Rod + Rose Preview New Track From Upcoming EP

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Rod + Rose are sharing a new commitment-filled ballad, “Put Me Back Together,” available now as a preview of their upcoming self-titled EP, due out Jan. 28.

One half of Rod + Rose, Rodney Atkins, produced the track alongside Seth Mosley, which follows Rod + Rose’s debut offering, “Being Here, Being There.” Originally written by Caitlyn Smith, Trevor Dahl, Brenton Duvall, Johnny Price and Kiara Saulters and originally performed by electronic music trio Cheat Codes, the tracks lyrics sum up Rose Falcon and Atkins’ real life love story.

“To me, it’s a song about falling together instead of falling apart during difficult times,” explains Falcon. “2020 was a challenging year for us and most everyone we know, but we got through it. When life gets messy, we lean on, and into, each other. We aren’t perfect, and it’s not always butterflies and roses; but we stick together, and at the end of the day, we can laugh at all the crazy times we have been through.”

Married since 2013, Falcon was a rock ’n’ roll artist who was offered a record deal at 15 and has since written songs recorded by Faith Hill, Lady A and Eric Paslay. Meanwhile, Atkins is an established country singer-songwriter who’s had six No. 1s.

The duo co-wrote several tracks for Atkins’ latest album, Caught Up In The Country, whose Gold-certified title-cut had set the record for the longest-running single in Billboard Country Airplay history at 57 weeks.

Josh Turner Returns To Alma Mater To Host ‘Christmas At Belmont’

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Josh Turner

Multi-Platinum recording artist Josh Turner will host and be the featured guest artist for the 2021 Christmas at Belmont performance at Belmont University, his alma mater, which will be filmed for national broadcast.

Produced by Nashville Public Television, Christmas at Belmont will be taped live for the first time in the newly opened Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the University’s campus. The invitation-only concert performance  will premiere on Monday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. on NPT and PBS stations across the country, with encore broadcasts on NPT Christmas night at 9:30 p.m.

This year’s concert will feature an array of traditional carols and seasonal favorites in addition to selections from Turner’s new Christmas album.

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones says, “We are delighted to welcome Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer, both Belmont alumni, back to our campus for this extraordinary concert event. The hope of Christmas is perfectly reflected in so many songs of the season, and I look forward with great anticipation to showcasing the talents of Josh and our students in front of a national television audience. We are honored to continue our nearly two decade partnership with Nashville Public Television to produce this timeless holiday broadcast.”

This year’s performance will include an array of traditional carols, classical masterworks, and seasonal favorites in addition to selections from Turner’s new Christmas album, King Size Manger. The record, produced by Kenny Greenberg, includes Christmas classics as well as four originals, three of which were written by Turner.

“We have a couple of Belmont grads in our household. I met my wife and wrote ‘Long Black Train’ while attending Belmont,” Turner adds. “We are looking forward to being back on campus and performing for the first time in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. This is my second time hosting ‘Christmas at Belmont,’ and I was honored when they asked me back. I’m excited to share a few songs from my new Christmas album and see all the talented students playing this year.”

Turner has sold more than six million records, reached 3.2 billion global streams, and earned five No. 1s at country radio. He has also received six Inspirational Country Music Awards, and has been nominated for two Grammy awards, five CMA awards, two ACM awards, one CMT award, and seven ACA awards.

Muscadine Bloodline Find New Voice On ‘Dispatch To 16th Ave.’ [Interview]

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Muscadine Bloodline. Photo: Wales Toney

Country duo Muscadine Bloodline are back on the scene with news of their upcoming album, Dispatch to 16th Ave., out on Feb. 4.

Comprised of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton, the two grew up in Mobile, Alabama, beginning their friendship in 2012. The pair officially became Muscadine Bloodline in 2015 and have since had two charting EPs, sold out shows across the country, and made their Grand Ole Opry debut in September of 2018.

Dispatch to 16th Ave. aims to serve as an ode to the many artists that came before Muscadine Bloodline, while also focusing more on country music and less on following commercial trends.

As a preview for the forthcoming independent project, the pair have released the record’s title track today (Oct. 8). Reminiscent of George Strait’s 2003 hit “Murder On Music Row,” the song highlights some of the hardships of an artist forging their way through Nashville’s music industry.

“We’ve been in Nashville for 7 years and just kept thinking about our story, and how so many artists come and go in Nashville chasing that dream that you just sometimes can’t catch,” Muscadine Bloodline shares with MusicRow.

“We’ve been searching for who we are as artists for a long time and now we finally feel like we’ve found what we want to say and what we want to sound like,” the guys admit. “This is just another chapter that’s being written and we just happen to feel incredibly strong about this one.

“Struggling through anything in life shapes you creatively. Hardships build character and they definitely give you more to write about.” They sum, “We hope this song inspires all young artists to dare to be different.”

Also on tap, the pair will be hosting the final outdoor Whiskey Jam show of the year on Monday, Oct. 11. Bringing their set to the Losers Bar & Grill parking lot in Nashville, they will be joined by Drake White, Ray Fulcher, Hannah Dasher, Adam Hood, Jason Nix and DJ JD.

“We really took our time planning for this Whiskey Jam,” the duo explains. “We wanted to include our friends but definitely wanted it to be artists that can relate to our story and have shared experiences in the industry.”

Dispatch to 16th Ave. Track List:
1. Dispatch to 16th Ave. (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton)
2. My Side of Town (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Tyler Chambers)
3. Dead on Arrival (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Adam Hood, Brent Cobb)
4. Hung Up on You (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Casey Beathard)
5. Southern (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Adam Hood)
6. The Toll (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Tyler Halverson)
7. Dyin’ For A Livin’ (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Jordan Fletcher)
8. No, Pedal Steel (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Adam Hood, Brent Cobb)
9. Down in Alabama (Charlie Muncaster, Gary Stanton, Adam Hood, Brent Cobb)

Amanda Shires’ First Christmas Collection Set For November

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Amanda Shires

Amanda Shires is celebrating this holiday season with a dose of realism on the release of her first-ever Christmas album, For Christmas, out Nov. 12 on Silver Knife/Thirty Tigers. Along with the announcement, Shires shared the first track from the album, “Gone For Christmas,” available everywhere now.

The offbeat “Gone for Christmas” takes on a Grinch-inspired groove as Shires shares a list of less-than-orthodox holiday wishes, including a date with Larry David and Costa Rica or the Caymans. The song features gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters.

“’Gone for Christmas’ is a truth. You’re going to ask for things for Christmas, so what do you really want? I liked the idea of the outlandish mixed with how you actually feel,” explains Shires. “We actually feel like, ‘Oh my, I’m so tired of all this shit, and I want a different scene.’ But maybe you don’t want really that, but you just want to say extreme things. I was thinking of the ultimate Christmas list, and then at the end, I was thinking about how most of the items on it were impossible.”

For Christmas features nine originals and two covers, including Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and a darker reimagining of “Silent Night.” The songs touch on the kind of holiday experiences and emotions that often go ignored in Christmas songs, like family drama, forced cheer, and burnt-out frustration.

Shires has also set-up the SantaManda Christmas Hotline–1-833-FOR-XMAS–where fans have the opportunity to call and hear a pre-recorded greeting from the singer encouraging them to leave a message about how they’re feeling about the holidays.

She has collaborated with the likes of John Prine and Justin Townes Earle, toured with such acts as Todd Snider, and earned the 2017 Emerging Artist of the Year prize from the Americana Music Association. A member of Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, she also co-founded The Highwomen, a supergroup featuring Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Maren Morris.

MusicRow’s Publisher Issue Features Bradley Family, Nashville Publishing State Of The Union, More

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Nashville’s leading music industry publication MusicRow Magazine has released its 2021 Publisher Issue print edition, featuring Mercury Nashville’s Lauren Alaina on the cover.

In the 2021 Publisher Issue, MusicRow does a deep dive into the First Family of Music Row—The Bradleys—chronicling their impact on the Nashville music business and beyond. Members of the Bradley family discuss their history in Nashville and the legacy that their family has created. Featuring conversation with Clay, Jerry, and Patsy Bradley, this issue highlights some of the family’s greatest achievements and showcases treasured photos from over the years.

This issue also includes a conversation between UMPG’s Troy Tomlinson, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, and Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar as the group of publishing giants give an update on the state of Nashville publishing in 2021 and the ever-growing importance of songwriting in the world today. “I delusionally believe that music has the absolute power to change the world for a better place. That’s what attracts us to songwriters,” Gaston shares. “[We look for someone] who has that natural heart for translating a real human emotion, something that we all connect with–whether that emotion is about love or loss or about that feeling of needing to clock out on Friday and relax with a beer.”

Also on tap, Tree Vibez Music’s Leslie DiPiero and Verse 2 Music’s Kent Earls explain the process behind artist-led publishing ventures. Focusing on the work of Florida Georgia Line and Kane Brown, this issue captures their separate journeys within the publishing realm so far as they continue building their own empires, as well as what they look for in writers when adding to their rosters.

Elsewhere, the Publisher Issue offers conversations with Anthem Entertainment’s Tim Wipperman as he reflects on 35 years in the music business, while also looking forward to future success at Anthem Entertainment as he helms the ship. Additionally, Black River Publishing’s Rebekah Gordon takes us inside the world of indie publishing as she discusses their solid roster of a dozen songwriters and her journey to becoming VP of Publishing.

MusicRow also catches up with CEO of The MLC, Kris Ahrend, to talk about the organization’s launch and first year of operation in Nashville.

The 2021 Publisher Issue also highlights the work and careers of some of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters, including Sony Music Publishing’s Michael Carter, Big Loud/UMPG’s Ernest, Warner Chappell’s Martin Johnson, Sheltered Music’s Alex Kline, UMPG’s Lee Thomas Miller, and breakout country artist Brittney Spencer, who is self-published.

This annual resource includes the 2021 Publisher Directory, listing Nashville’s top publishing companies, as well as organizations and services available for songwriters.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2021 Publisher Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow memberships.

Zac Brown Band Reach MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart Peak

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After a steady 17 week climb, Zac Brown Band graces the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Same Boat.”

“Same Boat” was written by Brown, Ben Simonetti, and Jonathan Singleton. It appears on the band’s upcoming album, The Comeback, set for release Oct. 15 via Warner Music Nashville/Home Grown Music.

Zac Brown recently canceled several upcoming tour dates due to a positive COVID-19 test. He has since resumed the tour.

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, More To Perform On 2021 ‘CMT Artists of the Year’

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Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and many more are on tap as part of the lineup for the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year special, airing live from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 13 on CMT.

Other performances slated for the special evening include Breakout Artist of the Year recipient Mickey Guyton alongside Yola; Boyz II Men with Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix for a never-before-seen collaboration to honor Chris Stapleton; Kelsea Ballerini welcoming fellow tourmates, the Jonas Brothers, for a remote performance from their “The Remember This Tour;” and Walker Hayes making his CMT Artists of the Year debut with the first award show performance of his smash hit “Fancy Like.”

“Our year-end celebration keeps growing and we’re thrilled to welcome Boyz II Men, Kevin Olusola, Jonas Brothers and Yola to the show in addition to our luminous honorees,” comments Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President, Music Strategy & Talent, CMT. “And in honor of one of the biggest songs of summer that has exploded across social media and beyond, we look forward to having Walker Hayes join our celebration for a can’t-miss performance of his history-making hit ‘Fancy Like.’”

As previously announced, this year’s honorees include Stapleton, Barrett, Brown, Ballerini and Combs, alongside Guyton and Artist of a Lifetime Randy Travis. 

Love From Music City Hosts Star-Studded 5th Annual Gala, Honors Crystal Gayle

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Pictured (stairs, L-R): JD Shelburne, Denny Strickland, Tim Atwood, Nathan & Suzanne Young, Danica Hart, Trea Swindle, Devynn Hart (Chapel Hart), (front row, L-R): Jeff Shannon, Cherish Lee, Makenzie Phipps, Charlene Tilton, Jonny and Crystal Brown, Crystal Gayle, Shanda and Robb Tripp, Devon O’Day, LaVerne and Edith Tripp, Buddy Jewell, Melissa Luman, Nedy. Photo: Tanya Long

The 5th Annual Love From Music City Gala was held on Tuesday, Oct, 5 at The Estate at Cherokee Dock, featuring music, entertainment, surprises, and support for foster children throughout Middle Tennessee and orphans abroad.

Beginning with a VIP red carpet, the festivities continued with hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and live musical performances. The gala also included a star-studded guest list of Pam Tillis, Buddy Jewell, Marty Raybon, Devon O’Day, Cherish Lee, Charlene Tilton, JD Shelburne, Tim Atwood, Chapel Hart, Nedy, Makenzie Phipps, Denny Strickland, Billy Mason, Chris Golden, and Nathan & Suzanne Young.

As previously announced, Crystal Gayle was the recipient of the 2021 Bill Anderson Icon Award for her contributions to the community and her role as a trailblazer and performer.

“It’s an honor to be given the Bill Anderson Icon Award by Love From Music City,” shares Gayle. “And it’s an honor to be associated with Love From Music City and the great work they do helping and loving orphans and foster children.”

“The 5th Annual Love From Music City Gala was an evening of memories and heartfelt emotions as we raised money for orphans abroad and Foster Children throughout the Middle Tennessee area,” shares CEO Shanda Tripp. “We would like to thank all of the artists and sponsors who came together to make the event possible and to honor Crystal Gayle with the Bill Anderson Icon award.”

The organization fed and clothed orphans across the globe for the past 50 years, with 10 years including local, Middle Tennessee foster children.

Rod Essig, Nate Towne, Jeffrey Hasson, Adam Kornfeld Talk COVID At IEBA’s Agent Power Panel

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Pictured (L-R): CAA’s Rod Essig, AGI’s Adam Kornfeld, UTA’s Jeffrey Hasson, WME’s Nate Towne, Duggan Bertsch’s Tim Epstein. Photo: Courtesy of IEBA

Several top agents gathered at IEBA this week to discuss the future of live music in a panel moderated by Tim Epstein of Duggan Bertsch, LLC.

Participating in the Agents Power Panel were CAA’s Rod Essig, UTA’s Jeffrey Hasson, AGI’s Adam Kornfeld and WME’s Nate Towne.

Of the many points made, the agents talked a lot about how they are navigating touring in the COVID pandemic, livestreaming and new touring technology, and the differences in COVID protocols across venues.

The Past 18 Months

“Looking back, I wish I would have just told my employees to take six months and not make a phone call because it didn’t really matter. We just kept moving everything,” Essig said. “Our business was devastated with no income whatsoever.”

“Touring is a huge part of what we do, but there’s also other parts of what we do as far as artist representation,” Hasson shared. “We raise artist profiles and finances in other areas like with brand deals and streaming. We got creative because we had to. It was a drop in a bucket, it doesn’t come close to what we usually do, but it made us feel useful. We had our artists backs and were trying our hardest to come up with creative solutions on their behalf.”

Towne added, “There was a refocusing on the symbiotic relationship between agent and promoter and agent and buyer, as opposed to the adversarial relationship that it can sometimes be. It was a good reminder and a good centering place. I’m proud of how everyone reacted to what was going on, and how we were able to work together.”

Livestreaming

“[Livestreaming] exploded because of the pandemic, obviously, but the technology was always there,” Kornfeld said. “Generally speaking, bands did not see the profit that they were hoping for from livestreaming. I don’t think it’s something that a band is going to depend on like they depend on touring, but I can see it becoming a part of a tour or another thing added on… It’s an extra income, the way VIP is or the way merch is. It’s another avenue to connect with fans.”

Towne agreed. “It’s supplemental. I’m excited for where it could go with augmented reality and other creative things artists can do,” he said. “The future holds a lot of exciting things with different AR and VR type technology that could transform the entertainer experience whether you’re there or not there watching it on some other medium.”

COVID Protocols

“Hopefully by January, February or March, we need one protocol so that our fans are not totally confused,” Essig said. “You go to Ascend Amphitheater and you have to show your vaccine card or a test; you walk across the river to Nissan and you don’t have to show anything. Our fans are mixed up. We have to get back to saying ‘Here’s what it is for everybody.'”

Industry Ink: Cody Johnson, Ron Pope, Mixtape Music

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Cody Johnson Gives Industry Members A Preview Of ‘Human’

Pictured (L-R): Missy Iredell (Sr. Dir. Artist Development, Warner Music Nashville), Tom Martens (VP Radio & Streaming, Warner Music Nashville), Shane Tarleton (EVP Artist Development, Warner Music Nashville), Cody Johnson, Ben Kline (EVP/General Manager, Warner Music Nashville), Howie Edelman (Durango Artist Management)

Cody Johnson hosted members of the music industry community at Urban Cowboy in Nashville on Tuesday (Oct. 5) to share a preview of his upcoming sophomore COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville release, Human The Double Album.

The project is set for release this Friday (Oct. 8) on all digital platforms and features Johnson’s current single, “‘Til You Can’t,” which impacts country radio on Oct. 18.

Ron Pope’s ‘Drop In The Ocean’ Goes Platinum

Pictured (L-R): Matt Barrington, Chief Operating Officer, TuneCore; Ron Pope; Zach Berkman; Amy Lombardi, Director, Artist & Partner Relations, TuneCore

Singer-songwriter Ron Pope‘s “A Drop in the Ocean” has earned a Platinum certification, signaling over.1 million unites sold. The track, co-written by Pope and Zach Berkman, and was the first single off Pope’s Daylight album. The song was also featured in television shows The Vampire Diaries and 90210.

Pope’s career spans over a decade with nearly 500 million Spotify streams 864 million Pandora streams. His most recent project a collection of songs known The Builder, which showcase Pope’s journey through the pandemic.

Andreea Gleeson, Chief Executive Officer, TuneCore states, “Ron Pope is a prolific singer songwriter who embodies the independent spirit that TuneCore is all about. While he continues to blaze his own trail, his music has been compared to the most important musicians of our time. This RIAA platinum award is an indicator of things to come in the indie world, with Ron leading the way.”

“It seems unreal, but I am so excited. And to know that we did it completely independently is even better,” Pope shares. “It’s so amazing that so many people all around the world connected so deeply with this song and continue to share and listen to it. I just honestly have no words.”

Mixtape Music Signs Aaron Pax Taylor

Aaron Pax Taylor signs with Mixtape Music Publishing

Mixtape Music Publishing has signed Aaron Pax Taylor.

The two-time Ventura County Artist of the Year and USA Today/Ventura County Star Artist of the Year 2019 has spent years working to hone his craft as a songwriter.

“I love to write and tell stories about everyday life that connect with people. Painting pictures with your words is a rewarding and challenging process with each new song. If someone can relate to a lyric I wrote or be touched by a story, then I consider that success,” Taylor shares.