Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates Milestone Year, Strong Start To 2022

Two-time Grammy award-nominated vocalist, Kelsea Ballerini, barrels into 2022 with the news that her third studio album, Kelsea, has achieved Gold status. The 2020 release’s certification follows on the heels of quite the impressive year for the multi-Platinum songwriter and producer.

In 2021, Ballerini notched her first two CMA Awards, taking home Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year for “Half of My Hometown” featuring Kenny Chesney; was crowned CMT’s Artist of the Year; and performed in sold-out arenas and amphitheaters as direct support to the Jonas Brothers on their “Remember This Tour.” She also picked up three RIAA certifications, including her sixth No. 1 “Hole in the Bottle” with Shania Twain going Platinum and “Half of My Hometown” and 2021 single, “I Quit Drinking” with Lany going Gold.

Ballerini also added author to her growing list of titles, making her literary debut with an original book of poetry entitled Feel Your Way Through, which was released in November 2020.

 

MTSU To Host Tribute Concert For Jazz Drummer Duffy Jackson

Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Music faculty members, students, and area jazz musicians will pay tribute to the late jazz drummer Duffy Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 3. The performance marks the second event in this season’s three-concert MTSU Jazz Artist Series.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building, the tribute concert will feature faculty jazz artists Don Aliquo on saxophone, Matt Endahl on piano, Chip Henderson on guitar, David Loucky on trombone, and Jonathan Wires on bass. Chris Brown, one of Nashville’s prominent jazz drummers, will sit in on the drum chair, while trumpeter Mike Barry and trombonist Roger Bissell will lead their respective sections of this special big band.

“The concert will showcase historic arrangements played by guest musicians from Duffy’s Nashville-based band,” shares Jamey Simmons, professor of jazz trumpet and director of MTSU’s Jazz Studies Program. “It will feature legendary music associated with Duffy during his tenure with some of the most swinging jazz musicians in history, as well as his time in Nashville. We will also honor his widow, Marina, and her donation to MTSU of a library of his big band music.”

Duffy Jackson, son of jazz bassist Chubby Jackson, first picked up his sticks at age four. At 20, Jackson was the youngest drummer ever hired by Count Basie, and soon became the anchor for that legendary band along with Lionel Hampton’s and Illinois Jacquet’s groups. He also worked with Lena Horne and was a member of the Monty Alexander Trio. He moved to Nashville in 2008 and influenced the city’s jazz scene until his death at age 67 in March 2021.

Tickets are on sale for $10 each. Admission is free for MTSU students, faculty and staff with a current ID. To reserve tickets, contact Jamey Simmons at 615-898-2724 or [email protected].

 

Sam Alex Hosts Inaugural Camp Broadcast Acoustic Concert Benefit Show

Radio & TV personality Sam Alex hosted his inaugural Camp Broadcast Acoustic Concert this past Sunday (Jan. 16). The event raised money for student scholarships to attend the upcoming Camp Broadcast. The singer-songwriter round featured performances from Adam Hambrick, Jake Hoot, and Lanie Gardner.

“I’m so proud of all the accomplishments from our Camp Broadcast alumni, many of them are now working full-time in the broadcast industry,” Alex shares. “Supporting these students and giving them opportunities to attend camp and interview celebrities & newsmakers for their hosting reel and be mentored by professionals is an opportunity that should be available to all.”

Camp Broadcast is a masterclass for high school and college-aged aspiring journalists and broadcasters. While there, students have the opportunity to interview celebrities and newsmakers for their hosting reel. Previous guests have included Olympic Champion Scott Hamilton; NFL Star Donovan McNabb; musicians Cassadee Pope, Scotty McCreery, Cole Swindell, Granger Smith, Chris Tomlin, and KC and the Sunshine Band; Bravo’s Andra Simmons, actress Siena Agudong, ESPN’s Jordan Bernfield, Entertainment Tonight’s Cassie DiLaura, Inside Edition’s Megan Alexander, University of Georgia Head Basketball Coach Tom Crean and many more.

This year’s session will take place June 13-16 in Chicago. For more information, click here.

 

PLA Media Adds Outlaw-Inspired Country Singer Waylon Hanel To Roster

PLA Media has added emerging outlaw country artist Waylon Hanel to its growing talent list.

After losing his younger brother in 2021, the self-taught musician found an outlet in music. The Michigan native, named after the legendary Waylon Jennings, hopes to carry on the torch of outlaw country in the genre. His self-titled EP is prepped for release this spring.

“My pal, hit writer Bernie Nelson, called me from Texas raving about doing a writing session with a talented Michigan kid, Waylon Hanel. I was honored to work with Jennings when I was at RCA and, true to his namesake, this 20-year-old is following in his hero’s style of outlaw country,” says CEO and owner of PLA Media Pam Lewis. “This kid’s powerful vocals and commanding delivery bodes well beyond his years. Ole Waylon would be pleased!”

More Life, a documentary on Randy Travis featuring many of his last recorded performances, will air on the Circle Network on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

A decade in the making, More Life started in 2011 as an intimate concert special honoring the 25th anniversary of Travis’ iconic album Storms of Life. As the film was being finalized in 2013, he unexpectedly suffered a massive stroke, leaving him unable to perform and severely limiting his speech.

“Though this documentary began as a 25th Anniversary special, it quickly pivoted into a chronicled celebration of life’s setups and setbacks, after my massive stroke in 2013. The planned few months of composing, turned into 10 years—Mary [Travis] and I thank the perseverance and patience of the wonderful team that waited and believed in it until completion… the ones that care and protect the legacy of my music,” offers Travis. 

“With the colorful life I’ve lived and four rollercoaster decades in the music and movie industry, there are infinite stories to tell in a finite timeframe,” the award-winning entertainer continues. “As I watch and listen to the cadence of kind words, special memories, and well-wishes from friends and colleagues, captured in the documentary, I am reminded of the blessed life God has given me. I appreciate those who gave More Love along the way, and the fans that continue to shed More Light along my path. There aren’t words that express the gratitude I have for the ones that came along when the day was dim, the future unknown…that gave me More Life.” 

“Randy Travis is the cornerstone of Warner Music Nashville, and we are both honored and humbled to share More Life with the world,” adds Shane Tarleton, EVP of Artist Development at Warner Music Nashville. “We’ve been in production for over a decade on this documentary, which shines a light on the passion that still drives one of the most important voices in modern country music history.”

Teresa George, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Circle Network, adds: “Randy Travis’ light has shined brightly over this town ever since he stepped into the music scene. We are honored to have a part in sharing this inspiring story of his courage, kindness and talent with the world.”

The documentary also features a special duet performance with Travis and Josh Turner, who appeared on Travis’ 25th anniversary album. More Life will air following the season two premiere of Upstream with Elizabeth Cook, where Elizabeth joins Travis and his wife at their home in Texas for a day of fishing.

Circle’s Day of Randy Travis will begin on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. CT and will end at 9 p.m. CT after the documentary airs. For a full lineup of the day’s programming, click here.

Warner Chappell Music has announced the hiring of Sophie Hopkins as the new Director of Synchronization for its Nashville operations.

In her new role, Hopkins will oversee and develop new business in the Nashville market with a focus on clients across the television and film industry in addition to the full digital media landscape.

“Nashville is an incredibly important location for our team where we will continue to invest and expand our efforts. With the addition of Sophie and her expertise across high end clients, our position in the market only continues to elevate,” shares Rich Robinson, EVP, Global Sync and Media Original Music, WCM.

Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, WCM Nashville adds: “Sync is a vital part of our business—it opens up some incredible opportunities for our songwriters to be heard by entirely new audiences and we’re committed to growing and strengthening those efforts here in Nashville. Sophie’s extensive experience with creatives of all types makes her an excellent addition to the team and I know that she’ll put our songwriters first and always remain focused on their best interests.”

Hopkins joins Warner Chappell from Big Yellow Dog Music, where she spent the past four years in sync. Her previous career stops include time at Heavy Hitters Music in Los Angeles.

The Indianapolis native moved to Nashville at 18 to attend Belmont University, where she also had the opportunity to live and intern in both New York City and Los Angeles during undergrad.

“I’ve spent the better part of my life obsessed with the perfect pairing of song and scene and can’t imagine a better place than Warner Chappell to continue my career doing so,” Hopkins shares. “I am over the moon to be working not only with this incredible catalog of songs, but to join a team that is so passionate about putting the songwriters first!”

5x Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett has announced his headlining “Bring The Bar To You Tour,” slated for this summer. Special guests for the dates are Parker McCollum and Conner Smith.

Presented by Dos Primos, the tour kicks off June 17 in Gilford, New Hampshire, and will visit over 30 cities, including Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, Tulsa, and more through Oct. 15.

Tickets for the new tour, named from a to-be-released song from Rhett’s upcoming sixth studio album, Where We Started, go on sale to the general public on Jan. 28. HomeTeam members can access tickets early via pre-sale on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. local time, and Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets from Jan. 25-27.

“Man it feels good to share this tour news,” Rhett comments. “I’ll never take for granted being able to come see y’all and I’m so fired up to play some of these new ones that were made with these nights in mind. I have a feeling things are going to get loud–I’m counting down the days already!”

“Bring The Bar To You Tour” Dates:
6/17 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
6/18 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
6/23 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
6/24 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
6/25 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
7/14 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
7/15 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
7/16 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/21 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
7/22 – Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
7/23 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
8/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
8/12 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
8/13 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
8/18 – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheatre
8/19 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
8/25 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/26 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
9/22 – Columbia, MO – Mizzou Arena
9/23 – Springfield, MO – JQH Arena
9/24 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
9/29 – Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center
9/30 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Event Center
10/1 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
10/6 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Arena
10/7 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
10/8 – Missoula, MT – Adams Center
10/13 – Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center
10/14 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center
10/15 – Dayton, OH – Nutter Center