The nominees for the 52nd annual CMA Awards were announced Tuesday morning (Aug. 28) on Good Morning America.
Chris Stapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. Producer and musician Dann Huff receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while nine artists garner three each—Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Midland, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.
Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” today, live from Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Bryan’s new restaurant and bar in downtown Nashville, to reveal six of the 12 categories on air. Immediately following the broadcast, Dan + Shay and Sugarland announced the remaining six categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards nominees on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as “Good Morning America’s” Facebook Live and simulcast on the top-rated show’s YouTube channel. The livestream was also viewed on CMA’s Facebook page.
“Today kicks off CMA Awards season where we get to honor the best of the best in our outstanding format,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “There were some great breakout performances this year and the diversity of the nominations honors new faces and some favorite returning names.”
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for an 11th year to host “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” Country Music’s Biggest Night™, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
New Artist of the Year
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))
“Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
“Drinkin’ Problem” – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
“Drowns the Whiskey” – Jason Aldean (Feat. Miranda Lambert)
Producer: Michael Knox
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Meant to Be” – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Willshire
Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
“Tequila” – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves
Graffiti U – Keith Urban
Producers: Keith Urban, Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Ross Copperman, Dann Huff, Peter Karlsson
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Body Like A Back Road”
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Broken Halos”
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
“Drowns the Whiskey”
Songwriters: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson
“Drunk Girl”
Songwriters: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson
“Tequila”
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Musical Event of the Year
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley ft. Brothers Osborne
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris ft. Vince Gill
“Drowns The Whiskey,” Jason Aldean ft. Miranda Lambert
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director(s))
“Babe” – Sugarland (Featuring Taylor Swift)
Director: Anthony Mandler
“Cry Pretty” – Carrie Underwood
Director: Randee St. Nicholas
“Drunk Girl” – Chris Janson
Director: Jeff Venable
“Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
“Tequila” – Dan + Shay
Director: Patrick Tracy
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Derek Wells – Guitar
Hit Songwriter Ronnie Samoset Passes
/by Robert K OermannFriends and family gathered in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday (Aug. 26) to celebrate the life of hit songwriter Ronnie Samoset.
The veteran Nashville music man died at age 71 on July 29. His death was announced in The Bradenton Herald on Aug. 19. During the acceptance of her ACM Poet’s Award last Wednesday, Matraca Berg memorialized her frequent collaborator from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium.
Samoset’s songs were recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Van Shelton, Tanya Tucker, Diamond Rio, Emmylou Harris, Tom Wopat, Dusty Springfield and Highway 101, among many others.
Among his best known titles are “I’m That Kind of Girl” (Patty Loveless, 1991), “A Jukebox With a Country Song” (Doug Stone, 1992), “(This Thing Called) Wantin’ and Havin’ It All” (Sawyer Brown, 1995), “On Your Way Home” (Patty Loveless, 2003) and the Matraca Berg singles “Baby Walk On” (1990), “The Things You Left Undone” (1990) and “I Must Have Been Crazy” (1991).
The Berg/Samoset song “Lying to the Moon” has been recorded by Robin & Linda Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Purely Wild, Lauren Kennedy and others, in addition to Berg.
His dozens of recorded songs also include cuts by Sammy Kershaw, The Woodys, Johnny Rodriguez, Daron Norwood, Neal McCoy, Michelle Wright, Charlie Floyd, Little Texas, Davis Daniel and Ricochet.
Besides Berg, Samoset’s songwriting collaborators in Nashville included Craig Wiseman, Dave Loggins, Chuck Cannon, Judy Rodman and Gene Nelson. He also wrote solo.
The songwriter’s real name was Ronald A. Santaniello. He is survived by his three children, Corey, Joseph and Anthony Santaniello; by brothers Michael, Andrew, Douglas and Raymond Santaniello; by sisters Diane and Linda and by numerous nieces and nephews.
His memorial gathering was held yesterday at the clubhouse of his residence, the Perico Apartments in Bradenton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ronnie’s memory to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be made to ronaldsantaniellomemory@gmail.com.
Eric Ethridge Wins 2018 Unsigned Only Music Competition
/by Lorie HollabaughIn addition to winning $20,000 in cash and $20,000 in merchandise and services, Ethridge also receives one-on-one mentoring from a group of music industry executives including: Dan Chertoff (VP of A&R, RCA Records); Riggs Morales (VP of A&R and Artist Development, Atlantic Records); Nick Haussling (Sr, Director of A&R, Concord Music); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment); Zoe Young (VP of A&R, Epic Records); Doug Johnson (VP of A&R, Black River Entertainment); and Allison Jones (Sr. VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group).
“Being named the Grand Prize winner of the 2018 Unsigned Only Music Competition has truly been an incredibly humbling and life changing experience.” said Ethridge. “This opportunity has truly given me the chance to take my career to the next level and live my passion, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
Canadian native Eric Ethridge won the CCMA Discovery Program, charted on the Canadian Country charts, and most recently debuted on SiriusXM’s The Highway. His debut EP was released in July, 2018 and peaked at No.1 on the iTunes Country chart and No. 3 on the all-genres chart. A doctor-turned-country-artist, Ethridge has a strong connection with fans, evidenced by his songs being streamed over three million times in the short time since the EP’s release.
Established in 2012, Unsigned Only is open to all artists who are unsigned to a major record label, and over the years has become an important source for discovering new talent. Winners in 13 categories were selected from 6,000 entries submitted by entrants in 95 countries throughout the world.
Nominees For CMA Broadcast Awards Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonFINAL NOMINEES FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size):
NATIONAL
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Westwood One
“Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40” (Bob Kingsley) – Westwood One
“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One
“The Mayor of Music Row” (Charlie Monk) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
“The Music Row Happy Hour” (Buzz Brainard) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
MAJOR MARKET
“Bud and Broadway” (Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, Kelly Rebal, “Captain Mac Douglas” Gregory Paul Ford, “T.Wall” Tom Wall, and “Sweet Becca” Walls) – WIL, St. Louis, Mo.
“Double-L” (Lois Lewis) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
“Hawkeye in the Morning” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk, Jasmine Sadry, and “Connected K” Katelyn Maida) – KSCS, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
“KYGO Morning Show” (Tracy Dixon, Guy David, and Patrick Knight) – KYGO, Denver-Boulder, Colo.
“Tim, Ben and Brooke” (Tim Hattrick, Ben Campbell, and Brooke Hoover) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
LARGE MARKET
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
“Obie & Ashley In The Morning” (Obie Diaz and Ashley Stegbauer) – WWKA, Orlando, Fla.
“Q Morning Crew” (Mike Wheless and Janie Carothers) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show” (Randy Carroll, Jamie Martin, and Jojo Meza) – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
“Ridder, Scott and Shannen” (“Ridder” Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, WI
MEDIUM MARKET
“The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club” (Roger Todd, “Julie K.” Kansy, and “D.J. Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers) – WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Brent Michaels – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
“Ken, Kelley, and Daniel” (Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“The Odd Squad” (Roger Rhodes, Robyn Adair, and Dan Carson) – CKRY, Calgary, Alta.
“Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX, Akron, Ohio
SMALL MARKET
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
“The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green) – WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
“The Good Morning Guys” (Todd Harding, Susan Moore, and Brian Gary) – KUAD, Ft. Collins-Greeley, Colo.
“Steve and Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.
“THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):
MAJOR MARKET
KKBQ– Houston-Galveston, Texas
KNIX – Phoenix, Ariz.
KUPL – Portland, Ore.
WKKT – Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
WSOC – Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
LARGE MARKET
KCYY – San Antonio, Texas
KUBL – Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah
WQIK – Jacksonville, Fla.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
WWKA – Orlando, Fla.
MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
WHKO – Dayton, Ohio
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
WYRK – Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
SMALL MARKET
KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
KKNU – Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
KTTS – Springfield, Mo.
WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.
WKSF – Asheville, N.C.
CMA Awards Nominations Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Stapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. Producer and musician Dann Huff receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while nine artists garner three each—Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Midland, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.
Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” today, live from Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Bryan’s new restaurant and bar in downtown Nashville, to reveal six of the 12 categories on air. Immediately following the broadcast, Dan + Shay and Sugarland announced the remaining six categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards nominees on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as “Good Morning America’s” Facebook Live and simulcast on the top-rated show’s YouTube channel. The livestream was also viewed on CMA’s Facebook page.
“Today kicks off CMA Awards season where we get to honor the best of the best in our outstanding format,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “There were some great breakout performances this year and the diversity of the nominations honors new faces and some favorite returning names.”
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for an 11th year to host “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” Country Music’s Biggest Night™, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
New Artist of the Year
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))
“Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
“Drinkin’ Problem” – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
“Drowns the Whiskey” – Jason Aldean (Feat. Miranda Lambert)
Producer: Michael Knox
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Meant to Be” – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Willshire
Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
“Tequila” – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves
Graffiti U – Keith Urban
Producers: Keith Urban, Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Ross Copperman, Dann Huff, Peter Karlsson
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Body Like A Back Road”
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Broken Halos”
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
“Drowns the Whiskey”
Songwriters: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson
“Drunk Girl”
Songwriters: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson
“Tequila”
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Musical Event of the Year
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley ft. Brothers Osborne
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris ft. Vince Gill
“Drowns The Whiskey,” Jason Aldean ft. Miranda Lambert
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director(s))
“Babe” – Sugarland (Featuring Taylor Swift)
Director: Anthony Mandler
“Cry Pretty” – Carrie Underwood
Director: Randee St. Nicholas
“Drunk Girl” – Chris Janson
Director: Jeff Venable
“Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
“Tequila” – Dan + Shay
Director: Patrick Tracy
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Derek Wells – Guitar
Michael W. Smith Talks Free Bridgestone Arena Show, ‘Surrounded’ Album
/by Jessica NicholsonLast fall, CCM legend and three-time Grammy winner Michael W. Smith sat at a piano in the middle of a throng of worshippers at The Factory In Franklin. There, Smith performed the dozen songs that would become the live worship album Surrounded, which released earlier this year.
On Thursday (Aug. 30), Smith will bring the essence of that album to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for Surrounded, a worship concert which is free and open to the public.
“It was just about capturing the spirit in the room and not be invasive and we did,” Smith tells MusicRow of the album. “Everybody there was all in. You can feel it when you hear the record.”
He hopes to keep that same feeling in the upcoming concert at Bridgestone Arena, which he says will also feature an in-the-round format. Smith may be leading the event, but he is adamant that the he not be the focus of the evening.
“We’ve worked really hard to make it kind of nameless and faceless,” he says. “I’ve worked really hard to even take my name and picture off of it, but I lost that battle. And I get it, that’s fine. I think my job is to kind of disappear and hold that place of leadership real lightly.”
Though there is a set list, Smith expects that to change throughout the evening.
“I’ve got a first draft and I have a feeling there will be 10 drafts before it’s over and I know I won’t stick to the set list. I have to be careful about something spontaneous happening too, because everyone has their notes and then it’s like, ‘Oh, there goes Smitty throwing us a curveball. But my team’s used to that. Everybody is going to just ebb and flow and watch me the whole time to make sure they stay on board.”
Earlier this year, Smith released two albums in two weeks–Surrounded, as well as the pop-leaning album A Million Lights. He also announced his first children’s album and book.
“A Million Lights was inspired by the election—not really politics, but how awful people were to each other on both sides of the aisle. That really spurred on the pop record.”
Now, 27 years after Smith’s signature Adult Contemporary hit “A Place In This World,” he says some pop radio stations have begun playing “A Million Lights.”
“I released the record and CCM radio didn’t really play the music a lot and that’s ok, but pop radio started picking it up. So you got a 60-year-old—I don’t feel 60—who is back on pop radio and that’s just crazy. People just love the song and I’ve always felt like it had pop potential.”
Surrounded begins Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Industry Ink: Big Loud, BMI, Warner/Chappell, Crowd Surf
/by Jessica NicholsonMarc Rucker Joins Big Loud
Marc Rucker
Marc Rucker has joined Big Loud as Day to Day Manager for Chris Lane. Rucker’s career includes time working with Parallel Entertainment, and as a consultant for CrossHair Music.
He can be reached at marc@bigloud.com.
BMI, Warner/Chappell Honor Rhett Akins
Pictured Front: (L-R): Kasey Akins, Warner Chappell’s Jessi Vaughn, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sonya Akins, Rhett Akins, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Lisa Boullt, Pam Akins. Back Row: Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, BMI’s Mason Hunter and BMI’s David Preston (Photo: Steve Lowry)
The 19 Million-Air awards recognized some of Rhett’s greatest hits, including “Take A Back Road,” “Gimme That Girl,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “That Ain’t My Truck,” and many more. Akins was recognized the following evening at the ACM Honors as this year’s ACM Songwriter of the Year.
Crowd Surf Promotes H. Read Davis
Read Davis
Crowd Surf co-founders, Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver, announce the newly created role for Nashville team member H. Read Davis as Director of Creative Operations.
Davis will be responsible for managing all video/graphic/web/photo productions, overseeing all asset delivery on independent releases and all Content I.D. and Facebook Rights Manager initiatives. He will also handle playlisting placement for the company’s independent artists in platforms such as Spotify and YouTube, as well as oversee recruiting and training responsibilities for the company’s staff.
Before he started at Crowd Surf in 2014, Davis was a founding member of Nashville-based group The Westbound Rangers. In October 2016, he was promoted to Marketing Director at the company. Davis can be reached at read@crowdsurf.net.
Weekly Register: Cole Swindell Notches No. 1 Country Album
/by Jessica NicholsonCole Swindell
Cole Swindell has the No. 1 album this week, with the debut of All Of It. The Warner Music Nashville (Warner Bros. Records) project moved 50K in total consumption according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Sara Evans Plots Christmas Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonSara Evans will return for another holiday season of her limited-engagement At Christmas Tour, which will launch Nov. 24 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Country trio Fairground Saints will open each show. The tour will include the ‘At Christmas’ Sara Evans Meet & Greet Experience, which includes a premium ticket to the show.
At Christmas, released in 2014, marked Evans’ first full-length Christmas recording. The 10-song collection features well-known holiday classics including “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” plus the seasonal original song and title track, written by Shane Stevens and Toby Lightman.
Nov. 24: Cincinnati, OH @ JACK Cincinnati Casino
Nov. 29: Carmel, IN @ The Center for the Performing Arts
Nov. 30: Warrendale, PA @ Jergels Rhythm Grille
Dec. 1: Jim Thorpe, PA @ Penn’s Peak
Dec. 7: Marietta, OH @ Peoples Bank Theatre
Dec. 8: Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
Dec. 13: Jackson, TN @ Carl Perkins Civic Center
Dec. 14: Pensacola, FL @ Saenger Theatre
Dec. 15: Augusta, GA @ Miller Theater
Jon Borris Named Sr. VP, Promotion For BMLG, Republic Records
/by Jessica NicholsonJon Borris
Jon Borris has been named Sr. VP, Promotion for Big Machine Label Group and Republic Records. Borris, who will be based in Republic’s New York headquarters, was previously at Sony Music Entertainment’s Columbia Records as Sr. VP, Pop Promotion.
He spent the past 19 years promoting top acts on Columbia Records and Epic Records such as Adele, Beyoncé, John Mayer, Calvin Harris, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, One Direction, The Chainsmokers, and several other GRAMMY Award-winning acts. In 2015, Borris was named one of Billboard’s 40 Under 40: Music’s Top Young Power Players. Big Machine Label Group and Republic Records first joined forces in 2007. The two powerhouse labels’ collective crossover efforts have propelled the careers of Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and many others.
“Monte [Lipman], Gary [Spangler], and I have been searching for just the right person to propel our Big Machine releases to the next level, and Jon is that person,” Big Machine Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta said. “Along with added focus on Taylor [Swift’s]’s extraordinary pop success, Jon will continue to build the crossover platform for Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and more talent coming out of our Nashville-based global headquarters. We have several pop artists coming off of our Toronto-based hit TV music show, The Launch, and one of Jon’s first projects will be by Launch stars Elijah Wood x Jamie Fine.”
Borris says, “Scott Borchetta’s entrepreneurial spirit is infectious. I knew immediately that I wanted to work with him and the BMLG team to spread his unique vision for some of the industry’s top talent across multiple genres. In addition, I’ve watched from afar as Monte and Avery Lipman, Gary Spangler, and the Republic Records team have done nothing short of extraordinary work on behalf of their artists, and it is truly a thrill to now join the No. 1 promotion team in the music industry!”
Garth Brooks Announces ‘Triple Live’ Album
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks has announced a new album, Triple Live, and is making a limited number available to download for free tonight (Monday, Aug. 27) via a special download code available exclusively through Ticketmaster.
For the three and a half year Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood, Garth brought his classic music to fans. With the album’s Fan Mix, listeners will be able to choose, by adjusting speaker or headphone settings, to listen as if they were sitting in the middle of thousands of other fans, or on the stage, hearing the concert as the band does each night.
The download code for the album will be released on Garth’s Facebook page tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Fans will have to tune in to “Inside Studio G,” Garth’s weekly Facebook live series, where he will reveal the download code live during the show. Fans will then be able to download the album from ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks. The album can only be downloaded onto a desktop or laptop computer.
Garth’s first live record was his two disc album, Double Live, recorded during the 1996-1998 World Tour. It’s the No. 1 selling live album in history, with 21 million albums sold, certified by the RIAA.
In addition to unlimited streaming, Garth’s albums and songs are available for purchase and digital download on Amazon Music.