Taylor Swift Celebrates Big RIAA Certifications (Including A Diamond Certification)

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Pictured (L-R): Taylor Swift and Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. [Click photo to enlarge]

Taylor Swift performed three consecutive nights at MetLife Stadium this weekend during her record-breaking reputation Stadium Tour. Big Machine Label Group President and CEO Scott Borchetta surprised Swift backstage with six RIAA certified plaques for reaching significant sales milestones, including a Triple Platinum Certification for reputation a Diamond Certification for her 2008 album Fearless and a Double Platinum Certification for single “…Ready For It?”, Platinum Certification for singles “Delicate” and “End Game” in addition to a Quadruple Platinum Certification for the single “Look What You Made Me Do.”

Swift also hits the No. 1 spot on the Top 40 radio chart this week with her current single “Delicate,” marking Swift’s 10th ascent to the top of the chart. Swift will continue the reputation Stadium Tour in the US throughout the fall before heading overseas for additional dates and will wrap in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 21.

Chris Stapleton To Join Joe Walsh On VetsAid 2018 Benefit

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Joe Walsh has announced the lineup for VetsAid 2018, his national non-profit veterans organization’s music festival taking place Nov. 11 on Veterans Day at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. VetsAid 2018 will feature full sets from Chris Stapleton, Don Henley, James Taylor, Haim and Walsh himself.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday (July 27) through the Tacoma Dome Box Office as well as Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000 and military discounts will be available to all active and retired military personnel and their families by showing identification at the Tacoma Dome Box Office.

Launched on Sept. 20, 2017 with an inaugural concert in Fairfax, Virginia featuring performances by Walsh, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and Gary Clark Jr., the first VetsAid concert disbursed nearly $400,000 in grants to veterans’ services organizations nationally and locally.

Veterans and their wellbeing have always been important to Walsh, a Gold Star son himself. His father was a flight instructor for the first US operational jet powered aircraft, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, and died while stationed and on active duty on Okinawa when Walsh was 20 months old. He’s been involved with veterans’ related causes for years, supporting various charities, visiting the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and offering free guitar lessons to the wounded veterans there. He has also campaigned for his good friend, Iraq war veteran and (now) Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

“This Veterans Day I invite you to join me and my friends,” Walsh explains, “to remember the men and women who have served our country and honor their sacrifice by helping us raise funds to support their essential and basic needs. I invite us to come together and celebrate the things that unite us as Americans… like great music!”

Luke Bryan Becomes First Artist To Headline All Three Of Minneapolis’ Stadiums

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Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan made history last weekend with his Saturday night (July 21) Target Field show in Minneapolis, becoming the first artist to headline all three of Minneapolis’ current stadiums. Fans attending the show were also the first to see Bryan’s new music video “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” as it exclusively debuted on the stadium’s big screens at sunset. The video for the song, which was written by Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd and Chase McGill, was filmed last month outside of Nashville on Dale Hollow Lake at the Sunset Marina & Resort, and was directed by Michael Monaco.

In 2015, Luke sold-out TCF Bank Stadium and in 2016 he packed out U.S. Bank Stadium and became the first artist to christen the brand-new venue. He resumes his stadium tour Saturday night (July 28) in L.A. at Dodger Stadium.

“WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY TOUR XL STADIUM SIZED” Dates:
7/28-Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium
8/4-Denver, CO @ Sports Authority Field at Mile High
8/25-St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium
9/1-Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
10/13-Vancouver, BC @ BC Place Stadium
10/26- Detroit, MI @ Ford Field

Reba McEntire Inks Publishing Deal With Given Music

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Pictured (L-R): Jenny Hall, Creative Director, Given Music Publishing; Reba; Michael Hollandsworth, VP/GM, Given Music Publishing; Cindy Owen, Given Founding Partner.

Reba McEntire has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Given Music Publishing,

McEntire’s professional relationship and friendship with Given Music founding partner Cindy Owen dates back to the early ’80s, when McEntire gave her a start in the music industry when Owen was in her teens. Owen later became McEntire’s VP of Creative Services, a position she held for 15 years before launching her own entertainment company in 2002 and then Given Entertainment with business partner Jim Kacmarcik in 2013.

“Signing Reba to Given is for sure a full circle moment for me,” Owen says. “One of my greatest blessings is having had a front row seat for all these years to watch her blaze new trails and become the icon she is. Her work ethic, talent and determination are unmatched and examples to us all. Reba has always made evident her lifelong passion for songs, songwriters and the songwriting community. We at Given look forward to being a part of her team as she continues to expand new horizons in entertainment and create opportunities for herself and other songwriters.”

“It has been said that it all begins with a song. For me, it starts with the songwriter,” McEntire says. “From their very talented and creative imaginations, they create something that can make you laugh, lift your mood, get you two-stepping or break your heart. What they write affects people in a way that few things can. Joining the Given team is something that excites me in a number of ways; first and foremost that I again get to work with my longtime friend and colleague Cindy Owen. I have great respect for the rest of the creative team, as well as the incredibly talented roster of songwriters who are part of the Given family. As I continue to explore new creative avenues, this is the perfect home for me as a writer.”

Industry Ink: BMI, Austin Burke, PLA Media

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BMI’s Rooftop Series Features Kalie Shorr, Morgan Wallen

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Kalie Shorr, George Dickel’s Brian Downing and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen

Earlier this week, the BMI rooftop was brimming with industry tastemakers, friends and family eager to hear from BMI songwriters Kalie Shorr and Morgan Wallen. The evening kicked off with a private toast honoring Wallen’s first No. 1 hit as an artist, “Up Down,” with BMI executives and songwriters CJ Solar, Michael Hardy and Brad Clawson. The summer rooftop series offers a unique opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the Nashville skyline while enjoying complimentary food and beverage and the best of Music City’s veteran and rising talent. The summer’s two remaining shows will take place on Aug. 21 and Sept. 11.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, BMI’s Mason Hunter, CJ Solar, Michael Hardy, Morgan Wallen, Brad Clawson, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen and BMI’s Josh Tomlinson.

 

Austin Burke Signs With 287 Entertainment

Emerging country artist and songwriter Austin Burke has signed with 287 Entertainment for exclusive management representation.

Earlier this month, Burke signed a worldwide recording deal with AWAL, Kobalt’s recording company. AWAL’s partnership with Burke began with global distribution services and progressed in the wake of the success of his EP. AWAL’s newly-acquired partner, in2une Music, is arranging a multi-city radio tour in support of “Whole Lot In Love.” The tour kicks off this week, ahead of Burke’s performance at the Faster Horses Country Music Festival in Michigan.

 

PLA Media Adds Tim Williams To Roster

Tim Williams

PLA Media has added country/Americana artist, actor and Trivago spokesperson Tim Williams to its award-winning roster. Tim, most commonly recognized as the “Trivago Guy,” has served as the face of the travel company across North America since 2013 and will be premiering his debut country project titled Magnolia City this fall.

Williams is joined alongside a client list including the world renowned attractions Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum and Tina Turner Museum, Jesse Rice and Gary Morris.

Jason Isbell, John Berry, Gordon Mote Join Jacksonville State Tornado Relief Concert

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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, John Berry, and Gordon Mote are the latest performers announced to join the all-star lineup of talent for the Alabama& Friends #JSUSTRONG Tornado Relief Concert benefit set for Sept. 26 at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium.

Alabama, the Charlie Daniels Band, Shenandoah, Jamey Johnson, and Comedian Darren Knight “Southern Momma” have already been announced to perform on the benefit for Jacksonville State University. SiriusXM’s Storme Warren will emcee the event.

On March 19 of this year, JSU and the surrounding Jacksonville community was hit by a EF-3 tornado, severely damaging 23 buildings and impacting more than 50 more. Fortunately there was no loss of life, however millions of dollars in damage was reported following the storm.

“We are so thankful and blessed that friends of ours, and some from our great state of Alabama, have offered to help raise funds to repair the damage from the horrific tornado a few months back,” says Alabama frontman Randy Owen. “The university has been wonderful to work with on helping us setup the concert. From the looks of ticket sales and strong support from sponsors, this will be a very special night for the attendees.”

The rain or shine event begins at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets prices start at $25.00 and are on-sale now at Ticketfly.com or by calling 877-4FLY-TIX.

National Trust For Historic Preservation And Historic Nashville To Hold Rally The Row Event

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Nashville, Inc will hold a Rally the Row event on Tuesday, July 24, to promote awareness of actions the public and Metro Nashville can take to help support the preservation of the Music Row area. The event will be held from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Bobby’s Idle Hour (1028 16th Ave. S.). Admission is free, and the event will include live entertainment, as well as food and drinks supplied by San Antonio Taco Company.

“The near-loss of RCA Studio A in 2014 was certainly the most high-profile example of demolition threats to Music Row, but unfortunately it was not the last,” said Carolyn Brackett, senior field officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We can’t just sit back and let Nashville’s unique history be destroyed and its present-day musical culture lost. There are practical solutions that would balance development with the preservation of Music Row’s historic fabric and retain the music businesses that fill them. We urge Mayor Briley and Metro Nashville leaders to adopt them before it’s too late.”

Since the year 2000, a total of 56 historic buildings in the Music Row area have been lost and the demolition pressure continues. Currently, five buildings on 16th Avenue are threatened with demolition. Among the action items in a proposal from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Nashville, Inc. are: designating Music Row a Cultural Industry District, freezing Special Plan exemptions that ultimately encourage demolitions, and creating incentives to keep music businesses on the Row.

“Music Row is an accidental, by-chance location where The Nashville Sound and the music business grew from scratch,” said Trey Bruce, vice president of Historic Nashville and award-winning songwriter, musician and producer. “From this small neighborhood came one of the world’s largest musical footprints. We have to act now to save this place that is iconic and historically priceless.”

Donations can be sent to historicnashvilleinc.org and earmarked for Music Row.

 

Chris DeStefano, Wendell Mobley, Lee Thomas Miller To Play Music City Hit-Makers Show

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Chris DeStefano, Wendell Mobley, Lee Thomas Miller

Music City Hit-Makers returns to Cheekwood in Nashville for its fourth annual Songwriters and Symphony Under the Stars on Aug. 24 and 25, with Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Chris DeStefano and more performing. The outdoor songwriter series will extend into a second weekend at Cheekwood on Oct. 12-13.

The songwriters will perform their chart-topping hits for artists like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood, accompanied by the sounds of the Music City Symphony. Songwriters for the October shows will be announced at a later date. Sirius XM’s Storme Warren will emcee the event on Friday, Aug. 24, with The Big 98 radio host Amy Paige hosting Saturday’s show.

“This event is so special because it brings harmony to two of Nashville’s greatest assets, its talented musicians and beautiful landmarks,” says Charles Dixon, event creator and producer. “We are thrilled to have so many amazing songwriters joining us for our biggest year yet.”

Nightly tickets are $45 for Cheekwood members and $55 per night for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at cheekwood.org/calendar/songwriters-under-the-stars/.

Dierks Bentley’s Indianapolis Show To Be Live Streamed

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Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley‘s entire set from his show in Indianapolis will be live-streamed tomorrow (July 21) on the Live Nation Concert Series on Twitter. The show will be live-streamed nationwide for free, showcasing his biggest hits along with standouts off his recent No. 1 album The Mountain.

The live stream will begin at 9:20 p.m. ET on live.twitter.com/dierksbentley.

The Live Nation Concert series on Twitter has featured, Imagine Dragons, A$AP Ferg, Zedd, Train, 21 Savage, Above and Beyond, Khalid, Niall Horan, G-Eazy and many more.

Industry Pics: Carrie Underwood, SESAC, Bobby Bare

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UMG Staff Gets First Listen To Underwood’s ‘Cry Pretty’

Carrie Underwood shared her new album, Cry Pretty (Sept. 14), with the Universal Music Group Nashville staff this week. Underwood co-produced the album with David Garcia and this will be her first release on Capitol Records Nashville.

 

SESAC Presents: In the Round at the Bluebird

SESAC songwriters Spencer Crandall, Josh London, Brett Sheroky, and Nora Collins, along with SESAC Manager of Creative Services, Lydia Schultz filled the room with music at the monthly SESAC Presents: In the Round at the Bluebird Café, held earlier this week.

 

Bobby Bare Celebrates With Industry Members Post-Opry Performance

Pictured (top, L-R): Straight 8 Entertainment’s Norman Jacob, Singer/Songwriters Jacob Tolliver and Payton Taylor, 117 Entertainment’s Zach Farnum, Bobby Bare, 117 Entertainment’s Heather Trotter, Singer/Songwriter David Tucker. (bottom, L-R): 117 Entertainment’s Max DaCosta, Singer/Songwriter Grayson Michael, NewsChannel5’s Jesse Knutson

Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Bobby Bare spent time with young industry professionals and artists after his Opry performance Wednesday night (July 18).