Southerland Showcase Traditional Country Harmonies On Upcoming Debut EP

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Southerland. Photo: Emma Kate Golden

Rising country duo Southerland will release their debut EP, Boot Up, on May 28.

Charleston, South Carolina native Matt Chase and Washington, Georgia’s Chris Rogers met in 2016 through mutual friends and started playing college towns and dive bars together for a few years. They signed to River House Artists/Sony Music Nashville in 2019 as Southerland, and have since shared the stage with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina, Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Darius Rucker, Morgan Wallen and more.

Produced by Greg Bates, Boot Up includes previously released singles “Thing Is,” “Little Bit of You” and “Along Those Lines” as well as four all-new songs that showcase the duo’s smooth vocals and traditional country harmonies. The title track for the 7-song project is also out today (May 11).

“With the craziness of 2020, we kept our feet on the gas in the writers room and in the studio,” shares Chase and Rogers of Southerland. “We’re always excited to release new music, but we’re especially excited about this EP. Some of our very favorite songs we have written are on this project.”

Boot Up Track Listing:
1. “Boot Up” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers, Austin Taylor Smith)
2. “Might As Well Be Us” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
3. “Came Out of Nowhere” (Jessi Alexander, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
4. “Dance” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
5. “Along Those Lines” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers, Driver Williams)
6. “Little Bit of You” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
7. “Thing Is” (Matt Chase, Greg Bates, Chris Rogers)*
*produced by Trent Willmon

WME Signs Rising Country Hip-Hop Artist Kidd G

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Kidd G. Photo: Ford Fairchild

WME has signed country hip-hop breakout artist, Kidd G.

Signed to Big Machine Label Group’s Valory Records, in partnership with Rebel Music and Geffen Records, Kidd G’s debut EP, Teenage Dream, peaked at No. 3 on Billboard Heatseekers Album chart. The 2020 project yielded the Billboard Top 40 Hot Country Songs chart debut single “Dirt Road.”

The Georgia native has surpassed 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, in addition to his rapidly growing fan base nearing one million followers on TikTok. He is currently in the studio working on his debut full-length album slated for this summer.

Kidd G is managed by LJ Stoll at Se Lavi Productions and Stan Gabart at Rebel Lavi Music.

Rodney Crowell Returns With New Album ‘Triage’ In July

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Rodney Crowell is releasing a new album Triage, on his own RC1 Records with Thirty Tigers, on July 23.

His 18th studio project, Triage is a departure for Crowell of sorts, and an album that he has called his most personal to date. He found inspiration for the new collection of songs during the great political, climate and economic upheaval of recent years, and was encouraged by the noise of that chaos to look inside for solace and answers. The new songs that emerged contend with these themes but approach them from a place of healing, love, and solution.

“Not a moment of this album is unconsidered,” explains Triage producer Dan Kobler. “Time and time again the question was asked: does each word, each note, every instrument and sonic choice serve its song? Is each song in service of the spirit of Universal Love? If not, it had to go. The result is a piece of work both Rodney and I take immense pride in.”

Crowell released the first single from the project, “Something Has To Change” today (May 11) along with an accompanying video directed by filmmaker/musician Haroula Rose and shot at Castle Recording Studios in Franklin, Tennessee. He will be appearing on TalkShopLive on Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET to talk about the new album.

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Industry Ink: Rodney Atkins, Tape Room Music, I’ll Fly Away Foundation

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Rodney Atkins To Celebrate 2 Billion Pandora Streams With Special Concert

Rodney Atkins. Photo: Trevor Roberts.

Curb Records recording artist Rodney Atkins will celebrate 2 billion Pandora streams with a Dreamstage concert in Nashville on May 25, 2021. Atkins will also be presented with a Pandora Billionaire plaque to commemorate the achievement.

“With more than 2.5 million streams per week and 2 billion overall, Rodney is a Pandora powerhouse,” says SiriusXM & Pandora’s Head of Country Talent Relations Beville Dunkerley. “We are excited to celebrate this milestone with an artist whose music has consistently connected with our listeners.”

“A billion of anything is a lot, but 2 billion streams on Pandora is more than I can imagine! I am honored and thankful to Pandora for the support and to the fans out there who listen,” shares Atkins.

Fans can join Atkins at 8 p.m. CST at Ole Red in Downtown Nashville, both virtually and in-person. General admission virtual or in-person tickets can be purchased here.

 

 

Tape Room Music Adds Caroline Hodson As Catalog Manager

Caroline Hodson. Photo: Mackenzie Leigh Baker.

Tape Room Music has added Caroline Hodson as Catalog Manager. In this position, she will be responsible for overseeing and managing all songs within the Tape Room catalog and assisting in the overall creative landscape of the company.

“Caroline’s passion for songwriters, dedication and tenacity make her a perfect addition to the Tape Room family,” shares Kelly Bolton, VP/Creative of Tape Room Music. “She is a rockstar and I look forward to the growth and future successes she will inevitably bring to our company.”

Hodson graduated from Belmont University in 2020 with a degree in music business. Originally from Portland, Maine, she moved to Nashville in 2017 and started with Tape Room as an intern where she worked directly with the publishing department. She is also a member of the Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) and has been on the board and ambassador team since 2018.

 

 

I’ll Fly Away Foundation Launches Partnership To Inspire Kids Through Songwriting

The I’ll Fly Away Foundation, which uses the power of music to engage children and improve their lives through songwriting, has announced a partnership with the Kirklees Council, Grammy Museum Mississippi, and Stax Music Academy. Through this partnership, the I’ll Fly Away Foundation will be connecting children from the United Kingdom and the United States through an online songwriting workshop to unlock their creative potential and help inspire their dreams.

Founded in 2011 by husband and wife team Betsy Brumley and Kevin Bernier, the I’ll Fly Away Foundation celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. The saying goes “it all starts with a song,” and the I’ll Fly Away Foundation believes that a song can change a life.

“I’ve always believed every crisis has a silver lining and because of the pandemic we were able to form an international songwriting collaboration project earlier than planned. We knew we needed to bring hope to young people in both our nations. Our partners are like family and we have come together to unite our children in song,” shares Brumley.

“I am so excited to be working with the I’ll Fly Away Foundation and partners, to deliver this fabulous project. Through songwriting, we hope to bring young people together from the heart of West Yorkshire, UK, and the USA to explore their creativity, develop new skills and most importantly build friendships,” says Strategic Lead for Cultural Development of Kirklees Council Kath Wynne-Hague.

Mark Collie Announces New Southern Gothic-Inspired Album

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Mark Collie is releasing a new album, Book of My Blues, on Friday, June 4 via BFD/Audium Nashville/Orchard.

The album’s themes of love, lust, betrayal, addiction, recovery, damnation, redemption are derived from the graphic novel Rockabilly Hitman, a collaboration between Collie and renowned film director Jonathan Hensleigh. The novel depicts the exploits of rockabilly singer Jesse Wayne Hardin, who by night is an avenger of evil, as he travels the backroads from Muscle Shoals to Memphis, from the Mississippi Delta to Music City.

The project features twelve original songs written or co-written by Collie, plus three rockabilly classics – “Hey Boba Lou,” “Night Train to Memphis,” and “Matchbox.” The album was co-produced by Kenny Greenberg and Chad Cromwell, and features collaborations with some special guests including Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Douglas, Gary Nicholson, John Scott Sherill, and more.

“There are a lot of ways to describe the music, maybe roadhouse rock, southern gothic, Americana, country, but at its core, it’s a reflection of me and many others who came before me,” explains Collie.

Tracks “Born Ready” and “The Son of a Gun” are available now, and Collie is set to release the album’s title track and third single, “Book of My Blues,” on May 14.

Book of My Blues Track List:
1. Book of My Blues (Mark Collie, Billy Bob Thornton)
2. Born Ready (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Gary Nicholson)
3. On the Wings of Your Love (Mark Collie)
4. Right This Wrong (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg)
5. Matchbox (Carl Perkins)
6. Holly Springs (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
7. Unfinished Hurting (Mark Collie, Tom Douglas)
8. Queen of A Hungry Heart (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
9. Sinking Sand (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
10. Hey Boba Lou (Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline MaGill, Robbie Robertson)
11. Put the Gun Down (Mark Collie)
12. Walk the Floor, Kill the Lights, Slam the Door (Mark Collie, John Scott Sherill)
13. A Little Every Day (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
14. The Son of a Gun (Mark Collie, Jonathan Hensleigh)
15. Night Train to Memphis (Owen Bradley, Marvin Hughes, Beasley Smith)

ONErpm Nashville Marketing Division Adds Three, Ups Two

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Pictured (L-R): Stephanie Onder, Diana Garcia, Stephanie Murphy, Julia McLeod, Casey Childers. Photo: Tim Hiber

ONErpm has announced the expansion of their Nashville marketing division with the addition and promotion of five women who will help further develop the company’s roster of artists and create new global artist campaigns.

Included in ONErpm’s newly appointed marketing division are Stephanie Onder, Stephanie Murphy, Julia McLeod, Casey Childers, and Diana Garcia.

Onder will operate as Project Manager for ONErpm’s Outlaw & Country clients. She is a new hire who most recently worked at CMG/The Orchard as Marketing Manager. She will be responsible for Adam Calhoun, Struggle Jennings, Moonshine Bandits, Cash Campbell and Trey Lewis on ONErpm’s artist roster. She can be reached at stephanieonder@onerpm.com.

Murphy will become the Country Project Manager. She comes most recently from Live Nation, and will be responsible for Brett Kissel, Love and Theft, and Pam Tillis. She can be reached at smurphy@onerpm.com.

Childers, who was previously Project Manager, has been upped to the Senior and Lead Project Manager of Pop and Dance. She will be responsible for Paul Oakenfeld, Elohim, Sebastian Paul and Ookay. She can be reached at casey@onerpm.com.

Garcia will act as the new Director of Marketing for Verge Records. She is the founder of House of Darlings, and comes most recently from AMG. She will oversee marketing strategies for Trace Adkins, Chuck Wicks, Scott Stevens, Jay Allen and will add support to ONErpm’s country music roster. She can be reached at dianagarcia@vergerecords.com.

McLeod, formerly Project Manager, has been promoted to Associate Director of Artist Marketing/Head Product Manager of Alt & Rock. She will be responsible for Sports, Bryce Fox, Small Pools, Solence, and the Cult Records label. McCleod will continue to oversee all of ONErpm’s product managers in the U.S and can be reached at julia@onerpm.com.

“I’m thrilled to welcome these smart, creative and talented executives to our Nashville team and ONErpm family,” says McLeod. “This is an office I’m incredibly proud of and I’m looking forward to all the great ideas and campaigns our new members will bring to the table.”

With the company’s 26+ international offices, ONErpm specializes in disciplines such as PR, promotion, advertising, DSP, digital, direct-to-fan, and social media marketing to help grow an artist’s business worldwide.

Rhonda Vincent Releases Latest Track From New Album ‘Music Is What I See’

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Rhonda Vincent

Rhonda Vincent has announced her new album, Music Is What I See, is set for release on May 28. Additionally, the Grand Ole Opry member has released a new track from the project,“What Ain’t To Be Just Might Happen.”

Written by Porter Wagoner, the upbeat, banjo-infused song encourages us to revel in the optimism of life and is the first taste from the brand new project. Vincent released another song from the album, “Like I Could,” a few weeks ago.

“The Grand Ole Opry theme runs through this album. Porter Wagoner is one of the Opry themes. He wrote and recorded this song in 1972. I think it has a great beat for bluegrass and I love performing it. This song brings immediate smiles from the minute the banjo kicks it off.  Plus it’s a happy song, and perfect for this day and time,” said Vincent.

Vincent kicked off 2021 in a huge way, fulfilling a lifelong dream when she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 6.

Kip Moore Plots 20-City How High Tour For Fall

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Kip Moore has announced he’ll return to the road this fall on the How High Tour, slated to kick off in Chicago, Illinois on October 14.

The 20-date run will include stops in Detroit, Knoxville, Charlotte, Kansas City, San Diego, and more through December 18. Tickets will be available to purchase beginning this Friday, (May 14) at 10 a.m. local time at kipmoore.net.

Moore is also embracing the feel-good vibes from his new single “Good Life” in the just-released new video for the track. Directed by friend/long-time collaborator PJ Brown, the clip sees Moore embody the free-spirited nature of the song, showing multiple facets of him living a “Good Life”  throughout the video.

“The live show has been a massive part of everything we’ve built up until this point,” said Moore. “We brought out a full record this past year and so it’s been a huge priority to get this tour scheduled so we can get out there and play those songs with the people who supported ‘Wild World’ and maybe even play some newer material now that we have ‘Good Life’ out there. Working on the music video for the single was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had making a video. We really just went for it and let our inhibitions go.”

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The How High Tour Dates:
10/14        Chicago, IL
10/15        Newport, KY
10/16        Rochester, NY
10/21        Fort Wayne, IN
10/22        Grand Rapids, MI
10/23        Detroit, MI
11/4          Knoxville, TN
11/5          Chattanooga, TN
11/6          Asheville, NC
11/11        Huntsville, AL
11/12        Charlotte, NC
11/13        Orange Beach, AL
11/19        North Myrtle Beach, SC
11/20        Raleigh, NC
11/21        Silver Spring, MD
12/2          Kansas City, MO
12/3          Kearney, NE
12/4          Dubuque, IA
12/17        Phoenix, AZ
12/18        San Diego, CA

Show Dog Nashville Inks Deal With Kimberly Kelly

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Pictured (L-R, Top-Bottom): Producer and Kelly’s husband Brett Tyler, President/Owner TKO Artist Management TK Kimbrell, Show Dog Nashville Senior VP/Promotion Rick Moxley, Kelly’s Manager Mike Robertson, Co-Founder/Owner Thirty Tigers David Macias, Kimberly Kelly, and Toby Keith. Photo: Eric England.

Show Dog Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Kimberly Kelly, joining a roster that includes Clay Walker, Krystal Keith and label head Toby Keith.

“She sings country music with emotion and range,” says Keith. “I am big on songwriters and her talent impressed me. She’s a songwriter that has something to say.”

Kelly has released a crowd-funded EP and two independent albums. She has written with esteemed writers and performers including Lori McKenna, Terry McBride, Erin Enderlin and Steve Wariner. The Lorena, Texas native aims to build on her regional notoriety with a new album project due later this year.

“I’m thrilled to have a nod from Toby and the Show Dog team, and for the opportunity to make more music! Toby has done things his way, and I feel like I’ve tried my best to do the same,” Kelly says. “I’m looking forward to having this great team behind me. I’m grateful David Macias came across my last EP, and believed in it and me enough to introduce me to Toby and the label.”

Show Dog Nashville was founded in 2005 by Toby Keith and will market Kelly’s music in partnership with Thirty Tigers.

Warner Chappell Nashville Inks Global Publishing Deal With Martin Johnson

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Martin Johnson

Warner Chappell Music Nashville has signed a global publishing deal with singer, songwriter, producer, and frontman of pop punk band Boys Like Girls, Martin Johnson.

Johnson most recently co-wrote and co-produced Lady A’s current single, “Like A Lady,” and penned and produced Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).” Aside from his work as an artist, Johnson has past cuts and production credits with artists spanning genres including, Jason Derulo, Dan + Shay, Pentatonix, Flo Rida, Karmin, Gavin DeGraw, Daughtry, Avril Lavigne, and more.

Currently releasing new music as an artist under his new wave alternative project The Night Game, his sophomore album Dog Years was released earlier this year.

Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, WCM Nashville, says: “I’ve known Martin for years and have always admired his work in and out of the Nashville market. He’s a true versatile talent whose sound isn’t bound by any one genre, and our team is so excited that he’s now landed in Nashville and has found a home at Warner Chappell.”

Johnson adds: “I’m jacked to take on the next chapter of my career with Warner Chappell. Ben, Katy Wolaver, and Spencer Nohe have been so supportive of me and it feels natural to join them as they lead the way to new opportunities in a new town. Katy has always been in my corner—even back during our time on the mean streets of the mid 2000s emo world—long before she had a stake in the game. And I’ll never forget Ben sticking his neck out to open doors and make me feel welcomed when I first came to Nashville. I’m so happy to have found a new friend and an incredible A&R in Spencer, and I look forward to the next phase of the ride with the entire Warner Chappell family.”