Weekly Radio Report (3/13/20)
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Top Touring Agencies, Concert Promoters Recommend Halting Tours Through March
A global task force of live entertainment industry professionals including reps from Live Nation, WME, CAA, AEG, Paradigm, and UTA has been formed to offer strategic support and unified direction to ensure that precautionary efforts and ongoing novel coronavirus protocol are in the best interest of artists, fans, staff, and the global community.
The task force includes Michael Rapino (CEO and President, Live Nation Entertainment), Dan Beckerman (President and CEO, AEG & Board Member, ASM Global), Jay Marciano (Chairman and CEO, AEG Presents), Rob Light (Managing Partner and Head of the Music Division, CAA), Marc Geiger (Partner and Head of Music, WME), Sam Gores (Chairman, Paradigm), Marty Diamond (Head of Global Music, Paradigm) and David Zedeck (Partner and Global Head Of Music, UTA).
“At this time, we collectively recommend large scale events through the end of March be postponed. This recommendation is specific to the U.S. and countries deemed level 3 by the CDC. We continue to support that small-scale events in these regions follow guidance set by their local government officials. We feel fortunate to have the flexibility to reschedule concerts, festivals, and live events as needed, and look forward to connecting fans with all their favorite artists and live entertainment soon.”
Janine Ebach Launches Ebach Entertainment
Janine Ebach has started her own boutique artist management company focusing on publishing, songwriter management and artist development, Ebach Entertainment. The 15-year Music Row veteran will be based in Nashville and will also operate in Los Angeles.
Ebach began her career as Creative Director at THiS Music Publishing before becoming the Head of Wordcountry and ultimately VP of Curb|Word Music Publishing. During her time at Wordcountry and Curb|Word she celebrated multiple No. 1 songs including Brett Young’s “Sleep Without You” and “Here Tonight,” Jon Pardi’s “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” Jordan Davis’s “Singles You Up,” and Dustin Lynch’s “Good Girl,” along with cuts by George Strait, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum and Lauren Daigle, among others. She is a 2019 Honoree of Music Row’s Rising Woman on the Row, 2018 AIMP Song Champion of the Year, and an active member of the W.O. Smith Board.
“Since I began my career in music publishing, I’ve had the desire to launch my own entity and am energized to finally announce this multi-faceted music company. I look forward to sharing my experience, passion and love for creatives within our unique industry and aim to discover, nurture and develop the next generation of music makers,” said Ebach.
Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Suspends Programming
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has suspended all youth, family and school programming at the museum and in the greater Nashville community through at least March 31. This also includes Songwriters Sessions, Musician Spotlights, film screenings and other programming.
Additionally, the Hatch Show Print Block parties, scheduled for Friday, March 13 and Friday, March 27 have been canceled.
The museum remains open to the public, and has activated a proactive deep cleaning protocol in alignment with public health guidelines at all museum properties – the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Hatch Show Print, Historic RCA Studio B and the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
International Country Music Festival C2C Postpones 2020 Shows
The international country music festival C2C, which was to launch on Friday (March 13) and run through March 15, has been postponed, according to the festival’s organizers. Organizers offered an announcement of the postponement on Thursday (March 12), citing the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting international travel policies, and other restrictions as reasons for postponing the event.
Performers on the bill included Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show and more.
“Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 and the changing nature of travel policies in other countries alongside possible extended future restrictions, it is with regret that Country to Country Festival 2020 – London, Dublin and Glasgow – is being postponed,” organizers offered in a statement. “Ticket holders are advised to hold onto their tickets. More information will be announced in the coming days on the rescheduled event. Thank you all for your understanding and patience at this very difficult time. C2C and its organizers apologize wholeheartedly for the time to work through the issues to get this statement out.”
The organization was created by AEG Europe and SJM Concerts in association with the Country Music Association.
Earlier on Thursday, the organization announced that the CMA Songwriters Series concert set for Indigo at the 02 was canceled. Earlier this week, Old Dominion pulled out of their C2C performance slot.
“After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from our upcoming performances as part of the C2C Music Festival in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, London and Glasgow,” the band said via a message on Twitter. “We are so sorry to disappoint our fans overseas; however with the growing uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the virus that is spreading throughout the world, the safety and security of our entire team is the top priority. We are forever grateful for every opportunity we get to witness just how far our music is reaching, and we will be back across the world as soon as we can. Much love and thank you for your support – Matthew, Trevor, Brad, Geoff & Whit.”
iHeartCountry Festival To Be Rescheduled
The seventh annual iHeartCountry Festival, which was slated to take place on Saturday, May 2 at Austin, Texas’ Frank Erwin Center, is being rescheduled.
Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Kane Brown, Dustin Lynch, Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi, Chase Rice and Hot Country Knights were scheduled to perform at the May 2 event, with media personality Bobby Bones serving as the official host for the festival’s main stage.
“The Frank Erwin Center announced today it is postponing all events for the immediate future,” iHeartCountry Festival organizers said via a statement. “The iHeartCountry Festival at the Frank Erwin Center will be rescheduled at a later date. Our primary goal is always the safety of our guests, employees, artists and partners and we will continue to actively monitor the situation and will provide more information and relevant updates as they become available. Tickets will be honored at the rescheduled date.”
Ray Wylie Hubbard Signs With Big Machine Records
Ray Wylie Hubbard. Photo: Alan Messer
Big Machine Records has signed Ray Wylie Hubbard to its roster. Hubbard has released 17 full-length studio albums in his career, the most recent being 2017’s Tell The Devil I’m Getting There As Fast As I Can via Bordello Records. In 2015, he released the book A Life…Well, Lived, and in 2010, he penned the script for the feature film The Last Rites of Ransom Pride and also wrote several songs for the soundtrack.
The Big Machine Label Group imprint also includes Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Carly Pearce, Midland, The Cadillac Three, Dan Smalley, Payton Smith and Noah Schnacky.
“Ray Wylie Hubbard is a forefather of American rock’n roll, blues and country music who is as relevant today as ever,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO/Founder Scott Borchetta. “If you like your music delivered with heart, soul, snarl, attitude and guitars, then the new music from Ray Wylie Hubbard is for you.”
“To have a badass label like Big Machine say they believe in the low down, greasy record I made with my hoodlum friends and want to put it out? Well, damn. Sure. You bet,” says Hubbard.
Hubbard is currently finalizing a new album to release later this year, which will feature collaborations with Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and more.
DISClaimer: Mickey Guyton’s "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" Leads New Releases
It’s country-feminism day here at DISClaimer with female singles dominating the mix from top to bottom.
Randall King, Jackson Michelson and Hot Country Knights are all scoring runs. But the grand-slam homers are all by women—Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris, Jewel and our Disc of the Day awardee, Mickey Guyton.
Our DisCovery Award winner this week is Joe Hanson. Please send more.
MADDIE & TAE/Bathroom Floor
Writers: Josh Kerr/Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye; Producer: Derek Wells/Jimmy Robbins; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– Feisty, rocking, empowering and clever. Their harmonies are super tight. The lyric has “girl power.” The production punches and pounds. An absolute delight.
JACKSON MICHELSON/One Day
Writers: Jackson Michelson/Justin Ebach/Matt Alderman; Producer: Jeff Pardo; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Very sweet. Parenthood has seldom sounded better. The passage of time gets a lovely word portrait as he describes a little girl growing up and the nostalgia of her mom and dad as they age along.
JOE HANSON/Part of Me
Writers: Victoria Banks/Justin Morgan/Joe Hanson; Producer: Austin Shawn; Publisher: none listed; 117
– The track is kinda nervous sounding. His jaunty tenor has an emotional tug. Promising.
MICKEY GUYTON/What Are You Gonna Tell Her
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Karen Kosowski/Victoria Banks/Emma-Lee; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– She created a sensation with this at CRS. It’s an echoey piano ballad about the reality of gender discrimination. You tell the growing girl to believe in herself, just to dash her dreams when she grows up. “You built her up, just so the world could let her down.” Now, what are we gonna do to make this a more fair and just place? And can we start with country radio?
HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS/Moose Knuckle Shuffle
Writers: Brett Beavers/Brett Tyler/Buddy Brock/Chase McGill/Dan Hochhalter/Jim Beavers/Zach Turner; Producers: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Remember line dancing? And high tight jeans that accentuated his package? I thought so.
JEWEL/No More Tears
Writer: Jewel/Thomas James Profitt; Producer: Thomas James Profitt; Publisher: none listed; Words Matter/Orchard
– This is part of the soundtrack of a film about homeless youth in America. She knows all about this topic, and it sounds like it in every dramatic note in this penetrating ballad. Soulful and real.
RANDALL KING/She Gone
Writers: Chris Stevens/Randall King; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Country, country, country. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Love it, love it, love it.
RUTHIE COLLINS/Joshua Tree
Writers: Luke Sheets/Ruthie Collins; Producer: Ruthie Collins/Wes Harlee; Publisher: none listed; Sidewalk/Curb
– Shimmering strings. Aching soprano delivery. Heartbreak song. Wide-open-spaces production. What’s not to like?
MAREN MORRIS/To Hell and Back
Writers: Maren Morris/Laura Veltz/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Morris/busbee; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Swirling audio around a midtempo relationship song. The gal sure can sing.
FILMORE/Blue Skies
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Tyler Filmore; Producer: Jesse Frasure/Zach Abend; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– I remain a fan. But he can do better than this rambling, aimless tune, and has.
JUST IN: MusicRow’s Rising Women Event Is Postponed
A letter from MusicRow Owner and Publisher, Sherod Robertson:
As you may have expected, we unfortunately have to postpone our Rising Women on the Row event on March 25th.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become increasingly aware that we will not be able to properly honor the women in our industry with the celebratory spirit they deserve at this time.
While we do not have a new date set yet, we will announce the new date once it is finalized.
For purchased table sponsors and individual ticket holders, tickets will be honored at the new event date. I hope you all will continue to support and attend the event on the new date. However, I also understand if the new date doesn’t work for you. If so, we are happy to refund your money.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding.
Cheers,
Sherod
Kenny Chesney Postpones Early Chillaxification Tour Dates
Kenny Chesney has postponed 11 concerts on his upcoming Chillaxification Tour, including seven stadium shows and four amphitheater dates, beginning with the April 18 show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and ending with the May 28 date at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The postponed dates also include stops in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota. The Chillaxification tour also includes Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion, and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Chesney’s team at Messina Touring is working to find alternative dates later in the touring season and aims to have new dates in place within the next six weeks, according to a release, with hopes of launching the tour May 30 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled shows will be refunded.
“You can’t take risks without really understanding the consequences,” Chesney said via a statement. “In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love. I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing. So, while we wait to see how this terrible virus is going to impact our country, I think it’s only fair to move these first several dates now. We are figuring some of this out as we go, but I know people buy airline tickets, book hotel rooms – and I wanted to try to give everyone as much time to sort that out as possible.”
“This is all uncharted,” Chesney says. “I’m like everyone else: watching the news, wondering when we may know something concrete, not sure how this gets transmitted, worried someone I know will catch it. I want to believe this will all be okay in the end; but right now, I don’t feel like this risk to No Shoes Nation is worth it. Nobody wants to get out there for these shows more than I do. We’ve started rehearsals; everything is loaded in – and the band sounds great. Music is medicine when your soul or your heart need healing, but I don’t want my music to put anyone at risk. So, I promise: we are going to work as quickly as we can to sort out what we can and can’t do in terms of these dates. We’re going to cross our fingers this pandemic will resolve as some of the experts have suggested, and we hope to kick off the tour May 30th at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, a venue we’ve played since 2005. But mostly, I hope this virus is contained, and the suffering and deaths are kept to the fewest possible people.”
POSTPONED DATES
April 18 AT&T Stadium
April 25 Miller Park
May 2 U.S. Bank Stadium
May 7* iThink Financial Amphitheatre West Palm Beach, Fla.
May 9 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Fla.
May 13* BankPlus Amphitheater
May 14* Brandon Amphitheater
May 16 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Ga.
May 22 Minute Maid Park
May 23 Alamodome
May 28* Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
More Information as it Develops
* Michael Franti & Spearhead ONLY