I sense that somehow we are in the midst of a big shift of the country landscape, with more new talent being injected into the format than is usual.
With that in mind, note that Kat & Alex, Mitchell Tenpenny, Robyn Ottolini and Morgan Evans continue to make sonic waves. Adding to the energy is the stone-country Randall King, who wins this week’s DisCovery Award.
The supremely gifted Eric Church has won more Disc of the Day awards in this column than any other artist. I’d give him another one today, but for the fact that it seems like he needs to share at this point. So give the prize to the lovely sentiments being expressed by Jordan Davis with Luke Bryan along for the ride.
KAT & ALEX / “You and the Radio”
Writers: Jordan Minton/Mark Trussell/Robyn Collins; Producer: Brad Hill; Label: Sony Music Nashville
— It’s a rockin’ country summer jam. Alex, a Puerto Rican, sings lead. Kat, a Cuban American, provides sprightly vocal harmony. You’ll tap your toes to the snappy beats.
MIDLAND / “Sunrise Tells the Story”
Writers: Jess Carson/Jessi Alexander/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Dann Huff/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Label: Big Machine Records
— A steel cries in the distance as the trio moans this slow honky-tonk waltz. The harmonies are solid and the mood is just right.
MITCHELL TENPENNY / “Truth About You”
Writers: Mitchell Tenpenny/Matt Alderman/Thomas Archer; Producer: Jordan M. Schmidt/Mitchell Tenpenny; Label: Sony Music Nashville
— It’s a breakup song with a hushed, whispery delivery that catches your ear and makes you pay attention. The screaming electric guitar on the backing track is distracting and unnecessary.
MORGAN EVANS / “Love Is Real”
Writers: Morgan Evans/Jordan Reynolds/Parker Welling; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— This zippy, peppy, ultra-positive country rocker takes a page or two from the Keith Urban playbook. Which is to say, it is sugary ear candy.
ROBYN OTTOLINI / “Tell You Everything”
Writers: Robyn Ottolini/Jesse Slack; Producer: Erik Fintelman/Mark Schroor; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— The somewhat tedious “F-150” remains the single, but this new release from her EP suggests that she is holding back some of her best stuff. The bright, aware lyric has lots of verve, and the track boasts tempo shifts, cool echoey touches and a complex, layered mix that are all quite involving.
ERIC CHURCH / “Heart on Fire”
Writers: Eric Church; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: EMI Records Nashville
— Oh yeah! A little Bruce, a little Elvis, a little Skynyrd, a little Seger and a whole lotta rump shakin’ goodness. This rollicking rocker is one more example why the Chief stands head and shoulders above just about everyone else in this format. Turn it up and lose yourself in its soulfulness.
RANDALL KING / “Record High”
Writers: Drake Milligan/John Pierce/Rodney Clawson; Producer: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— This dude is a for-real country singer, and this rhythm-happy Texas honky tonker stakes a for-real claim to stardom.
JORDAN DAVIS & LUKE BRYAN / “Buy Dirt”
Writers: Jordan Davis/Jacob Davis/Josh Jenkins/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
— Words of wisdom from a fictional octogenarian set to a shimmering, sterling-silver audio track. Terrific truthful lyric. The two voices blend beautifully. I’m in.
THE CADILLAC THREE / “Bridges”
Writers: Frank Rogers/Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason; Producer: The Cadillac Three; Label: Big Machine Records
— While certainly novel and ear catching, this has nothing to do with country music.
KANE BROWN & BLACKBEAR / “Memory”
Writers: Kane Brown/Matthew Musto/Andrew Goldstein/Joe Kirkland/Ernest Smith; Producer: none listed; Label: RCA
— Although Brown is coming off a No. 1 country hit (”Famous Friends” with Chris Young), this hip hopper is being correctly marketed as a Top-40, pop-music effort. Brown has previously successfully collaborated with Marshmello and with Swae Lee & Khalid, so this effort with Musto a.k.a. blackbear suits him just fine.
BILLY CRASH CRADDOCK / “Paint Your Toes”
Writers: Billy Crash Craddock/David Wade/Mary Beth Stone; Producer: David Wade; Label: ONErpm
— He’s 82 years old now, but this rockabilly veteran still has rhythm in his heart. Very much in the mode of his classic “Rub It In,” this is a very cute little outing.
FIREROSE & BILLY RAY CYRUS / “New Day”
Writers: Billy Ray Cyrus/Firerose; Producer: none listed; Label: Repost
— Firerose is an Aussie-born singer-songwriter now based in L.A. She and Billy Ray co-wrote this on Zoom during the quarantine. It’s a hypnotic, swirling, dreamy confection, underpinned by echoey synths and slow, thumpy beats. I can hear this becoming a big pop hit. After all, he’s done it before.
Tony Brown To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award From North Carolina Music Hall of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughTony Brown. Photo: Dead Horse Branding
Tony Brown has been selected to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Brown and co-honoree Roberta Flack will be recognized for their achievements in the music industry and their massive contributions to American music over several decades.
Inductions for the 2020 and 2021 classes will take place on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The annual ceremony which normally takes place the third Thursday of every October was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the pandemic, so the NCMHOF will host its first-ever double induction, which will include the 2021 inductees Tony Rice and Robert Moog. The honors will be commemorated in a live event which will take place at the historic Gem Theatre in Kannapolis, NC. The event is open to the public and the evening will include live performances as the inductees are installed into the Hall of Fame.
Grammy award-winning producer and pianist Tony Brown co-founded Universal South Records and is the former President of MCA Records Nashville—a title he held for nearly a decade. He produced numerous hits by George Strait, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, and many more, and has won seven Academy of Country Music awards (including Producer of the Year), multiple CMA awards, and has numerous Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum album credits.
“It’s always such an honor to receive acknowledgement from your peers in the music industry, but it’s completely overwhelming to receive that acknowledgement from the Music Hall of Fame in the place you were born,” says Brown of the honor.
The 2020 inductees, announced last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, will also be celebrated at the Oct. 21 event. They include six nationally known and award-winning legends from North Carolina: The Briarhoppers, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Lawrence, Michael T Mauldin, Charles Whitfield, and the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
Lady A Earns Sixth MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart No. 1
/by Alex ParryRising to No. 1 this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is Lady A with “Like A Lady.” This is their sixth MusicRow No. 1, following “Champagne Night” which peaked in Sept. 2020. It appears on their latest collection What A Song Can Do (Chapter One) and was written by the group’s Hillary Scott with Dave Barnes, Michelle Buzz, Martin Johnson and Brandon Paddock.
Scott comments “I feel my most confident when I’m not trying too hard. I love getting glammed up and all the fancy clothes, but when I feel the most ‘me,’ it’s a lot more laid back – and I think that’s a lot of us. You are your most authentic self in blue jeans with a tequila drink, ya know? As we were writing it, I was like ‘It’s always been my dream to do a song that combines the things I love about Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ and Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ – two of the most strong, powerful female songs ever. So it was like ‘How can we do our version of that?’”
The group’s Lady A: What A Song Can Do Tour kicks off this month with support from Carly Pearce, Niko Moon and Tenille Arts.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Randall King
/by Robert K OermannI sense that somehow we are in the midst of a big shift of the country landscape, with more new talent being injected into the format than is usual.
With that in mind, note that Kat & Alex, Mitchell Tenpenny, Robyn Ottolini and Morgan Evans continue to make sonic waves. Adding to the energy is the stone-country Randall King, who wins this week’s DisCovery Award.
The supremely gifted Eric Church has won more Disc of the Day awards in this column than any other artist. I’d give him another one today, but for the fact that it seems like he needs to share at this point. So give the prize to the lovely sentiments being expressed by Jordan Davis with Luke Bryan along for the ride.
KAT & ALEX / “You and the Radio”
Writers: Jordan Minton/Mark Trussell/Robyn Collins; Producer: Brad Hill; Label: Sony Music Nashville
— It’s a rockin’ country summer jam. Alex, a Puerto Rican, sings lead. Kat, a Cuban American, provides sprightly vocal harmony. You’ll tap your toes to the snappy beats.
MIDLAND / “Sunrise Tells the Story”
Writers: Jess Carson/Jessi Alexander/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Dann Huff/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Label: Big Machine Records
— A steel cries in the distance as the trio moans this slow honky-tonk waltz. The harmonies are solid and the mood is just right.
MITCHELL TENPENNY / “Truth About You”
Writers: Mitchell Tenpenny/Matt Alderman/Thomas Archer; Producer: Jordan M. Schmidt/Mitchell Tenpenny; Label: Sony Music Nashville
— It’s a breakup song with a hushed, whispery delivery that catches your ear and makes you pay attention. The screaming electric guitar on the backing track is distracting and unnecessary.
MORGAN EVANS / “Love Is Real”
Writers: Morgan Evans/Jordan Reynolds/Parker Welling; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— This zippy, peppy, ultra-positive country rocker takes a page or two from the Keith Urban playbook. Which is to say, it is sugary ear candy.
ROBYN OTTOLINI / “Tell You Everything”
Writers: Robyn Ottolini/Jesse Slack; Producer: Erik Fintelman/Mark Schroor; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— The somewhat tedious “F-150” remains the single, but this new release from her EP suggests that she is holding back some of her best stuff. The bright, aware lyric has lots of verve, and the track boasts tempo shifts, cool echoey touches and a complex, layered mix that are all quite involving.
ERIC CHURCH / “Heart on Fire”
Writers: Eric Church; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: EMI Records Nashville
— Oh yeah! A little Bruce, a little Elvis, a little Skynyrd, a little Seger and a whole lotta rump shakin’ goodness. This rollicking rocker is one more example why the Chief stands head and shoulders above just about everyone else in this format. Turn it up and lose yourself in its soulfulness.
RANDALL KING / “Record High”
Writers: Drake Milligan/John Pierce/Rodney Clawson; Producer: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— This dude is a for-real country singer, and this rhythm-happy Texas honky tonker stakes a for-real claim to stardom.
JORDAN DAVIS & LUKE BRYAN / “Buy Dirt”
Writers: Jordan Davis/Jacob Davis/Josh Jenkins/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
— Words of wisdom from a fictional octogenarian set to a shimmering, sterling-silver audio track. Terrific truthful lyric. The two voices blend beautifully. I’m in.
THE CADILLAC THREE / “Bridges”
Writers: Frank Rogers/Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason; Producer: The Cadillac Three; Label: Big Machine Records
— While certainly novel and ear catching, this has nothing to do with country music.
KANE BROWN & BLACKBEAR / “Memory”
Writers: Kane Brown/Matthew Musto/Andrew Goldstein/Joe Kirkland/Ernest Smith; Producer: none listed; Label: RCA
— Although Brown is coming off a No. 1 country hit (”Famous Friends” with Chris Young), this hip hopper is being correctly marketed as a Top-40, pop-music effort. Brown has previously successfully collaborated with Marshmello and with Swae Lee & Khalid, so this effort with Musto a.k.a. blackbear suits him just fine.
BILLY CRASH CRADDOCK / “Paint Your Toes”
Writers: Billy Crash Craddock/David Wade/Mary Beth Stone; Producer: David Wade; Label: ONErpm
— He’s 82 years old now, but this rockabilly veteran still has rhythm in his heart. Very much in the mode of his classic “Rub It In,” this is a very cute little outing.
FIREROSE & BILLY RAY CYRUS / “New Day”
Writers: Billy Ray Cyrus/Firerose; Producer: none listed; Label: Repost
— Firerose is an Aussie-born singer-songwriter now based in L.A. She and Billy Ray co-wrote this on Zoom during the quarantine. It’s a hypnotic, swirling, dreamy confection, underpinned by echoey synths and slow, thumpy beats. I can hear this becoming a big pop hit. After all, he’s done it before.
Music Biz Conference To Return To Nashville In 2022
/by LB CantrellThe Music Business Association has announced that their annual Music Biz Conference will return to the JW Marriott in Nashville in-person on May 9 – 12, 2022.
Despite being forced to cancel the 2020 and 2021 editions of Music Biz, the Music Business Association hosted 56 virtual events. Informed by the events of 2020, this year’s program is expected to address the needs of the industry at large, as well as those of the individuals and communities it encompasses.
Registration, call for presentations, and hotel booking for Music Biz 2022 will open in September. The association has automatically credited those who purchased registrations for the cancelled Music Biz 2021 Conference with registrations for Music Biz 2022.
For King & Country To Embark On 2021 Fall Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughFor King & Country have announced RELATE | The 2021 Fall Tour.
After the success of their 2020 drive-in theater performances, the 24-date trek kicks off in Toledo, Ohio on Oct. 7 and wraps in Rochester, Minn. on Nov. 14. In addition to their already electrifying live shows, the set list will also feature brand new songs from their upcoming studio album, as well as some of their No. 1 hits like “Fix My Eyes,” “God Only Knows,” and “joy.”
“The thought of hitting the road and seeing you again is a thrilling one,” Joel and Luke Smallbone share. “Since we were last together, we’ve been hard at work writing and recording new music, which is going to make RELATE | The 2021 Fall Tour a particularly special one. It’ll look different, feel different, sound different and we’re truly looking forward to seeing you.”
Tickets for RELATE | The 2021 Fall Tour will go on sale to the general public on July 9 at 10 a.m. local time.
The 4x Grammy Award winning, Platinum-selling duo recently broke their own industry record with their sixth consecutive No. 1 single, the multi-chart smash hit “Amen.” The brothers now have five No. 1 hits from their Grammy winning, RIAA Gold certified album Burn The Ships, and nine No. 1 hits overall. “Amen” is currently climbing the mainstream charts, reaching Top 20 on both Billboard and Mediabase’s AC charts.
Kalie Shorr Announces New EP, ‘I Got Here By Accident’
/by Lydia FarthingKalie Shorr. Photo: Catherine Powell
Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Kalie Shorr will release her anticipated new EP, I Got Here By Accident, on Aug. 13 via TMWRK Records. Ahead of the release, her new song, “Love Child,” is available everywhere now.
Produced by Butch Walker (P!nk, Taylor Swift, Green Day), I Got Here By Accident ushers in a new era for Shorr, who continues to write with vulnerability, but with an elevated pop-rock edge. With these new songs, Shorr shares the reality of being a woman in her 20s – the self-exploration, the relationships and the personal growth she’s experienced. Recorded at Walker’s studio outside of Nashville, the EP features only Shorr and Walker, who performed and recorded all vocals and instrumentation themselves. The duo will also be performing together at the Grand Ole Opry on Aug. 14.
I Got Here By Accident features five new tracks including “Love Child” and “Amy,” which was released earlier this year to critical acclaim after first debuting on TikTok, where it has garnered 3 million views to date.
“If I could only play one song to introduce myself to a stranger, it would be ‘Love Child,’” Shorr says of the track. “It’s a 3-minute autobiography that covers everything from being a first-generation American, to my love for Fleetwood Mac and tarot cards. Sonically, I love the energy of the guitars and the use of all-organic instruments that go back to my 90’s and 2000’s pop rock influences.”
The new EP continues a series of breakout years for Shorr. Her critically acclaimed debut album, Open Book, was released in 2019 with its deluxe edition, Open Book: Unabridged, following this past December. Self-released by Shorr, Open Book received widespread critical praise and landed on several “Best of 2019” lists including The New York Times, Variety, Stereogum, The Bitter Southerner and NPR Music.
Born in Maine, Shorr arrived on the Nashville scene in 2016 with the release of her debut single, “Fight Like A Girl,” and has continued to receive widespread attention since. She’s been included in CMT’s “Next Women of Country,” SiriusXM The Highway’s “Highway Find” and Teen Vogue’s “The New Nashville,” and was named an artist to watch by The Tennessean and HuffPost. She has shared the stage with iconic artists such as Keith Urban, Stevie Nicks, Jason Isbell, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans and The Struts, and made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018.
I Got Here By Accident Track List:
1. Amy
2. I Heard You Got A Girl
3. I Hate The Way This Feels
4. Love Child
5. Alibi
Nominees Revealed For 2021 IBMA Industry & Momentum Awards
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Through these awards, the bluegrass music community celebrates industry professionals and our rising stars,” says IBMA’s Executive Director Pat Morris. “The IBMA Industry Awards recognize the exceptional contributions of those talented professionals who are essential to bluegrass music. The IBMA Momentum Awards highlight early-stage professionals making their mark on bluegrass music and the mentors and others involved in the industry who provide guidance and support. Congratulations to all of our nominees, and we look forward to seeing you in Raleigh!”
The IBMA Momentum Awards recognize both musicians and bluegrass industry professionals who are making significant contributions to or are having a significant influence upon bluegrass music. These contributions can be to bluegrass music in general, or to a specific sector of the industry. The Mentor Award, in contrast to the other Momentum Awards, recognizes a bluegrass professional who has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of newcomers to the bluegrass industry. Nominees are chosen through a multi-stage process by committees made up of respected musicians and industry leaders in the bluegrass world.
The IBMA Momentum Awards will take place Wednesday, Sept. 29 with the IBMA Industry Awards taking place Thursday, Sept. 30. Specific times and additional details for both events and for other IBMA World of Bluegrass events will be announced in the coming weeks.
2021 IBMA Industry Awards Nominees:
Broadcaster of the Year
Kyle Cantrell
Barb Heller
Brad Kolodner
Peter Thompson
Alfred (Big Al) Weekley
Event of the Year
Blueberry Bluegrass Festival
CBA Jam-a-Thon
Porch Pride – A Bluegrass Pride Queer-Antine Festival
TBS (Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars) Online Bluegrass Festival
Friday Nights Live at Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music
Graphic Designer of the Year
Audrey Fletcher
Ellen Silva
Kevin Slick
Grace van’t Hof
Carla Wehby
Liner Notes of the Year
Albert Ihde – Bluegrass Country Soul, Various Artists
Daniel Mullins – Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy, Various Artists
Ted Olson – We Shall All Be Reunited: Revisiting the Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928, Various Artists
Tim Stafford – California Autumn, Tony Rice
Songwriter of the Year
Mark “Brink” Brinkman
Becky Buller
Thomm Jutz
Rick Lang
Jon Weisberger
Sound Engineer of the Year
Scott Barnett
Adam Engelhardt
Anna Frick
David Glasser
Aaron Ramsey
Writer of the Year
Stacy Chandler
Emma John
David McCarty
Dan Miller
Tristan Scroggins
2021 IBMA Momentum Awards Nominees:
Mentor of the Year
Louisa Branscomb
Cathy Fink
Rick Lang
Wyatt Rice
Travis Stimeling
Momentum Industry Involvement
Adam Kirr
Kara Kundert
Mary Beth Martin
Maria Wallace
Momentum Vocalist of the Year
Katie Greer
Abby Latocha
Caroline Owens
Jaelee Roberts
Leanne Thorose
Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year (2 selected)
Daisy Caire
Maddie Denton
Jacob Metz
Julian Pinelli
Liam Purcell
Miles Quale
Teo Quale
Momentum Band of the Year
Crying Uncle
The Kody Norris Show
Lindley Creek
Stillhouse Junkies
Theo and Brenna
Hootie & The Blowfish Announce Inaugural HootieFest In Cancun
/by Lydia FarthingHootie & The Blowfish. Photo: Todd & Chris Owyoung
Hootie & the Blowfish have announced their inaugural destination concert vacation event, HootieFest: The Big Splash, in partnership with CID Presents & On Location.
Hosted Jan. 26 – 29, 2022 at Moon Palace Cancún, the four-day celebration will feature three headlining performances on the beach by the band, as well as appearances by Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Better Than Ezra, Spin Doctors, Toadies, Sister Hazel, and Drivin N Cryin. Additional details, including pool party performances, will be announced in the coming months.
The destination event marks the first live performance by the Grammy Award winning band since their hugely successful Group Therapy Tour in 2019, which marked the 25th anniversary of their Diamond certified debut album, Cracked Rear View, and the band’s first tour in over a decade.
“We were blown away by the response from fans during our last tour,” notes front man Darius Rucker. “It was so special to be back on stage together and to know that people still love the music as much as we do. What better way to keep that celebration going than in Mexico!?”
HootieFest packages will go on sale to the public on Thursday, July 15 with all-inclusive resort accommodations, concert access, roundtrip airport transportation, and more. To browse package options and details, click here.
David Nail, Lee Roy Parnell, More To Play NAMM Kickoff Show Benefit
/by Lorie HollabaughDavid Nail, Lee Roy Parnell, Scooter Brown, JD Shelburne, and more are set to perform at 117 Entertainment’s Summer National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Kickoff Show to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on Thursday, July 15 at 3rd and Lindsley.
At the age of two, 117 Entertainment Owner Zach Farnum had a benign brain tumor removed, making the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s cause one that hits close to home. Since 1991, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation has provided strategic leadership and funding to accelerate the number of targeted therapies for children battling brain tumors, while equipping families with the patient family education, financial relief, and emotional support they need to navigate their child’s journey.
Tickets are on sale now with 100% percent of the show’s proceeds going to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, including production expenses donated by 3rd and Lindsley owner Ron Brice.
Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament Announces New Date, Keith Urban As Presenting Sponsor
/by Lorie HollabaughOrganizers for the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament have announced a new date for the annual charity event, which will now take place on Monday, Sept. 13 at Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville. It was also announced that Keith Urban has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor of the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament for his fifth consecutive year.
The 34th annual event will once again benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee. Nashville-based boutique investment and development firm E3 Construction Services and Founder/CEO John Eldridge have signed on as host of the longstanding Music Row tradition.
The MRLGT raised over $70,000 in 2019 and has historically raised a grand total of more than $2.3 million for UCP of Middle Tennessee. The event is the single biggest annual fundraiser for UCP of Middle Tennessee and this year’s tournament is more important than ever since the 2020 MRLGT had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
Keith Urban’s generous contribution to the MRLGT and UCP of Middle Tennessee is just one of numerous charities that the superstar has long supported. His “All For The Hall” benefit concerts for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have raised over $3.4 million, and he is the first Ambassador of the CMA Foundation, an advisory board member at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and a longtime supporter of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund and The Grammy Foundation.
Registration for the tournament will open on July 26 at $135 per player and team space is limited. To register, sponsor, or for more information, please visit mrlgt.com.