DISClaimer: Mickey Guyton’s "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" Leads New Releases

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It’s country-feminism day here at DISClaimer with female singles dominating the mix from top to bottom.

Randall King, Jackson Michelson and Hot Country Knights are all scoring runs. But the grand-slam homers are all by women—Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris, Jewel and our Disc of the Day awardee, Mickey Guyton.

Our DisCovery Award winner this week is Joe Hanson. Please send more.

MADDIE & TAE/Bathroom Floor
Writers: Josh Kerr/Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye; Producer: Derek Wells/Jimmy Robbins; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– Feisty, rocking, empowering and clever. Their harmonies are super tight. The lyric has “girl power.” The production punches and pounds. An absolute delight.

JACKSON MICHELSON/One Day
Writers: Jackson Michelson/Justin Ebach/Matt Alderman; Producer: Jeff Pardo; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Very sweet. Parenthood has seldom sounded better. The passage of time gets a lovely word portrait as he describes a little girl growing up and the nostalgia of her mom and dad as they age along.

JOE HANSON/Part of Me
Writers: Victoria Banks/Justin Morgan/Joe Hanson; Producer: Austin Shawn; Publisher: none listed; 117
– The track is kinda nervous sounding. His jaunty tenor has an emotional tug. Promising.

MICKEY GUYTON/What Are You Gonna Tell Her
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Karen Kosowski/Victoria Banks/Emma-Lee; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– She created a sensation with this at CRS. It’s an echoey piano ballad about the reality of gender discrimination. You tell the growing girl to believe in herself, just to dash her dreams when she grows up. “You built her up, just so the world could let her down.” Now, what are we gonna do to make this a more fair and just place? And can we start with country radio?

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS/Moose Knuckle Shuffle
Writers: Brett Beavers/Brett Tyler/Buddy Brock/Chase McGill/Dan Hochhalter/Jim Beavers/Zach Turner; Producers: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Remember line dancing? And high tight jeans that accentuated his package? I thought so.

JEWEL/No More Tears
Writer: Jewel/Thomas James Profitt; Producer: Thomas James Profitt; Publisher: none listed; Words Matter/Orchard
– This is part of the soundtrack of a film about homeless youth in America. She knows all about this topic, and it sounds like it in every dramatic note in this penetrating ballad. Soulful and real.

RANDALL KING/She Gone
Writers: Chris Stevens/Randall King; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Country, country, country. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Love it, love it, love it.

RUTHIE COLLINS/Joshua Tree
Writers: Luke Sheets/Ruthie Collins; Producer: Ruthie Collins/Wes Harlee; Publisher: none listed; Sidewalk/Curb
– Shimmering strings. Aching soprano delivery. Heartbreak song. Wide-open-spaces production. What’s not to like?

MAREN MORRIS/To Hell and Back
Writers: Maren Morris/Laura Veltz/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Morris/busbee; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Swirling audio around a midtempo relationship song. The gal sure can sing.

FILMORE/Blue Skies
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Tyler Filmore; Producer: Jesse Frasure/Zach Abend; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– I remain a fan. But he can do better than this rambling, aimless tune, and has.

JUST IN: MusicRow’s Rising Women Event Is Postponed

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A letter from MusicRow Owner and Publisher, Sherod Robertson:

As you may have expected, we unfortunately have to postpone our Rising Women on the Row event on March 25th.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become increasingly aware that we will not be able to properly honor the women in our industry with the celebratory spirit they deserve at this time.

While we do not have a new date set yet, we will announce the new date once it is finalized.

For purchased table sponsors and individual ticket holders, tickets will be honored at the new event date. I hope you all will continue to support and attend the event on the new date. However, I also understand if the new date doesn’t work for you. If so, we are happy to refund your money.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Cheers,

Sherod

Kenny Chesney Postpones Early Chillaxification Tour Dates

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Kenny Chesney has postponed 11 concerts on his upcoming Chillaxification Tour, including seven stadium shows and four amphitheater dates, beginning with the April 18 show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and ending with the May 28 date at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The postponed dates also include stops in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota. The Chillaxification tour also includes Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion, and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Chesney’s team at Messina Touring is working to find alternative dates later in the touring season and aims to have new dates in place within the next six weeks, according to a release, with hopes of launching the tour May 30 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled shows will be refunded.

“You can’t take risks without really understanding the consequences,” Chesney said via a statement. “In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love. I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing. So, while we wait to see how this terrible virus is going to impact our country, I think it’s only fair to move these first several dates now. We are figuring some of this out as we go, but I know people buy airline tickets, book hotel rooms – and I wanted to try to give everyone as much time to sort that out as possible.”

“This is all uncharted,” Chesney says. “I’m like everyone else: watching the news, wondering when we may know something concrete, not sure how this gets transmitted, worried someone I know will catch it. I want to believe this will all be okay in the end; but right now, I don’t feel like this risk to No Shoes Nation is worth it. Nobody wants to get out there for these shows more than I do. We’ve started rehearsals; everything is loaded in – and the band sounds great. Music is medicine when your soul or your heart need healing, but I don’t want my music to put anyone at risk. So, I promise: we are going to work as quickly as we can to sort out what we can and can’t do in terms of these dates. We’re going to cross our fingers this pandemic will resolve as some of the experts have suggested, and we hope to kick off the tour May 30th at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, a venue we’ve played since 2005. But mostly, I hope this virus is contained, and the suffering and deaths are kept to the fewest possible people.”

POSTPONED DATES
April 18           AT&T Stadium                                   Arlington, Texas
April 25           Miller Park                                          Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2              U.S. Bank Stadium                             Minneapolis, Minn.
May 7*            iThink Financial Amphitheatre          West Palm Beach, Fla.
May 9              Raymond James Stadium                   Tampa, Fla.
May 13*          BankPlus Amphitheater                      Southaven, Miss.
May 14*          Brandon Amphitheater                       Brandon, Miss.
May 16            Mercedes-Benz Stadium                    Atlanta, Ga.
May 22            Minute Maid Park                               Houston, Texas
May 23            Alamodome                                        San Antonio, Texas
May 28*          Blossom Music Center                       Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
More Information as it Develops
* Michael Franti & Spearhead ONLY

Dan+Shay Reschedule Spring Leg Of Arena Tour Due To Coronavirus Concerns

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Grammy-winning duo Dan+Shay has postponed the spring leg of their Dan+Shay The (Arena) Tour, which launched March 6 with two shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The newly-rescheduled dates launch July 30 at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center, and wrap Oct. 31 in Tacoma, Washington.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored for all dates. The duo issued the following statement:

“Well, here we are. March 12, 2020, sitting in a bus parked outside Wells Fargo Center, making a statement we never thought we’d have to make. After the mandatory postponement of our Philadelphia show, and several others in the coming weeks, we have made the collective decision (with our team and health officials) to postpone the spring leg of THE (ARENA) TOUR. These shows mean the world to us, and it was important that they be postponed and not canceled, but more than the shows, our fans mean the world to us, and protecting their safety is the number one priority. We want the shows to be memorable, and not experienced with fear.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. It is a strange, strange time for all of us, but we felt this was the right thing to do. Previously purchased tickets will be honored at all rescheduled dates. We hope everyone can make it. Keep an eye on venue websites for further information and updates. Stay safe out there.

So much love,
Dan + Shay

The postponed tour is just the latest in a string of concerts and festivals that have been either canceled or rescheduled, including Tin Pan South, SXSW, Coachella, Stagecoach, and more.

NEW DATES: Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour 2020
July 30: Tulsa, OK- BOK Center
July 31: Dallas, TX-American Airlines Center
Aug. 1: San Antonio, TX- AT&T Center
Aug. 6: Louisville, KY- KFC Yum! Center
Aug. 7: Grand Rapids, MI- The Van Andel Arena
Aug. 8: Oro-Medonte, ON- Burl’s Creek Event Grounds
Aug. 13: Omaha, NE- CHI Health Center
Aug. 14: Kansas City, MO- Sprint Center
Aug. 15: Chicago, IL- United Center
Aug. 21: Calgary, AB – Prairie Wind Park
Aug. 28: Milwaukee, WI- Fiserv Forum
Aug. 29: Minneapolis, MN- Target Center
Sept. 10: Greenville, SC- Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sept. 11: Charlottesville, VA- John Paul Jones Arena
Sept. 12: Greensboro, NC- Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Sept. 17: North Little Rock, AR- Simmons Bank Arena
Sept. 18: St Louis, MO- Enterprise Center
Sept. 19: Detroit, MI- Little Caesars Arena
Sept. 24: Washington DC- Capital One Arena
Sept. 25: New York, NY- Madison Square Garden
Sept. 26: Pittsburgh, PA- PPG Paints Arena
Sept. 28, 2020 Philadelphia, PA- Wells Fargo Center
Oct. 1: Orlando, FL- Amway Center
Oct. 2: Atlanta, GA- State Farm Arena
Oct. 3: New Orleans, LA- Smoothie King Center
Oct. 5: Indianapolis, IN- Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Oct. 8: Newark, NJ- Prudential Center
Oct. 9: Boston, MA- TD Garden
Oct. 10: Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena
Oct. 11: Hershey, PA- GIANT Center
Oct. 15: Denver, CO- Pepsi Center
Oct. 16: Salt Lake City, UT- Vivint Smart Home Arena
Oct. 17: Las Vegas, NV- T-Mobile Arena
Oct. 21: Glendale, AZ- Gila River Arena
Oct. 23: San Francisco, CA- Chase Center
Oct. 24: Sacramento, CA- Golden 1 Center
Oct. 29: Boise, ID- Boise State University – Extra Mile Arena
Oct. 30: Portland, OR- MODA Center
Oct. 31: Tacoma, WA-Tacoma Dome

IBMA Announces 2020 Leadership Bluegrass Class

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Pictured (L-R, front row): Abi Tapia, Amanda Thompson, Suzy Thompson, Angela Sommers Rees, Lauren Price Napier. (L-R, second row): Ethan Charles, Jennifer Danielson, Evie Ladin, Rebecca Frazier, Natalya Zoe Weinstein, Roxanne Tromly, Michelle Lee, Fred Knittel.(L-R, third row): Rick Faris, Marianne Kovatch, Dave Howard, Greg Garrison, Ned Luberecki, Didier Philippe. (L-R, back row): Benjamin Wright, Jake Blount, David Brower, Worth Dixon, Thomas Cassell, Ed Leonard.

The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2020. This was the 21st year of Leadership Bluegrass, which now boasts over 500 alumni. The program was hosted at BMI in Nashville on March 2-4, with Kathy Hanson serving as the course facilitator and Jordan Laney serving as assistant facilitator.

The intensive, three-day program focuses on interactive learning and networking experiences and invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the bluegrass industry and pursue leadership development. Each year, participants are selected through a competitive application process and are a cross-section of current and future leaders from all areas of the industry, coming from various regions of the U.S. and the world.

Leadership Bluegrass 2020 graduates:
Jake Blount  – Jake Blount / Tui / The Moose Whisperers – Washington, D.C.
David Brower – PineCone / WUNC – Carrboro, NC
Thomas Cassell – Circus No. 9 – Johnson City, TN
Ethan Charles – International Bluegrass Music Association – Nashville, TN
Jennifer Danielson – Pandora – Nashville, TN
Worth Dixon – D’Addario & Company, Inc. – Farmingdale, NY
Rick Faris – Special Consensus – Topeka, KA
Rebecca Frazier – Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run – Nashville, TN
Greg Garrison – Leftover Salmon / University of Colorado, Denver – Lakewood, CO
Dave Howard – Louisville Folk School – Louisville, KY
Fred Knittel – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings – Washington, D.C.
Marianne Kovatch – Blue Ridge Music Center – Winton-Salem, NC
Evie Ladin – Evie Ladin Band – Oakland, CA
Michelle Lee – WOBL / Bluegrass Borderline / Smoked Country Jam – Sheffield Lake, OH
Ed Leonard – Billy Blue Records – Hendersonville, TN
Ned Luberecki – Becky Buller Band / SiriusXM – Nashville, TN
Didier Philippe – La Roche Bluegrass Festival – Etaux, France
Lauren Price Napier – The Price Sisters – Hyden, KY
Angela Sommers Rees – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival – Dorrigo, NSW, Australia
Brian Swenk – Big Daddy Love / Midwood Entertainment – Glen Allen, VA
Abi Tapia – Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum – Nashville, TN
Suzy Thompson – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention – Berkeley, CA
Amanda Thompson – Frankfort Bluegrass Festival – Mokena, IL
Roxanne Tromly – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum / ROMP Fest – Owensboro, KY
Natalya Zoe Weinstein – Zoe & Cloyd / Warren Wilson College – Fairview, NC
Benjamin Wright – Henhouse Prowlers / Bluegrass Ambassadors – Chicago, IL

Brandon Hood, Dann Huff Form Artist Development Venture With Warner Chappell Music Nashville

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Back row (L-R): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Dann Huff, Will Overton (WCM). Front: Brandon Hood

Producer/songwriter Brandon Hood and producer Dann Huff have launched an artist development company in a joint venture with Warner Chappell Music. Through the partnership, Hood, Huff, and WCM will co-sign writers for artists that Hood & Huff work with. The publisher has also signed Hood to a worldwide publishing deal.

“My relationship with Dann has been a navigational beacon for me as a guitarist, producer, and songwriter. He’s someone as close as family to me, and I could not be more excited to have his mentorship become more official in my career,” said Hood. “I’m thrilled to partner with him and the entire Warner Chappell family to pursue development opportunities with incredible artists.”

Born and raised in Blairsville, Georgia, Hood landed in Nashville in 2005 to pursue a degree at Belmont. During his time there his guitar and production skills caught the attention of Dann Huff, who signed him to his first-ever publishing deal. Hood’s songs have been recorded by Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Jessie James Decker, and more, and he’s currently producing records for Drake Milligan, Hannah Dasher, and Tim Dugger, among others. Hood is managed by Mary Lauren Teague at Dotted i Entertainment.

A Nashville native, Huff’s versatile career spans decades and includes playing session guitar for superstars from Madonna to Michael Jackson, to producing for some of the biggest names in country music like Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, Thomas Rhett, and Reba McEntire, to name a few. Some of his most recognizable country hits include, Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t My Color,” Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man,” which landed Single of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards. Huff has been named CMA’s Musician of the Year, ACM’s Producer of the Year, and Music Row’s Producer of the Year three times each, and was honored as Billboard’s Producer of the Decade in 2010.

Adam Romaine Joins Young Guns Publishing

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Adam Romaine

Young Guns Publishing has added Adam Romaine to its team, in the newly-created role of Sr. Creative, A&R, where he will be responsible for discovering and signing new songwriter talent, fostering relationships with songwriters and more.

Romaine previously served as Creative Director and Tour Manager for Florida Georgia Line’s Tree Vibez Music bus, which resulted in 42 cuts, nine radio singles, two U.S. country radio No. 1 hits and two Canadian No. 1 hits.

“From our first conversations with Adam, we knew we wanted him as part of the team. His infectious drive and personality fit perfectly with our company, and we know he’s going to be a huge asset. He’s already hit the ground running and we couldn’t be more excited to have him here at Young Guns,” says Young Guns President Will Hamrick.

Romaine adds, “I’m excited to join the Young Guns team, and look forward to making additions to an already successful roster.”

The Young Guns roster includes Ben Stennis, Micah Wilshire and Katie Garfield.

 

Carrie Underwood’s New Book Debuts On ‘New York Times’ Best Seller List

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Carrie Underwood’s new lifestyle book, Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life, has rocketed to the No. 2 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Along with reaching the No. 2 spot on the highly-competitive Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous list, the book also hit No. 1 on Amazon during its first week of publication and is currently No. 3 on Amazon’s most-sold nonfiction chart.

Underwood kicked off a multi-city promo tour last week with personal appearances in Brooklyn, Stamford, CT and Nashville, all of which sold out in under a minute. She took over the NBC airwaves on March 3 with appearances on The Today Show, competed in a “Fittest of the Fit” challenge on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on March 6, and cooked with Rachael Ray on March 9. Underwood also graces the covers of Women’s Health and Parade Magazine, and was featured in InStyle, People, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and more.

She also launched her new fitness app, fit52, on March 2, which is now available for download on iOS, a holistic wellness platform designed to encourage and support users on their personal wellness journey.  March also marks her fifth anniversary as founder and lead designer of her fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, which launched in 2015 and is exclusively available at DICK’S Sporting Goods nationwide and online.

Industry Pics: Mo Pitney, Laura Veltz, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chuck Wicks

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Mo Pitney Previews Upcoming Album

Pictured (L-R): Modern Management’s Ted Greene, Curb Records’ RJ Meacham, Mike Curb, Mo Pitney, Laurel Kittleson, Benson Curb, Colt Murski, Jeff Tuerff, Bryan Stewart


Mo Pitney recently performed new music from his upcoming album for members of his label home Curb Records on Thursday, March 5 at the Curb Studio. The upcoming album will follow his 2016 project Behind This Guitar.
 

Laura Veltz Honored During Song Suffragettes Sixth Anniversary Show

Pictured (L-R): Mia Morris, Erin Grand, Song Suffragettes’ Helena Capps, Chloe Gilligan, Jenna LaMaster, Jeannie Seely, Laura Veltz, MTSU’s Dean Beverly Keel, Sarabeth Taite, Candi Carpenter, Kalie Shorr, Vic Allen, Bellah Mae and Song Suffragettes’ Todd Cassetty. Photo: Jordan Merrigan


Nashville’s all-female, singer-songwriter collective, Song Suffragettes, celebrated their sixth anniversary with two songwriter rounds on March 9, featuring nine female singer-songwriters and a special presentation to hit songwriter Laura Veltz who has penned six No. 1 hits in recent years including Maren Morris’ “The Bones” and Dan + Shay’s “Speechless.” Veltz accepted the Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award for her contributions to the songwriting community. Beverly Keel, Dean of Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment moderated a Q&A session with Veltz. Veltz also offered an acoustic performance of Maren Morris’ latest single “To Hell and Back,” which Veltz co-wrote with Morris and Jessie Jo Dillon.
 

Mitchell Tenpenny, Chuck Wicks Raise Over $73,000 For Tornado Relief

Mitchell Tennpenny & Chuck Wicks + Friends Raise $73,698 Thousand for Hands On Nashville


Nashville native Mitchell Tenpenny and NASH FM’s Chuck Wicks recently teamed to create a benefit concerts to aid those impacted by last week’s Nashville tornadoes. The Band Camino, Chris Lane, Devin Dawson, HARDY, Tyler Rich, The Sisterhood Band, and more came out to show their support. Their partnership resulted in two sold-out concerts held at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, which together raised $73,698. All ticket sales from the shows, auction item donations and all proceeds from bar sales during the concerts will benefit Hands On Nashville.

Signings: Clay Walker, Sarah Buchanan, Travis Tritt

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Clay Walker Signs With TKO Artist Management


Clay Walker has signed with TKO Artist Management and is prepping for the digital release of his 2003 album A Few Questions on March 27. TKO Artist Management represents The Bacon Brothers, Glen Campbell, Colt Ford, Krystal Keith, Toby Keith, Chris LeDoux, Ned LeDoux, Mac McAnally and Waterloo Revival.

Sony/Provident Signs Sarah Buchanan

Top Row (L-R): Jeff Cruz, Jamie Rodgers, Holly Zabka, Jason Frizzell, Josh Pauley, Kauland Buchanan, Nathanael Kotras, Bottom Row (L-R): Sony/Provident CEO Terry Hemmings, Sarah Buchanan

Sarah Buchanan has signed a recording contract with Sony/Provident, and a publishing agreement with Essential Worship. Buchanan, who leads worship at Nashville’s Church of the City-Sylvan Park, is set to release music later this year and launch a tour in early 2021.

“There have never been truer words to describe how I feel – this means the world to me. I feel incredibly validated and affirmed in what I have felt my heart pulling me towards for several years. It is overwhelming to look around and see so many new faces in my corner that have quickly become like family to me,” Buchanan said. “I am incredibly at peace and feel a new sense of responsibility to steward this new platform as best I can – that is not lost on me. There is no manual on how to navigate the thing that you have been working towards for what feels like forever, which is a weird reality for me now. I am beyond honored to be joining the Provident team and working alongside people I have admired from afar for so long – seriously, someone pinch me.”

Travis Tritt Signs With Big Noise Music Group

Pictured (L-R): Adam Muhlbaum (Big Noise Music Group, Sr. VP of Marketing and Project Management), Mike “Cheez” Brown (Travis Tritt’s Manager), Jon Cohen (Big Noise Music Group, President), Travis Tritt, Nick Gross (Big Noise Music Group, CEO)

Travis Tritt has signed with Los Angeles-based label Big Noise Music Group and is set to release a new full-length album later this year. The project, which is being produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, The Highwomen, Sturgill Simpson), will mark Tritt’s first album release in more than 12 years.