Clint Black Sells Out Ryman Date In May

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Clint Black has sold out his upcoming show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, May 17. Black’s last appearance at the historic Music City venue was back in 1999.

“The Ryman holds such a special place in our history, I’m especially thrilled to be playing there. And knowing the fans are going to fill it up for us has us all really excited for May 17th! We’re planning for a very special evening here in Music City!” says Black.

Black rounded out 2019 with the release of his 22nd album project, Still Killin’ Time, which features eight live versions of his hits and two studio recordings, “This Old House” and “No One Here For me” – songs that were originally written for his 1989 debut album, Killin’ Time. “This Old House” pays tribute to country music’s home, the Grand Ole Opry. The song features a host of guest powerhouse performers who are no strangers to the Opry, including Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Cody Jinks, Sara Evans, Michael Ray, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, and Steve Wariner.

Frontmen Of Country Team With Kinkead Agency For Select Dates

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Frontmen of Country

The Frontmen of Country, (Richie McDonald, Tim Rushlow, Larry Stewart) have signed with The Kinkead Agency for representation on select dates.

The Frontmen’s three singers were the voices of three of some of the top country bands of the 90’s, Lonestar, Restless Heart, and Little Texas. Stewart, Rushlow and McDonald have collectively sold over 30 million records and have had over 30 major hits between them.

The Kinkead Entertainment Agency roster also includes Billy Ray Cyrus, Jenny Tolman, Mark Wills, Roseanne Barr, and more.

CMA Selects Inaugural Rob Potts International Exchange Program Participants

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The CMA has selected Julie Bowser (United States) and Megan Hopkins (Australia) as the inaugural participants of the Rob Potts International Exchange Program for individuals pursuing a career in the country music industry. Bowser and Hopkins will participate in the four-week, industry-focused program, which honors the memory of late Australian promoter Rob Potts.

The program allows one participant from the U.S. to partake in a work-experience program in Australia, while the participant from Australia will travel to Nashville to complete a work-experience program. Both Bowser and Hopkins will have a primary contact guide them throughout the four-week program, in which they will participate in internships and networking opportunities in the other’s country. Additionally, both participants will take part in power lunches with industry leaders and will have the opportunity to attend CMC Rocks festival in Australia and CMA Fest in Nashville.

Bowser is a recent graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has completed internships at multiple artist management companies, served as a production assistant, and worked at various concert venues. Bowser will begin her program in Australia later this month and will meet with music industry leaders and attend a CMA task force meeting, comprised of industry leaders in Australia working to promote country music in their territory.

Hopkins graduated from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems and is currently a Material Coordinator for Nine Network Australia. Hopkins will come to Nashville in May to spend four weeks learning from music industry professionals, making visits to industry leaders and participating in a studio day with award-winning session musician Derek Wells.

“We are excited to see the country music industry in both Nashville and Australia come together to support and educate future leaders in the music business,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Julie and Megan have bright futures ahead of them in the music industry and we are looking forward to providing them a comprehensive look into the business through this program. We appreciate the companies and individuals who have played an integral role in making the Rob Potts International Exchange Program a reality, as we honor Rob’s legacy and contribution to the Country Music community.”

A celebrated Australian manager, promoter, country music champion and CMA Board member, Rob Potts’ career spanned more than 30 years. As CEO of his company Entertainment Edge, Potts helped open doors for Australian country artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Morgan Evans and Keith Urban, in addition to serving as manager for Evans. His success in the touring of U.S. country artists in Australia led to Potts establishing the CMC Rocks festival brand and forging a long-running partnership with Chugg Entertainment Chairman Michael Chugg AM. Their flagship, CMC Rocks Queensland, is now the biggest country festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

“My father worked for decades to break down the barriers between the U.S. and Australian Country Music industries and to back emerging talent on stage and behind the scenes,” says Jeremy Dylan, Potts Entertainment Chief Executive Officer. “The recipients we selected have enormous potential and will take full advantage of the opportunities this scholarship affords to fast track their deep understanding of the industry on an international scale and their place in it. Thanks to CMA for making this concept a reality and something Rob Potts would have been proud to see his name on.”

Nashville Rock Group Country Westerns Inks Deal With Fat Possum Records

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Country Westerns

Nashville rock group Country Westerns have signed with Oxford, Mississippi-based indie label Fat Possum Records and will debut their self-titled project on May 1.

Fellow Nashville-based artist Soccer Mommy also released her 2018 album Clean via the same label, before joining with Loma Vista for her upcoming album, Color Theory.

Country Westerns includes drummer Brian Kotzur, who was previously a member of the band Silver Jews. The band’s singer/songwriter/guitarist Joseph Plunket previously led Brooklyn band The Weight and held a side gig as a bass palyer for Atlanta’s Gentleman Jesse. Plunket and Kotzur met after Plunket moved to Nashville more than a decade ago and opened a bar. They began recording and eventually added bass player Sabrina Rush.

The first recordings with the complete lineup were made in Nashville with engineer Andrija Tokic, but the band later set out to New York to record with Matt Sweeney at Brooklyn’s Strange Weather Studios, alongside Daniel Schlett. Those recordings would find their way to the staff at Fat Possum Records, who offered the band a deal.

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Fusion Entertainment Company Launches In Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Ted Ellis, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward, Chuck Rhodes, Tom Cross, Wayne Halper. Not pictured: Bob Frank, Chuck McDowell III

Longtime music industry execs Chuck Rhodes, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward and Wayne Halper, along with Bob Frank (BFE/Audium Nashville), Ted Ellis and Tom Cross (Creator Ventures CO, LTD.) and Chuck McDowell III (Wesley Financial Group) have launched Fusion Entertainment Company (FUSENTCO) in Nashville. The new company will operate as a booking agency and will offer management and label services to select clients. Additional company staffers include Tayler Bock and Joan Saltel.

“I have known and worked with Mike Meade and Amy Aylward for many years,” says Rhodes. “When the opportunity arose to merge their booking agency Acceleration Music Group into our Fusion launch, I jumped at the chance.”

Meade and Aylward had been operating Acceleration Music Group (AMG) following their departure from Buddy Lee Attractions in 2018. The initial artist roster for booking will include Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon, John Schneider, Michelle Wright, Danielle Peck, country duo Smith & Wesley, Billy Gilman, Brody Ray, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson and Jason Michael Carroll. Additional artists will be announced soon. The management division of FUSENTCO launches with Grammy-nominated guitarist Denny Jiosa.

Rhodes will serve as Executive Vice President/General Manager and oversee day-to-day operations along with Vice Presidents/Agents Meade and Aylward. Halper, who brings his extensive record label and legal experience to the organization, will handle legal affairs and business development.

“We had an incredible year with AMG in 2019 and are looking forward to the future with this new venture, Fusion Entertainment Company,” says Meade. “Our long history with this team in other facets of the industry and the relationships we all share with our clients and friends will prove to be the perfect merger.”

“Mike and I would like to thank Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon and Michelle Wright who initially showed faith and encouraged us to start AMG,” adds Aylward. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow with them and the talented additions to our roster.”

Frank, Founder and CEO of BFE and Chairman/Co-Founder of Fusion, notes, “Chuck Rhodes and I have been discussing this opportunity for a long time now. We work with so many artists who we feel are underserved in this space. Fusion will now super-serve these same artists, and we are thrilled to be able to put together such an experienced team.”

2020 SOURCE Hall Of Fame Honorees Announced

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SOURCE Nashville has announced this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, to be honored at the 18th annual SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards, set for Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. This year’s honorees include:

Margie Hunt (Waylon Jennings/Jessi Colter; AWMZ Entertainment; Hunt Music Services; CBS Records; Sony Music)

Aleene Jackson (Monument Records; Showbud Guitars; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Conway Twitty Enterprises; Tree International; Cowboy Jack Clement Productions)

Suzanne Lee (ASCAP)

Dottie Oelhfaen (Erv Woolsey Company)

Norma Jean Owen (CBS Records; Columbia Records; Capitol Records; The Entertainment Group)

Betty Sanders (The Pride Group; Blake Melvis; The Hyland Company; Chuck Flood & Associates/Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy)

Ima Withers (Chips Moman & Don Crews American Recording Studios; Warner Brothers; RCA Records; Merit Music; BMI)

SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and inducted based upon peer recommendations, biographies, accomplishments, reputation, the number of years each individual has worked within the entertainment industry, and level of community involvement.  The Awards show is presented by Springer Mountain Farms.

For more information on the 2020 SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards, please visit sourcenashville.org/awards. Ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.

Carly Pearce Previews Sophomore Album, Shows Depth And Vulnerability

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Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Records’ Clay Hunnicutt, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Carly Pearce, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Morris Higham’s Kyle Quigley, CAA’s Marc Dennis. Photo: Sonni Young / Remedy Creative

To a crowd full of industry friends and fans, Carly Pearce showed off her skill as a musical communicator when she previewed her self-titled, sophomore album Tuesday night (Feb. 11) at the Analog at the Hutton Hotel. The 13-song project releases on Friday (Feb. 14) on Big Machine Records.

BMLG’s President and CEO, Scott Borchetta introduced Pearce. “Tonight is such a great girl power story,” he said. “For those of you who don’t know her story, it’s incredible. It’s about survival, it’s about perseverance, it’s about ‘I’m going to figure out how to do this.'”

Pearce previewed a handful of tracks from the new record, in addition to her top 20 hit, “Hide The Wine,” and her first No. 1, “Every Little Thing.”

“This is a really special night for me,” Pearce said. “I have wanted to share this music with you guys for so long. I’m so proud.”

Lee Brice, her duet partner on the No. 1 song on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio Chart, “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” came out to support Pearce and sing his part of the soaring collaboration. Pearce’s husband Michael Ray joined her on another duet on the project called “Finish Your Sentences,” co-written by Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley.

Of the sampling Pearce played, several captured the refreshing emotional rawness that embodied “Every Little Thing,” including “Halfway Home,” a tune Pearce penned with Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz about the heartache that comes with breaking up with somebody. Her co-writers Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby captured it yet again with “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” a song about persevering through the tough times and savoring the good. Pearce’s vocal delivery, and depth as a songwriter, on both tracks exemplified her skill as a country music communicator.

Another track, “Lightning In A Bottle,” penned by Hannah Ellis and Anna Vaus, captured Pearce’s romantic side, much like her Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson and Troy Verges-penned jam “Closer To You.”

Apparently, the Carly Pearce album was the last full record that songwriter/producer busbee produced before he passed away in September of 2019. busbee’s wife flew to Nashville to be at Pearce’s show, and Pearce presented her with a plaque and spoke emotionally about her work with the visionary producer, and said that she had dedicated the record to him.

“I just feel grateful for my time with him, and I feel like it’s my duty to carry on his legacy and be just a small part that gets to keep these songs going and just cherish these little moments of music he created.

“I forever want each and every one of you to listen to this record and hear busbee’s heart in it because his heart was all over this and I will forever be grateful to busbee,” Pearce said.

Carly Pearce Tracklist:
1. “Closer To You” | Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges
2. “Call Me” | busbee, Emily Shackelton, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook
3. “I Hope You’re Happy Now (Carly Pearce and Lee Brice)” | Carly Pearce, Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
4. “Dashboard Jesus” | Victoria Banks, Sara Haze, Emily Shackelton
5. “Halfway Home” | Carly Pearce, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
6. “Heart’s Going Out Of Its Mind” | Carly Pearce, Joe Ginsberg, Laura Veltz
7. “Finish Your Sentences (Carly Pearce and Michael Ray)” | Kelsea Ballerini, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett
8. “It Won’t Always Be Like This” | Carly Pearce, Sam Ellis, Natalie Hemby
9. “Lightning In A Bottle” | Hannah Ellis, Anna Vaus
10. “Love Has No Heart” | Sara Haze, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen
11. “Woman Down” | Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
12. “You Kissed Me First” | Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson
13. “Greener Grass” | Hillary Lindsey, Jonny Price, Ben West

Paul English, Drummer For Willie Nelson, Passes Away At 87

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Paul English (L) pictured with Willie Nelson (R) from the 1985 album Willie Nelson – Me & Paul

Paul English, one of the most colorful characters in country music, died on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at age 87.

English was Willie Nelson’s drummer and constant companion for many years. He cut a striking “devil” figure with his goatee, black clothes and crimson-lined satin cape.

He had an equally individualistic personality. Paul English was feared as Willie’s “enforcer,” a bodyguard who packed a gun and wasn’t shy about using his fists.

The drummer was born in Vernon, Texas, in 1932. When he first met Willie in 1955, he was a former boxer involved in gangland activities and working as a pimp.

He joined Willie’s band in 1966, and the two were inseparable from then on. He later shared drumming duties in the band with his brother, Billy English. Paul English was so close to the superstar that Willie named one of his daughters “Paula” in his honor.

Willie Nelson immortalized his friend in his song “Me and Paul.” It first appeared on the 1971 LP Yesterday’s Wine. In that same year, the “Yesterday’s Wine” / “Me and Paul” single climbed to #62 on the country charts.

“Me and Paul” gained further fame when it was included on the million-selling, landmark 1976 LP Wanted: The Outlaws. Next, Willie placed it on his 1981 Greatest Hits collection. It finally achieved prominence on the country hit parade as a 1985 single that made it to #14.

Willie Nelson also wrote 1973’s “Devil in a Sleepin’ Bag” about Paul English. That song appeared on the critically acclaimed LP Shotgun Willie.

The drummer’s signature cape is now on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Outlaws & Armadillos” exhibit.

Paul English is survived by three sons, Evan, D.W. and Paul Jr. No funeral arrangements have been announced.

Storme Warren Recognized With BMI’s Ambassador Award

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(L-R): 2017 BMI Icon Bob DiPiero, Ashley McBryde, Storme Warren, Jeffrey Steele, Chris Janson and BMI’s David Preston. (Photo: Nathan Zucker)

BMI presented the BMI Ambassador Award last night (Feb. 11) to veteran broadcaster Storme Warren during an event held in their Nashville offices. Warren was presented the award in recognition of his continuous support and promotion of Nashville’s vibrant songwriting community.

“We are excited to celebrate a very special and unique 25-year relationship between BMI and Storme Warren, who has consistently and fiercely spotlighted the magical force that makes this community so special… the songwriter,“ said David Preston, Senior Director, Creative, Nashville. “As Storme’s career evolved from presenting GAC’s Headline Country to becoming the host of the popular The Highway morning show on Sirius XM, one thing has remained constant: his unwavering love of songwriters and the ability to highlight their talent.”

Warren, who has actively supported BMI since 1993, has played a critical role in the success of various BMI events and initiatives, and has used his platform as a forum for songwriters to publicly highlight their craft while providing an outlet for fans to hear the stories behind their favorite hits. The event featured comments by BMI’s David Preston, along with BMI Icon Bob DiPiero and BMI songwriters Chris Janson and Ashley McBryde. The evening also included a speech and special performance of Rascal Flatts‘ “Every Day” by former BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeffrey Steele.

“Songwriters put into words what we can’t. It’s impossible to imagine living life without what you all do for a living,” said Warren in his acceptance speech. “To all of you who are here, to BMI, and to my team, thank you for this friendship. Whether you’ve written 500 songs or you’re still struggling to write your first one, please don’t stop writing because your stories make up our book and I don’t want our book to end.”

Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett To Headline Watershed Festival’s Ninth Year

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Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban will headline the ninth-annual Watershed Music and Camping Festival at George, Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge on July 31-Aug. 2.

The three-day, two stage camping festival will also include performances on the main stage by Kelsea Ballerini, Billy Currington, Travis Denning, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Gone West Ft. Colbie Caillat, HARDY, Randy Houser, and Jon Pardi.

“Watershed, to me, is all about the annual anticipation of a great weekend with 26,000 friends, in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “I feel like it is a privilege to not only get to go, but to share it with so many ‘Shedders that have been there since day one. These artists, that setting, and the ‘Shedders make Watershed more than just a festival, it’s a true rite of passage for country music fans, and I am so proud to host this event every year. Here is to year nine being the best Watershed Festival yet!”

Passes go on sale Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. PT at watershedfest.com.