Michael Ray’s Multi-Week No. 1, ‘Whiskey And Rain,’ Goes Platinum

Michael Ray’s “Whiskey And Rain” has reached another milestone, earning RIAA Platinum certification after notching the Florida-native’s fourth chart topper and his first multi-week No. 1. The track was written by Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure.

“When I first heard ‘Whiskey And Rain,’ I connected with the idea of letting yourself really live in a moment where it can wash over you,” shares Ray. “To say I’m proud of this song would be an understatement. I’m very grateful that it’s found a home in the hearts of fans. I couldn’t do this without them or the team I have behind me.”

“Holy Water,” the second single from Ray’s Higher Education EP, continues to climb the charts at country radio. The song was penned by Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson and Michael Hardy.

He is set to perform a slew of festival and headlining dates this summer before re-joining Lee Brice on the “Label Me Proud Tour.” For a full list of upcoming dates, click here.

 

Joe Nichols Plans Big Screen Debut With Murder At Yellowstone City

Quartz Hill Records’ Joe Nichols is set to make his big screen debut in the new western film, Murder At Yellowstone City, available now in select theaters, on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and more.

In Murder At Yellowstone City, a former slave who arrives in Yellowstone City, Montana looks for a place to call home. On that same day, a local prospector discovers gold–and is murdered. Written by Eric Belgau, the film was directed by Richard Gray and stars Gabriel Byrne, Thomas Jane, Isaiah Mustafa, Richard Dreyfuss, Nat Wolff, Anna Camp, Aimee Garcia, Emma Kenney and Zach McGowan.

Nichols plays Colin Hodge, the son of a dirt farmer and the grandson of a defender of the Alamo. Since surviving a mine collapse he’s fallen on hard times–living in a tent on the edge of town and drowning his memories and nerves in alcohol. His constant singing, beautiful in its sadness, is a fixture in town.

“I am so excited for everyone to see the film,” says Nichols. “It was a lot of fun to make. I loved old westerns as a kid and had a great time on set.”

The film premieres on the heels of Nichols recently released Good Day For Living. His first new full-length project in four years, the 13-song collection reunites the multi-Platinum entertainer with producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, who helmed his 2013 album Crickets containing back-to-back No. 1 Gold-certified hits “Sunny and 75” and “Yeah.”

 

Nashville Meets London Adds Sarah Darling, Ruthie Collins, More To 2022 Festival Lineup

Nashville Meets London (NML) has announced the next round of performers added to the 2022 Music Festival lineup, including Sarah Darling, Candi Carpenter, Ruthie Collins, and Arbor North.

The NML Music Festival will be held on Aug. 24 and 25 at the Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London. The festival will feature performances by 12 artists, with six sets scheduled between 4-11 p.m. on both days. The newly added talent joins previously announced artists Priscilla Block, Shy Carter, Manny Blu, and Kyle Daniel. More talent will be announced in the coming days.

NML organizers have also announced the addition of live performances by Daniel and Vicki Manser to the NML Country Music River Cruise, which will be held on Aug. 19. Tickets for the NML River Cruise and the NML Music Festival are limited and available for purchase here.

Leading up to the festivities, NML Presents! monthly residency shows will take place on June 29 with Jeff Cohen and July 27 with Alannah McCready.

7eventh Time Down’s ‘God Is On The Move’ Receives Gold Treatment

BEC Recordings’ band 7eventh Time Down is celebrating the Gold certification of their 2016 multi-week No. 1 “God Is On The Move.” With sales exceeding 500,000 units, the career-defining hit remains one of the most popular songs in the band’s discography.

Penned by 7eventh Time Down members Cliff Williams and Mikey Howard, along with Ian Eskelin and Tony Wood, the track celebrates the Lord’s work through the lives of His people.

“After more than 25 years in the music industry, I know how rare it is to encounter a song that touches so many lives in such impactful ways,” says Brandon Ebel, President, BEC Recordings and Tooth & Nail Records. “’God Is On The Move’ is one of those songs—an inspiration to thousands of people, including me and my family. Congratulations to 7eventh Time Down for this well-deserved RIAA Gold single. It is an honor for us to be part of your musical journey.”

“We write songs and send them out into the ocean like rescue boats for the lost and hurting, and even the saved who need a boost of encouragement or a reminder that they are not alone,” shares Howard. “It’s not that we write a song and hope it goes Gold—although we are deeply appreciative of the honor—we simply hope that when the boat comes back, it’s full of people who needed help.” He adds, “I thank God for the team behind ‘God Is On The Move. I’m grateful to have played a small part in the success of this song, and we give God all the glory.”

7eventh Time Down is comprised of lead vocalist Howard, drummer Austin Miller and bassist Williams. The group has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and shared the stage with such artists as Newsboys, For King & Country and Matthew West, among others.

Charlie Daniels‘ very first Volunteer Jam at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville from 1974 is being released for the first time on Charlie Daniels & Friends: Volunteer Jam 1 – 1974 – The Legend Begins. The vintage record will drop on Aug. 26 via Blue Hat Records and BFD/Audium Nashville.

The 12-track album includes live performances from The Charlie Daniels Band with special guests Toy Caldwell and Paul Riddle of The Marshall Tucker Band,The Allman Brothers’ Dickey Betts, and Jamie Nichol. The previously unreleased project includes “Tennessee Waltz,” “Whiskey,” “Long Haired Country Boy,” “Caballo Diablo,” “Jambalaya,” “The South’s Gonna Do It (Again),” and more.

“The Volunteer Jam was a magical evening,” says Daniels’ longtime manager and Blue Hat Records President David Corlew. “There was no other event like it. There has never been and will never be. This is the first one. The beginning, where it all started. So let this first Jam be your melodic introduction to a musical legend like no other.”

Additionally on Aug. 26, Blue Hat and BFD/Audium Nashville will release a special vinyl edition of Charlie Daniels & Friends — Duets, exclusively available at Walmart stores. Originally released last July, the nineteen-track album features Daniels dueting with Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Brenda Lee, Gretchen Wilson and more.

Charlie Daniels & Friends: Volunteer Jam 1 – 1974 – The Legend Begins Track List:
1. Tennessee Waltz
2. Whiskey
3. Way Down Yonder
4. Long Haired Country Boy
5. New York City, King Size Rosewood Bed
6. Caballo Diablo
7. Jambalaya
8. Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)
9. No Place To Go
10. The South’s Gonna Do It (Again)
11. Orange Blossom Special
12. Don’t You Lie to Me

Singer-songwriter and musician Rob Williford has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Edgehill Music Publishing.

Williford is a frequent collaborator of country hitmaker Luke Combs, having written his 2019 CMA Song of the Year, “Beautiful Crazy,” which went RIAA-certified double Platinum and ruled Billboard’s Country Music Airplay chart, holding the No. 1 spot for seven straight weeks. Williford also co-wrote Combs’ fast-rising hits “Forever After All” and “Doin’ This.”

Williford, a Gastonia, North Carolina native, is currently playing guitar and singing in Combs’ band on his stadium tour. The multi-faceted talent is also collaborating on a studio project with Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 and producer David Mescon. The album, written and co-produced by Williford, is expected to be released later this year.

Music industry veterans Peter Strickland and Craig Campbell have launched Marathon Talent. The company combines Marathon Talent Agency and Campbell Entertainment management clients under a new full-service management and artist development business.

A Boston native, Strickland established Marathon Talent Agency in 2018 after rising to Chief Marketing Officer during his tenure at Warner Music Group. He helped launch the careers of Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Faith Hill, Hunter Hayes, Jana Kramer, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry The Cable Guy, and others. He was recognized as a Top 50 Power Player by Billboard in 2015 and 2017, and is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Music.

Strickland brings clients Jon Wolfe, comedian Byron Kennedy, and pop artist Maeve Steele to the Marathon Talent roster, among others.

Campbell spent nine years at AristoMedia and 14 representing artists such as The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, and Patty Loveless at Sony Music/Sony BMG Nashville. He launched his publicity and artist management company in 2008. A native of Cincinnati, he is a graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry Management Program and a 2013 alumnus of Leadership Music.

Campbell brings pianist Kory Caudill and traditionalist Tommy Townsend (with Space Colonel Management) to Marathon Talent, and will maintain a select group of publicity clients at Campbell Entertainment.

“Craig upholds the values of Marathon Talent, not only in his career but also in his daily lifestyle-being honest, dedicated, trustworthy resilient. His integrity is unshakable,” says Strickland.

“I admired Peter’s career from down the street, while he was at Warner and I was at Sony,” adds Campbell. “I really got to know him after he launched Marathon Talent Agency and was drawn to his passion for artists and their music. When he brought up the idea of combining our strengths, it was an easy and enthusiastic ‘yes.’”

PickleJar is set to host an exclusive livestream of the Country Radio Broadcaster’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, June 30.

Broadcasting live from the Virgin Hotel in Nashville, the live entertainment and cashless tipping platform will stream the ceremony through PickleJarPlus.com, as well as the CRB Facebook page starting at 7 p.m. CT.

PickleJar will make exclusive red-carpet interviews and photos available across all of their digital platforms and free for all users. Cocktail hour will kick off at 6 p.m. CT with Brian McFayden on site to conduct inductee and honoree interviews on the red carpet. 

The ceremony, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, will honor eight new Hall of Fame inductees: Becky Brenner, Barry Mardit, Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale and Rachel & Grunwald.

Bob Call was a 2021 selection but was unable to attend last year’s ceremony due to a last-minute family emergency. The Country Radio Hall of Fame deferred Call’s induction to the 2022 ceremony so he could be properly recognized.

The CRB Artist Career Achievement Recipient was recently announced as country icon, Trisha Yearwood. 

“We are thrilled to work with RJ Curtis and his amazing team again to share the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with the masses,” says PickleJar CEO Jeff James. “These inductees deserve to have their special moment shared with as many people as possible, and we are so thankful we can make that happen.” 

This marks the second consecutive year that PickleJar has partnered with CRB to bring the event into the public’s homes. This partnership also extends to CRB’s annual Country Radio Seminar where PickleJar made their debut footprint this year with multiple activations and sponsorships throughout the week’s festivities.