Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) announced that singer-songwriter Claire Wright has been signed to an exclusive publishing deal.

Based in Nashville, Wright is a native of Northern California. To create her signature sound of positive music that makes people feel good, Wright’s writing style mixes sunny West Coast vibes, her rural roots and her philosophy that life should be enjoyed. Her influences include Sugar Ray and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville Executive Vice President / General Manager, said, “Claire is full of positive light and shares that glow through her songs. It’s very rare to meet someone with such an identity and vision for not only her music but herself. We’re excited to help bring her songs to the world.”

Wright shared, “When I walked into the UMPG Nashville building for the first time, I knew there was something special about to happen. They understood my songs and my vision in a really refreshing way. They are a massive powerhouse in the publishing world yet when you walk into the office, it’s like coming home. I look forward to making history with these amazing folks!”

Wright is managed by Red Light Management and is represented by CAA.

Dierks Bentley and Live Nation have announced the lineup for the second annual Seven Peaks Music Festival, to be held in Buena Vista, Colorado on Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30-Sept. 1).

This year’s performers include Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Mitchell Tenpenny, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ryan Hurd, Steep Canyon Rangers, The War and Treaty, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack. In addition, Friday’s Hot Country Night, which was an instant highlight in the festival’s inaugural year, will host Travis Tritt, Tracy Lawrence, Diamond Rio and Deana Carter with a special performance by Bentley’s own Hot Country Knights.

“I am so happy and grateful we get to come back to Buena Vista for the second Seven Peaks Music Festival,” said Dierks Bentley. “And I know I speak for everyone that has worked so hard to make this festival a reality when I say that. Even with the huge success of the first year, no one is taking anything for granted. If anything, we are all working harder than ever to make sure this year meets and exceeds the expectations of our returning ‘Peakers’ and completely blow away our first-time festival goers.”

“What I love about Seven Peaks is that this festival felt special from the beginning,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Country Touring at Live Nation. “It also instantly felt like we were all in this together to build something with longevity, from the fans out in the campgrounds, to the artists and teams working together backstage. Working with Dierks and his team, it is a truly collaborative partnership and there’s a lot of respect there. I’m so ready for us to continue to grow this festival, the mountains are calling!”

With other stages to be announced in the coming weeks, passes will go on sale March 15 at 10 a.m. MT at sevenpeaksfestival.com.

 

Kacey Musgraves Wins CMA International Artist Achievement Award

The Country Music Association awarded Kacey Musgraves with the 2019 CMA International Artist Achievement Award Wednesday night (Feb. 27), surprising her backstage prior to her performance at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by a United States-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period.

Since her first visit to the U.K. in 2012, Musgraves has developed an international touring base, headlining C2C: Country to Country festival in 2018 and becoming the first country artist to perform at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan before launching her own international headline tour in Oslo last fall, which included a performance at London’s Wembley Arena. This marks the second time Musgraves has received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award, previously winning in 2016.

“Thank you so much to the CMA for honoring me with the International Artist Achievement Award. I absolutely love experiencing new cultures and playing overseas,” said Musgraves.

“Kacey has made touring internationally a huge priority throughout her career,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve witnessed the international fan-base for Country Music expand immensely and we applaud Kacey for her continued engagement to reach Country fans around the globe.”

 

Jeannie Seely Performs at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Songwriter Session

Grand Ole Opry Member, Jeannie Seely and special guest Tim Atwood brought the attendees at the weekly Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Songwriter Sessions to their feet during the event on Saturday (Feb. 23).

The museum’s Songwriter Sessions are held every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the intimate atmosphere of its Ford Theater.

“I was apprehensive about doing the songwriter showcase at the Hall of Fame. It is after all, very hallowed ground! But as I sang the songs I had written that were recorded by so many of the artists who are now honored in the Hall, I felt so at ease and truly felt their presence with me,” said Seely. “Thank you to all who made this happen, and to all of the wonderful fans and visitors to our city for coming in to share the time with me.”

“For years I performed with Jeannie Seely on the most venerable stage in country music–the Grand Ole Opry; however, to perform alongside Jeannie at the Country Music Hall of Fame was an honor like no other. To think that ten Country Music Hall of Fame members have recorded her songs is mind boggling,” said Atwood. “Jeannie is one of the best entertainers in our business, but Jeannie is also one of the best wordsmiths I’ve ever known. This lady can do it all, and I’m just proud to call her my friend.”

Previous Songwriter Sessions can be viewed here.

 

Jimmy Nash Preps Two New AWAL Country Releases

Jimmy Nash has signed a new distribution deal with AWAL, the artist-focused distribution arm of Kobalt Music, and is set to release two new singles April 12.

Nash previewed his new singles, “Til The River Runs Out” and “Burritos and Tito’s,” at the 2019 BMI Dinner at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. The singles can be previewed here.

Luke Bryan today announced he is adding a stop at Gillette Stadium on his Sunset Repeat Tour on June 21. The concert will include special guests Cole Swindell, Brett Young and EMI/32 Bridge Entertainment recording artist Jon Langston. DJ Rock will also appear.

The June 21 show will be the third trip to Gillette Stadium for Bryan, as the country music star performed two shows in July 2016 as part of his “Kill The Lights Tour” and made his Foxborough debut in August 2014 on his “That’s My Kind Of Night Tour.”

Tickets to the June 21 show will go on sale to the public Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com. Kraft Sports + Entertainment is the official promoter of the Sunset Repeat Tour show at Gillette Stadium.

Live Nation today announced that veteran concert promoter Ali Harnell has joined the company to spearhead women’s initiatives. In this newly-created division, Harnell will lead strategy and internal and external efforts to advance and support women in the live music business, as well as create and develop female-led and female-driven content.

With an employee base that is 45 percent female, Live Nation is dedicated to finding ways to serve and empower its female staff. Live Nation’s existing programs targeted to women include 21 chapters of We Nation, its signature employee-led group focused on empowering and connecting; Future Nation, a gender-balanced career development program; and the Women Nation Fund, an investment fund designed to provide capital to female entrepreneurs in the promotions and events industry.

Harnell will look to expand many of these efforts, forge partnerships with industry groups, drive research, and work to level the playing field for women in the live music business. She will report to Michael Rapino, CEO and President, Live Nation Entertainment and Bob Roux, President, US Concerts and be based in Nashville and Los Angeles.

“Ali’s decades of experience and insight into the opportunities and challenges for women in the live music business make her a powerful champion for the women of Live Nation,” said Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment. “Our goal is to work together to find scalable ways to empower the women at our company, and across the industry as a whole.”

“I am truly excited to dive into this new venture where I can combine my experience and relationships with my passion to help drive this historical and aspirational time of change for women,” said Harnell. “It feels especially apropos to announce this on the first day of Women’s History Month.”

Harnell was most recently Senior Vice President of Global Touring for AEG Presents. Prior to that, she spent 14 years as SVP for AEG/The Messina Group, overseeing the operations and talent buying for their Southeast regional business. In that capacity, she also co-created and curated talent for U.K. based country music festival, Country2Country. Earlier in her career, Harnell ran Pace Concerts Southeast where she booked Starwood Amphitheater, was a pivotal player in reviving concert activity at the Historic Ryman Auditorium and created the three-day music festival Nashville River Stages.  She began her career in 1990 in New York City at the William Morris Agency before joining Delsener/Slater Enterprises where she served as Vice President, booking the famed Irving Plaza, Roseland Ballroom and other venues.

Harnell has twice been named IEBA’s Promoter of the Year and was named Venue Today’s Woman of Influence. She is a five-time Billboard Women in Music honoree, a four-time Billboard Nashville Power Player and has been named to the Nashville Business Journal “Women in Music City” list four times. She has received multiple nominations for CMA and ACM Promoter of the Year, Pollstar’s Talent Buyer of the Year, and the Bill Graham Promoter of the Year.