Premier Productions has announced several company promotions. CEO Michael Pugh has been elevated to partner, Dan Rauter has been promoted from Strategic Partners Director to Vice President of Strategy and Partnership, Jonathan Roberts has been promoted from Touring Director to Sr Talent Buyer; Rann Russell has been promoted from Touring Coordinator to Talent Buyer; and Mallory Willingham has been promoted from Touring Coordinator to Talent Buyer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Pugh as a partner,” said Shane Quick, co-owner of Premier Productions, the fourth largest promoter in the U.S. “Michael, Jonathan Roberts and Dan Rauter embody the leadership action and influence of a dream team. We sold 1.7 million tickets in 2019 and they are keys to that success and our future.”
“I am grateful to become a Partner with Roy, Gary and Shane in Premier and am equally excited for the changes we have made in our talent buying department,” said Partner and CEO Pugh. “Industry veteran Dan Rauter’s expertise combined with Jonathan Robert’s pace-setting passion plus Mallory Willingham’s and Rann Russell’s strengths in event development provide an even stronger foundation for our faith and family platform.”
“Premier has created a work environment that encourages partnership, personal growth, and professionalism (while still having a whole lot of fun),” said Dan Rauter. “We’re encouraged to think outside the box, try new things, and dream big. I’m so fortunate to be at Premier and be a part of this exciting time of growth and opportunity.”
“Thank you to Shane, Gary, Roy, and Michael for the foundation they’ve built at Premier and this amazing opportunity,” said Jonathan Roberts. “I love fostering innovation and new business. Our team collaboration gives way to success stories like Dude Perfect, growth for Hillsong United, and cross-genre tours like Hillsong Worship, Casting Crowns, and Elevation Worship.”
Premier has also announced the acquisition of two entities that provide the company with a full suite of end-to-end services to better serve its artists and event partners. Premier has acquired Loop, a company that operates VIP fan experiences and connects volunteers with both non-profits and artists in need of a team to help run their events. Helmed by Allyson Nelson, Loop launched in 2015 and has since recruited more than 90,000 volunteers who have staffed over 2500 events for leading artists and non-profits.
Premier has also developed Platform, a ticketing and conference registration service. The primary target market for Platform is churches, an underserved market with a defined need for a robust ticketing solution.
Weekly Register: Luke Combs Continues Country Albums Reign
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright
Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get remains atop this week’s country albums chart, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The Columbia Nashville/River House Artists project moves 25K in total consumption this week. His debut album This One’s For You is at No. 2, with 17K. Warner Music Nashville’s Blake Shelton is at No. 3 with Fully Loaded: God’s Country moving 15.8K. Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me (Big Loud) is at No. 4 with 13.1K. Shelton’s Warner Music Nashville labelmates Dan + Shay round out the Top 5 with the self-titled effort moving 11.5K.
Justin Bieber and Dan+Shay continue to own the on-demand country streaming song chart, with 11 million streams of “10,000 Hours” this week. Maren Morris‘ current country radio leader “The Bones” is at No. 2 with 7.5 million streams this week. Diplo‘s “Heartless,” ft. Morgan Wallen and Julia Michaels is at No. 3 with 7.4 million streams. Old Dominion‘s “One Man Band” is at No. 4 with 6.7 million streams, followed by Warner Music Nashville newcomer Gabby Barrett with “I Hope” earning 6 million on-demand streams.
Maddie & Tae Celebrate Gold Status For “Die From A Broken Heart”
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Mercury Nashville VP of Promotion Damon Moberly, Red Light Management’s Haley McLemore, UMG Nashville SVP of A&R Stephanie Wright, Maddie Marlow, Tae Dye, UMG Nashville EVP of A&R Brian Wright, UMG Nashville EVP of Promotion Royce Risser. Photo: Chris Hollo
Maddie & Tae recently celebrated the Gold RIAA certification for their single “Die From A Broken Heart,” just prior to their performance on the Grand Ole Opry on Feb. 7. The song has earned more than 130 million streams and has nearly broken into the Top 30 at country radio.
The track is featured on the duo’s upcoming album The Way It Feels, set for April 10 via Mercury Nashville.
Luke Combs Rises To The Top Of MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellLuke Combs travels to the top of of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, rising three slots. The songs that propel Combs are his “Better Together,” “Does To Me” (featuring Eric Church), “Even Though I’m Leaving,” as well as the Lee Brice and Carly Pearce duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
Laura Veltz moves into the No. 2 slot this week, while Ross Copperman remains at No. 3. Jimmy Robbins shifts up to the No. 4 slot with credits on “homecoming queen?” (Kelsea Ballerini) and “The Bones” (Maren Morris).
Josh Osborne rounds out the top five on the Top Songwriter Chart with credits on Midland’s “Cheatin’ Songs,” Sam Hunt’s “Kinfolks,” Old Dominion’s “One Man Band,” and Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s duet “Nobody But You.”
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.
Chris Young Expands “Town Ain’t Big Enough World Tour 2020”
/by Jessica NicholsonNewly-added dates include Columbus, Ohio’s The Schottenstein Center (April 30), Cape Girardeau, Missouri’s Show Me Center (May 1), Des Moines, Iowa’s Wells Fargo Arena (May 2), Spokane, Washington’s Spokane Arena (May 7), and Boise, Idaho’s CenturyLink Arena (May 9).
In addition to openers McCreery and Smith, Young and his team at The AMG Management will personally select several Next From Nashville artists to spotlight every week of the tour.
Live Nation is the official tour promoter and fans can now purchase tickets for select cities as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at megaticket.com.
In addition to the upcoming tour, Young recently launched a new weekly podcast, The Quad with Chris Young.
Maren Morris Tops Country Radio With “The Bones”
/by Jessica NicholsonMaren Morris is celebrating her fourth No. 1 single at country radio, as “The Bones” ascends to the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Morris co-wrote “The Bones” with Laura Veltz and Jimmy Robbins.
Morris’ previous chart-toppers include “I Could Use A Love Song,” “GIRL,” and “Craving You,” with Thomas Rhett.
“The Bones” marks the first No. 1 song by a solo female country artist on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since Morris’ own previous chart-topper, “GIRL,” hit the pinnacle of the chart in July 2019. At that time, “GIRL” was the first No. 1 by a solo female artist on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in more than a year— since Kelsea Ballerini’s “Legends” hit the top of the chart in February 2018.
“The Bones” marks Morris’ second No. 1 track from her album GIRL, which released in March 2019. Last year, in support of the album, Morris launched GIRL: The World Tour, featuring an all-female lineup, which included Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Kassi Ashton, Hailey Whitters and Tenille Townes.
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Stages ‘Reunions’ For May 15
/by Jessica NicholsonThe first single from the project, “Be Afraid,” releases today. The album marks Isbell’s seventh full-length studio album and the fourth released with his band, which includes Derry deBorja (piano, keyboard, organ, omnichord), Chad Gamble (drums, tambourine), Jimbo Hart (bass), Amanda Shires (fiddle) and Sadler Vaden (acoustic guitar, electric guitar). The new album also includes background vocals from guests David Crosby (Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Byrds) and Jay Buchanan (Rival Sons).
Isbell says, “There are a lot of ghosts on this album. Sometimes the songs are about the ghosts of people who aren’t around anymore, but they’re also about who I used to be, the ghost of myself. I found myself writing songs that I wanted to write fifteen years ago, but in those days, I hadn’t written enough songs to know how to do it yet. Just now have I been able to pull it off to my own satisfaction. In that sense it’s a reunion with the me I was back then.”
In support of the project, the band has slated an extensive tour for 2020, including concerts at Philadelphia’s Met Opera House, Atlanta’s The Coca-Cola Roxy, Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre, Austin’s ACL Live at the Moody Theater and Morrison’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
REUNIONS TRACK LIST
1. What’ve I Done To Help
2. Dreamsicle
3. Only Children
4. Overseas
5. Running With Our Eyes Closed
6. River
7. Be Afraid
8. St. Peter’s Autograph
9. It Gets Easier
10. Letting You Go
Premier Productions Announces Promotions, Expansions
/by Lorie HollabaughPremier Productions has announced several company promotions. CEO Michael Pugh has been elevated to partner, Dan Rauter has been promoted from Strategic Partners Director to Vice President of Strategy and Partnership, Jonathan Roberts has been promoted from Touring Director to Sr Talent Buyer; Rann Russell has been promoted from Touring Coordinator to Talent Buyer; and Mallory Willingham has been promoted from Touring Coordinator to Talent Buyer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Pugh as a partner,” said Shane Quick, co-owner of Premier Productions, the fourth largest promoter in the U.S. “Michael, Jonathan Roberts and Dan Rauter embody the leadership action and influence of a dream team. We sold 1.7 million tickets in 2019 and they are keys to that success and our future.”
“I am grateful to become a Partner with Roy, Gary and Shane in Premier and am equally excited for the changes we have made in our talent buying department,” said Partner and CEO Pugh. “Industry veteran Dan Rauter’s expertise combined with Jonathan Robert’s pace-setting passion plus Mallory Willingham’s and Rann Russell’s strengths in event development provide an even stronger foundation for our faith and family platform.”
“Premier has created a work environment that encourages partnership, personal growth, and professionalism (while still having a whole lot of fun),” said Dan Rauter. “We’re encouraged to think outside the box, try new things, and dream big. I’m so fortunate to be at Premier and be a part of this exciting time of growth and opportunity.”
“Thank you to Shane, Gary, Roy, and Michael for the foundation they’ve built at Premier and this amazing opportunity,” said Jonathan Roberts. “I love fostering innovation and new business. Our team collaboration gives way to success stories like Dude Perfect, growth for Hillsong United, and cross-genre tours like Hillsong Worship, Casting Crowns, and Elevation Worship.”
Premier has also announced the acquisition of two entities that provide the company with a full suite of end-to-end services to better serve its artists and event partners. Premier has acquired Loop, a company that operates VIP fan experiences and connects volunteers with both non-profits and artists in need of a team to help run their events. Helmed by Allyson Nelson, Loop launched in 2015 and has since recruited more than 90,000 volunteers who have staffed over 2500 events for leading artists and non-profits.
Premier has also developed Platform, a ticketing and conference registration service. The primary target market for Platform is churches, an underserved market with a defined need for a robust ticketing solution.
Bandsintown Partners With Google’s Waze
/by Jessica NicholsonConcert discovery and live music marketing platform Bandsintown has teamed with Google’s Waze, to aid concertgoers in finding the easiest routes to shows.
The partnership will allows users of the Bandsintown platform, which publishes more than 2.5 million events each year, to purchase tickets to the concert of their choice, and then click a “Plan Trip in Waze” button directly on the event page, to find real-time navigation that helps drivers find shortcuts and faster routes to their destination.
“We want to bring people together via live music,” explains Bandsintown Managing Partner Fabrice Sergent. “Bandsintown sends millions of fans to concerts and adding Waze to the Bandsintown experience adds another technology layer to make such experience smoother.”
“We always want to make sure drivers reach their destination in the quickest and safest way possible,” said Adam Fried, Head of Global Partnerships at Waze. “Partnering with Bandsintown through our Transport SDK will make it easy for concert-goers to arrive at their destination on time – spending more time enjoying their favorite band and less time worrying about issues on the road.”
Gene Watson Becomes Member Of Grand Ole Opry
/by Lorie HollabaughSteve Wariner, Gene Watson. Photo By: Chris Hollo
Gene Watson was welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family Friday night (Feb. 7) by Opry member Steve Wariner.
“I remember my induction night as humbling and overwhelming,” said Wariner. “But tonight, it’s about Gene who is a great ambassador for country music and one of the best interpreters of a country song that ever lived.”
After an introduction by Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs, who claimed Watson as one of the most respected voices in country music history, Watson came center stage for his induction. “It’s hard to find the words to say, so I guess better than talking I ought to sing,” said Watson. “So many people contributed to this wonderful night, and I make a promise to everyone to keep up the tradition of country music.”
The legend celebrated the moment by performing his hits “Got No Reason Now For Goin’ Home,” “Fourteen Carat Mind,” and his classic “Farewell Party.”
Jenny Hall Named Creative Director Of Sheltered Music
/by Lorie HollabaughJenny Hall.
Jenny Hall has joined Sheltered Music as the newly appointed Creative Director. Previously the Creative Director at Given Entertainment, Hall brings experience in catalog and talent acquisition to the Nashville-based publishing house.
“We are really excited to have Jenny join the team at Sheltered Music. Her work ethic, experience and passion for music and songwriters is top-notch. She is going to be a great fit for our songwriters and a wonderful addition to the new publishing company in Nashville,” says Darrell Franklin, SVP of Sheltered Music.
“I am thrilled to be starting the next chapter of my career with Darrell and Blackbird Music Publishing Group President Lance Freed,” said Hall. “I look forward to this new journey and am excited to be a part of building this great company.”
Sheltered Music, a division of Blackbird Music Publishing Group, was founded by The Raine Group, Keith Wortman and Blackbird Presents and formed in July 2019.