Travis Denning
When UMG Nashville artist Travis Denning joins labelmate and fellow Georgia native Sam Hunt’s Southside Summer Tour beginning in May, it will not only mark some of the largest stages the “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” singer has performed on, but it will also be a full-circle moment.
Denning, 27, first opened shows for Hunt back in 2014 at Bluewater Valdosta, a college bar in Valdosta, Georgia, and then at The Crazy Bull in Macon, Georgia. “There were maybe 700 people at Bluewater, which was a lot for that place,” Denning recalls. “This is really cool to have this kind of moment again.”
“It feels kind of like the pinnacle moment, and not only is it a huge tour and it’s my first amphitheater tour, but I mean, Sam was a guy that I’ve looked up to. And really, I’ve enjoyed his music ever since he first came out on the scene.”
He’s been building his touring cred with his own series of headlining shows, as well as opening concerts for Justin Moore and making the trek overseas to perform as part of C2C. But he’s been building his star power, songwriting chops and guitar prowess since grade school in his hometown of Warner Robins, Georgia.
“I grew up in an Air Force town,” he says of his childhood, where his parents worked as civil servants for the United States Air Force at nearby Robins Air Force Base for most of his formative years. He says his parents both currently live in D.C, working out of the Pentagon.
As a child, he was “obsessed” with buying CDs, and reading liner notes while he listened to the songs that swirled from the three-disc CD changer that came as part of a cheap three-piece boombox.
But it was when Denning received his first guitar at age 11 that he knew music was his calling. Denning tried various sports teams growing up, and says his parents assumed music would be one more thing he briefly tried before moving on to the next hobby.
“I think maybe they thought, ‘Okay, he’s going to try guitar and it’ll kind of blow over,'” he recalls. But Denning soon took up guitar lessons with a local instructor, and learned the chords to John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads,” in part thanks to an uncle who appreciated Denver’s music. “All of those songs, like ‘Rocky Mountain High’ and ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane,’ they’re rooted in those strumming patterns and chords that, especially in country music, we use every day. As soon as I started learning songs, I was like, ‘I’m not giving this up.’ After two years or so, my parents were like, ‘Alright, this is who he is.’”
However, like many youthful musicians just beginning to funnel their youth and passions into music, Denning was really yearning to rock.
“Honestly, country music came later in my life, when I was in high school. As a kid, I loved southern rock—Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, of course Skynyrd. I can tell you the exact moment it happened, when I was seven years old,” he recalls. “My dad played Back in Black and ‘Hells Bells.’ Then as you grow older, as an 11-year-old guitar player it’s like, ‘I want to hear it faster, I want to hear it louder.’” Soon, bands like Metallica and Slayer made their way into Denning’s musical collective.
“That’s just as big of a musical influence on my live shows and my recording process, just as much as country music songwriting is to who I am as an artist,” he says.
While he fine-tuned his guitar shredding on a foundation of metal and rock, he found his love for touring and performing through church music, spending two summers touring the East coast as part of a church youth choir, performing reinterpreted versions of Methodist hymns.
“It was literally the first time I toured, to be 16 and driving through Pennsylvania and seeing the Amish country. The choir director would let me bring my guitar and incorporate it into what we were doing. That encouraged me to keep chasing my passion and learn how to make it work with anything—by that time I had been playing guitar for a few years and I knew I wanted to make a living being a musician.”
Around that time, Denning also began studying the craft of songwriting, falling headlong back into those country frameworks he grew up listening to, drawn in by country music’s imagery and small-town stories.
“With my generation, we grew up on a lot of different music, but when I started to write songs, that’s when I realized that country music has the best songs in the world. I related because I grew up with a bunch of rednecks, a bunch of country folks, and a bunch of people who worked at the Air Force base, things like that. I heard these songs and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s my people.’”
One of his earliest country influences came from another Georgia artist who grew up about 20 minutes north of Warner Robins—Jason Aldean.
“I thought, ‘Well hell, this guy went and did it. Why can’t I?’ Jason cuts outside songs, same with George Strait. So I would study his liner notes and see names like Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher. Of course, Rhett Akins. That sparked the flame in me, like ‘Okay, these guys are kajillionaires, but maybe I can make money writing songs, and put food on the table by doing what I love.’”
When the time came to graduate from high school, his heart was set on studying songs, not textbooks.
“I graduated from Warner Robins High in 2011 with a 3.79 [GPA], and I took it all the way down to a 1.8 my first semester of college. You got to really work to kill a GPA like I did. I tried college for a semester, but I’ll be honest, I knew at high school graduation that I was done.”
The protagonist in Denning’s witty, relatable Top 40 breakthrough track “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs” may have been inspired by the singer-songwriter’s own teenage experience trying to sneak into clubs with a fake ID, but Denning had a more pragmatic plan for making his way into Nashville’s bar scene, where so many aspiring artists and songwriters begin playing writers rounds and networking.
Instead of moving to Nashville right away, Denning continued honing his craft closer to home, working and saving up $10,000 along the way. He turned 21 in December 2013, and one month later he was crashing on an air mattress in a Nashville apartment.
“It’s the networking in places like Losers where things happen,” he says. “I wanted to move here when I was actually legal. I saved money so I could move here, make rent and eat, and not have to be worried about making money right off the bat.”
Upon arriving in Nashville, Denning already had a friend in fellow Georgia native and songwriter, Cole Taylor.
“He had been here for about a year and I just kind of followed him around to things. Hell, he was figuring it out, too.”
Taylor would soon find songwriting success in co-writing songs like Florida Georgia Line’s “Sippin’ On Fire,” and “Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan’s duet with Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. Taylor and Denning attended every songwriter hangout they could, expanding their circle of songwriting buddies to include writers like Thomas Archer, who co-wrote Luke Combs’ smash hit “Hurricane.”
From there, things moved quickly—Denning inked a publishing deal with Jeremy Stover’s RED Creative in 2014, and Jason Aldean recorded Denning’s “All Out Of Beer” for his 2016 album, They Don’t Know. Justin Moore recorded Denning’s “Life in the Living,” and in 2017, he inked a label deal with UMG Nashville, the label powerhouse behind artists including Hunt, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, and others.
“My short-term goal was get a publishing deal, and just focus on songwriting, build that craft because that’s something you always have. I hoped I would have one or two hits for other artists, sign a label deal and then be able to sing those in my own set. I moved up here to be on a tour of bus and behind the microphone. That’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life.”
His debut single “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs” peaked in the Top 40 on country radio, but Denning says he felt a career shift in the wake of the song.
“’David Ashley Parker’ is everything I love about country music. Telling stories, and it kind of gives you a sideways smirk—it’s a story that everybody has lived. When we sing that in our show, even opening, you almost can’t tell it wasn’t a hit because it just connected with people. It just proves that there will be success on radio, there will be success on streaming, and sometimes they’re not at the same time. I think as long as it connects with people, and you’re moving forward and finding your fans, I think they’re all victories and they’re all equal.”
He followed the song with his current Top 20 single “After A Few,” which resurfaces Denning’s early rock and blues leanings; Denning also played the guitar solo and some overdubs on the original demo for the track. Another release, “Red, White and Blue” which he co-wrote with Cole Taylor, focuses on his respect for military and growing up in that small “Air Force town” in Georgia.
“I told someone the other day, ‘After a Few’ is kind of the anchor of all the music that has come out and will continue to come out. Tyler Rich told me he called it dark disco country, and I wanted that dark, dangerous kind of image when you hear that song but you still drink a beer to it, you know you can still have fun.”
As “After A Few” enters the Top 20 on country radio, and a new track “Abby” has just released, Denning also has a co-writing credit on Michael Ray’s Top 25 single “Her World Or Mine.”
“Now, that dream of having a song on the radio that I’m not singing, but that I wrote, is happening at the exact same time that my song’s taking off. And honestly, it’s cooler. It’s way better than I could’ve ever imagined.”
After “David Ashley Parker,” Travis Denning Showcases His Rock Music Leanings
/by Jessica NicholsonTravis Denning
When UMG Nashville artist Travis Denning joins labelmate and fellow Georgia native Sam Hunt’s Southside Summer Tour beginning in May, it will not only mark some of the largest stages the “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” singer has performed on, but it will also be a full-circle moment.
Denning, 27, first opened shows for Hunt back in 2014 at Bluewater Valdosta, a college bar in Valdosta, Georgia, and then at The Crazy Bull in Macon, Georgia. “There were maybe 700 people at Bluewater, which was a lot for that place,” Denning recalls. “This is really cool to have this kind of moment again.”
“It feels kind of like the pinnacle moment, and not only is it a huge tour and it’s my first amphitheater tour, but I mean, Sam was a guy that I’ve looked up to. And really, I’ve enjoyed his music ever since he first came out on the scene.”
He’s been building his touring cred with his own series of headlining shows, as well as opening concerts for Justin Moore and making the trek overseas to perform as part of C2C. But he’s been building his star power, songwriting chops and guitar prowess since grade school in his hometown of Warner Robins, Georgia.
“I grew up in an Air Force town,” he says of his childhood, where his parents worked as civil servants for the United States Air Force at nearby Robins Air Force Base for most of his formative years. He says his parents both currently live in D.C, working out of the Pentagon.
As a child, he was “obsessed” with buying CDs, and reading liner notes while he listened to the songs that swirled from the three-disc CD changer that came as part of a cheap three-piece boombox.
But it was when Denning received his first guitar at age 11 that he knew music was his calling. Denning tried various sports teams growing up, and says his parents assumed music would be one more thing he briefly tried before moving on to the next hobby.
“I think maybe they thought, ‘Okay, he’s going to try guitar and it’ll kind of blow over,'” he recalls. But Denning soon took up guitar lessons with a local instructor, and learned the chords to John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads,” in part thanks to an uncle who appreciated Denver’s music. “All of those songs, like ‘Rocky Mountain High’ and ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane,’ they’re rooted in those strumming patterns and chords that, especially in country music, we use every day. As soon as I started learning songs, I was like, ‘I’m not giving this up.’ After two years or so, my parents were like, ‘Alright, this is who he is.’”
However, like many youthful musicians just beginning to funnel their youth and passions into music, Denning was really yearning to rock.
“Honestly, country music came later in my life, when I was in high school. As a kid, I loved southern rock—Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers, of course Skynyrd. I can tell you the exact moment it happened, when I was seven years old,” he recalls. “My dad played Back in Black and ‘Hells Bells.’ Then as you grow older, as an 11-year-old guitar player it’s like, ‘I want to hear it faster, I want to hear it louder.’” Soon, bands like Metallica and Slayer made their way into Denning’s musical collective.
“That’s just as big of a musical influence on my live shows and my recording process, just as much as country music songwriting is to who I am as an artist,” he says.
While he fine-tuned his guitar shredding on a foundation of metal and rock, he found his love for touring and performing through church music, spending two summers touring the East coast as part of a church youth choir, performing reinterpreted versions of Methodist hymns.
“It was literally the first time I toured, to be 16 and driving through Pennsylvania and seeing the Amish country. The choir director would let me bring my guitar and incorporate it into what we were doing. That encouraged me to keep chasing my passion and learn how to make it work with anything—by that time I had been playing guitar for a few years and I knew I wanted to make a living being a musician.”
Around that time, Denning also began studying the craft of songwriting, falling headlong back into those country frameworks he grew up listening to, drawn in by country music’s imagery and small-town stories.
“With my generation, we grew up on a lot of different music, but when I started to write songs, that’s when I realized that country music has the best songs in the world. I related because I grew up with a bunch of rednecks, a bunch of country folks, and a bunch of people who worked at the Air Force base, things like that. I heard these songs and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s my people.’”
One of his earliest country influences came from another Georgia artist who grew up about 20 minutes north of Warner Robins—Jason Aldean.
“I thought, ‘Well hell, this guy went and did it. Why can’t I?’ Jason cuts outside songs, same with George Strait. So I would study his liner notes and see names like Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher. Of course, Rhett Akins. That sparked the flame in me, like ‘Okay, these guys are kajillionaires, but maybe I can make money writing songs, and put food on the table by doing what I love.’”
When the time came to graduate from high school, his heart was set on studying songs, not textbooks.
“I graduated from Warner Robins High in 2011 with a 3.79 [GPA], and I took it all the way down to a 1.8 my first semester of college. You got to really work to kill a GPA like I did. I tried college for a semester, but I’ll be honest, I knew at high school graduation that I was done.”
The protagonist in Denning’s witty, relatable Top 40 breakthrough track “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs” may have been inspired by the singer-songwriter’s own teenage experience trying to sneak into clubs with a fake ID, but Denning had a more pragmatic plan for making his way into Nashville’s bar scene, where so many aspiring artists and songwriters begin playing writers rounds and networking.
Instead of moving to Nashville right away, Denning continued honing his craft closer to home, working and saving up $10,000 along the way. He turned 21 in December 2013, and one month later he was crashing on an air mattress in a Nashville apartment.
“It’s the networking in places like Losers where things happen,” he says. “I wanted to move here when I was actually legal. I saved money so I could move here, make rent and eat, and not have to be worried about making money right off the bat.”
Upon arriving in Nashville, Denning already had a friend in fellow Georgia native and songwriter, Cole Taylor.
“He had been here for about a year and I just kind of followed him around to things. Hell, he was figuring it out, too.”
Taylor would soon find songwriting success in co-writing songs like Florida Georgia Line’s “Sippin’ On Fire,” and “Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan’s duet with Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. Taylor and Denning attended every songwriter hangout they could, expanding their circle of songwriting buddies to include writers like Thomas Archer, who co-wrote Luke Combs’ smash hit “Hurricane.”
From there, things moved quickly—Denning inked a publishing deal with Jeremy Stover’s RED Creative in 2014, and Jason Aldean recorded Denning’s “All Out Of Beer” for his 2016 album, They Don’t Know. Justin Moore recorded Denning’s “Life in the Living,” and in 2017, he inked a label deal with UMG Nashville, the label powerhouse behind artists including Hunt, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, and others.
“My short-term goal was get a publishing deal, and just focus on songwriting, build that craft because that’s something you always have. I hoped I would have one or two hits for other artists, sign a label deal and then be able to sing those in my own set. I moved up here to be on a tour of bus and behind the microphone. That’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life.”
His debut single “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs” peaked in the Top 40 on country radio, but Denning says he felt a career shift in the wake of the song.
“’David Ashley Parker’ is everything I love about country music. Telling stories, and it kind of gives you a sideways smirk—it’s a story that everybody has lived. When we sing that in our show, even opening, you almost can’t tell it wasn’t a hit because it just connected with people. It just proves that there will be success on radio, there will be success on streaming, and sometimes they’re not at the same time. I think as long as it connects with people, and you’re moving forward and finding your fans, I think they’re all victories and they’re all equal.”
He followed the song with his current Top 20 single “After A Few,” which resurfaces Denning’s early rock and blues leanings; Denning also played the guitar solo and some overdubs on the original demo for the track. Another release, “Red, White and Blue” which he co-wrote with Cole Taylor, focuses on his respect for military and growing up in that small “Air Force town” in Georgia.
“I told someone the other day, ‘After a Few’ is kind of the anchor of all the music that has come out and will continue to come out. Tyler Rich told me he called it dark disco country, and I wanted that dark, dangerous kind of image when you hear that song but you still drink a beer to it, you know you can still have fun.”
As “After A Few” enters the Top 20 on country radio, and a new track “Abby” has just released, Denning also has a co-writing credit on Michael Ray’s Top 25 single “Her World Or Mine.”
“Now, that dream of having a song on the radio that I’m not singing, but that I wrote, is happening at the exact same time that my song’s taking off. And honestly, it’s cooler. It’s way better than I could’ve ever imagined.”
MusicRow Pics: 18th Annual MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards And Meet & Greet
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Capitol Records Nashville’s Bobby Young, Megan Youngblood, and Annie Sandor; Richey Promotions’ Diane Richey; MusicRow‘s Alex Parry; Richey Promotions’ Kiersten Suarez and Ben Kann, Capitol Records Nashville’s Brent Jones. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
MusicRow held its 18th annual CountryBreakout Awards and Meet & Greet yesterday (Feb. 19) at The Listening Room Café in downtown Nashville. The breakfast event, presented by FirstBank, was a full house that enjoyed an awards presentation, mingling, and music from country newcomer Joe Hanson and traditional country favorite, Shane Owens.
Awards were given to the following for earning the most spins in 2019 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio Chart: Luke Combs for Male Artist of the Year, Carrie Underwood for Female Artist of the Year, Old Dominion for Group/Duo of the Year, Riley Green for CountryBreakout Artist of the Year, and Smith & Wesley for Independent Artist of the Year. Ashley Gorley won Songwriter of the Year for penning nine No. 1 songs on the CountryBreakout Radio Chart, Capitol Records Nashville took home Label of the Year for the 16th time, and KBOE’s Steve Shettler was awarded Reporter of the Year for exemplifying the spirit of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio chart.
Read Bobby Karl‘s full recap of the event here.
Pictured (L-R): Shane Owens, Joe Hanson. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured: Smith & Wesley. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured: River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured (L-R): Bill Warner, Kele Currier, Kirsti Manna. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured: Joe & Martina. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Edie Emery and ET Brown, MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured: Joe Hanson performs. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Pictured: Shane Owens performs. Photo: Steve Lowry for MusicRow
Centricity Music Names James Duke Director/A&R, Promotes Two
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured: James Duke, Justin Nicolet, Andrew Lambeth
Centricity Music has hired touring and studio guitarist James Duke as Director of A&R. Justin Nicolet has also been promoted to Creative Director, Centricity Publishing, and Andrew Lambeth has been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing at the Franklin, Tennessee-based company.
Duke, whose guitar playing can be heard on worship albums by Jesus Culture, Michael W. Smith, Elevation Worship, John Mark McMillan, Matt Redman and more, has helped lead the charge in shaping the iconic electric guitar sound that many modern worship guitarists are striving to achieve today. Having shared the stage with many of today’s leading voices in worship, Duke has also been a mentor and example to many young, aspiring electric guitarists.
“When Centricity made the decision to increase our reach into the modern worship movement, we knew the people we brought on to head up the initiative would be of ultimate importance,” says John Mays, Centricity Music’s Vice President of A&R. “That’s why we took our time and talked to lots of people. In the end, we’re so excited to have James Duke joining our team as a Director of A&R, focusing on worship. James’ background as a worship leader and guitar player for so many of the modern worship communities makes him uniquely qualified for the task of identifying songs and artists that can bring fresh expressions of worship to the church.”
Nicolet worked in radio before joining Maximum Artist Group/Maximum Artist Management to represent clients like Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Mary Mary, etc. He was also Manager of Artist and Writer Relations for Maximum’s publishing division, Maxx Music Publishing. After almost four years at Maximum, Justin joined the Centricity Music family as Manager of Publishing.
Lambeth discovered and developed artists as the head of imprint label Residence Music for four years before moving to Centricity Music as Manager of Sales and Marketing/Streaming. In his new role as Director of Sales and Marketing, he has an emphasis on partnerships among streaming outlets and playlists.
CRS In Pictures: Brett Young, Kelsea Ballerini, Russell Dickerson
/by Jessica NicholsonBrett Young Steps Up To The Plate For “The Big Gig”
Pictured (L-R): Van Haze, Red Light Management; Brett Young; Lisa Purcell, Senior Vice President of Education, Development and Community Outreach at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Terry Wyatt
BMLG Records recording artist Brett Young took the stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s annual members-only concert, The Big Gig. Young performed his hits including “In Case You Didn’t Know” and “Catch” for nearly 700 museum members in the museum’s CMA Theater.
Kelsea Ballerini Leads Amazon Music’s Country Heat Showcase
Kelsea Ballerini performs onstage during Country Heat for CRS 2020 at Omni Hotel on February 19, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Amazon Music
Kelsea Ballerini headlined a hit-filled evening on Wednesday (Feb. 19) as part of Amazon Music’s Country Heat during Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. The third annual event also included music from Niko Moon, Gabby Barrett, Jon Langston and The Cadillac Three. Moon performed “Paradise To Me” and “Good Time,” while Barrett offered her rising single “I Hope.” Langston performed “Drinks” and his current single “Now You Know,” while The Cadillac Three performed songs from their recently-released album Country Fuzz.
Ballerini performed her No. 1 Mediabase/Country Aircheck hit “Miss Me More” and offered previews of new music including “Club” and “Hole in the Bottle,” which she performed live for the first time. She closed the evening with her hit “Peter Pan.”
Kelsea Ballerini performs onstage during Country Heat for CRS 2020 at Omni Hotel on February 19, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Amazon Music
Pictured (L-R): Jon Langston, Niko Moon, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kelby Ray, Jaren Johnston and Neil Mason of The Cadillac Three attend Country Heat for CRS 2020 at Omni Hotel on February 19, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for Amazon Music
The Cadillac Three. Photo: John Shearer/CRS
Russell Dickerson Throws A CRS House Party
Photo Credit: Thomas Heney
Multi-platinum country artist Russell Dickerson hosted a Triple Tigers Records CRS party at his Nashville home to celebrate “Love You Like I Used To,” the lead single off his forthcoming album, later this year.
Kenny Chesney Accepts Humanitarian Of The Year Honor During CRS
/by Jessica NicholsonKenny Chesney. Photo: Kayla Shoen/CRS
This year’s Country Radio Seminar officially launched on Wednesday (Feb. 19), with one of music’s best-selling, top touring artists: Kenny Chesney.
Chesney led Warner Music Nashville’s annual CRS luncheon, where he was honored this year with the CRS Humanitarian of the Year Award, which is awarded to a country artist who has displayed exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career. Past recipients of the honor have included Chesney’s fellow Warner Music Nashville labelmate Blake Shelton, as well as Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and more.
Chesney has done plenty of his own humanitarian work, most recently by launching his Love for Love City Foundation to help those in St. John affected by the devastation left in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Chesney and some of his core staff also helped to rescue and relocate more than 2,000 displaced animals in St. Thomas and St. John to no-kill shelters and new homes in the U.S. All of the proceeds from Chesney’s 2018 album, Songs for the Saints, also went to the Love for Love City Fund; the project has helped raise more than $1 million to date. After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Chesney teamed with the Boston Medical Center to create the Spread the Love Fund to benefit amputee survivors; the fund has raised more than $2 million to date. Chesney’s love of oceans, beaches and island life has become an integral part of his brand over the years, and his No Shoes Reefs initiative has helped rebuild coral reefs in Jacksonville, Florida and supported other ocean ecology efforts.
“I have to tell you, I have a lot of emotions standing up here,” Chesney told the crowd of more than 1,000 radio programmers and music industry members during the Warner Music Nashville luncheon. “I am embarrassed and uncomfortable, but God has given me the gift of communicating with people through music… and that’s given me a unique platform to help, especially with the Virgin Islands, with Songs for the Saints, which was written in the moment and came from the heart.
“You know, I’d heard ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley my whole life, but when you’re under that kind of stress, to see everyone coming together to rebuild and help? I got to see what that song was in action. What was really amazing were so many people who didn’t really have anything, and the way they gave.”
Warner Music Nashville also treated the label luncheon attendees to performances from other hitmakers on the roster, including Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, Gabby Barrett, Michael Ray, and Shy Carter.
Photo ID (Back row, L-R): RJ Curtis (Executive Director, CRB); Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN); Cris Lacy (EVP A&R); John Esposito (Chairman &; CEO, WMN); Kristen Williams (SVP Radio, WMN); Kurt Johnson (Board President, CRB); Ben Kline (EVP / GM, WMN)
(Front row, L-R): Cody Johnson; Ashley McBryde; Chris Janson; Kenny Chesney; Michael Ray; Gabby Barrett; Shy Carter
Chesney also performed three songs, including the multi-week No. 1 single from Songs for the Saints, “Get Along,” as well as “Save It For A Rainy Day,” and “When The Sun Goes Down.” He also thanked Warner Music Nashville Chairman/CEO John Esposito for supporting him in the making of a charitable album as his first project at his new label home.
“It was in God’s hands. So I want to thank Esposito and everybody at Warner for accepting me and for understanding that this was something bigger than all of us,” Chesney told the crowd. “And I’m really proud that I made this record.
“And I will say that in 2018, when we did our stadium run, when I saw a lot of your faces out at the shows, it was the one thing that everybody wanted to talk about. And it reminded me that I have been doing this for a little while now, and it kind of feels like family in a lot of ways. And when family hurt, somebody in the family hurts, we all hurt. And I felt that from all of you guys. I want to say I really appreciate it. And it gave me so much energy to go out on the road. And we were blessed with a song about hope and love and loving everybody.”
Bobby Karl Works The Room: MusicRow Magazine’s CountryBreakout Awards
/by Bobby KarlPictured (L-R): MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry, Smith & Wesley, and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Steve Lowry
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 642
The faithful flocked to The Listening Room Café on Wednesday morning (Feb. 19) for MusicRow Magazine’s annual radio celebration.
Taking the stage during the two-hour event were such tried-and-true buddies as Ashley Gorley, Bobby Young, Shane Owens and Diane Richey. As always, this event was a mixture of music, schmoozing, breakfast and award presentations.
“Welcome, welcome, to the 18th annual Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards,” said MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson in greeting the capacity crowd. He reminded the attendees that, “Secondary radio is the heart and soul of contemporary country music.”
The awards are based on the magazine’s CountryBreakout Radio Chart, which largely tracks such stations’ airplay. These broadcasters are relied upon to introduce new talent and offer opportunities to independent artists, as well as major-label acts.
Sherod thanked MusicRow’s reporting panel and the record promoters who work with those stations. He also offered a shout-out to this year’s presenting sponsor, FirstBank.
“FirstBank has been in business since 1906, has $6 billion in assets and ranks in the top 5% of all U.S. banks. We really appreciate our new sponsor this year.” Beaming in the crowd was the institution’s Karen Clark.
Joe Hanson. Photo: Steve Lowry
Sherod then got right down to business by introducing the day’s first performer, Joe Hanson. He has competed on The Voice and American Idol and is now releasing his first tunes.
Joe worked the stage like a pro and exuded sincerity as he dished out a jaunty, three-song set. He concluded with his debut single, the bopping, charming and hooky “Young Got Old,” urging the crowd to sing along with him.
“Thank you guys so much for having me at this incredible event,” said Joe.
“I’m a big fan,” said Sherod. “You’re going to hear that name for quite awhile, I have a feeling.”
Alex Parry (you probably know her as Alex Kobrick, but she’s wearing a ring now, so get used to it) took the stage to preside over the first batch of MusicRow’s 2020 honorees.
“Thank you all so much for being here – so many radio stations and so many artists – and I love working with every one of you,” said Alex. “Our first award is MusicRow’s Independent Artist of the Year, Smith & Wesley.
“They released three singles in 2019, ‘A Little on the Redneck Side,’ ‘To Be With You’ and their current single, ‘Listen to the Radio.’ They accumulated more spins on the MusicRow chart than any other indie act in 2019.”
“We’ve been coming to this event for five years now,” said the duo’s Scott Smith. “So thank you. We couldn’t do it without you guys.
“Our current single is what it’s all about, ‘Listen to the Radio,’” added his brother and partner Todd Smith.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry, KBOE’s Steve Shettler, and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Steve Lowry
The MusicRow Reporter of the Year honor went to Steve Shettler of KBOE in Oskaloosa, Iowa. “Steve exemplifies this chart,” said Alex.
“I’ve done this for 15 years, and it’s so fun to be here for the first time,” said Steve. “I encourage all of you to play independent artists and regional artists. Thank you, MusicRow for all the great hospitality.
Duo/Group of the Year was earned by Old Dominion, who accepted via video, since they are on tour in Canada.
Pictured (L-R): Kiersten Suarez, Ben Kann, Diane Richey, BMLG’s Michelle Kammerer, MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry, and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Steve Lowry
This year’s Breakout Artist is Riley Green. BMLG’s Michelle Kammerer accepted and passed the mike to independent promoter Diane Richey.
“You guys heard the music and embraced it,” said Diane. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support, all the time.” Riley also sent in an acceptance video.
Sherod re-took the stage to present the Songwriter of the Year honor to Ashley Gorley. This is his third year to win this award.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Ashley Gorley, and MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry. Photo: Steve Lowry
Ashley had a history-making nine No. 1 hits on the magazine’s chart in 2019. They were “Catch” (Brett Young), “Remember You Young” (Thomas Rhett), “Good Vibes” (Chris Janson), “I Don’t Know About You” (Chris Lane), “Living” (Dierks Bentley), “Rumor” (Lee Brice), “Eyes on You” (Chase Rice), “Love Ain’t” (Eli Young Band) and “What Makes You Country” (Luke Bryan).
“I want to thank MusicRow for all the love they give the songwriting community and Nashville as a whole,” said Ashley.
To no one’s surprise, Luke Combs won the Male Artist award. His manager, Lynn Oliver-Cline, came on stage to accept.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry, and River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline. Photo: Steve Lowry
“It’s so cool to be here with all of you,” she said. “It’s gone from here (where he was the 2018 Breakout Artist winner) to the stadiums. So thanks to you.” Luke sent in a video thank you as well.
The Label of the Year winner at the event was Capitol Records. This is the imprint’s 16th time to win the honor and its 15th consecutive one. Its eight No. 1 smashes during the year were earned by Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Luke Bryan and Keith Urban.
“We’re blessed at Capitol to work with some of the most talented artists in this business,” said the label’s Bobby Young in his acceptance speech. He also brought up Diane Richey’s promotion team.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Capitol Records Nashville’s Bobby Young, and MusicRow Chart Director Alex Parry. Photo: Steve Lowry
Bobby also accepted on behalf of Female Vocalist winner Carrie Underwood. He read a note she’d written for the occasion. “Thank you to MusicRow and to the entire community,” said Carrie. “I am so proud of all the female artists out there who are doing this for the love of the music.”
The event finale was provided by a sterling show by Shane Owens. “Are y’all ready to get countrified?” he asked the crowd before diving into “Try Them On,” “Country Never Goes Out of Style” and “Hard Luck Girl.”
Shane won the MusicRow Independent Artist of the Year in 2018. His honky-tonk vocal slides were dynamite, and his on-stage warmth was endearing. “God bless country music!” he exclaimed.
Shane Owens. Photo: Steve Lowry
Mingling in the mob were such artists as CJ Solar, Joe & Martina, Dallas Remington, Katlyn Lowe, Jesse Labelle, The Voice winner Chevelle (Chevel Shepherd), Dylan Jacobson, Cody McCarver, Shane Runion and Exile’s Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis and Steve Goetzman.
They had competition in working the room from Becky Harris, Preshias Harris, Ann Chrisman, Anne Sarosdy Yarborough, Jerry Duncan, Teri Brown, Mark Logsdon, Dale Bobo, Steve Lowry, Woody Bomar, Sherrill Blackmon, Dennis Banka, Neal Spielberg, Wayne Halper, Regina Raleigh, Chuck Thompson, Martha Moore, Bev Moser, Derek Beck, Tim McFadden and Beth Gwinn.
On one end of the Listening Room was a generous breakfast bar. On the other end was a backdrop for photo ops. Both stayed busy all morning long.
Maren Morris, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit To Lead Railbird Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Maren Morris will headline the 2020 Railbird Festival, which returns for a second year to the Grounds at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 22-23.
The show’s lineup will also include Tanya Tucker, the Decemberists, Colter Wall, Whiskey Myers, The War and Treaty, Shovels and Rope, Caitlyn Smith, and more.
The Railbird Festival launched last year, led by performers including Brandi Carlile, Mavis Staples, and Tyler Childers. Remaining tickets to the festival will go on sale Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. ET. Weekend VIP passes are also still available.
Academy Of Country Music Announces Radio Awards Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonThis year also marks the fourth Large Market On-Air Personality of the Year win for WUBE-FM’s The Big Dave Show, as well as a first-time win for Large Market Station of the Year for WUBE. WUSY-FM takes home their eighth win in the Medium Market Station of the Year, while WYCT-FM also celebrates a fourth win for Small Market Station of the Year.
Carly Pearce announced the winners earlier today.
“Congratulations to all the winners of the 55th ACM Radio Awards. Country radio continues to be one of the largest connectors between fans, artists and songwriters and this recognition is well-deserved for all of these radio innovators that keep our genre strong. We are honored to celebrate you,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.
Below is a complete list of the Radio Award winners for the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards:
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
On The Cover: MusicRow Magazine’s Country Radio Issue Features Sam Hunt
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow Magazine’s 2020 Country Radio Issue, with MCA Nashville artist Sam Hunt gracing the cover, releases today (Feb. 19).
Multi-Platinum-selling, award-winning hitmaker Sam Hunt recently introduced fans to his brand-new song, “Kinfolks.” Leaning on the sentiment of “you can’t make old friends,” Hunt exemplifies the importance of bringing a new relationship into the mix and comfortability of home. “Kinfolks” follows Hunt’s GRAMMY-nominated, triple-Platinum-selling debut album, Montevallo (MCA Nashville), which topped the Billboard Country Albums Chart in its first week; and his three-week No. 1, 6x Platinum-selling, GRAMMY-nominated smash, “Body Like A Back Road.”
Montevallo produced four No. 1 singles and five Platinum and multi-Platinum-selling hits including “Leave the Night On,” “House Party,” “Take Your Time,” “Break Up In A Small Town” and “Make You Miss Me.” Then, Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” release shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart where it remained for an unprecedented 34 consecutive weeks, shattering the record for most weeks atop the nearly 59-year-old chart. “Body Like A Back Road” was also the No. 1 most-streamed and No. 1 most-downloaded country song of 2017, and the No. 3 most-downloaded and Top 25 most-streamed all genre song of 2017.
Called “stylistically provocative” by The New York Times and “deceptively phenomenal” by The Washington Post, Hunt has received accolades from Associated Press, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, SPIN Magazine, Village Voice, The New York Times, The Washington Post and more. Since Montevallo’s 2014 release, Hunt has accumulated over 6.85 billion global streams and has earned 22 million RIAA certified units. Hunt’s new album SOUTHSIDE releases April 3.
Hunt is signed with UMPG for publishing, aligned with performing rights organization ASCAP, managed by HOMESTEAD/Red Light Management, and booked by CAA’s Darin Murphy.
MusicRow Magazine’s annual Country Radio Issue also features the winners for this year’s MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards, held Feb. 19 in Nashville.
This issue also spotlights YouTube’s Copeland Isaacson and Margaret Hart, takes an inside look at country radio tours with Trea Landon, highlights playlist creation with WCFT’s Shelly Marx and explores artist-led podcasts such as those launched (or in the works) by Midland, Kelleigh Bannen, Reba McEntire and more.
Single copies of MusicRow’s Country Radio Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $20, and are included with yearly MusicRow memberships.
Tyler Booth Signs With Warner Chappell Music
/by Lorie HollabaughBack row (L-R): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Will Overton (WCM). Front row (L-R): Phil O’Donnell, Tyler Booth
Tyler Booth has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music.
Born and raised in Southeastern Kentucky, Booth began playing guitar and writing songs at age 10 and went on to attend Morehead State University. After building a grassroots following in Kentucky from his live performances, Booth moved to Nashville to pursue his passion for writing and singing full time. In 2017, he teamed up with songwriter/producer Phil O’Donnell to record his self-titled debut EP, featuring “Hank Crankin’ People,” If We Make It To Mexico,” and “Surrender.”
“When I walk into the Warner Chappell building I feel like I’m at home,” said Booth. “This is where I want to hang my hat. Their team have become family. It all just feels right for the songs I write and sing.”
Booth is represented by CAA and was recently announced as the first signing to Sony Music Nashville and Villa 40’s joint venture agreement.