Pictured (L-R): Tom Roland, Bill Anderson at The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA
Billboard journalist Tom Roland was presented with the 2018 CMA Media Achievement Award backstage Wednesday, Nov. 14 during The 52nd Annual CMA Awards at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Country Music Hall of Fame member and three-time CMA Awards winner Bill Anderson addressed journalists during the CMA Awards press conference, surprising Roland with the honor.
In presenting the 37th recipient with the award, Anderson said to press conference attendees, “Even the pros look to Tom Roland. He’s one of country music’s bedrock authorities.”
“At every significant juncture in my life, some song was there to act as comfort, to punctuate the joy or to assure me that I wasn’t entirely alone,” said Roland. “Music is really important, and to get an award for simply trying to convey little pieces of how it works—or how it’s made and marketed—is awesome. And surprisingly meaningful. Much appreciation for this!”
After writing about country music for more than 35 years, Roland is one of the genre’s most trusted experts. For the last eight years, he’s worked as the editor and lead writer for Billboard’s weekly newsletter, Billboard Country Update.
Roland spent seven years as the senior music writer for Nashville’s daily newspaper, The Tennessean, wrote thousands of hours of network radio programs for Westwood One and the United Stations Radio Networks, and compiled credits in The Hollywood Reporter, The Orange County Register, Country Music magazine, Country Weekly and GACtv.com, among others. He spent four years as the music consultant for CMT’s game show, The Singing Bee, and he’s authored two books—The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits and the Diamond Rio autobiography Beautiful Mess: The Story Of Diamond Rio. Roland also contributed to a Country Music Foundation reference book, The Encyclopedia of Country Music.
Perhaps the most important piece of his career puzzle is RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database. With 60,000 events from country music history catalogued, it’s an ever-growing resource that’s frequently used by Nashville journalists as a key fact-checking source.
The CMA Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, and editors; television writers, producers and bookers; and syndicated radio reporters are eligible to win this award. A task force of industry publicists nominates a slate of five candidates for consideration by CMA member publicists. The publicists select the winner, which is presented to the CMA Awards and Recognition Committee and then approved by the CMA Board of Directors.
Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown Top Country Charts
/by Jessica NicholsonThis week, Stoney Creek Records artist Jimmie Allen earns his first No. 1 song with his debut single, “Best Shot,” which sits atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The occasion marks the first time a black artist has launched their career with a debut No. 1 song on country radio. Allen also joins only Darius Rucker to climb to the top spot in country with a debut single.
“Best Shot” was penned by Allen, Josh London and JP Williams, “Best Shot” is the first single from Allen’s label debut project Mercury Lane.
“If someone asked me two years ago if I thought that this would be my life today—that I’d be on the red carpet at the CMAs or my song would be the No. 1 song on country radio, I would have honestly said no,” said Allen. “Did I think it would happen eventually? Absolutely! Just not this soon. I’m humbled and grateful— it’s such an honor to get my first No. 1 and to know that my song is connecting with people and resonating in a way that hopefully makes us all better people in the end, because that’s really what ‘Best Shot’ is all about.”
Meanwhile, RCA Nashville/Zone 4 artist Kane Brown tops both the Country Albums sales chart, as well as the overall Top 200 albums chart, with his sophomore album Experiment. The album moved 124K (104K album only) in its debut week, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Additionally, his latest single “Lose It” has topped the Hot Country Songs chart, knocking the Florida Georgia Line/Bebe Rexha smash “Meant To Be” from its 50-week run in the top slot.
The album marks only the third country album of 2018 to debut atop the Billboard 200 chart, following Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty and Jason Aldean’s Rearview Town. The top-shelf album debut follows several career sales milestones for Brown, including the quadruple Platinum single “What Ifs” (ft. Lauren Alaina), triple-Platinum “Heaven,” and a Platinum-certified debut album.
Randy Owen Inducted Into Alabama Business Hall Of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughCulverhouse College of Business Dean Kay M. Palan formally inducts Randy Owen
into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame. Photo: JAMM Entertainment
Alabama‘s Randy Owen was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame last Thursday (Nov. 15) in Birmingham. Owen had the honor bestowed on him as a result of his business dealings in music, agriculture and humanitarianism.
“It’s a great honor to be one of this year’s inductees into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame,” says Owen. “It’s very special that my entire family got to share the night together. God bless all the fellow inductees, their families and our home state!”
Owen has been the lead vocalist of Alabama for nearly 50 years, but when he’s not writing songs or performing on the road, he operates his 3,000-acre ranch, Tennessee River Music, Inc., in Ft. Payne, AL, where he tends to 500 head of Hereford and Angus cattle.
Much of his time is spent helping others through his humanitarian efforts, such as launching Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, the annual radiothon fundraising event that has garnered more than $800 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He received the Ellis Island Award for his charity work with St. Jude. Owen and Alabama have played a key role in several disaster relief initiatives as well, including organizing concerts to support rebuilding efforts from tornadoes that struck Tuscaloosa in 2011 and Jacksonville State University (his alma mater) in March of this year.
Founded in 1973 by the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Commerce at The University of Alabama, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business personalities who have brought lasting fame to the state of Alabama.
iHeartRadio, Waze Sync To Offer Directions And Streaming Simultaneously
/by Lorie HollabaughListeners can access iHeartRadio’s full range of radio stations, free playlists and library of leading podcasts all from within the Waze app, and if they prefer to keep the music up, can simply hit the “switch to audio app” button, and Waze will show their next turn in a banner at the top of the iHeartRadio app.
61st Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominees To Be Revealed Dec. 5
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 61st Annual Grammy Awards final nominees will be announced on Dec. 5, beginning with the announcement of top categories on CBS This Morning starting at 8:30 a.m. ET. Approximately 15 minutes later, the Recording Academy will reveal the nominees in all 84 categories on grammy.com and via the Recording Academy’s social media platforms.
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on Feb. 10, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony will recognize the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.
Monument Records Adds Two Staffers
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: Casey Thomas, Joel Beaver
Monument Records has announced two new hires as the label continues to expand its business, bringing Casey Thomas on as Publicist, and Joel Beaver on as Coordinator, Marketing. Both will report to Katie McCartney, SVP, Marketing & Label Operations.
Thomas is a Boston, Massachusetts native, and joins Monument from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As publicist, she will be responsible for the press operation, working on behalf of the label to help manage communications and press strategy for Monument artists.
Beaver, a recent Belmont University graduate, joins Monument full time after interning, then temping, for the label. In his role, he will be supporting the staff in all marketing efforts.
Formed under the leadership of Jason Owen and Shane McAnally, Monument Records re-launched as a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment in 2017. The non-genre specific label is marketing focused with a core staff covering all digital, sales & streaming, creative, marketing, and press services partnering with Sony for radio promotion.
Flagship artist Walker Hayes delivered a platinum selling single “You Broke Up With Me” from his debut album boom. and Caitlyn Smith delivered the critically acclaimed debut album Starfire in Monument’s first year of operation. Currently Hayes has a new single at country radio, “90’s Country,” Smith is working on her second album, and new artists Anna Moon and Brandon Ratcliff are expected to release new music in 2019.
Chris Stapleton, Shawn Mendes, P!nk To Honor Dolly Parton At MusiCares Person Of The Year Concert
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Stapleton, Shawn Mendes, Norah Jones, P!nk, Mark Ronson, Leon Bridges, and Lauren Daigle will perform at the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute concert honoring Dolly Parton on Feb. 8, 2019. Additional guest performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Parton, who will close out the evening’s performances, is being honored as the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year, in recognition of her significant creative accomplishments and longtime support of many charitable causes. Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute, now in its 29th year, provide essential support for MusiCares, the charity founded by the Recording Academy that ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need.
The MusiCares Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive selection of luxury items, VIP experiences, and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a gala dinner, a live auction, a tribute concert featuring renowned musicians and other artists, and the award presentation.
Past MusiCares Person of the Year honorees include: Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, David Crosby, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Gloria Estefan, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.
Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Jake Owen To Join Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa Fiesta
/by Lorie HollabaughBryan will headline two of the four nights, Combs will headline one night, and Thomas Rhett will headline one evening, along with performances by Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The event’s host resort, the Barceló Maya, is sold-out with limited packages remaining at one of three other carefully selected tropical resorts. At all locations fans will enjoy all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, convenient nightly shuttle transportation to the main stage performances, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like visiting Chichen Itza, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Crash My Playa 5th Year Fiesta merchandise packages, and more.
Chris Young Heads To UK In 2019 With Losing Sleep World Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Young is heading back across the pond to the UK in 2019 for several limited engagement dates as part of his “Chris Young Losing Sleep World Tour.” Headlining stops are planned for Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London in May, and tickets for the shows go on sale Friday, Nov. 23 at chrisyoungcountry.com.
The RCA Records Nashville artist made his inaugural trip to the UK in 2013 and has toured there four of the last six years. Special guest on the UK leg of the “Chris Young Losing Sleep World Tour” dates is Lindsay Ell.
Women’s Music Business Association Reveals Officers, Award Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): 2019 WMBA Officers: Emily Bukowski, Lauren Simon, Mary Larimer Rochelle, Charlene Bryant, Mallory Allgood, Kelsey Wise, Thalia Ewing
WMBA, The Women’s Music Business Association, held their annual Wonder Woman Awards on Nov. 8 at Le Sel. Members and alumni of the organization ranging throughout all areas of the music industry gathered to celebrate members’ accomplishments and to announce the new officers for the upcoming year. The event recognized several outstanding women in the organization:
Award Winners:
Wonder Woman Award: Charlene Bryant, Sony Music Entertainment
MAC Award: Jessica Valiyi, Sony Music Entertainment
Extra Mile Award: Kelsey Wise, Big Deal Music Group
Unsung Hero Award: Robin Earl, Gray Earl Productions
Movin On Up Award: Dana Dickie, Warner Music Group
Ambassador Award: Maddy Sundquist, MADKAT Management
Spirit Award: Mary Larimer Rochelle, Paradigm Talent Agency
Big Sister Award: Liz Motley, Motley Media
Rookie Of The Year Award: Katie Maifeld, VER
WMBA 2019 Officers:
President: Lauren Simon, Big Machine Label Group
Vice President: Charlene Bryant, Sony Music Entertainment
Secretary: Emily Bukowski, Big Machine Label Group
Treasurer: TBA
Events & Education Co-Chairs: Mary Larimer, Paradigm Talent Agency
& Mallory Allgood, Big Machine Label Group
Membership & Marketing Co-Chairs: Thalia Ewing, BMG Rights Management
& and Kelsey Wise, Big Deal Music Group
Officers were elected by current WMBA members and they will begin their terms in January 2019.
Pictured (L-R): Charlene Bryant, Jessica Valiyi, Ellen Mundy, Lauren Simon
Tom Roland Honored With 2018 CMA Media Achievement Award
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Tom Roland, Bill Anderson at The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA
Billboard journalist Tom Roland was presented with the 2018 CMA Media Achievement Award backstage Wednesday, Nov. 14 during The 52nd Annual CMA Awards at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Country Music Hall of Fame member and three-time CMA Awards winner Bill Anderson addressed journalists during the CMA Awards press conference, surprising Roland with the honor.
In presenting the 37th recipient with the award, Anderson said to press conference attendees, “Even the pros look to Tom Roland. He’s one of country music’s bedrock authorities.”
“At every significant juncture in my life, some song was there to act as comfort, to punctuate the joy or to assure me that I wasn’t entirely alone,” said Roland. “Music is really important, and to get an award for simply trying to convey little pieces of how it works—or how it’s made and marketed—is awesome. And surprisingly meaningful. Much appreciation for this!”
After writing about country music for more than 35 years, Roland is one of the genre’s most trusted experts. For the last eight years, he’s worked as the editor and lead writer for Billboard’s weekly newsletter, Billboard Country Update.
Roland spent seven years as the senior music writer for Nashville’s daily newspaper, The Tennessean, wrote thousands of hours of network radio programs for Westwood One and the United Stations Radio Networks, and compiled credits in The Hollywood Reporter, The Orange County Register, Country Music magazine, Country Weekly and GACtv.com, among others. He spent four years as the music consultant for CMT’s game show, The Singing Bee, and he’s authored two books—The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits and the Diamond Rio autobiography Beautiful Mess: The Story Of Diamond Rio. Roland also contributed to a Country Music Foundation reference book, The Encyclopedia of Country Music.
Perhaps the most important piece of his career puzzle is RolandNote.com, the Ultimate Country Music Database. With 60,000 events from country music history catalogued, it’s an ever-growing resource that’s frequently used by Nashville journalists as a key fact-checking source.
The CMA Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, and editors; television writers, producers and bookers; and syndicated radio reporters are eligible to win this award. A task force of industry publicists nominates a slate of five candidates for consideration by CMA member publicists. The publicists select the winner, which is presented to the CMA Awards and Recognition Committee and then approved by the CMA Board of Directors.