Kory Caudill Launches Inside Music Nashville

Pictured (Back row): Matt Reviere, Roger Lee Coleman II, Donnie Marple, Dave Dubas. Front row: Martin ‘Bucky’ Seja, Marc Costanzo, Kory Caudill

Production and songwriting company Inside Music Nashville has opened in Music City, spearheaded by producer/keyboardist and arranger Kory Caudill. Also joining the new company is writer and music publishing executive Marc Costanzo, as well as Matt Williams, who will serve as General Manager. Inside Music Nashville is located at 2741 Larmon Drive in Nashville.

“When Marc and I first met, what stood out the most was how important roots are to both of us,” said Caudill. “Marc is an absolute guru when it comes to writing and producing pop music. He’s also bringing to Inside Music Nashville many of the resources from his world, including his longtime R&B and Hip Hop production partner, Martin ‘Bucky’ Seja.”

“It’s a real pleasure to bring together the knowledge, resources, and personnel from both Kory and Marc’s vastly different cultural, musical and business backgrounds,” said Williams. “We are looking forward to bringing together two different worlds of music and business and working together towards a common goal.”

Caudill adds, “I couldn’t be more excited about the team we’ve put together. When working with Marc and Bucky, there’s an endless amount of hooks, ideas and production coming out of these guys daily. We’re looking forward to welcoming writers and Nashville-based publishers who want to jump in on some ideas and collaborations with us. While social distancing guidelines have us temporarily away from the studio, we’ve always been setup for high quality remote work and we’re going to see a lot of music come out of our camp in the next six months.”

ACM Updates: COVID-19 Response Fund; ‘Our Country’ Rebroadcast


ACM Lifting Lives and the Academy of Country Music announced today (April 8) the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund allocated $1 million in less than a week following the ACM Presents: Our Country special that aired Sunday, April 5 on CBS. The special was viewed by early 8 million music fans around the country, and featured at-home acoustic performances from country artists, along with clips from past ACM Awards moments and an introduction of the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund.

Since the announcement, $1 million was raised thanks to ACM Lifting Lives sponsors FirstNet, Built with AT&T and Amazon Music, and donors, including The Bobby Bones Show, City National Bank, and other individuals. The ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund—which was created to assist individuals working in the country music industry who are suffering a financial crisis as a result of the pandemic—began with an initial endowment of $250,000, matched $250,000 in outside support, and is now contributing another $250,000 due to the need of applicants. To date, more than $500,000 has been distributed to country music industry professionals who demonstrate immediate financial needs due to COVID-19 and meet the outlined criteria.

“In less than 48 hours, ACM Lifting Lives was able to send financial support to hundreds of applicants with the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund at an expedited pace,” said Lyndsay Cruz, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “A huge thank you to our generous private corporate donors, partners, and many individual industry leaders for their contributions. Because of them, ACM Lifting Lives matched donations to aid those in the county music community during these extraordinary times. We are hopeful to continue supporting future applicants with this fund and thank you to all for the support.”

It was also announced that ACM Presents: Our Country will rebroadcast Saturday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. CT on the CBS Television Network and on CBS All Access. The special features performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown & John Legend, Luke Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Additionally, the special will honor 10-time ACM Award winner Kenny Rogers with performances by Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker.

“The Academy thanks the artists that participated in the special as they brought comfort and music to nearly 8 million people in this time of uncertainty,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “The show also spread the message about the good work of ACM Lifting Lives through the generosity of our artists and partners, and directed viewers to our ACMOurCountry.com website where they can apply or discover how to support this important cause.”

The ACM Presents: Our Country Pre-Show is available to watch via the ACM Facebook, YouTube and the newly launched ACMOurCountry.com website. Lauren Alaina, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Lee Brice, Blanco Brown, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, Caylee Hammack, Ashley McBryde, Jake Owen, Carly Pearce, and Tenille Townes appear on the Our Country Pre-Show. The Pre-Show also pays tribute to 6-time ACM Award nominee Joe Diffie, who passed away due to complications with COVID-19, with a special performance by Chris Young.

For more information about the COVID-19 Response Fund including corporate partnerships, visit ACMLiftingLives.org.

Artists Remember John Prine

One of music’s premier songwriters, John Prine, died on Tuesday (April 7) at age 73. Since the release of his self-titled debut album in 1971, a project which contained instant classics such as “Sam Stone,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Hello in There,” “Paradise” and “Illegal Smile,” Prine has become a revered artist and songwriter who has won two Grammy awards (and was named a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the Recording Academy for 2020). He released 18 full-length studio albums over the course of his career and had the highest debut of his career with 2018’s The Tree of Forgiveness. Last year, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In recent years, artists such as Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kacey Musgraves and more have cited him as a chief influence. Prine worked with and earned praise from artists including Bob Dylan, “Cowboy” Jack Clement and Kris Kristofferson.

Following news of Prine’s passing, tributes poured in from many artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Miranda Lambert, Isbell, Bonnie Raitt and more. Also among those offering tributes to Prine was Trisha Yearwood, who was among Prine’s collaborators on his 1999 album In Spite of Ourselves.

Read below for several tributes to Prine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warner Music Nashville’s Radio & Streaming Department Adds Chase, Transitions Marsh

Michael Chase, James Marsh

Michael Chase has been named National Director of the Radio & Streaming department at Warner Music Nashville beginning April 13. James Marsh will also move to a newly created National Director role in the label’s department, in which he will be responsible for airplay across the WAR, WEA and WMN radio teams concurrently. Both positions will report to VP Radio Tom Martens.

Chase was most recently the National Head of HAC Promotion at The Orchard (formerly Sony RED), where he worked with artists including BTS, Ingrid Michaelson, Jewel, Kelsea Ballerini, Lovelytheband, The Raconteurs and more. He previously worked in radio programming in marketing for more than 20 years, with his last stop at WSTR Atlanta. Currently a Georgia resident, Chase will be relocating to Nashville with his wife and two children.

“The strength of our radio team is dependent on the artists we serve and the people who serve them,” Martens said. “We’re so fortunate to add another brick to an already robust foundation with Michael Chase. He has both the radio and label know-how that will make him an incredible asset to the WAR roster.”

Marsh began his career as an artist development rep at Universal Music Group in 2000. The following year he became a promotions manager at Island Def Jam, where he remained until 2006, and then transitioned to a Pop/Rock southwest regional role at Atlantic Records. The Texas native then spent four years as a National Director at Roadrunner before returning to regional positions at Warner Records and, most recently, Big Machine Label Group.

“We already knew James was an essential part of our framework,” said SVP Radio Kristen Williams of Marsh’s transition. “When we decided to proceed with creating an ancillary National Director role, we happened to have the perfect person for the job right under our roof. We can’t wait for him to lend his experience and incomparable personality to even more of our radio journeys!”

Kip Moore Launches "In The Wild Sessions"


Kip Moore will offer insight into his upcoming fourth studio album, Wild World, via a series of acoustic video sessions, titled “In The Wild Sessions.”

The album releases May 29, but the first video in the acoustic series is already available. The clip shows Moore performing the album’s title track in the Mohave Desert, collaborating with vocalist India Carney and guitarist Melissa Dougherty.

The clips filmed in Mojave Desert were directed and filmed by PJ Brown, though Moore has continued to shoot stripped-back sessions solo while in isolation at his rock-climbing facility in Bedrock, Kentucky. Additional videos from both locations will be released in the coming weeks.

“The ‘In The Wild Sessions’ began as a way to tell the story of these songs in a bare bones kind of way,” shared Moore. “I love to travel, and so PJ and I scouted a spot in the desert in California and hand-picked some independent artists to do the sessions with, as a way of also highlighting their amazing talents too. We shot five videos in the desert and then when our plans changed a little with everything going on, we shifted gears while I’m here in Kentucky in isolation. The scenery here in Red River Gorge is also one of my favorite places to be and so I’m looking forward to also sharing this pocket of the world in some of the videos to come.”

 

Warner Chappell Music A&R Executive Katy Wolaver’s Role Now Includes Nashville

Katy Wolaver

Katy Wolaver, Vice President of A&R at Warner Chappell Music, will broaden her current role to now include Nashville. Working between Los Angeles and Nashville, she will help to foster even more collaborations between the cities’ robust rosters of songwriters and producers.

Wolaver joined the company in 2016, and is responsible for signing and developing new and established songwriters and producers from Warner Chappell’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters. She currently manages a broad array of pop and country talent, including Ava Max, Michael Pollack, Tayla Parx, Jesse Frasure, Sasha Sloan, and Devin Dawson.

“Nashville is home to some of the best songwriters in the world, and we’re looking forward to working with Katy to expand opportunities for the incredible talent in this city,” said Warner Chappell Music Nashville’s President & CEO, Ben Vaughn. “As music genres continue to evolve, it’s our responsibility to create a space for more songwriters to make music together.”

Warner Chappell Music’s President of A&R, U.S., Ryan Press said, “Katy has spent more than a decade working with pop and country songwriters and is in a unique position to bring talent from both genres closer together. Her strong relationships will enable us to create bold new pairings, and I can’t wait to see what will come of this new role.”

Wolaver got her start in music in 2006 while working for songwriter Kara DioGuardi at Arthouse Entertainment, supporting writers and producers like Jon Bellion, Mitch Allan and Ari Levine of The Smeezingtons. She went on to serve as Director of A&R at SONGS Music Publishing. Throughout her career, Wolaver has been behind numerous top hits, such as “Club Can’t Handle Me” by Flo Rida, “Heart Attack” by Demi Lovato, “Never Be The Same” by Camila Cabello, and “Fight” by Florida Georgia Line and Tayla Parx.

“This decision says a lot about Warner Chappell and our commitment to songwriters,” said Wolaver. “It’s so important that we encourage innovation by empowering our writers and producers to experiment with different artists and new styles, regardless of what they’ve done in the past. I’m proud to be part of a team that is willing to do things differently to get our songwriters heard.”

John Prine’s Wife Fiona Whelan Prine Shares Message Following Legendary Singer-Songwriter’s Passing

Pictured: John Prine and his wife/manager Fiona Whelan Prine at Prine’s album release party for The Tree of Forgiveness in Nashville in 2018. Photo: Neilson Hubbard

John Prine‘s wife and manager, Fiona Whelan Prine, shared a post on Facebook following John Prine’s death on Tuesday (April 7) at age 73 due to complications from the COVID-19 coronavirus.

She shared that she was able to be with Prine in the hours before his passing, and urged readers to follow the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She also asked that in lieu of gifts or flowers, that readers donate to organizations including Thistle Farms, Nashville Rescue Mission and Room in the Inn. John and Fiona wed in 1996; John Prine is also survived by three sons, Jody, Jack and Tommy, as well as two brothers and three grandchildren.

Read Fiona’s full message below:

Our beloved John died yesterday evening at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville TN. We have no words to describe the grief our family is experiencing at this time. John was the love of my life and adored by our sons Jody, Jack and Tommy, daughter in law Fanny, and by our grandchildren.

John contracted Covid-19 and in spite of the incredible skill and care of his medical team at Vanderbilt he could not overcome the damage this virus inflicted on his body.

I sat with John – who was deeply sedated- in the hours before he passed and will be forever grateful for that opportunity.

My dearest wish is that people of all ages take this virus seriously and follow guidelines set by the CDC. We send our condolences and love to the thousands of other American families who are grieving the loss of loved ones at this time – and to so many other families across the world.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love we have received from family, friends, and fans all over the world. John will be so missed but he will continue to comfort us with his words and music and the gifts of kindness, humor and love he left for all of us to share.

In lieu of flowers or gifts at this time we would ask that a donation be made to one of the following non profits
thistlefarms.org
roomintheinn.org
nashvillerescuemission.org

BREAKING: John Prine Succumbs To Coronavirus

John Prine

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member John Prine passed away on Tuesday, April 7 at age 73, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center due to complications from COVID-19, a spokesperson for the Prine family has confirmed to MusicRow.com.

Following a sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, he was hospitalized on Thursday, March 26. On Saturday, he was placed on a ventilator and listed in critical condition. His wife/manager, Fiona Whelan Prine, was diagnosed earlier and had quarantined herself from her husband since he was at risk. John Prine was a two-time cancer survivor and had other health issues weakening his immune system.

Prine was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. He wrote or co-wrote such hits as Don Williams’ “Love Is on a Roll,” Bonnie Raitt’s “Angel From Montgomery,” Lynn Anderson’s “Paradise” and George Strait’s “I Just Want to Dance with You.” But his true importance is measured by his influence on other artists and their universally held respect for him.

During a five-decade, 25-album career, the singer-songwriter amassed a devoted cult following. Two of his albums won Grammy Awards. The Americana Music Association named him an Artist of the Year in 2005 and 2017. BMI gave him its Troubadour Award in 2018. He was a pioneer in self-marketing music via his own label.

John Prine was born Oct. 10, 1946 in Maywood, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He wrote his first songs at age 14. Prine worked as a mailman in the Windy City throughout the 1960s. In 1970, he performed at an open-mic night at the Chicago folk club The Fifth Peg.

Singer-songwriter Steve Goodman (1948-1984) saw him and became Prine’s champion. He brought Kris Kristofferson to a Prine show at The Earl of Old Town in the summer of 1971. Also in the audience were pop star Paul Anka and actress Angela Lansbury.

At The Bitter End in New York, new fan Kristofferson introduced Prine’s music to Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler (1917-2008). Wexler signed Prine the next day.

John Prine appeared as the troubadour’s debut LP in 1971. He would perform many of its songs for the rest of his life. They included the chilling army-veteran portrait “Sam Stone,” the wry “Illegal Smile” and the “blow up your TV” song “Spanish Pipe Dream.” Bette Midler popularized its old-folks ode “Hello in There.”

Raitt made “Angel From Montgomery” her own, although John Denver, Carly Simon, Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show and others have recorded it.

“Paradise” was the collection’s most popular song. It has been recorded by The Everly Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and dozens of bluegrass bands. In 1975, Lynn Anderson made it a mid-sized country hit. The John Prine album was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.

He followed it with 1972’s spare, folk-flavored Diamonds in the Rough. Its “Souvenirs” was sung by Goodman, The Country Gentlemen and Maggie Bell, among others. “The Late John Garfield Blues” was recorded by his benefactor Kristofferson. John Prine was nominated as 1972’s Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards.

Sweet Revenge appeared in 1973. This included such perennial Prine favorites as “Please Don’t Bury Me,” “Christmas in Prison” and “Dear Abby.” Its “Grandpa Was a Carpenter” was recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Lonesome Standard Time.

In 1975, David Allan Coe had a hit with “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” Prine co-wrote it with Goodman, but refused to take any credit so that his leukemia stricken pal could earn more royalties.

Steve Cropper produced 1975’s Common Sense. Joining Prine on the record were J.D. Souther, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, Goodman and Raitt. He closed out his Atlantic tenure with Prime Prine, a best-of collection. That 1976 LP is now the artist’s only Gold Record.

He embarked on a rigorous touring schedule, building up a loyal fan base by staying on the road for up to nine months of the year. He also began spending time in Nashville with Jack Clement (1931-2013).

His recording contract was picked up by Asylum. He made his debut on the label with 1978’s folk-rock collection Bruised Orange. Produced by Goodman, it included “That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round,” later cut by Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones and Green on Red.

Pink Cadillac (1979) was Prine’s Memphis rockabilly album. Storm Windows (1980) was recorded in Muscle Shoals. John Prine moved to Nashville in 1980. Fed up with major labels, he formed his own Oh Boy Records with manager Al Bunetta (1943-2015). His debut for it was a 1982 holiday single, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

In 1983, country superstar Don Williams gave Prine his first No. 1 hit, “Love Is on a Roll.” The songwriter co-wrote it with Nashville tunesmith Roger Cook. “Jackie O” was a collaboration with John Mellencamp on the rock star’s 1983 Platinum album Uh-Huh.

Prine’s first Oh Boy LP was 1984’s Aimless Love, primarily recorded at Clement’s studio in Nashville by co-producer Jim Rooney. Its song “Unwed Fathers,” co-written with Bobby Braddock, was popularized by Tammy Wynette, Gail Davies and Johnny Cash.

Steve Goodman died in 1984, just as his “City of New Orleans” was becoming a standard. Prine sang Goodman’s songs in concert throughout the rest of his own life.

The Grammy-nominated German Afternoons (1986) repeated the Aimless Love studio recipe and included two more Prine evergreens. “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” was sung by Nanci Griffith, Kim Carnes, Amos Lee and Gove. “I Just Want to Dance with You,” co-written with Cook, became a 1998 No. 1 hit for George Strait.

A long hiatus followed German Afternoons, interrupted only by his single “Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian” (1987) and a live CD (1988).

For his return, Prine teamed up with Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers on 1991’s The Missing Years. Its cast included Bruce Springsteen, Phil Everly, David Lindley, Petty, Raitt and producer Howie Epstein (1955-2003). The album earned John Prine his first Grammy Award. Its song “All the Best” was covered by the Zac Brown Band in 2017.

Rhino Records saluted him with a 1993 boxed set titled Great Days: The John Prine Anthology. Epstein re-teamed with the songwriter for 1995’s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings.

In Spite of Ourselves (1999) was an acclaimed album of country classics recorded in Nashville as duets with Trisha Yearwood, Connie Smith, Melba Montgomery, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and other female artists. The CD’s title tune was sung with Iris DeMent. It was included on the soundtrack of Daddy & Them (2001), a film which featured Prine on screen alongside Billy Bob Thornton.

He re-recorded many of his early favorites for Souvenirs (2000) so that Oh Boy would have its own versions. In addition to Prine and Goodman, the company also issued works by Kristofferson, Todd Snider, Donnie Fritts, Shawn Camp and more.

John Prine was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. The following year, he contributed his rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” to Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster. The collection won a folk Grammy Award.

Fair & Square (2005) earned Prine his own Grammy, his second. The CDs cast included Camp, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Mindy Smith, Pat McLaughlin and Dan Tyminski, among others.

On 2007’s Standard Songs for Average People, he sang vintage tunes with Mac Wiseman (1925-2019). Oh Boy issued a multi-artist tribute CD to Prine in 2010. The Singing Mailman Delivers (2011) contained performances taped in 1970 prior to his commercial debut.

For Better Or Worse (2016) was a sequel to In Spite of Ourselves, this time pairing Prine with Lee Ann Womack, Kathy Mattea, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Krauss and more.

In 2018, John Prine released his first new collection of original material in 13 years. Titled The Tree of Forgiveness, it became his highest-charting Billboard album, was nominated for three Grammys and spawned eight promotional videos.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Luke Bryan Delays Tour, Album Release

Luke Bryan. Photo: Jim Wright

Due to the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, Luke Bryan has announced he is delaying both the release of his upcoming album Born Here Live Here Die Here, as well as his Proud To Be Right Here Tour.

The album, which was set to be released later this month, has been pushed back to Aug. 7, 2020 while the tour will now launch July 10, 2020 in Orange Beach, Alabama, and will wrap Oct. 30 in Bossier City, Louisiana. The tour was originally set to launch May 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Morgan Wallen, Caylee Hammack and Runaway June will continue on the new tour dates.

The Nashville show at Bridgestone Arena is still set for July 30.

The album, produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, follows Bryan’s 2017 project What Makes You Country, and contains Bryan’s recent chart-topper “What She Wants Tonight,” which marked his 24th No. 1 overall.

Bryan announced the delay for the album and tour on April 7. See his note below:

Trace Adkins, Jason Crabb, T. Graham Brown To Perform Grand Ole Opry Easter Special

The Grand Ole Opry plans to host a special Easter celebration on Saturday’s (April 11) installment of the long-running show. Trace Adkins, an Opry member since 2003, is scheduled to host and perform on the show on Circle Television. Adkins will be joined by two-time Grammy winner Jason Crabb and Grammy-nominated T. Graham Brown.

“As people around the world prepare for an Easter weekend like none of us have ever seen before, we’re thrilled that three of the most soulful voices to ever visit the Opry stage have signed on to bring community and great music to us this Saturday night,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “I know they’ll deliver not only their hits, but also some praise and hope from the Opry stage to fans worldwide.”

The Opry will be broadcast live Saturday, April 11 at 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT on Circle, and on Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. TV and radio personality Bobby Bones will host the Circle telecast, while Opry announcer Charlie Mattos will join the Opry’s radio audience at the announcer podium. Embracing today’s technology, the Opry will be broadcast and streamed with a very small production team. The show’s artists will perform acoustically at a recommended social distance across the Opry stage.

Since the Saturday night Opry telecast will be an Easter celebration, the one-hour show will be re-broadcast on Circle Television on Easter Sunday 10 ET/ 9 CT and 6:30 PM/ 5:30 ET. Fans around the world can also tune in to the broadcast on the Opry’s flagship radio home, 650 AM-WSM and several other outlets.