Maddie & Tae Prep Video For Sophomore Single

Pictured: (L-R): Maddie & Tae sit high atop a wall of chairs while filming “Fly.” Photo: Joseph Llanes

Pictured: (L-R): Maddie & Tae sit high atop a wall of chairs while filming “Fly.”
Photo: Joseph Llanes

MusicRow Magazine 2015 Next Big Thing artist, Maddie & Tae, premiered a taste of the official music video for the sophomore single, “Fly,” with the release of a photo in suspended chairs. The 19-year olds turned to director Brian Lazzaro (Rilo Kiley, Cory Chisel, The Cadillac Three, Eli Young Band) to shoot a clip for the song.

“We didn’t want our second video to be anything like our first one, which was so fun,” Tae Dye explains. “I think Brian really took the idea of how vulnerable you feel when you’re trying and it’s crazy… and found ways that weren’t literal to represent that.”

“Brian’s amazing: the idea of ladders and chairs to show the climb?” continued Maddie Marlow. “Being suspended – which we are in the performance – is just how it feels when you want everything to happen, but you’re sort of stuck in what you want and how it is.”

Pictured (L-R): Maddie & Tae. Photo: Twitter.

Pictured (L-R): Maddie & Tae. Photo: Twitter.

In promotion of the single, the girls were in Chicago yesterday (Jan 26) performing live at 35,000 feet with Southwest Air. They also surprised each passenger with a copy of the Dot Records debut EP.

Only the third female duo in over 70 years to have a No. 1 with their first single, the girls brought their second single to the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last Friday (Jan. 23). Additionally, they have an opening spot on Dierks Bentley’s Sounds Of Summer Tour.

A release date for the official video has yet to be set. Listen to the “Fly” here.

Pictured (L-R):

Maddie & Tae with label and crew. Photo: Twitter

Juno Nominations Revealed

juno 2015The nominees for the 2015 JUNO Awards were announced by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) at a press conference in Toronto this morning (Jan. 27). Canada’s preeminent music awards will air live from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre on CTV at 7 p.m. ET on March 15. JUNO Week in Hamilton runs March 9 – March 15, 2015.

MAGIC! garnered a leading five nominations. Close behind with four nods were Kiesza and Leonard Cohen. Artists with three nods each are Hedley, Nickelback, and Serge Fiori.

The Bros. Landreth, signed to Slate Creek Records, earned a nomination for debut album Let It Lie in the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group category.

Select nominations:

Country Album of the Year
Lifted Dallas Smith, 604*Universal
Light Up The Night Jess Moskaluke, MDM*Universal
Caffeine & Big Dreams Kira Isabella, Sony
MacKenzie Porter Mackenzie Porter, Road Angel*Warner
Wheels The Road Hammers, Open Road*Universal

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
Introducing Chelsea Amber Chelsea Amber, Independent*David C. Cook
Analog Love in Digital Times Drew Brown, Independent
The Moment Manafest, Manafest Productions*Fontana North
VIP Manic Drive, Bema Media*David C. Cook
The Joy Tim Neufeld, Independent*David C. Cook

To view a complete nominee list go to www.junoawards.ca.

SOURCE Nashville Names Co-Presidents for 2015

Screen shot 2015-01-27 at 3.22.14 PM1Wendi Crosby York and Shauna Collins have been named as co-presidents of music industry organization SOURCE Nashville.

Crosby York has been with Major Bob Music since 2006. As VP of Administration, she oversees day-to-day company activity, including songwriter royalty and accounting, audit and songwriter management, accounts receivable and payable, and more. She previously served as Secretary of SOURCE Nashville.

Collins is making the move to Arkansas, where she will build the development department of the Boys and Girls Club of Bentonville, Ark. In the new role, she will return to Nashville every six to eight weeks to connect the Boys and Girls Club with the music community in Nashville. Collins previously served as Vice President of SOURCE Nashville.

Sonia Leigh Signs With HoriPro

Sonia Leigh BMI

Back Row: HoriPro Entertainment Group’s Lee Krabel, BMI’s David Preston, HoriPro Entertainment Group’s Tim Stehli, BMI’s Jody Williams and Clay Bradley. Front Row: HoriPro Entertainment Group’s Butch Baker and Kaz Hori, BMI songwriter Sonia Leigh, attorney Jim Zumwalt

HoriPro has signed singer/songwriter Sonia Leigh to its roster. Leigh visited BMI’s Nashville office on Jan. 26 to celebrate the new venture with HoriPro, which has also represented artists and songwriters including Dean Dillon, Sophie B. Hawkins, Jerry Reed, Mike Walker, Elise Davis, and more.

Leigh, an active force on the Nashville songwriting scene, was featured at Jake Owen’s Beach Party concert, held at BMI Nashville in August 2014. Her newest single, “When We Are Alone” is available now.

Bobby Karl Works The 2015 Nashville Grammy Nominee Party

Pictured l to r:  Daniel Hill, Trustee, Nashville Chapter; GRAMMY Nominee Taylor Swift; Nashville Chapter Trustees Fletcher Foster, Chandra LaPlume, Terry Hemmings and Nashville Chapter President Jeff Balding.

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Hill, Trustee, Nashville Chapter; Grammy nominee Taylor Swift; Nashville Chapter Trustees Fletcher Foster, Chandra LaPlume, Terry Hemmings; and Nashville Chapter President Jeff Balding.

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 478

More than 50 members of the Nashville music community are nominated for Grammy Awards this year, and it seemed as if all of Music Row turned out to celebrate them on Monday evening (Jan. 26).

The Nashville chapter of The Recording Academy teamed up with Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel to host the party honoring the 2014 Grammy anointed. There are, “23 categories represented by our nominees,” said chapter executive director Alicia Warwick. “The talent in this town is unbelievable,” said chapter president Jeff Balding, pointing out that Nashvillians are nominated in all of the “big four” Grammy categories, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

It’s true that Music City is all over the Grammy musical map, from our rockers Jack White, Cage the Elephant, Paramore and The Black Keys to Americana songsmiths John Hiatt, The Del McCoury Band and Sturgill Simpson. Engineers Chuck Ainlay and Richard Dodd are up for top awards, as is Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce.

Representing their categories at the party were Contemporary Christian Music greats For King & Country, MercyMe and Royal Tailor, Americana bluesman Keb’ Mo’ and bluegrass nominees Rhonda Vincent, Bryan Sutton and Shawn Camp (who is in The Earls of Leicester). Folk nominees Old Crow Medicine Show and Rob Ickes mingled with Children’s Album contender Secret Agent 23 Skidoo a.k.a Debrissa McKinney.

Roots Gospel contenders T. Graham Brown, Mike Farris and Tim Menzies rubbed shoulders, as did such songwriting nominees as Kevin Kadish, Shane McAnally, Ben Glover and Jaren Johnston.

Our own Hunter Hayes and Lee Ann Womack accepted multiple congratulations for their Country nominations, as did Brandy Clark, nominated for Best New Artist as well as Best Country Album.

Pictured (L-R):  Frank Liddell, co-producer of the nominated Best Country Album The Way I’m Livin’, Lee Ann Womack, GRAMMY nominee for The Way I’m Livin’, and Alicia Warwick, Executive Director, The Recording Academy, Nashville Chapter.

Pictured (L-R): Frank Liddell, co-producer of the nominated Best Country Album The Way I’m Livin’, Lee Ann Womack, GRAMMY nominee for The Way I’m Livin’, and Alicia Warwick, Executive Director, The Recording Academy, Nashville Chapter.

“Thank you for all that you do for this city,” said Mayor Karl Dean to the all the creative folks who packed the Loew’s ballroom. “This will be the last Grammy nominee party I will be attending as Mayor….Nashville is a unique city because of its diversity and its entrepreneurial spirit. It’s because of you folks. It’s because of music. Nashville’s best days are still ahead of us. And you are a huge part of that.”

As the speeches ended, there was a wave of crowd motion toward the ballroom entrance as superstar Taylor Swift quietly joined the merriment. Smart gal. It was an opportune time to return to Nashville: Monday night was not one you wanted to spend in New York, since two feet of snow were expected.

Perhaps it’s because this is the first big party of the year, but every, every, I mean EVERYbody was there, all delighted to be schmoozing with one another again. Terry Hemmings, Terry Bumgarner, John Mullins, John Huie, John Briggs, Jon Randall Stewart, Leslie Fram, Leslie Roberts, Sherod Robertson, Jill Douglas, Doug Howard, Perry Howard, Allen Brown, Michael Baum, Ron & Regina Stuve, Rod Essig, Ronna Rubin, Fletcher Foster, Scott Stem, Susan Stewart, Susan Niles, Eric Parker, Erika Wollam-Nichols, Kay West, Wes Vause and Victoria Shaw were all in the New Year’s love fest.

Mayoral candidate Megan Berry was working the room, which wasn’t so hard, since she’s a Leadership Music alumnus. She could easily schmooze fabulons such as Jeff Walker, Jody Williams, Julian King, David Corlew, Dan Hill, Steve Buchanan, Celeste Buckingham, Lisa Harless, Debbie Carroll, Allison Jones, Beverly Keel, Holly Bell, LeAnn Phelan, Chandra LaPlume, Nancy Shapiro, Diane Pearson, Kelsey Grady, Tracy Gershon, Cyndi Forman, Tree Paine, Joanna Carter, Lori Badgett and Lacy Cavalier.

Pictured (L-R): Nominees Hunter Hayes and Joel Smallbone of for King & Country.

Pictured (L-R): Nominees Hunter Hayes and Joel Smallbone of for King & Country.

Is 17 too many women to name-drop in a row? Very well: Ansel Davis, Andrew Kintz, Pat Higdon, Hunter Kelly, George Flanigan, Garth Fundis, Ben Fowler, Tim Fink, Kirt Webster, Earle Simmons, Ed Morris, Frank Liddell. Like I said, everybody.

In gratitude for hosting this annual event, again, Tony Phillips of Loew’s was presented with framed artwork of the 57th annual Grammy Awards. He treated the attendees to barbecue meatloaf sliders, mac and cheese, marinated brussell sprouts and other cocktail-supper delights.

It’s Official: Google Fiber Coming to Nashville

googlefiberNashville residents will soon get Google Fiber. Google announced plans to bring the service to Music City during a press conference at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center today (Jan. 27).

The service will mean faster internet connection and television service–up to 100 times faster than traditional broadband. It is also more affordable. The service is free after an up-front $300 installation fee, or $25/month for 12 months. Access to Google Fiber will be based on community demand, so it is possible that not all Nashville neighborhoods will obtain the service.

google“We have seen firsthand how speedy Internet can reshape communities, driving economic growth, emerging startup scenes and new ways of using technology to improve lives,” stated Kevin Lo, Google Fiber director of business operations. “Fiber will help put Nashville on par with the fastest cities in the world.”

“The national buzz about Nashville has a lot to do with our music and our food, of course, but it’s also about our city’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in other areas: technology, healthcare, digital media and entertainment, and social enterprise,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. “Google Fiber’s presence here will enhance the work done in those fields by making collaboration and the exchange of good ideas faster and easier.”

In February 2014, Google revealed that it was considering expanding Google Fiber to nine metro areas, including Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, San Antonio, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, and the San Jose and South Bay areas.

The next step in the process is to craft the design for fiber to be installed throughout the city. Lo did not offer details on timing, though the process is expected to take several months.

Nashville residents can keep up-to-date on new information by signing up for online updates.

 

CRS Promises ‘Special Announcements’ During CRS 2015 Opening Ceremonies

crs 2015On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Country Radio Seminar will kick off its annual event with the Opening Ceremonies at 3 p.m. CT at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville. A host of announcements are scheduled for the opening ceremonies, making this year’s opening ceremony a must-attend event.

Some of the highlights include the reveal of the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2015, a presentation recognizing Lady Antebellum for being the recipient of the CRS 2015 Artist Humanitarian Award, an appearance by Mayor Karl Dean, presentation of the 2015 Tom Rivers Award to Jeff Smulyan and awarding the Rusty Walker scholarship winners, the endowment presentation to the University of North Texas, and a special announcement that attendees will not want to miss.

In addition, the Opening Ceremonies will kick off with the U.S. Marine color guard making an appearance and Capitol recording artist Mickey Guyton performing the national anthem.

CRS President Charlie Morgan comments, “What better way to kick off CRS 2015 than showing our pride in the US Marine Corps, spotlighting a great new talent, giving scholarships, an endowment, and paying tribute to two of our formats greats! I’ve also got a HUGE announcement that I can’t wait to unveil, so you better be there!”

ACM Awards Broadcast To Be Extended By A Half-Hour

acm 50th logoCBS, the ACM and dick clark productions have announced that the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be extended by a half-hour in celebration of its golden anniversary. The awards show will run from 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. PT on CBS Television Network, on Sunday, April 19.

The broadcast is also slated to include performances honoring seven artists who have achieved significant milestones in ACM history.

As previously announced, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton will return to co-host the awards special, which will broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Bon Qui Qui’s Debut Album Released By Warner Music Nashville

bon qui quiBon Qui Qui returns with the release of her debut full-length, Gold Plated Dreams via Warner Music Nashville available now. She is the alter ego of Mad TV’s Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. This original character arose from Johnson-Reyes’ stand-up routine, “Nail Salon,” which went viral and made her an internet sensation. A second video, “Bon Qui Qui at King Burger,” currently logs more than 66 million YouTube views.

After recording and releasing three songs and two music videos as Bon Qui Qui, Anjelah signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records.

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes (Bon Qui Qui’s alter ego) will perform in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, April 19 as part of the Wild West Comedy Fest, returning to Music City for its second year. For tickets and other information, visit wildwestcomedyfestival.com.

Watch the video for “Bon Qui Qui at King Burger” below.

Live Nation Launches Chicago Country Festival

Windy-City-LakeshakeLive Nation Entertainment revealed plans today (Jan. 27) to launch Chicago’s first major country music festival, Windy City LakeShake.

The three-day festival will take place at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island June 19-21 with Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line and Brad Paisley.

Additional artists to be featured include Frankie Ballard, Easton Corbin, Clare Dunn, Mickey Guyton, Randy Houser, Maddie and Tae, Ashley Monroe, Kip Moore, Justin Moore, David Lee Murphy, Joe Nichols, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Thomas Rhett and Canaan Smith, with more to be revealed over the coming weeks.

“Being a native Chicagoan, it has been a dream of mine to present a world class country music festival in my hometown,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Country Touring at Live Nation Entertainment. “The backdrop of the beautiful skyline of Chicago, and the coolness of being right on the lake shore will enhance the incredible artists we have lined up for year one.”

Passes start at $199.50 (plus fees) and will be available Mon., Feb. 2 at 10am CT. VIP upgrades include elevated viewing, shaded reserved seating, exclusive cash bars, upgraded food selection and more.

Additional Live Nation country festivals include Watershed (Washington), Faster Horses (Michigan), Route 91 Harvest (Las Vegas), FarmBorough (NYC), Delaware Junction (Delaware).

More information available at lakeshakefestival.com.