Bandtwango CEO John Alexander Resigns (Exclusive)

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John Alexander

Bandtwango Music CEO John Alexander has resigned from the company, effective immediately. In 2015, Alexander co-founded the country music crowdfunding and artist development platform alongside Carl Allocco. Bandtwango will continue to operate under Allocco’s leadership.

Alexander has signed a deal to pen a memoir for ECW Press, alongside co-writer and sports historian Greg Oliver. The book, titled I Shoulda Stayed in Baseball: My Wild Ride in Pro Wrestling, Country Music, and with the Mets, is set to release in April 2021.

Alexander moved to Nashville in 2000 to oversee music marketing and national account development for GAC-TV and Jones Radio Networks. In 2010, he was named VP, Artist Management and Strategic Marketing for Black River Entertainment.

“I feel proud of my accomplishments on Music Row since arriving here in 2000,” says Alexander. “I hope that I made a positive impact on those I did business with over the past 20-plus years as a country music executive.”

Alexander’s upcoming memoir chronicles his history in the music industry, beginning in 1981. That year, while working for the New York Mets minor league affiliate in Shelby, North Carolina, he met then rock and roll singer Patty Lovelace. Alexander left his job with the Mets to manage Lovelace, who later changed her name to Patty Loveless. In 2012, as Black River’s VP, he discovered a young singer-songwriter, Kelsea Ballerini, in Franklin, Tennessee. Ballerini introduced herself to Alexander at the Mellow Mushroom, having recognized him as Sarah Darling’s manager. After meeting the budding singer, he invited her to perform for him at the Black River offices. Alexander then arranged for her to meet Black River label CEO Gordon Kerr, and head of Black River publishing, Celia Froehlig. Ballerini was eventually signed to a publishing deal and later offered a label contract.

Alexander’s legal name is John Arezzi, and prior to his music business days, he worked in the pro wrestling business in the 1970s and again in the 1990s. During his tenure in wrestling, he worked as a promoter, talk show host, and photographer/writer. Alexander left wrestling after graduating college in 1979, but later returned in the 1990s, before leaving the business again and entering into the country music scene in the mid-90s. During this time, he worked as a music marketing executive for WMJC-FM (in his hometown on Long Island/New York City with personality Suzanne Alexander, and Billboard country music charts editor Jim Asker) and later with WYNY-FM, before moving to Nashville.

“I decided to leave the music business because so many opportunities from my ‘past life’ began to come my way,” explains Alexander. “I originally left the wrestling business in 1996, changed my name to John Alexander, and vanished from that industry until the end of 2018. That’s when I reemerged with some social media accounts under my legal name, and things took off!”

Alexander is now focusing his attention on his upcoming memoir and his return to pro wrestling as a historian and analyst. He currently hosts a weekly podcast and Facebook Live show.

NSAI Names Executive Committee Members, Welcomes Newest Board Members

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International Board of Directors had its initial meeting of the 2020-21 term, which runs May through April, marking the first meeting for newly-elected members J.T. Harding, Josh Kear, Jon Nite and Emily Shackelton.

During the meeting, the Board re-elected the current Executive Committee and officers for a one-year term including President Steve Bogard, Legislative Co-Chairs Roger Brown and Lee Thomas Miller, Industry Liaison Brett James, Sergeant-At-Arms Bobby Tomberlin, Secretary Byron Hill, Treasurer Jenn Schott and At-Large Members Tim Nichols, Anthony L. Smith and Danny Wells.

The full 27-member NSAI Board includes songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jim Beavers, Steve Bogard, Roger Brown, Sarah Buxton, Jeff Cohen, Chris DeStefano, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, J.T. Harding, Byron Hill, Josh Kear, Lee Thomas Miller, Tim Nichols, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Liz Rose, Rivers Rutherford, Jenn Schott, Emily Shackelton, Anthony L. Smith, Caitlyn Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Laura Veltz, Troy Verges, Danny Wells and Jimmy Yeary.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Zach Williams, And More

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Ray Wylie Hubbard. Photo: Alan Messer

Nostalgia for ’90s country seems to be everywhere.

Let’s not forget that many of those legacy acts are still making music today. This special edition of DisClaimer collects some of their efforts. With concert, nightclub and casino bookings kaput while we all social distance, some of these artists have lost their day-to-day livelihoods. So lend them all the support that you can.

Leading the way with the Disc of the Day is Ray Wylie Hubbard. But there are several other worthy candidates, namely Dolly, Billy Ray, Rosanne and Mark Chesnutt.

Joe & Martina have been in this column before, under their old billing of Terra Bella. Since this is their first appearance using their own names, give ’em a DisCovery Award, as well as a tip of the hat for throwing a spotlight on veteran John Berry.

BILLY RAY CYRUS, AKA MAMA KUSH/Ballad of Jed
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: WMG/BMG Rights Management, no performance rights listed; BRC
– Wonderfully wacky. It’s a rewrite of the theme song of “The Beverly Hillbillies” with references to Granny firing up some weed. This is tied in with the fact that Billy Ray now has his own pot blend, “Midnight Special.” Ya gotta love this guy.

RAY WYLIE HUBBARD/Bad Trick
Writers: none listed; Producer: Ray Wylie Hubbard; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– Dark, bluesy and smoky….. and way, way cool. The hypnotic, minor-key groove is great enough, but the dancing-with-the-devil lyric is just as good. Texas legend Hubbard is best known for “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother,” but his songwriting and stage presence have always been light years better than that timeless gem. His profile was raised recently by his songwriting collaborations with Eric Church (“Desperate Man,” etc). His backup band here consists of Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Don Was and Chris Robinson of The Black Crows. Are those credentials good enough for ya? Play and believe.

MARK CHESNUTT/I Found Another You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Nada Dinero
– Chesnutt remains one of our most underrated honky-tonk vocal stylists, and this audio delight demonstrates that he has lost none of his talent. A country-rock tempo churns this tune relentlessly while a chicken-pickin’ guitar stutters and a steel sizzles along. The punch line is hilarious: “I found another you, and she hates me, too.” Keepin’ it country, bro.

CLINT BLACK/America (Still In Love With You)
Writers: Clint Black/Steve Wariner; Producer: Clint Black; Publisher: none listed; CB
– A snooze. The ballad’s tempo plods, and the message sounds instantly trite.

CLAY WALKER/Easy Goin’
Writers: Clay Walker/Adam Wheeler/Paul Sikes; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publishers: Espiritu de Leon Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Accent / Pedal Down Music (ASCAP), Oven Music, Inc. (BMI); CW
-It has the gently rolling atmosphere you might expect, given the title. The gal was here and gone on the highway, to his regret. Heartache with a breezy vibe.

ZACH WILLIAMS & DOLLY PARTON/There Was Jesus
Writers: Jonathan Smith/Casey Beathard/Zach Williams; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Little Louder/Be Essential/Seven Ring Circus, BMI; Provident/Essential
-Indomitable Dolly lets no grass grow under her feet. She won a Grammy last year for her “God Only Knows” collaboration with For King & Country and began 2020 singing a five-week No. 1 smash on the dance charts along with the Swedish electro-duo Galantis on a tune titled “Faith.” Now she is dueting with Dove and Grammy-winning CCM star Zach Williams. As fiery a singer as he is, she matches him lick for vocal lick until the two of them built to a goosebump-raising crescendo. This is audio superstardom.

JOHN PAUL WHITE & ROSANNE CASH/We’re All In This Together
Writers: John Paul White/Rosanne Cash; Producer: John Paul White; Publisher: none listed; Single Lock
– Set in an acoustic-guitar setting, this shimmering duet is an artistic lyric that reflects our pandemic-plagued world. The ballad’s proceeds benefit Music Health Alliance. Its video shows news footage of just how harrowing this all is.

TRACY LAWRENCE/When The Cowboy’s Gone
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Tracy Lawrence; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Sony/ATV; Steadfast
-We’ve heard this worn-out sentiment many times before, but Tracy refreshes it a little because of his still-distinctive voice.

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS & TERRI CLARK/You Make It Hard
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Brett Beavers/Jim Beavers/Mary Hilliard Harrington/Jon Randall/Luke Wooten; Producer: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-I guess the bordering-on-lewd lyric is supposed to be a so-bad-its-good parody. To me, it just sounds dumb. She deserves better.

JOE & MARTINA WITH JOHN BERRY/Give Me Back The ’90s
Writers: Joe Costa/Johnny Garcia; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JM
-The video (shot outside the iconic Nashville Palace) has visual references to Wynonna, Alan, Strait and Yearwood. Joe Costa takes the lead with his wife Martina Costa providing harmony while they wax nostalgic for the ’90s. John Berry pops up about 2/3 of the way through. Pleasant. Jaunty.

Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy Move In To Top Five On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Morgan Wallen moves up three slots to No. 4 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with co-writer credit on his “Chasin’ You,” “This Bar,” and his new “More Than My Hometown.”

Michael Hardy follows him at No. 5 with co-writer credit on Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown” and “This Bar,” Jameson Rodgers’ “Some Girls,” LOCASH’s “One Big Country Song,” and his own collaboration with Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, “One Beer.”

Craig Wiseman remains at No. 1 this week, Shane McAnally moves up to No. 2 and Jonathan Singleton moves up to No. 3.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

MusiCares, Twitch To Launch Virtual Festival Featuring Brandy Clark, Steve Earle, CAM

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Brandy Clark. Photo: Chris Phelps

CAM, Skip Marley, Steve Earle, Brandy Clark and DJ Twin Shadow will kick off “Sessions,” a first of its kind, two-hour festival from MusiCares and Twitch this Wednesday, May 6. The new series will take place on four consecutive Wednesdays, with subsequent shows taking place on May 13, 20 and 27.

Confirmed guests for future episodes include Allie X, Bryce Vine, Cavetown, Dawes, Empress Of, Hanson, Julia Michaels, Kat Cunning, MAX, Randy Rainbow, Salt Cathedral, and many more. The festival will take place on the frontpage of Twitch and will feature four acts and host Matt Pinfield on a single screen. Conversation, collaboration and performances will be intertwined, with each artist performing two songs and a guest DJ to kick off and close out each episode.

Viewers can contribute to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund via a donate here button or online at tiltify.com/@sessions/sessions.

Launched in 2011, Twitch is a global community that creates multiplayer entertainment and brings the joy of co-op to everything, from casual gaming to world-class esports to anime marathons, music, and art streams.

Industry Ink: Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Daigle, Counterpart Music

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Garth And Trisha Share Some Opry Circle Magic

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood brought some duet magic to the Opry stage this past Saturday night (May 2) as the two performed together on the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,922nd consecutive Saturday night broadcast. The two took turns performing their own hits and backing each other vocally on favorites from other giants in country including Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Emmylou Harris, and dueting on the George Jones/Tammy Wynette classic “Golden Ring” and their own “Whiskey To Wine.” The night marked the 10th anniversary of the Opry House being flooded in the Tennessee flood of 2010.

“I just love being here,” Brooks said. “This stage holds so many memories for both of us. Thanks to the Opry for letting us be members of the greatest place on the planet. In every challenge there is an opportunity. We are together apart, and apart we are together … in country music we are a family and we will all get through this and come out stronger in the end.”

Lauren Daigle Offers New Spanish Version Of “You Say”

Lauren Daigle.

Lauren Daigle has recorded a Spanish version of her Grammy-winning, 3x Platinum hit “You Say” (“Tu Dices”) which will be followed by “Rescue” (“Rescata”) on May 15. The new version can be heard here: hyperurl.co/TuDicesRescata. “You Say” is the first single from Daigle’s 2018 Grammy-winning album, Look Up Child. The longest-running No. 1 song on the weekly Hot Christian Songs Chart at 82 weeks, the crossover hit also spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, appeared in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Top 40 chart, and Top 5 on their Hot AC Chart.

“Music has the power to move and connect us in ways that are oftentimes hard to describe,” said Daigle. “Now more than ever we need something to bring us together and music seems like the perfect way to do that. I hope that “Tu Dices” brings everyone as much joy as I had recording it!”

Counterpart Music Launches In Music City

Ben Stauffer

Counterpart Music has opened in Nashville. The new company, started by Ben Stauffer, provides independent musicians in all genres with record label and music publishing services, including album release planning, strategy, and project management; digital distribution; streaming and social media analytics; monetization optimization; and metadata management. Stauffer was previously a member of the executive leadership team of Centricity Music in Franklin, Tennessee, and has two decades of business experience with specialties in finance, data analytics, strategic planning and analysis, forecasting/modeling, and research.

Weekly Register: Luke Combs Takes Top Two Country Albums Sales Slots

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Luke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright

Luke Combs holds the top two slots this week on the country albums sales chart, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

What You See Is What You Get is at No. 1 with 24K in total consumption, while This One’s For You is at No. 2 with 20K.

The Top 5 Country Albums
Luke Combs, What You See Is What You Get 24K/26 million song streams
Luke Combs, This One’s For You  20K/23 million song streams
Morgan Wallen, If I Know Me  19K/22 million song streams
Sam Hunt, SOUTHSIDE  18K/18 million song streams
Blake Shelton, Fully Loaded: God’s Country 14K/14 million song streams

Gabby Barrett remains atop the Country On-Demand Streaming Songs chart this week, with her No. 1 hit “I Hope” earning 9.5 million streams this week.

The Top 5 Country On-Demand Streaming Songs
Gabby Barrett, “I Hope”  9.5 million streams
Morgan Wallen, “Chasin’ You” 7.7 million song streams
Diplo & Julia Michaels w/ Morgan Wallen, “Heartless”  7.3 million song streams
Maren Morris, ” The Bones”  7.2 million song streams
Blake Shelton w/ Gwen Stefani, “Nobody But You” 7.1 million song streams

Mark Your Calendar—May 2020

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Single Add Dates


May 4
Brett Young/Lady/BMLGR
Caylee Hammack/Small Town Hypocrite/Capitol Nashville

May 9
Jesse Keith Whitley/Try To Change My Ways

May 11
Parmalee x Blanco Brown/Just The Way/Stoney Creek Records
CJ Solar/Watered Down Whiskey/Sea Gayle

May 18
Jake Owen/Made For You/Big Loud Records
Ryan Hurd/Every Other Memory/RCA
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton/There Was Jesus/Provident Label Group

May 26
Clayton Smalley/Happy Place/YN Records
Tara Shannon feat. WesternBoy/Freedom/Willow Sound Records

Album Releases


May 1
Kenny Chesney/Here and Now/Warner Music Nashville
James Robert Webb/James Robert Webb/Bison Creek Records
Hot Country Knights/The K Is Silent/Capitol Records Nashville
CJ Solar/Coming My Way/Sea Gayle

May 4
Shakey Graves/Look Alive

May 15
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit/Reunions/Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers
Sara Evans/Copy That/Born To Fly Records
Chase Rice/The Album Part II/BBR Music Group

May 22
Daryl Mosley/The Secret Of Life/Pinecastle Records
Steve Earle & The Dukes/Ghosts of West Virginia/New West Records
Craig Morgan/God, Family, Country/BBR Music Group
Chancey Williams/3rd Street
High Valley/Grew Up On That/Warner Music Nashville

May 29
Kip Moore/Wild World/MCA Nashville
The VW Boys/Acting Our Age/Fat Dog Records

UTA Study: "Optimizing The Virtual Experience May Be Critical To The Future Of Live Music"

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Photo: @bedneyimages/freepik.com

According to a new study commissioned by United Talent Agency, 90% of concert-goers have actively sought to replace the live music experience while they have been under quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, which was completed by UTA’s data and analytics team UTA IQ, in conjunction with SightX, is titled “Media and Entertainment in the Time of Coronavirus,” and surveyed 1,100 random respondents.

Of those surveyed, more than 25% said they had attended a livestreamed concert or music performance, a virtual movie night/watch party, a virtual fitness class or a virtual event/conference.
Artists’ music catalogs have also seen an uptick, as 55% of those surveyed said they are streaming catalog content from their favorite artists and 48% say they have watched footage of old performances and/or concerts.

Music fans also seem receptive to paid livestreams as 28% of the responders say they have paid to watch a livestream, while 7 out of 10 of survey responders who participated in a livestream concert while social distancing say they plan to continue doing so even after they return to live music events.

The study concluded, “Prior to COVID-19, the appetite for virtual concerts was limited. Now, optimizing the virtual experience may be critical to the future of live music. Music tech companies have quickly begun to legitimize the livestream business through ticketing and offering community-based features that hope to replicate the shared experience of attending a live event.”

Eagles Reschedule Hotel California Tour To 2021

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The Eagles have announced that their Hotel California concerts in Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and St. Paul, have been rescheduled to 2021, after originally being pushed back further into 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.

Fans with tickets to the previously announced 2020 dates are encouraged to hold on to their tickets as they will be honored for the new dates. If you are unable to attend the new date, you will be able to request a refund. For more information, visit livenation.com/refund or contact your point of purchase.

The Eagles, made up of Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, with Deacon Frey and Vince Gill, will perform a Hotel California set, with an accompanying orchestra and choir, followed by an additional set of the band’s greatest hits during each night’s concert.

Check Eagles.com for complete tour information.

Rescheduled Dates Below:
Venue/New Date/Postponed Date/Original Date
Pepsi Center in Denver, CO / Thu, Sep 16, 2021 / Fri, Sep 18, 2020 / Thu, Mar 26, 2020
Pepsi Center in Denver, CO / Sat, Sep 18, 2021 / Sat, Sep 19, 2020 / Sat. Mar 28, 2020
American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX / Tue, Sep 21, 2021 / Wed, Oct 21, 2020 / Tue, Mar 17, 2020
Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, AZ / Fri, Sep 24, 2021 / Sat, Oct 24, 2020 / Tue, April 21, 2020
Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, AZ / Sat, Sep 25, 2021 / Sun, Oct 25, 2020 / Sun, April 26, 2020
Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN / Fri, Oct 1, 2021 / Fri, Oct 16, 2020 / Fri, April 03, 2020
Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN / Sat, Oct 2, 2021 / Sat, Oct 17, 2020 / Sat, April 04, 2020
Forum in Los Angeles, CA / Fri, Oct 15, 2021 / Fri, Sep 25, 2020 / Fri., April 17, 2020
Forum in Los Angeles, CA / Sat, Oct 16, 2021 / Sat, Sep 26, 2020 / Sat., April 18, 2020
Forum in Los Angeles, CA / Tue, Oct 19, 2021 / Tue, Sep 29, 2020 / Fri., April 24, 2020
Chase Center in San Francisco, CA / Fri, Oct 22, 2021 / Fri, Oct 2, 2020 / Sat., April 11, 2020
Chase Center in San Francisco, CA / Sat, Oct 23, 2021 / Sat, Oct 3, 2020 / Sun., April 12, 2020