Zac Brown Band has announced dates for their upcoming summer trek, “The Owl Tour.” The tour will kick off May 25 in Indianapolis and run through October, with stops in Brooklyn, Denver, Jacksonville, Dallas and more. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will provide support on select stops throughout the run.
The announcement comes as the band prepares to release their upcoming new studio album featuring the hit lead single, “Someone I Used To Know.” Both the tour and forthcoming album draw inspiration from the mythology and mystery surrounding the Great Horned Owl that can see perfectly in the night, serving as a guide when you need sight in even the darkest of moments.
“With ‘The Owl Tour,’ our fans can expect some new and unexpected sounds woven into the signature Zac Brown Band live music experience,” said Brown. “The owl holds special meaning for us and we look forward to sharing this with everyone.”
“The Owl Tour” will mark Zac Brown Band’s third consecutive touring run within the span of a year. The summer 2019 shows will follow the band’s forthcoming spring 2019 “Down The Rabbit Hole Live Tour,” an extension of their summer 2018 “Down the Rabbit Hole Live Tour” dates, which broke multiple records including the most consecutive sold out shows at the historic Fenway Park. In 2018 alone, Zac Brown Band performed for over half a million fans live.
Zac Brown Band will partner with DemerBox as an official tour sponsor, wanting fans to never run out of fun by providing charging stations at every stop of “The Owl Tour.” Zac Brown is co-owner of DemerBox, makers of the premium waterproof speaker that goes anywhere, gets loud, & has storage to hold your valuables. The brand is held under Brown’s recently launched entertainment and lifestyle parent company, Zac Brown Collective.
Tickets and V.I.P. packages for “The Owl Tour” go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Feb. 8. Members of the Zamily will have access to tickets before the general on sale through a pre-sale beginning Feb. 5.
“The Owl Tour” Summer 2019 Dates:
5/25/2019 – Indianapolis, IN – Legends Day – Indy 500
6/7/2019 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
6/8/2019 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
6/9/2019 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview *
6/14/2019 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
6/15/2019 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
6/21/2019 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts +
6/22/2019 – Holmdel, NJ – P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
6/23/2019 – Holmdel, NJ – P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
6/28/2019 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
6/29/2019 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
6/30/2019 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Summerfest
7/12/2019 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede
7/21/2019 – Brooklyn, MI – Faster Horses Festival
7/24/2019 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair
7/25/2019 – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater
7/26/2019 – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater
8/9/2019 – Denver, CO – Coors Field * +
8/11/2019 – Des Moines, IA – Grandstand – Iowa State Fairgrounds +
8/23/2019 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
8/24/2019 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
8/25/2019 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live +
8/29/2019 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Park Stadium *
8/30/2019 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center *
8/31/2019 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park (on sale February 15) *
9/6/2019 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion *
9/7/2019 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion *
9/8/2019 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre *
9/19/2019 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre +
9/20/2019 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater +
10/17/2019 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
10/18/2019 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
10/19/2019 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
10/20/2019 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
10/25/2019 – Rogers, AR – The Walmart Amp *
10/26/2019 – Dallas, TX – The Dos Equis Pavilion (on sale February 15) *
* With special guest Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Zac Brown Band Announce ‘The Owl Tour’ Dates For Summer
/by Lorie HollabaughZac Brown Band has announced dates for their upcoming summer trek, “The Owl Tour.” The tour will kick off May 25 in Indianapolis and run through October, with stops in Brooklyn, Denver, Jacksonville, Dallas and more. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will provide support on select stops throughout the run.
The announcement comes as the band prepares to release their upcoming new studio album featuring the hit lead single, “Someone I Used To Know.” Both the tour and forthcoming album draw inspiration from the mythology and mystery surrounding the Great Horned Owl that can see perfectly in the night, serving as a guide when you need sight in even the darkest of moments.
“With ‘The Owl Tour,’ our fans can expect some new and unexpected sounds woven into the signature Zac Brown Band live music experience,” said Brown. “The owl holds special meaning for us and we look forward to sharing this with everyone.”
“The Owl Tour” will mark Zac Brown Band’s third consecutive touring run within the span of a year. The summer 2019 shows will follow the band’s forthcoming spring 2019 “Down The Rabbit Hole Live Tour,” an extension of their summer 2018 “Down the Rabbit Hole Live Tour” dates, which broke multiple records including the most consecutive sold out shows at the historic Fenway Park. In 2018 alone, Zac Brown Band performed for over half a million fans live.
Zac Brown Band will partner with DemerBox as an official tour sponsor, wanting fans to never run out of fun by providing charging stations at every stop of “The Owl Tour.” Zac Brown is co-owner of DemerBox, makers of the premium waterproof speaker that goes anywhere, gets loud, & has storage to hold your valuables. The brand is held under Brown’s recently launched entertainment and lifestyle parent company, Zac Brown Collective.
Tickets and V.I.P. packages for “The Owl Tour” go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Feb. 8. Members of the Zamily will have access to tickets before the general on sale through a pre-sale beginning Feb. 5.
“The Owl Tour” Summer 2019 Dates:
5/25/2019 – Indianapolis, IN – Legends Day – Indy 500
6/7/2019 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
6/8/2019 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
6/9/2019 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview *
6/14/2019 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
6/15/2019 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
6/21/2019 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts +
6/22/2019 – Holmdel, NJ – P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
6/23/2019 – Holmdel, NJ – P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
6/28/2019 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
6/29/2019 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
6/30/2019 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Summerfest
7/12/2019 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede
7/21/2019 – Brooklyn, MI – Faster Horses Festival
7/24/2019 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair
7/25/2019 – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater
7/26/2019 – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater
8/9/2019 – Denver, CO – Coors Field * +
8/11/2019 – Des Moines, IA – Grandstand – Iowa State Fairgrounds +
8/23/2019 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
8/24/2019 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
8/25/2019 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live +
8/29/2019 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Park Stadium *
8/30/2019 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center *
8/31/2019 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park (on sale February 15) *
9/6/2019 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion *
9/7/2019 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion *
9/8/2019 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre *
9/19/2019 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre +
9/20/2019 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater +
10/17/2019 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
10/18/2019 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
10/19/2019 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
10/20/2019 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
10/25/2019 – Rogers, AR – The Walmart Amp *
10/26/2019 – Dallas, TX – The Dos Equis Pavilion (on sale February 15) *
* With special guest Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
200 Artists, Industry Members Take Part In Recording Academy’s Inclusion Initiative For Female Producers, Engineers
/by Lorie HollabaughKeith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Kacey Musgraves, Kassi Ashton, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Lady Gaga, John Legend, and Shawn Mendes are a few of over 200 other artists, producers, labels, management companies, and other industry members have signed on to a new task force initiative on Diversity and Inclusion started by the Recording Academy. The unprecedented new initiative aims to expand opportunities for female music producers and engineers in the industry, and is the first step in a broader effort to increase the number of women in those fields. According to a 2018 USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study, only two percent of music producers and three percent of engineers/mixers across popular music are women.
The initiative is the first step in a broader effort to improve those numbers and increase diversity and inclusion for all in the music industry, and calls on any entity or individual responsible for or involved in selecting and hiring producers and engineers to commit to making hiring decisions only after considering a slate of candidates that includes at least two women. It also asks working producers to take gender diversity challenges in music’s technical fields into account when determining who to mentor and prepare for development and advancement opportunities.
“The music industry is at a crossroads and progress won’t happen on its own. There is no magic bullet to shift a status quo that has existed for centuries, but we see this initiative as an important step,” said Tina Tchen, Chair of the Recording Academy’s Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion and Partner at Buckley LLP, who previously served as chief of staff to former First Lady, Michelle Obama. “We know that change requires real commitment to intentional hiring and to providing young women with consistent training and mentorship. We aren’t here to tell anyone who to hire, but we have seen repeatedly that the simple act of making sure diverse candidates are always seen and considered makes it more likely that women will get the opportunities they previously have been denied. It’s one step everyone can take that could go a long way to catalyzing important change that is overdue in this industry.”
To assist in ensuring the success of this initiative, the Recording Academy is creating and hosting a webpage dedicated solely to facilitating the process of identifying working female producers and engineers. The site will enable anyone seeking to consider and hire a woman for a position to quickly access relevant resources, including tools provided by She Is The Music and Women’s Audio Mission, organizations that help connect decision-makers with female producers and engineers.
“As an artist and member of the Recording Academy, I’m proud to join this pledge and appreciate the work of the Task Force to bring this forward. Women deserve as much opportunity as men, and we know this industry has not always been fair. The only way to change these inequities is for us to face it directly and commit to do more,” said artist and Task Force member, Common.
The Inclusion Initiative gives employers and creative decision-makers the continued ability to make the right choice for their music, while simultaneously providing visibility and opportunity for female producers and engineers. Bringing visibility to these issues will not only expand opportunities for women today, but it will also inspire more young women and girls to pursue technical careers in the music industry going forward, which could help shrink the gender gap.
A full list of artist, label and producer pledges is available here.
Weekly Chart Report (2/1/19)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Penske Media Takes Full Ownership Of ‘Rolling Stone’ Publication
/by Jessica NicholsonPenske Media Corporation has finalized the purchase of the remaining 49 percent stake in Rolling Stone from BandLab Technologies, MusicRow has confirmed. The purchase includes all event and licensing rights as well as the parallel entity Rolling Stone International. The acquisition makes Penske Media the full owner, after Penske gained a 51 percent stake in December 2017, when it purchased those shares from Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner.
A Penske Media rep says the company expects to add a 15-20 percent increase in editorial as part of its growth strategy for the publication.
According to Vanity Fair, Penske’s initial 2017 investment in the publication cost approximately $50 million. Following the 2017 investment, Wenner had continued to be involved with the publication, while his son Gus Wenner was named president and COO.
Penske Media Corporation also owns titles including Variety, Deadline, Hollywood Life, WWD, IndieWire, and more.
George Strait Reveals 30th Studio Album Release Date, Track Listing
/by Jessica NicholsonGeorge Strait will release his 30th album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, on March 29 via MCA Nashville. Strait produced the project with Chuck Ainlay, and penned eight of the project’s 13 tracks, including “Sing One With Willie,” which features the legendary Willie Nelson. Nelson and Strait debuted the song during a recent Nashville show, marking the first time the two country icons have shared the stage.
The album’s first single, “God and Country Music,” was penned by Luke Laird, Barry Dean, and Lori McKenna and introduces a special vocal guest, Strait’s grandson, Harvey Strait.
“I’m really excited to have some new music coming out,” Strait says. “It’s been about two years since I’ve released a record. It was great writing with Bubba and Dean again and creating such a beautiful song with Bubba and Jeff Hyde. Also, it was a very special thing for me to be able to write and sing one with the legend Willie Nelson. I hope everyone enjoys listening to Honky Tonk Time Machine as much as I enjoyed making it.”
Honky Tonk Time Machine track listing:
1. “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
2. “Two More Wishes” – Written by Jim Lauderdale and Odie Blackmon
3. “Some Nights” – Written by Bubba Strait, Brice Long and Phillip White
4. “God and Country Music” (with Harvey Strait) – Written by Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Lori McKenna
5. “Blue Water” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
6. “Sometimes Love” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
7. “Código” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
8. “Old Violin” – Written by Johnny Paycheck
9. “Take Me Away” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
10. “The Weight of the Badge” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon
11. “Honky Tonk Time Machine” – Written by Bubba Strait, Brice Long and Bart Butler
12. “What Goes Up” – Written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Jeff Hyde
13. “Sing One with Willie” (featuring Willie Nelson) – Written by George Strait, Willie Nelson, Bubba Strait and Buddy Cannon
APA Nashville Promotes Travis Wolfe To VP Role
/by Jessica NicholsonAPA concerts agent Travis Wolfe has been promoted to Vice President, it was announced today by Steve Lassiter, Partner and Head of Concerts at APA Nashville.
“Travis has done a tremendous job since first joining our team and I’m very proud to reward his hard work and dedication with this well-deserved promotion,” Lassiter said.
Wolfe, who oversees APA’s music and comedy rosters for corporate and special events, joined APA in 2013 from Paradigm. In 2012, he was named Emerging Talent Agent of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA). He began his career working in artist management for country artist Neal McCoy.
Wolfe is also the responsible agent for the groups Sister Hazel, Royal Machines, Quixotic, and Keith Anderson, among others.
Montana’s Under The Big Sky Festival Launches With Dwight Yoakam, Band Of Horses, Amanda Shires
/by Jessica NicholsonMontana will debut the new Under The Big Sky Festival, slated for July 13-14 in Whitefish, Montana, with a string of alt-country and Americana artists.
The lineup includes Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Band of Horses, Dwight Yoakam, Cody Jinks, Jenny Lewis, Elle King, Ryan Bingham, Lucius, Whitey Morgan, Shooter Jennings, Jamestown Revival, Nikki Lane, and more.
Other performers will include Amanda Shires, Corb Lund, Justin Townes Earle, Bones Owens, The Silent Comedy, Hogslop String Band, Charlie Overbey, Mike Murray, Jameson and the Sordid Seeds, and Danny + Joy.
Attendees will experience the music as the festival is held on the 350-acre working farm Big Mountain Ranch, located at 1875 Voerman Road in Whitefish, Montana. The ranch has 180-degree views of Whitefish Ski Resort’s mountains.
Under The Big Sky is an all ages event, with children under six able to enter for free. Food and beverage will be a curated collaboration between the notable Whitefish restaurateur Pat Carloss and his team and Best Beverage Catering, who provide catering for Coachella, Stagecoach, BottleRock and many other major festivals. VIP experiences and seating will be offered, with a bespoke VIP food and beverage program. A bike valet will be available on-site. Discounted local hotel and camping accommodations will be announced soon.
Tickets will go on sale Feb. 19, with VIP tickets starting at $250 (plus fees), and general admission tickets beginning at $99 (plus fees). For more visit underthebigskyfest.com.
Music Biz Conference Adds Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Reveals 2019 Agenda
/by Jessica NicholsonApple Music Global Head of Artist Relations Zane Lowe has been announced as a keynote speaker for the 2019 Music Biz Conference. Lowe will offer a keynote interview on Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m. This year’s Music Biz Conference will be held at Nashville’s JW Marriott from May 5-8.
In addition to leading Apple Music’s artist relations team for the world, Lowe oversees Beats 1, Apple Music’s global livestream, where he serves as one of the anchor hosts, broadcasting his flagship show every Monday through Thursday to over 100 countries around the world. He also curates original programming for the service which includes feature shows hosted by Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd, Elton John, Virgil Abloh, Kendall Jenner, Mike D, Ezra Koenig, DJ Khaled, St. Vincent, Lars Ulrich, Charli XCX, Drake’s OVOSOUND Radio, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre, and more.
Lowe has an established career in music broadcasting, first at MTV UK and XFM, then heading to BBC Radio 1 where he hosted the New Music show for 13 years before moving to Los Angeles to join Apple Music in 2015.
“It is a huge honor to welcome Zane Lowe to this year’s Conference program,” says James Donio, President of Music Biz. “He is one of the most influential names in the broadcast industry today, and his vision and insight will be of great interest to our audience.”
Alongside this announcement, Music Biz has also revealed a first glance at the preliminary agenda for Music Biz 2019.
Performers Announced For Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will take place at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (Feb. 10) from 12:30–3:30 p.m. PT, and will be streamed live internationally via grammy.com. Preceding the 61st Annual Grammy Awards telecast, the Premiere Ceremony will be hosted by Shaggy and will feature a number of performances by current Grammy nominees. Currently slated to perform are singer-songwriter Snatam Kaur, trumpeter Craig Morris, and dance/electronic duo Sofi Tukker. Nigerian Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti and Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara will take the stage together to perform, and for the first time ever, Ángela Aguilar, Aida Cuevas, and Natalia Lafourcade will unite to perform the Mexican folkloric classic “La Llorona,” which all three have recorded during their careers.
Presenting the first Grammy Awards of the day will be current nominees Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, Kalani Pe’a, Questlove, Cécile McLorin Salvant, TOKiMONSTA, and former Recording Academy Chair Jimmy Jam.
The live stream of the Premiere Ceremony will remain on grammy.com as video on demand for 90 days following the event. The 61st Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live following the Premiere Ceremony on the CBS Television Network from 8 p.m. –11 p.m. ET.
On The Row: Bastian Baker
/by LB CantrellSwiss singer-songwriter Bastian Baker dropped by the MusicRow office recently, fresh from […]