MUSIC BIZ 2018: NOSHES AND PLAQUES

The Awards Breakfast & Presentations was one of two main events on day three of Music Biz 2018 in Nashville. The other was the day-ending Keynote Interview with Pandora President/CEO Roger Lynch and Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman.

Breakfast highlights included a performance by Kelsea Ballerini sponsored by the Country Music Association, serenading RIAA topper Cary Sherman, who received the Music Biz 2018 Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement. Sherman returned the favor, presenting Ballerini with an RIAA-certified gold plaque for “Legends.”Dimple Records owners the Radakovitz Family picked up the Independent Spirit Award.

After Jim Donio delivered his annual President’s Address, Chairman Fred Beteille of Facebook and Vice Chairman Steve Harkins of Baker & Taylor surprised the prez with a plaque commemorating his 30th year anniversary at Music Biz, which featured the covers of the top albums for each of the past 30 years.

The highlight of the presentation, of course, was "60 Years of Guys Named Morty," a montage of Hawaiian-shirted distribution dudes running amok in NARM exhibition halls through the decades and looking for the phone numbers of "those hot freaks from Chicago."

Incoming Nashville Mayor David Briley also made an appearance to present Music Biz with an official city proclamation celebrating the Association’s 60th Anniversary.

Music Biz 2018 wraps today with the Awards Luncheon, featuring Colin Hanks’ induction of late Tower Records founder Russ Solomon as the first member of the Music Business Hall of Fame.