International Country Music Festival C2C Postpones 2020 Shows

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The international country music festival C2C, which was to launch on Friday (March 13) and run through March 15, has been postponed, according to the festival’s organizers. Organizers offered an announcement of the postponement on Thursday (March 12), citing the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting international travel policies, and other restrictions as reasons for postponing the event.

Performers on the bill included Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show and more.

“Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 and the changing nature of travel policies in other countries alongside possible extended future restrictions, it is with regret that Country to Country Festival 2020 – London, Dublin and Glasgow – is being postponed,” organizers offered in a statement. “Ticket holders are advised to hold onto their tickets. More information will be announced in the coming days on the rescheduled event. Thank you all for your understanding and patience at this very difficult time. C2C and its organizers apologize wholeheartedly for the time to work through the issues to get this statement out.”

The organization was created by AEG Europe and SJM Concerts in association with the Country Music Association.

Earlier on Thursday, the organization announced that the CMA Songwriters Series concert set for Indigo at the 02 was canceled. Earlier this week, Old Dominion pulled out of their C2C performance slot.

“After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from our upcoming performances as part of the C2C Music Festival in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, London and Glasgow,” the band said via a message on Twitter. “We are so sorry to disappoint our fans overseas; however with the growing uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the virus that is spreading throughout the world, the safety and security of our entire team is the top priority. We are forever grateful for every opportunity we get to witness just how far our music is reaching, and we will be back across the world as soon as we can. Much love and thank you for your support – Matthew, Trevor, Brad, Geoff & Whit.”

iHeartCountry Festival To Be Rescheduled

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The seventh annual iHeartCountry Festival, which was slated to take place on Saturday, May 2 at Austin, Texas’ Frank Erwin Center, is being rescheduled.

Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Kane Brown, Dustin Lynch, Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi, Chase Rice and Hot Country Knights were scheduled to perform at the May 2 event, with media personality Bobby Bones serving as the official host for the festival’s main stage.

“The Frank Erwin Center announced today it is postponing all events for the immediate future,” iHeartCountry Festival organizers said via a statement. “The iHeartCountry Festival at the Frank Erwin Center will be rescheduled at a later date. Our primary goal is always the safety of our guests, employees, artists and partners and we will continue to actively monitor the situation and will provide more information and relevant updates as they become available. Tickets will be honored at the rescheduled date.”

Ray Wylie Hubbard Signs With Big Machine Records

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Ray Wylie Hubbard. Photo: Alan Messer

Big Machine Records has signed Ray Wylie Hubbard to its roster. Hubbard has released 17 full-length studio albums in his career, the most recent being 2017’s Tell The Devil I’m Getting There As Fast As I Can via Bordello Records. In 2015, he released the book A Life…Well, Lived, and in 2010, he penned the script for the feature film The Last Rites of Ransom Pride and also wrote several songs for the soundtrack.

The Big Machine Label Group imprint also includes Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Carly Pearce, Midland, The Cadillac Three, Dan Smalley, Payton Smith and Noah Schnacky.

“Ray Wylie Hubbard is a forefather of American rock’n roll, blues and country music who is as relevant today as ever,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO/Founder Scott Borchetta. “If you like your music delivered with heart, soul, snarl, attitude and guitars, then the new music from Ray Wylie Hubbard is for you.”

“To have a badass label like Big Machine say they believe in the low down, greasy record I made with my hoodlum friends and want to put it out? Well, damn. Sure. You bet,” says Hubbard.

Hubbard is currently finalizing a new album to release later this year, which will feature collaborations with Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and more.

DISClaimer: Mickey Guyton’s "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" Leads New Releases

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It’s country-feminism day here at DISClaimer with female singles dominating the mix from top to bottom.

Randall King, Jackson Michelson and Hot Country Knights are all scoring runs. But the grand-slam homers are all by women—Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris, Jewel and our Disc of the Day awardee, Mickey Guyton.

Our DisCovery Award winner this week is Joe Hanson. Please send more.

MADDIE & TAE/Bathroom Floor
Writers: Josh Kerr/Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye; Producer: Derek Wells/Jimmy Robbins; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– Feisty, rocking, empowering and clever. Their harmonies are super tight. The lyric has “girl power.” The production punches and pounds. An absolute delight.

JACKSON MICHELSON/One Day
Writers: Jackson Michelson/Justin Ebach/Matt Alderman; Producer: Jeff Pardo; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Very sweet. Parenthood has seldom sounded better. The passage of time gets a lovely word portrait as he describes a little girl growing up and the nostalgia of her mom and dad as they age along.

JOE HANSON/Part of Me
Writers: Victoria Banks/Justin Morgan/Joe Hanson; Producer: Austin Shawn; Publisher: none listed; 117
– The track is kinda nervous sounding. His jaunty tenor has an emotional tug. Promising.

MICKEY GUYTON/What Are You Gonna Tell Her
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Karen Kosowski/Victoria Banks/Emma-Lee; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– She created a sensation with this at CRS. It’s an echoey piano ballad about the reality of gender discrimination. You tell the growing girl to believe in herself, just to dash her dreams when she grows up. “You built her up, just so the world could let her down.” Now, what are we gonna do to make this a more fair and just place? And can we start with country radio?

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS/Moose Knuckle Shuffle
Writers: Brett Beavers/Brett Tyler/Buddy Brock/Chase McGill/Dan Hochhalter/Jim Beavers/Zach Turner; Producers: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Remember line dancing? And high tight jeans that accentuated his package? I thought so.

JEWEL/No More Tears
Writer: Jewel/Thomas James Profitt; Producer: Thomas James Profitt; Publisher: none listed; Words Matter/Orchard
– This is part of the soundtrack of a film about homeless youth in America. She knows all about this topic, and it sounds like it in every dramatic note in this penetrating ballad. Soulful and real.

RANDALL KING/She Gone
Writers: Chris Stevens/Randall King; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Country, country, country. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Love it, love it, love it.

RUTHIE COLLINS/Joshua Tree
Writers: Luke Sheets/Ruthie Collins; Producer: Ruthie Collins/Wes Harlee; Publisher: none listed; Sidewalk/Curb
– Shimmering strings. Aching soprano delivery. Heartbreak song. Wide-open-spaces production. What’s not to like?

MAREN MORRIS/To Hell and Back
Writers: Maren Morris/Laura Veltz/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Morris/busbee; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Swirling audio around a midtempo relationship song. The gal sure can sing.

FILMORE/Blue Skies
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Tyler Filmore; Producer: Jesse Frasure/Zach Abend; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– I remain a fan. But he can do better than this rambling, aimless tune, and has.

JUST IN: MusicRow’s Rising Women Event Is Postponed

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A letter from MusicRow Owner and Publisher, Sherod Robertson:

As you may have expected, we unfortunately have to postpone our Rising Women on the Row event on March 25th.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become increasingly aware that we will not be able to properly honor the women in our industry with the celebratory spirit they deserve at this time.

While we do not have a new date set yet, we will announce the new date once it is finalized.

For purchased table sponsors and individual ticket holders, tickets will be honored at the new event date. I hope you all will continue to support and attend the event on the new date. However, I also understand if the new date doesn’t work for you. If so, we are happy to refund your money.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Cheers,

Sherod

Kenny Chesney Postpones Early Chillaxification Tour Dates

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Kenny Chesney has postponed 11 concerts on his upcoming Chillaxification Tour, including seven stadium shows and four amphitheater dates, beginning with the April 18 show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and ending with the May 28 date at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The postponed dates also include stops in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota. The Chillaxification tour also includes Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion, and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Chesney’s team at Messina Touring is working to find alternative dates later in the touring season and aims to have new dates in place within the next six weeks, according to a release, with hopes of launching the tour May 30 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled shows will be refunded.

“You can’t take risks without really understanding the consequences,” Chesney said via a statement. “In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love. I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing. So, while we wait to see how this terrible virus is going to impact our country, I think it’s only fair to move these first several dates now. We are figuring some of this out as we go, but I know people buy airline tickets, book hotel rooms – and I wanted to try to give everyone as much time to sort that out as possible.”

“This is all uncharted,” Chesney says. “I’m like everyone else: watching the news, wondering when we may know something concrete, not sure how this gets transmitted, worried someone I know will catch it. I want to believe this will all be okay in the end; but right now, I don’t feel like this risk to No Shoes Nation is worth it. Nobody wants to get out there for these shows more than I do. We’ve started rehearsals; everything is loaded in – and the band sounds great. Music is medicine when your soul or your heart need healing, but I don’t want my music to put anyone at risk. So, I promise: we are going to work as quickly as we can to sort out what we can and can’t do in terms of these dates. We’re going to cross our fingers this pandemic will resolve as some of the experts have suggested, and we hope to kick off the tour May 30th at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, a venue we’ve played since 2005. But mostly, I hope this virus is contained, and the suffering and deaths are kept to the fewest possible people.”

POSTPONED DATES
April 18           AT&T Stadium                                   Arlington, Texas
April 25           Miller Park                                          Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2              U.S. Bank Stadium                             Minneapolis, Minn.
May 7*            iThink Financial Amphitheatre          West Palm Beach, Fla.
May 9              Raymond James Stadium                   Tampa, Fla.
May 13*          BankPlus Amphitheater                      Southaven, Miss.
May 14*          Brandon Amphitheater                       Brandon, Miss.
May 16            Mercedes-Benz Stadium                    Atlanta, Ga.
May 22            Minute Maid Park                               Houston, Texas
May 23            Alamodome                                        San Antonio, Texas
May 28*          Blossom Music Center                       Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
More Information as it Develops
* Michael Franti & Spearhead ONLY

Dan+Shay Reschedule Spring Leg Of Arena Tour Due To Coronavirus Concerns

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Grammy-winning duo Dan+Shay has postponed the spring leg of their Dan+Shay The (Arena) Tour, which launched March 6 with two shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The newly-rescheduled dates launch July 30 at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center, and wrap Oct. 31 in Tacoma, Washington.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored for all dates. The duo issued the following statement:

“Well, here we are. March 12, 2020, sitting in a bus parked outside Wells Fargo Center, making a statement we never thought we’d have to make. After the mandatory postponement of our Philadelphia show, and several others in the coming weeks, we have made the collective decision (with our team and health officials) to postpone the spring leg of THE (ARENA) TOUR. These shows mean the world to us, and it was important that they be postponed and not canceled, but more than the shows, our fans mean the world to us, and protecting their safety is the number one priority. We want the shows to be memorable, and not experienced with fear.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. It is a strange, strange time for all of us, but we felt this was the right thing to do. Previously purchased tickets will be honored at all rescheduled dates. We hope everyone can make it. Keep an eye on venue websites for further information and updates. Stay safe out there.

So much love,
Dan + Shay

The postponed tour is just the latest in a string of concerts and festivals that have been either canceled or rescheduled, including Tin Pan South, SXSW, Coachella, Stagecoach, and more.

NEW DATES: Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour 2020
July 30: Tulsa, OK- BOK Center
July 31: Dallas, TX-American Airlines Center
Aug. 1: San Antonio, TX- AT&T Center
Aug. 6: Louisville, KY- KFC Yum! Center
Aug. 7: Grand Rapids, MI- The Van Andel Arena
Aug. 8: Oro-Medonte, ON- Burl’s Creek Event Grounds
Aug. 13: Omaha, NE- CHI Health Center
Aug. 14: Kansas City, MO- Sprint Center
Aug. 15: Chicago, IL- United Center
Aug. 21: Calgary, AB – Prairie Wind Park
Aug. 28: Milwaukee, WI- Fiserv Forum
Aug. 29: Minneapolis, MN- Target Center
Sept. 10: Greenville, SC- Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sept. 11: Charlottesville, VA- John Paul Jones Arena
Sept. 12: Greensboro, NC- Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Sept. 17: North Little Rock, AR- Simmons Bank Arena
Sept. 18: St Louis, MO- Enterprise Center
Sept. 19: Detroit, MI- Little Caesars Arena
Sept. 24: Washington DC- Capital One Arena
Sept. 25: New York, NY- Madison Square Garden
Sept. 26: Pittsburgh, PA- PPG Paints Arena
Sept. 28, 2020 Philadelphia, PA- Wells Fargo Center
Oct. 1: Orlando, FL- Amway Center
Oct. 2: Atlanta, GA- State Farm Arena
Oct. 3: New Orleans, LA- Smoothie King Center
Oct. 5: Indianapolis, IN- Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Oct. 8: Newark, NJ- Prudential Center
Oct. 9: Boston, MA- TD Garden
Oct. 10: Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena
Oct. 11: Hershey, PA- GIANT Center
Oct. 15: Denver, CO- Pepsi Center
Oct. 16: Salt Lake City, UT- Vivint Smart Home Arena
Oct. 17: Las Vegas, NV- T-Mobile Arena
Oct. 21: Glendale, AZ- Gila River Arena
Oct. 23: San Francisco, CA- Chase Center
Oct. 24: Sacramento, CA- Golden 1 Center
Oct. 29: Boise, ID- Boise State University – Extra Mile Arena
Oct. 30: Portland, OR- MODA Center
Oct. 31: Tacoma, WA-Tacoma Dome

IBMA Announces 2020 Leadership Bluegrass Class

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Pictured (L-R, front row): Abi Tapia, Amanda Thompson, Suzy Thompson, Angela Sommers Rees, Lauren Price Napier. (L-R, second row): Ethan Charles, Jennifer Danielson, Evie Ladin, Rebecca Frazier, Natalya Zoe Weinstein, Roxanne Tromly, Michelle Lee, Fred Knittel.(L-R, third row): Rick Faris, Marianne Kovatch, Dave Howard, Greg Garrison, Ned Luberecki, Didier Philippe. (L-R, back row): Benjamin Wright, Jake Blount, David Brower, Worth Dixon, Thomas Cassell, Ed Leonard.

The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2020. This was the 21st year of Leadership Bluegrass, which now boasts over 500 alumni. The program was hosted at BMI in Nashville on March 2-4, with Kathy Hanson serving as the course facilitator and Jordan Laney serving as assistant facilitator.

The intensive, three-day program focuses on interactive learning and networking experiences and invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the bluegrass industry and pursue leadership development. Each year, participants are selected through a competitive application process and are a cross-section of current and future leaders from all areas of the industry, coming from various regions of the U.S. and the world.

Leadership Bluegrass 2020 graduates:
Jake Blount  – Jake Blount / Tui / The Moose Whisperers – Washington, D.C.
David Brower – PineCone / WUNC – Carrboro, NC
Thomas Cassell – Circus No. 9 – Johnson City, TN
Ethan Charles – International Bluegrass Music Association – Nashville, TN
Jennifer Danielson – Pandora – Nashville, TN
Worth Dixon – D’Addario & Company, Inc. – Farmingdale, NY
Rick Faris – Special Consensus – Topeka, KA
Rebecca Frazier – Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run – Nashville, TN
Greg Garrison – Leftover Salmon / University of Colorado, Denver – Lakewood, CO
Dave Howard – Louisville Folk School – Louisville, KY
Fred Knittel – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings – Washington, D.C.
Marianne Kovatch – Blue Ridge Music Center – Winton-Salem, NC
Evie Ladin – Evie Ladin Band – Oakland, CA
Michelle Lee – WOBL / Bluegrass Borderline / Smoked Country Jam – Sheffield Lake, OH
Ed Leonard – Billy Blue Records – Hendersonville, TN
Ned Luberecki – Becky Buller Band / SiriusXM – Nashville, TN
Didier Philippe – La Roche Bluegrass Festival – Etaux, France
Lauren Price Napier – The Price Sisters – Hyden, KY
Angela Sommers Rees – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival – Dorrigo, NSW, Australia
Brian Swenk – Big Daddy Love / Midwood Entertainment – Glen Allen, VA
Abi Tapia – Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum – Nashville, TN
Suzy Thompson – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention – Berkeley, CA
Amanda Thompson – Frankfort Bluegrass Festival – Mokena, IL
Roxanne Tromly – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum / ROMP Fest – Owensboro, KY
Natalya Zoe Weinstein – Zoe & Cloyd / Warren Wilson College – Fairview, NC
Benjamin Wright – Henhouse Prowlers / Bluegrass Ambassadors – Chicago, IL

Brandon Hood, Dann Huff Form Artist Development Venture With Warner Chappell Music Nashville

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Back row (L-R): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Dann Huff, Will Overton (WCM). Front: Brandon Hood

Producer/songwriter Brandon Hood and producer Dann Huff have launched an artist development company in a joint venture with Warner Chappell Music. Through the partnership, Hood, Huff, and WCM will co-sign writers for artists that Hood & Huff work with. The publisher has also signed Hood to a worldwide publishing deal.

“My relationship with Dann has been a navigational beacon for me as a guitarist, producer, and songwriter. He’s someone as close as family to me, and I could not be more excited to have his mentorship become more official in my career,” said Hood. “I’m thrilled to partner with him and the entire Warner Chappell family to pursue development opportunities with incredible artists.”

Born and raised in Blairsville, Georgia, Hood landed in Nashville in 2005 to pursue a degree at Belmont. During his time there his guitar and production skills caught the attention of Dann Huff, who signed him to his first-ever publishing deal. Hood’s songs have been recorded by Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Jessie James Decker, and more, and he’s currently producing records for Drake Milligan, Hannah Dasher, and Tim Dugger, among others. Hood is managed by Mary Lauren Teague at Dotted i Entertainment.

A Nashville native, Huff’s versatile career spans decades and includes playing session guitar for superstars from Madonna to Michael Jackson, to producing for some of the biggest names in country music like Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, Thomas Rhett, and Reba McEntire, to name a few. Some of his most recognizable country hits include, Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t My Color,” Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man,” which landed Single of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards. Huff has been named CMA’s Musician of the Year, ACM’s Producer of the Year, and Music Row’s Producer of the Year three times each, and was honored as Billboard’s Producer of the Decade in 2010.

Adam Romaine Joins Young Guns Publishing

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Adam Romaine

Young Guns Publishing has added Adam Romaine to its team, in the newly-created role of Sr. Creative, A&R, where he will be responsible for discovering and signing new songwriter talent, fostering relationships with songwriters and more.

Romaine previously served as Creative Director and Tour Manager for Florida Georgia Line’s Tree Vibez Music bus, which resulted in 42 cuts, nine radio singles, two U.S. country radio No. 1 hits and two Canadian No. 1 hits.

“From our first conversations with Adam, we knew we wanted him as part of the team. His infectious drive and personality fit perfectly with our company, and we know he’s going to be a huge asset. He’s already hit the ground running and we couldn’t be more excited to have him here at Young Guns,” says Young Guns President Will Hamrick.

Romaine adds, “I’m excited to join the Young Guns team, and look forward to making additions to an already successful roster.”

The Young Guns roster includes Ben Stennis, Micah Wilshire and Katie Garfield.