Music Row Honors Industry Excellence
July 2, 2006
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Music Row Honors Industry Excellence
Music Row Honors Industry Excellence
Nashville, TN July 2, 2006 — Music Row, Nashville’s Music Industry Publication, held its 18th Annual Awards celebration last night (6/29) at BMI’s Nashville headquarters. Over 300 managers, musicians, songwriters, publishers and label executives attended to join with the Music Row staff in congratulating and recognizing excellence. The publication handed out gold framed plaques to 23 deserving winners. Categories included Top Ten All-Star Musicians, reader-voted Best Of recognitions and five creative categories decided upon by the publication’s editorial staff. The Marketing Achievement honor, to recognize excellence in successfully conceiving and executing a creative marketing plan, is unique in the country music industry.
BMI’s Jody Williams welcomed the attendees and introduced Music Row Publisher/founder David M. Ross who co-hosted the ceremony with News Editor Sarah Gilbert, Chart Manager Jon Freeman and long time contributor Robert K. Oermann. Ross noted that 2006 has been a strong year for country music, with Top 75 country album sales up 11% year-to-date, but suggested it was not a time for the industry to relax. “We must continue to be creative and challenge ourselves to find new and better ways to adapt to the changing technological environment,” Ross said.
One of the evening’s humorous highlights were surprise presentations by songwriter Craig Wiseman (“Live Like You Were Dying”) to Song of the Year winner Jeffrey Steele and Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Wiseman gave each a desktop elephant which he said he had, “bought on overstock.com at 95% off,” and reserved only for special friends when winning awards.
Carrie Underwood was honored with Music Row’s Critics’ Pick Award and her plaque was accepted by Sony BMG Nashville Chairman Joe Galante.
Music Row, Nashville’s Music Industry Publication is published by Music Row Publications, Inc. and now in its 25th year. For more information visit www.musicrow.com or contact 615-321-3617.
TOP TEN ALBUM ALL-STAR MUSICIAN AWARDS
Fiddle—Jonathan Yudkin
Steel—Paul Franklin
Bass (tie)—Michael Rhodes, Glenn Worf
Drums—Shannon Forrest
Keyboards—Steve Nathan
Engineer (tie)—Justin Niebank, Derek Bason
Guitar—Tom Bukovac
Vocals—Wes Hightower
BEST OF AWARDS (Reader Voted)
Best Nashville Studio—Ocean Way Nashville
Best Nashville Songplugger—Sherrill Blackman
Best Independent Publicity Company—AristoMedia
Best Bank To Deposit Your Royalty Check—SunTrust
CRITICS’ PICKS
Song Of The Year— “What Hurts The Most” Writers: Jeffery Steele, Steve Robson; Publishers: Songs Of Windswept Pacific, Almo Music Corp.
Breakthrough Songwriter— Jason Matthews “Must Be Doin’ Something Right”
Producer Of The Year— Dann Huff
Critics’ Pick— Carrie Underwood
Marketing Achievement— Equity Music Group (Little Big Town, The Road To Here), Lyric Street Records (Rascal Flatts, Me And My Gang)
http://www.musicrow.com
615-321-3617