BREAKING: 56th ACM Awards To Be Held In Nashville

/by

The Academy of Country Music, dick clark productions, and CBS announced today (Feb. 16) that the 56th ACM Awards will be heading back to Nashville, Tennessee.

The televised event will broadcast live from three iconic country music venues: the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, April 18 at 8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

“We’re thrilled to return to Music City’s most iconic venues as we come together on April 18th to celebrate the best in Country Music, back in our normal awards cycle,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “A huge thank you to the city of Nashville, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and Bluebird Cafe for welcoming us back to Nashville, where we can look out for the safety of our artists while shining a spotlight on this vibrant city after a tough 2020.”

Last year marked the first time in Academy of Country Music Awards history that the show was held in Nashville. More details regarding performances will be revealed in the coming months.

In support of the city of Nashville, ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, will donate $25,000 to the Music City, Inc. foundation for their Nashville Christmas Day Explosion Relief Fund, with funds earmarked for local musicians out of work due to damage to venues.

“ACM Lifting Lives is proud to support the city of Nashville, our home of the 56th ACM Awards, through a $25,000 donation to Music City, Inc foundation for the Nashville Christmas Day Explosion Relief Fund,” said Lyndsay Cruz, ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director. “The impact of the explosion was felt throughout the music community, and we hope this donation can help alleviate some of the burden on the community.”

The ACM will follow guidelines set forth by national, state and local health officials during the production of the ACM Awards, along with additional safety measures to be instated by dick clark productions and the Academy of Country Music.

Track45 Plots ‘Big Dreams’ For New EP Out February 26

/by

Track45 is set to release the second of their introduction EPs, Big Dreams, which follows their fall debut, Small Town, on February 26 via Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group.

Big Dreams combines tracks from Small Town with one new original and a special cover of Dolly Parton’s “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning.” The five-song collection also features the sibling trio’s debut single “Met Me Now,” set to impact country radio on March 1. The following day, the band will be featured as Facebook’s Artist of the Day.

Fresh off the heels of their six-week radio tour, the band will kick off their first official Country Radio Seminar this week performing as part of Amazon Music Presents: ‘Country Heat’ at CRS. They will also be performing an industry-wide live show this Friday after CRS concludes at 4 p.m. CT.

Big Dreams Track Listing:
1. “Met Me Now” (Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Jonny Price, J Hart)
2. “Little Bit More “ (Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Audra Mae)
3. “Come On In” (Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Gabby Mooney)
4. “Me + You” (Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Charlie Handsome)
5. “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” (Dolly Parton Cover)

MusicRow’s 19th Annual CountryBreakout Awards Winners

/by

MusicRow Magazine is revealing the winners of the 19th annual CountryBreakout Awards on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, starting at 9:00 a.m. today (Feb. 16).

Click here to see the CountryBreakout Awards schedule of announcements.

Each winner will be featured in MusicRow‘s Country Radio & Streaming issue, also out today (Feb. 16).

The winners for the 2021 CountryBreakout Awards will be updated live below:

Reporter of the Year – WIFE’s Ted Cramer

Songwriter of the Year – Josh Osborne

Label of the Year – Capitol Records Nashville

Independent Artist of the Year – Cody Jinks

Breakout Artist of the Year – Parker McCollum

Group/Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line

Female Artist of the Year – Miranda Lambert

Male Artist of the Year – Luke Combs

Wallen, Osborne, Gorley Rule ‘MusicRow’ Top Songwriter Chart

/by

Morgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer

Morgan Wallen returns to the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, after being bested by Josh Osborne last week. Osborne now sits No. 2. Ashley Gorley remains at No. 3 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Wallen is held atop the chart with co-writer credits on 11 of his own songs, including: “7 Summers,” “Bandaid On A Bullet Hole,” “Dangerous,” “Livin’ The Dream,” More Than My Hometown,” “Neon Eyes,” “Only Thing That’s Gone,” “Somebody’s Problem,” “Still Goin Down,” “Wasted On You,” and “Wonderin’ Bout The Wind.” Osborne’s co-written “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts), “Next Girl” (Carly Pearce), and “7 Summers” and “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen) keep him at No. 2.

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.

 

Kip Moore Celebrates ‘Wild World Deluxe’ Live At The Ryman

/by

Kip Moore performs at the Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 12. Photo: Catherine Powell

Kip Moore marked the release of his enhanced album Wild World Deluxe on Friday (Feb. 12) with a performance at The Ryman in Nashville. He celebrated with fans at the in-person, sold-out, socially distanced concert which was also available online as a ticketed global livestream.

During the 26-song set, Moore shared insight into each of his four studio albums to date, which he performed chronologically throughout the evening.

Kip Moore and Ashley McBryde perform “Janie Blu” at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Catherine Powell

When the singer reached his most recent record, Wild World, he invited songstress Ashley McBryde to the stage to join him in performing fan favorite “Janie Blu.”

Recently released, Wild World Deluxe includes four new tracks, totaling 17 songs on the collection that enhances his album released in May 2020.

The concert event benefitted ACM Lifting Lives, with $1 from every ticket sold being donated to the cause.

Kip Moore and band onstage at the Ryman. Photo: Catherine Powell

Joey Floyd Foundation Celebrates Memory of Toby Keith’s Longtime Guitarist

/by

The Joey Floyd Foundation is honoring the memory of Toby Keith’s longtime guitarist and fiddle player with the 5 Days / 5 Years / 5 Giveaways online event, which kicked off on Sunday, Feb. 14. Floyd passed away from throat cancer on Valentine’s Day 2016.

The late musician’s widow, Laurin Floyd, is organizing the initiative. As part of this week’s tribute, the foundation seeks donations to further its mission of giving scholarships to students interested in pursuing music, as well as financial assistance to struggling artists.

Below is the listing of events:
Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day – Tribute from Joey’s widow, Laurin Floyd, and the announcement of the full week of events.
Feb. 15 – TEXAS! – Sister Jill will lead a tribute from Joey’s home state of Texas.
Feb. 16 – The Joey Floyd Foundation Tribute by recipients and fans.
Feb. 17– A conversation with members from Toby Keith’s Easy Money Band.
Feb. 18 – JAM NIGHT LIVE! Join in for the final day with a performance by Laurin Floyd + special guests. Donations of $5 are encouraged and all proceeds go to further the mission of the Joey Floyd Foundation.

* NOTE: Each event will be posted on the foundation’s Facebook page at 5:00 p.m. CST during the week

Sooner’s Priceless Answers From Publishers Event Set For February 25

/by

(L-R): Courtney Allen, Jeffrey Nelson

Sooner, the online platform for songwriters and publishers, is hosting the virtual event Priceless Answers From Publishers with Courtney Allen and Jeffrey Nelson on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. CT. Allen is Creative Director at BMG, and Nelson is a longtime independent songplugger and publisher.

The free Zoom event will be hosted by Nancy Deckant, Founder and CEO of Sooner.

The interactive event seeks to connect songwriters and publishers discussing how they select the songwriters they work with, the types of writers they are looking for, and a live Q&A session. Three deserving songwriters will be referred to Allen and Nelson by Sooner.

“I believe being competitive in this business involves being on the continual lookout for extraordinary songs and remarkable writers,” said Nelson. “New platforms and technological approaches that accelerate how fast those songs and writers can come to one’s attention is a major plus.”

Details at Discoversooner.com/events.

Kip Moore, Caylee Hammack On Live Nation’s Country Conversations

/by

Kip Moore and Caylee Hammack are set to appear Monday (Feb. 15) on Live Nation Presents: Country Conversations, when the web series returns at 6 p.m CT.

Hosted by Brian O’Connell, President of Country Touring and creator of Live Nation’s family of country music festivals, the livestream event will be available to watch on the Facebook pages of Watershed Music And Camping Festival, Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, and Faster Horses Music Festival. Fans can also view it online on Live Nation’s homepage.

The series gives fans a special look into artists’ daily lives when they are not on the road, with previous guests including Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Lindsay Ell and Travis Denning.

 

 

Lainie Allbee Retires From Martin, Allbee, Miller, Bryan & Associates

/by

Lainie Allbee

Lainie Allbee, partner of Martin, Allbee, Miller, Bryan & Associates, has retired after 36 years serving as business manager to artists including Brad Paisley, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and many more.

Her retirement was effective December 31, 2020.

Working alongside business partner Kirke Martin, who passed away in December 2020, they built Martin, Allbee & Associates into one of the top business management companies in Music City. Over the years, their two-person staff grew to nine full-time employees, representing clients including T. Graham Brown, Tammy Wynette and Keith Whitley, as well as a sizable roster of Christian music artists.

Allbee first joined Martin-Cook as an Administrative Assistant in 1985 and climbed the ranks of the company while completing her undergraduate and Master’s degrees at Trevecca Nazarene University.

In 2002 she was made a full partner, where she handled client relations, assisted the account management staff, and managed and promoted the business.

Allbee mentored Breanne Miller and Elaine Bryan, who eventually became partners in the company.

Allbee said, “I have been blessed with an interesting career in the music industry and worked with an array of creative souls. My awesome partners, Elaine and Breanne will be missed, along with the rest of our wonderful staff. Here’s to the new generation steering MAMBA into the future.”

Added Miller, “I have had the joy of working beside Lainie for 20 years, and it truly was a pleasure. Lainie always wanted us to succeed and did everything in her power to help make it happen! I am honored to have been able to call her a business partner and a good friend.”

“I am grateful for the constant support Lainie has provided to me since I started working with her in 1999. Her positive attitude is an attribute I have always admired and found truly inspiring. I wish her only the best and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement!” said Bryan.

Allbee has been a sponsor of the SOURCE Awards, MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row event, We Run the Row 5K benefiting Musicians On Call and Women In Music Business, and Music Health Alliance’s The First And The Worst Songwriters event.

She looks forward to continuing her community initiatives, which in the past have included serving as a board member and president of both SOURCE and the Music City Chapter of the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance, as well as a board member of the W.O. Smith School of Music.

She can be reached at lallbee@comcast.net.

Exit/In Property Listed For Sale

/by

The Elliston Place property which is home to the Exit/In is up for sale. Venue owner Chris Cobb is working with Grubb Properties to make a bid for the property. If he is able to purchase the land, it would help solidify the future of the legendary club.

Grubb has a live venue recovery fund in which it partners with independent venue operators to help them own the property on which their venue resides.

The Exit/In Tweeted: “We’re thrilled to be working with Grubb Properties Live Venue Recovery Fund and have the opportunity to own our buildings. Operator ownership is critical to the long-term health of the independent venue ecosystem. Our dream has Exit/In anchoring the Rock Block for another 50 years.”

The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

News of the property being listed for sale was first reported by Tennessee Lookout.