Radio Promo Veteran Buddy King Dies at 79

/by

Buddy King. Photo: Courtesy Alan Young Promotions

Radio promotion veteran Buddy King of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away Friday, Aug. 21. He was 79.

King’s career in the industry spanned over six decades. He began as a radio DJ and later became a program director, before transitioning into radio promotion. He had recently promoted singles for Bobby Wills, Rachael Turner and CJ Solar, and worked with Alan Young as part of the team that took Solar’s “Airplane” and “American Girls” to No. 15 and “Coming My Way” to Top 10 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio chart. The unique industry veteran didn’t own a cell phone or computer, choosing to work the old school way with pen, paper, and his home phone over modern technology.

Jeremy McComb Signs With Average Joes Entertainment

/by

Pictured (L-R): Average Joes’ Marketing Manager, Andrew Davis; Average Joes’ V.P./A&R, Forrest Latta; Jeremy McComb, Morreale Entertainment Artist Manager, Tony Morreale; Average Joes’ Sr. Dir./Publicity, Claire Cook-Taylor; Producer Nick Gibbens

Jeremy McComb has signed with Average Joes Entertainment, and will release his new single, “Cotton’s Getting High,” on Sept. 25. Produced by Nick Gibbens, the track is a kick-it-up-a-notch barn burner penned by Luke Laird, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally.

McComb was born and raised in Idaho. He has been touring relentlessly for over a decade and has released four albums, charted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, penned songs for projects including the Grammy-nominated soundtrack Blue Collar Comedy Tour – One For The Road, worked as a radio programmer, and tour managed comedian Larry The Cable Guy.

“Jeremy’s craft as a storyteller, musician and entertainer, coupled with his relentless work ethic, truly make him stand out from the crowd. The entire Average Joes’ team is excited to have him on board,” said Forrest Latta, Average Joes’ VP, A&R.

Exile Inks With Ontourage Management, Kinkead Entertainment

/by

Pictured (L-R): Exile’s Steve Goetzman, Sonny LeMaire, JP Pennington, Entourage Management’s Tony Conway, Exile’s Marlon Hargis and Les Taylor. Photo Credit: Brandon Mauldin

Exile has signed with Ontourage Management for exclusive management representation. The band has also signed with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency for booking.

2020 marks the 57th anniversary for the band, which formed in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1963. The band has had hits on both the pop and country charts, achieving 10 No. 1 songs on the country chart alone. They are known for hits including “Kiss You All Over,” “Give Me One More Chance,” and “I Don’t Want to Be a Memory,” to name a few.

“We’ve known Tony for decades, back from when Exile was just another struggling Kentucky band. It’s a real pleasure to finally get to work with someone we’ve respected for years, and more importantly, consider to be a friend!” said Marlon Hargis of Exile. “It’s also great to work with Bob and all the Kinkead staff – good people, doing a wonderful job, particularly helping us through the 2020 Covid-19 disaster!”

“Exile was the first band I promoted when I was a sophomore in high school. Some people and music come into our lives, leave footprints, touch our hearts, and we are never the same. Exile is one of those amazing groups of talented musicians , songwriters and entertainers,” stated Ontourage Management’s Tony Conway. “We look forward to working with them to expand the brand and legacy of Exile that they have created for the past 57 years.”

“My team and I, here at Kinkead Entertainment, have represented Exile since Nov 2019. It has been a great ride lining up all the shows and events throughout the USA, until the COVID-19 virus hit our nation in March. We managed to move most of their dates into 2021. We are excited to get Exile back on the road, and in front of their fans, performing their biggest hits,” shared TKEA’s Bob Kinkead. “Exile will kick-off their tour in January 2021, starting in Texas, pending no more spikes or setbacks with regard to the virus. We are extremely excited to be in business with the Conway Entertainment Group, the new management company for Exile. 2021 looks bright!”

Chris Stapleton Returns With ‘Starting Over’ Album In November

/by

Chris Stapleton. Photo: Becky Fluke

Chris Stapleton will release a new album, Starting Over, out Nov. 13 via Mercury Records Nashville. The album, which was completed in February, only weeks before studio shutdowns began, finds Stapleton revisiting Nashville’s RCA Studio A, where he recorded the bulk of his breakthrough album Traveller as well as his two From The A Room projects, and teaming again with producer Dave Cobb. Additional work on Starting Over was done at Muscle Shoals Sound and Compass Sound Studio.

The album’s first release, “Starting Over,” was penned by Stapleton and Mike Henderson, while the album also includes covers of John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life” and Guy Clark’s “Worry B Gone,” and “Old Friends.”

The record features Stapleton’s wife, Morgane Stapleton (vocals, tambourine), with longtime bandmates J.T. Cure (bass) and Derek Mixon (drums). Special guests include legendary musicians Mike Campbell (electric guitar), Benmont Tench (Hammond B3 organ) and Paul Franklin (pedal steel) as well as the All Voices Choir who are featured on “Watch You Burn,” written by Stapleton and Campbell.

STARTING OVER TRACKLIST
1. Starting Over
2. Devil Always Made Me Think Twice
3. Cold
4. When I’m With You
5. Arkansas
6. Joy Of My Life
7. Hillbilly Blood
8. Maggie’s Song
9. Whiskey Sunrise
10. Worry B Gone
11. Old Friends
12. Watch You Burn
13. You Should Probably Leave
14. Nashville, TN

YouTube video

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer To Step Down

/by


TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer has decided to leave the company, less then three months after joining TikTok from his previous role at Disney, reports NBC News.

In a letter from Mayer obtained by NBC News, Mayer said, “In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for. Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.”

The news follows the Trump administration’s recent executive order, signed on Aug. 6, which states that TikTok must be sold by Sept. 15 or the app could be banned in the United States. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance. Though the U.S. administration has stated that TikTok’s connection to China makes it a threat to national security,  TikTok has stated its U.S. user data is stored within the United States, with a backup in Singapore.

On Monday (Aug. 24), TikTok sued the U.S. government, claiming it was withheld due process. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Oracle are competing to acquire TikTok from its parent company.

Brian White Extends Publishing Deal With Anthem Music Publishing

/by

Brian White

Brian White has extended his worldwide co-publishing deal with Anthem Music Publishing.

Since joining the Anthem family in 2018, White has become a highly sought-after producer and songwriter in Nashville. With success in both the country and Christian music worlds, his songwriting credits include cuts by Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Neal McCoy, Danny Gokey, Michael English and more. White has 16 No. 1 songs under his belt, including the SESAC Country Song of The Year and Billboard’s Most Played Song of The Year, Rodney Atkins’ “Watching You,” and he received two Dove Awards for Song of The Year for Michael English’s “Holding Out Hope To You” and The Martins’ “The Promise,” as well as numerous ACM and CMA nominations.

“We are thrilled to further our deal with Brian White,” said Tim Wipperman, President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “He has already proven to be a great addition to the Anthem family, and we look forward to great continued success with him.”

“I’m excited about continuing my publishing relationship with Anthem Entertainment,” White said. “It’s important to have the right people in your corner, and the team at Anthem is the best!”

Nashville’s "Keep The Show Rolling" Caravan To Focus On Crisis State of Live Events Industry

/by

Chris Lisle

Keep the Show Rolling, a caravan of branded live entertainment industry vehicles, will make its way through Nashville on Tuesday, Sept. 1, beginning at 2 p.m. CT, in support of #WeMakeEvents, a coalition of trade organizations, businesses, unions, and live events workers who are encouraging Congress to pass the Restart Act to aid small businesses and extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits to the live events industry that has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The route includes several locations key to Nashville’s live music industry: Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, Ascend Amphitheater, Nissan Stadium, Municipal Auditorium, TPAC, and lower Broadway.

“The live entertainment industry was one of the first to shut down and will be one of the last to return,” said Chris Lisle, creator of Tuesday’s caravan, owner of Chris Lisle Lighting Design (which has worked with Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, among others) and co-creator of the Touring Career Workshop. “Our entire industry is in need of further financial assistance in order to weather the storm. We hope Keep the Show Rolling brings attention to that need and the sheer number of people and companies in Nashville that have been impacted.”

On Sept. 1, in addition to the caravan, numerous venues, businesses and structures around Nashville—including Nissan Stadium, Ascend Amphitheater, Metro Courthouse, Korean Veterans Bridge, Hilton Downtown, Hotel Indigo, and companies including Bandit Lites, Soundcheck/Crew 1, Brantley Sound Associates, Pyrotek Nashville, and Clair Global—will be lighted in red to help raise awareness of the fact that the live entertainment industry is on red alert for its survival.
Those interested in participating in the caravan can contact chris@touringcareerworkshop.com.

A map of the Keep the Show Rolling caravan route is below:

Ashley McBryde’s "One Night Standards" Goes Gold, Tops Canadian Country Airplay Chart

/by

Ashley McBryde | Photo Credit: Daniel Meigs

Ashley McBryde‘s “One Night Standards” has topped the Canadian Country Airplay Chart, and has earned RIAA Gold status in the United States and Canada.

The song is currently in the Top 15 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay Chart.

“It’s really special to have this song reach an audience this size,” says McBryde. “I grew up listening to albums in addition to flipping through the country radio dial, so some of the biggest songs that influenced my career weren’t the ones you heard on the radio. But that discovery — when the deejay said ‘and that was Mary Chapin Carpenter,’ or ‘that was Terri Clark,’ man, it would send me down a rabbit hole. If you can walk that line, introduce millions of new fans to your music and at the same time give them something to go deeper with on your records, then I think you’re right where you need to be. And right now, I’m very thankful to be here.”

“One Night Standards” is included on McBryde’s latest album, Never Will, which released April 3 on Warner Music Nashville and follows her Grammy-nominated debut project. The song was recently named Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville’s Publisher’s Pick at this year’s awards. McBryde was also named Artist-Writer of the Year.

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame 50th Anniversary Gala Rescheduled For 2021

/by

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will reschedule its 50th Anniversary Gala to fall 2021.

“We had high hopes for another stellar event to celebrate our 50th Anniversary this fall,” says Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors.  “Unfortunately, the current health climate prevents us, like so many others, from being able to safely pursue our usual physical gathering this year.

“While it hurts not being able to reunite in our traditional format with so many cherished friends and hall of fame family members, we are excited to share that we will soon announce a Class of 2020,” Cates added. “We will work to shine a special spotlight on them as this year progresses, and we will also look forward to honoring them alongside the Class of 2021 in a special double-sized event next fall as we celebrate ‘Nashville Songwriting’s Most Legendary Night.’”

Cates added that the new date and more information will be forthcoming as soon as plans are finalized.

In 2019, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees included Larry Gatlin, Marcus Hummon, Kostas Lazarides, Rivers Rutherford, Sharon Vaughn, and Dwight Yoakam.

Riley Green To Release ‘If It Wasn’t For Trucks’ EP In September

/by


Current ACM New Male Artist of the Year Riley Green will release a five-song EP, If It Wasn’t For Trucks, on Sept. 11 via BMLG Records. The songs serve as an early look at his full-length album, which will release next year.

“I’m excited to be releasing the If It Wasn’t For Trucks EP. I’ve been using my time off to do a lot of writing and although we can’t play music for fans face-to-face right now, I’m glad I can still share some new music with everyone,” said Green. “I hope to see everyone back on the road soon.”

Green was recently named MusicRow Magazine’s Breakout Artist of the Year, and was selected to perform during this year’s CRS New Faces of Country Music Showcase. He also has two Gold-certified singles, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” and the No. 1 hit “There Was This Girl.”

After spending 2019 on the road with Brad Paisley and Jon Pardi while also headlining his own Get That Man A Beer Tour, Green kicked off 2020 on Jason Aldean’s We Back Tour. Though touring is currently paused, he will perform on the ACM Awards on Sept. 16.