Stroudavarious Records Launches

Sarah Skates – 07/16/2008

James Stroud

Hit producer James Stroud has launched Stroudavarious Records and secured distribution by Sony BMG Entertainment’s RED division. Artist signings and staff members will be announced in coming weeks.

Though he has produced albums that have collectively sold over 52 million copies, Stroud also has plenty of experience on the business side of music. Early in his career, he formed thriving publishing company, The Writers Group. In 1992 he became President of Giant Records, and later helped found and head DreamWorks Records Nashville, where he produced and oversaw multi-platinum acts including Toby Keith.

"Even though the business model of the music industry changes, the one constant has been the importance of the artists and their songs," says Stroud. "The vision of Stroudavarious Records will be for the creativity to take precedent and allow the music to take care of the business."

Stroud was named Billboard’s "Top Country Producer" two years in a row, and has produced more than 90 No. 1 records. His production credits include Alabama, Tim McGraw, Clint Black, Willie Nelson, Melissa Etheridge and The Neville Brothers.

Stroudavarious Records is located at 29 Music Sq. E. in Nashville, and can be reached at (615) 321-8909 or info@stroudavarious.com.

Lyric Street Promotes Paula Eden

Sarah Skates – 12/03/2008

Paula Eden

Lyric Street and Carolwood Records has promoted Paula Eden to Coordinator, A&R. Since joining the company in April 2005 she has served as Executive Assistant to label President Randy Goodman and Senior Vice President A&R Doug Howard. From 1998 to 2005 Eden worked at Barbara Orbison Productions/Still Working Music as Publishing Coordinator and Personal Assistant to Barbara Orbison.

Eden’s successor as Executive Assistant is Landon Morgan. He joins the Lyric Street/Carolwood staff from the Country Music Association where he served as Executive Assistant to Tammy Genovese and later as Marketing Coordinator.

Top EMI Music Execs. Exit In Britain

Sarah Skates – 12/02/2008

Britain’s Telegraph.co.uk reports the exiting of several top-level EMI Music executives. Leaving the label group and its parent company, Terra Firma, are EMI group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Chris Roling, Terra Firma’s Managing Director of Talent/EMI COO for the UK and North America Ashley Unwin, and Terra Firma/EMI’s Francois van der Spuy.

Other key Terra Firma figures with high positions at EMI may also be on their way out. According to reports, these changes stem from the recent hiring of EMI’s new Chief Executive Elio Leoni-Sceti who wants to bring in his own team.

Bonnie Baker Forms DevaN Publishing

12/02/2008

DevaN Publishing is a new creative content company owned by ASCAP songwriter Bonnie Baker which will be administered by Words & Music. Also on board is Green Hills Music head Woody Bomar who will serve as creative consultant.

(L-R) back: ASCAP Membership Rep Chad Green, Lyon & Phillips PLLC’s Austen Adams, and ASCAP Membership Rep Jesse Willoughby. Front: Green Hills Music’s Woody Bomar, Words & Music’s Carla Godwin and Rachel Dobson, Words & Music owner Kim McCollum, and DevaN Publishing owner Bonnie Baker.

Nancy Tunick Leaves Warner Bros.

12/01/2008

Nancy Tunick has left her position as Warner Bros. Records VP Promotion and will return to GrassRoots Promotion as a Managing Partner. In addition to overseeing the company's operations, Tunick will launch online marketing, consulting and project management services. She can be reached at 615-403-6121 or ntunick@grassrootspromo.com.

Industry News Tuesday (12/2/08)

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Holly Gleason Celebrates Chart-Topping ‘Better as a Memory’

12/01/2008

BMI hosted an assembly of Music Row’s elite Nov. 24 to celebrate the success of Kenny Chesney’s No. 1 hit “Better as a Memory.” Holly Gleason co-penned the tune under the pseudonym Lady Goodman, prompting industry-wide speculation as to the true identity of the composer. Co-written by Travis Hill under his alias, Scooter Carusoe, and produced by Buddy Cannon, the tune was also voted one of NSAI’s Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written.

(L-R): BNA Records VP Promotion Bryan Frasher, Cannon, Hill, Gleason, Chesney, BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations Nashville Jody Williams; and Sony BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante. Photo: Eric England

WMBA New Member Enrollment

12/01/2008

Singer/songwriter Brett James was the guest speaker at a recent Woman's Music Business Association meeting. WMBA invites women working in the industry to consider membership during the open enrollment which runs through Jan. 15.

(L-R) WMBA Board Officers: Cindy Collins, Sara Pociask, Holly Ashby, NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Brandi Simms, James, and WMBA’s Kasey Cleckler, Betsy Walker and Penny Dionne.

Lifenotes: Nancy Hoffman Allen

12/01/2008

Nancy Hoffman Allen

Nancy Hoffman Allen, wife of legendary WLAC disc jockey, Hoss Allen passed away Sat., Nov. 29. Allen graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and later received her M.S. in Library Science from Vanderbilt University. She served as the librarian at Battle Ground Academy for ten years, and also enjoyed being a member of the Belle Meade Country Club, the Garden Club of Nashville, and the Ladies Hermitage Society.

Allen is survived by her children, Bebe Evans (Frank) of Charlie Daniels Band, Inc. and Rogan Allen; granddaughter Marcie Allen Cardwell of MAC Presents; grandson Rogan Allen, Jr. of Santa Barbara, CA; and her sister Peggy Irving of Linville, NC.

A funeral Mass will be held at Christ The King Church on Belmont Avenue at 10 a.m., Wed., Dec. 3, 2008. Visitation with the family will be from 4-6 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 2, 2008, at the home of Rogan Allen, 4106 Sneed Rd., Nashville, TN 37215. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alive Hospice, Cumberland Heights or the charity of your choice. Marshall Donnelly Combs (615) 327-1111.

Robbins Promotes Joe Redmond

Sarah Skates – 12/01/2008

Joe Redmond

Joe Redmond has been promoted to Director of National Promotion at Robbins Nashville. He joined the label in November 2007 as Director of Promotion, Northeast, and will retain those duties while adding the newly created national position to his responsibilities. Redmond remains Nashville-based and continues to report to VP of Promotion Tony Benken.

Redmond’s extensive experience in record promotion includes three years at Warner Bros. Records Nashville, ending as National Director of Specialty Programming, as well as senior positions with Mediabase, MJI Broadcasting, Lofton Creek Records and Imprint Records.

Anne Weaver recently left Robbins Nashville, where she had handled Southwest promotion.

The Robbins Nashville artist roster includes Chad Hudson, Rockie Lynne, Shane O’Dazier, Joshua Stevens and Ward Davis. Redmond can be reached joe@robbinsnashville.com or 615-320-1990.

Seth Godin To Keynote CRS

Sarah Skates – 12/01/2008

Seth Godin

Renowned speaker, author, blogger and marketing guru Seth Godin will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremonies of Country Radio Seminar 40, to be held March 4-6, 2009 at the Nashville Convention Center.

An expert in the fields of marketing and new media, Godin has written a dozen bestselling books, including his most recent Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. Godin's books have topped bestseller lists for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. His book Permission Marketing was named a Fortune Best Business Book, and Unleashing the Ideavirus is the most popular ebook ever written, with more than 1 million digital copies downloaded.

Go to www.crb.org for a detailed CRS schedule and early bird registration rate of $499 through Dec. 15, 2008.