Gable Bradley Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

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Gable Bradley. Photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

Gable Bradley has signed with Big Yellow Dog Music. The singer-songwriter’s upcoming EP, Born Ready, is due out May 6, with the project’s lead single, “Spade,” available now.

“Sometimes things are only meant for a little while, and that’s okay,” shares Bradley. “This song is about soaking up the journey… two runaway hearts looking for love. I think everyone can relate to that.”

Growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley developed an early love for playing music when his mom enrolled him in piano lessons in third grade. At 17, he began teaching himself guitar, and later began playing bars at colleges across the southeast.

In 2016, he moved to Nashville and worked blue collar jobs while immersing himself in the creative community, eventually landing at Big Yellow Dog.

Born Ready Track List:
1. “Just Another Night” (Gable Bradley, Daniel Agee, Blake Chaffin)
2. You Always Do” (Bradley, Daniel Agee, Jason Nix)
3. “Muscle Car” (Bradley, Danny Myrick)
4. “Spade” (Bradley, Jon Stark, Lydia Vaughan)
5. “Born Ready” (Bradley, Will Bundy, Josh Miller)
Produced by Daniel Agee

Mike Whelan Joins Round Hill As Sr. VP / General Manager [Exclusive]

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Mike Whelan

Music publishing veteran Mike Whelan has joined Round Hill Music as Sr. VP / General Manager. The news follows publishing executive Mark Brown‘s exit from the same role.

Whelan brings with him 35 years of publishing experience, including stints with Polygram Music, Acuff-Rose Publishing, Sony/ATV Publishing and Ole Music. He most recently served as Sr. Creative Director at MV2 Entertainment.

Whelan has worked with writers Bob McDill, Dean Dillon, Tony Martin, Skip Ewing, Casey Beathard, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick and more. As a plugger he has had over 85 BMI and ASCAP award-winning songs—40 of which have topped the charts.

Now at Round Hill, Whelan will work alongside Bob Squance, Sr. Director A&R, and Lindsay Will, Manager of A&R. The company’s roster includes a diverse group of writers, including hitmaker Jimmy Robbins.

“Round Hill has been here for 10 years. We’ve come a long way in a short time. I want to help Round Hill grow and continue the success that they’ve already had,” Whelan tells MusicRow. “Get ready for Round Hill 2.0. We’ve got some incredible plans and some great things coming in the future.”

Reach Whelan at mwhelan@roundhillmusic.com.

Craig Morgan Shares His Life Story In Upcoming Memoir ‘God, Family, Country’

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Craig Morgan. Photo: Nate Griffin

Craig Morgan is sharing his story in his new memoir, God, Family, Country, due out from Blackstone Publishing on Sept. 27.

Written by Morgan with Jim DeFelice, the new book sheds light on Morgan’s life as a country star, TV personality, and military operative, and reveals personal stories about his time working alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama or fighting sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand.

Morgan has charted 25 songs on Billboard during his country career, which has yielded hits like “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” and the four-week No. 1, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” In 2008, he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

The hardworking artist has also always possessed an unwavering duty to country. In 2006, as “That’s What I Love about Sunday” topped the country charts, Morgan was riding in a convoy of Humvees in Iraq. An avid outdoorsman, a former sheriff’s deputy who’s still a member of the auxiliary, and always a husband and father first, he has lived his life by the deepest values: God, family, country.

Morgan spent seventeen years serving in the Army and Army Reserves and remains an avid supporter of America’s military, making 16 overseas trips to perform for our troops. He’s a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award and in 2018 was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world.

In addition to his forthcoming memoir, Morgan will also put his survival skills learned in the military to work in the new TV series Beyond The Edge which premieres March 16 on CBS as he competes for Operation Finally Home, which provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans and their families.

Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile Among First Round Of Grammy Performers

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Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile

The first slate of artists scheduled to perform at this year’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards have been revealed. Among them will be current nominees Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Representing Nashville, Brothers Osborne received two Grammy nominations this year for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Younger Me”) and Best Country Album (Skeletons).

Meanwhile, 6x Grammy winner Carlile is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Right On Time,” for Song Of The Year for (“A Beautiful Noise” with Alicia Keys), and for Best American Roots Performance for “Same Devil.”

Elsewhere, BTS are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Butter”), and 7x Grammy winner Eilish received seven nominations this year: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video for “Happier Than Ever,” as well as Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Happier Than Ever, and Best Music Film (Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles).

Two-time Grammy winner Lil Nas X is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Music Video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Album Of The Year (Montero), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Industry Baby”). Harlow has two nominations this year for his work on Montero, in the categories of Best Melodic Rap Performance and Album Of The Year.

First-time nominee Rodrigo is up for seven awards: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Drivers License,” Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for SOUR, Best New Artist, and Best Music Video for “Good 4 U.”

This year’s Grammy Awards will broadcast live on CBS from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3 at 7 p.m. CT . Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

‘May We All: A New Country Musical’ Reveals First Round Of Special Guests For This Summer

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May We All: A New Country Musical, co-produced by Florida Georgia Line‘s Brian Kelley, has unveiled the first round of dates for its all-star rotating lineup of guest artists running from June 7-25. Another round of dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks for guest artists including Kelley, Chris Ruediger, Cooper Alan, and Nick Fradiani, among others.

Stepping into the role of Bailey Stone, the multi-week roster slated to perform at Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville includes Alana Springsteen, Angie K, Alexandra Kay, Breland, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Canaan Smith, Danielle Bradbery, Jamie O’Neal, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, LoCash, RaeLynn, Robyn Ottolini, Scarlett Burke, Sydney Sierota, Thomas Mac, Tigirlily, and Trent Harmon.

May We All follows the story of Jenna Coates, a small-town girl whose big-city singing career is over before it begins, and how she returns to the people and the places of her past to find a path to the future. However, lot has changed in Harmony, Tennessee, since Jenna left and not necessarily for the better. If Jenna and her hometown are going to dig themselves out of their current crises, they’re going to need each other and music.

The production boasts a score of fan-favorites from Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, Florida Georgia Line, Jessica Andrews, Johnny Cash, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, LoCash, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Reba McEntire, Runaway June, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, and Zac Brown Band. Two original songs co-written by Kelley and FGL duo-mate Tyler Hubbard will debut exclusively as part of the musical.

May We All: A New Country Musical Dates:
June 7 | LoCash
June 8 | Breland
June 9 | Jamie O’Neal
June 10 | Robyn Ottolini
June 11 | Thomas Mac and Alana Springsteen *
June 12 | Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Alexandra Kay *
June 14 | Lainey Wilson
June 16 | Danielle Bradbery
June 17 | Sydney Sierota
June 18 | Angie K and Scarlett Burke *
June 21 | Trent Harmon
June 22 | Lindsay Ell
June 23 | Tigirlily
June 24 | RaeLynn
June 25 | Canaan Smith
*Two performances

Tickets are available now via TPAC.org, by phone at 615-782-4040, or at the TPAC Box Office.

Gene Watson Teases New Album For This Fall, Adds Dates To Anniversary Tour

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Gene Watson

Gene Watson has teased new music coming this fall with his upcoming album Outside The Box. The Grand Ole Opry member has also added more dates to his “60th Anniversary Tour,” which will visit venues across the country through December.

Watson recently presented awards to two of his longtime band members–Staley Rogers and Todd Hines–backstage during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Pictured (L-R): Dan Rogers (Vice President/Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry), Todd Hines (drummer), Gene Watson, Staley Rogers (bass). Photo: Stephen Shepherd

“I couldn’t have made it this far without my band and these are some of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with. I want to take this moment to show my gratitude to Staley Rogers, who has been with me as my bass player for 25 years and to Todd Hines, my drummer who has worked with me for 17 years and neither of them has ever missed a single performance in all those years!” Watson proclaimed during the special moment.

The hitmaker has charted 75 titles throughout his career, including 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel records.

“60th Anniversary Tour” Dates:
March 17 Rio Grande Livestock Show – Mercedes, Texas
March 18 Heart of Texas Festival – Brady, Texas
March 19 2920 Roadhouse Bar & Grill – Hockley, Texas
March 25 Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tenn.
March 26 The Palace Theatre – Crossville, Tenn.
March 31 Arlington Music Hall – Arlington, Texas
April 1 The Cactus Theatre – Lubbock, Texas
April 2 Bare Bones BBQ – Gatesville, Texas
April 8 Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tenn.
April 9 Jackson Live Events Center – Seymour, Ind.
April 23 McMinnville Park Theater – McMinnville, Tenn.
April 24 Nathan Stanley Festival – Micanopy, Fla.
April 29 The Little Roy & Lizzie Festival at The Lewis Family Homeplace – Lincolnton, Ga.
April 30 Walhalla Civic Auditorium – Walhalla, S.C.
May 7 Sisseton Performing Arts Center – Sisseton S.D.
May 14 Mo’s Place – Katy, Texas
May 21 Southern Junction – Rockwall, Texas
June 3 Hank Williams Festival – Georgiana, Ala.
June 11 Texas Pride BBQ – Adkins, Texas
June 17 Main Street Crossing – Tomball, Texas
June 18 Honky Tonk Texas – Silsbee, Texas
June 25 Rodgers Theatre – Poplar Bluff, Mo.
July 1 Beebe City Park – Beebe, Ark.
July 7 Bluegate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, Ind.
July 9 Red Barn Convention Center – Winchester, Ohio
July 16 Alto Country Club – Alto, N.M.
Aug. 12 Jettie Baker Center – Clintwood, Va.
Aug. 13 Old Dominion Barn Dance – Hopewell, Va.
Aug. 14 Old Dominion Barn Dance – Hopewell, Va.
Aug. 19 Reidsville Showcase Theater – Reidsville, N.C.
Aug. 20 Liberty Showcase Theatre – Liberty, N.C.
Sept. 4 Fayette County Fair – Lagrange, Texas
Sept. 9 Wild Rose Casino – Jefferson, Iowa
Sept. 10 Monson Lake Opry Festival – Sunburg, Minn.
Sept. 17 Hardy Murphy Coliseum – Ardmore, Okla.
Sept. 30 Capitol Arts Theatre – Bowling Green, Ky.
Oct. 1 Marion Cultural & Civic Center – Marion, Ill.
Oct. 3 Clay Cooper Theater – Branson, Mo.
Oct. 7 Dailey & Vincent Festival – Gainesboro, Tenn.
Oct. 12 Georgia Mountain Fair – Hiawassee, Ga.
Oct. 14 Kentucky Opry – Benton, Ky.
Oct. 15 Kentucky Opry – Benton, Ky.
Oct. 22 The Mansion – Branson, Mo.
Oct. 29 Coyote Country Store – Gail, Texas
Nov. 11 The Mansion – Branson, Mo.
Nov. 12 Windstone Entertainment Center – Jefferson City, Mo.
Nov. 18 Country Tonite Theatre – Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Nov. 19 Heard County Performing Arts Center – Franklin, Ga.
Dec. 2 Main Street Crossing – Tomball, Texas
Dec. 9 The Historic Ritz Theatre – Toccoa, Ga.

Hit Country Songwriter Bruce Burch Dies

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Bruce Burch. Photo: Ed Rode

Country songwriter Bruce Burch, who wrote such hits as Reba McEntire’s “Rumor Has It” and “It’s Your Call,” died on Saturday, March 12. He was 69.

Burch fought a nearly 30-year battle with leukemia. According to a news source out of Burch’s home town of Gainesville, Georgia, his health had worsened before his death on Saturday.

In addition to his two hit singles for McEntire, Burch wrote many other songs for artists including T. Graham Brown, Faith Hill, Aaron Tippin, The Oak Ridge Boys, George Jones, Barbara Mandrell, John Anderson and Wayne Newton, among others. He published a book in 1996 about his music career called Songs that Changed Our Lives, in which he shares stories about his songs.

The Georgia native helped establish an annual concert series in Gainesville originally known as the “Bruce Burch & Friends Honor John Jarrard Concert.” The benefit shows have raised money for local nonprofits over the past 20 years through the John Jarrard Foundation, including for Good News Clinics, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. Burch grew up with Jarrard, a fellow songwriter and Georgia Music Hall of Famer, who died of complications related to diabetes in 2001.

In 2012, Burch started teaching entertainment business classes at Brenau University after he helped start music business programs at the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University. He also operated his own publishing companies, worked for EMI Publishing, and worked as an artist manager.

Burch is survived by his daughter, Sarah Stenzel; his son, Matthew Burch; as well as his four grandchildren, Lucy and Maisy Stenzel and Jack and Walter Burch.

Hitmakers Hold Steady On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ashley Gorley

Positions one through 17 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart remain in place this week.

Ashley Gorley notches his seventh consecutive week at No. 1. The songs that help him maintain his position are “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton), “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Beers On Me” (Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland), “Slow Down Summer” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Steal My Love” (Dan + Shay), “Take My Name” (Parmalee), and “You Didn’t” (Brett Young).

Shane McAnally stays at No. 2, and newly crowned ACM Songwriter of the Year Michael Hardy rounds out the top three 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.

CMA Fest 2022 To Return Live & In-Person This June

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CMA Fest will make its triumphant return to its live and in-person format this summer from June 9-12 in downtown Nashville.

After having to cancel the 2020 and 2021 editions of the four-day country music festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Country Music Association, artists, and country fans will come together to celebrate the 49th year of the event.

The multi-day festival usually features nightly shows at Nissan Stadium as well as performances all day long at various stages across the city, including the Ascend Amphitheater Stage, CMA Close Up Stage and Spotlight Stage at the Music City Center, the Riverfront Stage on the bank of the Cumberland River, the Stage at Bridgestone Plaza, and stages at Ascend Park and the Walk of Fame.

The week also features a variety of daytime events and stages that are free and open to the public, including games, activities, giveaways, and more. A limited number of four-day tickets are currently available for purchase.

Performers and festivities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Landon Parker Inks With EM.Co & CAA, Shares Plans For New Music

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Pictured (L-R, bottom row): Rachael Jordan (EM.Co), James Stewart (EM.Co), Landon Parker, Scott Siman (EM.Co), Beka Bishop (EM.Co); (L-R, top row): Juli Griffith (TriScore), Kelly Clague (EM.Co), Brian Kaplan (EM.Co), Rod Essig (CAA), Blake Chancey (TriScore / Producer), Jack Purcell (EM.Co)

Management firm EM.Co has inked a deal with country singer-songwriter Landon Parker. He joins Tim McGraw, Bad Ass Records, and more on the company’s roster.

Parker signed to Free Dive, McGraw’s publishing company in partnership with TriScore Music, in 2021. He continues to build his team with EM.Co and representation from CAA’s Rod Essig.

“I’m so proud to be working with such a hard-hitting crew,” says Parker. “Everyone at EM.Co, CAA and Free Dive with our TriScore Music partnership has believed in my vision. This dream wouldn’t be possible without them. I’m grateful for their support and I’m ready for fans to hear this music!”

The North Carolina native has plans to release two new songs he co-wrote this Friday (March 18). “Good Beer Drinkin,’” penned with Cody Gregg, and “Caught Me at a Good Time,” written alongside Blake Chancey and Josh Hoge, were both produced by Chancey.

“We signed Landon to our publishing company last year, and he’s just been cranking out hits,” Em.Co President Scott Siman offers. “We’re eager to get this music out and take this to the next level.”

EM.Co VP of Artist Management, James Stewart, adds, “We’ve known Landon since he came to town. His voice and songwriting are unparalleled. To say we’re excited to have him on board is an understatement.”

Later this year, Parker is expected to release an EP via Bad Ass Records, featuring his writing credit on every track with Chancey at the production helm.