Exclusive: Centric Entertainment Launches Align Music Group With Abbey Adams

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Abbey Adams

Centric Entertainment has launched the publishing and recording group subsidiary, Align Music Group, led by former Sony/ATV Sr. Creative Director, A&R Abbey Adams.

The company is currently in the process of building out its artist/writer roster, with new signings to be announced in early 2018.

Adams, a 2016 MusicRow Rising Women on the Row honoree, says Align Music Group will have a strong focus on creating new, beneficial approaches to artist development and publishing.

“I want to create situations where I can do some extremely artist-friendly deals and I feel with being an independent company, we can do that,” Adams tells MusicRow.

Centric Entertainment is the latest venture from entrepreneur Larry Beckwith, who also co-founded Iconic Entertainment Group with Fletcher Foster.

“We’ve been fortunate to attract some of the best talent in the industry to lead within our companies,” Beckwith says. “Fletcher continues to do a phenomenal job at the helm of Iconic, and I’m confident that Abbey will do the same with Align.”

“At this level, we have to go into it with as low of a risk as we can, asking everyone involved, artists and producers, to take a risk on themselves as much as we are taking on them, and make it really affordable on the front end and give everybody more on the back end, to make it worth their time. We are trying to do deals that include publishing and masters—deals that allow us to do it in a low-risk way—but also to invest in different aspects of the artists. I want to look at it as an indie label, in as much as we have to do to get them—streaming, building social media following, getting them on the road to connect with fans, and really being intentional with their artist branding. It makes it a lot easier to present artists to the labels for those partnership opportunities or to upstream them to a major label when you can say, ‘This is the following they have created. It’s ready for you to take it to the next level.’”

Align Music Group currently operates from the WeWork co-working space located at One Nashville Place (150 4th Ave. N.).

Adams’ previous career roles include time at Sony/ATV and Blacktop Music Group. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.

For more information, contact info@alignmusicgroup.com.

‘Austin City Limits’ Sets Ticketing Deal With AXS

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AXS, a leading ticketing and digital media platform, has entered into an agreement to become the exclusive ticketing partner for television music series Austin City Limits. The show created and produced by KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, is the longest-running music program in television history. AXS will support ticketing for the live studio audience at KLRU-TV’s tapings of the show, which take place at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

AXS will be the sole ticketing software provider for live productions of the television series which presents 13 episodes each season that air on PBS. In addition, AXS will be a Production Underwriter for the 2017 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Inductions & Celebration Special broadcast nationally on PBS on Dec. 31, 2017 (check local listings). KLRU will have full access to the AXS platform to manage every aspect of ticketing inventory and offers to their Friends of Austin City Limits members and donors from a single, powerful administrative control center. Access for Austin City Limits tapings remain complimentary as a thank you for station supporters and to the public as always and are distributed via an online giveaway.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with KLRU and Austin City Limits, one of the most iconic music brands in the world,” said Blaine LeGere, SVP of Business Development for AXS. “This new relationship showcases our ability to provide a well tailored solution to the specific non-profit requirements of KLRU.”

“This is a milestone year for Austin City Limits and the addition of AXS to our team makes the program even more powerful,” said Bill Stotesbery, CEO and General Manager of KLRU. “Our fans, donors and Friends of Austin City Limits are an important part of the show and we strive to provide them with the best live music experience possible, and now with the tools and services we now have through AXS we continue to move that mission forward.”

Austin City Limits is currently in its 43rd broadcast season with new episodes featuring a stellar slate of music’s finest, including Ed Sheeran, Miranda Lambert, Father John Misty, LCD Soundsystem and more. The show has been designated an Official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark and earned a Peabody Award for excellence in 2012. The program remains the only television series to be awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Crosshair Delivers Second Monthly List Identifying Their Top Influencer Playlists

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Nashville-based Crosshair Music has issued it’s second edition top 20 influencers from its Crosshair Elite, a program benefiting artists and influencer interaction from its back-end analytic system.

The influencers help artists from all genres—including country—gain the attention from global Spotify-sponsored playlists. The distribution list is a reward perk, thanking the influencers for their involvement in providing feedback to undiscovered music. Crosshair notes its influencers list are first movers and partners to independent music, regularly getting an artist’s song over 1,000 plays as well as get them on the radar of the editors at Spotify.

One country music influencer has been added to the top 20 list, making three influencer playlists in the genre.

Crosshair’s December 2017 Country Music Elite Influencers

New: Eric Lacey’s Spotify Playlist: Country Beer Drinking Songs (2,000+ followers)

Adam Denney’s Spotify Playlist: 2017 Country Music  (3,000+ followers)

Ashley Bowsher’s Spotify Playlist: Pop & Country (2,000+ followers)

ELIAS Opens Nashville Studio

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Creative agency ELIAS has opened a Nashville office led by Executive Creative Director Vincenzo LoRusso. The newly-launched location serves as a central hub between all ELIAS’ studios, allowing LoRusso greater flexibility to collaborate with his entire national team and growing roster of diverse musical talent in the Nashville area.

Relocating from ELIAS’ headquarters in Santa Monica, LoRusso will continue to oversee the music company’s entire slate of work out of its Santa Monica, New York and recently opened Chicago and Nashville offices. He re-joined ELIAS in 2010 and has been instrumental in growing its creative team to include talent with diverse backgrounds in composing, producing, engineering and sound design.

LoRusso boasts over two decades of experience as a Grammy nominated producer and mixer working with artists such as Debbi Harry, Perry Farrell, Alex Ebert, Johnny Cash, Joan Osborne, members of Cypress Hill and Guns & Roses, and others. As the former creative director and lead composer, he helped launch Massive Music’s West Coast office and led the production team that developed and launched the successful Elias Music Library. For over 30 years ELIAS has remained one of the world’s most esteemed custom music, audio branding and library production studios.

Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley To Lead Country LakeShake

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Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton are set to lead the 2018 Country LakeShake festival in Chicago, slated for June 22-24.

Also on the bill are Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Russell Dickerson, Jillian Jacqueline, Tracy Lawrence, Chris Lane, Jackie Lee, LOCASH, RaeLynn, Runaway June, Dylan Scott and Cole Swindell.

The three-day festival, which takes place at Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island, also features a second “Next From Nashville” stage highlighting up and coming artists whose lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

Three-day and single-day passes for the Windy City festival will go on sale Friday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. CT at lakeshakefestival.com.

Mark Your Calendar—December 2017

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Album Releases

December 1
Chris Stapleton/From A Room: Volume 2/Mercury Records Nashville
Danielle Bradbery/I Don’t Believe We’ve Met/BMLG Records

December 8
Luke Bryan/What Makes You Country/Capitol Records Nashville
Walker Hayes/boom/Monument Records

Single Releases

December 4
Cam/Diane/Arista
Carly Pearce/Hide The Wine/Big Machine
CJ Solar/Airplane/Sea Gayle Records
Remington w/ Amy Jack/Dallas Until I Die/Amy Jack Music
Terry McBride/Boots Off/MV2 Production
Michael Tyler/Hey Mama/ Reviver Records
Brown & Gray/Top Down/NHMM

December 11
Chris Janson/Drunk Girl/Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville/WAR Radio & Streaming
Lindsay Ell/Criminal/Stoney Creek
Jerrod Niemann/I Got This/Curb

Industry Events

December 6
Final voting for the 2017 CMA Touring Awards closes

December 21
Grammy final ballot due

December 31
New Year’s Eve In Nashville: Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Carly Pearce

Weekly Chart Report 12/1/17

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Taylor Swift’s ‘reputation’ Released To Streaming Platforms

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Taylor Swift‘s latest album reputation is finally up on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora Premium and the other streaming platforms.

The project, her sixth studio album, racked up big numbers in early sales upon its Nov. 10 release, pulling in 1.238 million units in its first week alone in U.S. sales. The title debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen Soundscan’s all-genre albums chart, and echoes Swift’s first-week sales numbers for 2014’s 1989, which did 1.287 million in sales during its first week. Her album Red sold 1.208 million in its first week, while Speak Now pulled in 1.047 million.

 

CMA Honors Vince Gill, Megan Barry, Butch Spyridon, Kitty Moon Emery

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Pictured (L-R): Butch Spyridon, CEO, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. (CMA Chairman’s Award); CMA Foundation Board Chairman Joe Galante; CMA Board President Bill Simmons; CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams, SVP of Programming and Artist Relations for Opry Entertainment; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (Chairman’s Award); Vince Gill (CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award); Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO; Pat Emery (accepting the CMA Joe Talbot Award on behalf of late wife Kitty Moon Emery); and Damon Whiteside, CMA CMO. [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

The Country Music Association (CMA) presented industry honors to four highly-deserving individuals Wednesday evening, Nov. 29 during an intimate CMA Board reception at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Eighteen-time CMA Awards-winning artist and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill was honored with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp President/Chief Executive Officer Butch Spyridon received the CMA Chairman’s Award, and beloved Nashville business leader and former CMA Board Chairman and President Kitty Moon Emery was posthumously honored with the Joe Talbot Award.

“Vince Gill defines the word humanitarian, and we’re thrilled to present him with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, which has only been awarded twice before,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “Mayor Barry and Butch Spyridon have been invaluable partners in Nashville through their support of CMA Fest and country music in general. And Kitty Moon Emery was a true trailblazer whose contributions to country music and the City of Nashville will be remembered and appreciated for many years to come.”

Pictured (L-R): Spyridon, Mayor Barry, CMA Chairman Sally Williams, and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

“Both Megan and Butch have been dream collaborators, effortlessly working with Sarah and everyone at CMA to create an environment where we all win,” said CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams as she presented the CMA Chairman’s Award to the city leaders. “Their commitment to Country Music and specifically to CMA Fest is unwavering. In 2017, we drew record-breaking crowds for Fest. We’re all grateful for their continued partnership and support of country music.”

In a heartfelt speech, Emery’s devoted husband Pat Emery accepted the award in her honor and shared, “Kitty would tell me to tell you she loved you. She loved the CMA more than anything I think she ever did in her life.”

In addition, Trahern presented mementos to Williams, CMA Board President Bill Simmons, and CMA Foundation Chairman Joe Galante.

Vince Gill accepts the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

DISClaimer: Country Music Making A Comeback?

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Country music, I mean real country music, returns with a vengeance this week.

With top-shelf performances by Alan Jackson, Jon Pardi and Chris Janson in the listening stack, I was in heaven. The female records hold up the pop-flavored part of the equation this week, with superlative offerings from Cam, Taylor Swift and Carly Pearce.

Since this column is wall-to-wall established acts, there is no DisCovery Award contender in sight. So instead, I am spreading the Disc of the Day love.

Chris Janson and Alan Jackson touched me deeply, so they are sharing the male prize.

Cam rocked and Taylor Swift provided ballad excellence. So they are both collecting the female trophy.

THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Shane McAnally; Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure/Thomas Rhett; EMI Blackwood/Cricket on the Line/Sony/ATV/Rio Bravo/Telemitry; Valory (track)
– This piano-embellished heartbreak ballad is a nice change of pace. The plot is, she wants to get married, but not to him. Boo hoo.

CRAIG WAYNE BOYD/Stuck In My Head
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Copperline
– This 2014 winner on The Voice rocks out on this catchy ditty. He sings with gusto. The title is repeated a little too often for my taste. I guess he wants it to get “Stuck in My Head.”

TAYLOR SWIFT/New Year’s Day
Writers: Taylor Swift; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– I got so used to her pop bopping that I forgot what a tender balladeer she can be. This tender, piano-based heart breaker is a vivid reminder. Wistful and winning. Very, very cool.

CARLY PEARCE/Hide the Wine
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: busbee; Publishers: WB/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/Universal/We Are Creative Nation/Jake & Mack/Songs of Universal/BMG Gold/Rezonant, ASCAP; Big Machine (track)
– He’s back in town, and that spells trouble. He’s no good, but she can’t resist him. So while the track thumps splendidly around her, she wails about getting rid of the vino, the music and the comforts that make her easy pickings. Rhythm happy.

CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Each vocal performance seems more expressive than the one before. He drew me into this with extraordinary intimacy. It’s also a wonderfully inventive lyric about behaving like a gentleman. A superb record.

MARGIE SINGLETON/Jesus Is My Pusher
Writer: Margie Singleton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Ashmar, BMI; Ashley
– At age 82, this veteran is writing and singing with verve. This is one of her new gospel songs, but she’s also still creating solid honky tonkers. Margie is best known for her duet work with George Jones (”Waltz of the Angels”), Faron Young {”Keeping Up With the Joneses”) and Leon Ashley (”Hangin’ On”) in the 1960s, but she has always crafted equally distinctive solo sides (”Old Records,” “The Eyes of Love”).

ALAN JACKSON/The Older I Get
Writers: Alan Jackson; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; EMI (download)
– Philosophical and heartfelt. He is still the BEST, and I will be forever a fan. A lump-in-throat song and performance. Play and believe.

CAM/Diane
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista/RCA
– Man, this thing roars out of the chute like a runaway bronco. The stacked harmonies are as gripping as the pile-driving rhythm track. In the lyric, she’s a home wrecker who is trying to explain herself to Diane, the woman she has wronged. I was charmed by this track from the moment I heard her sing it during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

JON PARDI/She Ain’t In It
Writers: Clint Daniels/Wynn Varble; Producers: Bart Butler/Jon Pardi; Publishers: Writers of Sea Gayle/ClearBox Rights/Spirit of Catalog Holdings/Spirit of Nashville One/BMG Platinum/Mater Pie, BMI; Capitol (track)
-This guy gives me hope for the future of the genre. Unlike so many of his peers, he is unashamedly, unapologetically country, country, country. This swaying, heartbreak lament pushes all my buttons. The rolling tempo, the sighing steel, the gentle-twang guitars, the twin fiddles and his drawling baritone vocal are all exquisite.

KANE BROWN/Heaven
Writers: Shy Carter/Matthew McGinn/Lindsay Rimes; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; BMI/SESAC; RCA (track)
– Sensuous, dreamy and romantic. How could Heaven be any better than lying in her arms? There you have it.