Pictured (L-R): Brian Kelley, Jordan Schmidt, Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Ivan Meneses/Kursza
Jordan Schmidt has signed a new deal with his publisher Tree Vibez Music. The music publishing company, founded by Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, boasts a roster including Corey Crowder, James McNair, RaeLynn, Blake Redferrin, Daniel Ross, Canaan Smith, Ernest K. Smith, and Jared Mullins. Moving forward, Schmidt’s catalog will be administered by Sony/ATV.
“I’m very excited to keep working with BK, Tyler, and Tree Vibez,” says Schmidt. “We’ve been able to accomplish a whole lot together over the past four years, and I can’t wait to see what we do ahead. I started my writing career with Tree Vibez and I couldn’t imagine a better home for me!”
Since joining Tree Vibez as its flagship songwriter in 2015, Schmidt has earned five No. 1 singles, including “God’s Country,” “Drunk Me,” “You Make It Easy,” the 4x Platinum “What Ifs” and “Lights Come On.” He has had 82 cuts in total, including 10 by Florida Georgia Line.
“It’s already been an unbelievable journey with Jordan and we feel like we’re just getting started,” shares FGL’s Kelley. “He’s been the flagship TVM writer and continues to create and produce on a level that is unmatched.”
FGL’s Hubbard agrees, “We couldn’t be more excited and proud to continue this relationship and build on the strong foundation that’s already there. We admire how Jordan continues to step up his game and inspire not only the people around him, but the industry as a whole. We don’t call him J VIBE for nothing.”
“Jordan has proven himself to be a songwriting force in our industry. Besides his most recent success, Jordan’s work exhibits an original voice in Country music songwriting and producing today,” says TVM General Manager Leslie T. DiPiero. “Listen to his music if you want to know where country music is headed.”
Jordan Schmidt Extends Music Publishing Relationship With Tree Vibez Music
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Brian Kelley, Jordan Schmidt, Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Ivan Meneses/Kursza
Jordan Schmidt has signed a new deal with his publisher Tree Vibez Music. The music publishing company, founded by Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, boasts a roster including Corey Crowder, James McNair, RaeLynn, Blake Redferrin, Daniel Ross, Canaan Smith, Ernest K. Smith, and Jared Mullins. Moving forward, Schmidt’s catalog will be administered by Sony/ATV.
“I’m very excited to keep working with BK, Tyler, and Tree Vibez,” says Schmidt. “We’ve been able to accomplish a whole lot together over the past four years, and I can’t wait to see what we do ahead. I started my writing career with Tree Vibez and I couldn’t imagine a better home for me!”
Since joining Tree Vibez as its flagship songwriter in 2015, Schmidt has earned five No. 1 singles, including “God’s Country,” “Drunk Me,” “You Make It Easy,” the 4x Platinum “What Ifs” and “Lights Come On.” He has had 82 cuts in total, including 10 by Florida Georgia Line.
“It’s already been an unbelievable journey with Jordan and we feel like we’re just getting started,” shares FGL’s Kelley. “He’s been the flagship TVM writer and continues to create and produce on a level that is unmatched.”
FGL’s Hubbard agrees, “We couldn’t be more excited and proud to continue this relationship and build on the strong foundation that’s already there. We admire how Jordan continues to step up his game and inspire not only the people around him, but the industry as a whole. We don’t call him J VIBE for nothing.”
“Jordan has proven himself to be a songwriting force in our industry. Besides his most recent success, Jordan’s work exhibits an original voice in Country music songwriting and producing today,” says TVM General Manager Leslie T. DiPiero. “Listen to his music if you want to know where country music is headed.”
Kenny Chesney Celebrates New Coffee Table Book With CMHoF Panel
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jill Trunnell, Glen Rose, Allister Ann, Kenny Chesney, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, Holly Gleason, Museum Editor Michael McCall and Heather Lose. Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Kenny Chesney was the center of an intimate time of discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum last Friday (July 26) with members of his fan club No Shoes Nation and members of the museum. The panel offered an in-depth look at the making of Chesney’s new coffee table book Kenny Chesney: Living in Fast Forward, discussing the evolution of Chesney’s electrifying and fan-centered live shows, behind the scenes with his road family, and the creation process behind the tour photography featured in the book.
Museum Editor Michael McCall moderated the discussion, titled Conversation: In Fast Forward, which featured Chesney alongside photographers Allister Ann and Jill Trunnell, art director Heather Lose and book editor Holly Gleason.
“I wanted to have a conversation to celebrate the work of these amazing photographers, whose eye has shown people what this looks like,” says Chesney. “To be able to catch the moment when dreams start to happen, and then you keep dreaming – that’s magic. A whole lot of people dreamed this along with us along the way, so this conversation was basically about the book, which is ultimately a love letter to the fans.”
The program will be made available on the museum’s YouTube channel this fall.
Chesney is the only country artist in Billboard‘s Top 10 Touring Acts of the past 25 Years, and earned the top-grossing country tour of 2018, according to Pollstar. He is also an eight-time Entertainer of the Year winner.
Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender
Photo Credit: Erin Lee Allender
Maren Morris’ “GIRL” Hits No. 1 At Country Radio
/by Jessica NicholsonMorris co-wrote “GIRL” alongside Greg Kurstin and Sarah Aaron.
“Maren took us to church and taught us how to meet in the middle,” says Big Yellow Dog Music’s Carla Wallace. “Now she has empowered women everywhere with her anthem ‘Girl.’ Maren, your halo continues to shine. Congratulations on you latest #1 hit/song.”
The song is the title track from the multi-Platinum artist’s second album, which shattered the record for the largest-ever debut streaming week for a country album by a woman with 23.96 million streams in its first week. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Morris is currently in the midst of a sold-out world tour, including appearances this weekend at Newport Folk Festival with The Highwomen—her all-star collaboration with Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires—and with Dolly Parton and The Highwomen as part of a history-making all women Saturday night headline set, during which Parton congratulated Morris on the No. 1 from stage. GIRL: The World Tour continues this summer, and Morris will support Miranda Lambert on her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars tour this fall.
Michael Hardy Heads To Top Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellMichael Hardy makes his way to the No. 1 spot this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country,” Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You,” LOCASH’s “One Big Country Song,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Talk You Out Of It” and his own tune, “Rednecker” all charting. Hardy ends Ashley Gorley‘s three-week reign atop the chart, sending Gorley to the No. 2 slot.
Hillary Lindsey remains at No. 3 this week, with four charting titles: “Buy My Own Drinks” (Runaway June), “Closer To You” (Carly Pearce), “Knockin’ Boots” (Luke Bryan) and “It All Comes Out In The Wash” (Miranda Lambert).
Jordan Schmidt enters the Top Five this week, at No. 4; and Bobby Pinson comes in at No. 5.
The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity garnered from airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
“Old Town Road” Makes Chart History
/by Jessica NicholsonLil Nas X‘s freight train of a hit, “Old Town Road,” has spent 17 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running No. 1 hit in the history of the chart. The feat breaks a previous tie for the longest run at No. 1 on the Hot 100, set by the 1995 hit “One Sweet Day” from Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, as well as the 2017 hit “Despacito” from Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (ft. Justin Bieber), each with a 16-week reign.
“Old Town Road” was originally released as a solo track, before the genre-bending Lil Nas X added country entertainer Billy Ray Cyrus to a remixed version of the song. Subsequent remixes of the viral hit have featured Young Thug, Mason Ramsey, Diplo and BTS. The release of each remix brought a newly-consumable version of the song to the music-streaming public, and extended its stay in the public consciousness. The Hot 100 chart includes both the original version of a song and its remixes to feed into the calculation of a track’s chart position, which helped “Old Town Road” retain its staying power atop the chart.
Olivia Jean’s New Third Man Records Project, ‘Night Owl,’ Set For September
/by Lorie HollabaughOlivia Jean is set to release her second full-length album Night Owl, on Aug. 30 via Third Man Records. The title track and first single “Night Owl” is available today on streaming services and on 7” vinyl with physical-only B-side “Jaan Pehechaan Ho.” The black vinyl 7” is available now and tri-color 7” records will be available at Third Man Records Nashville & Detroit storefronts on Saturday, August 3rd.
As Olivia Jean’s first self-produced album, Night Owl commingles surf guitar, ’60s girl group harmonies, and punk into a collection of songs depicting heartache, revenge, guilt, and frustration in a sort of “bubblegum garage” at its best. The new challenge of producing, as well as opening the studio door for other musicians to collaborate, has helped lead to her richest collection of songs to date. Surf-inflected originals like “Garage Bat,” “Shut Your Mouth” and “Night Owl” soar and scorch alongside incendiary covers “Brushfire (Flamin’ Groovies)” and the stand-out “Jaan Pehechaan Ho.”
Olivia Jean is set to play three Nashville dates Aug. 29-31 at the Ryman Auditorium and will tour with the Raconteurs this September.
Kane Brown’s Headlining Los Angeles STAPLES Center Show Sells Out In Two Hours
/by Jessica NicholsonKane Brown‘s upcoming headlining show at the Los Angeles STAPLES Center, set for Oct. 18, sold out two hours after tickets went on sale on Friday, July 26. The concert will mark the first major milestone event in a year-long series of celebrations honoring the arena’s 20th anniversary.
Brown is the first artist to top all five Billboard Country charts simultaneously. With his 4x Platinum certification for “Heaven,” he became one of only five country artists to earn multiple 4x Platinum hits, joining Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, and Taylor Swift.
Brown recently released “One Thing Right,” a collaboration with DJ/producer Marshmello; Brown also co-wrote the track with Marshmello, Jesse Frasure, Josh Hoge, and Matthew McGinn. After originally meeting at the 2018 American Music Awards, where Brown won three awards (Favorite Male Artist – Country, Favorite Album – Country, and Favorite Song – Country for “Heaven”) and Marshmello took home Best Electronic Dance Artist, the two entertainers will bring “One Thing Right” to GMA’s Summer Concert Series on Aug. 30.
Lance Freed Named President Of Newly-Formed Blackbird Music Publishing Group
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto Credit: Gary Gershoff |
Blackbird Presents, Keith Wortman and The Raine Group have named Lance Freed President of the newly-formed Blackbird Music Publishing Group. Freed was previously President of Rondor Music International where he led the building of that company into the largest independent music publisher in the world, resulting in its sale to Universal Music Publishing Group.
Blackbird Music Publishing Group will have offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville, and has acquired the administration rights to the famed music catalog of Burt Bacharach. With over 400 songs, including timeless classics such as “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “What’s New Pussycat,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and “That’s What Friends Are For,” the Academy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician and composer had one of the most sought-after catalogues in the industry.
“Music publishing is a natural next step for us given that our work across film, television, concerts and festivals enables us to offer incredible opportunities to songwriters. There was only one name on the list for us to lead this effort and it was Lance Freed. Lance is the most thoughtful and creative music publishing executive in our industry, and I am thrilled that he has joined the Blackbird Presents family,” said Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents.
“I am thrilled to join Keith, Blackbird Presents and The Raine Group as President of Blackbird Music Publishing Group. My entire career has been predicated on providing total, complete, personal focus on songwriters and their songs. Now I get to continue that journey and also provide a range of remarkable strategic and financial opportunities to songwriters given the similar philosophy and assets of my new partners,” said Freed, President of Blackbird Music Publishing Group.
“We are thrilled that Lance has joined the Blackbird Presents Family. We look forward to supporting him as he leads our strategic expansion into music publishing,” says Co-Founder and Partner of The Raine Group Jeff Sine.
Caylee Hammack, King Calaway, Waterloo Revival Safe Following Gilroy, California Shootings
/by Jessica NicholsonA shooter opened fire Sunday (July 28) at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, located approximately 80 miles southeast of San Francisco. The incident resulted in four deaths, including the alleged shooter, and injuries to more than 15 others.
Caylee Hammack, King Calaway, and Waterloo Revival were among the artists who performed during the festival. All three acts performed earlier in the day on July 28, and had departed the event ground prior to the shootings. Each artist took to social media to assure fans of their safety, and to offer their condolences to those affected.
“WE ARE OKAY!” Hammack stated on Instagram. “We left right before all this must’ve happened and we are okay. @waterloorevival @kingcalaway and us all played today but we believe are all safe and away from the festival now. This makes me sick. There was so many smiling faces today, just enjoying the beautiful day together. My heart and prayers go out to the 11 injured. #gilroygarlicfestival”
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out. We’re all ok,” the members of King Calaway said via Twitter. “Sending out love to everyone at the Gilroy Garlic festival and the emergency services at the scene.”
“Thank you to everyone who has called and Text [sic], we are all okay and safe from the Garlic Festival shootings,” the members of Waterloo revival stated via Twitter. “Please pray for the victims and their families.”
The shooting occurred on the final day of the three-day festival, which attracts more than 100,000 people and includes food, cooking competitions and music performances. According to NBC News, six-year-old Steven Romero was among the victims of the shooting. Police also shot and killed a suspect who was carrying an assault-type rifle, and believe a second person may have been involved.
CBS News identified the shooter as 19-year-old Santino William Legan.
Bobby Hamrick Signs With Spirit Music Nashville
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Derek Wells, Senior Director A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville; Brian Bradford, Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville; Bobby Hamrick; Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville and Michelle Davey, Administration Coordinator/Office Manager, Spirit Music Nashville
Bobby Hamrick has signed a publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville.
“As soon as I heard Bobby’s music, I knew I wanted to work with him,” said Frank Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, Spirit Music Nashville. “He is a rare talent who weaves effortlessly between genres while writing, singing, playing and producing. The entire Spirit Music Nashville team is thrilled to get the opportunity to partner with Bobby.”
Hamrick has written songs for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (“Roll the Dice”), Luke Bryan (“You Look Like Rain”), Lindsay Ell (“Always Kiss the Girl”), and many others. He is a singer, lyricist and producer/engineer and has also appeared as a session musician on Grammy-winning recordings and as a background vocalist on many hits.
“I couldn’t be happier to be making music with Frank, Derek Wells, Freeman Wizer and the rest of the team at Spirit,” said Hamrick. “I can’t wait to see what we do together!”
Since Frank Rogers’ appointment in May, Spirit Music Nashville has made quick impact with the formation of a JV with Platinum producer Derek Wells (also appointing Wells as Senior Director A&R Production) and earlier this month announced the signing of Jeremy Bussey. Other recent successes by Spirit Music Nashville and Fluid Music Revolution include ASCAP’s Song of the Year (“Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell and Josh Osborne); SESAC’s Song of the Year (“It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” by Billy Currington); CMA Song of the Year (“Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban) and CMA Album of the Year (From a Room: Volume 1 by Chris Stapleton); and a publishing interest in ACM nominations for Song of the Year (“Whiskey & You” by Chris Stapleton); Single of the Year (“Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton and “Drinkin’ Problem” by Midland) and Songwriter of the Year (Josh Osborne).