Artist Pics: Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Cassadee Pope, Luke Combs, Jacob Davis

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Luke Bryan, Little Big Town Celebrate During Crash My Playa Event

Luke Bryan pauses for a little fun with CMT’s Cody Alan and Little Big Town at his “Crash My Playa” event in Mexico.

 

Old Dominion Performs On The Ellen Degeneres Show

(L-R:) Lead guitarist Brad Tursi, Ellen DeGeneres, drummer Whit Sellers, lead singer Matthew Ramsey, bassist Geoff Sprung and multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen
Courtesy of The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Old Dominion performed their latest No.1 smash, “Song For Another Time,” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last Friday (Jan. 20). The band is currently working on the followup to their Meat And Candy album with producer Shane McAnally.

 

 

Cassadee Pope Performs On Hallmark Channel’s Home And Family

Pictured (L-R): Home & Family host Mark Steines, Cassadee Pope, Home & Family host Debbie Matenopoulos, guest host Jill Wagner and Tom Wong

Cassadee Pope stopped by the Hallmark Channel’s Home And Family show Monday (Jan. 23) to perform an acoustic version of “Kisses At Airports,” a track from her Summer EP. She chatted with hosts Mark Steines, Debbie Matenopoulos and guest host Jill Wagner about her career since winning season three of The Voice and her duet with Chris Young, “Think Of You,” which is up for a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

 

Luke Combs Celebrates Sold-Out Performance In Indianapolis

Pictured (L-R): Cliff Blake from Columbia Nashville, Luke Combs, and WLHK PD Fritz Moser

Recent Columbia Nashville signee Luke Combs performed a sold-out show at 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis Saturday night.

 

Black River’s Jacob Davis Embarks On Radio Promo Tour

Pictured (L-R): BRE’s Mike Wilson, WLFP’s Chris Michaels, Jacob Davis, WLFP’s Marty Brooks & BRE’s Megan Boardman

Black River artist Jacob Davis kicked off his radio promo tour this week in support of his upcoming single, “What I Wanna Be,” and made several stops including WLFP in Memphis.

Industry Ink: Cole Swindell, Dave Cobb, Devin Dawson

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Cole Swindell’s “Middle Of A Memory” Earns Gold

Cole Swindell celebrates the Gold-certification of “Middle of a Memory”
at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Saturday night with friends and family from Warner Bros. Records, WME, KP Entertainment, radio and his touring family.
Photo: Hunter Airheart

Before he was to play in front of a sold-out hometown crowd at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville for Dierks Bentley’s What the Hell World Tour, Cole Swindell was surprised by his Warner Bros. Records family with a plaque marking the Gold-certification of his sixth consecutive and most recent No. 1 single “Middle of a Memory” from his sophomore album You Should Be Here. Each of Swindell’s singles released since he signed with Warner Bros. Records three years ago has not only gone to No. 1 on the country charts, but each single has been certified by the RIAA for reaching Gold (500,000+) and/or Platinum (1,000,000) status.

“Middle of a Memory” joins Swindell’s list of RIAA-certified singles, including four Platinum-certified singles “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” “Chillin’ It” and “You Should Be Here” and now two Gold-certified singles with “Middle of a Memory” joining “Let Me See Ya Girl.”

The Georgia native’s current single “Flatliner,” featuring Bentley, goes for official radio adds today (Jan. 23). “Flatliner,” written by Swindell, Matt Brownleewe and Jaron Boyer, is the third single from Swindell’s sophomore album You Should Be Here.

 

Dave Cobb to Be Featured at CMHoF

Dave Cobb

Dave Cobb will be featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s special series Music Masters on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. Museum Senior Director, Producer, and Writer Peter Cooper will conduct an in-depth interview illustrated with photos and film footage.

Artifacts including guitars, a notebook and a keyboard belonging to Cobb are on display in the museum. Cobb used the items when he produced successful recordings by Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Sturgill Simpson.

The Cobb interview is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and passes are required for admittance. Museum members can reserve program passes in advance by phone (615-416-2050) or via e-mail ([email protected]). The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming. Following the program, Cobb will sign a commemorative Hatch Show Print poster, available for purchase in the Museum Store.

Music Masters is an interview series featuring revealing conversations with music industry figures such as producers, publicists, engineers, A&R staff, and business executives. Normally at work behind the scenes, these leaders have unique perspectives on the development of artists and the creation of hit songs. Through stories from these key players, the Music Masters series explores the interaction of business and culture. Previous subjects include Jimmy Bowen, Mark Bright, Garth Fundis, Frank Liddell, Bob Neuwirth, Jim Rooney, Keith Stegall and Jeff Stevens.

Warner Music Nashville’s Devin Dawson Showcases New Music At iHeart Summit

Pictured (L-R): Kristen Williams (SVP, Radio & Streaming), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Devin Dawson, Tom Poleman (iHeart), Dan Smyers and Rod Phillips (iHeart)

Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records artist Devin Dawson showcased new music at the iHeart Summit last week in Nashville. He is set to join Maren Morris’ Hero tour this year.

Dawson first garnered national attention in 2014, after a YouTube video featuring Dawson and Louisa Wendorff performing a mashup cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and “Style” went viral.

LifeNotes: Manager Kerri Edwards’ Father Passes

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MusicRow sends its condolences to Kerri Edwards, owner/President of KP Entertainment (manager for Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and more), in the loss of her father Mr. Billy Pauley over the weekend.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., and on Friday, Jan. 27 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, located at 5120 Franklin Pike in Nashville. A service will also be held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ.

Donations can be sent to Brentwood Hills Church of Christ c/o: Camp Leatherwood, 5120 Franklin Pike, Nashville TN 37220.

Kelsea Ballerini to Perform at Nashville Symphony Fashion Show

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Kelsea Ballerini will perform as the featured entertainer for Nashville’s 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, set for April 18 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Ballerini will join featured designer Zac Posen for the star-studded, 12th edition of the annual show, which will be emceed by Former Miss Tennessee, actress and television personality Allison DeMarcus, with Janet Ayers serving as honorary chair.

The Symphony Fashion Show is presented through a partnership between the Nashville Symphony and Gus Mayer of Nashville, and proceeds from the event help support the Symphony’s artistic, education and community engagement programs, which annually reach tens of thousands of children and adults through concerts, free performances and instruction, classroom curriculum and more.

Tickets for the 2017 Symphony Fashion Show will go on sale in March, and more information is available at NashvilleSymphony.org/fashionshow.

Charlie Worsham to Release Sophomore CD in April

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Charlie Worsham is gearing up for the release of his sophomore project for Warner Music Nashville, titled Beginning of Things, by offering fans five of the tracks as instant downloads with every digital pre-order beginning today. The title track premieres today at NPRmusic.com, and the full-length CD will be released April 21.

The new project was co-produced by Frank Liddell and Eric Masse with Arturo Buenahora, Jr. serving as Executive Producer, and includes 13 new songs, nine of which were co-penned by Worsham.

“We had so much fun! I had fallen out of love with music, and making this record put me back in love with it on a level I hadn’t felt since I was a teenager,” admits Worsham of the new CD. “Beginning Of Things was a challenge in surrendering control and trusting my own talent. I’m confident that these songs and these recordings capture my musical geography and personal truth, and at the end of the day, I’m convinced that is the ultimate purpose of an artist—to speak one’s truth.”

BEGINNING OF THINGS TRACK LIST:

“Pants” (Jeff Hyde)
“Please People Please” (Charlie Worsham, Ryan Tyndell)
“Southern By The Grace of God” (Charlie Worsham, Luke Dick, Shane McAnally)
“Call You Up” (Abe Stoklasa, Daniel Tashien)
“Lawn Chair Don’t Care” (Charlie Worsham, Brent Cobb, Ryan Tyndell)
“Only Way To Fly” (Charlie Worsham, Brent Cobb, Ryan Tyndell)
“Old Times Sake” (Charlie Worsham, Jeremy Spillman, Brent Cobb)
“Cut Your Groove” (Charlie Worsham, Oscar Charles)
“I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (Charlie Worsham, Ryan Tyndell, Billy Montana)
“The Beginning Of Things” (Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods)
“Birthday Suit” (Luke Dick, Jason Lehning)
“I-55” (Charlie Worsham, Ben Hayslip)
“Take Me Drunk” (Charlie Worsham, Ryan Tyndell, Steve Bogard)

Westwood One Welcomes Bryan Switzer Back To Industry As Country VP/GM

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Bryan Switzer

Westwood One announced today (Jan. 23) that music industry and network radio veteran Bryan Switzer has joined the company as Vice President/General Manager, Music & Entertainment-Country.

Switzer will oversee the marketing, affiliate sales and and operations of all owned and represented country shows including Ty, Kelly & Chuck, NASH Nights Live, The Blair Garner Show, and American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, Country Countdown USA, Country’s Inside Track, Country Gold with Terri Clark, The Lia Show, Power Source Country and various Country specials and events.

“Bryan is a gem, perfectly suited to this role at Westwood One,” commented Suzanne Grimes, President of Westwood One. “His passion for the business, his deep industry relationships and his vision for the future will benefit affiliated radio stations and sponsors alike.”

From 1989 through 2000, Switzer rose from VP/National Promotion to General Manager of Atlantic Records, and then became SVP/National Promotion for Universal South Records, through 2005. From 2006 through 2014, he oversaw Nashville marketing, promotion, and affiliate sales for American Country Countdown, 24-hour formats and more for the then-ABC Radio Networks, Citadel Media, and Cumulus Media Networks. Most recently, Switzer held an executive position in JennsCo Chemical Solutions, a chemical manufacturing and distribution company.

“I never dreamed I would be back with the company I left a little over two years ago, but let me just say it’s a new day at Cumulus,” commented Switzer. “The new leadership is inspiring and empowering; I look forward to helping advance Westwood One’s reputation as a leader in Country.”

Switzer will be based at the company’s NASH Campus in Nashville, and can be reached at 615-727-6987 or [email protected].

BMLG Signs Singer-Songwriter Carly Pearce

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Pictured (Back row, L-R): David Crow, CAA’s Jeff Gregg, SiriusXM’s JR Schumann, BMLG’s Allison Jones, Dot’s Kris Lamb, BMLG’s Jimmy Harnen, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Producer/songwriter busbee, BMG’s Daniel Lee. (Front Row, L-R): Dot’s Chris Stacey, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Carly Pearce, Vector’s Ken Levitan and Kevin Spellman. Photo: Seth Hellman for Big Machine Label Group

Big Machine Label Group has signed singer-songwriter Carly Pearce. The CMT Next Women of Country alum’s single “Every Little Thing” was first discovered as a “Highway Find” on SiriusXM, and is available now.

BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta said, “Carly has been very impressive in constructing her team and preparing for success and she is a very important member of the new generation of female country artists. Her craft is her life’s charge and we’re very proud to add her to the Big Machine family.”

“I’m so honored and truly blessed to be able to work with Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine Label Group staff,” adds Pearce. “It’s a dream come true to have found a team who not only sees my vision but believes in it too. I couldn’t be more excited and ready to hit the ground running!”

Pearce is managed by Vector Management in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Carly Pearce, Dot’s Chris Stacey. Photo: Seth Hellman

 

Pictured (L-R): BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, SiriusXM’s JR Schumann, Carly Pearce, Dot’s Chris Stacey. Photo: Seth Hellman

Jaci Velasquez to Release First Worship Album, ‘Trust’

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CCM artist Jaci Velasquez is set to release Trust, her first studio album in five years and her first for Integrity Music. The project will be released both in English and in a Spanish-language version, Confío, and will release globally on March 31. A Billboard Latin Music Award winner with five Spanish albums to her credit, this marks the first time Velasquez will release an album simultaneously in both languages and is also her first worship album.

Produced by David Leonard and Chris Bevins (Salvador, Phillips Craig & Dean), Trust features new songs penned by Velasquez and her husband Nic Gonzales (lead singer of Salvador) along with songs by Martin Smith, Michael Farren and more. The title-inspired track, “Trust You,” was penned by Velasquez with Aruna Abrams, James Slater and Bobby Hamrick and encapsulates the core message of the new project and also touches on Velasquez’ relationship with her son Zealand, who has autism.

Velasquez has 17 albums, 16 No. 1’s, five Grammy nominations, seven Dove Awards, and multiple gold and platinum records to her credit. Along with promoting her new album, she is currently working on a book, a clothing line that raises support for Autism related causes, and will be featured in two Christian films due out in 2017.

Weekly Register: Sturgill Simpson Gets ‘SNL’ Jolt, Little Big Town Tops Tracks Chart

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Sturgill Simpson

Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller holds its spot atop the country albums chart this week, moving 9.8K units more. The project now boasts more than 1.8 million units sold. Keith Urban‘s Ripcord follows at No. 2, with 6K sold.

Sturgill Simpson‘s Sailor’s Guide To Earth jumps to No. 3, following his recent Saturday Night Live performance. The project sold 6K this week compared to 1.5K last week for a total of 165K units to date. Miranda Lambert‘s The Weight Of These Wings is at No. 4 this week, with 4.5K. Jason Aldean‘s They Don’t Know rounds out the Top 5, with 3.9K.

Chris Stapleton

This week’s top country album debut was The Infamous Stringdusters‘ Laws Of Gravity, which sold 1.2K and debuted at No. 26. Songwriter Natalie Hemby‘s Puxico debuted at No. 31, with 1K sold.

Overall album sales dipped 23.1 percent year to date, while overall digital album sales declined 25.8 percent. Country album sales have dropped 14.5 percent year to date, while country digital track sales have declined 27.9 percent.

On the country tracks chart, Little Big Town‘s No. 1 MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart single, “Better Man,” ascends to No. 1 in the rankings this week. The Taylor Swift-written piece amassed 27K units this week for a total of 362K to date. Keith Urban‘s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” follows with 27K sold this week. Jon Pardi‘s “Dirt On My Boots” is at No. 3 this week, with 19K units moved. Chris Stapleton‘s “Tennessee Whiskey” is at No. 4 with 13K, while Michael Ray‘s “Think A Little Less” rounds out the Top 5 with 13K.

Brantley Gilbert‘s latest single, “Rockin’ Chairs,” debuts at No. 27 on the country tracks chart, selling 6.2K.

Overall digital track sales declined 25 percent year to date, while country digital track sales have declined 24 percent year to date.

Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle Make Opry Induction a Family Affair

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Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. Photo: Chris Hollo

Proud big sister Loretta Lynn inducted sister Crystal Gayle into the Grand Ole Opry  Saturday night (Jan. 21) making her an official member during the show at the Ryman Auditorium. Gayle first sang on the hallowed Ryman stage 50 years ago when she performed “Ribbon Of Darkness” as a 16-year-old. The “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” singer was publicly invited to join the Opry by member Carrie Underwood in November.

“We’ve been together a long time, honey. And we’ve never had a fight,” Lynn said. “It was the greatest moment of my life when they made me a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962. I know she is just as happy as I was then.”

“Being a member of the Opry is just incredible,” Gayle said about the honor. “It’s really hard to comprehend. I have felt like a part of the Opry for all these years. Now, I’m official.”

The Opry induction is the latest in a long line of career accolades for Gayle, whose reign in the music business includes 20 No. 1 hits, six gold albums, and the distinction of being the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. She was also honored by the ACM last year with the organization’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors Show.