Seventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas
Joseph Rojas, frontman for Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, has been a staple on the Christian rock scene since the band formed in Texas in 1996. The band released its debut project on Tooth & Nail/BEC Recordings in 2005. Along the way the band, earned No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and Top Christian & Gospel albums charts, with signature songs including “Oceans From The Rain” and “Inside Out.”
Now, with more than two decades of industry experience, Rojas is using those experiences to help other bands via his Nashville Label Group, which launched in April. Nashville Label Group home to two imprints: Rockfest Records and Burtonwood Records.
In addition to Seventh Day Slumber, RockFest Records will be home to hitmakers Random Hero, who have charted two Billboard Top 30 mainstream rock singles; Indiana-based rockers The Protest; female solo rocker Zahna, formerly of ILIA; Nashville-based rock/metal band The Persuaded; and metalcore trio Amongst the Giants.
While Rockfest Records centers on Christian rock, Burtonwood Records caters more to the Contemporary Christian and AC formats. Burtonwood’s roster includes Brooke Robertson and Nathan Sheridan. Both labels will be distributed by New Day Christian, with digital distribution by Capitol Christian Music Group.
“I feel like it was a label started out of necessity, especially for the Christian rock genre,” Rojas tells MusicRow. “Over the past five years, it seems like outlets for Christian rock have dried up and radio is kind of leaned more toward the pop or contemporary worship type of thing, so where you would have stations that would add rock artists and a song that would be radio friendly. Now if it’s from a rock band, even if it is radio-friendly, it’s not getting played on those outlets. Then you have even touring is scarce but there are still a lot of great bands out there.”
Rojas says Nashville Label Group is an extension of City Rockfest, the music festival catering to rock fans he launched four years ago.
“There are big tours, one of the highest-grossing tours in Winter Jam and they do amazing, but they only have like one rock band, maybe two, on that tour every year. I decided I wanted to do something similar to that but for rock fans, with five or six bands on the tour. I expected it to do well, but it’s got a cult following. The same people that bought old-school Creed, those people still buy music, but they don’t listen to radio a lot because radio isn’t playing rock.”
While on tour, discussions arose around pay rates and benefits bands were getting from various label contracts. After 20 years in Seventh Day Slumber, the Rojas could readily relate to those issues.
“We’ve had issues in the past with a couple of labels we have been on,” he says, though he declines to offer specifics. “A lot of bands were like, ‘I don’t want to deal with the labels anymore.’ I understand that so much. Labels are offering 360 deals and I understand why they do it, but artists can barely make a living doing what they are doing now. After talking with these bands—and some have been on labels before—I said, ‘What if I started a label where you could have a base of distribution and you keep all your touring proceeds and merch, and I just give you a fair deal?’ Overwhelmingly, the bands said yes. So my talks with Capitol and New Day began and it just went from there.”
In addition to New Day and Capitol Christian Music Group, Nashville Label Group works with several third-party companies to work with clients, though the label also has three in-house staffers.
Rojas looks at the label as more than just a conduit to put new music in the marketplace, but as a way to encourage people and to bring positivity into their lives. After all, it was music that helped Rojas transition from a life of hardship and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
“I had a $400 a day cocaine addiction,” he recalls. “I was arrested over 20 times, and I was looking at 10 years in prison the last time I was arrested. I didn’t meet my dad until I was 14 years old. I understand people who are hurting so when I see bands that are bringing a positive message.”
Rojas is confident Nashville Label Group will continue to see growth and diversity in its offerings in the years to come.
“We’ve opened a publishing company so that when we offer a deal, the artist and label have a partnership on publishing,” he says. “We don’t take 50 percent of an artist’s publishing—it’s more like 25 or 30 percent of publishing, but we offer a lot with that, like a publishing administrator and things in the works where we can help writers and artists get songs placed. That will be a little bit down the road but we are thinking about this. The label expansion is going to probably happen fairly soon even into other genres. There are guys like NF in the marketplace, who are so talented and blowing up. The guy’s on [label] Capitol Christian, but he’s one of the most-streamed artists in the world right now.”
Randy Houser, Eric Paslay Added To Tailgate Fest Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughTailgate Fest is the festival that brings the stage right to the tailgate, where fans are able fire up their own grills, crack open their coolers, set up games, and enjoy the show from their own tailgate or opt to head to the stage when they want.
“Each person who sets up their tailgate party around their vehicle creates content. When you multiply that by thousands, you’ve erected a city of nothing but the content the world loves most: food, fun, music, friends even love. I believe that allowing that to continue while the greatest artists in Country take the stage will be a sensory explosion. My hope is that Tailgate Fest will deliver some cerebral relief by doing the best job at delivering just a damn good time,” said Tailgate Fest creator, Melissa Carbone.
Tickets start at $109 for General Admission all the way up to a Super VIP with reserved Lawn Chair Viewing, access to a stageside pool, and access to the VIP Forum Club (plus any applicable fees) and are on sale now.
CMA Announces Two New Staff Additions
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Farris, Hothorn
The Country Music Association has added two new staffers. Michael Farris joins as Senior Manager of Consumer Research, and Pamela Hothorn has been hired as Creative Content Project Manager of Creative Services.
Farris comes to CMA from The Aspire Group in Atlanta, where he was Director of Strategic Consulting and Research, leading the cross-departmental team in executing custom quantitative and qualitative research, strategic marketing plans, and ticket packaging and pricing models for over 70 global sport and entertainment clients. Research projects for The Aspire Group included designing and conducting questionnaires for consumer journey analysis, brand and competitive perceptions, marketing effectiveness, communication and messaging testing, purchase intentions, and segmentation profiling. Farris also conducted workshops with clients to develop actionable strategies based on the research. Prior to The Aspire Group, Farris worked at Game Day Communications as the Research and Innovation Coordinator. Farris received his undergraduate degree from Northern Kentucky University and a MBA from the University of Central Florida.
At CMA, Farris will be instrumental in executing music industry and fan engagement insights, managing and reporting fan data analytics, and research communications. He reports to CMA Senior Director of Market Research, Karen Stump.
Hothorn joins CMA from Fuse Media in Los Angeles where she served as Director of Original Content of Live Events, producing multi-platform video coverage of nationwide music festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Coachella and Voodoo and spearheading integrated marketing campaigns for brands such as Doritos, Twix, Geico and Toyota. Prior to Fuse Media, Hothorn was Senior Events Producer at KCRW in Los Angeles, where she produced marquee music, cultural and fundraising events. She started her career working at Paramount Pictures and served as a screenwriter for Lionsgate and Disney/Touchstone. Hothorn is a graduate of New York University with a BFA in Film and Television Production.
Hothorn’s responsibilities at CMA include video content production, photo management and data asset administration. She reports to CMA Director of Creative Services, Amanda Eckard.
Charlie Daniels Joins Absolute Publicity
/by Jessica NicholsonCharlie Daniels, Don Murry Grubbs
Absolute Publicity has signed Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Daniels and his non-profit veterans organization, The Journey Home Project, for public relations representation.
“Charlie Daniels is one of the most iconic names in our industry” says Absolute Publicity company president Don Murry Grubbs. “It’s a great honor to have this opportunity to work with Charlie as well as his nationally-recognized veterans charity, The Journey Home Project. What a blessing.”
Absolute Publicity launched in 2009; the company’s clients include Aaron Tippin, Ricky Skaggs, Billy Dean, Collin Raye, and more.
Mason Ramsey Signs With CAA
/by Lorie HollabaughMason Ramsey. Photo: Nick Swift
Mason Ramsey has signed with CAA.
Eleven-year-old Ramsey is signed to Big Loud Records and Atlantic Records. Ramsey’s first single, “Famous,” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Songs chart and has sold an impressive 250K+ U.S. copies (300K globally), top-charted as the No.1 global streaming country song on Spotify, and launched into Billboard’s all-genre The Hot 100. He also debuted within the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
He became an internet sensation after being captured on video by a customer inside a Harrisburg, Illinois, Walmart store. Ramsey was performing Hank Williams Sr.’s“ Lovesick Blues.” In just one week, the video skyrocketed to 20 million views and has surpassed 50.9 million views since.
Ramsey made his debut at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in April to a standing ovation, and has recently performed at such high-profile festivals as Coachella, as a special guest of DJ Whethan, Stagecoach, as a special guest of Florida Georgia Line, and the iHeartCountry Festival. He also performed for the first time at CMA Fest this year, singing the National Anthem at Nissan Stadium.
He is managed by Good Luck Have Fun and his attorney is Edward Shapiro at Reed Smith.
In Pictures: SESAC, ACM, Luke Bryan
/by Jessica NicholsonSESAC At The Bluebird
Pictured (L-R): SESAC songwriters Eric Burnett and Jon Stone; SESAC Manager of Creative Services, Lydia Schultz; and SESAC songwriters Tiffany Goss and Matt Alderman.
On the heels of CMA fest, SESAC hosted its monthly songwriter series SESAC Presents at the Bluebird Café last week. SESAC songwriters included Eric Burnett, Jon Stone, Tiffany Goss and Matt Alderman.
ACM Lifting Lives Welcomes Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope joins ACM Lifting Lives campers during ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp at Seacrest Studio on June 15, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Academy of Country Music
The 9th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp is in session this week in Nashville, Tenn. with campers from around the country participating in a week of activities and excursions around Music City. The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education.
ACM nominated country artist Cassadee Pope dropped by the Seacrest Studios where she performed her single, “Take You Home” for the campers and participated in a Q&A on-air for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. ACM New Female Vocalist nominee Danielle Bradbery dropped by the famous Wildhorse Saloon to spend time with the campers, participated in a meet and greet and shared stories from the first day of camp.
Pictured (L-R): Tommy Moore, Academy of Country Music and ACM Lifting Lives Secretary; Samantha Thornton, G Major MGMT; Danielle Bradbery; Hailee M. Hunt, ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Director. Photo: Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives
Luke Bryan Plays Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark
Luke Bryan. Photo: Ethan Helms
Four-time ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan played for 35,000 fans on Saturday night in Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark on his What Makes You Country Tour XL Stadium Sized. Bryan experienced another triple-crown achievement as the first artist in any genre to play headline shows in three Cincinnati venues- Riverbend Music Center (where he’s sold-out back-to-back nights), Paul Brown Stadium and now the home of the Cincinnati Reds.
BMI, Taylor Guitars Announce New Partnership For No. 1 Celebrations
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Guitars and BMI celebrate songwriters Russell Dickerson, Parker Welling and SESAC writer Casey Brown.
Taylor Guitars has entered into a partnership with BMI that will acknowledge and celebrate Nashville-based country songwriters’ first No. 1 songs.
Each time a new BMI-affiliated songwriter achieves their first No. 1 single in the genre, the organization will host a celebration in Nashville to highlight their achievement. At each event the first time No. 1 songwriter will be presented with a brand-new Taylor 210e DLX featuring a beautiful vintage sunburst top as well as a custom pickguard featuring a laser-etched BMI logo.
“We love building guitars that serve as inspirational tools for writing songs,” says Tim Godwin, Taylor’s Director of Artist and Entertainment Relations. “Last year BMI invited me to one of their ‘First No. 1’ events, where I saw firsthand what a special moment that was for the songwriter. We wanted to make sure we created a guitar that would honor the craft that led to that moment. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with BMI and celebrate this special milestone. We hope these guitars support the continued songwriting success of these incredible artists.”
The partnership launched April 30 when BMI and Taylor Guitars celebrated Triple Tigers Records recording artist Russell Dickerson for his first No. 1 song as a writer and artist, “Yours.” The song, co-written by Dickerson, BMI songwriter Parker Welling, and SESAC writer Casey Brown, marked the first chart topper for all three writers. BMI writers Dickerson and Welling were both presented with the inaugural BMI No. 1 guitar.
“When a songwriter achieves their first number one, it’s a momentous occasion,” says BMI’s Mason Hunter, Assistant Vice President, Creative, Nashville. “It represents a long journey and reflects years of mastering your craft. We wanted to present a guitar that reflects the same craftsmanship. We are thrilled to partner with Taylor Guitars; they are masters at crafting beautiful instruments. We know our songwriters will be writing hits on these for years to come
Seventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas Talks Newly-Launched Nashville Label Group
/by Jessica NicholsonSeventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas
Joseph Rojas, frontman for Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, has been a staple on the Christian rock scene since the band formed in Texas in 1996. The band released its debut project on Tooth & Nail/BEC Recordings in 2005. Along the way the band, earned No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and Top Christian & Gospel albums charts, with signature songs including “Oceans From The Rain” and “Inside Out.”
Now, with more than two decades of industry experience, Rojas is using those experiences to help other bands via his Nashville Label Group, which launched in April. Nashville Label Group home to two imprints: Rockfest Records and Burtonwood Records.
In addition to Seventh Day Slumber, RockFest Records will be home to hitmakers Random Hero, who have charted two Billboard Top 30 mainstream rock singles; Indiana-based rockers The Protest; female solo rocker Zahna, formerly of ILIA; Nashville-based rock/metal band The Persuaded; and metalcore trio Amongst the Giants.
While Rockfest Records centers on Christian rock, Burtonwood Records caters more to the Contemporary Christian and AC formats. Burtonwood’s roster includes Brooke Robertson and Nathan Sheridan. Both labels will be distributed by New Day Christian, with digital distribution by Capitol Christian Music Group.
“I feel like it was a label started out of necessity, especially for the Christian rock genre,” Rojas tells MusicRow. “Over the past five years, it seems like outlets for Christian rock have dried up and radio is kind of leaned more toward the pop or contemporary worship type of thing, so where you would have stations that would add rock artists and a song that would be radio friendly. Now if it’s from a rock band, even if it is radio-friendly, it’s not getting played on those outlets. Then you have even touring is scarce but there are still a lot of great bands out there.”
Rojas says Nashville Label Group is an extension of City Rockfest, the music festival catering to rock fans he launched four years ago.
“There are big tours, one of the highest-grossing tours in Winter Jam and they do amazing, but they only have like one rock band, maybe two, on that tour every year. I decided I wanted to do something similar to that but for rock fans, with five or six bands on the tour. I expected it to do well, but it’s got a cult following. The same people that bought old-school Creed, those people still buy music, but they don’t listen to radio a lot because radio isn’t playing rock.”
“We’ve had issues in the past with a couple of labels we have been on,” he says, though he declines to offer specifics. “A lot of bands were like, ‘I don’t want to deal with the labels anymore.’ I understand that so much. Labels are offering 360 deals and I understand why they do it, but artists can barely make a living doing what they are doing now. After talking with these bands—and some have been on labels before—I said, ‘What if I started a label where you could have a base of distribution and you keep all your touring proceeds and merch, and I just give you a fair deal?’ Overwhelmingly, the bands said yes. So my talks with Capitol and New Day began and it just went from there.”
In addition to New Day and Capitol Christian Music Group, Nashville Label Group works with several third-party companies to work with clients, though the label also has three in-house staffers.
Rojas looks at the label as more than just a conduit to put new music in the marketplace, but as a way to encourage people and to bring positivity into their lives. After all, it was music that helped Rojas transition from a life of hardship and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
“I had a $400 a day cocaine addiction,” he recalls. “I was arrested over 20 times, and I was looking at 10 years in prison the last time I was arrested. I didn’t meet my dad until I was 14 years old. I understand people who are hurting so when I see bands that are bringing a positive message.”
Rojas is confident Nashville Label Group will continue to see growth and diversity in its offerings in the years to come.
“We’ve opened a publishing company so that when we offer a deal, the artist and label have a partnership on publishing,” he says. “We don’t take 50 percent of an artist’s publishing—it’s more like 25 or 30 percent of publishing, but we offer a lot with that, like a publishing administrator and things in the works where we can help writers and artists get songs placed. That will be a little bit down the road but we are thinking about this. The label expansion is going to probably happen fairly soon even into other genres. There are guys like NF in the marketplace, who are so talented and blowing up. The guy’s on [label] Capitol Christian, but he’s one of the most-streamed artists in the world right now.”
After Two Decades, David Lee Murphy Returns To No. 1 (With Superstar Kenny Chesney)
/by Jessica NicholsonIt has been 23 years since David Lee Murphy last hit No. 1 on the country charts as an artist with his 1995 classic “Dust On The Bottle.” With “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” featuring collaborator and co-producer Kenny Chesney, Murphy returns to No. 1 this week on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and the Mediabase Country chart.
The track is the first from Murphy’s album No Zip Code, as part of a joint venture between Reviver Records and Chesney’s Blue Chair Records.
“When Kenny asked me about making a record, I thought that sounded like a whole lot of fun,” Murphy says. “I love to make music, just as much as I love writing songs. So, we went in without expectations, and I wouldn’t have imagined this. But it sure feels good. To know my music is hitting this kind of place in people’s hearts…That’s the reason I write these songs: to make people feel something about their life. So, the response when I play it live, now with the No. 1, is everything I could hope for, and I am so grateful to the Reviver Records team for believing, and to country radio for letting this music be heard. That’s how the dots get connected.”
“David Lee is the kind of artist who’s timeless,” Chesney says. “He writes real country songs for right now, and he understands people. I wanted that voice out there, and I’m so glad country radio agreed! I’ve joked, ‘I’m just glad David Lee let me sing on this one,’ but it’s kind of true. I remember when he was having hits, thinking just how good he was – and it’s great to be part of something he’s part of, let alone his first No. 1 record since ‘Dust on the Bottle.’”
“There is something musically explosive and inexplicable about the Murphy Chesney combo,” said Reviver founder and president/CEO David Ross. “Their relationship, and Reviver’s partnership with Blue Chair Records, has not only given life to the incredible songs on David Lee’s new album No Zip Code, it’s brought two companies together with a common purpose – to give one of the genre’s best-known and most loved songwriters his own stage.”
“Everyone at this label was floored by this album when they first heard it,” said Reviver’s Executive VP/GM Gator Michaels. “To see the way that the music has connected with people and to see the incredible support that David Lee has received at radio, from his fans and especially from Kenny and everyone at Blue Chair Records is not only overwhelming, it’s truly well deserved.”
As a songwriter, Murphy has had several hits recorded by Chesney (“Pirate Flag,” “Living in Fast Forward”), Jason Aldean (“The Only Way I Know,” “Big Green Tractor”), Blake Shelton (“The More I Drink”), Thompson Square (“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”), Gary Allan (“A Feelin’ Like That”), Jake Owen (“Anywhere With You”) and Reba (“Red Roses (Won’t Work Now)”).
The track, penned by Murphy with Jimmy Yeary and Chris Stevens, also marks another No. 1 country hit for THiS Music Publishing and Capitol CMG Publishing.
Weekly Register: Dierks Bentley Debuts At No. 1 With ‘The Mountain’
/by Jessica NicholsonDierks Bentley reaches the summit of this week’s country albums chart with his latest effort, The Mountain. The album moved 102K units in its first week (and reaching No. 3 on the overall albums chart), according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Reunited duo Sugarland also released its latest album this past week. Bigger debuts at No. 2, with 30K in total consumption. Rounding out this week’s top 5 country albums are Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You at No. 3 with 29K, Jason Aldean‘s Rearview Town at No. 4 with 19K, and Kane Brown‘s self-titled album at No. 5, with 17K.
Brown tops this week’s top 5 country digital songs sales, with his latest “Lose It” at No. 1 with 22K. Florida Georgia Line‘s “Simple” is at No. 2 with 20K, followed by the duo’s smash hit with Bebe Rexha, “Meant To Be,” with 19K (and more than 1.1 million to date). Dan+Shay‘s “Tequila” is at No. 4 with 18K.
Brown rounds out the Top 5 with his most recent No. 1 track, “Heaven,” moving 15K in digital sales. The song has been certified gold by the RIAA.
NASH Next 2018 Competition Launches Today
/by Jessica NicholsonThe winner of this four-month-long national competition, announced by country music super-duo Florida Georgia Line, will receive a record deal under the Big Machine Label Group, as well as exposure on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
Florida Georgia Line, commenting on NASH Next 2018 said, “There are so many ways to reach your goals in the music business. We found a way that worked for us but that’s not the only way – NASH Next from our friends at CUMULUS MEDIA is an incredible way to get noticed and reach a whole new audience with radio airplay. That’s a big deal y’all. So work hard, stay true to yourself and your music, and good things will happen! Good luck!”
Radio Romance (NASH Next 2017 winners) with BMLG’s Scott Borchetta