Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music For Kids” To Celebrate 10 Years with All-Star Lineup

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MilesAndMusicDierks Bentley has announced his 10th annual “Miles & Music For Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert, to kick off CMA Awards week on Sunday, Nov. 1. The celebration will once again begin at the Harley Davidson of Columbia (1616 Harley Davidson Blvd., Columbia, Tenn.) for an hour-long ride that will end at Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater to close out their inaugural season. This year, he will be joined by Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, Canaan Smith, Brooke Eden and emcee Storme Warren.

To date, Bentley has raised more than $3 million dollars for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country.

“When I think about all the artists and riders and fans who have come out to support this event over the years, I get a little emotional…there is just no way for me to possibly say thank you enough,” shares Bentley. “We started out at the fairgrounds and then moved out to the Loveless Café and then it grew so big we took it to Riverfront Park. And now we’ve got the new Ascend Amphitheater locked down for this year. We are going to do everything possible to make No. 10 the best yet!”

Dierks Bentley fan club members will have first access to presale tickets this Tuesday (8/18) at 10 a.m. CT through www.ticketmaster.com. Citi card members will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday (8/19) at 10 a.m. CT. General public tickets are available this Friday (8/21) at 10 a.m. CT, with individual concert tickets starting at $30, and special VIP rider and concert packages also available. All proceeds from the event will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. For more ticket info, visit www.dierks.com.

LifeNotes: Influential Producer Bob Johnston Dies

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BobJohnston

Bob Johnston (L) in 2006 when BMI signed singer/songwriter Harper Simon (son of BMI Icon Paul Simon) and Bijou Phillips (daughter of the Mamas & the Papas’ John Phillips) laid tracks for a country music collaboration produced by Johnston. Pictured (L-R): Bob Johnston, Harper Simon, Bijou Philips and BMI’s Shelby Kennedy. Photo: BMI.

Bob Johnston, the producer who made Nashville a destination for recording by visiting pop stars, passed away on Friday, Aug. 14 at age 83.

He is celebrated in the current Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum exhibit “Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats.” Johnston famously brought Bob Dylan to Music City to record such cornerstone albums as Blonde on Blonde (1966), John Wesley Harding (1967), Nashville Skyline (1969) and Self Portrait (1970).

These records are widely viewed as opening the way for many other non-country artists to come to Nashville. Johnston also brought in Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Moby Grape and others who are celebrated in the exhibit.

He was born Donald William Johnston in Hillsboro, Texas, into a musical family. His mother, Diane, was a songwriter best known for “Miles and Miles of Texas.” Bob Johnston broke into the music business as a songwriter for Elvis Presley movies in the 1960s. He married Joy Byers, who is also a successful songwriter.

He moved into record production at Columbia in New York. Johnston worked on some of Aretha Franklin’s early records for the label and scored his first hit by producing Patti Page’s 1965 comeback single “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.”

Johnston began producing Dylan with 1965’s landmark Highway 61 Revisited. He also produced the hit Simon & Garfunkel LPs Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966) and Bookends (1968).

He was also successful with country artists. When others at the company resisted the idea, he embraced Johnny Cash’s notion of recording a live album at Folsom Prison, which became a blockbuster hit. Cash and Johnston also worked together on At San Quentin and on such hits as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down” in 1968-72.

Columbia’s Marty Robbins was another successful client. Johnston produced the superstar’s “Tonight Carmen” (1967), “Ribbon of Darkness” (1965), “I Walk Alone” (1968), “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” (1970) and more.

Johnston also produced such Columbia country acts as Earl Scruggs, Claude King, Doug Kershaw and The Statler Brothers. He eventually became an executive in the label’s Nashville office.

He guided the records of the trio The Pozo Seco Singers, from which graduated country star Don Williams. He produced the 1970s pop hits of future country star Michael Martin Murphey – “Wildfire,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac” and “Carolina in the Pines.”

Johnston’s producing career continued into the 1980s and 1990s. The Byrds, Loudon Wainwright III, Pete Seeger, Tracy Nelson, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Carl Perkins, Shel Silverstein, Dan Hicks, Mike Bloomfield, Joe Ely, Hoyt Axton, Wayne Toups, Jimmy Cliff, Billy Joe Shaver, Lindesfarne, John Mayall and The Waterboys were among the highly diverse artists he worked with over the years.

In 1992, he produced Willie Nelson’s notable The I.R.S. Tapes. In recent years, he has worked with a number of independent, alternative rock and folk artists.

Johnston had been in a Nashville hospice in recent weeks. He is survived by his wife Joy Byers and his son Kevin. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Weekly Register: Luke Bryan Killing It At No. 1

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Luke Bryan and fans at the Citi concert

Luke Bryan launched the album with a concert for Citi cardmembers in New York City.

Luke Bryan’s Kill The Lights debuted at No. 1 on the Top 200 with total activity of 345K. Contributing to the total were album sales of 320K, song sales of 195K and streaming activity of 8.5 million.

Kill The Lights was produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens and contains 13 songs, six of which were co-written by Bryan, including the title track. The lead single from the Capitol Nashville project, “Kick The Dust Up” has already reached No. 1. The track was written by Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley and is also the name of Bryan’s 2015 blockbuster tour. He launched the project with a ton of media appearances including a promotion with Target and appearances on GMA and Jimmy Fallon’s show.

On the country album chart, Micheal Ray’s debut for Atlantic entered at No. 4 with sales of 11K, driven by hit single “Kiss You In the Morning.” Scott Hendricks produced the 12-track album.

CCM artist TobyMac (ForeFront Records) had total activity of 38K, debuting at No. 4 on the Top 200. The sixth studio album from the six-time Grammy winner is titled This Is Not A Test.

The No. 2 spot on the Top 200 went to Dr. Dre’s Straight Outta Compton soundtrack, selling 295K (276K album only).

Sales according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Michael Ray

Whelan Joins ole As Senior Director, Creative

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L-R: Gilles Goddard (Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Development), Emily Mueller (Manager), Shellien Kinsey (Coordinator), Mike Whelan (Senior Director), John Ozier (General Manager), Ben Strain (Director)

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Goddard (Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Development), Emily Mueller (Manager), Shellien Kinsey (Coordinator), Mike Whelan (Senior Director), John Ozier (General Manager), Ben Strain (Director)

ole has announced that Mike Whelan will join the independent rights management company’s Nashville office as Senior Director, Creative. He will report to ole’s GM of Nashville Creative, John Ozier.

“Mike has such an extensive track record of both cultivating writers and placing songs with artists, and he brings a huge amount of knowledge and contacts to ole,” said Ozier. “He understands our unique personal approach and the ‘super service’ that we strive to give our writers and artists, and I’m very pleased to have him on the ole team.”

Whelan joins ole from Sony Music Publishing, where he worked with writers and artists including two-time BMI writer of the year Casey Beathard, Tony Martin, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, and Luke Bryan.

“ole is such a dynamic company and I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with John and the whole ole Creative team – and of course, all their talented writers,” said Whelan. “I look forward to helping the team continue to build the list of ole hits.”

Spotify Helps Hunter Hayes Map Tour

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hunter hayes 2015 tourHunter Hayes collaborated with streaming music service Spotify to help route the upcoming 21 Tour by identifying college markets with a high density of his fans. The first round of dates are being unveiled today (Aug. 14) with ticketing information and more dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

The tour will be a limited run of 21 dates in 21 U.S. cities. Together with Spotify, Hayes will reward his biggest fans in each of the cities with pre-sale access to tickets, and offer the top 21 fans prizes including early entry to the show, meet-and-greet opportunities, signed memorabilia, and more. The fan who streams Hayes’ music the most in each market will also be rewarded with a one-year subscription to Spotify Premium.

Up-and-coming Nashville singer/songwriter Ryan Lafferty will open for Hayes on most dates on the 21 Tour, with chart-topping country artist Kelsea Ballerini joining as a special guest at the Nov. 5 show at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

“I’ve been calling this the year to be brave, because we’ve really been pushing ourselves to try new things, whether it’s how we release new music or how we go on tour,” said Hayes. “Our fans are everything to us, and it’s so incredible we have a way to reward our biggest fans to create even more cool opportunities together.”

“Hunter is laser-focused on building connections with his fans and has completely embraced streaming on Spotify as a core means to that goal,” said Katie Schlosser, Director, Label Relations North America at Spotify. “It’s been incredibly rewarding working so closely with Hunter and his team. This collaboration has helped define our entire release strategy and we continue to explore bold new ways to deepen the relationship between Hunter and his audience.”

His new single “21” has already resulted in nearly 21 million global streams in less than 10 weeks.

Hayes will continue on the Wheels Up Tour with Lady Antebellum and Sam Hunt through the end of summer.

The first round of dates to be announced for the 21 Tour:

Thursday, Oct. 22 – Western Carolina University – Cullowhee, N.C.*
Friday, Oct. 23 – Kent State University – Kent, OH*
Saturday, Oct. 24 – West Point Eisenhower Hall Theater – Highland Falls, N.Y.*
Thursday, Oct. 29 – Purdue University – West Lafayette, Ind.*
Thursday, Nov. 5 – Western Kentucky University – Bowling Green, Ky.**
Saturday, Nov. 14 – University of Oklahoma – Norman, Okla.*
Thursday, Nov. 19 – Wake Forest University – Winston-Salem, N.C.*

* Denotes shows with Ryan Lafferty
** Denotes shows with special guest Kelsea Ballerini

Big Yellow Dog Follows Meghan Trainor Success With Jessie James Decker, Maren Morris

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jessie james deckerBig Yellow Dog is following up its monster success with Meghan Trainor with new music by fellow pop singer Maren Morris and country singer Jessie James Decker.

Decker released her new single “Lights Down Low” today (Aug. 14) and it went straight to No. 1 on the iTunes Country Song Chart. Written by Decker and Alyssa Bonagura, the song was inspired by Jessie’s husband NY Jet Eric Decker.

Decker is currently recording her upcoming album to be released in 2016. Her last EP Comin’ Home debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Country chart. She burst onto the music scene with her self-titled debut album in 2009. The album’s first single “Wanted” was certified gold for sales of more than 120,000.

In addition to releasing the new single, Decker has ventured into the fashion world as a first time designer. She launched swimsuit line Jessie James Decker for Amore and Sorvete, and debuted her clothing and accessories line, Kittenish with Kora Rae.

MarenMorrisEP

Big Yellow Dog has also released a self-titled 5-song EP from newcomer Maren Morris.

The Texas native teased the Spotify-only release on Twitter just one day before the songs became available.

The release includes “My Church,” the single she released in August written with busbee. Additional Nashville co-writers on the project include Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, and Natalie Hemby (full list below).

The young songwriter has had success with cuts on Tim McGraw‘s Sundown Heaven Town (“Last Turn Home”), the deluxe version of Kelly Clarkson‘s Piece By Piece (“Second Wind”), and Connie Britton/Lennon and Maisy‘s ABC’s Nashville finale song (“Real Life”).

1) My Church (Maren Morris/busbee)
2) 80s Mercedes (Morris/busbee)
3) Drunk Girls Don’t Cry (Morris/Barry Dean/Luke Laird)
4) I Wish I Was (Morris/Natalie Hemby/Ryan Hurd)
5) Company You Keep (Morris/Laird/Shane McAnally)

Among others signed to Big Yellow Dog publishing are Trainor, Josh Kear, Logan Mize, Chris Gelbuda, Abe Stoklasa, Shawn Camp, Daniel Tashian, Adam Sanders and many more.

Carlin Nashville Signs Mark Selby

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Mark Selby ASCAP (1)

Pictured (l-r, front row): Carlin Nashville’s Jeff Gordon, Mark Selby and Carlin Nashville’s Katrina Tsang, (back row) ASCAP’s Robert Filhart and Michael Martin.

ASCAP hit songwriter Mark Selby has signed a new publishing agreement with Carlin Nashville.

Selby has written more than 10 top 40 singles and four No. 1 singles.

Among his biggest hits are the Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-winning “There’s Your Trouble” and Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue On Black,” which was Billboard’s 1999 Rock Track of the Year.

Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Roy Parnell & Keb Mo, Jo Dee Messina and many others have recorded songs written by Selby.

MTSU Adds Jingle Writing Course to Curriculum

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Jerry Kimbrough

Jerry Kimbrough

MTSU recording industry students will learn the tricks to jingle writing thanks to a new course taught by Jerry Kimbrough. Kimbrough is a top exec at Warner-Chappell Production Music, a special division of the Warner Music Group that creates custom music for TV, movies, and commercials, and has penned jingles for huge clients like Coca-Cola, the Cartoon Network and CBS Sports. His guitar skills have kept him in constant demand for more than two decades as a studio and session musician for artists ranging from Ray Stevens to Point of Grace.

“We wanted to give our student songwriters other opportunities for income streams,” explains program director Odie Blackmon. “This course can give somebody a career or put food on the table while they’re waiting for that big No. 1 hit.”

Benefit News: CMA, Charlie Daniels, SOLID/Huie, TJ Martell

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Ballard Christens Michigan Kids’ Studio

Frankie Ballard helped open a new Notes for Notes recording studio Wednesday (Aug. 12) in his home state of Michigan at the Sports Academics Youth Detroit Play Center. The CMA Foundation and Chevy partnered to help open the new facility, which will be ready just in time for the students’ return to school. Ballard delivered some brand new instruments including guitars donated by Gibson and Reverend, to be used in the new studio.

Frankie Ballard (center) with Notes for Notes participating youth at the studio grand opening at the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center Wednesday. Photo Credit: Anthony Ross Tyler / Notes for Notes

Frankie Ballard (center) with Notes for Notes participating youth at the studio grand opening at the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center Wednesday. Photo: Anthony Ross Tyler / Notes for Notes

War Heroes Honored at Volunteer Jam

Charlie Daniels‘ 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam had many priceless moments for concertgoers, but the sold-out crowd at the Bridgestone Arena was brought to a standing ovation when several distinguished war heroes were presented with Henry Military Service Tribute Rifles during the celebration Wednesday night (Aug. 12). Henry Repeating Arms donated $200,000 to The Journey Home Project, the non-profit organization co-founded by Daniels and his longtime manager David Corlew. The donation was supposed to be $100,000, but Mr. Imperato, the President of Henry Repeating Arms, was so moved by the veterans and the work that the non-profit does that he doubled the donation while on stage. Daniels was also honored with a customized commemorate rifle to honor his efforts. 

Charlie Daniels and veterans at his 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam

Charlie Daniels and veterans at his 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam

SOLID Benefit For Ryan Huie Foundation

SOLID dodge ball

SOLID will host its second annual Red Rubber Showdown: A Dodgeball Tournament on Aug. 22 at Glencliff High School in Nashville. The tournament will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Ryan’s Guitars Project, a foundation in memory of the late Ryan Huie that provides guitars to at risk and underprivileged children internationally to promote creative and educational outlets for youth in a manner that discourages violence. An official after party will be held at Twin Kegs on Thompson Lane.

T.J. Martell Creates Charitybuzz

TJ MartellThe T. J. Martell Foundation is offering up several auction packages online at Charitybuzz.com. Packages offered include a trip to Nashville as the VIP Guest of Shawn Parr for a weekend, a trip to attend the invitation-only SESAC Awards in Nashville on Nov. 1 including a hotel stay, VIP Access to the Final Cup NASCAR race Sept. 11 -12 with special passes, and two VIP passes to the Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta Sept. 18-19 with meet and greet passes for The Airborne Toxic Event. Bidding is open until until Aug. 20 and raises funds for cancer and AIDS research. 

All Things AmericanaFest: Conference, NYC Event, Namesake Ale

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AmericanaFest Ale Returns

The Americana Awards and Music Conference will once again have its own special microbrew to accompany the week of performances and events. Earlier this week industry members gathered to taste test as the Americana Music Association and the Yazoo Brewing Company unveiled this year’s AmericanaFest Ale. This is the second year that the trade association has had its own ale created by the local brewery. “We resonate with what Americana stands for: authenticity, artisanship, doing things with integrity and that the details matter,” said Neil McCormick, Sales and Marketing Manager of Yazoo Brewing Company. “We’re proud of this year’s brew, which is now available in anticipation of this years Americana Awards and Music Conference in Nashville September 15th to 20th .”

Pictured (L-R): Neil McCormick, Sales and Marketing Manager, Yazoo Brewing Company; Raul Malo, Lead Singer of The Mavericks and Former Americana Board Member; Linus Hall, Owner and Brewmaster, Yazoo Brewing Company; Jed Hilly, Executive Director, Americana Music Association

Pictured (L-R): Neil McCormick, Sales and Marketing Manager, Yazoo Brewing Company; Raul Malo, Lead Singer of The Mavericks and Former Americana Board Member; Linus Hall, Owner and Brewmaster, Yazoo Brewing Company; Jed Hilly, Executive Director, Americana Music Association

Festival Overview

Americana Music Festival week officially kicks off on Sept. 15, with registration pick-up starting at 5 PM CT at The Basement followed by an Early Bird Kick-Off Bash featuring The Bluegrass Situation at 8 PM CT. Wednesday evening (9/16) the best of the genre will be touted at the 14th Annual Americana Honors and Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Don Henley, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Ricky Skaggs and Los Lobos all receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to American music. The entire week will feature dozens of panels, events, shows, and nightly concerts in venues all across the city. Among the dozens of artists performing during the week-long event are Bela Fleck, Band Of Heathens, The Fairfield Four, Jonathan Tyler, Lee Ann Womack, The Mavericks, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen, and Jewel. Complete info here. 

Americana’s NYC Nights

AmericanaFest NYC, which is part of Lincoln Center’s Out Of Doors series, celebrated its second year this past weekend with three nights of performances from Americana artists. The event kicked off on Friday (8/7) with performances from gospel groups The Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters, and was followed Saturday with shows by The Quebe Sisters, Sam Outlaw and Kasey Chambers, as well as Aimee Mann, Ted Leo and Justin Townes Earle that evening. The weekend was capped off with a concert by Watkins Family Hour and Fiona Apple performing Bob Dylan‘s Highway 61 Revisited in its entirety and Iris DeMent and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band all performing on Sunday (8/9). The three-day celebration of roots music drew thousands to the cultural epicenter, spreading the Americana Music Association’s message in the media capital of the world. 

Watkins Family Hour and Fiona Apple at AmericanaFest NYC

Pictured (L-R): Watkins Family Hour and Fiona Apple (L-R: Sara Watkins, Fiona Apple, David Garza, Sean Watkins) perform on Aug. 9. Photo credit: Kevin Yatarola