Pictured (L-R): Midland’s Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy

Nashville’s music industry members had no problems opening a cold one to toast the Big Machine Records trio Midland’s first No. 1 song, “Drinkin’ Problem,” earlier this week during a shindig at Nashville’s The Sutler Saloon.

On Oct. 11, The Sutler Saloon was packed to celebrate Midland members Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, as well as their “Drinkin’ Problem” co-writers Shane McAnally (GMR) and Josh Osborne (ASCAP). The Gold-certified song marks the Midland members’ first No. 1 both as songwriters and artists.

BMI’s Bradley Collins and ASCAP’s Beth Brinker hosted the event. Brinker surprised ASCAP writers with Yeti coolers, while BMI’s Collins offered a BMI guitar, which is offered to BMI writers who celebrate their first No. 1 song.

Pinnacle Bank’s David Smith announced a donation to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital on behalf of the writers.

“Drinkin’ Problem” is McAnally’s 25th No. 1 song, and Osborne’s 14th No. 1 hit.

Among those celebrating the No. 1 hit were BMLG’s Scott Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, SMACKSong’s Michael McAnally Baum, producer Dann Huff, engineer Justin Niebank, Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen, Country Aircheck’s Paul Williams and CRB’s Holly Freeman.

Pictured (Bac row, L-R): Black River’s Dave Pacula, Spirit Music’s Daniel Hill, BRND MGMT’s Matt Graham, Sandbox’s Jason Owen, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Dann Huff, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, SMACKSongs’ Michael Baum. Pictured (Front row, L-R): ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Josh Osborne, Midland, Shane McAnally, SMACKSongs’ Robin Palmer, BMI’s Bradley Collins

“There are a lot of people here that have shaped our destiny,” said Duddy. “Someone said yesterday—I believe it was me, so to quote myself—in a year it looked like we had ran a marathon with our faces. The BMLG promo team, your work ethic has inspired us in ways you’ll never understand. It was boot camp from the beginning.”

“This industry is a family and the fact that we’ve been allowed into this family is the biggest honor of our lives,” said Carson. “People ask us what have been some of the things that have happened this year that have had an impact and it’s hard to even take stock. This train doesn’t stop but it’s the people we are surrounded by and people that elevate us and brought us to this place that I’m just so grateful for. Scott for taking a chance on us. Dann in the studio is the maestro, he hears everything. Josh, like our soul brother and family to us. We speak the same language. Shane, I want to be like Shane and I want to someday be where he’s at and have the respect that he’s got. Thank you to everybody.

“They say to work with people who are more talented and smarter than you are, and that’s what I did in getting together with Jess and Cameron,” said Wystrach. “I’ve been learning ever since. That’s what this band has done collectively. We literally have the dream team. Nobody’s tried to screw with our vision or say, ‘This isn’t right.’ Everybody thought there was something special and I know someday I’ll look back in my life and say that this is one of the best things in my life, getting to work with these guys and build this family. There is a bit of a rule: Would you want to invite these people home for family dinner? And it’s true there is not a person on this stage I wouldn’t want to invite home to my family’s ranch in Arizona and we’d have the time of our lives because we have shared interests and passions and work interests and a love for music.”

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, BMR’s Nicole Hunt, AJ Calvin, Erik Powell, Jim Weatherson and Kris Lamb. Pictured (Front row, L-R): Josh Osborne, Midland, Shane McAnally, Dann Huff

The Academy of Country Music has announced the newly elected Officers and Board of Directors for the 2017-2018 term. Previously announced officers include Chairman Ben Vaughn, President Duane Clark, Vice President Ed Warm, Treasurer Carmen Romano, Parliamentarian Paul Moore, Sergeant-at-Arms Tim DuBois and Secretary Tommy Moore.

This year, seven of the 13 qualifying professional categories were elected by the Academy’s membership. In addition to those elected, director-at-large positions have been appointed by Chairman Ben Vaughn, President Duane Clark and Vice President Ed Warm. Directors are elected from each category based on the number of members in that category. Each director serves staggered two-year terms, with half the board membership changing each year.

Newly elected members of the Board of Directors include:

• CAM
• Laura Connelly, LA Phil
• Kerri Edwards, KPentertainment
• Fletcher Foster, Iconic Entertainment
• Rusty Gaston,THiS Music
• Roger Gearhart, Graham Bros. Entertainment
• Andrew Kautz, Big Machine Label Group
• Gordon Kerr, Black River Entertainment
• Michael Knox, Music Knox / peermusic
• Steve Lassiter, APA
• David Macias, Thirty Tigers
• Daniel Miller, Red Light Management / Fusion Music
• Jake Owen
• Hillary Scott
• Marty Stuart

Newly appointed director-at-large members of the Board of Directors include:

• Chuck Aly, Country Aircheck
• Bradley Collins, BMI
• Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light Management
• Crystal Dishmon, ShopKeeper Management
• Shannan Hatch, SESAC
• Greg Hill, Hill Entertainment Group
• Gayle Holcomb, WME
• Chris Janson
• Jeff Krones, CAA
• Cris Lacy, Warner Music Nashville
• Lynn Oliver-Cline, River House Artists
• Chris Parr, MAVERICK
• Kelly Rich, Amazon
• Peter Strickland
• Neil Vance, L3 Entertainment
• Brian Wright, UMG Nashville

Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Russell Dickerson

Just two days before his debut album Yours is released on Triple Tigers Records, rising country star Russell Dickerson kicked off his street week with a sold-out show in his hometown of Nashville.

Dickerson celebrated with an album release party at neighboring bar Hurry Back, before fans packed Exit/In Wednesday night (Oct. 11) for his album release show.

During the industry pre-party, Dickerson was presented with an RIAA Gold plaque for his hit single, “Yours,” which he co-wrote with Parker Welling and producer Casey Brown.

Pictured (L-R): Dennis Entertainment’s John Dennis, Triple Tigers Records GM Norbert Nix, Russell Dickerson, Triple Tigers Records SVP Promotion Kevin Herring. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Russell Dickerson

Artist Hannah Ellis opened the show before joining the crowd for Dickerson’s performance of fan favorites including “Billions” and streaming hit “Blue Tacoma.”

“This is something I’ve dreamed of doing since I started playing guitar at sixteen. I’ve always dreamed of writing songs,” Dickerson told his fans. “I grew up in Nashville and always went to every show at Rocketown and wanted to be that guy on the stage. Y’all are making it happen.”

After leaving the stage, screaming fans cheered Dickerson back on for an encore performance of the title track “Yours” to close out the show.

Fans lined up around the block for the sold-out show at Exit/In. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Russell Dickerson

Fans can pre-order Yours here to immediately receive six songs of the album, and the album in its entirety will be out this Friday, Oct. 13.

Yours Track Listing:

1. Every Little Thing
2. Yours
3. Blue Tacoma
4. Billions
5. All Fall Down
6. Float
7. MGNO
8. Would You Love Me
9. Low Key
10. You Look Like a Love Song
11. twentysomething
12. Yours (Wedding Edition)

Lee Roy Parnell has joined the 117 Entertainment Group publicity roster for exclusive PR representation.

Parnell has had several hits throughout his career including “What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am,” “Tender Moment” and “A Little Bit of You.” In 2017, Parnell released his first new album in over a decade, Midnight Believer, on Vector Recordings/BFD.  Parnell produced the album and co-wrote all 10 songs with Greg Barnhill, including the track “Sunny Days,” which features a special guest appearance by The Fairfield Four.

“Lee Roy has represented a class of truly talented and able-bodied musicians since he burst onto the scene in the early ‘90s. His hits are numerous and his skills run deep. It’s incredible to be able to welcome him to our publicity roster and work with the amazing team he has built,” said Zach Farnum, President and CEO of 117 Entertainment Group.