Tag Archive for: Musical Chairs

Hirings At Black Ink Publishing

From (l-r): Noah Dewey, Justin Lantz, Matt Jenkins, Meghan Orga, Gene Cook, Richard Orga, Leigh Reynolds

Black Ink Music Publishing announced two new hirings today. Noah Dewey has re-joined the company as VP of Creative Services and Meghan Orga is on board as the Office Manager.

Richard Orga has been at the helm of Black Ink for seven months. The boutique music publishing company is home to writers Matt Jenkins, Justin Lantz, Leigh Reynolds and Gene Cook.

“We try diligently to provide an environment at Black Ink Music that encourages creativity,” says Orga. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do work very hard—we have to. We are small but we think big!”

Cold River Records Expands Promo Team; Dandy In Dual Roles

Jim Dandy

Cold River Records has hired independent promoter Jim Dandy to share national promotion duties with Jeff Davis. Dandy, who formerly served as Regional Promotion Director for Quarterback Records and as PD of KOUL, will handle the Midwest, West and Southwest, while Davis will focus on Central, East and Southeast.

“We have worked with Jim for the past two years and his passion for our artist, Katie Armiger, is infectious,” remarked Cold River Head Pete O’Heeron. “Jim’s energy and creativity will be such a great addition to our staff, and he will hit the ground running.”

As part of the organizational changes, Kates Robinson will be shifting to a radio support role, taking on more day-to-day artist management responsibilities. Cold River is also adding radio promotion veteran Staci Schane in a new radio promotion position. Nancy Tunick continues in her role as consultant/advisor to the radio promotion team.

Dandy can be reached at  jim@coldriverrecords.com or 615-483-4250. Schane can be reached at staci@coldriverrecords.com or 817-219-3389.

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Updated: Jim Dandy is also working with Aria Records to promote artist Todd O’Neill’s new single, “Somethin’ With Some Attitude.” The announcement was made today (7/19) by Aria Records’ Barbara Farkas. Dandy can also be reached at jimdandy@jimdandypromotions.com.

Mulraine To Lead MTSU Recording Industry Dept.

Dr. Loren Mulraine

MTSU has named longtime professor Dr. Loren Mulraine chairman of its acclaimed Recording Industry department. He moves into the role following the retirement of Chris Haseleu.

Mulraine is an entertainment law attorney who has taught at MTSU since 1998, including serving two stints as interim associate dean of the College of Mass Communication.

As chairman of the recording industry department, he says he will “expand and diversify our programs so we’re not just focusing on ‘recording industry’ but entertainment, which also means music for film, TV and gaming.”

He wants to expand the department’s presence on Music Row, create more industry partnerships to help maintain the program’s quality in the wake of budget cuts, and develop a greater online presence with more distance-learning courses.

In recent years the program has added a Master of Fine Arts in Recording Arts and Technology, as well as a commercial songwriting concentration. MTSU’s recording-industry department, which is the largest of its kind in the United States, boasts more than 1,200 majors and 28 full-time faculty members.

Marks To Lead SIRIUS XM Country

John Marks

SIRIUS XM Radio has named John Marks Senior Director, Country Music Programming. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s five commercial-free country music channels, plus Elvis Radio, The Village, Bluegrass Junction and two Christian music channels. Marks was previously the Program Director for KSON/San Diego, Calif. He will report to Steve Blatter, Sr. VP and General Manager, Music Programming, when he begins work at the company’s Nashville studios on August 2.

“We are thrilled to welcome John to the SIRIUS XM team,” said Blatter. “His years of leadership, programming creativity and passion for country music will further enhance the listening experience for our millions of subscribers across our national platform.”

“I’m eager to work on a more broad spectrum of country music through the many channels available on SIRIUS XM,” said Marks. “I’m also looking forward to representing the SIRIUS XM brands of country music to the Nashville music community.”

Promo Teams Play Musical Chairs

Brooks Quigley joins Nine North Records as Director of Promotion, SE/SW… Lou Ramirez goes to Warner Music Nashville as Southeast Regional Promotion Manager…Stoney Creek hires Stacy Rogers as Manager Regional Promotion, West Coast.

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Brooks Quigley, a promotion and radio veteran who was most recently at Warner Music, has joined Nine North Records effective today (7/6). He will be serving as Director of Promotion, SE/SW, announced NNR President Larry Pareigis.

“I’ve been watching with great interest the new business model that is emerging in Nashville and am thrilled to join Nine North Records. Having known and admired Larry Pareigis and (NNR VP/Promotion & Marketing) Tom Moran for a long time, I am very excited about the chance to work with them and the rest of the team,” Quigley says.

“When a person with the skills of Brooks Quigley comes along, you leap immediately. We’re on the verge of some remarkable breakthroughs but you can’t get there without the right people and the right music. The music is there and Brooks is the perfect addition at the perfect time. He will help us maximize exposure for the Nine North roster in the Southeast and his corner of the Southwest,” explains Pareigis.

In addition to Warner, Quigley has also worked in a promotion capacity with Curb, Polydor and Asylum. Prior to that he spent many years in radio in markets including Nashville, Memphis and Atlanta.

He will continue to be based in Nashville and can be reached at brooks@ninenorthmail.com or 615-210-7682.

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Lou Ramirez will join the Warner Music Nashville promotion team as Southeast Regional Promotion Manager starting today, July 6. Ramirez will report directly to VP of Promotion Bob Reeves. Ramirez can be reached at (615) 214-1560 or Lou.Ramirez@wmg.com.

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Stoney Creek Records General Manager of Operations April Rider announced today the addition of Stacy Rogers as Manager Regional Promotion, West Coast. Rogers, who previously worked the same region for RCA, Midas and Golden Music, will report directly to Rider, effective immediately.

“Stacy has a proven track record of success in her region and I am thrilled to add her to the great staff at Stoney Creek Records,” says Rider. “She will be a huge asset to our team and we are excited for her to get started.”

“I have always heard great things from radio about Benny Brown, April Rider and the staff at Stoney Creek Records. The chance to be on this team is a career high for me,” explains Rogers. “I have a huge respect for them and on top of that, the music is phenomenal!”

Rogers can be reached at stacy@stoneycreekrecords.com and or at 208-731-8104.

Big Machine Adds Two Staffers

Big Machine Label Group has hired Ashley Heron for the newly created position of Director of Strategic Marketing, and added Karen Light as Administration Analyst.

In his new role, Heron will work to establish brand partnerships as well as provide creative and new media support for the Big Machine, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville artist rosters. A graduate of Belmont University, Heron most recently spent six years as Sr. Manager of Marketing for Lyric Street Records. He will report directly to VP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive Kelly Rich.

“Ashley has been a great sounding board over the years and is extremely talented,” says Rich. “When he became available, we knew he was a natural fit.”

Scott Borchetta and his team are fostering such a great culture of staff and artists, I’m really looking forward to working alongside and creatively partnering with more businesses in the business of Big Machine music,” adds Heron.

In her new position, Light will facilitate licensing clearance, publishing administration and royalty entry for the Big Machine Label Group roster. A graduate of California State University-Fresno and Middle Tennessee State University, Light’s industry experience includes stints at Encore Entertainment, Pamplin Music Corp, ICG, Still Working Music and, most recently, Sussman & Associates. She will report directly to Director of Administration Wayne Milligan.

“Karen is one of the best publishing administration professionals in the business,” says Milligan. “She not only brings with her solid credentials but a love for the creative process, songwriters and artists. I am very happy to be working with her again.”

“In some way or another, I have worked with various people and departments of Big Machine since it opened its doors which makes me even more excited now to be a part of this amazing team and family,” adds Light.

Ashley Heron can be reached at: 615-324-7930 and Ashley.Heron@bigmachinemail.com.

Karen Light can be reached at 615-324-7934 and Karen.Light@bigmachinemail.com.

ASCAP Hires Jessica Draper

ASCAP has hired former Performing Songwriter Music Editor Jessica Draper as Manager, Creative Services for its Nashville branch.

She had served at the magazine since 2008 and worked there until it ceased publcation in June 2009. Her other career stops include time as a Public Relations Associate at classical music PR and artist management firm Kirshbaum Demler & Associates in New York City. The MTSU graduate’s background also includes internships in Nashville at Larga Vista Music publishing, and publicity firm Schmidt Relations.

“Jessica’s knowledge of the industry on both the creative and business side will prove an immediate asset to our team,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “I am very pleased to welcome her into the ASCAP family.”

“I am delighted to join this vibrantly talented creative team and remarkable organization,” added Draper. “I have long known ASCAP as one of the foremost advocates of songwriters–and of the interests of the music community as a whole–and I look forward to serving and supporting our writer and publisher members in this capacity.”

She can be reached at jdraper@ascap.com or 615-742-5073.

Golden Music Nashville Closes

Golden Music Nashville is closing up shop, the latest music company to fold in today’s difficult climate. The label opened three years ago with flagship act Williams Riley, and eventually added Benton Blount to the roster.

A rep for the company says the publishing division, Wide Open Music, is still in business.

Lisa Strickland served as Executive Vice President of Promotion & Marketing. She can be reached at 615-289-2319 or lpstrick@gmail.com. Brad Howell, former VP of Promotion and Marketing, can be contacted at bradhowell615@gmail.com or 615-500-2246.

It was a sign of things to come when Pres./CEO Brinson Strickland exited his post in April. He can be reached at brinson@262five.com or 615-969-0334.

CEO Noel Golden started the label in 2007 with offices in Nashville, and Greenville, SC. He had more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, including work with artists such as matchbox twenty, Edwin McCain, Tom Cochrane, Sister Hazel, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack.

Pat Finch Representing Big Borassa Music

(L-R): Brett Jones and Pat Finch

Hit songwriter Brett Jones has recruited publishing veteran Pat Finch to represent his catalog and publishing company, Big Borassa. Finch was most recently Senior Vice President/General Manager of S1 Songs in Nashville, where the company’s latest achievements included No. 1’s by Easton Corbin (“Little More Country Than That”), Rascal Flatts (“Unstoppable”), and George Strait (“I Gotta Get To You”).

Big Borassa is home to songwriters Jones, Dallas Davidson, Joanna Smith, and Martin McDaniel. Among Jones’ recent charttoppers are Billy Currington’s “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and Jason Aldean’s “Crazy Town.”

Finch and Jones first worked together on the late ’90s hits “A Little Past Little Rock,” “Better Man, Better Off” and “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely.”

Finch can be reached at patrickfinchmusicpublishing@gmail.com or 615-400-3197.

Sony Promotes Scott McDaniel To VP Creative

Scott McDaniel

Scott McDaniel has been promoted to Vice President, Creative Services, for Sony Music Nashville. He joined the company in March 2008 as Sr. Director, Creative Services with 15 years of design and production experience to his credit.

In his new post, McDaniel will continue to head the Sony Music Nashville creative team, overseeing artist imaging and all operations related to print and video creation, including video production, album packaging, photography, and design for the label group and its four recording imprints: Arista Nashville, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, and RCA Nashville.

VP, Marketing Tom Baldrica announced the promotion. “Scott has made an impact on all aspects of our creative process from the day he came to Sony Music Nashville,” said Baldrica. “He has raised the bar on videos, album packaging, and photo shoots, all while dealing with the changing economics of our business. He inspires his team, our artists, and our company on a daily basis.”

McDaniel remarked, “It is a privilege to serve with such an innovative creative department, the Sony Music Nashville team, world renowned photographers, landmark directors, artist managers, and our collective family of recording artists. To be entrusted in executing the visual art that will best communicate our artists’ music is a treasure. Without question, this career benchmark is humbling.”

McDaniel’s prior tenures include LifeWay, EMI Christian Music Label, CCM Communications, and ForeFront Records.