Emerald Sound Gets Elevated

Sarah Skates – 05/15/2008

Elevation Music Publishing Partner Mark Utley has acquired 1033 16th Ave. S., the site of the former Emerald Sound studios. The building will become the new home to Elevation’s creative offices later this summer, and Utley is in discussions to lease several other spaces including legendary Studio A.

“The last few weeks have been a unique course in Nashville’s music history for me, and a walk down memory lane for the numerous, talented, professionals who have shared their behind-the-music moments,” Utley explained. “My immediate priority is to make the necessary renovations to preserve both the building and its rich history as a recording facility, while also preparing it for the future.”

Elevation Music Publishing’s current home at 1311 16th Ave. S. will be available for lease in August. The company, founded in June 2007 with veteran music publishers Mike Molinar and Martha Irwin, has a catalog with cuts by Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry, Emerson Drive and Blake Shelton. Elevation’s current writer roster includes George Teren, Mike Mobley, Mike Lane, Aaron Scherz and Sam Moore.

Originally opened in 1982 by producers David Malloy and Even Stevens, Emerald Sound Studios became a landmark due to its role in making albums by The Highwaymen, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Wynnona, Eddie Rabbit, Rosanne Cash, J.D. Souther, Steve Winwood and Bon Jovi, among many others. According to Kerry Kopp, the facility’s VP of Engineering Services and Chief Engineer for more than 20 years, the renowned studio has been a part of over 200 RIAA certified gold and platinum albums.

For lease inquiries or to help preserve the history of the former Emerald studios, contact mark@elevationmusicpub.com.

Grammys Rock The Block

05/15/2008

The 10th Annual Grammy Block Party was held Tuesday (5/13) night at its new location—Owen Bradley Park on the Music Row roundabout. Damien Horne, Lady Antebellum, 3 Doors Down, Gretchen Wilson, and Montgomery Gentry provided an eclectic set of performances for the industry crowd.

Pictured: Lady Antebellum with Susan Stewart, Recording Academy regional director, south and Pete Fisher, board president. Credit: The Recording Academy/Rick Diamond/WireImage

CMT.com Sets Records, Celebrates Bluegrass

Sarah Skates – 05/15/2008

CMT.com hit a high note in April, recording its best month ever, according to data from comScore. Thanks in large part to the 2008 CMT Music Awards, traffic on the Web site grew +68% over April 2007 with more than 4.3 million unique visitors. Among the awards nominees who attracted the most visitors were Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. MTV Networks’ Music Group saw a first quarter surge of unique visitors to its CMT.com, VH1.com and MTV.com music brands, and remains the third most-trafficked collection of music sites on the Web, according to comScore.

CMT is honoring bluegrass month by airing blocks of bluegrass videos, and adding a new blog to bluegrass.cmt.com with posts by artists Rhonda Vincent, Dan Tyminski, The Grascals and more. Also launching on CMT.com this week are bluegrass editions of the online video series Wide Open Country, Stacked, and Unplugged at Studio 330. Performances and interviews available on-demand feature the Steeldrivers, Cadillac Sky (featuring Sonya Issacs), Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Nickel Creek, Mountain Heart, John Cowan, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Old Crow Medicine Show and more.

Frances Preston in the Wall Street Journal

Vassar, Messina To Open CMA Fest Riverfront

Sarah Skates – 05/15/2008

Phil Vassar and Jo Dee Messina will kick off 2008 CMA Music Festival on the Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages Thurs., June 5 at 10 AM. Others performing at the Riverfront June 5-8 include Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, Jeff Bates, American Idol: Season Four runner up Bo Bice, Lane Brody, Jason Michael Carroll, Erika Jo, Billy Gilman, Josh Gracin, Andy Griggs, Con Hunley, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Mindy McCready, Joe Nichols, and Eddy Raven.

Newcomers Dean Brody, Zac Brown, Stephen Cochran, Star De Azlan, Flynnville Train, Jeff Griffith (performing with the legendary Joe Stampley), Greg Hanna, Rick Huckaby, James LeBlanc, Jeremy McComb and Jason Meadows will also perform. Single-day tickets for the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages will be sold the day of each show at the gate for $16 each. Children 6 and younger are admitted free of charge.

Shania, Mutt Separating

Sarah Skates – 05/15/2008

Shania Twain and husband, music producer Robert “Mutt” Lange, are separating after 14 years of marriage. Twain’s publicist, UMG Sr. VP Jason Owen, made today’s announcement, adding, “This is a private matter and there will be no further comment at this time.”

Growing Staff at Echo

Sarah Skates – 05/15/2008

Echo has announced many new hires to the entertainment marketing company:
Jonathan Tarlton, Account Manager, formerly New Media Director/Marketing Coordinator for Dolly Parton Management/Dolly Records;
Seth Riddle, Associate Account Manager, formerly head of A&R at Rough Trade America;
Christy Montoya, Associate Account Manager, previously, she was Grassroots/New Media Manager at INO Records.
Amy Jackson, Artist Community Manager, previously Country Music Business Development Manager with Entertainment Media Works;
Candace Comer, Artist Community Manager, previously with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, Calif.;
Jon Armstrong, Artist Community Representative, formerly Creative Director with Muzik Mafia.
Annie Ortmeier, Merchandising Manager, formerly Marketing and Merchandising Coordinator with CMT/MTV Networks (for CMT, VH1 and LOGO).
Paul Shoemaker, LAMP Developer, previously Data Analyst/.Net Developer at Dell, Inc.
Chrissy Sievers, Creative Coordinator, formerly Pre Legal Coordinator with BMI.