Jordan Davis. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson.
Jordan Davis has announced his new EP, Buy Dirt, is due out on May 21.
Produced by Paul DiGiovanni, Buy Dirt is the follow-up to Davis’ self-titled EP that was released last year and his debut album Home State. Davis co-wrote every song on the new project except for “Blow Up Your TV,” which was co-written by John Prine, a major influence on Davis and his music.
“I’ve always loved artists who take risks,” says Davis. “I’m in a different spot in my life than I was when I released Home State. We all are! 2020 was a tough time for everyone. I was able to use that time to recenter some things in my world, and I didn’t want those lessons to go to waste. I wanted to create something special. The best way to that was to write honestly, and we did a lot of that on this record.”
The new eight-track project features superstar Luke Bryan on the title track. After the two first met at an awards show and bumped into each other on the golf course throughout the following years, Bryan volunteered to lend his vocals on the centerpiece of the EP.
“We sat around the fire after a golf tournament one day, smoking cigars and talking about everything but music,” Davis recalls. “That conversation always stuck with me. Luke isn’t just a great entertainer; he’s a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend, too. That’s what ‘Buy Dirt’ embodies. When I wrote ‘Buy Dirt,’ I knew he could relate to the song’s message. I took a chance and asked him to join me on the recording, and he said yes.”
Davis’ current single, “Almost Maybes,” is currently Top 10 on the charts and he is slated to hit the road this fall performing on Kane Brown’s Blessed and Free Tour.
Buy Dirt Track List:
1. Blow Up Your TV – Written by John Prine and Jeffrey Bradford Kent
2. Buy Dirt (feat. Luke Bryan) – Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
3. Need To Not – Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
4. Drink Had Me – Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni
5. Lose You – Written by Jordan Davis, Paul DiGiovanni, Josh Kerr, Josh Dorr
6. Almost Maybes – Written by Jordan Davis, Jesse Frasure, Hillary Lindsey
7. I Still Smoked – Written by Jordan Davis, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
8. Trying – Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni
Warner Music Group Teams Up With Wave To Develop New Virtual Performances
/by Lydia FarthingWarner Music Group (WMG) has announced a new partnership with and investment in Wave, one of the leaders in virtual entertainment.
Through this collaboration, Wave will develop virtual performances, experiences, and monetization opportunities for WMG’s global roster of emerging and established artists. This includes new forms of ticketing, sponsorship, and in-show interactions for fans. The duo will also use Wave’s cutting-edge technology to transform participating artists into digital avatars, performing live and taking fans into an immersive virtual experience. The news comes after WMG announced their partnership with Genies, one of the world’s largest avatar technology companies.
“WMG has an incredible history of being a trailblazer in the music industry. They share our vision for pulling the future forward using new technologies that benefit artists and fans alike,” says Adam Arrigo, CEO and co-founder of Wave. “We’re excited to partner with them to create interactive events that are unlike any other virtual concerts ever experienced.”
Wave offers fans unique and interactive offerings including live chats, virtual gifting and voting, as well as real-time audience appearances during artist performances. Through Wave, WMG will be able to forge more powerful artist activations, incorporating new and fan-favorite features into their shows to fuel audience engagement.
“The commercial opportunity in the metaverse has exploded in the last several years, with the past few months seeing a tipping point for mainstream adoption of immersive social experiences and virtual communities,” says Oana Ruxandra, EVP, Business Development and Chief Digital Officer at WMG. “Wave is indisputably a leader in the interactive virtual entertainment space and the right partner to help us grow WMG’s efforts. Our artists and their fans will be getting best-in-class experiences, as we pioneer new forms of consumption and monetization.”
Midland Returns To The Road This Fall On The Last Resort Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughMidland will hit the road this fall as the headliners on The Last Resort Tour which kicks off on October 7 with special guest Hailey Whitters.
Tickets for the tour, launching in Phoenix and running through December 16 in Shreveport, Louisiana, go on sale May 7 at 1o a.m. local time via midlandofficial.com. The group will visit 25 cities including two Nashville dates on December 1-2 as well as stops in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Atlanta, and more.
Spotify fans in participating markets will receive a special pre-sale code via email on Tuesday, May 4 to get early access to tickets. Fans who have signed up for Midland’s mailing list will also be emailed a special promo code Wednesday, May 5 for early access tickets.
Midland has remained diligent over the last year, finding new ways to connect with fans until they could return to touring. The trio recently released the Midland:The Sonic Ranch documentary across ViacomCBS platforms, including CMT and MTV Live, which shined a light on their beginnings and featured never-before-seen footage and original recordings. The documentary film and accompanying album tells the origin story of the band five years prior to landing on country radio with their 2017 Platinum-certified and double Grammy-nominated “Drinkin’ Problem” on Big Machine Records.
The Last Resort 2021 Tour Dates:
October 7 | Phoenix, AZ
October 9 | Tucson, AZ
October 16 | Morrison, CO
October 21 | Tulsa, OK *
October 22 | Omaha, NE
October 23 | Chesterfield, MO
October 27 | Cincinnati, OH
October 28 | Detroit, MI
October 29 | Milwaukee, WI
October 30 | Chicago, IL
November 5 | Philadelphia, PA
November 6 | Richmond, VA
November 11 | Boston, MA
November 12 | New York, NY
November 13 | Pittsburgh, PA
November 18 | Columbus, OH
November 19 | Cleveland, OH
November 20 | Indianapolis, IN
December 1 | Nashville, TN
December 2 | Nashville, TN
December 3 | Charlotte, NC
December 4 | Asheville, NC
December 9 | Knoxville, TN
December 10 | Chattanooga, TN
December 11 | Atlanta, GA
December 16 | Shreveport, LA
* Midland only
Big Loud Inks Publishing Deal With John Byron
/by Lydia FarthingJohn Byron. Photo: Chris Hornbuckle.
Rising songwriter John Byron has inked his first publishing deal with Big Loud.
Stacking co-writer credits on Sean Stemaly’s recent release, “Hello, You Up,” and Morgan Wallen’s “865” off his record-breaking Dangerous: The Double Album, Byron’s songwriting is centered around clever phrasing and melodies.
“From the moment John started sharing his songs and writing with our writers, working together felt like a perfect fit,” shares Michael Giangreco, senior director of A&R. “John’s attitude and work ethic speak volumes. We couldn’t be more proud that he chose Big Loud to be his publishing home.”
His latest cut, “Summer Job Money,” delivered by multi-Platinum country artist Chris Lane last Friday (April 30), marks Byron’s third consecutive release from a Big Loud Records artist.
“I feel immensely blessed to be a part of one of the most influential companies in the entire industry – Big Loud was the one place I wanted to sign with,” admits Byron. “It honestly still feels like a miracle every time I get to walk into the building; every single night, I thank God for making it part of His plan for me. It’s the same for being a co-writer on these songs. I love and respect these guys who I’m lucky enough to say have become my friends.”
Sandbox Entertainment Launches Estate Management Division
/by LB CantrellSandbox Entertainment has announced the launch of Sandbox Succession, the company’s newly formed division providing comprehensive estate management services in all exploitations focusing on name and likeness.
The division will be led by Josh Matas, who joined the company in 2015. Working with Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO Jason Owen, Matas aims to cultivate a business that delivers best-in-class services across artist management, legacy preservation and development of creative artistic opportunities in today’s cultural landscape.
Sandbox Succession counts the estates of late American icons Johnny Cash (John R. Cash Revocable Trust), June Carter (June Carter Cash Trust) and The Carter Family (The Carter Family – FFCM LLC) as clients.
The announcement comes on the heels of signing NASCAR’s most decorated driver in history, NASCAR Hall of Fame member Richard Petty (Richard Petty IP LLC).
The division’s full scope of services includes brand development and partnerships; merchandising and licensing; hospitality; exhibitions; live performances; and entertainment development across film, television, music, content, gaming and books.
“I’m thrilled to announce the creation of Sandbox Succession which is a natural extension of the artist-first mentality that drives all of our businesses,” says Owen. “It’s an honor and a privilege to work with the Estates of these icons. We look forward to preserving and furthering their enduring legacies.”
“Jason and I both come from branding backgrounds, and I got a unique opportunity early on in my time at Sandbox to work with Johnny Cash’s estate.” Matas adds. “The depth of this work emphasized the importance of managing these critical brands. Audiences have shown a continued reverence for this particular collection of individuals—and that’s where we as brand managers are excited by the idea of not only presenting sustainable business models, but also continuing to tell their stories as a pillar of the greater cultural landscape.”
Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Returns To Peak Of Country Albums Chart
/by Lorie HollabaughMorgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer
Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album continues its streak of chart domination this week rising back into the top spot on the country albums chart with 54K according to Nielsen.
Eric Church‘s new album Soul lands in a close second with 53K, with Taylor Swift‘s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) pulling in 33K in third, Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get at 27K and Carrie Underwood‘s gospel collection My Savior with 22K rounding out the week’s top 5.
Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett is the streaming champ this week with “The Good Ones” scoring 7.5 million and 186 million RTD, according to Nielsen. Church’s “Hell Of A View” takes the second spot with 7.3 million, while Combs’ “Forever After All” comes in third with 7 million for the week. Wallen’s “Wasted On You” with 5.5 million and Chris Stapleton‘s “Starting Over” at 5.5 million complete the top 5 on the streaming side.
Jordan Davis To Drop New EP ‘Buy Dirt’ May 21
/by Lorie HollabaughJordan Davis. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson.
Jordan Davis has announced his new EP, Buy Dirt, is due out on May 21.
Produced by Paul DiGiovanni, Buy Dirt is the follow-up to Davis’ self-titled EP that was released last year and his debut album Home State. Davis co-wrote every song on the new project except for “Blow Up Your TV,” which was co-written by John Prine, a major influence on Davis and his music.
“I’ve always loved artists who take risks,” says Davis. “I’m in a different spot in my life than I was when I released Home State. We all are! 2020 was a tough time for everyone. I was able to use that time to recenter some things in my world, and I didn’t want those lessons to go to waste. I wanted to create something special. The best way to that was to write honestly, and we did a lot of that on this record.”
The new eight-track project features superstar Luke Bryan on the title track. After the two first met at an awards show and bumped into each other on the golf course throughout the following years, Bryan volunteered to lend his vocals on the centerpiece of the EP.
“We sat around the fire after a golf tournament one day, smoking cigars and talking about everything but music,” Davis recalls. “That conversation always stuck with me. Luke isn’t just a great entertainer; he’s a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend, too. That’s what ‘Buy Dirt’ embodies. When I wrote ‘Buy Dirt,’ I knew he could relate to the song’s message. I took a chance and asked him to join me on the recording, and he said yes.”
Davis’ current single, “Almost Maybes,” is currently Top 10 on the charts and he is slated to hit the road this fall performing on Kane Brown’s Blessed and Free Tour.
Buy Dirt Track List:
1. Blow Up Your TV – Written by John Prine and Jeffrey Bradford Kent
2. Buy Dirt (feat. Luke Bryan) – Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
3. Need To Not – Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
4. Drink Had Me – Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni
5. Lose You – Written by Jordan Davis, Paul DiGiovanni, Josh Kerr, Josh Dorr
6. Almost Maybes – Written by Jordan Davis, Jesse Frasure, Hillary Lindsey
7. I Still Smoked – Written by Jordan Davis, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
8. Trying – Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni
Sturgill Simpson Covers ‘Paradise’ For Upcoming John Prine Tribute Album
/by Lydia FarthingJohn Prine, Sturgill Simpson
A new version of John Prine’s beloved song, “Paradise,” performed by Sturgill Simpson, is out now on Oh Boy Records.
Simpson’s version of “Paradise” is the last song recorded at The Butcher Shoppe—the studio Prine founded with Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer David Ferguson—before the building’s demolition later this year.
Reflecting on Prine’s influence, Simpson shares, “For myself along with many others, he was a mentor. He was very giving with his time and wisdom, and we were all grateful to get to know him.”
The song—whose proceeds benefit UNICEF USA’s Covid-19 Relief Fund—will be featured on the forthcoming Prine tribute record, Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, which is set for release on October 8.
Each month ahead of the October release, Oh Boy will unveil a new artist and song that is featured on the tribute album. “Paradise” is the second track released, following Brandi Carlile’s rendition of “I Remember Everything,” which she performed during the 63rd Grammy Awards where the song won two awards: Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance. Written by Prine and his longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin, “I Remember Everything” is Prine’s first No. 1 single and was recorded by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and engineer Gena Johnson.
Oh Boy Records, Nashville’s oldest artist-owned label, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Founded in 1981 by Prine and his longtime manager Al Bunetta, the label has since gone on to release more than fifty audio and video recordings while continuing to be a vital part of Nashville’s independent music community.
Mark Your Calendar—May 2021
/by Lorie HollabaughSingles/Track Releases
Photo Credit: Connor Dwyer
May 3
Dustin Lynch feat. Mackenzie Porter/Thinking ‘Bout You/Broken Bow
Sammy Kershaw/Evangeline/Aria Tree Music
Juna N Joey/Something Good To Miss/River Run Records
South 62/Talk of the Town/Graphite Sound
May 5
Brady Lee/I Can Do This All Day
May 6
Carvin Walls/3 In The Morning
May 7
Dylan Scott/Nobody (R3HAB Remix)/Curb Records
Dusty Black/Who Are You/Black Country Records/Average Joes Entertainment
Becca Bowen/Gunshots or Fireworks/Sincerely Music Group
Sarah Faith/Rock Bottom
May 10
Kip Moore/Good Life/MCA Nashville
Jackson Michelson/Tip Jar /Curb/MCC
Caroline Jones/Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable)/Mailboat
Joe Nichols/Home Run/Quartz Hill Records
Tiffany Woys feat. Jordan Fletcher/I Don’t
May 14
Filmore/Who Cares/Curb Records
Bobby McClendon/Whiskey Burnin’/WOMP Music Group
Kelley Jeanne/This Crazy/Sincerely Music Group
Colby Acuff/If I Were the Devil
Weston Vernon/Letting Go
Taylor Borton/If I was London
May 17
Morgan Wade/Wilder Days/Ladylike/Thirty Tigers
May 21
Lauren Davidson/Thinking About You
May 24
Drew Parker/While You’re Gone/WMN
Tenille Arts/Back Then, Right Now/19th & Grand Records
May 28
Colt Ford/When Country Comes Back/Average Joes Entertainment
Jeremy McComb/Under Glass/Average Joes Entertainment
Devon Beck/Mirrors/Sincerely Music Group
Sarah Faith/Before You, Vol. 2
Album/EP Releases
Kenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann
May 7
Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall/The Marfa Tapes/Vanner Records/RCA Nashville
Kenny Chesney/Here And Now Deluxe/Warner Music Nashville/Blue Chair Records
Travis Tritt/Set In Stone/Big Noise Label Group
Cody Jinks/Adobe Sessions Unplugged/Late August Records
Jordana Bryant/Last First (EP)/FCM Records
May 14
Alan Jackson/Where Have You Gone/EMI Records Nashville
Timmy Brown/Good Life
May 21
Blake Shelton/Body Language/Warner Music Nashville
Gary Levox/One On One/Big Machine Records
Ross Copperman/Somewhere There’s a Light On EP/Photo Finish Records
John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band/Leftover Feelings/New West Records
Meredith Andrews/Ábrenos Los Cielos/Curb|Word Entertainment
May 28
Blackberry Smoke/You Hear Georgia/Thirty Tigers
Industry Events
25th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival
May 23
2021 Billboard Music Awards
Genies, Warner Music Group Form Partnership To Develop Artist Avatars
/by Lydia FarthingGenies, one of the world’s largest avatar technology companies, and Warner Music Group (WMG) have established a global partnership to develop avatars and digital wearable NFTs for WMG’s artists.
Genies recently launched their new 3D Avatar and Digital Wearables NFT SDK, which allows talent to sell exclusive limited edition digital wearables—such as clothing, accessories, and tattoos—to their fans’ Genies avatars. This allows fans to memorialize key life defining moments in the artist’s career, such as single or album releases.
“Both music and avatars provide humans with the ability to fully express their authentic personalities. Cultural icons and figures are some of the most expressive people on earth and they should not be constrained by real world limitations,” says Genies CEO Akash Nigam. “This partnership allows the leaders of culture to fully immerse themselves into the fantastical realm of the metaverse and build new, direct, and authentic connections with their respective followings and fanbases.”
Through this new partnership, WMG’s artists will be able to produce and distribute virtual beings that facilitate fan reach across immersive platforms and metaverses. WMG’s artists and songwriters will also be able to turn their favorite cultural moments or latest artistic endeavors into exclusive “Digital Wearables Drops” that their fans can own and use on their Genie avatar.
“As avatars and their customization become an increasingly relevant avenue for self-expression and merch generates diversified sources of revenue, WMG’s partnership with Genies will enable our artists and songwriters to tap into a new form of self-expression and audience reach,” says Chief Digital Officer at Warner Music Group, Oana Ruxandra.
The Recording Academy Votes To Eliminate Nominations Review Committees
/by LB CantrellThe Recording Academy announced today (April 30) significant changes to its awards process, including the elimination of nominations review committees in general and genre fields.
Nominations in all of the Grammy Award general and genre fields will now be determined by a majority, peer-to-peer vote of voting members of the Recording Academy. Previously, many of the categories within these fields utilized 15-30 highly skilled music peers who represented and voted within their genre communities for the final selection of nominees. The Academy confirmed that more than 90 percent of its members will have gone through the re-qualification process by the end of this year, ensuring that the voting body is actively engaged in music creation.
Additionally, the Academy announced a reduction in the number of categories in which voters may vote. In an effort to ensure music creators are voting in the categories in which they are most knowledgeable and qualified, the number of specific genre field categories in which Grammy Award voters may vote has been reduced from 15 to 10. Those 10 categories must be within no more than three fields. All voters are permitted to vote in the four General Field categories (Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist).
The Academy also announced that six existing craft fields will be consolidated into two fields: Presentation Field and Production Field. In either newly consolidated field, voters would have the ability to choose how many categories they feel qualified to vote in, respecting category vote limits, without being excessively limited by the three-field restriction.
Finally, two new categories have been added, bringing the total number of Grammy Award categories to 86. Those categories are Best Global Music Performance (Global Music Field) and Best Música Urbana Album (Latin Music Field).
These changes go into effect immediately for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards taking place Jan. 31, 2022. The eligibility period for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards is Sept. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.
“It’s been a year of unprecedented, transformational change for the Recording Academy, and I’m immensely proud to be able to continue our journey of growth with these latest updates to our Awards process,” says Harvey Mason jr., chair & interim president/CEO of the Recording Academy. “This is a new Academy, one that is driven to action and that has doubled down on the commitment to meeting the needs of the music community. While change and progress are key drivers of our actions, one thing will always remain — the Grammy Award is the only peer-driven and peer-voted recognition in music. We are honored to work alongside the music community year-round to further refine and protect the integrity of the Awards process.”