Marty Brown. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Marty Brown has made a career of painting pictures through words and melodies.
As a songwriter, Brown’s images of Oklahoma oil and Kansas wheat fields fill “When I Stop Loving You” (recorded by Trace Adkins), while portraits of sawed off shotguns and coonskin caps stand proudly in “I’m From The Country” (recorded by Tracy Byrd).
“That song built my house,” he said during a recent visit to the MusicRow offices. “That’s my bread and butter.”
Brown had a label deal with MCA in the ‘90s; after his deal expired, he stepped away from the spotlight and shifted his focus solely to writing songs. He built a comfortable routine, living in Franklin, Kentucky and driving in to Nashville for co-writing sessions.
“I would come home and play my wife demo tapes and I’d say, ‘Blake would sound good singing that song,’ and she would say, ‘Well, you sound good singing that!’”
Brown’s wife Shellie surprised him by driving him to a Nashville audition for music competition America’s Got Talent and in 2013, his rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” became a viral moment, earning more than 11 million views on YouTube; he went on to reach the Top 10 on America’s Got Talent.
Pictured (L-R): Marty Brown and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
His strong showing on AGT soon landed Brown another artist deal, this time with Plowboy Records, where he released his first album in more than two decades. Those same brightly-rendered images cover the new project, American Highway. He co-wrote and co-produced the project with Jon Tiven.
“I was on Highway 100, just driving and listening to music,” he says of penning the title track. “I started thinking of all these pictures, like Norman Rockwell paintings. I wrote it about going down country roads and seeing old men sitting on porches.”
Soon after recording the song, he rewrote the track to include more imagery of cityscapes, to widen the song’s appeal to a broader audience. His new single, “Umbrella Lovers,” conjures a portrait of a couple in love.
“They are just walkin’ in the rain together, and they don’t care about anything else,” he says. “They have each other and they love each other and that’s all that matters.”
Marty Brown celebrates his BMI Million-Air award with BMI’s David Preston.
Brown was recently honored with a BMI Million-Air award, commemorating five million radio plays of “I’m From The Country.” He says whether he is writing songs for others or singing them himself, the focus is always on the music.
“When I was on MCA, I was fresh out of Kentucky and I didn’t know anybody. I just had my guitar and me, and it’s still that way. But if the song is strong, it can cut through anything.”
Marty Brown with the MusicRow staff. Photo: Martha Moore
Kacey Musgraves CMHoF Exhibit Opening To Feature Conversation In July
/by Eric T. Parker“Kacey Musgraves is progressive, yet has a sound rooted in tradition. She writes songs that have messages not necessarily heard before in this genre. She is winning accolades and bringing country music to new audiences, breaking barriers and doing this all on her own terms,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are excited to share the remarkable musical journey of this young country music star—from her beginnings as a yodeling cowgirl to her present status as one of the biggest names in music today.”
“I absolutely adore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Musgraves, “and it’s a privilege to have them curate an exhibit that will showcase pieces from moments all the way back to my childhood that are very special to me.”
In support of the exhibition’s opening, Musgraves will participate in a conversation in the museum’s CMA Theater on Saturday, July 6, at 2 p.m., sharing personal stories and memories associated with the artifacts included in Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, May 29. More information is available at countrymusichalloffame.org.
Former Roc Nation Exec Named VP At Bernstein Private Wealth Management
/by Jessica NicholsonDan Weisman
Bernstein Private Wealth Management has added Daniel Weisman to its Nashville office as a Vice President and Financial Advisor. Weisman will report to Managing Director Adam Sansiveri, who recently relocated to the city to lead Bernstein’s new office. In this role, Weisman will advise individuals and institutions on a wide range of financial planning and investment matters, tailoring comprehensive strategies uniquely suited to each client’s individual resources, tax situation, risk tolerance and estate planning goals.
“As we continue our growth in Nashville, I couldn’t be more excited by the level of talent we’re discovering,” said Sansiveri. “Dan has established himself as a trusted advisor, with deep financial knowledge and success as an entrepreneur, but he also brings an authenticity and intellectual curiosity that will serve to deepen our relationships with local clients.”
Prior to joining Bernstein, Weisman spent more than a decade as an entrepreneur and advisor in the music industry, most recently as an executive artist manager at Jay Z’s Roc Nation; he moved to Nashville from his hometown of Los Angeles in 2016 to run their Nashville office. Weisman’s clients included Mike Posner, Wale, Big Sean and Capital Cities. In 2013, Dan cofounded the luxury shoe company Buscemi (acquired: Lion Capital, 2015), and he sold One Wipe Charlies for cash and equity to the Dollar Shave Club (acquired: Unilever, $1bn, 2016).
“I am thrilled to be part of the Bernstein team in Nashville and continue to build a practice in this diverse and lively city of culture and music,” said Weisman. “We are committed to delivering rich opportunities along with an unparalleled level of service, expertise and sophistication to our clients and the greater community.”
Additionally, Weisman has produced the short film Too Legit starring Zoe Kravitz, which was selected for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and later acquired by MTV; served as an angel investor and volunteer at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center; is a Billboard 30 Under 30 honoree (2010), a 2011 Grammy Board Governor, and a Grammy nominee (2014, video producer, Capital Cities “Safe and Sound”).
Former Roc Nation Exec Named VP At Bernstein Private Wealth Management
/by Jessica NicholsonDan Weisman
Bernstein Private Wealth Management has added Daniel Weisman to its Nashville office as a Vice President and Financial Advisor. Weisman will report to Managing Director Adam Sansiveri, who recently relocated to the city to lead Bernstein’s new office. In this role, Weisman will advise individuals and institutions on a wide range of financial planning and investment matters, tailoring comprehensive strategies uniquely suited to each client’s individual resources, tax situation, risk tolerance and estate planning goals.
“As we continue our growth in Nashville, I couldn’t be more excited by the level of talent we’re discovering,” said Sansiveri. “Dan has established himself as a trusted advisor, with deep financial knowledge and success as an entrepreneur, but he also brings an authenticity and intellectual curiosity that will serve to deepen our relationships with local clients.”
Prior to joining Bernstein, Weisman spent more than a decade as an entrepreneur and advisor in the music industry, most recently as an executive artist manager at Jay Z’s Roc Nation; he moved to Nashville from his hometown of Los Angeles in 2016 to run their Nashville office. Weisman’s clients included Mike Posner, Wale, Big Sean and Capital Cities. In 2013, Dan cofounded the luxury shoe company Buscemi (acquired: Lion Capital, 2015), and he sold One Wipe Charlies for cash and equity to the Dollar Shave Club (acquired: Unilever, $1bn, 2016).
“I am thrilled to be part of the Bernstein team in Nashville and continue to build a practice in this diverse and lively city of culture and music,” said Weisman. “We are committed to delivering rich opportunities along with an unparalleled level of service, expertise and sophistication to our clients and the greater community.”
Additionally, Weisman has produced the short film Too Legit starring Zoe Kravitz, which was selected for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and later acquired by MTV; served as an angel investor and volunteer at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center; is a Billboard 30 Under 30 honoree (2010), a 2011 Grammy Board Governor, and a Grammy nominee (2014, video producer, Capital Cities “Safe and Sound”).
Molly Reed Extends Deal With Curb|Word Music Publishing
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Trevor Mathiesen (Publishing and A&R Director), Joel Timen (VP A&R and Publishing), Ryan Dokke (GM/SVP Curb|Word Entertainment), MaryAnn Keane (Artist Relations, BMI) Molly Reed, Janine Appleton (VP of Publishing, Curb|Word Entertainment) Nina Jenkins (Creative Director Curb|Word Publishing), Colt Murski (Senior Creative Director, Curb|Word Publishing) Jonathan Mason (VP Christian A&R and Publishing), Austen Adams (Dickinson-Wright) Not Pictured: Nate Drake (Dickinson- Wright)
Curb|Word Music Publishing has extended its deal with New York native and Belmont University alumna Molly Reed. In addition to co-writing Big Machine artist Danielle Bradbery’s single “Worth It,” Reed has earned two No. 1 songs in the CCM genre, including Francesca Battistelli’s “Messiah” and the Colton Dixon hit “Through All Of It.”
Reed is a writer on Mallary Hope’s current single “Me,” and has earned two BMI Awards. She has had sync placement success on shows including Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill. Her songs have also been recorded by Amy Grant, Olivia Newton John, Sidewalk Prophets, Brandon Heath, We Are Messengers, Blanca, Hillary Scott & the Scott Family, Jordan Feliz, Danny Gokey, and more.
Molly Reed Extends Deal With Curb|Word Music Publishing
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Trevor Mathiesen (Publishing and A&R Director), Joel Timen (VP A&R and Publishing), Ryan Dokke (GM/SVP Curb|Word Entertainment), MaryAnn Keane (Artist Relations, BMI) Molly Reed, Janine Appleton (VP of Publishing, Curb|Word Entertainment) Nina Jenkins (Creative Director Curb|Word Publishing), Colt Murski (Senior Creative Director, Curb|Word Publishing) Jonathan Mason (VP Christian A&R and Publishing), Austen Adams (Dickinson-Wright) Not Pictured: Nate Drake (Dickinson- Wright)
Curb|Word Music Publishing has extended its deal with New York native and Belmont University alumna Molly Reed. In addition to co-writing Big Machine artist Danielle Bradbery’s single “Worth It,” Reed has earned two No. 1 songs in the CCM genre, including Francesca Battistelli’s “Messiah” and the Colton Dixon hit “Through All Of It.”
Reed is a writer on Mallary Hope’s current single “Me,” and has earned two BMI Awards. She has had sync placement success on shows including Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill. Her songs have also been recorded by Amy Grant, Olivia Newton John, Sidewalk Prophets, Brandon Heath, We Are Messengers, Blanca, Hillary Scott & the Scott Family, Jordan Feliz, Danny Gokey, and more.
Singer-Songwriter Marty Brown Releases First Album In 20 Years, ‘American Highway’
/by Jessica NicholsonMarty Brown. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Marty Brown has made a career of painting pictures through words and melodies.
As a songwriter, Brown’s images of Oklahoma oil and Kansas wheat fields fill “When I Stop Loving You” (recorded by Trace Adkins), while portraits of sawed off shotguns and coonskin caps stand proudly in “I’m From The Country” (recorded by Tracy Byrd).
“That song built my house,” he said during a recent visit to the MusicRow offices. “That’s my bread and butter.”
Brown had a label deal with MCA in the ‘90s; after his deal expired, he stepped away from the spotlight and shifted his focus solely to writing songs. He built a comfortable routine, living in Franklin, Kentucky and driving in to Nashville for co-writing sessions.
“I would come home and play my wife demo tapes and I’d say, ‘Blake would sound good singing that song,’ and she would say, ‘Well, you sound good singing that!’”
Brown’s wife Shellie surprised him by driving him to a Nashville audition for music competition America’s Got Talent and in 2013, his rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” became a viral moment, earning more than 11 million views on YouTube; he went on to reach the Top 10 on America’s Got Talent.
Pictured (L-R): Marty Brown and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
His strong showing on AGT soon landed Brown another artist deal, this time with Plowboy Records, where he released his first album in more than two decades. Those same brightly-rendered images cover the new project, American Highway. He co-wrote and co-produced the project with Jon Tiven.
“I was on Highway 100, just driving and listening to music,” he says of penning the title track. “I started thinking of all these pictures, like Norman Rockwell paintings. I wrote it about going down country roads and seeing old men sitting on porches.”
Soon after recording the song, he rewrote the track to include more imagery of cityscapes, to widen the song’s appeal to a broader audience. His new single, “Umbrella Lovers,” conjures a portrait of a couple in love.
“They are just walkin’ in the rain together, and they don’t care about anything else,” he says. “They have each other and they love each other and that’s all that matters.”
Marty Brown celebrates his BMI Million-Air award with BMI’s David Preston.
Brown was recently honored with a BMI Million-Air award, commemorating five million radio plays of “I’m From The Country.” He says whether he is writing songs for others or singing them himself, the focus is always on the music.
“When I was on MCA, I was fresh out of Kentucky and I didn’t know anybody. I just had my guitar and me, and it’s still that way. But if the song is strong, it can cut through anything.”
Marty Brown with the MusicRow staff. Photo: Martha Moore
Singer-Songwriter Marty Brown Releases First Album In 20 Years, ‘American Highway’
/by Jessica NicholsonMarty Brown. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Marty Brown has made a career of painting pictures through words and melodies.
As a songwriter, Brown’s images of Oklahoma oil and Kansas wheat fields fill “When I Stop Loving You” (recorded by Trace Adkins), while portraits of sawed off shotguns and coonskin caps stand proudly in “I’m From The Country” (recorded by Tracy Byrd).
“That song built my house,” he said during a recent visit to the MusicRow offices. “That’s my bread and butter.”
Brown had a label deal with MCA in the ‘90s; after his deal expired, he stepped away from the spotlight and shifted his focus solely to writing songs. He built a comfortable routine, living in Franklin, Kentucky and driving in to Nashville for co-writing sessions.
“I would come home and play my wife demo tapes and I’d say, ‘Blake would sound good singing that song,’ and she would say, ‘Well, you sound good singing that!’”
Brown’s wife Shellie surprised him by driving him to a Nashville audition for music competition America’s Got Talent and in 2013, his rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” became a viral moment, earning more than 11 million views on YouTube; he went on to reach the Top 10 on America’s Got Talent.
Pictured (L-R): Marty Brown and MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
His strong showing on AGT soon landed Brown another artist deal, this time with Plowboy Records, where he released his first album in more than two decades. Those same brightly-rendered images cover the new project, American Highway. He co-wrote and co-produced the project with Jon Tiven.
“I was on Highway 100, just driving and listening to music,” he says of penning the title track. “I started thinking of all these pictures, like Norman Rockwell paintings. I wrote it about going down country roads and seeing old men sitting on porches.”
Soon after recording the song, he rewrote the track to include more imagery of cityscapes, to widen the song’s appeal to a broader audience. His new single, “Umbrella Lovers,” conjures a portrait of a couple in love.
“They are just walkin’ in the rain together, and they don’t care about anything else,” he says. “They have each other and they love each other and that’s all that matters.”
Marty Brown celebrates his BMI Million-Air award with BMI’s David Preston.
Brown was recently honored with a BMI Million-Air award, commemorating five million radio plays of “I’m From The Country.” He says whether he is writing songs for others or singing them himself, the focus is always on the music.
“When I was on MCA, I was fresh out of Kentucky and I didn’t know anybody. I just had my guitar and me, and it’s still that way. But if the song is strong, it can cut through anything.”
Marty Brown with the MusicRow staff. Photo: Martha Moore
Hip-Hop Duo GRITS Celebrate RIAA Platinum Certification
/by Lorie HollabaughGotee Records recently celebrated the label’s first RIAA Platinum certification for the hip-hop duo GRITS‘ song “Ooh Ahh” that features TobyMac from the 2002 album, The Art of Translation. GRITS (an acronym for Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit) consists of Teron “Bonafide” Carter and Stacy “Coffee” Jones.
The song, which never had a music video or was a radio single, was used on the big screen in The Fast And The Furious: Toyko Drift and Big Momma’s House 2. It was also the theme song to the two seasons of MTV’s The Buried Life. Those placements in film & TV propelled the song in digital track sales to a RIAA Gold certification in 2014 and has continued to grow in streaming.
Formed in 1994, GRITS were the third artist signed to Gotee Records and released their debut album Mental Releases in 1995. While their first three albums established GRITS as underground icons, it was their breakthrough fourth album The Art Of Translation in 2002 that solidified their ascent as stars on the hip-hop horizon.
“Art of Translation was a seminal moment in independent hip-hop,” shares Joey Elwood, President of Gotee Records. “It brought together creative forces from all across the hip-hop world. They merged their faith with their art in a way that blurred the lines in a really good way. The songs are timeless, but ‘ Ahh’, was a standout for sure. The song is so widely recognized, globally and is multi-generational. Super proud of that moment in our history and will always consider it one of the big highlights in our 25 years.”
Over the course of their career, GRITS shared the stage with OutKast, Jay-Z, Nappy Roots, Ice Cube, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Goodie Mob, and Monica. They have a Billboard Video Award, three Dove Awards, two GRAMMY nominations and two RIAA certifications to their credit.
Hip-Hop Duo GRITS Celebrate RIAA Platinum Certification
/by Lorie HollabaughGotee Records recently celebrated the label’s first RIAA Platinum certification for the hip-hop duo GRITS‘ song “Ooh Ahh” that features TobyMac from the 2002 album, The Art of Translation. GRITS (an acronym for Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit) consists of Teron “Bonafide” Carter and Stacy “Coffee” Jones.
The song, which never had a music video or was a radio single, was used on the big screen in The Fast And The Furious: Toyko Drift and Big Momma’s House 2. It was also the theme song to the two seasons of MTV’s The Buried Life. Those placements in film & TV propelled the song in digital track sales to a RIAA Gold certification in 2014 and has continued to grow in streaming.
Formed in 1994, GRITS were the third artist signed to Gotee Records and released their debut album Mental Releases in 1995. While their first three albums established GRITS as underground icons, it was their breakthrough fourth album The Art Of Translation in 2002 that solidified their ascent as stars on the hip-hop horizon.
“Art of Translation was a seminal moment in independent hip-hop,” shares Joey Elwood, President of Gotee Records. “It brought together creative forces from all across the hip-hop world. They merged their faith with their art in a way that blurred the lines in a really good way. The songs are timeless, but ‘ Ahh’, was a standout for sure. The song is so widely recognized, globally and is multi-generational. Super proud of that moment in our history and will always consider it one of the big highlights in our 25 years.”
Over the course of their career, GRITS shared the stage with OutKast, Jay-Z, Nappy Roots, Ice Cube, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Goodie Mob, and Monica. They have a Billboard Video Award, three Dove Awards, two GRAMMY nominations and two RIAA certifications to their credit.
Luke Combs To Release New EP In June
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright
Luke Combs‘ debut album, This One’s For You, which released in 2017, has spent a total of 35 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Albums chart, marking the longest reign by a solo male artist in more than 25 years. The album has also been certified double Platinum, and spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2018, making it the highest-selling country album last year and the only one to earn more than 1 million album units. Combs recently became the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks.
He will follow that record-breaking success with his new EP, The Prequel, on June 7 via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. The EP, produced by Scott Moffatt, features five new songs, including the lead single “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” The song recently set the record for most adds on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart with 149 adds.
Combs co-wrote every track on the EP, alongside co-writers including Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton, Jordan Brooker, Ray Fulcher, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Thomas Archer, James McNair and Dan Isbell.
His “Beer Never Broke My Heart” fall tour sold out venues in 25 of the 29 cities in the first weekend tickets were on sale.