Grand Ole Opry’s Del McCoury Releasing Woody Guthrie Project

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del and woody art with date

Grand Ole Opry member Del McCoury’s next release will be an album of songs he’s written using rare Woody Guthrie lyrics. Del and Woody will be issued by McCoury Music on April 15.

Guthrie’s daughter, Nora Guthrie, got the idea to approach McCoury about making the album after seeing him perform at Newport Folk Festival in 2009.

“After hearing Del’s show, I remember thinking that if my dad had had a band, it would very possibly have sounded very much like Del’s,” she said.

A few years later, McCoury was sent a few dozen of Woody Guthrie’s lyrics, with the goal of composing music to suit the words.

McCoury said, “When I read them, it seemed pretty easy to me to hear the music that would fit. Nora said, ‘You can change some things if you want to,’ and I said no. He’s a great writer, and I do not want to change anything in his songs. I would just like to put a melody to these words so that maybe folks will accept the songs, and that’s what we did.”

One of the songs, “The New York Trains,” was released on the 2014 audio book CD set, My Name is New York; Ramblin’ Around Woody Guthrie’s Town. The song received a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song.

McCoury was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2003. The Del McCoury Band has won two Grammy Awards for Best Bluegrass Album: The Company We Keep (2005) and The Streets of Baltimore (2013).

Artist Updates: Drake White, Clay Walker, Marshall Tucker Band, Stephanie Quayle

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Salt Life Adds Drake White As New Team Member

Drake White

Drake White

Drake White is the newest team member of Salt Life. He will promote the aquatic lifestyle brand through various sponsorships and events alongside professional fishermen, divers and surfers.

“Salt Life’s brand embodies the type of lifestyle I’ve always lived,” White said. “Being immersed in outdoor adventures from the river to the ocean and trails in between is when I feel my best, truest self, so I’m really excited to be a part of this team.”

Salt Life President Jeff Stillwell stated, “We are excited to welcome Drake White to the growing and accomplished Salt Life team. He is an avid waterman, a great artist and fits perfectly with the Salt Life brand. We look forward to this partnership.”

White’s singles for Dot Records include “Livin’ the Dream” and “It Feels Good.”

 

Clay Walker Announces Band Against MS Ride

Clay Walker

Clay Walker

Clay Walker and his non-profit organization Band Against MS (BAMS) will host the fourth annual Band Against MS Ride in Humble, Texas, on March 26. The ride will start and finish at the home of the Shell Houston Open PGA Tournament, one week before the pros tee off. Walker will kick off the Band Against MS Ride with a performance of the national anthem.

Walker founded Band Against MS in 2003 because he wanted to provide support to others living with the same disease he has been battling since 1996. To date, BAMS has raised more than $4.5 million.

“This event holds a special place in my heart because it combines two of my favorite things, cycling and raising awareness about multiple sclerosis,” Walker said. “Over the last three years all of the people who have taken a part in the ride have expressed their gratitude for this event and I am so excited we are able to do it again this year.”

 

Marshall Tucker Band Launches Long Hard Ride Tour

Marshall Tucker Band tour

The Marshall Tucker Band has announced concert dates for the 2016 Long Hard Ride Tour. The title of the new tour is a throwback to the band’s 1976 studio album of the same name.

This year marks 45 years of touring for the Marshall Tucker Band. They will also perform on the upcoming Rock Legends Cruise V, set for January 19-23, 2017.

“I look back at it all now and just think, ‘wow,'” says lead singer Doug Gray. “We’ve been doing this for 45 years and every year I get more excited about getting back out there to start a new tour. We wouldn’t still be here if not for all the fans, young and old, who keep coming to see us every night. We love you all… here’s to this year’s Long Hard Ride!”

Stephanie Quayle Says No To The Dress

Mr. Couch and Stephanie Quayle

David Couch and Stephanie Quayle

Country artist Stephanie Quayle appears on a re-airing of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta on Friday (Feb. 19). The episode features her search for a wedding dress just 13 days before the wedding.

“The Say Yes to the Dress team was so patient and supportive as I tried on practically every dress in the shoppe,” Quayle said. “The whole experience was so positive even as I realized that I wasn’t going home with ‘the dress’ that day. It wasn’t meant to be!”

With less than a week before the wedding, the bride found her dream dress from designer Augusta Jones. Quayle and her groom, David Couch, were married on June 20, 2015.

Nashville’s Tristan McIntosh Advances On ‘American Idol’

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Pictured (L-R): Tristan McIntosh, Kellie Pickler

Pictured (L-R): Tristan McIntosh, Kellie Pickler

Tristan McIntosh, a 10th grader at the Nashville School of the Arts, is one step closer to becoming the next (and final) American Idol.

McIntosh has made it into the Top 14 so far, advancing into the Showcase Round on Thursday, Feb. 18, on this final season of American Idol. The 15-year-old shared the stage with Season 5’s sixth-place finalist Kellie Pickler, as the two performed Pickler’s “Best Days Of Your Life.”

Two Nashville contestants were eliminated during the episode, including McIntosh’s fellow Nashville School of the Arts student Amelia Eisenhauer, as well as 27-year-old barista Kory Wheeler. During the episode, Wheeler performed Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” (the song he used to audition for Idol), while Eisenhauer also performed with Pickler, in a rendition of Sara Evans’ hit “Suds In The Bucket.”

Other former American Idol contestants that returned to the stage last night included Chris Daughtry (Season 5), Haley Reinhart (Season 10), Jordin Sparks (Season 6 winner), David Cook (Season 7 winner), and Constantine Maroulis (Season 4).

Watch McIntosh and Pickler’s Idol duet below.

YouTube video

Weekly Chart Report (2/19/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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In Pictures: BMI, YEP, Mark and Ivey Childers, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill

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BMI, YEP Raise $2,000 For Music Health Alliance

The Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) raised roughly $2,000 for Music Health Alliance on Tues., Feb. 16 at The Basement East thanks to their quarterly benefit show sponsored by BMI, this time themed “YEP Rewind: 80’s Rock Night.”

Nashville singers and songwriters rocked out for the night with performances by Jessi Alexander, Barry Dean, Kree Harrison, Natalie Hemby, Mike Grimes, Dean Alexander, Jillian Jacqueline, Westbound Rangers, Jason Nix and more.

Photo (L-R): Jody Williams (BMI), Natalie Hemby, Andrew Cohen (Suit Music), Barry Dean, MaryAnn Keen (Ten Ten Music/Nettwerk Music), Luke Dick, Mason Hunter (BMI)

Photo (L-R): Jody Williams (BMI), Natalie Hemby, Andrew Cohen (Suit Music), Barry Dean, MaryAnn Keen (Ten Ten Music/Nettwerk Music), Luke Dick, Mason Hunter (BMI)

 

Mark and Ivey Childers Welcome Daughter Leona Ivey

Mark Childers, band director and bassist for Carrie Underwood, and Ivey Childers, owner of IveyCake bakery, welcomed daughter Leona Ivey Childers on Feb. 17 at 9:30 am.

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Brad Paisley Makes Stop At KWJJ During Crushin’ It World Tour

Brad Paisley and Entercom Director Country Programming & VP Programming/PD KWJJ/Portland Mike Moore share a smile at Paisley’s recent Crushin’ It World Tour stop in Eugene, Oregon.

Pictured (L-R): Brad Paisley, Mike Moore. Photo: Ben Enos

Pictured (L-R): Brad Paisley, Mike Moore. Photo: Ben Enos

 

Vince Gill Celebrates Album Release With Free Show In Nashville

Vince Gill celebrated the release of his latest album Down To My Last Bad Habit, with a free concert on Friday, Feb. 12 at Nashville’s Ernest Tubb Record Shop. The shop was transformed into a special Vince Gill pop up store.

Vince Gill Tubb Record Shop

Photo Credit: Alan Poizner

Vince Gill Ernest Tubb Record Shop

Photo Credit: Alan Poizner

Big Machine Label Group Honored By ‘Fast Company’

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Seated (L-R): Allison Jones, Senior Vice President of A&R; Scott Borchetta, President and CEO; Kelly Rich, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Interactive.

Seated (L-R): Allison Jones, Senior Vice President of A&R; Scott Borchetta, President and CEO; Kelly Rich, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Interactive. Standing L-R: Jake Basden, Vice President of Publicity and Corporate Communications; Mike Craft, Senior Vice President of Finance; Mike Molinar, General Manager of Big Machine Music Publishing; Andrew Kautz, Chief Operating Officer; Chris Stacey, General Manager of Dot Records; Sandi Spika Borchetta, Senior Vice President of Creative and Music Has Value; John Zarling, Senior Vice President of Partnership Marketing and Promotion Strategy; Malcolm Mimms, Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Jim Weatherson, General Manager of Nash Icon Records; George Briner, Senior Vice President of The Valory Music Co., Jack Purcell, Senior Vice President of Big Machine Records; Jimmy Harnen, President of Republic Nashville and Executive Vice President of BMLG.

Big Machine Label Group has been named to Fast Company‘s annual list of the world’s Most Innovative Companies for 2016. The Nashville-based BMLG was included in the Music Sector, making it the only record label to appear alongside companies including Spotify, Pandora, and Shazam.

“This year’s package—which includes top ten lists in 27 sectors—emphasizes the breadth of companies with progressive, agile business models, cultures of creativity, and ability to adapt in today’s fast-paced world,” said Fast Company editor Robert Safian. 

BuzzFeed tops this year’s list followed by leading companies like Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Apple, Warby Parker and Instagram. 

BMLG CEO Scott Borchetta was named as one of Fast Company‘s Most Creative People In Business in 2013.

Music Biz Convention In Nashville To Honor Cheap Trick

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Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present Cheap Trick the Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement at the Music Biz 2016 Awards Luncheon on May 18 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

The ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Artist of the Year Award to Little Big Town and Breakthrough Artist Awards to Sam Hunt and Halsey, as well as the soon-to-be-announced Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award. The Music Biz  2016 Convention will take place May 16-18.

As 2016 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cheap Trick will release a new album, Bang Zoom Crazy…World, in April via Big Machine Records.

“The Chairman’s Award honors artists who have consistently remained creative long into their careers, and Cheap Trick is a shining example of that,” said YouTube’s Fred Beteille, Chairman of the Music Biz Board. “With more than 40 years in the business, more than 20 million albums sold, and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the band easily could have called it a career. Instead, they recorded the new album Bang Zoom Crazy… Hello and are set to release it this April via Big Machine Records. From timeless anthems like ‘Surrender’ and ‘I Want You to Want Me’ to the new single ‘No Direction Home,’ the band’s loud and energetic yet easily accessible music is still winning over fans both young and old. I am thrilled to be celebrating them with this year’s award.”

“What a year! First the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and now this,” said Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen. “It’s great to be recognized for our history, but it’s an honor to be celebrated for what we’re doing now. We’re looking forward to the release of Bang Zoom Crazy… Hello and we can’t wait to share with our fans and the world. So get ready, because we’re coming to your town!”

WMBA Announces Officers For 2016

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WMBA members

WMBA members and officers for 2016

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has elected the following women as officers for 2016:

President: Dana Lalevee (BMI)
Vice President: Stacy Scism (Capitol Christian Music Group)
Treasurer: Marissa Bond (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy)
Secretary: Julia Grimoldi (Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Events and Education Chairmen: Meredith Bunch (The Erv Woolsey Company) and Kristen England (Country Radio Seminar)
Membership and Marketing Chairman: Lauren Perry (Big Machine Label Group)

The WMBA is governed by a Board of Directors that includes Chairman of the Board Cindy Hunt (Monarch Publicity), Lindsey Clark (Deaton Flanigen Productions), Amery Fridenstine (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy), Becky Harris (Huskins-Harris Business Management) and Brandi Simms (CMA). WMBA’s alumni branch is headed by co-chairmen Trina Lloyd-Weidner and Camilla Kleindienst.

Pictured (L-R): Meredith Bunch, Marissa Bond, Kristen England, Sandra Westerman-Stillwagon, Dana Lalevee, Stacy Scism, Julia Grimoldi, Lauren Perry

Pictured (L-R): Meredith Bunch, Marissa Bond, Kristen England, Sandra Westerman-Stillwagon,
Dana Lalevee, Stacy Scism, Julia Grimoldi, Lauren Perry

Also, the WMBA recently welcomed Sandbox Entertainment’s Sandra Westerman-Stillwagon as a speaker during its monthly meeting, held at ASCAP on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Westerman-Stillwagon is the day-to-day manager for Faith Hill at Sandbox Entertainment, as well as working on various projects within the company. Having been with Hill for the last 21 years, Sandra serves as one of the central figures for all communication and approvals for a vast team that surrounds every aspect of this superstar’s career, including managing corporate sponsorships (Coty Fragrances, Teleflora, CoverGirl, Hershey and Jeep), and projects including NBC’s Sunday Night Football, as well as all three of her network television specials.

Westerman-Stillwagon’s career started at ICM and APA in Los Angeles before moving into management at Borman Entertainment. While there, she worked with various artists including Faith, Dwight Yoakam, Violent Femmes, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. She has co-produced charity events including Nashville Rising and Bama Rising. She is on the ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Advisory Board and is an alumni of Leadership Music, Class of 2009.  

‘MusicRow’ Opens Submissions For 2016 InCharge

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MusicRow is now considering candidates for its annual InCharge issue, the published directory of Nashville’s music industry decision makers.

Applications will be accepted through Mon., February 29.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR INCHARGE.

Since 1987, MusicRow has curated the definitive list of Nashville’s music industry professionals—the top executives responsible for the successful careers of today’s biggest artists.

Now in its 29th year, the InCharge publication serves the April/May issue of MusicRow magazine and is slated for a late April release.

For advertising opportunities, please contact sales@musicrow.com.

Song Of The Year, Songwriter Of The Year Nominees Revealed For 2016 ACM Awards

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Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year nominees have been announced by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) to complete 2016 ACM Awards categories.

“The ACM Board of Directors recently voted to revise the prestigious Song of the Year Award criteria to allow the greater songwriting community a stronger voice in determining the final nominees,” said Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the ACM. “Songwriters are at the inception of all of this; we’re privileged to have their expertise in choosing the most well-crafted songs.”

A professional panel comprised entirely of award-winning songwriters helped select the nominees for the category that were then voted on by the Composer class of ACM Membership to appear on the final ballot.

The 51st annual ACM Awards will be held Sunday, April 3, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.

 

SONG OF THE YEAR NOMINEES (Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s):

Burning House – Cam
Songwriters: Jeffrey Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Cam
Publishers: Marvelous Oaks Records (ASCAP), Creative Pulse Music (BMI), One Year Yesterday Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI), These Are Pulse Songs (BMI), Way Above Music (BMI)

Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
Publishers: HillarodyRathbone Music (ASCAP), Hoodie Songs (BMI), Songs of Crazy Girl Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

Nobody To Blame – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman
Publishers: House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), WB Music Corp (ASCAP), Quackhead Music (BMI), RayLynn Publishing (BMI)

Raise ‘Em Up – Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church
Songwriters: Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele
Publishers: Jeffrey Steele Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), TomDouglasMusic (BMI), Sony/ATV Harmony (ASCAP), Texa Rae Music (ASCAP)

She Don’t Love You – Eric Paslay
Songwriters: Eric Paslay, Jennifer Wayne
Publishers: Five Stone Publishing (ASCAP), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP), Songwriters of Platinum Pen Publishing (BMI)

 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR *(OFF CAMERA AWARD)

Rodney Clawson
Ross Copperman
Ashley Gorley
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne