Pictured (L-R, front row): Kara Jackson, Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville; Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville (w/ Star); Cale Dodds (w/ Captain Flint); and AJ Burton, Vice President, Fluid Music Revolution; (L-R, back row): Brian Bradford, VP of Administration and Operations, Spirit Music Nashville; Hannah Hall, Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville; Derek Wells, Senior Director A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville/Founder, 2 Mix Music; Megan Lenzini, Administrative Assistant, Spirit Music Nashville; and Mike Fiorentino.
Cale Dodds has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution. The deal encompasses an administration deal for his catalog, as well as a go forward publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution.
A Georgia native, Dodds moved to Nashville in 2011 and immediately hit the road, touring with artists such as Sam Hunt, Brett Eldredge, Billy Currington, and Chase Rice. Before signing his first major label deal with Warner Music Nashville, he independently racked up more than 30 million streams.
After making a splash in the Nashville songwriting community with the single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial” by A Thousand Horses, Dodds penned his first, two-week No. 1 with “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen” for Chase Rice featuring Florida Georgia Line.
Dodds, who has been writing songs since the age of 12, has also had a hand in writing songs for film and TV, as well as writing for other artists such as Cassadee Pope, Filmore, Lit and many more.
“Spirit and Fluid are very excited to partner with Cale Dodds on this next chapter of his career. Cale is a gifted, hardworking singer-songwriter with an unlimited future ahead of him. We are looking forward to having loads of success and a heck of a lot of fun together!” shares Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville.
“Cale and I have known each other since he moved to Nashville,” adds AJ Burton, Vice President, Fluid Music Revolution. “I have always been a fan of his writing, talent and drive to win!! It’s an honor that he chose to partner with Spirit and Fluid, these next several years are gonna be fun!”
“Starting a new partnership at Fluid/Spirit is a full-circle moment for me,” says Dodds. “Almost every person in that building has played some kind of role in my story and feels like family. I feel more inspired than ever to write songs and I am grateful to start this new chapter with a powerhouse team of people who understand who I am as a creative and share the same vision for the music.”
Spirit Music Nashville racked up nine No. 1 singles, ten top 10 singles, and 11 top 30 songs in 2021, as well as ACM Single of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (via Jonathan Singleton) and Album of the Year with Starting Over by Chris Stapleton. The company also published MusicRow’s 2021 Song of the Year, “Hell of a View” by Eric Church (via Monty Criswell).
Cale Dodds Signs With Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, front row): Kara Jackson, Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville; Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville (w/ Star); Cale Dodds (w/ Captain Flint); and AJ Burton, Vice President, Fluid Music Revolution; (L-R, back row): Brian Bradford, VP of Administration and Operations, Spirit Music Nashville; Hannah Hall, Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville; Derek Wells, Senior Director A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville/Founder, 2 Mix Music; Megan Lenzini, Administrative Assistant, Spirit Music Nashville; and Mike Fiorentino.
Cale Dodds has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution. The deal encompasses an administration deal for his catalog, as well as a go forward publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution.
A Georgia native, Dodds moved to Nashville in 2011 and immediately hit the road, touring with artists such as Sam Hunt, Brett Eldredge, Billy Currington, and Chase Rice. Before signing his first major label deal with Warner Music Nashville, he independently racked up more than 30 million streams.
After making a splash in the Nashville songwriting community with the single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial” by A Thousand Horses, Dodds penned his first, two-week No. 1 with “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen” for Chase Rice featuring Florida Georgia Line.
Dodds, who has been writing songs since the age of 12, has also had a hand in writing songs for film and TV, as well as writing for other artists such as Cassadee Pope, Filmore, Lit and many more.
“Spirit and Fluid are very excited to partner with Cale Dodds on this next chapter of his career. Cale is a gifted, hardworking singer-songwriter with an unlimited future ahead of him. We are looking forward to having loads of success and a heck of a lot of fun together!” shares Frank Rogers, CEO, Spirit Music Nashville.
“Cale and I have known each other since he moved to Nashville,” adds AJ Burton, Vice President, Fluid Music Revolution. “I have always been a fan of his writing, talent and drive to win!! It’s an honor that he chose to partner with Spirit and Fluid, these next several years are gonna be fun!”
“Starting a new partnership at Fluid/Spirit is a full-circle moment for me,” says Dodds. “Almost every person in that building has played some kind of role in my story and feels like family. I feel more inspired than ever to write songs and I am grateful to start this new chapter with a powerhouse team of people who understand who I am as a creative and share the same vision for the music.”
Spirit Music Nashville racked up nine No. 1 singles, ten top 10 singles, and 11 top 30 songs in 2021, as well as ACM Single of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (via Jonathan Singleton) and Album of the Year with Starting Over by Chris Stapleton. The company also published MusicRow’s 2021 Song of the Year, “Hell of a View” by Eric Church (via Monty Criswell).
Country Radio Hall Of Famer ‘Eddie Edwards’ Drennan Passes Away
/by Lydia FarthingCountry Radio Hall of Fame personality and programmer “Eddie Edwards” Drennan passed away on Sunday (June 19) at the age of 75.
A San Diego native, Drennan was introduced to radio through his father, who performed in bands on radio shows throughout the West Coast. His first radio job was in Barstow, California, which led him to career stops at XEPRS-AM in San Diego, WMC-AM in Memphis, WSIX in Nashville, KLAC-AM in Los Angeles, KAJA in San Antonio and KEBC in Oklahoma City.
Drennan spent 25 years as Program Director at WNOE in New Orleans. He exited the station in 2017 and had since been covering mornings at WUUU in Covington, Louisiana—a station that reports to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Drennan was named the ACM Personality of the Year in 1986 as well as the CMA Medium Market Personality of the Year in 1987. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2013.
No memorial arrangements have been announced at this time.
Miranda Lambert Moves Back Into Top 5 On MusicRow Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellMiranda Lambert. Photo: Angelina Castillo
Miranda Lambert makes her way to No. 5 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. The singer is a co-writer on her own “If I Was A Cowboy,” as well as Morgan Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know.”
Ernest K. Smith moves into the top position this week, with co-writer credit on Wallen’s “Wasted On You” and “You Proof,” Jelly Roll’s “Son Of A Sinner” and his own “Flower Shops.”
Ashley Gorley (No. 2), Ben Johnson (No. 3), and Morgan Wallen (No. 4) make up the rest of the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week.
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.
Chris Stapleton, Pilgrimage Launch Charity Sweepstakes For Outlaw State Of Kind Fund
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Stapleton has joined forces with the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and Fandiem to launch a fundraising sweepstakes campaign to benefit Outlaw State of Kind.
This special benefit campaign offers one lucky fan and a guest an all-expense-paid VIP trip to the 2022 Pilgrimage Festival from Sept. 24-25 in Franklin, Tennessee, plus a signed Stapleton Gibson ES-335 vintage burst guitar.
Starting at $10, participants can donate to win a prize package such as a two 2-day VIP Village Passes to Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which include express entry to the festival, stage-front viewing areas, access to the VIP Village Pavilion, and more; round trip travel to Franklin plus a 3-night hotel stay for two; ground transportation stipend to and from the festival; a tour of the Gibson Garage and Exclusive Backstage Vault; and a Pilgrimage Music Festival Merch package.
The fundraising sweepstakes will run until Sept. 7. Fans can donate to win exclusively at fandiem.com/pilgrimage.
Founded in 2016 by Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund supports a variety of causes close to the couple’s hearts.
Steve Moakler Plots ‘Make A Little Room Tour’
/by Lydia FarthingSteve Moakler. Photo: Micah McNair
Singer-songwriter Steve Moakler announced he will hit the road on the “Make A Little Room Tour” in correlation with the release of his seventh studio album of the same name.
The six-stop trek will kick off Aug. 5 in Warrendale, Pennsylvania before hitting D.C. and New York City, and will conclude in Nashville on Aug. 27. Tickets will go on sale this Friday (June 24) at noon local time.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever had so much excitement and anticipation around a run of shows… It’s been close to 4 years since I’ve performed in a music venue,” Moakler explains. “Gonna be a really special time celebrating this new music with the people we made it for.”
Along the way, Moakler will share brand new songs from the album, including the title track and the recently released “Let’s Go To The Lake.” Co-written by Moakler, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, “Let’s Go To The Lake” is equal parts hopeful and sentimental as Moakler urges listeners to find nostalgia in what was once lost.
Make A Little Room, which will be available everywhere on Aug. 12, features co-writes with some of Nashville’s most distinguished songwriters in the genre, including Marcus Hummon, Neil Medley and Lucie Silvas, among others. Moakler serves as a co-writer on all of the project’s 10 tracks.
In 2014, Moakler signed with Creative Nation and has penned songs performed by Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen and Ben Rector, among others. The the Pittsburgh native’s work as a songwriter has secured him multiple chart successes, including Dierks Bentley’s Gold-certified “Riser.”
Patrick Murphy Plans Major Label Debut For July
/by Lorie HollabaughPatrick Murphy. Photo: Robby Klein
Patrick Murphy is set to release his debut Warner Music Nashville EP, Half The Story, on July 29. The six-song set includes the latest single, “Blue Jeans, Blue Eyes, Blue Skies,” which follows the project’s anthemic lead release, “Momentum.”
A Perham, Minnesota native, Murphy began honing his piano skills at three, going on to play in front of his first audiences at the local church. He eventually began singing, and was influenced by artists such as Keith Urban, Elton John, Brett Eldredge, Journey and more.
The 23-year-old has developed his own sound, which he describes as Rascal Flatts and Dan + Shay meet The Script and Andy Grammer.
Over the past several years, the Nashville-based musician landed his first publishing and major label record deal, and has opened for Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Kip Moore, Chris Janson and more.
Murphy is managed by Alicia Pruitt of Red Light Management.
1. Life Style – Patrick Murphy, J.T. Harding, Josh Osborne
2. Blue Jeans, Blue Eyes, Blue Skies – Patrick Murphy, Jerry Flowers, Hunter Phelps
3. Momentum – Patrick Murphy, Nick Foxer, Rich Karg
4. Scares Me More – Patrick Murphy, Bernie Herms, Emily Weisband
5. Lookin’ Back – Patrick Murphy, Jay Brunswick, Heather Morgan, Tommy Cecil
6. I’m Not Giving Up – Patrick Murphy, Josh Kear, Ray Fulcher
Lauren Alaina Plays Special Acoustic Set At Exclusive Maurices Event
/by Lydia FarthingLauren Alaina. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
Lauren Alaina, the first-ever celebrity brand ambassador for the Maurices retail brand, was part of an exclusive event for the brand last week in New York City.
The event was hosted by Maurices’ executive team and showcased curated looks from their upcoming fall collection. Attendees were the first to enjoy views from the company’s new Brooklyn Design Studio, while listening to a private acoustic performance by Grand Ole Opry member Alaina.
Alaina also recently partnered with the brand to give every CMA Fest attendee a pair of Maurices jeans. For a limited time, fans that attended the festival can show their ticket at any of Maurices’ 900 stores across the U.S. and Canada between June 18 and June 24 for a free pair of classic m jeans by Maurices, courtesy of Alaina.
To learn more about Alaina’s partnership with Maurices, click here.
Pictured (L-R): CEO, David Kornberg; Deaven Yuska, Chief Merchandising Officer; Lauren; CAO/CFO, Brian Thun; Sue Ross, Chief Human Resources Officer and Communications Officer; Laura Sieger, Chief Marketing Officer. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
Dylan Scott Announces Headlining ‘Amen To That Tour’ For Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Scott will embark on his cross-country “Amen To That Tour” this fall with singer-songwriters Erin Kinsey and Lily Rose providing direct support in select cities.
The trek, which takes its name from Scott’s brand new song dropping this Friday (June 24), begins Sept. 28 and visits Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and more through Nov. 5. Fans get first dibs on tickets with the Dylan Scott Fan Club presale beginning tomorrow (June 21). Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday (June 24) at dylanscottcountry.com.
The “Amen To That Tour” will bring brand new cuts from Scott’s upcoming album, Livin’ My Best Life, to the stage for the first time. Arriving Aug. 5, the project is the follow-up to the hitmaker’s Nothing To Do Town EP.
Scott co-penned eight of the album’s 16 songs with cowriters such as Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, and more. Notable tracks include the fiery heartbreak single “New Truck,” unifying anthem “In Our Blood (feat. Jimmie Allen),” and viral TikTok ballad “Can’t Have Mine (Find You A Girl).”
Scott recently previewed the new music for fans in downtown Nashville at CMA Fest. In addition to hosting an exclusive fan party and announcing his new Beer Buddies fan club, Scott performed at the Spotify House at Ole Red, on the Riverfront Stage, and appeared at Fan Fair X at the Music City Center. He capped the weekend with a performance at Nissan Stadium in front of more than 50,000 fans.
“Amen To That Tour” Dates:
Sept. 28 — Los Angeles, CA // Belasco Theatre*
Oct. 1 — Phoenix, AZ // The Van Buren*
Oct. 7 — Springfield, MO // Midnight Rodeo**
Oct. 8 — Oklahoma City, OK // Tower Theatre**
Oct. 13 — Stroudsburg, PA // Sherman Theatre*
Oct. 14 — Pittsburgh, PA // Roxian Theatre*
Oct. 15 — Albany, NY // Empire Live*
Oct. 21 — Champaign, IL // The City Center at Fat City**
Oct. 22 — Indianapolis, IN // 8 Seconds Saloon**
Oct. 28 — Milwaukee, WI // The Rave**
Oct. 29 — Sioux Falls, SD // The District**
Nov. 4 — Oxford, MS // The Lyric**
Nov. 5 — Little Rock, AR // The Hall**
*with Erin Kinsey
**with Lily Rose
Provident Entertainment Expands A&R Team By Two
/by Lorie HollabaughMaci Shingleton & Daniel Jones
Provident Entertainment has added two staffers to its A&R team. Maci Shingleton has been named Director of A&R, and Daniel Jones joins as Manager of A&R Operations.
Shingleton started at Provident in 2015 as Marketing Coordinator with Essential Worship after earning her B.A. from Trevecca University. After advancing to Brand Manager and then Associate Director with Essential Worship, Shingleton has been overseeing all creative and branding for Essential, including its popular Song Session video series.
She has worked with a broad spectrum of artists, including Chandler Moore, Elevation Worship, Matt Maher, Zach Williams, Casting Crowns, Phil Wickham, Maverick City Music, Brandon Lake, and Red Rocks Worship, among others. Shingleton will report to Blaine Barcus, SVP of A&R, and will be responsible for developing and signing new artists to the label roster.
Jones joins the Provident team in the newly-created position of Manager of Studio and A&R Operations. After completing a B.A. degree from Oral Roberts University, he moved to Nashville to pursue a music career as a drummer. He found work as a touring musician with For King & Country, Brooke Ligertwood, Andrew Ripp, Stars Go Dim, David Leonard, and more. He has also worked as the Social Media Manager for Worship Online since 2017.
Jones will also report to Barcus, along with supporting the A&R team in both creative and administrative capacities.
“I am thrilled to welcome both Maci and Daniel to the Provident A&R team!” Barcus shares. “They are both highly creative individuals with a deep passion for serving artists and songs. I am excited to see all that Maci and Daniel will contribute to the legacy of Provident Entertainment and its roster of artists.”
Louie Newman Temporarily Returns To Capitol Records Nashville
/by Lydia FarthingLouie Newman
Industry veteran Louie Newman will temporarily return to Capitol Records Nashville as Ashley Knight, Director of Regional Promotion Southeast, is on maternity leave.
Newman retired in 2019 after more than 25 years with MCA Nashville and prior stints at Capitol Records Nashville in the same position.
“We are excited and fortunate to have Louie back in the trenches and representing the Capitol Roster while Ashley is out,” says Capitol Records Nashville VP Promotion, Bobby Young. “Everyone at Capitol and UMG wish Ashley and her husband, Jacob, all the best with this new chapter of their life!”
“I’m so fired up to rejoin my family at UMG Nashville,” adds Newman. “I’ve been asked to fill in for my great friend Ashley Knight. I know my radio friends will be running to the nearest exit. Fun times ahead.”
Newman can be reached at (404) 449-3376 or at louisvnewman@gmail.com.