For August 2017, the Recording Industry Association of America certified 184 Song Awards and 50 album awards. Several country albums from Lee Brice, Chris Young, Florida Georgia Line and Justin Moore were certified platinum, while more than 20 singles from Nashville-based artists earned gold status.
Multi-Platinum Single
Billy Currington, “Must Be Doin’ Something Right,” 2x Platinum
Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy,” 2x Platinum
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know,” 2x Platinum
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand,” 2x Platinum
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” 2x Platinum
Luke Bryan, “Strip It Down,” 2x Platinum
Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town,” 3x Platinum
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time,” 3x Platinum
Tim McGraw, “Humble and Kind,” 2x Platinum
Platinum Singles
Billy Currington, “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer”
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Eric Church, “Record Year”
Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Shania Twain, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Gold Single
Billy Currington, “That’s How Country Boys Roll”
Billy Currington, “Don’t It”
Billy Currington, “I Got A Feeling”
Billy Currington, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To”
Billy Currington, “Don’t”
Billy Currington, “Love Done Gone”
Chris Lane, “For Her”
Chris Young, “Sober Saturday Night” (ft. Vince Gill)
Eric Church, “Mr. Misunderstood”
Eric Church, “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line, “Here’s To The Good Times”
Florida Georgia Line, “Tell Me How You Like It”
Keith Urban, “The Fighter”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Luke Bryan, “Fast”
Midland, “Drinkin’ Problem”
Newsboys, “We Believe”
Russell Dickerson, “Yours”
Sam Hunt, “Speakers”
Shania Twain, “That Don’t Impress Me Much”
Shania Twain, “From This Moment On”
Shania Twain, “Any Man Of Mine”
Thomas Rhett, “Craving You”
William Michael Morgan, “I Met A Girl”
Platinum Album
Chris Young, Neon
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Justin Moore, Justin Moore
Justin Moore, Outlaws Like Me
Kip Moore, Up All Night
Lee Brice, Hard To Love
Gold Album
Brett Young, Brett Young
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
Jon Pardi, California Sunrise
Justin Moore, Off The Beaten Path
Kip Moore, Up All Night
RIAA Gold & Platinum: August 2017
/by Jessica NicholsonFor August 2017, the Recording Industry Association of America certified 184 Song Awards and 50 album awards. Several country albums from Lee Brice, Chris Young, Florida Georgia Line and Justin Moore were certified platinum, while more than 20 singles from Nashville-based artists earned gold status.
Multi-Platinum Single
Billy Currington, “Must Be Doin’ Something Right,” 2x Platinum
Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy,” 2x Platinum
Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know,” 2x Platinum
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand,” 2x Platinum
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” 2x Platinum
Luke Bryan, “Strip It Down,” 2x Platinum
Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town,” 3x Platinum
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time,” 3x Platinum
Tim McGraw, “Humble and Kind,” 2x Platinum
Platinum Singles
Billy Currington, “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer”
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Eric Church, “Record Year”
Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Shania Twain, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Gold Single
Billy Currington, “That’s How Country Boys Roll”
Billy Currington, “Don’t It”
Billy Currington, “I Got A Feeling”
Billy Currington, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To”
Billy Currington, “Don’t”
Billy Currington, “Love Done Gone”
Chris Lane, “For Her”
Chris Young, “Sober Saturday Night” (ft. Vince Gill)
Eric Church, “Mr. Misunderstood”
Eric Church, “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line, “Here’s To The Good Times”
Florida Georgia Line, “Tell Me How You Like It”
Keith Urban, “The Fighter”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Luke Bryan, “Fast”
Midland, “Drinkin’ Problem”
Newsboys, “We Believe”
Russell Dickerson, “Yours”
Sam Hunt, “Speakers”
Shania Twain, “That Don’t Impress Me Much”
Shania Twain, “From This Moment On”
Shania Twain, “Any Man Of Mine”
Thomas Rhett, “Craving You”
William Michael Morgan, “I Met A Girl”
Platinum Album
Chris Young, Neon
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Justin Moore, Justin Moore
Justin Moore, Outlaws Like Me
Kip Moore, Up All Night
Lee Brice, Hard To Love
Gold Album
Brett Young, Brett Young
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
Jon Pardi, California Sunrise
Justin Moore, Off The Beaten Path
Kip Moore, Up All Night
NATD Launches Speaker Series With Rick Rekedal
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“We are excited to debut the NATD Speaker Series with Rick Rekedal, a leader in the film industry,” said NATD board member, Chaz Corzine. “Rick enthralls his listeners while speaking about marketing and reaching a younger generation through various out-of-the-box ideas. We look forward to planning various Speaker Sessions throughout the year for our membership to attend.”
Rekedal has been with DreamWorks Animation as Chief Creative of Franchise Development for 20 years and is the global franchise director of the hit movie Trolls. Winner of two Annie Awards, two Kids Choice Awards and Toy of the Year, he began his career in the toy business before moving into family entertainment at DreamWorks Animation, with posts as head of licensing, interactive and online production before shifting into franchise development. A frequent speaker and lecturer, Rick serves on advisory boards for the Wedgwood Circle, the MWS Group and Belmont University’s film school. His book One Small Step is available through Amazon and local booksellers.
BMI Tunespeak Stage A Highlight Of LouFest
/by Lorie HollabaughJonny P shows some soul on the BMI Tunespeak stage. Photo: Jason Gonulsen
BMI returned to LouFest last weekend for its fifth year of showcasing music’s hottest up-and-coming acts at the St. Louis festival. This year’s festival was attended by record breaking crowds, many of whom gathered at the BMI stage for performances from a stellar lineup of BMI artists including Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Lizzo, local favorites 18andCounting and Lollapalooza’s BMI stage veteran Ron Gallo.
Ron Gallo keeps it cool at the BMI Stage at LouFest. Photo: Jason Gonulsen
Charles Berry Jr. and Mrs. Chuck Berry accept three MillionAir awards on behalf of Chuck Berry from BMI’s David Preston
Pictured (L-R): Tunespeak’s Caitlyn Dum, Beau Dillard and Tom Pernikoff, BMI’s Nina Carter, Starwolf and BMI’s David Preston and Branden Bosler. Photo: Jason Gonulsen
Kip Moore, Tony Hawk Raise Funds For Hurricane Relief With Music City Skate Jam
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto by Alex Ferrari
Kip Moore and international skateboarding champion Tony Hawk hosted the Music City Skate Jam Presented by Harley Davidson on Sunday (Sept. 10) and turned the event into a fundraiser for hurricane-effected communities. Fans donating to Moore’s Kip’s Kids Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation were treated to a day of fun-filled events including performances by Jordan Davis, Dee Jay Silver, and Moore himself, along with a thrilling skate demo by Tony Hawk.
Fans can continue to donate now through Friday Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. CST by texting HAWK to 52182 or visit http://hawk.gesture.com
Photo by Alex Ferrari
Weekly Register: Chris Stapleton’s ‘From A Room: Vol. 1’ Reaches Half-Million Sales Mark
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Stapleton
From A Room: Vol. 1, the latest album from Mercury Nashville artist Chris Stapleton, sold 6K this week, bringing the project’s cumulative numbers over the half-million mark, with 502K sold to date. Stapleton’s previous album, Traveller, has sold 2.05 million to date, and lands at No. 3 on the top country album sales rankings this week, with 11.7K sold this week (total consumption).
Columbia Nashville artist Luke Combs has this week’s top country album, with This One’s For You moving 16K in total consumption. He is followed by RCA Nashville band Old Dominion‘s Happy Endings, which sold 12.4K. Stapleton’s Traveller is at No. 3, while RCA Nashville artist Kane Brown‘s self-titled album moved 9.5K to land at No. 4. MCA Nashville’s Sam Hunt‘s Montevallo moved 9.1K to round out the Top 5 country albums this week.
On the digital songs charts, BMLG’s Taylor Swift holds the lead with two songs at the top of the digital songs chart, with “…Ready For It?” debuting at No. 1 with 135K and “Look What You Made Me Do” at No. 2, selling 114K in its second week, and standing at 467K RTD.
Hunt holds the No. 1 digital country track with “Body Like A Back Road” moving 24K (1.624 million RTD). Kane Brown’s “What Ifs” is at No. 2 with 22K, followed by Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours” at 16K. Broken Bow Records’s Dustin Lynch‘s “Small Town Boy” is at No. 4 with 15K.
Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett rounds out the Top 5 with the debut of “Life Changes,” with 14K. He has the No. 6 song as well, with “Unforgettable” moving 14K.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
Industry Ink: Brett Young, Audra McLaughlin, RecoveryFest Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonBrett Young Hits Sales Milestone
Pictured (L-R): EVP Big Machine Label Group/BMLG Records President Jimmy Harnen, Brett Young, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Photo: BMLG Records
CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Brett Young is celebrating his self-titled debut album reaching Gold status. Additionally, his debut single “Sleep Without You” has been certified Platinum, while his hit “In Case You Didn’t Know” has reached 2x Platinum status.
Young was honored for the three achievements Saturday (Sept. 9) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on the last stop of the U.S. leg of Lady Antebellum’s You Look Good World Tour.
Audra McLaughlin Inks Deal With Kore PR
Audra McLaughlin, a finalist on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice, has added Kore Public Relations to her team. McLaughlin recently released the single “Boomerang.”
RecoveryFest Nashville 2017 Set For Sept. 30
Among the performers are Bonnie Bramlett as well as FIX (The Recovery Rock Opera) featuring Peter Moon, Dianne Davidson, Chuck Glass, Kleavers, Bella Lee and Lola, Sonia Lee, Miranda Louise, John McAndrew, Kim Parent Band, Frank Sheen, Soul Incision and Tommy Womack.
Tracy Lawrence Relives ‘Good Ole Days’ On New Album
/by Haley CrowTracy Lawrence has set a Nov. 10 release date for his upcoming album, Good Ole Days. The 11-track record celebrates the country legend’s mark on country traditionalism by pairing a selection of his hits with some of country and rock’s contemporary superstars and newcomers. The album will also feature two new songs.
“There’s such a hunger out there for the music from my era. I hear that from so many people, so I felt like this was a good time to kind of blend the old and the new,” said Lawrence. “My first commitment was from my buddy Tim McGraw, who chose to sing ‘Time Marches On,’ on the new record.”
Craig Morgan lends his vocals and heartfelt raw emotion on “Finally Home,” one of the two new tracks on the album and an ode to U.S. military members celebrating their enduring service to our country. A portion of the proceeds from “Finally Home” will be donated to Operation FINALLY HOME, a national, non-profit organization providing mortgage-free, custom-built homes to wounded, ill and injured veterans or widows and widowers of the fallen.
3 Doors Down leader Brad Arnold makes his country music debut on the title track “Good Ole Days,” which is the second of the two original songs. The collaborative collection also includes guest appearances by Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Easton Corbin, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Kellie Pickler and Chris Young.
Lawrence is humbled by the excitement that his peers brought to the studio with their eagerness to keep each track as pure as the day it was first recorded, with only minor exceptions and a few added new nuances. “To realize that I’m older now and being looked at by younger kids in the same light as I looked at guys like Strait and Haggard, it’s very flattering,” he notes. “To know that I’ve made music that’s had that kind of impact on people, well, it’s pretty cool.”
Lawrence is excited to offer the first instant grat track “Can’t Break It To My Heart,” a duet with Aldean, as part of the album preorder which is available here.
Good Ole Days Track Listing:
1. Time Marches On (feat. Tim McGraw)
2. Sticks & Stones (feat. Luke Bryan)
3. Alibis (feat. Justin Moore)
4. Can’t Break It to My Heart (feat. Jason Aldean)
5. Good Ole Days (feat. Brad Arnold & Big & Rich)
6. If the World Had a Front Porch (feat. Luke Combs)
7. Texas Tornado (feat. Dustin Lynch)
8. Stars over Texas (feat. Kellie Pickler)
9. If the Good Die Young (feat. Chris Young)
10. Paint Me a Birmingham (feat. Easton Corbin)
11. Finally Home (feat. Craig Morgan)
Celebration Of Life Event To Be Held For Troy Gentry In Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonTroy Gentry. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
A public celebration of life has been set for Montgomery Gentry member Troy Gentry, who died Friday, Sept. 8 in Medford, N.J. He was 50.
The celebration of life will take place Thursday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. CT at the Grand Ole Opry House, located on 2804 Opryland Dr. in Nashville. A private, family internment will follow.
For those unable to attend the celebration of life event, a live stream can be viewed at opry.com on Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to T.J. Martell Foundation or The American Red Cross for hurricane relief.
FlyteVu Adds Two Staffers, Celebrates Clio Award Wins
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Joey Helsel, Stephanie Shank
FlyteVu has added two new members to its team. Joey Helsel has joined the company as Account Manager and Stephanie Shank has been named Publicist.
Prior to joining FlyteVu, Helsel spent several years managing on-site tour sponsorship activations for artists like Taylor Swift, P!NK and Katy Perry as Manager, Tour Partnerships for G7 Marketing. She brings over 10 years of experience in the entertainment marketing industry with expertise executing programs for professional sports teams, concert venues, large format events and global music tours.
Shank was most recently a Publicity Manager at dick clark productions in Los Angeles where she executed public relations campaigns, red carpets and media rooms for live entertainment events, including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, the Golden Globes, and others.
FlyteVu has also promoted Laura Fuller to Project Manager where she will lead and execute campaigns on a number of client initiatives and projects.
FlyteVu is also celebrating the win of their first Gold Clio Award recognizing innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication, a second Bronze Clio Award, and fourth Clio Award win overall. FlyteVu’s work on Cracker Barrel’s GRAMMY Award-winning a cappella collaboration of “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and Pentatonix has won a Gold Clio in the Music Marketing category for Partnerships & Collaborations. The agency’s work on Tennessee Tourism’s 7 Diamond campaign with Garth Brooks, in partnership with VML, received a Bronze Clio Award for Brand and Artist Collaboration in an Integrated Campaign.
Striking Matches Give Fans ‘Shameless’ Taste Of New Music
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Our new music originates from the two years we spent on the road touring our first album,” said the duo of the new project. “During that time, we changed as musicians, and as people. Out of it came the need to create something that felt sonically unique to us. Pushing ourselves as creators was terrifying and exhilarating, but ultimately necessary. We hope it inspires our listeners to step outside of what is comfortable, in order to progress. With this new music, we needed to be honest, we needed to be brave, and we needed to be shameless.”
Striking Matches, which includes Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, will be joining JOHNNYSWIM on the “Take The World Tour,” which launches on Sept. 19 in Amsterdam. The North American leg kicks off at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Oct. 18 and runs through Nov. 17.
Shameless Track Listing:
Ghost
Medicine
Shameless
Bad