2nd Annual Conservation AID Live Concert To Feature Craig Morgan, Chris Janson, More

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Craig Morgan. Photo: Nate Griffin

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Foundation’s 2nd Annual Conservation AID live concert is set for Feb. 16 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

The show will feature some of the top artists in country music, including Craig Morgan, Chris Janson, Tyler Farr, Travis Denning, Elvie Shane and more.

Other performers include Chuck Wicks, Drew Baldridge, Dillon Carmichael, Meghan Patrick, Caleb Lee Hutchison and Lucas Hoge.

The event, which kicks off NWTF’s Convention & Sports Show, helps support wildlife and wild land conservation efforts throughout the year. Tickets to the live concert event are available now.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. This charge mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than four million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruits at least 1.5 million hunters, and opens access to 500,000 acres for hunting.

CJ Solar Joins EMPIRE’s Growing Country Roster

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Pictured (L-R): Eric Hurt, VP A&R, Publishing, EMPIRE and CJ Solar. Photo: Thomas Chi

Rising singer-songwriter CJ Solar has signed with EMPIRE. His first single on the label, “The Future’s Neon,” is set for release Feb. 11. Solar’s first full-length album of the same name will be available later this spring.

Written alongside fellow Louisiana natives Blake Griffith and Jim McCormick, Solar produced the track with Nick Gibbens. With a co-writing credit on all nine cuts on The Future’s Neon, Solar also collaborated with Devin Barker, Kenton Bryant, Bart Butler, Frankie Courtney, Corey Crowder, Jackson Dean, Bob DiPiero, Aaron Eshius, Jeff Garrison, Hardy, Jason Lehning, Lynn Hutton, Joey Hyde, Billy Montana, and Lydia Vaughan throughout the project.

The Baton Rouge native and Belmont University graduate recently signed an exclusive writing agreement with Edgehill Music Publishing. He has penned No. 1 singles for Morgan Wallen (“Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line) and Jameson Rodgers (“Some Girls”). He has won ASCAP Awards for both songs and also co-wrote Jason Aldean’s “I Don’t Drink Anymore,” Justin Moore’s “Between You & Me,” Jerrod Niemann’s “The Regulars” and Top 30 “Blue Bandana,” among others.

As an artist, Solar has released three EPs, yielding Top 15 hits such as “American Girls” and “Airplane,” and the Top 10 “Coming My Way.” He has garnered over five million overall streams, and received the MusicRow Independent Artist of the Year Award in 2019. Solar hit the road earlier this month on the “Nashville Hits The Roof” concert tour with upcoming stops in Orlando on Feb. 3, Delray Beach on Feb. 4 and Birmingham on Feb. 25.

“With EMPIRE continuing our expansion into the country market, we’re excited to partner with hit songwriter and artist CJ Solar on his upcoming artist releases. His album is fantastic, and we’re thrilled to be a part of his story,” says EMPIRE VP, A&R, Publishing Eric Hurt.

“Every artist wants to find a label that’s passionate about their music and career, and I’ve definitely found that with everyone at EMPIRE,” adds Solar. “I’m as excited about this relationship as I’ve ever been and can’t wait to get this new music out to the world!”

CRS 2022 Updates COVID-19 Protocols For Upcoming, In-Person Event

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CRB Inc. has announced it will move forward with CRS 2022 as a live, in-person event from Feb. 23-25 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

The decision was made after careful and thorough consultation with attendees, panelists, performers, sponsorship partners, vendors, event staff, and CRB Board leadership. The CRB’s top priority is to provide a safe, comfortable atmosphere for CRS 2022 attendees, sponsors, staff, and volunteers.

Everyone attending CRS 2022 will be required to provide documentation of full COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID test result obtained within 48-hours of arrival at the event. If attendees cannot provide either, rapid antigen and PCR tests will be available upon arrival and conducted on-site at no cost to attendees.

Additionally, voluntary testing (rapid antigen and PCR) will be available to all attendees throughout CRS, courtesy of CRB. Complimentary tests will also be available on Saturday, Feb. 26 for both local and out-of-town attendees before returning home.

CRB has engaged the services of 3P America for end-to-end digital compliance, using its mobile-based, proprietary application, 3P Smart Verify.  The platform will administer and conduct the following:

  • Safe Document Collection
  • Secure Vaccine Verification
  • Health Screenings
  • FDA-Approved Testing
  • Discreet, HIPAA-compliant notification

Prior to the event, all CRS 2022 registered attendees will receive a link to 3P Smart Verify to establish a profile and submit the necessary documentation. Users will be able to upload vaccination documentation or a negative COVID-19 test. All attendees will be required to have completed the 3P Smart Verify profile to receive their CRS registration packet.

Additional safety protocols set forth for CRS week are:
  • CRB will supply and require masks in all CRS event spaces at the Omni Nashville Hotel: meeting rooms, performance halls, plus Legends and Broadway pre-function areas.
  • All meeting room seating areas will be configured to provide adequate social distancing.
  • Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the CRS event space.
  • Traffic patterns in hallways surrounding the CRS footprint will be routed to avoid close contact in advance of all Broadway Ballroom performances (Warner Music Nashville Luncheon, BMLG Luncheon, New Faces of Country Music Showcase) and “Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley” in Legends Ballroom.
  • CRB is recommending attendees limit close personal contacts such as full, close contact embraces, and handshakes.
  • CRB strongly encourages all members of our industry to exercise personal responsibility: CRB urges attendees to monitor their health daily, and anyone experiencing any symptoms of illness or not feeling 100% well to please refrain from attending the event. If this is the case, CRB will extend the refund policy set forth at the time of registration.

Reservoir Acquires Travis Tritt Publishing, Recorded Music Catalogs

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Travis Tritt

Reservoir Media, Inc. has acquired Travis Tritt‘s publishing and recorded music catalogs. The deal includes shares of Tritt’s entire body of work, excluding his most recent album, Set In Stone.

A 2x Grammy winner, Tritt has seven Platinum or multi-Platinum album certifications and more than 30 million in career album sales. He has earned five No. 1s and twenty Top 10 hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” and “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares).” Tritt has also won four CMA Awards, was named Top New Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

“Travis is a pillar of the ‘90s country movement, and his influence continues to impact the genre and its chart resurgence today,” says Reservoir Executive Vice President of Creative, John Ozier. “The Reservoir team is so happy to be supporting both his publishing and master recordings, and building on our foundation of Country catalog classics with more of the genre’s biggest songs.”

Tritt was represented by Jordan Keller and Sarah Smith from Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC.

Nominees Revealed For 2022 ACM Radio Awards

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The Academy of Country Music has announced its Radio Awards nominees for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.

Among this year’s nominees are double nominations for KCLR-FM in Columbia, Missouri; KHAY-FM in Ventura, California; KXKT-FM in Omaha, Nebraska; KYGO-FM in Denver, Colorado; WFMS-FM in Indianapolis, Indiana; WHKO-FM in Dayton, Ohio; WUBE-FM in Cincinnati, Ohio; WUSY-FM in Chattanooga, Tennessee; WYCD-FM in Detroit, Michigan; and WYCT-FM in Pensacola, Florida.

One MusicRow reporting panel station is among the nominees, with WXFL in Florence, Alabama vying for Small Market Radio Station Of The Year.

The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards will take place Monday, March 7, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The show will stream live on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, marking the first time a major awards show has livestreamed exclusively.

Winners of the Radio Awards will be announced ahead of The 57th ACM Awards.

The full list of ACM nominations will be announced in the coming weeks, as will talent bookings for the show itself, including hosts, performers, and presenters.

The 57th ACM Radio Awards Nominees are:
National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year:
Buzz Brainard and Ania Hammar – The Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard
Cody Alan – CMT After MidNite
Derek Haskins, Sean Powell, Patrick Thomas, Carsen Humphreville – The Big D & Bubba Show
Jerry Broadway, Tim Wall, Mitch English, Becca Walls – The Bud And Broadway Show
Katie Neal – Katie & Company

National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year:
Bryan “B-Dub” Washington – B-Dub Radio
Lon Helton – Country Countdown USA
Michael Knox, Shalacy Griffin – Knox Country 360
Terri Clark – Country Gold
Tracy Lawrence, Patrick Thomas – Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence

On-Air Personality of the Year – Major Market:
Danny Dwyer – KUPL-FM – Portland, OR
Josh, Rachael & Grunwald In the Morning – Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter, Steve Grunwald – WYCD-FM – Detroit, MI
Paul Schadt, Sarah Lee & Geof Knight – WKKT-FM – Charlotte, NC
Scotty Kay – WUSN-FM – Chicago, IL
Tracy Dixon – KYGO-FM – Denver, CO

On-Air Personality of the Year – Large Market:
The Big Dave Show – ‘Big Dave’ Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason Statt and Ashley Dawn – WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH
Jim, Deb, and Kevin in the Morning – Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman – WFMS-FM – Indianapolis, IN
The Wake Up Call – Kelli Green, David Bugenske – KFRG-FM – Riverside/San Bernardino, CA
Wake Up With The Wolf Show – Dale O’Brian, Annie Camp, Chase Matthews – WPAW-FM – Greensboro, NC
Wayne D Show – Wayne Danielson, Tay Hamilton – WSIX-FM – Nashville, TN

On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium Market (6 Final Nominees Due to Tie)
Julie and DJ in the Morning – Julie Kansy, Dale Sellers – WPCV-FM – Lakeland, FL
Kenn McCloud – KUZZ AM/FM – Bakersfield, CA
Mo & StyckMan – Melissa “Mo” Wagner, Greg “StyckMan” Owens – WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN
New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody – Nancy Wilson, Aaron Woods – WHKO-FM – Dayton, OH
Scott & Sarah in the Morning – Scott Wynn, Sarah Kay – WQMX-FM – Akron, OH
Steve Lundy & Gina Melton – KXKT-FM – Omaha, NE

On-Air Personality of the Year – Small Market:
Adam & Jen in the Morning – Adam Lamberd, Jen Little – KIOK-FM – Kennewick, WA
Liz and Scotty in the Morning – Liz DelGrosso and Scotty Cox – KCLR-FM – Columbia, MO
Morning Wake-Up Call With Dave Daniels – Dave Daniels – KHAY-FM – Ventura, CA
The Cat Pak Morning Show – Brent Lane – WYCT-FM – Pensacola, FL
The Philip Gibbons Show – Philip Gibbons – WGSQ-FM – Cookeville, TN

Radio Station of the Year – Major Market:
KSCS-FM – Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
KSON-FM – San Diego, CA
KYGO-FM – Denver, CO
WXTU-FM – Philadelphia, PA
WYCD-FM – Detroit, MI

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market:
KNCI-FM – Sacramento, CA
KSOP-FM – Salt Lake City, UT
KUBL-FM – Salt Lake City, UT
WFMS-FM – Indianapolis, IN
WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market:
KIZN-FM – Boise City-Nampa, ID
KXKT-FM – Omaha, NE
WGKX -FM – Memphis, TN
WHKO-FM – Dayton, OH
WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KCLR-FM – Columbia, MO
KHAY-FM – Ventura, CA
WXBQ-FM – Bristol, VA
WXFL-FM – Florence, AL
WYCT-FM – Pensacola, FL

Brown Sellers Brown Launches Stone Country Records, Signs Easton Corbin & Ben Gallaher

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Ron Bradley & Gwen Foster; (L-R, bottom row): Matt Galvin & Traci Hite

Brown Sellers Brown, helmed by industry veterans Benny Brown, Paul Brown and Jason Sellers and home to Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) Management and Quartz Hill Records, has announced the launch of a second record label, Stone Country Records.

Country music entertainer Easton Corbin is the label’s first artist signing. Known for No. 1 singles “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” Corbin’s inaugural single for Stone Country Records will release in early 2022. Additionally, guitarist, songwriter, and artist Ben Gallaher also makes a shift from Quartz Hill Records to the new entity, with new music expected in early 2022.

In addition to signings, the label also announces a string of staff changes, hires, and promotions.

Quartz Hill Records National Director of Promotion & Marketing, Matt Galvin, has been elevated to VP of Promotion & Marketing for Stone Country Records. Prior to joining Quartz Hill in October 2020, he spent 15 years as the Director of RCA Promotion & Marketing for Sony Music Nashville where he worked to develop the careers of Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Martina McBride, Chris Young and more. Galvin began his career in radio promotion with Sony Music Entertainment’s Arista Records. He will report to Brown Sellers Brown Sr. VP of Promotion & Marketing, April Rider. He can be reached at [email protected]

Ron Bradley has been named Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. Bradley’s career stops include Director of West Coast Promotion/Marketing for UMG/EMI Records Nashville where he was instrumental in the success of hit singles by Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Eric Paslay and Alan Jackson. He also owned and operated independent record promotions company R. Bradley Artist & Project Development. Bradley most recently served as the Director of West Coast Promotions/Marketing for Show Dog Nashville. He can be reached at [email protected]

BSB Management Director of Promotion & Marketing, Gwen Foster, has shifted to Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. With over 25 years in the industry, Foster has worked with Luke Combs, Aaron Watson, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Don Henley and more. She previously served as the Director of West/Southwest Promotion for Big Label Records; the Director of Midwest Promotion for Thirty Tigers; and in West Coast Promotion for I.R.S./Capitol Records, Average Joe’s Records and Treehouse Records. Foster began her career in country radio having worked in the Phoenix, Dallas and San Diego markets. She joined BSB Management in July 2021 and can be reached at [email protected]

Radio promotion executive, Traci Hite, has been named Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. She joins Stone Country from Curb|Word Entertainment where she most recently served as the Director of National Promotion. Her previous experience includes radio promotion at Capitol Christian Music Group. Hite also spent four years in radio as the Promotion Director at WAY-FM and KCBI-Dallas. She can be reached at [email protected]

Bradley, Foster, and Hite report directly to Galvin.

As previously announced, BSB Management and Quartz Hill Records Promotion Coordinator, Denise Miller, also expands her duties to include Stone Country Records. Miller can be reached at [email protected]

Chris Janson Is ‘All In’ In 2022 With New Album Set For Spring

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Chris Janson. Photo: Spidey Smith

Chris Janson will release his fourth studio album, All In, this spring. The title track from the project, available everywhere now, is a tribute to his relationship with his wife, Kelly, and offers a glimpse into their life together as a family.

Written by Janson with Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, and Zach Crowell, “All In” joins flagship single “Bye Mom” as the first two releases from the upcoming new record.

“The title All In epitomizes this album,” Janson shares. “There are all kind of songs on this project, but they all flow together because they are genuine to me. I went all in on every part of the process, from writing to singing to playing to producing. I feel like it’s my best, most true-to-myself album to date.” He continues, “Fittingly, the title track is an inside look at the history of my relationship with Kelly. I was ‘All In’ from the moment I met her. Every piece of this song is a snapshot of our real life.”

Janson will share new music from All In, as well as his collection of chart-topping hits on his headlining “Halfway to Crazy Tour,” spanning nearly 20 dates in auditoriums, theaters and, for the first time, arenas across the nation. For a full list of upcoming dates, click here.

Anthem Entertainment Acquires Country Catalog From Hit Songwriter Kelly Archer

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Kelly Archer. Photo: Nora Canfield

Anthem Entertainment has acquired a catalog of country hits from songwriter Kelly Archer. Anthem and RED Creative Group have also signed Archer to an exclusive publishing deal going forward.

The catalog includes “After a Few” by Travis Denning, which reached No. 1 and set a new record for spending over 60-weeks on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart. The acquisition also includes Platinum-certified singles “Somebody Else Will” by Justin Moore and “Sleep Without You” by Brett Young.

“Kelly Archer is more than a hit songwriter,” says Helen Murphy, CEO of Anthem Entertainment. “In addition to multiple No. 1 songs and numerous awards, she has always been ahead of her time, is an amazing talent, and a wonderful individual. I am thrilled to have her catalog at Anthem Music Publishing, and I am grateful that together with Jeremy Stover and the team at Red Creative we will work with her to create beautiful songs.”

Stover, founder of RED Creative Group, adds, “Kelly Archer is not only a prolific and extremely hard-working songwriter, she is also a supreme talent and one of the best in this town. We are excited to continue working with Kelly as we feel confident that she has only scratched the surface of what she is capable of. We look forward to partnering with her in this next chapter of her career.”

“I’m thrilled to continue working with Jeremy, Taylor [Lamb] and team RED. Jeremy has put together an eclectic group of creatives who work hard and motivate me to keep growing as a writer. I’m equally excited to partner with Helen, Tim [Wipperman], Gilles [Godard], and team Anthem. They have a really great creative staff that I’ve admired over my years in the business but never had the chance to work with until now,” shares Archer.

Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Steve Earle, More Join Ray Wylie Hubbard On ‘Co-Starring Too’

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Texas Songwriter Hall of Famer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, has rounded up some more compadres on a second all-star collaboration project, Co-Starring Too, due out March 18 via Big Machine Records. The project follows 2020’s Co-Starring, which included Don Was, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Dunn, Peter Rowan, Larkin Poe and Aaron Lee Tasjan, among others.

The new encore mash-up features guests Willie Nelson, John 5, Steve Earle, James McMurtry, Ringo Starr, Lzzy Hale, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Wynonna Judd, and more. For his second rave-up he pulled in Nelson on “Stone Blind Horses” and Earle on “Hellbent Horses,” while collaborating with Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers and Cross Canadian Ragweed founder Cody Canada on “Till My Wheels Fall Off.”

Texas songwriters Hayes Carll, James McMurtry and Dalton Domino join Hubbard on “Fancy Boys” while Charlie Sexton, Gurf Morlix, Jaimee Harris and Judd lend a hand on “Pretty Reckless.” Hardcore rockers Hale and John5 tackle“Naturally Wild” next to firebrand roots writer Eliza Gilkyson and son Lucas Hubbard alongside Starr, Steve Lukather (Toto) and Wilson on “Ride or Die.”

“As a man of many friends,” Hubbard says, “there were so very many people I just couldn’t get on the one project.  So many people I wanted to do things with, but I just couldn’t. It stuck with me, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought, ‘Why not make Co-Starring Too?’ Beyond the pun, it’s something I thought we could do, and do with the same kind of quality.” He continues, “When you’re lucky enough to have this kind of collaborative power, you’d be a fool to not tap in. And when you’ve got Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine behind you, saying, ‘Whoever you’d like… What do you want to do…?’ Well, I’d be a fool to not make another one of these records. They’re too fun, and because of the pandemic, it lets a lot of people stay creative when it’s hard to get out on the road.”

Co-Starring Too Track List:
1. Stone Blind Horses (ft. Willie Nelson)
2. Groove (ft. Kevin Russell and the Shiny Soul Sisters)
3. Only a Fool (ft. The Bluebonnets)
3. Hellbent for Leather (ft. Steve Earle)
4. Naturally Wild (ft. Lzzy Hale and John 5)
5. Fancy Boys (ft. Hayes Carll, James McMurtry, Dalton Domino)
6. Texas Wild Side (ft. The Last Bandoleros)
7. Till My Wheels Fall Off (ft. Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers, Cody Canada)
8. Pretty Reckless (ft. Wynonna Judd, Jaimee Harris, Charlie Sexton, and Gurf Morlix)
9. Ride or Die (ft. Ringo Starr, Lucas Hubbard, Steve Lukather, Eliza Gilkyson, Ann Wilson)
10. Desperate Man (ft. Band of Heathens)
 Produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard and Julian Raymond

Chart Action: Aldean Most Added

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Jason Aldean. Photo: Brian Higbee

Jason Aldean impacts country radio this week with “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” earning a cumulative 182 adds across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow radio charts. The track is featured on the second installment of his 10th studio album Macon, Georgia.

“The cool thing about putting out two parts of this record is having fans hear all the different influences I grew up on,” Aldean shares. “This song hit me right when I heard it and reminded me of those bitter R&B breakup songs that take me back to riding through the backroads of Georgia.”

“Trouble With A Heartbreak” was written by Kurt Allison, Brett Beavers, Tully Kennedy and John Morgan. It follows Aldean’s 26th career chart topper and multi-week No. 1 “If I Didn’t Love You,” featuring Carrie Underwood.