Priscilla Block Signs With UMG Nashville

Pictured: Priscilla Block with cardboard cut out versions of UMG Nashville’s EVP, A&R, Brian Wright; Chairman & CEO, Mike Dungan; President, Cindy Mabe. Photo: Katie Kauss

A few weeks ago, Priscilla Block‘s song, “Just About Over You,” reached the top spot on the iTunes all-genre song chart within 12 hours of release. Now, Block has inked a deal with Universal Music Group Nashville, releasing the song to country radio via Mercury Nashville/InDent Records.

“All of us at UMG are beyond thrilled that Priscilla has decided to join our family,” says UMG Nashville CEO & Chairman Mike Dungan. “With a massive fan base already in place, we are excited to take her and her music to the Universe!”

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina as one of five children, Priscilla moved to Nashville to pursue music shortly after high school. In Nashville, the affable up-and-comer worked multiple jobs to make ends meet while remaining steadfast in her study of songwriting and music.

Block has sold out shows at Deep South the Bar in Raleigh, the Listening Room Cafe, and Nashville’s rowdiest block party, Whiskey Jam. She has also shared the stage with artists including Gabby Barrett, Adam Craig and Dillon Carmichael.

Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay Lead Billboard Music Awards Country Nominees


Earlier today, Billboard announced this year’s Billboard Music Awards nominees. Post Malone leads this year’s nominees with 16 nominations. Lil Nas X follows with 13 nominations, while Billie Eilish and Khalid earned 12 nominations each.

Luke Combs, Maren Morris, and Dan + Shay lead this year’s country nominees.
Combs is nominated for four awards, including the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, as well as Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album (for What You See Is What You Get).

Dan + Shay were nominated in the all-genre Top Duo/Group category, as well as Top Country Artist, Top Country Duo/Group, and Top Country Song (for “10,000 Hours” with Justin Bieber).

Morris is nominated for Top Country Artist, Top Country Female Artist, Top Country Album (for GIRL) and Top Country Song (“The Bones”).

Kane Brown earned three nominations, for Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album (for Experiment). Thomas Rhett also earned three nominations, for Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, and Top Country Album (Center Point Road).

Old Dominion and Morgan Wallen are each up for two honors, with Old Dominion nominated for Top Country Duo/Group, and Top Country Song (“One Man Band”). Wallen is nominated for Top Country Album (for his Platinum-selling If I Know Me) and Top Country Song (“Whiskey Glasses”).

Blake Shelton is nominated in the all-genre Top Selling Song for “God’s Country.” The song also earns a nod for Top Country Song.

Kanye West dominates the Gospel and Christian categories with nine nominations, with songs from his album Jesus Is King placing four of the five slots in the Top Gospel Song category, while the album is also up for Top Christian Album and Top Gospel Album. West is also nominated for Top Christian Artist, Top Gospel Artist and Top Christian Song.

This year’s awards show will air live from Los Angeles’ The Dolby Theatre on Oct. 14 on NBC. Kelly Clarkson will return as host for this year’s show, which was originally slated for April 29, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

See below for a list of select nominations:

Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Dan + Shay
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett

Top Country Male Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett

Top Country Female Artist:
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

Top Country Duo/Group:
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion

Top Country Tour:
Eric Church
Florida Georgia Line
George Strait

Top Country Album:
Kane Brown Experiment
Luke Combs What You See Is What You Get
Maren Morris GIRL
Thomas Rhett Center Point Road
Morgan Wallen If I Know Me

Top Selling Song:
Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”
Billie Eilish “bad guy”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
Lizzo “Truth Hurts”
Blake Shelton “God’s Country”

Top Country Song:
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris “The Bones”
Old Dominion “One Man Band”
Blake Shelton “God’s Country”
Morgan Wallen “Whiskey Glasses”

Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Elevation Worship
For King & Country
Hillsong United
Kanye West

Top Gospel Artist:
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Sunday Service Choir
Kanye West

Top Christian Album:
Bethel Music Victory: Recorded Live
Casting Crowns Only Jesus
Hillsong United People
Skillet Victorious
Kanye West Jesus is King

Top Gospel Album
Kirk Franklin Long Live Love
Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers Goshen
William McDowell The Cry: A Live Worship Experience
Sunday Service Choir Jesus Is Born
Kanye West Jesus is King

Top Hot 100 Song:
Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”
Billie Eilish “bad guy”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
Lizzo “Truth Hurts”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello “Señorita”

Top Streaming Song:
Chris Brown ft. Drake “No Guidance”
Billie Eilish “bad guy”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
Lil Tecca “Ran$om”
Post Malone & Swae Lee “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”

Top Collaboration (Fan Voted):
Chris Brown ft. Drake “No Guidance”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello “Señorita”
Post Malone & Swae Lee “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber “I Don’t Care”

Top Rap Song:
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
Lil Tecca “Ran$om”
Lizzo “Truth Hurts”
Post Malone & Swae Lee “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
Post Malone “Wow.”

Top Christian Song:
Bethel Music, Jonathan David Helser & Melissa Helser “Raise A Hallelujah”
Casting Crowns ft. Matthew West “Nobody”
Lauren Daigle “Rescue”
For King & Country “God Only Knows”
Kanye West “Follow God”

Top Gospel Song:
Kirk Franklin “Love Theory”
Kanye West “Closed on Sunday”
Kanye West “Follow God”
Kanye West “On God”
Kanye West “Selah”

Nate Kenyon Signs With Anthem Music Publishing


Nate Kenyon has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Anthem Music Publishing.

A native of Southeast Georgia, Kenyon was raised on a variety of different genres and artists, which influenced his unique writing style and voice. Along with his songwriting, he is also pursuing an artist career as well, and has shared stages with Luke Combs, Jon Pardi, Tyler Farr and Justin Moore, to name a few. Raking in upwards of 50 million YouTube views over the past two years, he has begun building a dedicated fanbase.

“From the first song we heard of Nate’s, we knew he was a special writer,” said Tim Wipperman, President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “His wordsmithing is visceral and paints vivid pictures in your mind’s eye. You’ll be hearing a lot from Nate in the near future!”

“Not only do I get to say I’m lucky enough to have a publishing deal in Nashville, but I also get to say I have one with a family like Anthem that I know has my back,” Kenyon said.

Anthem Music Publishing is a division of Anthem Entertainment, with offices in Nashville, Toronto and Los Angeles.

Devon Gilfillian, Jason Isbell, The War And Treaty, More Set Livestream Concert To Benefit The Equity Alliance


Devon Gilfillian and Friends are holding a livestream concert, “There’s An Election Going On” on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ET in partnership with The Equity Alliance, Nugs.net and HeadCount.org.

During the special musical event the artists will perform songs from Marvin Gaye’s classic album, What’s Going On, live. The event will also include special guests playing songs of protest, freedom and community. In addition to Gilfillian, performers will include Aaron Lee Tasjan, Breland, Drew Holcomb, Emoni Wilkins, Grace Potter, Jason Eskridge, Jason Isbell, Joy Oladokun, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona Armstrong, Lera Lynn, Local Natives, The Lone Bellow, Nickie Conley and The War and Treaty.

“I don’t have much political power, but I do have the power of music,” said Gilfillian. “I decided I wanted to learn the entirety of Marvin Gaye’s album, What’s Going On, and use that music to raise money to fight voter suppression, bring people together, and share the message that Marvin was trying to get across. Marvin simply wanted this country to have a conversation, an informed conversation, on the injustice and pain that people are facing. To simply look at ‘what’s going on.’ Almost 50 years ago, this album came out, and every word still rings with such relevance.”

Gilfillian performed the national anthem at NASCAR 2020 on the day they banned the Confederate flag. He recently launched The Good Life Fund, which supports organizations that are doing good in the world, including Give A Note Foundation and Rebuilding Together Nashville.

UMPG Nashville Signs Global Publishing Deal With Ian Munsick (Exclusive)


Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Ian Munsick to a global publishing deal. Munsick earned more than 20 million streams and more than 200,000 monthly listeners as an independent artist and recently signed with Warner Music Nashville. He is managed by The Erv Woolsey Company/Not a Public Figure Management. HIs first single, “Long Haul,” released earlier this month.

Cyndi Forman, Senior Vice President A&R, UMPG Nashville, said, “Ian brings such authenticity to his songwriting and artistry. His energy and positivity shines through his music and his work ethic. I can’t wait for people to get to know him. Our entire UMPG family is looking forward to working with him and his incredible team.”

Munsick added, “Working with publishers that have as much respect for Country music as Cyndi and Troy Tomlinson is a dream come true. Cyndi is such a champion for young artists like me who want to broaden the spectrum of Country music yet keep it rooted in lyrical integrity. Her ability to balance both the progressive and traditional ranges of the genre is why I’m confident I have the best damn publisher in town.”

Rock/Country Showman Roy Head Dies At 79

Rocker Roy Head, who later forged a long career in country music, died Monday morning (Sept. 21) at age 79.

Head is best known for his 1965 pop/rock hit “Treat Her Right.” He was a wild, unpredictable showman whose stage performances were legendary. Between 1974 and 1986 he placed 24 singles on the country charts.

He grew up in East Texas, influenced by the musicians in the Black community around him, his mother’s Ernest Tubb records and the weekly broadcasts of The Louisiana Hayride.

Head recorded a few rockabilly tunes, then broke through with the R&B barn burner “Treat Her Right.” The single rose to the upper reaches of the charts, prevented from hitting No. 1 by The Beatles’ “Yesterday.”

The song became a big country hit for Barbara Mandrell in 1971. “Treat Her Right” was also covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Mae West, Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Otis Redding, George Thorogood, The Box Tops, Doug Sahm, Sandy Nelson, Joe Stampley and Los Straightjackets.

Head’s version was heard on the soundtracks of the 1991 movie The Commitments and Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

“Apple of My Eye” was the follow-up top 40 hit in late 1965. A string of releases on Back Beat, Scepter and Mercury ensued in 1966-71. Future rock star Johnny Winter got his start in Head’s band The Traits.

It was during this time that Roy Head built his reputation as a microphone-slinging, frantic, manic, back-flipping, leg-splitting stage wild man. Vocal shrieks and enthusiastic shouts accompanied his gymnastic dancing. Head’s offstage exploits were equally colorful, and Head’s re-telling of them was invariably embellished.

When his pop/rock career faded, Head turned his attention to country music.
He made his debut on the country charts with Mickey Newbury’s tune “Baby’s Not Home” in 1974. The following year, he scored his first country hit, “The Most Wanted Woman in Town.” It cracked the top 20 and became a top 10 hit on the Canadian country charts.

Head had his two biggest country hits in 1977-78, “Come to Me” and “Now You See ‘Em Now You Don’t.” Both were top 20 hits on ABC/Dot Records.

Other notable singles included his country versions of Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s the Night” (1978) and Loggins & Messina’s “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (1983). Roy Head remained a Houston music legend into the 1990s and beyond. He retained his reputation as an electrifying showman into his senior years, and continued to be an entertaining raconteur.

Son Sundance Head was a finalist on American Idol in 2006, then won on The Voice in 2016. That led to the top 10 country hit “Darlin’ Don’t Lie” and a remake of his father’s “Treat Her Right” as a duet with Blake Shelton.

Roy Head was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of fame in 2007. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Jason (Sundance), daughter-in-law Misty, and three grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Sony/ATV Nashville Signs Publishing Deal With Filmore

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Josh Van Valkenburg (SATV), Katie Kerkhover, Chris Perkins (Victory Entertainment), Josh Tomlinson (BMI), Anna Weisband (SATV), Mya Hansen (SATV), Tom Luteran (SATV); (Front row, L-R): Rusty Gaston (SATV), Filmore, Dane Schmidt (SATV).

Rising artist Filmore has inked a global publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville. Filmore’s songs, including “Love That About You,” “Blue Skies,” and “Other Girl,” have earned 21 million on-demand streams to date. He’s also toured with Lauren Alaina, Sam Hunt, Russell Dickerson and more.

He will release his debut album, State I’m In, on Sept. 25. The 18-track album was produced by Zach Abend. Missouri native Filmore moved to Nashville after graduating college in 2011 and later released several EPs including 2016’s Proof. “Slower” proved to be his breakthrough song, earning more than 26 million streams. To date, he’s earned more than 146 million on-demand streams and made media appearances on The Bobby Bones Show and NBC’s TODAY.

Filmore is the definition of a true hustler—his drive, passion and love for music continues to inspire me daily,” said Dane Schmidt, Director of Creative at Sony/ATV Nashville. “We’re thrilled to welcome Filmore and his team to Sony/ATV, and we look forward to achieving great success together.”

Filmore said, “I’m beyond excited to be a part of the Sony/ATV family. Telling my story through songwriting has helped build my career, and for Sony/ATV to put their support and belief in me is such an incredible honor. I can’t wait to see what we all do together!”

Easton Corbin Signs With UTA

Easton Corbin. Photo: Thomas Crabtree

Easton Corbin has signed with UTA for exclusive booking representation in all areas.
“2020 has brought a lot of changes for everyone but it’s also brought a lot of opportunities. I’ve taken time to work on my team and I’m really excited to be working with UTA,” Corbin said. “Their eagerness and expertise impressed me from the beginning and I’m looking forward to working together which is essential to getting back on the road.”

Corbin released his previous single “Turn Up” earlier this summer, and his second collaboration with EDM star Lost Frequencies, “One More Night,” has already earned over 3 million Spotify streams. He recently performed the song “Didn’t Miss A Beat” during an appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show on Sept. 3. Corbin co-wrote the song alongside Brad Clawson, Shane Minor and Wade Kirby, who also produced the track.

Reservoir Inks Deal With Sorted Noise

Pictured (Top, L-R): Scott Cresto (Reservoir EVP Synch & Marketing), Spek (Reservoir EVP International and Emerging Markets), Beatchild (Reservoir writer), Hannah Miller (artist), French Braids (Reservoir writer), Jason Collum (Co-founder & Partner, Sorted Noise), Perrin Lamb (Head of A&R & Partner, Sorted Noise); (Bottom, L-R): Josh Collum (Co-founder & Partner, Sorted Noise), Holley Maher (artist), CAMM (artist), Jim Beanz (Reservoir writer).

Reservoir has inked a deal with synch-focused music company Sorted Noise to acquire their catalog of masters and publishing copyrights. As part of the deal, Sorted Noise will run synch-focused songwriting bootcamps featuring Reservoir songwriters, as well as camps dedicated to creating fresh covers of classic Reservoir catalog copyrights.

Copyrights for classic songs including “Jungle Boogie,” “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher,” and “Oh, Pretty Woman,” have already been covered, while Reservoir songwriters Jim Beanz, Beatchild, BEXAR, Tristan Bushman, Noby Sidez, and French Braids have participated in Sorted Noise-led camps, including the last in-person camp held in February before the company moved to virtual to accommodate safe social distancing practices. Though based in Nashville, Sorted Noise and Reservoir plan to expand camps to London and Copenhagen, among other locations, in the coming year.

Mississippi natives Josh Collum, Jason Collum, and Perrin Lamb founded Sorted Noise in 2008. The company’s bootcamps in Nashville earned a more than 70% success rate for placing music written by their community of over 50 artists, producers, and musicians in a variety of film, TV, and ad campaigns, including TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, This Is Us, Big Bang Theory, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, American Horror Story, and in ads for brands such as Chase, IKEA, DKNY, HBO, and Nutella, among others.

Sorted Noise partnered with the music team behind NBC’s hit series This Is Us to craft the song “We Can Always Come Back To This,” which peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Rock Charts and went on to earn a nomination for Best Original Song in TV at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.

“Sorted Noise’s creative approach to the synch market and incredible track record speaks for itself. Their innovation in this space is exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach that we look for in a partner and we’re proud to be bringing this value-add to our songwriters and catalog,” said Rell Lafargue, Reservoir President and COO.

Scott Cresto, Reservoir’s EVP of Synch and Marketing, who previously worked with Sorted Noise in his capacity as President of synch agency Music Alternatives, added, “We had great success with the Sorted Noise crew at Music Alternatives the past several years. We’re looking forward to continuing and expanding upon that success now that they have been brought into the Reservoir fold.”

“Synch camps themselves aren’t unique, but what is unique, is a company like Reservoir bringing a team on board to exclusively focus on their roster and catalog,” said Sorted Noise Co-Founder and Partner Josh Collum. “It allows us to truly get to know their artists, writers, producers, and songs, and this better understanding ultimately leads to better art. It’s strategic and forward-thinking, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini Set For Virtual iHeartCountry Festival On Oct. 23


This year’s iHeartCountry Festival, which was originally slated for May 2 in Austin, Texas, before it was postponed, will be held as a virtual streaming and on-air radio special on Oct. 23 beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi, Riley Green, Morgan Evans, and Gabby Barrett are among the performers, with a guest appearance by Bobby Bones. The festival, presented by Capital One, will be recorded live on one stage in Nashville and will stream exclusively on livexlive.com and broadcast live across iHeartMedia’s more than 150 country music radio stations in local markets and at iHeartRadio.com.

“Despite this year’s pandemic, we are honored to still be able to host one of country music’s most anticipated nights with an iconic lineup of the genre’s biggest artists,” said Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry. “Although fans won’t be able to celebrate in person, the show will be available to our millions of listeners across our iHeartCountry stations nationwide and through the exclusive stream on LiveXLive.”

Other festival partners include Country Crock, Jane, Progressive Insurance, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the exclusive charity partner.