Colt Ford Celebrates RIAA Gold Certification

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Pictured (back row, L-R): Justin Bertoldie (Fiddle), Cole Phillips (Guitar); (front row, L-R): Spencer Bassett (Guitar), Doug Kaye (Sr. VP/Average Joes Ent.), Colt Ford, Jerry Strickland (Misison 22), Tim Haines (Drummer), Nick Velordi (Bass)

Colt Ford’s “Workin’ On” was certified Gold by the RIAA. Written by Walker Hayes and Doug Waterman, the song was released on Ford’s album Thanks For Listening. Ford was presented with an RIAA certified plaque Saturday night (Nov. 23) in Sanford, Florida, to commemorate the milestone.

On The Row: Blane Howard Showcases New Music

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Blane Howard. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow Magazine

Blane Howard recently visited the MusicRow offices to perform a few songs, including his breakthrough 2017 hit “Promise To Love Her,” a song he co-wrote with Jordan Reynolds (Dan + Shay’s “Speechless” and “Tequila”).

The song was inspired by Howard’s relationship with his wife, whom he wed over three years ago.

“It wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a gift for her, but it took off from there,” Howard said.

Howard, an Arkansas native, relocated to Nashville after high school to attend Belmont University, and counted fellow artists including Russell Dickerson among his classmates. He has been writing, recording and showcasing new music for audiences ever since. During his MusicRow visit, he also performed new material such as “Rock On Her Window.”

He just recorded six new tracks and is in the studio working on a new project.

Blane Howard with MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow Magazine

Blane Howard with MusicRow Magazine staffers.

American Music Awards Ratings Dip Slightly

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Pictured: Taylor Swift accepts the Favorite Album – Pop/Rock award for Lover onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp

Last night’s (Nov. 24) American Music Awards, which featured Taylor Swift taking home six honors (including Artist of the Decade) and breaking Michael Jackson’s previous record for the most AMA honors, saw a slight ratings downshift in the age 18-49 demographic.

The ratings dropped slightly in the 18-49 demo, from 2018’s 1.82 rating to a 1.75 rating this year. The new rating marks a new all-time low for the awards show in the demo, according to zap2it.com. However, the American Music Awards saw an uptick in overall viewership, with 6.73 million this year, topping last year’s 6.59 million.

Also among this year’s top AMA winners were Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus (Favorite Hip-Hop/Rap Song, “Old Town Road”), Carrie Underwood (Favorite Female Country Artist, Favorite Country Album for Cry Pretty), Kane Brown (Favorite Male Country Artist), Dan+Shay (Favorite Country Duo or Group, and Favorite Country Song for “Speechless”), and Lauren Daigle (Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist).

Lauren Zimmerman Joins Sony Music Nashville

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Lauren Zimmerman. Photo: Alan Poizner

Lauren Zimmerman has been named Manager, Digital Strategy for Sony Music Nashville. She will report to Ed Rivadavia, VP, Digital Strategy for Sony Music Nashville.

Prior to her work with Sony, Zimmerman was Audience Acquisition Specialist for the Grand Ole Opry, where she developed, implemented and managed the show’s social media and artist activation strategies.

Rivadavia said, “It’s with great excitement that we welcome Lauren to the Sony Nashville team! Not only does she arrive with several years’ immersion in a range of digital strategy priorities—social media, CRM, advertising, D2C and, of course, on-boarding new technologies—but also valuable experience executing customized digital marketing activities for all kinds of country artists, through her work at the Grand Ole Opry.”

“I am beyond thrilled to join Sony Music Nashville and to continue to build upon SMN’s digital innovation and impact. I am honored to work alongside Ed and the incredible SMN team. I am looking forward to utilizing my strengths and talents to take SMN and its artists to the next level,” remarked Zimmerman.

Zimmerman can be reached at lauren.zimmerman@sonymusic.com.

Luke Combs Ends Ashley Gorley’s 16-Week Reign On ‘MusicRow’ Top Songwriter Chart

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After a 16-week reign, Ashley Gorley has been dethroned from the top spot by Luke Combs who jumps 12 spots to No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart with an impressive 17 charting songs. 16 of Combs’ credits are co-writes from his new album What You See Is What You Get that released Nov. 8, while one co-writer credit comes from the Carly Pearce and Lee Brice collaboration, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Gorley moves down one slot to No. 2.

Ray Fulcher also feels the effects of Combs’ rise, bringing him up 13 slots to No. 4 with eight co-writes on What You See Is What You Get.

The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity garnered from airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the first songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

CMA Touring Awards To Honor Tony Conway, Jon Pardi Named As Host

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Pictured: Tony Conway, Jon Pardi

The Country Music Association will honor Conway Entertainment Group/Ontourage Management founder and owner Tony Conway with the 2019 CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award during the upcoming CMA Touring Awards, set for Jan. 21, 2020 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. The CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an individual who has accomplished the highest level in the country music field of touring.

Jon Pardi, who recently released his third album Heartache Medication, has been named as host for the event.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award from the CMA,” Conway shared. “I have to give credit to all of the artists that have allowed me to represent them and to all the agents, managers, promoters and staff I have worked with the last 44 years. They are the reason for any success I may have achieved. It takes a team and I have worked with THE BEST.”

Conway, who currently manages Alabama, Lorrie Morgan and Randy Travis, is widely recognized as a leader in live event production. He coordinated the very first Farm Aid show in 1985, working closely with many installations of the event since. Conway was also Executive Producer for the annual CMA Music Festival (formerly Fan Fair and now CMA Fest) for 11 years and was instrumental in moving the festival from the old Nashville Fairgrounds to its current downtown Nashville location. Conway opened his first talent agency in Lexington, Kentucky after graduating college. In 1974, he moved to Nashville, soon after meeting talent agent Buddy Lee and joining Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc.

Conway was named President of Buddy Lee Attractions in 1987 and eventually became CEO and co-owner of the company in 1998. During his tenure, Conway represented artists including Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, The Highwaymen (comprised of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings), Bill Monroe, the Dixie Chicks, Roy Orbison, George Strait, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Ronnie Milsap and Emmylou Harris, among others. In 2010, Conway took his 35 years of experience and industry contacts and struck out on his own, forming Conway Entertainment Group/Ontourage Management. With this new venture, Conway draws upon his past as he embraces a future that fully utilizes his strengths in artist touring, personal management and live event production.

 

Joe Fox Inks Publishing Deal With Liz Rose Music, Warner Chappell Music

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Pictured (L-R): Lydia Schultz (SESAC), Jason Turner (Keller, Turner, Andrews, & Ghanem), Ben Vaughn (WCM), Liz Rose, Joe Fox, Scott Ponce (Liz Rose Music), Dave Pacula (Liz Rose Music), Travis Carter (WCM)

SESAC songwriter Joe Fox has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Liz Rose Music and Warner Chappell Music.

The New Jersey native relocated to Nashville after graduating from Berklee College of Music. Fox has won The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, played guitar on various records including Maren Morris’ Grammy-nominated album Hero, and toured with country stars like RECORDS/Arista Nashville’s Matt Stell.

Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Have Record Breaking Night At American Music Awards

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Pictured: Taylor Swift poses during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: John Shearer/AMA2019/Getty Images for dcp

The 2019 American Music Awards saw Taylor Swift break the record of most American Music Award wins of all time; she now tops the list with a total of 29 after winning six last night (Nov. 24). The previous record holder was Michael Jackson, with 24 wins. Carrie Underwood also broke an AMA record for the most Favorite Country Album wins when she won for Cry Pretty and surpassed Kenny Rogers, with whom she was previously tied. Underwood also took home Favorite Female Country Artist.

Dan + Shay won two American Music Awards, for Favorite Country Duo or Group and “Speechless” for Favorite Country Song. Kane Brown took home Favorite Male Country Artist, while Lauren Daigle won Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist.

Pictured (L-R): Shay Mooney, Carrie Underwood, and Dan Smyers. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/AMA2019/FilmMagic for dcp

Billy Ray Cyrus won his first AMA in more than 30 years for his collaboration with Lil Nas X on “Old Town Road,” taking home Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song.

Swift, the AMA Artist of the Decade Award recipient, performed a medley of her hits from the past ten years including “The Man,” “Love Story,” “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” where she was joined by Halsey and Camila Cabello, and “Lover.”

The night ended with the entire audience on their feet for Shania Twain’s return to the American Music Awards stage for the first time in 16 years. The country icon performed a crowd-pleasing medley of “You’re Still the One,” “Any Man of Mine,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”

American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected on Billboard.com, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, social activity and touring. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, and reflect the time period of September 28, 2018 through September 26, 2019. The American Music Awards winners are voted entirely by fans.

Pictured: Shania Twain performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp

Full list of American Music Awards 2019 Winners:

Artist of the Decade
Taylor Swift

Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year
Billie Eilish

Collaboration of the Year
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello “Señorita”

Tour of the Year
BTS

Favorite Music Video
Taylor Swift “You Need to Calm Down”

Favorite Social Artist
BTS

Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
Khalid

Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Taylor Swift

Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
BTS

Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
Taylor Swift Lover

Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Halsey “Without Me”

Favorite Male Artist – Country
Kane Brown

Favorite Female Artist – Country
Carrie Underwood

Favorite Duo or Group – Country
Dan + Shay

Favorite Album – Country
Carrie Underwood Cry Pretty

Favorite Song – Country
Dan + Shay “Speechless”

Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Cardi B

Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding

Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”

Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B
Bruno Mars

Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
Beyoncé

Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
Khalid Free Spirit

Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
Khalid “Talk”

Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
Billie Eilish

Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Taylor Swift

Favorite Artist – Latin
J Balvin

Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Lauren Daigle

Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
Marshmello

Favorite Soundtrack
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

eBay Selling StubHub To Viagogo For $4.05 Billion

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eBay is selling StubHub to worldwide ticket marketplace viagogo for $4.05 billion in cash. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020. Combined, Stubhub and viagogo will sell hundreds of thousands of tickets daily in more than 70 countries.

“We believe this transaction is a great outcome and maximizes long-term value for eBay shareholders,” said Scott Schenkel, interim chief executive officer of eBay Inc. “Over the past several months, eBay’s leadership team and Board of Directors have been engaged in a thorough review of our current strategies and portfolio, and we concluded that this was the best path forward for both eBay and StubHub. We firmly believe in the StubHub business and we are excited about its future growth potential with viagogo as its owner.”

Eric Baker, viagogo’s founder and CEO, also co-founded StubHub while in business school, but left before the business was sold to eBay for $310 million in 2007. “It has long been my wish to unite the two companies. I am so proud of how StubHub has grown over the years and excited about the possibilities for our shared future,” Baker said. “Buyers will have a wider choice of tickets, and sellers will have a wider network of buyers. Bringing these two companies together creates a win-win for fans—more choice and better pricing.”

“Bringing StubHub and viagogo together will allow us to drive further expansion and innovation, and create a more competitive offering for live event fans globally,” said Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, president of StubHub. “This provides a great opportunity to expand our business, pursue new partnerships and execute our strategy. We expect a seamless transition for all our employees, partners and customers, and we are excited for what the future holds.”

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor to eBay. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Quinn Emanuel are acting as legal advisors to eBay. J.P. Morgan is acting as sole financial advisor and sole underwriter of the committed debt and preferred equity financings for viagogo. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP are acting as legal advisors for viagogo.

Marty Stuart Helps Unveil Historic Marker Honoring Jimmie Rodgers

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Pictured: Kamel King (Visit Mississippi), Craig Ray (Visit Mississippi), Terry Napier (City of Bristol, TN), Leah Ross (BCM), Kenny Vaughn, Marty Stuart, Dale Jett, Chris Scruggs, Mayor Neal Osborne (City of Bristol, VA)

Marty Stuart recently joined Mississippi Country Music Trail Commission chairman Craig Ray to unveil a marker honoring late country artist Jimmie Rodgers. The marker was revealed at the site where the 1927 Bristol Sessions were recorded, in Downtown Bristol, TN-VA. The marker is the second to be dedicated to Rodgers, following the first located in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, along the Mississippi Country Music Trail.

The Jimmie Rodgers-Bristol Sessions Mississippi Country Music Trail marker can be found at 416 State Street in Bristol, Tennessee. It is the trail’s 33rd marker and the first outside the state of Mississippi. Other Mississippians honored along the trail include Elvis Presley, Marty Stuart, Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, and Conway Twitty.

“This is ground zero for country music. I come back to this town for inspiration, I come to this town for enlightenment,” said Stuart. “When you’re an island, you’re nothing, but when you’re neighbors, it’s everything. I love the fact that Mississippi and Tennessee are now officially neighbors at this site, because this is one of the most important sites in the history of American music. Unparalleled.”

Recorded by producer Ralph Peer for the Victor Talking Machine Company, the 1927 Bristol Sessions are considered the most influential early commercial country music recordings of all time. The Sessions included the first recordings of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, propelling both acts to stardom. These recordings brought country music to the mainstream using state-of-the-art “orthophonic” sound technology, and Peer’s system of paying royalties to artists revolutionized the country music industry we know today.

Plans are in the works for Bristol to take a marker of their own to Mississippi in 2020.