Brent Cobb has announced his newly-confirmed Shut Up and Sing Tour kicking off Sept. 22 with support from Adam Hood. The upcoming tour will visit Dallas’ The Kessler Theater, Birmingham’s Saturn, St. Louis’ Old Rock House, Columbus’ A&R Music Bar, and Rocky Mount’s Harvester Performance Center, among others. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. local time.
The new dates follow Cobb’s special co-headline Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane, which includes shows in Chicago, Lexington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte and Atlanta, among others.
Cobb has remained busy throughout the summer and released his first ever children’s book, Little Stuff, this past June via his own Ol’ Buddy Publishing. Illustrated by Delaney Royer, Little Stuff was written as a reflection on what’s truly important in life and was inspired by Cobb’s song of the same name from his latest album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes.
Brent Cobb Tour Dates:
Aug. 20—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall*
Aug. 21—Indianapolis, IN—The Hi-Fi*
Aug. 22—Louisville, KY—Brown Foreman Amphitheatre*
Aug. 23—Lexington, KY—The Burl*
Aug. 25—Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom & Tavern*
Aug. 26—Pittsburgh, PA—Thunderbird Café & Music Hall*
Aug. 27—Philadelphia, PA—Ardmore Music Hall*
Aug. 28—Brooklyn, NY—Music Hall of Williamsburg*
Aug. 30—Boston, MA—The Sinclair*
Aug. 31—Washington, DC—Union Stage*
Sept. 1—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre*
Sept. 2—Isle of Palms, SC—The Windjammer*
Sept. 3—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre*
Sept. 4—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel*
Sept. 5—Columbia, SC—The Senate*
Sept. 7—Charlotte, NC—Neighborhood Theatre*
Sept. 8—Athens, GA—Georgia Theatre*
Sept. 9—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*
Sept. 22—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater†
Sept. 23—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater†
Sept. 24—Helotes, TX—John T. Floore’s Country Store†
Sept. 25—New Braunfels, TX—Gruene Hall†
Sept. 29—Birmingham, AL—Saturn†
Sept. 30—Decatur, AL—Princess Theatre Center†
Oct. 1—Fort Smith, AR—Majestic†
Oct. 2—La Cygne, KS—Firewater Music Festival
Oct. 3—St. Louis, MO—Old Rock House†
Oct. 5—Columbus, OH—A&R Music Bar†
Oct. 6—Ashland, KY—Paramount Arts Center†
Oct. 7—Covington, KY—Madison Live†
Oct. 8—Rocky Mount, VA—Harvester Performance Center†
Dec. 1—Manchester, UK—Manchester Academy#
Dec. 2—Leeds, UK—O2 Academy Leeds#
Dec. 3—Birmingham, UK—O2 Institute#
Dec. 5—Nottingham, UK—Rock City#
Dec. 6—Newcastle, UK—Newcastle Academy#
Dec. 7—Glasgow, UK—O2 Academy Glasgow#
Dec. 9—London, UK—Roundhouse#
Dec. 11—Cardiff, UK—The Great Hall#
Dec. 12—Dublin, Ireland—Whelan’s#
Dec. 13—Belfast, UK—Limelight#
*Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane
†with special guest Adam Hood
#with The Cadillac Three
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014700/brent_cobb4-scaled.jpeg25602522Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2021-08-03 16:04:212021-08-03 16:10:08Brent Cobb Unveils Shut Up And Sing Tour Scheduled For Fall
Garth Brooks at a press conference on Friday (July 30). Photo: Sherod Robertson
Days after Garth Brooks‘ scheduled stop at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was rained out on Saturday night (July 31), Brooks has announced he is planning to use an upcoming break in his stadium tour to re-assess the tour’s continuation with respect to the COVID infection risk.
Numbers of COVID cases have been on the rise due to the highly contagious Delta variant, with the CDC reporting more than 35 million cases in the last 30 days.
Brooks is scheduled to play Kansas City, Missouri on Aug. 7 and Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 14. Following the Nebraska show, the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour will have a three-week window without a concert scheduled in which the tour will assess the remainder of the dates this year.
Brooks’ Seattle, Washington stop on Sept. 4 will be the first show back after those three weeks. Due to uncertainty about the remainder of the tour, the tickets for Seattle, which were supposed to go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6, will not be going on sale yet.
“It breaks my heart to see city after city go on sale and then have to ask those sweet people and the venues to reschedule,” says Brooks. “We have a three week window coming up where we, as a group, will assess the remainder of the stadium tour this year. It’s humbling to see people put this much faith in you as an artist, and it kills me to think I am letting them down.”
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014708/Garth-Brooks-press-conf.png16681824LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2021-08-03 15:19:042021-08-03 15:20:21Garth Brooks To Assess Remainder Of Stadium Tour Dates Due To COVID Spike
Pictured (clockwise): Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth, Breland, Charlie Worsham, Maddie & Tae
On Thursday, Aug. 5, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will premiere season two of Words & Music at Home, which provides free digital programming and resources to encourage audiences of all ages to try songwriting as a way of self-expression. Season two includes a new slate of in-depth conversations with Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, and a live co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth with support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey.
The artists share their perspectives on their creative processes and the stories behind some of their hits during the episodes, which will premiere on YouTube every Thursday at 7 p.m. CST througout August. Viewers are encouraged to participate in the songwriting process by submitting ideas via the comments section during the live YouTube broadcast. The programs will also be available to view on-demand on the museum’s YouTube channel, Facebook and website.
Words & Music at Home launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a component of the museum’s flagship educational Words & Music program, which has taught songwriting to more than 150,000 people since its inception in 1979. The digital songwriting initiative is designed to reach those interested in songwriting anywhere, at any time.
Through instructional tools and inspirational programming, Words & Music at Home serves writers at all stages of their songwriting journey, from beginners to practiced writers looking to take their craft to the next level. The program shares the richness of country’s songwriting tradition, while teaching participants to share their own stories, memories, hardships and dreams in song form.
Words & Music at Home Season 2 Episodes:
Aug. 5: Maddie & Tae
Country music duo Maddie & Tae’s compositions include their No. 1 singles “Girl in a Country Song” and “Die from a Broken Heart.” Maddie & Tae have been nominated for 16 ACM and CMA awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year. They co-wrote 14 of the 15 songs on their 2020 studio album, The Way It Feels, and in the fall of 2021, they will join Brett Young on his U.S. tour.
Aug. 12: Breland
Singer, songwriter and producer Breland’s debut single, “My Truck,” was certified Platinum and led to collaborations with artists spanning multiple genres, including Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Blanco Brown, Lauren Alaina and Chase Rice. Breland co-wrote two songs on Keith Urban’s most recent album, including “Out the Cage,” to which he also contributed vocals–and he recently collaborated with Urban on his single “Throw It Back.” In 2020, Breland released his debut EP and debuted the Apple Music Radio show “Land of the BRE,” which explores the modern evolution of country music.
Aug. 19: Charlie Worsham
Warner Music Nashville recording artist Charlie Worsham released his new EP, Sugarcane, last month. What began as personal reflections from a daily writing exercise grew into six songs that celebrate the love, perseverance and struggles experienced through life. In addition to his own work, Worsham is a frequent collaborator, having recently worked with Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban among several others.
Aug. 26: Words & Music at Home Live Co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth With support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey
Songwriters Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Kevin Dailey and Adam Ollendorff will co-write a song live on YouTube, incorporating ideas from viewers. Songwriting collaborators who have been married since 2017, Amanfu and Ashworth co-wrote the Top-40 radio single “Hard Place” by multi-Grammy-winning artist H.E.R., which earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Ollendorff has toured and recorded with Will Hoge, Kacey Musgraves and John Oates, appeared on recordings by J.D. McPherson and Carrie Underwood and has had songs cut by Keb’ Mo’. Kevin Dailey is an engineer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Mikky Ekko, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Brittney Spencer and Abigail Washburn.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014745/unnamed-11-4.jpg500800Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2021-08-03 14:43:272021-08-03 14:43:27Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, More To Appear On Season 2 Of Words & Music
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, the two-day celebration of art, culture, and diverse music on Sept. 25-26, has announced the lineup for its Americana Music Triangle Experience (AMTE). Celebrating the festival’s seventh year at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, AMTE honors the past and present of the Americana Music Triangle, offering exhibits, intimate chats, and stripped-down performances.
Set on an antique-built stage designed by Mike Wolfe from American Pickers, AMTE will feature performers and musical storytellers including Butch Walker, Valerie June, Robert Finley, Lilly Hiatt, People on the Porch, Layla Tucker, Sunday Morning Service with Pastor Jeff Simmons and special guests Kathie Lee Gifford and Louis York, Rocky Top Revue, The Local Honeys, Manuel Cuevas, Sound Diplomacy’s Shain Shapiro on Music Tourism, and 13th United States Colored Troops, Company A.
“The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has always sought to book its AMTE lineup with the Triangle in mind, to both pay homage and to celebrate the contributions–past and present–of the musicians and the towns they came from. This simply has never been done before where the cities in which music history was made get a spotlight to tell their story, show their history onstage, and participate in a vibrant major music festival,” shares event co-producer W. Brandt Wood.
Produced by Better Than Ezra frontman and Franklin resident Kevin Griffin, alongside Wood and Michael Whelan, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival will host 50+ acts across five stages with previously announced headlinersDave Matthews Band, The Black Keys, Maren Morris, and Cage The Elephant. Tickets are available now.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014748/Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-10.33.37-AM.png367459Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2021-08-03 11:03:452021-08-03 11:03:45Pilgrimage Festival Announces Americana Music Triangle Experience Lineup
Warner Music Group Corp. announced today (Aug. 3) its third-quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021.
WMG’s third-quarter financial results saw a 27% revenue growth, fueled by streaming acceleration and partial recovery in certain COVID-affected areas. Powered by new music, recorded music Streaming revenue grew 27%.
“We’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished during our first year as a publicly traded company,” says Steve Cooper, CEO, Warner Music Group. “During a very challenging time, we’ve focused on investing in our core business and building an array of innovative growth opportunities. Outstanding releases from our artists and songwriters, coupled with imaginative execution by our operators, delivered excellent results in the third quarter. We’re looking forward to wrapping up our fiscal year with a slate of great new releases from established and emerging stars.”
“The third quarter was highlighted by impressive streaming numbers, recovery in several areas that had been negatively impacted by COVID, and strong operating leverage that drove margin expansion,” Eric Levin, CFO, Warner Music Group explains. “We continue to create value through our wide-ranging services to artists and songwriters, to drive shareholder return through our disciplined allocation of capital, and to deliver long-term growth through our digital-first approach to business.”
Financial Highlights:
Total Revenue Grew 27% Propelled by Streaming Acceleration, Partial Recovery in Certain COVID-Impacted Areas
Recorded Music Streaming Revenue Grew 27% Powered by New Music
Robust Growth in Revenue from Emerging Streaming Platforms
Margin Expansion, High Operating Cash Flow Conversion Driven by Strong Operating Leverage
For the three months ended June 30, 2021:
Total revenue grew 33% or 27% in constant currency
Digital revenue grew 29% or 23% in constant currency
Net income was $61 million versus net loss of $519 million in the prior-year quarter
OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization) was income of $241 million versus a loss of $371 million in the prior-year quarter
Adjusted OIBDA increased 58% to $263 million versus $166 million in the prior-year quarter
Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) increased 49% to $282 million versus $189 million in the prior-year quarter
Tom LeGarde, who performed in Nashville for decades with brother Ted, passed away on Friday (July 30) in Hendersonville. He was 90 years old.
Billed variously as “The LeGardes,” “The LeGarde Twins” or “Australia,” the siblings were top country showmen who charted with four titles between 1978 and 1988. Tom LeGarde sang lead and usually did the gospel recitations. His identical twin Ted LeGarde, who died in 2018, sang flawless, pinpoint high harmony vocals. Both played guitar and were prominent ambassadors of Australian country music in Nashville.
Born March 15, 1931, the LeGardes were raised on a farm in Queensland, Australia. At age 15, they quit school and became rodeo riders. Influenced by Canada’s Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) and by their homeland’s Tex Morton, they were soon singing for the rodeo audiences, billed as “Australia’s Yodelling Stockmen.”
By age 17, they’d added rope stunts, whip cracking, rifle marksmanship and card tricks to their yodeling act. This reflected their lifelong commitment to audience-pleasing showmanship.
Tom and Ted LeGarde honed their act in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The handsome, clean-cut siblings launched their Australian recording career with a string of successful singles in 1950-57. These were in a very traditional brother-duet style and included such country standards as “They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree,” “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” and “There Stands the Glass.”
They migrated to North America in 1957. Following a stint in Canada, the LeGardes landed in Hollywood. They appeared on Doye O’Dell’s Western Varieties TV shows and hosted their own TV series on KTLA in Los Angeles.
In 1958, they relocated to Nashville. The duo recorded for Dot (“Freight Train Yodel”), Liberty (“Baby Sister”) and Bel Canto (“Rock and Roll That Hula Hoop”) and made waves with their colorful costumes and stagecraft. The LeGarde Twins debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with their own tune, “Cooee Call.”
They returned to Sydney, where television and disc stardom continued in 1963-65. Three LPs were released during this period.
Then they returned to the U.S. and were signed to a management contract by Elvis impresario Col. Tom Parker. The LeGardes became casino stars in Las Vegas and also appeared on a 1967 episode of Star Trek portraying androids.
Resettling in Nashville, the twins became ground breakers in bringing the country sounds of their homeland to Music City. Tom and Ted LeGarde worked with Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Rogers, Lassie, Groucho Marx, Dale Robertson, Barbara Mandrell, Nat King Cole, Hopalong Cassidy and Randy Travis as they entertained across the subsequent decades.
In 1978, The LeGardes debuted on the charts with their harmony version of the Cole Porter standard “True Love.” Their other charted titles were “I Can Almost Touch the Feelin’” (1979), “Daddy’s Makin’ Records in Nashville” (1980) and “Crocodile Man” (1988).
They became popular visitors to TNN’s Nashville Now and other TV shows. In 1987, The LeGarde Twins were honored by country Hall of Fame induction at Tamworth in Australia. During the 1980s, the brothers also became popular in Great Britain, becoming favorites at the Wembley Festival.
During the 1990s, they operated their own LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre at Twitty City. Following Conway Twitty’s 1993 death, they relocated to the Best Western/Quality Inn Hall of Fame motor inn adjoining Music Row.
Tom and Ted LeGarde blazed a trail for Keith Urban, Jedd Hughes, Jamie O’Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, James Blundel, Diana Trask, Sherrie Austin, Morgan Evans and the other Australians who have had an impact on the American country charts.
Funeral arrangements for Tom LeGarde have not been announced.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/10141651/MR-Obit-Ratio.jpg8001200Robert K Oermannhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2021-08-03 10:48:402021-08-03 11:31:59Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90
Carly Pearce will expand on her critically-acclaimed February release, 29, with her recently unveiled album, 29: Written In Stone, due out Sept. 17 through Big Machine Records. To coincide with her induction into the Grand Ole Opry tonight (Aug. 3), Pearce offers fans “Dear Miss Loretta,” an outreach to the legendary Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn featuring country icon Patty Loveless. The new track is available everywhere now.
29: Written In Stone, produced by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, contains 15 songs–the original seven from 29, plus eight more that trace the arc of realizing, accepting, laughing, crying and moving on wiser for the experience. In the process of facing the loss of her producer and champion busbee to cancer and the break-up of her marriage, she discovered that not only will the truth set you free, but that songs are the greatest form of resilience and strength in the storm.
“So much has happened to me in the last year,” Pearce admits. “The more my life unraveled, the more the songs lifted me up. As the smoke cleared, and some unbelievable things started happening, I was writing even more truth and getting lifted up even higher–and I realized, as much as 29 captured a moment, I wasn’t done with the story.” She continues, “Once I started writing, I thought I’d gotten it all out of my system. But the songs just kept on coming, and I realized to truly understand how you come out the other side, not just a quick snapshot, this full project needed to happen. Now people can see how you thrive and shine even in the lowest moments.”
Pearce has certainly carved a place for herself in today’s country music landscape over the past year, going as far as taking home the 2021 ACM Award for Country Music Single and Music Event of the Year. “Next Girl,” her warning to a woman being smooth talked by a Romeo she knows too well, is rising at country radio and is nominated for MusicRow‘s 2021 Song of the Year. The winner will be announced on Aug. 19 via all MusicRow social platforms.
29: Written In Stone Track List:
1. Diamondback – Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, Tofer Brown, Shane McAnally
2. What He Didn’t Do – Carly Pearce, Ashley Gorley, Emily Shackelton
3. Easy Going – Carly Pearce, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne
4. Dear Miss Loretta (featuring Patty Loveless) – Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
5. Next Girl – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
6. Should’ve Known Better – Carly Pearce, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
7. 29 – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
8. Never Wanted To Be That Girl (featuring Ashley McBryde) – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
9. Your Drinkin’, My Problem – Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Sasha Sloan, Ben West
10. Liability – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
11. Messy – Carly Pearce, Sarah Buxton, Jimmy Robbins
12. Show Me Around – Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton, Ben West
13. Day One – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey
14. All The Whiskey In The World – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
15. Mean It This Time – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014754/unnamed-11-2-scaled.jpg25602560Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2021-08-03 10:30:582021-08-03 10:30:58Carly Pearce Carves Out New Chapters On ’29: Written In Stone’
The Atlanta Braves and CMT are partnering to host CMT Hot Prospects–a free, summer pre-game concert series at The Battery Atlanta, featuring some of country music’s rising stars, including Cooper Alanand Willie Jones with more artists to be announced. CMT Hot Prospects kicked off last weekend (July 31), with Alan’s performance on the Georgia Power Pavilion stage ahead of the Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers game.
Concert recaps, hosted by CMT’s Ashley ShahAhmadi, will air the following week as part of CMT Hot 20 Countdown, airing Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. CT on CMT and promoted across the Atlanta Braves social channels. In addition to pre-game performances, each artist will be featured in various capacities within the game itself.
“This partnership is a country music fan’s dream come true–Atlanta Braves baseball and live music! Each pre-game concert will feature some of CMT’s most promising new artists, our ‘hot prospects,’ who are well on their way to the big leagues of country music, delivering high energy entertainment directly to Braves fans attending the game in Atlanta and nationwide on our weekend series, CMT Hot 20 Countdown,” says Quinn Brown, executive producer of CMT Hot 20 Countdown.
CMT Hot Prospects Schedule: Saturday, July 31: Cooper Alan in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 7 & Aug. 8 Saturday, Aug. 7: Willie Jones in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 14 & Aug. 15 Saturday, Sept. 11: TBA concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Sept. 18 & Sept. 19
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/07014813/Screen-Shot-2021-08-02-at-10.43.18-AM.png362677Steven Boerohttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngSteven Boero2021-08-03 10:06:202021-08-03 10:06:20The Atlanta Braves, CMT Announce New Pre-Game Concert Series
This week, Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris‘ “Chasing After You” enters the top five country streaming songs at No. 4 with 7.2 million streams, contributing to an overall 96 million RTD, according to Nielsen. The Sony Music couple released the duet back in February of 2021. It currently sits at No. 16 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
In the third spot this week is Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s brand new single, “If I Didn’t Love You,” which makes its chart debut and earns 7.2 million first-week streams. The duet also debuts at No. 52 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart this week.
Monument Records’ Walker Hayes spends his third week at No. 1 with his quick hit, “Fancy Like,” gaining a staggering 11 million streams this week, placing him at No. 10 overall. Nelly & FGL maintain the second spot with “Lil Bit” adding another 7.6 million streams. Rounding out the top five country songs is Luke Combs‘ “Forever After All” which added 6.8 million streams this week.
Once again, the top country streaming albums ranks remain the same. Dangerous: The Double Album (Morgan Wallen) stays at No. 1, gaining 44,000 streams for an overall 53 million RTD, according to Nielsen. Wallen also takes the fourth spot with If I Know Me adding 15,000 streams. What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You (Combs) maintain their spots at No. 2 and No. 3 with 24,000 and 17,000 streams, respectively. Chris Stapleton‘s 2016 debut, award-winning album, Traveller, seals the top five with an additional 13,000 streams this week.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/07032615/Ryan-Hurd-Maren-Morris-Credit-Harper-Smith-FB.jpg9511466Lydia Farthinghttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLydia Farthing2021-08-02 16:39:192021-08-02 16:39:19Weekly Register: Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris Chase After The Top Spot On Country Songs Chart
For the third consecutive week, Ashley Gorley is the No. 1 songwriter on MusicRow‘s Top Songwriter Chart. Gorley co-wrote “Good Things” (Dan + Shay), “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Single Saturday Night” (Cole Swindell), and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
Corey Crowder and Hunter Phelps remain at No. 2 and No. 3 this week, respectively. Zach Crowell moves up to No. 4, and Hardy rounds out the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
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.
Brent Cobb Unveils Shut Up And Sing Tour Scheduled For Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughBrent Cobb. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
Brent Cobb has announced his newly-confirmed Shut Up and Sing Tour kicking off Sept. 22 with support from Adam Hood. The upcoming tour will visit Dallas’ The Kessler Theater, Birmingham’s Saturn, St. Louis’ Old Rock House, Columbus’ A&R Music Bar, and Rocky Mount’s Harvester Performance Center, among others. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. local time.
The new dates follow Cobb’s special co-headline Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane, which includes shows in Chicago, Lexington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte and Atlanta, among others.
Cobb has remained busy throughout the summer and released his first ever children’s book, Little Stuff, this past June via his own Ol’ Buddy Publishing. Illustrated by Delaney Royer, Little Stuff was written as a reflection on what’s truly important in life and was inspired by Cobb’s song of the same name from his latest album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes.
Brent Cobb Tour Dates:
Aug. 20—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall*
Aug. 21—Indianapolis, IN—The Hi-Fi*
Aug. 22—Louisville, KY—Brown Foreman Amphitheatre*
Aug. 23—Lexington, KY—The Burl*
Aug. 25—Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom & Tavern*
Aug. 26—Pittsburgh, PA—Thunderbird Café & Music Hall*
Aug. 27—Philadelphia, PA—Ardmore Music Hall*
Aug. 28—Brooklyn, NY—Music Hall of Williamsburg*
Aug. 30—Boston, MA—The Sinclair*
Aug. 31—Washington, DC—Union Stage*
Sept. 1—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre*
Sept. 2—Isle of Palms, SC—The Windjammer*
Sept. 3—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre*
Sept. 4—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel*
Sept. 5—Columbia, SC—The Senate*
Sept. 7—Charlotte, NC—Neighborhood Theatre*
Sept. 8—Athens, GA—Georgia Theatre*
Sept. 9—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*
Sept. 22—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater†
Sept. 23—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater†
Sept. 24—Helotes, TX—John T. Floore’s Country Store†
Sept. 25—New Braunfels, TX—Gruene Hall†
Sept. 29—Birmingham, AL—Saturn†
Sept. 30—Decatur, AL—Princess Theatre Center†
Oct. 1—Fort Smith, AR—Majestic†
Oct. 2—La Cygne, KS—Firewater Music Festival
Oct. 3—St. Louis, MO—Old Rock House†
Oct. 5—Columbus, OH—A&R Music Bar†
Oct. 6—Ashland, KY—Paramount Arts Center†
Oct. 7—Covington, KY—Madison Live†
Oct. 8—Rocky Mount, VA—Harvester Performance Center†
Dec. 1—Manchester, UK—Manchester Academy#
Dec. 2—Leeds, UK—O2 Academy Leeds#
Dec. 3—Birmingham, UK—O2 Institute#
Dec. 5—Nottingham, UK—Rock City#
Dec. 6—Newcastle, UK—Newcastle Academy#
Dec. 7—Glasgow, UK—O2 Academy Glasgow#
Dec. 9—London, UK—Roundhouse#
Dec. 11—Cardiff, UK—The Great Hall#
Dec. 12—Dublin, Ireland—Whelan’s#
Dec. 13—Belfast, UK—Limelight#
*Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane
†with special guest Adam Hood
#with The Cadillac Three
Garth Brooks To Assess Remainder Of Stadium Tour Dates Due To COVID Spike
/by LB CantrellGarth Brooks at a press conference on Friday (July 30). Photo: Sherod Robertson
Days after Garth Brooks‘ scheduled stop at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was rained out on Saturday night (July 31), Brooks has announced he is planning to use an upcoming break in his stadium tour to re-assess the tour’s continuation with respect to the COVID infection risk.
Numbers of COVID cases have been on the rise due to the highly contagious Delta variant, with the CDC reporting more than 35 million cases in the last 30 days.
Brooks is scheduled to play Kansas City, Missouri on Aug. 7 and Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 14. Following the Nebraska show, the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour will have a three-week window without a concert scheduled in which the tour will assess the remainder of the dates this year.
Brooks’ Seattle, Washington stop on Sept. 4 will be the first show back after those three weeks. Due to uncertainty about the remainder of the tour, the tickets for Seattle, which were supposed to go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6, will not be going on sale yet.
“It breaks my heart to see city after city go on sale and then have to ask those sweet people and the venues to reschedule,” says Brooks. “We have a three week window coming up where we, as a group, will assess the remainder of the stadium tour this year. It’s humbling to see people put this much faith in you as an artist, and it kills me to think I am letting them down.”
Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, More To Appear On Season 2 Of Words & Music
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (clockwise): Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth, Breland, Charlie Worsham, Maddie & Tae
On Thursday, Aug. 5, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will premiere season two of Words & Music at Home, which provides free digital programming and resources to encourage audiences of all ages to try songwriting as a way of self-expression. Season two includes a new slate of in-depth conversations with Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, and a live co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth with support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey.
The artists share their perspectives on their creative processes and the stories behind some of their hits during the episodes, which will premiere on YouTube every Thursday at 7 p.m. CST througout August. Viewers are encouraged to participate in the songwriting process by submitting ideas via the comments section during the live YouTube broadcast. The programs will also be available to view on-demand on the museum’s YouTube channel, Facebook and website.
Words & Music at Home launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a component of the museum’s flagship educational Words & Music program, which has taught songwriting to more than 150,000 people since its inception in 1979. The digital songwriting initiative is designed to reach those interested in songwriting anywhere, at any time.
Through instructional tools and inspirational programming, Words & Music at Home serves writers at all stages of their songwriting journey, from beginners to practiced writers looking to take their craft to the next level. The program shares the richness of country’s songwriting tradition, while teaching participants to share their own stories, memories, hardships and dreams in song form.
Words & Music at Home Season 2 Episodes:
Aug. 5: Maddie & Tae
Country music duo Maddie & Tae’s compositions include their No. 1 singles “Girl in a Country Song” and “Die from a Broken Heart.” Maddie & Tae have been nominated for 16 ACM and CMA awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year. They co-wrote 14 of the 15 songs on their 2020 studio album, The Way It Feels, and in the fall of 2021, they will join Brett Young on his U.S. tour.
Aug. 12: Breland
Singer, songwriter and producer Breland’s debut single, “My Truck,” was certified Platinum and led to collaborations with artists spanning multiple genres, including Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Blanco Brown, Lauren Alaina and Chase Rice. Breland co-wrote two songs on Keith Urban’s most recent album, including “Out the Cage,” to which he also contributed vocals–and he recently collaborated with Urban on his single “Throw It Back.” In 2020, Breland released his debut EP and debuted the Apple Music Radio show “Land of the BRE,” which explores the modern evolution of country music.
Aug. 19: Charlie Worsham
Warner Music Nashville recording artist Charlie Worsham released his new EP, Sugarcane, last month. What began as personal reflections from a daily writing exercise grew into six songs that celebrate the love, perseverance and struggles experienced through life. In addition to his own work, Worsham is a frequent collaborator, having recently worked with Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban among several others.
Aug. 26: Words & Music at Home Live Co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth With support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey
Songwriters Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Kevin Dailey and Adam Ollendorff will co-write a song live on YouTube, incorporating ideas from viewers. Songwriting collaborators who have been married since 2017, Amanfu and Ashworth co-wrote the Top-40 radio single “Hard Place” by multi-Grammy-winning artist H.E.R., which earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Ollendorff has toured and recorded with Will Hoge, Kacey Musgraves and John Oates, appeared on recordings by J.D. McPherson and Carrie Underwood and has had songs cut by Keb’ Mo’. Kevin Dailey is an engineer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Mikky Ekko, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Brittney Spencer and Abigail Washburn.
Pilgrimage Festival Announces Americana Music Triangle Experience Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughPilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, the two-day celebration of art, culture, and diverse music on Sept. 25-26, has announced the lineup for its Americana Music Triangle Experience (AMTE). Celebrating the festival’s seventh year at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, AMTE honors the past and present of the Americana Music Triangle, offering exhibits, intimate chats, and stripped-down performances.
Set on an antique-built stage designed by Mike Wolfe from American Pickers, AMTE will feature performers and musical storytellers including Butch Walker, Valerie June, Robert Finley, Lilly Hiatt, People on the Porch, Layla Tucker, Sunday Morning Service with Pastor Jeff Simmons and special guests Kathie Lee Gifford and Louis York, Rocky Top Revue, The Local Honeys, Manuel Cuevas, Sound Diplomacy’s Shain Shapiro on Music Tourism, and 13th United States Colored Troops, Company A.
“The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has always sought to book its AMTE lineup with the Triangle in mind, to both pay homage and to celebrate the contributions–past and present–of the musicians and the towns they came from. This simply has never been done before where the cities in which music history was made get a spotlight to tell their story, show their history onstage, and participate in a vibrant major music festival,” shares event co-producer W. Brandt Wood.
Produced by Better Than Ezra frontman and Franklin resident Kevin Griffin, alongside Wood and Michael Whelan, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival will host 50+ acts across five stages with previously announced headliners Dave Matthews Band, The Black Keys, Maren Morris, and Cage The Elephant. Tickets are available now.
WMG Corp. Q3 Results: Accelerated Streaming, New Music Push Revenue Growth
/by Lydia FarthingWarner Music Group Corp. announced today (Aug. 3) its third-quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021.
WMG’s third-quarter financial results saw a 27% revenue growth, fueled by streaming acceleration and partial recovery in certain COVID-affected areas. Powered by new music, recorded music Streaming revenue grew 27%.
“We’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished during our first year as a publicly traded company,” says Steve Cooper, CEO, Warner Music Group. “During a very challenging time, we’ve focused on investing in our core business and building an array of innovative growth opportunities. Outstanding releases from our artists and songwriters, coupled with imaginative execution by our operators, delivered excellent results in the third quarter. We’re looking forward to wrapping up our fiscal year with a slate of great new releases from established and emerging stars.”
“The third quarter was highlighted by impressive streaming numbers, recovery in several areas that had been negatively impacted by COVID, and strong operating leverage that drove margin expansion,” Eric Levin, CFO, Warner Music Group explains. “We continue to create value through our wide-ranging services to artists and songwriters, to drive shareholder return through our disciplined allocation of capital, and to deliver long-term growth through our digital-first approach to business.”
Financial Highlights:
For the three months ended June 30, 2021:
Read the complete report here.
Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90
/by Robert K OermannTom LeGarde, who performed in Nashville for decades with brother Ted, passed away on Friday (July 30) in Hendersonville. He was 90 years old.
Billed variously as “The LeGardes,” “The LeGarde Twins” or “Australia,” the siblings were top country showmen who charted with four titles between 1978 and 1988. Tom LeGarde sang lead and usually did the gospel recitations. His identical twin Ted LeGarde, who died in 2018, sang flawless, pinpoint high harmony vocals. Both played guitar and were prominent ambassadors of Australian country music in Nashville.
Born March 15, 1931, the LeGardes were raised on a farm in Queensland, Australia. At age 15, they quit school and became rodeo riders. Influenced by Canada’s Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) and by their homeland’s Tex Morton, they were soon singing for the rodeo audiences, billed as “Australia’s Yodelling Stockmen.”
By age 17, they’d added rope stunts, whip cracking, rifle marksmanship and card tricks to their yodeling act. This reflected their lifelong commitment to audience-pleasing showmanship.
Tom and Ted LeGarde honed their act in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The handsome, clean-cut siblings launched their Australian recording career with a string of successful singles in 1950-57. These were in a very traditional brother-duet style and included such country standards as “They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree,” “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” and “There Stands the Glass.”
They migrated to North America in 1957. Following a stint in Canada, the LeGardes landed in Hollywood. They appeared on Doye O’Dell’s Western Varieties TV shows and hosted their own TV series on KTLA in Los Angeles.
In 1958, they relocated to Nashville. The duo recorded for Dot (“Freight Train Yodel”), Liberty (“Baby Sister”) and Bel Canto (“Rock and Roll That Hula Hoop”) and made waves with their colorful costumes and stagecraft. The LeGarde Twins debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with their own tune, “Cooee Call.”
They returned to Sydney, where television and disc stardom continued in 1963-65. Three LPs were released during this period.
Then they returned to the U.S. and were signed to a management contract by Elvis impresario Col. Tom Parker. The LeGardes became casino stars in Las Vegas and also appeared on a 1967 episode of Star Trek portraying androids.
Resettling in Nashville, the twins became ground breakers in bringing the country sounds of their homeland to Music City. Tom and Ted LeGarde worked with Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Rogers, Lassie, Groucho Marx, Dale Robertson, Barbara Mandrell, Nat King Cole, Hopalong Cassidy and Randy Travis as they entertained across the subsequent decades.
In 1978, The LeGardes debuted on the charts with their harmony version of the Cole Porter standard “True Love.” Their other charted titles were “I Can Almost Touch the Feelin’” (1979), “Daddy’s Makin’ Records in Nashville” (1980) and “Crocodile Man” (1988).
They became popular visitors to TNN’s Nashville Now and other TV shows. In 1987, The LeGarde Twins were honored by country Hall of Fame induction at Tamworth in Australia. During the 1980s, the brothers also became popular in Great Britain, becoming favorites at the Wembley Festival.
During the 1990s, they operated their own LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre at Twitty City. Following Conway Twitty’s 1993 death, they relocated to the Best Western/Quality Inn Hall of Fame motor inn adjoining Music Row.
Tom and Ted LeGarde blazed a trail for Keith Urban, Jedd Hughes, Jamie O’Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, James Blundel, Diana Trask, Sherrie Austin, Morgan Evans and the other Australians who have had an impact on the American country charts.
Funeral arrangements for Tom LeGarde have not been announced.
Carly Pearce Carves Out New Chapters On ’29: Written In Stone’
/by Lorie HollabaughCarly Pearce will expand on her critically-acclaimed February release, 29, with her recently unveiled album, 29: Written In Stone, due out Sept. 17 through Big Machine Records. To coincide with her induction into the Grand Ole Opry tonight (Aug. 3), Pearce offers fans “Dear Miss Loretta,” an outreach to the legendary Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn featuring country icon Patty Loveless. The new track is available everywhere now.
29: Written In Stone, produced by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, contains 15 songs–the original seven from 29, plus eight more that trace the arc of realizing, accepting, laughing, crying and moving on wiser for the experience. In the process of facing the loss of her producer and champion busbee to cancer and the break-up of her marriage, she discovered that not only will the truth set you free, but that songs are the greatest form of resilience and strength in the storm.
“So much has happened to me in the last year,” Pearce admits. “The more my life unraveled, the more the songs lifted me up. As the smoke cleared, and some unbelievable things started happening, I was writing even more truth and getting lifted up even higher–and I realized, as much as 29 captured a moment, I wasn’t done with the story.” She continues, “Once I started writing, I thought I’d gotten it all out of my system. But the songs just kept on coming, and I realized to truly understand how you come out the other side, not just a quick snapshot, this full project needed to happen. Now people can see how you thrive and shine even in the lowest moments.”
Pearce has certainly carved a place for herself in today’s country music landscape over the past year, going as far as taking home the 2021 ACM Award for Country Music Single and Music Event of the Year. “Next Girl,” her warning to a woman being smooth talked by a Romeo she knows too well, is rising at country radio and is nominated for MusicRow‘s 2021 Song of the Year. The winner will be announced on Aug. 19 via all MusicRow social platforms.
29: Written In Stone Track List:
1. Diamondback – Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, Tofer Brown, Shane McAnally
2. What He Didn’t Do – Carly Pearce, Ashley Gorley, Emily Shackelton
3. Easy Going – Carly Pearce, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne
4. Dear Miss Loretta (featuring Patty Loveless) – Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
5. Next Girl – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
6. Should’ve Known Better – Carly Pearce, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
7. 29 – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
8. Never Wanted To Be That Girl (featuring Ashley McBryde) – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
9. Your Drinkin’, My Problem – Carly Pearce, Nicolle Galyon, Sasha Sloan, Ben West
10. Liability – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
11. Messy – Carly Pearce, Sarah Buxton, Jimmy Robbins
12. Show Me Around – Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton, Ben West
13. Day One – Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey
14. All The Whiskey In The World – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
15. Mean It This Time – Carly Pearce, Jordan Terry Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Shackelton
The Atlanta Braves, CMT Announce New Pre-Game Concert Series
/by Steven BoeroThe Atlanta Braves and CMT are partnering to host CMT Hot Prospects–a free, summer pre-game concert series at The Battery Atlanta, featuring some of country music’s rising stars, including Cooper Alan and Willie Jones with more artists to be announced. CMT Hot Prospects kicked off last weekend (July 31), with Alan’s performance on the Georgia Power Pavilion stage ahead of the Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers game.
Concert recaps, hosted by CMT’s Ashley ShahAhmadi, will air the following week as part of CMT Hot 20 Countdown, airing Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. CT on CMT and promoted across the Atlanta Braves social channels. In addition to pre-game performances, each artist will be featured in various capacities within the game itself.
“This partnership is a country music fan’s dream come true–Atlanta Braves baseball and live music! Each pre-game concert will feature some of CMT’s most promising new artists, our ‘hot prospects,’ who are well on their way to the big leagues of country music, delivering high energy entertainment directly to Braves fans attending the game in Atlanta and nationwide on our weekend series, CMT Hot 20 Countdown,” says Quinn Brown, executive producer of CMT Hot 20 Countdown.
CMT Hot Prospects Schedule:
Saturday, July 31: Cooper Alan in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 7 & Aug. 8
Saturday, Aug. 7: Willie Jones in concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Aug. 14 & Aug. 15
Saturday, Sept. 11: TBA concert; CMT Hot 20 recap to air Sept. 18 & Sept. 19
Weekly Register: Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris Chase After The Top Spot On Country Songs Chart
/by Lydia FarthingMaren Morris & Ryan Hurd
This week, Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris‘ “Chasing After You” enters the top five country streaming songs at No. 4 with 7.2 million streams, contributing to an overall 96 million RTD, according to Nielsen. The Sony Music couple released the duet back in February of 2021. It currently sits at No. 16 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
In the third spot this week is Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s brand new single, “If I Didn’t Love You,” which makes its chart debut and earns 7.2 million first-week streams. The duet also debuts at No. 52 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart this week.
Monument Records’ Walker Hayes spends his third week at No. 1 with his quick hit, “Fancy Like,” gaining a staggering 11 million streams this week, placing him at No. 10 overall. Nelly & FGL maintain the second spot with “Lil Bit” adding another 7.6 million streams. Rounding out the top five country songs is Luke Combs‘ “Forever After All” which added 6.8 million streams this week.
Once again, the top country streaming albums ranks remain the same. Dangerous: The Double Album (Morgan Wallen) stays at No. 1, gaining 44,000 streams for an overall 53 million RTD, according to Nielsen. Wallen also takes the fourth spot with If I Know Me adding 15,000 streams. What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You (Combs) maintain their spots at No. 2 and No. 3 with 24,000 and 17,000 streams, respectively. Chris Stapleton‘s 2016 debut, award-winning album, Traveller, seals the top five with an additional 13,000 streams this week.
Gorley, Crowder, Phelps Dominate The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellFor the third consecutive week, Ashley Gorley is the No. 1 songwriter on MusicRow‘s Top Songwriter Chart. Gorley co-wrote “Good Things” (Dan + Shay), “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Single Saturday Night” (Cole Swindell), and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
Corey Crowder and Hunter Phelps remain at No. 2 and No. 3 this week, respectively. Zach Crowell moves up to No. 4, and Hardy rounds out the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
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.