Maren Morris. Photo: Jason Delkou Photography
Meghan Trainor and Maren Morris have been added to the list of honorees at Billboard‘s upcoming 11th annual Women in Music event on Dec. 9 in New York City.
Trainor will be recognized with the 2016 Women in Music ‘Chart Topper’ award, and both Trainor and Morris will perform live at the gala, which airs on the Lifetime Network on Dec. 12.
The 13th Annual Billboard Touring Awards were held Wednesday night (Nov. 9) with Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, and Adele taking home the top awards of the evening, according to billboard.com. Held at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, the event was hosted by former American Idol host Brian Dunkleman. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took home the trophy for Top Tour, while Jon Bon Jovi was honored during the night’s festivities as The Legend of Live.
Bon Jovi has sold over 130 million albums worldwide and performed more than 2,800 concerts in 50 countries for more than 35 million fans. The band has also earned $1 billion in ticket sales, and has the distinction of having a No. 1 album in each of the past three decades and could land another No. 1 debut with the new album, This House is Not For Sale.
Billboard‘s Touring Awards honor the industry’s top achievers in categories including Top Festival, Top Arena, Top Manager and Top Comedy Tour. The winners are based on Billboard’s Boxscore chart data, which tracks gate receipts for concerts, comedy shows and other live events.
Billboard Touring Award Winners:
Top Tour: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band The River Tour
Top Draw: Coldplay
Top Package: Justin Bieber Purpose Tour feat. Moxie Raia and Post Malone
Breakthrough: Adele
Top Comedy Tour: Kevin Hart
Top Festival: Coachella
Top Promoter: Live Nation
Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): Another Planet Entertainment
Top Independent Promoter (International): SJM Concerts
Top Agency: Creative Artists Agency
Top Manager: Maverick Management
Top Boxscore: Coldplay @ Wembley
Top Arena: The O2, London
Top Club: HOB Boston
Top Amphitheater: BB&T Pavilion, Camden, N.J.
Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall
Top Venue (Under 5,000 Seats): Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Chance The Rapper
Golden Circle: Brian Murphy, Goldenvoice/AEG Live
Humanitarian: Scooter Braun
Legend Of Live: Bon Jovi
Chris Tomlin will kick off his Worship Night In America tour next Spring, hitting arenas in 23 cities across the U.S. The tour, which follows a series of Worship Night In America events over the last two years including Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks and other venues, will also feature Big Daddy Weave, Phil Wickham, Zach Williams, Mosaic MSC and Jason Barton.
The tour will be presented by K-LOVE and Air1 and sponsored by Food for the Hungry. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 18.
“It is powerful when all streams of the church come together in an act of unity to worship and pray…that’s the heart behind Worship Night In America,” Tomlin said. “I pray these nights are filled with revival and restoration as we all join together proclaiming one name.”
Tomlin’s 11th studio album Never Lose Sight was recently released and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart, and includes his RIAA Gold-certified single “Good Good Father.” Last month, Tomlin was honored as the fourth recipient of the SoundExchange Digital Radio Award, recognizing more than 1 billion digital radio plays.
Worship Night In America Tour:
April 4: San Antonio, Texas; Freeman Coliseum
April 6: Tulsa, Okla.; BOK Center
April 7: Omaha, Neb. Baxter Arena
April 8: Kansas City, Mo.; Sprint Center
April 9: Milwaukee, Wis.; The UWM Panther Arena
April 11: Moline, Ill.;The iWireless Center
April 13: Charlotte, N.C.; Spectrum Center
April 20: Oklahoma City, Okla.; Cox Convention Center
April 21: Grand Prairie, Texas; Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
April 22: Grand Prairie, Texas; Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
April 23: Cedar Park, Texas; H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
April 25: Lubbock, Texas; United Supermarkets Arena
April 26: El Paso, Texas; Don Haskins Center
April 28: Fresno, Calif.; Save Mart Center at Fresno State
April 29: Reno, Calif.;Reno Events Center
April 30: Boise, Idaho; Taco Bell Arena
May 4: Seattle, Wa.; KeyArena
May 5: Portland, Ore.; Moda Center
May 6: Eugene, Ore.; Matthew Knight Arena
May 7: Sacramento, Calif.; Golden 1 Center
May 9: San Diego, Calif.; Viejas Arena at SDSU
May 12: Phoenix, Ariz.; Talking Stick Resort Arena
May 13; Rio Rancho, N.M.; Santa Ana Star Center
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Faith Hill will release her final album for Warner Bros. Records on Nov. 18. Titled Deep Tracks, the album includes non-single tracks from Hill’s previous albums, including Faith, Breathe, Cry, and Fireflies. The project also includes three previously unreleased tracks.
“Deep Tracks contains songs from previous albums that were not singles but remain some of my favorites,” Hill says. “There have been some amazing songs that I’ve been fortunate enough to record, some that didn’t make it onto albums, and I thought it would be nice to include a few of those on this album as well.”
During a surprise performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in October, Hill and her husband Tim McGraw announced the launch of Soul2Soul The World Tour 2017, which kicks off in New Orleans on April 7, 2017. The 65-city tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of the record-breaking Soul2Soul II tour, and marks the first time Hill has toured since 2007.
Deep Tracks Song Listing:
Better Days (Faith)
Somebody Stand By Me (Faith)
If I Should Fall Behind (Breathe)
Free (Cry)
If This Is The End (Cry)
Back To You (Cry)
Unsaveable (Cry)
If You Ask (Fireflies)
You Stay With Me (Fireflies)
Wish For You (Fireflies)
Boy (previously unreleased)
Why (previously unreleased)
Come To Jesus (unreleased)
CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks sold out two nights at Yankee Stadium in New York City earlier this year, and his appearance will air as Garth Brooks/Yankee Stadium/Live is presented by AT&T’s Audience Network tonight (Nov. 10) beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The event can be streamed online.
Brooks’ shows mark his return to New York City since his historic Central Park performance nearly 20 years ago.
Watch a preview of the event here:
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler will headline the Rare Country VIP Pre-Jam concert on Wednesday, Nov. 30 inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Rehearsal Hall, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. The Pre-Jam acoustic concert will honor invited veterans and feature performances by Pickler and other special guests. A limited number of passes will be available on Rare Country’s Facebook and Twitter pages and are not available for purchase.
The Rare Country VIP Pre-Jam serves as a warm-up to “Charlie Daniels 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam,” which features Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Kid Rock, Larry The Cable Guy, Travis Tritt, 3 Doors Down and Charlie Daniels. A separate ticket from the Rare Country event is required for the Volunteer Jam, which can be purchased here.
Sara Evans will embark on a 11-city Christmas tour kicking off Dec. 1 in Englewood, Florida. The holiday tour will make stops in cities including Jacksonville, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri; Huntsville, Alabama; and Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Evans will perform songs from her catalog of hits as well as music from her 2014 album At Christmas.
Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at: saraevans.com/tour
Crowder. Photo: Hollo Photographics Inc. © 2016 Grand Ole Opry
Crowder recently wrapped his headlining American Prodigal Tour and returned to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The two-time Grammy nominee performed songs including “Run Devil Run” and “All We Sinners,” both from his latest project, American Prodigal. The performance took place at the Ryman Auditorium.
Jamie Lynn Spears. Photo: Katie Weaver
Louisiana-based singer-songwriter Jamie Lynn Spears is known for penning songs including “I Got The Boy,” recorded by Jana Kramer. Spears has now inked a management deal with Ontourage Management, led by Tony Conway.
“Our team at Ontourage is extremely proud to represent Jamie Lynn Spears for management,” Conway says. “Her devotion to songwriting and country music is as real as it gets. We, as well as her team are already at work on her soon to be announced projects, that are exciting and fresh.”
Katie Weaver of Ontourage Management added, “Jamie Lynn Spears is a force to be reckoned with and she is well on her way to making a major footprint in Country Music. We are thrilled about this partnership and the success her future holds as she continues to accomplish her goals.”
Pictured (L-R): TCW Executive Director Chris Lisle, Hunter Hayes, TCW Associate Director Erik Parker
The sixth annual Touring Career Workshop welcomed more than 300 touring professionals to Soundcheck Nashville last night (Nov. 9). Artist Hunter Hayes shared his experiences in the touring world with attendees.
“Really take everything in,” says Hayes. “The places you go, the people you meet. You’re gonna experience something special because the road is a great place!”
The yearly Sam “Old Skool” Harden award was presented to Clair Bros audio’s Roger Gibbons.
Keynote speaker Randy “Baja” Fletcher, production manager for Keith Urban, highlighted his colorful career path and emphasized the important of choices.
“I’m so proud of this event,” says Executive Director Chris Lisle. “It’s such a unique opportunity to mentor up and coming touring professionals as well as the ones that have been in the industry for years. I am beyond ecstatic about the success of the event and the impact it’s had on our industry.”
Photo: BMLG
The Administrators of Gospel Music has elected its first Board of Directors, announced at its first board meeting on Nov. 2, 2016.
The AGM first formed in 1982 in Nashville. In March 2016, a “reboot” committee was appointed to develop a set of by-laws for the newly re-focused organization. And the AGM’s first Board of Directors were elected at the conclusion of the 2016 AGM Conference that was held on Oct. 13 at Grace Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Chairman of the Board: Christopher Stedman of Right Angle Music
President: Andie Rankins of Essential Music Publishing
Vice-President: Christy Robinson of Curb Publishing/CurbRecords
Secretary/Treasurer: Erin Ruth Schleiff of Capitol CMG Publishing
Director at Large: Lisa Stutts of Capitol CMG Publishing
Director at Large: Jonathan Bryce of Christian Copyright Solutions
International Director at Large: Steve Harmeling of Hillsong Music Publishing from Australia
Olivia Lane is slated to release a deluxe edition of her self-titled EP on Big Spark Music Group on Nov. 18. The new version features two additional tracks, “Ghosted,” and Lane’s take on Brenda Lee’s holiday classic, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” as well as the video for her single “Make My Own Sunshine.”
Lane will appear on “TODAY in Nashville” this Friday (Nov. 11) to perform her bold track “My Heartache,” also featured on the deluxe EP.
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 550
Back Row: P.K. Subban, Mike Smardak, Rod Essig. Front Row: Doc McGhee, Randy Travis and Scott Hamilton attend the 2016 NATD Honors Gala at the Hermitage Hotel on November 9, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
The warmth of the NATD Honors gala is surpassed only by the elegant hospitality of its setting.
The sixth annual Nashville Association of Talent Directors banquet took place on Wednesday evening (Nov. 9) at the 1910-era beaux arts masterpiece The Hermitage Hotel. The honorees were new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Randy Travis, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Leon Russell, Olympic Gold Medal figure skater and philanthropist Scott Hamilton, Nashville Predators hockey hotshot P.K. Subban, CAA’s Rod Essig, manager Doc McGhee and Outback Concert impresario Michael Smardak.
Roughly 150 party goers gathered in the historic hotel’s stunning lobby beneath its stained-glass ceiling to sip cocktails and sample beef-wellington bites. Then they reconvened in the ballroom, surrounded by wood-paneled walls and historic portraits, lit by its breathtaking, turn-of-the-century chandeliers.
“Everybody really seems to love the vibe, so we haven’t moved,” said NATD president Steve Tolman of the gala’s spectacular venue. As always, the presentations were illustrated with video vignettes. This year, the event added musical presentations.
Pictured (L-R): John McBride, Honoree Rod Essig, Martina McBride and Charlie Brusco attend The 2016 NATD Honor at the Hermitage Hotel on November 9, 2016. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
These began with John Cowan offering a spine-tingling rendition of Russell’s “A Song for You.” He recalled that when he was in New Grass Revival, the group spent three years on the road opening for Russell.
“He treated us with so much deference and respect,” said Cowan. “He’s had a gigantic career as a composer, as a pianist, as an entertainer.”
Russell’s daughters Honey and Coco accepted. “If he could be here tonight, he would be honored,” said Honey. “Without you, his family and friends, he wouldn’t be recovering from surgery as well as he is.”
Banquet music was provided by harpist Deanna Loveland. She is also the reigning Mrs. Tennessee. The NATD presented a check for $1,000 to her foundation that aids young women and girls.
Honoree Scott Hamilton and Chaz Corzine attend the 2016 NATD Honors Gala. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
John Huie gave Smardak his NATD honor. Outback is regarded as one of the top-five concert companies in the world, and Smardak was the man behind the wildly successful Blue Collar Comedy tour.
“He’s got the biggest heart of anyone you’ll ever know,” said Huie of the honoree. “I want to thank all the hard-working people who work every day at Outback,” responded the modest Smardak.
Charlie Brusco saluted Essig. “I work with agents a lot,” said Brusco. “The relationship that Rod and I have is unbelievable.” Martina McBride presented the NATD accolade.
“I am thrilled to be the one to be presenting Rod with this award,” she said, “to add another memory to our list.”
Honoree Scott Hamilton, Mallory Corzine and Chaz Corzine attend the 2016 NATD Honors Gala. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
“It’s so incredible to get up every day and do what you want to do,” said Essig. “As my father always said, ‘Put a song in your heart and a smile on your face, treat people like you want to be treated, and you’re going to have a good life.’”
The next musical presentation came from new Warner hit maker Michael Ray. He said he was nervous singing in front of Travis, but it didn’t show in his masterful delivery of “Three Wooden Crosses,” “Deeper Than the Holler” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.”
“Randy Travis, you’re one of the best country singers this planet has ever seen,” said Ray, who was clearly in awe of his idol.
“Randy Travis, I love you – and that’s the way it is,” said Marty Stuart in making the NATD presentation. “I’m talking about the guy who stole the show at the CMA’s with one word, ‘Amen.’”
“Through it all, Randy has remained quietly dignified,” said the star’s wife Mary Davis Travis. “He doesn’t get discouraged. He doesn’t give up.” The star is slowly recovering his speech lost in a massive 2013 stroke.
Singer/Songwriter Michael Ray, Honoree NHL Nashville Predators P.K. Subban, Honoree Singer/Songwriter Randy Travis and Olympian Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
Mallory Corzine is a Lipscomb University student who is a brain-tumor survivor. She aims to have a career helping children at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis. Tolman and Tony Conway presented her with a $5,000 scholarship check.
Pete Weber, the voice of the Nashville Predators, praised the team’s new star defenseman, Subban, for his many philanthropic endeavors. “I get to come to a city with amazing people,” said Subban, who arrived in June as the result of one of the NHL’s biggest deals in history. “It’s inspiring to be here. I want to win a Stanley Cup and bring it down Broadway.”
Hamilton’s award was presented by Chaz Corzine. The skater, author, speaker, TV personality and humanitarian recently announced the recurrence of his brain tumor. He has long been a champion of cancer charities and is co-hosting a benefit at Bridgestone on Nov. 20 starring Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Jewel, Ben Rector and Sara Evans, plus a bevy of skating stars.
“I hope you’ll all join me in my dream to change cancer forever,” said Hamilton to the NATD crowd. “Thank you, Nashville, for embracing me so dearly. This is an amazing recognition.”
“It’s universal: The world loves Scott Hamilton,” said Chaz Corzine. “You’ve done more good for more people than anyone I know.”
Honoree Randy Travis and Singer/Songwriter Michael Ray. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for NATD
Legendary, colorful manager McGhee was saluted by John Esposito. “He tells it like it is, no matter who is in the room,” said Espo of his longtime friend. “Doc is a force of nature to be reckoned with.”
“This is a real honor for me, because it comes from Nashville,” said McGhee. “They thought I would never make it here. I love this city.”
The NATD Honors gala was ably co-hosted by radio great Shawn Parr and WKRN Channel 2 news anchor Stephanie Langston. They entertained such attendees as Bebe Evans, Robert Frye, Robert Williams, Randi Perkins, Ray Shelide, Jerry Helper, Terry Crisp, David Corlew, Moore & Moore, Bonnie Sugarman, Scott Brown, Steve Lassiter, Jeff Davis, Rick Diamond, Zach Farnum, Judy Seale, Kirt Webster, Tinti Moffatt and Andrew Harwell.
The Hermitage Hotel hospitality extended to an excellent menu. Beet, carrot and radish salad was followed by medium-rare beef medallions, asparagus spears and whipped potatoes with a finale dessert of coconut cake with a generous dollop of whipped cream topped by coconut sprinkles.