Forty-five new members have been selected to participate in the 23rd class of Leadership Music. The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry.
“The Leadership Music Class of 2012 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of music businesses,” said Pat Collins, SESAC President/COO, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, chaired the committee. “Once again, the selection committee has done an outstanding job in selecting members for a great Leadership Music class and I am certain all will find the nine month experience enlightening and rewarding.”
Members of the Class of 2012 are: Monisa Angell, Violist; Sarah Baer, Tour Producer, Sponsorship, Marketing, 4 Fini; John Barker, President/CEO, Clearbox Rights, LLC; Terrie Bjorklund, National Associate General Counsel/ Copyright & Intellectual Property, AFTRA (Washington, DC); Chris Boardman, President/Owner, Chimimi Music; Paul Brown, Owner, Red Hat 22; Bryan Calhoun, VP, New Media & External Affairs, SoundExchange Inc. (Washington, DC); John Capek, Songwriter/Producer; Rosemary Carroll, Partner, Carroll, Guido & Groffman (New York City, NY); Bryan Clark, President/Artist/Producer, Rainfeather Records/Rainfeather Entertainment; Bradley Collins, Director, Writer/Publisher, BMI; Lori Condon, General Manager, Acony Records; Mark Crawford, Coordinator of Commercial Music, Tennessee State University; Jaynee Day, President/CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee; Patti Donohoe, VP, The Bazel Group; Tammy Donham, VP Marketing, Country Music Association; Christi Dortch, VP of Programming, Sales & Event Services, Tennessee Performing Arts Center; Yvonne Drazan, Latin Creative Director, West Coast & Mexico, Peermusic (Burbank, CA); Bryan Frasher, VP Promotion BNA Records, Sony Music Nashville; Andre Gaccetta, VP Marketing, George P Johnson; Suzanne Gordon, VP, Programming, Great American Country; Chad Green, Creative Director, Word Music Publishing; Dennis Gwiazdon, VP/GM, South Central Media; Jeffrey Hill, Agent, Creative Artists Agency; Amy Isbell, VP Public Policy & Government Relations, Universal Music Group (Washington, DC); Tamara Johnson-George, CEO, Tifandnik Entertainment; Jordan Keller, Partner, Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrew, Ghanem & Heller, PLLC; Andrew Kintz, Managing Director, Suntrust Bank; Joan Kornblith, Correspondent/Program Host/Producer, Voice of America (Washington, DC); Dee McLaughlin, SVP Brand Marketing & Creative, CMT; Louis Meyers, Executive Director, Folk Alliance International (Memphis, TN); Clay Mills, Songwriter, SeaGale Publishing; Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Academy of Country Music (Encino, CA); John Ozier, Director of A&R, Curb Records; Tree Paine, VP of Publicity, Warner Music Nashville; Brad Paul, VP Promotions, Rounder Records (Burlington, MA); Sherod Robertson, President/Owner, MusicRow Enterprises, LLC; Ian Rogers, CEO, Topspin Media, Inc. (Santa Monica, CA); David Schober, CEO, DASP Productions; Lang Scott, President/Managing Partner, Music City Networks; Scott Scovill, Owner, Moo TV, CenterStaging, Moo Creative Media; Tom Silverman, CEO, Tommy Boy Records (New York City, NY); Paul Sizelove, VP, Gaither Music Group; Steven Tepper, Associate Director, The Curb Center for Art Enterprise & Public Policy, Vanderbilt University; Hunter Williams, Sr. VP, SESAC, Inc.
Leadership Music Names New Class
/by Sarah SkatesForty-five new members have been selected to participate in the 23rd class of Leadership Music. The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry.
“The Leadership Music Class of 2012 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of music businesses,” said Pat Collins, SESAC President/COO, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, chaired the committee. “Once again, the selection committee has done an outstanding job in selecting members for a great Leadership Music class and I am certain all will find the nine month experience enlightening and rewarding.”
Members of the Class of 2012 are: Monisa Angell, Violist; Sarah Baer, Tour Producer, Sponsorship, Marketing, 4 Fini; John Barker, President/CEO, Clearbox Rights, LLC; Terrie Bjorklund, National Associate General Counsel/ Copyright & Intellectual Property, AFTRA (Washington, DC); Chris Boardman, President/Owner, Chimimi Music; Paul Brown, Owner, Red Hat 22; Bryan Calhoun, VP, New Media & External Affairs, SoundExchange Inc. (Washington, DC); John Capek, Songwriter/Producer; Rosemary Carroll, Partner, Carroll, Guido & Groffman (New York City, NY); Bryan Clark, President/Artist/Producer, Rainfeather Records/Rainfeather Entertainment; Bradley Collins, Director, Writer/Publisher, BMI; Lori Condon, General Manager, Acony Records; Mark Crawford, Coordinator of Commercial Music, Tennessee State University; Jaynee Day, President/CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee; Patti Donohoe, VP, The Bazel Group; Tammy Donham, VP Marketing, Country Music Association; Christi Dortch, VP of Programming, Sales & Event Services, Tennessee Performing Arts Center; Yvonne Drazan, Latin Creative Director, West Coast & Mexico, Peermusic (Burbank, CA); Bryan Frasher, VP Promotion BNA Records, Sony Music Nashville; Andre Gaccetta, VP Marketing, George P Johnson; Suzanne Gordon, VP, Programming, Great American Country; Chad Green, Creative Director, Word Music Publishing; Dennis Gwiazdon, VP/GM, South Central Media; Jeffrey Hill, Agent, Creative Artists Agency; Amy Isbell, VP Public Policy & Government Relations, Universal Music Group (Washington, DC); Tamara Johnson-George, CEO, Tifandnik Entertainment; Jordan Keller, Partner, Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrew, Ghanem & Heller, PLLC; Andrew Kintz, Managing Director, Suntrust Bank; Joan Kornblith, Correspondent/Program Host/Producer, Voice of America (Washington, DC); Dee McLaughlin, SVP Brand Marketing & Creative, CMT; Louis Meyers, Executive Director, Folk Alliance International (Memphis, TN); Clay Mills, Songwriter, SeaGale Publishing; Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Academy of Country Music (Encino, CA); John Ozier, Director of A&R, Curb Records; Tree Paine, VP of Publicity, Warner Music Nashville; Brad Paul, VP Promotions, Rounder Records (Burlington, MA); Sherod Robertson, President/Owner, MusicRow Enterprises, LLC; Ian Rogers, CEO, Topspin Media, Inc. (Santa Monica, CA); David Schober, CEO, DASP Productions; Lang Scott, President/Managing Partner, Music City Networks; Scott Scovill, Owner, Moo TV, CenterStaging, Moo Creative Media; Tom Silverman, CEO, Tommy Boy Records (New York City, NY); Paul Sizelove, VP, Gaither Music Group; Steven Tepper, Associate Director, The Curb Center for Art Enterprise & Public Policy, Vanderbilt University; Hunter Williams, Sr. VP, SESAC, Inc.
"Live A Little" At No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesBMI toasted the team behind the Kenny Chesney No. 1 hit “Live a Little” at a party in its Music Row lobby on June 2. The single, Chesney’s twenty-second trip to the top of the charts, was co-written by Shane Minor and David Lee Murphy. BMI songwriter Minor has lived more than a little: He was a bull rider and Los Angeles police officer before his current career as a hit-maker. The recent Chesney smash marks his fifth chart-topper.
(L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, BNA Records’ Bryan Frasher, producer Buddy Cannon, co-writers David Lee Murphy and Shane Minor, EMI Music Publishing Nashville’s Tom Luteran, BNA Records’ Skip Bishop, and BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Steve Lowry
Artist Updates: Sunny Sweeney, Margaret Durante, LeAnn Rimes
/by MichelleSunny Sweeney performed to a packed crowd in Louisville, KY recently (6/10) at 4th Street Live! Her set included several tunes from her album, due out on August 23, including her current single, “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving” and the Top 10 hit, “From A Table Away.”
Pictured (L-R): Sweeney and WAMZ PD Coyote Calhoun. Photo: Shari Roth, Courtesy of Republic Nashville
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Margaret Durante dropped by the MusicRow offices on Tuesday (6/14) to visit with the staff and perform a few songs from her Maybe Tonight digital EP.
Front Row (L-R): Tim McFadden, R&J Records; David Ross, Music Row; Margaret Durante; Sarah Skates, Music Row; Jon Freeman, Music Row. Back Row (L-R): Christie King, Music Row; Scott Siman, RPM Management; Schatzi Hageman, Hot Schatz PR; Sherod Robertson, Music Row Photo: Courtesy Hot Schatz PR
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LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes released her new song “Give” this week (6/14). “’Give’ is a powerful song with a message that I believe needs to be shared with the world, especially in these times,” Rimes says. “I’m so honored to sing this song and help spread that message.” Click to listen to the song.
Photos: Stealing Angels, Toby Keith, Bonnaroo
/by Sarah SkatesSkyline Signs Stealing Angels Members
Earlier this week songwriters Caroline Cutbirth and Tayla Lynn signed to Skyline Music Publishing. Together with Jennifer Wayne, Cutbirth and Lynn make up Skyville Records trio Stealing Angels. The band’s latest single “Paper Heart” was produced by Paul Worley and is climbing the country radio charts.
Pictured (L-R): Wally Wilson (Skyville Records/Skyline Publishing Managing Partner), Caroline Cutbirth, Tayla Lynn, Liz Morin (Showbiz-Row Music), Ronna Reeves (Showbiz-Row Music)
Toby Keith’s “Made In America”
Toby Keith debuted “Made In America” last week on the CMT Awards. Shortly after his recent USO Tour of the Persian Gulf, Keith went into the studio to work on his next album. “Made In America,” written by Keith, Bobby Pinson, and Gregory Scott Reeves came together so well that Show Dog-Universal rush released the song.
Pictured at the CMT Awards (L-R): After Midnite’s Blair Garner, WGH’s John Shomby, Joe Patrick, WAMZ’s Coyote Calhoun, Toby Keith, Town Square Media’s Bob Moody, WQYK’s Mike Cullotta & Dave McKay, CMT Radio’s Cody Alan, WQYK's Veronica "V Girl" and Show Dog-Universal’s Mark Wright
Nashville Bands Play Bonnaroo
The winners of BMI’s 2011 Road to Bonnaroo contest performed at the music and arts festival last weekend. Taking the stage at the On Tap Louge were Uncle Skeleton, Chancellor Warhol, and Cheer Up Charlie Daniels, representing Music City’s deepening indie melting pot.
Back row (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason; Uncle Skeleton’s Guy Lemon, Brady Surface, Carl Gatti, Zach Casebolt, and Ross Wariner; and Mercy Lounge’s Drew Mischke; Middle row: Uncle Skeleton’s Larrisa Maestro, Eleonore Denig, Cody Uhler, Katie Studley, Jeff Gibbs, Sara Dudley, and Sam Farkas; Front row: Dave Goodwin, BMI’s Clay Bradley, and Uncle Skeleton’s Mikie Martel. Photo: Erika Goldring
Luke Bryan Sets New Album Release
/by adminNot unexpectedly his new album also named Tailgates & Tanlines, is set for release on August 9, in time for the tour. The 13-track disc will include Bryan’s current hit, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” which landed at No. 1 on the digital singles sales chart in its first week with sales over 106,000. The new disc is co-produced by Mark Bright and Jeff Stevens. Bryan co-wrote 8 of the songs on the project.
Tailgates & Tanlines
1. Country Girl (Shake It For Me)- Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson
2. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye- Luke Bryan, Jeff Stevens, Shane McAnally
3. Drunk On You- Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear
4. Too Damn Young- Arlis Albritton, Casey Kessel
5. Don’t Want This Night To End- Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip
6. You Don’t Know Jack – Erin Enderlin, Shane McAnally
7. Harvest Time – Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson
8. I Know You’re Gonna Be There – Luke Bryan, Ashley Gorley
9. Muckalee Creek- Luke Bryan, Patrick Jason Matthews
10. Tailgate Blues- Brent Cobb, Neil Medley
11. Been There, Done That- Luke Bryan, Rachel Thibodeau
12. Faded Away- Luke Bryan, Michael Carter
13. I Knew You That Way- Jay Clementi, Radney Foster
Garth Brooks To Songwriters Hall of Fame Tonight
/by Sarah SkatesOthers joining the hallowed hall include Nashvillian Leon Russell, John Bettis, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly, and Allen Toussaint.
Also set to appear are Chrissie Hynde, Jimmy Jam, Billy Joel, Sam Moore and Boz Scaggs.
More here.
Musician Tony Lopacinski Passes
/by Sarah SkatesTony Lopacinski
Local musician Tony Lopacinski passed away on Wednesday, June 15. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family after a 15-month battle with cancer.
The Virginia native moved to Nashville in 2005 after a successful career on the road as Train’s touring guitarist. Since coming to Music City, he worked as Josh Gracin’s bandleader and teamed with the artist and Bobby Pinson to co-write the Gracin hit “We Weren’t Crazy.” Lopacinski also played with Shelly Fairchild, Julie Roberts and others. Recently he had been focused on his band Tailgate South.
Lopacinski was a lifelong musician who loved Kiss, The Beatles, The Eagles, Boston, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Fleetwood Mac and Aerosmith. His band Earth to Andy was signed to Giant/Warner Bros. in 1998 and toured with many of the ‘90s biggest acts including Stone Temple Pilots, Live, Three Doors Down, and The Foo Fighters. During his time with superstar rock band Train, he toured worldwide, and played on the 2004 live album Alive At Last.
He is survived by wife Sarah and two children.
A service will be held Sunday, June 19 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. Visitation will be from 2:00-3:00 and 4:00-5:00 p.m.
A memorial service will also be held at Massanutten Presbyterian Church in Penn Laird, Virginia at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 27. There will be visitation with family from 2:00-3:00 and from 4:00-5:00. Interment in Virginia will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to one of the following charities:
• First Presbyterian Church Franklin, 101 Legends Club Lane, Franklin, TN 37069
• Massanutten Presbyterian Church, 50 Indian Trail Road, Penn Laird, Virginia 22846
• Gift Processing Office, Medical Oncology Research Fund for Dr. Jordan Berlin (in memory of Tony Lopacinski)
PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville, TN 37240-7727
Visit his Caringbridge site.
Tony, wife Sarah, and their children
OMG Signs Burns & Poe
/by admin(L-R) Keith Burns, Tony Conway and Michelle Poe.
Burns & Poe, MusicRow magazine’s Independent Artist of the Year have signed a management agreement with Ontourage Management Group (OMG), founded by Tony Conway. OMG will be responsible for day to day activity plus sponsorships, appearances and recording plans.
Keith Burns and Michelle Poe debuted as a duo in 2009 and during that time have had marketing relatinships with companies such as Taylor Guitars, Peavey Bass and Dan Post Boots.
The duo’s current single, “Second Chance” is currently climbing MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, and getting video airplay on a variety of web outlets including GAC.com and CMT.com.
Ontourage Management founder Tony Conway opened this management company in 2009 after a 33-year tenure as President and co-owner of Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc.
Nashville Entertainment: Film Festival Fundraiser; Visitors Get Live Music App
/by adminThe app will include a music player that allows you to listen to and download featured songs. It also includes a rotating ‘featured events’ section that highlights big music events taking place in the city and a store to purchase Music City merchandise.
The Live Music Guide app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 4.3 or later. It will be available on Android later this summer. According to Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, “We want to make it easy for visitors to find and consume the music. With 120 venues, you don’t have to be a music insider to know all the best places to hear Nashville’s amazing live music.”
The Live Music Guide app is being launched in conjunction with an expanded live music venue program through a partnership with Miller Lite. The program includes the addition of over 100 live music venue signs being placed in front of venues as well as a live music brochure and map.
Warner Chapppell Signs Artist/Actress
/by adminGlobal music publisher Warner/Chappell Music has signed a co-publishing agreement with singer, songwriter and actress Jana Kramer. Kramer recently signed with Elektra Nashville for her upcoming major label country debut. The actress, who plays Alex Dupre on One Tree Hill sold over 40,000 copies of her song “I Won’t Give Up,” in one week after it was featured on an episode of the show. For more info and music visit www.janakramer.com
(L-R) Kye Fleming; Alicia Pruitt, Sr. Director A&R Warner/Chappell Nashville; Paula Kay Hornick, Paula Kay Artist Management; Jana Kramer; Phil May, VP & General Manager, Warner/Chappell Nashville; Steve Markland, VP A&R Warner/Chappell Nashville; and BJ Hill, Sr. Director A&R, Warner/Chappell Nashville)