Jason Aldean Producer Michael Knox To Launch Radio Show

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Producer Michael Knox will debut a new radio show, KNOX Country 360, on Friday, June 29.

Based in Nashville, the new show is managed by Michael Knox along with Donny Walker (former executive at Westwood One, Cumulus Media, BDS, Billboard Magazine), and Shalacy Griffin, currently the Senior Vice President of Operations for Music Knox, LLC.

KNOX Country 360 will offer 10-12 songs per hour, mixing current hits with re-currents and trending music, as well as personal stories from Knox and artist interviews and performances. The show will also include a podcast component.

“Radio is where country music fans connect with the music and artists they love, throughout their day,” observed Knox. “I’ve worked in production, management, and
publishing, with record labels, and now radio. I’m excited about being on the air where I can bring country’s biggest stars directly to fans. Focus 360 has the relationships with radio stations and advertisers that make them the perfect partner to help us succeed.”

“Few people in Music Row history have turned creativity into chart success as well as Michael,” stated Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Focus 360. “He is one of
Nashville’s most original-thinking business minds and one of its most successful groomers of talent and song placement. We are delighted to partner with him and bring
his star-studded, music-filled show to radio.”

In addition to production work that has helped sell more than 18 million albums and 40 million singles (including 21 No. 1 career singles) Knox’s multi-faceted career has included time as an executive at music publisher Warner/Chappell Music. He currently serves as vice president for peermusic in Nashville, and also formed the production management company Music Knox with client Michael Tyler (Reviver Records).

Stations interested in carrying KNOX Country 360 may contact Rob Magaziner at 917-580-6108 or [email protected].

Predators To Sell Pilgrimage Festival Tickets In Historic New Partnership

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The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and the Nashville Predators are partnering up to allow passes to Pilgrimage to be purchased through the Predators website throughout the summer. This marks the first time in the NHL organization’s history that they are selling tickets for an outside organization. The partnership provides an exclusive, co-branded item for every ticket purchased, as well as opportunities to purchase corporate hospitality packages for premium space inside the festival.

“We are eager to increase our community reach and align with such an influential, community-driven festival,” Nashville Predators President and CEO Sean Henry said. “The opportunity to sell tickets and provide our fans exclusive offers is one we could not pass up and we are confident that this opens the door for even more community and fan engagement in unique and never-before-seen ways.”

“We couldn’t agree more and are thrilled to be partnering with the Nashville Predators organization to combine sports and music, cornerstones of the middle Tennessee culture,” says co-producer Brandt Wood. “This is a natural and complementary fit, and we can’t wait to see Preds fans #MakeThePilgrimage to Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin this September.”

More information on these premium locations and how to take advantage of this exclusive offer can be found here by entering promo code “Preds.” The festival will include performances by Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Lionel Richie, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Hozier, Brandi Carlile, Counting Crows, Amos Lee, Maggie Rogers, Elle King, Joshua Hedley, and many more. 

CAA Kicks Off CMA Fest Week With Annual BBQ

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CAA’s Rick Roskin and Midland  Photo by Jason Myers

CAA held its annual pre-CMA Fest BBQ Monday night (June 4) at Martin’s BBQ in Nashville. The event, which included agents and executives from across the agency, clients, and industry colleagues, raised more than $30,000 for two organizations with whom the agency has a longstanding relationship: Communities In Schools of Tennessee at Nashville and the PENCIL Foundation, both of which support students at local public schools. Among those in attendance were Midland, Jon Pardi, and This Is Us actress Chrissy Metz.

Chrissy Metz, CAA’s Cait Hoit and Marc Dennis, Kennon Dennis  Photo by Jason Myers

 

Opry Kicks Off CMA Music Fest Week With Star-Studded Tuesday Night Shows, Plaza Party

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Grand Ole Opry members Bill Anderson, Terri Clark  Chris Janson, Darius Rucker, Ricky Skaggs, Carrie Underwood and Ashley McBryde kicked off the Opry’s CMA Music Fest Week with two sold out shows on the Opry stage yesterday (June 5). The music began with a free Opry afternoon Plaza Party featuring McBryde on the Humana stage.

Other Opry performances scheduled for Music Fest Week include shows on June 7-9. Among those performing will be Opry members Dailey & Vincent, Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, Blake Shelton, Marty Stuart, and Josh Turner as well as special guests Luke Combs, Easton Corbin, Charles Esten, and more. The Opry schedule also includes a Saturday matinee performance of Opry Country Classics featuring Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Pride, and more at the Ryman Auditorium.

To cap off the week filled with music, on Sunday the Opry will stage its first-ever show from Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, featuring Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show, Bobby Bare, Del McCoury Band, and Riders In The Sky as well as Joshua Hedley, LANCO, Nikki Lane, and Maggie Rose. The Opry has rarely in its 92-year history taken the show outside Music City, on those occasions visiting prestigious venues such as New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center.

‘CMT Music Awards’ Adds Seven Premiere Performances To Lineup

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This week’s CMT Music Awards will feature seven premiere television performances of brand new songs.

“It’s sort of that first listen to a hit,” says CMT Music Awards executive producer Margaret Comeaux. “It’s like a country fan’s dream summer song list.”

Sam Hunt will make a premiere performance of his new single, “Downtown’s Dead,” while Dierks Bentley will welcome Brothers Osborne for “Burning Man,” a track off Bentley’s upcoming album The Mountain.

Florida Georgia Line will perform their new folk-tinged “Simple,” and this year’s CMT Music Awards hosts Little Big Town will offer the first performance of their single “Summer Fever.”

“All four of them are incredible collaborators,” Comeaux says of the quartet. “They come to the table with great ideas. They are funny and the fans love them. When you have a show like this, a 2 ½-hour show, the comedic aspect of our show is fun. These guys aren’t comedians but they have great timing. Of course, you can’t get any better from a music perspective. They deliver every time they take the stage. Having four of them [in hosting roles] gives us room to try different things in the show and spread it out a little bit.”

Several pop artists are vying for top CMT Music Awards honors this year, including Bebe Rexha (for the collaboration “Meant To Be” with Florida Georgia Line), Ludacris (“Champion” with Carrie Underwood), Justin Timberlake (“Say Something,” with Chris Stapleton) and more. This year’s pop performances will include Kelly Clarkson’s rendition of the classic “American Woman,” and Backstreet Boys with their new song, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”

“Whenever Kelly is involved, she will blow the doors off of it,” Comeaux says, commenting on the pop performances included in this year’s lineup. “For a long time we’ve felt that when you look at music fans, people aren’t stuck in one genre anymore and I think country music reflects that.” Certainly, CMT has had a hand in bringing together pop and country fans over the years, with its long-running, critically-acclaimed CMT Crossroads.

It wouldn’t be the CMT Music Awards without top notch collaborations, and this year there are plenty in the works.

In addition to the Bentley/Brothers Osborne collab, CMT will welcome Darius Rucker along with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Charles Kelley for a first performance of “Straight To Hell,” from Rucker’s When Was The Last Time album.

The performers join previously announced performers Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean and Kelsea Ballerini.

The CMT Music Awards begin Wednesday (June 6) at 8 p.m. ET.

Weekly Register: Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line’s Chart Successes Continue

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Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line

Kane Brown returns to No. 1 with this week’s best-selling country album, according to Nielsen Soundscan. His self-titled album moved 17K in total consumption this week.

Following at No. 2 is Jason Aldean‘s Rearview Town with 16K, with Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You at No. 3 with 13K. Thomas Rhett‘s Life Changes lands at No. 4 with 12K, while Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller rounds out the Top 5 with 11K.

On the country digital song sales chart, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line continues its monumental success of “Meant To Be,” which moves 21K this week, pushing its total to date to 1.104 million.

Kane Brown’s “Heaven” moved 17K this week, for 492K in total sales to date. Kenny Chesney‘s “Get Along” moved 16K, while Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” moves 13K. Dan+Shay’s “Tequila” rounds out the Top 5 with 12K.

The top country digital song sales debut comes this week from Eli Young Band‘s new track, “Love Ain’t,” which lands at No. 14, and moved 6.4K.

 

ASCAP To Hold CMA Fest Showcase June 7

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ASCAP will present its annual CMA Music Festival showcase of emerging songwriter-artists at the Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, June 7 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Featured performers include Dylan Brady, Max Camp, Hannah Dasher, Austin Jenckes, Parker McKay, Riley Roth, Steel Union, Matt Stell, TRAVLRS and Sarah Allison Turner.

For the fifth consecutive year, ASCAP will present a hit songwriters round at the HGTV Lodge on Friday, June 8 at 4 p.m. The showcase will feature Sony/ATV songwriter Chris DeStefano, RCA Nashville songwriter-artist Ryan Hurd, and Big Loud Records songwriter-artist Jillian Jacqueline. The Lodge is a fan favorite located on 4th Ave just south of Broadway.

Michael Martin​, ​Vice President of Nashville Membership/Creative, said, “For​ nearly a decade, ASCAP has showcased an extensive lineup of emerging songwriter-artists on various stages throughout CMA Fest. We’re thrilled ​to be back at Bridgestone to shine a spotlight on our breakout stars at the festival, and to continue our amazing partnership with HGTV.”

ASCAP’s CMA Music Fest stages over the years have featured stars like Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Jacob Davis, Eric Paslay, Clare Dunn, Striking Matches, Alyssa Bonagura (of The Sisterhood) and more.

Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini To Return As Hosts Of ‘CMA Fest’ TV Special

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Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini are teaming up for the second year and returning as hosts of CMA Fest, the three-hour TV special that brings country’s Ultimate Fan Experience to a national television audience. “CMA Fest” will air Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 8/7c on ABC, and is executive produced by Robert Deaton.

Filmed this week during CMA Fest, the television special will feature more than 25 of country’s biggest names as they hit the stage during the four-day event. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast, a feat no other U.S. music festival has achieved. Last year’s broadcast of CMA Fest achieved three-year ratings highs.

“This year’s CMA Fest is our biggest yet, with many artists debuting full festival sets on the Nissan Stadium stage,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We’re thrilled once again to broadcast ‘CMA Fest’ and bring the festival to millions of country music fans not only here in the U.S. but all around the world.”

“Thomas and Kelsea are the embodiment of the summer fun that is CMA Fest, and we are so excited they’ll be back for year two,” said Rob Mills, ABC Entertainment Senior Vice President, Alternative Series, Specials & Late-Night Programming.

Thomas Rhett returns to host CMA Fest for a third year, first hosting the special in 2016. Ballerini will perform at Nissan Stadium June 9, in addition to appearing as Artist of the Day at Xfinity Fan Fair X June 10. A limited number of four-day tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium, which also includes four-day access to Xfinity Fan Fair X, are still available at CMAfest.com/tickets or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.

Leadership Music Names Class Of 2019

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Leadership Music’s historic 30th Class of 2019 will be composed of 45 industry leaders from across the country. Founded in 1989 by twelve music industry alumni of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Music, a national program based in Nashville, TN, has graduated close to 1,200 leaders. The annual program is designed to create a forum for recognized music industry leaders to learn as they deep-dive into almost every segment of the music business, while identifying and exploring issues currently affecting the music industry; and to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences while building lasting relationships with classmates and alumni in all areas within or related to the music industry.

“Personally, being selected for inclusion in Leadership Music Class of 2003 was a life-changing experience,” CAA’s Jeff Gregg, co-chair of the Selection Committee, stressed. “These 45 leaders selected for the Class of 2019 are embarking on one of the most significant journeys of their career. As a member of the committee, I know I speak on behalf of those that served, we don’t take the responsibility lightly. Choosing the class from the more than 300 qualified candidates who applied is done with great deliberation and thought.”

Co-Chair songwriter Stacy Widelitz adds that he never fails to be awed by the process and the balance of the final result. “We continually emphasize the importance of choosing a class that is diverse in every way,” he pointed out. “That includes genre of music, segment of the music industry they represent, gender, ethnicity, and more. This is an impressive class, and we look forward to watching them develop as a cohesive unit as the Leadership Music Class of 2019.”

Founding Council member and inaugural Leadership Music President, Jim Ed Norman of Curb/Word Entertainment, reflected on the 30th class: “Thirty years in the life of any organization is an impressive milestone, and much has happened in the three decades since a dozen Leadership Nashville alumni from the music industry met to give structure and form to what was, then, just an idea on how to ensure and protect the dialogue and relationship building within the Nashville music community. What this organization has come to mean to the entertainment industry, not only in Nashville but throughout the U. S., is testament to the quality and commitment of our almost 1,200 alums. That we continue to set records in the number of applicants each year is extremely rewarding. Observing the leaders selected for this historic class gives all of us a great deal of confidence in the future of Leadership Music.”

Participants first attend an orientation and alumni welcome reception in September, a two-day Opening Retreat in October, followed by six all-day sessions once a month, ending in May with graduation at a two-day Closing Retreat.

The 45 Members of the Class of 2019 are:

Austen Adams, Attorney, Dickinson Wright
Miles Adcox, CEO/Owner, Onsite
Joseph Atamian, Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency
Greg Barnes, General Counsel, Digital Music Association (Washington, DC)
Michael McAnally Baum, President, Smack Songs
Drew Burchfield, Co-Founder, Aloompa
Anna Bonny Chauvet, Assistant General Counsel, U. S. Copyright Office (Washington, DC)
Jarrod Cooper, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, ONErpm
Kevin Dalton, Business Manager, Wiles + Taylor
Scott Day, Chief Technology Officer, SoundExchange (Washington, DC)
Mehmet Dede, Talent Buyer, Drom NYC/Assistant Professor, The Hartt School (New York City, NY)
Nick Di Fruscia, Vice President, Awards & Membership, ACM (Los Angeles, CA)
Ryan Dokke, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Curb/Word Entertainment
Beville Dunkerley, Head of Nashville Artist Marketing & Industry Relations, Pandora
Serona Elton, Associate Professor/Chair, Music Media & Industry Department, Frost School of Music, University of Miami (Miami, FL)
Jessica Frost, Executive Director, Industry Relations, BMI
Scott Gerow, Producer/Songwriter/Composer, Battery Lane Music
Tim Godwin, Director, Artist & Entertainment Relations, Taylor Guitar (El Cajon, CA)
Tony Grotticelli, Vice President, Digital Marketing, UMG
Chuck Harmony, Artist/CEO, Weirdo Workshop
Debra Herman, Head of Music Partnerships, Shazam (New York, NY)
Eric Holt, Assistant Professor, Belmont University/Partner, Lovenoise
Leigh Holt, Co-Owner/Manager, Redjett Management
Jackie Jones, Director, Music & Talent, CMT
Meredith Jones, Agent, CAA
Gina Keltner, Director, Talent Scheduling & Logistics, Grand Ole Opry
Jay Knowles, Songwriter/CEO WhaleFarm
Garrett Levin, Deputy General Counsel, IP Law & Policy, National Association of Broadcasters (Washington, DC)
Taylor Lindsey, Vice President, A&R, Sony Music Nashville
Chappel McCollister, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Sandbox Entertainment
Marie Miscia, Promotion Director, WKDF/WSM-FM, Cumulus Nashville
Paul Moak, Producer/Studio Owner, The Smoakstack
Jessica Nicholson, Managing Editor, Music Row
Nathan Nicholson, Head of Creative, Thirty Tigers
Ashleigh Overly, Managing Director, Sports & Entertainment, SunTrust Bank
Mike Rittberg, Chief Marketing Officer, BMLG
Lindsay Rothschild, Songwriter & Publisher Relations, Lead North America, YouTube (Los Angeles, CA)
Chad Schultz, Vice President, Radio & Streaming, Warner Music Nashville
Karen Silhol, Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration, RIAA (Washington, DC)
Brandi Simms, Senior Director, Awards & Industry Relations, CMA
Lauren Spahn, Attorney, Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton LLP
Jessica Tomasin, Manager, Echo Mountain (Asheville, NC)
Nate Towne, Agent, WME
Christy Walker-Watkins, President/Co-Owner, AristoMedia Group
Garry Wall, President/Founder, Sparknet Communications

CMT’s Next Women of Country Events Showcases Rising Female Country Artists

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Pictured (L-R): Jo Smith, Tenille Townes, Leslie Fram (Sr. VP Music & Talent, CMT), Jillian Jacqueline and Ashley McBryde.

Monday night (June 4), several of the top female singers and songwriters in country music were honored in Nashville as part of “Billboard Live featuring CMT Next Women of Country,” an artist showcase featuring an all female lineup in partnership with CMT. The event included live performances from Warner Nashville artist Ashley McBryde, who performed “Rattlesnake Preacher,” “American Scandal” and “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Big Loud Records artist Jillian Jacqueline performed the new song “Sad Girls,” and “Tragic,” as well as “God Bless This Mess.” New Sony artist Tenille Townes offered “Where You Are,” “Jersey on The Wall” and “Somebody’s Daughter,” while SMACKSongs’ Jo Smith performed “Bobby’s Heart,” “Poster Child” and “You Up.”

Billboard’s Editorial Director Jason Lipshutz gave opening remarks before introducing CMT’s Senior VP of Music Strategy and Talent, Leslie Fram.

During the event, Jacqueline discussed sharing the stage with Kenny Rogers when she was only nine years old. “My mom was one of those parents that heard her kid singing in the back of the car and she was like that sounds kind of good. She took me to an audition when I was eight and that turned into a Broadway Show with Kenny Rogers in New York City and then five years of touring after that. That chance and that opportunity changed the whole course of my life.” 

Townes spoke about the history behind her song “Somebody’s Daughter.” “This was inspired by a drive I took with my mom. I saw this girl holding a cardboard sign and I couldn’t shake her face from my mind and it just made me think about how everyone has a story and you never know what the person has going on in their life standing next to us.”  

Meanwhile, backstage, Smith offered Townes some advice about going on a radio tour. “If you ever have food poisoning on an airplane that is ascending just give the flight attendant the look that says, ‘I have to go to the bathroom now and you can!’ They will let you up even though you’re supposed to stay seated.”

Leslie Fram, Sr. VP Music & Talent, CMT

Ashley McBryde

Tenille Townes

Jo Smith