Ash Bowers Exits Records Nashville To Focus Fully On Management

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Ash Bowers

Music executive, songwriter, and producer Ash Bowers has exited his position as President at Records Nashville.

Bowers was tapped in 2020 to start the Nashville office of Barry Weiss‘ New York City-based label, Records. Co-founded in 2015 by Weiss, Records began as a joint venture with Songs Music Publishing, and found early success with their first two signings, Platinum-selling singer Noah Cyrus and legendary hip-hop artist Nelly. In 2017, when Kobalt bought Songs, Sony Music partnered with Records and has since signed a roster that includes 24kGoldn and Lennon Stella. They are also home to 2019’s debut project, Labrinth, Sia & Diplo present…LSD.

Since opening in 2020, Records Nashville has developed a roster that includes Matt Stell, Chris Bandi, Jennifer Smestad, Dylan Brady, Chase Martin, Lathan Warlick and George Birge. Stell has earned more than 415 million cumulative streams across his catalog to date, with back-to-back No. 1 songs including the Platinum-certified track “ Prayed For You” and Gold-certified “Everywhere But On.” He is one of only eight debut country artists in the last six years to have their first two singles top the charts.

According to Bowers, he is stepping away from the company to shift his focus back fully to his management company Wide Open Music. Wide Open handles management for Platinum-selling recording artist and current ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen in addition to Records Nashville artists Stell, Warlick, Bandi, Martin, and Birge.

“I have a strong passion for managing and developing artists. Shifting all of my focus back to that is undoubtedly the right thing for us all,” Bowers tells MusicRow. “This is not the end of the road for Barry and me. We still have a lot of work to get done together. I am excited to see what’s ahead for us and the artists we’re both involved with.”

Records is looking to fill the position. Click here to apply on MusicRow‘s Job Listings board.

Monument Records Adds Luke Jensen As VP, Promotion

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Luke Jensen. Photo: Robert Chavers

Monument Records has announced the hiring of Luke Jensen as VP, Promotion. Jensen will lead the promotion staff, including three regionals and a coordinator, and report directly to General Manager Katie McCartney. This news comes shortly after it was announced that Drew Bland had exited the position.

Monument’s current roster includes Caitlyn Smith, Walker Hayes, Brandon Ratcliff, Teddy Robb, Tigirlily, Alex Hall, and The Shady Ladies of Music City podcast. Smith just played her single, “I Can’t (feat. Old Dominion),” for the first time live with the band in front of a 9,000-person crowd while on tour and announced her opening slot for George Strait and Eric Church at Mercedes-Benz Stadium later this year. Hayes’ new viral track “Fancy Like” has sat at the top of the iTunes Country Songs Chart for the last three weeks after peaking at No. 1 all genre. The song has been the top selling country song on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart for three weeks and is top 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart.

“We are thrilled to welcome Luke to the team at Monument,” says Co-President Jason Owen. “His experience, expertise, and excitement towards radio promotion is infectious. We can’t wait for him to get started on the hit Caitlyn Smith single ‘I Can’t (feat Old Dominion),’ and the monster coming to radio which is Walker Hayes’ ‘Fancy Like.’”

After spending time at radio stations across the country, including KVOO in Tulsa, WSOC in Charlotte, and KBEQ in Kansas City, Jensen has spent the last five years with Sony Music’s Arista Nashville and the previous four at Blaster Records. Throughout his career, he has worked with an array of artists including country superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, three-time ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion, as well as helped newcomers Matt Stell and Lanco achieve their first No. 1 radio singles.

“We’ve known Luke a long time and his passion for our artists and music is unmatched,” says Co-President Shane McAnally. “We couldn’t be more confident that Luke will carry that bright torch for us at country radio.”

“I’m so grateful to Jason, Shane, and Katie for this opportunity,” says Jensen. “I’ve come to know them as some of the brightest minds in this industry, and I couldn’t be more excited to work with them, the rest of the team at Monument, and this amazing roster of artists.”

CBS Announces 2022 Date For Its Inaugural Broadcast Of The ‘CMT Music Awards’

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CBS has announced its inaugural broadcast of the CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville on Sunday, April 3, 2022. CMT will kick off the company’s first ever Country Music Week, including special programming all week and events capped by exclusive director’s cut airings of the CMT Music Awards later on CMT and various ViacomCBS platforms.

ViacomCBS recently announced that its signature country music award show would move to CBS from CMT after this year’s success. The 2021 CMT Music Awards saw more than a 10% increase in total viewers and was the No. 1 most social program across all of television for the night. Across the six ViacomCBS network simulcast, P18-34 ratings saw a 32% increase over last year’s event.

The CMT Music Awards, country music’s only entirely fan-voted award show, have aired live since 2005. The 2021 show, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown, featured the most first-time collaborations and blended-genre pairings in the show’s history. Standout performances included H.E.R. & Chris Stapleton; Gladys Knight, Mickey Guyton, & Breland; and Needtobreathe & Carrie Underwood, who remains the most-awarded artist in CMT Awards history with 23 wins. For a full recap of this year’s CMT Music Awards, click here.

Additional information about the 2022 CMT Music Awards on CBS will be available in the coming months.

‘Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story’ To Hit Select Theaters In August

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COJO Music and Warner Music Nashville, in partnership with Trafalgar Releasing, are releasing a film that captures country music artist Cody Johnson‘s real-life journey from the dusty rodeo arenas of rural Texas to some of the biggest musical stages in America. Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, produced by Johnson and Tacklebox Films, will be shown in limited screenings beginning Aug. 10.

Johnson’s hit song, “Dear Rodeo,” paints the picture of how the rodeo was his first love that got away. While a four minute song can’t tell the whole story, the brand-new cinematic feature-length documentary does. Directed by Shaun Silva, the film goes deeper than an autobiography, sharing more than just Johnson’s story. Rather it acts as a love letter to everyone who has had to abandon a dream in order to find true purpose.

“We find a little piece of ourselves in the Cody Johnson story,” says Kymberli Frueh, Trafalgar Releasing SVP of Content Acquisitions. “Sometimes the roads you originally walk down take a different turn. It reminds us all to be agile and have faith in what may come. An artist with Cody’s musical talent and inspiration make this such a pleasure to share with his fans on the big screen.”

With never-before-seen footage of Johnson’s first times on stage during high school Future Farmers of America talent shows, and videos from his countless bull rides, fans will see what it looked like behind the scenes as he was shifting gears. The film includes guest appearances by Reba McEntire, Navy Seal Chris Kyle’s widow Taya, Houston Ranch’s James Barton, along with Johnson’s wife Brandi, his producer Trent Willmon, his pastor Randy Weaver, and his high school teachers as Johnson opens up about how his years on the rodeo circuit prepared him for his life as an artist.

Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story will be screened in select movie theaters nationwide on Tuesday, Aug. 10. Public ticketing for the evocative and celebratory film begins on Wednesday, July 14. For ticketing and the most up-to-date information regarding participating theaters, click here.

George Strait, Eric Church, Metallica Among 2nd Annual ATLive Lineup

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AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) has announced the lineup for the second annual ATLive taking place Nov. 5-6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Presented by Mercedes-EQ, the multi-day event will feature performances from iconic country and rock artists, including George Strait, Eric Church, and Caitlyn Smith on Friday night, and Metallica, Cage The Elephant, and Greta Van Fleet on Saturday night, with more to be announced soon.

ATLive also gives back through purpose-driven philanthropic initiatives that align with the organization’s core values. This year, AMBSE is partnering with Strait and his longstanding partners at the Military Warriors Support Foundation, as well as Metallica’s All Within My Hands nonprofit, to donate a portion of the proceeds from ATLive to providing housing for wounded veterans and feeding the hungry.

“We are thrilled to be bringing ATLive back with an incredible lineup of artists,” says Tim Zulawski, SVP and chief revenue officer, AMB Sports and Entertainment. “From the beginning, our goal was to create a concert series that will become the must-see event for Atlanta. In our first year, we delivered a world-class experience for fans from across the world and we are excited to create that same experience again while giving back to our communities and those in need.”

Tickets for each night will go on-sale Friday, July 16 at 9 a.m. CST. To learn more about the two-night event, click here.

Jon Pardi To Headline Saturday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Concert

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Jon Pardi. Photo: Courtesy of Red Light Management

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has announced that CMA and ACM-award winning recording artist Jon Pardi will headline Saturday night’s concert. Set for Aug. 7, the show will take place the night before the highly anticipated IndyCar race.

Pardi’s critically-acclaimed album Heartache Medication debuted atop the Billboard Country Albums chart and his hit song of the same name reached No. 1 on MusicRow‘s Country Breakout Charts in October 2020. The “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” singer is set to take the stage with his high energy show on the festival’s main stage at 8:30 p.m. CST with fireworks immediately following the show.

Pardi joins an already stacked lineup of artists including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Tyler Farr, Vince Neil, Danielle Bradbery, Justin Moore, Callista Clark, Riley Green, Jamey Johnson, and Tim Dugger with further additions to the lineup expected.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is slated for Aug. 6-8. It will be staged on a temporary 2.17-mile grand prix circuit throughout Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus. The course will also cross the Cumberland River via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, making the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix the only current event in motorsports to cross over a major body of water. With a variety of three-day packages and single-day tickets now on sale, fans can choose to attend the Saturday show or the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix by clicking here.

Wade Bowen Signs With Warner Chappell Music Nashville

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Wade Bowen

Wade Bowen has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville.

The Texas-based singer/songwriter has landed three albums in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums chart and has had four albums on the all-genre Billboard 200. Tapping both country and rock influences, Bowen has released a dozen albums throughout the course of his career, including six studio sets, two live collections, a gospel album, and an ongoing Hold My Beer series with fellow Texan, Randy Rogers.

A road warrior, throughout his career Bowen has played over 4,000 shows and continues to perform around 200 nationwide shows each year, including multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.

Bowen is a BMI songwriter and is managed by Red Light Management and represented by WME.

Country Community Joins Together For Live Stream Benefit For Keith Bilbrey

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Following a devastating fire that destroyed the home of Larry’s Country Diner and Huckabee announcer and Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame member Keith Bilbrey and his wife Emy Joe, the country community is coming together to help. “Coming Home: Rebuilding the Bilbreys,” a special benefit live stream, will air on Thursday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. CST on Country Road TV from TBN’s Huckabee studio.

Hosted by Governor Mike Huckabee and Larry’s Country Diner’s Larry Black, the event will feature country artists from every era, including Lee Greenwood, T.G. Sheppard, Kelly Lang, Johnny Lee, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, The Isaacs, Chonda Pierce, Moe Bandy, Gene Watson, Deborah Allen, Larry, Steve & Rudy Gatlin, and John Berry, among others.

All proceeds raised will go to assist Bilbrey and his wife Emy Joe rebuild their lives after a fire destroyed their Williamson Country home on June 23. Donations can be made here.

“Keith Bilbrey has countless friends and no enemies. He’s been a friend, colleague, and confidant to the biggest names in entertainment as well as to the folks who swept the floors and opened the doors of the fabled Grand Ole Opry where he served as announcer for 35 years. When the historic home in which he and his beloved Emy Joe lived burned to the ground, the common question among those who love him has been, ‘What can we do to help Keith?'” says Huckabee. “That was the genesis of ‘Coming Home: Rebuilding The Bilbreys’ on July 15 to bring together artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, promoters, and all the support people of the entertainment world of Nashville to extend their encouragement and this financial support as they get back on their feet. The response has been tremendous and we hope that the combined love of Nashville will surround Keith and Emy Joe with encouragement and needed resources.”

Ryman Celebrates Johnny & June’s Love Story With Special Pop-Up Exhibit

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Les Leverett photograph of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash performing on the Ryman stage in 1968.

The Ryman is celebrating the 65th anniversary of the night Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry with a special pop-up exhibit featuring artifacts from both the Ryman and Johnny Cash Museum collections.

The Johnny & June pop-up exhibit will be available as part of the Ryman daytime tour experience beginning July 7, and items on display include a black Oscar Schmidt autoharp owned and played by Maybelle Carter and later played by Carter Cash; a dress worn by Carter Cash; and a suit worn by Cash. A ticket bundle for self-guided tours of both the Ryman and Cash Museum are available for $40, and tickets are available here.

It was backstage at the Mother Church that Johnny and June’s legendary love story began. On the night of Johnny Cash’s Grand Ole Opry debut on July 7, 1956, a 27-year-old June Carter bumped into a 24-year-old Cash. A smitten Cash reportedly told Carter that night he knew he was going to marry her someday. The two went on to marry and continued to perform at the Ryman together throughout their careers.

“We are so thrilled to team up with our local partners at the Johnny Cash Museum to celebrate one of country music’s most iconic love stories,” says Gary Levy, Ryman Auditorium general manager. “Johnny and June have such a strong connection to the Ryman, and we are excited to share these beautiful artifacts alongside the Johnny Cash Museum, which has the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world.”

Industry Ink: Will Overton & Katie Kerkhover, Brooke Eden, Rhyme Partners

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Discover Sooner To Host “Priceless Answers From Publishers” Event With Will Overton, Katie Kerkhover

Katie Kerkhover & Will Overton

Discover Sooner, the online platform seeking to accelerate attention of publishers to songwriters, will hold a virtual Q&A with A&R Director, Warner Chappell,  Will Overton and Senior Creative Director, A&R, BMG, Katie Kerkhover on Thursday, July 15 at 5 p.m. CST. The free Zoom event, title “Priceless Answers From Publishers,” will be hosted by Nancy Deckant, Founder and CEO of Discover Sooner.

The interactive event seeks to bring a great understanding of how publishers select the songwriters they sign and to provide a live Q&A session. During the event, three artists will be introduced, and their songs played for the professional panelists.

Overton signs new acts and develops established acts on Warner Chappell’s roster, and has been part of the company since 2015. He recently signed chart-topping songwriter, producer, and classically-trained pianist Alexander Palmer with No. 1 hits at country radio, including Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” and Dierks Bentley’s 2x Platinum “Somewhere on a Beach.” Kerkhover is responsible for BMG’s Nashville publishing roster including hitmakers Scooter Carusoe, Ben Goldsmith, James Slater, and Wynn Varble, among others, and signing and developing new songwriters and artists.

 

 

Brooke Eden Joins Pride For Youth To Reimagine Songs With Aspiring Songwriters

YouTube video

BBR Music Group recording artist Brooke Eden recently joined Musicians On Call for a virtual songwriting session with two aspiring songwriters at Pride For Youth on Long Island. Together the group created reimagined lyrics for her song “Got No Choice” that address self-love and identity.

Eden talked about the inspiration for her song and her journey towards self-love and finding acceptance of her relationship while pursuing her career in country music. Meanwhile, the youth shared their experiences embracing their identities by pursuing their passions, finding community, and living life with no boundaries.

Eden has volunteered with Musicians On Call in the past, performing at patients’ bedsides in Nashville as part of MOC’s Bedside Performance Program. With over 40 million on-demand streams already, Eden has garnered new critical acclaim with her trilogy of new tracks and music videos that illustrate her own path towards loving honestly.

 

 

Rhyme Partners Reveals Speak Life To End Bullying, The Musical

Rhyme Partners staff and writers. Pictured (L-R): Rebecca Burd, Leland Grant, Dan Burd, Melissa Bollea Rowe, Briana Tyson, Tripp Weir and Lisa Doughtery.

Speak Life Performing Arts Company (SLPAC) is releasing a new film version of Speak Life The Musical to End Bullying this fall. SLPAC has been a leader in the nation’s conversation on the issue of bullying for over 13 years, and their musical has now been seen by over 370,000 students across America.

Melissa Rowe, songwriter and owner of Nashville’s Rhyme Partners Music Publishing, wrote, co-wrote, and co-produced all of the new music for the show. Speak Life The Musical follows a day in the life of four high school students giving us a glimpse into their public persona and private struggles. Every day in schools across America, kids are abused by their peers. Social media has allowed the abuse to chase them home, and cyberbullying leaves no place to hide.

Rowe admits that her involvement in this project has been distinctly different than anything she has done previously in her career. “The opportunity to make an impact on kids and audiences all over the nation through our words and music was an honor that I didn’t take lightly,” she says of Rhyme Partners’ all encompassing involvement which not only included writing and composing all the music but also overseeing every aspect of the project. “Music comforts us and takes us places we can’t go by any other means. It can save a life,” she concludes.

Founded in 2013, Rhyme Partners catalog includes hundreds of cuts on both independent and record label artists with millions of combined streams across all digital platforms. Their songs have been recognized, nominated for, and won several independent and major music awards. Rhyme Partners catalog has also seen success with national brands and sync placements for television and film.