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)
SOURCE Holds Virtual Hall Of Fame Awards Honoring 20 Female Trailblazers [Exclusive]
/by LB CantrellSOURCE Awards Co-Hosts Jeannie Seely and Shannon McCombs. Photo: Bev Moser
SOURCE Nashville recently held its 18th Annual Hall of Fame Awards virtually from the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Co-hosted by Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely and Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame Awards inductee, Shannon McCombs, this year’s event posthumously inducted 20 female trailblazers in the country music industry.
Presented by Springer Mountain Farms, the event was produced by Erica Rosa and Sheree Spoltore. A video of the ceremony is available on SOURCE Nashville’s YouTube channel.
SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and inducted based on peer recommendations, biographies, accomplishments, reputation, the number of years each individual has worked within the entertainment industry, and level of community involvement. Next year’s induction ceremony will be in person on Aug. 23, 2022.
The 2021 inductees included:
Opry Entertainment Group Updates Artist & Label Strategy And WSM Radio Teams
/by Lydia FarthingJenn Tressler, Anna Lemme, Kelly Sutton
Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) has announced updates to its Artist & Label Strategy and WSM Radio teams.
Jenn Tressler has been promoted to Artist & Label Strategy Senior Manager. Since joining the team last year, she has a strong understanding of the opportunities for the Opry’s artists and label partners across the OEG portfolio of brands.
OEG has also added Anna Lemme as an Artist & Label Strategy Manager, reporting to Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy. She has been with the company for several years, working on marketing partnerships and artist support for the Ole Red brand.
As previously announced, the WSM Radio Team has added Kelly Sutton to co-host and serve as entertainment reporter for Coffee, Country & Cody. She will report to J.P. Tinnell who was recently promoted to General Manager and Content Director.
“We are thrilled to announce these additions and promotions within our teams,” says Scott Bailey, President of Opry Entertainment Group. “These investments will allow us to further set our assets apart and offer artists more opportunities to partner with our family of brands.”
The team is also recruiting a Talent Buyer for the Ole Red brand. For more information and to apply, click here.
TN Dept. of Tourist Development Launches Digital Passports To Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has unveiled a new digital passport that encourages music lovers to visit nearly two dozen sites in Tennessee that appear in Ken Burns’ acclaimed PBS documentary Country Music, to promote Tennessee Music Pathways.
Using a web-based app created by Bandwango, travelers can document their visits and redeem their “stamped” passports for prizes ranging from a limited-edition Hatch Show Print, a copy of Ken Burns Country Music: An Illustrated History, or a Tennessee Music Pathways branded guitar.
Tennessee Tourism launched a physical passport for the Ken Burns Country Music Pathway in 2019 and will add the digital passport to make the traveling experience and “stamp collecting” even easier. Passports are available online through Oct. 18, 2022.
Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide have watched Ken Burns’ Country Music, making it one of the most-watched documentary series in history. More than four million streamed the 16-part series online, and thousands more continue to watch on Amazon Prime each month, nearly two years after its premiere.
Locations that inspired the music on Ken Burns Country Music Pathway include:
Chart Action: Shelton Dominates Chart, Bryan Debuts
/by Alex ParryBlake Shelton commandeers the most added and highest debut titles on the country charts this week with his latest single ““Come Back As A Country Boy.” He earned 197 adds across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio charts landing at No. 28, No. 35, and No. 46, respectively.
This is the first of four new tracks from the deluxe version of his album Body Language, due out Dec. 3. “Come Back As A Country Boy” was written by Michael Hardy, Josh Thompson, and Jordan Schmidt.
Luke Bryan‘s newest single, “Up,” impacted country radio on Oct. 4 and gained 15 adds on the MusicRow Chart in its first week. He debuted on the chart at No. 73 with 216 spins. “Up” was written by Jeremy Bussey, Taylor Phillips, and Bobby Pinson; and produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens.
For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Rod + Rose Preview New Track From Upcoming EP
/by Lorie HollabaughRod + 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’
/by Lorie HollabaughJosh 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]
/by Lydia FarthingMuscadine 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.”
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
/by Lorie HollabaughAmanda 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.”
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
/by Lydia FarthingNashville’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
/by Alex ParryAfter 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.