Downtown Music Publishing Signs Sturgill Simpson

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Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson

Downtown Music Publishing has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson. The signing was announced today (June 23) by Downtown’s SVP Creative Services Jedd Katrancha. The agreement covers all of Sturgill’s studio albums including 2014’s Metamodern Sounds In Country Music (High Top Mountain/Thirty Tigers), which reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.

Simpson signed to Atlantic Records this year. He was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2014 Americana Music Awards, and nominated for Artist, Album, and Song at the 2015 Americana Music Awards. He is a heavily touring artist whose latest album appeared on best-of-2014 lists in The New York Times, Mojo, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Nashville Scene.

“We are incredibly proud to represent Sturgill and his body of work,” said Katrancha. “To be a part of the cross-genre level of excitement surrounding Sturgill is a thrill, and we’re looking forward to working with him as he continues to grow and release new music.”

The signing of Sturgill Simpson to Downtown bolsters an already impressive roster of country and Americana artists represented by the company including Old Crow Medicine Show, Natalie Prass, Rosanne Cash, Fruition, and Brandy Clark.

Downtown Music Publishing has offices in New York, Amsterdam, London, Los Angeles and Nashville. Catalogs in Downtown’s portfolio include the works of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, celebrated film composer Hans Zimmer, singer/songwriter Randy Newman and the pop band One Direction. 

Stars Lend A Hand at ACM Lifting Lives Camp

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ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is in session this week in Nashville, with campers from across the country participating in a week of activities throughout Music City. The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education. It is a partnership between ACM’s Lifting Lives program and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

Photos: Getty Images/Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives

Youtube video
The Swon Brothers pose with campers at ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp

The Swon Brothers sang karaoke with the group at Winners club on Sunday.

Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Board Member and Music Camp Founder; Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; JT Hodges; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director

JT Hodges participated in a line dancing competition at the Wildhorse on Saturday. Pictured (L-R): Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Board Member and Music Camp Founder; Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; JT Hodges; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director

hunter hayes acm lifting lives

Hunter Hayes visited the campers Monday during a recording session, where they recorded their original song, “Wherever You Go” with producer Ross Copperman at Ocean Way studio. The campers wrote the song Friday with Copperman and Heather Morgan.

L-R: Beth Moore, Director of Community Development at Vanderbilt University; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director; Scotty McCreery; Hannah Martin, ACM Lifting Lives Manager

Campers were treated to a special performance at Nashville’s famous Bluebird Café with ACM Award winner Scotty McCreery. Pictured (L-R): Beth Moore, Director of Community Development at Vanderbilt University; Tiffany Moon, ACM EVP/Managing Director; Scotty McCreery; Hannah Martin, ACM Lifting Lives Manager

Pictured (L-R): Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Board Member and Music Camp Founder; Beth Moore, Director of Community Development at Vanderbilt University; Heather Morgan; Ross Copperman; Melita Rippy, VUMC Entertainment Industry Relations; Elizabeth Dykens, Ph.D., Annette Schaffer Eskind Professor and Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center; Lori Badgett, ACM Lifting Lives President.

Songwriters Heather Morgan and Ross Copperman worked with the campers. Pictured (L-R): Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives; Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives Board Member and Music Camp Founder; Beth Moore, Director of Community Development at Vanderbilt University; Heather Morgan; Ross Copperman; Melita Rippy, VUMC Entertainment Industry Relations; Elizabeth Dykens, Ph.D., Annette Schaffer Eskind Professor and Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center; Lori Badgett, ACM Lifting Lives President.

Artist Pics: Canaan Smith Goes Gold, Nathan Chapman at Opry, Erica Nicole Day

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Canaan Smith Gets First Gold Plaque

Mercury Nashville’s Canaan Smith played to a sold-out crowd of 2,500 last night (June 22) in his hometown of Williamsburg, Va.

During the performance Mercury Nashville VP Promotion Damon Moberly presented Smith with a plaque for his RIAA gold-certified single “Love You Like That.” The song is climbing up country radio’s top 10, and has garnered almost 33 million combined streams (total streaming partners).

Pictured Left to Right: Mercury Nashville's Canaan Smith, Mercury Nashville's VP Promotion Damon Moberly. Photo: Carl Ratajski

Canaan Smith receives plaque from Mercury Nashville VP Promotion Damon Moberly. Photo: Carl Ratajski

Nathan Chapman Wows Opry Crowd During Debut

Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Nathan Chapman made his Grand Ole Opry debut this week and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Chapman is preparing for the release of his new album, Revival, which he co-produced with wife Stephanie. The project is available on nathanchapman.com for a limited time before its official release later this year.

Nathan Chapman (r) makes his Opry debut and is welcomed by WSM AM's Bill Cody

Nathan Chapman (r) makes his Opry debut and is welcomed by WSM AM’s Bill Cody.

Erica Nicole Day Declared in Iowa

Erica Nicole recently returned to her adopted hometown of Hampton, Iowa where she first launched her career. She received a key to the city and June 16 was deemed Erica Nicole Day.

Erica Nicole

Pictured (L-R:) Mayor Brooke S. Boehmler, Erica Nicole, MusicRow chart reporter Mike Betten, KLMJ

Ryman Hosts Free Community Appreciation Day This Sunday

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CommunityDay_600x600.inddTennessee residents will get a free, up-close look at the newly-renovated Ryman Auditorium this Sunday (June 28) at a Community Appreciation Day sponsored by Nissan and SunTrust Bank.

Self-guided tours will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with presentation of a valid Tennessee ID at the Ryman box office and will include admission to the new theater experience “Soul Of Nashville,” which tells the Ryman’s history as legendary performances come to life on all sides of the room. The story of the historic building’s rebirth after near demolition is celebrated with a finale featuring Darius Rucker, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Vince Gill, and Sheryl Crow.

Five new exhibits,“Workin’ on a Building,” “Showplace of the South,” “Mother Church of Country Music,” “Ryman Stage to Screen” and “Ryman Renaissance” will also be open and there will be free live music on the plaza outside the new Café Lula restaurant as well. And Nissan drivers who show a key or SunTrust clients who show a SunTrust-branded ATM or credit card at the Ryman gift shop will receive 10 percent off on their purchase during the special day.

“The community takes great pride in the Ryman,” said Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium General Manager. “We’re grateful to Nissan and SunTrust for providing Tennesseans the opportunity to experience the Soul Nashville and our other new exhibits.”

Luke Bryan’s ‘Kick The Dust Up’ Tour Continues To Sell Out Stadiums

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Luke Bryan 2015 Tour 1Luke Bryan recently brought the Kick The Dust Up tour to TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. The show marked his sixth consecutive sold-out stadium show.

The tour will continue to run through October. He is set to play back-to-back shows this week in Virginia Beach, VA and Washington, D.C.

Bryan’s fifth studio album, Kill The Lights, is set to be released on Friday, Aug. 7.

2015 “Kick The Dust Up Tour”:

6-24 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live
6-25  Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live
6-26 Washington, D.C. Jiffy Lube Live
6-27 Washington, D.C. Jiffy Lube Live
6-28  *New York, NY  FarmBorough Festival
7-9  *Durant, OK  Choctaw Events Center
7-11 Nashville, TN  Vanderbilt Stadium
7-16  St. Louis, MO   Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7-17  St. Louis, MO  Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7-18  Cincinnati, OH  Paul Brown Stadium
7-20  Gilford, NH  Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook
7-21   Gilford, NH  Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook
7-22  Gilford, NH   Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook
7-24  Indianapolis, IN  Klipsch Music Center
7-25  Indianapolis, IN   Klipsch Music Center
7-26  *Twin Lakes, WI  Country Thunder Festival
7-30  Scranton, PA   The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
7-31  Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
8-1 Pittsburgh, PA   First Niagara Pavilion
8-15  *Brownsville, OR Bi-Mart Willamette Country Music Festival
8-21  Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
8-22  Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
8-26 Salt Lake City, UT  USANA Amphitheatre
8-27  Salt Lake City, UT  USANA Amphitheatre
8-29  San Francisco, CA  Levi’s Stadium
9-3 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
9-4  Darien Center, NY   Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
9-5 Cleveland, OH  FirstEnergy Stadium
9-11  Philadelphia, PA  Susquehanna Bank Center
9-12  Philadelphia, PA  Susquehanna Bank Center
9-17  Jacksonville, FL  Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
9-18  Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
9-19 West Palm Beach, FL Coral Sky Amphitheatre
9-20 West Palm Beach, FL  Coral Sky Amphitheatre
9-24  Charlotte, NC  PNC Music Pavilion
9-25 Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
9-26  Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
10-15  Sacramento, CA  Toyota Amphitheatre
10-16 San Diego, CA  Sleep Train Amphitheatre
10-17  Irvine, CA Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
10-18 Irvine, CA  Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
10-22 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
10-23 Dallas, TX  Gexa Energy Pavilion
10-24  Dallas, TX  Gexa Energy Pavilion
10-28  Chicago, IL United Center
10-29 Chicago, IL United Center
10-30 Detroit, MI  Ford Field
*Festival / event dates (not “Kick The Dust Up Tour” date / line up)

Luke Bryan 2015 tour

‘CBS Sunday Morning’ Highlights Little Big Town

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Little Big Town on CBS Sunday Morning.

Little Big Town on CBS Sunday Morning.

Little Big Town was the subject of a profile airing Sunday (June 21) on the award-winning news show, CBS Sunday Morning With Charles Osgood.

Recorded in late 2014 and 2015 in Nashville, the episode features an exclusive sit-down interview with the band and Anthony Mason. It focuses on the full story of Little Big Town and their 16 years together, including the recent success of platinum-selling single, “Girl Crush.”

The segment, titled ‘Little Big Town: A walking, breathing, living country song,’ also captures iconic moments from the foursome’s career including their induction into the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium as well as a visit to Wayne Kirkpatrick’s studio, where they first got their start together.

Click to see the program.

Kacey Musgraves Launches Album, Announces Tour

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Kacey-Musgraves-Pageant-MaterialKacey Musgraves’ highly-touted sophomore release Pageant Material hits retailers today (June 23), and she’s celebrating release day with appearances on Good Morning America, and an in-store signing and performance at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade, followed by an appearance on The View tomorrow (June 24). 

Today she also revealed dates for The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue, beginning in Atlanta Aug. 27 and wrapping in Amsterdam Nov. 22. The tour will visit iconic venues including The Wiltern, Ryman Auditorium, The Apollo Theatre, and Royal Albert Hall. See a complete listing of dates below.

Musgraves co-wrote every song on the Mercury Nashville project and co-produced it with cowriters Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. The Texan says she wanted the music to really represent who she is. “I really wanted this album to have a classic feel, like a lot of the records I know and love” says Musgraves. “I intended on it having a laid-back yet lush, slightly kitschy, western vibe. And most of all, I wanted it to feel like me.”

Musgraves helped industry members get into the pageant spirit for the release of her album earlier this month at a fun-filled bash at PLAY in Nashville, where she handed out tiaras and sashes to partygoers, and drag queens lip synched songs from Pageant Material on a runway.

Pageant Material track listing:
1.  High Time (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
2.  Dime Store Cowgirl (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
3.  Late To The Party (Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne)
4.  Pageant Material (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
5. This Town (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Brandy Clark)
6.  Biscuits (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark)
7.  Somebody To Love (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
8.  Miserable (Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, Brandy Clark)
9.  Die Fun (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
10.  Family Is Family (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
11.  Good Ol’ Boys Club (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby)
12.  Cup Of Tea (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
13.  Fine (Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Arrison, Shane McAnally)

The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue:
8/27 – Atlanta, GA / The Buckhead Theatre
9/11 – Los Angeles, CA / The Wiltern
9/18 – St. Louis, MO / The Pageant
9/23 – Nashville, TN / Ryman Auditorium
10/1 – Detroit, MI / Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/3 – Philadelphia, PA / The Trocadero Theatre
10/9 – New Orleans, LA / The Howlin’ Wolf
10/11 – Tulsa, OK / Cains Ballroom
10/15 – Charlottesville, VA / Paramount Theater
10/16 – Washington, DC / Lincoln Theatre
10/23 – New Haven, CT / College Street Music Hall
10/24 – New York, NY / Apollo Theater
11/9 – Gateshead, UK / Sage Gateshead
11/10 – Birmingham, UK / The Institute
11/12 – Dublin, Ireland / Dublin Academy
11/15 – Glasgow, UK / Glasgow ABC
11/16 – Manchester, UK / Albert Hall
11/18 – London, UK / Royal Albert Hall
11/20 – Hamburg, Germany / Knust
11/22 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Melkweg

Visit www.kaceymusgraves.com for the most updated pre-sale information, tickets, and VIP packages. Public on-sale tickets for The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue go on sale Friday, June 26.

Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates No. 1 Debut, Receives ‘MusicRow’ Challenge Coin

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Pictured (L-R):

Kelsea Ballerini and her cowriters Forest Glen Whitehead, Josh Kerr and Lance Carpenter receive MusicRow Challenge Coins yesterday (June 22) at the Black River offices. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Troy Stephenson, Carpenter, Kerr, Whitehead, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, Ballerini and Black River’s Gordon Kerr.

Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini is celebrating her first No. 1, with debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It.” This week the song tops both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay Charts.  It hit top of MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart on June 4.

Written by Ballerini, Forest Glen Whitehead, Josh Kerr and Lance Carpenter, “Love Me Like You Mean It” is featured on Ballerini’s debut album The First Time, produced by Whitehead and Jason Massey.

“It’s a very exciting time for all of us at Black River,” said Vice President of Promotion Mike Wilson. “It’s an honor to lead this promotion team in taking Kelsea to country radio. Her music is great and radio has really embraced her. I’m so proud of our team and all of their efforts. This is a huge accomplishment!”

Crowned one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Ballerini will be hitting the road this summer playing shows nationwide including major festivals, select stops on Lady Antebellum’s Wheels Up Tour and headline club dates—her first New York City show at The Gramercy Theatre was announced yesterday (June 22).

“Going into this, my goal with this first single was to introduce myself,” said Ballerini. “I believed in this song from the minute we wrote it and I always thought it would be the right first single and a great introduction of me. But there’s a fear that comes with that, because it’s the first impression with radio, with fans and with media. It’s so cool to know that the peace that I had when I wrote this song and picked it as the single has led me all the way to it being a No. 1. To be in a group with artists like Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Deana Carter that have had debut No. 1s and then had brilliant careers after that, makes me so excited for what’s to come. Today, I just want to celebrate with my team because it’s a big victory for all of us, we’ve all worked really hard. Thank you country radio for making this huge milestone happen and making one of my biggest dreams come true.”

According to Ballerini’s team, only 10 other solo females in country music have had their debut country singles go No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart.

2006 – Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take The Wheel” *
2004 – Gretchen Wilson “Redneck Woman”
2001 – Jamie O’Neal “There is No Arizona”
2001 – Cyndi Thomson “What I Really Meant To Say”
1996 – Deana Carter “Strawberry Wine”
1993 – Faith Hill “Wild One”
1992 – Wynonna “She Is His Only Need”
1990 – Trisha Yearwood “She’s In Love With The Boy”
1973 – Marie Osmond “Paper Roses”
1964 – Connie Smith “Once A Day”

* Underwood’s debut single and No. 1 pop hit “Inside Your Heaven,” was not released to country radio, but peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart

Kelsea Ballerini and team celebrate.

Kelsea Ballerini and team celebrate.

TV Personality Larry Black Hospitalized After ATV Accident

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larry black

Larry Black

Larry Black, host of RFD-TV’s Larry’s Country Diner and creator/producer of Country’s Family Reunion, is in the hospital following a serious ATV accident. He underwent successful back surgery, and remains on a ventilator due to two punctured lungs. His status is being updated on the Larry’s Country Diner Facebook page.

Randy Little, owner of PFI/Bootdaddy, was also involved in the accident. He was hospitalized for head injuries but is being released today (June 22).

Larry’s Country Diner is a down-home variety show that features country stars along with Black, Keith Bilbrey and others. It is taped live in front of a studio audience in an old-fashioned diner setting. Since its initial airing on August 3, 2009, Larry’s Country Diner has produced over 100 episodes and become one of the most popular shows on RFD-TV, garnering 1.5 million viewers monthly.

Black, a longtime disc jockey, previously hosted the Larry Black Show which aired on 125 radio stations. As an actor, he has appeared in the films and TV movies Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Scared Stupid, October Sky and Pure Country 2: The Gift, and in the TV series I’ll Fly Away and In the Heat of the Night.

Sam Hunt Teams With Bose For ‘House Party’ Contest

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Sam Hunt

Sam Hunt Photo: Chase Lauer

MCA Nashville’s Sam Hunt has announced the House Party Promotion powered by Bose. The contest runs through July 19 and includes a grand prize VIP trip for two to Nashville to attend a backyard house party where Hunt will perform hits from his gold-certified debut album, Montevallo.

Those who enter the contest will also qualify to win an exclusive Bose Wireless Prize Package that includes Bose Bluetooth speakers and headphones.

Hunt recently released the music video for “House Party” which gives a virtual backstage pass and a glimpse of life on the road.

The rising star is on tour with Lady Antebellum‘s Wheels Up Tour 2015.

To enter the contest, click here.