Heather Luke Elevated To General Manager Of Big Machine/John Varvatos Records

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Heather Luke

Heather Luke has been promoted to General Manager of Big Machine/John Varvatos Records, effective immediately.

Most recently Senior Vice President/Head of Promotion, Luke began at BMLG in April 2018. In her new role, she will continue to cultivate relationships between rock radio and the imprint’s artist roster, which is home to Southern California rockers Badflower, Seattle singer-guitarist Ayron Jones and Chicago alt-rockers Friday Pilots Club.

“Heather Luke is the perfect executive to lead our rock division,” said BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “Her understanding of the intricacies and different iterations of rock radio and DSPs is second to none. Our quick results with Badflower having three consecutive No. 1s at Active Rock and early buzz on Ayron Jones prove it. Much deserved. Turn it up.”

“Heather is such a rock star,” said Varvatos. “She’s an incredible leader who is laser focused on delivering the big wins for the artists, label and radio.”

“I’m thrilled to take on the general manager role helping shape the future of Big Machine/John Varvatos Records,” said Luke. “We have a winning team that I am honored to be a part of. I must thank Scott Borchetta and John Varvatos for their selfless leadership, vision and support. Their passion for music and artist development is infectious. This is an incredible opportunity to make a real difference in the industry and I’m excited to get started.”

‘CMT After Midnite With Cody Alan’ Launches On American Forces Network

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Cody Alan/CMT After Midnite

CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan is joining the American Forces Network, effective today (Aug. 4). The award-winning Premiere Networks country radio show will air weeknights from midnight to 5 a.m. on AFN Today’s Best Country channel.

With the new alliance the show will reach nearly 1,000 U.S. bases globally, as well as 200 U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command ships at sea, and CMT After MidNite will launch the partnership with a special week of programming celebrating service men and women stationed around the world, featuring a lineup of stars including Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Craig Morgan, as well as artists supporting the military community.

“We are incredibly humbled by this opportunity to bring a slice of home to our honorable service men and women, their families and civilian personnel,” said Ashlee McDonald, Executive Producer, CMT Radio Programming & Operations. “Thank you, AFN, for inviting us to join the family on your storied airwaves!”

“American Forces Network Radio is proud to bring CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan to our U.S. military serving overseas, and we thank CMT and Premiere Networks for partnering with AFN Radio to ‘serve those that serve,’” said Tom Arnholt, AFN’s Chief of Radio Operations & Programming.

CMT is a long-time partner of organizations dedicated to giving back to military families, including the USO and Operation Homefront, among others. Both CMT and Cody Alan have produced recent radio and TV shows from Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, in addition to USO stops at bases in Korea, Alaska, and Bahrain.

Weekly Register: The Chicks, Taylor Swift Top Country Albums, Country On-Demand Streaming Charts

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The Chicks

The Chicks hold the No. 1 spot on the country albums chart for a second week, with Gaslightermoving 22.5K in total consumption, though the total does mark a 73% drop in sales for the project from its debut last week, according to Nielsen Music.

Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get is at No. 2 with 21.9, followed by Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me at No. 3 with 21.8K in total consumption. Combs’ This One’s For You is at No. 4 with 19K, followed by Sam Hunt‘s Southside at No. 5 with 14K.

Female artists dominate the Country On-Demand Streaming chart, with Taylor Swift‘s “betty” at No. 1 with 13 million streams this week. Gabby Barrett‘s smash hit “I Hope” is at No. 2 with 7.9 million streams. Sam Hunt is the lone male artist in the Top 5 this week, with “Hard To Forget” earning 7.3 million streams. Maddie & Tae‘s “Die From A Broken Heart” is at No. 4 with 7 million streams, followed by last week’s No. 1 country radio hit, Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird,” which earned 7 million streams to round out this week’s Top 5.

Submissions Now Open For MusicRow’s 2020 Publisher Issue Directory

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New submissions for inclusion in the company directory for the upcoming MusicRow Publisher Issue print magazine are now being accepted through Aug. 14.

Along with the publisher directory with contact information for Nashville’s publishing community, the Publisher Issue also features exclusive editorial content pertaining to music publishing. To submit your company for consideration, complete and submit this form. For questions, please contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com or 615-349-2171.

To reserve ad space in the 2020 Publisher issue, contact srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here.

Become a subscribed member of MusicRow here to make sure you don’t miss the annual Publisher Issue.

Phillip White Inks Co-Pub Deal With FAME Publishing, Attaboy Music Publishing

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Phillip White has signed a co-publishing deal with FAME Publishing Co. and White’s Attaboy Music Publishing Worldwide.

White, a writer of three No. 1 hits and an ACM Song of the Year winner, was impacted by Shoals songwriting masters Donnie Fritts and Spooner Oldham as a young man before moving to Nashville. He spent nearly 30 years writing hits for Rascal Flatts (“I’m Moving On”), Reba McEntire (“I’m A Survivor,” “He Gets That From Me”), Blake Shelton (“Nobody But Me”) and George Strait (“If It Wasn’t For Texas”). Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Wynonna and many more have recorded White’s songs.

“I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time,” says Rodney Hall, Co-President of FAME Publishing Co. “I’m happy to have him home.”

White has recently written and recorded an album, Movin’ On Sessions Vol. 2, at FAME Recording Studios with producer James LeBlanc. The album features many legendary musicians and special guests, and many of the new songs on the album are part of the catalogue that FAME Publishing Co. has acquired.

Microsoft Explores Acquisition Of TikTok

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On Sunday (Aug. 2), Microsoft announced it will continue its intent to acquire popular video platform TikTok from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

In a statement, Microsoft said the company’s CEO Satya Nadella had spoken with President Donald J. Trump, and “is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States.” Over the weekend, President Trump had told reporters he planned to ban the app in the United States.

In response, Microsoft says it is “committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” and has said it will complete discussions with TikTok parent company ByteDance no later than Sept. 15, 2020.

ByteDance and Microsoft have provided a notice of their intent to explore a preliminary proposal that would involve a purchase of the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and would result in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok in these markets.

Microsoft’s statement also says the company “would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”

According to a New York Times report on Monday (Aug. 3), Trump said that Microsoft can move forward to pursue the acquisition. He stated that TikTok would shut down on Sept. 15 unless Microsoft or another company purchased it.

“It can’t be controlled for security reasons by China,” Trump said according to the New York Times report, adding that he was supportive if Microsoft or another “very American” company purchased TikTok instead. “A very substantial portion of that price is going to have to come into the Treasury of the United States, because we’re making it possible for this deal to happen,” Trump said.

Read Microsoft’s full statement here.

Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae To Lead Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration Concerts

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Song Suffragettes has teamed up with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the constitutional right to vote on Aug. 26, 1920.

The Commission will be sponsoring Song Suffragettes’ shows at The Listening Room Café on Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 along with YouTube livestreams from those shows. August shows will feature Lindsay Ell (Aug. 3), Maddie & Tae (Aug. 10), Ashley McBryde (Aug. 17) and Runaway June (Aug. 24) and special guests joining members of the Song Suffragettes’ ever-revolving and expanding roster which currently consists of over 260 female singer-songwriters.

The livestream series Live From Nashville: Song Suffragettes will be available for free via the Song Suffragettes’ YouTube channel, and a limited number of tickets are available to attend these shows in person and can be purchased at listeningroomcafe.com.

“The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is thrilled to partner with Song Suffragettes in celebration of the congressionally designated National Women’s Suffrage Month in August 2020,” said WSCC Executive Director Anna Laymon. “Music holds an important place in the history of women’s fight for the vote — like in all social movements, music helped to inspire and unify the suffragists who were dedicated to expanding American democracy. These activists not only secured the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, but they also broke barriers and opened up new opportunities for women for generations to come. By working to ensure talented women artists are represented and celebrated in the world of country music today, Song Suffragettes carries forward the legacy of the courageous trailblazers who fought for women’s right to vote 100 years ago. It is a privilege to join with Song Suffragettes to honor the sacrifice and courage of the suffragists.”

Based in D.C. and funded by Congress, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is conducting suffrage- inspired digital programming to commemorate August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month. The Commission is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical federal agency with multiple initiatives.

“For over six years, Song Suffragettes has been fighting the good fight to support underrepresented female voices in music,” said Todd Cassetty, founder of Song Suffragettes. “We named Song Suffragettes as an obvious nod to the fearless women who faced a restrictive government and fought for seventy-two years to earn the right to vote. So it is a true honor to partner with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and be the musical component of their celebration of the 19th Amendment’s centennial.”

Jeff Hoag Signs On To 650 AM WSM As Host Of ‘WSM At Night With Jeff Hoag’

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Jeff Hoag. Photo: WSM

Jeff Hoag, who has been a regular fill-in and friend of legendary radio personality Eddie Stubbs, will officially take over the night show at WSM Radio following Stubbs’ retirement. Hoag will host WSM At Night with Jeff Hoag from 7 p.m. until midnight, beginning tonight (Monday, Aug. 3).

Hoag said, “My dream in life was to work for WSM Radio and keep the tradition of classic country music alive. The fact that I get to live my dream and carry out this mission is gratifying beyond words. Thank you for the opportunity to do what I love and to spread the glorious gospel of country music across the world.”

WSM Director of Content and Programming J. Patrick Tinnell said, “WSM at Night is exactly where Jeff belongs. I along with the rest of his radio family, can’t wait to see how he develops his own live nightly show, while keeping a long-standing tradition of classic country at night on WSM. I know our audience will be as proud of Jeff as I am.”

Hoag was born in upstate New York and made his way to Nashville in 2003. His mission has always been to share his love of traditional country music with those who already appreciate it, but especially those who may have never given it a chance. An avid collector and historian of music, Hoag is also a songwriter, musician, script writer, food enthusiast and baseball fan.

Lifelong Friends Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris Reunite For Opry Show

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Pictured: Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell. Photo: courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer

Rodney Crowell,  Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris made some Opry magic Saturday night (Aug. 1) when the three stepped into the circle together to perform on the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,935th consecutive Saturday night broadcast.

Between the three of them, the music legends have amassed a whopping 36 Grammy Awards and 109 nominations. Harris kicked off the show with “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” from her debut album Pieces of the Sky, and shared that it was the first song she ever sang on the Grand Ole Opry when she debuted in 1975. She reflected on performing it that night with Charlie Louvin, who had written and recorded the classic with his brother Ira.

The rich history and deep friendship between Crowell, Gill and Harris spans almost 50 years and was clearly evident as the three storytellers often found themselves going off their intended set lists to harmonize and collaborate on each other’s songs, including Harris’ “Out Under the Stars” and the Crowell-penned “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.”

Crowell performed “Still Learning How To Fly,” and “Bluebird Wine,” which he wrote and Harris recorded for her debut album, and together Crowell and Harris performed “You Can’t Say We Didn’t Try” from their 2015 duets album The Traveling Kind. Gill kicked off his performance with “Oklahoma Borderline,” which he co-wrote with Crowell and Guy Clark. When he performed Crowell’s “Till I Gain Control Again,” he described the tune as “the song that bonded a friendship that has lasted almost 44 years,” and he brought his friend Crowell to tears as he performed the Crowell-penned “Song For the Life” for Crowell’s upcoming birthday, with Crowell admitting, “For as long as I’ve known you, you can still make me cry.”

The three friends closed their Opry show with another Crowell-penned hit, “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.”

BBR Music Group/Music Knox Records Sign Tim Montana

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Pictured (L-R): Michael Knox, Tim Montana. Photo: Spidey Smith

BBR Music Group has added Tim Montana to its roster. The singer-songwriter joins Music Knox Records, Michael Knox‘s partnership imprint with BBR Music Group/BMG.

“What hit me first about Tim was his music. When I found out about all the other things going on in his world, it was just icing on the cake,” said Knox. “What I love the most about Tim is that you feel his life, good or bad, through his music. It didn’t take me long to see how personal this all was to him and why he has no plan B. Tim is all in and so am I.”

“I’ve always had the objective to do things differently and out work everybody and couldn’t be more thrilled to find a label home with the same thought process. Knox brought me to a whole new level in the studio and challenged me to pull out the big guns as a writer,” Montana said. “I couldn’t be more honored to join a roster of some of the best and most diverse talent in our genre. They’ve got the rocket and I’ve got the fuel so let’s ride this sled to the moon!”

“Tim is the consummate professional who knows his brand and is building an impressive business. It’s a lifestyle, not just a music career,” said Jon Loba, EVP BBR Music Group. “I can’t wait to see what happens when we combine that with Knox and his vision for the music.”

Montana recently joined several friends including Charlie Sheen, Lee Brice, Chris Kirkpatrick, Michael Ray, Chase Rice and more for the video for “Quarantine,” penned by Monatna and Mat Best. Montana’s music has also been used as the theme song for World Series Championship runs, NHL games, NASCAR telecasts and action movies and has earned him spots opening for Kid Rock and performing alongside the Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl.

In addition to his music career, Montana has his own show, “Tim Montana’s Wild Side,” on Velocity Outdoor Channel. He is also involved in products including Polaris, Black Rifle Coffee, Fender, Gerber, Giant Bicycles, Indian Motorcycles, K&N, Kicker Performance Audio, Orange Amplifiers, Snap On, Traeger Grills and more.