Laura Heatherly Promoted To CEO of TJ Martell Foundation

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Laura Heatherly




Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the T.J. Martell Foundation Southern Region, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the nationwide organization. Heatherly, who has been with the Martell Foundation for over seven years, has a background that includes twenty-five years of experience in non-profit fundraising.
“We are very fortunate to have someone from within our ranks who is qualified for this position,” explained Founder and Chairman Tony Martell. “Laura has done a phenomenal job for us in Nashville and other parts of the south. I am sure she will do an equally fine job on a national level. Laura will take the place of Peter Quinn, who will be retiring early next year. Peter did an outstanding job as CEO of the Foundation, and we’re going to miss him.”
Prior to the non-profit sector, Heatherly followed a sports marketing path with companies such as Texas Rangers Baseball, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. “I am honored to have this wonderful opportunity with such a fine organization that focuses on the mission of funding innovative research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS,” said Heatherly. “My immediate focus is to cultivate new relationships with corporate America and create new out-of-the-box ideas that will combine the music, medical and business communities with our fundraising initiatives.”
The T. J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation funds eleven top research hospitals in the United States and has raised more than $250 million since its inception in 1975.
The Foundation currently has offices in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles, and raises funds through special events, private and corporate contributions. Laura Heatherly can be reached at (615) 256-2002 or email Lheatherly@tjmartellfoundation.org.
www.tjmartellfoundation.org

Mike Carpenter Named Cumulus Nashville GM

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Mike Carpenter


Radio veteran Mike Carpenter will take the helm as General Manager of Cumulus Radio’s Nashville stations on May 23. With over two decades of radio experience, Carpenter makes the move from Clear Channel where he served as General Sales Manager for many years.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity and the challenges that lie ahead,” states Carpenter. “I look forward to working with this incredibly talented staff and making our stations No. 1 in the market.”
Carpenter replaces the exiting Senior Vice President Mark Sullivan, who is transferring to Kansas City take over the General Manager and Mid-West Market Manager duties.
Cumulus Nashville is a radio conglomerate consisting of five stations: SuperTalk 99.7 (WTN), 92Q (WQQK), 95.5-FM WSM, Classic Hits 97.1 (WRQQ) and i106 (WNFN).

Industry Pics

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Music City Walk of Fame Inductions
Bill Anderson and Keith Urban are the newest inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar. The honorees were recognized at a public ceremony yesterday (5/15) where commemorative sidewalk markers were unveiled in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville on Demonbreun St. between 4th and 5th Aves. S. This induction brings the total number of stars along the Walk of Fame to 50.

Bill Anderson (L) and Keith Urban (R) were inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame yesterday (5/15). Photo: Alan Mayor


RCA Studio B Honored
RCA Studio B was given the “Commissioner’s Award” by the Metro Historical Commission in a ceremony at the downtown Nashville Public Library on May 11. Linda and Mike Curb accepted the award from Commission member Don Cusic on behalf of the Mike Curb Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb College at Belmont University.

Pictured (L-R): Don Cusic, Mayor Karl Dean, Mike and Linda Curb, and Tim Walker, Executive Director of the Metro Historical Commission


Chicken Soup for the Country Music Soul
Writer Randy Rudder interviewed the songwriters of 101 classic country songs for his new book Chicken Soup for the Soul / Country Music edition. ASCAP recently hosted a party to celebrate the release which includes the stories behind “Green, Green, Grass of Home,” “Delta Dawn,” “Long, Black Train,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “The House That Built Me.”

Standing (L-R): songwriters Dickey Lee, Archie Jordan, Jeff Black, author Randy Rudder, Pat McManus, and Jim Janosky. Seated (L-R): Jamie Teachenor, Joie Scott, Rory Feek, Rand Bishop and Tia Sillers. Photo: Alan Mayor

Triple 8 Management Expands

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There has been recent expansion at Triple 8 Management, which handles the careers of Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Joe Nichols, and Kevin Fowler.
Owner George Couri announced today (5/16) the addition of two employees as well as several in-house promotions, for a total of eight full-time team members.
Jenn Poppe has joined the company as Day-to-Day Manager for Eli Young Band and Joe Nichols. Poppe previously enjoyed an eight-year stint at GHM/Red Light Management where she worked with artists such as Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, and The Warren Brothers. Reach her at jennpoppe@triple8mgmt.com.
Karen McGuire has been hired as Director of Radio Promotions. Her experience is in regional radio promotions, most recently with Universal South, and previously with Curb Records for 16 years. She can be contacted at karen@triple8mgmt.com.
Promotions include Larry Murray rising to lead the New Media and Tour Marketing department. He will be supported by Jenn Adams who has been in that department since 2009.
Other staffers include Sarah Blincoe, Day-to-Day-Manager for Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler; Merchandising head Kelly Vermillion; and Office Coordinator Haley Elander.
Triple 8 can be reached at (512) 444-7600 or www.triple8mgmt.com.

Flat Earth Music Adds Todd Wilkes

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Todd Wilkes


Flat Earth Music has hired Todd Wilkes as Creative Director. He brings experience in music publishing and artist management to the newly created role at the small Nashville publishing company. He took office earlier this month, where he is leading the growing stable of songwriters and pluggers.
Since launching in 2005, Flat Earth Music’s biggest success has been with “Turn On The Radio,” the No. 1 hit recorded by Reba McEntire. Leading Flat Earth Music are company President Greg Flatt and Business Development Director Dave Wilson.
Wilkes’ track record includes work with Randy Travis, George Strait, Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and many others. He said, “When I met Greg and began to learn about his vision, I couldn’t help but feel compelled to be a part of Flat Earth Music.”
Flatt says he is excited to have someone of Wilkes’ caliber on staff “to provide the creative Yen to my business Yang.”
Contact information for Flat Earth Music
1907 Acklen Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 866-6883
info@flatearthmusic.com
www.flatearthmusic.com

Caroline Davis Joins Watkins College

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Caroline Davis has joined Watkins College of Art, Design & Film as Director of External Relations and Assistant Director of Development. In her new role she will handle the school’s communications and media relations as well as contributing to special event, fundraising and alumni services efforts.
Davis’ previous experience includes stints with Performing Songwriter magazine, BMI (both in Nashville and Los Angeles) and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She is an alumna of Vanderbilt University and also did graduate work at USC’s school of cinematic arts. She is currently on the board of Leadership Music.
Contact her at 615-277-7403 or cdavis@watkins.edu.

Bright Joins Diane Richey Promotions

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Diane Richey Promotions has announced the addition of Katie Bright to its staff. Bright was most recently part of the celebrated morning team The House Foundation with Gerry House on WSIX/Nashville, which she joined in 2010. Prior to that, she spent five years at WAXX in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where she co-hosted mornings with George House. Reach her at richeypromokb@comcast.net.

Chrisman Launches New Promotion Company

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Veteran radio promoter Ann Chrisman has opened Ann Chrisman Promotions, where she will specialize in secondary promotion to MusicRow and Billboard Indicator stations.
Most recently with Diane Richey Promotions, Chrisman originally opened her own promotion outfit in 1993 after leaving Disc Jockey Records. She joined Richey in 2001, where she worked with artists from Capitol Records, Lyric Street, Show Dog-Universal, Broken Bow/Stoney Creek, and more.
“I am thrilled and excited to make this announcement,” says Chrisman. “I am looking forward to this new chapter of my career!”
Reach Chrisman at 615-587-0674 or ann.chrisman1@att.net.

AMA Visits Big Apple For Announcement

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The Americana Music Association will present this year’s Honors & Awards Nominee announcement at an invitation only media event in New York City on May 23rd. The nominees are usually announced in Nashville, but according to AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly, “With all the critical acclaim that we have garnered in recent years, we felt that our next move was to reach out to National media to focus more spotlight on the genre and community. Mayor Karl Dean has confirmed to attend and speak as have some key members of our artistic community including Levon Helm (who is bringing his Dirt Farmer quartet), Rosanne Cash, Jim Lauderdale and The Civil Wars, just to name a few.” Helping to make the New York announcement possible are Gibson, BMI and Nissan.

However, the AMA’s Fall event will take place in Nashville as usual. “We have no plans to move,” says Hilly. “Our Festival, Conference and Awards show will be here in Music City, where it belongs, the week of October 12-15.”

Eye On Idol (5/13/11)

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Well, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?
I feel confident saying that very few people saw last night’s (5/12) American Idol elimination of James Durbin coming. Especially not James. He gave typically splendid performances of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Leiber/Stoller’s “Love Potion No. 9” on Wednesday (5/11) that were roundly praised by the judges, adding to his incredible season-long momentum.
In fact, he was the only one of the remaining four this week who hadn’t been in the bottom vote-getters a single time. I figured he would sail right on to the finale, scoop up a record deal regardless if he won or lost and carve out a decent career playing his endearing brand of pop metal. And maybe he still will–he’ll just get to do it a little sooner than expected.
But that’s been one of the exciting things about this season of Idol: it’s anything but predictable. People who I figured would last deep into the competition have exited very early (Pia Toscano), and people who I swore would be toast early on have proven themselves to be worthy competitors (Hayley Reinhart).
That means the final three are Hayley, Scotty McCreery, and Lauren Alaina, which all but guarantees a country singer the win.
Follow me on this one: both Scotty and Lauren are undoubtedly Nashville-bound after the show. There’s the possibility that we end up with an all-country finale, and I’ll hazard a guess that Scotty would come out victorious in that matchup. Either way, it’s a win for Nashville. Maybe we even get a feisty “Jackson” style duet out of the deal.
But here’s the more likely reality show scenario. There’s a good chance Scotty and Lauren are currently splitting the country vote, which actually might give Hayley the edge to beat one of them and get into the finale. At which point all the country voters will put their differences aside and rally around whoever is left, completely obliterating Hayley.
In theory, anyway. There’s still a chance I may have to eat my words two weeks from now.