Cody Johnson
Earlier this year, when singer-songwriter Cody Johnson became the first independent artist to sell out the Houston Rodeo at NRG Stadium (with 75,000 tickets sold), he concluded his concert with a new song, “Dear Rodeo.” As the song’s outro played, Johnson, a former rodeo rider himself, cantered his horse around the arena and through the exit gate.
“My buddy and drummer Brian Pruitt was like, ‘Ride your horse out to [‘Dear Rodeo’!]’” Johnson recalls. “So we did and oddly enough, we realized that the number of bars in the outro was the exact number of bars I needed to ride around the arena and out. When the horse’s butt cleared, and the gate closed, the outro was over. We don’t even play the outro in the show anymore because it would take too long. But at that moment, I was like, ‘How cool was that?’ I felt like John Wayne for a minute.”
The intensely personal track was one of two that Johnson penned for his upcoming first album on a major label, after inking a deal with Warner Music Nashville earlier this year. “Dear Rodeo” addresses Johnson’s exit from the rodeo circuit.
“I still ride cutting horses and team roping,” he clarifies. “Scott [Gunter] said, ‘The one thing you haven’t written about is that you don’t rodeo anymore. You’ve never written about quitting.’ I didn’t realize how touchy the subject was but it was like opening up a wound. I ended up writing with Dan Couch and it took about two hours to write, when I started opening up emotionally about how I felt about the whole thing. I said, ‘It’s like a woman that got away, like the love I lost.’ And he said, ‘Why don’t you write a letter to her?’
Cody Johnson and MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
For his upcoming album, Johnson and Gunter sifted through nearly 400 songs to find those that would translate Johnson’s traditional style to his loyal audience of fans who have followed his career to this point. One of those was his first Warner single, “On My Way To You.”
“I’ve written most of my albums up to this point, because to be quite frank, I wanted to be sure people know who I am when they pick up a record…and a little bit to do with nobody was pitching us songs,” he quips. “This song was one of the first five songs Scott played. I was like, ‘I don’t want to change anything about it, I want to learn it, it’s going on the record.’ It very much characterizes me.”
On his own, Johnson released a half-dozen projects independent of a major label, including 2014’s Cowboy Like Me which landed at No. 7 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, and 2016’s Gotta Be Me, which debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and stayed atop the iTunes Country Albums chart for a week.
Johnson’s sound and touring stats certainly caught the attention of several labels over the past decade, but he turned down previous offers for a recording contract.
“It was like a 360 deal, and I didn’t feel right about that. I own my own company, I built it with my own hands,” Johnson told MusicRow during a visit to Nashville to preview songs from the album. “Every deal I had been offered required change—we don’t want your producer, or we don’t want your manager or your booking agent, or you need to take off your cowboy hat because that’s not what’s selling right now. I’m not bitter about that but I just thought those [offers] are not what’s meant to be for me.”
Earlier this year, he finally made a major label commitment, inking a joint venture between his own CoJo Music and Warner Music Nashville. Johnson is also repped by Durango Artist Management, Red 11 Music, and HBPR.
“The deal is very much a 50-50 business merger,” he says of his arrangement with Warner. “It came down to me and [Warner Music Nashville CEO John Esposito] sitting down at the table, drinking margaritas, and going, ‘Man if this flops, this is on us. You’re the head of your company, and I’m the head of mine…so I need to know that you are going to push this.’”
Johnson also needed an out-of-the-box strategy to promote his music to radio, without alienating his fanbase.
“One of the reasons I partnered with Warner is they accepted how different I was. A lot of times, the path goes, ‘A kid gets a record deal, kid gets a single and kid gets a radio tour and a fan base.’ Because I’ve never had the option of being on the radio, I went and built a fanbase first. I can’t cheat on my fanbase and take time away from them to go do radio. So what we’ve done is figured out how to get radio [executives] to come out in small increments and we can cater to them an hour or two before the show. Here’s your bar setup, here’s anything you need, and my tour manager’s going to be with you all night. Here’s your roped off section and they get to see the show.”
Another track slated for the album is “Doubt Me Now,” a one-two punch to his naysayers.
“When you come to this town from Texas, I guess everyone has a preconceived notion that you are going to sell out. One of my main focuses with this whole deal is to prove that you can be yourself. The record was done before we got a deal. As soon as we released it, people were like ‘I can already hear the change.’ But this song is to those people and to all those people who said it wouldn’t work.
“My goal in this whole thing is to step politely into this town and say, ‘Hey, is there room for me here?’ A lot of things I’m doing are very normal for country in 1985 but now it’s different and it’s a new thing now to be country.”
Cody Johnson with MusicRow staffers.
Phil Vassar, Lonestar Announce Holiday Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonPhil Vassar and Lonestar will embark on the “The Not So Silent Night Tour” in November. To celebrate, Vassar and Lonestar are releasing their Christmas single, “Not So Silent Night,” on Nov. 2. Both the tour and single will benefit The Salvation Army.
The 10-plus city tour kicks off in Biloxi, Miss. on Nov. 30. Throughout each show, audiences will be treated to Christmas standards, non-traditional holiday tunes, as well as the artists’ hits.
“After years of being friends with Phil and being a fan of his talent as well, we are truly excited to go on this Christmas tour and share the stage with him,” said Lonestar. “Fans should get ready for a lot of laughs, great music and of course a ‘Not So Silent Night!'”
Lonestar, comprised of Richie McDonald, Michael Britt, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams, released their first Christmas album, This Christmas Time, in 2000.
Vassar, who has headlined Christmas tours since 2009, released his first Christmas album, Noel, in 2011. Last Christmas season, he and Kellie Pickler headlined a sold-out holiday tour.
“I’ve known these guys forever, and we’re going to have a blast on the road performing for our fans. It’s even more meaningful that we’re getting into the Christmas spirit and giving back to The Salvation Army – that’s what it’s all about,” shared Vassar.
“THE NOT SO SILENT NIGHT TOUR” DATES:
Nov. 30: IP Casino @ Biloxi, Miss.
Dec. 2: Wildhorse Saloon @ Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 6: Potowatomi @ Milwaukee, Wis.
Dec. 8: Grand Falls Casino Resort @ Larchwood, Iowa
Dec. 14: Memorial Hall @ Plymouth, Mass.
Dec. 15: Memorial Auditorium @ Lowell, Mass.
Dec. 16: Santander PAC @ Reading, Penn.
Dec. 19: Peoples Bank Theatre @ Marietta, Ohio
Dec. 20: Westbury Theater @ Westbury, N.Y.
Dec. 21: Palace Theatre @ Canton, Ohio
Dec. 22: Weinberg Center @ Frederick, Md.
Dierks Bentley To Lead Ralph And Carter Stanley Tribute In October
/by Lorie HollabaughDierks Bentley will be joined by a star-studded lineup featuring Dan Auerbach, the Gibson Brothers, Sierra Hull with Justin Moses, Ralph Stanley II and the Travelin’ McCourys for A “Tribute to Ralph & Carter Stanley,” a special concert Oct. 24 commemorating legendary mountain musicians Ralph and Carter Stanley.
Presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in support of the museum’s recently opened exhibition, Ralph Stanley: Voice from on High, the show will take place at the CMA Theater. Tickets go on sale this Friday, (Sept. 14) and can be purchased at countrymusichalloffame.org.
Cody Johnson Talks Warner Nashville Deal, Upcoming Album
/by Jessica NicholsonCody Johnson
Earlier this year, when singer-songwriter Cody Johnson became the first independent artist to sell out the Houston Rodeo at NRG Stadium (with 75,000 tickets sold), he concluded his concert with a new song, “Dear Rodeo.” As the song’s outro played, Johnson, a former rodeo rider himself, cantered his horse around the arena and through the exit gate.
“My buddy and drummer Brian Pruitt was like, ‘Ride your horse out to [‘Dear Rodeo’!]’” Johnson recalls. “So we did and oddly enough, we realized that the number of bars in the outro was the exact number of bars I needed to ride around the arena and out. When the horse’s butt cleared, and the gate closed, the outro was over. We don’t even play the outro in the show anymore because it would take too long. But at that moment, I was like, ‘How cool was that?’ I felt like John Wayne for a minute.”
The intensely personal track was one of two that Johnson penned for his upcoming first album on a major label, after inking a deal with Warner Music Nashville earlier this year. “Dear Rodeo” addresses Johnson’s exit from the rodeo circuit.
“I still ride cutting horses and team roping,” he clarifies. “Scott [Gunter] said, ‘The one thing you haven’t written about is that you don’t rodeo anymore. You’ve never written about quitting.’ I didn’t realize how touchy the subject was but it was like opening up a wound. I ended up writing with Dan Couch and it took about two hours to write, when I started opening up emotionally about how I felt about the whole thing. I said, ‘It’s like a woman that got away, like the love I lost.’ And he said, ‘Why don’t you write a letter to her?’
Cody Johnson and MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
For his upcoming album, Johnson and Gunter sifted through nearly 400 songs to find those that would translate Johnson’s traditional style to his loyal audience of fans who have followed his career to this point. One of those was his first Warner single, “On My Way To You.”
“I’ve written most of my albums up to this point, because to be quite frank, I wanted to be sure people know who I am when they pick up a record…and a little bit to do with nobody was pitching us songs,” he quips. “This song was one of the first five songs Scott played. I was like, ‘I don’t want to change anything about it, I want to learn it, it’s going on the record.’ It very much characterizes me.”
On his own, Johnson released a half-dozen projects independent of a major label, including 2014’s Cowboy Like Me which landed at No. 7 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, and 2016’s Gotta Be Me, which debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and stayed atop the iTunes Country Albums chart for a week.
Johnson’s sound and touring stats certainly caught the attention of several labels over the past decade, but he turned down previous offers for a recording contract.
“It was like a 360 deal, and I didn’t feel right about that. I own my own company, I built it with my own hands,” Johnson told MusicRow during a visit to Nashville to preview songs from the album. “Every deal I had been offered required change—we don’t want your producer, or we don’t want your manager or your booking agent, or you need to take off your cowboy hat because that’s not what’s selling right now. I’m not bitter about that but I just thought those [offers] are not what’s meant to be for me.”
Earlier this year, he finally made a major label commitment, inking a joint venture between his own CoJo Music and Warner Music Nashville. Johnson is also repped by Durango Artist Management, Red 11 Music, and HBPR.
“The deal is very much a 50-50 business merger,” he says of his arrangement with Warner. “It came down to me and [Warner Music Nashville CEO John Esposito] sitting down at the table, drinking margaritas, and going, ‘Man if this flops, this is on us. You’re the head of your company, and I’m the head of mine…so I need to know that you are going to push this.’”
Johnson also needed an out-of-the-box strategy to promote his music to radio, without alienating his fanbase.
“One of the reasons I partnered with Warner is they accepted how different I was. A lot of times, the path goes, ‘A kid gets a record deal, kid gets a single and kid gets a radio tour and a fan base.’ Because I’ve never had the option of being on the radio, I went and built a fanbase first. I can’t cheat on my fanbase and take time away from them to go do radio. So what we’ve done is figured out how to get radio [executives] to come out in small increments and we can cater to them an hour or two before the show. Here’s your bar setup, here’s anything you need, and my tour manager’s going to be with you all night. Here’s your roped off section and they get to see the show.”
Another track slated for the album is “Doubt Me Now,” a one-two punch to his naysayers.
“When you come to this town from Texas, I guess everyone has a preconceived notion that you are going to sell out. One of my main focuses with this whole deal is to prove that you can be yourself. The record was done before we got a deal. As soon as we released it, people were like ‘I can already hear the change.’ But this song is to those people and to all those people who said it wouldn’t work.
“My goal in this whole thing is to step politely into this town and say, ‘Hey, is there room for me here?’ A lot of things I’m doing are very normal for country in 1985 but now it’s different and it’s a new thing now to be country.”
Cody Johnson with MusicRow staffers.
Bill Anderson, MercyMe Among 8th Annual NATD Gala Honorees
/by Lorie HollabaughThe gala will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. For tickets and sponsorship information, visit nashvilletalentdirectors.
Industry Ink: Deborah Allen, Pilgrimage Food Drive, Michael Ray, Compassion Live, YEP Podcast
/by Lorie HollabaughDeborah Allen Adds To Million-Air Collection
Pictured (L-R): Raymond Hicks, Deborah Allen, David Preston
Deborah Allen was recently honored by BMI at their Nashville offices with Million-Air certifications for Janie Fricke’s “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, Baby” and John Conlee’s “I’m Only In It For The Love” by BMI executive David Preston. In addition to those two honors, she has received BMI Million-air certificates for songs penned for other artists including Janie Fricke’s “Let’s Stop Talking About It,” Patty Loveless’ “Hurt Me Bad In A Real Good Way,” and Tanya Tucker’s “Can I See You Tonight.” She has also been awarded BMI Million-air certificates for her own recordings “I Hurt For You,” receiving a one million airplay award and “Baby, I Lied,” receiving a two million airplay award. Allen has penned more than 1,600 songs for hundreds of artists, including hits by LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, Patty Loveless, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, Janie Fricke, John Conlee, Isaac Hayes, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Fleetwood Mac and more. The Million-Air Award is given to songwriters, composers, and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances.
Pilgrimage Partners With Lightning 100 For Help Us Harvest Food Drive
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has partnered with Lightning 100 and Second Harvest Food Bank for Middle Tennessee for the Help Us Harvest Food Drive. In honor of Hungry Action Month, Nashvillians can donate food at the Third Man Records’ flagship store on Sept. 12 and receive a chance to win passes to the fourth annual Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival on Sept. 22-23 in Franklin, Tennessee.
Donations will be accepted between noon and 3 p.m. CT, and patrons receive one entry for attending the food drive and will earn another entry for every 10 pounds of food they donate. At 3 p.m., a raffle will be held for a pair of Pilgrimage VIP tickets. In addition, the person who donates the most food will win a pair of Pilgrimage General Admission tickets. “This partnership and event are a great way for the festival to give back and show our thanks to the area that Pilgrimage calls home,” says co-producer Brandt Wood.
Michael Ray Performs At CRB Fall Meetings
Compassion Productions Rebrands To Compassion LIVE
Artists such as for KING & COUNTRY, MercyMe, Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli and others have united with Compassion LIVE for nationwide tours. Expanding their reach, Compassion LIVE also serves clients like Ann Voskamp, Anita Renfroe, Karen Kingsbury, Justin Flom and The Thorn through speaker, magician and theatrical tours. Compassion LIVE will continue to be home to fan-favorites “The Roadshow Tour” and “Summer Lights Tour.”
Young Entertainment Professionals Launches Podcast
Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) has launched a new podcast of the same name, featuring top rising members of the industry and the stories of how they discovered their career path with the help of YEP Nashville. The podcast will give listeners a look inside the networking group through alumni stories about their music industry journey, and how YEP has aided in their current roles within the entertainment industry.
Produced/hosted by YEP board member Libby Oellerich (NSAI), the podcast’s inaugural episode includes an interview with organization’s founder Andrew Cohen (Suit Music) and YEP’s current Executive Director, Amelia Varni (Starstruck Entertainment).
Bobby Karl Works The Room: John Prine Honored With BMI Troubadour Award
/by Bobby KarlPictured (L-R): BMI’s Mike O’Neill, Troubadour Award recipient John Prine and BMI’s VP, Creative, Nashville Jody Williams gather for a photo at the BMI Nashville office on September 10, 2018. (Erika Goldring Photo)
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 602
I always define the amorphous Americana Music genre as, “music we like,” and there’s no one we love more than John Prine.
BMI added a new bloom to the Americana Music Week bouquet by presenting Prine with its Troubadour Award on Monday evening (Sept. 10). Let’s face it, this guy was “Americana” before there even was such a genre.
BMI’s Jody Williams described the honoree as, “one of the most inspiring songwriters this country has ever produced,” before introducing a parade of awesome Americana talents to sing Prine’s songs.
Brandy Clark offered an exquisite “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.” Gillian Welch & David Rawlings provided a wry rendition of “Big Ol’ Goofy World,” with customized lyrics saluting Prine. Brandi Carlile delivered a bluesy “Angel From Montgomery.”
Kacey Musgraves was a crowd favorite with her Latin-flavored “I Just Want to Dance With You.” Robert Earl Keen was aching and weary and devastating on “Hello In There.”
In 2015, Keen was BMI’s inaugural winner of the Troubadour honor. So he helped to present Prine with the award.
“I don’t know any man, woman or child who doesn’t love John Prine,” Keen said. “Your songs are as much a part of my music brain as ‘America the Beautiful,’ ‘The Happy Wanderer’ and ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart.’ Your songs are magic to me. Thanks for your gift of music.”
“Thank you, everybody,” said Prine. “I appreciate all the people who sang my songs. They were all beautiful. They still move me, after all these years.”
He thanked his late manager and business partner Al Bunetta, the folks who run his Oh Boy! Records label and his wife, Fiona.
“Thank y’all very much,” he added to the crowd. “I appreciate it deeply.”
Kacey Musgraves performs “I Just Want to Dance With You” during the John Prine tribute at the BMI Nashville office on Sept. 10, 2018. (Erika Goldring Photo)
And what a crowd it was. You could hardly turn around without bumping into a gifted song person or three. Shawn Camp, Hayes Carll, Roger Cook, Emmylou Harris, Paul Kennerley, John Paul White, Bob Delevante, John Hiatt, Pat McLaughlin, The Stryker Brothers, Keith Sykes, John Oates, Fats Kaplan, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Tyler Mahan Coe mingled on the patio during a balmy-eve cocktail hour.
“It’s a deep schmooze,” observed Jeff Hanna. “A quality schmooze,” added Matraca Berg. “An A-List schmooze,” I echoed.
“This is a homecoming for all of BMI’s Americana family,” Jody explained. “Where the next generation of songwriters will find inspiration, it will come from the songwriters in this room. The Troubadour Award is BMI’s way of honoring our best. They truly stand as beacons to the greater songwriting community.”
The actual award was a vintage silver loving cup. Prine was also given a custom C.F. Martin mahogany guitar.
Another highlight of the presentation was an extremely well written and clever appreciation delivered by Peter Cooper.
Maurice Miner, Mark Moffatt, Mark Brown, Mike Grimes, Megan Barry, David Macias, Dave Cobb, Steve Buchanan, Steve Fishell & Tracy Gershon, John Allen, John Esposito, Juli Thanki, Jay Orr, Jed Hilly, Joseph Hudak, Bobby Cudd, Ben Vaughn, Troy Tomlinson, Patrick Clifford, Katherine Richardson, Garth Fundis, Ken Levitan and Earle Simmons enjoyed all of this, plus a succulent roast beef banquet.
“This is such a special week,” said BMI’s Mason Hunter. “We’re so proud to kick it off.”
Brandi Carlile performs “Angel From Montgomery” during the John Prine tribute at the BMI Nashville office on September 10, 2018. (Erika Goldring Photo)
Luke Bryan Celebrates New Bar With Concert In Downtown Nashville
/by Haley CrowPictured: Luke Bryan performs for 30,000 fans in downtown Nashville. Photo: Chris Hollo
Luke Bryan performed a free concert for 30,000 fans in the heart of downtown Nashville last night (Sept. 10) for the grand opening celebration of his new bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink.
Before the show, Luke and his wife Caroline cut a camouflage ribbon to christen the opening of the bar followed by a press conference for media where Luke talked about his excitement for the venue opening, and playing for the fans. Luke kicked off the press event with an acoustic performance of his 21st career No. 1, “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” that landed at the top of the country singles charts yesterday.
Pictured (L-R): Luke and Caroline Bryan cut a camouflage ribbon to christen the opening of the new bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink. Photo: Chris Hollo
Pictured: Luke Bryan performs for media at a press conference before the concert. Photo: Chris Hollo
After openers DJ Rock, Chelsea Field and Jon Langston performed, Luke took the stage and played a 90 minute set. Luke’s show included many of his No. 1 hits as well as a guest appearance by Ryan Hurd on “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” who wrote the current No. 1 single with Zach Crowell and Chase McGill. Cole Swindell made a surprise appearance and performed his No. 1 hit “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” with Luke and the pair covered Tim McGraw’s “Where The Green Grass Grows.”
Pictured (L-R): Luke Bryan and Ryan Hurd perform. Photo: Chris Hollo
Pictured (L-R): Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell perform. Photo: Chris Hollo
CMT Plans First All-Female ‘Artists Of The Year’ Special For October
/by Jessica NicholsonCMT has announced that for the first-time ever the annual CMT Artists of the Year special will be dedicated to the women of country music—past, present and future. This year’s all-female Artists of the Year celebration will honor Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott. The 90-minute special will premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET, only on CMT.
“This year, we’re evolving the special to reflect what’s happening right now in culture and in the lives of our fans,” said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music & Talent, CMT. “In this monumental year for women, dedicating one of the biggest nights in the genre to applaud female country artists not only solidifies our commitment, but we hope will spark a much-needed change in the industry.”
As in past years, the event will feature surprise musical pairings and guests that will be announced at a later date. In addition, CMT will further its commitment to female artists through a day-long “Women of Country Music” takeover across all CMT platforms where music lives including music hours on CMT, the 24/7 digital channel CMT Music and CMT Radio’s widely-syndicated shows “CMT Radio LIVE” and “CMT After Midnite” to encourage and inspire increased female airplay on October 17.
CMT launched its dedicated “Next Women of Country” campaign in 2013 as a way to give female artists voice and airplay across all CMT platforms. The franchise has received critical acclaim, and in five years since its launch the initiative has expanded to include tours, digital programming and more. Ballerini and Morris are both alumnae of the “Next Women” franchise.
Last year’s special earned its highest ratings to date and ranked as the most watched in the event’s eight-year history. More than 1.1 million fans tuned in to the premiere telecast and the encore. Socially, #CMTAOTY trended nationally on Twitter during the show and the special ranked as the #1 Most Social Entertainment Program in Primetime on Cable.
Previous “CMT Artists of the Year” performances have included Adele and Darius Rucker performing Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now;” Meghan Trainor, Jill Scott and Kelsea Ballerini honoring Shania Twain with a medley of her biggest hits; Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton in a moving Tom Petty tribute with “I Won’t Back Down;” Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis paying tribute to Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush;” and Maroon 5 covering Taylor Swift’s “Mine.” The show has featured appearances by Ellen DeGeneres, Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Billy Bob Thornton, Roger Clemens, Morgan Freeman, the cast of Nashville and more.
Former “CMT Artists of the Year” honorees include Blake Shelton (2015), Brad Paisley (2011), Carrie Underwood (2010, 2012, 2016), Cast of “Nashville” (2015), Chris Stapleton (2015, 2016, 2017), Eric Church (2012), Florida Georgia Line (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Hunter Hayes (2013), Jason Aldean (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Keith Urban (2017), Kelsea Ballerini (2016), Kenny Chesney (2011, 2012), Kenny Rogers (2015), Lady Antebellum (2010, 2011), Little Big Town (2015), Luke Bryan (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Merle Haggard (2014), Miranda Lambert (2012, 2014), Sam Hunt (2015, 2017), Shania Twain (2016), Taylor Swift (2010, 2011), Thomas Rhett (2016), Tim McGraw (2013) and Toby Keith (2012).
Writers, Release Date Revealed For Brett Young’s Sophomore Album ‘Ticket To L.A.’
/by Jessica NicholsonThe album follows Young’s startling accomplishments since his debut album released in 2017. He’s earned four consecutive Platinum-certified No. 1 singles, one 3x-Platinum single, and earned an ACM for New Male Vocalist of the Year.
“It’s been four-and-a-half years that I’ve been in Nashville,” says the chart-topping Southern California native. “A lot has happened, the first record has been really good to me and I’m really, really proud of it. But just having a new batch of songs – it’s like breathing new life almost.”
Young worked once again with producer Dann Huff, executive producer and label executive Jimmy Harnen and engineer/mixer Justin Niebank on Ticket To L.A., where he continues to mix his SoCal soul with country.
“I decided to name the album Ticket To L.A. because flying home to Los Angeles has become such a big part of my life,” Young explains. “A lot of the first record reflected a kind of hard point in my life when I was moving from Los Angeles to Nashville, but I’m in a completely different place now. I’m so happy, and I think you can really hear that shift on the new record.”
Young collaborates with one of his musical idols, Gavin DeGraw, on “Chapters” while expressing personal sentiments co-writing 10 of the album’s tracks alongside Shane McAnally, Hillary Lindsey, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and more.
TICKET TO L.A. Track Listing
1. “Ticket To L.A.” | Written by Brett Young, Zach Crowell, Jon Nite
2. “Here Tonight” | Written by Brett Young, Ben Caver, Justin Ebach, Charles Kelley
3. “Catch” | Written by Brett Young, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley
4. “1, 2, 3 – Mississippi” | Written by Brett Young, Justin Ebach, Jon Nite
5. “Let It Be Mine” | Written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Jon Nite
6. “Where You Want Me” | Written by Brett Young, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shane McAnally
7. “Used To Missin’ You” | Written by Brett Young, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins
8. “Change Your Name” | Written by Ross Copperman, Matt Jenkins, Jon Nite
9. “Chapters” (Feat. Gavin DeGraw) | Written by Brett Young, Ross Copperman, Gavin DeGraw
10. “The Ship And The Bottle” | Written by Nicolle Galyon, Chase McGill, Jon Nite
11. “Reason To Stay” | Written by Brett Young, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, Emily Warren
12. “Runnin’ Away From Home” | Written by Brett Young, Zach Crowell, Hillary Lindsey
13. “Don’t Wanna Write This Song” | Written by Brett Young, Zach Crowell, Sean McConnell
BMI Sponsors Fifth Annual Island Hopper Songwriters Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonJulia Cole poses in Downtown Fort Myers at 2017 Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.
BMI is on board to sponsor the fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriters Festival, presented by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and co-sponsored by iHeartMedia.
Artists Midland and LOCASH will headline the 10-day festival, which spans across Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and Downtown Fort Myers and runs from Sept. 21- 30 and supports the local bars, restaurants and hotels while also promoting music creators and songwriters.
“BMI is thrilled to partner with iHeartMedia once again in supporting the Island Hopper Songwriters Festival,” said Dan Spears, Vice President of Industry Relations at BMI. “This festival is about bringing people together through music while shining a spotlight on the great bars and restaurants across Southwest Florida. It helps stimulate the local economy and the BMI-licensed restaurants that participate in the festival give our talented songwriters a platform to perform and share their songs and the stories behind some of their biggest hits.”
BMI songwriters and country act, LOCASH will headline the downtown Fort Myers concert on Wednesday, Sept. 26 while Midland will close the festival on Sunday, Sept. 30 in Fort Myers Beach. Some other singer-songwriters to catch include Bob DiPiero, Even Stevens, Aaron Barker, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley and Earl Bud Lee, who collectively have written No. 1 songs for country superstars like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton.
A full list of songwriters can be found here and the schedule is now available exclusively on the festival mobile app.