Artist Updates: Jennifer Nettles, Trisha Yearwood, Hailey Whitters

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Human Rights Campaign Honors Jennifer Nettles

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, honored Jennifer Nettles on March 2 with the HRC Ally for Equality Award at the 2019 HRC Nashville Dinner. Held at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, the annual event brings together hundreds of HRC’s most active members and supporters in the Nashville area to raise funds in the fight for LGBTQ equality.

In 2018, Sugarland worked with HRC to help raise awareness of the impact of hate speech and the importance of supporting LGBTQ youth. By adding statistics from HRC’s 2018 survey of LGBTQ youth to Nettles’ performance of the Patty Griffin LBGTQ tribute song “Tony,” she helped confront the issue of LGBTQ teen suicide. Sugarland recently wrapped their Still The Same 2018 Tour across North America, featuring their latest album Bigger.

 

Trisha Yearwood Launches Weekly Show On SiriusXM

Trisha Yearwood has launched a weekly SiriusXM show, Trisha’s Cafe, on Garth Brooks’ exclusive SiriusXM channel, The Garth Channel (channel 55). The show launched Monday, March 4.

Yearwood combines her love for food and music in Trisha’s Café. Each week, the show will feature five songs: an appetizer, today’s special, main course, cocktail and dessert. Yearwood will handpick the first four songs and the fifth song, the dessert, will be chosen by a fan. Listeners will hear music from established stars and upcoming performers from both pop and country music.

Trisha’s Café will air Mondays at 5 p.m. ET on The Garth Channel and through the SiriusXM app. The show will rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. ET, Fridays at 9 a.m. ET, Saturdays at 3 p.m. ET and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

Yearwood recently released Let’s Be Frank, a collection of Frank Sinatra covers.

 

Carnival Music’s Hailey Whitters To Hold Album Preview Concert Tonight

Carnival Music artist Hailey Whitters is prepping the release of her first new music in four years with a preview concert at Nashville’s The Basement on Tuesday, March 5, beginning at 7 p.m. Whitters has released the first single from the project, an autobiographical “Ten Year Town,” with the official single and music video.

YouTube video

 

Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, Steve Earle Among Lineup For Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival

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The lineup for Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour summer leg has been announced. The dates will feature performances by Willie Nelson & Family, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, The Revivalists, Counting Crows, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dawes, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Hayes Carll, Casey Donahew, Matt Mays, Colter Wall, Particle Kid and more to be announced in the coming weeks.

The summer leg kicks off in Bangor, Maine, on June 14, 2019 and ends July 3 in Dallas. Each date will feature a unique range of festival attractions including local cuisine, craft beers, and crafts by local artisans to provide fans in each city with an unforgettable experience. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, March 8.

“We had so much fun on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour last year that we couldn’t wait to get back out on the road with everyone,” says Nelson.

Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour

JUNE 14
BANGOR, ME – DARLING’S WATERFRONT PAVILION
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
Alison Krauss
The Revivalists
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Particle Kid

JUNE 15
BETHEL, NY – MOUNTAIN JAM
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
The Revivalists
Alison Krauss
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Particle Kid

JUNE 16
HARTFORD, CT – XFINITY THEATRE
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
Alison Krauss
The Revivalists
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Particle Kid

JUNE 21
TORONTO, ON – BUDWEISER STAGE
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Alison Krauss
Matt Mays
Opener TBD

JUNE 22
BURGETTSTOWN, PA – KEYBANK PAVILION
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Alison Krauss
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dawes
Opener TBD

JUNE 23
COLUMBUS, OH – NATIONWIDE ARENA
Willie Nelson & Family
The Avett Brothers
Alison Krauss
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dawes
Opener TBD

JUNE 27
MILWAUKEE, WI – SUMMERFEST
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
The Avett Brothers
Counting Crows
Alison Krauss
Dawes
Opener TBD

JUNE 28
CHICAGO, IL – HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATRE
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
The Avett Brothers
Alison Krauss
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dawes
Opener TBD

JUNE 29
ST LOUIS, MO- HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATRE
Willie Nelson & Family
Phil Lesh & Friends
Alison Krauss
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dawes
Opener TBD

JULY 3
DALLAS, TX- DOS EQUIS PAVILION
Willie Nelson & Family
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Alison Krauss
Casey Donahew
Steve Earle & The Dukes
Hayes Carll
Colter Wall

‘Nashville’ TV Show To Become Broadway Musical

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The Lionsgate/ABC Studios series Nashville, which ran for six seasons on ABC, CMT and Hulu, will soon be adapted as a Broadway musical.

Scott Delman, a 10-time Tony Award winner, will serve as lead producer, and has acquired the live theatrical rights from Lionsgate and ABC Studios. Additional information, including production dates and the complete creative team, will be announced at a later date.

Delman has served as producer or co-producer on 55 Broadway productions, including the musicals American Idiot, Ragtime, Book of Mormon, Hello, Dolly!, and more. Twenty-eight of his productions have garnered Tony Award nominations for best production of their respective categories, and 10 have won.

Nashville represents Lionsgate’s first-ever Broadway production, kicking off a series of live stage productions based on Lionsgate film and television properties.

“Nashville, with its complex, relatable characters and sweeping emotional gestures, has all of the narrative elements that I look for in great theatrical source material. From that rich DNA, we will be building an original story with entirely original music written by major Nashville and Broadway songwriters,” said Delman. “We are particularly excited to deliver Broadway’s first score of true contemporary country music—a genre that has exploded with mainstream audiences in recent years. Lionsgate has a treasure-trove of sterling I.P., and I’m honored to be a part of this new phase of their live entertainment division.”

“Nashville represents a unique opportunity to collaborate with Tony Award-winning producer Scott Delman to bring one of our most beloved properties to the stage in our first-ever Broadway production,” said Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate Sr. VP, global live & location-based entertainment. “It kicks off an exciting slate of iconic Lionsgate properties that we will be bringing to a variety of platforms, transforming them into events that will expand the viewing experience for their fans and take our already successful live entertainment business to the next level.”

For six seasons the award-winning hit show Nashville, created by Callie Khouri, was set against the backdrop of Music City’s music industry scene and followed the lives of country music superstars as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business.

 

Spirit Music Nashville Inks Multi-Faceted Deal With Zach Crowell

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Front Row (L-R): Michelle Davey (Administration Coordinator/Office Manager, Spirit Music Nashville) and Billy Lynn (VP, Creative, Spirit Music Nashville); Middle Row (L-R): Daniel Hill (President, Spirit Music Nashville), Derek Crownover (Attorney, Dickinson Wright PLLC), Zach Crowell, Kelly Bolton (VP, Creative, Tape Room Music), Blain Rhodes (GM, Tape Room Music) and Chip Petree (Attorney, Ritholz Levy Fields LLP). Back Row (L-R): Brian Bradford (Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville), and Cam Caldwell (Attorney, Dickinson Wright PLLC).

Spirit Music Nashville has signed Nashville writer Zach Crowell. As part of this deal, Spirit Music Nashville has also acquired Crowell’s I Love Pizza Music publishing catalog and has formed a co-publishing venture with Crowell and Ashley Gorley‘s Tape Room Music to encompass Crowell’s future works.

Finally, Spirit and Crowell have formed a partnership to allow Crowell to sign and develop talent to his own joint venture under Spirit Music Nashville.

“The opportunity to work with Zach Crowell is a fantastic honor for a publisher,” said Singer. “Zach is an enormously talented, go-to hit-maker who has made many friends in the Nashville music community. We are honored to partner with Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music on our deal with Zach and look forward to putting our global resources behind them. The entire worldwide team at Spirit Music Group looks forward to what we will accomplish together.”

“Zach is one of the brightest talents in music today. His abilities both as a songwriter and as a producer are remarkable, and his many achievements and accolades in both fields are a testament to his gifts. The Spirit Music Nashville team and I are proud to be a part of the next chapter of Zach’s career, and we are thrilled to partner on this with Ashley Gorley and Tape Room Music,” said Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville.

“I’m fired up to continue working with Ashley Gorley and Tape Room Music and excited to bring my catalog to Spirit – they have a great team and I couldn’t ask for those songs to be in better hands,” said Crowell.

“Zach and I couldn’t be happier to be working with Spirit Music Group through this new venture,” said Gorley. “Their passion for Zach and the belief they have in Tape Room Music is exciting. We appreciate their creativity and support in this partnership.”

Crowell has earned nine No. 1 songs as a writer, and seven No. 1 songs as a producer. His chart-toppers as a writer include Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and “House Party”; Carrie Underwood’s “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells,” and “Dirty Laundry”: Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At (Yep Yep)” and “Hell of a Night”; Cole Swindell’s “Middle of a Memory”; Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna”; and Luke Bryan’s “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.” Crowell earned the 2018 ASCAP Country Song of the Year for Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road,” as well as the three CMA Triple Play awards, among many other accolades.

The signing marks the latest in a series of moves by Spirit, including a $350 million recapitalization of Spirit Music Group led by Spirit Music Group Chairman Jon Singer and business partner Ross Cameron in January.

In addition to his independent success, Crowell has been a long-time collaborator with Gorley and the two have co-written numerous songs together. Gorley, one of the most successful songwriters in Nashville history, is credited with writing 39 No. 1 singles. Crowell first began working with Gorley in 2010 when he was the first writer signed to Gorley’s publishing venture Tape Room Music.

Music Biz Conference Makes Nashville Its Home Through 2021

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Pictured (L-R): Quiana Taylor – Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.; James Donio – President, the Music Business Association; Shelley Bankard-Weaver – JW Marriott, Nashville Photo by Katti Mayberry/Kidtee Hello Photography

The Music Business Association’s annual Music Biz Conference will remain in Music City through 2021 at the recently opened JW Marriott Nashville, the organization has announced. Music Biz 2019 will take place May 5-8, with Music Biz 2020 and 2021 following May 11-14, 2020 and May 10-13, 2021, respectively. The conference recently held its largest event in the past 17 years, with over 2,200 in attendance.

“Music Biz owes a great deal of thanks for the support of former mayors Karl Dean and Megan Barry and now Mayor David Briley, as well as the Nashville Convention & Visitors’ Bureau and the Nashville music community, all of whom have made us feel so welcome in Nashville and have made the process of bringing our Conference to their city so effortless,” offered Music Biz President James Donio. “Nashville has become a hotbed of activity for all aspects of the industry, making it the perfect place for the global content, commerce and creative communities to gather and discuss how our industry can continue to drive collective prosperity.”

The Music Biz Conference first came to Nashville in 2015, and has continued to grow year-over-year while maintaining its high level of educational programming and featured keynote speakers. The Conference continues to draw an ever-increasing representation from the global music business community, with Music Biz 2018 bringing attendees from 17 countries outside of the US to Music City.

For more visit musicbiz.org.

CMA Fest 2019 Performers Revealed

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The Country Music Association has revealed the initial artist lineup for this year’s CMA Fest, set for June 6-9 in downtown Nashville.

Taking the nightly Nissan Stadium stage this year are country artists Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

The Chevy Riverfront Stage returns once again with a lineup that will keep crowds rocking from 10 a.m.-5:15 p.m. each day including performances by A Thousand Horses, Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Danielle Bradbery, Lee Brice, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Jessie James Decker, Gavin DeGraw, Russell Dickerson, Eli Young Band, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Gone West, Riley Green, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Home Free, Ryan Hurd, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Mason Ramsey, Michael Ray, Tyler Rich, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Granger Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Morgan Wallen and Aaron Watson.

Returning for a third year, the Budweiser Forever Country Stage will take place from 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily. Featuring some of the biggest names in country music from recent decades, this year’s lineup includes Keith Anderson, Deana Carter, John Carter Cash, Joe Diffie, George Ducas, Charles Esten, Andy Griggs, Halfway to Hazard, Ty Herndon, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence, Little Texas, Lonestar, The Marshall Tucker Band, Kendell Marvel, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, The Nelsons, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’Neal, The Road Hammers, Ray Scott, Shenandoah, Sister Hazel, Ricky Skaggs, Kiefer Sutherland, Thompson Square, Uncle Kracker, Mark Wills, Rita Wilson and Darryl Worley.

Outdoor daytime stages including Chevy Riverfront and Budweiser Forever Country are free and open to the public. All artist lineups are subject to change.

CMA Fest will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network this summer; Robert Deaton will serve as executive producer. This is the 16th consecutive year the event has been filmed for a network television

The lineup announcement was first made via the CMA Fest app, as the CMA Foundation celebrates Music In Our Schools Month. For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for observance of Music In Our Schools Month, the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.

Mitch Ballard Named Sr. Director, Creative For BMI Austin Office

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Mitch Ballard

Mitch Ballard has been named Senior Director, Creative at BMI’s Austin office, effective immediately. In this role, he will be responsible for providing service to existing BMI affiliates in Texas, signing new talent, and providing enhancement for the already vibrant songwriting community in Austin. Ballard reports to Jody Williams, VP, Creative, Nashville and Mason Hunter, AVP, Creative, Nashville.

“With a strong background in music and tech, native Texan Mitch Ballard is the perfect fit to head our new Austin office,” said Williams. “He is a proven leader who really understands the creative culture of Austin and the songwriter’s contribution to the fabric of Texas music. We look forward to Mitch’s contribution to BMI’s success as we embark on this new adventure.”

The news of Ballard’s hiring comes on the heels of BMI and Governor Greg Abbott announcing that BMI would be expanding its presence in Texas by opening its first Creative Office in Austin. The new office will allow BMI to work directly with talented songwriters and emerging artists in the Austin music community.

Ballard’s career spans over 25 years, beginning as an on-air talent in radio and television. He spent 16 years in the music business as a tour manager for major national acts. Prior to joining BMI, he utilized his background in the music industry to create early web-based applications for music booking agencies as well as a system to manage concert tours for major artists. Most recently, he started a full-service web development firm, DevDigital, in Nashville.

Ballard received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of North Texas.

Industry Ink: NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation, Inside Music Publishing, WMA

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NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation, H&R Block To Provide Free Tax Preparation For Nashville Songwriters

NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation (Supporting Our Next Generation of Songwriters) has announced a new partnership with H&R Block to provide free in-office tax preparation to songwriters in the Nashville area as part of its effort to provide direct assistance to working music creators.

“We are thrilled to work with H&R Block to provide tax services to working songwriters. The S.O.N.G.S. Foundation strives to alleviate financial burdens placed on music creators and enable them to focus on what matters most— writing and creating the songs we love,” said NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation President David Israelite.

The Foundation is working with the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) in order to inform area songwriters about this service. For more information and to make a free tax preparation appointment, visit SONGSfoundation.org and fill out the form under the “Free Tax Preparation” tab or contact NMPA’s offices at 202-393-6672.

 

Inside Music Publishing Signs Martin “Bucky” Seja

Martin “Bucky” Seja

Songwriter/producer Martin “Bucky” Seja has entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with Inside Music Publishing, a Toronto, Canada-based publisher with independent publishing & management offices in Nashville.

In Spring 2018, Inside Music Publishing entered into a strategic partnership with Rukkus Room Studios Nashville & Rukkus Room Publishing, owned and operated by producer & mixer Jamie Tate. As of March 2019, Seja will be producing and writing out of Rukkus Room Nashville’s Studio B, as well as his own studio in Toronto that is scheduled for completion in August 2019.

Seja has enjoyed chart-topping singles writing and performing with Down With Webster (“Your Man,” “Rich$ Girl,” “Chills,” “Whoa Is Me,” “She’s Dope,” “Big Wheels”). “Big Wheels” earned him his fifth Billboard Hot 100 single.

“Bucky is a tremendous writer, producer and genuine soul. We are thrilled to be part of this new chapter in his musical journey,” said Matt Williams, Inside Music Publishing General Manager.

 

WMA Names Caroline Bocko As Social Strategist

Caroline Bocko

WMA has hired Caroline Bocko as Social Strategist within the Global Social Team. Based in WMA’s Nashville office, Bocko will report to Ryan Hall, Head of Social (NY) and Hannah Dudley, Director of Marketing Strategy. Bocko will aide the teams in developing and executing social media campaigns for WMA’s clients, including artists, labels, brands and other entertainment businesses.

The position will draw upon Bocko’s 12+ years of digital marketing and community management experience from her time at Warner Music Nashville, Crowd Surf LLC, Sony Music Nashville, and Concord Music Group. WMA opened its Nashville office in 2018, and has additional offices in New York, Los Angeles and London.

Industry Pics: Ryan Hurd, Blake Shelton, Leah Nobel

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Hurd Celebrates “To A T Tour” In Nashville

Pictured (L-R): Janet Weir, 42 Entertainment/Red Light Management; Dennis Reese, Senior Vice President Promotion RCA Records Nashville; Ryan Hurd; Caryl Atwood, Vice President of Sales Sony Music Nashville; Steve Hodges, Senior Vice President of Promotion and Artist Development Sony Music Nashville.

RCA Records Nashville artist-writer Ryan Hurd celebrated his sold-out To A T Tour on Thursday evening (March 28) with a show at Nashville’s Exit/In. Due to demand, Hurd has added concert stops in Washington, D.C. (March 21), Raleigh, N.C. (March 22), Kansas City, Missouri (April 12), Atlanta, Georgia (April 25), and Athens, Georgia (April 26). Hurd co-wrote the sultry “To A T” with Laura Veltz and Nathan Spicer.

 

Blake Shelton Brings Heroes And Friends To Kentucky Show

Blake Shelton with Warner Music Nashville staff Photo: Jeff Johnson

Warner Music Nashville celebrated Blake Shelton‘s Heroes And Friends Tour during a stop at Louisville, Kentucky’s KFC Yum! Center on March 1. The sold-out show featured nearly two hours of Shelton’s hit songs plus an acoustic guitar pull on the stage with Shelton and his heroes John Anderson, The Bellamy Brothers and Trace Adkins, all performing some of their biggest hits. Lauren Alaina opened the show with her powerful vocals and joined Shelton on stage for his No. 1 duet “Lonely Tonight.”

John Anderson also celebrated his slot on the “Friends & Heroes” Tour, with several of his team members.

Pictured (L-R): Steve Popovich, Cleveland International Records; Bobby Roberts; John Anderson; Travis James, United Talent Agency; Don Murry Grubbs, Absolute Publicity, Inc.

 

Leah Nobel Celebrates Album Release

Pictured (L-R): Jacee Badeaux, Big Yellow Dog Music; Kara Wintergrass, Big Yellow Dog Music; Sophie Hopkins, Big Yellow Dog Music; Leah Nobel; Pete Stewart, producer; Lauren Funk, Big Yellow Dog Music; Alex Stefano, Big Yellow Dog Music; Meaghan Campbell, Big Yellow Dog Music

Big Yellow Dog Music songwriter Leah Nobel celebrated the release of her Pete Stewart-produced album Running In Borrowed Shoes with a show at Nashville’s H.O.M.E. (Helping Our Music Evolve) on Feb. 28.

Nobel’s album was created after Nobel conducted interviews with 100 strangers, discussing their life stories and the binding ties of humanity, love, loss and more.

Weekly Register: Luke Combs Tops Country Albums, Streaming Songs Charts

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Luke Combs tops both the country albums chart and the country streaming songs chart this week, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Combs’ This One’s For You tops the country albums chart with 25K, while his recent No. 1 radio single “Beautiful Crazy” continues atop the country streaming songs chart with 9.8 million streams this week.

On the country albums rankings, Florida Georgia Line‘s latest, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, falls from No. 1 to No. 2 this week with 22K. Kacey Musgraves‘ Grammy-winning Golden Hour remains at No. 3 for a second week, following a jump to No. 1 in the days immediately following her award wins. Dan + Shay‘s self-titled project continues at No. 4 with 14K, while Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller stays at No. 5 with 12K.

Following Combs on the country streaming songs chart at No. 2 is Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” with 7.5 million streams. Dan + Shay take the next two slots, with “Tequila” at No. 3 (7.2 million) and “Speechless” at No. 4 (7.1 million). Brown’s “Heaven” rounds out the Top 5 with 6.9 million.