Today (Dec. 10), Troye Sivan and Kacey Musgraves released “Easy” featuring Mark Ronson via Capitol Records. Troye and Kacey collaborate on this new version of the song, weaving in a bittersweet perspective with Mark adding trademark energetic melancholy and adding Kacey as co-writer.

In the official video, which premiered via YouTube Premiere, Troye and Kacey embark on a dark, aching journey with the grittier side of Nashville as the backdrop. As dawn breaks, they leave Music City as quickly as they came, with the next town in their sights. Bardia Zeinali, who helmed Troye’s video for “Dance to This” featuring Ariana Grande, directed.

Troye’s original version of the song appears on his new EP, In A Dream. The song has amassed over 72 million combined global streams, while combined streams of the EP have surpassed 243 million. The collaboration marks the second time the two have worked together. Troye joined Kacey on her 2019 special, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, for “Glittery.”

Point of Grace, Michael W. Smith, The Katinas. Photo: Courtesy of TBN

Michael W. Smith is helping fans feel a little merrier this holiday season with his upcoming Christmas with Michael W. Smith & Friends TV special. The show premieres on TBN on Friday, Dec. 11 and will feature guests including The Katinas, Marc Martel, Point of Grace and Jordan Smith. The special will air back-to-back at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. ET on the network.

Viewers will ring in the holiday season enjoying classics such as “Silver Bells,” “O Holy Night,” “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child,” “Christmastime” and many more. Fans can also catch Smith’s Christmas show in person on three exclusive dates, with the first stop at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 18. Following Nashville, Smith will head to Jacksonville, Florida (Dec. 19) and Clearwater, Florida (Dec. 20).

“As everyone knows Christmas time is my favorite, so to be able to host a special this year is such an honor,” said Smith. “And to be able to bring my past tourmates The Katinas, Marc Martel, Point of Grace and Jordan Smith along…well it doesn’t get better than that!”

Austin Tolliver

Average Joes Entertainment continues its artist roster expansion with the latest signing of songwriter/singer/rapper, Austin Tolliver. Tolliver’s debut single for the label, “Tip My Hat,” co-written by Tolliver and Aaron Lamont, is set for release this Friday (Dec. 11).

Previously a star athlete who played college football and baseball at New Mexico State University and Texas Tech University, Tolliver changed career paths and moved to Nashville to pursue music in 2015. The son of former NFL/CFL quarterback, Billy Joe Tolliver, Tolliver grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. Describing his music as a ‘melting pot of genres,’ “Tip My Hat” portrays the central theme of a country boy not backing down in the city.

Pictured (L-R, top row): AJE VP A&R, Forrest Latta; AJE Creative Director, Bryn Person; AJE Sr. Director Bus. Development, Nathan Thompson; AJE Sr. Marketing Manager, Andrew Davis. (L-R, bottom row): Manager, Jordan Simmons; Austin Tolliver; Business Manager, Jeff Price.

“I’m pumped to join the team at Average Joes and have my first single released right away. ‘Tip My Hat’ is such a badass song. It’s got the vibe of the old west. It’s the perfect example of what ‘outlaw’ is to me,” said Tolliver.

“Austin’s enthusiasm and unique sound make him a perfect fit with our roster,” said Forrest Latta, Average Joes’ V.P./A&R. “His unrelenting drive and positivity, coupled with his talent, position him for success. We’re excited to be a part of taking his career to the next level.”

The “Tip My Hat” lyric video can be previewed on Tolliver’s YouTube page available here.

Photo: Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift has revealed she’ll be releasing a sister album to folklore titled evermore at midnight tonight (Dec. 10). She surprised fans with the news on her socials, and will also release a video for the new song “Willow,” along with the new album.

evermore was co-written and produced with Jack Antonoff and The National’s Aaron Dessner, and features Swift teaming with Haim on a track called “No Body No Crime,” a collaboration with Bon Iver (who also appeared on the folklore album), as well as a song she’s backed by The National on, “Coney Island.” On her socials Swift described the origin of this latest set of songs and how it felt like standing at the edge of a deep woods contemplating whether or not to go in.

To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs. To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music. We chose to wander deeper in.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 10, 2020

The standard edition will contain 15 tracks, but a deluxe physical edition will feature two bonus tracks, “right where you left me” and “it’s time to go,” and Swift offered fans a peek at what the album cover will possibly look like with a photo mosaic on her Instagram page. She continues to thrill fans with surprises during this difficult year—just two weeks ago she released The Long Pond Studio Sessions, a video collection of stripped down, live performances of songs from folklore on Disney Plus.

The MLC announced today (Dec. 9) that four music data companies are joining its Data Quality Initiative (DQI), including: Blokur, Exactuals, Music Data Services, and TuneRegistry. Through their work with The MLC, these companies will make it much easier for their users and customers to participate in the DQI and check the accuracy of their musical works data in The MLC’s current database.

The DQI provides a streamlined way for music publishers, administrators, self-administered songwriters, composers and lyricists, and ex-US collective management organizations (CMOs) to compare their musical works data with The MLC’s data to ensure The MLC’s data is consistent with theirs. DQI Participants receive reports highlighting the discrepancies between the data they submit for comparison and The MLC’s data. Using these reports, participants can easily identify those discrepancies and then submit any corrections that are needed. Checking their data and making any needed corrections is one of the best things The MLC’s members can do to ensure they receive all of the mechanical royalties they are entitled to receive from The MLC.

Each company will take a different approach in helping their clients and customers participate in the DQI. Some are integrating new functionality into existing data-related products, services and software platforms that they already offer; others intend to work with their clients one-on-one to help them prepare and submit their comparison files and then review the results.

“We’re excited to work with a wide variety of companies that deal with music data, be they emerging tech startups or legacy players in the music space, because we want to help as many of our members as possible participate in our Data Quality Initiative,” says Dae Bogan, head of third party partnerships at The MLC. “They offer different tiers of service, from high-cost enterprise platforms to economical new software targeting self-administered songwriters and smaller publishers.”

“Our team is committed to making the process of checking data as efficient and effective as possible for all of our members,” says Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC. “Enabling innovative companies like these to make it easier for their users and customers to participate in our Data Quality Initiative helps The MLC achieve that important goal. We appreciate their willingness to help support the DQI.”

Companies interested in partnering with The MLC can get started here. More information on the Data Quality Initiative can be found here.