CMA Honors Writers With Triple Play Awards Trophies

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(L-R) Rhett Akins, Hillary Lindsey, Shay Mooney, Jesse Frasure, Cole Swindell, Ross Copperman, and Craig Wiseman; back row (l-r) Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Niko Moon, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird, Ashley Gorley, and Matt Jenkins.
Photo Credit: Donn Jones / CMA [Click photo to enlarge]

CMA gathered some of the industry’s best and brightest writers together yesterday to honor their successes over the past year at the CMA’s Eighth Annual Songwriters Luncheon at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Twenty top songwriters were awarded with a Triple Play Awards trophy for penning three No.1 songs within a 12-month period by host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board member. Former Chief Executive Officer of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Donna Hilley was also honored posthumously during the ceremony with the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence.

“Donna Hilley had a deep admiration for songwriters and artists. She played an instrumental role in so many iconic and legendary careers. Her tenacity, grace, and commitment to this industry won’t be forgotten,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

Ross Copperman upped the ante on the day, receiving two trophies for a whopping six No. 1 songs in a year and bringing his Triple Play Awards count to four.

CMA Board member Troy Tomlinson presents a 2017 CMA Triple Play Award on Feb. 15, 2017 to Luke Bryan at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones/ CMA

“Songwriters are often honored for their creativity, and rightly so,” said Tomlinson. “The Triple Play Awards honor not only that creativity inherent in the craft, but also the work ethic it takes to achieve the milestone of three chart-topping songs in 12 months.”

Triple Play winners in attendance at the luncheon included Rhett Akins, Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson, Copperman, Zach Crowell, Dallas Davidson, Brett Eldredge, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Niko Moon, Shay Mooney, Cole Swindell, and Craig Wiseman.

Each winner received a video message from a fellow recipient that played before each presentation. Triple Play recipients Zac Brown, Jon Nite, and Carrie Underwood joined in with fellow honorees by submitting special congratulatory video messages to winners. Among those receiving their first Triple Play honor were Brett Eldredge, Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, Niko Moon, and Shay Mooney.

CMA Board member Troy Tomlinson presents a 2017 CMA Triple Play Award on Feb. 15, 2017 to Brett Eldredge at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

CMA Triple Play Award recipients:

  • Rhett Akins: “Mind Reader,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day,” “I Know Somebody”
  • Zac Brown: “Homegrown,” “Loving You Easy,” “Beautiful Drug”
  • Luke Bryan: “Strip It Down,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day,” “Move”
  • Rodney Clawson: “Confession,” “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” “May We All”
  • Ross Copperman: “Break On Me,” “Drunk On Your Love,” “Confession,” “American Country Love Song,” “Setting The World On Fire,” “I Know Somebody”
  • Zach Crowell: “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells,” “Middle Of A Memory”
  • Dallas Davidson: “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day”
  • Brett Eldredge: “Mean To Me,” “Lose My Mind,” “Drunk On Your Love”
  • Jesse Frasure: “Crash And Burn,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” “Fix”
  • Ashley Gorley: “Heartbeat,” “You Should Be Here,” “T-Shirt”
  • Matt Jenkins: “Confession,” “Setting The World On Fire,” “Song For Another Time”
  • Luke Laird: “Gonna,” “T-Shirt,” “Head Over Boots”
  • Hillary Lindsey: “Smoke Break,” “Church Bells,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
  • Shane McAnally: “John Cougar, John Deere, John3:16,” “Stay A Little Longer,” “T-Shirt”
  • Niko Moon: “Homegrown,” “Loving You Easy,” “Beautiful Drug”
  • Shay Mooney: “Nothin’ Like You,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” “From The Ground Up”
  • Jon Nite: “Smoke,” “Strip It Down,” “Break On Me”
  • Cole Swindell: “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” “Let Me See Ya Girl,” “You Should Be Here”
  • Carrie Underwood: “Little Toy Guns,” “Smoke Break,” “Heartbeat”
  • Craig Wiseman: “Anything Goes,” “Gonna,” “Came Here To Forget”

Debbie Tenpenny (r) accepts the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence on behalf of her late mother, industry leader Donna Hilley, from CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Troy Tomlinson during the CMA Songwriters Luncheon Wednesday at Marathon Music Works in Nashville.
Photo Credit: Donn Jones / CMA

Cole Swindell (r) accepts his CMA Triple Play Award from host Troy Tomlinson during the CMA Songwriters Luncheon Wednesday at Marathon Music Works in Nashville.
Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

CMA Board member Troy Tomlinson presents a 2017 CMA Triple Play Award on Feb. 15, 2017 to Shay Mooney at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Greg Bates, Skip Black, Victoria Goodvin Join Liv Write Play

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(Back Row, L-R): Ilya Toshinskiy, Partner, Producer, Musician at Liv Write Play, LLC; Dennis Kurtz, VP and Partner at Liv Write Play, LLC; Olivia Lane, Aaron Scherz, Victoria Goodvin, Creative Director at Liv Write Play, LLC; Angelica Franzino, Office Manager at Liv Write
Play, LLC. (Front Row, L-R): Greg Bates, Skip Black. Photo: Courtesy of Liv Write Play, LLC

Songwriters Greg Bates and Skip Black have signed with Liv Write Play Publishing.

Bates, who was a solo artist on Republic Nashville, has cuts under his belt by Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, and William Michael Morgan. The Nashville native had a Top 5 hit with “Did It for the Girl.” 

“I’m so excited to be joining such an amazing team of staff and writers at Liv Write Play,” Bates shares. “I look forward to future successes at this new creative home.”

“Greg is a very in-demand writer in Nashville. We know how fortunate we are to have him,” says Ilya Toshinskiy, Liv Write Play, LLC Partner. “With his kind of talent and versatility, he’ll be able to fit into so many different writing situations. His potential is unlimited.” 

Black moved to Music City in 2007 from North Carolina and started a publishing deal with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Kye Fleming the same year. He has had cuts with Gary Allan, Edens Edge, LOCASH, Craig Morgan, Eric Paslay, and Drake White, among others.

“I’m grateful to be a part of the excellent team that Liv Write Play has assembled,” Black adds. “Their great work ethic and commitment to their writing staff has me excited about what the future holds. I’m thankful we partnered for my next chapter!”

In addition, Live Write Play has hired Victoria Goodvin as Creative Director. Goodvin was previously creative manager at Row Entertainment and Song Factory. Originally from Princeton, North Carolina, Goodvin graduated with a B.A. degree in Entertainment Industry Studies from Belmont University in 2013.

BREAKING NEWS: ACM Nominations Announced

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Keith Urban wasted no time over the past year, releasing the smash hit “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” from his artistically and commercially successful Ripcord project. Urban is the leading nominee at the upcoming 52nd Annual ACM Awards, which will air Sunday, April 2 from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, live on CBS.

Urban leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is nominated twice, as both artist and producer, in the Album of the Year category for Ripcord. He received an additional two nominations, for both artist and producer, in the Single Record of the Year category for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which is also nominated in the Song of the Year category.

“I’ve been a musician since I was 6 years old,” Urban said via a statement.  “I just love writing songs, making records and touring.  So for the ACMS’s to recognize Ripcord in such a big way today is humbling.  I share these nominations with everyone in my life who made it possible – and a BIG shout out to all of our fans, who came out to see us on the ripCORD tour.  Can’t wait to play for you all again soon.”

If Urban wins Entertainer of the Year, he would be eligible to receive the Academy’s prestigious Triple Crown Award, which is given to those who have won New Male/Female Vocalist of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. He was previously honored with the New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000 (presented in 2001) and Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005 (presented in 2005 and 2006, respectively).

Other leading nominees include Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris, with six nominations each.

Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Lambert receives her eleventh nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. If she wins, it will be her eighth consecutive win in this category. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Lambert earned a total of six nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for The Weight of These Wings, Single Record of the Year for “Vice,” Video of the Year for “Vice,” and two nominations as both artist and songwriter in Song of the Year for “Vice.” Currently, Lambert has earned the second-highest number of awards in ACM history, with 26 awards. Brooks & Dunn continues to hold the record of most ACM Awards with 28.

First-time ACM nominee Morris is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year, two nominations for Album of the Year as artist and producer of Hero, and two nominations for Single Record of the Year for “My Church” as artist and producer.

Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw garnered five nominations apiece, while Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton earned three nominations each.

In addition to Morris, other first-time ACM nominees this year include Lauren Alaina, with a nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year; Kane Brown, nominated for New Male Vocalist of the Year; Chris Lane, nominated for New Male Vocalist of the Year; LOCASH, nominated for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year; Jon Pardi, nominated for New Male Vocalist of the Year; Chris Young and Cassadee Pope, nominated for Vocal Event of the Year, “Think Of You”; and Brett Young, nominated for New Male Vocalist of the Year.

For the first time in the history of the award, a woman has been nominated in the Songwriter of the Year category (off-camera award). 2017 marks a big change in the category, with two females nominated: Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna. Both also received nominations as songwriters for Song of the Year nominees, for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Hillary Lindsey) and “Humble And Kind” (Lori McKenna). They compete against Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally.

“Forever Country” a Country Music Association project produced by two-time ACM Award winner Shane McAnally, received two nominations. This is the first time a Country Music Association project has been nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award. It is nominated in both the Video of the Year presented category and Vocal Event of the Year category. The song is a medley of John Denver‘s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson‘s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton‘s “I Will Always Love You,” recorded by the Artists of Then, Now & Forever.

Additionally, several out-of-genre artists received their first ACM Awards nominations, including Rhiannon Giddens (nominated for Song of the Year, “Kill A Word” with Eric Church), Elle King (nominated for Vocal Event of the Year, “Different For Girls” with Dierks Bentley), P!nk (nominated for Vocal Event of the Year, “Setting The World On Fire” with Kenny Chesney).

Lady Antebellum announced the nominations Thursday morning (Feb. 16) on CBS This Morning. Luke Bryan returns to co-host the awards for the fifth consecutive year, joined again by co-host Dierks Bentley for the second consecutive year.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE
Kane Brown
Chris Janson
Chris Lane
Jon Pardi
Brett Young

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE
Lauren Alaina
Cam
Brandy Clark
Maren Morris
* four nominees only

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE
A Thousand Horses
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Black – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group

HERO – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Brad Hill, Maren Morris; Record Label: Columbia Nashville

Ripcord – Keith Urban
Producers: Jeff Bhasker, busbee, Nathan Chapman, Nitzan Kaikov, Dann Huff, Tyler Johnson, Johnny Price, Nile Rodgers, Keith Urban, Greg Wells; Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville

The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Blue Ain’t Your Color”-Keith Urban
Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban; Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville

“H.O.L.Y.”– Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group

“Humble And Kind”-Tim McGraw
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Record Labels: McGraw Music, Big Machine Records

“My Church” – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Maren Morris; Record Label: Columbia Nashville

“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen
Publishers: WB Music Corp (ASCAP), Music Of The Corn (ASCAP), HillarodyRathbone Music (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Spirit Catalog Holdings (S.a.r.l.), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP)

“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI)

“Humble And Kind” – Tim McGraw
Songwriter: Lori McKenna
Publishers: Songs of Universal Inc (BMI), Hoodie Songs (BMI)

“Kill A Word” – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens
Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
Publishers: Emileon Songs (BMI), Little Louder Songs (BMI), Longer And Louder Music (BMI), Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI)

“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove
Publishers: Universal-Songs Of PolyGram International (BMI), EMI Algee (BMI)

“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Smack Hits (GMR), Kobalt Music Group,
Ltd. (GMR), Anderson Fork In The Road Music (ASCAP), Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. (ASCAP), Smackville Music (ASCAP)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY XFINITY [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
“Fire Away” – Chris Stapleton
Director: Tim Mattia; Producer: Jennifer Rothlein

“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
Director: Joseph Kahn; Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside

“Humble And Kind” – Tim McGraw
Director: Wes Edwards; Producer: Jennifer Rothlein

“Peter Pan” – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Kristin Barlowe; Producer: Michelle Abnet

“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy; Producer: Ashley Bergeron Ford

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Lori McKenna

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Different For Girls” – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King; Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
Producer: Shane McAnally; Record Label: MCA Nashville

“May We All” – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw
Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group

“Setting The World On Fire” – Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney; Record Labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville

“Think Of You” – Chris Young Featuring Cassadee Pope
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, RCA Records

MusicRowLife: Thomas Rhett and Wife Lauren Expecting And Adopting

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Thomas Rhett and Wife Lauren. Photo via Thomas Rhett/Twitter

Congratulations to an elated Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren, who are expecting not one but two babies — after finding out Lauren was pregnant shortly after they had already begun the process of adopting a baby from Africa. People Magazine reports the couple discovered they were pregnant while on a week-long safari in Tanzania in December with friends Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and wife Hayley, who were able to celebrate the happy news with them.

 

 

Margo Price, Brent Cobb Join Jamey Johnson’s Stagecoach Spotlight Tour

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Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson will embark on an eight-city tour billed as the Stagecoach Spotlight Tour: Jamey Johnson. Special guests Margo Price and Brent Cobb are set to join Johnson. All three Stagecoach Spotlight Tour musicians are set to perform at the 11th annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival this April.

“Working with Jamey is something we have wanted to do for a very long time. So much so, we decided to double down on both a festival appearance and a tour. A bill like this, that includes Margo Price and Brent Cobb, only comes around once in a lifetime,” says Stacy Vee, talent buyer for Stagecoach and the Stagecoach Spotlight Tour.

Each show will be unique, in part because Johnson doesn’t create a set list. “I don’t know what I’m going to do until I am standing there doing it,” he says. “That is a freedom I have enjoyed ever since I began doing this, the ability to try something new.

“You’ll see me do a lot of my songs, including my old stuff,” he says. “If I have a new song that I want to share, you will hear that. When I’m not doing my songs, I’ll be doing everybody else’s that I like, from every format. My taste is vintage, traditional, and that is not to say that everything I do is old. There are a lot of new writers these days that are putting out great music that I find in the same vein as the old stuff I like and we may try some of that out.”

Tickets for the Stagecoach Spotlight Tour: Jamey Johnson Tour go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Stagecoach Festival pass holders and American Express card members can purchase tickets beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time at www.stagecoachfestival.com/spotlighttour.

The Stagecoach Spotlight Tour: Jamey Johnson dates include:

April 25: San Diego; The Observatory North Park
April 27: Los Angeles; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
April 28: Las Vegas; Brooklyn Bowl
April 30: Tempe, Ariz.; Marquee Theatre
May 3: Denver; Ogden Theatre
May 8: Portland, Ore.; Crystal Ballroom
May 9: Seattle; Showbox SODO
May 11: San Francisco; The Warfield Theatre

David Nail Exits MCA Nashville

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David Nail

MusicRow has confirmed that David Nail is no longer on the MCA Nashville roster. Nail released five albums for the label, including his first in 2009, I’m About To Come Alive, which yielded the Top 10 hit “Red Light.” He also released The Sound of A Million Dreams in 2011, which included the No. 1 hit “Let It Rain,” featuring Sarah Buxton.

His third studio album, I’m A Fire, released in 2014, featuring the No. 1 single “Whatever She’s Got.” His final studio album Fighter was released in 2016 and included the singles “Night’s On Fire” and “Good At Tonight.”

Favorite Duets From ‘Nashville’ Released on New Album

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A 15-song collection of duets from the hit show Nashville is set for release this Friday (Feb. 17) on Big Machine Records. Nashville Duets will feature fan-favorite collaborations from some of the characters and couples featured on the series over the past five years.

Two new tracks appearing on tomorrow’s (Feb. 16) episode, “Eye Of The Storm,” and “Close To The Fire,” are available now on iTunes prior to the new compilation’s release.

Since the show’s 2012 debut, Big Machine Records has released eight Nashville soundtracks, which have collectively sold more than one million albums and five million single downloads with over 200 million streams to date.

TRACK LIST – NASHVILLE DUETS
1. “If I Didn’t Know Better” | Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen
Written by: Arum Rae, John Paul White
2. “Wrong Song” | Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere
Written by: Marv Green, Sonya Isaacs, Jimmy Yeary
3. “When The Right One Comes Along” | Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio
Written by: Justin Davis, Georgia Middleman, Sarah Zimmermann
4. “Hold You In My Arms” | Jonathan Jackson, Hayden Panettiere
    Written by: Sarah Siskind
5. “Can’t Say No To You” | Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack
Written by: Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Gordie Sampson
6. “Ball And Chain” | Connie Britton, Will Chase
Written by: Paul Kennerley, Tammi Lynn Kidd
7. “If Your Heart Can Handle It” | Chris Carmack, Aubrey Peeples
Written by: Dean Alexander, Jaida Dreyer
8. “I Ain’t Leavin’ Without Your Love” | Sam Palladio, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson
Written by: Cary Barlowe, Justin Davis, Sarah Zimmermann
9. “He Ain’t Gonna Change” | Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere
    Written by: Al Anderson, Karyn Rochelle
10. “The Rivers Between Us” | Connie Britton, Charles Esten
Written by: Eric Kaz, J.D. Souther
11. “Believing” | Charles Esten, Lennon & Maisy Stella
  Written by: Tami Hinesh, Emily Shackelton, Kate York
12. “A Life That’s Good” | Lennon & Maisy Stella
Written by: Ashley Monroe, Sarah Siskind
13. “Ho Hey” | Lennon & Maisy Stella
  Written by: Jeremy Fraites, Wesley Schultz
14. “All Of Me” | Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio
Written by: Phillip LaRue, Tim Lauer, Lindy Robbins
15. “Your Best (Acoustic Version)” | Lennon & Maisy Stella
Written by: Claire Guerreso

BMLG’s Midland Trio Featured In Six-Page NYC Style Spread

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[CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE]. Photo: Joshua Pestka for Man Of Metropolis

Big Machine Label Group’s up-and-coming trio, Midland, has been featured in a six-page spread for Man of Metropolis magazine, based out of New York.

The men’s lifestyle magazine spread, titled “Austin Style featuring Midland,” was shot in Dripping Spring, Texas, in early January at Midland bass player Cameron Duddy’s farm with photographer Joshua Pestka. Duddy, a California native joined with lead vocalist and Arizona-native Mark Wystrach and Oregon-native Jess Carson to form the band, now based in Austin, Texas.

Midland will be releasing their first single, “Drinkin’ Problem,” to country radio on Feb. 27, written by Midland along with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. McAnally produced the band’s five-song, self-titled EP—released in October—alongside Dann Huff. The trio has been announced in the lineup for BMLG’s Country Radio Seminar luncheon, Friday, Feb. 24.

Signings: Silverado Records, SMG Records

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Silverado Records Adds To Roster

Mandy McMillan

Silverado Records has signed Nashville based singer-songwriter Mandy McMillan to a multi-album deal with the label.

McMillan, from Stony Plain, Alberta Canada, has been in Nashville since 2012. Her most recent EP was released in 2014.

“Every once in a while you meet an artist you just know you want to work with from that first encounter. For us, that’s Mandy! Her spunky songwriting, strong vocals, fun personality, and strong work ethic embody exactly what we look for in a recording artist,” said Silverado’s CEO Scott Thomas.

“Mandy’s great original songs, and ability to captivate a room make her an incredible addition to Team Silverado” said Silverado VP/A&R Aaron Chesling.

“I’m very happy to be a part of this team that’s more like family than anything else. Can’t wait to work along side Scott, Aaron, Heather and the rest of the amazing team at Silverado!” said McMillan.

 

SMG Records Expands Roster

Cort Carpenter

Spin Doctors Music Group has signed Cort Carpenter to their artist roster on SMG Records.

Carpenter also heads his own foundation, Cort Carpenter Cares, launched in 2015 to assist homeless animals and people.

“We have had our eyes and ears on Cort for several years now, and when the chance came to work with him, we jumped right in. Cort has ‘it’ and is an amazing performer. His songs will resonate with the country demo and you will see big things coming for him very soon,” said Al Brock, President/CEO of The Spin Doctors Music Group.

Spin Doctors Music Group was founded in 2010 as a radio promotion company, and has since evolved into an artist/label services company.

Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Festival Sits 2017 Out

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The Zac Brown Band has canceled its popular Southern Ground Music & Food Festival, originally scheduled for May 20-21, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina, according to the festival’s official site.

The message states the band is rescheduling the festival for next year in order to focus on their new album Welcome Home, but Southern Ground will return in 2018. Welcome Home is the band’s first album after announcing their new signing with Elektra and WAR.

ZBB founded the fast-growing festival in 2011, and it quickly became a fan and foodie favorite, offering great music and tasty cuisine to fans in both Charleston and Nashville, where it was held in 2012 and 2013. It will resume in 2018 at Charleston’s MUSC Health Stadium.