Commonwealth Network
Friday, February 7, 1997
Hi, friends!
I THINK this will be my last post for the day, but I'm just so full ofreports!
First - THANK YOU SWEET PEOPLE so much for the birthday greetings! (Mybirthday is on Sunday. I've arranged for the sitter - the rest is up to mydear husband, so I have no idea what I might be doing.) It is so wonderful tobe remembered! You beat everyone else to sending me a "card" (well, except mymom). I'm so pleased to count you as my friends.
Got a late-breaking call from my friend at NetCentral about 6 pm to tell methat within 24 hours of having launched the contest, we have added 300 folksto this list. I believe we've set some sort of record! And - to all you newneighbors - welcome, welcome!
Finally caught up with Amy this morning by phone. Hadn't had a chance to tellher about the contest just yet, but she thought it was a swell idea. She hadsome suggestions for future contests as well. She seemed more concerned withapologizing all over herself for not having the ole questions answered forthe newsletter. I'm such a cruel task master, you know :-)
Last but not least - there was a photo and story in our local newspaper aboutAmy's managers. Thought you might enjoy reading it, so it appears at the endof this post. You can actually subscribe to the e-version of our NashvilleBanner free of charge. I do! That info is included following the article.Don't know what this newfound freedom might mean for Amy and the rest of us,but I guess we'll find out as time goes on!
God bless you real big and have a wonderful weekend!
-Lori Mc
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2 REGAIN MUSIC FIRM'S REINS
Nashville-based entertainment entrepreneurs Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton have bought back the half-share of their management company purchased four years ago by BMG Entertainment.
The move will free the two to pursue new film, television and family lifestyle-related projects, Harrell says.
Founded in 1980, Blanton/Harrell Entertainment and its staff of 12 oversee the careers of pop and Christian music acts Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, Susan Ashton and Ashley Cleveland, writer-producer-musician Wayne Kirkpatrick and author Frank Peretti.
A multimillion-dollar deal struck in late 1992 with BMG Ventures gave the German-owned entertainment giant 50 percent ownership of Blanton/Harrell, 50 percent ownership of Reunion Records (founded by Blanton/Harrell in 1982) and full ownership of the music copyrights of the company's publishing wing.
BMG subsidiary Arista/Nashville acquired full ownership of Reunion Records in 1995, then sold the label in October to the Zomba Group.
At the time, Harrell said the partnership would allow Blanton/Harrell to pursue new opportunities more aggressively. However, the two companies eventually discovered that they had a difference of opinion over strategic goals, Harrell says.
-- Jay Orr/Banner Music Writer
e-mail: [email protected]
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