With budgets and playlists getting smaller by the day,
the Nashville music publishing scene has grown increasingly competitive, forcing songwriters and publishers to become more innovative and resourceful in their efforts to get songs recorded. Ole, one of Nashville’s most successful independent publishers, is leading the charge for creative catalog promotion by handing out copies of songwriter Liz Rose’s notebook.
Back in 2008, when the publisher bought 50 percent of Jody Williams Music, along with it came Rose’s catalog. Known for pairing with Taylor Swift for some of the star’s biggest hits (“You Belong With Me,” “White Horse,” “Teardrops On My Guitar,” “Picture To Burn”), Rose’s name is well-known on Music Row.
With these big singles to her credit, ole knew there was more gold to mine from Rose’s catalog. The ole team decided to send out a promotional package featuring some of her best songs to producers, artists and A&R people. Gilles Godard, ole’s chief creative officer, says the challenge even for a songwriter with Rose’s track record, is to make people open the package and listen to the songs.
“We got together the most creative minds in our company and
we batted around some ideas,” he tells MusicRow. “We proposed and
critiqued and defended and argued, and we came up with something we call Liz’s notebook. What’s more precious to a songwriter than their songbook? And our writers’ demos are often gems in themselves, so we decided to combine both with this unique promotion.”
The appeal in Liz’s notebook is that it seems so genuine; with post-it notes, scribbled lyrics on the back of an envelope, family photos, a card from a flower arrangement, a to-do list, even concert ticket stubs and a take-out menu. It is a realistic peep into Rose’s personal life, neatly spiral-bound in a 7” x 9” book. The painstaking accuracy of the reproduction is evident on every page.
Upon closer inspection, the promotional aspects of the product come into focus. There are news articles about the songwriter, and an invitation to the Grammy Awards, where Rose and Swift won a trophy for Country Song of the Year. And in the back pocket is a strategically placed photo of Swift and Rose receiving a BMI award. Also included is a birthday email from Josh Turner, and it turns out the card was delivered with a thank-you bouquet from songwriter/artist Rachel Proctor. Though Rose’s work with Swift is her most recognized, a handwritten list also points out her cuts by artists Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Gary Allan, and Jo Dee Messina. Most importantly, the book contains a CD with a selection of Rose’s best uncut songs.
Godard reports that the response to the notebook has been fantastic. “Putting this song book together was a labor of love,” he says. “We believe that if producers, artists and label people will open Liz’s notebook, Liz’s songs will open their eyes… and their ears.”
Martha’s Vineyard Gets Songwriters
/by adminFeatured performers will include producer/writer Keith Stegall, Tom Douglas, Thom Schuyler, Even Stevens, and a host of others. In addition to the concert part of the reason for the event is to allow the composers to establish new creative partnerships in the retreat-like setting. The second annual Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival is sponsored by BMI, Southwest Airlines, Mansion House, Key West Songwriters Festival, Fury Key West, ticketsMV.com, and Bose.
MARTHA’S VINEYARD SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL VENUE SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 24
Mansion House – Vineyard Haven, MA
5-7 PM; MVSWF Kick-Off Party
Hosted by Storme Warren
Tony Roberts mindflowmusic.com
Phil DaRosa phildarosa.com
Friday, Sept. 24
Union Chapel – Oak Bluffs, MA
Hosted by Storme Warren
8-9PM
Arama Brown songspub.com/songwriters.php?id=95
Jeff Cohen myspace.com/panchoslament
Toby Lightman tobylightman.com/
9:15-10:30PM
Thom Schuyler thomschuyler.com
Laura Warshauer laurawarshauer.tumblr.com
Even Stevens
Saturday, Sept. 25
Union Chapel- Oak Bluffs, MA
Hosted by Storme Warren
8-9PM
Mayaeni mayaeni.com
Shane Stevens myspace.com/shanestevensmusic
Courtney Jaye courtneyjaye.com
9:15-10:30PM
Tom Douglas myspace.com/tomdouglassongs
Kylie Sackley myspace.com/kyliesackley
Keith Stegall keithstegall.com
ACM Adds SVP Teresa George
/by Sarah Skates“Teresa has been an important part of the ACM team for a long time, and we’re thrilled to have her on board as an executive staff member,” said Romeo. “Her work has always elevated the level of ACM brand integrations and with her reach, the Academy’s strategic partnerships can only continue to grow.”
George has worked on the Academy’s television properties and strategic initiatives, through her entertainment marketing company Cornerstone Communications, since 2000. During that time, she has secured corporate and promotional partners including Dr Pepper, The Home Depot, Cover Girl, The RAM Truck Brand, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Miller/Coors, Neutrogena, Southwest Airlines, Westwood One, Justin, Wrangler and more.
“I have really enjoyed working with Bob, the Academy staff and board over the past decade as we have focused on reinvigorating and elevating the ACM brand,” George said. “In both the music business and in television, strategic and corporate partnerships have become even more crucial over the past few years. I look forward to creating more synergies for the Academy in this new staff role.”
Prior to forming Cornerstone Communications in 2000, George held executive positions at the Country Music Association for 12 years, including Senior Director of Communications and also creative consultant for the CMA Awards.
Amy Cannon, previously with George at Cornerstone Communications, has also been hired by the Academy and will assume the role of Coordinator, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. Both positions will be based in Nashville, TN.
George and Cannon can be reached at teresa@acmcountry.com and amy@acmcountry.com, respectively or via phone at (615) 383-5522.
Singer Bill Phillips Passes
/by Sarah SkatesParton co-wrote and sang on “Tomorrow,” which helped her garner enough attention to land a record deal.
When Phillips came to Nashville he signed with Cedarwood Publishing and Columbia Records. But his biggest success came at Decca Records, where he had two top 10 hits in 1966: “Tomorrow” and “The Company You Keep,” both written by Parton and her uncle Bill Owens. Phillips also reached the Top 10 with 1969’s “Little Boy Sad.” Among the hits he wrote that were recorded by others were Webb Pierce’s “Falling Back To You.”
Phillips was also a frequent guest on many television shows, including those headed up by Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson, and Parton. He was also part of Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright’s TV show and touring troupe from the late ‘60s until 1984.
Nashvillians Help Revive Fame Studios
/by Sarah SkatesMuscle Shoals, Alabama’s renowned Fame Studios, its publishing company, and record label are experiencing a revival. Hit Nashville songwriter Brad Crisler has signed with House of Fame Publishing, where Music Row veteran Steve Williams has been hired on as Creative Director.
For Crisler, it is a return the publishing company where he had early success. His credits include cuts by Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney, as well as the hits “Sweet Southern Comfort” (Buddy Jewell) and “Hillbilly Deluxe” (Brooks & Dunn).
Williams brings his two decades of experience to Fame, including time at Arista Nashville and later as Creative Director at Sea Gayle Music.
Throughout the 1960s, artists that recorded at founder Rick Hall’s Fame Studios included Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, and Otis Redding. Decades of hits followed with The Osmonds, Bobbie Gentry, Jerry Reed, and Shenandoah laying down tracks at the southern soul studio. Since its inception, Fame has been involved in projects selling over 350 million copies worldwide.
Williams can be reached at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661; steve@fame2.com.
ole Piques Interest With Liz Rose’s Notebook
/by Sarah SkatesBack in 2008, when the publisher bought 50 percent of Jody Williams Music, along with it came Rose’s catalog. Known for pairing with Taylor Swift for some of the star’s biggest hits (“You Belong With Me,” “White Horse,” “Teardrops On My Guitar,” “Picture To Burn”), Rose’s name is well-known on Music Row.
With these big singles to her credit, ole knew there was more gold to mine from Rose’s catalog. The ole team decided to send out a promotional package featuring some of her best songs to producers, artists and A&R people. Gilles Godard, ole’s chief creative officer, says the challenge even for a songwriter with Rose’s track record, is to make people open the package and listen to the songs.
“We got together the most creative minds in our company and we batted around some ideas,” he tells MusicRow. “We proposed and critiqued and defended and argued, and we came up with something we call Liz’s notebook. What’s more precious to a songwriter than their songbook? And our writers’ demos are often gems in themselves, so we decided to combine both with this unique promotion.”
The appeal in Liz’s notebook is that it seems so genuine; with post-it notes, scribbled lyrics on the back of an envelope, family photos, a card from a flower arrangement, a to-do list, even concert ticket stubs and a take-out menu. It is a realistic peep into Rose’s personal life, neatly spiral-bound in a 7” x 9” book. The painstaking accuracy of the reproduction is evident on every page.
Upon closer inspection, the promotional aspects of the product come into focus. There are news articles about the songwriter, and an invitation to the Grammy Awards, where Rose and Swift won a trophy for Country Song of the Year. And in the back pocket is a strategically placed photo of Swift and Rose receiving a BMI award. Also included is a birthday email from Josh Turner, and it turns out the card was delivered with a thank-you bouquet from songwriter/artist Rachel Proctor. Though Rose’s work with Swift is her most recognized, a handwritten list also points out her cuts by artists Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Gary Allan, and Jo Dee Messina. Most importantly, the book contains a CD with a selection of Rose’s best uncut songs.
Godard reports that the response to the notebook has been fantastic. “Putting this song book together was a labor of love,” he says. “We believe that if producers, artists and label people will open Liz’s notebook, Liz’s songs will open their eyes… and their ears.”
Country Co-hosts on “Today”
/by Sarah SkatesBlake Shelton and Hoda Kotb on the Today show.
Country stars are filling-in as co-hosts on NBC’s Today show this week. Yesterday (8/23) Blake Shelton joined Hoda Kotb while regular co-host Kathie Lee Gifford is out on vacation. Amid jokes about the need for a five-second delay and his notorious Tweets, Shelton serenaded Kotb, showed off his cooking skills, and talked about his fashion sense.
Today (8/24) Martina McBride was the guest, chatting about her favorite cover songs, family life and her ’92 Honda. See the video clip below.
Look for John Rich tomorrow (8/25), Trisha Yearwood on Thursday (8/26) and Josh Turner on Friday (8/27). Turner will perform his current single, “All Over Me.”
See more here.
Trailer Choir
/by ProgrammerPlaylistTrailer Choir has long been known for its energetic live shows, so it’s only appropriate the group’s latest single was ‘born’ at a concert. “Shakin’ That Tailgate” is the result of lead vocalist Butter having a chance meeting backstage with artist/writer Brady Seals.
“We had just arrived backstage for our performance at KBWF’s 2009 Beach Ball Free For All,” Butter recalls. “Brady was just finishing his last song on stage and I was like ‘damn, that’s Brady Seals.’ I’ve loved everything this guy has done. So I bum rushed him like a frantic groupie as he walked offstage, introduced myself and asked him if he had any old songs sitting around the garage that might work for us.
“The very next morning he emailed me 10 songs to check out. I kept coming back to this song called ‘Bonnie’ because of a phrase I kept saying over and over in my head—’shakin’ that tailgate.’ I came up with a rough verse and chorus melody and called him, and after I got over the fact that I was actually talking to Brady Seals on the phone, I proposed my idea to make ‘shakin’ that tailgate’ a song. He said ‘I’m in,’ and two days later we gave birth to a 6 pound 3 ounce little baby song called ‘Shakin’ That Tailgate’.”
“Shakin’ That Tailgate” is the latest single from the trio’s Show Dog-Universal Music debut CD Tailgate which shows off Butter and vocal partners, the lovely Crystal and the 382-pound guy in overalls, Big Vinny.
Connect: @TrailerChoir; www.Trailorchoir.com; Facebook
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Luke Bryan Scores Back-to-Back Gold
/by Sarah SkatesIn the last nine months, Bryan has been at the top of his career game. He celebrated his first No. 1 with “Do I,” which was Gold® certified. Then he had a two-week run at No. 1 with “Rain Is A Good Thing.”
Bryan was also named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Artist and Top New Solo Vocalist, both fan-voted, and won a CMT trophy for the fan-voted USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of The Year for “Do I.” The Georgia native also received Teen Choice Award nominations for Male Country Artist and Country Album.
Bryan will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s Wide Open Tour this fall.
Dolly Heads Back To The Big Screen
/by Sarah SkatesParton has previously starred in Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and the Academy Award-nominated 9-5.
“I’m really happy to be doing a movie with Queen Latifah,” she says. “I really like her and have often thought we would be fun together. Even though we play rivals in the movie, I’m sure we’ll have our fun behind the scenes. I’m so happy to be doing a movie about music—especially happy because it’s Gospel music which I grew up singing and loving.”
Todd Graff (Camp, Bandslam, Used People) wrote the screenplay and will direct. Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment (Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove) will finance and produce along with Farrell Paura Productions and O.N.C. Entertainment.
Marty Stuart’s “Ghost Train” Rides Today
/by Sarah SkatesTonight at 6:30 PM Stuart will make an appearance at Davis-Kidd Booksellers to unveil The Art of Country Music, an in-store display featuring vintage photographs and country memorabilia from his world-class personal collection, as well as his selection of the best country music books and albums. He’ll also discuss and sign copies of his new project.
For more on Stuart’s Ghost Train, check out this Nashville Scene article.