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Musicians Hall of Fame honors Class of 2019

Alabama, Steve Wariner, Don Everly among inductees

By Preshias Harris

Vocalists might spend more time in the spotlight but it’s the musicians who create the unforgettable sounds that are an integral part of every song. It was the musicians’ night to take center stage at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Tuesday, October 22.

The Class of 2019 were honored with medallion presentations followed by a gala concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Downtown Nashville. Among the honorees were the legendary band Alabama, singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Wariner, Don Everly, the Surfaris, renowned musicians from Muscle Shoals and more. See below for a full list of this year’s inductees.

‘The cream of the crop,’ says Teddy Gentry

I caught up with Teddy Gentry, founding member of Alabama, on the red carpet before the induction ceremony. Alabama was presented with the Musicians Hall of Fame’s first ever Lifetime Achievement Award. I asked Teddy what this special event meant to him.

Left to right: Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen of Alabama. Photo credit: Pete Collins/Musicians HoF & Museum

“Being honored among this quality of musicians here is a little extraordinary. This is the cream of the crop and to be recognized in the same way as these guys is really a great honor,” said Gentry.

Alabama was formed in 1969 in Forth Payne, AL, by cousins Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen and Jeff Cook. Blending country, Southern rock, pop and even bluegrass elements, Alabama racked up more than 40 number one hits on the Billboard country charts, many of which crossed over into the pop charts. With sales of more than 75 million records, they are recognized as the most successful band in country music history.

Steve Wariner, Certified Guitar Player

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Thomas Rhett and co-writers celebrate two No. 1s

“Sixteen,” “Look What God Gave Her” feted

By Preshias Harris

It was party time for Thomas Rhett (TR) and his co-writers on October 9 as they celebrated his twelfth and thirteenth No. 1 hits, “Sixteen” and “Look What Gave Her.” “Look” was written by Thomas Rhett along with his father Rhett Akins, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Jacob Kasher and Ammar Malik. Thomas co-produced the song with Dann Huff and Julian Bunetta, so it really was a group effort. It is the first single from Rhett’s fourth studio album, Center Point Road. “Sixteen” was penned by Thomas Rhett, Joe London and Sean Douglas.

(L to R) Rhett Akins, John Ryan, Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, Joe London and Julian Bunetta. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

And how many No. 1 songs have been written by a father and son?! In a way, it was destined to be. Growing up as the son of a successful singer-songwriter, he was immersed in the world of music as the son of Rhett Akins. The family moved from Valdosta, Georgia to Nashville when Thomas was still an infant and he grew up knowing his dad’s friends such as Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn. He did give a shout out to Tracy Lawrence, one of his favorites growing up country.

“Look What God Gave Her” was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 units in combined sales and streams. It followed his previous single and No. 1 hit, “Sixteen,” a cut on his previous album Life Changes that gave Thomas a total of five Number Ones on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Linking L.A. with Nashville

I said to Rhett Akins, “I watched you start in Country and I’m watching you, Thomas, create your mark in Country music history.” Turning to Thomas, I asked him to tell me about working with his co-writers and how he chose the songs to get to Center Point Road. Looking at Thomas sitting with his co-writers, I commented that they all looked like family. I asked him and his co-writers what it was like, creating these songs together. Continue reading “Thomas Rhett and co-writers celebrate two No. 1s”

SOURCE Awards honor 2019 inductees

Recognizing seven outstanding women in music industry

Nashville’s music and entertainment communities celebrated the careers of seven Hall of Fame inductees at the 2019 SOURCE Awards held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium. August 27, 2019, presented by Springer Mountain Farms.

All of the inductees have extensive and impressive resumes and lists of achievements that have positively impacted the music business industry.

Pictured (L to R, back row): SOURCE Award honorees Grace Reinbold, Beverly Keel, Erika Wollam-Nichols, Sarah Brosmer; (L to R, front row): Gayle Hill, Judi Turner, Trisha Walker-Cunningham. Photo: Moser Photography

The 2019 SOURCE HALL OF FAME inductees are: Continue reading “SOURCE Awards honor 2019 inductees”

Mechanical Licensing Collective gets go-ahead from U.S. Copyright

MLC will oversee collection of digital royalties for songwriters

By Preshias Harris

U.S.-based songwriters have a new champion in their corner. In July, the U.S. Copyright Office chose the industry-consensus Mechanical Licensing Collective, or MLC, to be the new agency to oversee licensing of digital mechanical royalties for American songwriters.

“The cost of collecting our royalties is, for the first time, paid for by the streaming companies instead of being deducted from our songwriter earnings.” – Steve Bogard, President, NSAI

As digital distribution of music grows and CD sales decline, songwriters have found it increasingly difficult to track royalties that are rightfully theirs. The Music Modernization Act (MMA) became law in October 2018 and set in motion the process to appoint an entity to oversee licensing of digital royalties.

Prior to the adoption of the Music Modernization Act, streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music themselves were responsible for identifying copyright owners and paying royalties. However, in many instances, streaming companies were using songs without proper licenses. In such cases, music publishers and songwriters had to resort to costly lawsuits or simply give up the fight. Now, the MLC will be charged with identifying songwriters and copyright owners and paying them royalties when their songs are played on a music streaming service.

Strong approval from songwriters

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Musicians Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees

Alabama, Steve Wariner, Don Everly and more to be honored

Joe Bonamassa at the Musicians Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Mike Harris

Some famous names – and some not-so-well-known names—were announced this afternoon, Tuesday, July 16, at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum. A group of musicians, media and fans gathered to hear guitar wizard Joe Bonamassa announce the 2019 inductees to the Musicians Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored with a concert on October 22, 2019 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Noting that he had recently moved to Nashville, Bonamassa wryly said, “I guess I’m part of the problem, not the solution.” He then announced the 2019 inductees.

This year’s inductees at the October ceremony will be:

Felix Cavaliere – keyboardist with the (Young) Rascals
Steve Wariner – guitarist and singer-songwriter
The Surfaris – for the song “Wipe Out”
Don Everly – of the Everly Brothers, who will receive the Iconic Riff Award
ALABAMA – the band will receive the first ever Life Time Achievement Award
The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section – who started it all at Fame Studios
The Nashville A-Team – the iconic session musicians
The Muscle Shoals Horn Section
Owen Bradley – this year’s Musicians Hall of Fame Producer
Billy Sherrill – recipient of this year’s Engineer Award
Bob Taylor – Taylor Guitars founder will receive the Industry Icon Award

(Scroll down for more details on all of the 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame honorees)

Pre-sale tickets will be available August 2, 2019 for Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum members (to become a member click here ). Tickets will be on sale to the public on August 5, 2019 through the Schermerhorn Symphony Center box office.

More Information on the inductees: Continue reading “Musicians Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees”

Songwriters: urge Congress to support Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act

CASE Act will help you fight infringement of your copyrights – affordably

by Preshias Harris

As a songwriter, imagine this nightmare situation: You are watching TV and a commercial comes on with a music track that sounds familiar. Very familiar. Hey, wait a minute! They’re using part of your song! But do you really have the resources to hire a legal team and the time to fight a lengthy and costly battle against a multinational corporation in federal court? That’s just one scenario where you, as a creator, might feel helpless in protecting your copyrights and holding on to your intellectual property.

Copyright Alliance is urging the creative community (including songwriters and independent music publishers) to support pending legislation that would create a copyright small claims court for creators. In many cases, individuals and small businesses have reason to believe their intellectual property copyrights have been violated but feel powerless to act because of the high cost of legal action associated with a claim in federal court. The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) of 2019 has been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2426) and the Senate (S. 1273).

Create affordable Creators’ Small Claims Court

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Speak Up for Music Row

Tell legislators: Music Row destruction must stop

Sad but true: Music Row is disappearing, one historic building at a time.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has now designated Music Row as one of “America’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places for 2019.” Sign the petition here.

Those modest little houses along Sixteenth and Seventeenth Avenue are where so many of Country music’s best-known songs were written or recorded. Some of the buildings had signs outside, identifying the name of the music publishing company or the recording studio that was hidden inside. But many remained anonymous, their identity known only to the session musicians, sound engineers, songwriters and recording artists that could be seen entering or leaving at all hours of the day and night. Continue reading “Speak Up for Music Row”

John Rich says “Shut Up About Politics!”

Granny inspires new Redneck Riviera whiskey

When does John Rich find time to sleep? He is currently running numerous parallel ventures, any one of which would be a full-time career for most people.

A solo recording career, his association with Big Kenny as the hit-making duo Big and Rich, rolling out the Redneck Riviera brand (including his restaurant on Nashville’s Lower Broad), fundraising for the charity Folds of Honor, starting up the all-American-made Redneck Riviera Whiskey, and now a Special Reserve blend named for his dear old Granny… But wait, there’s more, as they say in the informercials. John also has the No. 1 song on the Country download charts with a quirky story behind it.

“A blank sheet of paper is the most boundless thing you can ever look at. The Declaration of Independence started out as a blank sheet of paper. The Bible started out as blank sheets of paper. Songs are blank sheets of paper before you turn them into something.” – John Rich

We sat down to catch up with John at his unique Nashville home, aptly named Mount Richmore, and we were joined by John’s 87-year-old grandmother who is affectionally known as Granny Rich.

Granny Rich inspires strong work ethic

Yes, the same Granny Rich who is the inspiration for Redneck Riviera Granny Rich Reserve, the new addition to John’s line of whiskey. John admitted that your grandmother wouldn’t be the first person you’d normally go to when you’re thinking about launching a new whiskey. But as he pointed out, Granny Rich isn’t your normal grandmother. Continue reading “John Rich says “Shut Up About Politics!””

Sammy Sadler reboots career with new projects

Sole survivor of Murder on Music Row

Sammy Sadler. Photo: WBA Entertainment

Sammy Sadler was an emerging artist in the late 1980s on the brink of a successful career with a record deal at Evergreen Records. He was full of optimism and high hopes when he and his friend Kevin Hughes were walking along Music Row in Nashville on March 9, 1989.

Hughes was a chart researcher at Cash Box magazine. While still a student at Belmont University, he had worked as an unpaid intern before being put on the magazine’s payroll by Richard “Tony” D’Antonio, Cash Box’s director of Nashville operations.

Hughes had become suspicious that money was changing hands in order to push certain records up the charts. He had voiced his concerns to friends and family and was considering leaving Music City and returning home to Illinois.

Deadly attack

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Tin Pan South showcases hit songwriters

World’s largest songwriter festival attracts fans from all over the world

Hundreds of songwriters, music publishers, media and music industry people – along with thousands of fans – gathered for the 27th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank. Tin Pan South Fast Access passes sold out within days. The Festival took place in Nashville, March 26 – 30 with hit songwriters performing at different venues across the city.

Over 400 songwriters performed at this year’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, telling stories behind the biggest hits they’ve written and then performing the songs as they were originally composed. There were also special guests who popped in to help out their ‘Songwriter Friends.”

Trae Landon. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Singer/songwriter Craig Campbell performed at his scheduled appearance at The Bluebird Cafe early show and then headed across town to join Trea Landon at his Listening Room Cafe round for Play It Again Music Publishing with Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Josh Mirenda and Justin Wilson. Cole Taylor also made a surprise appearance.

94 shows across Nashville

There were 94 shows scheduled at various locations around Nashville. Highlights for the first night included two sold-out shows at The Bluebird Cafe, legends TG Sheppard, Eddy Raven, Frank Myers and others at the Hard Rock Cafe late show, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne and others at new Tin Pan venue TRUE Music Room and Bar, rocker Jim Peterik and friends at The Local and more. Continue reading “Tin Pan South showcases hit songwriters”