Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Celebration Lineup Includes Keith Urban, Jason Isbell

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Reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban will headline Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#Nashville NYE) for a fourth year in a row, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced today. Urban will lead an all-star and diverse lineup that includes Americana powerhouse Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit; English rock band The Struts; Americana award winner and 2019 nominee Amanda Shires, who is also a member of The 400 Unit and critically-acclaimed new band The Highwomen; and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The 11th annual event will take place at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and is free and open to the public.

“From the very beginning, our goal was to have a long-term partnership with Keith, and, as we expected, his leadership, talent and involvement has been invaluable to the event’s success,” said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “As you would expect from a consummate professional like Keith, every year the show is completely different and fresh, and we can’t wait to see what he brings to ring in 2020.”

“Nashville’s New Year’s Eve is hugely successful at drawing visitors from around the globe. Events like this underscore how the hospitality industry adds so much to the local Nashvillian’s quality of life through visitor spending and tax revenues that support city services,” Mayor David Briley said. “And local residents don’t need to fly to London or New York to experience a world-class event; they can simply take a short ride to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.”

Last year, the Nashville concert was featured on “NBC’s New Year’s Eve” national broadcast that was live from Times Square in New York City. It was the most successful New Year’s Eve event for Nashville with an all-time high $23 million in direct visitor spending over 2017’s $22.3 million. Attendance was approximately 175,000 to 200,000, a record attendance over 2015’s 150,000.

Gates at Bicentennial Mall will open at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 with DJ Case Bloom providing entertainment before the Music Note is raised. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, an ensemble of students from Fisk University, will kick off the live music with a selection of Spiritual music. The show’s highlight will be the traditional Music Note Drop and accompanying fireworks display to usher in the New Year. GRAMMY-winner DJ Dave Audé also will be part of the lineup.

NBC’s ‘Songland’ Renewed For Second Season

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NBC has renewed the hit songwriting competition series Songland for a second season. The competition features producer-mentors Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean and Shane McAnally.

The show has produced songs for artists including the Jonas Brothers, Black Eyed Peas, Kelsea Ballerini, will.i.am., Macklemore (ft. IRO), Leona Lewis, John Legend and more.

Songland has averaged a 1.1 rating in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall in “live plus seven day” Nielsen ratings. After 35 days of digital and linear delayed viewing, including encores, Songland grows to a 1.9 rating in 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers overall.

The series partnered with BMG for a recording and publishing contract to release the songs written and recorded by the two runners up, and created a strategic song release plan with music distributors such as Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify and Pandora.

Songland is executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Audrey Morrissey, director Ivan Dudynsky, Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, Chad Hines, and multi-Grammy-winning recording artist and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine. Josh Gummersall serves as producer along with Ryan Tedder. Songland is produced by Live Animals in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment and 222 Productions.

Date Set For 55th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards

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The 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 5, 2020, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

The ACM Party for a Cause events also return on Saturday, April 4, including ACM Lifting Lives’ Topgolf Tee-Off with guest hosts Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker.

The newly-created Saturday night concert event, the ACM Beach Bash Presented by Dr Pepper at Mandalay Bay Beach will host performances from reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban and 11-time ACM Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum, and more to be announced.

Tickets for The Week Vegas Goes Country® events, including the 55th ACM Awards and Ultimate ACM Fan VIP Packages, will be available for ACM A-List pre-sale starting Wednesday, September 18 and general on-sale beginning Friday, September 20 at ACMAwards.com. Portions of all ACM Party for a Cause proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, which works to lift lives through the power of music.

CJ Solar Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Pictured (L-R): Craig Campbell, Campbell Entertainment; Gina Keltner, Director of Opry Talent Scheduling and Logistics; CJ Solar; Mark Roeder, Agent, WME. Photo: Grand Ole Opry, photo by Chris Hollo

Sea Gayle Music’s CJ Solar made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night (Sept. 7). The evening was extra special for CJ and the 100 or so family members and friends in the audience.

CJ and his family visited the Opry while on a Nashville vacation when he was 12 years old. After seeing Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton perform on the show, CJ made a decision that night to pursue a career as a country singer and songwriter. Country music Hall of Famer Connie Smith hosted the Opry Saturday night and relayed that story to the packed house.

CJ played his new single, “Coming My Way,” as well as “Watered Down Whiskey.” CJ shared his Opry experience via Facebook video.

Industry Ink: Kelsea Ballerini, Country Radio Broadcasters, O’Neil Hagaman

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Donovan Public Relations Adds Kelsea Ballerini To Roster

NYC-based Donovan Public Relations has added Kelsea Ballerini as a client.

With her latest single, “homecoming queen?,” Black River Entertainment artist Ballerini recently celebrated the biggest add date of her career. The song is this week’s most-added new song on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, with 107 total adds and debuts at No. 22. The single also opens at No. 32 on the Mediabase country radio chart.

Ballerini was previously repped by Sweet Talk Publicity. Donovan Public Relations also counts Old Dominion among its music clients.

 

Gabby Barrett Performs For Annual Country Radio Broadcasters Board Breakfast

Warner Music Nashville/WAR artist Gabby Barrett performed at the annual Country Radio Broadcasters board breakfast on Friday (Sept. 6) at the Nashville Vanderbilt Marriott hotel.

 

O’Neil Hagaman Promotes Lynda Ragsdale

Lynda Ragsdale

O’Neil Hagaman has promoted Lynda Ragsdale to Tax Director. Ragsdale began her career at the firm in 2013, previously acting as Tax Manager.

Cheryl Harris, Managing Partner said, “Lynda has successfully led us through the implementation of the complex and comprehensive 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. At the same time she and her staff have maintained the highest level of client service in all areas of our tax practice. It is an honor to announce her promotion to Tax Director.”

Chris Tomlin Announces 12-Date Christmas Tour

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Chris Tomlin is celebrating the holidays with a Christmas tour once again this year, Chris Tomlin Christmas: Christmas Songs of Worship. The new tour will launch in Augusta, Georgia on Dec. 2 and take him to many of the same cities as previous Christmas tours, including stops in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham, Cincinnati and New York City, creating an annual Christmas concert tradition for many families.

“This is going to be an incredible night, an intimate night of remembering what the season is all about, remembering what Christmas is about, remembering why we celebrate and why we worship, and remembering our Savior together,” said Tomlin.

The 12-city tour not only offers an intimate show from Chris but a one-of-a-kind experience of sights and sounds of the season featuring Christmas carols, photos with Santa, Christmas cookies, snow on stage and more. The tour will visit some of America’s most beautiful and historic theaters like the Orpheum Theatre, Tennessee Theatre, Alabama Theatre, the Taft Theatre and more. Tickets will be available this Friday, Sept. 13.

Prior to his holiday tour Tomlin will hit the road on his 2019 fall tour, “An Evening of Worship with Chris Tomlin,” which launches with back-to-back nights in Carmel, Indiana on Oct. 1 & 2.

Chris Tomlin Christmas: Christmas Songs of Worship Tour Dates:

12/2     Augusta, GA- Miller Theatre
12/3     Chattanooga, TN- Tivoli Theatre
12/4     Memphis, TN- Orpheum Theatre
12/7     Knoxville, TN- Tennessee Theatre
12/8     Newport News, VA- Ferguson Center For The Arts
12/11   Birmingham, AL- Alabama Theater
12/12   Chicago, IL- Chicago Theatre
12/13   Akron, OH- Akron Civic Center
12/17   Cincinnati, OH- Taft Theater
12/18   Philadelphia, PA- Merriam Theatre
12/19   Providence, RI- The Vet
12/20   New York Theater- The Beacon Theatre

Rory Feek Named Chief Creative Officer At RFD-TV, Inks Deal To Bring Series To Network

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Rory Feek has been named Chief Creative Officer at RFD-TV, where he will develop and oversee all new production for the network. 

Feek will also have a new weekly TV series on the network, This Life I Live, based on his personal blog. Five years ago he launched the blog to share stories of his family, including his late wife, Joey, and their daughter, Indiana, and as a way to capture and remember the special moments in his personal life as they were happening. It quickly developed a powerful online presence with nearly 2.5 million followers.This Life I Live will begin airing on RFD-TV the first week of January 2020 and will run weekly on cable and be featured on multiple digital platforms.

The singer/songwriter is no stranger to the TV series format: Feek and his wife Joey were featured in the RFD-TV series, The Joey+Rory Show, that originally ran from 2012 to 2014 and continues to re-run each week. The made-from-home variety show showcased the couple’s music, their family-owned cafe, and their friends and community. It followed their lives for two years as they traveled the world performing together and lived life on their Tennessee farm, and they ended the filming of their show in early 2014 when their daughter, Indiana, was born. Soon after, Rory began writing and sharing his blog.

“We are very proud of our primetime programming on RFD-TV, and we have been looking for a way the last several years to really bring that programming to the next level,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of RFD-TV. “With Rory joining our team as the Chief Creative Officer, I am confident that both Rory and his team will be the answer that we have been looking for. His creativity and storytelling will really resonate well with our audiences.”

Feek’s plans for the network’s creative direction include shepherding RFD-TV into filling the void left by The Nashville Network (TNN), the now-defunct cable network that offered a platform in the 80s and 90s for the country industry to reach Middle America. In addition to his new role, Feek will continue writing books and playing live shows on his farm and around the country.

“We have the greatest storytellers in the world in town, here on Music Row and in the surrounding communities,” said Feek. “My goal is to find and showcase some of the best stories and offer a platform for the world to see them. In Nashville, the motto has always been, ‘it all begins with a song’… but even before that, I think it all starts with a ‘story’. I don’t actually have cable TV and haven’t had a TV for most of the last fifteen years, but if I did have one, it would mostly be turned to RFD. It’s one of the few networks that has driven programming of values, rather than the monetary value of programming. Although Patrick and I, and our whole team, know there’s still much to do, an incredible foundation is in place for something special to happen. And I’d like to think that this is the time to do it.”

YouTube video

Bobby Karl Works The Room: BMI Honors John Hiatt

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BMI’s Jody Williams, 2019 BMI Troubadour John Hiatt and BMI’s Mike O’Neill (Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI)

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 631

The next time somebody asks you to name five things you love about living in Nashville, start with this: “John Hiatt lives here.”

I’m serious. This droll, humble, gifted man is a singular presence – in a town famous for hosting sublimely gifted tunesmiths, he is a “songwriter’s songwriter.”

At an intimate banquet at BMI on Monday evening (Sept. 9), Hiatt was honored with the Troubadour Award. The honor celebrates “writers who craft for the sake of the song and set the standard for generations of writers who will follow.”

That’s our man John Hiatt. How well loved and respected is this Nashvillian? Here’s who showed up to sing his tunes – Elvis Costello, Delbert McClinton, The War & Treaty, Lily Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Marcus King and The World Famous Headliners (featuring individual recording stars Pat McLaughlin, Shawn Camp and Al Anderson),

Here’s who sat in the audience to applaud – Emmylou Harris, John Oates, Sam Bush, T Bone Burnett, Jeff Hanna of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and previous Troubadour winners John Prine and Robert Earl Keen. Actually, they frequently stood to applaud.

Here’s who appeared on video – Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Georgia Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Urban and Chuck Hull.

“You’re all about integrity,” said BMI’s Mason Hunter to the honoree, “and that’s what this award is all about.”

“It’s truly our privilege to honor you tonight,” added the organization’s CEO Michael O’Neill.

The event was hosted by BMI’s Jody Williams, who continued the plaudits with, “So many of the artists who have covered his songs are songwriters, themselves. And that is the ultimate compliment.”

Among the artists who have recorded Hiatt’s works are Emmylou, Delbert, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Linda Ronstadt, Iggy Pop, Rosanne Cash, Joe Cocker, Tom Petty, Suzy Bogguss, Bob Seger, Ry Cooder, Buddy Guy, Rick Nelson, Don Henley, Gregg Allman, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, Three Dog Night, The Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash, Bon Jovi, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Ronnie Milsap, The Temptations and Asleep at the Wheel.

“Have a Little Faith,” alone, has been recorded by 44 artists. And among Hiatt’s 24 albums are many other gems that shine as brightly.

The World Famous Headliners kicked off the music with “The Thing Called Love.” Delbert followed with “Have a Little Faith.” Lily Hiatt came next, followed by Lyle Lovett’s version of “On the Train to Birmingham.”

“What a joy it is to listen to all these people sing your songs,” said Elvis Costello. He added to the celebratory mood with “Take Off Your Uniform.” The War & Treaty rocked the house with “Feels Like Rain,” then turned up the heat even higher with Marcus King on “Riding with the King.”

BMI’s Jody Williams and Mike O’Neill, 2019 BMI Troubadour John Hiatt, 2018 BMI Troubadour John Prine, 2015 BMI Troubadour Robert Earl Keen and BMI’s Mason Hunter (Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI)

“I don’t know what that was, but that was awesome,” said Jody following a standing ovation. “Can I get an ‘amen’ from the room?”

Prine was last year’s winner, so he presented the vintage, silver Troubadour-award cup.

“I’m speechless,” said John Hiatt. “You can’t do anything without other people’s help: This has always been ‘home’ to me.”

We dined on chicken cordon bleu with roasted potatoes and carrots, followed by pecan mini pie with whipped cream and raspberries.

John Strohm, John Ingrassia, John Allen, Mark Brown, Mark Wright, Adam Wright, Fats Kaplan & Kristi Rose, Jed Hilly, Randy Talmadge, Phil Graham, Paul Kennerley, Ken Levitan, Peter Cooper, Clay Bradley, Dana Strong, Karen Clark, Maurice Miner, Del Bryant, Dusty Miller, Earle Simmons, Carla Wallace, Tracy Gershon, Logan Rogers, Bart Herbison, Katherine Richardson, Juli Thanki, Steve Buchanan, Mickey Rafael and Garth Fundis worked the room.

Artist Updates: Old Dominion, Tucker Beathard, Live In The Vineyard

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Old Dominion Announces 2020 Tour

Photo: Mason Allen

Old Dominion has announced dates for their We Are Old Dominion Tour in Canada kicking off in 2020. The Gold & Gold Productions, AEG and Concerts West powered outing will hit 12 cities with Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick set to open on select dates. Additionally, Old Dominion will perform two special nights on Dec. 12-13 in Niagara Falls, Ontario at the Fallsview Casino Resort.

A full list of tour dates is available at odmakeitsweet.com.

 

Tucker Beathard To Headline Monster Energy Outbreak Tour

Tucker Beathard will hit the road as part of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour Presents: Tucker Beathard, to launch in Columbia, South Carolina on Oct. 31.

Beathards join the company of previous Monster Energy Outbreak Tour alumni including Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore, The Chainsmokers, Post Malone, Kane Brown, and more. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Sept. 13 at tuckerbeathard.com and outbreakpresents.com.

 

Live In The Vineyard Lets 2019 Performer Lineup

Live In the Vineyard, an annual music, food and wine event in Napa Valley, California, has announced this year’s performer lineup, for Oct. 31-Nov. 3. The show will feature performances from Maren Morris, Maddie & Tae, Meghan Patrick, Caitlyn Smith, Delta Rae, Walk Off The Earth, Adam Lambert, Natasha Beddingfield, Avril Lavigne, Madison Kozak, Nicolle Galyon and Kelsea Ballerini.

There will be several private VIP-only events during LITV at picturesque Napa Valley wineries that will feature up close and personal acoustic performances by King Calaway, for KING & COUNTRY, Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra), Ryan Griffin, A Thousand Horses, Brett Kissel, OBB, Sugar Ray, Wyn Starks, Stephanie Quayle and more.

Weekly Register: Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood Make Top 5 Debuts

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Sheryl Crow and Trisha Yearwood both have albums debuting in Top 5 this week on the country albums chart, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Crow’s Threads moved 15K in total consumption to debut at No. 2, while Yearwood’s Every Girl moved 11K in total consumption to land at No. 5.

Luke Combs continues his reign at No. 1 with This One’s For You moving 19.5K. Dan+Shay‘s self-titled effort moved 15K to land at No. 3, followed by Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me at No. 4 (12K).

Blanco Brown continues to have the top country streaming song in the country, with “The Git Up” earning 19 million streams this week. Combs’ “Beer Never Broke My Heart” follows at No. 2 (8.4 million streams), while Blake Shelton‘s “God’s Country” lands at No. 3 (8 million). Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” is at No. 4 (7.5 million) followed by Luke Bryan‘s “Knockin’ Boots” at No. 5 (7.3 million).