Music Row Town Hall Meeting Planned

Robert K. Oermann – 06/13/2008

Congressman Jim Cooper and Congressman John Hall will hold a “Town Hall Meeting” with Nashville’s entertainment community on Sat., June 21 at 2 p.m. at Sunset Grill. The legislators will be available to discuss music-industry issues such as the controversial “Orphan Works” legislation or any other congressional matters. The event is free and open to the public.

Cooper represents the district that contains most of Nashville’s music businesses. He is a 2006 graduate of the Leadership Music program. Hall is the only professional musician in Congress. Formerly a Nashville resident, he is a first-term congressman representing District 19 in upstate New York. Hall founded Orleans and co-wrote its classics “Still the One” and “Dance with Me.” His songwriting hits in Music City included “Juliet” (The Oak Ridge Boys), “You Can Dream of Me” (Steve Wariner). “Reach” (New Grass Revival) and “New Star Shining” (Ricky Skaggs). His songs have also been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Chet Atkins, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and Janis Joplin, among others.

Country On Sunday’s American Music Awards

Sarah Skates – 11/21/2008

Taylor Swift is the only Country artist who scored a performance slot on Sunday’s (11/23) American Music Awards, airing live from LA’s NOKIA Theatre at 7 PM/CT on ABC. However, numerous Nashvillians are up for honors that night. For the second year, AMA winners were determined by online fan voting.

Here are the nominees with Nashville ties:
Favorite Male Artist-Country Music: Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley
Favorite Band, Duo or Group-Country Music: Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland
Favorite Female Artist-Country Music: Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Album-Country Music: Garth Brooks The Ultimate Hits; Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good; Carrie Underwood Carnival Ride
Favorite Artist-Contemporary Inspirational: Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Third Day

The Eagles are nominated for Artist of the Year; Favorite Band, Duo or Group-Pop or Rock Music; Favorite Artist- Adult Contemporary Music; and Favorite Album-Pop or Rock Music for Long Road Out of Eden. Kid Rock is up for Favorite Male Artist-Pop or Rock Music, and Paramore will vie for T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist.

Attorney Missing Since Wednesday

Sarah Skates – 11/21/2008

William Grothe, an attorney who had been doing consulting work for SESAC, has been missing since midday Wednesday (11/19). He was last seen at his office that afternoon, when he told a co-worker he planned to go for a walk in Shelby Park. Later in the day, Grothe’s wallet, wedding ring and other personal belongings were discovered inside a plastic shopping bag in the front yard of a home on South Fifth Street. At 11:30 PM that night, the 62-year-old’s car was found parked in Shelby Park near the boat ramp.

Police are investigating the disappearance and say there were no signs of foul play in the car. They have searched for the Franklin man using officers on foot, police dogs and a helicopter.

Our thoughts are with Grothe’s loved ones. He was last seen wearing a tan leather jacket, dark pants and a dress shirt. Anyone who sees him should call Emergency Communications at 862-8600.

Broken Bow Partners With Holeshot Records

Sarah Skates – 11/21/2008

Krista Marie

Broken Bow Records has announced a joint venture with newly formed Holeshot Records. Based in Nashville, Holeshot’s first signing is singer/songwriter Krista Marie. Under terms of the agreement, promotion, marketing and distribution will be handled by the Broken Bow Records staff. Krista Marie is managed by Dale Morris & Associates, and is signed to EMI Music Publishing. A native of Western New York State, her first single, “Somethin’ Fun,” is scheduled for an early 2009 release with an album to follow in the summer.

Music Biz Supports Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

11/21/2008

The Grand Ole Opry and GAC were big supporters of this year’s Light the Night Walk, an annual fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which took place Oct. 16 at LP Field. The music business companies were sponsors of the event and also formed teams to participate. GAC's Top 20 Country Video Countdown host Nan Kelley, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in May 2008, emceed the event.

Opry.com is also hosting an auction through Dec. 5 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, offering guitars autographed by Jessica Simpson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, and Opry stars.

Click on the photo to bid

Industry News Friday (11/21/08)

Gaylord Entertainment Company today (11/21) announced that executive vice president and chief financial officer David Kloeppel has been promoted to president of the company, effective immediately. In addition to retaining his duties as CFO—which...

Nashville Sons Form Hot New Band

11/20/2008

Hot Chelle Rae, a new rock band from Nashville which is signed to Jive Records, recently performed at The Delancey in NYC. Singer Ryan Follese and drummer Jaime Follese are the sons of country songwriter Keith Follese; guitar player Nash Overstreet is the son of country songwriter Paul Overstreet; and Ian Keaggy is the son of musician and CCM artist Phil Keaggy. The group's ballad “Bleed” features production and mix by Eric Valentine, who has produced hit albums for bands including Good Charlotte, Taking Back Sunday, Nickel Creek and All American Rejects. HCR has signed a production and management agreement with partners Donnie Ienner and John Hamlin, a senior exec at CMT.

(L-R): Barry Weiss, Chairman/CEO BMG Label Group, ZLG; Hot Chelle Rae members Ian Keaggy, Nash Overstreet, Ryan Follese and Jamie Follese; and Tom Carrabba, Exec. VP/GM ZLG.

John Rolfe Opens Law Practice

Sarah Skates – 11/20/2008

John Rolfe

Entertainment attorney John Rolfe, Jr. has opened his own practice, focusing on catalog acquisitions, producer/artist agreements, distribution agreements, songwriter/co-publishing agreements, management agreements, recording contracts and intellectual property licenses. Rolfe has worked in the Nashville music community for more than ten years, including most recently spending three years handling intellectual property law at Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry.

The Nashville native’s other career stops include working as Compendia Music Group’s Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, and as Director of International and Business Affairs at Acuff-Rose. Rolfe graduated from the University of Mississippi, and the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

His new practice is located at 210 25th Ave. N., Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37203. He can be reached at (615) 277-1880 or john.rolfe@rolfeentertainmentlaw.com.

Zune Adds Value To Subscription

Sarah Skates – 11/20/2008

Starting today (11/20) Zune Pass subscribers will get to download and permanently keep 10 tracks per month, in addition to the unlimited monthly access they were already receiving. For $14.99 per month, users have had unlimited access to the Microsoft Zune catalog, but as soon as their subscription ended, so did access to the music.

On board for the new arrangement are EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, as well as independent distributors INgrooves, Independent Online Distribution Alliance and The Orchard. Many Zune tracks are also now available as DRM-free MP3 tracks.

Industry News Thursday (11/20/08)

The Leadership Music Digital Summit (LMDS) will become a three day event next year, running March 23-25, 2009 at Nashville’s Belmont University. The fifth annual LMDS has added a pre-conference networking reception on Monday...

Second Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Honors Liz Thiels

11/19/2008

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum honored one of its own Tuesday (11/18), as Sr. VP for Public Relations Liz Thiels was the subject of the Museum’s second annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum. Thiels, an early co-owner of the Exit/In and founder and owner of influential music industry PR firm Network Ink, entertained the Ford Theater crowd with an anecdote- and insight-filled survey of her four decades in the music business. The forum, which is made possible by the Gibson Foundation, explores issues related to the business side of the music industry and is presented annually to honor a music industry leader who represents the legacy of pioneer Louise Scruggs.

(L-R): Museum Dir. Kyle Young; Gary Scruggs; Thiels; Earl Scruggs; David Berryman, Pres. Gibson Guitar Corporation; and Randy Scruggs. Photo: Donn Jones