Parker McCollum Stays True To Himself On New Album ‘Never Enough’ [Interview]

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Parker McCollum

For his new album Never Enough, which released via MCA Nashville on Friday (May 12), Parker McCollum dialed in on the sound that differentiates him from the rest.

The 15-song project once again finds Jon Randall at the helm of production, polishing up the specific McCollum sound that first turned fans on to the Texas native with his critically acclaimed 2015 album The Limestone Kid. After making a hit album with 2021’s Gold Chain Cowboy, which included popular songs “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved by You,” McCollum and Randall have doubled down with Never Enough, which McCollum says was a welcomed challenge.

“I was bored of what I’ve always done and the style I’ve always cranked out. I didn’t reinvent it, but I tried to be fresh and almost entertain myself with the songs I was writing and the direction I was going this time,” he tells MusicRow.

McCollum’s songwriting skills have sharpened in the two years since Gold Chain Cowboy. Enlisting Music Row hitmakers Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Brett James, Lori McKenna, Lee Miller, Monty Criswell and Liz Rose—as well as Texas mavericks and frequent collaborators Randall, Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers—Never Enough finds McCollum at the top of his game as a songwriter.

“[The writers on this record] are some of my favorite writers in town,” McCollum says. “They’re the best songwriters in the world and now they’re my good friends. They just come over to my house and write songs on my couch, so it’s a different opportunity. I didn’t have access to that before, so I’ve really enjoyed that.”

A songwriting highlight on the project is “Tails I Lose.” The tune, co-written with Bowen alongside Brad and Brett Warren, finds the subject drinking away his heartbreak at bar, toying with a quarter that he says decides his fate. McCollum wails, “Jukebox quarter up, I’ve done everything I can. It don’t matter where it lands, Ain’t a damn thing I can do. It’s heads you win, tails I lose.”

“I was kicking around this melody and I had written some other stuff to it. I really loved the melody but I knew that nothing I had rambled off to it was very strong,” McCollum says. “Somebody had the line ‘heads you win, tails I lose,’ which I had heard before but never in a song. So as any typical songwriter, we decided we had to write that before somebody else does.”

Another highlight, “Have Your Heart Again,” was several years in the making.

“I had that melody for about six years. It was one of my favorite melodies I’ve come up with and I didn’t want to take a chance at missing. I played it for Ashley and Lee one night at Ashley’s house and they were into it, so we sat around and wrote a piano heartbreak ballad,” McCollum remembers. “I was going to cut it for Gold Chain Cowboy, but it just didn’t feel like it fit. I’m not sure it fits on this record either, but I’ve never done a piano ballad, so it was chance to do something different.”

Never Enough has already yielded a hit, with the Monty Criswell co-written “Handle On You” topping the charts a few weeks ago. McCollum says that that song set the bar for the rest of the album.

“That song was what I was trying to go for more than anything else. Monty and I wrote that and I said, ‘Man, that’s what I would like to lean into more,'” McCollum shares. “But like I said, I get bored real quick, so I’ll write ‘Handle On You,’ ‘Tails I Lose’ and ‘Lessons From An Old Man,’ and then I’m bored of it and want to go write something like ‘Burn It Down’ that’s big and rocking. Then I’ll go write ‘Wheel,’ which is this waving goodbye song that ends the record on an upbeat note, not such a sad and terrible note like everything else.”

When it comes to “sad and terrible,” McCollum does it well. His hits often find him heartbroken, such as the self-loathing “Pretty Heart,” the downtrodden “Young Man’s Blues,” the agonizing “To Be Loved By You” and the regretful “Hell Of A Year.” The 30-year-old says he feels at home writing sad songs, and his new album has quite a few.

“Those are my favorite kinds,” he says. “Those seem to get the most attention from me.”

But Never Enough has more than sad songs. Tracks “Stoned” and “Speed” find McCollum on the rocking side of the tracks. “Burn It Down,” which is sure to be a hit, was written by McCollum with The Love Junkies (Lindsey, McKenna and Rose), and has earned some early attention from fans.

Though Never Enough finds McCollum leveling up in songwriting and zeroing in on his sound, he credits staying true to himself as the key to his success.

“Staying super authentic to what you are, what you like and what you think is good is how you sleep the best at night. You have to be able to stand behind whatever you do, regardless if the general public accepts it and embraces it or doesn’t,” McCollum says. “For lack of a better term, I never really gave a shit. I did not think country radio would embrace my songs like they have. I never dreamed any of my songs of be on country radio, go double Platinum or do all this crazy stuff. I think my biggest strength is that I just stuck to what I did best and tried to do it as well as I could.”

McCollum performs at his album release party, hosted by Lucchese, in Texas during ACM Week. Photo: Chris Kleinmeier

He credits his label, UMG Nashville, for allowing him to make the music he wants to make.

“When I signed my record deal, my biggest thing was creative control. I passed on all the advance money and all that because I was already selling tickets and touring, so I didn’t really need the cash advance like a lot of artists do when they sign a deal. I really just tried to leverage that and get as much creative control as I could.

“Luckily I got all of it,” McCollum says. “It starts and stops with me on what songs are written, what songs are cut and what songs aren’t cut. They can send whatever songs to radio that they want—they know more about what can be a hit than I do. Shout out to Universal Records because they’ve totally kept their word.”

When asked what he hopes his fans take away from Never Enough, McCollum says he hopes they see his authenticity in its 15 songs.

“I just hope they believe it,” he sums. “All of these songs come from a super authentic, genuine and real place. My favorite songs in the world hit me so hard every time I listen to them. I love to get lost in a song, so I really hope they get lost in these and it does something for them.”

Listen to McCollum’s new album Never Enough, out now.

Song Suffragettes To Launch New York Residency In June

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Song Suffragettes is expanding for the first time in the U.S. with a new monthly residency at City Winery in New York City.

Happening on the second Tuesday of every month beginning June 13, Song Suffragettes NYC will present five of the best female singer-songwriters from the New York boroughs and beyond. The show will feature talent from all genres in a mostly acoustic format. NYC-based artists Alexa Dark, Ariana and The Rose, Eva Westphal and Hayes Warner will kick off the series, with Jillian Dawn hosting the evening. 

This expansion follows nine years of Song Suffragettes’ weekly shows in Nashville, where more than 400 women have now played, with 37 going on to receive record deals, including Kelsea Ballerini, Gayle, Lainey Wilson, as well as over 60 landing music publishing contracts. 

Song Suffragettes NYC follows the launch of Song Suffragettes London in November 2022, after their first-ever U.K. tour that included sold-out shows. In March of this year, Song Suffragettes also played the C2C: Country 2 County Festival held at London’s O2 Arena.

“Given ongoing studies about the egregious lack of female inclusion in music, we as the music community must strive to nurture more young female talent wherever possible,” says Song Suffragettes Founder Todd Cassetty. “For us, expanding into NYC, America’s largest city with a rich depth of creative energy, is another way for Song Suffragettes to provide more opportunity for the most creative women in the five boroughs. After expanding Song Suffragettes into London last year, we knew we wanted to make our next expansion show somewhere in the U.S., and where better than New York City, where the depth of talent is immense.”  

Shane McAnally To Receive Spirit Of Music Award From T.J. Martell Foundation

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Shane McAnally. Photo: Robby Klein

Grammy-winning and Tony-nominated songwriter/producer Shane McAnally will receive the Spirit of Music Award at the T.J. Martell Foundation’s 45th Annual New York Honors Gala. The celebration is returning to New York City for the first time since 2019, and will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street on June 13, 2023.

McAnally has written and/or produced over 50 No. 1 songs, garnered three Grammys, has been nominated for multiple CMA Awards and has been named ACM’s Songwriter of the Year twice. He has written and produced songs for Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves and many more, and received Billboard’s Trailblazer Award for his work both in country music and in championing voices in the LGBTQ community.

In 2012 McAnally founded SMACKSongs, which includes publishing, digital and management branches, and whose writers are credited with nearly 70 No. 1 songs, with seven No. 1s in 2022 alone. In addition to SMACK, McAnally co-starred on NBC’s Songland and is the co-president of record label Monument Records in partnership with Sony Music. McAnally is currently in New York City, bringing the musical Shucked to Broadway—a production he wrote the music and lyrics for with collaborator Brandy Clark. Shucked was nominated for nine Tony awards this season.

In addition to McAnally, two other esteemed music industry leaders will be honored at this year’s New York Honors Gala. Warner Records Co-Chairman and COO Tom Corson will receive the Lifetime Music Industry Award, while Chief Creative Officer and EVP at Def Jam Recordings Archie Davis will receive the Rising Music Superstar Award. The elegant evening is the Foundation’s primary fundraiser of the year, supporting its mission of funding innovative medical research and treatments focused on finding a cure for cancer.

The gala will be hosted by Gala Co-Chairs and Board Chairman John Esposito, Tunji Balogun, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Robert Carlton, Steve Gawley, Laura Swanson and Julie Swidler, and will include guest presenters and special musical performances to celebrate the honorees, along with a fundraising auction.

The evening’s program will include Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and NAACP Image Award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler as featured presenter, and performances by actress/singer-songwriter and R&B star Coco Jones and singer-songwriter and 11x Grammy nominee, Brandy Clark.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the annual T.J. Martell Foundation New York Honors gala back to New York City for the first time since 2019, celebrating nearly 50 years of the music industry’s dedicated support for breakthrough cancer research,” says Esposito. “Our music friends and supporters are excited that this iconic gala is returning, and we are so proud to be honoring three of the industry’s dynamic leaders, Tom Corson, Archie Davis and Shane McAnally, and their outstanding contributions to the music world at what will be an unforgettable night!”

Willie Nelson Honored By LBJ Foundation With Liberty & Justice For All Award

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Willie Nelson sitting next to his LBJ Liberty & Justice For All award. Photo: Laura Skelding

Willie Nelson was honored with the LBJ Foundation’s highest honor, the LBJ Liberty & Justice For All Award, at a gala dinner Friday night (May 12) at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin.

Willie Nelson on his bus with his LBJ Liberty and Justice award. Photo: Elaine Schock

The sold-out celebration featured performances by Eric Church, Sam Hunt, Elle King and Lyle Lovett. Church performed “Funny How Time Slips Away” and “A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young,” Hunt offered up new song “Women in my Life” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” King performed “It’s Not Supposed to be That Way” and “Love Go By,” and Lovett honored Nelson with the classics “Hello Walls” and “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.”

The special evening raised funds to create the Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities in honor of Nelson’s longtime philanthropy and commitment to family farms and sustainable agriculture. The endowment ensures that Nelson’s advocacy will continue and will fund research and student fellowships at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, a part of The University of Texas at Austin. The focus will be on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water and natural disaster recovery to benefit rural communities.

“A lot of people don’t realize where their food comes from,” Nelson said in a conversation with Mark K. Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, at the gala dinner. “You know, when you had breakfast this morning, did your food come from a farmer out here who raised his own?…Or did some trucker drive it in from 150 miles away? So, these are things that you need to think about and how you can help the local communities and help the local farmer. Because he’s trying to make it.”

President and Mrs. Johnson’s daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson presented Nelson with the LBJ Liberty & Justice For All Award, which recognizes him for exemplifying President Johnson’s belief that America is a nation where everyone has the opportunity to rise and those in need should not fail.

Former recipients of the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award include President George H. W. Bush, President Jimmy Carter, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein.

 

Dalton Mauldin Signs Joint Publishing Deal With Big Machine Music, King Henry

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Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Music’s Michelle Attardi and Alex Heddle, Dalton Mauldin, King Henry, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar

Dalton Mauldin signed an exclusive songwriting agreement in a joint publishing deal with Big Machine Music and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer King Henry.

The Savannah Bananas baseball team member is on the road performing solo acoustic shows. His Nashville stops include Third and Home (June 1) before two nights at First Horizon Park (June 2 and 3) on the field with the team. Mauldin is already readying new music, including a new song “Miss You, Love You” co-written alongside BMM songwriter Daniel Ross and produced by King Henry, arriving May 19.

“When King Henry and Big Machine Music’s Senior Director of Publishing Timmy Haehl, first introduced us to Dalton, we immediately felt the star wattage,” says Mike Molinar, BMM’s General Manager. “I’m so grateful for Henry’s belief in us as partners and Dalton’s trust in taking the next step of his career.”

“Dalton is one of the most genuine, positive and good-hearted humans I’ve ever met,” adds King Henry. “From the moment he first messaged me on social media and sent songs that matched the caliber of his personality, I knew we were going to build something special together. I’m excited to watch him grow in his artistry and am thrilled to be partnering with Big Machine Music for the journey.”

“I couldn’t be happier to be part of the Big Machine Music family and to work with King Henry,” shares Mauldin. “Getting to know everyone on the team has really made me feel at home. I’m so excited to continue to progress as a songwriter surrounded by such a talented community.”

Weekly Register: Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ Climbs Country Albums Chart

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Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift‘s 2010 album Speak Now has landed at No. 5 on the country albums chart this week with 25K in total consumption (755 album only/32 million song streams) according to Luminate data. During one of her Nashville stops of the “Eras Tour,”  Swift announced that Speak Now is next to be released in her series of re-recordings, with a release date of July 7.

Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time continues its reign at No. 1 with 141K (5K album only/171 million song streams), and Dangerous: The Double Album remains at No. 2 with 48K (1K album only/61 million song streams). Luke Combs‘ Gettin’ Old rests at No. 3 with 35K (2K album only/41 million song streams), followed by Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak at No. 4 with 28K (1K album only/34 million song streams).

On the country streaming songs chart, Wallen’s “Last Night” stays at No. 1 with 27 million new streams, adding to 413 million RTD. Combs’ “Fast Car” cover persists at No. 2 with 15 million streams, adding to 90 million RTD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” reclaims No. 3 with 13 million new streams, adding to 142 million RTD. Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” moves to No. 4 with 12 million streams, adding to 644 million RTD, and Wallen’s “You Proof” continues at No. 5 with 12 million new streams, adding to 582 million RTD.

SOLID Sets Date For Music Row Madness Fundraiser Event

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SOLID’s 2023 Music Row Madness fundraiser is going back to its roots for the first time since 2017 with a bowling tournament at Eastside Bowl on May 24 at 6 p.m. CT.

Registration for the 13th annual fundraising event, previously held at Topgolf, is now open to the public for teams of six. Teams are required to meet a $1,000 donation minimum to play. Spectators are also able to purchase tickets for $30 with full access to the diner, arcade, cash bar and lounge which will feature live music throughout the event.

“We cannot wait to bring Music Row Madness back to the bowling lanes,” says Erin Pettit, SOLID’s 2023 President. “This event started as a bowling tournament and we are thrilled to be able to continue hosting this fun event as an amazing way to raise money for some outstanding organizations who are doing important work in our community. We are eager to help out our SOLID Shares partners and hope you will join us. Sign up or grab tickets today!”

The team registration deadline is Wednesday, May 17. To register your team or purchase spectator tickets, click here.

Proceeds from Music Row Madness will go to benefit the 2023 nonprofit SOLID Shares Partners: WO Smith Music School, Porter’s Call, the Black Music Action Coalition, the National Museum of African American Music and Hope on the Row.

SOLID launched 26 years ago to develop a community for music industry professionals to network and brainstorm together, while also providing educational opportunities for entry to mid-level professionals. The organization hosts education panels, networking events and philanthropic opportunities throughout the year, and has implemented programs to mentor hundreds of college students to date, launched the philanthropic initiative SOLID Shares, created a diversity and inclusion task force, raised over $450,000 for local charities and provided over 500+ hours of volunteer time to the Nashville community.

Tape Room Music Signs Songwriter/Producer Andy Sheridan

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, Blain Rhodes and Caroline Hodson; (L-R, front row): Ashley Gorley and Andy Sheridan. Photo: Courtesy of Tape Room Music

Tape Room Music, the publishing and artist development company founded by Ashley Gorley, has signed songwriter and producer Andy Sheridan to a joint venture with Red Light Management. Sheridan will work with Tape Room’s creative staff to cultivate and expand his network of co-writers while continuing to work with long-time collaborators.

“We are excited to welcome Andy to the Tape Room family,” shares Blain Rhodes, Tape Room Music President. “We’ve been big fans for a long time and look forward to sharing many hits together.”

Sheridan has played with artists Phil Vassar, Hunter Hayes and Ben Rector. He recently earned his first No. 1 on SiriusXM with Avery Anna‘s viral hit “Narcissist” and has landed other cuts by Dustin Lynch, Sam Riggs and Tyler Farr. He has also produced “Warmer” by Rascal Flatts and the music for Skipstone Pictures’ God’s Country Song, a Pure Flix Original

“I am absolutely jazzed to be at Tape Room Music,” shares Sheridan. “Ashley, Blain, Kelly [Bolton] and Caroline [Hodson] are pros and veterans in this business and I’m honored to be a part of the family. Excited to get to work!”

Corey Kent Lands First Chart-Topper With ‘Wild As Her’

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Corey Kent. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Corey Kent has scored his first No. 1 with his debut Platinum single “Wild As Her.” The song reaches the top spot at country radio this week, moving from No. 4 to No. 1 on the Mediabase chart.

“Wild As Her” has already racked up over 260 million streams to date and counting, while the song’s video garnered Kent a nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards.

In celebration of the chart-topping achievement, Kent has released a special live version of the Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler and Morgan Wallen-penned tune from his show at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“It’s been a hell of a ride to wind up here,” Kent says. “You couldn’t write a crazier script: Getting dropped, moving to Texas, working in motorcycle shops and pavement companies to provide, playing a regular gig performing in a Mexican restaurant, praying for opportunity, touring relentlessly, & trying to defy all the odds…Today is bigger than my first No. 1. Today, I get to wave the pirate flag for all of us relentless dreamers from the mountain top, as an example that no matter how hard it gets, there is always hope. I’ll never forget this one.”

“Wild As Her” will be featured on Kent’s upcoming major label debut album, Blacktop, set for release on June 2 via RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. Kent is gearing up for his album release show on June 2 in Nashville at Brooklyn Bowl, and will end release week with a performance at CMA Fest. Later this summer Kent will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s “Highway Desperado Tour.”

Gibson Brands Elevates Elizabeth Heidt To Chief Marketing Officer

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Elizabeth Heidt

Gibson Brands has promoted Elizabeth Heidt to Chief Marketing Officer. Heidt will also join Gibson’s worldwide leadership executive team.

A seven-year veteran of Gibson, Heidt spent her early years at Gibson in Entertainment Relations, and was promoted to Vice President of Cultural Influence in 2021. Prior to Gibson, she worked in brand strategy, production and experiential marketing with House of Blues, Red Bull and Fortune 500 brands including Samsung, Hyundai, Live Nation, Verizon and AT&T.

As Chief Marketing Officer, Heidt will be responsible for overseeing Gibson Brands’ global brand and marketing teams, entertainment and artist relations, social media, partnerships, public relations, multi-media divisions as well as the Gibson Gives Foundation.

She is a board member of the Gibson Gives Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Gibson whose mission is to support nonprofits in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused education, music and wellness initiatives. In the last three years, Gibson Gives has raised over $3.5 million worldwide through its mission. Heidt is also on the Music Advisory Board of the Save The Music Foundation.

“We are excited to elevate and promote Beth to Chief Marketing Officer and a member of the Gibson Leadership Team. Beth has been instrumental in the success that we’ve had over the last five years,” says Cesar Gueikian, President & Interim CEO, Gibson Brands. “She has been a thought partner, leader, and a key player in shaping and implementing our global strategy. She has led our cultural influence team of artist relations and multi-media divisions, and emerged as a critical voice in how we engage with fans around the world and deliver the Gibson experience. As the Chief Marketing Officer, Beth will now lead all our marketing initiatives globally, including all aspects of cultural influence. We all look forward to working with Beth to continue to shape the sound of music.”

“It is a privilege to work with the unparalleled talent of Gibson, from our team and craftspeople to our partners and artists, whose passion and dedication is absolutely awe inspiring,” says Heidt. “It is our mission to connect and better lives through music, to enable and empower all levels of creators with our instruments, products, programs and philanthropy. It is an honor to be a part of shaping the future of music culture for Gibson and for fans worldwide.”