[Update, March 3, 11:19 a.m. CT]: Putnam County, Tennessee Mayor Randy Porter has updated its number of deaths from 14 to 16, bringing the total number of deaths in Nashville and surrounding cities to 21.]
Beloved Nashville music venue The Basement East was destroyed early Tuesday morning (March 3) when a tornado ripped through much of Nashville around 1:00 a.m. The tornado caused severe damage in areas of Nashville including East Nashville, Germantown, Donelson and Mt. Juliet.
The Basement East, located at 917 Woodland Street in East Nashville, was among several buildings either destroyed or severely damaged in Nashville’s Five Points area.
According to a notice on The Basement East’s social media, staffers took shelter in the basement of the venue late Monday night (March 2) and all are safe.
As of this time, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has confirmed 19 fatalities from the deadly storms and the number of injuries is unknown. Confirmed fatalities represent 14 fatalities in Putnam County, one fatality in Benton County, two in Wilson County, and two in Davidson County.
Among the artists that were scheduled to perform at The Basement East this week include Maggie Miles, ELOHIM, The Mattson, and Rob Aldridge and the Proponents. The Basement East is co-owned by Mike Grimes and Dave Brown, as an East Nashville outpost of the original venue The Basement, located on 8th Ave. S. in Nashville. In October, Live Nation announced a multi-year booking agreement for The Basement East.
National Museum of African American Music To Open In September
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 56,000-square-feet museum includes more than 1,400 artifacts and showcases generations of musical history created and inspired by the work of African Americans, and includes seven content galleries, including six permanent galleries and one rotating gallery. These galleries chronicle black musical traditions from the 1600s through modern day, incorporating more than 50 genres of music, such as spirituals, gospel, jazz, hip-hop, blues, R&B and more.
“We’re extremely excited to announce our September grand opening date for all of the music fans who have been anxiously awaiting the debut of this museum,” said H. Beecher Hicks III, NMAAM President and CEO. “This museum is a unique place that tells a special story. Our hope is that no matter your age, race or preferred music genre, within this museum you can find something that stirs your soul, pleases your ears and moves your feet. We encourage everyone to start planning their 2020 trips to Nashville and purchase your tickets to this first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to celebrating incredible people and moments in American history.”
Advance tickets can be purchased at NMAAM’s official site, with general admission ticket prices ranging from $13 to $24.
Spencer Nohe Named Director, A&R At Warner Chappell Music
/by Lorie HollabaughSpencer Nohe has been hired as Director, A&R at Warner Chappell Music.
Nohe most recently served as Creative Director at BMI and also previously served as Senior Director, A&R at Curb|Word Entertainment. He is a member of the Troubadour Advisory Council for the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Film Festival Music Committee. Nohe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University and during his time in school, held an internship with Warner Music Group.
“Anyone who knows Spencer knows that he has a strong work ethic and is a sincere lover of music and the people who create it,” said Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “Spencer is excited to join the Warner Chappell team and we’re lucky to have him in the family.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Warner Chappell and work with songwriters that I’ve been a fan of my whole career,” added Nohe. “Ben and the entire A&R team are the best in the business and I’m honored to get the opportunity to serve alongside them. The Warner Chappell roster and track record is unparalleled and I look forward to contributing to the legacy of the organization.”
ACM Final Round Of Voting Is Open
/by Sherod RobertsonThe final round of voting for the 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards is now open and closes Monday, March 9, 2020 at 5 p.m. PST.
The ACM Awards air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5 (live 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on-demand across digital platforms on the CBS All Access subscription service.
Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban will serve as host.
The complete list of nominees can be found here.
Nashville’s Music Community Reacts Following Tornado Destruction
/by Jessica NicholsonSeveral artists in Nashville’s music community have responded following a tornado that ripped through Nashville in the early morning hours of March 3. Among the artists sending their thoughts to their fellow Nashvillians include Dolly Parton, Reba, Dierks Bentley, Brandy Clark, Dan+Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Matthew West and many others.
At least 21 people have been confirmed dead across the state. Governor Bill Lee confirmed the deaths during a morning news conference, noting “There’s a really good possibility that there may be more. It’s early yet….As tragic as this is — and our hearts are broken — we are certain that we’ll surround these folks and we’ll do what is necessary [to recover].”
More than 40 structures have collapsed across the city and surrounding areas, including popular east Nashville rock music venue The Basement East. The tornado caused severe damage in several areas of Nashville and surrounding cities, including East Nashville, Germantown, Donelson and Mt. Juliet.
Several organizations and businesses have offered help. Hands On Nashville has developed a listing of volunteer opportunities. Funds can also be donated to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee‘s Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. A few other charitable organizations include: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Bridgestone Arena has opened its doors to offer free pizza, allowing those affected a safe place to have lunch. The Grilled Cheeserie has set up outside Hunter’s Station to offer free sandwiches, while Baked on 8th has announced it will donate all of its profits this month to Hands on Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Martha O’Bryan Center’s food bank will be open until 2 p.m.
[This is a developing story…]
Riley Green’s “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” Goes Gold
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): BMLG’s Mike Rittberg, BMLGR’s Jimmy Harnen, Riley Green, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Fusion Music’s Daniel Miller, Red Light Management’s Harrison Klein
Riley Green recently celebrated the RIAA Gold certification for his latest single “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” which is currently approaching Top 10 at country radio. He marked the milestone alongside Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta and BMLG Records President/CEO Jimmy Harnen as they commemorated the special achievement with a plaque.
Along with his first ACM Nomination, Riley also recently received an iHeartRadio Music Award nomination for Best New Country Artist, was recently named as part of the CRS 2020 New Faces Class, and received MusicRow’s Breakout Artist of the Year at the CountryBreakout Awards. “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” follows his Gold-certified No. 1 “There Was This Girl,” both of which appear on his debut album Different ‘Round Here. Green is spending the summer touring across the country with Jason Aldean on his We Back tour.
Nashville Music Venue The Basement East Destroyed By Tornado
/by Jessica Nicholson[Update, March 3, 11:19 a.m. CT]: Putnam County, Tennessee Mayor Randy Porter has updated its number of deaths from 14 to 16, bringing the total number of deaths in Nashville and surrounding cities to 21.]
Beloved Nashville music venue The Basement East was destroyed early Tuesday morning (March 3) when a tornado ripped through much of Nashville around 1:00 a.m. The tornado caused severe damage in areas of Nashville including East Nashville, Germantown, Donelson and Mt. Juliet.
The Basement East, located at 917 Woodland Street in East Nashville, was among several buildings either destroyed or severely damaged in Nashville’s Five Points area.
According to a notice on The Basement East’s social media, staffers took shelter in the basement of the venue late Monday night (March 2) and all are safe.
As of this time, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has confirmed 19 fatalities from the deadly storms and the number of injuries is unknown. Confirmed fatalities represent 14 fatalities in Putnam County, one fatality in Benton County, two in Wilson County, and two in Davidson County.
Among the artists that were scheduled to perform at The Basement East this week include Maggie Miles, ELOHIM, The Mattson, and Rob Aldridge and the Proponents. The Basement East is co-owned by Mike Grimes and Dave Brown, as an East Nashville outpost of the original venue The Basement, located on 8th Ave. S. in Nashville. In October, Live Nation announced a multi-year booking agreement for The Basement East.
Kenny Chesney To Release New Album ‘Here And Now’ May 1
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto Credit: Allister Ann
Kenny Chesney‘s latest album, Here and Now, is set for release on May 1 via Warner Music Nashville. The album follows Chesney’s first project with Warner, 2018’s charity album Songs for the Saints.
Here and Now was written and recorded over the last 18 months with co-producer/longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon and Ross Copperman, and includes the first single, “Here And Now,” which is already rising at radio.
“One of the things I really wanted (for Here and Now) was to bring a lot of my favorite writers together, not to do ‘writing camp,’ but just hang out and talk, remember when it was the stories and laughs that sparked songs, not sitting down to churn out something to cut,” Chesney said.
“You know, it’s going to have a high fun factor,” he continues. “People work hard, and need music that makes them smile, that kicks them into a happy place. There are also songs here that look at very specific people, that tell one person’s story, but it could be any of us. That’s the mark of a good song: let one person’s specific life say so much about a lot of people’s lives. When you’re this far into a career, I think artists need to keep pushing themselves and the music without losing sight of who they are, or forgetting the people you make music for. No Shoes Nation is a very passionate place without borders; I get inspired every time I see and hear them.”
By the time the album drops Chesney will be in full swing on his Blue Chair Bay Rum Presents the Chillaxification Tour fueled by Marathon which kicks off April 18 at AT&T Stadium in Texas and runs through the summer.
Mark Your Calendar—March 2020
/by LB CantrellIndustry Events
March 13-22
SXSW Conference
March 24-28
28th Tin Pan South Festival
March 25
MusicRow‘s Ninth Annual Rising Women On The Row
Single Add Dates
March 2
Old Dominion/Some People Do/RCA Nashville
Russell Dickerson/Love You Like I Used To/Triple Tigers Records
The Desert City Ramblers/Hillbilly Rollin Stone/Crane Creek
AC Jones/Castle/Sialia Records
Rob Georg/Dust/SMG-Nashville
March 9
Johnny McGuire/I Can’t Even/Wheelhouse Records
Payton Smith/Like I Knew You Would/Big Machine
James Dupre/You’re Probably Drunk Right Now/Fleur de Magnolia Music
Craig Mecham/Driving Through Montana/SMG-Nashville
March 16
Auburn Road/Warning/Powerbase Music/Star Farm Nashville
Robert Eskridge and Southern Daze/Simple Things/Riverfront Promotions
March 23
Joe & Martina/Give Me Back the 90’s/Costa Gold Productions
Album Releases
March 6
Brandy Clark/Your Life Is A Record/Warner Records
Jim Lauderdale/When Carolina Comes Home Again/Yep Roc Records
Lauren Alaina/Getting Good EP/UMG Nashville
March 13
Caitlyn Smith/Supernova/Monument Records
March 20
Kelsea Ballerini/Kelsea/Black River
Delta Rae/The Light
March 27
Jessi Alexander/Decatur County Red
Jill Andrews/Thirties/Vulture Vulture/Tone Tree Music
Lilly Hiatt/Walking Proof/New West Records
Ingrid Andress/Lady Like/Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records
Weekly Register: Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber Continue Chart Reigns
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Combs, Dan + Shay, and Justin Bieber continue to top the country sales charts, as Combs again takes the top two spots on the Nielsen Soundscan top album sales rankings with What You See Is What You Get and This One’s For You.
Dan+Shay and Bieber’s “10,000 Hours” tops the country on-demand audio streaming chart with 9.5 million streams, while Maren Morris‘ two-week radio chart-topper “The Bones” remains at No. 2 with 8 million streams.
See the Top 5 on the country albums and country on-demand streaming charts below:
Top Country Albums (total activity)
Country On-Demand Audio Streaming
Luke Combs Reclaims No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellLuke Combs has reclaimed the No. 1 slot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with credits on his own “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does To Me (Featuring Eric Church),” and “Better Together,” as well as the Carly Pearce and Lee Brice duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Ross Copperman moves down to the No. 2 position.
Craig Wiseman shifts from No. 15 to No. 7, with credits on Morgan Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” and Kenny Chesney’s new song, “Here And Now.”
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.