DISClaimer: Tucker Beathard, The Vegabonds Issue Career-Making Music

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It’s an alpha-and-omega kinda day here at DisClaimer.

We have everything from bona fide Country Music Hall of Fame members to the newest of baby acts. Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire are here to remind us of what great country music sounds like. Maddie & Tae, Tenille Townes and Sam Grow are on board with strong bids for future stardom.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Tucker Beathard. It sounds like a career breakthrough to me.

Our DisCovery Award winners are The Vegabonds. I see that this is not their first record, so where has this awesome band been all my life? And will somebody please pick these guys up for a major-label shot?

SAM GROW/History
Writers: Cam Montgomery/Mike Hardy/Nick Donley; Producer: Jacob Rice; Publishers:MV2 Music (BMI), Harding Road Music/Watsky Music (admin. by Kobalt) (BMI), Big Loud Mountain, CamTrack Music, Cam I Am Music (BMI); Average Joe’s
– Very involving. He has a wonderfully strong, expressive delivery. The production soars in all the right places. The song about a troubled relationship has hooks a-plenty.

MADDIE & TAE/Tourist In This Town
Writers: Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye/Barry Dean/Jimmy Robbins; Producers: Jimmy Robbins/Derek Wells; Publishers: Super Big Music/Seven Red Birds Publishing/Big Machine Music/Jehovah Nissi/Be Barry Quiet/Creative Pulse Music/Pulse Nation; Round Hill Songs Jimmy Robbins/Extraordinary Alien/Jammy Rabbins Music; Mercury Nashville
– Yowza. This has spunk, vocal verve and tempo, tempo, tempo to chase away those winter doldrums.

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DAVE ERNST/Superstar
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Eastwood
– This Louisville alt-country fellow has a new CD titled Hickory Switch. This track finds him emoting over a garage-y rock backing track featuring organ, guitar and crashing percussion. He doesn’t have the pipes for mainstream country appeal, but brims with conviction.

STELLA PARTON/Dirty Rotten Dog
Writers: Stella Parton; Producer: Stella Parton; Publisher: none listed; SP
– The track could use a little bass. But the humorous, sarcastic ditty is catchy, her slide-guitar work is dandy and her stacked vocals in the fade are an audio delight. Worth some spins.

THE VEGABONDS/Best I Can
Writers: none listed; Producer: Tom Tapley; Publisher: none
-Love it, love it, love it. This has all the pulse-quickening snap, crackle and pop you could want of a country rocker. The band has the heat cranked up to “10,” and the blue-collar, working-musician lyric blazes like an bonfire. I turned it up and howled. Here’s to all the “poor boys doin’ the best they can.”

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TENILLE TOWNES/White Horse
Writers: Tenille Townes/Daniel Tashian/Jeremy Spillman; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: noen listed; Columbia
– I dig this artist. Her feisty voice sounds like no one else. This hand clapper has slammin’ beats, a chorus with big hooks and a layered track, as well as her personality-packed vocal performance.

TUCKER BEATHARD/Better Than Me
Writers: Tucker Beathard/Dan Isbell/Jonathan Singleton; Producer: Tucker Beathard; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– His best yet. Tucker is singing his face off here, especially on that airborne chorus. The track rolls with admirable forward momentum as he sings of a breakup where she’s doing better than he is. Played it twice, and can’t wait to hear it on the radio. By the way, that’s him on lead guitar and drums, as well as vocals.

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REBA McENTIRE/Stronger Than The Truth
Writers: Hannah Louise Blaylock/Autumn McEntire; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Reba McEntire; Publishers:Big Deal Beats / Fouche River Publishing (BMI)/ Catch This Music / Autumn McEntire Songs (ASCAP); Big Machine
– Praise be, there’s still an artist in this format who believes in telling a story, feeling some pain and cherishing real song craftsmanship. This Hall of Famer proves she remains way out in front of the youngsters when it comes to taking a heartbreak lyric straight into your heart. Great song. Great performance.

THE HIGH PLAINS DRIFTERS/Virginia
Writers: none listed; Producers: Greg Cohen/Charles Czarnecki; Publishers: none listed; HPD
– The song is okay, in a simplistic-melody kinda way. The lounge-y lead vocal is way too pop for me.

RONNIE MILSAP & DOLLY PARTON/Smoky Mountain Rain
Writers: Kye Fleming/Dennis Morgan; Producers: Ronnie Milsap/Rob Galbraith; Publishers: none listed; G-Force
– They sound great together. Dolly rewrote the lyric to make the song come from the points of view of two lovers, instead of one lovelorn man. The beautifully melodic tune remains a timeless country treasure. A terrific listening experience.

Big Yellow Dog Music Signs Christy McDonald

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Pictured (L-R): Austen Adams (Dickinson Wright); Shannan Hatch (SESAC); Carla Wallace (Big Yellow Dog Music); Christy McDonald; Lauren Funk (Big Yellow Dog Music); Alex Stefano (Big Yellow Dog Music); Jacee Badeaux (Big Yellow Dog Music)

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Christy McDonald to a publishing deal.

One of the writers and the featured vocalist behind Grammy winner Robin Schulz’ “Ha Leh Lou Ya,” McDonald’s music has been featured on iTunes’ World Chart, Billboard, Nivea’s global campaign, and more. She is an active participant in the Country Music Hall Of Fame’s “Words & Music” program, working with children to help develop songwriting skills. To start off her new deal, McDonald is currently on a two-week writing trip in Amsterdam and Stockholm collaborating with European EDM/dance DJs, producers, and artists.

“I was blown away when Christy showed me what she had been working on,” said Big Yellow Dog Music’s co-owner and CEO Carla Wallace. “She has an incredible voice!”

The Black Keys Return After Five-Year Hiatus With “Lo/Hi”

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Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

The Black Keys are back with their first new music since 2014 with their new song, “Lo/Hi” (Nonesuch Records). The single was written and produced by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, and recorded at Nashville’s Easy Eye Sound studio. It’s the first new single from the duo since their album Turn Blue was released five years ago.

The Black Keys have released eight studio albums throughout their career including their debut The Big Come Up (2002), Thickfreakness (2003), Rubber Factory (2004), and their releases on Nonesuch Records, Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010), El Camino (2011), and Turn Blue (2014). The band has won six Grammy Awards and headlined festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball.

The two have been plenty busy since releasing their last album in 2014. Dan Auerbach formed his Easy Eye Sound label, named after his Nashville studio, in 2017, with the release of his second solo album, Waiting on a Song. Since its launch, Easy Eye Sound has become home to a wide range of artists including Yola, Shannon & The Clams, Dee White, Shannon Shaw, Sonny Smith, Robert Finley, and The Gibson Brothers. It also has released the posthumous album by Leo Bud Welch as well as previously unreleased material by Link Wray.

Patrick Carney produced and recorded new music with artists such as Calvin Johnson, Michelle Branch, Damns of the West, Tobias Jesso, Jr., Jessy Wilson, Tennis, Repeat Repeat, Wild Belle, Sad Planets, Turbo Fruits, and more. He also created the theme music for the Netflix TV show BoJack Horseman with his late uncle, Ralph Carney.

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BMI And Ultra Music Partner For 2019 Global Songwriting Camps

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BMI has partnered with Ultra Music for a series of global songwriting camps, providing its songwriters, composers and producers an opportunity to collaborate on an international scale.

Currently through March 8 Ultra and BMI are hosting a week of sessions at TEN Music Group’s six newly-renovated studios in Stockholm with a playback party to close out the camp.  Some of the BMI affiliated songwriters, artists and producers participating include Neil Ormandy, Mack, Karra, Lostboy and Kris Eriksson of Violet Days, as well as songwriters from our partner societies, such as Lily McKenzie, Sondr, Kelli Leigh, Karen Harding, Cassandra Stroberg, Shy Martin, Shy Nodi, Robert Habolin, Louise Lindberg, Philip Holmgen, Sam Crow, Jonathan Blom, Life of Elephants and more.

The first camp of the year, the UltraViolet Trailer Camp, recently took place in Palm Springs, California with BMI songwriters Neil Ormandy, Koda, Grabbitz, and Martin Wave.  The next one will be in Copenhagen on March 11-March 14, with additional camps to take place throughout the year in Los Angeles surrounding Coachella (April), Atlanta (April), and in Amsterdam during ADE (October), with more to be announced.

Previous BMI songwriting camps and initiatives have produced chart-toppers such as Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes,” Nick Jonas’ smash “Chains,” Prince Royce’s “Stuck on a Feeling,” Zedd’s “Daisy,” and most recently “Perras Como Tu” by Farina featuring Tokischa from the Miss Bala soundtrack.

“BMI prides itself on the unique and specialized creative services that we provide for our affiliates,” said Samantha Cox, BMI’s Vice President of Creative, NY. “As a result of our songwriting camps and other networking initiatives, we’ve fostered numerous successful collaborations which have generated chart-topping singles and commercial favorites. We’re thrilled to partner with Ultra to expand this initiative and build on our previous successes here in the US.”

“Ultra has been building a network of powerful writing camps, specializing in combining writers from different cultures and musical backgrounds for amazing results,” said Patrick Moxey, Founder and President of Ultra Music. “We welcome the involvement of BMI and their excellent writers. The song placement results have been extraordinary across camps in the US, UK, and Internationally and we look forward to the next level of growth for Ultra’s writers at the Ultra and BMI 2019 camps.”

Riley Green Joins Red Light Management

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Riley Green

BMLG Records artist Riley Green has joined the Red Light Management roster. Daniel Miller and Zach Sutton will run point for Green effective immediately.

“Riley has built an impressive audience of passionate fans with a great catalog of music,” says Miller.

“He is an incredibly talented songwriter and performer with a clear vision for his brand,” adds Sutton.

Riley Green’s debut single “There Was This Girl” is currently in the Top 10, supporting his first BMLG EP, In A Truck Right Now. Later this spring, he joins Brad Paisley’s 2019 World Tour.

In association with Red Light Management, Miller’s Fusion Music team represents Martina McBride, Cassadee Pope, Jacob Davis, Ryan Kinder and The Don Williams Estate. Sutton – formerly with Capitol/EMI Nashville and Borman Entertainment – also represents MCA recording artist Jordan Davis.

Mark Agnesi Named Director Of Brand Experience At Gibson

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Mark Agnesi

Mark Agnesi has been appointed Director of Brand Experience at Gibson Guitars. In the newly-created position, Agnesi will be responsible for reimagining and implementing creative ways of delivering the Gibson experience to its extended fan base of guitar enthusiasts. Agnesi comes to Gibson from Norman’s Rare Guitars. Agnesi will join Gibson’s Nashville-based headquarters and report to Gibson’s Chief Merchant Officer, Cesar Gueikian.

“As we set the stage for the future, we need leaders who balance our iconic legacy with a creative lens on the future…and Mark is that guy,” says James ‘JC’ Curleigh, CEO of Gibson.

“I am excited to bring Mark on-board at such a pivotal stage for Gibson,” says Gueikian. “He is the perfect fit to help us turn our vision into a reality and I can’t wait to see what Mark will bring to our team, our brands and our business.”

Agnesi was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, and began playing guitar at the age of 6. He was in the studio making records by the age of 11, and after playing the blues circuit throughout high school, he moved to Nashville at 18 to study music business at Belmont University. After graduating in 2005, he moved to Los Angeles and began working as a touring and session guitarist. While on tour, Agnesi would often buy and sell guitars to help pay bills, and this love of buying and selling landed him the job of General Manager of Norman’s Rare Guitars.

“Joining the most iconic guitar company in the world is the opportunity of a lifetime for me,” exclaims Agnesi. “I have been playing, finding and selling Gibson guitars all my life, and now I get to join Gibson for real.”

Stew James Joins Nashville’s 95.5 NASH Icon, Westwood One NASH Icon Network

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Stew James

Cumulus Media and Westwood One have announced that radio personality Stew James will join afternoons on Cumulus Nashville radio station 95.5 NASH Icon/WSM-FM and the Westwood One NASH Icon Network, which airs on country stations across the U.S.

James was most recently the Technical Producer of what is now The Ty Bentli Show on Cumulus Nashville’s NASH FM 103.3/WKDF-FM, where he was also a frequent weekend on-air host. He worked with current 95.5 NASH Icon/WSM-FM morning host, Marty McFly, for years on multiple stations in Mornings and Nights. McFly and James have been honored for their work with nominations from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music.

James then went on to work for stations including: WGFQ, WHUB, WRKK, WSIX, WKDF and KMXN. The duo came together again in 2011 on the syndicated show, The Live Ride, and also did mornings together on NASH FM 103.3/WKDF-FM. Though in different dayparts, James and McFly are now back together on 95.5 NASH Icon/WSM-FM.

95.5 NASH Icon/WSM-FM’s new weekday lineup is as follows:
5:30 a.m.–9 a.m.: Marty McFly
9 a.m.–2 p.m.: Lisa Manning
2 p.m.–7 p.m.: Stew James
7 p.m.–Midnight:  Darlas Rai

Matthew West Signs With Provident Label Group/Sony Music, Launches New Imprint

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Pictured (L-R): Terry Hemmings, President/CEO Provident Label Group/Sony Music; Matthew West; Emily West; Blaine Barcus, VP of A&R, Provident Label Group/Sony Music

Provident Label Group/Sony Music have signed Matthew West to their roster. In conjunction with their new partnership is the newly-created imprint Story House Music, which mirrors West’s management company, Story House Collective. With support from Provident, West will develop and launch young artists’ careers through the new imprint.

“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to partner with my friends at Provident,” West said. “I’ve admired from afar the work they have done on behalf of so many artists, and I am humbled by their belief in the music I make and the vision I have to help champion the storytellers of the future. Much of my career could be boiled down to one word, ‘story.’ I’m passionate about the power of story and how music can impact the stories of peoples’ lives on a deep level. In many ways, this new season with a new team marks a new chapter in my own story, and I can’t wait to dive in.”

Terry Hemmings, President/CEO of Provident Label Group/Sony Music, said, “For years we have observed Matthew’s amazing career. He’s such a wildly talented artist and performer whose talent is evident in various forums as a musician and entertainer. He connects with audiences because he knows how to clearly and passionately share a story through song. We could not be more pleased to have Matthew join our PLG family and are anxious to forge ahead and see what stories unfold.”

Since releasing his first album 16 years ago, West has earned four Grammy nominations, a Dove Award, Billboard Music Award, and an American Music Award, as well as several ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year honors. He has notched 15 No. 1 songs, including the RAA Gold single “Hello, My Name Is,” and the RIAA Platinum single “The Motions.” As a songwriter, West has had more than 130 published writing cuts for artists including Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Mandisa and more.

MV2 Entertainment Acquires Natalie Hemby Song Catalogs

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MV2 Entertainment has acquired Natalie Hemby’s WruckeStrike and HappyGoWrucke publishing rights from Pulse Music.

The catalogs span the last seven years of Hemby compositions, including three years with EMI/Sony ATV and four years with Pulse Music/Creative Nation. The collection of songs includes five No. 1 hits by country artists Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, and Justin Moore. The acquisition also includes several songs on Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy-winning album Golden Hour, including her latest single “Rainbow,” and two songs on the upcoming Maren Morris project.

MV2’s writer roster includes Thomas Archer, Robert Arthur, Nora Collins, Jimmie Deeghan, Eric Dodd, Nick Donley, and Houston Phillips.

In addition to Harrell, the staff consists of Mike Whelan, Senior Creative Director; Ben Strain, Creative Director; Nicole Sherrill, Creative Director; Lauren Davis, Artist Management & Contract Administration; and Lindsey Parrish, Digital Marketing Manager.

Hailey Whitters Aligns With Grammy Recognized Co-Writers On Upcoming Album ‘The Dream’

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Out of the gate on Friday (March 1) with the song, “Ten Year Town,” Carnival Music writer Hailey Whitters squares her headspace since her last batch of new music, four years ago. Whitters has evolved, matured and diversified her sound on the forthcoming 2019 project The Dream, in harmony with Grammy-recognized collaborators Brandy Clark and Lori McKenna.

Waiting tables another month/Waiting for that break to come/All it’s ever done is break my heart/But I didn’t come this far to only go this far

That vulnerable lyric from “Ten Year Town,” come in anticipation from the complete album and encompass the vision the 12-year Nashville resident held, waiting for her turn to shine.

“I am blown away from the love and response from ‘Ten Year Town,'” said Whitters, at her album preview at Nashville’s The Basement. “I wrote the song with Brandy Clark when I was coming up on a decade of being in town and feeling a little lost and frustrated…I’ve racked in a lot of miles with these guys in our 15-passenger van and slept on a lot of shitty hotel floors…[but] I’m a firm believer that timing is everything. One thing I’ve learned is no matter what, you have to stay true to yourself, have an opinion and never forget why you came to Nashville in the first place.”

On Tues., March 5, Whitters bestowed those words on behalf of herself and her roadworthy slew of musicians in previewing seven new tracks from a forthcoming project. She co-produced them with BMG’s Jake Gear and currently controls the masters, which have been garnering label interest.

One of those songs may be familiar. Whitters takes the final turn as a songwriter in releasing her version of her McKenna co-write, “Happy People,” which of course was brought to country radio in 2017 by country superstar group Little Big Town. Similarly, Whitters has had mainstream success when Martina McBride recorded her solo-written “Low All Afternoon” and Country Music Hall of Fame member Alan Jackson released her, “The Older I Get,” as his first single since 2015.

Although “Ten Year Town” is immediately available, Whitters announced the first official single from the album will be “The Days,” a trance-inducing, breezy uptempo track that contemplates the value of hometown life experiences. “Dream, Girl” is a bright, driving anthem about keeping focus after life derailments, with a confidence-infusing play on words.

Within the record, Whitters displays a secure sense of self, leaning in to new, raw sounds and textures to translate the coming home. “When I’d given up on ever attaining “the dream”, [this album] showed me I was already living it,” Whitters posted online.

Also among the previewed tracks, “Heartland,” a two-stepper paying homage to her Iowan upbringing, and another play on words about settling within yourself by landing outside of life’s overstimulation.

Perhaps most unique is the mesmerizing “All The Cool Girls,” a pulsing rock-textured production of Hollywood night delirium. Echoed live with background vocals from Maureen Murphy, the edgy audio arrangement reflects the lyrics about how intoxicating a heart’s infatuation can be.

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