Weekly Register: Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber Continue Chart Reigns

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Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, and Justin Bieber continue to top the country sales charts, as Combs again takes the top two spots on the Nielsen Soundscan top album sales rankings with What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You.

Dan+Shay and Bieber’s “10,000 Hours” tops the country on-demand audio streaming chart with 9.5 million streams, while Maren Morris‘ two-week radio chart-topper “The Bones” remains at No. 2 with 8 million streams.

See the Top 5 on the country albums and country on-demand streaming charts below:

Top Country Albums (total activity)

  1. Luke Combs, What You See Is What You Get: 24.9K
  2. Luke Combs, This One’s For You: 18.9K
  3. Morgan Wallen, If I Know Me: 14.8K
  4. Blake Shelton, Fully Loaded: God’s Country: 13.6K
  5. Kane Brown, Experiment: 11K

Country On-Demand Audio Streaming

  1. “10,000 Hours,” Dan+Shay/Justin Bieber, 9.5 million streams
  2. “The Bones,” Maren Morris, 8 million streams
  3. “One Man Band,” Old Dominion, 6.82 million streams
  4. “Heartless,” Diplo, ft. Morgan Wallen and Julia Michaels, 6.79 million streams
  5. “I Hope,” Gabby Barrett, 6.5 million streams

Luke Combs Reclaims No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Luke Combs has reclaimed the No. 1 slot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with credits on his own “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does To Me (Featuring Eric Church),” and “Better Together,” as well as the Carly Pearce and Lee Brice duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Ross Copperman moves down to the No. 2 position.

Craig Wiseman shifts from No. 15 to No. 7, with credits on Morgan Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” and Kenny Chesney’s new song, “Here And 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.

BREAKING: Deborah Dugan Officially Terminated As Recording Academy President/CEO

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Deborah Dugan

The Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees has voted to terminate Deborah Dugan as President/CEO of the organization. Dugan has been on a paid administrative leave since Jan. 16, 2020.

According to a statement from the Recording Academy, the decision was made with full support of the Executive Committee, based on two independent investigations into allegations made by and against Dugan. A total of 37 witnesses were interviewed, and “each investigator had free rein to fully investigate all of the allegations that were made against Ms. Dugan and by Ms. Dugan against the Recording Academy,” a statement from the Recording Academy noted.

The statement noted that additional factors in the decision to dismiss Dugan from the President/CEO role include “Ms. Dugan’s consistent management deficiencies and failures,” and the “unwarranted and damaging media campaign she launched in an attempt, without justification, to derail the Grammy Awards show, including her false allegations that the system was—in her words—”rigged” and that the Academy was “corrupt.”

In January 2020, Dugan filed a complaint against the Recording Academy, in which Dugan described the “sexual harassment to which she was subjected by Joel Katz, Esq.,” an entertainment attorney and tenured executive at the Academy.

Dugan’s complaint also stated that her Recording Academy predecessor, Neil Portnow, “allegedly raped a female recording artist.” The alleged artist was not named in the complaint. The complaint claims that the board was aware of the incident, and that is why Portnow’s contract was not renewed. The complaint also claimed Dugan was asked to offer Portnow a $750,000 consulting contract and that “Katz and his law firm are paid an exorbitant amount of money by the Academy.” The complaint also claimed Dugan’s assistant Claudine Little was sharing information from Dugan’s emails with Academy board members and executives. Dugan’s complaint also stated that some board members on “secret committees” that select the Grammy nominees represent or have relationships with nominated artists, and that the “Board uses these committees as an opportunity to push forward artists with whom they have relationships,” that “the Board manipulates the nominations process to ensure that certain songs or albums are nominated when the producer of the Grammys (Ken Ehrlich) wants a particular song performed during the show,” and that “the Board is permitted to simply add in artists for nominations who did not even make the initial 20-artist list.”

The newly-issued statement from The Recording Academy on Dugan’s exit says,

“All of this led the elected leaders of the Academy to conclude that it was in the best interests of the Academy to move on. This is not what we wanted or what we expected when we hired Ms. Dugan last year. At the time, we placed our trust in her and believed she would effectively lead the organization. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Though she made some valuable contributions, Ms. Dugan failed to perform her job duties as promised and expected.

Although we did participate in some settlement discussions at Ms. Dugan’s request after she stated that it was her desire to leave the Academy and be bought out of her employment contract, we were ultimately compelled to dismiss Ms. Dugan as our President/CEO. Not removing Ms. Dugan from the organization at this time would have caused us to compromise our values. We could not reward her with a lucrative settlement and thereby set a precedent that behavior like hers has no consequence. Our members and employees, and the entire music industry, deserve better than that.”

The Recording Academy will soon begin a search for a new President/CEO.

“Our focus will be on moving forward with the transformation agenda we initiated prior to hiring Ms. Dugan, and on working to improve the Academy. Much of this work has been happening but much of it is yet to come. We realize that we are not perfect, but we want you to know that our attention and energy will remain squarely on you and on the positive changes we are making together. We will not be distracted from that.  We will use this moment to reflect on where we can be better, and pledge to realize a future in which our organization is known for its diversity, transparency, creativity, mutual respect, and overall excellence.”

The complete statement from the Recording Academy sent to members today (March 2, 2020) follows:

Dear Members:

As you know, Deborah Dugan has been on a paid administrative leave of absence since January 16, 2020. We are writing to let you know that, earlier today, the Board of Trustees voted to terminate Ms. Dugan’s employment as President/CEO of the Recording Academy.

This decision of the Board, with full support of the Executive Committee, was based on:

Two exhaustive, costly independent investigations relating to Ms. Dugan and the allegations made against her and by her. These investigations were carried out by experienced individuals with no prior relationship to the Academy, interviewed a combined total of 37 witnesses, and reviewed numerous relevant documents and emails. The investigators were not given any directives about what specifically to investigate or what conclusions, if any, they were expected to reach, and they were not limited by the Academy in terms of what witnesses they could interview or files or documents they could review. Each investigator had free rein to fully investigate all of the allegations that were made against Ms. Dugan and by Ms. Dugan against the Recording Academy.

The unwarranted and damaging media campaign that she launched in an attempt, without justification, to derail the GRAMMY Awards show, including her false allegations that the system was—in her words—“rigged” and that the Academy was “corrupt.”

Ms. Dugan’s consistent management deficiencies and failures, and other factors.

All of this led the elected leaders of the Academy to conclude that it was in the best interests of the Academy to move on.

This is not what we wanted or what we expected when we hired Ms. Dugan last year. At the time, we placed our trust in her and believed she would effectively lead the organization. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Though she made some valuable contributions, Ms. Dugan failed to perform her job duties as promised and expected.

Although we did participate in some settlement discussions at Ms. Dugan’s request after she stated that it was her desire to leave the Academy and be bought out of her employment contract, we were ultimately compelled to dismiss Ms. Dugan as our President/CEO. Not removing Ms. Dugan from the organization at this time would have caused us to compromise our values. We could not reward her with a lucrative settlement and thereby set a precedent that behavior like hers has no consequence. Our members and employees, and the entire music industry, deserve better than that.
The Board’s decision to dismiss Ms. Dugan closes one chapter in the Recording Academy’s history. It also begins a new one. In the coming days, we will initiate a search for a new President/CEO who will leverage the Academy’s diverse membership and rich history and help us transform it to better serve our members today and into the future. As we structure this new search, we will look carefully to see where the last one led us astray and make any necessary changes going forward.

It is not uncommon for organizations and leaders to part ways after a short period. It usually happens without rancor. Unfortunately, in this case, Ms. Dugan sought to damage our reputation on her way out, and it is likely we will see more attempts to disparage the Academy in the coming weeks. We regret that, as members of the Academy, you have had to endure so much recent negativity.

From this point forward, our focus will be on moving forward with the transformation agenda we initiated prior to hiring Ms. Dugan, and on working to improve the Academy. Much of this work has been happening but much of it is yet to come. We realize that we are not perfect, but we want you to know that our attention and energy will remain squarely on you and on the positive changes we are making together. We will not be distracted from that. We will use this moment to reflect on where we can be better, and pledge to realize a future in which our organization is known for its diversity, transparency, creativity, mutual respect, and overall excellence.

Thank you for your support and continued service and commitment to the Recording Academy.

-The Executive Committee of the Recording Academy

Morgan Evans, Seaforth Honored At APRA Music Awards

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Seaforth (Mitchell Thompson and Thomas Jordan) accepting the award for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year – Nashville.

The Global APRA Music Awards completed the second of three around-the-world stops, with awards handed out last night in Nashville at Clementine Hall. The awards, hosted by O’Shea, were presented by APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) and given to Nashville-based Australasian songwriters, composers and publishers achieving artistic excellence and commercial success.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Nashville went to Mitchell Thompson and Thomas Jordan of country-pop duo Seaforth. They released their debut EP Love That on Sony Nashville in 2019 and have been touring in the States. They return to Australia this month for CMC Rocks and a Sydney headline show.

The Overseas Recognition Award Nashville was presented by two longtime Nashville-via-Australia songwriters, Kylie Sackley and Lindsay Rimes, and awarded to Rick Price. Artist manager Gina Mendello presented the Distinguished Services Award Nashville to world-renowned guitarist and songwriter Tommy Emmanuel, who has been playing live and wowing audiences since his childhood in Australia. With a deep discography and a non-stop touring schedule, Emmanuel’s fingerpicking style is lauded for its virtuosity. He has collaborated with Jason Isbell, Mark Knopfler, Rodney Crowell, among countless others, and is one of just a few Certified Guitar Players in the world, as named by his hero Chet Atkins.

Chris DeStefano presented Morgan Evans with the Outstanding International Achievement Award Nashville for his global success. Evans’ ‘Day Drunk’ collaboration with Destefano and Lindy Robbins was the 2019 APRA Music Awards Country Work of the Year and his single ‘Kiss Somebody’ was a No. 1 Country Aircheck/Mediabase hit and made Evans one of country music’s ones to watch.

The final award of the night, Songwriter of the Year Nashville, was presented to Phil Barton, who was introduced by his good friend and Grammy-winning songwriter Liz Rose. Barton relocated to Nashville in 2005 and has written hits for Lee Brice (“A Woman Like You”), Sara Evans, David Nail and fellow award winner Morgan Evans. Recently, he’s been writing with the next wave of country stars American Young, Catherine McGrath, and Kalsey Kulyk.

“It’s wonderful to celebrate the nominees, performers, presenters, and our special honorees with the Nashville community, a community of songwriters,” said APRA Chair Jenny Morris. “A lot of our members work behind-the-scenes crafting songs day in and day out, playing a vital role in the Nashville music ecosystem, and we’re here to acknowledge all the hard work and artistry they contribute,” said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston.

>The Nashville awards came on the heels of a similar event in Los Angeles (Feb. 26) and ahead of London (March 6) events.

Taylor Swift Is IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of 2019

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Taylor Swift has been named the world’s best-selling recording artist of 2019 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the organization that represents the recorded music industry worldwide. This is the second time Swift has won the award, as she also received the accolade in 2014.

Swift had another hugely successful year in 2019, releasing her seventh studio album, Lover, in August. The album debuted at No. 1 in more than 10 countries and reached three million album equivalent sales worldwide by the end of its first week of release. Three singles were released from the album last year, including “ME!” featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, “You Need To Calm Down,” and the title track, “Lover.” “ME!”opened at number one on the global Spotify charts.

“Taylor Swift is the epitome of a truly global star,” said Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI. “She continues to grow as an artist and maintains an incredibly strong connection with her fanbase, whilst continuing to evolve her sound with each album. It is a pleasure to be able to present her with the Global Recording Artist of the Year award for the second time.”

Swift is the recipient of the seventh IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award, which reflects an artist’s worldwide success across digital and physical music formats, from streams to vinyl. Previous recipients of this prestigious award also include One Direction (2013), Adele (2015), Drake (2016 & 2018) and Ed Sheeran (2017).

The IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award and Top 10 chart measures consumption across all formats (including streaming channels, digital and physical album and singles sales) and all countries. It is weighted based on the relative value of each method of consumption.

IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2019

1.Taylor Swift
2. Ed Sheeran
3. Post Malone
4. Billie Eilish
5. Queen
6. Ariana Grande
7. BTS
8. Drake
9. Lady Gaga
10. The Beatles

Cody Johnson Celebrates Gold Status For “With You I Am”

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Cody Johnson and Shelby Kennedy (VP, Entertainment Relations TuneCore)

Cody Johnson, who is a current ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee ahead of the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards, is celebrating Gold status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Johnson’s song “With You I Am” —which he released independently, before striking a joint venture deal between his own COJO Music and major label Warner Music Nashville in 2018— has earned the download and streaming equivalent of 500,000 units. The track was the lead single from his 2016 album Gotta Be Me, which he released on COJO Music and distributed via TuneCore. Though Johnson released the single and album without a national radio campaign, Gotta Be Me landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

His first album released via COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville, Ain’t Nothin’ To It, earned Johnson his first No. 1 album on the country albums chart. The album produced the 2018 single “On My Way To You,” which has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

He is currently opening for Miranda Lambert’s headlining tour, in addition to his own sold-out gigs.

Rhonda Vincent Invited To Join Opry Family

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Jeannie Seely with Rhonda Vincent. Photo: ©Grand Ole Opry/ Chris Hollo

Rhonda Vincent was surprised on stage at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend by Opry member Jeannie Seely with an invitation to become an Opry member. She will be officially inducted into the Opry family on March 24.

Vincent had just performed her 2019 bluegrass chart-topper “Like I Could,” (a tune co-written by Seely), and was truly surprised upon being invited, reacting by twice asking Seely if she was serious. Vincent then replied, “100% percent yes. Oh my gosh! I grew up listening to the Opry. Thank you dear God!”

Following the invitation, Seely welcomed several of the Opry’s women of country to the stage, including Sharon and Cheryl White, Connie Smith, and Vincent to perform “Those Memories” center stage in the Opry’s circle.

“Throughout her award-winning career, Rhonda has always made time to visit us at the Opry,” said Opry Vice President and Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “She is a force of nature on stage, and a friend to fellow artists and fans alike behind the scenes. Her songs have a home among the many styles of music we celebrate at the Opry for the rest of her career.”

Pictured (L-R): Rhonda Vincent, Sharon White, Jeannie Seely, Cheryl White, & Connie Smith. ©Grand Ole Opry/ Photo By: Chris Hollo

Dixie Chicks’ New Song “Gaslighter” Coming March 4

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Photo: Natalie Maines/Twitter

Fourteen years after the release of their last album Taking the Long Way in 2006, the Dixie Chicks will soon be returning with new music.

The trio has been teasing a new single, “Gaslighter,” in recent weeks, and announced the tune will officially drop March 4. A snippet of the song was posted online, offering the following song lyrics: Gaslighter, I’m your mirror/standing right here until you can see how/ you broke me, yeah I’m broken/still sorry and still no apology.

It remains to be seen whether the song will be played on—or even serviced to—country radio, given the group’s contentious history with the radio format.

The Dixie Chicks, who first launched their career in Texas, were ousted from country radio in the lead-up to the War on Iraq in 2003, after Maines criticized then-sitting President George W. Bush during a concert in London, saying, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence. And we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”

The trio’s song “Travelin’ Soldier,” which had been sitting atop the country music charts at the time, was pulled from country radio stations’ playlists, sending the song plummeting in the wake of Maines’ comments. Some country stations encouraged public burnings of Dixie Chicks albums, and the trio received death threats. A few hundred protesters in Bossier City, Louisiana gathered to destroy Dixie Chicks albums with a large tractor.

In 2006, the group released Taking the Long Way; the album, along with its single “Not Ready To Make Nice,” earned multiple Grammy honors in 2007, including overall Album, Song and Record of the Year, as well as Best Country Album and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. However, “Not Ready To Make Nice” peaked in the 30s on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart. Other songs released following “Travelin’ Soldier,” such as “Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)” and “I Hope” failed to reach the Top 40 on the chart. Taking the Long Way would ultimately go on to earn 2x multi-platinum status, though far short of its predecessor, 2003’s Home, which earned 6x multi-platinum status.

The reaction from country listeners and country radio to Maines’ comments has had long-lasting ramifications for aspiring country artists in the years following. In her recent documentary Miss Americana, country darling-turned-pop icon Taylor Swift said, “Part of the fabric of being a country artist is, ‘Don’t force your politics on people. Let people live their lives.’ That is grilled into us. Throughout my whole career, label executives and publishers would just say, ‘Don’t be like the Dixie Chicks.’ And I loved the Dixie Chicks.”

It was Swift who ushered the Dixie Chicks back on to the country charts late last year, releasing the somber track “Soon You’ll Get Better,” with the Dixie Chicks on harmonies. The song is included on Swift’s latest album Lover, and entered the Top 10 on the Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart in September 2019, becoming the Chicks’ first entry on the chart since the George W. Bush controversy.

In October, Maines was a guest on the podcast Spiritualgasm, where she said the Dixie Chicks were working on an upcoming fifth album, also tentatively titled Gaslighter. During the podcast, Maines noted that they have been working with producer Jack Antonoff on the album; Antonoff also worked on Swift’s Lover album. She also said a 2020 tour was in the works. Over the past week, Maines has posted photos and videos, offering early looks at an upcoming music video for “Gaslighter.”

 

 

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Just kidding! #gaslighter #dcx2020 #soon

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Ty Bentli Exits Cumulus

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Ty Bentli

Ty Bentli has exited Westwood One/Cumulus to take a role outside of radio. According to a spokesperson for Cumulus, co-hosts Chuck Wicks and Tricia “TJ” Jenkins will take over the hosting reins.

“We wish Ty all the best in his new endeavors,” said a spokesperson for Cumulus.

Bentli joined what was then called America’s Morning Show in 2016. The show was later rebranded as Ty, Kelly & Chuck, before becoming The Ty Bentli Show after Kelly Ford exited in 2018.

Bentli’s career has also included stops at CHR and AC stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York.

Marcie Allen Is In Discussions To Sell MAC Presents

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Marcie Allen

MAC Presents President/founder Marcie Allen is currently in discussions to sell the company, a rep has confirmed to MusicRow Magazine.

The agency has brokered and executed programs for clients including Sony, Southwest Airlines, YouTube, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T, Delta, and artists including The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, John Legend, Imagine Dragons, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.

“I started MAC Presents in 2004 on my dining room table in Nashville, TN,” Allen says in a statement provided to MusicRow Magazine. “My goal was to create an agency that connected artists, brands and fans around the world. Since the inception of MAC, I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many of the world’s leading artists and brands alike. Over the years, I have had several inquiries from companies who were interested in MAC and the great success that we have experienced. After 25 years in the music business, I have decided to listen to the inquiries in greater depth to see if the timing is right for the next chapter as part of a larger company.

“Losing my father last year forced me to take some time for self-reflection and have discovered that in addition to building my business, I also want to focus my efforts on helping the next generation of female leaders in the music industry. As a pioneer of music brand partnerships, I am proud of the career and the company I have built and am excited for what the future holds.”

Allen launched her music industry career at Cellar Door Concerts, which is now part of Live Nation. She then joined WME’s Nashville office, before launching MAD Booking & Events in 1999. In 2004, she decided to focus on branding and partnerships and founded MAC Presents in Nashville, before later expanding the company to New York.

Allen’s board memberships include the Country Music Association and Berklee College of Music, among others.