Last night (April 17) Creative Nation Songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean performed eight brand new songs with several of their co-writers to an industry packed crowed at The Basement in Nashville. They also debuted their newest signees- Maggie Chapman and Native Run. The night included performances from Thomas Rhett, The Warren Brothers, Natalie Hemby, Troy Verges, Shane McAnally, Rodney Clawson, Tina Parole, Dave Barnes, Joey Hyde and Aaron Eshius.
Pictured (L-R): Front Row: Dave Barnes, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally, Brad Warren, Tina Parol, Rachel Beauregard, April Geesbreght, Maggie Chapman, Natalie Hemby and Creative Nation’s Beth Laird. Back Row – Brett Warren, Luke Laird, Troy Verges, Creative Nation’s Julie Stuckey, Rodney Clawson, Bryan Dawley and Barry Dean.
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Warner/Chappell Music has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with country singer/songwriter Elizabeth Huett. Hailing from Riverside, Calif., Huett has been singing and acting since the age of six, and over the past three years toured internationally as a background singer for Taylor Swift. Huett is managed by Craig Dunn with The Collective.
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Lucas Hoge has signed with Artist Events Nashville (AEN) for booking representation. “We are very proud to represent an artist with this much achievement in so many other facets beyond a radio release. After seeing his live performance, we unanimously agreed and made the mutual decision to sign Lucas Hoge to Artist Events emerging artist roster,” says Gary Kirves, Artist Events Nashville CEO. “Lucas is a professional at many levels and his talents multi-faceted. Many people have enjoyed his ‘entertainment value’ as an actor, speaker, songwriter, singer and musician–he is an exceptional talent as a whole.”
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The RIAA has announced several gold and platinum certifications, including Gary Allan‘s “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which has gone Platinum, Kacey Musgraves‘ “Merry Go Round,” which has been certified Gold, and Matt Redman‘s “10,000 Reasons,” which has also been certified Gold. Big Machine’s Taylor Swift also secured a new Platinum for “Begin Again,” while Swift’s “22” was certified Gold.
Industry Ink (4-18-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Front Row: Dave Barnes, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally, Brad Warren, Tina Parol, Rachel Beauregard, April Geesbreght, Maggie Chapman, Natalie Hemby and Creative Nation’s Beth Laird. Back Row – Brett Warren, Luke Laird, Troy Verges, Creative Nation’s Julie Stuckey, Rodney Clawson, Bryan Dawley and Barry Dean.
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Craig Campbell Gives Acoustic Glimpse of Upcoming Album Via Vine
/by Jessica NicholsonNever Regret will release May 7.
Miller Harris Night at the Bluebird
/by Jessica NicholsonTwo shows were held on Tuesday (April 16) at the Bluebird Cafe to benefit the Miller Harris Foundation. “Miller Harris Night at the Bluebird” featured performers Nick Sturms, John King, Brad Tursi, JT Hodges, Mason Douglas, Erick Dylan and Cory Battan. All proceeds benefited The Miller Harris Asthma Camp For Kids.
Pictured (L-R): Karen Sturgeon, Nick Sturms, Doug Johnson, John King, Judy Harris, Brad Tursi, Karen Conrad, Hunter West.
Pictured (L-R): JT Hodges, Karen Sturgeon, Erick Dylan, Judy Harris, Doug Johnson, Hunter West, Bubba Moneypenny, Mason Douglas, Cory Batten.
Pistol Annies Embark on Promotional Annies Adventure
/by Eric T. ParkerOver four consecutive weeks, new chapters will be revealed to fans through an interactive online graphic novel titled Pistol Annies and the Case of the Stolen Gear.
Dubbed The Great Annies Adventure, the narrative begins today (April 17) when the trio realize their gear, merchandise and new music has been stolen by Cassius Banks, the CEO of Vanilla Records, and his band The One Tones, seeking to strip the Annies of musical abilities.
Each week, fans will work together to discover clues hidden in the storyline and disclosed on social media (via Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Facebook, Tumblr, Foursquare, Path, Pinterest, etc.).
Every time an item is recovered, new merchandise opportunities and content are unlocked for the entire online community, including vinyl records, custom guitars, designer clothes from their photo shoot, personal notebooks, exclusive video content and more.
Each member of the online community, known as The Henhouse, that finds a missing item will receive the actual autographed one-of-a-kind item they found, such as a flyaway opportunity to celebrate the Pistol Annies release in a secret location.
To join the adventure, visit www.PistolAnnies.com.
Richie McDonald Reunites with Lonestar For New Album
/by Jessica NicholsonThe album’s second single “Maybe Someday” is currently spinning nationwide at country radio. The band has RIAA-certified sales in excess of 10 million album units since their national launch in 1995. The band includes Michael Britt, lead guitar & backing vocals; McDonald, lead vocals & piano; Keech Rainwater, drums; and Dean Sams, keyboards and backing vocals.
Guy Clark Returns With First Album In Four Years
/by Sarah SkatesThe album’s heartfelt title track was written for his late wife Susanna Clark, a successful songwriter in her own right. The cover photo depicts Clark holding up a photo of his wife from the 1970s. According to Clark, the older photo was taken when Susanna stormed out of the house after finding Guy and their friend, the late Townes Van Zandt, drunk, again.
Among the project’s 11 tracks are “Cornmeal Waltz,” “Heroes” and “Hell Bent On A Heartache.” Clark co-wrote 10 of the songs.
Clark is a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and Academy of Country Music Poet’s Award recipient. He has been a mentor to artists such as Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell and his songs have been covered by a multitude of artists, including Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley, David Allen Coe, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffet and Asleep At The Wheel.
Industry Updates (4-17-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 4th Annual Music Row Rally was held yesterday (April 17) in the parking lot of Craig Wiseman‘s publishing company Big Loud Shirt. The event, hosted by Wiseman and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, raised over $2,000.
Food Trucks including Riffs Fine Street Foods, Smoke et Al, Biscuit Love Truck, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, Doughworks all donated 10 percent of profits made by the food trucks to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. All other donations were made as a courtesy.
Pictured (L-R): Jaynee Day, Brittany Hansen, Kimberly Gleason, Craig Wiseman, KK Wiseman, Cindy Patterson, Renee Thompson, Amy Allmand, Abby Fay
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The Willis Clan band–comprised of the seven oldest siblings–has created and sold an album of original material and is being courted by a major label. The show gives viewers an inside glimpse at life for the Willis Clan, which includes homeschooling, chores, rehearsing for appearances and competitions, designing and creating costumes for competitions, or preparing to travel en mass to a contest or gig.
Ozier Joins ole Team
/by Jessica NicholsonJohn Ozier
John Ozier has joined ole as its General Manager, Creative in Nashville. Ozier brings a wealth of experience in operating publishing and record label businesses to the new role.
“ole is pleased to welcome John and we look forward to his Creative and Operational leadership in Nashville,” remarks ole Chairman and CEO, Robert Ott.
Most recently at Curb Records, Ozier’s track record includes placing songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Rodney Atkins, Clay Walker, Lee Brice, Ronnie Dunn, Jo Dee Messina, LeAnn Rimes and many more. In 2010, Ozier was responsible for four songs in the Top 15 on the Billboard country charts, including the longest-ever running single, Brice’s “Love Like Crazy,” at 56 weeks. More recently, he was responsible for No. 1s by Atkins (“Take A Back Road”) and Brice (“A Woman Like You”).
He is also a published songwriter with cuts by Brice, Charlie Worsham, Air Supply and others. He co-wrote Brice’s multi-week No. 1 single, “Hard to Love,” which is approaching Platinum sales status.
“I am thrilled to be joining the ole team,” says Ozier. “I am looking forward to contributing to the future success of ole as it continues to build its operation in Nashville. Our goal at ole is simple – become the top creative shop on Music Row. I’m confident that ole has the strategy in place to accomplish this goal and I am excited at the prospect of being a member of the ole team as it moves forward to accomplish this goal.”
Brad Paisley's 'Wheelhouse' Debuts At No. 1
/by Jessica NicholsonThe project features 14 tracks and three interstitials; each of the album’s full songs were written or co-written by Paisley. The singer-songwriter enlisted his band The Drama Kings to perform on the entire album, which was recorded at a renovated farmhouse turned studio at his home near Nashville.
Paisley’s current single, “Beat This Summer,” is currently in the Top 10 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout chart.
'Road To The Ram Jam' Raises over $180,000 For Charities
/by Jessica NicholsonAs a part of the Road to the Ram Jam series, five participating country music artists – Kellie Pickler, Brantley Gilbert, Billy Currington, Zac Brown Band and Corbin – received a one-year lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck. The trucks were auctioned off, one at a time, beginning in late January with all proceeds benefiting a charity of each artist’s choice. Fans had two weeks to bid on each artist’s truck.
In addition to Easton’s truck auction results, Pickler’s truck raised $36,200 for the USO Warrior and Family Care program, Gilbert’s truck raised $34,552 for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Currington’s truck raised $34,578 for Team Rubicon, and Zac Brown Band raised $39,300 for Camp Southern Ground.
“Road to the Ram Jam brought country music fans closer to some of their favorite artists while also raising significant dollars for five very special charities,” said Marissa Hunter, Head of Advertising – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Ram Truck brand is honored to have partnered with these five talented performers and to have created an innovative platform that helped promote their music and their dedication to the charities they chose for their Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck auctions.”