Sara Evans Partners With Leese-Fitch Wines

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Sara Evans


California’s award-winning wine Leese-Fitch has partnered with Sara Evans to provide one wine-loving country music fan with the opportunity to win tickets and meet Sara Evans at California’s country music festival, Stagecoach.
“Leese-Fitch wines are elegant, approachable and modern wines, crafted with respect to the historic California winemaking tradition,” said August Sebastiani, President of The Other Guys. “Country music has established its own tradition as well, with California’s annual Stagecoach Festival. We are thrilled that country music star Sara Evans has partnered with Leese-Fitch to create the ultimate ‘bucket list’ experience for a winning fan to meet and see Sara perform live at Stagecoach 2015!”
“A few years ago, I discovered the Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon and immediately adored the ZORK closure since it doesn’t require a corkscrew. From the first taste, I fell in love and it has become my favorite ‘go to’ red wine,” said Sara Evans. “I always keep it stocked on my tour bus, as well as at home to enjoy when I relax on the back porch with my husband.”

Southern Crossroads Announces Signing, New Office Space

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Don Gallardo

Don Gallardo


Southern Crossroads Music has signed Don Gallardo to an exclusive worldwide co-publishing agreement.
Gallardo’s songs have been placed in TV shows The Vampire Diaries and Nashville, and films Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa and Jolene. The California native is now based in Nashville and first began a relationship with Southern Crossroads in 2012 via an administration agreement.
Gallardo also recently signed to UK Americana label Clubhouse Records and is working on a new album with producer David Pinkston (Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Kansas, Gretchen Peters, Linda Ronstadt). The album is slated for release in early 2015.
Southern Crossroads Music CEO Steve McMellon said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Don for the last three years, his songwriting prowess is immense, and only gets better. This is only the next step in our long term relationship that will include UK tours and a new album in 2015.”
Gallardo added, “I am excited to continue working with Southern Crossroads Music through a new co-publishing deal. They work with many talented songwriters and artists. I am proud to be a part of the Southern Crossroads family. I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, through this partnership, both for my songwriting and the direction of my musical career.”
Southern Crossroads Music recently moved into new office space at 705 2nd Ave S., Nashville, TN 37210. The company also has offices in London, New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles. SCM’s songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Brett Eldredge, Trisha Yearwood, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill, Gretchen Wilson and more.

RIAA's Latest Gold and Platinum Sales Awards

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riaa111In November 2014, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded certifications for 10 multi-platinum singles, 17 platinum singles, 18 gold singles, three platinum albums, and seven gold albums.
Among those with Nashville ties are Jason Aldean and Keith Urban, who were both honored with gold albums. Scotty McCreery, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice, and Blake Shelton all garnered platinum single certifications.
Taylor Swift‘s Grammy-nominated single “Shake It Off” earned a 4x platinum certification from the RIAA.
Below is a list of Country, Nashville-related pop and CCM honorees:
Gold Albums
Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean
Fuse, Keith Urban
Multiplatinum Single
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift, 4x platinum
Platinum Singles
“I Hold On,” Dierks Bentley
“Kick It In The Sticks,” Brantley Gilbert
“See You Tonight,” Scotty McCreery
“The Trouble With Girls,” Scotty McCreery
“I Love You This Big,” Scotty McCreery
“Ready Set Roll,” Chase Rice
“Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton
Gold Singles
“Day Drinking,” Little Big Town
“Girl In A Country Song,” Maddie & Tae
“Overcomer,” Mandisa
“Ready Set Roll,” Chase Rice
“Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton
“Blank Space,” Taylor Swift

Martie Maguire, Emily Robison Sign with Big Deal Music

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Court Yard Hounds

Emily Robison and Martie Maguire


Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, best known for their roles in duo Court Yard Hounds and trio The Dixie Chicks, have signed with Big Deal Music’s roster. This marks the first-ever publishing agreement for both of them. Previously, Maguire and Robison each held their own publishing. Their back catalogs continue to be administered by Words & Music Copyright Administration (North America territory), as well as Sony/ATV Music Publishing (outside North America).
“We couldn’t be more honored and excited about the opportunity to work with these two incredible women,” says Big Deal’s Kenny MacPherson, “artists and writers who’ve had such enormous impact on both music and culture. Working with them has been a serious goal of mine for many years, and I’m delighted at long last to get there, and excited about the results to come.”
Among those signed to Big Deal Music are My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, Jim James, Ethan Johns, Missy Higgins, the Black Angels, as well as songwriters Tim James, Brett Beavers, Brad Tursi, John Ryan, Matt Morris, and Matt Mahaffey.

Nashville Women Included in 'Billboard' Honor

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Women-in-Music-Billboard-NashvilleBillboard  has released its list of the top 50 Women in Music for 2014, of which three executives are stationed in Nashville (profiles below). Many of the other top industry players have ties to Music City. Taylor Swift was named Billboard’s 2014 Woman of the Year, marking her second time to receive a Billboard Woman of the Year honor (she also earned the award in 2011).

“Every facet of the wide world of music is represented in our list of profiles, from television networks to law firms, agencies to labels, streaming strategists and public radio producers,” notes the magazine in its report.
Pictured (Top-Bottom): Sandi Spika Borchetta, Mary Ann McCready, Ali Harnell
Sandi Spika Borchetta­–Senior VP Creative, Big Machine Label Group–received inclusion for her work with the label group’s artists, including Tim McGraw’s text and drive music video, “Highway Don’t Care,” which won both a CMA (2013) and ACM Award (2014).
Mary Ann McCready–President, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy–was noted for her business and financial management firm, which serves artists including Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban.
Ali Harnell–Senior VP, AEG Live/The Messina Group–produced more than 150 annual shows heading the concert promotion company’s Southeast territory while also extending internationally to London and Dublin for the Country2Country Music Festival.
Martha Henderson
Martha Henderson–Executive VP/manager entertainment division, City National Bank–nearly all of the Hollywood Reporter’s 25 most powerful entertainment industry business managers are City National Bank clients. She manages a staff of nearly 200, overseeing $4.5+ billion in loans and $8 billion in deposits for clients including The Spirit Music Group and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
For the complete list, click here.

Native Run Renews Long-Term Publishing Agreement

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Shot A credit Sarah Barlow

Rachel Beauregard (L) & Bryan Dawley (R) Photo: Sarah Barlow


Rising country duo Native Run (Rachel Beauregard & Bryan Dawley) have renewed their publishing partnership with Creative Nation, Combustion Music, and Warner/Chappell Music.  The new, long-term agreement will extend the representation of the Virginia natives’ catalog and future works.
“Bryan and Rachel are so talented and we are passionate about their music and look forward to continuing our relationship with them,” says Beth Laird, Co-Owner, General Manager, Creative Nation.
“Bryan and Rachel continue to grow and impress both as writers and artists, solidifying our belief that we have just scratched the surface of their potential,” adds Chris Farren, President, Combustion Music.  “Couldn’t be happier to be moving forward together.”
Native Run started 2014 in the studio with GRAMMY® award-winning co-producer Luke Laird working on their debut album release and visiting Country radio stations across the nation before opening select dates for Lady Antebellum’s Take Me Downtown 2014 Tour and David Nail’s I’m A Fire tour. Bryan and Rachel hit the road in early 2015 with Sam Hunt for his “Lipstick Graffiti Tour.”

David Ross Releases New Book, 'The Digital Solution'

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david rossAuthor and MusicRow founder David Ross has released a new book, The Digital Solution: A Plan For Collecting and Distributing Streaming Music Royalties, via BossRoss Media.
According to press materials, “The Digital Solution offers a bold plan based upon the realization that music in the digital age has become a public good. The internet cannot be locked up or controlled. Therefore, the best way to insure that creators are fairly compensated is to ask all internet users to pay a small amount, thereby creating a large pool of money from which to fairly compensate those who contribute to the well being of our society and its cultural harmony. Precedents for this idea already exist in the cable TV world where people pay monthly fees for sporting events whether they watch them or not. The Digital Solution explains how these funds could be collected using Internet Service Providers as a toll booth, and distributed according to popularity and usage.”
The Digital Solution: A Plan for Collecting and Distributing Streaming Music Royalties is available now via amazon.com.
Born and raised in Boston, MA., David M. Ross graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School with a B.S. in Economics and later attended the Berklee College of Music, majoring in arranging. After spending ten years on the road as a professional musician, Ross traveled to Nashville and in April 1981 founded MusicRow magazine which he sold in 2008 after a successful 30-year reign as Publisher/CEO. During his time at MusicRow he pioneered and refined many of the email/social media marketing techniques revealed in his first book, Secrets Of The List. One of country music’s most-read industry analysts, Ross continues to cover the intersection between Nashville’s entertainment business and technology on www.Nekst.biz, a blog about “Music And The Technology It Powers.” Currently Ross serves on the Board of Directors of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Country Music Association. He received the CMA President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1998 and the Canadian Country Music Association’s prestigious Leonard T. Rambeau Award for International Achievement in 2003.

ASCAP Adds Songwriters To Florida Panhandle Festival

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30a-Songwriters-FestivalASCAP will elevate its presence at the upcoming 6th annual 30A Songwriters Festival with the presentation of two consecutive nights of songwriters rounds with newly announced Tony Lane (“I Need You”), Marc Beeson (“We Are Tonight”) and Ryan Hurd (“Payback”), as well as emerging songwriter-artists Brandon Lay (Warner/Chappell), Hunter Phelps (Tape Room Music) and Jameson Rodgers (Combustion Atlas).
Previously announced participants also joining the PRO’s events include Deana Carter (“You and Tequila”), Jonathan Singleton (“Let It Rain”), Jaren Johnston (“Sunshine & Whiskey”), Jeremy Stover (“Lettin’ the Night Roll”) and Mark D. Sanders (“I Hope You Dance”).
All outings are set in 25 venues throughout South Walton County, Fla., from Jan. 16 – 18. The initial line-up for the 2015 benefit for Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County includes Leon Russell, Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jason Isbell, Jeffrey Steele, Chely Wright, Kyle Jacobs, Joe Leathers, Billy Montana, Bobby Bare Jr., Angaleena Presley, Hayes Carll, Mary Gauthier and more.
Festival weekend passes are now available and can be purchased at 30asongwritersfestival.com, and locally on 30A at the Cultural Arts Alliance office and at Central Square Records in Seaside.

Weekly Chart Report (12/05/14)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

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Exclusive: Chris Tompkins Talks 'Burnin' It Down'

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Chris Tompkins

Chris Tompkins


In this Q&A, songwriter Chris Tompkins talks about his recent hit “Burnin’ It Down,” the sexy song recorded by Jason Aldean. He also shares his love for writing on the piano. For more of Tompkins’ interview with MusicRow, pick up a copy of the Publisher Issue.
Tell me about writing “Burnin’ It Down.”
I can’t believe it’s on the radio. “Burnin It Down” was written for Florida Georgia Line. It was me and Rodney [Clawson] and Brian [Kelly] and Tyler [Hubbard]. When there are four people in a room, everyone has to take on a role. Somebody has to lead the charge with what the song’s going to be about. Brian’s always in the middle of it. And I was building the beat and the music. We were talking about guns and girls and getting naked with girls, and we were all laughing while we were writing it. And then it was like, “if we are going there, let’s just go there.” Then it became almost a joke, but all of a sudden it started coming together and we kept chasing it and it turned out good. It was never talked about that they weren’t going to record it. I don’t know how Aldean heard the song, but I’m glad he did. I did the work tape/ demo, not full blown. Then I put all my tracks on a drive to give to Michael Knox and they just built it on top of it. It’s cool that Aldean cut it. He’s never had a song like that. He had “Dirt Road Anthem,” but that song is a lot different.
It’s rampant, the hip-hop beat country. The reason it works is—think about what most country fans listen to: active rock like Nickelback, country, southern rock and rap. I think what works so well with Florida Georgia Line is they bring a little bit of all that, they’re this hybrid. Joey [Moi, producer for FGL and Nickelback] comes from the rock world.
Do you usually write on guitar or piano?
Piano is my first instrument, my main workhorse. I play guitar pretty well, but about half as good as I play piano. On “Dirt” I did the slide guitar part but that was me sitting down and taking my time. I’m not by any means an amazing guitar player.
Piano has way more of a personality—kind of an out-front thing. It’s noticeable. I can open more doors with it. Even before I moved to Nashville, I spent a lot of time playing piano. I can find my way around on it better. It makes more sense to me.
How did you learn piano?
There are a few situations that played into this. I was in the high school band back in Alabama. I can’t remember the order of how this happened, but there was an old piano in the band room, in the men’s bathroom. So before football games, we’d be goofing off in there and those are my first memories of beating around on the piano. I started kind of writing these songs, but without music, because I couldn’t play. I was a drummer already. So I started writing all these lyrics and some girls told the band director that I was writing songs and he asked me if I could sing the songs I had written, so I did. He had two keyboards and a four-track recorder and started making a demo. He heard the chords behind what I was singing, and then I sang it. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. The same week I came from school one day—I don’t even think I told my mom about that—and my mom had randomly bought a piano for $300 bucks.
My stepfather always tells the story of the time I was supposed to mow the yard in high school, and he came home and found the job half done and the mower in the yard. He came inside to fuss at me, but heard me playing piano. He said, “Nevermind, I’ll finish the yard.” They were really supportive of me. I’d write a song when I woke up then I’d write a song when I went to bed.