Kane Brown Earns Biggest Country Artist Debut In History At Houston Rodeo

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Pictured (L-R): Jim Winne, Chairman Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Joel Cowley, President/CEO Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with Kane Brown. Photo: Alex Alvga

Kane Brown made history with his debut at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Saturday night (March 9), where he played to a ticketed audience of 75,126 fans, earning him the biggest country artist debut in Houston Rodeo history and the Top 15th evening overall in paid attendance ever for the event.

Brown wrapped his headlining arena Live Forever Tour with his debut performance at the Houston Rodeo, and in a milestone moment for the 25-year-old entertainer, he also received a surprise plaque presented by Chairman Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Jim Winne, and Joel Cowley, President/CEO Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, commemorating the official 4X-Platinum certification of his No. 1 hit, “Heaven.”

“Heaven”s 4X-Platinum status follows Brown’s earlier certification of his chart-topping single “What Ifs” as 4X-Platinum, and makes Brown one of only five country artists to achieve multiple 4X-Platinum singles (others include Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, and Taylor Swift). Also nominated for Single of the Year at the 2019 ACM Awards and for Country Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, “Heaven” was country’s most-played airplay hit of 2018.

A lifelong fan of the Rodeo, the milestone was particularly meaningful to Brown, who often sites memories of his childhood playing rodeo with his grandfather and great grandfather, both honored in Brown’s self-titled debut album through his songs “Coldspot” and “Granddaddy’s Chair.”

Earlier in the week Brown celebrated his inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit, where his wardrobe from his first American Music Awards, the evening he won three AMAs (Country Song, Best Country Album, Best Country Artist)  is currently on display.

Spotify Responds To Backlash Regarding CRB Royalty Ruling Appeal

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It was reported last week that Spotify, along with Google, Amazon and Pandora, had filed a notice of appeal for the ruling that formally issued the final rates and terms for songwriter mechanical royalties, determining the amount labels and digital services are to pay music publishers.

Since this announcement, the streaming service has faced backlash from the songwriting community. Well-known songwriters like Natalie Hemby, Lee Thomas Miller and Luke Laird have since shared their feelings about the appeal on social media.

Spotify responded to the backlash today in a blog post titled: You Might Have Heard about the Streaming Industry’s CRB Appeal—Here’s What You Need to Know. The blog post opens with:

“In the U.S., the royalty rates for publishing rights for digital music services are determined by a panel of judges, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB). The rates also create a reference point for services that don’t rely on these government-set rates, and they indirectly influence the ways that publishing license rates work around the world. The CRB recently came to a conclusion about how these rights and rates would work for the next few years. And we appealed the outcome.”

Further, the post rejects that Spotify is ‘suing’ songwriters, and that songwriters do deserve to be paid more, but that the industry needs to “to continue evolving to ensure that the people who create the music we all love…can earn a living.” While Spotify does claim to support the U.S. effective rates rising to 15 percent between now and 2022,  they write that “the CRB’s 15% rate doesn’t account for all these rights,” like for music videos and lyrics. To address the streaming service’s reasoning behind their appeal, they write:

“The CRB rate structure is complex and there were significant flaws in how it was set. A key area of focus in our appeal will be the fact that the CRB’s decision makes it very difficult for music services to offer “bundles” of music and non-music offerings. This will hurt consumers who will lose access to them. These bundles are key to attracting first-time music subscribers so we can keep growing the revenue pie for everyone.

Music services, artists, songwriters and all other rightsholders share the same revenue stream, and it’s natural for everyone to want a bigger piece of that pie. But that cannot come at the expense of continuing to grow the industry via streaming. The CRB judges set the new publishing rates by assuming that record labels would react by reducing their licensing rates, but their assumption is incorrect. However, we are willing to support an increase in songwriter royalties provided the license encompasses the right scope of publishing rights.”

Read the blog post in its entity here.

 

Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, Travis Denning, Cam Visit Europe During C2C Festival

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Pictured (L-R): Jimmie Allen, Travis Denning, Cam, Laura Veltz, Ross Copperman. Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

The Country Music Association visited Europe and the U.K. last week with stops in Berlin, Amsterdam and London as part of the C2C: Country to Country festival, bringing CMA’s new international artist-focused touring series, Introducing Nashville, to fans in Berlin and Amsterdam, followed by a return CMA Songwriters Series performance in London.

Pictured: (L-R): Lindsay Ell, Lauren Jenkins, Logan Mize. Photo: Kai Heimberg/CMA

As part of CMA’s international expansion initiatives, Introducing Nashville provides a platform to introduce artists to new audiences around the globe. The touring series brought Lindsay Ell, Lauren Jenkins and Logan Mize to European fans for the first time, opening the mainstage at C2C Berlin at the Verti Arena Berlin on Saturday (March 2), in addition to performing as part of C2C Amsterdam at AFAS Amsterdam on Monday( March 4). Introducing Nashville brings the unique Nashville-style songwriter’s round to each city, with artists appearing on stage together in an acoustic lineup, introducing their songs and sharing highlights of their careers and personal stories.

Pictured (L-R): Jimmie Allen, Ross Copperman, Cam, Laura Veltz, Travis Denning. Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

Following stops in Berlin and Amsterdam, CMA’s CMA Songwriters Series returned to London’s indigo at The O2 Thursday (March 7), kicking off C2C London with a sold-out performance. Hosted by Cam, the lineup included hit Nashville songwriters and artists including Jimmie Allen, Ross Copperman, Travis Denning and Laura Veltz. Both Denning and Veltz made their first-ever international appearances. The performance marked the sixth London appearance and third consecutive sold-out CMA Songwriters Series during C2C.

Pictured (L-R): Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer; Roland Hill, WTW Music, co-manager of Ward Thomas; Catherine Ward Thomas and Lizzy Ward Thomas of Ward Thomas; Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

While in London, CMA presented two awards in recognition of individuals for their efforts in spreading the country genre internationally. British country duo Ward Thomas received the CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award during the CMA Songwriters Series show, as Cam surprised both artists with the award before the other songwriters on stage urged them to perform their song “Cartwheels.”

BBC Radio 2 Radio Host Baylen Leonard was presented with the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award by Bob Shennan, BBC Director, Radio & Music and CMA Board member, during CMA’s U.K. Task Force meeting in London on Friday (March 8).

Pictured (L-R): Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer; Bob Shennan, BBC Director, Radio & Music and CMA Board member; Baylen Leonard, BBC Radio 2 Radio Host; Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

Signings: Conner Sweet Signs With Given Music, Emily Minor Signs With Green Hills Music

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Conner Sweet Signs With Given Music Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Jim Kacmarcik, Partner, Given Entertainment; Hollandsworth; Sweet; Cindy Owen, Partner, Given Entertainment and Jenny Hall, Creative Director, Given Music Publishing. Photo: Bev Moser

Conner Sweet has signed a publishing deal with Given Music.

Sweet was raised in Hendersonville, TN and by age 16 began playing regular gigs in Nashville, splitting his high school years between Goodpasture Christian School and clubs on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. At the same time, he also began honing his songwriting skills, working closely with veteran songwriter/mentor Marty Dodson.

“I knew when I first heard Conner’s voice on a demo that he was someone we wanted to join the Given team,” said Michael Hollandsworth, Given VP/GM. “From his years performing on lower Broad, he knows exactly who he is and the type of music he wants to make. Although he’s only 21 years old, he has a love and respect for the music that brought the country market to where it is today. We are all excited that Conner has chosen Given to be the jumping off point to what promises to be a long and illustrious career.”

“I am so excited to join the Given team,” Sweet said. “I’ve grown up in Nashville and since I was a kid, all I’ve wanted to do is make country music. God has blessed me with this opportunity to do just that.”

 

Green Hills Music Group Signs Emily Minor

Photo L-R: Woody Bomar, Green Hills Music Group, Emily Minor, Leslie Mitchell, Grin Like A Dog Management. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow

Singer-songwriter Emily Minor has signed a publishing deal with Green Hills Music Group, as she focuses on writing for her upcoming project. Minor has performed at CMA Fest, The Opry City Stage in New York City, WSM Radio and has shared the stage with Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, Dustin Lynch, Parmalee, Lee Brice and many others. Following her American Idol experience, the Wilmington, NC native headed to Nashville to pursue music.

“Emily is extremely talented, laser-focused on her style and has the energy of a SpaceX rocket,” said Woody Bomar, President/Owner, Green Hills Music Group. “This is going to be a fun journey. We are thankful to become part of her amazing team”

“I’m so happy to be on board with Woody Bomar and Green Hills Music Group,” said Minor. “I was thrilled when they said ‘yes’ to me, and that means more than I can say.”

Green Hills Music Group was founded in 2007 and is home to songs recorded by such artists as Luke Bryan, George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, Hunter Hayes and Hillary Scott and The Scott Family. Minor’s career is managed by Leslie Mitchell of Grin Like A Dog Management.

For more information visit www.EmilyMinor.net.

Trace Adkins, Dillon Carmichael, The Sisterhood Band Added To Hometown Rising Festival

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Trace Adkins, Dillon Carmichael, and The Sisterhood Band have been added to the lineup for Hometown Rising. As previously announced, the festival’s lineup will feature performances by Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard, and more. The new country music and bourbon festival will debut September 14-15 at Highland Festival Grounds at the KY Expo Center in Louisville.

Fans can purchase exclusive VIP packages, general admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets at HometownRising.com. Fans can also purchase a special “Trifesta” Pass for the discounted rate of $229.00 plus fees that allows General Admission weekend access to three fall festivals in Louisville—Hometown Rising (September 14-15), Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29).

Hometown Rising’s lineup:
Saturday, September 14: Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, Frankie Ballard, The Cadillac Three, Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, The Steel Woods, Clare Dunn, Noah Guthrie, Kassi Ashton, J.D. Shelburne, The Sisterhood Band, Raelyn Nelson Band, Alice Wallace, Imaj

Sunday, September 15: Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Lauren Alaina, LOCASH, Drake White and The Big Fire, The Wild Feathers, Mason Ramsey, Gabby Barrett, Dillon Carmichael, Everette, Lauren Jenkins, Jeffrey East, Hannah Ellis, Kendall Shaffer

 

Collective Artist Management Elevates Craig Dunn To Vice President

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Craig Dunn. Photo: Judith Hill

Collective Artist Management (CAM) has elevated industry professional Craig Dunn to Vice President of the company effective immediately. While continuing management duties for clients Sara Evans, Born To Fly Records and Grant Landis, his new position gives him an expanded role in the ongoing efforts of the company’s entire roster—adding Clint Black, Corey Smith, Edwin McCain and Steve Wariner to the list—and a key strategic voice in identifying opportunities for the growth and trajectory of Collective Artist Management.

“Craig’s expertise, creativity and experience have proven invaluable to our client roster and to Collective Artist Management,” says Brinson Strickland, President, Collective Artist Management. “Since joining our company, he has further grown Sara’s brand, including overseeing Born To Fly Records operations and adding co-A&R responsibilities for her acclaimed album Words, and signed and launched the first single from pop R&B artist Grant Landis (Timbaland). By expanding his role, I am confident that Craig will continue to be instrumental in CAM’s new business development and strategic growth.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside such an amazing, passionate, and focused team. Our artists truly are world class and I am committed to finding innovative ways for them to share their talent and music with their fans. I’m also so excited to help grow and expand both our roster and comprehensive management offerings,” says Dunn.

Dunn joined Collective Artist Management in 2012. Prior to joining the tenured firm, he was partnered with digital marketing & merchandise company Music City Networks (MCN) as Senior Vice President. In addition to his entertainment industry expertise, Dunn’s experience expands to politics, having worked with Larry Craig campaign for U.S. Senate as Deputy Assistant Campaign Manager in 2002. He also spent three years at PinnPointe Consulting Group as Director of IT and Marketing. He attended both the University of Portland and Boise State University majoring in Business Management and Marketing.

Dunn can be reached at cdunn@collectiveartistmgmt.com.

CMT ‘Next Women of Country’ Presents Clare Dunn As Featured Performer At ‘Rising Women On The Row’ Honors

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Clare Dunn

Presented by CMT Next Women of Country, MCA/Universal Nashville singer/songwriter Clare Dunn will bring her musical talents to MusicRow‘s 8th annual Rising Women on the Row event on March 26th.

Get your tickets to the Omni Nashville Hotel event at MusicRow.com

Dunn’s transfixing vocals and unparalleled guitar chops contributed to her inclusion into CMT’s 2015 class of Next Women of Country. As one of 64 talented female artists to be inducted into CMT’s Next Women franchise since 2013, Dunn will have the distinction next month to be highlighted further in the 2019 Next Women of Country Tour, which will stop in major markets including New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Boston with Hannah Ellis and Cassadee Pope.

Over the years, several of CMT’s Next Women of Country inductees have found commercial and critical acclaim, including Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Maren Morris and Ashley McBryde. Two years before “Tomato Gate” CMT executive Leslie Fram noticed a distinct divide on the country charts, which were dominated by male artists. The Next Women of Country franchise has gone on to fulfill its commitment to highlight signed and unsigned female country music up-and-comers with on-air programming, online programming, with exclusive video premieres and live performances.

Such is the decision to feature Dunn at MusicRow‘s eighth annual Rising Women on the Row honors. Before signing to Universal Music Group Nashville in 2014, the Colorado Native found success on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart as the highest charting indie female from the prior decade. That same can-do attitude helped her pay her way through Belmont University by driving harvest and silage trucks cross-country. After hearing her sound check only once, rock legend Bob Seger invited her to open his Ride Out Tour. Recently, her charitable spirit helped raise over $25,000 for her home state of Colorado’s FFA Foundation and Children’s Hospital with help from the Academy of Country Music. That drive to give back also led to her Heartland Tour early on in her career, to benefit and highlight small, struggling farming communities similar to her own in Southeast Colorado, with a population of approximately 30.

Her self-titled EP was released in 2015 and includes “Tuxedo,” a song about the example her dad set in displaying strength of character in a man, in addition to her debut single, “Move On.”

Last year Dunn gave fans a glimpse of her sentimental side with the co-written single, “More,” co-written with Gordie Sampson and Josh Kear

Brandi Carlile, Lauren Daigle Reveal Apple Playlists For International Women’s Day

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Brandi Carlile and Lauren Daigle are among the female artists helping Apple Music highlight the work of visionary female music artists throughout the month of August. For International Women’s Day (March 8), recent Grammy winners Carlile and Daigle have each revealed playlists filled with music from some of the female artists who have inspired them.

Carlile’s playlist includes songs from Patsy Cline, H.E.R., Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Janelle Monae, Maren Morris and Tanya Tucker, while Daigle’s playlist includes works from Lauren Hill, Whitney Houston, Etta James, Anita Baker, Sade, and Sister Sledge.

Other artists revealing playlists include Cardi B, Camila Cabello and Halsey. Also more than 100 Apple Music playlists feature single and multiple female artists, while 3000+ tracks are featured within women-themed playlists, and a complete 24-hour Beats 1 takeover with shows and host-led conversations highlighting content and issues that matter to women worldwide.

Apple also partnered with human rights activist Annie Lennox and the NGO she founded, The Circle, for a Global International Women’s Day short film in support of Global Feminism, featuring famous faces (Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Mary J. Blige, etc) highlighting the injustices still experienced by millions of women and girls on a global level—from misogyny, rape and violence to pay disparity.

YouTube video

Industry Ink: BMI, CMA Foundation, Granville Automatic

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Will Muse Signs With BMI

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter & David Preston; Will Muse; Bernard Porter, PCG Nashville; Britton Cameron, Producer; Jeremy Westby, 2911 Media

Prodigy teenage pop rock musician, and Somerset, Kentucky native Will Muse recently signed a performing rights agreement with BMI in Nashville. Muse joined BMI’s David Preston and Mason Hunter for the signing.

Muse is prepping his first single “Spend,” which will be followed by a six-song EP, co-written and produced by Britton Cameron.

 

CMA Foundation Takes Part In West Virginia’s Music Teacher Hill Day

The CMA Foundation and artist Christian Lopez visit the West Virginia State Capitol for the West Virginia Music Educators Association State Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

The CMA Foundation took part in West Virginia’s first Music Teacher Hill Day on March 6. The CMA Foundation teamed with West Virginia native and Americana artist Christian Lopez to meet with Mitch Carmichael, West Virginia State Senate President District 4 and Lieutenant Governor; Marshall Wilson, West Virginia House of Delegates District 60; John Unger, West Virginia State Senate District 16; Roger Hanshaw, West Virginia House of Delegates District 33; and Patricia Rucker, West Virginia State Senate District 16 to discuss the importance of music education.

During the reception, Lopez performed “Stay With You,” with his middle school band teacher in attendance, JP Lynch, who is also an executive member of West Virginia Music Educators Association.

 

Songwriters Elizabeth Elkins, Vanessa Olivarez Ink Book Deal

Songwriters Elizabeth Elkins and Vanessa Olivarez of the duo Granville Automatic (Billy Currington, Sugarland, Wanda Jackson, Angaleena Presley) have signed a book deal with The History Press to write The Hidden History of Music Row. The book, due in spring 2020, will be co-written with Brian Allison, son of CMA founder and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Joe Allison.

OMG! I’m A Songwriter Celebrates International Women’s Day With Panel

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Pictured (L-R): Robin Palmer, Tracy Gershon, Katie Kerkhover, Kendall Lettow, Mary Kutter

OMG! I’m A Songwriter, a grassroots songwriter support community in Nashville, celebrated International Women’s Day at BMI on Thursday (March 7) with a Women’s Day Panel featuring Change the Conversation co-founder, Tracy Gershon, SMACKSongs’ Robin Palmer, Sony/ATV’s Katie Kerkhover, and peermusic’s Kendall Lettow.

Hosted by Mary Kutter, OMG! I’m A Songwriter’s co-founder, the panel centered around being a woman in the music industry, both as an artist and songwriter as well as a businessperson.

Gershon, whose career includes time in publishing, A&R, concert promotion, management and more, provided some insight on the challenges facing women in the music business.  The Change the Conversation co-founder currently works with Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile at Atlas Music Publishing, and also manages Natalie Stovall with Red Light Management.

“When I first moved to town, I never heard ‘female vs male,'” Gershon said. “I’ve got to tell you, it’s terrible right now.

“One thing that [Change the Conversation] did is we got a bunch of young female artists in one room and said ‘look, you guys have been told that there’s one slot at a record label and that makes you inherently very competitive,’ so what we have to say to everybody is that a win for one is a win for all and you guys have to support each other. If one person is doing well, go out there and support them. Show up at the showcases, Tweet, do all the stuff. We have really seen this camaraderie that we thought was not existing between young female artists; and that’s a start,” she said.

Now Creative Manager at Sony/ATV, Katie Kerkhover spoke to being a businesswoman and being a female artist on the road. She learned from playing fiddle in both Sara Evans and Billy Currington’s bands. “Touring is a very male-dominated part of the industry,” she said. “Not only the band members, but the crew. You have to do a lot out on the road to make sure that you’re mindful [being a young woman.]

“Work hard,” Kerkhover continued. “Be good at what you do and work really hard. Be the best, regardless of male of female. At the end of the day talent, hard work, attitude, drive; those things don’t have a gender.”

Robin Palmer, who currently serves as Senior Vice President – Creative at SMACKSongs, shared what inspires her to sign new acts. “I think it’s just talent,” Palmer said. “I do believe women have a harder time in the industry, they just really do. We [SMACK] take risks, but we take calculated risks. These are all people that we’re totally, 100 percent behind. I signed Kylie [Morgan] because of that.”

Kendall Lettow, Creative Manager at peermusic, shared about some promising female songwriters that she admires. “Emily Weisband; I started working with her when she had a songwriting internship at THiS Music,” she said. “She was just immediately vulnerable. She never blinked an eye, she never overthought what other people wanted to hear, she was just very much like ‘this is what I want to share today. This is who I am.’

“And then Nora Collins, I worked with her at MV2 Entertainment,” Lettow continued. “Nora is just the most prepared human I’ve ever met in my life. She knew she was responsible for her own career at the end of the day. She’s always been an amazingly hard worker.”

OMG! I’m A Songwriter posts daily lineups of songwriter rounds in Nashville on their Instagram (@omgimasongwriter), as well as host their own weekly round at Tin Roof on Thursdays. They also just started an OMG! I’m A Songwriter podcast.