Marty Stuart To Join Chris Stapleton Tour

Marty Stuart

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives will join Chris Stapleton for 36 stops on Stapleton’s All-American Road Show as it runs throughout 2018. Stuart and his band will serve as direct support on shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, St. Louis and more.

This Wednesday, Jan. 31, a press conference and musical performance will be held at the Mississippi State Capitol to announce Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music. The new facility, which incorporates the historic Ellis Theater, is equal parts concert venue, museum, and educational center. With over 20,000 invaluable items, Stuart’s collection of country music artifacts is the largest private collection of its kind in the world. Included in the new development is the Marty Stuart Center, an inviting setting where students can learn about the spectrum of careers available within the music industry. Endorsed by the GRAMMY Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and the Library of Congress, the Center will focus on using music to inspire learning, critical thinking, and self-expression.

Recently, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives debuted their cover of the classic Jimmy Martin song “Homesick” via Guitar World, who praised the “tasteful, bluesy, reverb-laden guitar playing we’ve come to expect from Stuart and Kenny Vaughan.” The track is part of Amazon Music’s “Love Me” and “Love Me Not” playlists which will be released on February 9th in honor of Valentine’s Day. Listen to “Homesick” via Guitar World here.

Marty Stuart Tour Dates as part of Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show include:

June 16 ­­­­­­­/// Brandon, MS /// Brandon Amphitheater
June 22 /// Rogers, AR /// Walmart AMP
June 28 /// Darien Center, NY /// Darien Lake Amphitheater
June 29 /// Philadelphia, PA /// BB&T Pavilion
June 30 /// Mansfield, MA /// Xfinity Center
July 13 /// St. Louis, MO /// Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 19 /// Spokane, WA /// Spokane Arena
July 20 /// Portland, OR /// Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
July 21 /// Seattle, WA /// White River Amphitheatre
July 26 /// South Lake Tahoe, NV /// Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
July 27 /// Sacramento, CA /// Toyota Amphitheatre
July 28 /// Mountain View, CA /// Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 2 /// Billings, MT /// Rimrock Auto Arena
August 3 /// Missoula, MT /// Adams Center
August 4 /// Boise, ID /// Ford Idaho Center
August 9 /// Albuquerque, NM /// Isleta Amphitheater
August 10 /// Denver, CO /// Pepsi Center
August 11 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// USANA Amphitheatre
August 16 /// San Diego, CA /// Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
August 17 /// Anaheim, CA /// Honda Center
August 18 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Forum
August 23 /// Saratoga Springs, NY /// Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 24 /// Gilford, NH /// Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
October 4 /// Cincinnati, OH /// Riverbend Music Center
October 5 /// Indianapolis, IN/// Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
October 6 /// Chicago, IL /// Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
October 11 /// Charlotte, NC /// PNC Music Pavilion
October 12 /// Raleigh, NC /// Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
October 13 /// Bristow, VA /// Jiffy Lube Live
October 19 /// Alpharetta, GA /// Verizon Amphitheatre
October 20 /// Atlanta, GA /// Lakewood Amphitheater
October 25 /// Columbia, SC /// Colonial Life Arena
October 26 /// Knoxville, TN /// Thompson Boling Arena
October 27 /// Lexington, KY /// Rupp Arena
November 2 /// New York, NY /// Madison Square Garden
November 3 /// Charlottesville, VA /// John Paul Jones Arena

Kenny Chesney Adds Intimate Amphitheater Shows To 2018 Tour

Kenny Chesney is mixing it up a little this year on his new tour, peppering in some amphitheater shows along with his usual super-sized stadium experience. The tour will kick off April 21 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, but throughout the tour he will also play more intimate venues like May 10 at Virginia Beach’s Farm Bureau Live, May 11 at Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion and May 12 at Raleigh’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Old Dominion will join Chesney on his 21 amphitheater shows.

The 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour will thread massive stadium shows and the more streamlined concerts together throughout the summer and provide fans with two totally different types of concert experiences.

“Nothing’s like the energy of a stadium show,” Chesney admits. “But there’s also something about the amphitheaters, where the people are all so close. It’s like being with your friends somewhere back home, singing songs and hanging out, and having the best party of the year. For us, it feels like the people are so right there, and the songs are driving the night. It’s an experience we know No Shoes Nation loves and misses when we don’t do it, so this year, we’re going to make sure there are plenty of opportunities to see us under the pavilion or out on the lawn.”

Trip Around the Sun Tour dates:
Friday, March 16 — Las Vegas, Nevada, The Joint
Saturday, March 17 – Las Vegas, Nevada, The Joint
Saturday, April 21, Tampa, Florida, Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, April 28, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller Park
Saturday, May 5, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Bank Stadium
Thursday, May 10, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Friday, May 11, Charlotte, North Carolina, PNC Music Pavilion
Saturday, May 12, Raleigh, North Carolina, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Wednesday, May 16, Del Valle, Texas, Austin360 Amphitheater
Thursday, May 17, The Woodlands, Texas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Saturday, May 19, Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium
Thursday, May 24, West Palm Beach, Florida, Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Saturday, May 26, Atlanta, Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Thursday, May 31, Noblesville, Indiana, The Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Saturday, June 2, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Heinz Field
Wednesday, June 6, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Blossom Music Center
Thursday, June 7, Syracuse, New York, Lakeview Amphitheater
Saturday, June 9, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Field
Friday, June 15, Bristow, Virginia, Jiffy Lube Live
Saturday, June 16, Columbus, Ohio, MAPFRE Stadium
Wednesday, June 20, Mountain View, California, Shoreline Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 21, Chula Vista, California, Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 23, Phoenix, Arizona, Chase Field
Thursday, June 28, West Valley City, Utah, USANA Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 30, Denver, Colorado, Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Tuesday, July 3, Stateline, Nevada, Harveys Lake Tahoe Casino
Thursday, July 5, Nampa, Idaho, Ford Idaho Center
Saturday, July 7, Seattle, Washington, CenturyLink Field
Thursday, July 12, Rogers, Arkansas, Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
Saturday, July 14, Kansas City, Missouri, Arrowhead Stadium
Thursday, July 19, Southaven, Mississippi, BankPlus Amphitheater
Saturday, July 21, St. Louis, Missouri, Busch Stadium
Thursday, July 26, Cincinnati, Ohio, Riverbend Music Center
Saturday, July 28, Chicago, Illinois, Soldier Field
Thursday, August 2, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 4, Detroit, Michigan, Ford Field
Saturday, August 11, Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium
Thursday, August 16, Bangor, Maine, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Saturday, August 18, East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium
Wednesday, August 22, Columbia, Maryland, Merriweather Post Pavilion
Friday, August 24, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium
Saturday, August 25, Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette, Stadium

ole Extends Deal With Chris Janson

Chris Janson. Photo: Brenton Giesey

On Jan. 29, ole announced it has concluded an exclusive deal with singer/songwriter Chris Janson. The deal includes the purchase of Janson’s publishing share of his existing catalogue (including his most recent album, Everybody), and extends ole’s existing publishing agreement with Janson for future albums.

“I’m proud to extend my partnership with ole. I am proud to be a songwriter, and thankful for the success it has brought my family and I,” commented Janson. “I’m passionate about songwriting and look forward to the future with the ole team.”

John Ozier, ole’s Vice President, Creative, added, “We’re incredibly proud to have extended our deal with Chris Janson. Not only is Chris an amazing artist and performer, Chris is a prolific songwriter. We look forward to building on the success and momentum that we have and cannot wait to see what this year brings for Chris and ole.”

Janson’s most recent album, Everybody, was released in September 2017, led by the single, “Fix A Drink.” The second single, “Drunk Girl,” published by ole and co-written by Janson, Tom Douglas and Scooter Carusoe, is currently climbing its way up the airplay charts. Earning widespread praise from critics, “Drunk Girl” was named one of Rolling Stone’s “25 Best Country Songs of 2017”.

Janson previously hit No. 1 with “Buy Me A Boat” in late 2015. In addition to his self-recorded tracks, Janson has also written more than 25 songs for a long list of country stars, including Tim McGraw (“Truck Yeah” & “How I’ll Always Be”), Locash (“I Love This Life”), and Randy Houser (“Song Number 7”).

Luke Laird Signs Publishing Deal With Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Creative Nation

Front row (L-R): Hannah Williams, Sony/ATV Nashville Creative Manager; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV Nashville SVP, Creative; Luke Laird; Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO. Back row (L-R): Terry Wakefield, Sony/ATV Nashville SVP, Creative; Dustin Kovacic, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Tom Luteran, Sony/ATV Nashville VP, Creative; Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Stephen Denninger, Sony/ATV Nashville A&R Coordinator; Dane Schmidt, Sony/ATV Nashville Director, Creative

Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer Luke Laird has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Creative Nation.

As a songwriter, Laird has had 46 radio singles – 23 of which were Billboard No. 1 hits and four of which were in the Billboard top five. His #1 hits include: “Fast” and “I See You” (Luke Bryan); “Head Over Boots” (Jon Pardi); “T-Shirt” (Thomas Rhett); “Gonna” and “Hillbilly Bone” (Blake Shelton); “Talladega,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” and “Drink In My Hand” (Eric Church); “American Kids” (Kenny Chesney); “Sunshine & Whiskey” (Frankie Ballard); “One of Those Nights” (Tim McGraw); “Downtown” (Lady Antebellum); “Somebody’s Heartbreak” (Hunter Hayes); “Beat This Summer” (Brad Paisley); “Pontoon” (Little Big Town); “You” (Chris Young); “A Little Bit Stronger” (Sara Evans); “Take A Back Road” (Rodney Atkins); and “Temporary Home,” “Undo It,” “So Small,” and “Last Name” (Carrie Underwood).

The Country Music Association has recognized Laird on six occasions with the coveted Triple Play Award, signifying three No. 1 singles within a 12-month period. Laird co-produced the album Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves, which received both Grammy and ACM awards for Album of the Year. He has also received two of BMI’s most respected honors: Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year, and Academy of Country Music’s Songwriter of the Year.

Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO Troy Tomlinson said: “It’s a rare occasion when a publisher is able to secure both the hit-driven catalog and the futures of a writer the quality of Luke Laird. We are grateful that he is entrusting his body of work with us and look forward to continuing success.”

Laird said, “I’m looking forward to working with Troy, Josh Van Valkenburg and the entire Sony/ATV team. They have a great history of working with songwriters who are heroes of mine and they will be the perfect complement to my team at Creative Nation.”

Mel Tillis Memorial To Be Broadcast Live On 650 AM WSM

The public memorial service for Mel Tillis, who passed away in November, will be broadcast live on 650 AM WSM from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium this Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. The broadcast will also be available on WSMonline.com, as well as the station’s mobile app. The event is free and open to the public.

Tillis’ family, friends, fans, and music colleagues will gather at the Ryman to honor the life and career of the Country Music Hall of Famer, and a slew of country stars will perform some of Tillis’ most memorable career songs. Those scheduled to take the stage include Ricky Skaggs, Ray Stevens, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Alison Krauss with the Street Corner Symphony, Jamey Johnson, Collin Raye, Daryle Singletary, Lorrie MorganIra DeanPam Tillis, Sonny Tillis, and Carrie April Tillis. Tillis’ band, The Statesiders, will accompany select performances and former Nashville Now host Ralph Emery will emcee.

Following a lengthy struggle to regain his health, Tillis passed away on Nov. 19, 2017, at the Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. He battled intestinal issues since early 2016 and never fully recovered. He was 85.

Curb VP/GM Taylor Childress To Step Down

Curb Records/The Curb Group VP and General Manager Taylor Childress will exit the company, effective Feb. 15. A replacement has not yet been named.

Childress, a Vanderbilt graduate, was named VP and General Manager in 2014.

Childress announced the departure in a memo to Curb staffers:

It was a great honor to serve our talented artists in this role and I am proud of the strides we made at our company. I am beyond thankful for the great number of people from which I have learned a great deal and helped me to become the executive I am today. To both the leadership and my colleagues at Curb, to the artists, the managers, the publishing community, my friends at radio, etc-Thank you.

I wish I had the ability to mention all of you by name, but the list is simply too long! Instead, let me express my gratitude toward the industry at large, both Nashville and beyond. Thank you all so very much and I hope there is opportunity at some point in the future to work with all of you once again.

Grammys In Pictures: Nashville Heads To New York City

Big Machine celebrates Reba’s Grammy win for Best Roots Gospel Album. Pictured (L-R): Big Machine’s Erin Burr, Allison Jones, Scott Borchetta, Reba, Big Machine’s Jim Weatherson and Reba Inc.’s Carolyn Snell.

Artists and record label execs turned out for the star-studded 60th Annual Grammy Awards in New York City to celebrate performances and award wins, both during the annual awards show, and at the label afterparties.

This year, Mercury Records Nashville’s Chris Stapleton took home three honors, including Best Country Album, Best Country Song, and Best Country Solo Performance, while fellow Capitol Records Nashville quartet Little Big Town took home Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Reba McEntire won for Best Roots Gospel Album for Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope (Nash Icon/Capitol Christian Music Group).

During the Grammy telecast, Stapleton also teamed with Emmylou Harris for a tribute to Tom Petty on “Wildflowers.”

Meanwhile, Columbia Nashville artist Maren Morris collaborated with EMI Records Nashville artists Eric Church and Brothers Osborne on a cover of Eric Clapton’s “Tears In Heaven.”

Sony Music Nashville Celebrates At 60th Annual Grammy Awards

Pictured (L-R): Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris, Sony Music Entertainment CEO Rob Stringer, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman and Maren Morris’s manager Janet Weir.

 

Artists Celebrate at Universal Music Group’s Grammys Afterparty

Pictured (L-R): T.J. Osborne and John Osborne of Brothers Osborne attend Universal Music Group’s 2018 After Party for the Grammy Awards. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

Pictured (L-R): Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, and Jess Carson of Midland attend Universal Music Group’s 2018 After Party to celebrate the Grammy Awards. Photo: Brian Ach/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

Pictured (L-R): BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta and Mark Wystrach of Midland attend Universal Music Group’s 2018 After Party to celebrate the Grammy Awards. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

 

 

“Team UMG At The Ryman” Lineup Revealed For CRS 2018

Universal Music Group Nashville will bring some of country music’s top superstars to this year’s Country Radio Seminar, with the newly-revealed lineup for “Team UMG at the Ryman,” set for Feb. 6, 2018 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Darius Rucker and Little Big Town will be joined by Kassi Ashton, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Brandon Lay, Maddie & Tae, Kip Moore and Jon Pardi for this year’s event.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and the show will start at Noon. As in previous years, seminar registrants will receive a boxed lunch prior to the event. CRS attendees will have the option to either walk or use shuttles, provided by UMG Nashville, going from the Omni Hotel to the Ryman Auditorium between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Registration for Country Radio Seminar 2018 is available at countryradioseminar.com for $699 per person. Single-day passes (limited to two day passes per person) are $200 per pass.

 

Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Adds To Marketing, Events Teams

Pictured (L-R): Tori Tarvin, Heather McCroskey

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has added staffers to its Marketing and Events teams.

Heather McCroskey joins the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as Director of Event Sales and Catering, reporting to Sr. Director of Events and Culinary, Nando Rodriguez. McCroskey began her meetings and conventions career over 20 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. After Hurricane Katrina, she and her family relocated to Nashville, where she began working in events at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center as a Convention Services Manager. In 2013, McCroskey made a career shift from event sales to planning, joining association management company, Parthenon Management Group as Meetings Manager and in 2016 was promoted to Director of Meetings.

A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Tori Tarvin has been named Associate Director of Marketing. Tarvin has spent the last seven years of her career in media and marketing and enjoys keeping up with the ever-evolving digital landscape. Tarvin previously worked for digital wellness company Share Media Group as a brand manager responsible for content strategy, digital marketing and PR. The company was acquired by Brentwood-based Pop Culture Media in 2017 which brought Tarvin to Music City where she served on the executive team for Pop Culture’s 12th largest entertainment news website, PopCulture.com. Tarvin reports to Director of Marketing, Kayla Ott.

Indie Labels Made Up Over 40 Percent Of Grammy Wins In 2018

At this year’s Grammy Awards, the independent community took home more than 40 percent of The Recording Academy honors, earning 36 of the awards’ 84 categories. Among those wins were Best American Roots Performance (Alabama Shakes/ATO Records), Best Alternative Music Album (The National/4AD), Best Bluegrass Album (The Infamous Stringdusters/Compass Records).

Thirty Tigers took home four honors, including two for Jason Isbell (The Nashville Sound/Best Americana Album and “If We Were Vampires”/Best American Roots Song). Thirty Tigers also claims another two wins with CeCe Winans for Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Gospel Album.

“Independent artists swept more than forty percent of last night’s wins at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in New York City,” said A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess. “A2IM is gratified that our peers, The Recording Academy voting members, so powerfully endorsed the diverse musical values and relevance of our independent community.”

List of all Independent Label Winners:

Best Alternative Music Album
The National, Sleep Well Beast (4AD)

Best Americana Album
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound (Thirty Tigers)

Best American Roots Performance
Alabama Shakes, “Killer Diller Blues” (ATO Records)

Best American Roots Song
“If We Were Vampires” – Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) (Thirty Tigers)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella
John Williams, arranger (John Williams), Escapades For Alto Saxophone And Orchestra From Catch Me If You Can (Ropeadope LLC Waterbaby Music Inc/Ropeadope LLC)

Best Bluegrass Album
The Infamous Stringdusters, Laws of Gravity (Compass Records)
Rhonda Vincent And The Rage, All The Rage – In Concert Volume One [Live] (Upper Management)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Lawrence Azerrad, Timothy Daly & David Pescovitz, art directors (Various Artists), The Voyager Golden Record: 40th Anniversary Edition (Ozma Records)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Patricia Kopatchinskaja & The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Death & The Maiden (Naxos)

Best Children’s Album
Lisa Loeb, Feel What U Feel (Furious Rose Productions)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Barbara Hannigan (Ludwig Orchestra), Crazy Girl Crazy (Alpha)

Best Classical Compendium
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor. Tim Handley, producer (James Button, Roberto Díaz & Nashville Symphony), Higdon: All Things Majestic, Viola Concerto & Oboe Concerto (Naxos)

Best Contemporary Blues Album
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, TajMo (Self Release (Concord))

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Jennifer Higdon, composer (Roberto Díaz, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony), Viola Concerto (Naxos)

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Jeff Lorber Fusion, Prototype (eOne)

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Mark Donahue, engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio (Reference Recordings)

Best Folk Album
Aimee Mann, Mental Illness (Aimee Mann/SuperEgo Records)

Best Gospel Performance/Song
CeCe Winans, Never Have to Be Alone (PureSprings Gospel)

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
John McLaughlin, Miles Beyond (Abstract Logix)

Best Instrumental Composition
Arturo O’Farrill, composer (Arturo O’Farrill & Chucho Valdés), Three Revolutions (Self Release/Motema)

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue Records)

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Billy Childs, Rebirth (Mack Avenue Records)

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Christian McBride Big Band, Bringin’ It (Mack Avenue Records)

Best Latin Jazz Album
Pablo Ziegler Trio, Jazz Tango (Zoho Music)

Best Music Film
Various Artists, The Defiant Ones (HBO)

Best New Age Album
Peter Kater, ‘Dancing on Water’ (Point of Light)

Best Orchestral Performance
Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), “Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio” (Reference Recordings)

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Aida Cuevas, Arriero Somos Versiones Acústicas (Self-Release/Cuevas)

Best Recording Package
Sasha Barr, Ed Steed & Josh Tillman, art directors (Father John Misty), Pure Comedy (Deluxe Edition) (Sub Pop)

Best Regional Roots Music Album
Lost Bayou Ramblers, Kalenda (Lost Bayou Ramblers)

Best Roots Gospel Album
Reba McEntire, Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope (Rockin’ R Records/Big Machine)

Best Song Written For Visual Media
Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli’i Cravalho), ‘How Far I’ll Go’ (Disney)

Best Surround Sound Album
Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom, surround producers (Jane Ira Bloom), Early Americans (Outline Records)

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Childish Gambino, “Redbone” (Glassnote Records)

Best Tropical Latin Album
Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta, Salsa Big Band (Self-Release)

Best World Music Album
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)