Industry Ink: Berklee College, GrassRoots Promotion, TackleBox Films

Jim Ed Norman Honored by Berklee College of Music

Pictured (L-R): Stephen Webber, program director for music technology at Berklee’s Valencia campus; Pat Pattison, professor of songwriting; Curb Group CEO Jim Ed Norman; Jay Kennedy, vice president for academic affairs. Photo: Chris Hollo.

Berklee College of Music presented its first American Master Awards on Tuesday (March 17) in Nashville, to Curb Group CEO Jim Ed Norman; Grand Ole Opry vice president and general manager Pete Fisher; and Eddie Bayers, drummer on more than 300 gold and platinum records.

The inaugural American Master Awards celebrate the 30th anniversary of the college’s Nashville student trip. The awards were presented at Opry Studio following a Grand Ole Opry concert by Larry Gatlin, The Willis Clan, Lee Greenwood, and alumnus Charlie Worsham.

For 30 years, a group of Berklee students have spent their spring break in Nashville, getting an intensive, in-depth look at the music industry and gaining invaluable insight through clinics and workshops with accomplished alumni artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers. The trip, which began with five students, has grown to 120 students per year, led by Pat Pattison, professor of songwriting, and Stephen Webber, program director for music technology at Berklee’s Valencia campus. More than 3,000 students have attended the program since its inception.

GrassRoots Promotion Expands Staff

RJ Jordan

GrassRoots Promotion has added Rick “RJ” Jordan as Music Row Promotion Manager, effective March 23. Jordan currently serves as PD/PM Driver at Lloyd Lane Inc.’s WCJW in Warsaw, N.Y. His last day is March 20.

Managing Partner Nancy Tunick says, ”We are extremely excited to have RJ join our team as he is a passionate, persistent, detail-oriented, experienced promoter. You don’t find that combination often!”

Jordan will be based in Rochester, N.Y. and can be reached at rj@grassrootspromotion.com or 615-335-0718.

Silva’s TackleBox Films To Premiere ‘Nashville Flipped’ on HGTV Tonight

Shaun Silva‘s Tacklebox Films production, Nashville Flipped will premiere on HGTV Thursday (March 19) at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. Mike Wolfe of American Pickers helped create the show, in collaboration with fellow Executive Producers Silva and Brian Friedman of TackleBox films.

The show features local home flipper, Troy Dean Schafer and interior designer Alexandria Cirimelli, as they try to restore a 1930s east Nashville home.