Brandi Carlile. Photo: Neil Krug
Brandi Carlile has added dates to her extensive “Beyond These Silent Days” summer tour, which will now include stops at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Austin’s Moody Amphitheater, Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion, Salt Lake City’s Vivint Smart Home Arena, Philadelphia’s TD Pavilion at The Mann and more.
Special guests on the new tour include Allison Russell, Ani DiFranco, Brittany Howard, Celisse, Indigo Girls, Katie Pruitt, Lake Street Dive, Lucius and Sarah McLachlan, with additional guests to be announced.
Artist pre-sale will begin Thursday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. local time with general on sale following Friday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. local time. Citi cardmembers will also have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22.
The tour is part of another landmark year for Carlile, who is nominated for five awards at the upcoming 64th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year (Right On Time), Song of the Year (“Right On Time” and “A Beautiful Noise” performed by Carlile and Alicia Keys), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Right On Time”) and Best American Roots Performance (“Same Devil” with Brandy Clark). The awards will air Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.
Brandi Carlile Tour Dates:
Bold on-sale Feb. 25
April 22—Miramar Beach, FL—Moon Crush 2022
April 29—Indio, CA—Stagecoach Music Festival
June 11—George, WA—Gorge Amphitheatre*
June 21—Santa Barbara, CA—Santa Barbara Bowl
June 24—Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre†
June 25—Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre=
July 6—Kansas City, MO—Starlight Theatre×
July 8—Nashville, TN—Ascend Amphitheatre‡
July 9—Nashville, TN—Ascend Amphitheatre‡
July 15—Austin, TX—Moody Amphitheater
July 16—Dallas, TX—Dos Equis Pavilion
July 30—St. Paul, MN—Xcel Energy Center+
August 5—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum¤
August 6—Chicago, IL—Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island#
August 11—Salt Lake City, UT—Vivint Smart Home Arena
August 18—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion§
August 19—Bethel, NY—Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
August 20—Philadelphia, PA—TD Pavilion at The Mann**
August 30—Lenox, MA—Tanglewood††
August 31—Portland, ME—Thompson’s Point††
September 9—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre~
September 10—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre§
September 25—Bridgeport, CT—Sound on Sound Festival
October 21—Boston, MA—TD Garden^
October 22—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden^
*with special guests Sarah McLachlan and Lucius and featuring Celisse
†with special guest Lucius
=with special guest Celisse
×with special guest Katie Pruitt and more to be announced
‡with special guests Indigo Girls and Celisse and featuring Lucius
+with special guests Lake Street Dive and Celisse
¤with special guest Lake Street Dive and more to be announced
#with special guests Ani DiFranco and Celisse
§with special guests Indigo Girls and Allison Russell
**with special guest Allison Russell and more to be announced
††with special guest Indigo Girls
~with special guests Lucius and Allison Russell
^with special guest Brittany Howard
Magnolia Music Group Launches With Randy Houser As Flagship Artist
/by LB CantrellA new label, Magnolia Music Group, announced its launch on Wednesday (Feb. 23) with Platinum-selling country artist Randy Houser as its flagship artist.
Heather Propper and Kimmie Trosdahl join the Magnolia Music Group team as Co-VPs of Radio Promotion; Emily Hoch signs on as Coordinator; and Kyleigh Roberts joins as Director of Content.
Randy Houser. Photo: Rachel Deeb
“We are thrilled to have Heather and Kimmie onboard, as they personify the passion, experience, work ethic and talent that will position Magnolia to thrive,” shares Nick Hartley, Steadfast founder and manager for Houser. “The timing couldn’t be better for Magnolia to ramp up radio, streaming and visual roles as Randy gets ready to deliver the best music of his career, all while preparing for an aggressive touring schedule and roles in two major feature films due later this year.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about the creation of Magnolia Music Group and feel like it’s time to be more present than ever,” shares Houser. “Magnolia’s commitment to artistry is very important to me and has been a cocoon of safety for me while writing and recording new music. I can’t wait to emerge and share what we’ve been creating!”
Propper spent five years at KMLE/ Phoenix, followed by over a decade at Stoney Creek/BMG and Warner Music Nashville. Trosdahl was most recently with Warner Music Nashville, with prior stops at Wheelhouse/BMG and Bigger Picture, while Roberts’ previous stops include Roy Orbison’s Still Working Music Group.
Magnolia will leverage data and new technologies as it positions itself for long-term sustainability across label, publishing and catalogue divisions. Magnolia will be distributed by Empire and utilize Thinkswell’s marketing services.
Magnolia is currently hiring additional positions in radio, streaming and visual departments, with new team members to be announced soon.
Reach Propper at heather@magnoliamusicgroup.com, Trosdahl at kimmie@magnoliamusicgroup.com, Hoch at emily@magnoliamusicgroup.com, and Roberts at kyleigh@magnoliamusicgroup.com.
JUST IN: CRB Announces 2022 Country Radio Hall Of Fame Honorees
/by Lydia FarthingThe Country Radio Broadcasters have announced the Class of 2022 Country Radio Hall of Fame honorees. Multi-Platinum recording artist Jason Aldean revealed the new inductees during CRS Honors on Wednesday (Feb. 23) at CRS 2022.
Becky Brenner and Barry Mardit will be honored as off-air radio broadcasters, while Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale, and Rachel & Grumwald will be inducted as on-air radio personalities.
CRB’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Committee Chairman, Joel Raab, says: “This Radio Hall of Fame Class has made us all proud! Congratulations to this esteemed group of dedicated professionals who have given so much of themselves to country radio.”
The Country Radio Hall of Fame serves to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.
The new class will be inducted during the annual Country Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony on June 30 at the Virgin Hotel in Nashville. Exact times and ticket information will be released closer to the event.
About the 2022 Honorees:
Becky Brenner is a 45-year industry veteran and one of the most respected programmers in country radio. Currently, she is a Consulting Partner with Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Country Radio Specialists. Her combined 26 years at KMPS/Seattle, handling on-air, promotions, music, programming and Dir./Operation duties, led KMPS to win two CMA Station of the Year Awards. She is the recipient of the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award in Programming from the MIW Organization, a 20-yearlong CRB Board member and past President of the organization, and has served on the CMA Board since 2005.
Barry Mardit has spent 47 years in the radio industry. His successful career includes major market programming stops at WEEP/Pittsburgh and WWWW/Detroit. During his 12-year tenure at WWWW, he earned Billboard, CMA Program Director, and Station of the Year honors, and a NAB Marconi Award. Mardit is still active in radio with Barry Mardit Consulting and he services on the CRB/CRS Agenda Committee.
Whitney Allen began her career in 1979 and quickly segued to country radio in 1982. After spending two years at Country KCBQ/San Diego, she jumped to the Los Angeles market at Top 40 Pirate Radio, followed by KIIS. After joining the nationally syndicated After Midnite in 1995 where she handled weekends for eight years, she was hired for afternoons at KZLA/Los Angeles (2003). She since has created and hosted the nationally syndicated weekend show America’s Hot List (2005) and expanded to night shows The Big Time and Big Time Saturday Night. Whitney holds multiple CMA and ACM Personality of the Year nominations, is a Radio Hall of Fame nominee, and a 2018 Gracie Award recipient.
Debbie Conner began her radio career in 1966 and soon become a pioneering female broadcaster and programmer. She’s left her mark in many markets throughout her career, including stops at KHAK/Cedar Rapids, IA, WMPS/Memphis, WSAI/Cincinnati, WCAO/Baltimore, WYCT/Pensacola, and WIL/St. Louis. She spent 12 years at WIL/St. Louis, where she earned multiple ACM and CMA Personality of the Year nominations and won the Billboard Personality of The Year award. She previously served as a midday host on the Sirius Satellite Roadhouse Channel and has hosted Country Oldies Hall of Fame Segments since 2014.
Cathy Martindale is a trailblazing female figure in radio. She began her country radio career in 1974 at KSCS/Dallas, where she served as PD, APD, and MD. In 1983, she took a job with WSM AM/FM, which she held for 17 years, doing mornings, afternoons, and even working as the Music Director. She became the first female to achieve the No. 1 rated drive-time show on Nashville radio during that time. From 1984 to 1994, she hosted Nashville Network (Video PM, Country Beat), and in 1993, she began co-hosting Racing Country/Racing Country Classic, which is heard in roughly 200 markets. She is a three-time finalist for CMA Large Market and/or Syndicated Personality of the Year and is a member of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
Rachel & Grunwald have been a part of the morning team at WYCD/Detroit since 2005 and are both deeply embedded in community service efforts. Rachel is a 2013 Gracie Award recipient and Grunwald is a part-time police officer in his community. They received the NAB Marconi Award in 2012 and 2016 as well as Best Morning Show from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters in 2017 and 2019. Additionally, they have received multiple CMA and ACM Personalities of the Year nominations.
Spotify Announces ‘Run, Rose, Run’ Bookcast With Dolly Parton & James Patterson
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton. Photo: Rob Hoffman
Spotify has announced a new immersive audio experience with Dolly Parton and author James Patterson that blends storytelling with original music for the Run, Rose, Run Bookcast.
Beginning on Feb. 23, the bookcast will be available exclusively on Spotify with multiple episodes releasing weekly. In partnership with Parton and Patterson, it will combine excerpts of their co-authored fiction novel with its original soundtrack written, produced, and recorded by Parton.
Set in Nashville, Run, Rose, Run centers around an aspiring female artist who comes to country music’s capital to pursue her music-making dreams. Behind the inspiration of her songs is a secret she has done everything to conceal, but she soon learns that her past is threatening the future she is trying to build.
Run, Rose, Run pairs Patterson’s character-building and dramatic skills with Parton’s unparalleled insight into the music world’s star-making machinery.
“I’ve been a fan of Dolly Parton’s storytelling for years, so I was thrilled to collaborate with her on Run, Rose, Run and bring these characters to life,” explains Patterson. “The music she’s created around this project is incredible, and I’m grateful that Spotify has given us the opportunity to bring listeners a new experience of the book and album.”
“I still can’t believe that I get to launch Spotify’s first ever Bookcast with my buddy James Patterson. What a great way to reach out to listeners all around the world,” adds Parton. “When we wrote this book together, I felt I could contribute best by sticking to my first love, music. James and I hope that listeners will be able to feel the connection between the book and the album as we work to bring this story and these characters to life, as only two storytellers can.”
Following the Bookcast premiere, Parton will release the Run, Rose, Run soundtrack on March 4 through Butterfly Records in partnership with Ingrooves/UM. The album will also mark the first-ever soundtrack for a novel. On March 7 the novel will be released simultaneously with the last six episodes of the Bookcast.
“We are honored to partner with Dolly Parton and James Patterson on Run, Rose, Run, a trailblazing audio experience from two of the world’s most prolific creators, that combines Spotify’s core elements–music and spoken audio,” says Dawn Ostroff, Spotify’s Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer. “This unique audio experience exemplifies the limitless potential of audio and Spotify’s commitment to partnering with exceptional creative talent on new innovative formats.”
Why&How Launches New Philanthropy-Focused Sector
/by Lorie HollabaughArtist management and entertainment company Why&How has launched a new philanthropic arm, Why&How Impact.
With a focus on giving back, Why&How Impact pairs each of its two dozen artists with an organization of their choosing, providing aid both monetarily and through volunteered time in the community.
Current organizations involved with the initiative include Best Friends Animal Society, CASA, CCK, Cotton Fest Fund, The Independence Fund, Nashville Humane Association, Hungry Heroes, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, HDEU, No Kid Hungry and Stand Up 4 Health.
Spearheaded by newly-appointed Impact/Event Coordinator Mclane Rosen, Why&How Impact aims to create a ripple effect throughout the industry and place a new emphasis on giving back. The personalized approach to selecting organizations allows each artist to get involved with a cause they’re passionate about, with more charities to be announced in the coming months.
“We have built a company with a passion for upholding three core values: family, faith, and philanthropy,” Why&How CEO and Founder Bruce Kalmick shares. “The heart and soul behind this vision allows us to combine our resources and influence to help facilitate a wide variety of philanthropic endeavors for our clients. Just as we can’t preach about being family first and then miss a game, we wanted to realize our desire to give back and brought in Mclane to lead our new Impact division. We all have to find faith in something, and for us it is continuing to make a difference in lives across the world.”
In addition to the organizations paired with each artist, Why&How will choose a charity to focus on each yea. For 2022, the company has selected No Kid Hungry, which works to end child hunger in America. Those interested in donating can do so here.
For more information on Why&How Impact, click here.
On The Cover: Dustin Lynch Graces The Cover Of MusicRow’s 2022 Country Radio & Streaming Issue
/by Lydia FarthingMusicRow Magazine has released its 2022 Country Radio & Streaming Issue, with Broken Bow Records’ Dustin Lynch gracing the cover.
Lynch recently released his fifth studio album, Blue In The Sky, which includes his hit single “Thinking ‘Bout You,” featuring MacKenzie Porter. The track marks the label’s longest reigning single at country radio with an impressive six weeks in the top spot. Within the album’s 12 tracks—five of which were penned by the Grand Ole Opry member—the Tennessee native displays a heavy helping of optimism while also delivering a fair share of drinking songs, neon-soaked ballads, and more with help from Riley Green and Chris Lane.
Since first coming onto the scene in 2012 with his breakout self-titled album and stand-out singles, such as “Cowboys and Angels” and “She Cranks My Tractor,” the decorated singer-songwriter has achieved eight No. 1s, four top 5 albums, and over three billion on-demand streams. Over the last decade, he has also earned 8 Gold and Platinum-certified singles from the RIAA, including for “Ridin’ Roads,” “Good Girl,” “Small Town Boy,” “Seein’ Red,” “Where It’s At,” and more.
The Country Radio & Streaming Issue includes the winners of MusicRow’s 20th Annual CountryBreakout Awards, which honors the artists who earned the most spins on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in 2021. The 2022 winners include Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs, Female Artist of the Year Miranda Lambert, Group/Duo of the Year Dan + Shay, Breakout Artist of the Year Priscilla Block, and Independent Artist of the Year James Robert Webb. Capitol Records Nashville was honored with Label of the Year for the 18th time, while SMACK Songs/Sony Music Publishing’s Josh Osborne was named Songwriter of the Year for the third time. This year’s Reporter of the Year is WDHR’s Jeff Meek.
Within this issue’s pages, you’ll also find an engaging crop of editorial content. This issue includes a revealing profile on Warner Music Nashville’s CEO John Esposito, highlighting his entry into the music business and his meteoric rise to the top of one of country music’s most successful record labels. Also featured is a look inside Amazon Music’s busy year with its new Head of Country Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, and Principal Programmer Emily Cohen.
This issue also spotlights UMG Nashville’s outlook on radio and streaming throughout the pandemic, a conversation on the dramatic increase in country collaborations, and the minds behind PickleJar, “the world’s biggest tip jar.” This year’s Country Radio & Streaming Issue also takes a look at secondary market radio with KZPK and KYCK’s Brook Stephens, and celebrates the 20th anniversary of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2022 Country Radio & Streaming Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $20, and are included with yearly MusicRow memberships.
EMG Acquires Catalog Of Hits By Jimmie Allen, Ash Bowers, & Trent Tomlinson
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Ash Bowers, Jimmie Allen
Endurance Music Group (EMG) has acquired a catalog of country hits written by Jimmie Allen, Ash Bowers and Trent Tomlinson during the trio’s term as Wide Open Music songwriters. The acquisition serves as a follow-on investment to the purchase of Wide Open Music in 2020 and a continuation of EMG’s strategy of sourcing and acquiring music.
Among the hits included in the purchased catalog are Tomlinson’s BMI Country Song of the Year, “In Case You Didn’t Know” (Brett Young), the Bowers No. 1 hit “Prayed for You” (Matt Stell), and all three of Allen’s chart-topping singles: “Best Shot,” “Make Me Want To,” and the recent Billboard Country Airplay No. 1, “Freedom Was a Highway.”
“We are so excited to further strengthen our existing partnership with Jimmie and Ash,” shares EMG Chairman and CEO Jeremy Tucker. “Their songwriting skills are undeniable, as they’ve proven time and again with the hits they’ve created. We’re thrilled to be the new home of this incredible catalog.”
“Working with the Endurance team has been such a pleasure for both Jimmie and I over the past couple of years, so it only makes sense for us to continue to build on that relationship,” adds Bowers.
Sonos Radio Renews Country Focus With New Stations, Exclusive Programming
/by Lorie HollabaughSonos Radio has built on its country portfolio of programming with the addition of new stations, a new podcast hosted by Margo Price, and Dolly Parton’s Songteller Radio, which will now be available to all Sonos owners worldwide, including a new exclusive episode on Parton’s new novel and album, Run, Rose, Run.
Building on the success of its Hot Country station, Sonos has also revamped Nashville Now as the place for the newest music in mainstream country. The company is also launching new stations: Modern Roots, Classic Country and Country Forever. Available free to all customers globally, the new programming gives fans even more ways to discover the music and content they love. Beginning with Thomas Rhett’s new album, Where We Started, due out in April, Nashville Now will have a new feature, “Nashville Now Headliner,” to spotlight superstar artists with new projects.
Dolly Parton’s own station, Songteller Radio, where she shares music that she personally enjoys and has inspired her, is moving to Sonos Radio’s free tier, having previously been available exclusively on the paid Sonos Radio HD platform. The original station continuously evolves with Parton’s hits, favorite artists, and commentary on songs and moments from her career. In early March, Sonos Radio will release a new show, “Run, Rose, Run,” that provides background on the global superstar’s new album and book of the same name, out March 4 and March 7 respectively.
“Songteller Radio continues on Sonos, and I have created an exclusive radio special focused on my new novel and album Run, Rose, Run,” Parton says. “Storytelling is central to almost everything I do, and I am happy that Sonos owners around the world will continue to be a part of this journey with me!”
Launching this spring, the new podcast with Margo Price, Runaway Horses, will offer unique access through the artists, thinkers and performers that are reshaping music and culture today. Free-flowing conversations will be guided by playing old records, new music, telling stories and breaking borders for how we talk about music, and listen. Runaway Horses will be distributed across all podcast platforms and will be featured on Modern Roots on Sonos.
“As a listener, I’m appreciative that Sonos Radio is giving me an outlet to support artists that I deeply admire,” shares Price. “I’m excited to bring listeners a unique experience through many genres from all perspectives. We’ll study the art of songwriting, storytelling and rule breaking in country music and beyond as we channel our minds and hearts to a new way of listening.”
“The continued, rapid growth of Sonos Radio has allowed us to take a deeper dive into some of our listeners’ favorite genres, and country music clearly sits as a top priority” adds Joe Dawson, Head of Programming on Sonos Radio. “Our work with a team of Nashville-based, expert curators allows us to bring a full array of the sounds that country fans love – from what’s new to all of the classics. We couldn’t be happier to partner with this selection of artists that are legends, and legends in the making, to deliver this new offering on our platform.”
Garth Brooks Adds Nashville Stop To His ‘Stadium Tour’
/by Lydia FarthingGarth Brooks. Photo: Becky Fluke
Garth Brooks is setting his sights on Nashville’s Nissan Stadium this spring. The decorated entertainer will take over the stadium on Saturday, April 16. This will be Garth’s final “Stadium Tour” stop in Nashville and the only Stadium Tour stop in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Originally slated to play at Nissan on in July of last year, the show was ultimately forced to cancel due to severe weather. Over 70,000 fans attended the anticipated 2021 performance.
“It’s great to have Garth Brooks back at Nissan Stadium,” shares Burke Nihill, Tennessee Titans President and CEO. “Not only is he the No. 1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, but he also does amazing things for our community, and we couldn’t be more proud to bring him back home to Nashville for what’s sure to be an electric show.”
Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 4 at 10:00 a.m. CT. There will be an eight ticket limit per purchase.
Brooks launched “The Stadium Tour” in March of 2019 and has broken stadium attendance records at every stop on the tour so far. In 2017, he wrapped up the three-and-a-half-year long “Garth Brooks World Tour” with Trisha Yearwood. The trek sold over 6.3 million tickets, making it the biggest North American tour in history and the biggest American tour in the world.
Brandi Carlile Expands ‘Beyond These Silent Days’ Summer Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughBrandi Carlile. Photo: Neil Krug
Brandi Carlile has added dates to her extensive “Beyond These Silent Days” summer tour, which will now include stops at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Austin’s Moody Amphitheater, Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion, Salt Lake City’s Vivint Smart Home Arena, Philadelphia’s TD Pavilion at The Mann and more.
Special guests on the new tour include Allison Russell, Ani DiFranco, Brittany Howard, Celisse, Indigo Girls, Katie Pruitt, Lake Street Dive, Lucius and Sarah McLachlan, with additional guests to be announced.
Artist pre-sale will begin Thursday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. local time with general on sale following Friday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. local time. Citi cardmembers will also have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22.
The tour is part of another landmark year for Carlile, who is nominated for five awards at the upcoming 64th Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year (Right On Time), Song of the Year (“Right On Time” and “A Beautiful Noise” performed by Carlile and Alicia Keys), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Right On Time”) and Best American Roots Performance (“Same Devil” with Brandy Clark). The awards will air Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.
Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, More Added To ACM Awards Performer Lineup
/by Lydia FarthingThe second group of performers have been announced for the upcoming 57th Academy of Country Music Awards. The show, which will livestream exclusively on Prime Video, will take place on Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. CT.
Among the newest round of performers set to take the stage at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium are Brittney Spencer, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Eric Church, Gabby Barrett, Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Mitchell Tenpenny, and host Dolly Parton with Kelsea Ballerini.
Previously announced entertainers slated to perform on the live broadcast include Walker Hayes, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Parmalee and Blanco Brown featuring Brooke Eden, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, and Breland.
The two-hour show will feature more than 20 performances, and will be hosted by Dolly Parton and co-hosted by reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year Gabby Barrett and reigning ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen.