Beyond the Recognition: The Effect of Awards on Music Careers

Pictured at an IBMA Awards after-party are Mickey Gamble (left), president ofCrossroads/Mountain Home Music Company of Arden NC, and Tim Surrett of the multi-award winning band Balsam Range. Surrett is the original founder of the Mountain Home label.

A Label Exec, Artist and Agent Weigh In Nashville, TN --- Artists on the Mountain Home Music Company label garnered the greatest number of nominations of any record label in the recent 2014 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards. When the awards were handed out, Mountain Home artists walked away with six impressive honors. Balsam Range was named both Vocal Group and Entertainer of the Year with singer/fiddler Buddy Melton named Male Vocalist of the Year and Tim Surretthonored with the Mentor Award. Adam Steffey of The Boxcars won the Mandolin Player award. With its second album released earlier this year, the vibrant young group, Flatt Lonesome was named Emerging Artist of the Year. All in all, a very good day for the ambitious record label based in North Carolina’s unassuming community of Arden. So, aside from the recognition and a moment in the spotlight, what can awards mean to an artist’s career or to a record label? What is the effect on the business of the music business? “First, I’ve got to say that any nomination or award is an honor. Just think of the number of people out there making music, and then to be selected for any kind of recognition, well, that’s pretty special,” says Tim Surrett of Balsam Range and Mountain Home Music Company. “Beyond that, awards can enhance an artist’s image and raise awareness both within and outside of the genre. That kind of recognition provides talking points for managers, agents and publicists who represent the artist. Additionally, songwriters and publishers are eager to pitch great songs to award-winning artists.” Mountain Home Music Company counts among its artists multiple nominees and winners in the Grammys, Dove, IBMA, SPBGMA, ICM (Inspirational Country Music) Awards and more. President, Mickey Gamble, shares his thoughts. “The result is multi-tiered. Awards can have a positive effect on the way everyone connected with the winner conducts business: artists, songwriters, publishers, labels and agents. A high profile nomination or award, especially something that is widely covered by the media, can boost sales and increase tour dates for the artist,” Gamble says. “There is a level of credibility that comes with having award winners on the label that enhances the overall reputation of the label, making it easier to attract other promising or very accomplished artists to the roster, and that means we get to do more of what we love most: working with talented artists and supporting their creation of great music,” Gamble notes. Many great bands are competing for a finite number of quality tour dates. Award recognition can pave the way to the stage of venues that might have previously been a tough sell. From the agent’s perspective, Mike Drudge of Class Act Entertainment, (pictured, Drudge books acts including Balsam Range and The Boxcars), adds his thoughts of the effect of awards on the business of music. “Awards are always great talking points, and the more high profile the award is, the more it adds to the ‘marquee value’ of an act. A major award, like Balsam Range’s 2014 Entertainer of the Year nod, adds a layer of legitimacy, if you will, particularly to those outside of Bluegrass. Similarly, when The Boxcars were nominated for a Grammy, it was an instant door opener to presenters and venues that may have limited familiarity with Bluegrass artists, as if to say, ‘Well, if they were nominated for a Grammy, they must be good!’”  “In my experience,” Drudge adds, “awards that result from a vote by peers carry more weight than fan-voted awards. Both the Grammys and IBMA Awards are voted on by peers in the industry – folks ‘in the know’ – so when someone from the outside looking in sees an act recognized by peers, it means a lot.” Mountain Home Music Company, a division of Crossroads Entertainment and Marketing, Inc., has earned a reputation as a premiere Bluegrass label with global distribution. The label boasts elite artists including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Boxcars, Lonesome River Band, Balsam Range, The Grascals, Snyder Family, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Danny Roberts, Crowe Lawson Williams, Flatt Lonesome and in a new signing at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, Chris Jones and The Night Drivers. Established in 1993, Crossroads is a market leader in the Bluegrass, Americana, and Christian Music fields. FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.mountainhomemusiccompany.com www.balsamrange.com www.classactentertainment.com MEDIA CONTACT Claire Ratliff Laughing Penguin Publicity claire@penguinpublicity.com 615.476.3200

Balsam Range Garners Two More IBMA Nominations

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has announced the nominees for the Momentum Awards. Each artist was chosen by committees through a multi-stage process involving both musicians and music industry leaders.
“One of the distinctive features of the bluegrass world is that the peak years of careers are often measured in decades, even as we welcome an abundance of new artists and industry professionals into the ranks,” Jon Weisberger, IBMA board chair, explains. “So as our top artists and professionals continue to enjoy recognition from their peers through its annual awards, the IBMA’s Board of Directors saw a need to salute some of the best and brightest among those who are closer to the beginnings of their careers, and created the Momentum Awards — noteworthy for including not just singers, pickers and bands, but events or venues and professionals — as a vehicle for drawing attention to their achievements."

Balsam Range is currently nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year and Buddy Melton is up for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Tim Surrett of Balsam Range was nominated for the Mentor Award (given to a bluegrass professional who has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of newcomers to the bluegrass industry.)
Balsam Range was also nominated for the Industrial Involvement Award for Colonial Theater, Balsam Range monthly concert series – Canton, N.C.

Catch them at the awards or during World of Bluegrass.

For a full list of performances click here

MARTY RAYBON WINS HIS FIRST IBMA AWARD

ALSO APPEARS ON THE COVER OF BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED

Nashville, TN (October 1, 2013) – Marty Raybon can now add an IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) award to his prestigious list of awards including Grammy, CMA and AMC awards with the group Shenandoah to his successful 40 year career as an entertainer. Last Thursday night Raybon was presented with the “Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year” Award for “Beulah Land” during the 24th IBMA Awards Show in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“It is a such an honor to win the IBMA Award for Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year. This the first of many I hope, I am overwhelmed with joy. I am truly proud of the steadfast job from a great record label Rural Rhythm Records, the lyric from a wonderful writer Squire Parsons. I am thankful and humbled at the favor the Lord has shown me”, commented Marty Raybon.

Raybon’s first IBMA award is not his only first this year as he celebrates his 40th year as an entertainer with his current album “The Back Forty”. The current single, “That Janie Baker”, is moving up the Bluegrass Unlimited chart at #18 . He can also add to his list of firsts in 2013 the #1 song on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart for his hit song “Dirt Road Heartache” which hit #1 in June from his album “Southern Roots & Branches” released in April 2012.

In addition to this impressive list of first time career accomplishments now includes the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited. Raybon appears on the cover of the October 2013 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited with a feature story by Steve Morley. He also appeared on the cover of the May issue of
The Direct Buzz, AirPlay Direct’s monthly magazine. which was another first.

Raybon has been getting some strong media attention recently. Below is a list of recent media hits and future media:
Billboard

The Mike Huckabee Show

The Boot

Music News Nashville

Digital Journal

Tennessean

Bluegrass Unlimited October issue - cover and feature article

GAC Daily Countdown - air date: 9-23-2013

Country Reunion Show on RFD-TV (November 13th & 14th)

For more information on Marty Raybon and his tour dates please visit Marty Raybon or Rural Rhythm Records.