Mary Chapin Carpenter To Kick Off Summer Tour In June

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Mary Chapin Carpenter. Photo: Aaron Farrington

Mary Chapin Carpenter is launching an extensive headlining tour this summer with shows at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, Denver’s Botanic Gardens, Minneapolis’ Pantages Theater, Boston’s The Wilbur, and an Aug. 19 show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, among many others.

Carpenter will also perform select co-headline dates with Emmylou Harris this summer, including stops at Charlottesville’s Sprint Pavilion, Vienna’s Wolf Trap and Chicago’s Ravinia Theater.

Tickets for the shows go on sale this Friday (March 11) at 10 a.m. local time. Details can be found at marychapincarpenter.com/tour.

The dates add to yet another notable year for Carpenter, who is nominated for Best Folk Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for her One Night Lonely (Live). A rare solo performance, the album was recorded in 2020 at Virginia’s Wolf Trap, and features songs from across her acclaimed career including several from her latest studio album, The Dirt And The Stars.

Over the course of her career, Carpenter has sold over 15 million records and has won five Grammy awards, two CMA awards, two ACM awards, and is one of only fifteen female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Mary Chapin Carpenter Tour Dates:
June 8—Santa Rosa, CA—Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
June 9—San Francisco, CA—Palace of Fine Arts
June 10—Monterey, CA—Golden State Theater
June 12—San Luis Obispo, CA—Freemont Theater
June 14—El Cajon, CA—The Magnolia
June 15—Scottsdale, AZ—Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts
June 16—Tucson, AZ—Rialto Theater
June 18—Santa Barbara, CA—Lobrero Theater
June 20—Los Angeles, CA—Venue TBA
June 21—Grass Valley, CA—Center for the Arts
June 23—Eugene, OR—Hult Center
June 24—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall
June 25—Seattle, WA—Moore Theater
July 6—Salt Lake City, UT—Venue TBA
July 7—Denver, CO—Denver Botanic Gardens
July 8—Colorado Springs, CO—Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center
July 9—Breckenridge, CO—Riverwalk Center
July 13—Minneapolis, MN—Pantages Theater
July 14—Bayfield, WI—Big Top Chautauqua
July 15—Iowa City, IA—Englert Theater
July 16—Champaign, IL—Virginia Theater
July 17—Lawrence, KS—Liberty Hall
July 19—Cincinnati, OH—Memorial Hall
July 21—Columbus, OH—Davidson Theater
July 22—New Haven, KY—The Amphitheater at Dant Crossing
August 9—Brownfield, ME—Stone Mountain Arts Center
August 10—Brownfield, ME—Stone Mountain Arts Center
August 11—North Truro, MA—Payomet Performing Arts Center
August 12—Boston, MA—The Wilbur
August 13—Northampton, MA—The Pines
August 14—Portland, ME—State Theatre
August 16—Reading, PA—The Miller Center
August 17—Durham, NC—Durham Performing Arts Center
August 19—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium
August 20—Charlotte, NC—Knight Center
August 21—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
August 23—Charlottesville, VA—Sprint Pavilion*
August 24—Geneva, NY—Smith Opera House
August 25—Chautauqua, NY—Chautauqua Institution*
August 26—Ridgefield, CT—Ridgefield Playhouse
August 27—Vienna, VA—Wolf Trap*
August 30—Kennet Square, PA—Longwood Gardens*
September 2—Chicago, IL—Ravinia Theater*
*co-headline with Emmylou Harris

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Thomas Rhett Shows The Best Of Country Music With Newest Release

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Country music is alive and well.

This week in DISClaimer we have proof of that in the sounds of Joshua Hedley, Kane Brown, Randall King, Restless Road and Jimmie Allen. The Disc of the Day is also a country monument, “Death Row,” co-written by Thomas Rhett and beautifully recorded with Russell Dickerson and Tyler Hubbard.

Also flying the country flag high are the oldie remakes by Layla Tucker and Cody Belew, who share the DISCovery Award.

CAITLYN SMITH / “Downtown Baby”
Writers: Simon Wilcox/Caitlyn Smith/Gordie Sampson/Thomas Salter; Producer: Caitlyn Smith; Label: Monument
–Catchy country-pop with a chiming chorus, a steady rhythm and an ear-catching vocal. She wants out of suburbia and back into the swing of things in the urban core. Highly engaging.

JIMMIE ALLEN / “Down Home”
Writers: Jimmie Allen/Cameron Bedell/Rian Ball/Tate Howell; Producers: Ash Bowers/Jimmie Allen; Label: Stony Creek/BBR
–Written for and addressed to his late father, this power ballad exudes sincerity. Sung with heart. Loss and grief are universal emotions, and Allen’s song is a pathway beyond them to love and acceptance.

RANDALL KING / “Shot Glass”
Writers: Tony Lane/Brett James; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Label: Warner
–This fellow is one of my favorite neo-traditionalists. The title tune of his new album showcases his warm baritone in a brilliant barroom ballad embellished by fiddle and steel. Make this man a star.

MAREN MORRIS / “Nervous”
Writers: Jimmy Robbins/Maren Morris/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Greg Kurstin; Label: Sony
–Dark and plodding, featuring her hollering while smothered in a rock production. I lost interest quickly.

RESTLESS ROAD / “Growing Old With You”
Writers: Charles Kelley/Jordan Minton/Jordan Reynolds; Producer: Jared Keim; Label: RCA
–Heart melting. This beautiful ballad expressing timeless and true love belongs on every wedding playlist. This trio has something special going on.

KANE BROWN / “Leave You Alone”
Writers: Jordan Minton/Jordan Schmidt/Kane Brown; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA
–This love ballad gives him plenty of space to show what an expressive singer he is. I could have done without the shrieking electric-guitar solo.

LAYLA TUCKER / “Misery and Gin”
Writers: John Robert Durrell/Snuff Garrett; Producers: Keith Thomas/Jim Zumwalt/Joe McEwen; Label: LT
–Tanya’s daughter reminds us of what great country music sounds like with this terrific performance of Merle Haggard’s bluesy roadhouse classic. The 1980 song remains a masterpiece, and she sings it with emotional precision. Star-making stuff.

THOMAS RHETT, TYLER HUBBARD & RUSSELL DICKERSON / “Death Row”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Ashley Gorley/Zack Crowell; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Label: Valory
–Extraordinary. This is country music at its very best, speaking truth and touching the soul. Inspired by the three singers’ prison visit, the song finds humanity, empathy and forgiveness in those who are doomed. Each of the three takes a verse, and all of them soar. Essential listening.

MONTE WARDEN / “Love Is Undefeated”
Writers: Monte Warden/Brandi Warden; Producer: Brandi Warden; Label: Moonkiss
–The Wagoneers man gets tender and gentle on this stripped-down, acoustic effort. The ballad expresses the ultimate survival of man’s essential goodness while strings sigh and a guitar strums. Very pretty.

KATHY MATTEA / “Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)”
Writers: Anthony LoGerfo/Corey McCormick/Logan Metz/Lukas Nelson/Tato Melgar; Producers: Kethy Mattea/Jon Vezner; Label: Captain Potato
–Mattea plucked this song from the repertoire of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. It’s a gently persuasive invitation to build trust and unity in these divisive times. Her lilting vocal is backed by sympathetic harmonica and keyboard work. Mattea is the new host of NPR’s Mountain Stage series, and this performance is drawn from one of those broadcasts.

CODY BELEW / “Here You Come Again”
Writers: Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil; Producer: Dustin Ransom; Label: Visionary Media Group
–This guy is a for-real singer, for sure. He completely reinterprets this 1977 Dolly hit, transforming it from a bouncy ditty into a cry of romantic anguish. His only accompaniment is a pianist, but his dramatic performance is so gripping that it needs nothing else. Belew is in the midst of a series of showcases at The Lipstick Lounge on Woodland Street, performing there once a month. March’s date is the 19th, and he’ll appear again at the venue on April 16.

JOSHUA HEDLEY / ”Broke Again”
Writers: Joshua Hedley/Skylar Wilson; Producers: Skylar Wilson/Jordan Lehning; Label: New West
–It’s a rollicking twang fest with loads of hooks, plenty of energy and mounds of hillbilly attitude. The workingman lyric is a dandy, and the band cooks with gas. Neo-traditionalist Hedley celebrates the release of his Neon Blue album with an April 20 show at the groovy new Eastside Bowl. Get yer tix now.

Meet Marc Rucker: SoundExchange’s New Nashville Rep [Interview]

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Marc Rucker

SoundExchange, the organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of more than 260,000 creators, recently announced the addition of Nashville-based Marc Rucker as manager, industry engagement to the Brand Marketing & Industry Engagement team. Rucker will foster local and national artist and management relationships in Music City.

With 13 years in the Nashville music business, Rucker brings experience in artist management, business management, and publishing to his new role at SoundExchange.

“I’ve always considered myself an artist ally, so this role at SoundExchange aligns with my desire to continue to make an impact on the livelihoods of creators,” Rucker tells MusicRow. “With deep music industry experience, I’ve seen first-hand how SoundExchange’s efficient and effective tools and services can impact a creator’s livelihood. My Nashville roots will be valuable as we aim to deepen and expand engagement with this vibrant community and continue to educate on how SoundExchange is making the business of music more simple and more fair.”

Rucker will help broaden SoundExchange’s visibility in Nashville and provide in-person support and education to critical stakeholders and at industry events. He will also participate in the formation of strategic alliances with entertainment and brand partners, as well as artist-based communities and organizations.

“Right now, my goal is to connect with artists, managers, and producers in Nashville to make sure awareness is strong around the ways in which SoundExchange is powering the future of the music business with best-in-class tools and technologies to collect and distribute digital royalties.

“Beyond that, I’m eager to spread the word on all that SoundExchange is doing to advocate for creators’ rights on Capitol Hill and to let artists know how they can get involved,” Rucker adds. “SoundExchange has been instrumental in the introduction of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) over the last year which would see creators finally get paid when their music is played on AM/FM radio, and their support in the passage of this bill is vital to our efforts.”

Rucker implores music business members to get in touch with him via email at mrucker@soundexchange.com, and follow SoundExchange on Instagram and Twitter.

Nicolle Galyon Reups With Warner Chappell Music, Influence Media & Songs & Daughters Publishing

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Pictured (L-R, back row): BJ Hill (WCM), Rene McLean (Influence Media), Jess Rosen (Attorney), Ben Vaughn (WCM); (L-R, top row): Lynn Hazan (Influence Media), Nicolle Galyon, Lylette Pizarro (Influence Media), Bethany Mako (Songs & Daughters)

Nicolle Galyon has renewed her global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) in partnership with Influence Media and Songs & Daughters Publishing.

Galyon has been with WCM for 15 years and, in the last two years alone, the hitmaker’s songs have amassed more than two billion streams. She has penned hit singles such as “I Quit Drinking” by Kelsea Ballerini and LANY, “Minimum Wage” by Blake Shelton, “Gone” by Dierks Bentley and “Half Of My Hometown” by Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney, which currently sits atop the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts.

“Nicolle’s songs have always made us feel emotions that we all can relate to. Well before her first hit, it was clear that her writing style was distinct as she so naturally wrapped her lyrics around melodies,” says Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, WCM Nashville. “She only continues to perfect her craft and create timeless songs. As a trailblazing businesswoman, dedicated co-writer, loyal friend, sister, daughter, mother, and supporter of talent, she understands the creative process and we are proud to be her partner.”

Galyon has spent the last decade earning top-tier writing credits, crafting hits like Camila Cabello’s Platinum-certified “Consequences,” “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban’s “We Were Us,” and the 7x multi-Platinum hit “Tequila” by Dan + Shay.

In 2019, Galyon founded her own record label and publishing house, Songs & Daughters, dedicated to providing a platform for women to tell honest stories about real life.

“It’s so exciting to look to the future with a new team that I also have an incredible history with,” says Galyon. “I’m lucky to have 15 years of my journey under my belt with Warner Chappell, while Influence is bringing a whole new progressive space and energy to my copyrights. As a songwriter & publisher, it feels monumental to get to partner with companies that push me forward and have also felt like home since day one.”

“Nicolle is a powerhouse multi-hyphenate who is a force behind some of our most beloved modern country hits. We are so proud to support Nicolle through our phenomenal partnership with Ben Vaughn, BJ Hill, and Warner Chappell and look forward to the next phase of this journey,” adds Influence Founder and Co-Managing Partner Lylette Pizarro.

Kelsea Ballerini, Anthony Mackie To Host 2022 CMT Music Awards

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Multi-Platinum entertainer Kelsea Ballerini and acclaimed actor Anthony Mackie will co-host the 2022 CMT Music Awards.

With her seventh No. 1 country hit under her belt, Ballerini will notch her second consecutive year hosting the show. Mackie, who is best known for his role as Sam Wilson/The Falcon in Marvel movies, will mark his first time as host after he presented the Video of the Year award at last year’s show.

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pair one of the biggest names in country music with one of the world’s most electrifying superheroes to host our biggest CMT Music Awards ever,” says Margaret Comeaux, John Hamlin and Leslie Fram, Executive Producers, CMT Music Awards. “Kelsea and Anthony are each wildly successful in their own right and combined, bring mega star power that transcends the worlds of music, film and pop culture with a supersized fan base. We know this dynamic duo is the perfect pairing to bring our show to the next level as we reach our largest global audience ever live on CBS.”

The 2022 CMT Music Awards will broadcast live from Nashville on Monday, April 11 from 7-10 p.m. CT on CBS. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

“I’m thrilled to be returning as host at this year’s CMT Awards with Anthony Mackie! This award show is always a special one, as it revolves around the fans and celebrates their favorite artists,” Ballerini shares. “This year is especially cool to be a part of as CMT grows into a network spot and expands for even more fans to get involved. It’s going to be a big one and I can’t wait!”

Mackie adds, “I had the pleasure of presenting at last year’s CMT Music Awards and received the warmest welcome from the country music community and the city of Nashville. I can’t wait to get back to Music City to co-host this year’s awards with the amazing Kelsea Ballerini.”

Nominations for the 2022 CMT Music Awards will be announced on Wednesday, March 16, in tandem with the start of fan voting. Additional details on nominations, performers and presenters to be announced in the coming weeks.

Michael Ray Partners With MusicFX For ‘Whiskey And Rain’ NFT

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Michael Ray. Photo: Sean Hagwell

Platinum-selling country artist Michael Ray has partnered with MusicFX.io to produce an exclusive NFT commemorating his first multi-week No. 1 with “Whiskey And Rain.”

The Michael Ray No. 1 Country Music Airplay Commemorative NFT will be strictly limited to just 100 tokens and will drop exclusively on MusicFX on March 22.

With four No. 1 hits, including RIAA Platinum-certified “Think a Little Less,” and the Gold-certified “Kiss You in the Morning,” “One That Got Away” and “Whiskey And Rain,” Ray has garnered over 1 billion global streams and more than 650,000 album equivalents.

“I’m so thankful for my grandfather inspiring me to do what I love most in life because without that I wouldn’t be doing what I do,” shares Ray. “But, in the last five years, the successes I’ve had, would never have been possible without the fans. I want to thank them, and hope they enjoy the content I put out through MusicFX, as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.”

This is the second NFT line to be offered exclusively through MusicFX, following the Gold Chain Cowboy Fan Club: Black Card NFT produced in partnership with Parker McCollum.

“We’re absolutely thrilled Michael has chosen MusicFX,” adds Billie-Jo Aasen, co-head of MusicFX. “He’s worked really hard to help us achieve something special with our second NFT. We can’t wait to get working on his next one and continue building the outstanding relationship he has with his fans.”

Grand Ole Opry To Celebrate The Music & Influence Of Merle Haggard

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Merle Haggard. Photo: Keith Carter

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate the life and legacy of legend Merle Haggard on the anniversary of both his birth and death–Wednesday, April 6–with a special night of programming.

The Wednesday night “Opry Salutes Merle Haggard” show will feature performances by a few of the countless artists who have been influenced by the late country entertainer, including Suzy Bogguss, his son Marty Haggard, Cody Johnson, Joe Nichols, Eli Paperboy Reed, and ACM New Female Artist winner Lainey Wilson, among others. Artists will perform Haggard classics as well as their own hits influenced by the Country Music Hall of Famer.

The “Opry Salutes Merle Haggard” will also be filmed with highlights to air as a Saturday night Opry Live later in the spring on Circle Network, Circle All Access Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. 

Tickets for the special show are on sale now at opry.com. The show is part of a special three-week run of Wednesday Night Opry shows during the spring break period. Wednesday shows are scheduled to return for an extended run this summer.

RIAA Reports Recorded Music Reaches $15 Billion Milestone, Growth In CD & Vinyl Sales

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The RIAA has released a new report revealing recorded music revenues reached a historic $15 billion in 2021, the highest figure ever reported by the music industry.

The numbers showed continued strong growth in every format including streaming, vinyl, and even CDs, and also included TikTok music revenue for the first time.

Streaming revenues included paid subscriptions, ad-supported music streaming services, digital and customized radio, and licenses for music on Facebook and digital fitness apps, as well as TikTok. Combined, these revenues grew 24% in 2021 to a total $12.4 billion, and accounted for 83% of total revenues.

For the first time since 1996, both CDs and vinyl records experienced revenue growth in the same year.

The resurgence in vinyl continued for the 15th consecutive year, as revenues grew 61% to $1 billion in 2021. The last time vinyl records exceeded $1 billion was 1986. In 2021, revenues from CDs also grew 21% to $584 million, the first year-over-year increase in CD revenues since 2004.

“The incredible run of strong, industry-wide growth documented in this and prior reports speaks to the dynamic and vibrant creative and commercial relationships today’s labels have built with their artist partners,” says RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier. “Labels haven’t simply reinvented themselves, they have helped transform the entire process of music creation, discovery, and distribution to bolster creative freedom and artistic expression while seamlessly meeting fans everywhere and anywhere they want to be. The result has been an incredibly vibrant period delivering new opportunities, platforms, and experiences–from music-powered fitness apps to gaming platform livestream concerts to must-have vinyl exclusives to global surprise digital album drops. Creative genius unleashed in new ways driving shared commercial success and record payments to artists.

“No industry in history has embraced changing technologies and innovations faster than music over the last ten years–taking streaming from novelty to ubiquitous in the blink of an eye and now working to drive a new generation of social apps, shared immersive experiences, and blockchain/NFT opportunities going forward,” he adds.

RIAA’s full 2021 Recorded Music Revenue Report is available here.

Miranda Lambert Announces Eighth Studio Album, ‘Palomino’

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Miranda Lambert. Photo: Robert Ashcroft

Newly-crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year Miranda Lambert has announced her eighth studio album, Palomino, will be dropping on April 29.

The 15-song project opens with a slow build vibe on “Actin’ Up,” serving as the first in a series of postcards from the road, images and moments. Tapping longtime songwriting collaborators Luke Dick and Jon Randall to co-produce with her, Lambert once again pushes the envelope of what country music can contain and the stories that it can tell.

“The making of this record has been one of the most fun and creative experiences of my career,” reflects Lambert. “Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, and I went out to my farm in Tennessee in 2020 and started writing songs. We figured while we have time let’s get out to the country and see what happens. The first one we wrote was ‘Tourist’ and that set us on a path to create something with a bit of a theme. Since we couldn’t travel at the time, we decided to go on a journey through songs. I hope y’all are ready to travel with us wandering spirits and meet some cool characters with great stories.”

Palomino follows her Grammy-nominated collaborative project The Marfa Tapes, featuring Randall and Jack Ingram. Included on the new album are a few revisited tracks from The Marfa Tapes, such as “In His Arms,” “Geraldene” and “Waxahachie,” this time with a full band backing the Texas native.

“I love everything about Marfa: some friends around a campfire, no fixes, no protocols, no filters. It was raw and real, and I wanted to take some of that with me,” remarks Lambert. “‘In His Arms,’ ‘Waxahachie’ and ‘Geraldene’ got to go on this journey with us, cutting them with a full band–and usually the public doesn’t get to hear that part, which I’m really excited about.”

Palomino Track List:
Actin’ Up (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
Scenes (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
In His Arms (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Geraldene (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Tourist (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Music City Queen feat. The B-52’s (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Strange (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Wandering Spirit (Mick Jagger, James Rippeto)
I’ll Be Lovin’ You (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
That’s What Makes the Jukebox Play (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Country Money (Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere, Mikey Reaves)
If I Was a Cowboy (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure)
Waxahachie (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Pursuit of Happiness (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Carousel (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)

Primary Wave Music Inks With Martina McBride, Acquires A Stake In Master Royalties [Exclusive]

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Martina McBride. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Country music powerhouse Martina McBride has entered into a new partnership with Primary Wave Music.

The deal will see the independent publishing company acquire a stake in the award winner’s master royalties for her first ten albums released by Sony, as well as master copyrights for her 2014 release Everlasting and 2018’s Its the Holiday Season. It also includes a number of the Grammy nominee’s biggest hits, such as “Wild Angels,” “A Broken Wing,” “This One’s for the Girls,” and “Independence Day.”

McBride’s partnership with Primary Wave Music will now give her access to the Primary Wave marketing, digital and branding teams, as well as the publishing infrastructure which includes licensing and synch opportunities.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Martina and the catalog of incredible songs she has built throughout her career,” says Dominic Pandiscia, Chief Strategy Officer of Gaither Music Group & Primary Wave Business Development. “She has been a powerful voice in the country genre with songs that touch fans across all music genres. Martina, we welcome you to the Primary Wave family.”

Jess L. Rosen, Greenberg Traurig, LLP negotiated the deal on behalf of McBride.