Ahead of tomorrow’s CMA Summer Stay-Cay livestream, presented by Budweiser Nitro Gold, the Country Music Association has added performances from country hit-maker Kane Brown as well as Restless Road. International artist Kaylee Bell will also join Morgan Evans for Cocktails + Coffee, a worldly conversation.
The newly-added artists join previously-announced performers including Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Ingrid Andress, Kassi Ashton, Gabby Barrett, Bobby Bones, BRELAND, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Blanco Brown, Kristian Bush, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Travis Denning, Russell Dickerson, Brett Eldredge, Everette, Tyler Farr, Brantley Gilbert, Gone West’s Colbie Caillat and Nelly Joy, Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Jillian Jacqueline, Chris Janson, Angie K, King Calaway, Lady A, LANCO, Chris Lane, Tracy Lawrence, Brandon Lay, LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Midland, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, Rascal Flatts, Michael Ray, Jameson Rodgers, Darius Rucker, The Reklaws, The Shires, Granger Smith, Cole Swindell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes, Hailey Whitters, Lainey Wilson, Rita Wilson, Charlie Worsham and Brett Young.
CMA Summer Stay-Cay will be hosted by chart-toppers Jimmie Allen and Lindsay Ell, and can be streamed starting tomorrow (July 1) at 5 p.m. CST on CMA’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Virgin Hotels Nashville Opens Today On Music Row
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Pool Club Rooftop & Bar at Virgin Hotels Nashville. Photo: virginhotels.com/nashville.
Virgin Hotels opens its newest location on Nashville’s Music Row today (July 1). The 14-story hotel will offer 262 guest rooms ranging from 290-590 square feet, along with amenities including The Pool Club Rooftop and Bar, two ballrooms, the Commons Club (the brand’s flagship restaurant, bar and lounge), and the Funny Library Coffee Shop.
Developed by The Buccini/Pollin Group and operated by Virgin Hotels, the space also includes a fitness center and more than 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
In September 2017, Sir Richard Branson visited Nashville to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel.
The British billionaire said during that groundbreaking ceremony, “The last time I was in Nashville, which sort of shows my age, is when I was sitting in a studio watching Roy Orbison making an album. He was an artist on Virgin Records years ago, who was a wonderful man and wrote beautiful music. So I never thought when I was sitting there in the studio, that one day I would be building a hotel at the end of the street.”
According to The Nashville Post, Virgin Hotels parent company Virgin Group paid $11 million for the location December 2015.
Spotify Offers New Premium Duo Subscription Plan
/by Lorie HollabaughPremium Duo is for two people living at the same home address and costs $12.99 per month. Under the plan, each individual gets their own Premium account in addition to unique benefits like exclusive access to Duo Mix, a regularly updated playlist made just for the two subscribers to discover audio they both love and enjoy together.
With Premium Duo, each fan gets their own individual Premium account so they can both fully enjoy the benefits of Spotify Premium: ad-free, on-demand listening and the catalog of more than 50 million tracks, as well as access to over 1 million podcast titles. Users who haven’t tried Premium before may be eligible to get the first month of Premium Duo for free, and upgrading to Premium Duo allows subscribers to keep their existing Premium accounts along with saved music, podcasts, playlists and recommendations.
“Today we are proud to launch Spotify Premium Duo, a first of its kind audio offering for just two people in the same household,” says Alex Norström, Spotify’s Chief Freemium Business Officer. “Premium Duo includes our extensive music and podcast catalog and everything users love about Spotify Premium. With two individual Premium accounts, you can both listen independently, uninterrupted and get all of your personalized playlists and features tailored just for you. We are thrilled to bring this unique Spotify Premium plan to even more markets around the world.”
T.J. Martell Foundation To Continue Celebrating Admired Individuals With Rae Krenn Sunshine Award
/by Lorie HollabaughBeginning in September, the award will be presented monthly to a treasured member of the Nashville community who positively makes each day a better day, just by being themselves. Recipients of the Rae Krenn Sunshine Award will be presented with a commemorative plaque, a complimentary lunch for four at The Palm in downtown Nashville, and will be recognized all month long on the T.J. Martell Foundation website and social media pages.
Sponsorship of the Rae Krenn Sunshine Award is a minimum $2,500 donation, which is 100% tax deductible and supports the T.J. Martell Foundation’s cancer research programs at nine NCI-designated flagship hospitals including the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Those interested in sponsoring a deserving individual for the award should email Tinti Moffat at tmoffat@tjmartell.org.
Rae Krenn.
Jimmie Allen Welcomes Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, Charley Pride For Collaborative EP
/by Lorie HollabaughJimmie Allen. Photo: Dustin Haney
Jimmie Allen gets by with a little help from his friends on his latest project, Bettie James, which features collaborations with Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, and Tauren Wells. The Stoney Creek album is set for release July 10, and includes Allen’s current single “This Is Us” featuring Noah Cyrus, which has already garnered more than 25 million streams.
The project is inspired by and named after his late father, James Allen, and grandmother, Bettie Snead, who passed away in September 2019 and February 2014, respectively. “My dad and grandmom were two completely different people, but both played a huge part in my life. Since they died, I have been wanting to leave trails of their legacies throughout my music,” Allen said of his motivation for the project, which he co-produced alongside Ash Bowers.
“I am a fan of every artist on this project and humbled to have each one of them be a part of it,” continued Allen. “Each artist has touched the life of my dad, my grandmother and me through their music. I’m proud of this body of music and thankful to every writer that helped me create Bettie James.”
This afternoon, Allen co-hosts and performs on the CMA Summer Stay-Cay special with Lindsay Ell. The hosting pair appeared on Good Morning America this morning to talk about the multi-hour live stream event, which kicks off at 5 p.m. CT on CMA’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Industry Pics: Big Machine, Grand Ole Opry, CMT
/by Lorie HollabaughScott Borchetta Donates Big Machine Hand Sanitizer To Indiana Children’s Hospital
Pictured (L-R): Executive Vice President of Big Machine Distillery Mark Borchetta, IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan and BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta.
Big Machine Label Group President/CEO/Founder Scott Borchetta was joined by IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan and Nascar driver Jade Buford at Indiana University’s Riley Hospital for Children on June 29, where they delivered mass quantities of Big Machine Hand Sanitizer for hospital employees, patients and guests. They made the visit ahead of the upcoming Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at the Brickyard powered by Big Machine Records Nascar race this weekend, which airs July 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
Brad Paisley, Keb’ Mo’ Play Grand Ole Opry Broadcast
Opry member Brad Paisley and guest Keb’ Mo’ performed on The Grand Ole Opry as it celebrated its 4,930th consecutive Saturday night broadcast on June 27. This Saturday, the Opry will celebrate Independence Day as Sara Evans and Opry members the Oak Ridge Boys and Mark Wills step into the circle at 7 p.m. CT for the 4,931st consecutive Saturday night broadcast on July 4. The show will be broadcast live on Circle, and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels.
Filmore Hosts A Virtual “Happy Hour” With CMT Staffers
Top Row, (L-R): CMT’s Katrina Lothamer; Curb Records Director, Publicity Jessie Lowe; CMT’s Jordan Hatton. Middle Row L-R: CMT’s Leslie Fram; Curb Records VP, Marketing John Clore; CMT’s Shanna Strassberg. Bottom Row, (L-R): Filmore, Victory Entertainment’s Chris Perkins, CMT’s Jordan Walker
Curb Records and artist Filmore recently took part in a virtual hangout session with CMT staffers. The group discussed Filmore’s recent engagement, as well as his song “Other Girl,” and caught up on how he has been handling life in quarantine.
TobyMac, for King & Country, Zach Williams Set For Hope Lives Virtual Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Christian Festival Association will launch the first Hope Lives Virtual Festival, set for July 18, and featuring artists including TobyMac, for King & Country, Newsboys, Matthew West, Zach Williams, and more.
The festival is being produced through a joint effort of all 28 CFA member festivals, in partnership with Compassion International and Eight Days of Hope.
The festival will be streamed via the Christian Festival Association’s Facebook page, as well as via participating artists’ and festivals’ social media accounts.
“We are so excited to bring our festival fans across the nation one unified festival event on July 18th. With the cancelation of nearly all in person summer events for 2020, the CFA members have joined together to bring this virtual event to their communities. We hope it will provide an opportunity for festival fans to reunite in small gatherings in their backyards, church parking lots, etc. to experience the event together. We want this to be a fun, interactive festival experience for all fans who tune in,” said Julie Klinger, CFA, Executive Director.
“Compassion is honored to join the Christian Festival Association (CFA) in their first ever Virtual Festival to benefit the children Compassion serves,” said Tim Thompson from Compassion International. “As COVID-19 is sweeping across the world, the experts say it is hitting the developing world the hardest. Please join us as we partner with thousands of local churches in 25 countries to bring hope to children and give them the opportunity to become all God has created them to be.”
“Eight Days of Hope is excited to partner with the CFA festival family from coast to coast,” said Steve Tybor, President of Eight Days of Hope. “As a ministry that focuses on loving and serving the brokenhearted both after natural disasters and those rescued from sex trafficking, sponsoring Hope Lives is a great way to share with the community of Christ a way that they can make a difference through Eight Days of Hope.”
‘American Songwriter’ Launches 35th Anniversary Song Contest
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Grace Potter, BJ Hill, Matt Nathanson, Eric Hurt.
Music publication American Songwriter has launched its 35th Anniversary Song Contest, to seek out the most promising compositions from aspiring songwriters from around the world.
The first-place winner will earn $10,000, a two-page spread in the January/February 2021 issue of American Songwriter, a Martin GPC-X2E Rosewood Guitar, a lifetime American Songwriter membership, and a career consultation with a reputable music publisher and record label.
Among the artists and music executives taking part in this year’s event are Grace Potter, Warner Chappell Music VP, A&R BJ Hill, Mickey Guyton, Walker Hayes, Matt Nathanson, Empire’s VP, A&R Eric Hurt, New West Records President John Allen, Rounder Records President John Strohm, and more.
The cost to enter is $25 per song submission, and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, 2020 at 11:59:59 CT. To enter the contest, visit americansongwriter.com.
CMA Adds Performers To Summer Stay-Cay Livestream Event
/by LB CantrellAhead of tomorrow’s CMA Summer Stay-Cay livestream, presented by Budweiser Nitro Gold, the Country Music Association has added performances from country hit-maker Kane Brown as well as Restless Road. International artist Kaylee Bell will also join Morgan Evans for Cocktails + Coffee, a worldly conversation.
The newly-added artists join previously-announced performers including Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Ingrid Andress, Kassi Ashton, Gabby Barrett, Bobby Bones, BRELAND, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Blanco Brown, Kristian Bush, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Travis Denning, Russell Dickerson, Brett Eldredge, Everette, Tyler Farr, Brantley Gilbert, Gone West’s Colbie Caillat and Nelly Joy, Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Jillian Jacqueline, Chris Janson, Angie K, King Calaway, Lady A, LANCO, Chris Lane, Tracy Lawrence, Brandon Lay, LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Midland, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, Rascal Flatts, Michael Ray, Jameson Rodgers, Darius Rucker, The Reklaws, The Shires, Granger Smith, Cole Swindell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes, Hailey Whitters, Lainey Wilson, Rita Wilson, Charlie Worsham and Brett Young.
CMA Summer Stay-Cay will be hosted by chart-toppers Jimmie Allen and Lindsay Ell, and can be streamed starting tomorrow (July 1) at 5 p.m. CST on CMA’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Miranda Lambert Reaches Top 5 At Country Radio With "Bluebird"
/by Jessica NicholsonMiranda Lambert has earned her first solo Top 5 hit in six years with her latest single, “Bluebird,” from her album Wildcard.
Lambert was featured on Jason Aldean’s 2018 chart-topper “Drowns The Whiskey,” but the breezy and hopeful “Bluebird” marks the superstar’s first solo trip to the Top 5 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart since 2014’s “Automatic.” Lambert’s most recent No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart came in 2012 with “Over You.”
Lambert co-wrote “Bluebird” alongside Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick.
The 34-time ACM Award winner recently earned new RIAA certifications, with “Little Red Wagon” being certified Platinum, and the Top 10 hit “Somethin’ Bad” (with Carrie Underwood) earning double-Platinum status.
BREAKING: Warner Music Nashville COO Matt Signore To Step Down End Of 2020
/by LB CantrellMatt Signore
Warner Music Nashville Chief Operating Officer Matt Signore will be leaving the company at the end of 2020, according to an internal memo sent by WMN Chairman/CEO John Esposito today (June 30).
Signore spent 15 years at Warner Music Nashville, and had been appointed COO in 2017. Signore joined Warner’s WEA in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer, and then later became General Manager. He became President of WEA in 2013. Prior to his WEA tenure, Signore served as CFO and General Manager of Island Def Jam, and before that he spent time at Island Records.
A well loved executive both company-wide and throughout the music business community, Signore has been an invaluable member of the WMG family. He helped reorganize the company and serves as a key player in the label group’s success.
Esposito shared, “I’ve had the great fortune of counting Matt as a trusted friend and colleague for over 25 years, going back to our days together at PolyGram and IDJ. Besides being one of the greatest execs in our business, Matt is one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever known. A generous and open soul, he’s a mentor and confidante to a generation of people trying to navigate their way through this crazy life. Matt’s dedication and expertise have also been felt by the wider industry, including serving as Board Chairman of Music Biz and being a passionate supporter and Board Director of Porter’s Call, the Nashville-based artists’ counseling service.”
Read Esposito’s full memo below: