ASCAP has announced the 41st annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 16 at the Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin, Tennessee.

The evening will honor the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most-performed songs of the past year, and will be hosted by ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, Executive Vice President of Membership John Titta and Vice President of Nashville Membership Michael Martin.

In 2018, songwriter Colby Wedgeworth earned his first ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year honor, while the ASCAP Christian Music Song of the Year went to “Even If,” penned by Ben Glover, David Garcia, and Crystal Lewis, and recorded by MercyMe.

David Corlew and Bob Frank have formed a new Nashville-based publishing company, Corlew-Frank Music, with Scott Brown of The Scooter Brown Band as the group’s flagship songwriter. Publisher Kim Jones joins as the company’s Creative Director.

“Great songs are the basis of all we do. Recording and performing either makes us or breaks us,” says Corlew. “After selling my last catalog to BMG, I wanted to continue working in publishing, so I approached my 20-plus year partner in the label and distribution business, Bob Frank, and we decided to create Corlew-Frank Music. It made perfect sense to sign Scott Brown as our first writer, an artist we work together with through Bob Frank Distribution. Bringing publishing veteran Kim Jones into the mix made perfect sense, utilizing her experience in songs and writer development.”

Corlew’s previous publishing ventures include Kicking Bird Music, Bud Dog Music and the Corlew Music Group. Over the years, he’s worked with songwriters including including Chris Wallin, Keith Follesé, Tim Owens, Ben Stennis, Jason Sellers, and Jaron Boyer.

“David and I are looking forward to building Corlew-Frank Music into a preeminent independent publishing company,” says Frank. “He has a tremendous history of success and finding talented writers very early on in their development.”

On Tuesday night (March 12), Jake Owen revealed the track listing for his debut album, Greetings From…Jake, under the Big Loud Records umbrella at Flamingo Cocktail Club in Nashville. The 14-track album, set for release March 29, will feature his ACM-nominated single, “Down To The Honkytonk,” and seventh career No. 1 “I Was Jack (You Were Diane).” Each round of new singles was accompanied by a signature cocktail inspired by songs from the album.

After welcoming the audience, Clay Hunnicutt, President of Big Loud Records, said, “There are a lot of people in this room that helped create this music. To the writers, producers and all the contributors to this project, we want to say thanks. This is a really special project that we are very excited to be putting out.”

Owen expressed his excitement for the album adding, “This definitely isn’t my first rodeo, but what is exciting is there aren’t a lot of repeat writers. Even though [the album] is Greetings From…Jake, this is a party today for all of us to celebrate what I am very thankful for. This is a new chapter in my life with Big Loud and the album title is my journey. In any journey, it is time to check in and send a postcard. I think each song on the record is a little bit of where I am in life, where I am going and where I have been.”

Owen shared songs “Ain’t Here To Talk,” “Grass Is Always Greener” (featuring Kid Rock) and “Homemade” while guests sipped on Mama’s Sweet Tea. He offered an acoustic performance of “In It,” which highlighted his rich baritone voice.

Owen brought guests south of the border with his Sweeter Than a ‘Spicy’ Margarita and his next radio single “Drink All Day,” followed by “Señorita” (ft. Lele Pons) and “Mexico In Our Minds.” He played “Made For You” which will be featured on the Bachelorette. He will also play the song at Michael Ray and Carly Pearce’s wedding.

The That’s on Jack Mule ended the final round of singles, including “That’s On Me” and “River Of Time” closing with “Damn” which Owen has been playing on tour for 12 years.

Greetings From…Jake Tracklist
1. Down To The Honkytonk (Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson, Shane McAnally)
2. Ain’t Here To Talk (Jesse Frasure, Brett Tyler, Michael Hardy)
3. Catch A Cold One (Jon Nite, Josh Thompson, Justin Ebach)
4. I Was Jack (You Were Diane) (Craig Wiseman, David Ray, Jody Stevens, John Mellencamp, Tommy Cecil)
5. Grass Is Always Greener (feat. Kid Rock) (Ben Burgess, Jaren Johnston, Robert Ritchie, Alysa Vanderheym)
6. Homemade (Bobby Pinson, Drew Parker, Jared Mullins, Ben Goldsmith)
7. Drink All Day (Daniel Ross, Ernest K Smith, Brian Kelley, Josh Miller)
8. That’s On Me (Laura Veltz, Benjy Davis, Matt Dragstrem)
9. Señorita (feat. Lele Pons) (Nolan Sipe, Nathan Spicer, Ben Caver)
10. In It (Jimmy Robbins, Josh Thompson, Laura Veltz)
11. River of Time (Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, Marv Green)
12. Made for You (Benjy Davis, Joey Hyde, Neil Medley)
13. Mexico in Our Minds (Jaren Johnston, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley
14. Damn (David Lee Murphy, Jake Owen, Brett James)

Big Machine Records has named J.C. Coffey as Midwest Director of Promotion, effective Monday, March 18. Coffey will promote the imprint’s roster including Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Midland, Ronnie Dunn, Jennifer Nettles, The Cadillac Three, Lauren Jenkins, Josh Phillips, Noah Schnacky and Dan Smalley.

Big Machine Records’ VP of Promotion Kris Lamb commented, “We’re thrilled for J.C. to join our expert team of promo veterans and represent the remarkable Big Machine Records roster in the Midwest. J.C. has exactly what it takes to be a leader in his region with a large-scale knowledge of programming strategy, resolved dedication to create exceptional partnerships with radio and an unparalleled passion for the artists we represent. COFFEY… IS FOR CLOSERS.”

“I’m truly honored and humbled to join the Big Machine Records promo team, who represent such a fantastic roster of artists,” said Coffey. “Infinite thanks to Scott Borchetta, Jim Weatherson, Kris Lamb and Erik Powell for this incredible opportunity.”

He most recently served as OM/PD for Community Broadcasters in Elmira-Corning, New York, with prior stints at WTHT-FM and WPKQ in Portland, Maine, as well as WOKQ-FM Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Coffey can be reached 615-846-7749 and [email protected], upon beginning his new role on March 18.

Praise for multi-talented country music superstar Trisha Yearwood was through the roof last night (March 12) at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Yearwood was celebrating her 20th Anniversary as an Opry Member.

“We’re gonna do this again in 20 years. Count on it!” said Yearwood from the stage. “When they asked if I wanted to do an intimate celebration or a big event, I absolutely wanted a big celebration tonight.”

Surprise guests included Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and video tributes from Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire and Brenda Lee. Also appearing to duet with Yearwood was the man who invited her to become a member of the Opry in 1999, Ricky Skaggs.

“Ricky is one of those guys who doesn’t understand how cool he is,” Yearwood said of Skaggs. “Garth inducted him in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and when you hear his history, he’s so humble about it. He’s got to know because when he picks up a guitar or mandolin, it’s perfect.” Together the two sang a selection Yearwood chose from Skaggs’ discography, “Two Highways.”

Yearwood talked about those early inspirations that led her to the Opry stage.

“At 15 I came to the Opry with my family and watched people up here do what I wanted to do,” said Yearwood backstage before the celebration. “It’s never normal and I hope it never is. My dressing room tonight is the Women Of Country Music and my picture is on the wall in that room. It’s hard to wrap your head around it sometimes.

“We had an album I think my parents bought at a filling station and it had like 25 artists on it with two women,” explained Yearwood. “One was Patsy [Cline], the other was Kitty Wells. Those two girls were probably the first to girls that I remember hearing. Patsy was ‘I Fall To Pieces,’ with that big powerful voice with the cry and emotion in it. That’s what started it for me.”

During the Opry show, Yearwood paid tribute to the late Cline through her song and wardrobe selections.

“Twenty years ago, Patsy Cline’s daughter Julie and [Cline’s husband] Charlie Dick came out and gave me a plaque with a necklace that had belonged to Patsy. It’s framed, but I’m going to break it out of the glass tonight and wear it.” Yearwood sang “Sweet Dreams,” a song she’d sung on her induction night, in tribute.

To the crowd’s delight, Brooks took to the stage with a cue from Yearwood to perform another selection by Yearwood, “Whiskey To Wine.” While on stage, Brooks noted that while Yearwood credits Harris as one of the artists who inspired her to move to Nashville and pursue a music career, he has met hundreds of young women who now say the same of Yearwood.

Rounding out her evening, Yearwood reflected on having been inducted into the Opry by Porter Wagoner and sharing that Wagoner always called on her to “sing the one that brung ya.” With the crystal clarity of her distinguished voice, Yearwood performed her No. 1 debut single “She’s In Love With The Boy.”

Praise from a video tribute with a quote from Wagoner still holds: “Of all the girl singers in any of the fields of music, you’re the best I’ve heard.”