Ben Burgess Joins Warner Chappell Music Nashville

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Pictured: Travis Carter (WCM), Ben Burgess, Ben Vaughn (WCM)

Warner Chappell Music Nashville has signed a global publishing contract with “Whiskey Glasses” writer Ben Burgess.

“Whiskey Glasses,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, became a three-week No. 1 hit earlier this year.

Burgess has also penned songs for Dierks Bentley (“My Religion”), Jake Owen (“Grass is Always Greener”), Tyler Rich (“The Difference”), Pat Green (“Drinkin’ Days”), and HARDY (“Signed, Sober You”). He also penned Martin Garrix’s global smash hit, “There For You,” which charted in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and more.

Burgess’ songs have been featured on Grey’s Anatomy and in commercials for Major League Baseball, Xbox, and Lexus.

Ian Munsick Signs With UTA

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Pictured: Erv Woolsey, Erv Woolsey Management; Josh Garrett, UTA; Justin Hill, UTA; Allen Mitchell, Erv Woolsey Management; Lance Roberts, Agent/Co-Head of UTA Nashville Office; Ian Munsick; Caroline Rudolph, Management/Not A Public Figure Mgmt; Lauren Spahn, Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton LLP; and UTA’s Liam Keitz, Bryan Vastano, Tyler Cole, Haley Fairmont and Kaleb Tooker.

Country artist Ian Munsick has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA), and will release “Solo” and “Mountain Time,” two new songs from his upcoming album, on Jan. 24.

Munsick is represented by The Erv Woolsey Co., in partnership with Caroline Rudolph, CEO and executive creative director of Not A Public Figure Management.

In January, Munsick’s “Horses Are Faster” earned Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards. He has more than 6.5 million streams on Spotify, with more than 110,000 monthly listeners.

“We are beyond excited that Ian chose United Talent Agency as his agency home,” says UTA Nashville’s Lance Roberts. “From the moment we heard his music we had to be part of the team. Ian’s music will stand the test of time and his authenticity resonates on so many levels within the agency. We are honored to be part of his family.”

“It’s a great marriage,” agrees Bryan Vastano, booking agent at UTA Nashville. One listen to Munsick’s music, he says, and you’ll be impressed with his innovation and commitment to his craft. “Ian’s music is extremely refreshing, and his authenticity permeates all of his songs so well. This ability, along with an unbelievable work ethic, drove us to work with him immediately.”

Outback Presents Adds Taylor Freeman As Show Coordinator

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Taylor Freeman

Outback Presents has hired Taylor Freeman as its new Show Coordinator.

Nashville native Freeman is a 2010 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University’s Music Business program. He launched his career at WME in 2011 and transitioned to work in concert promotion and talent buying in 2015. Most recently, he worked at Big Spring Entertainment as the head talent buyer.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work for a lot of great people in this business, and I am very excited to get to work with Mike Smardak and the group at Outback,” says Freeman. “These guys are making some exciting moves and I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Freeman can be reached at taylor.freeman@outbackpresents.com.

Amy Grant Celebrates 1 Billion Global Streams

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Pictured (L-R): Peter York, CCMG Chairman and CEO; Jennifer Cooke, Manager; Amy Grant; Brad O’Donnell, CCMG Co-President. Photo Credit: Capitol Christian Music Group

Over the past four decades, Amy Grant has earned three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, with total album sales exceeding 30 million–all before music streaming dominated. On Monday (Dec. 16), Grant’s label Capitol Christian Music Group celebrated Grant’s streaming music successes, surprising the six-time Grammy winner with a plaque commemorating 1 billion global streams.

CCMG’s Chairman and CEO Peter York said, “We are so grateful to Amy for her heart and the music she’s gifted to the world over the years. Her music continues to have significant impact with listeners and we’re thrilled to see it reach new fans every year. We are honored to celebrate these 1 billion streams and thank all our streaming partners, which will continue to keep her music vibrant into the next decade and beyond.”

Grant and husband Vince Gill are currently performing their 12-date run of holiday shows at the Ryman Auditorium. This fall, Grant released her timeless Christmas albums in a vinyl box set, which includes the 3x multi-platinum Home For Christmas, as well as A Christmas Album and A Christmas to Remember. The box set also includes a cover of “Merry Christmas Darling” and “Let The Season Take Wing,” exclusively available as part of the set.

Dylan Scott Joins KP Entertainment

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Waylon Weatherholt (Day to Day Manager), Ethan Helms (Tour/Digital Content Coordinator), Dustin Eichten (VP of KPE). (L-R, front row): Leighanna Smith (Day to Day Manager), Kerri Edwards, Dylan Scott, Jacoby Plyler (Digital Marketing Manager), Cait Murphy (Executive Assistant to Kerri Edwards)

Dylan Scott has joined KP Entertainment for management, led by Kerri Edwards. KP Entertainment is home to artists including Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, Jon Langston, CB30 and DJ Rock.

“Dylan has built such a strong base across country radio, streaming and touring,” Edwards said. “This opportunity to partner with him was one I couldn’t pass up. My team and I are excited to jump in!”

“I’m ready to start this next chapter of my career,” Dylan added. “When looking for who to do that with, I knew Kerri Edwards was the person! I’m excited to be a part of the KPE team!”

Additionally, Leighanna Smith recently joined KP Entertainment as day-to-day manager for Swindell and CB30. Her past stops include UMG Nashville and Q Prime South.

‘Songland’ Writer IRO Signs With SMACKSongs

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Pictured (L-R): SMACKSongs’ Shane McAnally; IRO; SMACKSongs’ Robin Palmer and Robert Carlton. Photo: Kaiser Cunningham

Songwriter and Songland winner IRO has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with SMACKSongs.

Discovered in a New York City subway station by one of Brazil’s most prominent DJs, IRO’s distinct talent as a songwriter has continuously led him to work with prestigious collaborators. He is best known for his collaboration with Macklemore, “Shadow,” which was featured on NBC’s Songland.

Through his participation on Songland, IRO found himself performing alongside Macklemore in front of 40,000 people at Lollapalooza Brazil in Sao Paulo. In 2019, he has performed in front of 400,000 fans while touring with Alok and Macklemore, accumulated over 4 million monthly streams and garnered 150 million lifetime streams.

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“Meeting Shane completely threw me off guard. I had no idea my heart was headed to Nashville. The SMACK team is filled with talent and really feels like a family,” said IRO. “I’m beyond excited to see and hear all of the things that will come out of this melting pot!”

SMACKSongs Co-Owner and CEO, Shane McAnally, said, “IRO is truly like a walking song. He can’t help but turn every situation and moment into music, and we are so lucky to get to be a part of the soundtrack of his life. I love seeing the world through his eyes and collaborating with him, and I can never wait to see where he goes next. I feel blessed and honored to have him in the SMACK family.”

Brooklyn Bowl Nashville To Open March 2020

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Live music venue, bowling alley, restaurant, and nightlife space Brooklyn Bowl has announced the opening of a new branch in Nashville. Following successful clubs in New York City and Las Vegas, the Music City location will open its doors to the public on March 14. Located in Germantown, the space includes a 1,200 capacity live music venue, as well as a LEED certified bowling alley and restaurant courtesy of Blue Ribbon Restaurants.

Brooklyn Bowl Nashville’s initial 40-show lineup will feature a broad range of acts including Angel Olsen, The Revivalists, PJ Morton, Royal Blood, Larkin Poe, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, The String Cheese Incident and more.

“Nashville is a place that evokes the spirit of what was happening in Brooklyn when we opened there almost 11 years ago, and there’s so much great music,” says Brooklyn Bowl co-founder Peter Shapiro. “We’re really excited to bring our own vibe and energy to a place with so much history.”

“Combining what Nashville is famous for with the diverse and eclectic musical genres that we’ve become known for showcasing, we’re looking forward to being a new home for rock and roll in Music City,” adds co-founder Charley Ryan. “It’s a town with such amazing venues, and we’re excited and honored to be a part of the community.”

Colin Keegan from Brooklyn Bowl New York will serve as the Nashville location’s Head of Talent, working closely with Kirk Peterson, Director of Talent for Dayglo Ventures.

Brooklyn Bowl Nashville is a partnership between between Brooklyn Bowl and Live Nation. Tickets for the initial 2020 shows go on sale this Friday (Dec. 20) at 12 p.m. CT. Due to the demand of the initial run of shows, a pre-sale will take place Thursday (Dec. 19) from 10 a.m. CT – 10 p.m. CT. Get your unique code here.

Charlie Daniels Announces 2020 Volunteer Jam

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Artwork by Erick Anderson

Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels has announced the return of his legendary Volunteer Jam live concert. Headlined by The Charlie Daniels Band, the multi-artist event is set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, with participating artists to be announced in February.

“We play over one hundred cities every year and they’re all special in their own way, but when you get a chance to bring it all back home, especially when so many of your friends are joining you, it don’t get much better than that,” says Daniels. “Jammin’ in the Guitar Town, second to none!”

“The jam is unique in so many ways,” says Daniels’ manager David Corlew. “Multi-act shows are common these days, but none offer the opportunity to interact with the other acts, literally by jamming with a plethora of artists and musicians. It’s Charlie Daniels at his best!”

Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster this Friday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. central time. The event is produced by Outback Presents in association with David Corlew and Associates.

The Charlie Daniels Band performed the first Volunteer Jam on Oct. 4, 1974, at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, marking the beginning of a tradition. Over the Jam’s four-decade history, Daniels and his band have played alongside superstar guests including Ted Nugent, The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tammy Wynette, Roy Acuff, Carl Perkins, ALABAMA, Don Henley, Barefoot Jerry and more.

Blake Shelton Surprised With Plaque For “God’s Country” On ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’

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Pictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks (WMN, EVP A&R/Creative Advisor); Blake Shelton; Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Entertainment); Brandon Blackstock (Starstruck Entertainment)

Warner Music Nashville’s Blake Shelton was surprised by fellow The Voice coach Kelly Clarkson today (Dec. 17) on The Kelly Clarkson Show with a double-Platinum plaque for his hit song “God’s Country.”

The multi-week No. 1 is the title track off his new album Fully Loaded: God’s Country. Among the fastest country songs to reach one million U.S. equivalents this year, the track took home a CMA Award for Single of the Year last month and is currently nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance.

Industry Ink: Texas Songwriter U, Carolina Blue, Koryn Hawthorne

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Mignon Is Texas Songwriter U’s Winning Writer

Pictured (L-R): Texas Songwriter U mentor Jessie Jo Dillon; winner Mignon; host Jack Ingram; mentor Jon Randall. Photo: Ted Parker, Jr.

Nashville songwriter Mignon has been named the Texas Songwriter U’s 2019 songwriting program winner. TxSU hosted its annual songwriter discovery and development program Dec. 11-13 at Hotel Ella in Austin. Eight selected songwriters showcased performances at both Yeti Flagship and The Saxon Pub and received extensive song feedback, access to industry professionals, a one-year membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and professional performance and workshop photography.

Mignon was awarded a co-write with host Jack Ingram, an opening for Ingram at a landmark Texas venue, a performance at the 2020 Mack, Jack & McConaughey After-Party, a recording studio demo session at Austin’s famed Arlyn Studios, an Epiphone Masterbilt Century Olympic acoustic-electric guitar, a three-night stay and two performances at the 2020 Key West Songwriters Festival, and a one-week Key West residency at The Smokin’ Tuna Saloon.

 

Carolina Blue Joins Billy Blue Records Roster

Pictured (L-R, seated): Ed Leonard (Billy Blue Records), Bobby Powell, Timmy Jones; (L-R, standing) Reese Combs, Jerry Salley (Billy Blue Records), Aynsley Porchak, James McDowell

North Carolina-based band Carolina Blue has signed with Nashville’s Billy Blue Records. Carolina Blue, comprised of Bobby Powell (guitar and vocals), Timmy Jones (mandolin and vocals), James McDowell (banjo and vocals), Reese Combs (upright bass and vocals) and Aynsley Porchak (fiddle, recipient of the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist Award), is recording new music for 2020.

“We are very excited and honored to be given the chance to work with them,” said Jerry Salley, Creative and A&R Director of Billy Blue. “They are a wonderful fit for Billy Blue Records and we look forward to partnering with them to help them grow their unique brand of bluegrass music.”

 

Koryn Hawthorne Celebrates Her Golden Moment

Koryn Hawthorne received a Gold plaque commemorating her No. 1 smash “Won’t He Do It” by her label, RCA Inspiration. The chart-dominating single placed No. 2 on Billboard’s Decade-End Hot Gospel Songs chart, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for 41 weeks, the Gospel Airplay chart for 19 weeks, and the Gospel Digital Songs Sales chart for 22 weeks. Hawthorne set a new record with “Won’t He Do It” earlier in 2019, becoming the female Gospel artist with the longest reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart upon the song’s 26th week in the top spot. RCAI presented Hawthorne with the Gold plaque at their office in Franklin, Tenn..