The New Respects

Capitol CMG Label Group has signed Nashville-based band The New Respects, which includes siblings Zandy Fitzgerald, Lexi Fitzgerald, Darius Fitzgerald and their cousin Jasmine Mullen.

“We never thought we’d be signed to a record label, so when Capitol CMG Label approached us, we were shocked,” the band said. “We were just four kids who liked playing music, and people started to listen. They listen to our ideas, our songs, our dreams and our hearts as we do our best to say something that’s worth listening to. We are extremely thankful for the team that we get to work with and honored that they love us the way they do. It still feels like a dream some days, but we’re happy it’s not.”

Capitol CMG President Peter York said, “Capitol CMG is excited and honored to have signed The New Respects to long term recording and songwriting agreements. They represent a rare and special combination of talents. Their music defies categorization and connects to the listener with raw emotion and authentic grooves that are original, yet familiar. They have a distinct place and voice in the never ending sea of new talent, but most importantly a contagious joy that seems to permeate all of their songs in fresh and compelling ways.”

The New Respects will join Lecrae and Switchfoot on The Heartland Tour, hitting nine cities across the country, launching June 10 in Omaha, Nebraska. On the same day, the band’s first single “Hey!” will be available at all digital and streaming outlets.

Jason Aldean and Kid Rock have announced a second stop at Boston’s Fenway Park, scheduled for Sept 10. The lineup also includes Thomas Rhett, A Thousand Horses and Dee Jay Silver.

The original show, scheduled for Sept. 9, sold out in 90 minutes. Tickets for the new date go on sale Friday (May 13).

Aldean launches his Six String Circus Tour on May 19 in Rogers, Arkansas. His current single, “Lights Come On,” is the lead track from his upcoming seventh album. Kid Rock is currently working on new material and playing only select dates this summer.

Pictured (L-R): Justin Luffman, VP Brand Management, WMN; Peter Strickland, EVP & GM, WMN; Kerri Edwards, Manager, KP Entertainment; Cole Swindell; John Esposito, President & CEO, WMN; Cris Lacy, VP A&R, WMN; Michael Carter, Producer

Cole Swindell celebrated the launch of a new album on Thursday night (May 5) at the Nashville venue Ruby, surrounded by members of his label, publishing company, management team and songwriters who contributed to the project. The event could be heard on SiriusXM/The Highway.

The singer-songwriter’s sophomore project, You Should Be Here, was released by Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville on Friday.

Swindell got a few extra reasons to celebrate during the evening, courtesy of Warner Music Nashville President/CEO John Esposito, who presented Swindell with plaques commemorating the platinum status of his self-titled debut album, as well as gold certification for his fifth consecutive No. 1 hit, “You Should Be Here.”

“We knew we had a depth of songwriting that was profound,” Esposito said of Swindell’s debut project. “This takes it to a whole new level.”

Several writers who contributed to the album were on hand to assist Swindell in performing six songs from the project. Swindell co-wrote seven of the 12 tracks on the album, and thanked the writers who contributed, especially on the songs he didn’t have a hand in. “I don’t ever want to be stupid enough to miss a great song because I didn’t write it,” he said.

Swindell did have a hand in writing the album’s first single and hit, “You Should Be Here,” the intensely personal ballad and tribute to Swindell’s father, who died in 2013. The preview included Swindell’s acoustic version of “You Should Be Here,” backed by songwriter Ashley Gorley on keys.

He brought up his producer and fellow songwriter Michael Carter, as well as Gorley, for a rendition of “Broke Down.”

“Making My Way To You” featured assists from Carter, Matt Dragstrem and Cole Taylor, while “No Can Left Behind” included Brandon Kinney and Carter.

Swindell called “Stay Downtown” a follow-up of sort to his single “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” as the new song touches on the struggle to finally let go of a failing relationship. According to Cole Taylor, Swindell was the very first to hear “Stay Downtown,” which he penned with Dragstrem. “I didn’t turn it into my publisher or anything,” Taylor said with a sheepish grin. “I sent it straight to Cole.”

His latest single, “Middle of A Memory,” is one of the older songs on the project. It was inspired during the writing session for “Kiss,” a song that appeared on Swindell’s 2014 project Down Home Sessions. Swindell says co-writer Gorley encouraged him to make the lyric into a song of its own.

Swindell is keeping the celebration going with a special pop-up performance on Friday night (May 6) at The Stage on Lower Broadway in Nashville.

For more Swindell’s upcoming album and the success of “You Should Be Here,” read MusicRow’s interview with Swindell.

Harold Bradley

Guitarist Harold Bradley will be presented with the Cecil Scaife Visionary Award on Tuesday, May 17, at the Musicians Hall of Fame.

Bradley, 90, is the most-recorded guitarist in music history and an inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This year mark’s the 70th anniversary of his first session. He and his brother, the late Owen Bradley, built five Nashville recording studios, including the Quonset Hut on Music Row.

Bradley was the first president of the Nashville chapter of NARAS and a member of the Grammy organization’s Board of Governors, and was awarded the Trustees Award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Bradley also served from 1991-2008 as President of the Nashville Association of Musicians, Local 257 of the American Federation of Musicians, and also was elected as the international vice president until 2010.

Brenda Lee, Ray Stevens, Ray Walker, Charlie McCoy, David Briggs and others will speak at the event. Bradley is also expected to perform.

The award is given annually to an individual whose life and work have made it possible for future generations to realize careers in the music industry. Scaife envisioned a music business programs for college students to learn the industry. That idea grew into what is now the Mike Curb College of Music Business and Entertainment.

Funds raised from the event go into The Cecil Scaife Endowment at Belmont University and a Scholarship in Harold Bradley’s name will be given to a rising senior in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Previous recipients include Mike Curb, Tony Brown, Wynonna Judd, David Briggs & Norbert Putnam, Amy Grant, Jo Walker-Meador, U.S. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, and “Sunshine” Sonny Payne.

For ticket information, please contact Pamela Davis Needham at 615-830-7000 or Pdn@NativeEntertainmentGroup.com.