Industry Ink: Travis Denning, ONErpm, Cain, Sam Tinnesz

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Travis Denning’s Debut Single Strikes Gold

Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville’s Mike Harris, Red Creative Group’s Jeremy Stover, Travis Denning, UMG Nashville’s  Cindy Mabe, RIAA’s Jackie Jones, UMG Nashville’s Lori Christian, Red Light Management’s Angie Coonrod and UMG Nashville’s Rob Femia.

Mercury Nashville recording artist Travis Denning was surprised with an RIAA Gold-certified plaque for “Davis Ashley Parker from Powder Springs” on Wednesday (April 26). The song, which recalls the joy and anxieties of Denning’s fake ID experiences, was written by Denning, Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander with Jeremy Stover as producer. The track was Denning’s debut single and his second highest streaming track to date.

“When I found out the song went Gold, it was an affirmation that I knew this song was a great introduction to my career,” says Denning. “It is so personal to me, and a big part of my life and I knew a lot of people could relate to it. It is nice to reflect and look back on the early parts of my career and what’s led to right now.  It’s super cool and I’m grateful and I’m proud to have a plaque that has a Georgia town on it!”

Denning’s current track “Strawberry Wine And A Cheap Six Pack” is out now. He is currently in the studio working on his forthcoming project, and will tour fairs and festivals throughout the summer.

ONErpm Signs Mark & Maggie O’Connor

Mark & Maggie O’Connor. Photo: Maia Rosenfeld

Independent music company ONErpm Nashville has signed Grammy-winning Americana artists Mark and Maggie O’Connor. The duo will release their new album, Life After Life, and supporting videos, starting this summer and continuing throughout the year. ONErpm will distribute the lead single, a new of arrangement of Ukrainian Folk Song “Verbovaya Doschechka,” over the next few weeks.

Mark O’Connor shares, “We have a collection of new Americana songs we’ve written—the tracks were recorded in Nashville with bass and drums and feature us singing and playing our fiddles, guitars and mandolins. We are excited to work with ONErpm and Tim Wipperman to distribute our project, Life After Life!”

“It is an honor to team up with the O’Connors,” says Wipperman, Managing Director of ONErpm’s Nashville office. “We are astounded by their many talents and musical creativity. It’s been eight years since their last joint project, and we know their fans are ready for new music.”

For the upcoming album, Maggie will be playing violin and singing as Mark adds harmonies and plays acoustic guitar, violin and mandolin. The O’Connors are currently on tour with their new material, and have upcoming specials on PBS as well as an annual concert hall attraction, An Appalachian Christmas.

Cain Reaches First RIAA Gold For ‘Rise Up (Lazurus)’

Cain & team members with RIAA plaques.

Sibling trio Cain—comprised of Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz and Logan Cain—was awarded their first RIAA Gold certification for their chart-topping single “Rise Up (Lazarus).” With a spring “Live And In Color Tour” in progress and their Grand Ole Opry debut behind them, they celebrated their 2020 single with their record label at a recent concert near Nashville.

Cain shares “‘Rise Up’ has been special for us, and we’re so thankful you’ve let it be part of your lives too. Thank you and thank you, Jesus!”

Provident Entertainment President Holly Zabka adds, “I have had a front-row seat to witness the incredible, life-changing ministry and music of Cain. The Gold certification of their very first single, ‘Rise Up (Lazarus),’ is amazing to celebrate, but it is Cain’s heart behind all of their songs and their commitment to sharing the love of Jesus that we honor every day!”

Cain is set to continue their tour and host the upcoming K-Love Fan Awards in May.

Position Music Signs Sam Tinnesz

Pictured (L-R): Position Music’s Tyler Bacon, Showdown Management’s Emily Kaiser, Sam Tinnesz , Showdown Management’s Dave Steunebrink, Position Music’s Mark Chipello and Joe Brooks . Photo: Lex Gallegos

Rising alternative pop artist-songwriter Sam Tinnesz has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Position Music. Officially announced by President & CEO of Position Music Tyler Bacon, the agreement brings Tinnesz’s future artist releases, songwriting cuts, and selected catalog into Position Music’s repertoire.

The RIAA-Gold selling artist specializes in a unique blend of alternative pop, indie-folk, anthemic rock, and hip-hop. His streaming hits “Play with Fire (Feat. Yacht Money),” “Enemy” and “Legends Are Made” have combined for over 2.2 billion total streams and have amassed Tinnesz nearly 4.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. In addition to his successful artist project, Tinnesz has credits on songs with Royal & the Serpent, Kygo, Banners, Ruelle, Filter, Masked Wolf, Dashboard Confessional, Tommee Profitt and more.

“I have been independent for almost ten years waiting to find the perfect publishing partner. When I met Mark Chipello, Tyler Bacon and the whole Position Music crew, I could tell they really understood and championed multi-genre writers and artists like myself,” says Tinnesz. “Their fearlessness, trail blazing attitude and work ethic really won me over. I have big dreams for what’s next for my career and I know, with them by my side, we can leave a meaningful and lasting mark on music history.”

“I have been watching Sam Tinnesz consistently release world class music for the past several years and have been a fan of his ability to craft big, memorable melodies and hooks that clearly connect on the largest of scales. When Joe Brooks connected me with Sam I instantly knew that we were the right home for him, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to build with such an incredible talent like Sam,” says Chipello.

Tinnesz is managed by Dave Steunebrink and Emily Kaiser of Showdown Management.

Caela Griffin
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