Big Machine Records Restructures Promotion

Jim Weatherson has been named the interim general manager for BMLG’s Big Machine Records imprint, as part of a new promotion department structure.

Former Dot Records artists Tucker Beathard and Carly Pearce have moved to the Big Machine Records roster, while Drake White has moved to BMLG Records.

Kris Lamb was previously named as VP, Promotion. Former Dot Records Director, National Promotion Michelle Kammerer has transitioned to BMLG Records as National Director.

Additional roles under the new structure include:

National Director: Erik Powell
West Coast: Bill Lubitz
Midwest: Alex Valentine
Southwest: James Marsh
Southeast: AJ Calvin
Northeast: Brooke Diaz
Coordinator: Nicole Hunt
Southeast Specialist: Jeff Davis

While it appears this move shutters Dot Records, no official word or confirmation has been released by the label.

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Announce New Album, Ryman Dates

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will release their new album The Nashville Sound on June 16 on Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers).

The Nashville Sound features 10 new songs that address a range of subjects including politics and cultural privilege on “White Man’s World”, longing for nostalgia on “The Last Of My Kind”, love and mortality on “If We Were Vampires,” and the remnants of a break up on “Chaos and Clothes.” Additional tracks like “Cumberland Gap” and “Hope The Highroad” find Isbell and his bandmates returning full swing to their rock roots.

The new project was recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A and produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb, who produced Something More Than Free and Isbell’s celebrated 2013 breakthrough album Southeastern. The Nashville Sound is the first official Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit album since 2011’s Here We Rest.

The group launches an extensive summer tour June 17 in Asheville that runs through October, with a five-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15.

He also travels to Europe for an international tour Oct. 25-Nov. 14 that hits Dublin, London, Paris, Brussels, and Copenhagen, among others.

The Nashville Sound Track Listing:
“The Last of My Kind”
“Cumberland Gap”
“Tupelo”
“White Man’s World”
“If We Were Vampires”
“Anxiety”
“Molotov”
“Chaos and Clothes”
“Hope the High Road”
“Something to Love”

*All songs written by Jason Isbell except “Anxiety,” written by Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires

Artist Updates: Clint Black, Kiefer Sutherland, Sarah Dunn Band

Clint Black Does ‘Big Interview’ With Dan Rather

Clint Black was interviewed last week at his Nashville home by legendary newsman Dan Rather for his AXS Television show The Big Interview. The two chatted about Black’s musical and personal journey, his acting career, and his marriage to actress Lisa Hartman. The episode, slated to air March 28, also features an intimate performance by Black from his home studio.

 

Kiefer Sutherland Chats With Jimmy Fallon

Photo: Beth Elliott

Kiefer Sutherland stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (March 13) to chat about his upcoming Not Enough Whiskey 2017 Tour, his debut album Down In A Hole and his ABC-TV series Designated SurvivorWhen Sutherland wraps up the North American leg May 27 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, he’ll jet across the pond to play more than 20 shows throughout Europe.

 

Sarah Dunn Band ‘Figures It Out’

The Sarah Dunn Band has just released the first single “Figure It Out” from their new album Unbridle Me which will be released on March 17. The new album was written entirely by Dunn.

“I chose ‘Unbridle Me’ as the title track for the album because it’s definitely a reflection of where I’m at right now. I feel as though I’m coming into my own lately, as an artist and a songwriter. That’s brought me a wonderful sense of confidence and freedom that I hope comes across in every song,” said Dunn.

Deluxe Version of Maren Morris’ ‘Hero’ Out This Friday

Maren Morris is releasing a deluxe edition of her debut album Hero this Friday (March 17) to all digital retailers. Hero Deluxe features three tracks that did not appear on the standard version of the CD, including “Bummin’ Cigarettes,” “Space” and “Company You Keep,” all co-written by Morris.

Morris announced last week she will take her highly successful HERO Tour 2017 overseas to the UK and Ireland. Tickets for the seven-date international leg, which kicks off in Dublin on Nov. 12, go on sale March 17. The UK tour includes a stop at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on Nov. 15, and support on all dates will be singer/songwriter Ryan Hurd.

The HERO Tour 2017 UK/Ireland Tour Dates:
Nov. 12            Dublin Academy
Nov. 13            Glasgow ABC
Nov. 15            London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Nov. 17            Birmingham O2 Institute 1
Nov. 18            Bristol Anson Rooms
Nov. 20            Manchester O2 Ritz
Nov. 21            Sheffield Leadmill

Industry Ink: NSAI, AIMP, Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum, Banner Music

NSAI Brings Streaming Royalties Fight To Congress

Pictured (L-R): NSAI Sr. Director of Operations Jennifer Turnbow; songwriter Wendell Mobley; NSAI board member-songwriter Nicolle Galyon; Jana Miller and husband, NSAI President, songwriter Lee Miller; NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. 

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) spent time last week meeting with Members of Congress to discuss low streaming royalties for songwriters, concerns over how a new Register of Copyrights should be appointed and others issues.

 

AIMP Hosts “Maximizing Your Independent Release” Panel

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Faithe Dillman Parker, David Ross, Donica Elliott, Nate Towne. (Back row, L-R): Brad Peterson, John Ozier, Emmanuel Zunz, Beth Laird, Tim Hunze, Ree Guyer, Kari Barnhart, Chris Van Belkom

The Association of Independent Music Publishers  (AIMP) and Regions Bank welcomed Donica Elliott (All Eyes Media), Faithe Dillman Parker (Marbaloo Marketing), David Ross (Reviver Records), and Nate Towne (WME) who spoke at the AIMP “Maximizing Your Independent Release” panel on March 10 at ASCAP’s Connie Bradley Board Room. Sponsored by oneRPM and moderated by Beth Laird (Creative Nation) and Chris Van Belkom (Combustion Music), the panelists discussed the roles played by each in a project release, timelines to follow and tips for success.

 

 

CMHoF To Welcome The McCrary Sisters For Second Annual Easter Brunch Event

The McCrary Sisters

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will host its Second Annual Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 16, 2017. The McCrary Sisters, daughters of longtime Fairfield Four tenor Sam McCrary, will return to headline, while family-style dining will be offered in two seatings, 9 a.m. and noon, in the museum’s Event Hall.

For more, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.

 

Banner Music Signs Casey Kelly

Banner Music CEO Camilla Kleindienst has announced the signing of Casey Kelly as a staff songwriter.

“We are ecstatic that Casey is joining the team at Banner music, he will be a great addition to our songwriting staff” said Kleindienst.

Kelly has had multiple hit songs including “Anyone Who Isn’t Me Tonight” by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West, “Soon” by Tanya Tucker, “Somewhere Down the Line” by T.G. Shepherd and “The Cowboy Rides Away” by George Strait.

Banner Music launched in 2004. The company includes six staff songwriters and represents two independent music publishing catalogs.

Dailey & Vincent Become Opry Members, Sign With Dreamlined Entertainment

Pictured (L-R): Sally Williams, Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Steve Buchanan. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Dailey & Vincent became the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday evening (March 11) at an induction ceremony by Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show and Jeannie Seely. The duo had been invited to become Opry members by Marty Stuart during their 100th appearance on the show in December. Seely, who will celebrate 50 years of Opry membership later this year, presented an Opry Member Award to Jamie Dailey, while Old Crow lead singer Ketch Secor did the same for Darrin Vincent.

“I had the honor of introducing Dailey & Vincent for their first Opry appearance,” Seely said. “I thought to myself that night, ‘I hope one day I get to see them become members of the Opry one day because they epitomize everything the Opry is on stage and off.’”

“We are very excited to welcome Dailey & Vincent into the fold,” said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. “Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have been proclaimed the best in their field across the board, winning awards and media acclaim for their songs, their musicianship, and their one-of-a-kind live performances. Over the past 10 years and more than 100 Opry visits, they’ve brought crowds to their feet both with country, bluegrass, and gospel standards as well as their brand new material. We look forward to Dailey & Vincent being active, beloved Opry members as the Opry looks toward the century mark and beyond.”

Dreamlined Entertainment Group has signed the duo and will release its new album, Patriots & Poets on March 31 via distribution through BFD/RED.  The project features collaborations with Steve Martin, Bela Fleck and more.

Pictured (L-R): BFD’s Chuck Rhodes, BFD’s Bob Frank, Dreamlined’s Keith Stegall, Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Dreamlined’s Scott Miller, Dreamlined’s Jason Campbell)

Pandora Launching New Premium Service This Week

Pandora is rolling out its Pandora Premium on-demand streaming tier this week. Invitations for a free trial of the new premium tier will go out to select listeners March 15, and an upgrade option will be available to all listeners in the coming weeks.

The premium option for $9.99 a month offers fans Pandora’s personalized radio with the ability to search and play any track or album as well as a unique set of playlist features tailored to each person’s distinct preferences. Playlists can be easily curated through the power of Pandora’s Music Genome Project and a “thumbs up” option, and a browse section is stocked with personalized suggestions from the latest releases. Existing Pandora Plus subscribers will enjoy six months of Premium for no additional charge but trial lengths for existing Pandora ad-supported listeners and new listeners vary. Premium is available now for iOS and Android, in the car via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and on Google Chromecast, and will be available on other platforms including the web in the coming months.

“Every day tens of millions of people trust us to choose the exact right song for them. That’s why they spend more time with Pandora than any other music service,” said Tim Westergren, founder and CEO of Pandora. “With Premium, we’re leveraging our immense trove of data and everything we’ve learned about personalization to offer a listening experience that sets a new standard for what a music service should be.”

CMA Songwriters Series Returns To London For 2017 C2C Festival

Pictured (L-R): Kristian Bush, Drake White, Maren Morris, Bennett Lewis (Morris’ guitarist), Liz Rose and Mac McAnally perform during the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series Thursday at indigo at The O2 in London. Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

The CMA Songwriters Series returned overseas Thursday (March 9) to kick-off the fifth annual Country 2 Country (C2C) Festival at London’s indigo at The O2. The highly-anticipated show featured an award-winning lineup of country music hitmakers: five-time CMA award-winner Kristian Bush, former CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally, reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Maren Morris, former CMA Song of the Year winner Liz Rose, and rising star Drake White. The sold-out show was the CMA Songwriters Series debut for McAnally, Morris, and White.

Kristian Bush
Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Midway through the set, Bush made a special announcement from the stage, surprising U.K. country duo The Shires with CMA’s Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist originally signed outside of the United States–in both furthering the popularity of country music and bringing attention to the country music format in their foreign-based territory.

The intimate CMA Songwriters Series launched in 2005 at Joe’s Pub in New York City and made its European debut in 2012 with stops in London, Dublin, and Belfast. It has returned to London annually as part of C2C since 2014. C2C is the U.K.’s largest country music festival.

For more information, visit CMAsongwritersseries.com.

Mac MacAnally
Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Maren Morris
Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Liz Rose
Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Drake White
Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Pictured (L-R): Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer; Butch Spyridon, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp Chief Executive Officer and Ex-Officio CMA board member; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Mac McAnally; Liz Rose; The Shires’ Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle; Kristian Bush; Milly Olykan, AEG Festival and Live Events Director at The O2 and CMA board member; and Drake White gather following the CMA Songwriters Series. Photo: Amy Westney/CMA

Artist Updates: Tara Thompson, Brothers Osborne, Runaway June, Hudson Moore

Tara Thompson Promotes Music With New Boots Line Dancing

Tara Thompson (third from left) with New Boots staff and friends. Photo: New Boots Line Dancing

Country artist Tara Thompson promoted her music at Nashville’s New Boots Line Dancing with a dance as part of her #maytagmonday Facebook Live series this week (March 6).

In addition to dancing to her debut single and EP title track, “Someone to Take Your Place,” New Boots organized an encore dance with The Valory Music Co. newcomer’s “Side Effects.” Watch Thompson’s class at facebook.com/newbootslinedancing

 

Brothers Osborne And Runaway June Play NASH Party Prior To CMA Fest

Brothers Osborne will appear with special guests Runaway June and NASH Next 2016 winner Todd O’Neill for the NASH Country Kick Off Party with NASH FM 103.3 on Tuesday, June 6 at Cannery Ballroom.

The 6 p.m. event will benefit Musicians On Call and be held prior to CMA Fest (June 8-11). Tickets for the NASH event are $35 at nashfm1033.com.

 

Nashville’s Hudson Moore Preps Spring Outing

Hudson Moore. Photo: Jay Trevino

Country guitar slinger Hudson Moore will set out on a seven-date Texas outing, kicking off March 23 at 3TEN Austin City Limits Live. Moore also plans to join Eli Young Band on the road next month at Denim & Diamonds in Wichita Falls, TX. To purchase tickets, visit hudsonmoore.net/tour

Austin Moore Spring 2017

3/23 — Austin, TX 3TEN ACL Live

3/28 — College Station, TX The Tap

4/7 — Dallas, TX Prophet Bar

4/8 — Houston, TX Firehouse Saloon

4/21 — Stephenville, TX Bostock’s Billiards & Bar

4/22 — San Antonio, TX Sam’s Burger Joint

4/28 — McAllen, TX Hillbilly’s

Acquisition Of Dick Clark Productions Officially Terminated

A $1 billion deal announced last year for the sale of Dick Clark Productions (“DCP”) to Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin‘s Dilian Wanda Group has been called off.

MusicRow received DCP owner Eldridge Industries’ official statement on March 10.

“Eldridge Industries announced today that one of its affiliates has terminated its agreement to sell Dick Clark Productions to the Dalian Wanda Group. Wanda had agreed to acquire Dick Clark Productions in November 2016. Eldridge’s affiliate terminated the agreement this week after Wanda failed to honor its contractual obligations. Eldridge’s affiliate also has filed with the Delaware Chancery Court to compel release of the balance of escrowed funds to which it is contractually entitled given Wanda’s failure to consummate the sale.”

Billboard reports the suit seeks to recover half of a $50 million “reverse termination fee” connected to the deal.

The Academy of Country Music Awards is a 50/50 partnership with Dick Clark Productions and the academy. Additional interests of DCP include 100 percent of TV rights of the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and the New Year’s countdown celebration in New York.

In 2015, Dick Clark Productions was sold by Guggenheim Partners—from a reported $370 million sale in 2012—to Todd Boehly, a executive at Guggenheim. Boehly formed Eldridge Industries whose assets, among others, also include The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.