January 15, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Friday, January 15, 2021 Warner Music Nashville Promotes Five, SIGN UP HERE (FREE!) Names Danny Bess CFO If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it, sign up here. THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES Warner Music Nashville Promotes Five, Names Danny Bess CFO Aaron Tannenbaum Joins WME Big Loud Management Appoints Greg Thompson Joel Katz Resigns From Greenberg Traurig Danny Bess. Photo: Eric Brown Quartz Hill Records Signs Warner Music Nashville announced the promotion of five employees Ben Gallaher across the Finance, Radio & Streaming and Publicity departments on Jan. 13. Sam Carter Signs With Spirit Music Nashville And 2 Mix After more than two years with the company, VP Finance Danny Bess has Music been promoted to CFO. He will continue reporting to EVP / GM Ben Kline. Brad Walker has also been promoted from Director to Sr. Director, John Loar Leads Charge To Finance. Bring Sports Entertainment Bess transitioned over to Warner Music Nashville after nearly 25 years at District to Music City Universal Music Group, concluding his tenure as VP Finance of its [Interview] Nashville division. A Vanderbilt University graduate with an M.B.A. from Tulane, Bess began his career at Sony BMG in 1989. Walker, an alumnus Sony Music Nashville of Western Kentucky University, started in financial services before Promotes Olivia Laster entering the music industry at Sony/ATV. He has now been at WMN for 14 years. Visionary Media Group Signs Clayton Anderson “Danny is one of the most respected label finance people in this industry,” Kline said. “His experience in and knowledge of our evolving business is DISClaimer Singles Reviews critical to our success, and I’m thrilled that he will assume this new role. Both Danny and I are incredibly proud to recognize the dedication we’ve seen in Brad Walker. Brad’s understanding of and adaptation to the And much more… Page 1 of 15 January 15, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly changing marketplace is part of what makes him such a valuable member of the finance team.” Jenni Tay has been upped from Manager to Director, Streaming under VP Streaming Tim Foisset. Tay began her streaming career between San Francisco and Los Angeles before settling in Nashville in 2018. She has worked on launch projects in the indie space for companies like Ingrooves and The Orchard as well as major labels such as Universal Music Group. “Jenni is a vital, accomplished part of our streaming team,” Foisset said. “She is a true partner to those she works with in this industry: enthusiastic and innovative, supportive and nurturing, capable and decisive. Her relationships yield measurable, impressive results for our artists and we are a stronger label for it. We’re eager to see her role and influence grow.” Mary Catherine Rebrovick and Victoria Chaitoff rise in the Publicity department, led by SVP Wes Vause, to Sr. Director and Director respectively. Rebrovick joined the WMN team as an assistant upon graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012, as did Chaitoff in 2015 after earning her degree in English from the College of William and Mary. “Mary Catherine and Victoria both started their work careers with WMN, and since day one they’ve worked tirelessly to help our artists make their dreams come true. They have become respected leaders in the publicity field and beyond, and I could not be prouder to work alongside them!” Vause said. MR Aaron Tannenbaum Joins WME As Partner recognized throughout the music business for his accomplishments, being named to Billboard’s Rising Stars List, Country Power Players List, and HITS’ Next Wave Agents list. “Aaron has earned a reputation in our business as an agent who has a strong ability to identify talent and takes the long- view in building an artist’s career, making him a great fit for us,” said Scott Clayton, WME’s Co-Head of Music. “As our Nashville office continues to grow, Aaron represents a significant addition to our team and we look forward to bringing his creativity and strategic approach to our Music agent Aaron Tannenbaum has joined WME as a Partner, colleagues and clients,” said Jay Williams, based in its Nashville office. Co-Head of WME’s Nashville office. MR Prior to joining WME, Tannenbaum was at CAA since 2010. He was previously an agent at Paradigm. Tannenbaum has been Page 3 of 15 January 15, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Greg Thompson Appointed Joel Katz Resigns From President And Partner Of Big Greenberg Traurig Loud Management Attorney and founding chairman of the Greenberg Traurig’s entertainment and media Big Loud Management announced the appointment of practice, Joel Katz, notified Greenberg Traurig of executive heavyweight Greg Thompson to President and his resignation from the firm on Dec. 31, 2020, Partner, effective immediately. MusicRow confirmed. “I’ve worked closely with Big Loud in the past, and have A top entertainment attorney frequently listed in been able to see what an incredible organization they have Billboard‘s Power 100 list, Billboard‘s Country built,” says Thompson. “I want to thank Seth [England], Power Players List, and MusicRow‘s InCharge, Joey [Moi], and Craig [Wiseman], for this amazing Katz has represented legendary entertainers opportunity to join the family. I’m thrilled to lead a group of from an array of genres, including artists, world-class managers and have the privilege to be on the producers, record companies, concert promoters, same team as some of the greatest artists in the world.” and business leaders. His client list has included Jimmy Buffett, Jamie Foxx, Steve Harvey, Faith Coming from Maverick Management/Live Nation in Beverly Hill, Julio Iglesias, Alan Jackson, Estate of Hills, California, Thompson served as President of the top- Michael Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Little Big tier management conglomerate. Hands-on in helping Town, Ludacris, Tim McGraw, L.A. Reid, George synergize managers and superstar talent like U2, Strait, James Taylor, Justin Timberlake, TLC, and Madonna, Doja Cat, Brandy, and more, he led the charge others. in expanding their sought-after all-genre roster. Prior, Thompson held a long bicoastal tenure with Capitol Music In a statement provided to MusicRow, Greenberg Group/EMI, playing a critical role in developing artists Katy Traurig Executive Chairman, Richard A. Perry, Sam Smith, and Coldplay. With over 25 years of Rosenbaum, said: “Joel Katz has, by mutual high-level music executive experience, his early career understanding, resigned from the firm as of stints include Island Def Jam, Elektra Records, and December 31, 2020. Our global entertainment Chrysalis Records. practice remains strong, diverse and among the largest, most dynamic and highest rated in the “It’s hard to imagine how things could get better at Big Loud world, led by Chair Bobby Rosenbloum in right now, but adding Greg [Thompson] to our company is Atlanta, assisted by Vice Chairs Barbara Meili in exactly that. He is a leader, mentor, and first-class New York and Dan Black in Los Angeles, as well executive. We are very thankful to him for coming on board as Jay Cooper, the founder of our Los Angeles when he could have chosen just about anywhere. He will Entertainment Practice, leading music industry be key in overseeing all of our managers and assisting with lawyers Jess Rosen in Atlanta and Paul each of their respective artists, not to mention being a key Schindler in New York, and many others. We resource for us partners as well,” says Big Loud Partners thank Mr. Katz for his contributions over the (Seth England, Joey Moi, and Craig Wiseman) years and have no further comment at this time.” MR Expanding Big Loud’s footprint to Los Angeles, California, Thompson will continue managing clients Philmon Lee and Ananya Birla, while further elevating the leading Nashville, Tennessee-based independent management firm. MR Page 4 of 15 Friday, January 15, 2021 CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG New On The Chart —Debuting This Week song/artist/label—Chart Position Undivided/Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard/Big Machine Records — 61 Tequila Little Time/Jon Pardi/Capitol — 64 My Boy/Elvie Shane/Wheelhouse Records — 76 Give Heaven Some Hell/HARDY/Big Loud Records — 78 More With Less/Frank Vieira/Frank Vieira Music — 79 Kickstart/Owen Howell/Kojax Entertainment — 80 Greatest Spin Increase song/artist/label—Spin Increase Undivided/Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard/Big Machine Records — 273 What's Your Country Song/Thomas Rhett/Valory — 192 Famous Friends/Chris Young & Kane Brown/RCA Nashville — 184 The Good Ones/Gabby Barrett/Warner Music Nashville — 150 Just The Way/Parmalee x Blanco Brown/Stoney Creek “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett reigns at No. 1 on this Records — 136 week’s CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Rhett penned the single with Tequila Little Time/Jon Pardi/Capitol — 134 Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley and Parker Welling. Most Added At the 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards Rhett tied with song/artist/label—No. of Adds Carrie Underwood for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award. He Undivided/Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard/Big Machine also took home a win for Video of the Year for “Remember You Young.” Records — 25 Famous Friends/Chris Young & Kane Brown/RCA Nashville — 10 Rhett is set to headline “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley,” on Wednesday, Tequila Little Time/Jon Pardi/Capitol — 10 Feb. 17 during CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience. You Time/Scotty McCreery/Triple Tigers Records — 9 Right Place Now/Hudson Valley/Hudson Valley — 8 Most recently, Rhett debuted his new tequila brand, Dos Primos, in No Body, No Crime/Taylor Swift Ft Haim/MCA Nashville — 7 collaboration with his cousin Jeff Worn and Third-generation Master Distiller Rodolfo González.