Weekly Radio Report (7/2/20)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.

DISClaimer: Kenny Chesney, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina, The Chicks, And More

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This DISClaimer has it all.

From Music Row’s revered songwriting community come Brett James and Waylon Payne with power-packed performances.

Our top stars are here, too: Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, The Chicks and Tanya Tucker, to sample just a few.

We have Black country artists Willie Jones and IMAJ. We have Hispanic contributors The Texicana Mamas. Women are well represented this week, contributing six of our entries, including Disc of the Day awardees Lauren Alaina & Trisha Yearwood.

Check out the YouTube video by Willie Jones and you’ll see why he’s this week’s DisCovery Award winner.

STONEY LARUE & TANYA TUCKER/Meet in the Middle
Writers: Gary Nicholson/Stoney LaRue; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Smith Music
-It’s a simply produced two-step with a bluesy tune and a crisp tempo. There’s a Texas thang going on here.

KENNY CHESNEY/Happy Does
Writers: Brad Clawson/Greylan Egan James/Jamie Paulin/Robert Brock Berryhill; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner Chappell/Universal; Warner Music Nashville/Blue Chair Records
-Like a summertime daydream in a swaying hammock. This is so gently relaxing and breezy that you cannot help feeling good. Classic Chesney.

IMAJ/8min 46sec (I Can’t Breathe)
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Thomas Triomph
-She’s the daughter of ’80s TV icon Philip Michael Thomas (Miami Vice). The track consists of her playing acoustic guitar and repeating the words “I can’t breathe” (occasionally augmented by “Don’t kill me” and “Mama”) for eight minutes and 46 seconds. It’s more like a piece of post-modern performance art than it is a country single. She also has a more conventionally structured country-political song called “Colorblind.”

CHRISSY METZ/Actress
Writers: Chrissy Metz/Nicolette Hayford/Matt McGuinn/Nathan Spicer; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; EMI
-Cool song. She pretends to be casual when her heart is breaking inside. The ballad begins with a stately simplicity and builds to pounding anthemic power. The single is still “Talking to God,” but this reveals that she has a lot more up her sleeve.

WAYLON PAYNE/Sins of the Father
Writers: Waylon Payne; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Carnival
-I’m a big fan of this man’s songwriting. His craftsmanship and vocal charisma are so strong that this needs nothing more than his acoustic guitar accompaniment to make it as compelling, dynamic and listenable as a fully-produced studio recording. It also weaves a helluva yarn about addiction and recovery. I absolutely cannot wait for his album.

BRETT JAMES/Tell The People
Writers: Brett James; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BJ
-Speaking of contributions from our songwriting community. Brett James has a new album ready to go, and this soulful advance track leaves you hungry for more. Over a gospel-ish track, he urges us give each other love before it’s too late. Blue-eyed soul distilled to purity.

LAUREN ALAINA & TRISHA YEARWOOD/Getting Good
Writers: Emily Weisband; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner Chappell; Mercury
-Awesome. Two great voices. One great song. I hung on every line and bopped with every beat.

THE TEXICANA MAMAS/Cocina de Amor (Kitchen of Love)
Writers: Tish Hinojosa/Stephanie Urbina Jones/Patricia Vonne; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed
-Latina country divas Tish Hinojosa, Stephanie Urbina Jones and Patricia Vonne have joined their voices in this new trio. All three are accomplished singer-songwriters. It shows on this enchanting, feel-good, sing-along, happy and ridiculously catchy bi-lingual single. Hey, anything that rhymes “tequila,” “sangria” and “familia” is fine with me.

THE CHICKS/March March
Writers: Ross Golan/Natalie Maines/Martie Maguire/Jack Antonoff/Ian Kirkpatrick/Emily Strayer/Dan Wilson; Producer: Jack Antonoff/  The Chicks; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
-They continue to speak up and speak out. More power to them. I’m glad that they didn’t “shut up and sing.” This pop-leaning outing has very cool multi rhythms going on, as well as fiddle and banjo licks. Listenable in the extreme, with a message to boot. Definitely a song for our times. I’m a fan for life.

WILLIE JONES/Back Porch
Writers: none listed; Producer: Publisher: Audiam/Anthem Entertainment; 4 Sound/Empire
-He’s a handsome charmer with a ditty that should have Kenny Chesney looking over his shoulder. This is a summer, good-time sound if I’ve ever heard one. Play it.

CHRIS YOUNG/If That Ain’t God
Writers: Chris Young/Matt Roy/Mitchell Oglesby/Graylan James; Producer: Chris Young/Chris DeStefano; RCA
-He’s such a superstar. As usual, he sings his country fanny off. The pithy lyric will warm your spirit. Uplifting and hearty. A smash.

Austin City Limits Festival Canceled For 2020

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The Austin City Limits Festival has been canceled for this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for 2021. The festival will return to Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 8-10, 2021 to celebrate its 20th Anniversary.

The ACL festival website states: “We would have loved to put on another memorable show this year, however, with the uncertainty surrounding the current situation in Texas, this decision is the only responsible solution. The health and safety of our fans, artists, partners, staff and the entire Austin community remains our highest priority. ”

Fans who have already purchased tickets are encouraged to hold on to them to lock in access to next year’s festival at 2019 prices. Refunds are available for fans who purchased directly through the festival and cannot attend next year’s dates. All current ticket holders will receive an email from Front Gate Tickets shortly with information on both options.

National Museum Of African American Music Adds Four Staffers

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The National Museum of African American Music has added four new employees, Marlyncia Pierce, Alaya Howard, Shelly Surdoval and Russell Henley, to its growing staff ahead of the museum’s opening later this year in Nashville.

Marlyncia Pierce has been named marketing communications manager at NMAAM. In her role, Pierce will manage NMAAM’s communication and marketing strategies as it gears up for its public opening. Pierce comes to NMAAM from Bounce TV, where she oversaw sponsorship implementation and commercial ad trafficking for accounts such as McDonald’s, AT&T, and Walmart. Originally from Atlanta, Pierce earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a certificate in New Media Design from the University of Georgia.

Alaya Howard has been named event sales manager at NMAAM. Howard will work to ensure that all special events will provide a truly immersive “Music City” experience. Howard comes to NMAAM from the world of corporate event planning and management. She studied mass communications at Middle Tennessee State University and is a Nashville native.

Shelly Surdoval has been named marketing assistant at NMAAM. In her new role, Surdoval will assist in NMAAM’s marketing efforts, and coordinate communications with talent and music industry stakeholders. Prior to joining NMAAM, Surdoval worked at McGhee Entertainment, where she helped with day-to-day management of Darius Rucker, CeCe Winans and others. Most recently, she worked as client services team coordinator for Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group. The Nashville native earned her B.A. degree in psychology at University of Tennessee–Knoxville.

Russell Henley has been named IT director at NMAAM. In this role, Henley will be responsible for programming and maintaining the museum’s business systems, information security and other components. Henley brings over 25 years of expertise in IT, of which the last eight were spent in the tourism industry serving one of the largest attractions in the Southeast.

“Each of our newest staff additions brings great talent to NMAAM,” said NMAAM President and CEO Henry Beecher Hicks, III. “We are proud to attract some of the best professionals in the business, who understand the importance of having an institution like NMAAM in Nashville.”

Set to open in Fall 2020, the National Museum of African American Music will be the only museum dedicated solely to preserving African American music traditions and celebrating the central role African Americans have played in shaping American music.

Mark Your Calendar—July 2020

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Single Add Dates


July 6
Allie Colleen/Ain’t The Only Hell (My Momma Raised)/Evangeline Records
Catherine Altomare/Fields of Gold/New Notes

July 9
Austin Merrill/One More Mile/Foundry Records

July 13
Travis Denning/Where That Beer’s Been/Mercury
Lindsay Ell/Want Me Back/Stoney Creek
Danielle Bradbery/Never Have I Ever/Big Machine
Jake Simon/I Still Think About You/Spaceshot Records
Zach and Rodney/Canton Jones/Selma Swamp/Warcat Records/Cajo Records

July 17
Kirstie Kraus/Silver/KH of Entertainment

July 20
Kenny Chesney/Happy Does/Warner Music Nashville
Zac Brown Band/The Man Who Loves You The Most/19th & Grand Records
Tyler Farr/Soundtrack To A Small Town Sundown/Night Train Records/Broken Bow Records
Mo Pitney/Ain’t Bad For A Good Ol’ Boy/Curb
Derek Johnson/Right Beer Right Now/Star Farm
Dwain Messer/Ease My Troubled Mind/N Crowd Music

Album Releases


July 3
Willie Nelson/First Rose of Spring/Legacy Recordings
Eric Paslay/Heartbeat Higher

July 7
Afton Wolfe/Petronius’ Last Meal EP/Twangri-La Records

July 10
Brett Eldredge/Sunday Drive/Warner Music Nashville
Ray Wylie Hubbard/Co-Starring/Big Machine Records
Margo Price/That’s How Rumors Get Started/Loma Vista Recordings
Jimmie Allen/Bettie James/BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records

July 17
The Chicks/Gaslighter/Columbia
Various Artists/Mud Digger 11/Average Joes Entertainment
Johnny & The Mongrels/Creole Skies

July 24
Lori McKenna/The Balladeer/CN Records/Thirty Tigers
Zoë Nutt/How Does It Feel

July 31
Mac McAnally/Once In A Lifetime/Mailboat Records
Rascal Flatts/How They Remember You/Big Machine Records

Marisa Maino Signs With Prescription Songs

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Pictured (L-R): Manager Amanda Quinton, Marisa Maino, and Prescription A&R’s Leah Hodgkiss. Photo courtesy of Elicity Public Relations

Marisa Maino has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Prescription Songs.

This is the first publishing deal for the singer-songwriter, who released her latest EP Stages of Love & Heartbreak in April. The EP includes seven tracks, including “Ever Young,” previously released singles “Hot,” “Boy Toy,” “Want You Like That,” and “Bored and Brokenhearted,” as well as new songs “Love Sux” and “Mistake.” Maino is set to release the official video for “Love Sux” on July 13.

“We are so excited to welcome Marisa to the Prescription Songs family,” said Prescription Head of A&R Katie Fagan. “Her growth as a writer even over the past year has been massive and we are honored to continue to help elevate her career as a songwriter and artist. She’s an incredibly special addition to our roster and we can’t wait for the world to hear what she’s cooking up!”

“Writing with RX has always been a dream of mine,” said Maino. “My favorite songs were created here, and the company is female-run. Dare I say RX is groundbreaking? Being able to become a part of their family is so surreal, and getting a check to write songs for my best friend feels too good to be true. I hope no one pinches me anytime soon because if it is a dream I’m not ready to wake up yet.”

Nashville Reverts To Modified Phase 2, July 4th Fireworks Show Canceled

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Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced Thursday (July 2) that Davidson County is reverting to a modified version of Phase 2 beginning July 3, amid an uptick in confirmed COVID-19 cases across the city. The Metro Health Department reported an increase of 608 cases within the past 24 hours, with a total of 10,756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Davidson County.

Additionally, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp President/CEO Butch Spyridon announced that the Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th fireworks show that had been planned for July 4 has been canceled.

Instead they plan to, “compile the best-of-the-best from previous years fireworks shows to include in the broadcast, along with live performances from John Hiatt, Lilly Hiatt, Keb’ Mo’, and Tenille Townes.”

“After putting together a small July 4th celebration that prioritized the health and safety of our city, we have decided to cancel the short fireworks show we had planned for downtown to broadcast on NewsChannel 5,” Spyridon said in a statement. “While we are disappointed, the significant increase in COVID cases this week made it clear that we needed to take any steps possible to discourage crowds from gathering. We hope everyone will have a safe July 4 and watch the one-hour TV special on NewsChannel5 at 9 p.m. on Saturday. We plan to compile the best-of-the-best from previous year’s fireworks shows to include in the broadcast, along with live performances from John Hiatt, Lilly Hiatt, Keb’Mo’ and Tenille Townes.”

Under the guidelines for the reversion to a modified version of Phase 2, bars must remain closed for 14 days and restaurants may operate dine-in service at 1/2 capacity. Retail stores and commercial businesses may open at 3/4 capacity; employees must be screened daily and wear masks. There should be no gatherings over 25 people. Live entertainment is still permitted, though dance floors should remain closed.

Lee Brice, Carly Pearce Earn Platinum RIAA Certification

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Pictured: Carly Pearce, Lee Brice. Photo: Electric Machine/CMA

Lee Brice and Carly Pearce have scored a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their chart-topping hit “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

They were surprised during Wednesday evening’s CMA Summer Stay-Cay presented by Budweiser Nitro Gold’s virtual celebration, as CMA CEO Sarah Trahern presented them with a plaque commemorating the sales milestone.

“I Hope You’re Happy Now,” which Pearce wrote alongside Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton, and Randy Montana, has earned over 225 million global streams.

“I knew when I heard the song for the first time that this was something special and I’m honored that Carly asked me to be a part of it,” says Lee. “Thank you to all the fans for loving this song as much as Carly and I did recording it and making this a PLATINUM hit.”

“Having songs that meant something to people was always my dream,” expressed Carly. “To see these songs reach such big milestones and see that my music is making an impact on people’s lives is more than I could’ve ever hoped for. I will never take any of this for granted and am so thankful.”

CAA’s Nashville, Los Angeles, New York Offices To Remain Closed Through End Of Year

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Creative Artists Agency’s offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York will remain closed through the remainder of 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with employees working from through the end of the year.

On April 8, CAA announced companywide salary cuts, with higher earners taking deeper cuts, and maxing out 50 percent. At the time, it was also announced that co-chairmen Richard Lovett, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane would forgo the remainder of their salaries for 2020.

As of July 1, there were a total of 10,136 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davidson County, Tennessee, 212,412 cases in New York City, and 105,507 confirmed cases in Los Angeles.

City National Bank Becomes ‘Official Bank’ Of Bluebird Cafe

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City National Bank has inked a sponsorship deal with Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe, becoming the “Official Bank of The Bluebird Cafe.”

“Nashville embraces our songwriting community and nothing represents that fact better than The Bluebird Cafe,” said Diane Pearson, senior vice president and team leader of City National Bank’s Nashville Entertainment Team. “Our community is blessed to have this special place that showcases songwriters in a way no one else can. We at City National are incredibly proud to support this iconic venue that is truly a national treasure.”

Owned by the Nashville Songwriters Association International since 2008, The Bluebird Cafe opened in 1982 and has gained worldwide recognition as a songwriter’s performance space and a venue where both established and up-and-coming songwriters and artists rise to fame and build their careers.

YouTube video

“Sponsoring The Bluebird Cafe is a terrific honor for City National Bank,” said Linda Duncombe, executive vice president and chief marketing, product and digital officer for the bank. “City National has a long and proud history of serving the entertainment industry in Nashville and across the country. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Bluebird and be a part of their incredible legacy.”

“We only have a handful of sponsors and because of that, we’re careful about making sure the fit is right and that those partners understand our brand, which is both unique and delicate. Across the board, our partners share a love and understanding of songwriters and what makes them a significant part of the music business and of the Nashville community,” said Erika Wollam Nichols, general manager and chief operating officer of The Bluebird Cafe and president of Bluebird Cafe Inc.

Nichols adds, “City National is heavily invested in the entertainment business nationwide, and has a long history of supporting our community here in Nashville. They couldn’t have been a better fit.”