Warner Chappell Nashville Hosts Annual Christmas Party At Nashville Palace
Warner Chappell Nashville team at the Nashville Palace.
Warner Chappell Nashville recently rung in the holidays with their annual Christmas party. The publishing house took over the Nashville Palace for a “boot-scootin’ country and western good time.”
Melanie Ainsworth Joins Position Music As Chief Financial Officer
Melanie Ainsworth. Photo: Grant Mohrman
Position Music has added Melanie Ainsworth as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this role, Ainsworth served as the Financial Controller for Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) in Nashville for eight years.
While at BMLG, Ainsworth managed the daily financial operations of Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co, BMLG Records, and John Varvatos Records as well as BMLG’s publishing arm, Big Machine Music. She also guided the reconfiguration of the organization’s financial structure after Big Machine was acquired by Ithaca Holdings LLC in 2019, and again in 2021 after Ithaca’s merger with HYBE America. Some of the artist accounts Ainsworth worked on include Lady A, Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, and Tim McGraw.
“I am excited to have Melanie join the Position Music executive team,” says Position Music’s President and CEO Tyler Bacon. “We have truly entered a new phase of the company that requires significantly more financial sophistication than we needed during the first 20+ years of the company. We are deploying significant capital in our frontline publishing and record business along with multiple catalog acquisitions. Melanie will play a crucial role in managing the financial strategy and the additional forecasting, reporting, and accounting needs the company now has.”
“I am thrilled beyond words to be joining the impressive team that Tyler has built here at Position Music. I feel honored that he has entrusted me to lead the charge in the financial oversight of the company. I’m excited to hit the ground running and to use my previous experience to help Position Music continue to be one of the leading independent music company powerhouses,” says Ainsworth.
SongVest Taps Jesse Atwell As Chief Marketing Officer
Music marketing veteran Jesse Atwell has joined SongVest as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience to the role.
Previously, Atwell was an Associate Partner at Triple 8 Management and has held management positions at Sony Music Entertainment and Hallmark Cards. In his new role, Atwell will be based in Austin, Texas and report to SongVest Founder and CEO Sean Peace. He will be responsible for daily marketing operations and driving overall growth for the music royalty investment platform.
“Sean and his team have built a truly unique platform—one that brings music rights holders, fans, and investors together in an all-new way,” Atwell explains. “SongVest’s fractional music royalty product SongShares is groundbreaking and I’m excited to join SongVest and help lead the company into a new phase of growth.”
Peace adds, “We’re excited to have Jesse Atwell on the team. His major brand marketing background and music industry expertise will play a significant role in the growth of SongVest.”
Atwell can be reached at jesse@songvest.com.
ASCAP Hosts Virtual Country Worksop In Honor Of Garth Brooks
Pictured (L-R, top row): Alondra Alberti, LeAnn Phelan, Juliana Riccardi, and Kiersten Rimmel; (L-R, middle row): Evanthia Theodorou, Shawn Chambliss, Howard Efron, and Stu Basham; (L-R, bottom row): Carrie Cunningham, Sarah Durbin, Sammi Jo Meyer, and Lawson Bates.
The ASCAP Nashville membership team hosted the annual ASCAP Foundation Country Workshop in honor of Garth Brooks on Dec. 3. Designed to support the development and education of up-and-coming songwriters, the virtual event was hosted by industry veteran LeAnn Phelan of LP Creative Management.
Hailing from all over the world, 17 country music songwriters were selected to participate in the workshop which focused on how to prepare for a publishing deal, how to build a supportive community, and the art of claiming their voice through their writing. The workshop also featured industry advice with video clips from top country music songwriters, including ASCAP’s Carly Pearce.
“The level of songwriters that came to the workshop was incredible! The ASCAP Foundation Country Workshops historically are where the next generation of creators flock to, and I’m honored to have met and mentored each and every one of these writers,” Phelan shares.
Industry Ink: BMI, Don Cusic, Chase Wright
/by Lydia FarthingBMI Caps 2022 Songwriter Series With Performance From The War And Treaty
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bruce Esworthy, War and Treaty’s Michael and Tanya Trotter, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Max Brown, Bluebird’s Erika Wollam-Nichols, and BMI’s Shannon Sanders. Photo: Steve Lowry
BMI wrapped its 2022 BMI Presents at the Bluebird Cafe shows with husband and wife duo, The War And Treaty.
Composed of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, the pair have been musical partners for years, writing about and honoring soldiers and their dedication to protect our country. Michael served in Iraq and has openly discussed his difficulty with post-traumatic stress disorder following his service.
The monthly songwriter-in-the round series aims to highlight a diverse lineup of both emerging and established songwriters. The inaugural season featured performances by Dean Dillon, Scotty Emerick, Julia Cole, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, K. Michelle, Gabe Lee, Lauren Housley, Tristan Bushman, and more.
Belmont’s Don Cusic Inducted Into The Western Music Hall Of Fame
Don Cusic.
Don Cusic, a professor in Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, was recently inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame by the Western Music Association (WMA) in the historian category.
Cusic is an author of 28 books and more than 500 articles who has taught music business courses since 1982. He is currently the co-host of the International Country Music Conference and Editor of the International Country Music Journal.
“I grew up watching Roy Rogers on TV—he was a hero of mine—and now, to be in the same Hall of Fame with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, and others is beyond words,” Cusic shares. “I carried a Roy Rogers lunch box to school during my early days and my favorite entertainment was watching cowboy shows on TV. It’s hard for me to believe that the Western Music Association chose to honor me with their ultimate award.”
The WMA Hall of Fame was established in 1989 to honor groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to western music composition, performance, and history.
Chase Wright & Friends Raise Over $2,000 For Room In The Inn
Pictured (L-R, back row): Chase Wright, Andrew Jannakos, and Mark Campbell. (L-R, front row): Melanie Barnett Ober, Erin Kinsey, Avery Anna, and Quiana Jimerson. Photo: Austin Friedline
Morris Higham Management’s Chase Wright invited friends and singer-songwriters Avery Anna, Andrew Jannakos, and Erin Kinsey to his inaugural “Love Your Neighbor, Y’all” round at the historic Bluebird Cafe.
The round, which took place on Tuesday night (Dec. 6), benefited Room in the Inn, a nonprofit organization that is committed to sheltering people experiencing homelessness in Nashville and providing programs centered around human development and recovery. Overall, Wright and friends raised over $2,000 for the night.
Tanya Tucker Receives Distinguished Storyteller Award
/by Lydia FarthingTanya Tucker. Photo: Derrek Kupish
The National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards recently honored Tanya Tucker with the Distinguished Storyteller Award for excellence in storytelling outside of journalism.
The Grammy-winning artist is set to star in her first original movie, A Nashville Country Christmas, which will air on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. CT on Paramount Network. She is also featured in The Return of Tanya Tucker, Featuring Brandi Carlile, which chronicles the resurgence of her career. The documentary, now in theaters, will be available on digital and Blu-ray on Jan. 10.
Pictured (L-R): Byron Allen, Jennifer Lee, Ryan Seacrest, Tanya Tucker, and Marla Gibbs. Photo: Derrek Kupish
The Distinguished Storyteller Award is presented to a person who has proven to be a great storyteller through forms of artistic expression outside of journalism. Kathlyn Horan, who directed The Return of Tanya Tucker, presented the award to Tucker.
Additionally, Byron Allen received the Impact Award, Ryan Seacrest received the Luminary Award, Marla Gibbs was honored with the Legend Award, and director Jennifer Lee (Frozen) picked up the Distinguished Storyteller Award for film.
Phil Vassar & Deana Carter Spread Some Christmas Cheer On Holiday Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughPhil Vassar and Deana Carter are celebrating the season with their “Coming Home For Christmas Tour,” which will visit eight more cities before wrapping on Dec. 18 in Oxford, Alabama.
They will bring holiday cheer to fans in Milwaukee, Charleston, Augusta, and more through the end of the year. The two released a video for their song “Brand New Year” last month, as well as co-wrote the holiday original and title of the tour.
Fans have made it a tradition to join Vassar for an evening of Christmas classics and original holiday music for years, packing out venues for his last four treks. “Coming Home for Christmas” will be the sixth Christmas tour for Vassar, whose career has garnered 10 No. 1s and 26 top 40 hits.
Remaining “Coming Home For Christmas” Tour Dates:
Dec. 08 Northern Lights Theater – Milwaukee, Wis.
Dec. 09 Northern Lights Theater – Milwaukee, Wis.
Dec. 10 Midland Center for the Arts – Midland, Mich.
Dec. 11 The Clyde – Fort Wayne, Ind.
Dec. 15 Riviera Theater – Charleston, S.C.
Dec. 16 The Miller Theatre – Augusta. Ga.
Dec. 17 Gold Strike Casino – Robinsonville, Miss.
Dec. 18 Oxford Performing Arts Center – Oxford, Ala.
Travis Tritt Announces First Leg Of 2023 Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughTravis Tritt
Travis Tritt will kick off the first leg of his 16-date 2023 tour this spring, with special guests War Hippies, Scooter Brown and Donnie Reis, as well as Tyler Reese Tritt on select dates.
Set to launch March 30 in Troy, Ohio, the trek will include stops in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Fans will get a chance to experience Tritt and his band performing some of his hits, including “Anymore,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “It’s A Great Day to Be Alive,” “Here’s A Quarter” as well as songs off his most recent album, Set In Stone. Tickets are available at travistritt.com/tour/.
A multi-Platinum-selling and award-winning artist, Tritt has amassed more than 30 million in career album sales, two Grammy awards, four CMA Awards, a Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, and more. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he has also notched five No. 1s and 20 top 10 hits throughout his decades-long career.
Veteran Nashville Journalist & Musician, Peter Cooper, Dies
/by LB CantrellPeter Cooper
Nashville journalist, historian and musician Peter Cooper died Tuesday night (Dec. 6) after sustaining a head injury over the weekend. He was 52.
Cooper, who also held the position of Senior Director, Producer & Writer at the Country Music Hall of Fame, has contributed much to the the recording of modern country music history.
For many years, Cooper served as a reporter for the Tennessean, covering a wide array of music and musicians. His work has appeared in Esquire, Oxford American, Mix and American Songwriter magazines. Cooper wrote liner notes for albums from Country Music Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Cowboy Jack Clement, Ronnie Milsap and Mac Wiseman—as well as the inscription on George Jones’ tombstone.
Cooper also wrote the book Johnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music, co-authored Bill Anderson’s Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life in Country Music, and wrote the preface to Tom T. Hall’s The Storyteller’s Nashville: A Gritty & Glorious Life in Country Music, among other projects.
Additionally, Cooper was a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer. He recorded three solo albums as well as three alongside singer-songwriter Eric Brace, and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion, The Tonight Show and The Late Show with David Letterman. Cooper and Brace produced a reimagined version of I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2012. As a songwriter, Cooper’s work has been recorded by John Prine, Bobby Bare, Jim Lauderdale, and others.
A celebration of life for Cooper is expected to take place in early 2023.
Peter Cooper and son Baker
Cooper is preceded in death by his mother, Pamela Cooper Smuzynski. He is survived by his son, Baker; ex-wife and partner of 32 years, Charlotte; father, Wiley Cooper; stepmother, Emily Cooper; brother, Chris Cooper; sister-in-law, Jessie Swigger; nephew and niece, Jack Cooper and Madeline Cooper; stepfather, Al Smuzynski.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Baker Cooper fund to support Peter’s son’s education, or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, supporting their cultural organization’s educational mission.
Baker Cooper
c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 1712 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Way S.
Nashville, TN 37203
Industry Ink: Warner Chappell, Melanie Ainsworth, Jesse Atwell, ASCAP
/by Lydia FarthingWarner Chappell Nashville Hosts Annual Christmas Party At Nashville Palace
Warner Chappell Nashville team at the Nashville Palace.
Warner Chappell Nashville recently rung in the holidays with their annual Christmas party. The publishing house took over the Nashville Palace for a “boot-scootin’ country and western good time.”
Melanie Ainsworth Joins Position Music As Chief Financial Officer
Melanie Ainsworth. Photo: Grant Mohrman
Position Music has added Melanie Ainsworth as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this role, Ainsworth served as the Financial Controller for Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) in Nashville for eight years.
While at BMLG, Ainsworth managed the daily financial operations of Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co, BMLG Records, and John Varvatos Records as well as BMLG’s publishing arm, Big Machine Music. She also guided the reconfiguration of the organization’s financial structure after Big Machine was acquired by Ithaca Holdings LLC in 2019, and again in 2021 after Ithaca’s merger with HYBE America. Some of the artist accounts Ainsworth worked on include Lady A, Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, and Tim McGraw.
“I am excited to have Melanie join the Position Music executive team,” says Position Music’s President and CEO Tyler Bacon. “We have truly entered a new phase of the company that requires significantly more financial sophistication than we needed during the first 20+ years of the company. We are deploying significant capital in our frontline publishing and record business along with multiple catalog acquisitions. Melanie will play a crucial role in managing the financial strategy and the additional forecasting, reporting, and accounting needs the company now has.”
“I am thrilled beyond words to be joining the impressive team that Tyler has built here at Position Music. I feel honored that he has entrusted me to lead the charge in the financial oversight of the company. I’m excited to hit the ground running and to use my previous experience to help Position Music continue to be one of the leading independent music company powerhouses,” says Ainsworth.
SongVest Taps Jesse Atwell As Chief Marketing Officer
Music marketing veteran Jesse Atwell has joined SongVest as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience to the role.
Previously, Atwell was an Associate Partner at Triple 8 Management and has held management positions at Sony Music Entertainment and Hallmark Cards. In his new role, Atwell will be based in Austin, Texas and report to SongVest Founder and CEO Sean Peace. He will be responsible for daily marketing operations and driving overall growth for the music royalty investment platform.
“Sean and his team have built a truly unique platform—one that brings music rights holders, fans, and investors together in an all-new way,” Atwell explains. “SongVest’s fractional music royalty product SongShares is groundbreaking and I’m excited to join SongVest and help lead the company into a new phase of growth.”
Peace adds, “We’re excited to have Jesse Atwell on the team. His major brand marketing background and music industry expertise will play a significant role in the growth of SongVest.”
Atwell can be reached at jesse@songvest.com.
ASCAP Hosts Virtual Country Worksop In Honor Of Garth Brooks
Pictured (L-R, top row): Alondra Alberti, LeAnn Phelan, Juliana Riccardi, and Kiersten Rimmel; (L-R, middle row): Evanthia Theodorou, Shawn Chambliss, Howard Efron, and Stu Basham; (L-R, bottom row): Carrie Cunningham, Sarah Durbin, Sammi Jo Meyer, and Lawson Bates.
The ASCAP Nashville membership team hosted the annual ASCAP Foundation Country Workshop in honor of Garth Brooks on Dec. 3. Designed to support the development and education of up-and-coming songwriters, the virtual event was hosted by industry veteran LeAnn Phelan of LP Creative Management.
Hailing from all over the world, 17 country music songwriters were selected to participate in the workshop which focused on how to prepare for a publishing deal, how to build a supportive community, and the art of claiming their voice through their writing. The workshop also featured industry advice with video clips from top country music songwriters, including ASCAP’s Carly Pearce.
“The level of songwriters that came to the workshop was incredible! The ASCAP Foundation Country Workshops historically are where the next generation of creators flock to, and I’m honored to have met and mentored each and every one of these writers,” Phelan shares.
Ryan Bingham, Margo Price, More Set For Jackalope Jamboree 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughJackalope Jamboree at the Happy Canyon Arena in Pendleton, Oregon has announced its full lineup for 2023, slated for June 22-24.
Ryan Bingham with The Texas Gentlemen, Margo Price, Shane Smith & The Saints, Corb Lund, Kelsey Waldon, Vandoliers, Kaitlin Butts, Margo Cilker, Rob Leines, Summer Dean, IV and the Strange Band, Mariel Buckley and more will perform at the three-day festival, which will celebrate its fifth year. Jackalope Jamboree is also adding comedy to next year’s bill with an appearance from Dusty Slay.
Pendleton offers festival attendees a range of outdoor activities, such as fishing, cycling, hiking, hunting, golfing and more. Food vendors will be on-site with vegetarian options, and official sponsor Widmer Brothers Brewing will offer their beverages for purchase with domestic beer and local wine available. Spectators can also shop local merchant booths for clothing, jewelry, art and more.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, Dec. 9 and can be purchased here.
PickleJar Launches New Ticketing Platform, Adds Fan Experiences
/by Lorie HollabaughPickleJar has expanded the company’s ticketing service to include various fan experiences inside the PickleJar app and on its private, live-streaming channel, PickleJar+, beginning this month.
The unified platform provides a way for venues, event organizers, promoters and individual artists selling tickets to offer a more streamlined, lower cost option combined with one-of-a-kind fan intelligence.
Event organizers will be able to create bundled ticket offerings such as merchandise, food and beverage, parking and gratuity. For events with live streaming on the PickleJar+ Channel, a digital ticket with similar offers can also be created and sold to generate direct-to-fan merch fulfillment. In line with the company’s mission of full transparency, the new service also includes visibility into buyer insights, ticket sales performance and fan demographics across the platform when using PickleJar as their primary ticketing source.
“Ticketing has become a commodity in recent years. The premium service fees charged by many of the top service providers not only negatively impacts the artist’s fans, it had a profound effect on venues and live streaming,” says Jeff James, PickleJar CEO. “In addition to providing a more streamlined and comprehensive ticketing platform, PickleJar Live also provides a unified technology infrastructure for artists, venues and promotors to showcase true fan experiences and learn more about the fans they are catering to.”
Fans can manage their ticket purchases through the PickleJar Live app, engaging with artists on stage and on live streams, Similarly, organizers can utilize their PickleJar Dashboard to better connect with fans and customers by sending in-app notifications, conduct email marketing and unlocking special offers.
PickleJar has recently expanded the use of these new features to venues in Austin, Nashville, and South Florida. Venues currently using PickleJar’s ticketing platform will have complete control and real-time management over their events, including event description, ticket quantity, ticket prices and more.
Reba To Be Featured On ABC News’ ‘Superstar’ Series
/by Liza AndersonReba McEntire.
Reba McEntire will be featured on ABC News’ Superstar series, airing tomorrow (Dec. 8) at 9 p.m. CT and available the next day (Dec. 9) on Hulu.
The hour-long special explores the experiences, losses, and triumphs that made the Oklahoma native a household name. Rare childhood photos and intimate behind-the-scenes videos reveal her story of grit and determination in the music industry.
The Superstar program also includes interviews with artists that know and admire Reba, such as Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Dolly Parton, Kristin Chenoweth, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Melissa Peterman, Miranda Lambert, Nick Jonas, Vince Gill, and Wynonna Judd.
Her new holiday album, Reba: The Ultimate Christmas Collection is available now. She is set to conclude the fall leg of her “Reba: Live In Concert” tour on Dec. 16, and will kick off a spring run in March.
Weekly Register: Zach Bryan Notches Top Country Streaming Song For Another Week
/by Lydia FarthingZach Bryan. Photo: Rachael Polack
As the year starts to wind down, things on the top country streaming songs and top country albums charts stay relatively intact this week.
Leading the way for an eleventh straight week on the top country streaming songs chart, “Something In The Orange” (Zach Bryan) notches 13 million streams, according to Luminate data. Keeping the second spot with 8.9 million streams is “You Proof” (Morgan Wallen), and remaining in third is “Rock And A Hard Place” (Bailey Zimmerman). “Wasted On You” (Wallen) rises one spot to No. 4, gaining 7.3 million streams, while “The Kind Of Love We Make” (Luke Combs) falls to No. 5 with 6.3 million.
On the album’s chart, Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album spends another week at the top, this time adding 40K in total consumption (2.3K album only/48 million song streams). Bryan’s American Heartbreak racks up 29K, keeping him in the second spot, and Taylor Swift‘s Red (Taylor’s Version) maintains the third spot with 22K in total consumption.
As we head towards the holidays, more Christmas music can also be found on the top albums chart with Burl Ives‘ Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer coming in at the No. 4 spot with 22K, and Brenda Lee‘s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree claiming No. 5 with 21K in total consumption.