A memorial service for Dennis Payne is scheduled for Wednesday evening (April 28) at the Texas Troubadour Theater.
The songwriter, sideman, studio engineer and recording artist died at age 71 on April 8 in Nashville.
His songwriting catalog includes the Junior Brown hit “Highway Patrol” (1995) as well as Vern Gosdin’s “All I Want and Need Forever” (1979). As a lead-guitarist sideman, Payne backed Earl Thomas Conley, David Frizzell, Jimmy Dickens, Cal Smith, Tommy Overstreet and many others. He was a member of the bands Eagle Creek, The Bakersfield Boys and Cigars & Cataracts.
A native of Bakersfield, California, Dennis Bruce Payne was the son of Charles Payne, a member of the western-swing band The Light Crust Doughboys. His uncle was Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Leon Payne, famed for the country standards “I Love You Because,” “Lost Highway,” “They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me,” “Take Me,” “Blue Side of Lonesome,” “You Are the One” and “You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart,” among others.
Dennis Payne began his career in Bakersfield as a teenager. He was on the local TV shows of Dave Stogner and Bill Woods, was managed by Buck Owens and became a protégée of Red Simpson. Payne and Simpson co-wrote “Truck Drivin’ Fool,” “The City Police,” “I Know Me Too Well” and other songs.
Their song “Highway Patrol” became a Red Simpson single in 1966, but did not become prominent until Junior Brown revived it 30 years later.
Bakersfield star Tommy Collins also recorded Dennis Payne songs, and the songwriter’s guitar skills led to touring with Wynn Stewart, Joe & Rose Lee Maphis and Eddie Dean. He was also in the house band at Gary Paxton’s Bakersfield studio.
Owens got Payne a recording contract with Capitol Records, which issued several singles by him in 1975.
Payne moved to Nashville in 1976. Gosdin had a hit with “All I Want and Need Forever” three years later. Dennis Payne recorded for a series of independent labels in Music City. He charted with two singles on True Records in 1988.
His song “True Blue” was on the soundtrack of the Golldie Hawn/Kurt Russell film Overboard in 1987. “Highway Patrol” was in the Jim Carrey movie Me, Myself and Irene in 2000.
Payne also worked as an audio engineer and studio owner/manager in Nashville. He was featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Bakersfield Sound” exhibit that opened in 2012.
His death was due to complications from heart disease. Dennis Payne is survived by daughters Tracy Payne Black and DeElla Ann Ray, two granddaughters, two brothers, two sisters and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
His service will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Texas Troubadour Theatre on Music Valley Drive.
Americana Music Association And NYU Partner On New Roots Music Education Initiatives
/by Lorie HollabaughLori McKenna, Jonathan Taplin
The Americana Music Association Foundation and New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development have partnered to create programming designed to enhance the understanding of and appreciation for the origins, history, and cultural impact of Americana music.
The collaboration will begin with a high-profile guest series taking place today (April 27) at 7 p.m. ET, when Lori McKenna will visit Words & Music, an interview series hosted by Steinhardt Director of Songwriting Phil Galdston. On Thursday, May 6, Galdston will host music and film producer/intellectual property advocate Jonathan Taplin. Both events will be live streamed via Zoom and open to the public.
“We are thrilled to partner with NYU on this exciting initiative,” says Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association Foundation. “To have a relationship at one of the world’s great Liberal Arts institutions and to help educate students on the cultural impact of this art form is something we dreamed of when we first conceived of the Foundation.”
“The Americana Music Association and its foundation have done a remarkable job of bringing well-deserved recognition to the music and its creators,” says Jack Knott, dean of the Steinhardt School.
Click here to register for the series events:
Words & Music with Lori McKenna
Words & Music with Jonathan Taplin
Loeb & Loeb Expands Nashville Office With Attorneys John Rolfe, Megan Keelan
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Rolfe, Megan Keelan
Loeb & Loeb has expanded its entertainment department in Nashville with the addition of veteran entertainment lawyer John Rolfe, as well as Megan Keelan as associate attorney.
Rolfe brings over 25 years of in-house and private practice experience in the music and entertainment industry, with previous stints at Acuff-Rose, Compendia Music, and the Bradley law firm. He has successfully negotiated lucrative publishing deals for some of Nashville’s top-tier talent, and is well-seasoned on catalog acquisitions, recording contracts and intellectual property licenses for a wide range of clients in the entertainment space, including songwriters, publishers, artists, labels, producers, managers, distributors, administrators and book authors.
Keelan joins Loeb & Loeb as a newly-licensed lawyer who previously clerked at the firm. Keelan has already been directly involved with many catalog sales and valuations, including the recent sale of Zach Crowell’s catalog to Round Hill Music.
“Loeb’s Entertainment team has remained incredibly active throughout the pandemic, and we are continuing to grow our Nashville office to keep up with client demand,” says Tiffany Dunn, partner in the firm’s entertainment department in Nashville. “John has been a friend to the lawyers in the firm for quite a few years. His extensive experience on both the business and legal sides of the industry will be instrumental as we continue to expand our team’s capabilities.”
“Megan Keelan made herself irreplaceable since joining Loeb,” says Derek Crownover, Nashville entertainment partner. “She is on the front lines with us each day on catalog sales, valuations and strategies for our key clients. John and Megan will increase not only our capacities, which we need, but also our top-end experience with both of their skillsets and personalities.”
“Loeb & Loeb’s team has an impressive track record of getting the most complicated and sophisticated deals across the finish line for a very impressive list of clients,” says Rolfe. “I am thrilled to work with such an innovative group of lawyers.”
“Loeb & Loeb is one of the premier firms in the country when it comes to entertainment law, and I am beyond excited to start and build my career with the team here in Nashville,” says Keelan.
Apple Music Unveils City Charts To Showcase Local Music Scenes
/by Lydia FarthingApple Music has unveiled their newest wave of features, including the newest addition to their chart offerings: City Charts.
While standard charts rank music based on number of plays, Apple Music’s City Charts combine plays and additional signs of local popularity to rank the top 25 songs gaining momentum with listeners locally, highlighting the local culture and individual music scenes of the over 100 cities they represent around the world.
Updated daily, City Charts are featured in Apple Music’s Charts page and are accessible via the Browse or Search pages, or by asking Siri to play a local city chart. Apple Music users will also be able to add their favorite City Charts to their library, download them, and share them with friends.
The launch also includes the release of brand new features for Apple Music subscribers, including moving images for artist detail pages, lyrics sharing, record label pages, record label searches, and “Made For You” libraries.
Apple Music’s City Charts and other new features will be available to all Apple Music subscribers beginning today (April 26). Non-subscribers can also view City Charts and preview songs via music.apple.com/browse/top-charts.
Taylor Swift Dominates MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellWith a whopping 18 songs from Fearless (Taylor’s Version) charting on the country charts, Taylor Swift jumps to the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Liz Rose, a co-writer on Swift’s “Fearless,” “You Belong With Me,” “White Horse,” “Tell Me Why,” “We Were Happy,” and “Bye Bye Baby,” enters the chart at No. 3.
Jesse Frasure moves down one spot to the No. 2 position, with co-writer credit on Michael Ray’s “Whiskey And Rain,” Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song,” Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes” and Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage.”
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Tenille Arts Celebrates Historic No. 1 At Country Radio With ‘Somebody Like That’
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): Allison Cruz, Tenille Arts, Alex Kline
Tenille Arts is celebrating a historic milestone, with her single “Somebody Like That” hitting No. 1 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart and becoming the first song in country music that was written, performed, and produced by all females to hit No. 1.
Arts co-wrote “Somebody Like That” with Allison Cruz and Alex Kline; Kline also produced the track which makes her the first solo female producer to have a No. 1 single at country radio. The single took a record 70 weeks to hit the top spot, making it the longest chart run for a female act in the history of Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart; and Arts is the first Canadian to reach No. 1 in the U.S. since 2007, and the first Canadian female to do so since Terri Clark in 2004.
“Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” says the 19th & Grand Records artist. “Thank you country radio and the DSPs for believing in and supporting this song, thank you to everyone who wrote about this journey, thank you to all of the fans who listened, requested and streamed this song, and thank you to my amazing team who have supported me from the beginning. You’ve changed my life forever.”
This feat adds to an already exciting year for Arts, who was voted by the radio and music industry as one of the five CRS New Faces of Country Music and who celebrated an induction into the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2021. In February, she received her first U.S. award show nomination for the ACM New Female Artist of the Year.
Country Radio Broadcasters Announces 2022 CRS Agenda Committee Members
/by Lydia FarthingThey are Jeana Adkinson (Alpha Media), Carletta Blake (WGAR/Cleveland), Zena Burns (Futuri Media), Hannah Byrom (WCTO-FM/LeHigh Valley), Maynard Cohen (iHeart), Chris Cruise (Throwback2k), Amy Dillon (Brewer Broadcasting), Shelley Hargis-Gaines (Broken Bow), Ali Matkosky (Big Loud), Billy McKim (Associate Professor, Texas A&M University), Annie Ortmeier (UMG Nashville), Jesse Tack (WUBE/Cincinnati), Michelle Tigard-Kammerer (BMLG Records), Monta Vaden (Country Aircheck), and Adam Weiser (AEG Live).
“We were grateful to have an overwhelming response to our call for participation on the CRS Agenda Committee. From so many qualified applicants, this group of industry leaders from radio, records, DSPs, and touring will create ‘can’t miss’ content for CRS 2022,” says Chairman Michaels.
The CRS Agenda Committee is made up of volunteer professionals from all sectors of the country radio, streaming, and record industries. This committee is responsible for planning sessions, panels, and events for the upcoming year’s CRS.
CRS will return in 2022 and is set for February 23 – February 25, 2022, at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration for next year’s event will open later this year.
Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Tops Country Albums Chart Again This Week
/by Lorie HollabaughTaylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant.
Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is still a hot commodity this week, remaining on top of the country albums chart for a second week with 57K in total consumption, according to Nielsen.
Morgan Wallen continues to dominate the charts as well, as his Dangerous: The Double Album comes in right below Swift at No. 2 on the chart with 56K. Eric Church enjoys the top country album debut of the week with his new album Heart pulling in 49K, while Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get and Carrie Underwood‘s My Savior round out the top 5 with 27K, and 21K, respectively.
Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” holds the top spot on the country streaming songs chart with 7.5 million this week, according to Nielsen. Combs’ “Forever After All” lands in the second spot with 6.9 million, then follows Gabby Barrett‘s “The Good Ones” with 6.7 million, Church’s “Hell of a View” at 6.6 million, and Swift’s “Mr. Perfectly Fine” at 6.2 million, completing this week’s Top 5.
Big Machine Music Adds Tim Hunze As Vice President Of Publishing
/by Sherod RobertsonTim Hunze
Big Machine Music adds Tim Hunze as Vice President of Publishing, whose career spans nearly three decades in Nashville’s music publishing community.
His experience includes work with current hitmakers and hall of fame inductees such as Jordan Davis, Kip Moore, Chris Janson, Joey Hendricks, Justin Wilson, Tom Shapiro and Tony Martin, among others. Notably, Hunze managed Bobby Pinson (2009 BMI Songwriter of the Year) and Brett James (2009 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year). His previous stops include Anthem Entertainment, Parallel Entertainment, Stage Three Music and legendary publisher Hamstein Music.
“Tim’s name is synonymous with the best of Nashville music publishing,” says BMM General Manager Mike Molinar. “Not only does he fit our work ethic, vision and advocacy for songwriters, his addition complements Big Machine Music’s stellar team and allows us to stay service-minded to our songwriters as we continue to grow.”
Pictured (L-R): Sr. Director of Royalties and Finance Grayson Stephens, Vice President Alex Heddle, Creative Director Michelle Attardi, Vice President Tim Hunze, Creative Coordinator Lizzy Gallatin, General Manager Mike Molinar, Catalog Manager Taylor Courtney. Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Music
A graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry program and a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2013, Hunze currently serves on the board of the Association of Independent Music Publishers and as the host for their AIMP Nashville: Pubcast.
Hunze shares, “when Mike approached me about the possibility of working together at Big Machine Music, I was honored that he’d consider me to join his already amazing team. I feel like I’m joining the all-star team! I can’t wait to see what we can do joining forces.”
Hunze can be reached tim.hunze@bigmachinemusic.com.
BBR Music Group Names Jay Jones Sr. VP Of Publicity
/by LB CantrellJay Jones. Photo: Cody Heckber
BBR Music Group announced the promotion of Jay Jones to Senior Vice President of Publicity.
His responsibilities include strategy and oversight of publicity campaigns for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s recording artists across the label’s imprints, including Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, and Wheelhouse Records. Additionally, he directs corporate communications and messaging for all three imprints. Jones will continue reporting to President of BMG Nashville, Jon Loba.
As the first executive hire at BBR Music Group following its acquisition by BMG, Jones has led publicity campaigns including the debut of Blanco Brown and his triple Platinum hit “The Git Up,” Jimmie Allen’s breakout as he became the first Black artist to launch his career with two consecutive No. 1 singles at country radio, and Lindsay Ell’s debut album The Project and powerful sophomore concept album Heart Theory. He has also been instrumental in recent campaigns for Granger Smith, Lainey Wilson, Elvie Shane, and Brooke Eden.
Prior to joining BBR, Jones career stops include time at CMA and his own Jay Jones Music, a public relations and marketing company where his clients included The Beach Boys. He attended the University of Alabama and graduated from Belmont University with a degree in Music Business and is a member of CMA, ACM and the CCMA’s.
“Jay was the perfect addition to the BBR Music Group at the perfect time,” says Loba. “His previous experience as both an independent publicist and working for the CMA served him well as the BBR Music Group transformed from a family-owned domestic country label to a strong and diverse music entity with global reach. Jay’s track record of securing significant media and press speaks for itself and we look forward to he and his team continuing their strong role telling our artists’ stories.”
Jones can be reached at jay@bbrmusicgroup.com.
Bakersfield-To-Nashville Musician Dennis Payne Passes
/by Robert K OermannA memorial service for Dennis Payne is scheduled for Wednesday evening (April 28) at the Texas Troubadour Theater.
The songwriter, sideman, studio engineer and recording artist died at age 71 on April 8 in Nashville.
His songwriting catalog includes the Junior Brown hit “Highway Patrol” (1995) as well as Vern Gosdin’s “All I Want and Need Forever” (1979). As a lead-guitarist sideman, Payne backed Earl Thomas Conley, David Frizzell, Jimmy Dickens, Cal Smith, Tommy Overstreet and many others. He was a member of the bands Eagle Creek, The Bakersfield Boys and Cigars & Cataracts.
A native of Bakersfield, California, Dennis Bruce Payne was the son of Charles Payne, a member of the western-swing band The Light Crust Doughboys. His uncle was Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Leon Payne, famed for the country standards “I Love You Because,” “Lost Highway,” “They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me,” “Take Me,” “Blue Side of Lonesome,” “You Are the One” and “You’ve Still Got a Place in My Heart,” among others.
Dennis Payne began his career in Bakersfield as a teenager. He was on the local TV shows of Dave Stogner and Bill Woods, was managed by Buck Owens and became a protégée of Red Simpson. Payne and Simpson co-wrote “Truck Drivin’ Fool,” “The City Police,” “I Know Me Too Well” and other songs.
Their song “Highway Patrol” became a Red Simpson single in 1966, but did not become prominent until Junior Brown revived it 30 years later.
Bakersfield star Tommy Collins also recorded Dennis Payne songs, and the songwriter’s guitar skills led to touring with Wynn Stewart, Joe & Rose Lee Maphis and Eddie Dean. He was also in the house band at Gary Paxton’s Bakersfield studio.
Owens got Payne a recording contract with Capitol Records, which issued several singles by him in 1975.
Payne moved to Nashville in 1976. Gosdin had a hit with “All I Want and Need Forever” three years later. Dennis Payne recorded for a series of independent labels in Music City. He charted with two singles on True Records in 1988.
His song “True Blue” was on the soundtrack of the Golldie Hawn/Kurt Russell film Overboard in 1987. “Highway Patrol” was in the Jim Carrey movie Me, Myself and Irene in 2000.
Payne also worked as an audio engineer and studio owner/manager in Nashville. He was featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Bakersfield Sound” exhibit that opened in 2012.
His death was due to complications from heart disease. Dennis Payne is survived by daughters Tracy Payne Black and DeElla Ann Ray, two granddaughters, two brothers, two sisters and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
His service will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Texas Troubadour Theatre on Music Valley Drive.