
Thomas Rhett, Jordan Davis, Orville Peck
It’s country-ballad day here at DISClaimer.
Maybe it’s the dreadful time we’re living in or maybe it’s a coincidence, but lots of guys in this listening session are gazing inward and slowing things down. Whatever the cause, there’s some terrifically moving stuff here.
Our duos Florida Georgia Line and Big & Rich are rocking, but the listening session was dominated by the slowies offered by Kenny Rogers, Kane Brown & John Legend, Jordan Davis, Kip Moore and Thomas Rhett. I’m calling this a photo finish for Disc of the Day between the bearded men, Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis.
If you haven’t already been hip to Orville Peck, now is your chance to catch up with this left-field wonder. He’s our DisCovery Award winner.
ORVILLE PECK/Summertime
Writer: Orville Peck; Producer: Orville Peck; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Deep, deep twang and big, big drama infuse this slow, echoey ballad. His throaty vocal hails from the jumpsuit-Elvis era, which catches your ear right away. This theatrical masked man is kind of a country “performance artist.” Different and oddball, maybe. But heaven knows we can use a little “different” in this hidebound genre.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/I Love My Country
Writers:Corey Crowder/Ernest Keith Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producers: Corey Crowder/Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
-This rompin’ stomper is the feel-good anthem for the warm days to come. At a time when everybody else seems intent on sounding like a pop act, this loud-and-proud ditty is country to the core.
BIG & RICH/Stay Home
Writer: Charlie Pennachio/John Rich/Larry Gatlin/Phillip Anthony McDaniel; Producer: Big & Rich/Nick Brophy listed; Publisher: none listed; Thirty Tigers
-A country rocker with a coronavirus-containment lyric that has built-in smiles.
THOMAS RHETT/Be A Light
Writer: Thomas Rhett/Josh Miller/Josh Thompson/Matt Dragstrem; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
-I choked up and my eyes brimmed with tears because of the powerfully beautiful message here. In a world of madness, this is, indeed, a shining light. Rhett’s guests on this include Reba, Keith Urban, Chris Tomlin and Hillary Scott. Proceeds benefit MusicCares.
RYAN GRIFFIN/Going Going Gone
Writers: Ben Johnson/Jason Duke/Ryan Griffin; Producer: Mark Trussell; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Pop-urban-hiphop blah blah blah.
KENNY ROGERS/Goodbye
Writer: Lionel Richie; Producer: Tony Brown; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– It was written as a break-up song, but in light of Kenny’s passing it takes on an extraordinary poignancy. It’s pretty dang hard not to be touched by this ballad. I still think Kenny is one of the great voices. Framed by strings and piano, he shines as brightly as ever on this swan song. Farewell, Kenny. I’m grateful for the music you left us.
KELSEA BALLERINI & HALSEY/The Other Girl
Writers: Ross Copperman/Shane McAnally/Ashley Frangipane/Kelsea Ballerini; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: Sony ATV/Kobalt/Warner Chappell; Black River
– There already is a Taylor Swift. And she’s better than this.
JORDAN DAVIS/Detours
Writers: David Turnbull/Jacob Davis/Jordan Davis; Publishers: Anthem Entertainment; Producer: none listed; MCA Nashville
-Very cool and super expressive. He’s thoughtful, meditative and reflective as he takes us through the wrong turns of life that led him to goodness. I was with him on every note. This deserves to be a smash.
KIP MOORE/Wild World
Writers: Josh Miller/Kip Moore; Producer: Kip Moore/David Garcia; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
-Kip slows it down and gives life a harder look while a chubby rhythm track and tastefully spare guitar work give his soulful vocal extra oomph.
KANE BROWN & JOHN LEGEND/Last Time I Say Sorry
Writers: Kane Brown/John Legend/Matt McGinn/Andrew Goldstein; Producer: Andrew Goldstein; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– We’ve all been here. How many times have we hurt the one we love and then felt a regret so deep that it’s in your bones? Legend’s piano anchors the arrangement and both voices soar mightily. Well done, you two.
CMT Music Awards Move To October
/by Jessica NicholsonA statement from CMT says: “Our top priority this last month has been rebuilding our hometown of Nashville following the tornado and ensuring the safety of our fans, employees, artists and partners during the COVID-19 crisis. As we look forward to celebrating country music’s biggest stars together with our community and viewers, we will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and local public health officials.”
Last year, the CMT Music Awards’ top winner was Carrie Underwood, who took home the overall Video of the Year (for “Cry Pretty”) and Female Video of the Year (“Love Wins”). Other winners from the 2019 awards included Kane Brown, Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band, Dan+Shay and more.
MusicRow Launches New Live Stream Calendar
/by LB CantrellMusicRow has launched a comprehensive Live Stream Calendar to keep up with all of the live streamed appearances during this time period. The calendar will be updated daily.
To submit a live stream to appear on the calendar, email news@musicrow.com with the artists’ name, date of live stream, time in CST format, platform in which the live stream will be taking place (with links), and a one sentence description of the live stream (if applicable.)
The listings selected for the Live Stream Calendar are at the sole discretion of MusicRow Magazine.
ACM Reveals Song List For ‘ACM Presents: Our Country’ Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThe ACM has revealed the complete list of chart-topping hits and fan-favorites that will be performed during ACM Presents: Our Country, the two-hour special hosted by CBS This Morning’s Gayle King, that will air on Sunday, April 5 on CBS and on CBS All Access. Among the songs that will be featured are Luke Bryan’s “Most People Are Good,” Tim McGraw‘s “Humble And Kind,” and Kenny Rogers tributes with Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan on “Lucille,” “The Gambler,” and “Coward Of The County,” respectively.
A Pre-Show will be featured on the ACM Facebook page as well as the Amazon Music Twitch channel at 7:00 PM ET with Lauren Alaina, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Lee Brice, Blanco Brown, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, Caylee Hammack, Ashley McBryde, Jake Owen, Carly Pearce, Tenille Townes and more appearing from their homes to share heartfelt messages with their fans and perform acoustic versions of their hits. The Pre-Show will also pay tribute to Joe Diffie with a special performance by Chris Young. Fans can gear up for the main event with the ACM Presents: Our Country Playlist on Amazon Music. Starting Monday, fans will be able to re-watch the full Pre-Show and the individual performances via the ACM Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, as well as on the newly launched ACMOurCountry.com website.
Beginning Friday (April 3), the Academy invites artists and fans to share a musical moment by posting their own performances to social media, tagging an official Academy social media handle, and using #ACMOurCountry to participate in a celebratory curated feed of performances featured on ACMOurCountry.com. The campaign will continue throughout the weekend leading up to the show on Sunday.
“The Country Music community came together in an incredible way – and very quickly – for “Our Country,” and that outpouring of immediate artist support led us to develop a digital pre-show so that we could include even more artists in the Country Music celebration Sunday night,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “This allows more artists to share the positive messages of support and togetherness with the fans.”
ACM Presents: Our Country performances will include:
Miranda Lambert Reschedules Remaining Wildcard Tour Dates
/by Lorie HollabaughMiranda Lambert has rescheduled the two remaining U.S. shows in Spokane, Washington and Boise, Idaho, as well as the entire upcoming Canadian run of her Wildcard Tour, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The newly-rescheduled dates, which feature Cody Johnson and LANCO, will now begin Oct. 8 in Spokane, Washington, and wrap Oct. 23 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The tickets purchased for the original shows will still be valid for the new dates.
RESCHEDULED WILDCARD TOUR DATES:
10/8-Spokane, WA-Spokane Area
10/9-Bosie, ID-Ford Idaho Center Arena
10/11-Vancouver, BC-Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
10/14-Edmonton, AB-Rogers Place
10/16-*Regina, SK-Brandt Centre
10/17 -*Winnipeg, MB-Bell Mts Place
10/20-London, ON-Budweiser Gardens
10/21-Montreal, QC-Bell Centre
10/22-Oshawa, ON-Tribute Communities Centre
10/23-Ottawa, ON-Canadian Tire Centre
*Lanco will not appear in Regina, SK and Winnipeg, MB.
Weekly Radio Report (4/3/20)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.
Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots Make Surprise Album Drop with ‘Live In Little Rock’
/by Jessica NicholsonBobby Bones & The Raging Idiots celebrated Bones’ birthday today (April 2) with a surprise album drop, releasing Live In Little Rock.
“When we started The Raging Idiots years ago, our main goal was to make people laugh and spread positivity however we could,” Bones said. “Everyday life has drastically changed the last few weeks and people are unable to get together and celebrate the way they planned, so I wanted to try to share some laughs on my birthday and hopefully it brings smiles when people need it the most!”
The album was recorded in Bones’ home state of Arkansas during their recently-wrapped tour, which was titled It’s Just The Two Of Us…Sorry. The new album follows the EP Live In Boston, which featured the tracks “Jesus Knows” and “Hobby Lobby Bobby.”
Live In Little Rock is available for purchase and streaming now.
DISClaimer: Thomas Rhett, Jordan Davis, Orville Peck Top New Releases
/by Robert K OermannThomas Rhett, Jordan Davis, Orville Peck
It’s country-ballad day here at DISClaimer.
Maybe it’s the dreadful time we’re living in or maybe it’s a coincidence, but lots of guys in this listening session are gazing inward and slowing things down. Whatever the cause, there’s some terrifically moving stuff here.
Our duos Florida Georgia Line and Big & Rich are rocking, but the listening session was dominated by the slowies offered by Kenny Rogers, Kane Brown & John Legend, Jordan Davis, Kip Moore and Thomas Rhett. I’m calling this a photo finish for Disc of the Day between the bearded men, Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis.
If you haven’t already been hip to Orville Peck, now is your chance to catch up with this left-field wonder. He’s our DisCovery Award winner.
ORVILLE PECK/Summertime
Writer: Orville Peck; Producer: Orville Peck; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Deep, deep twang and big, big drama infuse this slow, echoey ballad. His throaty vocal hails from the jumpsuit-Elvis era, which catches your ear right away. This theatrical masked man is kind of a country “performance artist.” Different and oddball, maybe. But heaven knows we can use a little “different” in this hidebound genre.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/I Love My Country
Writers:Corey Crowder/Ernest Keith Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producers: Corey Crowder/Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
-This rompin’ stomper is the feel-good anthem for the warm days to come. At a time when everybody else seems intent on sounding like a pop act, this loud-and-proud ditty is country to the core.
BIG & RICH/Stay Home
Writer: Charlie Pennachio/John Rich/Larry Gatlin/Phillip Anthony McDaniel; Producer: Big & Rich/Nick Brophy listed; Publisher: none listed; Thirty Tigers
-A country rocker with a coronavirus-containment lyric that has built-in smiles.
THOMAS RHETT/Be A Light
Writer: Thomas Rhett/Josh Miller/Josh Thompson/Matt Dragstrem; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
-I choked up and my eyes brimmed with tears because of the powerfully beautiful message here. In a world of madness, this is, indeed, a shining light. Rhett’s guests on this include Reba, Keith Urban, Chris Tomlin and Hillary Scott. Proceeds benefit MusicCares.
RYAN GRIFFIN/Going Going Gone
Writers: Ben Johnson/Jason Duke/Ryan Griffin; Producer: Mark Trussell; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Pop-urban-hiphop blah blah blah.
KENNY ROGERS/Goodbye
Writer: Lionel Richie; Producer: Tony Brown; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– It was written as a break-up song, but in light of Kenny’s passing it takes on an extraordinary poignancy. It’s pretty dang hard not to be touched by this ballad. I still think Kenny is one of the great voices. Framed by strings and piano, he shines as brightly as ever on this swan song. Farewell, Kenny. I’m grateful for the music you left us.
KELSEA BALLERINI & HALSEY/The Other Girl
Writers: Ross Copperman/Shane McAnally/Ashley Frangipane/Kelsea Ballerini; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: Sony ATV/Kobalt/Warner Chappell; Black River
– There already is a Taylor Swift. And she’s better than this.
JORDAN DAVIS/Detours
Writers: David Turnbull/Jacob Davis/Jordan Davis; Publishers: Anthem Entertainment; Producer: none listed; MCA Nashville
-Very cool and super expressive. He’s thoughtful, meditative and reflective as he takes us through the wrong turns of life that led him to goodness. I was with him on every note. This deserves to be a smash.
KIP MOORE/Wild World
Writers: Josh Miller/Kip Moore; Producer: Kip Moore/David Garcia; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
-Kip slows it down and gives life a harder look while a chubby rhythm track and tastefully spare guitar work give his soulful vocal extra oomph.
KANE BROWN & JOHN LEGEND/Last Time I Say Sorry
Writers: Kane Brown/John Legend/Matt McGinn/Andrew Goldstein; Producer: Andrew Goldstein; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– We’ve all been here. How many times have we hurt the one we love and then felt a regret so deep that it’s in your bones? Legend’s piano anchors the arrangement and both voices soar mightily. Well done, you two.
Mark Your Calendar—April 2020
/by LB CantrellSingle Add Dates
April 6
Jason Aldean/Got What I Got/Broken Bow
Shane Owens/Love Me To Death/Amerimonte Records
Andrew Hopson/Stronger Than That/Tower Road Records
April 13
Tucker Beathard/You Would Think/Warner/WAR
April 20
Kelsea Ballerini with Halsey/the other girl/Black River
Mags/Light Of A Clear Blue Morning/Emerald Field Productions
April 27
MacKenzie Porter/These Days/Big Loud Records
Album Releases
April 3
Ashley McBryde/Never Will/Warner Music Nashville
Sam Hunt/SOUTHSIDE/MCA Nashville
April 10
John Anderson/Years/Easy Eye Sound
Maddie & Tae/The Way It Feels/Mercury Nashville
April 17
Bobby Bare/Great American Saturday Night/Sony Legacy/BFD
Colt Ford/Chicken & Biscuits (Second Helping)/Average Joes Entertainment
April 24
Luke Bryan/Born Here, Live Here, Die Here/Capitol Records Nashville
RUMER/Nashville Tears/Cooking Vinyl
Matt Stell Celebrates Platinum Success During RIAA’s First-Ever Virtual Plaque Presentation
/by Lorie HollabaughL to R: RIAA VP Artist & Industry Relations In Nashville Jackie Jones, Wide Open Music President Ash Bowers, RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Randy Goodman, RECORDS co-founder and CEO Barry Weiss, Matt Stell
Matt Stell was surprised yesterday (April 1) on a Zoom video call with his team to celebrate his Platinum plaque for his multi-week No. 1 “Prayed For You.”
Ash Bowers (Wide Open Music), Barry Weiss (RECORDS), Randy Goodman (Sony Music Nashville), Mitch Glazier (RIAA), and Jackie Jones (RIAA) surprised Stell with the virtual Platinum song plaque, the first of its kind, celebrating the song, which was the only Billboard chart-topper by a debut artist in 2019. The million-selling hit, written by Stell with Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz Cruz, joins an elite group as one of only 30 RIAA Platinum-certified country songs in the last two years.
Stell’s new single, “Everywhere But On,” which was co-written by Stell along with Paul Sikes and Lance Miller, is currently climbing the country charts. The track is featured on Stell’s Everywhere But On EP, which also includes a collaboration with Jimmie Allen, “Home In A Hometown,” and Stell’s cover of the Ariana Grande hit “God Is a Woman.”
BREAKING: Gov. Lee Requires Tennesseans To Remain At Home
/by Jessica NicholsonTennessee Governor Bill Lee is set to sign Executive Order 23, which requires that Tennesseans stay home unless carrying out essential activities. The executive order remains in effect until April 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation analyzed traffic pattern data for March 2020, and though there was a steep decline in vehicle movement from March 13-29, data beginning March 30 indicated travel has been increasing again across the state. The Administration also analyzed data from Unacast to understand cell phone mobility and determined movement trends among people. Unacast indicates the movement of Tennesseans is trending toward pre-COVID-19 levels.
“Over the last few weeks, we have seen decreases in movement around the state as Tennesseans socially distance and stay at home,” said Gov. Lee. “However, in recent days we have seen data indicating that movement may be increasing and we must get these numbers trending back down. I have updated my previous executive order to clearly require that Tennesseans stay at home unless they are carrying out essential activities.
“The month of April stands to be an extremely tough time for our state as we face the potential for a surge in COVID-19 cases,” said Lee. “Every Tennessean must take this seriously, remain at home and ensure we save lives.”
As of Thursday afternoon (April 2) The Tennessee Department of Health reported that 2,845 Tennesseans had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. There have been 32 deaths across the state as a result of complications from coronavirus and 220 of those affected have recovered.