Luke Combs Set For Two Ryman Auditorium Shows

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River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs will make his headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium with two nights on Feb. 2-3, 2018, as part of his Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour. Ashley McBryde will join him for both shows.

Tickets will be available in pre-sale to Combs’ Bootleggers fan club starting Tuesday, Oct. 31 and on-sale on Nov. 4.

“When It Rains It Pours” marks the second multi-week No. 1 hit from Combs’ debut album This One’s For You. The album has garnered more than 371 million streams to date and generated Combs’ Platinum-certified multi-week No. 1 hit single “Hurricane.”

Shane McAnally Extends Publishing Deal With Kobalt

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Shane McAnally

Kobalt announced Monday (Oct. 30) that it has re-signed multiple Grammy award-winning country songwriter Shane McAnally.

The worldwide agreement includes publishing administration for all of McAnally’s future works along with his back catalog, which includes Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road,” the longest-reigning Billboard Hot Country No. 1 hit.

McAnally’s own publishing company, SMACKSongs, has an existing relationship with Kobalt. SMACK is home to country songwriters Josh Osborne, Matt Ramsey, Walker Hayes, Matt McGinn, Ryan Beaver, and others.

“Kobalt is such a valuable part of my team and I’m so grateful for the care and attention they give SMACKSongs,” said Shane McAnally. “I trust their expertise, appreciate their business model and just love their staff. I’m thrilled to be continuing our working relationship.”

Jesse Willoughby, General Manager of Kobalt, Nashville, said of the deal, “We couldn’t be more excited at Kobalt to continue our relationship with Shane. He’s one of the most influential writers in Nashville and is continually pushing the boundaries, not only as a writer/producer but as a businessman as well. We look forward to his continued success and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

McAnally is a Nashville-based multi-Platinum songwriter and producer who has worked with Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Brandy Clark, Sam Hunt, Kacey Musgraves, Midland, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett and many more. He has earned 28 number one hits.

In 2017, McAnally and industry veteran, Jason Owen, re-launched Monument Records with flagship artists Walker Hayes and Caitlyn Smith.

Randy Travis Signs On With 117 Publicity

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Randy Travis

Music icon and Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis has signed with Zach Farnum‘s entertainment firm, 117 Publicity. With multiple high-profile projects on the horizon, including an autobiography and a full-length documentary, the 117 team will represent Travis exclusively throughout the media landscape.

With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Travis’ honors extend to seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors.

“Randy Travis is easily one of the most accomplished and renowned superstars in the history of the music industry,” said Zach Farnum, President & CEO of 117 Entertainment Group. “He is an influencer of nearly every artist that has come onto the country scene since he first topped the chart in the mid ‘80s, pivoted an entire movement for the genre and has garnered innumerable major awards and iconic hits. We are thrilled to work with him, celebrate his monumental success and build on future opportunities,” said

Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Travis continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing.

117 Entertainment Group specializes in management and publicity and marketing campaigns for musicians, events and brands representing the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Negron, Lee Roy Parnell, Bobby Bare, Logan Mize, Lewis Brice, Paul Bogart and Scooter Brown Band, just to name a few.

CAPS Payroll Names Jeremy Young As Director, Music Tours/Live Event Sales

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Jeremy Young

CAPS Payroll, a Cast & Crew company, has named Jeremy Young as Director of Music Tours and Live Events Sales. Young will be based in Nashville.

Cast & Crew provides technology-enabled payroll, accounting and production management services to the entertainment industry. Silver Lake is Cast & Crew’s controlling investor.

Young previously worked at Vector Management, representing a substantial roster of talent including Gavin DeGraw and Liz Huett. In his new role at CAPS, he will oversee relationships with all Nashville venues, music tours and festival management. Young will report to Todd Dyer, CAPS’ Senior Director of Venues, Music Tours and Festivals.

“Jeremy’s background and experience in live entertainment – as well as tour and artist management – brings an enhanced capability to CAPS in a growing market,” said Frank DeVito, Sr. Vice President, CAPS. “He knows this business inside and out and truly understands what our clients need to achieve a successful production – and we’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Young can be reached at jyoung@capspayroll.com or 615-307-7070.

CMA Awards Adds Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Pink, Keith Urban

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The 51st Annual CMA Awards logo

This year’s CMA Awards will open in grand fashion, with a musical collaboration from Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and more.

Other new performances announced Friday (Oct. 27) include Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Pink, and Keith Urban.

Performers previously announced for the Nov. 8 show include duet partners Kelsea Ballerini and Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts, Maren Morris and Niall Horan, Brad Paisley and Kane Brown as well as performances from Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and airing on the ABC Television Network.

Winners of The 51st Annual CMA Awards are determined by eligible voting CMA members. Ballots are tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Music Industry Executive Rob Potts Dies

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Rob Potts

Music Industry executive, Rob Potts, has unexpectedly passed away as a result of a motorcycle accident that occurred on Friday, October 27, 2017, in Tasmania, Australia.

Potts was a longtime member of the Country Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors where he was actively involved in Country music’s international efforts. He is a previous chairman of the CMA International Committee and the current chairman of the Australian CMA Advisory Group. This past March, CMA awarded Potts with the Jo Walker Meador International award to recognize his outstanding achievement in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.

His company Rob Potts Entertainment Edge has been at the forefront of the recent surge of US Country superstars in the Australian market. With Chugg Entertainment, Potts established the CMC Rocks festival brand with the CMC Rocks The Snowys, CMC Rocks The Hunter and now CMC Rocks QLD festivals, which in 2016 became Australia’s first sold-out country music festival in history.

Potts was also the longtime manager to Warner Music Nashville’s Morgan Evans.

CMA CEO Sarah Trahern commented, “The CMA Board and staff as well as the country music community were devastated at the news of Rob’s passing. He was a key driver of our international expansion for the past years and waived the country flag proudly in Australia. On a personal note, my husband Wayne and I have lost a vibrant friend. Rob lived life to its fullest.”

Potts is survived by his son, Jeremy Potts, and ex-wife, Sally. Arrangements are pending at this time.

John McEuen Exits Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

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John McEuen

John McEuen, one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, has announced his departure from the group. McEuen exited upon the conclusion of the NGDB 2017 tour marking the end of the band’s 50th year anniversary.

McEuen was instrumental in the NGDB band’s formation in 1966 and has celebrated groundbreaking and historical success alongside his counterparts over the past 50 years. McEuen has recorded more than 30 NGDB albums and created a lasting legacy for his seminal work on the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, which McEuen initiated in 1971. 

Over the course of his career, multi-instrumental “String Wizard” John McEuen has performed more than 9,500 concerts, covering more than three million miles globally with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and as a solo performer. McEuen has recorded over 40 albums (six solo), including four platinum and five gold, that include Grammys, CMA and ACM awards and IBMA Record of the Year honors. He is a member of the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

“It has been a great privilege to work alongside the others; together, we made history. After 50 years, the time has come for me to bid adieu to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band stage,” said John McEuen. “I will move forward with great pride in my personal and musical contributions to NGDB and now can fully concentrate on my independent endeavors. I have much to do and many more creative ideas to pursue. Because of this relationship, I have more stories than you can shake a pick at. (…That will come later!)”

Prescription Songs Signs Emily Haber

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Pictured (L-R): Katie Mitzell Fagan, Emily Haber and Rachel Wein

Prescription Songs has signed Emily Haber to its roster. The New York-raised Haber has resided in Nashville for the past three years. She has penned songs including “Stone Cold Thriller,” recorded by Wolfskind ft. Ashe; “Sneakers,” recorded by Matt Thomas; and recently had the song “Let Go” featured on MTV’s Teen Mom 2. She has upcoming placements with Nashville pop artists including Jordie, Cali Rodi, and Quinn Lewis.

Katie Fagan heads Prescription Songs’ Nashville office, which launched earlier this year.

Cam Releases New Single ‘Diane’ From Sophomore Project Today

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Cam has released the debut single, “Diane,” from her upcoming 2018 sophomore album on Arista Nashville/RCA Records. The new song was written and produced by the team behind Cam’s Platinum-selling No. 1, “Burning House,” Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson.

Inspired by the storyline of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene,” the driving track delivers a tale of love, regret and commiseration.

“‘Diane’ is my response to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene,’ said Cam about the new tune. “It’s the apology so many spouses deserve, but never get. The other woman is coming forward to break the news to the wife about an affair, respecting her enough to have that hard conversation, once she realized he was married. Because everyone should be able to decide their own path in life, based on the truth. Women especially should do this for each other, since our self-worth can still be so wrapped up in our partners.  And in true country fashion, I’ve set the whole raw story to upbeat music, so you can dance while you process it all.”

As part of the excitement surrounding the single release, Cam will perform “Diane” and other songs as part of a 30-minute Facebook Live stream event at 11 a.m. CT, on Oct. 31, with the performance originating from an intimate music space in Sony Music Nashville’s office. Cam’s performance can be streamed here.

The busy entertainer is about to launch her Best Coast Tour, headlining nine West Coast dates beginning November 28, and she also co-penned the song “Palace” with Sam Smith and Tyler Johnson on Smith’s forthcoming album, The Thrill of It All, due out Nov. 3. She also contributed background vocals and electric guitar to the track.

CMA Touring Awards Nominees Announced

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The 2017 CMA Touring Awards Finalists have been announced. Final voting for the awards, which highlight the contributions of vital behind-the-scenes members of the industry, begins Nov. 21 and closes Dec. 6. Each category has been expanded this year from three nominees to five.

CMA members in the following membership groups are eligible to vote on the 15 categories up for awards: Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring and Venue.

“The CMA Touring Awards honor the unseen heroes of country music, the men and women who work behind the scenes to give our fans the best live music experience in entertainment,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. “As you’ll notice, we’ve expanded the number of nominees from three to five in each category to acknowledge the many touring and industry professionals who are working at the highest levels.”

CATEGORY 1 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
Cheryl Harris – O’Neil Hagaman, PLLC
Lou Taylor – Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group
Rob Taylor – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC
Dwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

CATEGORY 2 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
Jerry Martin – Darius Rucker
Larry Phye Jr. – Chris Stapleton
Danny Shelnut – Montgomery Gentry
Kavin Spears – Eric Church
Dean Tubbs – Charlie Daniels Band

CATEGORY 3 – FRONT OF HOUSE ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Jared Blumenberg – Florida Georgia Line
Dan Heins – Garth Brooks
Arpad Sayko – Chris Stapleton
Frank Sgambellone – Luke Bryan
Chris Stephens – Jason Aldean

CATEGORY 4- LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Dave Butzler – Garth Brooks
Scott Cunningham – Florida Georgia Line
Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
Justin Kitchenman – Luke Bryan
Gavin Lake – Eric Church

CATEGORY 5 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Bob Doyle – Bob Doyle & Associates
Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
Jason Owen – Sandbox Entertainment
John Peets – Q Prime South
Clarence Spalding – Maverick

CATEGORY 6 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Todd Bunch – Eric Church
David Farmer – Kenny Chesney
Tracy Greenwood – Garth Brooks
Logan Kornegay – Thomas Rhett
Mark Sizemore – Luke Bryan

CATEGORY 7 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Marc Earp – Eric Church
Juan Gomez – Florida Georgia Line
Ed Janiszewski – Luke Bryan
Phil Robinson – Kenny Chesney
Martin Santos – Garth Brooks

CATEGORY 8 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Drew Brown – Jason Aldean
Gary Chrosniak – Luke Bryan
John Garriott – Chris Stapleton
Todd Ortmeier – Florida Georgia Line
Brian Petree – Garth Brooks

CATEGORY 9 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
Jake Basden – Big Machine Label Group
Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom
Jesse Schmidt – Schmidt Relations
Nancy Seltzer – Nancy Seltzer & Associates, Inc.
Jensen Sussman – Sweet Talk Publicity

CATEGORY 10 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
Rob Beckham – WME
Joey Lee – WME
Darin Murphy – CAA
Kevin Neal – WME
Nate Ritches – Dale Morris & Associates

CATEGORY 11 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Farrell – Lon Varnell Enterprises
Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville
Louis Messina – Messina Touring Group
Brian Traeger – Live Nation
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

CATEGORY 12 – TOUR CATERER OF THE YEAR
Concert Kitchens
Dega Catering
HSG Catering
Knoxville Catering
Mike Maxwell + Co. Motion Picture Catering

CATEGORY 13 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Nathan Barlowe – Keith Urban (Keyboard)
Wyatt Beard – Kenny Chesney (Keyboard)
John Thomasson – Little Big Town (Bass Guitar)
Lee Hendricks – Eric Church (Bass Guitar)
Jimmy Mattingly – Garth Brooks (Fiddle)

CATEGORY 14 – VENUE OF THE YEAR
Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

CATEGORY 15 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
John Breslin – Garth Brooks
Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
Milojko Dobrijevich – Jason Aldean
William Parisian – Florida Georgia Line
Ryan Rushing – Luke Bryan