Creative Nation Promotes Two

/by

Jeff Skaggs and Kelsey Granda

Nashville-based music company Creative Nation has promoted Jeff Skaggs to VP, Creative and Kelsey Granda to Sr. Director, Creative Administration of the music publishing division. In his role, Skaggs will help oversee all publishing responsibilities including songwriters’ calendars, pitching songs, signing and developing writers and artists and continuing to diversify and grow CN’s publishing roster. In her role, Granda will handle all creative administration for CN writers including demo booking and billing, production coordination, writer calendar bookings, WRIOS software development, catalog management and overseeing CN events.

“Jeff and Kelsey are the cornerstones of Creative Nation publishing. They are outstanding, not only at their jobs, but because they go above and beyond in their roles. More importantly, they are passionate about our songwriters and are the type of people I want to hustle alongside. Our greatest asset is our people,” says Creative Nation co-founder & CEO, Beth Laird.

Sheryl Crow Adds Farm Aid, Iridium Taping To Fall Tour

/by

Photo credit: Marc Seliger

Sheryl Crow has announced additional dates on her tour in support of her latest album Be Myself which will include appearances at Wolf Trap, Chastain Park, Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid, and a special club show at the Iridium in New York which will be filmed for the PBS concert series “Front and Center.” She is also a special guest on Nelson’s Outlaw Tour this Summer and Fall as well.

Crow is also releasing a video for her new song “Halfway There” today which was shot in Nashville and Los Angeles and directed by filmmaker Gus Black. The video features a cameo from Gary Clark Jr. who also plays leads guitar on the track. She’ll perform the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 27. 

Crow describes the essence of the song as “…even though you may drive a big Chevy truck and I drive my hybrid, or you may wear designer clothes and I wear ripped jeans, that doesn’t mean we don’t want the same things in life and the same things for our kids in the future. The message is we need to agree to disagree and just try and meet halfway there.”

Sheryl Crow Tour Dates:
*New tour dates
June 20             Sprint Pavilion                          Charlottesville, VA
June 21            Wolf Trap – Filene Center          Vienna, VA
June 23             Funhouse Fest                          Williamsburg, VA
June 24             North Carolina Museum of Art   Raleigh, NC
June 25             Chastain Park Amphitheater      Atlanta, GA
*June 26           Iriduim / Front and Center          New York, NY
June 28            Beacon Theatre                        New York, NY
June 29            Rochester Internat’l Jazz Fest   Rochester, NY
July 3               Golden Nugget                         Lake Charles, LA                            
July 4               Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic     Austin, TX                            
July 7               Ravinia Festival                         Highland Park, IL
July 11             The Palladium                           Carmel, IN
July 12             Meijer Gardens                         Grand Rapids, MI
July 14             Chautauqua Institution Amph.    Chautauqua, NY
July 15             Casino Rama Resort                 Rama, ON
Sep 13              Red Butte Amphitheatre            Salt Lake City, UT
*Sep 16             Farm Aid @ Key Bank Pavilion Burgettstown, PA                            
*Oct 3              The Fillmore                             San Francisco, CA                            
Oct 21              The Bren Center @ UC Irvine    Irvine, CA                            

 

Outlaw Tour dates:
 July 2               Starplex Pavilion                       Dallas, TX
July 6               Walmart Amphitheatre               Rogers, AR
July 8               Joe Louis Arena                        Detroit, MI
July 9               Summerfest                              Milwaukee, WI
July 16             Lakeview Amphitheater             Syracuse, NY
Sep 8               PNC Bank Arts Center              Holmdel, NJ                            
Sep 9               Northwell Health /Jones Beach  Wantagh, NY
*Sep 10            Hersheypark Stadium                Hershey, PA
Sep 15              Blossom Music Center              Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Sep 17              BB&T Pavilion                          Camden, NJ

Industry Pics: SESAC, Sony Music Nashville, Tucker Beathard, Luke Bryan

/by

SESAC Celebrates With Paul Shaffer, Michael Tyler During CMA Music Festival

SESAC EVP of Creative and Business Affairs Dennis Lord gives Paul Shaffer a warm welcome prior to Shaffer’s (and The World’s Most Dangerous Band) performance at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday, June 9.

Pictured (L-R): Paul Shaffer, Dennis Lord

SESAC affiliate Michael Tyler performed for enthusiastic fans at the Radio Disney Stage in the Music City Center during CMA Fest. Tyler also stayed after the 5 p.m. closing time to finish his meet and greet with fans.

Michael Tyler

 

Sony Nashville’s Ryan Hurd Celebrates Add Day For “Love In A Bar”

Ryan Hurd stopped by the Sony Music Nashville offices on add day for his latest single, “Love In A Bar.” Hurd’s four-track, self-titled EP also includes “We Do Us,” “City Girl” and “Hold You Back,” and is a preview for Hurd’s upcoming full-length project.

Pictured (L-R): Mark Gray, Triple 8; George Courie, Triple 8; Nicole Walden, SMN; Liz Sledge, SMN; Ryan Hurd; Matt Galvin, SMN; Dennis Reese SMN

 

Tucker Beathard Makes Bonnaroo Debut

BMLG artist Tucker Beathard made his debut at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival’s Who Stage this year on June 11. Prior to his performance, he joined Ed Helms, Margo Price, Ethan Gruska, Philipp Bausch and Aaron Lee Tasjan for a panel discussion (hosted by Andy Langer) reflecting on playing the annual festival. Earlier in the week, Beathard took part in the first Wrecking Ball 2017 event in Nashville on June 7.

Tucker Beathard at Bonnaroo. Photo: Kevin Grace

 

Luke Bryan Performs Before Stanley Cup Final Game 6

Luke Bryan opened the television broadcast of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday with a performance from the rooftop of Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge on Broadway in Nashville, in front of 60,000 fans.

Luke Bryan performs atop Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

 

 

Alexandria Hardy Promoted To GM At ‘MusicRow’ Reporting Station KYYK

/by

Alexandria Hardy


Alexandria Hardy has been promoted to General Manager for Palestine, Texas station KYYK, a MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart reporting station. Her duties also include overseeing operations for KYYK 98.3, KNET 1450AM/95.7 FM in Palestine, KKHA 92.5 in Bay City, and KBYC 104.5 in Bay City.

Hardy has been with Tomlinson Leis Communications for seven years. Since her hiring in 2010, she has worked as Billing Director, Traffic Director, On-Air Personality, Music Director and Office Manager. She was selected for the Rusty Walker Scholarship for the 2017 Country Radio Seminar, and attended the Texas Association of Broadcasters Annual Convention and Trade Show in 2015.

Hardy, 28, looks forward to growing her stations and bringing quality music to her community.

Craig Morgan’s ‘American Stories’ Tour To Launch This Fall

/by

Craig Morgan will reprise his Operation Finally Home Welcomes “American Stories Tour” this Fall, hitting over a dozen cities including a special show and celebration on Veterans Day in his hometown of Nashville. The unscripted shows will feature a variety of Craig’s music and military friends, including songwriter Marla Cannon-Goodman, best-selling author and veterans’ family activist Taya Kyle, songwriter/producer Phil O’Donnell, Third Day front man Mac Powell, Medal of Honor recipient and author Clint Romesha, as well as Craig’s daughter, singer/songwriter Aly Beaird.

The limited-engagement tour kicks off in late September in Virginia and wraps on Veterans Day, and tickets go on sale Friday, June 16 at CraigMorgan.com. Twelve shows have been announced with additional dates and guests to be added in the coming weeks.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to play massive arenas in front of thousands upon thousands of people but there is something really special about these smaller, intimate shows where I’m sitting onstage with my guitar and sharing stories from my heart,” said Morgan. “I’m bringing out guests and we’re talking and singing and telling stories about our country and God and family and all the things that are important to us.”

As Operation FINALLY HOME’s 2017 Ambassador, Morgan has partnered with the national non-profit to provide mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families from select dates during the 2017 tour.

Operation FINALLY HOME Welcomes “American Stories Tour” Dates:
Sept. 29*      Hopewell, VA     The Beacon Theatre
Sept. 30*      Frederick, MD^  Weinberg Center for the Arts
Oct. 6**          Knoxville, TN      Bijou Theatre
Oct. 7 **         Louisville, KY      The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts Brown Theatre
Oct. 8 **         Saint Charles, IL  Arcada Theatre
Oct. 12***       Redmond, OR     Bank of the Cascades Event Center
Oct. 13 ***      Everett, WA        The Historic Everett Theatre
Oct. 14 ***      Boise, ID            Revolution Center
Oct. 15 ***      Red Bluff, CA^    State Theatre for the Arts
Nov. 9 ****   Atlanta, GA         The Buckhead Theatre
Nov. 10 **** Birmingham, AL   The Lyric Theatre
Nov. 11 **** Nashville, TN       City Winery
*with special guest Mac Powell and Aly Beaird
** with special guests Mac Powell, Aly Beaird and Clint Romesha
***with special guests Mac Powell, Aly Beaird, Taya Kyle and Marla Cannon-Goodman
****with special guests Aly Beaird and Phil O’Donnell
^tickets on sale at a later date

Weekly Register: Luke Combs Debuts With No. 1 Country Album

/by

Luke Combs. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Luke Combs debuts at No. 1 on the Nielsen Soundscan country albums rankings with his River House/Columbia Nashville album This One’s For You, which moved 35K (43K total consumption) this week.

Chris Stapleton follows with From A Room selling 23K units.

Zac Brown Band‘s Welcome Home is at No. 3, with 14K, followed by Stapleton’s Traveller at No. 4, with 8.1K.

Wheeler Walker Jr.‘s Ol Wheeler debuts at No. 5 with 7.8K.

On the digital tracks sales chart, Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like A Back Road” is again at No. 1, with 47K. The track is now at 1.102 million sold.

Brett Young‘s “In Case You Didn’t Know” is at No. 2, with 44K, followed by Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood‘s “The Fighter” at No. 3, with 26K.

Thomas Rhett (ft. Maren Morris)’s “Craving You” is at No. 4 with 20K, with Luke Combs‘ “Hurricane” rounding out the Top 5 with 17K this week.

This week’s top debut track is Kelsea Ballerini’s “Legends,” which released June 7 and lands at No. 18 on the country rankings, with 9.1K. Danielle Bradbery also debut a new track, “Sway,” which lands at No. 23 country, selling 8K.

Information provided courtesy of Nielsen Soundscan.

Industry Ink: ASCAP, APA, BMI, Musicians On Call

/by

ASCAP At CMA Music Festival

Post Monroe with ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and Michael Martin

ASCAP hosted a variety of hit songwriters and up-and-coming writer-artists at this year’s CMA Music Festival. On Saturday, June 10, the 4th annual ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round at the HGTV Lodge featured reigning ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, reigning ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year Ben Glover, and hitmakers JT Harding and Brent Anderson. Later that afternoon, ASCAP presented hit writers Marc Beeson and Andy Albert on the Durango Music Spot stage at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center. On Sunday, ASCAP showcased rising songwriter-artists on the Music City Stage at the Nashville Visitor Center inside Bridgestone Arena Tower from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Featured artists included Anna Vaus, Martin McDaniel, Sarah Allison Turner, Dorado, Lucas Hoge, Brandon Ratcliff, Crooked King, Raquel Cole, Adam Hambrick and Post Monroe.

 

APA Signs Casey James, Holds Open House Party During CMA Music Festival

Pictured (L-R): Scott Brown, David Corlew, Stephen Sutherland and Karrigan Shields attend APA Nashville’s open house at One Nashville Place on June 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for APA

APA Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Casey James, who finished in third place on the ninth season of Fox’s American Idol in 2010. The Texas native independently released his album, Strip It Down, on Friday, June 9.

The agency also kicked off CMA week with their “360 Annual Pre-Fest Gathering” at their downtown Nashville headquarters on June 6. The happy hour hosted music industry managers, publicists, talent executives, brand partners, TV/film executives and producers, as well as artists including: Crystal Bowersox, Jim Brickman, Brennley Brown, Lee Greenwood, James, Josh Martin, Mee Tracy McCormick, Hudson Moore, Hailey Orrantia, Ron Pope, Royal Teeth, Jim Scholten (Sawyer Brown), Scooter Brown Band, Shenandoah, Street Corner Symphony, and Hailey Whitters.

BMI Hosts Acoustic Brunch Rooftop Performance

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, artist Ashley McBryde, Deep Eddy’s Nathan Way and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Erika Goldring

BMI hosted an acoustic brunch rooftop performance June 7 to officially kick off the CMA Fest weekend in Nashville. With CMA Fest performer Ashley McBryde and Bonnaroo veterans Boy Named Banjo, the early afternoon concert marked the start of a busy weekend in the city. An exclusive group of industry VIPs was treated to top-notch performances backed by a views of the city and a Bloody Mary bar courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka.

Musicians On Call Celebrates Chicago Expansion

Pictured (L-R): Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President; Lindsay Ell; Steve Stewart, iHeartRadio’s Big 95.5 Program Director and Mid-day On Air Talent; Kevin O’Toole, Musicians On Call Board Member. Photo: Troy Gueno, iHeartRadio

Musicians On Call kicked off its Chicago launch with a special celebration featuring Stoney Creek Records recording artist Lindsay Ell. The event, presented by Genentech, a member of the Roche group, was held at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street and hosted by iHeartRadio’s Big 95.5 Program Director and Mid-day On Air Talent, Steve Stewart.

Black River Entertainment Adds Dave Dame To Radio Promotions Team

/by

Dave Dame

Black River Entertainment Sr. VP of Radio Promotion Mike Wilson has announced the hiring of Dave Dame as Director of Radio Promotion West Coast.

“I have known Dave for years. He has great relationships with his stations and will be a fine addition to the Black River team,” says Wilson.

Dame arrives at Black River Entertainment with 23 years of experience in radio promotion from Sony Music Entertainment, specifically with Arista Records and BNA/Columbia Records. During that time, he worked singles to radio for Kenny Chesney, Brooks and Dunn, and Alan Jackson. Most recently, Dame worked with Show Dog Nashville.

“I’m very excited to join Mike and his Black River team. I have known and worked with Mike for many years,” says Dame. “I get to play this incredible music from these exciting artists for my friends at radio. This is going to be great fun, and I can’t wait.”

Reporting to Mike Wilson, Dame is officially on board beginning today, Monday, June 12, and is based out of Yorba Linda, California. Dame joins the newly added Theresa Ford, who also begins today. Dame can be reached at [email protected] and Ford at [email protected].

Grand Ole Opry Adds Wednesday Night Shows To Summer Schedule

/by

The Grand Ole Opry will add nine weeks of Wednesday night shows to its schedule, beginning June 14 and running through Aug. 9, in addition to the Opry’s Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday performances on the show calendar.

Wednesday shows start this week with Grammy-winning Opry members Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Riders In the Sky, and Ricky Skaggs, as well as Charlie Worsham, CeCe Winans, and more. Winans, who made her Opry debut earlier this year, is scheduled to return each Wednesday throughout June as part of her celebration of Black Music Month.

Among others scheduled for Wednesday shows later in the summer are Charlie Daniels Band, Eli Young Band, Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, Thompson Square, A Thousand Horses, Josh Turner, and Rhonda Vincent.

For more, visit opry.com.

Ty Herndon Holds Second Annual Concert For Love And Acceptance In Nashville

/by

Cody Alan and Ty Herndon at the Second Annual 2017 Concert for Love and Acceptance Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Ty Herndon’s second annual 2017 Concert for Love and Acceptance on Thursday night (June 8) featured an evening filled with entertainment from a wide variety of musicians and celebrities that attended to support Nashville’s at-risk youth. Joining Herndon for the event, which was hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan, were Billy Gilman, Kree Harrison, Ryan Kinder, Runaway June, Michael Ray, Street Corner Symphony, Thompson Square, Trent Harmon, Mickey Guyton, comedian Dana Goldberg, Noah Guthrie, Ken Block of Sister Hazel, Kingston, former Everyday Sunday member Trey Pearson, and European pop artist Bastian Baker, who became the first international artist to participate in the event.

Herndon created this event last year when his 20th anniversary fan club party turned into a gathering to help support Nashville’s at-risk youth. The driving force behind the benefit is his desire to foster positive cultural change, encourage Nashville’s youth to live to their fullest potential, and to celebrate tolerance, love and acceptance for everyone. CMT hosted as the concert’s media partner, in collaboration with GLAAD, and local sponsors included Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Wade Weissmann Architecture, and Retief Skin Center. Proceeds from the event went to benefit Nashville’s Oasis Center.

Michael Ray performs at the Second Annual 2017 Concert for Love and Acceptance

Billy Gilman performs at the Second Annual 2017 Concert for Love and Acceptance