Shawn Pennington Launches Artist Development, Management Company

Shawn Pennington

Shawn Pennington

Music executive Shawn Pennington has formed Pennington Entertainment, a full-service artist development and management company.

Formerly Sr. VP Artist Management at BBR Management, he begins his new venture with over 20 years of experience in touring, management, production and promotion. Pennington Entertainment’s initial clients include Parmalee and Thompson Square. BBR Management assistant Cara Kozulak will be joining Pennington Entertainment, with additional staff to be announced soon.

He joined BBR Management in 2009, and previously worked at Dale Morris & Associates, where he helped develop the careers and brands of Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, John Rich, Cowboy Troy, The MuzikMafia, and others.

Though music is his primary focus, Pennington has produced programming for major television networks including NBC, CMT, USA, GAC, and DIRECTV. The former board member of the ACM and The Charley Foundation, in partnership with Thompson Square, has aided in efforts that have raised nearly $500,000 for ChildFund International.

Pennington Entertainment will be based at 2451 Atrium Way, Ste. 1200, Nashville, TN 37214.

Pennington can be reached at (615) 651-6200 and at shawn@penningtonentertainment.com. Kozulak can be reached at cara@penningtonentertainment.com

Thirty Tigers Announces Three New Hires, One Promotion

thirty-tigers_570Thirty Tigers has expanded their Nashville office with three additions to the staff, as well as a promotion.

Brandon Chamberlain joins Thirty Tigers as Director of Marketing. Chamberlain previously held publicity and marketing positions at Universal Music Group Distribution and Capitol Records in Los Angeles.

Jennifer Boise joins Thirty Tigers as a Project Manager specializing in country and Texas music. Other career stops for Boise include Sony Music Nashville, Provident, Verity, and Warner Bros. Nashville.

Morgan Perry has been promoted to the position of Manager of Production. Meanwhile, John Moser steps into Perry’s former role of Indie Retail Coordinator. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Moser transitioned from full-time tour management into his new role. Both positions report to Bob Goldstone, VP, Sales.

Thirty Tigers notched a No. 1 debut on the Billboard comedy chart with a project by Wheeler Walker, Jr. in February. This spring will see releases from, among others: Santana (original lineup), Hayes Carll, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Jayhawks, and John Doe.

Thirty Tigers is a music marketing, management, distribution, publishing and film company based in Nashville. Thirty Tigers Distribution has served as a label infrastructure for a vast client base including The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chase Rice, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Bingham, Patty Griffin, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Trampled By Turtles, and many others in their 14 years of working with Sony/RED Distribution.

Taylor Swift Will Accept iHeartRadio Music Award For Best Tour

TaylorSwift1989worldtourlive

Taylor Swift will receive the iHeartRadio Music Awards’ first-ever Best Tour award, recognizing The 1989 World Tour, on Sunday, April 3. The Big Machine Records artist will accept the award live and is also nominated for seven other categories including Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

Bobby Bones and Brad Paisley are also scheduled to make appearances, along with performances by ZAYN, Chris Brown, DNCE, Fetty Wap, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, Iggy Azalea, G-Eazy, Bebe Rexha and host Jason Derulo.

The event will air live on TBS, TNT and truTV at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Forum in Los Angeles. An encore presentation will immediately follow on those networks. The iHeartRadio Music Awards will broadcast simultaneously on iHeartMedia stations nationwide and across the iHeartRadio digital music platform.

Charles Kelley Selects Single Written By Chris Stapleton And Jesse Frasure

Charles Kelley

Charles Kelley

Charles Kelley has released “Lonely Girl,” written by Chris Stapleton and Jesse Frasure, as the latest single from his new solo album, The Driver. Kelley will perform the song on the ACM Awards on Sun., April 3.

“I’ve been wanting to cut this song since I heard it about three years ago,” Kelley said. “At the time, it wasn’t the right fit for Lady A, so when we started digging into my solo project, I knew it would be a big part of the record. It’s not easy to follow Stapleton’s demo, I mean he’s the best singer in our genre, but I put my own little spin on it and it’s turned out to be a favorite live.”

Frasure and Stapleton also co-wrote the ACM-nominated “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan and Cary Barlowe. Allan’s recording of that song, with guest vocals by Stapleton, is nominated in the category of Vocal Event of the Year. Thomas Rhett’s No. 1 single, “Crash and Burn,” was written by Frasure and Stapleton as well.

Kelley released The Driver on Feb. 5 on Capitol Records Nashville and received a Grammy nomination for the title track. He will launch a solo tour with special guest (and brother) Josh Kelley on April 9 in Washington, D.C.

Steve Earle’s MCA Albums Remastered For Vinyl Reissue

Steve Earle-Copperhead Road-cover art

Steve Earle’s four MCA Records studio albums—Guitar Town, Exit 0, Copperhead Road, and The Hard Way—have been remastered from the original tapes by Robert Vosgien and cut for vinyl by Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering for LP release on May 6.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, 1986’s Guitar Town was Earle’s album debut, which propelled him into the charts and across the airwaves. The album hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s country albums chart and garnered two Grammy nominations for Earle: Best Male Country Vocalist and Best Country Song for the album’s title track, which reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s country singles chart. Certified platinum in Canada and gold in the U.S., Guitar Town also features “Goodbye’s All We Got Left,” which peaked at No. 8 on the country singles chart, as well as “Hillbilly Highway” and “Someday.”

Released in 1987, Earle’s follow-up album, Exit 0, was recorded with his touring band, The Dukes. The album hit the Top 20 of Billboard‘s country albums chart and earned Earle two more Grammy nominations: Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the album and Best Country Song for “Nowhere Road.” Another single from the album, “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied,” made the Top 25 of Billboard‘s mainstream rock chart.

Copperhead Road followed in 1988, achieving what Earle has described as a blend of heavy metal and bluegrass. The album’s guest artists include The Pogues on “Johnny Come Lately,” Strength In Numbers’ Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Mark O’Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass violin) on “Nothing But A Child,” Bill Lloyd of Foster & Lloyd on acoustic guitar, and guest vocalists including John Cowan of New Grass Revival and singer/songwriter Maria McKee. The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard‘s country albums chart, and went triple-platinum in Canada and gold in the U.S.

Earle was again joined by The Dukes for 1990’s The Hard Way, the last album he released before a hiatus that stretched into four troubled years away from the studio and the stage. The aptly-titled album was recorded in Nashville as Earle was struggling with severe drug addiction. Earle later told an interviewer, “I defend The Hard Way to the death, because I almost died in the process of making it.” In 2015, the album’s “When The People Find Out” was used as the end credits music for the HBO miniseries, Show Me a Hero.

An expanded 30th Anniversary Edition of Guitar Town will be released this fall in 2-CD and digital audio packages. Details will be announced.

BMI, ALT 983 Team For Eastside Sounds With MODOC, Jonny P

ALT 983’s Pictured (L-R): Kage, ALT983; Jonny P; Nina Carter, BMI

ALT 983’s Pictured (L-R): Kage, ALT983; Jonny P; Nina Carter, BMI

BMI and Nashville alternative station ALT 983 partnered for the latest Eastside Sounds showcase at The Basement East on Wednesday night (March 30). Presented by AT&T GigaPower, the event offered free performances from MODOC and Jonny P.

MODOC was the Artist in Residence for ALT 983, earning them exclusive interviews, in-studio performances and heavy rotation on the airwaves. Meanwhile, Jonny P opened for Leon Bridges at the Ryman Auditorium earlier this month.

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Addison, MODOC; Nina Carter, BMI; John Carlson, MODOC; Emma Applebome, ALT 983; Jody Williams, BMI; Clint Culberson, MODOC

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Addison, MODOC; Nina Carter, BMI; John Carlson, MODOC; Emma Applebome, ALT 983; Jody Williams, BMI; Clint Culberson, MODOC

Industry Ink: WAR Promotes Rouse, FGL Teams With Budweiser, T Bone Burnett At AmericanaFest

Jessica Rouse. Photo: Facebook

Jessica Rouse. Photo: Facebook

WAR Promotion Promotes Jessica Rouse

Warner Music Nashville’s Jessica Rouse has been upped to Sr. Promotion Coordinator, WAR Nashville. She previously was Promotion Coordinator.

“Jessica’s relentless work ethic and pursuit of making the WAR promotion staff the best it can be has not gone unnoticed,” said Kevin Herring, Sr. VP, Promotion. “She takes on everything we throw at her, and will continue to do so with gusto, as her growth in this company knows no bounds!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

FGL Teams with Budweiser

Florida Georgia Line Photo: Jim Wright

Florida Georgia Line
Photo: Jim Wright

Florida Georgia Line has partnered with Budweiser as part of the duo’s Dig Your Roots Tour as well as an album release event pegged to their upcoming album later this year.

There will be co-branded products displays at retail and the duo will take part in radio commercial voiceovers and music video integrations. Florida Georgia Line will also work with Budweiser to make surprise appearances at festivals and concerts this summer. The Dig Your Roots Tour will additionally feature Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, and Kane Brown.

 

T Bone Burnett to Deliver Keynote Speech at AmericanaFest

T Bone Burnett

T Bone Burnett

T Bone Burnett will deliver the keynote speech at the Americana Music Festival & Conference, which will take place September 20-25 at Nashville’s downtown Sheraton Hotel.

Burnett is an Academy Award winner, Golden Globe winner and 13-time Grammy award winner, and in 2002 was the first recipient of the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive at the Americana Honors & Awards.

The keynote is part of the Americana Music Conference, and is only open to conference registrants. For more information and to purchase a conference registration, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

Gary Allan Re-Signs With UMG Nashville

Front Row (L-R): UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Gary Allan, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe Back Row (L-R): UMG Nashville Vice President Business and Legal Affairs Rob Femia, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC’s David Crow, FBMM’s MaryAnn McCready, WME’s Rob Beckham, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President Promotion Royce Risser, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President A&R Brian Wright, Lytle Management Group’s John Lytle

Front Row (L-R): UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Gary Allan, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe. Back Row (L-R): UMG Nashville VP Business and Legal Affairs Rob Femia, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC’s David Crow, FBMM’s MaryAnn McCready, WME’s Rob Beckham, UMG Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Royce Risser, UMG Nashville Sr. VP A&R Brian Wright, Lytle Management Group’s John Lytle

Gary Allan has re-signed with Universal Music Group Nashville, the label home for the entirety of his 20-year career. Allan will now be represented by the EMI promotion staff as part of the re-signing.

The California native released his first album, Used Heart for Sale, in 1996 on Decca Nashville (which was folded into MCA Nashville in 1999), and since then has released eight additional studio albums selling over 7 million albums total. His most recent album, 2013’s Set You Free, features the No. 1 single “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain),” which he co-wrote with Matt Warren and Hillary Lindsey.

Additional career milestones include three platinum albums, five gold albums and five No.1 hits at country radio including “Man To Man,” “Tough Little Boys” and “Nothing On But The Radio.”

“Gary is simply one of the most interesting vocalists and stylists that country music has ever known,” says UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan. “He is truly a unique artist, and we are honored and thrilled to be able to continue to represent him.”

Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall To Return To Music Biz 2016

MusicBiz logo

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will address the needs of the songwriting and publishing community in Nashville and beyond at this year’s Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall, which will be held on Wednesday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. during the Music Biz 2016 Convention at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The event will be sponsored by Leavens Strand & Glover LLC.

The event will feature a keynote presentation from Steve Bogard, Director of The Copyright Forum and a songwriter with BBR Music Group’s Magic Mustang Music who has written nine #1 Country songs, including George Strait’s “Carried Away” and “Carrying Your Love with Me” as well as Rascal Flatts’ career breaker, “Prayin’ for Daylight.” He also serves as ex officio advisor to the NSAI Board and sits on the Board of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. His presentation will offer a unique viewpoint on today’s copyright issues, attacking the problem from both an artist and business perspective.

The Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall will also include a variety of panels featuring top publishing and performance rights professionals from companies such as Big Yellow Dog Music, BMG Rights Management, BMI, Combustion Music, Leavens Strand & Glover LLC, MusicSynk/LoudLab, ole, Secret Road Music Services, SESAC, Songtrust/Downtown Music Publishing, Streaming Promotions/Outside the Box Music, Word Entertainment, and Wrensong. Issues to be discussed include artist and songwriter development, indie publishing, synch licensing, streaming promotions, and more.

“The publishing industry is evolving rapidly in the digital age, making it difficult for songwriters to stay abreast of ever-changing digital music services while publishers take on new roles in artist development and more,” said Robby Towns, Director of Digital Strategy & Community at Music Biz. “It’s fitting that we tackle these issues head-on in Music City USA, the songwriting and publishing capital of the world. We look forward to a productive discussion that will give all in attendance a greater understanding of where things stand and what we can do together to improve the industry for all.”

Full Agenda Below:

9 – 9:20 a.m.
Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall Keynote
Although the business landscape has shifted drastically for the American songwriter, the world’s appetite for great original music is stronger than ever. Steve Bogard of BBR Music Group/The Copyright Forum will provide a brief overview of current copyright issues for songwriters, publishers, and PROs from a legislative, DOJ, and Copyright Office perspective. He’ll also recap positive signs in the recorded music market due to growth in streaming volume and income.
· Steve Bogard, BBR Music Group/The Copyright Forum

9:25 – 10:15 a.m.
Breaking the Mold: Modern Music Publishing
Almost every segment of the music industry has become a hybrid of what it used be at its inception. This is a trend that remains true and continues to gain momentum for publishers. From blockchain methodologies for artists like Imogen Heap to managing their own releases and distribution, the modern publisher is agile and forward-thinking. Our roster of expert panelists will expand upon these topics and much more.
· Moderator: Joe Conyers III, Songtrust/Downtown Music Publishing
· Kenley Flynn, Combustion Music
· Scott Jungmichel, SESAC
· Mike Steinberg, BMI

10:20 – 11:10 a.m.
Indie Publishing 2016: How Artist and Songwriter Development Is Changing for the Independent Publisher
With more and more opportunities for music placements popping up each day and many listeners discovering new artists and songs via this exposure, the role of music publishing companies has evolved to include many aspects of A&R, including songwriter and artist development. This focus is even more pronounced at independent publishing companies, many of which are responsible for developing the careers of promising songwriters and artists who have gone on to sign major label record deals and score chart-topping tracks. During this panel, executives from two of the top independent music publishing companies in Nashville will examine this new landscape, provide tips for publishers on how to successfully implement artist development programs, and explain how aspiring artists can use publishing deals to their advantage to take their careers to the next level.
· Moderator: John Ozier, ole
· Ree Buchanan, Wrensong
· John Pisciotta, MusicSynk/LoudLab
· Kos Weaver, BMG Rights Management

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Forward-Thinking Business Models in Synch Licensing & Streaming Promotion
Today, artists are being launched by publishers and synch companies with fuel from major synchs in TV shows, movies, and advertisements. With the power of just one placement, labels then begin to circle with the hope of piggy-backing on this success. Additionally, streaming has created the ability for publishers to promote artists like Jessie James Decker through playlisting strategies with significant return. We’ll discuss some of the various opportunities for synch and streaming and how the landscape continues to change for publishers.
· Moderator: Katie Jelen, Secret Road Music Services
· Charles Alexander, Streaming Promotions/Outside the Box Music
· Devon DeVries, Big Yellow Dog Music
· Randall Foster, ole
· Hillel Frankel, Leavens Strand & Glover LLC
· Joel Timen, Word Entertainment

Admission is included with a full Music Biz 2016 badge, which Music Biz members can purchase by clicking here. Passes for the Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall only can be purchased via Eventbrite. For updated information on Town Hall speakers and sessions, click here.

Carrie Underwood Extends The Storyteller Tour, Adds Nashville Date

Storyteller tour photo

Carrie Underwood has added a fall date in Nashville to The Storyteller Tour—Stories In The Round. Since January, she has played sold-out shows across the United States, in addition to performing five shows in five countries as part of the C2C festival.

The tour has been extended through the fall, including a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 22, as well as performances at the Los Angeles Staples Center on Sept. 14 and New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 25.

The fall leg of the tour launches Sept. 4 at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington, and ends Nov. 28 at Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.

She is currently on the spring leg of the tour, which runs through May 30 in London, Ontario.

“I always love being on the road performing for my fans,” says Underwood, “but something about this tour feels more magnetic than ever. Having a 360-degree view of the audience gives me the opportunity to connect with more fans and feed off their energy. I can’t wait to continue this tour into the fall!”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD Photo: Steve Jennings

CARRIE UNDERWOOD Photo: Steve Jennings

Carrie Underwood, The Storyteller Tour-Stories In The Round Fall Leg:

Sept. 4: Spokane, Washington: Spokane Arena
Sept. 6: Boise, Idaho; Taco Bell Arena
Sept. 8: Seattle, Washington; KeyArena at Seattle Center
Sept. 10: San Jose, California; SAP Center at San Jose**
Sept. 13: Bakersfield, California; Rabobank Arena
Sept. 14: Los Angeles, California; STAPLES Center
Sept. 20: Dallas, Texas; American Airlines Center
Sept. 22: Nashville, Tennessee; Bridgestone Arena
Sept. 24: Columbia, South Carolina; Colonial Life Arena
Sept. 26: Roanoke, Virginia; Berglund Center
Sept. 28: Providence, Rhode Island; Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Sept. 29: Manchester, New Hampshire; Verizon Wireless Arena

Oct. 1: Hershey, Pennsylvania; Giant Center
Oct. 4: Indianapolis, Indiana; Bankers Life Fieldhouse**
Oct. 5: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; BMO Harris Bradley Center
Oct. 7: Des Moines, Iowa; Wells Fargo Arena
Oct. 8: Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Oct. 20: Cincinnati, Ohio; U.S. Bank Arena
Oct. 22: Charlottesville, Virginia; John Paul Jones Arena
Oct. 23: Charlotte, North Carolina; Time Warner Cable Arena
Oct. 25: New York, New York; Madison Square Garden
Oct. 27: Albany, New York; Times Union Center
Oct. 28: Uncasville, Connecticut; Mohegan Sun Arena

Nov. 6: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;  FirstOntario Centre
Nov. 9: Rockford, Illinois; BMO Harris Bank Center
Nov. 11: Evansville, Indiana; Ford Center
Nov. 13: Memphis, Tennessee; FedExForum
Nov. 14: Birmingham, Alabama; Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Nov. 16: Tampa, Florida; Amalie Arena
Nov. 17: Sunrise, Florida; BB&T Center
Nov. 22: Wichita, Kansas; INTRUST Bank Arena
Nov. 23: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Chesapeake Energy Arena
Nov. 26: Las Vegas, Nevada; T-Mobile Arena
Nov. 28: West Valley City, Utah; Maverik Center

The Storyteller Tour-Ph0399 Jeff Johnson