Craig Morgan And Family Star In New UP TV Show, ‘Morgan Family Strong’

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Craig Morgan and his family will be the center of a new series on UP TV, Morgan Family Strong, which will premiere March 1 on the network. The series will follow Morgan and his close-knit family, wife Karen, daughter Alexandra, and sons Kyle and Wyatt, at home and on tour as they come together following the loss of their son and brother, Jerry, in a tragic accident. Part of the family’s healing process has been to launch a passion project, titled Morgan Farms.

This season on Morgan Family Strong, viewers will see the Morgans juggling life at home and on the road including opening a family store, The Gallery at Morgan Farms, and Craig writing new songs for an upcoming album. The family will also explore the Alaskan wilderness on vacation, take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, and celebrate birthdays and other milestones along the way.

“Craig and his family are so genuine, real and authentic that we immediately fell in love with them and knew that their story was a perfect fit for UP and our viewers,” said Timothy Kuryak, SVP unscripted development and production, UP. “They are such a fun and loving family, yet in the face of a terrible tragedy, they have turned to one another and grown stronger.”

In 2017 Morgan debuted The Gallery at Morgan Farms, a family-owned and operated farm-to-home business in his hometown of Dickson, Tennessee. The store features a variety of artisan items handmade by Craig and his family and shoppers can also order his custom blended Old Tattoo Cabernet Sauvignon, in partnership with Lot18.com.

Watch: Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton Team For “Say Something”

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Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton perform during the Country Music Association Awards. Photo: CMA/Instagram

Justin Timberlake teased that country star Chris Stapleton will be featured on Timberlake’s upcoming album, Man Of The Woods and on Thursday (Jan. 25), the pair confirmed the appearance with the release the official video for the track “Say Something.” The song—reportedly co-written by Stapleton, Timberlake, Larrance Dopson, James Fauntleroy, Floyd Nathaniel Hills and Timothy Mosley—is the third track previewed from the album, following “Filthy” and “Supplies.” The video, directed by Arturo Perez Jr., is a one-take video, with live vocals including a multi-tiered chorus appearance at one point. An album version of the track is available on streaming partners and digital stores.

Timberlake and Stapleton previously teamed up during the 2015 CMA Awards for a mashup of “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away.” Stapleton also appeared during Timberlake’s set at  last year’s Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee.

Man of the Woods releases Feb. 2, two days before Timberlake plays the Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 4.

Watch the video for “Say Something” below:

YouTube video

DISClaimer: Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris Get Feisty And Fiery On New Tracks

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It’s Ladies Day here at DISClaimer.

Get set to play the dickens out of the new platters by Maren Morris and Ashley McBryde. They are sharing the Disc of the Day prize.

Cash Creek, Locash and Zac Brown continue their winning ways, so pay heed to those releases as well.

NASCAR driver Tyler Williams earns this week’s DisCovery Award.

CASH CREEK/Make Your Mama Proud
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Heartland
– Jaunty, light-hearted and highly enjoyable. The message is a winner, too: Don’t try to be what you’re not or chase after what’s not important. Just be yourself, shine in your own space and live with honor. Love it.

KID ROCK/American Rock ‘n’ Roll
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BMG (download)
– I dislike pretty much everything about this artist. His rapping. His looks. His attitude. His genre hopping. And today, his singing this bogus anthem.

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses
Writers: none listed; Producers: Aaron Watson/Marshall Altman; Publishers: none listed; Big Label (track)
– This atmospheric, steady thumper has very groovy guitar licks. The lyric compares the rush of romantic passion with an out-of-control mustang. Watson is a highly successful, d.i.y. artist with a dozen albums and a string of sold-out concerts. This nicely produced track is drawn from his 2017 CD Vaquero.

YouTube video

 

ZAC BROWN & SIR ROSEVELT/It Goes On
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed
-This is from the soundtrack of the Chris Hemsworth movie 12 Strong. But it stands on its own as a soaring sentiment about enduring devotion. The orchestral accompaniment as it builds in intensity is superbly arranged. Sir Rosevelt is a trio that is Zac’s side project, but he will also continue to make music with his band.

TYLER WILLIAMS/Good For Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jonathan Roye; Publishers: none listed; Eight Seven (track)
– This guy is a champion NASCAR driver who sings in a solid, confident way about weathering a failed relationship. The swirling track supports him at every turn. Williams is also a motivational speaker and the author of an inspirational-style book titled I Have a Voice.

MAREN MORRIS/Rich
Writers: Maren Morris/Jessie Jo Dillon/Laura Veltz; Producers: busbee/Maren Morris; Publishers: none listed, BMI; Columbia Nashville
– This bopping tune has been delighting her audiences for months. Feisty and frothy, it’s about a no-good guy she keeps returning to. If she had a dollar for every time she was right about what a bum he is……

GREG HUDIK/She Loves Kissing Girls
Writers: Hudik; Producer: Hudik; Publishers: none listed; Platinum
– His vocal has a muffled audio quality and is somewhat buried in the mix. Which is probably okay, since he doesn’t sing all that well to start with.

ASHLEY McBRYDE/American Scandal
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– She sings the fire outta this. The song is torrid enough with its lyric of forbidden love (”love me like Kennedy and Monroe”). Her performance of it burns the house down. I absolutely cannot wait for the album by my newcomer-of-the-year.

YouTube video

 

LINDI ORTEGA/The Comeback Kid
Writers: Ortega/Skylar Wilson; Producer: Skylar Wilson; Publishers: Last Gang/Ole Media Management/Catpad, SOCAN/SESAC; Shadowbox (track)
– I am a fan of this quirky Canadian singer-songwriter. On this oddball ballad, she sings in a wispy soprano in an echo chamber. The haunting lyric seems to be about someone who was killed, but didn’t really die or somehow returned from beyond the grave. It is the lead single from her CD titled Liberty, due in six weeks.

LOCASH/Don’t Get Better Than That
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Reviver (download)
– It has a certain nervous energy that is infectious. The double-time rhythm track is the star here, but the top-down, head-to-the-sky, soaring vocals will grab ya, too.

Patrick Menton Named VP/Talent & Production For dick clark productions

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dick clark productions has named Patrick Menton Vice President of Talent & Production for the company. In his new role, Menton will oversee talent logistics and continue to further develop relationships with key talent management and record labels for the company’s roster of shows including the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and a variety of other properties.

Prior to joining dcp, Menton freelanced in talent management on the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Grammy Awards, The X Factor, Fashion Rocks and helped produce the annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala. His experience also extends into numerous charitable benefits including Water Now and most recently, the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief telethon which raised over $55 million. Menton graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music from New York University’s Music Business Program. In 2003, Patrick joined RCA records and spent seven years working on global marketing and publicity campaigns for Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Rod Stewart, Luther Vandross, Ke$ha, Jamie Foxx, Carrie Underwood, Eddie Vedder, Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson, among others.

Menton will report to dick clark productions’ COO & CFO Amy Thurlow and EVP of Programming & Development Mark Bracco and will also work closely with Head of Talent Mark Shimmel.

“Patrick brings more than 15 years of expertise in music, television and events, which makes him the perfect candidate for this role,” said Thurlow. “As the entertainment business continues to evolve, his perspective and innovative ideas align perfectly with the growth of dcp. We are thrilled to have him join the team.”

“I am honored to work for a company with such legendary archives,” said Menton. “These were the shows that I watched as a child that first ignited my dream to be a part of this business. I am thrilled to be joining the dcp family!”

FlyteVu Celebrates New Hires

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Pictured (clockwise, L-R): Dan Cadenas, Michael Hardesty, Morgan White, Liz Ivy, and Heather Hourigan.

FlyteVu, a Nashville-based full-service marketing agency, has hired five new staffers in public relations, project management, and finance.

Dan Cadenas has joined the agency as Director of Finance where he will oversee client and internal finances. Cadenas was previously at FCB and FCBX in Chicago where he was VP of Client Finance specializing in contract negotiation and relationship building for multi-national clients.

Michael Hardesty has joined FlyteVu as Project Manager and will assist in developing content and growth strategies across all clients. Hardesty previously oversaw the creative team at Made In Network, Nashville’s only YouTube multi-channel network, growing the channel to 75 million views per month.

Morgan White and Heather Hourigan have joined FlyteVu’s PR and Media Department as Public Relations Manager and Public Relations Coordinator, respectively. White was previously a Public Relations Specialist at MGM Resorts International where she specialized in entertainment and brand campaigns. Hourigan spent five years as a news anchor and reporter and received an Emmy for her work in the field.

Liz Ivy joins as Coordinator at FlyteVu. She spent the previous three years in the music and event planning field, working for Creative Artists Agency, MStreet Entertainment Group, and most recently, Rocket Experiences handling partnerships with Anheuser-Busch, Pernod Ricard, Rally Labs, Kendra Scott, and more.

“We are thrilled to have such skilled and accomplished talent join FlyteVu,” said Laura Hutfless, Partner at FlyteVu. “Dan, Michael, Morgan, Heather, and Liz are invaluable members to our team and culture.”

FlyteVu launched in 2015, led by Hutfless and former Warner Music Nashville executive Jeremy Holley.

Grammys Announce Additional Presenters

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The Recording Academy has announced the lineup of presenters for the upcoming 60th Annual Grammy Awards on January 28 on CBS. This year’s presenters include 18-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett, current nominee Dave Chappelle, three-time winner and current nominee Kelly Clarkson, professional football player Victor Cruz, Grammy winner Eve, current nominee Jim Gaffigan, actress Katie Holmes, previous nominee Nick Jonas, actress Anna Kendrick, 15-time winner Alicia Keys, 10-time winner John Legend, actor Shemar Moore, comedian/television host Trevor Noah, current nominee Sarah Silverman, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, and nominee Donnie Wahlberg.

Previously announced performers on this year’s show include Jon Batiste, Brothers Osborne, Alessia Cara, Cardi B, Childish Gambino, Eric Church, Gary Clark Jr., Miley Cyrus, Daddy Yankee, DJ Khaled, Luis Fonsi, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Kesha, Khalid, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Little Big Town, Logic, Patti LuPone, Bruno Mars, Maren Morris, P!nk, Ben Platt, Rihanna, Zuleyka Rivera, Sam Smith, Chris Stapleton, Sting, SZA, Bryson Tiller, and U2.

Hosted by James Corden, this year’s Grammys will be broadcast live from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

 

 

Marcus And Levi Hummon, Dean Brody, Jessica Mitchell Perform At CMA Songwriters Series Toronto

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Songwriters Dean Brody, Jessica Mitchell, Levi Hummon, and Marcus Hummon perform at the CMA Songwriters Series at the Great Hall in Toronto, Canada  Photo Credit: Brian Batista Bettencourt/CMA

The CMA’s Songwriters Series returned to Toronto Tuesday (Jan. 23) as part of the CMA Music & Brand Forum, a two-hour seminar that featured industry speakers and panelists targeted to the Canadian brand marketing and agency community. Canadian artists Dean Brody and Jessica Mitchell made their first-ever CMA Songwriters Series appearance and were joined by Nashville-based, father-son songwriters Marcus and Levi Hummon. This marks the second CMA Songwriters Series performance in Toronto since 2015.

Currently in its 14th season, CMA’s Songwriters Series has presented more than 100 shows in 17 cities including Austin, Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. at the renowned Library of Congress and John F. Kennedy Center. Artists and writers who have participated in the series include Jessi Alexander, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Tom Douglas, Brett Eldredge, Miranda Lambert, Hilary Lindsey, Little Big Town, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Tim Nichols, Liz Rose, Carrie Underwood, Craig Wiseman and more.

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Wilson, CMA SVP of Business Affairs; Marcus Hummon; Levi Hummon; Dean Brody; Jessica Mitchell; and Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer  Photo: Brian Batista Bettencourt/CMA

 

CMA Brand Forum panelists at The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada. Pictured (L-R): Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment Group, Inc. Founder and President; Karen Stump, CMA Senior Director of Market Research; Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer; Phil Bouffard, Feldman Agency Head of Strategy; and Ted Ellis, Creator President and CMA Board member. Pictured (Back row, L-R): Emily Evans, CMA Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships; John Marks, Spotify Global Editor for Country Music and CMA Board member; Lindsey Hyslop, RGK Entertainment Manager of Digital Marketing and Brand Partnerships; and Tracy Martin, CCMA President. Photo: Brian Batista Bettencourt/CMA

 

Levi Hummon performs at the CMA Songwriters Series at the Great Hall in Toronto, Canada.  Photo: Brian Batista Bettencourt/CMA

Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker Thrill Crowd At Bobby Bones’ Million Dollar Show 3

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Photo Credit: Jason Kempin, Getty

Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots gathered an all-star crowd of friends to help them support St. Jude at his Million Dollar Show 3 on Monday (Jan. 22) at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The sold-out concert included an epic lineup as well as several surprise acts and featured performances from Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Kevin Griffin, Nikita Karmen and surprise guests Dierks Bentley, HANSON and LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster.

Highlights from the special evening included Luke Combs performing his smash hit “Hurricane,” Maren Morris leading the crowd in a singalong during her hit “My Church,” Darius Rucker performing “Wagon Wheel,” and Keith Urban closing out the star-studded night with “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

The third annual show pushed the grand total raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital over the past years to nearly $8 million dollars.

Keith Urban and Bobby Bones. Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty

Eddie Garcia and Darius Rucker jam during the Million Dollar Show 3. Photo: Jason Kempin, Getty

Promotions At PLA Media

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Full-service publicity and marking firm PLA Media has promoted Senior Publicist Mark Logsdon to Exec. Director of Marketing/Public Relations. Publicist/Marketing Account Representative Brittney Wilkerson has been promoted to Senior Publicist/Marketing Exec.

“I am delighted to start off 2018 with the announcement of the promotion of both Mark Logsdon and Brittney Wilkerson. We are very blessed that 2017 was a banner year for us boasting much success and national coverage for our clients as well as recognition for PLA Media. Our long tradition of excellence and innovation ensures that we will continue to beat the odds in a very competitive business climate,” says PLA President, Pam Lewis.

Logsdon joined PLA Media as a Publicity Coordinator in July 2007, and rose through the ranks as Publicity & Marketing Account Executive, Senior Publicist & Marketing Executive, to Executive Director.

Wilkerson joined PLA in 2013, and has spearheaded multiple campaigns for Grammy nominated projects. She has expanded PLA’s primarily country roster by specializing in Americana/Alt Rock clientele.

PLA’s team also includes Publicity and Social Media Coordinator Allie Phillips; Graphic Designer Matt Williams and Bookkeeper/Accountant Judi Larue.

Brothers Osborne To Release Sophomore Album In April

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EMI Nashville’s Brothers Osborne will release their sophomore album Port Saint Joe April 20. The two-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year just released their new single “Shoot Me Straight” off the project which was produced by Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town). The title, Port Saint Joe, reflects the small town on the Florida coast where siblings John and TJ recorded the album.

“Port Saint Joe is a sonic representation of who we’ve become not only as a band but as people,” says John Osborne. “Every show we’ve ever played together is on this record. Every song we’ve ever written and every mile we’ve ever ridden has led to the making of this record. Imperfections and all.”

TJ adds, “we shacked up for two weeks to make an unabashed record that would reflect who we are in every way, and in the process we had the most enjoyable and memorable recording experience of our lives.”

Port Saint Joe Track Listing:

Slow Your Roll
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Barry Dean, Troy Verges)

Shoot Me Straight
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Thomas Miller)

I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Shane McAnally, Matt Dragstrem)

Weed, Whiskey and Willie
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Laura Veltz)

Tequila Again
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Kendall Marvel)

A Couple Wrongs Makin’ It Alright
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Connie Harrington)

Pushing Up Daisies
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Kendall Marvel)

Drank Like Hank
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Kendall Marvel)

A Little Bit Trouble
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Dave Barnes)

While You Still Can
(John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Travis Meadows)