Rosanne Cash, John Paul White Join Forces On New Single Benefiting Music Health Alliance

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John Paul White and Rosanne Cash have teamed up on a new single “We’re All In This Together Now” which is out today.

The song is streaming now and is available for purchase with all proceeds benefiting the Music Health Alliance, which today announced its partnership with the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project. Spotify will match donations to its partner organizations dollar-for-dollar up to a total Spotify contribution of $10 million, and the song can be streamed on Spotify here.

“John Paul and I have been friends for years, and early on we awkwardly tossed the idea of writing a song together, but we never got around to it,” explains Cash. “The last few years have been tough. I wanted to find some little corner of community, some instinct toward unity. It was hard to find, so I figured I’d have to write it. Last year, I wrote these lyrics and sent them to John Paul. He wrote this gorgeous melody very quickly. I was so moved. But the song didn’t fit on my last record, and it didn’t fit on his last record, so it sat there waiting for just the right moment. Which is now.”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever been a part of something that foretold things to come as vividly as this song, or something that would feel so relevant months after its completion,” said White. “I loved the song, but for whatever reason it hadn’t yet seen the light of day. I had recorded a guitar/vocal of the song in my studio in Florence, Alabama. Once it dawned on me recently how prescient the song was, I asked Rosanne if she’d be willing to put her voice on it. She said, ‘I thought you’d never ask.’”

YouTube video

BREAKING: President Trump Signs Into Law Additional Funding For COVID-19 Stimulus

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Moments ago, President Trump signed into law a bill that provides an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion to strengthen testing of the virus. The House passed the bill yesterday (April 23) after the Senate passed it earlier this week on Tuesday (April 21).

The initial funding of the Paycheck Protection Program drew criticism due to how quickly it ran out; as well as, the number of large public companies that also received amounts of aid from the program, some of which have returned the stimulus money.

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act includes $25 billion in funding to improve diagnostic and immunity testing for COVID-19 including:
• $11 billion for states
• $825 million for community health centers and rural clinics
• $1.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• $1 billion for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
• $22 million for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• $1 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Educational Media Foundation Names Jim Houser As Chief Content Officer

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Jim Houser

The nation’s largest contemporary Christian radio network has hired Jim Houser as the organization’s first Chief Content Officer.

Houser will join Educational Media Foundation (EMF) in this newly created role, reporting directly to CEO Bill Reeves, and will oversee content for the K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, which currently broadcast on more than 1,000 signals nationwide.

Additionally, Houser will further develop EMF’s streaming strategy, oversee the upcoming podcast platform, all marketing strategy, and the integration of EMF’s digital assets with its programming initiatives.

“I could not be more excited about the addition of Jim and his almost 30 years of experience in the Christian music business,” Reeves said. “Jim is widely respected, has an outstanding track record, and his integrity in the industry is second-to-none. His love of broadcasting and its history, married with his ability to strategize around new ideas, makes him the perfect choice to help lead EMF into the future.”

Houser’s career began in college radio and led to an opportunity with national Christian radio ministry, Focus on the Family. While editing Focus’ daily broadcast, Jim and two partners created a weekly syndicated Christian hit music show that quickly became an industry favorite airing in over 300 markets. Next, Houser joined Sparrow Records (now Capitol Christian) in radio promotions, and advanced to marketing and artist development roles. Jim was then recruited to join Creative Trust and rose to Managing Partner, where he led the team growing and supporting the careers of Steven Curtis Chapman, Mary Beth Chapman, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole and others.

“Radio was my first love,” Houser said, “and in each role throughout my career, I’ve made it a central focus. I’m humbled to be tapped to join the EMF executive team and excited for the opportunity to collaborate with, and serve, the Christian music community, advancing redemptive art and music.”

Houser will begin his new post in May and will divide his time between EMF’s Northern California headquarters and its broadcast studios in Franklin, Tenn. He will oversee the future VP of Radio and VP of Marketing, the radio network Program Directors and additional Directors and Senior Managers.

Sales Strides: Carly Pearce And Lee Brice, Tauren Wells

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Carly Pearce, Lee Brice ‘Happy’ Over Surprise Single Accolades

Pictured (L-R): Row 1 – Big Machine’s Clay Hunnicutt, Allison Jones and Nicole Hunt; Row 2 – Morris Higham Management’s Kyle Quigley; Carly Pearce; Red Light Management’s Anthony DeVincenzo; Row 3 – Curb Records’ RJ Meacham; Lee Brice; Curb Records’ Jeff Tuerff; Row 4 – Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta; Morris Higham Management’s Clint Higham; Curb Records’ Laurel Kittleson

Carly Pearce and Lee Brice reunited for a quarantine surprise yesterday (April 23) as their labels revealed the RIAA and CRIA Gold certification of “I Hope You’re Happy Now” in the U.S. and Canada. The Top 10-and-rising duet has racked up over 130M+ streams to date. “This is so awesome! It has been really important for me to candidly show my story to fans, and these moments prove how much we can connect when we open up,” said Pearce. “Lee, your voice was the perfect match … you brought ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ to another stratosphere.”

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” has become one of only three Country singles released in the past seven months to achieve RIAA certification and second GOLD or higher in that time frame. “Thank ya’ll so much! Carly, you really wrote a great song. I am so happy and blessed to be a part of this with you,” added Brice.

Tauren Wells’ Hills And Valleys Reaches Platinum Peak


Tauren Wells‘ powerful single “Hills & Valleys” has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The two-time Grammy-nominated song has racked up a total of 147 million audio and video streams, and a combined total of over 54 million views on YouTube. During a virtual town hall meeting with Provident Music Group’s staff, President/CEO Terry Hemmings surprised Wells with a plaque signifying “Hills & Valleys” reaching platinum status.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting this,” Wells shared in an Instagram post. “Somehow these songs find their way into your lives and I can’t tell you how amazing, humbling, and special that is to me. It’s truly amazing that this song broke through and entered the lives of so many people. I know that ‘Hills and Valleys’ has changed my life on many levels. Thank you all so much for supporting this song.”
Wells released his second full-length album Citizen of Heaven earlier this year.

Spotify’s COVID-19 Relief Project Adds Music Health Alliance As Partner

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Spotify’s COVID-19 Music Relief Project has added Music Health Alliance as a partner, enabling MHA’s COVID-19 Relief Resources to continue to provide immediate critical assistance to members of the U.S. music community who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spotify is matching donations made to select charities, up to a collective total of $10 million, to amplify the efforts of organizations that focus on helping those most in need. Matching contributions can be made to Music Health Alliance at musichealthalliance.com/spotify. In guiding music professionals directly and indirectly impacted by COVID-19, MHA’s relief resources include financial assistance for groceries, medications, health insurance premiums and doctor visits, navigating the loss of health insurance, filing unemployment, and a one-of-its-kind database of sliding-scale and no-cost healthcare, mental health, preventative and dental care resources. Learn more at musichealthalliance.com/covid-19-resources.

Based in Nashville, MHA has provided free healthcare advocacy and support to more than 11,000 music industry members and saved the music community more than $50,000,000 nationwide by providing advocacy and access to lifesaving transplants, medicine, mental health resources, end of life care and many other necessary services. For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music.

Ashland Craft Signs With Big Loud Records

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Ashland Craft has signed with Big Loud Records.

Craft is set to introduce her edgy country sound with a fresh batch of songs this year, following her Top 10 stint on NBC’s The Voice and opening slots for Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and more. Since relocating to Nashville last year, she has won fans with her no B.S. stamp on indie releases like country girl anthem “Good Ol’ Girls,” the ode to loneliness “Your Place or Mine,” and “They Always Do.” Craft first found her honky-tonk spirit and cut her teeth singing covers in South Carolina, and counts Def Leppard, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mayer among her musical influences. She is signed to Make Wake Artists for management and 50 Egg Music for publishing.

“We couldn’t be more thankful Ashland Craft chose to make Big Loud her label home,” said Seth England, Partner/CEO of Big Loud. “She is a career artist with a huge voice, and has built an amazing team already. The future is very, very bright for Ashland.”

Craft is releasing a brand new song, “Trainwreck,” that is available now digitally and at all streaming platforms. The tell-it-like-it-is ballad produced by Jonathan Singleton was penned by Randy Montana and Channing Wilson, and features backing vocals by Wilson.

“To be able to debut ‘Trainwreck,’ written by two songwriters that I admire – Randy Montana and Channing Wilson – and a song that I’ve wanted to release for a few years now, on the same day that I get to announce my record deal, is honestly surreal,” shares Craft. “Signing a record deal is always something that I dreamed about and I honestly can’t believe the day is finally here. This is the biggest milestone I’ve hit so far in my life, hands down. Everyone that I’m surrounded by – Big Loud Records, Make Wake Artists, and 50 Egg Music – they honestly are my dream team. It just makes me want to work even harder to honor all of the opportunity that I’ve been given.”

Weekly Radio Report (4/24/20)

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

Mayor John Cooper Releases Four-Phase "Roadmap" To Reopen Nashville

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Nashville mayor John Cooper has released a four-phase plan to reopen the city in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooper noted that before moving into the first phase of the plan, there must be “positive improvement/stability in the metrics for 14 days,” according to WSMV, though he did not state when the first phase of reopening will begin.

“We’re working toward Phase One reopening now,” Cooper said.

A detailed outline of the plan is available at asafenashville.org. According the reopening plan, live music will not be allowed to be played in bars and clubs until Phase Three, while sports and large event venues would be among the last to reopen, in Phase Four.

Nashville is conducting 5,000 tests per week. Metro Public Health confirmed a total of 2,144 cases of coronavirus in Davidson County. There have been 22 deaths reported in Davidson County.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Luke Combs, Brett Eldredge, Sam Hunt, Morgan Wallen, Parmalee & Blanco Brown, And More

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Luke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright

The mighty Luke Combs strikes again.

He shines a pinpoint spotlight on our current crisis with a terrific tune titled “Six Feet Apart” and nails down another Disc of the Day award.

For more uplift in these troubled times, I recommend a dose of Mags doing Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and Jake Owen singing “Made for You.” Feeling wistful? Check out Sam Hunt‘s “Young Once” and Brett Eldredge‘s “Gabrielle.”

The DisCovery Award goes to a promising youngster named Rachele Lynae.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Gabrielle
Writers: Eldredge/Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk; Producer: Tashian/Fitchuk, Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Melodic and memorable. It builds from piano based simplicity to a denser, chunkier production, but Brett’s chesty vocal strength remains the focus throughout. Which is as it should be.

RACHELE LYNAE/Got It Bad
Writers: Rachele Lynae/Hannah Bethel/Jamie Good; Producer: David Dorn/Rachele Lynae; Publisher: none listed; RL (track)
– Breezy pop-country with some cool dynamics in a production that shifts from stripped down “open” verses to swirly, rushing, lush choruses. Highly listenable. This troubadour has it going on in both songwriting talent and vocal finesse

LUKE COMBS/Six Feet Apart
Writers: Luke Combs/Brent Cobb/Rob Snyder; Producers: none listed; River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
– This was on his live-feed stream last week. It is Luke’s contribution to the growing list of quarantine songs. It captures the uncertainty and discomfort of this era, but points to a future when we will hug, share concerts, go to ballgames and visit together again. “There’ll be light after dark/Someday when we aren’t/Six feet apart.” Catch Luke and Craig Morgan as the Opry’s unplugged stars this week. By the way, if you haven’t been tuning in to the Opry shows of the past six weeks, you have been missing some extraordinary music. The first was Brad/Vince/Marty, then Vince/Amy/Jenny/Corinna, Terri Clark/Lauren Alaina/Ashley McBryde, Trace/T. Graham/Jason Crabb and last week Ricky with Dailey & Vincent. Bobby Bones has been hosting. Great stuff.

MAGS/Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Emerald Field
– All artists should cover a Dolly song, and this is one of the living legend’s best. The Irish lass kicks up the tempo and rocks the inspirational song of freedom with fantastic energy. That’s Mags’ own fiddle in the background. Great job.

SAM HUNT/Young Once
Writers: Josh Osborne/Matt Jenkins/Miller Zachary Crowell/Sam Lowry Hunt; Producer: Zach Crowell; Publishers: Warner Chappell/Sony-ATV/Universal, no performance rights listed; MCA Nashville
– I was beginning to think of this guy as a one-trick pony, but this time he has ditched the white “rapping” and “hey girl” whispering to sing and deliver a lyric that brims with youthful optimism.

BAILEY CALLAHAN/Roll
Writers: Bailey Callahan/Nick DeLeo/Nick Halsted; Producer: Robbie Artress; Publisher: none listed; Pink Mustang
-Very cool. It has a dark, minor-key, rebel edge that is kinda gritty and smoldering. Searing electric-guitar lines shoot in and out of the mix, underscoring her get-out-of-my-way performance.

MORGAN WALLEN/More Than My Hometown
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Michael Hardy/Ernest Keith Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer:Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” is still storming the charts, but he’s giving us another tease from his upcoming album with this rollicking and warm love song. It’s not his strongest effort, but I remain a fan.

PARMALEE & BLANCO BROWN/Just The Way
Writers: Kevin Bard/Matt Thomas/Nolan Sipe; Producer: David Fanning; Publisher: none listed; Stoney Creek
– It goes without saying that it is extremely well sung. I just wish the material was stronger. A positive, uptempo country love song, doubtless written with the mentality of country radio at the forefront.

JAKE OWEN/Made For You
Writers: Benjy Lashar Davis/Joey Hyde/Neil Medley; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Kobalt, no performance rights listed; Big Loud
– Very pretty. A sweetly romantic expression from a guy who still has plenty to give us. Jake is better known for party fare, but this demonstrates his equally strong balladeer side. I don’t watch the show, but the song evidently got a boost via his performance of it on The Bachelorette.

SHANE OWENS/Love Me To Death
Writer: Galen Griffin; Producer: Nick “Ace” Lutz; Publisher: none listed; Amerimonte
– One of our finest current hard-country singers takes on a sexy lyric cooked in an audio stew of twang, fiddle and backbeat. Kinda classic sounding.

NSAI, SONA Offer COVID-19 Relief To Songwriting Community Through Sony/ATV Donation

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Songwriters of North America (SONA) announced plans to provide additional support to the songwriting community with funds from a generous financial donation from Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

“Thank you. Our joint statement can’t really start or end any other way,” said the organizations’ Executive Directors Bart Herbison (NSAI) and Michelle Lewis (SONA). “Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt reached out to us and has been in dialogue with our groups over the past two weeks understanding the need for assistance to working songwriters, many whose livelihoods have been devastated due to effects of the coronavirus.”

Both organizations have made the decision to use much of the money to directly assist songwriters through grant-like distributions. Details of how each organization will accept applications and respectively distribute funds will be forthcoming soon and available at each organization’s website. NSAI and SONA intend to reach out to other companies within and outside of the music industry, artists and individuals to also make contributions.

“The contribution will also help fund the ongoing operations of NSAI and SONA,” the joint statement continued. “We worked together to ensure self-employed individuals in the music industry were eligible for loans, grants and unemployment—and will continue working to bring all possible resources to the songwriters we serve along with our ongoing advocacy efforts.”