IEBA Conference Slated Oct. 12-14

10/10/2008

The International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) will host an important industry discussion Monday Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Downtown Nashville. The panel topic will discuss the impact of the current economic matrix in 2009. Featured experts will include; Greg Oswald, William Morris Agency; Rick Roskin, Creative Artists Agency; Dwight P. Wiles, Smith Wiles & Co.; Gary Weinberger, Red Mountain Ent.; Ross Schilling, Vector Management; Karen Clark, SunTrust Bank.

IEBA’s annual event is attended by over 500 talent buyers, promoters, agents, managers, media, artists and other related professionals. Scheduled for Oct. 12-14 the event includes a variety of educational panels, live talent showcases and more. On the closing evening of the conference, IEBA pays tribute to the trailblazers of entertainment at its IEBA Honors dinner. This year’s honorees will be Loggins & Messina who will be receiving the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award. The evening will be hosted by Joe Piscopo. For more information or to register visit www.ieba.org.

Adkins/Skynyrd Jump Time Zones For New Years Eve

10/10/2008

Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins and Lynyrd Skynyrd will race across state lines to ring in 2009 in two cities, two different time zones on one incredible night. Country meets American Rock n’ Roll in both Pikeville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee on the same night, New Year's Eve - switching cities and performances; opening the show in one city and closing it down in the other!

Tickets for the first New Year's celebration to feature two acts performing live, in two cities, on one night, will go on sale Saturday, Oct. 18th. In Nashville, the show will be at the Sommet Center. The Eastern Kentucky Expo Center will host the show in Pikeville. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

"For the past 12 years, we've been fortunate to have the biggest names in music celebrate New Year's Eve in Nashville," says Steve Moore, Senior VP of AEG Live. "To add the dynamic of having them be in two cities on one night will be an even more exciting way to create the biggest party of the year."

“Do You Believe” Two Parties In One Day

10/10/2008

BMI and SESAC hosted celebrations for “Do You Believe Me Now” which recently sat atop the charts in the No. 1 position.

BMI honored a string of “firsts” Oct. 9 in its Music Row lobby for BMI songwriters, co-producers and long-time friends Joe West and Dave Pahanish; Jimmy Wayne’s first top single as an artist; Valory Music Company’s breakthrough climb to No. 1; and publishers Wright of Center and My Good Girl Music’s inaugural chart-topper as well. Celebrants marked the occasion with a jam-packed party and a unique full-band performance from Wayne.

At SESAC Tim Johnson joined artist Jimmy Wayne and a large gathering of friends and industry in celebrating the multi-week No. 1 smash single success. Johnson was presented with a plethora of acknowledgements from the likes of Billboard Magazine, CMA, Country Radio Broadcasters and Country Weekly as well as an eye-catching sponge finger from his publishers at S1 Songs America. “Do You Believe Me Now,” written by Johnson along with Dave Pahanish and Joe West, spent three weeks at the top spot on the country singles chart and is the title track from Wayne’s new CD.

TOP: (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Wright of Center Music’s Cole Wright, West, Wayne, BMI’s Perry Howard, My Good Girl Music’s Kelly King, Pahanish, BMI’s Clay Bradley, John Oates, Valory Music chief Scott Borchetta, and William Morris Agency’s Greg Oswald. Photo: Alan Mayor

BOTTOM: (L-R): S1 Songs America Publishing’s Abbe Nemeche, West, Pahanish, Johnson, Wayne, S1 America Publishing’s Pat Finch, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Vallory Music Company’s Scott Borchetta. Photo: Ed Rode

Industry News Friday (10/10/08)

Digital music offerings continue to grow. Universal Music Group has licensed its music video catalog to popular teen social networking web site Kiwibox, and has also made a deal with digital and mobile service Dada...

Benefits/LifeNotes Friday (10/10/08)

RCA VP of Promotion Keith Gale and Curb VP of Promotion Adrian Michaels will duke it out in the second annual Rumble On The Row. Proceeds from the March 13 three-round boxing match will...

Ash Bowers signed to BBR/Magic Mustang

10/09/2008

Singer/Songwriter Ash Bowers has signed a recording/publishing deal with BBR and Magic Mustang Music. Bowers is in the studio with noted producer Buddy Cannon working on his debut project for BBR and will be featured at the Buddy Lee Attractions showcase for IEBA at Cadillac Ranch on Oct. 13.

(L-R): Lee Adams, VP Promotion BBR; Bowers; Benny Brown, CEO/Owner BBR; Tina Crawford, BBR A&R & Magic Mustang Creative Dir.; Bruce Larson, Saddle Creek Mgmt.; and Brad Howell, BBR GM.

HFA Invites Publishers To Lunch And Learn

Sarah Skates – 10/09/2008

The Harry Fox Agency (HFA) is hosting a “Lunch and Learn” event for music publishers at the Loews Vanderbilt Hilton at noon on Mon., Nov. 3. HFA CEO Gary Churgin will provide the latest updates from HFA, followed by training for using the company’s online tools for publishers, particularly as it relates to digital licensing and royalty information.

HFA Online Training Sessions for Publishers:
1:00 PM—Income Tracking Reports – New Manufacturer Comparison Reports
1:30 PM—eSong
2:00 PM—Online Licensing Reports and Digital Formats
2:30 PM—Online Royalty Statements and Digital Formats

Publishers should RSVP by Oct. 27 to press@harryfox.com or 212-834-0133.

Robin Lightner Lands A Bullseye

Sarah Skates – 10/09/2008

Robin Lightner

Robin Lightner has joined John Hart’s firm Bullseye Marketing/ Research as National Director Sales & Marketing. She is a longtime a promotion executive who most recently worked the One Flew South project exclusively for Decca Records. Prior to that she spent nearly 7 years as National Director, Country for Ready4Radio. She can be reached at 615-292-7318.

Trisha Walker-Cunningham Receives Award Of Merit

10/09/2008

Trisha Walker-Cunningham recently received an Award of Merit from Governor Phil Bredesen honoring her “30 years of faithful service to Country Music in the best interests and in the highest traditions of the State of Tennessee." Jo Walker-Meador, former Executive Director of the CMA, surprised her with the award.

During her career in Nashville, Walker-Cunningham has excelled as a talent buyer, publicist, manager, tour manager and consultant. Originally from Britain, she has taken more than 300 artists overseas for Festival and tour appearances. Walker-Cunningham has exclusively represented Switzerland’s Gstaad Festival, and France’s Craponne Festival for more than 20 years each. She was the first recipient of the CMA’s Jo Walker-Meador International Achievement Award, and received the organization’s International Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year in 2007.

Walker-Cunningham says, "My work in Nashville has been extremely diverse these past 30 years, so I cannot take full credit for this award. I want to share it with Jo Walker-Meador, the CMA and all the wonderful and talented people in every facet of the industry who believe in me.”

(L-R): Jo Walker-Meador and Trisha Walker-Cunningham. Photo: Bob Meador

Chicks with Hits Look Back on a Decade of Success

10/09/2008

BMI hosted a spirited celebration to toast Music Row’s Chicks with Hits’ ten years of success Oct. 8. The songplugging coalition invited their closest allies and friends from the past decade, and guests enjoyed good company, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and a video cataloging the Chicks’ triumphs. Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and Jo Dee Messina’s “Bring on the Rain” are just two of the smashes culled from Chicks with Hits pitch sessions.

(L-R) back: Chicks with Hits’ Melanie Howard (Harlan Howard Songs), Debbie Zavitson (ZMG), Ree Guyer Buchanan (Wrensong), Tracy Gershon, and Dianna Maher (Moraine Music Group); second row: BMI’s Clay Bradley, Chicks with Hits’ Abbe Nameche (S1 Songs America), Judy Harris (Judy Harris Music), Whitney Daane (Kobalt Music Publishing), Jewel Coburn (Ten Ten Music Group), and Janie West (Janie West Music), BMI’s Leslie Roberts, with Chicks with Hits’ Carla Wallace (Big Yellow Dog), Lisa Johnson (Sweet Manic Music) and Celia Froehlig (Froehlig Palmer Music); first row: Chicks with Hits’ Stephanie Cox (Larga Vista Music), Kim Jones (RSP Music), Karen Conrad (Hampton Ave Music) and Robin Palmer (Anchor Down Music), with Chicks with Hits’ Shawn Heflin (Shawn Inc.), kneeling in front.