Maddie & Tae Named CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors

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Maddie & Tae. Photo: Nolan Feldpausch

Award-winning country artists Maddie & Tae have joined forces with the CMA Foundation to inspire music teachers and students through virtual classroom visits.

As the newest CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors, the duo will participate in discussions about overcoming challenges and the importance of empowering the next generation of female leaders. They’ll also discuss how music helped them develop confidence and share experiences about their journeys in the music industry.

“Maddie & Tae have used their voices throughout their careers to advocate for the importance of music education, supporting the CMA Foundation’s mission to provide equitable opportunities for students across the country,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “As we are celebrating Music In Our Schools Month in March, we are excited to have these talented women join our CMA Foundation Artist Ambassador collective to share the power of music with students and music teachers. The CMA Foundation understands that representation is key in all areas of life. Maddie & Tae are two strong, talented and resilient female leaders in the music industry and we are looking forward to them being examples for these students and teachers, showing them that anything is possible.”

“Music has always been incredibly special to us,” says Taylor Kerr of Maddie & Tae. “Not only for the enjoyment of listening and creating, but for the healing and connection it brings to so many. We feel honored to be the new CMA Foundation ambassadors and look forward to chatting about our favorite thing in the whole world!”

Maddie & Tae will be joining a notable group of CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors, including Jimmie Allen, Linday Ell, and Ashley McBryde, who have helped advocate for access to music education for students across the country.

Justin Moore Is ‘Straight Outta The Country’ With New Release Set For April

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Justin Moore. Photo: Cody Villalobos

Justin Moore is gearing up for the release of his new eight-song collection, Straight Outta The Country, out April 23 on The Valory Music Co. He will debut some of the new music during a worldwide ticketed live stream from The Barn in Nashville on April 17.

The leadoff track from the album, “We Didn’t Have Much,” is currently climbing into Top 30 at country radio, and sets the tone for the mix. The collection includes songs penned by Rhett Akins, Jeremy Stover, Michael Hardy, Randy Montana, and more. “She Ain’t Mine No More” and “Hearing Things” are stamped with Moore’s southern drawl and traditional storytelling, and “You Keep Getting Me Drunk” showcases his vocal range. “Consecutive Days Alive” is a rocking reflective ode to the past, and “More Than Me” serves as a tender love letter to Moore’s children.

Two new tracks from the new project, “She Ain’t Mine No More,” and an acoustic version of “We Didn’t Have Much,” will be available everywhere at midnight tonight (March 25).

Straight Outta The Country Track List:
1. Hearing Things (Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer, Chris Stevens)
2. Consecutive Days Alive (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell, Jeremy Stover)
3. We Didn’t Have Much (Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
4. She Ain’t Mine No More (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Jamie Paulin, Jeremy Stover)
5. More Than Me (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover)
6. Straight Outta The Country (Michael Hardy, Cam Montgomery, Josh Thompson)
7. You Keep Getting Me Drunk (Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer, Paul DiGiovanni)
8. We Didn’t Have Much – Acoustic (Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)

Ross Copperman Returns To Artist Spotlight With ‘Somewhere There’s A Light On’

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Award-winning songwriter and producer Ross Copperman is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming EP, Somewhere There’s a Light On, set for release on Photo Finish Records on May 21.

The shimmery Southern pop flavored project features back-to-back singalongs and Copperman’s ferocious musicality, radio-ready piano, staccato percussion, synths, snaps and smooth vocals, with country’s love of cohesive narratives. “I’ve always liked to write songs to live in any world and not necessarily be too specific to genres,” Copperman said. “It feels like pop has really been influenced by country writing in the last few years.”

Ross Copperman. Photo: Gus Black

Signed initially as an artist to the UK’s Phonogenic Records/RCA in the early 2000’s, Copperman found himself touring, landing syncs on popular shows, and earning success for two releases out of the gate. Relocating to Nashville, he became a student of songwriting, and a respected producer as well, with 29 No. 1 songs under his belt. Now he’s coming full circle with a new release as an artist himself.

Copperman co-wrote Somewhere There’s a Light On with some of his favorite collaborators, including a pair with Ed Sheeran. “I’ve never loved two songs more than ‘Electricity’ and ‘Therapy’ in my life,” Copperman said of the tracks he wrote with Sheeran. “We were pitching them to country artists, and I had this realization: ‘Wow. I think these might be my songs.’ Finding love, becoming a dad, helping other artists find their voice…all of this life I’ve lived has informed my new music. Without those experiences, I’m not sure we’d be here at this moment with these songs.”

Somewhere There’s a Light On Track List:
1.     “Not Believe” (Ross Copperman, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband)
2.     “Electricity” (Ross Copperman, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid)
3.     “Therapy” (Ross Copperman, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid)
4.     “Somewhere There’s a Light On” (Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
5.     “Holdin’ You” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally)

Kane Brown Surpasses 2 Billion Streams On Pandora

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Kane Brown and manager Martha Earls.

Multi-Platinum entertainer Kane Brown has surpassed 2 billion streams on Pandora.

Brown was surprised at his home in Nashville this week with a plaque commemorating the feat, along with manager Martha Earls.

Brown’s Mixtape Vol. 1 EP, which has 565 million on-demand streams to date, features the Platinum-certified hits “Cool Again” and “Be Like That” featuring Swae Lee and Khalid, as well as “Last Time I Say Sorry” with John Legend.

Brown is up for two ACM Awards including Album of the Year for Mixtape Vol. 1 and Video of the Year for “Worldwide Beautiful,” from which he donated $100,000 of the proceeds to The Boys & Girls Club. A long-time Boys & Girls Club supporter, Brown was asked earlier this year to become an honorary member for life.

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Kenny Chesney Builds On ‘Here And Now’ Success With New Deluxe Version

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Kenny Chesney is expanding upon his album Here And Now with a new deluxe edition, available for preorder beginning March 26 and set for release May 7.

Here And Now Deluxe includes four diverse new tracks: “Wind On” (David Lee Murphy and Rodney Clawson), “Fields of Glory” (Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman), “My Anthem” (Osborne, Shane McAnally and Jason Gantt) ,and “Streets,” (co-written with Tom Douglas).

“Being home, writing with friends, recording with people who inspire you,” Chesney says, “this time has taught me to really be in the moment, to share more music. Some of these songs will spark an immediate hunger for things we all love; some of them I think people will think about for days and days after they hear them. With so much still unsettled, I didn’t want to wait any more to share them.”

Chesney’s new single, “Knowing You,” was just released and has pressed the album back up the charts. “This isn’t about death, or losing someone to the other side,” Chesney explains about the new track. “It can be a lover who’s left or group of friends who came together, dreamed together, then went off to chase those things. You may never be together again, but that moment—no matter where you are—you can close your eyes and remember everything about the people, the places, the joy comes right back. Those people, those experiences change you. You’re better for them if you’ll see them for what they were and how they made you better. So I’m really happy to know that what I heard when I first heard the demo is how other people are feeling whether they see the video, stream it somewhere or hear it on radio. And because of that, too, I’m glad we’re making this Deluxe available now. If you love ‘Knowing You’ and this album, we’re making it even a little bit more special.”

Chesney recently announced he is pushing his 2021 stadium tour to next year due to current pandemic capacity restrictions.

Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon Signs With Billy Blue Records

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Marty Raybon

Marty Raybon is returning to his bluegrass roots, signing with Nashville’s Billy Blue Records.

Co-founder of the chart-topping country band Shenandoah, Raybon’s signing with the bluegrass label is in a way a homecoming for the artist.

“I am proud to say I have inked a deal with Billy Blue Records,” says Raybon. “The past few weeks have been more than satisfying. To get in the studio and hear banjos and fiddles in the headphones has been a soothing of the spirit.”

“I have been honored to be Marty’s friend for many years,” says Jerry Salley, creative and A&R director for Billy Blue Records. “There just aren’t words to express how excited our team is to welcome him back to his bluegrass roots. We’re thrilled to represent Marty’s creative bluegrass efforts, and eager to share his forthcoming album.”

In cooperation with BBR, Raybon’s debut single for Billy Blue Records will be “Walking The Floor,” a song written by Marty’s brother, Tim Raybon, that puts a new spin on the traditional love-gone-wrong story. The single is set for release on Friday, March 26 and an album release date will be announced soon.

Raybon is still working and touring with Shenandoah and will continue to pursue both his country and bluegrass passions.

Women’s Audio Mission To Host WAMCon Virtual Recording Arts Conference

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Photo: Courtesy Women’s Audio Mission

Women’s Audio Mission’s WAMcon, an interactive recording arts conference series for women and gender diverse individuals, will take place virtually on April 24.

Women’s Audio Mission is a San Francisco/Oakland-based nonprofit that uses music and media and the only professional recording studio in the world built and run by women/GNC individuals to attract over 2,000 underserved women, girls, and GNC individuals every year to STEM and creative technology studies that inspire them to amplify their voices and become the innovators of tomorrow. WAM’s award-winning curriculum weaves art and music with science, technology and computer programming and works to close the critical gender gap in creative technology careers.

This year’s WAMcon virtual’s interactive series will feature Nashville producers, engineers, and artists including Academy of Country Music audio engineer of the year nominee, Gena Johnson; music producer/engineer/mixer, Shani Gandhi; Grammy-nominated, double-Platinum artist, Cam; singer-songwriter and host/creator of Color Me Country radio show, Rissi Palmer; recording engineer, Rachael Moore; recording engineer/producer, Leslie Richter; and producer/engineer/keyboardist, Kazuri Arai.

Tickets for WAMcon are available here.

Marty Stuart Announces New Acoustic Album ‘Songs I Sing In The Dark’

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Marty Stuart will release a new 20-song acoustic album, Songs I Sing In The Dark, recorded at his former house outside of Nashville. Stuart will share a song from the album a month, alongside a personal statement about the song’s importance, both personally and in the context of country music.

“The title tells the story,” says Stuart. “I have a long line of songs that range from obscure, originals, to old favorites from various musical worlds that I often sing to myself when I’m alone. Until recently, I had never formally made a list of all the titles. When I did, I saw in those titles so many great songs that need to be remembered and passed down.  There was a mighty congregation of names of profound songwriters whose presence and lyrics are to be cherished. And, looking into those songs I could hear the music of those brilliant musicians, arrangers, and singers who brought those tunes to life, and gave the world reason to love them. In the wake of these revelations, I was inspired to finally go to work on the idea of Songs I Sing in the Dark.”

The five-time Grammy winner released an introduction video with a description of the new album and why he wanted to record it, as well as a lyric video of the first song off the record “Ready For The Times To Get Better,” written by Allen Reynolds.

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“I love the restless wisdom in the words, and those words are shadowed by a lonesome melody that is served up from the blue side of town,” says Stuart. “As the pandemic raged on, ‘Ready for the Times to Get Better’ became my personal theme song. I can’t seem to quit playing it. Several months later, I’m still at it. The title proclaims what every soul on planet earth undoubtable feels. It is the perfect country song and I consider it an honor to sing such words.”

In December of 2020, the Country Music Association announced Stuart would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the Modern Era Artist category alongside Dean Dillon and Hank Williams Jr.

Terry McBride Releases Special ‘Live From The Castle’ EP

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On Friday, March 19, seasoned songwriter Terry McBride released his new Live From The Castle EP with help from his friends Trey Keller and Brandon Hood. Recorded at Nashville’s legendary Castle Recording Studio, the EP features reimagined acoustic versions of tracks from his latest studio album, Rebels & Angels.

“It has a raw and understated quality that doesn’t always happen with a full band and a certain energy that was surprising for a stripped-down, somewhat unplugged trio. It’s not perfect, but each track is a heartfelt and honest performance that I’m proud to share,” says McBride.

Over the past four decades, McBride has seen his fair share of accomplishments, including more than 25 cuts from Brooks & Dunn, as well as tracks recorded by Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire, and more. His band, McBride & The Ride, had a string of top 5 singles in the ‘90s and recently announced that they are reuniting.

McBride’s current single, “Callin’ All Hearts,” hit No. 1 on the Texas Regional Radio Report this week.

Live From The Castle Track List:
1. Callin’ All Hearts – Live
2. Love Me Some Texas – Live
3. She Shows Up – Live

Industry Ink: Anita Cochran, Anacrusis, Rhythmic Rebellion

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Anita Cochran Launches 2021 ‘Love Anchors Concert Series’ 

Anita Cochran. Photo: Shelby Borda

Country singer and breast cancer survivor Anita Cochran is launching the 2021 Love Anchors Concert Series this spring to raise money for her charity, The Love Anchors Fund, to help pay-it-forward to the music industry who helped support her following her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years.

“With the pandemic all but shutting down the touring industry, so many musicians and crew are in financial crisis,” says Cochran. “I know they are turning to the same organizations I did, and I want to help contribute by replenishing the money I was given when I too couldn’t tour.”

The first socially-distanced event of the year, Love Anchors Concert Series; Waves On The Water, will take place on May 15 along the scenic Watts Bar Lake, at the Tennessee National Marina, Resort and Village in East Tennessee. The all-star female lineup will feature Cochran along with Terri Clark, Jamie O’Neal, Brandy Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Emily Brooke. The event will adhere to local COVID-19 safety protocols. Tickets are available here.

 

Anacrusis Hosts All-Female Songwriting Retreat

Pictured (L-R): Sinclair, Daniella Mason, Liz Rogers (Anacrusis), Carrie K, Sarah Troy, Gatlin, Kenna. Photo: House on a Hill Photography

Anacrusis hosted an all-female songwriting retreat celebrating women with a goal to elevate and provide more opportunities for the women in the Nashville pop community.

The retreat took place at lakefront recording studio Sandy Cove Lake House, in conjunction with Six1Five Living. It featured songwriters Carrie K, Daniella Mason, Gatlin, Kenna, Sarah Troy, and Sinclair. Kenna, Gatlin, and Sinclair wrote a song, “Fly Together,” about female empowerment which featured a recap video that was written and produced entirely at the camp in only 6 hours.

“The reality of how much talent and capability was more apparent in this setting & in a way challenged me to push myself to even greater heights,” says Sinclair, Nashville-based writer, artist, and producer.

 

Rhythmic Rebellion To Help Artists Monetize And Grow Fanbase

Entrepreneur, singer/songwriter and founder Greg Allen has launched Rhythmic Rebellion, a new platform that helps artists build and monetize a fanbase in light of plummeting album sales and low royalty streaming rates that has diminished revenue sources for creatives.

Through this platform artists have the potential to increase album sales by bundling the album with karaoke, the Fan Song Mixer, and access to exclusive content in their Artist Penthouse. Rhythmic Rebellion also allows artists to interact build relationships with their fans and it even pays artists $2 for every fan for that signs up for an account on the artist site.

For more information go to rhythmic-rebellion.com/artists.