Mathis Entertainment Adds Shelley Hargis

Sarah Skates – 08/06/2008

Shelly Hargis

Former Midas Records Director of Midwest Promotion Shelley Hargis has joined management firm Mathis Entertainment. As Director of Marketing and Promotions, she will act as a liaison between artist Adam Gregory's label partners (Big Machine Records, No Strings Attached, Midas Records) to coordinate booking, publicity, new media and street team initiatives.

Hargis has known Mathis President Lawrence Mathis since her four-year tenure (2002-2006) at Broken Bow Records. She also worked at Sony Records from 1997-2002. Hargis can be reached at 615-429-2600 or shelley.hargis@yahoo.com.

Save The Dates: CMA Nominations, SESAC Awards

Sarah Skates – 08/06/2008

Nominations for the 42nd Annual CMA Awards will be announced on Sept. 10 in a special press conference. The 42nd Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, on Wed., Nov. 12.

All ticketing for the 2008 CMA Awards will be conducted entirely online. Qualifying CMA members will be able to purchase 2008 CMA Awards tickets beginning at 9:00 AM (CT) on Wed., Aug. 27 at my.CMAworld.com. Sterling members have an opportunity to purchase two tickets, subject to availability.

••••

The SESAC Nashville Music Awards will be Nov. 10 at the organization’s Music Row headquarters. The black-tie dinner honors the successes of SESAC writers and publishers during the past year. The invitation-only event will kick-off with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m.

Lifenotes: Katherine Bradley

Sarah Skates – 08/06/2008

Katherine Bradley, widow of famed record producer Owen Bradley, passed away last night (8/5). Music Row offers its condolences to her friends and family. No other details are available at this time.

My Summer Reading List

Regular readers are aware of the listening I do each week.

What many don’t know is that I also read about two music books per week, every week, all year. They’re not all country or Nashville books. I loved, for...

Kristy Lee Cook Debut Set For September

Sarah Skates – 08/05/2008

Kristy Lee Cook with WFMS OM/PD Bob Richards at the American Idols Live! Tour stop in Indianapolis.

The major label debut from season seven American Idol finalist Kristy Lee Cook will be released Sept. 16 on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. Produced by GRAMMY-winning songwriter Brett James, Why Wait is a 10-track collection spearheaded by first single, “15 Minutes of Shame.” The song is at country radio now, and is available as a digital single at online retailers beginning Tues., Aug. 12. Other tracks on Why Wait include Cook’s version of Lee Greenwood’s 1984 Top 10 hit, “God Bless the USA,” one of her favorite performances on Idol, as well as “Not Tonight,” a song written by James, Chris Lindsey and another famous Idol alum, Carrie Underwood.

Cook is currently on the road with the American Idols Live! Tour 2008, which continues throughout August and the first half of September.

Gibson Plans Major Workforce Increase

Sarah Skates – 08/05/2008

Click for more information on the Gibson Job Fairs.

Gibson Guitar is planning to immediately increase its general labor and manufacturing employee base by approximately 200 people, driven by demand for its instruments. Accordingly, the company will hold five Job Fairs this month at the Gibson USA Plant at 641 Massman Drive in Nashville, off Elm Hill Pike. "We are excited at the growth of Gibson USA and the opportunity this brings to many experienced Nashville based candidates who will have the opportunity to join our company," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "We continue to innovate and expand and with that come the need to hire enthusiastic team members who can share in our success."

The Job Fair schedule is as follows:
Thursday, August 7, 2008/4pm-8pm CDT
Tuesday, August 12, 2008/4pm-8pm CDT
Wednesday, August 20, 2008/4pm-8pm CDT
Saturday, August 23, 2008/9am-1pm CDT
Thursday, August 28, 2008/4pm-8pm CDT

Applicants should be prepared to complete the full application process including on-site interviews. Candidates with production experience, knowledge of basic tools, woodworking and a passion for the brand are a plus.

Disc Makers Buys CD Baby

Sarah Skates – 08/05/2008

Disc Makers, a leading CD and DVD manufacturer for independent artists and filmmakers, has acquired independent music seller CD Baby, following a 7-year strategic partnership between the two companies.

CD Baby will continue to operate as a separate company, focused on online CD sales, distribution, and download sales. Moving forward Derek Sivers, who founded the company 10 years ago, will be involved as a consultant and Tony van Veen will continue as President of Disc Makers.

CD Baby enables independent musicians to sell their music in both physical and digital format through its online store cdbaby.com. Since opening, it has paid musicians more than $81 million for CD and download sales. According to a press release, the Portland, Oregon-based company is the largest seller of independent music in the country, working with over 240,000 artists worldwide, and its online music store receives over 100,000 visitors each day. With over 2 million digitized tracks under management, CD Baby is also the largest provider of independent music for iTunes and other digital download sellers like Amazon MP3, Napster, and Rhapsody.

Blake Shelton Makes His First Appearance On NBC's Today Show

08/05/2008

Warner Bros. Records artist Blake Shelton recently made his first official appearance on NBC’s Today Show. He talked about his No. 1 single “Home,” touring, and recently being named to People magazine’s list of “Summer’s Hottest Bachelors.” Shelton will also perform “Home” on CBS’ The Early Show Aug. 18.

(L-R): Hoda Kotb, Shelton and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Inside The Midas/Big Machine Deal

Midas Records’ recent decision to restructure its country division captured industry attention, as the mid-size label exited from the promotion/distribution and marketing of its acts and shifted those duties to new partner Big...

Industry News Tuesday (8/5/08)

SONY TO ACQUIRE BMG’S STAKE: Sony Corporation plans to buy Bertelsmann AG's half of Sony BMG, and call the company Sony Music Entertainment Inc. It will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of...