IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Belmont Learning Centers Host ‘Mindful Midterms’ Week

Staff Writer
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Belmont Learning Centers Host ‘Mindful Midterms’ Week

Belmont’s Learning Centers, housed on the first floor of the Janet Ayers Academic Center (JAAC), will be hosting daily events during midterm week to give students moments of peace throughout what is commonly a hectic and stressful time of the semester. One event is scheduled each morning between 8 and 9 a.m. from October 3-7 that will aim to help students slow down and remember to breathe.

The schedule for the week will be as follows:

Monday (10/3): Prayer and Meditation – Math/Science Center -JAAC 1036

Tuesday (10/4): Coloring – Math/Science Center – JAAC 1036

Wednesday (10/5): Yoga – The Lawn

Thursday (10/6):  Origami – Math/Science Center – JAAC 1036

Friday (10/7):  Prayer and Meditation – Math/Science Center – JAAC 1036

Each event will also include snacks, and allow students to come and go as they feel necessary. The Learning Centers hope these events will provide students with the opportunity to clear their minds of chaos and re-focus their mental and spiritual foundations.

Learning Centers Coordinator Michael Hudson described the reasoning that was put behind planning these events. “The general idea came from watching both students and my tutors sort of disappear over exams,” Hudson said. “During midterms, I would often watch these vibrant, exceptional people become isolated and withdrawn, and in turn they would start to doubt themselves and their abilities. This self-doubt got in the way of their successes as much as anything else. I really wanted to create an event and space that allowed students to give themselves permission to disconnect from school and reconnect with themselves, each other and God.”

The Belmont Learning Centers offer free tutoring and group study in math, physics, biology, chemistry, programming, writing and languages to all Belmont students.

Belmont Hosts Pitching 101 Convocation

Hope Buckner
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On Monday, September 19, Belmont hosted a convocation event entitled, “Pitching 101: Get It Heard,” in the Johnson Theater. Belmont welcomed song pluggers Laura Alexander, Lee Krabel, Kenley Flynn and Matt Turner as panelists to speak on the process of pitching songs in the country music industry. The panelists shared their experiences and gave advice on pitching songs to artists. They also engaged with students by answering questions regarding the process of pitching and what kind of songs pluggers are looking for today.

During the event, Alexander discussed the “crazy ride” she has experienced working in the music business. She shared the importance of researching and developing an ear for what artists are looking for and being able to categorize songwriters and song types She also shared that one of the main goals as publishers is to have relationships with artists as they are the ones that make the decisions.

Turner gave great insight that the best songwriters sometimes write the crappiest songs, but they have to write and write and write to get to the great ones. He also agreed with Alexander that the primary part of the song pluggers’ job is to research the artist. He emphasized that one must disregard what they like for what the artist likes and understand which artist fits the song format. Turner then advised students that their job is to meet the young, up and coming producers and build relationships with them to get their foot in the door.

Krabel spoke on the importance of going to venues around Nashville to become acquainted with industry faces and names.

Kenley emphasized the importance of “moments” in a song, whether they be lyrics or melodies. He told students to “get weird with it,” and if they meet the right person, they can break through the noise of the streaming world and make a name for themselves.

Alexander, Krabel, Flynn and Turner described Belmont as a great place for students to build relationships with the people that will eventually be working along side them. They were introduced by Madison Sundquist, senior music business major and the session was moderated by Katie Braile, sophomore audio engineering major.

Curb College Hosts Big Machine’s Kris Lamb

Hope Buckner
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The Curb Seminar, hosted by Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, welcomed Kris Lamb from Big Machine Label Group to speak about his career in the music industry. Lamb shared his experiences as a student at Belmont and the work he has done since. He also gave insight on working in promotions and how to get radio airplay.

During the event, Lamb discussed his journey into the music industry. Lamb’s first internship was at Curb Records through Belmont and his first job was with Curb Music Publishing where he “worked with a ton of cool cats and really loved publishing.” He was noticed by the industry for his hard work and eventually began working for Lyric Street with many artists including Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift. He advised students to do everything they can to get recognized and to possess a type of mentality that shows you are going to work hard and passionately.

When asked about working in promotions, Lamb shared that airplay is a ruling factor in the music industry, and to achieve that airplay, the artist must be as exposed as possible. He explained the process as first positioning the product in the best possible light, then going to the program directors in charge of airplay with that product. He stated that each project requires a “different life cycle and different strategy” for getting the artist exposed to the public and radio stations.

Lamb shared that what keeps industries able to evolve is finding artists that are unique and compelling rather than artists that are a derivative of another. He explained that his job is to present promotions as the authority and to plant seeds station to station for artists to grow and get heard. Lamb concluded by telling students to find what they are passionate about, then seek it out and to work hard while paying attention to available opportunities. He was introduced by James Elliot, chair of The Curb College Songwriting Program.

Songwriting Lecturer Contributes to Second Gold Record of His Career

Staff Writer
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Songwriting Lecturer Contributes to Second Gold Record of His Career
Thiele with Daigle at the Gold Record party
Tealy with Daigle at the Gold Record party

Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Lecturer in Songwriting James Tealy (Thiele) recently received recognition for his contribution to Contemporary Christian artist Lauren Daigle’s album, “How Can It Be.” The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August, making it the second album of Tealy’s songwriting career to receive a Gold Award. In order to receive this Gold certification, Daigle’s album had to sell a minimum of 500,000 times. Tealy’s contribution came in the album’s song “I Am Yours,” which he co-wrote with Daigle and several others.

Over the course of Tealy’s career, he has had songs cut by major artists across several different genres. Some of these artists include Josh Wilson, Kari Jobe and Chris August. Tealy has also had some of his songs appear in television programs and films across the globe on networks such as NBC, CBS, Fox Sports and more.

For a longer list of song cuts by Tealy, check out his website.

Gonzales Releases Book, Holds Event at Belmont

Hope Buckner
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Gonzales Releases Book, Holds Event at Belmont

alberto-gonzales-100-002Former Attorney General and Dean of Belmont’s College of Law Alberto R. Gonzales recently hosted an event at Belmont University to release his new book, True Faith and Allegiance, A Story of Service and Sacrifice in War and Peace (Thomas Nelson, September 6, 2016). In the book, Gonzales shares his account of grappling with the critical decisions that helped navigate the Bush Administration through national crisis, politics and war.

True Faith and Allegiance is personal history from Gonzales, former Attorney General of the United States and former Counsel to the President, the only lawyer and only Hispanic to hold both these positions. It gives an insider’s account of a tumultuous period of American history. Born to a working-class family in Humble, Texas, Gonzales grew up with his seven siblings in a modest two-bedroom home. His loving and devout parents taught him the conservative values of hard work and accountability that motivated Gonzales to pursue the highest standard of education, Harvard Law School, and later the highest echelons of power, the White House. He was a confidant to President George W. Bush, serving alongside him through the crucible of the 9/11 attacks. He further played a vital role in shaping the administration’s immediate response to protect America and the far-reaching steps to prevent further harm.

 

Exhibit on Alumnus Brad Paisley Coming to Country Music Hall of Fame

Staff Writer
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Exhibit on Alumnus Brad Paisley Coming to Country Music Hall of Fame

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winner and proud Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley is set to be the focus of a new exhibit coming this November to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The exhibit will detail the entire span of Paisley’s career, beginning with his first major performance at an event sponsored by a local radio station in Wheeling, West Virginia at the age of 13.

The exhibit will be open from November 18 to May 14, 2017 and will include artifacts from the country star’s life and career, ranging from musical instruments to tour clothing to important items from Paisley’s childhood. The range of pictures, stories and artifacts will represent his journey from talented child musician to one of the biggest names in the country music industry. Above all, the exhibit hopes to shed light on Paisley’s mastery of guitar and instrumental techniques.

Paisley graduated from Belmont in 1995 as a music business major. Since then, he has pursued his musical career, earning 14 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and two American Music Awards. He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001 and has had 23 #1 hits, 20 of which he wrote or co-wrote. Paisley has also collaborated with industry powerhouses George Jones, Dolly Parton and Bill Anderson as well as countless others.

For more information on the exhibit, click here.

Student Group Hosts ‘All the Queen’s Horses’ Viewing and Discussion

Hope Buckner
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Student Group Hosts ‘All the Queen’s Horses’ Viewing and Discussion

Belmont’s Center for Public Trust (CPT) Student Chapter recently hosted a program for students to view video clips from “All the Queen’s Horses,” a documentary about the largest municipal fraud case in U.S. history. In the film, a trusted Dixon, Illinois city employee embezzles $53 million to support her passion for showing world class Quarter horses–a crime that went undetected for 20 years.

The Center for Public TrustModerator Alfonzo Alexander, president of the national CPT, first posed ethical and legal questions to a panel composed of Belmont student West Bielstein, CPT student chapter president, Dr. Tommy Wooten, Belmont professor of accounting and Clyde Ingalls, retired banker and charter member of the Kennedy Center of Business Ethics Board. Afterwards, Alexander fielded questions from the student audience.

Alumna Explores Hairstyles of Country Musicians in Upcoming Book

Staff Writer
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Alumna Explores Hairstyles of Country Musicians in Upcoming Book

The cover art of Country Music HairIt’s no secret that there’s more to being an artist than creating music—appearances can be just as important when gathering a fan base. This is an idea that 2006 Belmont music business alumna and freelance writer Erin Duvall took to exploring in her new book, Country Music Hair, set to release from HarperCollins Publishing on November 8.

Stated in Duvall’s own terms in her initial press release, “Country Music Hair is country music’s greatest mullets, bobs, beehives and bouffants collected together in one entertaining volume, illustrated with dozens of color and black-and-white photographs.” The book aims to highlight country stars with the most prominent and well-known ‘dos (Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, etc.) while also showing trends in the industry over time.

When discussing the inspiration behind her topic, Duvall mentioned country music fans and how they have always shown deep interest in their favorite artists’ appearances.  “Early in her career, fans would cut chunks from Loretta Lynn’s hair to have for themselves,” Duvall said. “Today, less eager fans will post outrage or praise to social media when a hitmaker makes a change to their locks. And the stars never disappoint. From mullets to beehives, country music is filled with a diverse array of hairstyles that shaped popular culture.”

Duvall attributes some of her passion for the music industry to her days spent in Belmont’s classrooms. “I don’t believe I would have the career and success that I’ve had if I hadn’t studied music business at Belmont,” said Duvall. “The program supplied me with a firm understanding of how the music industry worked and the rich history, specifically of the country genre. A journalism degree may have prepared me to cover a broader array of topics, but studying Music Business set me up for my real passion: writing about the history and happenings of country music.”

To pre-order “Country Music Hair,” visit Duvall’s website.

English Majors Interview Shakespeare Acting Company

Hope Buckner
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English Majors Interview Shakespeare Acting Company

Students in Dr. Marcia McDonald’s Shakespeare class interviewed the cast and crew of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Comedy of Errors on Thursday, September 23. The interviews were conducted as part of a project to create an online archive of local Shakespeare productions.

Dr. Joel Overall and MA in English graduate student Alyssa Wynans assisted the students during the interviews. The archive will be housed by Belmont University’s library and is funded by a grant from the Folger Shakespeare Library in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Ocean Way Hosts Founder Allen Sides

Hope Buckner
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Ocean Way Hosts Founder Allen Sides

Ocean Way Nashville recently hosted Ocean Way Audio and Studios founder Allen Sides. Sides was in town to introduce his Ocean Way Audio HD4 studio monitors and PRO 2A monitors to the Nashville AES chapter and public.

Students from Belmont University’s Audio Engineering Technology Program and Middle Tennessee State University’s AES chapter attended the event.

Pictured above (L to R) are Allen Sides, Sal Greco, Rick Plushner, OWA and Pat McMakin.

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