Hatch Foundation Holds Music Licensing Symposium

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Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, leads a panel discussion.

Yesterday (Aug. 13), the Hatch Center—the policy arm of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation—hosted a symposium entitled “Music Licensing in the 21st Century.”

Speakers included Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; Gordon Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters; Elizabeth Matthews, CEO of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Michael O’Neill, President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc; and Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman Emeritus of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation.

“What an honor to have so many music luminaries here in our own backyard,” said Hatch. “As a lifelong songwriter myself, I have long advocated on behalf of the talented men and women who contribute greatly to our arts and culture through their work in the recording industry. Today we heard insightful commentary from a handful of policymakers who are committed to building on the coordinated effort between lawmakers and stakeholders that resulted in the Music Modernization Act last year.”

“In true Orrin Hatch fashion, today’s symposium brought together two sides of an issue to work towards a unifying solution,” said Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Hatch Foundation. “The focus of our discussion was on striking a balance in music licensing: We need a regulatory environment that allows our broadcasters to thrive, but we also need consent decrees that work for our songwriters and publishers. The biggest takeaway from today is that we can do both.”

Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice

Gordon Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters

Elizabeth Matthews, CEO of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

Michael O’Neill, President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc.

Staff Promotions At NSAI

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Pictured (clockwise from top left): Goad, Hudson, Perry, Parker

The Nashville Songwriters Association International has promoted four staffers. Nina Goad has been promoted to Executive Assistant to NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. Goad will also assist Herbison and NSAI’s Director of Operations Jennifer Turnbow on legislative and advocacy work.

Leah Hudson has been named NSAI member representative-member events director, and will assume responsibility for NSAI’s Tin Pan South and both of NSAI’s Summer Song Camps. McKenzie Parker has been named NSAI Chapter Director, overseeing NSAI’s 100 chapters around the world. Brooke Perry has been appointed Fulfillment and Production Manager, handling production and logistics for the Nashville Songwriter Awards, Tin Pan South, Sponsorships, and assisting Turnbow.

Hunter Hayes To Release Album ‘Wild Blue (Part 1)’ On Friday

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Hunter Hayes had a surprise for his fans Wednesday morning, as he announced he will release Wild Blue (Part 1), his first album in four years, on Friday, Aug. 16. The album will be the first in a trilogy of albums.

During his visit to NBC’s Today, Hayes thanked his fans for sticking with him through the past few years.

“You’ve been patient and you’ve also given me the strength to be here.” he said. “I was originally going to put out the album on the anniversary of my debut album, because I felt like I was picking up where I left off there, but I decided I couldn’t wait any longer.

Over the past several months, Hayes has introduced fans to selections from the project, including “Dear God,” “One Shot,” and “One Good Reason.” Last night, he released the title track from the album, “Wild Blue.”

Wild Blue Track Listing:
1. Madness (Hunter Hayes, Sam Ellis, Sara Haze)
2. Wild Blue (Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Gordie Sampson)
3. Heartbreak (Hunter Hayes, Thomas “Tawgs” Salter, Gordie Sampson, Simon Wilcox)
4. One Good Reason (Hunter Hayes, Sam Ellis)
5. Dear God (Hunter Hayes, Andy Grammer, Dave Spencer)*
6. Loving You (Hunter Hayes, Jordan Reynolds, Dave Barnes)
7. My Song Too (Hunter Hayes, Jordan Reynolds, Dave Barnes)
8. One Shot (Hunter Hayes)**
9. Night and Day (Hunter Hayes, Derrick Southerland, Sam Ellis)
10. Still (Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Tommee Profitt)^
Produced by Hunter Hayes and Sam Ellis
* Produced by Hunter Hayes and Dave Spencer
** Produced by Hunter Hayes
^ Produced and Engineered by Hunter Hayes

 

YouTube video

 

Lauren Daigle, for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin Lead 50th Annual Dove Awards Nominees

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Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle leads this year’s GMA Dove Awards nominees, earning six award nominations, including Song of the Year for her smash hit “You Say,” as well as Artist of the Year.

Duo for KING & COUNTRY, and Gospel mainstay Kirk Franklin, earned five nods each. Among for KING & COUNTRY’s nods are Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“joy.”), and Pop Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (for “God Only Knows”). Franklin’s nominations include Gospel Artist of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (“Love Theory”), among others.

Also nominated for Artist of the Year are Hillsong UNITED, MercyMe, and TobyMac.

Artist of the Year

for KING & COUNTRY, Curb / Word Entertainment

Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Music / Capitol CMG

Lauren Daigle, Centricity

MercyMe, Fair Trade

TobyMac, Forefront / Capitol CMG

 

Song of the Year

“Counting Every Blessing” – (writers) Chris Llewellyn, Gareth Gilkeson, (publishers) Capitol CMG Paragon, Rend Family Music

“Everything” – (writers) David Garcia, Toby McKeehan, (publishers) Achtober Songs, D Soul Music, Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing

“joy.” – (writers) Ben Glover, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Matt Hales, Seth Mosley, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Tedd Tjornhom, (publishers) 9t One Songs, Ariose Music, CentricSongs, Curb Wordspring Music LLC, Fleauxmotion Music, Kilns Music, Method to the Madness, Shankel Songs, Shaun Shankel Pub Designee, Stephen Blake Kanicka Publishing, These Tunes Go To 11, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

“Known” – (writers) Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp, Tauren Wells, (publishers) Be Essential Songs, Capitol CMG Paragon, Crucial Music Entertainment, EGH Music Publishing

“Living Hope” – (writers) Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham, (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Phil Wickham Music, Simply Global Songs, Sing My Songs

“Only Jesus” – (writers) Bernie Herms, Mark Hall, Matthew West, (publishers) Be Essential Songs, Highly Combustible Music, House of Story Music Publishing, My Refuge Music, One77 Songs

“Red Letters” – (writers) David Crowder, Ed Cash, (publishers) Alletrop Music, Inot Music, sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com songs

“The Breakup Song” – (writers) Bart Millard, David Garcia, Francesca Battistelli, (publishers) Bartatronic Millaphonic, D Soul Music, Francesca Music, Tunes of MercyMe, Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing, Word Music LLC

“Who You Say I Am” – (writers) Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan, (publisher) Hillsong Music Publishing

“Won’t He Do It” – (writers) Loren Hill, Makeba Riddick-Woods, Rich Shelton, (publishers) SONGSBYMAK, Janice Combs Publishing, EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Nieze World Music, One Dynasty Music

“You Say” – (writers) Jason Ingram, Paul Mabury, Lauren Daigle, (publishers) CentricSongs, Fellow Ships Music, Flychild Publishing, So Essential Tunes

 

New Artist of the Year

Aaron Cole, Gotee Records

Austin French, Fair Trade

Josh Baldwin, Bethel Music

Kelontae Gavin, MBE / Tyscot

Riley Clemmons, Sparrow Records / Capitol CMG

 

Gospel Artist of the Year

Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group

Kirk Franklin, Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA Records

Koryn Hawthorne, RCA Inspiration

Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel

Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration

 

Worship Song of the Year

“Build My Life” – (writers) Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman, Pat Barrett, (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Capitol CMG Genesis, Housefires Sounds, Kaple Music, Martin Karl Andrew, Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music Thankyou Music worshiptogether.com songs

“Living Hope” – (writers) Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham, (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Phil Wickham Music, Simply Global Songs, Sing My Songs

“Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” – (writer) Elyssa Smith, (publisher) UR Global Publishing

“Who You Say I Am” – (writers) Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan, (publisher) Hillsong Music Publishing

“Yes I Will” – (writers) Eddie Hoagland, Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes, (publishers) All Essential Music, Be Essential Songs, HBC Worship Music, Hickory Bill Doc, Jingram Music Publishing, So Essential Tunes, Upside Down Under

 

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

“Only Jesus” – Casting Crowns, (writers) Bernie Herms, Mark Hall, Matthew West

“God Only Knows” – for KING & COUNTRY, (writers) Joel Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds, Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone, Tedd Tjornhom

“The Breakup Song” – Francesca Battisteli, (writers) Bart Millard, David Garcia, Francesca Battistelli

“You Say” – Lauren Daigle, (writers) Jason Ingram, Lauren Daigle, Paul Mabury

“Known” – Tauren Wells, (writers) Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp, Tauren Wells

 

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year

“Blessings On Blessings” – Anthony Brown & group therAPy, (writer) Anthony Brown

“Make Room” – Jonathan McReynolds, (writer) Jonathan McReynolds

“Love Theory” – Kirk Franklin, (writer) Kirk Franklin

“Unstoppable” – Koryn Hawthorne, (writers) Kid Class, Makeba Riddick, Robert D. Reese

“My God (feat. Mr. Talkbox)” – Nashville Life Music, (writer) Dwan Hill

 

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year

“Longing For Home” – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, (writers) Ernie Hasse, Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun

“We Are All God’s Children” – Gaither Vocal Band, (writers) Benjamin Gaither, Sara Beth Terry, Todd Suttles

“How Great Thou Art (feat. Sonya Isaacs)” – Josh Turner, (writer) Stuart K. Hine

“I Know I’ll Be There” – Karen Peck & New River, (writers) Dave Clark, Karen Peck Gooch, Wayne Haun

“Even Me” – Triumphant Quartet, (writers) Jason Cox, Jeff Bumgardner, Kenna Turner West

 

Inspirational Film of the Year  

Breakthrough – (director) Roxann Dawson, (producers) DeVon Franklin, Jessica Dunn

Indivisible – (director) David G. Evans, (producers) Darren Moorman, David G. Evans, Esther Evans

Run The Race – (director) Chris Dowling, (producers) Darren Moorman, Jake McEntire, Ken Carpenter

Unbroken: Path to Redemption – (director) Harold Cronk, (producers) Matt Baer, Mike Elliot

Unplanned – (directors) Chuck Konzelman, Cary Solomon, (producers) Cary Solomon, Chris Jones, Chuck Konzelman, Daryl C. Lefever, Fabiano Altamura, Jason Stafford, Joe Knopp, Mark Cheatwood, Megan Harrington, Sheila Hart

 

The Dove Awards are to be held live Tuesday, October 15 in Nashville, Tennessee and will air on TBN on Sunday, October 20, 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST

Warner Chappell Music, Round Hill Music Announce Global Partnership

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Warner Chappell Music has inked an exclusive sub-publishing agreement with Round Hill Music. Warner Chappell will administer Round Hill copyrights around the world, excluding the United States, the British Isles and the Nordics. Warner Chappell Music will also explore creative opportunities for Round Hill songs and songwriters across the globe.

“In less than a decade, Round Hill has built an extraordinary collection of evergreen copyrights and iconic catalogs, while at the same time signing some of today’s most exciting and gifted songwriters,” said Warner Chappell Music Co-Chair & CEO Guy Moot and Co-Chair & COO Carianne Marshall. “The global potential is enormous, and all of us at Warner Chappell around the world are thrilled to partner with Josh, Richard, Neil and the entire Round Hill team to find new avenues and audiences for this amazing body of work.”

“Carianne and Guy have a vision for Warner Chappell that works really well for the Round Hill catalog overseas,” said Round Hill Music President Neil Gillis. “We know and respect their team, and we are looking forward to a long and wonderful partnership.”

Round Hill was founded in 2010 by Josh Gruss along with Richard Rowe and Neil Gillis. Its catalog includes hit songs such as “Happy Together,” “All of Me,” “She Loves You,” “Video Killed The Radio Star,” “Calendar Girl,” “Living In America,” “Cool Kids,” “Best Day Of My Life,” “Fever,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “Total Eclipse Of The Heart,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Bye, Bye, Bye,” “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “Cherry Pie,” “Land of A Thousand Dances,” I Feel Good,” “Marry You,” “What A Wonderful World,” and many more.

Some of Round Hill’s current artists and songwriters include Valerie Broussard, Brittany Howard, Des Rocs, Topaz Jones, Morgan Taylor Reid, Tim Myers, Cobi, Thutmose, Mama Haze, Gramatik, Shawn Hook, TT the Artist, Palm Springsteen, Marc Broussard, REZZ, Nick Waterhouse, Confidence Man, Bones UK, Katie Pruitt, Mr. Gabriel, Ryan Shaw, Langhorn Slim and bands such as American Authors, Yonaka, Bronze Radio Returns, SHEL, Sleater-Kinney, Lettuce, Florida Georgia Line, Too Many Zooz, Royal Teeth, VHS Collection, and Umphrey’s McGee.

Round Hill Nashville’s roster of hit songwriters includes Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, Jimmy Robbins, Wade Kirby, Eric Arjes, and Danny Myrick. Through a partnership with Big Loud, Round Hill Nashville also represents writers like Craig Wiseman, Rodney Clawson, Sarah Buxton, and Matt Dragstrem.

RIAA Certifications: Chris Stapleton’s ‘Traveller’ Hits 4x Multi-Platinum

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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has revealed a slate of recent Gold and Platinum certifications. Chris Stapleton‘s breakthrough debut solo album Traveller, which released in 2015, has been certified 4x Multi-Platinum as of July 24.

So far in August, Platinum single certifications have included Chase Rice‘s “Eyes On You,” the Jason Aldean/Miranda Lambert collaboration “Drowns The Whiskey,” and Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More.” Old Dominion‘s “Hotel Key” has been certified Gold as has their album Happy Endings. Lauren Daigle‘s “You Say” has been certified 2x Multi-Platinum.

In July, Maren Morris‘ debut album HERO was certified Platinum, while Keith Urban‘s 2018 album Graffiti U was certified Gold.

Blake Shelton earns three Gold and Platinum certifications for his singles “I Lived It,” “I’ll Name The Dogs,” and his latest chart-topper “God’s Country.” Stapleton’s signature rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” reaches 6x Multi-Platinum status.

Newcomer Morgan Wallen celebrates a Platinum single with “Whiskey Glasses,” as does Jimmie Allen with “Best Shot.”

 

Albums

Chris Stapleton, Traveller – 4x Multi-Platinum

Maren Morris, HERO – Platinum

Keith Urban, Graffiti U – Gold

Old Dominion, Happy Endings – Gold

Single Certifications

Chase Rice, “Eyes On You” – Platinum

Jason Aldean ft. Miranda Lambert, “Drowns The Whiskey” – Platinum

Kelsea Ballerini, “Miss Me More” – Platinum

Old Dominion, “Hotel Key” – Gold

Lauren Daigle, “You Say” – 2x Multi-Platinum

Blake Shelton, “I Lived It”- Gold

Blake Shelton, “I’ll Name The Dogs” – Platinum

Blake Shelton, “God’s Country” – Platinum

Keith Urban, “Somebody Like You” – 2x Multi-Platinum

Brett Eldredge, “Love Someone” – Gold

Chris Stapleton, “Tennessee Whiskey” – 6x Multi-Platinum

Chris Stapleton, “Millionaire,” – Platinum

Chris Stapleton, “Broken Halos” – 2x Multi-Platinum

Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Glasses” – Platinum

Scotty McCreery, “This Is It” – Platinum

Hillsong Worship, “Who You Say I Am (Live)” – Gold

Casting Crowns, “Oh My Soul”- Gold

Casting Crowns, “Thrive” – Gold

Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be” – 8x Multi-Platinum

Lee Brice, “Rumor” – Platinum

Russell Dickerson, “Blue Tacoma” – Platinum

Maren Morris, “GIRL” – Gold

Maren Morris, “The Bones” – Gold

Jimmie Allen, “Best Shot” – Platinum

Tim McGraw, “Something Like That” – Platinum

Tim McGraw, “Just To See You Smile” – Platinum

Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying” – 3x Multi-Platinum

Tim McGraw, “When The Stars Go Blue” – Platinum

Tim McGraw, “The Cowboy In Me” – Gold

Tim McGraw, “I Need You” – Platinum

Tim McGraw, “Where The Green Grass Grows” – Gold

Tim McGraw, “Real Good Man” – Gold

Tim McGraw, “My Next Thirty Years” – Gold

Tim McGraw, “My Best Friend” – Platinum

Industry Ink: CMA, Big Loud/Maverick, Russ And Tori Taff

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CMA To Host Neon Nashville Showcase At German Festival

The CMA is hosting a showcase, “Neon Nashville,” on Sept. 18 at Hamburg, Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival to help further country music’s international expansion. CMA will host a panel and networking reception during the festival as well. The showcase will feature performances by Ingrid Andress, Blanco Brown, Ilse DeLange (from the Netherlands) and Rachel Wammack. In addition to the festival, attendees can take part in the Reeperbahn Festival Conference and attend a panel titled “It Sounds Like Country,” which will explore the growing popularity of country in the European market and the diversity of the genre. The panel includes industry professionals Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President of International Relations & Development, USA), Sarah Casey (United Talent Agency Agent, U.K.), Fred Casimir (BMG Executive Vice President, Global Repertoire & Marketing, Germany) and Oliver Hoppe (Wizard Promotions Managing Director, Germany).

 

Ryan Kroon Joins Big Loud/Maverick Management Team

Photo Credit: Nick Swift

Ryan Kroon has joined BigLoud/Maverick as a day-to-day manager. An Oregon native and graduate of the University of Oregon, Kroon moved to Nashville in 2015 and got his start at Triple 8 Management, followed by four years at Red Light Management, where he handled day-to-day duties for Sam Hunt plus new talents Everette and Conner Smith.

“When someone of Ryan’s caliber shows interest in joining our company, we jump at the opportunity to bring him in,” shares Big Loud partner/manager Chief Zaruk. “He is a true professional in every way and we cannot wait to see what he brings to our rapidly-growing team!”

 

Russ And Tori Taff To Receive ASCAP Golden Note Award

Russ and Tori Taff will be honored by ASCAP with its prestigious Golden Note Award at the 41st annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards Sept. 16 at The Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin, Tennessee.

Taff has earned six Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards during his 40-year career. He was barely out of his teens when he was asked to join the gospel group The Imperials as their lead singer, and a few years later pursued his own solo career. Taff’s lyrics, often co-written with his wife Tori, chronicled his personal spiritual path. To date, he has recorded 11 solo albums, including industry benchmarks Medals, Russ Taff and Under Their Influence. His classic singles include “We Will Stand,” “I’m Not Alone,” “Not Gonna Bow” and “Eagle Song.” Grammy-nominated songwriter and author Tori Taff co-wrote I Still Believe: A Memoir of Wreckage, Recovery, and Relentless Love, a book and documentary film that chronicles her husband’s life from childhood to stardom and from his hidden struggle with alcohol to his path to recovery. The book and film were released earlier this year.

On The Cover: MusicRow Reveals 2019 Artist Roster Print Issue

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MusicRow Magazine has released its 2019 Artist Roster print issue. The annual resource includes a company directory of Nashville record labels, managers, talent agents, publicists and additional artist services. The Artist Grid appendix lists Nashville artists, along with their team members.

“The Nashville music industry is built on dreams,” MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson says. “While there are many factors that help pave the way to success for an artist including talent, work ethic, timing, luck, and perhaps a bit of magical pixie dust, one of the most important elements in a dream’s trajectory is the team behind it. MusicRow’s annual Artist Roster print issue features these invaluable team members, who consist of managers, booking agents, record labels, publicists, attorneys and many others, with each serving a critical role in an artist’s career, all working together to share the artist’s vision and music.”

This issue includes exclusive interviews with top managers and rising artists, including Make Wake Artists’ Chris Kappy. Also in conversation are Q Prime South’s John Peets with Q Prime South artist Ashley McBryde, the recipient of both Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Song of the Year honors at the 2019 MusicRow Awards. Tenille Townes, recipient of the inaugural MusicRow Awards Robert K. Oermann Discovery Artist of the Year honor, spoke alongside ShopKeeper Management’s Crystal Dishmon to discuss the work and creativity that led to Townes’ breakthrough hit “Somebody’s Daughter.”

Industry members including MusicRow Magazine contributor and country music historian Robert K. Oermann, as well as Country Radio Seminar Executive Director, RJ Curtis, and Big Machine Label Group’s Director of International, Jimmy Chapin, offer varying perspectives on the state of today’s country music.

Gracing the cover of the latest issue is EMI Nashville’s Brothers Osborne. Two sons from a working-class family, John and TJ Osborne grew up in a small Maryland water town, writing and playing songs for friends and family in their father’s shed.

John moved to Nashville first to play in other bands, and two years later, TJ joined him. It was then they formed Brothers Osborne as a duo that blends equal parts country and rock into one of the freshest, most identifiable sounds to come out of Nashville in recent years.

The singer/songwriter siblings currently reign as three-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year in addition to being named ACM Vocal Duo of the Year the past two years. Overall, Brothers Osborne has collected four CMA and five ACM trophies including Video of the Year wins for their Top 10 GRAMMY-nominated Platinum single “It Ain’t My Fault.”

Brothers Osborne’s debut album Pawn Shop was released January 2016 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Pawn Shop features three GRAMMY-nominated tracks including “It Ain’t My Fault,” the Platinum-certified No. 1 smash hit “Stay A Little Longer,” as well as Top 25 hit “21 Summer.”

Their current Top 40 single “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)” is included on their sophomore album, Port Saint Joe, which continues to receive acclaimed reviews from critics and fans alike and was nominated for Best Country Album at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.

Their new album, Live At The Ryman, releases Oct. 11. The project’s 12 tracks were captured from three sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Brothers Osborne has toured with Eric Church, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and more. The duo just wrapped their Headlining World Tour which hit over 40 markets including London, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Later this year they will play select dates with Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson.

Single copies of MusicRow’s Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly subscriptions.

On The Row: Temecula Road

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Country trio Temecula Road recently made the three-day road trip from their hometown in Temecula, California to become some of Nashville’s most recent residents.

The trio’s Dawson Anderson, and sisters Maddie and Emma Salute, have already earned a chart hit, as their single “Fades” reached No. 3 on the Radio Disney Country Top 50 chart. The song’s video became something of a goodbye homage to California, filmed just days before they moved to Nashville.

“We shot the video, had a goodbye party the next day in Temecula, and then we drove cross-country to Nashville,” Dawson notes.

They’ve followed the hit with “Never Knew I Needed You,” which the trio’s Dawson Anderson penned with Ben Goldsmith and Lindsay Rimes. The group shot the song’s music video at Nashville’s Douglas Corner; the clip will release in the coming weeks.

“This is one of the first times where we have a full band performance onstage for a video,” Anderson says. “The funny thing is, Disney hired our actual bass player for the video and they didn’t know he was our bass player.”

During a recent visit to the MusicRow offices, the trio offered renditions of “Never Knew I Needed You,” as well as the yet-to-be-recorded “Take Back” and “Maybe Not.”

Temecula Road with MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.

Since relocating to Nashville, the group has been hard at work in the songwriting rooms, writing four or five times per week, and making more industry contacts.

“My first month of being in Nashville, I added more people to my contact list than I ever had,” says Emma.

Maddie agrees. “In Temecula we are two hours from Los Angeles, so we have to schedule writes, stay the night and schedule a hotel room. Here you can just write.”

“We’ve been able to figure out what sound we want for the group more and you have a blank canvas when you go into a write. It’s cool to see what kind of music comes out now that we live here, versus visiting from Los Angeles.”

Temecula Road with MusicRow Magazine staffers.

George Strait Extends “Strait To Vegas” Shows To 2020

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George Strait will expand his “Strait To Vegas” shows into 2020, with two shows at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. local time via straittovegas.com. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Friday, Aug. 16 at 10am through Thursday, Aug. 22 at 10 p.m.

Next month, the iconic country entertainer will release a limited-edition re-issue of his 1995 Strait Out of the Box: Part 1, exclusively with Walmart beginning Sept. 13. That same day, he will celebrate the release of the official soundtrack for Country Music–A Film By Ken Burns, which features Strait’s classic “Amarillo By Morning.”

Earlier this year, Strait released his 27th No. 1 country album, with Honky Tonk Time Machine on MCA Nashville.