Harry Styles 2018 Tour Openers Include Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Warpaint

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Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves

Harry Styles has been burning up the Top 200 sales chart with his self-titled solo album, moving 193,000 in traditional album sales when his album made its debut the week of May 12.

Now Styles, who first rose to fame as a member of boy band One Direction, will welcome a trio of artists including Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, and Warpaint to open several of his upcoming shows in 2018.

Musgraves will join tour stops at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (6/12), Dallas’ American Airlines Center (6/5), Houston’s Toyota Center (6/7),  New York City’s Madison Square Garden (6/21), and Los Angeles’ The Forum (7/13), among other stops.

For a full list of tour dates, visit hstyles.co.uk.

Dismas House Sells 16th Avenue South Property In Nashville

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The Dismas House has sold its headquarters and transitional housing center on 16th Ave South for $1.85 million according to the Tennessean. The nonprofit is moving to new offices on Charlotte Ave., but under terms of the sale can remain at the 16th Ave. headquarters for up to 18 months. The owner of the adjacent property at 1507 16th Ave. has purchased the property, which is comprised of 2 lots and includes 20,000 square feet and is designed for mixed office and multi-family use.

The property includes a 3,928 square foot home constructed in 1920 with beautiful hardwood interiors. The listing information with Cherry & Associates stated the property could be subdivided as a residence available for renovation and conversion to an office on a 10,000-plus square foot lot and a 10,000 square foot-plus vacant lot.

Dismas, a provider of housing and programs for ex-offenders, plans to build a new 46-room, 23,000 square foot home with 76 beds near the Lentz Public Health Center that will provide programs and accommodations for its residents.

In Pictures: Carrie Underwood, Michael Ray, LANCO, Craig Campbell, Lewis Brice, Lee Brice

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Carrie Underwood And Fans Get Preds Pride

Carrie Underwood celebrates during her annual fan club party. Photo: Jeff Johnson [Click to enlarge photo]

Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood hosted a party for her official fan club at the Grand Ole Opry House on Tuesday (June 6). The exclusive event for fan club members included a private performance, a raffle for prizes, and a photo with Underwood inside the Opry’s famed circle of wood. Fans were given Nashville Predators’ rally towels and celebrated the Predator’s latest win in the Stanley Cup Finals series in a group photo with Underwood.

 

Michael Ray Helps Officially Open First Tennessee Park Twitter Vending Machine

Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray joined the Nashville Sounds’ Booster and officials from First Tennessee Bank today to officially open the First Tennessee Park Twitter Vending Machine at Opry Mills Mall. The machine, located at Entry 5 outside Madame Tussauds, will vend random prizes to users who “Tweet for a Treat” between now and June 21.

Ray entertained the crowd with an acoustic set including his hits “Kiss You in the Morning” and “Think a Little Less,” took photographs with fans and signed giveaway items from the machine.

 

LANCO’s “Greatest Love Story” Gets Mural Treatment

Arista Nashville band LANCO celebrated a new interactive mural featuring their current single, “Greatest Love Story.” The mural, located in Nashville’s 12 South neighborhood, includes 3D spray-painted images including a replication of Paris’ Love Lock Bridge. Nashville visitors can chalk-in their own names on the mural’s locks through October.

 

Craig Campbell Hosts Charity Events To Raise Funds For Colorectal Cancer Research

Pictured (first row, L-R):  Jerrod Niemann, Trent Harmon, Mindy and Craig Campbell, Nascar driver Scott Lagasse, Jr.; (second row): Michael Ray, Keifer and Shawna Thompson (Thompson Square), Parmalee’s Matt Thomas, Scott Thomas, Barry Knox and Josh McSwain; (third row): Winning bidder Glen Templeton, Jackie Lee, Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson and emcee Eddie Garcia (“The Bobby Bones Show”). Photo: Xpressive Images By Jamie

Red Bow Records’ country artist Craig Campbell hosted the 5th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge and 3rd One Million Strong Benefit in Nashville, TN on Tuesday (June 6). Also a Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) national spokesperson, he started this campaign to bring awareness to the disease that killed his father at age 36.  Both events combined raised over $180,000 for colorectal cancer education, research and prevention.

Lewis Brice Hosts Seventh Annual Lewispalooza

Pictured (L-R): Singer/songwriters Jerrod Niemann, Michael Ray, Drew Dixon, Jimmy Stanley, Kristen Kelly, Lewis Brice, Lee Brice, artist managers Lee Willard, Norman Jacob, Zach Farnum and singer/songwriter Jon Stone of American Young. Photo: Mindy Small/Getty Images

The seventh annual Lewispalooza was held on June 6 outside Tin Roof Demonbreun and raised funds for Hope Song, a non-profit using music to help give cancer patients hope. Lewis Brice and friends played host to a crowd of fans and industry alike through the nearly six-hour concert.

Performing guests included Jerrod Niemann, Michael Ray, American Young, Love and Theft, Kristen Kelly and many more. Lee Brice showed up for a special performance of his new single “Boy” during Niemann’s set.

Artist Updates: Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Jessie James Decker, Gretchen Wilson, Striking Matches

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Kelsea Ballerini Releases New Single

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini released a new single, “Legends,” from her highly anticipated second album, to radio this morning (June 7). The song—an anthem of storybook love penned by Ballerini with Forest Glen Whitehead and Hillary Lindsey—is available today on all digital streaming and sales platforms. She’ll debut the track live tonight at the CMT Music Awards.

 

Thomas Rhett Extends Partnership With Budweiser

Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett has extended his partnership with Budweiser, and will take part in the brand’s latest commercial. The singer-songwriter and Budweiser first teamed for his 2016 tour.

“Budweiser has some of the most iconic commercials of all time, so it’s pretty awesome to actually be in one,” says Thomas Rhett. “It’s cool that we get to toast America together with all the fans this summer and fall on our Home Team Tour.”

 

 

Jessie James Decker To Release Live EP

Epic Records (Sony) singer/songwriter Jessie James Decker will release her live project, Blackbird Sessions EP this Friday, June 9. Recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Blackbird Sessions features live covers of several of Decker’s favorite songs. The five-track project includes remakes of Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain,” along with a stripped rendition of “Girl On The Coast” from her recently released EP, Gold.

 

New Gretchen Wilson Album Coming In June

Following a three-year hiatus from touring and releasing new music, Gretchen Wilson will release Ready To Get ROWDY on June 16 via Redneck Records. Wilson reunited with producer Blake Chancey, the 12-track album features Wilson’s writing credits on every song. The album is available for presale now at iTunes.

 

Striking Matches To Preview New Music With Nashville Shows

Two years after teaming with producer T Bone Burnett for their debut album Nothing But The Silence, and contributing nine songs to the television show Nashville, duo Striking Matches returns to Music City for two shows at The Basement, slated for June 12 and June 13, to debut new music.

This time, the duo teamed with producer Kennedy, known for work with Silver Sun Pickups, for their recently-completed sophomore album, due on Capitol Records later this year. The new album incorporates the duo’s blues and pop influences.

Country Music Association Names VP, Marketing

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Lizzie Daniel

The Country Music Association has named a new VP, Marketing. In her new role, Lizzie Daniel will provide strategic leadership to CMA’s marketing, media planning, creative services, digital initiatives, and international strategies, including content development and distribution planning.

Daniel will report to CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside.

“I am excited to welcome Lizzie to the team at CMA,” said Whiteside. “Lizzie has a proven track record of building long term strategic relationships with her vibrant spirit and passion for creating and launching innovative and compelling digital, marketing, technology, media, and partnership programs. On top of that, she has a warm personality, great sense of humor, and she will be a great leader and team member at CMA.”

She previously served as VP of Brand Solutions at Tinder/Match Group, which includes 40+ properties including Match, OKCupid and more. She was promoted twice over her almost three years at Match Group building a sales team from three to 11 in the first year. Daniel launched the first native ad solutions on Tinder partnering with Anheuser Busch’s Bud Light and Wrigley’s Orbit Gum for the first campaigns.

Her previous career stops include Luxury Advertising Sales Director for online boutique/shoppable magazine Editorialist, Advertising Manager for Rolling Stone, and Promotions & Style Advertising Director for Nashville Lifestyles. Her career has also included time at Dreamworks Records, iHeart/Clear Channel Communications and Mercury Records.

“Joining CMA is a lifelong career dream come true. I am thrilled to join such an iconic association that impacts lives and gives back to the community through music education while creating engaging content and performances by artists through CMA’s core initiatives,” stated Daniel. “I look forward to collaborating with everyone in the industry and especially working with such exceptional leaders as Sarah Trahern and Damon Whiteside.”

Jake Owen, Old Dominion, RaeLynn Perform At Pandora’s Sounds Like Country Event

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Jake Owen performs onstage during the Pandora Sounds Like Country at Marathon Music Works on June 6 in Nashville. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Pandora Media)

Pandora held its third annual Sounds Like Country event Tuesday night (June 6) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works leading up to the CMA Music Festival and the CMT Music Awards. Jake Owen, Old Dominion, and RaeLynn Performed for the crowd at the event. Today’s Country is the second most-played station on Pandora and 55 million of Pandora listeners have listened to country on Pandora in the past year. Jake Owen, who is in the 99th percentile of all artists in Pandora station adds, has more than 1.7 billion total spins on Pandora.

Brett Tursi and Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion perform onstage during Pandora Sounds Like Country at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Pandora Media)

RaeLynn (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Pandora Media)

Jason Aldean Reveals Post-CMT Awards Pop-Up Show

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Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean will pay tribute to the late Gregg Allman as part of tonight’s CMT Music Awards, but after the show, the country entertainer will put on a full-band show for free at Nashville’s Walk of Fame park. The concert will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. CT.

Walk of Fame park is located across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is currently featuring Aldean’s exhibit Jason Aldean: Asphalt Cowboy. The exhibit runs through Nov. 5.

Aldean is nominated for Male Video of the Year (“Lights Come On”) and CMT Performance of the Year (“Hicktown” from CMT Concert of the Summer).

Top Music Executives, Creatives Honored At Inaugural Innovation In Music Awards

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Pictured (L-R) back: David Macias, J.R. Schumann, Brian O’Connell, Mike McVay, and Gogi Gupta; (front): Leslie Fram, John Esposito, and Bobby Bones. Not pictured: Shane McAnally. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Innovation in Music Awards

Several of Nashville’s top music executives were on hand for Tuesday evening’s (June 6) inaugural Innovation In Music Awards ceremony, held at The Westin Nashville. Awards founder and Cold River Records leader Pete O’Heeron welcomed guests before introducing host for the evening, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus.

The evening’s lengthy list of honorees include Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, Cumulus Media/Westwood One’s Mike McVay, Thirty Tigers’ David Macias, SMACKSongs’ Shane McAnally, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell, CMT’s Leslie Fram, iHeartMedia’s Bobby Bones, Gupta Media’s Gogi Gupta, SiriusXM’s J.R. Schumann, and radio recipients Tim Roberts (WYCD/ Major Market), Bev Rainey (KBQI/Medium Market), and Kory James (KPLM/Small Market). According to O’Heeron, the inaugural class of winners will be part of the process in selecting next year’s Innovation In Music honorees.

Two other individuals were recognized with a “Makes Shit Happen” (MSH) award, alternatively named the “Makes Stuff Happen” award; an award that honors individuals who are known as hard working, dedicated, and exemplifying that of a forward thinker. This year’s MSH awards went to Gregg Swedberg of KEEY/Minneapolis and Tony Grotticelli of Universal Music Group Nashville.

CMT’s Leslie Fram, recipient of the Innovation In Music, National Media honor, is known for being a champion of female artists. Fram launched both CMT’s Women of Country franchise, and with fellow industry executives Tracy Gershon and Beverly Keel, launched the Change The Conversation series to initiate discussions regarding the obstacles for female artists and songwriters in the music industry. This night, she again championed a female artist, by giving up her award acceptance time slot to allow UMG Nashville artist Mickey Guyton to perform.

Guyton offered a cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow,” a nod to Fram’s early career work in rock radio, where she was the first to play songs from Arcade Fire, Shawn Mullins, White Stripes, and more.

KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards honored Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell, the evening’s Live/Touring category winner. She offered heartfelt remarks from watching O’Connell’s passion for touring and for artists. “I would watch him get this great whiteboard and watch him map out city after city, and artist after artist. He started numerous festivals, and has made each of them a brand within themselves,” she said, as O’Connell brought a round of laughter from the audience as he lit a cigarette onstage. “They can’t stop me from smoking here,” he quipped.

Rod Phillips recalled how Innovation In Music, National Radio recipient Bobby Bones failed to tell him that he would be playing “Buy Me A Boat,” a single by Chris Janson, a charismatic singer-songwriter largely unknown outside of Nashville circles.

“Playing that song made a career, and we made Chris an ‘On The Verge’ Artist,” recalled Phillips. Janson went on to sign with Warner Music Nashville, led by fellow Innovation In Music honoree John Esposito.

Performers during the evening included Warner Nashville’s Hunter Hayes, Warner Nashville/300 Entertainment’s Bailey Bryan, Cold River Records’ Drew Baldridge, and Monument Records artist Walker Hayes. In addition to a solo performance, Hayes was joined by songwriter Josh Osborne to honor McAnally, the Innovation in Music, Artist & Creative honoree, with a medley of McAnally’s songs, including “Follow Your Arrow,” “Alone With You,” “Different For Girls,” and more. Kristian Bush offered an inspirational speech on the risks and fearlessness required to be a true innovator and creator.

Brett Eldredge was on hand to honor Innovator of the Year honoree, Esposito.

“I was the first artist that John signed to Warner. I had dinner with him at The Palm and that dinner was by far one of the most important meetings of my life,” Eldredge said. “I knew this guy would do things for me that no one else would, so I love you for that, brother. One of my biggest inspirations is Frank Sinatra. Not a lot of country artists love Frank Sinatra, but this is my passion. He happened to love the same. We’ve drank gallons of whiskey through the years together and traveled across the country and it’s been amazing. You do amazing things for not only me but so many artists. You take risks and that’s what it takes. You follow your heart and your heart is music.”

In closing the ceremony, O’Heeron promised that the awards show’s auspicious inaugural year is only the beginning, and that he hopes to grow the event into a multi-day affair. “We want to be the SXSW of Nashville,” he summed.

Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs Pay Homage To Jimmy Dickens, Bill Monroe With Ryman Unveilings

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Pictured (L-R): Brad Paisley and Mona Dickens
Photo: Jon-Paul Bruno

Brad Paisley and Ricky Skaggs honored two of country and bluegrass music’s greatest luminaries Wednesday morning (June 7) when Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium unveiled two bronze statues of Jimmy Dickens and Bill Monroe.

The Jimmy Dickens statue sits on the Ryman Plaza, just outside the auditorium’s main entrance. The Monroe statue sits near the corner of Fifth Avenue. Both statues were crafted by Ben Watts.

Bill Cody, of WSM’s Coffee Country and Cody, emceed both unveilings outside the Ryman Auditorium, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.

In introducing Dickens’ sculpture, Paisley quipped, “My first question when I heard about this was, ‘Is this life-size, or did they exaggerate it so we can see it?  This is a man whose tenure in our format is an amazing achievement in itself, but we can’t forget how important he was to country music as we know it.

“This was a man who was honing his craft before Hank Williams, who we sort of credit as the father of modern country music in many ways,” Paisley continued. “He saw everything in those decades that he stood on that stage, like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn and Garth Brooks. By the time Jimmy left us, he had become the Grand Ole Opry. On a night that he wasn’t there, you were cheated out of something and he knew that. He realized when he was well enough to do it, he went. He knew that he owed it to the younger generation that wanted to see him, it was another lesson in how you entertain people. He gave them everything that he had on that stage and in this building for many many years. So I think it’s really appropriate that he’s going to be one of the statues that’s a permanent reminder of what we should be in this building.”

West Virginia native Dickens began his career singing on radio station WOLS in Beckly, West Virginia, while attending University of West Virginia. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1948. In 1964, Dickens became the first country artist to completely circle the globe on a world tour. That same year, he released “May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” which topped the country charts and reached No. 15 on the pop charts.

Dickens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. He passed away on Jan. 2, 2015. Before his death, he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry, and was often seen backstage and onstage, greeting fellow artists and entertaining fans.

Dickens’ wife Mona attended the statue’s unveiling.

Ricky Skaggs . Photo: Terry Wyatt / Getty Images

WSM 650 AM went on air in 1925, when Monroe, who would become the Father of Bluegrass, was 12 years old. Cody recalled Monroe as joking, “WSM, they named that after me. William Smith Monroe.” The WSM was actually named after “We Shield Millions,” the slogan of the National Life and Accident Insurance company, which founded WSM 650 AM.

“I don’t know if you ever get another Bill Monroe in this century,” Skaggs said. “There are not a lot of people that I know that can be cited as creating a whole new genre of music—but he did. He had the ear to hear, the talent to play it, and the heart to keep it alive. He was copied many times but he was the original.”

In the 1920s, Monroe and his brothers Birch and Charlie formed a band and played until the late 1930s. In 1938, he formed the Blue Grass Boys, a group that launched the careers of musicians including Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, Stringbean, Sony Osborne and more. Monroe was 28 when he joined the Grand Ole Opry cast in 1939. By the 1940s, he began adding lyrics to the melodies, creating classics including “Uncle Pen” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Monroe was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.

“I want to tip my hat to WSM 650,” Skaggs said. “50,000 watts blast furnace that blasted this music out in the 1940s because when Earl Scruggs joined Bill Monroe’s band in 1945, Mr. Monroe had Lester Flatt, Chubby Wise and Howard Watts in the band. But when Stringbean left to start his comedy act and solo act, they needed a banjo player and Earl Scruggs, this player who had fire in his right hand, he didn’t create the style but he perfected it. As soon as Mr. Monroe heard that, that I think it all clicked. When that combination came together, it was like the fab five before there was a fab four. They went to Chicago to make those historic recordings for Columbia in 1946, but they weren’t released, until way after Flatt and Scruggs had left the band. So the only way you could hear this music was to listen to the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. It was here the music was birthed.”

Monroe’s performing career spanned 69 years before he died on Sept. 9, 1996 – just shy of his 85th birthday.

Photo: Steve Lowry/Ryman Archives

Photo: Steve Lowry/Ryman Archives

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Nashville Gears Up For CMA Music Festival

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Tamara Saviano with Belmont University’s Dr. Don Cusic

Chapter 562

The CMA Music Festival doesn’t officially start until Thursday, but it has been already sputtering to life for several days.

The CMA, itself, tossed a pre-fest cocktail party last Friday afternoon (6/2). On Saturday, the International Country Music Conference concluded with a picnic co-hosted by participants Jewly Hight and Barry Mazor. Working that back yard were Rolling Stone Country’s Jon Freeman, ICMC award winners Tamara Saviano and  David Cantwell and NPR music queen Ann Powers, among others.

On Monday (6/5), CAA hosted its annual, star-sprinkled barbecue at its downtown offices. Devin Dawson, Seth Ennis and Cale Dodds clowned for Getty Images. Simultaneously, Florida Georgia Line cut the ribbon on its FGL House on 3rd Avenue South. It’s a four-story restaurant and entertainment destination with a rooftop bar.

The pre-fest event on Tuesday (6/6) was the annual Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) picnic held at Fannie Mae Dees Park (Hillsboro Village’s “Dragon” park, as it is popularly known). This event had the distinction of being the first of the week to feature live music.

FGL House Rooftop. Photo: John Shearer / Getty Images

The Martin Family Circus was the entertainment. This band certainly has a pedigree. Papa Paul Martin is an alumnus of Exile. Mama Jamie Martin is the daughter of Oak Ridge Boy Duane Allen and of Nora Lee Allen, who leads the Opry’s vocal backup group. Daughters Tallent, 9, and Texas, 11, alternate singing lead. Sons Kell, 15, and March, 18, provide vocal and instrumental support, as do their parents. All of them seem to have flawless ears for harmony singing.

The group’s exuberant, feel-good set included The Swan Silvertones black-gospel arrangement of “Mary Don’t You Weep.” In honor of attendee Fred Vail, who used to manage The Beach Boys, the group did harmony-soaked renditions of “In My Room” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” They closed with a lively, endearing take on “I Want You Back” by The Jackson Five. The group also sings country. Its fitting billing is “music that makes you smile.”

Smiling away were Zach Farnum, Ed Salamon, Jim Bruce, Bonnie Sugarman, Blake McDaniel, Dick Beacham, Rod & Jennifer Harris, Charlene Carter, Randy Perkins, Ray Shelide, Chaz Corzine, Tammy Johnson and Robert Williams. Grilling the weenies and flipping the burgers were the quipping comedy duo The Professor & The Bull. Other artists in attendance included the band Savannah Jack, singer Allison Hendrick and Channel 2 newsperson Stephanie Langston.