ACM Lifting Lives has announced its new board of directors. The board is made up of ACM board members, called representative directors, as well as leaders in non-profit and corporate affairs, called public directors. Four new public directors will serve until their term ends in 2013. They include Mark Bloom, Ellen Lehmen, Tree Paine and Jonathan Reinsdorf. Five new representative directors will serve until their term ends in 2012, including Mike Dungan, Rod Essig, Scott Francis, Greg Hill and Ken Robold.
The ACM Lifting Lives Executive Committee has added an Advisory Committee to the organization. “The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to create a team of liaisons between ACM Lifting Lives and the community, and to enhance our philanthropic activity,” said Erin Spahn, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “With our goals of continued national expansion and capital growth this year, this committee will be a great addition.”
The four inaugural members of the Advisory Committee are Walt Brown, Jr., Ricky Kelly, Kimberly Schlapman and Troy Vollhoffer.
The full lists of board of directors and the advisory committee are below. Also, visit www.acmcountry.com/liftinglives/ for more details.
ACM LIFTING LIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Chairman of the Board—Gayle Holcomb, WME
President—Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley
Vice President— Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Treasurer—Tiffany Moon, Academy of Country Music
Secretary—Erin Spahn, ACM Lifting Lives
PUBLIC DIRECTORS
Lori Badgett, Sun Trust Bank
Mark Bloom, UBS Financial Services, Inc
Bruce Bowman, KaBOOM!
Debbie Carroll, MusiCares
Ann Edelblute, 19 Entertainment
Ellen Lehmen, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Jack Lameier
Beth Moore
Tree Paine, Warner Bros. Records
Jonathan Reinsdorf, Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group
REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS
Mike Dungan, Capitol Records Nashville
Rod Essig, CAA
Scott Francis, Warner Chappell
Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Gary Haber, Haber Corporation
Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley
Greg Hill, Red Light Management
Gayle Holcomb, WME
Ken Robold, Universal Music Group
Dwight Wiles, Smith, Wiles & Co., PC
ACM LIFTING LIVES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
2010-2011
Walt Brown, Jr., Diversified Partners, LLC
Ricky Kelly, Cool Springs Harley Davidson
Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Productions
Trace Adkins To Host ACA Awards
/by adminAccording to American CountryAwards it is the only country music awards show that gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists in traditional categories and previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring. Performers previously announced include Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner, as well as participants Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel,Lady Antebellum, Bret Michaels, Ty Murray, Jeff Dunham, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler.
Fans can still vote once each day for their favorite nominees in the Artist of the Year category, at www.theacas.com until Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. American CountryAwards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2010, “Kids’ Choice Awards”). Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; Fletcher Foster is co-producer; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.
[updated] Will Tennyson Passes
/by admin[Update] Beloved Music Row executive and friend to many Will Tennyson will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 20th in his hometown of Athens, Tennessee. Will died on Tuesday morning from natural causes. He most recently was a talent executive at Conway Entertainment Group. Will is survived by his mother and step-father, several brothers and sisters and their families and a daughter. At a young age, he knew he wanted to spend his career on Music Row. Upon graduating from Tennessee Wesleyan College and attending Nagasaki Wesleyan University in Japan, he moved to Nashville beginning his career at the Gaylord Entertainment Company. After working several other jobs, including a stint at the Ralph Emery Show, he worked for CMA CEO Tammy Genovese in the marketing and administration affairs and community relations departments. Most recently, he served as a talent executive for the newly formed Conway Entertainment Group.
Below is information on the services:
A funeral service will be conducted, 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sam Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. The family suggests memorials be made to the Friendly Fellow Club c/o Daily Post Athenian, P.O. Box 340, Athens, TN 37371-0340
http://www.jerrysmithfuneralhome.com
A Nashville memorial is being planned with details forthcoming.
• • •
Will Tennyson, 41, passed away this morning. He was found unresponsive in his apartment by a medical team, apparently the victim of natural causes. Exact cause of death is unknown.
Tennyson was an employee of Conway Entertainment Group where he had worked since March. Previously, he worked at the Country Music Association.
MusicRow extends sympathy to Tennyson’s family and friends. We will continue to update this story as more details emerge.
Music Mastermind Intros Unique Online Recording Tool
/by adminSoundBetter provides a creative solution that lets users enhance their voices, transform their voices into instruments, create pro-sounding beats, add studio-quality backing tracks, and even generate and add adaptable licks to collaborate with friends and famous artists. The technology’s entertaining, game-like elements utilize simple visual cues to make the creative process fun and accessible to all. SoundBetter produces truly individualized music that can be shared and discovered across a broad array of social networks.
“We’re at the forefront of the next evolution of music entertainment, and it’s time to break down the barriers that prevent people from expressing themselves musically,” said Matt Serletic, CEO of Music Mastermind. “This company is all about fun and easy music creation for everyone. All people love music, and now absolutely anyone can produce great sounding songs to enjoy and share with the world.”
Serletic, a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and former Virgin Records Chairman and CEO, founded Music Mastermind in 2007 with his partner, Bo Bazylevsky, a veteran Wall Street bond trader, senior hedge fund portfolio manager, and former Global Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Trading at J.P. Morgan. The company successfully raised its first round of funding in February 2010 with nearly $5 million from angel investors, and is currently in the process of closing its second investment round. Serlectic also owns Emblem Music Group whose roster includes Gloriana, Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty.
Media Appearances; “Greater Together Nashville” Concert Tonight
/by contributorTonight, Adkins will co-headline the “Greater Together Nashville” fund raising concert with Craig Morgan. The concert, hosted by The Gaylord Entertainment Foundation, will benefit local nonprofit agencies Hands On Nashville, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Tickets are available only through those outlets and will serve as a direct contribution to that organization.
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• • •
The Roys Sign With Rural Rhythm
/by Freeman“We are thrilled. The Roys are a perfect fit for our Rural Rhythm family,” says label President, Sam Passamano, Jr. “Lee and Elaine have a true love and respect for Bluegrass music and its traditions, alongside a deep appreciation for traditional Country and a strong faith that will help Rural Rhythm to expand their musical boundaries. We can’t wait for Bluegrass lovers to experience The Roys and their band live.”
“Rural Rhythm has a great reputation and we are honored that they believe in our music and believe in who we are as artists,” says Lee Roy. “We are extremely blessed to be joining their roster,” adds Elaine. “We are looking forward to a long journey with them and creating great music in the future.”
The Roys join a roster that includes bluegrass favorites Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Bobby Osborne, Grasstowne, Michael Martin Murphey, Lou Reid, Rodney Dillard, Carrie Hassler, Blue Moon Rising, Audie Blaylock, Bill Emerson, Randy Kohrs and many more.
Hailing from Fitchburg, MA, The Roys have been named the Inspirational Country Music Duo of the Year for 2009 and 2010. They also made their television debut on the most recent Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Las Vegas.
Awards: Dollywood, Sierra Noble, Bonnie Garner and Amanda Baker
/by contributorPhoto: Curtis Hilbun
Dollywood received the 2010 Applause Award at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 16. The award honors a park whose management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with its foresight, originality and sound business development. The award is presented every other year by Liseberg amusement park located in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dolly Parton accepted the award for the park. “We are so honored to win this award. Our success over the last 25 years is because of the great team at Dollywood that I lovingly call my other family,” Parton said.
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• • •
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Fourth Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Presented by the Gibson Foundation honored long-time record company A&R executive Bonnie Garner Tuesday night (11/16) during a special interview in the Ford Theater.
(L-R): VP Museum Programs Jay Orr, CMHoF member Earl Scruggs, Garner and Museum Editor/Writer and host Michael McCall. Photo: Donn Jones
• • •
Australian Singer/Songwriter Amanda Baker won top honors at the 2010 Show Me The Music songwriting contest for her song “The Fool.” As part of her prize Amanda is being flown to Nashville in the first week of December to record the winning song at Omni Studios with Steve Tveit and some of Nashville’s A-list musicians. Baker will be playing acoustic shows in Nashville and L.A.
Alan Jackson Releases 34 No. 1’s
/by Eric T. ParkerWith 37 songs in all, the collection will include every #1 hit to date from his more than 50 million albums sold, plus three additional tracks featuring the recent collaboration with the Zac Brown Band, “As She’s Walking Away,” “Look at Me” from the 2008 soundtrack Billy [Graham]: The Early Years, and his current single and remake of the Johnny Cash classic, “Ring of Fire.”
Rascal Flatts Donates 100k to Salvation Army
/by MichellePhoto credit Zach Henderson
Rascal Flatts appeared in New York City’s JCPenny store yesterday (11/17) to announce the JCPenney Online Angel Giving Tree Program, to host a toy drive, and to present a check $100,000 to the Salvation Army on behalf of JCPenney. The band also adopted their own online angels and encouraged everyone this holiday season to do the same at www.jcp.com/angel. The Angel Giving Tree Program provides clothing, gifts and other wish list items to kids and seniors throughout the U.S.
The first 100 fans who donated a new, unwrapped toy received an autographed copy of Rascal Flatts new CD Nothing Like This. For every CD sold at JCPenney stores throughout the country, $1 will be donated to the Salvation Army through March 15. The $100,000 donation from JCPenney to the Salvation Army will provide gifts for 1,000 children this holiday season.
Burns & Poe Preview New Album
/by Sarah SkatesL to R: Kat Atwood (Music City Media), John Mullins (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Michelle Poe, Keith Burns, Shannan Tipton Hatch (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Steve Pope (Blue Steel Records)
Burns & Poe officially introduced the new music from their upcoming self-titled CD at the SESAC offices on Music Row yesterday evening (11/16) during a celebration with friends, family and industry execs.
Produced by Mark Oliverius, the 2-disc project contains 13 original songs penned by Keith Burns and Michelle Poe. A special autographed LP/CD package is exclusively available via the Burns & Poe web site, with the official release set to hit retailers in late February 2011.
Photos by: Bev Moser
L to R: Tim Fink (VP Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Keith Burns, Michelle Poe, John Mullins (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC)
Burns & Poe with MusicRow Country Breakout Chart Director Jon Freeman
ACM Lifting Lives Board Announced
/by MichelleThe ACM Lifting Lives Executive Committee has added an Advisory Committee to the organization. “The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to create a team of liaisons between ACM Lifting Lives and the community, and to enhance our philanthropic activity,” said Erin Spahn, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “With our goals of continued national expansion and capital growth this year, this committee will be a great addition.”
The four inaugural members of the Advisory Committee are Walt Brown, Jr., Ricky Kelly, Kimberly Schlapman and Troy Vollhoffer.
The full lists of board of directors and the advisory committee are below. Also, visit www.acmcountry.com/liftinglives/ for more details.
ACM LIFTING LIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Chairman of the Board—Gayle Holcomb, WME
President—Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley
Vice President— Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Treasurer—Tiffany Moon, Academy of Country Music
Secretary—Erin Spahn, ACM Lifting Lives
PUBLIC DIRECTORS
Lori Badgett, Sun Trust Bank
Mark Bloom, UBS Financial Services, Inc
Bruce Bowman, KaBOOM!
Debbie Carroll, MusiCares
Ann Edelblute, 19 Entertainment
Ellen Lehmen, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Jack Lameier
Beth Moore
Tree Paine, Warner Bros. Records
Jonathan Reinsdorf, Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group
REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS
Mike Dungan, Capitol Records Nashville
Rod Essig, CAA
Scott Francis, Warner Chappell
Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Gary Haber, Haber Corporation
Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley
Greg Hill, Red Light Management
Gayle Holcomb, WME
Ken Robold, Universal Music Group
Dwight Wiles, Smith, Wiles & Co., PC
ACM LIFTING LIVES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
2010-2011
Walt Brown, Jr., Diversified Partners, LLC
Ricky Kelly, Cool Springs Harley Davidson
Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Productions
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