Bluebird Goes Bluecoat For Liverpool Music Festival

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Bluebird-CafeThe Bluebird Café will travel to the home of the Beatles for the first time ever Aug. 29 as part of the Liverpool International Music Festival. The three-part event, “The Bluebird at The Bluecoat,” will recreate the Bluebird magic for UK listeners at in-the-round shows featuring Jim Lauderdale, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Kim Richey and Don Henry alongside aspiring UK songwriters who have won a national competition to perform.

The show’s idea originated from Emma Foxall, Director of Monkey Mind Productions, a Liverpool songwriter who spent a few years in Nashville waitressing and playing at the Bluebird herself. In January an open call was put out to writers for a chance to win a trip to Music City to work with Nashville writers, attend Tin Pan South, and play the Bluebird. The open call winners, Karen Turley and Kirsty McGee, were selected by Monkey Mind Productions, Bob Harris with BBC Radio 2, David Macias from Thirty Tigers, Bluebird COO Erika Wollam, ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy, and Yaw Owusu of the Liverpool International Music Festival.

The Bluecoat venue will be transformed into the Bluebird for these special shows, which will mark the start of a synergistic relationship and talent development initiative between Liverpool and Nashville.

“The relationship between the two cities, Liverpool and Nashville, and their musical history is unmistakeable,” said Wollam. “Great songs have come from both these cities—songs that have changed the world. For The Bluebird Cafe to connect in this way with Liverpool’s musical heritage is a significant joining of hands and one we hope will continue beyond this initial partnership.”

Clint Black Plans New Album With Thirty Tigers

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clintblack 2015Clint Black has signed a record deal with Nashville-based entertainment company Thirty Tigers and will release his first album in nearly a decade. The as-yet-untitled project is expected this fall.

“Thirty Tigers has an independent spirit,” said Black. “They believe in allowing artists the creative freedom to create music we can all be passionate about. What’s more, I value and appreciate that their focus lies squarely where it belongs—on the music.”

“Thirty Tigers is a place that values not only great songwriters, but great performers,” said David Macias, Thirty Tigers President. “Clint is one of the format’s best at both. I could not be more excited about this new album—it’s long overdue—and for Thirty Tigers to get the chance to work with an artist of Clint’s caliber, whose music I’ve loved for so long, is truly an honor.”

Black has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and charted nearly two dozen No. 1 singles including “Nothing But The Taillights,” “Like The Rain” and “When I Said I Do.”

 

Parallel Music Publishing Re-Signs Songwriter Lance Carpenter

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Back Row L-R: Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, LLP; Seated L-R: Hannah Showmaker, Parallel Music Publishing; Lance Carpenter; Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing.

(L-R) back row: Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, LLP; Seated: Hannah Showmaker, Parallel Music Publishing; Lance Carpenter; Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing.

Hit songwriter Lance Carpenter has re-signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Parallel Music Publishing.

“I am so blessed to be able to to continue my music journey with Parallel Entertainment,” says Carpenter. “Before moving to town in 2011, a good friend said ‘Buddro when you move to Nashville you’ll meet a lot family you never knew you had’ and it truly feels like a family at Parallel. To have a home on music row with a publisher like Tim Hunze and his team is just incredible.”

Carpenter moved to Nashville in 2011 and in 18 short months signed his first publishing deal and secured two major cuts. He co-wrote Kelsea Ballerini’s recent No. 1 song, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

“Lance is one of the hardest working writers I know, but above that he is simply a great human being,” says Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing, partner. “Lance will have a long and very successful career and we are excited to be a part of it.”

MusicRowPics: Boone

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Boone2015

Boone

New country singer Boone visited the MusicRow offices to perform his debut single “Summer Girls.” He recently shot a video for the song and has been on a radio tour promoting it.

During the MusicRow visit, Boone also entertained the staff with the songs “Truck” and “This Is Our Night,” which was inspired by his sister’s wedding. He is working on an EP titled American Young Hearts, and previously scored a viral YouTube hit with his track “Redneck Heroes.”

Boone grew up performing in church, playing guitar and piano. In high school he often covered country classics by Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley, and he won the Indiana State Future Farmers of America talent competition. Boone began building an audience by playing fairs and clubs, and eventually got into songwriting and moved to Nashville.

The Indiana native gets his nickname from his love of the outdoors.

BooneStaff2015

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Grady, Nine North’s Larry Pareigis, Sarah Skates, Boone, Sherod Robertson, Eric Parker, Troy Stephenson

 

Darius Rucker Adds Fall Leg to Southern Style Tour

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Darius Rucker 2015With 400,000 fans turning out for the first leg, Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour has now been extended into fall and will run though November. A Thousand Horses will continue its opening run with Rucker throughout the fall dates, and David Nail will join the tour in October.

The tour’s summer run has 15 shows left and had recent sellouts in Gilford, N.H., Boston, and Jones Beach, N.Y., and is on track to exceed 700,000 tickets sold. Tickets to the first fall date in Chicago on Oct. 8 will go on sale this Friday, July 24. Over 15 more stops are planned and will go on sale in the coming weeks.

Rucker recently released a video for his latest single/title track, “Southern Style.” Shot in his hometown of Charleston, the clip was directed by Peter Zavadil and produced by Jennifer Rothlein.

Southern Style Fall dates:
October 8 | Chicago, Ill.
October 9 | Dayton, Ohio
October 10 | Youngstown, Ohio*
October 15 | Topeka, Kan.
October 16 | Lincoln, Neb.
October 17 | Sioux City, Iowa
October 22 | Syracuse, N.Y.*
October 23 | Albany, N.Y.*
October 24 | Uncasville, Conn.*
November 1 | Indianapolis, Ind.
November 10 | Greensboro, N.C.
November 12 | Bemidji, Minn.
November 13 | Green Bay, Wis.
November 14 | Moline, Ill.
November 19 | Grand Rapids, Mich.
November 20 | Toledo, Ohio

*A Thousand Horses will not be appearing on these dates

Round Hill Announces New Staffers, Promotion

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Kari Smith.

Kari Smith

Round Hill Music has announced new hires and promotions for its Nashville offices.

The New York-based publishing company has promoted Kari Smith from Director to Senior Director, A&R. Her new duties will focus on continuing to expand the company’s A&R efforts in Nashville in the pop, rock, and country areas.

The company’s Director, Creative and Licensing Steve Nalbert has relocated to Nashville where he will continue to manage Round Hill’s licensing process. Nalbert will take on additional responsibilities, including more involvement in the pitching of the company’s song catalog to synchronization clients. He reports to Mallory Zumbach, Sr. Director in the company’s New York office.

New hires include Kevin Thompson as Manager, Licensing; Steven McMillan as Manager, Royalty Services; and Bob Squance as Sr. Coordinator, A&R Administration. Thompson brings experience from Sony/ATV Los Angeles’s Film & TV department before he relocated to that publisher’s Nashville offices. Thompson now reports to Nalbert. McMillan joins from Big Loud Bucks after spending time at Ten Ten Music Group. At Round Hill he reports to Britnie Stingelin, Director, Royalty Services. Squance brings experience from Ten Ten Music and Big Yellow Dog, and reports to Brown.

Round Hill Music was founded by Josh Gruss in 2010 in partnership with Richard Rowe and Neil Gillis. It has signed exclusive publishing deals and joint partnerships with a number of established music companies including Big Loud Shirt Industries, Big Loud Bucks and also provides a high level of service to songwriters and producers including singer/songwriter Wade Kirby (Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, George Strait).

Pictured (L-R): Bob Squance (Sr. Coordinator, A&R Administration), Steven McMillan (Manager, Royalty Services), Steve Nalbert (Director, Creative and Licensing), Kevin Thompson (Manager, Licensing).

Pictured (L-R): Bob Squance (Sr. Coordinator, A&R Administration), Steven McMillan (Manager, Royalty Services), Steve Nalbert (Director, Creative and Licensing), Kevin Thompson (Manager, Licensing)

John Anderson To Launch WSM’s Country on the Cumberland Series

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John Anderson 2015John Anderson will perform his first acoustic concert in Nashville in over 30 years on July 29, as the first guest on the inaugural “Country On The Cumberland” series presented by 650 AM WSM. The special event will take place aboard the General Jackson Showboat as guests cruise down the Cumberland and enjoy a dinner with the intimate show. Anderson will perform songs from his new CD Goldmine, which was released May 26, along with favorite hits.

The new series is being held as part of WSM’s 90th Anniversary celebration, and the station will spotlight a different artist for each show from July through October.

Listeners can purchase tickets to the Country On The Cumberland shows via wsmonline.com.

 

Matt Austin – “The Island”

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Matt Austin is a Detroit, Michigan, native and Nashville country recording artist. Nominated Best New Country Artist 2016 by New Music Weekly. Emerging national act, with recent debut single “Summer I’ll Always Remember” to national country radio, reaching #9 on the New Music Weekly country main chart!

Current single, “Bad Feelin,” is impacting country radio now, and the single was listed as one of the most added songs at the MusicRow CountryBreakout stations its first week out!

Extensive touring history of the Great Lakes region. Prior direct support for Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Uncle Kracker, Aaron Lewis, Charlie Worsham, The Cadillac Three, and more. Signed by Rusty Boots Entertainment in 2016 for ongoing artist management. International touring and promotion of new EP in US, Ireland, UK, and Europe under development.

“After all of my music story, I have now grown in to the artist that best fits who I am,” says Matt Austin, “and it is good to do music that can touch your soul and raise the hairs on your arms, because that is what I grew up on, and why I fell in love with music in the first place.”

Matt Austin grew up with musical influences of classic rock, Southern rock, and blues, from artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His music journey includes being the former lead guitar player of the Paper Street Saints, a major Detroit rock headliner, regularly packing houses throughout the metro area and opening for national acts as large as Bon Jovi with 20,000 fans in a sold out arena. Matt went on to form the self-titled Matt Austin Band. Again opening for national acts (this time Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla), a change in path altered Matt’s itinerary to the world of music.

In the summer of 2011, he discovered the New Age Country genre. He was immediately attracted to music from the likes of Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, and more. The sound and songwriting was so overwhelming to him, it reminded him of that same feeling when he was young. He was hooked – this was his comfort zone!

Matt’s evolution from blues to rock to New Age Country has been a road of discovery. Now it’s your turn to discover this talented singer, songwriter and musician.

For more information, visit
www.MattAustinMusic.com

Radio contact:
LeeCherryEntertainment@gmail.com

YouTube video

 

 

Meghan Linsey Releases New EP ‘Believer’ July 31

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Meghan Linsey 2015The Voice runner-up and former Steel Magnolia member Meghan Linsey is releasing a new EP, Believer, July 31. The collection was produced by Tyler Cain and recorded in Nashville, and features six songs co-written by Linsey that highlight her soulful, swampy sound.

The EP will be available exclusively in an early release on Ghost Tunes at a reduced price beginning July 27, and will be released to all digital retailers four days later.

“Recording this time around was really just about finding my voice as a solo artist, and for me, that meant getting back to my roots,” Linsey says about the new project. “I grew up in New Orleans and I’ve always had a soulful sound, I’m just now really able to showcase it fully. Tyler Cain produced the record and we did a lot of it with a total of three musicians. I think keeping it small was key. His production really allows me to showcase my soulful side while keeping it mainstream. These six songs are a great representation of me, as a human and an artist. They’re bold and genuine and have depth. I really laid it all out there.”

Believer Track Listing:
“Counterfeit”
“Believer”
“Sunshine In My Soul”
“This Side of Heaven”
“Everything is Happening”
“Best of Me”

Neon Cross and Warner/Chappell Sign Devin Dawson

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Neon Cross Music and Warner/Chappell Music have signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with singer/songwriter Devin Dawson.

Dawson and fellow Belmont University student Louisa Wendorff are known for their mashup of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and “Style” which became a viral sensation. To date it has garnered more than 25 million views on YouTube. Dawson spoke to MusicRow about that project in December.

He is pursuing a Songwriting and Music Business degree at Belmont and is currently recording his debut EP.

Pictured: Phil May (WC), Ben Vaughn (WC), Devin Dawson, Melissa Spillman (Neon Cross), Brittany Shafer (Loeb & Loeb), Travis Carter (WC)

Pictured (L-R): Phil May (WC), Ben Vaughn (WC), Devin Dawson, Melissa Spillman (Neon Cross), Brittany Shafer (Loeb & Loeb), Travis Carter (WC)