Back Row (L-R): BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Sony Atv’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony Atv’s Jon Platt, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, The Valory Music Co.’S Chris Palmer, Endurance Music Group’s Michael Martin, Ascap’s Beth Brinker, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, The Valory Music Co.’S George Briner, Smack’s Robert Carlton, Combustion’s Chris Farren Front Row (L-R): The Valory Music Co.’S Ashley Sidoti, Bmi Songwriters Ross Copperman And Eli Young Band, Ascap Songwriter Ashley Gorley, Gmr Songwriter Shane McAnally, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta Photo Credit: Steve Lowry
The Eli Young Band celebrated their fourth career No. 1, “Love Ain’t,” along with some of Nashville’s most decorated songwriters on Monday afternoon (July 15) at the Sutler. The Valory Music Company band commemorated their near 20-year journey and their first No. 1 song in almost six years.
Co-writers Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman were all in attendance. To quote SMACKSongs’ Robert Carlton; “It’s no surprise to see another No. 1 hit for you guys, I think it’s a bigger surprise that we got you all in one place at one time!” Producer Dann Huff was there in spirit.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and BMI’s Josh Tomlinson traded off as hosts of the gathering. Brinker got everything started by speaking on the six-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year winner, Ashley Gorley. She announced that Gorley’s tally has climbed to 42 No. 1 songs. “It is so fun to think of new things to say about you,” Brinker said with a grin to Gorley. “I think it’s the hardest job on Music Row and I have it. Give it up for me!” she quipped.
Tomlinson stepped up to the mic to speak on Copperman and the Eli Young Band. Copperman, the two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, had notched his nineteenth No. 1 with “Love Ain’t.”
“For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last two decades,” Tomlinson said of the band. “These guys continue to impress and stay incredibly relevant. They maintain an authentic sound on country radio with ‘Love Ain’t’ being the latest addition to their long list of success. BMI is incredibly proud to represent you guys.”
Pinnacle Bank’s David Smith announced that they had made a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of the hit. The philanthropic efforts continued with Endurance Music Group’s Michael Martin announcing a donation in honor of the Eli Young Band to the Wounded Warrior Project and in honor of Copperman to ACM Lifting Lives; Round Hill Music made a contribution to My Life Speaks in honor of Gorley; and SMACKSongs made a donation to Wounded Warrior Project.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg was on hand to speak about Copperman. “Ross continues to be one of the hardest working guys on Music Row. He’s such a talent as a songwriter, as a producer and as an artist. I think that’s why he’s able to get deep down with these songs and these artists and these producers. Ross, as always, we’re so thankful to get to work with you,” he said.
Combustion Music’s Kenley Flynn spoke on behalf of Gorley. “We’ve been lucky enough to be up here several times with Ashley,” he said. “It’s always an honor. We’re so proud and grateful for our partnership over the years.”
Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta spoke very highly of the Eli Young Band, saying: “What Eli Young Band has done now for 20 years, how do you keep your band cool for 20 years? Well, you never veer from your artistic vision or the integrity of every note that you play.”
Borchetta also made sure to recognize J.R. Schumann at SiriusXM; George Couri and Triple 8 Management; and Allison Jones, Sr. VP, A&R at BMLG, for championing the song.
He also invited Valory Music Co. radio promotion leaders Ashley Sidoti and Chris Palmer to the stage. “I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say that we’ve been long fans of the Eli Young Band,” Sidoti said. She also recognized Brooke Nixon and Christy DiNapoli from the radio promotion team; and a life-size cut out of Valory Music Co. leader, George Briner, appeared from side stage.
“It takes a village!” she said. “Thank you to Allison for finding the hits, Scott for letting us work them, and Mike Rittberg and your team for helping spread the story far and wide with our streaming partners, and all of our marketing efforts.”
“As promo people, when you get a song written by great writers, sung by a great artist, and produced by a great producer, it’s just a sigh of relief,” Palmer said. “Names we look for would be Ross, and Ashley, and Shane, and Dann Huff. To have all four involved on the same record, it was like Christmas day for us. All of us rallied around the song and the band worked their ass off. We couldn’t be more proud to be standing up here.”
When it came time for the co-writers and the band to speak, Copperman kicked it off. “When you write a song with Shane McAnally and Ashley Gorley, you know it’s going to be the best song of all time because these guys are the best writers I think to ever come through Nashville. When you have Dann Huff produce it, and you have Scott Borchetta, and you have Allison Jones and the entire radio team, and you have George Couri calling the label probably every week, and you have one of the best bands in our genre performing the song; you can’t go wrong,” Copperman said.
Gorley listed his family and God first when he stepped up to the mic. He also thanked his army of publishing partners. “This is a special one because more and more as time goes by, there’s mini camps where we’re writing directly with artists or project-focused but this song just kind of serves as a reminder to me, and all of us writers, that if you get together and you just try to write the best song in the room that day…it’s an encouragement to us to continue to just write whatever we can write that day and trust you guys with the results.”
Gorley and Copperman both commented on Mike Eli‘s vocal performance on “Love Ain’t,” with Copperman saying it was made for country radio.
“We are so lucky that this is our job,” McAnally said. “I’m going to echoing what everyone has said but we’re dealing with a real A&R person in Allison Jones. She listens to the songs, and she knows that it’s not ‘one song fits every artist.’ When you hand her a song, I know it’s going to be handled with care and I know that what you tell us is going to be the truth about it.
“That’s also a testament to you, Scott,” McAnally continued. “When Scott Borchetta says something’s going to happen with a song, and that he’s going to get behind it, he does what he says. We obviously can’t predict where these things go beyond that, but you guys always do what you say you’re going to do and I really appreciate that.”
Finally, it was time to hear from Eli Young Band. Mike Eli shared onstage, “Something that we’ve been living by for a long time is, ‘Nothing comes easy.’ That’s just the truth – if it’s worth anything at all.” He continued, “At the end of the day, we wouldn’t be where we are now, we wouldn’t have what we have, and we wouldn’t be involved with the people that we’re involved with—I wouldn’t trade a day in our journey for overnight success.”
Eli made sure to recognize the team that has stuck by them. “While it seems as if the last 20 years has been easy, it has not. There have been a lot of tears, there has been a lot of frustration, there’s been a lot of yelling; but then there’s been a lot of happiness and that’s what has kept us together. We believe in each other and we’re so incredibly lucky to have a lot of people that believe in us.”
Eli named his and his bandmate’s families, Brian Hill and CAA; Couri and Triple 8 Management; their road crew; Borchetta and the BMLG team; their team at Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.; Dann Huff; Sweet Talk PR; country radio and the promotion team; and Schumann and SiriusXM.
And finally, Eli thanked Copperman, McAnally and Gorley; “I love listening to your songs whether we cut them or not,” he said. “Thank you for giving us the song. It’s an incredible tune.”
Jenny Tolman Entwines Intriguing Characters, Relatable Storylines On ‘There Goes The Neighborhood’ [Interview]
/by Jessica Nicholson“Country music was built on storytelling and characters,” says Jenny Tolman, a Nashville native whose own intriguing tales and agile wordplay pervade her debut album, There Goes The Neighborhood. “I want to honor that and continue on that tradition. Yes, everything evolves but I think it’s important to hold on to tradition at the same time to the things that define country music.”
There Goes The Neighborhood is the culmination of a three-plus year process, one that began not long after she met hit producer Dave Brainard, whom she calls “a brilliant mad scientist.” Brainard has several co-writes on the album, which was recorded in a few studios around Nashville, including Brainard’s Berry Hill compound and Sound Emporium.
Tolman clearly relishes her classic country and honkytonk influences, her voice a mixture of Bobbie Gentry’s sensual low tones, and Dolly Parton’s spry playfulness. Tolman deftly applies her mordant wit throughout the album, which is equally irreverent and earnest.
Album opener “Ain’t Mary Jane” begins with harmonica and later introduces clarinet in a shuffle that praises getting high on life.
“It set the tone for the whole album. There is a lot of making the best of what you’ve got type of living in these songs.” she tells MusicRow.
“Ladies, start your ovens,” she challenges on the tongue-in-cheek titular track, as she chronicles the efforts of several ladies in Jennyville to lure in a handsome newcomer with “Brittany’s biscuits” or “Hannah’s honey ham.”
Jenny Tolman celebrates the upcoming release of her album at Nashville’s City Winery. Photo: Jordan O’Donnell
“High Class White Trash” chronicles ladies who down “a little bloody Mary for a head full of hurt” and “raise a glass to making something out of nothing.” “Work It” offers advice from a “coupon clipper in a push up bra” on how to make ends meet “When you got good looks and no money to burn.”
“The whole thought of women’s empowerment is great to me, but at the same time I think about it differently than the mainstream world projects. Something I’ve been really careful with in my writing about women’s narratives is that I’m not a man hater at the same time. We all are coexisting together and we all benefit off of each other so ‘Work It’ is kind of that fun narrative where you do feel empowered and you use your womanliness to run the world. We have fun with it.”
She met Brainard shortly after the producer had earned a Grammy nomination for his work on Brandy Clark’s 12 Stories.
“His old studio was right above Off Broadway Shoes and he would come down to the Doghouse Saloon to have a drink,” she recalls. “I happened to be playing there and he heard me sing. He came up and said, ‘’I never do this, but I love your voice and I’d love to hear what you’ve got going on.’ Then I realized he worked on Brandy’s album and we got together to co-write.”
The project proved a success, both personally and professionally; Tolman and Brainard have been sweethearts for the past three years. She credits Brainard with setting all of these songs and the characters they describe in the fictional Jennyville.
Jenny Tolman performs during her album release show at Nashville’s City Winery. Photo: Jordan O’Donnell
“It took me a second to come to terms with it, because especially with this being my first album and me being a new artist, I was like, ‘This is presumptuous, isn’t it?’ But after we started really digging in to the album, it really had nothing to do with ego, it’s almost kind of making fun of myself, that I’m crazy enough to have this imaginary town in my head with people running around in it. The album evolved but the idea of Jennyville never really went away. At one point we were going to name the album that, but then we had ‘There Goes The Neighborhood.’ We do have a song called ‘Postcards From Jennyville.’”
Tolman comes by her musicality naturally, having been raised around Nashvillle’s music scene from an early age. Her father, Steve Tolman, who serves as the president of the Nashville Association of Talent Directors, and works as co-director for Logicom, earned his career start as a singer, and was called on by Burt Reynolds to become a founding member of vocal group the Indian River Boys. The group also provided vocals on Garth Brooks’ album No Fences.
For “Five Dollar Car Wash,” an intro track, her father’s old quartet reunited after 30 years to perform on the album. Elsewhere, WSM announcer Bill Whyte handles the weather report on the intro track ‘Forecast For Gossip.”
Following the cheeky humor of “Ain’t Mary Jane,” Tolman wastes no time proving she can discuss matters of the heart as easily as a well-crafted joke. “So Pretty,” which she co-wrote with Mark D. Sanders and Sophie Sanders, delves into the not quite ladylike feelings of jealousy and insecurity.
“I was in a new relationship, and my boyfriend was good friends with his ex. And she was so pretty and sweet. I kept thinking ‘I wish you weren’t so pretty.’ It was terrible to think, but I think that’s why the song is so powerful, because we all have these feelings that are so terrible but so true. It’s really about realizing that it’s ok to have these bad feelings but also acknowledge that it’s not that person’s fault. It is you having to work through something internally. It’s ok to feel things but to not hate somebody for that, because they are not intentionally doing that to you.”
The song is one of a pair of introspective tracks marked with warmth and wisdom. She penned the inclusive “My Welcome Mat” with Brainard and John Goodwin, which welcomes her fellow people of all races, religions, classes and personalities.
“Every line in that song is true and it’s about somebody we know in our personal lives. That’s what makes it cool for me, it’s not just trying to come up with opposites to make it lyrically cool—it’s all true. I’m that person, too. I’m a country music singer and I do pole dancing for fun. There are so many facets to every person. It was really important to visualize that in the lyrics. We were trying to share what we understand to be at this moment the most loving way to exist, because there is so much intentional division between everybody. These people want you to get mad and not like each other for being different and to homogenize everything and have everyone be the same. And in country music too, that’s something I’m constantly battling, just being different. Just being a female country artist, as we all know is already a challenge in itself, but also having a different sound of country music which isn’t what mainstream country radio isn’t playing right now. Which I hope to change with this music. But we wanted to celebrate all the different characters in our lives and appreciate that.”
Her penchant for melding classic country storytelling with humor has earned her several fans in the industry, such as the Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen and “Miss Country Soul” Jeannie Seely.
“I call Jeannie the Mayor of Jennyville. She also wants to be known as ‘The Retired Madam of Jennyville.’ I’m humbled because there are some amazing people in my corner.”
There Goes The Neighborhood releases July 19.
Dallas Davidson Talks Georgia’s Musical Legacy, Readies Sixth Annual Georgia On My Mind Benefit [Interview]
/by LB CantrellThe Peach Pickers (Ben Hayslip, Dallas Davidson, and Rhett Akins) at the 2018 Georgia On My Mind benefit.
Georgia boy turned Music Row hit-maker, Dallas Davidson, has made a career turning memories and melodies made in Georgia into country radio smashes for fifteen years. The Albany, Georgia native has charted hits like “I Don’t Dance” (Lee Brice), “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” (Luke Bryan), “That’s How Country Boys Roll” (Billy Currington), “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” (Randy Houser), “Just a Kiss” (Lady Antebellum) and many more.
Davidson has also written a multitude of hits with his Georgian buddies Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins as part of the Peach Pickers. The trio has written several No. 1 songs, including: “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), “Small Town Throwdown” (Brantley Gilbert), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols), “Put a Girl in It” (Brooks & Dunn), “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End” (Luke Bryan).
Davidson has been the Chair of the Georgia Music Foundation for years. The foundation—established in 1994—facilitates programs that preserve, promote and perpetuate Georgia music. The Foundation’s Georgia Music Grant program awards grants of $5,000 or less to deserving music programs and projects at Georgia schools and non-profit organizations.
In preparation for tonight’s (July 17) event, Davidson told MusicRow about the legacy of Georgia music and the importance of giving back to his home state.
“I think Georgia has given me so much as a writer. It’s that simple,” Davidson says. “The lyrics that I write, and the melodies that I use are inspired by [Georgians] Otis Redding and Allman Brothers tunes. The dirt roads I literally grew up on and drank beer on, I write about that.
“I knew I wanted to start doing a charity. I had done dozens and dozens of writer’s rounds but I wanted something with a little more oompf to it to actually raise more money,” Davidson continues. “I didn’t quite know who I wanted to give it to. So this was just perfect. Lisa Love [Director of Music Marketing and Development at the Georgia Department of Economic Development] is so passionate about everything and she started telling me about their mission and it fell in line with what I was wanting to do. I had these ideas about how we could make a lot of money and give it away, so then I called Ben and Rhett and they jumped in, and now six years later we’re still rocking at the Ryman.”
The efforts of the Peach Pickers and friends have enabled the Georgia Music Foundation to award nearly $400,000 in grants to music programs at schools and non-profit organizations over the past five years. Artists—both Georgia-born and Georgia-inspired—have graced the Georgia On My Mind stage as a part of the annual event, including the likes of Randy Houser, Chris Janson, Charles Kelley, Dustin Lynch, Michael Ray, Lauren Alaina, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Tyler Farr and more.
One of Davidson’s favorite memories from the past six years is having legendary Atlanta-rap duo, Outkast’s Big Boi out to perform. Another was when Luke Bryan and the Peach Pickers sang one of their biggest hits together on the Ryman stage.
“Luke got up there with the Peach Pickers and we did ‘Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day’ when it was a hit with the Peach Pickers, who wrote it. When we write songs with Luke we’re the Peanut Pickers,” he quipped. “So doing that song with Luke while it was a hit was a big deal, I remember that being awesome.”
Tonight the line-up will include: Jamey Johnson, John Berry, Craig Campbell, Michael Ray, Brent Cobb, Colt Ford, Bill Anderson, Travis Denning, Lindsay Ell, Ray Fulcher, Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, as well as surprise guests and a special performance by the Otis Redding Foundation’s DREAM Choir.
But Davidson says there is always room for surprise special guests.
When asked about his favorite fellow Georgian artists, Davidson quickly named Alan Jackson. “Oooh, Alan Jackson!,” he says. “I mean, definitely Otis Redding—he’s my favorite singer of all time. There’s Travis Tritt, and the Allman Brothers, obviously my buddies Aldean and Luke—Luke has done so much for my career, cut so many of my songs.
“All the Atlanta hip-hop, too,” he continues. “That’s a big influence on me. All the stuff Dallas Austin was doing down there, Jermaine Dupri, Usher and Outkast. So much Georgia stuff. T-Pain!”
Davidson is most excited about the recipient of the Flamekeeper Award. The honor goes to a Georgian who serves as a poignant ambassador for the state, and has been given to the likes of Jason Aldean; Deana Brown-Thomas, daughter of James Brown and founder of The James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils; J.A.M.P.’s Keith Jenkins; past Georgia governor Nathan Deal; Pat Alger; Tony Arata; and the late Daryle Singletary.
“We really try to think about who has kept the fire burning for the state of Georgia,” Davidson says.
Davidson is also excited to see performers Jamey Johnson and Bill Anderson. “I can’t wait to see Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson together,” he says. “I think they may perform one of their big hits they wrote together, I’m hoping they do. And Jamey Johnson at the Ryman is like the Stones in London or something, to a country fan. So that’s going to be my favorite part, but I always get surprised!”
Tickets to tonight’s Georgia On My Mind benefit concert are still available here.
New Historical Marker To Celebrate CCM Music’s Impact On Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Melinda Gales, E.J. Gaines, Shelley Breen, Justin Fratt, Nancy VanReece, Denise Jones, Leigh Cappillino, Jackie Patillo and Gene Moore. Photo: Jason Davis
The Nashville Metropolitan Historical Commission and the Nashville Metro Council have announced the creation of a historical marker at 1000 16th Avenue South in Nashville, to honor decades of the music impact of Belmont Church, Koinonia Coffeehouse and the Contemporary Christian Music genre on the city.
At Tuesday’s (July 16) Nashville Metropolitan Council meeting, a resolution was read celebrating 50 years of the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards and thanking the trade organization for collaborating with three major CCM record companies to fund the historical marker, which will be unveiled on Thursday, July 25.
The timing of this historical marker installation has been elevated as Music Row is now on the list of most endangered historical landmarks by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The historical marker unveiling ceremony, to be attended by some of the original artists involved with Koinonia and Belmont Church, will take place on the corner of 16th Avenue South and Grand Avenue and is free and open to the public. On Saturday, July 27, a concert of celebration featuring artists and songs from the celebrated era will be held at the Koinonia Coffeehouse (1000 16th Avenue South). The concert is open to the public on a first come basis until capacity.
“Religious music has been integral to Nashville’s identity as Music City, from pioneering faith-based music publishing houses to the international impact of the Fisk Jubilee Singers,” said Freddie O’Connell, council member for District 19 where the marker is located. “Koinonia became a destination where young talent such as like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith — now multi-Grammy and Dove Award winners — shared their first songs.”
“I moved my CCM marketing agency to Nashville in 1986 because of the growing impact of this music and by the 1990’s, Contemporary Christian and Gospel Music were outselling jazz and classical according to the RIAA,” explains council member Nancy VanReece (District 8) who spearheaded efforts for the marker and resolution. “Nashville has truly become the capital of this genre and I am pleased to have collaborated with Council member O’Connell to see the marker realized on Music Row…where it belongs.”
Other Metro historical markers have been created to honor well known locations such as Ryman Auditorium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Belmont Mansion or markers are based on events such as the Battle of Nashville or the East Nashville Fire. Some markers honor its most famous leaders and creative people such as Revolutionary War General Thomas Overton, dancer Albertine Walker, and Poet Laureate Randall Jarrell. The new historical marker at 16th and Grand for Contemporary Christian Music, Belmont Church and Koinonia Coffeehouse combines historic sites, key events and highlights a few select creative individuals who contributed richly to the fabric of this brand of music in Music City.
Warner Chappell Music Signs Mickey Guyton
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Erik Peterson (Borman Entertainment), Will Overton (WCM), Mickey Guyton, Ben Vaughn (WCM), Christina Wiltshire (WCM), Duane Clark (FBMM), Paul Barnabee (FBMM)
Warner Chappell Music Nashville has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Capitol Records Nashville recording artist, Mickey Guyton.
“Mickey’s authenticity and honesty comes through in her powerful songwriting, and really resonates” said Ben Vaughn, President and CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “She’s an incredible person, vocalist and entertainer. We are so excited to welcome her to the Warner Chappell Music family.”
“I have spent the last few years challenging myself to be more honest with my songwriting,” shares Mickey. “I’m so proud and honored that Ben and his team have recognized the work I have done on this soul-searching journey and have welcomed me into their family.”
Guyton’s latest release, “Sister,” brims with female solidarity and empowerment. In 2016, Guyton was nominated for the ACM’s New Female Vocalist honor, and earlier this year, she joined in an all-female rendering of “I’m Standing With You,” from the Breakthrough soundtrack, alongside Chrissy Metz, Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina and Maddie & Tae.
Ken Ehrlich To Step Down As Grammys Executive Producer
/by Jessica NicholsonKen Ehrlich
The Recording Academy has announced the executive producers for its 2020 and 2021 broadcasts. Longtime producer/executive producer Ken Ehrlich will step down as executive producer for the Grammy Awards following the 2020 broadcast, which will mark his 40th anniversary, having produced his first Grammy Awards in 1980. For the 2021 broadcast, Ben Winston will succeed Ehrlich as the sole executive producer for the 63rd Grammy Awards.
“Ken’s imprint on the GRAMMY Awards and the music industry are well-known and represent the kind of work and vision that legends are made of,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “Having worked closely with Ken for almost half of his tenure with the show, I have seen first-hand the vision, extraordinary musical knowledge, and passion he brings to every minute of the process, and the spectacular results and memorable GRAMMY Moments that have been delivered. It’s an honor to celebrate his 40th anniversary with the GRAMMYs. I also recognize the wonderful opportunity ahead by bringing the immensely talented, innovative, and well-respected Ben Winston into the family, and we look forward to his enthusiastic and forward-thinking approach to presenting music on television.”
“To have been a part of the growth of the GRAMMY Awards into the preeminent music awards show of our time has been one of the highlights of my professional life, and I’m grateful to the Recording Academy and to our partners at CBS for their support and for trusting my vision over the past four decades,” said Ehrlich. “I have also been the happy recipient of having an incredible group of people who have worked on the show over the years, and of course the most amazing cadre of musical artists who bring their own creativity and brilliance to the GRAMMY stage year after year. I want to wish my successor Ben the best as he assumes the executive producer role. I am confident that his abilities in all aspects of production will both ensure the legacy of the GRAMMY Awards and also instill a new creative direction for the show.”
“It’s an absolute honor to be executive producer of the GRAMMYs for 2021,” said Winston. “I feel excitement and nerves in equal measure on taking on this role, but mostly I feel immense gratitude to the Recording Academy for this wonderful opportunity. I also want to salute Ken, who has done an absolutely remarkable job over the last 40 years.”
Ehrlich is the founder of AEG Ehrlich Ventures. Throughout his time spearheading the Grammys, he has become known for creating interesting and unexpected performance pairings—Eminem and Elton John, Prince and Beyoncé, and Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Joe Walsh—to help make the Grammys one of the most-watched entertainment specials in television history. In his almost 50 years as a producer, Ehrlich has created and worked on numerous award shows and live events, including the Emmy Awards, the MTV Movie Awards, and the Latin Grammy Awards. He has also produced dozens of specials for broadcast and cable networks for artists including Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, John Legend, the Rolling Stones, and Justin Timberlake. Ehrlich directed the Las Vegas residencies of both Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, and was honored by the Producers Guild of America with the Visionary Award in 2007.
Winston is a multifaceted producer, director, and writer with award-winning credits that span television, movies, music videos, and commercials. A six-time Emmy Award winner and a 22-time nominee, he has produced a multitude of shows including The Late Late Show with James Corden, co-created Carpool Karaoke, and Drop The Mic and has produced many music specials for artists such as Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber to name a few.
In the live event space, Winston was recently the executive producer for the Global Citizen Nelson Mandela 100 Concert in South Africa, with Beyoncé and Jay Z as headliners. He was a producer of the Brits awards three times and the Tony’s twice. In documentaries, he has produced a multitude of work including In The Hands Of The Gods, I Am Bolt and is a producer on the upcoming Motown movie for Showtime. Winston, who won the first-ever Emmys for Apple and Snapchat shows last year, also won a Brit award for Best Director of a music video, three years in a row. Winston is a partner at production company Fulwell 73.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and broadcast on the CBS Television Network.
Eli Young Band Celebrate Fourth Career No. 1 “Love Ain’t”
/by LB CantrellBack Row (L-R): BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Sony Atv’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony Atv’s Jon Platt, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, The Valory Music Co.’S Chris Palmer, Endurance Music Group’s Michael Martin, Ascap’s Beth Brinker, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, The Valory Music Co.’S George Briner, Smack’s Robert Carlton, Combustion’s Chris Farren Front Row (L-R): The Valory Music Co.’S Ashley Sidoti, Bmi Songwriters Ross Copperman And Eli Young Band, Ascap Songwriter Ashley Gorley, Gmr Songwriter Shane McAnally, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta Photo Credit: Steve Lowry
The Eli Young Band celebrated their fourth career No. 1, “Love Ain’t,” along with some of Nashville’s most decorated songwriters on Monday afternoon (July 15) at the Sutler. The Valory Music Company band commemorated their near 20-year journey and their first No. 1 song in almost six years.
Co-writers Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman were all in attendance. To quote SMACKSongs’ Robert Carlton; “It’s no surprise to see another No. 1 hit for you guys, I think it’s a bigger surprise that we got you all in one place at one time!” Producer Dann Huff was there in spirit.
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and BMI’s Josh Tomlinson traded off as hosts of the gathering. Brinker got everything started by speaking on the six-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year winner, Ashley Gorley. She announced that Gorley’s tally has climbed to 42 No. 1 songs. “It is so fun to think of new things to say about you,” Brinker said with a grin to Gorley. “I think it’s the hardest job on Music Row and I have it. Give it up for me!” she quipped.
Tomlinson stepped up to the mic to speak on Copperman and the Eli Young Band. Copperman, the two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, had notched his nineteenth No. 1 with “Love Ain’t.”
“For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last two decades,” Tomlinson said of the band. “These guys continue to impress and stay incredibly relevant. They maintain an authentic sound on country radio with ‘Love Ain’t’ being the latest addition to their long list of success. BMI is incredibly proud to represent you guys.”
Pinnacle Bank’s David Smith announced that they had made a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of the hit. The philanthropic efforts continued with Endurance Music Group’s Michael Martin announcing a donation in honor of the Eli Young Band to the Wounded Warrior Project and in honor of Copperman to ACM Lifting Lives; Round Hill Music made a contribution to My Life Speaks in honor of Gorley; and SMACKSongs made a donation to Wounded Warrior Project.
Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg was on hand to speak about Copperman. “Ross continues to be one of the hardest working guys on Music Row. He’s such a talent as a songwriter, as a producer and as an artist. I think that’s why he’s able to get deep down with these songs and these artists and these producers. Ross, as always, we’re so thankful to get to work with you,” he said.
Combustion Music’s Kenley Flynn spoke on behalf of Gorley. “We’ve been lucky enough to be up here several times with Ashley,” he said. “It’s always an honor. We’re so proud and grateful for our partnership over the years.”
Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta spoke very highly of the Eli Young Band, saying: “What Eli Young Band has done now for 20 years, how do you keep your band cool for 20 years? Well, you never veer from your artistic vision or the integrity of every note that you play.”
Borchetta also made sure to recognize J.R. Schumann at SiriusXM; George Couri and Triple 8 Management; and Allison Jones, Sr. VP, A&R at BMLG, for championing the song.
He also invited Valory Music Co. radio promotion leaders Ashley Sidoti and Chris Palmer to the stage. “I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say that we’ve been long fans of the Eli Young Band,” Sidoti said. She also recognized Brooke Nixon and Christy DiNapoli from the radio promotion team; and a life-size cut out of Valory Music Co. leader, George Briner, appeared from side stage.
“It takes a village!” she said. “Thank you to Allison for finding the hits, Scott for letting us work them, and Mike Rittberg and your team for helping spread the story far and wide with our streaming partners, and all of our marketing efforts.”
“As promo people, when you get a song written by great writers, sung by a great artist, and produced by a great producer, it’s just a sigh of relief,” Palmer said. “Names we look for would be Ross, and Ashley, and Shane, and Dann Huff. To have all four involved on the same record, it was like Christmas day for us. All of us rallied around the song and the band worked their ass off. We couldn’t be more proud to be standing up here.”
When it came time for the co-writers and the band to speak, Copperman kicked it off. “When you write a song with Shane McAnally and Ashley Gorley, you know it’s going to be the best song of all time because these guys are the best writers I think to ever come through Nashville. When you have Dann Huff produce it, and you have Scott Borchetta, and you have Allison Jones and the entire radio team, and you have George Couri calling the label probably every week, and you have one of the best bands in our genre performing the song; you can’t go wrong,” Copperman said.
Gorley listed his family and God first when he stepped up to the mic. He also thanked his army of publishing partners. “This is a special one because more and more as time goes by, there’s mini camps where we’re writing directly with artists or project-focused but this song just kind of serves as a reminder to me, and all of us writers, that if you get together and you just try to write the best song in the room that day…it’s an encouragement to us to continue to just write whatever we can write that day and trust you guys with the results.”
Gorley and Copperman both commented on Mike Eli‘s vocal performance on “Love Ain’t,” with Copperman saying it was made for country radio.
“We are so lucky that this is our job,” McAnally said. “I’m going to echoing what everyone has said but we’re dealing with a real A&R person in Allison Jones. She listens to the songs, and she knows that it’s not ‘one song fits every artist.’ When you hand her a song, I know it’s going to be handled with care and I know that what you tell us is going to be the truth about it.
“That’s also a testament to you, Scott,” McAnally continued. “When Scott Borchetta says something’s going to happen with a song, and that he’s going to get behind it, he does what he says. We obviously can’t predict where these things go beyond that, but you guys always do what you say you’re going to do and I really appreciate that.”
Finally, it was time to hear from Eli Young Band. Mike Eli shared onstage, “Something that we’ve been living by for a long time is, ‘Nothing comes easy.’ That’s just the truth – if it’s worth anything at all.” He continued, “At the end of the day, we wouldn’t be where we are now, we wouldn’t have what we have, and we wouldn’t be involved with the people that we’re involved with—I wouldn’t trade a day in our journey for overnight success.”
Eli made sure to recognize the team that has stuck by them. “While it seems as if the last 20 years has been easy, it has not. There have been a lot of tears, there has been a lot of frustration, there’s been a lot of yelling; but then there’s been a lot of happiness and that’s what has kept us together. We believe in each other and we’re so incredibly lucky to have a lot of people that believe in us.”
Eli named his and his bandmate’s families, Brian Hill and CAA; Couri and Triple 8 Management; their road crew; Borchetta and the BMLG team; their team at Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.; Dann Huff; Sweet Talk PR; country radio and the promotion team; and Schumann and SiriusXM.
And finally, Eli thanked Copperman, McAnally and Gorley; “I love listening to your songs whether we cut them or not,” he said. “Thank you for giving us the song. It’s an incredible tune.”
Maren Morris Celebrates Four RIAA Certifications
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto credit: Alan Poizner
Columbia Nashville singer/songwriter Maren Morris was surprised with multiple RIAA certification plaques at an intimate reception held in Morris’ honor at Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman’s home in Nashville Monday (July 16). New certifications include Maren Morris’ debut album HERO achieving Platinum, and the Gold status of “GIRL” and “The Bones,” both tracks on her new sophomore album GIRL. Also, certified Gold is “Rich,” Morris’ fourth single from HERO.
Pictured: Maren Morris with SVP Columbia Nashville Promotion Shane Allen, Sony Music Nashville’s COO/EVP Ken Robold and Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman, Morris’ manager Janet Weir, and Sony Music Nashville’s EVP Promotion/Artist Development Steve Hodges and EVP A&R Jim Catino. Photo: Alan Poizner
Maren Morris with Ryan Hurd, Morris’ management team, and the Sony Music Nashville team.
Rebekah Gordon Joins Black River Entertainment
/by Jessica NicholsonRebekah Gordon
Black River Entertainment has hired Rebekah Gordon as Vice President of Publishing. Gordon will oversee the operations of the publishing department and its creative endeavors. She brings more than 15 years of experience to Black River Publishing.
“Today is a great day for Black River Publishing. To have such an outstanding person join our team is an honor,” shares Black River Entertainment President & CEO Gordon Kerr. “We look forward to all of the incredible ways that Rebekah will contribute to Black River and to the songwriting community through our writers.”
In her role as Vice President of Publishing, Gordon will continue to cultivate the careers of Black River Publishing’s roster including hit songwriters-producers Bobby Huff and Josh Kerr, songwriter-artists Eddie Garcia, Willie Jones, Nikita Karmen, Anna Vaus, and Nick Wayne, songwriters Ben Caver and Jacob Davis, songwriters-Black River recording artists Abby Anderson, Carolina Story, Hannah Kerr and Josh Wilson, and promote the catalogues of hit-songwriter-Black River Recording artist Kelsea Ballerini, hit songwriters-producers Doug Johnson, Forest Glen Whitehead, and Grammy-winning songwriter Josh Osborne.
“I am beyond thrilled to begin this next chapter with Black River Entertainment and continue to build upon the stellar talent of the writers, artists and staff,” shares Rebekah. “Black River has created a truly unique and collaborative atmosphere and the results speak for themselves. This is going to be fun!”
Prior to Black River, she had stops at Rezonant and Warner Music Nashville, among others. Gordon played a vital role in placing songs for multiple artists’ projects, including Blake Shelton’s hit songs “My Eyes” and “Guy With A Girl” and Michael Ray’s debut No. 1 hit “Kiss You In The Morning,” as well as chart topper “Think A Little Less.”
Effective immediately, Gordon reports to Black River Entertainment President & CEO Gordon Kerr and can be reached at rgordon@blackriverent.com.
Musicians Hall Of Fame Reveals Inductees For 2019
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 2019 inductees into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today (July 16) in Nashville. They will be honored with a concert slated for Oct. 22 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The inductees for 2019 include:
Felix Cavaliere – One of the most renowned rock and roll and R&B keyboardists ever, as well as a Songwriters Hall of Fame member, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, a soulful singer and an original member of The (Young) Rascals—who charted 18 top 40 hits, 5 top 10 hits, and 3 No. 1 hits.
Steve Wariner – Being honored in 2019 by Gretsch Guitars with his own Steve Wariner Nashville Gentleman model, Wariner is an esteemed guitar player, a singer, a multi-Grammy Award winning Songwriter and was named by Chet Atkins as one of five guitarists to receive the CGP (Certified Guitar Player) title.
The Surfaris (Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly*, Jim Fuller*, Ron Wilson*)– In 1963, surf music was ruling the airwaves from coast to coast. Millions of young musicians were starting garage bands in every neighborhood, in every city and the song most every young drummer and guitarist first learned to play was by this Southern California band. That song is the very first Musicians Hall of Fame Instrumental Song Award Winner—”Wipe Out.”
Don Everly – As one of the most iconic vocal duos in recording history,The Everly Brothers influenced everyone from Simon & Garfunkel to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. They’ve been recognized for their superb harmonies and their incredible songwriting. The Grammy-award winning duo has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Don is an excellent arranger and rhythm guitarist; and his ground breaking rhythm guitar opening for “Wake Up Little Susie” is this year’s winner of the Iconic Riff Award.
ALABAMA (Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen) – Celebrating 50 years in 2019, Alabama has sold more than 80 million records, charted 43 No. 1 singles—including 21 No. 1 singles in a row—and have won dozens of CMA, Grammy, and ACM awards. They are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They are world-class philanthropists who have raised millions of dollars for various charities. ALABAMA is currently on the road celebrating five decades of music on its historic 50th Anniversary Tour. In addition to their induction, Cook, Gentry and Owen will receive the first ever Life Time Achievement Award from the Musicians Hall of Fame.
The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (David Briggs, Jerry Carrigan*, Norbert Putnam, Terry Thompson, and friends Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery, Joe South*, Reggie Young*) – Speaking of Alabama, who would have ever thought that a little town in North Alabama would have become, at one time, one of the most famous recording centers in the world? Muscle Shoals, AL produced some of the best music ever recorded and it all started with the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, at Rick Hall’s Fame Studios.
Nashville A-Team The Players (Eddie Bayers, Paul Franklin, John Hobbs, Brent Mason, Michael Rhodes) – Nashville is now the undisputed center of the music business, but since its inception, it has always been one of the top music cities anywhere in the world. When the recording business got started in Nashville originally, there were the Nashville A-Team Musicians. That tradition has carried on with these great musicians. Our next group of A-Team studio musicians have recorded on thousands of sessions and performed on countless hit recordings.
The Muscle Shoals Horn Section (Aaron Brown, Harrison Calloway, Ronnie Eades, Charlie Rhodes, Harvey Thompson) – Every good rhythm section needs a good horn section, and in Muscle Shoals, during the 60’s and 70’s, the original Fame Studio Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, along with ‘The Swampers,’ at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio were lucky enough to have these talented musicians.
Owen Bradley* – Nashville would not be the world-renowned city it is today without our incredible music industry. There wouldn’t be that music industry without this visionary and musical genius. The songs he produced in the 50s and 60s sound as timeless today as they did then. Owen Bradley is this year’s Musicians Hall of Fame Producer.
Billy Sherrill – Every great record has a great engineer, and there are a lot of good songs that became great records because of our next Musicians Hall of Fame Inductee. The recipient of this year’s Engineer Award goes to Billy Sherrill.
Bob Taylor – The Industry Icon Award is presented to someone for not only making a difference in the world of music, but also in the world itself. Taylor Guitars co-founder Bob Taylor is a pioneering acoustic guitar maker whose modern innovations have transformed the company from a small shop into a world-class manufacturer. Bob was 19 years old when he and co-founder Kurt Listug started the company that bears his name in 1974. Bob’s slim-profile guitar necks and easy playability helped put Taylor on the map, and in the decades that followed, Bob introduced many groundbreaking refinements to the guitar-making process, establishing new standards of quality and consistency, and making the acoustic guitar more inspiring to players at every level. Today, Taylor is an industry leader and the top-selling acoustic guitar brand in North America. In recent years, Bob has turned his attention to forest conservation and sustainability initiatives, including several pioneering reforestation programs that are planting thousands of trees for the benefit of future generations of guitar makers and musicians.
*Being honored posthumously
Pre-sale tickets will be available beginning Aug. 2, 2019 for Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum members. Tickets will be on sale to the public on Aug. 5, 2019 through the Schermerhorn Symphony Center box office.
Industry Ink: King Song, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Lisa Matassa
/by Lorie HollabaughRich Lafleur Signs With King Song
Pictured (L-R): ROAR’s Ryan O’Nan, Rich Lafleur, Bradley Collins and Whiskey Jam’s Ward Geunther. Photo: Jeff Tobias
Rich Lafleur has entered into an exclusive artist development and publishing agreement with King Song Publishing. Hailing from Clarksville, Maryland, Lafleur moved to Nashville in March of 2018. His debut single, “Worth a Shot,” co-written with Brad Hutsell, recently surpassed 100,000 performances. King Song is an independent artist development and publishing company owned by Whiskey Jam, ROAR and Bradley Collins.
Amy Grant And Michael W. Smith Reunite For Christmas Tour
Lisa Matassa Inks Digital Deal With ONErpm
Pictured (L-R): Ken Madson, Lisa Matassa, Wayne Halper Photo: Jeremy Westby
Lisa Matassa has signed a digital distribution deal with ONErpm. Matassa recorded an album of solo material as well as an album of duets with legendary country artists such as Eddy Raven, The Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Lee, Mickey Gilley, Marty Raybon of Shenandoah and more and will be releasing a variety of projects through ONErpm that will include live recordings and performances filmed at The Wildhorse Saloon in June 2016 during CMA Music Fest.