Knox (Sr. Creative Director), Neil Thrasher, Kim Wiggins (Creative Manager) and Chip Petree (Copyright Exchange / Petree Law)
peermusic is beefing up its roster with the signing of award-winning songwriter Neil Thrasher as a staff writer. With numerous hits to his credit, Thrasher’s latest success is Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos On This Town,” and the upcoming Rascal Flatts single, “Banjo.”
Thrasher’s 20-year career includes writing or co-writing hits including “There Goes My Life” and “I Lost It” for Kenny Chesney, “Fast Cars and Freedom” and “Take Me There” for Rascal Flatts, and “What Do You Say” for Reba McEntire. He was honored as the 2004 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and as writer of the 2010 Gospel Music Association Country Song of the Year “Somebody Like Me” (Jason Crabb). “I am very excited about my new partnership with peermusic,” explains Thraher. “Everyone has made me feel at home and I’m looking forward to our future together.”
“When Michael Knox joined the company he and I developed a game plan as to how we would move forward,” says Kevin Lamb, Vice President, peermusic Nashville. As was the case with Vicky McGehee, Neil was at the top of our list of writers we wanted to work with. Neil rounds out that core, and comes to us with not only talent and respect, but a lot of energy. It’s a great way to start the year.”
“I am very excited to finally be working with Neil,” adds Knox, Producer/Creative Dir. “We’ve known each other for over 10 years and I’ve always been a huge fan. There’s nothing better than working with someone you respect so much and on top of that, be able to call them a friend.”
A Birmingham native, Thrasher grew up surrounded by music. His father was a member of the gospel group the Thrasher Brothers, who were later inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He soon followed in his father’s footsteps, moving to Nashville and pursuing his own music career. In 1996 he signed to Atlantic Records as part of the duo Thrasher Shiver and began landing cuts for other artists like Diamond Rio and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Gene Watson Prepares “Best of the Best”
/by Freeman“My first recording ever was on a little ole independent label that was started up just for this recording session, Sun Valley Records,” says Watson. “Maybe I thought I could sell them at my shows or something. I wrote the record, ‘If It Was That Easy.’ It was not any good, but, boy, I thought that was something. I had my own record.”
Best of the Best features re-recorded versions of Watson’s classics like “Fourteen Carat Mind,” “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” “Farewell Party,” “Memories To Burn,” and more. Steel legend Sonny Garish was brought in to reprise his parts from the originals and the rest of the session players worked to faithfully recreate the arrangements.
Since his first recording in 1962, Watson’s career has boasted two dozen Top 10 hits beginning with “Love In The Hot Afternoon.” In 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame.
“It’s unbelievable to me that it’s been 50 years,” says Watson. “For most of those years, it seemed like it took everything I could do to keep working as steady as I needed to. Now that I’m older, it seems like everything comes to me without trying. I’m working more shows than I was 15 years ago.”
Breaking: ACM Announces Awards Date, Show Hosts
/by Sarah SkatesThe 2nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Zac Brown Band, will take place simultaneously with the Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Performances by ZBB and others to be announced, taking place at the ACM Fan Jam will be shown during the awards telecast.
Additionally, the Academy and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends—A Lifetime of Hits, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday, April 2 to air at a later date on CBS. Guests include Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more. Tickets sales from the event will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music.
The Academy will announce its full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country® events in the upcoming weeks.
Professional Members of the ACM can purchase tickets beginning at 10:00 AM (PT) on Tues., Jan. 17 through Fri., Jan. 20 by visiting www.ACMcountry.com and clicking the “GET TICKETS” link.
Details on the events and tickets at www.ACMcountry.com. Those who join the ACM A-List will receive a pre-sale code for tickets and information on discounted room rates at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay.
Photo: Musica Loves “Red Solo Cup”
/by FreemanWhat will those joyful dancing nudes from Musica get into next? We already know they can shred on their Telecasters and root for the Predators, but they apparently also enjoy making accessories from a certain brightly-colored drinking receptacle. Kudos to Toby Keith’s Show Dog-Universal, TK Management, and crew on the eye-catching stunt.
Photo: Caitlin Rantala
Marco Names 2011 Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits
/by Caitlin RantalaEvery December, the Nashville-based company surveys a panel of nearly 250 club owners, DJs and dance instructors from across the country to compile its rankings. Overall votes by the panel determine each song’s placement on the list.
“The added emphasis on dance in the music videos for this year’s top club hits was hugely popular with club DJs and choreographers,” says Club Connection Manager of Venue Marketing, Bobbe Morhiser. “By featuring dancers and dance clubs in the videos, these records leave a lasting connection with fans that dancing and Country music are a natural match.”
“We are thrilled that ‘Country Girl (Shake It For Me)’ was selected as the No. 1 dance song of the year,” says Capitol/EMI Records Director of Media and Public Relations, Taryn Pray. “This single took Luke Bryan to the next level, and it’s great to have the recognition of the dance club community.”
Peter Strickland, Sr. VP Brand Management & Sales for Warner Music Nashville, echoed the sentiment, “What a great way to start off 2012 finding out Warner Music Nashville has four of the Top 5 dance songs. Congratulations to Big & Rich, Gloriana and Blake Shelton.”
The 2011 Marco Club Connection Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits:
1. Luke Bryan – “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”
2. Blake Shelton – “Footloose”
3. Big & Rich – “Fake ID”
4. Blake Shelton – “Honey Bee”
5. Gloriana – “Wanna Take You Home”
6. Billy Currington – “Love Done Gone”
7. Jason Aldean – “Dirt Road Anthem”
8. Dierks Bentley – “Am I The Only One”
9. The Lacs – “Kickin’ Up Mud”
10. Chris Young – “You”
A complete archive of Club Connection’s Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits by year can be viewed at www.MarcoClubConnection.com.
Lambert Headed To Small Screen
/by Sarah SkatesShe Tweeted her enthusiasm: “Ya’ll I’m so freaking excited to be on my favorite show ever!!!”
The episode will also include a guest spot from Harry Connick Jr., who is joining the NBC series for a four-show arc as Detective Olivia Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) love interest. Michael McKean (Laverne & Shirley, This Is Spinal Tap, Smallville) will play the reality TV producer.
This may be her first acting gig, but it isn’t Lambert’s first venture into television. Last year she was working with ABC Family on a show loosely based on her childhood in Texas.
Lambert’s husband Blake Shelton is also involved with NBC as a coach on the network’s hit show The Voice, which returns Feb. 5.
An air date hasn’t been set for Lambert’s episode, but SVU regularly airs Wednesdays at 10/9c.
In recent years Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts have also scored guest spots on TV crime dramas. They appeared on the CSI franchise.