Capitol Nashville artist Caylee Hammack will release her 13-song, major label debut album If It Wasn’t For You on Aug. 14. Hammack co-wrote every song on the album, which she also co-produced alongside Mikey Reaves.
“I feel like I’m airing all my dirty laundry in this album in hopes of others feeling that honesty and vulnerability and in it, finding a safe haven to be themselves,” said Hammack. “I want the nitty gritty to shine through, that’s where the stories are. Every song on this record has a true story behind it, and now I can’t wait to tell those once people listen to the album!”
She welcomes several of her favorite female country artists to collaborate on the project. Reba offers vocals on “Redhead,” while Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes contribute to “Mean Something.”
Georgia native Hammack is nominated for two ACM Awards at the upcoming September ceremony, including New Female Artist of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year, as part of “Fooled Around and Fell In Love,” alongside Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Elle King.
IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU Official Track List:
1. “Just Friends”
(Caylee Hammack, Aaron Raitiere, Mikey Reaves)
2. “Redhead” (Featuring Reba McEntire)
(Trent Dabbs, Caylee Hammack, Natalie Hemby)
3. “Looking For A Lighter”
(Caylee Hammack, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson)
4. “Preciatcha”
(Caylee Hammack, Jordan Schmidt, Laura Veltz)
5. “Sister”
(Blake Bollinger, April Geesbreght, Caylee Hammack)
6. “Just Like You”
(Caylee Hammack, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram)
7. “King Size Bed”
(Caylee Hammack, Thomas “Tawgs” Salter, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges)
8. “Forged In The Fire”
(Thomas Finchum, Caylee Hammack, Andy Skib)
9. “Family Tree”
(Caylee Hammack, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges)
10. “Mean Something” (Featuring Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes)
(Caylee Hammack, Mikey Reaves)
11. “Small Town Hypocrite”
(Caylee Hammack, Jared Scott)
12. “Gold”
(Caylee Hammack)
13. “New Level Of Life”
(Caylee Hammack, Aaron Raitiere, Connor Thuotte)
Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, Old Dominion To Celebrate July 4th With iHeartCountry Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThose disappointed at the thought of not being able to attend huge Fourth Of July celebrations among the crowds to watch the fireworks will still be able to revel a bit from their couches by watching the iHeartCountry 4th of July BBQ special. The show, airing Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET on the CW Network, will feature performances by Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, and Old Dominion.
Hosted by iHeartMedia radio personality Bobby Bones, the show will feature the artists performing from their own backyards. Along with the TV airing, the concert will also be streamed on iHeartCountry radio stations and will then replay throughout the holiday weekend.
Executive producers for “iHeartCountry 4th of July BBQ”are John Sykes and Tom Poleman for iHeartMedia and Joel Gallen for Tenth Planet Productions.
Travis Carter Joins Big Loud Management Team
/by Lorie HollabaughTravis Carter has joined the Big Loud team. Effective immediately, Carter will be the day-to-day manager for Big Loud Records’ newest signee, Ben Burgess, and will also serve as A&R consultant for the label.
The Tulsa native began his career in the industry in 2010 as a Creative Assistant for Renee Bell at Sony Music Entertainment in Nashville. After a stint at Love Monkey Music, he landed at Warner Chappell Music four years later, where he advanced to Director of Country, Rock, and Pop in addition to excelling as the Nashville liaison between L.A. and New York in 2016, and then rising to VP/A&R in 2018. He started working with Burgess in 2015 after he signed with Warner Chappell Music. Notching a multi-week No. 1 cut with triple Platinum “Whiskey Glasses,” recorded by Big Loud Records’ Morgan Wallen, Carter was introduced to Big Loud in 2016.
“I have Ben Burgess to thank for introducing us to Travis,” said Seth England, Partner/CEO of Big Loud. “From pitching ‘Whiskey Glasses’ at the start, we’ve gotten a chance to work with him firsthand for a few years now with Ben, and he’s proven himself to be a perfect addition to our Management team. Travis also has a great ear and his instincts are spot-on — he’s going to be a strong asset to our growing A&R division.”
“Joining the Big Loud team is an absolute dream come true,” said Carter. “Seth [England], Joey [Moi], Craig [Wiseman], and the whole Big Loud family, have been champions of Ben Burgess from day one. Their outside-the-box, forward-thinking approach to business makes for a perfect fit for launching his artist career and being a part of the team myself. I couldn’t be more excited to chase it all down, alongside Ben, with such an incredible crew.”
Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley Teams With Nugs.net To Webcast Music Performances
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville venue 3rd & Lindsley has partnered with live concert streaming/recording platform nugs.net for live show webcasting. Artists can now use the venue as a webcasting location, to offer both pay-per-view events and free-to-fans webcasts. Nugs.net has previously webcast live events for artists including Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and more.
Five cameras have been installed at 3rd & Lindsley, with PTZ remote control functionality and the ability to expand to eight cameras. Additionally, all encoding and editing gear has been installed to create a turn-key video streaming experience.
3rd & Lindsley’s owner Ron Brice said, “As we approach our 30th year of operating as an independent venue we could not be happier about the relationship and culture we will continue to build with Nugs.net now in the family. Their reputation for evolving to capture the connections between artists and fans with audio and video technology is something we have enjoyed as music lovers for many years, and now we can all continue in artist development together in Nashville.”
Nugs.net founder and CEO Brad Serling added, “We could not be more excited about this partnership with 3rd & Lindsley. So many incredible musicians have graced their stage. We look forward to sharing the magic that happens with artists of all genres on their stage with music fans everywhere.”
Caylee Hammack Details Upcoming Debut Album ‘If It Wasn’t For You’
/by Jessica NicholsonCapitol Nashville artist Caylee Hammack will release her 13-song, major label debut album If It Wasn’t For You on Aug. 14. Hammack co-wrote every song on the album, which she also co-produced alongside Mikey Reaves.
“I feel like I’m airing all my dirty laundry in this album in hopes of others feeling that honesty and vulnerability and in it, finding a safe haven to be themselves,” said Hammack. “I want the nitty gritty to shine through, that’s where the stories are. Every song on this record has a true story behind it, and now I can’t wait to tell those once people listen to the album!”
She welcomes several of her favorite female country artists to collaborate on the project. Reba offers vocals on “Redhead,” while Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes contribute to “Mean Something.”
Georgia native Hammack is nominated for two ACM Awards at the upcoming September ceremony, including New Female Artist of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year, as part of “Fooled Around and Fell In Love,” alongside Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Elle King.
IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU Official Track List:
1. “Just Friends”
(Caylee Hammack, Aaron Raitiere, Mikey Reaves)
2. “Redhead” (Featuring Reba McEntire)
(Trent Dabbs, Caylee Hammack, Natalie Hemby)
3. “Looking For A Lighter”
(Caylee Hammack, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson)
4. “Preciatcha”
(Caylee Hammack, Jordan Schmidt, Laura Veltz)
5. “Sister”
(Blake Bollinger, April Geesbreght, Caylee Hammack)
6. “Just Like You”
(Caylee Hammack, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram)
7. “King Size Bed”
(Caylee Hammack, Thomas “Tawgs” Salter, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges)
8. “Forged In The Fire”
(Thomas Finchum, Caylee Hammack, Andy Skib)
9. “Family Tree”
(Caylee Hammack, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges)
10. “Mean Something” (Featuring Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes)
(Caylee Hammack, Mikey Reaves)
11. “Small Town Hypocrite”
(Caylee Hammack, Jared Scott)
12. “Gold”
(Caylee Hammack)
13. “New Level Of Life”
(Caylee Hammack, Aaron Raitiere, Connor Thuotte)
Mint Music Group’s Anna Clendening Inks Label Deal With Atlantic
/by Jessica NicholsonMint Music Group artist Anna Clendening has signed with Atlantic Records. The pop singer/songwriter has garnered more than 200 million global streams and a gold-certified single with “Boys Like You.” “Get Me,” released June 12, serves as the lead single from her upcoming EP.
Clendening, along with Nashville-based artist-producer Lackhoney, are aligned with Mint Music Group, a venture from Nashville-based managers Jono Scarlet and Trevor Wall, and Los Angeles-based manager Wallace Morgan.
Wallace Morgan, originally from Nashville, began working at Republic Records in New York, before launching the previous venture Moxi Management in 2017. Philadelphia native Wall was a tour manager before moving to Nashville in 2015 and working at APA Agency before joining Mint in 2018. New Zealand native Scarlet spent 20 years working as a producer, tour manager and artist manager before co-launching Mint in 2015.
Morgan oversees Mint Music Group’s West Coast operations, while Scarlet and Wall oversee the company’s headquarters in Nashville.
Mint Music Group Partners: Jono Scarlet, Trevor Wall, Wallace Morgan
Mike Smith Named Global President For Downtown Music Publishing
/by Jessica NicholsonMike Smith.
Downtown Music Holdings has appointed Mike Smith as Global President of Downtown Music Publishing. Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, he will assume day-to-day operations for Downtown’s music publishing division. He will be based in London and will report to Downtown Music Holdings CEO Justin Kalifowitz.
“Since its founding in 2007, we’ve carefully built Downtown Music Publishing, writer by writer, guided by an appreciation for the craft of songwriting, a focus on creative partnership, and a belief that a global music company for the modern era should be rooted in an understanding that the song is a foundational element to everything else in the music business. The addition of Mike Smith as Global President of Downtown Music Publishing is in complete alignment with these principles and I know under Mike’s stewardship our publishing business is in the best of hands,” said Kalifowitz. “For as long as I’ve been in the music industry, Mike has set the standard in cultivating strong relationships with some of the most influential songwriters, artists and producers, while also mentoring the next generation of global music executives.”
Smith said, “Since my first job in the music industry I have been guided by my underlying love for artists and songwriters. I thoroughly enjoyed the years I spent on the recordings side of the business, but music publishing is where my heart is. Downtown’s ability to build a formidable, twenty-first century music publishing company unencumbered by the baggage of the past has made them an impressive and compelling proposition for songwriters and composers, and I am delighted to become part of their vision.”
Smith, who received the prestigious ‘Sir George Martin Award’ at the 2016 A&R Awards, most recently served as Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music in the U.K., where he oversaw the signings of Liam Gallagher, Dave, J Hus, Celeste and Foals. Prior to joining Warner Chappell, he was Managing Director of Columbia Records and President of Music at Mercury Records and Virgin/EMI. His past signings include Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, and Arcade Fire, and he has overseen deals with Iggy Azalea, Lizzo, Duke Dumont and The Chemical Brothers, among others.
Entertainment Communities Unite To Support Police Reforms
/by Lorie HollabaughMany in the music and entertainment communities recently signed a letter supporting the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 in the U.S. House of Representatives and are urging its quick passage.
Among the letter’s signatories are ASCAP, Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), Arista Records, Justin Bieber, Death Cab For Cutie, Billie Eilish, Amy Grant, Josh Kear, Lizzo, Demi Lovato, Becca Mancari, Chrissy Metz, Mac Powell, Rihanna, Bernie Taupin, and more.
The Justice in Policing Act rejects qualified immunity, bans police using chokeholds and no-knock warrants, ends racial and religious profiling, establishes a national police misconduct registry to collect data and improve investigations into police misconduct, and also promotes de-escalation practices and established comprehensive training programs.
The act also limits the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement, requires federal uniformed law enforcement to wear body cameras, and requires state and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras. The act also seeks to support critical community-based programs to change the culture of law enforcement and public safety.
The House of Representatives is expected to take up the legislation later this week on the issue.
Earlier this month, artists and music industry executives also signed a letter petitioning New York to repeal statute 50-A, which keeps police officers’ personnel and disciplinary records concealed.
See the full letter from artists supporting the Justice in Policing Act below:
Red 11 Music Signs Cody Hibbard For Booking Representation
/by Jessica NicholsonCody Hibbard
Newcomer Cody Hibbard has inked a booking agreement with Red 11 Music, with Red 11’s Geoff Turner handling scheduling of Hibbard’s performance opportunities. In January, Hibbard released his debut EP Memory and a Dirt Road.
“Geoff has been a supporter of mine since day 1 when ‘Half Whiskey, Half Lonely’ dropped. Having that kind of support behind me moving forward elevates my motivation and excitement even more,” Hibbard says. “I can’t wait to see what lies in store working with Red 11 Music.”
“We’ve been incredibly impressed with Cody’s new record and his distinctive voice in the country music world,” Turner says. “We can’t wait to introduce him to more fans and bigger audiences across Texas and beyond.”
Oklahoma native Hibbard began pursuing songwriting and music after attending the United States Naval Academy and working for years as a pipeliner. In 2019, Hibbard recorded his debut single, “Half Whiskey, Half Lonely,” at Rosewood Recording Studios in Tyler, Texas with producer Drew Hall. His song “Just for the Record” debuted at No. 25 on the Texas Music Pickers Spotify chart.
Red 11 Music has offices in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee and is home to several artists working in the Texas country, red dirt and Americana scenes. In just over a decade, the boutique booking agency has worked with artists including Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, Randall King, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Saban Music Group Inks Global Admin Deal With UMPG
/by Lorie HollabaughBacked by entertainment industry pioneer Haim Saban, SMG was founded in 2019 by Saban, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group LLC. Led by industry veteran Gustavo Lopez, the company’s strategy entails identifying, signing, and developing artists with international appeal. SMG’s global artist/songwriter roster includes Static & Ben El (Israel), Mergui (Israel), Marie Monti (France), Chesca (Puerto Rico), and Reykon (Colombia), and more.
“I am thrilled about this new venture. Innovation requires collaboration, and this partnership amplifies our chances for success on a global scale,” said Haim Saban of the new agreement.
“We are excited to be partnering with Haim Saban and Gustavo Lopez and Saban Music to create opportunities for their artists and songwriters. I am confident that we will have outstanding success together,” said Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG.
Earlier this year, SMG announced a global distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group. SMG is distributed in the U.S. by Caroline, an arm of UMG subsidiary Capitol Music Group, and works in tandem with Caroline International and UMG’s Santa Monica-based central services team for all other territories.
ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Goes Virtual
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives program hosted its annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities earlier this month with several virtual events.
Held June 10-17 via videoconference, campers from around the world, including the United States, Canada and Australia participated in virtual activities. Cassadee Pope joined the campers during a live Zoom interview session with Seacrest Studios in Nashville, where the campers did a Q&A with Pope. The interview session was also broadcasted to a closed-circuit network for the patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to tune in. Ross Copperman, J.T. Harding and Runaway June joined campers to write the original song, “World of Love,” to be recorded by each participant individually and compiled into a final song by Copperman. ACM and Vanderbilt staff joined the campers via Zoom Saturday morning, creating instruments from items at home. The ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp continued with a talent show performance from each camper, featuring special appearances from Frankie Ballard, Michael Ray and Tenille Townes live via Zoom. Following the weekend activities, camp concluded with a variety of music-oriented activities such as line dancing and yoga through Wednesday, June 17.
“In spite of not having camp in-person this year, we were delighted to provide this virtual experience to 29 campers, five that joined for the first time,” said Lyndsay Cruz, ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director. “We felt it was more important than ever this year to continue to provide our campers with the music-oriented and educational experiences they enjoy, and we are so thankful to each artist and the country music community who helped make this camp a reality.”