Luke Bryan, along with CID Presents, announces his Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta destination event taking place Jan. 23-26, 2019 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The Caribbean beach vacation, which has sold out for the past four years, will include Bryan headlining two of the four nightly concerts with one of those deemed as “Luke & Friends Set.”
“Nothing better than a beach vacation mixed with some country music to launch a new year,” shared Bryan. “It’s an amazing get-away trip for the fans and all the artists performing.”
“When we first approached Luke and his team about Crash My Playa it was just a concept,” said Dan Berkowitz of CID Presents. “Now, as we head into our fifth year, it has grown into something beyond our wildest dreams. Each year is better than the last, and with this being our 5th anniversary, we’re excited to celebrate with the incredible community of fans, artists, and the people behind the scenes who make this event so special.”
Packages on sale Wednesday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET at crashmyplaya.com. Citi® is the official presale credit card of the Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta. As such, Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase all-inclusive packages during the Citi presale Monday, May 21 at 1PM ET – Wednesday, May 23 at 1PM ET.
Fans can stay at the event’s host resort, the Barceló Maya, or opt for one of several carefully selected tropical resorts and enjoy royal treatment all weekend long – all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like visiting Chichen Itza, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta merchandise packages, and more.
Additional performers to be announced soon.
Former CMA Exec Helen Farmer Passes
/by Robert K OermannPictured: Helen Farmer with former CMA Executive Director Tammy Genovese, during Farmer’s induction into the Source Nashville Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Photo: CMA Archives
Longtime Country Music Association executive Helen Farmer has died at age 92.
She was the CMA’s director of programs and special projects, working directly under the late Country Music Hall of Fame member Jo Walker Meador (1924-2017). Farmer earned the CMA’s Founding President’s Award in 1994 and was presented with a SOURCE honor in 2008.
The Nashville native worked for the CMA for more than 20 years, witnessing the country industry’s growth throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. She handled logistics for the annual CMA Awards and was involved in the planning of the Fan Fair festivals. She retired from the CMA in 1994.
Among her other accomplishments was the 1973 founding of the Music City Tennis Invitational, which raises money for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She was also involved with the American Cancer Society and with legislative advocacy efforts resulting in anti-stalking laws.
Helen Farmer died on Sunday, May 13, of natural causes.
She is survived by sons Michael and Sonny Farmer and by six grandchildren. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, May 16, at Congregation Micah in Brentwood at 2001 Old Hickory Blvd.
Live Nation Launches Women Nation Fund To Promote Female-Led Music Companies
/by Jessica NicholsonLive Nation’s President/CEO Michael Rapino said, “As the leader in live entertainment, we want to meaningfully address this issue, change the dynamic and widen the playing field. The Women Nation Fund is a first step towards empowering new entrepreneurs and creating more opportunity for women in this sector of the live music business.”
The Women Nation Fund will identify, fund and grow the pool of female-led festivals, events and promotion companies available on a worldwide basis. Entrant businesses must be female-founded and oriented around concert promotion, festivals or live venue management. The Women Nation evaluating team is comprised of Live Nation female executives with diverse domain expertise including Anna Sjolund (Co-Managing Director/Head Promoter, Live Nation Sweden), Amy Corbin (Promoter, C3), Virginia Davis (Founder, G Major Management), Amy Howe (COO, Ticketmaster), Lesley Olenik (VP, Touring), Maura Gibson (President, Front Gate Tickets), Kelly Chappel (VP, Touring) and Carrie Davis (Chief Communications Officer).
Businesses selected by the fund will be given access to Live Nation resources such as strategic advisory, industry contacts and mentorship across lines of business and functional areas.
For more information and to apply to the Women Nation Fund, please visit: https://womennationfund.
Big Loud Publishing Ups Jervey, Giangreco
/by Jessica NicholsonSamantha Jervey, Michael Giangreco
Big Loud Publishing has announced the promotion of two of its team members – Samantha Jervey and Michael Giangreco.
Jervey, who previously served as the firm’s Director of A&R, has been elevated to the position of Creative Director. A Virginia native and Belmont University graduate, she began her tenure with Big Loud as an intern, coming on board permanently as Office Manager in 2016. Jervey can be reached at samantha@bigloud.com.
Likewise, Giangreco moves to the rank of Big Loud A&R Coordinator/Catalog Manager, stepping up from his previous role as Creative Coordinator. Also a Belmont grad and former intern, Giangreco’s experience includes time spent with Rhythm House/Roc Nation and Universal Music Publishing Group. He can be reached at mike@bigloud.com.
Both staff members will continue to report to Big Loud Publishing Vice President Seth England and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Craig Wiseman, who founded the hit making song factory as Big Loud Shirt Publishing in 2003.
The home of a proven stable of chart-topping songwriters, Big Loud Publishing has gone on to help launch the career of superstar duo Florida Georgia Line, while also scoring three Grammy Awards, more than 70 singles and nearly 50 No. 1 hits. The game-changing group of writers is still led by Wiseman, but also includes FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, Joey Moi, Rodney Clawson, Sarah Buxton, The Warren Brothers, Chris Tompkins and Matt Dragstrem, plus Chris Lane, Ashley Leone, Cameron Montgomery, Jamie Moore, and Morgan Wallen.
Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile Lead Americana Honors & Awards Nominations
/by Jessica NicholsonMargo Price, Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlile are among the leading nominees for the upcoming Americana Honors & Awards, which will be held Sept. 12 in Nashville. All three artists are nominated for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.
Artist of the Year:
Brandi Carlile
Jason Isbell
Margo Price
John Prine
Song Of The Year:
“A Little Pain,” Margo Price, Written by Margo Price
“All The Trouble,” Lee Ann Womack, Written by Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack and Adam Wright
“If We Were Vampires,” Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Written by Jason Isbell
“The Joke,” Brandi Carlile, Written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
Instrumentalist of the Year:
Daniel Donato
Brittany Haas
Jerry Pentecost
Molly Tuttle
Album of the Year:
All American Made, Margo Price, Produced by Jeremy Ivey, Alex Munoz, Margo Price and Matt Ross-Spang
By The Way I Forgive You, Brandi Carlile, Produced by Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings
The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Produced by Dave Cobb
Rifles & Rosary Beads, Mary Gauthier, Produced by Neilson Hubbard
Duo/Group of the Year:
I’m With Her
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Emerging Act of the Year:
Courtney Marie Andrews
Tyler Childers
Anderson East
Lilly Hiatt
Luke Bryan Announces Fifth Annual Crash My Playa
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan, along with CID Presents, announces his Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta destination event taking place Jan. 23-26, 2019 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The Caribbean beach vacation, which has sold out for the past four years, will include Bryan headlining two of the four nightly concerts with one of those deemed as “Luke & Friends Set.”
“Nothing better than a beach vacation mixed with some country music to launch a new year,” shared Bryan. “It’s an amazing get-away trip for the fans and all the artists performing.”
“When we first approached Luke and his team about Crash My Playa it was just a concept,” said Dan Berkowitz of CID Presents. “Now, as we head into our fifth year, it has grown into something beyond our wildest dreams. Each year is better than the last, and with this being our 5th anniversary, we’re excited to celebrate with the incredible community of fans, artists, and the people behind the scenes who make this event so special.”
Packages on sale Wednesday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET at crashmyplaya.com. Citi® is the official presale credit card of the Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta. As such, Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase all-inclusive packages during the Citi presale Monday, May 21 at 1PM ET – Wednesday, May 23 at 1PM ET.
Fans can stay at the event’s host resort, the Barceló Maya, or opt for one of several carefully selected tropical resorts and enjoy royal treatment all weekend long – all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like visiting Chichen Itza, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Crash My Playa – 5th Year Fiesta merchandise packages, and more.
Additional performers to be announced soon.
Music Biz 2018, Day 1: Podcast Monetization, Digital Services, Entertainment Law
/by Jessica NicholsonSeth England of Big Loud sits for a Keynote Interview with Laurie Jakobsen of Jaybird Communications to kick off the Career Development Workshops on May 14.
Music Biz 2018 launched Monday (May 14) in Nashville at the Omni Nashville Hotel. The venue’s Legends Foyer was packed with representatives from all corners of the industry taking in new programming such as the Podcasting: Licensing and Monetizing This New Success sessions and Music & Money: Financial Literacy Summit as well as the second annual Digital Service Workshops, the Entertainment & Technology Law Conference, and much more.
Hip-Hop artist YelaWolf speaks with Tim Gray, Host of The Golden Rules podcast, at the Music & Money: Financial Literacy Summit powered by Lyric Financial Music on May 14.
From left: Stacie Griffin of Lockn’ Music Festival leads a conversation with Savannah Faircloth of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Sheena Barnett of Elvis Presley Enterprises, and Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters and the Walking the Floor podcast during the Podcasting: Licensing and Monetizing This New Success program on May 14.
Chris Shiflett, guitarist for Foo Fighters and host of the Walking the Floor podcast, headlined the “View from the Top — Successful Podcasters Tell Their Stories” segment of the first-ever Podcasting: Licensing and Monetizing This New Success program along with Sheena Barnett and Savannah Faircloth of Elvis Presley Enterprises and hosts of the Starring Elvis Presley podcast. The event kicked off with a keynote presentation from Tom Webster of Edison Research, who reviewed the history, present, and future of podcasting; discussed the shift from download-and-manage to clicking and streaming; and explained how podcasters can make money through licensing and promoting music.
Hip-Hop artist YelaWolf got the Music & Money: Financial Literacy Summit powered by Lyric Financial Musicoff to a great start, sitting for an interview with Tim Gray, Host of The Golden Rules podcast. Another first-time event, the Summit featured an informative discussion on how those in the music business can achieve financial success, the legal and financial issues that artist-owned companies must consider to make sure they maximize and keep the profits from their hard work, and how to forecast potential ROI before investing in launching a new artist or project. Topics included artists as business owners, new business models, a team approach to the new music economy, making money as a musician, and banking in Nashville.
This year’s Career Development Workshops provided music business students and young professionals with valuable guidance on breaking into the industry. It was headlined by a Keynote Interview (conducted by Jaybird Communications’ Laurie Jakobsen) with Seth England of Big Loud, which has signed major artists Florida Georgia Line and Chris Lane.
Music Biz 2018 runs through May 17 in Nashville.
Weekly Register: Jason Aldean’s ‘Rearview Town’ Returns To The Top
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Aldean returns to No. 1 on this week’s country albums chart, with Rearview Town moving 26K in total consumption, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You is at No. 2, with 21.9K, followed by Keith Urban‘s Graffiti U at No. 3 with 21.6K. Kane Brown‘s self-titled album is at No. 4 with 18K, with Thomas Rhett‘s Life Changes rounding out the Top 5 with 12K.
The top country album debuts this week include The Lacs at No. 24, with 5K sold, and Drake White‘s Pieces selling 2.7K.
George Strait To Return To Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo In 2019
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Cooper Neill/Getty Images for George Strait
George Strait will appear at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2019 for a special closing night concert on March 17. The 2019 Rodeo will now run for 21 days Monday, Feb. 25 — Sunday, March 17, and Strait’s show will mark his 30th RODEOHOUSTON appearance.
“We are extremely excited to welcome George Strait back to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,” said Joel Cowley, Rodeo president and CEO. “George has a long history with the Rodeo, first taking the stage back in 1983. He’s been with us through many of our major milestones during the past three decades, has entertained more than 1.5 million RODEOHOUSTON fans and is the only platinum honoree on our Star Trail of Fame.”
Strait ‘s full-length evening concert in NRG Stadium will be his only Texas performance in 2019. Opening acts for the show will be announced at a later date, and the remaining 2019 RODEOHOUSTON entertainment schedule will be announced in early January. Individual tickets for all RODEOHOUSTON performances, including the George Strait concert-only performance, will go on sale in early January 2019, but a limited amount of season tickets will go on sale to the public on Aug. 1, 2018.
Strait has a long history with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1996, Strait was inducted into the RODEOHOUSTON Star Trail of Fame in recognition of his musical contributions to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He is one of only eight artists to receive this award since the first entertainer performance in 1942. In 2013, the first four-year Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo George Strait Scholarship was awarded through the Rodeo’s scholarship program in honor of his partnership and friendship with the Rodeo.
Thompson Square Unveils Track Listing For ‘Masterpiece’
/by Lorie HollabaughThompson Square has revealed the official track list for their upcoming new studio album, MASTERPIECE, due out June 1.
The album includes 11 brand new songs, nine of which were written or co-written by either Keifer or Shawna Thompson. Other writers contributing tracks to the new project include Brett and Brad Warren, Cary Barlowe, Emily Weisband, and Frank Rogers, among others.
The duo teamed with Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff and Ilya Toshinskiy to produce the album, and five of the project’s diverse tracks have already been released (“Masterpiece,” “A Love Like This,” “Millionaires,” “Up in Smoke” and “Let’s Do Something Stupid”).
Thompson Square’s MASTERPIECE Track listing:
1. “Masterpiece” (Keifer Thompson)
2. “Up in Smoke” (Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
3. “Millionaires” (Marv Green, Catt Gravitt, Courtney Cole)
4. “Stupid Girls Stupid Boys” (Ben Caver, Sara Haze, AJ Pruis, Laura Veltz)
5. “Let’s Do Something Stupid” (Jason Lehning, Keifer Thompson)
6. “Stuck in My Head” (Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
7. “Good Day” (Erik Belz, Frank Rogers, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
8. “I Know This Guy” (Mike Fiorentino, Keifer Thompson)
9. “A Love Like This” (Cary Barlowe, Keifer Thompson)
10. “Make It Rain” (Emily Weisband, Marv Green, Keifer Thompson)
11. “Breakers” (Marti Dodson, Patrick Droney, Keifer Thompson)
Brandy Clark Among Performers At 10th Annual ‘We Write The Songs’ Event In Washington
/by Lorie HollabaughHosted by Librarian of Congress Carla D. Hayden and ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, the special evening will include performances by Brandy Clark (Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”), Johntá Austin (Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together,” Mary J. Blige, “Be Without You”), Mike Love (The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”), Michael McDonald (“Takin’ It to The Streets”), Jason Mraz (“I’m Yours”) and Suzanne Vega (“Tom’s Diner”).
Celebrating its tenth year, “We Write the Songs” has become a Washington tradition and an exclusive invitation-only event for legislative and cultural dignitaries where dozens of Members of Congress gather for an evening of classic songs and stories. The evening celebrates the gift by The ASCAP Foundation to the Library of Congress of the original manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters of some of America’s greatest creators of words and music.
“We Write the Songs” takes place the evening before ASCAP’s “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, May 17, many of the “We Write the Songs” music creators will meet with Senators to discuss the challenges facing songwriters in the digital music age and urge them to cosponsor the Music Modernization Act— bipartisan music reform legislation that was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives and was recently reintroduced in the Senate.