Dolly Parton Hits No. 1 With Dance/Electronic Collaboration “Faith”

/by

Galantis, Dolly Parton. Photo: Erik Melvin

Dolly Parton recently teamed with Swedish electronic DJ/production duo Galantis and Dutch artist Mr. Probz for the song “Faith.” The track debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Sales chart, earning Parton her first No. 1 on a Dance/Electronic chart. “Faith” was streamed 1.8 million times in the United States in its first week.

Parton will co-host the upcoming CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 13, where she is also slated to perform a medley of songs including “Faith,” “God Only Knows,” and “There Was Jesus” with CCM artists King & Country and Zach Williams. Parton’s Netflix original series, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, will premiere Nov. 22. She is also the subject of the popular podcast, Dolly Parton’s America.

Pam Tillis Signs With ONErpm For New Album Release

/by

Pam Tillis has inked a deal with global distribution and branding company ONErpm for the release of an upcoming project in 2020. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Tillis will serve as a presenter on the 53rd Annual CMA Awards.

“This week is a very exciting time for me,” says Tillis. “I was so happy to be asked to be a presenter at the CMA Awards and to have inked my partnership with ONErpm. I can finally release the album I’ve had in the works. Every album is its own little journey, and this one may be a little more winding than usual. I’ve had some of these songs in my back pocket for a long, long time.”

“We’re thrilled to be part of this project,” notes ONErpm General Manager Ken Madson. “The heart, authenticity and artistry Pam brought to this album make it something very special.”

Maeve Steele Signs With Peter Strickland’s Marathon Talent Agency

/by

(L-R): Peter Strickland, Maeve Steele and Charles Leonidas

Burning Ground Entertainment artist Maeve Steele has signed with Marathon Talent Agency. Marathon CEO and former Warner Music CMO Peter Strickland is partnering with Burning Ground Entertainment to represent Steele.

Strickland has managed campaigns for the likes of Blake Shelton, Big & Rich, Faith Hill and more throughout his career. 

“Maeve first caught my ear with her lyrics. The way she illustrates her own feelings and observations is so rare,” says Strickland, “But I didn’t want her to stop there. Maeve Steele is an artist, she’s meant for this.”

“I can’t think of a more capable, trustworthy person to manage Maeve Steele,” asserts Burning Ground CEO Dawn DeJongh. “I cannot wait for this entire team to work together in launching her career to the next level.”

“To say I’m honored to work with Peter Strickland is an understatement,” Steele states.“His level of expertise and experience is honestly secondary to the amount of care and dedication he’s already shown as my new manager. I’m ready to get to work.”

Matthew West To Release Upcoming Album, ‘Brand New,’ In February

/by

Matthew West will release his upcoming album, Brand New, on Feb. 14, 2020. The album marks his first on Provident Label Group/Sony Music and his imprint with Story House Music.

“The title Brand New does represent where I find myself these days,” explains Matthew West about the upcoming release. “Signing with a new label, starting my own management company, building a new songwriting house and studio called The Story House, and with that, a flood of new songs. But the title really has an even deeper meaning than just a representation of where I’m at in my career. Brand New is actually inspired by the idea of looking back, or what’s more, going back. In many ways this is an album about returning to the days when I was a new Christian, and my faith felt fresh and alive.”

The album cover features an old polaroid picture of West sitting on a blue couch, which has significant meaning to him, as well as to the overarching theme of the project.

“I was 13 years old, sitting on a blue couch in my childhood home when I stumbled across a Billy Graham crusade on television, and my life changed,” he shares. “For the first time, something clicked. I realized what my parents had been teaching me was true: that God desired a personal relationship with me. I remember my heart pounding as I heard Billy Graham inviting a stadium full of people to find freedom in God’s love and forgiveness. I prayed that day with my mom and gave my life to Christ.”

As with some of West’s previous albums, his upcoming project will include songs inspired by others’ stories, such as “Too Young Too Soon,” which focuses on the issue of teen suicide.

Several songs from the album have already been released, including “The God Who Stays,” as well as “What If,” and “Truth Be Told.”

YouTube video

 

YouTube video

 

YouTube video

Apple Music Highlights Songwriters, Musicians, Producers With “Liner Notes” Feature

/by

Apple Music is spotlighting the songwriters, producers and musicians behind several of country music’s current hits with its new Liner Notes feature. Each month, Apple Music will highlight a different track.

Today, the feature launches with Lady Antebellum‘s “What If I Never Get Over You.” Apple Music also offers a “Songbook” Playlist to highlight other songs from the track’s writers, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz, Sam Ellis and Jon Green, as well as a “Behind The Boards” feature on producer Dann Huff. The track’s musicians including Charlie Judge, Aaron Sterling, David Huff, Derek Wells and Ilya Toshinskiy are featured in “On The Session.”

Apple Music previously released a new time-synched lyrics feature, which includes real-time synched lyrics that animate karaoke-style along with the music. The company also recently released “Lyrics To Live By,” which highlights some of the music industry’s most celebrated songwriters.

Touring Career Workshop Celebrates Ninth Successful Year

/by

(L-R): Chris Lisle, moderator; Chris Cobb, owner, Exit/In; Melissa Bubela, production manager, Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville; David Graham, director of technical operations, Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena  Photos: Jason Davis/2019 Touring Career Workshop

The ninth annual Touring Career Workshop held in Nashville on Nov. 6 at the Soundcheck Annex attracted more than 350 attendees.

Created by Chris Lisle, owner of Chris Lisle Lighting Design and Erik Parker, CLLD production designer, the event featured panels of experts on topics geared towards everyone from tour managers to roadies to help navigate the touring life. Among the topics covered were taxes, retirement planning, health insurance options, mental and physical health, real estate investing and work safety. The event was completely free of charge and included networking opportunities with top lighting, sound and production companies.

During the evening Tom Addison, Dierks Bentley’s tour manager, was honored with the Sam ‘Old Skool’ Harden award for his dedication to mentoring those coming up through the ranks. Harden was a designer and lighting tech for Bandit Lites.

(L-R): Erik Parker, co-founder and associate director, Touring Career Workshop; Tom Addison, Dierks Bentley tour manager and recipient of the 2019 Sam ‘old skool’ Harden Award; Savannah Harden; Chris Lisle, co-founder and executive director, TCW

Weekly Radio Report (11/8/19)

/by

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

Kane Brown To Kick Off 2020 With First International Headlining Tour

/by

Photo credit: Joseph Llanes

Kane Brown is launching his first ever international headlining tour, the Kane Brown Worldwide Beautiful Tour, in Dublin on Feb. 2. The tour will make stops in London (Feb. 4), Amsterdam (Feb. 5), Paris (Feb. 6), and Berlin (Feb. 8) before circling back to kick off the North American leg of the tour on Feb. 29. Russell Dickerson and Chris Lane also join the Worldwide Beautiful Tour lineup, with each rotating slots throughout the tour. An additional support act will be announced in 2020.

The tour will follow Brown’s sold-out Los Angeles Staples Center headlining date on Jan. 9 as part of the Staples Center 20th Anniversary Celebration. Tickets for the Kane Brown Worldwide Beautiful Tour will go on sale Friday, November 15. Live Nation is the official tour promoter and Citi is the official pre-sale credit card of the Worldwide Beautiful Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets through Citi Entertainment.

2/2/2020 – Dublin, Ireland – Academy Dublin
2/4/2020 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town
2/5/2020 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
2/6/2020 – Paris, France – L’Alhambra
2/8/2020 – Berlin, German – Metropol
2/29/2020 – Atlantic City, NJ – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
3/1/2020 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center
3/5/2020 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
3/6/2020 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center
3/7/2020 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
3/19/2020- Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
3/20/2020 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Comm. Centre
3/21/2020 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
3/26/2020 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
3/28/2020 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
4/23/2020 – Tupelo, MS – BancorpSouth Arena
4/24/2020 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
4/25/2020 – Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME
4/30/2020 – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
5/1/2020 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
5/7/2020 – Lincoln, NE** – Pinnacle Bank Arena
5/8/2020 – Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center
5/9/2020 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center

Apple Music Launches “Today’s Country” Global Playlist

/by

Apple Music has launched Today’s Country, a global playlist featuring music from a variety of country music’s breakout artists, stars, and emerging voices. The playlist is a revamp of Apple’s former “The A-List: Country” playlist.

Topping the newly-relaunched playlist is Miranda Lambert‘s “It All Comes Out In The Wash,” from her recently-released seventh album Wildcard. Other tracks currently featured include Tyler Childers’ “Lady May,” Runaway June’s “We Were Rich,” HARDY’s “One Beer” (ft. Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson), The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table,” Sam Hunt’s “Kinfolks,” and more.

The signature playlist art for Today’s Country will feature a different marquee artist each week.

DISClaimer: Kane Brown’s “For My Daughter” Tops New Releases

/by

Kane Brown

Variety is the spice of life.

This is an adage that all country radio programmers should take to heart, because back in the day, their stations’ playlists were a lot more diverse than they are today. And everyone liked terrestrial radio a whole lot more than they do now.

So in today’s column we have everything from bluegrass to pop, from neo-rockabilly to hardcore honky tonk, from tender emotionalism to party-hearty romps. Sample them all.

The Disc of the Day goes to Kane Brown, who has the sweetest song about fatherhood that I’ve heard in ages. Give Mike Alan Ward a DisCovery Award.

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Whatcha Drinkin’ ‘Bout
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; Rebel Engine
-A sprightly barroom anthem, delivered with verve and abetted by some dandy guitar twanging. I’m in.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Outskirts
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Rodney Clawson/Ashley Gorley; Producers: Noah Gordon/Shannon Houchins; Publishers: Big Red Tow/EMI Blackwood/Round Hill Compositions/Round Hill Works/Shirt at Work/Two Chord Georgia/Copyright Control Ashley Gorley, BMI/ASCAP; Average Joes
– Nicely thumping and sung with conviction. The topic isn’t exactly news — it’s the one about partying in the countryside after work with a honey. “Heartland,” “ball cap,” “hot girl in a t-shirt,” “red dirt,” “cold beer” “simple life,” it’s all here.

MIKE ALAN WARD & DIERKS BENTLEY/No Getting Over You
Writers: Ward/Bentley; Producers: Carl Jackson/Randy Kohrs/Ken Triphan; Publishers: Colonel Rebel/Wooteeny/Blue Nugget/Big White Tracks/Sony-ATV, ASCAP; Twang-Gang
– If you ask me, every country playlist needs a splash of bluegrass. The two voices are the calling cards of this dandy toe-tapper, but the picking will dazzle you just as much. The supporting cast is a who’s-who of instrumentalists. Ward’s album is titled Whiskey, Trains and Lonesome, and it is simply stellar from top to bottom.

KANE BROWN/For My Daughter
Writers: Kane Brown/Tom Douglas/Chase McGill; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– Kane became a first-time Daddy on Oct. 29, and he’s wasted no time in celebrating the event in song. “I grew up without a dad/I’m gonna be the best one I can be.” That’s just one of the honest lyrics in this heart-tugging mini-masterpiece. A lump-in-throat performance of a song packed with truth and beauty.

DANIELLE BRADBURY/Blackout
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
– Drawn from the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack, this sounds like a big bid for pop stardom. The echoey atmosphere, stately keyboard work, crashing rhythms and layered, multi-part vocals all are very, very involving. There’s a richness of vocal tone here (reminiscent of Sia) that’s a long way from her days as a contestant on The Voice.

CLINT BLACK/This Old House
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; CB
– Clint enlists eight buddies as vocal collaborators here — Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Cody Jinks, Michael Ray, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt and Steve Wariner. The song is a ballad about nostalgia for a homeplace. It’s solidly country, but the tempo plods a bit. There’s an extremely effective music video that equates the “house” with the Grand Ole Opry, with memories coming alive off the photos on the walls, in visions in dressing rooms and hallways and via historic clips on the storied stage. Recommended.

ADAM DOLEAC/Famous
Writers: Adam Doleac/Andy Skib/Bobby Hamrick; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista Nashville
– Smooth. His gently persuasive vocal is right on the money in this pop-country slow jam. The overall vibe is a kinda bland, yet kinda pleasant.

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH/Hold On
Writers: Jim Beavers/Chris Stapleton; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Dontcallmebrett/WB/Ken Tucky, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol
– Despite the seeming hopelessness of our modern world, this jaunty ditty advises us that love will see us through. Optimistic and upbeat. The band “gang” vocals as the song reaches its finale are just the right touch.

GRANGER SMITH/That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads
Writers: Chris DeStefano/Jon Nite/Brad Rempel/Granger Smith; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Wheelhouse/BBR
– Stirring and anthemic. It’s hard to produce an up-tempo tune with this much crispness, while maintaining its rushing forward momentum. This does all that and more. Charisma on the hoof.

CHUCK MEAD/Shake
Writers: Charles Mead/Paul Cebar; Producer: Matt Ross Spang; Publishers: Pagan Idol/Groovesburg Joys, BMI; Plowboy
– The latest single from Chuck’s fine Close to Home CD is a swampy, groove-a-minute outing with dollops of blues, rockabilly and roots-rock in its countryboy DNA. This guy is a one-of-a-kind talent, and more power to that.