Industry Ink Tuesday

Journalism Awards Presented
The Charlie Lamb Awards for country music journalism were presented recently during the International Country Music Conference at Belmont University. Among the winners were The Tennessean’s Sr. Music Writer Peter Cooper, and journalist Colin Escott, who most recently contributed a 25,000 word essay for the packaging of the acclaimed Hank Williams Mother’s Best Box Set.

Pictured (L-R): Award sponsor Gary Walker, award winner Peter Cooper, Charlie Lamb and award winner Colin Escott. Photo: Michael Krouskop.

Redmond Reaps Great Harvest
Former radio promotion exec Joe Redmond and his wife Wanda have closed on the purchase of a Great Harvest Bread Co. location in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Redmond announced his exit from the music business earlier this year. Visit his new endeavor on the web or call him at (615) 414-5488.

(R-L): David Werner, John Esposito

Esposito Honored
Warner Music Nashville’s President & CEO John Esposito recently received the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university’s interim president, David Werner, presented Esposito with the award in recognition of significant lifetime accomplishments.

Symphony Welcomes Concertmaster
The Nashville Symphony has appointed Jun Iwasaki as the orchestra’s new concertmaster. Currently concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony in Portland, he will officially assume his post at the start of the 2011/12 season, which opens on September 9 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Rolfe Exits KWNR
Cary Rolfe has resigned from his post as PD of KWNR/Las Vegas. He joined KWNR in October 2007 and says he has “enjoyed everything that Clear Channel and Las Vegas have had to offer. I will be leaving Country radio and heading in a new direction that I will announce within the next week.”

BMI Launches Web Series, Hires Patrick Cook
BMI launched an online video series recently at www.bmi.com/behindthesong featuring award-winning songwriters/producers: Kara DioGuardi, Colbie Caillat, J.R. Rotem, Jim Jonsin, Rodney Jerkins and Jude Cole. Named “Behind the Song: The BMI Songwriter/Producer Series,” the six-week web series will offer candid, informational sit-down interviews.

Patrick Cook, noted musical theatre composer, actor and author has been appointed Director of Musical Theatre and Jazz for BMI, it was announced by Charlie Feldman, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations New York. Cook will be based in BMI’s New York office and will report directly to Feldman. Among Cook’s theatre credits is his musical Captains Courageous. An accomplished jazz pianist, Mr. Cook is well known in the New York jazz community and attended Juilliard.

HFA Rocks The Jukebox
The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), a leading provider of rights management, licensing, and royalty services for the music industry, and NSM Music, a leading digital jukebox service, have announced a licensing arrangement. Under the terms of the deal, HFA will offer its more than 46,000 affiliated publishers the opportunity to participate in NSM Music’s digital jukebox service.