March 2015 - Page 3 of 22

Pandora’s Page To Join Cumulus

March 30, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Tommy Page

Cumulus Media has added Tommy Page as Sr. VP of Brand Partnerships. In the new role, Page will connect brands with Cumulus listeners, with content being distributed by Westwood One, according to Billboard.

He will report to Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey, and will be based in New York City.

Page joins Cumulus from Pandora, where he played a significant role in outreach to artists and the industry after the company earned criticism over its royalty rates. Page joined Pandora in 2013, after two years at Billboard.

Page’s industry career began as a recording artist for Sire Records. His best-known hit was 1990’s “I’ll Be Your Everything.” He later returned to NYU’s Stern School of Business to pursue a career as a music exec. He then spent 14 years as an A&R and radio promotion exec for Warner Bros./Reprise.

UMPG Snags Indie Breakout Artist Justin Adams

March 30, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Pictured (L-R) back: Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R; and Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG. Front: Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Adams; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Scott Safford, attorney.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed budding artist/songwriter Justin Adams to an exclusive publishing agreement.

Adams’ 2013 self-titled independent EP featured co-written songs with established writers including Kent Blazy and Karyn Rochelle. Adams has reached No. 4 on the iTunes Country Music Albums chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Country Albums.

MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann gave the Oklahoma native and former college football player’s “Miss Me Whiskey” the DISCovery award in August 2013, noting: “He hooked me from the well-written opening lines. This is a real piece of songwriting craftsmanship, and fact that he sings it with so much force makes it that much more involving. An artist who has all the ammo he needs for stardom. And I loved the haunting instrumental coda.”

“Justin is one of the hardest working, extremely focused and brightest artists that we’ve had the fortune to sign. We look forward to helping Justin take his artistry and music to the next level,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager.

“UMPG is one big family and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Kent, Missy, and the rest of the amazing team there,” said Adams.

In the wake of his writing success Adams has been balancing a busy tour schedule, sharing the stage with Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Eli Young Band, David Nail, Love and Theft, Easton Corbin, Eric Paslay and Charlie Worsham.

BMLG Signs Pop Artist Laura Marano

March 30, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Laura Marano with BMLG's Allison Jones. Photo courtesy of Laura Marano.

Laura Marano with BMLG’s Allison Jones. Photo: Laura Marano/Twitter.

Big Machine Label Group has added pop artist and actress Laura Marano to its roster, MusicRow has confirmed.

The 19-year-old entertainer, who stars as Ally in Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally, recently earned Favorite TV Actress at the 2015 Kids’ Choice Awards. She has also appeared on Without a Trace, Back to You, Ghost Whisperer, Flash Forward, True Jackson, and other series.

Marano recorded several tracks for the soundtrack album Austin & Ally: Turn It Up, along with co-star Ross Lynch. She is also featured on Disney Channel’s Play It Loud compilation, and recorded “I Love Christmas” as part of Disney Channel’s holiday compilation Holidays Unwrapped.

The singer/actress revealed the label signing via social media over the weekend.

Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert Take Home iHeartRadio Awards

March 30, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Jason Aldean performs on the 2015 iHeartRadio Music awards.

The 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards brought lots of star power to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday night (March 29). The second annual event aired on NBC.

The awards “showcase the year’s most popular artists and songs determined by the iHeartRadio Chart and fan voting through iHeartRadio stations nationwide,” according to a press release. Fan voting determined the winners of Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics and the first-ever Renegade Award, sponsored by Jeep. More on the fan voting.

2015 iHeartRadio Innovator Award- Justin Timberlake

Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Iggy Azalea
Luke Bryan
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift – WINNER

Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith

Best Collaboration
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj – WINNER
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Problem” – Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz

Best New Artist
Bastille
Cole Swindell
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Sam Smith – WINNER

Country Song of the Year
“Bartender” – Lady Antebellum
“Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean – WINNER
“Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
“Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
“Play It Again” – Luke Bryan

Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year
“Don’t Tell ‘Em” – Jeremih featuring YG – WINNER
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z
“Flawless” – Beyoncé
“Loyal” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga
“New Flame” – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross

Dance Song of the Year
“Animals” – Martin Garrix
“Blame” – Calvin Harris featuring John Newman
“La La La” – Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith
“Summer” – Calvin Harris – WINNER
“Waves” – Mr. Probz

Alternative Rock Song of the Year
“Come With Me Now” – KONGOS
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Fever” – The Black Keys
“Something From Nothing” – Foo Fighters
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier – WINNER

Best Lyrics
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
“Habits (Stay High)” – Tove Lo
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran

Best Fan Army
5SOSFAM – 5 Seconds of Summer – WINNER
Arianators – Ariana Grande
Bey Hive – Beyoncé
Team Breezy – Chris Brown
Sheerios – Ed Sheeran
Church Choir – Eric Church
Directioners – One Direction
Selenators – Selena Gomez
Mendes Army – Shawn Mendes
Swifties – Taylor Swift

Renegade Award
Brantley Gilbert – WINNER
Charli XCX
Hozier
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor

Brantley Gilbert accepts the Renegade award.

Florida Georgia Line perform “Sun Daze.”

Taylor Swift performs with Madonna at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Kelly Clarkson performs “Heartbeat Song.”

Justin Timberlake accepts the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.

Meghan Trainor performs “Dear Future Husband.”

Tin Pan South: In Pictures

March 27, 2015/by Kelsey_Grady

Songwriters including Will Hoge, Brandon Lay, and Pat Alger performed at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe Wednesday evening as part of the CMA Presents Show.

Pictured (L-R): Amy Smart, Country Music Association; Pat Alger; Brandon Lay; Will Hoge; Chris Crawford, Country Music Association at the CMA Presents show at the Hard Rock Cafe Wednesday night. Photo: Bev Moser

Last night, Creative Nation played a sold out round at Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe for Tin Pan South. The evening included music from hitmakers Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Natalie Hemby as well as Creative Nation artists, Steve Moakler and Maggie Chapman.

Pictured (L to R): Steve Moakler, Maggie Chapman, Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Barry Dean

Pictured (L-R): Steve Moakler, Maggie Chapman, Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Barry Dean

Nashville’s famed Hard Rock Café was the setting for SESAC’s annual Tin Pan South 2015 Showcase. Boasting an incredible lineup, songwriters Hillary Scott (“Need You Now”), Rob Hatch (“I Don’t Dance”), Larry McCoy (“Make Me Wanna”) and Lance Miller (“Drink To That All Night”) delivered a rousing night of hits and emotional performances for the capacity crowd.

Pictured (L-R): Region Bank’s Brian O’Meara, Larry McCoy, Hillary Scott, SESAC’s Tim Fink, Rob Hatch, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Lance Miller. Photo: Bev Moser

James Otto performed at The Listening Room cafe on Tuesday as part of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. He played his new single “Somewhere Tonight” along with other classics such as “In Color.”

Pictured (L- R): James Otto, Trent Tomlinson, Clint Daniels, Anthony Smith. Photo: Bev Moser

The Station Inn hosted performances from Vince Gill, Leslie Satcher, Bobby Tomberlin, and Bill Anderson Thursday night.

Pictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Leslie Satcher, Bobby Tomberlin and Bill Anderson at the Station Inn Thursday night.

Sarah Buxton, Dave Berg, Jordan Lawhead, and Marc Beeson performed Thursday evening at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe.

Pictured (L-R): Jordan Lawhead; Marc Beeson; Lisa Harless, Regions Bank; Dave Berg; Sarah Buxton at The Bluebird Cafe Thursday night.

CMHoF Reveals ‘Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats’ Exhibit

March 27, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (CMHoF) debuted its latest exhibition Thursday night, March 26, titled, Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City Presented by Citi.

Charlie Daniels and Charlie McCoy kicked off the evening in the upstairs Event Hall, with performances of songs featured in the large-scale exhibit. Afterward VIP attendees were allowed an exclusive preview of the new exhibition, which officially opens today (March 27).

Pictured (L-R): Nashville Cats David Briggs, Lloyd Green, and Mac Gayden; CMHoF curator Michael Gray; Nashville Cats Wayne Moss and Norbert Putnam; and guest co-curator Pete Finney. Photo: Jason Davis, Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): designer Jeff Stamper; CMHoF’s Warren Denney; artist Jon Langford; and the CMHoF’s Carolyn Tate, Mick Buck, and Kyle Young. Photo: CK Photo

Nashville Cat Charlie Daniels (background) browses the galleries with CMHoF’s Carolyn Tate (foreground). Photo: Jason Davis, Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): Nashville Cats Mac Gayden, Lloyd Green, Wayne Moss, Charlie Daniels, and Charlie McCoy; CMHoF’s Kyle Young; Marcie Allen Van Mol, President of MAC Presents; CMHoF’s Carolyn Tate; and Nashville Cat David Briggs. Photo: Jason Davis, Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): CAA’s Rod Essig, CMHoF’s Lisa Purcell, and the Grand Ole Opry’s Pete Fisher. Photo: CK Photo

Emmy Lou Harris (L) with Jo Walker-Meador (R). Photo: CK Photo

Bobby Braddock (L) with Harold Bradley (R). Photo: CK Photo

Pictured (L-R): Alexandra Guralnick, historian and author Peter Guralnick, and the CMHoF Mick Buck. Photo: CK Photo

“Girl Crush” Controversy: Is It For Real?

March 27, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Little Big Town‘s “Girl Crush” has received a surge of press this week, after a Washington Post article claimed that country radio stations were either heavily cutting back its spin rotations or dropping it completely, due to listener complaints that it was “promoting the gay agenda.”

A closer look at country radio airplay charts, and the song’s lyrics, tell a different story.

“Girl Crush” has not been dropped by a majority of country radio stations, instead it is either holding steady or gaining traction.

“Girl Crush” includes the provocative lyrics: I want to taste her lips/Yeah, ’cause they taste like you/I want to drown myself/In a bottle of her perfume/I want her long blonde hair/I want her magic touch…I got a girl crush.

According to the Washington Post, some radio stations received negative feedback after a few listeners confused the content of the song. The article did not list which, if any, stations actually pulled the song from their playlists.

“Girl Crush,” penned by Love Junkies songwriters Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, and Lori McKenna, is a sultry ballad about pure jealousy. A woman longs for the same qualities that attracted her man to another woman.

Airplay tallies from the secondary market radio stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart have placed “Girl Crush” around No. 16 and No. 17 on the chart for the past five weeks. The song has been on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart a total of 14 weeks.

This week, “Girl Crush” is down one spot from No. 16 to No. 17. Only one station dropped the song completely last week, while most MusicRow stations playing the song either kept “Girl Crush” at the same spin count as the previous week, or increased the number of spins. According to the latest chart, the song received an additional 79 spins last week from MusicRow reporting stations.

A one slot drop is also seen with other songs that are gaining spins this week. For example, Mercury Nashville’s Canaan Smith’s “Love You Like That” earned an additional 62 spins this week on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart, but dropped from No. 14 to No. 16. Trisha Yearwood’s “I Remember You” earned an additional 34 spins, but dropped one slot from No. 70 to No. 71.

Darius Rucker Flaunts His ‘Southern Style’

March 27, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Darius Rucker’s fourth solo album, Southern Style, will be released on March 31. Produced by Frank Rogers and Keith Stegall, the project features the Top 5 and climbing single “Homegrown Honey,” which Rucker co-wrote with Nathan Chapman and Capitol Nashville labelmate Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum. Rucker co-penned all 13 tracks on Southern Style with some of country music’s most notable songwriters including Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Rivers Rutherford and too many others to list (see below).

Rucker will launch the album with national media appearances including NBC’s Today Show (3/31), ESPN’s Mike & Mike, First Take and SportsCenter (3/31), CNN Headline News (4/1), The Dan Patrick Show (4/1), The Ellen DeGeneres Show (4/6) and ABC’s The Chew (4/16).

Southern Style track listing:

1. Homegrown Honey (Darius Rucker, Nathan Chapman and Charles Kelley)
2. Good For A Good Time (Darius Rucker, Kendal Marvel and Jeremy Spillman)
3. Baby I’m Right (Featuring Mallary Hope)* (Darius Rucker, Mark Nesler and Phillip White)
4. Southern Style (Darius Rucker, Rivers Rutherford and Tim James)
5. High On Life (Darius Rucker, Josh Thompson and Jessi Alexander)**
6. Perfect (Darius Rucker, Ashley Gorley and Rhett Akins)
7. You, Me And My Guitar (Darius Rucker, Ashley Gorley and Rhett Akins)
8. Low Country (Darius Rucker, Troy Verges, Blair Daly and Hillary Lindsey) **
9. Need You More (Darius Rucker, Jonathan Singleton and Deric Ruttan)
10. Half Full Dixie Cup (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell)
11. Lighter Up (Darius Rucker, Drew Davis and Blake Bollinger) **
12. You Can Have Charleston (Darius Rucker and Frank Rogers)
13. So I Sang (Darius Rucker, Rivers Rutherford and Tim James) **

Produced by Frank Rogers
**Produced by Keith Stegall

Kenny Chesney’s Big Revival Shakes Up Nashville

March 27, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Kenny Chesney launches The Big Revival Tour in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

“Feel the vibration of the No Shoes Nation,” warned an old New Orleans street preacher in the opening video of Kenny Chesney’s show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville last night (March 26).

The vibration that ensued was more like an earthquake as Chesney celebrated the opening night of his tour—and his birthday—with a three-hour, sold-out show that included surprise guests Joe Walsh, Taylor Swift, Uncle Kracker, David Lee Murphy, and Grace Potter. It was the first of a two-night run at the arena.

“To say I missed you guys is an understatement,” said the performer who had taken a break from the road since 2013.

Kenny Chesney welcomes Taylor Swift during his Nashville concert. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Back with the aptly named The Big Revival Tour, Chesney was a sleeveless-shirted preacher sprinting across the stage under a spinning disco ball, telling his congregation to live in the moment God gave them. It’s that offering of escapism—and too many hits to count—that make him the entertainer of every year. Just like his song “Reality” advises, “everybody needs to break free from reality.”

His “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” attitude permeated, singing the worry-free hits “Beer in Mexico,” “Keg in the Closet” and “Summertime.” Even when he offered the moody “Somewhere With You,” he rebounded with upbeat “I Go Back.”

As the night went on, Chesney went further back in his catalog, leading singalongs of early career hits “There Goes My Life,” “How Forever Feels” and “Never Wanted Nothing More.” Murphy appeared to offer the songs he made famous, “Dust On The Bottle” and “Party Crowd.”

Grace Potter joins Kenny Chesney onstage in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Potter joined him for their current hit “Wild Child” as well as “You And Tequila.” Uncle Kracker came out for “When The Sun Goes Down.”

Walsh led the crowd in “Happy Birthday” and performed four other songs, closing out the concert with “All Night Long.”

By the end of the show, everyone wanted to move to No Shoes Nation, but were forced back to reality in the chilly night.

Joe Walsh joins Kenny Chesney for several songs in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

David Lee Murphy joins Kenny Chesney for several songs in Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Chesney’s Sony Music Nashville labelmates Jake Owen and Chase Rice opened with strong performances.

Owen’s beach scene set included palm trees—an inviting backdrop as he reminded how many hits he’s tallied, including “Alone With You,” “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” “Days of Gold,” “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “The One That Got Away” and a spotlight solo of “What We Ain’t Got.”

The tour continues for an encore tonight in Nashville, before hitting cities across the country this summer.

Kenny Chesney Kicks Off "The Big Revival" Tour

Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Chris Janson Finds Sales Success Outside Label, Radio Promotion

March 27, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Now a fully independent music artist, Chris Janson‘s latest single, “Buy Me A Boat” hit No. 1 on the iTunes country charts, No. 7 overall Friday morning (March 20).

The tune shattered digital sales with over 20K sold as registered by the Sunday close of Soundscan. The feat was achieved without radio promotion or label support, as his Bigger Picture record label shuttered last year. After the singer’s departure from the label, fan demand was to the extent that Columbia Nashville released an EP, Take It To The Bank, from a prior deal.

Not completely without support of radio, Bobby Bones of his own syndicated morning show gave the single a boost in exposure, noted as saying: “We played [“Buy Me A Boat”] twice in a half hour, which is a no-no…And I’ll be damned it hit No. 1 and took down Sam Hunt, which has been the No. 1 song for weeks.”

Social media also offered support for the feat. Toby Keith, ABC’s Nashville actor Charles Esten, RaeLynn, Luke Laird and Ben Hayslip additionally tweeted in support of Janson’s “Buy Me A Boat,’ which was co-written with Chris Dubois.

Janson is currently focusing on his summer tour and writing songs for his debut album. Catch the high-energy entertainer on the road April 3-4 at the Grand Ole Opry, followed by Country Thunder (Florence, Ariz.), April 11; and Stagecoach (Indio, Calif.), April 26.

Listen to the single below.