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Examiner.com: Country music singer's daughter arrested


Alan Jackson with his family at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
(Photo Credit: Bev Moser) 
Early Wednesday morning, the daughter of country music singer Alan Jackson was arrested. According to WSMV-TV, Alexandra Jane Jackson, 20, was arrested on charges of underage consumption, assault, and resisting arrest.
Police pulled over the vehicle that Alexandra Jackson was a passenger in at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and Wedgewood Avenue in Nashville. The driver was tailgating and speeding and police determined that she had "consumed a large amount of alcohol."
According to police, when she exited the vehicle, she became angry towards the officer and struck them in the chest multiple times. She brought up her father, Alan Jackson, name by saying he would do anything to get her out of trouble.
Alexandra Jackson bailed out of jail just before 5 a.m. Wednesday. Her court date has been set for Sept. 23 in General Sessions Court.
Alexandra, also known as Ali, was involved in a social media hoax earlier this year. A Facebook page was set up under Alan Jackson's name with a post claiming that she was in a car crash. Alan Jackson's publicist confirmed that the story was false in Music Row magazine.
This isn't the first time a member of the Jackson family has been arrested. Mattie Denise Jackson was arrested for DUI in 2012 on 21st Avenue South and was convicted of misdemeanor reckless driving.


Spotlight On

Kenny Davin Fine

Physician-Musician on a Mission
KennyDavinFine.com
  Six Sides of Service  SixSoS.com   


An Educational, Entertaining and Very Much Enjoyed Showcase!
Presented by PLA Media & Wynne Productions, Inc.
MAY 23, 2013 HARD ROCK CAFE
HEALTH SEMINAR 4:30-5:30 PM   

SONGS & STORIES 7:00-8:00 PM
A modern day renaissance man, Dr. Kenny Davin Fine has found a way to live out his two passions; music and health care. Through his music and educational seminars he spreads a message of health, happiness and hope across the globe. His album, titled “First DeKade,” was released and celebrated at a May 23rd CD release showcase at the famous Hard Rock Café in Nashville.   The unique flair he  adds to  his music  puts  him in a category all his own. The Gluten Seminar followed by a performance created a CD release party that was both educational and entertaining and very much enjoyed!      
Photos:  Moments by Moser
View Slide Shows at wynneproductions.com

ARTICLE: Dierks Bentley Miles & Music For Kids

As fans and tourists watched, Dierks Bentley lead over 1200 motorcycles and riders down Broadway during his fifth annual “Miles & Music for Kids” ride as they pulled into Nashville’s Riverfront Park. The festivities continued when 5000 fans packed the Riverfront for a jam-style concert featuring Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Del McCoury, Heidi Newfield, Jerrod Niemann, Mat Kearney and Laura Bell Bundy. This year’s event drew more riders and concert attendees than ever before, raising an astounding $250,990.62 including $10,000 from a guitar auctioned onstage. for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. The “Miles & Music for Kids” series has raised over $1.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Seattle.


Going into this event, Miles & Music For Kids had brought in $1.2 million through Bentley’s fundraisers. When a close friend's child needed treatment at the Vanderbilt facility, Bentley became involved. At the time, the singer did not have kids of his own, but now has a daughter, Evie, and another child on the way. In five years, the Miles & Music program has grown from a small, hometown party into a nationwide effort that this year spread to Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix and Seattle.



Bentley states “I’ve always loved motorcycles and when a friend of mine suggested we do something with Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as a way to give back to the community. We just put the two worlds together and now it’s been five years now and it’s been going great!”



The event started in Columbia, TN with registration, BBQ and live music from Ira Dean who has ridden in the past. When asked about his involvement this year, he responded with “It is so cliché but any time you can; give back. One thing I love about country music and the format is it is a bunch of small town cats. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina and have been really blessed to be able to make a living, do what I do and play music. Anytime I can give anything back, ride a bike, play golf, help raise money for the people that need it, I do it. I try to make about 20 charity events a year. What Dierks is doing here is awesome, it has come a long way since the first year and it is just great. I saw some of the kids from Vanderbilt, they are riding today, that is awesome. Nashville is like a giant Mayberry.”

As tourists, bike enthusiasts and the fans admired the bikes that lined not only the riverfront, but also up and down first avenue, second and entire block of lower Broadway, the concert took on a personality all it’s own. Laura Bell Bundy and her alternate egos opened the show with her single “Giddy On Up” and as she hosted the event throughout the concert, kept the fans and the artists laughing and gave the special event a down home country feel; perhaps not so far removed from the beloved Minnie Pearl and her endearing persona.

Bentley kept the theme of the day rolling as he dedicated his hit song “Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do” to his fellow Harley riders, and chose a set list that was up-tempo and free as the wind with “Sideways”, Up On The Ridge” and “Feel That Fire.” He also joined his guests on stage in collaborations that he admitted had not been rehearsed. Luke Bryan and Bentley sang “Fishin’ In The Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and he joined Miranda Lambert and Jerrod Niemann on “Bad Angel” which Del McCoury also joined in on.



Jerrod Niemann also performed his recent hit, "Lover, Lover" and Heidi Newfield sang “Johnny and June” as well as others. She commented ”This is what life is really all about. It is not about yes, we love our songs and yes, we love success, all the things we are working towards and goals and meeting goals. It is really about helping others and keeping people in good health and reaching out a hand to someone that needs help. That is really what we are doing here today. We get to help while we are having a good time. That’s a great combination. “

Matt Kearney ("Closer to Love," "Nothing Left to Lose") was put on the spot by Bentley and out of the blue, asked him to choose a song to cover. The two of them collaborated on Tom Petty's "Learning to Fly" and had the crowd going wild.

Bentley closed the event with "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" and reminded the crowd to come back and join the fun again next year as Miles & Music For Kids will hold events in Nashville, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on Miles & Music For Kids please visit http://www.dierks.com/miles-and-music-kids



Additional exclusive photos of the event can be viewed at http://MomentsByMoser.zenfolio.com/dierksbentlymilesmusic

INTERVIEW: Steve Wariner "Guitar Christmas"

Steve Wariner has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records. He has also charted more than fifty singles on the Billboard country singles charts, including ten Number One hits: "All Roads Lead to You", "Some Fools Never Learn", "You Can Dream of Me", "Life's Highway", "Small Town Girl", "The Weekend", "Lynda", "Where Did I Go Wrong", and "I Got Dreams", and "What If I Said", a duet with Anita Cochran from her album Back to You. Three of his studio albums have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping 500,000 copies in the United States.
Wariner has also won three Grammy Awards: one for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, and two for Best Country Instrumental. Steve Wariner was one of only four guitar players in the world to be given the "Certified Guitar Player" (CGP) award by Chet Atkins (five including Atkins himself).
I recently visited with Steve about his recent release “Guitar Christmas” which includes the holiday standards “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and “The Christmas Song.” Wariner, who was born on Christmas Day, previously released one Christmas album on MCA Records, but this is his first all-instrumental holiday collection.

The album is comprised of different guitars for different songs, including a handmade Hascal Haile classical guitar, the Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman model (1989), which had belonged to Chet, an Olympia dulcimer, a Tacoma Papoose, and Wariner’s own model Takamine acoustic guitar. The package includes Wariner’s notes on the guitars selected for each track. He also created the CD cover artwork.
Bev:  Steve, always wonderful visiting with you. I was really intrigued by the description of each instrument used in the booklet for each song, what made you decide to do that?

Steve:  For this project I decided to go ahead and list all that because I am asked that all the time anyway. I always want to ask artists that I admire what kind of microphone he uses and what amp etc., so I thought it would be fun to go ahead and list those things.  So far the response from people has been very favorable. 

Bev:  Now did you choose an entirely different guitar for each song?

Steve:  Yes, that is right.  The whole theory on that was to do a project with some holiday and Christmas music that would be as if I was sitting in your living room playing in person, with no accompaniment, no tuning or fancy studio tricks; just a guy sitting and playing a guitar. What I also wanted to do was to bring out some of my favorite guitars.  The way an artist would use a palette, I wanted to create a lot of different textures and tones, using different guitars for different tracks.  It was a lot of fun to try to come up with the different medleys. Some of these are favorites and people will recognize the songs immediately. Some are songs from our childhood.  When I was a kid in Indiana, the courthouse would start playing Christmas music out of the tower and you could hear it all over town; this harkens for me back to those days.

Bev:  What made you decide to make it Christmas music rather than some of the other things that you do, like favorite songs or music that is strictly guitar without vocal?

Steve:  I have always loved Christmas music.  I have only done one other album of Christmas music which was one I did for MCA called “A Christmas Memory”, produced by Ralph Bannister. I love Christmas music; maybe because I was born on Christmas day! I guess that makes me a sucker for Christmas music.   I thought it would be fun to do a project which was strictly solo guitar.  I have been asked over the years by people who like guitar music to do a guitar record featuring Christmas music. I cut a couple of songs which turned out pretty cool, so I thought I would just keep adding a few more songs as the inspiration hit me. That is what I did over the summer. As the spirit moved me I would add another one or two.  It is hard to get into the Christmas mood in the summertime, but it was fun and also at the same time a challenge.  This album is a good background for wrapping gifts or baking or what ever you are doing.

Bev:  You mentioned that you did this over the summer, how long did it actually take to do this?

Steve:  I did this project over a period of about four months.  I did not work at it full time, only when the mood would hit me. I was not in a big hurry because I was touring at the same time, but it was a fun project for me.

Bev:  The songs are obviously old time Christmas favorites. Was it hard to come up with something new using something old? 

Steve:   The challenge for me was to come up with something with a little bit different slant.  With that in mind for example; Jingle Bells, I got out my little miniature guitar that is almost a ukulele.  It is called a papoose.   It is a small guitar and I created a Hawaiian feel to it.  I wanted to do a percussion kind of thing so you can hear me slapping the side of the guitar and my feet on the floor of the studio. In some places you can hear me taking a deep breath. You can hear finger squeaks and I left it all in the recording, because I think it makes it feel real. I love that you can hear all that stuff. 

Bev:  Like you said, with these common background sounds, it makes it feel like you are actually sitting in the living room with family and friends.  Are there any songs on the album that mean something special to you personally? 

Steve:  Yes, I used Chet Atkins’ guitar, one that he gave me on a couple of songs.  My dad had a Chet Atkins album when I was a kid and Chet performed “Winter Wonder Land”.  I always loved that song.  As a kid I would listen to that album and dream about what it would be like to be able to play like Chet Atkins. As it turned out, it was him that brought me to do my first record. I toured with him.  So it was fun to redo “Winter Wonderland” using Chet’s guitar! I also used it for “White Christmas”.  It was so neat and cool that he gave me that guitar years ago.  So, yes, that is very personal. Then Chet came in and played with me on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” on the album I was speaking of awhile ago, called “A Christmas Memory”.   He did a counter point on that particular song that blew me away.  I decided right then that I needed to learn how to do that. I used to say I stole it from him, but Chet said it was borrowed.  I did my own version of it on this album using my Kirk Sand classic electric guitar. That is a tip of the hat to Chet.  There are a lot of things like that which are personal.

Bev:  The CD came out on October 12th so there has been a little time since it was released and today, what has been the fans’ reaction? 

Steve:  When it first came out there was a small amount of press in People Magazine about it.  That week I got a ton of e-mails about it.  I went to a Rangers game in Texas and someone down there had read about it.  That whole week people were contacting me to talk about it.  So that was really cool. I mean I can see where if it were a, quote unquote, a “normal album”.  But this is a specialty kind of album, a Christmas album and not only that but guitar only album.  I thought maybe I would start hearing about it around Christmas time.  But I have already gotten a great positive response to it. I am really thrilled about that. I did not expect it this early.

Bev:  Not only did you produce this project, but you also designed the artwork for the cover; are you still doing your paintings and lithographs?

Steve:  I am, Bev, although I have not done any new lithographs for awhile.  I have been working on a new medium for me.  I have been working on an encaustic medium that uses a natural beeswax. It is a hot wax. You make your own paint. I have not done a lot of water colors.  I did a painting for a friend of mine about three months ago.  He is real sick and I did a painting of his home place where he was raised in Kentucky. I did that as a gift.  It turned out real nice.  That is the first painting I have done in awhile. It was done in pen and ink and watercolor.  Other than that I have been working in this encaustic medium.  It is really fun. It is totally different from anything I have done before so it is challenging.  It is messy and sticky. I use irons and heat.  I do big pieces. A lot of them are very abstract. You just sort of throw paint. Now that the weather has cooled down, I have done more of it. I love doing it.  A while back Trisha Yearwood called me and commissioned (I say commissioned but I gave it to her) to do a painting for Garth for Christmas.  It was an acrylic painting. They have some cowboy houses on his ranch that they refurbished.  They are beautiful! They used to be old bunkhouses. So I did a painting of one of them. It is hanging in the bunkhouse now. That was kind of neat.  She surprised Garth on Christmas morning with it.


Bev:  Going back to the Christmas album, was it hard for you not to sing along and only play on this Christmas album?

Steve:  Oh absolutely! Particularly on this project, I wanted to bring in a kids’ choir or I wanted to sing on a particular verse or this chorus, but the restraint has to be there.  You are so accustomed to singing along with these songs when you hear them, on the radio or whatever.

Bev:  I know what you mean.  You do automatically sing or hum along when you hear the old well known melodies.

Steve:  When I was recording I found myself tapping my feet.  I tried to make myself not do it, but then I decided I would not worry about it. Like I said earlier, we left everything in, warts and all. There were some things I could have fixed with some studio trickery, but we never even used the click track. I told my engineer, Randy Gardner, “Let’s leave it real.  It is what it is.”

I am really excited about the project and proud of it.  It would have been easy to sing along with it but it is strictly acoustical.  Artistically I like it because it is minimal without bringing in singers or flourishing involved. I look back on it now after we mastered it when it was finished, and think I should maybe re-do it. But then I think, “No, that is the cool thing about it, leaving it the way it was originally recorded without any touchups." As they say, you stir the batter too much and the biscuits will not rise.

Bev:  Well, I am glad you did not change anything because I like the way it turned out.  Are you planning to do any touring to promote the album?

Steve:  Actually we talked about that but at this time I do not have any plans to do any touring. It would have been cool to go out do some dates or do a little Christmas tour.  But I probably will do a few things around but not anything that I can speak of at the moment.

Bev:  Where can "Guitar Christmas” be purchased?

Steve:   Both on-line and in stores.  It is available on my website as well as all of the major ones, and in all the major retail stores as well.

Bev: Now that this is completed, do you have another project in the works?

Steve:  As we speak, I am working on another guitar project. It should be out in February. I believe it is February 18th and it is called “Guitar Laboratory”.  I cannot even explain what it explores.  I wrote all the songs, except for one.  I re-cut Hank Garlands old song called “Sugarfoot Rag”, but everything else I wrote. There are thirteen songs on and we are almost finished with it.  What is interesting is that I brought in my two sons to join me on this one.  Both of my sons are very musical.  The oldest, Ryan, is twenty three and tours with Leann Rimes right now.  He plays a great guitar.  My youngest son is an arranger and composer.  He also plays piano.  He is a dental/music major at Belmont.  We all collaborated, each separately, on this album.  I also brought in a few of my friends.  It explores all kinds of music from jazz to pop to country.  You name it, it is on here.  There is also swing and gypsy jazz. This album is for the hard core guitar guys.  They are going to really like this. It is all over the map.  I play lap steel, and metal steel and so on.  It is probably the most diverse thing I have ever done. And as I said it will be out in February.

Bev: As always, talking with you is such a joy and I am sure we will see each soon. 

Steve:  Same here.  Great to talk to you too and thanks for your interest in this CD.

For more information on Steve Wariner visit http://www.stevewariner.com/


Interview by Bev Moser
Transcribed by Darlene McPherson

Trace Adkins via TwitPic

Prior to their round Kenny Beard, , Sherrie Austin,Jeff Bates pose for a quick photo at 3rd & Lindsley -Photo Cred: Bev Moser
Trace Adkins honored as Humanitarian of the Year at CRS 2010 Photo Cred: Bev Moser

Loretta Lynn Honored by Artists, Industry at 50th Anniversary Event

Loretta Lynn Honored by Artists, Industry at 50th Anniversary Event

Country music icon Loretta Lynn was showered with an assortment of industry awards and heartfelt praise at her invitation-only 50th anniversary celebration, held at Lynn’s Hurricane Mills ranch on Friday, Sept. 24.

The Academy of Country Music®, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® and BMI® each made presentations during the evening’s event.  Billed as “A Tribute to an American Icon,” the celebration honored Lynn’s 50 years in the Country music industry.  Ronnie McDowell presented Lynn with a hand-painted portrait of the legendary performer, and noted Nashville arranger and composer Bill Walker gave Lynn an arrangement of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” originally penned for the television special, “Loretta Lynn on Broadway.” 

Selected media and industry, as well as Lynn’s close friends and family, attended the packed ceremony.  The evening’s activities included a catered reception, media Q&A session and the multiple award presentations, hosted by John Carter Cash.  A performance by Lynn’s sister, Crystal Gayle, followed the event at 9 p.m.



Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn answers questions from the press during her “A Tribute to an American Icon” 50thanniversary celebration. (Photo Credit Moments By Moser - Pam Stadel)

BMI Nashville Hosts Press Lunch for Top BMI Live Earner Granger Smith

Posted in News on April 1, 2013 LinkedIn
Pictured are BMI’s Mark Mason and songwriter Granger Smith at a press luncheon held at BMI Nashville.
Pictured are BMI’s Mark Mason and songwriter Granger Smith at a press luncheon held at BMI Nashville. Photo: Bev Moser
BMI singer/songwriter Granger Smith performed three songs off his new album “Dirt Road Driveway” and answered questions from local and national press about being a top earner in the BMI Live program on Tuesday, March 26 in Nashville. The recently upgraded program now makes it easier for BMI performing songwriters who play their music in any size venue to be paid for those performances, and Smith, who played close to 200 tour dates last year and will release his ninth album April 16, is an avid supporter of BMI and a top earner of the BMI Live service. BMI’s Senior Director Writer Publisher Relations Mark Mason introduced Smith as a songwriter who made the BMI Live program work for him by utilizing one of the many products offered by BMI. The technical upgrades to BMI Live provide cutting-edge services to BMI songwriters and publishers and in addition to the functionality of this program, BMI has also made technical upgrades to BMI Mobile, which now enable BMI members to more quickly and easily access and manage their BMI related business needs on an iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device.
Granger Smith
Granger Smith performs at BMI Nashville during a press luncheon.
 

Billy Swayze Original Rock Music Nashville TN - Gallery

Mercy Lounge (photos by Bev Moser)

Jeremy Pryor, drums; Murff Adams, guitar;  Billy Swayze, vocals and guitar; Chris Placco, bass
Jeremy Pryor, drums; Murff Adams, guitar; Billy Swayze, vocals and guitar; Chris Placco, bass
Band with The Shackeltons
Band with The Shackeltons
Mark Redding of the Shackeltons and Billy
Mark Redding of the Shackeltons and Billy

Kim Copeland Productions Recommends Moments By Moser in Partner Program

KCPartners are individuals or businesses that we know will provide quality work and services. We know and repect their efforts on behalf of singers and songwriters.  Check them out and tell them Kim Copeland sent you.Over the years we've had hundreds of writers and artists ask us for referrals to industry pros that can help with their various projects.  So we've started our KCPartners program to share those people and businesses with you. You can feel confident that you are working with reputable and talented companies. From graphics to bios, from song plugging to photographers and everything in between.  We know it often takes a team to accomplish great things in the music industry. 

http://www.kimcopelandproductions.com/index.html 

When you record a 10+ song, Artist Project with KCP, we will give you a 1/2 day photo shoot with professional photogapher, Bev Moser
 

 

 Bev Moser has captured countless priceless moments for over a decade. When you attend any given special country music related event in downtown Nashville, you will likely also see Bev there working her cameras. In addition to running her photography company, Moments by Moser, she is a journalist for Digital Rodeo, interviewing country artists, writing up articles and reviews, and covering an endless stream of festivals and press conferences.  
 

Our VALUES:
SERVICE to our customers comes first; INTEGRITY in our relationship with our customers with an honest, sincere and straightforward manner; RESPECT of all we work with, whether it be guests or those who hire us to capture the moments of their special event; EXCELLENCE is a standard we strive to achieve no matter the subject we are photographing;CREATIVITY is the nature of our business and we persue the extraordinary in all we do; PASSION for the love of what we do and are able to share with the world.



MOMENTS BY MOSER ** Professional Service at Affordable Rates ** Available for all types of events including: Private Gatherings, Parties, Graduation, Quinceanera, Charity Fundraiser, Prom, Fashion Show,Private Parties, Corporate Event, Red Carpet, Award Ceremonies, Movie Premiere, Wedding, Reception, Sweet 16, Anniversary, Reunion, Bar Mitzvah, Religious Ceremony, Concert & Showcase, Baby Shower, Bridal Shower, Banquet, Conference, Trade Show, Engagement, Sr. Portrait, Family Photograph, Baby Photo, Pet and all general photography including single photos of contract signing or record deals, portfolio headshot, & website photos.

Bev Moser Makes a Career Out of Capturing Memorable "Moments"!


WANTED Since: 2000 for Moment by Moser

Bev Moser Makes a Career Out of Capturing Memorable "Moments"!

By: Estella Pan
Bev Moser has captured many priceless moments for over a decade. When you attend any given special country music related event in downtown Nashville, you will likely also see Bev there working her cameras. In addition to running her photography company, Moments by Moser, she is a journalist for Digital Rodeo, interviewing country artists, writing up articles and reviews, and covering an endless stream of festivals and press conferences. Also a mother of four children (three grown, one still at home), Bev has earned herself the reputation for being one of the busiest women in the music industry. Amidst hectic schedules and nonstop running around, Bev is a master at being willing to adapt to change and seizing every opportunity that comes her way.
Born and bred in a “very, very, very small town” in northwest Iowa (on the South Dakota border), Bev became fascinated with photography at an early age. “I have always enjoyed photography and remember receiving my very first camera in elementary school. That was long before the digital age, and the cost of film and expense of developing limited my ability to experiment as much as I would have liked.” Fortunately, technology would soon evolve into a digital age, and Bev has thrived on this change! “Digital has expedited the process in so many ways. For one, you can check for lighting and focus as you go, and the after process of editing is so much easier.” It has also eliminated much of the stress brought forth from having to meet deadlines regularly. “In many cases in the music industry and media field, you need to get photos out and online to customers for press releases and servicing to the other media outlets ASAP; having the digital capability allows you to upload more or less on the go, as we have wireless Internet! That has helped immensely when on deadlines.” Bev says “going digital” has one slight disadvantage. “The downside is many people think anyone with a digital camera can do the job and that unfortunately is not always true. So, professionals have had to compete with those who are ‘wannabe’s’.”
Bev’s presence on social media websites has helped her spread the word about her company and photography work. They provide an ideal portal for displaying her portfolio and showcasing her clientele. Bev says she has incorporated her Facebook profile to include both personal friends and family members as well as business clients and associations “so my family and friends can see what I do, and my business associates may just get a glimpse of a side of me they may not normally see while I am out working. It makes me more real with a family and outside interests.” Having created profiles on different sites, Bev says she prefers Facebook and Twitter over MySpace. “I am actually phasing out of MySpace. For one, it takes too much time to keep multiple sites updates, and most everyone is on Facebook. I do use Twitter for business – especially for the media side of what I do. It is a very good way to make simple statements and drive traffic to your main website or announce special events. I am also on several other websites that are more business related in one form or another, but my favorite is Facebook.”
Though she came by it inadvertently, it would seem that Bev was destined to find her place in the music industry eventually – and she has. She admits, I actually always thought I was going to work with animals.” Pondering her statement, she quips, “Hmmm maybe I still do! I’m kidding, of course!” Bev attended college with intentions of becoming a veterinarian technician. However, “God had other plans and my oldest daughter followed my original dream.” Bev still marvels at the chain of events that led to the music industry. “My big break in the music business was definitely one of those moments when you look back and still cannot believe it happened the way it did.” Being a lifelong country music fan, she remembers, “I would ride our horses in our small rural hometown and sing Waylon and Willie or Barbara Mandrell songs.” Once again, thanks to advancing technology – this time, throwing the doors into cyberspace wide open – Bev found a new world of friends waiting, and along with it came a job opportunity. “When the Internet first exploded and chat rooms were popular, I joined several different country music fan sites and chat rooms, eventually becoming friends with some of the regulars who posted online. From there, we began meeting in different cities for concerts and started coming to Fan Fair in Nashville.”
The local radio station heard about the traveling group of fans and invited Bev to be a correspondent in Nashville during Fan Fair festivities. “They asked me to call in and give a daily report on the activities and fan club parties surrounding Fan Fair. And, as they say, the rest is history.” A job well done rendered the station manager to hire Bev as their newest on-air personality. “The station manager loved my vast knowledge and familiarity of the artists and my ease of speaking publicly, so he offered me a job as an on air personality.” The experience allowed Bev the opportunity to continue meeting and working with professionals in the music industry.
Life took Bev to Nebraska, where she lived for thirteen years before ultimately deciding to move to Music City. Once in Nashville, she didn’t know which career path she would wind up on, but she was sure about one thing: “I knew when I relocated to Nashville from the Midwest that I would do something in the music industry but was not sure exactly what my part would be.” She says, “My passion for music runs very deep, as does my interest in being creative – both in photography and expressing thoughts in writing through reviews and interviews. So, I found a way to do them all.” Bev discovered an advantage in having made friends on Music Row by the time she moved. Another helpful benefit was learning about the intricacies of the music industry before formally working in it. “I honestly cannot say anything about the music business surprised me, as I had been around it in several different aspects for a long time before I officially worked in the business.” One of her favorite aspects is the undeniable feel of camaraderie. “I cherish the feel of family. The circle of friends I have within the music community is like family, with everyone taking care of each other.”
Once settled into her Nashville home, Bev worked toward furthering her photography ambitions with the creation of Moments By Moser. Soon, she began securing photo shoots. Just as each client’s goals are different, the process through which each session is planned also varies. Bev fills us in on the specifics of planning any given photo shoot: “Each shoot is very different for me and my clients as I do not do studio photography; I shoot on location.” She adds, “What I am taking photographs of determines how much say I have in wardrobe or the location. If it is a portfolio or portrait shoot, I usually encourage clients to have several outfits in mind and if they do not have a location in mind, we will try to find a couple different ones that fit the overall ideas they have.”
Some clients require more guidance than others and Bev is always ready to help. “Many times, people do not really know what they want so I have to come up with locations based upon what the photos will be used for.” In any given shoot, Bev makes a point to cater her planning specifically around her subject. “If it is an artist using them for promotion in conjunction with an album, I will base it around some of the songs or the title of their album. If I’m shooting senior photos, I enjoy having them bring something very personal that reflects a part of their lives such as a pet, shooting in their horse barn, or maybe with sports equipment.” Her shooting experiences also run the gamut. “I have done everything from shooting photos of inanimate objects for book and map covers to capturing photos of newborn babies.” No matter the purpose, one constant remains: “The challenge is make the subject of the photo interesting and memorable.”
Besides that, it’s all about having fun. “A photographer sees the world differently depending on what they are trying to create, so anytime I am shooting, I am happy!” She also relishes in the variety her job allows. “One day I might be in a horse barn doing photos in the morning and that same night, I’ll cover a black-tie VIP event on Music Row.”
Among all the exciting moments she’s helped capture on film, Bev says there is one particular shoot that is close to her heart. “One of the most meaningful was a family shoot I did; it was meaningful on several different levels.” She recalls, “It was the first shoot that I had anyone ask me to sit in a circle with the family and pray before we did the photos. To hear them thank the Lord above for my talents was very touching and made the shoot very personal.” Bev adds, emotionally, “It still touches my heart because the husband and father is no longer with us and knowing I took their last formal family photos reminds me that this is one of the reasons I do photography: to create memories.
 
Bev’s five-year-old son, Christian, has also taken an interest in photography and is already accompanying his mom to certain photo shoots. “Christian loves to take photos and is very good at it. He has been around the camera since day one and does come with me to select shoots that are kid friendly.” Mom’s young protégé also takes on an important role during the shoots he attends. “He is a character and will pose my clients or bring out the inner child and make them feel at ease to bring out their natural smile.”
With an endless to-do list to tackle on a daily basis, there surely must be a secret to keeping it all together. Or, is there? “Some days there is no secret at all; but for the most part, the secret is simply organization and time management.” In order to complete each project, Bev says, “I often times burn the midnight oil well into the wee hours of the morning.” She sheds light on unseen hours after her camera lens cap has been closed and tape recorders and microphones have been put away. “The part of my job that people, in general, do not realize is the hours I put in ahead of preparing and doing research for an interview or after the fact – whether I’m editing photos or writing up a review or interview.”
To maximize her overall efficiency, she has developed somewhat of a routine. “I try for the most part to do my work while my son is at school or sleeping. I am also blessed to have the flexibility I have. In some cases, I can bring him with me on location. But I can also schedule my appointments for the most part so they do not conflict with the hours when he is home.” Having support from family members can be a big help and Bev greatly appreciates hers. “I have older children who have contributed so much in support of my career.” Ultimately, Bev says, “I think the secret to balance is knowing it is okay to say ‘No’ and not feeling like you have to accept every opportunity to shoot – because sometimes the benefits of putting your family first outweigh any amount of financial reward you may receive.”
Some people may expect a person who has worked with and around so many celebrities to say that is their favorite aspect of their job. For Bev, knowing she had the privilege to capture those spontaneous special moments as they happened fills her heart with unspeakable joy! “To bring joy to other people and be able to share what I see to others is indescribable at times!” She adds, “I absolutely love capturing that ‘moment’ – the one that shows the twinkle in someone’s eye, that playful smile, or that wistful look. As I go through photos one by one after each shoot, event, party or special occasion, there are always a few photos that capture the spirit and make me smile knowing I was the one who pressed the shutter at just the right moment and now my client will forever have that memory.” Further rewards include receiving gratitude from her clients. “When a client or customer takes a moment to call me personally or send me a note expressing their happiness with my work – that has to be one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do. I have made so many new friends through my work and to me that is what is important.”
Bev considers herself fortunate to have been able to work in several different aspects of the music industry during the last decade. To people interested in pursuing a career in the music business, she offers these words of wisdom: “My advice is to be flexible and willing to do whatever you have to do to find your place. There is not a magical instruction booklet for this ever-changing industry. Follow your heart and keep your dreams in front of you.”

Secretary Pritzker Tours Loud Recording Studios and Speaks With Music and Entertainment Industry Leaders

Secretary Pritzker Tours Loud Recording Studios and Speaks With Music and Entertainment Industry Leaders

Secretary Pritzker Tours Loud Recording Studios and Speaks With Music and Entertainment Industry Leaders
Today, as part of her nationwide listening tour, Secretary Penny Pritzker toured Loud Recording Studios with Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Jim Catino, Vice President of A&R for Sony Music Nashville. The music industry is a vibrant part of Nashville’s economy and the American economy as a whole. In fact, entertainment, literary and artistic originals contributed $74 billion to the U.S. economy last year, according to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.
According to a report by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Music City Music Council, the music industry sustains more than 56,000 jobs and contributes both to the local economy and the region’s gross domestic product.
During the roundtable, Secretary Pritzker not only discussed how the music and entertainment industries are contributing to the health of the creative economy, but also the key role the Commerce Department plays in supporting and protecting intellectual property and innovation.

Recently, the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office released the green paper on Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy. The green paper calls for multi-stakeholder dialogues and roundtables on pressing policy debates including the status of remixes, the reselling of digital copyrighted works, prosecution of individual file-sharers, and the role of government in the online licensing marketplace. The Secretary expressed that the green paper represents Commerce’s ongoing effort to balance intellectual property rights and the need to nurture the free and open Internet as an economic engine and platform for innovation.
Recently Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revised the way it counts the amount of money businesses invest in the production of such intellectual property as part of gross domestic product (GDP). BEA on July 31 began including the amount of money businesses invest in the production of intellectual property as part of gross domestic product, or GDP. That means money that a recording studio invests in the creation of a new song will be counted in GDP. It’s the same treatment as when a company buys a drill press or invests in a new building. The new expenditures for entertainment, literary, and artistic originals are grouped with expenditures for software into a new investment category called “intellectual property products.”
The music industry is a vibrant part of not just Nashville’s economy, but the nation’s as well. In short, creative Americans create jobs. As Secretary Pritzker continues to travel the country, she will continue to look for ways the federal government can work with this industry to create even more opportunities and even more jobs.