Eric Church Teases 2021 Tour

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Eric Church. Photo: Reid Long

Eric Church hopes to return to the road before the end of the year. In a video message shared with fans, Church said, “We are working on a North American tour. We’re waiting for the right timing to officially announce all the details, but I want you to know that a tour is coming, and we are very excited to play new music for our old friends… I cannot wait to see you on the road.”

Friday (Feb. 5) Church also dropped a new song, “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones,” from his forthcoming three-part project, Heart & Soul. The track is featured on the third album in the collection, Soul, set for release Friday, April 23. Meanwhile, Heart will be released Friday, April 16 and the Church Choir exclusive vinyl-only middle album, &, will be released Tuesday, April 20.

Church had this to say about his new story-song ballad, “‘Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones’ was such a tough one for us to get, but it ended up as one of my favorite performances of my career. Casey Beathard had written that song and I first played it laying back on my bed for a guitar vocal. I tried to play it the same way a thousand times after that, but there’s a way that song develops that we never could recapture–something about relaxing and laying back; there’s a lope to that song. I started to worry about the soul going away the more we tried, so Jay Joyce said, ‘let’s let Bryan Sutton have a shot at it.’ We let him hear it one time and then he was feeling it as we went. There’s some extra pauses and spaces in the back of the recording as he figured it out–I think that’s what makes that song. It’s compelling and that’s a lot to do with Brian and Jay.”

Church will take to the field in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Feb. 7 to perform the national anthem with R&B star Jazmine Sullivan ahead of Super Bowl LV. Following the game, he will perform as part of Verizon’s “Big Concert for Small Business” benefit, streaming live at 10 p.m. CT.

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Chart Action: Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley Most Added

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Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley‘s single “Freedom Was A Highway” impacted country radio this week receiving 79 total adds across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow charts. Labelmate Parmalee received the highest spin gain on the Mediabase chart with their single “Just The Way” featuring Blanco Brown while “Good Time” by Niko Moon has the highest increase in plays for Billboard.

On the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, “Freedom Was A Highway” debuted at No. 68. James Robert Webb‘s latest single, “Okfuskee Whiskey” received the most adds with 13 new stations spinning the single. Blake Shelton‘s “Minimum Wage” continues to receive the highest spin gain for a second week with +259 plays moving him to No. 23.

Breakfasts and Workshops Announced for CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience

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Country Radio Seminar has released details on four mentoring breakfasts and four workshops that will take place during CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience. An overview of each breakfast and workshop along with participating mentors are below:

Wednesday, Feb. 17

• Programming Mentoring Breakfast, sponsored by vCreative, 10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. CT: This one-on-one session provides the opportunity for attendees to sit down with experienced PDs and Format Leaders, who can help them build their skill set and learn fresh new ideas. Confirmed mentors for the session are Mark Anderson (Entercom), Gail Austin (iHeartMedia), Carletta Blake (WGAR/Cleveland), Kevin Callahan (Entercom), Johnny Chiang (Cox Media Group Houston), Charlie Cook (Cumulus), Gator Harrison (iHeartMedia), John Foxx (WNSH/New York), Steve Geofferies (iHeartMedia), Rod Phillips (iHeartMedia), Jeff Kapugi (WMXQ/DC + WPOC/Baltimore), Mike Kennedy (Entercom), Bruce Logan (Hubbard Radio), Mike Moore (WHKX/Atlanta), Mike Preston (KPLX/Dallas + KSCS/Dallas), Tim Roberts (Entercom), Cindy Spicer (WFUS/Tampa + WQIK/Jacksonville), and Meg Stevens (iHeartMedia).

• Imaging Workshop, 1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m. CT: Station imaging and recorded promos are a key component on any station. For the first time ever, CRS has assembled a group of top imaging professionals to listen to actual submitted station imaging and provide real-time feedback and tips. Experts will take you into their computer and rebuild station promos using their years of experience and expertise. Panelists are Jake Kaplan (97.1 AMP/Los Angeles), Chadd Pierce (Pierce Voice), and Matt Warren (Gorilla Sound) and moderated by Joey Tack (KNCI/Sacramento)

• Music Scheduling Workshop, 2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. CT: In this workshop, panelists will show off their favorite tips and tricks to scheduling a great log, in an efficient way. Plus, they’ll share some of their favorite software features that you may not be using. Panelists are Kristopher Jones (Merge Music Media), Tom Lorino (Throwback Nation Radio), and Bryan ‘B-Dub’ Washington (Hubbard/B-Dub Radio), and the moderator is Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield).

Thursday, Feb. 18

• Believers Breakfast, sponsored by Curb Records, 9:00 a.m.-9:50 a.m. CT: Organized by Gator Harrison (iHeartMedia) and Lou Ramirez (Warner Music Nashville), the Believers Breakfast will feature Gator Harrison, Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), and Chris Tomlin (Capitol Christian Music Group), who will discuss the stability of Faith and the music industry; celebrity with humility; life balance in an industry that’s 24/7; how to stay Faith-centered in a chaotic, divisive world; fatherhood and leading spiritual lives.

• Label Mentoring Breakfast, 10:00-10:50 a.m. CT: A unique opportunity to meet and greet with some of the industry’s most inspiring record label executives to create a network, gain knowledge, and connect on everything from mentorship to motivation. Together, they will answer the questions: how can radio, records, and all attendees work together to better the music industry as a whole? What key people can you connect with to help move your career forward? And, how can you implement this new knowledge today? Confirmed mentors for the session are Randy Goodman (Sony), Tony Grotticelli (UMG), JoJamie Hahr (BBRMG), Dave Kelly (BMLG), Laurel Kittleson (Curb), Mandy McCormack (Pearl), and Lou Ramirez (WMN).

• Awards Submission Workshop, 1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m. CT: Submitting for ACM and CMA Awards can be a daunting yet rewarding task! Between choosing the right content to include in the audio and written portions, to archiving content throughout the year, there are many elements to a winning submission. A group of current and past winners have been assembled who will share all their pro tips and tricks to getting nominated and winning these prestigious awards. Panelists are Justin Cole (Entercom), John Shomby (Country Radio’s Coach), and Scott Ward (Scott Ward Voice Pro), and the moderator is Kelly Ford (Entercom).

Friday, Feb. 19

• Women’s Mentoring Breakfast, sponsored by NuVoodoo Media, 10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. CT: Offers attendees the opportunity to approach and chat with some of music’s female “power players.” Confirmed mentors for the session are Stacy Blythe (Big Loud), Marci Braun (WUSN/Chicago), Raffaella Braun (Triple Tigers), Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Shanna “Quinn” Cudeck (WMIL/Milwaukee), Kelly Ford (WNSH/New York), Becky Gardenhire (WME), Holly Hutton (WYCD/Detroit), Beth Laird (Creative Nation), Allison Laughter (Red Light Management), Miranda McDonald (MCA), Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media PR), Ashley Stegbauer Morrison (WWKA/Orlando), Ashley Sidoti (Valory Music Co.), Lauren Thomas (Sony/Nashville), Tiera (Singer-Songwriter/Apple Music Country Radio Personality/Host), Candice Watkins (Big Loud), and Kristen Williams (Warner Music Nashville).

• Aircheck Workshop, 11:00 a.m.-Noon CT: Country Radio’s top programmers and consultants will offer a personalized, virtual aircheck and feedback session. Attendees are invited to submit Airchecks to be highlighted and discussed among the panel of experts during the workshop [here]. Panelists are Becky Brenner (Albright, O’Malley & Brenner), Kevin Callahan (Entercom), Bruce Logan (Hubbard), Tracy Johnson (Tracy Johnson Media Group), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Associates), and JoJo Turnbeaugh (iHeartMedia).

For more information on CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or call 615-327-4487.

Chrissy Metz Teams With Dave Aude’ For ‘Feel Good’ Remix

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Chrissy Metz has brewed up a brand new remix of her song “Feel Good” with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Audé. He added a hypnotic groove element to the tune, written by Metz with Nicolette Hayford, Connie Herrington, Aaron Raitiere and Jake Mitchell.

Audé has landed more No. 1s than any other producer on the Billboard Dance Club Songs charts, currently 135, of which 14 are his own singles as an artist. In 2016, he won a Grammy in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category for his remix of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

“Feel Good” was initially released in conjunction with Metz’s 2020 fall fashion collaboration with ELOQUII Elements, and represents the moment she realized she was done living her life for other people and that it was time to put the focus on herself. “I can’t worry about what people are going to say, think, or do,” says Metz. “I’ve got to do what feels good to me.”

Metz spent much of 2020 writing and recording in Nashville, where she further realized her country music dream by making her Grand Ole Opry debut.

Now back in L.A. shooting the award-winning series This Is Us, she is spending much of her time not on set working on her first full-length music project.

JUDAH. Releases Solo Debut

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JUDAH.

JUDAH. released his new project, 7, on Friday (Feb. 5). The seven-track collection is the debut solo effort from Judah Akers, frontman for Judah & The Lion.

7 features guests including Jon Foreman, Amanda Lindsey Cook, Jon Guerra and Aodhan King. Also accompanying the album are select “Live from RHRSL” performance videos, including one video with Foreman and four acoustic clips.

JUDAH. has previously released the tracks “Just Because,” “Don’t Know If I Believe It,” “Fullness of God” and “You’ve Done the Rest,” all of which have amassed a combined 2.4 million global streams.

“This project isn’t about perfection, nor intended to be an impeccable source of theology, but my stories of pain, doubt, brokenness, etc, completely in need of a God who loves and adores me,” said the singer-songwriter. “There came a point this year when a friend’s suicide sent me into a depressed spiral I could not physically pull myself out of. That’s where worship began again for me. A broken human in need of Jesus’ unapologetic, unwavering, constant love, hope, peace, grace for me. And as I pondered all that He’s done for me I came to a place where I had to share it with you.”

7 Track List:
1. Just Because
2. Don’t Know If I Believe It (with Jon Foreman)
3. Fullness of God
4. I Am
5. Remember What It Cost (feat. Aodhan King)
6. The Getting Through (with Amanda Lindsey Cook)
7. You’ve Done the Rest (with Jon Guerra)

Rodney Crowell and Friends Release ‘Songs From Quarantine’ Benefiting Music Health Alliance

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Grammy-winning artist and long-time Music Health Alliance supporter Rodney Crowell has enlisted his all-star friends for a digital compilation of rarities to benefit the non-profit organization.

Available for two weeks only, exclusively via Bandcamp, Rodney Crowell and Friends’ Songs From Quarantine features Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal & The Milk Carton Kids, Ry Cooder, Elvis Costello, Ronnie Dunn, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Joe Henry, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Jeff Tweedy, Keith Urban and Lucinda Williams.

Proceeds will benefit Music Health Alliance and its continued work to provide free healthcare advocacy and support to the music community nationwide, including critical mental health and COVID-19 resources in addition to access to healthcare, medicines, diagnostic tests and more.

Rodney Crowell and Friends’ Songs From Quarantine features:
Ry Cooder – “Baby Started Wearing Her Mask”
Elvis Costello – “Maud Gone Wrong”
Emmylou Harris – “Gold”
Jeff Tweedy – “Even I Can See” (Demo)
Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
Taj Mahal – “Sitting On Top Of The World”
Lucinda Williams – “When The Way Gets Dark”
Steve Earle – “Time Is Never On Our Side”
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal and The Milk Carton Kids – “Western Wall”
Rodney Crowell – “She’s Back In Town”
Joe Henry – “Mission”
John Hiatt – “Goin’ Back To Nashville”
Ronnie Dunn – “Train To Glory”

Songs From Quarantine is available for two weeks on Bandcamp.

Crowell is already at work on the follow-up, Songs from Quarantine: Volume 2, also set to benefit Music Health Alliance. And he’s set to appear on the Sequestered Songwriters Facebook page Monday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. CT.

Luke Bryan To Offer Deluxe Edition Of ‘Born Here Live Here Die Here’ In April

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Luke Bryan will release a deluxe version of his Gold album Born Here Live Here Die Here on April 9 featuring six new songs. He shared the news of the project with fans live on Facebook this week, performing a couple of the songs from the album including two of the new tracks, “Country Does” and “Waves.”

Born Here Live Here Die Here was originally set to be released last April, but due to the pandemic, the project was moved to August and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, marking Bryan’s sixth consecutive appearance in the top spot. The album contains current smash single “Down To One,” as well as three chart toppers so far, “Knockin’ Boots,” “What She Wants Tonight,” and “One Margarita,” which is his 25th career No. 1 and has accumulated more than 270 million streams.

Bryan is also gearing up for his gig on the upcoming American Idol season, premiering Feb. 14 on ABC.

Born Here Live Here Die Here (Deluxe Edition) Track List:
1.  Knockin’ Boots (Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
2.  What She Wants Tonight (Luke Bryan, Ross Copperman, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
3.  Born Here Live Here Die Here (Jake Mitchell, Jameson Rodgers, Josh Thompson)
4.  One Margarita (Michael Carter, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson)
5.  Too Drunk To Drive (Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Brandon Kinney)
6.  Build Me A Daddy (Jake Mitchell, Josh Thompson, Brett Tyler)
7.  Little Less Broken (Michael Carter, Lindsay Rimes, Matt Rogers)
8.  For A Boat (Randy Montana, Josh Thompson, Mike Walker)
9.  Where Are We Goin’ (Luke Bryan, Brent Cobb)
10. Down To One (Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach, Kyle Fishman)
New Tracks:
11. Country Does (Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne)
12. Drink A Little Whiskey Down (Luke Bryan, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson)
13. Waves (Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd, Chase McGill)
14. Bill Dance (Luke Bryan, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip)
15. Up (Jeremy Bussey, Taylor Phillips, Bobby Pinson)
16. Floatin’ This Creek (Luke Bryan, Chase McGill, Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens)

Luke Bryan. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

On The Row: Dreams Come True for Quartz Hill Records Flagship Artist Nate Barnes

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Nate Barnes. Photo: Jason Myers

Singer-songwriter Nate Barnes was working at a nuclear power plant in Michigan when his musical dreams came to fruition. He spent years playing bars, coffee shops, small venues and festivals in and around his hometown until one fateful day when he met chart-topping songwriter Jason Sellers while passing through Nashville.

Now he’s the flagship artist on Quartz Hill Records, helmed by industry veteran Benny Brown alongside Sellers and Paul Brown.

“A year and a half ago, I was living up in Michigan working in a nuclear power plant and blueberry farms on the side, playing and gigging anywhere I could. I took a vacation to Gatlinburg around that time. On my way to Gatlinburg, I stopped at Nashville to meet a buddy for the first time,” Barnes recalled to MusicRow in a recent artist visit. The songwriter he met was Rob Hatch, he had been referred to him by a buddy at the power plant.

“It was an amazing thing to be able to sit there and meet him. Jason Sellers comes walking in the door, randomly. He didn’t know I was going to be there, and I didn’t know he was going to be there. Me and Jason just hit it off. I played him a few songs and he said, ‘Nate, I’ve got a guy you need to meet.’ And that guy was Benny Brown.”

Barnes went to meet Benny and Paul, they signed him on the spot.

“I had a week and a half to make a decision and get all my affairs in order to leave everything, with the power plant. I had to move away from my 12-year-old boy, which was really hard. I had to sell everything I could and pack everything else up with me, my dog and my truck. I moved down here and lived in a hotel room for over a year.”

A year and a half later, Barnes is working in the studio with producers Mickey Jack Cones (Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett) and Derek George (Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser) on his Quartz Hill Records album debut. He released his debut single, “You Ain’t Pretty,” which earned him a DisCovery Award from MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann for its “warmth and sincerity.” The single impacts country radio on Feb. 16.

The brand new artist on the new Quartz Hill label has made a significant entry. The lyric video for “You Ain’t Pretty” has surpassed 400,000 views, and Barnes’ TikTok streams have surpassed 13.7 million at press time.

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Brett Young Peaks On CountryBreakout Radio Chart

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Brett Young’s “Lady” reaches the chart pinnacle this week, marking his 7th No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Young co-wrote the single with Ross Copperman and Jon Nite shortly before his first daughter’s birth in October 2019.

Young’s “Caliville Weekend” is slated to take place this June in Palm Springs, California. The experience will feature daily live performances, wellness activities, pool parties and more.

“Bringing us all together for a weekend in one of my favorite places in the world is definitely a dream come true for me,” Young said. “I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned for them next summer!”

Click here or above to view the latest issue of The MusicRow Weekly.

Byron Kennedy Inks with Marathon Talent Agency and Spielberg Entertainment

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Pictured (clockwise): Byron Kennedy, Marathon Talent Agency’s Peter Strickland, Spielberg Entertainment’s Neal Spielberg. Illustration: Marjory Boyer

Comedian Byron Kennedy has signed with Spielberg Entertainment for management representation and Marathon Talent Agency.

Kennedy spent the past two decades channeling his comedic colors through the airwaves as a major market broadcast personality and programming executive. He transitioned his skills to a major Nashville based label, where he quarterbacked the careers of international Platinum recording artists. Now, less than two years removed from a career in the music business, Kennedy draws from life experiences working in entertainment and having served in the U.S. Army in a comedy trajectory that has taken him from open mic nights to being featured in Las Vegas and beyond.

Both Spielberg Entertainment’s Neal Spielberg and Marathon Talent Agency’s Peter Strickland were firmly entrenched at Warner Bros Records Nashville/Warner Music Group when they launched the careers of Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. Spielberg spent 21 years at the label in sales working with Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr., Faith Hill, Dwight Yoakam, and more. He opened Spielberg Consulting and later Spielberg Entertainment in 2003. Spielberg hired Strickland as Director of Sales for Warner Music Nashville, moving him from WEA Distribution in Boston to Nashville in 1995. Strickland handled brand management for artists like Blake Shelton, Faith Hill, and Big & Rich. Strickland launched two comedy labels under the Warner umbrella, and Executive-Produced Jimmy Fallon’s Grammy award-winning comedy album Blow Your Pants Off and more. He left Warner in 2017 and launched Marathon Talent Agency the following year.

“I could not be more excited about working with Neal and Peter,” said Kennedy. “When I look at the long list of insanely talented comedians and artists they have worked with, I am beyond humbled and thankful for their belief in me. Their passion for comedy along with their understanding of the business is something I am beyond blessed to have in my corner. I look forward to all the amazing things we will be able to accomplish together!”