Gary Allan Ships New Single, “Do You Wish It Was Me?”

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John Lytle, Lytle Management Group President; Royce Risser, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President Promotion; Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville President; Mike Dungan, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO; Gary Allan; Brian Wright, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President A&R; David Crow, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Mike Harris, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President and COO. Photo : Alain Poizner

Pictured (L-R): John Lytle, Lytle Management Group President; Royce Risser, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President Promotion; Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville President; Mike Dungan, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO; Gary Allan; Brian Wright, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President A&R; David Crow, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Mike Harris, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President and COO. Photo : Alain Poizner

EMI Nashville recording artist Gary Allan shipped a new single, “Do You Wish It Was Me?” to country radio on Monday (May 23). Its digital on-sale date will be June 10 and it will go for adds on June 13.

Allan co-wrote the song with Jonathan Singleton and Andrew Dorff. Allan co-produced the song with Greg Droman and recorded it with his touring band.

Last week, Allan played the song for the label team and accepted a gold plaque for his prior album, 2013’s Set You Free. In addition, Allan was surprised when UMG Nashville President & CEO Mike Dungan presented him with a plaque spanning his career accomplishments. During his 20 years signed to the label, Allan has achieved over 7 million album sales, 8 million track sales, 250 million streams, 5 No. 1 singles and 14 Top 10 hits.

“Looking at this plaque and thinking back on the past twenty years makes me grateful for the great team of people I have around me. There have been people who have come and gone from Universal, but this is still my home and they are all my label family,” said Allan. “I am excited about getting ‘Do You Wish It Was Me?’ out to radio, playing it for the fans and continuing to work with Mike, Cindy and the entire EMI/UMG Nashville staff.”

Weekly Register: Jennifer Nettles Starts ‘Fire’ On Sales Chart

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Jennifer Nettles, Playing With Fire

Jennifer Nettles’ Playing With Fire has rekindled her connection to the country chart. It’s the singer-songwriter’s first release for Big Machine Label Group, and enters the country album sales chart at No. 2, with 31K sold. It arrives at No. 10 in the overall chart, with combined units of 33K, accounting for streaming, song sales and album sales.

Meanwhile, Keith Urban maintains the top spot on the country albums sales chart. This week, Ripcord moved 32K units. With combined units of 48K, it lands at No. 6 on the overall chart.

Keith Urban Ripcord

The country album sales chart’s Top 5 is rounded out by Cole Swindell’s You Should Be Here (23K), Chris Stapleton’s Traveller (21K) and Joey + Rory’s Hymns (7.6K).

The compilation The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 4, Vol. 2 enters this week at No. 12 (3.7K).

Florida Georgia Line 2016

Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y.” holds steady at No. 1 on the country digital tracks chart, with 78K sold this week. That’s followed by The Voice contestant Adam Wakefield’s “I’m Sorry,” moving 52K. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood’s “The Fighter” rises to No. 3 with 50K.

Tim McGraw Humble and Kind

In addition, Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” lands at No. 4 (33.5). Blake Shelton stands at No. 5 with “Came Here to Forget” (31K) as well as No. 6 with “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” a duet with Gwen Stefani (27.5K).

Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” remains at No. 1 for overall digital tracks sales this week with 204K. Drake’s Views stays No. 1 on the overall album chart with combined units of 239K.

Information courtesy of Nielsen Soundscan.

2016 MusicRow Awards: Breakthrough Artist Of The Year

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The five nominees for MusicRow’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year all achieved significant career progress for the first time within the eligibility period (May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016).

Finalists for the 2016 MusicRow Awards, Nashville’s longest-running music industry trade publication honors, were revealed earlier this month.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:

A Thousand Horses
Republic Nashville band A Thousand Horses made an impression on country listeners last year with their singles, including the No. 1 hit “Smoke,” as well as “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial.” Produced by Dave Cobb, the Nashville band’s album Southernality earned a Top 5 debut, while the video for “Smoke” earned a Group Video of the Year nomination at the 2015 CMT Music Awards. The group is on tour with Jason Aldean and climbing the charts with a new single, “Southernality.”

Brothers Osborne
John and TJ Osborne, known professionally as Brothers Osborne, have upped the ante in country music over the past year with their infectious singles “Stay A Little Longer” and current release “21 Summer,” both from their 2016 EMI Records Nashville project Pawn Shop. “Stay A Little Longer” earned a gold certification and was the duo’s first No. 1 song. Raised in Deale, Maryland, the brothers made their Grand Ole Opry debut in April. They are now on the road opening shows for Miranda Lambert.

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Cam
The singer-songwriter’s “Burning House” caused a stir in 2015, earning Grammy and ACM nominations. The critically-acclaimed single went on to achieve platinum status. In December, she launched her debut album for Arista Nashville/RCA Records, Untamed, with producers Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson. One of CMT’s Next Women of Country, the California native performed her current single, “Mayday,” on the American Country Countdown Awards this month.

Chris Janson
The past year has been a wild ride for Janson after signing to Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville in March 2015. After years of false starts on other labels, his breakthrough single “Buy Me a Boat” earned platinum sales and picked up Country Song of the Year honors at the iHeartRadio Awards. He’s appeared on Conan, toured with Blake Shelton, and earned three ACM Award nominations. The Missouri native’s new single is the intensely personal ballad, “Holdin’ Her.”

Old Dominion
While some of Old Dominion’s members have penned hits for artists, the band’s singles “Break Up With Him” and “Snapback” have brought this group into a spotlight of their own. While building a foundation as a touring band, they worked with producer Shane McAnally on their RCA Nashville debut album, Meat and Candy. Named for the band’s ties to Virginia, Old Dominion won an ACM Award for Best New Vocal Duo or Group.

The 2016 MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony at BMI on Wednesday, June 29. Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. See the final nominees.

Voting closes on Tuesday, May 24 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive your ballot.

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Exclusive: Alyssa Micaela’s “Getaway Car” Leads To Nashville

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Rising singer-songwriter Alyssa Micaela keeps adding to her musical résumé. The Odessa, Texas, native has signed publishing agreements with Liz Rose Music and Warner/Chappell. Her current single, “Getaway Car,” has garnered 3 million streams on Spotify. She has been named CMT’s New Artist Spotlight for the month of June, and she is already in talks with a few record labels.

Like many rising artists, Micaela’s “big break” came via a friend of a friend, who introduced Micaela to Nashville attorney Linda Edell Howard. Howard, in turn, introduced her to hit songwriter Liz Rose seven years ago, when Micaela was 16. At the time Rose was well-known to teenage girls as the co-writer of many of Taylor Swift’s early songs.

“Liz told me, ‘I get hit up by tons of young female songwriters every day, but I wanted to meet you.’” said Micaela. “So throughout high school I would make trips over here to write with her. That’s part of the reason I moved here. She’s my mentor. I call her my fairy godmother, because she’s making all my career dreams come true.”

Pictured (L-R): Pete Olson, manager; Craig Shelburne, GM, MusicRow; Micaela; Sherod Robertson, MusicRow, Owner/Publisher; Liz Rose, Songwriter/Publisher, Liz Rose Music. Photo: Molly Hannula

Pictured (L-R): Pete Olson, Master Craft Management; Craig Shelburne, GM, MusicRow; Micaela; Sherod Robertson, MusicRow, Owner/Publisher; Liz Rose, Songwriter/Publisher, Liz Rose Music. Photo: Molly Hannula

During a visit to MusicRow, Micaela offered performances of three tracks from her upcoming project.

She performed the up-tempo romantic kiss-off “Truck Bed,” penned by The Love Junkies (Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna). A tribute to her hard-working grandfather, “Cowboys Like That,” was written by Micaeala, Rose and Emily Shackleton.

“I was close with my grandpa growing up, and he’s a big part of my musical journey,” said Micaela. “He’s why I sing country music and he was always my biggest fan, so I always wanted a song for him.”

Pictured (L-R): Liz Rose, Alyssa Michaela, Sherod Robertson.

Pictured (L-R): Liz Rose, Alyssa Micaela, Sherod Robertson. Photo: Molly Hannula

During the visit, she also discussed her devotion to Willie Nelson’s music. Micaela shared that she recently got the chance to open a concert for the legendary entertainer. When Nelson wrote an encouraging note to the rising singer after the show, Micaela got his signature tattooed on her wrist.

She finished the trio of songs with her current single, “Getaway Car,” a song that tells of a young, ambitious dreamer planning her escape from her small town roots, where “everyone is barefoot and pregnant.” She co-wrote the track four years ago with Jesse Walker and Derrick Southerland. “Getaway Car” was produced by Keith Follese and Liz Rose.

“The story is absolutely true,” said Micaela. “Most of it, anyway.”

Alyssa Micaela with MusicRow staff. Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Molly Hannula, Craig Shelburne, Micaela, Sherod Robertson, Jessica Nicholson, Eric Parker

Alyssa Micaela with MusicRow staff. Pictured (L-R): Troy Stephenson, Molly Hannula, Craig Shelburne, Micaela, Sherod Robertson, Jessica Nicholson, Eric Parker

 

 

Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton Win Billboard Music Awards

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Thomas Rhett. Photo: Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images via ABC.

Thomas Rhett. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images via ABC.

Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and Chris Stapleton were the country winners at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 22) in Las Vegas.

Rhett personally accepted the award for Top Country Song, for “Die a Happy Man.”

In addition, Bryan was named Top Country Artist and Stapleton’s Traveller was named Top Country Album.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani were among the night’s performers, delivering a duet of “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” a song from Shelton’s new release, If I’m Honest.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images via ABC

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images via ABC

LifeNotes: Savannah Schmidt, Daughter Of Joey and Jessie Schmidt, Passes

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candle lifenotes11MusicRow sends its condolences to the Schmidt family. Savannah Schmidt, 21, daughter of Joey and Jessie Schmidt and sister of Olivia Schmidt, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Thursday, May 19.

Visitation will be at Long Hollow Baptist Church (3031 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN) from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, and from 9-11 a.m. on Monday, May 23 with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m.

In honor of Savannah, the service will be a “Pink Out.” Wear your best pink.

Joey Schmidt is currently keyboard player for Alan Jackson and Josh Turner. Jessie Schmidt is President/CEO of Schmidt Relations.

Information on donations to be sent shortly.

Sony/ATV Nashville Honors Bobby Braddock For 50 Years As Staff Writer

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Pictured (L-R): Terry Wakefield, Bobby Braddock, Tracy Lawrence, Troy Tomlinson. Photo: Courtesy of Sony/ATV

Pictured (L-R): Terry Wakefield, Bobby Braddock, Tracy Lawrence, Troy Tomlinson. Photo: Ed Rode, Courtesy of Sony/ATV

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville celebrated Bobby Braddock‘s 50-year anniversary as a staff writer on Thursday (May 19).

Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson (President/CEO) and Terry Wakefield (Sr. VP of Creative), BMI’s Jody Williams (VP, Writer/Publisher Relations) and music journalist Robert Oermann all spoke about Braddock’s illustrious career and shared personal anecdotes about the man and songwriter.

At the reception, Tracy Lawrence performed “Time Marches On,” his 1996 No.1 hit written by Braddock. Video tributes included words from Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Billy Currington, Scott Hendricks and James Stroud.

Other noted industry guests in attendance included Kix Brooks, Paul Worley, Jim Ed Norman, Don Cook, Doug Johnson, Hendricks, Deborah Allen and Michael Kosser, among others. Braddock’s daughter, Lauren Braddock Havey, and son-in-law Jim Havey also attended.

In May of 1966, Buddy Killen signed Braddock to what was then Tree Publishing Company, “when I was seven years old,” Braddock says with a wink.

In that 50 years Braddock has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York, and the Country Music Hall of Fame; received the BMI Icon Award and the ACM Poets Award; won the CMA Song of the Year award twice (six nominations), and is the only living songwriter to have had No. 1 country songs in five consecutive decades.

Braddock got Blake Shelton his record deal and produced his first three albums and several of his biggest hits. He himself has been an artist on five major labels and has had two books published, most recently Bobby Braddock: A Life on Nashville’s Music Row.

He and Curly Putman wrote what is often considered the greatest country song of all time, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Braddock also wrote “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “Time Marches On,” and “Texas Tornado,” and co-wrote “People Are Crazy,” “D.I.V.O.R.C.E.,” “Golden Ring,” and “All My Old Flames Have New Names.”

Webster PR Holds Client Appreciation Dinner

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Pictured: Collin Raye, Deborah Allen, T.G. Sheppard, Oaks' William Lee Golden, Tanya Tucker, Oaks' Richard Sterban, Jimmy Fortune, B&R's Big Kenny, Oaks' Duane Allen, Kenny Rogers, Chrisiev, Norah Lee Allen, Ronnie McDowell, Sylvia, Jeannie Seely, Lorrie Morgan, T Graham Brown, Howard Bellamy, David Bellamy, Harry Wayne Casey (KC) of KC & The Sunshine Band, Mark Wills, and Kirt Webster

Pictured: Collin Raye, Deborah Allen, T.G. Sheppard, Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden, Tanya Tucker, Oaks’ Richard Sterban, Jimmy Fortune, Big & Rich’s Big Kenny, Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen, Kenny Rogers, Chrisiev Alphin, Norah Lee Allen, Ronnie McDowell, Sylvia, Jeannie Seely, Lorrie Morgan, T Graham Brown, Howard Bellamy, David Bellamy, Harry Wayne Casey (KC) of KC & The Sunshine Band, Mark Wills, and Kirt Webster

Webster Public Relations’ President/CEO Kirt Webster hosted a Client Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday (May 18) at his home to enjoy fellowship and camaraderie before the 2016 touring season kicks off. Among those attending were Kenny Rogers, The Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban, William Lee Golden, and Duane Allen, Jimmy Fortune, Lorrie Morgan, and more.

Artists not pictured above, but in attendance, included members of Exile, Bill Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Gene Watson, Rhonda Vincent, Rex Allen Jr., John Conlee, CJ Solar, Larry Black of Larry’s Country Diner, Joey Canyon of the Joey Canyon Show, Gus Arrendale of Springer Mountain Farms.

Also attending were industry leaders including CMA’s Sarah Trahern, Maverick’s Clarence Spalding, CDB’s David Corlew, Jim Halsey, Tony Conway, CTK Mgmt’s Danny Nozell, Steve Schweidel, APA’s Steve Lassiter and Bonnie Sugarman, Judy Seale, Jackie Monaghan, WME’s Mark Roeder, NATD’s Steve Tolman, Hallmark’s John Dorris, and Reviver’s David Ross.

Shane Allen Departing Capitol Records Nashville On May 27

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Shane Allen

Shane Allen

Shane Allen will conclude nine years with Capitol Records Nashville on May 27. The departure was confirmed Friday (Feb. 20) by a spokesperson at the label, an imprint of UMG Nashville.

Allen was promoted to Vice President of Promotion at the label group in November 2014 and formally began that role on January 1, 2015.

Allen joined Capitol when it was an EMI property in 2007 as Vice President, Promotion. In 2012, following the combination of Capitol Records Nashville and Universal Music Group Nashville, Allen stepped into his most recent role of Vice President of Promotion for all four labels under the Universal Music Group Nashville umbrella including Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, MCA Records Nashville and Mercury Records Nashville.

Allen got his start in the industry at San Diego’s KSON radio station. He has held positions within the promotion departments at Universal South, MCA Records Nashville and Mercury Records Nashville. He also worked at Red Light Management.

The label’s current roster includes Luke Bryan, Mickey Guyton, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban.

In related news, Bobby Young was promoted to VP, Promotion, at Capitol Records Nashville on Friday (May 20).

David Nail Releases Surprise EP, Sets Full-Length Project For July

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MCA Nashville recording artist David Nail released a surprise five-song EP Friday (May 20) on Spotify and YouTube, titled Uncovered. The release is in advance of his newly-announced fourth studio album, Fighter, expected July 15.

The EP features four cover songs that influenced Nail personally and musically, from Elvis Presley, The Weeknd, Phil Collins and Adele (full track list below). Additionally, the surprise release includes an acoustic remake of “Looking For a Good Time,” originally from Nail’s debut album.

The radio single from the forthcoming full-length project, “Night’s on Fire,” was penned by Jonathan Singleton and Deric Ruttan. The single continues to climb the Billboard country airplay chart. Track listing, pre-order information and album artwork from that full-length project are still forthcoming.

“As I looked ahead to begin the process of recording my fourth studio album for MCA Nashville, I looked back at everything I have been through as an artist, as a man, as a husband and now as a new Dad,” said Nail.

“I realized that music is one thing I lean on consistently to get me through or remind me how lucky I am to be doing what I love,” he added. “I am really blessed to be at this place in life with my wife and now our two children and the one consistent thread through it ALL has been music. Music has been so important in my walk to ‘here.’ I am really excited to be able to share some of the music, outside of my own, that has meant something to me.”

He continued, ‘Some of these songs have been with me for years and some obviously are brand new discoveries that have had an impact on me for various reasons. This is just a small taste of some of the music that has challenged me, music that I enjoy performing, listening to, or that I have related to in some capacity along the way in my journey to Fighter.”

Nail has dates booked on the road through October on his official website.

Uncovered Track Listing:
1) Elvis Presley, “In the Ghetto” – “’In The Ghetto’ is the song that kind of began the conversation of starting this project. It was the first cover song that I really tried to make my own. I have never liked listening to myself sing, but I’ve enjoyed this one. It gives me chills.”

2) The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face” – “We had to do something off the wall for this project, thus our attempt at this huge pop hit. It was the most fun we had recording, and certainly the most laid-back of any of the Uncovered songs.”

3) Phil Collins, “In The Air Tonight” – “I’ve heard rumors over the years at the story behind ‘In the Air Tonight,’ and it’s a song that has stood the test of time for sure. It was probably the most difficult song from a performance standpoint. We really wanted the lyric to stand out, and for the story to be our number one priority. It’s a very haunting track.”

4) Adele, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” – “I believe Adele is the finest vocalist I’ve ever heard, which makes any cover extremely difficult. The first listen to this song when the album was released blew me away, and when it came time to begin this Uncovered series, it was my definite first choice.”

5) “Looking For A Good Time” (acoustic remake)– “A member of my team found this song for the first record, and it’s been one of my favorites I’ve ever recorded. When we opened for Lady Antebellum on their first headlining tour, we started a show with a version very similar to this one. It’s a fantastic lyric, and I believe the broken down/slower version really puts you inside the story.”