Following yesterday’s (May 23) announcement of this year’s nominees for the 29th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Producer of the Year category. Nominees conjured up some of country music’s most innovative projects during the last 12 months. Here’s a look at the highlights for the 2017 MusicRow Awards Category 1.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony.
See the full list of MusicRow Awards 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.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss, Aaron Lewis, Willie Nelson, Randy Rogers Band)
Buddy Cannon continued helping longtime collaborator Kenny Chesney evolve, including producing his hit single featuring pop star Pink, “Setting the World on Fire.” Cannon also re-teamed with Willie Nelson for the acclaimed project God’s Problem Child, and took on production duties for a comeback album by revered songstress Alison Krauss (Windy City). Cannon was previously named MusicRow Producer of the Year in 2004.
Ross Copperman (Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge, Trent Harmon, Ryan Kinder, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, Drake White, Eli Young Band)
Ross Copperman led Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, and many others to radio success this year. He produced No. 1s for Bentley (“Black”) and Owen (“American Country Love Song”). His work with Eldredge yielded the chart-toppers “Drunk On Your Love” and “Wanna Be That Song,” the latter of which is nominated for MusicRow Song of the Year. As a songwriter, Copperman co-wrote six No. 1s, including the aforementioned titles, and was named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.
Dann Huff (Kane Brown, Billy Currington, The Cadillac Three, Delta Rae, Ryan Follese, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Martina McBride, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, Brett Young)
Dann Huff’s lengthy list of credits includes Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Billy Currington, Brett Young, and many more. He received the 2016 CMA Award for Single of the Year for being a producer of Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man,” which spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Huff is a two-time MusicRow Magazine Producer of the Year (2006, 2013).
Jay Joyce (Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, Eric Church, Devin Dawson, LANCO, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, The Wild Feathers)
Jay Joyce brought his production genius to albums of all genres, ranging from country hitmaker Eric Church to rock band The Wild Feathers. He earned CMA Album of the Year for Church’s Mr. Misunderstood, and his work on Brandy Clark’s Big Day In A Small Town album helped her earn multiple Grammy nods. In addition, Joyce produced recent hits by Carrie Underwood (“Dirty Laundry”), Little Big Town (“Better Man”), and the Brothers Osborne (“Stay A Little Longer”). He was the 2015 MusicRow Producer of the Year.
Frank Liddell (Derik Hultquist, Miranda Lambert, David Nail, Aubrie Sellers, Charlie Worsham)
Frank Liddell teamed with longtime collaborator Miranda Lambert to produce her ambitious double album The Weight Of These Wings. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and spawned two Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for lead single “Vice.” Additionally, “Vice” is in the running for MusicRow Song of the Year. Liddell was voted MusicRow Producer of the Year in 2014, 2012 and 2010.
Sturgill Simpson Adds Stadium Dates With Guns ‘N’ Roses To Summer Schedule
/by Lorie HollabaughThe performances round out Simpson’s 2017 tour schedule, which features headline shows at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, Austin’s Austin360 Amphitheater, Radio City Music Hall, L.A.’s Greek Theatre, and Red Rocks, among others. He’ll also join John Prine for a series of shows in Ireland Aug. 12-25.
STURGILL SIMPSON 2017 TOUR DATES
Students Selected To Take Part In Grammy Camp Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Grammy Camp Nashville will welcome 40 participants at Belmont University from May 30-June 3. The five-day, non-residential summer music camp offers instruction in four music career areas, including Audio Engineering, Songwriting, Vocal Performance, and Instrumental Performance for bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards.
The Grammy Camp Los Angeles will be held from July 18-22 at University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.
“GRAMMY Camp provides a unique, in-depth experience for high school students who are interested in exploring careers in the music industry,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy and Chair of the GRAMMY Museum Board. “The program engages campers to work collaboratively across their chosen career tracks, so they increase their skills as they move ahead on their musical paths. I have no doubt GRAMMY Camp will produce future GRAMMY winners such as Maren Morris, who was a participant at our very first GRAMMY Camp in 2005 and received the 2016 GRAMMY for Best Country Solo Performance.”
Applications for GRAMMY Camp 2018 will be available online in September at www.grammyintheschools.com. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2018. Financial aid is available and approximately 70 percent of GRAMMY Camp participants who have applied for financial aid have received assistance.
Selected students for the 2017 Grammy Camp Nashville are listed below:
2017 MusicRow Awards: Producer Of The Year Nominees
/by Sarah SkatesFollowing yesterday’s (May 23) announcement of this year’s nominees for the 29th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Producer of the Year category. Nominees conjured up some of country music’s most innovative projects during the last 12 months. Here’s a look at the highlights for the 2017 MusicRow Awards Category 1.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony.
See the full list of MusicRow Awards 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.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss, Aaron Lewis, Willie Nelson, Randy Rogers Band)
Buddy Cannon continued helping longtime collaborator Kenny Chesney evolve, including producing his hit single featuring pop star Pink, “Setting the World on Fire.” Cannon also re-teamed with Willie Nelson for the acclaimed project God’s Problem Child, and took on production duties for a comeback album by revered songstress Alison Krauss (Windy City). Cannon was previously named MusicRow Producer of the Year in 2004.
Ross Copperman (Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge, Trent Harmon, Ryan Kinder, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, Drake White, Eli Young Band)
Ross Copperman led Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, and many others to radio success this year. He produced No. 1s for Bentley (“Black”) and Owen (“American Country Love Song”). His work with Eldredge yielded the chart-toppers “Drunk On Your Love” and “Wanna Be That Song,” the latter of which is nominated for MusicRow Song of the Year. As a songwriter, Copperman co-wrote six No. 1s, including the aforementioned titles, and was named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.
Dann Huff (Kane Brown, Billy Currington, The Cadillac Three, Delta Rae, Ryan Follese, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Martina McBride, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, Brett Young)
Dann Huff’s lengthy list of credits includes Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Billy Currington, Brett Young, and many more. He received the 2016 CMA Award for Single of the Year for being a producer of Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man,” which spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Huff is a two-time MusicRow Magazine Producer of the Year (2006, 2013).
Jay Joyce (Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, Eric Church, Devin Dawson, LANCO, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, The Wild Feathers)
Jay Joyce brought his production genius to albums of all genres, ranging from country hitmaker Eric Church to rock band The Wild Feathers. He earned CMA Album of the Year for Church’s Mr. Misunderstood, and his work on Brandy Clark’s Big Day In A Small Town album helped her earn multiple Grammy nods. In addition, Joyce produced recent hits by Carrie Underwood (“Dirty Laundry”), Little Big Town (“Better Man”), and the Brothers Osborne (“Stay A Little Longer”). He was the 2015 MusicRow Producer of the Year.
Frank Liddell (Derik Hultquist, Miranda Lambert, David Nail, Aubrie Sellers, Charlie Worsham)
Frank Liddell teamed with longtime collaborator Miranda Lambert to produce her ambitious double album The Weight Of These Wings. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and spawned two Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for lead single “Vice.” Additionally, “Vice” is in the running for MusicRow Song of the Year. Liddell was voted MusicRow Producer of the Year in 2014, 2012 and 2010.
Luke Combs Celebrates Upcoming Debut Album, ‘This One’s For You’
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L -R): John Zarling – EVP Marketing & New Business, Sony Music Nashville; Chris Kappy – Make Wake Management; Luke Combs; Randy Goodman – Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Ken Robold – EVP & COO, Sony Music Nashville; Lynn Oliver-Cline – Founder & CEO, River House Artists
Tuesday night (May 23), Luke Combs celebrated the upcoming release of his debut album This One’s For You with River House Artists/Sony Music Nashville and the Nashville music community during an album listening party at Fat Bottom Brewery in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sony Music Nashville’s leader Randy Goodman presented Combs with a plaque commemorating the Gold-selling status of “Hurricane,” but he also surprised the singer and the crowd by telling Combs they were preparing to submit the song’s sales data to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for Platinum-selling status.
“Hurricane” spent two weeks atop the Billboard Country Airplay Charts and Mediabase charts, the first for a debut country artist single since Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and first for a male solo country artist in the past nine years.
During the party, Combs performed acoustic versions of “When It Rains It Pours,” “One Number Away,” and “Hurricane” from This One’s For You. The singer-songwriter co-wrote all 12 tracks on his album.
Luke Combs Celebrates This One’s For You with Chris Kappy, Lynn Cline-Oliver and Sony Music Nashville team.
Superstar Collaborations To Anchor 2017 CMT Music Awards
/by Alex ParryBuilding upon the ever-growing popularity of superstar cross-genre pairings, CMT announces The Chainsmokers will perform with Florida Georgia Line for the first time on television during the 2017 CMT Music Awards.
In addition, Lady Antebellum will jam out with Earth, Wind & Fire, while, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood will perform a new rendition of their hit collaboration “The Fighter.”
These artists join previously announced performances from Blake Shelton, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett. The show will be hosted by Nashville star Charles Esten from Nashville’s Music City Center on Wednesday, June 7 at 8p.m. ET/PT.
Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett will be going head-to-head against country music veteran Keith Urban for most nominations at the “2017 CMT Music Awards”. Fans can vote for their favorites now via CMT.com until Monday, June 5th for categories including “Video of the Year”, “Male Video of the Year”, “Female Video of the Year”, “Duo Video of the Year”, “Group Video of the Year”, “Breakthrough Video of the Year”, “Collaborative Video of the Year”, “CMT Performance of the Year”, and “Social Superstar of the Year”.
The top seven finalists for the night’s biggest award, the highly-coveted “Video of the Year,” will be revealed the morning of June 7.
The show will be hosted by Nashville star Charles Esten from Nashville’s Music City Center on Wednesday, June 7 at 8p.m. ET/PT.
K-LOVE Fan Awards Adds To Performer Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughPresenters added to the show include Dave Frey (Sidewalk Prophets), Francesca Battistelli, Julianna Zobrist, Matt Hammitt, Nichole Nordeman, Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Sadie Robertson and Steven Curtis Chapman.
As previously announced, this year’s K-LOVE Awards will be shown on the big screen. Presented by Fathom Events and John Sanders LLC, The K-LOVE Fan Awards: Ignite Hope will be shown in movie theaters nationwide on Tuesday, June 13 only at 7 p.m. CST. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting fathomevents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans across the U.S. will be able to enjoy the show in more than 500 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN).
Chris Janson Launches Latest Hit With ‘Fix A Drink,’ Sets EP Release For June
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto credit: Robby Klein
Chris Janson may sit down and fix himself a drink to celebrate the success of his aptly-titled latest single, “Fix A Drink,” since the song is the most-added song at radio this week. Janson recently made a video for the fun-filled new tune featuring cameos from buddies Luke Bryan, Michael Ray, Dustin Lynch, LOCASH, and the Davisson Brothers Band, that recently debuted on CMT. The track is from Janson’s upcoming Fix A Drink EP, slated to release June 9.
“I am feeling extremely blessed to have the most added song this week,” said Janson. “I am so thankful and humbled. To all of my friends in country radio, thank YOU for believing in me. Hope to see everyone out on the road this summer!”
Janson joins Sam Hunt next month for the 15 In A 30 Tour, kicking off June 1, and will join Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “Soul2Soul” tour later this summer.
Grand Ole Opry Plans Artist-Packed Week For CMA Music Fest
/by Lorie HollabaughLater in the week fans can see Opry performances by Blake Shelton, Steve Wariner, Trace Adkins, Charley Pride, Roy Clark, Oak Ridge Boys, Scotty McCreery, Brandy Clark, and Sara Evans. Tickets are available at 800-SEE-OPRY and at opry.com.
UMG Nashville Adds Travis Denning To Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured, Front Row (L-R): Travis Denning, UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan. Back Row (L-R): Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Noah McPike, UMG Nashville Director A&R Blain Rhodes, UMG Nashville Vice President Business and Legal Affairs Rob Femia, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President and COO Mike Harris, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe, ole’s Jeremy Stover, UMG Nashville Senior Vice President Promotion Royce Risser and UMG Nashville Senior Vice President A&R Brian Wright
Universal Music Group Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Travis Denning. A native of Warner Robbins, Georgia, Denning moved to Nashville in 2014 and within a year signed his first publishing deal with Jeremy Stover’s RED Creative Group.
The up-and-comer has already secured several album cuts by outside artists such as Jason Aldean, Justin Moore and Chase Rice. He is currently working on his debut album.
Sister Hazel, Barenaked Ladies, Will Hoge, NEEDTOBREATHE Set For The Rock Boat XVIII Cruise
/by Alex ParryBarenaked Ladies will make a triumphant return to The Rock Boat XVIII after a three-year hiatus. They’ll be joined by NEEDTOBREATHE, Will Hoge, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Cowboy Mouth, Colony House, Wild Adriatic, Welshly Arms, MELODIME, Larkin Poe, and hosts Sister Hazel for the 18th annual cruise, which will hit the seas from Jan. 30-Feb. 4, 2018. Additionally, for the first time, NEEDTOBREATHE, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Colony House & Welshly Arms will present their popular “Tour De Compadres” at sea.
“The Rock Boat is a living manifestation of what life should be about,” says Sister Hazel’s Ken Block. “There is a spirit of community and camaraderie that I’ve never seen anywhere else. Once you’ve been in once, you’re part of the family forever.”
One of the first-ever themed cruises of its kind, The Rock Boat XVIII returns to The Big Easy for the first time since 2012. Known for its anything-goes atmosphere, spur-of-the moment collaborations and performances that often last from sunset to sunrise, The Rock Boat XVIII will feature more than five stages and offers guests the opportunity to vacation alongside their favorite artists and discover new favorites along the way.