This year, the Country Music Association’s CMA Awards will air live from Nashville as usual, but in a different venue and with a plethora of health and safety protocols in place, to help protect artists and production crew members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of taking place before an in-house audience at Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday night’s (Nov. 11) show will take place at Music City Center, and will harken back to the event’s first awards show in 1967, which had been a non-televised banquet dinner, attended only by artists and industry members.
In a video message, Country Music Awards Association CEO Sarah Trahern and CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton shared details of this year’s setup and the efforts that have taken place backstage to make this year’s show possible. Like that 1967 show, artists will be seated, banquet-style and socially-distanced, at tables throughout the room, with one artist and a guest at each table.
“This is the first show where we actually have an [in-house] audience, albeit a really small one,” she said. “In this case, it’s the artists that are there in the audience, but it’s also a chance for artists who have had a year of not being able to [play concerts] to be able to be in the room and celebrate together,” Trahern said.
Though this year’s awards won’t have the large in-house audience that it normally does, Deaton says the small audience comprised of fellow artists will make for an intimate experience for this year’s nominees.
“At our show, there will be applause. When someone wins, there will be euphoria and the support of the community at the same time. Whoever wins Best New Artist for example, we still want it to feel like a real thing,” Deaton said.
This year’s CMA Awards will be co-hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker. This marks McEntire’s fifth year as a host, while Rucker will be hosting for the first time. In addition to her previous CMA hosting duties, McEntire has hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards 16 times.
“She’s one of those people when you are in a live situation…and you never know what’s going to happen, you’re glad to have Reba on your team,” Trahern said.
Deaton added, “When we were trying to figure out best who would go with her…[we watched] a little nugget during the time when we had Darius do ‘Hold My Hand’ [during the CMA Awards in 2017]…He’s so good and presents himself so well, that was the first time I gave it some thought. We started talking about different people that would work with Reba and we thought it would be a really good combination.”
This year’s show will welcome performances from Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, performing “10,000 Hours,” while Gabby Barrett will team with Charlie Puth for a rendition of “I Hope.” McEntire and Rucker will perform together, and Rucker will also perform his new single “Beers & Sunshine” with Lady A. McEntire will take part in a performance of “Be A Light,” with Thomas Rhett, Lady A’s Hillary Scott, and CCM star Chris Tomlin. Other performers include Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Maren Morris, and more.
There will also be tributes to the late Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, and Joe Diffie—the Diffie tribute is especially poignant for Deaton, who shot many of Diffie’s music videos, such as “Pickup Man” and “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die).”
Trahern and Deaton say the CMA’s crew members, as well as the evening’s artist nominees, performers and presenters, have followed stringent protocols to prepare safely for Wednesday evening’s show.
“There were two things that were important and needed to be addressed. It had to be adaptable to an audience or [the lack of] an audience. The other thing, it had to be us. We are the CMA Awards, it had to look like us and feel like us,” Deaton said.
This year’s show will have two performance stages set up at opposite ends of the room, with a third smaller stage set up in the middle of the room for awards winners to accept their honors.
The two-stage setup allows for each stage to be properly cleaned between performances. “Everyone has to come off [stage], it has to be cleaned, and then everyone has to come on. So the fact that we can bounce back and forth from one stage to another, it works really well, and from a design standpoint, too,” Deaton said. “It also opened up a flow to have a show that has 20 performances on it, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to do that at all.”
Deaton offers another example of the COVID-19 protocols, in that no microphones are shared. Presenters will each use a hand mic, so they won’t use the same microphone the award winner will then speak into while giving an acceptance speech. Once an artist wins and the show goes to commercial break, the microphone is cleaned before the next winner’s name is called.
“Every single artist that sings, that microphone will only be used that one time. We have quadruple the number of microphones we usually have,” Deaton noted.
Any crew member who is near artists at any point in the show’s preparations has to be tested every other day, “because the artists will be, at some point, without masks, because they will be singing,” Trahern said.
Trahern also referred to a 100-page protocols manual that has guided the setup for the CMA Awards rehearsals, live show, and the annual “Radio Row” that is typically held prior to each CMA Awards.
“Each artist will be carrying their own microphone through the whole project as opposed having a different microphone in each booth,” Deaton said of the annual Radio Row.
Trahern and Deaton noted that during the show, McEntire and Rucker will be spaced six feet apart, and the number of awards presenters has been reduced.
“Normally we have two or three presenters presenting one award,” Deaton said. “This year, it’s mostly one presenter. For us, it’s easier to follow the protocols if I just have one [presenter]. Traffic flow is very important.”
Over the weekend, two performers—Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard—each announced they would not be taking part in the CMA Awards due to positive COVID-19 tests. Brice was to perform “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce; Lady A’s Charles Kelley stepped in last minute to take Lee’s role in the song. In an earlier statement, the CMA noted that its health and safety protocols “enabled us to manage each situation immediately and before either artist ever entered our set. Most importantly, it prevented anyone else from being exposed.”
“The safety and security of everyone on our set is our first priority,” Trahern said during the video message. “The second priority is having a great TV show. I feel like we’ve left no stone unturned when it comes to the production and safety protocols.”
“I think we’ve been able to pull off, with Robert’s vision…a show that looks like the CMAs, albeit CMAs in a time of COVID,” Trahern added.
The CMA Awards will air Wednesday, Nov. 11 beginning at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen, Lauren Alaina, Brett Young Set For “Television-Only” Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Event
/by Lorie HollabaughThis year, the procession will forgo its traditional 2.5-mile march through Manhattan, to deter the gathering of large crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of parade participants has also been reduced by 75 percent.
The event will include Broadway/theatrical performances including Ain’t Too Proud-The Life and Times of the Temptations, Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, Mean Girls and the Radio City Rockettes.
Thomas Rhett, Lauren Akins To Co-Host ‘CMA Country Christmas’
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto: Courtesy Twitter @ThomasRhett
Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins are set to co-host CMA Country Christmas, they announced Wednesday morning (Nov. 11) on Good Morning America. The first-time co-hosts will lead the show, which was recorded a few weeks ago and is set to air Nov. 30 on ABC. No performers have been announced at this time; last year’s lineup included Dierks Bentley, for King & Country, Chris Janson, Lady A, Brett Young, and more.
Thomas Rhett has previously co-hosted CMA Fest for three years alongside Kelsea Ballerini, and prior to that, hosted the show alongside Brett Eldredge.
The singer-songwriter, who recently released the track “What’s Your Country Song,” previously released holiday singles including “Christmas in the Country” and “The Christmas Song.”
BREAKING: Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce And Lee Brice Earn Early CMA Wins
/by LB CantrellMiranda Lambert, Lee Brice, Carly Pearce
Two CMA Award winners were revealed this morning (Nov. 11) on ABC’s Good Morning America, ahead of the live telecast tonight. Carly Pearce and Lee Brice won CMA Musical Event of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now, produced by busbee. Miranda Lambert won CMA Music Video of the Year for “Bluebird,” directed by Trey Fanjoy.
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” is also up for Song of the Year. Lambert leads the nominees tonight with seven nominations, breaking the record for most nominations by a female artist in CMA Awards history with 55 total career nods.
A final performer was also revealed for tonight’s CMA Awards. Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini will take the stage to perform her hit single “hole in the bottle.”
Additionally, hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will debut an emotional tribute to the late country music icon three-time CMA Awards host Mac Davis, with a performance of his “In the Ghetto.” The song, which the pair recorded last month, will be available on all DSPs at midnight ET, tonight, following their CMA Awards performance.
The 54th Annual CMA Awards airs live tonight from Nashville’s Music City Center (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.
AFM Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy Re-Elected For Fifth Term
/by Jessica NicholsonAFM Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy and Secretary-Treasurer Vince Santoro ran unopposed and were both re-elected by acclamation Nov. 5 at a nominations meeting that followed the fourth quarter membership meeting. Both meetings were held as virtual tele-conferences. Pomeroy will begin his fifth three-year term in office in January 2021, and Santoro will start his third term.
“I appreciate the confidence of our Local 257 members in our leadership, and I am honored to continue our mission — to ensure all musicians are respected and protected, now and in the future. This has been a difficult time for all us, but we will get through this together and be stronger for the experience,” Pomeroy said.
Santoro also commented on his re-election. “Thank you to the members of Local 257 for your support. Dave and I will continue to work to make sure our union is strong and ready for the challenges the next three years will bring,” Santoro said.
Also running unopposed and elected by acclamation were seven candidates for the seven-member Local 257 Hearing Board, two trustee candidates, and one candidate for Sergeant-at-Arms.
Nine nominees will vie for seven positions on the Local 257 Executive Board. They are: Casey Brefka, Rich Eckhardt, Jerry Kimbrough, Alison Prestwood, Laura Ross, Steven Sheehan, Biff Watson, Tom Wild, and Jonathan Yudkin. Ballots will be mailed to Local 257 members in the next few days, with a count of votes by the Local 257 Election Committee set for Dec. 2, 2020.
Selah Celebrates First iTunes No. 1 Debut On Own Label With ‘Step Into My Story’
/by Lorie HollabaughSelah released its 16th album, Step Into My Story, last week. The 10-track collection debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian chart, and No. 25 in all genres. This marks the band’s first No. 1 debut on its new artist-owned label, 3Cre8tive.
The trio kicked off release week with two GMA Dove Award wins (the group’s 9th and 10th career wins). Their latest album blends new tracks with beloved classics delivered from a fresh perspective. The group has amassed over half-a-billion career streams, sold over four million albums, and has 10 GMA Dove Awards to their credit, and have earned a reputation for not only delivering compelling new anthems but also for reviving great hymns of faith. Released on newly-launched record label, 3Cre8tive, Step Into My Story continues the Selah tradition of updating revered hymns and introducing powerful new songs of inspiration for times such as this.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton Give Early Look At CMA Awards Preparations
/by Jessica NicholsonInstead of taking place before an in-house audience at Bridgestone Arena, Wednesday night’s (Nov. 11) show will take place at Music City Center, and will harken back to the event’s first awards show in 1967, which had been a non-televised banquet dinner, attended only by artists and industry members.
In a video message, Country Music Awards Association CEO Sarah Trahern and CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton shared details of this year’s setup and the efforts that have taken place backstage to make this year’s show possible. Like that 1967 show, artists will be seated, banquet-style and socially-distanced, at tables throughout the room, with one artist and a guest at each table.
“This is the first show where we actually have an [in-house] audience, albeit a really small one,” she said. “In this case, it’s the artists that are there in the audience, but it’s also a chance for artists who have had a year of not being able to [play concerts] to be able to be in the room and celebrate together,” Trahern said.
Though this year’s awards won’t have the large in-house audience that it normally does, Deaton says the small audience comprised of fellow artists will make for an intimate experience for this year’s nominees.
“At our show, there will be applause. When someone wins, there will be euphoria and the support of the community at the same time. Whoever wins Best New Artist for example, we still want it to feel like a real thing,” Deaton said.
This year’s CMA Awards will be co-hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker. This marks McEntire’s fifth year as a host, while Rucker will be hosting for the first time. In addition to her previous CMA hosting duties, McEntire has hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards 16 times.
“She’s one of those people when you are in a live situation…and you never know what’s going to happen, you’re glad to have Reba on your team,” Trahern said.
Deaton added, “When we were trying to figure out best who would go with her…[we watched] a little nugget during the time when we had Darius do ‘Hold My Hand’ [during the CMA Awards in 2017]…He’s so good and presents himself so well, that was the first time I gave it some thought. We started talking about different people that would work with Reba and we thought it would be a really good combination.”
This year’s show will welcome performances from Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, performing “10,000 Hours,” while Gabby Barrett will team with Charlie Puth for a rendition of “I Hope.” McEntire and Rucker will perform together, and Rucker will also perform his new single “Beers & Sunshine” with Lady A. McEntire will take part in a performance of “Be A Light,” with Thomas Rhett, Lady A’s Hillary Scott, and CCM star Chris Tomlin. Other performers include Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Maren Morris, and more.
There will also be tributes to the late Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, and Joe Diffie—the Diffie tribute is especially poignant for Deaton, who shot many of Diffie’s music videos, such as “Pickup Man” and “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die).”
Trahern and Deaton say the CMA’s crew members, as well as the evening’s artist nominees, performers and presenters, have followed stringent protocols to prepare safely for Wednesday evening’s show.
“There were two things that were important and needed to be addressed. It had to be adaptable to an audience or [the lack of] an audience. The other thing, it had to be us. We are the CMA Awards, it had to look like us and feel like us,” Deaton said.
This year’s show will have two performance stages set up at opposite ends of the room, with a third smaller stage set up in the middle of the room for awards winners to accept their honors.
The two-stage setup allows for each stage to be properly cleaned between performances. “Everyone has to come off [stage], it has to be cleaned, and then everyone has to come on. So the fact that we can bounce back and forth from one stage to another, it works really well, and from a design standpoint, too,” Deaton said. “It also opened up a flow to have a show that has 20 performances on it, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to do that at all.”
Deaton offers another example of the COVID-19 protocols, in that no microphones are shared. Presenters will each use a hand mic, so they won’t use the same microphone the award winner will then speak into while giving an acceptance speech. Once an artist wins and the show goes to commercial break, the microphone is cleaned before the next winner’s name is called.
“Every single artist that sings, that microphone will only be used that one time. We have quadruple the number of microphones we usually have,” Deaton noted.
Any crew member who is near artists at any point in the show’s preparations has to be tested every other day, “because the artists will be, at some point, without masks, because they will be singing,” Trahern said.
Trahern also referred to a 100-page protocols manual that has guided the setup for the CMA Awards rehearsals, live show, and the annual “Radio Row” that is typically held prior to each CMA Awards.
“Each artist will be carrying their own microphone through the whole project as opposed having a different microphone in each booth,” Deaton said of the annual Radio Row.
Trahern and Deaton noted that during the show, McEntire and Rucker will be spaced six feet apart, and the number of awards presenters has been reduced.
“Normally we have two or three presenters presenting one award,” Deaton said. “This year, it’s mostly one presenter. For us, it’s easier to follow the protocols if I just have one [presenter]. Traffic flow is very important.”
Over the weekend, two performers—Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard—each announced they would not be taking part in the CMA Awards due to positive COVID-19 tests. Brice was to perform “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce; Lady A’s Charles Kelley stepped in last minute to take Lee’s role in the song. In an earlier statement, the CMA noted that its health and safety protocols “enabled us to manage each situation immediately and before either artist ever entered our set. Most importantly, it prevented anyone else from being exposed.”
“The safety and security of everyone on our set is our first priority,” Trahern said during the video message. “The second priority is having a great TV show. I feel like we’ve left no stone unturned when it comes to the production and safety protocols.”
“I think we’ve been able to pull off, with Robert’s vision…a show that looks like the CMAs, albeit CMAs in a time of COVID,” Trahern added.
The CMA Awards will air Wednesday, Nov. 11 beginning at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Gold And Platinum Certs Abound For Chesney, Aldean, Brice, And More
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Lee Brice, Blanco Brown, and Russell Dickerson were among the multitude of artists who received Gold and Platinum certifications in October 2020.
Dickerson received a Gold award for his single “Love You Like I Used To,” Aldean went Gold with his single “Got What I Got,” Brice’s singles “Love Like Crazy” “Rumor,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Hard To Love” “Parking Lot Party” and “Boy” went Platinum while his “One Of Them Girls” went Gold. LOCASH‘s “One Big Country Song” received Gold status, along with Parmalee and Blanco Brown’s “Just The Way.” Old Dominion‘s single “Snapback” went Platinum, while Mitchell Tenpenny‘s “Anything She Says,” featuring Seaforth, also went Gold. Ashley McBryde‘s “A Little Dive Bar Down In Dahlonega” also reached Gold status, along with Cody Johnson‘s “Nothin’ On You.” Danielle Bradbery‘s “Sway” also received Gold certification, along with Kenny Chesney‘s “Here And Now.”
The newcomers achieved a lot of heavy metal last month as well with Parker McCollum and Niko Moon both going gold with their singles “Pretty Heart” and “Good Time” respectively, and Jameson Rodgers‘ “Some Girls” also achieving Gold.
Dierks Bentley‘s “5150” went 2x multi-Platinum, while his single “Living” went Platinum. Riley Green‘s “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” went Platinum, Brantley Gilbert‘s single “Kick It In The Sticks” went 2x multi-Platinum, and Old Dominion’s Meat And Candy album also went Platinum during the month of October.
Industry Ink: Dolly Parton, Tracy Lawrence, Next Generation Artist Management
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton Holiday Livestream Coming To Amazon
Amazon Music is holding a special holiday livestream, “Dolly Parton‘s Comin’ Home for Christmas,” an exclusive holiday experience featuring a performance and Q&A, on Nov. 13. Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan will host the event beginning at 12 p.m. CT on Nov. 13 via Amazon Music’s Twitch channel and within the Amazon Music mobile app via Twitch and Amazon Music’s new live streaming functionality, as well as on Amazon Live – Amazon.com/live – on desktop, mobile, Fire tablet, or via the Amazon Shopping App on Fire TV.
“Dolly Parton’s Comin’ Home for Christmas” will include a performance by Parton of new music from her latest album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, including, “Circle of Love,” “Comin’ Home For Christmas” and “Mary, Did You Know?”. Parton will then join live to take questions from viewers, who can submit questions beforehand by commenting on her social posts about the event. Amazon Music and Amazon Live have also collaborated with Parton to raise awareness for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The stream will include a link for viewers interested in learning more about the organization.
Tracy Lawrence’s Turkey Fry And Benefit Concert Set For Nov. 24
Tracy Lawrence‘s annual Mission:Possible Turkey
Frankie Justin, Kyle English Sign With Next Generation Artist Management
Next Generation Artist Management has added two artists to its growing client roster. Frankie Justin, an artist on the company’s SMG Nashville label who is releasing new music soon, and Kyle English, a singer/songwriter from Ohio. Next Generation Artist Management’s Kristin Johnson said, “We are extremely excited about the future with Frankie Justin, and newcomer Kyle English. They have an extremely strong work ethic, passion, and great songwriting and vocal skills.”
Next Generation Artist Management is part of The Spin Doctors Music Group, Nashville.
NIVA Launches National Independent Venue Foundation
/by Jessica NicholsonAs The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)’s 2,900 members anticipate the passage of the Save Our Stages Act in Congress, NIVA has announced the formation of The National Independent Venue Foundation, a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) which seeks to partner and fundraise through individual, corporate and foundation donations to expand upon NIVA’s mission to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live performance venues and promoters throughout the U.S. by also seeking to support a transparent, competitive marketplace serving a diverse and inclusive community of artists, fans, and industry workers.
“The National Independent Venue Foundation is built on the same guiding principles as the National Independent Venue Association. While NIVA remains the advocacy, sponsorship, and membership trade organization branch of the cause, The Foundation has been created to focus on separate, supplemental initiatives, such as the Emergency Relief Fund,” said Hal Real, president of NIVF. Real is also president of World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and secretary of NIVA. “The Foundation hopes to learn from existing best practices and training programs undertaken by NIVA’s members and expand upon them to provide education and community programming, employee training and support, and economic development initiatives to further develop both organizations’ efforts to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. Long-term, we hope to establish an endowment fund to assure sustainability of NIVA and Foundation programming for years to come.”
The National Independent Venue Foundation will be led by the following board members:
NIVF President: Hal Real, founder and president of World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, and secretary of NIVA
NIVF Executive Director: Rev. Moose, managing partner of Marauder, New York, and executive director of NIVA
NIVF Vice President: Tobi Parks, owner of xBk Live, Des Moines, Iowa
NIVF Secretary/ Treasurer: Laura Wilson, live music manager for The Bohemian Foundation, Fort Collins, CO
NIVF Board Member: Torrie Allen, president and CEO, Arts Midwest, Minneapolis
NIVF Board Member: Annie Brinn, senior vice president of publishing administration at Warner Music Group, Nashville, TN
NIVF Board Member; Taneshia Nash Laird, president and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall, Newark, NJ
NIVF Board Member, David M. Mayeri, founder and CEO of Berkeley Music Group – The UC Theatre, Berkeley, CA
“While we wait for Congressional support that would allow our industry of independent venues and promoters to survive, I’m excited to be working with the National Independent Venue Foundation on next steps that, once we are back in business, will allow every member of our community the equal opportunity to thrive,” said Tobi Parks, NIVF vice president and owner of xBk Live. “It’s more than just that feeling of being in an audience, surrounded by other fans of all backgrounds who are connecting in that moment. Our goal is to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in all levels of our industry – from fans to artists, employees to owners, and beyond.”
“The live music business contributes billions of dollars to the nation’s economy and independently-owned venues are important not only for their economic value but for the quality of life they contribute to their communities,” said Taneshia Nash Laird, NIVF board member and president and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. “I’m delighted to join the Foundation’s board and contribute my expertise in economic development, equity, and inclusion towards the organization’s important mission of not only saving our stages, but helping these business owners maintain financial resilience.”
“As a proud Nashville native, born and raised in Music City, live music is ingrained in my DNA,” said NIVF board member Annie Brinn. “Joining the board of the Foundation sits directly at the intersection of where my personal and professional lives meet. My mission with the Foundation is to drive change through the music industry and into our communities. I’m excited to help champion DEI initiatives and ensure that the relationships we foster and the partnerships we develop on behalf of the Foundation are as diverse as the music that connects us.“
Kameron Marlowe’s Self-Titled Debut EP To Drop This Friday
/by Lorie HollabaughKameron Marlowe. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Columbia Nashville artist Kameron Marlowe is releasing his self-titled debut EP this Friday (Nov. 13). To celebrate the release, Marlowe will open for Chris Young at a socially-distanced concert at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on Saturday (Nov. 14).
Produced by Brad Hill, the six-song release includes Marlowe’s entirely self-penned debut “Giving You Up” and “Burn ‘Em All,” which has ranked Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Marlowe has earned more than 77 million on-demand career streams.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Coming from a small town, things like this just don’t happen,” said Marlowe. “Releasing my debut EP under Columbia Nashville is a dream come true and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.”
Kameron Marlowe EP Track List:
1. Giving You Up (Kameron Marlowe)
2. Sober as a Drunk (Marv Green, J.T. Harding, Justin Wilson)
3. Goin’ There Today (Dan Isbell, Reid Isbell, Drew Parker)
4. Burn ‘Em All (Kameron Marlowe, Brinley Addington, Aaron Eshuis, Jeff Hyde)
5. Hungover (Kameron Marlowe, Joe Clemmons, Aaron Eshuis, Matthew Gatewood)
6. Leavin’ to Me (Kameron Marlowe, Kyle James)