Montana 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.
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 […]
Sam Grow Signs With Average Joes Entertainment
/by Lorie HollabaughSam Grow has signed with Average Joes Entertainment. Grow will deliver his first full-length album for the label this Spring. An A-side, single-pack featuring two new songs, “History” and “Boots,” is scheduled for release Feb. 1 and is available at all digital outlets.
“History” written by Cam Montgomery, Mike Hardy and Nick Donley, showcases Grow’s soulful vocals and tells the tale of a couple who are in and out of a relationship while “Boots,” penned by Josh Thompson and Jason Saenz, is a catchy, uptempo chronicling the colorful journey of a loyal pair of boots.
“The entire team is excited to welcome Sam to the label. His artistry as both a songwriter and entertainer is exceptional, as is his work ethic. He’s done the work, and it’s quite obvious where he’s headed,” said Average Joes’ A&R representative, Forrest Latta.
“I’m excited to get this new music out to my fans. I love both of these songs and feel like they are the perfect introduction to the new album coming this spring,” said Grow.
Big Machine/John Varvatos Records Signs Friday Pilots Club
/by Lorie HollabaughFriday Pilots Club has signed with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records. The band will release their first single under the BMLG imprint, “Glory,” next Friday (Feb. 8) on all digital platforms. Caleb Hiltunen (vocals) and Drew Polovick (guitar) front the Chicago-based band, which has already earned a loyal local following. They will release “Glory” to alternative radio on February 11.
“I’m always on the lookout for a rock band that cuts through the noise with songs, imagination, power and identity,” said BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta. “From the first time I met Caleb, Drew and the band, to their electric live show, I knew we found something special. Serving notice now, the Pilots are coming.”
“Friday Pilots Club have everything that a great rock band should possess – memorable songs, big hooks, and an exciting stage presence,” adds John Varvatos. “Caleb and Drew are the real deal!”
“Working with BMLG has been incredible in understanding how many parts there are to a successful (pun intended) machine,” said Hiltunen. “Over the past two months, Scott, John and the team have helped us prepare for what I’m hoping will be our first big step into the public eye (and ear). Without them and our personal team, Drew and I (and our boys) would be right where we started. It’s good to have a solid team, the state of rock should always be solid.”
Lineup Revealed For Big Machine Label Group Luncheon At 2019 CRS
/by LB CantrellBig Machine Label Group artists Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, Lauren Jenkins and Noah Schnacky will perform at the BMLG luncheon at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) on Friday, Feb. 15. The luncheon will begin in the Broadway Ballroom (CRS Performance Hall) at Omni Nashville at noon. BMLG president and CEO Scott Borchetta will serve as the host.
To register to attend Country Radio Seminar’s 50th Anniversary event, visit countryradioseminar.com. Single-day passes are also being made available. Single-day passes (limited to two day passes per person) will be $200. Day passes include access to panels, speakers, luncheons and networking destinations on the day of pass purchase, with the exception of Friday’s New Faces of Country Music show. Day passes will only be available for purchase on-site. The final rate of $699 is now in effect for others planning to attend CRS 2019.