Brad Paisley Celebrates 20 Million Sales Milestone

Pictured, left to right, are: (kneeling) Sony Music Nashville’s National Promotion Director Lauren Thomas and Arista Nashville Regional Promotion Manager Luke Jensen; (standing) Arista Nashville’s Promotion VP Josh Easler, Sony Music Nashville’s EVP Marketing/New Business John Zarling; Paisley’s day-to-day manager Kendal Marcy; Sony Music Nashville’s EVP/COO Ken Robold and Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman; Paisley; Sony Music Nashville marketing lead Jen Way; Paisley’s manager Bill Simmons; and Sony Music Nashville’s EVP Promotion/Artist Development Steve Hodges, SVP A&R Jim Catino and SVP Media/Corporate Communications Allen Brown.

Sony Music Nashville execs recently surprised Brad Paisley with a plaque commemorating 20 million career total worldwide albums sales, track downloads and streaming equivalents.

ACM Partners With Aflac For ACM Lifting Lives Honor

The Academy of Country Music has teamed with Aflac, the exclusive insurance partner of the ACM Awards, and the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, ACM Lifting Lives®, to present the first Aflac ACM Lifting Lives Honor.

This honor will recognize someone for his or her remarkable and selfless dedication to bringing the healing power of music to those who are in need. The inaugural recognition will honor excellence in music therapy. ACM Awards® Male Vocalist of the Year nominee Chris Young, will celebrate the honoree on Friday, April 13 from WME’s BASH at the BEACH at Mandalay Bay Beach during The Week Vegas Goes Country, prior to headlining the two-night ACM Party For A Cause® concert on Saturday, April 14.

“Music is a powerful thing,” said Young. “As a singer and someone who gets to experience the power of music every day, I’m honored to join Aflac and ACM Lifting Lives to recognize an outstanding music therapist who has helped bring the healing power of music to so many.”

Young, the Aflac ACM Lifting Lives Honor recipient and the famous Aflac Duck will also appear in a 30-second custom TV commercial for Aflac. The commercial, filmed and produced Friday from Las Vegas and airing nationally just 48 hours later during the 53rd ACM Awards, will celebrate the healing power of music.

“We were excited when Aflac approached ACM Lifting Lives with the idea for this co-branded honor because it not only helps propel our shared mission of helping those in need, but helps bring further awareness and recognition to aspects of the music industry that are perhaps, less visible including music therapy,” said Debbie Carroll, Chairman of ACM Lifting Lives.

The purpose of the Aflac ACM Lifting Lives Honor is to acknowledge an individual who has made significant contributions to music therapy through education, service, clinical practice and/or research. A committee from the ACM Lifting Lives Board will select the recipient based on his or her long-term efforts toward the development and growth of the music therapy profession.

The Week Vegas Goes Country culminates with the 53rd ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, which will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on the CBS Television Network.

Marshall Tucker Band’s Doug Gray Talks Opening For Lynyrd Skynyrd Farewell Tour

When Southern rock architects Lynyrd Skynyrd launch their upcoming two-year farewell outing, The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour on May 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida, the tour will feature a choice assembly of Southern rock and country artists. Among the performers are Kid Rock, Hank Williams, Jr., Charlie Daniels Band, Bad Company, Blackberry Smoke, and Marshall Tucker Band, a group that has been with Lynyrd Skynyrd from the beginning.

In the mid-1970s, both Lynyrd Skynyrd and Marshall Tucker Band were riding high from hits including Skynyrd’s iconic “Gimme Three Steps,” “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” and MTB’s “Can’t You See,” “Fire On The Mountain,” and “Heard It In A Love Song.”

“They would open shows for us and we’d turn around and open shows for them,” recalls Marshall Tucker Band founding member Doug Gray. “This is a tour in remembrance of what I call the ‘original band’ because we were there for that original band.”

“Heard It In A Love Song,” became a hit in June 1977, approximately five months before Southern Rock would be dealt a ruinous circumstance with the deaths of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, guitar player Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick in a plane crash on the evening of Oct. 20, 1977. After the crash, Lynyrd Skynyrd would go on to regroup after a hiatus; with Ronnie’s brother Johnny at the helm.

“It’s hard to talk about, because [original Lynyrd Skynyrd singer] Ronnie Van Zant was one of my best friends for a long time before the tragedy,” gray says. “Some of the crew that was in the plane crash still comes to hang out, [former Lynyrd Skynyrd stage manager/guitar and drum tech] Craig Reed being one of them. These guys are part of my history.”

Both bands released their debut albums in 1973. As bands with similar influences and similar audiences, Gray says they often played shows together in the early days. He says their shared love of music, and the tediousness of life on the road, would help their sets evolve into spontaneous jam sessions.

“The bus took us out on the road for four years, and we would get bored at times,” Gray says. “So we would change up the music to free up that space for the next person to come in and play.”

Musical influence wasn’t the only bond between the two groups; like countless musicians before them, members from both bands would use music as an escape from other blue-collar, labor-intensive career options. Ronnie Van Zant’s father was a trucker from Florida, while Gray’s worked in a cotton mill.

“My father took me to the mill when I was 12 years old and said, ‘Do you want to do this boy, or do you want to sing and try to make you some money?’ And if that’s not the way Ronnie Van Zant thought at the time…”

Gray’s decision was life-changing, and now, after more than four decades of touring with Marshall Tucker Band, it’s clear that Gray and company still share a youthful exuberance for performing, and a dedication to the fans that make it possible.

“Fans will give me notes or gifts after the shows, and I put them in my bunk so I can look at it before I lay down at night when we are out on tour. At the end of the year, the band will laugh and say, ‘How do you get in your bunk?’ I only clean it out once a year, after we get off the road. I’ve been doing that for 30-something years. The whole year of touring, I see little items or notes people have given me,” he says, recalling when a fan presented him with a blanket made of old Marshall Tucker Band t-shirts. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things we’ve gotten.”

“A woman came backstage with her husband the other night, and said she remembered her parents bringing her to one of our shows when she was eight years old, and we brought her onstage with us when she was a girl. She wanted to come and see the show again.”

Though the trek is billed as a farewell tour for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gray says The Marshall Tucker Band’s touring days are far from over.

“As long as I can do it, I will,” he says. “If you make great memories for people, they will always be there. They think, ‘I want that same feeling I had that same night I went to that Tucker concert.’”

For a full list of tour dates, visit lynyrdskynyrd.com or marshalltucker.com.

Newly Added Dates For The Last Of The Street Survivors Farewell Tour

July 13: Darien, NY
July 14: Hartford, CT
July 20: Mansfield, MA
July 21, Bethel, NY
July 27: Cleveland, OH
Aug. 3: Tinley Park, IL
Aug. 4: Noblesville, IN
Aug. 10: Detroit, MI
Aug. 24: Syracuse, NY
Aug. 25: Burgettstown, PA

On The Cover: MusicRow Magazine’s 31st Annual ‘InCharge’ Issue

Now in its 31st year, MusicRow Magazine’s annual InCharge guide serves as the definitive collection of industry gatekeepers and key decision-making professionals within the Nashville entertainment community. Each of the 399 profiles includes updated contact information, career biography, and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations.

Three easily accessed appendices act as quick references to the 112-page industry resource. A company appendix lists individuals by their place of business. A label staff appendix corrals complete staff and artist rosters for Nashville record labels. The professional categories appendix lists professionals by their area of expertise, including publishing, legal, finance, label, etc.

InCharge debuted in 1987 and continues today, stronger than ever, spotlighting top-tier gatekeepers,” said MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “This publication proves each year to be the most indispensable resource for industry members, with each person in the directory representing many others who serve vital roles of supporting and growing our business.”

RCA Nashville artist Kane Brown graces the InCharge cover this year. He broke a record for being the first artist to be No. 1 on Billboard’s five main country charts simultaneously, and his single “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina is currently the most-streamed country song of 2018.

Single copies of InCharge are available for purchase online (www.musicrow.com) for $110, and are included with yearly subscriptions at no additional cost.

Industry Ink: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Hunter Hayes, SESAC, YEP

Mary Chapin Carpenter at CMA Theater

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mary Chapin Carpenter performed an acoustic set at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on April 6. Featuring Matt Rollings and Glenn Worf, the performance celebrated Carpenter’s new album, Sometimes Just The Sky, which debuted March 30. The project features new versions of beloved songs from her acclaimed 30-year career.

Pictured (L-R): Peter Cooper of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Glen Worf, Matt Rollings, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Darin Lashinsky of NS2 and Nando Rodriguez of the CMA Theater. Photo: Aimee Stubs

 

Hunter Hayes Hits 100 Million Mark

Hunter Hayes gathered with his Warner Music Nashville family to commemorate his five-times Platinum No. 1 single “Wanted” surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify. Hayes also released a video thanking fans for their support over the years.

Pictured (L-R): Clark Tedesco (WMN Manager, Artist Development), Shane Tarleton (WMN SVP, Artist Development), Kristen Williams (WMN SVP, Radio & Streaming), Hunter Hayes, Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Entertainment Manager), Dan Wise (Starstruck Entertainment Manager), Tim Foisset (WMN VP, Streaming), Rohan Kohli (WMN Director, A&R)

SESAC Presents at the Bluebird

On Tuesday night (April 10), SESAC songwriters took the stage at the Bluebird Café performing songs of the past, present and future.

Photo (L-R): SESAC’s VP of Creative Services, Shannan Hatch, songwriter Ben Danaher; SESAC EVP/CFO Kelli Turner; songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, songwriters Erin Enderlin and Alex Kline.

YEP Rewind—Strait ’90s Show

Music industry organization, Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) entertained a full house at The Basement East with a setlist of country songs from the ‘90s on Tuesday, April 10. The YEP Rewind Strait ‘90s Show raised $1,500 for the Opry Trust Fund.

Brinley Addington hosted a lineup including headliner William Michael Morgan, as well as Kree Harrison, Luke Pell, Maggie Rose, Brandon Lay and many more.

(L-R): Morris Light & Sound’s Alexa Simpson, YEP Executive Director Amelia Varni, William Michael Morgan, Luke Pell, and YEP Director of Alumni & Executive Relations MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Jason Myers Photography

Beth Nielsen Chapman CD Feted At SESAC

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s ET Brown, Lydia Schultz, artist Ruby Amanfu, Beth Nielsen Chapman, producer Sam Ashworth, SESAC EVP and CFO Kelli Turner, SESAC VP of Creative Shannan Hatch, and manager Sharon Corbitt-House

The release party for Beth Nielsen Chapman’s new Hearts of Glass album was staged at SESAC on Wednesday, April 11.

This is the first CD that Chapman has released since she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Her prior works include “Strong Enough to Bend,” “This Kiss,” “Nothin’ I Can Do About It Now,” “Happy Girl,” “Sand and Water,” “Five Minutes,” “Here We Are” and “You Say You Will.”

“We had a lot of fun making this record,” said Chapman of her new collection. “We picked some old songs that had been through other incarnations…that I always wanted to do my version of.”

One of those that she performed at the event is the album’s philosophical “Old Church Hymns and Nursery Rhymes,” originally recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1990. Among the new tunes she sang is the sunny “Enough for Me,” which she co-wrote with Sam Ashworth. He produced the album.

Ashworth joined her in performance on guitar and backup vocals. On percussion and backup vocals was Ruby Amanfu, whose credits include CDs by Beyonce, Jack White and Bruce Cockburn.

The other selections performed ranged from the melodic ballad “You’re Still My Valentine” to the jaunty “Come to Mine.”

The release party for Hearts of Glass marked the first time that Chapman had been in the new SESAC edifice.

“What a thrill to see this beautiful building,” she said. “I can’t wait to see where my office is.”

The release party was attended by a number of her fellow singer-songwriters, including Gail Davies, Bill Lloyd, Mary Gauthier and Chris Scruggs.

Beth Nielsen Chapman will showcase on the Grand Ole Opry this Saturday, April 14.

DISClaimer: Carrie Underwood Returns With “Powerful” New Track

Spring is in the air, and country comes alive with some fresh sounds for the season.

Good things come in “threes” this week. We have three promising newcomers that deserve your attention — Mason Lively, Szlachetka and our DisCovery Award winner, Vince Moreno.

We also have three contenders for the week’s top prize — Chris Stapleton, RaeLynn and our Disc of the Day winner, Carrie Underwood.

Happy listening.

VINCE MORENO/You Live In This House
Writers: Vince Morena/Mary Welch Francis; Producers: none listed; Publishers: Bluwaboo, ASCAP; VM
– It has a dark, bluesy groove. His macho baritone drawls and spits and moans as he delivers the goods in this lyric of a haunted, lonely heartache. Promising in the extreme.

CHRIS STAPLETON/Millionaire
Writer: Kevin Welch; Producers: Dave Cobb/Chris Stapleton; Publisher: none listed; Mercury (track)
– Searing and soulful. Wife Morgane shadows him on high harmony throughout this ballad’s ode to enriching romance. A home run.

MASON LIVELY/Lonely Comes Back Around
Writer: Mason Lively; Producer: Pat Manske; Publishers: none listed; ML (track)
– This is a lively country rocker about escaping from a broken heart by running, running, running. For a young newcomer (Lively is just 20 years old), he displays great vocal confidence and quite adept songwriting skills. You’re on the right path, son.

RAELYNN/Queens Don’t
Writers: RaeLynn/Corey Crowder/James Abrahart; Producer: Josh Kerr; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
-Delightful. It’s a terrific female empowerment anthem that builds from gently produced verses to layered, cool, echoey choruses. This sounds decidedly like a big breakthrough record.

 

ANTHONY POWER/The Photographer
Writer: Anthony Power; Producers: Power/Agostino; Publishers: none listed; AP (track)
– He’s an Australian singer-songwriter who accompanies himself on ukulele. This title track from his current CD has a simple, sing-songy melody. It’s more folk ditty than country.

THOMAS RHETT/Life Changes
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Rhett Akins/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley; Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure & Thomas Rhett; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Cricket on the Line/Sony-ATV/Warner-Tamerlane/Ritten By Rhettro/Telemitry Rhythm House/Songs of Roc Nation/WB/Sadie’s Favorite/Combustion Engine, BMI/ASCAP; Valory (track)
– I love how he’s used the facts of his own life story to craft this. And it sure doesn’t hurt that it is ridiculously catchy.

SZLACHETKA/Heart Of My Hometown
Writers: Matthew Szlachetka/Jamie Kent; Producer: David Blanco; Publishers: Francis Marie/Lama TuMama, SESAC/ASCAP; MS (track)
– He used to be in a Los Angeles band called The Northstar Session that made some noise in Americana music with five albums. His solo outing takes a turn toward mainstream country. This title tune rolls along with admirable country-rock energy and a highly engaging melody. Think Jackson Browne meets Nashville.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cry Pretty
Writers: Carrie Underwood/Hillary Lindsey/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose; Producers: David Garcia/Underwood; Publishers: Carrie-Okie/BIRB/BMG Rights/Maps An Records/Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse/Warner-Tamerlane/Songs of Crazy Girl, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (download)
– Powerful stuff. Her vocal goes from a quiet, delicately phrased intro into a soprano-shout crescendo. It’s a power ballad with a pounding heart. Listen and believe.

 

JEFF CLAYBORN/Good Bar Attender
Writers: Jeff Clayborn/Doug Wright/Chuck Ebert; Producer: Chuck Ebert; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Axon
– A honky tonker that should have been better, but is dragged down by a muffled production and a thin-sounding vocalist.

SCOTTY McCREERY/This Is It
Writers: Scotty McCreery/Aaron Eshuis/Frank Rogers; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Triple Tigers
– Cool, sparkly production touches. The song is an extremely well written invitation to romance that could easily become an enduring wedding favorite. The ex American Idol winner grows up, and how.

Live In The Vineyard Plans Inaugural Country Event

Live In The Vineyard, the private music festival held annually in Napa Valley, is partnering with the Academy of Country Music for the inaugural Live In The Vineyard Goes Country. Taking place May 15-17, it will give attendees exclusive performances and access to top tier wine makers and world-renowned chefs. There will be a headlining performance by Carrie Underwood and acoustic performances by Hunter Hayes, Old Dominion, Parmalee, Ashley McBryde, Jerrod Niemann, Maddie & Tae, Eric Paslay, Maggie Rose, Lindsay Ell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Cale Dodds and Cash Campbell.

The Opening Reception on Tuesday, May 15 will feature Old Dominion and Mitchell Tenpenny.

On Wednesday, May 16 Live In The Vineyard Goes Country attendees will enjoy a Nashville style in-the-round guitar pull featuring Maddie & Tae, Jerrod Niemann, Eric Paslay and Cale Dodds at Regusci Winery.

That evening, superstar Carrie Underwood will headline the main event at the Blue Note Napa. The all-star Wednesday night line-up will also feature Hunter Hayes, Parmalee and Ashley McBryde.

To round out Live In The Vineyard Goes Country, there will be a send off brunch on Thursday, May 17 with acoustic performances by Maggie Rose and Lindsay Ell.

The VIP event will feature Cash Campbell.

Fans can check out more information about Live In The Vineyard Goes Country and enter for a chance to attend at www.liveinthevineyardgoescountry.com, as well as enter to win onsite in Las Vegas at select ACM Party for a Cause events April 12-15, leading up to the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™ on Sunday, April 15.

Tickets are available through special radio station promotions with iHeart Radio, Cumulus, Entercom, Westwood One, the Bobby Bones Show, local participating stations, as well as exclusive sweepstakes and offerings with official airline partner, Southwest Airlines.

CMA Foundation And U.S. Bank Partner For Music Education

The Country Music Association has expanded its partnership with U.S. Bank. Already a presenting partner for the critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series, U.S. Bank will broaden its support by providing resources to music education.

Specifically, the CMA Foundation will partner with U.S. Bank’s existing Places to Play initiative, which creates quality, accessible play spaces in low- to moderate-income communities. In 2018, the new partnership will focus on bolstering music education programs in Cincinnati, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The CMA Songwriters Series Presented by U.S. Bank will visit these four cities. The Cincinnati show on May 2 will feature Sara Evans, Trent Harmon, Rob Hatch and Eric Paslay performing at Memorial Hall.

Concert details for the other cities will be announced soon.

Spotify Acquires Loudr

Spotify has acquired Loudr, a company which offers products and services designed to streamline royalty payments to music publishers. Founded in 2013, Loudr caters to clients including content creators, aggregators and digital music services.

The Loudr team of publishing specialists and technologists will join Spotify’s New York offices. In addition to integrating with Spotify, Loudr will continue to provide select services to its publishing and aggregator partners.