Blake Shelton, Musicians On Call Celebrate Record-Breaking Night

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Pictured (L-R): Charles Esten, Cale Dodds, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Shane Tarleton, Lauren Alaina, Pete Griffin, Charlie Cook. Photo: Terry Wyatt/MOC

Musicians On Call and Blake Shelton brought in a record-setting amount for the nonprofit organization on Friday (May 31), when the 20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration Presented By Pepsi raised $330,000, the most raised at an MOC event in Nashville to date.

Shelton and Cale Dodds performed during the event, held at Nashville’s CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Warner Music Nashville’s Sr. VP, Artist Development Shane Tarleton was the evening’s top honoree, and the recipient of the organization’s first Lifetime Achievement Award and commemorated with a platinum guitar. Martina McBride, Brandon Ray and Chandra LePlume honored Tarleton during the event, before he was surprised with two new programs in his honor. The first is a Music Pharmacy near his hometown at the Hospice of Union County, and a Bedside Performance Program at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, where Tarleton’s sister, Tanya Rand, is a nurse.

“I am humbled beyond belief to have been a part of such a historical event for Musicians On Call. There was so much joy in that room as we celebrated 20 years,” said Shane Tarleton. “Having two programs started in North Carolina in my name is the best gift I could ever receive. I’ll certainly do my best to always be worthy of this beautiful Lifetime Achievement award.”
Universal Music Group Nashville recording artist Lauren Alaina received the Music Heals award, and was honored by longtime mentor Gator Harrison, who highlighted her experience as a volunteer musician.

Blake Shelton performs during the Musicians On Call 20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration Presented by Pepsi at CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 31, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Musicians On Call)

Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini Return As Hosts Of ‘CMA Fest’ ABC Special

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Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini are returning to host CMA Fest, the Music Event of Summer, with Bobby Bones as special guest host. The three-hour primetime concert special, which brings country music’s ultimate fan experience to a national TV audience, airs Aug. 4 at 7 P.M. CT on ABC.

“This year’s CMA Fest offers something for every music fan,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “From surprise collaborations to some of country music’s most exciting emerging and legendary talent, we’re excited to bring the festival to millions of fans around the world later this summer.”

Filmed during Nashville’s annual four-day CMA Fest June 6-9, the TV special features more than 30 performances and surprise collaborations on stage at Nissan Stadium. 2019 marks the 16th consecutive year of the broadcast, a feat no other U.S. music festival has achieved. Last year’s broadcast generated ABC’s top summertime non-sports ratings, leading ABC to the most-watched network that night according to Nielsen Media Research.

“‘CMA Fest’ is always the summer’s must-see music event with the biggest names in country music,” says Rob Mills, ABC Entertainment Senior Vice President, Alternative Series, Specials & Late-Night Programming. “With Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini returning for their third year and Bobby Bones joining them as special guest host, we know this summer’s festival will knock it out of the park.”

Thomas Rhett returns to host CMA Fest for a fourth year, first co-hosting the special in 2016, while Ballerini returns for a third year. Ballerini takes the Nissan Stadium stage to perform this Thursday, June 6, while Thomas Rhett performs Friday, June 7.

Alecia Davis Tapped To Co-Host 2019 MusicRow Awards

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Alecia Davis

Alecia Davis, the respected television host, entertainment journalist, writer and producer, will co-host this year’s MusicRow Awards at War Memorial Auditorium on June 26. She will join MusicRow Magazine’s Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson for the annual event held to honor the Nashville music industry’s top talents.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing the hosting duties with such a bad-ass talent as Nashville’s Alecia Davis,” says Robertson. “She’s the consummate professional and I am truly blown away by her incredible expertise and infectious personality. While the goal for these awards is to honor the musical talent in our industry, it will be our goal that evening to make sure everyone attending has a ridiculously fun time doing so.”

Alecia Davis currently interviews today’s biggest celebrities on the Emmy award-winning entertainment news show, EXTRA. She joined the internationally syndicated program in 2007, and has garnered exclusive interviews with Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Kevin Costner, Keith Urban, Miley Cyrus, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and more.

In addition to her work at EXTRA, in 2008 Davis gained notoriety as she returned to her hometown of Nashville and her country music roots to serve as co-host of CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown and #1 Music and a Movie, as well as other specials, and Countdown to Country Music’s Top 100 Songs. Davis credits CMT for launching her career as a television host in 2000, on the popular series, Hit Trip.

The 31st Annual MusicRow Awards, set for an invitation-only gala at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium on June 26. Nominees and ticket information can be viewed at MusicRow.com. Supporting Sponsors of the event are Vaden Group | Elliott Davis, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC. Partner level sponsors include Ram Trucks and City National Bank.

Having almost 20 years experience, Davis is a go-to anchor on the red carpet and backstage at the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, the Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards, as well as live specials like TV Guide’s Live at The Grammys, CMT’s Live from the Red Carpet at the CMT Awards, the Live from the ACM Awards Red Carpet, and CMA Nominations Live.

Davis worked at TV Guide Network (2008-2011) as a correspondent interviewing Hollywood’s top celebrities at award shows, red-carpet movie premieres, set-visits, movie junkets and events. She served as guest host, alongside Chris Harrison, on the daily entertainment news program Hollywood 411. Davis also hosted many specials for the network, and with her background in country music, she was a natural choice to host the biography focused Close Up, featuring artists Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, and Blake Shelton, and The Sexy Stars of Country Music; as well as, What’s on DVD and Big Movie Premiere.

Davis then joined Reelz Channel (2011-2012), where she utilized her fashion background and served as co-host on Fashion Fanatics and a correspondent on the daily entertainment news program, Hollywood Dailies.

Previously, Davis gained recognition as host of TLC’s hit wedding show, For Better or For Worse. Some of her other hosting and broadcasting credits include, her work as a correspondent on E! News Live, co-host of ABC Family’s XYZ at the Movies, CoverGirl’s The Look (13 looks of Taylor Swift) and Time-Life’s Country USA, with Larry Gatlin.

Apart from being a television host, Davis co-hosted the national weekly radio call-in show, Give and Take on WLAC (2006-2008); and she served as a contributing editor at Country Weekly Magazine. Davis also started her own business, Gemini Media, producing content for media platforms and providing media training.

 

Ross Copperman, Lady Antebellum, Tenille Townes To Lead 10th Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp

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ACM Lifting Lives and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities will partner again for the 10th Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, June 12-June 19, 2019, in Nashville, TN. Country artists Lady Antebellum, Tenille Townes, Jessie James Decker, producer-songwriter Ross Copperman and singer-songwriter Joy Williams have volunteered their time with the campers at various points throughout the week. The finale will take place Tuesday, June 18, 2019 on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry as ACM Lifting Lives Music campers offer a live performance with country music artist Michael Ray.

The camp, a week-long residential program open to individuals with Williams syndrome talented in music from around the U.S. and Canada, has a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education. ACM Lifting Lives funds the costs of the camp in addition to providing scholarships to several campers, enabling the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to advance its mission of improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, training and service.

Campers will participate in a songwriting workshop and recording session, along with other music-oriented activities, culminating in a live performance at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

Throughout the week, campers gain invaluable experience through visits from top-tier country music veterans. Prior camps have featured artist visits from Lauren Alaina, Gary Allan, Kelsea Ballerini, The Band Perry, Danielle Bradbery, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Lee Brice, Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, Julianne Hough, Casey James, Chris Janson, Jana Kramer, Brandon Lay, Little Big Town, Love and Theft, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, Lance Miller, Eddie Montgomery, Craig Morgan, Kip Moore, Maren Morris, David Lee Murphy, Jerrod Niemann, Jon Nite, Jake Owen, Eric Paslay, Cassadee Pope, LeAnn Rimes, RaeLynn, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Hillary Scott, The Swon Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Paul Worley, Wynonna, Chris Young and more. This year’s schedule includes:

Thursday, June 13
Songwriting Workshop with Ross Copperman, Lady Antebellum and Joy Williams
Dinner and Karaoke at Winner’s Bar & Grill with Surprise Guest Artist

Friday, June 14
Seacrest Studios visit with Surprise Guest Artist
Meet & Greet with Surprise Guest Artist at Wildhorse Saloon

Saturday, June 15
Bluebird Cafe visit with Jessie James Decker

Monday, June 17
Recording Studio Day with Ross Copperman and Tenille Townes at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Nashville

Tuesday, June 18
LIVE performance with Michael Ray at the Grand Ole Opry

 

BBR Music Group Promotes DeToro, Adds Wisz To Staff

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DeToro, Wisz

BBR Music Group has promoted Devin DeToro to Director of Marketing and hired Channing Wisz as Manager of Marketing. Both will report to BBR Music Group VP of Marketing, JoJamie Hahr.

In addition to serving as the day-to-day marketing contact for many artist teams, DeToro has expanded BBR’s influencer relations and has taken a lead role in the planning of BBR events. DeToro joined the team in 2017 as a Manager of Marketing following a two-year stint in Los Angeles at iHeartMedia as Manager, Activation and Account Management. Prior to iHeartMedia she served for seven years with CBS Radio rising to Project Manager, Integrated Marketing and Events for the Chicago cluster.

“Since joining the label, Devin has become a crucial part of our team,” stated Hahr. “She far exceeds every expectation within her role and is so deserving of this promotion.”

Wisz has been hired as Manager of Marketing. In this role she will be serve as point on coordinating marketing efforts for BBR Music Group’s diverse roster of artists. Wisz joins BBR from Crowd Surf, a digital marketing company where she served as a Marketing Account Manager, specializing in social media. She joined Crowd Surf in their Los Angeles office as a fall intern in 2014 before joining the Nashville team full-time in January 2018 following stops at RPM Entertainment and Miles High Productions.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Channing to the team! Her creativity, passion, and go-getter mentality make her the perfect fit for the BBR Music Group family,” added Hahr.

DeToro can be reached at devin@bbrmusicgroup.com. Wisz can be reached at channing@bbrmusicgroup.com.

Mark Your Calendar—June 2019

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Single Add Dates

June 3
Jon Pardi/Heartache Medication/Capitol Records Nashville
Brett Young/Catch/BMLG
Jake Owen/Homemade/Big Loud Records
Jameson Rodgers/Some Girls/River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
Stephen Martines/Alright/Nine North Label Group
James Robert Webb/April May/Bison Creek Records
Morgan White/Good Thing Gone/MC1 Nashville
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real/Bad Case/Fantasy/Concord
Adrienne Nicole/Ain’t So Sweet
Matt Dylan/Strong/Motivated Music Group
Sam Shupak/Smooth Sailing/Southern Pine Music
Frankie Justin/Broken Heartbreak/SMG Nashville

June 10
Walker Hayes/Don’t Let Her/Arista Nashville/Monument Records
Tracy Lawrence/Made In America/LMG
Bekx/Scissors/MC1 Nashville
Mike Beach/Reckless/MC1 Nashville
Richard Schroder/Let’s See How Far We Can Go/Amplifier Records

June 17
Cale Dodds/I Like Where This Is Going/Warner Music Nashville
Melissa Leigh/Hello/MC1 Nashville
Lorne Riley/Twenty Years
Justin Spears/Everyone Sings/Spin Doctors Music Group

June 21
Ava Rowland/Exit Sign/Ava Rowland Music, LLC.

June 24
Rachel Reinert/All We Have/Green Iris Records
Gary Kyle/American Flags/Rise Records

Album Releases

June 4
Music City Hit-Makers/Songs & Symphony [EP]

June 7
Luke Combs/The Prequel [EP]/River House Artists-Columbia Nashville

June 14
Riley Green/GET THAT MAN A BEER [EP]/BMLG Records
Montgomery Gentry/Outskirts [EP]/Average Joes Entertainment
Chris Shiflett/Hard Lessons/East Beach Records & Tapes-Thirty Tigers
Jon Wolfe/Feels Like Country Music [EP]

June 21
Willie Nelson/Ride Me Back Home/Legacy
Aaron Watson/Red Bandana/Big Label Records
Jim Lauderdale/From Another World/Yep Roc Records
Buddy and Julie Miller/Breakdown on 20th Ave. South/New West Records
The Raconteurs/Help Us Stranger/Third Man Records

June 28
The Black Keys/Let’s Rock/Easy Eye Sound-Nonesuch Records
Josh Abbott Band/Catching Fire [EP]

Industry Events

June 5
CMT Music Awards air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. ET on CMT

June 6
Hot Dog day at SunTrust on Music Row from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 6-9
CMA Fest in downtown Nashville

June 13-16
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 22-23
Nashville Pride

June 26
31st Annual MusicRow Awards, supported by Vaden Group | Elliott Davis, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC and partnered with Ram Trucks and City National Bank [invite only]

Music City Hit-Makers Release ‘Songs & Symphony’ Project

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Music City Hit-Makers will release their debut EP Songs & Symphony on June 4. The EP features some of Nashville’s most successful writers including Brett James, Jessi Alexander, Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Marcus Hummon and Rivers Rutherford, who have penned hits for Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus and countless other stars.

To celebrate the release of Songs & Symphony, MCHM’s Chris DeStefano, Rivers Rutherford and Marcus Hummon will be performing an EP release show on June 4 at City Winery in Nashville.

MCHM, often referred to as “the most famous people you’ve never heard of,” features Nashville’s biggest writers performing their hits as arranged for a symphony by award-winning studio musician and arranger Charlie Judge.

“Nashville is the epicenter of great songwriting, so the top songwriters in Nashville really are the best in the business,” says Judge. “It is my incredibly good fortune to have the opportunity to work with these talented writers, both as a keyboardist in the studio recording their hits, and as an arranger re-casting their songs for orchestra.”

Music City Hit-Makers Songs & Symphony Track Listing: 
Brett James – “I Hold On” – recorded by Dierks Bentley
Jessi Alexander – “Mine Would Be You” – recorded by Blake Shelton
Chris DeStefano – “From The Ground Up” – recorded by Dan + Shay
Hillary Lindsey – “Girl Crush” – recorded by Little Big Town
Marcus Hummon – “Born To Fly” – recorded by Sara Evans
Rivers Rutherford – “When I Get Where I’m Going” – recorded by Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton

Ashley Gorley Spends Ninth Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ashley Gorley reigns for the tenth consecutive week at the top of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Michael Hardy comes in at No. 2 again this week. The MusicRow Award Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee lives up to the nomination, with five titles supporting him this week, including: Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country,” Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You,” LOCASH’s “One Big Country Song,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Talk You Out Of It,” and his own “Rednecker.”

Ross Copperman remains at No. 3 this week, while “Whiskey Glasses” co-writers Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish move into the Top Five this week, at No. 4 and No. 5, from the momentum of the Morgan Wallen-recorded hit.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Hip-Hop Producer Polow Da Don To Launch Nashville Country Station

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Producer Polow Da Don (real name Jamal Jones), who has worked with Nicki Minaj and Fergie, is best-known in Nashville circles for his early work with hitmaker Kane Brown. Now, Polow is set to launch a new Nashville radio station, “Young Country” on WYCZ (96.7 FM). The station, which launches June 6, will focus on a genre-free range of country-influenced sounds.

“I’m trying to create a platform where artists can do their own thing,” Polow says. “We want the kids to take it over and tell us what’s cool. They’ll be able to dictate what’s hot and I’ll be something of a curator. It’s a station to provide an outlet for all the artists who feel they don’t have a voice in country music. There’s always been a melting pot for music and country has been a little late to the party,” he says. “The music exists. I just feel like nobody else is taking the initiative to create a world that embraces this music.”

The station will be operated by Polow, along with Mia Welsh-Khabeer and Jeff Haddad. On-air talent and other team members will be announced at a later date. Polow will operate both from Nashville and from Atlanta, where his Zone 4 label is based. He will continue producing and writing songs for new artists.

The station’s first two months on-air will be commercial-free, and powered by cryptocurrency Litecoin; Young Country will accept Litecoin as a form of payment for merchandise and events.

“It’s natural for any creative person to look at things happening in the world and envision something different,” he says. “A lot of times, it takes someone from the outside to make the biggest mark on an industry. The idea of Young Country had to come from somebody like me who’s not trapped by the thought of how things have been done in the past.”

Jones previously produced and represented Brown, before he was signed to Sony Music Nashville. According to The Tennessean,  Jones and Zone 4 filed a breach of contract suit in federal court in February, claiming when Brown inked his Sony deal, he violated a deal they made in 2015; Brown’s attorneys put forth a counterclaim in March, saying the 2015 deal was fraudulent.

Polow’s PR confirms that Brown’s music will indeed be among the tracks played on Young Country.

Update [4:59 p.m.]: A representative for Brown released the following statement regarding the ongoing legal proceedings:

“While we can’t at this time comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the earlier press reports today regarding statements made by Polow and his team regarding the ongoing lawsuit and countersuit with Kane Brown are not accurate. The suit is still ongoing, and it is misleading to state otherwise.”

Randy Houser Announces Fall Magnolia Tour

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Randy Houser. Photo: Sean O’Halloran

Randy Houser will visit theaters across the country later this year on his headlining Magnolia Tour. Paul Cauthen will join him as special guest for the tour, which kicks off Oct. 24 in Dallas and embodies the spirit of Houser’s new single, “No Stone Unturned.”

“My true passion is being out on the road, playing music,” said Houser. “That’s kind of what ‘No Stone Unturned’ is all about— I’ve always fancied myself a little bit of a traveling man so I’m looking forward to getting back out there and doing what I love.”

Tickets for the Magnolia Tour will go on sale June 7. Pre-sale for Randy’s fan club, The House Band, will be available June 5-6. Fans can sign up for The House Band and purchase tickets at RandyHouser.com. Additional dates will be announced at a later date.

Magnolia Tour Dates:
October 24—Dallas, TX—Bomb Factory
October 26—Austin, TX—Nutty Brown Café & Amphitheatre***
November 2—Chattanooga, TN—Tivoli Theatre***
November 8—Indianapolis, IN—8 Seconds Saloon***
November 13—Athens, GA—Georgia Theatre***
November 14—Knoxville, TN—Tennessee Theatre***
November 15—Richmond, VA—The National***
November 16—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theater***
November 21—Lake Buena Vista, FL—House of Blues***
November 22—Fort Myers, FL—The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon***
December 11—New York City, NY—Webster Hall***
December 12—Boston, MA—Paradise Rock Club***
***Denotes dates with Paul Cauthen