Canaan Smith Kicks Off Headlining Tour In February

Canaan Smith is kicking off 2020 with his new headlining Pour Decisions Tour. Named after Smith’s latest release, the trek launches February 21 in Rootstown, OH, hitting several cities through March, with special guests REDFERRINNoah Schnacky and Kylie Morgan joining on select dates.

“This is gonna be a big year, and I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than by hitting the road and heading to a few of my favorite cities,” said Smith. “A new year means new music, and the Pour Decisions Tour is just a taste of what’s coming up. I can’t wait for people to hear what I’ve been workin’ on.”

“Pour Decisions” was written by Smith with Corey Crowder, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, and Ernest K Smith, and tells the unapologetic story of a breakup and the “pour” decisions that ensue. Smith was the first artist signed to Round Here Records, the brainchild of Florida Georgia Line superstars Tyler Hubbard and Kelley, and released two other party tunes in 2019, “Beer Drinkin’ Weather” and the rowdy “Country Boy Things,” along with an emotional ode to his wife, “Life Ain’t Fair.” He’s currently at work in the studio on more new music due out soon.

Canaan Smith’s Pour Decisions Tour Dates:
February 21 – Rootstown, OH – The Dusty Armadillo *+
February 22 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s on Weed Street *+
March 6 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s *^
March 7 – Greenville, SC – The Blind Horse Saloon *^
March 21 – Columbia, SC – St. Pat’s in Five Points
March 27 – Savannah, GA – Saddle Bags *+
March 28 – Tifton, GA – Terminal South *+

* REDFERRIN
+ Noah Schnacky
^ Kylie Morgan

Jim Selby Elevated To Chief Operating Officer At Concord

Credit: Holly Tutor Photography

Jim Selby has been promoted at Concord from Chief Revenue Officer to Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Selby will report directly to Concord CEO Scott Pascucci and will continue to be based in Nashville. In this new role, Selby will oversee IT, rights optimization, repertoire management, royalty administration, licensing administration, D2C operations and distribution among other global strategic initiatives for Concord.

Selby joined Concord as General Manager of Concord Music Group, where he helped to develop an efficient shared services team for the growing recorded music area of Concord’s business. He was soon elevated to Chief Revenue Officer where he oversaw the company’s strategic revenue collections as well as music technology investments. Prior to Concord, Selby was SVP of ole Media Management (now Anthem Entertainment) and was CEO of Naxos of America for 16 years.

“Jim is an exceptional executive and we are fortunate to have him as a colleague,” said Pascucci. “Our rapid and diverse growth has required us to be adept at integration and persistent at revenue collection, and Jim has excelled at both. His broad skill set will be well-deployed in his new role. Congratulations to him on a very well-deserved promotion.”

“I am extremely proud to be a part of Concord and would like to thank Scott and the rest of the executive team for this opportunity,” said Selby. “Our rapid growth in recent years has required much hard work and innovation and I am excited to be able to focus on sharpening our operating services to better serve our roster of artists, playwrights, composers and songwriters.”

 

ASCAP Experience Announces Second Annual ‘In The Round’ Concert At Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe

ASCAP and the Bluebird Cafe will lead the second annual Nashville ASCAP Experience “In The Round” concert on Jan. 14 beginning at 6 p.m. CT, which will preview the upcoming ASCAP Experience—set for April 1-3 in downtown Los Angeles at the InterContinental Hotel.

Chris DeStefano, J.T. Harding, Brett James and Cassadee Pope will headline the event, which will be hosted by ASCAP VP, Membership Mike Sistad.

Previous keynote speakers and panelists have included Chris Stapleton, Lee Ann Womack, Ashley Gorley, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Justin Timberlake, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor and Tom Petty.

For tickets and more information about the 15th annual ASCAP Experience visit ascapexperience.com. The promo code “BLUEBIRD” can be used for 10% off non-member pricing through Jan. 22.

For tickets and more information about the Bluebird in-the-round event visit: bluebirdcafe.com/calendar. The Bluebird Cafe is located at 4104 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Women’s Music Business Association Elects 2020 Officers And Committee Co-Chairs

Pictured (L-R): Ellen Mundy, Kaleigh Imbriale, Emily Boardman, Kelsey Wise, Nina Schollnick, Dana Dickie, Lauren Simon, Baylee Kuss

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has revealed newly-elected Officers and Committee Co-Chairs for 2020, including  Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment), Nina Schollnick (CSM Management), Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group), Kaleigh Imbriale (TEDxNashville), Ellen Mundy (WORKS Entertainment), Baylee Kuss (Big Deal Music Group), and Lauren Simon (Capitol CMG). They join existing officer Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group), now in the second year of her term as Treasurer.

Brandi Simms has been elected Chairperson for the WMBA Board of Directors. mtheory LLC’s Cameo Carlson also joins as a new Board Member.

Current WMBA Officers, Committee Co-Chairs and Board members are listed below:

WMBA Officers:
President – Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment)
Vice President – Nina Schollnick (CSM Management)
Secretary –  Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group)
Treasurer – Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group)

Committee Co-Chairs:
Events & Education – Kaleigh Imbriale (TEDxNashville) & Ellen Mundy (WORKS Entertainment)
Membership & Marketing – Baylee Kuss (Big Deal Music Group) & Lauren Simon (Capitol CMG)

WMBA Board of Directors:
Chairperson – Brandi Simms (Moo TV/Moo Creative/The Steel Mill)
Cameo Carlson (mtheory LLC)
Lindsey Clark (Deaton Flanigen)
Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting)
Cindy Hunt (Monarch Publicity)
Legal Counsel – Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP)
WMBA President – Kelsey Wise (Given Entertainment)
WMBA Vice President – Nina Schollnick (CSM Management)
WMBA Secretary –  Emily Boardman (Big Deal Music Group)
WMBA Treasurer – Dana Dickie (Warner Music Group)

Nashville Live Music Veteran Stephen Gudis Passes Away

 

Stephen Gudis

Nashville live music veteran Stephen Gudis passed away on Jan. 6.

After decades in the business, Gudis’ career stops included work in event production, tour/stage management and promotion. He most recently served as television stage manager for Farm Aid, as well as production stage manager for Event Production LLC. He founded The Production Department, LLC and was a board member of the Parnelli Awards.

Gudis began his work in Nashville working for Pace Concerts in 1989. He would eventually work on the Country Music Award shows, as well as with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Charlie Daniels. Gudis has also been credited for producing the Concert Industry Consortium (CIC), the predecessor conference to Pollstar Live!, in Nashville.

A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tenn.. A Celebration of Life Event will take place in a few weeks, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to MusiCares or the Tennessee Kidney Foundation.

Cody Webb Inks Deal With Copperline Music Group

(L-R): Back row: Senior Executive Producer Adrian Kulp, Copperline Music Group’s Rusty Harmon, Co-host Chuck Wicks. (L-R) front row: Producer Lauren Smith, Copperline Music Group’s Cody Webb, Host Ty Bentli, Co-host Sami Shea, and Producer Bryan Webb

Cody Webb has signed a record deal with Copperline Music Group. The official announcement was made today (Jan. 8) on the nationally syndicated morning show, “The Ty Bentli Show.”

The South Carolina native independently released three singles in 2019, with a CMT video premiere for “Gettin’ Somewhere,” as well as headlining a 20-state tour and being featured in the official intro video for the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville. He also earned a co-writing cut for “Memories Are Made Of” – co-written with Luke Combs and Ray Fulcher on Combs’ debut album, This One’s For You. Webb is currently working on his forthcoming debut album and is set for a breakout year in 2020 with his new label home.

 

Stephanie Meyers Named Outback Presents Show Coordinator

Stephanie Meyers joins Outback Presents as a newly-appointed Show Coordinator.

Meyers, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago’s music business program, comes to Outback following a five-year stint with Goldenvoice where she served as Ticketing Manager for several Los Angeles-based clubs and theaters. Prior to Goldenvoice, she worked as Artist Relations Manager for the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival based in Logan Square, Chicago.

“It’s extremely inspiring to be surrounded by so much talent here at Outback Presents,” says Meyers. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the growing team and expand my knowledge of talent buying. I look forward to what 2020 has to bring!”

Meyers can be reached via email at stephanie.meyers@outbackpresents.com.

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Celebrating Nashville’s Grammy Nominees

Pictured: GRAMMY® Nominees Shay Mooney (Dan + Shay), Pistol Annies members Miranda Lambert, Angeleena Presley, and Ashley Monroe, and Dan + Shay’s Dan Smyers. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

Chapter 641

The annual Music Row social calendar always begins with the fabulous Grammy-nominees party, so that’s what transpired on Tuesday eve (Jan. 7) as we welcomed a new year, a new 365 days of schmoozing.

There was actually a lot “new” to celebrate. This is the first year of a new decade. The party was held at a new venue, The Hutton Hotel’s elegant Vista Ballroom. And the event celebrated a newly impressive and seldom-equaled diversity of Music City nominees.

Several attendees lined up to take selfies with enduring star Billy Ray Cyrus, nominated for his Lil Nas X phenomenon. Walking the red carpet and doing press were such other nominated greats as Miranda Lambert, Jerry Salley, Keb Mo, Matthew West, Dan + Shay, for KING & COUNTRY, Tim Menzies and Steven Curtis Chapman.

Pictured: for King & Country’s Luke Smallbone, Steven Curtis Chapman, for King & Country’s Joel Smallbone with wife Moriah Peters. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

The CCM world was out in force, as illustrated by the presence of nominees Andrew Ripp, Chris Stevens, Colby Wedgeworth and Ethan Hulse. Our bluegrass community was represented by nominees Doyle Lawson, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Missy Raines and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.

Nashville has an unprecedented number of blues nominees this year, which is why Delbert McClinton, Lenesha Randolph and Larkin Poe members Rebecca & Megan Lovell were there, as well as Keb Mo. Our children’s-music nominee Daniel Tashian attended, as did rock nominees The Rival Sons (but alas not fellow Nashville rock nominees Cage the Elephant).

Among the country attendees were Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley of the nominated Pistol Annies, plus their compatriot Miranda, Dan +Shay and the other country folks mentioned above. That genre’s top nominee is Tanya Tucker, who was a disappointing no-show.

Pictured: Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick, GRAMMY® Nominees Sam Ashworth and Ruby Amanfu. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

One of the Song of the Year nominees is H.E.R.’s “Hard Place,” co-written by our own Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth. Nominated engineer John Baldwin also attended, as did such stellar secular songwriting nominees as Liz Rose, Bobby Pinson and Hillary Lindsey.

“We are proud that our nominees this year are so diverse,” said chapter executive director Alicia Warwick. “Our chapter leads,” added Nashville board president Jennifer Hanson, pointing out that Nashvillians have 118 nominees spread across 34 Grammy categories. By the way, Jennifer is our third female NARAS chapter prez; Katie Gillon served in the role from 1994-1996, while Trey Fanjoy held the role from 2017-2019.

“A Grammy nomination is a true symbol of dedication to your craft,” quoth Jen. “We are so excited to have so many of these nominees with us here tonight.”

Pictured (L-R): GRAMMY® Nominees Matthew West, Liz Rose, Billy Ray Cyrus and Hillary Lindsey. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

This party is always a great way to wish a “Happy New Year” to your pals. Fabulons working the room included Mark Bright, Mark Brown, Chris Keaton, Chris Farren, Christy Walker Watkins, Dan Hill, Dan Rogers, Daniel Miller, Leslie Fram, Leslie DiPiero, Leslie Roberts, David Macias, David Preston, Pat McMakin, Pat Higdon, Terry Hemmings, Terry Wakefield, Fletcher Foster, Troy Tomlinson, Ronna Rubin and Susan Stewart.

Oh, I’m just getting started, gentle readers. Also grooving at the gig were such industry women as Chandra LaPlume, Tracy Gershon, Lisa Harless, Kris Wilkinson, Allison Jones, Marion Kraft, Diane Pearson, Cyndi Forman, Debbie Carroll, Whitney Daane, Susan Niles, Joanna Carter, Carol Ann Ford and Claire Ratliff.

Men of valor working the room included Mason Hunter, Joe Baldridge, Shane Tarleton, Earle Simmons, Frank Liddell, Rod Essig, B.J. Hill, Ed Morris, James Elliott (who has a song on the nominated Steven Curtis Chapman CD), Brad Kennard, Wes Vause, Kos Weaver, Tom Roland, Scott Robinson, Kerry O’Neill and Lightning 100’s Gary Kraen.

Pictured: Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick, GRAMMY® Nominees Rival Sons, Nashville Chapter President Jennifer Hanson. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

“It would be easier to have a list of everybody in the industry and cross off the names that AREN’T here,” Mark Ford sagely observed.

How about adding some power couples to the mix? Like Erika Wollam & Roger Nichols, Trey Fanjoy & Eddie Perez, Joe & Linda Chambers and Ron & Regina Stuve.

I met Lij Shaw. He’s the guy notable for activism on behalf of home recording studios. Alan Valentine introduced me to the Nashville Symphony’s new CEO Steve Brosvik. Steve was behind the “Violins of Hope” exhibit at the Library, and now those Holocaust instruments are becoming a Symphony recording.

Pictured: Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Board President Jennifer Hanson, Pistol Annies members Angeleena Presley, Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert and
Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick. Courtesy of the Recording Academy®/photos by Ed Rode & Frederick Breedon, Getty Images © 2020

I greeted Sister Sadie’s Tina Adair, who says that she and bluegrass queen (and fellow bandmember) Dale Ann Bradley are recording a guitar-mandolin “sister duet” album. Can’t wait.

Alecia asked for a round of applause for John Prine, who was not in attendance. Prine is this year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree from Music City.

The Hutton proved more than up to the challenge of feeding the throng. The cocktail-party fare included sliced pork loin, pimento-cheese croquettes, lump crabcakes, a charcuterie spread, mushroom-and-goat-cheese torts and assorted cheeses and veggies. Not to mention sweets.

We were serenaded throughout the gala by the smooth jazz stylings of The Birdsong Trio. Breezy and tasteful, this ensemble was the perfect accompaniment to a luscious event.

Gigantic golden Grammy statues flanked the stage. Guests merrily posed for snapshots with them, as well as in front of the Grammy backdrop in the ballroom lobby. We all got souvenir Grammy posters.

 

 

IBMA Winners Sideline Announce Spring Tour

(L-R): Jamie Harper (fiddle), Jacob Greer (guitar), Jason Moore (bass), Steve Dilling (banjo), Zack Arnold (mandolin) and Skip Cherryholmes (guitar)

Bluegrass band Sideline will hit the road this Spring with a slew of dates in support of their new release, Breaks To The Edge. The reigning IBMA Song of the Year award-winning (for “Thunder Dan”) group will headline shows across the U.S. beginning Feb. 1 in Goodlettsville, Tennessee and running through April 25 in Garner, North Carolina.

Reflecting the North Carolina group’s roots and experiences, Breaks To The Edge, the group’s fifth studio album, includes stories of traveling troubadours, and traditional tunes are interspersed with the more progressive re-make of Steve Wariner’s “Crash Course In The Blues,” and the classic Southern Gospel “I’ll Live Again” featuring Sideline’s four-part harmony.

 

Tour dates:

FEB 1 – Union Hill Baptist Church / Goodlettsville, TN
FEB 7 – JT’s BG Concert Series Stage 12 Titus Mall Cinema / Titusville, FL
FEB 8 – The Mudville Music Room / Jacksonville, FL
FEB 9 – FUMC Arts Council Concert Series / Homosassa, FL
FEB 15 – E. Montgomery High School / Biscoe, NC
FEB 21 – Rudy Theatre / Selma, NC
FEB 22 – Ashland Theatre / Ashland, VA
FEB 28 – Moon City Music & Event Center / Wapakoneta, OH
FEB 29 – Bluegrass in the Bluegrass – Clarion Hotel Conf. Ctr (North) / Lexington, KY
MAR 5 – Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center / Weaverville, CA
MAR 6 – Firehouse Arts Center / Pleasanton, CA
MAR 7 – Benefit for Rotary Club of Willits / Willits, CA
MAR 8 – The Reel & Brand / Sonoma, CA
MAR 9 – The Side Door / Sacramento, CA
MAR 10 – Golden Valley Christian Fellowship Church / Bakersfield, CA.
MAR 11 – Mark Shutts Fabricators / Huntington Beach, CA
MAR 12 – Tony Pritchett House Concert / Rialto, CA
MAR 13 – TBA
MAR 14 – Boulevard Music / Culver City, CA
MAR 20 – Bristol Spring Bluegrass Festival / Bristol, TN
MAR 21 – The Old Lucketts Store / Leesburg, VA
MAR 22 – American Legion Post 238 / California, MD
MAR 27 – Pennyroyal Opera House / Quaker City, OH
MAR 28 – Wilmington Delaware Bluegrass Festival / Claymont, DE
APR 3 – Down Home / Johnson City, TN
APR 4 – Piketon County Fair & Fairgrounds / Piketon, OH
APR 5 – Sterling Bluegrass Jamboree / Mount Sterling, OH
APR 17 – Big Lick Bluegrass Festival / Oakboro, NC
APR 18 – Private show / Forest Hill, MD
APR 24 – Lorraine’s Coffeehouse & Music / Garner, NC
APR 25 – Lorraine’s Coffeehouse & Music / Garner, NC

CMA Announces Triple Play Awards Songwriter Recipients

The Country Music Association has announced the honorees for the 11th annual CMA Triple Play Awards, which are presented to songwriters who have written three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period.

This year’s recipients include Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Justin Ebach, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Shay Mooney, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Bobby Pinson, Matthew Ramsey, Jordan Reynolds, Thomas Rhett, Trevor Rosen and Dan Smyers.

Gorley, the most decorated CMA Triple Play Awards recipient, will receive three Triple Play Awards this year for penning nine No. 1 songs over the past year.

UMPG Nashville Chairman/CEO and CMA Board Member Troy Tomlinson will host the industry-only CMA Triple Play Awards luncheon, to be held Feb. 25. That evening, Copperman will host a CMA Songwriters Series performance at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, beginning at 7 p.m., featuring Ebach, Gorley, Nite, Pinson, and Reynolds. In celebration of the Triple Play Awards, $3 of each ticket sold will benefit the CMA Foundation, which supports music education programs across the country.

The CMA Triple Play Awards are based on charts including Country Aircheck, Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs.

The 11th annual CMA Triple Play Awards recipients are being recognized for writing the following songs:

Kane Brown
“Lose It” recorded by Kane Brown
“Good As You” recorded by Kane Brown
“One Thing Right” recorded by Marshmello & Kane Brown

Luke Combs
“She Got The Best Of Me” recorded by Luke Combs
“Beautiful Crazy” recorded by Luke Combs
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” recorded by Luke Combs

Ross Copperman
“Woman, Amen” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Get Along” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Love Ain’t” recorded by Eli Young Band

Justin Ebach
“Singles You Up” recorded by Jordan Davis
“Good Girl” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Here Tonight” recorded by Brett Young

Jesse Frasure
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“One Thing Right” recorded by Marshmello & Kane Brown
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Ashley Gorley
“What Makes You Country” recorded by Luke Bryan
“Eyes On You” recorded by Chase Rice
“Love Ain’t” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Rumor” recorded by Lee Brice
“Living” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“I Don’t Know About You” recorded by Chris Lane
“Good Vibes” recorded by Chris Janson
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Ridin’ Roads” recorded by Dustin Lynch

Michael Hardy
“Up Down” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line
“Simple” recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“God’s Country” recorded by Blake Shelton

Shay Mooney
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay
“10,000 Hours” recorded by Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber

Jon Nite
“Break Up In The End” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Knockin’ Boots” recorded by Luke Bryan
“Living” recorded by Dierks Bentley

Josh Osborne
“Kiss Somebody” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray

Bobby Pinson
“Burning Man” recorded by Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
“Some Of It” recorded by Eric Church
“Rearview Town” recorded by Jason Aldean

Matthew Ramsey
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“Make It Sweet” recorded by Old Dominion

Jordan Reynolds
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Tequila” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay

Thomas Rhett
“Sixteen” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Look What God Gave Her” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Remember You Young” recorded by Thomas Rhett

Trevor Rosen
“Hotel Key” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away” recorded by Michael Ray
“Make It Sweet” recorded by Old Dominion

Dan Smyers
“Speechless” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Tequila” recorded by Dan + Shay
“All To Myself” recorded by Dan + Shay