Weekly Register: Old Dominion’s ‘Happy Endings’ Tops Country Albums Rankings

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Old Dominion‘s Happy Endings tops this week’s country titles, according to Nielsen Soundscan’s Top 200 albums rankings. The album, which released Aug. 25, moved 41K in total consumption. The group earned multiple CMA Awards nominations yesterday (Sept. 4), including New Artist and Group of the Year.

Fellow CMA Awards New Artist nominee Luke Combs is at No. 2 this week, with This One’s For You selling 13K.

Chris Stapleton, who is included among the nominees for CMA Entertainer of the Year, lands at No. 3 this week with his 2015 album Traveller moving 11K. Stapleton also earned CMA nods for Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year (for his latest release From A Room: Vol. 1).

Kane Brown‘s self-titled album is at No. 4 with 9.1K.

Sam Hunt‘s Montevallo rounds out the Top 5 with 8.8K.

The Cadillac Three‘s Legacy is this week’s top country debut, at No. 13 and selling 5.9K.

Big Machine Label Group’s Taylor Swift ascends to the pinnacle of the digital songs chart, with her new single “Look What You Made Me Do” selling 352K.

In the digital core country songs rankings, Sam Hunt remains at No. 1 with “Body Like A Back Road” selling 26K, totaling more than 1.6 million to date. The record-breaking track is nominated for Song of the Year and Single of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards.

Current CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee Luke Bryan‘s “Light It Up” is at No. 2, with 21.9K, followed by Kane Brown‘s “What Ifs” at No. 3 with 21.5K. Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours” is at No. 4 with 16.3K, while Dustin Lynch‘s “Small Town Boy” is at No. 5 with 15.5K.

Lynch also has this week’s top country debut with “Why We Call Each Other,” which lands at No. 27 country and moved 5.1K.

Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.

 

High Valley, Ashley McBryde, Adam Doleac To Join The Highway Finds Tour

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Pictured (L-R): Curtis Rempel of High Valley, Ashley McBryde, SiriusXM host Storme Warren, Adam Doleac and Brad Rempel of High Valley announce The Highway Finds Tour live on SiriusXM’s The Highway channel at the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville on Sept. 5, 2017. Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for SiriusXM

SiriusXM and Live Nation will present The Highway Finds Tour featuring High Valley, Ashley McBryde and Adam Doleac. Visiting 20 cities in North America, the outing will kick off Wednesday, Oct. 18 in Washington, DC and include stops in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, and more before wrapping on Dec. 9 in San Diego. The tour will visit Nashville’s Mercy Lounge on Friday, Oct. 27.

SiriusXM and Live Nation presented The Highway Finds Tour for the first time in March 2017, when the inaugural outing featured Steve Moakler, Drew Baldridge and Smithfield.

The “Highway Finds” spotlight on SiriusXM’s Highway channel is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to discovering and breaking new artists. Past “Highway Finds” artists include Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, Maren Morris, William Michael Morgan, Carly Pearce and Chase Rice.

Qualified subscribers will have the opportunity to win tickets to these shows through dedicated listener emails. Listeners can also enter for the chance to win tickets to the event. SiriusXM listeners will have the chance to purchase tickets to the tour via a special SiriusXM Presale, before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. local time in each tour market.

Visit siriusxm.com/highwayfindstour for more information.

Darcie Van Etten Named Marketing Manager For Country Radio Broadcasters

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Darcie Van Etten has joined the CRB/CRS staff as Marketing Manager, effective immediately. In her new position Van Etten will focus on marketing and strategy for Country Radio Broadcasters, Country Radio Seminar, and its affiliated events.

Van Etten joins the Country Radio Seminar team from Round Hill Music, where she served as Administration Coordinator. A recent graduate of Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, she previously volunteered and interned for CRS.

“In the time that Darcie has assisted our staff, she has been such a bright shining star,” said CRB/CRS Executive Director, Bill Mayne. “She knows the part, and she’s going to be great.”

“After several years of helping the CRS team, I am thrilled to officially join their staff as Marketing Manager,” said Van Etten. “I could not ask to work for a better company, or to be a part of a better team.”

Van Etten can be reached at 615-327-4487 or darcie@crb.org.

Warner/Chappell Music, Warner Music Nashville Name Katie Jelen To Synch Creative Manager Role

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Katie Jelen

Warner/Chappell Music (WCM) and Warner Music Nashville (WMN) today announced the appointment of Katie Jelen as Creative Manager, Synchronization, Warner/Chappell Music & Warner Music Nashville. In this newly created Nashville-based role, Jelen will serve WCM songwriters and WMN recording artists by developing new opportunities for their music in film, TV, advertising, video games, and new media. She will be an integral member of Warner Music Group’s unified synchronization team, representing both recorded music and music publishing rights, and will report to Ron Broitman, Executive Vice President & Head of Synchronization, Warner/Chappell Music & WMG Masters.

“The Nashville music community is buzzing with creative energy,” said Jelen. “WMG is home to an amazing lineup of gifted artists and songwriters, and my new colleagues are an incredibly talented and passionate team of experts. I’m inspired by the opportunity to find new creative and commercial opportunities for the company’s music, and I can’t imagine a more exciting time to become a part of Warner Music’s Nashville office.”

Broitman added, “By representing both sides of the business, we’re uniquely able to offer a rich diversity of music to licensees and, having worked across various areas of the sync business, Katie is perfectly suited to take on the Nashville post. We’re very happy to have her on board, and look forward to everything she will be doing on behalf of our artists, songwriters and partners.”

Jelen was previously Head of Artist Relations for Secret Road Music Services, and one half of the creative team for Secret Road Music Publishing, where she handled the company’s Nashville operations. Her responsibilities at Secret Road included setting up co-writes, coordinating the fulfillment of creative briefs for synch placements, and pitching songs to the country and pop markets. A “recovering singer-songwriter,” she is a classically trained vocalist with a degree in Music Industry, as well as a law degree from Drexel University with a concentration in intellectual property.

Chris Tomlin Plans Intimate Christmas Tour For December

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Chris Tomlin is celebrating the holidays this year with fans on his new Chris Tomlin Christmas: Christmas Songs of Worship tour. Tomlin will visit 10 cities throughout the month of December, offering an up-close night of worship at intimate venues across the country.

“I want these nights to feel warm and cozy… that’s what I love about the beautiful, historic theaters,” shares Tomlin. “They provide the perfect setting for a night to come together as a family, celebrating the spirit of Christmas. This is going to be an incredible night, an intimate night of remembering what this season is about, remembering what Christmas is about, remembering why we celebrate and why we worship, and remembering our Savior together.”

Tickets for the special tour go on sale Sept. 15.

Chris Tomlin Christmas: Christmas Songs of Worship Tour:
Dec. 1 – Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
Dec. 2 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
Dec. 3 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre
Dec. 4 – Ft Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
Dec. 8 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theater
Dec. 9 – Saginaw, MI – Temple Theatre
Dec. 11 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre
Dec. 12 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
Dec. 13 – Syracuse, NY – John H. Mulroy Civic Center
Dec. 14 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

Industry Pics: Devin Dawson, Dwight Yoakam, Morgan Evans, Shelby Lee Lowe, The Color

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Academy Of Country Music Welcomes Devin Dawson For A Visit

Pictured (L-R): Wyatt Thomas, Sandbox Entertainment; Devin Dawson; Nick Di Fruscia, ACM VP, Awards and Membership; and Todd Ramey, Sandbox Entertainment. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville recording artist Devin Dawson to the office while he was in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Dawson performed his current single, “All On Me,” and other songs from his forthcoming debut Dark Horse.

Click here to watch a video from Dawson’s visit featuring an exclusive interview and clips from his performance.

 

Dwight Yoakam Performs Private Hamptons Show For SiriusXM

Photo: Mike Coppola

Photo: Mike Coppola

Dwight Yoakam performed a private concert for SiriusXM on Wednesday (Aug. 30) at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York.

The special performance, which aired live on SiriusXM’s Prime Country and Outlaw Country channels, featured Yoakam performing songs from throughout his career, as well as dipping into his vast repertoire of covers.

Yoakam’s intimate show is the latest in a series at the famed Hampton’s music venue.

Watch the live performance here.

 

Morgan Evans Performs At WMN’s Pickin’ On The Patio

Pictured (L-R): Matt Signore (COO, WMN), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Morgan Evans, Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), and Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN).

Morgan Evans drove the rain away with sunny songs and a loop pedal at Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio event last Wednesday night (Aug. 30).

The singer/songwriter performed a set of original tunes including his recently released debut single “Kiss Somebody,” which is currently featured on Spotify’s Hot Country and New Boots playlists and impacting radio soon.

 

Shelby Lee Low Performs BMI Showcase

Shelby Lee Lowe was a featured artist at BMI Presents The Young Guns Showcase last Wednesday night (Aug, 30) at The Sutler Saloon in Nashville.

Lowe performed nine songs with a full band including his new song “Lock It Down.” The show ended with the audience dancing to “Honky Tonk Race.”

 

The Color Completes Successful U.S. Radio Tour

Pictured (L-R): The Color’s Jordan Janzen and Larry Abrams, Will Graham, and The Color’s James Shiels and Tyson Unrau posing in front of a podium Billy Graham used in the 1970s.

Canadian pop group The Color continues climbing the Billboard charts with their new single “Surprise” (No. 35). The band has been on a successful radio and promotional tour which included a stop at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, NC to visit their friend Will Graham. The group has partnered with the Billy Graham Association for several Canadian events.

Denise Carberry Joins LITV Entertainment Group

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Denise Carberry is joining the LITV Entertainment Group team as Director of Marketing and PR beginning September 8.

LITV has over 25 years of music and hospitality experience, offering access to musicians and relationships with chefs, winemakers and artisans that extend beyond traditional talent and event bookings. The company also created and runs two festivals, Live In The Vineyard and Yountville Live.

Carberry comes to LITV Entertainment Group from Paul Freundlich Associates (PFA) where she spent the last 14 years working on public relations and marketing campaigns for the Country Music Association, O.A.R., Marc Cohn, Sara Evans, Billy Currington, Dave Barnes, Celtic Woman, Richard Marx, Clay Walker and others.

She can be reached in her new position at denise@litventertainmentgroup.com or 516-680-2040.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Telethon To Broadcast From Nashville, L.A., And New York

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A massive star-studded Hurricane Harvey relief telethon is set to air on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CMT on September 12 that will include appearances by George Clooney, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand and Reese Witherspoon, among others, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The one-hour special will be based in Los Angeles, with stages in Nashville and New York. The Nashville segment will be co-hosted by Witherspoon and Blake Shelton and will air live from the Grand Ole Opry House.

“Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief,” organized by Houston rapper Bun B and Scooter Braun, will also feature a performance from Texas native George Strait from his own San Antonio benefit concert. The show will broadcast live on the East Coast and replay on the West Coast and will also be streamed online via Facebook and Twitter during the East Coast airing.

Other stars set to appear during the broadcast include Jamie Foxx, Rob Lowe, Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, and Michael Strahan, with more stars set to be announced.

Telethon proceeds will benefit the United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Direct Relief, Feeding Texas and The Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief (administered by the Greater Houston Community Fund) through the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund managed by Comic Relief Inc. Phone lines, text messaging and digital donations will be open at the beginning of the show and conclude one hour after the show ends.

Finalists Announced For CMA Broadcast Awards

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The finalists for Country Music Association’s Broadcast Station and Personality of the Year were announced Monday morning (Sept. 4). Winners will be honored during the 51st CMA Awards, to be held Nov. 8 on ABC.

CMA SMALL MARKET BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” with Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry on KKNU, Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
“Ben and Arnie” with Arnie Andrews and Ben Butler on WCOW, La Crosse, Wisconsin
“The Cat Pak Morning Show” with Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton on WYCT, Pensacola, Florida
“Officer Don and DeAnn” with Don Evans and DeAnn Stephens on WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
“Scotty & Cara in the Morning” with Scotty Cox and Cara Denis on KCLR, Columbia, Missouri

CMA MEDIUM MARKET BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Brent Michaels on KUZZ, Bakersfield, California
“Cash and Bradley” with Natalie Cash and Matt Bradley with KWEN, Tulsa, Oklahoma
“The Dex and Mo Show” with Bill “Dex” Poindexter and Melissa “Mo” Turner on WUSY, Chattanooga, Tennessee
“New Country Mornings” with Nancy Wilson and James Frye on WHKO, Dayton, Ohio
“Tom & Becky” with Owens and Becky Palmer on WBBS, Syracuse, New York

CMA LARGE MARKET BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
“Amanda and Jesse” with Amanda Valentine and Jesse Tack on WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“The Boxer Show” with “Boxer” Brandon Nasby on WCOL, Columbus, Ohio
“Double-L” with Lois Lewis on KWNR, Las Vegas, Nevada
“The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show” with Randy Carroll, Jamie Martin, and JoJo Meza on KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
“Tige And Daniel” with Tige Rodgers, Daniel Baker, and Mari Mueller on WSIX, Nashville, Tennessee
“Woody and the Wake-UP Call” with Woody Johnson, Dan E. Zuko, and Kayla Hanley on WCOL, Columbus, Ohio

CMA MAJOR MARKET BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
“Bud and Broadway” with Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, and Kelly Rebal on WIL, St. Louis, Missouri
“Michael J On Air” with Michael J. Stuehler on WPOC, Baltimore, Maryland
“Mike & Amy” with Mike Chase and Amy Faust on KWJJ, Portland, Oregon
“Paul Schadt and Meg” with Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, and Geof Knight on WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina
“The Q Morning Zoo” with Tim Tuttle, Kevin Kline, and Erica Rico on KKBQ, Houston-Galveston, Texas

CMA NATIONAL BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
“American Country Countdown” with Kix Brooks on Cumulus
“The Big D and Bubba Show” with Derek Haskins, Sean Powell, Patrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville on Compass Media Networks
“The Blair Garner Show” with Blair Garner on Cumulus
“The Bobby Bones Show” with Bobby Bones on iHeartMedia
“Country Gold” with Terri Clark on Westwood One

CMA SMALL MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
KCLR in Columbia, Missouri
KKNU in Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
KORA in Bryan-College Station, Texas
WCOW in La Crosse, Wisconsin
WYCT in Pensacola, Florida

CMA MEDIUM MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
CKRY in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
KXKT in Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa
WBBS in Syracuse, New York
WIVK in Knoxville, Tennessee
WYRK in Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York

CMA LARGE MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
KCYY in San Antonio, Texas
WCOL in Columbus, Ohio
WQDR in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
WQIK in Jacksonville, Florida
WSIX in Nashville, Tennessee

CMA MAJOR MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
KPLX in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
KUPL in Portland, Oregon
KWJJ in Portland, Oregon
WIL in St. Louis, Missouri
WKKT in Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina

CMA Awards Final Nominees Revealed

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“The 51st Annual CMA Awards” logo

The final nominees for select categories for this year’s Country Music Association Awards were announced Monday (Sept. 4) on Good Morning America. Brothers Osborne, Lauren Alaina and Dustin Lynch announced the final nominees in the Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Vocal Duo of the Year categories. The full slate of nominations was released immediately following. The CMA Awards air Nov. 8 on ABC.

A full list of nominations is below:

Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Keith Urban
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

New Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina

Music Video of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett ft. Maren Morris
“Vice,” Miranda Lambert
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne

Vocal Duo of the Year
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Brothers Osborne

Single of the Year (Award goes to the artist, producer(s), and mix engineer(s))
“Better Man” – Little Big Town; Producer(s): Jay Joyce; Mix Engineer(s): Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban; Producer(s): Dann Huff, Keith Urban; Mix Engineer(s): Chris Lord-Alge
“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt; Producer(s): Zach Crowell; Mix Engineer(s): Zach Crowell
“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi; Producer(s): Bart Butler, Jon Pardi; Mix Engineer(s): Ryan Gore
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert; Producer(s): Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Mix Engineer(s): Eric Masse

Album of the Year (Award goes to the artist and producer(s))
The Breaker – Little Big Town; Producer(s): Jay Joyce
From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton; Producer(s): Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Heart Break-Lady Antebellum; Producer(s): busbee
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; Producer(s): Dave Cobb
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert; Producer(s): Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse

Song of the Year (Award goes to the songwriter(s))
“Better Man” — Songwriter(s): Taylor Swift
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Songwriter(s): Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen
“Body Like A Back Road” — Songwriter(s): Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Dirt On My Boots” — Songwriter(s): Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
“Tin Man” — Songwriter(s): Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

Vocal Group of the Year (Award goes to the group)
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Musical Event of the Year (Award goes to each artist)
Craving You – Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris)
Funny How Time Slips Away – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson
Kill A Word – Eric Church (feat. Rhiannon Giddens)
Setting the World on Fire – Kenny Chesney (with P!nk)
Speak to a Girl-Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Musician Of The Year (Award goes to the musician)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)