
Billy Ray Cyrus. Photo: Steven Bradley/9slash9
Radio seems bent on trying to make you believe that all country music sounds the same, but today’s listening session is abundant proof that it does not.
We have tremendous diversity on display here. Two of the best sounding discs come from from Black Nashville singer-songwriters Shy Carter and Brittney Spencer. The Mavericks are here singing in Spanish. Lacy J. Dalton is political. Shelby Lee Lowe is a traditionalist.
Four songs name-check country heroes Waylon Jennings, John Wayne, Dolly Parton and, most excellently, the late coronavirus victim John Prine.
We also have a transition from rap to country with the imaginative Billy Ray Cyrus reworking of “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It is our Disc of the Day.
The DisCovery Award goes to Columbia newcomer Kameron Marlowe.
CHARLIE OVERBY/”Ode to John Prine”
Writer: Charlie Overby; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Tedd Hutt; Label: CO
– This country rocker is a COVID song. Amid a rolling rhythm, Overby sings, “The higher-ups say it ain’t so/But I can read between the lines…..Take me to another place, take me to another time/Tell me that we’re going out tonight to see John Prine.” The video features shots of Prine murals in Louisville, Nashville, Raleigh, Seattle, Austin and Chicago and images of shuttered nightclubs. Proceeds from the song will benefit the NIVA Association’s Save Our Stages program.
ALEX STERN/”John Wayne”
Writers: Alex Stern/Reed Pittman/Brian Donkers; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Phil Barnes; Label: AS
– She sings this rumbler strongly, with lots of emotion and authenticity. The lyric is about a woman who acts like an outlaw and a hero, but realizes she’s vulnerable and only playing a part.
SCOOTER BROWN BAND/”Something Waylon Would Sing”
Writers: Rick Huckaby, Scott E. Brown; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Zach Farnum, Scooter Brown; Label: SBB
– It starts out semi-spoken, with a steel guitar weeping in the background. Then that familiar Waylors beat kicks in and the thumper production adds chicken-pickin’ Telecaster guitar and the audio pleasure meter goes up to “10.” Well done.
TORI MARTIN/”What Would Dolly Do “
Writers: Tori Martin/John Cirillo/Sarah Spencer; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Bill Warner; Label: LuckySky
– This bright, bouncy bopper is about following your dreams, no matter what anyone says. As she is to so many, Dolly is Tori’s empowering inspiration.
THOMAS RHETT/”What’s Your Country Song”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Rhett Akins/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Parker Welling; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Warner-Chappell, no performance rights listed; Producer: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure; Label: Valory
– The lyrics string together the titles of country classics to create an anthem with an uplifting mood. The production is rather compressed and busy sounding. Some audio clarity would have made it more effective.
BILLY RAY CYRUS/”Mama Said Knock You Out”
Writers: Bootsy Collins, George Clinton Jr., Gregory E Jacobs, James Louis McCants, James Todd Smith, Leroy Mccants, Marlon Lu’Ree Williams, Sylvester Stewart, Walter B. Morrison, Jr.; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jaco Caraco, Tyler Hilton; Label: BBR
– It has a spooky, minor-key vibe with a ghostly banjo and a deep, dark bass line. Billy Ray’s quasi-hushed delivery makes it all the more ear catching. The original by LL Cool J in 1991 was aggressive and shouted. This totally re-imagines that million-selling rap classic.
KAMERON MARLOWE/”Giving You Up”
Writers: Kameron Marlowe; Publishers: none listed; Producers: Brad Hill; Label: Columbia
– He’s given up cigarettes and whiskey. Now he’s doing the same with a destructive relationship. Marlowe sings with a slight rasp and plenty of soul in this pulse-quickening, urgent production. Super promising.
LACY J. DALTON/”I Can’t Breathe”
Writers: Lacy J. Dalton/Jimmy Jackson; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jimmy Jackson; Label: LJD
– A steady undertow of a percussion and electric guitar creates a dramatic backdrop to Lacy’s heartfelt song for the Black Lives Matter movement. It manages to be both patriotic and progressive. Proceeds benefit the Equal Justice Initiative, which the singer learned about as a teacher in the California Prison System.
SHY CARTER/”Good Love”
Writers: Shy Carter, James Slater, Micah Carter, Carlo Colasacco; Publishers: none listed; Producers: David Garcia; Label: Warner
– This is so sweet and tender and hopeful. The sentiments about lifting each other up when times are tough couldn’t be better. It sounded so uplifting I wanted to hug him.
SHELBY LEE LOWE/”Could’ve Fooled Me”
Writers: Shelby Lee Lowe/David Ross/Andrew Scott Wills; Publishers: Green Hills/Draw Four/Taxaby, BMI; Producers: Andrew Scott Wills; Label: ONErpm
– Lowe sounds like a traditionalist with his sincere honky-tonk baritone surrounded by steel guitar and slow, two-step rhythm. The heartache lyric about finding a girl getting over a romance is straight-up country, too. I like him.
THE MAVERICKS/”Poder Vivir”
Writers: Alejandro Menendez/Raul Malo; Publisher: Wixen, no performance rights listed; Producer: Raul Malo & Niko Bolas; Label: Mono Mundo/ Thirty Tigers
– The Mavericks current album, En Espanol, is the group’s first Spanish-language project. This lovely, melodic and wildly catchy single has a charming, chugging beat and lilting squeezebox/Mariachi horns/guitar accompaniment. Malo sings his face off, as always. Even if you don’t understand a word of this Tex-Mex gem, you’ll swoon over the sound.
BRITTNEY SPENCER/”Sorrys Don’t Work No More”
Writers: Brittney Spencer, Brock Human, Connor Wheaton; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Kevin Dailey, Will Reagan; Label: Merlin
– Soft, sad and wistful, this mourns the end of a relationship in the loveliest way. When Maren Morris gave a shout-out to country women of color on the CMA Awards, I was with her all the way through Rissi Palmer, Mickey Guyton, Linda Martell, Yola and Rhiannon Giddens. Until she got to Brittney Spencer, at which point I went, “Who?” It turns out that Spencer is originally from Baltimore, has sung backup for Carrie Underwood and enrolled at MTSU. Oh, and she sings splendidly. Check her out.
Margo Price Sets ‘Perfectly Imperfect At The Ryman’ Experience At Tennessee’s Stardust Drive-In Theatre
/by Jessica NicholsonMargo Price. Bobbi Rich
Margo Price is set to debut her Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman concert film on Dec. 2 at Tennessee’s Stardust Drive-In Theatre. A Perfectly Imperfect Night at the Movies will offer a double-feature; following Price’s concert film, there will be a screening of the 2019 documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of my Voice. The movies will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Stardust Drive-in. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Nashville record store Grimey’s will have copies of the vinyl edition of Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman available for purchase prior to the vinyl’s official release on Dec. 4.
Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman released in May, commemorating the second anniversary of Price’s three-night residency at the Ryman in 2018. The project includes “American Made,” “Wild Woman,” and a medley of “Hurtin’ (On The Bottle).” The live album also features appearances from Emmylou Harris, Jack White and Sturgill Simpson.
Brothers Osborne Reach Pinnacle Of CountryBreakout Radio Chart
/by Alex Parry“All Night” by Brothers Osborne peaks at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week. The single has accumulated over 29,000 spins in 26 weeks on the chart.
The brothers, John and TJ Osborne, co-wrote “All Night” with Andrew DeRoberts. It appears on the duo’s third studio album, Skeletons, which was released on Oct. 9.
“If Pawn Shop was our introduction, and Port Saint Joe was like the first conversation we had with someone over a beer, then Skeletons is the moment where you start getting down to the real stuff and showing who you really are,” says John Osborne. “If you really want to get to know us, this is the record to do it.”
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The Black Keys Releasing Deluxe Version Of ‘Brothers’ In December
/by Lorie HollabaughBrothers, originally released on May 18, 2010, was largely recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. It was a career breakthrough for The Black Keys, receiving critical praise and earning three Grammy Awards for the project. The album title highlighted a revived bond between the longtime bandmates and childhood neighbors, who had been through challenging times personally and professionally.
“I was thinking about what the record meant to me—how Dan and I had gone through this shit that brothers go through where you don’t get along, but then you do get along and realize it’s an unconditional love,” said the BK’s Patrick Carney. The title was reminiscent of one of Auerbach’s favorite Allman Brothers albums, too: “As soon as Pat suggested it, I loved it.”
In celebration of the project’s tenth anniversary, Brothers will be re-released with three added bonus songs: “Keep My Name Outta Your Mouth,” “Black Mud Part II,” and “Chop and Change.” It will be available in three formats: a 7” box set, a 2-LP set, and CD. This will be the first in an annual series of archival releases from the band.
Brothers (Deluxe Remastered Anniversary Edition) Track Listing:
1. Everlasting Light
2. Next Girl
3. Tighten Up
4. Howlin’ for You
5. She’s Long Gone
6. Black Mud
7. The Only One
8. Too Afraid to Love You
9. Ten Cent Pistol
10. Sinister Kid
11. The Go Getter
12. I’m Not the One
13. Unknown Brother
14. Never Give You Up
15. These Days
16. Chop and Change *
17. Keep My Name Outta Your Mouth **
18. Black Mud Part II ***
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Billy Ray Cyrus, Thomas Rhett, Shy Carter, Kameron Marlowe, Brittney Spencer
/by Robert K OermannBilly Ray Cyrus. Photo: Steven Bradley/9slash9
Radio seems bent on trying to make you believe that all country music sounds the same, but today’s listening session is abundant proof that it does not.
We have tremendous diversity on display here. Two of the best sounding discs come from from Black Nashville singer-songwriters Shy Carter and Brittney Spencer. The Mavericks are here singing in Spanish. Lacy J. Dalton is political. Shelby Lee Lowe is a traditionalist.
Four songs name-check country heroes Waylon Jennings, John Wayne, Dolly Parton and, most excellently, the late coronavirus victim John Prine.
We also have a transition from rap to country with the imaginative Billy Ray Cyrus reworking of “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It is our Disc of the Day.
The DisCovery Award goes to Columbia newcomer Kameron Marlowe.
CHARLIE OVERBY/”Ode to John Prine”
Writer: Charlie Overby; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Tedd Hutt; Label: CO
– This country rocker is a COVID song. Amid a rolling rhythm, Overby sings, “The higher-ups say it ain’t so/But I can read between the lines…..Take me to another place, take me to another time/Tell me that we’re going out tonight to see John Prine.” The video features shots of Prine murals in Louisville, Nashville, Raleigh, Seattle, Austin and Chicago and images of shuttered nightclubs. Proceeds from the song will benefit the NIVA Association’s Save Our Stages program.
ALEX STERN/”John Wayne”
Writers: Alex Stern/Reed Pittman/Brian Donkers; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Phil Barnes; Label: AS
– She sings this rumbler strongly, with lots of emotion and authenticity. The lyric is about a woman who acts like an outlaw and a hero, but realizes she’s vulnerable and only playing a part.
SCOOTER BROWN BAND/”Something Waylon Would Sing”
Writers: Rick Huckaby, Scott E. Brown; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Zach Farnum, Scooter Brown; Label: SBB
– It starts out semi-spoken, with a steel guitar weeping in the background. Then that familiar Waylors beat kicks in and the thumper production adds chicken-pickin’ Telecaster guitar and the audio pleasure meter goes up to “10.” Well done.
TORI MARTIN/”What Would Dolly Do “
Writers: Tori Martin/John Cirillo/Sarah Spencer; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Bill Warner; Label: LuckySky
– This bright, bouncy bopper is about following your dreams, no matter what anyone says. As she is to so many, Dolly is Tori’s empowering inspiration.
THOMAS RHETT/”What’s Your Country Song”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Rhett Akins/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Parker Welling; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Warner-Chappell, no performance rights listed; Producer: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure; Label: Valory
– The lyrics string together the titles of country classics to create an anthem with an uplifting mood. The production is rather compressed and busy sounding. Some audio clarity would have made it more effective.
BILLY RAY CYRUS/”Mama Said Knock You Out”
Writers: Bootsy Collins, George Clinton Jr., Gregory E Jacobs, James Louis McCants, James Todd Smith, Leroy Mccants, Marlon Lu’Ree Williams, Sylvester Stewart, Walter B. Morrison, Jr.; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jaco Caraco, Tyler Hilton; Label: BBR
– It has a spooky, minor-key vibe with a ghostly banjo and a deep, dark bass line. Billy Ray’s quasi-hushed delivery makes it all the more ear catching. The original by LL Cool J in 1991 was aggressive and shouted. This totally re-imagines that million-selling rap classic.
KAMERON MARLOWE/”Giving You Up”
Writers: Kameron Marlowe; Publishers: none listed; Producers: Brad Hill; Label: Columbia
– He’s given up cigarettes and whiskey. Now he’s doing the same with a destructive relationship. Marlowe sings with a slight rasp and plenty of soul in this pulse-quickening, urgent production. Super promising.
LACY J. DALTON/”I Can’t Breathe”
Writers: Lacy J. Dalton/Jimmy Jackson; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jimmy Jackson; Label: LJD
– A steady undertow of a percussion and electric guitar creates a dramatic backdrop to Lacy’s heartfelt song for the Black Lives Matter movement. It manages to be both patriotic and progressive. Proceeds benefit the Equal Justice Initiative, which the singer learned about as a teacher in the California Prison System.
SHY CARTER/”Good Love”
Writers: Shy Carter, James Slater, Micah Carter, Carlo Colasacco; Publishers: none listed; Producers: David Garcia; Label: Warner
– This is so sweet and tender and hopeful. The sentiments about lifting each other up when times are tough couldn’t be better. It sounded so uplifting I wanted to hug him.
SHELBY LEE LOWE/”Could’ve Fooled Me”
Writers: Shelby Lee Lowe/David Ross/Andrew Scott Wills; Publishers: Green Hills/Draw Four/Taxaby, BMI; Producers: Andrew Scott Wills; Label: ONErpm
– Lowe sounds like a traditionalist with his sincere honky-tonk baritone surrounded by steel guitar and slow, two-step rhythm. The heartache lyric about finding a girl getting over a romance is straight-up country, too. I like him.
THE MAVERICKS/”Poder Vivir”
Writers: Alejandro Menendez/Raul Malo; Publisher: Wixen, no performance rights listed; Producer: Raul Malo & Niko Bolas; Label: Mono Mundo/ Thirty Tigers
– The Mavericks current album, En Espanol, is the group’s first Spanish-language project. This lovely, melodic and wildly catchy single has a charming, chugging beat and lilting squeezebox/Mariachi horns/guitar accompaniment. Malo sings his face off, as always. Even if you don’t understand a word of this Tex-Mex gem, you’ll swoon over the sound.
BRITTNEY SPENCER/”Sorrys Don’t Work No More”
Writers: Brittney Spencer, Brock Human, Connor Wheaton; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Kevin Dailey, Will Reagan; Label: Merlin
– Soft, sad and wistful, this mourns the end of a relationship in the loveliest way. When Maren Morris gave a shout-out to country women of color on the CMA Awards, I was with her all the way through Rissi Palmer, Mickey Guyton, Linda Martell, Yola and Rhiannon Giddens. Until she got to Brittney Spencer, at which point I went, “Who?” It turns out that Spencer is originally from Baltimore, has sung backup for Carrie Underwood and enrolled at MTSU. Oh, and she sings splendidly. Check her out.
‘Sing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard’ CD/DVD Due Out In December
/by Lorie HollabaughSing Me Back Home: The Music Of Merle Haggard includes performances by Alabama, Ben Haggard, Billy F Gibbons, Bobby Bare, Buddy Miller, Chris Janson, Connie Smith, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams Jr., Jake Owen, Jamey Johnson, John Anderson, John Mellencamp, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Richards, Kenny Chesney, Aaron Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Lucinda Williams, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Miranda Lambert, Rodney Crowell, Ronnie Dunn, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, The Avett Brothers, Toby Keith, Warren Haynes, and Willie Nelson.
Performance highlights include, “Mama Tried” (performed by The Avett Brothers), “If We Make It Through December” (Dierks Bentley), “Misery and Gin” (Miranda Lambert), “Ramblin’ Fever” (Toby Keith and Willie Nelson), a very special performance of “Sing Me Back Home” (Keith Richards), and an all-star ensemble performance of “Okie From Muskogee”.
Blackbird Presents/Caroline Records will release the full-length concert film as a CD/DVD combo, which is available for immediate pre-order at musicofmerle.com.
Performers join together on stage to perform at Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard on April 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Photo: Joshua Timmermans
Kelsea Ballerini Ups The Ante—Taps Shania For ‘Hole In The Bottle’ Remix
/by Lorie HollabaughThe playful track is the third single from Ballerini’s 2020 album kelsea and is currently climbing the country charts. It’s accompanied by a stylistic video that pops with bright colors and roaring ’20s inspired black-and-white scenes, directed by Hannah Lux Davis.
“They say don’t meet your heroes…unless your hero is Shania Twain…then meet her, know her, and make music with her,” said Ballerini of the fun new collab. “She’s inspired me in every way and has become a mentor and friend and added some major sass and spice to ‘hole in the bottle’ the way only Shania could.”
“Kelsea and I have had some fun laughs together over the last couple of years! She joined me on stage back in 2017 when I headlined Stagecoach and we’ve had a chance to catch up over a glass of wine a couple of times since,” said Twain. “We’ve also sent pieces of songs back and forth to each other and I have to say, she’s an incredible raw talent. I love ‘hole in the bottle,’ it really speaks to my own sense of humor and it was so cool to get to do it with a friend.”
CMA Awards Ratings Slip
/by Jessica NicholsonThe ratings for Wednesday evening’s CMA Awards slipped by 40 percent, reports Variety, 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.
Variety also reports that many awards shows saw viewership fall by double-digits this year, with the Oscars slipping 20 percent, the ACM Awards ratings falling by more than 30 percent and the Billboard Music Awards ratings slipping by 55 percent.
Wyatt Durrette III, Matt McGinn Discuss Taking Top SESAC Honors
/by Jessica NicholsonMcGinn says he signed with SESAC around 2015, after meeting with Lydia Schultz and former SESAC exec Shannan Hatch.
“They made a great impression on me and that decision to sign with SESAC just keeps proving itself right,” he says. “Everyone over there is great and it is just very family-oriented and they do a really good job.”
SESAC’s president and COO Kelli Turner surprised McGinn with the news of his recent win at her home, where McGinn visited under the ruse that he was picking up a cake. McGinn calls his contribution to “One Thing Right” a “happy accident” during a writing retreat.
“I was upstairs writing the chorus with Kane and Jesse Frasure ,and then went downstairs to write another song for the record, and he and Jesse and Josh Hoge finished the song,” McGinn recalls. Brown later invited rapper Marshmello to be part of the track and it has been certified 2x multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
SESAC Songwriter of the Year Matt McGinn
McGinn also co-wrote Brown’s hits including “What Ifs” and “Heaven.”
“‘What Ifs’ was awesome and it did a lot of good things for all of us,” McGinn says. “And then we all wrote ‘Heaven.’ We all connected as writers and I’ve been lucky enough to continue to get to be a small part of the team.”
When asked what advice he has for new songwriters, McGinn says to thine own self be true. “I think the best advice I was given was from Shane McAnally. He said just to stay yourself. I’m a huge fan of all these writers that are far more successful or have just been doing it longer and have amazing track records. But they’re better at doing their thing than you are. And I feel like for a long time I tried to chase people and be a young version of them and that just doesn’t work. So I think the best advice was to figure out what you do best, and do it the best you can, because no one’s going to do it better.”
—————–
Meanwhile, Wyatt Durette III was honored as a co-writer on the Song of the Year “Even Though I’m Leaving.”
“It was a good day,” he says of the writing session, which took place at Southern Ground studios. “I was in the mood to write that kind of song. My son was getting up around the college years and my father is getting up in years too. I was thinking of the idea of writing a song about, even though you go out and leave, I’m always right here. And that was my idea. Luke had that title, that hook, ‘Even though I’m leaving, I ain’t going nowhere,’ that he had been holding on to and it fit.”
“So we were like, ‘Okay, let’s write that.’ And then two to three hours later, we had it. It was one of those where you’re looking at each other and go, ‘Wow, this is powerful.’ You can kind of tell and everybody gets a little wide-eyed about halfway through the song, but yeah, it was great. It’s a lot of fun.”
SESAC Song of the Year winner Wyatt Durette III
The track depicts a young boy who is afraid of his father leaving the room at night, with the song‘s storyline revolving around scenarios of loss, culminating in the father’s death.
“We are all big fans of old country, and love story songs. And that has disappeared a little bit. Not saying the other stuff isn’t great too, but just that [style of songwriting] doesn’t seem to be as mainstream,” Durrette said.
Durrette grew up listening to country and bluegrass music, and wrote his first song around age 10. “Writing was always a release. I never really wanted to be onstage or anything like that.”
Durette was running a bar in Atlanta when he met Zac Brown. Their musical kinship eventually helped bring Durette’s music to Nashville. Durette spent many years on the road with Zac Brown Band, and co-wrote many of the group’s hits such as “Colder Weather” and “Highway 20 Ride.”
Durrette was introduced to Luke Combs by River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline, who previously served as PRO rep for Zac Brown and Durrette, before becoming day-to-day manager for Zac Brown Band. Durette’s co-writes with Combs resulted in “Beautiful Crazy,” which earned Durrette SESAC’s Song of the Year honor in 2019.
“I’ll never forget the first day I wrote with Luke, when we wrote ‘Beautiful Crazy.’ Because someone had told me, ‘You got to be careful with Luke. He can sing any lyric and it will sound amazing.’ But music wise, we really liked the same kind of music, but more importantly, he’s a songwriter, a really good one. And he really cares about getting the song right. And he really cares that his songwriting peers consider him a good songwriter. And I think that’s why he’s having all the success.”
Durrette is unique in Nashville circles, in that he doesn’t play an instrument when he writes songs—no guitar, no piano. “I’ve never played an instrument in my life. For me the words and melody come at the same time. Like whenever I write anything, I sing it as I write it. So with Zac—because we’ve written hundreds of songs—I would just start singing and he would follow where I was going. And then we’d slowly make it a song and then bring it to the band and they would put their thing on it.
“Finding a melody, I think that’s one of my strengths. Because I don’t play an instrument I don’t get caged, thinking that this chord has to go to this chord and this melody can’t happen. And so it makes my mind a little bit easier to chase out-of-the-box melodies.”
Bart Herbison To Be Honored By L.A. AIMP Chapter
/by Lorie HollabaughBart Herbison
The Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers will honor Bart Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, as the recipient of its Individual Award in Support of Songwriters & Publishers.
The awards will be presented during the AIMP LA Chapter Holiday Awards & Annual Meeting of Members, which will be held online Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. PT. Primary Wave Music will also receive the 2020 Indie Publisher of the Year Award during the ceremony.
“While COVID-19 has hugely impacted the world, Primary Wave Music and Bart Herbison have both worked hard to keep moving the independent music publishing industry forward, and we are proud to recognize them with our 2020 AIMP LA Awards,” said Teri Nelson Carpenter, National Chair and Los Angeles Chapter President of the AIMP. “Whether fighting hard to secure placements and proper payment for their songwriters or ensuring The MLC serves the interests of independent publishers when it launches in January, we are heartened by their efforts in this difficult time.”
As Executive Director of the NSAI, Herbison leads the world’s largest nonprofit songwriters trade organization and advocacy group dedicated to the songwriting profession. In addition to overseeing the NSAI’s 100-plus chapters throughout the U.S. and the world, which count over 5,000 aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music as members, Herbison is a member of the Board of Directors at The MLC, where he works to ensure successful implementation of the Music Modernization Act. His efforts have established the NSAI as a major force in the national legislative arena, having played a key role in the passage of the MMA in 2018.
“This award means a lot to me because of the respect I have for AIMP. We’ve effectively joined together on the Music Modernization Act and a number of initiatives — fighting for fair compensation for songwriters and music publishers. It is presently my honor as a board member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective to work alongside AIMP and its members, who have a huge stake in implementation of The MLC. While Nashville is proudly in our name, NSAI, like AIMP, impacts the rights of all publishers, songwriters, and rights-holders, no matter where they live,” said Herbison.
Morgan Wallen Announces Sophomore Double Album Set For January
/by Lorie HollabaughMorgan Wallen is having a big week this week, with his CMA win last night (Nov. 11) for New Artist of the Year and the news that he’ll release his brand new two-album sophomore project, Dangerous: The Double Album, on Jan. 8.
He announced the release on his socials last night. The 30-track album is nearly three years in the making, and features songs penned by an arsenal of writers ranging from Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Hillary Lindsey, and Josh Osborne, to two of Wallen’s biggest musical inspirations, Eric Church and Jason Isbell, along with his closest musical confidants HARDY, ERNEST and Ryan Vojtesak (aka Charlie Handsome).
The vast double album holds both of Wallen’s current country singles, “More Than My Hometown” and “7 Summers,”as well as his acclaimed cover of Isbell’s “Cover Me Up,” the New Year’s surprise release “This Bar,” and the countrified album version of the triple Platinum Diplo collaboration, “Heartless.”
“As y’all may have heard, I announced a double album last night, and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” shared Wallen. “The ‘double album’ idea started off as just a joke between me and my manager because we had accumulated so many songs over the past couple of years. Then quarantine hit, and we realized it might actually be possible to have enough time to make it happen. I also ended up writing quite a few more songs during the quarantine with some of my good buddies. After a few months of production and fine tuning, I am so proud of what we came up with. I know 32 (eventual) songs sounds like a lot to digest, but I truly did my best to make sure there’s not a song that I would press ‘next’ on. I also wanted the songs to speak to multiple phases of life and have multiple different sounds based on my influences and based on what I enjoy. The three songs that we will put out next week will hopefully encapsulate a lot of the project for you and hold you off until January. Thank y’all!!”
Dangerous: The Double Album Track List:
DISC 1 –
1. “Sand In My Boots” (Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne)
2. “Wasted On You” (Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, Ryan Vojtesak) *
3. “Somebody’s Problem” (Morgan Wallen, Rodney Clawson, Jacob Durrett, Ernest Keith Smith)
4. “More Surprised Than Me” (Ben Burgess, Lee Thomas Miller, Niko Moon)
5. “865” (John Byron, Blake Pendergrass)
6. “Warning” (Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak) +
7. “Neon Eyes” (Morgan Wallen, Ben Burgess, Mark Holman)
8. “Outlaw” feat. Ben Burgess (Ben Burgess, Patrick Davis, Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds)
9. “Whiskey’d My Way” (Matt Dragstrem, Josh Miller, Thomas Rhett, Josh Thompson)
10. “Wonderin’ Bout The Wind” (Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith)
11. “Your Bartender” (Rhett Akins, Matt Dragstrem, Thomas Rhett, Josh Thompson) ^
12. “Only Thing That’s Gone” feat. Chris Stapleton (Morgan Wallen, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill, Josh Thompson)
13. “Cover Me Up” (Jason Isbell) •
14. “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
15. “More Than My Hometown” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
DISC 2 –
1. “Still Goin Down” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Ryan Vojtesak)
2. “Rednecks, Red Letters, Red Dirt” (Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill, Josh Thompson)
3. “Dangerous” (Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith)
4. “Beer Don’t” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Jake Mitchell)
5. “Blame It On Me” (Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
6. “Somethin’ Country” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Daniel Ross, Ernest Keith Smith)
7. “This Bar” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Jackson Morgan, Jake Scott, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
8. “Country A$$ Shit” (Morgan Wallen, Chase McGill, Jordan Schmidt)
9. “Whatcha Think Of Country Now” (Dallas Davidson, Devin Dawson, Kyle Fishman, Mark Holman, Justin Wilson)
10. “Me On Whiskey” (Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
11. “Need A Boat” (Morgan Wallen, Matt Dragstrem, Hillary Lindsey)
12. “Silverado For Sale” (Dallas Davidon, Marv Green, Ben Hayslip)
13. “Heartless” (Wallen Album Mix) (Morgan Wallen, Henry Agincourt Allen, Ryan Hurd, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
14. “Livin’ The Dream” (Morgan Wallen, Ben Burgess, Jacob Durrett, Michael Hardy)
15. “Quittin’ Time” (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Josh Thompson)
TARGET EXCLUSIVE BONUS TRACKS**
1. “This Side Of A Dust Cloud” (Morgan Wallen, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill, Josh Thompson)
2. “Bandaid On A Bullet Hole“ (Morgan Wallen, Jacob Durrett, Ashley Gorley)*