BMI Stage Lineup Revealed For Austin City Limits Music Festival

BMI Austin City Limits Stage

The BMI Stage will present 24 bands at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, to be held on two consecutive weekends in Austin, Texas: Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9.

The first weekend of the festival features 12 acts including Aubrie Sellers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, Maren Morris, Quaker City Night Hawks and more. Weekend two will showcase Margaret Glaspy, LANco, The Roosevelts, Atlas Genius, Khruangbin and Amanda Shires, along with six others.

BMI’s partnership with C3 Presents’ festivals is designed to offer more prime showcasing opportunities to its songwriters, a distinct priority of the organization in support of its songwriters and music creators.

“We’re so grateful for our partnership with C3 Presents to offer BMI songwriters a chance to perform live at the 15th Anniversary of Austin City Limits Music Festival,” said Mason Hunter, BMI’s Executive Director of Events and Strategic Partnerships. “Festival goers will have the opportunity to be the first to discover this year’s emerging artists on the BMI Stage!”

BMI Stage at Austin City Limits Music Festival Lineup:

Friday, September 30
Liza Anne, 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Welshly Arms, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Maren Morris, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Julien Baker, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 1
The Gills, 12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Lucy Dacus, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Aubrie Sellers, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
New Madrid, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 2
Luke Winslow-King, 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Basia Bulat, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Quaker City Night Hawks, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 7
Susto, 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
LANco, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Foy Vance, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 8
The Roosevelts, 12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Margaret Glaspy, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Khruangbin, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Blue Healer, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 9
Elise Davis, 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
Amasa Hines, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Atlas Genius, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Amanda Shires, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Charity Notes: Geaux Music Row, Jim Asker, Grand Ole Opry

Geaux Music Row Schedules Benefit Concert At The Basement East

gmrshowGeaux Music Row!, a campaign to aid those affected by the floods in Louisiana, continues with a show at the Basement East on Tuesday, Sept. 13, beginning at 6 p.m.

Hunter Hayes has been added to the lineup which also includes originally slated  CJ Solar, Courtney Cole, Jacob Davis, Benjy Davis, David Borné, Brent Anderson, Ross Ellis, Rick Huckaby, Lainey Wilson and special guests will perform. All proceeds going to The Louisiana Flood Relief Fund.

Geaux Music Row!, a group of Louisiana-native songwriters, artists, and music business executives, recently teamed to help those affected by flooding in Louisiana. The floods have affected more than 100,000 homes, leaving numerous people and animals displaced. Twenty parishes have been declared as federal disaster areas.

Tickets can be purchased for $10 at ticketweb.com.

 

Jim Asker Aims To Raise $25K For Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Jim Asker (R) with Jamie Graves (L) after a recent training run. Photo courtesy Jim Asker.

Jim Asker (R) with Jamie Graves (L) after a recent training run. Photo courtesy Jim Asker.

On Sept. 25, Billboard Country Charts manager Jim Asker will approach the starting line at the Berlin Marathon – his 10th full-marathon since recovering from stage four non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He has set a goal to raise $25,000 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Asker has raised over $23,000 to date. The race will be Asker’s 20th full marathon.

A donation will not personally support Asker or his trip to Berlin, but 100 percent of proceeds will be donated to LLS. To donate, visit his site at teamintraining.org. He has raised more than $100,000 in total for LLS through a fitness program, Team In Training, and funding has helped support over 37 drugs against blood cancers.

Grand Ole Opry Partners With St. Jude Kids

Opry logo

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate Country Cares for St. Jude Kids during a special show set for Sept.13. Performers scheduled for the show include Randy Owen of Alabama, Old Dominion, Montgomery Gentry, Ricky Skaggs, and Drake White.

Throughout the show, photos and videos of special moments from Country Cares for St. Jude Kids will be shared during Opry performances. St. Jude patient Ian, who is 8 years old, will take the stage as a special guest announcer for the night. Five dollars from each ticket sold will be donated to Country Cares for St. Jude Kids.

DISClaimer: Jennifer Nettles, The Band Perry Offer Charming New Tracks

Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

Today’s stack of platters contained two of the finest singles I’ve heard all year. It also held some true audio stinkers.

Those two “finest” singles finished in a tie for Disc of the Day. They belong to The Band Perry and to Jennifer Nettles. Both are essential listening. I wish there was a dead heat as cool as this one in every listening session.

There are several first timers in the stack. But none of them sounded compelling enough to crown with a DisCovery Award. Better luck next week.

ANDY ROSS & LITTLE TEXAS/Back on the Backroads
Writers: Andy Ross/Porter Howell/Brady Seals; Producers: Porter Howell/Doug Grau; Publishers: Buck Shot/Writer’s List/Gypsy Quilt, BMI/ASCAP; Buck Shot (CDX)
– Jaunty, bouncy and just a teeny bit funky. A true toe tapper.

THE BAND PERRY/Comeback Kid
Writers: Kimberly Perry/Reid Perry/Neil Perry; Producers: Benny Cassette, Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry & Neil Perry; Publishers:Sony-ATV Countryside/Pearlfeather/Famdamily/When I Go to the Moon, BMI; Mercury/Interscope (CDX)
– Very melodic and loaded with winsome charm. The harmonies are heavenly, the track is super inventive and the lyric is something special. I’m in. Who’s with me?

 

JEREMY BOWMAN/Like A Song on the Radio
Writers: Juan (Johnny) Garcia/Charlie Allen/Dave Gibson/Jay Brunswick; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publishers: Busy at Play/The Beer’s Still Cold/Swat, BMI; Funky Cowboy
– The chunky, funky track and its cool backbeat are way more interesting than the pedestrian lyric. Plus, his singing voice is kinda oaf-ish.

JENNIFER NETTLES/Hey Heartbreak
Writers: Sara Haze/Shane McAnally/Jimmy Robbins; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Songs of Universal/House of Sea Gayle/Highway 508/Clearbox Rights, ASCAP; Big Machine (track)
– Extremely catchy. The burbling beat, her soaring delivery and the hooks-a-plenty choruses are all first rate. Wildly listenable on every level.

 

GRACIE METHENY/Unspeakable
Writer: Gracie Metheny; Producer: Gracie Metheny; Publisher: none listed; GM (CDX)
– You sing flat, dearie. I think you’re trying to say something in this lyric, but the mix is so muddy it’s hard to figure out what.

LARRY GATLIN & THE GATLIN BROTHERS/Stand Up and Say So
Writer: Larry Gatlin; Producers: Larry Gatlin, Steve Gatlin & Rudy Gatlin; Publishers: Terrengat LLC, BMI; Gatlin (CDX)
– Unrelentingly negative, with a peppy rhythm track.

 

DARYLE SINGLETARY/We’re Not Going to Hell for Having a Hell of a Time
Writers: Greg Hudik; Producer: Greg Hudik; Publisher: Double Dos Platinum, BMI; Platinum (CDX)
– Country, country, country. His bent-note phrasing, the steel-guitar backing, the twang production and the honky-tonk lyric are all classic sounding.

JON PARDI/Dirt On My Boots
Writers: Rhett Akins/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley; Producers: Bart Butler/Jon Pardi; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Brooks Country Boy/Rio Bravo/Telemitry/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/WB, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
-After a hard day’s farm labor, he’s going out for a good time with his honey. The melody is rather choppy, awkward and odd, but his drawling delivery is right on the money.

KEVIN MAC/#Winning
Writers: Kevin Mack/Neal Coty; Producers: Keith Stegall/Larry Goetz/John Kelton; Publishers: Where Da Kasz At/Laughing Gull, BMI; Dreamlined/Star Farm (CDX)
– Boyishly bopping with a vintage pop feel.

 

RICK TREVINO/Cowboys Like Me
Writers: Rick Trevino/Alan Miller; Producer: Rick Trevino; Publishers: Luke & Live/Miller’s Tale, BMI/ASCAP; Campo Negro (CDX)
– The breezy track shuffles along nicely. His soft, breathy vocal never quite gets on top of it, but it’s still easy on the ears.

Jim Lauderdale Plans Multiple Nashville Shows For New Album

Jim Lauderdale album cover

Jim Lauderdale will be making a number of Nashville appearances leading up to the release of a new album on Sept. 30.

Titled This Changes Everything, the new project was recorded in a single day in Austin, Texas, and explores his Texas influences. Musicians appearing on the project include producer and pedal steel player Tommy Detamore, drummer Tom Lewis, pianist Floyd Domino, fiddle player Bobby Flores, bass player Kevin Smith, electric guitarist Chris Masterson and vocalists Brennen Leigh, Noel McKay and Sunny Sweeney.

The 11 songs were written by Lauderdale and Texas songwriters. Co-writers include Bruce Robison, Hayes Carll, Daryl Burgess, Odie Blackmon and Frank Dycus. The album will be released on Lauderdale’s own label, Sky Crunch Records.

The collection includes a new version of “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This,” one of Lauderdale’s 14 songs that have been recorded by George Strait. Lauderdale will be presented the Americana Music Association’s Wagonmaster Lifetime Achievement Award from Strait at the Americana Honors & Awards show on Sept. 21 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The event is part of the Americana Music Festival & Conference, also known as AmericanaFest.

“I was already a fan of George Strait when he began recording my songs,” says Lauderdale, “and his support really opened up a lot of doors for me. It allowed me to make the kind of music I want to make, and release it the way I want to release it. It allowed me to create. This award is one of the most important things to happen to me, in my life and my career.”

Lauderdale’s next Nashville show will be Sept. 17 at The Station Inn. He will also make AmericanaFest appearances on Sept. 23 at 3rd & Lindsley and Sept. 24 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Also on Sept. 24 he will sing on the Grand Ole Opry.

Track list for Jim Lauderdale’s This Changes Everything:
1. “This Changes Everything”
2. “You Turn Me Around”
3. “It All Started and Ended With You”
4. “The Weakness of Two Hearts”
5. “Lost in the Shuffle”
6. “There Is a Horizon”
7. “All the Rage in Paris”
8. “Nobody’s Fault”
9. “I’ll Still Be Around”
10. “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This”
11. “Drive”

Loretta Lynn Postpones Shows, Will Require Minor Surgery

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn has postponed shows and is recuperating at home after sustaining an injury that will require minor surgery. The country legend is recuperating from a fall that left her unable to perform on Labor Day at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Lynn has postponed upcoming shows in Renfro Valley, Kentucky (Sept. 9), Newell, West Virginia (Sept. 10), and Bristol, Tennessee (Sept. 17).

Jacob Powell Signs Publishing Deal With ole

(L-R): Noah McPike, Ben Strain, Creative Director, ole; Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; Singer/Songwriter Jacob Powell; John Ozier, VP Creative, ole; Shellien Kinsey, Creative Admin Manager, ole; Mike Whelan, Sr. Creative Director, ole; Emily Mueller, Creative Manager, ole.

(L-R): Noah McPike, Almon & McPike, PLLC; Ben Strain, Creative Director, ole; Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; Singer/Songwriter Jacob Powell; John Ozier, VP Creative, ole; Shellien Kinsey, Creative Admin Manager, ole; Mike Whelan, Sr. Creative Director, ole; Emily Mueller, Creative Manager, ole.

Jacob Powell has signed an exclusive deal with ole, granting the rights management company exclusive publishing rights. The agreement also includes exclusive administration of Powell’s YouTube channel, and the exclusive option to fund future master recordings with the objective to upstream him to a major record label.

As a part of this deal, Powell delivers 45 pre-existing songs that were not assigned to another publisher. Many of the songs were co-written with ole songwriters such as Jeremy Stover, April Geesbreght, Phil O’Donnell and Adam Hambrick.

Powell launched his musical journey in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, a small town south of Nashville, where he grew up listening to the Allman Brothers, George Jones, and George Strait. In 2015, he played over 100 dates and is well on his way to do the same in 2016 – playing with Florida-Georgia Line, Dustin Lynch, The Cadillac Three, David Nail and many more.

As a songwriter, Powell has earned the respect of hit writers such as Casey Beathard, Michael Heeney, Jaren Johnston, and Jeremy Stover, which has helped him secured cuts from artists like Chase Rice, Jordan Rager and Jon Wolfe, as well as cuts he co-wrote for his own record.

“I’m really looking forward to working with and being a part of the ole family,” says Powell, “I feel like I’m in the right place and can’t wait to get new music out and hit the road again. We are going to do great things together!”

“We are incredibly proud to add Jacob Powell to the ole roster,” says John Ozier, Vice President, Creative of ole. “Jacob is a great songwriter and an impactful artist. Together, we are going to accomplish amazing things.”

Chris Young Announces ‘It Must Be Christmas’ Album

chris-young christmas album

Chris Young will release his first-ever Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas, on Oct. 14 on RCA Records Nashville.

The project is a mix of original songs and classic holiday tunes. Corey Crowder and Young co-produced the album, which will be his sixth album for the label.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time,” said Young. “Christmas is one of my favorite times of year and it was hard to narrow down the list of songs for this record. I’m excited to share my own versions of many of the standards I sang as a kid every year at Christmas, plus I had the opportunity to write a couple of original songs to celebrate the season.”

Artist Updates: Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Meghan Linsey

Blake Shelton Receives Gold Plaque

Pictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks, Producer/EVP A&R, Warner Music Nashville; Peter Strickland, COO, Warner Music Nashville; Blake Shelton; Narvel Blackstock, Starstruck Management; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Nashville; Brandon Blackstock, Starstruck Management

Pictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks, Producer/EVP A&R, Warner Music Nashville; Peter Strickland, COO, Warner Music Nashville; Blake Shelton; Narvel Blackstock, Starstruck Management; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Nashville; Brandon Blackstock, Starstruck Management

Blake Shelton accepted a gold plaque for his newest album, If I’m Honest, during a visit to Nashville last week. He was congratulated by his Warner Music Nashville label team and Starstruck Management executives. The album is the only country album released this year to reach gold status. Its singles include “Came Here to Forget” and “She’s Got a Way With Words.”

 

Kelsea Ballerini Sells Out Two Shows, Adds Tour Date

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini has sold out her Nov. 11 concert in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, for her first headlining tour. She also sold out a show in Minneapolis scheduled for Nov. 19.

Due to rerouting, Ballerini has been able to add a date at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, Illinois on Nov. 17. Two dates in Texas have also been moved from October. She will now perform in Dallas on Dec. 13 and Houston on Dec. 14. She is currently on tour with Rascal Flatts.

 

Meghan Linsey Will Report On The Voice

Meghan Linsey. Photo:

Meghan Linsey. Photo:

Meghan Linsey will be a weekly correspondent on WSMV-TV’s new show, Today in Nashville, starting on Sept. 13. Linsey will be a guest each Tuesday morning to discuss the previous night’s episode of The Voice; Linsey appeared on the show in 2015.

Linsey will return to Today in Nashville each week through Dec. 13 to share her expert opinion with hosts Kelly Sutton and Carole Sullivan.

“I am beyond excited to be joining Today in Nashville as their The Voice correspondent for the next 15 weeks!” says Linsey. “As a veteran, I obviously love the show and many will find out I also love to talk, so I feel this is such a natural fit. I’m looking forward to watching this new season and weighing in every week!”

R.E.M.’s Mike Mills Confirmed For WHO KNEW Event In October

Who Knew event
R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills will mark the 25th anniversary of the band’s album Out of Time with a WHO KNEW Celebrates event on Oct. 7 at City Winery in Nashville. Tickets go on sale Thursday (Sept. 8) at 3 p.m.

Mills will be interviewed by music journalist Craig Havighurst. The evening will also feature Nashville band The Long Players as they perform Out of Time and some of R.E.M.’s greatest hits with several special guests. The event will be produced by WHO KNEW creator Tom Truitt.

“I’ve been a fan of WHO KNEW from the start. I spoke at the very first one and have watched the series evolve in a very exciting way. So when Tom Truitt approached me with the idea for this particular event it felt like a natural fit. What better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.’s memorable album Out of Time. The timing for this couldn’t have been better,” said Bertis Downs, attorney for R.E.M.

Tickets are $25 to $100 with proceeds to benefit Notes for Notes, a non-profit organization that designs, equips, and staffs after-school recording studios inside Boys & Girls Clubs offering youth the opportunity to explore, create, and record music for free. Premier tickets include a Meet & Greet with Mills, an event poster signed by Mills, and the opportunity to submit questions for the interview.

A limited number of VIP tables are on sale now and available for purchase at $1000 for 12 seats. All VIP table purchases are a tax deductible charitable contribution to support Notes for Notes.

Kacey Musgraves Preps First Christmas Album

A Very Kacey Christmas

Mercury Nashville’s Kacey Musgraves will release her first Christmas album, A Very Kacey Christmas, featuring Leon Bridges, Willie Nelson and The Quebe Sisters, on Oct. 28.

Produced by Musgraves, Misa Arriaga and Kyle Ryan, the album features four original co-writes, as well as covers of eight holiday favorites (full track list below).

“Working on my first Christmas album has been one of the most enriching musical experiences I’ve ever had and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it,” said Musgraves. “I really wanted to create a whimsical throwback holiday record, one that evokes feelings of nostalgia and simpler times. I think that the fine musicians and brains that were a part of this project have helped me create a body of music that can be added to people’s classic collections. There can be a touch of sad feelings and memories during the holiday season for a lot of people so I knew when I went in to write I wanted to include all the emotions this time of year can bring out.”

A Very Kacey Christmas was inspired by Bing Crosby, the Andrew Sisters, Nat King Cole and the classic sounds of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s, part Western swing, classic pop, hazy Hawaiian moments and child-like fun, according to Musgraves, “all coming to a nostalgic and melancholy end.”

A Very Kacey Christmas Track Listing:

  1. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
  2. “Let It Snow” (feat.The Quebe Sisters)
  3. “Christmas Don’t Be Late”
  4. “A Willie Nice Christmas” (feat. Willie Nelson and Trigger; Written by Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  5. “Feliz Navidad”
  6. “Christmas Makes Me Cry” (written by Musgraves, McAnally, Brandy Clark)
  7. “Present Without A Bow” (feat. Leon Bridges; Written by Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Austin Jenkins, Luke Laird)
  8. “Mele Kalikimaka” (feat. The Quebe Sisters)
  9. “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”
  10. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”
  11. “Ribbons and Bows” (written by Musgraves, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter)
  12. “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”