Industry Ink: Blake Shelton, Sideline, Nashville Symphony

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Blake Shelton Launches Friends and Heroes 2020 Tour

Pictured (L-R): John Esposito (WMN, Chairman & CEO); Tanya Taylor (Guest); Tim Taylor (KWJJ-FM); Kelsey Moyer (Guest); Danny Dwyer (KUPL-FM); Blake Shelton; MoJoe Roberts (KUPL-FM); Kristen Williams (WMN, SVP Radio & Streaming); Geoff Moyer (KUPL-FM)

Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton launched his Friends and Heroes 2020 Tour Thursday night (Feb. 13) at Portland, Oregon’s Moda Center, with guests Lauren Alaina, The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson and Trace Adkins. The 16-show tour will include stops in the Midwest and along the West Coast. Shelton’s latest release, “Nobody But You” ft. Gwen Stefani, is in the Top 25 at country radio.

 

Bluegrass Band Sideline Inks With Cumberland Music Collective

Pictured: Sideline’s Jamie Harper, Steve Dilling, CMC’s Lee Olsen, Sideline’s Jacob Greer, Jason Moore, Skip Cherryholmes, Zack Arnold and CMC’s Chase Decraene.

Bluegrass band Sideline has inked a booking agreement with Nashville-based agency Cumberland Music Collective.

Cumberland Music Collective’s roster also includes Blue Highway, SHEL, Radney Foster, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Hogslop String Band, The Fairfield Four and The Seldom Scene.

Sideline is currently touring to support their fifth studio album, Breaks To The Edge, which released via Mountain Home Music Company.

 

Stephanie Urbina Jones To Join Nashville Symphony For Dia De Los Muertos Performance

Stephanie Urbina Jones and her Honky Tonk Mariachi will join the Nashville Symphony for a special Dia De Los Muertos performance on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Jones made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018, and is prepping an album with producer Paul Worley, known for his work with Lady Antebellum, the Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride and more. Jones’ latest album, Tularosa, infuses country music standards from Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson with Latin-inspired rhythms.

Lauren Alaina Reveals Cover Art, Track List For ‘Getting Good’ EP

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After the release of the fun, nostalgic “Ladies in the ’90s,” followed by the deeply personal track “The Other Side,” Lauren Alaina is letting fans in on the full scope of her upcoming six-song EP, Getting Good, which releases March 6.

Alaina co-wrote five of the EP’s tracks, with the exception of the title track, which was penned solely by songwriter and pop artist Emily Weisband. Jesse Frasure and David Garcia each produced and co-wrote tracks on the project.

Thursday night (Feb. 13), Alaina opened the first show on Blake Shelton’s Friends & Heroes Tour 2020 in Portland, Oregon. The tour continues tonight in Tacoma, Washington, and includes upcoming shows in Spokane, Washington; Bakersfield, California; Denver, Colorado and more.

Getting Good EP Track Listing

  1. In My Veins (Lauren Alaina, Cary Barlowe, Hillary Lindsey, Jesse Frasure)
  2. Getting Good* (Emily Weisband)
  3. Somebody Else’s Problem (Lauren Alaina, Jesse Frasure, Geoff Warburton)
  4. Ladies In The ’90s (Lauren Alaina, Jesse Frasure, Amy Wadge)
  5. Country In Me* (Lauren Alaina, David Garcia, Emily Weisband)
  6. The Other Side* (Lauren Alaina, Zach Kale, Jon Nite)

Produced by Jesse Frasure

*Produced by David Garcia

Academy of Country Music Announces Staff Promotion, Additions

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Danielle Bardier, Gloria Chavez, and Hannah Kellis

The Academy of Country Music has announced a promotion within the Events department and two new additions to the Academy staff. Danielle Bardier has been promoted to Coordinator, Events, while Gloria Chavez has joined the staff as Assistant, Finance & Operations and Hannah Kellis has joined the staff as Assistant, Creative & Content Production. All positions are based out of the Academy’s office in Encino, California.

Born and raised in Douglas, Massachusetts, Bardier joined the ACM in the beginning of 2019 as Assistant, Events. In her new role, Bardier will continue to work on several facets of the ACM Awards, ACM Party for a Cause events and ACM Honors. Bardier graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. During her time at USC, Bardier interned for the Academy of Country Music in the events department and served as a production assistant following graduation. Since graduating, Bardier moved back to Mass, where she worked as a sponsorship and event coordinator at Harpoon Brewery. Bardier reports to Erick Long, Senior Vice President, Events.

Chavez joined the ACM as Assistant, Finance & Operations. A Los Angeles native, she has an extensive background in accounting and finance with work experience in both the mortgage banking industry as well as property management. In her role as Assistant, Finance & Operations, Chavez will help oversee all aspects of general office and building operations as well as act as office receptionist. She will also work alongside vendors to ensure the upkeep of both the office and building maintenance, including managing office inventory, all technological system processes and assisting in the finance department with various projects. She reports to Alexa Fasheh, Vice President of Finance & Operations.

Kellis joins the ACM as Assistant, Creative & Content Production. Originally from Maine, Kellis graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu where she studied Media Production. Upon graduating, she interned with companies such as A Rocha USA and Therapy Studios, where she assisted with both production and post-production. She then worked at Vendetta/Apartment 3B Productions, where she handled script coverage and event preparation. In her new position at the Academy, Hannah will oversee administrative tasks and other projects for the Creative & Content department. She reports to Lisa Lee, Senior Vice President, Creative & Content Production.

Wade Bowen Signs With BMI

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Pictured: Mitch Ballard, Wade Bowen

Texas singer/songwriter Wade Bowen recently became a member of BMI when he met up with Mitch Ballard, Director/Creative, Austin at legendary Texas venue Gruene Hall. Bowen is currently on tour supporting his latest album.

“For almost 20 years Wade Bowen has been a stand out in Texas music,” says Ballard. “His Bowen Foundation has raised millions for his hometown of Waco with Bowen Fest becoming one of the premier festivals in the State. We are proud to have Wade a part of the BMI family.”

“BMI made a commitment to Texas singer/songwriters last Spring by opening an office in Austin and today, I made a commitment to them,” said Bowen. “I am so happy to be affiliated alongside so many greats and favorites.”

 

Weekly Radio Report (2/14/20)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.

Aubrie Sellers And Lillie Mae Announce Co-Headlining Tour

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Aubrie Sellers and Lillie Mae are joining forces this Spring for a new tour. The tour will hit clubs and theaters across the country in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Austin, and more, with a Nashville date set for March 26 at the Basement East.

The two share many things in common including being raised in musical families and literally growing up on the road (Lillie in an RV with her family and Aubrie on a tour bus). They also share a mutual respect for many of their heroes, including Ralph Stanley, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Marty Stuart, Iain Archer, Brendan Benson, Jack White, Robert Plant, and Dave Cobb, to name a few.

“When Aubrie asked me if I wanted to do this tour with her, I got so excited I could barely wait! I couldn’t believe it,” said Lillie Mae. “I am such a huge fan of her songwriting, her last record and the new music — and her incredible voice! I listen to her all the time, and I’m so honored to join her and her band for this tour, it’s going to be one for the books. I’m so thrilled to be part of such a cool tour.”

Sellers adds, “This tour is going to be a blast. I love Lillie and all her creativity and energy. There’s just no one like her.”

The tour opener will be Out Of Limits, which is comprised of Ethan Ballinger, who produced Ryan Culwell and has performed with Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, and Tim O’Brien, Misa Arriaga, who has produced Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson among others, and Frank Rische, a session player whose work can be heard on records by artists including Miranda Lambert and Jim Lauderdale.

“We’re both super excited to have an all-star opener made up of members of our own bands coming together as the psych-country outfit ‘Out of Limits,’ said Sellers. “It fits within our Cosmic Country/Americana show perfectly. Think of a blend of The Ventures, Everly Brothers, Link Wray and The Beach Boys.”

Sellers recently released the album Far From Home, via Soundly Music. The project follows her critically acclaimed 2016 album New City Blues. Lillie Mae released her third solo album, Other Girls, last year on Jack White’s Third Man Records.

March 26 — Nashville, TN – The Basement East
March 27 — Macon, GA – Hargray Capitol Theatre
March 29 — Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre
March 31 — Washington, D.C. – DC9 Nightclub
April 1 — Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
April 2 — New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
April 3 — Boston, MA – The Red Room @ Cafe 939
April 4 — South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
April 6 — Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
April 7 — Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Indianapolis
April 8 — St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
April 23 — Houston, TX – Rudyards
April 24 — Austin, TX – Barracuda
April 25 — Dallas, TX – The Blue Light Dallas
April 28 — Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
April 29 — San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
April 30 — Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
May 1 — Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge
May 3 — San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
May 4 — Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
May 5 — Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
May 7 — Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
May 8 — Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
May 9 — Denver, CO – Lost Lake

Yola, Blackberry Smoke Added To Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Festival

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Blackberry Smoke, Yola and Dr. Dog are among the performers who have been added to the upcoming Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival, slated for Sept. 11-13 in downtown Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.

The full lineup for the festival was announced Friday (Feb. 14), and will feature 121 bands on 16 stages over the three-day weekend. Among those on the newly-released full lineup are The SteelDrivers, Kelsey Waldon, The Steel Woods, Jim Lauderdale, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, and more. The festival previously released the names of 30 performers on the lineup, including Jason Isbell, Tanya Tucker, Moon Taxi, and Rhonda Vincent.

“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we marvel at how Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has affected so much positive change in our region,” said Leah Ross, BCM Executive Director. BCM is the parent nonprofit organization of the festival, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and WBCM Radio Bristol. “Our downtown has gone from shuttered buildings to thriving businesses. New boutique hotel projects, craft breweries and restaurants – and a festival that draws over 40,000 music lovers each year. Yet with all that growth, we’ve managed to remain authentic as a music festival and as a community. People come here to pay homage to our great music heritage because they know how important Bristol is to music history.”

For more information, visit birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.

Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces Full Tour Slate Around New Album Release

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Mary Chapin Carpenter. Photo: Jonathan Stewart

Mary Chapin Carpenter is launching an extensive tour this summer that features a series of headline performances including a special concert at Wolf Trap on Aug. 22, as well as a run of shows with Sugarland as part of their There Goes The Neighborhood Tour 2020. Additionally, in April, Carpenter will resume her intimate duo shows with longtime friend and collaborator Shawn Colvin. Those newly-announced shows will kick off April 3 at Clearwater, Florida’s Capitol Theatre and will span through April 11 at Chattanooga’s Walker Theatre.

The tours support Carpenter’s new full-length album, which was produced by Ethan Johns and will be released this Spring. The project is Carpenter’s first album of new material in five years, and she recently released a new single, “Our Man Walter Cronkite,” from it.

“Growing up, Walter Cronkite was in our house Monday through Friday, presenting the news as The Most Trusted Man In America, as he was known in his time,” said Carpenter. “My parents raised us to believe that people in jobs like Cronkite’s told the truth; they raised us to believe in a world that reaches out to those who need help, that does not turn away from those less fortunate, or homeless, or those forced to leave their country because of the threat of violence, poverty and persecution. The arms were there to hold them, the eyes to see them, and the hearts of the world were there to love them. Because that was the right thing. It’s a different time now. I miss my parents, and I miss Walter Cronkite.”

Mary Chapin Carpenter And Shawn Colvin: Together On Stage:
April 3—Clearwater, FL—Capitol Theatre
April 4—Key West, FL—Sunset Green Lawn
April 5—Fort Lauderdale, FL—Parker Playhouse
April 7—Greensboro, NC— The Carolina Theatre of Greensboro
April 8—Charlotte, NC—Belk Theater
April 9—Cincinnati, OH—Memorial Hall
April 10—Knoxville, TN—The Bijou Theatre
April 11—Chattanooga, TN—The Walker Theatre
Mary Chapin Carpenter on the There Goes The Neighborhood Tour 2020:
on-sale now
June 4—Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage
June 5—Syracuse, NY—St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
June 6—Hartford, CT—Xfinity Theatre
June 12—The Woodlands, TX—Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
June 13—Dallas, TX—Dos Equis Pavilion
June 14—Austin, TX—Germania Insurance Amphitheater
June 18—Albuquerque, NM—Isleta Amphitheater
June 19—Phoenix, AZ—Ak-Chin Pavilion
June 20—Chula Vista, CA—North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 25—Wheatland, CA—Toyota Amphitheatre
June 26—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 27—Irvine, CA—FivePoint Amphitheatre
July 10—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center
July 11—Camden, NJ—BB&T Pavilion
July 12—Wantagh, NY—Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 16—Holmdel, NJ—PNC Bank Arts Center
July 18—Bangor, ME—Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
July 19—Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
July 23—Burgettstown, PA—S&T Bank Music Park
July 24—Clarkston, MI—DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 25—Milwaukee, WI—American Family Insurance Amphitheater
July 31—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Mary Chapin Carpenter Headline Tour:
on-sale dates vary, check local listings
June 16—Denver, CO—Botanic Gardens
August 10—Rockport, MA—Shalin Liu Performance Center
August 11—Brownfield, ME—Stone Mountain Arts Center
August 12—Brownfield, ME—Stone Mountain Arts Center
August 14—Portland, ME—State Theatre
August 16—Ridgefield, CT—Ridgefield Playhouse
August 17—Ridgefield, CT—Ridgefield Playhouse
August 20— Kennett Square, PA—Longwood Gardens Open Air Theatre
August 21— Chautauqua, NY—Chautauqua Institution
August 22—Vienna, VA—Wolf Trap

Luke Bryan Reveals Track List, Album Cover For New Project

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Luke Bryan has released the title track for his upcoming seventh studio album Born Here Live Here Die Here, which releases April 24 via Capitol Records Nashville.

Like many in Bryan’s catalog, “Born Here Live Here Die Here” pays homage to the Leesburg, Georgia native’s small town roots. The track was written by Jameson Rodgers, Josh Thompson and Jake Mitchell.

“The second I heard the song “Born Here, Live Here, Die Here” it related to me, how I grew up, how I have so many roots and so many ties to my hometown,” Bryan said. “Being tied to your hometown is very important in country music. I fell in love with the song right away and now we have an album and a tour derived from this song. It’s pretty amazing. I’m proud of this new music and I’m really excited to get it out!”

The album, produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, follows Bryan’s 2017 project What Makes You Country, and contains Bryan’s recent chart-topper “Knockin’ Boots,” which marks his 23rd No. 1 overall. He will hit the road this summer, welcoming openers Morgan Wallen, Runaway June and Caylee Hammack. On Feb. 16, he returns to the American Idol judges table alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as a new season of American Idol premieres.

BORN HERE LIVE HERE DIE HERE Track listing:
1. Knockin’ Boots (Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
2. What She Wants Tonight (Luke Bryan, Ross Copperman, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
3. Born Here Live Here Die Here (Jake Mitchell, Jameson Rodgers, Josh Thompson)
4. One Margarita (Michael Carter, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson)
5. Too Drunk To Drive (Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Brandon Kinney)
6. Build Me A Daddy (Jake Mitchell, Josh Thompson, Brett Tyler)
7. Little Less Broken (Michael Carter, Lindsay Rimes, Matt Rogers)
8. For A Boat (Randy Montana, Josh Thompson, Mike Walker)
9. Where Are We Goin’ (Luke Bryan, Brent Cobb)
10. Down To One (Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach, Kyle Fishman)

 

Amy Grant Shares Personal Message About Heart Health

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Amy Grant

Amy Grant recently shared her personal story regarding the importance of heart health with her fans, in honor of Heart Health Awareness month.

In a social media post, the Grammy-winning, Nashville native and fierce music community supporter paid tribute to her doctor, Dr. John Bright Cage. She also revealed that she recently underwent a series of tests, which showed that “I have had a heart condition since birth. The first good news is that I am completely asymptomatic. The second good news is that it’s fixable.”

Grant stated she has shifted her touring and travel plans for 2020 in order to focus on her health. “So instead of concerts and camping trips this summer, I’m going to take care of my heart,” she noted.

She ended her note by encouraging fans to take time to care for themselves and their health. “Are you taking care of yours?! Please do.”