Kenny Rogers Celebrates SESAC Legacy Award, “Islands In The Stream” Gold Certification

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Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s John Zarling, Vector management’s Ken Levitan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, CTK management’s Danny Nozell, and Webster PR’s Kirt Webster. Photo: Randy Dorman

SESAC will honor Kenny Rogers with the SESAC Legacy Award at its Nashville Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The SESAC Legacy Award recognizes Rogers’ contributions to the creative arts.

Additionally, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were recently presented with a digital gold plaque from Sony Music Nashville for “Islands In The Stream” surpassing 500,000 digital units sold. The song has sold over 3 million physical copies and continues to be a fan favorite in the new modern download era.

Rogers and Parton performed the classic duet during Rogers’ All In For the Gambler show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 25. Parton also performed her signature song “I Will Always Love You” during the event.

Thomas Rhett Announces Life Changes Tour 2018

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Thomas Rhett is set to kick off his headlining Life Changes Tour 2018 in April. He will hit 30 cities on the new tour along with Brett Young, Jillian Jacqueline, Carly Pearce, and Russell Dickerson on select dates.

Thomas Rhett returns to the road in April on the heels of his highly successful debut headlining Home Team Tour, which has marked 27 sold-out shows so far this year. The Life Changes Tour’s second leg will kick off Sept. 13 with Young and Midland as support.

“Headlining for the first time has been pretty unreal,” said Thomas Rhett. “It’s wild to me that next year we will be launching our second year of headline shows and are bringing out some of my favorite artists in music right now. I think the fans have come to expect that we’re going to be on our feet and having the time of our lives every single night.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 3) in select markets at TicketMaster.com. Thomas Rhett will also join Kenny Chesney on his upcoming Trip Around The Sun Tour in 2018 as well.

LIFE CHANGES TOUR 2018 Dates:
April 5: Tulsa, OK BOK Center *
April 6: Lubbock, TX United Supermarket Arena *
April 7: Las Cruces, NM Pan American Center *
April 19: Augusta, GA James Brown Arena **
April 20: Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place **
May 3: Grand Forks, ND Alerus Center ***
May 4: Bismarck, ND Bismarck Event Center ***
May 17: Lafayette, LA Cajundome ***
May 18: Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center ***
Sept. 13: Bangor, ME Cross Insurance Center ****
Sept. 14: Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena ****
Sept. 20: Manchester, NH SNHU Arena ****
Sept. 21: Syracuse, NY OnCenter War Memorial Arena ****
Sept. 22: Albany, NY Times Union Center ****
Sept. 27: State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center ****
Sept. 28: Charleston, WV Charleston Civic Center ****
Sept. 29: Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena ****
Oct. 5:  Toledo, OH The Huntington Center ****
Oct. 6: Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena ****
Oct. 11: Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena ****
Oct. 12: Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena ****
Oct. 13: Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena ****
Oct. 18: Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena ****
Oct. 19: Boise, ID Ford Idaho Center ****
Oct. 20: Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena ****
Oct. 25: Fresno, CA Save Mart Center at Fresno State ****
Oct. 26: Los Angeles, CA The Forum*****
Oct. 27: Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center ****

* Brett Young w/Jillian Jacqueline
** Brett Young w/Carly Pearce
*** Brett Young w/Russell Dickerson
**** Brett Young and Midland
***** Brett Young and TBA

Luke Combs Set For Two Ryman Auditorium Shows

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River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs will make his headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium with two nights on Feb. 2-3, 2018, as part of his Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour. Ashley McBryde will join him for both shows.

Tickets will be available in pre-sale to Combs’ Bootleggers fan club starting Tuesday, Oct. 31 and on-sale on Nov. 4.

“When It Rains It Pours” marks the second multi-week No. 1 hit from Combs’ debut album This One’s For You. The album has garnered more than 371 million streams to date and generated Combs’ Platinum-certified multi-week No. 1 hit single “Hurricane.”

Shane McAnally Extends Publishing Deal With Kobalt

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Shane McAnally

Kobalt announced Monday (Oct. 30) that it has re-signed multiple Grammy award-winning country songwriter Shane McAnally.

The worldwide agreement includes publishing administration for all of McAnally’s future works along with his back catalog, which includes Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road,” the longest-reigning Billboard Hot Country No. 1 hit.

McAnally’s own publishing company, SMACKSongs, has an existing relationship with Kobalt. SMACK is home to country songwriters Josh Osborne, Matt Ramsey, Walker Hayes, Matt McGinn, Ryan Beaver, and others.

“Kobalt is such a valuable part of my team and I’m so grateful for the care and attention they give SMACKSongs,” said Shane McAnally. “I trust their expertise, appreciate their business model and just love their staff. I’m thrilled to be continuing our working relationship.”

Jesse Willoughby, General Manager of Kobalt, Nashville, said of the deal, “We couldn’t be more excited at Kobalt to continue our relationship with Shane. He’s one of the most influential writers in Nashville and is continually pushing the boundaries, not only as a writer/producer but as a businessman as well. We look forward to his continued success and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

McAnally is a Nashville-based multi-Platinum songwriter and producer who has worked with Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Brandy Clark, Sam Hunt, Kacey Musgraves, Midland, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett and many more. He has earned 28 number one hits.

In 2017, McAnally and industry veteran, Jason Owen, re-launched Monument Records with flagship artists Walker Hayes and Caitlyn Smith.

Randy Travis Signs On With 117 Publicity

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Randy Travis

Music icon and Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis has signed with Zach Farnum‘s entertainment firm, 117 Publicity. With multiple high-profile projects on the horizon, including an autobiography and a full-length documentary, the 117 team will represent Travis exclusively throughout the media landscape.

With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Travis’ honors extend to seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors.

“Randy Travis is easily one of the most accomplished and renowned superstars in the history of the music industry,” said Zach Farnum, President & CEO of 117 Entertainment Group. “He is an influencer of nearly every artist that has come onto the country scene since he first topped the chart in the mid ‘80s, pivoted an entire movement for the genre and has garnered innumerable major awards and iconic hits. We are thrilled to work with him, celebrate his monumental success and build on future opportunities,” said

Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Travis continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing.

117 Entertainment Group specializes in management and publicity and marketing campaigns for musicians, events and brands representing the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Negron, Lee Roy Parnell, Bobby Bare, Logan Mize, Lewis Brice, Paul Bogart and Scooter Brown Band, just to name a few.

CAPS Payroll Names Jeremy Young As Director, Music Tours/Live Event Sales

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Jeremy Young

CAPS Payroll, a Cast & Crew company, has named Jeremy Young as Director of Music Tours and Live Events Sales. Young will be based in Nashville.

Cast & Crew provides technology-enabled payroll, accounting and production management services to the entertainment industry. Silver Lake is Cast & Crew’s controlling investor.

Young previously worked at Vector Management, representing a substantial roster of talent including Gavin DeGraw and Liz Huett. In his new role at CAPS, he will oversee relationships with all Nashville venues, music tours and festival management. Young will report to Todd Dyer, CAPS’ Senior Director of Venues, Music Tours and Festivals.

“Jeremy’s background and experience in live entertainment – as well as tour and artist management – brings an enhanced capability to CAPS in a growing market,” said Frank DeVito, Sr. Vice President, CAPS. “He knows this business inside and out and truly understands what our clients need to achieve a successful production – and we’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Young can be reached at jyoung@capspayroll.com or 615-307-7070.

CMA Awards Adds Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Pink, Keith Urban

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The 51st Annual CMA Awards logo

This year’s CMA Awards will open in grand fashion, with a musical collaboration from Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and more.

Other new performances announced Friday (Oct. 27) include Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Pink, and Keith Urban.

Performers previously announced for the Nov. 8 show include duet partners Kelsea Ballerini and Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts, Maren Morris and Niall Horan, Brad Paisley and Kane Brown as well as performances from Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and airing on the ABC Television Network.

Winners of The 51st Annual CMA Awards are determined by eligible voting CMA members. Ballots are tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Music Industry Executive Rob Potts Dies

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Rob Potts

Music Industry executive, Rob Potts, has unexpectedly passed away as a result of a motorcycle accident that occurred on Friday, October 27, 2017, in Tasmania, Australia.

Potts was a longtime member of the Country Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors where he was actively involved in Country music’s international efforts. He is a previous chairman of the CMA International Committee and the current chairman of the Australian CMA Advisory Group. This past March, CMA awarded Potts with the Jo Walker Meador International award to recognize his outstanding achievement in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.

His company Rob Potts Entertainment Edge has been at the forefront of the recent surge of US Country superstars in the Australian market. With Chugg Entertainment, Potts established the CMC Rocks festival brand with the CMC Rocks The Snowys, CMC Rocks The Hunter and now CMC Rocks QLD festivals, which in 2016 became Australia’s first sold-out country music festival in history.

Potts was also the longtime manager to Warner Music Nashville’s Morgan Evans.

CMA CEO Sarah Trahern commented, “The CMA Board and staff as well as the country music community were devastated at the news of Rob’s passing. He was a key driver of our international expansion for the past years and waived the country flag proudly in Australia. On a personal note, my husband Wayne and I have lost a vibrant friend. Rob lived life to its fullest.”

Potts is survived by his son, Jeremy Potts, and ex-wife, Sally. Arrangements are pending at this time.

John McEuen Exits Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

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John McEuen

John McEuen, one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, has announced his departure from the group. McEuen exited upon the conclusion of the NGDB 2017 tour marking the end of the band’s 50th year anniversary.

McEuen was instrumental in the NGDB band’s formation in 1966 and has celebrated groundbreaking and historical success alongside his counterparts over the past 50 years. McEuen has recorded more than 30 NGDB albums and created a lasting legacy for his seminal work on the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, which McEuen initiated in 1971. 

Over the course of his career, multi-instrumental “String Wizard” John McEuen has performed more than 9,500 concerts, covering more than three million miles globally with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and as a solo performer. McEuen has recorded over 40 albums (six solo), including four platinum and five gold, that include Grammys, CMA and ACM awards and IBMA Record of the Year honors. He is a member of the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

“It has been a great privilege to work alongside the others; together, we made history. After 50 years, the time has come for me to bid adieu to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band stage,” said John McEuen. “I will move forward with great pride in my personal and musical contributions to NGDB and now can fully concentrate on my independent endeavors. I have much to do and many more creative ideas to pursue. Because of this relationship, I have more stories than you can shake a pick at. (…That will come later!)”

Prescription Songs Signs Emily Haber

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Pictured (L-R): Katie Mitzell Fagan, Emily Haber and Rachel Wein

Prescription Songs has signed Emily Haber to its roster. The New York-raised Haber has resided in Nashville for the past three years. She has penned songs including “Stone Cold Thriller,” recorded by Wolfskind ft. Ashe; “Sneakers,” recorded by Matt Thomas; and recently had the song “Let Go” featured on MTV’s Teen Mom 2. She has upcoming placements with Nashville pop artists including Jordie, Cali Rodi, and Quinn Lewis.

Katie Fagan heads Prescription Songs’ Nashville office, which launched earlier this year.