Kids Corner: Jimmie Allen, Bobby Bones To Launch Children’s Books

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Jimmie Allen Encourages Kids With New Book ‘My Voice Is A Trumpet’

Jimmie Allen. Photo: John Shearer

Jimmie Allen has created a new children’s book, My Voice Is A Trumpet with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, to encourage young readers to speak up for what you believe in and use your voice. The new book is illustrated by veteran illustrator Cathy Ann Johnson and is set for release July 13, 2021. In the book all voices are as diverse as the characters and heard loud and clear. From voices that roar like a lion, to voices small as a bee, all it takes is confidence and a belief in the goodness of others to change the world.

“It’s very important to me that kids learn at a young age that they have a voice, and that it is powerful. It is up to us as adults to teach them to use their voice to encourage and show love,” said Allen. “Being a father of two kids, I try to encourage them to be themselves and love everyone around them. I’m hoping this book inspires at least one child and they always remember their voice is a trumpet.”

 

Bobby Bones’ Puppy Stanley Is Star Of New Children’s Book

Bobby Bones has announced his upcoming children’s picture book, Stanley the Dog and His First Day of School with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis. The story features Bones’ real-life pup, Stanley, and follows him as he faces down his fears about his first day at Doggy Day Care. The book is published by HarperCollins and slated for Summer 2022.

A two-time New York Times No. 1 bestselling author, touring stand-up comedian, and philanthropist, Bones is also set to star in a new travel TV show titled Breaking Bobby Bones, coming soon to the National Geographic channel.

 

Loretta Lynn Honored With Statue On Ryman Auditorium Icon Walk

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Photo credit: Kit Wood

A Loretta Lynn statue has been added to the Icon Walk on the grounds of the Ryman Auditorium. Visitors can find the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” statue standing at the northwest corner of the building near the venue’s driveway on Fifth Avenue next to the likeness of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music.

The detailed bronze likeness of Lynn, which took a year to craft, was added to the permanent outdoor exhibition on the venue’s grounds, and joins likenesses of beloved legends Little Jimmy Dickens and Monroe. The Ryman team collaborated once again with artist Ben Watts, the talent behind the Dickens and Monroe statues, for the tribute to Lynn.

Lynn, who was unable to attend the unveiling, shared a statement: “I will never forget the morning Dolittle and I pulled in and parked in front of the Ryman Auditorium for the very first time. It was 1960 and I had a No. 14 record on the charts called ‘I’m A Honky Tonk Girl.’ My dream, like thousands of other singers, was just to sing on the Grand Ole Opry. Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry has been one of the greatest honors of my life. For many years I’ve stood on the stage of the Ryman and there’s no place like it. Now they’re unveiling this statue in my honor. It’s like I’m going to get to be there for many more years to come. It means so much to have the statue and to be a part of all of these wonderful artists. One day soon I’m gonna get to come up there and see it for myself. But for today I want to say thank you and I love each and every one of you for thinking of me.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to tell the history of the Opry or Ryman without Loretta,” Colin Reed, Chairman & CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties, said. “She is a trailblazer who has remained one of the most beloved entertainers to ever set foot on that stage.”

Chris Tomlin, Lady A Top Christian Radio Chart

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Chris Tomlin. Photo: Robby Klein

CCM superstar Chris Tomlin, with the help of country trio Lady A, has earned his 17th career No. 1 hit, as “Who You Are To Me” tops this week’s Billboard Christian Airplay chart. Tomlin co-wrote the inspirational track alongside Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott.

The song has earned more than 18 million global streams, becoming Tomlin’s biggest hit single since 2015’s “Good Good Father.” “Who You Are To Me” is included on Tomlin’s recent No. 1 album, Chris Tomlin & Friends, a collaboration project featuring Lady A, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, We The Kingdom, and more. “Who You Are To Me,” along with another track from the album, “Thank You Lord,” both hit Spotify’s US Viral 50 chart.

Tomlin is nominated for his first CMA Award, in the Music Event of the Year category for his work on Thomas Rhett’s “Be A Light,” which also features Scott, Reba and Keith Urban.

BMG Expands Into Live Music Business

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BMG is entering the live music business for the first time, with a plan to offer artists a new alternative to the established live promotion industry. The company has inked an agreement to acquire a majority stake in indie German live music promotion company/event agency Undercover GmbH. The transaction is set to close at the end of October.

The Braunschweig-based company was founded in 1991 and, pre-pandemic, promoted more than 200 concerts and shows held a year. Through the new venture, BMG can now offer artists an integrated tour promotion and ticketing service.

The live music promotion service will remain an opt-in service. The new unit will also collaborate with other content divisions of BMG shareholder Bertelsmann in Germany, including broadcaster RTL, book publisher Penguin Random House and magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr under the banner of the Bertelsmann Content Alliance.

Dominique Casimir, BMG, EVP Repertoire & Marketing Continental Europe, said, “Moving into live is the logical extension of BMG’s plan to integrate all the services an artist could need under one roof, with the artist brand at the center of it all. Crucially, we have found in Michael Schacke and his team a partner who shares our values.”

Undercover CEO Michael Schacke said, “I founded this company in 1991 to be able to perform with my band and that’s how I became a promoter. This idea has since grown into a nationwide concert agency with over 30 employees. Discussions about a partnership with BMG commenced long before the coronavirus pandemic, but we are now perfectly set up for when the market returns. There is a significant opportunity for us working together to offer a genuine alternative for artists in Germany and beyond, building on Undercover’s established recipe of ‘live entertainment and artist partnership.'”

Maximillian Kolb, BMG, Managing Director GSA, said, “Artists want partners who build their business around them rather than the other way around. Above all, this means offering the best possible service. The German music market has proven to be extremely adaptable and is one of the strongest in the world, especially in the live segment. I am very happy that we have become the first territory within BMG to be able to offer a complete service portfolio to artists including live.”

Casimir, who is also a board member of the Bertelsmann Content Alliance said, “An important part of our job will be, together with the Undercover team, to form a center of excellence for events within the Content Alliance. We look forward to working with the other divisions and together adding even more value to our artists and media brands by creating bespoke live experiences.”

Vivendi Sets IPO For UMG

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Today (Oct. 20), UMG parent company Vivendi confirmed its plans to take UMG public in 2022, according to fiscal documents that were released.

The documents also revealed that in the third quarter of 2020, UMG had year-over-year revenues increase 3%, with a 5.1% increase for the first nine months of this year.

In August, Universal had nine of the Top 10 albums in the United States on Billboard 200 (week of Aug. 21-27), marking the fourth time that feat had occurred in the chart’s 64-year history (all four of those instances involving Universal).

Endurance Music Group Inks Publishing Agreement With RECORDS Nashville’s Chase Martin

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Chase Martin. Photo credit: Jason Myers

Endurance Music Group has signed RECORDS Nashville artist-songwriter Chase Martin to a global publishing agreement. Her single, “Levi Denim,” released Oct. 9, marking the debut release from the newly-launched Nashville division of Barry Weiss’ RECORDS. The track was co-written by Martin’s labelmate Matt Stell, alongside Abby Anderson and Allison Veltz-Cruz, and produced by Endurance Music Group songwriter Ash Bowers.

“Chase has it all: natural talent, incredible energy, a strong work ethic and a passion for songwriting,” said Endurance Music Group President Michael Martin. “She’s the real deal, and we’re so excited to introduce her to the world alongside Ash and our friends at RECORDS Nashville.”

Endurance Music Group launched in 2019 with songwriters Scooter Carusoe and Clint Lagerberg, as well as rising writer-artists Natalie Madigan, Ryan Plappert and Jake Rose, songwriter Ben Stoll, and more. In early 2020, the acquisition of Wide Open Music brought hit songwriter-artists Jimmie Allen and Stell, songwriter/producer Bowers, and songwriters Seth Alley and Paul Sikes into the Endurance family, along with a catalog of cuts by Keith Urban, Brett Young, Dustin Lynch and more. To date, Endurance has earned 45 No. 1s, 19 top fives and seven top 10 singles.

Black River Publishing Signs Blake Ruby

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Pictured (L-R): Black River’s Katie Barolak, Rebekah Gordon, Blake Ruby, Rachael Skvorak, Gordon Kerr. Photo: Provided courtesy of Black River Entertainment

Black River Publishing has signed Blake Ruby to its writer roster, expanding Black River’s footprint in the pop and sync world. Maryland native Ruby moved to Nashville in 2016 and is a Belmont University graduate.

During his time at Belmont, Ruby assisted at Ocean Way Studios, where he refined his writing, production, and engineering skills. He also wrote and produced several of his own artist projects, including his most recent single “Dirty Laundry.”

“It’s a real blessing to be on this team. Everyone already feels like family, and it’s an honor to create music with so many talented writers on the roster. I know we are going to make some amazing stuff together, and I’m looking forward to it!” shared Ruby.

Black River’s Vice President of Publishing Rebekah Gordon offered Ruby a publishing deal right after his college graduation.

“Blake was such an obvious standout while searching for young songwriters. His musical intuition blew us away. We are thrilled to be building something new and special around his talent,” shared Gordon.

White Mustang Records Signs Presley & Taylor

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Pictured (L-R, front row): Presley & Taylor; (L-R, back row) Keith Burns, Song Consortium Publishing; Craig Campbell, Campbell Entertainment; Pepper Meiler, 9000 Miles; James Stroud, President, White Mustang Records. Photo: Andy Avenger

The newly-launched White Mustang Records has signed sister duo Presley & Taylor as its first artist on the roster. The duo’s first single, “Everybody Sees It,” was penned by  Tenille Arts, Aaron Goodvin, and Adam Wheeler, and will release Oct. 30, with an album set for early next year. White Mustang Records is distributed by CMG via The Orchard.

“Presley & Taylor is one of the most unique acts I have ever worked with,” said White Mustang Records president James Stroud. “Being sisters, they have a natural way of harmonizing and complimenting one another. To work with them in the studio is one of the easiest jobs I’ve ever had. They come prepared to listen, learn and apply their knowledge to their craft. Not only do they sing great, they are amazing performers and represent our format in a wonderful way. They will be a force in our business we can all be proud of and appreciate.”

“We are beyond excited about the new music we’ve made with James and can’t wait for everyone to hear it,” said Presley & Taylor. “He and Dewayne Brown (CMG) have put together an incredible team at White Mustang Records, and we really feel like the sky’s the limit!”

Yoop eSpace Expands Into Nashville At TPAC

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Yoop eSpace, an eConcert experience and interactive way to attend events, is coming to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

Located in Jackson Hall at TPAC, the Yoop eSpace creates a zero-lag, two-way visual and audio communication experience for fans and creators when interacting with each other—no matter how large the audience. Yoop launched its first Yoop eSpace in Montreal earlier this year. After several years of development, Yoop prioritized the eSpace launch in light of the COVID-19 climate. With the debut of the Yoop eSpace Nashville, several local entertainment crews have been reactivated, including REACH, Silent House Productions and Solotech.

The Yoop eSpace formats can be modified by their type of content, whether they are event producers, artists, teams, athletes, speakers, corporate presenters, etc. Events may be customized to be public or private and set to a specific or unlimited capacity. They can also be set up as pay on-demand and with the option of 24-hour replay.

“Nashville is one of the country’s most vibrant arts cities with its rich ecosystem of artists, managers, venues and production personnel—making it a natural choice for our first location in the U.S.,” said Yoop Founder/CEO Benoit Fredette. “With the Yoop eSpace at TPAC, we are setting a gold standard for live performances that break the fourth wall and connect fans and creators like never before. For fans, every seat is in the front.”

The Yoop eSpace is creating a new class of live entertainment. Studying consumer behavior in virtual environments is the foundation of the technology, which has been in development for over two years as a solution to supplement live concerts, not replace them.

“TPAC’s innovative residency with Yoop is a creative way to put our venue and employees back in action during an extended intermission in touring productions,” said Jennifer Turner, TPAC President and CEO. “The arts offer entertainment and essential connection for us all during this challenging time, and we’re excited to be part of helping Music City’s talent get back to entertaining audiences around the globe.”

Michael Ray On New Music: “I’m As Authentically Me As I’ve Ever Been”

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Michael Ray. Photo: Sean Hagwell

After two hit albums, five RIAA Gold-certified songs, and three No. 1 singles, Michael Ray is readying his third project. The theme is evident on Ray’s social media, and something that the Warner Music Nashville artist is very passionate about: ’90s country.

Ray’s lead single, “Whiskey And Rain,” taps into the moody, sultry, darker sounds of the ’90s, influenced from two of Ray’s heroes, Gary Stewart and Gary Allan. The track was written by Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure.

“This whole album, all the songs are throwbacks to what I grew up on in the ’90s. They have that ’90s country music feel. During [the pandemic], the time has allowed me to get back to my roots of the music that I’ve always felt like I wasn’t making completely. ‘Whiskey And Rain’ just embodied every bit of that,” Ray told MusicRow. “We felt like not only is that catchy melody and hook there, but it also just has that throwback to Gary Stewart and Gary Allan—a Bakersfield kind of feel. I just felt like it was a great introduction to this album.”

 

Even has the COVID-19 pandemic has halted touring this year, the 32-year-old Ray has continued to honor his ’90s country heroes via a weekly virtual series, Honkytonk Tuesday, where he has been joined by country artists including Mark Wills, Clint Black, Marty Raybon, Aaron Tippin, Steve Wariner and more to perform their favorite ‘80s and ‘90s songs. Ray says he feels a responsibility to highlight those who came before him.

“I just feel like it’s part of our job,” Ray said. “To continue to shine a light when you can on the men and women who have paved the way for the rest of us. The men and women that inspired us. There are kids hearing me on the radio that maybe didn’t grow up with Alabama, Tracy Lawrence, or Joe Diffie, but if I can make that kid find ‘The Weekend’ by Steve Wariner, now, all of a sudden, he’s downloading all of [Wariner’s] stuff.

“That’s the cool thing about Honkytonk Tuesdays. Afterwards I get these messages from fans that might not have heard that song or didn’t know that’s who sung it, so it’s been inspirational. [When I started it] I was bored and wanted to do something, and I was wondering how many times people can hear us sing our own songs constantly on Instagram Live, so I wanted to do something a little different. And I love country music. I’m a country music fan first.”

Ray brought in hit songwriter/producer Ross Copperman to helm production on his upcoming album.

“I’ve known Ross for a long time. I really felt like me and him could make something really cool together with the way that he writes and his production, with that ’90s country feel,” Ray said. “I played him a lot of my older influences, like Tim McGraw and Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt and on and on with those type of songs. I wanted to get his mindset on if [that music] were to come out today, how do we make that?”

With Copperman’s production and Ray’s ’90s-tinged vision, the singer feels like he has made the album he moved to Nashville to make.

“You grow so much in this career,” Ray said. “You all of a sudden are getting all this new music, and these songwriters who you’ve been looking up to and reading their names in CD cases, now they’re sending you songs. So you’re getting all this different music and you’re like, ‘Well, maybe I want to do this.’ I think from five years of growing, and learning more and more, this is what has always felt like what was missing for me. I’m always excited to put out new music, but this is just a little different. I feel like I’m as authentically me as I’ve ever been.”

“Whiskey And Rain” is available on all platforms now.