BMI Expands Search For “Road to ‘Roo” Battle Of The Bands

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BMI’s “Road to ‘Roo” Battle of the Bands is expanding its search for the best bands in the Southeast.

The performing rights organization has partnered with Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to expand “Road to ‘Roo” beyond Nashville to include three additional cities. Atlanta, Athens, and Knoxville have been added as participating cities. Sixteen bands from each city will be ultimately be chosen for the initial round of battle of the bands. The competition will launch the week of Feb. 29.

Applications for interested bands will be posted on participating radio station websites: Georgia’s Rock 100.5 WNNX-FM; 103.7 Chuck FM WXKT-FM; 106.1 Your Georgia Country WNGC-FM and Power 100.1 WPUP-FM and Tennessee’s 103.5 Classic Rock WIMZ-FM and Lightning 100 WRLT-FM.

“We could not be more excited for this expanded edition of Road to Roo,” said Mark Mason, Executive Director, BMI Writer-Publisher. “It’s a great opportunity to get our licensees involved with the battle of the bands process. It’s time to see the best the Southeast has to offer!”

Three bands will win the honor of playing at Bonnaroo, to be held June 9-12, in Manchester, Tennessee. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the festival attracts more than 85,000 attendees each year to experience four days of music, comedy, cinema, art, wellness and more.

‘Southern Living’ To Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Nashville Celebration

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Lifestyle magazine Southern Living will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016 with a celebration in Nashville slated for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-5.

Titled Nashville Now, the weekend will include an array of culinary events, showcases from local fashion designers, and songwriter rounds. Additionally, there will be garden tours, art shows, and events featuring local boutique shops.

In addition, Southern Living collaborated with Goo Goo and Tennessee Brew Works for Nashville Now on limited edition flavors to commemorate the 50th anniversary: The Hummingbird Premium Goo Goo and Tennessee Brew Works’ Wildflower Honey Blonde Ale.

“We are thrilled to be working with the city of Nashville – it’s one of our favorite Southern cities and a great example of how the South is continuously evolving but also celebrating its roots,” said Southern Living Editor Sid Evans. “And what better way to celebrate our 50th anniversary than by partnering with two iconic Nashville brands? They both make products that are beloved by Southerners, and we look forward to sharing these limited editions with the Southern Living audience.”

“Nashville has relied on Southern Living to carry our message to consumers for decades,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “We are honored they wanted to work with us and pleased with the opportunity to showcase our music, food and fashion as part of their 50th anniversary.”

An event schedule and visitor packages will be announced in coming weeks.

Warner/Chappell Music, Neon Cross Music Sign Stevenson Everett

Steven EP Cover

Warner/Chappell Music and Jay Joyce‘s Neon Cross Music have revealed their latest joint venture signing, Stevenson Everett. Everett is set to release his first digital EP, produced by Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town) and recorded at Nashville’s St. Charles Studio.

The EP features his first digital single, “Born With It.”

Everett says, “In a world where women feel like they must be perfect, I’m trying my best to teach my daughters that real beauty comes from being true to yourself. Beauty is something you’re born with, not something you buy.”

In the accompanying video directed by Blythe Thomas, various women and girls are spotlighted singing along to the lyrics. Among those featured are a cancer survivor, a community activist, a nurse, a correctional officer, adoptees, and a young lady with Down Syndrome. The video ends with a shot of Everett dancing with his wife and daughters for whom he wrote the song.

An EP release show is planned for Monday night (Jan. 25) at St. Charles Studio at 6 p.m. in East Nashville.

Open Road Recordings/RGK Entertainment Group Moves Nashville Office to Berry Hill

Screen Shot 2016-01-25 at 10.02.51 AMOpen Road Recordings/RGK Entertainment Group has moved its Nashville office to Music City’s Berry Hill area, at 504 East Iris Drive. Based in Toronto and Nashville, the record label and management company is led by president/CEO Ron Kitchener.

Additionally, Open Road Recordings/RGK Entertainment Group welcomes Amber Bell as Manager of National Promotion to the Toronto team and Jamie New Johnson as the Social Media and Content Editor for TopCountry.ca.

Artists on the company’s roster include Dean Brody, Tim Hicks, The Road Hammers, Blackjack Billy, and more. RGK has won Management Company of the Year from 2009 to 2014 and Manager of the Year nine times at the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA).

Open Road Recordings/RGK Entertainment Group’s Nashville outpost can be reached at (615) 327-2645.

Academy of Country Music Promotes Six Staffers

Pictured (clockwise, from top left): Gentry Alverson, Janet Edbrooke, Kathryn Nauman, Jon Sands, Lindsay Potts, Taylor Payne.

Pictured (clockwise, from top left): Gentry Alverson, Janet Edbrooke, Kathryn Nauman, Jon Sands, Lindsay Potts, Taylor Payne.

The Academy of Country Music has promoted six staffers across several departments, including Gentry Alverson, Janet Edbrooke, Kathryn Nauman, Taylor Payne, Lindsay Potts and Jon Sands. Positions are based out of the Academy’s headquarters in Encino, California, as well as the Nashville satellite office.

Alverson has been promoted to Coordinator, Administration & Membership. He was previously an assistant at the ACM’s administration department. In his new role, Alverson will coordinate overall administration of the ACM office with a focus on professional membership, finance and Board of Directors communication. He reports to Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President, Managing Director.

Edbrooke has been promoted to Coordinator, Operations & Events. Edbrooke interned at the ACM’s Operations & Events department before joining full-time as assistant in 2014. In her new role as Coordinator, Edbrooke will oversee operations for the ACM Awards team, including sponsor fulfillment, credentials, catering, transportation, red carpet logistics and the All-Star Jam official after party. She will also coordinate logistics for the quarterly ACM Board of Directors meetings and will assist with the annual ACM Honors event. She reports to Erick Long, Senior Vice President, Operations & Events.

Nauman has been promoted to Manager, Operations & Events. Nauman joined the Academy full-time after graduating from Arizona State University. In her new role as Manager, Kathryn will oversee operations and logistics for the ACM Party for a Cause Festival. She reports to Long.

Payne has been promoted to Coordinator, Creative & Content Production. After interning for ACM Lifting Lives, Payne continued on full-time as an assistant in the Creative & Content Production and PR & Marketing departments. In her new role as Coordinator, Payne will help coordinate the day-to-day management of the Academy’s websites, photo archives, A-List eblasts and ACM Tempo, among other duties. Payne reports to Lisa Lee, Senior Vice President, Creative & Content Production.

Potts has been promoted to Manager, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships. While attending The University of Rhode Island, Potts interned at Sony Picture Entertainment in Culver City, California, with Screen Gems post-production team. She has joined the ACM’s Nashville-based Brand Integration and Strategic Partnerships team. As Manager, she oversees sponsor relationships and on-site sponsor activations at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival. She reports to Amy Cannon, Manager, Brand Integration & Strategic Partnerships.

Sands has been promoted to Coordinator, Operations & Events. Sands first joined the ACM team in 2013 as an intern for the Los Angeles office, where he continued on as a full-time staff member while simultaneously earning a Master of Science degree in Communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato. As Coordinator for the Operations & Events team, Sands will focus on the logistics for the ACM Party for a Cause Festival, including planning, stage production and the volunteer program. Sands reports to Long.

Artist Updates: Thompson Square, Brandy Clark, High Valley, Ronnie McDowell, Ruthie Collins

Thompson Square’s Shawna and Keifer Thompson Welcome First Child

Photo courtesy Thompson Square.

Photo courtesy Thompson Square.

Thompson Square’s Shawna and Keifer Thompson welcomed their first child, Rigney Cooper Thompson, on Jan. 24 at 2:46 a.m. CT. The boy weighed 7 lbs and 13 oz and is 19 inches long.

The name “Rigney” is the maiden name of Shawna Thompson’s grandmother.

“We’re so excited to be able to share this monumental day with all of you,” Shawna and Keifer said in a statement via social media. “We’ve had many wonderful things happen to us but this absolutely tops them all. We want to thank you all for being there for us and our music and for all of your support during our pregnancy. We can’t wait to see you out on the road this year but until then. . .Please say hello and welcome to this big ol world, Rigney Cooper Thompson aka #coopert #cooperman #coopdeville #coopdog #sircoopsalot.”

 

Warner Music Nashville Showcases Brandy Clark, High Valley at iHeart Summit

Kevin Herring, SVP, Promotion, WMN; Michael Jordan, iHeart; Brad Rempel, High Valley; Kristen Williams, VP, Promotion, WMN; Rod Phillips, iHeart; Brandy Clark; Curtis Rempel, High Valley; Jordan Pettit, VP, Promotion, WMN; Michael Bryan, iHeart.

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Herring, SVP, Promotion, WMN; Michael Jordan, iHeart; Brad Rempel, High Valley; Kristen Williams, VP, Promotion, WMN; Rod Phillips, iHeart; Brandy Clark; Curtis Rempel, High Valley; Jordan Pettit, VP, Promotion, WMN; Michael Bryan, iHeart.

Warner Music Nashville showcased duo High Valley as well as Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Brandy Clark at the iHeart Summit recently. High Valley performed their debut single “Make You Mine” while Clark previewed songs from her upcoming album due later this year, including her new single “Girl Next Door.”

 

Ronnie McDowell Releases Autobiography

Screen Shot 2016-01-25 at 9.31.39 AMRonnie McDowell has released the autobiography, Bringing It To You Personally. The book includes more than 100 photos, and chronicles McDowell’s four decades in the entertainment industry. McDowell’s hits include “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.”

The book is available on McDowell’s website.

 

 

Curb Records’ Ruthie Collins Debuts Lifestyle Series on Country Now

Curb Records artist Ruthie Collins has debuted the original lifestyle series Pinterest “Pass or Fail” on Country Now. The six episode series will air weekly on Thursdays, and will run through Feb. 25.

Watch a preview of the series below.

The Producer’s Chair: Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson

By James Rea

Doug Johnson returns to The Producer’s Chair, for the first show of the year, on Thursday, January 28, at Douglas Corner Café at 6 p.m.

Although many prefer not to work ‘inside,’ Doug Johnson is one of a small handful of legendary producers who prefer to be at the pulse, where A&R, artist development and writer development collide. And for good reason. At the heart of it all is a songwriter with well over 100 cuts, including 10 No. 1s.

Interestingly enough, Johnson has the distinction of being the rare hit songwriter in Nashville to maintain three successful careers simultaneously. Along with being a songwriter and producer, he is the Vice President of A&R at Black River Entertainment.

Over the past 25 years, while serving as President of Giant Records and VP of A&R at Epic Records and Curb Records, Johnson has signed, produced, written with, nurtured, launched and overseen the careers of countless stars. And you only have to be in his presence for about one minute to realize that Black River’s growing pains are officially over.

Listening to Johnson talk about the joy and the significance of having the opportunity to sit in a room and write with Kelsea Ballerini, and praising Black River CEO Gordon Kerr while they go through that vital process of discovery, speaks volumes to his passion and the keys to his success. And he has plenty to say.

“Kelsea Ballerini is totally Kelsea Ballerini,” he says. “She has not tried to be Kelsea Ballerini. And luckily for us, Forrest Whitehead and Jason Massey who co-produced her, basically went in and made a record that the three of them love. Thankfully we weren’t dumb enough to find anything wrong with that. They made the record they love, and personally, that she loves.”

In addition, Lee Brice’s massive hit, “Love Like Crazy,” written by Johnson and Tim James. It broke the record established by Eddy Arnold for the longest chart run in the history of the Hot Country Songs charts, staying on for 56 weeks from 2009-2010.

“I just think we all have to do what we love, whether you are the artist, the writer or the producer,” Johnson says. “If we feel like God put us on this crazy planet to do it, then I think he gave us the mechanism of the hair on the back of our neck to let us know if we are going in the right direction. We just need to stay the most passionate, relatable, real-life format there is.”

The Producer’s Chair: Have you been writing as much as you’d hoped since we last spoke?

Johnson: I have been. Most of it’s late-afternoon or evening writes. I haven’t had time to be demoing as much as I should be, but I don’t know, it’s what keeps me sane. It’s what I love. It reminds me of how hard it is to find a song that really is worthy of everything else that has to happen—to have money spent and the many, many people that work hard to make that successful.

Are you mainly writing with artists on the label?

Normally, early on with an artist, I will write with them because it’s a great way to get to know each other. It’s a wonderful way to sit across the room from a young artist, just to know what they’re passionate about, but I’ve never felt like a writer that was very good at target writing. If I’m lucky enough that God sends something to the room and I happen to be the recipient, I’m good with that.

You’ll never get to know an artist like you can sitting in a room going through the writing process. Seeing what moves them and what they get excited about and what melodies stand out for them and asking the questions: “What’s your favorite feel? If you were to do a show tonight and you were doing 60 minutes, halfway in the middle of that show, what do you wish—if you had that song, that great song—what do you wish it felt like? That you just wish you could nod your head and say, ‘Now’s the time to go into that one’?”

And, “What do you want to say?” For me as an A&R record company guy in a writing situation with an artist, to ask that question: “What is it that you want to say?” And it cannot be, “Whatever it takes to get on radio.” I think that’s the kiss of death.

What has been the biggest challenge at Black River?

The challenge is proving to the town that we can have success as a record company at radio. Because no matter how many people love us, if they don’t feel like we can take their songs and their records all the way, then we’re last on the list of where to shop. So, it’s that challenge of getting the staff right and being in a place where we can start building our foundation and go from there. I think our staff is there now and absolutely great. Gordon Kerr, who is CEO, is just tremendous. He is a music man.

When you’re signing a new artist to Black River, what is the most important consideration? Is it their writing potential, voice or ability to connect with fans?

That “it” factor, which is, as you know, that unique interpretation. Hopefully a great voice but that ability to interpret something in a way that all the sudden, when that that one person sings in a magical way, it grabs your attention. And you’re there inside that song with them, inside that performance.

And then the ability to imagine that person in front of 20,000 people and knowing, while they are wanting to evolve, that they have a true sense of who they are. And they would rather play down on Broadway for the rest of their life than do something else.

And the writing, yes, if they can be part of it. Kelsea Ballerini co-wrote everything on her record and some songs she wrote by herself. If we had to go out and find those songs, I don’t know if we could have. I’m not knocking anyone. We are in a town of some of the greatest songwriters in the world, but those songs are so tailor-made for her. It’s incredible when an artist is a great songwriter.

What is it about new artists that inspires you the most?

There is a beautiful thing in not knowing any better. Rock ‘n’ roll music would not exist if it weren’t for that. Maybe our format wouldn’t exist. It’s like, “Hey, they tell us this is wrong but it feels good to us so we’re going to do it. We’re just going to figure out a way to make it louder.”

Is it incumbent upon the industry to inspire young artists regardless?

I like the word “inspire” but I am not sure if that’s always the case. I think some people will tell somebody something, just so they don’t say something negative. They want to get done with the conversation. and there again, you just have to remember, it’s a betting area. Nobody knows all the answers.

I want to be proud of my failure when I was wrong. I know it sounds weird to say that, but I want it not to be because of the artists or their music, but because it failed some other way. I would make that effort again with that artist, or that writer, or that artist and producer working together. I’d go back and say, “You know what? We did it for the right reasons. Things just aren’t going to happen.” I want to be able to look back and say, “I know why we gave it a shot and why we believed and we won’t ever stop believing. Maybe we couldn’t make it happen here, but we could make it happen somewhere else.” And hopefully we all do really well and live happily ever after.

I heard somebody say this week, “If we focus too much on the results, we paralyze ourselves.” And I think that there’s some truth to that. I think we have to focus on why we’re doing it in the first place, if we really feel like we’re meant to do it.

Weekly Register: Chris Stapleton Eclipses Debuts From Hank Williams Jr., Brothers Osborne

Chris Stapleton Traveller

With a sales boost from his Saturday Night Live performance on Jan. 16, Chris Stapleton remains at No. 1 on this week’s country album chart. Traveller saw a 24 percent sales boost, selling 32K and reaching 776K overall.

Hank Williams Jr. enters the chart at No. 2 with It’s About Time, his bow on Nash Icon Records. The set moved 24K units. Brothers Osborne, who enjoyed a breakout single with “Stay a Little Longer,” arrive at No. 3 with Pawn Shop, selling 21K.

Blake Shelton‘s Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits surged to No. 4 with 14K, while Randy Rogers Band debuted at No. 5 with Nothing Shines Like Neon, selling 11K.

Other debuts include Russell Dickerson’s Yours EP at No. 11 (2.7K), Frank Foster’s Boots on the Ground at No. 22 (1.9K), and Upchurch’s Heart of America at No. 30 (1.3K).

Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” is entrenched at the No. 1 spot on the country track sales chart, selling 50K and likely to surpass the 1 million mark next week. Sam Hunt’s “Break Up in a Small Town” lands at No. 2 (35K), trailed by Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild’s “Home Alone Tonight” (28K), Brett Eldredge’s “Drunk on Your Love” (24K), and Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here” (23.5K).

Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame” jumps seven spots to No. 6 (20K), followed by Cam’s Burning House” at No. 7 (19.5K). Dierks Bentley’s new single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” enters the chart at No. 8 (19K). Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” (18K) and Brothers Osborne’s “Stay a Little Longer” (18K) round out the Top 10.

On the overall album chart, Panic! At the Disco arrives at the top with Death of a Bachelor, selling 190K. Adele’s 25 sits at No. 2 with 146.K (and now 5.8 million overall). On the overall tracks chart, Justin Bieber stays on top with “Love Yourself,” selling 139K and 1.4 million to date.

Natalie Stovall and the Drive Plan EP Release on Feb. 23

Natalie Stovall and the Drive

Natalie Stovall and the Drive

 

Natalie Stovall and the Drive have announced that a new EP, Heartbreak, will be released on Feb. 23. Previously signed to HitShop Records, the band released the singles “Baby Come On With It” and “Mason Jar” in 2014 before the label shuttered.

The Heartbreak EP is the result of a Kickstarter campaign launched late last year, bringing in $17,495. Recorded in Nashville, the EP features some of Nashville’s best-known songwriters including Victoria Banks, Nathan Chapman, Kyle Jacobs, Bruce Wallace, Jason Massey, Ruthie Collins, Jessica Roadcap, and Curt Gibbs. The video for “Heartbreak,” directed by Randy Peterson and Ron Gonzalez, premiered last week on CMT.com.

“I wrote this song with Jason Gantt and Maile Misajon,” said Stovall. “It was our first time writing together, and I came in baring my soul about my record label shutting down and the struggles that I was facing in the wake of suddenly being an independent artist again. I’m a glass half-full kind of girl, so I was trying to focus on how those challenges would eventually become a blessing and make me stronger as an artist. Once we got started, it was one of the most fun and easy co-writes.”

In addition to touring with the Drive, Natalie is currently on tour with Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots as a featured member of the band.

New Date: Duane Eddy Will Be CMHoF’s Next Nashville Cat

Duane Eddy

Duane Eddy

[Updated Monday, Jan. 25: This program has been rescheduled for Sat., Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.]

Rock ‘n’ roll guitarist Duane Eddy will be featured in the Nashville Cats program series at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater on Saturday (Jan. 23) at 2 p.m. The quarterly series celebrates prominent musicians in Music City.

The program is included with museum admission and free to museum members. It will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.

Hosted by Bill Lloyd, this program is presented in support of the exhibition American Sound and Beauty: Guitars from the Bachman-Gretsch Collection. It will include an in-depth interview illustrated with vintage recordings, photos and film clips as well as a performance by Eddy.

Seating for the program is limited, and program passes are required for admittance. Immediately following, Eddy will sign limited edition, commemorative Hatch Show Print posters in the Museum Store.

With his 1958 hit “Rebel Rouser,” Duane Eddy became an early rock & roll guitar hero. “Duane Eddy was the front guy, the first rock & roll guitar god,” said John Fogerty, one of thousands of musicians who credit Eddy as a chief influence.

Born in Corning, New York, Eddy moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in his early teens. With help from producer Lee Hazlewood, he developed a signature guitar style, full of twang and bluster, and he recorded hit singles including “Cannonball,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road,” “Because They’re Young” and “(Dance with the) Guitar Man.”

Eddy also embraced country and jazz influences and collaborated with Willie Nelson, George Harrison, Waylon Jennings, Chet Atkins, Paul McCartney, and Phil Everly. Eddy’s low-toned, tremulous twang is even echoed in hit songs by others, including Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and Steve Earle’s “Guitar Town.”

With millions of records sold worldwide and numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Grammys, to his credit, Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Throughout its six-month run, American Sound and Beauty will be accompanied by public programs, including film screenings, instrument demonstrations, family activities and more.