Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Pistol Annies, Kacey Musgraves Added To CMA Awards

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Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Kacey Musgraves, Pistol Annies, and Thomas Rhett have been added to the lineup of performers for The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. The awards show will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the ABC Television Network.

Previously announced performers for the CMA Awards include Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bentley is a three-time CMA Awards winner and 24-time career nominee. He returns this year with his seventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year and sixth nod for Album of the Year.

Brothers Osborne, three-time CMA Awards winners and seven-time career nominees, are the reigning Vocal Duo of the Year winners, bringing home the Award consecutively in 2016 and 2017. They return this year with their fourth consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year nomination.

Florida Georgia Line are six-time Vocal Duo of the Year nominees consecutively from 2013 – 2018, and three-time winners in the category (2013 – 2015). They have 11 career CMA Awards nominations with four total wins.

Musgraves is a 15-time CMA Awards nominee and two-time winner. She returns this year with her fifth Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and third Album of the Year nomination.

Pistol Annies (Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley) are two-time CMA Awards nominees, receiving nods in 2013 for Music Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year.

Rexha is a first-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving two nods this year in the Musical Event of the Year and Single of the Year categories for her crossover collaboration “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line.

Thomas Rhett is a 10-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving three nods this year. He returns with his second consecutive nominations in the Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories, and first nomination for Album of the Year. His first CMA Awards win was in 2016 for Single of the Year.

Robert Deaton is Executive Producer, Gary Halvorson is Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer for the show.

Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus Launches Christian Music Label Red Street Records

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Jay DeMarcus

Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus has launched a new Christian music label, Red Street Records, it was announced during a press conference Wednesday (Oct. 24) in Nashville. Don Koch joins the new label as general manager, while Aaron Crisler‘s Conduit Media will oversee publicity.

The new label’s flagship artists will include hit CCM group Avalon, as well as Lauren James, who often leads worship at popular pastor/speaker Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

Vocal quartet Avalon first released its first album in 1996; the current group includes members Greg and Janna Long, new member Dani Rocca, and Jody McBrayer, who returns after leaving the group in 2007 due to health issues. Both Janna and Jody first joined in 1995, while Greg joined in 2003. The group has earned two Gold albums, with 1997’s A Maze of Grace, and 1999’s In A Different Light.

DeMarcus has overseen production on several faith-based albums for artists including Reba (Sing It Now), Jason Crabb (Love Is Stronger), The Martins (New Day), and Michael English (Greatest Hits/Gospel/Love Is The Golden Rule). In the early ’90s, DeMarcus was also part of CCM duo East To West, alongside Neal Croomer and signed to Benson Records.

In addition to working as part of Red Street Records, DeMarcus will continue his role as a music producer and bassist for hit country trio Rascal Flatts.

Chris DeStefano Launches New Publishing Venture WinSongs Music

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Hit songwriter/producer Chris DeStefano has opened a new publishing company, WinSongs Music Publishing. Joining WinSongs as the company’s new Creative Director is Kirby Smith.

DeStefano is a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer with 16 No. 1 songs to his credit. Smith, a Houston native, was previously Creative Coordinator at Play it Again.

The company’s first signing is Chase Fouraker, a Jacksonville, Florida native with a genre-bending, rhythmic-meets-pop country sound.

“I’m very excited to be launching WinSongs Music Publishing,” said DeStefano. “There are incredible opportunities in our industry, and we will focus on forming a successful, creative family.”

“Built on a foundation of experience and song-driven diversity, WinSongs Music Publishing is excited to discover and bring the next generation of talent to the music business,” said Smith.

Ryan Seacrest Foundation Relocates Headquarters To Nashville, Appoints Industry Advisors

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The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), a non-profit dedicated to inspiring youth through entertainment and education-focused initiatives, has relocated its headquarters permanently to Nashville from Los Angeles.

Additionally, a group of entertainment industry advisors has been appointed to help support the Foundation’s mission, including: Scott Borchetta, President, CEO & Founder, Big Machine Label Group; Nicki Farag, Executive Vice President, Promotion, Def Jam Records; John Ivey, President, CHR Programming Strategy at iHeartMedia; Allison Kaye, President, SB Projects; Debra O’Connell, President & General Manager at WABC-TV; and Gary Spangler, Executive Vice President, Promotion, Republic Records.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has already arranged for hundreds of celebrities to visit patients across the country at its Seacrest Studios, including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Usher, Luke Bryan and Camila Cabello. Additionally, the newly appointed advisors will join the Foundation’s current celebrity ambassadors, pop star and actress Sabrina Carpenter along with singer-songwriter Charlie Puth as well as their former ambassadors Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas, to help the Foundation continue to cultivate unique entertainment experiences for patients and their families in children’s hospitals.

The RSF industry advisors will help the Foundation expand its impact and enhance its multi-media programming in their state-of-the-art media broadcast centers – Seacrest Studios – in children’s hospitals across the country. Advisors will work with the Seacrest family and the Foundation staff to help generate awareness of its mission, bring celebrity talent to visit patients at Seacrest Studios, as well as drive development and fundraising opportunities.

“We’re honored to have assembled a talented group of industry executives, who have been generously supporting our Foundation for years, to join us officially as advisors to help us advance our efforts and elevate our network of Seacrest Studios,” said Meredith Seacrest, Ryan Seacrest Foundation Executive Director/COO. “We’re also excited to call Nashville our new home, which isn’t far from our Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.”

 

 

 

 

Josh Gracin Partners With Reviver Records, 117 Management

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Pictured: Greg Scott, David Ross, Bob Kinkead, Heather Trotter, Gator Michaels, Art Benson, Dennis Kurtz. Back Row: Paul Williams, Josh Gracin, Zach Farnum

Josh Gracin has compiled a new team to help support his independent label Revel Road Records that includes Reviver Records’ marketing and promotion staff, 117 Management for management and public relations, and the Kinkead Entertainment Agency, who will continue to exclusively represent Gracin worldwide.

“Josh’s music is like a fine wine that gets better with age. We are proud to be involved with Revel Road and the team assembled, bringing Josh and his music to the top where it belongs,” said David Ross, President and CEO of Reviver Entertainment Group.

Gracin has had several hits at radio including “I Want To Live,” the chart-topper “Nothin’ To Lose,” “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” and “We Weren’t Crazy,” and is releasing a new single, “Good For You” that impacts country radio on Nov. 5.

“I could not be more excited to help Josh grow his career, especially with the new music he’s recorded. Country music fans are about to experience Josh Gracin like they’ve never seen him before and they aren’t going to know what hit them!” said 117 Management’s Zach Farnum.

“Josh Gracin has contributed to Country Music at the highest level on both radio and on the stage! We are proud to represent Josh in the ‘live touring’ segment of his career and look forward to a great 2019,” said Bob Kinkead, CEO of the Kinkead Entertainment Agency.

“I’m looking forward to knocking down walls with this team. The humbling path I was on through the last several years forced a lot of self-reflection, so I made some changes and now I’m ready to start again. With Reviver, 117 and Kinkead leading the way, I’m beyond excited to get to work!” said Gracin.

 

Recording Academy To Keep Music Issues At Forefront With District Advocate Day

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Almost two weeks after the Music Modernization Act (MMA) became law, more than 1,500 Recording Academy members are set to participate in the largest grassroots initiative for music in the nation—District Advocate Day.

Today (Oct. 24) songwriters, performers, musicians, and producers will meet with their members of Congress in their home districts, as well as numerous candidates in key districts, to provide insights on upcoming legislative issues and remind legislators that music creators live, work, and vote in their districts to keep music issues at the forefront of legislators’ minds.

Meetings will celebrate the passage of the MMA, as well as address legislative issues likely to come up in the 116th Congress, including:

  • Protecting music creators in international trade deals
  • Ensuring independent creators have an efficient means to enforce copyright
  • Modernizing the copyright office
  • Funding for the National Endowment of the Arts and music education
  • Resolving the long-standing FM radio royalty issue

“This year, a record number of creators found their voices as advocates. The result of that engagement was passage of the landmark MMA,” said Daryl P. Friedman, the Recording Academy’s Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer. “Now, as we prepare for a new Congress with a large number of open seats, creators will remind incumbents—and candidates for seats from both parties—that their work has value in every district in the country, and their voices must continue to be heard.”

Noted District Advocate Day participants include Lady Antebellum member Dave Haywood; Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Linda Perry; and country singer Maggie Rose.

For more information, visit grammy.com/action.

Dierks Bentley To Executive Produce New TV Comedy From Creator Of ‘Last Man Standing’

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Dierks Bentley has signed on to executive produce a new TV comedy from writer/executive producer Jack Burditt, whose credits include Last Man Standing, Modern Family, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Mindy Project, according to Variety. The show will be set in a Nashville bar and will follow singers and songwriters as they chase their dreams of stardom.

The single-camera comedy has received a put pilot commitment at Fox. Bentley will executive produce along with Mary Hilliard Harrington, and Twentieth Century Fox Television, where Burditt is under contract, will produce.

Both Burditt and Bentley are repped by WME.

Lady Antebellum Announces ‘Our Kind Of Vegas’ 2019 Residency

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Lady Antebellum has announced their first-ever Las Vegas residency, OUR KIND OF VEGAS, launching Feb. 8, 2019 at the Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Concert Theater. As the first country act to headline the venue, the trio will offer stripped-down performances each night, and will often feature the songwriters behind the group’s fan-favorite hits. Live Nation is the official promoter for the residency with tickets becoming available to fan club members Monday, Oct. 29 before the public on sale begins Friday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. PT at ticketmaster.com.

“Las Vegas has always been a special place for us both personally and as a band,” said Hillary Scott. “I’ve celebrated my birthday in Vegas and we won our first award ever as Lady A at the ACM Awards. So, we are looking forward to making it our second home, bringing along some of our friends from Nashville and creating a show unlike we’ve ever put together before.”

“We are so excited to welcome Lady Antebellum to Palms in 2019,” said Jon Gray, General Manager of Palms Casino Resort. “Our residencies represent a diverse variety of musical genres and to feature such a respected country group like Lady A is sure to be a huge hit with all their fans around the world.”

OUR KIND OF VEGAS 2019 Show Dates
Feb. 8, 9, 13, 15, 16
May 10, 11, 15, 17, 18
Aug. 23, 24, 28, 30, 31

 

YouTube video

 

Kings Of Leon, Alabama, Sally Williams Among T.J. Martell Foundation Honorees For 2019

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The T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research will honor the following community leaders at the 11th Annual T.J. Martell Foundation Nashville Honors Gala at the Omni Hotel on Feb. 25, 2019:

Kings of Leon – Spirit of Nashville Award

Alabama – Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award

Sally Williams, Senior Vice President of Programming and Artist Relations for Opry Entertainment – Frances Preston Outstanding Music Industry Achievement Award

Dr. Kathryn Edwards, Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine – Medical Research Advancement Award

Sylvia & Al Ganier, President and CFO of Green Door Gourmet – Lifetime Humanitarian Award

The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s leading foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer. The Foundation was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues, in loving memory of his son T.J., who died of leukemia. The Gala is co-chaired by Becky Gardenhire and Diane Pearson and has netted more than $3.5 million since its inception in 2009.

Table sponsorships and tickets are available by contacting (615) 256-2002 or emailing tmoffat@tjmartell.org. Visit tjmartell.org for more information.

Industry Pics: SMACKSongs, WME, Warner Music Nashville

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SMACKSongs In The Writers Round

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Josh Jenkins, Brandon Ratcliff, Pete Good, Matt McGinn, Teddy Robb. Front Row (L-R): Ryan Beaver, Kylie Morgan, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally, Renee Blair, Emily Falvey, Aaron Eshuis. Photo: Rachel Deeb

SMACKSongs hosted a star-studded writers round at The Listening Room last night, Monday, Oct. 22. The event sold out in just a matter of days, and all proceeds were put towards hurricane relief efforts. The writers round consisted of three rounds, hosted by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Performers included multi-platinum writer Matt McGinn (“What Ifs” and “Heaven” by Kane Brown), Monument Records new artists Teddy Robb and Brandon Ratcliff, SMACK artist/writers Ryan Beaver, Kylie Morgan, Renee Blair and more.

 

WME, Endeavor Impact Present Party At The Polls In Nashville

Pictured (L-R): Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires gather for a photo backstage during Party At The Polls at Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Erika Goldring/WME IMG/Getty Images for WME

On Saturday (Oct. 20), WME and Endeavor Impact presented a concert and voter turnout rally at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville followed by a ½-mile march to the Howard Office Building polling location for early voting. The concert featured Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jonathan McReynolds, Lucie Silvas, Gabriel Kelley and March for Our Lives students. It also featured a surprise performance from Maren Morris. Nearly 1,000 people showed up for Saturday’s concert and marched to the polling station.

 

Warner Music Nashville’s Cale Dodds Makes Opry Debut

Pictured (L-R): Corey Crowder (songwriter producer), Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Entertainment), Cale Dodds, Jordan Pettit (Grand Ole Opry) and Marc Dennis (CAA). Photo: Grand Ole Opry LLC/Chris Hollo, photographer

Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville rising star Cale Dodds stepped into the circle for the first time on Friday night (Oct. 19) when he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Dodds offered original songs including “Take You Back” and the recently released party-starter “What We Gonna Do About It.”