Industry Ink (3-6-13)

Laura Wright

Big Yellow Dog Music has added Laura Wright as Creative Director. “I know I speak for all the writers as well as our staff that we are extremely excited to have Laura on our team. She’s a relentless advocate for writers and their songs,” says Big Yellow Dog Music’s Creative VP Brad Kennard. Wright was previously with EMI Music and Writers Den Music.

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Ashley Capps

AC Entertainment is joining forces with Nashville entertainment venue Marathon Music Works, and Nashville’s renowned nightclub, Exit/In, booking national acts for both venues.

“We have been working with Marathon Music Works since they first opened and have enjoyed a great working relationship with the team there. We are delighted to be named their exclusive national talent buyers,” said Ashley Capps, CEO/Founder of AC Entertainment. “And of course, the Exit/In is an iconic place – a huge part of my own musical education. Together, these venues represent what is so exciting about Nashville’s entertainment hotspots—both legendary and new — and we are thrilled be a part of it.”

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., AC Entertainment is no stranger to Nashville. The company often promotes concerts in the Nashville market – at the Ryman, the Bridgestone Arena, and other venues. They also recently established a new booking relationship with the Nashville Symphony and Schermerhorn Symphony Center. AC is also known as a founder and producer of the world-renowned Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival® held in nearby Manchester, Tenn.

peermusic has signed Oklahoma native Jaron Boyer to the roster. Boyer landed his first major cut, “I Ain’t Ready To Quit,” with co-writer Thomas Rhett on Jason Aldean’s My Kind Of Party album, and has since had songs cut by Dustin Lynch, (“Yeah,Yeah, Yeah,”) Joe Nichols (“She’s Just Like That,”) and Lauren Alaina (“Livin For The Night Kinda Town,”) among others. “Jaron is a great asset to our roster of great writers. We are so happy to welcome him to the peer family,” says Kevin Lamb, VP, peermusic Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Kim Wiggins (peermusic) Kevin Lamb (V.P. peermusic Nashville) and Michael Knox (Producer/peermusic Sr. Creative Director)

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Two of Nashville’s most effective “pitch groups,” Chicks with Hits and The Turks, joined together for an event on Feb. 27 at Nashville’s Sunset Grill for an evening of performances by several writers from each group who are in the initial phase of their publishing relationships. Performers included Jeffrey East, Dennis Matosky, David Kroll, Shel, Jake Mitchell, Forrest Glen Whitehead, Anne Marie and Brian Curtis. Over 75 people attended the event.

Publishers in attendance were Turks members Pat Higdon, Pat Finch, Same Ramage, Jeff Carlton, Clay Myers, Billy Lynn,Lynn Gann, Tim Hunze, and Mike Sebastian. Chicks in Attendance included Ree Guyer, Kim Jones, Diana Maher, Whitney Daane, Stephanie Cox, Debbie Zavitson, Janie West, Judy Harris, Robin Palmer, Celia Froehling and Lisa Johnson.

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Warner Music Nashville’s Charlie Worsham stopped by CMA Wednesday, Feb. 20 to perform for the staff as part of the CMA’s web series “CMA Close Up Presents Live@CMA.” Worsham performed songs from his upcoming debut release, including “Rubberband,” “Could It Be” and “Young To See.” The multi-instrumentalist also tackled Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” on banjo.

Pictured (L-R): Tim DuBois of Artist Management Partners; CMA Manager of Membership & Balloting, Betsy Walker; CMA Director of Membership & Balloting, Brandi Simms; Big Howdy’s Brad Henderson; Warner Music Group Nashville Vice President, Promotion, Chris Palmer; Warner Music Group Nashville Vice President, Public Relations, Tree Paine; Worsham; Warner Music Nashville Vice President, A&R, Cris Lacy; Warner Music Nashville Executive Vice President /General Manager, Peter Strickland; and Warner Music Nashville Vice President, Brand Management, Lisa Ray. Photo credit: Christian Bottorff/CMA