Spotify Expands Into 13 Global Markets Including Russia


Spotify expanded its service into 13 new markets this week, including Russia, one of the world’s top 20 largest streaming markets, bringing Spotify to a total of 92 markets worldwide. Spotify is offering both its Free and Premium services in each of its 13 new markets, which include Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Russia is the 17th-biggest streaming market in the world and on pace to be the 10th-biggest streaming market by 2030. More than 87% of fans in Russia now access music through streaming, compared to 61% adoption globally, and 68% adoption in the United States, according to the IFPI.

“Today’s launch opens the door for nearly 250 million fans to start discovering new music from around the world on Spotify, and for artists in the region to reach the increasingly connected global audience of fans,” said Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify VP, Markets and Subscriber Growth. “Launching in these 13 markets is an important moment in Spotify’s journey, especially as we welcome fans and artists in growing music markets like Russia, where streaming is being widely adopted and where we see a significant opportunity for Spotify.”

As a part of Spotify’s expansion, it has introduced 200 new playlists featuring artists from across the region that are available to fans around the world. To highlight Russia’s rich musical culture, for example, Spotify has added almost 100 playlists, including editorially curated playlists like Hip-Hop Cannon and New Music Friday Russia, and “This Is” playlists featuring popular Russian artists. Personalized Spotify playlists like Release Radar, Daily Mix, and Discover Weekly, which are informed by the listening habits of individual fans, are also now available in Russian.

Tim McGraw Gets Virtual Surprise With Pandora Billionaire Plaque

Tim McGraw. Photo: Big Machine Records

Tim McGraw was surprised by the Pandora team during a Zoom call recently with a Billionaire Plaque honoring his streaming milestone on the platform. This was the first time in Pandora’s 20-year history they have presented this honor virtually.

Presented by SiriusXM’s Storme Warren during the ‘Tim McGraw Fan Q&A Powered by Pandora and The Highway,’ McGraw was recognized for garnering over seven billion lifetime spins as he stands as one of the Top 25 Most-Streamed artists of all time on Pandora.

Surpassing over 12 million streams per week on Pandora, McGraw keeps the momentum going with his latest hit “I Called Mama” and forthcoming album Here On Earth due Aug. 21, as he remains in the 100th percentile of all artists on the platform.

“I’ve been so fortunate to do this as a career and have done it for so long.  I’ve had 30 years in the music business, and it’s brought me everything good in my life,” McGraw said. “Music is such catharsis to me and has been since I was little boy. To know that maybe, in some little way, my music has been that for someone else, is all any artist really wants.”

Gibson Offering $59,000 Reward For Lost Shipping Ledgers

Photo: Gibson

Gibson is launching a global search for some key missing shipping ledgers from 1959-1960. The Gibson family is asking for assistance in recovering the missing 1959-60 ledgers, and upon validation of the ledgers’ authenticity, the person or persons who safely returns the books will receive a $59,000.00 cash reward, with zero questions asked.

The 1959-1960 Gibson ledgers contain the shipping records of all the Gibson guitars created during that year, and proudly documents an important period in Gibson’s 126-year old history — the pinnacle of the Gibson Golden Era. The 1959-1960 shipping ledgers in question disappeared from Gibson’s archives around 30 years ago.

In addition, Gibson is seeking to recover pre-1970 documents, blueprints, and unique Gibson historical assets. Gibson is willing to evaluate relevant items and individual rewards terms on a case-by-case basis. The company reserves the right to validate information and to authenticate materials as genuine articles prior to issuing rewards for pre-1970 items, which may include cash, Gibson gift cards, instruments, and experiences (conditions apply).

“As a custodian of Gibson, I am very excited about this search. I hope we can recover these ledgers as they contain important information about the pinnacle of our Golden Era,” says Gibson Historical Committee member Cesar Gueikian. “It will be interesting to see where in the world they surface, given that the last time they were seen was in Michigan. While they are dusty old books to anyone else, these ledgers are part of our history, DNA, and our iconic past. These ledgers contain the shipping information, including the serial numbers and shipping party, for the most valuable guitars in history; the Gibson 1959 and 1960 bursts.”

The 1957-1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitars are some of the most intrinsically valuable in history. Only 643 of the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard were made and it has become one of the most iconic guitars in history. ‘58-‘60 guitars have been adopted by some of the world’s greatest guitarists including Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Billy Gibbons, Joe Perry, Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and many more.

Validation requests (including written description, photograph/video of the items, as well as a contact email and phone number) can be sent to 59Ledger@gibson.com or Ledger@gibson.com.

Brent Cobb To Release New Album In October

Brent Cobb. Photo: Don VanCleave

Brent Cobb will release his upcoming album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes, on Oct. 2 via his own label, Ol’ Buddy Records, and Thirty Tigers. The 10-track album was produced by Brad Cook, follows two projects released via Low Country Sound/Elektra, 2018’s Providence Canyon and 2016’s Shine On Rainy Day.

Today, he has released the new album’s title track, along with a video directed by Christian Hansen.

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“To try and not infiltrate the listener’s spirit’s own interpretation of Keep ‘Em On They Toes, I’ll just say that it was initially inspired by the birth of my son,” Cobb says. “With that said, it’s a mantra that I live by. One that I hope anyone could live by. That mantra is, if it’s good for your own heart, and you got a good heart, do it. Do it whether folks see it coming or not. Live your own life. Be happy.

“To me, listening to this album feels like I’m sitting there with somebody, having a conversation,” Cobb adds. “I would hope that it feels like sitting with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. There’s nothing like being alone and listening to an album that is quiet and conversational—like those old records by Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, or Willie Nelson. I hope my music is that way to somebody now.”

KEEP ‘EM ON THEY TOES TRACK LIST
1. Keep ‘Em On They Toes
2. Shut Up And Sing
3. Good Times And Good Love
4. Sometimes I’m A Clown
5. This Side Of The River
6. Dust Under My Rug
7. Soapbox
8. When You Go
9. The World Is Ending
10. Little Stuff

Amazon Music Launches Developing Artist Program


Amazon Music is rolling out a new developing artist program—Breakthrough—aimed at elevating and amplifying new artist voices as they evolve throughout their careers. Gabby Barrett is among the initial crop of Breakthrough Artists selected for the program.

Amazon Music has already seen success with the Breakthrough campaign with Barrett’s debut album, GOLDMINE. Released last month, Goldmine’s first-day streams exceeded any other debut country album ever on Amazon Music globally, and the album ended the week as the most-streamed debut country album in history, with Amazon Music delivering the highest percentage of streams for the album of any streaming service in the US.

Breakthrough will champion emerging artists at the most crucial moment in their careers through a variety of methods, including global marketing support, custom merch stores on Amazon.com, increased visibility across Amazon’s playlists and programming, high-profile Amazon Original tracks available only on Amazon Music, support for the artists’ Twitch channels, and more.

As part of the new program, Amazon Music is also revealing a new global Breakthrough playlist which will serve as a new home for the best music from the best rising artists from around the world. Covering multiple genres and languages and available across all tiers of Amazon Music, the Breakthrough playlist is the destination for the best music from the emerging artists. Featured artists will span a variety of genres including country, UK rap, R&B, indie, and more and will have their own mini-documentary, as well as support from Amazon Music in creating brand new Amazon Original tracks.

Drawn from the U.S., U.K., and Germany, Amazon Music’s first selection of Breakthrough artists include:

  • Rising country powerhouse Gabby Barrett
  • Emerging R&B singer Kiana Ledé
  • Breakout U.K. Rap star Jay1
  • 19-year-old rising alt R&B singer/poet Arlo Parks
  • Critically acclaimed folk pop group Provinz
  • Rising German pop sensation Malik Harris

Reminder: Voting For The 2020 MusicRow Awards Ends Friday


Voting for the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards closes on Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. CT. Active MusicRow members have already received their ballots.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.

This year’s honors will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Nominees for the MusicRow Awards are determined by a committee comprised of critics and tastemakers, with outside nominations being considered for Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer. Male and Female Songwriter nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. Eligible projects were active between April 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees.

The Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards will also be announced on Aug. 18, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard‘s Country Album Chart during the eligibility period.

Reba To Release ‘Reba: Live’ Concert Special On YouTube

Reba

In 1994, Reba McEntire was enjoying country radio success with hits including the now-iconic Linda Davis duet “Does He Love You,” as well as “Why Haven’t I Heard From You,” and “Til You Love Me.” She brought her electrifying live show, an entertainment spectacle filled with dramatic costumes, choreography, and comedy skits, to Nebraska’s Omaha Civic Center, offering both her own hits such as “Fancy” and covers such as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” The concert was filmed and later released as Reba: Live.

This Friday, July 17, she will relaunch her Reba:Live special exclusively on YouTube, marking the first time the concert has been available digitally. The hour-long special will premiere at 7 p.m. CT and will include 12 performances.

“This was one of my first big tours with all the dancers and costume changes, and it was my very first network television special,” shares Reba. “It’s so much fun to get to revisit it and share it with my fans all these years later! I hope they enjoy it and I can’t wait to share some stories from the behind the scenes during the chat.”

On Saturday (July 18), Reba will join fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member and Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, marking the show’s 4,933rd consecutive Saturday night broadcast.

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Mojo Music & Media Inks Catalog Deals With Terry McBride, Mark Miller, Matt McVaney, Jonathan Smith, More

Indie publishing and marketing company Mojo Music & Media has closed a series of publishing catalog acquisitions with artist/writers Terry McBride and Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller, as well as writer/producers Jonathan Smith, Pat McManus and Matt McVaney, among others. These acquisitions added 80 chart singles, including 14 No. 1 hits and 29 Top 5 hits to Mojo’s catalog of six decades worth of country songs.

McBride began his career fronting McBride & The Ride in the early ’90s, releasing four albums and charting four Top 5 singles, before focusing on songwriting and landing cuts with artists including Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Hank Williams Jr. and Gretchen Wilson. His most prolific collaboration, with Ronnie Dunn, yielded more than 25 cuts and 13 singles with Brooks & Dunn including such chart-toppers as “Play Something Country,” “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” and “Proud Of The House We Built.” Among McBride’s other hits are Reba McEntire’s “I Keep On Loving You,”  Josh Gracin’s “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” Casey James’ “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” and Easton Corbin’s “Are You With Me,” which enjoyed a second life as a No. 1 UK hit after it was remixed by Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies. Mojo has acquired McBride’s complete post-2004 catalog.

Veteran songwriter and producer McManus, a 12-time BMI award winner, has enjoyed cuts with artists ranging from Conway Twitty and BJ Thomas to Carl Graves and The Fifth Dimension. A run of hits in the ’80s, many co-written with Woody Bomar and Bob DiPiero, yielded four No 1 singles and four Top 5 singles, including the Oak Ridge Boys’ “American Made, Charly McClain’s “Sentimental Ol You,” Jim Glaser’s “You’re Getting’ To Me Again” and “If I Could Only Dance With You,” Conway Twitty’s “We Did But Now You Don’t” and Jacky Ward’s “Something On The Radio.” Mojo has acquired a 50% interest in McManus’ back catalog and will partner on futures.

Mojo acquired a co-publishing interest in the catalog of Grammy-nominated writer/producer Smith, a fixture in the contemporary Christian field, who has landed cuts over the last decade with more than 150 of the genre’s top artists including Danny Gokey, We Are Messengers, Tenth Avenue North, Bryan & Katie Torwalt and the J J Weeks Band. The deal includes such CCM hits as Zach Williams’ Platinum debut single “Chain Breaker,” “We Are Messengers’ “Magnify,” Building 429’s “We Won’t Be Shaken,” Tauren Wells’ “Hills And Valleys” and Johnny Diaz’ “Breathe.”

Writer/producer McVaney is best known for his work with Kane Brown, penning and producing viral and radio hit “Used To Love You Sober” and “I Love That I Hate You” from Brown’s Closer EP, as well as “Excuses” and “There Goes My Everything” from Brown’s Chapter 1 EP. McVaney also co-wrote and produced “Thunder In The Rain,” the debut single from Brown’s 2016 Platinum debut, a project which, along with its singles, reached No. 1 simultaneously on all five main Billboard Country charts. Mojo has acquired McVaney’s publishing and producer interests.

Mojo has also signed a worldwide administration deal with Miller, the founder, lead singer and primary songwriter for Sawyer Brown. The deal covers the band’s entire 18-album output, including three No. 1 singles, “Step That Step,” “Some Girls Do” and “Thank God For You” and another nine Top 5’s including “This Time,” “All These Years” and “The Boys And Me.”

In addition, the company acquired an interest in seven hit singles written by Jimmy Yeary including Martina McBride’s Top 5 “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,”  Jake Owen’s “Anywhere With You” and David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” and, separately, interests in a collection of songs owned by writer and publisher Jeff Tweel including such No. 1’s as Faith Hill’s “Wild One,” John Berry’s “Your Love Amazes Me,” Restless Heart’s “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” Pam Tillis’ “Mi Vida Loca,” Lee Greenwood’s “Dixie Road,” T.G. Sheppard’s “Only One You” and Conway Twitty’s “Desperado Love.”

Said McBride, “I’ve never sold any of my publishing before so parting with some of my favorite songs was tough for me to wrap my head around. Not only did Mojo come to the table with a strong offer, but it was clear they had a real connection and appreciation for me and my songs and that meant a lot to me.”

McManus said, “From my first conversations with Butch, Mark and everyone at Mojo, I loved their energy, experience and creative ideas, but the one key ingredient that set them apart from everyone else is that they feel like a family. My family and I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering on my songs and going on this journey with Team Mojo!”

Mark Fried, Mojo Music Co-Founder and CEO, added, “One of the best things about setting up our headquarters in Nashville has been the opportunity to reconnect with some of the town’s most beloved songwriters and to make solid plans with them to breathe new life into older hits and help inspire some new ones.”

Butch Baker, Mojo Music’s SVP Creative, said, “What an exciting time for all of us here at Mojo to partner with so many amazing and talented friends and represent such an incredible collection of songs. And we’re only getting started.”

Orville Peck To Release ‘Show Pony’ EP Aug. 14


Columbia Records artist Orville Peck has set a new release date for his upcoming album, Show Pony. His self-produced, six-track EP will release Aug. 14; the project follows Peck’s debut album Pony, which released in March 2019.

Show Pony includes a duet with Shania Twain, titled “Legends Never Die,” as well as a cover of the Bobbie Gentry classic “Fancy.”

Says Peck, “I loved my experience with Pony. However, Show Pony is a more confident perspective and allows me to share even more both lyrically and musically. Like all country albums, Show Pony is a little collection of stories—some sad, some happy—and I am excited for people to hear it. Working with Shania was a dream come true, her music made me feel empowered as a kid and was a huge influence on me.”

Peck recently released a new song and video, “No Glory in the West,” with the video directed by Isaiah Seret, with narrative and creative direction by Peck and his creative director Carlos Santolalla.

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Luke Combs Breaks Album Chart Record Set By Taylor Swift

Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman.

Luke Combs has added yet another sales milestone to his lengthy list of accolades, becoming the first artist to have their first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or better at No. 1 on Billboards Top Country Albums chart. This breaks the record set by Taylor Swift, who previously held the lead with 24 weeks.

Combs’ album What You See Is What You Get (River House Artists/Columbia Nashville) is currently at No. 1 on the country albums chart, while his 2017 debut project, This One’s For You, spent over 50 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, tying the record with Shania Twain‘s 1997 project Come On Over for the longest stint at No. 1 on the country albums chart.

Combs is a multiple nominee at the upcoming ACM Awards, including nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (What You See Is What You Get). Combs is also a nominee at the upcoming MusicRow Awards, where he is up for Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year (“Does To Me,” ft. Eric Church). Combs is the MusicRow Awards’ reigning Artist of the Year, and won Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2018.

Combs will return to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, July 16 to perform his Top 20 single “Lovin’ On You.” His previous single, “Does To Me” (ft. Eric Church), spent two weeks at No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart, making it his eighth-consecutive No. 1 single—a first on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Produced by Scott MoffattWhat You See Is What You Get features 17 songs including the five tracks previously released via The Prequel EP last summer. Moffatt is also nominated for Producer of the Year at the upcoming MusicRow Awards in August.