Pictured (L-R): Jimi Williams of ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year EMI CMG Publishing; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year (Matthew West's "The Motions") songwriter Jason Houser; ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jeremy Camp; ASCAP's Tim DuBois; EMI CMG Publishing's John Thompson and Jeremy Ash; ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Ben Glover; EMI CMG Publishing's Matt Ewald and Eddie DeGarmo; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year songwriter Sam Mizell. Click for larger photo.
ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) saluted the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most performed songs at its 32nd annual Christian Music Awards last night (10/25) at Richland Country Club in Nashville.
The evening’s top honors were awarded to the following:
ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year: Ben Glover
ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year: Jeremy Camp
ASCAP Christian Song of the Year: “The Motions,” written by Jason Houser, Sam Mizell and Matthew West; published by Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music
ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year: EMI CMG Publishing
A total of 36 song honors were handed out while interspersed with a few very special performances. Those performances included the 2010 Dove Award winner for Song of the Year, “By Your Side,” by Phillip LaRue, and “The Motions,” performed by Jason Houser and Sam Mizell. Also taking the stage was Michael Farren of Pocket Full of Rocks.
ASCAP Vice President and Managing Executive, Nashville, Tim DuBois presented Ben Glover with his first Songwriter of the Year award. Glover penned four of the most performed songs of the past year: “Before The Morning” (Josh Wilson), “Let the Waters Rise” (Mikeschair), “Savior, Please” (Josh Wilson) and “The Lost Get Found” (Britt Nicole).
Collecting ASCAP Song of the Year honors for “The Motions,” recorded by Matthew West, were writers Sam Mizell, Jason Houser and West. The publishers for “The Motions” are Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music. The song was a huge hit at radio, spending 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian charts.
DuBois also presented Jeremy Camp with the first-ever ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. In past years, he has taken home a total of eight ASCAP Most Peformed Song awards, he’s been awarded ASCAP Songwriter of the Year three times–in 2005, 2006 and 2008–and has also been honored with ASCAP’s Song of the Year award for “Take You Back,” also in 2006. This year, Camp added two more Most Performed awards to his collection for “There Will Be a Day” and “Healing Hand of God.”
ASCAP Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI CMG Publishing who had eight award-winning songs: “Before the Morning,” “Forgiven,” “Healing Hand of God,” “I Will Rise,” “Savior, Please,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “The Lost Get Found” and “There Will Be A Day.” DuBois presented the award to EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo. This is the seventh year in a row EMI CMG has received Publisher of the Year.
Among the songwriters and artists in attendance included Brandon Heath, Peter Furler (Newsboys), Bebo Norman, Allen Shamblin, Kellie Picker, Kyle Jacobs, Don Poythress, Nick DePartee and Dave Luetkenhoelter (Kutless), Phillip LaRue, Michael Farren (Pocket Full of Rocks), Britt Nicole, Michael Weaver (Big Daddy Weave), Scotty Davis, Chad Cates and Tony Wood.
New Songwriter Show With Jewel, Kara DioGuardi
/by Sarah SkatesKara DioGuardi
Jewel
Jewel and Kara DioGuardi are the first celebrities on board for a new songwriter competition series on Bravo. Jewel will host and occasionally join DioGuardi as part of the judging panel. Going Platinum is expected to premiere in 2011.
Judging will be based more on the contestants’ songwriting ability than their singing and performance prowess.
Twelve musicians will live together in the same house and compete in songwriting challenges. The themed episodes will have the songwriters working in various genres and performing for the judges.
The winner will earn a $100,000 cash prize, a publishing deal with Sony, and a recording deal with RCA/Jive Records.
BMG US Taps Richard Blackstone
/by Sarah SkatesRichard Blackstone
Music rights company BMG has hired Richard Blackstone to be the Chief Creative Officer of BMG US. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music and, more recently, has been working with the Zac Brown Band. Blackstone, who will be based in BMG’s US headquarters in New York City, also has strong ties to Nashville. In this newly created role, he will report directly to Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG.
Since its founding in late 2008, BMG has completed a number of major acquisitions including Crosstown Songs America, Cherry Lane Music Publishing Inc, Stage Three Music and Evergreen Copyrights, as well as signed a number of prominent artists and songwriters.
Blackstone will oversee the rosters of the recently acquired companies as well as direct efforts to sign new talent to continue to build on the company’s rapid growth.
Blackstone has been a respected executive in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years. In 2005 he was appointed to the position of Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell, becoming responsible for all aspects of Warner Music Group’s worldwide music-publishing division operating in over 35 countries.
In 2007 he broke from WMG and transitioned to work in new media. He has been working with the Zac Brown Band, specifically advancing the songwriting career of Wyatt Durette, Brown’s frequent co-writer. The signing of Durette is one of his many successful signings which also include helping launch the musical careers of Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Britney Spears, and many others.
Prior to joining WMG, Blackstone was President of Zomba Music Publishing. Originally a transactional attorney, Blackstone joined Zomba in 1989 as Director of Business Affairs. Recognizing his talents in both business and the arts, he was later promoted to the dual role of Head of Creative and Head of Business Affairs, a position that included oversight of Zomba’s Country Music division located in Nashville. Once BMG acquired Zomba Publishing, Blackstone was made President and was given the additional responsibility of overseeing Brentwood Benson Music Publishing, the leading contemporary Christian music publisher.
ASCAP Christian Music Award Winners
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R): Jimi Williams of ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year EMI CMG Publishing; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year (Matthew West's "The Motions") songwriter Jason Houser; ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jeremy Camp; ASCAP's Tim DuBois; EMI CMG Publishing's John Thompson and Jeremy Ash; ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Ben Glover; EMI CMG Publishing's Matt Ewald and Eddie DeGarmo; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year songwriter Sam Mizell. Click for larger photo.
ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) saluted the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most performed songs at its 32nd annual Christian Music Awards last night (10/25) at Richland Country Club in Nashville.
The evening’s top honors were awarded to the following:
ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year: Ben Glover
ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year: Jeremy Camp
ASCAP Christian Song of the Year: “The Motions,” written by Jason Houser, Sam Mizell and Matthew West; published by Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music
ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year: EMI CMG Publishing
A total of 36 song honors were handed out while interspersed with a few very special performances. Those performances included the 2010 Dove Award winner for Song of the Year, “By Your Side,” by Phillip LaRue, and “The Motions,” performed by Jason Houser and Sam Mizell. Also taking the stage was Michael Farren of Pocket Full of Rocks.
ASCAP Vice President and Managing Executive, Nashville, Tim DuBois presented Ben Glover with his first Songwriter of the Year award. Glover penned four of the most performed songs of the past year: “Before The Morning” (Josh Wilson), “Let the Waters Rise” (Mikeschair), “Savior, Please” (Josh Wilson) and “The Lost Get Found” (Britt Nicole).
Collecting ASCAP Song of the Year honors for “The Motions,” recorded by Matthew West, were writers Sam Mizell, Jason Houser and West. The publishers for “The Motions” are Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music. The song was a huge hit at radio, spending 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian charts.
DuBois also presented Jeremy Camp with the first-ever ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. In past years, he has taken home a total of eight ASCAP Most Peformed Song awards, he’s been awarded ASCAP Songwriter of the Year three times–in 2005, 2006 and 2008–and has also been honored with ASCAP’s Song of the Year award for “Take You Back,” also in 2006. This year, Camp added two more Most Performed awards to his collection for “There Will Be a Day” and “Healing Hand of God.”
ASCAP Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI CMG Publishing who had eight award-winning songs: “Before the Morning,” “Forgiven,” “Healing Hand of God,” “I Will Rise,” “Savior, Please,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “The Lost Get Found” and “There Will Be A Day.” DuBois presented the award to EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo. This is the seventh year in a row EMI CMG has received Publisher of the Year.
Among the songwriters and artists in attendance included Brandon Heath, Peter Furler (Newsboys), Bebo Norman, Allen Shamblin, Kellie Picker, Kyle Jacobs, Don Poythress, Nick DePartee and Dave Luetkenhoelter (Kutless), Phillip LaRue, Michael Farren (Pocket Full of Rocks), Britt Nicole, Michael Weaver (Big Daddy Weave), Scotty Davis, Chad Cates and Tony Wood.
Urban Launches iTunes Countdown, Sets Salvation Army Halftime Show
/by Sarah SkatesIn addition to the new tracks coming out each Tuesday, a free video podcast featuring Urban’s take on the song will be available on iTunes.
Get Closer follows Urban’s Platinum release Defying Gravity, which produced two No. 1 singles: “Only You Can Love Me This Way” and “Sweet Thing”, for which Urban won his third Grammy Award (Best Male Country Vocal Performance).
Urban will perform at The Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the New Orleans Saints. His show will mark the 14th year that the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army have partnered to raise money for people in need. The Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1.3 billion since the partnership began. As part of the Kettle Kickoff promotion, fans will have a chance to win a trip to the game by signing up to be an Online Red Kettle virtual bell ringer at www.onlineredkettle.org.
Rocket Club
/by ProgrammerPlaylistFeather Moon Music
“Pinning Rocket Club down isn’t easy. It’s a wide variety of influences, a ton of energy and talent, and hooky melodies. Rocket Club really can’t be simplified down to any one thing – except really good.”
Gregg Swedberg, PD—KEEY/K102 Minneapolis
In 2009, Rocket Club (Don Smithmier, Brian Kroening, Matt Kirkwold, Chris Hawkey and Billy Thommes) took the music industry by surprise when they appeared on the Billboard Country charts, staying for 7 weeks and reaching No. 49 with their single “One More Day.” Now the Minnesota group is back on the charts with the single “One Thing Beautiful,” from their newly released EP American Serenade.
Released in October 2008, Rocket Club’s debut album was quick to earn the band local praise and attention as their music quickly found a home on Minneapolis radio stations K102 and Cities 97. They began to appear and perform live on these stations, and to play music festivals as well as some of the city’s prominent live music venues. This early national success came despite the fact that they are an unsigned band with a self‐produced album, hailing from the North Country of Minneapolis, Minnesota, far from the country music Mecca of Nashville.
http://www.rocketclub.info/
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CMA Awards Presenters; History Book
/by Sarah SkatesTim McGraw will present at the upcoming CMA Awards.
“Country Music’s Biggest Night(tm)” continues to get bigger as The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon are announced as the first group of presenters for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards.”
Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” airs Nov. 10, live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The Band Perry, Bryan, Niemann, Young and Corbin received their first nominations this year.
•••••••
Author Deborah Evans Price is making a splash with her first book, The CMA Awards Vault: Country Music’s Biggest Night! This is the first book to extensively cover The CMA Awards from its inception as a radio-only broadcast in 1967 to the glittery three-hour, network television spectacle of today.
The coffee table book contains never-before-published photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. Tucked into dozens of pockets throughout the book are replicas of such items as a program from that first CMA Awards in 1967; a note to the CMA from the Charlie Daniels Band in 1980; a ticket to “The 40th CMA Anniversary” show; and the set-design blueprint from the 2009 CMA Awards.
Kenny Chesney has written the foreword for the book and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Mandrell has supplied the afterword.
The book is available at www.CMAawards.com, with a discount for CMA members. Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Country Hall Salutes Bonnie Garner
/by Sarah SkatesBonnie Garner
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present an interview honoring visionary music executive Bonnie Garner, as part of the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum series. The forum is set for Tuesday, November 16, at 6 p.m. in the Ford Theater. It is free and open to the public.
The interview with Garner, whose multi-faceted career has included concert promotion, label A&R work, and artist management, will be hosted by Museum Writer/Editor Michael McCall. They will discuss her 40-year career and memories of the artists, songs, issues, opportunities and challenges. The interview will be illustrated with recordings, film clips and photos from the Museum’s archives, and Garner’s personal collection.
Garner’s career began at Chicago’s Conrad Hilton hotel, and then moved on to working for Playboy Press, as a member of Hugh Hefner’s staff. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and joined Hefner’s Playboy after Dark syndicated television show as a talent coordinator. Among the artists she was responsible for booking were Joe Cocker, the Grateful Dead, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Ike and Tina Turner. Transitioning to daytime programming, Garner relocated to New York to take a similar position at ABC-TV’s Dick Cavett Show where she booked Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Janis Joplin and Frank Zappa. When legendary concert promoter Bill Graham appeared on Cavett’s show, Garner worked with his executive assistant, Dale Franklin, who persuaded Garner to take a job at Graham’s Fillmore East concert hall.
From there she joined Kip Cohen’s A&R staff at Columbia Records, as the pop department’s only female, working with Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and many others. She moved to Nashville in the ’70s and set up Columbia and Epic Records’ first Nashville pop division, with a roster including Fogelberg, John Hiatt, Tracy Nelson and others. Garner later joined the labels’ country division.
Garner’s career switched to management when she teamed with industry veteran Mark Rothbaum to run his Nashville office, managing Emmylou Harris, the Highwaymen, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, the O’Kanes and Marty Stuart. Her own Bonnie Garner Management worked with Lynn Anderson, Bonnie Bramlett, Andy Griggs, Lee Roy Parnell, Stuart and Joy Lynn White.
In 2002, with Mary Martin and Luke Lewis, Garner received a Grammy Award for co-producing Timeless, a tribute to Hank Williams. Garner retired from the music industry in 2007, and has devoted much of her free time to working with animals.
The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, made possible by the Gibson Foundation, was established in 2007 to honor music industry leaders who can be seen as the legatees of Scruggs, the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs and the first woman in country music to take on roles as a booker and manager.
Photos: Josh Thompson, Dakota Bradley and the Bella Bash
/by MichelleDakota Bradley recently appeared on Tennessee Mornings on Nashville’s Fox 17 channel to perform an acoustic version of “Any Part of Your Heart.” The 16-year-old artist made his television debut two weeks ago on Ellen.
Pictured (L-R): John Dunn, Bradley, and Kelly Sutton.
•••••
The 3rd annual Bella Bash Concert to benefit the Angel Wings Foundation took place recently at the Loveless Barn. The sold-out night of music, comedy and entertainment featured over 500 supporters and celebrities such as Delilah, Melinda Doolittle, Danny Gokey, Russ Taff, Henry Cho, Bruce Carroll and Tim Akers & the Smoking Section.
In his introduction, Angel Wings Foundation founder Regie Hamm announced an exciting new joint initiative with Vanderbilt’s Kennedy Center to establish the Angel Center, a Middle Tennessee facility for comprehensive therapy, diagnosis, and support for children battling profoundly challenging mental and/or genetic disabilities.
Pictured (L-R): Doolittle, Hamm, Delilah, Gokey, Cho and Taff
••••
Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson met two of his musical heroes for the first time – George Jones and Charlie Daniels – after performing at the Grand Ole Opry last week.
Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Jones
Pictured (L-R): Thompson, Daniels
Lorrie Morgan Co-Founds REDHot Jingle Co.
/by FreemanMarty and Lorrie Morgan
Recording artist Lorrie Morgan has partnered with her brother Marty Morgan and producer Mark Oliverius to form The REDHot Jingle Company, a full service music production and commercial jingle service for TV, radio, film and new media.
“Some people might say the last thing Nashville needs is another jingle company,” explains Morgan. “But we think the fresh new style of compelling music we are creating for marketers will set us apart. Everything we do is centered on the ‘hook.’ Making messaging that is almost impossible to forget is our trademark. We’re applying the same formulas we use for hit songs to create hit jingles.”
Gospel Music Hall of Fame Names New Class
/by Sarah SkatesTop (l-r): Hoss Allen, Johnny Cash; Bottom (l-r): DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet
The GMA Foundation (GMAF) announced today that it will induct Johnny Cash, DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet, and Bill “Hoss” Allen into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on January 24, 2011.
“The impact this group of individuals has made on gospel music is immeasurable. It’s an honor to recognize these inductees for their contributions.” said Ed Harper, Chairman, GMA Foundation.
“I’m very excited about this year’s slate of inductees. All come from different cultures and backgrounds but have helped elevate gospel music to a much higher plateau throughout our universe which is in need of good news more than ever,” added Tom Long, Chairman, GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Committee.
Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key landed their first record deal at age 16 and over the next 17 years, recorded 15 albums of faith-filled, blues-influenced rock music. They earned seven GRAMMY and 17 Dove Award nominations. The duo created some of the first in-roads into the world of Christian music videos and was the first contemporary Christian artist to be aired on MTV.
The most popular of the Jubilee quartets, the Golden Gate Quartet was made up of Willie Johnson (baritone and narrator), Henry Owens (first tenor) William Langford (second tenor), and Orlandus Wilson (bass). They offered sophisticated harmonies, laced with a heavy dose of jazz.
In the mid 1950s, Hoss Allen established himself as a deejay for WLAC’s 50,000 watt radio station, a powerful entity that had broadcast capabilities stretching from Michigan to Mobile, Ala. Allen soon gained a reputation for playing the newest releases and is even credited for helping jumpstart the careers of James Brown and Jimi Hendrix through his airplay. Around 1975, Allen reformatted his program as “Early Morning Gospel Time With the Hossman,” providing a solid platform for this kind of music which had previously not existed.
Famed country music singer Johnny Cash was a lifelong Christian who recorded numerous Gospel albums and often incorporated Gospel music into his TV shows and concerts.
The GMA Foundation (GMAF) will induct the honorees into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Monday, January 24, 2011, at Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, TN at 6:00 PM. Admission is free to the public.
The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, established in 1971, has inducted more than 150 members since its inception. Previous inductees include Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Statler Brothers, the Winans, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Sandi Patty, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Billy Graham, the Jordanaires, and many more.