BMLG Records Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary, Record-Breaking Achievements

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Pictured (L-R, back row): BMLG’s Andrew Kautz, Brett Young, Lady Antebellum, Riley Green; (L-R, front row): BMLGR’s Jimmy Harnen, Danielle Bradbery, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, BMLG’s Sandi Spika Borchetta. Photo: Seth Hellman for BMLG Records

BMLG Records commemorated 10 years of success Tuesday (6/5) at the Big Machine Store & Distillery with a brunch celebrating the label’s milestone anniversary.

Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta joined BMLGR President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen to welcome staff and VIP partners to the event, celebrating accomplishments and toasting to the label’s future. Lady Antebellum, Brett Young, Riley Green, Danielle Bradbery and other artists mingled with guests at the brunch ahead of the CMT Music Awards and CMA Music Fest activities.

BMLG Records boasts record-breaking sales, 31 No. 1 singles with 39 Top 10 hits, and over 50 accolades from the Grammys, CMA, ACM, CMT, Billboard, American Music Awards and more. The label is home to two of the five most-downloaded country singles of all time: Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young.”

Pictured (L-R, back row): BMLGR’s Andrew Thoen, BMLGR’s Michelle Kammerer, Brett Young, Lady Antebellum, Riley Green, BMLGR’s Cherylynne Nader, BMLGR’s Andi Brooks;(L-R, front row): BMLG’s Andrew Kautz, BMLGR’s Liz Santana, BMLGR’s Madeline Farr, BMLGR’s Jimmy Harnen, Danielle Bradbery, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, BMLG’s Sandi Spika Borchetta, BMLGR’s Stella Prado, BMLGR’s Matthew Hargis. Photo: Seth Hellman for BMLG Records

Big Loud Celebrates CMT Music Awards At FGL House Bash

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Troy “Tracker” Johnson (Manager), Lloyd Norman (VP Of Special Projects & Strategic Management, Big Loud), Joey Moi (Partner) Kevin “Chief” Zaruk (Partner), Morgan Wallen, Seth England (Partner), Clay Hunnicutt (President, Big Loud Records), HARDY; (L-R, front row) Jeremy Groves (Manager), Stacy Blythe (VP Of Promotion, Big Loud Records), Chris Lane, Craig Wiseman (Partner), Mackenzie Porter, Candice Watkins (VP Of Marketing, Big Loud Records), Patch Culbertson (VP Of A&R)

Big Loud hosted its annual after-party at FGL House on Nashville’s lower Broadway Wednesday night (June 5) to celebrate the 2019 CMT Music Awards. The label continued toasting to an already exciting week, claiming the No.1 song on the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts, as well as the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart this week with Morgan Wallen‘s “Whiskey Glasses,” and the No. 1 most-added new track at country radio with Jake Owen‘s “Homemade.”

Pictured (L-R, back row): Joey Moi (Partner) Kevin “Chief” Zaruk (Partner), Morgan Wallen, Seth England (Partner), Clay Hunnicutt (President, Big Loud Records), HARDY; (L-R, back row): Chris Lane, Craig Wiseman (Partner), Mackenzie Porter

Luke Combs Releases New EP ‘The Prequel’

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Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman for Sony Records Nashville

Luke Combs’ highly anticipated new five-song EP, The Prequel, is out today (June 7) via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. In celebration of the release, Combs will host his Second Annual Bootleggers Fan Club Party today in Nashville. Fans can stream the event live via Combs’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages starting at 12:00 p.m. CT.

Produced by Scott Moffatt, all five songs on the EP were 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. The song 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.

The Prequel Track List:
1. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” (written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
2. “Refrigerator Door” (written by Luke Combs, Jordan Brooker)
3. “Even Though I’m Leaving” (written by Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher)
4. “Lovin’ On You” (written by Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Ray Fulcher, James McNair)
5. “Moon Over Mexico” (written by Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton)

The Prequel is available for streaming and purchasing here.

Weekly Chart Report (6/7/19)

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

Industry Ink: BMI, Montgomery Gentry, Country Now

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BMI Celebrates Third Annual Acoustic Brunch

Pictured (L-R): Alex Hall, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Twelve6 Entertainment’s Travis Myatt and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Nathan Zucker

On Wednesday (June 5), industry tastemakers gathered on the BMI Rooftop for the third annual Acoustic Brunch. The event serves as the kickoff for a marathon two weeks in Nashville centering on CMA Music Fest and Bonnaroo. The curated event kicked off with Monument recording artist Alex Hall and wrapped with Americana artist and award-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle.

Guests were treated to sponsored food and beverage from O’Charley’s, Bartles & Jaymes, High Brew Coffee, Topo Chico, Walker’s Feed Co., and Yee-Haw Brewing Company. Crown Royal was also on-site with their Purple Bag Project; the initiative invited attendees to create a care package in the signature purple Crown Royal bags for troops serving overseas. Delta Air Lines was also in attendance with a flight voucher giveaway.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Nina Carter and Molly Tuttle. Photo: Nathan Zucker

 

Eddie Montgomery Presents Check to Angie Gentry at Fan Club Party

Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry presented Angie Gentry, wife of the late MG member Troy Gentry, with a check for $2,500 to benefit The Troy Gentry Foundation at the band’s fan club party at Acme Seed & Feed earlier this week  (on June 4) kicking off CMA Music Fest Week.

 

Former Sounds Like Nashville Editor Launches Country Now

Newly-launched country music website Country Now is being helmed by Editor-In-Chief Lauren Black. The site will include country music news, in addition to three segments highlighting top artists (The Profile), rising stars (Country Next) and The Pupdate, which features artists of all levels being interviewed while playing with puppies that are available for adoption through Nashville-based nonprofit Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue.

“I am thrilled to announce the launch of Country Now. I believe a platform like this is needed in the country music space now more than ever,” shares Black. “Fans need a trusted place to consume content about their favorite country stars and Country Now will deliver just that.”

Black co-founded the country news site CountryMusicIsLove in 2008 and sold it seven years later to major label UMG, when it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. Black continued as Editor-in-Chief for the site for two and a half years. She also recently held country music journalism roles at Forbes.com and Answers.com.

2019 CMT Music Awards Brings In 2.7 Million Viewers

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The 2019 CMT Music Awards scored 2.7 million total viewers live + same day, a 29 percent increase from last year.

Ratings for the show were P18-49 = 1.24, up 49 percent and driven by the addition of MTV and its suite of brands. Looking at the same networks year-over-year (CMT, Paramount, TVLand) without MTV’s suite of brands, the show was up 8 percent P25-54 (1.15), and flat with total viewers. A near 60 percent increase was seen with P18-34 = .99 compared to .63 last year.

Social numbers through noon June 6 grew from the prior year by 150 percent, marking the No. 1 most social primetime program across broadcast and cable for the night, and the most in CMT Music Awards history.

The Recording Academy Names National Officers Of The Board Of Trustees

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The Recording Academy has announced its newly-elected National Officers of the Board of Trustees.

Record producer Harvey Mason Jr. has been elected as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and managing partner of Placement Music Tammy Hurt will serve as Vice Chair. Veteran music executive Terry Hemmings was re-elected Secretary/Treasurer and recording artist and founder/CEO of Swan Songs Christine Albert assumes the position of Chair Emeritus. All officer appointments were effective on June 1, 2019.

“Following the outcome of our annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, it’s clear the Recording Academy’s governance continues to demonstrate its commitment to keeping the Academy a relevant and responsive organization,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “We are thrilled with the diversity and depth of music industry experience embodied by our new slate of National Officers. These esteemed and talented individuals will continue to carry out the mission of this organization which works on behalf of all music creators and professionals year-round.”

Harvey Mason Jr. has penned and produced songs for Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears and more. Mason has been instrumental in producing music films and TV events including Dreamgirls, Sparkle, Shrek, the Pitch Perfect franchise, Straight Outta Compton, SING, and TV shows, including The Wiz Live! and Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert.

Tammy Hurt has served on the Board of the Recording Academy’s Atlanta Chapter for 14 years. Hurt is the managing partner of Placement Music, a boutique entertainment firm specializing in custom music, scoring, and licensing, which was commissioned by FOX Sports for a second consecutive Super Bowl broadcast to create an original full orchestral score. Additional credits include Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, HBO, BET, Sony, Lifetime, Hallmark, NFL, NASCAR, True Blood, Dexter, Drop Dead Diva, Mean Girls 2, and multiple custom placements in the indie film HITS, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. A co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Georgia Music Partners, Hurt spearheaded the campaign to create and pass Georgia’s first standalone music tax incentive, the Georgia Music Investment Act. She is a recipient of Catalyst Magazine‘s Top 25 Entrepreneurs and Ones to Watch Award and is an openly LGBTQ Officer of the Academy.

Terry Hemmings serves as president/CEO of Provident Music Group (Sony Music Entertainment), overseeing Provident Label Group—Essential Records, Reunion Records, Essential Worship, RCA Inspiration, Essential Sound, Verity, Fo Yo Soul/RCA, ReMade Records, and House Music. His rosters include Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher, Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Matthew West, Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Marvin Sapp, and Donnie McClurkin, and Koryn Hawthorne. Hemmings oversees Provident Films (War Room, Courageous, and Woodlawn), Essential Music Publishing, and Essential Artist Services. A Leadership Music alum, he serves on boards of the RIAA, Gospel Music Trust Fund, and Music City Music Council in addition to the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.

Christine Albert is an independent recording artist and founder/CEO of Swan Songs, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit that fulfills musical last wishes. Albert has released 12 independent albums as a solo artist and as part of the folk/Americana duo Albert And Gage. Albert and her husband and musical partner Chris Gage also own and operate MoonHouse Studio and MoonHouse Records in Austin. Albert is known for her “Texafrance” series of French/English recordings that combine her European heritage and Texas musical roots. She has appeared on “Austin City Limits,” was honored as Female Vocalist of the Year by the Kerrville Folk Festival Music Awards, and  was awarded Superstar of Austin Music by the Austin Chamber of Commerce for her community service work. She was inducted into the Texas Songwriter’s Association Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame in 2018. In addition to her role as Chair Emeritus for the Recording Academy, she also currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Latin Recording Academy and the Board of Directors of MusiCares.

These elected officers, in partnership with current President/CEO Portnow and incoming President/CEO Deborah Dugan, will lead the Board of Trustees and Recording Academy senior staff to strategically guide and shape the mission and policies of the Academy and its affiliates.

Granger Smith’s 3-Year-Old Son River Dies

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Granger Smith

Condolences to Granger Smith and his family, who revealed today (June 6) the loss of their youngest son, three-year-old River Kelly Smith, due to an accident.

Granger and wife Amber are also parents to River’s older siblings, London (7) and Lincoln (5).

Smith shared the following in a message to fans:

I have to deliver unthinkable news. We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived. Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father. Riv was special. Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts. If there are words to say more, I cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this.

Granger’s wife Amber echoed the news on her social account, saying “Nothing can prepare a mother to deliver this kind of news.”

“In lieu of flowers or gifts,” the couple requested that those wanting to give to “please send donations to Dell Children’s Medical Center in River’s name. The doctors, nurses and staff have been incredible.”

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I have to deliver unthinkable news. We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived. Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father. Riv was special. Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts. If there are words to say more, I cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this. . . In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to Dell Children’s Medical Center in River’s name. The doctors, nurses and staff have been incredible.

A post shared by Granger Smith (@grangersmith) on

 

DISClaimer: Trisha Yearwood Is “Magnificent” On “Every Girl In This Town”

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What country acts have timed new music for release during CMA Fest?

Well, that parade includes such familiar names as Old Dominion, Tracy Lawrence, Julie Roberts, Jake Owen, the Zac Brown Band and our Disc of the Day winner, Trisha Yearwood.

Also: Old Crow Medicine Show member Chance McCoy steps out as a solo artist to claim a DisCovery Award.

TRISHA YEARWOOD/Every Girl In This Town
Writers: Erik Dylan/Caitlyn Smith/Connie Harrington; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publishers: none listed; Gwendolyn
– Magnificent. This is one of the greatest voices, male or female, in this or any other format. The driving song soars with youthful nostalgia and optimism, and just the right spice of empowerment. Yearwood is a goddess. Play her.

JAKE OWEN/Homemade
Writers: Bobby Pinson/Drew Parker/Jared Mullins/Ben Goldsmith; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– It’s over produced, too processed and “busy” sounding. But the warm ode to small-town values has its heart in the right place. And he’s singing as well as ever.

JULIE ROBERTS/I Couldn’t Make You Love Me
Writers: Rudy Perez/Mark Portmann/John Bettis; Publishers: none listed; Producers: none listed; JR
– She’s always been one of our most underrated singers. On this comeback single, she unleashes admirable power and emotion. I just wish it was a country song instead of a pop ballad.

OLD DOMINION/One Man Band
Writers: none listed; Producer:none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– I like the stripped-down, finger poppin’ sonics of this. The lyric is a left-field delight, a wish for companionship with a music-making metaphor. A nice job by this always dependable ensemble.

JENNY TOLMAN/High Class White Trash
Writers: Jenny Tolman/Dave Brainard; Producers: Dave Brainard; Publishers: none listed; JT
– It is one of the great mysteries of modern times: Why isn’t this gifted woman on a major label? This delightful, lightly funky, fabulously witty outing is yet another brilliant feather in her cap. The beauty-parlor video is a hoot, as is the slightly naughty lyric. Essential listening.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Someone I Used To Know
– This manages the tricky feat of managing to be both catchy and meaningful at the same time. It’s a rhythmic, cautionary tale of a young life wasted. As ever, they are unlike any other act in the country genre. Which is to be applauded.

TUCKER BEATHARD/Find Me Here
– So impressive. Acoustic, raw, vulnerable and painfully real. This ballad of dissolution and despondence cuts mighty close to the bone. This guy has the goods.

TRAVIS DENNING/Tank of Gas And A Radio Song
Writers: Travis Denning/Nathan Spicer/Shane Minor; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– I have yet to hear a wrong note from this fellow. This thumper has a steamy, simmering, sexy vibe that’s perfect for a hot summer night. Spin it, spin it, spin it.

CHANCE MCCOY/Lonesome Pine
– Best known as a multi-instrumentalist member of Old Crow Medicine Show, McCoy reveals his solo style on this haunting, atmospheric, psych-folk meditation. It has open-air, wafting, whispery, melancholy solitude that is just dreamy.

TRACY LAWRENCE/Made In America
Writers: Tracy Lawrence/Rick Huckaby/Adam Sanders; Producers: Julian King and Tracy Lawrence; LMG
– It is stirring and uplifting and terrifically rhythmic. But it has a too-similar feeling to Toby Keith’s identically titled 2011 chart-topping single.

Chris Stapleton Sings New Randy Newman-Penned Song On ‘Toy Story 4’ Soundtrack

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Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton lends his voice to the new Toy Story 4 movie soundtrack, performing the film’s end credit version of “The Ballad Of The Lonesome Cowboy.”

The Walt Disney Records’ soundtrack album, which reunites the Toy Story franchise with the Academy Award-winning composer and songwriter Randy Newman, features two new songs, “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” and Stapleton’s song. The soundtrack will be released June 21 as the movie opens in theaters nationwide.

“To me what has made the Toy Story films hold up over time has been the strength of the stories and the songs and the writing and the characters,” said Stapleton of the movies. “There’s something for people of all ages to enjoy in the world that is Toy Story. It’s a tremendous honor to get to sing a Randy Newman song in what is without question one of the most iconic animated franchises in history.”

The Toy Story films are beloved worldwide for their compelling characters, storytelling, stunning visuals and the music of Randy Newman. The composer and songwriter is behind signature songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Strange Things,” “When She Loved Me” and “We Belong Together,” the last of which earned him an Academy Award for best original song in 2010.

YouTube video