Carly Pearce Carves Out New Chapters On ’29: Written In Stone’

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Carly Pearce will expand on her critically-acclaimed February release, 29, with her recently unveiled album, 29: Written In Stone, due out Sept. 17 through Big Machine Records. To coincide with her induction into the Grand Ole Opry tonight (Aug. 3), Pearce offers fans “Dear Miss Loretta,” an outreach to the legendary Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn featuring country icon Patty Loveless. The new track is available everywhere now.

29: Written In Stone, produced by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, contains 15 songs–the original seven from 29, plus eight more that trace the arc of realizing, accepting, laughing, crying and moving on wiser for the experience. In the process of facing the loss of her producer and champion busbee to cancer and the break-up of her marriage, she discovered that not only will the truth set you free, but that songs are the greatest form of resilience and strength in the storm.

“So much has happened to me in the last year,” Pearce admits. “The more my life unraveled, the more the songs lifted me up. As the smoke cleared, and some unbelievable things started happening, I was writing even more truth and getting lifted up even higher–and I realized, as much as 29 captured a moment, I wasn’t done with the story.” She continues, “Once I started writing, I thought I’d gotten it all out of my system. But the songs just kept on coming, and I realized to truly understand how you come out the other side, not just a quick snapshot, this full project needed to happen. Now people can see how you thrive and shine even in the lowest moments.”

Pearce has certainly carved a place for herself in today’s country music landscape over the past year, going as far as taking home the 2021 ACM Award for Country Music Single and Music Event of the Year. “Next Girl,” her warning to a woman being smooth talked by a Romeo she knows too well, is rising at country radio and is nominated for MusicRow‘s 2021 Song of the Year. The winner will be announced on Aug. 19 via all MusicRow social platforms.

29: Written In Stone Track List:
1. Diamondback – Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, Tofer Brown, Shane McAnally
2. What He Didn’t Do – Carly Pearce, Ashley Gorley, Emily Shackelton
3. Easy Going – Carly Pearce, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne
4. Dear Miss Loretta (featuring Patty Loveless) – Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
5. Next Girl – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
6. Should’ve Known Better – Carly Pearce, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
7. 29 – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
8. Never Wanted To Be That Girl (featuring Ashley McBryde) – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
9. Your Drinkin’, My Problem – Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Sasha Sloan, Ben West
10. Liability – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
11. Messy – Carly Pearce, Sarah Buxton, Jimmy Robbins
12. Show Me Around – Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton, Ben West
13. Day One – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey
14. All The Whiskey In The World – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
15. Mean It This Time – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton

The Atlanta Braves, CMT Announce New Pre-Game Concert Series

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The Atlanta Braves and CMT are partnering to host CMT Hot Prospects–a free, summer pre-game concert series at The Battery Atlanta, featuring some of country music’s rising stars, including Cooper Alan and Willie Jones with more artists to be announced. CMT Hot Prospects kicked off last weekend (July 31), with Alan’s performance on the Georgia Power Pavilion stage ahead of the Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers game.

Concert recaps, hosted by CMT’s Ashley ShahAhmadi, will air the following week as part of CMT Hot 20 Countdown, airing Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. CT on CMT and promoted across the Atlanta Braves social channels. In addition to pre-game performances, each artist will be featured in various capacities within the game itself. 

“This partnership is a country music fan’s dream come true–Atlanta Braves baseball and live music! Each pre-game concert will feature some of CMT’s most promising new artists, our ‘hot prospects,’ who are well on their way to the big leagues of country music, delivering high energy entertainment directly to Braves fans attending the game in Atlanta and nationwide on our weekend series, CMT Hot 20 Countdown,” says Quinn Brown, executive producer of CMT Hot 20 Countdown. 

CMT Hot Prospects Schedule:
Saturday, July 31: Cooper Alan in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 7 & Aug. 8
Saturday, Aug. 7: Willie Jones in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 14 & Aug. 15
Saturday, Sept. 11: TBA concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Sept. 18 & Sept. 19

Weekly Register: Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris Chase After The Top Spot On Country Songs Chart

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Maren Morris & Ryan Hurd

This week, Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris‘ “Chasing After You” enters the top five country streaming songs at No. 4 with 7.2 million streams, contributing to an overall 96 million RTD, according to Nielsen. The Sony Music couple released the duet back in February of 2021. It currently sits at No. 16 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

In the third spot this week is Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s brand new single, “If I Didn’t Love You,” which makes its chart debut and earns 7.2 million first-week streams. The duet also debuts at No. 52 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart this week.

Monument Records’ Walker Hayes spends his third week at No. 1 with his quick hit, “Fancy Like,” gaining a staggering 11 million streams this week, placing him at No. 10 overall. Nelly & FGL maintain the second spot with “Lil Bit” adding another 7.6 million streams. Rounding out the top five country songs is Luke Combs‘ “Forever After All” which added 6.8 million streams this week.

Once again, the top country streaming albums ranks remain the same. Dangerous: The Double Album (Morgan Wallen) stays at No. 1, gaining 44,000 streams for an overall 53 million RTD, according to Nielsen. Wallen also takes the fourth spot with If I Know Me adding 15,000 streams. What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You (Combs) maintain their spots at No. 2 and No. 3 with 24,000 and 17,000 streams, respectively. Chris Stapleton‘s 2016 debut, award-winning album, Traveller, seals the top five with an additional 13,000 streams this week.

Gorley, Crowder, Phelps Dominate The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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For the third consecutive week, Ashley Gorley is the No. 1 songwriter on MusicRow‘s Top Songwriter Chart. Gorley co-wrote “Good Things” (Dan + Shay), “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Single Saturday Night” (Cole Swindell), and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).

Corey Crowder and Hunter Phelps remain at No. 2 and No. 3 this week, respectively. Zach Crowell moves up to No. 4, and Hardy rounds out the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

BMI Pays Tribute To The Best And Brightest With 2021 Christian Music Awards

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BMI celebrated the best in Christian music at its annual Christian Awards celebration today (Aug. 2). The honorees were announced on BMI.com and across the organization’s digital platforms, celebrating the encouraging and uplifting music of BMI’s Christian songwriters.

Song of the Year honors went to “Way Maker,” written by Sinach and published by Capitol CMG Publishing. In 2020, the hit also won the Dove Award for Song of the Year, making Sinach the first Nigerian Christian artist to win the award. The song has been covered by Christian rock band Leeland as well as Michael W. Smith. The Leeland and Smith versions of the song entered the Billboard Hot Christian Chart in the top ten, marking the first time in history that two versions of the same song resided together in the top of the chart.

For the third year in a row, the Songwriter of the Year award went to Ethan Hulse, who wrote “Rescue Story,” “Stand In Your Love” and “The Father’s House.” Capitol CMG took home the Publisher of the Year award, and the company had the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, including the hits “Believer,” “Burn the Ships,” “Dead Man Walking,” “God’s Not Done With You,” “Holy Water,” “Let It Rain (Is There Anybody),” “See a Victory,” “Stand In Your Love,” “The Blessing,” “The Father’s House,” “Way Maker,” and “You Are Loved.”

BMI created a page on its website where fans can watch special video messages and performances, listen to award-winning music, and more. A complete list of winners, video messages and performances, can be found at BMI.com/Christian2021.

“The BMI Christian Awards is one of our favorite annual celebrations, but it is especially meaningful after the events of the last year. Throughout this time, each and every one of these extraordinary songwriters has used their gift to uplift others,” says Leslie Roberts, AVP, Creative, BMI Nashville. “BMI is so proud to honor the creators of the inspirational songs of hope and faith that bring comfort to so many around the world. I am hopeful that we will all be together again to celebrate in person next year.”

In addition to the major award winners, BMI also paid homage to the Twenty-Five Most Performed Christian Songs of the Year (2020). This year’s winners featured 17 first time Christian award winners including Sinach (“Way Maker”), Cody Carnes (“The Blessing”), Franni Cash Cain (“Holy Water”), Martin Cash (“Holy Water”), Dillon Chase (“Symphony”), Dave Clark (“River”), Sheri Easter (“You Are Loved”), Cassidy Estevez (“Symphony”), Rob Estevez (“Symphony”), Luke Guevara (“Symphony”), Matt Hales (“Burn the Ships”), Jason Ingram (“Alive,” “See A Victory”), Ricky Jackson (“Together”), Andrew Ripp (“Rescue Story”), Rita Springer (“Stand In Your Love”), Mitch Wong (“Believer”), and Jimmy Yeary (“The God I Serve,” “Sometimes It’s The Radio”), who has previously been awarded seven BMI Country Awards. Legendary Christian songwriter and producer Bernie Herms received his 17th and 18th Awards. He was named 2016 Christian Songwriter of the Year and also wrote the 2016 Christian Song of the Year, “Good Good Father.”

Mark Your Calendar—August 2021

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Singles/Track Releases

August 2
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood/If I Didn’t Love You/BBR
Tim McGraw/7500 OBO/Big Machine
Walker Hayes/Fancy Like/Monument
Randall King/Record High/Warner Music Nashville
The Isaacs/The American Face/House of Isaacs
Maggie Baugh/Think About Me/Maggie Baugh
Kevin Mccoy Band/Blue Collar/Kevin Mccoy Band

August 6
Carter Winter feat. Allie Colleen/Love Like I Drink /Average Joes Entertainment
Ashley Cooke feat. Jimmie Allen/Good Goodbye/Back Blocks Music
Erin Kinsey/Just Drive

August 9
Kameron Marlowe/Giving You Up/Columbia
Dylan Scott/New Truck/Curb
George Birge/Beer Beer, Truck Truck/RECORDS
Cash Creek feat. Larry Stewart/Hard Time/CCB Nashville
Timothy Baker & Clayton Smalley/These Boots Were Made to Dance/YN Records
Mustangs Of The West/T-Shirt From California/Blue Elan
Queeva Do/Better Queeva

August 11
Carrie Cunningham/All Over Me/Sound Barn
Kate Cameron/27

August 13
Faith Schueler/Bless Your Heart
Sean Caramore/Later On, I’ll Know

August 16
Mitchell Tenpenny/Truth About You/Riser House/Columbia
Marynn Taylor/I Know A Girl/Black River

August 17
Bernadette Kathryn/I Just Wanna Dance/MC1

August 20
Caroline Kasay/Our Own World/Sincerely Music Group

August 23
Morgan Evans/Love Is Real/Warner Music Nashville
Frank Ray/Country’d Look Good On You/Stoney Creek Records

August 24
Danny Kensy/That Old Wind

August 27
Becca Bowen/Better Than the Dream/Sincerely Music Group

 

 

Album/EP Releases

Dan + Shay

August 6
Chris Young/Famous Friends/RCA Records Nashville
Sean McConnell/A Horrible Beautiful Dream/Soundly Music
Various Artists/Amerikinda: 20 Years Of Dualtone/Dualtone Music Group
Kolby Cooper/Boy From Anderson County/BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse RecordsCombustion Music
Travis Denning/Dirt Road Down/Mercury Nashville
Bo Daddy Harris/Get Busy Living/Southern Man Records
Jordan Rowe/Bad Case of the Good Ole Boy
Mark Germino/Midnight Carnival/Red Parlor Records

August 13
Dan + Shay/Good Things/Warner Music Nashville
Trisha Yearwood/Every Girl:Deluxe/Gwendolyn Records
Kalie Shorr/I Got Here By Accident/TMWRK Records
Clare Dunn/In This Kind of Light EP/Big Yellow Dog Music

August 20
Wanda Jackson/Encore/Big Machine Records/Blackheart Records
Maggie Rose/Have A Seat/Starstruck Records
Connie Smith/The Cry of The Heart/Fat Possum Records
Sam Williams/Glasshouse Children/Mercury Nashville
Anderson East/Maybe We Never Die/Elektra/Low Country Sound
James McMurtry/The Horses and The Hounds/New West Records
Manny Blue/Devil

August 27
Trace Adkins/The Way I Wanna Go/Verge Records
Michael Ray/Higher Education EP/Warner Music Nashville
Niko Moon/Good Time/RCA Nashville
King Calaway/Midnight EP/Stoney Creek Records
Ashley Cooke/Already Drank That Beer EP/Back Blocks Music

 

 

Industry Events

August 19
33rd Annual MusicRow Awards (virtual)

August 25
14th Annual ACM Honors

Details Announced For CRS 2022 In-Person Gathering

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Country Radio Seminar (CRS), country music’s largest industry gathering, will return in person at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 23 – 25, 2022.

CRS 2022 will also see the return of the CRS Streaming Summit on Wednesday, Feb. 23—which will likely address the online music listening and streaming subscriptions surge that took place during the pandemic. A one-day pass to attend the streaming summit will be available for $249 per person.

CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis, says “CRS ’22 will open Wednesday, February 23rd with our 2nd annual, all-day Streaming Summit; enhanced and customized to give attendees a live, unforgettable experience. And, we’ll be revealing additional blockbuster content in the next two weeks that will make CRS ’22 an important, necessary destination for everyone determined to preserve our format’s continued success and longevity. We’ll see you in February!”

Registration for CRS 2022 opens Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. CT at the Early Bird Rate of $549 per person and will be available for purchase at countryradioseminar.com. Effective Aug. 19, the rate will increase to $649 per person. A ticket to the annual New Faces of Country Music Showcase is only included with in-person registration packages and will only be available until full capacity is reached.

Following the success of CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience livestreams, CRS will also be offering a virtual track featuring livestream sessions and on-demand content from the 3-day event. Musical performances will only be available in-person and not available through the virtual experience. The Early Bird rate for a CRS Virtual pass is $99 per person, and effective Aug.19, the rate will increase to $129 per person. Full in-person registrants will also be provided access to the virtual experience and receive the on-demand session library.

CRS Board President, Kurt Johnson, adds, “We’re back—live, in-person and better than ever for CRS ’22. This will indeed be the greatest family reunion ever in country music, and it just wouldn’t be the same without you. So, make plans to join us at the Omni in February!”

Industry Ink: Deluge Music, AIMP, Billy Blue Publishing, StowTown Records

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Deluge Music Launches East Music Row, LLC

Pictured (L-R): Chris Alderman, President Deluge Management; Emily Dryburgh, Creative Director Deluge Music; Johnny Gates; David Robkin, Managing Member Deluge Music. Photo courtesy of Deluge Records.

Deluge Music has launched East Music Row, LLC–a joint venture with parent company Deluge Records specifically created to support artist Johnny Gates and the production, distribution, and marketing of his original music, as well as touring, merchandise, sponsorships, and more. The joint venture will be releasing Gates’ new single “Over You”on Aug. 13, with a full EP set for release in September.

Gates first signed an exclusive publishing deal with Deluge Music in May of 2020 and will continue to be managed by Deluge’s Emily Dryburgh and David Robkin, and supported by Deluge Management, LLC.

“Johnny is an amazing writer, vocalist and performer. His musical experience in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York has been the foundation for his unique, cross-genre music,” says Robkin. “We are thrilled to launch East Music Row and continue to support Johnny’s career.”

“As an artist who has always been caught in between East Nashville and Music Row, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to not just embrace that–but double down on it,” shares Gates. “East Music Row represents what’s been happening in Nashville for a few years now, and I’m thankful to be a part of a label that is artist-focused, open minded, and ready to shake things up. Deluge has quickly become a home for me, and I’m really excited to launch this next chapter with David and the rest of the Deluge team.”

 

 

AIMP To Host Royalty Q&A Webinar With Stefanie Taub

Stefanie Taub

AIMP will be hosting a Royalty Q&A webinar with AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund CEO, Stefanie Taub, on Aug. 5 at 4:30 p.m. To register for the free webinar, click here.

Throughout the afternoon, Taub will be explaining and answering questions regarding the oftentimes confusing world of royalties, including what they are, who is entitled to them, how to access them, and more.

She will also be discussing the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund (“The Fund”), a nonprofit that collects and distributes royalties to non-featured musicians and vocalists on sound recordings. Since its inception, The Fund has distributed over half a billion dollars in royalties.

 

 

David Morris Inks With Billy Blue Music Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Joe Dan Cornett, Creative Director, Billy Blue Music Publishing;
David Morris; Rick Shelton, Vice President of Music Publishing, Daywind Music

Award-winning songwriter David Morris has joined the ranks of Billy Blue Music Publishing, a part of the Daywind Music Group.

With over two dozen cuts by bluegrass artists, including Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Dale Ann Bradley, Greg Blake, Valerie Smith, and Dave Adkins, Morris has two No. 1 songs and three Top 10s to his credit on national bluegrass radio charts.

Morris and co-writers won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in 2015 and finished third in the same competition in 2016. He also received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Writer of the Year award in 2019 for his coverage of bluegrass music for Bluegrass Today.

“I’m excited to join the writing team at Billy Blue Music Publishing and look forward to discovering where this new path will take me,” Morris says. “I feel like I’ve found my home.”

 

 

StowTown Records Adds Three New Acts To Artist Roster

Independent Gospel Music label StowTown Records has added three acts to its multifaceted roster. Platinum-selling tenor David Phelps, genre-spanning trio the Booth Brothers, and award-winning group Legacy Five have each signed exclusive recording agreements with the Johnson City, Tennessee-based company.

“When I was a kid, I used to pretend the living room was my world-class recording studio and the kitchen served as my international headquarters—until Mom made us clean it up for dinner,” shares StowTown Records co-founder Wayne Haun. “As much as I hoped and dreamed it would happen, even I couldn’t imagine what a landmark year 2021 would be for me and our amazing team. I love being surrounded by people who really love this music!”

“I’m so excited to be partnering with the incredible team at StowTown,” Phelps says. “When it’s right you just know it. I look forward to a bright future together, taking music and hope to the world.”

“StowTown will make significant contributions to advancing our effectiveness and reach,” adds the Booth Brothers’ Michael Booth. “I believe their team will help us meet and exceed the high expectations set by the people who have supported us for years. We’re excited about the future and look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring.”

“As Legacy Five approaches our 22nd year in gospel music, we find ourselves embarking on ‘Something New’ as we partner with StowTown Records,” says Scott Fowler, Legacy Five founding member. “A symbol of excellence and integrity, StowTown represents an amazing family of artists, and we are very honored they have invited us into the fold. We look forward to this journey together.”

Marty Stuart Signs With Sheltered Music Publishing

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Pictured (L-R): Lance Freed (President Sheltered Music Publishing), Marty Stuart, Darrell Franklin (SVP Sheltered Music Publishing)

Marty Stuart has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Sheltered Music Publishing.

A five-time Grammy-winner, Platinum recording artist, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Americana Music Association, Grand Ole Opry star, country music archivist, photographer, musician, and songwriter, Stuart was also most recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame’s class of 2020 in the Modern Era Artist category.

Among his current projects are Songs I Sing In The Dark, a collection of songs recorded acoustically at Stuart’s former home outside of Nashville. An upcoming project Altitude, with his Fabulous Superlatives band, is also ready for release, and he and the Fabulous Superlatives are also putting the finishing touches on a yet-untitled cinematic surf record.

“When I met with Marty to ask him to join us at Sheltered Music with our promise to collaborate and help him in all of his future songwriting endeavors, he reached out with open arms and didn’t hesitate to say yes” says Sheltered Music SVP, Darrell Franklin. “Marty hasn’t lost a step as a writer or as a performer and we are honored and privileged that he has agreed to join us.”

“Humility and grace are part of the enduring character of people who have achieved greatness in their chosen field. Marty Stuart has already had a lasting, historical impact on country music,” says Sheltered Music President, Lance Freed.  “We are excited to be part of his next chapter as he continues to add to that legacy as a great musician and songwriter.”

“When it’s all said and done, the most important thing is the song,” states Stuart. “What often invites a great song into the room is an inviting, creative atmosphere, hosted by caring, musical people. You will not find any more loved and respected song men than Lance Freed and Darrell Franklin. Such pros, their track records say it all. It is such an honor to join forces with them.”

Spotify Launches Noteable Releases Playlist To Showcase Songwriters, Producers Behind Songs

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Following Spotify’s Noteable launch in February, the music service is bringing behind the scenes creators into the spotlight with the unveiling of Noteable Releases, the first-ever flagship playlist on Spotify that will highlight the collaborative process of making music and create visibility for the artist projects of songwriters and producers.

Updating every Friday and accompanied by features on the Noteable Releases shelf in the Songwriters Hub and Noteable’s Instagram account, the playlist will include releases from songwriters and producers around the world, from household names to up-and-comers and beyond, providing fans with an opportunity to discover music through a new lens.

Accompanying the playlist’s launch are Spotify Clips from Jack Antonoff, Zaytoven, Finneas O’Connell, Madi Yanofsky, and Autumn Rowe. The format features short videos of the artists putting their personal stamp on the playlist experience, shining a spotlight onto the song creation process and giving a voice to these often behind-the-scenes creators in order to help fans learn more about them.

“As a person who has always been curious who played what role behind the scenes on every project I’ve ever listened to and loved, I’m thrilled,” shares O’Connell. “Wish this had been around when I was 13, I would have eaten it up!”

“I think any way that people can start to understand more about how these records are made and what goes into them and the process is thrilling–I always used to dig up any information I could so the more readily available it is, is cool,” comments Antonoff.

To stream the new weekly curated playlist, click here.