Lambert Blazes Fiery Trail on ‘Certified Platinum Tour’

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Miranda Lambert performs in Knoxville, Tenn. on Jan. 23.

“Well don’t you know I’ll blaze a trail, but hell, you can come with me,” Miranda Lambert sang to Knoxville’s packed Thompson-Boling arena on Friday night (Jan. 23)—the lyric from “Platinum” representing how she led fans through hit after remarkable hit. On her Certified Platinum tour, the blonde superstar is blazing a cross-country trail of country music artistry at its finest.

Onstage she offered poignant sincerity, particularly on her most personal songs “Over You” and “The House That Built Me.” She was equally confident, energetic and fun while showcasing her feisty side on “Baggage Claim,” “Little Red Wagon,” and “Mama’s Broken Heart.”

She sang “Kerosene,” reminding us that she’s been lighting fires since the early stage of her career. As she’s grown artistically, she’s ventured full-throttle into other kinds of trail blazing, such as her ode to open-mindedness, “All Kinds of Kinds.”

Lambert is the leader of female country artists today, managing to walk the tightrope of commercial success and creative envelope-pushing. Platinum, one of the best country albums of 2014, is proof of her ability to explore a range of sub-genres and sounds with a cohesive result. She offered plenty of material from that album on Friday, including the fondly reminiscent “Smokin’ And Drinkin’.” As she performed “Platinum,” black and white images of one of history’s most iconic platinum blondes, Marilyn Monroe, flashed on the video screen.

Lambert continued toasting those who blazed trails before her, offering The Dixie Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away” with help from RaeLynn and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Other covers included ZZ Top’s “Tush” and Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour.”

“Thank you for giving us the jobs of our dreams,” Lambert said gratefully.

Justin Moore and RaeLynn opened the concert. Moore’s set was packed with radio hits, including “Til My Last Day,” “Bait A Hook,” “Small Town Throwdown,” “Backwoods,” and “Small Town USA.” He performed “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” amid a sea of swaying lighters and glowing cell phones. He sincerely thanked fans for buying concert tickets, saying “it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

RaeLynn brought feminine spunk to her opening slot. Sporting hot pink Doc Martens and a turquoise guitar, her bubbly set included “Kissin’ Frogs,” breakthrough hit “God Made Girls,” and a cover of friend Meghan Trainor’s smash “All About That Bass.”

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Lambert and band on the ‘Certified Platinum Tour.’

Virgin Hotels Reveals Renderings for Music Row Property

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Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels has revealed a first look at plans for its Nashville building designs with local ownership and developer Dean Chase of Construction management firm D.F. Chase, Inc.

As previously reported, the hotel is expected to open in fall 2016 at the address of One Music Row.

Virgin Hotels Nashville will include 240 chambers and grand chamber suites, as well as 15 penthouse residential suites. The ground floor will include Virgin Hotels’ Commons Club, a hybrid bar/lounge, study and restaurant. A centerpiece bar, live entertainment venue and outside veranda will also be included.

Other amenities offered include a rooftop pool, which will offer an evolving food concept. Guests will also be able to access a gym and wellness center. Approximately 14,000 square feet of meeting space will be available for events.

“With Virgin Hotels Chicago now open and bustling, we’re thrilled to reveal our plans for our next property, Virgin Hotels Nashville,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. “Partnering with BLUR Workshop and interior design firm MarkZeff has enabled us to incorporate our musical heritage and playful tone of voice into this new building, bringing something entirely different to the Nashville hotel scene.”

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

Virgin Hotels Nashville rendering

The Kella Stephenson Company Renames, Expands with New Principals

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Pictured (L-R): Stephanie Mundy-Self, Kella Stephenson-Farris, Catherine Stein (Moore).

Pictured (L-R): Stephanie Mundy-Self, Kella Stephenson-Farris, Catherine Stein (Moore).

Farris, Self & Moore, a boutique firm for songwriters, producers and national touring acts, is set to open at 40 Music Square East by principals Kella Stephenson-Farris, Stephanie Mundy-Self and Catherine Stein (Moore).

The Kella Stephenson Company, founded by Stephenson-Farris in 2006 with clients having included Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Dallas Davidson, Natalie Hemby, Rodney Clawson and Nicolle Galyon, will be folded into Farris, Self & Moore. Farris will continue to serve her current clients under the company’s expansion. The new business management and financial planning firm will specialize in business management and financial planning services, including accounting and HR.

Farris received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. She holds a Certificate of Financial Planning (CFP®) designation and is a member of Leadership Music (class of 2014), NARAS, CMA, ACM, as well as a SOLID alumna. Her services have included bill pay, insurance planning, investment guidance, estate planning, tax planning, song earnings, asset acquisition, quarterly financials, projections, budgeting and royalty tracking.

A Greenville, S.C.-native, Mundy-Self is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She is currently the Treasurer of the Nashville Film Festival, and is a member of CMA and ACM. She was also a 2012 Top 30 under 30. Mundy-Self most recently worked at Flood, Bumstead, McCready, and McCarthy. A specialist in risk management research and analysis, tour and merchandise settlement audits for domestic and foreign concerts, Mundy-Self is also versed in payroll and HR management for companies with 125 or more employees.

Catherine Stein, whose forthcoming nuptials will make her Catherine Moore, began her career as an account executive with Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy working with an array of clients. She is a native of Chattanooga, TN and graduate from the University of South Carolina. Stein is a member of SOURCE, CMA, and ACM. She is a 2015 Top 30 Under 30 honoree. She is also an alumna of SOLID.

The website for Farris, Self & Moore, LLC will launch in the coming days and will be available at fsmnash.com. Emails are available at: [email protected] (Kella Stephenson-Farris), [email protected] (Stephanie Mundy-Self), and [email protected] (Catherine Stein [Moore]), and the company’s phone number is 615-760-5107.

Edison Research: Teens Prefer Streaming Audio Over Radio

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American teens now spend more time with streaming audio services, such as Pandora and Spotify, than they do with AM/FM radio (including both over-the-air and the online streams of AM/FM stations), according to the fall 2014 “Share of Ear” report from Edison Research.

The study found that teens ages 13-17 spend an average of 64 minutes per day listening to streaming audio sources, versus 53 minutes per day listening to AM/FM radio.

“While AM/FM Radio listening leads by a significant margin among all other age groups, much of teens’ listening time has shifted to pureplay Internet audio services like Pandora and Spotify and others,” said Larry Rosin, President of Edison Research. “This could be a lens into the future of audio usage.”

Share of Ear

Artist Pics: SaraBeth, Mickey Guyton, Jana Kramer, Craig Morgan

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Circle S Records artist SaraBeth visited with friend and fellow artist Mickey Guyton before Guyton’s performance at the Nashville Lifestyles sold out 11th Annual Music in the City event, held at Omni Barlines.

A portion of the proceeds from the event benefit Musicians on Call. Additional performers included Danielle Bradbury, Lindsay Ell, Native Run and others.

Pictured (L-R): Circle S Records artist SaraBeth and Capitol Records artist Mickey Guyton.

Pictured (L-R): Circle S Records artist SaraBeth and Capitol Records artist Mickey Guyton.

• • •

Celebrities and their families turned out Friday night (Jan. 23) for the Nashville premiere of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Legends at Bridgestone Arena. 

Singer and actress Jana Kramer with fiancé, NFL free agent Mike Caussin, Jonathan Jackson (“Avery” on ABC’s Nashville) with his band Enation and family, Kings of Leon lead guitarist Matthew Followill with his wife and kids, country duo Love & Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson with their toddlers, country singer Clay Walker and family, Christian artist Plumb and Miss Nashville Hannah Bobinger, were among the Nashville-based celebrities who were treated to a private pre-show “behind-the-scenes” experience hosted by Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson.

Pictured (L-R): Michael Caussin, Sabina, Jana Kramer, and Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson attend the Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS Nashville Celebrity Event on January 23, 2015 at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment

Pictured (L-R): Michael Caussin, Sabina, Jana Kramer, and Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson attend the Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS Nashville Celebrity Event on January 23, 2015 at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment

 • • •

Outdoor Channel unveiled the winners for its 15th Annual Golden Moose Awards, the most popular and longstanding outdoor television awards ceremony in the country, last week from the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas. Country star and TV host Craig Morgan was among the honorees, winning the award for Best Comedy for the fifth season of his hit television series “Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors.” Taking place during the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), the Golden Moose Awards honor the producers and on-air talent from Outdoor Channel’s industry-leading programming.

Craig Morgan. Photo: Outdoor Channel

Craig Morgan. Photo: Outdoor Channel

 

SESAC Adds To Songwriter Roster

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Songwriter Casey Kelly has signed with SESAC for representation. Kelly has numerous radio singles to his credit including “The Cowboy Rides Away,” released by George Strait and used by Strait as the title for his farewell tour of 48 shows throughout 2013 and 2014. Kelly has also written hits for Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker and Joe Diffie.

Pictured (L-R): Kelly and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Kelly and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

Day Passes, Panel Passes Available For CRS 2015

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crs 2015

Single-day passes and panel passes for Country Radio Seminar 2015 will be made available on-site throughout the three-day event, set for Feb. 25-27, 2015 at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Single-day passes are $200 and panel passes will be $40 per panel.

Day passes include access to panels, speakers, luncheons and networking destinations on day of pass purchase, with the exception of Friday’s New Faces of Country Music show. The panel pass affords attendees the opportunity to select any panel or presentation for only $40.

In addition, a $99 Unemployment Rate is also now available.

Proof of unemployment will be subject to verification by Country Radio Seminar.

For more information or to register for CRS 2015, please contact the CRS offices at 615-327-4487.

Nashville’s Longstanding Music Venue 12 & Porter To Close

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12thPorterThe landscape of Music City continues to change as one of Nashville’s longstanding music venues will close in late February. According to 12th & Porter owner Keith Hayman, the music venue will hold its last event on Feb. 28.

The business is being sold to a party with “intentions to enhance the North Gulch” area of Nashville, according to Hayman. Details of the sale were not disclosed.

As the home of classic live recordings dating back to Townes Van Zandt’s Live and Obscure, recorded in April 1985, the stage at 12th and Porter has hosted some of the greatest touring artists and songwriters ever to play including such notables as Mickey Avalon, Keith Urban, Kings of Leon, Ke$ha, Safety Suit, Jon Bon Jovi, Run-DMC, Vince Gill, Richard Marx, Jonny Lang, Marc Broussard, John Hiatt, Beauty School Dropouts, OURS, Bob Schneider, Jayhawks, Tim Easton, Amy Ray, Ryan Adams, Will Hoge, King Crimson, Angie Aparo, Medeski Martin and Wood, The Features, Radney Foster, Allison Moorer, Glenn Tillbrook, Michelle Shocked, Trent Sumnar, Jim Lauderdale, Buddy and Julie Miller, John Prine, Reckless Kelly, Pinmonkey, Jay Farrar, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Jill Sobule, Jewel, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, David Meade, Muzik Mafia, Family Force 5, the Katies, Silvertide, Florez, Sam Brooker, Tyler James, Chris Mann, Jody Raffoul, Crew, Michael Inge, Vic Chesnutt, Bushwalla, Anthony Smith, Black Label Society, Wichita Stallions, Auto Vaughn, Big Fella and Te’Arthur, Chris Mann, Cecil Adora, Submersed, LIGION, The Black Andy Roddick Show, Jonathon Richman, Tyler Cain, Chris Milam, Mista D, Jeffrey Steele, Luna Halo, Atomic Blonde, and countless others.

Hayman took over management of 12th & Porter in 2014, acquiring 100 percent management of the venue. He is also an owner of Music City Pizza.

For Nashville Music Industry Job Seekers

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jobsThe MusicRow Marketplace, a free Nashville music industry listing service, currently contains several open job positions in our industry. Job listings include:

• PR Copy Writer/Communications Assistant: The AristoMedia Group
• Marketing position: The AristoMedia Group
• Senior Accounting Manager: Tri-Star Sports and Entertainment Group
• Senior Cost Accountant: Tri-Star Sports and Entertainment Group
• Legal Assistant: CMT, Business and Legal Affairs
• Executive Director: International Bluegrass Music Assoc.
• Social Media Assistant: Dawson McAllister Show
• Female Singer: Format Entertainment
• Writers: Wide Open Country
• Account Manager: BubbleUp
• Licensing Assistant: Bluewater Music

Residing on MusicRow.com, listings on the site are free and accepted via the MusicRow Marketplace Submission Form, subject to the discretion of MusicRow.

As always, navigate anytime to the MusicRow Marketplace by clicking the “Marketplace” tab in the menu bar at the top of MusicRow.com.

MusicRowPics: Logan Mize

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Logan Mize Artist Visit

A native of small town Kansas, where his father was a butcher and his mother a schoolteacher, singer-songwriter Logan Mize was drawn to music at an early age, singing and learning different instruments.

The singer-songwriter has resided Nashville for nine years, and has been a writer for Big Yellow Dog Music for five years. In 2012, he released his second independent album, Nobody in Nashville (Big Yellow Dog Music), which caught the attention of label executive Jim Catino, who later signed on to co-produce Mize’s forthcoming major label debut on Sony Music Nashville imprint Arista Nashville.

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Logan Mize Artist Visit

In recent years, Mize logged countless hours on the road, building an audience and homing his performance craft, before spending more time in Nashville and developing industry relationships. “I don’t know if there is one right way to do it, but I saw a lot of friends that stayed in town and didn’t go on the road, and they had a chance to move a little quicker,” said Mize. “I may have went out there and developed some chops, but I also didn’t develop in-town relationships as much. I didn’t start writing songs until I was 18, so it might have been a good thing that I was on the road for several years developing before coming back to Nashville and really making those connections.”

Mize recently visited the MusicRow office to preview several cuts from the upcoming album, including the gorgeous composition “Welcome to Prairieville,” which he calls a possible title cut on the project. The song’s arresting images depict the enduring charm of a slowly waning small town. He also offered his current single, the party-ready radio single “Can’t Get Away From A Good Time,” co-written by Mize, Blake Chaffin, and Kelly Archer.  

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Arista Nashville artist Logan Mize with MusicRow staffers

“When I signed with Arista, it was really a new opportunity to spend a good amount of time recording these songs, and focusing on the details of the music,” said Mize. “With ‘Can’t Get Away From A Good Time,’ we were able to put a really cool groove on it, whereas when I first cut the song [prior to his Arista signing], it was real on top of the beat, more vanilla. I think it sounds more like a radio song now, and the album will have a much fuller sound.”