Ramsey Casteel
Ramsey Casteel, an associate manager at Mike Robertson Management, passed away in his hometown Dallas on February 3, 2011. He was 29 and had fought courageously through an 18-month battle with cancer.
Friends and family say he was blessed with support and kindness throughout the illness, which he faced with patience, courage and dignity.
Casteel was born on March 30, 1981 in Dallas. His career in the music business began as a high school intern at 99.5/The Wolf. In 2003, Ramsey graduated cum laude from Belmont University with a music business degree. He also interned at MCA Records, and management companies Force, Inc. and The Firm. He eventually joined Force, Inc., and then later worked at William Morris Agency.
According to friends, working on Music Row was a dream come true for Casteel, and the result of his diligent study and hard work. He was easygoing with a love of country music, animals and travel.
Ramsey is survived by his mother, Caroline Burk Casteel; father, Frederick R. Casteel; sister, Catherine Casteel Olasky and brother-in-law Peter L. Olasky.
Services will be held in Dallas on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Highland Park United Methodist Church, where he was a member.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Ramsey Casteel Memorial Fund at Regions Bank, 1600 Division St., Nashville, TN 37203. This fund will be used to support his love of animals and music business education.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (2/9/11)
/by Robert K OermannThe superstars in question are Ronnie Dunn and Keith Urban. The understated, restrained performance by the latter won my heart as the Disc of the Day.
The two rocking first timers are Bridgette Tatum and actor-singer Christian Kane. Despite my reservations about his using a rock producer, Christian Kane’s songwriting ability and undeniable vocal talent led me to crown him with a DisCovery Award.
For less thunderous experiences, check out the gently lovely work being done this week by Billy Dean, Due West and Justin Moore.
TOMMY GOBEL/If You Can’t Do the Time
Writer: Lisa Gobel/Tommie Gobel; Producer: Leo J. Eiffert, Jr.; Publisher: Boodle O/Three Labs/Young Country, BMI; Boodle O
—Your tipsy uncle and his friends are camped out in your garage. The neighbors are complaining about the racket they’re making.
KEITH URBAN/Without You
Writer: Dave Pahanish/Joe West; Producer: Dann Huff & Keith Urban; Publisher: Wrighteous/Big Loud Bucks/Sony ATV Tree/Songs for My Good Girl, BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—He’s such a hotshot guitarist and such a top flight songwriter, that we tend to forget what a dynamite vocalist he is. This lilting, simply arranged love song is a showcase for some wonderfully expressive singing.
JONI RAE JACK/Western Bling
Writer: Joni Rae Jack/Robby Turner; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Michelle Rose/Robby Turner, BMI; JRJ (www.joniraejack.com)
—Tuneless noise.
JUSTIN MOORE/If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away
Writer: Dallas Davidson/Rob Hatch/Brett Jones; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: Big Borassa/Universal-Careers/Down the Hatch/Jonesbone, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
—I confess that I’ve never been overly impressed with this artist’s seemingly endless string of redneck-rocker releases. This time out he’s found a first-class piece of material. The song has loads of heart, the production is solid and his emotional performance is right on the money.
BRIDGETTE TATUM/Hillbilly Rockstar
Writer: Bridgette Tatum/Danny Myrick; Producer: Danny Myrick; Publisher: Root 49/Cackalacki Twang/Danny Myrick, BMI; Root 49 (www.bridgettetatum.com)
—The title pretty much sums it up. The surprise is her husky, throaty alto delivery that is positively “macho” in its impact. It is such a striking vocal sound that it even manages to dominate the screaming-guitars production.
RONNIE DUNN/Bleed Red
Writer: Andrew Dorff/Tommy Lee James; Producer: Ronnie Dunn; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Super Phonic/Pretty Woman/EverGreen, BMI; Arista
—The message is peace. The ballad is powerful. The performance is thrilling. This veteran voice can still send chills all over your body.
SABASTIAN ROBERTS/It’s Still Country to Me
Writer: Gary Nicholson; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Gary Nicholson/Sony ATV Cross Keys, ASCAP; Homage/Spinville (www.sabastianroberts.com)
—Yes, I know that’s not how most people spell “Sabastian.” This is, however, how most people in contemporary Nashville music seem to think: If you fuse Hank and Van Halen, you’re still “country.”
BILLY DEAN/The Greatest Man I Never Knew
Writer: none listed; Producer: Ray Barnett; Publisher: EMI April/Lion-Hearted/Layng Martine Jr., no performance rights listed; BDMG (track) ()
—Billy’s latest CD, released on his own imprint, is a tribute to songwriter Richard Leigh. It does not include such Leigh-penned Billy Dean hits as “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” or “Only Here for a Little While.” It does feature covers of Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and this 1992 Reba classic. Billy’s delivery is enormously touching, as always. A very worthy remake of an extraordinary song.
DUE WEST/When the Smoke Clears
Writer: Matt Lopez/Don Rollins; Producer: Jason Deere & Jimmy Nichols; Publisher: Deere Lights/Recognizant/Warner Tamerlane/Songs of BDAS, BMI; Black River (track) (615-353-2778)
—This trio’s sophomore single is a textbook example of harmony vocalizing. The ballad has a dreamy, almost jazzy tone, like smoke curling up to the ceiling at midnight. Very classy stuff.
CHRISTIAN KANE/The House Rules
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bob Ezrin & Jimmie Lee Sloas; Publisher: none listed; Outlaw Saints/Bigger Picture (track) (www.christiankane.com)
—This fellow stars on the TNT television series Leverage as a Harley-riding justice seeker. His style of country is of the amped-up, sweat-stained, guitar-screaming variety. The title tune and first single from his CD is pretty cool, saying that at the end of a week, you owe yourself a rowdy good time. He sings it quite well. Get rid of the rock production, and you might have yourself something.
David Gales Returns To The Gales Network
/by Sarah SkatesDavid Gales
David Gales, Founder and Partner of The Gales Network (TGN), is returning to the company after two years as a digital executive with Sony Music Nashville. At TGN, he rejoins Chief Strategist Melinda Scruggs Gales in providing clients with brand direction, marketing and media services.
“My tour at Sony furthered my insight into what’s important in developing strong brands and strategies,” comments Gales. “Brands face a marketplace that is running at hyper-speed and morphing constantly. TGN is better prepared than ever to provide marketing direction and solutions that keep our clients ahead of the curve.”
David Gales founded TGN in 1995 as a consultancy focused on facilitating the collaboration of the music and technology industries. Today, The Gales Network provides brand mapping, strategic planning and marketing services support to a wide variety of clients in and outside of the entertainment industry
He can be reached at david@galesnetwork.com.
Garth Concerts Raise $5 Million
/by MichelleThe nine sold-out concerts, which were held December 16-22, 2010, represent a collaborative effort of organizers and countless volunteers from across the community who donated their time and talent to make the unprecedented series happen. “Our community is indebted to Garth Brooks for not only providing nine amazing concerts and bringing thousands of people to Music City, but for the amazing generosity he has shown for flood victims who are rebuilding their lives,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
More information is available online at www.cfmt.org.
Sony Announces Realignment
/by admin[This story is being updated as it develops. Check back throughout the day.]
Sony Music Nashville today (2/8) announced a realignment of its staff and their related functions to better position itself to serve its artists and meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving music business. The new structure includes the following promotions:
1. Skip Bishop is promoted to Senior Vice President, Promotion, Sony Music Nashville, from Vice President, Promotion. Concurrently, Bishop announces the promotion of
2. Lesly Tyson to Vice President, Promotion, Arista Nashville
3. John Sigler takes Tyson’s previous role of National Director, Promotion, Arista Nashville
4. Paul Barnabee is promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing, moving from his former role as Senior Vice President Sales and Operations. Barnabee will oversee the Digital Marketing, Creative Services, Media, Strategic Marketing, Artist Development and Marketing departments.
5. Mike Craft is promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations from his former post as Vice President, Finance and Operations.
6. Chris Melancon is promoted to Director, Media Content, Sony Music Nashville, and will continue to report to Allen Brown, Vice President, Media and Corporate Communications.
Barnabee, Bishop, Craft and Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs Kathy Woods, all report directly to Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton.
A number of staffers have also exited in the wake of these changes:
Exec. VP A&R Renee Bell has exited. She can be reached at renee.bell11@gmail.com. Her old phone number is no longer active.
David Gales was previously a digital executive with Sony, and has now returned to his own company The Gales Network. He can be reached at david@galesnetwork.com.
Manager Marketing/Operations Britta Coleman can be reached at bcolemanj@comcast.net.
Also exiting is Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing Paul Williams.
paulwilliams615@comcast.net and Legal Coordinator Kendra Miles. kendramile@comcast.net
Former staffers can send their new contact information and updates to news@musicrow.com.
Lifenotes: Ramsey Casteel
/by Sarah SkatesRamsey Casteel
Ramsey Casteel, an associate manager at Mike Robertson Management, passed away in his hometown Dallas on February 3, 2011. He was 29 and had fought courageously through an 18-month battle with cancer.
Friends and family say he was blessed with support and kindness throughout the illness, which he faced with patience, courage and dignity.
Casteel was born on March 30, 1981 in Dallas. His career in the music business began as a high school intern at 99.5/The Wolf. In 2003, Ramsey graduated cum laude from Belmont University with a music business degree. He also interned at MCA Records, and management companies Force, Inc. and The Firm. He eventually joined Force, Inc., and then later worked at William Morris Agency.
According to friends, working on Music Row was a dream come true for Casteel, and the result of his diligent study and hard work. He was easygoing with a love of country music, animals and travel.
Ramsey is survived by his mother, Caroline Burk Casteel; father, Frederick R. Casteel; sister, Catherine Casteel Olasky and brother-in-law Peter L. Olasky.
Services will be held in Dallas on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Highland Park United Methodist Church, where he was a member.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Ramsey Casteel Memorial Fund at Regions Bank, 1600 Division St., Nashville, TN 37203. This fund will be used to support his love of animals and music business education.
ACM Takes Dunn, Evans To Fremont Street
/by Sarah SkatesRonnie Dunn and Sara Evans
ACM party with Ronnie Dunn and Sara Evans • News from Little Big Town, Trailer Choir, the Doobie Brothers
>>Ronnie Dunn and Sara Evans will headline the ACM Concerts at Fremont Street Experience, to be held April 1-2, 2011 in Las Vegas. This is one of the event that takes place during The Week Vegas Goes Country®, leading up to the ACM Awards on April 3. For the fifth year in a row, the Academy of Country Music presents these free and open-to-the-public concerts.
Little Big Town
>>Little Big Town’s Road Trips and Guitar Picks tour will be presented by Country Financial. The partnership covers 20 dates. The band is up for a Grammy at this weekend’s awards. They are also nominated for an ACM in the Top Vocal Group of the Year category. Catch them tonight (2/8) on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC.
>>Vocalist Crystal Hoyt has left Trailer Choir. Remaining are co-founders Big Vinny and Butter.
>>The Doobie Brothers’ newest single “World Gone Crazy” is shipping to country radio next week.
Ratings Race: Super Bowl v. Awards Shows
/by Sarah SkatesWith today’s ever-fragmenting audiences, garnering high ratings is becoming increasingly difficult. It is easy to see a correlating decrease in viewership as each of the following shows appeal to a more narrow group of fans.
The demographic-crossing Oscars are traditionally a ratings magnet, falling only behind the Super Bowl and NFL championship games each year. In 2010, the show drew about 41.3 million viewers.
In 2010 the Grammy Awards—which appeal to music fans of a variety of genres—posted an average audience of 25.8 million viewers.
Last year’s American Idol season finale scored 24.2 million fans.
The CMA Awards and ACM Awards draw mostly country music fans. Last year the CMAs attracted about 16.45 million viewers. The ACMs garnered about 13 million viewers.
Artist Action (2/8)
/by MichelleTV appearances by Gretchen Wilson, Josh Turner, and Laura Bell Bundy • Chris Young Celebrates No. 1 • Josh Thompson and Frankie Ballard at the Opry
>>RCA Nashville’s Chris Young stopped by his record label offices last night (2/7) to toast his third consecutive No. 1 single, “Voices.” The song made Billboard country chart history this week as only the second time in the modern chart era – and the first time in 25 years – that a re-release of the same recording returned to the chart and went to No. 1.
Pictured (l-r): ShopKeeper Management’s Crystal Dishmon; the RCA promotion team’s Keith Gale, Norbert Nix, and Josh Easler; Young’s manager, ShopKeeper Management’s Marion Kraft; Young; the RCA promo team’s Liz Sledge, Matt Galvin, and Parker Fowler; and Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton. Photo credit: Alan Poizner
>>Josh Turner and Laura Bell Bundy co-hosted a special Valentine’s Day fan-voted countdown on GAC’s Top 20: Lovin’ & Leavin’ Songs. The episode features hits by acts such as Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and more. The show premieres Wednesday, February 9, 8:00 pm CT.
Josh Turner (L) and Laura Bell Bundy (R) on the show's set.
>>Gretchen Wilson will be in Los Angeles after the Grammy Awards to make her debut appearance on the popular new CBS Television show The Talk, Feb. 14, and to return to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno the following day. That same evening, she will join fellow songwriters Chris Young, Brett James, Victoria Shaw and host Bob DiPiero at Club Nokia for the CMA Songwriters Series.
>>Warner Bros. Records’ newcomer Frankie Ballard returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage on Saturday, January 29 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Ballard was in good company as the evening featured Trace Adkins and Toby Keith, along with Laura Bell Bundy and Josh Thompson (pictured).
Pictured (L-R): Josh Thompson and Frankie Ballard
Dailey & Vincent Lead SPBGMA Bluegrass Honors
/by Sarah SkatesDailey and Vincent at the SPBGMA Awards.
Dailey & Vincent were the big winners at the 37th Annual SPBGMA [Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America] Bluegrass Music Awards, held over the weekend at Nashville’s Music City Sheraton. The duo took home Bluegrass Band of the Year, Entertaining Group of the Year, and Album of the Year (for Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers on Cracker Barrel/Rounder Records). They also won Vocal Group, and Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary). Additionally, Jamie Dailey was named Male Vocalist (Contemporary), and Darrin Vincent took home honors for Bass Fiddle Performer.
The Grascals were voted Instrumental Group of the Year. Meanwhile, members Danny Roberts and Kristin Scott Benson, won Mandolin and Banjo Performers of the Year, respectively.
The Grascals
Other winners: Alecia Nugent, Female Vocalist (Traditional); Josh Williams, Guitar Performer; James King, Male Vocalist (Traditional); and Michael Cleveland, Fiddle Performer.
Also at the event, Farm County Jubilee debuted before hundreds of convention-goers.
CMA Names First Festival Performers
/by Sarah SkatesIn a testament to the power of social networking, the CMA tipped the news this morning on its official Facebook page.
The 2011 CMA Music Festival will be June 9-12 in Downtown Nashville. This is the 40th CMA Music Festival, which started as Fan Fair in 1972. Last year more than 65,000 fans from all 50 states and 26 nations attended the event.