Riser House Inks Distribution Deal With Sony RED

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(L-R:) Stephanie Hudacek (Soundly), Jennifer Johnson (Riser House)
Back L-R: Samantha Cantu (Soundly), Jason VanAuken (Riser House), Kristen Ashley (Riser House), Dewayne Brown (RED), Megan Schultz (Riser House), Lexi Sutherland (Riser House)

Riser House Entertainment and Sony RED Music have joined forces in a global distribution deal for both digital and physical distribution. Riser House Records artist Mitchell Tenpenny will release the team’s first EP Linden Ave on July 14.

“Dewayne Brown and the Sony RED team have been excellent partners during our launch period,” says Riser House Records President Jennifer Johnson. “They have provided a wealth of knowledge in every facet of our building page. Stephanie Hudacek at Soundly Music is a force. If you don’t know her; you should.”

“We at Sony Red Music Entertainment are very proud to be in partnership with Jennifer Johnson and Riser House along with Stephanie Hudacek and Soundly Music for distribution of all future and present content,” says Sony RED Label & Artist Distribution and Development’s Dewayne Brown. “We feel that these two women hold the future as the new face of country music in Nashville.”

Riser House opened in October 2016, and has also worked with singer-songwriters including Michael Whitworth and Dallas Wilson.

 

Chris Tomlin Heads To Red Rocks, MercyMe Adds Lifer Dates

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Chris Tomlin To Rock Red Rocks Once Again

Chris Tomlin will head back to Denver’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater Wednesday, Sept. 6 for “Chris Tomlin: Worship At Red Rocks.” Expected to sell out as his previous Red Rocks dates have, tickets for the special night of worship will be available for pre-sale for a limited time beginning June 1 at 10 a.m. CST until June 2 at 10 a.m. CST using the pre-sale password “tomlin.” The official on-sale date is June 2.  Tickets will be available at christomlin.com. 

“Red Rocks is like no other venue in the world,” Tomlin said. “There’s nothing quite like singing to God while being surrounded by the beauty of His creation.”

 

MercyMe Adds East Coast Leg To Lifer Tour

MercyMe is adding an East Coast trek/second leg to their “Lifer Tour” in October. The group will hit 14 markets from Oct. 7–29, performing fan favorites such as “I Can Only Imagine,” “Flawless,” “Greater” and more, including their current chart-topper “Even If” which has been a continuous No. 1 mainstay on the Christian radio charts. Joining the tour will be radio favorites Ryan Stevenson and Unspoken.

“Lifer Tour”
* All dates subject to change.
October 7 – Reading, PA
October 8 – Cleveland, OH
October 12 – Evansville, IN
October 13 – Appleton, WI
October 14 – Peoria, IL
October 15 – Rosemont, IL
October 19 – Troy, OH
October 20 – Jamestown, NY
October 21 – Rochester, NY
October 22 – Binghampton, NY
October 26 – Jacksonville, FL
October 27 – TBA
October 28 – Pompano Beach, FL
October 29 – TBA

DISClaimer: Glen Campbell, Beyond The Sun, Harper Grae Offer Summery New Tracks

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There is something kinda breezy and summery about this week’s stack of platters.

The numbers by Derek Johnson, The Pistol Annies, Brantley Gilbert and Hadley Park all have this open-air vibe.

So do the sounds of our three award winners. Glen Campbell wins the Disc of the Day award with his wafting remake of “Everybody’s Talkin.’ Locked in a tie for the DisCovery Award are the equally breezy Beyond the Sun and Harper Grae.

BEYOND THE SUN/Cruisin’ ‘Round Town
Writers: Colin Radu/Phil Radu/Dalton Radu; Producer: Dalton Radu; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BTS
– This is a Canadian brother trio. Their debut single is a summertime, bob-that-head, anthem. It is also super tuneful and wildly addictive. The bro’s have recently moved to Music City. If the rest of their songs are this good, roll out a great big welcome mat.

GLEN CAMPBELL/Everybody’s Talkin’
Writers: Fred Neil; Producer: Carl Jackson; Publishers: none listed; UMe
– Let’s face it: the Nilsson 1969 original hit with this sounded exactly like a Glen Campbell record. So it goes without saying that song fits Glen like a glove. His flawless performance is matched by a production by his former sideman Carl Jackson that places every note from every instrument in exactly the right place. Daughter Ashley Campbell’s banjo notes ripple through the entire thing beautifully. This is the lead track of a fantastic collection titled Adios. It will be released a week from Friday during CMA Fest as the final album from this legendary artist.

 

BEN BOSTICK/Independence Day Eve
Writers: Ben Bostick; Producer: John Would/Ben Bostick; Publishers: none listed; Simply Fantastic
– Bostick makes a good living busking on the Santa Monica Pier. He describes himself as an “outsider” country artist. His upcoming full-length CD debut leads off with this stately ballad of alienation. Urgent sounding.

TIM BENNETT/As Long As You’re Buying
Writer: Tim Bennett; Producer: Tim Bennett; Publishers: Big Sky, ASCAP; Sandy Beach
– The band sounds like a group of amateurs. His singing voice is weak, at best.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Valory Music
– Churning, charging, clanging midtempo excitement with mucho electric guitar grinding. I still think he has one of the coolest voices around.

DOAK SNEAD/Each Day Like It’s The Last Day
Writer: Snead; Producers: Snead/Kelley Sallee Snead; Publishers: Doak Snead, BMI; Hear Say (track)
– Catalogue is an album that compiles Nashville songwriter Snead’s demos recorded between 1991 and the present. This sparse, thoughtful, philosophical ballad dates from 2009. His conversational delivery connects emotionally, more than making up for his vocal limitations.

THE PISTOL ANNIES/Tulsa Time
Writer: Danny Flowers; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publishers: none listed; Slate Creek (track)
– Gentle Giants is a tribute CD to the great Don Williams. The cast is superb — Garth, Trisha, Brandy Clark, Lady A, John Prine, Keb Mo, Dierks and Chris Stapleton, for starters. The collection kicks off with a sprightly take on this toe tapper by Miranda, Ashley and Angaleena. Buy this righteous album.

 

DEREK JOHNSON/Real Cool, Kinda Hot
Writers: Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publishers: none listed, BMI/SESAC; Applause (CDX)
– He’s got a backwoods accent you could cut with a knife. The song is a peppy hillbilly ditty that name-checks beer, pickup truck, camo clothes and a bunch of other cliches. But in its goofy way, it is utterly irresistible.

HADLEY PARK/Another Bottle Of Wine
Writers: Courtney Dashe/Morgan Leigh Garner; Producer: Hadley Park; Publishers: No Bull About It/Morgan Leigh Garner, BMI/ASCAP; HP (track)
– Have raved about this female duo before. Its current single/video is a witty, tongue-in-cheek ditty that kisses off an ex in a dishy gal-to-gal conversation. I am told that their songs are eagerly sought after by big-name artists, and I can certainly hear why.

HARPER GRAE/Free
Writers: Harper Grae/Femke Weidema; Producer: Josh Barker/Ethan Brewington; Publishers: Oliver Ann Music/Femke Music (BMI/ASCAP); Oliver Ann Records
– Very cool sounding. It has a gospel-y vibe of a melody, and her vocal is loaded with personality. Best of all, is an outstanding production that incorporates hand claps, thudding-stark percussion, churchy piano chords, a celebratory chorus of backup vocalists and mandolin twittering. Essential listening.

Industry Ink: Photographer Ed Rode, Black River Entertainment, Webster PR, TSA Precheck

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Photographer Ed Rode To Celebrate Songwriting Legends At Bluebird Cafe

Willie Nelson by Ed Rode

Photographer Ed Rode has captured countless moments with music’s top songwriters during his 37-year career. His upcoming exhibit at the Bluebird Cafe (his second installation of his photos at the revered music venue), which opens Friday, June 2, will feature photographs from his upcoming book project Songwriters & Musicians.

Rode was the first photographer to be featured in an extended photo exhibit at the venue back in 1993. The images Rode selected for the walls of The Bluebird Cafe zoom in on many of the most beloved figures in songwriting and country music including:Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson and more.

On Friday, June 2, 2017 beginning at 6:30 p.m., Ed Rode will officially unveil his new photography exhibit. A round featuring Tony Arata, Kendell Marvel and Danny Myrick will follow.

 

Black River Entertainment Hires Director of Radio Promotion SE

Theresa Ford

Black River Entertainment has hired Theresa Ford as Director of Radio Promotion SE.

Ford, a Washington, D.C. native, moved to Nashville in 1990 to begin her career in the music business. She first landed a position with RCA Records as Promotion Coordinator, where she and Wilson began working together. She also worked for several years as the Director of Regional Promotion SE for Lyric Street Records.

Reporting to SVP of Radio Promotion Mike Wilson, Ford is officially on board beginning Monday, June 12 and is based out of Greenville, SC. At that time, Ford may be reached at [email protected].

 

Webster Public Relations Adds Deborah Allen, Lacy J. Dalton To Roster

Lacy J. Dalton, Deborah Allen

Webster Public Relations has added entertainers Lacy J. Dalton and Deborah Allen to the firm’s roster for publicity representation.

First hitting the Country Top-40 in 1979 with “Crazy Blue Eyes,” Dalton was one the most successful female vocalists of the format during the 80s with such hits as “Takin’ It Easy,” “Hillbilly Girl With The Blues,” “Black Coffee,” and the CMA-nominated anthem “16th Avenue.” During her career, she has collaborated with such Country Music Hall of Fame members as Bobby Bare, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. Her most recent recorded work was a tribute album to Hank Williams entitled Here’s To Hank. Dalton is a 2017 inductee of the North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Allen has worked with Tennessee Ernie Ford and Roy Orbison before becoming a regular on a prime-time variety series hosted by Jim Stafford. After earning a solo record deal with RCA, she recorded one of the biggest crossover hits of the 1980s with “Baby I Lied.” She also has penned songs for acts ranging from John Conlee to LeAnn Rimes, and recorded one of Prince’s compositions, “Telepathy.” Currently, Allen is hosting a short form radio and TV vignette which is airing on Fox affiliates across the country.

 

TSA Precheck To Bring Mobile RV To CMA Music Festival

IdentoGo’s TSA Precheck will be available to those attending CMA Music Festival next week, to enroll attendees and local residents in TSA Precheck June 8-11. The TSA Precheck will be located on 4th Ave. S. across from the Hilton Hotel and open to the public from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

For a full list of acceptable documentation for enrollment click here. Festival attendees and residents are welcome to walk-up or schedule an appointment in advance here.

 

Eaglemont Entertainment’s Jeff Berry Ventures Out With Courage

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Eaglemont Entertainment head Jeff Berry has launched his own management firm, Courage Management. Berry spent a decade partnering with Centricity Music, and will now guide the careers of Jason Gray, Stars Go Dim, David Dunn, Carrollton, and Grayson|Reed.

“I moved to town nine years ago with a dream to start a management company,” Berry says.  “For the last 10 years, I’ve been fortunate to work with an amazing group of people at Centricity, to learn from some of the best music executives in the business like John Mays and Steve Ford – and to be around great artists. What a gift that has been! Now I feel it’s the right time to start my own venture and to attempt to put into practice the generous lessons I’ve learned during this past season!”

Rounding out the team at Courage are Jordan Greiner and Angilee Smith, both who have served with Berry at Eaglemont and will join him in this new venture.

Berry received his MBA from Baylor University, and after teaching Economics and Entrepreneurship in the Business school at Baylor, founded CrossWind Ministries in 1994. For 11 years, he helped direct Grace Bible Study, a non-denominational bible-study for college students in Abilene and later served as an adjunct professor in the Music Business program at Dallas Baptist University. He joined forces with Centricity in Nashville in 2007 to begin an artist management division and work to develop new artists. During his tenure he developed a wide range of artists including Lauren Daigle and country group High Valley.

Vince Gill To Join The Eagles For Classic East, Classic West Festivals

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Vince Gill

Vince Gill‘s sterling tenor and exquisite guitar work have made him a preferred collaborator for artists in many genres, including Sting, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Reba, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Krauss, Phil Everly, Diana Krall, and The Del McCoury Band to name a few, not to mention his own early days as a part of pop band Pure Prairie League.

Now, Gill will join The Eagles for their shows at The Classic West on July 15-16 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, as well as The Classic East on July 29-30 at Citi Field in New York. He will be joined by Deacon Frey, the eldest son of Eagles founder Glenn Frey, who died in January 2016. It is planned to have Gill singing the late Frey’s hits.

Gill has long had ties with the band.

In December 2016, Gill performed in honor of the The Eagles at the Kennedy Center, a performance the Los Angeles Times reported gave the band the idea to have Gill join. Further, in 1993 Gill covered The Eagles’ “I Can’t Tell You Why” on the multi-artist tribute album The Common Thread: Songs Of The Eagles and in 2016, Gill offered guitar and vocal credits on Don Henley’s solo project, Cass County. The Eagles’ Joe Walsh was also in attendance when Gill was inducted into the Guitar Center RockWalk in Los Angeles last year and came from the Kennedy Center Honors.

The Classic West (Los Angeles) will host the Eagles, Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers on Saturday, July 15 and Fleetwood Mac, Journey and Earth, Wind & Fire on Sunday, July 16.

The Classic East (New York) will host the Eagles, Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers on Saturday, July 29 and Fleetwood Mac, Journey and Earth, Wind & Fire on Sunday, July 30.    

Single-day tickets, starting at $99 for either The Classic East and The Classic West will be available at Ticketmaster.com beginning Monday, June 5 at 10 AM. A limited amount of 2-day tickets are available starting at $150. Reserved 2-Day Seat Ticket Packages and special 2-Day VIP packages, including premium tickets, pre-show VIP lounge, exclusive merchandise, parking and more, are still available.

Alan Jackson Plans Nashville Concert For Predators Fans Before Game 3

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The city and Predators fans are gearing up for the third game in the Stanley Cup Final series here at home on Saturday, and Alan Jackson will be joining in the excitement of the day with a free concert on Lower Broadway before the puck hits the ice for the 7 p.m. matchup.

Broadway Smash: Preds Party with a Purpose will open at 3:30 p.m.with Jackson taking the stage at 4:45 pm. in advance of the game, which will be shown on huge screens as the Predators take to the ice in Bridgestone Arena. The concert stage will be at Fifth and Broadway, facing the Cumberland River, and Broadway will be closed between Fifth Avenue and Third Avenue with screens placed on stage and around the event site. Predators mascot GNASH and the Predators Energy Team will be on hand for the fun, with food trucks on site, and sodas and beer on sale. Bottled water and hot dogs will also be available at low, family-friendly prices. Folding chairs and small bags will be permitted, but coolers, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed. For a complete list of house rules, visit  visitmusiccity.com/nashvillepredators.

“This is an exciting time for the Predators and the city of Nashville,” Jackson said. “As a fan, I’m proud to be included in their road to the Stanley Cup.”

Thousands of fans have turned out at the Music City Walk of Fame Park to view games throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and thousands more are expected to turn out for the upcoming home games of the Stanley Cup Final. Broadway Smash will also take place prior to the Game 4 home game on Monday, June 5.

“The Stanley Cup Final is the NHL’s biggest event, Nashville is country music’s biggest stage, and from Alan Jackson to the game itself, it doesn’t get bigger or better than having this type of first-class entertainment experience on Lower Broadway – one of the most iconic streets in the entertainment world,” said NHL Chief Content Officer and Executive Vice President Steve Mayer.