Fifty-two new members have been selected to participate in the 22nd class of Leadership Music. The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry.
“The selection committee, composed of Leadership Music alumni from all areas of the industry, has carefully chosen an outstanding group of leaders from hundreds of candidates for the Class of 2011,” said J. Fred Knobloch, immediate past president of the board of directors and owner of J. Fred Knobloch Music, LLC., who chaired the committee. “This is the most important and rewarding work we do all year, and I applaud the committee’s dedication in putting together the next ‘best class ever’.”
Members of the Class of 2011 are: Lainie Allbee, general manager, Martin, Allbee & Associates, LLC; Claire Armbruster, artist support, Keith Case & Associates; Jeff Balding, producer; Jeff Black, artist/songwriter, Jeff Black Music/Lotos Nile Music; Brad Bissell, agent, Creative Artists Agency; Duff Berschback, vice president, business affairs, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ashley Capps, president/founder, AC Entertainment (Knoxville, TN); Jim Catino, vice president, A&R, Sony Music Nashville; Ramon Cisneros, president/CEO, Millennium Marketing; Ben Cissell, outreach director, Rocketown; Eric Conn, president, Independent Mastering; Ron Cox, senior vice president/head of entertainment division, Avenue Bank; Robin Eaton, president, Alex the Great/Club Roar;
J. Tod Fetherling, president/CEO, Nashville Technology Council; Keith Follese, president, Bigger Dog Productions; Keith Gale, vice president, promotion, RCA Records Nashville; Rusty Gaston, partner/general manager, This Music; Ken Gay, video designer/artist, XL Video USA; Jesse Goldstein, president, The TomKats Group; David Hamilton, producer/arranger/conductor, Hamilton Music Production; Dan E. Harrell, president, Fore Artist Management; Jim Houser, partner, Management Operations, Creative Trust, Inc.; Misha Hunke, assistant vice president, performing rights, BMI; Michael J. Huppe, executive vice president/general counsel, SoundExchange, Inc. (Washington, DC); Ariel Hyatt, president, Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR (Brooklyn, NY); John Ingrassia, general manager, Vector Management;
John R. Jacobson, attorney, Riley Warnock & Jacobson, PLC; Barry Jeffrey, WME; Brock Jones, senior director, booking, Powers Management (Bridgestone Arena); Dennis F. Jones, Jr., president/general manager, RadioJones, LLC (Atlanta, GA); Will Kimbrough, president, Will Kimbrough Music; Chandra LaPlume-Pereira, vice president/partner, Taillight TV; Wayne Leeloy, senior director, artist services, Topspin Media; Lori Mechem, executive director, Nashville Jazz Workshop; Andrew Mendelson, owner/chief mastering engineer, Georgetown Masters; Wendell Moore, president/CEO, The Capitol Group, LLC; Molly Nagel, senior director, artist development, Sugar Hill Records; Jill Napier, executive vice president, Big Loud Bucks Administration & Information, LLC; Suzanne Norman, senior vice president, strategy & business operations, CMT;
Cliff O’Sullivan, senior vice president, Group Marketing, Universal Music Group Distribution (Universal City, CA); Joe Palmaccio, president, The Place. . .for Mastering, PC; Glenn Peoples, senior editorial analyst, Billboard; Chip Petree, general manager/vice president, business affairs, Copyright Exchange, LLC; Rod Riley, chief operating officer, Word Entertainment; Carla Sacks, president, Sacks & Co (New York, NY).; Paul Schatzkin, owner, Cohesion Arts; Jennifer Schott, songwriter, Big Schott Songs; Michael Spriggs, Incredisongs; Lester Turner, Jr., president, Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc.; Melissa Wald, assistant professor, Middle Tennessee State University; Jon Weisberger, proprietor, Use Your Words Music; Marcus Whitney, chief technology officer, Moontoast.
Leadership Music is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization whose mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented of music industry professionals. The Program, which begins with an orientation and alumni reception in September, totals 10 days in eight sessions over eight months. It launches with a two-day opening retreat weekend in October; then presents six monthly themed days targeting the latest issues regarding songwriting, publishing, artists and their teams, studios and production, record companies, distribution, media, and touring; and closes with a two-day closing retreat in May. The Program is produced by alumni, and features worldwide experts as speakers and participants, to provide relevance to the future with context from the past. More than 800 alumni have graduated from the annual Program since its founding in 1989 in Nashville.
Kenny Chesney Preps Football Documentary
/by contributor“I was the starting wide receiver, which tells you how great we were,” Chesney says. “And I quit growing my freshman year. But I now know why we practiced longer, why our coach put us through double practices in the summer heat… all those things he put us through. It was to teach us things me and everybody on our team has used to become the people we are.”
For the past year, Chesney has been shooting The Boys of Fall, a documentary about the power and passion of high school football. He has drawn on his longstanding relationships with some of football’s most successful players and coaches – including winning Superbowl coach Sean Payton, John Madden, Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, former UT coach Phil Fulmer and University of Alabama’s Nick Saban and Bobby Bowden – as well as high school coaches from Illinois, Texas and Tennessee.
“When I was looking for songs for my album, someone pitched me “The Boys of Fall” and it struck me as everything I think and feel about that experience,” Chesney says. “That song was like striking a match!”
Negotiations to find a distributor for The Boys of Fall are close to being finalized.
Jennette McCurdy To Open For Faith Hill
/by contributorMcCurdy’s first acting job at 8 years old was the Faith Hill music video for “The Way You Love Me,” where she not only caught the acting bug but also realized her desire to pursue a career in music. A fan of country music since being introduced to Patsy Cline by her grandmother at an early age, she began writing songs and poetry at 7 years old.
“Faith Hill was a huge influence in my desire to pursue a career in country music,” McCurdy says. “To open for her is an honor and I’m so thrilled!”
Last summer McCurdy signed to Capitol Nashville on her 17th Birthday and has been writing for and recording her debut album, The Story Of My Life, in Nashville over the last year. Produced by Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum), McCurdy co-wrote nine of the 11 tracks on the album including debut single “Not That Far Away” which she co-wrote with Rachel Proctor and Blair Daly.
iCarly, currently in production on its third season, airs on Saturdays at 7:00 PM/CT on Nickelodeon.
For more information visit www.jennettemccurdy.com.
Leadership Music Selects 22nd Class
/by contributor“The selection committee, composed of Leadership Music alumni from all areas of the industry, has carefully chosen an outstanding group of leaders from hundreds of candidates for the Class of 2011,” said J. Fred Knobloch, immediate past president of the board of directors and owner of J. Fred Knobloch Music, LLC., who chaired the committee. “This is the most important and rewarding work we do all year, and I applaud the committee’s dedication in putting together the next ‘best class ever’.”
Members of the Class of 2011 are: Lainie Allbee, general manager, Martin, Allbee & Associates, LLC; Claire Armbruster, artist support, Keith Case & Associates; Jeff Balding, producer; Jeff Black, artist/songwriter, Jeff Black Music/Lotos Nile Music; Brad Bissell, agent, Creative Artists Agency; Duff Berschback, vice president, business affairs, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ashley Capps, president/founder, AC Entertainment (Knoxville, TN); Jim Catino, vice president, A&R, Sony Music Nashville; Ramon Cisneros, president/CEO, Millennium Marketing; Ben Cissell, outreach director, Rocketown; Eric Conn, president, Independent Mastering; Ron Cox, senior vice president/head of entertainment division, Avenue Bank; Robin Eaton, president, Alex the Great/Club Roar;
J. Tod Fetherling, president/CEO, Nashville Technology Council; Keith Follese, president, Bigger Dog Productions; Keith Gale, vice president, promotion, RCA Records Nashville; Rusty Gaston, partner/general manager, This Music; Ken Gay, video designer/artist, XL Video USA; Jesse Goldstein, president, The TomKats Group; David Hamilton, producer/arranger/conductor, Hamilton Music Production; Dan E. Harrell, president, Fore Artist Management; Jim Houser, partner, Management Operations, Creative Trust, Inc.; Misha Hunke, assistant vice president, performing rights, BMI; Michael J. Huppe, executive vice president/general counsel, SoundExchange, Inc. (Washington, DC); Ariel Hyatt, president, Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR (Brooklyn, NY); John Ingrassia, general manager, Vector Management;
John R. Jacobson, attorney, Riley Warnock & Jacobson, PLC; Barry Jeffrey, WME; Brock Jones, senior director, booking, Powers Management (Bridgestone Arena); Dennis F. Jones, Jr., president/general manager, RadioJones, LLC (Atlanta, GA); Will Kimbrough, president, Will Kimbrough Music; Chandra LaPlume-Pereira, vice president/partner, Taillight TV; Wayne Leeloy, senior director, artist services, Topspin Media; Lori Mechem, executive director, Nashville Jazz Workshop; Andrew Mendelson, owner/chief mastering engineer, Georgetown Masters; Wendell Moore, president/CEO, The Capitol Group, LLC; Molly Nagel, senior director, artist development, Sugar Hill Records; Jill Napier, executive vice president, Big Loud Bucks Administration & Information, LLC; Suzanne Norman, senior vice president, strategy & business operations, CMT;
Cliff O’Sullivan, senior vice president, Group Marketing, Universal Music Group Distribution (Universal City, CA); Joe Palmaccio, president, The Place. . .for Mastering, PC; Glenn Peoples, senior editorial analyst, Billboard; Chip Petree, general manager/vice president, business affairs, Copyright Exchange, LLC; Rod Riley, chief operating officer, Word Entertainment; Carla Sacks, president, Sacks & Co (New York, NY).; Paul Schatzkin, owner, Cohesion Arts; Jennifer Schott, songwriter, Big Schott Songs; Michael Spriggs, Incredisongs; Lester Turner, Jr., president, Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc.; Melissa Wald, assistant professor, Middle Tennessee State University; Jon Weisberger, proprietor, Use Your Words Music; Marcus Whitney, chief technology officer, Moontoast.
Leadership Music is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization whose mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented of music industry professionals. The Program, which begins with an orientation and alumni reception in September, totals 10 days in eight sessions over eight months. It launches with a two-day opening retreat weekend in October; then presents six monthly themed days targeting the latest issues regarding songwriting, publishing, artists and their teams, studios and production, record companies, distribution, media, and touring; and closes with a two-day closing retreat in May. The Program is produced by alumni, and features worldwide experts as speakers and participants, to provide relevance to the future with context from the past. More than 800 alumni have graduated from the annual Program since its founding in 1989 in Nashville.
Veronica Ballestrini Lives Her “Dream”
/by contributorIf I Can Dream utilizes a variety of platforms to reach audiences and break new talent. Created by Simon Fuller (producer of the American Idol franchise), the show documents the struggle of five young people who dream of success in Hollywood. It allows viewers to interact with the individuals and the narrative in real time, giving audiences open access to a show in a way that has not been attempted before.
If I Can Dream utilizes the Internet to broadcast the video feed live from the house (full episodes are available on Hulu), and social networking sites are incorporated to audition new cast members and vote for the hopefuls.
Ballestrini’s first single, “Amazing,” climbed the charts in the fall of 2009, and this summer she releases her third single “Don’t Say.” She was the featured artist in the 2009 Digital Rodeo CMA Fest Contest, has one of the most visited artist pages on CMT.com and has endorsements with InTune Guitar Picks (InTuneGP) and Sennheiser. For more information visit www.veronicaballestrini.net. Below, Ballestrini performs “Don’t Say” with Dream cast member Alex.
Weekly Chart Report 6/18/10
/by adminThis week’s Top Ten is a veritable land of opportunity as all titles either moved up or held their ground. Newcomers to the exalted region include Zac Brown Band’s “Free” moving from No. 13 to 10 and Keith Urban’s “I’m In” ricocheting from No. 11 to 6.
Is the Breakout chart speeding up? Telling is the “Weeks On” chart data. All Top 10s are showing 21 weeks or less, with the average a trim 14 weeks! Whew, that’s getting civilized for both artists, labels and listeners. For example, if a song peaks in 17 weeks and the next track is released, an artist could almost enjoy three hits in one year. That means that newer artists like Jerrod Niemann for example, after two years would have about 6 hits to play live enough to form the basis of a live show. When charts move slower, as the mainstream country radio lists often do, it means an artist needs 3 or even 4 years to build the same songbook.
Jerrod Neimann
Frozen This Week (13): KYYK, KTHK, KZZY, WQNZ, WMEV, KFLG, WJMQ, WBKR, Sirius XM, KUUB, KWOX, KNCQ, WHWK
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label/chart pos.
Chely WrightBrokenVangaurd/Painted Red 74
Cody McCarver/I’m America/E1 Records/PLC Records 73
Will Peppers/I Hope Heaven Has A Dirt Road 72
The Roys/Beautiful/Pedestal 71
Mark Wayne Glasmire/You Opened My Eyes/Traceway 70
Eric ChurchSmoke A Little SmokeCapitol 63
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label spins
Matthew Huff/Back Again/MGH Records 235
Leah Seawright/Country Girl 101/Skytone Records 210
Susan Hickman/Hell Still Ain’t Frozen Over/4L Clover/Prickly Pear 207
Nathan Lee /Jackson/Inside 206
Lucky Seven Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label spin+
Toby Keith/Every Dog Has Its Day/Show Dog – Universal 383
Lady Antebellum/Our Kind Of Love/Capitol 381
Justin Moore/How I Got To Be This Way/Valory Music 268
Keith Urban/I’m In/Capitol 262
Two Week Most Added*
Artist/song/label new adds
Our Kind Of Love – Lady Antebellum 26
Trailerhood – Toby Keith 20
How I Got To Be This Way – Justin Moore 14
Beautiful – The Roys 14
If I Die Young – The Band Perry 14
Keep The Change – Darryl Worley 13
Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer – Billy Currington 12
Smoke A Little Smoke – Eric Church 12
Going For Adds
June 14, 2010
Randy Rogers Band/Too Late For Goodbye/MCA
LeAnn Rimes/Swingin/Curb
June 21, 2010
Bo Bice/You Take Yourself With You/Saguaro Road
Steel Magnolia/Just By Being You (Halo And Wings)/Big Machine
Blackberry Smoke/Good One Comin’ On/BamaJam Julianne Hough/Is That So Wrong/Mercury
Katie Armiger/Leaving Home/Cold River
Veronica Ballestrini/Don’t Say/Timbob Records
Eric Church/Smoke A Little Smoke/Capitol
June 28, 2010
Sunny Sweeney/From A Table Away/Republic Nashville
Danny Gokey/I Will Not Say Goodbye/19/RCA
Darryl Worley/Keep The Change/Stroudavarious
John Rich/Country Done Come To Town/Warner Bros.
EMI Ups Roger Faxon To Group CEO
/by contributorRoger Faxon
Roger Faxon, chairman and chief executive of EMI Music Publishing since 2007, has been put in charge of the company’s recorded music division.
EMI announced the appointment today as part of an overhaul designed “to enable the company to reposition itself as a comprehensive rights management company that can take full advantage of all global opportunities in all markets for music.”
Many of EMI’s biggest acts, including Coldplay, the Beatles and Lily Allen, will still be signed to other publishers. But EMI clearly believes the more stable publishing side of the business can do more to help shore up the recorded music operation.
In a statement, Faxon said “the two divisions working in concert with one another as a global rights management business, can and will deliver for the artists and songwriters that we are privileged to work with now and in the future.”
Faxon will maintain responsibility for EMI’s publishing business as well as taking over the recorded music division.
He also stressed the company’s commitment to discovering new music, leveraging the company’s deep catalog and being “passionate about providing world-class service and services to the many and varied music users and retailers across the globe. We need to be the most trusted and effective partner to them, while also providing fans with the products that they demand. .
Our joy and enthusiasm for and about music is our greatest tool in building EMI.”
Faxon told staff he feels “fortunate to be joining EMI Music after it has really started to come alive again as a player in the recorded music business. Over the last year or so you have had some striking great successes both in new music and catalogue. And not unimportantly, the company has made great financial progress.”
Faxon, an American, will be the first Group chief executive since Eric Nicoli left in 2007 and EMI’s first New York-based chief executive.
AEG Live And Labels In Talks?
/by contributorThe talks could result in either a sale to one of the major music companies or a consortium of bidders, one executive said. The discussions are said to have been going on with Universal for more than a year, but have recently broadened to include other labels.
While no one is clear on the reason for the sale, some suggest it could be driven by the desire to raise capital while the business is still robust. Others suggest a deal with the music companies could shore up AEG Live’s competitive position with Live Nation, which recently gained federal approval for its merger with Ticketmaster. AEG Live was behind the comeback tour by the late Michael Jackson and is behind tours by Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas and others.
“There are a variety of substantial organizations that have contacted us over the years and recently about investment opportunities in AEG Live,” a spokesman said. “While we happen to have all of our funding in place, we continue to speak to many to determine if they would bring proper assets to the table to warrant consideration. We’re having the best run that we’ve ever had and the future is incredibly bright but you always look for ways to strengthen the organization.”
A spokesman for Universal Music denied that the company was in discussions with AEG, while execs at Sony and Warner had no comment.
Live Nation’s stock price has fallen from a high of $16.70 on April 26 to $10.79 on June 7. Live Nation, which also includes artists management firm, Frontline, recovered from some of its recent losses, closing at $12.20 yesterday.
Read the entire New York Post article here.
Wrensong/Reynsong Racking Up The Hits
/by contributorIn other news, Wrensong’s Ashley Monroe recently landed her first No. 1 single (“The Truth”). Monroe also wrote two songs (“Heart Like Mine” and “Me & Your Cigarettes”) with Miranda Lambert for her current album, Revolution.
Songwriter Jon Randall produced Dierks Bentley’s new album, Up On The Ridge, which includes four of his co-writes. Randall has also been busy writing with Brad Paisley (“No”) and Gary Allan (“No Regrets”). In addition, Wrensong’s John Wiggins has Blake Shelton’s next single, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.” Wiggins has also been writing with the new duo, Like Strangers.
Michael Chugg Receives CMA Int’l Award
/by contributor(l-r) Jeff Walker, CMA Board Member and President of AristoMedia/Marco Promotions; Steve Moore, CMA Board Chairman; Michael Chugg, Jo Walker-Meador International Award Winner; and Rob Potts, CMA Board Member and CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge
During a press conference at 2010 CMA Music Festival last Thursday (6/10), Australian concert promoter Michael Chugg of Chugg Entertainment was given the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The Award was presented by CMA Board Chairman Steve Moore, with CMA Board members Jeff Walker, President of AristoMedia/Marco Promotions, and Rob Potts, CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, in attendance.
“To receive such a wonderful award from CMA during their Festival week in Nashville was a great honor, and will take pride of place in my office in Sydney,” said Chugg. “To be able to play a part in spreading music to the world is very special, and I thank the Board of the CMA on behalf of all the Australian Country Music fans.”
The Jo Walker-Meador International Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States. Chugg is one of the most experienced and respected concert promoters in Australia, with a career spanning more than 45 years. He received the CMA International Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year Award in 2006, has won every major music and entertainment award possible in Australia, and currently serves on the CMA Australian Advisory Group. Chugg has been involved with establishing Australia as a strong live touring market for international artists, and has promoted or co-promoted tours with Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, among others. Chugg Entertainment will co-promote a Tim McGraw tour with Entertainment Edge later this year.
Cumulus Presents “Healthy Living Expo”
/by contributor“Health care need not be boring,” says Bill Hutcherson, Event Director. “There are always new cutting-edge technologies to explore, great new nutritional foods, and fantastic and fun ways to get in shape beyond the traditional routine of working out at the gym. We want to give people the chance to explore new opportunities and engage in a healthy lifestyle that works for them.”
Healthy Living Expo participants will include a wide-array of health, nutrition and fitness professionals including Milestone Staffing, Daymar Institute Massage Clinic, Don Ho Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Amerigroup Community Cares, Podiatrists of Middle Tennessee, HCA Healthcare, New Image Dentistry National College of Business, Rolling Hills Dentistry, Vein Pavilion (The Vein Guys), American Cancer Society, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Center for Anti-Aging Medicine, Meharry Medical Women’s Research Center, Dr. Rishi Saxena (Cardiologist), Park Place Retirement Community, Hermitage Hall, Pure Romance, Debbie’s School of Dance, Powers Modeling, Music City Wellness, the American Red Cross, Dohnal Chiropractic, MARC (Medically Assisted Recovery Centers), 1-800 Fix-My-Teeth, Brentwood Chiropractic and Pain Management, Adventureworks.com, Allergy and Asthma Center of Middle Tennessee, Gordon Law Group, Laser Liposuction Clinic, Dr. Gil Chiropractic, New York Life, Bellevue Medi-Spa, Williamson Wellness Solutions, Marable Personal Healthcare, Elder Care Essentials, Max GLC, Dr. Dwayne Allison and Franklin Allergic Care, and more. For more information, call (615) 321-1067.