Martina McBride
Most artists with 25 years of touring under their belt might think about slowing down. But it appears Martina McBride is just warming up. The multi-Platinum-selling superstar who has topped the country and A/C charts numerous times continues to push creative boundaries and grow as an artist as she celebrates the 25th anniversary of her debut album, The Time Has Come. During this anniversary month, McBride paused to visit with MusicRow, reflecting on her journey, and looking ahead at the exciting things in store.
She may be light years away now from the wide-eyed, naive young girl from Kansas who stepped off the bus eager to make her mark on Nashville, but she recalls how much she learned in those first few years that took her from selling T-shirts on Garth Brooks‘ tour to opening for him just a short time later. After landing a deal on RCA from her demo tape, McBride soon found herself in the studio recording the debut album and realized she had plenty to learn if she was going to make it in such a hard-driving business.
“I was working with Paul Worley and Ed Seay at the Money Pit on that first record, and I didn’t know anything about making a record — I was really green,” recalls McBride. “So it was a process of just learning to stand up for myself and assert my opinions about my music and what I wanted it to sound like and how I wanted to make my record. And I was super shy, so being assertive in the studio around professionals was something I needed to learn, but making that record was the dream come true…it was exciting. I had never made a record before and I had nothing to compare it to, but it was fun to see it all come together.”
When her second album, The Way That I Am, came out in 1993, McBride was well on her way to becoming a superstar with hits like the title track, “Life #9” and the gripping “Independence Day,” a song that broke boundaries by tackling the subject of domestic abuse head on. While many stations refused to play the tune, the song gained huge critical acclaim, winning Video of the Year and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards and earning songwriter Gretchen Peters a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. The groundbreaking video went on to become iconic, landing in the No. 2 spot on CMT’s list of the 100 Greatest Videos in Country Music.
“I think we all knew it was something special when we made that video,” recalls McBride of the experience. “We were all very passionate about how we wanted to shoot it, and so we worked really hard on making it as realistic as we could without being gratuitous. And I think we all had a sense of how important it was and we were all really passionate about telling that story.
Martina McBride
“On that second album we really started to hone in on my sound and I was able to grow more as an artist, and I was lucky to have people in my corner like Joe Galante at RCA who saw the big picture and let me experiment with another album and saw how it could be.”
Breaking in an era where female artists were plentiful, McBride isn’t sure why things have changed so drastically for women in country today. She recently partnered with CMT for its third Next Women of Country Tour as part of her larger Love Unleashed Tour with Lauren Alaina, Maggie Rose, and Post Monroe and enjoyed becoming part of the beginning of their stories.
“I don’t think any of us thought too much back then when I started out about being female, we were just out there doing our own thing and trying to make music that mattered and tour and do all the hard work that goes with it. But looking back, I’m so happy to be part of an era where we still had CDs and people buying albums, and I’m so grateful I was able to come up through that era. Because it was really exciting and really impactful, and there was just something about it that I feel like we’re missing to be honest and I just feel like it’s different now.
“I’m not really sure why it was that way back then. I don’t know why we had that moment and why we should only be allowed a moment in the first place,” she continues. “It’s interesting to me how it’s always been dominantly male and when we had that moment where it was me, Shania, Lee Ann Womack, Wynonna, I don’t know what happened to make that happen. I don’t know if it was a fluke, or somebody was in the wings supporting that helping make that happen…I don’t really know, but it was a great time and opportunity.”
With “Independence Day” propelling her into the conversation about domestic violence, McBride began championing causes like the Love Is Respect campaign and the Network To End Domestic Violence, and service to others became a thread running through her career that became as important to her as her music through the years. Her fans immediately followed her lead and began volunteering as well, and seeing how dedicated they were to giving back, McBride formed a global charity initiative, Team Music Is Love, to help harness that positive energy and use it in great ways.
“It started out because a group of fans initially called me to ask if they could wear my name on a T-shirt to walk in a breast cancer walk,” recalls McBride, “and it’s grown from there. And we try to do things in every city where we perform and it’s making a big impact in local communities. It’s very fan-based and it’s really unique and kind of a model that I’ve never seen before.”
The organization is hosting a mobile food pantry with One Generation Away at CMA Music Fest this year to give away thousands of pounds of food to help combat the hunger issue in Tennessee. One million Tennesseans are food insecure, with more than 400,000 Middle Tennesseans struggling to find their next meal. McBride has done drives like this before and has seen the problem firsthand.
“It’s interesting on our Love Is Unleashed Tour we did events in every city and we focused a lot on hunger because we look at what is the greatest need in every city, and in a lot of communities that is the greatest need. People will come out and stand in the rain at 7:30 in the morning to get their food. It’s really eye opening.”
Along with charitable efforts, McBride maintains a busy touring schedule and is gearing back up to make some new music as well. Following her 2016 album Reckless, she’s will soon treat fans to a helping of new holiday music as she heads to the studio to record a new Christmas project this week. She recently teamed up with John Mellencamp for a duet on his new album Sad Clowns And Hillbillies titled “Grandview,” and enjoyed collaborating with the heartland rocker she loved on the radio.
“I grew up listening to John Mellencamp, he was the soundtrack of our teen years,” says McBride, “and that’s one of those things you never dream you will get to do. So it was a lot of fun, and we performed the song live a couple of times too so it was really great.”
Having collaborated with everyone from Dolly to Don Henley and Jim Brickman to Jimmy Buffett and even Train’s Pat Monahan over the last two and a half decades, is there anyone on the bucket list she’d still like to sing with?
“I’ve sung with so many amazing people and I never dreamed I would sing with any of those people, so it’s kind of like I’m just keeping it really open…because if I say I want to sing with someone it might not happen,” she says, laughing. “Everybody I’ve gotten to sing with has been such a surprise and unexpected. I never sought out a duet partner so it’s amazing the people I’ve gotten to sing with… It’s just been amazing!”
As creatively-minded when it comes to entertaining as she is with her music, McBride released a cookbook of delicious recipes and hosting tips, Around The Table, in 2014. The snaps of her culinary creations on Instagram will make you salivate and give you serious kitchen envy, and she’s planning a second release. For the hardworking wife, mother of three and superstar, the sky’s still the limit as she heads into the next chapter of her storied career. Looking back, did she ever think she’d get this far when she arrived in Nashville nearly three decades ago?
“I don’t know when you start out if you ever think past what you’re doing or that far ahead. I was just happy to be doing what I was doing and I hoped for 10 good years,” she admits. “But it’s time for me to just really be creative and take opportunities that come along and I’m just excited about the next 25 years.”
Martina McBride’s debut album cover, The Time Has Come.
Artist Action: Kane Brown, RaeLynn, Chris Janson, Craig Campbell
/by Lorie HollabaughKane Brown And Friends Retreat To Tims Ford
Pictured (L-R): Lindsay Rimes, Josh Hoge, Sony Music Nashville A&R SVP Jim Catino, Kane Brown, Shy Carter, Sam Ellis, Matt McGinn and Universal Music Publishing Group EVP/GM Kent Earls
RCA Nashville/Zone 4 artist Kane Brown joined some fellow writers including Lindsay Rimes, Josh Hoge, Shy Carter, Sam Ellis, and Matt McGinn for a songwriters retreat at Tims Ford Lake in Winchester, Tennessee. Brown is currently touring as part of Jason Aldean’s They Don’t Know Tour.
RaeLynn Thrills Fans At Forever 21 In-Store In Nashville
Chris Janson Fixes A Drink For Ty, Kelly & Chuck
Craig Campbell Cornhole Challenge And Benefit Set For June 6
Craig Campbell. Photo: Jason Myers
Craig Campbell is set to host his 5th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge and third One Million Strongbenefit in Nashville on June 6 during CMA Fest. The afternoon-to-evening event will raise funds for the non-profit Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) which works to increase awareness, education and research for colorectal cancer. Building on last year’s success which raised over $35,000, the fundraiser will take place at a new venue, City Winery. A Fight CRC national spokesperson, Campbell was only 11 when he lost his father at age 36 to colorectal cancer. Celebrities including Dee Jay Silver, Trent Harmon, NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse, Jr., Jackie Lee, Love and Theft, Jerrod Niemann, Parmalee, Michael Ray and Thompson Square are participating in this year’s challenge.
Kalie Shorr called ‘The New Nashville’ in Teen Vogue
/by Lorie HollabaughKalie Shorr: Photo: Zhenya and Tanya Posternak
Kalie Shorr is the only country artist chosen by Teen Vogue in its music issue as part of “The New Nashville.” In the article, on stands now, the magazine spotlights the future of music and features Shorr with artists from all genres handpicked in collaboration with Apple Music.
“I was so excited when I got the call to be in an issue of Teen Vogue,” says Shorr. “I couldn’t believe it. I remember reading it as a teenager and daydreaming about seeing my picture in there, so it was pretty emotional when I got to actually hold it in my hands. And the shoot itself was just as amazing as I thought it would be. I’m so thankful.”
Shorr did a photo shoot for the piece in Los Angeles back in March, with photographers Zhenya and Tanya Posternak, twin sisters from Kiev, Ukraine who are currently based out of New York City.
As part of the magazine’s release, Teen Vogue and Apple Music have curated an exclusive playlist called “Raise Your Voice” which features Shorr’s hit single “Fight Like A Girl” and nine other rising female creative powerhouses they deem are on track to change the music industry with empowering songs. Shorr is the only country artist featured on that playlist as well as the only unsigned artist featured. She recently performed as part of MusicRow‘s annual Rising Women On The Row event.
2017 MusicRow Awards: Breakthrough Artist Nominees
/by Sarah SkatesVoted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.
Lauren Alaina (UMG Nashville)
Lauren Alaina celebrated her first No. 1 song in April 2017 with “Road Less Traveled.” She had double reason to toast her success because she also co-wrote the song. It took the rising star five singles and six years of hard work to earn the hit, which she says made victory that much sweeter. Road Less Traveled is the title of her sophomore studio album, which is also home to her new single, “Doin’ Fine.” She recently wrapped the CMT Next Women of Country Tour with Martina McBride.
William Michael Morgan (Warner Music Nashville)
William Michael Morgan went straight to the pinnacle of the charts with his debut single, “I Met A Girl,” a love song that showcases his traditional sound. Morgan’s debut album, Vinyl, was produced by Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey. Now the singer is working his follow-up single “Missing.” The Vicksburg, Miss. native recently wrapped a tour with Lee Brice and Justin Moore.
Maren Morris (Sony Music Nashville)
Maren Morris’ first major-label album broke through in a major way. Hero yielded the Platinum single “My Church,” and the follow-up hit “80s Mercedes.” The Arlington, Texas native racked up trophies including a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance, CMA New Artist of the Year, and ACM Album and Single Record of the Year. Now she’s singing her new ballad “I Could Use a Love Song.” Morris is busy on her sold-out headlining tour for the rest of the year.
Jon Pardi (UMG Nashville)
Jon Pardi scored back-to-back No. 1 hits during the last year, with the tunes “Dirt On My Boots” and “Head Over Boots,” the latter of which he co-wrote. The songs are representative of his brand of traditional country, drawing influences from ‘90s hitmakers and genre icons including George Strait. Pardi’s current album, California Sunrise, is named for his home state and opened at No. 1. It is the follow-up to his 2014 debut, Write You a Song, which yielded the Top 10 “Up All Night.”
Brett Young (BMLG)
Brett Young notched two No. 1 songs from his self-titled, debut album; the upbeat “Sleep Without You” and the sensitive ballad “In Case You Didn’t Know.” Both of the tracks have been certified Gold by the RIAA. The California native co-wrote these hits and all but one song on his album. The self-titled debut project was helmed by star producer Dann Huff, who is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony.
See the full list of nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. Voting closes on Tuesday, May 30 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you can subscribe to receive a ballot.
Exclusive: Meghan Kabir’s Return To Nashville Inspires 2-Part Concept Album And Video Series
/by Eric T. ParkerFor the past decade, Meghan Kabir has been writing songs for the likes of Kelly Clarkson (“People Like Us”) and Selena Gomez (“Live Like There’s No Tomorrow”) in Los Angeles. She was even once signed to a deal with Warner Bros. on the west coast but is just now making her solo debut as an independent in Nashville.
The Franklin, Tennessee native’s solo debut comes as a two-part concept, the first as Blackberry Winter. The self-release pairs with an already recorded video series.
“All these years I’ve done writing for a lot of pop artists, but my perspective as an artist influences my songwriting,” said Kabir in an exclusive interview with MusicRow. “I missed performing as the voice behind the art. I had this turning point over the holidays and I started to see more of what I do in the pop scene in Nashville. That’s why I had ventured out to L.A. Now I’ve come full-circle, reconnecting with people in Nashville and making this record here. For years there have been so many deals and reasons why things couldn’t come out. So [this release] is the culmination of all the years of making music. It’s just good for the soul.”
Recorded with BMG Nashville producer/songwriter Jarrad K. (Ruston Kelly) at Music Row’s old MCA Records studio, the six-track collection is described as more hippie-friendly spirit of the ’60s-’70s with the punch of modern pop influences. Kabir’s vocals offer soaring grit with promising songwriting chops, collaborated with the likes of Blair Daly and Jeffrey Steele.
“When I sat out to do this conceptually, I was looking at it as a record but I’ve been drawn to releases done in a non-traditional way,” recalled Kabir. “I admire artists who think out of the box. And nowadays it’s hard to keep people’s attention, so a constant flow of content keeps fans engaged.”
There is a five part video series titled Wildfire waiting in the wings—already complete. “It is sort of a lifestyle piece,” says Kabir. “Kind of done in a Lana Del Rey narrative-esque way with the soundtrack underneath. Right now I’m working on a partner to premiere that, like a VEVO or Vimeo.”
Indian Summer, the second EP, is planned to be recorded and released later this year. The project is said to offer a warmer sound, pairing with the season it was inspired by.
“Pretty much all of the writing is done for [Indian Summer],” said Kabir. “If I write another song that will beat out what I have, I’ll do that. Hopefully by summer we’ll have somebody else paying for the recording. I have definitely put everything I got into [Blackberry Winter] because I believe in it so much.”
Kabir is also sitting on major business changes as of late. The expiration of her joint venture publishing deal with Greg Wells and Maria Egan with SONGS is nearing and the songstress recently released her Los Angeles-based manager. She, however is currently in talks for an agency deal.
“It’s about finding the right partner, somebody that is passionate and excited about my vision for the project,” says Kabir. “It has been really nice to be able to recalibrate back in Nashville. Over the years I’ve had teams of people around me telling me one thing, then another. I’ve found myself with the creation of this project without anyone else in my ear.”
Blackberry Winter Track Listing
1. Joyride (April Geesbreght, Meghan Kabir, Jeffrey Steele)
2. Yellow Lines and Headlights (Ferras, Jarrad K, Meghan Kabir, Jordan Palmer)
3. Kiss and Break Up (Blair Daly, Meghan Kabir, James Michael)
4. Falling Down (Jeffrey East, Meghan Kabir, Andrew Petroff)
5. Read Between The Lies (Blair Daly, April Geesbreght, Meghan Kabir)
6. Where Does Love Go (April Geesbreght, Meghan Kabir, Davis Naish)
Exclusive: Martina McBride Reflects On 25 Years Since Debut Album
/by Lorie HollabaughMartina McBride
Most artists with 25 years of touring under their belt might think about slowing down. But it appears Martina McBride is just warming up. The multi-Platinum-selling superstar who has topped the country and A/C charts numerous times continues to push creative boundaries and grow as an artist as she celebrates the 25th anniversary of her debut album, The Time Has Come. During this anniversary month, McBride paused to visit with MusicRow, reflecting on her journey, and looking ahead at the exciting things in store.
She may be light years away now from the wide-eyed, naive young girl from Kansas who stepped off the bus eager to make her mark on Nashville, but she recalls how much she learned in those first few years that took her from selling T-shirts on Garth Brooks‘ tour to opening for him just a short time later. After landing a deal on RCA from her demo tape, McBride soon found herself in the studio recording the debut album and realized she had plenty to learn if she was going to make it in such a hard-driving business.
“I was working with Paul Worley and Ed Seay at the Money Pit on that first record, and I didn’t know anything about making a record — I was really green,” recalls McBride. “So it was a process of just learning to stand up for myself and assert my opinions about my music and what I wanted it to sound like and how I wanted to make my record. And I was super shy, so being assertive in the studio around professionals was something I needed to learn, but making that record was the dream come true…it was exciting. I had never made a record before and I had nothing to compare it to, but it was fun to see it all come together.”
When her second album, The Way That I Am, came out in 1993, McBride was well on her way to becoming a superstar with hits like the title track, “Life #9” and the gripping “Independence Day,” a song that broke boundaries by tackling the subject of domestic abuse head on. While many stations refused to play the tune, the song gained huge critical acclaim, winning Video of the Year and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards and earning songwriter Gretchen Peters a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. The groundbreaking video went on to become iconic, landing in the No. 2 spot on CMT’s list of the 100 Greatest Videos in Country Music.
“I think we all knew it was something special when we made that video,” recalls McBride of the experience. “We were all very passionate about how we wanted to shoot it, and so we worked really hard on making it as realistic as we could without being gratuitous. And I think we all had a sense of how important it was and we were all really passionate about telling that story.
Martina McBride
“On that second album we really started to hone in on my sound and I was able to grow more as an artist, and I was lucky to have people in my corner like Joe Galante at RCA who saw the big picture and let me experiment with another album and saw how it could be.”
Breaking in an era where female artists were plentiful, McBride isn’t sure why things have changed so drastically for women in country today. She recently partnered with CMT for its third Next Women of Country Tour as part of her larger Love Unleashed Tour with Lauren Alaina, Maggie Rose, and Post Monroe and enjoyed becoming part of the beginning of their stories.
“I don’t think any of us thought too much back then when I started out about being female, we were just out there doing our own thing and trying to make music that mattered and tour and do all the hard work that goes with it. But looking back, I’m so happy to be part of an era where we still had CDs and people buying albums, and I’m so grateful I was able to come up through that era. Because it was really exciting and really impactful, and there was just something about it that I feel like we’re missing to be honest and I just feel like it’s different now.
“I’m not really sure why it was that way back then. I don’t know why we had that moment and why we should only be allowed a moment in the first place,” she continues. “It’s interesting to me how it’s always been dominantly male and when we had that moment where it was me, Shania, Lee Ann Womack, Wynonna, I don’t know what happened to make that happen. I don’t know if it was a fluke, or somebody was in the wings supporting that helping make that happen…I don’t really know, but it was a great time and opportunity.”
With “Independence Day” propelling her into the conversation about domestic violence, McBride began championing causes like the Love Is Respect campaign and the Network To End Domestic Violence, and service to others became a thread running through her career that became as important to her as her music through the years. Her fans immediately followed her lead and began volunteering as well, and seeing how dedicated they were to giving back, McBride formed a global charity initiative, Team Music Is Love, to help harness that positive energy and use it in great ways.
“It started out because a group of fans initially called me to ask if they could wear my name on a T-shirt to walk in a breast cancer walk,” recalls McBride, “and it’s grown from there. And we try to do things in every city where we perform and it’s making a big impact in local communities. It’s very fan-based and it’s really unique and kind of a model that I’ve never seen before.”
The organization is hosting a mobile food pantry with One Generation Away at CMA Music Fest this year to give away thousands of pounds of food to help combat the hunger issue in Tennessee. One million Tennesseans are food insecure, with more than 400,000 Middle Tennesseans struggling to find their next meal. McBride has done drives like this before and has seen the problem firsthand.
“It’s interesting on our Love Is Unleashed Tour we did events in every city and we focused a lot on hunger because we look at what is the greatest need in every city, and in a lot of communities that is the greatest need. People will come out and stand in the rain at 7:30 in the morning to get their food. It’s really eye opening.”
Along with charitable efforts, McBride maintains a busy touring schedule and is gearing back up to make some new music as well. Following her 2016 album Reckless, she’s will soon treat fans to a helping of new holiday music as she heads to the studio to record a new Christmas project this week. She recently teamed up with John Mellencamp for a duet on his new album Sad Clowns And Hillbillies titled “Grandview,” and enjoyed collaborating with the heartland rocker she loved on the radio.
“I grew up listening to John Mellencamp, he was the soundtrack of our teen years,” says McBride, “and that’s one of those things you never dream you will get to do. So it was a lot of fun, and we performed the song live a couple of times too so it was really great.”
Having collaborated with everyone from Dolly to Don Henley and Jim Brickman to Jimmy Buffett and even Train’s Pat Monahan over the last two and a half decades, is there anyone on the bucket list she’d still like to sing with?
“I’ve sung with so many amazing people and I never dreamed I would sing with any of those people, so it’s kind of like I’m just keeping it really open…because if I say I want to sing with someone it might not happen,” she says, laughing. “Everybody I’ve gotten to sing with has been such a surprise and unexpected. I never sought out a duet partner so it’s amazing the people I’ve gotten to sing with… It’s just been amazing!”
As creatively-minded when it comes to entertaining as she is with her music, McBride released a cookbook of delicious recipes and hosting tips, Around The Table, in 2014. The snaps of her culinary creations on Instagram will make you salivate and give you serious kitchen envy, and she’s planning a second release. For the hardworking wife, mother of three and superstar, the sky’s still the limit as she heads into the next chapter of her storied career. Looking back, did she ever think she’d get this far when she arrived in Nashville nearly three decades ago?
“I don’t know when you start out if you ever think past what you’re doing or that far ahead. I was just happy to be doing what I was doing and I hoped for 10 good years,” she admits. “But it’s time for me to just really be creative and take opportunities that come along and I’m just excited about the next 25 years.”
Martina McBride’s debut album cover, The Time Has Come.
Songwriters Join CMA Foundation In Washington For Music Education Advocacy
/by Lorie HollabaughCountry Music Association Foundation and the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM) in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Members made the rounds visiting their members of Congress. (Photo / Rod Lamkey Jr./CMA)
Jim Beavers, Drake White, Heather Morgan, and LOCASH joined CMA Foundation representatives in Washington Wednesday (5/24) and took their songs to the Hill to help advocate for music education initiatives. The four performed for elected officials during the annual National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Fly-In.
After a full day of meetings, the four also participated in the CMA Songwriters Series at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for special attendees including Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05), NAMM leadership, and representatives from the Washington Post, ESPN, PBS, and others. The Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Program is a 2017 CMA Foundation grant recipient.
The CMA Songwriters Series first debuted in Washington at the Library of Congress in 2010 and has presented six shows in D.C.
Country Music Association Foundation and the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM) in the on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo / Rod Lamkey Jr./CMA)
Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern, Preston Trust & Chris Lucas of LoCash, Drake White, Jim Beavers, Heather Morgan, and National Association of Music Merchants Joe Lamond pose for a photo during the CMA Songwriters Series at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for NAMM)
Opry All-Star Show To Honor Don Williams, Celebrate Tribute Album
/by Lorie HollabaughThe new project was assembled and produced by Williams ‘ longtime producer/friend Garth Fundis. Other artists covering Williams classics on the new CD include Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Brandy Clark, Lady Antebellum, Keb’ Mo’, Pistol Annies, Chris and Morgane Stapleton, and Trisha Yearwood. Gems like “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” “Tulsa Time,” and “I Believe In You,” all appear on the new album.
The collection not only honors Williams’ artistic contributions, but supports a great cause as well, since all guest artist performances were donated in support of MusiCares, the charitable foundation of The Recording Academy. MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for those in the music industry in times of need, covering a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies. A majority of the proceeds from album sales will go to MusiCares.
Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams Track Listing:
1. “Tulsa Time” – Pistol Annies
2. “I Believe in You” – Brandy Clark
3. “We’ve Got a Good Fire Goin’” – Lady Antebellum
4. “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” – Dierks Bentley
5. “Amanda” – Chris Stapleton feat. Morgane Stapleton
6. “Till The Rivers All Run Dry” – Alison Krauss
7. “Love Is On A Roll” – John Prine feat. Roger Cook
8. “If I Needed You” – Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires
9. “Maggie’s Dream” – Trisha Yearwood
10. “Lord I Hope This Day is Good” – Keb’ Mo’
11. “Good Ole Boys Like Me” – Garth Brooks
2017 MusicRow Awards: Song of the Year Nominees
/by Sarah SkatesVoted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart performance.
“Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Songwriters: Steven Lee Olsen, Hillary Lindsey, Clint Lagerberg
Publishers: WB Music Corp., Music Of The Corn, Rezolution Music, BMG Gold Songs, House Of Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l./Spirit Two Nashville, ASCAP
Recorded by Keith Urban (Capitol Nashville)
The title “Blue Ain’t Your Color” came to Steven Lee Olsen in the middle of the night. He took the idea to co-writer Clint Lagerberg and then recruited Hillary Lindsey. The result was a present-day classic about a woman feeling blue and the suitor trying to paint her bright. Keith Urban was hooked immediately when he heard the demo. MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Dann Huff added studio finesse and the song went on to earn two Grammy nominations. Meanwhile, Olsen is also nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter.
“Kill A Word”
Songwriters: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Luke Dick
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Longer And Louder Music, Little Louder Songs, Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music, Emileon Songs, BMI
Recorded by Eric Church ft Rhiannon Giddens (EMI Nashville)
Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Luke Dick made a profound statement on Church’s hit “Kill A Word.” Dick had the initial idea for the song about stopping negative words—conjuring imagery with lyrics like “poison never,” “shoot goodbye,” “choke lonely” and “hang hate,” with a redeeming chorus that says, “I’d turn lies and hate to love and truth.” The track landed on Church’s album Mr. Misunderstood, which went on to win CMA Album of the Year. It was helmed by MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce.
“Leaving Nashville”
Songwriters: Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods
Year of the Dog Music (Big Yellow Dog) administered by Words & Music, Shakapublishing, administered by Downtown DLJ Songs, ASCAP
Recorded by Charles Kelley (Capitol Nashville)
Penned by Abe Stoklasa and Donovan Woods, this ode to songwriters and their community resonated up and down Music Row. “Leaving Nashville” is a journey through the highs and lows of the trade—where “If it ain’t a single, it don’t mean nothing.” But, ultimately, the song is about dedication to the music, because as Stoklasa and Woods wrote, they “ain’t never leaving Nashville.” The song was recorded by Charles Kelley. Stoklasa is also nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.
“Vice”
Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Pink Dog Publishing, Smack Hits, GMR/Kobalt Music Group Ltd., GMR/AndersonFork In The Road Music, Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., Smackville Music, ASCAP, BMI
Recorded by Miranda Lambert (RCA Nashville/Vanner)
“When it hurts this good you gotta play it twice…” Miranda Lambert served up a cocktail of regret, sadness and escapism in her hit song “Vice.” Together with co-writers Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally, they crafted lyrics of simultaneous heartache and attraction: “All dressed up in a pretty black label/ Sweet salvation on a dining room table/ Waiting on me/ Where the numb meets the lonely.” The song went on to earn a Grammy nomination and her longtime collaborator Frank Liddell is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year.
“Wanna Be That Song”
Songwriters: Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Scooter Carusoe
Publishers: Sony/ATV Countryside, Paris Not France Music, EMI Blackwood, Rezolant, Scrambler Music, Abbotts Creek Music Two, Carnival, ASCAP, BMI
Recorded by Brett Eldredge (Atlantic Nashville)
“Every life has a soundtrack” and Brett Eldredge wants to be yours. He co-wrote these words with Scooter Carusoe and Ross Copperman, and says “Wanna Be That Song” captures who he wants to be as an artist. The poignant song describes lovers together in the “window booth at a bar,” “back pew on a Sunday” and “crowded bleachers,” and evokes emotions that “makes you dance, makes you fall/ that melody rewinds years… makes time stall.” Copperman is also nominated for Producer of the Year.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony.
See the full list of nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. Voting closes on Tuesday, May 30 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
Weekly Chart Report (5/26/17)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Kelsea Ballerini Moves Publishing To Sony/ATV
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Duane Clark (Flood, Bumstead, McCready, & McCarthy, Inc.), Mike Milom (Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC), Fletcher Foster (Iconic Entertainment), Kelsea Ballerini, Troy Tomlinson (Sony/ATV) and Josh Van Valkenburg (Sony/ATV)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a new publishing deal with singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini. Ballerini, who remains signed as an artist to Black River Entertainment, had previously been with Black River Publishing since 2013.
“Having known Kelsea since she was 13 years old and seeing her songwriting grow over the years makes it even more special to be able to come alongside her as her publisher,” says Sony/ATV Nashville’s President and CEO Troy Tomlinson. “With all her abilities to perform and entertain fans worldwide, she remains, as always, at her core a gifted songwriter.”
Ballerini is the only country female to begin her career with three No. 1 singles, including “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Peter Pan.” Her current single “Yeah Boy” is a Top 5 hit, and is the fourth and final single from her debut album The First Time.
“Troy was the person that told me to move to Nashville when I was 13. I remember every time I came to town, he would make time for me to come by and play him new music I was working on,” shares Ballerini. “That encouragement and belief was crucial for my whole journey this far. It feels like a full circle joining the Sony/ATV family, and I’m so excited to continue to grow as a songwriter under their incredible team.”
On May 26, Ballerini will begin Lady Antebellum’s You Look Good World Tour as the featured supporting artist alongside Brett Young. Meanwhile, she has four nominations for the upcoming 2017 CMT Music Awards. The show airs live from Nashville June 7 at 8 p.m. ET. She will also team with Thomas Rhett to co-host the CMA Music Fest 2017 special, which will air this summer on ABC.