Dancin’ In The District To Return To Riverfront Park Oct. 10

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Dancin’ In The District, a beloved downtown Nashville event from days gone by, has been revived and returns this year to Riverfront Park on Oct. 10.

The free, all-ages, pet-friendly music event will include Nashville favorites like Daddy’s Dogs, 8th & Roast, and Ole Smoky Moonshine and benefits Music Health Alliance, an organization that helps connect professional musicians with the medical and financial solutions they might need.

Dancin’ In The District was dreamt up in the early 1990s to reconnect Music City with the music that gave it its name. Nashville restauranteur and Dancin’ founder, Tom Morales and a group of like minds formed the event with the help of Mayor Phil Bredesen, the idea being to throw a free weekly party with music at its hub.

“Dancin’ quickly became the catalyst to bring people downtown and was a selling point for investment on Lower Broadway,” notes Morales. “The Titans were the title sponsor at one point and the Predators engaged as well. The riverfront ‘happy hour’ quickly grew to crowds of over 10,000 people and the vitality of Lower Broad was back. As Nashville begins to face another identity crisis we felt the revival of such an event as Dancin’ in the District would be a perfect opportunity to remind locals, especially those new to Nashville, that Lower Broadway was once a platform for music discovery. This free community event brought music back downtown and we’re working hard to do it again.”

Dancin’ is the first of many events to be produced by Acme Radio Company, the newly established non-profit arm of Acme Radio Live.”From day 1, Acme Radio has focused on the discovery and preservation of Nashville,” said Carl Gatti, Acme’s Director of Entertainment. “As the city grows, we have gained a better understanding of just how important our original mission statement is. To continue our focus, we are launching the Acme Radio 501(c)(3) to expand upon discovery and preservation opportunities throughout the community and allow other like-minded businesses, brands, charities, artists, and individuals help us accomplish this goal.”

AT&T Includes Spotify Premium As Free Option For Select Customers

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Spotify is teaming with AT&T for a new bundling offer that allows AT&T Unlimited & More Premium customers to choose a Spotify Premium subscription, for free.

The Spotify is one of seven entertainment options offered by AT&T, including Pandora Premium, Cinemax, HBO, STARZ, VRV, and Showtime. Select AT&T customers can also sign up for a six-month, free trial of Spotify Premium (the service is $9.99/month after the trial ends).

Existing Spotify Premium subscribers who have AT&T’s Unlimited & More Premium plan can maintain their current Spotify account, and can select to obtain the service for free through the offer.

“We’re thrilled to add Spotify Premium, the market leader in music streaming with more than 100 million subscribers worldwide, to our premium lineup,” said Mitch Farber, VP Consumer Marketing, AT&T Mobility & Entertainment. “It’s another way we are working to deliver more value to AT&T customers with unlimited wireless and endless entertainment.”

“We’re excited to begin this new relationship with AT&T to provide millions of their customers with a seamless listening experience and easy access to more than 50 million tracks, billions of playlists and a variety of podcasts wherever they are,” said Marc Hazan, VP of Premium Partnerships, Spotify. “We continue to build relationships with world-class partners like AT&T to bring our Spotify Premium product to new audiences in the U.S. and across the globe.”

Dan Rogers Rises To Vice President/Executive Producer Of Grand Ole Opry

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Photo By: Chris Hollo

Dan Rogers has been promoted to the newly created role of Vice President and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry from his current position as Director of Communications and Show Producer. In his new role, Rogers will oversee production of the show and its more than 200 performances annually, including lineups, publicity, programming and member relations.

Rogers joined the company in 1999 and has been a near-constant presence backstage ever since. He has held many support roles for the Opry in marketing, communications, artist relations and production. As part of his new position, Rogers will continue his responsibilities for communications and overall show production and will have greater responsibilities in talent relations and logistics.

“The Opry is the crown jewel of our entertainment business,” said Scott Bailey, president of Opry Entertainment Group. “As we considered who could fill this important and unique position, Dan was the clear choice. He has the respect of his colleagues, our leadership and our Opry membership as well as the passion and acumen needed to steward the Opry toward its centennial.”

“The Grand Ole Opry has felt like home to me since I began my Opry career two decades ago,” said Rogers. “There is nothing more important to me than making certain the home of country music is uniquely poised to showcase great artists to fans around the world. I could not be more appreciative to those I have learned from along the way, and I am extremely excited about working alongside Gina Keltner and Jordan Pettit to create unforgettable shows; Barb Schaetz and our operations team; our world-class technical team; the country music community and everyone else who makes the Opry so special.”

In addition to Rogers, the Grand Ole Opry and Opry House leadership team includes Barbara Schaetz, Vice President, Business Operations, Grand Ole Opry House; Gina Keltner, Director of Talent and Logistics; and Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations and Programming Strategy.

Opry Entertainment Group has opened the search for a Senior Vice President, Programming & Artist Relations. This position will lead and manage artist and industry relations for the company’sgrowing portfolio of media, digital content and entertainment assets as well as the recent joint venture with Gray Television that is set to launch a linear television and digital SVOD service dedicated to artist-driven country lifestyle programming in early 2020.

Kassi Ashton Talks Joining Her First Tour And Making Music Her Own Way

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Kassi Ashton

Since her autobiographical debut track “California, Missouri” released last year, UMG Nashville/Interscope artist Kassi Ashton has been adamant about doing things her own way and taking a hands-on approach to her career—and she’s got the mood boards that inspire her videos and colorful handmade stage ensembles to prove it.

Ashton discussed joining Maren Morris’ upcoming tour, making the vivid redneck-meets-urban celebration clip for her new track “Field Party,” and writing the intensely personal ballad “Pretty Shiny Things.”

You are going out on Maren Morris’ GIRL: The World Tour. How are you preparing for it?

Running. A lot of cardio. Watching the Beyonce documentary once a week. [laughs] When you grow up and you dream of being an artist, touring is what you dream of. I would rather be onstage in front of 20,000 people instead of in a room with five people.

The fact that I get to do that, I’m so grateful. The fact that it’s the Maren tour makes me feel so warm and fuzzy because I feel like if I were to open for some other artist that I totally love and appreciate, I might feel like I need to cater my set to their audience or keep their demographic in my brain. But with Maren, I feel like I can just do my show and her fans will be welcoming, open-minded and open for a mix of genre. This is my first introduction—I have 45 minutes to say, “I’m Kassi Ashton and this is who I am.”

I’m making outfits for every show, so I’ve been busy sewing. I’m trying to learn the parameters of what I can do. Can I design the microphone stand? Because anything I can design, I’m down for it. Diving into all of that is really cool.

Have you been able to talk with some future tour mates about what to expect about being on one tour?

I talked to one of my best friends, Tenille Townes and she’s been touring for the past year. We had breakfast the other day. She was telling me bring shower shoes and do this or do that. Also, talking to Maren, we were at the video shoot for The Highwomen video and I had told her potential cover songs I wanted to do during my set, and she helped me pick one of them. She was just so cool and genuine.

You recently released the video clip for “Field Party,” which reunited you with video director Kristin Barlowe, who led your videos for “Violins” and “Pretty Shiny Things.” What was your vision for the “Field Party” video?

I wanted it to not be your average field party. I wanted it to be a bit trippy and have people from all different backgrounds. I just wanted it to be kind of a unifying thing. If you’re country, come country. If you’re urban, come urban. I made the treatment and I always make mood boards to work on the feel and the vision. [Kristin] always wants to push the envelope and she just gets me. She took my wacky, bright vision for the video and made it so much bigger.

Where was this video filmed?

We found these really old buildings near Germantown near Nashville that I think used to be a slaughterhouse and it’s about to be completely redone. The location was really convenient and everyone could Uber there because I wanted them to drink real beer during the shoot if they wanted to. I loved that it was kind of on the border of city and more rural.

“Pretty Shiny Things” feels like it brings a more vulnerable side of you from what we see in “Violins” and “Field Party.” You wrote “Pretty Shiny Things” while you were still in college. What inspired the song?

Yeah, I was a senior in college at Belmont. I didn’t even have my publishing deal with Creative Nation yet. And I’m going through something difficult, and I was going over a decision about what I was going to do and how it was going to affect my life or not affect my life. I was like losing sleep over it and I woke up in the middle of the night. I lived in this tiny duplex in east Nashville. I started writing it and sent it to my friend Emily who was a songwriting major. The song was so personal to me, with all these feelings, and she just like grabbed it and sent the song back to me, with the resolution.

It’s so important to tell the truth in music. Art is supposed to be honest. We had written plenty of drinking songs and boy songs at that time, but this felt powerful. I remember from that moment forward, I was like, “My music will always be this way.”

I ended up winning country showcase and getting my publishing deal and that song really made my publisher go, “Oh, that’s special.” So I held onto it for so long. I wasn’t ready to answer questions about it and talk about it and let it go. I got to a point where I thought, “This is selfish of me to keep it. If one person can change their outlook by hearing this song, I’ll deal with the rest.” It was really a fragile thing for me to put a visual to it. I want this to be real, but artistic and the same time, but I just want it to be this haunting thing. I wanted the video to come off as real and raw as it could.

You are signed with UMG Nashville and Interscope. Why did you decide to join that label?

I love them to death. Everyone over there, Cindy Mabe in particular, I love her to death. They appreciate and they strive for real artists who have a total vision—not just a singer.

They want someone who knows who they are and it’s not about their “brand.” I hate the word “brand,” because art is part of identity and it’s who I am as a person anyway. They really help you be strong in that.

They are so supportive that I am not doing things the traditional way. I haven’t gone to radio. My songs are off-centered and are like, “How can we cater this to you? We are not just going to put you on an assembly line and ship you through the process.” When I was getting label offers, they came to me with the Interscope partnership. They said we are not going to box you in.

Riley Green Sets Full-Length BMLG Album Debut For September

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Riley Green will release his full-length debut album, Different ‘Round Here on Sept. 20 on BMLG Records.  The 14-track album was produced by Dann Huff and executive-produced by Jimmy Harnen. The album features Green’s current single, “In Love By Now,” which Green penned alongside Marv Green, Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins.

“That guy in the song I think plays pretty well the aw shucks I lost her kind of thing,” Green recently told MusicRow. “I grew up listening to that kind of country music, but also I was writing with a lot of ‘90s country guys and that doesn’t hurt at all. It just gives a different way to write a song that’s been written a lot of times.”

Green is the sole writer on another standout song, “Numbers On The Cars,” written about a family member’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

“I watched him kind of go from the guy who was always talking, always cutting up, to the quietest one in the room,” Green told MusicRow. “He was the big NASCAR Fan, a big fisherman. That was one of those things I just knew he’d always be able to tell me, who drove what car and what the numbers were, who the sponsors were. So it was odd to do a song about Alzheimer’s and NASCAR I guess, but it’s cool to see how people can take it and make it about their own situation or their own family member.”

Green is currently opening shows on Brad Paisley’s 2019 World Tour, and will join Jon Pardi’s Heartache Medication Tour in the fall, before launching his own headlining Get That Man A Beer Tour.

DIFFERENT ROUND HERE TRACKLIST:
1. “There Was This Girl” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan
2. “Different ‘Round Here” | Riley Green, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
3. “Same Old Song” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan, Jonathan Singleton
4. “In A Truck Right Now” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan, Randy Montana
5. “Hard To Leave” | Riley Green, Jessi Alexander, Randy Montana
6. “I Wish Grandpa’s Never Died” | Riley Green, Lendon Bonds, Buford Green
7. “Bettin’ Man” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan, Jonathan Singleton
8. “Numbers On The Cars” | Riley Green
9. “My First Everything” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan, Tyler Reeve, Justin Weaver
10. “In Love By Now” | Riley Green, Rhett Akins, Marv Green, Ben Hayslip
11. “Get That Man A Beer” | Riley Green, Jonathan Singleton, Channing Wilson
12. “Break Up More Often” | Riley Green, Chris DuBois, Lynn Hutton
13. “Running With An Angel” | Riley Green
14. “Outlaws Like Us” | Riley Green, Erik Dylan

Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Linda Ronstadt Set For Voices In The Hall’s Second Season

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is launching Season 2 of its Voices in the Hall podcast on Aug. 16. Season 2 features interviews with Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Sam Bush, Nick Lowe, Buddy and Julie Miller, Linda Ronstadt and The War & Treaty.

Museum Senior Director, Producer and Writer Peter Cooper hosts the series and conducts the interviews for Voices in the Hall, which presents conversations with some of country’s most fascinating and influential figures. Voices in the Hall is co-produced by veteran broadcasters Ben Manilla and Jennie Cataldo of BMP Audio.

The podcast is available on VoicesIntheHall.org and wherever podcasts are streamed.

Season 2 Schedule:
Aug. 16 – Kane Brown
Aug. 30 – Buddy and Julie Miller
Sept. 13 – Nick Lowe
Sept. 27 – Jimmie Allen
Oct. 11 – Sam Bush, Part 1
Oct. 25 – Sam Bush, Part 2
Nov. 8 – The War and Treaty
Nov. 22 – Linda Ronstadt

A Lasting Impact: 33 Years Of The Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament

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Like many trends on Music Row, sometimes traditions fade away. That has not been the case with the annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament, benefitting the United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCPMidTN). Women from all facets of the music industry have gathered in the heat of the summer to play golf, support a good cause, have some drinks and dress in funny costumes for 33 years, which makes it the longest running known charity event held for women in the music industry.

The 33rd annual tournament will be held on Monday, Aug. 19 at Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville. To register and for more information, visit mrlgt.com.

Multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning Capitol Nashville recording artist Keith Urban has signed on to become the Presenting Sponsor of the event for the fourth consecutive year. The benefit will once again benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCPMidTN) and feature title sponsors ASCAP (a founding sponsor), City National Bank and Tim McGraw. Additional confirmed sponsors of the MRLGT include the Academy of Country Music, The AMG, Country Music Association, Live Nation, Monster Energy, Music City Chicken Co., Peg Leg Porker, Ryman Auditorium and more.

Former ASCAP executive and golf pro Herky Williams, and John Pickett, United Cerebral Palsy’s Home Access Program Director, recently stopped by the MusicRow offices to talk about the popular, and meaningful, annual event.

MusicRow: How did the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament get started?

Williams: The girls [I gave lessons to] were different from the guys. They would help me pick the balls up and we’d hit them again. The guys, when they wanted me to help them with their golf game, they would hit the balls, write me a check and leave. But we developed a great relationship. I knew when I moved here the girls were either The Man or stood in front of The Man I needed to do business with. So that was my angle.

So they have the tournament down at the Henry Horton [Golf Course], the HoriPro tournament, and one of them told me one day, “Why don’t you get your little girls to come play in our tournament?” Well, they had never been on a golf course; they had only hit balls. And I said, “Well, you know, it’s a two day tournament. The second day after everybody has tee’d off, we’ll play a hole or two and then we’ll have dinner with y’all and whatever. They said, “No, if they want to act like men, they need to play like men. It’s $250 and it’s 18 holes a day.” Then the light went off in my head and we started our own tournament, because that wasn’t the whole intention of where we were going in the first two years.

Sondra Loggins, Dave Loggins’ wife, and Pat Halper volunteered and helped out cerebral palsy [charities]. And we had to do something with our money; so they said, ‘Would it be okay if we gave it to cerebral palsy?’ So that started our relationship.

MR: John, what does it mean to have this ongoing support from the music industry? What does United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee do?

Pickett: The tournament is our biggest fundraiser event. By far. What it does for UCP is it allows us to continue programming that we already offer and develop new programs, based on the amount of money that that tournament raises for us. I’ve been involved with this tournament at UCP for over 20 years, and this tournament is a vital part of keeping our doors open and our lights on.

We are a safety net for the under-insured and non-insured in Nashville. We’re under the UCP affiliate, but our agency from the get go has said that everybody that has a need, not based on just one central disability, we’re going to help. We help with basic services [like providing wheelchairs and ramps], but without those services, a large percentage of the people that we serve would not have their needs met.

With our equipment exchange program, we will give out close to a million dollars in durable medical equipment a year, free of charge to anybody who needs it. It might be Ms. Mary over here in Nashville, it might be Ms. Jones in Memphis, but if they have a need and they’re in the state of Tennessee and we’re able to supply that, we do it. UCP, across the state, we’re right at 3,000 ramps since 2000.

MR: The costume contest is a signature part of the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament. What are some of your favorite costumes from years past?

Williams: Paige Levy—she was a A&R at Warner Brothers when we started and was instrumental in the beginning of the tournament—she had a group called the DelBeano Sisters and it was Robin Palmer, Kim Jones, Pat Halper and her; and at the second tournament at Percy Warner Park, an old tour bus drives up and they’re dressed in sombreros and Freddy Fender gets out and plays and sings and they dance around. That’s one of my favorite memories.

Connie Bradley, Pat Rolfe, Donna Hilley and Mary Ann McCready showed up during Desert Storm with one of the generals from the base over here in a Desert Storm HUMV. So it’s gone to the extreme.

Robin Palmer, Kim Jones, Pat Halper and Paige Levy at the 1988 Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament. Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

Photo: Facebook / MusicRowLGT

 

CRS 2020 New Faces Show Sells Out During Opening Day Of Registration

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CRS officials have announced the New Faces Show is now sold out following the opening day of registration for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2020. Country Radio Seminar 2020 is set for Feb. 19-21 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

“Yesterday’s results for CRS 2020 registration confirm that the buzz following CRS 2019 was real, and has continued,” said CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis. “We appreciate the support and the confidence the industry has shown us; we’re working on more exciting agenda and entertainment announcements, which we’ll share very soon… stay tuned!”

Registration is now available at the new rate of $599 through CountryRadioSeminar.com. Additional information can be obtained by calling 615-327-4487.

The CRS host hotel, Omni Nashville, is now accepting reservations starting at the $269 single rate.

Brantley Gilbert’s New Album To Feature Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss

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Over the release of his previous four albums, BMLG artist Brantley Gilbert crafted a blend of heavy metal spirit-meets-country sensibilities, along with a devil may care attitude. His fifth album, Fire & Brimstone, out Oct. 4 via Valory Music Co., reflects the myriad of roles he now embodies–rocker, singer, songwriter, husband and father. He wrote or co-wrote all 15 tracks on the album, including the recently released tribute to his children, “Man That Hung The Moon.”

He brings in several top shelf collaborators, including Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, his “Dirt Road Anthem” co-writer Colt Ford, and “Stays In A Small Town” co-hort Lindsay Ell. Producers on the album include Brandon Day, Mike Elizondo, and Dann Huff.

“I know it sounds crazy, but never did I once bring a lyric sheet into the studio with me,” Gilbert says regarding the recording process for the new album. “I feel like I am at this stage in my career where I am confident enough to let the music take me where it’s meant to go, no matter how down and dirty that might be. There is no doubt that this is the album that allowed me to grow up musically.”

In April, Gilbert released a cartoon video for the 4/20-ready track “Welcome To Hazeville,” featuring Colt Ford, Lukas Nelson and Willie Nelson.

FIRE & BRIMSTONE Track List:

1. “Fire’t Up” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Brandon Day, Justin Weaver)
2. “Not Like Us” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Amy Wadge)
3. “Welcome To Hazeville” (featuring Colt Ford, Lukas Nelson and Willie Nelson) (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Rodney Clawson, Andrew DeRoberts, Colt Ford)
4. “What Happens In A Small Town” (featuring Lindsay Ell) (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Josh Dunne)
5. “She Ain’t Home” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Brian Davis, Justin Weaver)
6. “Lost Soul’s Prayer” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Andrew DeRoberts)
7. “Tough Town” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Blake Chaffin, Andrew DeRoberts, Josh Phillips)
8. “Fire & Brimstone” (featuring Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss) (Written by Brantley Gilbert)
9. “Laid Back Ride” (Written by Brantley Gilbert)
10. “Bad Boy” Written by Brantley Gilbert, Andrew DeRoberts, Josh Phillips)
11. “New Money” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Brandon Day)
12. “Breaks Down” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Jaida Dreyer, Josh Mirenda, Justin Weaver)
13. “Man Of Steel” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Cole Taylor)
14. “Never Gonna Be Alone” (Written by Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Erik Dylan)
15. “Man That Hung The Moon” (Written by Brantley Gilbert)

 

Mark Your Calendar—August 2019

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Industry Events

August 4
CMA Fest, the Music Event of Summer airs as a three-hour primetime concert special, at 7 P.M. CT on ABC

August 20
CMA Awards second ballot closes at 6 p.m. CT

August 21
13th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium

August 27
SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards at Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Municipal Auditorium

 

Single Add Dates

August 5
Kane Brown/Homesick/RCA Nashville
Billy Currington/Details/Mercury Nashville
The Ashley Sisters/Crush/GKM Records

August 12
Ricky Cook/(I Can’t Stand A) Woman Beatin’ Man/Imperator Records
James Dupre/Another Love Song/Fleur de Magnolia Music
Disha/Mine to Write/Disha D LLC

August 19
Rodney Atkins/Thank God For You/Curb
John King/Try Saying Goodbye/in2une Music
Amy Jack/Shake & Bake/Amy Jack Music
AJ Sanders/Chevy and Daddy/AJ Sanders Music

August 23
Stephan Hogan/Gypsy Girl

Album Releases

August 2
Tyler Childers/Country Squire/Hickman Holler Records-RCA
Eric Burgett/Pass It On [EP]/Bow To Stern Records

August 9
Matt Dylan/Keep On Keeping On/Motivated Music Group
Jeff Clayborn/Good Bar Attender/The Cabin Record Co.
Olivia Lane/The One/Big Spark Music Group
Various/The Bakersfield Sound, 1940-1974/Bear Family Records

August 15
Rodney Crowell/TEXAS

August 16
Tracy Lawrence/Made In America/LMG

August 23
Vince Gill/Okie/MCA Nashville
Midland/Let It Roll/BMLG Records
Tanya Tucker/While I’m Livin’/Fantasy Records
Ty Herndon/Got It Covered Out
Taylor Swift/Lover/UMG

August 30
Trisha Yearwood/Every Girl/Gwendolyn Records
Sheryl Crow/THREADS/The Valory Music Co.
Jedd Hughes/West
Various/Country Music – A Film By Ken Burns (The Soundtrack) [5CD deluxe box set]/Legacy Recordings-Sony Music Entertainment-Universal Music Group (UMG)