Drake White Sets First Headlining Tour For 2017

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Drake White

Drake White

Following the release of his debut album earlier this year, BMLG artist Drake White will kick off his first headlining stint in February 2017. White and his band The Big Fire will take The Spark Tour 2017 to 17 clubs across the US, including a show at Nashville’s Exit/In on April 13.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get out on the road for my first headlining dates,” exclaimed White. “The Big Fire and I are road warriors. We have been playing together for many years so to be out there on our own tour is really special for us.”

White was recently named as one of MusicRow‘s 2017 Next Big Thing artists, and has opened for artists including Willie Nelson, Zac Brown Band and Eric Church.

UPCOMING SPARK TOUR 2017 DATES

Feb. 4: Husson University – Gracie Theatre | Bangor, ME
Feb. 16: Texas Club | Baton Rouge, LA
Feb. 17: Mo’s Place | Katy, TX
March 17: Coyote Joe’s | Charlotte, NC
March 18: The Blind Horse Saloon | Greenville, SC
March 23: Gramercy Theatre | New York, NY
March 24: Paradise Rock Club | Boston, MA
March 25: Mohegen Sun – Wolf Den | Uncasville, CT
April 7: The Dallas Bull | Tampa, FL
April 13: Exit/In | Nashville, TN
April 14: Mercury Ballroom | Louisville, KY
April 19: Jergel’s Rhythm Grille | Warrendale, PA
April 20: Coyote Joe’s | Shelby Township, MI
April 21: 8 Seconds Saloon | Indianapolis, IN
May 5: The Bluestone | Columbus, OH
May 31: Moonshine Beach | San Diego, CA
June 2: Brandin’ Iron | San Bernardino, CA

Big Loud Mountain Signs Mat Kearney

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Pictured (L-R): Big Loud Mountain partners Seth England and Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Mat Kearny, Big Loud Mountain partners Craig Wiseman and Joey Moi and Big Loud Mountain’s Troy Johnson

Pictured (L-R): Big Loud Mountain partners Seth England and Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Mat Kearney, Big Loud Mountain partners Craig Wiseman and Joey Moi and Big Loud Mountain’s Troy Johnson

Songwriter/artist Mat Kearney has signed with Big Loud Mountain Management and has new music in the works.

Kearney’s unique blend of hip-hop, adult alternative, and spiritually-based songwriting have garnered a dedicated fanbase during his 10-year career. His current record, Just Kids (released in February 2015), became his fourth-consecutive Top 5 release on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. The prolific writer has also contributed songs to dozens of television shows and movies, including Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, and Soul Surfer. Kearney recently wrapped his run on the COMPADRES 2016 Tour, presented by Needtobreathe. His career breakthrough came in 2006 with his major label debut, Nothing Left To Lose, which has sold over 450,000 copies.

“Big Loud is an exciting place to be. Great people with big ideas,” said Kearney. “After being on a major label for 10 years I felt a strong need to start this journey together as an independent artist. It has been so inspiring, and I feel lucky to have such a world-class team down the street.”

Big Loud Mountain partner Seth England said of the signing, “After our first meeting with Mat, we knew we had to officially work together. I’ve always respected Mat’s career from a distance all these years. We couldn’t be more excited to join his team. We’ve had the pleasure of hearing what Mat is working on next and I can confidently say the best is yet to come for him.”

Big Loud Mountain is also home to superstars Florida Georgia Line and breakout artists Chris Lane and Dallas Smith.

Dierks Bentley Inks Deal With Kobalt Music Copyright

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Willard Ahdritz (Kobalt founder/CEO), Merril Wasserman (EVP, Business Development), Dierks Bentley, Richard Sanders (President, Kobalt North America), Laura Alexander (Senior Creative Director), Stephanie Cox (VP, Creative), Jesse Willoughby (GM, Kobalt Nashville).

Pictured (L-R): Willard Ahdritz (Kobalt founder/CEO), Merril Wasserman (EVP, Business Development), Dierks Bentley, Richard Sanders (President, Kobalt North America), Laura Alexander (Senior Creative Director), Stephanie Cox (VP, Creative), Jesse Willoughby (GM, Kobalt Nashville).

Dierks Bentley has inked a deal with Kobalt Music Copyright for representation of his back catalog, including hits such as “I Hold On,” “Home,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Sideways,” and more, MusicRow has confirmed. Kobalt will also handle administration for Bentley’s future compositions.

“I couldn’t be more happy about joining the Kobalt team,” said Bentley. “Everyone I’ve had a chance to meet emits a feeling of belief in the power of songs and songwriting. You can’t help but sense their excitement about writing collaborations and possibilities. I look forward to having the positive energy surrounding me as we start thinking about the next project.”

Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt, commented, “Dierks Bentley is a gifted artist and songwriter who has only grown stronger over the years. We very much believe in him and feel strongly that he will keep growing and that the best is yet to come.”

Jesse Willoughby, General Manager of Kobalt, Nashville stated, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring such a phenomenal artist like Dierks Bentley into the Kobalt family. His career continues to thrive as he pushes new boundaries on every project. His eighth album release speaks volumes about his contribution to country music and popular culture as a whole. Welcome to Kobalt, Dierks!”

 

Alabama, Cyndi Lauper Set For Tonight’s Dolly Parton Telethon

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Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton‘s Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon will air tonight (Dec. 13) on GAC, AXS-TV, RFD and The Heartland Network, beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

Significant donations have already been committed before the airing, including pledges from Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Artists performing on the show include Parton, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton, Reba, Alison Krauss, Michael W. Smith, Chris Janson, Big & Rich, LOCASH, Chris Young, Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Don McLean, Amy Grant, Alabama, Aaron Lewis and Rhonda Vincent.

“The donations that are already coming in are so special to me,” Parton said. “It means there are a lot of people behind us and ready to help us. There is still so much need to support the people of the Smoky Mountains, but thanks to Taylor and Kenny and both the ACM and CMA for gettin’ us started with such huge donations.”

More than 1300 families have been displaced due to the wildfires which spread across Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee in late November. The entertainment icon established the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund to provide $1000 each month for six months to every family who lost their primary residence. Currently, the monthly pledge is in excess of $1.3 million each month.

 

Reba Returns To ABC In New TV Series

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Reba

Reba

Reba is set to rejoin ABC in a new series penned by Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, who will serve as executive producer and showrunner. The untitled project has earned a script commitment and a penalty in a competitive situation, according to multiple sources.

McEntire commented via social media about the announcement on Dec. 12, saying, “we’re really excited!!!!”

Described as a Southern Gothic soap opera, the hourlong series is set in motion after a horrible, suspected act of terrorism happens at a 4th of July parade in the small town of Oxblood, Kentucky. The FBI sends a cocky agent of Middle Eastern descent to investigate. He teams up with the mercurial local Sheriff (McEntire) to uncover secrets far darker than either could have ever imagined.

The series also includes longtime McEntire collaborators Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel from Acme Productions. Both served as executive producers on McEntire’s previous series Reba (WB) and Malibu Country (ABC/ABC Studios). Cherry’s producing partner Sabrina Wind will also executive produce via their Cherry-Wind Productions.

New Books Spotlight Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride

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jessi-colter-bookJessi Colter To Release First Memoir

Jessi Colter will release her first memoir about her career and life with husband and country legend Waylon Jennings. Titled An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon and the Faith That Brought Me Home, the book will be released April 11, 2017.

Penned with author David Ritz, the book includes Colter becoming the first female to earn the CMA award for Album of the Year (for her contribution to Wanted–The Outlaws), her integral role in the “outlaw” country movement, and the struggles of her marriage to Jennings, as he dealt with cocaine and alcohol addiction.

Colter still lives in Arizona, where Jennings was laid to rest in 2002. The book also chronicles Colter’s return to faith, and how he shared that faith with her in the later years of his life.

 

Peter Cooper To Release ‘Johnny’s Cash & Charley’s Pride’

johnny-cash-charley-pride-bookIn his new book, Johnny’s Cash & Charley’s Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music, author, musician, Grammy-nominated producer and journalist Peter Cooper chronicles many of his tales since arriving in Nashville in 2000 to cover the country music scene for the Tennessean.

Now a senior director, writer, and producer at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Cooper’s selected stories are an original take on the formative days at WSM as well as introductions to many of country music’s unique personalities. The book includes tales of Nashville artists, executives and locations including Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Kris Kristofferson, Don Light, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Earl Scruggs, The Station Inn, and more.

Johnny’s Cash & Charley’s Pride will release April 25, 2017 via Spring House Press.

Congressional Proposal Seeks Autonomy Of Copyright Office

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copyrightoffice

After years of soliciting input from stakeholders on all sides of the copyright debate and a more recent, contentious ouster of Maria Pallante as U.S. Copyright Registrar in October 2016, comes the first in a series of expected reforms for the U.S. copyright system. On Thursday, Dec. 8, the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee began the conversation by proposing autonomy of the Copyright Office from the Library of Congress.

The proposal retains the Copyright Office as part of the Legislative Branch and led by a Registrar, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Reforms are aimed at modernizing the agency, and funding technology upgrades including a searchable, digital database of historical and current copyright ownership. A noted IT modernization plan is estimated at costing $165 million over five years.

“These policy proposals are not meant to be the final word on reform in these individual issue areas, but rather a starting point for further discussion by all stakeholders, with the goal of producing legislative text within each issue area,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) and ranking member John Conyers (D-Mich) in a video statement (below).

 

Hayden, who took office in September, oversaw Pallante and reportedly assigned the Registrar to a new position that required she vacate her office and submit weekly reports to a deputy librarian about her duties, including a review of the library’s retail operation.

“The proposals set up a show-down between Congress and new librarian Carla D. Hayden over the future of the agency,” notes the Washington Post‘s Peggy McGlone.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who issued their reforms earlier this year, said they looked forward to working with their House colleagues. “Based on our extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, we believe the Copyright Office should have more independence, accountability, and authority to make decisions in areas such as IT, budget, and staffing,” they said in a joint statement Thursday.

The House committee is seeking public comment on the proposal through Jan. 31. A library spokeswoman told the Post that Hayden plans to release a timeline for the hiring a replacement Registrar by year’s end.

Industry Ink: CRS, BMI, Catch This Music, YEP

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Scott Hamilton Tapped For CRS Keynote

Scott Hamilton

Scott Hamilton

Olympic Gold Medalist, television broadcaster, and best-selling author Scott Hamilton will be the keynote speaker at Country Radio Seminar 2017. CRS President Charlie Morgan will conduct the interview on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 4 – 5:00 p.m.

As a first time guest of Country Radio Seminar, Hamilton will inspire others through his motivational story and how to overcome life’s obstacles. Hamilton captured the attention of the world in 1984 with his Olympic gold medal performances in Saravejo. He continues to share his passion for the sport as a commentator, performer, and author (Landing It, 1999; The Great Eight, 2009).

As a cancer survivor, Hamilton launched the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, Chemocare.com and the 4th Angel Mentoring Program. He is also the founder of the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy at Ford Ice Center in Antioch, TN, in partnership with the Nashville Predators. Hamilton was diagnosed with his third brain tumor in October, but faced the news with his trademark positive attitude.

The $599 regular registration rate for Country Radio Seminar 2017 is available at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

BMI Hosts Holiday Tree Lighting

Pictured: (L-R): BMI’s Mike O’Neill, Anderson Benson’s George Anderson, Mayor Megan Barry, Anderson Benson’s Brent Daughrity and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry.

Pictured: (L-R): BMI’s Mike O’Neill, Anderson Benson’s George Anderson, Mayor Megan Barry, Anderson Benson’s Brent Daughrity and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry.

BMI hosted its 22nd annual Holiday Tree Lighting celebration Dec. 8 with a full house of BMI employees, family and industry friends. Sponsored by Anderson Benson, party-goers were encouraged to bring a gift for Toys for Tots and collected almost 100 presents. BMI’s Jody Williams toasted to another great year in Nashville and wished everyone a happy holiday season.

 

 

Catch This Music Writer’s Ink Signs Trannie Stevens
ctm-signs-trannie-stevens

Catch This Music Writer’s Ink has signed rising songwriter Trannie Stevens. She arrived in Nashville 16 months ago and was the 2016 winner of Texas Songwriter U, a contest judged by Liz Rose, Jack Ingram, and Radney Foster.

“Our CTM Writer’s INK family is so excited to have Trannie Stevens join our team of creators,” said President/CEO Eddie Robba. “Trannie is a writer that’s willing to step outside of the box and strives to push for deep lyric and inspiring melodies.”

Stevens said, “I deeply value relationships, daily growth, and pushing the envelope within the best genre in the world, country music. I’m so glad CTM is a place where I can be myself and am surrounded by people and writers with the same mentality. God is so good!”

Stevens has opened concerts for Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn, Eric Paslay and Jack Ingram.

 

 

(YEP) Announces 2017 Board of Directors

Executive Director Amelia Varni of Universal Music Publishing Group (headshot attached, photo credit: Dallas Wilson)

Amelia Varni will serve as Executive Director of (YEP). She works at Universal Music Publishing Group. Photo: Dallas Wilson.

Nashville’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) announces the 2017 Board of Directors led by Executive Director Amelia Varni. The 2017 Board of Directors includes Alina Thompson (Country Music Association), Caroline Melby (Belmont University), Christina Wiltshire (Sea Gayle Music), Garrison Snell (Gyrosity Projects), Jaclyn Carter (Shore Fire Media), Jarrod Holley (Suit Music Management), Katie Roth (Creative Nation) and Rachel Knight (Turnipblood Entertainment/The Knight Agency). Catherine Moore (Farris, Self and Moore) will continue as the organization’s treasurer.

YEP’s 2017 “Alumni Class” includes Andrew Cohen (Suit Music) and MaryAnn Keen (BMI), who founded the organization at Tin Roof in Nashville six years ago.

“I’m honored to have been chosen by the board to carry this responsibility,” says Varni. “Andrew [Cohen] has been extremely helpful leading me through this transition for the past six months. We’re looking forward to YEP’s growth in 2017 with the help of our team and Nashville’s continued support.”

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Extends Dylan, Cash Exhibit

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dylan-cash-exhibit

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s critically acclaimed exhibition Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City, originally scheduled to close Dec. 31, 2016, has been extended through Dec. 31, 2017.

Museum CEO Kyle Young said Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats has been one of the most popular exhibits in the museum’s history. “This is a testament not only to the enduring legacies of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, but also to the technical prowess and creative genius of the Nashville Cats,” he said. “Celebrating unsung session players has yielded one of the most compelling narratives we’ve ever told.

“Much like Nashville’s present ‘it city’ status, Music City experienced a renaissance in the ’60s and ’70s, becoming a creative destination for folk and rock artists,” Young said. “This exhibition captures that relatively untold moment in time in a way that we know is beguiling museum guests. We are excited to hold it over and allow visitors one more year to explore A New Music City.”

The exhibition looks at the Nashville music scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bob Dylan surprised label executives and friends by traveling to Nashville in 1966 to record his classic album Blonde on Blonde. Dylan’s work with Nashville’s ace musicians–dubbed the Nashville Cats—inspired other artists, among them Neil Young, Joan Baez, Paul McCartney and Leonard Cohen, to follow him to Music City.

Around the same time, Johnny Cash was recruiting a diverse range of folk and rock musicians—including Dylan—to appear on The Johnny Cash Show, which was filmed at the Ryman Auditorium.

Co-curated by the museum’s curatorial team and guest curator Pete Finney, Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats explores this unique period in Music City’s history through dozens of artifacts and an array of audiovisual treasures.

ACM Lifting Lives Announces 2016 Fall Grant Cycle Beneficiaries

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acm lifting livesACM Lifting Lives has revealed its 2016 fall grant cycle beneficiaries, with grants totaling more than $230,000. Partnerships with artists and generous giving from fans and the Nashville community enable ACM Lifting Lives to provide funding to organizations that share the same mission, and strive to improve lives through the power of music.

“ACM Lifting Lives is excited to announce an increase in beneficiaries nationwide, and we are proud to support and recognize each of these organizations,” said Lori Badgett, Chairman of the ACM Lifting Lives Grant Committee.

Said ACM Lifting Lives Chairman, Ed Warm: “As stewards of Lifting Lives, we understand the power of music and the great things we can do through the support of our artists and our industry. We are fortunate to serve those in need through the generosity of so many who make these grants possible.”

“We are beyond grateful for the generosity and support from the artists, fans and industry members that continue to share the same vision of our mission to improve lives through the power of music,” said Tommy Moore, Secretary, ACM Lifting Lives.

Programs funded through this grant cycle include:

Alive Hospice – the grant will help the organizationto continue their music therapy program and will allow them to provide ten scholarships to the Music for Health & Transition Program, a non-profit certification program that trains musicians to provide live therapeutic music at the bedside.
Barefoot Republic, Inc – the grant will continue to build relationships among the youth representing all backgrounds through artistic and team building activities, allowing the grant to fund twenty scholarships for youth to participate.
CreatiVets – the grant will help sustain their ongoing project providing veterans the opportunity to be paired with professional songwriters from the Nashville community to help create a song that tells the veteran’s story by using art therapy, music and creative writing to help cope with the psychological and emotional needs that arise from combat-related trauma.
Kesem – the grant will support children nationwide through and beyond their parent’s cancer by offering several types of music therapy programs, fostering a long-lasting community.
Legacy Music – the grant will help support purchasing instruments and staffing clinicians to provide operational music programs for teachers and students.
Musicians on Call – the grant will support the expansion of their Bedside Performance Programs in two newer markets, Atlanta and Phoenix.
Nashville Rescue Mission ­– the grant will support funds for a sound system for Life Recovery Program Participants, suffering from homelessness, addiction and other life-debilitating problems.
Notes for Notes – the grant will support programming in seven Notes for Notes locations during the 2017 fiscal year.
Operation Song ­– the grant will help empower veterans and active duty military tell their stories through songwriting in creative and therapeutic settings, with professional songwriters leading the program.
Peggy R. McConnell Worthington Center for the Arts ­– the grant will go towards producing a television series featuring songwriters nationally distributed to more than 100 stations, focusing on healing and coping through the power of music.
Porter’s Call – the grant will help to underwrite counseling hours to cover the growing needs of clients who request assistance. Porter’s Call provides counsel and support to artists who are facing the unique challenges that can often accompany the vocation of performing and creating.
Possibilities, Inc – the grant will provide for the first-ever ‘Veteran Living Center’ program for those in need of emotional freedom by providing lodging, meals, song therapy and a healing concert for camp veterans.
Project C.A.M.P. Inc “The Center for Courageous Kids” – the grant will help the center to purchase new equipment and instruments to be used in their music therapy program that benefits more than 3,000 campers each year.
Songs For Sounds – the grant will help those suffering with hearing loss by bringing awareness through Heal the Music and music camp programs for kids with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The Quest Center – the grant will support the organization’s existing music education services within their general after-school program while helping to expand reach within the community, offering more needs-based scholarships for music instruction.
Uintah School of Music and the Arts – the grant will help support weekly music group classes for young children by providing instructors, instruments, and equipment, allowing them to showcase their progress throughout the year.
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center – the grant will support the organization’s existing mission to facilitate discoveries and best practices that make positive differences in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families through innovative research, services, and training for over 50 years.
W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School – the grant will pay expenses for a ‘Resident Camp’ where students will take part in various music and educational activities.