Recognizing seven outstanding women in music industry
Nashville’s music and entertainment communities celebrated the careers of seven Hall of Fame inductees at the 2019 SOURCE Awards held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium. August 27, 2019, presented by Springer Mountain Farms.
All of the inductees have extensive and impressive resumes and lists of achievements that have positively impacted the music business industry.
Pictured (L to R, back row): SOURCE Award honorees Grace Reinbold, Beverly Keel, Erika Wollam-Nichols, Sarah Brosmer; (L to R, front row): Gayle Hill, Judi Turner, Trisha Walker-Cunningham. Photo: Moser Photography
NATD brings in panel of experts with straight talk
By Preshias Harris
Being ‘good’ is not good enough. Aspiring artists heard that sobering statement from the platform as they met with members of Nashville’s music community at an NATD seminar on Tuesday, July 06.
The event was part of the NATD Speaker Series on the subject of ‘Breaking Artists.’ The series, presented by the National Association of Talent Directors (NATD) focuses on the various pathways available to artists in the country music space, both signed and independent.
The meeting was preceded by a pop-up two-song showcase by Avenue Beat. See note, below.
There were words of encouragement as well as some home truths from members of the panel about the do’s and don’ts of developing a successful career in music.
The featured speakers were:
Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy and Talent, Country Music Television (CMT)
Phil Guerini, Vice President Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, and General Manager, Radio Disney Networks
Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations and Programming Strategy, Grand Ole Opry
The event was moderated by Todd Cassetty of Cassetty Entertainment.
Artists “must be ready”
It was apparent that all three organizations represented by the panelists make a point of recognizing and developing new talent. But they all agreed that, too often, emerging artists come to them before they are ready. Continue reading “‘Breaking Artists’ series offers inspiration”
No. 1 party celebrates ‘fastest rising’ chart topper
By Preshias Harris
Blake Shelton was in God’s Country on Wednesday, thanks to songwriters Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt. More precisely, he was at a Number One party that was held at Ole Red in Nashville, which of course is in God’s Country!
At the media meeting before the awards presentation ceremony, Shelton said he was on a tractor, working on his farm in Oklahoma when he received the demo of the song, “God’s Country,” on his phone. He recalled, “I was trying to drive and look at my phone at the same time and I figured out a way to play the song inside this machine through the Bluetooth that it had. And that’s when I heard “God’s Country” for the first time.”
(L – R): Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Blake Shelton. (Photo: Preshias Harris)
Turning to the three songwriters, he added, “I was literally working in the spot where, in the video, where we burned the tractor.” He said that he immediately called producer Scott Hendricks who had sent him the demo and said, “I don’t know where the song came from, but that makes me want to make another record.”
A very fast ‘farm-to-table’ song
“God’s Country” (Warner Bros. Nashville) had one of the fastest journeys ever to the top of the Country singles chart. The speed with which Shelton recorded the song so soon after hearing it and its rapid success took the song’s writers by surprise. “It was a very fast ‘farm-to-table’,” noted Hardy. The song was written on a Thursday, Blake heard it that weekend and by Monday he had recorded it. It was also the fasted song to achieve Platinum status from the RIAA in more than a year. So far in 2019, it holds the distinction of being the ‘most streamed country song.’ Continue reading “Blake Shelton, songwriters bless ‘God’s Country’”
MLC will oversee collection of digital royalties for songwriters
By Preshias Harris
U.S.-based songwriters have a new champion in their corner. In July, the U.S. Copyright Office chose the industry-consensus Mechanical Licensing Collective, or MLC, to be the new agency to oversee licensing of digital mechanical royalties for American songwriters.
“The cost of collecting our royalties is, for the first time, paid for by the streaming companies instead of being deducted from our songwriter earnings.” – Steve Bogard, President, NSAI
As digital distribution of music grows and CD sales decline, songwriters have found it increasingly difficult to track royalties that are rightfully theirs. The Music Modernization Act (MMA) became law in October 2018 and set in motion the process to appoint an entity to oversee licensing of digital royalties.
Prior to the adoption of the Music Modernization Act, streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music themselves were responsible for identifying copyright owners and paying royalties. However, in many instances, streaming companies were using songs without proper licenses. In such cases, music publishers and songwriters had to resort to costly lawsuits or simply give up the fight. Now, the MLC will be charged with identifying songwriters and copyright owners and paying them royalties when their songs are played on a music streaming service.
“Take It From Me” co-written with brother Jacob Davis and Jason Gantt
By Preshias Harris
It was a family affair – sort of – for Jordan Davis as he celebrated his second Number One song. The family tie-in? He co-wrote the song, “Take It From Me,” with his brother Jacob Davis along with Jason Gantt. It was a “number one” in more ways than one: this was the first No. 1 as writers for both Jacob and Jason.
L to R: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Jason Gantt at the No. 1 party. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
Jordan, Jacob and Jason met with media to talk about the song before the official presentations hosted by the performing rights organizations, ASCAP and BMI. The party took place at the venue Ruby in Nashville on Tuesday, July 30.
Exactly one year to the day
I asked Jordan if he realized it was exactly one year ago – July 30, 2018 – that we had all gotten together to celebrate his previous No. 1.
“Oh my gosh, you’re right!” he said. “Hey, have you been talking to my mama? She reminded me yesterday that it was exactly four years to the day that Jacob and me played the Bluebird Café for the first time!”
Jordan made a point of thanking the songwriters in Nashville who accepted him even “when I wasn’t writing good songs like this.” He said those writers continued to stick with him instead of kicking him out and replacing him with another writer.
Happy heartbreak song written by Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish honored at No. 1 party
By Preshias Harris
Some songs just hit you right away, and that’s how it was for Morgan Wallen when he heard the demo for “Whiskey Glasses.”
“I heard it and we were like, Hell yeah!” said Morgan during the media meeting prior to the presentations. He and the song’s two writers, Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish were at the Sutler in Nashville on Monday, July 29 to celebrate the chart-topping success of “Whiskey Glasses.” The song is the third single from Morgan’s debut album, If I Know Me, produced by Joey Moi. The celebration was hosted by ASCAP and BMI.
(L to R): Kevin Kadish, Morgan Wallen, Ben Burgess. Photo: Steve Lowry
Morgan received national attention when he competed on season 6 of The Voice in 2014 where he joined Team Usher and was later ‘stolen’ by Team Adam Levine. Although Morgan was ultimately eliminated in the Playoffs, his performance led to a record deal with Big Loud Records and the album If I Know Me.
L to R: Jess Farmer, Heidi Newfield, Mikayla Lane. Jess and Mikayla were excited to know that she has a new album fixing to drop in just a few short weeks. Photo: Preshias Harris
Summer NAMM 2019 is now one for the history books, but once again, it was a three-day ‘Musical Mecca’ for anyone whose life revolves around the world of music.
I was there for all three days at Nashville’s Music City Center. Although I have attended Summer NAMM many times (and occasionally the even larger ‘winter’ NAMM in Anaheim, California) it was a joy to experience the excitement through the eyes and ears of the emerging singers and songwriters who accompanied me to this year’s event.
The Make Music Experience
NAMM is a trade-only business show catering to domestic and international dealers and distributors. However, for the second year running, Saturday was designated the ‘Make Music Experience,’ an all-day, all-access event for music enthusiasts to demo the latest music and pro audio gear from top manufacturers.
Once again, the Make Music Experience was a ‘Who’s Who’ of Nashville’s musical talent with well-known recording artists and musicians mingling with the non-pro visitors who were able to get a taste of what the music industry is all about.
Lee Roy Parnell at the Gibson booth. Photo: Catrina Engelby
It was party time backstage at the Grand Ole Opry as Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray celebrated his Number One song, “One That Got Way.” The party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI, honored the song’s writers Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen Jesse Frasure and Josh Osborne. “One That Got Away” is Michael’s third No. 1.
L to R: Josh Osborne, Michael Ray, Jesse Frasure, WMN’s Adrian Michaels and Cris Lacy. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
Osborne and Frasure joined in the celebration, but Ramsey and Rosen (both members of Old Dominion) were unavailable as they were on tour.
“Treated me like a brother”
“It ain’t a party without a cake!” Photo: Shannon McCombs
My BFF and fellow Kentuckian, Shannon McCombs, was at the event, reporting on behalf of her weekly syndicated CDX Country News feature. Shannon asked Michael about the artists he looks up to, like Mark Wills and Travis Tritt and what its like to have them as outspoken fans of his.
“Mark Wills, Travis, Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Dailey and Vincent… I could go on and on about the artists that have treated me like a brother from day one,” replied Michael. “These are the guys that are the reason I started playing guitar. I was learning their songs when they would come on the radio, with my acoustic guitar. I would listen to them with my dad and now I’m able to introduce them to my dad. It’s like this beautiful circle.”
It was celebration time on Monday, July 15, for the Eli Young Band and three of America’s hottest songwriters. They were joined by record label executives, music publishers and other music industry bigwigs at the Sutler in Nashville. The reason? A Number One party for Eli Young Band’s fourth career chart-topper, “Love Ain’t.”
L to R; Jon Jones, James Young, Mike Eli, Chris Thompson, Ashley Gorley. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
The guys in the Eli Young Band are some of Nashville’s most respected musicians with a career together stretching back more than twenty years. “Love Ain’t” is their first No. 1 song in six years.
“How do you keep your band cool for twenty years? Well, you never veer from your artistic vision or the integrity of every note that you play.” – Scott Borchetta, CEO, Big Machine Label Group
“Love Ain’t” was written by three songwriting superstars: Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman. It was the 42nd No. 1 for Gorley and the 19th No. 1 for Copperman, a two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year. With numerous No. 1 credits, McAnally is also one of the on-screen talent producers for the NBC-TV reality series ‘Songland.’
Not many bands can claim a history going back fifty-five years with five original members from the 1980s still touring today. One of those rare bands isExile who have scored chart hits in both the pop and country genres.
On Saturday, July 13, I spent the afternoon underground with Exile. The band was celebrating the release of their new album, The Garage Tapes, in The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee. It was sweltering hot and humid outside but refreshingly cool inside the Caverns as Exile took the stage to answer questions during the sound check prior to the show.
Exile perming at The Caverns for the release of ‘The Garage Tapes.’Photo: Bev Moser, B! Noticed P.R.
The Garage Tapes is a 30-track double album consisting of tracks that have remained largely unheard since they were recorded between 1979 and 1982. In answer to my question, Exile’s J.P. Pennington said the tracks were originally just demos (demonstration recordings) of songs that were recorded at LEMCO Studios in Lexington, KY.
“Cecil Jones, the owner of LEMCO was a big fan of ours,” said J.P. “So that’s how it sort of came about. In exchange for us working as session musicians, he’d give us studio time. We’d go in there almost every night for weeks, months.” Continue reading “Garage Tapes: Exile releases long-lost demo treasures”
