Reasons To Celebrate
BMI toasted the team behind Blake Shelton’s latest No. 1, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” on Thursday, April 28 at the organization’s Music Row office. Written by John Wiggins and Bud Lee, the song marks Shelton’s eighth chart-topper, as well as a triumphant return to the top for veteran hit-makers Wiggins and Lee.
(L-R): Warner Music Group’s Kelli Cashiola, producer Scott Hendricks, BMI’s Jody Williams, Blake Shelton, Notewrite Music’s Pauline Andrews, and co-writers Bud Lee and John Wiggins. Photo: Steve Lowry
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Warner Bros. Records’ guitar slinging newcomer Frankie Ballard had reason to celebrate when he warmed up the sold-out crowds at two events at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena recently. He opened for Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bob Seger on April 21, and again on April 24 at the Predators game where he performed the national anthem on electric guitar. Ballard’s current single “A Buncha Girls” is from his self-titled debut set for release May 24. This month he will open for Taylor Swift on select dates.
(L-R): Warner Music Nashville President & CEO John Esposito, and Frankie Ballard at the Bob Seger show
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Over two decades after its release, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s (NGDB) classic “Fishin’ in the Dark” is still setting records. Released digitally in 2009, the song has been certified Gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 downloads. “Fishin’ in the Dark” was a monster hit for NGDB in 1987. Band member Jeff Hanna says, “‘Fishin’ in the Dark’ seems to have a life of its own and has certainly become a signature song for us over the years. We love that this song has become a summer anthem and continues to appeal to new audiences year after year.” In its fourth decade, NGDB is currently on an extensive North American Tour.
