Nearly 800 country music industry leaders and more than a dozen country music artists gathered in Memphis Jan. 15-18 to kick off the 26th annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® program to support the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
Artist attendees included: Chase Bryant, Logan Mize, Cam Ochs, Josh Dorr, Kelsea Ballerini, John King, Jackie Lee, Craig Campbell, Randy Owen, Gloriana, Josh Abbott Band, Sam Hunt, Canaan Smith, Mickey Guyton, Steve Lee Olsen, Rachele Lynae, A Thousand Horses, The Band Perry, Seth Alley, Waterloo Revival, Native Run, Mo Pitney, Ruthie Collins, Dylan Scott, Craig Wayne Boyd, and Olivia Lane.
The Band Perry
Randy Owen
Canaan Smith met with radio programmers from WGH at the St. Jude Radio seminar. The group coined a new drink, called “The Canaan,” similar to a mojito.
Pictured (L-R): At the St. Jude Radio Seminar. Keith Kaufmann, Dave Paulus/GM-WGH,Mike Rogers/ Curb-National, Canaan Smith, Craig Campbell/ Campbell Entertainment, John Shomby/OM-WGH, and Jack Christopher/Mercury
• • •
This past weekend, Premiere Networks host Bobby Bones treated active duty military members and veterans to a screening of the Oscar-nominated film American Sniper in Nashville, Tenn., to thank them for their service. As a special surprise, Warner Music Nashville’s Jana Kramer and Black River Entertainment’s Kelsea Ballerini attended the event, and Ballerini bought popcorn for the more than 40 military members and their guests in attendance.
Bobby Bones with Military members and their guests
• • •
Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee raised more than $250, 000 at its third annual “Stars For Wishes” event at Gaylord Opryland Hotel last Saturday, Jan. 17. Hosted by TV personality Melissa Rycroft, the evening was filled with heartfelt performances by Gary Allan, “Stars For Wishes” founder Jonathan Cain (Journey), Scotty McCreery and Street Corner Symphony.
Pictured (L-R): Thomas (a Make-A-Wish child); Joey Hemphill, Chairman & Treasurer, Hemphill Brothers Coach Company and Make-A-Wish Board Member; Rob Beckham, Co-Head, WME Nashville and Make-A-Wish Board member; Scotty McCreery; Jessica (a Make-A-Wish child); Gary Allan; Jonathan Cain; and Beth Torres, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee.
• • •
Dee Jay Silver married his love Jenna Michelle Straub near the ocean on Jan. 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Among the couple’s 60 guests were dear friends Jason Aldean and fiancée Brittany Kerr, who stood beside the couple as members of the bridal party, as well as Ron and Amy Shirley of truTV’s reality series Lizard Lick Towing.
Dee Jay Silver and wife Jenna Michelle Straub. Photo: Katya Nova
• • •
Multi GRAMMY® Award Winner Vince Gill took the stage with the CEOs of Frontier Communications, DISH Network Corp. and CoBank at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. to announce he’s joining the America’s Best Communities (ABC) partnership to revitalize small towns and cities across America.
Pictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Joe Clayton (DISH), Maggie Wilderotter (Frontier) and Robert Engel (CoBank)
DISClaimer: Underdogs Have Their Day in the Sun
/by Robert K OermannStoney LaRue
The superstars are playing at the top of their game, but even underdogs have their day in the sun.
In this week’s stack of sounds, you’ll find first-rate efforts by Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack and Kenny Chesney. As is so often the case with my hopeless, country-loving self, I was drawn to the most retro styled discs. They belonged to stars who don’t twinkle quite as brightly as that much-awarded trio.
Thus, the Disc of the Day goes to Billy Yates. And the DisCovery Award belongs to Stoney Larue.
RACHELE LYNAE/Whole Lotta Nothin’
Writers: Rachele Lynae/Hannah Bethel/David Myhre; Producers: Jamie O’Neal/Rachele Lynae/Publishers: Rachele Lynae/Hanwyn/David Myhre, ASCAP/BMI; Momentum
-The sound of a beach vacation.
KENNY CHESNEY & GRACE POTTER/Wild Child
Writers: Kenny Chesney/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia/Blue Chair (track)
– Languid. Lilting. Lulling. He’s dreamy in love with a rebel who has a wandering heart.
JONATHAN BYRD/Mama’s Got Wheels
Writers: Jonathan Byrd; Producer: Jonathan Byrd; Publishers: Jonathan Byrd, SESAC; Waterbug (track)
-Bluesy, earthy, rootsy and real, with just enough dirt under is fingernails to be completely compelling. I am all ears for this guy. Americana programmers will find him equally gripping. The CD is called You Can’t Outrun the Radio and is highly recommended.
MARK McKINNEY/Diggin’ My Grave
Writers: Mark McKinney; Producers: Mark and Erin McKinney; Publishers: none listed; MM
-Thumping and driving, with loads of slide-guitar moaning. Fantastically listenable. Be forewarned: The recurring line in it is, “Recipe for Disaster,” rather than the title, which is buried elsewhere in the lyric. It is still a way, way, cool little record.
BRAD PAISLEY/Crushin’ It
Writers: Brad Paisley/Kelley Lovelace/Lee Thomas Miller; Producers: Luke Wooten/Brad Paisley; Publishers: House of Sea Gayle/Words & Music/Making the Turn/Do Write/Warner-Tamerlane/The Country and Western, ASCAP/BMI; Arista (track)
-Ready for the weekend? Here’s the tune for you, complete with chilled beverages and a sizzling guitar groove.
THE CHEATERS/She Got A Way
Writers: none listed; Producer: Tommy Harden; Publishers: none listed; Cheaters (track)
-In praise of a babe, this innocuous little ditty has a laid-back tempo, close harmonies, a catchy chorus repetition and a summertime vibe. Engaging, if not exactly life changing.
LEO J. EIFFERT JR./Icon Super Star
Writer: Leo J. Eiffert Jr.; Producer: Leo J. Eiffert Jr.; Publishers: Young Country, BMI; Young Country
– Utterly amateurish, but at least he has a sense of humor about it.
LEE ANN WOMACK/Send It On Down
Writers: Chris Knight/David Leone; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; Publishers: WB/Wrensong/Judy Harris/Meester Smooshie, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
– The second single from Womack’s Grammy-nominated CD is an aching plea for redemption from someone being driven mad by drink, loneliness and the ennui of small-town existence. It made me hold my breath in awe.
Billy Yates
BILLY YATES/Zeros
Writers: Billy Yates/Lee Thomas Miller/Monty Criswell; Producer: Billy Yates; Publishers: So Bizzy/Music of Stage Three, BMI; M.O.D. (track)
-Yates is the songwriter behind such pure-country, George Jones classics as “Choices” and “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.” The debut single from his new These Old Walls CD is a hillbilly hoot. He’s a loser, but he’s okay with that because, “If zeros always come full circle, it’s high time I go back around.” The whole album brims with ready-for-radio country gems like this.
STONEY LARUE/Golden Shackles
Writers: none listed; Producers: Frank Liddell/Michael McCarthy; Publishers: none listed; eOne (track)
-This fellow is a headliner in the Lone Star State. His recruits top Nashville producers and session aces in a bid for mainstream country acceptance and hits a bullseye with a CD titled Aviator. This romping single’s sprightly rhythms contrast nicely with a downbeat lyric of losing a gamble with love. Audio charisma.
Weekly Register: Meghan Trainor Scores Huge Debut
/by Sarah SkatesPictured at the No. 1 party for “All About That Bass” (L-R): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Atom Factory’s Ty Stiklorius, Big Yellow Dog Music’s Carla Wallace, Meghan Trainor, Kevin Kadish, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Epic’s Paul Pontius, Sony/ATV’s Abbey Adams, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and ASCAP’s John Titta, Photo: Ed Rode
Meghan Trainor’s Title (Epic) debuted on today’s chart (Jan. 21) with sales of 195K. Based on album sales, track sales and streaming data, she scored total activity of 238K to enter Billboard’s Top 200 chart at No. 1.
This earns Trainor the biggest first-week for a female pop act’s full-length debut album since Susan Boyle entered with 701K copies of I Dreamed a Dream in November 2009, according to Billboard.
While Trainor is setting records on the pop chart, her success has roots in Nashville. The singer’s career has been fostered by Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace. Title was produced by Kevin Kadish at his studio outside Nashville.
Trainor also came close to the record held by Scotty McCreery’s 2011 release, Clear as Day, which arrived with 197K, the largest opening for any solo artist’s first full-length set.
Title’s success was propelled by her smash “All About That Bass,” which bumped at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks in 2014. Powered largely by YouTube, the video has more than 520 million views. The follow-up single “Lips Are Movin’” is also a hit.
Trainor also bumped Taylor Swift’s 1989 to No. 2 on the Top 200. In its 12th week out, the album had sales of 92K and total consumption of 131K.
Top 5 Country Albums: Sam Hunt (16K TW), Garth Brooks (13K), Jason Aldean (12K), Carrie Underwood (11K), Florida Georgia Line (8K)
Top 5 Country Tracks: ZBB “Homegrown” (74K TW), Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” (37K), Blake Shelton ft. Ashley Monroe “Lonely Tonight” (30K), Carrie Underwood “Something In The Water” (29K), Tim McGraw “Shotgun Rider” (29K)
YTD album sales are down -2.3% overall and -1.2% country.
Info according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Vince Gill Reveals Collaborative ‘Vince Gill & Friends’ Tour
/by Troy_StephensonVince Gill
Vince Gill has revealed plans for “Vince Gill & Friends,” a mini-tour slated for March 19-22.
Picking and singing alongside the multi-talented artist will be special guests Ashley Monroe, Charlie Worsham and daughter Jenny Gill.
Gill says all of the guests will be on stage with him and his band for the duration of each show. “This won’t be a ‘guitar pull,’” he explains, “where one person sings while the others listen and wait for their turn. We’ll all be pitching in, picking and singing harmony for each other and doing each other’s songs. It will be a musical collaboration—not a headliner with opening acts.”
The intimate musical experience is a thematic extension of his January round of shows with fellow musician Lyle Lovett.
“Vince Gill & Friends” tour dates and locations:
March 19 | El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, El Dorado, Ark.
March 20 |River City Casino, St. Louis
March 21 | Taft Theatre, Cincinnati
March 22 | Milwaukee Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis.
Artist Pics: St. Jude, Bobby Bones, Make-A-Wish, Dee Jay Silver, Vince Gill
/by Kelsey_GradyNearly 800 country music industry leaders and more than a dozen country music artists gathered in Memphis Jan. 15-18 to kick off the 26th annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® program to support the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
Artist attendees included: Chase Bryant, Logan Mize, Cam Ochs, Josh Dorr, Kelsea Ballerini, John King, Jackie Lee, Craig Campbell, Randy Owen, Gloriana, Josh Abbott Band, Sam Hunt, Canaan Smith, Mickey Guyton, Steve Lee Olsen, Rachele Lynae, A Thousand Horses, The Band Perry, Seth Alley, Waterloo Revival, Native Run, Mo Pitney, Ruthie Collins, Dylan Scott, Craig Wayne Boyd, and Olivia Lane.
The Band Perry
Randy Owen
Canaan Smith met with radio programmers from WGH at the St. Jude Radio seminar. The group coined a new drink, called “The Canaan,” similar to a mojito.
Pictured (L-R): At the St. Jude Radio Seminar. Keith Kaufmann, Dave Paulus/GM-WGH,Mike Rogers/ Curb-National, Canaan Smith, Craig Campbell/ Campbell Entertainment, John Shomby/OM-WGH, and Jack Christopher/Mercury
• • •
This past weekend, Premiere Networks host Bobby Bones treated active duty military members and veterans to a screening of the Oscar-nominated film American Sniper in Nashville, Tenn., to thank them for their service. As a special surprise, Warner Music Nashville’s Jana Kramer and Black River Entertainment’s Kelsea Ballerini attended the event, and Ballerini bought popcorn for the more than 40 military members and their guests in attendance.
Bobby Bones with Military members and their guests
• • •
Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee raised more than $250, 000 at its third annual “Stars For Wishes” event at Gaylord Opryland Hotel last Saturday, Jan. 17. Hosted by TV personality Melissa Rycroft, the evening was filled with heartfelt performances by Gary Allan, “Stars For Wishes” founder Jonathan Cain (Journey), Scotty McCreery and Street Corner Symphony.
Pictured (L-R): Thomas (a Make-A-Wish child); Joey Hemphill, Chairman & Treasurer, Hemphill Brothers Coach Company and Make-A-Wish Board Member; Rob Beckham, Co-Head, WME Nashville and Make-A-Wish Board member; Scotty McCreery; Jessica (a Make-A-Wish child); Gary Allan; Jonathan Cain; and Beth Torres, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee.
• • •
Dee Jay Silver married his love Jenna Michelle Straub near the ocean on Jan. 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Among the couple’s 60 guests were dear friends Jason Aldean and fiancée Brittany Kerr, who stood beside the couple as members of the bridal party, as well as Ron and Amy Shirley of truTV’s reality series Lizard Lick Towing.
Dee Jay Silver and wife Jenna Michelle Straub. Photo: Katya Nova
• • •
Multi GRAMMY® Award Winner Vince Gill took the stage with the CEOs of Frontier Communications, DISH Network Corp. and CoBank at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. to announce he’s joining the America’s Best Communities (ABC) partnership to revitalize small towns and cities across America.
Pictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Joe Clayton (DISH), Maggie Wilderotter (Frontier) and Robert Engel (CoBank)
Carrie Underwood Matches Success With ‘Water’
/by Sherod RobertsonCarrie Underwood on the set of her music video for “Something In The Water.”
Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood ties her longest No. 1 chart reign on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs with her current single, “Something in the Water,” holding for a sixth cumulative week atop the ranking. The song was written by Underwood along with Chris DeStefano and Brett James, and produced by Underwood’s longtime producer Mark Bright.
“Something In The Water” shares a spiritual theme with her debut country single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” which also reigned in the top position for six weeks back in 2006, peaking on the chart on Jan. 21 of that year.
With sales from the single reaching over 750,000 downloads to date, “Something in the Water” also holds a 15th straight week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart.
Ray Stevens Inks Booking Deal
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Ray Stevens, Bob Kinkead.
Photo: Ray Stevens Music Group
Country and comedy music entertainer Ray Stevens has signed on with the newly launched Kinkead Entertainment Agency, led by Bob Kinkead. The Nashville-based talent agency will exclusively handle all live music bookings for Stevens.
“I’ve been off the road for a few years now but I’m ready to get back out there and do what I love,” says Stevens. “I know that Bob Kinkead’s new agency is the right place for me. His extensive experience with music and comedy makes him the perfect fit for what I do.”
Kinkead adds, “I am very excited to represent Ray Stevens and I look forward to booking his concerts and events. Ray is a icon in this business and I am honored to be called his agent.”
Stevens will announce 2015 tour dates soon.
37th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards Set For March
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 36th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Award honorees. Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin; 2014 ASCAP Christian Music Awards honorees Eddie DeGarmo, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Matthew West; and ASCAP’s Paul Williams and LeAnn Phelan at the 2014 ASCAP Christian Music Awards. Photo: Ed Rode.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will celebrate the 37th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards on Monday, March 23 at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn.
Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan, who jointly lead ASCAP’s Nashville membership office, will lead the team in presenting awards to the writers and publishers of the most-performed songs in Christian music, along with ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams.
The invitation-only event will feature performances by some of the format’s most popular artists and songwriters, and will culminate in the announcements of Christian Music Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year.
Recent ASCAP Christian Music Awards honorees have included Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, Ben Glover, David Garcia, Brown Bannister, Michael Bleeker, Jeremy Camp, Dan Muckala, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Josh Wilson and others.
Kelsea Ballerini Signs With Iconic Entertainment Group
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): IEG’s Brian O’Neil and Larry Beckwith, Kelsea Ballerini, IEG’s Fletcher Foster and Ally Rodriguez
Black River Entertainment artist Kelsea Ballerini has inked a management deal with Fletcher Foster‘s Iconic Entertainment Group.
Ballerini, whose single “Love Me Like You Mean It,” is being worked to country radio, is putting the finishing touches on her debut album, slated to release this spring.
“I was first drawn to Kelsea professionally by her amazing songwriting and personally by her spirit,” says IEG’s President/CEO Foster. “Once I saw her on stage and how she interacted with the audience and her fans, I knew we wanted to be a part of her life and career. She’s a very special person and talent.”
Ballerini has been included on “Ones To Watch in 2015” lists from Huffington Post, Billboard and CMT Women of Country, among others.
Kim Buie Named VP, A&R for New West Records
/by Jessica NicholsonKim Buie
A&R executive Kim Buie has been appointed VP of A&R for New West Records. Buie joins New West from artist management and distribution company Thirty Tigers, where she was head of A&R. Prior to her work with Thirty Tigers, Buie ran Lost Highway’s A&R department under Luke Lewis for nearly eight years. Buie will be based at New West’s newly opened Nashville office where she will work alongside president John Allen.
“Kim brings a wealth of wisdom and expertise to our team that she has amassed throughout her storied career working with tremendous artists and legendary A&R executives,” said Allen. “We are lucky to have her lead our A&R department.”
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with John Allen, whom I’ve known for many years and greatly admire, and likewise look forward to working with the entire New West team,” said Buie. “I truly value that it’s an artist driven company with an impressive history and catalog and I look forward to contributing to this great label and roster and pushing the envelope.”
Throughout her more than 30-year career, Buie has worked for both major and independent labels and learned the art of A&R alongside record label visionaries Jimmy Bowen, Chris Blackwell and Lewis. Her resume of artists that she has signed or work with includes Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Etta James, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson, Hayes Carll, Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett, Allen Ginsburg, William S. Burroughs, Mazzy Star, Drivin’ N Cryin’, Michael Franti, Butthole Surfers, Mary Gauthier, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Freestyle Fellowship, Nortec Collective, and more.
In addition to A&R, Buie also manages Jessie Baylin and co-manages instrumental band Steelism.
“iHeartRadio Country Festival” To Return in May
/by Kelsey_GradyThe lineup includes Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisley, with more to be announced, and will be hosted by iHeartMedia’s nationally-syndicated Country music personality Bobby Bones.
“This is truly a night of Country’s All-Stars” said John Sykes, President of iHeartMedia Entertainment Enterprises. “Every single one of these artists can headline an arena or stadium on their own, but on this night they will share the stage to celebrate the amazing music on our iHeartRadio country stations and the iHeartRadio app.”
“The country format has great talent and on-air personalities who have such a strong bond and loyalty with their fans and there is no better way to celebrate that relationship than at a live event,” said Tom Poleman President of National Programming Platforms for iHeartMedia. “With our more than 120 country stations nationwide we have the ability to bring the biggest events and one-of-a-kind experiences to our loyal listeners that no one else can provide.”
Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 28. For more information visit iHeartRadio.com/countryfestival.