Lee Brice Teams With Charles Esten, Jerrod Niemann And More To Benefit Folds Of Honor

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Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Charles Esten, Tyler Farr.

Lee Brice recently launched his inaugural “Lee Brice & Friends Guitar Pull” (Sept. 10) and “Record Rack Celebrity Clays Shoot” (Sept. 11), to raise more than $100,000 for Folds of Honor, an organization that provides educational scholarships to families of military men and women who have fallen or have been disabled while on active duty in the United States armed forces.

On Sunday, Lee gathered friends Charles Esten, Jerrod Niemann, Tyler Farr, Tim Montana, Lucas Hoge, and Nick Norman along with Folds of Honor representatives, Major Ed Pulido and Ginger Gilbert Ravella for the Guitar Pull at Nashville’s City Winery. The event — sponsored by Diamond Coach and American Born Whiskey — was sold out.

Monday’s “Record Rack Celebrity Clays Shoot,” held at the Nashville Gun Club, included Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down), Ben Gallaher, Justin Biltonen (3 Doors Down), Lewis Brice, Keith Bulluck (Tennessee Titans), Craig Campbell, Naomi Cooke, Jim “Hacksaw” Duggan, Charles Esten, Rob Hatch, Chris Henderson (3 Doors Down), Lucas Hoge, Erin Oprea, Morgan Mills, Lance Miller, Tim Montana, Major Ed Pulido (Folds of Honor), Rich Ross, JD Shelburne and Storme Warren.

Lee commented, “I’m grateful and humbled by the support of my friends, sponsors and the incredible audience at City Winery who not only paid for tickets but participated in the silent auction. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of families who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

Pictured (L-R): Tyler Farr, Charles Esten, Ginger Gilbert Ravella, Lee Brice, Major Ed Pulido, Jerrod Niemann.

RIAA Gold & Platinum: August 2017

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For August 2017, the Recording Industry Association of America certified 184 Song Awards and 50 album awards. Several country albums from Lee Brice, Chris Young, Florida Georgia Line and Justin Moore were certified platinum, while more than 20 singles from Nashville-based artists earned gold status.

Multi-Platinum Single

Billy Currington, “Must Be Doin’ Something Right,” 2x Platinum

Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy,” 2x Platinum

Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know,” 2x Platinum

Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand,” 2x Platinum

Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” 2x Platinum

Luke Bryan, “Strip It Down,” 2x Platinum

Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town,” 3x Platinum

Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time,” 3x Platinum

Tim McGraw, “Humble and Kind,” 2x Platinum

 

Platinum Singles

Billy Currington, “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer”

Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”

Eric Church, “Record Year”

Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs”

Little Big Town, “Better Man”

Shania Twain, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”

 

Gold Single

Billy Currington, “That’s How Country Boys Roll”

Billy Currington, “Don’t It”

Billy Currington, “I Got A Feeling”

Billy Currington, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To”

Billy Currington, “Don’t”

Billy Currington, “Love Done Gone”

Chris Lane, “For Her”

Chris Young, “Sober Saturday Night” (ft. Vince Gill)

Eric Church, “Mr. Misunderstood”

Eric Church, “Kill A Word”

Florida Georgia Line, “Here’s To The Good Times”

Florida Georgia Line, “Tell Me How You Like It”

Keith Urban, “The Fighter”

Little Big Town, “Better Man”

Luke Bryan, “Fast”

Midland, “Drinkin’ Problem”

Newsboys, “We Believe”

Russell Dickerson, “Yours”

Sam Hunt, “Speakers”

Shania Twain, “That Don’t Impress Me Much”

Shania Twain, “From This Moment On”

Shania Twain, “Any Man Of Mine”

Thomas Rhett, “Craving You”

William Michael Morgan, “I Met A Girl”

 

Platinum Album

Chris Young, Neon

Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots

Justin Moore, Justin Moore

Justin Moore, Outlaws Like Me

Kip Moore, Up All Night

Lee Brice, Hard To Love

 

Gold Album

Brett Young, Brett Young

Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots

For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.

Jon Pardi, California Sunrise

Justin Moore, Off The Beaten Path

Kip Moore, Up All Night

 

 

 

NATD Launches Speaker Series With Rick Rekedal

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The Nashville Association of Talent Directors will present the first installment of NATD Speaker Series featuring Rick Rekedal on Thursday, Sept. 21 at ASCAP. The after-work event is open to the public and free to attend, but due to very limited seating, RSVPs will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis to [email protected].

“We are excited to debut the NATD Speaker Series with Rick Rekedal, a leader in the film industry,” said NATD board member, Chaz Corzine. “Rick enthralls his listeners while speaking about marketing and reaching a younger generation through various out-of-the-box ideas. We look forward to planning various Speaker Sessions throughout the year for our membership to attend.”

Rekedal has been with DreamWorks Animation as Chief Creative of Franchise Development for 20 years and is the global franchise director of the hit movie Trolls. Winner of two Annie Awards, two Kids Choice Awards and Toy of the Year, he began his career in the toy business before moving into family entertainment at DreamWorks Animation, with posts as head of licensing, interactive and online production before shifting into franchise development. A frequent speaker and lecturer, Rick serves on advisory boards for the Wedgwood Circle, the MWS Group and Belmont University’s film school. His book One Small Step is available through Amazon and local booksellers.

BMI Tunespeak Stage A Highlight Of LouFest

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Jonny P shows some soul on the BMI Tunespeak stage. Photo: Jason Gonulsen

BMI returned to LouFest last weekend for its fifth year of showcasing music’s hottest up-and-coming acts at the St. Louis festival. This year’s festival was attended by record breaking crowds, many of whom gathered at the BMI stage for performances from a stellar lineup of BMI artists including Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Lizzo, local favorites 18andCounting and Lollapalooza’s BMI stage veteran Ron Gallo.

In addition to the weekend’s performances, BMI also commemorated the weekend in a special way honoring the legacy of Chuck Berry. Prior to the festival’s star-studded Chuck Berry tribute, BMI Nashville’s Senior Director of Writer Publisher Relations David Preston presented Berry’s wife with three MillionAir awards.

Ron Gallo keeps it cool at the BMI Stage at LouFest. Photo: Jason Gonulsen

Charles Berry Jr. and Mrs. Chuck Berry accept three MillionAir awards on behalf of Chuck Berry from BMI’s David Preston

Pictured (L-R): Tunespeak’s Caitlyn Dum, Beau Dillard and Tom Pernikoff, BMI’s Nina Carter, Starwolf and BMI’s David Preston and Branden Bosler. Photo: Jason Gonulsen

Kip Moore, Tony Hawk Raise Funds For Hurricane Relief With Music City Skate Jam

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Photo by Alex Ferrari

Kip Moore and international skateboarding champion Tony Hawk hosted the Music City Skate Jam Presented by Harley Davidson on Sunday (Sept. 10) and turned the event into a fundraiser for hurricane-effected communities. Fans donating to Moore’s Kip’s Kids Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation were treated to a day of fun-filled events including performances by Jordan Davis, Dee Jay Silver, and Moore himself, along with a thrilling skate demo by Tony Hawk.

Fans can continue to donate now through Friday Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. CST by texting HAWK to 52182 or visit http://hawk.gesture.com to bid on special event auction items.

Photo by Alex Ferrari

Weekly Register: Chris Stapleton’s ‘From A Room: Vol. 1’ Reaches Half-Million Sales Mark

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Chris Stapleton

From A Room: Vol. 1, the latest album from Mercury Nashville artist Chris Stapleton, sold 6K this week, bringing the project’s cumulative numbers over the half-million mark, with 502K sold to date. Stapleton’s previous album, Traveller, has sold 2.05 million to date, and lands at No. 3 on the top country album sales rankings this week, with 11.7K sold this week (total consumption).

Columbia Nashville artist Luke Combs has this week’s top country album, with This One’s For You moving 16K in total consumption. He is followed by RCA Nashville band Old Dominion‘s Happy Endings, which sold 12.4K. Stapleton’s Traveller is at No. 3, while RCA Nashville artist Kane Brown‘s self-titled album moved 9.5K to land at No. 4. MCA Nashville’s Sam Hunt‘s Montevallo moved 9.1K to round out the Top 5 country albums this week.

On the digital songs charts, BMLG’s Taylor Swift holds the lead with two songs at the top of the digital songs chart, with “…Ready For It?” debuting at No. 1 with 135K and “Look What You Made Me Do” at No. 2, selling 114K in its second week, and standing at 467K RTD.

Hunt holds the No. 1 digital country track with “Body Like A Back Road” moving 24K (1.624 million RTD). Kane Brown’s “What Ifs” is at No. 2 with 22K, followed by Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours” at 16K. Broken Bow Records’s Dustin Lynch‘s “Small Town Boy” is at No. 4 with 15K.

Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett rounds out the Top 5 with the debut of “Life Changes,” with 14K. He has the No. 6 song as well, with “Unforgettable” moving 14K.

Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.

Industry Ink: Brett Young, Audra McLaughlin, RecoveryFest Nashville

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Brett Young Hits Sales Milestone

Pictured (L-R): EVP Big Machine Label Group/BMLG Records President Jimmy Harnen, Brett Young, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Photo: BMLG Records

CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Brett Young is celebrating his self-titled debut album reaching Gold status. Additionally, his debut single “Sleep Without You” has been certified Platinum, while his hit “In Case You Didn’t Know” has reached 2x Platinum status.

Young was honored for the three achievements Saturday (Sept. 9) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on the last stop of the U.S. leg of Lady Antebellum’s You Look Good World Tour.

 

Audra McLaughlin Inks Deal With Kore PR

Audra McLaughlin, a finalist on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice, has added Kore Public Relations to her team. McLaughlin recently released the single “Boomerang.”

 

RecoveryFest Nashville 2017 Set For Sept. 30

RecoveryFest Nashville 2017 will be held Saturday, Sept. 30. The annual live music event will take place at East Park Greenspace (700 Woodlawn Street, Nashville 37206), located in the historic Edgefield part of town. The event is free to the general public and will begin at 11 a.m. and wrap at 5 p.m.

Among the performers are Bonnie Bramlett as well as FIX (The Recovery Rock Opera) featuring Peter Moon, Dianne Davidson, Chuck Glass, Kleavers, Bella Lee and Lola, Sonia Lee, Miranda Louise, John McAndrew, Kim Parent Band, Frank Sheen, Soul Incision and Tommy Womack.

RecoveryFest aims to bring together the community to celebrate and encourage the positive impact of recovery from mental and substance disorders, as well as other addictions. The organization was formed, in part, to change the conversation and break the stigma surrounding addiction, and not only to promote recovery and provide available resources, but to also serve as an educational platform to bring more awareness to the public regarding substance abuse and disorders of all kinds.

Tracy Lawrence Relives ‘Good Ole Days’ On New Album

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Tracy Lawrence has set a Nov. 10 release date for his upcoming album, Good Ole Days. The 11-track record celebrates the country legend’s mark on country traditionalism by pairing a selection of his hits with some of country and rock’s contemporary superstars and newcomers. The album will also feature two new songs.

“There’s such a hunger out there for the music from my era. I hear that from so many people, so I felt like this was a good time to kind of blend the old and the new,” said Lawrence. “My first commitment was from my buddy Tim McGraw, who chose to sing ‘Time Marches On,’ on the new record.”

Craig Morgan lends his vocals and heartfelt raw emotion on “Finally Home,” one of the two new tracks on the album and an ode to U.S. military members celebrating their enduring service to our country. A portion of the proceeds from “Finally Home” will be donated to Operation FINALLY HOME, a national, non-profit organization providing mortgage-free, custom-built homes to wounded, ill and injured veterans or widows and widowers of the fallen.

3 Doors Down leader Brad Arnold makes his country music debut on the title track “Good Ole Days,” which is the second of the two original songs. The collaborative collection also includes guest appearances by Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Easton Corbin, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Kellie Pickler and Chris Young.

Lawrence is humbled by the excitement that his peers brought to the studio with their eagerness to keep each track as pure as the day it was first recorded, with only minor exceptions and a few added new nuances. “To realize that I’m older now and being looked at by younger kids in the same light as I looked at guys like Strait and Haggard, it’s very flattering,” he notes. “To know that I’ve made music that’s had that kind of impact on people, well, it’s pretty cool.”

Lawrence is excited to offer the first instant grat track “Can’t Break It To My Heart,” a duet with Aldean, as part of the album preorder which is available here.

Good Ole Days Track Listing:

1. Time Marches On (feat. Tim McGraw)
2. Sticks & Stones (feat. Luke Bryan)
3. Alibis (feat. Justin Moore)
4. Can’t Break It to My Heart (feat. Jason Aldean)
5. Good Ole Days (feat. Brad Arnold & Big & Rich)
6. If the World Had a Front Porch (feat. Luke Combs)
7. Texas Tornado (feat. Dustin Lynch)
8. Stars over Texas (feat. Kellie Pickler)
9. If the Good Die Young (feat. Chris Young)
10. Paint Me a Birmingham (feat. Easton Corbin)
11. Finally Home (feat. Craig Morgan)

 

Celebration Of Life Event To Be Held For Troy Gentry In Nashville

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Troy Gentry. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

A public celebration of life has been set for Montgomery Gentry member Troy Gentry, who died Friday, Sept. 8 in Medford, N.J. He was 50.

The celebration of life will take place Thursday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. CT at the Grand Ole Opry House, located on 2804 Opryland Dr. in Nashville. A private, family internment will follow.

For those unable to attend the celebration of life event, a live stream can be viewed at opry.com on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to T.J. Martell Foundation or The American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

FlyteVu Adds Two Staffers, Celebrates Clio Award Wins

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Pictured (L-R): Joey Helsel, Stephanie Shank

FlyteVu has added two new members to its team. Joey Helsel has joined the company as Account Manager and Stephanie Shank has been named Publicist.

Prior to joining FlyteVu, Helsel spent several years managing on-site tour sponsorship activations for artists like Taylor Swift, P!NK and Katy Perry as Manager, Tour Partnerships for G7 Marketing. She brings over 10 years of experience in the entertainment marketing industry with expertise executing programs for professional sports teams, concert venues, large format events and global music tours.

Shank was most recently a Publicity Manager at dick clark productions in Los Angeles where she executed public relations campaigns, red carpets and media rooms for live entertainment events, including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, the Golden Globes, and others.

FlyteVu has also promoted Laura Fuller to Project Manager where she will lead and execute campaigns on a number of client initiatives and projects.

FlyteVu is also celebrating the win of their first Gold Clio Award recognizing innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication, a second Bronze Clio Award, and fourth Clio Award win overall. FlyteVu’s work on Cracker Barrel’s GRAMMY Award-winning a cappella collaboration of “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and Pentatonix has won a Gold Clio in the Music Marketing category for Partnerships & Collaborations. The agency’s work on Tennessee Tourism’s 7 Diamond campaign with Garth Brooks, in partnership with VML, received a Bronze Clio Award for Brand and Artist Collaboration in an Integrated Campaign.