Mary Chapin Carpenter Works With Dave Cobb On New Album

mary_chapin_carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter will release a new album titled Things That We Are Made Of on May 6 on Lambent Records via Thirty Tigers. She recorded the project in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb during the spring and summer of 2015.

In addition to Carpenter (vocals, electric/acoustic guitar) and Cobb (electric/acoustic/gut string guitar, percussion, Moog, Mellotron), the album features Annie Clements (bass), Brian Allen (bass), Chris Powell (drums, percussion), Mike Webb (piano, B3 organ, reed organ, Mellotron, Fender Rhodes) and Jimmy Wallace (piano, B3 organ).

MCC albumCarpenter said, “Working with Dave felt great from the first day of our sessions. He is always willing to try something new, believes that ‘yes’ is the only answer, and surrounds himself with wonderfully talented and generous musicians; by the end of the project, I felt as if I was a part of a new family.”

Cobb added, “I wanted to work with Mary Chapin because very few people can cut with words like she can. She’s an absolute poet and legend. I was so happy to collaborate on this album together.”

This is Carpenter’s first release with Lambent/Thirty Tigers. She previously recorded for Zoë/Rounder and Columbia Nashville.

Track Listing for Things That We Are Made Of
1. “Something Tamed Something Wild”
2. “The Middle Ages”
3. “What Does It Mean To Travel”
4. “Livingston”
5. “Map Of My Heart”
6. “Oh Rosetta”
7. “Deep Deep Down Heart”
8. “Hand On My Back”
9. The Blue Distance
10. “Note On A Windshield”
11. “The Things That We Are Made Of”

DISClaimer: Cam, Brandy Clark, Aubrie Sellers Break Up The Boys Club

Pictured (L-R): Brandy Clark, Cam, Aubrie Sellers

Pictured (L-R): Brandy Clark, Cam, Aubrie Sellers

For a while, it looked like Billy Currington, LOCASH or Dierks Bentley was going to rule the day, but you know what they say about the best laid plans.

Down the track came Brandy Clark and Cam, and they ran over those boys like a pair of locomotives. The two women finish in a tie for the Disc of the Day award.

Today’s DisCovery Award also goes to a female artist. That would be Aubrie Sellers.

LESLIE COURS MATHER/That Was The Whiskey
Writer: Nini Camps; Producer: Denny Diante; Publisher: none listed; CM (track)
-I think I have liked everything this gal has put out. This time around she applies her soulful, husky pipes to a punchy rocker about a wild child who looked an awful lot like her when she was tearin’ up the town last night. “That was the whiskey,” not her, in that red dress dancing on the table. Lots of verve. Lots of fun.

BILLY CURRINGTON/It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To
Writers: Billy Currington/Cary Barlowe/Shy Carter; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Coconut Hut/Castle Bound/We Be Pawtying/BMG Rights Management/You Want How Much of What Pub/Worldwide EMG, ASCAP/SESAC/BMI; Mercury (CDX)
– Crunchy and stomping. He sings the fire outta this lyric about a guy going through hell getting over a heartbreak. The shuddering guitar, shouted chorus boys and catchy, chesty chorus are all just terrific. Currington strikes pay dirt again.

DIERKS BENTLEY/Somewhere On A Beach
Writers: Michael Tyler/Jaron Boyer/Alex Palmer/Dave Kuncio/Josh Mirenda; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: Peermusic III/Peertunes/Jaron Boyer/BMG Silver/Fuego/BMG Rights Management/David Ryan/The Real Brain/WB/Music of the Corn, BMI/SESAC/ASCAP; Capitol (CDX)
– Take this, ex-girlfriend. He’s getting over you by chilling next to the ocean with a hot babe and a cold drink. So there.

LORRIE MORGAN/How Does It Feel
Writers: Mark Oliverius/Loretta Lynn Morgan/Kelly Lang; Producer: Richard Landis; Publishers: Omee/Kelly Lang, BMI; Shanachie (CDX)
– Still one of our most lustrous vocalists. Morgan uses her range and emotive abilities to alternately caress with a soprano whisper and contemplate with an alto moan on this ballad. The “answering” harmonica and steel guitar are both expertly deployed by producer Landis. Recommended.

CAM/Mayday
Writers: Camaron Ochs/Tyler Johnson; Producers: Jeff Bhasker/Tyler Johnson; Publishers: Marvelous Oaks/One Year Yesterday/Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse, BMI; Arista/RCA (track)
– As before, extremely melodic and sung with superb élan. The double-time undertow thump in the production is a nifty contrast with her soaring, broken-note soprano. A hit if I’ve ever heard one.

LOCASH/I Know Somebody
Writers: Ross Copperman/Jeremy Stover/Rhett Akins; Producer: Londsay Rimes; Publisher: none listed; Reviver (track)
– These boys are on a roll. This whole lyric is one extended pick-up line. And the track cooks with gas. Check ‘em out at Monday’s MusicRow Margaritaville showcase and radio awards show.

BRANDY CLARK/Girl Next Door
Writers: Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillon/Shane McAnally; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Highway 508/House of Sea Gayle/Clearbox Rights/Nettwerk One B/Revelry/Jay Gatsby/Universal/Smack Ink, ASCAP/BMI; Warner Bros.
– She’s kinda rough and kinda trashy. She’s definitely no debutante, Marcia Brady, Barbie or girl next door. And she rocks while she’s dishing out the facts to you, buddy. Attitude on a platter. Spunk and snark and sass you can dig for days.

PETE SCOBELL BAND/Walkin’ A Wire
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Ross Copperman/David Lee Murphy; Producer: Cactus Moser; Publishers: Big White Tracks/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Old Desperados/N2D, ASCAP/BMI; FrogBonz
– I like the slight rasp in his delivery and the chiming guitar in the band’s sound. He’s trying to make time with her, but is pretty scared and tense about it. A tempo tune with countryboy feelings.

AUBRIE SELLERS/Sit Here and Cry
Writers: Aubrie Sellers/Adam Wright; Producer: Frank Liddell: Publishers: none listed; Thirty Tigers
– The band is stark and raw on this toe tapper. She sings with splendid assurance and moxie. Aubrie is the daughter of songwriter Jason Sellers and singer Lee Ann Womack, but she definitely has her own thing goin’ on. Garage country, anyone?

THOMAS RHETT/T-Shirt
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Luke Laird/Shane McAnally; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Publishers: External Combustion/Songs of Southside Independent/WB/Atlas/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Smack Ink, ASCAP/BMI; Valory Music
– The track bobs and bops and burbles. He babbles atop it about falling in love. There’s not much of a tune, here, but plenty of energy crackles in it.

Chris Stapleton Added To Grammy Performers

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton will join Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt in a tribute to the late B.B. King on the upcoming Grammy Awards. The show will take place on Monday, Feb. 15 in Los Angeles and air live on CBS.

Stapleton is up for four awards this year: Album of the Year and Best Country Album for Traveller; and Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Traveller.”

In addition, Justin Bieber will join Diplo and Skrillex to perform their Grammy-nominated hit, “Where Are Ü Now,” marking the duo known as Jack Ü‘s first live television performance. Pitbull will collaborate with Travis Barker, Robin Thicke, and surprise special guests. Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry will also unveil their rock supergroup, The Hollywood Vampires.

Previously announced performers include country nominees Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, and Carrie Underwood, as well as Adele, James Bay, Andra Day, Ellie Goulding, the Broadway cast of Hamilton, Tori Kelly, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and The Weeknd.

ASCAP Names Paul Rourke Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer

Paul Rourke

Paul Rourke

ASCAP has appointed Paul Rourke as the organization’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, reporting to ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. Rourke will be a key member of ASCAP’s executive management team and will be responsible for all of the organization’s financial matters across all business units on a global basis.

Most recently Rourke was EVP/CFO, Finance and Technology at Viacom International Media Networks from 2011 to 2015, where he also served as an active Board member on joint ventures in India and Korea. Rourke joined MTVN in 2006 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance.

Prior to joining MTVN, Rourke worked as Senior Vice President of Treasury Operations for CBS Radio, one of the largest major radio operators in the U.S. He also served as Treasurer of Scient Inc., a New York based tech consulting firm, and held a number of positions at Young & Rubicam Inc, a marketing and communications company.

Matthews said, “ASCAP is in the midst of a major transformation into a new and modernized era in performing rights including the ability to provide our members and our licensing partners first-in-class services on a global basis. Paul has vast experience working in international markets around the world, setting up and developing the financial infrastructure to support growth in the media, technology and entertainment sectors. His global financial experience and ability to deliver excellent results on strategic initiatives will prove invaluable to ASCAP’s execution of our multi-year strategy. We look forward to having his expertise as part of ASCAP’s new executive management team.”

Rourke added, “ASCAP is at the heart of driving a transformation in the music industry in ways that will ensure a healthy future for music creators, for licensees and for fans alike. As a music lover, I am thrilled about joining the ASCAP team, where I believe that I can make a real difference in the lives of ASCAP’s writer and publisher members by building an efficient, global and growth-driven financial infrastructure in support of ASCAP’s strategic vision.”

CMA Honors Triple Play Award-Winning Songwriters

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird; Rhett Akins; Chris DeStefano; Tyler Hubbard; Shane McAnally. (Front row, L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Josh Osborne; Ross Copperman; Ashley Gorley; Zach Crowell; Brett James; host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird; Rhett Akins; Chris DeStefano; Tyler Hubbard; Shane McAnally. (Front row, L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Josh Osborne; Ross Copperman; Ashley Gorley; Zach Crowell; Brett James; host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Several of Nashville’s chart-topping songwriters were recognized as CMA Triple Play Award winners during the seventh annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held today (Feb. 3) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

Seventeen songwriters were honored with the award, which is presented to those who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12-month period.

CMA Triple Play Award recipients included Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowell, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Brett James, Jaren Johnston, Brian Kelley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, and Brad Tursi.

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; CMA's first triple Triple Play Award recipient Ashley Gorley; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; CMA’s first triple Triple Play Award recipient Ashley Gorley; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

For the first time since CMA began an annual recognition program for the Triple Play Awards, the Association presented three trophies to one songwriter. Gorley had nine songs reach No. 1 last year. The three Triple Play Awards bring Gorley’s total number of Triple Play honors to seven.

“Being on stage today with so many friends is a great feeling,” Gorley said. “We are all thankful for the CMA and the community of Nashville for respecting and recognizing us as songwriters, and awarding what we do behind the scenes. I’m thankful to be a part of the day.”

Copperman, DeStefano, and McAnally each received two Triple Play trophies, each having six songs race to the top of the charts. This brings their Triple Play Awards career totals to two, three, and four, respectively.

Akins and Laird received their fifth Triple Play Awards during the luncheon.

Receiving their first Triple Play Award today were Copperman, Crowell, Hubbard, Hunt, Johnston, Kelley, Ramsey, Rosen, and Tursi.

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Triple Play Award recipient and reigning CMA Song of the Year Award winner Hillary Lindsey; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Triple Play Award recipient and reigning CMA Song of the Year Award winner Hillary Lindsey; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

“Songwriters keep Music City playing and I’m honored to return as host for this important event celebrating this significant milestone in their careers,” said Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board member.

“We are very pleased to recognize these talented songwriters and songwriting artists for this impressive accomplishment and significant contribution to country music,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Their craft evokes emotion and we are grateful they’ve chosen the country format to share their rare talents with the world.”

A full list of this year’s CMA Triple Play Award winners follows (in alphabetical order):

  • Rhett Akins: “Just Gettin’ Started,” “TonightLooks Good On You,” “Young & Crazy”
  • Ross Copperman: “Beat Of The Music,” “Don’t It,” “Smoke,” “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Strip It Down,” “Lose My Mind”
  • Zach Crowell: “Where It’s At,” “House Party,” “Hell Of A Night”
  • Chris DeStefano: “Rewind,” “Something In The Water,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Little Toy Guns,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Smoke Break”
  • Ashley Gorley: “Play It Again,” “Yeah,” “I See You,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Don’t It,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Young & Crazy,” “Nothin’ Like You”
  • Tyler Hubbard: “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Sun Daze”
  • Sam Hunt: “We Are Tonight,” “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time”
  • Brett James: “I Hold On,” “Bottoms Up,” “Something In The Water”
  • Jaren Johnston: “Beachin’,” “Sunshine & Whiskey,” “Raise ‘Em Up”
  • Brian Kelley: “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Sun Daze”
  • Luke Laird: “American Kids,” “Sunshine & Whiskey,” “Talladega”
  • Hillary Lindsey: “Shotgun Rider,” “Girl Crush,” “Little Toy Guns”
  • Shane McAnally: “American Kids,” “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Say You Do,” “Wild Child,” “Young & Crazy”
  • Josh Osborne: “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Wild Child”
  • Matthew Ramsey: “Say You Do,” “Save It For A Rainy Day,” “Break Up With Him”
  • Trevor Rosen: “Say You Do,” “Sangria,” “Break Up With Him”
  • Brad Tursi: “A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” “Save It For A Rainy Day,” “Break Up With Him”

Sam Hunt, Seal To Perform For Super Bowl 50 NFL Tailgate Party

Sam Hunt. Photo: UMG Nashville

Sam Hunt. Photo: UMG Nashville

Sam Hunt and Seal will headline the Super Bowl 50 NFL Tailgate Party at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday, Feb. 7, as the Denver Broncos meet the Carolina Panthers. Coverage of the two performances will be televised as part of CBS’s Super Bowl Sunday pregame show, The Super Bowl Today. The announcement was made by the NFL and CBS.

More than 118.5 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history. The pregame show and Super Bowl 50 will be broadcast worldwide.

The NFL previously announced that Coldplay will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 HalftimeShow. The pregame and halftime shows is an NFL Network Production and will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and directed by Hamish Hamilton.

Artist Updates: The Mavericks, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Zac Brown

The Mavericks Celebrate Grammy Nods with Grammy Week Performance

Pictured (L-R): Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, Raul Malo and Jerry Dale McFadden. Photo: Trey Fanjoy

Pictured (L-R): Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, Raul Malo and Jerry Dale McFadden. Photo: Trey Fanjoy

Two-time Grammy nominees The Mavericks will perform during the Los Angeles event’s Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on Monday, Feb. 15 from 12:30–3:30 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the event at GRAMMY.com/live and CBS.com via the international live stream. The 58th Grammy Awards will premiere on CBS at 7 p.m. CT that evening.

Band members celebrated nods for Best Americana Album (Mono) and Best American Roots Song for “All Night Long” on Monday, Feb. 1 during the Nashville Grammy nominee party at Loews Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Alan Jackson Extends Keepin’ It Country Tour

Alan Jackson photo: Kristy Belcher; Lauren Alaina photo: Joseph Llanes

Alan Jackson. Photo: Kristy Belcher; Lauren Alaina. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Alan Jackson is extending his successful Keepin’ It Country Tour into 2016 with 11 performances through November with additional dates expected. Rising star Lauren Alaina has been tapped as special guest after March 18. Jackson’s first show of the new year finds him at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 22. Jackson’s 2016 tour is a continuation of his recent 25th anniversary celebration last year.

Tickets and information are available at alanjackson.com.

Little Big Town To Receive Music Biz Award

Little Big Town

Little Big Town

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present its prestigious Artist of the Year Award to Little Big Town at the Music Biz 2016 Awards Luncheon in Nashville on Wednesday, May 18, at the Renaissance Hotel. The event will also feature the presentation of Breakthrough Artist Awards to Sam Hunt and Halsey, as well as the soon-to-be-announced Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement and Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award.

Music Biz 2016 will be held May 16-18. Early bird registration is available until March 11, 2016.

Zac Brown Teams for Art Guitars

unnamedZac Brown has teamed up with Bai Brands for The Guitar Project — selecting five emerging visual artists to create unique artwork to be represented on a limited series of Zac Brown Band Signature custom Taylor guitars. These five instruments were all played live by Brown on the band’s 2015 North American Stadium Tour before being auctioned off on eBay through Feb. 11.

Proceeds will be donated to Brown’s nonprofit Camp Southern Ground, which gives children with academic, social and emotional difficulties the chance to learn life skills and team work in a positive, healthy and organic environment.

Aubrie Sellers Cranks Up New Music At East Nashville Release Party

Aubrie Sellers. Photo: Kevin Grace

Aubrie Sellers. Photo: Kevin Grace

Aubrie Sellers celebrated the release of her debut album in a machine shop in East Nashville on Tuesday night (Feb. 2), underscoring her commitment to what she calls “garage country.”

Although Greening Auto Company is better known for its full builds, on this stormy night, it served as a full house for a broad spectrum of industry members from music publishing, media, radio and more than a few fellow musicians. She also brought up her parents, Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers, to harmonize on “Like the Rain” during her set, which balanced her rock influences with her sweet, vulnerable vocals. Frank Liddell, her producer and stepfather, enjoyed the show from the middle of the garage floor.

Aubrie Sellers and band. Photo: Kevin Grace

Aubrie Sellers and band. Photo: Kevin Grace

Guests were given vinyl copies of Sellers’ debut album, New City Blues, as they ducked under the garage door into the wet night. She released the project via Carnival Music/Aubrie Sellers Music/Thirty Tigers on Jan. 29.

Sellers’ next show in Nashville is slated for Feb. 20 at the Ryman Auditorium, where she’ll open for Chris Stapleton. She is also confirmed for the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California, on April 29.

Scotty McCreery Exits Mercury Nashville/Interscope

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery and Mercury Nashville/Interscope have parted ways, MusicRow has confirmed through the singer’s publicist and former label.

“I enjoyed being on Mercury Nashville/Interscope and I appreciate all the great people who worked hard on my behalf while I was there,” McCreery said. “I am excited about what the future holds and the opportunities being presented to me.”

McCreery signed to the label shortly after winning American Idol in 2011. He made history as both the youngest artist and the first male country artist to debut his first studio album atop the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 2.5 million albums.

His platinum singles include “See You Tonight,” “The Trouble With Girls” and “I Love You This Big,” while “Feelin’ It” reached gold certification. He released a single titled “Southern Belle” in August.

His album releases on the label are the platinum-certified Clear as Day (2011), the gold-certified Christmas with Scotty McCreery (2012), and See You Tonight (2013)

McCreery co-wrote “See You Tonight” with Zach Crowell and Ashley Gorley. Last year, he won a BMI Award for co-writing one of the Top 50 Country Songs of 2015.

Big Machine Label Group Will Showcase Five Artists At CRS Luncheon

PIctured (clockwise from top right): Justin Moore, Tara Thompson, Drake White, Jennifer Nettles, and Tucker Beathard.

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Justin Moore, Tara Thompson, Drake White, Tucker Beathard, and Jennifer Nettles

Big Machine Label Group artist Jennifer Nettles will bring plenty of vocal power to the stage during Country Radio Seminar, as part of the lineup for the BMLG luncheon at CRS . The event is slated for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Omni Nashville’s CRS Performance Hall.

Nettles released her first single for the label, “Unlove You,” in December. Other talent on the bill include Justin Moore, Tara Thompson, Drake White, and Tucker Beathard. This year marks BMLG’s first CRS-sanctioned luncheon event.

“Country Radio Seminar brings such an energy to the radio and music communities—unlike any other industry convention, and each year, Big Machine Label Group aims to deliver the best experience for those in attendance,” says BMLG SVP Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy and CRS Board Member John Zarling. “This year, our first at the Omni, will be a special one, and for this reason we wanted to be at the heart of it all. With Jennifer, Justin, Tara, Drake and Tucker, this hour of music will spotlight some of the most compelling music coming out of the label group this year.”