Jameson Rodgers Re-Signs With Combustion Music

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Pictured (L-R, front row): Combustion Music President Chris Farren, Jameson Rodgers, Combustion Music VP Chris Van Belkom; (L-R, back row): Combustion Music’s Kelly Lyons and Blake Duncan. Photo: Johnny McGuire

Jameson Rodgers has extended his exclusive multi-year publishing agreement with Combustion Music.

The Batesville, Mississippi native released his first EP in 2016, featuring the streaming hit “Midnight Daydream.” In 2018, he followed that up with his self-titled EP featuring his No. 1 single, “Some Girls”, which has amassed over 120 million streams. Rodgers spent most of 2019 opening for Luke Combs on his Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour, hitting over 60 cities internationally. He’s had cuts by Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and more, and scored his first No. 1 as a writer in 2019 with Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You.” Rodgers was named the Robert K. Oermann Discovery Artist of the Year at the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards.

He signed with Combustion Music in 2014, and recently celebrated his first No. 1 as an artist with his debut Gold certified single, “Some Girls.” His latest single, “Cold Beer Calling My Name” featuring Luke Combs, is currently climbing up the charts.

“We couldn’t be happier to be extending our relationship with Jameson. He is an artist of immense talent and character, and to watch his growth over the past 6 years has been incredibly satisfying”, says Combustion President Chris Farren.

“I’m very excited to continue working with everyone at Combustion,” said Rodgers. “They are like family to me and I couldn’t imagine working with anyone else. Looking forward to three more years of beating Chris Farren on the golf course.”

BREAKING: WME Drops Morgan Wallen

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer

Morgan Wallen has been dropped from WME’s roster, MusicRow has confirmed.

The talent agency’s decision to drop Wallen is the latest development since a video surfaced on Feb. 2 of him using a racial slur. The video was reportedly shot Sunday (Jan. 31) night outside Wallen’s Nashville home by neighbors and shows him yelling profanities, including the N-word. Wallen has since been suspended from his label (Big Loud Records), and his music has been removed from iHeartMedia, Cumulus, and CMT, as well as major playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, and other organizations’ platforms. Read more here.

The Academy of Country Music also announced they will halt Wallen’s potential involvement and eligibility for this year’s ACM Awards.

Wallen issued an apology to TMZ, “I’m embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.” MusicRow confirmed its authenticity.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Hailey Whitters & Brent Cobb, More

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Miranda Lambert. Photo: Ellen von Unwerth

It’s “duet day” here at DISClaimer.

Collaborations rule the roost with discs by Alex Hall & Tenille Townes, Luke Combs & Billy Strings, Ryan Kinder & Brandy Clark and Hailey Whitters & Brent Cobb. I had a ball listening.

There’s nobody new here, so the DisCovery Award is dormant this week.

As for the Disc of the Day, take your pick. I honestly can’t decide among Kinder & Clark, Kelly Lang, Eric Church, HARDY, Granger Smith and Miranda Lambert. They all thrilled me. There’s never been a six-way tie before, but there’s a first time for everything….

SOUTHERLAND / “Along Those Lines”
Writers: Chris Rogers/Greg Bates/Joseph Driver Williams III/Matt Chase; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Greg Bates; Label: River House Artists/Sony Music Nashville
– Gentle nostalgia for the small town of one’s youth, nicely harmonized and sympathetically produced. This duo (Matt Chase & Chris Rogers) manages to effectively blend traditionalist vocals with echoey electronic arrangements.

LUKE COMBS & BILLY STRINGS / “The Great Divide”
Writers: Luke Combs/Billy Strings/Wyatt Durrette; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Chip Matthews; Label: River House Artists/ Columbia Nashville
– This is so pleasurable on so many levels. The rippling, bluegrassy, acoustic backing is enchanting. The lyric is a poignant plea for unity. The vocals are so comfortingly sincere that you can practically warm your hands by them.

HAILEY WHITTERS & BRENT COBB / “Glad to Be Here”
Writers: Brent Cobb/Brent Rupard/Neil Medley; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jake Gear/Hailey Whitters; Label: Pigasus Records/Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters
– Whitters turns in her usual, pure-country vocals and winsome charm. Cobb matches her for down-home friendliness and warmth. The expertly mixed track blends organ, twang guitars, Dobro, rock electronics and frisky percussion. Her current single ( “Fillin’ My Cup” ) with LBT is a gem, and this makes me even more eager to hear the whole album.

RYAN KINDER, BRANDY CLARK & JERRY DOUGLAS / “Tired of Flying”
Writers: Ryan Kinder/Jenn Schott/Luke Sheets; Publishers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner
– The presence of one of the greatest female country artists alive, plus an instrumental living legend, ought to be enough to pique your interest. Kinder sings in a haunting, airy tenor, and his writing in this gorgeously poetic, wistful meditation is superb. The ballad has you hanging on every line. I think I am becoming a major, major fan.

ALEX HALL & TENILLE TOWNES / “Heart Shut”
Writers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Monument
– Hall’s Six Strings EP features collaborations with Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Kassi Ashton, John Osborne and Brad Tursi. The best companion to his “broken” vocal style is perhaps the always heart-tugging Townes. However, the song could be stronger.

MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Tequila Does”
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Jon Randall/Jack Ingram; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Beat Up Ford/Platinum Songs US/BMG/Lonesome Vinyl, BMI; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville
– Oh, hell yeah! A honky-tonk moaner that shifts into a barroom toe tapper. With border-town Texas lyrics, no less. It goes without saying that her vocal is as tangy as a twist of lime.

KELLY LANG / “I’m Not Going Anywhere”
Writers: Kelly Lang; Publishers: Kelly Lang Music, BMI; Producer: Kelly Lang; Label: Kelly Lang
– I have been fixated on this song ever since I first heard it in an Ascension Hospitals TV ad and have long been wondering who is singing it so brilliantly. Now it can be told. This is heart-gripping, inspirational stuff. A balm for those who are aching. A comforting ballad for the ages.

ERIC CHURCH / “Heart On Fire”
Writers: Eric Church; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: EMI Music Nashville
– It has a jangly country-rock vibe with a heartland-roots lyric to match. The soundtrack for a ride on back roads with the windows rolled down and the radio turned up. Does anybody in country music do it better than this guy? I don’t think so.

GRANGER SMITH / “Hate You Like I Love You”
Writers: Justin Wilson/Rodney Clawson/Granger Smith/Kyle Fishman; Publishers: Play It Again/Round Hill/Ford Drives a Chevy/Shirt at Work/Kyle Fishman; Producer: Derek Wells/Granger Smith/Scott Johnson; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– Tuneful and hooky. This extremely well-written breakup song sung with heart sure sounds like a Big Hit to me. Play it.

SAM WILLIAMS / “Can’t Fool Your Own Blood”
Writers: Jaimee Harris/Mary Gauthier/Samuel Williams; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Tommy Cecil; Label: Samuel Williams
– It’s an anguished-sounding ballad about escaping self-destructive ways. Mama’s drinking again and can’t hide it. Hank Jr.’s boy sounds like he has his own highly creative soul.

HARDY / “Give Heaven Some Hell”
Writers: HARDY/Hunter Phelps/Ben Johnson/Ashley Gorley; Publishers: Relative Music Group, BMI/Rednecker Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/8 Minutes Twenty Seconds Publishing, BMI/Artist Publishing Group West, ASCAP/Big Blue Nation Music, ASCAP/Nontypical Music, ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/ WC Music Corp., ASCAP; Producer: Joey Moi/Derek Wells; Label: Big Loud Records
– Very cool. A loving send-off to a running buddy who’s passed on. It manages to have deep sentimental affection and rocking attitude at the same time. “I’ll see you again/But ‘til then give Heaven some Hell.” Can you pump your fist at a funeral? This guy can, and I dig him the most.

JAY DEMARCUS / “Music Man”
Writers: Jay DeMarcus; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jay DeMarcus; Label: Big Machine
– This super-gifted Rascal Flatts member penned this ballad in homage to his mentor father when he recently died. It’s an airy, soaring atmospheric creation with a lyric and a tenor vocal that tug at the heartstrings in all the right ways.

Kellie Pickler Appointed USO Global Ambassador

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Kellie Pickler (right) on one of her twelve USO Tours. Photo: courtesy DOD and USO.

Kellie Pickler has been named a USO Global Ambassador in support of the organization’s 80th anniversary.

Pickler, alongside USO Global Ambassador actor Wilmer Valderrama, will support the organization’s Give More Than Thanks initiative, a campaign encouraging Americans to find actionable ways to express their gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families. Throughout the year, Pickler and Valderrama will participate in events and engagements for service members, raise awareness of our military’s needs, and share ways Americans can help the USO give more than thanks.

Pickler performed on her first USO Tour in 2007 to Iraq and has since completed 12 total tours, visiting 13 international locations including Afghanistan, Germany, Iraq, Kosovo, United Kingdom, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Norway; a ship at sea; and three domestic locations.

“I am honored to join the USO as a Global Ambassador for their 80th anniversary of supporting America’s military and especially this campaign encouraging all Americans to give more than thanks,” shares Pickler. “The USO has allowed me so many opportunities to serve those who serve us, and this is another way I can help shine a light on something that matters…supporting our servicemen, servicewomen, their families and letting them know we don’t take what they do for granted.”

Sony Music Corporation Releases Q3 Results: Revenue Surges

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On Feb. 3, Sony Corporation released its financial results for its third quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2020.

According to the report:

Overall consolidated sales and operating revenue increased 9 percent, compared to the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, rising to 2 trillion 696.5 billion yen, approximately $26 billion.

Consolidated operating income increased a significant 59.1 billion yen year-on-year to 359.2 billion yen or approximately $3.5 billion.

In the music division, sales increased 22 percent year-on-year to 264.5 billion yen (approx. $2.5 billion), and operating income increased 23.4 billion yen to 59.7 billion yen (approx. $566 million).

In recorded music, streaming revenue grew at the high rate of 21 percent year-on-year, which the company attributed to discovering and developing new artists, including Doja Cat and other global hitmakers.

See the full report.

Activist Artists Management Promotes Caitlin Stone

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Activist Artists Management Partner Caitlin Stone

Activist Artists Management has promoted Caitlin Stone from Senior Artist Manager to Partner. She has been with the company 11 years and is the day-to-day manager for acclaimed musician and humanitarian Michael Franti.

The promotion has Stone joining the current Activist Partners: Bernie Cahill, Greg Suess, Matt Maher, Liz Norris and Tony Khan.

Based in Nashville, Stone is Activist’s Head of Activism, and serves as the day-to-day management lead for the Activist Artists Fellowship.

As a Co-Chair of The Activist Foundation, her work was instrumental in raising millions of dollars in COVID-19 related emergency relief, including providing over 350,000 meals to desperate Nepali families during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are delighted to announce the promotion of Caitlin Stone to Partner,” said Maher. “Just over 11 years ago, we hired Caitlin straight out of college when she resourcefully submitted her website HireCaitlinStone.com. Her leadership, dedication and passion for making positive change in the world are the embodiment of everything that Activist stands for.”

Stone also leads Activist’s Health & Wellness program and is a Grammy U mentor for the class of 2021.

Paul Kingsbury Joins Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as Managing Editor

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Paul Kingsbury

Author and editor Paul Kingsbury has joined the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum staff as managing editor. In this role, Kingsbury will manage the development of written content for the museum’s website, exhibitions, public programs, publications, educational materials and online offerings. He reports to Brenda Colladay, the museum’s vice president of museum services.

Kingsbury has written extensively about country music throughout his career, writing or co-authoring several books including: Patsy Cline: Crazy for Loving You; Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World; The Grand Ole Opry History of Country Music; Hatch Show Print: The History of a Great American Poster Shop; BMI: The Explosion of American Music, 1940-1990; and Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers, 1947-1989.

In addition, he served as the editor-in-chief for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, first published in 1998, and co-editor for the museum’s pictorial history Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America, published in 2006. Kingsbury most recently served as communications manager for North America Agriculture for The Nature Conservancy where he was responsible for the organization’s agriculture marketing and communications.

Luke Combs and Maren Morris To Sit Down With NPR Music’s Ann Powers At CRS

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CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience will host a special session, sponsored by AllAccess.com, featuring the reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists of the Year Luke Combs and Maren Morris.

The Q&A session, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. CT, will be moderated by Ann Powers, NPR Music’s critic and correspondent.

Powers, Combs and Morris will discuss what country music means in light of its complicated past and how artists can hold themselves accountable in helping shape a genre that is as diverse as America itself.

Other highlights of CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience include the New Faces of Country Music® Show, featuring performances by Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, HARDY, Ashley McBryde, and Matt Stell; Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat at CRS headlined by Tim McGraw; Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley featuring Thomas Rhett; the CRS Artist Interview with Luke Bryan; and lunchtime performances, sponsored by Warner Music Nashville and UMG Nashville.

Circle Network Added To Redbox’s Free Live TV Streaming Service

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Circle Network’s programming is now available on Redbox Free Live TV.

The network’s recently announced 2021 programming featuring new original series and renewed fan favorites will be included in the launch. Circle’s Opry Live airs weekly on Saturday nights, bringing superstars like Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and Garth Brooks into viewers’ homes for a one-hour live performance.

Phil Vassar also returns for a third season of his Songs from the Cellar, where he invites close friends and celebrities into his cellar for great conversations and performances. Additional titles available include new series Opry Rewind hosted by Nan Kelley, Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith with Lauren Alaina, The Southern Weekend with Natalie Stovall, Upstream with Elizabeth Cook, The Dailey & Vincent Show with Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, as well as award shows and more.

“It’s great to kick off this new year by partnering with our friends at Redbox. Their recognizable red kiosks deliver a source of entertainment to millions, and we are excited to be a part of Free Live TV. Their platform’s audience is a perfect pairing for our original programming, which gives us the opportunity to bring even more fans inside the circle of everything country,” said Drew Reifenberger, Circle Network’s general manager.

Redbox joins Circle’s growing list of AVOD providers which also includes Roku, Inc., Samsung TV Plus, VIZIO SmartCast® and XUMO, signaling marked growth for the network since its launch last January.

Carly Pearce Reflects On Emotional Journey On New Project ’29’

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Carly Pearce is releasing a new project, 29, Feb. 19 on Big Machine Records.

The new seven-track project is the outcome of a creative burst of inspiration from Pearce’s time spent writing with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and the songs mine deep into the roots of the music she grew up on. “The best songs come from the moment, from real creative spark—and Josh and Shane bring it out of me,” Pearce said. “I was unsure where my music would be without busbee. They both know where my musical heart is, and they understand how to capture exact details for much larger truths. The more specific they write, the more people I think can see themselves in the songs,” she says.

Other writers contributing to the project include Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton, Sarah Buxton, Matt Ramsey, Jimmy Robbins, and Ben West. The tribute to Pearce’s producer and longtime friend busbee who passed away in 2019, “Show Me Around,” appears on the new album as well.

“I feel lighter reflecting on the last year and pouring my soul into this music and wanted to share it in hopes that others to will take from the songs what they need. With streaming and social media, we were able record music for the sole purpose of letting my fans know where my heart is without any expectations. That’s a kind of immediacy that makes making records really exciting. I can’t wait to share 29,” Pearce says.

29 Track List:
1. “Next Girl” | Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
2. “Should’ve Known Better” | Carly Pearce, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
3. “29” | Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
4. “Liability” | Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
5. “Messy” | Carly Pearce, Sarah Buxton, Jimmy Robbins*
6. “Show Me Around” | Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton, Ben West
7. “Day One” | Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey

Produced by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
*Produced by Jimmy Robbins