King Calaway Reemerges With Upcoming ‘Midnight’ EP, Album Release Show

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King Calaway. Photo: Courtesy of BBR Music Group

Rising country group King Calaway will release their new Midnight EP on Aug. 27 via Stoney Creek Records.

Following the success of their debut album Rivers – released via BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records in October 2019 – the group spent 2020 honing their songwriting, harmonies, and groove. They have since emerged with brand new music as a 5-piece band, composed of original members Caleb Miller, Chris Deaton, Simon Dumas, Chad Michael Jervis, and Austin Luther.

The group signed with Red Light Management in June of 2021, and teased that new music was in the works. The upcoming project offers a first glimpse at the band’s songwriting prowess as a preview from a larger series of recordings, with more to come on future music.

“Midnight is the result of many months spent diving into new creative and sonic spaces,” shares the band. “We carefully crafted these songs with our live show in mind, and it’s only fitting that we get to share them for the first time live from Nashville.”

To celebrate the EP release, the band will also be debuting their new music with a live show at the Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on Thursday, Aug. 26. Tickets for the show are on sale now. The performance will also be livestreamed on the CTRL_MUSIC_ channel airing exclusively on Twitch.

Midnight Track List:
1. Homegrown – Chad Michael Jervis, Kevin Griffin
2. More People – Simon Dumas, Ryan Lafferty, Tina Parol Gemza
3. Heartbreaker – Simon Dumas, Neil Medley, Dave Cohen
4. Good Time To Me (feat. Lainey Wilson) – Charles Kelley, Russell Dickerson, Corey Crowder, Steven Lee Olsen

NSAI Sets Nashville Songwriter Awards For September

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will hold its annual Nashville Songwriter Awards on Sept. 14, 2021. The 4th annual awards, presented by City National Bank, will be held as a private event at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater.

The event will include performances honoring the Song, Songwriter, and Songwriter-Artist of the Year, the Songwriter and Songwriter-Artist of the Decade (2010-2019), as well as the ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written,’ awards, given to the top voted songs chosen by fellow professional songwriters as exceptional songs they wish they had penned.

This year Sony Music Publishing Chairman & CEO Jon Platt will be honored with NSAI’s President’s Keystone Award, given in recognition of significant contributions to the betterment of all songwriters.

“Our deepest thanks go to Sony Music Publishing Chairman/CEO Jon Platt for enabling the half million-dollar donation that allowed NSAI to create the non-profit, tax-exempt WRITER Foundation. The Foundation quickly and efficiently got critically-needed grant funds into the hands of American songwriters and composers,” says NSAI President Steve Bogard. “Jon stepped up to help at the height of the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Live performances were shut down and royalty checks were impacted. The $1,000 grants NSAI was able to distribute through Sony’s generosity helped songwriters who really needed it pay their bills.”

“We are so pleased to be back in person this year after presenting an entirely virtual awards event last year,” says NSAI Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Turnbow. “The more intimate setting will provide an opportunity for industry colleagues to gather and celebrate together, many for the first time in over a year. This year’s show promises to be memorable in many ways and it is our privilege to be able to partner with City National Bank again to celebrate songwriters in such a grand way.”

“Congratulations to all of this year’s Nashville Songwriter Award winners, and thank you for making our lives better by creating such wonderful songs,” adds Diane Pearson and Lori Badgett, heads of Entertainment Banking for City National Bank in Nashville, in a joint statement. “City National has a long history of supporting songwriters and the creative community. We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s winners with NSAI in person once again after everything the industry has been through over the past year and a half.” City National is a leading entertainment industry bank that provides personalized financial services to more than 80% of the country music industry in Nashville.

Official 2021 Nashville Songwriter Awards Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor City National Bank, Academy of Country Music, Jack Daniel’s, Loeb & Loeb, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), SoundExchange, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters.

Scotty McCreery Shares Details Of New Album, ‘Same Truck’

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Scotty McCreery. Photo: Jeff Ray

Scotty McCreery will release his upcoming album, Same Truck, on Sept. 17 via Triple Tigers. Produced by Frank Rogers, Derek Wells and Aaron Eshuis, the project includes his current Top 15 single, “You Time,” and the recently released track, “Why You Gotta Be Like That.”

Intense fan demand following last week’s release of “Why You Gotta Be Like That” caused pre-sale information to leak at several key retailers. To meet the demand, McCreery and his label decided to announce the album early as a thank you to the fans for fervently supporting his music through the years.

“It’s gratifying to learn that my fans are so excited about my upcoming new album that they sought out pre-order information before it was ready to be announced….and got it,” shared the North Carolina native. “Thanks to Triple Tigers and the retailers for coming together quickly so we could make this official album announcement. I can’t wait to share this music with everyone.”

Same Truck features 12 songs, 10 of which were co-written by McCreery. Coming three years after his last album, Seasons Change, the forthcoming project is a reflection of where the American Idol alum is now in life as a man married to the love of his life who is also celebrating his 10th year as an entertainer.

“My last album was about me as a young man getting ready to get married. Same Truck is me three years later, taking a moment to acknowledge where I am now as a 27-year-old, happily married man, sharing both what I’ve learned and where I want to go,” McCreery explains.

Same Truck Track List:
1. Same Truck (Scotty McCreery, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Zach Crowell)
2. You Time (Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers, Aaron Eshuis)
3. It Matters To Her (Scotty McCreery, Rhett Akins, Lee Thomas Miller)
4. Damn Strait (Trent Tomlinson, Jim Collins)
5. It’ll Grow On Ya (Jeremy Bussey, Jason Blaine, Taylor Phillips, Adam Wood)
6. The Waiter (Scotty McCreery, Matthew West, Frank Rogers)
7. Why You Gotta Be Like That (Scotty McCreery, Jordan Schmidt, James McNair)
8. Home (Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers, Brent Anderson, Tammi Kidd)
9. Carolina To Me (Scotty McCreery, Jeremy Bussey, Taylor Phillips)
10. Small Town Girl (Scotty McCreery, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
11. That Kind of Fire (Scotty McCreery, Josh Hoge, Matt McVaney, Justin Wilson)
12. How Ya Doin’ Up There (Scotty McCreery, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Tyler Reeve)

Music-Video Mainstay Martin Kahan Passes

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Martin Kahan

Prominent and prolific music-video maker Martin Kahan has died at age 74.

Noted for his work with top country stars, Kahan passed away in Lakewood, New Jersey on Sunday (July 18) following a battle with cancer. The director’s career began during the dawn of the music-video era and endured into the new millennium. He was particularly noted for his work with Kenny Chesney, Sawyer Brown and Neal McCoy.

Martin Samuel “Mendel” Kahan was born in Miami. The son of a rabbi, he began his film career in documentaries. Actor Lorne Greene narrated his film about “frog-gigging” in the Florida Everglades. Kahan also created a documentary about rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins.

Moving to Toronto, then New York, he gravitated to working in the then-emerging field of music videos in the early 1980s. MTV went on the air as a pop-music outlet for videos in 1981, and CMT followed suit for country clips in 1983.

Kahan’s early clients included rock stars such as Rush, Scandal, Ian Hunter, Clarence Clemons, Bon Jovi, Loverboy, Michael Bolton, Motley Crue, Kiss, The Scorpions and Eddie Money.

By the mid-1980s, he was working in Nashville. His early country videos included career-establishing 1985-88 hits by Sawyer Brown—“Betty’s Bein’ Bad,” “Heart Don’t Fall Now,” “Out Goin’ Cattin’” and “Shakin.’”

The two 1984 clips he created for Ricky Skaggs on the streets of Manhattan drew particular acclaim—“Honey (Open That Door)” (which featured a cameo by New York Mayor Ed Koch) and “Country Boy” (with Bill Monroe in a prominent role). Another ‘80s effort was John Anderson’s “Countrified” (1986).

As the decade continued, Martn Kahan became increasingly associated with country music. He eventually established a residence in Nashville.

Some of the most iconic country videos of the 1990s were directed by him. These included the award-winning “Chattahoochie” by Alan Jackson (1993) and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” by John Michael Montgomery (1995), plus “Then What” by Clay Walker (1998), “Hog Wild” by Hank Williams Jr. (1995) and “High Powered Love” by Emmylou Harris (1993).

Among his more than 30 country-music clients were David Ball, Billy Dean, T.G. Sheppard, Emilio, Ty England, The Gibson Miller Band, John & Audrey Wiggins, Kieran Kane, Dude Mowery, Andy Childs, The Buffalo Club and Rick Trevino.

Kahan directed multiple videos for Confederate Railroad, including “Trashy Women,” “Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind” and “When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back.” His many clips for Neal McCoy included “Wink,” “No Doubt About It” and “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”

In 1997, he created the “She’s Got it All” and “That’s Why I’m Here” videos for Kenny Chesney. In 2000, Chesney’s “I Lost It” became Kahan’s final music video.

Four months after completing it, Martin Kahan fell down a flight of stairs at a friend’s home in Nashville, suffering severe brain damage. He remained a lively raconteur about events from his past, but was unable to retain new information.

His declining health sidelined him professionally, and he eventually became homeless. His rabbinical family stepped in to provide long-term care at a facility in Lakewood.

Final arrangements have not been announced.

Zarni deVette Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

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Zarni deVette

Songwriter and producer Zarni deVette has signed to Big Yellow Dog Music. deVette claimed the No. 1 spot on iTunes All Genre/Country and reached the No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Digital Sales Chart with her song “Somebody Does,” recorded by country duo Tigirlily and produced by Shane McAnally, earlier this year.

Originally from South Africa, deVette’s music reflects not only the deep roots she’s planted in Nashville, but also the cities she’s called home along the way, including Austin, Seattle and Boston. The Berklee College of Music graduate’s songs have been used in a wide variety of shows including the Late Late Show with James Corden, NBC’s Good Girls, ABC’s Mistresses, and WWE Monday Night Raw.

“From the first time we met Zarni, we knew she was a force,” says Senior Creative Director Lauren Funk. “She impressed us with not only her raw talent but her incredible work ethic. We are so excited to come alongside her in this next step in her career.”

Industry Ink: Lauren Alaina, Cody Johnson, AIMP, Fran Romeo

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Lauren Alaina’s ‘Getting Good’ Goes Gold

Pictured (L-R): Jordan Pettit, Director, Artist Relations & Programming Strategy, Opry Entertainment Group; Trisha McClanahan, McClanahan Mgmt; Damon Moberly, Sr. Vice President Promotion, Mercury Records Nashville; Lauren Alaina; Royce Risser, Exec Vice President Promotion, UMG Nashville; Jackie Jones, Vice President, Artist and Industry Relations, RIAA; Stephanie Wright, Sr. Vice President, A&R, UMG Nashville

On July 20, multi-Platinum-selling No. 1 singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina was surprised before performing on the Grand Ole Opry with a plaque to commemorate her song “Getting Good” being certified Gold by the RIAA.

“Getting Good,” written by Emily Weisband, is included on her EP of the same name which was released in April of 2020. Alaina also realized a childhood dream of recording a special mix of the song with her friend and mentor Trisha Yearwood.

“This achievement as a female in country music is such an honor,” says Alaina. “Thank you to my fans for listening and buying the music I pour my heart into. These Gold records are just as much yours as they are mine.”

Alaina also received news that her singles “Like My Mother Does” from her debut album Wildflower, as well as “Doin’ Fine” and the title track from her sophomore album, Road Less Travelled, were also certified Gold.

 

 

Cody Johnson To Kick Off 2022 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Cody Johnson

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has announced Cody Johnson will help kick off the Rodeo’s 90th anniversary celebration with a RodeoHouston performance on Monday, Feb. 28. He will join previously announced headliner George Strait amongst next year’s festivities.

“Cody Johnson has established an enthusiastic following among our RodeoHouston fans since his first performance in 2017,” says Rodeo President and CEO Chris Boleman. “We can’t wait to welcome Cody back to RodeoHouston to help kick off our 90th anniversary celebration.”

Johnson has become the sound of the rodeo season with his performance of “Welcome to the Show,” the official song of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. His 2022 performance will mark his fourth performance at RodeoHouston.

The remaining 2022 RodeoHouston entertainer lineup will be announced at a later date. Individual tickets for Johnson’s performance go on sale to the public Thursday, July 29 at 10 a.m.

 

 

AIMP Nashville Chapter To Host Music Publishing Webinar

On Thursday, July 22, the AIMP Nashville Chapter will host Music Publishing 101 to 301 and Beyond… at 4:30 p.m. CT. The webinar will be presented by industry veteran John Barker, President & CEO of ClearBox Rights, LLC, an independent IP rights management company based in Nashville.

During the webinar, Barker will set the stage with 101 basics, moving through copyright laws and terminations, types of licenses and royalty streams, clarification and understanding of digital royalties, current business stats and trends, updates on current legislation and the MLC, and what the future of music publishing might look like.

The webinar is free for AIMP members to attend and $5 for non-members. To register, click here.

 

 

Fran Romeo Joins The Ranks At Neste Live!

Fran Romeo. Photo: Angela Seats

Entertainment industry veteran Fran Romeo has joined Neste Live!, a joint venture with Live Nation, as a Talent Buyer and Consultant to the full service event production and talent buying company.

Romeo has spent more than 22 years as one of the country’s top talent buyers. Prior to founding the Fran Romeo Agency, she spent more than 10 years as an owner of Romeo Entertainment Group (REG), serving as President of the company beginning in 2005. Previously, Romeo served as Managing Director of TBA Entertainment Corporation’s Seattle office and Executive Vice President of TBA Entertainment’s Fairs and Festivals division. She has also held a seat on the Board of Directors for both the Academy of Country Music and the International Entertainment Buyers Association.

“We are excited about this new partnership with Fran Romeo as she is considered a top talent buyer in the Fair marketplace, and we expect this affiliation will bring high-level service and programming opportunities to Neste Live!’s Fair clients,” says Neste President Gil Cunningham.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me as Gil was my mentor when I first began buying talent and having the affiliation with Neste Live! brings a new level of offerings for my event clients,” shares Romeo. “It’s great to have Live Nation recognize the importance of the Fair market in the entertainment space.”

Cunningham, an ACM Award winning promoter, started his career in the event business as a talent buyer in 1972 and moved into the event production business in 1988 before he co-founded Neste Event Marketing in 1995 alongside his wife and business partner Liz Cunningham. Originally established as a sponsorship and event marketing company, Neste expanded to include Talent Buying services in 2002, and since that time has grown into one of the largest talent buying and event services companies in North America.

LAST CALL: Voting For The 2021 MusicRow Awards Ends Tomorrow

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Voting for the 33rd annual MusicRow Awards closes tomorrow, Friday, July 23 at 5 p.m. CT.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.

This year’s honors will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Nominees for the MusicRow Awards are determined by a committee comprised of critics and tastemakers, with outside nominations being considered for Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer. Male and Female Songwriter nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. Eligible projects were active between June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees.

The Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards will also be announced on Aug. 19, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard‘s Country Album Chart during the eligibility period.

Chrissy Metz & Friends To Play Bluebird Benefit For CMA Foundation

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Chrissy Metz is headlining Chrissy Metz & Friends, a special benefit show, at Nashville’s historic Bluebird Cafe on July 30. Proceeds from Chrissy Metz & Friends benefit the CMA Foundation and its mission to provide resources and support for music teachers, students, and music education programs across the U.S.

Joining Metz for the round will be award-winning songwriter and producer Jimmy Robbins (Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Maddie & Tae, Brett Young) and the soulful singer-songwriter and Bowyer & Bow/Capitol Christian Music Group recording artist Blessing Offor.

Best known for her role as Kate Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us, Metz has released several tracks including “Girl Go,” “Talking to God,” “Actress,” and “Feel Good.” Metz also makes her return to the Grand Ole Opry stage this Saturday, July 24.

The Bluebird Cafe recently announced its reopening after 16 months, and celebrated its first show back with performances from Nashville’s songwriters Joel Shewmake, Annie Mosher, and Jason Matthews.For a full list of upcoming shows at The Bluebird Cafe, click here.

Natalie Hemby Announces Fantasy Records Label Debut Album

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Natalie Hemby. Photo: Alysse Gafjken

2x Grammy award-winner and revered songwriter Natalie Hemby will deliver her Fantasy Records debut album, Pins and Needles, on Oct. 8. The title track, co-written by Hemby with Brothers Osborne, is available everywhere now.

“‘Pins and Needles’ was the first song I ever wrote with Brothers Osborne,” says Hemby. “I have always loved this song, and I have always loved them. They almost put it on their record. Years after, I asked them if I could have it. They said yes, so I decided to record it and make it the title track. It’s one of my favorites.”

As the writer of eight No. 1 singles, Hemby uses the upcoming album to explore a full range of her musical gifts, spanning influences from Tom Petty to Sheryl Crow and the early ’90s rock and roots she was raised on. Across the 11-track collection, Hemby delivers unconventional lyrics along with turn of phrase, ear-worm anthems along with heart-rending ballads and everything in between.

“Pins and Needles is the record I never got the chance to make and I always wanted to,” she adds. “It’s the late 90’s sound, which is the sound of my young adult life.”

The album also features co-writes with fellow artists Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Aaron Raitiere and more, as well as songwriting heavy-hitters like Daniel Tashian, Barry Dean, and others.

Pins and Needles Track List:
1. Heroes (Natalie Hemby, Jeff Trot, Aaron Raitiere)
2. New Madrid (Natalie Hemby, Rose Cousins)
3. Pins and Needles (Natalie Hemby, TJ Osborne, John Osborne)
4. Lake Air (Natalie Hemby, Jedd Hughes, KS Rhodes)
5. Hardest Part About Business (Natalie Hemby, Sunny Sweeney, Joanna Janet)
6. Banshee (Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
7. Radio Silence (Natalie Hemby, Rosi Golan, Daniel Tashian)
8. Heart Condition (Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris)
9. Pinwheel (Natalie Hemby, Barry Dean, Madison Kozak)
10. It Takes One To Know One (Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Archer)
11. Last Resort (Natalie Hemby, Jabe Beyer)
Produced by Mike Wrucke

The Core Entertainment, Universal Music Canada Launch Joint Venture, Sign Steven Lee Olsen

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Steven Lee Olsen

The Core Entertainment management company and Universal Music Canada (UMC) have launched a new joint venture designed to offer Canadian artists a collaborative and integrated approach to releasing music worldwide. The joint venture’s first signing is Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based Canadian singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen.

Working in tandem, the UMC team, led by Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Remedios and Executive Vice President and General Manager Kristen Burke, together with The Core founders Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, and The Core Canada President Tracy Martin, will hand-select a roster of talent, developing the acts together in their respective and distinct roles as management and label.

The Core will offer management services, creative direction and A&R development to artists, bringing key acts to Universal Music Canada for UMC’s consideration to sign to a record deal. Artists signed will benefit from UMC’s globally focused strategic insight and project leadership.

“I’ve long admired Chief, Simon and Tracy’s individual strengths, smarts, and passions. The Core Entertainment’s vision and drive in championing artists is inspiring. This partnership is an opportunity to work with people we admire to do what we love — supporting a wide-range of artists in lockstep with a formidable management team,” says Remedios. “Steven Lee Olsen is a prolific songwriter with a voice that demands to be heard. With his signing, UMC couldn’t be prouder to double down on our commitment to country music with Steven at the forefront.”

“The Core strives to work with the most innovative and authentic industry leaders, and there’s no doubt Jeffrey, Kristen and the Universal Music Canada team are among the best in the business,” Tikhman, Zaruk, and Martin share. “We both know the artist always comes first, and this powerful collaboration will allow us to holistically support some of today’s brightest talent across genres. We’re thrilled to welcome country singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen to the family as our first joint signing and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Olsen moved to Nashville in 2004 and his songs have since been recorded by Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts, Billy Currington, Dallas Smith and others. He has notched two No.1 hits in the U.S. with his Grammy-nominated, double-Platinum certified “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Keith Urban) and “More Girls Like You” (Kip Moore).