Drennan & Associates Launches New Tax Firm On Music Row

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Drennan & Associates PLLC has launched its new tax accounting firm, located at 1222 16th Ave. S., Ste. 10, in the heart of Music Row. The firm is helmed by Melinda Drennan, CPA, former partner at Dodd, Drennan & Associates, who has nearly 25 years of experience in tax accounting and related financial services.

““I genuinely enjoy working with my clients,” said Drennan. “I love getting to work with them, getting to know them and their families, and watching their kids grow up. I have worked with some of my clients for almost 25 years. I’ve watched their kids grow up and have kids of their own. Now, some of those kids are clients, too. I love what I do, and I love helping clients with tax saving strategies when working on their returns or helping with tax, retirement and estate planning, I look forward to continuing to serve my clients and building the business and meeting new clients that I can help.”

 

Lilly Hiatt Finds Strength And Solace In Isolation On New CD

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Lilly Hiatt is releasing a new album, Trinity Lane, on New West Records on Aug. 25. The 12-song set was produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope and in addition to her backing band, Trent is a featured musician throughout, and is joined by his wife/Shovels & Rope partner Cary Ann Hearst for backing vocals on the tune “Everything I Had.”

The daughter of John Hiatt, Lilly lays her soul bare on the new collection, which is streaming now on NPR’s First Listen.

“Love will take you to the darkest places but also the most honest places if you let it,” she admits. “Learning how to love myself is something I’ve always been lousy with, and I spent some time on that. I thought about my sobriety, what that means to me, the struggles I’d had throughout the years, since I was a 27-year-old and hung up my toxic drinking habit. I thought about my mother, who took her own life when I was a baby, not far from my age at 30 years old, and I related to her more than ever. As you can see, there was plenty of time spent on my own. I didn’t talk to that many folks, albeit a few close friends, and leaned into my family. I found power in being by myself. After a while, I had all these songs to play, and wanted to share them. I think we all understood what it’s like to question home, intention, demons, love…I think most people understand that.”

Trinity Lane will be available digitally, on CD, as well as LP and can be pre-ordered now via PledgeMusic. Hiatt will celebrate the album at a Nashville release party at Fond Object on Aug. 25, and will also participate in the WEA/ADA Nashville Record Store Crawl on August 26th with an in-store performance at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music. She will also perform at the 18th annual Americanafest, and has announced additional Fall dates in support of the Old 97’s.

Trinity Lane Track Listing: 
1. All Kinds Of People
2. The Night David Bowie Died
3. Trinity Lane
4. Everything I Had
5. I Wanna Go Home
6. Imposter
7. Records
8. Different, I Guess
9. Rotterdam
10. Sucker
11. So Much You Don’t Know
12. See Ya Later

Alan Jackson Signs With WME

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Alan Jackson has signed with WME for booking representation, MusicRow has confirmed. The UMG Nashville artist was previously with CAA for booking.

Jackson is currently on the road as part of his Honky Tonk Highway Tour, which runs through the fall and features Lee Ann Womack.

Later this year, Jackson will be inducted as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.

Scooter Brown Band Teams With Charlie Daniels For “American Son”

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The Scooter Brown Band is releasing a new album, American Son, on Red River/BFD/Sony Orchard on Friday, Sept. 8. The title track of the project features Charlie Daniels, a music icon that Brown has looked up to his entire life and sought advice from often in recent years. Scooter Brown Band is managed by Daniels’ longtime manager David Corlew and booked by APA Nashville.

“This album sets the tone for what fans can expect from us on the road and on their radios. True country and southern rock music, what we were born and raised on,” said lead singer Scooter Brown.

The Nashville-based southern-rock revivalists have been on the road for the past few years, playing 100 plus shows per year and opening for acts like the Charlie Daniels Band, Travis Tritt, and the Marshall Tucker Band.

American Son Track Listing:
1. American Son (feat. Charlie Daniels)
2. This Town
3. Won’t Back Down
4. Never Met a Heart I Wouldn’t Break
5. Pistols and Pearls
6. Broken Arrow
7. Georgia
8. Story of My Life
9. Guitars, Gun and Whiskey
10. Time is Money
11. Rise Up
12. New York City King Size Rosewood Bed
13. Huntsville

Kip Moore And Tony Hawk To Present Music City Skate Jam

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Kip Moore has teamed up with international skateboarding champion Tony Hawk to host the first ever “Music City Skate Jam Presented By Harley-Davidson,” which will take place at Music City Walk Of Fame Park in Nashville on Sept. 10.  The fun-filled family event will help raise funds for Moore’s Kip’s Kids Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation, both of which share a goal of benefiting and empowering youth.

Hawk will demo some of the skating prowess that made him a legend during the event, which will also include a performance by newcomer Jordan Davis, spins by Dee Jay Silver, and a set by Moore. Tickets are on sale now here.

“I think what’s always driven me at my core, throughout my career, was to one day have the capability to make a major impact in inner cities around the country,” said Moore. “I was never a true skater, but always admired the brotherhood of the skating community. Having a chance to team up with a guy like Tony, who’s so respected for all he does, is beyond what I could’ve imagined. I’m super stoked to combine what we do, as we both share similar visions.”

“The Music City Skate Jam is the first event of its kind, bringing skateboarding and country music together,” said Hawk. “I’m excited to show Nashville an unprecedented display of talent, including some of the world’s best skaters and Kip Moore himself.”

DISClaimer: April Kry, Dave McElroy Top Independent Releases

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Pictured: April Kry, Dave McElroy

It’s independents’ day.

The major country music record labels all seem to be missing in action this week. That means today’s column gives independent labels a time to shine.

Stepping into the spotlight and center stage is April Kry. This Connecticut-bred Nashvillian has vocal pipes to spare, a solid song and a stupendous production. Oh, and also a Disc of the Day award.

Also, April shares the DisCovery Award with Dave McElroy. He’s evidently been around for a couple of years, but this is his first appearance in DisClaimer.

JEFF LEWIS & NORM CADY/Land of Dreams
Writers: Norm Cady; Producers: Anthony Brown; Publishers: none listed, BMI; Constituting America (CDX)
– Patriotic slogans strung together like beads on a string. It’s like somebody jotted down every sign they saw held up at a Fourth of July parade.

DUSTIN COLLINS/Pieces
Writer: Lincoln Parish; Producers: Dustin Collins/Bill McDermott; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Big Risk (CDX)
– A crunchy country rocker with a definite blue-collar slant. It’s got some cool lines that make it worth a few spins.

APRIL KRY/While We’re Young
Writers: April Kry/Jennifer Pappas/Micah Wilshire/Stephanie Bentley; Producer: Micah Wilshire; Publishers: none listed, BMI; M (CDX)
– I dig this. She sings with powerhouse conviction. The song is as hooky as all get out. The production slaps, bounces and pushes emotional buttons in all the right places. This is as good or better than anything you’ll hear on any major label in the business. Listen and believe. Who are you? Send more.

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DOMINGO & ESTEBAN HIRACHETA/Free to Believe
Writers: Domingo Hiracheta/Esteban Hiracheta; Producers: Janine Turner/Brandon Vanderford; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; Constituting America (CDX)
-The freedom-of-religion sentiments are admirable. A competent lead singer would have been nice. There’s a good reason this switches into rapping in the middle.

LORI SMITH/Tumblin’ Paradise
Writers: Keith Follese/Tom McHugh; Producers: Larry Butler/Jack G. Kirby; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; 615 (CDX)
– She warbles all around the melody, clinging to pitch for dear life.

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GEORGE ALLEN TRUAX/My Hometown
Writers: George Allen Truax; Producers: Zac Maroof/Gene Higgins; Publishers: none listed, BMI; SMG (CDX)
– There already is a Montgomery Gentry. And they sing better than this.

DAVE McELROY/Without You
Writers: Dave McElroy/Michael Flanders/Scott Buchanan/Derik Holtquist; Producer: Michael Flanders; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/SESAC; DM (CDX)
– His husky, whispery vocal style doesn’t have much range. But there’s something extremely appealing about his almost-spoken delivery. His conversational intimacy makes you want to know him.

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JUSTIN DUKES/Warning Sign
Writers: Justin Dukes/Daniel Johnson; Producer: Chris Goff; Publishers: none listed, SESAC/BMI; Duke’s Entertainment (CDX)
– “Love at your own risk.” His youthful tenor sounds properly bruised.

RUSTY RIERSON/Upon This Rock
Writers: Stephen Amos/Rusty Rierson; Producers: Carster Green/Rusty Rierson; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; RR (CDX)
– When he gets confused in a romance, he goes to a mountaintop where he can think straighter. Then she heads up there, too. Guess what? They wind up married and happy. Nicely done.

ALAN TURNER/Windows and Mirrors
Writers: Cole Swindell/Lynn Hutton/Jon Henderson; Producer: Alan Turner; Publishers: none listed, BMI/SESAC; SMG (CDX)
– Anguish and heartache with glass metaphors. He sings it with fierce force.

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Shania Twain To Play Nearly 50 Dates On New 2018 Tour

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Shania Twain has announced that she will return to the road for her new Shania Now tour next year. The dates, which will support her new album NOW, will be her first tour since “Rock This Country” back in 2015. The new tour includes a stop in Nashville on July 21, 2018. A location for the show is yet to be announced.

The Live Nation tour kicks off May 3 in Tacoma, Washington, and will run through the summer, culminating in Las Vegas on Aug. 4 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

American Express card members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, Aug. 22 through Thursday, Aug. 24. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Aug. 25. More pre sale details and ticket information can be found at ticketmaster.com.

NOW will be released on Sept. 29 via Mercury Nashville, and is available in both 12-track standard and 16-track deluxe versions. Fans can pre-order the album and instantly receive “Life’s About to Get Good,” and “Poor Me”, and beginning tomorrow, Aug. 18, pre-orders will also receive Shania’s upcoming brand new single, “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed,” due out in September. Shania debuted the new tune last night during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The superstar is also set to headline the Opening Night Ceremony for the 2017 US Open on Aug. 28, in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The ceremony will be televised live on ESPN2, and she will be performing some of her biggest hits as well as songs from the new album.

Autumn House-Tallant To Join Red Light Management

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Autumn House-Tallant has exited her role as VP, A&R at UMG Nashville, MusicRow has confirmed. Beginning Sept. 5, House-Tallant will join Red Light Management as Creative Advisor and A&R executive for Red Light managers and clients.

“I like to change jobs every 17 years. Kidding aside, my time with Mike Dungan and Universal was nothing short of amazing,” House-Tallant tells MusicRow. “You can’t work with Mike and his team and not love it. We are family. I’m just moving down the road for a new adventure with Coran and his team at Red Light Management and I can’t wait to see where this road takes me.”

House-Tallant joined Capitol Records Nashville in 2000, raising a profound artist roster for the label including signing Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi and Keith Urban, and ultimately attaining the role of VP, UMG Nashville.

A Nashville native, she graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Communications/Broadcasting. After college, she returned to Nashville, where she served as a manager at Starstruck Entertainment and later Maverick Music.

Her email address will be autumn.house@redlightmanagement.com

Big Machine Label Group Adds To Corporate Communications Team

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Big Machine Label Group has expanded its publicity and corporate communications team, with the addition of Megan Brophy. Brophy relocated to Nashville from New York City where she worked as a publicist at top global entertainment firm, ID PR. At ID she maintained a diverse client roster consisting of mostly TV and film actors including Bette Midler, Ellen Page, Elijah Wood and Serena Williams.

Throughout her tenure, she has worked on multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, Tony and Oscar campaigns including Lupita Nyong’o’s Academy Award win for 12 Years a Slave and most recently Bette Midler’s return to Broadway and Tony Award win for of Hello, Dolly! In addition to her work with talent, Brophy worked on the launch of TV Land Network’s hit, Younger and Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Awards.

She joins the BMLG publicity and corporate communications team which includes Jake Basden, Erin Burr, Charlotte Burke and Shelby Paul.

“As a life-long country music fan, it has been a dream of mine to move to Nashville,” said Brophy. “I couldn’t have asked to work at a better company and I am so thankful to Scott Borchetta and Jake Basden for this opportunity. I’m excited to get started!”

“I met Megan nearly two years ago and knew right away that she would be a fantastic addition to our team,” said Basden. “While the music always comes first, Big Machine Label Group artists often grow into lifestyle brands that require communications strategies for multiple consumer touchpoints. Megan is the perfect addition to our team to ensure we can meet those needs.”

Brophy can be reached at megan.brophy@bmlg.net

Nashville Public Television To Air Documentary Highlighting Nashville’s Music Row Area On Aug. 17

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Nashville Public Television (NPT) will highlight the history of Nashville’s Music Row area, in a documentary set to air Thursday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. Music Row: Nashville’s Most Famous Neighborhood, chronicles the area’s history, from the rise of the Grand Ole Opry and the opening of recording studios in downtown Nashville, to the influence from the launching of Owen and Harold Bradley’s Music Row recording studio and Quonset Hut counterpart, through the growth of the neighborhood to house the Nashville music industry’s many labels, publishers, entertainment law offices, and more.

“We’d talked about doing this documentary for the last 10 years, but the impetus to do it now was partly because of how quickly Nashville is changing,” said NPT’s Justin Harvey, the documentary’s producer. “And certainly the fight to save RCA Studio A underscored the need to do it now. We wanted to preserve these spaces on film at least and, in fact, one building was lost while the documentary was being shot.”

Among those taking part in the documentary are MusicRow Magazine contributor Robert K. Oermann, as well as Bill Anderson, Harold Bradley, The Bellamy Brothers, David Briggs, Joe Chambers, Sharon Corbitt-House, Don Cusic, Michael Gray, Craig Havighurst, Kathy Mattea, Charlie McCoy, Jay McDowell, Pat McMakin, Bob Moore, Ray Stevens and Ernie Winfrey. The documentary is narrated by Pam Tillis.

 

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Additional broadcast times for Music Row: Nashville’s Most Famous Neighborhood include Monday (Aug. 21) at 7 a.m. on NPT2, and Tuesday, Aug. 22 at noon on NPT2. The documentary will also be available for streaming at the NPT Passport portal.