Kelsea Ballerini To Release New Project ‘ballerini’ On Sept. 11

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Kelsea Ballerini is set to debut her new album ballerini on Sept. 11 via Black River Entertainment.

The project features stripped-down renditions of the 13 pop-polished songs that appeared on her March 2020 release, kelsea.

While in quarantine, Ballerini deconstructed each song and re-recorded everything with minimal accompaniment, instead focusing on letting each song’s melody and lyrics lead the way.

The first song off the new album, “club (ballerini album version),” is out today.

“kelsea is glitter: bold and effervescent and dreams that are boundless. She’s who I want to be. While ballerini is emotional, vulnerable, soft: observes her surroundings and chooses her words carefully. She’s who I am. The album ballerini is the result of the wonder and gets down to the heart of it. Introducing ballerini…the other side of the same story,” Ballerini said.

The singer-songwriter is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards on Sept. 16. She also recently released the video for “hole in the bottle,” directed by Hannah Lux Davis.

See the complete tracklist for ballerini below:

1. overshare (ballerini album version)
2. club (ballerini album version)
3. homecoming queen? (ballerini album version)
4. the other girl (ballerini album version)
5. love me like a girl (ballerini album version)
6. love and hate (ballerini album version)
7. bragger (ballerini album version)
8. hole in the bottle (ballerini album version)
9. half of my hometown (ballerini album version)
10. the way i used to (ballerini album version)
11. needy (ballerini album version)
12. a country song (ballerini album version)
13. la (ballerini album version)

Chase McGill Extends Publishing Agreement With UMPG Nashville

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Chase McGill. Photo: Jessica Amerson

Chase McGill has extended his global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. The company has also acquired interest in McGill’s catalog.

In only two years, McGill has notched five No. 1 singles including “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” (Luke Bryan), “Lose It” (Kane Brown), “Break Up In The End” (Cole Swindell), “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” (Justin Moore) and “I Love My Country” (Florida Georgia Line). In 2019, McGill received two Grammy nominations, an ACM Writer of the Year nomination, a CMA Triple Play Award, and took home the NSAI Song of the Year award for “Break Up In The End.”
The songwriter continues his hot streak with recent cuts by Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Swindell, Moore, Chris Young, Gary Allan and Travis Denning, to name a few. Across his catalog, McGill’s songs have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Luke Combs, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Brett Young, Little Big Town, HARDY and Michael Ray, among others.

“Having Chase come to town with only a few songs and watching him put in the hard work, define his writing style, and gain the admiration of the Nashville writing community has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career,” said Travis Gordon, Senior Director A&R, UMPG Nashville. “Through this journey, he’s become an integral part of the UMPG family. We’re so proud of the strong catalog of hits he is continuing to build and excited to stay working alongside him in the future.”

“Like a lot of songwriters who move to Nashville, I didn’t have any family in town,” said McGill. “Over the years with Universal Music Publishing, that has all changed. If I’m out of town on a bus run, I know my wife can call anyone in that office for anything she needs, and they’ll be there in a hurry. Pair that with their work ethic, wisdom, leadership, and strategy, the decision to stay right where I’m at, was a no-brainer.”

Laci Kaye Booth Signs With BMLG Records And 19 Recordings

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Pictured (L-R): Top Row – Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Red Light Management’s Rachel Silver, Big Machine Label Group’s Matthew Hargis, Middle Row – Big Machine Label Group’s Jimmy Harnen, Laci Kaye Booth, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Bottom Row – Big Machine Label Group’s Andrew Kautz, Dann Huff, Big Machine Label Group’s Carly Strickland

Laci Kaye Booth has signed with BMLG Records and 19 Recordings.

The Texas native placed in the Top 5 during American Idol‘s 17th season. She joins the Big Machine Label Group imprint’s roster, which includes Florida Georgia Line, Lady A, Brett Young, Riley Green and Danielle Bradbery. Booth is represented by Red Light Management’s Rachel Silver and United Talent Agency’s Nick Meinema and Cass Scripps.

“Dann Huff played me an acoustic live performance of Laci and within three seconds her incredibly unique voice absolutely knocked me out,” said BMLGR President/CEO Jimmy Harnen.

“Growing up in a small town in Texas, I always knew going to Nashville and sharing my music with the world was all I ever wanted to do, but it always felt like a faraway dream,” Booth said. “Today, to have the opportunity to say I’ve signed with Big Machine Label Group and to know there is a team led by Scott and Jimmy that believes in me is such a blessing. Not to mention Dann Huff who has been my champion since day one. I still can’t believe it, but I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Juli Newton Griffith Joins TriScore Music

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Nashville-based music publisher TriScore Music, which entered the publishing rights acquisition business with the purchase of RPM Music Group last year, has added Juli Newton Griffith as Vice President of their publishing operations, effective immediately.

The deal was announced by TriScore principals Blake Chancey and Scott Siman, who will be working closely with Griffith to make additional catalog and rights acquisitions and oversee the songwriter roster. Griffith has previously served as VP of Magic Mustang Music, joining the company at its inception in 2003. Under Griffith’s direction, Magic Mustang Music was named SESAC’s Publisher of the Year for three consecutive years (2013-2015).

Prior to that, she worked with Corlew Music Group. She has represented over 100 songwriters and been involved in over 600 cuts.

TriScore is home to major copyrights that include songs recorded by Buddy Holly, Cher, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Sam Hunt, Keith Urban and Old Dominion. Those songs include Grammy-winner “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and No. 1 singles “We Back,” “Say You Do,” “Break Up With Him,” “Make You Miss Me,” “Save It For a Rainy Day,” “I’m Moving On,” “Leave the Pieces,” “Red Solo Cup,” “Highway Don’t Care,” and “Chainsaw,” among others. Grammy-winner Blake Chancey has produced records for such acts as David Ball, the Chicks, Montgomery Gentry and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Siman was a leading music attorney before moving to Sony and later taking over management for Tim McGraw among others.

Griffith can be reached at juli@Triscoremusic.com

Scott And Sandi Borchetta Award $150,000 In Music Education Grants To Celebrate Big Machine’s 15th Anniversary

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Since its inception 15 years ago by founder Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Records has carved out a unique path to become one of the most successful independent labels in the world, selling over 185 million albums globally and racking up 137 chart-topping singles.

To celebrate the label’s successes over the past 15 years, Scott and Sandi Borchetta have announced a contest for 501c3 non-profit music schools and organizations. Fifteen recipients will be awarded $10,000 grants, which are supported by the Borchettas’ Music Has Value Fund, which was created in 2015 to provide financial support to organizations which support those who make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music.

“The Big Machine Label Group’s hard work over the past 15 years has paid off,” said BMLG President, CEO and Founder Scott Borchetta. “We have been very blessed to work with so many artists and help them realize their musical dreams. We are now using the fruits of our labor to expand our reach and help more people and communities who could use some financial assistance during these hard times.”

“It is important to us to help music education programs in both rural and urban areas,” said Sandi Borchetta, Senior Vice President of Creative for BMLG. “We want to hear your stories. How are you making a difference to elevate music education? Do you have an innovative idea and plan to reach, connect and teach students music during this difficult pandemic time? What can we do to help support the plan?

Information on how to apply and to receive the official grant application with full eligibility requirements, can be found at MusicHasValue.com.

Borchetta also made another big-hearted donation this week with artist Thomas Rhett. When Thomas Rhett released his hit song “Be A Light” featuring friends Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban in March, it was accompanied by an announcement that he and the song’s collaborators would donate all proceeds from single to the ongoing MusiCares COVID-19 Relief efforts. Rhett and Borchetta surprised Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and MusiCares Executive Director Laura Segura via a video conference with an additional $100,000 for the relief fund. The news comes as “Be A Light” nears the top of the country radio charts and fans all over the world share messages of hope with the #BeALight campaign.

YouTube video

Riley Green To Premiere "The Golden Saw Series" To Help ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund

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ACM Awards New Male Artist of the Year Riley Green will take fans on a virtual journey through his hometown in Jacksonville, Alabama, with the premiere of “The Golden Saw Series,” supported through a partnership with Busch. Proceeds from the series will benefit musicians out of work due to the global pandemic through Green’s #GetThatBandABeer and ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, disbursed to individuals in the country music community who are currently on the waitlist for pandemic relief assistance. The four-part series will air bi-weekly on YouTube beginning Thursday (Sept. 3) with each episode featuring different guests performing alongside Green as well as surprise duets between artists.

“The Golden Saw is a special place to me,” Green says. “I learned how to sing and play guitar in that old house. I wanted to share the way those rough cut pine walls made me feel as a kid so I decided to do a concert series. I have some amazing singers and songwriters joining me and I can’t wait for y’all to see it.”
When Green was a teenager, his great-grandparents’ former home was turned into The Golden Saw Music Hall as a performance venue – named after the family’s nearby sawmill – for local musicians to play their favorite classic Country hits on Saturday nights.

Guests for the four-part series include singer-songwriters Drake White and Brent Cobb, and songwriters Jessi Alexander (“The Climb,” “I Drive Your Truck”), Randy Montana (“Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now”), Erik Dylan (“There Was This Girl,” “Outlaws Like Us”), Adam Hood (“Good Ol’ Days”), Dave Kennedy and Channing Wilson (“She Got The Best of Me”).

Kobalt, SMACKSongs Renew Partnership

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Kobalt and SMACKSongs have renewed their global partnership, including a continuation of publishing administration, creative services and synch for all of SMACKSongs’ catalog and future works.

Jesse Willoughby, General Manager of Kobalt Nashville, said, “Shane, Michael, Josh and the entire SMACK team have built an incredible business that personifies a true creative and entrepreneurial spirit becoming a beacon of the Nashville publishing community in a short period of time. We are honored to continue on this journey with them and look forward to being a part of their continued success and growth in the future.”

Led by Grammy Award winners Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, SMACKSongs’ songwriters, artists and producers have collectively earned over 50 chart-topping hits. In 2018, SMACKSongs was named SESAC Publisher of the Year and has been named AIMP Publisher of the Year for the past three years.

SMACKSongs has been listed as a Top 10 Billboard Hot Country Publishing Corporation for the past seven years.

Robert Carlton, SVP, Development of SMACKSongs, added, “Kobalt has proven to be an invaluable part of the SMACK team. They’ve been with us since day one in helping build this company, so it was a no brainer to continue this partnership. We are excited to see what new heights we’ll hit together in the coming years.”

Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, More Set For ACM Awards Performances

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Mickey Guyton. Photo: Mathieu Bitton

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line, Mickey Guyton and Morgan Wallen have been added to the lineup of artists for the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards on Sept. 16.

Hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award-winner Keith Urban, the awards will be broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House stage from 8:00-11:00 PM ET live/delayed PT) on CBS and will be available to stream on demand on CBS All Access.

Brown will perform his current single “Worldwide Beautiful”; Bryan will perform his 25th No. 1 hit “One Margarita”; Church will perform his new single “Stick That In Your Country Song”; Dan + Shay will offer up their current song “I Should Probably Go to Bed”; Florida Georgia Line will perform their latest chart-topper “I Love My Country”; Guyton will sing her stirring song “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?”; and Wallen will perform his multi-week No.1 smash “Whiskey Glasses.”

For the first time in the show’s history, the awards will take place in Nashville, broadcasting from three iconic venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. Previously announced artists performing on the show include Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, and Tenille Townes. Artists at The Bluebird Cafe include Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert featuring songwriters Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick, and Tim McGraw.

More performances, unique collaborations and surprising moments will be announced in the coming weeks.

Porter’s Call To Host Virtual Evening Of Stories

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Porter’s Call is hosting a “Virtual Evening Of Stories” on Wednesday, Sept. 2, featuring authors and songwriters. Renowned authors Amena Brown and Jon Acuff are the evening’s Storytellers for the event, while Andrew Ripp, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Tiera, and Bear Rinehart are the special musical guests.

Brown is an author, spoken word poet, and speaker whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling, rhyme, and humor. She has crafted five spoken word albums and two non-fiction books. Acuff is the New York Times best-selling author of six books including his most recent, Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done.

The special evening helps support Porter’s Call, which aids artists with the counseling, support, and encouragement they may need in times of struggle. Services at Porter’s Call are provided at no charge. More information on the live stream can be found here.

Filmore’s ‘State I’m In’ Slated For September

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Filmore’s debut album, State I’m In, is set for release Sept. 25. The 18-song album, produced by Zach Abend, chronicles a chapter in Filmore’s life that has been full of changes, including his recent engagement this summer to longtime girlfriend Paige, planning a Fall wedding, and seeing his fan base continue to grow amidst a global pandemic.

“This album is a look into my life over the last few years. It’s the ups and downs in relationships, experiences from my hometown, life on the road, and living in Nashville,” said the Missouri native. “I wrote every song from a real and personal place with amazing writers and friends. My hope is that you can listen to this album from start to finish and know who Filmore is by the end. Knowing that these songs relate to others, to help them get through a break-up, or celebrate love, or just let them enjoy a night out with friends, is why I made this album. State I’m In can be a state of mind or a specific location that helps you remember a moment in your life. For me, every one of these songs represents a moment in time that made me who I am today.”

The Curb recording artist has already accumulated over 146 million career on-demand streams and been featured on Spotify’s noteworthy ‘New Music Friday,’ ‘Hot Country’ and ‘Wild Country,’ as well as appearances on NBC’s “TODAY” and The Bobby Bones Show.

State I’m In Track Listing:

  1. New To This (Tyler Filmore / Adam James / Ian Keaggy)
  2. Slower (Tyler Filmore / Steven Jones / Justin Ebach)
  3. Country Song (Tyler Filmore / Justin Ebach / John-Luke Carter)
  4. W.I.L.D. (Tyler Filmore / Michael Whitworth)
  5. State I’m In (Tyler Filmore / John-Luke Carter)
  6. Heart’s Having A Hard Time (Tyler Filmore / Hannah Ellis / Jason Massey)
  7. Blue Skies (Tyler Filmore / Cary Barlowe / Jesse Frasure)
  8. Nothing’s Better (Tyler Filmore / John Luke Carter / Michael Whitworth)
  9. Busy (Tyler Filmore / Justin Ebach)
  10. Love That About You (Tyler Filmore / Benji Davis / John-Luke Carter / Michael Whitworth)
  11. My Place (Tyler Filmore / John-Luke Carter / Justin Ebach)
  12. Other Girl (Tyler Filmore / busbee / John Luke Carter / Josh Kear)
  13. Pictures On The Fridge (Tyler Filmore / Jordan Schmidt / Bob DiPiero)
  14. Me Lately (Tyler Filmore / John-Luke Carter / Jimmy Robbins)
  15. Day Hour Minute (Tyler Filmore / Justin Ebach / Josh Miller / Zach Abend)
  16. London (Tyler Filmore / John-Luke Carter)
  17. Livin Easy (Tyler Filmore / John-Luke Carter / Jason Massey)
  18. Anyone But Me (Tyler Filmore / Jason Massey / Hannah Ellis)