Rewind: MusicRow’s Top Stories Of 2019

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The stories below were some of the most-read stories on MusicRow during 2019. Loads of No. 1 parties and events, plenty of big signings and lots of musical chairs in the Nashville music business made for an eventful year to end the 2010s.

Can’t Stop The Train: Luke Combs Celebrates Fourth No. 1

Pictured (L-R): BMI Songwriters Channing Wilson, Luke Combs, and Rob Snyder with BMI’s Mason Hunter

Trains thundered by when Luke Combs and co-writers Channing Wilson and Rob Snyder gathered to celebrate Combs’ fourth No. 1 as an artist, “She Got the Best Of Me” on a cold and rainy afternoon at the Corsair Distillery on Tuesday (Feb. 19). In a party sponsored by BMI, friends and family surrounded the grateful and humbled trio…

 

BMLG’s Scott Borchetta Speaks Out Against Taylor Swift Claims

Scott Borchetta

Scott Borchetta has responded to claims made earlier today by superstar and former Big Machine Records artist Taylor Swift, following the announcement that Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings has acquired Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group…

 

Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Former MLB Player Adam LaRoche To Open New Nashville Steakhouse

Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are involved in another restaurant concept soon to open in Nashville. Both singers are partnering with former MLB player Adam LaRoche for the new Nashville E3 Chophouse, which is set to open later this year at the corner of Wedgewood Avenue and 21st Avenue (1628 21st Ave. S.)…

 

BREAKING: MusicRow Announces 2019 Rising Women On The Row Honorees

MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees ahead of its eighth annual Rising Women on the Row celebration…

Read the recap of the 2019 Rising Women on the Row event, honoring Sandi Spika Borchetta, Janine Ebach, Kelly Janson, Meredith Jones, Lenore Kinder and Jennifer Turnbow here.

 

‘MusicRow’ Highlights Rising Execs With Inaugural N.B.T. Industry Directory

Collage created using TurboCollage software from www.TurboCollage.com

66 rising Nashville music industry leaders have been selected as part of MusicRow Magazine’s inaugural N.B.T. Industry Directory…

 

Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’ Documentary Reached 34.5 Million Unique Viewers

Ken Burns‘ eight-part Country Music documentary, which premiered Sept. 15 on PBS stations nationwide, reached 34.5 million unique viewers, according to Nielsen’s Live +7 data. During the documentary’s eight-night premiere run, the film delivered an average audience of 6.8 million cross-platform viewers (with an average household rating of 4.4), making the documentary Burns’ most-watched film since 2014’s The Roosevelts…

 

Kenny Chesney Celebrates New Coffee Table Book With CMHoF Panel

Pictured (L-R): Jill Trunnell, Glen Rose, Allister Ann, Kenny Chesney, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, Holly Gleason, Museum Editor Michael McCall and Heather Lose. Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Kenny Chesney was the center of an intimate time of discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum last Friday (July 26) with members of his fan club No Shoes Nation and members of the museum…

 

Kris Kristofferson To Be Honored With Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award

Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Photo Credit: Mary Ellen Mark/courtesy of CMA

Kris Kristofferson will be the latest recipient of the 2019 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming CMA Awards Nov. 13…

 

Musicians Hall Of Fame Reveals Inductees For 2019

The 2019 inductees into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today (July 16) in Nashville. They will be honored with a concert slated for Oct. 22 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center…

 

Carrie Underwood Brings Hits, Inspiration, And An Entertainer’s Soul To Nashville Show

Carrie Underwood. Photo: Jeff Johnson

“It’s good to be home,” Carrie Underwood told the crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Friday evening (Sept. 27). “It felt so weird waking up in my own bed and now I’m playing at the Bridgestone. This is kind of my second home.”…

 

Sheryl Crow, Johnny Cash Create Landmark Duet

CEO of Big Machine Records Scott Borchetta, singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow and John Carter Cash take photos during a special day revealing Sheryl Crow & Johnny Cash’s new song “Redemption Day” at Cash Cabin Recording Studio on April 17, 2019 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Valory Music Co.)

One of the standout vocal collaborations in Nashville music history was introduced Wednesday (April 17) at the Cash Cabin Studio. The invitation-only event was staged to unveil superstar Sheryl Crow’s duet with the late Johnny Cash on her song “Redemption Day.”…

 

Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton, Tali Canterbury Launch Publishing, A&R Venture

Pictured: Luke Combs, Tali Canterbury, Jonathan Singleton

Luke Combs and Jonathan Singleton are launching a new publishing and artist development venture alongside A&R executive and publisher Tali Canterbury, who will serve as the company’s President…

 

Producer Tay Keith Signs Nashville High School Student To Production Deal

Tay Keith and James Spencer IV

Recent Middle Tennessee State University graduate Tay Keith has already notched top production credits, and a Grammy nomination, for his work with artists including Drake (“Nonstop”), Eminem (“Not Alike”) and Travis Scott (“Sicko Mode”). While making his own mark on the music scene, he’s also making it a point to help others who aspire to be part of the music industry.

James Spencer IV, an 11th grade student at Nashville Big Picture High School, inked a production agreement with Keith’s production company, Dramatized, on Jan. 23.

 

Kacey Musgraves Set To Break Attendance Record At Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena

Kacey Musgraves. Photo: Kacey Musgraves/Facebook

Kacey Musgraves is set to make history with her Oh, What a World: Tour II headlining tour during the tour’s final stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tomorrow night. She is set to break the female attendance record of any genre at Bridgestone with 18,373 projected attendees…

 

Exclusive: Make Wake’s Chris Kappy Ushers In A Hurricane With Rising Star Luke Combs

Chris Kappy

River House/Columbia Nashville artist Luke Combs celebrated with a No. 1 party for his third consecutive chart-topping single earlier this week in Music City. That milestone is the latest in a steadily-growing number of accolades, including a platinum album (This One’s For You), three platinum singles including “Hurricane,” “One Number Away,” and “When It Rains It Pours,” as well as the album track “Beautiful Crazy,” which has earned Gold certification.

For Combs’ manager, Chris Kappy at Make Wake Artists, the sales numbers and sold-out shows at venues including the historic Ryman Auditorium are a sweet payoff…

 

BREAKING: Artist Manager Scooter Braun Reaches Deal To Acquire Big Machine Label Group

Scott Borchetta, Scooter Braun.

Ithaca Holdings LLC., a media holding company led by SB Projects founder Scooter Braun, and Big Machine Label Group, a leading independent record label founded by Scott Borchetta, announced today a finalized contract under which Ithaca Holdings will acquire Big Machine Label Group…

 

BREAKING: Nominees Revealed For 31st Annual MusicRow Awards

MusicRow is pleased to announce the nominees for the 31st Annual MusicRow Awards, Nashville’s longest-running and now newly expanded industry trade publication honors… Read the recap of the 31st Annual MusicRow Awards here.

 

BREAKING: Shannan Hatch Named President For New Publishing Venture Fourward Music

Shannan Hatch

Shannan Hatch has been tapped to serve as President for Fourward’s new publishing venture, Fourward Music. Hatch will serve as President with offices in both Nashville and Los Angeles…

 

Loretta Lynn To Be Honored With ‘An All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert’

The Grand Ole Opry announced today (Jan. 14) via Facebook live-stream that Loretta Lynn will be honored by a tribute show billed as An All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert at Bridgestone Arena on April 1, 2019, in the month of her 87th birthday.

Produced by AEG Presents, the tribute will include music from Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Jack White, Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Darius Rucker, Pistol Annies, and more… Read the recap from the event here.

 

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Country Music Hall Of Fame Inducts Jerry Bradley, Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 20: (L-R) Inductees Jerry Bradley, Ray Stevens, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn attend the 2019 Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Kudos to whoever booked the talent for this year’s Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Staged at the Hall on Sunday evening (Oct. 20), the event marked the official inductions of Ray Stevens, Jerry Bradley and Brooks & Dunn. The performers celebrating them were uniformly awesome…

 

Trisha Yearwood Scores Highest Debut Of Career With New Single

Trisha Yearwood made a triumphant return to country radio last week with her brand new single “Every Girl In This Town,” which was released on June 6. With 84 total adds, “Every Girl In This Town” marks Yearwood’s highest debut and biggest add day of her career, and the song is Billboard’s highest female debut of 2019 on the Country Airplay Chart, coming in at No. 21, and the No. 4 highest Billboard country radio debut of 2019…

 

ACM’s Pete Fisher Steps Down, RAC Clark Named Interim Executive Director

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Pete Fisher is stepping down after almost two and a half years as the head of the organization, which includes his duties with the Academy of Country Music Awards™ show and ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy. Fisher plans to pursue new opportunities. R.A. (RAC) Clark, Executive Producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards, has been appointed the interim Executive Director of the Academy, effective immediately…

 

In Pictures: John Berry’s Nashville Benefit Show Raises Over $300K, Gets Garth Surprise

Pictured: Trisha Yearwood, John Berry, Garth Brooks, Robin Berry. Photo: Rick Diamond Photography/Shutterstock

Tuesday evening (April 23) at Nashville’s City Winery, numerous artists gathered to support cancer survivor John Berry and the nonprofit Music Health Alliance. The sold-out event raised more than $300,000 to aid the organization and to take care of a portion of Berry’s medical bills, stemming from a throat cancer diagnosis in February…

 

Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta Buys Music Row Properties

Ray Stevens has sold the last of his properties in the Music Row area to Big Machine Label Group leader Scott Borchetta. According to public records, Borchetta’s Super 98 Holdings LLC paid $6 million for .9 acres of land, including five properties of 1208-1216 17th Ave. S…

 

‘MusicRow’ Reveals 2020 Next Big Thing Artists List

MusicRow is proud to reveal its list of artists, who in 2020, are predicted to become the Next Big Thing (NBT)…

 

BREAKING: Troy Tomlinson Named Chairman/CEO Of UMPG Nashville

Troy Tomlinson, who served as Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville’s President/CEO since 2005, has joined UMPG as Chairman/CEO of its Nashville division. With this appointment, Tomlinson becomes UMPG Nashville’s first-ever Chairman and CEO…

 

BREAKING: ASCAP’s Mike Sistad And Kele Currier Promoted, Michael Martin Exits

Mike Sistad, Kele Currier

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has announced that longtime ASCAP executive and songwriter advocate Mike Sistad has been promoted to Vice President and will lead its Nashville Membership team, reporting directly to Executive Vice President of Membership John Titta. Sistad has been an integral member of ASCAP’s Membership group for more than eighteen years and has nurtured and signed some of the organization’s top talent, including Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce and more.

Concurrently, ASCAP’s Kele Currier has been upped to the position of Assistant Vice President, Strategic Services, Membership, reporting to Sistad…

 

Eric Church’s Fan Loyalty Breaks Nashville’s Nissan Stadium Attendance Record

Eric Church. Photo: John Shearer

If there’s one thing to know about Eric Church fans, it’s that they’ll show up.

In Nashville, on Saturday (May 25), their loyalty gave Church the footing to set a new attendance record for a concert crowd at Nissan Stadium, to the tune of 56,521 (breaking the 2018 record of 56,112). This nearly tripled his attendance record from two years prior, across town at the Bridgestone Arena…

 

Leadership Music Announces Class Of 2020

Forty-nine industry leaders from throughout the country have been tapped for Nashville’s Leadership Music Class of 2020, which begins in September…

 

Taylor Swift Makes Surprise Appearance At Nashville Mural

Taylor Swift posing in front of her commissioned mural in Nashville. Photo: Instagram / Taylor Swift

Hours before her teased date for new music, Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at the Gulch in Nashville today (April 25).

Live Nation Settles With Dept. Of Justice To Extend Consent Decree

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Live Nation and the Department of Justice’s antitrust division have reached an agreement to extend the 2010 consent decree governing the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation to 2025 and clarified the rules on threatening and retaliating against venues that don’t ink with the ticketing behemoth.

“We have reached an agreement in principle with the Department of Justice to extend and clarify the consent decree,” Live Nation said in a released statement. “We believe this is the best outcome for our business, clients and shareholders as we turn our focus to 2020 initiatives.”

As part of the settlement, Live Nation’s ban on threatening retaliation against venues has been tightened and Ticketmaster sales reps are not allowed to discuss content bundle deals with venues or detail how Ticketmaster facilities receive preference for shows. Live Nation can still give Ticketmaster’s venues priority, but can’t punish clients that don’t renew their deals.

The DOJ’s antitrust division will also select a monitor to help ensure Live Nation’s compliance with antitrust orders. Live Nation will also select an internal compliance monitor.

 

 

 

DISClaimer: Christmas Greetings From Keith Urban, Chris Janson, Tenille Townes, Maddie & Tae

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Country music wears its heart on its sleeve all year long, so the sentimentality of Christmas music fits the genre perfectly.

A plethora of country acts issued seasonal songs this year. In addition to the 10 reviewed here, we also have offerings from Lacy J. Dalton, Mags, Darryl Worley, King Calaway, J.T. Hodges, Cam, Paulina Jaye, Wade Bowen, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Temecula Road, The Gibson Brothers, Rachel Wammack, Clare Dunn, Lauren Lucas, Mike Aiken and a bluezillion more.

Our Discs of the Day on the distaff side are the singles by Tenille Townes and Maddie & Tae. The male Disc of the Day winners are Chris Janson and Keith Urban.

KEITH URBAN/I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight
Writers: Urban/Shane McAnally; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; UMG
– This has a cool, retro, doo-wop feel, complete with piano triplets and a bluesy melody. The sound of an instant classic?

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS/Don’t Go Pullin’on Santa Claus’ Beard
Writers: Anderson East/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Lightning
– The Oaks’ new Down Home Christmas album is one of this year’s best. Producer Dave Cobb mixes the quartet’s harmony singing front and center and puts the emphasis on newly composed holiday tunes. This light-hearted one has Joe taking the lead with Richard dipping down low on the title phrase. Also check out the fun, festive “Reindeer on the Roof,” with a video shot at Santa’s Pub, as well as the Jamey Johnson/Bill Anderson/Buddy Cannon tune “South Alabama Christmas.”

THOMAS RHETT/Christmas In The Country
Writers: Thomas Rhett/David Garcia/Ashley Gorley/Chris Tomlin; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– Pleasant, if somewhat routine and forgettable. Mid-tempo pudding.

JENNY TOLMAN/Cowboy For Christmas
Writers: Tolman/Dave Brainard/Bill Whyte; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed
– Sweet, wistful, gentle and yearning. It’s a lovely country waltz wishing that Santa will rope her a wrangler for a present. Smooth as silk.

CHRIS JANSON/Run Run Rudolph
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Mr. Energy takes Chuck Berry’s holiday classic out for a rollicking country spin and it is a boatload of fun, fun, fun.

TENILLE TOWNES/One In a Million
Writers: Tenille Townes/Daniel Tashian; Producer: Tashian; Publisher: none listed; Columbia Nashville
– Tenille’s Songs for Christmas includes this dreamy, jazzy ditty wherein her soprano wafts above simple guitar work and cushiony strings. It’s as pretty and seductive as can be.

DYLAN SCOTT/I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– His collection is titled, simply, Merry Christmas. And it consists, also simply, of his renditions of evergreen favorites such as this classic ballad. Background music lacking any innovation.

MADDIE & TAE/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– Taken at a languid tempo, this classic is lushly arranged. So their vocals sound luminous and sparkly. Nicely done, ladies.

SHANE OWENS/Nothing Compares To Christmas
Writers: Shane Owens/Galen Griffin/Melissa Querry; Producer: Nick Lutz & Melissa Querry; Publishers: none listed; Amerimonte
– His country-as-grits voice delivers the sentiments in this ballad so effectively. A steel sighs and strings softly embellish the mood.

CHARLES ESTEN/On The Road To Bethlehem
Writers: Charles Esten/Mark Collie; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; CE
– This is a stark, guitar-voice performance. Which is cool. Also intriguing/unusual is the fact that the ballad is sung from the point of view of Joseph while he’s on the road with pregnant Mary. Recommended.

Industry Pics: Milk & Honey Management, Jim Halsey, Dustin Lynch

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Milk & Honey Management Leads Bluebird Cafe Show

Pictured (L-R): Emerson Hart, Shelby Yoder (Head of Milk & Honey Nashville), Pete Griffin (President & CEO, MOC), Dana Sones (Director Of Strategic Partnerships MOC), Lee Thomas Miller, Torianne Valdez (Program Manager MOC), Tarah Duarte (Executive Assistant MOC), Mandy Kresiberg (Fundraising Operations Coordinator MOC), and David Hodges.

Milk & Honey Management spearheaded a sold-out show at the Bluebird Cafe to benefit Musicians On Call. David Hodges, Emerson Hart and Lee Thomas Miller performed, while the show concluded with Hodges being honored with a Platinum RIAA certification plaque to commemorate sales for Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More,” the No. 1 hit Hodges co-wrote with Ballerini.

 

Kansas Auditorium Renamed In Honor Of Jim Halsey

(L-R): Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Jim Halsey, Joe Bonsall

Music manager Jim Halsey is celebrating more than 70 years in the entertainment industry. The 89-year-old Independence, Kansas native was recently honored in his hometown with the 2,000 seat auditorium inside Memorial Hall being renamed to the Jim Halsey Auditorium.

“This honor means more to me than anything else in my life. To be recognized in my home town that I love dearly is the best thing to ever happen to me,” said Halsey.

During his career, Halsey has managed, booked or guided the careers of country artists including Roy Clark, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Hank Thompson, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Wanda Jackson, Freddy Fender, Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, Rick Nelson, Clint Black, Dwight Yoakam, Minnie Pearl, James Brown and The Oak Ridge Boys, who he’s managed for over 45 years.

 

Dustin Lynch Holds 6th Annual Dustin Lynch & Friends Benefit Concert

Broken Bow Records artist Dustin Lynch returned to his hometown of Tullahoma, Tennessee on Dec. 17 for his 6th annual Dustin Lynch & Friends Benefit Concert. The event raised $36,000 for local charities including Isaiah 117 House and Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center, in addition to collecting toys for the Tullahoma Fire Department’s Toys for Tots drive.

Dustin Lynch With Tullahoma Fire Department Firefighters And Fire Chief Richard Shasteen

Delta Rae Plans New Album Release ‘The Light’ For 2020

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Delta Rae will release their new album, The Light, on March 20. The project will be their first since 2015’s After It All, and the group will embark on a mini-tour in April in support of the album, marking their first full tour as an independent band. They’ll visit New York, Boston, Philly, Atlanta and more through April 25.

Conceived as a sister album with The Dark (which will come out in 2021), The Light was crafted using The Tarot’s major arcana as inspiration and tracing the band back to its origins convening in a house in the woods of Durham, N.C., writing songs that were honest explorations of their lives and emotions. Songs like “Back to The Garden – The Empress,” “Stronger Than A Lion – Strength,” and others find the band pivoting between doo-wop and folk in a genre-bending sonic experience.

“Take Me There,” one of the tracks on the new album, can be heard here.

Delta Rae The Light 2020 Northeast Tour Dates:
4/9 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
4/10 – Philadelphia, Pa @ Union Transfer
4/11 – New York, Ny @ Gramercy Theater
4/16 – Concord, Nh @ Bank Of New Hampshire
4/17 – Portland, Me @ State Theatre
4/18 – Boston, Ma @ The Royale
4/21 – Hartford, Ct @ Infinity Hall
4/25 – Atlanta, Ga @ Sweetwater Festival

Weekly Radio Report (12/20/19)

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

Recording Academy To Honor John Prine

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John Prine

The accolades keep coming for John Prine. Prine will soon be honored with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside fellow honorees Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. A special presentation ceremony is set for April 18, 2020 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

In 2018, Prine released his first project of new material in over a decade with The Tree of Forgiveness, produced by Dave Cobb. Prine was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year, and earned three Grammy nominations. He also won two honors at the 2019 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, including Album of the Year for The Tree of Forgiveness and Song of the Year for “Summer’s End,” which Prine wrote alongside Pat McLaughlin.

Prine is currently on tour and will perform a New Year’s Eve concert at Nashville’s Opry House. Additionally, after a sold-out inaugural year, Prine’s All The Best Fest is set to return to the all-inclusive Breathless + Now Onyx Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic November 16-20, 2020.

DISClaimer: For King & Country Offers A “Stop-You-In-Your-Tracks Masterpiece”

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You just can’t beat Music City when it comes to Christmas records.

This community has given us such holiday standards as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Tennessee Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Blue Christmas,” “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” “Christmas Time’s A-Comin,’” “Santa Claus Is Watching You,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Christmas In Dixie” and “Pretty Paper.”

This year, Nashville’s non-country artists are leading the way. We have a dandy DisCovery Award winner in Nickie Conley, as well as an undisputed Disc of the Day winner in For King & Country.

KEB’ MO’/Christmas Is Annoying
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Concord
– Nashville’s resident blues superstar has issued his debut holiday collection, Moonlight Mistletoe and You. Long noted for his wry sense of humor, he includes this smile-worthy, bah-humbug ditty on the set. Who can’t relate to maxed-out credit cards and the stress of the season?

NICKIE CONLEY/100 Christmas Kisses
Writers: none listed; Producer: Roger Ryan; Publisher: none listed; AfterTouch
– This Music City resident was Donna Summer’s longtime backup vocalist, and Nickie has also harmonized behind Sara Evans, CeCe Winans, Third Day, Gloria Gaynor, Kirk Whalum, Patti LaBelle and The Zac Brown Band, among others. Her holiday album is titled A Time for Hope and includes this bopping lament for a missing lover. Her soulful voice rides confidently atop a snappy rhythm track right up to the key-change, doo-wop, octave-leaping finale.

CHRIS TOMLIN/Christmas Day
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Capitol CMG/BMI; Sparrow
– This Grammy-winning CCM star has a holiday EP to accompany his Christmas tour. It includes this single featuring We the Kingdom. It’s an echoey, soaring, pop celebration of the Reason for the Season. By the way, Chris recently became the first Christian artist to surpass one billion streams of his music.

TAYLOR SWIFT/Christmas Tree Farm
Writer: Taylor Swift; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Republic
– The video features Taylor as a tot frolicking in Pennsylvania snow at Christmastime. It also includes footage of her unwrapping her first guitar. And, yes, her family did own a Christmas tree farm. Catchy and bopping.

STRASSER & COMBS/Appalachian Rhapsody
Writers: Strasser/Combs; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; AC
– Nate Strasser and Matt Combs have a Nashville project called Americana Carols. It’s mainly instrumental versions of holiday standards, but does include this original orchestral epic that shimmers with wintery wonder. Singer Briana Tyson drops by for “O Holy Night” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”

FOR KING & COUNTRY/Little Drummer Boy
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– This is a stop-you-in-your-tracks masterpiece. Easily the sensation of this holiday season, the performance electrified viewers of the CMA’s Christmas TV special. The band rocks this standard righteously. If you haven’t heard it, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. It will stir your blood and make you want to shout, “Hallelujah.” ABC will rebroadcast the CMA special on Christmas eve.

ERNIE HAAS & SIGNATURE SOUND/Christmas In Manhattan
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner Chappell/BMI; Gaither Music
– The album is titled A Jazzy Little Christmas. This quartet has a harmony blend to die for, and shows that off splendidly on this minor-key, romantic ballad track from it.

ORIGINAL CAST/The Circle of Love
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Red Tail
-This one comes to us from the theater world. Earlier this month, Dolly premiered a new musical called A Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol, which continues to play in Boston. This song of hers originally appeared on Jennifer Nettles’ Christmas album, and is now a standout on the cast recording. It’s a waltz-time rendition of the Biblical Christmas story that warms the cockles of your heart.

THE McCRARY SISTERS/Joyful, Joyful
Writers: none listed; Producer: Scott Billington; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– The whole McCrary clan joins in on this rousing, hand-clapping hymn, as does the legendary Shirley Caesar. These Nashville treasures have titled their holiday CD A Very McCrary Christmas, and it will set you free. Unconditionally guaranteed to please.

BOUDLEAUX BRYANT/No Place Like Home On Christmas
Writers: Boudleaux Bryant; Producer: Bryant; Publisher: none listed; Bryant
– As part of the celebration of the centennial of this songwriter’s birth, the estate has issued a clutch of holiday-themed demos by the Bryants. This sweet, simple tune is just Boudleaux with his guitar in his living room. It’s loaded with heart. Previously recorded by Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson, it sounds best in the songwriter’s own voice.

Michael W. Smith Extends ’35 Years Of Friends Tour’

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Michael W. Smith and Awakening Events are adding a spring extension to the Michael W. Smith 35 Years Of Friends Tour. A 17-city slate of shows follows the fall 2019 run of 14 sold-out shows. The spring leg of the tour will visit cities including Sugar Land, Texas; San Francisco; Macon, Georgia; and Roanoke, Virginia.

“The fans made it clear, they want more Michael W. Smith, and the momentum of finishing this fall with all 10 of the final 10 shows being sold out left no doubt that we needed to extend this tour,” said Curtis Pinkerton, Director of Marketing at Awakening Events.

Smith says, “I am thrilled that we are taking the 35 Years Of Friends Tour back on the road this spring. The fall tour was so much fun and such a great success, I can’t wait to do it again. Last year in Nashville, we had an event where 56 of my friends and fellow artists came together to celebrate my 35 No. 1’s and the 35th Anniversary of “FRIENDS.” It was an amazing night⁠—and, for me, brought back memories of some songs I hadn’t thought of for quite a while! To fit all the songs into one night and be my own opening act is really special to me. From the old songs I haven’t done in concert for a long time, to newer hits and, of course worship⁠—it’s a full night. I can’t wait to see you there!”

Tickets for the spring leg of the “35 Years Of Friends Tour” are on sale now.

35 Years of Friends Spring Tour
Thu., Mar. 12: Sugar Land, TX (Houston) – Sugar Land Baptist Church
Fri., Mar. 13: Lewisville, TX (Dallas) – First Baptist Church Lewisville
Sat., Mar. 14: Amarillo, TX – Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts
Sun., Mar. 15: Albuquerque, NM – Hoffmantown Church
Thu., Mar. 19: San Francisco, CA – Palace Of Fine Arts Theatre
Fri., Mar. 20: Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre Napa
Sat., Mar. 21: San Luis Obispo, CA – Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
Sun., Mar. 22: Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre
Thu., Mar. 26: Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
Fri., Mar. 27: Lincoln, NE Rococo Theatre
Sat., Mar. 28: Lafayette, IN – Long Center for the Performing Arts
Sun., Mar. 29: Louisville, KY – The Brown Theatre
Fri., Apr. 3: Macon, GA – The Grand Opera House, a performing arts center of Mercer University
Sun., Apr. 5: Indian Trail, NC (Charlotte) – First Baptist Church Indian Trail
Tue., Apr. 14: Roanoke, VA – Jefferson Center
Wed., Apr. 15: Greensboro, NC – Carolina Theatre of Greensboro
Thu., Apr. 16: Middleburg Heights, OH – Grace Church

Rival Sons Celebrate Grammy Nominations In Nashville

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California rock band Rival Sons entertained guests with a performance at RCA Studio A Wednesday night (Dec. 18) to celebrate their Grammy nominations for Best Rock Album (Feral Roots) and Best Rock Performance for (“Too Bad”). The band is currently signed under Dave Cobb’s Low Country Sound imprint of Elektra in conjunction with Atlantic Records.

Their sixth studio effort was written in a cabin by Natchez Trace and recorded in part in Nashville and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Lead vocalist Jay Buchanan said, “Scott and I knew that we wanted to approach things differently. We knew that we’re going to have more time and we also knew that we were graduating to another level.”

Guitarist Scott Holiday added, “You either gonna turn a corner and do something totally different or you’re really trying to hone in on exactly what you’ve been trying to do. I think this record we were honing in and at the same time really trying [to] turn a corner with our new team.”

Cobb notes, “One thing for this record for me, everyone’s here in Tennessee. This is an absolutely Tennessee record. It was written in Tennessee, and when Jay told me the name of the record Feral Roots, it all generates from all of the of this area. I think it’s a beautiful sentiment; there’s so much Tennessee in this album.”

They performed their No. 1 single “Do Your Worst” and their Grammy-nominated single “Too Bad” from their Feral Roots album. They continued the music with a selection from their 2012 album Head Down, the melancholic “Jordan” and concluded with the closing track to Feral Roots “Shooting Stars” accompanied by Shannon Sanders’ Nashville Urban Choir.

Rival Sons includes Jay Buchanan (vocals), Scott Holiday (guitar), Dave Beste (bass guitar), and Mike Miley (drums).