Zac Brown Band Hosts Listening Party For Upcoming Album

Pictured (L-R): Ben Kline (EVP/General Manager, Warner Music Nashville), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Nashville), Zac Brown, Cris Lacy (EVP A&R, Warner Music Nashville). Photo: Alan Poizner

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Warner Music Nashville executives gathered with music industry friends and partners at Blue Moon Waterfront Grille in Nashville to share a preview of Zac Brown Band’s upcoming album.

The new project will feature the multiple Grammy-winning band’s current radio single, “Same Boat,” which has earned nearly 20 million streams to date and continues to climb the charts at country radio.

‘CMT Giants: Charley Pride’ Gets Advanced Screening At NMAAM

Pictured (L-R): Leslie Fram, SVP Music & Talent, CMT; Dion Pride; Shanna Strassberg, VP, Music & Talent, CMT. Photo: Jason Davis

The Change Agent·cy and Nashville Music Equality hosted a crowd of music industry and community leaders at the National Museum of African American Music on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to screen CMT’s upcoming special, CMT Giants: Charley Pride. The film was introduced by Charley’s son, Dion, who also performs as part of the special.

CMT Giants: Charley Pride brings together some of the biggest names in music today, including Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Gladys Knight, Jimmie Allen, Lee Ann Womack, Luke Combs, Robert Randolph, Reyna Roberts, Mickey Guyton, and Wynonna.

Special guests, such as Neal McCoy, Nolan Ryan, Reba, Ronnie Milsap, and Charley’s wife Rozene Pride, also make an appearance to share their personal memories and reflect on Pride’s lasting legacy. Also on display will be a collection of rare archival photos, interviews, and performances, with clips and commentary from Pride himself.

CMT Giants: Charley Pride will air on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. CT.

Gibson Gives, Ryan Seacrest Foundation Partner For The Nashville Sessions

Jimmie Allen performs at the Gibson Garage in Nashville. Photo: Katie Klochany, Ryan Seacrest Foundation

Gibson Gives, the philanthropic arm of Gibson has teamed up with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) for the next installment of The Nashville Sessions–a virtual concert series for children’s hospital patients across America.

The Nashville Sessions concert features performances and interviews with multi-platinum selling, recording artist-songwriter and ACM New Male Artist of the Year award winner Jimmie Allen, ACM New Female Artist of the Year award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina, and next generation country artist Jillian Jacqueline. In addition to special performances, the artists will also talk about the inspiring stories behind their music in sit-down interviews. This installment of The Nashville Sessions will also feature a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Gibson Garage, with Gibson’s President and CEO, James “JC” Curleigh.

“We are so grateful for Gibson’s ongoing support,” shares Meredith Seacrest, executive director & COO for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “So many of the patients and families our partner hospitals serve have benefited from guitar donations and specialty headphone donations over the years. We’re thrilled they will now get to experience the heartbeat of Gibson, by virtually touring the Gibson Garage and watching one-of-a-kind performances.”

“Music has always found a way to inspire, and now we are set to take this to another level with the Nashville Sessions,” says Curleigh. “Our partnership with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation will help bring virtual concerts to kids in challenging situations and hopefully brighten their day.”

Amazon Prime Video will be the home of the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be exclusively livestreamed on the platform in 2022. Produced by MRC’s dick clark productions, the 2022 ACM Awards marks the first time a major awards show will be livestreamed exclusively.

“We are thrilled that the Academy of Country Music Awards are first to take this giant step toward the future of awards shows with Amazon Prime Video. This partnership, which reinforces our position as an innovative, progressive awards show, will deliver the broadest possible audience and, simultaneously, deliver massive value to our artists whose music lives inside this ecosystem, enabling fans to discover and stream music as they watch,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

“We’re excited to continue to expand our content offerings for Prime Video customers by being the exclusive home for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022 and honoring the best in country music,” says Vernon Sanders, co-head of television, Amazon Studios. “Reaching this milestone with our partners at the Academy of Country Music and MRC as the first major awards show to be livestreamed speaks to our dedication and commitment to continue to both entertain and innovate for our audience.”

“This historic partnership with ACM, MRC, and Amazon Prime Video meets the industry’s need to bring awards shows to the forefront of the streaming world—exactly where fans are consuming and demanding content. It will also deliver invaluable new opportunities for country artists, enabling them to reach larger audiences and presenting them the Academy’s exceptionally entertaining and compelling show,” says outgoing ACM Board of Directors Chair Ed Warm.

First held in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards has honored the biggest names and emerging talent in the industry. The date, location, collaborations, and performances for the 2022 show will be confirmed in the coming months.

Steve Earle. Photo: Jay Blakesberg

After taking a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Roots Music Festival will be held as a free, virtual, live streamed event.

Held Oct. 1-3, the upcoming festival will feature 15 live-broadcast and 12 pre-recorded performances from a lineup that includes Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Mavis Staples and Belá Fleck as well as first timers The Tallest Man On Earth and Las Cafeteras.

This year’s festival will feature pre-recorded sets and interviews from artists in New Orleans & San Francisco alongside live performances happening in real time from a COVID-careful location in the Bay Area.

“We did not come to the decision to withdraw our plans for Golden Gate Park lightly, but with the current information we have about the severity of the Delta variant, and given the history and mission of HSB as a free event open to all, we are taking these steps to protect our fans, artists and crew,” says Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’ Producer Sheri Sternberg. “We are thrilled with the line-up and excited that we are still able to offer fantastic sets from some of the greatest musicians in the world, available for everyone to watch no matter where they are!”

This hybrid plan allows for viewers to safely enjoy the performances of Lake Street Dive, Andy Shauf, Valerie June and others, in real time while also experiencing specially-taped sets from the likes of Bob Mould with Fred Armisen as well as Seratones with Alynda Segarra.

For more information on how to watch this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, click here.

Breland. Photo: Mikai Karl

Dierks Bentley has invited rising country artist Breland to join his “Beers On Me” tour, which kicked off last weekend and also features special guests Riley Green and Parker McCollum on the opening lineup. Breland will crash Bentley’s set in select markets beginning this weekend in Mountain View, California (Aug. 21) and Stateline, Nevada (Aug. 22).

The two first joined forces on Bentley’s latest single, “Beers On Me” along with Hardy, which is currently climbing the charts. The collaboration finds “all three vocalists exuding personality, friendliness and warmth” as they trade verses about brushing off a long week with good company.

“Breland shines out there and the fans are really loving what he brings to the party,” Bentley says. “I’ve had him open a few shows the last few weeks, and I just really didn’t want him to leave. I love watching him convert people who may not be familiar with him into big fans. Of course, I want to help him build his career however I can, but he’s also helping me! His energy is joyful and contagious.”

Breland will also be hitting the road on his own debut headlining “Cross Country Tour.” Kicking off on Sep. 5 with an appearance at Bonnaroo, Breland will perform coast-to-coast in major markets including Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Nashville and L.A. through Oct. 27.

2021 “Beers On Me” Tour Dates:
8/20/21 Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
8/21/21 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
8/22/21 Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s*** ^
8/26/21 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/27/21 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
8/28/21 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater^
9/16/21 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
9/17/21 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9/18/21 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
9/23/21 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
9/24/21 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/25/21 Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
10/07/21 Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre*^
10/08/21 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*
10/09/21 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live*
10/15/21 Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center**
10/16/21 Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake**
10/21/21 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
10/22/21 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP*
^Featuring Breland
*Riley Green and TBD
**Mitchel Tennpenny and TBD
***Riley Green Only

Allie Colleen visits MusicRow. Photo: Haley Crow

Singer-songwriter Allie Colleen has had her fair share of industry and stage experience over the years.

She has grown up a witness to the music industry, as she’s the daughter of Garth Brooks, but Colleen is determined to make a name for herself on her own. The 2018 Belmont graduate earned a degree in songwriting and music business, and quickly took to the road performing.

In April of 2021, she released the physical copy of her debut album, Stones, available exclusively on her website. Since then, she has also been releasing one of the digital tracks about every six weeks on streaming platforms. The full project is slated to be available digitally on Black Friday (Nov. 26).

Among the tracks that Colleen has digitally released to the masses is “Only Oklahoma,” which places the Oklahoma native in a position of questioning what her life might be like if she’d have never left home. Written with Matt McKinney, the chorus offers the relatable internal dialogue, “Sometimes I wonder If I’d chose the other / If I was right in front of what I left behind / I could’ve got a job, could’ve raised a family, but could I make a living loving life way out there / in only Oklahoma?”

However, a completely different story is told through another one of her digitally available songs, “Pink Lemonade.” The only outside cut found on Stones, the seemingly innocent named yet innuendo-filled song provides a breezy melody paired with Colleen’s strong vocal that commands listeners attention.

“Nora [Collins] actually put [the song] out in 2018, but I was at a writers retreat that Eric Dodd had put on and I got to meet her there. At the very end of the night, everyone usually starts playing their wonky stuff that they couldn’t have played at a show and Nora played ‘Pink Lemonade.’ I just remember me and the four other dudes in the room looked at this sweet, little blonde girl and thought, ‘Sweetheart, I don’t know if you know what you’re singing about but that’s my favorite song,’” Colleen jokes. “‘Pink Lemonade’ is cool and sexy, and I don’t think other females in country music have gotten to sing about stuff like it, so I knew I just had to have it. And it’s fun because 50% of people think it’s actually about pink lemonade,” she shares cheekily.

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Skates (MusicRow), Lydia Farthing (MusicRow), LB Cantrell (MusicRow), Allie Colleen, Sherod Robertson (MusicRow), Alex Parry (MusicRow), Haley Crow (MusicRow)

One of the older tracks found on Stones is the powerful anthem “Wildflower,” providing encouragement to embrace one’s uniqueness. Penned by Colleen, Billy Dawson, De’leah Shane, and Sara Brice, the song boasts of never being “meant to fit in with the roses and a bouquet,” but rather to “grow, baby, grow wildflower.”

While currently operating as a DIY artist, Colleen shares that she finds a level of freedom especially with the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic still surging in much of the world.

“The pandemic put everything in a really interesting perspective. If the world shuts down again and I’m not DIY, I have no control over this whole vortex year of shit that we’re all wading in,” she explains. “Even if I stay with my 45,000 followers and that’s all I ever have, that’s fine because they care way more about my stuff than whatever the masses are that are listening to four seconds of a Tik Tok.”