Music biz veterans launch new venture
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 7:31 amLongtime artist manager Howard Fields has teamed with music publisher Everett Zinn, who was part of some of George Strait’s early career, and Montana businesswoman Dorris McMurry to launch McMurry Entertainment Group. The trio says they’re close to announcing an artist and distribution partner.
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Lyric Street spikes sister label
Posted on November 3, 2009 at 1:10 pm
After barely a year in business, Carolwood Records has shut its doors. The label, launched as a way to build a “consistent product flow,” will move its artists and several key execs to sister company Lyric Street. Well, ‘move’ might be too strong a word; the Disney-owned labels share office space at 12th and Demonbreun.
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The birth of Redneck Records
Posted on October 2, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Two months after splitting with Sony, singer Gretchen Wilson has launched Redneck Records, which she will run from Lebanon’s Tater Peeler Road with the help of Morris Artist Management.
“My management and I looked at a lot of different options over the last couple of months, and starting Redneck Records made the most sense to continue the relationships I’ve built with radio, retail and the fans,” said Gretchen. “This is a really exciting time in my life, and I’m looking forward to everyone hearing my new music.”
The breakup with her former home doesn’t appear to have been too acrimonious: Wilson’s distribution is being handled by RED, a unit of… Sony Music Nashville.
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Powerhouse artist managers buy into local firm
Posted on September 18, 2009 at 7:47 am
Front Line Management, the artist representation firm run by Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff, has acquired a stake in Denise Stiff’s DS Management, which has worked with Alison Krauss and Union Station for more than two decades. For its part, Front Line represents The Eagles, Aerosmith and Jimmy Buffett, among others.
Hmmm, some interesting possible duets there once Kraus tires of Robert Plant.
SEE ALSO: Azoff’s other recent Nashville deal
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CMA picks first ad agency
Posted on September 17, 2009 at 6:58 amThe Country Music Association has contracted with global advertising agency MS&L to boost its marketing and communications presence. To do so, former Playboy Enterprises regional manager Sheri Warnke will set up shop at the CMA’s Music Row digs.
The agency’s first projects include the CMA Awards in November and the CMA Music Festival in 2010, and Warnke is currently planning a marketing summit to be held in conjunction with the awards.
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Ellen’s ethical dilemma
Posted on September 11, 2009 at 1:49 pm
So now that everyone on the planet has caught up to our story from yesterday on record labels suing the Ellen DeGeneres Show for violating copyrights, TheImproper.com in New York eloquently raises the point that the TV show host might have a hard time showing up for the American Idol judging she agreed to this week.
In this day of decline record sales and diminishing revenues, there is perhaps no bigger sin in the record industry, and the cavalier way in which the show dismissed the claims almost demands that she be fired from “American Idol.”
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New GM for ASCAP Nashville
Posted on September 10, 2009 at 7:35 am
Music Row passes on word that Marc Driskill has rejoined ASCAP to be its Nashville general manager, a new position at the performing-rights organization. Driskill had spent almost eight years at ASCAP before serving as COO of two of Music Row impresario Craig Wiseman’s companies.
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GMA boss out
Posted on September 2, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Music Row reports that John Styll has left his post as president and CEO of the Gospel Music Association after six years.
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Report: Local Warner Bros. big wig out
Posted on August 21, 2009 at 1:11 pm
David Ross reports on word that Bill Bennett has left his post as executive VP and GM at Warner Bros. Nashville.
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Is Music Row too professional for its own good?
Posted on July 6, 2009 at 1:23 pmFormer Nickel Creek mandolin player Chris Thile launched his current musical venture, Punch Brothers, from Brooklyn rather than Nashville, where he had lived since age 15 and enjoyed much success. Blogging for The Atlantic today, sociologist and “creative class” guru Richard Florida explores why “Nashville, despite its widespread opportunities, is not always the best home for musical omnivores like Thile.”
Florida draws on two recent analysis pieces by Dan Silver of the University of Toronto. In one, he parsed data on bands and fans from MySpace to reach the conclusion that Nashville has a “strongly intensive rather than extensive musical profile.” A sturdy music-business infrastructure makes the city competitive in that industry, he suggests, but at a certain cost in entrepreneurial creativity.
In his other post, Silver uses Thile’s experience as a cautionary tale of just how a perceived lack of openness in a local music scene can drive a talented player to seek out cooler climes, like Brooklyn. “Heavy industry concentration,” he observes, “creates an over-professionalized environment that is not open to some kinds of musical innovation.”
A local media success story
Posted on July 1, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Our brethren at MusicRow pass on some stats detailing the double-digit increases in of Country Music Television’s metrics.
Music video hours have also increased on the channel, with ratings up +17% versus the same quarter last year among total viewers, and up +14% among adults 18-49. In addition, video streams are up +23% for CMT.com for second quarter when compared to the same quarter last year.
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Hannah, Taylor tower over other Twitterers
Posted on June 9, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Our brethren at MusicRow have launched a chart that tracks country artists’ Twitter followers. Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift combine for more than 1.3 million people while the next 10 stars – a group that includes Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts and Willie Nelson – have a total of about 240,000 followers.
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Two Row pubs fold
Posted on June 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Both Performing Songwriter and Radio & Records are winding down their operations, leaving Music Row with two fewer sources of inside-the-business news.
The unfolding scenarios are coming from different roots: At R&R, the integration with The Nielsen Co. hasn’t gone well, leaving the media conglomerate “with no other alternative” than to pull the plug. For Lydia Hutchinson’s team at Performing Songwriter, the decision to call an end to 16 years of publishing was due primarily to “changes that need to be made due to the nature of both the print and music industries that will affect the essential spirit of the magazine and take it in a direction that’s not really true to itself.” (Click here for Hutchinson’s letter.)
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William Morris in major merger
Posted on April 27, 2009 at 11:33 pmThe parent of one of Nashville’s top talent agencies has agreed to merge with one of its Beverly Hills peers. The LA Times passes on talk that 100 of the combined firm’s 300-plus agents could be cut, but it’s likely WMA’s Roundabout office emerges unscathed, since Endeavor doesn’t work in the music biz.
SEE ALSO: CNBC’s take.
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Ticketmaster eviscerating echo
Posted on April 15, 2009 at 3:56 pmFrom our brethren at Music Row comes word that the local online marketing venture is being given a major haircut, with much of its staff being shown the door. Founder Mark Montgomery left the company three months ago.
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