Daniel Miller
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
This edition of “My Music Row Story” is sponsored by Worldwide Stages.
Daniel Miller is Managing Partner of Fusion Music where he and his team guide the careers of Martina McBride, Riley Green, Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and pop artist Jeffrey James. Miller, who has 20-plus years of management experience, opened Fusion Music in 2013 and aligned with Red Light in 2014. In 2015, he was named to the MTSU College of Media and Entertainment Wall of Fame, and has served as an adjunct professor there.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up? How did you get into the music business?
It’s hard to believe that this August will mark 25 years from when I moved here. I grew up on a small family farm in rural Missouri. My only exposure to the outside world was the local country radio station and the three or four TV channels our antenna would pick up. I was a finance and banking major at the University of Missouri in the early ’90s when I made friends with the owner of the local country nightclub who managed a band out of Nashville. I soon transferred to MTSU for their Recording Industry Management program. On the day I moved, my mom took me to lunch at the old Shoney’s on Demonbreun and said, “I have no idea what you’re about to do, but I know you’ll figure it out.”
Pictured (L-R): Chris Ferren (Fusion Music), Martina McBride, Daniel Miller at ACM Honors in 2019
Take me through your career journey thus far.
I had only been at MTSU a few weeks when I had the chance to volunteer for the radio remotes at the 1997 CMA Awards. I met Wes Vause, who eventually got tired of me badgering him over email and introduced me to Schatzi Hageman. They ran their independent PR firms out of a shared office space and gave me my first opportunity to learn the business. It’s hard to even remember how we got so much done without Internet access or cell phones back then, but we did.
After graduating from MTSU, I took a position with Simon Renshaw’s management company handling ticketing for the Dixie Chicks 2000 “Fly Tour.” Later that year, I moved over to Borman Entertainment in the middle of the first Tim McGraw and Faith Hill “Soul2Soul Tour,” assisting the great, late Joni Foraker. I spent the next 13 years there working in various support positions. In 2007, Lady A walked in the door and that was my first real shot at being an overzealous day-to-day manager. Gary Borman was a brilliant visionary to learn from.
When did you start your own company?
In the summer of 2013, I was convinced it was time to step out on my own, so I created Fusion Music. It was the wrong time, and I made every mistake imaginable, but no one could have convinced me otherwise. I quickly found out what I knew and mostly what I didn’t. Six months into it, Coran Capshaw extended the opportunity to partner with Red Light Management. His knowledge and intuition are highly underrated and Red Light gave us a place to incubate our business. We still work with them across all our artist projects.
Today our roster includes Martina McBride, Riley Green, Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and developing pop artist, Jeffrey James. My original business plan had a concept for content development but aside from a couple TV production credits, it didn’t pan out as I had hoped…until now. We recently started consulting on brand direction for The Morning Hangover, and have begun looking at unscripted TV concepts. We’re also about to start construction on a content studio adjacent to our new office in Berry Hill.
Pictured (L-R): Dylan McGraw (Fusion Music), Daniel Miller, Lily Rose, Daira Eamon (Lily Rose fiance), Lexi Howder (OH Creative) at the 2022 ACM Awards
We’re not the biggest or flashiest—nor will we ever be—and I’m fiercely protective of our team and the culture we’ve built. Chris Ferren was our first intern eight years ago, and he was recently elevated to VP of Artist & Business Development. He, Nicholas Garvin, Danielle Broome, Dylan McGraw, our co-managers and the extended management team we work with are relentless in finding the best opportunities we can to set our artists up for success.
When did Martina join the roster? How did you two come together?
We met with Martina in the fall of 2015 and I told her, “I know your catalog. I know your career.” Working with an iconic artist was a bucket list dream of mine and over the past six years, we have worked to build upon her incredible catalog and touring history.
You have several artists who are owning their own lane such as Lily Rose and Riley Green. What would you say is the ticket to developing a new artist who is different from your ordinary country artist?
It’s important to me that each of our artists have a unique career path and none are too similar or in direct competition with another. We don’t commit to a client relationship unless we can make a significant difference. The vision is ultimately theirs and we work to surround them with the resources needed to reach their goals. Then we move the goalpost. The secret recipe lies within the artists themselves, whether they know it at first or not.
I don’t think this is unique to us, but we look closely at each artist’s life—from childhood to the present moment—and try to understand their values and what motivates them. The superstar armor comes off at the door and we work as partners to create the most authentic connection between who they are and what they sing about. That’s easier said than done.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Riley Green, RAC Clark, Zach Sutton (Red Light Management)
Riley Green knows his brand with laser-sharp precision and is a natural-born entertainer. He already had an incredibly passionate team around him when we came on board a few years ago. Our focus has been to show how who he is off stage informs the lyrics in his songs.
WME brought Lily Rose to us. I was not familiar with her music yet and until then had refused to use TikTok or take artists emerging from the platform seriously. She showed me how wrong I was. Her progressive approach challenges us to find a unique cross-section of fans influenced by a completely different generation of music and her fans are unconcerned with the genre confines.
What is something people might not know about what you do?
Philanthropic work is required of the team and expected of our artists. We owe our privilege and success to society whenever possible. The Academy of Country Music gave me an opportunity to serve on their board of directors a few years ago and I quickly learned more about ACM Lifting Lives and the significant impact it makes on our community and countless other benefactors. After witnessing the insurmountable reach of their COVID-19 Response Fund, I was honored to accept a leadership position on Lifting Lives’ board of directors.
When do you feel most fulfilled in your role?
We encourage all our artists to be completely unrealistic with their dreams and then we try our damnedest to bring them to life. Every big “first”—single release, album release, or tour—is uniquely special. Nothing is more magical than standing at front of house for the top of a big show and hearing the thunderous crowd respond to an artist’s entrance onto the stage. That beats any amount of money you could ever earn.
My other passion is mentoring people up. I had the great privilege to be an adjunct professor for a few semesters at MTSU and loved sharing our daily experience with excited young students. After my time is done on Music Row, I hope to bore students with my stories.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Cassadee Pope, Shannon Radel (Rising Star Travel)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Don’t go bankrupt buying your own hype.
Who are some of your mentors?
I was raised by strong, independent women so it’s not surprising that my mentors are also. Schatzi Hageman, Karen Krattinger, JoAnn Burnside, Joni Foraker, Donna Jean Kisshauer, and Sandra Westerman gave me opportunities I didn’t deserve and taught me the business. Ed Hardy, Joe Galante, Clarence Spalding and Paul Worley have been incredible resources over the years.
If you could change anything about the Nashville music industry, what would it be?
We have a songwriting community in Nashville like none other in the world but can’t find a way to properly pay them for their works that fuel the entire industry.
What is one of your favorite experiences in the industry that you will share for the rest of your life?
This job isn’t real life. Most of the world works a whole lot harder for much less money. We have been fortunate enough to have artists tour the world and it is overwhelming when an audience in a foreign country sings back every word of their songs.
Nashville Music Industry Execs Spend ‘An Evening With Nate Smith’
/by Lydia FarthingNate Smith. Photo: Tara
Soulful singer-songwriter Nate Smith took over Nashville’s Electric Jane on Tuesday night (April 19) for a special evening of songs and stories.
Decked out with a photo booth, props, and specialty cocktails named after some of Smith’s tunes, the Sony Music Nashville recording artist hosted a packed room of music industry executives to unveil some of his upcoming music.
Nate Smith. Photo: Chris Ashlee
Welcoming the crowd, Smith’s managers—The Core Entertainment’s Simon Tikhman and Kevin “Chief” Zaruk—took a moment to brag on their artist. “When Chief and I started our company about three years ago, we had a vision of the type of people we wanted to work with—good, hard working people. Nate Smith exemplifies all of that,” Tikhman gushed.
“He works harder than everyone else and he wants it. He is the definition of what everyone in Nashville calls a 10-year town. He came here, he tried, and it didn’t work. He had to go back to California and he thought music wasn’t in the cards for him. He found a way after the terrible, devastating fires in his home town of Paradise, California. He got in his car and he headed over to Nashville for a second chance. Lucky for all of us, especially Chief and I, someone introduced Nate to us,” Tikhman continued. “I remember it like it was yesterday. We were having breakfast with Nate and this guy was not the stud, star-looking guy you’re going to see tonight. He was wearing his cargo shorts and pretty much living in his car, and he said ‘I want this so bad.’ We looked at him and heard a couple of demos, and we knew this guy was destined for greatness. We saw the vision.”
They recounted Smith’s story of signing with Sony Music Publishing, allowing him to hone in on his writing and performing skills, before eventually joining the Sony Music Nashville recording artist family.
Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville, Randy Goodman, also took the stage to introduce the rising star. With his signature brand of honest humor, Goodman quickly got to the point saying, “You know what occurred to me? None of you are going to remember what I say after you hear this guy. That’s the truth of the matter. So without further ado, Sony Music Nashville recording artist and publishing artist: Nate Smith.”
Nate Smith. Photo: Chris Ashlee
The California native opened up the nearly two-dozen song set with a burst of energy, delivering unreleased track after unreleased track including the rocking “Wind Up,” the breezy “Sundays Off,” and the slow burning “Alright, Alright, Alright.”
“It means the world that you guys are here,” Smith shared with the lively crowd. “I just want to say thank you to all of you who have supported me, believed in me, become my friend, and really gotten behind me. I never thought in a million years that at 36 years old I’d be here doing this with y’all. It means the absolute world to me and I love you guys so much.”
Keeping the energy up, Smith shared more new songs such as “Bad Memory,” which he playfully dedicated to Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, Rusty Gaston, who took his spot in the front row. He also played his upcoming breakup anthem “Whiskey On You,” which will serve as his next single.
“I can only think of a couple of writes where I had to leave the room crying like a baby… multiple times. This is one of those songs,” Smith shared with full transparency as he introduced “Raised Up,” which pays homage to his upbringing. “I miss growing up a little bit. I miss seeing my mom and dad all the time. I miss going to church with my mom all the time and even getting in trouble. This song really impacted my life in a special way and it was the first song I got to put out with Sony so it’s extra special to me.”
Nate Smith. Photo: Tara
The gifted vocalist, who recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut on April 9, also dove into his fair share of love songs, including the strong “You Shouldn’t Have To,” the redemptive “I Found You,” and his current single “I Don’t Wanna Go To Heaven,” which has spawned a choir version and a brand new duet featuring label-mate Tenille Townes. The latter earned a special performance for the Nashville crowd as it was backed by a 6-piece choir, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
Smith wrapped up the packed set with two familiar fan-favorites, “Sleeve” and “Under My Skin,” which also featured guitar solos and high-reaching vocal runs.
Later this year, Smith will hit the road with Larry Fleet on his upcoming “One For The Road Tour,” with stops in Birmingham, Alabama; Athens, Georgia; Alexandria, Virginia; and New York, New York this October.
AIMP Celebrates Independent Publishing Community At Seventh Annual Awards
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Lee Brice (winner of Artist-Writer of the Year, Double Down Music), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Ree Guyer (Wrensong/Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Crist (Anthem Entertainment), Hannah Ellis (nominee, Rising Artist-Writer of the Year, Curb | Word Music Publishing), Jake Gear (nominee, Song Champion of the Year, Hang Your Hat Music) and Sophie Moll (Jimmy Robbins Music); (L-R, front row): Abbe Nameche (Wrensong/Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Allen (Concord Music Publishing), Aubrey Rupe (Young Guns Publishing); (floor): Ruston Kelly (presenter, Concord Music Publishing). Photo: Katie Kauss
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the seventh annual AIMP Awards Tuesday night (April 19) at The Listening Room Cafe. Co-hosted by AIMP member Jackie Lee and comedian John Crist, the evening honored the accomplishments of Nashville’s independent publishers and writers over the last year.
AIMP nominees teamed up for unique performances throughout the night. Matt Stell performed Gayle’s “abcdefu,” Lee Brice took on Jordan Davis’ “Buy Dirt,” Callista Clark and Jimmie Allen performed Kelsea Ballerini’s “Half of My Hometown,” and Kylie Morgan and Dylan Marlowe did a rendition of Brothers Osborne’s “Younger Me.” Additionally, Davis took on Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris’ “Chasing After You,” Hardy and Morgan Wallen performed Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots,” and CJ Solar and Hannah Ellis played Cody Johnson’s “’Til You Can’t.”
Relative Music Group’s Hardy was the night’s most decorated winner. He won Songwriter of the Year, as well as Song of the Year with “Sand In My Boots,” co-written with Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley and recorded by Wallen. Publisher of the Year went to Kobalt Music. MeGusta Music’s Trina Smith-Dort was recognized as Song Champion of the Year.
The full list of nominees and winners for each category is listed below:
AIMP Rising Songwriter Of The Year
Brinley Addington (Spirit Music)
Sara Davis (Big Machine Music)
Josh Jenkins (SMACKSongs) – WINNER
John Morgan (Triple Play/Double Down Music)
Brett Tyler (Combustion Music)
Dallas Wilson (Riser House Entertainment)
AIMP Rising Artist-Writer Of The Year
Tenille Arts (Noble Vision Music) – WINNER
Callista Clark (Big Machine Music)
Hannah Ellis (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Dylan Marlowe (Play It Again Music Group)
Kylie Morgan (SMACKSongs)
CJ Solar (Edgehill Music)
AIMP Artist-Writer Of The Year
Jimmie Allen (Endurance Music)
Lee Brice (Double Down Music) – WINNER
HARDY (Relative Music Group)
Walker Hayes (SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group)
Ryan Hurd (Big Machine Music)
Morgan Wallen (Big Loud)
Song Champion Of The Year
Jake Gear (Hang Your Hat Music)
Lee Krabel (SMACKSongs)
Cris Lacy (Warner Music)
Colt Murski (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Ciara Shortridge (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Trina Smith-Dort (MeGusta Music) – WINNER
AIMP Songwriter Of The Year
Corey Crowder
Jesse Frasure
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy – WINNER
Hunter Phelps
Jonathan Singleton
AIMP Publisher Of The Year
Big Loud Publishing
Big Machine Music
Kobalt Music – WINNER
Round Hill Music
SMACKSongs
Spirit Music
AIMP Publisher’s Pick Of The Year
“Bigger Man” written by Joy Oladokun, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz – Prescription Songs/Heroes and Halos Music/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music/Big Machine Music – recorded by Joy Oladokun and Maren Morris
“Briefcase” written by Walker Hayes, Lori McKenna – SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group/Concord Music Publishing/Creative Nation – recorded by Walker Hayes
“Miles” written by Luke Preston, Elvie Shane, John Sherwood – Anthem Entertainment/Little Louder Publishing /Rome Phrey Publishing – recorded by Elvie Shane
“Over You is You” written by Tenille Arts, Matt Stell, Ben Stennis, Alex Kline – Young Guns Publishing/Kobalt Music/Noble Vision Music/Endurance Music/Sheltered Music Publishing – recorded by Matt Stell and Tenille Arts
“Truth About You” written by Matt Alderman, Mitchell Tenpenny, Thomas Archer – Curb | Word Music Publishing/MV2 Entertainment/Riser House Entertainment – recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny
“Younger Me” written by TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Kendell Marvel – King Pen Music/Concord Music Publishing – recorded by Brothers Osborne – WINNER
AIMP Song Of The Year
“abcdefu” written by GAYLE, Dave Pittenger, Sara Davis – Big Yellow Dog/Art House Entertainment/Big Machine Music – recorded by GAYLE
“Buy Dirt” written by Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis – Anthem Entertainment/SMACKSongs/Combustion Music – recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
“Chasing After You” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers – Mojo Music/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
“Half of My Hometown” written by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman – SMACKSongs/Tempo Investments/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music
“Sand In My Boots” written by Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley – Relative Music Group/SMACKSongs/Round Hill Music – recorded by Morgan Wallen – WINNER
“’Til You Can’t” written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers – Young Guns Publishing/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Cody Johnson
Industry Ink: Jamie O’Neal, Sneaky Animals Music, Adam Sanders
/by Lorie HollabaughJamie O’Neal Signs With Kinkead Agency
Jamie O’ Neal has signed with the Kinkead Agency for representation. Her new album, Now And Then, is set for release this fall.
O’Neal scored back-to-back No. 1 singles in 2001 with “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels.” She followed that up with multiple hits including “Shiver,” “Trying To Find Atlantis,” and “Somebody’s Hero.”
She has earned Grammy nominations, won ACM and Billboard Awards, and penned most of her own songs, as well as hits for Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Leann Rimes, Cece Winans, Idina Menzel and others.
Steve Cropper, Eddie Gore, Justyna Kelley Launch Sneaky Animals Music
Writer/producer team Eddie Gore and Justyna Kelley have joined forces with legendary guitarist Steve Cropper to launch a new label and production company, Sneaky Animals Music.
The company’s first signing is Emily McGill, daughter of the late Chuck McGill, a local hero in the West Tennessee music scene. McGill grew up singing and playing in her family band and working in her father’s music store, The Bandstand.
She signed a publishing deal with Eddie and Justy Productions in 2020, and has worked and written with Bud Lee, Irene Kelley, Steve Mandile, Jonathan Singleton, Aaron Raitiere, Ronnie Bowman, Troy Tomlinson, and more.
McGill and Cropper will also be playing at Nashville’s City Winery on April 26 7 p.m. CT. For ticket information, click here.
Adam Sanders’ Whiskey Jam Takeover Helps S.O.N.G.S. Foundation
Pictured (L-R): Anna Bea Major from Gator Michaels Consulting, Kelly Ford from PickleJar, Gator Michaels from GMC, Erik Lokkesmoe from Outback Presents, and Adam Sanders
Last month, Adam Sanders held his Whiskey Jam Takeover benefiting the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation.
The music-filled event raised $6,236 for the charity.
Hardy, Jameson Rodgers, Randy Montana, Hunter Phelps Headline Inaugural ‘Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda’ Benefit
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Hunter Phelps, Hardy, Tatum Allsep (Founder/CEO, Music Health Alliance), Jameson Rodgers, Randy Montana. Photo: Hunter Berry
Music Health Alliance’s inaugural “Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda” event took place last night headlined by four of Music City’s hottest writers: Hardy, Randy Montana, Hunter Phelps and Jameson Rodgers.
Pictured (L-R): Randy Montana, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers, and Hardy. Photo: Hunter Berry
The four performed songs in the round that “coulda, shoulda, woulda” been a smash along with their biggest hits during the evening of stories and songs. Hosted by Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton at City Winery, the event raised $125,000 to support the Nashville-based non-profit’s free healthcare programs and life-saving advocacy services.
Based in Nashville, Music Health Alliance has provided free healthcare advocacy and support to more than 18,000 music industry members across 49 states in the non-profit’s first nine years by providing access to medicine, mental health resources, COVID-19 relief, diagnostic tests, lifesaving transplants, end of life care and many other necessary services.
On The Cover: Jason Aldean Graces Cover Of MusicRow Magazine’s 2022 InCharge Issue
/by Lydia FarthingMusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry trade publication, is proud to announce the 2022 release of its flagship print directory, InCharge. Multi-Platinum entertainer and country mainstay, Jason Aldean, graces its cover.
Over the past 16 years, Aldean has released nine studio albums and bolstered 26 No. 1s, 15 billion streams, and over 20 million albums sold. With his tenth studio project—a double-album titled Macon, Georgia—releasing on April 22, Aldean is gearing up to take the road this summer on his “Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour.” The trek will launch on July 15 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and will span 34 cities.
MusicRow‘s InCharge issue highlights some of the most influential music industry executives in the Nashville entertainment community. This year’s edition includes 381 profiles which are accompanied by contact information, career biographies, and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations.
This annual guide also includes a company appendix, record label staff appendix, and a professional categories appendix, which lists executives by their areas of expertise, including label, talent agency, management, music publishing, legal, finance, performing rights organizations and more.
“Our industry is filled with both opportunities and challenges. The leaders featured in this publication are able to identify and navigate both successfully while guiding the industry forward. From the restructuring of distribution channels due to changing technology, to unexpected hardships created by a pandemic, these executives champion and lead our industry through triumph and evolution,” says MusicRow Owner/Publisher, Sherod Robertson.
In this issue of InCharge, MusicRow also takes a deep dive into the world of the metaverse as it becomes more and more buzzworthy in our culture. Tracing the journey that its cutting-edge technology has taken so far, this article also looks ahead to potential uses pertaining specifically to the music industry and opportunities that the metaverse may offer in the years to come.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2022 InCharge issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $110, and are included with yearly MusicRow memberships.
Date Announced For 15th Annual ACM Honors
/by Lydia FarthingThe 15th Annual ACM Honors will take place at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
The evening will celebrate the recipients of the ACM’s Special Awards, including the Songwriter of the Year Award, Studio Recording Awards and Industry Awards from the 57th ACM Awards cycle, which are voted on by the Academy’s Board of Directors.
This year’s ACM Honors will acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of this year’s Songwriter of the Year, Hardy. This award is presented to an individual who stood out as the top wordsmith of the past year, helping to create the stories that artists share with their fans through song. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Rhett Akins, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, and Lori McKenna.
Other Special Awards categories include the Cliffie Stone Icon Award, the Gene Weed Milestone Award, the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award, the Jim Reeves International Award, the Mae Boren Axton Service Award, the Merle Haggard Spirit Award, the Poet’s Award, and the Tex Ritter Film Award.
The Academy’s Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music, with categories including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Piano/Keys Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year, Electric Guitar Player of the Year, Audio Engineer of the Year, and Producer of the Year. Notable winners in the Studio Recording Awards categories in the past 15 years include Busbee, Dann Huff, Jay Joyce, Jimmie Lee Sloas, and Ilya Toshinskiy, among others.
Finally, ACM Industry Awards recognize venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a set number of country concerts, is in good standing with all agents/vendors, and helps promote country music ticket sales. The various categories honored include Casino of the Year – Theater, Casino of the Year – Arena, Fair/Rodeo of the Year, Festival of the Year, Club of the Year, Theater of the Year, Outdoor Venue of the Year, Arena of the Year, Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year, and Promoter of the Year.
Additional details including this year’s winners, host, performers, and general event information will be announced in the coming weeks.
Janie Fricke Announces Tour Dates In Support Of 40th Anniversary As A Hitmaker
/by Lorie HollabaughJanie Fricke
Janie Fricke has announced some tour dates beginning this summer that will run throughout the end of the year.
The decades-long hitmaker will launch her summer run on May 5 at the Leo J Welder Center for the Performing Arts in Victoria, Texas, and visit Dallas, Lubbock, Kerrville and other Lone Star State cities, along with stops in Illinois, Montana, Indiana, and more through the end of 2022 into the New Year.
Fricke has released 25 albums and 36 hit singles, and in recent years, Sony Music Entertainment made four of Fricke’s classic albums available to fans on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other digital platforms via the Legacy Digital Vault campaign, including The First Word In Memory, The Very Best of Janie Fricke, Black & White and Saddle in the Wind.
The collection of albums features the 18-time chart-topper’s biggest hits, including “It Ain’t Easy Being Easy,” “Tell Me a Lie,” “She’s Single Again” and more. Legacy Recordings also released The Essential Janie Fricke to all digital service providers.
Janie Fricke Tour Dates:
5/5/22 – Leo J Welder Center for the Performing Arts – Victoria, TX
5/6/22 – Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre – New Braunfels, TX
6/4/22 – The Big Dance – Dallas, TX
6/16/22 – Sesser City Park – Sesser, IL
7/8/22 – Cactus Theater – Lubbock, TX
7/10/22 – Cailloux Theater – Kerrville, TX
7/16/22 – Tri-Lakes Center for Arts – Palmer Lake, CO
7/22/22 – Sisseton Performing Arts Center – Sisseton, SD
7/30/22 – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, IN
8/6/22 – Old Town Theatre – Huntsville, TX
8/26/22 – Music Ranch Montana – Livingston, MT
9/23/22 – Arlington Music Hall – Arlington, TX
12/2/22 – Janie Fricke’s A Country Cowgirl’s Christmas – Granbury, TX
12/11/22 – Janie Frickie’s A Country Cowgirl’s Christmas – Hopewell, VA
1/7/23 – Rosemary Clausen Performing Arts Center – Holstein, IA
Dustin Lynch’s ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’ Breaks Record As Longest-Running Top 10
/by Lorie HollabaughDustin Lynch. Photo: The Dwyers
At 27 weeks, Dustin Lynch‘s Platinum, six-week No. 1 collaboration “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)” has made history as the longest-running Top 10 single since the Billboard Country Airplay chart launched in January 1990.
Surpassing his four-week No. 1 mark set by 2017’s “Small Town Boy,” the Lynch, Andy Albert, Hunter Phelps and Will Weatherly co-write is Lynch’s eighth U.S. and second Canadian No. 1 at country radio, as well as his third career chart-topper as a songwriter. The song also gives Porter her first U.S. and fourth Canadian No. 1, and has racked up over 300 million global on-demand streams to date.
“Wow! Adding this stat to ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’ is so huge. It further validates what we all felt with this song, and it’s so rewarding to see it continue to connect with listeners,” shares Lynch.
Lynch is once again climbing the charts with his current single “Party Mode,” which scored his biggest add week and highest career debut. He returns to the road this week for back-to-back shows at Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville, Kentucky on Thursday (April 21), and The Anthem in Washington, DC, on Friday (April 22).
Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, More To Headline 2022 Pilgrimage Festival
/by Lydia FarthingThe lineup for this year’s Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has been unveiled with Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jon Batiste and The Avett Brothers at the top of the bill.
In the event’s eighth year, artists such as Lake Street Dive, Elle King, Lennon Stella, Trampled by Turtles, Dawes, Better Than Ezra, Marty Stuart, Celisse, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Butch Walker, Black Joe Lewis, Adia Victoria, Bones Owens, Brittney Spencer, Jensen McRae and more are scheduled to perform across five stages.
The annual festival will return on Sept. 24 & 25 at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee. Two-day GA and VIP passes go on sale tomorrow (April 21) at 10 a.m. CT.
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival aims to boost tourism in Williamson County while also supporting the local community. Last year, a portion of every ticket sold was donated to members of the music industry in need through the Recording Academy’s nonprofit MusiCares, in addition to Friends of Franklin Parks for capital projects at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm.
My Music Row Story: Fusion Music’s Daniel Miller
/by LB CantrellDaniel Miller
This edition of “My Music Row Story” is sponsored by Worldwide Stages.
Daniel Miller is Managing Partner of Fusion Music where he and his team guide the careers of Martina McBride, Riley Green, Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and pop artist Jeffrey James. Miller, who has 20-plus years of management experience, opened Fusion Music in 2013 and aligned with Red Light in 2014. In 2015, he was named to the MTSU College of Media and Entertainment Wall of Fame, and has served as an adjunct professor there.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up? How did you get into the music business?
It’s hard to believe that this August will mark 25 years from when I moved here. I grew up on a small family farm in rural Missouri. My only exposure to the outside world was the local country radio station and the three or four TV channels our antenna would pick up. I was a finance and banking major at the University of Missouri in the early ’90s when I made friends with the owner of the local country nightclub who managed a band out of Nashville. I soon transferred to MTSU for their Recording Industry Management program. On the day I moved, my mom took me to lunch at the old Shoney’s on Demonbreun and said, “I have no idea what you’re about to do, but I know you’ll figure it out.”
Pictured (L-R): Chris Ferren (Fusion Music), Martina McBride, Daniel Miller at ACM Honors in 2019
Take me through your career journey thus far.
I had only been at MTSU a few weeks when I had the chance to volunteer for the radio remotes at the 1997 CMA Awards. I met Wes Vause, who eventually got tired of me badgering him over email and introduced me to Schatzi Hageman. They ran their independent PR firms out of a shared office space and gave me my first opportunity to learn the business. It’s hard to even remember how we got so much done without Internet access or cell phones back then, but we did.
After graduating from MTSU, I took a position with Simon Renshaw’s management company handling ticketing for the Dixie Chicks 2000 “Fly Tour.” Later that year, I moved over to Borman Entertainment in the middle of the first Tim McGraw and Faith Hill “Soul2Soul Tour,” assisting the great, late Joni Foraker. I spent the next 13 years there working in various support positions. In 2007, Lady A walked in the door and that was my first real shot at being an overzealous day-to-day manager. Gary Borman was a brilliant visionary to learn from.
When did you start your own company?
In the summer of 2013, I was convinced it was time to step out on my own, so I created Fusion Music. It was the wrong time, and I made every mistake imaginable, but no one could have convinced me otherwise. I quickly found out what I knew and mostly what I didn’t. Six months into it, Coran Capshaw extended the opportunity to partner with Red Light Management. His knowledge and intuition are highly underrated and Red Light gave us a place to incubate our business. We still work with them across all our artist projects.
Today our roster includes Martina McBride, Riley Green, Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and developing pop artist, Jeffrey James. My original business plan had a concept for content development but aside from a couple TV production credits, it didn’t pan out as I had hoped…until now. We recently started consulting on brand direction for The Morning Hangover, and have begun looking at unscripted TV concepts. We’re also about to start construction on a content studio adjacent to our new office in Berry Hill.
Pictured (L-R): Dylan McGraw (Fusion Music), Daniel Miller, Lily Rose, Daira Eamon (Lily Rose fiance), Lexi Howder (OH Creative) at the 2022 ACM Awards
We’re not the biggest or flashiest—nor will we ever be—and I’m fiercely protective of our team and the culture we’ve built. Chris Ferren was our first intern eight years ago, and he was recently elevated to VP of Artist & Business Development. He, Nicholas Garvin, Danielle Broome, Dylan McGraw, our co-managers and the extended management team we work with are relentless in finding the best opportunities we can to set our artists up for success.
When did Martina join the roster? How did you two come together?
We met with Martina in the fall of 2015 and I told her, “I know your catalog. I know your career.” Working with an iconic artist was a bucket list dream of mine and over the past six years, we have worked to build upon her incredible catalog and touring history.
You have several artists who are owning their own lane such as Lily Rose and Riley Green. What would you say is the ticket to developing a new artist who is different from your ordinary country artist?
It’s important to me that each of our artists have a unique career path and none are too similar or in direct competition with another. We don’t commit to a client relationship unless we can make a significant difference. The vision is ultimately theirs and we work to surround them with the resources needed to reach their goals. Then we move the goalpost. The secret recipe lies within the artists themselves, whether they know it at first or not.
I don’t think this is unique to us, but we look closely at each artist’s life—from childhood to the present moment—and try to understand their values and what motivates them. The superstar armor comes off at the door and we work as partners to create the most authentic connection between who they are and what they sing about. That’s easier said than done.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Riley Green, RAC Clark, Zach Sutton (Red Light Management)
Riley Green knows his brand with laser-sharp precision and is a natural-born entertainer. He already had an incredibly passionate team around him when we came on board a few years ago. Our focus has been to show how who he is off stage informs the lyrics in his songs.
WME brought Lily Rose to us. I was not familiar with her music yet and until then had refused to use TikTok or take artists emerging from the platform seriously. She showed me how wrong I was. Her progressive approach challenges us to find a unique cross-section of fans influenced by a completely different generation of music and her fans are unconcerned with the genre confines.
What is something people might not know about what you do?
Philanthropic work is required of the team and expected of our artists. We owe our privilege and success to society whenever possible. The Academy of Country Music gave me an opportunity to serve on their board of directors a few years ago and I quickly learned more about ACM Lifting Lives and the significant impact it makes on our community and countless other benefactors. After witnessing the insurmountable reach of their COVID-19 Response Fund, I was honored to accept a leadership position on Lifting Lives’ board of directors.
When do you feel most fulfilled in your role?
We encourage all our artists to be completely unrealistic with their dreams and then we try our damnedest to bring them to life. Every big “first”—single release, album release, or tour—is uniquely special. Nothing is more magical than standing at front of house for the top of a big show and hearing the thunderous crowd respond to an artist’s entrance onto the stage. That beats any amount of money you could ever earn.
My other passion is mentoring people up. I had the great privilege to be an adjunct professor for a few semesters at MTSU and loved sharing our daily experience with excited young students. After my time is done on Music Row, I hope to bore students with my stories.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Cassadee Pope, Shannon Radel (Rising Star Travel)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Don’t go bankrupt buying your own hype.
Who are some of your mentors?
I was raised by strong, independent women so it’s not surprising that my mentors are also. Schatzi Hageman, Karen Krattinger, JoAnn Burnside, Joni Foraker, Donna Jean Kisshauer, and Sandra Westerman gave me opportunities I didn’t deserve and taught me the business. Ed Hardy, Joe Galante, Clarence Spalding and Paul Worley have been incredible resources over the years.
If you could change anything about the Nashville music industry, what would it be?
We have a songwriting community in Nashville like none other in the world but can’t find a way to properly pay them for their works that fuel the entire industry.
What is one of your favorite experiences in the industry that you will share for the rest of your life?
This job isn’t real life. Most of the world works a whole lot harder for much less money. We have been fortunate enough to have artists tour the world and it is overwhelming when an audience in a foreign country sings back every word of their songs.