Bobby Huff Inks Publishing Deal

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Combustion Music, along with co-partners Warner-Chappell and Disney Music Publishing, has added Bobby Huff to its songwriting roster.
The Indiana native has production and writing credits with 3 Doors Down, Papa Roach, Shinedown, Jason Castro, Electric Touch and others. Huff also produced a full-length project for Tim Finn, which included the song “Winter Light,” featured in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Pictured are (L-R): Seated - Combustion Music's Chris Van Belkom, Bobby Huff, Disney Music Publishing's Patrick Clifford. Standing - Attorney Jim Zumwalt, Disney's Ciara Gardner, Warner Chappell Music Publishing's Ben Vaughn, Combustion's Chris Farren and Kenley Flynn.

Pictured are (L-R): Seated – Combustion Music’s Chris Van Belkom, Bobby Huff, Disney Music Publishing’s Patrick Clifford. Standing – Attorney Jim Zumwalt, Disney’s Ciara Gardner, Warner Chappell Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Combustion’s Chris Farren and Kenley Flynn.

Scott Hendricks Makes 'The Voice' Appearance

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the voice logo1111Blake Shelton was joined by his long-time producer Scott Hendricks on Monday’s (April 28) episode of The Voice. Hendricks and Shelton offered mentorship to Shelton’s team, including aspiring artists Audra McLaughlin, Sisaundra Lewis, and Jake Worthington.
McLaughlin took on Reba’s classic “You Lie,” while Worthington tackled George Strait’s “Run.” In case you missed it, watch Shelton and Hendricks offer some valuable song advice during last night’s episode.

Bentley, Dan+Shay Grab Gold

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bentley1111

Dierks Bentley


Dierks Bentley‘s “I Hold On” has been certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States for sales of more than 500,000 downloads; the song has also earned a Gold certification from the CRIA in Canada.
“I Hold On” is the first single from Bentley’s Capitol Records Nashville release Riser.

 • • •

dan and shayDan+Shay have earned their first RIAA Gold certification for their debut Warner Bros. Records single, “19 You + Me.” The duo, comprised of Shay Mooney and Dan Smyers, previously saw their debut album, Where It All Began, debut at the top slot on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart.

Kristian Bush Prepping Solo Album For Streamsound Records

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Photo: Whitney Pastorek

Photo: Whitney Pastorek


Kristian Bush has reunited with longtime producer Byron Gallimore to offer up his debut solo album. The project will be released on Streamsound Records, which Gallimore co-owns. Gallimore produced the previous Sugarland projects Enjoy The Ride, Love On The Inside, The Incredible Machine, and Gold and Green. No release date has been set at this time.
“I’m so excited to be working with Byron Gallimore again,” shares Bush. “I’m constantly surprised at how creative I feel and how innovative he is every time we hit record.”
Bush is currently visiting various markets on his 2014 Put Your Soul In It Tour. The lead single from the album is projected to be sent to Country radio this summer.

Stars Shine at 15th Annual Best Cellars Dinner

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The 15th Annual Nashville Best Cellars Dinner paired music and decadent wine and food Monday evening (April 28) in Nashville. Hosted by the T.J Martell Foundation, the event benefited the Frances William Preston Labs at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
The event included artists Martina McBride, Chris Young, Kacey Musgraves, Brett Eldredge, Clare Bowen, and John Oates. Guests also enjoyed a gourmet dinner created by Chef Michael Kornick, founder and owner of mk the restaurant in Chicago, as well as world-class wines from private collectors.
The inaugural dinner was created in 1999 by Nashville wine enthusiast and music executive Billy Ray Hearn.

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Martina McBride, Brett Eldredge, Laura Heatherly (CEO, T.J. Martell Foundation), Chris Young, Susannah Herring, Kacey Musgraves, Senator Bill Frist, John Oates, Train's Jimmy Stafford, Nancy Hearn; (Front row, L-R): Clare Bowen, Co-chair Bill Hearn (President, EMI Christian Group), Co-chair John Esposito (President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville), Chef Michael Kornick, Co-chair Tom Black, Founder Billy Ray Hearn (Founder, EMI Christian Music Group). Photo: Rick Diamond / Getty Images for T.J. Martell Foundation

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Martina McBride, Brett Eldredge, Laura Heatherly (CEO, T.J. Martell Foundation), Chris Young, Susannah Herring, Kacey Musgraves, Senator Bill Frist, John Oates, Train’s Jimmy Stafford, Nancy Hearn; (Front row, L-R): Clare Bowen, Co-chair Bill Hearn (President, EMI Christian Group), Co-chair John Esposito (President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville), Chef Michael Kornick, Co-chair Tom Black, Founder Billy Ray Hearn (Founder, EMI Christian Music Group). Photo: Rick Diamond / Getty Images for T.J. Martell Foundation

Artist Updates (4/29/14)

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BG_PHOTO_0200_Minchin_3973_FNL11111

Photo Credit: James Minchin


Brantley Gilbert will perform a 45-minute pre-race set presented by Coca-Cola and the USO at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25.
“I can definitely relate to the high-adrenaline NASCAR crowds,” said Gilbert. “The fastest half-mile track in Georgia was literally five minutes from my house growing up and we were always there. I love the smell of gas, the motor and the tires.”

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lost trailers1111The Lost Trailers will join with CMT’s music discovery platform, CMT Artists, during the group’s upcoming 2014 tour.
During each stop, the concert will be filmed with video production featuring the crowd’s participation. An interactive “fan-filmed” area will be on-site to capture footage collected by fans. The footage will be combined to create a signature music video specific to each show.

These videos will appear live on The Lost Trailers exclusive site on artists.cmt and on the CMT Artists app.

                                                 • • •

Alan Jackson has recorded “A Million Ways to Die,” the title track for the soundtrack to Universal Pictures and MRC’s upcoming comedy film A Million Ways to Die in the West. The track is available digitally on Back Lot Music, with the album’s release to follow on May 27. The film will debut in theaters May 30.

Pictured (L-R): Joel McNeely and Alan Jackson in the studio.

Pictured (L-R): Composer and conductor Joel McNeely and Alan Jackson in the studio.

MusicRowPics: Mary Sarah Builds 'Bridges' On New Project

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Mary Sarah. Photo: Jim McGuire

Mary Sarah. Photo: Jim McGuire


While still in her teens, Mary Sarah has achieved milestones many artists spend a lifetime dreaming about. Mary Sarah made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry on April 17. Her new project, Bridges, released on the singer’s own 144 Entertainment, features the singer-songwriter collaborating with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Lynn Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap, Neil Sedaka and more.
Bridges was nearly three years in the making. The Texas-raised Mary Sarah worked with executive producer Freddy Powers, who had worked with Nelson, Tucker and Haggard. She also teamed with Parton’s manager and producer Kent Wells, who brought Parton to the project. “I’ve always been a fan of both contemporary and traditional Country music,” says Mary Sarah, who gave MusicRow a preview of tunes from the project during a recent visit, including Tucker’s 1978 hit “Texas When I Die,” and Haggard’s 1969 classic “Fightin’ Side of Me.”
She credits The Oak Ridge Boys, who appear on Bridges performing their 1979 hit “Dream On,” with giving her a breakthrough of sorts in the industry. “Joe Bonsall found my music on Twitter. He invited me to watch one of the Oak Ridge Boys’ rehearsals, and to meet them,” recalls Mary Sarah. “We all went out to dinner, and he asked if I would sing at their show that evening, which was incredible.” Mary Sarah went on to open several shows for the group. The Oak Ridge Boys were also on the bill when Mary Sarah made her recent Grand Ole Opry debut. “They are like uncles to me in this business, they’ve offered me so much advice,” she says.
Mary Sarah’s voice is at once youthful, bold and laced with a twang wholly appropriate for her batch of traditional Country covers. She is already working and writing for her next project. “I moved to Nashville two years ago and have been writing ever since,” she says. “I’m looking for another good producer for the next project and I’m looking forward to exploring more of my own sound after the covers project. I fit somewhere between contemporary and traditional Country.” Her preview included two original tracks, “Thinking About Last Night” and “The Great Unknown,” co-written with considerable singer-songwriter Rebecca Lynn Howard.
Ahead for Mary Sarah are a couple of additional “firsts”–her debut appearance at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe on May 7, and the release of Bridges on May 13. “I’m excited because I have so much respect for the Bluebird Cafe,” she says. “People are so quiet, they listen and they take the music seriously. I can’t wait for the album release, to share this music with everyone.”
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Nashville Ranks Among Top Cities For Job Growth

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guitar Forbes has ranked all 398 current metropolitan statistical areas based on employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from November 2002 through January 2014, and Nashville ranks among the top cities in the nation for job growth.
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn. ranked sixth on the list, with 823,000 jobs in 2013, and a job growth of 3.0 percent in 2013 (9.7 percent from 2008-2013).
The top-ranked area was San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., with 982,000 jobs in 2013, and a job growth of 4.3 percent in 2013 (8.1 percent from 2008-2013).
Rankings are based on recent growth trends, mid-term growth, long-term growth and the region’s momentum.
Other areas in the list include Houston; Raleigh, N.C.; Austin, Texas; San Francisco; New York City; Orlando, Fla.; and Denver.
Nashville was also recently listed among the fastest-growing cities, thanks to a robust healthcare industry, its signature music industry, a growing tech industry and a reasonable cost of living.

Music Row Toasts No. 1 Hit 'Drunk Last Night'

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Pictured are (Front, L-R): Big Machine Music Publishing's Mike Molinar, Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta, "Drunk Last Night" songwriters Josh Osborne and Laura Veltz, and Republic Nashville's Jimmy Harnen and Matthew Hargis. (Back, L-R): Producers Frank Liddell and Justin Niebank, Warner/Chappell's BJ Hill, BMI's Leslie Roberts, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Eli Young Band, manager George Couri, Big Machine Label Group's Allison Jones, Black River Publishing's Celia Froehlig and Gordon Kerr, and BMI's Jody Williams. Photo credit: Steve Lowry

Pictured are (Front, L-R): Big Machine Music Publishing’s Mike Molinar, Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta, “Drunk Last Night” songwriters Josh Osborne and Laura Veltz, and Republic Nashville’s Jimmy Harnen and Matthew Hargis. (Back, L-R): Producers Frank Liddell and Justin Niebank, Warner/Chappell’s BJ Hill, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Eli Young Band, manager George Couri, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Black River Publishing’s Celia Froehlig and Gordon Kerr, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo credit: Steve Lowry


Not since “You And Tequila” has a hangover paid off so handsomely.
In late 2012 Laura Veltz showed up to her writing appointment with Josh Osborne and apologized, “I got a little drunk last night.” They decided that was the perfect song idea and a hit was born.
Veltz and Osborne made a “killer demo” of the tune, according to Veltz’s publisher BJ Hill from Warner/Chappell. Then Veltz took the demo to her manager, Mike Molinar at Big Machine Music. When his co-worker, BMLG A&R exec Allison Jones, heard the demo coming through the wall, she knew immediately it would be a great cut by the Eli Young Band.
“Drunk Last Night” made its way to the top of the radio charts and is now Gold-certified. BMI, ASCAP, and Republic Nashville gathered at the CMA’s offices yesterday (April 28) to toast the team behind the hit.
BMI’s Jody Williams shared how he was introduced to Veltz years earlier by songwriter Kye Fleming. Back then, Veltz was part of a New York based family band called Cecilia. Williams said he knew early on that Laura was a creative “force of nature.”
ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan toasted Frank Liddell, who co-produced the track with Justin Niebank and EYB. “You are a treasure in this city,” she enthused, noting his work with ACM Lifting Lives, Nashville Screenwriters Conference, and his willingness to share credit with the engineers, songwriters and musicians who contribute to his projects. This is Liddell’s seventh No. 1.
Hill saluted Veltz, “You keep impressing us with your abilities.”
“You’re a hit songwriter, it’s in your DNA,” agreed Molinar.
Black River’s Celia Froehlig cheered Osborne, “he’s a publisher’s dream.” Indeed, he has five songs in the Top 30 right now. “Drunk Last Night” is his second No. 1, following Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over” and Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy-winning “Merry Go Round.”
It was an emotional event for Veltz who was celebrating her first trip to the top of the charts. She thanked her family and the songwriters “who just let me in the room” as she learned the craft. She praised the support of Nashville’s creative community: “I don’t think this happens everywhere.”
Osborne said it isn’t hard to let go of a song you wrote when it is going into the hands of the Eli Young Band and Republic Nashville, because they always work hard and put all they’ve got behind it.
As songwriters themselves, Mike Eli explained that he and the other band members immediately recognized the song’s hit potential. “Drunk Last Night” is the talented foursome’s third No. 1, following double Platinum “Crazy Girl” and Platinum “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”
And in the very near future, Veltz will have two more reasons to celebrate—she’s pregnant with twins.

Live Nation, Yahoo Partner To Stream Live Daily Concerts

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Screen shot 2014-04-29 at 9.48.25 AM11Live Nation Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino and Yahoo Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Savitt have revealed the launch of the Live Nation Channel on Yahoo. The online channel will air one live concert each day, 365 days per year. Fans will also have access to behind-the-scenes footage, artist interviews and more.
The channel is slated to launch in the summer of 2014.
“The Live Nation Channel on Yahoo will build on Live Nation’s leading live music platform of 23,000 annual concerts, including the world’s largest festival portfolio. With Yahoo, we will leverage our scale to establish a media platform unlike any that exists today,” said Rapino. “Launching this summer, this channel will offer fans a new destination where they can watch their favorite artists and also discover new ones.”
“This endeavor could only be created by Yahoo and Live Nation,” said Savitt. “The Live Nation Channel on Yahoo will only become a reality because of the combined power of Yahoo’s reach of 800 million users and Live Nation’s, unrivaled position in the concert industry. This is the most ambitious live concert network ever undertaken, and Live Nation is the only partner with whom we could achieve this.”
Yahoo and Live Nation will create and sell corporate partnerships. Kellogg’s is the first company to confirm the strategic partnership with the new channel.