Carrie Underwood Releases New Single From Upcoming Project, ‘Storyteller’
Carrie Underwood has revealed the cover art and title of her new single from her upcoming album, Storyteller. The lead single “Smoke Break” will be available at 11:00 p.m. CT tonight (August 20) after being delivered digitally to country radio today with an official airplay impact date of August 24. The Randee St. Nicholas-directed music video for the new single will exclusively premiere Monday, August 24, on Entertainment Tonight and ETonline.com.
The 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville superstar will release the new full-length project October 23, from producers Jay Joyce, Mark Bright, and Zach Crowell.
She took part in an online chat today on her official Facebook page, where the seven-time GRAMMY winner revealed the project will not contain any duets and is more traditional/twangy than anything she’s released so far.
“Smoke Break” was produced by Joyce and written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano.
“[The single is] basically an anthem for every hard-working person,” said Underwood. “We all wear many hats and are spread thin, so we can all relate to being tired and needing a break. This song is about having that moment to be able to escape from whatever it is that’s stressing you out and have some time for yourself.”
A clip of “Smoke Break” is streaming online now at carrieunderwoodofficial.com.
Underwood has sold more than 56 million records worldwide since winning American Idol in 2005.
To celebrate her new single “Smoke Break,” Carrie Underwood sent cupcakes from Ivey Cake to the MusicRow office on Friday (Aug. 21) with a message that reads, “Happy Friday! Take a BREAK and enjoy a cupcake on me!!”
ASCAP Centralizes Customer Service Support Functions
ASCAP‘s Nashville songwriters and publishers will benefit from the centralization of the performing rights organization’s Writer & Publisher customer service functions, under its new Global Customer Service team initiative. Ryan O’Grady heads the Writer & Publisher Customer service team in Music City. Also part of the Nashville staff are Mary Self, Paul Harrigan, Stephanie Reeder and Kenyon Glenn-Nelson.
The centralization of all global customer service support functions allows ASCAP to deliver top-shelf customer service and rapid resolution response for publishers and songwriters.
ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews commented: “ASCAP’s goal is to establish a new standard for exceptional customer service support for songwriters, composers, music publishers and performing rights societies globally. The music rights business is more complex than ever and, as a result, we are working to proactively transform our operations and organizational structure in order to simplify the experience of working with ASCAP. We want key ASCAP customers – writers, publishers, global PRO partners and licensees – to have the most efficient and responsive customer service team available in order to enhance the customer experience.”
DeDe Burns has been appointed to the newly created role of Vice President, Global Customer Services and will lead the Global Customer Service Team. She will report to ASCAP COO Brian Roberts, recently hired by Matthews in March.
Charlie Daniels and Friends’ 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam Raises More than $300K
Charlie Daniels
For four decades, Charlie Daniels has brought together musician friends and fans to raise funds to aid U.S. veterans, military members and their families. This year’s 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam, held Aug. 12 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, raised in excess of $300,000 for The Journey Home Project.
Fans enjoyed performances from The Charlie Daniels Band, Ted Nugent, Trace Adkins, Alabama, Terri Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus, Colt Ford, The Grascals, Lee Greenwood, The Kentucky Headhunters, Tracy Lawrence, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ryan Weaver, Wynonna, Craig Morgan, Lee Roy Parnell, Billy Dean, Michael W. Smith, Travis Tritt, Phil Vassar, Montgomery Gentry, Blackberry, Bonnie Bramlett, Jimmy Hall, Tucker Yochim, Jeannie Seely, Eric Church, Billy Crain, Natalie Stovall, Jamey Johnson and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others.
“Before we all continue on with our hectic lives, it’s important to stop and reflect on the fact that freedom is not free. We are so grateful to Charlie Daniels, his team, all of the phenomenal artists who donated their time and talent, and fans who came out to support The Journey Home Project,” said Mercedez Longever, managing director of The Journey Home project.
“It was good to see an old Tennessee Tradition come back to life, all for this great cause,” Daniels said.
UTA Acquires The Agency Group
United Talent Agency has acquired The Agency Group, home to numerous country artists including Dolly Parton, Chris Janson, Marty Stuart and Merle Haggard.
This is a significant move by UTA to boost its music division, to go along with its established film and television roster representing Johnny Depp, John Cusack, Kevin Hart, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogen, and Will Ferrell among others.
The Agency Group has more than 95 agents operating from offices in London, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Toronto and Malmo, Sweden. It represents Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Muse, The Black Keys, Paramore, Foster the People, Nickelback, Guns ‘N Roses, David Gilmour, Ringo Starr, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jeff Bridges, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Hanson, Boy George, Deep Purple, and Rush, among others.
The Agency Group founder and president Neil Warnock will become head of worldwide music for UTA, reporting to the managing directors David Kramer, Jay Sures and Jeremy Zimmer. The Agency Group CEO Gavin O’Reilly will depart the company.
In 2014 The Agency Group beefed up its country roster with the acquisition of The Bobby Roberts Company. Today TAG’s Nashville office is headed by Nick Meinema and works with Janson, Stuart, Haggard, Aaron Tippin, Aubrie Sellers, Austin Webb, Benton Blount, Bill Anderson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, BJ Thomas, Blackjack Billy, Bobby Bare, Casey Jamerson, Collin Raye, Confederate Railroad, Connie Smith, Cowboy Troy, Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, Deana Carter, High Valley, Jaida Dreyer, James Otto, John Anderson, John Conlee, John Michael Montgomery, Kentucky Headhunters, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Lenny Cooper, The Lacs, Logan Brill, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Pauly Shore, Restless Heart, Sam Lewis, Sammy Kershaw, Sarah Ross, Sundy Best, Taylor Hicks, and Walker McGuire.
UTA is purchasing TAG with money from a minority investment from Jeffrey Ubben, founder and CEO of ValueAct Capital, which has significant investments in Microsoft, 21st Century Fox, Adobe and CB Richard Ellis. This gives Ubben a minority share of UTA and a non-voting seat on the agency’s Board of Directors, whose members are Peter Benedek, Jim Berkus, Tracey Jacobs, Matt Rice, Kramer, Sures and Zimmer.
UTA’s recent growth also includes hiring 20 new agents and expanding its services. In early 2014, it acquired Bienstock, the leading talent agency in broadcast news and reality programming, and also developed divisions focusing on fine arts, branding strategy and venture funding.
Artist Updates: Baby News, Stars Sing for Disney, Clint Black in Nashville
Baby News: Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson announced during a recent concert at Los Angeles’ Staples Center that she and husband Brandon Blackstock are expecting Baby No. 2.
“I’m totally pregnant again,” Kelly told the crowd. After sharing the news, she said, “That was not planned. I just didn’t want you to think I was crazy. Honestly I’m just hormonal today. Nothing’s wrong I’m OK. I haven’t vomited yet!”
In July 2014, Clarkson and Blackstock welcomed daughter River Rose Blackstock.
Country Stars Sing For Disney
Kacey Musgraves and Rascal Flatts are two of the many artists who have signed on to take part in the new compilation album We Love Disney, which will release Oct. 30. Produced by Verve Music Chairman David Foster, the compilation features 12 artists delivering interpretations of classic Disney songs.
Rascal Flatts, accompanied by artist and actress Lucy Hale, will duet on “Let It Go,” from the 2013 movie Frozen. Musgraves will offer her take on “A Spoonful of Sugar” from the 1964 film Mary Poppins.
Other artists taking part include Ne-Yo, Jason Derulo, Gwen Stefani, Ariana Grande, Charles Perry, Fall Out Boy, and more.
Clint Black To Host Concert for a Cause in Nashville
Clint Black
Clint Black is set to host Concert for a Cause on Sept. 9 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s James K. Polk Theater. As part of Chideo’s Clint Black Dream Recording Session Contest, Black will perform with the contest’s four finalists, including Blake Esse, Jefferson Clay, Julie McCloud, and Sasha Aaron.
The concert will raise funds to aid research to cure Rett Syndrome. Tickets are available for purchase at patron.tpac.org.
Sam Hunt Notches 2x Platinum Single
MCA Nashville artist Sam Hunt‘s chart-topping hit “Take Your Time” has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA, for sales topping 2 million. “Take Your Time” is from Hunt’s Gold-selling debut album Montevallo.
The singer-songwriter, who is on the current cover of Billboard, recently performed his latest single “House Party” on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In Pictures: DMP, Kenny Chesney, FGL, Brett Eldredge, Delaware Junction Festival
Downtown Music Publishing Takes Over Bluebird
Downtown Music Publishing recently hosted a songwriting round with some of its rising Nashville songwriters at the Bluebird. The lineup included Sam Ashworth, Sara Haze, Andy Albert, Jillian Jacqueline, and Marc Beeson.
One of the highlights of the night included Beeson’s performance of Ashley Monroe’s titled track, “The Blade,” which he co-wrote with Allen Shamblin and Jamie Floyd.
Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth, Sara Haze, Andy Albert, Jillian Jacqueline, and Marc Beeson
Kenny Chesney To End The Big Revival 2015 In Boston
Kenny Chesney will end The Big Revival 2015 with two sold-out nights in Boston on Aug. 28 and 29. “There are no fans like Boston fans,” Chesney says. “Boston was one of the first cities to really embrace this music, to bring an intensity that equaled what we were trying to do – and when you know it’s the last shows you’re playing for a while, you want to take as much of that energy with you when you’re done. In a summer where every show seems to top the one before it, there was only one city we knew could close this down, and close it down with the passion we’ve been building all summer!”
Kenny Chesney has a surprise for one young fan. Photo: Jill Trunnell
CMT’S Cody Alan Hangs With Florida Georgia Line
CMT’s Cody Alan hung out with Florida Georgia Line this past weekend at the Charlotte, N.C. stop of their Anything Goes summer tour. Florida Georgia Line will appear on CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan this Friday, Aug. 21.
Florida Georgia Line with Cody Alan.
Brett Eldredge Celebrates With Warner Music Nashville
Brett Eldredge and Warner Music Nashville celebrated the upcoming release of his new album Illinois, releasing Sept 11. Eldredge played the full album and talked about about each of the songs, which he co-wrote. The night also included a toast to WMN President & CEO John Esposito who celebrates a birthday this week.
Brett Eldredge with WMN staffers.
Delaware Junction Festival Becomes Fan-Favorite
The inaugural Delaware Junction, a three-day, two-stage country music and camping festival, took place this past weekend in Harrington, Del. A partnership between Live Nation, the creators of mega country music festivals Watershed, Faster Horses, Route 91 Harvest, FarmBorough, Windy City LakeShake and Highway One, the festival was lead by a strong lineup including Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, Lee Brice, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett and more.
Jason Aldean
Black River’s Kelsea Ballerini Goes Gold
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Brad Lovell – Courtesy of Iconic Entertainment
On the heels of her first No. 1 song, Black River Entertainment artist Kelsea Ballerini has notched her first Gold single. Her debut chart-topper “Love Me Like You Mean It” has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales and streams of more than 500,000 in the United States.
While Ballerini might be basking in her newfound success, she isn’t slowing down. Her follow-up single, “Dibs,” has sold more than 66,000 units and is impacting country radio. The tune was co-written by Ballerini along with Josh Kerr, Ryan Griffin and Jason Duke.
Ballerini’s tour schedule is packed with festivals, headlining club dates, and slots opening for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. She will join Dan+Shay‘s Just The Right Kind of Crazy Tour this fall.
Marbaloo Marketing Bulks Publicity, Appoints Six
Brandon Chamberlain
Marbaloo Marketing has promoted two and hired four, bulking its publicity division in an announcement made today (Aug. 20) by Managing Partner/Founder Faithe Parker.
Providing digital integration marketing for clients including UMG Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, Dot Records, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, and Tim McGraw, Marbaloo now employs over 20 people since beginning in 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.
Brandon Chamberlain has joined Marbaloo as Director of Editorial Marketing & Branding. The Los Angeles transplant spent the previous 10 years in the entertainment space at Virgin Records, UMGD and a myriad of publicity posts.
Anthony Langone has been promoted to junior publicist for Marbaloo. He is Queens, New York native who was a music blogger prior to joining Marbaloo as a publicity coordinator in November of last year.
Delaney Brannigan has been hired full time as a Publicity & Branding Coordinator. She is a Belmont graduate who worked for Marbaloo in a plethora roles while in school and upon graduation this year.
Dave Goldhahn has been promoted to Creative Manager and oversees a department of content generators including copywriting, photography and graphic design. He is a Pennsylvania native.
Hunter Airheart has joined Marbaloo as a content collector with experience as an “Instagram Influencer” from Arkansas.
Kathryn Parker has also joined Marbaloo as Finance & Operations Manager.
Pictured (L-R): Anthony Langone, Delaney Brannigan, Dave Goldhahn, Hunter Airheart, Kathryn Parker