Donna Hilley
Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will honor Donna Hilley with its Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence for accomplishments in the entertainment industry, as well as service to Belmont and the Nashville community. The award presentation will take place at the 2009 Best of the Best Showcase at Belmont’s Curb Event Center, April 25 at 7 PM. Hilley, the longtime head of Sony/ATV publishing, will be the first recipient of the award established last spring in memory of Bob Mulloy, founder of Belmont’s music business program.
Hilley, an Alabama native, came to Nashville with little knowledge of the music industry and became one of the city’s top female executives, eventually being named president and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville. Much loved in the community, she served on boards at ASCAP, Belmont University, Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.
In rightful tribute, Belmont has also established the Donna Hilley Endowed Scholarship in Leadership for students. For information about the scholarship, e-mail Harry Chapman at chapmanh@mail.belmont.edu, or donate online at www.belmont.edu/give.
Publishers Snap Up Rights To Hall of Famers’ Songs
/by Sarah SkatesPrimary Wave Music Publishing, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, has purchased the late Tennessee Ernie Ford’s catalog from his estate, Billboard reports. The transaction includes about 170 songs by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Also a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Ford released nearly 50 albums during his career. Though Ford is best known for his biggest hit “16 Tons,” he did not write the song and therefore it is not included in the catalog.
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Gospel Music Hall of Famer BeBe Winans has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Evergreen Copyrights. According to Billboard, the deal is comprised of songs on his upcoming albums, including a reunion project with CeCe Winans. His latest single, “Right Now (We Need One Another),” features Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd and CeCe.
Clear Channel Hires Lindy, Despite Looming Layoffs
/by Sarah SkatesClear Channel Communications will begin restructuring across the board next week, making changes
expected to save the company $400 million, according to The NY Post. With 30,000 employees worldwide, CCC’s plan includes laying off workers in its radio, outdoor advertising and international divisions. In an attempt to consolidate duties and cut programming costs, CCC might also adopt a “national programming” model that would require less local-level staffing, the Post says. Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners purchased CCC last year for $17.9 billion.
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Scott Lindy, Sirius’s former Sr. Country PD, is taking over as Clear Channel Atlanta’s Director of Operations, as well as handling PD duties for the cluster’s WUBL (94.9 the Bull)/Atlanta. He left the satcaster in September during its merger with XM. Succeeding the recently promoted Clay Hunnicutt, Lindy begins his new duties in Atlanta next week.
Circuit City Going Under
/by Sarah SkatesTurmoil on Gaylord Board
/by Sarah SkatesA statement released by Gaylord defends its management and says that electing TRT execs to its board would be a conflict of interest because of the Omni Hotels. Gaylord counters that TRT is trying to take control of the company without “a full and fair price being paid to all Gaylord shareholders.”
Tin Pan South Dates Announced
/by Sarah SkatesThe Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has set March 31–April 4, 2009 as the dates for its
renowned Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. Regions Bank is back as the presenting sponsor of the 17th annual event. A Tin Pan South Preview Party, scheduled for March 3 at The Rutledge, will feature songwriter performances and announcements about the Festival line-up, venues, tickets and more.
An annual fundraiser for NSAI’s work on behalf of songwriters, last year’s Festival featured nine Nashville venues hosting over 350 songwriters performing 80 shows. Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival, drawing over 9,000 fans in 2008.
Regular updates regarding the 17th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and the sale of the popular Fast Access passes can be found at www.nashvillesongwriters.com and www.tinpansouth.com beginning Jan. 19. Fast Access passes will go on sale March 4, 2009.
Americana Auction Open, Conference Planning Underway
/by Sarah SkatesWith plans well underway for the 10th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, today (1/15) the non-profit organization began accepting applications to showcase at the event. An annual part of the conference is the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, scheduled this year for Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Conference registrations are currently at the early bird discounted rate of $250 for members and $350 for non members. Conference registration and showcase information at www.americanamusic.org.
Chesney Set For Grammy Performance, Adds Tourmates
/by Sarah SkatesKenny Chesney is among the first performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards telecast,
where he is nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, for “Shiftwork” with George Strait. Also performing on the Sun., Feb. 8 telecast from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles are Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, and Katy Perry. With eight nominations, Lil Wayne has the lead going into the night.
Today (1/14) Chesney also revealed that Sugarland and Montgomery Gentry will join him for stadium dates on the upcoming Sun City Carnival tour. Both have been on the road with him before. Though most of the stadium stops on the Corona Extra sponsored outing haven’t been announced, 2008 saw Chesney visiting 14 major stadiums. As previously announced, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum will join him for the entire 2009 tour.
Megastars Sign On To Celebrate Inauguration
/by Sarah SkatesBentley Is Latest Addition To Vector Roster
/by Sarah SkatesDierks Bentley has signed with Vector Management, the powerhouse company headed by Ken Levitan. The Capitol Records Nashville artist was previously with Scott Kernahan’s Rogue Music.
Bentley is planning the Feb. 3 release of new album, Feel That Fire, and heading out on the final leg of Brad Paisley’s Paisley Party Tour this weekend. He was in New York earlier Monday (1/12) to participate in iTunes’ Live From Soho at the Apple Store, where he joins Taylor Swift as the only country artists who have taken part in the series.
Vector’s other clients include/or have included Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Michael McDonald, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jonny Lang, Patty Griffin, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Craig Morgan, Hank Jr., Kid Rock, Peter Frampton, Bon Jovi and Kings of Leon.
Belmont to Honor Donna Hilley
/by bossrossDonna Hilley
Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will honor Donna Hilley with its Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence for accomplishments in the entertainment industry, as well as service to Belmont and the Nashville community. The award presentation will take place at the 2009 Best of the Best Showcase at Belmont’s Curb Event Center, April 25 at 7 PM. Hilley, the longtime head of Sony/ATV publishing, will be the first recipient of the award established last spring in memory of Bob Mulloy, founder of Belmont’s music business program.
Hilley, an Alabama native, came to Nashville with little knowledge of the music industry and became one of the city’s top female executives, eventually being named president and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville. Much loved in the community, she served on boards at ASCAP, Belmont University, Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.
In rightful tribute, Belmont has also established the Donna Hilley Endowed Scholarship in Leadership for students. For information about the scholarship, e-mail Harry Chapman at chapmanh@mail.belmont.edu, or donate online at www.belmont.edu/give.