Gary Overton has been named Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music Nashville, it was announced today by Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music Entertainment.
Overton, who will be based in Nashville and report to Schmidt-Holtz, assumes the responsibilities of exiting Sony Music Nashville Chairman Joe Galante. Most recently Executive Vice President & General Manager of EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville division, Overton will begin his new role effective May 17, 2010.
“We are delighted to have Gary join the Sony Music family,” commented Schmidt-Holtz. “His many years of distinguished experience as a top executive on Music Row and his strong connections with the Nashville artist community forged over the course of a multifaceted career, make him an ideal choice to lead this important business for us. We look forward to working with him and continuing the great artistry and success of Sony Music Nashville.”
“When Joe told me of his decision to leave Sony, I thought about all his great accomplishments in nurturing the careers of some of the icons of our business: Dolly Parton, Alabama, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and many, many others,” Overton said. “I am honored and humbled to be tapped by Rolf Schmidt-Holtz to build on the legacy that is Sony Music Nashville. And I am very excited about having the opportunity to work with the great artists at Sony, as well as the very talented staff.”
In welcoming Overton, Galante offered, “Gary comes to us with a background in publishing, A&R, artist management, and records. He is incredibly passionate about the music and has all the necessary experience to handle this new challenge. He has great relationships with songwriters, and he is a very respected member of both the music and Nashville communities. I look forward to working with him during our mutual transitions to help deliver the best for the Sony artists and team.”
Overton has helmed EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville division since 1995, overseeing day-to-day operations, including the exploitation of copyrights, acquisition of catalogs, signing of writers and artists, and securing record deals. During his tenure, the company has earned Publisher of the Year honors from ASCAP, BMI, and/or SESAC a total of twelve times.
Prior to joining EMI, Overton was personal manager for superstar Alan Jackson, and served tenures as head of A&R for BNA Entertainment and Vice President of Warner/Chappell Music.
Overton has served on the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association and was recently named President-Elect of the board.
As announced earlier this week, outgoing Sony Music Nashville Chairman Joe Galante will actively participate in a transition consultancy role as Overton takes the helm.
Ben Vaughn has been tapped to lead EMI Music Publishing, replacing Overton. Vaughn was previously VP of writer and artist development and will be named executive VP and GM. He’ll report to EMI Music Publishing chairman and CEO Roger Faxon.
Another Sellout For CMA Songwriters Series
/by contributorFeaturing country star/songwriter Jason Michael Carroll (“Alyssa Lies”), the upcoming installment of the CMA Songwriters Series provides an intimate glimpse into the art of songwriting.
Joining Carroll will be Brett James (“Cowboy Casanova,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “When the Sun Goes Down”) and Rivers Rutherford (“Real Good Man,” “Ain’t Nothin’ Bout You”). Series regular Bob DiPiero (“Southern Voice,” “Blue Clear Sky”) will serve as the host for the evening.
Joe’s Pub is located at 425 Lafayette St. in New York City. Official sponsors for the CMA Songwriters Series include American Airlines, ASCAP, BMI, and Great American Country (GAC). American Airlines is the official airline of the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub.
DVD Rentals On the Decline
/by contributorIn 2009, in the midst of the recession, consumers tended to rent DVDs rather than purchase them. DVD rental revenue rose 4% for the year, with sales dropping 13%. The Digital Entertainment Group report linked the first-quarter decline to the closure of brick-and-mortar outlets by leading retailers Blockbuster and Movie Gallery, with DVD mail subscription service Netflix and kiosk vendor Redbox accounting for nearly all the rise in rentals. But the overall drop in numbers indicates that the rapid growth of those newer outlets may be slowing.
Blu-ray and digital remain bright spots. Sales of high-definition Blu-ray discs were up 74% and rentals rose 36%. Digital distribution revenue, which included download-to-own and video-on-demand rentals, grew 27%. However, those factors weren’t enough to compensate for the 8% drop in sales and rentals for the quarter. Looking ahead, the trend shows that the coming year could be even tougher for Hollywood than 2009, when total revenue fell 5%.
“We are still facing a challenging environment but are very pleased to see positive indicators of stabilization in our overall business,” says Warner Home Video President Ron Sanders, who heads Digital Entertainment Group.
Colt Ford Offers “Chicken and Biscuits”
/by contributorFord will kick-off the celebration with his first album release party at Tucker Plantation in his home state of Georgia on Friday, April 16 with featured guests John Michael Montgomery (who was featured on Ford’s debut 2008 release, Ride Through The Country) and Josh Gracin. On Saturday, April 17, Ford is taking over XM-11 airways from 6:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m CT. On Tuesday, April 20 Ford will host a star-studded Nashville CD release celebration from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at 12th & Porter.
Beginning Tuesday, April 27th fans can watch Ford on GAC’s On The Streets at 12:00 pm, 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. CT and on GAC’s Championship Bull Riding at 9:00 p.m. CT, followed by a live online streaming concert event presented by True View Live on Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
In addition, fans can download Ford’s single featuring Jamey Johnson, “Cold Beer,” compliments of People Country, and read about him in the April 26 issue of Country Weekly. Ford is also featured on the April 2 cover of Pollstar magazine.
For additional information, visit www.coltford.com.
Official: Overton Heads To Sony
/by contributorOverton, who will be based in Nashville and report to Schmidt-Holtz, assumes the responsibilities of exiting Sony Music Nashville Chairman Joe Galante. Most recently Executive Vice President & General Manager of EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville division, Overton will begin his new role effective May 17, 2010.
“We are delighted to have Gary join the Sony Music family,” commented Schmidt-Holtz. “His many years of distinguished experience as a top executive on Music Row and his strong connections with the Nashville artist community forged over the course of a multifaceted career, make him an ideal choice to lead this important business for us. We look forward to working with him and continuing the great artistry and success of Sony Music Nashville.”
“When Joe told me of his decision to leave Sony, I thought about all his great accomplishments in nurturing the careers of some of the icons of our business: Dolly Parton, Alabama, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and many, many others,” Overton said. “I am honored and humbled to be tapped by Rolf Schmidt-Holtz to build on the legacy that is Sony Music Nashville. And I am very excited about having the opportunity to work with the great artists at Sony, as well as the very talented staff.”
In welcoming Overton, Galante offered, “Gary comes to us with a background in publishing, A&R, artist management, and records. He is incredibly passionate about the music and has all the necessary experience to handle this new challenge. He has great relationships with songwriters, and he is a very respected member of both the music and Nashville communities. I look forward to working with him during our mutual transitions to help deliver the best for the Sony artists and team.”
Overton has helmed EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville division since 1995, overseeing day-to-day operations, including the exploitation of copyrights, acquisition of catalogs, signing of writers and artists, and securing record deals. During his tenure, the company has earned Publisher of the Year honors from ASCAP, BMI, and/or SESAC a total of twelve times.
Prior to joining EMI, Overton was personal manager for superstar Alan Jackson, and served tenures as head of A&R for BNA Entertainment and Vice President of Warner/Chappell Music.
Overton has served on the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association and was recently named President-Elect of the board.
As announced earlier this week, outgoing Sony Music Nashville Chairman Joe Galante will actively participate in a transition consultancy role as Overton takes the helm.
Ben Vaughn has been tapped to lead EMI Music Publishing, replacing Overton. Vaughn was previously VP of writer and artist development and will be named executive VP and GM. He’ll report to EMI Music Publishing chairman and CEO Roger Faxon.
Garth’s Presidential Meet-And-Greet
/by contributorCountry superstar Garth Brooks was honored today in Washington as part of the annual Grammys on the Hill event. This year’s events included the awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 14 and an advocacy day on Capitol Hill today (4/15), at which hundreds of music professionals from across the country visited with legislators to advance pro-music policies that improve the environment for music and its makers. Joining Brooks on the list of recipients of the prestigious award are U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and U.S. Representative Darrell Issa. After receiving his award, Brooks was greeted and congratulated by President Barack Obama.
“This year’s honorees truly define leadership, and GRAMMYs on the Hill gives us the opportunity to thank our political and musical leaders for their work to advance the rights of music makers,” said NARAS President/CEO Neil Portnow. “As one of the most popular and philanthropic artists, Garth Brooks is an inspiration to musicians and fans alike.”
William Morris Endeavor Acquires 360 Artist Agency
/by contributorJoey Lee
(Nashville, TN__April 15, 2010)__ William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME) has acquired Joey Lee’s 360 Artist Agency. Lee joins WME with agents
Henry Glascock and Risha Rodgers, who will be based out of WME’s Nashville office. They bring country music artists Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Abbott Band, Keith Anderson, Wade Bowen, Lee Brice, Mark Chesnutt, Neal McCoy, Whiskey Myers, Randy Rogers Band, and Clay Walker.
Lee’s clients join WME’s formidable country music roster, a sampling of which includes Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, The Judds, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift.
An industry veteran, Lee formed 360 Artist Agency in 2007, a full-service talent agency that was nominated for Pollstar’s Boutique Agency of the Year Award earlier this year. Lee is on the Country Music Association Board of Directors, a member of the International Entertainment Buyers Association, and a member of the Academy of Country Music, where he was Vice President for three years.
Ram Truck and ACM Introduce Text-To-Vote
/by contributorVoting will begin at the start of the telecast, when codes for each artist are given simultaneously, and will continue until the third hour of the show. Until then, fans may log onto www.VoteACM.com, also powered by Ram Truck, to vote.
“The Academy strives to expand the reach of country music by finding new ways to engage fans and consumers,” says Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. “We have had tremendous success incorporating fan voting into our awards show and are thrilled to partner with the distinguishable, country-friendly Ram Truck Brand to give fans an immediate, interactive awards show experience through text voting for Entertainer of the Year.”
Orchard Opens Nashville Office
/by contributor“Nashville has always had it right; it’s about the songs,” commented Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard. ”We hope to apply our expertise around the digital music business to deliver marketing, strategic planning and promotions to Nashville’s top independent labels, artists and publishers for success at digital retail – where it too, is about the songs!”
Through The Orchard’s platform, clients can quickly deliver music and video to digital and mobile storefronts around the world, track where sales occur, and leverage The Orchard’s data analytics tools to maximize sales and promotions. Additionally, clients may tap The Orchard’s suite of services, utilizing physical distribution, retail promotions, online marketing, iPhone application creation, and song placement in film, TV and advertising.
The Orchard’s newest office in Nashville will be led by long time Nashville music veteran, David Kastle. Kastle previously served as VP of Buddy Killen Music Group (KMG), where he signed songwriters including Holly Lamar, Vicky McGehee, Trent Tomlinson, Trey Matthews and David Chamberlain. He started his career at Acuff Rose Publishing and also founded MovieCues, an online music licensing resource to connect independent musicians/songwriters with music supervisors.
To coincide with the opening of the Nashville office, The Orchard signed an exclusive partnership with FUNL, a new venture from music industry veterans Pam Browne, Tamara Alan and Nancy Eckert. The Orchard and FUNL will kick things off with the return of multi-platinum country recording artist Ty Herndon, whose first single “Journey On” is now available across digital retail. The Orchard will also distribute Herndon’s upcoming Journey On, with a June 8 release date.
Also signed on with The Orchard is Turnpike Music, Nashville veteran Larry Pareigis’ independent radio promotion agency, as well as Nashville 2 You (N2U), industry veteran Rick Barker’s marketing agency. The Orchard will handle digital distribution for select clients for each company. To commemorate the new office, Kastle and The Orchard will host a launch party on April 22 at Nashville’s Tin Roof.
Brian Rhoades Joins EMI Nashville Promotion Staff
/by contributor“Brian brings an extensive promotion background to EMI,” says Hodges. “He will be a great asset to this team adding to an exciting future. Hold on tight, it’s going to be a fun ride!”
Rhoades most recently owned his own independent marketing company, working with clients such as CBS Records, Sony Music, IDJMG and A&M/Octone.
EMI Records Nashville Staff Contact Information:
Steve Hodges, SVP/Promotion / 615-269-2033 / Steve.Hodges@emimusic.com
Angela Lange, VP/Promotion / 615-269-2085 / Angela.Lange@emimusic.com
Chuck Swaney, Dir Promotion, MW/SW / 615-269-2084 / Chuck.Swaney@emimusic.com
Brian Rhoades, Dir Promotion, NE / 615-269-2083 / Brian.Rhoades@emimusic.com
Trudie Daniell, Dir Promotion, SE / 770-253-1784 / Trudie.Daniell@emimusic.com
Ron Bradley, Dir Promotion, West Coast / 702-334-1898 / Ron.Bradley@emimusic.com
Stars Come Out For Best Cellars Dinner
/by Bobby KarlThe event, sponsored by Eco-Energy Inc., is one of the Foundation’s signature events that is known for pairing Best Sellers (country music’s top selling artists and other celebrities) with Best Cellars (Nashville’s top wine collectors) and an extraordinary gourmet meal prepared by a world renown guest chef.
This year’s guest chef is Josiah Citrin, award-winning chef/owner of Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, and co-owner of Lemon Moon Café in West Los Angeles. Citrin has been featured on several television food shows, and his restaurant and his recipes have been written up in numerous national food publications.
“We thought it would be fun to invite some different wine collectors from around the country to be involved as Wine Hosts this year,” says Tom Black, owner of The Tom Black Center for Selling and Co-Chairman of the Best Cellars Dinner. “Some of the wine hosts are winery owners, artist managers, top restaurant owners in the country and business professionals.”
The wines that will be poured will be from the cellars of some of the top wine collectors in Nashville and the United States. The featured Best Cellars include Black, Larry Beckwith, Jim Clendenen, Bruce Fingeret, Billy Ray Hearn, T.K. Kimbrell, Irv Lingo, Tom Milam, Eliza Kraft Olander, Keith Pitts, Bill Shea and Dave Sokolin.
More information is available here.