Eric Church accepts award for Entertainer of the Year at The 54th Annual CMA Awards. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA
Even with more people at home during the COVID-19 pandemic this year, awards show TV ratings plummeted across the board. From the country-specific CMA and ACM Awards, to the American Music Awards and the Grammys, ratings were down significantly from 2019.
Notably, Nielsen—the company who calculates TV ratings—revealed plans to launch a new system that includes impressions from the TV screen, as well as those embedded in a smartphone or computer in ratings calculation. The process is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2022 and be completed by the fall of the 2024 TV season.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards
January’s 62nd Annual Grammy Awards narrowly avoided the complications of carrying out an awards show with COVID-19 safety regulations in place. However, the televised awards suffered a 12-year low in viewership, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards drew 18.7 million viewers and a 5.4 rating among adults 18-49 in time zone-adjusted ratings. 2019’s ceremony ended up with 19.88 million viewers and a 5.6 in the 18-49 demographic.
The 2020 telecast was the show’s smallest audience since it garnered 17.18 million viewers in 2008. The all-time low in viewership for the Grammy Awards was in 2006, when 17 million people tuned in.
Dan + Shay won their second Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the Awards for “Speechless.” Tanya Tucker earned her very first two Grammy honors, with Best Country Song for “Bring My Flowers Now,” and Best Country Album for While I’m Livin’. Willie Nelson earned Best Country Solo Performance for “Ride Me Back Home,” the title track from his 2019 album.
The MTV Video Music Awards
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga perform on The MTV Video Music Awards. Photo: Courtesy MTV
The MTV Video Music Awards was comprised of pre-recorded performances and select live moments. According to Variety, a total of 6.4 million viewers tuned in across MTV and the 12 other ViacomCBS brands on which it was simulcast, as opposed to 6.8 million last time around (that includes the pre-show, main show, post-show, and encores).
The VMAs drew in a huge social media response, however, delivering 41.1 million interactions across social media, making it the second most-socialed show of the year, only behind the Super Bowl.
The 55th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
Carrie Underwood. Photo: Carrie Underwood/Instagram
The 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, aired on CBS in Sept., surprised viewers with a shocking tie for Entertainer of the Year. The show dominated primetime, bringing in 6.59 million viewers and earning a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo (1.5 in adults 25-54 demo).
While 6.59 million viewers was enough for the Academy of Country Music Awards to dominate its timeslot, it fell significantly short of last year’s ratings of 9.9 million viewers over three hours (and a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demo).
This year, the show moved from its usual April airing to Sept., and aired from Nashville for the first time, incorporating performances and awards presentations from three iconic venues—The Bluebird Cafe, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Auditorium.
Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett tied for the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, while Luke Combs earned two honors, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (for What You See Is What You Get).
Dan + Shay took home the evening’s first honor, Duo of the Year, while Maren Morris was named Female Artist of the Year. Old Dominion was also a double winner, picking up Song of the Year for “One Man Band,” as well as the Group of the Year honor. Blake Shelton‘s “God’s Country” was named Single of the Year.
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards
Garth Brooks. Photo: Courtesy Maurice Miner Media & Marketing
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards, which aired in Oct., also fell to an all-time ratings low.
NBC’s broadcast of the show managed only 3.71 million viewers and a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49, down by more than 50 percent in both measures from the 2019 show (8 million viewers and a 2.1 in the key ad demographic), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
During the telecast, Garth Brooks was recognized with an ICON Award, and was the first country artist to receive the honor. Luke Combs walked away with three awards, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album for What You See Is What You Get. Maren Morris was awarded Top Country Female Artist, while George Strait won Top Country Tour. Dan + Shay took home Top Country Duo/Group and their hit with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours,” won Top Country Song.
The 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards
Maren Morris accepts award at The 54th Annual CMA Awards.
The ratings for The 54th Annual CMA Awards slipped by 40 percent, earning 6.8 million total viewers, and a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49—an all-time low in viewership for the program. The 2019 awards show brought in 11.3 million viewers, earning a 2.0 rating in the 18-39 demo.
The previous lowest-viewership for the show was in 2018, when 10.06 million viewers tuned in, earning the show a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demo.
New winners abounded at the Nov. 2020 CMA Awards. Most notably, Eric Church cinched his first CMA Entertainer of the Year honor after three previous nominations. Maren Morris, a three-time winner this year, took home her first wins for Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Single of the Year and Song of the Year for “The Bones.” Songwriter Laura Veltz, a first-time nominee this year, also earned her first win for Song of the Year as a co-writer on “The Bones”, and Jimmy Robbins won his first CMA Award with the song.
Morris’ Sony label-mate Luke Combs took home his first Album of the Year win (for What You See Is What You Get), along with his second Male Vocalist of the Year honor.
The American Music Awards
Dan + Shay. Photo: Emma McIntyre for AMA/Getty Images for dcp
The American Music Awards‘ Nov. show drew its smallest audience ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show garnered 4.01 million viewers for the night, a 40 percent drop from the 2019 show, and earned a 1.0 in adults 18-49 (a 41 percent drop in the demo year-over-year).
Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton and Maren Morris were among the winners at the Awards. Dan + Shay earned three awards including Favorite Duo or Group—Country, Favorite Song—Country, and Collaboration of the Year, for “10,000 Hours” with Justin Bieber. With the latter win, the duo became the first ever country artists to take home the all-genre Collaboration of the Year title. They also performed their current Top 10 (and climbing) track “I Should Probably Go To Bed.”
Brown took home the Favorite Country Artist—Male honor while Morris was named Favorite Country Artist—Female. Shelton earned Favorite Album—Country for Fully Loaded: God’s Country.
Ratings Dropped For Awards Shows Across The Board In 2020
/by LB CantrellEric Church accepts award for Entertainer of the Year at The 54th Annual CMA Awards. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA
Even with more people at home during the COVID-19 pandemic this year, awards show TV ratings plummeted across the board. From the country-specific CMA and ACM Awards, to the American Music Awards and the Grammys, ratings were down significantly from 2019.
Notably, Nielsen—the company who calculates TV ratings—revealed plans to launch a new system that includes impressions from the TV screen, as well as those embedded in a smartphone or computer in ratings calculation. The process is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2022 and be completed by the fall of the 2024 TV season.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards
January’s 62nd Annual Grammy Awards narrowly avoided the complications of carrying out an awards show with COVID-19 safety regulations in place. However, the televised awards suffered a 12-year low in viewership, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards drew 18.7 million viewers and a 5.4 rating among adults 18-49 in time zone-adjusted ratings. 2019’s ceremony ended up with 19.88 million viewers and a 5.6 in the 18-49 demographic.
The 2020 telecast was the show’s smallest audience since it garnered 17.18 million viewers in 2008. The all-time low in viewership for the Grammy Awards was in 2006, when 17 million people tuned in.
Dan + Shay won their second Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the Awards for “Speechless.” Tanya Tucker earned her very first two Grammy honors, with Best Country Song for “Bring My Flowers Now,” and Best Country Album for While I’m Livin’. Willie Nelson earned Best Country Solo Performance for “Ride Me Back Home,” the title track from his 2019 album.
The MTV Video Music Awards
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga perform on The MTV Video Music Awards. Photo: Courtesy MTV
The MTV Video Music Awards was comprised of pre-recorded performances and select live moments. According to Variety, a total of 6.4 million viewers tuned in across MTV and the 12 other ViacomCBS brands on which it was simulcast, as opposed to 6.8 million last time around (that includes the pre-show, main show, post-show, and encores).
The VMAs drew in a huge social media response, however, delivering 41.1 million interactions across social media, making it the second most-socialed show of the year, only behind the Super Bowl.
The 55th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
Carrie Underwood. Photo: Carrie Underwood/Instagram
The 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, aired on CBS in Sept., surprised viewers with a shocking tie for Entertainer of the Year. The show dominated primetime, bringing in 6.59 million viewers and earning a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo (1.5 in adults 25-54 demo).
While 6.59 million viewers was enough for the Academy of Country Music Awards to dominate its timeslot, it fell significantly short of last year’s ratings of 9.9 million viewers over three hours (and a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demo).
This year, the show moved from its usual April airing to Sept., and aired from Nashville for the first time, incorporating performances and awards presentations from three iconic venues—The Bluebird Cafe, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Auditorium.
Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett tied for the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, while Luke Combs earned two honors, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (for What You See Is What You Get).
Dan + Shay took home the evening’s first honor, Duo of the Year, while Maren Morris was named Female Artist of the Year. Old Dominion was also a double winner, picking up Song of the Year for “One Man Band,” as well as the Group of the Year honor. Blake Shelton‘s “God’s Country” was named Single of the Year.
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards
Garth Brooks. Photo: Courtesy Maurice Miner Media & Marketing
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards, which aired in Oct., also fell to an all-time ratings low.
NBC’s broadcast of the show managed only 3.71 million viewers and a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49, down by more than 50 percent in both measures from the 2019 show (8 million viewers and a 2.1 in the key ad demographic), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
During the telecast, Garth Brooks was recognized with an ICON Award, and was the first country artist to receive the honor. Luke Combs walked away with three awards, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album for What You See Is What You Get. Maren Morris was awarded Top Country Female Artist, while George Strait won Top Country Tour. Dan + Shay took home Top Country Duo/Group and their hit with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours,” won Top Country Song.
The 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards
Maren Morris accepts award at The 54th Annual CMA Awards.
The ratings for The 54th Annual CMA Awards slipped by 40 percent, earning 6.8 million total viewers, and a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49—an all-time low in viewership for the program. The 2019 awards show brought in 11.3 million viewers, earning a 2.0 rating in the 18-39 demo.
The previous lowest-viewership for the show was in 2018, when 10.06 million viewers tuned in, earning the show a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demo.
New winners abounded at the Nov. 2020 CMA Awards. Most notably, Eric Church cinched his first CMA Entertainer of the Year honor after three previous nominations. Maren Morris, a three-time winner this year, took home her first wins for Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Single of the Year and Song of the Year for “The Bones.” Songwriter Laura Veltz, a first-time nominee this year, also earned her first win for Song of the Year as a co-writer on “The Bones”, and Jimmy Robbins won his first CMA Award with the song.
Morris’ Sony label-mate Luke Combs took home his first Album of the Year win (for What You See Is What You Get), along with his second Male Vocalist of the Year honor.
The American Music Awards
Dan + Shay. Photo: Emma McIntyre for AMA/Getty Images for dcp
The American Music Awards‘ Nov. show drew its smallest audience ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show garnered 4.01 million viewers for the night, a 40 percent drop from the 2019 show, and earned a 1.0 in adults 18-49 (a 41 percent drop in the demo year-over-year).
Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton and Maren Morris were among the winners at the Awards. Dan + Shay earned three awards including Favorite Duo or Group—Country, Favorite Song—Country, and Collaboration of the Year, for “10,000 Hours” with Justin Bieber. With the latter win, the duo became the first ever country artists to take home the all-genre Collaboration of the Year title. They also performed their current Top 10 (and climbing) track “I Should Probably Go To Bed.”
Brown took home the Favorite Country Artist—Male honor while Morris was named Favorite Country Artist—Female. Shelton earned Favorite Album—Country for Fully Loaded: God’s Country.
Granger Smith Hosts Truck Giveaway, Gives His Own Truck To Lucky Fan
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Paul De La Cerda.
Granger Smith wrapped his recent truck giveaway contest for fans offering his very own truck. Smith held the contest at his Yee Yee Farm where the five qualifying winners competed for the grand prize truck.
The goal of the giveaway was to be the last to remove their hand from the truck, which posed a challenge as the participants withstood 24 hours of cold, rain, and declining an onslaught of enticing offers. The truck eventually went to deserving recipient Mark from Wisconsin, who was in need of a new vehicle for his family back home. The runner up, Lauren from Ohio, stood toe to toe all night and finally accepted an offer to go on tour for a weekend with Granger in 2021, ending the contest with a win-win for all involved.
Smith’s album Country Things, his 10th studio album, has already sold over 10,000 physical copies, and during street week of the album, he filmed the music video for “Diesel (feat. Earl Dibbles Jr,)” that amassed double the number of views in the first 12 hours than his viral video for “Holler” did in that window. The new video has already been viewed over a million times in ten days.
Click here to watch the full video of the contest.
MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Radio Chart Top Songs Of 2020
/by Alex ParryWith the last CountryBreakout Radio Chart published for 2020, the year end chart data is in. The most spun song of 2020 was Jon Pardi‘s “Ain’t Always The Cowboy,” which received 53,155 spins and peaked at No. 1 on Aug. 27. “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” was written by Brandon Kinney and Josh Thompson.
Jon Pardi. Photo: Jim Wright
Rounding out the top 5 are Kip Moore‘s “She’s Mine” with 52,611 spins, “One Beer” by HARDY feat. Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson (52,482 spins), Justin Moore‘s “Why We Drink” (50,722 spins), and “Die From A Broken Heart” by Maddie & Tae with 50,696 spins.
The MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart will resume on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. The top artists of 2020 along with Songwriter of the Year, Label of the Year, and Reporter of the Year will be revealed in the 2021 Country Radio & Streaming print issue, out in February.
To have a copy of this issue mailed to you in February, become a member today!
Maren Morris Cancels RSVP Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Tyre Grannemann
Maren Morris has cancelled her RSVP tour due to ongoing uncertainty from the pandemic and fans can receive a full refund for tickets at point of purchase.
She revealed the news to fans on Twitter, saying even with the vaccine she was still unsure of when she might be able to do the tour in 2021, and with the prospect of having to reschedule dates yet again she decided to pull the plug.
“I truly appreciate your patience on this,” said Morris in the post. “I am in the midst of working on my third record, so I hope we can all come together and enjoy live shows safely again soon.”
Morris was recently honored with the Nashville Symphony Harmony Award on Dec. 12. Each year, the Nashville Symphony presents the award to individuals who embody the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s musical community, and Morris performed during the 36th annual event which aired on WSMV Channel 4.
Weekly Register: Christmas Music Dominates
/by LB CantrellChristmas music dominates the top of the country albums chart again this week, with three of the top five albums. Carrie Underwood stays at No. 1 (No. 6 all-genre) with My Gift earning 47K total consumption(26K album only/25 million song streams) according to Nielsen.
Dolly Parton‘s A Holly Dolly Christmas comes in third with 28K, and Elvis Presley‘s Classic Christmas Album is at No. 5 with 26K.
Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get is at No. 2 with 34K, and Chris Stapleton‘s Starting Over is at No. 4.
Top 5 Country Streaming Songs This Week:
Gabby Barett – “I Hope” – 6.5M streams / 504M RTD
Luke Combs – “Forever After All” – 6.4M stream / 89M RTD
Morgan Wallen – “More Than My Hometown” – 5.6M streams /197M RTD
Luke Combs – “Better Together” – 5.5M streams / 190M RTD
Morgan Wallen – “Somebody’s Problem” – 5.5M streams / 33M RTD
Josh Osborne Finishes 2020 Atop MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJosh Osborne
For the last MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart of 2020, Josh Osborne remains at No. 1 for the sixth consecutive week. The charting songs cementing Osborne’s place at the top are “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts), “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen), “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Next Girl” (Carly Pearce), and “Never Be Sorry” (Old Dominion).
Randy Montana, with Parker McCollum’s recent No. 1 “Pretty Heart,” Luke Combs’ “Better Together,” and Justin Moore’s “We Didn’t Have Much,” remains at No. 2. Ross Copperman moves up to No. 3 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart with “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Lady” (Brett Young) and “We Were Rich” (Runaway June) propelling him.
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.
Rockabilly Star Carl Mann Dies
/by Robert K OermannCountry singer Carl Mann passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at age 78 in Jackson, Tennessee.
He burst on the recording scene in 1959 with his galloping rockabilly reworking of the 1950 Nat King Cole pop hit “Mona Lisa.” He followed it with similar uptempo treatments of Cole’s ballads “Pretend” and “Too Young,” as well as Gene Autry’s 1939 tune “South of the Border.”
Mann was one of the last artists that Sam Phillips introduced to the world from his Sun Records empire in Memphis. Carl Mann came along in the wake of such Sun legends as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Charlie Rich as Phillips’ protégées.
Like Rich, he recorded for Philips International Records, a Sun subsidiary. Former Sun signee Conway Twitty copied Carl Mann’s version of “Mona Lisa” and also scored a 1959 hit with it (for MGM Records).
Carl Mann was a native of Huntingdon, Tennessee and was a prodigy appearing on the radio on nearby WDXI in Jackson, Tennessee at age 10. Inspired by the sounds of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, the singer, guitarist and pianist had his own band at age 12 and first recorded at age 14.
His 1957 single for Jaxon Records was the teen-themed “Gonna Rock and Roll Tonight.” At age 17, he wrangled an audition with Sun’s Jack Clement, which led to the recording of “Mona Lisa.” Much of his subsequent youthful output was in a similar vein. Mann rocked-up “Some Enchanted Evening,” “The Wayward Wind,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Mexicali Rose” and “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes.”
Rockabilly fans also revere his versions of “Ubangi Stomp,” “Foolish One,” “Baby I Don’t Care,” “Kansas City,” “Rockin’ Love” and “I’m Coming Home.” He recorded his most influential tracks in both Memphis and in Sun’s Nashville studio supervised by Billy Sherrill, Scotty Moore and Kelso Herston.
He toured with Rich, Cash and Perkins, as well as with country stars George Jones and Loretta Lynn. But Mann’s career stalled when he was drafted into the Army in 1964.
Like most of the rockabilly stars, Mann returned to mainstream country music in the 1960s. He recorded for Monument Records and briefly charted in 1976 on ABC/Dot with a reworking of The Platters oldie “Twilight Time.” The following year, Sun issued an LP compiling his classics.
Mann left music to work in his father’s lumber business in Huntingdon, but was repeatedly lured back by offers to tour in Europe. He released an album in Holland in 1978 and another in Switzerland in 1985.
Germany’s Bear Family Records reissued his Sun sides in 2008 on a CD titled Carl Mann Rocks! Mann was an inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2011 he was the subject of the book The Last Son of Sun. He issued a self-titled CD in 2012.
Plans for a memorial service are pending, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Concord And Universal Music Group Extend Distribution Agreement
/by Lorie HollabaughConcord has renewed its global distribution agreement with Universal Music Group, extending a successful partnership that has spanned more than 15 years.
Under the new contract, UMG will continue to physically and digitally distribute releases from Concord’s frontline labels, led by Chief Label Executive Tom Whalley, and catalog projects led by Chief Catalog Executive Sig Sigworth, including recordings from Craft Recordings, Fantasy Records, Fearless Records, Loma Vista Recordings, Rounder Records, Concord Jazz and the No. 1 children’s brand KIDZ BOP.
“UMG and Concord have built a wonderful relationship over the past 15 years,” said Concord CEO Scott Pascucci. “As we have grown, they have provided the support that we needed to expand the worldwide success of our frontline labels, the KIDZ BOP franchise, Craft Recordings, and the rest of our catalog. We are very pleased to be renewing this partnership with Universal.”
“Our partnership with Concord is built on a foundation of shared values,” said Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group. “We both put artists and creativity at the center of everything we do. I couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership and l look forward to even more success working with Scott, Tom, Sig and the entire Concord team.”
UMG has been integral in Concord’s recent label expansion, assisting in developing and breaking new artists and promoting established artists. Concord’s master recording catalog, rich in legacy and content and curated by Craft Recordings, has also provided this long-term distribution collaboration with many rewarding projects.
Save Our Stages Act Included In New COVID Relief Bill
/by LB CantrellLast night (Dec. 20) it was announced that Congress has reached an agreement on a second COVID relief stimulus package, that will include the Save Our Stages Act. If passed, the stimulus package will include $900 billion in aid, with a $15 billion going to indie establishments.
“We’re thrilled that Congress has heard the call of shuttered independent venues across the country and provided us a crucial lifeline by including the Save Our Stages Act in the COVID-19 Relief Bill. We’re also incredibly grateful that this bill provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis. We urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come,” said Owner & CEO, First Avenue Productions and Board President of NIVA, Dayna Frank.
According to The New York Times, both chambers approved the measure on Sunday night, and President Trump signed it shortly before midnight. Final votes on the spending package are expected as early as today (Dec. 21) to approve it and clear it for Trump’s signature.
This is a developing story…
Downtown Music Publishing Acquires Neil Thrasher Catalog (Exclusive)
/by LB CantrellDowntown Music Publishing announced today (Dec. 21) the acquisition of works from the catalog of hit country songwriter Neil Thrasher.
The deal covers many hits penned by the award-winning songwriter, including several recorded by Jason Aldean, such as “Tattoos on This Town,” “Fly Over States,” “Night Train” and “Rearview Town;” and multiple Rascal Flatts singles like “Fast Cars And Freedom,” “Why Wait” and “Banjo,” as well as Randy Houser’s “How Country Feels,” Kenny Chesney’s “There Goes My Life” and many others.
Thrasher began his music career as part of the duo Thrasher Shiver, alongside Kelly Shiver, releasing a self-titled studio album for Asylum Records in 1996. After establishing himself as a recording artist, he eventually shifted his focus to songwriting for other artists. He was named Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP 2004 Country Music Awards for “There Goes My Life” and other hit singles, and also won ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year for “How Country Feels” in 2013. “How Country Feels,” “There Goes My Life,” “Tattoos on this Town,” “Fly Over States” and “Night Train” are among Thrasher’s many RIAA Platinum-certified singles.
The news follows that of several other recent Downtown acquisitions, including music from the catalogs of Motown icon William “Mickey” Stevenson and accomplished songwriter Chris Braide (Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Halsey, Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez, Sia), over 350 works from its purchase of independent music publisher Good Soldier Songs and the publishing catalog of The 1975, over 10,000 song copyrights from famed European publisher Strictly Confidential as well as nearly 700 works from the U.K.-based Salli Isaak Songs Limited and Salli Isaak Music Publishing Limited.