Runaway June perform at CRS New Faces of Country Music Show. Photo: AristoMedia/CRS
This year’s New Faces of Country Music Show at Country Radio Seminar closed out three days of panels, seminars and music from superstars to newcomers, held at Nashville’s Omni Hotel.
On Friday, (Feb. 21), five more newcomers took the stage before hundreds of top country radio programmers from around the country. Each performer has had some traction on country radio, with hopes that some of the songs in their sets will soon add to their musical arsenal. This year’s lineup also highlighted the meld of influences in today’s up-and-comers, from ‘90s-esque country, female harmony groups, sleek pop country and hip-hop.
On a more somber note, several of the evening’s performers dedicated music to loved ones who had passed on.
First up was BMLG Records artist Riley Green.
He stayed close to center stage for his debut No. 1 hit “There Was This Girl,” clad in the requisite modern male country artist “uniform” of ballcap, white T-shirt and jeans.
“I wanted to do a song no one has ever done before, so I wrote a song about a truck,” he quipped, before adding, “I just wanted to write something about what trucks have meant to me,” before launching into “If It Wasn’t For Trucks,” followed by the title track to his album, Different ‘Round Here.
He reminded the crowd that he grew up in small town Alabama and noted that his parents were in the audience.
He ended with his current Top 15 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” which became a viral hit before some radio stations began adding it to their rotations. He also talked of the inspiration for the song.
Riley Green. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
“Last February, I was in Las Vegas for a show, and I got a phone call that my granddaddy has passed away. I got on a flight…and went back to Alabama, got there about two in the morning and I wrote this down. It turned out to be the title, but I don’t know what I really meant for it to be. I started playing it and fans started liking it. We recorded it…and y’all took a hold of it and started playing it on the radio and I can’t tell you how awesome it is to see people sing this back to me. Whatever I come up with and put out, it’s probably never going to mean as much to me as it does every time I hear this song played on the radio.”
Before Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records artist Ingrid Andress took the stage, the two large screens that flanked either side of the stage flashed video clips of artists including Andress’ future tourmates Tim McGraw and Dan+Shay, as well as Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban all offering their praises for the newcomer.
The singer-songwriter is enjoying a Top 15 hit right now—and with a ballad, no less—on “More Hearts Than Mine.” In song, Andress is polished and sleek, while her unfiltered, off-the-cuff banter between tracks offered a refreshing counterbalance.
“You guys drunk yet?’ she deadpanned to the room.
Andress was all confidence, passion and fire during her performance—though the majority of her four-song set was comprised of slow-to-middle tempo songs, she wrung out the nuanced storylines and soaring melodies in each. Her voice was smoky and poised during “Both,” then soaring and commanding during “Lady Like” (the title track from her upcoming album).
“I wrote this song because I felt like people needed to hear about the stereotypes that women and men feel like they need to fit and I feel like I’ve never been able to fit that. It’s from me being homeschooled and playing street hockey with guys. My parents never told me that being a girl was a disadvantage so I never thought I was at a disadvantage. I moved to the South from Colorado and it turns out there are a lot of rules I didn’t know about. I wrote this song to remind everyone, and myself, that you can be whoever you want and you don’t have to apologize or fit into a box.”
Her performance turned soft and contemplative on the as-of-yet unreleased track “The Stranger.”
“I wrote it because I grew up on Disney movies, and I feel like they raised me and my generation to believe that love was super easy—all you have to do is fall asleep and someone kisses you, and you get married. And it turns out that is not how it works, and if that happens to you, you need to see a therapist immediately. Love when it’s real is really hard and it’s different for everybody and it’s a choice…I write mostly sad songs, so you’re welcome,” she added.
She moved to a keyboard to start her radio hit “More Hearts Than Mine,” which earned a standing ovation for most programmers in the audience as she concluded her set.
In between sets, “New Faces Rewind” video clips highlighted past New Faces of Country Music Show performers who have gone on to become superstars, from Toby Keith (he played in 1994) to Eric Church (2007) and Taylor Swift (2008). In another clip, superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill recalled how their love story began when they met backstage at CRS’ New Faces Show when they played the show alongside Keith in 1994.
For the past few years, Aussie native Morgan Evans has been performing with his “American Band”—consisting on only his acoustic guitar and a pedal loop. For Country Radio Seminar, the Warner Music Nashville artist brought a flesh-and-blood, full American band, with guitar and drums, giving him a fuller sounds on the jangly, jam band-esque “Young Again,” and his breakthrough hit “Kiss Somebody.”
“Everyone that works at a radio station, thank you so much for this song,” he said.
He toned down the guitar-fueled, up-tempo work to sit behind a piano for “Things That We Drink To,” which he dedicated to his late manager Rob Potts, who died in 2017. As the song’s chorus swelled, and Evans moved to center stage, bathed in yellow light, the song took on an almost spiritual essence.
“Right after ‘Kiss Somebody’ came out, about three months after, I lost my manager of 10 years,” he told the audience. “He was the guy that discovered me and the first person ever to believe in me, after my mom and dad. He was the first person that ever brought me to America, too. He took me to the Opry for the first time. He brought me to CRS and New Faces. We didn’t have tickets—we just stood by the door looking in—and he taught me about the significance of this event. I feel like Rob would feel pretty good tonight looking down on all this.”
The ambience lifted again with the introduction of Evans’ sugary track “Diamonds.”
Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
Wheelhouse trio Runaway June spent the better part of last year on the road opening 60+ shows for Carrie Underwood, and all that time hitting the stage each night was apparent in their high-energy, skillful performance.
They offered the moody banger “Trouble With This Town,” followed by the flirty “Head Over Heels.” A highlight of the set was the sincere “We Were Rich,” with the screen behind the band illuminated with childhood photos of Runaway June’s Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne.
“We’ve been to CRS for so many years, begging for people to talk to us, and to be invited to this is incredible and to be able to play this with my two best friends, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne,” said Cooke. “This song was a reminder for each one of us girls of what it was like growing up, before any of us knew we went without anything.”
The finished all-too-short performance with their breakthrough hit “Buy My Own Drinks,” which marked the first time a female trio or group broke into the Top 5 on the Mediabase Chart since the Dixie Chicks in 2003.
Columbia Nashville/Riser House’s Mitchell Tenpenny rounded out the evening’s performances, starting with “Anything She Says,” and bringing labelmates, Sony duo Seaforth on the track.
His second song of the evening, “Can’t Go To Church,” was a long time in the making. “I’ve had this title since the eighth grade,” he noted, before launching into the song’s beefy chorus, a perfect match for his powerful baritone. Tenpenny’s brother joined him on “Slow Ride,” offering enlivening rap portions.
Tenpenny was clearly excited to be playing the show, having attended in previous years. “I’ve spent four years sitting at these tables, dreaming of being up here,” he said.
Like Riley and Evans, Tenpenny opted to dedicate a song to a loved one who has passed on, noting that his father, James Mitchell Tenpenny, died in 2014 after a battle with cancer. Tenpenny introduced “Walk Like Him,” a song about all the characteristics of his late father that he sees in himself. A photo of his father shone on the screen behind him as he played.
He took a moment to thank the radio programmers in the audience, before offering his 2x multi-platinum debut hit, “Drunk Me.”
Runaway June, Riley Green, Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans and Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
Big Machine, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital At Vanderbilt Unveil Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Wing
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Kathryn Carell Brown, Joe Don Rooney, Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Allison DeMarcus, Dr. Margaret Rush, Scott Borchetta, Maddie Wright, Dalton Waggoner, Sandi Spika Borchetta, Sheryl Crow, Carly Pearce and Thomas Rhett. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group)
Big Machine Label Group’s CEO/Founder Scott Borchetta, along with wife and BMLG Sr. VP/Creative Sandi Spika Borchetta have teamed with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to dedicate the Big Machine Neighborhood, a music-inspired Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located on the hospital’s 11th floor. The new space will officially open in March.
The official ribbon cutting for the new area took place Monday morning (Feb. 24). Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, Thomas Rhett and Carly Pearce were among those in attendance.
The new 40,000-square-foot space will include a 23-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as 15 acute care beds, increasing the hospital’s total number of beds from 305 to 343.
The Borchettas first began conversations with hospital executives regarding how to help the hospital in 2014, and made their commitment in 2016. The hospital recently completed an approximately three-year, $150 million construction project to build an additional four floors atop the hospital—that section of the expansion was made possible by the Borchettas and Big Machine Label Group.
“We wanted to do something for Nashville specifically, because this city has given so much to us. This was a fantastic opportunity for us to be part of the community and give back,” said Borchetta.
“The Big Machine Label Group staff and all of our amazing artists are super excited to be a part of this,” said Spika Borchetta. “But the real work comes from the nurses, the doctors and the brave parents. Their work will start really soon, so we salute them and we welcome them to the Big Machine Neighborhood. Music has value, music connects, and music definitely heals.”
“As part of our NICU, the Big Machine Neighborhood will help us better serve our smallest and most vulnerable patients. We are so thankful to Scott and Sandi Borchetta and Big Machine Label Group for helping us care for even more of these tiny patients,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, president of Children’s Hospital. “Our expansion, including this latest floor opening, is truly made possible by the amazing support and generosity of our community and partners. I am also grateful to and proud of our amazing physicians, nurses and staff who have worked tirelessly over these last several months to prepare for the upcoming floor opening.”
Trea Landon To Release Five-Song EP On Friday
/by Jessica NicholsonTrea Landon will release his five-song debut EP via Warner Music Nashville on Friday (Feb. 28), titled Dirt Road Dancin’.
“Dirt Road Dancin’ is a pretty good sample of everything that makes me who I am,” says the 26-year-old Georgia native. “It’s everything that makes a country boy, a country boy. Long drives, late nights, field parties and falling in love. I’m excited for fans to get to know me better and have fun doing it.”
Landon co-wrote four of the project’s five songs, alongside writers including Dallas Davidson, Justin Wilson, Rob Hatch, Kyle Fishman and more. Scott Hendricks produced the EP.
Landon will soon join Cole Swindell‘s Down To Earth Tour, which begins March 5 in Toledo, Ohio.
This week also marks the first installment of Landon’s new video series “Training Trea,” which features Landon joining guests and industry friends including Michael Ray, as well as Nashville experts in everything from mixology to etiquette. The series launches Wednesday, Feb. 26 on YouTube.
Ross Copperman Climbs To Top Of MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellRoss Copperman climbs two spots for the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with co-writer credits on the songs “Nobody But You” (Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani), “What She Wants Tonight” (Luke Bryan), and “Catch” (Brett Young).
Luke Combs shifts down to No. 2 with his own “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Does To Me (Featuring Eric Church),” “Better Together,” and “1, 2 Many,” as well as the Carly Pearce and Lee Brice duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
Josh Osborne shifts down to the No. 3 position, Jimmy Robbins occupies the No. 4 position, and Jon Nite rounds out the top 5.
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.
Eric Paslay Joins The Shires On Tour This Spring
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Ben and Crissie are awesome!” said Paslay. “Nashville is where I first met them. I know Ben a little more because we’ve written songs together. I’m looking forward to catching some more songs on this tour with them and sharing some memories with them and the fans!
Paslay’s mainstage C2C shows with fellow singer/songwriters Tenille Townes and Abby Anderson will open each night with ‘writers in the round’ performances.
COUNTRY to COUNTRY (C2C)
7- March – Berlin, DE -Verti Music Hall
8- March – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS Live
13- March – London, UK – O2 Arena
14- March – Glasgow, UK – SSE Hydro
15-March – Dublin, IE – 3 Arena
27-Apr – Weymouth, UK – Weymouth Pavilion
28-Apr – Torquay, UK – Princess Theatre
29-Apr – Stoke, UK – Victoria Hall
1-May – Lincoln, UK – Engine Shed
4-May – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
5-May – Aberyswyth, UK – Arts Centre
6-May – Guildford, UK – G Live
8-May – Bristol, UK – o2 Academy
9-May – Cambridge, UK – Corn Exchange
10-May – Nottingham, UK – Royal Centre
12-May – Carlisle, UK – Sands Centre
13-May – Aberdeen, UK – Beach Ballroom
14-May – Edinburgh, UK – Liquid Room
15-May – Gateshead, UK – The Sage
17-May – Ipswich, UK – Regent Theatre
19-May – Manchester, UK – Bridgewater Hall
20-May – York, UK – Barbican
22-May – Oxford, UK – New Theatre
23-May – Liverpool, UK – Philarmonic Hall
24-May – Cardiff, UK – St David’s Hall
26-May – Basingstoke, UK – The Anvil
27-May – London, UK – Palladium
2-Jun – Brighton, UK – The Dome
3-Jun – Folkestone, UK – Leas Cliff Hall
4-Jun – Bedford, UK – Corn Exchange
The Black Keys To Tour ‘Let’s Rock’ Album
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Black Keys. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen; courtesy Q Prime
The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have rolled out the dates for their 35-show Let’s Rock summer tour, which will include stops in Seattle, Boston, Dallas, New York and more. Gary Clark Jr. will open each date (except for July 10 show in Berkeley, California, which will feature Allah-Las. Yola, The Marcus King Band, and Jessy Wilson will also open select dates on the tour.
The band released their ninth studio album, Let’s Rock, on June 28 via Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records.
Auerbach says, “When we’re together we are The Black Keys, that’s where that real magic is, and always has been since we were sixteen.”
Tickets for all dates will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Feb. 28th at 10 a.m. local time.
The Black Keys – “Let’s Rock” 2020 US TOUR
July 7 /// Seattle, WA /// White River Amphitheatre*
July 8 /// Portland, OR /// Sunlight Supply Amphitheater*
July 10 /// Berkeley, CA /// Greek Theatre%
July 11 /// Irvine, CA /// FivePoint Amphitheatre*
July 12 /// Chula Vista, CA /// North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
July 14 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// USANA Amphtiheatre^
July 15 /// Morrison, CO /// Red Rocks Amphitheatre^
July 17 /// Dallas, TX /// Dos Equis Pavilion^
July 18 /// Houston, TX /// The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion^
July 19 /// Austin, TX /// Germania Insurance Amphitheater^
July 21 /// St. Louis, MO /// Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL^
July 22 /// Cincinnati, OH /// Riverbend Music Center^
July 24 /// Indianapolis, IN /// Ruoff Music Center^
July 25 /// Chicago, IL /// Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – CHI^
July 26 /// Detroit, MI /// DTE Energy Music Theatre^
August 11 /// Cleveland, OH /// Blossom Music Center#
August 12 /// Toronto, ON /// Budweiser Stage#
August 14 /// Darien Center, NY /// Darien Lake Amphitheater#
August 15 /// Syracuse, NY /// St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview#
August 16 /// Saratoga Springs, NY /// Saratoga Performing Arts Center#
August 18 /// Bangor, ME /// Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion#
August 19 /// Hartford, CT /// XFINITY Theatre#
August 21 /// Boston, MA /// Xfinity Center#
August 22 /// Camden, NJ /// BB&T Pavilion#
August 23 /// Holmdel, NJ /// PNC Bank Arts Center#
August 25 /// Gilford, NH /// Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion#
August 26 /// Wantagh, NY /// Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater#
August 28 /// Columbia, MD /// Merriweather Post Pavilion#
August 29 /// Virginia Beach, VA /// Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater#
August 30 /// Raleigh, NC /// Coastal Credit Union Music Park#
September 1 /// Charlotte, NC /// PNC Music Pavilion#
September 2 /// Birmingham, AL /// Oak Mountain Amphitheatre#
September 4 /// Tampa, FL /// MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre#
September 5 /// West Palm Beach, FL /// iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre#
September 6 /// Jacksonville, FL /// Daily’s Place#
* w/ Gary Clark Jr and Jessy Wilson
% w/ Allah-Las and Jessy Wilson
^ w/ Gary Clark Jr and The Marcus King Band
# w/ Gary Clark Jr and Yola
Gretchen Peters To Release ‘The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury’
/by LB CantrellBeloved Nashville artist Gretchen Peters is set to release a collection of Mickey Newbury songs with a new album, The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury on May 15 via Scarlet Letter Records.
A lifelong admirer of Mickey Newbury’s music, Peters chose to record his songs at the same studio where some of the original recordings were made, at the historic Cinderella Studios, where Newbury recorded the albums: Looks Like Rain, Frisco Mabel Joy, and Heaven Help The Child.
“In sifting through all the Mickey Newbury songs I could get my hands on, there were only two criteria for inclusion on the album: did I love it, and did I think I could bring something of myself to it?” Gretchen said. “I decided early on that I didn’t want to make an album of Mickey’s hits; that opened up the potential field to his late-career songs, which took a decided turn towards folk, and obscure early songs, as well as hits. All my lifelong favorites were on the first list, of course—but some of those, much as I loved them, proved not to be the right fit. I came across ‘The Night You Wrote That Song’ early on, and felt it was the perfect title for the album. ‘You never knew how right you were the night you wrote that song…’ seems to sum up my feelings towards Mickey Newbury perfectly. In so many ways he was ahead of his time.”
Tracklist:
1. The Sailor
2. She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye
3. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
4. The Night You Wrote That Song
5. Frisco Depot
6. Heaven Help The Child
7. Why You Been Gone So Long
8. Saint Cecilia
9. Wish I Was
10. San Francisco Mabel Joy
11. Leavin’ Kentucky
12. Three Bells For Stephen
The album is available for pre-order now.
Carrie Underwood Surprised With Platinum Album Certification
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Cindy Mabe (President, UMGN), Ann Edelblute (Owner, The HQ), Royce Risser (EVP of Promotions, UMGN), Carrie Underwood, Mike Dungan (Chairman & CEO, UMGN), David Garcia (Underwood’s Co-Producer), Brian Wright (EVP of A&R, UMGN), Jackie Jones (Vice President, Artist & Industry Relations, RIAA). Photo: Country Radio Seminar 2020/Kayla Schoen
Carrie Underwood was surprised with an RIAA Platinum certification plaque for her latest album, Cry Pretty, and four certified singles from the album, on Friday (Feb. 21). Following Underwood’s artist interview as part of the annual Country Radio Seminar, held at Nashville’s Omni Hotel, UMG Nashville CEO & Chairman Mike Dungan and UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe presented Underwood with the latest accolade for her sixth studio album, the first she co-produced alongside David Garcia.
Four singles from Cry Pretty were certified by the RIAA including the Platinum-certified “The Champion” and the Gold-certified “Cry Pretty,” “Love Wins” and “Southbound.”
“Cry Pretty is an album of risk and boundary pushing,” Mabe said. “Carrie put her whole heart, raw emotion and personal story into writing, producing and releasing the music from this album for the world to see behind the curtains. Cry Pretty is Carrie’s artistic evolution and provides a chance for fans to see her at her most vulnerable and raw, so celebrating Platinum status is such an incredible gift that proves big risk gives way to big reward.”
Underwood said, “This means a lot, because I feel like this is the project that I’ve done, and the album that I’ve done, that is the most ‘me.’ I’m honored and I’m humbled, and God is good.”
The critically-acclaimed album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, cementing Underwood’s place in history as the only woman to land four country albums at the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The album was the best-selling all-genre female debut in 2018 and she continues to hold the record as RIAA’s No. 1 certified female artist for Digital Singles.
On March 3, she will release her first fitness lifestyle book, Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life. The book provides a common-sense approach and tips from Underwood on staying active, eating well, and looking as beautiful as you feel, 52 weeks a year.
Carrie Underwood with a plaque for her Certified Platinum Album, Cry Pretty. Photo: Country Radio Seminar 2020/Kayla Schoen
Industry Ink: HARDY, Styx, TobyMac
/by Jessica NicholsonHARDY Sells Out In Nashville
HARDY celebrates his first-ever sold-out Nashville headlining show with Big Loud staffers.
HARDY held his first sold-out headlining Nashville show at Cannery Ballroom on Thursday (Feb. 20). The show featured opener Ashland Craft. HARDY was joined by staffers at his label home Big Loud to celebrate the milestone.
Styx Sets Ryman Auditorium Show For May
Rock band Styx is set to return to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Saturday, May 23, as part of the group’s 2020 World Tour. Styx’s catalog of hits includes “Renegade,” “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Blue Collar Man,” and more. Their album Paradise Theater peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart in 1981, while they also earned the Top 5 albums Kilroy Was Here (1983), Cornerstone (1979) and more.
Tickets for An Evening with STYX go on sale this Friday, February 28 at 10 a.m. / CT and will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, STYXWorld.com and the Ryman Auditorium box office.
TobyMac Gives Back On Hits Deep Tour
At a recent tour stop in Phoenix, Arizona, TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour donated a check to a Salvation Army to meet needs in the local community. Pictured (L-R): Dan Fife, Awakening Events; Camelia Gonzalez, Salvation Army; TobyMac
TobyMac has partnered with tour sponsors KLOVE/Air1, Awakening Events and Altrua HealthShare and the Salvation Army to help meet needs in local communities. During each of the 34 tour stops on TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour, funds are given to a local Salvation Army to help needs within that community.
Country Radio’s Newcomers Take A Turn In The Spotlight At Annual New Faces Show
/by Jessica NicholsonRunaway June perform at CRS New Faces of Country Music Show. Photo: AristoMedia/CRS
This year’s New Faces of Country Music Show at Country Radio Seminar closed out three days of panels, seminars and music from superstars to newcomers, held at Nashville’s Omni Hotel.
On Friday, (Feb. 21), five more newcomers took the stage before hundreds of top country radio programmers from around the country. Each performer has had some traction on country radio, with hopes that some of the songs in their sets will soon add to their musical arsenal. This year’s lineup also highlighted the meld of influences in today’s up-and-comers, from ‘90s-esque country, female harmony groups, sleek pop country and hip-hop.
On a more somber note, several of the evening’s performers dedicated music to loved ones who had passed on.
First up was BMLG Records artist Riley Green.
He stayed close to center stage for his debut No. 1 hit “There Was This Girl,” clad in the requisite modern male country artist “uniform” of ballcap, white T-shirt and jeans.
“I wanted to do a song no one has ever done before, so I wrote a song about a truck,” he quipped, before adding, “I just wanted to write something about what trucks have meant to me,” before launching into “If It Wasn’t For Trucks,” followed by the title track to his album, Different ‘Round Here.
He reminded the crowd that he grew up in small town Alabama and noted that his parents were in the audience.
He ended with his current Top 15 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” which became a viral hit before some radio stations began adding it to their rotations. He also talked of the inspiration for the song.
Riley Green. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
“Last February, I was in Las Vegas for a show, and I got a phone call that my granddaddy has passed away. I got on a flight…and went back to Alabama, got there about two in the morning and I wrote this down. It turned out to be the title, but I don’t know what I really meant for it to be. I started playing it and fans started liking it. We recorded it…and y’all took a hold of it and started playing it on the radio and I can’t tell you how awesome it is to see people sing this back to me. Whatever I come up with and put out, it’s probably never going to mean as much to me as it does every time I hear this song played on the radio.”
Before Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records artist Ingrid Andress took the stage, the two large screens that flanked either side of the stage flashed video clips of artists including Andress’ future tourmates Tim McGraw and Dan+Shay, as well as Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban all offering their praises for the newcomer.
The singer-songwriter is enjoying a Top 15 hit right now—and with a ballad, no less—on “More Hearts Than Mine.” In song, Andress is polished and sleek, while her unfiltered, off-the-cuff banter between tracks offered a refreshing counterbalance.
“You guys drunk yet?’ she deadpanned to the room.
Andress was all confidence, passion and fire during her performance—though the majority of her four-song set was comprised of slow-to-middle tempo songs, she wrung out the nuanced storylines and soaring melodies in each. Her voice was smoky and poised during “Both,” then soaring and commanding during “Lady Like” (the title track from her upcoming album).
“I wrote this song because I felt like people needed to hear about the stereotypes that women and men feel like they need to fit and I feel like I’ve never been able to fit that. It’s from me being homeschooled and playing street hockey with guys. My parents never told me that being a girl was a disadvantage so I never thought I was at a disadvantage. I moved to the South from Colorado and it turns out there are a lot of rules I didn’t know about. I wrote this song to remind everyone, and myself, that you can be whoever you want and you don’t have to apologize or fit into a box.”
Her performance turned soft and contemplative on the as-of-yet unreleased track “The Stranger.”
“I wrote it because I grew up on Disney movies, and I feel like they raised me and my generation to believe that love was super easy—all you have to do is fall asleep and someone kisses you, and you get married. And it turns out that is not how it works, and if that happens to you, you need to see a therapist immediately. Love when it’s real is really hard and it’s different for everybody and it’s a choice…I write mostly sad songs, so you’re welcome,” she added.
She moved to a keyboard to start her radio hit “More Hearts Than Mine,” which earned a standing ovation for most programmers in the audience as she concluded her set.
In between sets, “New Faces Rewind” video clips highlighted past New Faces of Country Music Show performers who have gone on to become superstars, from Toby Keith (he played in 1994) to Eric Church (2007) and Taylor Swift (2008). In another clip, superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill recalled how their love story began when they met backstage at CRS’ New Faces Show when they played the show alongside Keith in 1994.
For the past few years, Aussie native Morgan Evans has been performing with his “American Band”—consisting on only his acoustic guitar and a pedal loop. For Country Radio Seminar, the Warner Music Nashville artist brought a flesh-and-blood, full American band, with guitar and drums, giving him a fuller sounds on the jangly, jam band-esque “Young Again,” and his breakthrough hit “Kiss Somebody.”
“Everyone that works at a radio station, thank you so much for this song,” he said.
He toned down the guitar-fueled, up-tempo work to sit behind a piano for “Things That We Drink To,” which he dedicated to his late manager Rob Potts, who died in 2017. As the song’s chorus swelled, and Evans moved to center stage, bathed in yellow light, the song took on an almost spiritual essence.
“Right after ‘Kiss Somebody’ came out, about three months after, I lost my manager of 10 years,” he told the audience. “He was the guy that discovered me and the first person ever to believe in me, after my mom and dad. He was the first person that ever brought me to America, too. He took me to the Opry for the first time. He brought me to CRS and New Faces. We didn’t have tickets—we just stood by the door looking in—and he taught me about the significance of this event. I feel like Rob would feel pretty good tonight looking down on all this.”
The ambience lifted again with the introduction of Evans’ sugary track “Diamonds.”
Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
Wheelhouse trio Runaway June spent the better part of last year on the road opening 60+ shows for Carrie Underwood, and all that time hitting the stage each night was apparent in their high-energy, skillful performance.
They offered the moody banger “Trouble With This Town,” followed by the flirty “Head Over Heels.” A highlight of the set was the sincere “We Were Rich,” with the screen behind the band illuminated with childhood photos of Runaway June’s Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne.
“We’ve been to CRS for so many years, begging for people to talk to us, and to be invited to this is incredible and to be able to play this with my two best friends, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne,” said Cooke. “This song was a reminder for each one of us girls of what it was like growing up, before any of us knew we went without anything.”
The finished all-too-short performance with their breakthrough hit “Buy My Own Drinks,” which marked the first time a female trio or group broke into the Top 5 on the Mediabase Chart since the Dixie Chicks in 2003.
Columbia Nashville/Riser House’s Mitchell Tenpenny rounded out the evening’s performances, starting with “Anything She Says,” and bringing labelmates, Sony duo Seaforth on the track.
His second song of the evening, “Can’t Go To Church,” was a long time in the making. “I’ve had this title since the eighth grade,” he noted, before launching into the song’s beefy chorus, a perfect match for his powerful baritone. Tenpenny’s brother joined him on “Slow Ride,” offering enlivening rap portions.
Tenpenny was clearly excited to be playing the show, having attended in previous years. “I’ve spent four years sitting at these tables, dreaming of being up here,” he said.
Like Riley and Evans, Tenpenny opted to dedicate a song to a loved one who has passed on, noting that his father, James Mitchell Tenpenny, died in 2014 after a battle with cancer. Tenpenny introduced “Walk Like Him,” a song about all the characteristics of his late father that he sees in himself. A photo of his father shone on the screen behind him as he played.
He took a moment to thank the radio programmers in the audience, before offering his 2x multi-platinum debut hit, “Drunk Me.”
Runaway June, Riley Green, Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans and Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo: Aristomedia/CRS
Big Machine Label Group Announces Tim McGraw Signing At CRS Luncheon, Artists Perform
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, CRB’s Kurt Johnson, Big Machine Records’ Clay Hunnicutt, BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen, CRB’s RJ Curtis; (L-R, middle row): Avenue Beat’s Sami Bearden, Savana Santos & Sam Backoff, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Payton Smith; (L-R, front row): Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard, Danielle Bradbery, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott & Charles Kelley. Photo: Danielle Del Valle / Getty Images for Big Machine Records
Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta announced the return of Tim McGraw to its flagship imprint Big Machine Records at their CRS luncheon today (Feb. 21). BMLG also showcased their stars and newcomers with performances from Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Danielle Bradbery, Payton Smith and Avenue Beat.
Pictured (L-R): Tim McGraw, CEO of Big Machine Scott Borchetta. Photo: Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for Big Machine Records
FGL kicked off the performances with an energized set including their 11x-Platinum hit “Cruise,” record-breaking “Meant to Be,” and other songs “Round Here,” “Blessings” and “Simple.” Pandora also honored the duo with the Billionaire plaque backstage prior to their performance, congratulating them for their 5.6 billion streams on the platform.
CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020 inductees Avenue Beat showcased their harmonies with songs from their self-titled EP (The Valory Music Co.). The trio performed “Delight” and “Ruin That For Me.”
Newcomer Payton Smith amplified the afternoon with his guitar-slinging and songwriting on full display as he performed “Can’t Go Wrong With That,” “What It Meant To Lose You,” “’92” and lead single “Like I Knew You Would,” from his debut self-titled EP.
Danielle Bradbery premiered two new songs with the nostalgic “Girls In My Hometown,” written by Nicolle Galyon and Emily Weisband, and emotive ballad “Never Have I Ever.” She is set to release new music later this year.
Lady Antebellum closed the afternoon with a touching set. The group performed their new BMLG Records single “What I’m Leaving For” and the self-reflective “Be Patient With My Love,” plus fan favorites “Love Don’t Live Here” and “Bartender.” Lady A received a standing ovation for their Gold-certified No. 1, “What If I Never Get Over You.”