Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town Take Home People’s Choice Honors

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Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and Little Big Town were Nashville’s big winners during last night’s (Jan. 18) People’s Choice Awards.

Blake Shelton made history when he became the first country artist ever to win a People’s Choice award for Favorite Album with If I’m Honest. The win was a big coup for the singer, who beat out Rihanna, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and Drake for the trophy. Shelton also performed his new single, “Every Time I Hear That Song,” during the telecast, and took home his second consecutive award for Favorite Male Country Artist during the evening as well.

“It’s so cool to be recognized by the people who are spending the money and taking time out of their day to vote,” Shelton said. “I could not be more thankful. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing country music, so to win Favorite Male Country Artist is incredible. And to be the first country artist to ever win Favorite Album is beyond words. I’m so proud of If I’m Honest and to know that it’s resonating with fans is why I make music.”

Other country artists were also big winners during the evening including Carrie Underwood (Favorite Female Country Artist), and Little Big Town (Favorite Country Group).

The Voice star has had plenty to celebrate lately — just this week he earned his 23rd chart-topping single with “A Guy With A Girl.” He kicks off his Doing It To Country Songs tour in Bakersfield, California with Sundance Head and RaeLynn on Feb. 16. 

Lady A Announces New Album, Single, Tour After Hiatus

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Lady Antebellum is back in a big way with a new single, album and world tour after their hiatus to pursue separate solo projects over the past year. The trio returns to radio with the new single “You Look Good” today, and has announced their new album Heart Break will be out this summer on June 9. In celebration of the new music, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood will host a Facebook Live fan event premiering the new music tonight at 8 p.m. CST here.

“We knew right away that we had to name this album after a track that is a play on the word ‘heartbreak,’” shared Scott. ”It’s all about those personal growths everyone goes through and it was liberating to get back in the studio with Charles and Dave to intertwine those feelings into the recording process. I feel like we’ve reemerged stronger than ever and I can’t wait to share more music!”

The new single was produced by busbee.

“We’ve always loved experimenting with different instruments and sounds in the studio, but we’ve never used horns before,” said Haywood. “The energy they brought to this song is really fun and was validation for all three of us that it had to be our first single back.”

The three are also returning to the road as they launch their You Look Good World Tour May 26 in Bakersfield, California, with special guests Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young. The tour will include a stop in Nashville.

Presented by Nabisco, the tour will hit more than 65 cities around the world including a first-time trip to South Africa and several European stops as well. Fans can purchase tickets beginning Jan. 27 for select cities as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com and on www.ladyantebellum.com beginning Feb. 17. Brancott Estate is the exclusive wine sponsor for the tour, and Hilton serves as the official hotel sponsor and will give its HHonors members access to original content and once in a lifetime experiences throughout the tour.

YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR North American Markets:
Bakersfield, CA
Mountain View, CA
Sacramento, CA
Albuquerque, NM
Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Chula Vista, CA
Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC
VA Beach, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Washington DC
Cincinnati, OH
Toronto, CAN
Detroit, MI
Indianapolis, IN
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Hartford, CT
Gilford, NH
Jacksonville, FL
Tampa, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Detroit Lakes, MN
Omaha, NE
Rogers, AR
Darien Center, NY
Holmdel, NJ
Boston, MA
Columbia, MD
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Salt Lake City, UT
Boise, ID
Puyallup, WA
Portland, OR
Atlanta, GA
Nashville, TN

 

DISClaimer: Natalie Hemby’s Dazzling ‘Puxico’

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Today’s survey of current Americana sounds has both old friends and fresh faces.

First things first. Drop whatever you are doing today. Go find the new album by Natalie Hemby. Give it a spin and prepare to be dazzled. It is absolutely brilliant. It is also the Disc of the Day.

We had plenty of first timers to choose from. Next to Natalie, my favorite was the new Nashville male-female duo Terra Bella. Give those kids a DisCovery Award.

HUGH PRESTWOOD/I Used To Be The Real Me
Writer: Hugh Prestwood; Producer: Hugh Prestwood; Publishers: Hugh Prestwood/Judy Collins, no performance rights listed; Wildflower/Cleopatra (track)
– The latest album by this Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member is on Judy Collins’s label. That’s sort of a “full circle” thing, since she was the first person to have a hit with one of his songs (1979’s “Hard Times for Lovers”). Judy sings with Hugh on two of the new CD’s tracks. Its compelling title tune is a rhythmic story song about a broken man who ruefully remembers better days. Also included is his own version of his celebrated “The Song Remembers When.”
 

 

ME AND MOLLY/Old Friend
Writers: Molly Stevens/Declan McGarry; Producers: Jeff Crawford/Molly Stevens/Declan McGarry; Publishers: Me and Molly, no performance rights listed; Tiny Human (track)
– This Nashville songwriting duo has a strummy, folkie sound. Both are strong singers. Amid this title track’s gently rhythmic track are their note-perfect harmony vocals. He carries the lead. She soars above.

THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND & JACKSON BROWNE/These Days
Writers: Jackson Browne; Producers: Michael Davis/Jeff Hanna; Publisher: Open Window/no performance rights listed; NGDB (track)
– The soundtrack to this band’s 50th-anniversary PBS TV celebration has now been released. Guests include John Prine, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Jerry Jeff Walker and Rodney Crowell. The inclusion of Jackson Browne is apt, since he was briefly a NGDB member in the band’s early days. The band evocatively backs him with echoey licks on performance of his signature 1973 song. On the track, he reveals that he actually wrote it way back when he was in the group. Recommended, as is the whole package.

TERRA BELLA/Road To Forever
Writers: Joseph Costa/Dave Gibson; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– This couple made the move from California to Music City and got married. They are staging their disc debut with a six-song EP. Its title tune is a tough little country rocker with many hooky pleasures. Producer Johnny Garcia has been Trisha Yearwood’s guitar accompanist for years, and it sounds like he has a future behind studio boards.
 

 

JENNY GILL/Lonely Lost Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: Vince Gill; Publishers: none listed; JG (track)
– Vinnie’s daughter sings with a confident pop lilt. Her dad’s accompanying track has an irresistible groove embellished with guitar and organ accent notes. Very listenable. Very sweet.

SAINTS ELEVEN/Coming Back Around
Writer: Jeff Grossman; Producer: Walt Wilkins/Ron Flynt; Publisher: none listed; ASCAP; JG (track)
– These three are evidently a big deal on the live scene in Texas. Their third CD’s title tune moans the blues with plenty of twang and heart. There’s a raw, authentic edge to frontman Jeff Grossman’s honky-tonk drawl.

JIM LAUDERDALE/This Changes Everything
Writers: Jim Lauderdale/Bruce Robison; Producer: Tommy Detamore; Publishers: Laudersongs/Mighty Nice/Tiltawhirl/Bluewater, BMI; Sky Church (track)
– This prolific Americana record maker enters the new year with a solid 11-song collection that kicks off with this smoothly shuffling title tune. The band cruises like a finely tuned car, while Lauderdale’s vocal hangs back ever so slightly. This behind-the-beat phrasing keeps you hanging on with anticipation, note for note. As always, Lauderdale is reliably country throughout the album.

NATALIE HEMBY/This Town Still Talks About You
Writers: Natalie Hemby/Kelly Archer/Jnan Schott; Producer: Mike Wrucke; Publishers: none listed; GetWrucke (track)
– She’s been cowriting hits for Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and other top stars for years. Now a CD titled Puxico introduces her as a record maker. Her expressive, languid vocal on this track is matched with a dreamy, atmospheric production by her hubby, Mike Wrucke. It goes without saying that it is brilliantly written. Definitely don’t stop with this tune; hang around for the whole collection and get bathed in beauty.

 

 
RENEE WAHL/See You On The Way Down
Writers: Renee Wahl/Bill Maler; Producer: Patterson Barrett; Publisher: Renee Wahl/Ten Gallon Fat, BMI/ASCAP; Double R (track)
– Like many of our community’s Americana record makers, this gal is an East Nashvillian. Her six-song EP kicks off with this plaintively sung roots bopper. She’s not the strongest vocalist in the world, but the chugging production and hearty harmony vocals give her the oomph she needs.

BILL COOLEY/In Search of Home
Writer: Bill Cooley; Producer: Paul Martin/Bill Cooley; Publishers: Nancy Lee, ASCAP; NLM (track)
– Cooley has been Kathy Mattea’s accompanist for decades. He periodically issues instrumental guitar collections, and this is the title tune of his latest. It’s an acoustic tone poem with lovely filligreed picking that’s so inventive and involving that you forget you’re listening to just one instrument. Mattea drops by to offer a vocal on the Jesse Winchester song “That’s What Makes You Strong.” Enchanting listening.

Little Big Town Reveals Track Listing, Album Art For ‘The Breaker’

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Little Big Town has released the album art and track listing for their upcoming eighth studio album, The Breaker, set to release Feb. 24 via Capitol Nashville. Taylor Swift penned the group’s current single, “Better Man.”

The 2017 project follows Little Big Town’s pop-infused Wanderlust, which released in June 2016 and found the group collaborating with Pharrell Williams.

The Breaker Track Listing

“Happy People”
“Night On Our Side”
“Lost In California”
“Free”
“Drivin’ Around”
“We Went To The Beach”
“Better Man”
“Rollin'”
“Don’t Die Young, Don’t Get Old”
“Beat Up Bible”
“When Someone Stops Loving You”
“The Breaker”

IBMA Announces Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2017

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The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has announced the 2017 class of Leadership Bluegrass. In its 17th year, Leadership Bluegrass is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level interactive learning experiences designed to build commitment, motivate talents and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry.

Leadership Bluegrass boasts more than 400 alums and each year approximately 25 individuals are invited to take part.

The class of 2017 includes: (name/association/hometown)

Erik Alvar – Jim Hurst Trio, Gainesville, FL
Lee Bidgood – East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Jeff Burke – Music Educator, Nashville, TN
Adam Engelhardt – SonyATV Music Publishing, Nashville, TN
Anna Frick – Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO
Barb Heller – North Country Public Radio-NCPR, Canton, NY
Justin Hiltner – Artist, Nashville, TN
Kathryn Jenkins – Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, Sevierville, TN
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – Mile Twelve, Jamaica Plains, MA
Irene Kelley – Artist, Nashville, TN
Uri Kohen – Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
Brennen Leigh – High Plains Jamboree, Austin, TX
CJ Lewandowski – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sevierville, TN
Corrina Rose Logston – Artist, Whites Creek, TN
Laura Mainer – Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Johnson City, TN
John Meyer – Museum of Appalachia, Tennessee Fall Homecoming, Clinton, TN
Ashley Moyer – Rounder Label Group, Nashville, TN
Joe Newberry – Artist, Raleigh, NC
Akira Otsuka – Bluegrass 45, Gaithersburg, MD
Ricky Gene Powell – Artist, Wintergrass, Burien, WA
Craig Reed – Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Younger Brother Productions, Raleigh, NC
Bobby Rymer – Writers Den Music Group, Nashville, TN
John Smith – Free Dirt Records & Service Co., Washington, DC
Bill Thibodeau – Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, Cumberland, RI
Kris Truelsen – Radio Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol, VA
Rachel Whitney – Pandora Media, Nashville, TN

Leadership Bluegrass 2017 takes place March 20-22 at BMI in Nashville. The course will be facilitated by Trisha Tubbs for the seventh consecutive year. Leadership Bluegrass is made possible through the support of its Platinum Sponsors including BMI, the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and the Wintergrass Music Festival (Acoustic Sound).

Jesse Rice Sets Sail With New ‘Pirate Sessions’ January 27

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Jesse Rice, a writer on the Florida Georgia Line debut smash “Cruise,” mixes a concoction of trop-rock and country on his new The Pirate Sessions III CD available on iTunes Jan. 27. Much like the predecessors Sessions I and II, Rice takes listeners on a journey to a paradise filled with copper-tone beach goers sharing umbrella drinks on the new collection.

The project includes tunes co-written by Rice and Trent Summar, Stephen B. Liles, Eric Gunderson, Chase Rice, and Clayton Anderson among others, and a song featuring special guest Michael Ray, “88 In The Shade.”

“The Pirate Sessions is an album series that serves as an escape to a carefree, beachfront good-time for fans,” says Jesse. “I really enjoy not only performing these songs live, but also getting to record them with my friends here in Nashville. Our previous sessions featured Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice and this one has surprise guests as well.”

To kick off the CD’s release Rice is hosting an album release show on Jan. 27 at the Port Theater in Port St. Joe, Florida.

Rosanne Cash, Steve Wariner, Frank Rogers, Sonny Curtis To Lead 2017 ‘The First And The Worst’ Event

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The third annual “The First And The Worst” event is slated for March 1, 2017 at Nashville’s City Winery. The event benefits Nashville non-profit Music Health Alliance, which provides free support to songwriters, artists, musicians and music industry professionals at every stage of their career in finding affordable healthcare solutions and financial resources.

Rosanne Cash (“I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” “Seven Year Ache”), Sonny Curtis (“I Fought The Law,” “I’m No Stranger To The Rain”), Frank Rogers (“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Alright”) and Steve Wariner (“Long Necked Bottle,” “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven”) will headline 2017’s “The First And The Worst.”

Hosted by Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/music critic Peter Cooper the event allows the audience to peek inside the brilliant minds of hit songwriters long before they had ever written a chart-topper or had songs recorded by superstar artists. Additional performers for this year’s event will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Sponsor tables start at $1,500 and can be purchased by contacting Music Health Alliance’s Shelia Shipley Biddy at [email protected]. In addition, a silent auction will be held at the March 1.

Individual tickets go on-sale beginning Thursday (Jan. 19) at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $50 for balcony seats and $75 for floor seats.

CRS, Edison Research Panel to Explore Country Fans’ Mobile Use

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The Country Radio Seminar and Edison Research will present new research data on mobile music options for listeners in “The Mobilization of Country Radio” panel on February 23rd. Presented by Edison’s Larry Rosin, Tom Webster and Megan Lazovick, as well as mobile expert Tim Hayden, co-author of “The Mobile Commerce Revolution,” the panel will explore the diversity of radio usage, streaming behaviors, and online music consumption of today’s fans.

To obtain the research data, Edison conducted one-on-one interviews with 1,500 participants to investigate their mobile-usage habits as well as observed a day-in-the-life to fully understand a typical day’s mobile usage and to “put a face with the phone.” With mobile devices playing a central role in so many lives, Edison wanted to explore how country listeners compare to those of other formats, how the smartphone is changing the way users listen to radio and consume music, what other types of things they are using those devices for, and just how radio can capitalize on those behaviors.

More information on this and other CRS panels can be found at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or on the CRS mobile app, which provides attendees with an expanded agenda, panel descriptions, speaker bios, live performances, CRS after-hour activities and more.

 

BMLG To Launch Digital Video Platform

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Big Machine Label Group will soon launch a proprietary digital video platform, Big Machine TV, giving fans direct access to content featuring the label’s roster of artists. Video viewership on the new platform will count toward Nielsen’s consumption charts.

The platform will include music videos, exclusive interviews, announcements, and behind-the-scenes content for all of the label’s artists, including Taylor Swift, Reba, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and more. Each artist will have an individual channel on the platform, allowing fans and viewers to search for desired content easily.

“Big Machine has always pushed the envelope, and we found ourselves asking, ‘Is there a better way when it comes to syndicating our online content, pushing it onto social media, protecting it and ultimately monetizing it at the highest rate possible to benefit our artists?’” said BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta. “And the answer was ‘yes’. The Big Machine TV platform is an incredible tool to better serve our artists and their fans by delivering content when and how we want, all the while making sure the creators are compensated fairly.”

More details about the launch will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Industry Ink: Darius Rucker, John Esposito, 30A, Nashville Rising Star, Mississippi Hall Voting

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Darius Rucker Gets Randy Owen ‘Angel’ Honor

Pictured (L-R): Randy Owen; President and CEO of ALSAC Richard Shadyac Jr.; Darius Rucker. Photo: Seth Dixon

Darius Rucker was recently honored with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Academy Of Country Music. ACM Lifting Lives surprised Rucker with a $50,000 donation to St. Jude given in recognition of his work with both the hospital and the ACM.

 

Espo Addresses Monmouth Graduates

(L to R) Henry Mercer, chairman of the Monmouth University Board of Trustees, Paul R. Brown, president of Monmouth University, Olympic gold medalist and Distinguished Alumni Recipient Christie Rampone and Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito

Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito delivered the commencement address to over 400 students at Monmouth University on Friday (Jan. 13) before receiving an honorary doctorate of music from the University from Monmouth president Paul R. Brown.

 

ASCAP Celebrates At 30A

Pictured (L-R): Derek George, Jaren Johnston, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Cole Taylor, Cale Dodds, Josh Kerr, Abe Stoklasa, Emily Weisband, ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Josh Kear and Frank Rogers

ASCAP was a major sponsor of the 30A Songwriters Festival for the 7th consecutive year, and this year’s festival included performances from writers like Josh Kear, Jaren Johnston, Jimmy Robbins, Derek George, Josh Kerr, and Brent Anderson. ASCAP showcases were held at The Boathouse in Watercolor, and on Friday night, special guests included Emily Weisband and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, who performed “Need You Now” with his co-writer Josh Kear.

 

Nashville Rising Star Launches Open Mic Contest

“Nashville Rising Star” is excited to announce Series 8 of their songwriter open mic competition. The contest will be held at the Whiskey Room at King’s Bowling in Nashville and is open to all songwriters of any genre. The contest started Jan. 11 and will be held Wednesdays for nine weeks.

The semi-finals will be held March 1 featuring 14 preliminary round winners. The audience (at the venue and online) selects one writer, and the music industry panel selects three writers to move on to the final round. The final round will be on March 8 and the grand prize winner will receive $500 cash and other career advancing prizes.

 

MAX Hall of Fame Voting Open

The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) is asking fans to participate in the selection of the inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class by voting from the Top 65 nominees that were selected by the nominating committee. Voting will be open until Feb. 17, and fans can vote once per email for their top 15 nominees. To read about the nominees, which include Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Jimmy Buffett, and Faith Hill, go to msarts.org.