EXCLUSIVE: Song Suffragette Kalie Shorr To Perform At Rising Women On The Row

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Kalie Shorr

Song Suffragettes member Kalie Shorr will bring her musical talents to MusicRow’s sixth annual Rising Women On The Row sold-out event on April 25.

The 2017 selected honorees previously announced are Tatum Allsep (Founder/Executive Director—Music Health Alliance), Virginia Davis (Managing Partner and Artist Manager—G Major Management), Kerri Edwards (President—KP Entertainment), Kella Farris (Business Manager—Farris, Self & Moore), Laura Hutfless (CEO and Founding Partner—FlyteVu Agency), Juli Newton-Griffith (Vice President—Magic Mustang/BMG). MusicRow has announced business manager Lou Taylor as the featured speaker.

Shorr is represented by CAA, Writerslist for publishing, Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy for business management and Cassetty Entertainment for management.

The 22-year-old Portland, Maine native’s “Fight Like A Girl” became the second best-selling single by a debut country female in 2016 (behind only Maren Morris) with 35,000 singles sold and over 1.6 million Spotify streams. Shorr became a SiriusXM Highway Find, a CMT Artist Discovery and a Taste Of Country Critic’s Pick.

The singer-songwriter penned every original song on her EP, Slingshot, produced by Aaron Eshuis (Ryan Hurd). Radio Disney Country has added all five tracks from the EP into rotation. So far this year, Shorr has been named a “New Artist You Need To Know” by Rolling Stone and one of only seven Taste Of Country “RISERS” artists for 2017.

The youngest of six children, Shorr got her start on YouTube when Perez Hilton scouted her talent and tapped her as an opening act to the Backstreet Boys for his birthday party. Taking extra coursework to graduate high school, Shorr moved to Nashville and took a gig selling hot dogs and cigarettes. She became part of the first Song Suffragettes in 2014 and has performed at CMA Fest.

City National Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2017 Rising Women on the Row.

Kings Of Leon To Headline First Tennessee Park’s Inaugural Concert

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Kings Of Leon is set to headline First Tennessee Park’s first major concert in the stadium’s history, on Sept. 29. First Tennessee Park is home to the Nashville Sounds.

Tickets for the event go on sale April 21 at 10 a.m.

“We’re very excited to bring Kings of Leon in as the first major concert event in the history of First Tennessee Park,” said Sounds General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Adam Nuse. “To bring in a renowned group back home is a thrilling way to showcase this beautiful ballpark.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to be the first act to play First Tennessee Park. It’s always special for us to play our hometown, but being the first, in such an awesome venue, is going to be something we’ll never forget,” said Kings of Leon member Jared Followill.

Last year, Kings of Leon previewed their latest album, Walls, with a performance at another Nashville venue, Ascend Amphitheater.

The show at First Tennessee Park is part of the band’s Walls tour. The second leg of the tour launches April 28 in Chula Vista, California.

MusicRowPics: MV2’s Nora Collins Offers New Tracks

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Newcomer Nora Collins recently performed material from her latest EP during a visit to the MusicRow offices.

In 2016, Collins signed with management company MV2 Entertainment, founded by Clay Myers and Tony Harrell, though she began working informally with Myers approximately one year before the signing.

“Clay started setting me up with people to write with and a year later, I got a formal signing offer. I signed last March and moved to Nashville last April. So I’ve been here for a year,” Collins said.

Collins began writing songs at age 14, and soon after was playing shows around her home state of Wisconsin. For the past five years, Collins has played over 200 shows each year.

After releasing several home-spun music collections, Collins released her first EP for MV2 in 2016, and co-wrote four of the EP’s five tracks. During her visit to MusicRow, she performed songs, including “Lights On A Highway,” which she co-wrote with Bart Butler and Larry McCoy.

Collins is beginning work on a new EP and will perform at the Key West Songwriters Festival in May.

Songwriter Tim Nichols Celebrates Five BMI Million-Air Awards

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BMI’s David Preston and BMI songwriter Tim Nichols celebrate Tim’s Million-Air awards

Songwriter Tim Nichols stopped by BMI’s Nashville office to celebrate his impressive collection of Million-Air awards for five of his hit songs. The awards mark millions of radio spins per song, and the songs honored were “I Got The Boy,” with one million plays,  “That’d Be Alright,” with two million, “Live Like You Were Dying,” with five million, “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” with three million, and “I’ll Think Of A Reason,” with three million performances.

CMA Announces Hirings, Promotions

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Pictured (L-R): Amber Williams, Haley Steinbuchel, Taylor Viegut

The Country Music Association has named Amber Williams as Vice President of Communications and Talent Relations; Haley Steinbuchel as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator; and Taylor Viegut as Digital Coordinator.

The following staff members have been promoted to new roles: Catherine Blackwell has been named Senior Director of Marketing, Marty Filogamo rises to Brand and Design Specialist, and Tiffany Kerns becomes Director of Community Outreach.

Williams comes to CMA from running the New York City office of PR and marketing agency Beck Media & Marketing. Prior to her work at Beck Media, Williams served as Senior Director of Artist and Media Relations for Universal Music Group in Nashville, overseeing national publicity plans and album release campaigns for seven years. Her roster included Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Reba, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood.

Before joining UMG, she worked in Los Angeles as Senior Publicist for Hallmark Channel with talent such as Bruce Dern, Bridget Fonda, Wynonna Judd, and Burt Reynolds; and in the Publicity, Promotions, and Talent Relations department at Columbia Tristar International Television/Sony Pictures, focusing on series Dawson’s Creek, Days of Our Lives, and Just Shoot Me. Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Public Relations and Communications with a minor in Advertising from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Williams will report to CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside.

“We are excited to welcome Amber’s diverse background and skillset to the CMA team,” said Whiteside. “With experience in television, music, and digital, she has an intrinsic and unique understanding of the platforms that propel CMA’s mission. She will be critical in driving the CMA Communications strategic initiatives along with current Director of Media Relations, Jay Jones.”

Before joining CMA as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, Steinbuchel worked for the M Street restaurant group in Nashville. Her background includes membership and event sales, as well as event planning and execution. At M Street, she pioneered a partnership program to broaden the organization’s community reach, which extended into a rewards program for salaried employees. She also has touring merchandise and concourse management experience.

Steinbuchel will report to CMA Director of Strategic Partnerships Emily Evans.

Viegut comes to CMA from the Social Strategy and Public Relations team at Crowd Surf in Nashville. Viegut’s background experience extends across social media and web management in e-commerce, digital communications, event marketing, analytics, and content development. A Wisconsin native, Viegut graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Strategic Communications & Communications Arts.

Veigut will report to CMA Director of Digital Strategy Meryl Johnson.

Industry Ink: Third Man Records, The Country Network, Plowboy Records

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Third Man Records Releasing Bob Seger Reissue On Vinyl

Third Man Records is partnering with the Bob Seger camp to release the first vinyl reissue of Seger’s System’s”2+2=?” in nearly four decades. Remastered directly from the analog tapes by Robert Vosgien and cut by Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering, Third Man will release a limited edition, yellow-colored vinyl version for Record Store Day, April 22nd, with a standard black vinyl version to follow.  Fittingly, both versions are being manufactured at Third Man’s new pressing plant in Detroit. Other limited editions to be released include selections by Lillie Mae and Jack White.

 

The Country Network Brings Home Two Tellys

The 37th Annual Telly Awards has awarded The Country Network two Telly Awards for its programs, “Guitars & Swim Up Bars” and “Our Land—The Music Highway.” “Guitars & Swim Up Bars” was awarded with a Silver Telly, while “Our Land—The Music Highway” was awarded with a Bronze Telly. The network won out out of over 13,000 entries from all 50 states.

 

Plowboy Records Throws Fifth Birthday Bash

Plowboy founders Shannon Pollard (left) and Don Cusic (right) with Bobby Bare

Plowboy Records celebrated its fifth anniversary at a party and showcase at Third and Lindsley on April 12. Performers at the bash included Eric Heatherly, Sylvain Sylvain, the Kentucky Headhunters, Bobby Bare, the Blackfoot Gypsies, and the Fuel Injected Legends. The first act on Plowboy was Bobby Bare and his album, Darker Than Light, was the label’s first release.

Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt Headline 5th Annual Taste Of Country Music Festival

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Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt

Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Sam Hunt are set to headline the 5th Annual Taste of Country Music Festival, the multi-day country music festival to be held June 9-11 at Hunter Mountain Resort (Hunter, NY) in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County.

The full lineup is below:

Friday, June 9
Jason Aldean
Chris Young
Maddie & Tae
RaeLynn
Jackson Michelson

Saturday, June 10
Miranda Lambert
Tyler Farr
Joe Nichols
Cody Johnson
Courtney Cole
Smithfield

Sunday, June 11
Sam Hunt
Kip Moore
Maren Morris
Steve Moakler
Brooke Eden

The Bud Light Stage will feature performances from RaeLynn, Dylan Jakobsen, Caroline Gray, McKenna Faith, and Morgan Myles throughout the weekend.

Single day tickets for the 2017 Taste of Country Music Festival are now available for $99 per day. Still on sale are three-day passes which start at only $185, with VIP Outlaw packages starting at $529. For additional information on tickets and camping packages – which includes RV, car and tent camping – go to tasteofcountryfestival.com.

Loretta Lynn Gears Up For Birthday Celebration With Music City Shows, New Album

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Country legend Loretta Lynn is celebrating her 85th birthday tomorrow (April 14), and she’s celebrating with a few thousand of her friends and fans at two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium April 14 and 15.

The coal miner’s daughter will likely perform a few songs from her upcoming new album, Wouldn’t It Be Great, during the sold-out shows as she gears up for the release of the new Legacy Recordings project later this summer on Aug. 18. The new collection was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee with producers Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash and is available for pre-order now.

The CD features 13 songs written or co-written by Lynn herself, including new tracks “Ruby’s Stool,” “Ain’t No Time To Go,” and “I’m Dying For Someone To Live For,” alongside classics like her signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” and some reinterpreted tracks as well.

“I think you try to do better with every record you put out,” Loretta says of the new CD. “It’s just everyday living–and everybody wants to know, ‘Well, what is it about your songs that people like?’ I think you’ve got to tell your stories. I just think it hits everybody, you know, the songs.”

Lynn will return to the Ryman for a bookend set of 2017 shows on Aug. 25-26, and each pair of tickets purchased for these shows will include a copy of the new album. More information can be found at ryman.com.

2017 is shaping up to be a huge year for the icon with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum mounting a major exhibition opening Aug. 25 on her life, art and music.

Wouldn’t It Be Great Track Listing:
Wouldn’t It Be Great – (Loretta Lynn)
Ruby’s Stool – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
I’m Dying for Someone to Live For – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
Another Bridge to Burn – (Loretta Lynn, Lola Jean Dillon)
Ain’t No Time to Go – (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
God Makes No Mistakes – (Loretta Lynn)
These Ole Blues (Loretta Lynn, Patsy Lynn Russell)
My Angel Mother — (Loretta Lynn)
Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ – (Loretta Lynn, Peggy Sue Wells)
The Big Man – (Loretta Lynn, Shawn Camp)
Lulie Vars – (Traditional, arrangement by Loretta Lynn)
Darkest Day – (Loretta Lynn)
Coal Miner’s Daughter – (Loretta Lynn)

Artist Action: Cam, Unlikely Heroes, Jimmy Wayne, Darryl Worley

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Cam Named Spokesperson In John Frieda Campaign

Cam has been chosen by John Frieda Hair Care and iHeartMedia to join its “Your Hair Talks, Make A Statement” campaign.  Launched in February with platinum-selling singer Tinashe, the campaign encourages women to show off their statement-making looks.

“I love being a part of the Your Hair Talks, Make A Statement campaign. There are so many women and girls that will see this and get psyched about their curly hair,” Cam says. “Be yourself, be unapologetic, the world needs you to be you.”

 

Unlikely Heroes Hosts George Michael Tribute

Unlikely Heroes is hosting Nights Of Freedom, a tribute gala to honor George Michael, that will benefit the work the organization does to help victims of sex trafficking around the globe. Cassadee Pope, Desmond Child, James Slater, Sara Evans, Shane Stevens, and more will appear at the More-sponsored benefit May 2 at the City Winery in Nashville. Tickets for the event, which will be hosted by Savannah Chrisley, are available here.

 

Jimmy Wayne Honored As Verizon Community Maker

Jimmy Wayne was chosen to keynote Verizon’s national conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday (April 11) and was presented with its new “Community Maker” award, an honor created specifically for Jimmy in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of homeless teens and children in foster care. Among his many efforts on behalf of kids in need, Wayne helped with the donation of two VGo robots to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The 4-foot-tall robots are equipped with a camera, microphone and video display and help ill, homebound kids connect with their classmates via Wi-Fi coverage.

 

Darryl Worley To Be Commended By Tennessee House Of Representatives

Darryl Worley will be honored by the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 20 for his years of charitable contributions.  State Representative David Byrd will recognize Worley on the House Floor of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville for his “meritorious service to the citizens of the State of Tennessee” through his Darryl Worley Foundation, The Leader In Me program, the Tennessee River Run, and his patriotism and support to those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

DISClaimer: Americana’s Top-Shelf Stars, Sizzling Newcomers In The Spotlight

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Americana, country music’s kissing cousin, today shows that it can field a team of writer-artists that’s easily the equal of Music Row’s most commercial record makers.

Malcolm Holcombe, Sunny Sweeney, Tift Merritt and Chip Taylor all have gripping tales to tell this week.

So does singer-songwriter Matt Urmy, who hauls in the DisCovery Award.

The Disc of the Day is a tie between David Olney, who is a songwriter’s songwriter, and the always enthralling Rodney Crowell, who dazzles with words as well as the star power of his trio with John Paul White and Rosanne Cash.

TIFT MERRITT/Love Soldiers On
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Yep Roc (track)
– The latest collection from this outstanding writer-artist is title Stitch of the World. Its first emphasis track is smokey, bluesy, languid tune. Her soprano hesitates and drawls in all the right places as she delivers its message of believing in the ultimately healing power of love.

DAVID OLNEY/Don’t Try To Fight It
Writers: Olney/Kane; Producer: Brock Zeman; Publishers: Red Lily/Little Duck, ASCAP/SESAC; Red Parlor (track)
– The great Olney returns with this moody, groovy title track of his latest CD. His protagonist gazes into a dark, dank world and concludes that it’s best to go with the flow. The track rumbles and grumbles around him, offering its own commentary on the status quo. Elsewhere on the collection are his eclectic, eccentric characters who fulminate, lie, steal, love and think too much. As usual, the songs are fantastic. The imaginative textures added by his new producer Zeman make this the most splendid David Olney album in years.

JESSI COLTER/Mercy and Loving Kindness (Psalm 136)
Writers: Jessi Colter; Producer: Lenny Kaye; Publishers: none listed; Legacy (track)
– Colter’s new collection’s lyrics are all drawn from the Bible’s psalms. She adds distinctive melodies based on her inimitable piano style. On this track, producer Kaye mixes in mandolin, mellotron, bass and wafting backing vocals. The effect is quite lovely, in an airy, inspirational kinda way. Jessi Colter’s other current project, by the way, is a gentle, gracious memoir titled An Outlaw and a Lady.

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MATT URMY & JOHN PRINE/Out Of The Ashes
Writers: Matt Urmy; Producers: Cowboy Jack Clement/ Matt Urmy; Publishers: none listed; Tritone (track)
– Nashville singer-songwriter Matt Urmy was thrilled when the late, legendary Jack Clement agreed to work with him. When the album was nearly completed in 2010, Clement’s studio/home burned and Urmy believed his record had literally gone up in smoke. Miraculously, its raw files were saved. To celebrate, Urmy wrote this for Clement as a phoenix statement. John Prine agreed to make it a duet, and the addition of a chorus added just the right gospel flavor. Now, it is the collection’s title tune.

THE MAVERICKS/Damned (If You Do)
Writers: Raul Malo/Alan Miller; Producer: Raul Malo/Miko Bolas; Publishers: Malo/Wixen/Miller’s Tale/Me Gusta; BMI/ASCAP; Mondo Mundo/Thirty Tigers
– The debut single from The Mavericks’ just-released Brand New Day album is relentless, low burning, torrid, midtempo track that explores the swirling conflicts of romance. The sizzling electric guitar, blazing accordion and churning percussion are particular audio delights.

SUNNY SWEENEY/Better Bad Idea
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: none listed; Thirty Tigers
– In any kind of a just universe, this woman would be a country superstar. Alas, she is too country for country. On this track from her new Trophy album, she rocks smartly with a tangy Texas twang and some snarling backing instrumentation. On the rest of this sterling collection, you’ll find booze, pills, divorce, longing, death, celebration and many other topics that make her one of our most credible and authentic roots artists. Highly recommended.

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RODNEY CROWELL, JOHN PAUL WHITE, & ROSANNE CASH/It Ain’t Over Yet
Writers: Rodney Crowell; Producers: Jordan Lehning/Kim Bule; Publishers: Coolwell, ASCAP; New West (track)
– Crowell has just issued Close Ties as his once-more victorious return to fighting form as a writer. This track meditates on aging and experience with a track that clicks along at a sprightly pace. The dazzling lyric is made even more vivid as his guests take their turns as singers. Then the trio singing at the finale adds the icing on the cake. Mickey Raphael closes the whole thing out with a harmonica solo. P.S.: Buy this one on vinyl.

MALCOLM HOLCOMBE/Pretty Little Troubles
Writers: Malcolm Holcombe; Producer: Darrell Scott; Publishers: Gypsy Eyes, BMI; Gypsy Eyes (track)
– Holcombe’s blues-soaked, whiskey rasp makes him sound aged and barely coherent. But as he drawls his way through this lightly swinging title tune of his latest collection, you smile and nod in sympathy. Why complain? You’ll still be just as broke and busted whether you do or you don’t. Producer Scott has surrounded this ol’ boy with an awesome studio band. You’ll savor every note, as well as every lyric.

CHIP TAYLOR/A Song I Can Live With
Writers: Chip Taylor, Producers: Goran Grini/Chip Taylor; Publishers: Back Road/Sony, BMI; Train Wreck (track)
– Thanks to “Wild Thing,” “Angel of the Morning,” “Any Way That You Want Me,” “I Can Make It With You,” “Son of a Rotten Gambler” and “Try Just a Little Bit Harder,” Taylor entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame last year. After a career as a country-rock pioneer, he left music in 1980 to become a professional gambler. Since returning in 1996, he has become one of Americana music’s most prolific record makers. This slow, measured title ballad of his latest, is delivered in a whispered vocal as he vows undying love and prays for a final great musical statement. It practically makes you hold your breath as you listen.

BETH GARNER/Snake Farm
Writers: Hubbard; Producer: Beth Garner/Randy Kohrs; Publishers: none listed; The Music of Nashville (track)
– The title tune of this lady’s CD is the only song on it that she didn’t write. Its author is Ray Wylie Hubbard, who is being inducted into Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. Garner delivers it with plenty of personality. Also plenty of electric-blues guitar, since she’s an ace picker, as well as a writer and singer. Garner has paid dues in the honky tonks of Lower Broadway for years, and her experience shows in the confidence and professionalism that’s all over this collection. Blues and roots-rock programmers take heed.

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