DISClaimer: Blake Shelton Tops New Tracks With “Tequila Sheila” Remake

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This is evidently a week for song craftsmanship.

There are a number of releases here that go way beyond wallpaper music. Joy Williams’ “Canary,” Tim McGraw’s “Gravity,” Devin Dawson’s “Dark Horse” and Ty Herndon’s revival of “Walking in Memphis” are all songs that command respect.

Topping them all is Blake Shelton, reminding us how many clever rhymes there are for the word “Sheila,” thanks to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members Shel Silverstein and Mac Davis. This audio tickler is our Disc of the Day.

Blake is closely trailed by labelmates Dawson and Cale Dodds, the latter of whom brings a bucket load of happy in his bopping tune.

JOY WILLIAMS/Canary
Writers: Joy Williams/Caitlyn Smith/Angelo Petraglia; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Eleven Eleven, no performance rights listed; JW
– Formerly a CCM artist and half of the acclaimed Americana duo The Civil Wars, Williams has a haunting new track. Over rippling guitars, she soars into her upper soprano while delivering a lyric of singing strongly, even when you’re shadowed with the cold chill of being the canary in the mine.

CARLY PEARCE/Closer To You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
-Sweetly romantic. Sunny and bright.

CHUCK WICKS/Better Than Flowers
Writers: Chuck Wicks/Jeffrey East/Michael Lotten; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; CW
– Sexy pop country. He’s promising love for hours and something that’s more than an overnight fling while guitars ring in an echo chamber.

BLAKE SHELTON/Tequila Sheila
Writers: Shel Silverstein/Mac Davis; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BS
– We all hail the greatness that is Bobby Bare. Penultimate country vocalist Blake Shelton has the ideal pipes to show his love on this toe-tapping remake of Bare’s rowdy 1980 classic. A delightful song, delightfully delivered. Love the Latin guitar licks, too.

YouTube video

 

TY HERNDON/Walking In Memphis
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; TH
– The Marc Cohn pop classic from 1991 gets a revved-up, dance-floor remake. Ty’s still a country singer, and his vocal is mixed front and center. Although the track is rhythm happy, it’s not so electronic that you couldn’t spin it alongside most other pop-country outings. Catchy, to say the least.

TIM MCGRAW/Gravity
Writers: McGraw/Lori McKenna; Producers: McGraw/Byron Gallimore; Publisher: none listed; Columbia/Tim McGraw
– Created for the soundtrack of the film Free Solo, this ballad is an uplifting orchestral ode to perseverance and belief. Luxuriously produced. I remain an enormous fan, all these years later.

CALE DODDS/Where I Get It From
Writers: Cale Dodds/Sarah Buxton/Corey Crowder/Jared Mullins; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– A down-home, Southern frolic with a stuttering beat and rapid-fire lyrics. Fun with a capital “F.” This fellow has charm to spare.

COLE SWINDELL/Love You Too Late
Writers: Brandon Lynn Kinney/Michael Carter/Cole Swindell; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Peermusic/Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Warner Bros.
– She’s out having a blast while he’s wallowing in misery. Nevertheless, the track rocks ridiculously.

YouTube video

 

DEVIN DAWSON/Dark Horse
Writers: Dawson/Andy Albert/Andrew DeRoberts; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Atlantic
– A song for outsiders everywhere. The echoey atmosphere and his affecting voice are both superb vehicles for the message of alienation. Poignant and potent. Give this your undivided attention.

DOLLY PARTON/Girl In The Movies
Writers: Dolly Parton/Linda Perry; Producer: Perry; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– This is from the soundtrack to the forthcoming film Dumplin.’ It’s a wistful, soft ballad about dreaming big, shiny dreams. The woman is an American Treasure. She’s been nominated for a best-song Oscar twice before (for “9 To 5” and “Travelin’ Through”). Could the third time be the charm?

UMG Nashville Signs Caylee Hammack

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Pictured (L-R) Front: UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Caylee Hammack, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe. Back Row (L-R): UMG Nashville VP Business and Legal Affairs Rob Femia, Attorney T.D. Ruth, UMG Nashville Executive VP Promotion Royce Risser, Red Light Management’s Mary Hilliard Harrington, UMPG Nashville VP/Creative Cyndi Forman, UMG Nashville Executive Vice President A&R Brian Wright

Universal Music Group Nashville has signed singer/songwriter Caylee Hammack. A native of Ellaville, Georgia, Hammack moved to Nashville at age 19 and talked her way into gigs on Lower Broadway at night while trying to break into the songwriter community during the day.

She signed a publishing deal in 2016 with Universal Music Publishing Group as the youngest writer on their roster and went on to win the ASCAP Foundation’s Sammy Cahn Award, which is given to a promising and aspiring lyricist. She is represented by Red Light Management’s Mary Hilliard Harrington and Jay Williams/Joey Lee at WME.

To commemorate signing her first record deal, Hammack used an antique quill pen originally used when her grandparents signed their marriage certificate over 50 years ago. Known for her mix of clever lyrics and haunting melodies, she is currently in the studio working on her debut album.

Nominees Revealed For CRS 2019 New Faces Of Country Music Show

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Voting for the CRS 2019 New Faces of Country Music Dinner and Show lineup opens next Thursday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m. CST to all country radio station employees.

Voting will remain open through the end of day (11:59 p.m. CST), Friday, Nov. 23 at countryradioseminar.com. The five acts with the most votes will make up the lineup for the show.

This year’s performer nominees are Jimmie Allen (Stoney Creek), Jordan Davis (MCA), Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), Lindsay Ell (Stoney Creek), Morgan Evans (Warner Bros./WEA), Riley Green (BMLGR), Walker Hayes (Monument/Arista), LANCO (Arista), Chris Lane (Big Loud), Dylan Scott (Curb), Mitchell Tenpenny (Riser House/Columbia), Morgan Wallen (Big Loud), and Aaron Watson (BIG Label).

Any full-time employee of a commercial, 24-hour country formatted radio station may vote for the 2019 New Faces of Country Music Show performers. Votes must be cast from voter’s station email in order to be verified and successfully cast.

The New Faces of Country Music Show will be held during CRS 2019, at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Country Radio Seminar and Country Aircheck sponsor the evening’s awards. The New Faces of Country Music Show is co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is one of the most anticipated events at Country Radio Seminar. Five emerging artists who have achieved significant success at Country radio during the qualification period are selected each year to perform at the showcase event.

Below are the New Faces of Country Music qualification criteria:
1. The qualification period is Nov. 1 – Oct. 31, preceding the New Faces of Country Music® Show.
2. The artist(s) selected must never have appeared on the New Faces of Country Music® Show. Notwithstanding this, solo performers who become a member of a group or duo, or a group or duo member who becomes a solo artist, will be considered as an individual and separate artist, and therefore eligible.
3. Acts must have had at least one top 25 single on the Mediabase Country Airplay Chart as published in Country Aircheck or at least one top 25 single on the BDS-based Country Airplay Chart as published by Billboard during the qualification period, and no more than 5 top 25 singles in their career.

Dinner tickets for the 2019 New Faces of Country Music® Show are sold out. The $599 regular registration rate for Country Radio Seminar 2019, held Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 15 at the Omni hotel, is available at countryradioseminar.com.

CMT Reveals Year-Long Mentorship Program For New Artists

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Parker McKay

CMT continues to support new artists via its latest initiative, a year-long mentorship program for aspiring artists. The network is extending its Artist Discovery program by hosting 12 unsigned emerging country artists in its CMT Studio in Nashville, to record demos with top music producers.

After demos are recorded, each artist will have the opportunity to be mentored by industry leaders and tastemakers. The first recording session will pair emerging female artist Parker McKay with producer Alex Kline, who has worked with stars such as Reba, Terri Clark and “CMT Next Women of Country” member Tara Thompson.

Advisors for the program will include Sweet Talk Publicity president/owner Jensen Sussman; songwriter and Liz Rose Music Publishing owner Liz Rose; mtheory Nashville president Cameo Carlson; Maverick Management head of Marketing & Digital Strategy Cameo Carlson; Atlas Music Publishing/A&R consultant Tracy Gershon, and Fusion Artist Management’s Daniel Miller.

“We are proud to expand CMT’s Artist Discovery program,” said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music and Talent, CMT. “Many unsigned artists do not have the financial resources for professional demos, or guidance on how to propel their careers forward, and this first-of-its-kind program can provide both.”

CMT’s Artist Discovery program launched in 2014; the six-week program highlights unsigned artists, promoting them through all CMT platforms.

Eventbrite Music Launches For Indie Venues, Promoters And Festivals

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Ticketing and event tech platform Eventbrite has launched Eventbrite Music, aimed at independent music venues, promoters and festivals to power their ticketing and distribution.

The new offering, which is built atop the Eventbrite platform, connects promoters with more fans to grow their live audience through strategic partnerships with more than 50 distribution partner sites, including YouTube, Spotify, Pandora and Songkick.

The technology aims to streamline the ticketing checkout experience, enabling venues to either embed checkout into their website, or use a two-step purchase process on Facebook, Instagram and other social platforms. Eventbrite also includes access to real-time show data, customizable reserved seating functionality and mobile-optimized purchase flow for fans.

The move comes more than a year after Eventbrite acquired Ticketfly for $200 million from Pandora, as Eventbrite looks to end the Ticketfly brand in 2019.

“Over the years the core needs of a concert promoter haven’t changed: They need to reduce friction in their day-to-day operations, promote profitable shows, sometimes hundreds of them a year, and deliver a great experience for artists and fans,” said Andrew Dreskin, President of Eventbrite’s music division. “The amount of thought and work we’ve put into addressing these needs has been a herculean effort. I’ve been doing this a long time and I can say with conviction that Eventbrite Music is the best piece of ticketing software that I’ve ever worked on. We’re excited to put this solution into the hands of independent promoters around the world and help to continue to fuel a thriving independent music ecosystem.”

 

 

Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies To Headline Country Lakeshake

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Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Pistol Annies will headline next year’s Country Lakeshake in Chicago, set for June 21-23. The festival, now in its fifth year, will also feature performances by Lauren Alaina, Clint Black, Danielle Bradbery, Lindsay Ell, Jon Langston, Midland, Maren Morris, Cassadee Pope, Granger Smith feat. Earl Dibbles Jr, Mitchell Tenpenny and Brett Young, with more set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Festival goers will enjoy nonstop music, a slew of food trucks, wine lounges, interactive activities, dancing, the Next From Nashville stage, and other activities to be announced in the coming months.

Friday night will kick off with an all-female lineup at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, and three-day and single-day passes will go on sale Friday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. CT at lakeshakefestival.com.

Jenn Witherell Promoted To Partner At Big Enterprises

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Jenn Witherell

Jenn Witherell, RaeLynn’s co-manager at Big Enterprises, has been promoted to partner at the company.

“January 2019 will mark 17 years that Jenn and I have been in business together,” said Kerry Hansen, President of Big Enterprises. “That is quite a rare milestone in any industry. Jenn is a bright forecaster, strategist and operations specialist. Her contributions to the company and its clients (past and present) have been a powerful influence on our success and the way we do business. The building of RaeLynn’s career is no exception and a shining example of her strengths and our collaboration.”

“At Big Enterprises, we approach every aspect of our business with unrelenting dedication – for our team and for our clients,” said Witherell.  “I’m honored to have worked with Kerry for 17 years, proud of the success of our past and, most importantly, energized for the future as we have the amazing opportunity to work with RaeLynn. We’re a strong team with an even stronger dedication to each other.”

 

High Valley, Mitchell Tenpenny, Jimmie Allen Added To Inaugural Country Thunder Florida Lineup

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Country Thunder in Kissimmee, Florida, has added more artists to the lineup of performers on the inaugural festival’s main stage March 22-24, 2019, at the Osceola Heritage Park. High Valley, Mitchell Tenpenny, Jimmie Allen, Runaway June, Waterloo Revival, Jameson Rodgers and Noah Schnacky have all been added to the lineup, which features headliners Luke Bryan, Toby Keith and Luke Combs. 

“CT Nation has come to expect the biggest and best when it comes to our headline artists,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO Troy Vollhoffer. “We’re incredibly proud to have Luke Bryan, Toby Keith and Luke Combs in Florida, but we also know that it’s a balance of headliners, combined with red-hot up-and-comers and heritage acts who have stood the test of time which creates the total festival experience.”

Three-day GA passes (including a new standing room area which allows fans to get up close and personal with their favorite stars), reserved seating, Platinum Experience, camping, glamping and all the extras are available at countrythunder.com or can be ordered by phone at 1-866-388-0007.

The Country Thunder Music Festivals organization has a 15-year history which boasts four other major multi-day events, including the reigning ACM Festival Of The Year in Arizona. The organization also hosts events in Wisconsin, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

 

 

Big Machine Music Teams With Brandy Clark In Co-Pub, JV Deals

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Pictured (L-R) Back Row: BMM’s Lizzy Gallatin, BMM’s Michelle Attardi, BMLG’s Allison Jones, BMM’s Alex Heddle. Front Row – BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Brandy Clark, BMM’s Mike Molinar

Big Machine Music has signed Warner Bros. Records singer/songwriter Brandy Clark to an exclusive co-publishing agreement. BMM has also formed a music publishing joint venture with Clark’s All BC Music. This partnership will allow for them to discover, sign and develop songwriters.

Clark, a six-time Grammy nominee, joins Big Machine Music’s publishing roster, which includes Brett Young, Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton, Laura Veltz, Josh Thompson, Jessie Jo Dillon, and more.

“Brandy is a cultural jewel and songwriting icon,” said BMM’s General Manager Mike Molinar. “We are honored and humbled she has chosen Big Machine Music as her new home.”

“I’m incredibly excited to join Big Machine Music,” shared Clark. “Their enthusiasm and commitment to great songs and songwriters is the perfect formula for this joint venture and I look forward to working together to cultivate new talent.”

Clark is known for penning hits including “Mama’s Broken Heart” (Miranda Lambert), 2014 CMA Song of the Year “Follow Your Arrow” (Kacey Musgraves) and more. In 2013, Clark released the critically lauded album 12 Stories, which earned Clark Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Country Album. 2016 brought the release of her sophomore album, Big Day In A Small Town, which garnered two more Grammy nominations – Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance (“Love Can Go To Hell”). This past year Clark has been honing her craft on the road playing with Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile, Dwight Yoakam and Sugarland.

BMI To Open Creative Office In Austin, Texas

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BMI will expand its presence in Texas with the opening of its first creative office in Austin in 2019, the company has announced.

The new office will allow BMI to work directly with songwriters, composers, publishers and emerging songwriter/artists in the Austin music community and help enhance their ability to earn a living by writing music. Temporary office space has been identified and BMI is aiming to open its permanent office in either the Business District or South Congress area by March of 2019.

The Austin team will report to Nashville-based BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, and BMI Assistant Vice President, Creative, Mason Hunter. BMI is currently conducting a search for the Creative exec to lead the Austin office.

The BMI office is being opened with the support of Governor Abbott and the Texas Music Office and Entrepreneur Gary Keller, co-founder of the Austin Music Movement, who is signing on as a key sponsor of BMI’s Texas music initiatives.

“Today we are proud to announce that BMI’s support of Texas songwriters, composers and music publishers will become even more Texas-focused,” said Governor Abbott. “This capital investment expansion represents a real commitment to continue Texas’ rise as a music industry business center. I thank the Texas Music Office for their work in making this expansion possible and look forward to working with BMI to grow our thriving music industry.”

Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI, added, “BMI has been active in the Texas music community for decades, and as their creative community has grown, we’ve grown along with them. Having a permanent presence in Austin is the next logical step, and we look forward to building on our many relationships within the industry to help give Texas songwriters all the support they need to create their greatest music. We’re thrilled to call Austin our newest home.”

“BMI has a long track record of music industry community building in cities such as Nashville and Atlanta, and we look forward to working with them as they continue their work here in Texas,” said Texas Music Office Director Brendon Anthony. “BMI’s move to Austin represents a significant investment towards supporting Texas songwriters and their compositions. We are proud to welcome BMI and will work alongside them to increase opportunities for Texas musicians in the years to come.”

“The new BMI office adds to the incredible momentum we’re seeing behind the growing Austin Music Movement,” added Keller. “Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World and having a company like BMI, with the support of Governor Abbott, establish a presence in our city helps further our efforts to support local music and provide resources to the many great musicians who call Austin home.”

The Austin office is the newest location for BMI, which currently has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, London, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.