Jenny Tolman has signed with The Kinkead Agency for booking representation.
Tolman was raised in Nashville and learned to explore herself through her sharp-witted songwriting. She has performed across the country, opening for acts like Alabama, Michael Ray, Brandy Clark, Cole Swindell and others.
Her debut album There Goes The Neighborhood, is due July 19, 2019.
(L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Be Essential Songs’ Holly Zabka and Terry Hemmings, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, 2019 Song of the Year songwriter Ran Jackson, 2019 Songwriter of the Year Ethan Hulse, 2019 BMI Compass Award honoree Elwyn Raymer, Be Essential Songs’ Jamie Rodgers and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen (Photo: Steve Lowry)
It’s a great moment when any songwriter picks up their first BMI Award, but for Ethan Hulse, Tuesday evening’s (June 18) BMI Christian Awards ceremony brought not only his first, but his second, third and fourth BMI honors. The newcomer songwriter also earned the evening’s top award, Songwriter of the Year.
Hulse co-wrote songs including the gold-certified “Old Church Choir” (Zach Williams), “When We Pray” (Tauren Wells), “Whole Heart” (Brandon Heath) and “Word of Life” (Jeremy Camp).
BMI’s Jody Williams, Leslie Roberts and MaryAnn Keen hosted the evening to celebrate the top 25 songs played on U.S. Christian radio over the past year.
“I love celebrating the writers, publishers, and artists at this awards dinner,” said Roberts, Executive Director, Creative. “Every year I am blown away by our performances, and as always, I am honored to present awards to the writers and publishers of this genre.”
Comedian John Crist started the evening, poking good-natured fun at everything from the music industry to Christian weddings.
Mallary Hope, who has penned songs for Danny Gokey and Lauren Alaina among others, performed a song titled “Me,” inspired by her own journey to accept her musical identity. Hope penned “Me” alongside Jeff Pardo and Molly Reed.
Grammy winner Zach Williams has been on a hot streak since his debut single “Chain Breaker” released back in 2016. The song was certified gold and spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian chart, setting a record for the longest time a debut song from a Christian artist has spent at the chart’s pinnacle. He then expanded that chart streak with the followup single “Old Church Choir,” which spent 20 weeks at No. 1. During the BMI event, he offered his gold-certified “Fear Is A Liar.”
Koryn Hawthorne stunned the crowd with her powerful, soulful rendering of “Speak The Name.” Her single “Won’t He Do It” spent 41 weeks atop the Hot Gospel Songs chart. The song earned Hawthorne a Dove Award last year for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year and a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song.
Longtime CCM industry member Elwyn Raymer was honored with the BMI Compass Award for his contributions in the industry.
Song of the Year went to “Reckless Love,” recorded by Bethel Music, penned by Ran Jackson and published by Be Essential Songs and Richmond Park Publishing. The song hit number one on Billboard’s U.S. Hot Christian Songs chart and remained there for 18 weeks. The song spent 68 weeks in total on the chart, with 53 weeks in the Top 10.
Be Essential Songs, publisher home for Hulse and “Reckless Love” writer Ran Jackson, also earned Publisher of the Year, for earning the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs.
Among the company’s published hits are “Different,” “Do It Again,” “Fear Is A Liar,” “God Of All My Days,” “Old Church Choir,” “O’Lord,” “Reckless Love” “When We Pray,” “Whole Heart,” “Word of LIfe,” “Your Love Defends Me,” and more.
A full list of songs honored during the evening are below:
ALL MY HOPE
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Map Catalogs
CLEAR SKIES
Ernie Haase
Wayne Haun
Joel Lindsey
Curb Dayspring Music
Ernie Sig Sound Music
Sea Smoke Music
Songs From The Inside
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
COME TO THE TABLE
Dave Frey
Ben McDonald
Curb Dayspring Music
Pencil Prophet Publishing
Run Run Milo
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
DIFFERENT
Micah Tyler
Be Essential Songs
Fair Trade Global Songs
DO IT AGAIN
Mack Brock
Chris Brown
Steven Furtick
Be Essential Songs
Music By Elevation Worship Publishing
FEAR IS A LIAR
Jonathan Smith
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
Wisteria Drive Music
GOD OF ALL MY DAYS
Mark Hall
Be Essential Songs
My Refuge Music
Sparrow Song
GOD OF THE STORMS
Gerald Crabb
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Gerald Crabb’s Songs
GRACE GOT YOU
Solomon Jerome Olds
Moon and Musky Music
Soul Glow Activator Music
HERE HE COMES
Joseph Habedank
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
I JUST NEED U.
Toby McKeehan
Blake NeeSmith
Achtober Songs
Harper and Hudson
House of Emack Music
Map Catalogs
River Oaks Music Company
JOY IN THE HOUSE
Marcia Henry
Barbara Ann Huffman
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Sunset Gallery Music
OLD CHURCH CHOIR
Ethan Hulse
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing
Wisteria Drive Music
O’LORD
Joe Williams
Be Essential Songs
Sound District
POINT TO YOU
Darren Mulligan
Curb Dayspring Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
RECKLESS LOVE
Ran Jackson
Be Essential Songs
Richmond Park Publishing
RESURRECTION POWER
Tony Brown
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Bethel Worship Publishing
Capitol CMG Paragon
Map Catalogs
S.D.G. Publishing
SO WILL I (100 BILLION X)
Michael Fatkin (APRA)
Ben Hastings (APRA)
Joel Houston (APRA)
Capitol CMG Paragon
THANKFUL, SO THANKFUL
Lee Black
Scott Inman
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Sunset Gallery Music
THE COMEBACK
Danny Gokey
Cameron James
BMG Platinum Songs
Creative Heart Publishing
Hello Darling Music
THE GOSPEL
Toby McKeehan
Achtober Songs
River Oaks Music Company
WHEN WE PRAY
Ethan Hulse
Tauren Wells
Be Essential Songs
Crucial Music Entertainment
EGH Music Publishing
WHOLE HEART
Brandon Heath
Ethan Hulse
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing
Haidaway Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
WORD OF LIFE
Ethan Hulse
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing
YOUR LOVE DEFENDS ME
Matt Maher
Be Essential Songs
I am a Pilgrim Songs
Pictured: (Back row) Chris Poole (Director of A&R, BBR Music Group), Ben Vaughn (CEO, Warner/Chappell Nashville), Sara Knabe (VP A&R, BBR Music Group), Jake Kennedy (The Anvil), Shalacy Griffin (SVP, Music Knox), Nathan Drake (Dickinson Wright PLLC), Colton McGee (Director of Business and Legal Affairs, BBR Music Group). (Front row) Jon Loba (EVP, BBR Music Group), Sykamore, Michael Knox (Music Knox Records). Photo Credit: Scott Schleiff
Sykamore is the first artist to sign with Music Knox Records, a joint venture between producer Michael Knox and BBR Music Group/BMG.
The vocalist, musician, composer and storyteller moved to Nashville in 2017 after being discovered on Twitter by hit songwriter, Rhett Akins. Soon after, she signed a publishing deal with Home Team (founded by Rhett Akins and Thomas Rhett as a joint-venture with Roc Nation). In 2018, Sykamore self-released an EP titled Self Medicine that has garnered more than 1.4 million on-demand streams to date. Sykamore is managed by Jake Kennedy at The Anvil.
“I’m honored to be the first artist signed to Music Knox,” said Sykamore. “The passion Michael has brought to this project as A&R and producer is truly amazing, and it makes me so excited for what’s next. The BBR/BMG family has been incredible, and I can’t wait to work with them and put out some great songs!”
“We couldn’t be prouder to have her as our first signing. When I first heard Sykamore, her voice grabbed my attention immediately. Being a song guy, when I found out that she was a writer on everything I was hearing, it was a no brainer for me,” said Knox. “We are very excited for everyone to hear what we love about Sykamore!”
“We are in awe of Sykamore’s talent and I am thrilled to be a part of this team. There is such an extraordinary depth to her songwriting,” said Jon Loba, EVP BBR Music Group. “She has a unique ability to write universally relatable songs while still weaving in such eloquent and intricate details and then deliver it in such a personal way.”
The Carseland, Alberta, Canada native was raised on a fourth-generation cattle ranch in a house built by her great grandfather. She grew up listening to country music and began writing her own music in 2012. Since then, she has been recognized at songwriting-focused events including the ATB All-Albertan Song Contest, Project Wild, and the Canadian Country Music Association’s annual Discovery Program.
Marty Stuart has announced a string of guest performers for his upcoming artist-in-residence shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Stuart will produce and perform three shows — Sept. 11, 18 and 25, 2019 — bringing with him his Fabulous Superlatives band and friends from his nearly half-century of music making.
See below for the lineup:
September 11: The Pilgrim
Stuart will celebrate the rerelease of his landmark 10th studio album, The Pilgrim (1999), which showcases his songwriting and instrumental talents and tells the story of a man from Stuart’s hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi. He will celebrate this 20-year milestone with a host of musical guests including Chris and Morgane Stapleton, Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris, Country Music Hall of Fame member Connie Smith, Gary Carter and Kristin Wilkinson with her Superlative Strings.
September 18: Psychedelic Jam-Bo-Ree
Stuart will celebrate country music of the 1960s, featuring a line-up of influential artists and musicians including Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman of The Byrds, Connie Smith, Old Crow Medicine Show, Buck Trent, Kenny Lovelace, Jim Lauderdale, the Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers and the Fabulous Superlatives.
September 25: Songs That Tell a Story
Stuart will pay homage to country music’s musical stories with an acoustic show. This line-up will feature a number of Nashville’s most influential and revered storytellers including John Prine, Doug Kershaw, Dallas Frazier, Brandy Clark and the Fabulous Superlatives.
Tickets for all three shows are on sale now and can be purchased at CMATheater.com. Tickets for each show range from $39.50 to $85.50 (plus ticketing fees). Sales are limited to four tickets per transaction on a first-come, first-served basis, and are non-refundable. Shows begin at 8:00 p.m. The museum’s artist-in-residence program is presented by Carter Vintage Guitars.
Kodi Chandler has been promoted to Agent in WME’s Nashville office. He joins the music department as a country booking agent.
Chandler began his career at WME in 2013 and over the course of his career has assisted in the booking of colleges, arenas and amphitheaters in the South Central and Upper Midwest as well as booking fairs, festivals and corporate events across the country. The Caddo, Alabama native most recently assisted WME Partner Risha Rodgers with the national and international touring for several artists including Lee Brice, Brett Young, Tyler Farr, Maddie & Tae, Neal McCoy, Mark Chesnutt and others.
Chandler recently graduated from the WME Trainee program, where he held an active leadership role overseeing the WME Speakeasies, quarterly showcases featuring up-and-coming artists intended to build their Nashville presence and maximize exposure to industry personnel. He is an alumnus of the University of North Alabama.
Chandler can be reached at kchandler@wmeagency.com.
Casey Robison and Jamie Cerreta
Big Deal Music Group has named Jamie Cerreta and Casey Robison co-presidents of the company. The announcement comes from Kenny MacPherson, who is assuming the new role of Chief Executive Officer. All three executives will continue operating out of the company’s Los Angeles headquarters.
Founding partners MacPherson, Cerreta and Dave Ayers formed Big Deal Music in 2012, after the three had built Chrysalis Music US into an independent powerhouse prior to its sale to BMG in 2010.
“Jamie and Casey have made critical contributions to establishing Big Deal,” said MacPherson, “and it’s clear to us that they’re not only vital to our continued growth, but to the future of the industry generally. These promotions recognize their achievements, as well as the faith that Dave and I have in them as forward-thinking executives.”
Cerreta recently engineered an alliance with Diplo’s Mad Decent, joining My Morning Jacket, Blake Mills, Local Natives, Weyes Blood, FIDLAR, and SWMRS among those he’s brought to the company. After beginning his career in major label A&R, he first joined MacPherson at Chrysalis in 2002.
“I’m thrilled to be trusted with this opportunity by my partners,” said Cerreta, “And I’m very excited to be entering this next phase with Casey. I’m so proud to be one of the leaders of an independent company, started by friends, who share the belief that we can do something special by always putting the artists and writers first.”
Robison joined Big Deal Music in 2012, moving over from his post at BMI to helm the company’s pop/songwriting division, signing hit-makers John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Joe London, Jake Sinclair, Teddy Geiger and Danny Parker, to name a few. A rapid-fire string of chart success that included hit singles for Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, One Direction, Jason Derulo and Pitbull saw him ascend to partner in 2015. Recent chart success includes hits for Panic! At the Disco, Shawn Mendes and Maroon 5. Robison will also continue to serve as co-CEO with Damon Bunetta of Big Family Music, a venture with Family Affair.
“It’s unique to be part of such a special team, founded on common beliefs and trust,” said Robison, who began his career at Chrysalis, with the very same team he will now help lead in directing its future. “The aim is to create a structure and community for writers and artists that’s both supportive and sustainable. Stepping into this leadership role with Jamie is an honor, coming with great responsibility and challenge. We truly believe we’re building one of the great music companies of the future.”
Florida Georgia Line and guests at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Courtesy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
On Saturday, June 15, Florida Georgia Line‘s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard brought along tour-mates Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and Canaan Smith for a special visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The group played for the patients and their families ahead of the duo’s 2019 Can’t Say I Ain’t Country tour stop that night in Southaven, Mississippi.
The entertainers offered renditions of their biggest hits, and hung out with patients and their families. They also spoke of the impact the work of St. Jude has had on them, while sharing stories and songs with children who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The wives of the performers, including Hayley Hubbard, Brittney Kelley, Hannah Mooney, Abby Smyers, and Christy Smith joined by their friends, Caroline Hobby, Catherine Nail, Gabi McCreery, and Kristen Brust, took time after the show to take a personalized tour of the St. Jude campus.
Morgan Wallen and HARDY meet a St. Jude patient. Photo: Courtesy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
On Saturday, June 15, Florida Georgia Line along with Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and Canaan Smith made a special visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo: Courtesy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Canaan Smith performs. Photo: Courtesy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Cheyenne Frontier Days, the 10-day, western-themed festival taking place from July 19-28 in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, will feature appearances from Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, Post Malone, Kelsea Ballerini, Tanya Tucker and more on the Frontier Nights stage.
The Cowboy Channel has also partnered with the festival to broadcast live all nine days of rodeo action and feature other Western lifestyle activities from their “World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo & Western Celebration.” Broadcasting the event will help fill the need for more Western sports and Western lifestyle coverage and attract new fans to rodeo.
“The Cowboy Channel is proud to partner with Cheyenne Frontier Days as the first organization to agree to carry all nine days of action-packed rodeo,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of The Cowboy Channel.
Frontier Nights Concert Schedule:
July 19
Lady Antebellum with Kelsea Ballerini and Midland
7:00 pm @ Arena
July 20
Rascal Flatts with Clint Black
8:00 pm @ Arena
July 21
Josh Turner with Tanya Tucker
8:00 pm @ Arena
July 22
Miranda Lambert with Randy Houser
8:00 pm @ Arena
July 25
Post Malone (SOLD OUT)
8:00 pm @ Arena
July 26
Keith Urban with Walker Hayes
8:00 pm @ Arena
July 27
Tim McGraw with Devin Dawson
8:00 pm @ Arena
Tickets and information about Cheyenne Frontier Days is available here.
The National Music Council will honor the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at the 36th annual American Eagle Awards on Thursday, July 18 at the National Association of Music Merchants’ Summer NAMM Show in Nashville. Other previously announced honorees include iconic funk visionary George Clinton and the late beloved Peanuts composer and jazz piano giant Vince Guaraldi. Pianist George Winstonwill give a tribute in honor of Guaraldi while country singer/songwriter John Rich will perform in honor of Clinton, who will be on hand to receive the award.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will receive the American Eagle Award in honor of its commitment to the preservation of American musical heritage and culture and for the organization’s music education programs that serve both children and adults. Nashville singer-songwriter Liz Rose, an active participant in the museum’s educational programming, is expected to present the award to the organization.
In 2018, the museum welcomed more than 1.2 million guests presented 12 exhibitions, and guided 1,241 educational programs that provided music-related instruction for nearly 100,000 people.
Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman for Sony Records Nashville
Just a week after being invited to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Luke Combs continues to break records by charting five tracks from his new EP, The Prequel, on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Top 25—a feat not accomplished by any artist in since Johnny Cash in 1959. The tracks are also in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Songs Sales chart.
Additionally, Combs has achieved the largest streaming week ever for a country artist and currently holds the top two spots on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart with The Prequel (No. 1) and his debut album, This One’s For You (No. 2).
Produced by Scott Moffatt, The Prequel features five songs co-written by Combs including lead single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart” which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Streaming Songs chart with 11 million streams—setting the record for the best first week of streaming ever for a country song. It also recently set the record for most adds on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart with 149 adds and debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart—the top entrance by any artist since September 2012 and Combs’ highest debut to date.