Warner Joins Warner

Emilee Warner

Warner Music Nashville has added Emilee Warner as Sr. Director, Artist Development. In her new role, Warner will report to SVP Artist Development Shane Tarleton, supporting the WMN roster in marketing and creative initiatives.

“I’m thrilled to add Emilee to our Artist Development team!” said Tarleton. “Her broad experience of marketing and passion for music make her the perfect fit.”

Warner brings more than 10 years of music industry experience to the label, most recently overseeing the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Music program where she launched programs with artists that include Brett Eldredge, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Young, as well as partnerships with the Country Music Association and Pandora. Prior to Cracker Barrel, Warner was the Director of Marketing at Nashville’s premier music venue City Winery, spearheading promotion of the venue’s live music, winemaking, private events and food & beverage programs.

“I am incredibly proud to join Warner Music Nashville,” shared Warner. “The artists and the team are some of the most talented individuals in the business, and I feel fortunate to be part of big things to come.”

Warner also serves as the Membership Lead for the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s Troubadour Society as well as the Advisory Board for the annual Louisa Nelson Award, which honors female leaders in the community hosted by Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery.

Willie Nelson To Release ‘Last Man Standing’ In April

Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Last Man Standing, Willie Nelson‘s new studio album (and 11th for the label), on Friday, April 27.

Arriving just in time for Willie’s 85th birthday (April 29), Last Man Standing will be available on CD, 12″ vinyl LP and digital formats.

Last Man Standing, comprised entirely of songs newly-penned by Willie Nelson (and longtime collaborator and producer Buddy Cannon), is the successor to Willie’s God’s Problem Child, which showcased seven Nelson-Cannon compositions and debuted at No. 1 on the country charts. Nelson and Cannon have been working together since 2008 with Cannon producing more than a dozen of Willie’s albums.

The songwriting duo deploys a unique strategy of shared composition, beginning with back-and-forth text messaging of lyrics with the melodies. On Last Man Standing, Nelson and Cannon’s unorthodox approach generated eleven original songs, “Willie’s a jazz singer and jazz player. He’s an improvisational musician. It’s different every time. Get a good take and go with it,” says Cannon.

Last Man Standing Track Listing
1. Last Man Standing
2. Don’t Tell Noah
3. Bad Breath
4. Me And You
5. Something You Get Through
6. Ready To Roar
7. Heaven Is Closed
8. I Ain’t Got Nothin’
9. She Made My Day
10. I’ll Try To Do Better Next Time
11. Very Far To Crawl

New Hires At Marbaloo

Marbaloo Marketing has announced a round of hirings. Lauren Eisentraut has been added as Publicity Manager; she previously worked at Wagstaff in Chicago. Kory Zelkind has joined as Publicity Assistant, following internships at GreenRoom, EBMedia, and NHL’s Nashville Predators.

Kristin Foster has been hired as Interactive Coordinator, and Katie Fuller has been hired as Co-Community Caretaker alongside Joel Irby.

 

GMA Hall Of Fame Inductees And Honors Recipients Announced

CCM artist Carman, Southern Gospel artist Karen Peck Gooch, legendary Gospel family group The Staples Singers, and acclaimed producer Greg Nelson have been announced as the inductees and honorees for the upcoming Gospel Music Association Foundation’s 5th Annual GMA Honors and Hall of Fame Ceremony. The event will take place Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena. 

The ceremony also honors individuals and organizations that are impacting our culture both past and present. This year’s honorees include Chonda Pierce for Branches Counseling Center, Bishop Marvin Sapp, Ryan Lampa for People Loving Nashville, and Lipscomb University

“This year marks our 5th Annual GMA Honors Celebration,” GMA President and Executive Director Jackie Patillo says. “We are delighted to celebrate our deserving inductees and honorees who are true heroes of the faith. Those being inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame will forever be acknowledged as musical innovators and the architects of our industry. We are proud to recognize each honoree for their commitment to stretch beyond themselves to make the world a better place.” 

Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Ticket and table sponsorship information can be found at gospelmusichalloffame.org.

Nominees are chosen by GMA’s Hall Of Fame Committee which is comprised of historians and industry leaders from the various gospel music genres. Inductees are selected by 200 electors from across the industry in four categories: CCM, Gospel, Southern Gospel and Non-Performing. Nominees can be submitted year-round for consideration by the public at gospelmusichalloffame.org.

Knitting Factory To Book TRUE, New Nashville Venue In Cambria Hotel

Knitting Factory Presents is expanding its footprint into Nashville with a new exclusive deal to book TRUE, a 300-capacity music venue inside the recently-opened Cambria Hotel & Suites in the SoBro area of Downtown Nashville.

Located across the street from Nashville’s new 1.2 million square foot convention center, TRUE boasts a generously sized stage, new sound & lighting systems, an eat-in kitchen and a pool that connects through a retractable glass wall for an indoor/outdoor feel.

Both the hotel and concert space soft-opened on Jan. 15, with New York-based KFP Senior Talent Buyer Dave Poe booking the venue. Veteran national hotel operator, Fillmore Hospitality, will manage the hotel.

“Mixing live music venues with other areas of hospitality has long been a part of the Knitting Factory philosophy,” said KFP President Mark Dinerstein. “As operators of mixed-use spaces, it’s only natural we continue to expand the concept. Thankfully, we’ve found ideal partners in Fillmore Hospitality.”

“We’re looking forward to bringing an expertly-curated and highly eclectic mix of shows to the Cambria,” said Poe. “Nashville is the perfect place to launch this exciting and unique venue, where we can showcase countless different kinds of music, from national artists to intimate singer-songwriter showcases to full band events and everything in-between.”

Knitting Factory Entertainment owns and operates three Knitting Factory live music concert venues, and curates talent for a multitude of non-operated venues and events across the country. Owner/partnerships also include the Regent Theater Los Angeles and Arrive Hotel. KFE has designed, built, staffed and continues to run three Federal bar and restaurant entertainment complexes over the past five years as well.

Weekly Chart Report 2/16/18

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Dustin Lynch: From “Small Town Boy” To Chart-Topping Star

Dustin Lynch

Taking a cue from his most recent release, Dustin Lynch’s current mood could be described as equal parts grateful and eager to take on the opportunities ahead of him, perhaps mixed with a dash of awe at the speed in which his career has skyrocketed following the success of his recent hit “Small Town Boy.”

“Small Town Boy” is the latest in a string of five consecutive chart-topping singles for the Broken Bow artist, following hits including “Where It’s At (Yep, Yep)” and “Seein’ Red.” “Small Town Boy” is also his biggest chart-topper yet, crowning the Billboard Country Airplay chart for four weeks last year, becoming the longest-running No. 1 track of 2017.

“In this day and age that is rare, so I think it just speaks to the power of a song, and how many people were hearing it and wanted to keep hearing it,” Lynch tells MusicRow of the song’s chart-topping run. The singer-songwriter is settled into a small North Nashville studio where he had recently completed filming his portion of an upcoming Bluebird Café documentary.

“It’s an honor, especially when you look at the roster, and an honor to be talking about the place that was really my launching pad, where I figured out how to write and deliver a song.”

Though the Tullahoma, Tennessee native has long since progressed to being nominated for honors including ACMs, CMT Music Awards, and American Country Awards, the relatable “Small Town Boy” elevated his career status from consistent chart-topper to an artist capable of commanding the pinnacle of the music chart for multiple weeks.

“One of the biggest compliments I received was from one of the top guys at one of the big [radio] conglomerates. He said, ‘Congrats, we are going to be playing this song 10 years from now. There is no doubt about it.’ That’s great to know we made something that is going to be around, potentially. Hopefully at that point we will be headlining and adding on to that list of songs.”

Lynch says Peach Pickers writers Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins penned “Small Town Boy” along with Kyle Fishman, reportedly after a night of partying during Luke Bryan’s annual Crash My Playa event.

Lynch first heard “Small Town Boy” while traveling to a farm he leases south of Nashville.

“I listened to a few songs people had emailed me, and when I got to ‘Small Town Boy’ I thought it sounded so cool,” Lynch recalls. “I got out to the farm and I couldn’t wait to get back into my truck and listen to it again.”

The realization that he found a song he loved also sent the singer-songwriter into a panic. “I got the email a week or two before I opened it, so I thought, ‘I bet someone has already heard this, put it on hold, or maybe even already recorded it.’ So I started dialing everyone involved and luckily it was still available.”

Lynch brought in Zach Crowell to produce the song. “The worktape that Kyle had allowed me to hear what Zach could do with it,” he says. “We just gave it a shot of adrenaline and a little bit more energy. I tried to keep the vocal laid back and cool, and hungover like Rhett was [laughs]. But the worktape really was the blueprint.”

If the down-to-earth “Small Town Boy” Lynch sings about seems bewildered that his girl could have any guy she wants—but chooses to be with him—that feeling turns to unabashed pride on the follow-up single “I’d Be Jealous Too,” which Lynch co-wrote with Ross Copperman and Jon Nite.

Lynch joined Copperman and Nite to pen the track after he finished a red eye flight back to Nashville following the video shoot for “Small Town Boy.”

“We shot the video in Malibu and I got on a red eye flight home,” Lynch recalls. “I land in Nashville and I’m dead tired, but I have two days scheduled to write. My gut is saying, ‘Go write, you don’t know what could happen.’ My brain is saying, ‘You’re freakin’ tired, call in sick. They know you were flying all night, just go write another day with them.’ I went with my gut.”

The trio discussed Lynch’s video shoot for “Small Town Boy,” which featured The Vampire Diaries actress Claire Holt.

“We were just gushing over how awesome the setting was, it was on this beach. It got us in this West Coast mood, and Jon threw out the title ‘I’d Be Jealous Too.’ Immediately, I connected with that. To me, there is no better compliment than another guy checking your girl out. When he said that title, we started talking about how good it feels to be confident knowing that you are with this person and it’s like, ‘Yeah, dude, she’s with me.’ And all of us guys and girls feel that when we are with someone else and we are confident with that person.”

Lynch and his writing cohorts are hoping the song continues the solid streak of successes that have come on the heels of a musical fireball like “Small Town Boy.” The song’s success expanded Lynch’s fanbase as he visited city after city on tour with Brad Paisley in mid-2017, leading up to the release of Current Mood, followed by a performance slot on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Lynch starts out 2018 with an iHeartRadio Music Award nomination with “Small Town Boy” in the final nominees for Country Song of the Year.

“It really caught fire going into the CMT Music Awards, which then spun into the CMA Music Fest performance. That was a big moment for me. I like to set goals and one of my goals was to perform at the big stage at CMA fest. So boom! Goal met.”

In March, Lynch will make his first trip to Australia, to perform at CMC Rocks QLD Festival, and for opening slots in Sydney and Melborne as part of Luke Bryan’s What Makes You Country Tour.

“It will be a great introduction to Australia, for me as a tourist and as an artist,” Lynch says. “It’s fun interviewing over there because it takes me back to 2011 and 2012 when I was doing my first interviews in the States. It’s a crowd that will be very receptive but I’ll also have to win them over with new music. Every person I’ve talked to says it is a great place.

“All these goals we set as a team, ‘Small Town Boy’ allowed us to meet them, and also brought us things we never even dreamed of. For the first time in my career, a song has been like rocket fuel.”

Lisa Smoot Elevated To VP At Jerry Duncan Promotions

Lisa Smoot

Jerry Duncan Promotions/Duncan Music Group, Inc. has promoted Lisa Smoot to the role of Vice President for the company.

Smoot joined the Jerry Duncan Promotions/Duncan Music Group team in 2005 as the organization’s Promotions Coordinator before rising to assume the role of Director of Promotions in 2009. She will continue to perform those duties in addition to her newly elevated responsibilities. Smoot recently served as a mentor at the 2018 Country Radio Seminar’s Mentoring Breakfast.

“We are particularly proud of the artists who launched their careers with us as independents and went on to great success. Lisa has been an equal partner in all of those successes over the past 13 years,” says Jerry Duncan, Owner/ CEO of Jerry Duncan Promotions/ Duncan Music Group.

“It is an honor and a privilege to workfor Jerry Duncan Promotions. I feel our integrity and honesty has kept us in the forefront of the music/promotion business for over 30 years. While not every single we work becomes a No. 1 hit, we do our best to get honest airplay and push hard for the artists we represent. I love working with radio and the relationships I have developed over the past 13 years have meant a lot to me, personally. I consider them family,” says Smoot.

Smoot’s new role is effective immediately. She can be reached at lisa@duncanpromo.com.

In Pictures: Jillian Jacqueline, SESAC, YEP

Jillian Jacqueline Makes Her Opry Debut

Jillian Jacqueline. Photo: Nick Swift

Big Loud Records’ Jillian Jacqueline made her long-awaited Grand Ole Opry debut Tuesday night (Feb. 13). Stepping into the famous circle, the songstress performed her debut single “Reasons” followed by the critically-acclaimed “God Bless This Mess.” Both songs are featured on her current EP SIDE A.

“I’ve never been more emotional on a stage, ever,” said Jacqueline. “Standing in that circle was such a feeling of gratitude, pride, and happiness, and I am so thankful to the Opry for giving me such a highlight in my career.”

Paying homage to her idol Patsy Cline, Jacqueline closed out her set with a show-stopping rendition of “Crazy” – her grandmother’s favorite song.

 

SESAC Presents At The Bluebird

Pictured (L-R): Norm Kercher, band member; Michelle Goble, Gellman Management; Mando Saenz, songwriter; Jamie Kent, songwriter; Szlachetka; Lydia Schultz, SESAC; and Greg Herndon, band member. Photo: Courtesy SESAC

Nashville songwriter Szlachetka performed music from his new album, Heart of My Hometown, at the SESAC Presents showcase at the Bluebird Café on Tuesday night (Feb. 13).

Represented by SESAC, Szlachetka has added a number of Nashville dates to his tour calendar including The Bluebird Café (Feb. 27), The Basement (Feb. 28), WMOT/Finally Friday (March 2), and 3rd & Lindsley/Backstage Nashville (March 3).

 

YEP Hosts First Quarterly Rewind Show Of 2018

Pictured (L-R): Jarrod Holley, Dir. of Sponsorships, YEP; Dave Elkins, front man, Mae; Cassadee Pope; Matt Theissen, front man, Relient K.; Amelia Varni, Exec. Dir., YEP; and Danny Stevens, front man, The Audition. Photo: Jason Myers

Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) held the first “YEP Rewind” show of 2018 on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at The Basement East in Nashville.

Guest artists performed a set list of throwback punk rock classics including Yellowcard’s “Only One,” Hey Monday’s “Homecoming” sung by country artist and former Hey Monday lead vocalist, Cassadee Pope, as well as Michael Whitworth’s tribute to the All-American Rejects with their song “Dirty Little Secret.” The show also featured Miles McPherson, 2017 ACM Drummer of the Year and former live drummer with Paramore, as well as Dave Elkins, front man of Mae.

Other show highlights included CJ Solar’s performance of Sugarcult’s “Memory,” Kelby Dover of Kid Politics singing Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” and Jimmy Eat World hits “Sweetness” covered by singer/songwriter Andy Albert and “Bleed American” performed by 2016 ACM Guitarist of the Year Derek WellsMatt Thiessen, front man of Relient K., closed out the show with his songs “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been,” “Be My Escape” and “Sadie Hawkins Dance.”

Additional performers included YEP Rewind band leader Joey Hyde, Kasey Tyndall, Sam Grow, Britty, Eric Arjes, Mae, Jake Wesley Rogers, and Danny Stevens.

Upcoming YEP events include “YEP & BMI PRESENT: 8 OFF 8TH” at Mercy lounge on Monday, March 5 and the 90’s Country themed “YEP Rewind” at The Basement East on Tuesday, April 10.

First Look: Brothers Osborne Join Frye Hometown Pride Campaign

Brothers Osborne have been tapped as the face of a new Frye Hometown Pride campaign. The partnership marks the first fashion collaboration for Brothers Osborne.

The partnership includes in-store promotions such as exclusive “first listen” events for Brothers Osborne’s new music, giving fans a chance to preview the band’s sophomore album, Port Saint Joe. Vinyl copies of the album will be sold in select FRYE stores starting April 20.

Together Brothers Osborne and FRYE will host a sweepstakes to win a trip to New York, meet and greet with the band, and VIP tickets to their Mountain High Tour with Dierks Bentley.

“Frye is a company deeply rooted in our country’s history. Not to mention the undeniable style and quality.” said Brothers Osborne.

Music is an integral part of Frye’s brand, and the company hosts a monthly in-store music series in Nashville, Fryedays, which has featured intimate live performances by Brent Cobb, Langhorne Slim, Rayland Baxter, and more, and has quickly earned a cult following.