Cassadee Pope. Photo: John Shearer.
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope is back with new music that speaks to her musical past, present and future. Her brand new single “What The Stars See” serves as a sneak peek into her new project due out later this fall, distributed through The Orchard.
In the turbulent year of 2020, Pope used the time to think about what kind of music she wanted to pursue and who she wanted to be as an artist going forward. Like a lot of other people, she also used the time to reflect on her career up to this point.
“COVID forced everyone to just be still, think and reflect. Obviously, when you’re reflecting you think of your past, and my past is all pop-punk and touring and Hey Monday,” says Pope.
Before her win with Team Blake on season three of NBC’s The Voice, Pope was the frontwoman for the pop-punk band Hey Monday. Formed in 2008, Pope and her fellow bandmates toured around the world with the likes of We The Kings, The All-American Rejects, The Cab, All Time Low, and others before the group’s hiatus in 2011. However, after coming into town with a new record deal, Pope explains that she had initially shied away from her pop-punk roots.
“I already had a lot of proving to do to show everyone that I’m an artist. I’m a songwriter—I didn’t just sing covers on a reality singing competition show,” Pope shares. “The show really highlighted my story about being in Hey Monday, so people didn’t realize that I sang country as a kid… It was almost like I had to prove to people that I’m a country artist.” Pope continues, “There was a lot of pressure to fit a mold and I became kind of lost a few times in my career because of that.”
Over the last few years, Pope has started becoming comfortable in her own skin and learning to love the things that make her different from what is traditionally associated with country music. Through working on her mental health, Pope thinks that she has finally hit the sweet spot in combining her two musical worlds: country and pop-punk.
Cassadee Pope. Photo: John Shearer.
However, there isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to this new dynamic sound. “Pop-punk has a lot of different versions and so does country,” Pope explains. “I love bands like Blink-182 but I also love bands like Foo Fighters, and they are not the same. I love artists like Little Big Town but I also love Maren Morris, and they aren’t the same.”
In order to figure out this new direction without losing her country sensibilities when it comes to songwriting, Pope began to write with artists and peers from her past, including Kevin Bard from Stereo Skyline, Paul DiGiovanni from Boys Like Girls, and Holiday Parade’s Andy Albert. Pope also teamed up with The All-American Rejects lead guitarist Nick Wheeler to help produce the project.
“I’ve known Nick for like 10 years now, maybe even more. We wrote a few times and every demo that came back sounded like I could release it the next day,” says Pope. “ I was convinced he was the guy and thought it was just meant to be. So I asked him if he would produce and he said yes!”
Accompanying Wheeler, in a surprisingly stunning marriage of music, is Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild. As one of Pope’s mentors and musical inspirations, the country powerhouse serves as co-producer on the upcoming project and even lends her voice as a feature on the album’s lead single.
“Having Nick who is a huge part of my past and where I come from on that pop-punk side, mixed with Karen who’s been a part of my more recent history and a mentor for me here in Nashville… blending those worlds just feels so right and so fun,” she shares.
Pope has given fans a glimpse into this next era of music with “What The Stars See,” available everywhere now. Teaming up with co-writers Jake Rose and Lindsey Rimes, the trio brought to life Pope’s wish of wanting to see what her exes were doing the night they broke up from the perspective of the stars.
The new track mixes a vulnerable, revealing lyric with a high-energy rock flare that is reminiscent of her Hey Monday days. Accompanied by fellow singer-songwriter Lindsey Ell lending her signature guitar riffs and Fairchild’s complimentary vocals, the new single delivers a striking preview of what to expect from Pope in the months to come as she takes off on her most honest project yet.
She also debuted the music video for the track today (May 14), directed by Ed Pryor and produced by Wes Edwards, which is a colorful take on the famed sci-fi action movie Blade Runner.
Pope is excited to be making the music that feels most authentic to her. “It has been the best experience ever in the studio; it has been the most fun I’ve ever had,” she gushes. “I’ve just been so focused on staying authentic and doing what makes me happy. It’s definitely opened up all these different doors in my brain when it comes to creativity and songwriting.
“I think the project as a whole, the way it’s shaping, is an album that really confronts things from my past that I’ve shied away from writing about until now and letting myself feel sad about it,” Pope admits. “The songs that came out of just that acceptance… I mean, they’re the most powerful songs I’ve ever written, so I think the gist of the album is just letting yourself feel whatever those feelings are and not just surviving but thriving from those experiences.”
Joy Oladokun Signs Record Deal, Releases Maren Morris Collab
/by LB CantrellJoy Oladokun. Photo: Noah Tidmore
Nashville-based singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun has signed a joint partnership with Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records.
Born in Arizona, Oladokun taps into her unique perspective she’s gained from living in today’s world as a Black, queer woman, and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants in her music. Her musical exploration began at age ten when she was inspired to learn guitar after seeing a video of Tracy Chapman—the first time she’d ever seen a black woman play the instrument.
Now, Oladokun has teamed with Maren Morris for her new song, “Bigger Man,” out today (May 14). Written by Oladokun, Morris, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, the track is the latest unveiled from Oladokun’s forthcoming major label debut album, adding to three additional album tracks released so far this year: “sorry isn’t good enough,” “jordan” and “wish you the best” featuring Jensen McRae.
Of the collaboration, Oladokun shares, “The day we wrote ‘Bigger Man’ was actually the first day I had met Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz. We were bouncing ideas around the room, and I had this song idea that came to mind when I was meditating that morning. The idea was about being the bigger man. In my life, I sometimes experience being the youngest and the most inexperienced, and yet I have to conduct myself as though I am way above my years or my maturity. I think it’s an old feeling, especially for women and people of color, of having to be stronger, better, brighter, and harder working at everything just to get a shot. We wrote from that place and the song was born—I’m really proud of what we did. I’m also excited about the friendship and the things that were born out of it. I hope it helps people in the same way that it has helped me.”
Music Biz And Reeperbahn Join Forces To Amplify Nashville’s Diverse Music Business
/by LB CantrellPhoto: Courtesy Music Business Association and Reeperbahn Festival International
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) and Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival International came together May 10 – 12 for an exclusive virtual conference focusing specifically on Nashville and its relationship with the global music industry.
Through this partnership, Reeperbahn curated a delegation of executives from the U.K., Germany, Italy, France, Estonia, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway to engage with a curated group of Music Biz’s member companies. Reeperbahn Festival International is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
Music Biz President Portia Sabin opens the event with Reeperbahn International Host & Music Journalist Annette Yang
“Music Biz prides itself on bringing together global decision-makers to create meaningful connections within our business,” says President of the Music Business Association, Portia Sabin. “We’re grateful for our partners at Reeperbahn Festival International for continuing this partnership with us as they expand globally. While we weren’t able to meet physically for the past two Music Biz Conferences, the experience Reeperbahn put together built a virtual bridge from Nashville to the rest of the world, which allowed our members to connect in ways they have never before. We’re looking forward to the next time we can make this happen—which should be in person at Music Biz 2022 in Nashville in May!”
On Tuesday, May 11, the spotlight was shown on the Nashville music community, as international delegates were treated to interactive virtual office visits with diverse teams based in Music City; including Songfluencer, The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), and Big Machine Label Group. Each global company met with the European delegates in a private setting to show them how they operate and discuss what unique factors led them and other sectors of the music business to call Nashville their home base.
Kris Ahrend, CEO, The MLC shows delegates future site of The MLC Office in The Gulch
To close out the conference on May 12, 40 delegates from the United States (approximately half of which hailed from Nashville) met with the 40 delegates from Europe via speed dating-style networking. Nashville-based participants included EMPIRE, Symphonic, Sorted Noise, Big Yellow Dog, Reel Muzik Werks, Reservoir, Anthem Entertainment, Songfluencer, Muziqueen / Nashville Is Not Just Country Music, Resin8, Curb | Word Entertainment, Prescription Songs, Taylor Guttman Law, ISA+JUDE, Ingrooves Music Group, Spotify, The Orchard, Kobalt, mTheory, and Vydia.
Joel Timen, Curb | Word Entertainment; Chelsea Kent, Songfluencer; and Sina Wahnschaffe, Budde Music take part in the Creative Process Panel
“Nashville’s history as an international music city has and continues to be ever present through genre-defying copyrights, genuine artistry, and tech-led business. Conferences focusing on strengthening Nashville’s bonds with the international market, such as Reeperbahn International, spur growth and opportunity for our creative culture. Thank you Reeperbahn and Music Biz for helping spearhead the essential partnership between Nashville and the global creative community!” says Chelsea Kent, Director of European Operations, Songfluencer.
Andrew Jannakos Announces Debut EP ‘Gone Too Soon’
/by Lydia FarthingAndrew Jannakos. Photo: Matthew Berinato
RCA Nashville rising singer-songwriter Andrew Jannakos has announced his upcoming EP, Gone Too Soon, is due out June 4.
To celebrate the announcement, Jannakos fans with a new song from the project, “Somebody Loves You,” which he co-wrote with Jason Afable, Kyle Clark, and Sam Koon.
“My life has changed so much since I released the single ‘Gone Too Soon.’ We built an entire team from scratch, moved to Nashville, and now I get to work with so many amazing people,” shares Jannakos. “I’m very ready for people to hear what we have been working on in the studio with Derek Wells at the helm. These songs mean so much to me, and the fact that I co-wrote each song on the EP makes me even more excited to hit the road and play them for the fans!”
The title track of the EP, which is Jannakos’s current single at country radio, has already amassed over 57 million on-demand streams. Upon its official release, the track earned him a No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart, while the track landed at No. 12 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart.
Gone Too Soon Track List:
1. Gone Too Soon – Andrew Jannakos, Josh Bricker, Jason Afable
2. When The Whiskey Runs Out – Andrew Jannakos, Chris La Corte, Justin Wilson
3. Like Yesterday – Andrew Jannakos, Kyle Clark, Alex Pennington Smith
4. Somebody Loves You – Andrew Jannakos, Jason Afable, Kyle Clark, Sam Koon
5. We’ve Always Loved – Andrew Jannakos, Jason Duke, Alex Pennington Smith
6. Wine Country – Andrew Jannakos, Jason Afable, Eric Mallon, Alex Pennington Smith
Cassadee Pope Finds Herself And New Sound In Upcoming Project [Interview]
/by Lydia FarthingCassadee Pope. Photo: John Shearer.
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope is back with new music that speaks to her musical past, present and future. Her brand new single “What The Stars See” serves as a sneak peek into her new project due out later this fall, distributed through The Orchard.
In the turbulent year of 2020, Pope used the time to think about what kind of music she wanted to pursue and who she wanted to be as an artist going forward. Like a lot of other people, she also used the time to reflect on her career up to this point.
“COVID forced everyone to just be still, think and reflect. Obviously, when you’re reflecting you think of your past, and my past is all pop-punk and touring and Hey Monday,” says Pope.
Before her win with Team Blake on season three of NBC’s The Voice, Pope was the frontwoman for the pop-punk band Hey Monday. Formed in 2008, Pope and her fellow bandmates toured around the world with the likes of We The Kings, The All-American Rejects, The Cab, All Time Low, and others before the group’s hiatus in 2011. However, after coming into town with a new record deal, Pope explains that she had initially shied away from her pop-punk roots.
“I already had a lot of proving to do to show everyone that I’m an artist. I’m a songwriter—I didn’t just sing covers on a reality singing competition show,” Pope shares. “The show really highlighted my story about being in Hey Monday, so people didn’t realize that I sang country as a kid… It was almost like I had to prove to people that I’m a country artist.” Pope continues, “There was a lot of pressure to fit a mold and I became kind of lost a few times in my career because of that.”
Over the last few years, Pope has started becoming comfortable in her own skin and learning to love the things that make her different from what is traditionally associated with country music. Through working on her mental health, Pope thinks that she has finally hit the sweet spot in combining her two musical worlds: country and pop-punk.
Cassadee Pope. Photo: John Shearer.
However, there isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to this new dynamic sound. “Pop-punk has a lot of different versions and so does country,” Pope explains. “I love bands like Blink-182 but I also love bands like Foo Fighters, and they are not the same. I love artists like Little Big Town but I also love Maren Morris, and they aren’t the same.”
In order to figure out this new direction without losing her country sensibilities when it comes to songwriting, Pope began to write with artists and peers from her past, including Kevin Bard from Stereo Skyline, Paul DiGiovanni from Boys Like Girls, and Holiday Parade’s Andy Albert. Pope also teamed up with The All-American Rejects lead guitarist Nick Wheeler to help produce the project.
“I’ve known Nick for like 10 years now, maybe even more. We wrote a few times and every demo that came back sounded like I could release it the next day,” says Pope. “ I was convinced he was the guy and thought it was just meant to be. So I asked him if he would produce and he said yes!”
Accompanying Wheeler, in a surprisingly stunning marriage of music, is Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild. As one of Pope’s mentors and musical inspirations, the country powerhouse serves as co-producer on the upcoming project and even lends her voice as a feature on the album’s lead single.
“Having Nick who is a huge part of my past and where I come from on that pop-punk side, mixed with Karen who’s been a part of my more recent history and a mentor for me here in Nashville… blending those worlds just feels so right and so fun,” she shares.
Pope has given fans a glimpse into this next era of music with “What The Stars See,” available everywhere now. Teaming up with co-writers Jake Rose and Lindsey Rimes, the trio brought to life Pope’s wish of wanting to see what her exes were doing the night they broke up from the perspective of the stars.
The new track mixes a vulnerable, revealing lyric with a high-energy rock flare that is reminiscent of her Hey Monday days. Accompanied by fellow singer-songwriter Lindsey Ell lending her signature guitar riffs and Fairchild’s complimentary vocals, the new single delivers a striking preview of what to expect from Pope in the months to come as she takes off on her most honest project yet.
She also debuted the music video for the track today (May 14), directed by Ed Pryor and produced by Wes Edwards, which is a colorful take on the famed sci-fi action movie Blade Runner.
Pope is excited to be making the music that feels most authentic to her. “It has been the best experience ever in the studio; it has been the most fun I’ve ever had,” she gushes. “I’ve just been so focused on staying authentic and doing what makes me happy. It’s definitely opened up all these different doors in my brain when it comes to creativity and songwriting.
“I think the project as a whole, the way it’s shaping, is an album that really confronts things from my past that I’ve shied away from writing about until now and letting myself feel sad about it,” Pope admits. “The songs that came out of just that acceptance… I mean, they’re the most powerful songs I’ve ever written, so I think the gist of the album is just letting yourself feel whatever those feelings are and not just surviving but thriving from those experiences.”
Carly Pearce Is ‘Next Girl’ To Receive MusicRow No. 1
/by Alex ParryCarly Pearce claims the No. 1 spot this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, earning a cumulative 38,294 spins in the 34 weeks since its release. “Next Girl” spent 15 weeks in the top 10 on the chart. The single was written by Pearce, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and it appears on her latest project 29.
Pearce and Lee Brice won Musical Event of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” at both the 54th Annual CMA Awards and 56th ACM Awards. They also received a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for the single.
Click here or above to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Nashville-Based Band Moon Taxi Announces Silver Dream Tour
/by Lydia FarthingMoon Taxi. Photo: Don VanCleave.
Nashville-based alt-rock band Moon Taxi has announced their national headlining Silver Dream tour.
The tour will launch this month at the World Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, and will continue through into the fall hitting venues such as New York City’s famed Webster Hall, The Ogden in Denver, Delmar Hall in St. Louis, and two nights at the new 2,200-capacity concert hall, The Eastern, in Atlanta, Georgia where the run will conclude.
In January of 2021, Moon Taxi released their sixth full-length album, Silver Dream, via BMG. The band, who has amassed over 240 million U.S. streams to date, will be performing songs from the album, including “Say,” “Hometown Heroes,” “Light Up,” “One Step Away,” and “The Beginning” as well as other songs from their catalog.
Pre-sale tickets for the Silver Dream tour are available now for the band’s newsletter subscribers. To subscribe and receive the pre-sale code, click here.
Canadian Group James Barker Band Signs To Villa 40/Sony Music Nashville
/by Lydia FarthingJames Barker Band. Photo: Matthew Berinato.
Sony Music Nashville and Villa 40 have announced that Platinum-selling group, the James Barker Band, has signed with Villa 40/Sony Music Nashville.
“It’s not every day you start working with an act that already has an engaged, global fan base,” says Villa 40 Co-Founder Brad Margolis. “We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Sony Music Nashville in continuing to build the band’s success in Canada and making them a household name in the U.S.”
Originally from Ontario, Canada, the band is celebrating the new record deal signing by releasing “Over All Over Again,” their first release through the label, today (May 14).
“We’re so excited to be putting new music out and starting this new chapter in the U.S.,” adds frontman James Barker. “They’ve been so great at allowing us to chase down different creative avenues while staying true to our sound.”
Building off the success and fan base the band has built in Canada, their signing with Sony Music Nashville and Villa 40 will contribute further their international success story.
Flatland Cavalry To Drop New Album ‘Welcome To Countryland’ On July 2
/by Lydia FarthingFlatland Cavalry. Photo: Fernando Garci.
Flatland Cavalry’s new album, Welcome to Countryland, will be released July 2 and is available for pre-order now. In advance of the release, the album’s first single, “Some Things Never Change,” is out today (May 14).
Produced by Jake Gear and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, Welcome to Countryland showcases 14 new songs, including collaborations with Hailey Whitters and Kaitlin Butts. Through this project, the band hopes to make their mark on the country music landscape, exploring some of life’s most universal themes with their sense of storytelling and musicianship.
“We spent our time off the road in 2020 working diligently towards this new record. The support from our fans, friends and family gave us hope to ‘go for broke’ and pour our hearts and souls into the writing and creating of this new batch of songs,” shares lead singer Cleto Cordero. “I think it is our favorite record that we’ve created to date because it was made during such a critical time in our journey, which, I think, brought a whole new sense of wonder and significance to the project. We can’t wait to give our fans what we believe is our most meaningful album to date!”
Since forming in 2012, Flatland Cavalry has toured relentlessly across the country, building a passionate grassroots fanbase as they went. Based in both Texas and Nashville, Flatland Cavalry consists of Cordero (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jason Albers (drums, background vocals), Jonathan Saenz (bass, background vocals), Reid Dillon (electric guitar), Wesley Hall (fiddle) and Adam Gallegos (piano, keys, mandolin, banjo).
Welcome to Countryland Track List:
1. Country Is… – Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino
2. Some Things Never Change – Cleto Cordero, Ava Suppelsa
3. A Cowboy Knows How – Luke Combs, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton
4. Gettin’ By – Cleto Cordero, Jason Nix
5. Well Spent Time – Cleto Cordero
6. Life Without You (feat. Kaitlin Butts) – Cleto Cordero, Brian Keane
7. No Ace In The Hole – Jason Albers, Cleto Cordero, Reid Dillon
8. It’s Good To Be Back (Round Here Again) – Cleto Cordero
9. Tilt Your Chair Back – Cleto Cordero, Ryan Necci
10. Fallen Star – Cleto Cordero
11. Daydreamer – Cleto Cordero, Adam Landry
12. Dancin’ Around A Fire – Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino
13. Off Broadway – Cleto Cordero
14. …Meantime (feat. Hailey Whitters) – Cleto Cordero, Lainey Wilson
BREAKING: ACM Heading Back To Las Vegas For 2022 Awards
/by LB Cantrell[Updated: This post has been updated on Nov. 18, 2021 to reflect the revised date for the 2022 ACM Awards.]
The Academy of Country Music has revealed that it will head back to Las Vegas for its 2022 awards, after having held the last two awards ceremonies in Nashville.
The 57th ACM Awards will take place in Las Vegas on Monday, March 7, 2022.
The 2021 awards ceremony, hosted at iconic country music venues including the Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry and Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, saw Luke Bryan walk away with Entertainer of the Year, with other honors handed out to Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, and more.
More details about the 57th ACM Awards will be announced at a later date.
CDC Announces New COVID Guidelines For Fully Vaccinated People
/by Lydia FarthingAccording to the new CDC health and safety guidelines for COVID-19, any individual who has been fully vaccinated no longer needs to wear a mask whether indoors or outdoors.
In addition to the new mask protocols, fully vaccinated individuals will also be able to bypass social distancing procedures, except under certain circumstances where it is required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial law or regulation. Similarly, businesses and workplaces can still uphold their own protocols regarding COVID-19 regulations.
President Biden took to social media to share the news and to encourage those who have not yet gotten vaccinated to do so.
As more people have received their vaccinations, we have begun to see guidelines ease and a slight return to normalcy. In the music world, that has taken shape in the form of tour announcements for artists like Dan + Shay, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, and many more.
Visit the CDC website for more information on the new CDC guidelines or to find a vaccination site near you.