CMA Fest has revealed the lineup for the popular nightly concerts at the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 8, with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. CT each evening.
Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, presented by BBR Music Group, will kick off the festivities Thursday night. Headliner Chase Rice will be joined by Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown, Adam Craig, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, King Calaway, LOCASH and Runaway June.
Brett Young will headline Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on Friday night. Joining Young will be Bailey Bryan, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick, Caylee Hammack, Jillian Jacqueline and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Closing out Saturday night, fans will enjoy Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, presented by Warner Music Nashville. Hunter Hayes and Cody Johnson will co-headline the evening, joined by Ingrid Andress, Tucker Beathard and Ashley McBryde.
“We are excited for the Ascend Amphitheater performances to return for a third straight year with a stellar lineup, and are thrilled to offer an additional nightly concert series to festival goers as well as our local Nashville fanbase during CMA Fest,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer. “With a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting high-quality music education initiatives across the U.S. through the CMA Foundation, the loyal fans that attend the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater are helping to support this mission.”
“As a time-tested American brand built on durability and dependability, Firestone fits perfectly as the Official Tire of Country Music,” said Amber Holm, Vice President, Consumer and Customer Engagement, Bridgestone Americas. “Like those who drive on Firestone tires, Country Music’s inspiring artists and passionate fans understand what it means to work hard. We’re excited to give them a chance to play hard, too, by partnering with CMA Fest to offer nightly shows right here in our hometown of Nashville on the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater.”
Outdoor daytime stages including the Budweiser Forever Country Stage, Chevy Riverfront Stage and others to be announced soon are free and open to the public. Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities and more will be announced in the coming weeks. All artist lineups are subject to change.
Tickets are required for entry, with three-day reserved tickets selling for $66, single-day reserved for $25 each night and single-day lawn selling for $10 per night, plus taxes and fees. Fan presale begins Wednesday, April 17 at 10 a.m. CT and closes Thursday, April 18 at 5 p.m. CT, with public on-sale opening Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at CMAfest.com or ticketmaster.com.
Ryan Kinder Signs Pub Deal With BMG Music Publishing
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Ryan Kinder, Chris Oglesby, BMG VP, Creative
Ryan Kinder has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with BMG Music Publishing.
Kinder’s songs such as “Close,” “Tonight,” “Alabama,” “Still Believe In Crazy Love” and “Stay” have become fan favorites and amassed more than 50 million streams across the globe. Kinder has also co-written with Nashville songwriters including Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman and Tom Douglas.
“When you hear Ryan Kinder music, you hear soulful passion,” says Chris Oglesby, BMG Vice President, Creative. “It takes you to the heart of who he is as an artist, writer and person. So excited to have Ryan become a part of our BMG family.”
Kinder is managed by Fusion Music/Red Light Management, with booking representation by CAA. He is currently in the studio working on new music scheduled for release later this year.
BMG Nashville Inks Publishing Deal With Jason Duke
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Chris Oglesby, VP Creative, BMG Nashville; Noah Dewey, Senior Creative Director, BMG Nashville; Jason Duke; Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Nashville; Jake Gear, Senior Creative Director, BMG Nashville
Songwriter Jason Duke has signed a new global co-publishing agreement with BMG Nashville.
A graduate of the ASCAP Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters Project (GPS) and a Tennessee native, Duke co-wrote the chart-topping, Platinum-certified hit “Dibs,” featured on Kelsea Ballerini’s album The First Time, “That Could Still Be Us” on Keith Urban’s Platinum-certified album RipCORD, and the Chris Bandi single “Man Enough Now,” which has received over 50 million streams on Spotify alone.
Noah Dewey, Senior Creative Director, BMG Nashville, said, “I’m proud to be working with Jason, he’s an extremely talented writer with a work ethic that’s truly remarkable. He certainly has a bright future ahead of him and we’re happy to be a part of it.”
Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Nashville, said, “Jason has all the qualities of a hit songwriter, we are going to have an amazing run together.”
Watch: Kelsea Ballerini Inducted As The Newest Member Of The Grand Ole Opry
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood. Photo: Courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC/Chris Hollo, photographer
Kelsea Ballerini was inducted as the newest and youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night (Aug. 16) by Carrie Underwood, an Opry member since 2008.
Surprising the sold-out Opry House crowd after Ballerini had performed a three-song set, Underwood took the stage and said to Ballerini, “You have accomplished so much in your career, and you will undoubtedly accomplish infinite amounts more in your life. Awards, number ones, sales … this is better than all of that. This is the heart and soul of country music.”
Presenting Ballerini with her Opry member award, Underwood cheered, “I am honored to introduce and induct the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Kelsea Ballerini.”
A visibly moved Ballerini recounted her first visit to the Opry as a fan, her 2015 Opry debut, and subsequent Opry appearances, Ballerini held her award close and said, “Grand Ole Opry, thanks for seeing something in me and for believing that I’ll always love you like I do because I do, and I will.”
Ballerini and Underwood then teamed up for a duet on 20-year Opry member Trisha Yearwood’s 1992 hit “Walkaway Joe.”
Earlier in the night, CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban, an Opry member since 2012, also made a surprise appearance to deliver congratulations to Ballerini and to perform his hit “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Later in the show, Country Music Hall of Famer and 1991 Opry inductee Vince Gill surprised the audience by joining with his friends the Del McCoury Band during the group’s portion of the show.
Opry group Little Big Town surprised Ballerini last month with an invitation to join the Opry family during an on-stage collaboration on the award-winning song “Girl Crush.”
“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Kelsea Ballerini into the Opry family,” said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. “As evidenced by the enthusiasm of the Opry members here tonight and the fans in the crowd, Kelsea and her music are much loved. She and her fellow members who made tonight so special show that the future of both country music and the Opry are in good hands.”
Pictured (L-R): Grand Ole Opry’s Sally Williams, Black River Entertainment’s Kim and Terry Pegula, Kelsea Ballerini, Black River Entertainment’s Gordon Kerr, Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen and Black River Entertainment’s Rick Froio. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry
Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne Celebrate Chart-Topper “Burning Man”
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Dierks Bentley, Luke Dick (BMI/Little Louder Publishing), Bobby Pinson (BMI/Sea Gayle Music). Photo: Steve Lowry
BMI’s Mason Hunter led the celebration in Music City on Monday (April 15) to honor Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne for their chart-topping hit “Burning Man.”
“Burning Man” marks the second No. 1 from Bentley’s The Mountain album, and also earned the Music Event of the Year honor at the recent Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Burning Man” co-writers Luke Dick and Bobby Pinson, as well as producers Ross Copperman and Jon Randall, were celebrated as the music industry crowd gathered at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in downtown Nashville. The project was executive produced by Arturo Buenahora, whose Little Louder Publishing is also the publishing home for the track’s co-writer Luke Dick.
Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill feted Bobby Pinson. “Burning Man” marks Sea Gayle’s 50th No. 1 song, and is Pinson’s eighth No. 1.
Others celebrating included CMA’s Brandi Simms and UMG Nashville’s Mike Harris, while Pinnacle Bank announced a chartable donation to Bentley’s Riser Foundation.
MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson presents “Burning Man” co-writers with No. 1 Challenge Coins for reaching No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Dierks Bentley, co-writer Luke Dick, co-writer Bobby Pinson. Photo: Steve Lowry
“When you release songs to radio it’s like the cliff notes of your album and ‘Burning Man’ is one of the most important pieces of The Mountain,” said Bentley. “When you do a collaboration it’s a leap of faith but there is no one else that could have done what these guys did on this song. We were in direct communication with no one else involved you know…John walks in with his guitar and amp…I’ve just been really lucky to work with people like these guys where it’s all about the music and friendship. It’s rare to find that outside of Nashville and a really unique thing that is happening in country music right now.”
“When he sent us the song it was done and already sounded awesome,” added TJ Osborne, “I’m such a fan of Dierks and when I listened to the demo, it already sounded like a Dierks hit and it took me a minute to really make it mine. To take that risk on us with something that already sounded great was all on Dierks.”
Tenille Arts Earns Two SCMA Honors
/by Jessica NicholsonTenille Arts. Photo: Courtesy Campbell Entertainment Group
Reviver Records artist and Canada native Tenille Arts earned two honors at the 30th annual Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, held this past weekend in Saskatoon and hosted by Tenille’s labelmate Aaron Goodvin. Arts was named Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for the second consecutive year.
“Last night was a dream,” said Tenille, who hails from Weyburn, Saskatchewan. “Thank you to the SCMAs and everyone who voted. None of this would be possible without the support of my home province, and it means the world to me that I’m always welcomed back home with open arms! There are so many people behind the scenes who have helped me get to this place. This is amazing!”
Arts is currently touring in promotion of her new single “Call You Names.”
Industry Pics: Kelsea Ballerini, Randy Travis, Randy Houser, Paul Cauthen, Scooter Brown, Gene Watson
/by Haley CrowKelsea Ballerini Kicks Off First-Ever Arena Tour With Sold-Out Weekend
Photo: Blythe Thomas
Kelsea Ballerini kicked off her first-ever arena tour, The Miss Me More Tour, with three back-to-back sold-out shows this past weekend in Salisbury, Maryland (April 11), Reading, Pennsylvania (April 12), and Erie, Pennsylvania (April 13).
“Kicked off the first weekend of the Miss Me More tour with 3 SOLD OUT shows, glitter, real talks, confetti dancing, and moments like this,” Ballerini shared on Instagram. “I love you so so so much.”
Randy Travis Makes Appearance At Whiskey Jam
Pictured (L-R): Randy Travis, Randy Houser, Paul Cauthen and Scooter Brown. Photo: Jason Myers
Randy Travis, Randy Houser, Paul Cauthen and Scooter Brown enjoyed each other’s company at Monday night’s (April 15) Whiskey Jam event at Winners Bar and Grill in Nashville.
Gene Watson Celebrates Three Consecutive No. 1s At Grand Ole Opry
Pictured (L-R): Mark Wills, Gene Watson, Grand Ole Opry’s Sally Williams and Opry Announcer/WSM-AM’s Bill Cody. Photo: Courtesy of Grand Ole Opry LLC./Chris Hollo
To commemorate three consecutive No. 1s on the country Christian charts, Mark Wills surprised Gene Watson on stage at the Grand Ole Opry as he presented Watson with a plaque for his chart-topping accomplishments.
Watson’s single “Build My Mansion (Next Door To Jesus)” holds the No. 1 position on the CASHBOX Country Christian Chart and Christian Servant Magazine Top 100 chart. Additionally, the single is currently in the Top 10 on the SGNScoops Christian Magazine chart. This is Watson’s third No. 1 single from his Christian album, My Gospel Roots.
Aaron Watson Sets The Red Bandana Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonAaron Watson. Photo: Jimmy Fisco/courtesy Monarch Publicity
Aaron Watson will launch The Red Bandana Tour with 13 shows starting June 28 in Watson’s hometown of Abilene, Texas. To celebrate the upcoming tour, Watson released the new song “Trying Like The Devil.” The tour coincides with the release of his Red Bandana album on June 21.
“I am so excited to announce the new tour this summer with the release of my new album Red Bandana,” says Watson. “Of course, kicking it off in my hometown of Abilene means the world to me. Touring is what we do, it’s how we built the business and met so many amazing fans over the years. I can assure everyone that we plan on coming to your market over the course of this record with a brand-new stage and production as well as set list. We’ll be playing the old favorites and a lot of new songs from Red Bandana.”
Aaron Watson’s The Red Bandana Tour:
6/28 – Taylor County Expo Center – Abilene, TX
6/29 – White Oak Music Hall (Outdoors) – Houston, TX
7/6 – Big Lake Festival – Big Lake, TX
7/11 – Hodag Country Festival – Rhinelander, WI
7/12 – Riverfront Live – Cincinnati, OH
7/13 – Jam In The Valley – Varysburg, NY
7/18 – Adams County Fair – Hastings, NE
7/19 – Lazy Gators – Lake Of The Ozarks, MO
7/26 – A Night In The Country – Yerington, NV
8/10 – Ford Park Arena – Beaumont, TX
8/15 – Power & Lights District – Kansas City, MO
8/23 – Colorado State Fair – Pueblo, CO
9/5 – Washington State Fair – Puyallup, WA
Banking Exec Ron Samuels To Retire
/by Jessica NicholsonRon Samuels. Photo: Courtesy Pinnacle Financial Partners
Longtime Nashville financial leader Ron Samuels will retire from Pinnacle Financial Partners at the end of June, the company has announced. Samuels will remain on the board of directors for Pinnacle following his retirement.
“My great friend, Ron Samuels, who is well known to many of our shareholders as the former Chairman and CEO of Avenue Bank here in Nashville, has recently decided that he is ready to retire from his day-to-day responsibilities as part of the leadership team at Pinnacle on June 30,” said Pinnacle CEO/President M. Terry Turner. “We are grateful that he will remain on our board but will miss his everyday leadership and always optimistic perspective. On behalf of the entire Pinnacle family, I wish Ron and his wife Lynn all the best.”
Samuels launched his career over 40 years ago at First Tennessee Bank, and has since held several executive roles at banks in the Nashville area. In 2006, he launched Avenue Bank, which he expanded into a $1.2 billion lender before he sold the bank to Pinnacle in 2016. He has also been credited with helping to attract the Tennessee Titans to Nashville, and with leading fundraising efforts for the 2019 NFL Draft.
CMA Fest Announces Ascend Amphitheater Lineup
/by Jessica NicholsonCMA Fest has revealed the lineup for the popular nightly concerts at the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 8, with performances starting at 6:30 p.m. CT each evening.
Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, presented by BBR Music Group, will kick off the festivities Thursday night. Headliner Chase Rice will be joined by Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown, Adam Craig, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, King Calaway, LOCASH and Runaway June.
Brett Young will headline Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on Friday night. Joining Young will be Bailey Bryan, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick, Caylee Hammack, Jillian Jacqueline and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Closing out Saturday night, fans will enjoy Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, presented by Warner Music Nashville. Hunter Hayes and Cody Johnson will co-headline the evening, joined by Ingrid Andress, Tucker Beathard and Ashley McBryde.
“We are excited for the Ascend Amphitheater performances to return for a third straight year with a stellar lineup, and are thrilled to offer an additional nightly concert series to festival goers as well as our local Nashville fanbase during CMA Fest,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer. “With a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting high-quality music education initiatives across the U.S. through the CMA Foundation, the loyal fans that attend the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater are helping to support this mission.”
“As a time-tested American brand built on durability and dependability, Firestone fits perfectly as the Official Tire of Country Music,” said Amber Holm, Vice President, Consumer and Customer Engagement, Bridgestone Americas. “Like those who drive on Firestone tires, Country Music’s inspiring artists and passionate fans understand what it means to work hard. We’re excited to give them a chance to play hard, too, by partnering with CMA Fest to offer nightly shows right here in our hometown of Nashville on the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater.”
Outdoor daytime stages including the Budweiser Forever Country Stage, Chevy Riverfront Stage and others to be announced soon are free and open to the public. Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities and more will be announced in the coming weeks. All artist lineups are subject to change.
Tickets are required for entry, with three-day reserved tickets selling for $66, single-day reserved for $25 each night and single-day lawn selling for $10 per night, plus taxes and fees. Fan presale begins Wednesday, April 17 at 10 a.m. CT and closes Thursday, April 18 at 5 p.m. CT, with public on-sale opening Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at CMAfest.com or ticketmaster.com.
Rob Potts To Be Honored At APRA Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonRob Potts. Photo: Courtesy APRA
Celebrated manager, promoter and country music champion, the late Rob Potts, will be posthumously honored with the APRA’s Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Potts died from a motorcycle accident in 2017.
Potts’ career spanned more than 30 years. Originally from Hobart, Potts moved to Sydney and became a booking agent for artists including Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel, James Blundell and more. More recently, Potts guided the career of Morgan Evans to a label deal at Warner Music Nashville; Evans is a dual nominee at this year’s APRA Music Awards.
As CEO of his company Entertainment Edge, Potts helped open doors for Australians into the competitive Nashville scene thanks in part to the connections he made as the Australian concert promoter to some of the biggest artists in country music, including Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Dixie Chicks and many more. In 2009, he brought a pre-superstar Taylor Swift to Australia for her first shows in the market.
The success of his tours led to Potts establishing the CMC Rocks festival brand and forging a long running partnership with Michael Chugg’s Chugg Entertainment. Their flagship, CMC Rocks Queensland, is now the biggest country music festival in the southern hemisphere. It sold out for the first time in 2016 and every year since.
In 2018, Potts was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an artist or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music internationally.
Chugg said of the APRA honor, “I am so proud and very pleased that APRA is honoring my late and great mate and partner, Rob Potts with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to the music industry. Rob Potts is a shining example of everything that is wonderful about our industry. For many, many years he led the battle to break Australian country music in Nashville and became a Board member of the CMA, Country Music Association of America. Many of us are saddened every day that Rob is not with us to see all his hard work come to fruition; Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel and Morgan Evans are just 3 of the acts he championed. And of course, the greatest country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere now 13 years old, CMC Rocks Queensland. God Bless you Rob.”
Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Claire Spencer said: “The Australian Music Vault is extremely privileged to be working with APRA AMCOS in honoring this year’s recipient of the Ted Albert Award, the late Rob Potts. He was a true pioneer working against the tide of ‘90’s rock music to develop and raise the profile of country music in Australia. His illustrious career means we can share in the stories of some of the world-class artists he helped create.”
The 2019 APRA Music Awards will be held April 30 in Melbourne, Australia.