Halfway To Hazard Signs With Absolute Publicity

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Pictured (L-R): F3 Entertainment’s Ken Madson, Halfway to Hazard’s David Tolliver and Chad Warrix, and Absolute Publicity’s Don Murry Grubbs.

Country music duo Halfway to Hazard has signed on with Absolute Publicity for exclusive public relations representation.

“Halfway to Hazard has some great new music and we’re excited to add a company with Absolute Publicity’s expertise and work ethic to the team that’s being built,” says F3 Entertainment’s Ken Madson.

Absolute Publicity’s Don Murry Grubbs adds, “We’re going to have a lot of fun working with these incredibly talented boys from Kentucky. We’ll have more news on their latest project very soon. Welcome aboard, fellas!

Halfway to Hazard is composed of singer-songwriters David Tolliver and Chad Warrix. The band is co-managed by Josh Bleidt (Three Sheets to the Win) and Ken Madson (F3 Entertainment). Buddy Lee Attractions represents the duo for live bookings.

Bobby Bare To Release New Album In May: ‘Things Change’

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Country Music Hall of Famer and GRAMMY® award-winner Bobby Bare will release Things Change on May 26. The album is Bare’s first studio project in five years and is available for pre-sale now at BobbyBare.com. All CD’s purchased through Bare’s website will be autographed.

Things Change will feature 10 tracks written by Bare, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark and the producer of the project, hit singer-songwriter Max T. Barnes. It also features a collaboration with Chris Stapleton.

“This is a special collection of songs to me, not just another record, said Bobby Bare. “Great songs from Mary Gauthier, a song I co-wrote with Guy Clark that turned out to be his last and a song that my buddy Hoyt Axton inspired me to write called ‘Things Change.’ That’s the title of the album and the first single. Things do change but my love for songwriters and the fans never, ever will!”

Things Change will be released by Hypermedia Nashville and BFD through RED Distribution.

Aaron Watson’s Big Label Records Adds Staff Members

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Aaron Watson‘s Big Label Records has announced the appointment of several promotion executives. Tony Morreale is named Head/Promotion along with Gwen Foster as the Director of West Coast promotion. Additionally, Brad Helton and Greg McCarn have been hired as contracted consultants. The label staff will report to Gino Genaro, who heads up Watson’s label operations in addition to all facets of his career.

Watson will continue to use Grassroots Promotions as well as Texas Record Chick Promotions’ Tami Millspaugh. Thirty Tigers/Sony RED remains as the distribution partner for Watson’s albums.

Watson was named the 2016 MusicRow Independent Artist of the Year at the CountryBreakout Awards this past February.

BMI Execs Bradley Collins, David Levin To Speak At 2017 SXSW

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Pictured (L-R): David Levin, Bradley Collins

BMI executives Bradley Collins and David Levin are set to speak during SXSW 2017.

Levin, who serves as VP, Digital Licensing at BMI, will take part in the discussion Music & Commerce: Licensing Music For Social Media. The event will take place Thursday, March 16 at 2:40 p.m. at SXSW Austin Convention Center, room 10B.

Collins, who serves as Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI’s Nashville office, will take part in mentoring sessions. The sessions will cover topics including performance rights, songwriting royalties and publishing. The event takes place Thursday, March 16 at 12:30 p.m. at SXSW Austin Convention Center Room 8AB.

For more, visit schedule.sxsw.com.

Cole Swindell’s “Middle Of A Memory” Celebrated In Nashville

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Pictured: (L-R): back row: Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren. Front row: Producer Michael Carter, ASCAP songwriter Ashley Gorley, BMI songwriter/artist Cole Swindell, ASCAP songwriter Zach Crowell, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen.

Warner Music Nashville hosted a celebration at their office for Cole Swindell’s “Middle Of Memory” on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

BMI’s MaryAnn Keen welcomed the crowd on behalf of their partner,Pinnacle Bank, while ASCAP’s Beth Brinker recognized First Tennessee Bank.

Keen boasted about Swindell achieving his sixth consecutive No. 1 song as an artist for the Gold-certified, “Middle Of A Memory.”

As she welcomed Swindell (BMI) and writers Zach Crowell (ASCAP), Ashley Gorley (ASCAP), along with producer Michael Carter to the stage, Keen mentioned that Swindell is also a NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Year and received a Triple Play award as a songwriter in 2016.

Brinker took to the stage to congratulate Crowell on his sixth No. 1 song and Gorley on his 30th.

Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson also spoke about Swindell and his accomplishments and added that Cole “doesn’t talk about what he’s going to do, he just gets it done.”

Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito reminded everyone that Swindell’s first single “Chillin’ It” went to No. 1 almost three years ago to the day.

Gorley mentioned that, even though he has been to a lot of these parties, it never gets old. “It always pushes us, as writers, to raise the bar.”

Swindell concluded the party by thanking his team and saying he “moved to town to write songs that make people feel the way I felt when I first started loving country music.”

Also taking the stage during the party were the CMA’s Brandi Simms, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, and Warner/Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel.

Guests mingled before the party and took photos in front of a Cole Swindell-inspired backdrop that included memory photos of him on the road.

iHeart Radio Music Awards Announces 2017 Nominees

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iHeartRadio LogoLuke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line are among the nominees for the upcoming 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards set for March 5th at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Bryan is up for Male Artist of the Year along with Drake, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd, while FGL is nominated in the Best Duo/Group category along with Coldplay, DNCE, The Chainsmokers, and twenty one pilots.

Country Song of the Year nominees include Carrie Underwood for “Church Bells,” Old Dominion for “Snapback,” Dierks Bentley for “Somewhere On A Beach,” Thomas Rhett for “T-Shirt,” and Cole Swindell for “You Should Be Here.”

Country Artist of the Year nominees are Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett. Best New Country Artist nominees are Chris Lane, Chris Stapleton, Granger Smith, Kelsea Ballerini, and Maren Morris. The Best Lyric award, voted through social media, includes country nominees Blake Shelton‘s “Came Here to Forget” and Cole Swindell‘s “You Should Be Here.”

This year, iHeartRadio will feature new awards for Producer of the Year, Label of the Year and Best Music Video, as well as individual awards for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Bruno Mars is the first performer to be announced for the show, which is in its fourth year and will be simulcast by Turner Networks for its second year. The show will be televised live on TBS, TNT and truTV at 8 p.m. ET and simulcast on iHeartMedia stations nationwide, as well as on iHeartRadio.

People’s Choice Awards Voting Open Through Dec. 15

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People's-Choice-AwardsVoting for the People’s Choice Awards is open through Dec. 15.

The People’s Choice organization has opened public voting in all 64 categories, with fans able to weigh in at vote.peopleschoice.com. Voting ends Dec. 15 at 11:50 p.m.

Blake Shelton has landed two all-genre nods for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album (If I’m Honest) in the upcoming awards. Big Yellow Dog writer and pop artist Meghan Trainor has also earned a nod for Favorite Song (“No”).

The 43rd annual awards air live from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on Jan. 18 on CBS.

Country music categories include:

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Tim McGraw

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Dolly Parton
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire

FAVORITE COUNTRY GROUP
The Band Perry
Florida Georgia Line
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Zac Brown Band

American Music Awards Ratings Slide

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amalogoSunday’s (Nov. 20) American Music Awards saw a ratings slip to an “all-time low,” according to live, plus same day ratings from zap2it.com.

ABC’s three-hour broadcast brought in 8.16 million viewers in its 8 p.m. time slot with a 2.4 rating for adults 18-49, which was a 31 percent departure from last year’s 3.5 rating.

“It’s the lowest 18-49 rating on record for the awards, whose previous low point was a 3.4 in 2012,” analyzed the ratings site.

Nashville winners were noted in musicrow.com‘s earlier coverage.

ABC came in third among average total viewers last night, including ratings and share. Adjustments will be made for NFL coverage in some markets for the other networks, not affecting ABC. NBC took the night with an averaged 14 share (14.42 million), hosting Sunday Night Football with slightly lower numbers than last week (preliminary 5.6). CBS’ 60 Minutes, NCIS: Los Angeles, Madam Secretary and Elementary edged the network into the runner-up slot.

AMA Voting To Wrap Ahead Of Sunday Broadcast

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carrieunderwoodama

Fan-voting will close for the 2016 American Music Awards this morning (Nov. 14, 10:59:59 a.m. CT). The all-genre Artist of the Year award, which Carrie Underwood is confirmed among the final nominees, will close Thursday, Nov. 17 at 10:59:59 p.m. CT.

Underwood finds herself in two additional award categories, including Favorite Female Artist – Country, alongside Kelsea Ballerini, Cam while Favorite Album – Country considers her Storyteller in addition to Luke Bryan’s Kill The Lights, Chris Stapleton’s Traveller.

Bryan also competes with Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton for the Favorite Male Artist-Country, while Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Zac Brown Band are pitted for Favorite Duo/Group – Country. Favorite Song-Country aligns Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y.” with Tim McGraw‘s “Humble And Kind” and Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man.”

Meghan Trainor nabs a nod for her collaboration with John Legend, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” in addition to Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary

Performers for the broadcast include James Bay, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5, Kendrick Lamar, and Sting.

“The world’s biggest fan-voted award show,” will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC with the 8th consecutive red carpet pre-show streaming online.

Warner/Chappell Nashville, Tape Room Music Sign Brad Clawson

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Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Taperoom; Jeff Carlton, Taperoom; Brad Clawson; Will Overton Warner/Chappell; Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell.

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Tape Room; Jeff Carlton, Tape Room; Brad Clawson; Will Overton, Warner/Chappell; Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell.

Warner/Chappell Nashville, along with Ashley Gorley’s publishing company Tape Room Music has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with singer-songwriter Brad Clawson.

Clawson is the son of country songwriter, Rodney Clawson.

In 2011, Gorley partnered with Combustion Music and Warner/Chappell Music to found Tape Room Music. The company’s songwriting roster includes Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Matt Jenkins, Hunter Phelps, Bryan Simpson and Will Weatherly.