Meghan Linsey Releases New EP ‘Believer’ July 31

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Meghan Linsey 2015The Voice runner-up and former Steel Magnolia member Meghan Linsey is releasing a new EP, Believer, July 31. The collection was produced by Tyler Cain and recorded in Nashville, and features six songs co-written by Linsey that highlight her soulful, swampy sound.

The EP will be available exclusively in an early release on Ghost Tunes at a reduced price beginning July 27, and will be released to all digital retailers four days later.

“Recording this time around was really just about finding my voice as a solo artist, and for me, that meant getting back to my roots,” Linsey says about the new project. “I grew up in New Orleans and I’ve always had a soulful sound, I’m just now really able to showcase it fully. Tyler Cain produced the record and we did a lot of it with a total of three musicians. I think keeping it small was key. His production really allows me to showcase my soulful side while keeping it mainstream. These six songs are a great representation of me, as a human and an artist. They’re bold and genuine and have depth. I really laid it all out there.”

Believer Track Listing:
“Counterfeit”
“Believer”
“Sunshine In My Soul”
“This Side of Heaven”
“Everything is Happening”
“Best of Me”

Neon Cross and Warner/Chappell Sign Devin Dawson

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Neon Cross Music and Warner/Chappell Music have signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with singer/songwriter Devin Dawson.

Dawson and fellow Belmont University student Louisa Wendorff are known for their mashup of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and “Style” which became a viral sensation. To date it has garnered more than 25 million views on YouTube. Dawson spoke to MusicRow about that project in December.

He is pursuing a Songwriting and Music Business degree at Belmont and is currently recording his debut EP.

Pictured: Phil May (WC), Ben Vaughn (WC), Devin Dawson, Melissa Spillman (Neon Cross), Brittany Shafer (Loeb & Loeb), Travis Carter (WC)

Pictured (L-R): Phil May (WC), Ben Vaughn (WC), Devin Dawson, Melissa Spillman (Neon Cross), Brittany Shafer (Loeb & Loeb), Travis Carter (WC)

Cassadee Pope Offers ‘Invincible’ Anthem

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CassadeePope2015Republic Nashville artist Cassadee Pope releases her new single “I Am Invincible” this week (July 24) across all digital retailers and to radio with an official impact date of Sept. 8. The power anthem was written by Brett Boyett and Nash Overstreet and produced by Julian Raymond.

Pope said the first time she heard the song it hit her right in the heart. “I was thinking of all the things I have gone through over the last few years that could have very well influenced me to step away from making music. At the same time, I was reminded of how proud I should be of myself for sticking to my true passion. I have my fans to thank for that with their encouragement, support and really cheering me on at a time of uncertainty. Thinking about all of those emotions really takes this song to another level when I’m performing it and I hope ‘I Am Invincible’ gives others their confidence too.”

She adds, “The song is for those people who have gone through a really tough experience. What I love about this song is it’s very empowering. The song encourages people to get through tough things and be stronger because of it. But there’s a vulnerability to it that I think is really important. It’s ok to not be ok, and it’s ok to be wounded.”

Her parents’ divorce when she was only eleven proved to be a difficult time for the songstress. Pope shares, “I thought of my mom when I first heard this song. It was a huge struggle for her but she taught my sister and I how to be self sufficient, how to be empowered and how to be independent. I learned so much from that experience because of her and how she handled it.”

The singer is offering up a chance for fans to participate in the song’s official lyric video. Fans can register here.

The Florida native’s debut single, “Wasting All These Tears,” sold over a million copies and was featured on her debut country album, Frame By Frame. She came onto the national stage after winning the third season of NBC’s The Voice in 2012, making her the first female winner of the singing competition.

Maddie & Tae ‘Start Here’ in October With Solo Tour

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Maddie & Tae Start Here 2015After opening for Dierks Bentley on his Sounds of Summer Tour, Maddie & Tae are about to “fly” on their own, kicking off their Start Here Tour Oct. 10 at New York City’s Highline Ballroom. The tour will hit a dozen key markets through early November, playing smaller listening rooms and historic music clubs.

“Spending the summer with Dierks was an amazing masterclass in playing,” says Maddie. “He has such a great sense of how to connect with the audience, but he also understands how to keep music the focus… to make sure the playing and the songs don’t get lost in the fun of it. To write songs that matter is one thing, to bring people inside them is another. I can’t wait to share all the songs with the fans once Start Here comes out.”

“Maddie and I wanted to get out and play all the songs from this new record,” Tae says. “We’ve spent a few years writing these songs, figuring out how to say what we thought was important about being our age, and figuring out how to create our kind of music, so before we get back onto someone else’s tour, we wanted to take some time and show people all of who we are!”

The duo is gearing up for the release of their debut CD, Start Here, on Aug. 28.

Maddie & Tae Start Here Tour Dates  
10/07/15          Highline Ballroom           New York, NY
10/08/15          Paradise Rock Club       Boston, MA
10/10/15          The Asylum                    Portland, ME
10/15/15          Cotton Eyed Joe            Knoxville, TN
10/16/15          Amos’ Southend            Charlotte, NC
10/17/15          Track 29                        Chattanooga, TN
10/22/15          Cain’s Ballroom             Tulsa, OK
10/23/15          Banita Creek Hall          Nacogdoches, TX
10/24/15          House of Blues              Houston, TX
11/05/15          Boondocks                    Springfield, IL
11/06/15          St. Andrew’s Hall           Detroit, MI.
11/07/15          Joe’s On Weed Street   Chicago, IL

Loretta Lynn to Play Mini-Festival During Americana Conference

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Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn will play a special Nashville show at the city’s new Ascend Amphitheater as part of a Sept. 19 mini-festival held in the midst of the 16th Annual Americana Festival and Conference.

The one-day-only celebration that is open to the general public will also feature performances by Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Eric Heywood, Nikki Lane, and Emmy Rose Russell. The mini-festival setup includes two stages, and more performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the special event run from $25-$75 and go on sale via Ticketmaster on July 31.

“We’re proud of the success of our boutique festival and conference, but this event at the Ascend Amphitheater is really for the entire community, not just the folks in the industry attending our business conference” said Americana Executive Director Jed Hilly. “It’s a celebration of the great city of Nashville and who better to highlight such an event than Miss Loretta Lynn.”

Lynn was honored by the Americana Music Association last fall with its Lifetime Achievement for Songwriter award. 

Chase Rice Headlines Fall Tour, Brings The Cadillac Three

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ChaseRiceJDandJesusColumbia Records Nashville recording artist Chase Rice will head out this fall with his own headlining tour, JD and Jesus Tour 2015, beginning in October. Dates and on-sale information will become available later this week.

“When I was playing football in college I learned the most about my peers, and my competitors, by studying their moves on and off the field,” shares the North Carolina native. “I have been engaging in the same practices I did while in school: observing and performing alongside Kenny Chesney and Eric Church, on stage. I want to make sure my fans know they need to be ready because we’re nowhere near done for the year.”

Rice has been touring steadily for the last five years, most recently on over 40 dates with Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour. He will continue with Chesney through August while playing select solo and festival dates for the rest of the summer.

The Cadillac Three will join Rice as a special guest for select appearances in the fall.

Weekly Register: Sam Hunt Still at No. 1

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Sam Hunt surprised over 55,000 Taylor Swift concert-goers at last night’s sold out Soldier Field in Chicago. Before joiningHunt on his Platinum-selling, No. 1 smash hit, “Take Your Time.” Photo: TAS Rights Management

Sam Hunt, who has the No. 1 country album this week, surprised over 55,000 Taylor Swift fans at last night’s (July 19) sold out concert at Soldier Field in Chicago. She joined Hunt on his Platinum-selling, No. 1 “Take Your Time.” Photo: TAS Rights Management

Soundscan is completing its transition to a new measurement period. Due to the change, last week’s Soundscan sales chart was based on an 11-day period. This week’s chart is based on the standard 7-day period. Therefore, last week’s chart was inflated and week-to-week comparisons aren’t apples-to-apples.

The change is due to the official music release day moving from Tuesday to Friday.

There were no notable country debuts this week, so let’s look at the top 5, where Sam Hunt has the No. 1 album, and two tracks in the top 5.

Top 5 Country albums this week
Sam Hunt 13K/643K RTD
Zac Brown Band 11K/445K RTD
Kacey Musgraves 10K RTD/89K RTD
Little Big Town 9K/296K RTD
Eric Church 7K/1 mil RTD

Top 5 Country tracks this week
Little Big Town “Girl Crush” 57K, 1.481M RTD
Luke Bryan “Kick The Dust Up” 51K, 588K RTD
Sam Hunt “House Party” 46K, 451K RTD
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 45K, 1.539K RTD
Thomas Rhett “Crash and Burn” 39K, 398K RTD

Tyrese had the top overall debut with total activity of 86K.

Soundscan says there will be adjustments to this week’s report.

Reviver Adds Promo Team: Gator Michaels, Skip Bishop Tapped

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Pictured (L-R): Gator Michaels, David Shaw, Kim Stephens, Amara Hall.

Pictured (L-R): Gator Michaels, David Shaw, Kim Stephens, Amara Hall.

Reviver Records, led by Founder/President/CEO David Ross, is adding a 4-person, in-house promotion team headed up by Gator Michaels, who will be Senior Vice President. Additionally, Skip Bishop‘s consulting firm Studio1Bee will serve as Executive Advisor.

David Shaw has been named National Director of Promotion, Kim Stephens will serve as Regional Southwest/Midwest Promotion, and Amara Hall will be Southeast Regional.

“When I started Reviver Records, my intention all along was to have our own in-house promotion staff,” said Ross. “You take the necessary baby steps to grow the business…slowly and methodically. With the help of others, you get to that point where it becomes necessary to bring on your own people to get you to the next level and beyond. Now, I have my dream team in place, with more to come. My primary focus is to give my artists the shot they so richly deserve for success. Period.”

The Reviver roster includes LOCASH, Blackjack Billy, and Lucas Hoge.

Based in New Jersey, Reviver opened its Nashville operation on December 1, 2014 after launching the Let Us In Nashville and Let Us In Americana projects.

Blake and Miranda Call It Quits

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Pictured (L-R): Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at the BMI Country Awards. Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI

Pictured (L-R): Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at the BMI Country Awards. Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI

Country music superstar couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert divorced after four years of marriage, MusicRow has confirmed.

The couple issued the following statement to the Associated Press:

“This is not the future we envisioned. And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter.”

Brantley Gilbert Plans Chattanooga Benefit

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Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert

In the wake of the recent, tragic shootings in Chattanooga, Tenn., Brantley Gilbert has announced he will perform a benefit for the families of the fallen servicemen. He announced the plans for a “full-blown concert” by calling in to US101 radio.

Details for the event are still being ironed out, but a date and venue will be announced soon.

An avid supporter of the military, Gilbert just released a video highlighting his impactful motorcycle ride with the Wounded Warrior Project that helped launch their Rolling Odyssey therapy program over Memorial Day Weekend.