Some of country’s top stars are closing out the year in style.
Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town and Brothers Osborne are offering choice new singles to see us into 2017. Our endearing new choice as CMA Duo of the Year leads the way. Give a Disc of the Day honor to Brothers Osborne. But don’t overlook LBT and its Taylor Swift-penned song jewel.
Call it a tie for the DisCovery Award between a gal and a guy, namely Tenille Arts and AJ Hobbs.
THOMAS MICHAEL RILEY/Between The Tick n’ the Tock
Writer: Thomas Michael Riley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; TMR
– The melody is pretty basic, with a ding-dong, nursery-rhyme quality. The production is fairly minimal, and his voice is just average. But there’s a certain sincerity here that I found appealing.
BROTHERS OSBORNE/It Ain’t My Fault
Writers: John Osborne/TJ Osborne/Lee Thomas Miller; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: WB/Trampy McCauley/All the Kings Pens/Songstein/Warner-Tamerlane/The Country and Western Music, ASCAP/BMI; EMI (track)
– This righteous stomper features snarling electric guitar and a striking “outlaw” vocal on a very cool, torrent-of-words lyric. The stark, “ah” interjections are as ear catching as the chanted background singing. Play this all the dang time.
SAM BROOKER/Stay
Writers: Brent Anderson/Sam Brooker; Producers: Jamie Tate; Publishers: Sea Gayle/Artist Revolution, no performance rights listed; SB
– Softly plaintive and aching. His soft tenor swims in a pool of chiming guitars, gentle percussion, hushed harmonies and ringing sonic touches. Enchanting. We first encountered Sam several years ago in the pop duo Sam & Ruby. Since then, he has tasted success as the publisher of “Cruise” and other top tunes. As this illustrates, his skills as a writer-artist remain potent.
SHANE OWENS/All The Beer In Alabama
Writers: Shane Owens/Dan Murph/Phillip Douglas; Producer: James Stroud; Publishers: Oxi Rock/231 South/Sixteen Stars/Curb, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; AmeriMontie (track)
-This guy continues to impress. This honky-tonk ballad gives him plenty of room to showcase his bent-note phrasing and expressive lyric skills. This is real country music, the way it’s meant to be sung.
AJ HOBBS/Too Much Is Never Enough
Writer: AJ Hobbs; Producers: Ted Russell Kamp/AJ Hobbs; Publishers: Tee Hobbs, ASCAP; Booker (track)
– The title tune of this fellow’s CD is a rockabilly rave-up that puts pedal to the metal and never lets up for one second. Need tempo on your playlist? Look no further than this barrelhouse romp.
KENNY CHESNEY/Bar at the End of the World
Writers: J.T. Harding/Aimee Mayo/David Lee Murphy; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Publishers: Songs Music/Mighty Seven/Heavy Metal Disco/Songs of SMP/Warner-Tamerlane/The Queen of Dot Dot Dot/Old Desperados/N2D/Carol Vincent, ASCAP/BMI; Columbia/Blue
– Kenny’s inviting you to take a toe-tapping tropical journey. I’d go if I were you.
MIGHTY ORQ/The Possum Song
Writer: J. Davidson; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed, BMI; ORQ
– It turns out that it really is about a nocturnal marsupial. With a bluesy backing track, no less.
LITTLE BIG TOWN/Better Man
Writers: Taylor Swift; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Capitol (CDX)
– I am a hopeless fan of this foursome. Karen’s lead vocal on this dreamy track is extraordinarily intimate. When the other three join her on the choruses, it’s audio heaven. Close your eyes and let this fabulous production wash over you.
TENILLE ARTS/Wildfire and Whiskey
Writers: Tenille Arts/Jason Massey; Producers: Matt Rovey/Adam Wheeler; Publishers: Oven/Ole Red Cape/Apartment Studio, BMI/ASCAP; 19th & Grand
– She is a Canadian writer-artist with a winsome, piercing delivery. The song is a lightly rocking, ridiculously catchy, brightly shining gem about falling head over heels. Promising in the extreme.
REX ALLEN JR.
Writer: Greenback Dollar; Producer: Rex Allen Jr.; Publishers: none listed; BPR (track)
-Rex is usually a cowboy singer, but Garage Songs: The Folk Years salutes his background as a ‘60s folkie. His warm baritone takes on “Tom Dooley,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Don’t Think Twice” and other fare such as that. The collection leads with a steady, solid rendition of this rounder’s anthem.
The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Acquires SpinMedia Assets
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group has acquired SpinMedia’s music assets including Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum.
With the acquisition comes news that SpinMedia CEO Stephen Blackwell will be named Chief Strategy Officer of the newly acquired company, to oversee revenue, digital growth and product.
According to a release, the acquisition will boost the Media Group’s revenues to more than $100 million a year, two-thirds of which will come from digital and video.
SPIN magazine became fully digital in late 2012, after BuzzMedia acquired the 27-year-old publication and rebranded it as SpinMedia. It bought the hip-hop and R&B magazine VIBE and its digital properties the following year, growing its footprint in music and entertainment.
“In recent years, we set out to own the topic of music online, and the acquisition of these incredible music assets helps us do just that,” said Media Group co-president John Amato. “By making these brands part of our family, The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group will be able to fully capture the value of millennials and music, and continue to strengthen its leadership position in this critical arena.”
“Bringing in these historic brands under Billboard allows passionate music audiences to enjoy rock to urban to pop in one massive portfolio,” said Media Group co-president Janice Min. “The power and scale of these combined, complementary digital assets will deliver more ways to reach our audience through TV, video, live events, social and online through these brands.”
Ronnie Dunn Purchases Frist Property
/by Jessica NicholsonRonnie Dunn
Ronnie Dunn and his wife Janine have purchased six acres of land in southwest Nashville for $2.5 million, according to the Nashville Post. The seller of the plot was Thomas F. Frist, who purchased the property in 2005 for $3.3 million. Frist is a co-founder of Hospital Corporation Of America (HCA).
The land, located on Chickering Road, is undeveloped and zoned for residential use.
Dunn released the project Tattooed Heart via BMLG on Nov. 11. The project was produced by Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and includes his current single, “Damn Drunk.”
Sturgill Simpson To Perform On ‘Saturday Night Live’
/by Jessica NicholsonSturgill Simpson will take the stage as Saturday Night Live‘s first musical performer for 2017. He will perform during SNL‘s Jan. 14 episode.
He follows country artist Maren Morris‘ recent performance on Saturday Night Live, where she performed her hits “My Church” and “’80s Mercedes” during the Dec. 10th episode. In April, fellow Nashville artist Margo Price made her debut appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)” and “Since You Put Me Down.”
Both Simpson and Morris are nominated for multiple honors during the upcoming 59th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 12. Sturgill is nominated in the all-genre Album of the Year category (for A Sailor’s Guide to Earth), as well as for Best Country Album for the same project.
Morris is nominated in the all-genre Best New Artist category, as well as for Best Country Solo Performance (“My Church”), Best Country Song (“My Church”), and Best Country Album (Hero).
Shenandoah Announces 30th Anniversary Tour
/by Troy_StephensonCountry group Shenandoah will tour in 2017 to commemorate 30 years since the release of their debut album in 1987.
Several stops on the tour have been announced, with a second round of dates to be released in January. It kicks off on Jan. 22 in Annapolis, Maryland and will continue throughout the year. Shenandoah will also perform two live concerts in Zürich, Switzerland for the first time.
“After 29 years in the music business, we find ourselves more determined than ever before,” says lead singer Marty Raybon. “The past helps us to realize where we’ve been and sets our vision to where we want to be. Our mission in 2017, with new music, is to expand our fanbase while continuing to enjoy the performances and making our 30th year the best ever.”
DISClaimer: Brothers Osborne Close Out 2016 With A Righteous Stomper
/by Robert K OermannSome of country’s top stars are closing out the year in style.
Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town and Brothers Osborne are offering choice new singles to see us into 2017. Our endearing new choice as CMA Duo of the Year leads the way. Give a Disc of the Day honor to Brothers Osborne. But don’t overlook LBT and its Taylor Swift-penned song jewel.
Call it a tie for the DisCovery Award between a gal and a guy, namely Tenille Arts and AJ Hobbs.
THOMAS MICHAEL RILEY/Between The Tick n’ the Tock
Writer: Thomas Michael Riley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; TMR
– The melody is pretty basic, with a ding-dong, nursery-rhyme quality. The production is fairly minimal, and his voice is just average. But there’s a certain sincerity here that I found appealing.
BROTHERS OSBORNE/It Ain’t My Fault
Writers: John Osborne/TJ Osborne/Lee Thomas Miller; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: WB/Trampy McCauley/All the Kings Pens/Songstein/Warner-Tamerlane/The Country and Western Music, ASCAP/BMI; EMI (track)
– This righteous stomper features snarling electric guitar and a striking “outlaw” vocal on a very cool, torrent-of-words lyric. The stark, “ah” interjections are as ear catching as the chanted background singing. Play this all the dang time.
SAM BROOKER/Stay
Writers: Brent Anderson/Sam Brooker; Producers: Jamie Tate; Publishers: Sea Gayle/Artist Revolution, no performance rights listed; SB
– Softly plaintive and aching. His soft tenor swims in a pool of chiming guitars, gentle percussion, hushed harmonies and ringing sonic touches. Enchanting. We first encountered Sam several years ago in the pop duo Sam & Ruby. Since then, he has tasted success as the publisher of “Cruise” and other top tunes. As this illustrates, his skills as a writer-artist remain potent.
SHANE OWENS/All The Beer In Alabama
Writers: Shane Owens/Dan Murph/Phillip Douglas; Producer: James Stroud; Publishers: Oxi Rock/231 South/Sixteen Stars/Curb, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; AmeriMontie (track)
-This guy continues to impress. This honky-tonk ballad gives him plenty of room to showcase his bent-note phrasing and expressive lyric skills. This is real country music, the way it’s meant to be sung.
AJ HOBBS/Too Much Is Never Enough
Writer: AJ Hobbs; Producers: Ted Russell Kamp/AJ Hobbs; Publishers: Tee Hobbs, ASCAP; Booker (track)
– The title tune of this fellow’s CD is a rockabilly rave-up that puts pedal to the metal and never lets up for one second. Need tempo on your playlist? Look no further than this barrelhouse romp.
KENNY CHESNEY/Bar at the End of the World
Writers: J.T. Harding/Aimee Mayo/David Lee Murphy; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Publishers: Songs Music/Mighty Seven/Heavy Metal Disco/Songs of SMP/Warner-Tamerlane/The Queen of Dot Dot Dot/Old Desperados/N2D/Carol Vincent, ASCAP/BMI; Columbia/Blue
– Kenny’s inviting you to take a toe-tapping tropical journey. I’d go if I were you.
MIGHTY ORQ/The Possum Song
Writer: J. Davidson; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed, BMI; ORQ
– It turns out that it really is about a nocturnal marsupial. With a bluesy backing track, no less.
LITTLE BIG TOWN/Better Man
Writers: Taylor Swift; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Capitol (CDX)
– I am a hopeless fan of this foursome. Karen’s lead vocal on this dreamy track is extraordinarily intimate. When the other three join her on the choruses, it’s audio heaven. Close your eyes and let this fabulous production wash over you.
TENILLE ARTS/Wildfire and Whiskey
Writers: Tenille Arts/Jason Massey; Producers: Matt Rovey/Adam Wheeler; Publishers: Oven/Ole Red Cape/Apartment Studio, BMI/ASCAP; 19th & Grand
– She is a Canadian writer-artist with a winsome, piercing delivery. The song is a lightly rocking, ridiculously catchy, brightly shining gem about falling head over heels. Promising in the extreme.
REX ALLEN JR.
Writer: Greenback Dollar; Producer: Rex Allen Jr.; Publishers: none listed; BPR (track)
-Rex is usually a cowboy singer, but Garage Songs: The Folk Years salutes his background as a ‘60s folkie. His warm baritone takes on “Tom Dooley,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Don’t Think Twice” and other fare such as that. The collection leads with a steady, solid rendition of this rounder’s anthem.
‘Holiday Homecoming With Jewel’ To Air On Christmas Day
/by Eric T. ParkerJewel and her Alaskan Kilcher family will be center of a Christmas day (Dec. 25) holiday special airing at 1 p.m. CT on CBS-TV.
Holiday Homecoming With Jewel was recorded at Nashville’s Fontanel Mansion and is one of the first projects the singer has undertaken since finding new management with Marc Oswald.
The special will feature music from Jewel as well as American Idol finalist Geneva Rose Mitchell with stories, and holiday traditions.
“Growing up as a child in Homer Alaska a friend and I had a dream that we would be successful singer songwriters and go to Nashville someday,” read a Facebook post by Atz Kilcher, Jewel’s father. “Well about half a century later Bonnie and I had the pleasure of spending some time with my old friend Tim Mitchell. We are both here in Nashville now because of the great success of our daughters. I’m filming a Christmas special show with my daughter and family. Tim is here to watch his daughter, American Idol finalist Geneva Rose Mitchell, perform. Life is good.”
In addition to being part of Discovery’s popular Alaska: The Last Frontier, the elder Kilcher has recorded several albums, including his latest with his wife Bonnie, titled Good Old-Fashioned Ways.
Jewel has released two Christmas albums, most recently Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection was released in 2013.
Willie Nelson Concert To Be Featured On SiriusXM’s NYE Live Concert Series
/by Jessica NicholsonWillie Nelson
SiriusXM will broadcast exclusive concerts, DJ sets and special performances live on New Year’s Eve, including a performance from Willie Nelson at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, which will air live on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse.
SiriusXM’s New Year’s Eve Live Concert Lineup also includes performances from Maroon 5, Diplo and Steve Aoki, Widespread Panic, KC & The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang, The Cowsills and more.
SiriusXM will also present special performances and encore broadcasts of exclusive concerts in 2016 including:
· Garth Brooks’s concert at the Ryman Auditorium to launch his SiriusXM channel, The Garth Channel, with a special encore only heard by those in attendance that night
· Kenny Chesney celebrating the launch of his SiriusXM channel No Shoes Radio at the Stone Pony
SiriusXM will also launch New Year’s Nation, a limited-run party music channel (ch. 18) launching Friday, December 30 at 5:00 pm ET and airing through Monday, January 2 at 3 a.m. ET.
ASCAP Renews Agreement With Estate Of Songwriter Johnny Marks
/by Jessica NicholsonJohnny Marks in the 1950s. Photo: ASCAP
ASCAP has renewed its agreement with the estate of songwriter Johnny Marks, the writer of classic holiday songs including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Silver and Gold” and ”I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” ASCAP will continue to license public performances of his extensive songwriting catalog throughout the world.
“It simply wouldn’t be the holidays without the music of Johnny Marks,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams. “His enduring songs have provided a timeless soundtrack for holiday sing-alongs and family gatherings for over 75 years, and ASCAP is proud to keep the tradition going.”
“My father was an ASCAP member from the beginning of his career,” said Johnny Marks’ son, Michael, who now runs St. Nicholas Music, the publishing company founded by his father. “It has been a long and rewarding relationship, and I look forward to continuing to work with our friends at ASCAP in the years to come.”
Marks was born in Mt. Vernon, New York on November 10, 1909. Though he was active as a songwriter since 1935, Marks earned his first major hit when Gene Autry’s recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” became the first No. 1 song of the 1950s, and sold 1.75 million copies in its first year. His many awards include an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the inaugural award from the International Society of Santa Claus in 1973, in tribute to his contributions to the spirit of Christmas.
Aside from his holiday canon, Marks composed scores for commercials and TV specials which have been viewed by over a billion people, including the 1964 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer program with Burl Ives (among the longest-running specials in TV history). He found success with non-holiday music too, including the country hit “Everything I’ve Always Wanted” recorded by Porter Wagoner; “She’ll Always Remember,” introduced by Kate Smith; “Anyone Can Move a Mountain,” recorded by Kate Smith and Harry Simeone; “Address Unknown” with the Ink Spots and “Who Calls” with Bing Crosby.
From 1940 until his death in 1985, Marks was an active member of ASCAP and served on its Board of Directors from 1957 through 1961. He founded his own St. Nicholas Music in 1949 to publish his songwriting catalog, and it is still active today.
Old Dominion Teams With Stagecoach Festival For Sold-Out Tour
/by Sarah SkatesOld Dominion’s 2016’s Meat and Candy Tour comes to an end in Kansas City after a 33-date run. (L-R): Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi and Geoff Sprung; Meat and Candy Tour special guest Steve Moakler; Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Whit Sellers. Photo: Tommy Garris
Old Dominion’s amazing 2016 included a successful partnership with major music festival Stagecoach. As the artist on the inaugural Stagecoach Spotlight Tour, 15 of Old Dominion’s headlining Meat and Candy Tour stops were co-branded with the festival powerhouse, with the band playing to fully packed houses.
This year, lead singer Matthew Ramsey, lead guitarist Brad Tursi, multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen, bassist Geoff Sprung and drummer Whit Sellers tallied 182 dates and over 60,000 fans rocked in North America on the 33-date Meat and Candy Tour. This doesn’t include fans they played to on Kenny Chesney’s Spread The Love Tour.
Recently, the album Meat & Candy was officially RIAA Gold certified and Old Dominion celebrated the No. 1, “Song For Another Time.”
The band will kick-off 2017 with Miranda Lambert on her Highway Vagabond Tour.
Randy Rogers Band Wraps Sold-Out Run, Preps New Music in 2017
/by Sarah SkatesKnown for performing more than 100 dates a year, the group’s upcoming schedule includes stops in Boston, Washington DC, and NYC. They have announced concerts through April 28 at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif.
The six-piece’s independently-released Nothing Shines Like Neon landed in the top five on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. They are currently working on new music for 2017.
Singer-songwriter Randy Rogers will also play a rare acoustic show at the Black Tie and Boots 2017 Presidential Inaugural Ball in January. In addition to the band, he has plans to return to the studio in January to record with fellow Texan Wade Bowen.