Weekly Register: Luke Combs Continues Country Chart Reign

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Luke Combs continues to top the country albums sales rankings this week, with This One’s For You moving 24K in total consumption, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Jason Aldean‘s Rearview Town is at No. 2 with 16K, followed by Dan+Shay‘s self-titled project at No. 3 with 15K. Kane Brown‘s self-titled effort is at No. 4 with 14K, while Chris Stapleton‘s 2015 album Traveller is at No. 5, with 13K.

Singer-songwriter Lori McKenna, known for penning hits including “Humble and Kind” and “Girl Crush,” released her album The Tree last week, which debuts at No. 39 on the country albums chart, with 4.2K. Also new this week are debuts from Whiskey Myers (Mud at No. 47) and Mason Ramsey (Famous at No. 68).

Florida Georgia Line‘s “Simple” leads this week’s country digital song sales, with 19K. Brett Young‘s “Mercy” is at No. 2 with 14.4K. Kenny Chesney‘s “Get Along” is at No. 3 with 12.4K, followed by Dan+Shay‘s “Tequila” at 12K. Jason Aldean (ft. Miranda Lambert)’s “Drowns The Whiskey” is at No. 5 with 11.7K.

The top five most-streamed country songs this week are Brown’s “Heaven” (9.3 million), Dan + Shay’s “Tequila” (8.6 million), Florida Georgia Line’s “Simple” (6.8 million), Young’s “Mercy” (5.8 million), and Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” (5.7 million).

 

Promotions, Hirings For 117 Entertainment Group

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Pictured (Clockwise from top left): Heather Trotter, Max DaCosta, Lauren Manderbach, Allen Hodge.

117 Entertainment Group’s Zach Farnum has announced promotions and hirings for several staffers. Publicity Manager Heather Trotter rises to Director of Publicity, while Office Manager Max DaCosta rises to Management Associate. 117 Entertainment also welcomes Lauren Manderbach as Director of Digital Marketing and Allen Hodge as Tour Coordinator.

Trotter will continue to execute PR strategy and take lead on select projects for 117 Publicity’s roster which includes Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Travis, Chuck Negron, Dallas Wayne, Drew Jacobs, James Carothers, Kalie Shorr, Kendall Gary, Lee Roy Parnell, Marta, Max T. Barnes, Mickey Gilley and the Nashville Association of Talent Directors. DaCosta will take over day-to-day responsibilities for 117 Management’s roster, including flagship artist Bobby Bare, with additional artists being announced in the coming months. He will continue to support 117 Live initiatives including the Chillin’ on the Lucie music festival in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Manderbach joins from her own marketing firm, Alloy Signature, where she worked on marketing and content creation for artists and brands. She has spent the past six months working with Johnny Lee and Bobby Bare on their digital strategies. Her background is in print layout, web and graphic design, photography and videography. She will continue to operate Alloy Signature in addition to her new role at 117 Entertainment.

“We have a very young and hungry team of people who have been absolutely rocking it for our clients across the board. The projects we are working on for clients across the board come in many shapes and sizes, so I need a team of people who can stretch and bend to their needs – this is that team,” said Farnum, 117 Entertainment’s President & CEO.

Submissions Now Open For MusicRow’s 2018 ‘Publisher Issue’ Print Magazine

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Submissions for the upcoming MusicRow Publisher Issue print magazine are now being accepted through Aug. 17.

The issue includes company listings for Nashville’s top publishing companies in addition to exclusive, publisher-pertinent edit. To submit your company for consideration, visit MusicRow.com.

To reserve ad space in the Publisher Issue print edition, email [email protected]. Rate card information is available here.

Vivendi Plans To Sell Up To 50 Percent Of UMG Within 18 Months

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Vivendi, Universal Music Group’s (UMG) parent company in France, says it will begin to engage banks as it looks for strategic partner(s) in selling up to 50 percent of its stake in the music company, per its mid-year financial report issued today (July 30).

Recommendations were to have the transaction completed within the next 18 months, potentially by the fall, in order to extract the highest value as streaming continues to offset the decline in music sales.

UMG makes up a majority of Vivendi’s revenue. While Vivendi will establish a floor price for the entry of partners into UMG’s share capital, analysts have estimated the value to be worth from $20 billion to as much as $40 billion. An IPO was ruled out due to its complexity.

Recorded music revenues were reported to have grown by 7.4 percent as “subscription and streaming revenues more than offset the continued decline in both download and physical sales.” Music publishing revenues were reported to have grown by 11.1 percent, also driven by increased subscription and streaming revenues, as well as better performance revenues.

UMG is the largest of the “big three” record labels, ahead of Len Blavatnik’s Warner Music Group and Japanese-owned Sony Music Entertainment. UMG has been the only of the three to retain its bulk of shares in Spotify, estimated to be around 5 percent of the streaming service.

Bobbie Gentry Collection Due In September From Capitol/UMe

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An eight-CD box set covering the entire career of Bobbie Gentry, The Girl From Chickasaw County – The Complete Capitol Masters, will be released by Capitol/UMe on Sept. 21. The major retrospective includes all seven of Gentry’s studio albums remastered from the original tapes, along with over 75 previously unreleased recordings including her ‘lost’ jazz album, outtakes, demos, rarities and an eighth disc of live performances taken from her celebrated series for the BBC.

The set also includes specially commissioned cover art by David Downton and features an 84-page book with a comprehensive essay by boxset compiler Andrew Batt, rare and unseen photos, eight postcards and a facsimile of her original handwritten lyrics for “Ode To Billie Joe.”

Among the tracks in the extensive compilation are classic originals like “Ode To Billie Joe,” swamp funk mover “Mississippi Delta” (complete with an alternative version), the Glen Campbell duet “Mornin’ Glory,” her definitive cover of “Hushabye Mountain,” the pop-soul “Fancy,” and from her final album, the melancholy “Lookin In.” In addition, there are previously unreleased recordings including originals like “I Didn’t Know” and “Joanne” alongside essential covers of “Conspiracy Of Homer Jones,” “God Bless The Child,” and “Spinning Wheel.” Also included are intimate acoustic performances of “The Seventh Son,” “Feelin’ Good,” “Seasons Come, Seasons Go” and “Belinda.”

Gentry, whose birthday was last Friday, July 27, released seven studio albums and broke ground in numerous ways as one of the first female musicians to write, produce and even publish her own music. She also produced her elaborate stage shows via her own production company and was the first female singer songwriter to be afforded her own BBC TV series in the UK, where she was wildly popular. She became one of the most influential artists of the 1960s and ’70s. In the early ‘80s made her final appearance and retreated from the public eye.

MTSU Offers OSHA Training Workshop For Live Entertainment Production

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Ernie Santiago, owner of ESH Training LLC in Waipahu, Hawaii, lectures on event safety at the inaugural OSHA 30 Conference for Live Entertainment Production held at Middle Tennessee State University, June 11-17, 2018. The conference was the first of its kind held in the United States. (MTSU photo)

Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Recording Industry recently hosted an Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification workshop earlier this summer, aimed at those working in Live Entertainment Production.

The inaugural OSHA 30 Conference for Live Entertainment Production was held June 11-17 and was conducted with encouragement from the Event Safety Alliance, or ESA, an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting “life safety first” throughout all phases of live event production and execution.

Frank Baird, assistant professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry realized the need for face-to-face OSHA training for live entertainment workers while attending the ESA’s annual Event Safety Summit held at the Rock Lititz Campus in Lititz, Pennsylvania, last December. On Jan. 1, the state of Nevada began requiring some people working in the entertainment industry in Nevada to complete OSHA training and more states may decide to follow suit and enact similar legislation.

OSHA 30 is a federal, 30-hour, construction and general industry health and safety certification course.

“This was the first time a live event industry version of this OSHA course has been offered in the United States,” said Baird. “Attendees included live event industry leaders from the U.S. and the United Kingdom, live entertainment professionals from Nashville to Denver as well as our own MTSU faculty, staff and students.”

Middle Tennessee State University hosted the inaugural OSHA 30 Conference for Live Entertainment Production June 11-17. Pictured, from left, are OSHA 30 conference organizers Tim Roberts, director, The Event Safety Shop (TESS) in Bristol, United Kingdom; Dr. Donald Cooper, executive director, U.S. Event Safety Alliance; Ernie Santiago and Kathleen Santiago, owners, ESH Training LLC in Waipahu, Hawaii; Alan Hochfelsen, owner, Production Management in Aiea, Hawaii; Ken Paulson, dean of College of Media and Entertainment; and Frank Baird, assistant professor, MTSU Department of Recording Industry. (MTSU photo)

Luke Bryan Celebrates Eight BMI Million-Air Awards During Dodger Stadium Headlining Show

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, AVP, Creative; BMI’s David Preston, Senior Director, Creative; Luke Bryan; BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Creative; Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment

Luke Bryan recently became the first country artist to headline a concert at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday (July 28). The sold-out show was the eighth stadium show out of 13 planned as part of his What Makes You Country Tour XL Stadium Sized.

Backstage before the concert, BMI presented Bryan with eight ‘Million Air Awards’ for his radio airplay. The Million-Air Award is given to songwriters, composers, and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances. Bryan was awarded for “Move” (1 million), “Fast” (1 million), “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day” (1 million), “I See You” (2 Million), “Someone Else Calling You Baby” (2 million), “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” (2 million) “This Is How We Roll” (2 million) and “Good Directions” (4 million- Luke wrote this No. 1 hit for Billy Currington). The combined airplay total on these singles is 15 million.

The What Makes You Country Tour plays in Arkansas and Nebraska this week then Luke heads to Denver to perform at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, Aug. 4. Luke first headlined this stadium in 2015 and in 2016 he played back to back stadium dates in Denver’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Luke Bryan. [Click to enlarge image]

 

Kesha To Release ‘Rainbow’ Documentary Via Apple Music

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Kesha will celebrate the one-year anniversary of her album Rainbow with the release of a behind-the-scenes documentary, available exclusively on Apple Music. The documentary will release Aug. 10.

Directed by Kesha along with her brother Lagan Sebert and Kevin Hayden, and produced by Magic Seed Productions, Rainbow – The Film details the creation of the album and echoes her most recent LP’s messages of self-love, perseverance and strength.

“Making Rainbow the album was such a therapeutic process and given the opportunity to turn it into a three dimensional piece of art has helped me find even deeper healing and catharsis,” said Kesha. “I hope this film inspires others to never give up even if you feel full of hurt or lost, because after the storm comes a rainbow. Depression, anxiety and mental illness are things we all need to talk about more, and there is no shame in asking for help. Making the decision to work on yourself is the bravest thing you can do. I hope this film helps bring light and love to everyone.”

Rainbow – The Film offers previously unseen footage chronicling Kesha’s joy playing rock clubs and dive bars around the country, writing and recording Rainbow, preparing for her performance at this year’s GRAMMY Awards and more.

Watch the documentary’s trailer below:

Reba To Receive Inaugural Career Maker Award From Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame

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Reba McEntire will be honored by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame with its inaugural Career Maker Award at the upcoming 48th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Oct. 28. The award is presented to a non-Hall of Fame member whose artistic endeavors have helped songwriters achieve their dreams of induction into the Hall of Fame. McEntire will be honored for her significant influence on the songwriting careers of Hall of Fame members during the special evening at the Music City Center.

Throughout her career McEntire has been a strong advocate for the songwriting community, recording over 80 songs, 33 of which were singles written or co-written by over 40 songwriters who have gone on to achieve induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

“Reba has played a significant role in helping more than 40 songwriters achieve induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Pat Alger, chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Foundation Board of Directors. “That’s about 20 percent of the hall’s entire membership.  She has supported songwriters throughout her career and was one of the first industry leaders to help the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame build our Hall of Fame Gallery at the Music City Center. Her Hall of Fame career as an artist has in turn helped create so many other Hall of Fame careers for songwriters – which is why we want to say Thank You on Nashville songwriting’s most legendary night. Reba is a songwriter’s best friend. Once she chooses your song and puts her inimitable stamp on it, you begin to understand why you became a songwriter in the first place. She is indisputably a great singer who continues to transform a diverse catalog of songs into works of art of the highest order. Simply put, when Reba sings your song, it’s not likely to get any better than that.”

“I love to record! Being in the studio is so creative and so much fun and very rewarding. That process starts with the songwriters and publishers sending me songs to listen to” said Reba. “Over my recording career, I have listened to thousands of songs written by incredibly gifted people. The songwriters in this community have never let me down, and have always shared their very best songs with me, which I appreciate more than they know. Being the first recipient of the Career Maker Award means so much to me because it’s an award from the songwriters whose songs have helped me create and maintain a career I love. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

The nominees for the upcoming 48th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame were recently released.

Bobby Bones Named VP Creative Director For iHeartCountry

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Bobby Photo

Bobby Bones, host of The Bobby Bones Show, has added VP stripes to his growing list of achievements, as he steps into the role of VP/Creative Director of iHeartCountry.

Bones reaches more than nine million people monthly as host of The Bobby Bones Show and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, in addition to more than 5 million monthly downloads of his morning show podcast. He will continue as host of both radio programs along with his new role, as well as hosting and executive producing his new radio show Women Of iHeart Country. The Bobby Bones Show is nationally syndicated by Premiere Networks on more than 100 radio stations, in addition to airing on iHeartRadio, and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones is heard nationwide on more than 160 stations.

In addition, Bones will continue to participate in iHeartMedia’s marquee live events including the iHeartRadio Music Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Awards, as well as host the iHeartCountry Festival and iHeartRadio Album Release parties for artists.

“Country continues to be one of the fastest-growing music formats and Bobby is the leading on air personality connecting with country fans across multiple platforms nationwide,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “He has created a relatable, fun and engaging brand of entertainment that drives unmatched results for our advertising and partners. We’re proud to be in the country music business with Bobby, and look forward to developing new and exciting ways to reach this expanding community.”

“This is the opportunity I’ve been chasing my entire career,” said Bones. “Thanks to Bob Pittman, Rich Bressler and Kevin Legrett for their years of support and for the space to build this partnership.”

With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. and over 131 million social followers, iHeartMedia has the largest national reach of any radio or TV outlet in America.