Apple has announced two new live global radio offerings on Apple Music.
Beats 1 will be renamed Apple Music 1 and two additional radio stations are launching, including country station Apple Music Country and Apple Music Hits, spotlighting music from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s.
“For the past five years, if ever there was a meaningful moment in music culture, Beats 1 was there bringing human curation to the forefront and drawing in listeners with exclusive shows from some of the most innovative, respected, and beloved people in music,” said Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music, Beats, and International Content.
“Now, Apple Music radio provides an unparalleled global platform for artists across all genres to talk about, create, and share music with their fans, and this is just the beginning. We will continue to invest in live radio and create opportunities for listeners around the world to connect with the music they love.”
Apple Music 1 has studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and London and is led by cornerstone presenters including Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Brooke Reese, Dotty, Hanuman Welch, Matt Wilkinson, Nadeska, Rebecca Judd, and Travis Mills, and offers a lineup of shows from the biggest names in music, including Action Bronson, Billie Eilish, Elton John, Joe Kay, Lil Wayne, Frank Ocean, Vince Staples, and The Weeknd, as well as new shows from Aitch, Kerwin Frost, HAIM, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Travis Scott, Young M.A, and many more.
Apple Music Country will be led by daily on-air hosts Kelleigh Bannen, Ty Bentli, Bree, Alecia Davis, Ward Guenther, Nada, and Tiera, plus weekly shows from Ashley Eicher and Kelly McCartney. Fans can also enjoy new exclusive shows from artists like Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, BRELAND, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Morgan Evans, Florida Georgia Line, Pat Green, Willie Jones, Chrissy Metz, Midland, Rissi Palmer, The Shires, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen, alongside shows from producers and songwriters like Dave Cobb, Jesse Frasure, and Luke Laird, and journalist Hunter Kelly.
Apple Music Hits will be helmed by daily on-air hosts Jayde Donovan, Estelle, Lowkey, Jenn Marino, Sabi, Nicole Sky and Natalie Sky, George Stroumboulopoulos (“House of Strombo”), along with special shows from Ari Melber and others. Fans can also tune in to hear new exclusive shows from artists like Backstreet Boys, Ciara, Mark Hoppus, Huey Lewis, Alanis Morissette, Snoop Dogg, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, and more.
Veteran Music Writer Rob Simbeck Authors New Southern Wildlife Book
/by Lorie HollabaughRob Simbeck
Noted Nashville writer Rob Simbeck is releasing a new book, The Southern Wildlife Watcher: Notes of a Naturalist, on Aug. 28.
Published by the University of South Carolina Press, the book features a colorful look at 36 common and not-so-common animals found in the southeastern United States, from hummingbirds and bald eagles, to bullfrogs and bobcats, each presented through engaging storytelling supported by quotes from noted naturalists and biologists.
Simbeck moved to Nashville as a songwriter in the early 1980s, and became a journalist, author, and longtime Nashville Bureau Chief for “American Country Countdown” and “Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40,” serving as a writer/interviewer for both syndicated radio shows. He also made a name for himself as an award-winning outdoor writer, with credits in Field & Stream, Birder’s World, Ducks Unlimited, and conservation/wildlife magazines in 20 states. He penned the internationally award-winning column, “For Wildlife Watchers,” for South Carolina Wildlife magazine for 25 years.
“I was privileged enough to work with most of the artists who made the airplay and sales charts since the early ’80s,” Simbeck said. “But I was also in the woods and fields with binoculars, a spotting scope, and a camera, writing about the creatures we share this part of the world with. As country fans know, those two worlds overlap, and it feels wonderful to have the support of so many friends from the music world.”
Kix Brooks, Lee Ann Womack and Craig Morgan are among the country artists who offered their endorsements for their friend’s latest book release.
Big Machine Records Signs Jackson Dean
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): TKO Artist Management’s TK Kimbrell, Jackson Dean, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta. Photo: Seth Hellman
Big Machine Records has added Jackson Dean to the label roster. The Odenton, Maryland native has opened shows for Kane Brown, Jake Owen, Brothers Osborne and more. Dean is repped by TKO Artist Management and is in the process of relocating to Nashville.
“From the moment Jackson started playing for Allison Jones and I in our conference room, we were transported into his musical world,” says BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “It may sound cliche to say that Jackson is very special…it isn’t…this is an important new artist and this is serious business.”
“You best believe the freight train is comin’,” Dean says. “I can’t wait to share my music with the world with the support of such a hardworking and innovative team.”
Pictured (L-R): Back Row – Big Machine Label Group’s Carly Strickland, WME’s Austin Mullins and Jay Williams, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones and Darielle Schroeder; Front Row – Little Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora, TKO Artist Management’s TK Kimbrell, Jackson Dean, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta and Clay Hunnicutt. Photo: Seth Hellman
Natalie Grant Debuts Title Track From Upcoming Album ‘No Stranger’
/by Lorie HollabaughNatalie Grant has released the title track from her new album, No Stranger. The new project, her 10th studio record, is set for release Sept. 25. Penned by Grant, her husband Bernie Herms, and songwriter Paul Duncan, “No Stranger” explores the intimacy of a God who identifies with the human experience.
“In the last few years, through deep valleys and victories, my awareness of God’s presence in my life has awakened like never before. It’s not like He became more available, I just became more aware, and that has changed everything,” Grant said of the personal significance behind “No Stranger.” “The King of the world, the Author of time and space, makes Himself personally known to me. This everlasting God, the Alpha and the Omega, He is no stranger. He is friend.”
No Stranger features strings recorded live at London’s famed Air Studios and includes previously released tracks including the stirring “Face To Face,” Grant’s powerful version of Casting Crowns’ classic hit “Praise You In This Storm,” her recent collaboration with Steven Malcolm “Even Louder,” and her new worship anthem, “My Weapon.”
Grant recently debuted her “Dare To Be” podcast with her longtime friend, author and speaker Charlotte Gambill, bringing their popular “Dare To Be” women’s events to life in a fresh format. The podcast is in partnership with AccessMore, an all-new online network for faith-based podcasts that launched in May from K-LOVE/Air1 parent company Educational Media Foundation (EMF). The “Dare To Be” podcast’s premier episode became AccessMore’s most listened to episode of the platform’s launch.
Jon Pardi Surprises Fans With Some Classic Favorites On New ‘Rancho Fiesta Sessions’
/by Lorie HollabaughJon Pardi took a detour into some cover fun on a surprise album he released last week, the Rancho Fiesta Sessions. The eight-song project features Pardi’s renditions of some of the tunes he is both inspired by and loves performing from artists ranging from Merle Haggard and George Strait to Prince.
Produced by Pardi, the new album was recorded live during a one-night live jam session with his touring band from his home base in Nashville, “Rancho Fiesta.” Among the favorites he included on the collection are country classics “Marina Del Rey,” “The Bottle Let Me Down,” and “Honky Tonk Man.”
“All these covers are of artists that I admire, and I look up to. There are all kinds of great names and styles of songs on here- from legends. I think the magic and the fun of it is all is in these eight covers of songs that I really like, or grew up singing,” said Pardi. “It’s all my band on this whole album. We mainly did it to have fun and record, and it sounds like we’re in your backyard, playing for you.” He also added, “I hope the fans really have fun when they listen to it, and they enjoy it and turn it up. This one was for the fans, to let them hear something different… songs you may have heard before but, haven’t heard them like this. It turned into something special because it’s a year where we are off the road, and we recorded it live in real time, out at my house.”
RANCHO FIESTA SESSIONS Track List:
Nashville Public Library Celebrates 19th Amendment Anniversary
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow Magazine staffers celebrate “Ring the Bell” campaign.
Metro Nashville City Council passed a resolution to encourage the “Ringing of the Bells” on Aug. 18, 2020, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which allowed women the right to vote. On Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee passed the ratification resolution, becoming the 36th state to vote in favor of the ratification. With Tennessee’s ratification, the 19th Amendment became law, ensuring that the right to vote could not be denied based on gender.
To celebrate, cities across the country rang bells in celebration, but Nashville did not.
Nashville aims to correct that through the Nashville Public Library’s “Ring the Bell” campaign, which asks individuals to take a video of themselves ringing a bell for various causes. On Aug. 18 at 11:30 a.m. CT, individuals across Nashville will celebrate by ringing bells. The Nashville Public Library will also celebrate with an event that will be broadcast on the library’s YouTube channel.
Participates in ringing the bell are encouraged to tag Nashville Public Library (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) and use #IRingTheBell.
Luke Combs To Release Deluxe Album In October
/by Jessica NicholsonSince his debut in 2017, Luke Combs has been a mainstay on the country albums rankings and on country radio, consistently cranking out a string of hit songs. On Oct. 23, he’ll release the deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville.
The album expands on the 18 songs included on Combs’ Platinum-certified, full-length sophomore project What You See Is What You Get, adding five new tracks.
What You See Is What You Get debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart and earned the largest streaming week ever for a country album, with 74 million 0n-demand streams. The project earned Combs the most first-week album streams ever for a country artist on Apple Music and became the first country project to hit No. 1 on Apple Music’s all-genre albums chart, while also setting a global record for first-week streams for a country album at Spotify and broke Amazon Music’s record for the most first-week streams for any country album debut.
The album is poised to be another smash for Combs, who made history as the first artist ever to have their first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or more at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart, breaking Taylor Swift’s previous record of 24 weeks. Combs’ 2017 debut, This One’s For You spent 50 consecutive weeks at No. 1, tying Shania Twain’s 1997 project Come On Over for the longest reign atop the chart. His debut has since been certified 3x multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Combs’ first eight singles all reached No. 1, a record for Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart. His current single, “Lovin’ On Y0u,” is in the Top 10 at radio. He’s also nominated in three categories at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year (for What You See Is What You Get).
32nd Annual MusicRow Awards Winners
/by LB CantrellMusicRow Magazine is revealing the winners of the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards in a series of videos on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, starting at 9:00 a.m. today (Aug. 18).
MusicRow Awards Schedule of Announcements:
9:00 a.m.: Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards
9:30 a.m.: Producer of the Year
10:00 a.m.: Label of the Year
10:30 a.m.: Talent Agency of the Year
11:00 a.m.: Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
11:30 a.m.: Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year
12:00 p.m.: Male Songwriter of the Year
12:30 p.m.: Female Songwriter of the Year
1:00 p.m.: Song of the Year
1:30 p.m.: Robert K. Oermann Discovery Artist of the Year
2:00 p.m.: Breakthrough Artist of the Year
2:30 p.m.: Artist of the Year
Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.
MusicRow Magazine Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, and respected television host, entertainment journalist, writer and producer, Alecia Davis serve once again as “hosts” on each winner video.
MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Alecia Davis
The winners for the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards are (winners marked in red):
Producer of the Year [VIDEO]
Dave Cobb
Ross Copperman
Scott Hendricks
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Scott Moffatt
Label of the Year [VIDEO]
BBR Music Group
Big Machine Label Group
Black River Entertainment
Sony Music Nashville
UMG Nashville
Warner Music Nashville
Agency of the Year [VIDEO]
APA
Creative Artists Agency
Kinkead Entertainment Agency
Paradigm Talent Agency
United Talent Agency
WME
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year [VIDEO]
Brock Berryhill
Ash Bowers
Ben Burgess
Jennifer Denmark
Josh Dunne
Sam Ellis
Lonnie Fowler
Zachary Kale
Randy Montana
Drew Parker
Hunter Phelps
Paul Sikes
Derrick Southerland
Alysa Vanderheym
Allison Veltz-Cruz
Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year [VIDEO]
Blanco Brown
Gabby Barrett
Ingrid Andress
Jameson Rodgers
Matt Stell
Travis Denning
Male Songwriter of the Year [VIDEO]
Ross Copperman
Ashley Gorley
Jon Nite
Josh Osborne
Jordan M. Schmidt
Jonathan Singleton
Female Songwriter of the Year [VIDEO]
Jennifer Denmark
Nicolle Galyon
Natalie Hemby
Hillary Lindsey
Laura Veltz
Parker Welling
Song of the Year [VIDEO]
“Bluebird” — Songwriter(s): Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby
“Does To Me” — Songwriter(s): Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Tyler Reeve
“Monsters” — Songwriter(s): Eric Church, Jeff Hyde
“More Hearts Than Mine” — Songwriter(s): Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland
“One Night Standards” — Songwriter(s): Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally
“The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” — Songwriter(s): Craig Morgan
Robert K. Oermann Discovery Artist of the Year [VIDEO]
Avenue Beat
Jameson Rodgers
Niko Moon
Payton Smith
Randall King
Trea Landon
Breakthrough Artist of the Year [VIDEO]
Blanco Brown
Gabby Barrett
HARDY
Ingrid Andress
Matt Stell
Travis Denning
Artist of the Year [VIDEO]
Carrie Underwood
Dan + Shay
Luke Combs
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Thomas Rhett
MusicRow also honors the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians at the 2020 MusicRow Awards, recognizing the studio players who performed on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period. The honorees are:
Bass
Jimmie Lee Sloas
Drums (tie)
Jerry Roe
Nir Z
Engineer
Justin Niebank
Fiddle
Stuart Duncan
Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy
Keyboards
Dave Cohen
Steel
Paul Franklin
Vocals
Russell Terrell
[VIDEO]
Apple Launches Apple Music Radio
/by Jessica NicholsonApple has announced two new live global radio offerings on Apple Music.
Beats 1 will be renamed Apple Music 1 and two additional radio stations are launching, including country station Apple Music Country and Apple Music Hits, spotlighting music from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s.
“For the past five years, if ever there was a meaningful moment in music culture, Beats 1 was there bringing human curation to the forefront and drawing in listeners with exclusive shows from some of the most innovative, respected, and beloved people in music,” said Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music, Beats, and International Content.
“Now, Apple Music radio provides an unparalleled global platform for artists across all genres to talk about, create, and share music with their fans, and this is just the beginning. We will continue to invest in live radio and create opportunities for listeners around the world to connect with the music they love.”
Apple Music 1 has studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and London and is led by cornerstone presenters including Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Brooke Reese, Dotty, Hanuman Welch, Matt Wilkinson, Nadeska, Rebecca Judd, and Travis Mills, and offers a lineup of shows from the biggest names in music, including Action Bronson, Billie Eilish, Elton John, Joe Kay, Lil Wayne, Frank Ocean, Vince Staples, and The Weeknd, as well as new shows from Aitch, Kerwin Frost, HAIM, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Travis Scott, Young M.A, and many more.
Apple Music Country will be led by daily on-air hosts Kelleigh Bannen, Ty Bentli, Bree, Alecia Davis, Ward Guenther, Nada, and Tiera, plus weekly shows from Ashley Eicher and Kelly McCartney. Fans can also enjoy new exclusive shows from artists like Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, BRELAND, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Morgan Evans, Florida Georgia Line, Pat Green, Willie Jones, Chrissy Metz, Midland, Rissi Palmer, The Shires, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen, alongside shows from producers and songwriters like Dave Cobb, Jesse Frasure, and Luke Laird, and journalist Hunter Kelly.
Apple Music Hits will be helmed by daily on-air hosts Jayde Donovan, Estelle, Lowkey, Jenn Marino, Sabi, Nicole Sky and Natalie Sky, George Stroumboulopoulos (“House of Strombo”), along with special shows from Ari Melber and others. Fans can also tune in to hear new exclusive shows from artists like Backstreet Boys, Ciara, Mark Hoppus, Huey Lewis, Alanis Morissette, Snoop Dogg, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, and more.
Apple Picks Up New Music Competition From Jason Owen, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Owen
Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO Jason Owen will executive produce a new country music talent competition series alongside Reese Witherspoon‘s media company Hello Sunshine. Apple has ordered My Kind of Country, from Owen, Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and The Masked Singer showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra, reports deadline.com.
Adam Blackstone will be musical director for the new series.
Owen will executive produce alongside Pick Ibarra and Done+Dusted’s Katy Mullan and Melanie Fletcher. Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine Head of Film & Television Lauren Neustadter and SVP of Unscripted Programming Cynthia Stockhammer, will executive produce the series on behalf of Hello Sunshine.
In an announcement on the series, Apple noted the series would offer a “fresh, new documentary sensibility” and aims to break cultural and musical barriers in country music.
“Well, it’s not looking like I’ll ever fulfill my childhood dreams of becoming Dolly Parton,” Witherspoon wrote on Instagram. “But this might just be the next best thing. I am beyond excited to share that Hello Sunshine will be partnering with Apple to bring y’all it’s very first competition series called My Kind of Country…. the search for extraordinary country music talent.”
“Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, country music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. The history, the storytelling, the artistry… the costumes and performances. There are so many remarkably talented people whose voices are being heard right now, but there are many more who have different experiences and remarkable stories that still need to be told in the genre. I’ve been incredibly inspired by all artists who continue to blaze bold new trails and our hope is to discover musicians who are revolutionizing country music and help amplify their voices and unique stories,” Witherspoon added.
BMLG Promotes Donna Lidster To VP, Marketing-Canada
/by Lorie HollabaughDonna Lidster
Donna Lidster has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing – Canada at Big Machine Label Group. Lidster has been with BMLG for seven years and will continue to lead all the Canadian marketing efforts for the entire roster.
“Donna Lidster has been our not-so-secret weapon and the foundation of our success in Canada since coming aboard,” said BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “Her understanding of the market, musical intuition and unbeatable relationships continue to propel all things Big Machine. She’s simply the best.”
Prior to joining Big Machine Label Group, Lidster spent 13 years with Universal Music Canada as Director of Marketing and VP Marketing, Universal, Island Def Jam. Prior those roles, she worked in promotion at PolyGram for two years as Director, National Promotion and three years as a Regional.