Touring Career Workshop Celebrates A Decade
Pictured (L-R): Devon Roberts, John Schirmer, Erik Parker (seated, Co-Founder), Mark Steinwachs, Erik Leighty, Chris Lisle (Seated, Co-Founder), Tee-Cee Bailey. Photo: 2021 Harry Butler Nashville
The Touring Career Workshop recently celebrated its 10th birthday at Yazoo Brewing Company in Nashville.
The Touring Career Workshop is a free annual event created by Chris Lisle and Erik Parker to serve and educate people in the touring music industry. The inaugural workshop was held in November 2011 at Belmont University and was attended by over fifty industry professionals. In years since, over 350 people have attended their yearly events.
“Although we were unable to hold our fall workshop in its traditional format, it was really great to join together with friends and colleagues to celebrate our huge milestone,” shares Lisle. “We cannot wait to see what the next ten years brings!”
SOLID Hosts 35th Annual Turkey Bowl Tournament, Raises Over $10,000
Pictured (L-R): Sean Fallon (SOLID Secretary) and Avery King (SOLID President) alongside SOLID board members Paul Ermlich, Tatiana Angulo, Rachel Guttmann. Photo Courtesy of SOLID.
SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) hosted its 35th Annual Turkey Bowl Tournament at Mid State SportsPlex on Saturday (Nov. 13), raising more than $10,000 for the 2021 SOLID Shares partners: MusiCares, Notes for Notes, The Onsite Foundation (Ryan’s Grove), The Equity Alliance and The National Museum of African American Music. The organization also collected over 3,000 pounds of nonperishable food to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
“It was amazing to be able to bring Turkey Bowl back after having to take last year off due to the shutdown. Seeing the Nashville music industry show up to support our awesome nonprofit partners in such great numbers is a feeling that will never get old,” says Paul Erlmich, SOLID Community Outreach Co-Chair. “My co-chair Ritz McCain and I owe a huge thanks to the SOLID board and our committee members for making the day happen.”
“We are incredibly grateful to have seen such an impressive turnout during our first Turkey Bowl fundraiser post-shutdown,” adds Avery King, SOLID President. “Seeing our Nashville community rally together to raise more than $10,000 for our SOLID shares partners while also collecting over 3,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest makes me incredibly proud to work alongside all of these people.”
In 2021, SOLID’s philanthropic efforts have raised over $42,000. Over its 24 year history, the organization has been able to donate over $400,000 to local charities and nonprofits. In the past three years, SOLID’s members have also donated more than 300 hours of their time to the Nashville community.
Bridget Cirone Exits Academy Of Country Music
Bridget Cirone
Bridget Cirone has exited her position at the Academy of Country Music. After the Thanksgiving holiday, Cirone will join the team at Sunshine Sachs in its Los Angeles office.
Cirone first joined the Academy in 2018 as an assistant for both the Marketing and Creative & Content departments, and most recently served as Manager, Marketing. In her time at the ACM, she supported all publicity and marketing initiatives for the Academy and ACM Lifting Lives, including overseeing red carpet media, press materials, and more.
A Marquette University alum, Cirone started her career in college working for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WISN 12 News and Marquette Basketball. Upon graduating she moved back to Las Vegas where she worked at Wicked Creative, an entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle public relations firm.
IVPR Adds Lucy Volpe As Senior Publicist
Lucy Volpe. Photo: Autumn Dozier
IVPR, a Nashville-based PR firm, has added Lucy Volpe as senior publicist.
Volpe previously spent time at Big Feat PR where she worked on campaigns for Arlo McKinley, John R. Miller, Charley Crockett, Lydia Luce and more. The St. Pete, Florida, native brings 10+ years of experience to IVPR with a specialty in artist and festival PR.
“Lucy is one of those rare individuals who has built a career by combining her personal strengths and passions into a singular focus work-wise. I value her work ethic, passion for our clients, sense of what makes for a solid story, and well-honed knowledge of the ever changing media landscape,” says Maria Ivey, owner of IVPR. “She gives a damn and that’s really all we can ever hope for in a teammate.”
“It’s rare to find people in this industry where there is no room for ego, where everyone is genuinely supportive of each other and wants to achieve the same goals for our clients,” adds Volpe. “I am incredibly honored to be on team IVPR.”
IVPR represents a variety of clients, including Del McCoury, Yonder Mountain Stringband, MerleFest, The Infamous Stringdusters, DelFest, Anders Osborne, Colter Wall, David Ferguson, Kelsey Waldon, Jamestown Revival, Esther Rose, Luke Laird, Michaela Anne, Rising Appalachia, Park City Song Summit, High Sierra Music Festival, and more.
Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen To Headline 2022 Tortuga Music Festival
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured: Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen
The Tortuga Music Festival has announced that Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen will headline the three-day oceanside festival in 2022. The event will make its return to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from April 8-10.
A variety of country’s top acts will join the Main Stage performers for the weekend beach, including Brothers Osborne, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Walker Hayes, Randy Houser, Nelly, Dee Jay Silver, Surfaces, Mitchell Tenpenny, Travis Tritt, Hailey Whitters and Lainey Wilson.
The Sunset Stage, presented by Verizon, will include Ballyhoo!, Breland, DJ Rock, Larry Fleet, Jelly Roll, Kendell Marvel, Scotty McCreery, Sister Hazel, Sublime With Rome, Chase Rice, Caitlyn Smith, The Cadillac Three, The Elovaters along with The War and Treaty. Additionally, the most buzzed-about newcomers in country are set to appear on the Next From Nashville stage, which will feature Priscilla Block, Dillon Carmichael, Shy Carter, Callista Clark, Jackson Dean, Ernest, Laine Hardy, Noah Hicks, Kat & Alex, King Calaway, Drew Parker, Seaforth, Brittney Spencer, Lily Rose and Tiera.
Weekend passes will go on sale Friday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. CT. For more information on tickets, hotel packages and more, click here.
Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris Claim Top Spot On Mediabase Chart
/by Lorie HollabaughRyan Hurd and Maren Morris have reached No. 1 on this week’s Mediabase chart with their Platinum-certified duet “Chasing After You.” The single went to to the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart on Oct. 1, 2021.
The couple’s first official collaboration, “Chasing After You” was penned by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers and produced by Teddy Reimer and Aaron Eshuis. The duo performed the chart-topping track on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week after the CMAs, where the song was nominated twice.
Hurd recently released his debut album Pelago, inspired by his upbringing on the shores of Lake Michigan. The album was produced with childhood friend and longtime creative partner Eshuis, with contributions from Jesse Frasure and Reimer.
Hurd is also gearing up for his “Tour de Pelago” headlining tour in January, with dates including Chicago’s The Vic, New York’s Irving Plaza, Nashville’s Marathon Music Works and more.
Natalie Hemby Inks With CTM Outlander, Becomes The Company’s First Nashville Signee
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, seated): Farris, Self & Moore’s Kella Farris, Outlander’s Leslie Ware, Natalie Hemby, CTM’s André de Raaff, Outlander’s Mike McKool Jr., Loeb & Loeb’s Megan Pekar; (L-R, standing): Loeb & Loeb’s Derek Crownover, Loeb & Loeb’s John Rolfe, CTM’s Jitze de Raaff, CTM’s Thomas Deelder, Outlander’s Jaden Warren, Loeb & Loeb’s John Frankenheimer
Grammy-winning songwriter Natalie Hemby has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with CTM Outlander, a joint venture between Outlander, a Dallas-based permanent capital company, and Netherlands-based publishing firm CTM.
The deal covers Hemby’s music rights of the last decade, consisting of of 189 released cuts, 26 unreleased cuts, 8 No. 1 songs and 26 past or current singles. It also includes an exclusive songwriter agreement for her future compositions.
Hemby is the first Nashville signee for CTM Outlander. The company’s CEO, André de Raaff, offers: “We have often looked with great interest at Nashville writers and catalogues but never found the right fit for us. When we came in contact with Natalie, we immediately felt that this is the right match for us. A great catalogue and a gifted outstanding writer with the skills and potential to write for the greatest artists in the world.”
“We love Natalie’s work and she has been a pleasure to work with. We are excited about our future together,” says Outlander’s Leslie Ware.
With eight country No. 1 hits, including Lady A’s “Downtown;” Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and “Tornado;” Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar,” “Automatic” and “Bluebird;” Jon Pardi’s “Heartache Medication” and Justin Moore’s“You Look Like I Need A Drink,” Hemby is one of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters.
The multi-talent has also had her share of global success, co-writing “Always Remember Us This Way” and “I’ll Never Love Again” from the blockbuster movie A Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. She has had songs cut by Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves, Sheryl Crow, Lady A, Chris Isaak, and Blake Shelton, with a new release from Alicia Keys on the way. Additionally, Hemby co-wrote the track “Love In Slow Motion” on Ed Sheeran’s new album Equals.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be working with CTM Outlander Music,” Hemby adds. “They have a worldwide influence and are deeply respected across the globe. I’m excited to represent them within the Nashville circles, as well as expand my songwriting circles. This is a career milestone for me and I’m sincerely grateful for this opportunity.”
Industry Ink: Touring Career Workshop, SOLID, Bridget Cirone, Lucy Volpe
/by Lydia FarthingTouring Career Workshop Celebrates A Decade
Pictured (L-R): Devon Roberts, John Schirmer, Erik Parker (seated, Co-Founder), Mark Steinwachs, Erik Leighty, Chris Lisle (Seated, Co-Founder), Tee-Cee Bailey. Photo: 2021 Harry Butler Nashville
The Touring Career Workshop recently celebrated its 10th birthday at Yazoo Brewing Company in Nashville.
The Touring Career Workshop is a free annual event created by Chris Lisle and Erik Parker to serve and educate people in the touring music industry. The inaugural workshop was held in November 2011 at Belmont University and was attended by over fifty industry professionals. In years since, over 350 people have attended their yearly events.
“Although we were unable to hold our fall workshop in its traditional format, it was really great to join together with friends and colleagues to celebrate our huge milestone,” shares Lisle. “We cannot wait to see what the next ten years brings!”
SOLID Hosts 35th Annual Turkey Bowl Tournament, Raises Over $10,000
Pictured (L-R): Sean Fallon (SOLID Secretary) and Avery King (SOLID President) alongside SOLID board members Paul Ermlich, Tatiana Angulo, Rachel Guttmann. Photo Courtesy of SOLID.
SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) hosted its 35th Annual Turkey Bowl Tournament at Mid State SportsPlex on Saturday (Nov. 13), raising more than $10,000 for the 2021 SOLID Shares partners: MusiCares, Notes for Notes, The Onsite Foundation (Ryan’s Grove), The Equity Alliance and The National Museum of African American Music. The organization also collected over 3,000 pounds of nonperishable food to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
“It was amazing to be able to bring Turkey Bowl back after having to take last year off due to the shutdown. Seeing the Nashville music industry show up to support our awesome nonprofit partners in such great numbers is a feeling that will never get old,” says Paul Erlmich, SOLID Community Outreach Co-Chair. “My co-chair Ritz McCain and I owe a huge thanks to the SOLID board and our committee members for making the day happen.”
“We are incredibly grateful to have seen such an impressive turnout during our first Turkey Bowl fundraiser post-shutdown,” adds Avery King, SOLID President. “Seeing our Nashville community rally together to raise more than $10,000 for our SOLID shares partners while also collecting over 3,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest makes me incredibly proud to work alongside all of these people.”
In 2021, SOLID’s philanthropic efforts have raised over $42,000. Over its 24 year history, the organization has been able to donate over $400,000 to local charities and nonprofits. In the past three years, SOLID’s members have also donated more than 300 hours of their time to the Nashville community.
Bridget Cirone Exits Academy Of Country Music
Bridget Cirone
Bridget Cirone has exited her position at the Academy of Country Music. After the Thanksgiving holiday, Cirone will join the team at Sunshine Sachs in its Los Angeles office.
Cirone first joined the Academy in 2018 as an assistant for both the Marketing and Creative & Content departments, and most recently served as Manager, Marketing. In her time at the ACM, she supported all publicity and marketing initiatives for the Academy and ACM Lifting Lives, including overseeing red carpet media, press materials, and more.
A Marquette University alum, Cirone started her career in college working for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WISN 12 News and Marquette Basketball. Upon graduating she moved back to Las Vegas where she worked at Wicked Creative, an entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle public relations firm.
IVPR Adds Lucy Volpe As Senior Publicist
Lucy Volpe. Photo: Autumn Dozier
IVPR, a Nashville-based PR firm, has added Lucy Volpe as senior publicist.
Volpe previously spent time at Big Feat PR where she worked on campaigns for Arlo McKinley, John R. Miller, Charley Crockett, Lydia Luce and more. The St. Pete, Florida, native brings 10+ years of experience to IVPR with a specialty in artist and festival PR.
“Lucy is one of those rare individuals who has built a career by combining her personal strengths and passions into a singular focus work-wise. I value her work ethic, passion for our clients, sense of what makes for a solid story, and well-honed knowledge of the ever changing media landscape,” says Maria Ivey, owner of IVPR. “She gives a damn and that’s really all we can ever hope for in a teammate.”
“It’s rare to find people in this industry where there is no room for ego, where everyone is genuinely supportive of each other and wants to achieve the same goals for our clients,” adds Volpe. “I am incredibly honored to be on team IVPR.”
IVPR represents a variety of clients, including Del McCoury, Yonder Mountain Stringband, MerleFest, The Infamous Stringdusters, DelFest, Anders Osborne, Colter Wall, David Ferguson, Kelsey Waldon, Jamestown Revival, Esther Rose, Luke Laird, Michaela Anne, Rising Appalachia, Park City Song Summit, High Sierra Music Festival, and more.
Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Cracks Top Five Country Albums & Songs Chart
/by Lydia FarthingTaylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant
This week, Taylor Swift has cracked the top five on both the country streaming songs and albums charts. From data gathered a week before the release of Red (Taylor’s Version), the album’s original 2012 version, Red, was propelled into the third spot on the top country albums chart, gaining 19,000 streams according to Nielsen. Additionally, “Enchanted” from Swift’s third studio album, Speak Now, takes the fifth position on the top country streaming songs chart this week. The track, which has recently gone viral on TikTok, earned 6 million streams this week.
No other changes occurred on the top country streaming songs this week. Walker Hayes‘ “Fancy Like” remains at No. 1, adding 10 million streams to a total 239 million streams RTD. “Buy Dirt” (Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan) comes in at No. 2 with 7.2 million streams, “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood) takes No. 3 at 6.8 million streams, and “Chasing After You” (Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris) takes No. 4 with 6.6 million streams.
Morgan Wallen keeps his spot at the top of the country streaming albums chart as Dangerous: The Double Album gains another 45,000 streams, according to Nielsen. The album currently sits at No. 5 overall and has earned 52 million streams RTD. Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get takes the second spot with 23,000 streams and This One’s For You comes in at the fifth spot with 15,000 streams. CMA Album of the Year winner Chris Stapleton moves into the fourth position with Starting Over adding 17,000 streams this week.
MusiCares Offers Essential Help For The Holidays For Second Year
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Recording Academy’s MusiCares is bringing back its Help for the Holidays program, distributing aid to music professionals in need to cover essentials this holiday season.
Starting today, MusiCares is offering $250 e-gift cards from Kroger and Walmart to the first 4,000 eligible applicants for use on essential items like food, gas and prescriptions.
“Even though live music is making a comeback, many in the music community are still struggling after months of lost income,” says Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “We want to emphasize that our community is still in need of extra support to cover basic needs. We hope this year’s gift card distribution will ease the burden and spur others to donate and support music professionals.”
Any music professional with five years of employment in the industry and/or six commercially released recordings or videos is eligible to apply. Employment does not need to be consecutive in order to be eligible. All genres and professions are eligible, including artists, musicians, production crews, technicians, business teams, and anyone impacted by the loss of income due to live music event cancellations or who has experienced financial strain due to the pandemic. Applications are available now at MusiCareshelps.org.
Started as a response to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, MusiCares distributed 4,000 e-gift cards last year to music professionals in need.
Carrie Underwood, Lady A, More To Ring In The Holidays On ‘CMA Country Christmas’
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood, Brett Eldredge, Lady A, Jimmie Allen with Louis York & The Shindellas, Breland, Pistol Annies, and Lainey Wilson will help usher in the holiday season on Nov. 29 on the upcoming CMA Country Christmas special on ABC.
Gabby Barrett and Carly Pearce will serve as first-time hosts for the intimate evening of holiday classics, now in its 12th year.
CMA Country Christmas will feature two student musicians, supporting CMA’s longstanding commitment to support equity in music education. Truman Eltringham, a 17-year-old student at Nashville School of the Arts, and Carter Hammonds, an 8-year-old student at FH Jenkins Preparatory School, will join hosts Barrett and Pearce for a can’t miss performance during the special.
The special rings in the holiday season annually with a show full of festive classics and one-of-a-kind musical performances. The event is filmed in Nashville and airs each holiday season on ABC.
Niko Moon, Lee Brice Win At SESAC 2021 Nashville Music Awards
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, Lee Brice, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch
SESAC has revealed the winners for the 2021 Nashville Music Awards, which took place in a digital format. The winners were celebrated on SESAC’s website and social platforms.
Niko Moon was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year for the first time. Moon’s career includes several hit songs recorded by Zac Brown Band, including “Homegrown,” “Beautiful Drug,” “Keep Me in Mind,” and “Loving You Easy,” as well as the Rascal Flatts hit “Back To Life.” This year he earned his first No. 1 hit as an artist with “Good Time,” and also co-wrote the chart-topper “Gone,” recorded by Dierks Bentley.
SESAC writer Lee Brice‘s seventh career No. 1, “One Of Them Girls,” was named Song of the Year. The tune swept the Nashville PRO awards this year, winning Song of the Year honors at the SESAC, BMI and ASCAP Nashville awards. “One of Them Girls” was certified double-Platinum by the RIAA in August of this year. It spent three weeks at the No. 1 position on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and has remained in the Top 10 each recurrent week. Additionally, the song has over 390 million on-demand streams to date.
Warner Chappell Music took home the Publisher of the Year accolade, after most recently winning the award in 2019. The publishing company also won the BMI Publisher of the Year honor this year, in a tie with Sony Music Publishing.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Scott Jungmichel, 2021 Songwriter of the Year Niko Moon, SESAC’s ET Brown and Lydia Schultz
Additionally, Walker Hayes’ 16-week No. 1, viral hit “Fancy Like,” written by affiliate Josh Jenkins and published by SMACK Songs and Kobalt, was awarded a new honor, Sync Song of the Year.
“Songwriting and music publishing are at the very core of the music business, and we at SESAC love that we get to honor those contributions,” says Scott Jungmichel, President and COO, SESAC PRO. “We are happy to celebrate our top performed songs over the past year.”
“We are very proud of the songs we awarded this year,” adds Shannan Hatch, Vice President of Creative Services. “Our Nashville creative team worked hard to come up with creative, cozy, and safe gatherings to celebrate the successes of our SESAC songwriter and publisher family who won awards. We all look forward to the future when we can safely celebrate with everyone in person.”
For a complete list of SESAC 2021 Nashville Music Award winners and to see special messages from SESAC Country and Americana honorees, click here.
Ashley Gorley Takes Sixth Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellAshley Gorley. Photo: Josh Ulmer
Ashley Gorley remains at No. 1 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for his sixth consecutive week. He is a co-writer on the currently charting songs: “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton), “Sand In My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Beers On Me” (Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland), “Steal My Love” (Dan + Shay), “Take My Name” (Parmalee), “What He Didn’t Do” (Carly Pearce), and “Slow Down Summer” (Thomas Rhett).
Newly crowned BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, Jesse Frasure, keeps his place at No. 2 this week. He is a co-writer on “If I Was A Cowboy” (Miranda Lambert), “Whiskey And Rain” (Michael Ray), “One Mississippi” (Kane Brown) and “Slow Down Summer” (Thomas Rhett).
Michael Hardy (No. 3), Rhett Akins (No. 4), and Eric Church (No. 5) round out the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
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.
Chris Janson Announces 2022 ‘Halfway To Crazy’ Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughWarner Music Nashville’s Chris Janson is launching his headlining “Halfway to Crazy” Tour on Feb. 10 and will run through April.
The tour finds Janson playing auditoriums, theaters and arenas across the nation, and includes a Nashville date at the Ryman Auditorium on March 10. Joining him along the way are Ray Fulcher and Shane Profitt.
Fan club members can purchase tickets beginning Nov. 17. The general public on-sale will start on Friday, Nov. 19. More dates are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.
“I’m super excited to hit the road in early 2022,” comments Janson. “It’s been incredible to be back in front of an audience again this year, with crowds more hungry and grateful for live music than ever before. Whether you’re a fan or an artist, there’s nothing like a seeing a live show. I can’t wait to see everyone on the ‘Halfway to Crazy’ Tour and to maybe play y’all some new music that I’ve got coming real soon.”
In honor of Veteran’s Day and Military Family Appreciation Month, Janson recently teamed with Bass Pro Shops for a round-up at the register campaign to help fund scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members.