While the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns have put many touring-related companies in dire straits over the past several months, other segments of the music industry are also being affected.
Local Nashville radio station Lightning 100 is in jeopardy of shutting down and has launched the Save Our Airwaves campaign, seeking to raise $250,000 to cover costs to keep the station running into 2021.
The Save Our Airwaves Campaign, hosted at lightning100.com/saveourairwaves, will take place Monday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 11, and will feature a variety of ways for fans of the station to contribute, including donating, advertising, bidding in the Save Our Airwaves Auction (which will feature signed memorabilia from Alabama Shakes, EmmyLou Harris, Patty Griffin, Susan Tedeschi, Steve Earle, Local Natives, Moon Taxi, and more), purchasing merchandise, or buying a recurring membership, via Lightning 100’s Backstage Pass. In this Beta version of the program, members will have the opportunity to access exclusive content while directly contributing to the ongoing success of Lightning 100. Perks include an HQ digital stream of 100.1 with reduced commercials, access to monthly DJ playlists, on-air shoutouts, and interaction with artists heard on Lightning 100.
Lightning 100 President Lester Turner said, “Lightning 100 has built a niche by advertising to restaurants, venues and events. COVID-19 has dealt a crushing blow to these businesses. With no customers, they have no revenue and cannot afford to advertise—which means that a major part of our revenue dries up. We need you to help keep the lights on until we can all get together again. Please help support Nashville’s independent radio!”
NMPA Gold & Platinum Program Announces Top Country Songs And Songwriters For 2019-2020
/by Jessica NicholsonThe NMPA Gold & Platinum Program, which honors the songwriters of RIAA-certified Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum singles, has announced the top country songs and songwriters for the past year. In lieu of the annual Gold & Platinum Gala in Nashville, the honorees were notified and received their awards remotely.
Based on a calculation of streams and sales, the “Platinum Anthem” or most listened to song released in the past year, which went 12x multi-Platinum, was “Old Town Road,” performed by Lil Nas X (Sony/ATV) and Billy Ray Cyrus (Kobalt). The song was written by Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jocelyn Donald (Kobalt), Trent Reznor (Kobalt), Atticus Ross (UMPG) and Kiowa ‘YoungKio’ Roukema (UMPG).
The ”Top Song” or most listened-to song released prior to the past year went to “Tennessee Whiskey,” performed by Chris Stapleton and written by Linda Hargrove (Sony/ATV) and Dean Dillon (UMPG). The song went 6x multi-Platinum with 7 million certified units.
Finally, the “Top Songwriter” award went to perennial hit-maker Ashley Gorley whose hits earned 10 multi-Platinum, 15 Platinum and 13 Gold certifications for songs including “Life Changes,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “T-Shirt,” “Marry Me,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” “Born to Love You,” “Games” and “Living.”
Darius Rucker, Reba, Tim McGraw, And More Support St. Jude’s We Won’t Stop Campaign
/by Lorie HollabaughReba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker and more have stepped up to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital launch its We Won’t Stop campaign.
They join a larger movement of film and television stars, influencers and celebrities who are encouraging fans to make a monthly commitment to St. Jude as a Partner in Hope to receive a We Won’t Stop t-shirt and then snap a photo wearing it using #StJudeWontStop on social media.
Treatments at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened 50 years ago.
Carrie Underwood Collaborates With David Bisbal On Bilingual Track “Tears of Gold”
/by Jessica NicholsonCarrie Underwood, David Bisbal
With her endlessly versatile voice, Carrie Underwood has collaborated with artists including Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Ludacris, Aerosmith, Michael W. Smith, and Tony Bennett. She starred in the television special The Sound of Music Live!, and recently lent her voice to several classic holiday songs with her first Christmas album, My Gift.
Now, Underwood is notching another career milestone, with her first bi-lingual collaboration, with the duet “Tears of Gold,” with singer David Bisbal. The uptempo pop anthem finds Underwood and Bisbal confronting a fizzling relationship, and features both Underwood and Bisbal singing in English and Spanish.
“Tears of Gold” was penned by Cameron Forbes, Paul Harris and Matt Schwartz, and is slated for Bisbal’s upcoming deluxe album En Tus Planes. Underwood’s holiday special My Gift: A Christmas Special via HBO Max today (Dec. 3).
BREAKING: Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country To Close
/by Jessica NicholsonThe announcement follows the recent structural changes that find Disney Branded Television increasing its focus on producing kids and family content for Disney+ and Disney Channels. Radio Disney in Latin America is a separate operation and is not impacted by the announcement today.
Radio Disney launched in November 1996 as a terrestrial broadcast network; by 2005, Radio Disney was available in 97% of the U.S. via more than 50 terrestrial radio stations and SiriusXM, and had offshoots in the UK, Japan and Latin America. Radio Disney Country launched in 2015 as a digital-only platform, before expanding in 2017 with the launch of two Los Angeles terrestrial stations and increased digital streaming.
Asleep At The Wheel Announce Special Online Christmas Concert December 19th
/by Lorie HollabaughAsleep At The Wheel is inviting fans to enjoy a ‘Merry Texas Christmas, Y’all!’ with their 90-minute live stream concert on December 19. Bandleader Ray Benson and the band will perform at the ‘Texas North Pole,’ playing fan favorites as well as choice cuts from their three previously-released Christmas albums.
The livestream will begin at 7 p.m. CT on December 19, and post-show, the special will be on-demand streaming for a limited time. One ticket will allow streaming on one device. In addition to tickets, exclusive holiday bundles including VIP Zoom meet and greets with Benson and Katie Shore, Asleep at the Wheel Christmas cards, autographed CDs, tote bags, and more are available.
Earlier this Fall, the band teamed up with Austin City Limits and PBS for ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel, a special retrospective of the band’s appearances on the beloved program. From performing on the series’ very first episode to modern-day collaborations with legends like Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett (in total, the band has appeared on eleven episodes), Asleep at the Wheel have woven a 50-year thread through Texas and American music history, and Austin City Limits played quite a part in it.
Soundstripe Inks Deal With Video Creation Platform Waymark
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville-based media company Soundstripe has inked a deal with video creation platform Waymark, which grants its access to Soundstripe’s Enterprise API. Once integrated, in addition to having the ability to make videos in minutes, Waymark users will have access to Soundstripe’s catalog of music for use in their projects.
“Waymark is a great platform that opens the video advertising door for any company big or small, and we’re excited to add simple music licensing to the mix through our Enterprise API,” said Travis Terrell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Soundstripe. “Whether they know it or not, every business owner is a creator, bringing new products and services into the world. They may not be video-editing geniuses, but now they don’t have to be to create quality advertising with fantastic music. That’s how we ‘Keep Creators Creating.’”
“We pride ourselves in the high quality of our product. Including easy access to top quality music with flexible music licensing as part of our platform has allowed us to meet new customer needs and do things our competitors can’t,” said Tim Killeen, General Counsel & Special Projects at Waymark. “Soundstripe music is in our video ads for small businesses to use on social media and for large enterprise customers to use on TV and everywhere in between! We look forward to continuing to expand our partnership with Soundstripe and consider that partnership a real strategic advantage.”
Nashville-based Soundstripe launched in 2016 and has issued more than 5 million licenses for tens of thousands of customers in more than 140 countries. The company provides unlimited, royalty-free music, stock video and sound effects for videos, podcasts and other media projects.
Cumulus Nashville Hosting 13th Annual Toy Field On Dec. 8
/by Lorie HollabaughCumulus Media Nashville is building a toy field for The Salvation Army’s Forgotten Angels on Dec. 8 at Nissan Stadium. Middle Tennesseans are invited to come out from 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Tuesday to donate and help fulfill the dreams of many less fortunate children this holiday season.
The 13th Annual Toy Field presented by Cumulus Nashville and T-Mobile will offer curbside donation available along S. Second Street adjacent to Nissan Stadium. This holiday, the Salvation Army will reach more angels than ever – less fortunate children and the elderly. According to Major Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander – The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command, several hundred of those “angels” may not be adopted or will be returned to the Angel Tree. To ensure each child has a special Christmas, the Christmas Joy Shop will provide them with gifts.
“Thousands of toys have been donated throughout the years and we hope to see the same enthusiasm this year. We would not be able to provide for all these children, without the support of Cumulus Broadcasting and our community,” said Major Frizzell, Area Commander The Salvation Army Nashville Area Command.
Leon Bridges, Bonnie Raitt, George Benson And More Auction Instruments To Support NITO
/by Jessica NicholsonNational Independent Talent Organization (NITO), which includes more than 1,000 independent talent agencies, management firms, associate artists and live touring entities fighting for crucial pandemic relief in Congress, is launching their first fundraising initiative – a Guitar and Stringed Instruments Auction.
NITO has teamed with auction site Charitybuzz for the auction, which launches today (Dec. 3) and runs through Dec. 13.
The event will include a selection of guitars and stringed instruments from artists including George Benson, Leon Bridges, David Bromberg, Mike Doughty, Fall Out Boy, Steve Forbert, Tom Higgenson / Plain White T’s, Jack Johnson, Will Kimbrough, Mark Knopfler, Sonny Landreth, Tommy Lee, Nick Lowe, Steve Martin, J Mascis, John Mellencamp, Pat Metheny, Jim Miller, Thurston Moore, Graham Nash, Tim O’Brien, OK Go, John Petrucci, Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bill Reynolds, Joe Satriani, Chris Smither, Los Straitjackets, Lars Ulrich, Steve Vai, Kurt Vile, The War On Drugs, and Weezer. Instruments from all donors listed will be available during the 10-day auction period.
For more information and a full list of auction items, please visit charitybuzz.com/NITO.
Bruce Kalmick Launches New Company Why&How
/by Jessica NicholsonTriple 8 Management partner Bruce Kalmick has launched a new management company, Why&How, with a client roster including BRELAND, Belle Mt., KALEO, Chase Rice, SRPN, Whiskey Myers and more. Three former Triple 8 managers will join the new firm, including Kelly Kresen, Rachel Cave and Eddie Kloesel.
“Very proud to announce the next stage of my career! The Why and The How have always been the first steps to every partnership in this business and W (Wyatt) & H (Hazel) are 2 very adorable redheads that call me dad; so it’s a perfect name for this important and timely next step,” Kalmick said via social media.
Pete Olson has also joined WHY&HOW, and is continuing to manage Tyler Braden (Warner Music Nashville) and Seaforth (RCA Nashville).
Lightning 100 Launches Save Our Airwaves Campaign
/by Jessica NicholsonWhile the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns have put many touring-related companies in dire straits over the past several months, other segments of the music industry are also being affected.
Local Nashville radio station Lightning 100 is in jeopardy of shutting down and has launched the Save Our Airwaves campaign, seeking to raise $250,000 to cover costs to keep the station running into 2021.
The Save Our Airwaves Campaign, hosted at lightning100.com/
Lightning 100 President Lester Turner said, “Lightning 100 has built a niche by advertising to restaurants, venues and events. COVID-19 has dealt a crushing blow to these businesses. With no customers, they have no revenue and cannot afford to advertise—which means that a major part of our revenue dries up. We need you to help keep the lights on until we can all get together again. Please help support Nashville’s independent radio!”