NASHVILLE, September 8, 2009 - Ken Levitan will receive the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for an Executive at the Americana Music Association's 8th Annual Honors and Awards ceremony, slated for Thursday, September 17 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Ken Levitan is a unique model of dizzying ingenuity and quiet integrity. The founder and current Co-President of Vector Management, his individual role in establishing Nashville's identity as a diverse music hub is virtually unequalled by any single person in the city's history, and yet, he avoids applause, shifting attention to the artists he represents. While his search for authenticity and soul-searing talent led him to discover and guide many artists including Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller and others who would eventually become pillars of the Americana genre, his savvy ears were also among the very first to recognize Kings of Leon's immense potential. He is also a Grammy Award-winning producer, recognized for his work on The Apostle soundtrack.
Levitan got his first taste of the music industry when, as a Vanderbilt undergrad, he served as chairman of the Vanderbilt Concert committee--the budding coalition of a golden era which also spawned Gaylord Entertainment GM Steve Buchanan, Live Nation concerts' heavyweight Ted Mankin and the namesake of this prestigious award, Jack Emerson.
For Levitan, the music and business strategy should ideally combine to construct a career that manifests in a slow burn. "You have to balance the creativity and the business side to really make sure the artist maximizes his or her own goals," he explains. "We really want to try to build long careers instead of one-hit wonders."
Vector Management's current roster includes Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Kid Rock, Kings of Leon, Hank Williams Jr., Bon Jovi, B-52s, Ben Folds, John Hiatt, Michael McDonald, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Trisha Yearwood, Peter Frampton, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin.
Slated for Wednesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 19, the 10th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center. The event's highlight will be the 8th Annual Americana Honors and Awards ceremony, Thursday, September 17 at the Ryman Auditorium. Each evening brings more than 80 stacked Americana showcases to key venues throughout Nashville. Last year, approximately 1,000 industry professionals attended the conference, while more than 12,000 fans enjoyed the festival's musical events.
About the Americana Honors & Awards
Each year we honor distinguished members of the music community with six member voted annual awards and with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Presented by the Gibson Foundation, the Honors & Awards is attended by over 2000 artists, music loving fans and entertainment industry executives in one of America's musical shrines, the historic Ryman Auditorium. The event will be broadcast internationally via WSM, Sirius/XM Radio, BBC2, and Voice of America.
The Honors & Awards has featured many amazing moments over the years including Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash's last live performance together, as well as show-stopping appearances by Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Solomon Burke, Old Crow Medicine Show, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Costello, the Avett Brothers, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Levon Helm, and so many more.
About the Americana Music Association
The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the creative and economic viability of professionals in this field. Dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and the individuals who participate in that industry, the Americana Music Association works closely with artists, labels, radio stations, retailers, print media, festivals, agents, publishers and more to help organize and build the infrastructure necessary for the Americana genre to achieve success both creatively and financially.
