Industry Ink: Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, Marcus King, ASCAP Showcase, Country For A Cause

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Luke Combs Becomes First Country Artist With Two Songs In The Spotify Billions Club

Pictured (L-R): Sophia Sansone (Make Wake Artists), Chris Kappy (Make Wake Artists), Caryl Atwood (SVP, Commercial Partnerships, SMN), Taylor Lindsey (Chair & CEO, SMN), Tim Foisset (Head of Label Partnerships, Nashville & Canada, Spotify) Luke Combs, Claire Heinichen (Senior Editor, Country, Spotify), Jackie Augustus (Artist Partnerships, Country & Foilk, Spotify), Ken Robold (President & COO, SMN), Alaina Vehec (VP, Partnerships, SMN)

Luke Combs has become the first country artist to have two songs reach one billion streams on Spotify, marking his entrance into the Spotify Billions Club. Combs was presented plaques honoring the accomplishments of “When It Rains It Pours” and “Beautiful Crazy” at his Bonnaroo set last Thursday (June 12).

 

Dierks Bentley Releases Limited Edition Whiskey

Dierks Bentley is releasing his limited edition Row 94 Broken Branches whiskey later this month in partnership with Lofted Custom Spirits at the Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky. Bottled at 100 proof and aged five years, the bourbon also underwent “Branch Aging,” where time-worn, fire-toasted Oak staves seasoned for up to 24 months rested in the barrels to deepen the whiskey’s complexity.

“The new album Broken Branches is all about the cracks and scars that make us who we are, and I wanted this bourbon to carry that same spirit,” says Bentley. “We added seasoned oak staves to deepen the flavor and give it a little more character… kind of like the stuff life throws at you.”

Register for a chance to purchase one of the 1500 bottles produced here.

 

Marcus King Partners With Gibson To Launch Custom Guitar

Marcus King. Photo: Courtesy of Gibson

Marcus King and Gibson have teamed up to launch the Gibson Marcus King ES-345 electric guitar in sixties cherry, based upon a family heirloom guitar King has played on stages across the world.

“Big Red has always been a grounding instrument and comforting reminder of where I come from,” says King. “This guitar always brings me back home to the joy, curiosity and obsession I had for guitar from the beginning. I’m always tremendously honored and humbled when I take Big Red out of the case. It still feels like my grandfather’s guitar, and I approach it with the same respect as I did when he first let me play the guitar when I was a young boy. I know he’d be very proud to know that Gibson and I were delivering this feeling to a new audience of players, and I am so excited for another generation of players to feel what I feel; seeing and playing this guitar always feels like taking your dad’s car out for a Sunday drive. A hot red Coupe Deville with the top down, baby.”

 

ASCAP Hosts Songwriter Showcase At The Basement

Pictured (L to R): ASCAP’s Emilia James, JB Somers, Nell Maynard, Cheyenna, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Gina Venier, Denitia

ASCAP hosted a songwriter showcase on Monday (June 16) at Nashville’s The Basement. The event featured performances from Denitia, Cheyenna, JB Somers, Nell Maynard and Gina Venier.

 

Country For A Cause Raises $90,000 For Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

Pictured (L-R): Scott Sexton, Roxane Atwood, Kelly Lang, T.G. Sheppard, Charlotte Sneed, Sherri Forrest (pictured), Mamie Shepherd, Wes Schmidt

This year’s annual Country For A Cause concert celebrated its 11th anniversary and raised $90,000 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Hosted by T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang, the event featured The Oak Ridge Boys, Moe Bandy, Mandy Barnett, John Berry, T. Graham Brown, Tim Atwood, Trey Calloway, Lacy J. Dalton, Billie Jo Jones, Jimmy Fortune, The Malpass Brothers, The Kody Norris Show, Mark Wills, Michelle Wright and Billy Yates, along with surprise appearances by Grayson Russell, Ruby Leigh and John Schneider.

“The entire team at Country for A Cause remains a dedicated supporter of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell. “We are so grateful for their incredible gifts of time, talent and music industry connections to raise necessary funds to support our mission. It is community support like this that make possible everything we do to care for our young patients and their families. This dedication helps to advance our mission of compassionate care, game-changing research and innovative clinical training.”

Lauryn Sink
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