Pictured (L-R): Ashlee McDonald, EMERGE Committee Co-Chair of Events & Executive Producer, CMT Radio; Anthony Barton; Katie Dean; Chip Dorsch; Cody Alan; Shane Tarleton; Maggie Rose; Mike Gill, CMT’s Lead Chair of EMERGE
In conjunction with Viacom’s EMERGE LGBTQ+ employee group, CMT hosted a community conversation in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The panel included Warner Music Nashville’s Shane Tarleton, UMG Nashville’s Katie Dean, Red Light Management’s Chip Dorsch, CMT’s Anthony Barton, and straight ally recording artist Maggie Rose. CMT host Cody Alan moderated.
Notably, Barton cited a restructuring of CMT within Viacom two weeks ago, expected to yield more progressive programming on various cultural fronts. This builds on the network’s portrayal of a gay and trans character, namely in Nashville.
“[A week ago CMT was] reorganized, now managed by Chris McCarthy who runs MTV, VH1 and LOGO,” said the SVP Marketing, Creative & Operations at CMT. “This is where CMT originally was in Viacom, and those music networks are usually a lot more progressive. Give us around 18 months until things hit the air.
“CMT viewers are a smaller part of country fans,” continued Barton. “Something that made everyone surprised is country fans are in line with the general population—not more conservative or liberal. I think we at CMT have made decisions assuming they were super conservative. We’re not here to teach a bunch of lessons—that’s another network’s job—but we need to be responsible to the people who have access to us. We’re inviting as many people to the table as we can—that’s what good business does.”
The insightful panel continued, with Tarleton speaking on behalf of his record label roster, which over the years has become more inclusive.
“At the end of the day it’s: Do you have a message that we want to help share around the world? This is sad to say, but I started in creative services and there would be people probably 20 lbs overweight and it was my lucky job to say, ‘Before you start radio tour, you’re gonna get a trainer because you have to fit into this mold before we can do something with you.’
“Encouraging someone to change a part of who they are to fit into what we think would work is not something we do today.”
Dean, who was hired by Luke Lewis at UMG, estimates 10 percent of her current workforce identifies as gay. She is proud of her roster’s influence, namely from Kacey Musgraves or Luke Bryan’s MusicRow Song of the Year, “Most People Are Good.”
The panel continued with profound insight in why visibility is important.
“I am sick of people saying, ‘[Shut up and sing]’,” contributed Rose, on behalf of recording artists. “We travel all over the world, we get to see all sorts of people. We work with people from all different backgrounds. We might know what we’re talking about when it comes to seeing all walks of life or people treated in an unjust way.”
Barton continued of the importance in speaking out. “If you hear a message a certain number of times within a certain amount of time, you believe it. If nobody corrects that, then that’s the only message out there. That’s why it’s important for entertainers to speak up if they heard their song was played in a rally they disagree with, because the assumption is they didn’t care enough to speak up.”
Though Viacom is based in New York, Barton cites his occasional experience with co-workers or bosses. “There are junior people on this staff that should never be part of that,” said Barton. “All of us here enjoy great success, and we need to look out for people.
“Saying you’re an out person is actually a really strong political statement. That takes a lot of courage, even now. There were trailblazers long before my time, but it’s important to hold on to what we have now. We are role models by just existing.”
“The way I was treated and brought in to a conversation in 1994 versus 2018 is like night and day,” confessed Tarleton of the industry. “I heard all the words you could imagine when I walked off an artist tour bus when I worked for RCA Records. Of course it was very hurtful, but it gave me the toughest skin you could imagine.” For Tarleton his role models were strong females in the business, like Dolly Parton or Reba McEntire. “They succeeded beyond expectation in an industry that didn’t necessarily support their acceleration,” mused Tarleton. “I saw them pressing against societal norms. That’s a reason gay men can relate to these divas; they had obstacles and did it anyway.”
Moderator Alan, who came out in the public eye in 2017, asked what repercussions a major label country artist may face in following suit.
“There would be lots of people who [didn’t think twice about it], and there would be a percentage saying, ‘I thought I knew you. Is there was something else you haven’t been truthful about?'” Tarleton said. “That’s the reaction I got. It was, ‘I wish I knew you sooner.'”
The panel empathized as to why a country artist might remain closeted, citing repercussions the Dixie Chicks faced in 2003 for standing behind their political beliefs.
“There’s probably a lot of pressure on these A-list artists, who are running a pretty big business traveling from town to town,” said Barton. “There’s a lot behind the scenes. A way to be an ally is to say, ‘This could be rough, but we believe in this and think this is the right thing to do. You’ll be better on the other side.'”
“A lot of people are private,” advocated Dean of her own experience. “You share what you’re willing to share when you’re willing to share it. You’re on nobody’s timeline.”
“Having people say, ‘We’re with you in this’ was really helpful,” Alan anecdotally shared of his office’s support. “As it comes to [the country music audience], the human connection and bond that started happening because you’re revealing your authentic self has made what I do a whole lot better…I think we perceive sometimes [the country audience] as not accepting. They’re actually very open.”
Dorsch looks forward to a day when an LGBTQ+ artist feels confident enough to use the proper pronouns on country music. “I would love to see the day where a man can say ‘him’ in a song and the song be so great it has to get played,” said Dorsch. “Melissa Ethredge’s big hits were all ‘they,’ ‘them,’ ‘I,’ and ‘you.'”
Dean, who is VP Radio Promotion at MCA Records, cited several gay radio programmers as hope for the future. Tarleton feels encouraged watching young staffers live openly in an environment that wasn’t always that way. “The most important thing for me is to embrace the fact we all are different,” said Tarleton. “My approach is: If you want to know about me, just ask. My heart’s on my sleeve.
“There are lots of people who have never even had a conversation with someone who they knew to be an out person. Once you have that, they’re like, ‘Wait, you want to go to lunch at noon too? I thought you guys didn’t eat lunch. [Laughs].”
BBR Music Group/BMG Announces ‘Homegrown Kids Country, Vol 1.’
/by LB CantrellConceived and crafted by award-winning songwriter and producer Ross Copperman, BBR Music Group/BMG will release Homegrown Kids Country, Vol 1., on Dec. 7. The compilation album will feature professionally recorded versions of hand-selected youth singers performing 10 modern country hits, produced by Dana Anderson and David Wise, with executive producer Copperman.
“I’ve worked on so many records but I really wanted to make one that we can listen to while we drive around in the car and other parents can enjoy too,” said Copperman, executive producer of Homegrown Kids. “When kids hear other children singing, their eyes kind of light up and I just thought this would be a great way to get kids and their families involved in country music.”
Homegrown Kids Country, Vol. 1 is available for pre-order here.
Homegrown Kids Country, Vol. 1 Track Listing:
-Jon Pardi, “Dirt on My Boots”
-Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
-Lauren Alaina, “Road Less Traveled”
-Kenny Chesney, “Get Along”
-Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”
-Keith Urban ft. Julia Michaels, “Coming Home”
-Luke Bryan, “Most People are Good”
-Kenny Chesney ft. David Lee Murphy, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”
-Old Dominion, “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart”
-Little Big Town, “Boondocks”
Steven Lee Olsen Releases Debut Album ‘Timing Is Everything’
/by LB CantrellAward-winning hit songwriter Steven Lee Olsen is stepping into the spotlight with the release of his debut album Timing Is Everything, out today (Nov. 9). The independently-released collection proves that Olsen is not only capable of taking country music by storm as a songwriter, but also as an artist.
“I personally felt the title was a no brainer,” said the former Sony Nashville recording artist. “There have been a lot of setbacks for me these past couple of years and my patience was wearing thin. I was anxious to put out music. Then all the pieces started falling together and here we are releasing this album. It took some time, but being on the other side of it now, it’s easy to see that timing really is everything.”
The Toronto-native has spent a decade plus in Nashville strengthening his skills as a songwriter, penning songs like Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Kip Moore’s “More Girls Like You,” among many others.
Timing Is Everything Track Listing:
1. Timing Is Everything (Steven Lee Olsen, Ben West, Troy Verges)
2. There I Said It (Olsen, David Hodges, Verges)
3. Future Me (Olsen, Brett James)
4. Eastwood (Olsen, Josh Miller, David Garcia)
5. Just Married (Olsen, Miller, Verges)
6. Undefeated (Olsen, Verges, Garcia, Miller)
7. Fools Fall In Love (Olsen, Miller, Garcia)
Industry Ink: Kane Brown, SiriusXM, Tony Brown
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): RCA Nashville SVP Promotion Dennis Reece, Sony Music Nashville’s SVP Legal & Business Affairs Angie Magill, Sony Music Nashville’s Director Marketing Jen Way, VP Digital Strategy Ed Rivadavia, Kane Brown, Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman, EVP Marketing & New Business John Zarling, VP Sales & Streaming Caryl Atwood, EFG Management’s Martha Earls, SMN COO/EVP Ken Robold
Kane Brown Surprised With RIAA Certification News On Eve of His New Album Experiment’s Release
On the eve of the release of his new album, Experiment, Kane Brown was surprised with the RIAA certifications of “What If’s” now 4-x Platinum,“Heaven” now 3-x Platinum and “Lose It” now Gold. Brown’s career streams surpass 2 billion, with “What Ifs” at over 500 million and “Heaven” at more than 440 million.
CMA Awards Take Over SiriusXM’s The Highway
SiriusXM will launch “CMA Awards Radio” on SiriusXM’s The Highway channel beginning Monday Nov. 12 through Nov. 14. The limited-run channel takeover will feature a live simulcast of “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards” on November 14 from 8:00 pm -11:00 pm ET, which broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on ABC. SiriusXM’s “CMA Awards Radio” will highlight music from 2018 CMA Awards nominees like Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and many more. It will also present original radio specials and interviews with nominees and performers from the CMA Awards rehearsals and on the red carpet. The channel takeover will air via satellite on channel 56, and through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com.
Tony Brown’s Elvis, Strait To Jesus Named New York City Big Book Awards Winner
Elvis, Strait, to Jesus by Tony Brown has received recognition from the New York City Big Book Awards as a winner in the category of Arts & Entertainment. Elvis, Strait, to Jesus was also recognized as a distinguished favorite in the category of Coffee Table Books. The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence. The book compiles the iconic 40-year career of award-winning producer Brown.
Drew Green Signs Publishing Deal With Warner/Chappell Nashville And Cornman Music
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R:) Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Nate Lowery (Cornman Music), Drew Green, Brett James (Cornman Music), Jessi Vaughn (Warner/Chappell)
Songwriter Drew Green has inked a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Nashville and Cornman Music. Green’s song “Colorado” was recently released by Florida Georgia Line.
“We’re very excited and honored to announce the signing of Drew Green to Cornman Music and Warner/Chappell,” said Cornman General Manager and VP, Nate Lowery. “Drew is an exceptional writer and artist, and one of the hardest working people I’ve been able to spend time with. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. Brett and I are honored to have him join the Cornman family.”
ole Acquires Fifty Percent Stake Of SB21 Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughAn independent publishing company founded in 2011 by artist-songwriter-producer, Steve Pasch, the SB21 catalogue includes Luke Bryan’s No. 1 single “Most People are Good,” as well as “If You Ain’t It” by Danny Gokey, “Like You Were Mine” by Jason Aldean, “Leaving New Orleans” by ole singer-songwriter Jordan Davis, “Drinking Class” by Lee Brice, “Watching You” by Rodney Adkins, and the works of writers such as Brian White, David Frasier, Greg Barnhill, Thomas Tillman, and John Edwards.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work the SB21 catalog which has many hit songs in it. This is another great acquisition for ole,” said John Ozier, ole’s Vice President of Creative.
Charlie Cook Inks Multi-Year Contract Extension With Cumulus
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood and Charlie Cook
Cumulus Media has entered into a multi-year contract extension with Charlie Cook as VP/Country Formats, Cumulus Media, Operations Manager/Cumulus Media-Nashville, and Program Director/WSM-FM (NASH Icon) in Nashville. The veteran country programmer oversees programming for Cumulus Media’s Nashville radio stations including WKDF, WWTN, WGFX and WQQK.
“Charlie Cook is not only one of the best known and most successful country programmers in the history of the format, he is a solid and strategic thinking multi-format radio expert,” said Mike McVay, Executive Vice President, Content & Programming, Cumulus Media and Westwood One. We are excited to continue this partnership with him.”
“I am thrilled that Charlie has agreed to extend his employment agreement for another three years,” said Allison Warren, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Nashville. “Since joining Cumulus five years ago, he successfully launched two of the hottest country brands in Nashville, 95.5 NASH ICON and NASH FM 103.3, capitalized on the combined strength of Cumulus Media’s NASH brands and delivered consistent ratings performance. Most importantly, Charlie’s collaboration with our Nashville programming team to develop and execute the right long-term strategy for our stations positions Cumulus Nashville for continued success in the future.”
“I have enjoyed my five years here in Nashville with Cumulus,” said Cook. “I could not ask for better partners than Dave Milner, Mike McVay and Allison Warren. I have been in the business for many years and honestly, this is as good a group of professionals as I have ever been blessed to work with day in and day out. I look forward to continuing in my roles with the company.”
CMT Predicts More Diverse Programming Amid Restructuring, Discussed At LGBTQ+ Panel
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Ashlee McDonald, EMERGE Committee Co-Chair of Events & Executive Producer, CMT Radio; Anthony Barton; Katie Dean; Chip Dorsch; Cody Alan; Shane Tarleton; Maggie Rose; Mike Gill, CMT’s Lead Chair of EMERGE
In conjunction with Viacom’s EMERGE LGBTQ+ employee group, CMT hosted a community conversation in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The panel included Warner Music Nashville’s Shane Tarleton, UMG Nashville’s Katie Dean, Red Light Management’s Chip Dorsch, CMT’s Anthony Barton, and straight ally recording artist Maggie Rose. CMT host Cody Alan moderated.
Notably, Barton cited a restructuring of CMT within Viacom two weeks ago, expected to yield more progressive programming on various cultural fronts. This builds on the network’s portrayal of a gay and trans character, namely in Nashville.
“[A week ago CMT was] reorganized, now managed by Chris McCarthy who runs MTV, VH1 and LOGO,” said the SVP Marketing, Creative & Operations at CMT. “This is where CMT originally was in Viacom, and those music networks are usually a lot more progressive. Give us around 18 months until things hit the air.
“CMT viewers are a smaller part of country fans,” continued Barton. “Something that made everyone surprised is country fans are in line with the general population—not more conservative or liberal. I think we at CMT have made decisions assuming they were super conservative. We’re not here to teach a bunch of lessons—that’s another network’s job—but we need to be responsible to the people who have access to us. We’re inviting as many people to the table as we can—that’s what good business does.”
“At the end of the day it’s: Do you have a message that we want to help share around the world? This is sad to say, but I started in creative services and there would be people probably 20 lbs overweight and it was my lucky job to say, ‘Before you start radio tour, you’re gonna get a trainer because you have to fit into this mold before we can do something with you.’
“Encouraging someone to change a part of who they are to fit into what we think would work is not something we do today.”
Dean, who was hired by Luke Lewis at UMG, estimates 10 percent of her current workforce identifies as gay. She is proud of her roster’s influence, namely from Kacey Musgraves or Luke Bryan’s MusicRow Song of the Year, “Most People Are Good.”
The panel continued with profound insight in why visibility is important.
“I am sick of people saying, ‘[Shut up and sing]’,” contributed Rose, on behalf of recording artists. “We travel all over the world, we get to see all sorts of people. We work with people from all different backgrounds. We might know what we’re talking about when it comes to seeing all walks of life or people treated in an unjust way.”
Barton continued of the importance in speaking out. “If you hear a message a certain number of times within a certain amount of time, you believe it. If nobody corrects that, then that’s the only message out there. That’s why it’s important for entertainers to speak up if they heard their song was played in a rally they disagree with, because the assumption is they didn’t care enough to speak up.”
Though Viacom is based in New York, Barton cites his occasional experience with co-workers or bosses. “There are junior people on this staff that should never be part of that,” said Barton. “All of us here enjoy great success, and we need to look out for people.
“Saying you’re an out person is actually a really strong political statement. That takes a lot of courage, even now. There were trailblazers long before my time, but it’s important to hold on to what we have now. We are role models by just existing.”
“The way I was treated and brought in to a conversation in 1994 versus 2018 is like night and day,” confessed Tarleton of the industry. “I heard all the words you could imagine when I walked off an artist tour bus when I worked for RCA Records. Of course it was very hurtful, but it gave me the toughest skin you could imagine.” For Tarleton his role models were strong females in the business, like Dolly Parton or Reba McEntire. “They succeeded beyond expectation in an industry that didn’t necessarily support their acceleration,” mused Tarleton. “I saw them pressing against societal norms. That’s a reason gay men can relate to these divas; they had obstacles and did it anyway.”
Moderator Alan, who came out in the public eye in 2017, asked what repercussions a major label country artist may face in following suit.
“There would be lots of people who [didn’t think twice about it], and there would be a percentage saying, ‘I thought I knew you. Is there was something else you haven’t been truthful about?'” Tarleton said. “That’s the reaction I got. It was, ‘I wish I knew you sooner.'”
The panel empathized as to why a country artist might remain closeted, citing repercussions the Dixie Chicks faced in 2003 for standing behind their political beliefs.
“There’s probably a lot of pressure on these A-list artists, who are running a pretty big business traveling from town to town,” said Barton. “There’s a lot behind the scenes. A way to be an ally is to say, ‘This could be rough, but we believe in this and think this is the right thing to do. You’ll be better on the other side.'”
“A lot of people are private,” advocated Dean of her own experience. “You share what you’re willing to share when you’re willing to share it. You’re on nobody’s timeline.”
“Having people say, ‘We’re with you in this’ was really helpful,” Alan anecdotally shared of his office’s support. “As it comes to [the country music audience], the human connection and bond that started happening because you’re revealing your authentic self has made what I do a whole lot better…I think we perceive sometimes [the country audience] as not accepting. They’re actually very open.”
Dorsch looks forward to a day when an LGBTQ+ artist feels confident enough to use the proper pronouns on country music. “I would love to see the day where a man can say ‘him’ in a song and the song be so great it has to get played,” said Dorsch. “Melissa Ethredge’s big hits were all ‘they,’ ‘them,’ ‘I,’ and ‘you.'”
Dean, who is VP Radio Promotion at MCA Records, cited several gay radio programmers as hope for the future. Tarleton feels encouraged watching young staffers live openly in an environment that wasn’t always that way. “The most important thing for me is to embrace the fact we all are different,” said Tarleton. “My approach is: If you want to know about me, just ask. My heart’s on my sleeve.
“There are lots of people who have never even had a conversation with someone who they knew to be an out person. Once you have that, they’re like, ‘Wait, you want to go to lunch at noon too? I thought you guys didn’t eat lunch. [Laughs].”
Weekly Chart Report (11/9/18)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Americana Music Association UK 2019 Awards Nominees Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughThe nominees and special award recipients for the Americana Music Association UK’s upcoming fourth annual UK Americana Awards have been announced. The 2019 awards are set to take place during AmericanaFest UK on Jan. 29-31 in London and are part of AmericanaFest UK, a three-day event similar to Americanafest in the States, which will include a daytime conference with keynote speaker Rhiannon Giddens, as well as guest speakers John Oates, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson, and others.
The special award recipients will be honored during a ceremony at London’s Hackney Empire on January 31. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will go to two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Graham Nash. Other special award recipients will include Joe Boyd (Trailblazer Award), Curse of Lono (Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award), and Immy Doman and Risa Tabatznik of The Green Note (Grass Roots Award).
Other UK Americana Awards Nominees:
UK Song of the Year:
“Uh-Huh” by Jade Bird (written by Jade Bird)
“Chicago” by Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker (written by Josienne Clarke)
“Southern Wind” by Dean Owens (written by Dean Owens and Will Kimbrough)
“Be More Kind” by Frank Turner (written by Frank Turner)
International Song of the Year:
“The Joke” by Brandi Carlile (written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth)
“Hold Your Head Up High” by Darlingside (written by Auyon Mukharji, Caitlin Canty and Donald Mitchell)
“Mockingbird” by Ruston Kelly (written by Ruston Kelly)
“Rolling On” by Israel Nash (written by Israel Nash)
UK Artist of the Year:
Ethan Johns
Robert Plant
Bennett Wilson Poole
The Wandering Hearts
International Artist of the Year:
Mary Gauthier
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
John Prine
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
UK Instrumentalist of the Year:
Martin Harley
CJ Hillman
Seth Lakeman
Gwenifer Raymond
Josh Turner Celebrates Album Release With Back-To-Back Ryman Shows
/by Jessica NicholsonPhoto ID (L-R): Josh Turner with Sonya Isaacs. Photo courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer
Josh Turner made his way back to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday night (Nov. 6) for back-to-back Opry performances. Turner just released the project I Serve A Savior, debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen’s Country Albums Chart and No. 2 on both the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart. Turner was joined on stage for his Ryman Auditorium performance by Sonya Issacs and Bobby Osborne.
“It was a special night at the Opry and I always look forward to when it returns to the Ryman in the winter,” shares Turner. “There’s so much history at the Ryman Auditorium for me. Getting to share these new songs from I Serve A Savior and having my friends Bobby Osborne and Sonya Isaacs join me made it a night I will always remember.”