Nashville Presenters Announced For Sunday’s Grammy Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Rhett

Presenters for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards telecast will include three-time Grammy winner and current nominee Kelly Clarkson; three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw and five-time Grammy winner Faith Hill; and current Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett.

Taking place at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by James Corden, the awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Additional presenters include five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion; singer/songwriter Jason Derulo; current Grammy nominee Halsey; singer/ songwriter Camila Cabello; current Grammy nominees The Chainsmokers; actress Laverne Cox; pop/funk band DNCE; actress Taraji P. Henson; actress/model Paris Jackson; previous Grammy nominee Nick Jonas; previous Grammy nominee Jennifer Lopez; singer/songwriter Katharine McPhee; two-time Grammy winners and current Grammy nominees Pentatonix; actress Gina Rodriguez; TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; current Grammy nominee Solange; and previous Grammy nominee and actor John Travolta.

Previously announced performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sturgill Simpson, Gary Clark Jr., Adele, William Bell, Chance The Rapper, Daft Punk, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Tori Kelly, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Lukas Graham, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Anderson .Paak, Katy Perry, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Weeknd.

The 59th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Webster PR to Host Third Annual Legendary Lunch

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Webster Public Relations will be presenting their Legendary Lunch event Feb. 22 at the Hilton Downtown. Now in its third year, the luncheon gives radio reps and the media an opportunity to mix and mingle with over 30 legendary country acts in the same room, including Bill Anderson, Roy Clark, John Conlee, Crystal Gayle, Brenda Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Tanya Tucker and more.

Bill Cody of WSM-AM will be broadcasting live from the Legendary Lunch and will be simulcast on the Heartland Network, and media are invited to attend the red carpet arrival and press conference held prior to the lunch.

“We are honored to team with Webster Public Relations to present the 3rd Annual Legendary Lunch,” said Chris Kulick, WSM General Manager. “I know that 650 AM WSM listeners and Heartland viewers will continue to embrace these legendary and iconic artists, as they have for many years!”

Weekly Chart Report (2/10/17)

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UMG Nashville Reveals “Team UMG At The Ryman” Lineup

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A star-studded lineup has been revealed for Universal Music Group Nashville’s “Team UMG at the Ryman” at CRS 2017, to be held Feb. 23, 2017 at the Ryman Auditorium. This year’s performers are Lauren Alaina, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Josh Tuner, and Keith Urban.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the show will start at Noon. As in previous years, seminar registrants will receive a boxed lunch prior to the event. CRS attendees will have the option to either walk or use shuttles, provided by UMG Nashville, going from the Omni Hotel to the Ryman Auditorium between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, Mike Dungan comments, “The box lunches aren’t anything to write home about, but the show is fantastic! Always the most anticipated event at CRS, we will see you there!”

To review more of this year’s agenda, please visit countryradioseminar.com.

ASCAP Announces Songwriters Selected for 2017 GPS Project

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Pictured, Front row (L-R): ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, GPS Project songwriters Madeleine, Emma Place, Rob Carona and Tommy Kratzert, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad. Back row (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, GPS Project songwriters Ian Christian, Martin McDaniel, Lainey Wilson and Katie Cole, and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart. Not pictured: GPS Project songwriters Anna Vaus, Madeleine Slate, Robyn Collins and Blake Griffith, and ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe. [Click photo to enlarge]

The ASCAP Nashville creative team has announced the songwriters selected for the 6th annual ASCAP GPS Project. The GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) program showcases songwriters the creative team has identified as ready or very close to being ready for a publishing deal. Over the course of the year, the writers will be paired with publishers who will listen and critique their songs, and then participate in a follow-up meeting to help develop the writer and solidify the relationship. By the end of the year, the writer will have met with at least five publishers. In 2016, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Robert Filhart added a GPS Project writers retreat and a songwriters round to the program, which will continue in 2017.

The ASCAP GPS Project class of 2017 includes songwriters Rob Carona, Ian Christian, Katie Cole, Robyn Collins, Blake Griffith, Tommy Kratzert, Madeleine, Martin McDaniel, Emma Place, Madeleine Slate, Anna Vaus and Lainey Wilson.

The publishers participating in the 2017 ASCAP GPS Project include Writers Den, Disney Music Publishing, BMG, Big Machine, This Music, Wrensong, Black River, Big Yellow Dog, Sea Gayle, King Pen Music, Razor and Tie and Sony ATV.

Lance Carpenter Joins BMI

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Pictured (L-R): Mandolin Entertainment’s Mandi Dixon, Parallel Entertainment’s Tim Hunze and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Seated: BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter.

Newly-signed BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter stopped by the company’s Nashville office to celebrate on Feb. 9. Carpenter has several cuts, including the Kelsea Ballerini chart-topper “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

The singer-songwriter is signed to Parallel Entertainment for publishing and Mandolin Entertainment for artist management.

Still Working Music, Big Deal Music Sign Dylan Altman

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Pictured (L-R): Dale Bobo (Big Deal), Chuck Fleckenstein (Still Working), Sara Beal (Still Working), Alex Orbison (Still Working), Dylan Altman, Pete Robinson (Big Deal), Chelsea Kent (Still Working), Tommy Lee James (Still Working), Greg Gallo (Big Deal). [Click photo to enlarge.]

Still Working Music and Big Deal Music have signed hit songwriter Dylan Altman. Dylan has had top charting songs with Jake Owen (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night”), Jason Aldean (“Take A Little Ride”), and Tim McGraw (“Watch The Wind Blow By”). He has also had cuts with artists such as Chase Bryant, Eli Young Band, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, and others.

“I’ve long viewed Dylan Altman as ‘one of ours’ even when he wasn’t, just because he so often was penning great songs with our other Still Working writers. It is an honor to now add Dylan and his immense writing skill to our Still Working roster – doing so with the superb team over at Big Deal is the cherry on the top. Welcome Dylan Altman!” says Alex Orbison, President of Still Working Music.

“All of us at Big Deal are huge fans of both Dylan and the folks at Still Working. We look forward to a long, fun and successful partnership,” says Pete Robinson, SR VP/GM Big Deal Music Nashville.

Still Working Music was founded in 1990 by Barbara Orbison and is now run by her sons, Alex Orbison (President) and Roy Orbison, Jr. (Co-President). Its catalog includes hits by Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Lost Frequencies. Still Working Music’s extensive catalog also contains cuts by One Direction, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Easton Corbin, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, and Joe Walsh.

Current Still Working Music writers are Tommy Lee James, Gordie Sampson, Jon Randall, Ryan Lafferty, Chase Bryant, Derrick Southerland, Matt Nolen, and Alana Springsteen.

Big Deal Music has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.

Donovan Woods to Release New EP March 3

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Donovan Woods is releasing his new four-song digital EP They Are Going Away, on March 3.

The Warner/Chappell writer has penned songs Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Charlie Worsham and Charles Kelley, who recorded his song “Leaving Nashville” for his solo CD. The lead track on Woods’ new project, “What They Mean,” was penned with Kelley and is a response to a curious child in the backseat of a car who is listening carefully to the car radio.

“The songs are about coping with loss, and wholesale changes, that sort of thing,” offers Woods. “The title, I suppose, is trying to get at the temporariness of everything. Time speeds up when you get older, that’s an observable fact. It starts to feel like you’re always chasing some ineffable thing. It’s why your dad often had a slightly bewildered look in his eyes.”

In support of the release, Woods will embark on an 11-city Northeastern tour with Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), which includes stops in Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, New York, Richmond, and Boston, among others.

TRACKLISTING:
What They Mean
It’ll Work Itself Out
Drove Through Town
Empty Rooms

DisClaimer: Blake Shelton, Lari White Offer Top New Tracks

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The guys and gals competed head to head this week.

The ladies were paced by the superbly diverse new collection by Lari White. And two of them tied for the DisCovery Award. That would be Arista Manning and Kristi Warner.

As for the fellows, they fielded quite a team to compete against Lari for Disc of the Day. Her challengers included Marty Stuart, Travis Rice, Kane Brown, Randy Thompson and our winner, Blake Shelton.

SOUTHERN HALO/Living Like That
Writers: Nathan Dale Stoops/Paul Taylor/Benjamin Francis Harris/Aubrey Felice Collins; Publishers: Tunes of RPM/Paul Taylor/Music of RPM, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; Producers: Cat Gravitt & Gerald O’Brien; Southern Halo (track)
-This female trio rocks out on a rapid-tempo ode to living life in the fast lane. Feisty and fun.

 
KEITH URBAN & CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Fighter
Writer: Keith Urban/busbee; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Mary Rose/7189 Music/BMG Rights, BMI; Producer: busbee & Keith Urban; Capitol Nashville
-This pop-music duet features electronic beats and processed vocals. It is nicely composed, with her asking questions about their love and him responding with assurances of strength, fidelity and endurance.

YouTube video

 
RANDY THOMPSON/Midnight Blue
Writers: Randy Thompson; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Sean Russell; RTB (track)
-Ringing guitars, an echoey atmosphere, a super melody and a solid, manly vocal are the calling cards here. This guy has the goods.

KANE BROWN & LAUREN ALAINA/What Ifs
Writers: Kane Brown/Matthew McGinn/Jordan Schmidt; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Dann Huff; RCA Nashville (track)
– Nicely done. The craftsmanship in the songwriting is top notch, and his baritone vocal is packed with personality. The swirling melody and the dense production are the icing on this tasty cake. The female accompanying voice belongs to Lauren Alaina.

YouTube video

 
KRISTI WARNER/Gravity
Writers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Fred Vail; KW (track)
– The title tune of this gal’s CD is a driving, forceful, uptempo tune that she delivers like a pro. I like the little falsetto soprano embellishments in her phrasing on the choruses as well as her straightforward drawl in the verses. Promising.

 
LARI WHITE/Moonshine
Writers: Tom Bukovac/Lari White; Publishers: SWG, BMI; Producer: Lari White; Skinny WhiteGirl Music (track)
– Lari’s first new collection in 13 years is a double CD titled Old Friends / New Loves. One disc contains imaginative reinterpretations of her 1990s hits (”Now I Know,” “That’s My Baby,” “Lead Me Not,” “That’s How You Know,” etc.). The New Loves disc showcases her new songwriting accomplishments, including this moody, multi-tracked, swampy delight. Haunting, compelling and completely captivating. The album drops tomorrow. Get it.

 
TRAVIS RICE/Don’t Waste The Rain
Writers: Travis Rice; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; Producer: Noah Henson; TR
– This former DisCovery Award winner is back, this time with a sexy, romantic ballad. It’s raining. He’s horny. And he’s calling her at work with a come-on to come home. A steamy video accompanying this can be seen on his website.

 
BLAKE SHELTON/Every Time I Hear That Song
Writers: Aimee Mayo/Chris Lindsey/Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Publisher: Warner Tamerlane/The Queen of Dot Dot Dot/Universal/Chris Lindsey’s Songs/EMI Blackwood/Sagequinnjude/Famlove, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Warner Bros. (track)
– The romance may be over, but a song can bring back its memory in an instant. Blake sings with heartfelt intensity and the song’s solid structure gives Scott’s production enough space to move around in. Listenable in the extreme.

YouTube video

 
ARISTA MANNING/Ride This Night
Writer: Phillip James Roselle/Andrew Rollins/Nicole Scott; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Steve Pope; AM (track)
– The title tune of her debut EP is a rushing wind of energy with some very clever audio gimmicks in the production. Her soaring delivery is a burst of brightly smiling sunshine. I just have one question: Did her parents name her after a record company?

MARTY STUART/Whole Lotta Highway
Writer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Mike Campbell; Superlatone (track)
– The advance single from Marty’s forthcoming Way Out West collection (due March 10) is a rolling, wide-open-road song that sports silvery steel work, a splendidly thumping country-rock rhythm track and smooth-groove harmony vocals by his Fabulous Superlatives. I remain an enormous fan.

ACM Reveals ‘The Week Vegas Goes Country’ Performer Lineups

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The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has revealed details including the musical lineup, additional industry and fan events, as well as ticket on-sale dates and hotel codes for The Week Vegas Goes Country®, including the 5th Annual ACM Party for a Cause® – along with the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, which will broadcast LIVE for the first time ever from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

This year, ACM Party for a Cause will consist of industry and fan events located at different venues across Las Vegas including a new host hotel, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and several others from Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Academy of Country Music has announced additional events which will add to the all-star lineup for The Week Vegas Goes Country. These newly added festivities will kick-off on Friday, March 31 with the ACM Party for a Cause: Barnival Songwriter Showcase, continue Saturday, April 1 with an ACM Party for a Cause: Tailgate Party presented by Country Rebel at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, and close out on Sunday, April 2 with ACM Pool Party for a Cause: Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Each of the festivities for The Week Vegas Goes Country will feature performances by some of the biggest names and hottest new talent in country music including Lauren Alaina, Drew Baldridge, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Bailey Bryan, Scooter Carusoe, Brent Cobb, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Dan + Shay, Clare Dunn, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Seth Ennis, Ryan Follese, Kenny Foster, Ashley Gorley, Walker Hayes, HISH, Ryan Hurd, Chris Janson, Ryan Kinder, Lady Antebellum, Luke Laird, LANCO, Tracy Lawrence, Jackie Lee, LOCASH, Love & Theft, Shane McAnally, Scotty McCreery, Alyssa Micaela, Midland, William Michael Morgan, Kip Moore, Jerrod Niemann, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Eric Paslay, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Aubrie Sellers, Dee Jay Silver, Chris Stapleton, Michael Tyler, Clay Walker, Aaron Watson, Hailey Whitters, Brett Young and more to be announced.

The full schedule of events, ticket on-sale dates, and hotel codes for the 5th ACM Party for a Cause with additional details can be found below. All events will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the ACM, which works to lift lives through the power of music.

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017:

6:00 PM 95.5 The Bull’s 9th Annual All-Star Guitar Pull
Location: Red Rock Ballroom, Red Rock Casino Resort Spa
Performers: Lauren Alaina, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton

10:00 PM ACM After Party for a Cause at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performers: Alyssa Micaela, Midland, Michael Ray

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017:
7:00 PM LOCASH with Ryan Follese and Michael Tyler at House of Blues
Location: House of Blues, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: LOCASH, Ryan Follese, Michael Tyler

8:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause: WME Bash at the Beach
Location: Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: Jake Owen and more to be announced

8:30 PM ACM Party for a Cause: Songwriter Showcase presented by AIMP
Location: The Pearl, Palms Casino Resort
Performers: Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and more to be announced

10:00 PM ACM After Party for a Cause at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
Location: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, Harrah’s Las Vegas
Performers: Lindsay Ell, Ryan Kinder

10:00 PM ACM After Party for a Cause at Virgil’s Real BBQ
Location: Virgil’s Real BBQ, The LINQ Promenade
Performers: Bailey Bryan, Kenny Foster

10:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause: Barnival Songwriter Showcase
Location: Mizuya Lounge, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: Scooter Carusoe, Brent Cobb, Aubrie Sellers, Hailey Whitters

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017:
12:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause: Tailgate Party presented by Country Rebel at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Location: Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Performers: Love & Theft, William Michael Morgan, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Aaron Watson and more to be announced

1:00 PM ACM Pool Party for a Cause at GO Pool
Location: GO Pool, Flamingo Las Vegas
Performers: Jackie Lee, Jerrod Niemann, Old Dominion, Dee Jay Silver

5:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause at The Joint
Location: The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Performers: Drew Baldridge, Kelsea Ballerini, Ryan Hurd, Lady Antebellum, Kip Moore, Eric Paslay, Dee Jay Silver, Brett Young

7:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause at House of Blues presented by CAA
Location: House of Blues, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: Lauren Alaina, Billy Currington, Dan + Shay, Seth Ennis

8:00 PM ACM Party for a Cause: WME Bash at the Beach
Location: Mandalay Bay Beach, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Performers: To Be Announced

10:00 PM ACM After Party for a Cause at Redneck Riviera
Location: The Grand Bazaar Shops in front of Bally’s Las Vegas
Performers: John Rich, Clay Walker

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017:
12:00 PM ACM Pool Party for a Cause: REHAB
Location: REHAB, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Performers: HISH

8:00 PM ACM Awards Official After Party at The Joint
Location: The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Performers: Kane Brown, Easton Corbin, Clare Dunn, Dee Jay Silver, Walker Hayes, LANCO, Scotty McCreery and more to be announced

8:00 PM ACM Awards Official After Party at Park Theater
Location: Park Theater, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
Performers: Russell Dickerson, Chris Janson, Tracy Lawrence, RaeLynn, Clay Walker, HISH