2018 MusicRow Awards: Song Of The Year Nominees

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CATEGORY 4: SONG OF THE YEAR

Voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart performance.

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 may subscribe to receive a ballot.

“Cry Pretty”
When Carrie Underwood was ready to release her first new music since 2015, following an injury and a change in record companies, a comeback song was in order. And when a superstar needs a heart-wrenching power ballad, they turn to The Love Junkies. Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose co-wrote “Cry Pretty” with Underwood. She is the perfect vocalist for the soaring chorus and emotional delivery. The Love Junkies previously won MusicRow Song of the Year in 2015 for “Girl Crush.” Additionally, Lindsey is a reigning Song of the Year co-writer of “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and McKenna won for “Humble and Kind” (2016) and “Stealing Kisses” (2007).

“Drunk Girl”
Songwriters Chris Janson, Scooter Carusoe and Tom Douglas offer a sincere message about the difference between a boy and a man… take a drunk girl home/ let her sleep all alone. In the wake of last year’s #metoo movement, it is a timely subject matter. The lovely piano-driven ballad is full of imagery, delivered by Janson with just the right amount of sensitivity. Douglas is a previous Song of the Year winner for “The House That Built Me” (2010).

“Life Changes”
The charm of “Life Changes” comes from the real-life details offered by Thomas Rhett, referencing everything from his major hit “Die A Happy Man,” to adopting a daughter from Uganda, and his wife Lauren’s surprise pregnancy. The sunny chorus rings true for everyone: You never know what’s gonna happen, you make your plans and you hear God laughing. Thomas Rhett co-wrote the song with father/hitmaker Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley. It is the title track to his current album.

“Most People Are Good”
Luke Bryan continues his strong track record of offering poignant country songs relatable to the everyman with “Most People Are Good.” Songwriters David Frasier, Ed Hill and Josh Kear offer a spot-on lyric about how the world might look some days: If you just go by the nightly news, your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose. But the true message of their song proves the opposite: I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks, I believe most people are good. Bryan and Kear are both previous recipients of MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year award.

“She Ain’t In It”
If you want a stone-cold country song about a broken heart, look no further than traditionalist hitmakers Wynn Varble and Clint Daniels. Their song, “She Ain’t In It,” fits singer Jon Pardi as perfectly as his Wranglers and belt buckle. Playing the role of a lonesome cowboy, Pardi sings, My life won’t be the same, as long as she ain’t in it. Fiddle and steel accent his twangy delivery, to create one of the countriest songs on the radio today.

[Click photo to enlarge]

Rodney Crowell Revisits Hits On New ‘Acoustic Classics’ CD

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Rodney Crowell is set to release his latest album, Acoustic Classics, July 13. The project is the first on his newly-launched imprint, RC1.

Crowell has released six albums in the last ten years, and this new project is a re-distilled, acoustic presentation of 12 masterfully-crafted tunes from his 40-plus-year career in an intimate setting. The collection features songs originally made famous by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bob Seger, Tim McGraw and more, including “Leaving Louisiana In the Broad Daylight,” “Ain’t Living Long Like This,” and “Please Remember Me.”

“With the help of some of my favorite musicians, I’ve made all acoustic instrument recordings of ten of my most recognizable songs. Also included is a couple more recently written that I want people to hear. There’s even a revised version of my most commercially successful song, “Shame on the Moon,” said Crowell.  “All in good fun.”

Exclusive pre-order bundles featuring the new cd and vinyl can be found on Crowell’s website, rodneycrowell.com.

Crowell will host his inaugural Adventures In Song songwriting camp on July 16-20 at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Carmel, California. The event, described as “four days and nights of songwriting bliss,” will feature Crowell doling out songwriting expertise alongside a star-studded cast which includes Lisa Loeb, Joe Henry, Allen Shamblin, Brennen Leigh, Don Peake and special guests Bernie Taupin and Benmont Tench.

Acoustic Classics Track Listing:
1. “Earthbound”
2. “Leaving Louisiana In the Broad Daylight”
3. “Anything but Tame”
4. “Making Memories of Us”
5. “Lovin’ All Night”
6. “Shame on the Moon Redux”
7. “I Couldn’t Leave You if I Tried”
8. “She’s Crazy for Leaving”
9. “After All This Time”
10. “Tennessee Wedding”
11. “Ain’t Living Long Like This”
12. “Please Remember Me”

NSAI’s Nashville Songwriter Awards Coming To Ryman Auditorium

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International is set to present a star-studded evening on Sept. 19, 2018, during the Nashville Songwriter Awards, presented by City National Bank at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m. CT at ryman.com.

“We are very proud to present this important and exciting event recognizing Nashville’s finest songwriters and their songs at the hallowed Ryman Auditorium,” said NSAI President, award-winning songwriter Steve Bogard. “It promises to be an amazing night full of memorable performances honoring the best in our business.”

Bill Anderson will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additional honorees will include the 2018 “Song of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year,” “Songwriter-Artist of the Year,” and NSAI’s coveted “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” which are chosen by Nashville’s professional songwriters.

LANCO and Chris Janson have already confirmed to perform during the show and there are many star performers and surprise guest stars who will be announced very soon.

“We have a very long history of supporting songwriters and the creative community,” said Lori Badgett and Diane Pearson, heads of entertainment banking for City National Bank in Nashville. “We are so pleased that many of our friends are being honored at this memorable event. Nashville has always been a special place for creators and City National is so proud to continue to support them.”

This year’s Nashville Songwriter Awards marks the first year that the Nashville Songwriters Association International will present its awards at the Ryman Auditorium in a separate event from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Weekly Register: Jason Aldean, Kane Brown Top Sales Charts

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Jason Aldean‘s Rearview Town returns to No. 1 again this week on the country albums sales chart, with 24K in total consumption, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Kane Brown‘s self-titled album follows at No. 2 with 19K, with Keith Urban‘s recently released Graffiti U, which sold 16K. Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You is at No. 4 with 14K, and Thomas Rhett‘s Life Changes rounds out the top five country albums this week with 12K.

Country’s top five digital songs are Brown’s “Heaven” at No. 1, with 25K, followed by the Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line collaboration “Meant To Be” at No. 2 with 25K. Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” is at No. 3 with 16K, followed by Kenny Chesney‘s “Get Along” at No. 4 with 13K. Blake Shelton‘s “I Lived It” rounds out the top 5 with 12K.

The top country debut track this week is Sam Hunt‘s “Downtown’s Dead,” which debuts at No. 11 country with 9.7K.

Recording Engineer, Mixer, and Producer David Schober Passes

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David Schober. Photo: facebook.com/david.schober

Updated: May 24, 10:21 p.m.:

Schober’s memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Church, located at 4800 Belmont Park Terrace in Nashville.
This memorial service will be open to the public, with a simple reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Schober Family GoFundMe for outstanding medical/travel/Houston living expenses or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Original post:

Music industry veteran David Schober has passed away following a valiant battle with leukemia.

He grew up in Texas and his interest in music began early with exposure to a wide range of music through his parents, both music educators.

After studying music at Baylor University and Media Production at The University of North Texas, David moved to Los Angeles, hoping to break into the world of recording studios. He shares on his personal blog that when he moved to LA, he made the leap “with nothing but a car, a temporary place to stay and the adventure of discovering what could be possible.”

He soon found himself working for Grammy award-winning producer and mixer, Bill Schnee, as his first assistant in his new recording studio. Schober helped open Schnee Studios and assisted the many sessions there which included some of the best artists, players, engineers, and producers in the country as regulars at the studio.

After several years, David struck out on his own and began working with Maurice White (of Earth, Wind & Fire), Diana Ross, Tori Amos, Ozzy Osbourne, Ray Charles, Randy Travis, Chaka Khan, Leonard Cohen, LL Cool J, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Neil Diamond, Jermaine Jackson and others. He also branched out into recording and mixing various scores for TV and Film, including many projects with legendary string arranger and composer, Paul Buckmaster.

After many trips to Nashville to track and mix various projects, David relocated to Music City. During his time here, his work included projects for Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Sixpence None the Richer, Vince Gill, Natalie Grant, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Wynonna Judd, Steven Curtis Chapman, RED and Young Buck.

Schober was a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2012.

David is survived by his wife and four children. The family has asked for privacy during the next few days to allow them to grieve.

Arrangements are pending.

David Schober

Danny Gokey Announces First Headlining Tour For Fall

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Danny Gokey is gearing up for his first-ever headlining tour this Fall with the Hope Encounter tour. The tour will hit 29 markets across the country, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, and more beginning in September, and will also feature Tauren Wells and breakout artist Riley Clemmons.

“It’s been a dream of mine since American Idol to headline my own major tour,” says Gokey, who placed third in the eighth season of the talent competition. “That platform opened my eyes to the power of mixing hope with entertainment. Hearing a message of hope at just the right time can truly make an impact in someone’s life. The process of creating the tour has really been awesome. I can’t wait to hit the stage with Tauren and Riley – they are both crazy good and I love their fresh sound.  We’ve also brought in uber-creative director Laurieann Gibson, who has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson to Katy Perry, to design the show and help me take it to another level.”

Hope Encounter tickets pre-sale takes place Tuesday, May 29. Venue pre-sales launch in each market on May 30, and national tickets go on sale Friday, June 1.

THE HOPE ENCOUNTER Tour Dates:
*Dates subject to change without notice.
** On Sale dates for St. Paul, Sioux Falls, Lancaster & Fresno To Be Announced

September
20 Peoria, IL
21 Sioux Falls, SD**
22 St. Paul, MN**
23 Champaign, IL
27 Columbus, OH
28 Lancaster, PA
29 Wilkes Barre, PA
30 Stamford, CT

October
4 Louisville, KY
5 Atlanta, GA
6 Jacksonville, FL
7 St. Petersburg, FL
11 Oklahoma City, OK
12 Albuquerque, NM
13 Phoenix, AZ
14 Los Angeles, CA
16 Fresno, CA**
18 Rocklin, CA
19 Eugene, OR
20 Portland, OR
21 Seattle, WA
23 Nampa, ID
25 Salt Lake City, UT
26 Denver, CO
27 Topeka, KS

November
1 Charlotte, NC
2 Knoxville, TN
3 Evansville, IN
4 Chattanooga, TN

Lance Miller Signs Collaborative Deal With Still Working Music, StyleSonic Music, BMG

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Pictured (L-R): Shannan Hatch (VP of Creative Services, SESAC), Sara Beal (Director of Publishing, Still Working), Chuck Fleckenstein (COO and General Manager, Still Working), Tim McGraw (StyleSonic Music), Lance Miller, Roy Orbison, Jr. (Co-President, Still Working), Courtney Allen (Creative Director, BMG), Chris Oglesby (Vice President of Creative, BMG), Tiffany Dunn (Partner, Loeb & Loeb), Scott Siman (President, EM.Co) Photo: John Shearer

Lance Miller has signed with Still Working Music, in partnership with StyleSonic Music and BMG.

Miller co-wrote the No. 1 country hit and 2014 SESAC Song of the Year, Jerrod Niemann’s “Drink to That All Night.” His songs have also been recorded by Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, and Lee Brice.  He has toured as a solo act with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and others, and can be heard as a background vocalist on many records including singing background on “A Horse Called Music” with Merle Haggard on Willie Nelson’s Heroes album. He also appeared on the cable TV series Nashville Star.

“Lance is such a multi-faceted and talented songwriter and musician; we are honored to have him writing songs for us and join our roster,” said Roy Orbison Jr. “Lance brings an everyday positive attitude, pro ethic and cutting edge skill; it’s a simple joy welcoming Lance to our Still Working family!”

“We are grateful to our friends at Still Working to be partnering with a great writer like Lance Miller. I have wanted to work with Lance for a long time and am thrilled for Tim McGraw to join us in championing this talented writer,” said BMG’s Kos Weaver.

Nashville Recording Pioneer Glenn Snoddy Passes

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Glenn Snoddy, the founder of Woodland Sound and the dean of Nashville’s recording engineers, has died at age 96.

Snoddy was born in Shelbyville, TN on May 4, 1922. He learned radio technology while serving in the Army during World War II. After the war, he began working as an audio engineer at various Middle Tennessee radio stations, then went to work for the Brown Brothers Recording Service in downtown Nashville. This facility was the location of some of Music City’s earliest recording sessions.

He went to work for WSM radio in 1951. At the station, he engineered broadcasts of swing bands, the Grand Ole Opry, Ernest Tubb’s Midnight Jamboree, gospel shows and other diverse programs. He also worked at WSMV-TV, becoming a pioneering television engineer in Nashville.

In 1960, Snoddy became the chief engineer at Owen Bradley’s famed Quonset Hut on Music Row. He engineered all of Bradley’s productions of Patsy Cline, among others. He remained at the facility after Columbia Records bought it in 1962, working on records by such legends as Johnny Cash, Flatt & Scruggs, Ray Price, Carl Smith and Marty Robbins.

Snoddy was the engineer on the 1961 Robbins hit “Don’t Worry.” During the recording session, Grady Martin’s bass guitar fed a distorted signal through a faulty circuit in Snoddy’s mixing console. The engineer invented a circuit approximating this sound, which Gibson then marketed as an electric-guitar pedal. This was the birth of the fuzz tone used so memorably on “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones in 1965 and later extensively in psychedelic rock music.

During his years at The Quonset Hut, Snoddy also created the first stereo recording console in Nashville. He hired a then-unknown Kris Kristofferson to be the studio’s janitor.

In 1967, Snoddy took over an old movie theater in East Nashville and converted it into Woodland Sound Studios. At the time, it was one of the most technologically advanced recording facilities in the city.

Woodland was the site of the historic recording sessions for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1971 collection Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Kansas recorded its “Dust in the Wind” 1978 rock hit there. The Charlie Daniels Band created its famed “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” in 1979 at Woodland. “Elvira” by The Oak Ridge Boys (1981) and “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro (1968) are among the many other iconic hits from the studio.

Barbara Mandrell, Lefty Frizzell, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Eddie Rabbitt, Johnny Lee, Loretta Lynn, Charlie McCoy, Clint Black, Roy Clark, Donna Fargo, Aaron Tippin, Rosanne Cash, Conway Twitty and many other country greats recorded hits at Snoddy’s studio.

Woodland also hosted John Prine, Neil Young, Andy Williams, Joe Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Hiatt, Amy Grant, J.J. Cale, Joe Tex, Tracy Nelson, The Indigo Girls, Jimmy Buffett, Slim Harpo, Gordon Lightfoot and other pop stars. It was notable as Nashville’s headquarters for black-gospel recording.

Snoddy expanded the studio to 16,000 square feet, making it one of the few rooms in Nashville big enough to record full orchestras. He upgraded to 24-track recording there. Woodland also housed a mastering facility.

Snoddy was long active in the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy. He served as its board president in 1973-74. He remained at Woodland Sound even after selling it to AVI in 1980. He retired from the studio around 1990. Since 2001, Woodland Sound has been owned by the Americana-music team of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

In later years, Glenn Snoddy operated an antique mall for a short time on Old Hickory Boulevard in suburban Hermitage.

He passed away at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on May 21.

Buddy Guy To Be Honored With Americana Lifetime Achievement Award

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The Americana Music Association has named Buddy Guy as its 2018 Americana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for Instrumentalist. The honor will be presented at the 17th annual Americana Honors & Awards which will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Ryman Auditorium.

A seven-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Guy, 81, began his career playing on Chess Records sessions with Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters and later released his own recordings including “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues” and “Born to Play Guitar.”

“Buddy Guy’s incomparable musical craftsmanship has been lovingly shared with us over the years,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association®. “As a community who reveres and honors groundbreaking artists and their work, we are humbled to present Buddy with this Lifetime Achievement honor in recognition and thanks for his musical and artistic contribution.”

His upcoming release, the aptly titled The Blues is Alive and Well, (June 15) will feature Mick Jagger, James Bay and more.

 

Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan Among Performers on 2018 CMT Music Awards

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Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt have been announced as performers on the upcoming 2018 CMT Music Awards, which will premiere live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on June 6 at 8 p.m. ET.  

Clarkson, who is making her CMT Music Awards debut, will premiere her rendition of the iconic rock hit, “American Woman,” which is the theme of the upcoming Paramount Network series of the same title debuting the day after the Awards on June 7. Inspired by the real-life upbringing of Kyle Richards from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, American Woman follows Bonnie (Alicia Silverstone), an unconventional mother struggling to raise her two daughters after leaving her husband with the help of her two best friends in 1970s Los Angeles.

CMT Music Awards nominees Bebe Rexha, with her record-breaking, chart-topping collaboration “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line, and Justin Timberlake, with “Say Something” featuring Chris Stapleton, both received first time nods for the Video of the Year trophy. The additional lineup of stars vying for the title include Blake Shelton, Brett Young, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood featuring Ludacris, Dan + Shay, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, and Thomas Rhett. Carrie Underwood (who currently holds the title of most CMT Music Awards wins), Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean are tied for the most nominations with four each.

Fans can vote for their favorite artists now via CMT.com until Monday, June 4 for categories including “Video of the Year,” “Male Video of the Year,” “Female Video of the Year,” “Duo Video of the Year,” “Group Video of the Year,” “Breakthrough Video of the Year,” “Collaborative Video of the Year” and “CMT Performance of the Year.” Additional performers on the show will be announced soon.