Shelby Kennedy Tapped To Lead Expansion Of Amazing Radio USA

/by

Pictured clockwise from top left: Paul Campbell, Shelby Kennedy, Mike Savage and Erin Frankenheimer. Photos courtesy of Amazing.

Online music platform Amazing has announced a new North American senior team as it continues its expansion of Amazing Radio USA.

Leading the charge is longtime Nashville music business player Shelby Kennedy as President, North America. Joining him is New Orleans-based Vice President Erin Frankenheimer, and L.A.-based Director of Talent and Programming Mike Savage. All three formerly served in Entertainment Relations for TuneCore.

They will work with artists and labels, hire new DJs, and continue to grow the re-vamped CMJ brand, including CMJ Music Marathon, which was purchased by Amazing in 2020.

“I’ve known about Amazing for almost ten years,” said Kennedy. “What it does for artists has always been exceptional, in terms of offering promotion and a route to a real career. Now, with the enhanced service offerings, new benefits, and more outlets for content, it’s time to ‘ramp up.’ My colleagues and I are excited to support America’s emerging artists, bringing their music the attention it deserves.”

The announcement comes alongside increases in Amazing’s promotional services to artists, with the launch of un-curated audio stream First Spin and video channel First Look augmenting Amazing Radio UK, Amazing Radio USA, CMJ Music Marathon, and the video strand One Night Stand.

In January 2021, the company launched Amazing Artists, offering independent artists and labels unlimited lossless uploads to their digital locker, enhanced profile pages, private URLs, unlimited video links, and the chance to be featured in the company’s audio and video channels, priced at about $3 per month.

“We have been promoting independent artists from the UK for more than a decade,” said Founder & CEO, Paul Campbell. “The acquisition of CMJ, launch of our US radio station, new video programming, and now the enhanced digital service to musicians, show we are very serious about becoming a major force in the USA too. I’m incredibly excited that three of the music industry’s finest are now on board to help us make a difference for working musicians.”

Reach team members at firstname@amazing.us.

Morris Light & Sound To Be Acquired By Solotech

/by

Solotech, a global leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology, is acquiring Nashville-based Morris Light & Sound.

The acquisition will strengthen Solotech’s live productions and systems integration divisions in the U.S., expand its already extensive inventory, and add to its team of industry professionals. This synergy will maximize Morris Light & Sound customers’ access to a larger pool of expertise and state-of-the-art technology around the globe.

Morris Light & Sound was formed nearly 30 years ago by longtime manager Dale Morris to outfit tours for country hitmakers Alabama. Morris created a unique business model that not only represented and managed artists, but also provided full production services all under one roof. “The audiences that Alabama drew were unprecedented in country music at that time,” Morris said. “We needed a sound system that would project their music over the sounds of the crowd, so I turned to an audio company in L.A. who configured sound systems for rock groups which was what we needed. I purchased the system out of necessity for Alabama and that’s how we got started in production.”

“We are excited to have the Morris brands acquired by Solotech, a highly respected company in the industry,” said Zack Morris, COO of Morris Enterprises. “Our company cultures and values such as collaboration and exceptional performance complement each other, and we’re confident our clients will continue to receive an elevated experience.”

Solotech has collaborated with top artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and venues like The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Bridgestone Arena.

Joe Lasher Signs With Warner Chappell Music Nashville And KJM Music

/by

L-R): Kelly Janson (KJM), Lasher, Will Overton (WCM), Ben Vaughn (WCM)

Joe Lasher has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Kelly Janson‘s KJM Music.

Hailing from Weaverville, North Carolina, Lasher’s sound is influenced by genres ranging from traditional country and gospel, to rock and heavy metal. Lasher has over 500 shows under his belt, and has shared the stage with Brett Young, Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, and more. Last year the emerging singer-songwriter released “Messed Up,” which he co-wrote along with a video that premiered on CMT.com.

KJM Music and WCM previously signed songwriter Mitch Ogelsby, who landed a two week No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for Chris Janson’s “Done” last August.

Josh Turner To Perform First Virtual Livestream Show From Ole Red

/by

Josh Turner will perform his first-ever intimate livestream concert on the platform Sessions in front of a limited, socially-distanced live audience at Ole Red in Nashville on March 10. The Sessions livestream global exclusive event will be accessible in over 230 countries.

“It’s very exciting to see the growing number of artists embracing these hybrid shows,” said Tim Westergren, Sessions co-founder and former founder and CEO of Pandora. “Josh can simultaneously provide the intimate experience of a venue with limited capacity while also reaching a global audience. We believe this will become a standard practice for artists as they discover the power of our platform to engage virtual fans, drive substantial additional revenue and amplify the impact of local performances.”

“Because of platforms like Sessions Live, myself and all artists have the unique opportunity to connect with fans on an intimate and genuine level–all over the world. We’ve all had to cancel tour dates not only domestically but internationally as well. I’m thankful for the people who understand the tech side of things and continue to present opportunities for artists to connect with fans and continue to do what we love during these times,” said Turner.

Turner, who has sold more than 8 million units and topped more than 3 billion in global streaming, recently celebrated his 150th performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Other artists who have used Sessions for their shows include Hank Williams Jr., Lee Brice, Jon Langston, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, The Shadowboxers, Mason Ramsey, Scotty McCreery, and Temecula Road.

Tickets are on sale here.

Dan Auerbach Plans Release of Recordings From Late Singer Tony Joe White

/by

A new album of never-before-heard Tony Joe White tunes, Smoke from the Chimney, is set to be released by Easy Eye Sound on May 7.

The nine-song project, produced by Dan Auerbach and rounded out by Nashville studio musicians, got its start as a number of raw voice and guitar demos from White’s home studio before being transformed into full band arrangements harkening back to the albums White recorded in the late ’60s and early ’70s in Nashville and Muscle Shoals.

A track from the project, “Boot Money” has been released along with an animated video from director Robert Schober which colorfully places White and Auerbach in the recording studio to kick off the tune before following along while White lives out the song’s storyline.

YouTube video

Among the musicians on the album are legendary keyboardist Bobby Wood (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett), Nashville pedal steel ace Paul Franklin, next-generation guitar hero Marcus King, and Grammy and ACM award-winning fiddler Stuart Duncan, just to name a few.

Since meeting White backstage at an Australian music festival in 2009, Auerbach sought to make a record with him. For nearly a decade, White’s son Jody tried to line up session time for them but Tony Joe demurred. “For one reason or another, my Dad would never just want to go into a studio and write with somebody, or go work with somebody,” said Jody. “He liked to do it at his place, and his way, and it turned out how it turned out, you know what I mean? So, this album really all worked out perfectly. He was making these tracks for Dan all along, but we just didn’t know it.”

“Jody and I had been talking about this record for so long, and it didn’t happen for a reason,” said Auerbach. “It’s because it wasn’t supposed to happen. I was in a nervous cast of characters until the last few years, and if you’d given it to me any earlier, it wouldn’t have been right. I felt like all these people on the record were the right people and they laid in there behind Tony Joe. It felt really magical when we were making it happen. These songs feel like a collection to me and they all seem to work together, in a weird way, even though they’re so different. There’s some heartbreaking ballads and some really raunchy carnal blues. But it all works together like scenes of a movie.”

Smoke from the Chimney Track List:

Smoke from the Chimney
Boot Money
Del Rio, You’re Making Me Cry
Listen to Your Song
Over You
Scary Stories
Bubba Jones
Someone Is Crying
Billy

Jesse Frasure Enters Top Three On ‘MusicRow’ Top Songwriter Chart

/by

Jesse Frasure breaks into the top three this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He is a co-writer on Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes,” and Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage.”

Josh Osborne moves back up to No. 1 this week, with co-writer credit on Morgan Wallen’s “7 Summers” and “Sand In My Boots,” as well as Rascal Flatts’s “How They Remember You,” Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” Carly Pearce’s “Next Girl,” and Darius Rucker’s recent No. 1 “Beers And Sunshine.”

Ashley Gorley is at No. 2 with Morgan Wallen’s “Warning” and “Sand In My Boots,” Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” and Cole Swindell’s “Single Saturday Night.”

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Spotify Reveals Upgrades: 80+ New Markets, HiFi Tier, New Creator Tools

/by

Spotify hosted the virtual event Stream On Monday (Feb. 22) to discuss its new tools for creators, international expansion, new podcasts, and a hi-fi listening option.

Many celebrities participated in the event including Khalid, FINNEAS and Billie Eilish, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Halsey, Bruce Springsteen, President Barack Obama, and Justin Bieber, who closed out the livestream with a new version of his hit “Anyone.”

Among the highlights, Spotify announced expansion to more than 80 new markets and more than 36 new languages. It also revealed that premium subscribers will have the ability to upgrade to CD-quality, lossless audio in select markets later this year with a new subscription plan, Spotify HiFi.

New creator tools include upgrades to:
• Marquee, a sponsored song recommendation program
• Discovery Mode, an audience development tool which allows prioritization of tracks within Spotify’s algorithm
• Canvas, short looping visuals attached to a track (see Halsey’s video below)
• RADAR, the global emerging artist program
• Spotify Clips, which features artists in short videos on a playlist experience

YouTube video

Upgrades for podcasters include an Anchor + WordPress partnership, video podcasts which combine audio and visual storytelling, and new models for monetization.

Among the new podcasts announced on the livestream is one pairing former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen for Renegades: Born in the USA, an eight-episode series exploring race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America.

President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen have joined up for the eight-episode podcast ‘Renegades: Born in the USA.’

According to the company, it paid more than $5 billion to rights holders in 2020, and its library contains more than 70 million tracks, 4.5 billion playlists, and more than 2 million podcasts, made by over eight million creators.

Oh Boy Records Turns 40

/by

Oh Boy Records, home to music by the late songwriting icon John Prine, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a series of special releases and events.

To commemorate the milestone, Oh Boy will share a new documentary series chronicling the label’s rich history and legacy via its YouTube page. Additionally, Oh Boy will roll out new releases from Tré Burt and Dan Reeder, as well as a special edition John Prine 7-inch box set, Fair & Square on vinyl. There will be exclusive new merchandise, special curated playlists, outdoor pop-up events and more.

Each week the label will celebrate a different album or artist from its extensive catalogue. The series kicks off Wednesday, Feb. 24 highlighting The Bis-Quits.

Founded in 1981 by Prine, and his longtime manager, the late Al Bunetta, Oh Boy says it is the country’s second oldest artist-owned independent label, and the oldest in Nashville.

It continues today as a vital part of Nashville’s independent music community with the recent signings of emerging artists Burt, Arlo McKinley and Kelsey Waldon.

Prine’s widow and President of Oh Boy, Fiona Whelan Prine shares, “As long as there are people who want to listen to good music, who will value the singer-songwriter then we will keep on going.”

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Prine’s landmark self-titled debut album, featuring the songs “Hello In There,” “Paradise,” “Sam Stone” and “Angel From Montgomery.” In celebration, Oh Boy will release a special anniversary edition of the album.

Kelly Price To Release New Album ‘Grace’ For Motown Gospel

/by

Kelly Price has signed with Motown Gospel in a joint venture with SANG GIRL! Inc.

Price is currently readying the release of her new gospel project, Grace, due out on April 2. The six-track EP is available for pre-order, with the lead single, “Grace,” and an accompanying lyric video out now. Price poured her heart into the new album, and used it as a healing tool after losing her grandfather early in the 2020 pandemic, followed by the sudden passing of her mother at the end of the year.

The release of Grace comes 15 years after Price’s acclaimed gospel album, This Is Who I Am, hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Gospel Albums chart and landed in the top ten of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

“From her iconic vocals to her vast songwriting catalog, Kelly Price’s contributions to hip-hop, R&B and gospel music cannot be overstated,” said EJ Gaines, Co-Executive Director, Motown Gospel. “We’re excited to partner with her as she shares her craft, and her heart, with the world.”

“Whatever side of me that people have loved through the years, be it R&B or gospel, they are going to get all of that on this album,” Price said. “I let my team know that I needed to get back to work to finish this project and get my message out. I couldn’t imagine going through 2020 without having a foundation of faith and a strong belief in God.”

 

Nashville-Based 8 Pound Gorilla Records Specializes In Family Music

/by

A new record label specializing in children’s and family music has launched in Nashville. 8 Pound Gorilla Records is a division of the noted comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Media.

8 Pound Gorilla Records has tapped Kenny Curtis (SiriusXM Kids Place Live) to handle A&R, and Ed Rivadavia as Head of Marketing. 800 Pound Gorilla Media Head of Music Luke Youngblom handles that role at both labels.

8 Pound Gorilla has scheduled releases by Genevieve Goings (known for her work with Disney Jr.), comedian-musician Mike Phirman, pop songwriting duo Rabbit!, and Sesame Street songwriter Erica Rabner. In the fall of 2020, it released music by Australia’s Formidable Vegetable and Grammy-nominee Frances England.

Curtis said, “These are artists who go way beyond ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ when they write songs for kids. These are honest, well-crafted songs that speak to kids in their world today. Family dynamics are changing as millennials become parents, and there’s a new appetite for music and content that families can share. For artists, the possibilities of working in this genre are endless, and we give them free rein to imagine and create their own ‘8 pounds’ of fun.”

Also signed to the label are award winners Elliott Park, Tim Kubart, SaulPaul, The Lucky Band, RAII & Whitney and DJ WillyWow.

Youngblom said, “The children’s music genre is clearly untapped. With many talented artists not yet recognized in the mainstream, we hope to change that. We are developing a nimble indie approach to this niche genre, and we will individualize our process with each artist as we grow this space, releasing original music that only a few major labels have been able to undertake.”

The comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Media was founded by Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman, and is home to Marc Maron, George Lopez, Kathleen Madigan, Affion Crockett and Kevin Hart’s LOL Records.