Dallas Smith Inks New American Record Deal

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Dallas Smith

Dallas Smith

Canadian country artist Dallas Smith has signed a U.S. record deal with Blaster Records through the label’s recent partnership with Big Loud Mountain.

“Nothing excites us more than being involved with great music and with passionate, committed people,” says Blaster Records’ President Derek Simon. “We loved the music Dallas was making and jumped at the chance to partner with Big Loud Mountain to become his American label. Spend 10 minutes watching one of Dallas’ shows and it’s clear how special of a singer and performer he is. The new music he’s making is so strong and compelling and we couldn’t ask for better partners than Craig, Seth, Chief and Joey.”

“It’s great to collaborate with the team at Blaster. They are equally as passionate as I am,” adds Smith. “I’m excited to continue to build on what we are doing and take it to the next level.”

The first single, “Kids With Cars” will impact radio in September and will be available at digital retailers on Sept. 11. Smith is currently working with producer Joey Moi on his debut American full-length project. Moi also produced Smith’s prior Canadian albums, Jumped Right In and Lifted.

Bobby Karl Celebrates 500th Party Column

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BobbyKarl500Today MusicRow celebrates a milestone, with the publication of the 500th Bobby Karl Works The Room column. To mark the occasion, MusicRow checked in with its famed party-man about the column’s early days. He recalls:

The first BKWTR column occurred on April 8, 1993. In those days, the column ran monthly, so this one covered events saluting John Schneider, the late Chris LeDoux, and Diamond Rio. Still surviving fabulons Mike Dungan, Fletcher Foster, Jeff Walker and Judy Harris appeared, and Matraca Berg flashed her engagement ring from Jeff Hanna.

The next one noted celebrations for Andy Childs, Tim Ryan and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Working the room were the enduring Mark Wright, Nancy Shapiro, Larry Fitzgerald, Gary Nicholson, Steve Buchanan, Erika Wollam-Nichols, Jeannie Seely and Mike Kraski.

By August of that inaugural year, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and John Anderson were celebrating No. 1 hits, and Bob DiPiero, Bobby Roberts, Gary Overton and Shawn Williams were noted working the rooms.

I can’t prove this, but in the years since then, I believe that I hold the record for eating more rubber-chicken banquet meals than anybody in Nashville history. Somewhere, there is at least an hour’s worth of TV-news B-roll of me in the free-cocktail-shrimp line.

Do I remember the worst meal ever? Of course I do. It was at the then-new Schermerhorn Symphony Center when Leadership Music presented its 2006 Dale Franklin Award to Emmylou Harris. The pork chops were like shoe leather, so impervious to cutting that one hapless diner’s flew off the table to the floor when he attempted to vanquish it. The show, featuring Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Allison Moorer, Sam Bush, Buddy Miller, Dave Matthews and more, was fabulous. The food, not so much.

The best party? I like to think that it is still to come.

• • • • •

For more on Bobby Karl, read MusicRow Publisher Sherod Robertson’s 2012 interview with the man behind the MusicRow myth.

bobby karl slider 2015

Click to read this exclusive interview from the August 2012 print edition of MusicRow.

Zac Brown Band Gets Knee Deep in NMPA Awards

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Zac Brown Band members Zac Brown, Coy Bowles and John Hopkins were recently honored with awards from the National Music Publishers Association during a Jekyll+Hyde tour stop in Washington National’s Park. NMPA President and CEO David Israelite recognized the band members with multi-platinum awards for their hit songs “Knee Deep” (penned by Brown and Bowles) and “Chicken Fried” (Brown).

Platinum recognition was awarded to “Colder Weather” (Brown, Bowles), and “Toes” (Hopkins, Brown), while the NMPA honored the tunes “Sweet Annie” (Bowles, Brown) and “Whatever It Is” (Brown) with gold awards.

Pictured (L-R): NMPA's David Israelite and ZBB's Zac Brown.

Pictured (L-R): NMPA’s David Israelite and ZBB’s Zac Brown.

Pictured (L-R): NMPA's David Israelite and ZBB's John Hopkins.

Pictured (L-R): NMPA’s David Israelite and ZBB’s John Hopkins.

Artist Updates: Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Chris Young, Laura Bell Bundy, Lucy Angel

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Brantley Gilbert To Headline Chattanooga Unite: A Tribute On The River

Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert has been announced as the headlining artist for an upcoming benefit honoring U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, U.S Marine Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, U.S. Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Skip Wells and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith. Chattanooga Unite: A Tribute on the River will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The free celebration will begin with an Armed Forces Parade at 2 p.m. The parade will travel down Market Street and end at the Tennessee River. Chattanooga native Samuel L. Jackson will serve as emcee, while Brantley will headline with a free concert. Additional guests and details will be announced at a later date. Donations will be encouraged through collection bins located throughout the event. Funds will benefit The National Compassion Fund. For more information, visit: chattanoogaunite.org.

 

Kip Moore Teases New Album With Multiple Video Launch

kip moore i'm to blame

Kip Moore

Kip Moore is giving fans an early look at music from his forthcoming sophomore album Wild Ones, via a series of video releases on CMT and Vevo. Beginning today, Moore will  release the video for the album’s title track on Vevo. The video for fan-favorite track “Backseat” will premiere tomorrow (Aug. 18) on VEVO and then CMT will premiere “Comeback Kid” (Aug. 19), “Girl of Summer” (Aug. 20) and “Lipstick” (Aug. 21), each day for the rest of the week.

“We had some fun with my fans this weekend, giving them a little teaser of what to expect from the videos, and they freaked,” said Kip Moore. “The videos were a great way for me to express some of my favorite songs off the album, and each one is so unique from the other, that I feel like they really encapsulate the different layers of this record.”

 

Chris Young Preps For ‘I’m Comin’ Over Tour’ with Sold-Out Shows

Chris Young will launch his “I’m Comin’ Over Tour’ in Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 22, alongside tourmates Eric Paslay and Clare Dunn. Young’s forthcoming project by the same title will release in the fall. Young has been prepping for the tour with a series of sold out shows, including a recent performance at Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, Calif., before 8,000 fans.

Chris Young performs in Costa Mesa, Calif. Photo: Mason Embry

Chris Young performs in Costa Mesa, Calif. Photo: Mason Embry

 

Laura Bell Bundy Honors “Hearoes” In Song

Actress/singer Laura Bell Bundy performed the National Anthem recently at the Chicago Air and Water Show, to support Songs for Sound Hearoes Tour, which offers free hearing screenings and awareness to air shows across the country.

Laura Bell Bundy

Pictured (L-R): Laura Bell Bundy, US Army SSG Nick Birkner and Songs for Sound executive director Jaime Vernon.

 

Trio Lucy Angel Signs with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency

Mother-daughter trio Lucy Angel has inked a deal with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency for exclusive booking representation. The trio recently released the single “Crazy Too” to country radio. The song was written by Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, and Karyn Rochelle, and produced by Noah Gordon and Bobby Terry.

Pictured (L-R): Paige Zuidema, Bob Kinkead, Kate, Emily and Lindsay Anderton (Lucy Angel) Gregory Scott and Julie Devereux.

Pictured (L-R): Paige Zuidema, Bob Kinkead, Kate, Emily and Lindsay Anderton (Lucy Angel) Gregory Scott and Julie Devereux.

Industry Celebrates Carrie Underwood’s Latest No. 1 Hit

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(L-R) (back row): BMG’s Kos Weaver, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Arista’s Lesly Tyson, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg. (Front row): ASCAP songwriter Hillary Lindsey, BMI singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood and ASCAP songwriter Chris DeStefano.

(L-R) (back row): BMG’s Kos Weaver, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Arista’s Lesly Tyson, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg. (Front row): ASCAP songwriter Hillary Lindsey, BMI singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood and ASCAP songwriter Chris DeStefano.

Industry members gathered at BMI’s Nashville office on Friday (Aug. 14) in celebration of Carrie Underwood’s latest No. 1 hit, “Little Toy Guns.”

Written by Underwood (BMI), Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP) and Chris DeStefano (ASCAP), the song about domestic violence from the perspective of a child was the second single from Underwood’s album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1. The song has been certified gold by the RIAA and won a Teen Choice Award last night (Aug. 16) for Choice Country Song.

Hosted by ASCAP and BMI, the celebration began with a viewing of the chart-topping song’s video followed by a greeting from BMI VP Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams. He recapped Underwood’s career path reminding guests of her robust arrival on the country music scene after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. “She became a prominent member of the music industry,” proclaimed Williams calling her voice “always compelling.” Produced by Mark Bright, the song is Underwood ‘s 21st No. 1 hit.

ASCAP’s Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad joined the stage, honoring DeStefano who was celebrating his 11th No. 1 hit and Lindsey who was celebrating her 13th No. 1 song. Fittingly for the celebration, DeStafano’s first No. 1 song was Underwood’s “Good Girl.” Lindsey has also reached the top of the chart with several Underwood cuts, including “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”

BMG Chrysalis Nashville’s EVP Kos Weaver took the mic offering accolades to Lindsey before Sony/ATV’s Senior VP/Nashville A&R Josh Van Valkenburg took his turn highlighting DeStefano’s accomplishments. Rounding out the industry presentations were Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox, CMA’s Brandi Simms and CRB’s Holly Lane.

Lindsey, who is expecting a baby, was quick to thank her family who had traveled from Alabama and Georgia for the celebration. “Thanks for helping me chase my dreams,” Lindsey said before glancing at the other songwriters saying, “I could never ask for a better co-write.” DeStefano added, “The Nashville community–I can’t talk about it enough. It changed my life completely,” before sharing his thanks to all the team behind the song’s success.

Underwood confessed, “I must be the luckiest girl in the world!” Thanking her manager, Ann Edelblute, she also gave gratitude to the songwriters, BMI, Arista Records’ promotion team, producer Mark Bright, and her husband Mike Fisher, who was not in attendance.

There were plenty of thanks to go around. Underwood even took the opportunity to thank the newest addition to her family, baby son Isaiah, saying, “He had nothing to do with this, but I’m going to thank him anyway.”

 

Country Artists Receive July 2015 RIAA Awards

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Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 2.51.53 PMThe Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has certified 118 Digital Single Awards and nine Album Awards in its July announcement. Those include Brad Paisley playing catchup with singles as dated since 2003. Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett place gold for their latest respective singles.

Carrie Underwood also recently celebrated her 28 million mark as the current top country artist on the RIAA’s Digital Single Ranking.

It’s new month-end digital Platinum report includes:

  • Brad Paisley – 2x platinum for his previous singles, “Then” (2009), “She’s Everything” (2005), “Whiskey Lullaby” with Alison Krauss (2003); and platinum for “Ticks” (2007), “Mud On The Tires” (2003), “I’m Still A Guy” (2007), and “When I Get Where I’m Going” with Dolly Parton (2005).
  • Thomas Rhett – 2x platinum for “It Goes Like This”
  • Taylor Swift  – 2x platinum for “Bad Blood”
  • Kelly Clarkson  – “Heartbeat Song”
  • Parmalee –  “Carolina”
  • Zac Brown Band – “Homegrown”

It’s new month-end digital Gold report includes:

  • Kelsea Ballerini – “Love Me Like You Mean It”
  • Brantley Gilbert – “My Kind of Crazy” (2011) and “One Hell of a Man”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Crash and Burn”
  • Taylor Swift – “Never Grow Up”

Bobby Karl Works Tim McGraw’s “Shotgun Rider” Celebration

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BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 500

Pictured (L-R): Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Tim McGraw and Marv Green.

Pictured (L-R): Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Tim McGraw and Marv Green.

Bobby Karl does not usually work No. 1 parties, but he made an exception on Saturday night (8/15).

There were several reasons for this. First of all, this party was for the enduringly great Tim McGraw. Second of all, the invitation came with tickets for his Bridgestone Arena concert. Third, “Shotgun Rider” was the title of his tour and a No. 1 smash for four weeks.

“Do you know how hard it is to get four weeks at No. 1?!” Scott Borchetta asked the crowd. “It takes all of us for this to happen.” That meant the assembled publishers, songwriters, musicians, radio friends and media mavens, not to mention Jack Purcell and his amazing Big Machime promo squad.

This is the equally amazing Tim McGraw’s 36th No. 1 hit. He has sold 40 million records so far.

“Every time I get to show up at one of these things, I’m always humbled,” said the superstar. “I’ve been doing this for a long, long time, and I hope to be doing it for a long time more.”

By any measure, this has been an especially noteworthy year for McGraw. He began it by singing “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” for Glen Campbell at the Oscars. He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people (only one of two recording stars on the list). He is set to have The Shack as his next movie, co-starring with Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer and Graham Greene. He has given away 120 homes to returning veterans.

Tim McGraw (center) celebrates "Shotgun Rider" with songwriters and industry members.

Tim McGraw (center) celebrates “Shotgun Rider” with songwriters and industry members.

“His concerts, as we will witness tonight, are legendary,” added BMI’s Jody Williams. “Tim McGraw sets the bar for what is cool,” testified the delightfully enthusiastic cheerleader Rusty Gaston. “He is a writer’s best friend,” commented Kos Weaver. “Tim McGraw cuts the best and the widest variety of songs….and he does it better than anybody in our generation.”

In this instance, the lucky songwriters were Marv Green, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey, all of whom took the mic to express their gratitude. “Shotgun Rider” is Green’s seventh No. 1 single, Verges’s eighth and Lindsay’s 13th. She had another chart-toppiing phenom this year with “Girl Crush,” by the way.

The event was staged in the cavernous rehearsal hall of the Bridgestone. The backstage stage was bathed in glowing lights and atmospheric smoke. Faux food trucks were set up serving street tacos, grilled-cheese mini sandwiches and popsickles. There was a photo booth and a lip-sync video challenge in McGraw’s jeep. An army of wait staff circulated constantly. Lounging couches and cocktail tables were scattered throughout the space. It was all quite nice.

“I’ve been to a lot of No. 1 parties, and I’ve never been to one this nice in my life,” said Williams.

Tim McGraw with Chris Janson

Tim McGraw welcomes Chris Janson to perform Janson’s hit “Buy Me A Boat.”

Craig Wiseman, Craig Hayes & Pam Brown Hayes, Mark Collie, Mark Brown, Mike Sistad, Michael Martin, Rod Essig, Rob Simbeck, Bob Paxman, Ben Vaughn, B.J. Hill, Kent Earls and Byron Gallimore worked the room like pros.

So did such celebrants as Pete Fisher, Storme Warren, Steve Bogard, Scott Siman, Charlie Cook, Lance Miller, Gillie Crowder, Lon Helton, The Community Foundation’s Ellen Lehman, Barry Coburn, Brian Mansfield, Karen Tallier, Phyllis Stark, Rusty Jones, John Zarling, Will Byrd, Jimmy Carter, Todd Cassetty, Cindy Watts and Jeff Gregg.

There’s a No. 1 party in Nashville every week. But this one was something special, for a very special star. After all, Tim McGraw first made the charts in 1992, scored his first No. 1 hit in 1994 and has placed about 80 titles on the charts to date. They don’t make many with that kind of staying power.

Except maybe the party boy, himself. As you might have noticed, this is the 500th BKWTR column. The best party? I like to think that it is still to come.

Tim McGraw performs with daughter Gracie.

Tim McGraw performs with daughter Gracie.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Adds Jeffrey James To Roster

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Pictured (L-R): Sony ATV's Mark Abramowitz, Marcus & Colvin LLP's Farrah Usmani, Jeffrey James, ASCAP's Evyn Mustoe and Marcus & Colvin LLP's Kent Marcus​.

Pictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Mark Abramowitz, Marcus & Colvin LLP’s Farrah Usmani, Jeffrey James, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Marcus & Colvin LLP’s Kent Marcus​.

ASCAP songwriter-artist Jeffrey James has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The deal marks Sony/ATV Manager – A&R/Creative Mark Abramowitz‘s first signing since relocating to the Nashville office from New York City earlier this year.

​“I am excited and honored to be a part of the Sony/ATV family​, and​​ I am looking forward to working with Mark and the entire Sony/ATV team as a songwriter and an artist​,​” said James.

​ASCAP Associate Creative Director Evyn Mustoe has been working with James for the past several years. James was recently featured on ASCAP’s stage at the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, as well as at ASCAP’s monthly showcase, the “We Create Music” Series, and ASCAP’s quarterly rock showcase, “Almost Famous,” both held at Nashville venue The Basement.

Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music For Kids” To Celebrate 10 Years with All-Star Lineup

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MilesAndMusicDierks Bentley has announced his 10th annual “Miles & Music For Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert, to kick off CMA Awards week on Sunday, Nov. 1. The celebration will once again begin at the Harley Davidson of Columbia (1616 Harley Davidson Blvd., Columbia, Tenn.) for an hour-long ride that will end at Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater to close out their inaugural season. This year, he will be joined by Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, Canaan Smith, Brooke Eden and emcee Storme Warren.

To date, Bentley has raised more than $3 million dollars for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country.

“When I think about all the artists and riders and fans who have come out to support this event over the years, I get a little emotional…there is just no way for me to possibly say thank you enough,” shares Bentley. “We started out at the fairgrounds and then moved out to the Loveless Café and then it grew so big we took it to Riverfront Park. And now we’ve got the new Ascend Amphitheater locked down for this year. We are going to do everything possible to make No. 10 the best yet!”

Dierks Bentley fan club members will have first access to presale tickets this Tuesday (8/18) at 10 a.m. CT through www.ticketmaster.com. Citi card members will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday (8/19) at 10 a.m. CT. General public tickets are available this Friday (8/21) at 10 a.m. CT, with individual concert tickets starting at $30, and special VIP rider and concert packages also available. All proceeds from the event will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. For more ticket info, visit www.dierks.com.

LifeNotes: Influential Producer Bob Johnston Dies

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BobJohnston

Bob Johnston (L) in 2006 when BMI signed singer/songwriter Harper Simon (son of BMI Icon Paul Simon) and Bijou Phillips (daughter of the Mamas & the Papas’ John Phillips) laid tracks for a country music collaboration produced by Johnston. Pictured (L-R): Bob Johnston, Harper Simon, Bijou Philips and BMI’s Shelby Kennedy. Photo: BMI.

Bob Johnston, the producer who made Nashville a destination for recording by visiting pop stars, passed away on Friday, Aug. 14 at age 83.

He is celebrated in the current Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum exhibit “Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats.” Johnston famously brought Bob Dylan to Music City to record such cornerstone albums as Blonde on Blonde (1966), John Wesley Harding (1967), Nashville Skyline (1969) and Self Portrait (1970).

These records are widely viewed as opening the way for many other non-country artists to come to Nashville. Johnston also brought in Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Moby Grape and others who are celebrated in the exhibit.

He was born Donald William Johnston in Hillsboro, Texas, into a musical family. His mother, Diane, was a songwriter best known for “Miles and Miles of Texas.” Bob Johnston broke into the music business as a songwriter for Elvis Presley movies in the 1960s. He married Joy Byers, who is also a successful songwriter.

He moved into record production at Columbia in New York. Johnston worked on some of Aretha Franklin’s early records for the label and scored his first hit by producing Patti Page’s 1965 comeback single “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.”

Johnston began producing Dylan with 1965’s landmark Highway 61 Revisited. He also produced the hit Simon & Garfunkel LPs Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966) and Bookends (1968).

He was also successful with country artists. When others at the company resisted the idea, he embraced Johnny Cash’s notion of recording a live album at Folsom Prison, which became a blockbuster hit. Cash and Johnston also worked together on At San Quentin and on such hits as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down” in 1968-72.

Columbia’s Marty Robbins was another successful client. Johnston produced the superstar’s “Tonight Carmen” (1967), “Ribbon of Darkness” (1965), “I Walk Alone” (1968), “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” (1970) and more.

Johnston also produced such Columbia country acts as Earl Scruggs, Claude King, Doug Kershaw and The Statler Brothers. He eventually became an executive in the label’s Nashville office.

He guided the records of the trio The Pozo Seco Singers, from which graduated country star Don Williams. He produced the 1970s pop hits of future country star Michael Martin Murphey – “Wildfire,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac” and “Carolina in the Pines.”

Johnston’s producing career continued into the 1980s and 1990s. The Byrds, Loudon Wainwright III, Pete Seeger, Tracy Nelson, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Carl Perkins, Shel Silverstein, Dan Hicks, Mike Bloomfield, Joe Ely, Hoyt Axton, Wayne Toups, Jimmy Cliff, Billy Joe Shaver, Lindesfarne, John Mayall and The Waterboys were among the highly diverse artists he worked with over the years.

In 1992, he produced Willie Nelson’s notable The I.R.S. Tapes. In recent years, he has worked with a number of independent, alternative rock and folk artists.

Johnston had been in a Nashville hospice in recent weeks. He is survived by his wife Joy Byers and his son Kevin. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.