Second Batch of ACM Presenters Revealed for Sunday

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acm 50th logoThe second round of presenters have been announced for the 50th ACM Awards, set for Sunday, April 19.

Those include Clint Black, Lee Brice, Kelly Clarkson, Brett Eldredge, Brantley Gilbert, Mickey Guyton, Hunter Hayes, Justin Moore, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Dwight Yoakam, Alabama, Big & Rich, Nancy O’Dell, Sofia Vergara, Reese Witherspoon, Jason Witten, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo, Beth Behrs, Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev, Taya Kyle, and Dr. Phil McGraw.

Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts. Special duets include Christina Aguilera with surprise artists as well as Nick Jonas with Dan + Shay plus Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell.

The ceremony will be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8:00- 11:30 p.m. ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets to the ACM Awards sold out last spring in a record 18 minutes, but as staging changes became final for the telecast, seats have been added.

[Updated] Music Panels at Nashville Film Festival

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[Updated April 21] More panelists added to Beyond The Sync Fee and Music Makes Movies panels.

NaFF2015

The Nashville Film Festival, which opens today (April 16), is offering four panels about music opportunities in film, TV, ads, trailers and games.

• Shoot and Score: Music in Video Games will feature Steve Schnur (EA Games) and moderator Jim Scherer (Whizbang) at Grand Victor Sound (Historic RCA Studio A), Wed., April 22 at 2 p.m.

• Music Makes Movies: Song Placement in 2015 will feature John Houlihan (Houlihan Film Music), Oliver Hild (NBC), Paul Logan (CMT), Anastasia Brown (Format Ent.), Robert Jordan (Fox Sports) and moderator Randall Foster (ole). This event will be at Warner Bros. Records Thurs., April 23 at 1:30 p.m.

• Bands and Brands: Generating Dollars and Exposure For Music in the Ad World will feature panelists Jessica Dierauer (Able Baker), Aaron Mercer (Wool & Tusk), Patrick Buchanan (Ignition Creative), Craig Currier (Peer Music) and moderator Jim Scherer. This panel will be at Warner Bros. Records on Thurs., April 23 at 3 p.m.

• Beyond the Sync Fee, featuring Shelby Kennedy (Tunecore), Brandy Campbell (Rhapsody), Charles Alexander (Out of the Box), Craig Currier (Peer Music) and moderator Devon DeVries, will be held at ASCAP, Fri., April 24 at 3 p.m.

Details on the panels at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.

The Sam Bush documentary will world premiere at the NaFF.

The Sam Bush documentary will world premiere at the NaFF.

There are numerous music films showing at the film festival. A few highlights include:

• Country: Portraits of an American Sound, The history and culture of country music through the lens of the photographers Les Leverett, Leigh Weiner, Henry Horenstein, Henry Diltz, Raeanne Rubenstein, David McAlister and Michael Wilson. Cast: Rosanne Cash, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, Charley Pride, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, The Band Perry, Keith Urban. World Premiere.

• Heartworn Highways Revisited, A new community of singer-songwriters whose work is heavily influenced by the “Outlaw” artists is presented in the 1976 documentary Heartworn Highways. Cast: David Allan Coe, Guy Clark, Bobby Bare Jr. Shelly Colvin, Andrew Combs.

• Revival: The Sam Bush Story. Cast: Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Chris Thile, The Avett Brothers, Bela Fleck, Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, John Oates. World Premiere

See a complete list of music films here.

Bridgestone Free Film Day is Monday, April 20 at the Nashville Film Festival. Tickets must be reserved at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org or at the festival box office at Green Hills while supplies last.

Music Business Association To Hold Inaugural Artists, Management, Touring Town Hall

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Music Biz logoThe Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present its first-ever Artists, Management & Touring Town Hall on Tuesday, May 12, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel in Nashville during the annual Music Biz 2015 conference. For the first time, the Music Biz 2015 conference will be held in Nashville, from May 12-14.

The  Town Hall will highlight topics including the artist’s role in creating a development and marketing plan for their music and live performances, how to use fan clubs and VIP packages to introduce new sources of revenue, and how new digital services can assist with direct-to-fan sales, tour promotion, and more. It will end with a Digital Marketing Mixer, in which artists, managers, label staffers, students, and more will have a chance to discuss these new revenue streams and how they can work together to engage fans and maximize sales.

“We noticed the development of the direct-to-fan commerce channel for artists, especially on tour, and this Town Hall will illuminate those opportunities for our attendees and explain how they can best incorporate these into their overall marketing plan,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “In addition to standard ticket sales, artists can now easily offer access to meet-and-greets, special merch packages, and more through new digital services that make direct-to-fan sales a snap. We hope this program will start a dialogue in the broader music business about how artists, management, and touring can work together to maximize the sales impact of this synergy.”

Admission to the Artists, Management & Touring Town Hall is included in the registration price for the full Music Biz 2015 event. Tickets can also be purchased separately on EventBrite at a special rate of $99 for one-day passes.

The agenda for the Town Hall is below:

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
The Empowered Artist
The new music industry now requires artists at the early stage of their careers to formulate their own development and marketing plan to create enhanced awareness to move their careers forward. This session will look at how artists can knowledgeably approach this challenge and empower themselves, as well as the evolving role of the artist, manager, and the “team” that artists should aim to assemble to help move their music business forward.
· Moderator: Dave Kusek, New Artist Model/Digital Cowboys
· Gerald Moss, Entertainment One Distribution US

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Fan Clubs/VIP Packages: Old School or Great Fan Experience
Years ago, every act had a fan club and offered “VIP packages” to fans for an increased cost. These fan clubs collected important fan data, and these acts knew a great deal about their spur fans and what they wanted. Today, few acts have fan clubs. They rely on third-party companies to handle their fans and their email lists. These acts are not taking advantage of the fans’ desire for a greater experience — an experience for which they are willing to pay top dollar. We will discuss the pros and cons to both artist and fan and the replacement of simple things like early tickets and T-shirts to sitting on stage or fly-aways.
· Moderator: Nick Lippman, Lippman Entertainment
· Dan Berkowitz, CID Entertainment
· James Blades, McGhee Entertainment
· Eddie Meehan, Wonderful Union
· Zeeshan Zaidi, Ticketmaster

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Digital Tool Kit: Effective Music Marketing in 2015
The digital era has changed the way business is done in every industry and the music business is no exception. This panel will go through real world tools and tips to help effectively manage and market the music of your artist. From how to manage music files to the best sites to market music to the masses while collecting valuable data. Sites and topics covered will be SmartURL.it, populr.me, Bandsintown, ArtistGrowth, E4M campaigns, Email management, etc.
· Charles Alexander, Outside the Box Music
· Jon Romero, Vector Management
· Alec Steinfeld, C3 Management

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Digital Marketing Mixer
Calling all artists, managers, junior label staffers, students, and more! Here’s your chance to mix and mingle with professionals behind the digital marketing tools of the future that can take you or your artist’s career to the next level. Confirmed participants include ArtistGrowth, Bandposters, Dart, Populr.me, and Tunespeak.
· Moderator: Jon Romero, Vector Management

Lady Antebellum Tour Bus Catches Fire En Route To ACMs

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Photo: Lady Antebellum via social media

Photo: Lady Antebellum via social media

Lady Antebellum‘s trip to Dallas for this weekend’s Academy of Country Music Awards caught a snag when the bus carrying Lady A vocalist Hillary Scott, her husband Chris Tyrell, the band’s tour manager, and driver caught fire this morning. Fellow Lady Antebellum members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood were not on board the bus.

Scott posted a photo of the charred bus to social media, along with a note reassuring fans that they are fine.

“Hey guys, we had a crazy morning on the way to Dallas today. Our bus tire caught on fire and we had to evacuate very quickly. EVERYONE IS SAFE AND SOUND. It was me, my husband, our tour manager, and driver. Thanking God for our safety and the safety of all of those who helped put this fire out and keep us safe. Love you all!!!! ~hillary”

According to the local Garland CBS affiliate, the bus driver stopped after a rear tire blew out, and everyone evacuated. The bus then burst into flames. No other cars were involved in the event.

 

Full Lineup Revealed For ACM Party For A Cause

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acm party for a cause 1The 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival will take place on Friday, April 17 & Saturday, April 18 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. The two-day festival will feature some of country music’s newest and biggest stars on two stages during the day. The main stage will feature stars and legends with ACM nominees. It will be taped for a two-hour special, “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets,” that will air on CBS on Friday, May 15.

The event will also include the presentation of the ACM Triple Crown Award to country legend, Mickey Gilley. This award honors artists who have won ACM Awards for New Artist, Male/Female Vocalist and/or Vocal Duo / Vocal Group and Entertainer of the Year.

The ACM Party for a Cause Festival celebrates the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards, which will take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Sunday and benefits the ACM Lifting Lives, which includes Folds of Honor Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Task Force Dagger Foundation.

Full Schedule For 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival

Friday, April 17, 2015 ACM Party for a Cause Festival

12:30pm –A Thousand Horses, Party Stage
12:45pm –Gord Bamford, Ram Lone Star Stage
1:05pm –Eric Paslay, Party Stage
1:20pm –Cam-Ram, Lone Star Stage
1:40pm –Dan + Shay, Party Stage
2:05pm –Mo Pitney, Ram Lone Star Stage
2:50pm –Kelsea Ballerini, Ram Lone Star Stage
3:10pm –Kristian Bush, Party Stage
3:55pm –Cole Swindell, Party Stage
4:20pm –Native Run, Ram Lone Star Stage
4:40pm –Josh Abbott Band, Party Stage
5:05pm –Michael Ray, Ram Lone Star Stage
5:25pm –Montgomery Gentry, Party Stage
6:30pm Doors Open, Globe Life Park

April 17, 2015 (“ACM Presents: Superstar Duets”/Globe Life Park)

Listed in Order of Appearance

Brantley Gilbert
Dwight Yoakam & Sam Hunt
Darius Rucker & Sara Evans
Mickey Gilley (Triple Crown Award Presentation)
Alabama & Eli Young Band
Brooks & Dunn & Reba
Dierks Bentley, Kip Moore & Ashley Monroe
Luke Bryan & Ronnie Milsap

April 18, 2015 ACM Party for a Cause Festival

12:45pm-Maddie & Tae, Party Stage
1:10pm –Frankie Ballard, Party Stage
1:35pm –Sam Hunt, Party Stage
2:00pm –Kenny Foster, Ram Lone Star Stage
2:20pm –Chase Rice, Party Stage
2:45pm –Dylan Scott, Ram Lone Star Stage
3:05pm –Tyler Farr, Party Stage
3:30pm –Chase Bryant, Ram Lone Star Stage
3:55pm –Brett Eldredge, Party Stage
4:15pm –Old Dominion, Ram Lone Star Stage
4:40pm –Kip Moore, Party Stage
5:00pm –Brothers Osborne, Ram Lone Star Stage
5:25pm –The Gatlin Brothers, Party Stage
6:30pm -Doors Open, Globe Life Park

Saturday, April 18, 2015 (“ACM Presents: Superstar Duets”/Globe Life Park)

Listed in Order of Appearance

Clint Black & Joe Nichols
The Band Perry & Deana Carter
Lady Antebellum & Brandy Clark
Hunter Hayes & Brett Eldredge
Jake Owen
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson & Cole Swindell
Miranda Lambert & Patty Loveless
Keith Urban & John Anderson
Eric Church & Marty Stuart
Florida Georgia Line & David Lee Murphy

Willie and Merle Reunite for 14-Track Album

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Haggard, Nelson. Photo: Danny Clinch

Haggard, Nelson. Photo: Danny Clinch

Legacy Recordings will release Django and Jimmie, a new studio collaboration from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, on June 2.

Helmed by Nelson’s longtime producer, Buddy Cannon, Django and Jimmie premieres 14 new studio recordings (full list below) including “Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash,” an homage to country music’s original Man in Black, featuring guest vocals from Bobby Bare. The title track is a tribute to jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers.

Cannon helped pen five album tracks, including four co-writes with Nelson. There is an equal number of Haggard solo-writes. Additional tracks include an interpretation of Bob Dylan‘s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”; and the future outlaw country classic “Unfair Weather Friend,” written by Marla Cannon-Goodman (Buddy Cannon’s daughter) and Ward Davis.

Willie-Merle-2Nelson and Haggard each pay musical tribute to the other through solo performances: Willie singing Merle’s “Somewhere Between” and Merle covering Willie’s “Family Bible.”

According to Haggard, there’s “new songs, a couple of classics and Willie sang like he was a teenager.”

Nelson sums up the duo’s new collaboration simply saying, “It’s good music, I got a good feeling about it.”

In 1983, the pair’s Pancho & Lefty became a honky-tonk blockbuster and No. 1 country album following its January release. The success opened the doors for a number of follow-up projects including ’87’s Seashores Of Old Mexico album, 2007’s double album Last Of The Breed with Ray Price, and the Merle Haggard-penned “A Horse Called Music” (the lead track on 2012’s Heroes, Nelson’s first album for Legacy).

Django and Jimmie Track Listing: 

1. Django and Jimmie (Jimmy Melton/Jeff Prince)
2. It’s All Going To Pot (Buddy Cannon/Jamey Johnson/Larry Shell)
3. Unfair Weather Friend (Marla Cannon-Goodman/Ward Davis)
4. Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash –feat. Bobby Bare (Haggard)
5. Live This Long (Shawn Camp/Marv Green)
6. Alice In Hulaland (Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
7. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (Bob Dylan)
8. Family Bible (Walter M. Breeland/Paul F. Buskirk/Claude Gray)
9. It’s Only Money (Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
10. Swinging Doors (Haggard)
11. Where Dreams Come To Die (Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
12. Somewhere Between (Haggard)
13. Driving The Herd (Nelson/Buddy Cannon)
14. The Only Man Wilder Than Me (Haggard)

DISClaimer: Outlaws and Loser’s Lyrics Sound Good

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Whitey-Morganfeatured

Whitey Morgan

Spring has sprung, and country sounds fill the air. My favorite thing about this listening session is that there was no shortage of worthy DisCovery Award contenders. New to the column this week are 2 Steel Girls, Rainey Qualley, Bryan Hayes and Monty Byrom, any one of whom could have captured the crown.

But I’ve gotta go with the outlaw sound of Whitey Morgan & The 78s. This is the “honky-tonk alter ego of Eric David Allen,” who grew up in hard-luck Flint, Mich., and cut his extraordinary CD in Texas. Welcome to the party, son: You’ve got the goods.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Thomas Rhett, who manages to marry a loser’s lyric to a winner’s audio sunshine.

MONTY BYROM/Meet Me at Midnight
Writers: Monty Byrom/Paul Kalman; Producer: Monty Byrom; Publishers: Byrom, SESAC; WTF (track)
-Remember the Bakersfield band Big House and its groovy 1997 hit “Cold Outside?” The group’s Monty Byrom now leads The Buckaroos at The Crystal Palace once a month and has his own blues-rocking combo The Road Pilots. With the latter, he has recorded his debut solo CD, 100 Miles South of Eden. That’s where you’ll find this swampy, soulful ballad beckoning a belle to sex and sadness. Very cool. The album’s last track, by the way, features the late Buck Owens singing with Byrom on a 1998 version of “Big In Vegas.”

COLE SWINDELL/Let Me See Ya Girl
Writers: Cole Swindell/Michael Carter/Jody Stevens; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/243/Sony-ATV Cross Keys; BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-He wants to see her “dance” in the bed of his truck, “movin’ your hips like the wind moves cotton.” It may not be the most romantic invitation in the world, but it is lively and tuneful.

BRYAN HAYES/Farther Down the Line
Writers: Bryan Hayes; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BH (track)
– The title tune to his new CD finds this tenor Tennessee troubadour questioning the future of a relationship with plenty of catchy hooks. It has been seven years since his last collection because he wrote these 11 new songs while serving in Iraq. Welcome home, bro.

Thomas-Rhettfeatured

Thomas Rhett

THOMAS RHETT/Crash and Burn
Writers: Jesse Frasure/Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Publishers: Rio Bravo/WB/Ken Tucky; BMI/ASCAP; Valory
– Jaunty and bopping, featuring hand claps, whistling and a dandy rhythm track. The lyric is about a love crashing and burning, but heartache has never sounded quite this bouncy. Delightful.

RAINEY QUALLEY/Turn Me On Like The Radio
Writers: Rainey Qualley/John Ramey/Jeffrey Easy; Producers: Russ Zavitson/John Ramey; Publishers: Russ Zavitson/Rainey Qualley/Tazmaraz, ASCAP/BMI; Cingle (track)
– Instantly familiar, with a melody that grabs your ears and won’t let go. An automatic add and a sure-fire hit for a newcomer with a winning, throaty, alto range.

LIVEWIRE/Quit You
Writers: Andy Eutsler/Danny Bell/Jeffrey Joseph East; Producers: Paul Carabello/Clif Doyal; Publishers: Real Man/Parrot Island/Tazmaraz; BMI; Way Out West
-I remain a fan. This time, LiveWire takes on a dark ballad with the theme of love being like an addiction. Slowly insinuating.

WHITEY MORGAN & THE 78s/Waitin’ ‘Round to Die
Writers: Townes Van Zandt; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Publisher: Silver Dollar, ASCAP; WM (track)
-Morgan previews next month’s Sonic Ranch CD with a video of this dark, doom-drenched and completely gripping ballad. You’ll hang on every line, probably because it’s written by a master song craftsman. In addition to Van Zandt, the singer-songwriter covers tunes by Tom T. Hall, Frankie Miller and Waylon Jennings, with whom he shares a dramatic “outlaw” vocal personna. Highly recommended.

2 STEEL GIRLS/Mad Black Magic
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; 2SG
-This is a mother-daughter duo — Allison and Krystal Steel — who competed on Team Blake during the 2012-13 season of The Voice. Their new single combines deep-thump rhythm and feisty-female “attitude” vocals. It drops on Tuesday, April 21. I’m intrigued.

TY BATES/Tongue Tied
Writers: Ty Bates/Thomas Archer; Producer: Rogers Masson; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– I dig his Georgia drawl. The song’s idea is a clever play on stuttering and kissing. I like it, even though it is somewhat wordy and could use a more memorable chorus.

ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/United We Fall
Writers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy; Producers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy/Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (track)
– The three Duffy brothers from Ireland have been tantalizing me with their excellent singles for a couple of years. Now they have a crowd-funded full album at last. Its title tune is chock full of harmony vocals, ringing guitars and echoey atmosphere. These guys have vocal, songwriting and production chops in abundance.

Producer Dave Cobb Launches Label Imprint

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Dave Cobb

Dave Cobb

Producer Dave Cobb, known for his work with artists including Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, and others, has now launched his own label imprint, Low Country Sound, with Elektra Records (subsidiary of Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group).

The label, which is based in Nashville, is supported by Brightman Music’s Andrew Brightman, as well as executives from Elektra and Atlantic in New York and Los Angeles.

R&B/pop musician Anderson East is the first artist signed to the imprint.

“As Dave’s manager for the past 10 years I am extremely excited about the partnership with Elektra and Low Country Sound,” Brightman said. “Dave has always been a champion of great music and real artists that dare to defy conformity. This partnership validates music fan’s interest in southern grown artists like Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Anderson East and others Dave has had the honor to work with.”

Nashville Celebrates Ballard’s “Sunshine and Whiskey”

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Music industry guests assembled at Nashville hotspot City Winery yesterday (April 14) to celebrate Frankie Ballard’s second consecutive No. 1 hit “Sunshine and Whiskey.” ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, who happens to be the wife of “Sunshine and Whiskey” co-writer Jaren Johnston, and BMI’s Clay Bradley hosted the gathering to honor Ballard and writers Luke Laird (BMI) and Johnston (ASCAP). In addition to being a hit songwriter, Johnston is member of band The Cadillac Three.

“Sunshine and Whiskey” marks Laird’s 19th No. 1 song, and is the fourth for Johnston.

Among those honoring the song were Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, CMA, CRB, and Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman.

Laird’s wife and Creative Nation business partner, Beth Laird, pointed out that eight of the 15 songs Luke and Johnston have co-written have been recorded. She also offered celebratory whiskey racks to Ballard and the songwriters.

The evening included a donation presented by Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox on behalf of the songwriters to Preston Taylor Ministries.

“I still get this overwhelming feeling I don’t deserve to be up here,” Ballard said modestly, before recalling how much he wanted to record “Sunshine and Whiskey” when he first heard it. Ballard doesn’t have long to bask in the celebration; he will soon be on the road opening shows for Florida Georgia Line.

Pictured (Back row): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman and Creative Nation’s Beth Laird. (Front row): BMI songwriter Luke Laird, BMI singer/songwriter Frankie Ballard, ASCAP songwriter Jaren Johnston, producer Marshall Altman.

Pictured (Back row): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman and Creative Nation’s Beth Laird. (Front row): BMI songwriter Luke Laird, BMI singer/songwriter Frankie Ballard, ASCAP songwriter Jaren Johnston, producer Marshall Altman.

MusicRowPics: Rainey Qualley Trades Hollywood For Music City

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Rainey Qually with MusicRow staff.

Rainey Qualley with MusicRow staff.

Singer-songwriter Rainey Qualley may have entertaining in her blood, but don’t expect her to follow in the footsteps of her mother, actress Andie MacDowell. Instead, Qualley is forging her own creative path in country music.

Qualley grew up in Asheville, N.C., raised on the music of classic country entertainers including Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Over the years, the 25-year-old has called Montana, Los Angeles, and Nashville home.

During her MusicRow visit, Qualley offered a three-song acoustic performance of songs from her Turn Down The Lights EP. Qualley co-wrote every track on the EP, with co-writers including Ramey, Jeffrey Easy, Adam Smith, and Roxie Dean. THe project was produced by Russ Zavitson and John Ramey.

Qualley ran through tracks including the power ballad “Never Mine,” “Dead and Gone,” and “Me and Johnny Cash.” She says the song, a quirky tune about turning to booze and The Man in Black to get over a breakup, was inspired by personal experience. “I was venting to [co-writer Ramey] in the car about an ex-boyfriend, and we came into the office and wrote the song.”

“I was in L.A. and I was coming back and forth from Nashville regularly for songwriting trips,” said Qualley of her introduction to Music City. “I’ve always loved songwriting, and Russ knew I had a lot of room to grow. He started setting me up with co-writers, and I began going back and forth to Nashville and Los Angeles. After my first trip to Nashville, I was begging Russ, ‘Hey, when can I move here?'” She has now been living in Nashville for nearly a year.

The multi-talented entertainer has dabbled in acting, scoring roles in the movies Falcon Song (2014), Mighty Fine (2012), and Pink & Baby Blue. Just before making the move to Nashville, Hollywood came calling again, in the form of a role on popular series Mad Men. “I auditioned for the role and ended up getting it. It only took like four hours to shoot, so I thought, ‘Why not?'”

Still, Qualley says her goals for the future center around her upcoming full-length album and burgeoning music career. “Music is really my focus and where my heart is.”

Rainey Qualley performs for MusicRow staff.

Rainey Qualley performs for MusicRow staff.