In Pictures: Kenny Chesney, ASCAP, Bluebird Cafe

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Kenny Chesney Celebrates Launch Of Trip Around The Sun Tour

Photo ID (Front Row, L-R): Adrian Michaels (WEA National Director, Radio & Streaming, WMN); Cindy Spicer (PS WFUS/Tampa); Diane Monk (WEA Manager, Regional Radio & Streaming, WMN); Kenny Chesney; Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN); Ashley Stegbauer (MD WWKA/Orlando); Guest of Kevin Ebel; Guest of Eddie Rupp; Eddie Rupp (PD WCTQ/Sarasota). Photo ID (Back Row, L-R): Mike Tyler (PD WCKT/Fort Myers); John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN); J.R. Schumann (SiriusXM The Highway); Guest of Mike James; Mike James (PD WPCV/Lakeland); Louis Stokes (DJ WOGK/Gainesville); Ryan Nelson (MD WFUS/Tampa); Cadillac Jack (APD WQYK/Tampa); Guest of Cadillac Jack; Guest of Ashley Stegbauer; Kevin Ebel (MD WQYK/Tampa)

Kenny Chesney’s Trip Around The Sun Tour kicked off the stadium portion this weekend as more than 55,000 No Shoes Nation fans gathered at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The capacity crowd delighted to Chesney’s 25-song set which included his debut Blue Chair Bay/Warner Bros. Records Nashville single, “Get Along.” Before the show radio and label friends gathered to celebrate the event.

 

ASCAP, Bluebird Cafe Aid School Systems In Nashville, Napa Valley

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, NSA student songwriter Lily Ophelia, hit songwriters Pat Alger, Carly Pearce and Tony Arata. Photo by Ed Rode.

ASCAP teamed with the Bluebird Cafe for Napa at The Bluebird Cafe on April 11. Sponsored by ASCAP, the event benefitted Notes for Education, which supports music education programs in both the Nashville and Napa Valley communities.

Wine flowed from acclaimed Napa wineries Gargiulo Vineyards, Twomey Cellars and Knight’s Bridge Winery as hit songwriters Pat Alger, Tony Arata and Carly Pearce took their places in the round. Jeff Gargiulo, owner of Gargiulo Vineyards, and David Duncan, president and CEO of Silver Oak, closed the show with their band The Silverado Pickups, and Lily Ophelia, a student in the songwriting class at Nashville School of the Arts (NSA), opened the show.
Silent auction items raised over $80,000 and included hand-written lyrics of Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” and “Unanswered Prayers,” and Pearce’s “Every Little Thing,” VIP tickets to Notes for Education’s Bluebird Cafe event in Napa, and a Napa getaway.

Pictured (L-R): Tony Arata, Pat Alger and Carly Pearce. Photo by Ed Rode.

 

Weekly Register: Jason Aldean, John Prine, Carrie Underwood Capture Country Charts

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As reported earlier, BBR’s Jason Aldean leads this week’s Top 200 (and also No. 1 country), with his latest album Rearview Town moving 183K units (162K album only) in its debut week, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Oh Boy Records’ John Prine debuts at No. 2 country (and No. 5 on the Top 200) with Tree of Forgiveness moving 54K. The album is Prine’s first album of new material in 13 years.

Kane Brown‘s self-titled debut album is at No 3 with 20K. Thomas Rhett‘s Life Changes is at No. 4 with 14K. Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller is at No. 5 with 13.6K.

On the country digital sales chart, Carrie Underwood‘s “Cry Pretty,” which she debuted with a live performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 15, is this week’s top song with 54K. The song marks Underwood’s first single for Capitol Records Nashville.

Luke Bryan‘s “Most People Are Good” is at No. 2 with 24K. Kenny Chesney‘s “Get Along” is at No. 3 this week, with 24K.

Kane Brown takes the fourth and fifth spots, with “Heaven” taking No. 4 with 21K, and “What Ifs” at No. 5 with 20K.

Aldean also has this week’s top debut song on the country digital sales chart, with “Drowns The Whiskey” (ft. Miranda Lambert) debuting at No. 13 country, with 12K.

Curb Ups Cheryl Broz To Sr. VP, Pop Promotion And Radio Marketing

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Cheryl Broz

Curb Records has promoted Cheryl Broz to the position of Senior Vice President of Pop Promotion and Radio Marketing. In her elevated role, Broz will continue to initiate and guide the label’s direction for promotion and radio marketing strategies across all Pop and Rock formats, including Top 40, Top 40 Rhythm, Hot AC, AC, AAA, Alternative and Rock genres.

“Cheryl’s years of experience combined with her longstanding relationships at radio make her a tremendous asset to our promotion team and to our roster of talented artists,” comments Jim Ed Norman, CEO, Recorded Music and Publishing for Curb / Word Entertainment.

During her 30+ year career, Broz has been instrumental in breaking records for artists including Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara, Rihanna, Avicii, Pink, Outcast, Avril Lavigne, Leona Lewis, American Authors, Usher, Dido, P. Diddy, Sarah McLachlan, Stacie Orrico, Santana, Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby Mac, Thousand Foot Krutch, Anberlin and others.

Starting her career at KRBE Houston, Broz’s solid leadership skills were honed while holding key positions in several pop music departments, including Columbia; Island, Def Jam Records / Universal Music Group and Arista Records. Additionally, Broz played an integral role in developing the “Music Reactive Department” at EMI Christian Music Group where she led the promotion efforts for the entire EMI/CMG roster to all mainstream formats.

“I have always been passionate about the artists and records that I have had the privilege to represent. I am excited for the continued opportunity to promote and market Curb’s music to a wider audience at radio. I would like to thank Mike Curb and Jim Ed Norman for the opportunity to work with such talented artists,” said Broz on her elevated role.

Broz joined Curb Records in June 2017 as Vice President of Pop Promotion and Radio Marketing. She can be reached at: cbroz@curb.com or 615-293- 9867.

Chris Young To Help CMA Foundation Honor Music Teachers

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Chris Young. Photo: John Shearer

On Tuesday, May 8, the CMA Foundation will present the third annual Music Teachers of Excellence Awards, honoring 34 music educators from districts across the state of Tennessee, as well as Chicago, Cincinnati, Seattle and Los Angeles, for their innovation and commitment to music education.

The invite-only event will be hosted by multi-platinum RCA Records Nashville recording artist and CMA Foundation board member Chris Young at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. The CMA Foundation created the Music Teachers of Excellence program in 2016 in an effort to recognize the best and brightest music teachers from Nashville and beyond.

Award recipients were selected because of their dedication to bring a quality music program to their students and the impact they’ve had on their school community through music. In addition to a night of celebration, these dedicated educators will each receive a stipend from the CMA Foundation in recognition of their tireless work for their students and music programs.

“Research continues to show us that a quality music education will have a positive impact on a student’s academic achievement and social development and a lot of that responsibility falls in the hands of music educators, ” said Tiffany Kerns, CMA Director of Community Outreach. “We are excited to have Chris Young join us this year as our host to help honor music teachers from across the country, thanking them for their dedication to students and their music community .”

“As someone who’s benefitted from music education, I am so thankful for the music teachers who helped me along the way,” said Young. “I look forward to celebrating the music educators who share their love of music with the next generation.”

2018 National Music Teachers of Excellence Award Recipients:

Darnella Davidson, Los Angeles Unified School District, San Pedro, CA
Elizabeth Fortune, Seattle Public School, Seattle, WA
Andrew McGuire, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Christian Tierney, Cincinnati Public School, Cincinnati, OH

2018 Tennessee Music Teachers of Excellence Award Recipients:

Pamela Andrews, Station Camp Elementary School
Ronda Armstrong, Stanford Montessori
Jennifer Barnes, Lockeland Design Center
Lisa Benton, Heritage Middle
Rita Black, Eakin Elementary
Christopher Blackmon, Thomas A. Edison Elementary
Jacob Campos, Franklin High School
Joel Denton, Ooltewah High School
Benjamin Easley, Nolensville High School
Kim Folsom, Dan Mills Elementary
Lisa Forbis, Hume Fogg High School
Glenn Fugett, Nashville School of the Arts
Mark Hale, Mt. View Elementary
Katie Harrah, Oliver Middle School
Trey Jacobs, Nashville School of the Arts
Kevin Jankowski, Oliver Middle Prep
Julie Jolly, West End Middle School
Anna Maria Miller, Hume-Fogg Academic H.S., Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School
Jennifer Partridge, Gower Elementary
James Phillips, Oak Ridge High School
Lauren Ramey, Ravenwood High School
Alaina Schwartz, Crieve Hall Elementary
Matthew Taylor, Meigs Academic Magnet Middle
Barry Trobaugh, Munford High School
Alice Asako Wall, Waverly Belmont Elementary
Paul Waters, Bellevue Middle Prep
Kristina Waugh, Rossview Middle School
Franklin Willis, Andrew Jackson Elementary School
Chad Witemeyer, Henry Maxwell Elementary
Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry, Lascassas Elementary School

Music Teachers of Excellence is supported by Delta Air Lines, Anheuser-Bush and Uber.

Dan Hodges Music Opens DHM Collective

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Pictured (L-R): Trahan, Scire, Miller, Allison, Severson, Swenson, Hodges. Photo: Grannis Photography

Dan Hodges Music has opened DHM Collective, a branch dedicated to promoting writer and artists. DHM Collective’s first signings include Alyssa Trahan and individual agreements with Hannah May Allison, John Miller, Ashley Scire, Clayton Severson and Sean Swenson, all collaborative members of the writing group Smash 30.

“Alyssa is making her mark as a female in a male dominated tracking field,” said Hodges. “She loves a challenge and embraces opportunity. The Smash 30 writer/artists individually win hearts and raise the bar wherever they go…as a group they are a force. Each writer giving rise to our collective creates new rules and seeks to profit the other. They embrace our family philosophy and are knocking the ball out of the park with or without DHM. We are glad to be on board and be a part of their story.”

 

Live Nation Reveals $20 All-In Ticket Offer For National Concert Week

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Live Nation announced ‘National Concert Week’ will take place April 30 through May 8 with an exclusive $20 all-in ticket offer for fans to celebrate the kickoff to its biggest summer season. The deal will include over 1.5 million tickets to 2,000+ shows across Live Nation’s roster of summer tours including comedy, country, hip-hop, Latin, metal, rock, pop, and more.

For one week only, fans can get their hands on the $20 all-in tickets Monday, April 30 at 8 a.m. local time, through Tuesday, May 8 at 11:59 p.m. local time.

Nationally Touring Artists With Live Nation’s $20 All-In “National Concert Week” Ticket Offer:

311 / The Offspring
3 Doors Down / Collective Soul
5 Seconds of Summer
Alan Jackson
Arcade Fire
Avenged Sevenfold / Prophets of Rage
Backstreet Boys
Beck
Bon Jovi
Brad Paisley
Breaking Benjamin / Five Finger Death Punch
Bush / Stone Temple Pilots / The Cult
Charlie Puth
Chicago / REO Speedwagon
Chris Brown
Coheed and Cambria / Taking Back Sunday
Counting Crows / LIVE
David Blaine
Dead & Company
Def Leppard / Journey
Dierks Bentley
Dwight Yoakam / Lucinda Williams / Steve Earle
Enanitos Verdes / Hombres G
Erasure
Foreigner / Whitesnake / Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Game of Thrones
G-Eazy
Godsmack / Shinedown
Gov’t Mule / The Avett Brothers
Hall & Oates / Train
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Janet Jackson
Jason Aldean
Jeff Beck / Paul Rodgers
Joe Biden
Juanes / Mon Laferte
Keith Urban
Kesha / Macklemore
Kevin Hart
Kid Rock
KIDZ BOP LIVE 2018
Kygo
Lady Antebellum / Darius Rucker
Lindsey Stirling / Evanescence
Logic
Luis Miguel
Luke Bryan
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Maroon 5
Miranda Lambert / Little Big Town
Ms. Lauryn Hill
NEEDTOBREATHE / JOHNNYSWIM
Niall Horan
ODESZA
Ozzy Osbourne
Paramore
Pentatonix
Poison / Cheap Trick
Post Malone
Rascal Flatts
Ray LaMontagne
Rise Against / AFI
Rob Zombie / Marilyn Manson
Rod Stewart / Cyndi Lauper
Shakira
Shania Twain
Steely Dan / The Doobie Brothers
Styx / Joan Jett and the Heartbreakers
The Smashing Pumpkins
Thirty Seconds To Mars
Vans Warped Tour
Weezer / Pixies
Zac Brown Band

 

Industry Ink: SESAC, PLA Media, Lauren Akins X Ladybird

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SESAC Sponsors GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards Dinner

Pictured (L-R): Phillip Sweet, John Josephson, Daryl Friedman, Neil Portnow, Judy Chu, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Doug Collins attend Grammys on the Hill Awards Dinner on April 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage for The Recording Academy

On Wednesday, April 18, the Recording Academy celebrated 20 years of advocacy in Washington, D.C., by honoring Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook of  Little Big Town at the annual GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards. In addition, congressional honorees Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) were recognized for their longtime support of the creative community. SESAC, once again, served as the sponsor of the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards dinner.

 

PLA Media Adds To Roster

Ry Bradley

PLA Media has added California and Hawaii reared country artist Ry Bradley to its roster.  While he may be an emerging act in the Nashville scene, his songs have been featured in hit shows such as NBC’s Chicago Med and ABC Family’s The Fosters. Splitting his time between Music City and his home near Newport Beach, California, Ry will be releasing a new album this summer.

 

Lauren Akins Launches Lauren Akins X Ladybird

Thomas Rhett‘s wife Lauren Akins has launched Lauren Akins X Ladybird, a custom fine jewelry line that supports the children of Uganda through Love One International. 

“The impact Love One International is making on kids’ lives in Uganda is truly indescribable,” Akins shared. “We’re helping shape communities and rebuild families through these children. Their bellies are full and more importantly, so are their hearts. I know it is impossible to care for every child’s needs in the world, but we each can love one. This is the idea behind Love+1 and why we created this jewelry line.”In collaboration with Ladybird designer Emily Dee, pieces from Lauren Akins X Ladybird are made to order, with seven necklace options currently available: Sterling Silver ($99), 14K Gold pieces in White Gold, Rose Gold and Yellow Gold for $449 and each Gold variation with diamonds for $749. All necklaces include three delicate charms, LOVE, + and 1, honoring the spirit behind Love One International.

Gretchen Peters To Play Country Music Hall Of Fame Songwriters Session

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Gretchen Peters will participate in a Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 12 in the museum’s Ford Theater.

Peters will perform and share stories behind the hit songs she has written during the program. Peters’ catalog includes George Strait’s “The Chill of an Early Fall,” Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” and “My Baby Loves Me,” and Faith Hill’s “The Secret of Life,” among many others. In 2015, she was honored in the museum’s Poets and Prophets: Salute to Legendary Songwriters series.

Presented by SunTrust, the Songwriter Session is included with museum admission, and is free to museum members. Seating is limited, and a program pass is required.

Rhett Walker Band Sets Self-Titled EP For August Release

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The Rhett Walker Band has released a brand new single, “Say Hello,” from the band’s upcoming self-titled EP due out Aug. 10 on Essential Records/Sony Music.

“‘Say Hello’ is about how it’s easy to close off in our own little world and focus on our shame and get caught up in the what-ifs and how that can be a downward spiral, but the reality is because of Jesus, you can say ‘hello’ to the brand new you and find freedom and a family,” said Walker about the new song. “Say ‘goodbye’ to the worn and weary and say ‘hello’ to the brand new you.”

Two additional songs from the project will also debut this summer before the August release date. “Say Hello” follows the band’s 2017 single “I Surrender.”

Jason Aldean’s ‘Rearview Town’ Debuts On Top 200 Albums Chart Pinnacle

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Jason Aldean‘s latest album, Rearview Town, which released April 13, has debuted at the pinnacle of the overall Top 200 albums chart this week, with 183K equivalent album units earned, according to Nielsen Soundscan. This marks country music’s first No. 1 album of 2018, and Aldean’s fourth consecutive Top 200 chart-topping album.

The album is Aldean’s eighth for Broken Bow Records.

The achievement marks a week of wins for Aldean, who was honored as the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year on April 15. Aldean recently spoke with MusicRow about the process behind making the new project.