Alex Williams Helps Launch Bud Light Basement Performance Series

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Bud Light has launched an all-genre branded performance series “Bud Light Basement” with Big Machine Records artist Alex Williams.

The series will release several acoustic performance videos over the coming weeks, starting with Williams’ “Pay No Mind,” from the singer’s debut album Better Than Myself, which released Aug. 11. On the album, Williams blends musical influences with his own staunchly independent take on the world as he sifts through his musings and life experiences, infusing his songs with stories, quirky characters, and honesty.
Williams wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on his debut album, including four tracks with fellow songwriter Marshall Altman, including “More Than Survival.”
“He challenges me as a songwriter, just going into his studio at 9 at night and working on songs, it produced a lot of songs on the album,” Williams told MusicRow prior to the album release. “He’s a quirky guy and I dig that. He’s a fearless songwriter. There are no boundaries and he doesn’t try to make something what it’s not.”

Williams caught the attention of Big Machine Label Group’s Julian Raymond, who has worked as a songwriter and producer on albums from artists including Glen Campbell, Hank Williams, Jr., and Jennifer Nettles. Williams soon found himself with a label deal with Big Machine Records.

“He got the green light to make the album. I didn’t think that was going to happen for a while,” Williams said. “But they gave me a chance to make an album with substance that I wanted to make. That’s pretty cool coming from a major label. They haven’t given me any boundaries, which is great.”

The Bud Light Basement sessions are filmed by Starstruck Entertainment’s content studio, in partnership with Bud Light.

YouTube video

David Lee Murphy Returns To Recording With Chesney/Cannon-Produced ‘No Zip Code’

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Pictured (clockwise, from top left): David Ross, Founder/President/CEO, Reviver Records; Gator Michaels, Executive VP, Reviver Records; Kenny Chesney; David Lee Murphy.

David Lee Murphy is taking another turn behind the mic and releasing his own album project, No Zip Code, on Reviver Records. Produced by Kenny Chesney and Buddy Cannon, the project will be Murphy’s fifth studio album, and his first with Reviver Records. He previously enjoyed chart success with his chart-topping classic “Dust on the Bottle” and the most-played song of 1995 “Party Crowd.”

Murphy hasn’t strayed far from the charts since then though, having penned more than 50 cuts, including No. 1 songs for Jason Aldean (“Big Green Tractor,” “The Only Way I Know”), Blake Shelton (“The More I Drink”), Gary Allan (“A Feelin’ Like That”), Jake Owens (“Anywhere With You”), Eli Young Band (“Always the Love Songs”), Thompson Square (the Grammy-nominated “Are You Gonna Kiss Me (Or Not)”) and Kenny Chesney (“Livin’ In Fast Forward,” “Pirate Flag”). He’s also had album cuts for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, and Keith Urban.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Lee Murphy to Reviver,” says label CEO David Ross. “His songs, his style and this record are incredible. We can’t wait to get to work.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever get out here and do this again,” Murphy says. “You focus on writing, and that’s its own kind of great. But Kenny and I got to talking, and it seemed like something worth doing. Then when we got in the studio, it felt so good, every day was more exciting than the one before.”

“David Lee is the original – and the last of – the hillbilly rock stars,” said Chesney of Murphy. “His groove, the way he lays into a melody is so smooth, yet he uses the words for shaping the rhythm. He knows the life, and he bottles it up in song. Making this record showed us what country music can be in the 21st century.”

Little Big Town To Launch Breakers Tour In 2018 With Kacey Musgraves, Midland

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Fresh off the heels of their sold-out, year-long residency at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Little Big Town has announced they are hitting the road with Kacey Musgraves and Midland for their nationwide Breakers tour beginning in early 2018.

The multi-city run kicks off Feb. 8 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City and will hit 26 markets, including stops in Austin, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C. and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Additional stops will be announced at a later date.

A preview of The Breakers Tour featuring a very special performance by Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Midland, will take place tonight on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.

Tickets for the new tour go on sale this Friday, Sept. 22, and two enhanced ticket experiences, the ‘Happy People’ and ‘The Breaker’ experiences, will be offered throughout the tour. Additional experiences available include a meet & greet with Little Big Town, a Q&A session, exclusive merchandise, and more. Ticket information can be found at LittleBigTown.com.

2018 Dates For The Breakers Tour Featuring Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Midland:
2/8 – Oklahoma City OK  Chesapeake Energy Arena
2/9 -Austin TX  Frank Erwin Center
2/10 –  Grand Prairie TX  Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie
2/15 – Columbus OH  Schottenstein Center
2/16 – Rosemont IL Allstate Arena
2/17 – Toledo OH  Huntington Center
2/22 – Wilkes-Barre PA  Mohegan Sun Arena
2/23 – Uncasville CT  Mohegan Sun
2/24 – New York NY  Radio City Music Hall
3/2 – Reading PA  Santander Arena
3/3 -Washington DC  Anthem
3/15 – Green Bay WI  Resch Center
3/16 – Duluth MN  Amsoil Arena
3/17 – Grand Forks ND  Ralph Engelstad
3/22 – Grand Rapids MI   Van Andel Arena
3/23 – Cedar Rapids IA  U.S. Cellular Center
3/24 – Sioux City IA  Tyson Events Center
4/5 – Minneapolis MN  Target Center
4/6 – Milwaukee WI  BMO Harris Bradley Ctr
4/7 – St. Louis MO  Chaifetz Arena
4/19 – Greensboro NC  Greensboro Coliseum
4/20 – Greenville SC  Bon Secours Wellness Arena
4/21 – Atlanta GA  Infinite Energy Arena

Disney Music Group Promotes Ciara Shortridge

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Disney Music Group has promoted Ciara Shortridge to the new role of A&R Manager. Shortridge began her career with Disney in September 2009 and previously held the roles of A&R Coordinator and A&R Representative. Ciara will report to Barbara Vander Linde, VP, Music Publishing/A&R at Disney Music Group.

In her new role, Shortridge will manage the Disney Music Group Nashville office, and will be responsible for signing, developing, and exploiting exceptional talent, as well as helping to bring internal Disney, international, and multi-platform and multi-genre placement opportunities to the Nashville community.

Vander Linde says, “Ciara has been the heart of our Nashville office, and I am thrilled to share the news of her promotion.”

Singer-Songwriter Mark Selby Dies

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Mark Selby

Nashville-based recording artist and songwriter Mark Selby died Monday (Sept. 18) after a battle with cancer. He was 56.

Selby was a recording artist, songwriter, session guitar player and producer released albums on Vanguard Records. He wrote a string of hits with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, including “Deja Voodoo,” “Slow Ride,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Blue on Black,” which was No. 1 for 17 weeks and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Song of the Year. He also wrote the Dixie Chicks’ first No. 1 single “There’s Your Trouble” and had his songs recorded by many other artists including Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Roy Parnell and Keb’ Mo. A highly-regarded session player, Selby played on recordings by Kenny Rogers and Wynona Judd.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Selby spent his youth harvesting wheat and playing in bands throughout the Midwest before moving to Hays, Kansas to attend Fort Hays University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Selby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Selby is survived by his wife and songwriting partner, Tia Sillers.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusicCares in memory of Mark Selby.

Memorial Service Set For Don Williams

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Don Williams

A memorial service honoring Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Williams will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The ceremony will be held in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame (located at 222 5th Ave. S. in Nashville) for the music industry, friends and family. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with the memorial service commencing promptly at 4:30 p.m.

Williams, 1978 CMA Male Vocalist of the year and known as the “Gentle Giant” for his mellow laid-back delivery of more than 40 Top 10 country hits during his five-decade career, died on Sept. 8 following a brief illness. He was 78. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to MusiCares, Music Health Alliance or a charity of your choice.

To read Don Williams’ full obit written by MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann, click here.

‘Pickler & Ben’ Debuts To Solid Ratings

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Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron. Photo: George Burns Jr.

New lifestyle and entertainment daytime television show Pickler & Ben, which features hosts Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron, launched with solid ratings yesterday (Sept. 18). The show provided a 42 percent ratings increase compared to the time slot’s former show, earning the No. 1 rating in the Nashville market and a higher rating than the second and third ranked stations in the time slot, combined. Preliminary ratings show Pickler & Ben had a 6.8 household rating, with Live with Kelly and Ryan bringing in a 3.6 rating and The Today Show showing a 2.8 rating.

Pickler & Ben airs in 38 local television markets across the country and nationally on CMT. The show features Kellie and Ben hosting segments with top celebrities, tastemakers and experts on everything from entertaining and home design to cooking, DIY and more. The show is recorded in front of a live audience on a modern farmhouse-style set in Nashville.

Pickler & Ben is produced by Faith Hill, Happy Street Entertainment co-founder Lisa Erspamer, and Sandbox Entertainment president/CEO Jason Owen, in partnership with the E.W. Scripps Company. Joe Terry directs Pickler & Ben. Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution is distributing the show in national syndication.

 

 

Seventh Annual Touring Career Workshop Set For Oct. 25

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The Touring Career Workshop will host its seventh annual event Oct. 25 at Soundcheck Annex in Nashville. Created by Chris Lisle and Erik Parker, TCW gives roadies a place to learn, grow and network.

Registration is open now for this year’s event, which will feature industry heavyweights Mark Steinwachs (Bandit Lites), Todd Ortmeier (Florida Georgia Line), Erik Leighty (Miranda Lambert), Mark Oglesby (One Republic), Zito (One Republic and many others. Areas of expertise covered will include getting a gig, touring and retirement planning, balancing life on and off the road, and a very special panel by some of the industry’s most successful production managers.

“We did a good bit of outreach to those in our industry in regards to what they wanted to learn about this year,” says Chris Lisle.  “Using that input, we put together an event that will present a variety of relevant, useful topics.”

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event will run from 6-9 p.m. There will be a networking event immediately following the sessions until 11 p.m.

iPhone Users Can Now Take Advantage Of Waze, Spotify Integration

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Waze has announced that iOS device users can now use both Spotify and Waze without the need to switch between apps. The integrated experience was previously an Android-only feature, but will be rolling out over the next few weeks for iOS users.

The new update not only allows users to have their Waze alerts and music (or podcasts) stream together, but allows users to control song selection, view recently played content, switch between apps with one tap, and to access tailored Spotify recommendations.

As a safety precaution, browsing via Spotify will be blocked while a user is driving, though a passenger can access browsing.

 

 

Jillian Jacqueline, Jonathan Singleton, The Sisterhood To Play ASCAP Pilgrimage Festival Stage

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Pictured (L-R): The Frist’s Angie Weeks, Nikki Lane, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Devon Gilfillian, and The Frist’s Crystal Churchwell. Photo: Lo Hanson

ASCAP has partnered for the second year in a row with the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival to present the official ASCAP Shady Grove Stage at the festival on Sept. 23-24.

The ASCAP Shady Grove Stage will feature performances by Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angaleena Presley, Charley Crockett, Devon Gilfillian, Ivory Layne, Jillian Jacqueline, Jonathan Singleton, Rosi Golan, The Bros. Landreth, The Sisterhood and the “Play Pilgrimage” contest winner, Cody Huggins.

A complete schedule of ASCAP Shady Grove Stage set times can be found  here.