Tag Archives | Scott Hendricks

WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE PROMOTES SCOTT HENDRICKS TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, A&R

By FOCUS admin on April 9, 2014 in In The Press

Warner Music Nashville (WMN), the Nashville-based recorded music operation of Warner Music Group, today announced the promotion of Scott Hendricks to Executive Vice President, A&R. Hendricks—who produced Blake Shelton’s Grammy-nominated album and CMA Album of the Year, Based On A True Story…— will oversee the development of new talent and existing signings by helping to identify songs, songwriters and producers, as well as provide A&R resource and creative support, on behalf of WMN. Hendricks previously served as Senior Vice President, A&R, and will continue to report to John Esposito, President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville.

“I’m honored to be named Executive Vice President of A&R at the greatest country music label on the planet,” said Hendricks. “To be able to work alongside such smart people like Espo and Peter Strickland—and of course tremendous talent like Blake Shelton and Hunter Hayes, just to name two—is an absolute treat. I’m very proud of all that we’ve accomplished together and I look forward to many more years of continued success.”

“Scott Hendricks is one of the most skilled and special music men I’ve ever met. To have the pleasure of working with Scott is an honor,” said Esposito. “He is responsible for some of the greatest modern country music and continues to demonstrate his ability for finding stars and producing hits, time and time again.”

Hendricks joined Warner Music Nashville in 2007, as the head of its A&R department, coordinating the musical efforts of Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Brett Eldredge and Jana Kramer, among others. In addition to his A&R duties, Hendricks’ producing efforts have been instrumental in Blake Shelton’s ascent from mid-level act to bona fide star, producing 11 consecutive No. 1 singles, two platinum and two gold albums along the way.

To date, Hendricks has produced a staggering 93 Top 10 hits, with 55 of those hits going all the way to No. 1. In all, he’s spent 94 weeks— almost two years—at the top of the chart. He has helped 16 different artists to the top 10, and 10 of whom have reached No. 1.Hendricks has won six trophies from the Academy of Country Music and two from the Country Music Association as the producer of such hits as Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear,” Alan Jackson’s “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” and Blake Shelton’s collaboration with Trace Adkins, “Hillbilly Bone.” He also won an Emmy for his production of Hank Williams Jr.’s “Monday Night Football” theme.

About Warner Music Nashville
Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. The division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Entertainment, Atlantic Nashville, Elektra Nashville and the LoudMouth comedy label.

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Jana Kramer Exclusive! New Music, One Tree Hill, and What Lies Ahead

By Matt Williams on January 20, 2012 in In The Press, The Latest

**We sit down to discuss her record-breaking single, what she really thinks of her One Tree Hill departure, and what superstar she may be joining on the road!**

It’s going to be a busy year for our friend Jana Kramer! With the end of an era on One Tree Hill segueing into a blossoming music career, her star is on the rise, and Focus on the 615 is going to be there to cover it the entire way. We were thrilled to catch up with Jana for an exclusive interview. Although we were both fighting off illness, we had a great conversation discussing her music, her new album and what to expect from here on out.

Matt: Yesterday, your single Why You Wanna became the most added debut single in the history of Country Aircheck. Try to describe what that’s been like for you.

Jana: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. Everyone was going “yeah, you broke the record, you broke the record!” but it hasn’t had time to hit me yet! We kind of celebrated breaking it, but the fact that the radio stations actually came through and picked up the song, and the fact that we actually did break the record is insane. I’m excited!

Matt: That’s fantastic, and now the single has been downloaded over 200,000 times!

Jana: I swear One Tree Hill has the coolest and most devoted fans ever. And on top of it, the neat thing is, people will come up to me and say “I love your song, and I didn’t know you were on a TV show!” and that to me is the biggest compliment ever; that people are actually hearing me through my music.

Matt: That’s got to boost your confidence going into a debut album, right?

Jana: Yeah, what’s giving me confidence is just the fact that people like it, and going into the studio this next week [to finish the new album] is going to be exciting.

Matt: Let’s talk about the new album: What can we expect? Is it a simple introduction to Jana Kramer? An all-encompassing repertoire of your musical influence? How would you qualify it?

Jana: It’s me to the core. Scott Hendricks, my producer, and I wanted each song to represent some part of me, and I feel that each song does exactly that. I have my sassy side, and so I have a song that’s very sassy; and then there’s the honest, heartfelt song; then there’s the song that we’ve all been through where our heart was broken… literally each song I’ve lived, I’ve felt, and that’s what I want… for people to get to know me through my music if they haven’t already met me before.

Matt: You’re obviously a country singer, what kind of stylings and country influences are embedded in your music?

Jana: It’s country. It’s not too poppy, it’s more organic sounding. To me it’s refreshing.

Matt: Now, the common saying is “you have your entire life to write your debut album.” Did that prove true for you as well? How long has this been in the making?

Jana: I’ve been into music my entire life, but I never thought I’d be here talking about a “debut album.” I started writing when I was a little girl, but I really seriously started writing when I was 18 or 19. To know that 10 years later an album would actually be a work in progress… it means a lot. It’s going to be amazing, I’m just so excited!

Matt: So, we have to talk about One Tree Hill. Your last episode aired last night. What’d you think of the show, and how’s it feel to be done?

“I was really kind of bummed out with how the exit of my character happened.”

Jana: I was really kind of bummed out with how the exit of my character [Alex Dupre] happened. We didn’t know that we were going to get picked back up, so when we did, the shooting schedule was already in the process. And I didn’t want to wait for 2012 to start my radio tour, so I kind of had to pick one or the other… So they pretty much wrote out my character, which I understand, because they couldn’t shoot around my schedule. But it would have been nice to give my character a little more of an exit. But it all worked out, and I’m happy right now.

Matt: So it’s on to the singing career.

Jana: Yes!

Matt: Can we expect any more acting in the future? Or are you in Nashville to stay?

Jana: I’m definitely in Nashville to stay. I’m totally focusing on this, but if a project comes along that doesn’t interfere with music, I’d definitely do a project here or there. It’s definitely a part of me that I don’t want to lose.

Matt: After this album drops, what’s on the radar next?

Jana: I’m going to hopefully get on a tour. It’s nothing official; we haven’t locked anything down yet, but we’re definitely trying to lock something down very very soon.

Matt: Any idea who you might be touring with?

Jana: Possibly Brad Paisley. But I’ll be doing a bunch of fair dates and shows. I’ll be on the road pretty much the full year.

Matt: Nice! And I hear your debut video comes out next month…

Jana: I know, I’m so excited!

Matt: And sometime late spring, early summer on the album?

Jana: Yes sir!

Matt: Thank you so much for talking with us today!

Jana: Cool, thank you so much!

We’d like to congratulate Jana on everything so far. We are definately looking forward to the video, the album and Jana’s continued success in country music! And stay tuned, because sometime very soon, we will have the opportunity to sit down with her on camera to capture a little more Closer Look @ Jana Kramer.

Click here for our first Closer Look @ Jana!

Why You Wanna (Official Audio) – Jana Kramer

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