Taylor Swift’s ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ Will Not Be Submitted For Grammy, CMA Award Consideration

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Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant.

Taylor Swift will not be submitting Fearless (Taylor’s Version), the re-recorded version of her 2008 studio album that released earlier this year, for Grammy or CMA Awards consideration.

“After careful consideration, Taylor Swift will not be submitting Fearless (Taylor’s Version) in any category at this year’s upcoming Grammy and CMA Awards,” says a statement provided to MusicRow from a Republic Records spokesperson. “Fearless has already won four Grammys including album of the year, as well as the CMA Award for album of the year in 2009/2010 and remains the most awarded country album of all time.”

The statement goes on to share that Swift’s ninth studio album, Evermore, released in December of 2020, will be submitted to the Grammys for consideration in all eligible categories.

Evermore arrived only five months after the surprise release of Folklore, Swift’s groundbreaking eighth studio album. Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Evermore marked her eighth consecutive No. 1 debut. After its return to No. 1 in June for a fourth nonconsecutive week, the early 2020 Christmas present gave Swift the third-most weeks at No. 1 behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

The Grammy-winning songstress went to work remaking Fearless after Scooter Braun’s infamous purchase of her former label, Big Machine Label Group, in 2019. The acquisition included the rights to her first six albums: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Sparks Fly, Red, 1989, and Reputation.

Since the initial purchase, Swift has begun an extensive re-recording project of those six albums. As previously announced, Swift has shared that the next album fans can expect is Red (Taylor’s Version), which is set to release on Nov. 19.

Brandi Carlile Announces Upcoming Album ‘In These Silent Days’

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Brandi Carlile. Photo: Neil Krug

Six-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer and New York Times best selling author Brandi Carlile will be releasing her new album In These Silent Days on Oct. 1 via Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. Ahead of the release, the album’s first single “Right On Time,” featuring a music video directed by Courteney Cox, has been unveiled today (July 21).

Inspired by the mining of her own history while writing her No. 1 New York Times best selling memoir, Broken Horses (Crown), In These Silent Days was born while Carlile was quarantined at home with longtime collaborators and bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The ten songs depict acceptance, faith, loss, and love, while channeling icons like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Joni Mitchell. The project was once again recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A with producers Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings.

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“Never before have the twins and I written an album during a time of such uncertainty and quiet solitude. I never imagined that I’d feel so exposed and weird as an artist without the armor of a costume, the thrill of an applause and the platform of the sacred stage. Despite all this, the songs flowed through—pure and unperformed, loud and proud, joyful and mournful.” Carlile continues, “[It was] written in my barn during a time of deep and personal reckoning. There’s plenty of reflection… but mostly it’s a celebration. This album is what drama mixed with joy sounds like. It’s resistance and gratitude, righteous anger and radical forgiveness. It’s the sound of these silent days.”

Carlile will perform select headline shows this year, including an upcoming concert at NYC’s Forest Hills Stadium on July 23, as well as two nights at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sept. 11 and 12. Additionally, her Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival will return to the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico next February, featuring performances by Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, Indigo Girls, Lucius, Margo Price, Yola, KT Tunstall, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Katie Pruitt, and more.

In These Silent Days Track List:
1. Right On Time
2. You And Me On The Rock
3. This Time Tomorrow
4. Broken Horses
5. Letter To The Past
6. Mama Werewolf
7. When You’re Wrong
8. Stay Gentle
9. Sinners Saints And Fools
10.Throwing Good After Bad

Lily Rose Inks With WME [Exclusive]

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Lily Rose. Photo: Katie Kauss

Breakout artist Lily Rose has signed with WME.

Rose’s debut single, “Villain,” was released last December and debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre and country charts. After leaking a clip of the track, Rose quadrupled her social media following across all platforms, notching over 6M views, 2.8M likes, and 512k followers on TikTok. Since January, Rose has also released “Overnight Sensation” and “Remind Me of You,” with her upcoming song, “Know My Way Around,” due out Friday, July 23.

Rose is nominated for the 2021 MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year award. This year’s winners will be announced on Aug. 19. She will also be joining Chris Lane this fall for his Fill Them Boots tour kicking off in October.

Signed to Big Loud Records, Republic Records and Back Blocks Music, Rose continues to be represented for management by Fusion Music/Red Light Management and Back Blocks Management and for public relations by OH Creative PR.

Warner Chappell Production Music Reveals Sweeping Rebrand

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Warner Chappell Production Music (WCPM), creative partner to content creators, technology platforms and the TV/film, streaming, broadcast, sports, and advertising industries, has unveiled a top-to-bottom rebrand, including a new logo and website. The effort was spearheaded by WCPM’s co-heads Alec Sharpe, Head of Business Development & Operations, and Pat Weaver, Head of Production.

Drawing creative inspiration from parent company Warner Chappell Music, the new logo pays homage to the publisher’s signature gold crown monogram, while the font’s distinctive script handwriting represents WCPM’s ingenuity and diversity of thought. The website includes new visual elements with sleek design choices, and serves as WCPM’s flagship licensing tool – offering 135,000+ unique tracks – and features a number of elements including a recommendation engine that references streaming links and MP3s.

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“We’re thrilled for the bright future ahead for WCPM and the opportunity to better serve our clients through unmatched service and a much-improved music search experience,” says Sharpe. “With a new look and feel and the support of Warner Chappell’s SVP of Creative Services, Ashley Winton, along with Co-Chairs Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, this is the start of a dynamic new era in our evolution.”

WCPM has also appointed Julia Sassi, an experienced production music executive, as its new Head of WCPM France. Sassi’s primary focus is on expanding WCPM France’s custom music footprint and uncovering new opportunities with advertising clients and television and film production companies. Additionally, Sinéad Hartmann has been named VP of Licensing & Music Creative, based in LA, where she oversees the U.S. sync and creative teams in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York, as well as Canada and Latin America. Gavin Carroll has also joined as the company’s new Sr. Creative Director, Licensing in New York, where he works primarily with advertising clients.

“It’s an exciting time to be with WCPM as we expand our custom music services, grow our production music catalog, and kick off the first projects in our new recording facilities,” shares Weaver. “We’ve greatly expanded our music talent pool over the past year and are thrilled to have fresh leadership perspectives from Julia and Sinéad. We’re looking forward to this next chapter.”

The announcement follows the openings of SkyLight Studios in Hollywood and Sandtrack Sound in Nashville. Both locations are already being used for music projects from top brands, TV shows, and companies.

IBMA Reveals 2021 Bluegrass Music Award Nominees, Hall Of Fame Inductees

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The nominees for the 32nd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards have been revealed, in addition to the 2021 Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees.

The five nominees for this year’s Entertainer of the Year include Balsam Range, Billy Strings, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury Band, and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. View the full list of nominees below.

The awards, presented by Yamaha, are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Winners will be revealed at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will also include the induction of three artists who were announced as the newest inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, including one of the most acclaimed artists in the history of bluegrass, Alison Krauss; trailblazing bandleader/banjoist Lynn Morris; and early bluegrass influencers the Stoneman Family.

Additionally, those who have made significant contributions to bluegrass music were named as recipients of the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award. The five honorees are industry leader Nancy Cardwell Webster, broadcaster Lee Michael Demsey, Czech luthier/performer Jaroslav Prucha, musician/performer Cliff Waldron, and Boston Bluegrass Union’s Stan Zdonik. The recipients will be who also be honored on Sept. 30 during a luncheon at the IBMA Business Conference.

2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Balsam Range
Billy Strings
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

Vocal Group of the Year
Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Balsam Range
Blue Highway
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Sister Sadie

Instrumental Group of the Year
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Travelin’ McCourys

New Artist of the Year sponsored by Ron & Nancy McFarlane
Appalachian Road Show
Carolina Blue
Gina Furtado Project
High Fidelity
Merle Monroe

Song of the Year
“Banjo Player’s Blues” by High Fidelity
“Hitchhiking to California” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne
“Just Load the Wagon” by Junior Sisk
“Leaving on Her Mind” by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
“Richest Man” by Balsam Range

Album of the Year
Bluegrass 2020 – Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
Distance and Time – Becky Buller
Fall Like Rain – Justin Moses
Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various Artists
Load the Wagon – Junior Sisk
Still Here – Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford

Gospel Recording of the Year
“After Awhile” by Dale Ann Bradley
“Grit and Grace” by Balsam Range
“Hear Jerusalem Calling” by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore
“When He Calls My Name” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne

Instrumental Recording of the Year
“The Appalachian Road” by Appalachian Road Show
“Foggy Mountain Chimes” by Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
“Ground Speed” by Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
“Mountain Strings” by Sierra Hull
“Taxland” by Justin Moses with Sierra Hull

Collaborative Recording of the Year
“Birmingham Jail” by Barry Abernathy with Vince Gill
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason
“My Baby’s Gone” by Justin Moses with Del McCoury
“Tears of Regret” by High Fidelity with Jesse McReynolds
“White Line Fever” by Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull,

Male Vocalist of the Year
Ronnie Bowman
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley
Junior Sisk
Larry Sparks

Female Vocalist of the Year
Brooke Aldridge
Dale Ann Bradley
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Rhonda Vincent

Banjo Player of the Year
Gena Britt
Gina Furtado
Rob McCoury
Kristin Scott Benson
Scott Vestal

Bass Player of the Year
Mike Bub
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Player of the Year
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Deanie Richardson

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Justin Moses

Guitar Player of the Year sponsored by Yamaha
Trey Hensley
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Jake Workman

Mandolin Player of the Year
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Tristan Scroggins

Plans For New Lefty Frizzell Biopic Unveiled

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Lefty Frizzell

A new documentary and biopic on country legend Lefty Frizzell is in the works from Extrovert Entertainment under the creative direction of Emmy-winning director and producer M. Douglas Silverstein.

Frizzell’s career in the national spotlight lasted 25 years, producing a total of 39 Top 100 songs and six No. 1’s on the Billboard charts. His major hits include “I Love You A Thousand Ways,” “Always Late,” “Long Black Veil,” “That’s The Way Love Goes,” “If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time,” “Mom & Dad’s Waltz,” and “Saginaw Michigan.” Frizzell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in July of 1951 and, since passing in 1975 at the age of 47, has been posthumously honored with inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

His traditional country roots and unique vocal styling made an impression on a legion of hitmakers who openly credit Frizzell as their inspiration, including Merle Haggard, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, John Fogerty, and Willie Nelson who recorded a whole album of Frizzell songs out of respect to his hero.

Pictured (L-R): Marlon Frizzell, M. Douglas Silverstein, David Frizzell, and Allen Frizzell. Photo: Jeremy Westby

“Lefty is often referred to as the original Elvis, from the way he moved on stage, his legendary stage clothes, and how his good looks and voice made women swoon, but beyond his talent is a fascinating story worthy of both a documentary and biopic,” says Silverstein. “I’m thrilled to be working directly with the Frizzells’ to show the world the full legacy of Lefty Frizzell from the man, the many myths, and the wonderful music he created.”

“It has been my goal for a long time to get [my] brother Lefty’s story documented on the big screen,” says Lefty’s younger brother David Frizzell. “Now, with the help of M. and all the great people behind the camera, we are finally going to get to make this a reality.”

2021 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Song Of The Year

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Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 33rd MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Song of the Year category. The nominees honor Nashville writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart performance, during the eligibility period of June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 23 at 5 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscribed member here.

“Black Like Me”
“If you think we live in the land of the free / you should try to be Black like me.” It is a powerful sentiment delivered by Mickey Guyton’s equally powerful voice. The song was written by Guyton in 2019 at a cross-genre writing camp with Nathan Chapman, Emma Davidson-Dillon and Fraser Churchill. She released the recording in June 2020, making an important statement in a time of social unrest, and received widespread critical acclaim. Guyton’s remarkable year included making history as the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category, for Best Country Solo Performance for “Black Like Me,” which she performed as part of the awards ceremony. In addition, she co-hosted the ACM Awards. This is her first MusicRow Awards nomination, and she is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

“Give Heaven Some Hell”
Penned by Hardy with Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, and Hunter Phelps, “Give Heaven Some Hell” is a song full of heart, grief and ultimately, hope. On first listen it could come across as a redneck ode to the afterlife—a good ole boy’s dream of muddy fields, beer and clear, and hitting “gold streets on two-wheels.” But a few more listens reveal depth below the surface, with imagery and rhyme (“Make some thunder / make ‘em wonder how you got in”) and references to classic hymns (“Amazing Grace,” “Just As I Am”). Produced by Joey Moi with co-production by Derek Wells, it is from Hardy’s debut album A Rock and is the follow-up single to his No. 1 hit “One Beer.” Gorley is the reigning MusicRow Male Songwriter of the Year and is nominated again this year. Moi is vying for Producer of the Year and Johnson is up for Breakthrough Artist-Writer.

“Half Of My Hometown”
Written by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins, and Nicolle Galyon, it is a heartfelt tribute to hometowns, and the conflicting desires to stay or leave the place where you grew up. (“Stay or leave / part of me / will always be / half of my hometown”). For the recording Ballerini tapped fellow Knoxville native Kenny Chesney to add harmonies. It is from her self-titled third album Kelsea, which she co-produced with Copperman and Robbins. Copperman is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year and Male Songwriter, while Galyon is up for Female Songwriter. Ballerini recently attained her sixth No. 1 song with “Hole In The Bottle.”

“Hell Of A View”
Eric Church is “chasing life instead of dollar bills” in his hit song “Hell Of A View.” Co-written with longtime collaborators Casey Beathard and Monty Criswell, it’s an endearing and rebellious love story about the stellar view from life on the edge. Delivered with classic Church conviction and backing vocals by powerhouse Joanna Cotten, he sings, “This ain’t for everybody / Toes hanging off the ledge / Like we got nothin’ to lose / Ain’t always heaven, baby / This livin’ on the edge / You holdin’ me holdin’ you / It’s a hell of a view.” It is his tenth No. 1 and is on his critically acclaimed new triple album Heart & Soul. This summer the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year returns to the road with The Gather Again Tour.

“My Boy”
Elvie Shane proves that love and devotion transcend traditional family ties on his song “My Boy.” Written about his stepson (“He’s my son and that’s my choice / he ain’t my blood but he’s my boy”), the song became a viral hit which resonated with many blended families. This led to a record deal with BBR, which released it as a single, where it is Top 20 on country radio. It is featured on the Kentucky native’s debut EP, County Roads, which is chock full of blue-collar grit, vivid imagery and nostalgia delivered by Shane’s soulful vocals. His breakout year includes his debut on the Grand Ole Opry, and being direct support for Jason Aldean at his first live concert in more than a year. This summer he will join Brooks & Dunn’s 2021 Reboot Tour, Miranda Lambert’s amphitheater dates, and anticipate the arrival of his baby girl.

“Next Girl”
Carly Pearce wrote this song of warning with hitmakers Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. (“If he ever talks about the ex girl / she tried like hell / it was too late to save herself / so she’s just trying to help the next girl…I know what happens next… girl”). It’s a clever song found on Pearce’s acclaimed album 29, which explores life after loss, and shows the songstress emerging from the ashes. Among her other recent successes are the hit “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded with Lee Brice, and joining CCM artist Matthew West on a new version of his No. 1 “Truth Be Told.” She was recently surprised by Dolly Parton with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and will spend the summer touring with Lady A. Co-writer Osborne is nominated for Male Songwriter of the Year.

Ashland Craft Shows Her Wandering Soul On Debut Album, ‘Travelin’ Kind’

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Ashland Craft is embracing her gypsy spirit on her upcoming debut album, Travelin’ Kind, due out Sept. 3 on Big Loud Records.

Capturing the true heart-and-hustle of a rambling lifestyle, Travelin’ Kind is an 11-track introduction to Craft. The new project represents Craft’s one-way ticket to Nashville as well as all of the tour stops, truck stops, and broken hearts in between. Fresh off a Top 10 stint on NBC’s The Voice and signing a record deal in the middle of a pandemic, she has spent the last year counting down the days until she could return to the road.

With nine songs co-penned by Craft, the Jonathan Singleton-produced collection features tracks penned by Singleton, Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Rodney Clawson, Adam Hood, and more alongside her close friends and rising talents Faren Rachels, Rob Snyder, Lee Starr, Willie Morrison, Reid Isbell, and Jenna LaMaster.

Travelin’ Kind Track List:
1. Travelin’ Kind (Ashland Craft, Erik Dylan)
2. Your Momma Still Does (Jenna LaMaster, Jonathan Singleton)
3. Leavin’ You Again (Ashland Craft, Jenna LaMaster, Faren Rachels)
4. Make It Past Georgia (Ashland Craft, Reid Isbell, Willie Morrison)
5. Last 20 Dollars (Ashland Craft, Wyatt Beasley Durrette, III, Jonathan Singleton)
6. Highway Like Me (feat. Marcus King) (Ashland Craft, Jessi Alexander, Reid Isbell)
7. Mimosas In The Morning (Ashland Craft, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jonathan Singleton)
8. Day By Day (Tori Allen, Corey Grogan)
9. Letcha Fly (Ashland Craft, Willie Morrison, Lee Starr)
10. Come Down (Ashland Craft, Adam Hood, Rob Snyder)
11. That’s The Kinda Place (Ashland Craft, Rodney Clawson, Jonathan Singleton)
All Songs Produced by Jonathan Singleton

Weekly Register: Walker Hayes Spends Another ‘Fancy Like’ Week On Top

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Walker Hayes

Walker Hayes continues his stay at the top of the country streaming songs chart with “Fancy Like” topping the chart again this week. Hayes earned an impressive 10 million streams this week, adding for a total of 30 million RTD, according to Nielsen.

The remainder of this week’s top five songs also remain the same with “Lil Bit” (Nelly & FGL) receiving 7.5 million streams, “Forever After All” (Luke Combs) getting 7.4 million, “Famous Friends” (Chris Young & Kane Brown) gaining 6.9 million, and “Glad You Exist” (Dan + Shay) adding 6.3 million.

Once again, Morgan Wallen takes the top country streaming album with Dangerous: The Double Album earning another 44,000 streams this week, totaling 53 million RTD, according to Nielsen. Wallen also maintains No. 4 with If I Know Me gaining another 14,000 streams. Combs keeps the No. 2 and No. 3 spots with What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You receiving 24,000 and 17,000 streams this week, respectively. Rounding out this week’s top albums, Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller re-enters the top five after gaining 13,000 streams this week.

Sony Music Publishing Unveils Songwriters Forward Initiative

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Today (July 20), Chairman/CEO of Sony Music Publishing (SMP) Jon Platt announced that the company has launched Songwriters Forward.

Under Songwriters Forward, SMP is introducing the Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program to qualifying Sony songwriters. With this new program, SMP will no longer apply existing unrecouped balances to earnings for eligible songwriters signed prior to the year 2000 who have not received advances since. This applies retroactively to January 1, 2021.

“With historic policy changes across our business, we are taking important steps toward creating a more equitable, transparent music industry for songwriters and all creators. On behalf of our teams around the world, it is our privilege to represent you as we begin this next chapter with Songwriters Forward,” writes Platt in an internal letter to Sony Music Publishing songwriters obtained by MusicRow.

These efforts accompany the company’s ongoing investment in administration modernization, including new SCORE data and analytics upgrades, Cash Out payment options, and real-time foreign royalty processing.

This new initiative is designed to expand Sony’s support of careers at every stage and compliments the recently announced Artist Forward initiative, which similarly finds Sony Music Entertainment longer applying existing unrecouped balances to earnings generated on or after Jan. 1, 2021 for eligible artists who signed to SME prior to the year 2000 and have not received an advance since then.

Qualifying songwriters for the Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program will be notified separately in the coming weeks.