There is very little in this edition of DisClaimer that is earth shattering—This week’s hallmarks are craftsmanship and competence.
Rising above the routine are Josh Turner, High Valley, the exquisite Gone West and our Disc of the Day winner, Kane Brown.
The DisCovery Award goes to the new duo Southerland, comprised of Matt Chase and Chris Rogers.
SOUTHERLAND/”Thing Is”
Writers: Matt Chase/Chris Rogers/Greg Bates; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Trent Willmon; River House/Sony
– Rollicking, good-natured and relentlessly upbeat. A single with a smile.
HIGH VALLEY/”Grew Up on That”
Writers: Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis, Jaron Boyer; Publisher: WMG/Sony-ATV/Peermusic/Kobalt, no performance rights listed; Producer: Seth Mosley; Warner
– Well written and highly engaging. The word portrait of simple values is dazzlingly detailed, and the melodic bed surrounding it twinkles like a holiday sparkler. I’m in.
JOSH TURNER/”I Can Tell By the Way You Dance”
Writers: Sandy Pinkard/Robert Strandlund; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Kenny Greenberg; MCA Nashville
– This is smokin’ hot. Turner’s arrangement ups the tempo and intensity of this 1984 Vern Gosdin classic, giving it a zesty, refreshing spin. It’s a risky business covering one of country music’s greatest vocal stylists, but Turner shows that he’s up to the task with his artfully phrased delivery. And anyone who shines a light on Gosdin’s greatness gets an A+ in my book.
ALECIA NUGENT/”Way Too Young for Wings”
Writers: Alecia Nugent/James Leblanc/Jen Stegall/Brian Maher; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Keith Stegall; Hillbilly Goddess
– Nugent is taking the unusual step of releasing two singles simultaneously. This gentle, poignant ballad about dealing with the death of a young person is for the country market. The two stepper “Tell Fort Worth I Said Hello” is aimed at Texas-music programmers. Makes sense to me, since Texas is its own planet. And since both songs are stunners.
LUKE BRYAN/”Down to One”
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Justin Ebach/Kyle Fishman; Publisher: Play It Again Entertainment, BMI/ Kyle Fishman Music, BMI/Round Hill Compositions, BMI/ Natalia’s Music Money, BMI/Memory Days, SESAC/Curb Wordspring Music, SESAC/W.C.M. Music Corp., SESAC; Producer: Jeff Stevens & Jody Steven; Capitol
– Beautifully produced. At its most basic, this is yet another uptempo, not-too-country love song. But the swirling sonic mix makes it sound like a real romance.
KINKY FRIEDMAN/”Resurrection”
Writers: Kinky Friedman; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Larry Campbell; Echo Hill
– The soulful title tune of Friedman’s current CD serves notice that he’s not the snarky comic presence that he used to be. It’s a toe tapping meditation on death and the passage of time, sung with a soft, folky rasp that exudes sincerity. Willie Nelson drops by to harmonize.
JUSTIN MOORE/”We Didn’t Have Much”
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Randy Montana/Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jeremy Stover & Scott Borchetta; Valory
– The restless shuffling tempo propels this toe-tapper-with-a-heart. It gives it a certain edge and helps lift the song above mere nostalgia and a familiar poor-but-happy message. It’s a glimpse into Moore’s album to come next year.
MARGIE SINGLETON/”Never Mind”
Writers: M. Singleton/S.S. Singleton; Publisher: aintquittin, BMI; Producer: Stephen Shelby Singleton & Derrick Dexter Mathis; aintquittin music
– Singer-songwriter Margie Singleton celebrated her 85th birthday on Monday by releasing a new EP. Its title tune is a bass-heavy rumbler with an autobiographical lyric that she delivers with moxie. Active for seven decades, Singleton has sung hit duets with George Jones and Faron Young. She has written “Lie to Me” (an R&B hit for Brook Benton), “She Understands Me” (a pop hit for Johnny Tillotson) and “Laura What’s He Got That I Ain’t Got” (a country hit by her late husband Leon Ashley). And she’s still at it.
KANE BROWN/”Worship You”
Writers: Eskeerdo/Kane Brown/Matthew McGinn/Ryan Vojtesak; Publisher: Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/ Kane Brown Music, BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/AIX Publishing, ASCAP/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/McGinntellectual Property, SESAC/True Blue Works, SESAC/Krispy Pork Gang, BMI ; Producer: Dann Huff; RCA Nashville/Zone 4
– A repeated acoustic guitar figure sends a rippling wave through this super-romantic ballad that’s shot through with religious metaphors. His performance is a slow-burn dandy. This guy’s stardom seems to burn brighter with every release.
GONE WEST/”I’m Never Getting Over You”
Writers: Colbie Caillat/Danielle Leverett Reeves/Jason Bradford Reeves/Justin Young/Liz Rose; Publisher: Warner-Chappell/Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Producer: Jamie Kenney; Triple Tigers
– This packs a punch. The anguish and ache in the farewell tune are made all the more piquant by the facts that this is the group’s swan song and that Colbie Caillat and Justin Young are breaking up as a couple. Caillat is noted as a Grammy winning pop artist, but it is Hawaiian music star Young’s soul-searing performance here that sent chills up my spine. Intensely moving. I am going to miss this always-flawless foursome.
KASSI ASHTON/”Black Motorcycle”
Writers: Kassi Ashton/Luke Laird; Publisher: Creative Nation; Producer: Kassi Ashton & Luke Laird; MCA Nashville/Interscope
– The track is a muffled mess. The lyric consists of the same inane phrase repeated over the over. There is nothing “country” about it. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
Track45 To Debut ‘Small Town’ EP October 23
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Track45’s Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Jenna Johnson. Photo: Joseph Llanes
Track45 is releasing their Small Town EP on Friday, October 23 on Stoney Creek Records.
The trio have writing credits on every track and produced several cuts, but they also enlisted the help of creative collaborators like producer Byron Gallimore. The EP includes the upbeat “Come On In,” with its inviting hook and a cappella intro that tells you exactly who they are and where they come from, “Me + You,” an instrumental groove laced with steel guitar, and “Met Me Now,” which mines regret and the desire to reset time. The collection captures a sound that draws from their assorted country, rock, R&B, and pop playlists.
Hailing from Meridian, MS, siblings Jenna, Ben, and KK Johnson have taken family-based, small-town values and stories as well as their experience as a family and love for one another and combined their own individual successes to create their musical style. Each has signed their own individual publishing deals and compiled impressive outside cuts with artists including Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Lee Brice, HARDY, Lauren Alaina, and more. Ben just earned his first No. 1 as a songwriter with Lee Brice’s three-week, chart-topping hit “One Of Them Girls.”
“We moved to Nashville with a big dream,” says the members of Track45. “We’re so proud that our first EP, Small Town, tells the story of who we are and where we’re from. We poured our hearts into this project, and we hope people love it as much as we do!”
Zoom Rolls Out New OnZoom Option For Paid Live Events
/by Lorie HollabaughZoom has launched a way for users to put on live, pay-to-attend virtual events, CNBC reports.
The new OnZoom service for hosting premium events is entering public beta in the U.S. and will become available worldwide in 2021, according to CNBC. OnZoom helps Zoom build on the exposure it has had this year with the onset of the pandemic and enables the company to encroach on the territory of companies that sell tickets to live events like Eventbrite and Live Nation. Unlike most of its live-ticketing competitors however, Zoom won’t take a cut of ticket sales during the OnZoom public testing period, which is expected to last at least through 2020. The company’s head said it will look at whether it should start charging next year, however.
Earlier this year, Zoom reached more than 300 million daily call participants at one point. Zoom users have to have paid subscriptions and be located in the U.S. to create single or repeating events through the new OnZoom feature, and people must have Zoom accounts and be located in the U.S. to join the events. The number of attendees is determined on the host’s Zoom subscription level, and organizers can hold events for free or ask attendees to donate to specific nonprofits if they want.
Sony/ATV Nashville Signs Nate Smith To Worldwide Deal
/by LB CantrellNate Smith. Photo: Rachel Deebs
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville announced today (Oct. 16) it has signed breakout country singer/songwriter Nate Smith to a global publishing agreement.
Originally from Paradise, California, Smith’s single “Wildfire” has garnered nine million Spotify streams and two million TikTok views. Smith has opened the stage for prominent artists across genres including Brett Eldredge, Michael Ray, Travis Denning, Eli Young Band, X Ambassadors, and Pitbull.
Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston stated, “Nate has an incredible ability to inspire hope and bring people together with his songs. We are so pleased to welcome Nate to the Sony/ATV family—he has unlimited potential, and this is just the beginning for him and his career.”
Smith said, “I’ve always been told that you want to surround yourself with people who believe in you even more than you do, and that’s what I’ve found with the Sony/ATV family.”
Smith began his music career at 23 years old when he moved to Nashville and signed his first label and publishing deal. He eventually had to leave Music City and move back to California to be with his family, and it was during that time a devastating fire struck Paradise and destroyed everything he owned. Through his experience with loss and grief, Nate re-discovered his love for country music and began writing songs again.
Soon after, Smith co-wrote “One of These Days,” a tribute song to honor Paradise, California after the devastating wildfires in 2018. The single quickly went viral and became an anthem of hope for fire victims struggling with loss and pain. After the success of “One of These Days,” Smith was inspired to continue his songwriting career and move back to Nashville. Since then, he signed a new management deal with Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman at The Core Entertainment.
Smith also released his new single “Under My Skin” today.
Jaden Hamilton Signs With Sony Music Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Randy Goodman, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO; Jaden Hamilton; Alison Mingino, Sony Music Nashville A&R Manager. Photo: Adam Davis
Country artist and TikTok creator, Jaden Hamilton, has signed with Sony Music Nashville.
The singer-songwriter is debuting his Ain’t That Something EP today (Oct. 16). The four-song collection, produced by Matthew McVaney, features new tracks “Thinkin’ Bout You” and the title track, along with previously released “Found Myself in a Country Song” and fan-favorite “Long Night Letting Go.”
Photo: Matthew Berinato
A native of Prairieville, LA, Hamilton was raised on a mix of classic country and hard rock, surrounded by the sugarcane fields and tread-marked dirt roads referenced in his lyrics. They were the backdrops to his earliest TikTok clips, where he first established a highly-engaged digital audience, with over 365,000 followers on the platform to date. After two weeks at Louisiana State University, and faced with an invitation from a pop producer to move to L.A., Hamilton went with option three and relocated to Nashville.
“I’m so excited to get the news out that I’ve signed with Sony Nashville. I’m grateful to be a part of such a supportive team that works with many artists that I look up to,” says Hamilton. “It’s a dream come true to be able to share this news and release my EP today. I’m super proud of these songs and I think they capture who I am as an artist.”
Hamilton is managed by The Erv Woolsey Company in partnership with Regulator Management.
Weekly Radio Report (10/16/20)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.
Tennessee Breaks First Day of Early Voting Record
/by LB CantrellThrough Wednesday, Oct. 14, a record-breaking 273,325 people cast their ballot by voting early or absentee by-mail. This is a 91% increase from the first day of early voting in 2016 and a 120% increase over 2012.
“I’m excited that Tennesseans are engaged and are making their voices heard at the polls,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We are on pace to break our previous early voting turnout record, which was set in 2016.”
Early voting for the State and Federal Primary and County General election runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Oct. 29. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Tennessee voters can find their early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations and more with the free GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com.
While visiting the polls, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintain a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters.
Nashville Entrepreneur Center Aiding Small Businesses Affected By COVID-19
/by LB CantrellThe Nashville Entrepreneur Center will launch Renew Nashville, a citywide initiative designed to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with world-class expertise and resources aimed at increasing their rate of survival.
By partnering with five local nonprofits—Pathway Lending, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Business Incubation Center, Conexión Américas—the Nashville Entrepreneur Center is leveraging its position as the hub for entrepreneurs, providing participants access to master-class resources, executive level advisors, and the support of the city’s largest business network. Entry into this invaluable program will increase the survival rate for those most vulnerable to the pandemic.
The program is free to the first 500 small businesses to connect with Renew Nashville and register in Davidson County. Any Davidson County small business impacted by COVID is eligible, and this opportunity is open to any industry and any segment, including those in the music industry.
Applications to participate in Renew Nashville are open now.
WME Signs Robyn Ottolini
/by LB CantrellRobyn Ottolini. Photo: Matt Stride
WME has signed fast-rising country singer/songwriter Robyn Ottolini.
The newly-signed Warner Music Nashville artist’s viral hit “F-150” reached No. 4 on Spotify’s all-genre US Viral 50 chart, while organically amassing 6+ million streams across platforms. Ottolini has released two independent EPs and earned a Rising Star Award at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards in 2019.
The 25-year-old Uxbridge, Ontario native is managed by Mark Schroor and Erik Fintelman from Workshop Music Group and attorney Kurt Dahl of Murphy & Company LLP.
DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Kane Brown, Josh Turner, High Valley, Gone West
/by Robert K OermannThere is very little in this edition of DisClaimer that is earth shattering—This week’s hallmarks are craftsmanship and competence.
Rising above the routine are Josh Turner, High Valley, the exquisite Gone West and our Disc of the Day winner, Kane Brown.
The DisCovery Award goes to the new duo Southerland, comprised of Matt Chase and Chris Rogers.
SOUTHERLAND/”Thing Is”
Writers: Matt Chase/Chris Rogers/Greg Bates; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Trent Willmon; River House/Sony
– Rollicking, good-natured and relentlessly upbeat. A single with a smile.
HIGH VALLEY/”Grew Up on That”
Writers: Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis, Jaron Boyer; Publisher: WMG/Sony-ATV/Peermusic/Kobalt, no performance rights listed; Producer: Seth Mosley; Warner
– Well written and highly engaging. The word portrait of simple values is dazzlingly detailed, and the melodic bed surrounding it twinkles like a holiday sparkler. I’m in.
JOSH TURNER/”I Can Tell By the Way You Dance”
Writers: Sandy Pinkard/Robert Strandlund; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Kenny Greenberg; MCA Nashville
– This is smokin’ hot. Turner’s arrangement ups the tempo and intensity of this 1984 Vern Gosdin classic, giving it a zesty, refreshing spin. It’s a risky business covering one of country music’s greatest vocal stylists, but Turner shows that he’s up to the task with his artfully phrased delivery. And anyone who shines a light on Gosdin’s greatness gets an A+ in my book.
ALECIA NUGENT/”Way Too Young for Wings”
Writers: Alecia Nugent/James Leblanc/Jen Stegall/Brian Maher; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Keith Stegall; Hillbilly Goddess
– Nugent is taking the unusual step of releasing two singles simultaneously. This gentle, poignant ballad about dealing with the death of a young person is for the country market. The two stepper “Tell Fort Worth I Said Hello” is aimed at Texas-music programmers. Makes sense to me, since Texas is its own planet. And since both songs are stunners.
LUKE BRYAN/”Down to One”
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Justin Ebach/Kyle Fishman; Publisher: Play It Again Entertainment, BMI/ Kyle Fishman Music, BMI/Round Hill Compositions, BMI/ Natalia’s Music Money, BMI/Memory Days, SESAC/Curb Wordspring Music, SESAC/W.C.M. Music Corp., SESAC; Producer: Jeff Stevens & Jody Steven; Capitol
– Beautifully produced. At its most basic, this is yet another uptempo, not-too-country love song. But the swirling sonic mix makes it sound like a real romance.
KINKY FRIEDMAN/”Resurrection”
Writers: Kinky Friedman; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Larry Campbell; Echo Hill
– The soulful title tune of Friedman’s current CD serves notice that he’s not the snarky comic presence that he used to be. It’s a toe tapping meditation on death and the passage of time, sung with a soft, folky rasp that exudes sincerity. Willie Nelson drops by to harmonize.
JUSTIN MOORE/”We Didn’t Have Much”
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Randy Montana/Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jeremy Stover & Scott Borchetta; Valory
– The restless shuffling tempo propels this toe-tapper-with-a-heart. It gives it a certain edge and helps lift the song above mere nostalgia and a familiar poor-but-happy message. It’s a glimpse into Moore’s album to come next year.
MARGIE SINGLETON/”Never Mind”
Writers: M. Singleton/S.S. Singleton; Publisher: aintquittin, BMI; Producer: Stephen Shelby Singleton & Derrick Dexter Mathis; aintquittin music
– Singer-songwriter Margie Singleton celebrated her 85th birthday on Monday by releasing a new EP. Its title tune is a bass-heavy rumbler with an autobiographical lyric that she delivers with moxie. Active for seven decades, Singleton has sung hit duets with George Jones and Faron Young. She has written “Lie to Me” (an R&B hit for Brook Benton), “She Understands Me” (a pop hit for Johnny Tillotson) and “Laura What’s He Got That I Ain’t Got” (a country hit by her late husband Leon Ashley). And she’s still at it.
KANE BROWN/”Worship You”
Writers: Eskeerdo/Kane Brown/Matthew McGinn/Ryan Vojtesak; Publisher: Songs Of Universal, Inc., BMI/ Kane Brown Music, BMI/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP/AIX Publishing, ASCAP/Kobalt Group Music Publishing, SESAC/McGinntellectual Property, SESAC/True Blue Works, SESAC/Krispy Pork Gang, BMI ; Producer: Dann Huff; RCA Nashville/Zone 4
– A repeated acoustic guitar figure sends a rippling wave through this super-romantic ballad that’s shot through with religious metaphors. His performance is a slow-burn dandy. This guy’s stardom seems to burn brighter with every release.
GONE WEST/”I’m Never Getting Over You”
Writers: Colbie Caillat/Danielle Leverett Reeves/Jason Bradford Reeves/Justin Young/Liz Rose; Publisher: Warner-Chappell/Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Producer: Jamie Kenney; Triple Tigers
– This packs a punch. The anguish and ache in the farewell tune are made all the more piquant by the facts that this is the group’s swan song and that Colbie Caillat and Justin Young are breaking up as a couple. Caillat is noted as a Grammy winning pop artist, but it is Hawaiian music star Young’s soul-searing performance here that sent chills up my spine. Intensely moving. I am going to miss this always-flawless foursome.
KASSI ASHTON/”Black Motorcycle”
Writers: Kassi Ashton/Luke Laird; Publisher: Creative Nation; Producer: Kassi Ashton & Luke Laird; MCA Nashville/Interscope
– The track is a muffled mess. The lyric consists of the same inane phrase repeated over the over. There is nothing “country” about it. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
Florida Georgia Line Receive Angels Among Us Award From St. Jude
/by Lorie HollabaughFlorida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line was honored with the Randy Owen “Angels Among Us” award today (Oct. 15) during a livestream for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Themed “We Won’t Stop,” the livestream is an annual celebration of partners affiliated with the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radio program. The theme will also extend to social media and feature a variety of artists and influencers in the music industry.
FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have supported St. Jude families for many years, including involving their families and pets in the This Shirt Saves Lives social media campaign since 2017. They have engaged in special moments with St. Jude patients like surprising St. Jude patient Ian on stage at the Nashville Symphony in 2018 when Kelley led a crowd of more than 1,500 fans in singing the “No More Chemo” song to him, in celebration of his last round of chemotherapy. Last year FGL added a surprise tour stop at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour. Due to their popularity, the event attracted a record crowd of patient families for an on-campus event.
“There is truly no place like St. Jude,” said Hubbard. “Whenever we visit, we are continually inspired by the kids’ strength and their amazing stories of bravery. Giving back is in our hearts and to be presented this award is an absolute honor.”
Kelley adds, “Music is healing and we love being able to help in any way we can to further the mission of St.Jude. And, for this award to be named after Randy Owen—who has always been one of our influences—that’s pretty incredible.”
“Tyler and Brian have always exemplified the true heart of the Angels Among Us Award by giving their time, love and voices to our mission, making such a powerful impact on the lives of children worldwide through their support of St. Jude,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Through a year that has been tough for everyone, they have still shown steadfast support to us. I’m honored to present them with this distinction as members of our St. Jude family.”
The recognition places FGL among the ranks of eight past recipients, including Alabama frontman Randy Owen, 2020 award-winner Lady A, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, John Rich, former ALSAC Chief Operating Officer David McKee (posthumously), St. Jude Country Cares Advisory Board member Sharon Eaves (posthumously), and Darius Rucker.