Striking Matches Light Fuse On Album Launch

Striking Matches album 2015

Striking Matches, the guitar-slinging duo comprised of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, will release debut album Nothing But The Silence on March 24. The band teamed up with legendary producer T Bone Burnett for the project, which will be released via I.R.S. Nashville.

Lead single “Hanging On a Lie,” goes for adds at country radio March 16.

Striking Matches are returning to this year’s C2C Festival in London at the O2 Arena on March 7 and 8, as well as a performance at the CMA Songwriters Series Show at Indigo2 on March 6.

The duo has penned eight songs that were featured on ABC’s Nashville, including “When the Right One Comes Along” and “Hanging On A Lie,” making them one of the most synced artists on the series. This helped attract an international fan base, which led to sold out shows at The Borderline in London last year.

“The fact that we are releasing our debut album in itself is a dream come true,” said Zimmermann. “I have to pinch myself every time I tell someone that one of our all-time biggest heroes, T Bone Burnett, produced our record. Just to be in the same room with him is an honor, let alone working in the studio with him.”

“We’ve waited all of our lives to get here…the beginning,” said Davis. “Working with T Bone, releasing our first record, and the freedom to play as musicians on our debut have all been attributes to this project that made all the work and waiting a very worthy price of admission.”

While in New York City last week to perform in front of a sold-out crowd at Joe’s Pub, Striking Matches stopped by People Magazine to perform “Hanging On a Lie.” See it on People.com.

DISClaimer: Dreamers & Singers

RaeLynn-MefeaturedThis is a week for beginners. Fully eight of these 10 artists are making their debuts in the DisClaimer column. And both of our winners are first timers.

Young RaeLynn wins our Disc of the Day prize. Heaven knows, we need more solo females in this format. Native Texan Darwin Macon bursts on the scene with one of the finest singles in this stack of platters. And it is, hands down, the best song of the day. Give that man a DisCovery Award.

GREG SHIRLEY/The Good Drugs
Writers: Chris Wallin/Dave Gibson; Producers: T.W. Cargile/Greg Shirley; Publishers: Ole Red Cape/29 Cent Hamburger/ASCAP; Garage Door
-Alabama’s Greg Shirley was one of the dozens of new artists showcasing during CRS last week. His ballad is tastefully produced, sung with country authority and carries a cautionary message from an old man to a youngster. Recommended.

RAELYNN/For A Boy
Writers: RaeLynn/Laura Veltz; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Super Big/I Take the Bull By the Horns/Big Machine/Prescription/Kobalt/Warner-Tamerlane/Oh Denise, ASCAP/BMI; Valory Music
-Catchy and youthful. Accompanied by a bouncing, beefy track, she’s urging a guy to go ahead and make a move.

EILEEN CAREY/Sweet Love
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RolleyCstr
-Thin sounding. The band is spare, and her singing is pretty lightweight.

MITCH GOUDY/My Girl’s Hand
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Third Floor
-He kinda mumbles and meanders in the heartbroken verses. He opens up vocally in the choruses, finally getting to the point: “He’s holding my girl’s hand.”

Darwin MaconDARWIN MACON/I Still Drink About Her
Writers: Bobby Terry/Jason Sellers; Producer: Jason Rooks; Publishers: none listed; Macon Bacon
-This wins points for the title, alone. The singer is solidly country and the production jangles admirably. And you can’t beat a lyric like this: “One more to remember, one more to forget, one more for the road that I can’t seem to go down yet.” A winner.

ADRIAN JOHNSTON/Avalanche
Writers: Heather Morgan/Zac Maloy; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Warner Chappell, no performance rights listed; AJ
-The intent is rock ‘em, sock ‘em. I wasn’t convinced.

ERNIE OLDFIELD/Seven Days
Writers: Peter Jordan; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; World International
-I sort of like the drum-machine, Euro-pop production mixed with the on-the-road, sing-songy country tune. Ear grabbing.

POOR J. BROWN/Daddy’s Son
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; PJB
-This is the debut single from a six-piece Texas band. Vocally and instrumentally, they sound like they have the goods. The song, however, has almost no melody whatsoever.

HEATHER DICKSON/Eventually
Writers: Terri Sharp; Producer: Rick Durrett; Publishers: Bocephus/Paradise Cove, BMI; Heartshake (track)
-The singer is from Scotland. The songwriter is from Texas. The producer is from Nashville. They all seem talented, but the sum of their efforts just lays there lifeless.

MOONLIGHT SOCIAL/Heading South
Writers: Jeremy Burchard/Jennica Scott; Producers: Matt Noveskey/Jeremy Burchard; Publisher: none listed; MS
-This is male-female duo. She sings with striking, full-throated volume, and he wails harmony with equal force. The track burns with fiery energy. The only drawback is that the song’s title is buried. Send more. I am definitely intrigued.

Webster Public Relations Adds Three To Artist Roster

John Berry

John Berry

Webster Public Relations has signed three veteran performers to its roster for public relations representation. John Berry, Roy Clark, and John Conlee have signed on as the company’s newest clients.

Berry’s radio hits include the chart-topper “Your Love Amazes Me,” as well as hits “Kiss Me In The Car,” “She’s Taken a Shine,” and “Standing On The Edge of Goodbye.”

Berry will soon be releasing a new book entitled Songs and Stories, which will take fans inside the scenes of some of his biggest hits.

Roy Clark

Roy Clark

Clark initially found success in the 1960s and 1970s, with songs such as “The Tips Of My Fingers,” and guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and The Beverly Hillbillies. In 1969, he teamed with Buck Owens to host the CBS series Hee Haw. Hits including “Come Live With Me” and “Honeymoon Feelin'” followed.

He earned the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year trophy in 1973. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Conlee began his music career in radio at Nashville’s WLAC-AM in the 1970s. He notched his first hit in 1978 with “Rose Colored Glasses,” followed by “Miss Emily’s Picture,” “Common Man,” “Mama’s Rockin’ Chair,” “Old School,” and more.

John Conlee

John Conlee

He will soon release the sophomore edition of his Classics CD.

Kirt Webster exclaimed, “The Webster brand has always stood for excellence and honor, and how do you get more so than this trio of artists?”

ACM’s Party For A Cause Festival Coming to CBS Television

ACM Party For A CauseThe Academy of Country Music’s third annual Party For a Cause Festival, a two-day event slated for April 17-18 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, is coming to television. The event will be taped for a two-hour special, “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets!,” slated to air Friday, May 15 on CBS Television Network.

Artists including Dierks Bentley, Clint Black, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Darius Rucker, Dwight Yoakam, Alabama, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line are already set to take part, with more artists yet to be announced. ACM’s Party For A Cause Festival will begin at 12:00 p.m. on April 17-18, with music from multiple stages, a marketplace with food trucks and vendors, interactive events, and more, leading up to the 50th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Television Network.

“For the Academy’s milestone anniversary, we wanted more fans than ever to join us in our party and we thought it was a perfect fit to combine the ACM Party for A Cause Festival and our annual CBS special into one historic event,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “Fans and viewers can expect a night of surprises from an all-star lineup of performers who have graced our ACM Awards stage throughout the past 50 years.”

Proceeds from the ACM Party For A Cause will benefit ACM Lifting Lives.

Belmont University, Sea Gayle Music, AIMP Celebrate Pipeline Project 4.0 Success

From L to R   Marc Driskill, Executive Director, AIMP Doug Howard, Dean, Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB) Sarah Cates, Director of Development & Industry Relations (CEMB) Anthony Manker, Pipeline 4.0   Alex Marsh, Pipeline 4.0 Hanna Seymour, Coordinator of Student Enrichment (CEMB) David Schrieber, Lecturer of Music Business (CEMB) Drew Ramsey, Instructor of Songwriting (CEMB),  James Elliott, Chair of Songwriting (CEMB)

Pictured (L-R):  Marc Driskill, Executive Director, AIMP; Doug Howard, Dean, Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB); Sarah Cates, Director of Development & Industry Relations (CEMB); Anthony Manker, Pipeline 4.0; Alex Marsh, Pipeline 4.0; Hanna Seymour, Coordinator of Student Enrichment (CEMB); David Schrieber, Lecturer of Music Business (CEMB); Drew Ramsey, Instructor of Songwriting (CEMB); James Elliott, Chair of Songwriting (CEMB)

Sea Gayle Music Executive Vice President/General Manager and Executive Director of the Nashville Chapter of the Association of  Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Marc Driskill, along with several representatives from Belmont University, including Doug Howard (Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business) and Sarah Cates (Director of Development & Industry Relations), gathered at Nashville venue Citizen on Tuesday, March 3 to celebrate the recent success of Belmont University students involved in research as part of the Belmont Pipeline Project 4.0.

Driskill and Brad Peterson of 5/3 Bank engaged Belmont and the student members of the Belmont Pipeline Project 4.0 this past summer to take a deeper look into the current conversations surrounding copyright laws.

Belmont students Devin Dawson, Anthony Manker and Alex Marsh took the lead in the Belmont Pipeline Project 4.0, interviewing members from different facets of the music industry to get their opinions on the issues and solutions driving the current state of copyrights. “The first week I sat down with them, I told them there wouldn’t be a structure,” said Driskill. “I said, ‘You are going to learn, interview, and come back with your aggregated opinions on this. They went and sat through the copyright roundtables that Belmont University helped set up. They interviewed people across the industry spectrum, including Vincent Candilora at ASCAP, Jody Williams at BMI, others from RIAA, SoundExchange. They interviewed everyone that was a part of this. Kudos to them for the work they did.”

The students shared their research of identifying common patterns between stakeholders and expressed what they thought to be the ‘three keys to licensing reform,’ including efficiency, fair compensation and understanding.  The students then submitted a full proposal to the copyright office with their recommendations, in addition to presenting at an open forum to students and the music industry in September 2014. According to Driskill, the copyright office referred to the students’ proposal approximately 12 times in the recent 245-page study Copyright and the Music Marketplace: A Report of the Register of Copyrights.

“I just think that’s a big deal to have taken on a project like this and made an impact in such a short time,” Driskill said. “They worked for most of the summer on this. I and AIMP and 5/3 wanted to take the time to congratulate them on their accomplishments. This project engages the voices of the next generation. These are important voices and we saw that engaging them this way would be beneficial to us all.”

The students’ career plans are varied. Dawson has plans to continue pursuing a career as a songwriter, while Manker aims to become a music publisher, and Marsh has his sights set on law school.

 

 

Zac Brown Band Reveals New Album, Tour Launch Set For Nashville

Zac Brown Band Jekyll and Hyde

Zac Brown Band will preview music from the band’s forthcoming album Jekyll + Hyde this weekend, during their first Saturday Night Live performance. The 16-track project will release April 28 on Southern Ground/John Varvatos Records/Big Machine Label Group/Republic Records.

Jekyll+Hyde follows the band’s platinum-selling albums Uncaged, You Get What You Give, and The Foundation, as well as the 2013 project The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1.

In support of the new music, the band will launch its North American tour in familiar territory, beginning at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on May 1. Additional headlining shows are slated for Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Citi Field, in addition to several stops at new baseball stadiums, and festivals including Hangout Music Festival and Summerfest.

Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based talent and brand management company. The band is also represented by CAA, public relations firm Shore Fire Media and strategic digital marketing agency Girlilla Marketing.

JEKYLL + HYDE TRACKLIST
1. “Beautiful Drug”
2. “Loving You Easy”
3. “Remedy”
4. “Homegrown”
5. “Mango Tree” (feat. Sara Bareilles)
6. “Heavy Is the Head” (feat. Chris Cornell)
7. “Bittersweet”
8. “Castaway”
9. “Tomorrow Never Comes”
10. “One Day”
11. “Dress Blues”
12. “Young and Wild”
13. “Junkyard”
14. “I’ll Be Your Man” (Song for a Daughter)
15. “Wildfire”
16. “Tomorrow Never Comes” (Acoustic Version)

ZAC BROWN BAND 2015 TOUR DATES
May 1 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
May 7 Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
May 8 Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
May 9 Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
May 16 Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival
May 21 Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
May 22 Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
May 23 Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
May 24 Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
June 4 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
June 5 Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
June 6 Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
June 7 Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
June 13 Jacksonville, FL – Florida County Superfest
June 27 Ozark, AR – Thunder on the Mountain Festival
June 28 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
July 3 Denver, CO – Coors Field
July 9 Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
July 10 Boise, ID – Taco Bell Arena
July 11 George, WA – Gorge Amphitheatre
July 12 Ridgefield, WA – Amphitheater Northwest
Aug 6 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug 7 Boston, MA – Fenway Park
Aug 8 Boston, MA – Fenway Park
Aug 14 Washington, DC – Nationals Park
Aug 15 Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
Aug 21 Flushing, NY – Citi Field
Aug 23 Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sept 6 Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sept 11 Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field
Sept 12 Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
Sept 19 Del Mar, CA – Kaaboo Music & Arts Festival

Songwriter/Producer Luke Laird Renews with UMPG

Pictured: Front row (L-R): Beth Laird, co-owner of Creative Nation Music; and Luke Laird. Back row (L-R): Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Kent Earls, Executive VP/GM of UMPG Nashville; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R.

Pictured: Front row (L-R): Beth Laird, co-owner of Creative Nation Music; and Luke Laird. Back row (L-R): Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Kent Earls, Executive VP/GM of UMPG Nashville; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has renewed its deal with Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Luke Laird, extending his longstanding relationship with the company.

Laird’s exclusive worldwide deal encompasses his entire catalogue as well as future works. Throughout more than a decade with UMPG Nashville as his publisher, Laird has garnered more than 800 credits to his name.

“From his first No. 1 co-written single in 2007 through his 19th No. 1 last week, we have been honored to work with Luke Laird every step of the way. His tireless passion, endless creativity and genre leading songwriting excites the UMPG staff every day. We look forward to what he delivers next!,” said UMPG Nashville Executive Vice President/General Manager Kent Earls.

“I’ve been part of the Universal Music Publishing family for over 10 years and I’m excited to continue the partnership with Kent and the entire team,” Laird said.

Over his career, Luke Laird has co-written 19 No.1 songs on Billboard’s Nashville Country Airplay chart. To date, his songs have contributed to the sales of more than 20 million albums. Laird has penned No.1 hits for a multitude of artists including Luke Bryan (“I See You”), Kenny Chesney (“American Kids”), Lady Antebellum (“Downtown”), Tim McGraw (“One of Those Nights”), Rodney Atkins (“Take a Back Road”), Eric Church (“Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Talladega,” and “Drink in My Hand”), Chris Young (“You”), Carrie Underwood (“Undo It,” “So Small,” “Last Name,” and “Temporary Home”), Brad Paisley (“Beat This Summer”), Sara Evans (“A Little Bit Stronger”), Blake Shelton (“Hillbilly Bone” feat. Trace Adkins), Little Big Town (“Pontoon”), Frankie Ballard (“Sunshine and Whiskey), and Hunter Hayes (“Somebody’s Heartbreak”).

In 2012, Laird received both BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year award and won the Frances W. Preston Award Song of the Year Award for “Take A Back Road.” In 2014, he received his first Grammy Award in 2014 for co-producing Kacey Musgraves’ album, Same Trailer Different Park. In early 2015, he also received his fourth CMA Triple Play Award for three No.1 singles in a 12-month period.

Laird has worked with such other major artists as Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Rascal Flatts, Lee Ann Womack, Amy Grant, Lauren Alaina and Charlotte Church among many others.

Kris Kristofferson, Lady Antebellum, Jason Isbell Set For Skyville Live

skyville live

In January 2015, Skyville Live brought together Martina McBride, Gladys Knight, and Estelle for an evening of unforgettable music. On Tuesday, April 7, Skyville Live will continue with performances from Kris Kristofferson, Lady Antebellum, and Jason Isbell. The concert will be streamed exclusively online at skyvillelive.com, beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

Skyville Live is a series of monthly music events featuring collaborations from great artists from all generations and all music genres. Each episode filmed in front of a live studio audience from the Skyville Live headquarters located in Nashville, Tenn. For more information and to sign up to watch the show visit SkyvilleLive.com.

Recorded with full HD video, shows are live-streamed exclusively to online viewers around the world.

Artist Updates: Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack, John King

Tim McGraw Adds Nashville Date to Shotgun Rider Tour

Tim McGraw. Photo: Big Machine Label Group

Tim McGraw. Photo: Big Machine Label Group

Tim McGraw recently announced he will make his solo return to Nashville after six years with the addition of an Aug. 15 concert at Bridgestone Arena to his previously announced Shotgun Rider Tour.

McGraw will launch the tour in June, with musical support from Billy Currington and Chase Bryant.

 

Lee Ann Womack to Hold Three-Night Run at Nashville’s City Winery

lee-ann-womack-the-way-i'm-livingfeatured

Lee Ann Womack

Lee Ann Womack was recently slated to perform at City Winery in Nashville on Feb. 6, though the two sold-out concerts were canceled due to ice and snow.

“As badly as I wanted to play, as much as I had so many friends and family coming to celebrate the music with us,” says the East Texan, “the last thing I would ever want is someone getting hurt in the inclement weather! Nashville just is not set up for snow, let alone that amount of ice…and the driving just isn’t safe. Thankfully the people at City Winery understand how much my fans mean to me, and they worked with us to find some dates that were available when I wasn’t on the road. And because of how quickly the tickets sold out, they even suggested we make it a three night stand.”

The singer isn’t leaving fans in the lurch. She will perform three shows at City Winery on April 6-8. Details for ticket holders are being resolved.

Tickets available to VinoFile members today, while public onsale Thursday at 3 p.m. CST. Check LeeAnnWomack.com or citywinery.com/nashville.

 

John King Puckers Up at CRS

John King had some fun with radio staffers during Black River Entertainment’s cocktail reception last week at Nashville’s Country Radio Seminar.

John King with radio staffers at CRS.

John King with radio staffers at CRS.

 

Nashville Public Television Airs Dailey & Vincent Concert Special

APPROVED DVD CVR ASSETNashville Public Television aired bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent‘s concert special Dailey & Vincent-Alive! In Concert on Tuesday, March 3. The set will re-air on Friday, March 6 at 1:30 a.m. CST, and on Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. CT. The duo will also be performing on the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, March 7.

 

BMI Honors KC And The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne "KC" Casey and BMI's David Preston. Photo: Jeremy Westby

Harry Wayne “KC” Casey and BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Jeremy Westby

KC and The Sunshine Band were honored on Tuesday March 3 by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), recognizing their long-standing career and outstanding contributions to the music industry through iconic hits.

The band’s frontman, Harry Wayne “KC” Casey was present at the BMI offices in Nashville, Tenn., to accept the coveted awards from BMI Director and Writer Publisher, David Preston.

Among the honors garnered were seven (7) Pop Awards, four (4) million performance certificates, two (2) R&B Awards, two (2) two-million performance certificates, and one (1) Urban Award. The accolades span the years from 1974 to 2013 — the latest in which they won their most recent recognition, an Urban Award, for “Pop That.” BMI first recognized their musical contributions in 1974 with a two million performance certificate and Pop Award for international No. 1 smash, “Rock Your Baby.”

“If you take a song, of a normal length, and you play it back-to-back, it takes it over six years to reach a million performances. Today, we present KC with certificates representing over eight million performances — a remarkable feat,” said Preston.

KC added, “It puts a smile of my face to know that my music has made such an impact over the years. I created dance music to make people happy, and it turns out that it’s made me pretty happy, too!”

KC and The Sunshine Band’s new album, Feeling You! The 60s, is available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon now, and will be available in music stores nationwide and worldwide digital realms Tuesday, March 10.

BMI Award certificates for KC and the Sunshine Band. Photo: Jeremy Westby

BMI Award certificates for KC and the Sunshine Band. Photo: Jeremy Westby