Welcome to the first all-downloaded edition of DisClaimer.
Everything was compressed and played through my tiny computer speakers, so nothing sounded especially full bodied.
That said, here’s the good news. Ryan Hurd has released a star making single and triumphs over the competition to take home the Disc of the Day award.
I’ve enthusiastically reviewed the Music City band The Wild Feathers in pop/rock columns before. But their new single sounds like a bid for country acceptance, so they win the DisCovery Award.
LUCAS HOGE/Power of Garth
Writers: Matt Roger/Terry McBride; Producer: Matt McClure; Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Jam Writers Group (BMI), SWMBMGBMI (BMI), TMc Daddy Music (BMI), Ole’ Canalco Publishing (ASCAP), Rebel Engine
– It’s a fine ballad about nostalgia and memory. He was a boy when his parents played Garth Brooks records, and those sounds are still “wrapped around my heart.” Well produced and expressively sung.
DEVIN DAWSON/She Burns
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (download)
-This echoey, spellbinding cover of Foy Vance’s tune fits him like a glove. I never thought he was all that “country” to begin with, so it makes perfect sense.
OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA (download)
– Jaunty and bopping as all get out. Stuttering guitars, rapid-fire lyric delivery, sunny attitude, sexy imagery. Go for it.
BLACKBERRY SMOKE/Flesh and Bone
Writers: Charlie Starr; Producer: Blackberry Smoke; Publishers: none listed; 3 Legged/Thirty Tigers
– Doomy and darkly rocking. Guitars grind in your face. The lead vocal is buried in the mix. Pass.
SMITH & WESLEY/Hook Line & Sinker
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed;
-Yet another Jimmy Buffett sonic rip off. However, they do sing well.
RYAN HURD/Diamonds Or Twine
Writers: Ryan Hurd/Laura Veltz/Mark Trussell; Producer: Aaron Essuis; Publishers: none listed; RCA (download)
– Superb. The melody is just lovely, and the lyric is ultra romantic. He wrote it for his bride, Maren Morris, and the video features lotsa footage of the lovebirds. He sings like he is head-over-heels. When you hear it, you will be, too.
WALKER HAYES/Craig
Writers: Walker Hayes; Producers: Hayes/Shane McAnally; Publishers: Songs of Kobalt/Songs of Smack/Smack Songs/Spark In Your Pocket/Rare Spark, BMI, Monument
– Sentimental rapping with a sparse rhythm track.
THE WILD FEATHERS/Big Sky
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
-This Nashville rock band emphasizes its stellar vocal harmonies on this airy and utterly charming tune. Evocative of California country-rockers The Eagles or of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Highly recommended.
CASSADEE POPE/Take You Home
Writers: Paul Digiovanni/Ben Hayslip/Emily Wesiband; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publishers: none listed; Fusion
– She’s a strong singer, so I don’t understand why her vocals are so processed here. Let the lady loose.
PARMALEE/Hotdamalama
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Stoney Creek
– The summer party season starts early with this rocking release. It ain’t exactly hillbilly music, but the kiddies will dig it.
Old Crow Medicine Show Announce 2018 Summer Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughThe band is gearing up for the release of their first new studio album in four years, Volunteer, which will be released April 20 on Columbia Records Nashville. They’ll celebrate release day on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry before hitting the road and will play several festivals throughout the Summer including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Fest and a headlining show at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
The instrumentation on Volunteer is a little more rocking than on previous projects, as the band brought electric guitar back into the mix for the first time since 2004. The album was produced by Dave Cobb.
Old Crow recently celebrated 20 years together and spent the past year touring in support of their album, 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde, their tribute to the Bob Dylan classic.
Old Crow Medicine Show 2018 Tour Dates:
April 20: Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
April 21: Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
April 23: Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel (Sold Out)
April 24: Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
April 25: Charleston, WV – Municipal Auditorium
April 26: Charlottesville, VA – Sprint Pavilion
April 28: Washington DC – The Anthem
May 3: New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 4: Meridian, MS – MSU Riley Center For The Performing Arts
May 5: Jacksonville, FL – Moran Theater
May 6: St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
May 25: Evans, GA – Banjo BQ Music Festival
May 26: Charlotte, NC – Outlaw Music Festival at PNC Music Pavilion
May 27: Cumberland, MD – Delfest
June 7: Little Rock, AR – Clinton Presidential Park
June 8: Robbinsville, MS – Horseshoe Casino’s Bluesville
June 9: Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 22: Cincinnati, OH – Outlaw Music Festival at Riverbend Music Center
June 23: Noblesville, IN – Outlaw Music Festival at Ruoff Mortgage Music Center
June 24: Detroit, MI – Outlaw Music Festival at DTE Energy Music Center
June 27: Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
June 28: Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
July 13: Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues
July 14: Cooperstown, NY – Brewery Ommegang
July 15: Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival
July 17: New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
July 19: Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
July 20: Providence, RI – The Strand
July 22: Shelburne, VT – The Green at Shelburne Museum
July 24: Philadelphia, PA – The Electric Factory
July 27: Dewey Beach, DE – Bottle & Cork
July 29: Floyd, VA – Floydfest
Aug 15: Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Aug 16: Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre
Aug 17: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater
Kid Rock Launching Tour With Brantley Gilbert, Wheeler Walker Jr.
/by Lorie HollabaughHe’ll showcase songs on the tour from his new album Sweet Southern Sugar, which has spent 13 weeks inside the Top 10 of the Country Album Sales Chart.
Tickets and VIP packages for the tour will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 13 at livenation.com. Fan Club members will be able to purchase tickets starting Tuesday, April 10 at 10 a.m. local time.
The entertainer will also join the WWE Hall of Fame’s Celebrity Wing tonight as a member of the Class of 2018. He’ll be inducted this evening in New Orleans during WrestleMania 34 Week in The Big Easy.
^A Thousand Horses supporting
Official: Heather Luke Joins Big Machine
/by Jessica NicholsonHeather Luke
As reported earlier this week, Heather Luke has joined Big Machine/John Varvatos Records’ imprint. In her new role as Sr. VP/Head of Promotion for the imprint, Luke will build marketing and promotion strategies for BMLG’s growing roster of rock talent and non-country initiatives. According to a new release, she will also help guide the development of artists from Borchetta and Bell Media’s hit TV show The Launch which debuted in Canada earlier this year.
“Passion, vision and belief go hand in hand with relationships, know-how and savvy when it comes to the best promotion and marketing executives. Heather is all that and more,” said Scott Borchetta, president/CEO at BMLG. “What an honor to bring on such a talented and determined executive to guide Big Machine/John Varvatos in the airplay and streaming world. We are very serious about this initiative and the addition of Heather to our team leaves any doubt in the dust. Game on. Rock on.”
Luke joins Big Machine after a 16-year stint at Warner Bros. Records, where she served as Sr. VP of Rock. There, she promoted bands including Muse, Black Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Disturbed, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Green Day, Gary Clark Jr., White Stripes and Deftones. Her previous stints include West Coast Regional for V2 Records, working on Moby and Sterophonics, and Program Director at Santa Barbara alternative station KJEE FM.
“I’m thrilled to join the passionate and talented team at Big Machine/John Varvatos Records,” said Luke. “I’m grateful to Scott Borchetta and Mike Rittberg for this opportunity and I am honored to be a part of launching an exciting roster of rock artists.”
Luke will report to BMLG CMO Mike Rittberg and can be reached at heather.luke@bmlg.net and 615-846-7745.
Tin Pan South 2018: Night 2
/by Haley CrowRaeLynn performs at the 3rd & Lindsley early show. Photo: Cooper Smith
Night two of the 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank featured nine Nashville music venues hosting writers rounds. Fans were delighted to see their favorite country stars performing all over town including Dustin Lynch, Lindsay Ell, Love & Theft, Eric Paslay, Cassadee Pope, Carly Pearce, RaeLynn and more.
Creative Nation took over The Listening Room Cafe stage sponsored by Nashville Music City, with Luke Laird, Steve Moakler, Kassi Ashton and Alec Bailey entertaining a packed house during the early show and the late show featuring Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna and Tyler Johnson.
The Tree Vibez Music round, billed with Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt, Daniel Ross and RaeLynn, were joined by new artists Mitchell Tenpenny and Cale Dodds and new mentor on The Voice Cassadee Pope.
The 2017 NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT winner John Gurney opened the 3rd & Lindsley late show, which featured Dustin Lynch, Lee Thomas Miller, Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley. Gurney performed the winning song, “Fairytale Dress,” which he co-wrote with Erin Ashley O’Keefe.
Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank runs through Saturday, April 7.
Pictured: The entire Creative Nation group at The Listening Room Cafe stage sponsored by Nashville Music City. Photo: Libby Oellerich
Pictured (L-R): Creative Nation’s Tyler Johnson, Lori McKenna, Barry Dean and Natalie Hemby at The Listening Room Cafe stage sponsored by Nashville Music City. Photo: Libby Oellerich
Kassi Ashton performs at The Listening Room Cafe stage sponsored by Nashville Music City. Photo: Libby Oellerich
Pictured (L-R): Lori McKenna and Barry Dean perform at The Listening Room Cafe stage sponsored by Nashville Music City. Photo: Libby Oellerich
Corey Crowder performs at the 3rd & Lindsley early show. Photo: Cooper Smith
New Warner Music Nashville artist Cale Dodds performs at the 3rd & Lindsley early show. Photo: Cooper Smith
Pictured (L-R) – Waterloo Revival, Scotty Emerick, Lance Carpenter and Crystal Keith entertain at The Station Inn – Sponsored by D’Addario. Photo: Craig Campbell
Pictured (L-R): Mitch Rossell and Regions Bank’s Leigha Burdick prior to the early Bluebird Cafe show. Photo: Lisa Harless
Early show at the Bluebird Cafe with Dave Turnbull, Wynn Varble, Bryan Kennedy and Mitch Rossell. Photo: Lisa Harless
Pictured (L-R): Lisa Harless of Regions Bank with Dave Turnbull at the Bluebird Cafe early show.
Denise Roberts, Blake Nixon Join Show Dog
/by Jessica NicholsonVice President, Promotions Rick Moxley noted, “As Show Dog Nashville gears up for several new projects in 2018, I’m very excited about the addition of both Denise and Blake. Denise has been an all-star at every stop during her career and Blake comes off some very
successful new artist rollouts during his fast track start.”
Roberts, most recently with 1608, was a part of the original Show Dog promo team put together by label-founder and entertainer Toby Keith at the start of his label in 2005. Roberts has worked with MCA/Nashville, Thirty Tigers, as well as at Radio Liason for Gary Allan with Lytle Management. She can be reached at denise.roberts@showdogmail.com or at 818-679-5479.
Nixon has found much success at his prior engagements including In2une Nashville and Warner Music Nashville. He can be reached at blake.nixon@showdogmail.com or at 615-498-0988.
Roberts and Nixon also join Greg Sax who remains Southwest Promotions Regional Director at Show Dog.
Florida Georgia Line Celebrate Titans 20th Anniversary With Huge Block Party
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Florida Georgia Line and Tennessee Titans)
Florida Georgia Line helped the Tennessee Titans unveil their new jerseys and celebrate their upcoming 20th season in a big way Wednesday night (April 4) at a massive block party and concert in downtown Nashville at the corner of Broadway and 1st Avenue.
Proudly sporting the NFL’s Tennessee Titans’ brand new 2018 jerseys personalized with “Hubbard” and “Kelley,” the duo performed plenty of hits for the crowd, which included star Titans players of past and present united with the Titans Cheerleaders for the festivities. Coach Mike Vrabel even joined in on the action at one point, grabbing a mic to accompany FGL onstage for “Get Your Shine On.”
Thousands of fans cheered and sang through the night to a range of FGL’s hottest jams including “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha, which is currently sitting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for its 18th consecutive week, and a performance with Morgan Wallen of his latest single “Up Down” which features the duo. Hubbard and Kelley made the night a family affair as well, bringing out their wives for a piano-driven version of “H.O.L.Y.”, which marked baby Olivia Hubbard’s first concert.
The event included a pre-party at FGL House and an after-party back at the four-story entertainment destination plus the concert with pyro and fireworks in between, and headlining the landmark event meant a great deal to the two, who met in Music City. “It’s an honor to be a part of this organization,” Hubbard shared onstage. “It’s an honor to be in the beautiful city of Nashville – our home state of Tennessee right here – hanging out on a Wednesday night.”
CMT Hot 20 Countdown will offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the explosive night with backstage interviews and concert footage, and fans can tune in to see host Cody Alan tour Nissan Stadium, home of the Titans, with FGL on CMT.
(Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Florida Georgia Line and Tennessee Titans)
Weekly Chart Report 4/6/18
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
DISClaimer: Ryan Hurd’s Star-Making Single
/by Robert K OermannEverything was compressed and played through my tiny computer speakers, so nothing sounded especially full bodied.
That said, here’s the good news. Ryan Hurd has released a star making single and triumphs over the competition to take home the Disc of the Day award.
I’ve enthusiastically reviewed the Music City band The Wild Feathers in pop/rock columns before. But their new single sounds like a bid for country acceptance, so they win the DisCovery Award.
LUCAS HOGE/Power of Garth
Writers: Matt Roger/Terry McBride; Producer: Matt McClure; Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Jam Writers Group (BMI), SWMBMGBMI (BMI), TMc Daddy Music (BMI), Ole’ Canalco Publishing (ASCAP), Rebel Engine
– It’s a fine ballad about nostalgia and memory. He was a boy when his parents played Garth Brooks records, and those sounds are still “wrapped around my heart.” Well produced and expressively sung.
DEVIN DAWSON/She Burns
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (download)
-This echoey, spellbinding cover of Foy Vance’s tune fits him like a glove. I never thought he was all that “country” to begin with, so it makes perfect sense.
OLD DOMINION/Hotel Key
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA (download)
– Jaunty and bopping as all get out. Stuttering guitars, rapid-fire lyric delivery, sunny attitude, sexy imagery. Go for it.
BLACKBERRY SMOKE/Flesh and Bone
Writers: Charlie Starr; Producer: Blackberry Smoke; Publishers: none listed; 3 Legged/Thirty Tigers
– Doomy and darkly rocking. Guitars grind in your face. The lead vocal is buried in the mix. Pass.
SMITH & WESLEY/Hook Line & Sinker
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed;
-Yet another Jimmy Buffett sonic rip off. However, they do sing well.
RYAN HURD/Diamonds Or Twine
Writers: Ryan Hurd/Laura Veltz/Mark Trussell; Producer: Aaron Essuis; Publishers: none listed; RCA (download)
– Superb. The melody is just lovely, and the lyric is ultra romantic. He wrote it for his bride, Maren Morris, and the video features lotsa footage of the lovebirds. He sings like he is head-over-heels. When you hear it, you will be, too.
WALKER HAYES/Craig
Writers: Walker Hayes; Producers: Hayes/Shane McAnally; Publishers: Songs of Kobalt/Songs of Smack/Smack Songs/Spark In Your Pocket/Rare Spark, BMI, Monument
– Sentimental rapping with a sparse rhythm track.
THE WILD FEATHERS/Big Sky
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
-This Nashville rock band emphasizes its stellar vocal harmonies on this airy and utterly charming tune. Evocative of California country-rockers The Eagles or of Crosby, Stills & Nash. Highly recommended.
CASSADEE POPE/Take You Home
Writers: Paul Digiovanni/Ben Hayslip/Emily Wesiband; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publishers: none listed; Fusion
– She’s a strong singer, so I don’t understand why her vocals are so processed here. Let the lady loose.
PARMALEE/Hotdamalama
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Stoney Creek
– The summer party season starts early with this rocking release. It ain’t exactly hillbilly music, but the kiddies will dig it.
Second Innovation In Music Awards Set For June 3
/by Jessica Nicholson“The music industry is a shifting landscape and successful leaders are achieving results by adapting and finding creative ways to address change, all while advancing the art and supporting our creative community,” said Pete O’Heeron, Chairman of the Innovation in Music Awards. “These people are deserving of this recognition because they are setting the course for the future of the industry.”
The IMA event will be hosted by Bill Werde, a leading storyteller and media executive and personality throughout his career. He currently serves as the director of the Bandier Music Industry Program in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Werde was Billboard’s editorial director until 2014, and continues to write a column. While at Billboard, Werde’s hosting duties included the Women in Music Gala, The Billboard Touring Awards, the live-streamed backstage show from the Billboard Music Awards and a broadcast music news segment on the Fuse cable network. He began writing about the intersection of culture, business and technology more than 15 years ago; he’s been frequently published by The New York Times, Wired magazine, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and many other publications.
The inaugural IMA ceremony in June 2017 was a sell-out attended by industry leaders honoring several notable figures including Bobby Bones, Leslie Fram, Brian O’Connell, Mike McVay and the night’s big winner Innovator of the Year, John Esposito, Chairman and CEO of Warner Music Nashville.
The event features eight major awards, musical performances, presentations honoring the nominees and various other moments celebrating innovation within entertainment.
Organizers and producers for the event include O’Heeron, John Ettinger, Shanna Strassberg, Bret Wolcott, and Marie Wapelhorst.
Innovation In Music Awards will be given in categories including:
-Innovator of the Year
-Impact in Innovation Award
-Innovation in Music, Music Industry Executive
-Innovation in Music, Artist
-Innovation in Music Live/Touring
-Innovation in Music, National Media
-Innovation in Music, Digital Media
-Innovation in Music, Digital Broadcast
-Innovation in Music, National Broadcast
-Innovation in Music, Major Market Radio
-Innovation in Music, Medium Market Radio
-Innovation in Music, Small Market Radio
Ed Sheeran To Receive Music Biz Artist Of The Year Award
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Music Business Association will honor Atlantic Records’ multi-Platinum, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran with its Artist of the Year Award at the Music Biz 2018 conference’s Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 17 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
“Ed Sheeran has had a remarkable year that few artists will ever achieve, helping to push streaming even further into the mainstream with the record-breaking success of ‘÷’ on these platforms, while also making history on the Billboard Hot 100,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “While he has been a strong presence in the industry for several years, 2017 proved to be extraordinary. We are thrilled to have him join the ranks of previous Music Biz Artist of the Year winners Adele, Little Big Town, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Green Day.”
“This past year has been absolutely unbelievable, and I really appreciate this amazing recognition from Music Biz,” said Sheeran. “Of course, none of it would be possible without all of my incredible fans and the fantastic team behind me.”