Willie Nelson
Luck Reunion, one of many concert festivals to be canceled in recent weeks, will live on as a livestreamed event titled “‘Til Further Notice,” set for Thursday, March 19. The annual event, usually held on Willie Nelson‘s ranch in Luck, Texas, will be staged as a free broadcast, featuring call-in sets filmed at the participating artists’ homes.
Confirmed acts include Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Micah Nelson, Jewel, Nathaniel Rateliff, Paul Cauthen, Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey, Randy Houser, David Ramirez, Tre Burt, Ian Ferguson, Devon Gilfillian, Early James, Sunny War, and this years Southwest Artist on the Rise to Luck winners Ida Mae, with more to be announced.
Fans can contribute to a digital tip jar that will be available throughout the broadcast. Tip donations will be divided equally among all performers.
“Everyone in our community is gutted. We are gutted. We couldn’t just sit around on Thursday when our event was supposed to take place, knowing that other producers and artists in our industry are also isolated and out of work. This is our effort to bring back a bit of the Luck spirit, and to try to raise money for the people and charities we care about so deeply,” said Matt Bizer, co-founder of Luck Productions.
The event begins at 6 p.m. CT; fans can tune in at luckreunion.com/tilfurthernotice, or at twitch.tv/luckreunion.
Bonnaroo Rescheduled For September
/by Jessica NicholsonThe annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, held in Manchester, Tennessee, has been rescheduled for Sept. 24-27.
All current tickets and onsite accommodations (camping, tent rentals, RV, etc.) will be honored for the new weekend. Fans with off-site accommodations and shuttles purchased through the festival will be contacted directly with updates.
“Please continue to radiate positivity through this uncharted time in our world. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you on The Farm this fall,” the festival’s organizers said in a statement.
The festival was originally slated to be held June 11-14, with a lineup including Tool, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Lana Del Ray, Tame Impala, and more.
Luck Reunion Goes Forward As Livestream Event
/by Jessica NicholsonWillie Nelson
Luck Reunion, one of many concert festivals to be canceled in recent weeks, will live on as a livestreamed event titled “‘Til Further Notice,” set for Thursday, March 19. The annual event, usually held on Willie Nelson‘s ranch in Luck, Texas, will be staged as a free broadcast, featuring call-in sets filmed at the participating artists’ homes.
Confirmed acts include Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Micah Nelson, Jewel, Nathaniel Rateliff, Paul Cauthen, Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey, Randy Houser, David Ramirez, Tre Burt, Ian Ferguson, Devon Gilfillian, Early James, Sunny War, and this years Southwest Artist on the Rise to Luck winners Ida Mae, with more to be announced.
Fans can contribute to a digital tip jar that will be available throughout the broadcast. Tip donations will be divided equally among all performers.
“Everyone in our community is gutted. We are gutted. We couldn’t just sit around on Thursday when our event was supposed to take place, knowing that other producers and artists in our industry are also isolated and out of work. This is our effort to bring back a bit of the Luck spirit, and to try to raise money for the people and charities we care about so deeply,” said Matt Bizer, co-founder of Luck Productions.
The event begins at 6 p.m. CT; fans can tune in at luckreunion.com/
Contemporary Christian Artist Sandi Patty Tests Positive for COVID-19
/by Lorie HollabaughCCM artist Sandi Patty has revealed she has tested positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus and is self quarantining for the next two weeks.
The gospel star apparently hadn’t been feeling well for a couple of weeks and received the positive test confirming the diagnosis yesterday (March 17). She and her husband are quarantining at their home in Oklahoma City and in a message on her Facebook page she urged everyone to take coronavirus prevention safety measures seriously to help prevent further spread of the virus. She also gave thanks that her home church was providing services online to help continue community worship during this challenging time.
The gospel star communicated on Facebook with an update: “Today I received confirmation that I tested positive for COVID19. I am at home and Don and I are under quarantine for the next 14 days. I’m so impressed with how our Health Department handled my case and grateful for their attentiveness. They are working so hard right now to keep us all safe. WE MUST DO OUR PART. This is not fake news. If you are not already practicing social distancing and STAYING HOME, DO SO NOW! This is what we can all do. This is how we stop the spread. God has given us faith, but he’s also given us wisdom. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and of a sound mind. I will keep you posted as I can. (Oh! And cough in your elbow, not your hand.)”
Patty has earned five Grammy awards and numerous GMA Dove Awards since she released her first albums in the late 1970s. She is best known for the CCM hits including “Majesty,” “How Majestic Is Your Name,” and “We Shall Behold Him.”
Nashville's Midtown Cafe Closes Indefinitely (For Now)
/by Jessica NicholsonMidtown Cafe, a Nashville hotspot for music industry executives for more than 30 years, has announced it has closed indefinitely, according to a social media post from Midtown Cafe owner/manager Randy Rayburn.
The announcement comes in the wake of the spreading COVID-19 novel coronavirus. Last week, Nashville mayor John Cooper advised local bars to shut down temporarily, and for restaurants to scale back the number of patrons allowed to 50% of capacity.
Glastonbury Festival Latest Casualty Of Coronavirus Pandemic
/by Lorie HollabaughThe festival had just announced its third and final star Kendrick Lamar as the Friday night headliner last week and announced 90 additional acts last Thursday (March 12) before the decision to cancel came this week.
“We were so looking forward to welcoming you all for our 50th anniversary with a lineup full of fantastic artists and performers that we were incredibly proud to have booked. Again, we’re so sorry that this decision has been made. It was not through choice,” said the festival’s Michael and Emily Eavis in a statement.
Ticket holders will have the chance to roll their deposit over to next year, and guarantee the opportunity to buy a ticket for Glastonbury 2021, or apply for a refund. Further information on coach packages, official accommodation bookings and other tickets will be added to the festival’s website in the next few days.
Grammy Museum To Release Artist Programs Online, Including Brandi Carlile, Yola, Billie Eilish
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Grammy Museum will begin releasing digital Public Programs, including previously taped artist interviews, from their archive while the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles is closed through March 31.
The museum will release a series of pre-taped, sit-down interviews with artists and musicians from past programs, which were held in its 200-seat Clive Davis Theater. Since the museum opened 12 years ago, it has offered more than 900 public programs.
A new program will be released each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday on grammymuseum.org, with the first release happening today (March 18) with Scarypoolparty. Upcoming releases include interviews with Yola, Brandi Carlile, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, Larkin Poe, and more.
The site will also house exhibit slideshows beginning Friday, March 20 with X: 40 Years of Punk in Los Angeles. The galleries will include images of artifacts, media content, exhibit text, playlists and more. The museum will also share daily playlists curated by staff, as well as educational content and lesson plans.
DIGITAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS
3/18 – Scarypoolparty
3/21 – Yola
3/23 – Bob Newhart
3/25 – Larkin Poe
3/28 – X Ambassadors
3/30 – Brandi Carlile
4/1 – Billie Eilish and FINNEAS
4/4 – Greta Van Fleet
4/6 – Kool And The Gang
Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, John Rich Aid Nashville Community
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley, John Rich and Dierks Bentley are a few artists who are helping Nashville’s community as many bars and restaurants in Nashville have either temporarily closed or limited patrons, and many in the Middle Tennessee area have opted to stay home as the COVID-19 novel coronavirus continues to spread.
On March 17, Paisley announced that The Store Nashville, a year-round free grocery store, will begin mobilizing delivery of a week’s worth of groceries to elderly neighbors in Nashville-area neighborhoods Edgehill and Berry Hill. Deliveries will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays; those interested in being included on the list should contact info@thestore.org. The elderly are among those with the highest risk of infection from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
The Store will operate during regular hours from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays for walk in customers. Walk-in customers should bring an ID and either proof of income, proof of residence, or statement of unemployment. The Store broke ground in April 2019, and is a partnership between Brad and Kimberly Paisley, Paisley’s alma mater Belmont University, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
As Nashville Mayor John Cooper recommended that bars on Nashville’s Lower Broadway close temporarily, and that restaurants limit capacity to under 50%, Bentley and Rich have both come to the aid of employees at their Nashville venues. Bentley announced that he will be gifting each of his 90 hourly employees at Whiskey Row Nashville $1000 each to help in the short-term as the venue closes down. News Channel 5 reported that Rich’s Redneck Riviera will continue paying staff and bartenders during the shutdown.
Billboard Music Awards Postponed
/by Jessica Nicholsondick clark productions and NBC have announced that the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, which had been scheduled to air live on NBC from Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 29, will be rescheduled to air on NBC at a later date.
dcp and NBC offered the following statement:
It was recently revealed that Kelly Clarkson would return for a third time to host the event; however, nominations for this year’s awards have not been announced.
Last year, the awards show had a 2.1 average rating in the adults 18-49 demo, with 7.96 million viewers, according to zap2it.com.
Industry Ink: Kane Brown, SMACK, PLA Media
/by Jessica NicholsonKane Brown Celebrates Three New RIAA Certifications
Kane Brown
Kane Brown has added three new certifications to his tally. His self-titled debut album has reached 2x multi-Platinum, while his latest album Experiment, has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Additionally, Brown’s current No. 1 country radio hit “Homesick” has been certified Platinum.
Jamie Cologna Exits SMACK
Jamie Cologna has exited SMACK to begin work with WMA’s public relations division in Nashville.
Amber Anderson will begin in the role of Shane McAnally and Michael McAnally Baum’s executive assistant on March 23, and can be reached at amber@smacksongs.com at that time.
PLA Media Adds Two Team Members
Pictured: Bicknell, Herrera
PLA Media has added two team members. Samantha Bicknell has joined PLA Media as a Social Media Coordinator and Maria Herrera will serve as a Publicity & Social Media Coordinator.
“We are thrilled to have two such talented, experienced professionals bring their expertise and new ideas to PLA to help us keep growing and improving our services,” say PLA Media Founder Pam Lewis.
Bicknell, a New York native, moved to Tennessee to earn her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Her previous professional experience includes: Sony Music Global, Red Light Management and the Country Music Association. Herrera is a Florida native with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. She has served on the communications team at multiple award shows including the Billboard Music Awards, iHeart Music Awards and American Music Awards.
Regions Bank Announces $150,000 Commitment to Tennessee Tornado Relief
/by LB CantrellThe Regions Foundation recently announced a commitment of $150,000, including immediate grants to nonprofit organizations, in support of tornado recovery in Middle Tennessee. Additionally, Regions Bank announced a series of disaster-recovery financial services to help people and businesses amid the recovery from the March 3 tornado.
“Regions has served the people and businesses of Middle Tennessee for many years, and we are committed to working hand-in-hand with our customers and communities throughout the recovery,” said John Turner, Regions President and CEO. “Our hope is that the grants we are announcing today, and the disaster-recovery financial services we are putting in place, will help make the recovery easier for our neighbors in need. Our team will stand with Middle Tennessee in the days, weeks and months to come as our neighborhoods and communities recover and rebuild.”
The Regions Foundation is a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank that supports community investments. Organizations that will be supported by initial grants from the Regions Foundation include:
“We have seen first-hand the destruction left behind by this storm, and we understand the needs and challenges facing the people and businesses of Middle Tennessee,” said Lee Blank, Nashville Market Executive for Regions Bank. “We are focused on supporting the recovery while also serving as a financial resource. In addition to the disaster-recovery offers we are announcing today, we invite people to meet with us one-on-one at our local branches, share your needs, and allow us to offer customized insights and guidance that can help you with the financial aspects of storm recovery.”
Regions also offers an online Disaster Resource Center through Regions.com, which provides contact numbers and other helpful information to help customers with specific needs.
For more details, visit doingmoretoday.com.