Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge To Headline Country Thunder Arizona

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Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, and Brett Eldredge have been announced as headliners for the 2019 Country Thunder Arizona Festival, set for April 11-14.

Also appearing at the festival will be Brothers Osborne, High Valley, Trace Adkins, Clay Walker, Restless Heart, Lonestar, Abby Anderson, Brandon Lay, the Hunter Brothers, hosts Williams & Ree, and more.

“2018 was a record-breaking year in Arizona and we knew that we had to up the ante for 2019,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “We are excited to announce these headliners for the incredible fans who have made Country Thunder Arizona what it is.”

Now in its 25th year, Country Thunder in Florence, Ariz., annually hosts the biggest names in country onstage and features multiple stages showcasing the best local talent, numerous food and specialty item vendors, helicopter and thrill rides and more.

Music Biz 2019 Call For Presentations

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The Music Business Association has opened its Call for Presentations for its 2019 Music Biz conference, to be held May 5-8 at the new JW Marriott Nashville.

All submitted topics should present a balanced perspective, with representatives from the commerce, content, and creative communities being given the chance to weigh in on the discussion. Suggested topics of interest can be seen below. Submissions will be considered based on overall quality, focus, and innovation; relevance to the issues facing the music and entertainment industry; sound research and theoretical basis (if applicable); practical implications to the Music Biz audience; and the experience and reputation of proposed speakers.

The deadline to submit is Monday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. PST with chosen entries notified by Friday, Jan. 4.

Prime areas of interest for Music Biz 2019 include:

• Entertainment & Technology Law
• Metadata
• Indie Artist & Songwriter
• Artist Management
• Live Events & Touring
• Publishing & Rights Management
• Streaming, Playlisting & New Delivery Models
• Physical Product Sales & Promotion
• Brand & Strategic Partnerships
• Career & Professional Development
• Sync – Television, Film, Games
• Financial Literacy & Planning
• Breakout Programming submissions that do not fall into the categories above, but directly relate to the goal of monetizing music. Topics can include, but are not limited to, social media, marketing & public relations, blockchain, AI & VR, and more.

Presentations, case studies, and conversation/interview formats are encouraged, while sales-pitch-oriented presentations will not be considered. Those sessions that lend themselves best to a panel format MUST be limited to no more than a moderator and three (3) panelists.

Presenters/panelists MUST be diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, geographic location, areas of expertise, and ideologies. Submissions that do not demonstrate diversity in these areas will not be considered.

There are no fees required to submit a proposal, and Music Biz membership is not required to submit.

Further details can be found at musicbiz.org.

Those wishing to submit a speaker for consideration rather than a panel or presentation idea can do so here.

Chris Tomlin Becomes First Christian Artist To Receive Pandora Billionaire Award

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Pictured (L-R): Anthony Piedmonte/Piedmonte & Co., David Sylvester/ VP, Marketing & Operations, Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG), Beville Darden/ Sr. Director of Artist Marketing Pandora, Chris Tomlin, Melissa Chalos/ Programming Curator, Christian/Gospel Music | Pandora, Hudson Plachy/ Chief Marketing Officer CCMG, Brad O’Donnell/ Chief Creative Officer CCMG and Grace Watson/ Manager, Commercial Partnerships CCMG

Chris Tomlin has reached another career milestone as the first Christian artist to reach the Billion streams threshold on Pandora. He was presented with their Billionaire award during an exclusive album preview event in Nashville this week for loyal Pandora listeners.

Tomlin is one of only a handful of artists in any genre to reach this impressive benchmark, and to date, has 1.8 Billion lifetime spins and averages 4.5 million streams per week.

“The level of Chris Tomlin’s performance on Pandora is extremely rare and exceptional in the Christian/Gospel genre, with 1.8 BILLION lifetime streams, 2.6M unique listeners and 20M+ streams each month,” says Melissa Chalos, Programming Curator, Christian/Gospel Music Pandora. “Fifteen of the Top 100 worship songs sung in churches around the globe have his name on them, and 8 of his 11 album releases have reached No. 1. We are excited to welcome worship artist Chris Tomlin to the Pandora Billionaire’s Club and to acknowledge the millions of fans engaging with his music here on Pandora. It’s our loyal Pandora listeners who determine which artists become Billionaires, and we honor them and their pick in Chris.”

“I’m so honored to represent this amazing genre of music that features so many incredible artists,” said Tomlin. “What this ‘billion’ honor reminds me of is that every week there are billions of people who gather together in worship. Anywhere there is dirt on this earth people are worshipping God. I’m so thankful to be a part of that.”

Last Fall Tomlin also made history when he became one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over one billion digital radio streams, along with Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks.

Industry Pics: Onsite Foundation, UTA Nashville, Lee Ann Womack

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Brian O’Connell Honored During Onsite Foundation’s INSPIRE Event

PIctured (L-R): Big Kenny of Big & Rich, Onsite Foundation CEO Miles Adcox, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell, Hayley Hubbard, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, Former Blackhawks Player Adam Burish

The Onsite Foundation celebrated their annual INSPIRE event on Oct. 23, with a special evening honoring Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell with their Inspiration Award. The night recognized O’Connell and his team’s ongoing commitment to helping the victims and families of the Oct. 1 tragedy in Las Vegas. At an intimate event at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, sincere speeches were given by guests from the country music community including Maren Morris, Tyler and Hayley Hubbard, Big & Rich, Rory Feek, Onsite’s CEO Miles Adcox and more. The evening also saw performances by Jason Aldean and Big & Rich paying tribute to the work and commitment to music demonstrated by O’Connell and The Onsite Foundation.

 

UTA Nashville Partners With Habitat For Humanity

On Oct. 20, a team of employees at UTA’s Nashville office partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help construct a brand new home – painting the exterior, installing floorboards and trim, and installing and leveling all interior doors. UTA has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity since 2004. Most recently in May, UTA sent a team of agent volunteers to Houston to help build affordable housing after last year’s devastating Hurricane as well as sent a group from the Los Angeles office to participate in a build in Long Beach, California.

Participants included UTA’s Global Head of Philanthropy & Partner, Rene Jones, Music Leadership Agent Nick Meinema, Music Agent Lance Roberts, UTA client Terri Clark, artists Kelly Prescott and Chad Murphy, Music Brand Partnerships Agent Sara Schoch, Digital Strategy Agent Nick Barnes, among a total of 22 UTA volunteers and friends.

 

Lee Ann Womack Performs At Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater

Lee Ann Womack with Grammy Museum’s Scott Goldman. Courtesy of the Recording Academy. Photo by Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images © 2018

Lee Ann Womack performed an intimate show at Los Angeles’ Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater on Oct. 18. Womack and band member Ethan Ballinger performed “Mama Lost Her Smile, “All The Trouble” and more from her latest critically acclaimed album The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone (ATO Records). The performance was preceded by a discussion with Grammy Museum’s Executive Director Scott Goldman.

Industry Ink: CRS Rusty Walker Scholarship, Kinkead Entertainment, ACM

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Applications Open For Rusty Walker Scholarship To CRS

The Country Radio Broadcasters are now accepting applications for the Rusty Walker scholarship program, which will provide travel, accommodations and complimentary registration to the 50th Anniversary Country Radio Seminar, to be held Feb. 13-15, 2019. Individuals that are interested in applying must do so by end of the day on Nov. 13, 2018.

Interested parties can apply now at countryradioseminar.com/rusty-walker-scholarship. Eligible applicants must be a full-time radio station employee and a first time CRS attendee. Three individual scholarships will be awarded.

Scholars will be recognized at the CRS 2019 opening ceremonies and will have the opportunity to meet and engage with CRS board members during the three-day seminar. The Rusty Walker Scholarship program is named in honor of Country Radio Hall of Fame member Rusty Walker, who passed away in May 2012 at the age of 59.

 

Kinkead Entertainment Agency Adds Seth Cook

Seth Cook

Nashville’s Kinkead Entertainment Agency has added Seth Cook to its roster. His debut single, “Show ‘Em How It’s Done,” was produced and engineered by Matt McClure. Cook previously played lead guitar for Brett Young while on Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes Tour.

 

ACM Sponsors Palomino Rides Again Benefit

 

The Academy of Country Music recently sponsored the ‘The Palomino Rides Again,’ a one-day re-opening of the historic ACM Award-winning Palomino Club at its original location in North Hollywood, benefitting Valley Relics Museum.

The evening was the first-ever gala in support of Valley Relics Museum, which endeavors to collect, preserve and present the history of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. Highlights of the event included live performances by Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores, James Intveld and his Honky Tonk Palominos, original members of Palomino Riders house band. The event was hosted by original barn dancer founder, Ronnie Mack.

Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Pistol Annies, Kacey Musgraves Added To CMA Awards

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Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Kacey Musgraves, Pistol Annies, and Thomas Rhett have been added to the lineup of performers for The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. The awards show will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the ABC Television Network.

Previously announced performers for the CMA Awards include Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bentley is a three-time CMA Awards winner and 24-time career nominee. He returns this year with his seventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year and sixth nod for Album of the Year.

Brothers Osborne, three-time CMA Awards winners and seven-time career nominees, are the reigning Vocal Duo of the Year winners, bringing home the Award consecutively in 2016 and 2017. They return this year with their fourth consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year nomination.

Florida Georgia Line are six-time Vocal Duo of the Year nominees consecutively from 2013 – 2018, and three-time winners in the category (2013 – 2015). They have 11 career CMA Awards nominations with four total wins.

Musgraves is a 15-time CMA Awards nominee and two-time winner. She returns this year with her fifth Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and third Album of the Year nomination.

Pistol Annies (Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley) are two-time CMA Awards nominees, receiving nods in 2013 for Music Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year.

Rexha is a first-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving two nods this year in the Musical Event of the Year and Single of the Year categories for her crossover collaboration “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line.

Thomas Rhett is a 10-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving three nods this year. He returns with his second consecutive nominations in the Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories, and first nomination for Album of the Year. His first CMA Awards win was in 2016 for Single of the Year.

Robert Deaton is Executive Producer, Gary Halvorson is Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer for the show.

Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus Launches Christian Music Label Red Street Records

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Jay DeMarcus

Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus has launched a new Christian music label, Red Street Records, it was announced during a press conference Wednesday (Oct. 24) in Nashville. Don Koch joins the new label as general manager, while Aaron Crisler‘s Conduit Media will oversee publicity.

The new label’s flagship artists will include hit CCM group Avalon, as well as Lauren James, who often leads worship at popular pastor/speaker Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

Vocal quartet Avalon first released its first album in 1996; the current group includes members Greg and Janna Long, new member Dani Rocca, and Jody McBrayer, who returns after leaving the group in 2007 due to health issues. Both Janna and Jody first joined in 1995, while Greg joined in 2003. The group has earned two Gold albums, with 1997’s A Maze of Grace, and 1999’s In A Different Light.

DeMarcus has overseen production on several faith-based albums for artists including Reba (Sing It Now), Jason Crabb (Love Is Stronger), The Martins (New Day), and Michael English (Greatest Hits/Gospel/Love Is The Golden Rule). In the early ’90s, DeMarcus was also part of CCM duo East To West, alongside Neal Croomer and signed to Benson Records.

In addition to working as part of Red Street Records, DeMarcus will continue his role as a music producer and bassist for hit country trio Rascal Flatts.

Chris DeStefano Launches New Publishing Venture WinSongs Music

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Hit songwriter/producer Chris DeStefano has opened a new publishing company, WinSongs Music Publishing. Joining WinSongs as the company’s new Creative Director is Kirby Smith.

DeStefano is a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer with 16 No. 1 songs to his credit. Smith, a Houston native, was previously Creative Coordinator at Play it Again.

The company’s first signing is Chase Fouraker, a Jacksonville, Florida native with a genre-bending, rhythmic-meets-pop country sound.

“I’m very excited to be launching WinSongs Music Publishing,” said DeStefano. “There are incredible opportunities in our industry, and we will focus on forming a successful, creative family.”

“Built on a foundation of experience and song-driven diversity, WinSongs Music Publishing is excited to discover and bring the next generation of talent to the music business,” said Smith.

Ryan Seacrest Foundation Relocates Headquarters To Nashville, Appoints Industry Advisors

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The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), a non-profit dedicated to inspiring youth through entertainment and education-focused initiatives, has relocated its headquarters permanently to Nashville from Los Angeles.

Additionally, a group of entertainment industry advisors has been appointed to help support the Foundation’s mission, including: Scott Borchetta, President, CEO & Founder, Big Machine Label Group; Nicki Farag, Executive Vice President, Promotion, Def Jam Records; John Ivey, President, CHR Programming Strategy at iHeartMedia; Allison Kaye, President, SB Projects; Debra O’Connell, President & General Manager at WABC-TV; and Gary Spangler, Executive Vice President, Promotion, Republic Records.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has already arranged for hundreds of celebrities to visit patients across the country at its Seacrest Studios, including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Usher, Luke Bryan and Camila Cabello. Additionally, the newly appointed advisors will join the Foundation’s current celebrity ambassadors, pop star and actress Sabrina Carpenter along with singer-songwriter Charlie Puth as well as their former ambassadors Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas, to help the Foundation continue to cultivate unique entertainment experiences for patients and their families in children’s hospitals.

The RSF industry advisors will help the Foundation expand its impact and enhance its multi-media programming in their state-of-the-art media broadcast centers – Seacrest Studios – in children’s hospitals across the country. Advisors will work with the Seacrest family and the Foundation staff to help generate awareness of its mission, bring celebrity talent to visit patients at Seacrest Studios, as well as drive development and fundraising opportunities.

“We’re honored to have assembled a talented group of industry executives, who have been generously supporting our Foundation for years, to join us officially as advisors to help us advance our efforts and elevate our network of Seacrest Studios,” said Meredith Seacrest, Ryan Seacrest Foundation Executive Director/COO. “We’re also excited to call Nashville our new home, which isn’t far from our Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.”

 

 

 

 

Josh Gracin Partners With Reviver Records, 117 Management

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Pictured: Greg Scott, David Ross, Bob Kinkead, Heather Trotter, Gator Michaels, Art Benson, Dennis Kurtz. Back Row: Paul Williams, Josh Gracin, Zach Farnum

Josh Gracin has compiled a new team to help support his independent label Revel Road Records that includes Reviver Records’ marketing and promotion staff, 117 Management for management and public relations, and the Kinkead Entertainment Agency, who will continue to exclusively represent Gracin worldwide.

“Josh’s music is like a fine wine that gets better with age. We are proud to be involved with Revel Road and the team assembled, bringing Josh and his music to the top where it belongs,” said David Ross, President and CEO of Reviver Entertainment Group.

Gracin has had several hits at radio including “I Want To Live,” the chart-topper “Nothin’ To Lose,” “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” and “We Weren’t Crazy,” and is releasing a new single, “Good For You” that impacts country radio on Nov. 5.

“I could not be more excited to help Josh grow his career, especially with the new music he’s recorded. Country music fans are about to experience Josh Gracin like they’ve never seen him before and they aren’t going to know what hit them!” said 117 Management’s Zach Farnum.

“Josh Gracin has contributed to Country Music at the highest level on both radio and on the stage! We are proud to represent Josh in the ‘live touring’ segment of his career and look forward to a great 2019,” said Bob Kinkead, CEO of the Kinkead Entertainment Agency.

“I’m looking forward to knocking down walls with this team. The humbling path I was on through the last several years forced a lot of self-reflection, so I made some changes and now I’m ready to start again. With Reviver, 117 and Kinkead leading the way, I’m beyond excited to get to work!” said Gracin.