Get the latest news and announcements as it's released by connecting with us through the following.
Yoakam and Light to Join Willie Nelson and Luke Bryan at the High-Profile, Two-Day Event on June 4-5 in Nashville
NEW YORK, NY – May 31, 2012 - Billboard, the world’s premier music brand, today announced that Grammy-winning Country superstar Dwight Yoakam will participate in a Superstar Q&A and the head of CAA’s music department, Rob Light, will participate in an executive keynote at the Third Annual Billboard Country Music Summit in association with the Country Music Association (CMA). Yoakam and Light will be joining Country Music legend Willie Nelson and rising star Luke Bryan at the two-day conference, set to take place in Nashville on June 4-5 at the Cannery Ballroom. The event will gather today’s top players in Country Music to network and discuss all aspects of the Country Music business.
Dwight Yoakam, an artist who has transcended the Country Music genre to become an innovator and entrepreneur, will participate in the Superstar Keynote Q&A session titled, “Guitars, Cadillacs, and Innovation: A Conversation about the Future with Dwight Yoakam.” The Singer/songwriter/actor/writer/director redefined Country Music from his debut album in 1986, the neo-traditional honky-tonk epic, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. One of the most respected singer-songwriters in any genre, Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums, and has charted more than 30 singles, with 22 going Top 20, and received eight CMA Award nominations. Beyond the music genre, Yoakam is a critically-acclaimed actor, with star turns in such successful films as “Sling Blade,” “Panic Room,” “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” and “Four Christmases”; and Yoakam co-wrote, starred in, produced and wrote the soundtrack for “South of Heaven, West of Hell.” Yoakam, a walking music encyclopedia, is set to release his first studio album in seven years on Warner Bros. Records this fall, and conference attendees will get the rare opportunity to hear what else is in store for Dwight Yoakam, as well as his insightful take on where music is headed.
Rob Light, head of the Music Department, a partner, and Managing Director of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), will participate in an in-depth discussion about areas where Country Music is outperforming other genres, what the genre could do better, and a “big picture” view of the music business and the evolving role of the agency and how things might look 10 years from now. Under Light’s leadership, CAA’s Music department represents many of the world’s most popular and talented musical artists and comedians, and CAA Nashville’s team of agents represents a large and diverse range of artists including Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Amy Grant, Shooter Jennings, John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Martina McBride, and Willie Nelson. Respected throughout the industry for his innovative deal structures and ability to foresee and adapt to changes in the business environment, Light has led CAA’s Music Department to new heights by implementing an integrated services model that leverages CAA’s resources within the department and across the agency. In the session, titled “Country Music From An Aerial View: A Conversation with Rob Light,” he will share specific examples of strategies that have helped build or sustain artists’ careers.
“The Country Music Summit unites the leaders of all aspects of the business from the genre’s biggest and most dynamic artists to those responsible for propelling their careers,” says Billboard’s editorial director, Bill Werde. “Both Dwight Yoakam and Rob Light are innovators in their fields, and their participation will give attendees the chance to hear from trailblazers in talent as well as the talent management worlds.”
The Third Annual Country Summit will explore multiple segments of the business, including radio, touring, recording, publishing, and digital technologies. Previous keynote guests and panelists have included Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Martina McBride. Featuring two days of panel sessions, roundtable discussions and keynote interviews, the key stakeholders in Country Music will once again break down the most challenging issues and exciting opportunities in recording, radio, touring, sponsorships/branding, digital/mobile, and other areas. Like past years, the Billboard Country Music Summit program will kick off the activities leading up to the annual CMA Music Festival, which will be held June 7-10 in Nashville.
Additional speakers include John Hogan, Chairman/CEO, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment; J sider, Founder, RootMusic; Clint Higham, President, Morris Management Group; Ali Harnell, senior VP, TMG/AEG Live; Clarence Spalding, President, Spalding Entertainment; Brock Jones, VP, Booking, Global Spectrum; Brian O’Connell, president, Live Nation Country Music; Tony Conway, CEO, Conway Entertainment Group; David Robkin, CEO, Bigger Picture Group; Phil Caruso, National Promotions Manager, Chevrolet; Rob Beckham, Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment; Curt Motley, Agent, Paradigm Talent; Kevin Neal, President, Buddy Lee Attractions; Marc Dennis, Agent, Creative Artists Agency; Ted Ellis, CMT Canada & President of the Canadian Country Music Association Board; John Lomax, President, Roots Music Exporters; Jonathan Leone, Co-Founder, Thrillcall; and Heather McBee, VP, Artist Development/Marketing & Web Initiatives, Sony Music Nashville. For a full list of speakers, please visit: http://www.billboardevents.com/country/speakers
The Billboard Country Music Summit will be geared toward managers, artists, agents, radio programmers, label executives, mobile/digital executives, sponsorship professionals, business managers, promoters, the copyright community, publishers, songwriters, music supervisors, producers, and others closely associated with the Country Music business.
Additional Billboard Country Music Summit Program Highlights Include:
Artist Showcases
Networking Events
Informative Panel Sessions & Roundtable Discussions On Topics Including:
Check the Research and Ask the Consultant: The Method, The Madness, The Answers
About Billboard Billboard is the world's most influential music brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters; and millions of music fans through Billboard.com consumer events and awards shows, the mobile chart app, and social media extensions. The Billboard brand is built on its over 200 exclusive charts - the measure of success of in music - that are constantly updated to reflect the changing music landscape. Billboard charts and content are consumed and referenced by millions of people in more than 100 countries through a content syndication deal with global news network, The Associated Press, and strategic relationships with other major companies around the world. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Greece, Japan, Korea and Russia. Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences, events, and awards shows such as The Billboard Music Awards on ABC, and The Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, Cineasia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).
About CMA Music Festival CMA Music Festival, now in its 41st year, is an unparalleled music experience celebrating America's music. Taking place Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10, this event brings the community together with fans from around the world. Last year, the event attracted more than 65,000 fans daily from all 50 states and 26 nations. The 2012 CMA Music Festival will once again be filmed for an ABC Television Network television special to air later this summer. Four-day ticket packages and single night concert tickets are on sale and fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased through CMAfest.com or 1-800-CMA-FEST. USA Today named CMA Music Festival "the crown jewel of Country Music festivals" and the event is the reigning winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association's (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010) LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year. For more information, visit CMAfest.com.
For information on The Billboard Country Music Summit and to REGISTER, visit: http://www.billboardevents/country
To subscribe to The Billboard Country Update for free, go to: www.billboard.biz/enewsletters
For press credentials, contact: Jennifer Liss at 212-981-5215 or Jennifer_liss@dkcnews.com
For registration information, contact: Nicole Carbone at 212-493-4263 or Conferences@Billboard.com
For sponsorship information, contact: Lee Ann Photoglo at 615-376-7931 or laphotoglo@gmail.com