The Hollywood Reporter reports that Core Media Group, parent company of American Idol, has named a new Senior VP to oversee 19’s business in the Country & Christian markets. Find out more and discuss, after the jump.
Check out the latest on 19’s latest move via The Hollywood Reporter:
American Idol corporate parent Core Media Group, formerly cKx, Inc., has announced a newly created senior vice president position at 19 Entertainment that’s based in Nashville.
Jim Weatherson, a former executive vice president of Universal Distribution and general manager of Walt Disney Records, takes the title of svp, reporting to Jason Morey, evp and worldwide head of music at 19 Entertainment.
Weatherson, who most recently served as a senior member on Taylor Swift’s management team, will oversee 19’s Country and Christian music business. Among the Christian and Country artists currently on the 19 roster are season 10’s Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina and season 11’s Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine.
19 didn’t have an office in Nashville until 2006, a year after Carrie Underwood won season 4 of American Idol. At the time 19 entered into a partnership with Chris Oglesby, founded and head of Oglesby Writer Management. Though 19 has maintained ties with Oglesby (especially when it comes to song placement and songwriter collaborations), that partnership is no longer a formalized business relationship. Carrie’s manager Ann Edelblute (who also managed Kelly Clarkson and Scotty McCreery after they won AI) has deepened her Nashville ties since she started working with Carrie (Ann sits on the CMA Board) but, she’s with Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment not 19.
It sure looks like 19 is looking to position itself to do better targeted marketing in Nashville. What do you think this could mean for already signed contestants and future contestants who get picked up by 19?
