Kane Brown To Be Featured On Amazon’s New Weekly Concert Series, ‘Amazon Music Live’

/by

Amazon Music has unveiled its new weekly, livestream concert series Amazon Music Live. Featuring artists from a wide variety of genres performing their latest hits live, the series will be hosted by Grammy-winning hip-hop artist 2 Chainz and will air on Prime Video following Thursday Night Football.

Streamed live from Los Angeles, Amazon Music Live will premiere Oct. 27 with musical guest Lil Baby. On Nov. 3, three-time Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion will grace the Amazon Music Live stage, and on Nov. 10, country music superstar Kane Brown will treat fans to songs from his new album, Different Man. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Whether you’re a sports fan waiting for the first football game of the week, or a music fan staying up late to hear the latest drop from your favorite artist, Thursday is the biggest night for entertainment,” explains Kirdis Postelle, Global Head of Artist Marketing of Amazon Music. “With Amazon Music Live, we’ve created a new, can’t-miss series for fans to experience the most exciting new music together. For artists, this show represents a massive new stage to share their music with fans after Thursday Night Football—the biggest game of the week, airing live on Prime Video.”

YouTube video

Each week’s performance will be filmed in front of a live audience. In addition to hosting the series, 2 Chainz will interview each artist during Thursday Night Football shoulder programming. Each concert will also be available to stream on-demand for a limited time.

“Every Thursday night, I’m bringing the biggest and the brightest stars in music to the Amazon Music Live stage in Los Angeles,” adds 2 Chainz. “We have the people that are influencing the culture and have carved their own unique path in music, like Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kane Brown. Amazon Music Live is the only place to be for the official Thursday turn up!”

ACM Lifting Lives Announces 2022-2023 Grant Cycle Recipients

/by

ACM Lifting Lives has announced its 2022-2023 grant cycle beneficiaries, which include Abilities First, Inc.; the Dee Dee Jackson Foundation; Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee; Lawrence Hall; Melodic Caring Project; Musicians On Call; Operation Song; Resounding Joy, Inc.; and Songs for Sound, Inc.

The 2022-2023 recipients work with children, veterans and active-duty military members and their families, school programs, those fighting illnesses, and more across the U.S. Additionally, ACM Lifting Lives has provided grants to organizations prioritizing mental/physical well-being, including Music Health Alliance and counseling services through Porter’s Call.

These grants, as well as the organization’s ongoing digital content series The Check-In, which features artists delving into their own mental health experiences and sharing how music has played a role in their healing, underscore the importance of supporting music therapy, mental health organizations, and individuals struggling with these mental and emotional challenges.

“We are honored to announce our newest grant recipients, compromised of organizations that will continue doing essential work and making an impact on so many people nationwide. We are grateful to the country music community for supporting ACM Lifting Lives and making it possible for us to contribute to these worthy groups and support their meaningful work,” notes Lyndsay Cruz, ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director.

Launched in May 2022 and tied to Mental Health Awareness Month, this allocation of grants continues ACM Lifting Lives’ history of supporting diverse and impactful organizations providing music therapy programs, shining a national spotlight on their work, and harnessing the healing and rejuvenating power of music.

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Announces Dates For 2023

/by

Jon Batiste. Photo: Terry Wyatt

Fresh on the heels of its successful 2022 event just weeks ago, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has announced its dates for 2023. The two-day event will return to Harlinsdale Park in Franklin, Tennessee on Sept. 23-24, 2023.

Brandi Carlile. Photo: Erika Goldring

Over 17,000 packed the grounds for this year’s festival, which featured plenty of food, fun and performances from Brandi Carlile, Jon Batiste, Elle King, Butch Walker, Marty Stuart, and more. The weekend closed out with sets from the Avett Brothers and Chris Stapleton.

Crowds also enjoyed refreshments at the Farm-to-Turntable Food Truck Park and in the Craft Beer Hall, and in between sets, shopped from local artisans and retailers in Makers Village.

Fans can sign up to receive e-mail alerts at pilgrimagefestival.com and be the first to know about pre-sales, lineup information, and more.

Chris Stapleton. Photo: Terry Wyatt

Old Dominion To Hit The Road In Spring 2023, Whiskey Jam To Be Opening Act Support Partner

/by

Old Dominion performs at Whiskey Jam. Photo: Mason Allen

At Monday night’s Whiskey Jam, award-winning country group Old Dominion announced they will kick off their “No Bad Vibes Tour” this spring.

Old Dominion, who got their start as regulars on the Whiskey Jam stage, was joined by rising country stars and Whiskey Jam favorites Shawn Austin, Greylan James, Kassi Ashton and Frank Ray. All of which will be joining the band as support on the “No Bad Vibes Tour” in a first of its kind opportunity with Whiskey Jam acting as the opening act support partner.

The “No Bad Vibes Tour” follows Old Dominion’s run on Kenny Chesney’s “Here and Now 2022 Tour,” which included 23 stadium shows this summer. The reigning four-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year and five-time ACM Group of the Year will kick off the 30-date-run on Jan. 19, 2023 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana and run through July 30.

Of the tour, Old Dominion front man Matthew Ramsey shares, “At an Old Dominion show, I think we just want people to feel happy. They should feel like they got to forget about whatever is bothering them or whatever’s weighing them down in that point in time. Just come and hangout with us, and escape for a couple hours. Then hopefully they walk out feeling a little lighter than when they walked in.”

American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Thursday, Oct. 27 at 10:00 p.m. local time.

Old Dominion “No Bad Vibes Tour” Dates:
1/19 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center
1/20 – Champaign, IL – State Farm Center
1/21 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The Mark
1/27 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Center
1/28 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
1/30 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
2/9 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
2/10 – Rockford, IL – BMO Harris Bank Center
2/11 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Alliant Energy PowerHouse
2/16 – Rapid City, SD – Summit Arena
2/17 – Mankato, MN – Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center
2/18 – Duluth, MN – Amsoil Arena
2/23 – Idaho Falls, ID – Hero Arena at Mountain America Center
2/24 – Boise, ID – ExtraMile Arena
2/25 – Kennewick, WA – Toyota Center
2/28 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
3/2 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
3/3 – Calgary, AB – Saddledome
3/9 – Lethbridge, AB – Enmax Centre
3/10 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre
3/11 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
3/31 – Key West, FL – Coffee Butler Amphitheater
4/1 – Key West, FL – Coffee Butler Amphitheater
4/13 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
4/14 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
4/15 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
5/4 – Savannah, GA – EnMarket Arena
5/5 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
5/27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
5/28 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
6/30 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s

Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Rises On Top Country Albums Chart Ahead Of ‘Midnights’ Release

/by

Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift has been slowly moving back up the top country albums chart over the last few weeks in anticipation of her new record Midnights, releasing this Friday (Oct. 21). Her re-recorded Red (Taylor’s Version) has risen two spots to No. 3 this week, adding 17K in total consumption (2.7K album only/18 million song streams), according to Luminate.

Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album keeps its spot atop the country albums chart with 46K in total consumption (1.2 K album only/56 million song streams). Wallen’s If I Know Me also comes back into the fold in the No. 5 spot with 16K. Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak remains in second with 28K, and Kane Brown‘s Different Man fills in the fourth spot with 16K.

On the country streaming songs chart, Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” notches a fourth week at the top, gaining 16 million streams this week. For another week Wallen’s “You Proof” follows at No. 2 with 11 million, Luke Combs‘ “The Kind Of Love We Make” takes No. 3 with 9.9 million, and Bailey Zimmerman‘s “Rock And A Hard Place” keeps the No. 4 spot with 9.4 million streams. Rounding out the top five songs is Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown‘s “Thank God,” which racked up 8.2 million streams.

Russell Dickerson Signs With Concord Music Publishing

/by

Pictured (L-R, top row): John Dennis, Grace Schoper, Legina Chaudoin, David Crow, Matt Turner, Ashley Nite, Shawn Thompson, Duff Berschback. (L-R, bottom row): Courtney Allen, Brad Kennard, Russell Dickerson, Melissa Spillman, Jen Hubbard

Russell Dickerson has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing.

The deal includes Dickerson’s full catalog and future works, and Concord has additionally acquired an interest in his back catalog, including titles such as “Yours,” “Every Little Thing,” “Blue Tacoma” and more.

A Tennessee native, Dickerson’s breakthrough hit “Yours” arrived in 2015 and is triple Platinum. He followed that up with three more Platinum chart toppers: “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing” and “Love You Like I Used To.” Dropping two albums –Yours (2017) and Southern Symphony (2020) – his streaming numbers have hit 2.2 billion across platforms and led to tours with Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and Kane Brown.

Dickerson is the first artist to release four consecutive singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since Luke Combs. He also joins Combs as the second solo artist and fourth act overall to have four or more singles reach No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart since its inception.

His latest single, “She Likes It” with Jake Scott, already reached Platinum status with over 170 million streams to date. His 15-track, self-titled third album will be released on November 4, and he co-wrote all 15 tracks, including “I Wonder,” his newest single released on September 30. Dickerson also collaborated with Cheat Codes on the crossover hit “I Remember,” which dropped this summer. He is currently embarking on a sold-out tour in the UK and will headline a U.S. tour starting next month.

“Russell is a bona fide country music super-star! From the writing and recording of his albums, to the incredibly energetic performances in his live shows, he leads every facet of his career with true passion and intense emotion,” shares Brad Kennard, SVP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Nashville. “We could not be more thrilled to represent his incredible catalog and work alongside him in the years to come!”

“I’m excited to be joining the Concord family,” shares Dickerson. “I love that they are an independent company with worldwide reach. They value songwriters and today I’m humbled to be joining their roster of incredible talent.”

Industry Ink: Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Bailey Zimmerman, The Outlaws

/by

Luke Bryan Expands Jockey Partnership With New Outdoors Collection

Luke Bryan. Photo: Courtesy of Schmidt Relations

Jockey has launched its Jockey Outdoors Collection by Luke Bryan. The collection features long sleeve woven, corduroy and flannel shirts and shackets; a long-sleeve performance fishing shirt with vertical ventilation, rod holder tab on the left chest and a hidden microfiber cloth for easy sunglass cleaning; long-sleeve henleys and crews; graphic tees; and convertible, utility and flannel-lined pants.

“When my friends at Jockey first brought this up it was an easy yes for me,” Bryan explains. “One, they are just a wonderful company with values that align with mine and two, I have always been an advocate for the love of outdoors, so it was a no brainer. Once I got my hands on the product and felt the quality, I became even more fired up for this to show up in the stores.”

“As an avid outdoorsman and already a Jockey brand ambassador, Luke was the perfect fit for this next step for Jockey, allowing us to step back to our roots, incorporate our base layer expertise and develop the Jockey Outdoors Collection, which we think will be a hit with our consumers,” notes Jockey President and COO Mark Fedyk. “Luke was highly involved in the design and painstaking quality standards of the line. His attention to detail, demand for quality, and expectation of performance and comfort aligned perfectly with our brand pillars.”

The Jockey Outdoors Collection is available now. Through the end of 2022, Jockey will donate a portion of the collection’s sales to support adoptive and foster families across the United States.

 

 

Maren Morris Celebrates Some New RIAA Gold

Maren Morris. Photo: Rachel Deeb

Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris headlined Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Bowl last Thursday (Oct. 13) with special guest appearances from John Mayer and Hozier. During the stop, she also received an official plaque for her newly Gold-certified track “Circles Around This Town,” the lead single from her latest album Humble Quest.

Humble Quest, released in March via Columbia Nashville and nominated for Album Of The Year at this year’s CMA Awards, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and broke the record for most first day and first week streams globally on Amazon Music for a country album by a female artist.

The Hollywood Bowl show came in the midst of Morris’ “Humble Quest Tour,” wrapping up in December with a headline date at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

 

 

Bailey Zimmerman Plays Sold Out Album Launch Show In Nashville

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Liles (Chairman & CEO, 300 Elektra Entertainment), Cris Lacy (Co-President, Warner Music Nashville), Bailey Zimmerman exuding pure joy, Mike Easterlin (President, Elektra Music Group)

Ahead of the release of his debut EP, Leave The Light On, last Friday (Oct. 14), Bailey Zimmerman made a pit stop in Nashville for a special launch party and his first-ever Nashville headlining show.

The celebrations began with a MAXXED Diesel Custom Lifted Truck Show block party that featured vendor giveaways and games for attendees. Fans filled the performance space at Yee-Haw Brewing Co. for the evening’s main event where Zimmerman performed his mega hits “Rock And A Hard Place,” “Where It Ends,” current top 10 single “Fall In Love” and more.

 

The Outlaws Donate $25,000 To MusiCares

Henry Paul & Alicia Warwick

Henry Paul of The Outlaws recently continued the band’s annual tradition of donating to MusiCares, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance for medical expenses to uninsured musicians. Paul presented a $25,000 check to Alicia Warwick, Senior Executive Director of the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter.

“Our commitment to this cause has raised over $100,000 in the past six years and we will continue to support MusiCares as we move forward,” explains Paul. “We’d like to thank the Robert E. & Marie Orr Smith Foundation for their generous support, our charity manager, Lori Eyler and friends for their hard work, the Four Horsemen Society for their ongoing contributions and Outlaws fans everywhere. Together we are making a difference.”

Mayor John Cooper, Titans Announce Deal For New Domed Stadium In Nashville

/by

Nissan Stadium. Photo: by Gabriel Tovar

The Tennessee Titans and Nashville Mayor John Cooper have officially announced a deal between the organization and city to build a new, enclosed stadium that would cost over $2 billion without burdening the Nashville taxpayers.

This new stadium will open up a world of possibilities for Nashville as the planned stadium will fit between 55,000 to 60,000 spectators. A brand new, state-of-the art stadium will attract events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA College Football Playoffs, the Grammys and create an atmosphere for CMA Fest that has never been seen before. An enclosed arena will guarantee an inclement weather-free experience for Titans fans and concert-goers.

This monumental deal will be paid for by a sales tax in Nissan Stadium, marking a 130-acre radius around the stadium’s campus, and with a 7 percent hotel occupancy tax in Davidson County. No money from the city’s general fund will go towards the stadium’s construction.

“This new stadium proposal protects Metro taxpayers by not spending a single dollar that could be spent elsewhere on our core priorities like education and public safety,” Cooper noted in his press conference. “Doing nothing was not a legal option for us, and renovating the current stadium proved to be financially irresponsible, so we are proposing a new stadium paid for by the team, the state, tourists and spending around the stadium–not by your family.”

Funding for the new stadium comes from four separate revenue sources, described in detail below. The Titans, the NFL, and personal seat license (PSL) sales represent the largest source of funding for the new stadium. General obligation bonds are not a part of the proposal, and zero dollars are required from Metro’s operating budget.

Sources of Funding For the New Stadium:

  • Football-Related Sources: Titans, NFL (subject to final NFL approval), and PSL sales ($840 million)
  • State: A one-time contribution ($500 million) contingent on the building of a new, enclosed stadium
  • Hospitality: Tourists and visitors through a new 1% hotel/motel tax contingent on the building of a new, enclosed stadium
  • Stadium/Campus: Sales and use taxes collected at the stadium and on its campus.

The remaining $760 million will come from revenue bonds issued by the Metro Sports Authority to be repaid through the revenue streams described above, all of which, per state statute, can only be used for this project or other stadium-related costs.

“I’m grateful to Amy Adams Strunk, Burke Nihill and the entire Titans organization for their commitment to Nashville,” Cooper added. “Residents’ tax dollars can go to core city services because the Titans have stepped up to cover future ongoing maintenance on the new stadium. I’d also like to thank Governor [Bill] Lee and our partners at the state legislature for recognizing the Titans’ enormous economic contributions. Together, we are making sure that the Titans stay in Tennessee for generations to come.”

The proposed stadium would be built directly east of Nissan Stadium on land that is currently parking lots. As part of the proposal, Metro would regain control of over 66 acres of land, including the existing Nissan Stadium site. Land that would have remained surface parking for the next 17 years can now serve Nashville with a large park, greenways, affordable housing, a multi-modal boulevard, local businesses and more–all without selling any public land.

The Titans have agreed to maintain and backstop upkeep over the life of the lease, and Metro will own the stadium when the lease expires–creating a multi-billion dollar asset for the city.

“Nashville’s new stadium will be a game changer for the community, enhancing the national and international reputation of our great city and state and delivering world-class events to our doorstep that we could never have dreamed of 25 years ago,” says Titans President and CEO, Burke Nihill. “We couldn’t be more appreciative of Mayor Cooper’s commitment to prioritizing the taxpayers of Nashville and his vision for a bold future on the East Bank. We look forward to the discussion of these terms with Metro Council and the Sports Authority, and hearing from our neighbors in the community as this process continues.”

The new lease will run for a minimum of 30 years, and the new stadium could be ready as early as the 2026 NFL season.

Jason Aldean’s ‘Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour’ Shakes Up Bridgestone Arena

/by

Jason Aldean plays Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Chris Owyoung

Jason Aldean‘s “Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour” lit up Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night (Oct. 14), bringing 100 minutes of action to a packed house.

John Morgan, Chase Rice and DeeJay Silver warmed up the stage for the multi-Platinum artist, who opened the night with the fitting “Lights Come On.” With the crowd audibly showing their excitement, the Georgia native and his five-piece band ripped right into “Girl Like You” and took it all the way back to his first album with “Amarillo Sky.”

“It’s been about four years since we played here at Bridgestone,” Aldean shared with the hometown audience. “We’ve had this one circled on the calendar for quite a while so I have a feeling tonight’s gonna be a good time and that we might be here for a while. You guys settle in.”

Promising a stacked show of new songs from his recently released double album, Macon, Georgia, as well as familiar songs from past albums, Aldean went into his most recent No. 1 single, “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” before rolling through some of his nearly 20 years of hits. The entertainer gave lively performances of his ode to Nashville in “Crazy Town,” his essentially evergreen “Big Green Tractor,” “Take A Little Ride” and more.

Jason Aldean plays Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Chris Owyoung

After taking a temp check with the crowd, Aldean set the stage for his newest single to country radio, “That’s What Tequila Does,” and brought the tempo down a tick with “Got What I Got” and “When She Says Baby,” which proved to be a crowd favorite as they screamed it back to the cowboy hat-donned singer.

“One thing I notice is that whenever artists play their hometown show, we kind of like to call up some friends and bring them on stage,” he noted, starting a string of musical guests who would take the stage. John Morgan returned to the mic first, accompanying Aldean on the Ashley Monroe and Brett James-penned smash “The Truth.”

Next, the crowd was surprised by Miranda Lambert walking on stage as her hit “Kerosene” blasted through the speakers. “Miranda and I go back a long way. I always said if I wanted to be a chick in country music, I’d want to be her.” The pair broke out into their 2018 hit, “Drowns The Whiskey,” marking only the second time they’ve been able to perform it live.

Aldean unveiled the final guest to grace the stage: country star Morgan Wallen. Accompanied by deafening screams from the audience, Wallen broke out solo into “Whiskey Glasses.” As the crowd erupted and chanted their praises, Aldean shared the story behind his monster hit “You Make It Easy.”

“A lot of people may not know this, but before Morgan really started to have some hits of his own, we recorded a song that he wrote and it was a pretty big song for us. I thought maybe I would get him to stick around. We’ve never done this song together before so I thought [we might do it tonight],” he said before the two entertainers swapped verses to the tune.

Pictured (L-R): Jon Loba, President BMG Nashville; Clarence Spalding, Maverick; Kevin Neal, WME; Jason Aldean; Chris Parr, Maverick; and Brian O’Connell, Live Nation. Photo: Chris Owyoung

The decorated vocalist then took his turn at the keyboard for “If I Didn’t Love You,” which featured Carrie Underwood delivering her lines on Aldean’s massive video wall. He fired off into “Tattoos On This Town,” “We Back” and “Dirt Road Anthem,” all of which earned roaring background vocals from the crowd.

“If you’ve ever been to one of our shows then you know that we do things a little differently. A lot of times, somewhere toward the end of the show, you guys think the show is over, the artist goes backstage, and you guys sit out here and clap for 5-10 minutes trying to get them to come back out and play a couple more songs. It’s called an encore, but I call it bullshit,” Aldean stated. “I just want to play you guys everything we got and when the show’s over, it’s just over.”

Aldean explained that this was his favorite part of the show and that it was time to kick it into overdrive for the last blast of songs. Starting with “My Kinda Party,” which showed off his band’s impressive musicianship, the award-winning artist delivered a one-two punch to close the nearly two dozen-song set with “She’s Country” and his breakout 2005 hit “Hicktown.”

The “Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour” will take a break this coming weekend for the Country Thunder Festival in Florida, but will pick back up with shows in Iowa (Oct. 27), Missouri (Oct. 28) and Kansas (Oct. 29).

Tenille Townes To Embark On ‘Side A+B Tour’ In 2023

/by

Tenille Townes

Tenille Townes will explore both her reflective songwriter side and her rock star energy on the upcoming “Side A + B Tour,” kicking off in January.

The trek starts Jan. 18 in Portland, Oregon and visits Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary and more through Jan. 29. Tickets are available beginning Oct. 21.

“We’re going to be doing something a little different on this tour, creating a show that reflects both sides of who I am and the music I make: the reflective songwriter and the rock and roll entertainer all in one setlist,” Townes explains. “I can’t wait to see everybody at these clubs, singing these songs and coming together as our community!”

Townes co-hosted the CCMAs alongside Blanco Brown, and earned trophies for Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year (“Girl Who Didn’t Care”), her fourth consecutive Female Artist of the Year award, as well as Entertainer and Album of the Year honors (Masquerades).