BMG Chrysalis yesterday (11/16) announced the appointment of Wendy Griffiths as SVP, Marketing at the Los Angeles offices, responsible for all US marketing initiatives. Additionally, Griffiths will collaborate with the A&R department and international affiliates and will report to Laurent Hubert, EVP, COO.
“This job is the culmination of everything I have done previously in the music business,” said Griffiths, whose experience comes from 25 years as SVP at Warner Brother Records in the video and film departments.
Griffiths played a key role in the development of Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Michael Bublé, Michelle Branch, Muse, Linkin Park and developed global marketing campaigns for Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Neil Young, Cher, and Eric Clapton.
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Jonathan Bender, COO, SoundExchange
SoundExchange announced the appointment of Jonathan C. Bender as COO, to oversee operational structure, repertoire management and tracking database to collect and distribute music royalties on behalf of artists and labels.
“Jonathan has a solid reputation, most notably for pioneering digital content development for some of the world’s leading record labels, and a track record in growing and transforming organizations,” said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe.
Jonathan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and brings more than 20 years of music industry expertise to his position where he served in senior operational roles at Concord Music Group, Universal Music Group, and EMI Music.
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Sanctuary5B Entertainment, the management home to Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top and others, has entered an ongoing partnership with Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE). The exclusive agreement is set to produce a variety of tours, destination festivals and other branded projects.
“The opportunity to work closely with [Sanctuary5B] is something I have imagined for a long time, and now it is a reality. We collectively have a very broad base of experience that will allow us to have laser focus on developing and creating new entertainment ventures,” said John L. Reese, founder and President of Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc.
SGE’s 2012 festival lineup will include six to eight major festivals performing over 250 dates and playing to over 2 million fans in over 20 countries.
5B Artist Management and Sanctuary Artist Management merged earlier this year to create Sanctuary5B Entertainment.
Big D and Bubba End Local WSIX Run
/by FreemanIn related news, Premiere Radio’s The Big D and Bubba Show will debut on the American Forces Radio Network next Monday, Nov. 21. The program will air 6-10 am ET on AFN’s Country station, broadcasting overseas in 177 countries and all US ships at sea.
“Being a part of AFN, and knowing that we can bring a little bit of home to our friends and family who are stationed overseas, is possibly the single biggest accomplishment in radio for us. We couldn’t be more excited!” said Big D and Bubba.
NMPA, HFA Offering YouTube Licensing For Indie Pubs
/by Sarah SkatesEarlier this year the NMPA, HFA and YouTube concluded a landmark agreement whereby independent music publishers may grant the rights necessary for the synchronization of their musical works with certain videos posted by YouTube users. HFA will administer these direct license agreements between YouTube and publishers, and royalties will be based on advertising revenue collected worldwide by YouTube from ads placed alongside user-generated videos.
“60 Minutes” Profiles Swift
/by Sarah SkatesThe 60 Minutes profile comes on the eve of the Big Machine Records release of her Speak Now World Tour—Live CD/DVD combo-pak. The North American leg of the tour wraps with sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Nov. 21 and 22, and the tour has been extended into 2012 with shows in Australia and New Zealand.
This week Swift sold more than 545,000 digital downloads when she released “If This Was A Movie,” “Ours,” and “Superman,” which were previously only available on the Target Deluxe Edition of Speak Now.
Billy Currington Heading Out On First Headlining Tour
/by Eric T. ParkerCurrington appeared throughout 2011 on Kenny Chesney’s Goin Coastal tour and most recently, performed a Veterans Day concert attended by President Barack Obama on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson which aired live on ESPN.
Grammy-nominated artist David Nail just released his sophomore album The Sound Of A Million Dreams, and Kip Moore’s debut release, Drive Me Crazy will be out on MCA in 2012.
Exact dates for the tour have not been announced, but details will be posted as they are confirmed on www.billycurrington.com.
Currington has accumulated seven No. 1s since his debut in 2003, sold over 11 million units, earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, two Grammy nominations and multiple CMA and ACM Awards.
CMA Country Christmas Coming Dec. 1
/by adminSugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza CMA Country Christmas, airing Thurs., Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.
Sugarland will perform “Silent Night” plus there will be performances from American Idol runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Idol winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill in a special duet with Miss Piggy.
CMA Country Christmas is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director, and David Wild is the writer. The special was shot in high definition and will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
National News: BMG Chrysalis, SoundExchange, Sanctuary5B
/by Eric T. Parker“This job is the culmination of everything I have done previously in the music business,” said Griffiths, whose experience comes from 25 years as SVP at Warner Brother Records in the video and film departments.
Griffiths played a key role in the development of Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Michael Bublé, Michelle Branch, Muse, Linkin Park and developed global marketing campaigns for Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Neil Young, Cher, and Eric Clapton.
• • •
Jonathan Bender, COO, SoundExchange
SoundExchange announced the appointment of Jonathan C. Bender as COO, to oversee operational structure, repertoire management and tracking database to collect and distribute music royalties on behalf of artists and labels.
“Jonathan has a solid reputation, most notably for pioneering digital content development for some of the world’s leading record labels, and a track record in growing and transforming organizations,” said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe.
Jonathan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and brings more than 20 years of music industry expertise to his position where he served in senior operational roles at Concord Music Group, Universal Music Group, and EMI Music.
• • •
“The opportunity to work closely with [Sanctuary5B] is something I have imagined for a long time, and now it is a reality. We collectively have a very broad base of experience that will allow us to have laser focus on developing and creating new entertainment ventures,” said John L. Reese, founder and President of Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc.
SGE’s 2012 festival lineup will include six to eight major festivals performing over 250 dates and playing to over 2 million fans in over 20 countries.
5B Artist Management and Sanctuary Artist Management merged earlier this year to create Sanctuary5B Entertainment.
Corey Smith Premieres Video On CMT
/by contributor“Maybe Next Year” is the new single from Smith’s 2011 release, The Broken Record (Average Joes Entertainment). The video was directed and produced by David Poag through Team Genius and filmed in Nashville.
CMT.com will launch the “Maybe Next Year Sweepstakes” later this month. The contest will allow fans to send photos of themselves finishing the phrase, “Maybe Next Year…” for the chance to win a trip to see Smith live at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC on Dec.31.
The song addresses the crossroads everyone faces transitioning from childhood into adulthood. “Although I wrote ‘Maybe Next Year’ in my late 20’s, I think it serves as a friendly reminder of the fact that we can all use a little self-improvement, no matter how old we are,” shares Smith. “I’m happy that fans will be getting to see the song come to life in such a vivid way. I hope they are as pleased with the video as I am.”
Industry Ink Wednesday
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Music Garden recently presented legendary clothier Manuel Cuevas with a namesake rose. Lynn Anderson was on hand to do the honors. It will be planted next spring in the Walk of Fame Park. The Nashville Music Garden is hosting a fundraising eBay auction with tons of celeb memorabilia starting Nov. 25. Click for details. Pictured (L-R): Host of NPT’s “Volunteer Gardener,” Troy Marden, Manuel, Country legend Lynn Anderson, Nashville Music Garden Founder, Pat Bullard and “Manuel Cuevas” rose hybridizer, Whit Wells of Wells Mid-South Roses. Photo: Katherine Bomboy
• Songwriters Troy Verges and Daniel Tashian have recorded a new album under the moniker The Boxwoods. Magic Hour is available digitally with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Salvation Army until the end of the year.
• Mitzi Matlock Music Publishing has a few reasons to celebrate as it enters its second year. The company has a cut on the new Montgomery Gentry album called “Damn Baby!,” and its song “Looking For America” was recorded by Mark Wills. MM Music is home to Bernie Nelson, Benita Hill, Lorna Flowers and actor Darryl Van Leer.
Curb recording artist Ashley Gearing attended the Commandant’s Marine Corps Ball in Bethesda, MD recently as a celebrity guest and was escorted by Lance Cpl. John Baxley.
• John Rich, Lucas Hoge, Leslie Satcher and Monty Holmes performed at ThanksUSA’s 2011 Benefit Concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on Monday (11/14).
• James Otto is joining Steel Magnolia on the road, filling in as Meghan Linsey’s counterpart on the Reba tour while Joshua Scott Jones is in rehab.
• Match Eyewear and Danny Gokey are partnering for the singer’s signature eyewear collection. There will be 12 frames available, set to debut in March 2012.
• Jesse Lee has self-released an 8-song EP. The former Atlantic Records artist worked with producers Mark Bright, Paul Worley, and Nathan Chapman on the project. Among the writers on the album are Eric Church, Stephanie Chapman, Kara Dioguardi, Chris Tompkins, Marty Dodson, Brad Crisler, Luke Laird, Marv Green and Tony Mullins.
• Amy Kurland, original founder of the Bluebird Cafe, and her brother Peter Kurland, a sound engineer and owner of the Darkhorse Theater have published a new book by their father, musician Sheldon Kurland, whose group The Shelly Kurland Strings was instrumental in establishing the Nashville Sound. An Adult Guide to the Orchestra is a witty look at symphony orchestras and is available at the Symphony Store in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and at Amazon.com.
• Big Vinny from Trailer Choir has signed with Heather Cook’s Cook’n Up Music for songplugging services. The band’s new single “Love Me First” is about Vinny’s journey on The Biggest Loser. Cook’n Up also offers music publishing, and administration services.
Gary Morris was the headliner at Kid Gig 2011 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Kid Gig is the annual fundraiser for Sea Star Kids, an organization that provides a Christian summer camp experience for Ukraine's children in need. Lisa Harless of Regions Bank emceed the event. (L-R): Sea Star Kids founder Dr. Gary Jerkins, Morris and Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless.
Americanafest Sets Attendance Records, 2012 Dates
/by Caitlin RantalaThe 2011 Americana Music Association Festival and Conference saw the participation of over 10,000 fans, 300 performing artists and 1,000 music industry professionals during the four-day celebration of American Roots inspired music.
The most significant increase in attendance took place at the conference portion of this year’s event, where industry and artists gathered for a series of educational workshops and seminars. Peaking at over 1,130 attendees, a 25% gain over last year, registration for the conference has now increased by 35% since 2009. The 2011 Festival & Conference also stimulated a boost in new AMA memberships, with a 13% increase in members in the last 12 months. Membership now stands at 1356.
The association’s capstone event, the Americana Music Honors & Awards show sold out the Ryman Auditorium for the first time in its ten-year history. The program was broadcast live on Nashville Public Television (WNPT-Channel 8). Additionally, for the first time in the event’s history, it will be broadcast nationwide by PBS. ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival is set to air this Sat., Nov. 19.
“This year’s event reflects the growing national and international popularity of the Americana genre,” says AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly. “That artists like Gregg Allman, Robert Plant and Lucinda Williams along with industry leaders like Neil Portnow, Rich Bengloff and Michael Huppe have flown to Nashville to be a part of our community is a huge honor.”
Lawrence To Host Sixth Annual Turkey Fry
/by Caitlin RantalaSince the launch of the “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry, Lawrence and his friends have donated more than 5,000 turkeys, serving almost 35,000 meals and raised more than $100,000 for the Nashville Rescue Mission.
This year Lawrence is getting help from his sports and entertainment friends, including 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold, Restless Heart, American Idol’s Lacey Brown, The Roys, The McClymonts, and Tennessee Titan cheerleaders and football players Rob Bironas, Daniel Graham, and Jordan Babinaeux. Each of them will join Lawrence in an effort to help prepare and fry more than 500 turkeys that will serve more than 7,000 meals this holiday season.
“The Nashville Rescue Mission is a blessing to our community,” said Lawrence. “Each year I am humbled by the outpouring of support from friends who give their time to be part of the turkey fry, which allows us the opportunity to help raise awareness of the great services that the Nashville Rescue Mission provides everyday to the homeless and those in need.”
The sixth annual event will be held in the parking lot of the Nashville Rescue Mission. “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry is free and open to the public, though donations to the Nashville Rescue Mission are requested.