ASCAP Nashville Holds Summer Session Of ASCAP Master Class
Pictured (top row, L-R): Dave Pacula, Holly Chester, Steven Schmitt; (middle row, L-R) Sam Cary, Ryan Boey, Bella Hudson; (bottom row, L-R) – Tawna Goforth, Clay Mills, Lexi Miller
On Tuesday, Aug. 3, ASCAP Nashville virtually hosted its summer edition of ASCAP Master Class with award-winning songwriter and producer Clay Mills (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” by Darius Rucker) and Liz Rose Music’s SVP of Creative Dave Pacula.
ASCAP Master Class, curated and hosted by ASCAP Membership Manager Holly Chester, helps provide a select group of promising songwriters with the opportunity to receive feedback from publishers and hear first-hand advice from hit songwriters.
Logan Mize, Big Yellow Dog Music Celebrate First Gold Certification
Pictured (bottom row, L-R) Charly Salvatore (Logan’s manager), Carla Wallace (BYD), Lincoln Mize (Logan’s son), Jill Martin (Logan’s wife), Logan Mize, Violet Mize (Logan’s daughter), Kerry O’Neil (BYD); (third row, L_R) Lauren Funk (BYD), Kara Tusch (BYD), Nicole Rhodes (BYD), Alex Stefano (BYD), Daniel Agee (“Better Off Gone” producer); (second row, L-R) Claire Karliak (BYD), Sophie Hopkins (BYD), Carie Long (BYD); (top row, L-R) Jacee Badeaux (BYD), Rowdy Domstead (BYD)
Big Yellow Dog Music’s Logan Mize earned his first RIAA Gold-certified record for his 2017 hit, “Better Off Gone.” The track, which has amassed over 100 million streams to date, is also Big Yellow Dog Music’s first Gold record as a label.
“I feel extremely lucky to have such a wonderful, dedicated fan base who continue to listen to my music and purchase tickets to live shows,” Mize says. “I don’t take it for granted, and this Gold record is just a testament to them and their never-ending support.”
Mize recently announced that he will release his upcoming album, Welcome to Prairieville, on Oct. 1. The album features 11 tracks that celebrate Mize’s rural upbringing, while also showcasing his storytelling abilities. Spending nearly a decade developing the concept behind the album, Mize co-wrote all but one song, making this one of his most personal releases to date.
Circle Network Partners With Dish, Sling
Circle Network has announced that its original programming will now be available to DISH customers nationwide as part of the DISH’s America’s Top 120 package offering. Circle will also be available on SLING TV in the coming weeks.
Circle first appeared on DISH and SLING TV in May of 2020 with Opry Live, which features a live performance each Saturday from the Grand Ole Opry’s iconic Nashville stage. With the help of Circle, the 95-year-old beloved country music institution kept the music playing each week throughout COVID-19.
“We are pleased that Circle has found a home on DISH and SLING TV, and that our regular viewers who have tuned into Opry Live each week are now able to access Circle’s entire slate of original programming,” says Circle Network General Manager, Drew Reifenberger. “This partnership with DISH and SLING TV unlocks a key distribution goal for Circle that allows us to serve a passionate group of country lifestyle fans.”
DISH customers will find Circle on channel 370 where they will have access to Opry Live hosted by Bobby Bones, Hee Haw, Songs from the Cellar with Phil Vassar, Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith with Susie McEntire, Talking in Circles with Clint Black, Dinner Drive with Kyle Petty, Big Kenny’s Crank it Up Garage with Big Kenny, Authentic America, The Dailey & Vincent Show with Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, and more.
Alexandra Kay, Cooper Alan Announce Second Leg Of In Real Life Tour
Following an almost completely sold out first run in July, Alexandra Kay and Cooper Alan are hitting the road this fall for the second leg of the In Real Life Tour joined by Thomas Mac. The second string of shows will carry them through Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Kay’s two million followers on TikTok demanded the release of her current single, “How Do We Go,” pushing it to the No. 2 spot on the iTunes Country chart. Previously, her second and third independent releases, “I Kinda Don’t” and “All The Cowboys,” reached No. 1. Meanwhile, Alan’s debut single, “Carolina Saturday Night,” achieved national acclaim by reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart.
In Real Life Tour Dates:
Sept. 1 – Austin, Texas – The Parish
Sept. 2 – Odessa, Texas – Linx Bar & Grill
Sept. 3 – Dallas, Texas – The Loft (Gilley’s)
Sept. 4 – Houston, Texas – Secret Group
Sept. 5 – New Orleans, La. – SouthPort Music Hall
Sept. 7 – Savannah, Ga. – Victory North
Sept. 8 – Atlanta, Ga. – Vinyl
Sept. 10 – Indianapolis, Ind. – Deluxe
Sept. 11 – Lexington, Ky. – Manchester Music Hall
Sept. 12 – Nashville, Tenn. – Exit / In
Sept. 14 – Birmingham, Ala. – Zydeco
Sept. 15 – Huntsville, Ala. – Side Tracks Music Hall
America Salutes You Honors ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons With Special Benefit Concert
/by Lorie HollabaughBilly F. Gibbons. Photo: Blain Clausen
America Salutes You will honor ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons with a benefit concert TV special previously taped at country music’s historic Grand Ole Opry House. The benefit concert, which celebrated Gibbons’ legendary career, will air nationally on Fox owned and operated stations throughout August and September.
Among artists included in the performance are Brad Paisley, Chris Janson, Dennis Quaid, Eric Church, Jimmie Vaughan, Larkin Poe, Lucinda Williams, Tim Montana, Travis Tritt and Guthrie Trapp. The original sold out concert was taped in Nashville on May 16 in front of a live audience.
“A sold out audience at the Grand Ole Opry House enjoyed an amazing show honoring Mr. Gibbons,” comments Bob Okun, Executive Producer, America Salutes You. “Now a national TV audience can enjoy the same dynamic concert special while supporting charities assisting our veterans and first responders with their generous on-line donations.”
100% of public donations will be made to non-profits including ThanksUSA, CreatiVets, the USO, First Responders Children’s Foundation.
For a full list of times and dates for the TV special, click here.
Industry Ink: ASCAP, Logan Mize, Circle Network, Alexandra Kay
/by Lydia FarthingASCAP Nashville Holds Summer Session Of ASCAP Master Class
Pictured (top row, L-R): Dave Pacula, Holly Chester, Steven Schmitt; (middle row, L-R) Sam Cary, Ryan Boey, Bella Hudson; (bottom row, L-R) – Tawna Goforth, Clay Mills, Lexi Miller
On Tuesday, Aug. 3, ASCAP Nashville virtually hosted its summer edition of ASCAP Master Class with award-winning songwriter and producer Clay Mills (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” by Darius Rucker) and Liz Rose Music’s SVP of Creative Dave Pacula.
ASCAP Master Class, curated and hosted by ASCAP Membership Manager Holly Chester, helps provide a select group of promising songwriters with the opportunity to receive feedback from publishers and hear first-hand advice from hit songwriters.
Logan Mize, Big Yellow Dog Music Celebrate First Gold Certification
Pictured (bottom row, L-R) Charly Salvatore (Logan’s manager), Carla Wallace (BYD), Lincoln Mize (Logan’s son), Jill Martin (Logan’s wife), Logan Mize, Violet Mize (Logan’s daughter), Kerry O’Neil (BYD); (third row, L_R) Lauren Funk (BYD), Kara Tusch (BYD), Nicole Rhodes (BYD), Alex Stefano (BYD), Daniel Agee (“Better Off Gone” producer); (second row, L-R) Claire Karliak (BYD), Sophie Hopkins (BYD), Carie Long (BYD); (top row, L-R) Jacee Badeaux (BYD), Rowdy Domstead (BYD)
Big Yellow Dog Music’s Logan Mize earned his first RIAA Gold-certified record for his 2017 hit, “Better Off Gone.” The track, which has amassed over 100 million streams to date, is also Big Yellow Dog Music’s first Gold record as a label.
“I feel extremely lucky to have such a wonderful, dedicated fan base who continue to listen to my music and purchase tickets to live shows,” Mize says. “I don’t take it for granted, and this Gold record is just a testament to them and their never-ending support.”
Mize recently announced that he will release his upcoming album, Welcome to Prairieville, on Oct. 1. The album features 11 tracks that celebrate Mize’s rural upbringing, while also showcasing his storytelling abilities. Spending nearly a decade developing the concept behind the album, Mize co-wrote all but one song, making this one of his most personal releases to date.
Circle Network Partners With Dish, Sling
Circle Network has announced that its original programming will now be available to DISH customers nationwide as part of the DISH’s America’s Top 120 package offering. Circle will also be available on SLING TV in the coming weeks.
Circle first appeared on DISH and SLING TV in May of 2020 with Opry Live, which features a live performance each Saturday from the Grand Ole Opry’s iconic Nashville stage. With the help of Circle, the 95-year-old beloved country music institution kept the music playing each week throughout COVID-19.
“We are pleased that Circle has found a home on DISH and SLING TV, and that our regular viewers who have tuned into Opry Live each week are now able to access Circle’s entire slate of original programming,” says Circle Network General Manager, Drew Reifenberger. “This partnership with DISH and SLING TV unlocks a key distribution goal for Circle that allows us to serve a passionate group of country lifestyle fans.”
DISH customers will find Circle on channel 370 where they will have access to Opry Live hosted by Bobby Bones, Hee Haw, Songs from the Cellar with Phil Vassar, Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith with Susie McEntire, Talking in Circles with Clint Black, Dinner Drive with Kyle Petty, Big Kenny’s Crank it Up Garage with Big Kenny, Authentic America, The Dailey & Vincent Show with Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, and more.
Alexandra Kay, Cooper Alan Announce Second Leg Of In Real Life Tour
Following an almost completely sold out first run in July, Alexandra Kay and Cooper Alan are hitting the road this fall for the second leg of the In Real Life Tour joined by Thomas Mac. The second string of shows will carry them through Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Kay’s two million followers on TikTok demanded the release of her current single, “How Do We Go,” pushing it to the No. 2 spot on the iTunes Country chart. Previously, her second and third independent releases, “I Kinda Don’t” and “All The Cowboys,” reached No. 1. Meanwhile, Alan’s debut single, “Carolina Saturday Night,” achieved national acclaim by reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart.
In Real Life Tour Dates:
Sept. 1 – Austin, Texas – The Parish
Sept. 2 – Odessa, Texas – Linx Bar & Grill
Sept. 3 – Dallas, Texas – The Loft (Gilley’s)
Sept. 4 – Houston, Texas – Secret Group
Sept. 5 – New Orleans, La. – SouthPort Music Hall
Sept. 7 – Savannah, Ga. – Victory North
Sept. 8 – Atlanta, Ga. – Vinyl
Sept. 10 – Indianapolis, Ind. – Deluxe
Sept. 11 – Lexington, Ky. – Manchester Music Hall
Sept. 12 – Nashville, Tenn. – Exit / In
Sept. 14 – Birmingham, Ala. – Zydeco
Sept. 15 – Huntsville, Ala. – Side Tracks Music Hall
‘The Girls Are Back In Town’ As Chapel Hart Announces Upcoming Sophomore Album
/by Lorie HollabaughChapel Hart
Country music trio Chapel Hart is set to release their sophomore album, The Girls Are Back in Town, on Aug. 28. Comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart with their cousin Trea Swindle, have garnered a string of critical acclaim with their recent singles as well as being named by CMT as the Next Women of Country 2021.
Every song on the 12-track project centers around the universal theme of celebrating and empowering women in country music while reminding listeners that love, harmony, diversity, and unity can co-exist in our present world. The album, produced by Jeff Glixman (Kansas, Georgia Satellites), includes the trio’s current single, “You Can Have Him Jolene,” which takes inspiration from the enduring 1973 Dolly Parton classic, “Jolene.”
Chapel Hart
The three will also be hitting the road throughout the rest of the year, hitting a variety of festivals, fairs, and the annual week-long Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
Upcoming Chapel Hart Tour Dates:
Aug. 05 – Wave / Wichita, Kan.
Aug. 07 – Washington Town & Country Fair 2021 / Washington, Mo. with ZZ Top
Aug. 08 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 09 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 10 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 11 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 12 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 13 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 14 – Sturgis / Sturgis, S.D.
Aug. 22 – Brauer House / Lombard, Ill.
Sept. 11 – Fire Festival 2021 / Wagener, S.C.
Sept. 17 – Pasadena Rodeo/ Pasadena, Texas
Sept. 18 – Bubba’s on the Strand / Galveston, Texas
Sept. 24 – Smith’s Olde Bar / Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 25 – The Nick / Birmingham, Ala.
Sept. 30 – French Quarter Festival/ New Orleans, La.
Oct. 08 – Cruisin’ The Coast 2021 / Pass Christian, Miss.
Oct. 09 – Jazz Fest Afterparty/ New Orleans, La.
Oct. 19 – Women In Construction / Dallas, Texas
Oct. 29 – Knuckleheads Saloon / Kansas City, Mo.
Nov. 04 – Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival 2021 / Pensacola, Fla. (With Mickie James)
Nov. 05 – Pearl River Ranch/ Poplarville, Miss.
Nov. 06 – Pearl River Ranch/ Poplarville, Miss.
Nov. 12 – Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival 2021 / Pensacola, Fla.
Nov. 13 – Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival 2021 / Pensacola, Fla.
Nov. 14 – Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival 2021 / Pensacola, Fla.
Scott Borchetta & Big Machine Take The Racing World By Storm [Interview]
/by Steven BoeroScott Borchetta. Photo: by Nathan Morgan for BMLG
[This article first appeared in The Sports Credential, the Nashville sports industry trade publication owned by MusicRow magazine’s parent company, Music Row Enterprises, LLC.]
Big Machine Label Group has solidified itself as one of the top independent record labels in Nashville and in the country, discovering and signing artists like Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line and Lady A. Founder and CEO Scott Borchetta has become one of the top music executives in the industry, but this past year he and Big Machine made the leap beyond music.
Big Machine and Big Machine Distillery have become one of the biggest sponsors in motorsports over the past few years and have made huge strides in making its name in the sport. Borchetta, an avid racing fan and current driver in the Trans Am series, has taken the Big Machine name and created a whole new image for it within the racing world.
“We’re a 10-year overnight success because we’ve been sponsoring races at Indy for the last decade,” Borchetta tells The Sports Credential. “But it takes that much time and a few ‘aha’ moments. You’ve got to be patient in motorsports and you’ve got to understand how it works, what works, and what kind of products work with it. For a lot of years, I did it as a vanity thing. I just wanted us to be there.”
Borchetta started racing motocross as a 9-year-old in southern California. When he discovered he had a talent for it he started competing in BMX in its early years. From there, the next logical move would be to go to motorcycles, but Borchetta’s father wasn’t going to let that happen. At that point, he started racing quarter midgets, which he did for years. But in the mid-90s, Borchetta started racing legend cars and quickly found the success he was looking for.
“Brooks & Dunn and Mark Collie started racing legends cars, so I started racing with them and I started winning. I became the state regional champion in legends cars, and won a couple of big races, including one of those televised Charlotte Tuesday night feature races on TV,” he shares. “It was a lot of fun. I decided that if I was ever going to move up to big cars, that was the time to do it.”
Borchetta continues, “In 1998, we started racing in the super truck division at the fairgrounds in Nashville. The first season was terrible, the second season we started to look like we knew what we were doing, and then the third season I finished second in points. I won the next three championships in a row. We won my last championship on Sept. 3, 2005. I opened Big Machine on Sept. 1, 2005, so I knew that was going to be my last race.” Borchetta retired from racing as he put all of his blood, sweat, and tears into creating the now-massive BMLG.
He admits that he started racing too late in life to make a career out of it and wasn’t going to put the early stages of Big Machine in jeopardy after so much work and investment. It wasn’t until he met NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham in 2016 when Borchetta rediscovered his love for driving. Evernham invited him to race and, though weary at first, Borchetta agreed to a track day.
“I went over and did a track day with Ray, At some point he said, ‘Man, you’re pretty good. You should come and race with us.’ But I told him no,” Borchetta explains. “I was flying home thinking about it and ended up talking to my wife about it. She said, ‘Why are you even asking me? Ray wants you to come and race. You’re going to do it, so just go do it.’ That was her way of giving me her blessing. Shortly after I started racing vintage and SVRA series and we started doing really well with that. We ended up winning the group six championship.”
For more of Borchetta’s interview with The Sports Credential, click here.
Chart Action: Dierks Bentley, Breland & Hardy Debut
/by Alex Parry“Beers On Me” by Dierks Bentley featuring BRELAND and HARDY debuts on the country charts this week. The single lands at No. 34 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart, No. 47 on Country Aircheck‘s Mediabase Chart, and No. 70 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.
“Hardy threw out this title and I remember immediately thinking, ‘I wish I could buy all my fans a beer.’ After the year we’ve all had, it would be nice to get the first round and say, ‘Hey, we all got some problems but we’re going to forget about them for a little while…the beers are on me,’” Bentley said. “I came back to Nashville to record the song and came across an article about Breland in the Nashville Scene. I got his number and he came in the next day and wrote and sang the third verse. It was truly an organic collaboration and I couldn’t be more proud to have him and Hardy on this song with me.”
The trio also claims most added on Billboard and Mediabase accumulating 111 total station adds. On the MusicRow Chart, Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood‘s “If I Didn’t Love You” earned the most station adds adding 19 new station this week. “Beers On Me” is a close second having earned 18 station adds.
For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Details Revealed For Late Country Music & Radio Icon Bob Kingsley’s Career-Spanning Book
/by Lydia FarthingBob Kingsley
Throughout his life, country music and radio personality Bob Kinglsey documented his career from start to finish as well as the past, present, and future of the radio format. All of these details and more will be revealed in Bob Kingsley’s Book of Records, as previously announced. The book is available for pre-order now and set to ship beginning Dec. 7, 2021,
In the late icon’s first-hand account of the formats’ most engaging artists, songwriters, producers, and executives, readers will get a helping of never-before-heard stories as well as fresh interpretations from his wife and business partner Nan Kingsley along with some of Bob’s many industry friends.
The print book, edited by longtime producer Ken Halford and published by Nautilus Publishing, will also include a collection of rare photographs. Meanwhile the audio book, published by Orange Sky Audio, will be voiced by longtime friend and fellow National Radio Hall of Fame member Blair Garner.
In tandem with the recent donation of the Kingsley Archive to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, all proceeds from the print and audio book will be allocated to the Museum’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Laci Kaye Booth Achieves Heart’s Desire With Self-Titled Debut Release
/by Lorie HollabaughLaci Kaye Booth. Photo: Robby Klein
Laci Kaye Booth, Texas native and American Idol season 17 alum, has unveiled her self-titled debut today (Aug. 6) via BMLG Records. Her first single, “Treasure,” is set to impact country radio on Sept. 13.
Booth co-wrote every song on the eight-track collection, which also includes songs penned by Sam Ellis, Sara Haze, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz, James Slater, and more. Labelmate and one third of Lady A, Charles Kelley, joins Booth on the song “Broken Heart Still Beats,” which the duo co-wrote with Paul DiGiovanni and Adam Hambrick.
“My whole life, I prayed, and I wished for this to happen. I prayed for it every night, and every time I’d blow out my candles on my birthday cake, I’d wish for it,” shares Booth. “In my heart of hearts, this is exactly what I always wanted.”
Laci will celebrate the release today with a listening party with fans at 1 p.m. CT on Vertigo. To tune in, click here.
Laci Kaye Booth Track List:
1. Used To You | Laci Kaye Booth, Sam Ellis, Sara Haze
2. On The Fence | Laci Kaye Booth, Todd Clark, Sara Haze, Jason Cole Saenz
3. Treasure | Laci Kaye Booth, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
4. Broken Heart Still Beats (featuring Charles Kelley) | Laci Kaye Booth, Charles Kelley, Paul DiGiovanni, Adam Hambrick
5. Shuffle | Laci Kaye Booth, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland
6. If He Would’ve Stayed | Laci Kaye Booth, Carlo Colasacco, James Slater
7. Visions | Laci Kaye Booth, Jamie Kenney
8. Heart Of Texas | Laci Kaye Booth, Nathan Chapman, Emily Fox Landis
Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Toby Keith, More To Perform On ACM Honors
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors has revealed some additions to the evening’s previously announced lineup of performers. Included in the second round of artists are Jessie Jo Dillon, Nicolle Galyon, Jamey Johnson, Toby Keith, Jordan Reynolds, Keith Urban, Laura Veltz, and Sam Williams. This years Honors, hosted by two-time ACM Award winner and newest Grand Ole Opry member Carly Pearce who also joins the performance lineup, will be held on Aug. 25 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
In addition to the performances, Chris Janson will be presenting the ACM Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards for the evening. Additional special guest presenters include Trace Adkins and CEO of the Country Music Association Sarah Trahern.
Special Award recipients to be celebrated include Joe Galante and Rascal Flatts (ACM Cliffie Stone Icon Award), Lady A and Ross Copperman (ACM Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Luke Combs (ACM Gene Weed Milestone Award), Dan + Shay (ACM Jim Reeves International Award), RAC Clark (ACM Mae Boren Axton Service Award), Toby Keith (ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award), Loretta Lynn, Gretchen Peters and Curly Putman (ACM Poet’s Award) and Ken Burns’s Country Music (ACM Tex Ritter Film Award). The evening will also honor winners of the 55th ACM Industry Awards, 55th & 56th ACM Studio Recording Awards, along with 55th and 56th ACM Songwriter of the Year winner, Hillary Lindsey.
The event will also be livestreamed on all Circle Network social platforms with a television special of the night to be announced at a later date.
Jameson Rodgers Peaks On MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart
/by Alex ParryJameson Rodgers’ single featuring Luke Combs, “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” cruises to No. 1 this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, rising three positions and earning +184 spins. The tune was written by Rodgers, Brett Tyler, Hunter Phelps, and Alysa Vanderhym and appears on his latest EP, In It For The Money.
Rodgers recently announced his headlining tour, Cold Beer Calling My Name Tour 2021, which will begin this month. He will be joined on select dates by Drew Green, Brandon Lay, Drew Parker, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Rowe, and Rodgers’ fiancé Sarah Allison Turner.
Rodgers is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2021 MusicRow Awards. Winners will be announced on Aug. 19 across all MusicRow platforms.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Primary Wave Music, Audio Up Media Launch Podcast Detailing Sun Records’ History
/by Lorie HollabaughPrimary Wave Music and Audio Up Media are launching a new Sun Records podcast, Midnight at the Sun Diner. The podcast is being rolled out just in time for the legendary label’s 70th anniversary.
In this time traveling musical series, listeners will go on a ride through the rich history of one of the most iconic labels of all time. Set in Memphis, listeners follow along with the series narrator who is a music journalist assigned a feature on Sun Records. The writer finds himself at the Sun Diner, where he stumbles into a multiverse portal that takes him back to the early years of Sun Records, where he gets to meet all of Sun Records’ legendary artists including Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, as well as Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. As the story unfolds, artists of the present day learn that they can travel back in time to meet their heroes face to face and even host jam sessions together, bringing fresh inspiration and new ideas to their own music.
The podcast will weave in the tales of Sun Recording artists and take a deeper dive into the legacy of the label and studio, ultimately telling the story of the famed label through the personal history of its artists. Each episode will also feature performances of songs from the Sun Records catalog with a discussion to follow by contemporary artists. Future plans for the podcast will also include recording artists performing their favorite Sun Records songs live from the Sun Diner.
“The Sun Records story has been told in many ways. I’m convinced that fiction is a great way into this rich and lush music meta verse for artists to collaborate and explore the Sun vault through,” says Jared Gutstadt, founder and CEO of Audio Up. “Podcasts are another gateway for music and story exploitation. I already see this as a streaming visual series once we accomplish season one’s concept in the podcast space. With IP and publishing assets from Sun Records, the potential for a soundtrack and spin-off content is limitless.”
“’Midnight at the Sun Diner’ will help convey the impact of Sun Records on music and culture through an entirely new lens,” shares Dominic Pandiscia of Sun Label Group and Natalia Nastaskin, chief content officer at Primary Wave Music. “It will be an incredibly immersive listening experience for both the existing fan of Sun Records, as well as for the fan of any podcast that provides endless entertainment value with a touch of history.”