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.”

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.

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.

Tenille Townes

Tenille Townes has announced her forthcoming EP, Masquerades, is due out on April 22 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records.

Through the project, the Canadian singer-songwriter pulls her own mask down to shine a light on emotions that we get used to hiding. Townes recently released “When’s It Gonna Happen,” a track from the upcoming project.

Adding to her previously announced tour dates, Townes has also shared dates for her UK/European tour, set to kick off in October. The 6-date run sees the singer hitting Glasgow, London and Berlin, among others.

Tenille Townes 2022 Tour Dates:
March 11 / 3Arena—Dublin, IE
March 12 / C2C Festival—London, UK
March 13 / SSE Hydro—Glasgow, UK
March 26 / Cumberland Caverns—McMinnville, TN
April 7 / Fox Theatre—Atlanta, GA
April 8 / Daily’s Place—Jacksonville, FL
April 9 / Grand Ole Opry—Nashville, TN
April 28 / Merle Fest—Wilkesboro, NC
April 29 / Union Stage—Washington, DC
May 27 / Amphitheater at Los Colonias—Grand Junction, CO
June 2 / Gramercy Theatre—New York, NY
June 3 / World Café Live—Philadelphia, PA
June 11 / Carolina Country Music Festival—Myrtle Beach, SC
June 23 / Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center—Charleston, WV
June 24 / Huntington Center—Toledo, OH
June 25 / Pine Knob Music Theatre—Detroit, MI
July 30 / Watershed Festival—George, WA
Aug 12 / Lasso Festival—Montreal, QC
Oct 17 / Oran Mor—Glasgow, UK
Oct 18 / The Fleece—Bristol, UK
Oct 19 / Scala—London, UK
Oct 20 / Gorilla—Manchester, UK
Oct 24 / Privateclub—Berlin, DE
Oct 25 / Häken—Hamburg, DE

Pictured (L-R): Starcrawler’s Tim Franco and Seth Carolina, HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, Starcrawler’s Arrow de Wilde, BMLG Chairman/CEO Scott Borchetta, Starcrawler’s Henri Cash and Bill Cash

Big Machine Label Group, a subsidiary of HYBE America, has signed LA-based band Starcrawler to its Big Machine Records rock music roster. Other artists on the rock roster include Sheryl Crow, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John 5, Badflower and Ayron Jones.

Comprised of lead singer Arrow de Wilde, guitarist Henri Cash, bassist Tim Franco, pedal steel/guitar player Bill Cash and drummer Seth Carolina, Starcrawler has plans to release their first major label project with Big Machine Records and will take to the road later this year.

“We’re so excited to say that we signed with Big Machine! This is a huge deal for us and we can’t wait for everyone to hear all the new music we’ve been working on!” the band shares.

With sync placements in shows such as Netflix’s Lucifer, films such as Paramount’s Pet Sematary, and publisher DC Comics, the band has a growing international fanbase on streaming platforms and was featured in Dave Grohl’s 2021 film What Drives Us.

“As Big Machine continues to expand its reach, great young rock bands greatly align with our future vision,” adds BMLG Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta. “When I look into our crystal ball, I see Starcrawler. Soon, you will too…”