Avenue Beat’s Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Sami Bearden. Photo: Delaney Royer
Avenue Beat’s Sami Bearden, Savana Santos and Sam Backoff came onto the Nashville music scene with clever, relatable songs and a fresh sound. With wry songs like “Delight” and “Be A Bro,” and relatable anthems “Ruin That For Me” and “Broke,” Avenue Beat charmed their way into the hearts of fans and industry members alike.
After signing with Big Machine Label Group’s Valory Music Co. and Tape Room Records, they released their self-titled, debut EP, which showed off their wit and interesting vocal harmonies. Their song “F2020” became a viral hit and the soundtrack for a year filled with anxiety, cultural hostility, and pain from the the COVID-19 pandemic.
To mark the pop trio’s end, Avenue Beat has announced a 12-track project, The Debut Farewell Album, will release Oct. 15 via Big Machine Records.
Ahead of the album’s release, the group dropped “This Is Goodbye,” which serves as an elegy to the adventures, the surprises and the laughter Avenue Beat has shared over the years. Featuring vocals from friend and “unofficial” fourth Avenue Beat member, Summer Overstreet, the song says good-bye to their collaboration that sustained all three girls throughout their time on a major label.
The album cover, which serves as a perfect representation of the clever, self-aware 20-somethings, only features Santos and Backoff, not Bearden.
“There’s no real drama,” offers lead singer/producer Santos. “Sami decided this life wasn’t for her. She didn’t like what it was, and it was time for her to stop. So it was time for this to stop. We didn’t really see it coming, but we wanted to support our friend.”
“And we’re so glad we got to finish the journey with these songs,” Bearden explains. “It’s all here, and it tracks us from ‘F2020’ to the very end. It’s hard when you know it’s time to go, because I’m leaving two people I really love. But I also know this is not where I need to be.
“All we ever did was process our lives through these songs,” Bearden continues. “There was no master plan, no big set-up or ideas. Just this happened, now here’s a song.”
“And now here are the last songs,” Santos picks up. “This is how it ends. Nobody saw it coming. There’s nothing else to say. But for the people who’ve been in here with us, it’s the craziest thing of all: actual closure. Everything you never get to say, it’s in these last few songs.”
The Debut Farewell Album Official Track List:
1. “F2020” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos
2. “Woman” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Joey Hendricks, Michael Whitworth*
3. “I Don’t Really Like Your Boyfriend” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
4. “Rock In Outer Space” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet+
5. “DTF” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet, Jordyn Shellhart, Emily Weisband^
6. “Space For You” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet^
7. “New Strangers” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Jason Gantt
8. “Parties” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
9. “Interlude” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
10. “Different” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
11. “Happy For You” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Victoria Canal, Summer Overstreet
12. “This Is Goodbye” (featuring Summer Overstreet) | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
Produced by Savana Santos
*Produced by Savana Santos, Alysa Vanderheym
+Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta
^Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Afterhrs
Jason Aldean Unveils Plans For Double Album, ‘Macon, Georgia’
/by Lorie HollabaughMulti-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean is rolling out his upcoming double album Macon, Georgia in waves, with over two dozen songs set for release by next April.
On Nov. 12, fans will have access to 10 new tracks, including his Top 5 single “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, plus five live tracks from Macon, the first installment in the artist’s 10th studio album.
Macon was produced with longtime producer Michael Knox, and includes stadium rockers, barstool ballads, and more. Within the double album’s 30 tracks are 20 new songs and at least one live hit from each of his previous albums from shows in Nashville, L.A., Vegas, Dallas, and St. Louis.
“Where you were raised has such a big influence on who you become and for me it’s no different… especially from a music standpoint,” Aldean said. “My little hometown of Macon was heavily instrumental in my musical background. Growing up in an environment that was a crossroads between country music, southern rock, blues and R&B, it was just natural to blend different sounds in my on way.”
Over the last 16 years, the three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year has racked up 25 No. 1s, 15 billion streams, and sold more than 20 million albums. Seven of Aldean’s previous studio albums have been certified Platinum or more.
Aldean continues to cross the country on his Back In The Saddle Tour 2021 featuring special guests Hardy, Lainey Wilson, John Morgan and Dee Jay Silver, with stops this week in Phoenix (Sept. 30), Albuquerque (Oct. 1) and Denver (Oct. 2).
Macon Track List:
1. After You
2. Over You Again
3. That’s What Tequila Does
4. Small Town Small
5. If I Didn’t Love You
6. Story For Another Glass
7. Heaven
8. This Bar Don’t Work Anymore
9. The Sad Songs
10. Watching You Love Me
11. Amarillo Sky (Live from Nashville, TN)
12. Johnny Cash (Live from Los Angeles, CA)
13. She’s Country (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
14. Big Green Tractor (Live from Dallas, TX)
15. My Kinda Party (Live from St. Louis, MO)
Georgia Track List:
16. Whiskey Me Away
17. Trouble With A Heartbreak
18. The State I’m In
19. Midnight And Missin’ You
20. Ain’t Enough Cowboy
21. God Made Airplanes
22. My Weakness
23. Holy Water
24. Rock And Roll Cowboy
25. Your Mama
26. Take a Little Ride (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
27. Burnin’ It Down (Live from St. Louis, MO)
28. Any Ol’ Barstool (Live from Knoxville, TN)
29. Rearview Town (Live from St. Louis, MO)
30. Blame It On You (Live from Manchester, TN)
Industry Ink: Recording Academy, BMI, Song Suffragettes
/by Lydia FarthingRecording Academy Appoints Todd Dupler To VP, Advocacy & Public Policy
The Recording Academy has appointed Todd Dupler as Vice President of Advocacy & Public Policy. Dupler will report to Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer Daryl Friedman.
In his role, Dupler will work with the Academy’s leadership to develop policy positions on issues affecting the music community as well as represent the interests of the Academy’s members before Congress and federal agencies. He will also coordinate state and local advocacy with the Academy’s 12 regional chapters. Friedman will continue to oversee the advocacy division focused on championing creators’ rights and elevating important policy issues.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Todd into his elevated role as Vice President of Advocacy & Public Policy,” says Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “His track record for advocating on behalf of music creators nationwide has proven to be invaluable to the music community. As we continue to evolve to better serve the music industry at-large, we are excited to see what great work he will lead to ensure fair treatment and compensation for music creators.”
Dupler joined the Recording Academy in 2012, most recently serving as Managing Director of Advocacy & Public Policy. He was instrumental in launching the Academy’s District Advocate program as well as the Grammy Fund for Music Creators where he acts as it’s Treasurer. He has also managed the Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day for nine years. Dupler also has over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C., serving on the legislative staffs of two members of Congress and a United States senator. He was also a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Labor.
BMI, Bluebird Cafe Unveil New Songwriters-In-The-Round Series
BMI and the Bluebird Cafe have partnered for a new songwriters-in-the-round series: BMI Presents at Bluebird Cafe.
The recurring monthly series will be curated by BMI’s Nashville Creative staff to highlight a lineup of emerging and established songwriters. The series will continue monthly through the end of 2022. The first installment will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 28 with Rissi Palmer, Kam Franklin, and Leon Timbo. Tickets for the first show are available here.
“We are excited to partner with the Bluebird to provide opportunities for our songwriters to be heard on this legendary stage,“ says Shannon Sanders, Executive Director, Creative, Nashville. “Songwriters are the lifeblood of our creative community. These writers and their craft are just as important to the Bluebird as they are to us, so there could not be a more perfect partnership.”
The Bluebird Cafe is now requiring proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of show entry. For the most up-to-date information on the Bluebird Cafe’s COVID-19 policy, click here.
Song Suffragettes Adds Maddie Lenhart As New Event Director
Maddie Lenhart
Song Suffragettes, Nashville’s only all-female weekly singer-songwriter showcase, has added Maddie Lenhart as Event Director.
Lenhart will be responsible for the overall operations of the Monday night show at The Listening Room Café. A graduate of James Madison University, Lenhart most recently worked in licensing at SESAC.
“My personal passions and beliefs could not align more perfectly with an organization. Song Suffragettes has been elevating women and breaking ground in Nashville for years and I am beyond grateful and excited to be a part of it,” says Lenhart.
Sturgill Simpson Cancels November Shows At The Ryman Auditorium
/by Steven BoeroSturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson announced via social media the cancelation of his five shows at New York City’s Webster Hall as well as his three upcoming shows at the Ryman Auditorium, originally set for Nov. 18-20.
“I am extremely disappointed and sorry to have to inform all of you that all five performances this week in New York at Webster Hall and all three performances in Nashville at The Ryman Auditorium in November are officially cancelled,” he shares.
The reason for the unexpected cancellations of his remaining 2021 tour shows has not been specified. All ticket purchases will be refunded.
Simpson recently had to cancel his performances at the Outlaw Music Festival and Farm Aid 2021 due to losing his voice. The singer broke the news to his fans on Sept. 23, saying: “Lost my voice completely. Been four days still no better… hoping just viral laryngitis or inhaling treated wood from backstage campfire at Merlefest or something equally stupid and not actual injury to vocal chords for playing too many shows in a row after not singing much for over 18 months.”
After the release of his recent record, The Ballad of Dood & Juanita, Simpson also won the Album of the Year award for his first bluegrass project, Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 – The Butcher Shoppe Sessions, at the 20th Annual Americana Honors & Awards held earlier this week.
Lindsay Ell, Tenille Townes, Brett Kissel, More Receive CCMA Nominations
/by Lydia FarthingThe Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced the nominees for its 39th Canadian Country Music Awards presented by TD. This year’s ceremony will be broadcasted from London, Ontario on Nov. 29.
BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records’ Lindsay Ell, the female artist receiving the most nominations this year, earned five 2021 CCMA Award nominations–Ford F-150 Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Interactive Artist or Group of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year, and PRS Guitars Video of the Year.
Brett Kissel also took home five for Amazon Music and Alexa Fans’ Choice, Entertainer of the Year, Ford F-150 Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, PRS Guitars Video of the Year. Reigning Entertainer of the Year Dallas Smith also earned five nominations in Amazon Music and Alexa Fans’ Choice, Entertainer of the Year, FORD F-150 Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Single of the Year.
Leading with six artist category nominations are Platinum-selling brother-sister duo The Reklaws for Amazon Music and Alexa Fans’ Choice, Group or Duo of the Year, two Single of the Year nods, Interactive Artist or Group of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.
Other 2021 CCMA Awards nominations include three or more for Dean Brody, High Valley, Tyler Joe Miller, Jess Moskaluke, MacKenzie Porter, and Tenille Townes.
Chosen by Canadian country music fans, the Amazon Music and Alexa Fans’ Choice nominees include Tenille Arts, Brody, Jade Eagleson, High Valley, Kissel, Tyler Joe Miller, Porter, The Reklaws, Smith and Townes. Voting for Amazon Music and Alexa Fans’ Choice is now open.
For a full list of 2021 CCMA Award nominees, click here.
Chart Action: Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde Earn Most Added Milestone
/by Alex ParryCarly Pearce and Ashley McBryde impacted radio this week earning the most added title for their single “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” This is the first time a female duet earned this milestone since 2007 with Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson’s “Because Of You.” The single earned 142 adds this week across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow CountryBreakout charts.
The powerful duet reignites the country tradition of a cheating song. The CMA and double ACM Awards winner and 4x Grammy nominee combined forces to write and record the track alongside co-producer Shane McAnally, which is featured on Pearce’s new album 29: Written In Stone released via Big Machine Records.
For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Jameson Rodgers Offers Hook After Hook On Debut Album, ‘Bet You’re From A Small Town’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellJameson Rodgers. Photo: Matthew Berinato
In just a year, River House Artists/Columbia Nashville artist Jameson Rodgers has had his debut single “Some Girls” hit No. 1, embarked on his first headlining tour, released an EP (In It for the Money), sent another single to the Top 5 (“Cold Beer Calling My Name”), and, most recently, released his debut album Bet You’re From a Small Town.
He was named MusicRow‘s Discovery Artist of the Year in 2020, and was nominated for the publication’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year just a year later in August.
When asked about the past year, Rodgers grins and quietly admits it’s been a crazy time. “The last two or thee years have been an absolute whirlwind. They call it a 10 year town, I’ve been here 11, so I hit it right on the head,” he says.
His debut album, Bet You’re From a Small Town, features fifteen songs produced by Chris Farren and Jake Mitchell. Rodgers, who co-wrote 14 of the album’s 15 tracks, really shows off his knack for writing a modern country hook on several songs throughout the project.
In addition to his Platinum-certified, No. 1 debut single “Some Girls,” and his current Top 5 hit “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” which features Luke Combs, Rodgers’ penmanship shines on the other 13 songs on Bet You’re From a Small Town.
This is most evident on “You Won’t,” a song co-written with Smith Ahnquist, Will Bundy and Lynn Hutton that lists all the things that come back around like old songs, bird dogs, football season and Jesus, but that his lost love won’t.
Another great song on Bet You’re From a Small Town is “Missing One,” which starts with Rodgers singing about missing an Eagles record from his collection and wraps up in the chorus with him missing a girl. Rodgers wrote it with Phelps and Ahnquist, who appear a lot on the record.
“This is probably the oldest song on the record,” Rodgers says. “We were sitting in the writing room that day. Smith had done a demo session and the engineer had sent him some songs back. He was going through them and he said, ‘Oh, I’m missing one.’ When he said that Hunter perked up and said, ‘We’re writing that today,’ but it took us four months to finish it for some reason. Most of them fall out in an hour or two, but we had to work for that one.”
The track “Merle Haggard” not only pays homage to one of Rodgers’ heroes, but features the singer tapping into Haggard’s mastery of heartache tunes. Rodgers sings, “You’re the leaving in the story, you were good but no good for me / Mama tried to warn me you’d break my heart in two, Merle Haggard woulda wrote songs about you.”
Another tear-jerker is “Good Dogs,” a heart-wrenching tribute that captures the misery of losing a dog.
“That song was born on a writing retreat. I wrote it with Hunter Phelps, Brent Anderson and Jake Mitchell. Hunter had just gotten a dog and came in with that title,” Rodgers says. “It was one of those where we had to keep walking out of the room to go cry in private thinking about dogs. It’s hard to write those songs, dogs are family members that don’t get to stick around as long as they should.”
On top of more gems on the project, like “Girls That Smoke,” “Bars Back Home” and the title track “Bet You’re from a Small Town,” Rodgers’ shows off the shine of his 11-year journey on his debut album.
“They say you have your whole life to write album one,” Rodgers says. “I’ve taken advantage of that.”
Rita Wilson Shares Final EP In Trilogy Series
/by Lorie HollabaughRita Wilson
Rita Wilson has released the third and final EP in her Trilogy series–Trilogy 3.
The project features three new tracks including lead single “Thin Air,” a collaboration with Sleeping At Last. The track was co-written and co-produced by Rita and Sleeping At Last’s Ryan O’Neal.
Other tracks on the new EP include, “Aftershock,” co-written by Rita, Jon Levine and Lindy Robbins, and the powerful ballad “You Are My Heart,” co-written by Rita, Liz Rose and Nathan Chapman.
Wilson has a busy fall in store as she heads to perform at the Women Who Rock Benefit Concert in Pittsburgh on Oct. 16 presented by Gibson Gives featuring an all-female line-up, and the Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale on Nov. 13.
Bellamy Brothers Offer Up Some ‘Covers From The Brothers’ In October
/by Lorie HollabaughBellamy Brothers. Photo: Derrek Kupish,
The Bellamy Brothers are tackling some of their all-time favorites on a new project, Covers From The Brothers, set for release on Oct. 15. Fans who pre-order the album now will instantly receive the Bellamys’ cover of the Billy Swan hit “I Can Help” featuring Dennis Quaid.
For their first-ever, covers-only album, the Bellamys interpret some of their favorites by Bob Dylan (“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”) and Stevie Wonder (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) and also perform some tracks they’ve played countless times like Joe South‘s “Games People Play.” Produced by the Bellamys and Randy Hiebert, the 12-song collection also includes the talents of Paul Franklin and Jenee Fleenor.
The Bellamy Brothers are currently on the road on Blake Shelton’s “Friends And Heroes Tour.” They will embark on their own European tour beginning in 2022.
Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood Return No. 1 On MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart
/by Alex Parry“If I Didn’t Love You” by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood returns to No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week, marking its third week on top. The singles holds +57 spins over the No. 2 position despite losing a total of -29 spins the last two weeks.
“If I Didn’t Love You” was written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan and Lydia Vaughan, and produced by Michael Knox.
Underwood earned a nomination for Entertainer of the Year at this year’s 55th Annual CMA Awards, which airs live from Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00 – 11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. Click here to see a full list of nominees.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Avenue Beat Announces Break-Up With ‘The Debut Farewell Album’
/by LB CantrellAvenue Beat’s Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Sami Bearden. Photo: Delaney Royer
Avenue Beat’s Sami Bearden, Savana Santos and Sam Backoff came onto the Nashville music scene with clever, relatable songs and a fresh sound. With wry songs like “Delight” and “Be A Bro,” and relatable anthems “Ruin That For Me” and “Broke,” Avenue Beat charmed their way into the hearts of fans and industry members alike.
After signing with Big Machine Label Group’s Valory Music Co. and Tape Room Records, they released their self-titled, debut EP, which showed off their wit and interesting vocal harmonies. Their song “F2020” became a viral hit and the soundtrack for a year filled with anxiety, cultural hostility, and pain from the the COVID-19 pandemic.
To mark the pop trio’s end, Avenue Beat has announced a 12-track project, The Debut Farewell Album, will release Oct. 15 via Big Machine Records.
Ahead of the album’s release, the group dropped “This Is Goodbye,” which serves as an elegy to the adventures, the surprises and the laughter Avenue Beat has shared over the years. Featuring vocals from friend and “unofficial” fourth Avenue Beat member, Summer Overstreet, the song says good-bye to their collaboration that sustained all three girls throughout their time on a major label.
The album cover, which serves as a perfect representation of the clever, self-aware 20-somethings, only features Santos and Backoff, not Bearden.
“There’s no real drama,” offers lead singer/producer Santos. “Sami decided this life wasn’t for her. She didn’t like what it was, and it was time for her to stop. So it was time for this to stop. We didn’t really see it coming, but we wanted to support our friend.”
“And we’re so glad we got to finish the journey with these songs,” Bearden explains. “It’s all here, and it tracks us from ‘F2020’ to the very end. It’s hard when you know it’s time to go, because I’m leaving two people I really love. But I also know this is not where I need to be.
“All we ever did was process our lives through these songs,” Bearden continues. “There was no master plan, no big set-up or ideas. Just this happened, now here’s a song.”
“And now here are the last songs,” Santos picks up. “This is how it ends. Nobody saw it coming. There’s nothing else to say. But for the people who’ve been in here with us, it’s the craziest thing of all: actual closure. Everything you never get to say, it’s in these last few songs.”
The Debut Farewell Album Official Track List:
1. “F2020” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos
2. “Woman” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Joey Hendricks, Michael Whitworth*
3. “I Don’t Really Like Your Boyfriend” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
4. “Rock In Outer Space” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet+
5. “DTF” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet, Jordyn Shellhart, Emily Weisband^
6. “Space For You” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet^
7. “New Strangers” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Jason Gantt
8. “Parties” | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
9. “Interlude” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
10. “Different” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
11. “Happy For You” | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Victoria Canal, Summer Overstreet
12. “This Is Goodbye” (featuring Summer Overstreet) | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
Produced by Savana Santos
*Produced by Savana Santos, Alysa Vanderheym
+Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta
^Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Afterhrs