George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
Saturday night (July 29) in Nashville was a wash out, but before the torrential downpour began, fans came out in droves to Nissan Stadium to see the king of country music, George Strait.
The Country Music Hall of Famer played two nights in Music City, performing for just over two hours on Friday night (July 28) after sets from Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
The Grammy, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning Little Big Town were enthusiastic when kicking off Saturday night’s show. The foursome traveled through a selection of hits from their two decades as a band, thrilling fans with stompers like “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” “Pontoon” and “Day Drinking.”
George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
The band brought fans in close for their Grammy-winning “Girl Crush,” and they swayed along to the Taylor Swift-written “Better Man.” Little Big Town closed their set with the rousing “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” warming the Nissan Stadium crowd up for the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year to take the stage.
When Stapleton appeared onstage, he did it without bells and whistles. The talented singer kicked things off with “Nobody to Blame” and “Parachute” before letting the crowd know that he wasn’t going to spend much time talking in order to get as much music in as he could during his 90-minute set.
Fans raised their hands and danced along to “Starting Over,” “Millionaire” and “You Should Probably Leave” before Stapleton gave them a taste of his new music, playing a thrilling sample of his upcoming album with his new single “White Horse.”
After rocking out on “Cold” and taking us back to his 2015 breakthrough with “Traveller,” Stapleton created a special moment in Nissan Stadium with “Fire Away.” After he and his band got through the song, he enlisted the crowd to sing the chorus one more time with their cell phone lighters in the air.
Stapleton closed his set with “Broken Halos,” which earned one of the biggest reactions of the night, and his record-breaking cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Next up, it was time for the man of the hour. When Strait took the stage in a long-sleeved, button-down, he didn’t appear as hot as the rest of us. He was grinning ear-to-ear, ready to play the beloved country music he’s made for over four decades.
Strait started his set with “Stars on the Water” and “I Got a Car.”
The first sprinkling of rain started during the third song of his set, 1984’s “The Fireman.” Just as he sang the words “I can cool ’em down when they’re smolderin’ hot,” he did exactly that.
The rain came in increments for the next 11 songs. After getting the gals on their feet for “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls,” he lured them in with the entrancing “Run,” which made for one of the night’s highlights.
George Strait and Chris Stapleton perform at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Andy Barron
Fans stayed engaged while Strait transitioned from hit to hit, thrilling fans with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Check Yes or No,” “Ocean Front Property” and “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.”
During “The Weight of the Badge,” photos of service men and women flashed on the screens. When a photo of two of Nashville’s hometown heroes—Officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo who led the charge on stopping the shooter at The Covenant School in March—appeared on the screen, the Music City crowd roared, marking another touching moment of the evening.
Strait invited Stapleton back out on stage for a fun cover of the Townes Van Zandt-written “Pancho and Lefty,” that Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made famous. Then Strait introduced a tune that Stapleton wrote for the country icon’s 2013 album Love Is Everything, “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing.”
“Back in the day, I recorded a few of [Chris’] tunes. You may not have heard this one, it was never a single,” Strait said, to which Stapleton replied, “It still can be!”
As Strait and Stapleton sang the tune, the rain really picked up. By the end, Strait had a disappointed look on his face. With genuine sadness in his voice, he told the crowd that he had five minutes before we had to seek shelter.
As attendees turned to evacuate while the rain started pouring, Strait’s enduring country voice rang out, “Amarillo by mornin’, up from San Antone. Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on.” Fans turned and smiled at the consummate entertainer as he tried to make the most of the minute we had left in a chill-bump inducing moment.
When he was finished, the storm was raging and most concert goers were in the breezeways of Nissan Stadium. Strait’s voice could be heard for several minutes following, saying, “Be safe everyone.”
Although the night ended prematurely, Strait gave it his all for an hour of hits, new memories and country music history.
New A2IM Artist Pro Program Offers Insurance Options For Indie Artists
/by Lorie HollabaughA2IM (The American Association of Independent Music, Inc.) is launching the A2IM Artist Pro program, an initiative designed to provide support to artists by granting them access to its Benefits Store, including health insurance programs and a la carte options, including dental, vision, personal items protection, renters and home insurance, legal services, pet insurance and more.
With annual membership dues of $99.00, A2IM Artist Pro members will have the opportunity to gain entry to an exclusive network of resources, support and opportunities that can support their professional journey.
Recognizing the challenges that artists face in securing reliable health coverage, A2IM is taking proactive steps to bridge this gap. Building on the success of last year’s launch of affordable health insurance for executive members, A2IM Artist Pro ensures artists can tailor their coverage to suit their unique needs and priorities, giving them peace of mind as they pursue their artistic endeavors.
“We are extremely excited to unveil the Artist Pro program as a testament to our unwavering dedication to empowering and uplifting independent artists,” says Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, President, and CEO of A2IM. “Independent artists play a pivotal role in the recorded music industry, and our mission is to guide them towards success by offering invaluable resources and an array of exclusive benefits.”
To provide more background on the Benefits Store, A2IM will be hosting two webinars on Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. central and 2 p.m. central. As part of the Artist Pro launch, A2IM is partnering with Nashville is Not Just Country Music on their upcoming Writers Round and Networking Event this week in Nashville.
A2IM is also offering exclusive access to additional services supporting artists with discounted access to their services via the A2IM Artist Pro tier. Click here to learn more.
Warner Music Nashville’s Stephanie Davenport & Rohan Kohli Earn VP Stripes
/by LB CantrellStephanie Davenport & Rohan Kohli
Warner Music Nashville has appointed Stephanie Davenport and Rohan Kohli as the label’s new Vice Presidents of A&R. They will continue reporting to Cris Lacy, WMN Co-Chair & Co-President.
“Stephanie and Rohan are incredible artist champions who have been the backbone of the A&R department for years,” Lacy says. “Ben [Kline] and I are excited to announce these well-deserved promotions.
“Stephanie has an innate acumen for recognizing and signing unique storytellers whose authenticity becomes the bar by which other artists are measured. She is a driven, inclusive, and strategic leader both within the Warner family, the Nashville community, and the music industry at large,” Lacy adds. “Rohan’s ability to elevate superstar artists and newcomers alike speaks to his expertise in development at all levels of an artist’s career. Guided by his deep multi-genre tastes, he is always on the cutting edge of music that is urgent and important.”
Davenport joined the Warner Music Nashville team as a coordinator in 2011. Now, nearly 12 years later, she has developed a roster comprising some of the most talked-about rising artists in country music, Ian Munsick, Randall King, Madeline Edwards, Austin Snell and more. Davenport started in the industry at William Morris Endeavor (WME) after graduating from Belmont University.
“I am so proud of our entire roster at Warner Music Nashville and am so grateful to the artists, publishers and songwriters who trust us to help bring their amazing music to the world,” Davenport says. “I’m truly blessed to have spent more than a decade working for and with leaders like Cris Lacy and Ben Kline, whose belief in me continues to inspire and push me to be the best A&R I can be for the best artists in country music.”
Kohli began his career at Ozone Entertainment in New York as a manager for bands including Boys Like Girls, Cartel and Hey Monday as well as songwriters/producers Sam Hollander and Dave Katz. Kohli moved to Los Angeles and transitioned into full-time writer/producer management before settling in Nashville, where he worked with Andy Albert, Paul DiGiovanni and more. He started in A&R at Warner Music Nashville in 2018, launching Dan + Shay into superstardom and introducing the world to talents such as Bailey Zimmerman, Ingrid Andress and Avery Anna.
“I am beyond thankful to work alongside the best team in the business,” Kohli shares. “I’m grateful to Cris Lacy, Scott Hendricks, Stephanie Davenport and Mason Domke for showing me every day how to lead with heart, knowledge and passion. Thank you to Cris and Ben Kline for their mentorship and the opportunity to continue to grow with Warner Music Nashville. I’m looking forward to many more years of success together.”
Jameson Rodgers To Jump On The ‘Whiskey Train’ This Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughJameson Rodgers is hitting the road on his new “Whiskey Train Tour,” kicking off Aug. 31 in Starkville, Mississippi. Lauren Watkins, Greylan James and John Morgan will open for Rodgers on select dates.
“This one is called the ‘Whiskey Train Tour’ because the tone of that song matches the tone of the shows. I’ve got some of my favorite artists/friends opening up these shows with Lauren, Greylan and John. It’s going to be a blast and I can’t wait to see everyone there,” says Rodgers.
Tickets for the “Whiskey Train Tour” go on sale this Friday, (Aug. 4) with pre-sales beginning Wednesday, Aug. 2.
Rodgers is releasing a brand new song, “Whiskey Train,” in conjunction with the new tour on Sept. 1. Produced by David Garcia and co-written by Rodgers, Smith Ahnquist, Will Bundy and Lynn Hutton, the rowdy new track captures that Friday-after-five feeling.
“The idea for ‘Whiskey Train’ came at about 1 a.m. on a writing retreat. Lynn Hutton asked Smith Ahnquist if he wanted another beer, and Smith said, ‘Nah man I’m on that whiskey train,’” Rodgers explained. “Will Bundy and I looked at each other and we all immediately started writing. I’m excited for the world to get on the whiskey train September 1.”
In addition to the newly-announced headline dates, Rodgers will join Jordan Davis, Old Dominion and Darius Rucker on select dates throughout the fall.
Jameson Rodgers “Whiskey Train Tour” Dates:
Aug. 31 – Starkville, MS *
Oct. 6 – Springfield, IL ^
Oct. 7 – Indianapolis, IN ^
Oct. 13 – Warrendale, PA +
Oct. 14 – Rootstown, OH +
* With Lauren Watkins
^ With Greylan James
+ With John Morgan
Tyler Reeve Signs With Spirit Music Group
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, front row): Kara Jackson, Spirit Music Nashville; Frank Rogers, Spirit Music Group/Spirit Music Nashville; Tyler Reeve; Scott Safford, Safford Motley PLC; (L-R, middle row): Leisl Eschbach, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC; Kennedy Murphy, Spirit Music Nashville; Andy Hodges, Spirit Music Nashville; Mike Fiorentino, Spirit Music Nashville; (L-R, back row): David Crow, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC; Brian Bradford, Spirit Music Nashville; Cole Perry, Spirit Music Nashville
Hit songwriter Tyler Reeve has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with Spirit Music Group.
Reeve, an Alabama native and graduate of Florida State University, has written some massive hits in the last few years. He co-wrote the 2018 BMI Song of The Year, Brett Young‘s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” which was certified 4X Platinum and has been streamed over 1 billion times.
He also co-wrote the multi-week No. 1 Country Airplay hit “Does To Me” recorded by Luke Combs featuring Eric Church. The song was named SiriusXM The Highway’s 2020 Song of the Year, garnered a nomination for ACM’s Musical Event of the Year category and was certified 2X Platinum. Other notable works co-written by Reeve include Love & Theft’s “Whiskey On My Breath,” Chris Young’s “Where I Go When I Drink,” Scotty McCreery’s “How Ya Doin Up There” and Luke Combs’ “I Got Away With You.”
“Spirit Music is thrilled to welcome Tyler Reeve to the family,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/Chief Executive Officer, Spirit Music Nashville. “Tyler has a unique gift of crafting career songs for superstar artists. We are honored that he has chosen to partner with Spirit and we can’t wait to help him continue to shape the sound of country music.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Frank as a writer and friend for years and I am glad we are finally working together in an official capacity,” shares Reeve. “I’m excited to be a part of the Spirit Music Nashville team, and to work with such a hungry and creative group of talented people.”
“Tyler Reeve is a dream songwriter to work with, and we are beyond excited to partner with him at Spirit,” says Kara Jackson, Senior Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville. “Tyler is an amazing talent as a songwriter and paired with his unbeatable work ethic and networking abilities he is an all-around force. I’m thrilled he’s taken the opportunity to work with the Spirit team and can’t wait to see the success this partnership brings!”
Swift, Gorley, Chapman Lead MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart
/by Caela GriffinTaylor Swift, Ashley Gorley, Tracy Chapman
Taylor Swift is entering her second week at the pinnacle of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Down from last week’s 22 tracks, Swift now has 15 currently on the charts, helping secure her the position.
Ashley Gorley, with 10 songs charting this week including hits by Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Dan +Shay, has moved up into the No. 2 spot, trading with Tracy Chapman who now sits in No. 3 with Luke Combs’ cover of “Fast Car.”
With four songs each, Jordan Schmidt and Ryan Vojtesak hold the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively for the second week in a row.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Shelby Yoder Launches Songwriter & Producer Management Company
/by LB CantrellShelby Yoder
Shelby Yoder has launched a new management company for songwriters and producers, Willo&Co.
Yoder most recently served as Head of Nashville for Milk & Honey before launching Willo&Co. At Milk & Honey, she ran publishing for ventures and managed business for the entire Nashville territory, overseeing more than 100 songwriters and producers. Yoder worked on a global level with her personal roster, serving clients based in Nashville, Los Angeles, London and Sydney.
Prior to Milk & Honey, Yoder worked at NSAI as the Director of Professional Membership & Events. She helped to book and produce the Tin Pan South songwriter’s festival as well as host quarterly No. 1 parties.
With Willo&Co, Yoder aims to take a holistic and rounded approach to management, focusing on prioritizing strategy and sustainability while building individual creatives as small businesses in an evolving modern era.
“I believe in fair pay and fair ownership of intellectual properties, and I desire to be on the forefront of the progression of the Nashville music business,” she says. “I believe that there is space for all genres and types of creators and look forward to expanding Willo&Co to be a multi-city collective of like-minded individuals in pursuit of this.”
Yoder can be reached at shelby@willoco.com.
Gerry House To Be Inducted Into National Radio Hall Of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughGerry House
Former WSIX/Nashville morning host Gerry House will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame’s class of 2023.
He is the only country representative in this year’s class, which will also include WMGK-FM/Philadelphia’s John DeBella, SiriusXM’s Pat St. John, The Bob Rivers Show’s Bob Rivers, KMET-FM/KROQ-FM/KHJ-AM’s Shadoe Stevens, NPR’s Nina Totenberg, Radio Ink‘s Deborah Parenti and radio executive Charles Warfield.
House is a CMA and ACM award-winning radio personality, and was first heard on WSIX-AM in the ’70s. He was the voice of The BIG 98’s Gerry House and the House Foundation from 1983-2010, winning countless National Personality of the Year Honors. He is also an author and songwriter, having penned songs for George Strait, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis and more. House was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NAB Radio Hall of Fame in 2011.
House becomes the eighth country format inductee, following Lon Helton (2022), Bobby Bones (2017), Bob Kingsley (2016), Blair Garner (2013), Ralph Emery (2010), Gene Autry (2003) and the Grand Ole Opry (1992).
The National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be honored at the 2023 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 2 at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel.
The Chicks Announce New Dates For Postponed Shows
/by Liza AndersonThe Chicks. Photo: Robin Harper
The Chicks have announced new dates for their Greensboro, Knoxville and Nashville shows, which were postponed due to illness, on their social platforms.
“We are so sorry for the inconvenience, but our priority is to put on a show you all deserve,” the group stated.
All original tickets will be accepted at the rescheduled shows.
George Strait Makes The Most Of A Rainy Night In Nashville
/by LB CantrellGeorge Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
Saturday night (July 29) in Nashville was a wash out, but before the torrential downpour began, fans came out in droves to Nissan Stadium to see the king of country music, George Strait.
The Country Music Hall of Famer played two nights in Music City, performing for just over two hours on Friday night (July 28) after sets from Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
The Grammy, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning Little Big Town were enthusiastic when kicking off Saturday night’s show. The foursome traveled through a selection of hits from their two decades as a band, thrilling fans with stompers like “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” “Pontoon” and “Day Drinking.”
George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
The band brought fans in close for their Grammy-winning “Girl Crush,” and they swayed along to the Taylor Swift-written “Better Man.” Little Big Town closed their set with the rousing “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” warming the Nissan Stadium crowd up for the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year to take the stage.
When Stapleton appeared onstage, he did it without bells and whistles. The talented singer kicked things off with “Nobody to Blame” and “Parachute” before letting the crowd know that he wasn’t going to spend much time talking in order to get as much music in as he could during his 90-minute set.
Fans raised their hands and danced along to “Starting Over,” “Millionaire” and “You Should Probably Leave” before Stapleton gave them a taste of his new music, playing a thrilling sample of his upcoming album with his new single “White Horse.”
After rocking out on “Cold” and taking us back to his 2015 breakthrough with “Traveller,” Stapleton created a special moment in Nissan Stadium with “Fire Away.” After he and his band got through the song, he enlisted the crowd to sing the chorus one more time with their cell phone lighters in the air.
Stapleton closed his set with “Broken Halos,” which earned one of the biggest reactions of the night, and his record-breaking cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Next up, it was time for the man of the hour. When Strait took the stage in a long-sleeved, button-down, he didn’t appear as hot as the rest of us. He was grinning ear-to-ear, ready to play the beloved country music he’s made for over four decades.
Strait started his set with “Stars on the Water” and “I Got a Car.”
The first sprinkling of rain started during the third song of his set, 1984’s “The Fireman.” Just as he sang the words “I can cool ’em down when they’re smolderin’ hot,” he did exactly that.
The rain came in increments for the next 11 songs. After getting the gals on their feet for “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls,” he lured them in with the entrancing “Run,” which made for one of the night’s highlights.
George Strait and Chris Stapleton perform at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Andy Barron
Fans stayed engaged while Strait transitioned from hit to hit, thrilling fans with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Check Yes or No,” “Ocean Front Property” and “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.”
During “The Weight of the Badge,” photos of service men and women flashed on the screens. When a photo of two of Nashville’s hometown heroes—Officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo who led the charge on stopping the shooter at The Covenant School in March—appeared on the screen, the Music City crowd roared, marking another touching moment of the evening.
Strait invited Stapleton back out on stage for a fun cover of the Townes Van Zandt-written “Pancho and Lefty,” that Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made famous. Then Strait introduced a tune that Stapleton wrote for the country icon’s 2013 album Love Is Everything, “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing.”
“Back in the day, I recorded a few of [Chris’] tunes. You may not have heard this one, it was never a single,” Strait said, to which Stapleton replied, “It still can be!”
As Strait and Stapleton sang the tune, the rain really picked up. By the end, Strait had a disappointed look on his face. With genuine sadness in his voice, he told the crowd that he had five minutes before we had to seek shelter.
As attendees turned to evacuate while the rain started pouring, Strait’s enduring country voice rang out, “Amarillo by mornin’, up from San Antone. Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on.” Fans turned and smiled at the consummate entertainer as he tried to make the most of the minute we had left in a chill-bump inducing moment.
When he was finished, the storm was raging and most concert goers were in the breezeways of Nissan Stadium. Strait’s voice could be heard for several minutes following, saying, “Be safe everyone.”
Although the night ended prematurely, Strait gave it his all for an hour of hits, new memories and country music history.
Aidan Canfield Inks With Universal Music Publishing Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughAidan Canfield and Zach Lund (UMPG Nashville)
Singer-songwriter Aidan Canfield has signed an exclusive, global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Nashville.
A native of Westchester County, New York, Canfield grew up on influences from both rock and country including Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney and Zach Bryan. He released his debut album, We’re Young, Alright, earlier this year, penning all the songs on the project solo. He has opened for Riley Green and others on the road.
“Aidan has artistic instinct, writing chops and a cool demeanor well beyond his years,” says Zach Lund, Director A&R UMPG Nashville. “The songs he wrote before ever stepping foot in Nashville, and the sound he’s already set in motion are great testaments to his abilities. The UMPG Nashville team is completely aligned with Aidan’s vision and eager to help facilitate his music in every way we can.”
“When I first met with Zach at UMPG, our ideas for developing my sound aligned perfectly,” says Canfield. “I know I’ll be surrounded by some of the best people there and could not be more excited about working together!”