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Keep up with the latest news from our artists as well as industry insights and more.
By Ali Bartlett
It's about to be that time of year again! From September 12th - 17th, folk and americana fans, artists, and industry professionals will come together over their love of music. Here are some sets I'm looking forward to this year at Americana Fest! Purchase your tickets here: http://americanamusic.org/buy-your-pass
I had the best time speaking at the DIY Musician Conference last weekend. Back in the spring, when I was asked to talk about artist management, I wrote the following blurb to describe my talk:
In this session we will explore what an artist manager is, what their job is, when you need one, and how to be your own manager until you reach that point. We'll talk about finding the right management fit when it is time, and 7 tools you can use starting today to help you manage your career efficiently.
I accidentally created a pretty big challenge for myself in writing that session description, and ended up spending the better part of a week interviewing other artist managers about their careers, advice, and tools. I'm very proud of the result.
I really enjoyed meeting so many of you at the conference, and I'm so glad so many of you got a lot out of it. So, since you've asked, I will deliver. If you go HERE by Monday and sign up for my mailing list, I will email you a copy of my presentation!
By: Jalena Noakes
Recently, I've noticed there's been somewhat of a breakout in the pop music industry here in Nashville. Aside from the amazingly talented country/singer-songwriter artists that reside in this city, there are quite a few pop artists emerging from the crowds and gaining some traction. I've been seeing these artists appear more frequently on Spotify playlists and I think it's time we all have a listen. Check out these pop artists that still call Nashville "home"!
By Callie Paige
I recently bought a book and it's not just ANY book. This particular book is all about women entrepreneurs #girlpower. It is called "In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs." You should check it out here. Anyways, that's not the point. The point is that it got me thinking of all the incredible women entrepreneurs that I have had the privilege of working for, that I admire, and that I aspire to be like one day. Here are just a few of those Nashville-based inspiring women entrepreneurs.
Founder & CEO of Olivia Management
If you were to look up the definition of badass, I am positive that Erin's name is the first thing you would see. If you don't know Erin Anderson, you better change that right now. She is our fearless leader of Olivia Management and we are eternally grateful for her. She knows how to do business, but she also knows how to have fun along with it. She knows how to make people feel loved and she is always doing what is best for her artists. I have learned an immense amount from her and I feel truly honored to have interned with such an empowering individual. You can learn a bit from her too by attending the CD Baby Conference on Friday, August 25th! Erin is one of the afternoon speakers, so we will obviously be in attendance.
Co-Founders of EVAmore
I was also lucky enough to intern with these entrepreneurs. What can I say...I have a thing for startups. Any who, these two women amaze me. This platform they created was brilliant. They saw a reoccurring problem with event planning, they had a passion, and they went for it. It all started when they were just college students and they are still pursuing it to this day. When I think of these two, I think of hard work and perseverance.
A few other Nashville-based women entrepreneurs that I don't personally know, but that have impacted and inspired my friends:
Becca Stevens - Founder of Thistle Farms
Kate Moore - Founder of GetFit615
These ladies are living proof that women can be entrepreneurs and that they can be dang good at it too. Someone wise once said, "Who runs the world? Girls."
By Ali Bartlett
By: Jalena Noakes
When I sat down with Erin and Maggie on my first day of interning, they talked to me about how important excellence and integrity were to this company. From that very first conversation, I knew I was at the right place. I am beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to intern at Olivia Management over the past 8 months. Erin is the epitome of #GIRLBOSS and Maggie is right up there with her. I was lucky enough to have been under the leadership of these two amazing women, and look forward to seeing all of the exciting things happening for Olivia Management in the next couple of years.
I could get all sappy in this post, or I could share some of the simpler life lessons I have learned the past two semesters...I'll save the sappiness for another day ;)
By Callie Paige
If you know anything about me, you know I am very passionate about Chance the Rapper. Every so often I will search "Chance the Rapper" on Google to catch up on his life...since he won't respond to my texts about hanging out. Kidding. Well, my Google search of Chance the other day led me to an article on Pigeons and Planes titled, "What It's Like Being Chance the Rapper's Intern", which can be found here. Being an avid Chance the Rapper fan and an intern as well, I geeked out.
I vividly remember the day in March when Chance tweeted, "I'm looking for an intern, someone with experience in putting together decks and writing proposals." Simple as that. Sadly, I didn't have experience with that and I didn't want to be jealous of the future intern, so I didn't keep up with it...until I found that article on Pigeons and Planes. That article then led me to another article written by Chance's intern himself, Negele Hospedales, also known as Hospey. That article was titled, "How To Work For Your Favourite Rapper", which can be found here. As much as I want to talk about how much I love Chance, I won't make you sit through that. Instead, I am going to highlight my favorite quotes and stories from Hospey the Intern's article:
1. "While watching your boss –your boss– take the stage in his ‘worlds best dad’ tee, tweaking each sound-check to perfection, the concept of a ‘finish line’ will disappear from mind."
2. "There’s no right way to work for your favorite rapper. In fact, there may not even be a way to work for your favorite rapper. Compensation won’t come to mind, nor per diems – you would’ve done it for free. After all, a story’s worth a thousand resumes."
3. "Seamlessly, 32 shows will pass and your admiration will never waver. Hell, you might just come out of the other end with 1 or 2 timeless stories and a new group of people to call ‘family’."
4. "My time as intern for Chance the Rapper is something that could never be justifiably summed up in words. It was a time of transition in my life that marked a shift from slightly hesitant sometimes-blogger putting off getting a real job, into a confident multi-faceted creative with a taste of how great it all could be – and the newfound realization of the person that I’m meant to be."
5. I can talk all I want about my run-ins with various celebrities including the ones I lived with for 2 months, or how a taste of the VIP lifestyle changed me, but the first moment that really left shivers down my spine was a slightly more natural one:
Night 2 at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, CO.
The band intros happen nearly halfway thru the show, and after the ovation for ‘Mr. Nico Segal’, ”Sunday Candy” begins. Suddenly, it was if the heavens literally opened up for a second; right as the vocalists harmonized the lines “Come on in this house, cause it’s gonna rain, Rain down Zion, it’s gonna rain”, the most peaceful light mist fell from the sky until the end of the song and as suddenly as they started, ceased. Something about that moment made me realize that I, or rather we, were doing something right, enough so to please our God & Mother Nature & the sky themselves."
By Callie Paige
Happy National Vinyl Record Day to you and you and you! In honor of this very special day, I wanted share different ways to repurpose vinyl records that you maybe don't listen to anymore (because we've all purchased those $3 singles that lay dusty and neglected in our cabinets). This is not a "how to" because I am not the most artsy gal, but thankfully we have the handy dandy Internet to help you out there. Here are some fun ideas that I found and I hope you enjoy!
By Callie Paige
With the summer coming to an end and another school year about to begin, I always feel the need to find something to look forward to. That something for me is Live on the Green. If you aren't familiar with Live on the Green, don't worry because I am about to tell you all about it. Live on the Green is a FREE music festival held outdoors at Public Square Park in Nashville. It consists of 6 different nights of free music from over 30 different artists. This year's dates are August 10th, August 17th, August 24th, August 31st, September 1st, and September 2nd. Each night is filled with great artists, but here are some of the ones that I am looking forward to most:
Friday, September 1st
Main Stage // 7:45pm - 9:00pm
I am pretty biased when it comes to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. I have been a huge fan of Drew's music ever since I heard him play at a Young Life camp with his wife Ellie. It is now four years later and I am still a huge fan. Yes, seeing Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors at Live on the Green may be my fourth time seeing them, but I am just as excited as I was the first time I saw them. Be sure to check them out, you won't regret it.
Saturday, September 2nd
Main Stage // 8:00pm - 9:00pm
I was hooked on The Lone Bellow ever since I heard "You Never Need Nobody" about two years ago. The way their voices join together is truly beautiful. I have always wanted to see them live, but haven't had the chance. I have a feeling that seeing The Lone Bellow live will be better than any recording of their voices that I have ever heard. They are just one of those bands. You can feel their emotions in every note and that is what makes me stoked to see them at Live on the Green.
Thursday, August 31st
615 Stage // 5:30pm - 6:15pm
I saw Jonny P about a year ago when he opened for Johnnyswim (one of my faves). His Motown vibes and killer style really had me from the start. He is very unique and unlike any other artist I would typically gravitate towards. From the first song of his set to the very last song, he had me dancing and grooving. Ever since that show in Charlotte, I have been excited for the chance to see him again and now Live on the Green has made that dream come true.
Thursday, August 17th
Main Stage // 9:30pm - 11:00pm
If I am being honest, the first song I heard Local Natives sing was a cover of "Ultralight Beam." At first, I thought...man, bold choice covering that song. But I actually enjoyed it. I mean nothing is going to be as great as the original (shoutout to my boy Chance), but I appreciated the cover. I started following them and listening to their music and I enjoyed it to say the least. I am super pumped to see what their live show is like and hopefully I will love them even more than I do now.
Saturday, September 2nd
615 Stage // 8:45pm - 9:30pm
When I saw this band on the Live on the Green schedule, I knew I had heard of them before, but it took me a minute to actually remember. I finally did remember, thankfully, that I saw them when they opened for Good Old War. I remember really liking them and their set, but I was so hype for Good Old War that I didn't really pay super close attention. I am thankful for Live on the Green for giving me a second chance to really listen and enjoy Elliot Root's show.
"We believe in the importance of music and strongly support the idea that each person should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy live music, free of charge. Live on the Green is a celebration of Nashville's passion for music and community."
By Ali Bartlett
Musicians Corner is a summer-long event at Centennial Park that features some amazing musicians of different genres! This Friday, August 4th, is their Acoustic Friday Night set, and every Saturday from August 5th - September 9th there will be live FREE music by the Parthenon! It's a super fun festival with food, drinks, and good vibes PLUS great music. Here are just some of the artists I'm excited to see (there's a lot okay)!
Londoner Jade Bird has made her way into the American bluegrass / folk scene with style. She has a country soul mixed with her own unique British flair. Her song Cathedral is so effortlessly poetic and poignant. Check it out!
Songwriters Trent Dabbs and Amy Stroup come together to form something super easy and cool. Bluesy vibes mixed with pretty harmonies makes for some really great songs. You don't wanna miss these two!
Okay, obviously a little biased with this one since he's an Olivia Management artist. BUT Matthew is amazing. His music will make your soul feel things you never knew it could feel. He's just an unbelievable lyricist and his music is the perfect balance of pretty folk and rustic Americana.
Thad definitely has some Sufjan Stevens vibes going on. His music is very introspective and ambient, and really causes the listener to sit back and think about what they're hearing. I personally love music like that, and can't wait to hear Thad mesmerize a live crowd.
While they are another Olivia Management artist, The Secret Sisters are killing it with their new album You Don't Own Me Anymore. This dynamic duo has some significant things to say, and they say it with such grace. Americana at its best.
I first saw Wilder at Belmont's Rock Showcase last year. They really knew how to command a crowd. This band definitely leans more toward the indie rock genre, and their big sound has even landed them some gigs opening for NeedtoBreathe and Kaleo! You won't regret checking this band out.
By Callie Paige
On Monday, July 24, our team at Olivia Management stepped out of the office and into Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee with some of our awesome friends. Second Harvest Food Bank works to fight hunger in the community. Below is a bit of info about how it works.
1. "Everything starts with you." What this means is that Second Harvest really relies on people to provide food, time, and money.
2. Then, resources are collected and transferred to Second Harvest's partner agencies, which exceeds 450!!!
3. Finally, the partner agencies deliver food DIRECTLY to those in need.
Our day at Second Harvest Food Bank consisted of two different tasks. Our first task was to sort through many boxes to find a certain brand of queso dip that had recently been recalled, so we could prevent someone from consuming this product and having an allergic reaction.
Our next task was to sort potatoes into 5 pound bags. Once we were finished, they told us that we had bagged more than 5,000 pounds of potatoes, which equals about 1,000 bags of potatoes. Therefore, we finished this service day knowing that we had fed 1,000 families across middle Tennessee.
It was a true joy to work alongside friends, colleagues, and artists knowing that we were feeding families and making a difference. If you live in the area and are looking for somewhere to volunteer, we couldn't recommend Second Harvest Food Bank enough. Since volunteers are a vital part of the success of Second Harvest, they are always needing help.
Thanks to our very own Maggie Adams for organizing this event with Second Harvest! If you want to volunteer with Second Harvest, it's super easy to do so! Visit their website here: http://secondharvestmidtn.org/act/volunteer/
By Ali Bartlett
Who doesn't love when the perfect song captures a moment in a tv show or movie? I've always thought music supervision is super cool, and love when a song adds emotion or depth to a scene. Here are some awesome film and tv placements that have impacted me:
By Ali Bartlett
I've been listening to Matthew Perryman Jones since his Swallow The Sea album came out in 2008. I was a 12 year old aspiring songwriter at the time, and would go back and forth from Atlanta to Nashville to go to writers' rounds and to experience new music. My music tastes began to broaden from what my friends were listening to (at the time probably a lot of Miley Cyrus and The Black Eyed Peas), and started to lean towards writers like Bon Iver, Amos Lee, and, of course, Matthew Perryman Jones. Singer/songwriters like MPJ influenced not only my writing but also the music that I listen to today. I'm forever thankful that I drifted away from the Top 20 and into a world of music filled with even more emotion and creativity than one might normally find on the mainstream charts. Matthew has an extraordinary way of combining effortless melodies with gripping lyrics that just tears you up a little bit inside. Here's a playlist of my faves!
By Ali Bartlett
Nashville is a city with a never ending abundance of record stores. From new to used, every size, any decade, you have an option. I've been collecting vinyl since I was about 16, and I started my collection back home in Atlanta. In my hometown, there was only one record store within a 20 mile radius, and it had super weird hours and a very limited selection. When I moved up here, I was so psyched that I had what seemed like limitless access to records. There's way too many to rank 'em all (I don't think I've even been to all of them), but here are some of my go-to's!
Grimey's is the first record store I visited in Nashville. It's super homey and the staff is really cool and knowledgable. I can usually find anything I'm looking for here, and if not they'll kindly order it for you! Grimey's Too is also awesome for used records or even finding a good book! AND Frothy Monkey has a store inside the building, which makes Grimey's Too the ultimate chill spot to listen to some music, drink coffee and feed your record collecting addiction.
Do I like Third Man just because I'm obsessed with everything Jack White touches? Yep. But I'm cool with that. Jack has a select roster of artists on his label, so if you're looking for a large selection of artists, this really isn't the place for you. However, it's a super cool place and you can even make your own record! You may even find an old record by our very own Secret Sisters there. Definitely recommend checking it out.
I actually just visited Fond Object for the first time a few weeks ago. It's a cool, vintage shop located in East Nashville that sells not only records but retro clothes, furniture, and memorabilia! This store has a unique vibe. You may never know what you might come walking out of Fond Object with!
I mean ... what goes better together than records and beer? This place is genius and also a really fun time! They have a pretty wide selection of records and have a lot of seating to hang out with friends, chill, drink, and listen to some good music! If you're looking for something different to do one night, try Vinyl Tap.
By Callie Paige
We're keeping our artists busy this summer with shows at our favorite spots in Nashville! For those artists who live in the South (we wish we could be in Portland too, Fort Atlantic!), we love getting them to play some of the best concert series that Nashville has to offer each summer. Come hang out with us while it's still warm!
If you missed The Secret Sisters at The Opry last time, have no fear because they are back and we are thrilled about it. We, at Olivia Management, absolutely love The Opry. There is always, without a doubt, good people playing good music there. Once an artist plays at The Opry, it is like they have joined this big, happy, country family. The Opry is a Nashville staple, so be there on Friday, July 21st to see The Secret Sisters...and more. You won't regret it.
Can't make it to The Opry on July 21st? That's okay because The Secret Sisters are also playing Musicians Corner on Saturday, August 12th! If you haven't heard of Musicians Corner, it is a series of FREE music events in Centennial Park. We love Musicians Corner because of the sense of community that it creates. They also do an incredible job of showing their support of emerging artists and their passion for the arts.
If we didn't convince you before that we LOVE Musicians Corner, then this should do the trick because we have another artist playing this wonderful series. Matthew Perryman Jones will be playing Musicians Corner on Saturday, August 5th. We can guarantee that you will not want to miss it! Come and hang with us if you find yourself wanting to hear some great live music that is free on a Saturday in Nashville.
Last, but most certainly not least, we have Jill Andrews playing Music City Roots in just ONE WEEK on Wednesday, July 19th. Music City Roots is another one of our favorite local music series. What is Music City Roots? It is a weekly radio show that is broadcasted live from The Factory in Franklin. The cool thing about Music City Roots is that it features four different artists for about 25 minutes each along with short interviews. Then after each artist has played, all four artists collaborate to close the show with a "Nashville Jam". It is going to be a lot of fun, so come join us!
I'm going on vacation later this week, and while composing my out of office auto responder I decided I wanted to include a link to a video. But then I couldn't decide which video...
So, for your viewing pleasure, here's a bunch of my favorite videos from our artists and consulting clients! If you are looking for a 30 minute escape from your day with amazing music, here you go!
By Jalena Noakes
By Ali Bartlett
Need some new music? Here's a playlist of some of my favorite new releases! I like listening to a variety of artists, so there's something for everyone! There's so much awesome music being released right now, From sister rock band Haim with cool Cali vibes, to The 1975's "By Your Side" cover. Not to mention, amazing artists are stepping onto the scene with brand new albums, like Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy, and The Secret Sisters, a powerful Americana duo (that I get to work with). Make sure to check out these artists' records too!
By Callie Paige
I have no idea what your plans are for the one and only, Independence Day. What I do know is that you are going to want to listen to some tunes. At least I hope you will want to. I have created a playlist of thirty songs that relate to America in some way, shape, or form. Some may make you chuckle and some may just make you proud to be an American. I hope this playlist can serve as a soundtrack to your celebration this 4th of July. Enjoy and God Bless the USA.
"And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me."
- Lee Greenwood
