Dave Barnes To Release New Album ‘Dreaming In Electric Blue’

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Dave Barnes

Dave Barnes has set the release date of his upcoming tenth album, Dreaming in Electric Blue, for April 3. Barnes is the sole writer for every song on the album.

“This album is my first album that I’ve produced and written everything by myself, which I’m really excited about!” said Barnes. “I also think it’s a great snapshot of the variety of the kinds of music I like to make – a little of bit of a lot of things.”

Barnes has penned songs for Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Marc Broussard, Billy Currington, Hunter Hayes, Ben Rector and many others, and received Grammy and CMA nominations for Blake Shelton’s cut of his song “God Gave Me You.”

In support of the new project Barnes will also be kicking off a string of intimate tour dates beginning April 23 in Houston and running through May 24.

Dave Barnes Dreaming In Electric Blue Track Listing:
Be Without You
Dreaming In Electric Blue
Sorry’s So Hard To Say
Love Somebody
Hard Feelings
Take Me Back To Nashville
You’ve Always Been Good To Me
Dave Barnes Tour Dates:
April 23 – The Heights Theater – Houston
April 24 – The 04 Center – Austin
April 25 – Common Grounds – Waco
April 26 – Kessler Theater – Dallas
May 21 –  City Winery – Boston
May 22 –  City Winery – New York
May 23 –  City Winery – Philadelphia
May 24 –  Birchmere Music Hall – Alexandria, VA

Concord Adds Duff Berschback As Exec. VP, Legal and Business Affairs

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Duff Berschback

Concord has added Duff Berschback as Exec. VP, Legal and Business Affairs, Concord Music Publishing, where he will report to Concord Chief Business Affairs Officer and General Counsel Larry Blake. Berschback will be based at Concord’s Nashville headquarters.

Berschback most recently served as Sr. VP, Legal Affairs and Business Development for Sony/ATV Nashville for 13 years, under Troy Tomlinson. Prior to his work with Sony/ATV, he spent seven years in private practice representing songwriters, artists, producers and managers.

“Duff fits squarely into Concord’s vision for a global, full-service, Nashville-based music publishing company, operating across all genres and territories,” says Jake Wisely. “Duff also signals our intention to build a world class frontline country music roster and catalog. I’m thrilled to welcome an old friend to our growing business.”

Berschback will provide leadership to and oversight of Concord Music Publishing’s worldwide legal and business affairs operations negotiating all songwriter, co-publishing, administration and catalog acquisition agreements as well as outbound licensing and publishing litigation. Interfacing with Wisely, Concord’s management and Concord Music Publishing A&R, Berschback will also support the creative, strategic and business development priorities of Concord’s substantial and rapidly growing music publishing business. He will additionally provide insight and industry leadership with respect to Concord’s legislative and judicial advocacy agenda.

Blake comments, “Duff comes to us with a wealth of experience in all aspects of the publishing business and a well-deserved reputation as a consummate dealmaker with deep roots in the Nashville publishing community and beyond. We are very fortunate to have him join the Concord team.”

“I am beyond thrilled to join Concord, a company dedicated to aggressively growing a roster already stacked with phenomenal songwriters,” states Berschback. “Scott, Jake, Larry and the entire leadership team are passionate about music and are committed to discovering, developing and providing the highest level of service to the talented people who create it.”

Berschback can be reached at duff.berschback@concord.com.

Synchtank, peermusic Reveal New Platform on Royalty Accounting System IRIS

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Synchtank software and peermusic have unveiled the latest platform to IRIS, (International Repertoire Information System,) the accounting system for collecting, distributing, and reporting on music royalties. Aimed at rights owners, rights holders and administrators, IRIS dramatically improves on past software by maximizing automation and bringing clarity to increasingly complex processes, and can speed ease of tasks, increase efficiencies, and help reduce costs. The system was originally developed by global independent music publisher, peermusic.

“Synchtank has a strong track record of changing the way technology is used in the music, movie and media businesses,” said Chris Cass, Synchtank’s Chief Business Officer. “We realized there was a gap in the market for high-performance royalty systems in this increasingly data-driven and complex environment. We discovered that peermusic had developed a system for their 30 worldwide offices based on these principals, and we worked directly with them to perfect the IRIS platform. It’s already handled more than $1 billion revenues and incorporates peermusic’s experience in markets around the world and our tech knowhow.”

“We built IRIS to allow us to best serve our clients in the digital era,” said Mary Megan Peer, Deputy CEO, peermusic. “For us this meant having a secure system with the ability to deal with significant amounts of data and with regularly changing CMO statement formats, but with quick processing time. IRIS has allowed our global royalties departments to become more efficient, allowing them more time to spend on income tracking. Our songwriters and their representatives appreciate the transparency, detailed information and ability to drill down into specific song details.”
Thanks to its origins in peermusic, IRIS has been running globally for over 10 years and is already fully integrated with over 60 Collective Management Organizations and has over 1,000 formats for statements.

“Besides providing a much-needed modern alternative in the market, IRIS has a great deal of potential in catalog evaluation,” a hot topic in this age of catalog acquisition and publishing investment, Cass explains. “As catalogs become important investment vehicles, this type of analysis and value estimation provides a key tool for potential investors, adding clarity to business decisions. Synchtank is providing the picks and shovels to prospects mining their next goldmine.”

Ross Copperman Remains At The Top Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ross Copperman takes the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for a second week, with Craig Wiseman moving up one slot to No. 2. Josh Osborne occupies the No. 3 slot.

Jimmy Robbins takes No. 4 with co-writer credits on Kelsea Ballerini’s “homecoming queen?” and Maren Morris’ “The Bones.” Luke Combs rounds out the top five with his own “Better Together” and “Does To Me,” as well as Carly Pearce and Lee Brice’s duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Nashville Declares Public Health Emergency, Closes Lower Broadway Bars

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Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Metro Board of Health announced Sunday (March 15) that effective immediately, bars on Nashville’s Lower Broadway and throughout Davidson County would close until further notice, as part of a Declaration of a Public Health Emergency for Nashville and Davidson County, in light of the continuing spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. Restaurants have also been advised to limit their maximum seating to less than 50% of capacity, and capped at no more than 100 individuals. Furthermore, bar service at restaurants should be limited to 50% of capacity, with no standing allowed.

“We understand these changes create a hardship, especially for businesses and their employees, and we hope it will be short lived,’’ Cooper said. “As a priority, Metro Government will be focused on how to provide relief for local workers and address the inevitable hardship that these social distancing measures will have on local businesses. We are gathering information from state and federal officials on aid for businesses and workers. We will continue to communicate regularly and follow the recommendations of the Board of Health as this emergency evolves.”

Luke Bryan posted a video on social media, stating that he will honor the wishes of Mayor Cooper and close his Nashville-based Luke’s 32Bridge Bar+Drink until further notice.

Some leaders in Nashville’s hospitality industry offered statements of affirmation following the announcement.

“We are in full support of the decision of the Mayor and Metro Nashville Board of Health regarding bars and restaurants,” Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., said in a statement. “Any short-term mitigation to slow the spread of this virus is invaluable to our long-term recovery and more importantly the health and safety of our community.”

As of March 16, there are 52 positive cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee, including 25 in Davidson County, according to the TN Department of Health.

Cooper’s announcement that Nashville bars will close is the latest cancelation of live events in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum announced it has temporarily closed its doors, while the Grand Ole Opry is airing only Saturday night concerts (with no audience). The Ryman Auditorium has temporarily shuttered its evening events. On Sunday, the Academy of Country Music announced its awards show is also being rescheduled for later in the year.

Several artists have also postponed tour dates, including Dan+Shay, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Little Big Town and more, as the music industry’s top concert promoters and touring agencies, including Live Nation, AEG, WME, CAA and more, formed a task force and recommended the halting of all AEG and Live Nation tours through the end of March.

BREAKING: Academy Of Country Music Awards Postponed

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The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards, which was scheduled to air live on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, April 5 from Las Vegas, has been postponed and will be rescheduled to air on CBS in September, at a date, time and venue to be determined.

“The ACM Awards® is a tentpole event for our Country Music industry, and the Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions went to great lengths to find a safe solution for the show to go on so that we can honor our artist community. This decision involved many partners, stakeholders and the industry who we have been in constant conversations with over the past several days as the situation has developed. We look forward to identifying a future date that we can celebrate with our Country community safely,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

Refunds will be issued for tickets purchased for the ACM Awards and ACM Party for a Cause® events, including ACM Lifting Lives® Topgolf Tee-Off and ACM Beach Bash.

Keith Urban was recently named as host for the event, which includes top nominees Dan+Shay, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, and more.

Grand Ole Opry To Continue With No Live Audience, Ryman Pauses Evening Events

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Though live events are being postponed across the country as the novel coronavirus continues to spread, the Grand Ole Opry plans to go forward with live performances during its Saturday night Opry shows—albeit without a live audience. This change includes the Saturday night show slated for tonight (March 14). Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Opry shows have been paused through April 4.

The Saturday night shows, with no audience, will essentially revert to the same live radio show format that first launched the Opry on Nov. 28, 1925, broadcasting on WSM (its call letters being an acronym for “We Shield Millions,” the slogan for National Life and Accident Insurance Company). The Opry’s Saturday night shows will revert to that format for the coming weeks, as fans can continue to tune in to the Saturday night broadcasts at opry.com, wsmonline.com, and at 650 AM-WSM.

It is widely believed the Opry has canceled its Saturday night show only once in its 94-year history, on April 6, 1968 when  the city of Nashville imposed a curfew following the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., forcing the cancelation of the Opry show. That evening marked the Opry’s only broadcast in its history that consisted of a previously-taped performance, as Roy Acuff and other performers performed the show that afternoon at a nearby square-dance hall.

“Throughout the Opry’s history, various events have led Opry management to make difficult decisions about how to alter the show’s format,” a statement said. “The Opry’s first priority has always been the safety of our employees, guests and artists who have been key in keeping the show that made country music famous on the air every week for over 94 years.”

Meanwhile, the Ryman Auditorium has announced it will postpone all nighttime events through April 4. Daytime tours will remain open.

“Ryman Auditorium is a testament to all the ways music can connect people to one another and we have always held our patrons as a top priority by ensuring the well-being of every guest who sits in our pews, every artist who performs on the iconic stage and all of our employees who work every day to preserve its legacy,” leaders of the Ryman Auditorium said via a statement.

Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum To Close Temporarily

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, including Hatch Show Print, Historic RCA Studio B and the CMA Theater will close temporarily to the public beginning at close of business today (Friday, March 13).

“The health and safety of our guests and staff is our top priority,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “While there have not been any confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) connected to the museum at this time, we must do all that we can to help ensure a safe and healthy environment for our visitors, employees and community, which at this time calls for us to close temporarily.”

All upcoming shows at the CMA Theater for the month of March are either postponed or canceled. Ticket holders will be notified of rescheduled dates, and refunds will be issued from the point of purchase for any canceled performances. Visit CMATheater.com for information on individual shows.

The museum will continue to monitor and rely on the guidance from public health officials including Metro Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to inform any decisions moving forward.

Larkin Poe To Release New Album In May

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Sibling duo Larkin Poe have announced their upcoming album, Self Made Man, led by the single “She’s A Self Made Man.” The album, the duo’s fifth, will release May 1 via their own Trick-Woo Records.

Larkin Poe includes Atlanta-bred, Nashville-based sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell. As with their 2018 release, Venom & Faith, Larkin Poe returned to the studio to record with Roger Alan Nichols at Bell Tone Recording in Nashville.

“Life is all about balance,” says Rebecca. “Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s sour. With ‘She’s A Self Made Man,’ I wanted to write a song about the up-and-down ride that Megan and I have been on for the past 10 years of building Larkin Poe. It’s hard to know who you are and it can take time to figure out what your purpose is, but I feel thankful that in recent years, my own feelings have started to click and make sense. Knowing and accepting yourself: that is empowerment.”

“This is, in a lot of ways, the first lyrically uplifting record we’ve made,” Megan says. “People can go through terrible things. People can weather immeasurable sorrow and hard times, and yet we can still come out on the other side, pull ourselves together, and thrive. This record reflects some of the joy and positivity that we ourselves feel and appreciate.”

Tracklisting:
Self Made Man
Holy Ghost Fire
Keep Diggin’
Back Down South (feat. Tyler Bryant)
Tears of Blue to Gold
God Moves on the Water
Every Bird That Flies
Scorpion
Ex-Con
Easy Street

Record Store Day Moves To June

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The 13th annual Record Store Day has been rescheduled from April 18 to June 20, in light of the rising number of cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world.

“We’ve taken all of that information to heart as we’ve gone over the various options that involved staying the course, moving the date, even changing the structure of the event,” organizers noted in a release. “At the risk of stating the obvious, no one knows what things will look like in any given place over the next five weeks, but it is imperative that hard decisions for that time period need to be made right now, using current facts. There is no perfect solution. There is no easy answer.

“We think this gives stores around the world the best chance to have a profitable, successful Record Store Day, while taking into consideration the recommendations of doctors, scientists, the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and the need to be good citizens of both local and worldwide communities. We’re working with all of our partners and our stores to make this change as smooth as possible for everyone who participates in Record Store Day: customers, record stores, artists, labels and more. Record Store Day is everywhere and we want to hold our party when everyone can gather around safely to celebrate life, art, music and the culture of the indie record store.”

According to the World Health Organization, there are currently more than 132,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world. Earlier on Friday (March 13), United States President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to CNN, Trump said the move would “open up access to up to $50 billion,” which he described as “a large amount of money for states and territories and localities in our shared fight against this disease.”