Luke Bryan To Headline ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off & Rock On

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ACM Lifting Lives has announced the return of Topgolf Tee-Off & Rock On Presented by Canteen Spirits ahead of the 57th ACM Awards. The 2022 edition of the event is set for Sunday, March 6, at Topgolf Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

The reimagined golf tournament will feature live entertainment from headliner and three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, plus additional performances from Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, and more. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“ACM Lifting Lives has helped so many people in our industry through the years, especially when touring was restricted over the pandemic,” shares Bryan. “I am thankful for their work and honored to be able to help in this way.”

“The support of the country music community is instrumental in making the philanthropic work of ACM Lifting Lives, possible,” notes Executive Director Lyndsay Cruz. “We’re incredibly thankful to Luke, Jordan and Lainey for being so eager to be part of this event and can’t wait to get back to Las Vegas to celebrate with the fans.”

Individual tickets and fan golf bays are available for purchase starting tomorrow (Feb. 18), with all proceeds from the event going to benefit ACM Lifting Lives.

The ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off & Rock On precedes the 57th ACM Awards which will be hosted by Dolly Parton together with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett. The show will air live from Allegiant Stadium on March 7 at 7 p.m. CT exclusively on Prime Video.

Amazon Music Names Breland As Next Breakthrough Artist

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Amazon Music has selected country trailblazer Breland as the next Breakthrough Artist.

As a Breakthrough Artist, the singer, songwriter and producer will receive substantial support from Amazon Music, including bespoke video and audio content, global marketing campaigns, increased visibility across playlists and programming, and high-profile Amazon Original tracks.

He will also be a featured guest on Country Heat Weekly, Amazon Music’s first genre-focused original podcast, to connect with co-hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson on his new music and the year ahead.

Breland’s debut single, “My Truck,” fused hip-hop with country and became a breakout success, going Platinum and landing him on best-of-the-year lists from NPR and The New York Times. Since signing to Bad Realm Records/Atlantic Records, he has collaborated with Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Blanco Brown, Lauren Alaina, and Chase Rice. Breland also recently enlisted Keith Urban for the dynamic collaboration “Throw It Back,” and is currently featured on Dierks Bentley’s single with Hardy, “Beers On Me.”

“It’s an honor to be selected as the next Breakthrough Artist. Coming together with Amazon Music is a natural pairing. We share the same vision for my music, and I know that by working with them, I’ll be able to make even my most ambitious plans a reality. I can’t wait to share what we’re working on with my fans,” Breland shares.

Amazon Music has also unveiled details of the Breakthrough Development Fund, an initiative created to provide independent artists with additional financial support as they launch their careers. Each month, one independent artist in the U.S. will receive financial support to go towards some of the costs artists face when starting out, such as funding an early tour, hiring a PR or social team, and more. Thus far in 2022, the fund has supported singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer-Smith and Muni Long.

“Helping to develop artists is something that is very important to Amazon Music, and we understand that as their career starts to grow, each artist has different needs. Depending on where they’re at in their career, they may need to build a strong team around them or to enhance their live show. With the Breakthrough Development Fund, we want to help artists build their teams and their profile,” says Amazon Global Co-Head of Artist Relations Chris Graham. “Whether we’re backing artists with this new fund, providing a stage for their music on our Breakthrough playlists, or supporting them with the Breakthrough Artist program, Amazon Music is constantly working to help emerging artists find new fans and get to the next level of their careers.”

Bob Frank Entertainment Acquires Portion Of Charlie Daniels Masters

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Charlie Daniels. Photo: Erick Anderson / eafoto

Bob Frank Entertainment (BFE) has bought into the late Charlie Daniels’ catalog of masters, becoming equal partners with Blue Hat Records and the Daniels Estate.

BFE CEO Bob Frank now owns one third of the catalog. The remaining equal portions belonging to Blue Hat Records (David Corlew) and the Daniels Estate (Hazel Daniels and Charlie Daniels, Jr.).

“This transaction will be the first of many for BFE’s new privately funded investment arm, Red Shark Ventures, which is focused on catalog masters,” explains Frank. “What better way to launch this effort than with our longtime partner Blue Hat Records who we have been in business with for over 20 years. With such a deep and historic archive, we already have a strong release schedule through 2023.”

“We have been distribution partners with Bob Frank for over 20 years,” adds Corlew, Daniels’ longtime manager. “This purchase allows us to work even closer with Bob and his team to continue Charlie’s musical legacy in a much larger way. Bob has many years of experience with major labels and distribution, which will allow us to reach into a global market that we haven’t really touched, as well as provide a new domestic awareness to one of the oldest independent artist-owned labels. Hazel, Charlie Jr., and I are very excited about this new venture.”

Along with this news, Blue Hat Records and BFE announced they will release a digital and vinyl album of the very first Volunteer Jam, held in 1974 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. The project will include previously unreleased live tracks of some of Daniels’ biggest hit songs.

“Charlie Jr., David and I are thrilled to welcome Bob into our family,” says Hazel Daniels. “Charlie loved working with him so we feel this partnership is a perfect fit.”

CRS Reveals Lineup For ‘Team UMG At The Ryman’ Showcase

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Universal Music Group (UMG) Nashville has announced the lineup for its “Team UMG at the Ryman” event at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2022. The showcase will be held on Feb. 24 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

This year’s show will feature performances by Dierks Bentley, Priscilla Block, Boy Named Banjo, Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, and Keith Urban. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the show will begin at noon.

Seminar registrants will have the option to either walk or use shuttles provided by UMG Nashville, going from the Omni Nashville Hotel to the Ryman Auditorium between 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a boxed lunch upon entry at the Ryman and before the performances.

“A tradition as American as apple pie, we are so happy to be back together with all of you LIVE at the Ryman,” says Mike Dungan, Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville. “An incredibly mediocre box lunch combined with the best music you will ever experience, we know you won’t want to miss it, and we cannot wait to see YOU!”

Registration for CRS 2022 is open now. Single-day passes will also be available, and include access to panels, speakers, luncheons, and networking destinations on the day of pass purchase. Day passes will only be available for purchase on-site.

Everyone attending CRS 2022 will be required to provide documentation of full COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID test result, obtained within 48-hours of arrival at the event. Rapid antigen and PCR tests will be available upon arrival and conducted on-site at no cost to attendees.

Industry Ink: Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, J.E. Moss Elementary, CMT

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Luke Bryan Debuts Vegas Residency, Adds New Dates

Luke Bryan performs during the opening night of his residency at Resorts World Las Vegas. Photo: John Shearer

Luke Bryan debuted his Las Vegas headlining engagement, “Luke Bryan: Vegas,” on Saturday (Feb. 11) at the new Resorts World Theatre. The five-time entertainer of the year kicked off with a sold-out performance featuring top hits such as “That’s My Kind of Night,” “One Margarita” and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me).”

“What an amazing night and start to our run of headlining shows at Resorts World Las Vegas,” Bryan shared. “We’ve worked long and hard to put together an incredible, high-energy show for the fans. I am so proud of how it turned out and I hope everyone who comes leaves there having as much fun as me.”

The set featured a shifting stage that lifted Bryan and his band to the rhythms of his hit songs. The country music star took to the piano to sing “Strip it Down” and “Do I” against a backdrop of lights. During his encore, Bryan walked an elevated 45-foot high catwalk.

Due to ticket demand, Bryan is adding nine new show dates which will go on sale to the public Feb. 21, at 12 p.m. CT. The new dates are June 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, and 25; Aug. 31; and Sept. 3 and 4.

 

Miranda Lambert Donates $20,000 To Animal Shelters For Valentine’s Day

Miranda Lambert. Photo: Jim Cook

For Valentine’s Day, Miranda Lambert donated $20,000 to twenty shelters, each receiving $1,000 on behalf of the people who gave their time and hearts to shelter animals over the past year.

Lambert, who began volunteering at animal shelters as a teenager says: “Shelter pets-especially the ones that are hardest to get adopted-and the people who care for them, have always had my heart. Valentine’s Day gives me one more chance to show just how special they all are to me.”

 

Leadership Music, City National Bank, Bluebird Cafe Donate To J.E. Moss Elementary

Pictured (L-R): Jennifer Hurst, J.E. Moss Elementary; Deb Linn, Executive Director, Leadership Music; Erika Wollam-Nichols, COO, Bluebird Cafe; Diane Pearson, SVP Entertainment, City National Bank; Carl Febles, principal, J.E. Moss Elementary

As part of their Gift of Service Committee’s Adopt-a-School initiative, Leadership Music partnered with City National Bank and the Bluebird Cafe to present a $5,000 check to J.E. Moss Elementary School in Antioch, Tennessee.

Leadership Music, a premier education, networking and leadership program for leaders in the music industry, began working with J.E. Moss through The Tennessean’s Adopt-a-Teacher program in 2019.

This most recent donation will go to Reading Is the Way Up to ensure students and teachers have the resources they need.

CMT Adds Tiffany Goldstein To Editorial Team

Tiffany Goldstein

Journalist Tiffany Goldstein has joined the CMT.com editorial team as a writer, effective immediately. She can be reached at Tiffany.Goldstein@cmt.com.

Goldstein has previous stops with Country Now and multiple entertainment outlets spanning country music and pop culture. She currently resides in Chicago.

CMT recently brought on Cindy Watts to the editorial staff in October 2021. Both report to Melissa Goldberg, CMT’s Senior Director of Digital & Social.

AIMP Nashville To Host Publishing & Artist Development Webinar Tomorrow

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The AIMP Nashville Nashville Chapter will host a new webinar entitled “The Role Of Music Publishers in Artist Development” tomorrow (Feb. 17) at 4 p.m. CT.

The online event is free for members and $5 for non-members. To register, click here.

During the webinar, moderator Tim Hunze (VP, Publishing, Big Machine Music) will bring panelists Robert Carlton (Senior VP, Development, SMACKsongs), Zebb Luster (VP/General Manager, River House Artists), and Chris Van Belkom (VP, Combustion Music) together for an insightful discussion surrounding the role of music publishers in artist development.

CMA Returns To C2C With Songwriters Series, Introducing Nashville Shows

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The CMA is returning to the Country to Country festival (C2C) with its acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series and international artist-focused touring series Introducing Nashville next month.

The special CMA Songwriters Series performance will kick off C2C weekend at London’s Indigo at The O2 on March 10 featuring Shy Carter, Luke Dick, Russell Dickerson, Caitlyn Smith and other special guests. The show marks the seventh London appearance and third consecutive sold out CMA Songwriters Series during C2C.

CMA’s Introducing Nashville will take a main stage opening slot at C2C Festival visiting all three cities, including London, Glasgow and Dublin from March 11-13. The shows will feature performances by Priscilla Block, Tiera Kennedy and Morgan Wade, marking the first time each of these artists will perform in the U.K.

“As a partner of C2C since its inception, we are thrilled to be back with our industry friends and the U.K. fans who make our artists feel so welcome,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “Both of our events, CMA Songwriters Series and Introducing Nashville, will feel extra special this year. CMA Songwriters Series is sure to continue its reputation for delivering not-to-be-missed, magic moments on the eve of C2C each year, while Introducing Nashville will take the main stage slot for the first time, introducing fans to artists we’re proud to be presenting for the first time in the U.K.”

Tickets for C2C, which includes the Introducing Nashville performance, are on sale now at C2C-CountrytoCountry.com.

The Oriel Company Expands To Nashville, Taps Charlotte Burke Bass To Lead Office

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Charlotte Burke Bass. Photo: Katie Kauss

Integrated communications firm The Oriel Company has announced the opening of a new office in Nashville.

Planting roots in Music City for the first time, the company has tapped Charlotte Burke Bass as Vice President of Operations Nashville. She will not only run the Nashville office, but will also oversee a staff and lead multi-faceted media campaigns for the roster that includes country clients such as Kelsea Ballerini and Old Dominion.

Founded in 2020 by Carleen Donovan, Chloe Walsh and Jen Appel, The Oriel Company has additional offices in New York and Los Angeles.

Burke Bass’s 15-year career includes communications experience in music, television, film, sports and tech. She joins The Oriel Company from Beeline Agency, a public relations and strategic communications firm she founded in 2020. Prior to founding the Beeline Agency, Burke Bass spent over five years at Big Machine Label Group as the Director of Communications.

Regarding the news, Donovan says, “It was a natural progression for The Oriel to find our own home in Nashville, and there is no better leader on the ground for that home than Charlotte, whose work I’ve admired from afar. She’s strategic, smart, and relentless in terms of passion, vision, and execution. With her background in music, television, film and the arts, she is a welcome addition to our multi-faceted team.”

“The Oriel has raised the bar when it comes to media relations and integrated publicity campaigns. Carleen, Chloe and Jen have reimagined the scope of PR, and achieved well-earned success at every turn,” adds Burke Bass. “This presented the perfect opportunity to join forces and make a major impact in Nashville and beyond. I’m honored to now be a part of this incredible company.”

Reach Burke Bass at charlotte@theoriel.co.

Additionally, The Oriel Company announced that they are now representing Stagecoach, California’s world-renowned country music festival, presented by West Coast power promoters Goldenvoice. Stagecoach joins other AEG/Goldenvoice properties Firefly, Head In The Clouds and This Ain’t No Picnic on The Oriel’s roster of entertainment clients.

Matt Jenkins Inks Publishing Deal With Warner Chappell Music, Madfun Entertainment

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Pictured (L-R): Alicia Pruitt (Madfun), Spencer Nohe (WCM), Ben Vaughn (WCM), Matt Jenkins

Warner Chappell Music (WCM) and Madfun Entertainment have signed a global publishing deal with Matt Jenkins.

The accomplished songwriter has penned numerous No. 1 singles throughout his career, including the Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Platinum-certified track “Happy Anywhere,” as well as the Platinum smash hit “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan, which recently hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and is nominated for Song of the Year at the ACM Awards.

Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, WCM Nashville offers: “Matt is the type of songwriter who knows how to fish out in the deep water for the perfect line in a writing session. He has proven himself as one of Nashville’s best songwriters, and we’re excited to be a part of his continued growth.”

A native Texan, Jenkins received a CMA Triple Play Award in 2017 for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period: “Confession” by Florida Georgia Line, “Setting The World on Fire” by Kenny Chesney ft. P!nk, and “Song For Another Time” by Old Dominion. Other chart-topping hits he’s had a hand in writing include Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna,” Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At,” and Keith Urban’s “Cop Car.”

“Matt is one of my favorite songwriters and voices on the planet and has been for years. The way he can write and deliver a lyric, is what our town is built on,” Alicia Pruitt, founder, Madfun Entertainment adds. “I’m so very excited to get to work with this magical human every day.

“Couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter of my career,” Jenkins shares. “This is an amazing team and I’m super excited about the future!”

Thomas Rhett Expands Dos Primos Tequila Brand With New Reposado

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Jeff Worn & Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett and his cousin Jeff Worn, founders of Dos Primos Tequila, are introducing the latest Dos Primos family member: Dos Primos Tequila Reposado.

The reposado tequila is made from hand-harvested, 100% blue agave sourced from estates in Los Altos and the valley area of Jalisco, Mexico, and aged for at least six months in used bourbon barrels.

Dos Primos Tequila Reposado

“When Jeff and I started the Dos Primos Tequila company four years ago, we knew we wanted to continue to expand our tequila family,” shares Rhett. “We’ve been so blown away by the response to our blanco and couldn’t be more pumped to now introduce a reposado together. Similar to our original goal, we’ve worked hard to make this as versatile as possible and seamlessly fit into any activity, regardless of the time of year.”

Dos Primos Tequila Reposado is the second tequila variant launched by the Dos Primos brand. In 2021, Dos Primos successfully introduced Dos Primos Tequila Blanco–an ultra-premium crystal-clear tequila with herbal notes and floral and citrus hints.

Dos Primos Tequila Reposado is packaged in a clear embossed-glass bottle with a wood cork and black-leather cord wrapped around the neck. The fabric label is hand-applied in Mexico and bears the signatures of Worn and Rhett.

“Our name is our word–and our signatures represent our commitment to the process and the product, from field to bottle,” adds Worn. “Dos Primos Reposado is a fantastic-tasting tequila, and its introduction only strengthens our dedication and commitment to the Dos Primos brand.”

Dos Primos Tequila Reposado will be available in a 750 ml bottle in select U.S. markets beginning in March 2022. For more information or to find a retailer, click here.