As another work week begins, the skies over Music Row have cleared. And while “the many” are focused on the coming long weekend, “the experienced few” can’t help but feel a sixth sense tug that says something is going on. Picture a duck swimming like a big machine across a pond…on the surface it is gliding so slowly, but under the water its feet are moving swift-ly. Tongues aren’t wagging, but could Capitol’s former promo guy, Mr. “no comment” Harnen be going independent??? or is he joining a Republic? Ah that is a question to ponder.
Deals, deals deals. While everyone has been watching the changes in the management field concerning players such as Coran Capshaw, Frontline Management, rpm management, Red Light and most recently Morris Management, there has also been plenty of action surrounding a new hybrid label model that slowly seems to be emerging.
For example, Atlantic country artists Zac Brown Band and Jesse Lee have a nimble, but small Nashville-dedicated team. Meanwhile, the label’s main support staff remains quartered in New York headed by Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman.
Then there is Emblem who is making a not-so-small noise with Gloriana. They recently formed a strategic alliance with Warner Bros. for distribution and possibly more, but again the main label guns—the Serletic brothers, Dean and Matt—work far away from Nashville in lovely Calabasas, CA.
Arguably Lyric Street may have started the trend in 1997 when it formed an unusually compact Disney outpost. Now they are also tweaking tactics with the formation of a second imprint and by hosting the Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana soundtrack currently topping the country charts.
So yes, if one were to wonder about the odds of Big Machine and Valory Music getting a new sibling, perhaps a Republic, it hardly seems outlandish especially considering the chart success that Borchetta’s engine-that-could is scoring with names like Justin Moore, Jack Ingram and Taylor Swift on the current country chart and many others that have appeared or are soon to appear again. They say that the music biz is a lot like horseracing and look what is going on over in that arena at the first two races of the Triple Crown.
Ah well, it’s a long weekend, try to get an early start—beat the traffic….
“Dateline NBC” Spotlights Swift
/by LB CantrellMix Nashville Announces Producer Panelists
/by LB CantrellHuff (Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Martina McBride) and John McBride will take the stage on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the making of Martina McBride’s latest release, Shine.
On Wednesday, Mix Nashville will present an afternoon with King and Powell. King is co-producer of the Kings of Leon’s Only By the Night, and Powell is co-producer of Consolers of the Lonely by The Raconteurs. Producer Droman (LeeAnn Womack, Brooks & Dunn) will join singer-songwriter Jen Foster for a Wednesday afternoon Special Session on the songwriting and production of Foster’s forthcoming project, Thirty-Nine. Full programming details are available here.
CMT To Host CMA Fan Social
/by LB CantrellDarius Rucker Has a “Give-Back Birthday”
/by LB CantrellNashville Screenwriters Conference Ready to Roll
/by LB Cantrell“Film and television are joining radio in successfully launching and building music careers,” says Brown. “Nashville has such an abundance of talent and this panel will further educate us all on how to get the music heard.”
Joining Brown will be Music Supervisors Julia Michels (Marley and Me, Sex and the City: The Movie and The Devil Wears Prada), Julianne Jordan (Hotel for Dogs, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Fools Gold), Dana Sano (Two Lovers, Dan in Real Life and Shoot ‘Em Up) and Darren Higman (Shark Tale, Two Weeks Notice and State of the Union), as well as NBC Vice President of Music Creative Services, Alicen Catron Schneider (Heroes, Trauma and Caprica) and music journalist Phil Gallo.
The open-to-the-public conference, which Script magazine calls “one of the best screenwriters conferences in America,” will bring Hollywood’s top writers, producers, directors, managers, agents and other studio executives to Nashville to provide aspiring screenwriters and individuals interested in worlds of film and TV the opportunity to network, learn and explore the inner-workings of Hollywood. All panels will be available a la carte for purchasing individual tickets. You can find more information and a complete schedule of panels here.
Gettin’ Set For The Three Day Weekend
/by bossrossDeals, deals deals. While everyone has been watching the changes in the management field concerning players such as Coran Capshaw, Frontline Management, rpm management, Red Light and most recently Morris Management, there has also been plenty of action surrounding a new hybrid label model that slowly seems to be emerging.
For example, Atlantic country artists Zac Brown Band and Jesse Lee have a nimble, but small Nashville-dedicated team. Meanwhile, the label’s main support staff remains quartered in New York headed by Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman.
Then there is Emblem who is making a not-so-small noise with Gloriana. They recently formed a strategic alliance with Warner Bros. for distribution and possibly more, but again the main label guns—the Serletic brothers, Dean and Matt—work far away from Nashville in lovely Calabasas, CA.
Arguably Lyric Street may have started the trend in 1997 when it formed an unusually compact Disney outpost. Now they are also tweaking tactics with the formation of a second imprint and by hosting the Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana soundtrack currently topping the country charts.
So yes, if one were to wonder about the odds of Big Machine and Valory Music getting a new sibling, perhaps a Republic, it hardly seems outlandish especially considering the chart success that Borchetta’s engine-that-could is scoring with names like Justin Moore, Jack Ingram and Taylor Swift on the current country chart and many others that have appeared or are soon to appear again. They say that the music biz is a lot like horseracing and look what is going on over in that arena at the first two races of the Triple Crown.
Ah well, it’s a long weekend, try to get an early start—beat the traffic….
Stuart Dill Named President of Sanctuary
/by LB CantrellStuart Dill’s management team will bring Jo Dee Messina, Jessica Harp, Point of Grace, Holly Williams, Laura Bell Bundy, Ashley Gearing and Two Foot Fred to Sanctuary. Dill’s previous credits include working with Minnie Pearl, Freddy Fender (and the Texas Tornadoes), Dwight Yoakam, Bellamy Bros., Michael Martin Murphey, Holly Dunn, Forester Sisters, Desert Rose Band and The Wreckers. Dill is a longtime member of Leadership Music and is a member of the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
“Sanctuary has a rich history of managing some of our greatest musical icons on a global level,” Dill said. “As its name implies, Sanctuary has always taken great strides in protecting the creative process, partnering with artists and their creative visions and then helping take those efforts successfully to the marketplace. That tradition will continue as Sanctuary recommits and expands its energy and resources in Country music.”
Dill can be reached at Stuart.dill@sanctuarygroup.com or at 615-524-7740.
Performance Royalties Act Goes To House
/by LB CantrellIn a 21 to 9 vote today (5/13), the House Judiciary Committee voted to send the Performance Royalties Act to the full House for a vote. During a heated three-hour hearing, three amendments to the bill were offered and only one amendment, which reduced the fees to small broadcasters, was embraced. Broadcasters were buoyed when Democratic California representative Maxine Waters reversed her support for H.R. 848, stating concern about the bill’s potential financial impact on broadcasters.
Bobo Weighs In on Hot-Button Royalty Issue
/by LB CantrellCountry Weekly Set For Fashion Show
/by LB CantrellYou can find more information here.