Luke Bryan Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary Of Farm Tour In September

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Luke Bryan is honoring the American farmer once again this fall as his tenth annual “Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour” is set to run Sept. 27-Oct. 6. Bryan will take the six-city tour from Ohio to Florida, setting up stages in the fields of local farmers across those states.

Over 100,000 fans have attended the tour each year since its inception in 2009, and Luke will continue giving back to the farmers by awarding college scholarships to students from farming families who are attending the local college or university near the tour stops. To date, more than 50 scholarships have been granted. Bayer will also continue their #HeresToTheFarmer campaign on the tour, where for every share, Bayer will donate a meal to someone in need through Feeding America. In years past, nearly two million meals have been donated and $140,000 went to area food banks and local farmers in each of the tour cities. Visit HeresToTheFarmer.com to learn more.

Tickets for the “Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2018” go on sale June 6 at lukebryan.com/FarmTour.

Presale tickets for Luke’s Fan Club (the Nut House), Luke’s official App and Citi cardmembers at CitiPrivatePass.com begin June 1.

“I can’t believe we’ve been doing this 10 years!” Bryan said. “Our goal was to bring big-city production concerts into these small towns across the U.S. giving those communities the opportunity to attend shows that would never come their way.”

Sept. 27: Irwin, OH-Springfork Farms
Sept. 28: Pesotum, IL-Atkins Farm
Sept. 29: Boone, IA-Ziel Farm
Oct. 4: Archer, FL-Whitehurst Cattle Company
Oct. 5: North Augusta, SC-Misty Morning Farms
Oct. 6: Ringgold, GA-Doug Yates Farms

The Valory Music Co.’s The Church Sisters Offer First Album, ‘A Night At The Opry’

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The Church Sisters, a new sibling duo signed to Valory Music Co., has released their first full-length album, titled A Night At The Opry. The 11-track album showcases the harmonies of fraternal twins Savannah and Sarah.

The 22-year-old Virginia natives have been in the studio with songwriter/producer Julian Raymond, putting their vocal stamp on songs penned by Raymond, Maren Morris, Lori McKenna and Trent Dabbs.

“We’ve worked hard on this album and are so excited to finally be able to share it with the world,” Savannah said. “We hope people get a feel for who The Church Sisters are when they listen to these songs.”

Sarah added, “After a long road of recording and touring together since we were 12, we are ready to embark on this new journey and for our fans to hear this music. We hope that they love it as much as we do!”

“From the first moment I heard The Church Sisters sing, I was completely mesmerized with their vocal abilities,” said Raymond. “A Night at the Opry is an incredible mix of old fashion blood harmony with their Bluegrass, Gospel, Appalachian and modern country music influences.”

A NIGHT AT THE OPRY Track List
1. “A Night At The Opry” | Julian Raymond
2. “House Of Dreams” | Jessie Early, Angela Lauer
3. “The Little I Got” | Jabe Beyer, Maren Morris, Brett Tyler
4. “Growing Up” | Katie Cole
5. “Pearly Gates” | Julian Raymond
6. “Starting Over Again” | Julian Raymond
7. “I’m Free” | Jill Andrews, Kevin Rhoads
8. “Your Next Lover” | Lori McKenna
9. “Can’t Cage Me In” | Katie Cole
10. “Exile From Main Street” | Julian Raymond
11. “I’m Not OK” | Jill Andrews, Trent Dabbs

Canaan Smith Inks Deal With Tree Vibez

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Pictured (L-R): Back Row – ASCAP Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad; TVM Creative Director/TVM Tour Manager Adam Romaine; TVM General Manager Leslie T. DiPiero; ASCAP Creative Director Robert Filhart; Front Row – Tyler Hubbard; Canaan Smith;
Brian Kelley. Photo: Tree Vibez Music

Tree Vibez Music has welcomed its latest addition to the writing roster, with Canaan Smith signing on as the company’s newest staff writer.

Celebrating the news at the Nashville headquarters of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) on Tuesday (May 22), Smith joined TVM founders and Florida Georgia Line superstars Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, TVM general manager Leslie T. DiPiero, TVM creative director/TVM tour manager Adam Romaine, ASCAP senior creative director Mike Sistad, and ASCAP creative director Robert Filhart, to toast the news in laid-back style.

“I’m right where I need to be,” said Smith of his new songwriting home. “I’ve never felt more inspired to make great music.”

“We are so excited to be able to team up with such an amazing artist and one of our best friends,” Hubbard added of his fellow Belmont University college mate. “This is a full circle dream come true for all of us and the journey is just beginning.”

A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Smith earned his first Top 10 hit as a songwriter with Love and Theft’s 2009 debut, “Runaway.” He’s built on that success with more co-written hits including cuts by Jason Aldean, FGL and Cole Swindell, as well as Big Loud Records/Atlantic Records breakout star Mason Ramsey, who has made the Smith co-write “Famous” into a viral smash.

As an artist, Smith’s co-written 2014 single “Love You Like That” became a Platinum-certified hit, and his latest single “This Night Back” currently has over 25 million digital streams and counting.

Tree Vibez also represents Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt, and RaeLynn, as well as James McNair, Cameron Montgomery and Daniel Ross.

Industry Ink: Nashville Film Festival, Thompson Square, PLA Media, Brickshore Media

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Music Supervisors At Nashville Film Festival

Pictured (L-R): Deborah Mannis Gardner, DMG Clearances; Randall Foster, ole; Alex Hackford, Sony Playstation; Heather Cook, peermusic; Eric Hurt, Black River Entertainment; Liz Rogers, Anacrusis; Winslow Bright, SearchParty; Chase Casanova, Mark Woolen & Associates; Anastasia Brown, Format Entertainment; Dawn Soler, ABC Television; Claire Parr and Fletcher Foster, Iconic Entertainment; Jim Scherer, Whizbang inc.; Mandi Collier, Whirlygirl; Joseph Miller; Rick Clark, Rick Clark Productions; Joel Timen, Curb/Word Music Publishing; Katie Jelen, Warner Chappell; Jennifer Wolczyk, Whizbang inc.; Jane Heath. [Click photo to enlarge.]

Music supervisors join the Nashville Film Festival’s Music Committee at the 2018 festival. 

 

Thompson Square Previews New Album ‘Masterpiece’

Keifer and Shawna Thompson (Thompson Square) held an album launch party at Sips N Strokes in Nashville last night (May 24). The group of 25 industry folks and friends listened to their forthcoming album, MASTERPIECE, while painting their own wine-themed “masterpiece.”

The album, which marks the duo’s third studio album and first in five years, will release June 1.

 

PLA Media Adds Sarah Lawton To Roster

Sarah Lawton

PLA Media has added country singer/songwriter Sarah Lawton to their roster. The UK-born talent is joined alongside a client list including the acclaimed Johnny Cash Museum, the Americana Music Triangle and famed singer-songwriter Jesse Rice.

Lawton recently released her debut EP, Sticks and Stones, produced by Kenny Zarider at ZKeys Studio in Nashville. It features five original songs co-written by Lawton.

 

Brickshore Media Adds Cherish Lee To Roster

Cherish Lee

Brickshore Media has aligned with country artist Cherish Lee for exclusive PR representation. Earlier this year, Lee released her introspective album Tequila Cowgirl.

Spotify Launches New Educational Series The Game Plan

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Spotify is launching a new video series called The Game Plan geared towards artists and their teams who want to better understand how Spotify and music streaming works. The series features artists and Spotify employees offering tips and advice to other artists on how to build their career on (and off) the Spotify platform.

Designed to educate artists on the most important aspects of using Spotify to manage and grow their career, the Game Plan features interviews with dozens of experts, including Spotify employees, industry veterans, and big-name artists, such as the Teflon Don himself, Rick Ross (plus Little Dragon, Mike Posner, Vérité, and more). Episode topics include: Getting Your Music Up; What Is Spotify for Artists?; Releasing Music; Building Your Artist Profile; Understanding Your Audience; How to Read Your Data; Engaging Your Audience; The Follow Button, Promoting Your Work, and Building Your Team.

“From successful musicians, to employees who are industry experts, the Spotify community has a wealth of music industry knowledge,” said Charlie Hellman, Head of Creator Marketplace, Spotify. “We want to equip artists at all stages of their career with that powerful knowledge, and make it as accessible as possible. As part of that, ‘Spotify for Artists’ has launched The Game Plan, a new video series drawing on the expertise of the Spotify community, to provide tips, tools and strategies that can help artists build their careers, both on and off the Spotify platform.”

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Preview CMHoF’s Outlaws & Armadillos Exhibit

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Pictured (L-R): Co-curator Michael Gray, Director and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young, artist Shooter Jennings, exhibit co-curator Eric Geadelmann, artist Jessi Colter, VP of Museum Services Carolyn Tate, artist Joe Ely and co-curator Peter Cooper attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum)

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 592

Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit-opening parties are not generally noted for their rowdy behavior.

But Thursday evening’s (May 24) event was punctuated by plenty of yee-haws and war-whoops. This was because of the presence of huge contingent of party-hearty Texans. In fact, they outnumbered the rather more sedate and conventional Nashville attendees.

The ruckus started when museum CEO Kyle Young greeted them: “Welcome to all of you and a special, special greeting for all the folks who have come here from the great state of Texas!” That’s all they needed to hear for them to erupt in the first round of whoo-hoos.

“Tonight, we have a museum exhibit unlike any other. It’s called ‘Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ‘70s.’ This is an exhibit about one time and two places.”

Attendees Marshall Chapman and Michael Martin Murphey were apt representatives of the Music City and Austin music scenes of the era. The event’s music was provided by a similar mix – Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter and Joe Ely.

“Nashville needed Texas artists,” Young commented. “Texas needed Nashville. And we need each other more than ever. Both are rooted in the love of art and music. This exhibit leads to understanding, and understanding leads to appreciation.

“Together, we have arrived at an exhibit that will delight and surprise at every turn.”

Exhibits seen for the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum)

Although nearly overwhelmed by the vast Texas contingent, Music City attendees included Tony Brown, Ward Davis, Steve Popovich Jr., Shawn Camp, Americana Song of the Year nominee Waylon Payne, Garth Fundis, Melanie Howard, Heidi Ray, newly hired museum VP Brenda Colladay, Kay West, Denise Stiff, Kyle Lehning, Riders in the Sky’s Fred LaBour, Lance Cowan, Mary Matthews, Mike Milom, “outlaws” documentary filmmaker Eric Geadelmann (the co-curator), Tomi Lunsford, Patsy Bradley, Rob Santos, Tom Roland, the still ubiquitous Charlie Monk, Michael Bevington, David Preston, Abby White and Tim Wipperman.

The exhibit owes some of its color to a fine selection of Austin and Armadillo World Headquarters posters. The Exit/In scene in Nashville is also highlighted.

Among the “surprises” in the exhibit that Young referred to are Tom T. Hall’s whiskey still, Guy Clark’s Randall Knife, Ely’s circus uniform, Colter’s leather dress, film footage of Steve Young, Willie Nelson’s sneakers, Susanna Clark’s evocative paintings that became album-jacket illustrations, Kris Kristofferson’s army uniform, a Jack Clement guitar and a number of ultra-cool Waylon Jennings artifacts.

Attendees Shooter and Dave Cobb are co-producing the star-studded, sold-out CMA Theater concert that kicks off the “Outlaws & Armadillos” show on Friday (May 25). Its lineup includes Colter, Ely, Murphey, Bobby Bare, Billy Joe Shaver, Kimmie Rhodes, Delbert McClinton, Gary P. Nunn, Tanya Tucker, Jason Isbell, Jack Ingram, Ashley Monroe, Jamey Johnson and Colter Wall, many of whom attended Thursday’s festivities, as well.

Shooter Jennings performs onstage during the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Pictured (L-R): Don Schlitz, Billy Joe Shaver, Richie Albright and Jeremy Tepper of Sirius XM attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Exhibits seen for the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Exhibits seen for the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum)

Tanya Tucker and (L) and singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver (R) attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Jessi Colter performs onstage during the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Jessi Colter views her exhibt at the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

CMA’s Brenden Oliver, CMA’s Brandi Simms, CMHOF’s Kayla Ott, and BMI’s Bradley Collins attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Ward Davis, manager Samantha Goldstein, artist Hilary Williams, and BMI’s Bradley Collins attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Joe Ely attends the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Shooter Jennings views his exhibit at the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Brian Atkinson, Austin American Statesman’s Peter Blackstock, Americana Music Association’s Jedd Hilley, CMHOF’s Kay Clary, and Bluegrass Situation’s Craig Shelburne attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Author Bob Oermann, museum editor Michael McCall, and Kay West attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Director and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young speaks onstage during the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Tanya Tucker and (L) and singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver (R) attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

Delbert McClinton and Shawn Camp attend the CMHOF Outlaws and Armadillos VIP Opening Reception on May 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

 

Jackie Lee Inks With CAA, Releases New Single ‘Comeback’

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Jackie Lee has signed with CAA for booking.

Lee released a new video for “Long Year” earlier this week, detailing his own battle with testicular cancer over the last two years and his grief over losing his mom to cancer as well. The song was penned with Barry Dean and Sean McConnell. His brand new single, “Comeback,” written by Matt McVaney, Josh Hoge, Mark Fuhrer and Chris Young, is out today at all digital outlets.

His previous single “Getting Over You,” is nearing 40 million streams on Spotify, and he has toured with acts like Dan + Shay and performed at festivals including Stagecoach, Watershed, Route 91, Faster Horses, and Windy City Smokeout in 2017.

Lee is managed by Andrew Cohen and Jarrod Holley at Suit Music Management.

Weekly Chart Report (5/25/18)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

2018 MusicRow Awards: Breakthrough Artist Of The Year Nominees

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CATEGORY 5: BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.

The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony. 

See the full list of nominees. 

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. Voting closes on May 25 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you can subscribe to receive a ballot.

Kane Brown
Kane Brown’s skyrocketing year earned a Guinness World Record, as the first artist to simultaneously top five Billboard Country charts, thanks to his self-titled album, and the songs “Heaven” and “What Ifs.” The Georgia native scored his first major radio success with the doublePlatinum No. 1 “What Ifs” featuring childhood friend turned hitmaker Lauren Alaina. That song, as well as Brown’s follow-up, “Heaven,” were tracked by MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Dann Huff. Next up, listen for Brown as the guest on a new genre-crossing version of Camila Cabello’s “Never Be The Same.”

Luke Combs
Luke Combs is a major force among country’s rising stars. The self-made songwriter and road warrior built a fan base by touring and releasing music independently prior
to signing a record deal. His 2017 major label debut This One’s For You earned Gold certification and yielded the two-times Platinum single “Hurricane.” The breakout song topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart for two consecutive weeks. This makes Combs the first debut country artist to hold a multi-week No. 1 since Florida Georgia Line with “Cruise.” Combs followed “Hurricane” with “When It Rains It Pours” and “One Number Away,” earning those co-writers nominations in MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter category.

LANCO
LANCO has come a long way since their early days practicing in a carpet warehouse. Fast forward five years, 400 shows and one old RV later, and the hard working band is the first country group in a decade to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country albums charts. The band is made up of Brandon Lancaster and company: Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell and Eric Steedly. Their success was driven largely by the multi-week chart-topper “Greatest Love Story,” one of the 11 tracks Lancaster wrote for the album Hallelujah Nights. Helmed by MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce, the album tallied more than 220 million digital streams as of March. LANCO wrapped a sold-out club run in major markets before touring the UK and joining Dierks Bentley for their first amphitheater trek.

Midland
Midland’s remarkable mix of ‘90s country and Texas twang proved irresistible for music fans. Donning Nudie-style suits, Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy wooed listeners with debut single “Drinkin’ Problem,” which went to No. 1 and earned Platinum certification. The trio took home the ACM Award for New Vocal Group of the Year, and scored two Grammy nominations. They followed that success with current single “Burn Out” and a Spanish version of “Drinkin’ Problem” featuring Jay De La Cueva. Midland didn’t spend much time at home in Dripping Springs, Texas over the last year, as they were busy on major tours with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town and Thomas Rhett.

Carly Pearce
Carly Pearce’s “Every Little Thing” went to No. 1 and earned her the highest charting solo female debut single since July 2015. The Gold-certified breakout hit was co-written by Pearce, Emily Shackleton and busbee, who scored nominations for MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter and Producer of the Year, respectively. Pearce’s followup single “Hide The Wine” is now climbing the charts. During the last year, Pearce spent time on the road with Blake Shelton, and will join Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts and Luke Bryan for upcoming dates. Pearce, a longtime hard worker, has been singing since age 8 and honed her skills by performing at Dollywood as a teenager.

[Click photo to enlarge]

Striking Matches, Charlie Worsham, Lucie Silvas Join Innovation In Music Awards

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Striking Matches, Charlie Worsham, and Lucie Silvas are all set to perform at the Second Annual Innovation in Music Awards on Sunday, June 3 at the Westin Hotel in Nashville. The evening’s festivities, which honor the industry’s brightest risk takers and creative thinkers, will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner and the awards ceremony. Some surprises are also in store for the night, including a can’t-miss performance by one of today’s biggest country acts.

Presenters at this year’s IMA gala will include iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated radio host, Bobby Bones, President of Opry Entertainment Group, Steve Buchanan, and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum.

The evening will also feature a keynote address from David Macias, inaugural Innovation in Music, Executive Award winner. Grammy Award-winning producer Macias co-founded Thirty Tigers in 2002 with Deb Markland, and in just over a decade, the company has gone from two employees working out of Macias’ guest bedroom to thirty employees, most of whom work of their Nashville office. Thirty Tigers also has offices in Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina and London.

“The IMA has a simple and steadfast mission of finding and exulting innovation wherever it’s happening in our industry; Charlie, Lucie, and Striking Matches shine with the cutting edge of innovative performance,” said IMA Executive Producer and co-founder, John Ettinger. “David Macias has become one of Nashville’s most compelling characters, with a sense of imagination for what can be accomplished outside the normal path. I cannot wait to hear his angles on innovation.”

Tickets to this year’s event at the Westin Hotel are available here.