ASCAP Experience Goes Virtual For 2020

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ASCAP’s annual ASCAP Experience conference has transitioned this year to a free, weekly virtual event set to launch May 28. The event was to take place April 1-3 in Los Angeles.

Now dubbed ASCAP Experience: Home Edition, the virtual series will kick off with a conversation between Grammy-winning artist Shaggy, along with his manager and Cherrytree Records founder Martin Kierszenbaum. as well as a panel with “Stuck With You” songwriters Whitney Phillips and Glan Stone, and a creative session with songwriter Priscilla Renea (Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood’s “Somethin’ Bad,” Rhianna’s “California King Bed”).

The new long-term initiative from ASCAP, dubbed ASCAP Experience: Home Edition, will take place weekly on Thursdays between 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT and 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT. It will initially extend through the end of July, bringing ASCAP Experience original live programming into the homes of ASCAP members, aspiring songwriters and others for the first time.

The ASCAP Experience: Home Edition Thursday, May 28 kick-off schedule is:

3:00pm – 3:05pm: ASCAP Experience: Home Edition Welcome with ASCAP Chairman and President Paul Williams
3:05pm – 4:00pm: Featured Conversation with Shaggy and manager Martin Kierszenbaum
4:10pm – 4:40pm: Anatomy of a Song: “Stuck with U” with songwriters Whitney Phillips and Gian Stone
4:50pm – 5:20pm: ASCAP Sound Advice: I Just Wrote a Song. Now What?
4:50pm – 5:20pm: Sponsor Session: Qobuz: Who cares about audio quality? HD music streaming has answers
5:30pm – 6:30pm: Creative Session: Finding the “Aha!” Moment with hit songwriter Priscilla Renea

“Music brings us comfort, joy and community. It unites us by resonating with our shared humanity. The world needs to feel that sense of connection today,” said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. “To keep the craft and creation of music flowing, ASCAP is thrilled to offer ASCAP Experience: Home Edition, an innovative series of virtual educational programming presented at no cost, featuring top writers, producers, publishers and music experts who want to share their knowledge and advice for the greater good of music. If music creators have to stay home, then ASCAP wants to give them a way to stay informed, inspired and engaged so they can stay creative. I hope everyone joins us.”

Every week, ASCAP Experience: Home Edition will be hosted by top songwriters, music producers, music publishers, composers, thought-leaders and the ASCAP team, featuring real-time topics and deep dives on issues that matter most to the future of music creators. Attendees can learn how to make money from their music, connect with music publishers, preserve their mental and physical wellness and more. Each program block will also include ASCAP “Sound Advice,” condensed how-to panels on PRO basics, works registration and more essential topics for music creators.

Registration will be free, and open to anyone. Following each session, most programming will be available on-demand for anyone who may have missed the live webcast.

Previous 2020 ASCAP Experience registrants and new attendees can register at ascapexperience.com. ASCAP Experience: Home Edition is open to all music creators, aspiring songwriters and music industry professionals, regardless of which performing rights organization they belong to.

John Prine To Be Honored With Livestream Tribute

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The family of John Prine, as well as Prine’s Oh Boy Records, will honor the late singer-songwriter with “Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine,” which will premiere June 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT on multiple platforms, including Prine’s official YouTube and Facebook channels.

The tribute will feature Prine’s family and friends sharing memories and songs, all to raise money for charity organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Alive, whose Grief Center provides free counseling sessions to anyone in Middle Tennessee who has had a family member die of COVID-19.

More details on the event are forthcoming.

Prine died April 7 of complications due to COVID-19. A member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Prine has penned hits recorded by Don Williams (“Love Is On A Roll”), Lynn Anderson (“Paradise”) and George Strait (“I Just Want to Dance with You”).

His 1971 debut EP John Prine included his classic “Sam Stone,” as well as “Illegal Smile,” “Hello in There,” (which Bette Midler covered) and “Angel From Montgomery” (which Bonnie Raitt famously recorded). Another track, “Paradise,” has been recorded by Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall and more.

Prine joined the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2018, Prine released his first album of original songs in 13 years, The Tree of Forgiveness. The project was his highest-charting Billboard album, and was nominated for three Grammys.

Prine’s second annual All the Best Fest, a music festival featuring a lineup curated by Prine, had been set for November of this year in the Dominican Republic. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been shifted to May 19-23, 2021. Among the performers are Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Margo Price, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, The War and Treaty, and more.

Industry Ink: NSAI, Southbound 75, Willie Morrison

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NSAI Promotes Two In Membership Department

Pictured: Hudson, Cunningham

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has promoted Leah Hudson to the role of Director of Membership & Songwriter Events and Ryan Cunningham to the role of Director of Membership & Songwriter Relations.

Hudson began her journey at NSAI in 2017 as an intern and joined the full-time staff immediately following her graduation from Troy University in Alabama. Cunningham joined NSAI in January 2020 after holding previous roles as A&R Director at OakHill Music, Director of Artist Management at Music Row Management, Social Media Coordinator/Publicist at PLA Media, and Artist Management positions at The Holland Group and Banner Music.

Southbound 75 Inks With Roxy Entertainment Group

Pictured, clockwise from lower right): SB75’s Mark Lorenzo and Vance Eskesen, Bernard Porter (PCG), Bill McDermott (Roxy Ent.)

Southbound 75, led by songwriter Mark Lorenzo, has signed a recording deal with Roxy Entertainment Group, headed up by Nashville producer Bill McDermott. The Tampa-based country rockers debut album Tales From The Black Swamp, produced by McDermott, is due out later this Summer. “I am very excited to be working with Mark Lorenzo and the rest of the guys in Southbound 75,” said McDermott. “I am really looking forward to great things happening for these guys. Lorenzo’s songwriting abilities are just flat-out remarkable as an artist.”

Willie Morrison Signs Management Deal With Prime Focus

Willie Morrison

Willie Morrison has signed with music industry veteran Randy Brown’s Prime Focus for exclusive management representation. Morrison, former frontman for The Morrison Brothers Band, is set to release his debut song as a solo artist on May 29. The Benjamin Johnson-produced “One More Time” exemplifies the sound and direction Willie has been crafting over the past two years and will be a perfect introduction to summer.

“The first time Ben Johnson played Willie’s ‘One More Time’ for me, I was instantly struck by the fresh sound,” said Brown. “I love what Willie stands for, where he’s wanting to go, and his approach to music and life. I knew I had to be part of his next move as a solo artist.”

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town, Florida Georgia Line, And More

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Brothers Osborne. Photo: John Peets

So many of my favorites checked in with new music this week.

My personal playlist always has room for anything that Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Brothers Osborne and Gone West put out. This week is no exception.

Any one of them could win a Disc of the Day award. So could FGL or Dan Smalley, for that matter. I’m going with the unstoppably talented Brothers Osborne.

Hand a DisCovery Award to Ashland Craft. She sounds like a star to me.

BROTHERS OSBORNE/All Night
Writers: John Osborne/TJ Osborne/Andrew DeRoberts; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Trampy McCauley/All The King’s Pens/WB/Songstein/Songs in the Key of Claire/Patriot GamesDTCM/DTCM Ave., ASCAP; EMI Nashville
– TJ is at his sexy, growling best on this rhythm-soaked stomper. John’s lickety-split guitar solo is an ear tickling wonder. Deserves massive airplay.

ASHLAND CRAFT/Trainwreck
Writers: Randy Montana/Channing Wilson; Producer: Jonathan Singleton; Publisher: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Super LCS Publishing/Heart Scarred Songs/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Big Loud Records/50 Egg Records
– There’s no denying her smoldering, sultry voice. The slow-burn ballad has enough built-in heat to barbecue your dinner.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Second Guessing
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Benjamin Simonetti/Brian Kelley/Corey Crowder/Ester Dean/Geoff Warburton/Griffen Palmer/Ryan Tedder/Shane McAnally/Tyler Hubbard; Producer: Corey Crowder/Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
– This won on the TV-contest show Songland earlier this week. It’s a stately ballad with hooks a-plenty and a slow-waltz groove that’s swoon worthy. Canadian songwriter Palmer also co-wrote Keith Urban’s current “Polaroid.”

ACID COWBOY/High Desert
Writers: Ross Francis/Jordan Chini; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Acid Cowboy
– Love the stage name. The track is kinda swirly and dreamy, which matches the lost-in-love lyric. The main drawback is that the echo on the vocal is laid on too thick.

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Wine, Beer, Whiskey
Writers: Jimi Westbrook/Karen Fairchild/Kimberly Schlapman/Phillip Sweet/Sean McConnell/Tofer Brown; Producer: Little Big Town; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– This is quite a change of pace. The foursome sets aside its vocal harmony trademark and adopts a chanted, unison style for this densely produced, rowdy drinking song. The rhythm track stomps along and trumpets stutter in the background. Highly inventive.

GONE WEST/Slow Down
Writers: Colbie Callait/Jamie S. Kenney/Justin Young/Jason Bradford Reeves/Canelle Leverett Reeves; Producer: Jamie Kenney; Publisher: none listed; Warner Tamerlane/Carver/WC/MRMD/Songs from Outer Space; Triple Tigers
– Delicious listening. This rolls like a semi on a straight stretch of interstate. You can almost feel the wind in your hair. I love, love, love this record.

NOAH SCHNACKY/Comeback
Writers: JT Harding/Lindsay Rimes/Noah Schnacky; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
– Over-produced country pop for teen girls.

GABBY BARRETT/The Good Ones
Writers: Emily Landis/Gabby Barrett/Jim McCormick/Zachary Kale; Producer: Ross Copperman/Zach Kale; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Her vocal is too compressed, and the track isn’t very “country.” But the song is solid, and the sentiment rings true.

DAN SMALLEY/If I’m Being Honest
Writers: Mark Addison Chandler/Daniel Eric Smalley/Davis Benjamin Corley; Producer: Keith Stegall/Brian D. Maher; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– Warm and friendly. It has a conversational troubadour quality that is mighty attractive. The lyric really stands up on close examination, too. Very promising, indeed.

KIP MOORE/Crazy For You Tonight
Writers: Kip Moore/Westin Davis/Eric Daly; Producer: Kip Moore; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– The vocal snuggles up next to you and breathes in your ear. He has long since proved himself as a rocker. This intimate track gives him some lovey-dovey starshine.

Margo Price Releases Live Album, ‘Imperfectly Perfect At The Ryman’

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Margo Price released a new live album today, highlighting some of the moments from her sold-out, headlining residency two years ago at the Ryman Auditorium.

Perfectly Imperfect at The Ryman revisits the three-night Ryman run and is out exclusively on Bandcamp, with all proceeds benefiting the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Price was slated to release a new full-length studio album, dubbed That’s How Rumors Get Started, on May 8, but that project was postponed and is now set to release later this summer via Loma Vista Recordings. Price shared her reasons for delaying the album in an essay penned for Vogue.

Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman features plenty of starpower, with Emmylou Harris joining Price on “Wild Women,” Sturgill Simpson offering a rendition of Rodney Crowell’s “Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This,” and Jack White joining on a duet of The White Stripes’ “Honey, We Can’t Afford to Look This Cheap.”

“I am so excited that we are releasing it today,” she says of the new live album. “The recordings are rough and the performances are raw, but there was a magic there and the band was on fire. We played unreleased songs, alternative album versions and had lots of special guests. I hope it moves you.”

Perfectly Imperfect at The Ryman Track List
1. A Little Pain Waltz
2. Weekender (Funk Version)
3. Wild Women (feat. Emmylou Harris)
4. Ain’t Livin Long Like This (feat. Sturgill Simpson)
5. Revelations
6. Worthless Gold
7. Hurtin’ (On the Bottle) Medley
8. Proud Mary
9. All American Made
10. Honey, We Can’t Afford to Look This Cheap (feat. Jack White)
11. World’s Greatest Loser

Temecula Road Signs Co-Pub Deal With JRM Publishing, Disney Music Publishing

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Pictured (L-R): Sarah Robbins (JRM Publishing), Dawson Anderson, Maddie Salute, Emma Salute (Temecula Road), Jimmy Robbins (JRM Publishing), Matt Musacchio (Champ Management). Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

Temecula Road has signed a co-publishing deal with JRM Publishing and Disney Music Publishing.

The Buena Vista Records artists and new Nashville residents have been named a CMT Discovery Artist and the trio is releasing three new acoustic tracks in the coming months, starting with just-released “Fades,” which hit Top 5 on the Radio Disney Country Chart, followed by “Never Knew I Needed You” on May 29, and the soulful track, “Maybe Not,” on June 19.

“The talent and work ethic of Temecula Road is undeniable. We are so excited to get to work with Temecula Road and Disney Music Publishing,” says JRM Publishing’s Jimmy and Sarah Robbins.
“We met Jimmy and Sarah on our first trip to Nashville five years ago and have since then become good friends,” says TR’s Dawson Anderson. “Now that we’ve made the move here full-time, it felt natural to continue our relationship with them as they’ve watched us grow from the very beginning,” says TR’s Emma Salute. “We’re so excited to be working and writing with the team at JRM,” adds TR’s Maddie Salute.

Nashville To Enter Reopening Phase 2 On May 25, Including Live Music

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Nashville Mayor John Cooper has announced that Davidson County will enter Phase 2 in its “Roadmap for Reopening Nashville” on Monday, May 25.

“This Monday, May 25, we will move on to Phase 2 of reopening Nashville,” Cooper said in Thursday morning’s briefing. “All public health metrics have shown satisfactory results.”

Phase 2 of the plan now includes verbiage that restaurants and retail companies can open at 75% of capacity (while maintaining social distancing), and live music can be phased back in at restaurants, with no more than two performers on stage at one time. Social distancing protocols must also be observed among performers, with a minimum of 10 feet between performers and customers. No dance floors are permitted, and all equipment must be sanitized between users.

Additionally, small gatherings of 25 or fewer people are allowed, with strict social distancing protocols implemented. These gatherings can include parties, weddings and meetings.

The Metro Public Health Department also stated on Thursday (May 21) that there have been 26 new cases of COVID-19 in Davidson County within the past 24 hours, increasing the county’s number of cases to 4,530. One additional death from COVID-19 was announced in Davidson County (a 91-year-old female with underlying health conditions), raising the death toll in in the county to 51.

Faster Horses Festival Rescheduled For July 16-18, 2021

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The Faster Horses Festival has been rescheduled for July 16-18, 2021. In the best interest of the health and safety of fans, partners, employees, artists and the community, the three-day festival will return to Brooklyn, Michigan with original 2020 headliners Jason Aldean, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett.

Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Russell Dickerson, Gone West ft. Colbie Caillat, Riley Green, HARDY, Chris Lane, Tracy Lawrence, David Lee Murphy, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Mitchell Tenpenny and DeeJay Silver will also take the Main Stage in 2021.

All passes already purchased for 2020 will be honored in 2021. Full refunds will also be available, with the refund window opening today (May 21) and lasting for 30 days. Full ticketing and lineup details for the rescheduled dates are available at fasterhorsesfestival.com.

Dolly Parton Unveils New Birthday E-Card Collaboration With American Greetings

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Dolly Parton is unveiling the first fun new product in her collaboration with American Greetings, a birthday greeting set to the tune of her iconic hit, “9 To 5,” through the company’s popular Smashups digital initiative.

The partnership allows users to send a birthday greeting set to the tune of  “9 to 5,” and there are 1,200 different names available to personalize the SmashUp. A sample of the fun new e-card can be seen here.

“Celebrating who you are and why you are special is something I have always encouraged and have known is important for my own identity,” says Parton. “God made us all unique in our own ways, and I love the fact that I was able to offer something special for everyone. In a time like now, when we do not get the chance to share special moments like birthdays with each other in-person, I am so happy to know my ‘Birthday Time’ SmashUp ecard is now available to share with those you love.”

Earlier this year American Greetings announced a multi-year partnership with Parton that includes digital and physical products integrating her songs in unique ways. Dolly greeting cards are slated to hit Walmart shelves later this Summer.

“We’re so excited to share the “Birthday Time”SmashUp with our members, Dolly’s fans, and anyone looking for ways to make someone feel special on their birthday,” said Rob Matousek, Executive Director/GM – Direct to Consumer Business at American Greetings. “We felt that the Country Music Hall of Fame theater was the perfect venue for Dolly to deliver an extra special birthday wish and it made a great backdrop for her incredible talent. She makes everything sparkle and hearing her say your name and seeing your name in lights next to Dolly on stage is sure to be magical for lucky recipients.”

DelFest At Home Virtual Festival Set For Memorial Day Weekend

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DelFest At Home, a streaming event celebrating musical highlights from past DelFest Festivals, will take place during the originally scheduled festival weekend, May 21-24.

The free online event will feature performances from the festival’s namesake Del McCoury and his family as well as bluegrass and jam band luminaries such as Trey Anastasio Band, Bela Fleck & Chris Thile, Greensky Bluegrass, and more. Starting Thursday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. ET, fans can tune into Nugs.tv, DelFest’s YouTube channel, or the Facebook page.

“We’ve heard from many folks how much it’s going to hurt not being at DelFest this Memorial Day weekend, so we hope this helps a little. We’re grateful to have a dedicated crew that has captured some great moments of DelFest through the years, and are looking forward to reliving some of these great moments with you ourselves,” says Ronnie McCoury of the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys.

Performers will include:
The Del McCoury Band
The Travelin’ McCourys
Trey Anastasio Band
Greensky Bluegrass
The Bluegrass Congress (Del McCoury Band with Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, and Stuart Duncan)
Bela Fleck & Chris Thile
Billy Strings
Railroad Earth
Sam Bush
The Wood Brothers
The Infamous Stringdusters
Yonder Mountain String Band
Marty Stuart
The Marcus King Band
I’m With Her
Hot Rize
Grateful Ball (The Travelin’ McCourys and Jeff Austin Band)
Sierra Hull
Dre & The Gospel Collective
Broomestix