TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour Returns For 2020 With Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers

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TobyMac‘s “Hits Deep Tour” will return next year, with 32 stops in cities including Denver, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Milwaukee, and more.

Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Aaron Cole, and Cochren & Co. will join the seven-time Grammy winner when the tour launches Jan. 30 at Beaumont, Texas’ Ford Park. The nationwide arena tour is a partnership with K-LOVE, Air1, Awakening Events, Altura Healthshare, and Food for the Hungry.

TobyMac will make a run of theatre shows in November, before the tour begins next year. His previous Hits Deep Tour, which included stops at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Atlanta’s Infinite Energy Arena, sold 250,000 tickets and hosted tourmates Jeremy Camp, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson, We Are Messengers and Aaron Cole.

Lauren Akins To Release Memoir In 2020

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Lauren Akins is sharing her story in her first-ever book, titled Live In Love: Growing Together Through Life’s Changes (Ballantine), written with Mark Dagostino.

Available May 5, 2020 the book is available for pre-order now. Live in Love is a revealing and inspiring memoir by Akins, the wife of Thomas Rhett, regular contributor to Country Living Magazine, humanitarian, and mother of two (with a third on the way), offering inspiring guidance for anyone looking to keep romance alive, balance children and marriage, express true faith and live a life of purpose.

“I never would have guessed I’d be telling my story in a book about my life,” said Akins. “I hope by sharing parts of myself and my journey that I’m able to help someone feel less alone, inspired and find the love that we share as humans in these pages.”

Martina McBride Premiering New Podcast With Garth As First Guest

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Martina McBride is hosting a new podcast, “Vocal Point with Martina McBride” which is set to premiere on Friday, Sept. 27. The country star and lifestyle influencer is sitting down with A-List friends from across all genres including musicians, celebrity chefs, actors and anyone with a story to tell, and her first guest is none other than Garth Brooks. She and Garth chat about life in the limelight and how he has navigated fame and his impactful career. Other guests throughout the season include Lauren Alaina, Pam Tillis, Dustin Lynch, Rosanne Cash, Sara Evans, Don Was, Brenda Lee, Runaway June, Howie Mandel and Loretta Lynn.

“I wanted to do a podcast that’s not really an interview as much as it is a conversation,” says McBride. “I hope it’s entertaining for the listeners and also that it gives a little bit of insight into the person that I’m interviewing. We talked about their life philosophy, their struggles and how they’ve overcome them. A lot of it has been so inspiring as well as entertaining.”

Industry Ink: Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, Niko Moon, The Press House

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Country Cares For St. Jude Celebrates 30th Anniversary On The Opry

Backstage before his performance, Chris Janson met with St. Jude patient Kaelyn and her family and presented them with autographed harmonicas on Tuesday night’s special Opry celebrating 30th Anniversary of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids

The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 3oth anniversary of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids during a special show on Sept. 19 as part of the Opry’s series of Fall Wednesday shows that will run through Oct. 30. Artists performing during the special evening included Bobby Bones, Chris Janson, Dailey & Vincent, High Valley, Jeannie Seely, Michael Ray and Mickey Guyton. Throughout the show, photos and videos of inspirational moments from Country Cares for St. Jude Kids were shared and a St. Jude patient, Kaelyn, served as a special guest announcer. Backstage before his performance, Chris Janson met with Kaelyn and her family and presented her and her sister Emily and brother Phillip with autographed harmonicas. During Janson’s performance, he surprised Kaelyn by bringing her onstage with him to play “Folsom Prison Blues” on her new harmonica while Janson sang. The evening also included a poignant performance by Michael Ray of Alabama’s hit “Angels Among Us” in honor of the group’s frontman Randy Owen, who, 30 years ago, founded Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which has raised over $800 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.

 

Niko Moon Showcases New Music

RCA Nashville’s Niko Moon celebrated an industry showcase with his label team in Nashville this week.

Moon’s co-manager Lynn Oliver-Cline, Sony Music Nashville’s SVP Sales/Streaming Caryl Atwood and COO/EVP Ken Robold, Niko Moon, CAA Nashville’s Jon Huie, Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman and VP Digital Strategy Ed Rivadavia, CAA’s Aaron Tannenbaum, Moon’s co-manager Chris Kappy, SMN’s SVP A&R Taylor Lindsey, EVP Promotion/Artist Development Steve Hodges, VP Creative Services Tracy Fleaner and Sr. Director Marketing Liz Cost, SVP RCA Nashville Promotion Dennis Reese and Moon’s co-manager Randi McFadden.

 

The Press House Adds Donny Evans

Donny Evans

The Press House has added Donny Evans as a publicist. Evans’ career has included time as a touring musician, photographer and graphic designer. He was worked as Beverage Director for the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville and Public Relations Specialist for music festival BottleRock Napa Valley.

The Press House clients include Music Business Association, A2IM, Gifft Wines, Monster Energy, Nashville Film Festival, Gloria Gaynor, The Cerny Brothers, Alisan Porter, Gaither Music, Rory Feek, Morrison Hotel Gallery, Fireplay, and more.

Anthem Entertainment, RED Creative Group Extend Deal With Adam Hambrick

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Pictured (L-R): Lauren Lieu, Brooke Antonakos, Adam Hambrick, Tye Worobess, Alex Tamashunas. Bottom (L-R): Jeremy Stover, Helen Murphy, Tim Wipperman, Gilles Godard, Tim Hunze

Anthem Entertainment and RED Creative Group, the publishing venture of Anthem songwriter/producer Jeremy Stover, have extended their publisher deal with Adam Hambrick. Under the deal, Anthem will handle global co-publishing for Hambrick’s future copyrights.

“I am very excited to be continuing to work with Anthem,” said Hambrick. “They have been fantastic partners in helping me establish my career, and I am thrilled to see what we will accomplish together in the years to come.”

“I’ve been a fan of Adam Hambrick since Jeremy Stover gave me a copy of his independent LP in 2011,” said Anthem Nashville’s Senior Director of Creative, Tim Hunze. “It’s taken me eight years and moving to Anthem to be able to work with him professionally…and I could not be more excited!”

“Adam not only has one of the most gifted voices in music, but his fresh melodic approach mixed with vivid lyrics truly make him one of the best,” added Jeremy Stover, President of RED Creative Group. “Working with Adam has been an amazing experience and I look forward to what the future holds.”

Hambrick has written songs for artists including Miranda Lambert and Eli Young Band as well as No. 1 hits for Dan + Shay (“How Not To”) and Justin Moore (“Somebody Else Will”). He released his own debut single “Rockin’ All Night Long” last fall and is currently in the studio working on his debut album with producers Andrew DeRoberts (James Blunt, Miley Cyrus) and Paul DiGiovanni (Blake Shelton, Jordan Davis).

Brad Paisley To Lead ABC Special Featuring Carrie Underwood, Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw

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Brad Paisley will host and executive produce a one-hour primetime special Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special on ABC later this season, from Sony Pictures Television.

The special will be taped at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium, and will feature several of Paisley’s friends including Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish, Kelsea Ballerini, ABC’s The Bachelor host Chris Harrison, NFL legend Peyton Manning and more.

Paisley, Jane Mun, RAC Clark, Bill Simmons and Kendal Marcy will serve as executive producers.

“Wait, I thought it was called the ‘Brad Paisley Special.’ Who added the ‘Thinks He’s’? Oh well, I’m still psyched,” said host and executive producer Paisley.

“I am so excited for Brad to be able to turn this fun, down-home country idea into a reality on ABC,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials & Late Night, ABC Entertainment. “We all know him as an award-winning country superstar, and now we get the chance to see his comedic talents as he brings this variety special to life with the help of an incredible roster of A-list talent.”

“We’re so excited to be working with one of our great Sony music artists on such a distinctive new format. Brad has brought so much creativity, heart, comedy and celebrity wattage to this hour, we can’t wait for everyone to see it,” said Holly Jacobs, EVP, Alternative & Syndication Programming, Sony Pictures Television.

Lady A Dives Back In With ‘Ocean’ Set For November

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Lady Antebellum has revealed some details on their upcoming new album Ocean, set for release Nov. 15 on BMLG Records. The project marks a new beginning for the multi-Platinum trio that brings them back to their roots, showcasing their familiar harmonies and individual instruments on the 13-track project.

Lady A penned many of the tracks on the album along with writers including Corey Crowder, Sarah Buxton, Ryan Hurd, Hillary Lindsey, Tenille Townes, Laura Veltz, and more. Ocean is available now for pre-order at all digital retailers, and fans pre-ordering will immediately receive a download of the title track along with previously released songs “Pictures” and their Top 15 single “What If I Never Get Over You.”

“There’s this theme of returning to the core of who we are—as writers, vocalists and people—that came out in each of these songs,” Dave Haywood explains. “Our time in the studio with Dann had an excitement that felt like we were making our first album all over again.”

Among the tracks on the new album are “You Can Do You,” a swaying live-and-let-live anthem inspired by the hustle of Nashville’s crowded streets, “Boots,” a heartland rocker with Celtic fiddles, the swirling “The Thing That Wrecks You,” featuring Little Big Town on backing vocals, “Be Patient with My Love,” which Kelley co-wrote as a beautiful ode to commitment, and the title track featuring Hillary Scott‘s bare vocal.

“It’s such a cinematic and theatrical melody with a message that became the cornerstone of this record for us,” said Scott about the title track. “Ocean is all of the things that we think and feel when we hear the word. This album is immersed in life stories about barely keeping your head above water all the way to those times that make you feel like everything is smooth sailing.”

OCEAN Track Listing:
1. “What If I Never Get Over You”
(Sam Ellis, Jon Green, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz)
2. “Pictures”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Sarah Buxton, Corey Crowder)
3. “Crazy Love”
(Charles Kelley, Nathan Chapman)
4. “You Can Do You”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt)
5. “What I’m Leaving For”
(Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath, Laura Veltz)
6. “Be Patient With My Love”
(Charles Kelley, Dave Barnes, Ben West)
7. “Alright”
(Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Busbee, Justin Ebach)
8. “Let It Be Love”
(Hillary Scott, Jordan Reynolds, Amy Wadge)
9. “On A Night Like This”
(Dave Barnes)
10. “Boots”
(Charles Kelley, Ross Copperman)
11. “The Thing That Wrecks You” feat. Little Big Town
(Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes, Kate York)
12. “Mansion”
(Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Miller)
13. “Ocean”
(Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Abe Stoklasa)

Miranda Lambert Sets The Wildcard Tour Dates For 2020

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Though Miranda Lambert is currently burning up the roads with her fellow female artists on the Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour, she has already announced her touring plans for The Wildcard Tour, starting in 2020.

The tour, which launches Jan. 16 in Tupelo, Mississippi, will feature 27 shows in the U.S. and Canada, including a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 24.

Her openers will include Cody Johnson and LANCO for the majority of the run, while Randy Rogers Band and Parker McCollum will open shows in Kansas City, Tulsa and Dallas.

“The essence of a wildcard is always having something up your sleeve, in whatever capacity that means to you,” Lambert says. “It is universal. Which is why I’m excited to kick off this tour with an incredible group of talented artists. We’re going to have a blast!”

This tour will see the return of Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation campaign, Fill the Little Red Wagon presented by Tractor Supply Company. Fans are encouraged to help shelter pets in each tour city by donating dog food, treats, supplies and cash at each venue’s entrance prior to the show. Supporters who complete the sign-up form at the donation point will also be entered to win a meet & greet with Lambert.

Tickets go on sale starting Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. local time at mirandalambert.com and via Live Nation, the official tour promoter, at LiveNation.com.

Wildcard Tour Dates:
Featuring Cody Johnson and LANCO:
Thursday, January 16 BancorpSouth Arena || Tupelo, Miss.
Friday, January 17 Mississippi Coast Coliseum || Biloxi, Miss.
Saturday, January 18 Legacy Arena at the BJCC || Birmingham, Ala.
Thursday, January 23 Verizon Arena || Little Rock, Ark.
Friday, January 24 Bridgestone Arena || Nashville, Tenn.
Saturday, January 25 Ford Center || Evansville, Ind.
Friday, January 31 Vivint Smart Home Arena || Salt Lake City, Utah
Saturday, February 1 Pepsi Center || Denver, Colo.
Thursday, February 20 Honda Center || Anaheim, Calif.
Saturday, February 22 Toyota Arena || Ontario, Calif.
Friday, February 28 SAP Center || San Jose, Calif.
Saturday, February 29 Golden 1 Center || Sacramento, Calif.
Thursday, April 23 Ford Idaho Center Arena || Boise, Idaho
Friday, April 24 Spokane Arena || Spokane, Wash.
Saturday, April 25 Rogers Arena || Vancouver, British Columbia
Thursday, April 30 Rogers Place || Edmonton, Alberta
Friday, May 1 Brandt Centre || Regina, Saskatchewan
Saturday, May 2 Bell MTS Place || Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tuesday, May 5 Budweiser Gardens || London, Ontario
Thursday, May 7 Tribute Communities Centre || Oshawa, Ontario
Friday, May 8 Canadian Tire Centre || Ottawa, Ontario
Saturday, May 9 Bell Centre || Montreal, Quebec

Featuring Randy Rogers Band and Parker McCollum
Thursday, February 6 Sprint Center || Kansas City, Mo
Friday, February 7 BOK Center || Tulsa, Okla.
Saturday, February 8 American Airlines Center || Dallas, Texas

Featuring LANCO with additional support TBA:
Friday, February 21 Viejas Arena || San Diego, Calif.
Thursday, February 27 Save Mart Center || Fresno, Calif.

 

Weekly Radio Report (9/20/19)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

DISClaimer: Sister Hazel, Niko Moon Top New Releases

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As we continue to slog through the dog days of summer (even though it’s September), country music is doing its best to keep our spirits up.

Dolly and Vince are here with touching inspiration. Trisha and Garth are bringing the romance. FGL has family values in mind.

The Disc of the Day goes to the enduringly great Sister Hazel. These guys are bona fide survivors who have sold millions on their independent road.

Give Niko Moon a DisCovery Award. I don’t know much about him, except that he shows real promise.

SISTER HAZEL/Raising a Rookie
Writers: Andrew Copeland/Darius Rucker/Barry Dean; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Country Paper/Pulse Nation/Creative Pulse, no performance rights listed; Rock Ridge
– This five-piece Florida band has been at it for 25 years and continues to gather momentum since its move into country music in 2015. This lead track from its new EP finds the vocal harmonies in fine fettle. Lead singer Ken Block delivers with immense heart and charisma, and the power ballad about raising a boy to manhood is infused with truth and tenderness.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Blessings
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley/Tom Douglas/Jessie Frasure/Jordan Schmidt/Keith Urban; Producer: Joey Moi & FGL; Publishers: Big Loud Mountain/T Hubb/Pranch Ringle/Round Hill Works/Sony-ATV Tree/Sony-ATV Countryside/Tomdouglasmusic/Warner-Tamerlane/Telemitry Rhythm House/Songs of Roc Nation/WB/Freshy/We-Volve, BMI/ASCAP; BMLG (track)
– I’ve been liking these guys more and more since they simplified things and got back to their country roots. The song is a lilting ode to home and family that glows with fireside comfort.

NIKO MOON/Good Time
Writers: Niko Moon/Anna Moon/Josh Murty; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Kobalt; RCA
– I like his country drawl laced with some r&b tones. The relaxed, back-porch vibe of this lazy-bones track is a little different, but decidedly ear catching. I could have done without the electronic loops.

KELSEA BALLERINI/Homecoming Queen?
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black River
– All teens suffer from self-doubt and pain. Even homecoming queens. The new Opry member’s aching delivery of the ballad is perfect.

SEAN STEMALY/Back on a Backroad
Writers: Michael Hardy/Josh Kerr/Cole Taylor; Producer: Joey Moi, Lex Liptiz; Publisher: noen listed; Big Loud
– Processed vocal. Wall-of-electronics track. Cliche-cluttered, generic backroad lyric. This is contemporary “country” music.

JASON ALDEAN/We Back
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed: Publisher: none listed; Broken Bow
– His superstardom continues to mystify me. With its irritating rock instrumentation, his back-of-throat singing and the blue-collar lyric, this sounds like just about everything else he has put out. Very successfully, I might add.

CHELY WRIGHT/Say The Word
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jeremy Lister and Dustin Ransom; Publishers: none listed; Painted Red
– As refreshing as a splash of cool water. The echoey track swirls around her minor-key melody while she sings in a dreamy, distant whisper. Americana programmers take note.

FOR KING & COUNTRY WITH DOLLY PARTON/God Only Knows
Writers: Josh Kerr/Jordan Reynolds/J. Smallbone/L. Smallbone/Tjornhom; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb/Word
– I know, I know, it’s Christian pop. But I was overcome with curiosity to hear what Dolly sounded like with the Smallbone brothers. Guess what? She can be just as pop, pop, popping as those CCM rockers. In that genre, this has already been an award-winning No.1 smash in 2018. With her extraordinary voice on it now, I predict a revival.

TRISHA YEARWOOD & GARTH BROOKS/What Gave Me Away
Writers: none listed; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publisher: none listed; Gwendolyn
– Trisha’s new CD includes her newest collaboration with her hubby. It has a sexy, after-midnight, groove-soaked vibe. The stinging r&b guitar solo and simmering organ notes in the background give it some extra juice. It’s really Trisha’s performance, but Garth’s supportive harmony vocal shadows her at every turn.

VINCE GILL/Nothin’ Like A Guy Clark Song
Writer: Gill; Producers: Gill/Justin Niebank;Publishers: none listed; MCA Nashville
– Over a rippling guitar track, he quotes Guy’s song titles, even sounding a little like his hero as he sing-speaks the verses. The choruses drive home the homage eloquently. On the last verse, he asks, “What do you do when your heroes die?” and answers again in Guy’s “voice.” Vince’s new Okie CD also includes “A World Without Haggard,” which is another elegy gem that’s well worth your attention.