Michael Ray Partners With Nashville Humane Association For Hurricane Relief

/by

Michael Ray has partnered with the Nashville Humane Association to launch a week-long pet supply drive in an effort to support pets displaced by Hurricane Michael.

Beginning today (Friday, Nov. 2) fans and community members can donate food, blankets, towels and more to help support the effort at the Nashville Humane Association, located at 213 Oceola Avenue in Nashville.

Ray will make a special appearance at the Nashville Humane Association on Friday (Nov. 9) at 2 p.m. CT. A truck will then dispatch to his native Florida, where it will distribute the provisions to shelters in need.

“Growing up in Florida and feeling what the aftermath of a hurricane is like, there are so many things going through your mind about what needs done and who needs help,” Ray said. “There are often a lot of animals that get separated from their families and end up last on the list of priorities, and since animals have always been important to me and my family, I felt like this donation drive was one way our community could help and support another community.”

Clearly an animal lover, Ray established Wrigley Cares, a pet-based charitable initiative named for his husky/shepherd mix in October 2017. Wrigley Cares provides financial and medical support for rescue animals, service pets and more, and collected an estimated 100,000 meals for shelter animals during his Get To You Tour last year.

 

 

Dave & Sugar Lead Singer Dave Rowland Dies At 74

/by


Dave Rowland, the founder and lead singer of country group Dave & Sugar, died Nov. 1 in Nashville, following complications from a stroke. He was 74.

Prior to forming Dave & Sugar, Rowland toured with Elvis Presley as part of the J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, and later with the Four Guys. He also toured as part of Charley Pride’s road show.

By 1975, with Pride looking for a backup band, Rowland hired Jackie Frantz and Vicki Hackeman, and Dave & Sugar was formed.

After signing on with Pride’s management team, Dave & Sugar signed with RCA Records and recorded their first album. The trio’s first single, “Queen of the Silver Dollar,” penned by Shel Silverstein, reached the Top 25 on the country singles chart in 1976. The group’s second single, “The Door Is Always Open,” went to No. 1.

The group would earn approximately a dozen Top 10 singles, as well as two additional No. 1 hits, 1978’s “Tear Time,” and 1979’s “Golden Tears.”

Rowland disbanded the trio briefly during the early 1980s to try a solo career, releasing the album Sugar Free and charting two singles of his own. He toured with Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Barbara Mandrell and Hank Williams, Jr. He spent two years as Kenny Rogers’ opening act.

Rowland later reformed the trio with two new sets of “Sugar” partners.

Rowland is survived by his wife Terri Rowland, mother Ruby Rowland and sister Donna Fort and her husband Bob of Palm Desert, California, sister-in-law Angie Billis of Nashville, Tennessee, niece Vicki Martinka and husband John in Pennsylvania, and nephew Bobby Fowler and wife Belen and their two children in Argentina.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in the name of Dave Rowland be sent to the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2014, Rowland was honored by the Music City Tennis Invitational in recognition of four decades of event participation with proceeds to benefit the hospital.

Arrangements are pending for a celebration of life service.

RaeLynn Sparkles In Speaking Confidence To ‘Hometown’ Crowd

/by

Pictured (L-R): Emily Weisband, RaeLynn, HARDY. Photo: RaeLynn/Instagram

RaeLynn made a tour stop on Nov. 1 at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, a city she says has become her hometown.

“Nashville feels like home thanks to the incredible people God has put around me,” said RaeLynn, who has spent the past six years living and writing in Music City.

“[‘Boyfriend’] was the first song I wrote on Music Row,” said the Warner Music Nashville/Warner Bros. sweetheart before performing the title to what she said her OG fans would remember from her Big Machine Label Group days. BMLG interestingly reissued that track in a 12-song project in September.

Also among those throwback titles performed—and recently re-issued—is the age-appropriate, stand-out “Careless” in addition to “For A Boy” and the now Platinum-certified “God Made Girls.”

The outing debuted an array of new material. RaeLynn sparkled on the autobiographical “Camo,” written about not seeing her husband, who is in military service. New songs continued with “Keep Up,” a driving, redneck-proud play on the Annie Get Your Gun‘s “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)” theme.

With pizazz, RaeLynn jogged through polished song transitions in her rhinestone encrusted fringe romper. Originality and authenticity glistened as she instilled confidence to her audience with titles like her 2018 stand-out, “Queens Don’t.”

On the heels of the Top 40 single, RaeLynn played the show-stopping, “Love Triangle,” which now has two publicly available versions, as the overlapping song from her current WMN album, Wildhorse, and the newly-released, BMLG shelved-project.

At times RaeLynn joined her four-person band, strapping on her guitar. When not leading the charge, she livened the crowd by inviting a few to join her in a stank face dance-off to a cover of Camila Cabello’s “Havana.”

Also on hand was Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and THiS Music writer Emily Weisband. RaeLynn cleared the stage for Weisband’s performance of Cabello’s latest single, “Consequences.” Weisband wrote the song with Nicolle Galyon, who intended to appear, but was under the weather.

RaeLynn also welcomed new Big Loud singer/songwriter HARDY to the stage for a performance of his first No. 1 as a writer, Morgan Wallen’s “Up Down.”

RaeLynn played another stand-out, “Trigger,” in addition to a new homage to Texas, the funky grooved “I Love My Hometown.” The star wrapped her show with her latest single, “Tailgate.”

 

RaeLynn will continue her tour through December with support act Ross Ellis, whose cover of Niall Horn’s “Slow Hands” showcased a range and dynamic also found in his SiriusXM hit “Ghosts.” Ellis shares a hometown with Tim McGraw, who released Ellis’ “Neon Church,” as his latest single from his forthcoming project.

Seaforth Inks Deal With RCA Nashville

/by

Seated (L-R): Brian Teefey, LH7 Management; Seaforth’s Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan; Randy Goodman, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO  Standing (L-R): Dennis Reese, RCA Records Nashville SVP, Promotion; John Zarling, SMN EVP, Marketing & New Business; Taylor Lindsey, SMN VP, A&R; Steve Hodges, SMN EVP, Promotion & Artist Development; Tracy Fleaner, SMN VP, Creative; Ken Robold, SMN EVP & COO; Caryl Atwood, SMN VP, Sales; Jen Way, SMN Director, Marketing; Laura Worley, LH7 Management; Angie Magill, SMN SVP, Legal & Business Affairs

New duo Seaforth (Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson) has signed a deal with RCA Records Nashville. They are slated to open for new labelmate Kane Brown at the Budweiser One Night Only concert series next Wednesday (Nov. 7) at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

“Nashville is the international home for the sound we’re making,” said Jordan. “From the day we wrote our first song together — a song that was organic and guitar-based, but also very modern in its approach — we knew we needed to be here. It’s a dream come true.”

“We both complement each other in this band,” said Thompson. “We have the kind of partnership where we both have our own personas, and we meet in the middle. The ship wouldn’t sail without both of us.”

The Aussie duo grew up in the same Sydney suburb as childhood friends, crossing paths for the first time as three-year-olds and sharing everything from soccer games to high school classes during the years that followed. The two, who took their name from the suburb where they grew up, are currently working on their debut project with producer Dann Huff.

Badflower’s Debut Set For February On Big Machine/John Varvatos Records

/by

BADFLOWER has set Feb. 22, 2019 as the release date of their debut full-length album OK, I’M SICK via Big Machine/John Varvatos Records. The 13-track project was executive produced by Scott Borchetta and John Varvatos.

Members of the band co-wrote each song on the project, and its lead single,“Ghost,” recently claimed the top spot on the Active Rock Radio Mediabase Chart and marked the band’s first No. 1 hit.

Badflower is currently in the midst of a U.S. tour supporting The Wrecks and A Perfect Circle, and will keep the momentum going into 2019 on Nothing More’s The Truth Tour.

OK, I’M SICK Tracklist:
1. “x ANA x” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
2. “The Jester” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
3. “Ghost” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
4. “We’re In Love” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
5. “Promise Me” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
6. “Daddy” |  Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
7. “24” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
8. “Heroin” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti **
9. “Die” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
10. “Murder Games” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
11. “Girlfriend” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
12. “Wide Eyes” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*
13. “Cry” | Josh Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, Anthony Sonetti, Noah Shain*

* Tracks produced by Noah Shain.
** Track produced by Josh Katz.

Industry Ink: Kane Brown, Apple Music, Charlie Daniels, Gotee Records

/by

Kane Brown Premieres Apple Music Short Film In Nashville

Kane Brown. Photo: Apple Music

Kane Brown, whose album Experiment will release Nov. 9, offered an intimate live performance in Nashville on Thursday (Nov. 1), presented by Apple Music. The event also premiered the short film Apple Music Presents: Kane Brown-Experiment, which is available worldwide today only on Apple Music.

 

Charlie Daniels Holds Pop-Up Show In Nashville To Showcase New Album

Photo: Nate Shuppert

Winner’s Bar & Grill in Nashville was standing-room-only on Oct. 30 when Charlie Daniels, James Stroud, Billy Crain and Charlie Hayward performed together live, for the first time, at a special pop-up show where they showcased tunes from their new album, Beau Weevils – Songs in the Key of E.

 

Gotee Records Signs Cochren & Co.

Gotee Records has signed Cochren & Co. to its roster. The singer/songwriter and piano player Michael Cochren hails from Montgomery, Indiana, and has released his label debut, including “Church (Take Me Back)” and “Grave.” He is aligned with First Company Management. He will also join TobyMac and Diverse City’s theatre tour this month.

 

Weekly Chart Report (11/2/18)

/by

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

Gospel Executive John T. Benson III Dies

/by

John T. Benson III

By Robert K. Oermann

Visitation and services for Gospel Music Hall of Fame member John T. Benson III will be held today, Nov. 2.

He died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at age 90. The executive was the former president of the John T. Benson Publishing Company and a longtime leader of the Gospel Music Association. At various times, he served as the GMA’s president, secretary and board member.

The Benson Company is Nashville’s oldest permanent music business. It was founded in 1902 by the deceased’s grandfather, John T. Benson. Following the death of the firm’s founder, John T. Benson Jr., took over the company in 1931.

Between 1948 and 1951, the company’s revenues increased tenfold. This was also the era when John III entered the family business. He initially worked in its commercial-printing division.

John III’s brother, Robert, joined the gospel company in 1960. He added recording to the firm’s publishing business. By 1965, The Benson Company was grossing $500,000 a year.

In 1969, John III joined the gospel firm. This coincided with a period of even more growth for the business.

As a publishing firm, the company already had songs recorded by nearly every Southern Gospel act. Its catalog includes thousands of copyrights, many of them standards in the field. “He’s Coming Back,” “He Looked Beyond My Faults,” “I Go to the Rock,” “If That Isn’t Love” and “Somebody Prayed for Me” are just a few representative titles.

Its record labels — HeartWarming, Benson, Greentree, RiverSong and other imprints — had been specializing in Southern Gospel sounds since 1960. Affiliated artists included The Speer Family, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, The Singing Rambos, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Lewis Family, The Hemphills and The Imperials.

John III’s arrival occurred just as the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) movement exploded in the 1970s and 1980s. To Benson’s publishing division, he signed the early works of such top CCM composers as Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, Brown Bannister and Gary McSpadden.

The recording division kept pace, too. Benson-affiliated labels’ big acts in the new genre included DeGarmo & Key, Sandi Patty, dc talk, Yolanda Adams, Larnelle Harris, Bob Carlisle, Dallas Holm and Carman. It also marketed the records of The Bill Gaither Trio, Gold City, 4Him, The Archers, The Cathedrals and The Kingsmen Quartet, among many others.

In 1976, The Benson Company moved into a Metro Center building that was then the biggest music headquarters in Nashville and boasted the city’s largest recording studio.

John III rose from a vice presidency to becoming president of the firm. Brother Robert died in 1984.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the company changed hands via acquisitions by Paragon, Zondervan, Harper Collins, the Music Entertainment Group and the Zomba Music Group. Family control of the business ceased.

But the song-publishing arm of The Benson Company continued to thrive. By that time, it held more than 42,000 copyrights, including the catalogs of the defunct Stamps-Baxter Music and Singspiration Music.

In 2001, the record labels were folded, and Zomba merged Benson with Brentwood Music. Benson celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002 by being named ASCAP’s Christian publishing company of the year.

Today, Brentwood-Benson specializes in printed choral, worship, Sunday school, choir, Christmas and church music arrangements. It is estimated that half of the people now working in Nashville’s CCM industry learned the business by working at Benson at one time or another.

John T. Benson III served as the president of the GMA in 1978-80, during which time the association established its now annual Gospel Music Week convention in Nashville. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

The executive is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jane Cartwright Benson. Also surviving are children Ann Benson Vincent, John Benson IV, Joe Benson and Tricia Benson, as well as three sisters, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Pike. It will be followed by a Life Celebration and Graveside service.

George Strait Returns To Atlanta For One Date In 2019

/by

George Strait will play one night in Atlanta next Spring on March 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The legend will be joined by Chris Stapleton, Chris Janson, and Ashley McBryde on the date. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 16 via Ticketmaster.

The performance marks Strait’s only show in Atlanta since his Cowboy Rides Away Tour stop at State Farm Arena in 2014 when he announced he would no longer tour and only perform select engagements. Since that record-breaking tour, Strait has performed limited engagements including 18 “Strait to Vegas” shows, and additional appearances including two nights in Tulsa and one night in Austin as well as a headlining appearance at Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans.

The Country Music Hall of Famer will wrap up 2018 with a return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Dec. 7 and 8.

Spotify Reaches 87 Million Premium Subscribers

/by

On Thursday (Nov. 1), Spotify announced it currently has 87 million paid (premium) subscribers, and 191 million active monthly users. That 87 million-strong tier of premium subscribers is up from 83 million in the second quarter of 2018, and up from 62 million one year ago. Revenue for the third quarter was $1.54 billion, a 31 percent increase over last year, while ad-supported revenue rose $162 million, a 28 percent increase.

“Growth continues to be healthy across our family and student plans, and the strong retention characteristics of this base continue to drive churn lower,” the company said. “This quarter we offered to verified student subscribers in the U.S. our first-ever multi-partner bundle consisting of Spotify, Hulu and Showtime for $4.99 per month. In addition, we expanded our 3-for-99 cents intro offer campaign for our student plan globally during August and September to line up with the back-to-school season.”

Spotify also project paid subscribers to be between 93 million and 96 million in the fourth quarter, with between 199-206 million total monthly users.

The streaming service went public in April of this year.