All Signs Point To Yes For 'Nashville' Third Season

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NashvilleWill ABC’s Nashville see a third season?
Will we continue to follow the lives of new indie label boss Rayna Jaymes, scorned star Juliette Barnes, rising newcomer Scarlett O’Connor, guitarist-turned-father Deacon Claybourne, songwriter Gunnar Scott, and the string of love triangles, murders, backhanded business dealings and of course, enchanting music?
It’s likely.
ABC is certainly putting its promotional muscle behind the series with the recent Nashville: On The Record taping at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The show featured Charles Esten, Hayden Panettiere, Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen, Joshua Jackson, Chaley Rose, Will Chase, Chris Carmack and others, along with several of Nashville’s top singer-songwriters, including Jaida Dreyer, Ashley Monroe and Striking Matches. It is slated to air April 23 on ABC.
Additionally, a limited Nashville tour has sold out, and an additional date has already been added for May 5 in Philadelphia. Esten, Bowen, Jackson, Palladio and Carmack will perform in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia and New York City (with Chase also appearing in NYC).
Sources in the know say they are confident the show will be picked up for a third season.
Songs from the show boast 3 million in track sales, according to Big Machine Label Group, which will release the series’ fourth soundtrack next month.
The show’s season 2 premiere ratings brought in 6.5 million viewers (with an additional 2.9 million DVR viewers), while 2012’s pilot episode garnered 8.93 million viewers, with an additional 3.52 million viewing via DVR.
Of course, the television show is one factor that has aided Music City’s turn in the tourism spotlight, landing Nashville on several ‘best of’ lists and garnering ink from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other outlets. A recent study found that 43 percent of surveyed Nashville tourists were influenced to visit Music City after seeing episodes of Nashville. Of those surveyed, 55 percent had seen the show and 58 percent were first-time visitors. Many Nashville venues, most famously the Bluebird Cafe, have seen unprecedented numbers of visitors after being featured on the show.
An announcement about Nashville is expected very soon, and ABC execs are scheduled to officially reveal its fall lineup on May 13 in New York City.
Nashville’s season 2 finale airs May 14.

Spotify and Sprint To Offer Bundle Option

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spotifySpotify and Sprint are working on a deal to bundle the music service with the mobile carrier, so that customers can pay for streaming music via their monthly phone bill. The news was first reported by recode.
According to the article, some Sprint customers may qualify for discounts on Spotify’s premium on-demand service, which usually costs $9.99 per month.
Labels will have to license their music for the deal to work. An official announcement is expected at an event in New York City on April 29.
There are also rumors of the streaming service nearing an IPO.
Earlier this year, AT&T and Beats Music debuted a similar partnership. AT&T family plan customers receive a discount on Beats’ $9.99 monthly rate, because up to five people can share the service for $15 a month.

Free Country Music Hall of Fame Concert Heading Indoors

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CMHOF logo1The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum‘s free concert event, slated for Tuesday afternoon (April 15), will be moving indoors due to inclement weather forecasts. The concert is in celebration of the CMHoF’s recent expansions, which include the Taylor Swift Education Center, the ACM Gallery, additional archival storage spaces, the 800-seat CMA Theater, Hatch Show Print’s new home, an event hall and more.
Attendees will still get a great view during the concert, which will take place in the museum’s 6th floor event hall, complete with 40-foot-high windows. The concert will feature Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Ann Womack and Buddy Miller.
The free concert will take place at 1:15 p.m. The Country Music Hall of Fame is located at 222 5th Ave. S. in Nashville.

LifeNotes: Jesse Winchester

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Jesse Winchester

Jesse Winchester


Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester, known for the songs “Yankee Lady” (1970), “Say What” (1981) and “Isn’t That So” (1973), died Friday (April 11) after a fight with cancer. He was 69.
The Louisiana native’s songs, including “Mississippi  You’re On My Mind,” “A Showman’s Life” and others, have been covered by Jimmy Buffett, Reba McEntire, The Everly Brothers, George Strait, Gary Allan, Buddy Miller and others. Winchester released more than a dozen albums between 1970 and 2009.
Winchester grew up in Mississippi and Tennessee, but spent most of his life in Canada, where he moved while still a teenager to avoid being drafted into war. He spent the last decade of his life a resident of Virginia. In 1990, he was nominated for Best Country Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards. He earned ASCAP’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
In 2011, he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. As Winchester recovered from surgery, Jimmy Buffett led a team of artists in recording a collection of Winchester’s songs as a tribute album, titled Quiet About It. The project features performances from James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Roseanne Cash, Lyle Lovett, and others.
Winchester’s cancer went into remission, and he returned to performing. He even recorded the project A Reasonable Amount of Trouble (with Mac McAnally as producer). His cancer returned in February 2014.
He is survived by wife Cindy Winchester.

Industry Ink (4/11/14)

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edgehillEdgehill Music Nashville, has added Angel Jennings as Manager of Promotion, Secondary Radio. She will split her time between Nashville and Greenville, S.C.
“Angel’s passion for country music and her work with up-and-coming artists make her a great asset to all of the artists we represent. From the moment I met Angel I knew she would be a perfect fit for the Edgehill Music Nashville family,” said Kevin Mason, GM/Edgehill Music Nashville.
Jennings can be reached at angel@edgehillmusic.com.

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moc1Musicians on Call will present Sunny Side Up: A Young Professional Networking Breakfast on April 30 at Bosco’s in Nashville. The breakfast will run from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Bosco’s 21st Ave. S. location. The event aims to raise awareness and funds for Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedside of patients.
Tickets are $25 and available at stayclassy.org.

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On Saturday, March 29, John McBride’s The Blackbird Academy handed out diplomas to its first graduating class of 18 students. Guest lecturers during their studies included Ken Scott, Nick Raskulinecz, Vance Powell, Tim McGraw and others. Their instructors included Mark Rubel and Kevin Becka.

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The Blackbird Academy’s first graduating class.

MusicRowPics: Levi Riggs

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Levi Riggs visit

Levi Riggs visit


Singer-songwriter Levi Riggs, a Danville, Ind., native, has spent the better part of the past decade blending his interests in music and agriculture. This talented newcomer earned a degree in Agricultural sales from Purdue University. His strong Country voice began to garner notice while he performed in the school’s glee club.
While spending seven years working full-time in agriculture business (and pursuing his music career after hours), Riggs began touring and using social media to build a solid fanbase of followers. His tour schedule intensified, prompting Riggs to begin working as an independent seed dealer. “It gives me a more flexible schedule for songwriting, touring and performing,” says Riggs.
He formed his own label, Windridge Records and released projects including There’s Still A Place For That, Hillbilly Superstar, and his latest, I’m Good.
Riggs’ began his MusicRow office performance with “Down Home Boy,” written by Jon Henderson and Jason Matthews. The clever “My Best Friend’s A Girl,” was penned by Will Nance, Sherrie Austin and John Edwards.
Riggs’ latest project, I’m Good, was produced by Matt McClure (best known for his work with Lee Brice). Riggs recounted how a random connection resulted in McClure’s involvement with the album. “We were playing a gig in the middle of nowhere–we didn’t have a bass player for that show, and it was on a flatbed trailer–and this guy comes up and begins taking video of the show on his phone. I talked to him after the show, and he said he has a cousin who is a record producer in Nashville. He wanted to send along my information to his cousin. Later I get an email from Matt asking if he can come down to see a show. He liked what he heard, and invited me to Nashville to create this album.”
Riggs has been criss-crossing the country on a radio tour in the past several weeks, which has visited Arkansas, Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri. He concluded his three-song performance with his current single, “I’m Good,” penned by Mark Nesler, Dean Dillon, Dale Dodson, Ashton Shepherd, and Marty Dodson.
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Ole's 'Write Where You Are Tour' Hits The Road

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ole bus111For the fourth straight year, the ole Bus, “a writer’s room on wheels,” will take to the open roads on the 2014 edition of the ole Write Where You Are Tour. This artist-songwriter gathering runs from April 10 through July 4.
The ole Write Where You Are Tour launched in 2011, and allows artists to use down-time when they are on tour to write with ole’s roster of songwriters. The initiative found a successful launch when ole writer Ryan Tyndell co-wrote “Springsteen” with Eric Church; the song went on to become a chart-topper and a signature song for Church.
“We’re starting a little bit earlier this year and we already have all of April, half of May and half of June booked,” says ole GM, Nashville Creative John Ozier. “Right now, we have dates booked for ole writers Brett Jones, Josh Dorr, Bruce Wallace, Marty Dodson and Dave Turnbull. Of course, my goal is to make sure that all of our writers get a shot at being on the bus because it is such an intimate environment for creating hit songs. On the artist side, we’re starting out with a new duo by the name of Striking Matches as well as singer/songwriter Ashley Monroe; Bigger Picture artist Craig Campbell; Warner Bros. recording artist Jana Kramer; EMI Records Nashville artist Eric Paslay, who is coming off a #1 record; and Stoney Creek Records artists Randy Houser and Thompson Square. There are also dates on hold for Florida Georgia Line and Danielle Bradbery from The Voice.”

Borchetta, Moore Honored By Armed Forces Foundation

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Pictured: Justin Moore and Scott Borchetta pose with “Your Heroes Name Here” honoree Samuel Deeds and his two sons.

Pictured: Justin Moore and Scott Borchetta pose with “Your Heroes Name Here” honoree Samuel Deeds and his two sons.


Justin Moore and Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta were both named “Congressman Bill and Beverly Young Humanitarian of the Year” by the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF), for service and commitment to the welfare of military families. Borchetta and Moore were honored during the 10th annual Congressional Gala in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening (April 9).
“The work that Patricia Driscoll and the Armed Forces Foundation is doing is extraordinary – and unfortunately – beyond necessary. She and the AFF have identified the real challenges that so many of our troops go through upon their reentry into society. This is the kind of organization that the Big Machine Label Group and I will always support,” said Borchetta.
“Although extremely grateful, I feel a little uncomfortable being honored at an event where there are decorated war heroes present. I feel that my contributions are much less significant than theirs … they are the true American heroes,” stated Moore. “However, I’m thrilled to know that what I do with the AFF has helped, and that it is appreciated by all. Both of my grandpas served in our military and they, along with my parents, instilled in me what our servicemen and women mean to us. It was an honor to tell some of them face to face last night. God bless our troops and God bless America.”

Luke Bryan To Perform at Billboard Music Awards

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Luke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Luke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes


Luke Bryan is one of the first performers named for the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, along with Imagine Dragons, John Legend and OneRepublic. Jason Derulo was previously announced as a performer.
The Billboard Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
Bryan is a finalist in six categories this year, more than any other Country artist. His nominations include Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Country Album and Top Country Song (twice, for “Crash My Party” and “That’s My Kind of Night”).
For a full list of nominees, visit musicrow.com’s previous listing.

Writer's Den Music Group Inks Deal With Tom Worth

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Pictured (L-R, seated): John Rolfe, Writer's Den attorney; Tom Worth; Bobby Rymer, Writer's Den partner. (L-R), standing) - Writer's Den staff writers Ben Cooper, Jerry Salley, Melissa Fuller and Thom Schuyler.

Pictured (L-R, seated): John Rolfe, Writer’s Den attorney; Tom Worth; Bobby Rymer, Writer’s Den partner. (L-R, standing): Writer’s Den staff writers Ben Cooper, Jerry Salley, Melissa Fuller and Thom Schuyler.


The Writer’s Den Music Group has signed songwriter and musician Tom Worth.
“Tom has such a positive enthusiasm about everything that he does, and he brings it everyday,” said Writer’s Den partner Bobby Rymer. “I’m looking forward to a lot of those days.”
Worth is a native of New York, Worth fulfilled a childhood dream this past year by performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage. His songs have been recorded by Country artists The Josh Abbott Band (“Hot Water,” “All Of a Sudden”) and Due West, dance/electronica artist Ella, and numerous others. His music has also been used for a theme song on Discovery Network and NBC Sports and has been featured on MTV’s Road Rules, ABC’s Forming The Band, ABC Family’s Jane By Design, and many others.