Industry Ink: SB21 Music Publishing, Gary Morris, Roy Orbison

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SB21 Music Publishing Celebrates First Multi-Week, Chart-Topping Song

SB21 Music Publishing is celebrating their first multi-week No. 1 song with Luke Bryan’s “Most People Are Good” written by SB21 writer David Fraiser. The song claimed the No. 1 spot on March 31 where it remained for three weeks and was recently performed on the ACM awards on April 15, 2018. The single, co-written by songwriting vets Josh Kear and Ed Hill, is off Luke Bryan’s current album What Makes You Country.

Founded by industry vet Steve Pasch and partners Eric Hart and Teresa Smith Ammon in 2011, SB21 Music Publishing is already looking to make 2018 a banner year with high profile cuts by SB21 writers include Steve Pasch, Brian White and Frasier. In addition to “Most People Are Good,” the company is enjoying success with cuts by Broken Bow recording artist Jason Aldean and Universal recording artist Jordan Davis. The songwriting team has already accumulated cuts by Rascal Flatts, Dustin Lynch, Joe Nichols, The Swon Brothers, Gretchen Wilson as well as Canadian stars, Tim Hicks, Jess Moskoluke, Chad Brownlee and many pop and Christian artists.

Gary Morris Helps Meals On Wheels Program With Bluebird Cafe Show

Gary Morris and some friends are helping raise funds for the Meals On Wheels Program in the Mid-Cumberland region with a special show on May 16 at the Bluebird Cafe.

Tickets for the show are $20 and go on sale May 9 at bluebirdcafe.com. Last year, Meals On Wheels provided 314,334 meals to seniors in the area.

 

Roy Orbison’s A Love So Beautiful Earns UK Gold

Pictured (L-R): Alex Orbison, son of Roy Orbison and President of Orbison Music; Joe Bennett, JBPR National Radio Promotions; Daniel Hinchcliffe, Managing Director, The Soundcheck Group; Orbison Music COO Chuck Fleckenstein; Olivia Walker, Head Of Marketing, Commercial Group, Sony Music UK; Nicola Tuer, COO, Sony Music UK; Phil Savill, Managing Director, Commercial Group, Sony Music UK and album producers Don Reedman and Nick Patrick. Photo: Chris Lopez

A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, released globally by Roy’s Boys through Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings, has achieved Gold certification in the UK.  To qualify for Gold status there, an album must sell in excess of 100,000 units.  In the case of A Love So Beautiful, that plateau has been achieved more than twice over with a platinum award (sales over 300,000) expected later this year. Upon its release, the album debuted at No. 2 on the national album chart.

The Gold Award comes on the heels of the In Dreams: Roy Orbison In Concert  that played sixteen sold out dates in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Ireland. The tour, produced globally by BASE Hologram, a BASE Entertainment Company, is the first of-its-kind holographic concert performance, including on-stage accompaniment by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the legendary icon recreated through mind-blowing holographic laser imaging. 

Blake Shelton, Oak Ridge Boys, Luke Combs Add CMA Fest Opry Shows

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Blake Shelton. Photo: Chris Hollo

Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton is headed back to the Opry stage on the Thursday night of CMA Fest week for the second straight year. Among those scheduled to join Shelton for two shows on Thursday, June 7 are fellow Opry members the Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, and Josh Turner as well as country music newcomers Luke Combs and Maggie Rose. Tickets for the night’s two shows (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 2 at opry.com and 800-SEE-OPRY.

The CMA Fest week Thursday night Opry shows will follow two Tuesday shows that week featuring Opry members Carrie Underwood and Terri Clark as well as newcomer Ashley McBryde and more.

Other Opry performances scheduled for CMA Fest Week include Friday June 8 and Saturday, June 9 as well as a Saturday matinee performance of Opry Country Classics featuring Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Pride, and more at the Ryman Auditorium.

Kenny Chesney To Issue ‘Songs For The Saints’ In July

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Kenny Chesney

On July 27, Kenny Chesney will return with his first album recorded for Blue Chair/Warner Bros. Nashville, titled Songs for the Saints. The 12-track album, co-produced by Buddy Cannon, features five songs written or co-written by Chesney.

The album’s first single, “Get Along,” offers an appropriate introduction to the project’s essence.

“So much has happened since I went off the road in 2016,” Chesney explains. “And all of it, in one way or another, has ended up on this record. It’s special to me because of what it says – to me, and for me – about life, the world around us, how fragile it all can be and about somehow still finding the best parts of you, and moving towards them. I was at a turning point in my life on so many levels, and then Hurricane Irma hit the Virgin Islands.

“But this album isn’t about St. John, so much as it’s about what happened to St. John and all those islands you didn’t see on the news. To just see the devastation and what that does to people is one thing, but then there’s this courage and resilience people find…This is not a literal record, but it is an album about the refuges we all have, how temporary life is and the way we navigate to better places, dig in and face the destruction. And sometimes, we learn to own our wild hearts in the process.”

Beyond the euphoric “Get Along,” the banjo and people-positive message tempo track hovering outside the Top 10, Chesney wrote or co-write five tracks. As with any release from the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar, there are songwriters getting their first cuts, surprise collaborations, an obscure jewel and the emotional fabric that makes the No Shoes Nation a place rich with heart, tenacity and the will to embrace life on its terms.

 

NSAI Voting Open For ‘Song Of The Year’ And The 10 ‘Songs I Wish I’d Written’ Awards

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Voting begins today (Monday, April 30) for the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s 10 “Song I Wish I’d Written” awards. The 130-song ballot is comprised of Nashville-associated songs that charted in Billboard Airplay Top 20 on the Christian, Country, Pop and Rock charts. Ballot-eligible singles must have charted between July 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018, and not have been awarded the previous year. The song that receives the highest number of votes will be NSAI’s 51st Song of the Year.

NSAI will recognize the 10 ‘Songs I Wish I’d Written’ awards, NSAI Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Songwriter-Artist of the Year at the Nashville Songwriter Awards on Sept. 19, 2018, at the Ryman Auditorium.

Voting is open to current Professional Songwriter Members of NSAI and will run from Monday, April 30-May 13. To join, renew, or check on the status of a membership, contact Lindsay Gum at lindsay@nashvillesongwriters.com.

Tyler Dial Teams With Neon Cross Music For New EP ‘Repaint’

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Tyler Dial has announced a May 25 release for his album, Repaint, in creative partnership with Nashville’s Neon Cross Music.

The creative and administration agreement is led by Neon Cross’ Melissa Spillman. Neon Cross will oversee administration of Dial’s music catalog with Warner/Chappell Music. Spillman and Neon Cross Music are responsible for developing LANCO and Devin Dawson.

Repaint was produced by Neon Cross’ Jeremy Spillman and Little Louder’s Ryan Tyndell, who also co-wrote several of the album’s tracks. Acclaimed writers Ben Hayslip, Ryan Beaver, Lucie Silvas, Devin Dawson, Andy Albert and Kyle Fishman also penned songs on Dial’s new EP.

“I’m humbled and amazed by the team we are building and the progressive new art we’re creating,” said Dial. “No one knows better than I do, how truly lucky I am for the chance to learn and grow with the Neon Cross Music family.”

“Tyler has the talent, passion and drive required to succeed in music in Nashville and beyond, and we’re proud to help him launch his new music and career,” said Spillman.

Dial is set to graduate from the University Of Texas McCombs School of Business May 19.

Alex Torrez Exits Play It Again Music

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Alex Torrez

Alex Torrez has exited his role as General Manager and VP, A&R at Play It Again Music Publishing. Going forward, Torrez will work with Warner Music Nashville’s Trea Landon and TMG/Thirty Tigers’ Shotgun Rider.

“This is something I’ve been building on for a while, and it will be exciting to see what the future brings,” Torrez says.

The news follows Play It Again’s recent appointment of Juli Newton Griffith to the role of President for Play It Again.

Torrez can be reached at [email protected].

iHeartRadio Music Festival Returns In September With Dustin Lynch, Bobby Bones

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iHeartMedia announced today the return of the annual star-studded iHeartRadio Music Festival on Sept. 21 and 22 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and its Daytime Stage, which will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Among the performers on the Daytime Stage will be Dustin Lynch, Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots, 5 Seconds of Summer, Dua Lipa, Greta Van Fleet and more. The main stage performance lineup for the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival will be announced at a later date.

In addition to live performances, the Daytime Stage will also feature fan zones and interactive experiences by iHeartRadio’s brand partners. Tickets for the Daytime Stage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival will go on sale Thursday, May 3 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET and start at $29 plus taxes and fees. Fans can visit iHeartRadio.com/Tickets to purchase tickets.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival will broadcast live on iHeartMedia Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) stations across the country that weekend including the iconic Z100 in New York; KIIS-FM in Los Angeles; Y100 in Miami; KISS FM in Dallas, Chicago and Boston; as well as many more, and will also be featured as an exclusive national television broadcast special on The CW Network at a later date.

Proud partners of this year’s event include 1800® Tequila, Bai Beverage, Bioré® Skincare, Capital One®, The CW Network, Macy’s, Taco Bell® with more to be announced

Rodney Crowell, Jon Vezner To Lead Second “Heal The Music Day”

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Rodney Crowell and Jon Vezner are joining forces with Music Health Alliance to help Heal The Music. The second “Heal The Music Day” will take place on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 as a day of nationwide music industry fundraising and awareness to support the critical and life-saving free services provided by Music Health Alliance.

“In the world of the working musician, good health is something most of us take for granted…that is, until something goes wrong,” said Crowell. “When and if it does, there is no greater patient advocacy group than our very own Music Health Alliance. MHA has provided support to people across 38 states and so we want to carry the message beyond Nashville and are asking everyone in the music community to pledge a small percentage of their single day earnings on ‘Heal The Music Day’ to MHA so they can continue their critical work for many years to come.”

Since its launch in 2013, Nashville-based nonprofit Music Health Alliance has served more than 8,400 members of the music community nationwide, and saved more than $33 million in healthcare costs including insurance premium savings, medical bill reductions and discounted medications. According to MHA stats, 428 families have been spared bankruptcy due to a medical crisis, and eight patients have been provided with access to heart, lung, kidney, or liver transplants. Additionally, MHA has facilitated access to more than 200 trauma counseling sessions for Las Vegas shooting survivors and their families.

To participate in “Heal The Music Day,” members of the music community — including artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, publicists, promoters, business managers, record label executives, booking agents, attorneys, venues, stylists and more — can pledge a percentage of their single day earnings to support the lifesaving services provided by Music Health Alliance. Learn more at HealTheMusic.com.

Shania Twain, Jake Owen Sign On For USA Network’s Talent Showcase ‘Real Country’

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Shania Twain and Jake Owen have signed on for a new USA Network show, Real Country. The eight-part music showcase series will film in Nashville this summer. In each hour-long episode, Twain and Owen will hand-pick newcomer solo artists, duos and groups to perform in showcases. The best artists from each showcase will perform in the grand finale, for the chance to be named one of country music’s next breakout artists.

The show is produced by Wilshire Studios, with Twain, Nicolle Yaron, Stijn Bakkers, and Leslie Garvin set to executive produce.

“Real Country celebrates everything we love about country music, while providing a unique platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent,” said Heather Olander, Senior Vice President, Alternative Development and Production, USA Network. She added: “We are extremely lucky to work with both Shania and Jake. Shania is a true international icon who remains the best-selling female country artist of all time and whose music broke barriers across genres, and Jake is an ACM Award-winner who consistently dominates the country charts with some of today’s biggest hits.”

Twain said, “It’s been an incredible year for me, releasing my new album and coming back to country music. I feel it’s time for me to add my own support in finding our greatest undiscovered talent. It’s beyond thrilling to be leading the charge with Real Country, and I’m on a mission to find artists who will keep country music diverse and dynamic. The kind of diversity that inspired all of us.”

Added Owen, “Country music truly seems to be the healing factor in a lot of people’s lives. I will always be grateful for music, whether I’m performing or listening, and I want to encourage up-and-coming artists to tell their stories, find their audiences and make their mark in country music with the same guidance that artists have given to me throughout my journey.”

Artists interested in being invited to perform on one of Real Country’s showcases can apply at realcountry.castingcrane.com or via email at [email protected].

Ryan Kinder Joins John Fogerty, ZZ Top On Blues And Bayous Summer Tour

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Ryan Kinder is hitting the road this summer with a couple of his heroes on the John Fogerty and ZZ Top Blues And Bayous Tour. The 20-city trek launches May 26 in Holmdel, New Jersey, and continues through June with stops in Pensacola, West Palm Beach, Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, and more.

Following a successful UK tour earlier this Spring, Kinder will also head back overseas July 8 where he’ll share the bill with some heroes on the BarclayCard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2018 concert in London. The sold-out concert will feature music icons Eric Clapton, Santana, Steve Winwood, Gary Clark, Jr. and many more. The Hyde Park concert has special meaning to Kinder, since Clapton was the first concert he ever attended as a child, and he says it was where he first dreamed of being on stage and singing and playing the rest of his life.

“Honored doesn’t truly express the elation I feel to be able to perform with such rock ‘n’ roll royalty,” says Kinder. “It’s a strange and beautiful hilarity to me to have this amazing opportunity to share the bill with legends I listen to almost daily.”

BLUES & BAYOUS TOUR DATES:
May 26: Holmdel, NJ / P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
May 27: Uncasville, CT / Mohegan Sun Arena
May 29-30: Vienna, VA / Wolf Trap Center for The Performing Arts
June 1: Pensacola, FL / Pensacola Bay Center
June 2: Clearwater, FL / Coachman Park
June 3: West Palm Beach, FL / Coral Sky Amphitheatre
June 5: St. Augustine, FL / St. Augustine Amphitheatre
June 6: Atlanta, GA / Chastain Park Amphitheatre
June 10: Oklahoma City, OK / Zoo Amphitheatre
June 12: Highland Park, IL / Ravinia Festival
June 13: Nobelsville, IN / Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
June 14: Cincinnati, OH / Riverbend Music Festival
June 16: Southaven, MS / Snowden Grove Amphitheater
June 17: Maryland Heights, MO / Holly Casino Amphitheatre
June 19: Youngstown, OH / Covelli Centre
June 20: Wantagh, NY / Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
June 22: Gilford, NH / Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
June 23: Canandaigua, NY / Constellation Brands – Marving Sands PAC
June 24: Camden, NJ / BB&T Pavilion
June 27: Clarkston, MI / DTE Energy Music Theatre