Industry Ink: CMT, SOURCE, Aaron Crisler, Hummingbird Productions

CMT’s Artists Of The Year Celebrates High Ratings

Pictured (L-R) top row: Honorees Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton; (seated): Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT

CMT’s annual Artists of the Year event continues to evolve from a televised Nashville industry event to fan-favorite as country music superstars and friends gather to celebrate the top country artists of the year.

This year’s annual special—honoring Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain and Thomas Rhett—saw a ratings growth, with L+3 ratings climbing 21 percent from last year’s telecast among A18-49 viewers, attracting nearly 2 million total viewers on premiere night.

Nearly 4 million total viewers tuned in throughout six telecasts throughout the weekend on CMT. In fact, this year’s telecast marked the highest rated Artists of the Year special ever with M18-49. Socially, the special ranked as the No. 2 show of the night and No. 7 for the week among Nielsen’s Social Content Ratings.

“Artists of the Year is maturing from a rather intimate Nashville industry event to an acclaimed year-end special for fans,” said Brian Philips, President of CMT. “The elegant setting and celebratory tone combine with tributes and genre-blending performances to create a special franchise.”

SOURCE Celebrates 25 Years

Pictured (L-R): Judy Harris, Shelia Shipley Biddy, Bart Herbison, Pat Rolfe. Photo: Denise Fussell

SOURCE held a mixer on Oct. 13, 2016 at Ocean Way Recording Studio Nashville to celebrate the organization’s 25 year anniversary.

More than 120 SOURCE members and their guests attended the mixer that was followed up with a panel moderated by Bart Herbison, Executive Director of NSAI. The panel consisted of founding members Judy Harris, Shelia Shipley Biddy, and Pat Rolfe discussing how the vision of SOURCE began and how it has changed thru the years.

Founded in 1991, SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting women executives and professionals who work in all facets of the Nashville music industry. In 2003, the annual SOURCE Awards were established to pay respect to and honor the women who helped develop and build upon the foundation of the music industry in Nashville. SOURCE also pays tribute to women who presently make major contributions with their work in the industry.

 

Aaron Crisler Named To Point Hope Board Of Directors

Aaron Crisler

Publicist and media executive Aaron Crisler has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Point Hope, a charity launched by radio personality Delilah in 2003. Crisler owns Conduit Media Solutions in Nashville, specializing in public relations, digital strategy and marketing.

“I am absolutely thrilled to join the Point Hope Board of Directors and I’m excited to join the team seeking to help those who cannot help themselves,” Crisler said. “I’ve known Delilah and Jan Haynes for many years and have witnessed the many lives they have changed. Truly, the hand of God is being extended through the work of Point Hope and I am humbled to join the team.”

Crisler’s clients have included Jason Crabb, the Scott Brothers, Neal McCoy, Loretta Lynn, Don Moen, Water Tower Records, Paula White, and more.

 

Hummingbird Productions Celebrates 40 Years

Pictured: Joshua Stark, Michael Carnes, Evan Weaver, Dylan Steppeler, Haley Bussell, Aaron Howard, Bob Farnsworth, Kimberly Kolber, Chris Esposito, Willo Collins, Karen Espenant, and Matt Thompson.

Film and sound production company Hummingbird Productions is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. The company party was held at the company’s headquarters in Nashville on Oct. 20, 2016.

Founded by advertising industry ad man and music composer Bob Farnsworth in 1976, the company has established itself as the longest-standing music commercial house in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Southern U.S. Hummingbird Productions is the second oldest such company in the nation. 

Farnsworth said, “I am ridiculously thrilled and delighted to have been spearheading Hummingbird Productions for four decades! Our team and I have worked with the most wonderful creatives in the world on thousands of national, regional and local campaigns for every conceivable product, service and brand across every media platform. I consider myself blessed to have reached this milestone, both on a professional, as well as a personal, level.”