Kelsea Ballerini Announces ‘Neverland VIP Experience’ Upgrade for Tour Dates
Black River Entertainment’s Kelsea Ballerini announces the addition of the Neverland VIP Experience to her upcoming dates with Rascal Flatts on their Rhythm & Roots tour. The upgrade package spans shows from June 17 – Sept. 17, 2016.
Fans who purchase the upgrade ($75 for the general public) will enjoy a private pre-show performance from Ballerini as well as an intimate Q&A session, meet & greet with individual photo, crowd-free merchandise shopping, a unique gift package created exclusively for VIPs, and a special commemorative laminate.
The Neverland VIP Experience spins off the theme of Ballerini’s current single, “Peter Pan.”
In Pictures: Maren Morris, BMI and YEP, William Michael Morgan
Sony Music Nashville Radio Promotion Execs Celebrate Maren Morris’ Debut Album
Pictured (L-R): Columbia Records Nashville’s Lauren Thomas, Shane Allen, Steve Hodges, Bo Martinovich, Christy Garbinski, Samantha Borenstein, Lyndsay Church, and Arista Nashville’s Josh Easler.
Sony Music Nashville radio promotion super heroes celebrate Maren Morris’ debut album, HERO, available everywhere tomorrow (June 3).
BMI and YEP Host Rocking Country Writers
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, songwriter Channing Wilson, YEP’s MaryAnne Keen, Quaker City Night Hawk’s Aaron Haynes and Patrick Adams, YEP’s Andrew Cohen, Quaker City Night Hawk’s Sam Anderson, songwriter Morgan Wallen, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Quaker City Night Hawk’s David Mastler and BMI’s Perry Howard.
BMI and YEP joined forces recently for their quarterly showcase, highlighting up-and-coming country talent at the iconic Exit/In venue. The May 31 edition of the concert featured country-rocker Morgan Wallen, crooner Channing Wilson and band Quaker City Night Hawks.
William Michael Morgan Performs With US Army And Navy Veterans In Special Opry Moment
Pictured (L-R): Bob Regan (Operation Song), Jimmy Sells (US Navy veteran), William Michael Morgan, Ian Wagner (US Army veteran), Jimmy Ritchey
In a very special appearance this weekend on the Grand Ole Opry, William Michael Morgan was joined onstage by Vietnam veteran Jimmy Sells (US Navy) and Purple Heart recipient Ian Wagner (US Army) to sing “The Last Monday in May.”
The song was written as part of Operation Song, an organization whose mission is to empower veterans and active duty military to tell their stories through songwriting. Morgan’s performance garnered a standing ovation and was declared an “Opry moment” by country legend Vince Gill.
Bill Anderson Renews Publishing Deal With Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Pictured (L-R): Terry Wakefield, Sr. VP Creative, Sony/ATV; Bill Anderson; Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO, Sony/ATV
Songwriter and country music icon “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson has been churning out hit songs for seven consecutive decades, and this month, Anderson re-signs once again with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The six-time Songwriter of the Year award-winner first signed with Tree International, now owned by Sony, in 1958.
Troy Tomlinson, president/CEO of Sony/ATV said, “Few music publishers have the honor of ever getting to work with a writer of the stature of Bill Anderson. Even fewer, are able to maintain a relationship that spans decades. We consider it a privilege to represent a legendary songwriter like Bill Anderson and the body of work that he has created over the years.”
Anderson has penned hits for artists including “Whiskey Lullaby,” (Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss), “A Lot Of Things Different,” (Kenny Chesney), “Give It Away,” (George Strait), and “Country,” (Mo Pitney). Other well-known songs include “Still,” “City Lights,” “The Tips Of My Fingers,” “Po’ Folks,” “Mama Sang A Song,” “8X10,” and many more.
“I’m honored that they still want me and my songs at Sony/ATV,” said Anderson. “Those guys are the best music publishers and song guardians in the world.”
With 40 studio albums and seven No. 1 singles to his credit, the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member is set to release an autobiography Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life In Country Music on Sept. 1.
2016 Road Closures, Bus And Parking Changes For CMA Fest
Downtown Nashville will experience changes in traffic flow and parking to accommodate the events and activities of the 2016 CMA Music Festival. The annual event will take place Thursday through Sunday (June 9-12) but several changes will take effect as early as today (Thursday, June 2).
Thursday, June 2
MTA begins running detour routes.
Friday, June 3:
7:00 a.m. – The northbound lane cutout of First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Streets (reopens Monday, June 13 at 3:00 a.m.).
Saturday, June 4:
6:00 a.m. – Broadway will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 at 3:00 a.m.).
Sunday, June 5:
7:00 a.m. – Fifth Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun Street to Broadway (reopens Monday, June 13 by 7:00 PM).
Monday, June 6:
6:00 a.m. – Meters bagged from Second Avenue from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Union Street (available Monday, June 13 by 1:00 a.m.).
7:00 a.m. – First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Streets (reopens Monday, June 13 by 3:00 p.m.).
8:00 a.m. – Titans Way will be closed (reopens Monday, June 13 by 8:00 p.m.).
8:00 p.m. – Meters bagged from Fourth Avenue from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Commerce Street (available Monday, June 13 by 1:00 a.m.).
Tuesday, June 7:
6:00 a.m. – First Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Church Street (reopens Monday, June 13 by 3:00 a.m.).
6:00 a.m. – Molloy Street will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 by 3:00 a.m.).
6:00 a.m. – Meters bagged from Broadway from First to Sixth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 by 1:00 a.m.).
6:00 a.m. – Demonbreun Street will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 by 3:00 a.m.).
Wednesday, June 8:
6:00 a.m. – Broadway will be closed from Second to Fourth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 by 2:00 a.m.).
6:00 a.m. – Demonbreun will be closed from Fourth to Fifth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 13 by 2:00 a.m.).
Thursday, June 9 — Sunday, June 12:
7:00 AM–7:00 p.m. Fifth Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun Street each day
7:00 AM–7:00 p.m. Demonbreun Street will be closed from Fifth to Sixth Avenues each day
Artist Updates: Eric Church, Joe Nichols, Colt Ford, Spencer’s Own
Eric Church Pop-Up Store Returning To Nashville During CMA Music Festival
Eric Church will bring music product and more to his fans at CMA Music Fest week for a second year in a row with his Eric Church Pop Up Store in East Nashville (address: 218 South 11th Street) beginning Thursday, June 9 and running through Sunday, June 12 with operating hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The concession, which will mark Church’s fourth pop up store in Nashville over the last year, will offer rare items for purchase, including his custom These Boots by Lucchese boot line and signature Gibson guitar, the Hummingbird Dark. Also available are select pieces from The Highway to Home furniture collection, an original furniture line created by Church.
Joe Nichols Joins Clay Walker’s 7th Annual Chords of Hope Benefit
Joe Nichols
Clay Walker will be bringing along four-time Grammy nominee Joe Nichols for the seventh annual Chords of Hope benefit concert. ACM Lifting Lives will be joining Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Pinnacle Financial Partners as a presenting sponsor. Hosting the event will be The Big 98 WSIX on-air duo, Tige and Daniel for the second consecutive year.
Taking place at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on Wednesday, June 8 during CMA Fest, the concert will help raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS) research with proceeds going to the MS Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Clay’s charity, Band Against MS (BAMS). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are still available here.
Colt Ford To Tour With Brantley Gilbert, Announces Clothing Collaboration
Colt Ford
Colt Ford joins Brantley Gilbert’s 33-date “Take It Outside” summer amphitheater tour along with country’s Justin Moore. The tour runs through October 15. Ford will be a celebrity brand ambassador for Affliction Clothing which has designed custom stage branding for Ford’s live show, signature apparel and artwork for his upcoming album.
“We are very pleased Colt Ford has embraced our brand and joined us as an ambassador,” said Affliction Clothing owner, Eric Foss. “We like his unique style which makes a great addition to our roster of celebrity ambassadors who embrace the brand’s Live Fast lifestyle.”
Vocal Group Spencer’s Own Teams With Rooms To Go
Spencer’s Own
ElectricHouse sibling quintet, Spencer’s Own, will be showing up in over one hundred Rooms To Go furniture stores this summer. The third largest furniture retailer in the country will feature the band’s “Livin’ in the Moment” music video as part of its seasonal promotion starting in June.
“Livin’ in the Moment” recently reached No. 29 on the MusicRow
MusicRowLife: Rachele Lynae, Dylan Scott
Rachele Lynae Weds
Country singer Rachele Lynae married producer/lighting director Tim Creedon on Sunday, May 22, in a private ceremony outside of Nashville. The two exchanged vows at the Cactus Creek Barn in Dickson, Tennessee, surrounded by friends and family.
Rachele Lynae and Tim Creedon. Photo: Nashville Wedding Collection
Dylan Scott Weds
Curb Records artist Dylan Scott wed Blair Anderson on Saturday, May 28 in Bastrop, Louisiana.
Photo: Courtesy Curb Records
DISClaimer: Dierks Bentley, Sammy Arriaga Bring Rhythm, Energy On New Singles
“T for Texas, T for Tennessee.”
That’s what the great Jimmie Rodgers wrote and sang. And it’s as true today as it was back in 1928. Just look at the match-ups in today’s column.
Representing the Lone Star State, we have Brad Cunningham, Mark McKinney and Sarabeth. On the other hand, we have Volunteer State recording artists Dierks Bentley, Old Dominion and Josh Goodlett.
Toss in California’s Corinne Cook and Lasers Lasers Birmingham, Georgia boy Tyler Hammond and South Florida’s Sammy Arriaga and you’ve got quite a geographic mix.
Dierks Bentley earns Disc of the Day. Sammy Arriaga is our DisCovery Award winner.
SAMMY ARRIAGA/Banjos N’ Bongos
Writers: Sammy Arriaga/James Slater/Bobby Hamrick; Producer: Lalo Guzman; Publishers: Sony/ATV, Disney, BMG; Latium (track)
– Very summer-y. The percolating bongo beats and light banjo plucks give it loads of burbling, bopping energy. His rapid-fire vocal delivery has lots of heart as he describes romance between a Kentucky girl and a Cuban-American boy. Endearing.
BRAD CUNNINGHAM BAND/Goin’ To Texas
Writers: Brad Cunningham; Producer: Wes Sharon; Publishers: none listed; Brad/Sony RED (track)
– It’s a cool little “road” song, with a jaunty beat, sawing fiddle, twangin’ guitar and a countryboy vocal that’s winning. Makes you want to go for a ride.
OLD DOMINION/Song For Another Time
Writers: Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Brad Tursi/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Shane McAnally; Publishers: Smack/Big Deal Music/Combustion Music, ASCAP; RCA (track)
– As before, enormously tuneful. The lyric paints a picture of optimism in the face of uncertainty. The spare, percussive arrangement underscores how well written this is.
LASERS LASERS BIRMINGHAM/Royal Blue
Writer: Alex Owen; Producer: Jake Gideon; Publishers: Lasers Lasers Birmingham, BMI; LLB (track)
– Airy, California country with a way, way mellow vibe. Fluid organ and steel notes drift through the arrangement while a piano plinky-plunks in between the sleepy baritone’s vocal phrases. This is the title tune of the unusually named act’s second EP.
DIERKS BENTLEY/ELLE KING
Writers: Shane McAnally/J.T. Harding; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt/Songs Music/Mighty Seven/Heavy Metal Disco/Songs of SMP, GMR/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
– Very atmospheric. An echoey track backs Dierks and pop chirper Elle as they duet on a lyric that explains how heartbreak affects different sexes. He can have meaningless sex, drown his blues in booze and switch his emotions off. She can’t. Love that thumping rhythm undertow.
TYLER HAMMOND/Drunk Over A Girl
Writers: none listed; Producer: Ira Dean; Publishers: none listed; TH
– Dean shows real ability as a producer. The crunchy beats and perfectly placed electric guitar phrases both work extremely well here. Hammond has a forceful country delivery with plenty of personality. Play this.
JOSH GOODLETT/I Don’t Usually Do This
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Good Entertainment (track)
– His tenor could use a little echo assistance to sound fuller. But everything else works perfectly. The song is extremely well written and the instrumental arrangement supports his expressive delivery at every turn. Very promising. Credits, please.
MARK McKINNEY & BRI BAGWELL/Why Haven’t You Left Yet?
Writers: Mark McKinney/Cassie Turano; Producers: Eric McKinney/Mark McKinney; Publisher: none listed; MMBB
-Very hillbilly cute. They’re thoroughly sick of each other. He offers her the used car that isn’t paid for, if she’ll just split. She says he can have all their unpaid debts. He says she always has her face planted in Facebook. She says he always has a belly full of beer and is planted in front of the TV or down at the bar. She’s taken over their bed; he’s sleeping in the LazyBoy.
CORINNE COOK/Little Miss Understanding
Writers: Lee Young/Julie Burton/Denny Martin; Producer: Denny Martin; Publishers: Boots in Nashville/Pileadough/Purple Daisy, SESAC/BMI; CCM (CDX)
– It’s a kiss-off song. A little more vocal firepower would make it more effective. As it is, she delivers it with a whine instead of a snarl.
SARABETH/You Rock My Rodeo
Writers: Sarabeth Swagertky/Glen Mitchell/Sandy Ramos; Producer: Glen Mitchell; Publishers: AmeriBrit/Delta Pearl/Lawyer’s Wife, ASCAP/BMI; Circle S (CDX)
– A feisty cowgirl ditty that, despite its title, never really rocks.
Alan Jackson Preps Two Special Nashville Appearances Next Week
Alan Jackson
Country music superstar Alan Jackson is preparing a number of special performances surrounding CMA Music Festival next week (June 9-12).
On Tuesday, June 7, he’ll treat fans to rare performance as he’s featured in the Acme Unplugged series at Acme Seed and Feed on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. The appearance will find the music icon playing a Music Festival installment of the venue’s acclaimed songwriter series. Tickets are $50.00 per person, with a very limited number of VIP ticket packages available this Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. The performance will stream live on WranglerNetwork.com, as well as on Acme Radio via AcmeRadioLive.com and the TuneIn app.
On Friday, June 10, the Grand Ole Opry member will step onto the renowned Opry stage, as he celebrates his 25th year as a member of the institution. This comes on the heels of the recent 25th anniversary celebration of the release of his debut album Don’t Rock the Jukebox.
Since its release in early May, Jackson has topped Billboard’s all-genre Music DVD chart with Keepin’ It Country: Live at Red Rocks, a concert DVD captured on tour at the revered Colorado concert venue in 2015. Jackson’s Keepin’ It Country Tour–extended from 2015 into this year–continues this summer. More shows follow in August and through the fall.
Dierks Bentley, Elle King Set For CMT Music Awards
Dierks Bentley and Elle King are two of the latest performers to be added to the 2016 CMT Music Awards. Together they will collaborate on Bentley’s new single, “Different For Girls,” from his recently released album Black.
Additionally, Cheap Trick will team with Billy Ray Cyrus for a mash-up performance. Cyrus’ CMT show Still The King premieres June 12. Cheap Trick signed to Big Machine Label Group at the end of 2015.
Other previously announced 2016 CMT Music Awards collaborations include Fifth Harmony and Cam, Blake Shelton and The Oak Ridge Boys, and Keith Urban with special guests Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris.
Hosted by Erin Andrews and J.J. Watt, the 2016 CMT Music Awards, will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.