Collective Artist Management Promotes Two

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Pictured (L-R): Lisa Peterson, Page Fortuna

Collective Artist Management has promoted Lisa Peterson to Digital Marketing Director and Page Fortuna has been named Management Coordinator.

“We constantly search for smart people whose passion intersects with the job. Lisa and Page are perfect examples of that, and we are lucky to have them,” says Brinson Strickland, President, Collective Artist Management.

Peterson joined Collective Artist Management in 2017, with prior stints at Crowd Surf and an internship with Warner Music Nashville/Word Entertainment.  She is a graduate of Belmont University.

A graduate of The College of Charleston, Fortuna joined The Collective team earlier this year, having previously interned with management company, Gold Mountain Entertainment as well as working as a tour assistant in Nashville.

Collective Artist Management’s current roster includes Clint Black, Corey Smith, Grant Landis, Edwin McCain, Sara Evans and Steve Wariner.

DisClaimer: The Guys Have It

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The guys have it.

Despite appearances by Cherish Lee, Kelsea Ballerini and Leslie Tom in this edition of “DisClaimer,” the standout releases all belong to country males. And I do mean “country,” because that seems to be the trend du jour.

Newcomer Patrick Darrah calls Nashville home these days, but he originally hails from upstate New York. Hence, his debut CD is titled Northern Truth. Give the man this week’s DisCovery Award.

The Disc of the Day contest boils down to two outstanding performances. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but one of them belongs to Cole Swindell, whom I have previously thought only mildly interesting. He is edged out only by Mitchell Tenpenny. Donna Hilley’s grandson comes into his own with “Drunk Me.”

PATRICK DARRAH/I Never Got Over You
Writers: Brad Wolf/Don Goodman; Producers: Drew Smith/Kevin Grantt; Publishers: Big Hitmakers/Little Tornadoes, no performance rights listed; Double Darrah
– Darrah is the latest graduate of the honky tonks of Lower Broadway. His debut single has a crunchy, ringing track and loads of melodic hooks. This is country heartache with a contemporary edge and plain-spoken honesty. Recommended.

KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs
Writers: Ballerini/Trevor Rosen/Shane McAnally; Producers: Forest Glen Whitehead/Jason Massey; Publishers: Songs of Black River/KNB/ReHits/Smacktown/Kobalt, ASCAP/GMR; Black River
– Smartly written: The lyrics turn romantic cliches on their heads. The ballad tempo is a nice change of pace for her.

 

RICKY COOK/Thanks A Lot Loretta
Writers: Cook/Pennington; Producer: J.P. Pennington; Publishers: Hill Pick N/Guitar Juice/Suzie Pennington, BMI/ASCAP; Imperator (track)
– His woman listens to Loretta Lynn’s records and makes it hard on her hubby. It seems he can’t come home a drinkin’ or carry on like he used to. From the guitar licks to the steel to the baritone vocal, this is country, country, country all the way.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & CHRIS STAPLETON/Say Something
Writers: Justin Timberlake/Chris Stapleton/Timothy Mosley/Nate Hillls/Larrence Dopson; Producers: Timbaland, Timberlake, Danja; Publishers: Tennman Tunes/Universal Z/Ken Tucky/WB/ole Red Cape/VB Rising/Danjahandz/Reservoir; RCA (track)
– Burbles of rhythm and electronic bleeps decorate this dizzy bopper. Both men are blue-eyed soul practitioners, so the vocal collaboration works well. Highly entertaining, but it ain’t country. The ending is so whiplash abrupt that it sounds like somebody suddenly yanked out the power cable.

NICK BRENNAN/I Want A Girl
Writers: Brennan; Producers: Cherle Brennan/Daryl Phenneder; Publisher: CEB, ASCAP; MCI
– His delivery is more spoken than sung. The track is grinding and groovy. The lyric is goofy-cute.

COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Very, very touching. Beautifully produced in an understated way. Looking back at a failed romance, he’d do everything all over again even knowing the story has an unhappy ending. As both a song and a performance, this is head and shoulders above everything else this guy has released to date.

 

CHERISH LEE/Tequila Cowgirl
Writers: none listed; Producers: Nate Wedan; Publishers: none listed; CL
– Cherish is the daughter of Urban Cowboy Johnny Lee (”Lookin’ for Love”) and Dallas TV vixen Charlene Tilton. The title tune of her debut Nashville album is a mid-tempo word portrait of a free spirit who goes her own way in the world. Her vocal performance is admirably expressive.

JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane)
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– The track cleverly quotes the guitar licks of John Mellencamp’s 1982 rock smash “Jack and Diane.” Not surprisingly, the lyric is full of nostalgia for lost youth. It’s all very hooky and listenable.

LESLIE TOM/Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams
Writers: none listed; Producer: John Macy; Publishers: none listed; Coastal Bend
– Plaintive and evocative, this ballad imagines what life was really like for the heartbroken Hillbilly Shakespeare. It’s the title tune of an entire concept album about the music and the legend of Hank Williams. Dean Miller guest stars on the lively track “Are You Ready for Some Hanky Panky.”

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Riser House/Columbia
– I have been in this guy’s corner from the get-go. This is a terrific outing, full of passion and fire. His vocal goes from a whisper to a scream as the saga unfolds of a fellow who’s been sober ever since she left because when he’s drunk, he wallows in her memory. The production supports his vocal gymnastics every step of the way. Essential.

Mark Your Calendar—March 2018

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Single Add Dates

March 5
Chris Young/Hangin’ On/RCA
Eric Paslay/Young Forever/EMI Nashville
Russell Dickerson/Blue Tacoma/Triple Tigers
Macy Martin/Take It Now/GTR Nashville/Kent Wells
Southern Halo/Anything Is Possible/Southern Halo
County Wide/Country Boys Dream/SMG-Nashville

March 9
Frankie Justin/Crazy/SMG-Nashville

March 12
Kelsea Ballerini/I Hate Love Songs/Black River Entertainment
Jake Owen/I Was Jack (You Were Diane)/Big Loud
Sherry Lynn/Bang Bang/Steal Heart Music
James Dupré/Hurt Good/Purfectt Pitch LLC
Kamber Cain/Your Love Is Like A Sunday/Riverfront Promotions

March 19
Travis Denning/David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs/Mercury
Trent Harmon/You Got ‘Em All/Big Machine
Lucas Hoge/Power Of Garth/Forge
Ricky Cook/Thanks A Lot, Loretta/Jerry Duncan/Imperator
Sam Shupak/Something Blue/Southern Pine Music

Album Release Date

March 2
Jessica Mack/One Love

March 9
Guthrie Trapp/Life After Dark

March 16
Scotty McCreery/Seasons Change/Triple Tigers
Shenandoah/Reloaded/BMG
The Oak Ridge Boys/17th Avenue Revival/Lightning Rods Records

March 23
Jordan Davis/Home State/MCA Nashville
High Valley/High Valley: Farmhouse Sessions [acoustic]
Jack White/Boarding House Reach/Third Man Records-Columbia

March 30
Ashley McBryde/Girl Going Nowhere/Warner Bros.-Warner Music Nashville
Mary Chapin Carpenter/Sometimes Just The Sky/Lambent Light Records-Thirty Tigers
Kim Richey/Edgeland/Yep Roc Records
Lindi Ortega/Liberty/Shadowbox Music Co.

Industry Events

March 2
Rumble On The Row’s 14th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids in Liberty Hall at The Factory in Franklin

March 9-11
C2C in London, Dublin, and Glasgow

March 11
2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Forum in L.A.

March 14
ACM Awards final round voting closes

March 26
The T.J. Martell Foundation’s 10th Annual Nashville Honors Gala at the Omni Hotel

March 27
MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row

Ashley Campbell’s Debut CD ‘The Lonely One’ Set For May Release

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Ashley Campbell is set to release her debut album The Lonely One on her own Whistle Stop Records May 11. The triple threat songwriter, singer and banjo virtuoso co-wrote all 13 songs on the album, which chronicles the personal journey of a young woman grappling with grown-up choices. Campbell penned a track with her banjo mentor, Carl Jackson, on the project, which also features tracks co-written with Brad and Brett Warren, Billy Montana, Bobby Pinson, and more.

The Lonely One was co-produced by Ashley and her brother Cal Campbell and mostly recorded at Cal’s Agoura Borealis studios in Los Angeles. Older brother Shannon Campbell contributes vocals and guitar as well, and co-wrote the track “Looks Like Time” with Ashley. The title track of the album is due out tomorrow.

The daughter of legend Glen Campbell, Ashley initially pursued dance and acting and even performed for a time with The Groundlings, the LA comedy institution whose famous alumni include Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Lisa Kudrow. But when Ashley was asked to learn banjo for a part in a play, a spark was lit and her calling was found. She soon studied with banjo luminary Carl Jackson (her godfather and longtime member of Glen’s band) and mastered her technique. She would go on to join her father’s touring band, including his poignant Goodbye Tour in 2011-12, and appear in the award-winning 2015 documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, contributing the original song “Remembering,” which looks at Campbell’s struggles with Alzheimer’s through his daughter’s eyes.

She will embark on a UK tour in March, which will include a performance at the C2C Festival in London on a bill with Kacey Musgraves and Sugarland.

The Lonely One Track Listing:
1. A New Year (Ashley Campbell, Jerry Flowers and Patrick Davis)
2. Cry (Ashley Campbell, Bobby Pinson and John Caldwell)
3. Better Boyfriend (Ashley Campbell, Billy Montana and Tiffany Goss)
4. A Taken Man (Ashley Campbell, Sharon Vaughn and John Fortis)
5. The Lonely One (Ashley Campbell, Tiffany Goss and Jeremy Lister)
6. Good For You (Ashley Campbell, Autumn Rowe and Brian Kennedy)
7. Wish I Wanted To (Ashley Campbell and Mike Daly)
8. How Do You Know (Ashley Campbell, Shannon Campbell, Cal Campbell and Kiefo Nilsson)
9. Carl & Ashley’s Breakdown (Ashley Campbell and Carl Jackson)
10. What I’m Doin’ Here (Ashley Campbell, Lance Miller, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
11. We Can’t Be Friends (Ashley Campbell and John Fortis)
12. Looks Like Time (Ashley Campbell, Shannon Campbell, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
13. Nothing Day (Ashley Campbell and Chris Roberts)

Clarence Spalding Receives Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award

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Pictured (L-R): Bob Kingsley, Clarence Spalding, Jason Aldean

Clarence Spalding was honored with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award during an event held Wednesday night (Feb. 28)  at the Grand Ole Opry House. Spalding was honored for his impact on country music, and the evening benefitted the Opry Trust Fund, which has supported members of the country music community in need for more than 50 years.

Among the artists performing at the event were Jason Aldean, who also presented Spalding with his award, Terri Clark, Brooks & Dunn, Exile, Rascal Flatts, Reba, and Darius Rucker. Many of Spalding’s industry colleagues and friends were also a part of the honor including Steve Buchanan, Robert Deaton, John Esposito, Randy Goodman, Mary Ann McCready, Stan Moress, Brian O’Connell, Sally Williams and more.

Spalding got his start in the business while he was studying at the University of Kentucky and began booking acts into local bars. He soon began road managing the band Exile, and developed friendships and relationships throughout the industry. In the late ‘80s he joined Stan Moress’ management group, and settled in Nashville to work with artists like Lorrie Morgan, K.T. Oslin, Eddie Rabbitt, Mike Reid and Restless Heart. In 1993, Spalding joined Bob Titley Management and worked directly with the newly-signed Brooks & Dunn. Spalding’s management of the pair helped establish the duo as one of country music’s superstar acts, and the company eventually became Titley Spalding & Associates. In 2004, Spalding formed Spalding Entertainment, and the firm now boasts a powerhouse roster that includes Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Terri Clark and others. In 2014 partnered with Maverick, a consortium of managers around the globe, to create broader opportunities for his clients.

The Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award was created in 2014 to recognize the most deserving individuals across the spectrum of record label/industry, creative/production and radio/media.

BREAKING: ACM Awards Announce Nominations

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Reba McEntire will return as the host for the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, marking her fifteenth time as ACM Awards host. The 16-time ACM award winner announced the top nominees in several categories on CBS This Morning.

The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards will take place April 15 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year categories; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos.” He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Whiskey and You.”

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, for both Album of The Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly, he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me,” along with director TK McKamy and producer Dan Atchison.

Keith Urban earned five nominations including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year and eleventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is also nominated for Song of the Year for “Female,” and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood). Urban won Top New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000, and Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005. A win in the Entertainer of the Year category would also make him the eighth ever ACM Triple Crown winner.

Songwriter Shane McAnally received five nominations. He is nominated as Songwriter of the Year, and twice as songwriter in the Song of the Year category for Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Keith Urban’s “Female.” McAnally is also nominated in the Album of the Year category for Old Dominion’s album Happy Endings, and in the Single Record of the Year category as a producer in Midland’s single “Drinkin’ Problems.”

Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including her twelfth nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. If she wins, it will be her ninth consecutive win in this category. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Miranda is currently tied for the winningest artist in ACM history with 29 awards along with Brooks & Dunn. This year she is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Tin Man,” and for Video of the Year for “We Should Be Friends.”

Reigning New Female Vocalist of the Year Maren Morris received four nominations, including her second nod in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Morris is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Dear Hate” (featuring Vince Gill). She is nominated again in the category with Thomas Rhett for “Craving You.”

Sam Hunt received three nominations for his hit “Body Like A Back Road.” One nod in the Single Record of The Year category, and two, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of the Year category.

Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. This would be their fourth consecutive win and fifth overall. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for Breaker, and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man.”

First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Midland, received three nominations for Vocal Group of the Year, New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Single Record of the Year for “Drinkin’ Problem.”

Eighteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Faith Hill received their first-ever nomination as a duo in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.

McEntire received her sixteenth nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. This would be her eighth win in the category.

The following is the full list of final nominees. The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Garth Brooks
• Luke Bryan
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Maren Morris
• Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
• Chris Young

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• LOCASH
• Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• LANCO
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Lauren Alaina
• Danielle Bradbery
• Carly Pearce
• Raelynn

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Devin Dawson
• Russell Dickerson
• Brett Young

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• High Valley
• LANCO
• LOCASH
• Midland
• Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• From A Room Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

• Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA

• Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville

• Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

• Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records

• I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits

• Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezonant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)

• Tin Man – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music

• Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• Black – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler

• It Ain’t My Fault – Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies

• Legends – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth

• Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison

• We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
• Rhett Akins
• Ashley Gorley
• Hillary Lindsey
• Shane McAnally
• Josh Osborne

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Craving You – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

• Dear Hate – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville

• Funny (How Time Slips Away) – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson
Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises

• The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban
Record Label: Capitol Nashville

• What Ifs – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: RCA Nashville