Music News 10/28/2010

Rick Shedd

Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown has named Rick Shedd Senior Vice President of Operations for Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records, effective immediately. Shedd has been a longtime consultant for the label and will report directly to Brown.

Exiting the label is Executive Vice Pres./General Manager Jim Yerger.

“Over the last decade, Rick has proven to be a loyal, hard working, and very valuable asset to our company. We look forward to him expanding his role within our organization,” says Brown. “All of us wish Jim nothing but the best and much success in his future endeavors.”

“I have worked with the BBR family as a consultant for many years now and when the opportunity became available to become a full-fledged member of the family, it was an easy decision,” adds Shedd. “I have immense respect for Benny and his labels and I’m thrilled with the confidence he has entrusted in me. I’m looking forward to being a part of the continued growth and success in the future.”

Broken Bow’s major release from star Jason Aldean is set to drop Nov. 2.

Jim Yerger can be reached at Jim.Yerger@me.com

Rick Shedd can be reached at rickshedd@brokenbowrecords.com or at 615-244-8600.

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Richard Blackstone

Music rights company BMG has hired Richard Blackstone to be the Chief Creative Officer of BMG US. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music and, more recently, has been working with the Zac Brown Band. Blackstone, who will be based in BMG’s US headquarters in New York City, also has strong ties to Nashville. In this newly created role, he will report directly to Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG.

Since its founding in late 2008, BMG has completed a number of major acquisitions including Crosstown Songs America, Cherry Lane Music Publishing Inc, Stage Three Music and Evergreen Copyrights, as well as signed a number of prominent artists and songwriters.

Blackstone will oversee the rosters of the recently acquired companies as well as direct efforts to sign new talent to continue to build on the company’s rapid growth.

Blackstone has been a respected executive in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years. In 2005 he was appointed to the position of Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell, becoming responsible for all aspects of Warner Music Group’s worldwide music-publishing division operating in over 35 countries.

In 2007 he broke from WMG and transitioned to work in new media. He has been working with the Zac Brown Band, specifically advancing the songwriting career of Wyatt Durette, Brown’s frequent co-writer. The signing of Durette is one of his many successful signings which also include helping launch the musical careers of Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Britney Spears, and many others.

Prior to joining WMG, Blackstone was President of Zomba Music Publishing. Originally a transactional attorney, Blackstone joined Zomba in 1989 as Director of Business Affairs. Recognizing his talents in both business and the arts, he was later promoted to the dual role of Head of Creative and Head of Business Affairs, a position that included oversight of Zomba’s Country Music division located in Nashville. Once BMG acquired Zomba Publishing, Blackstone was made President and was given the additional responsibility of overseeing Brentwood Benson Music Publishing, the leading contemporary Christian music publisher.
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Artist/songwriter Shelley Skidmore has signed a publishing deal with Chrysalis Music. Dale Bobo, EVP at Chrysalis Music Nashville says, “Shelley is the authentic real deal, having grown up playing and singing in her parent’s band all around her home state of Kentucky and into Ohio and West Virginia. She has a smart point of view that really comes through when she writes and performs. We are tremendously excited to be working with Shelley at Chrysalis Music.”

(From Bottom Left Clockwise) Jersey Ross/Chrysalis Music; Patricia Wittmer/Chrysalis Music; Dale Bobo/Chrysalis Music; Skidmore; Terry Elam, manager/Fitzgerald Hartley; Tiffany Dunn, attorney/Loeb & Loeb; and Abbe Nameche/Chrysalis Music.

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