For being in his early twenties, Scotty McCreery has experienced plenty of whirlwind highs and lows in his relatively brief career. After an American Idol win in 2011, a chart-topping debut album, and a smattering of Top 20 songs, McCreery was dropped from Universal Music Group in 2016. In 2018, he’s returned as a power player, earning his very first No. 1 song with “Five More Minutes,” his first single release on his new label home, Triple Tigers Records. His debut Triple Tigers album, Seasons Change, released today (March 16).
Scotty’s success also marks the second No. 1 single for Triple Tigers Records, following the label’s initial radio offering with Russell Dickerson’s “Yours,” which topped the country charts last year.
With the latest singles from McCreery (“This Is It”) and Dickerson (“Blue Tacoma”), Triple Tigers General Manager Norbert Nix hopes to continue the chart-topping streak.
“Hitting No. 1 is hard to do as an indie,” Nix tells MusicRow.com of Russell’s No. 1 song. “The thing about Russell is when I heard [“Yours”] and saw the video, I thought there was something special about it. But he was also touring and had the Spotify thing going. It was amazing to me that he wasn’t signed. I think people were looking at him, but it’s all luck and timing, as they say.”
Norbert Nix
Timing was also an essential element in McCreery’s current success. McCreery had co-written “Five More Minutes” in 2015, following the passing of his grandfather, and he’s been a champion for the song ever since.
He signed with Triple 8 Management in 2016, the same year his deal with Universal concluded. Later that year, it was announced Triple 8 management’s George Couri and Bruce Kalmick had teamed with Nix and Thirty Tigers’ David Macias to form Triple Tigers Records.
“It’s a really unique partnership between the three of us,” Nix says. “The A&R philosophy is one that we have to be unanimous among the three partners to sign something. It’s worked really well that way, so we have a philosophy of finding the most compelling artists and music out there.”
Triple 8 Management initially released McCreery’s “Five More Minutes” to country radio, and without the help of a major label, the song began gaining traction on the music charts.
“I believed in the song,” McCreery says. “The transition happened, and we just decided to put it out there and Triple Tigers decided they want to come on board. They are set up to win.”
By August 2017, McCreery had become the second artist to sign with Triple Tigers Records. For Nix, the decision to become involved with McCreery’s career was an easy one.
“He was 23 years old and is so viable as an artist,” Nix says. “To us, ‘Five More Minutes’ was a career song. It was one of those really visceral songs that really hits you in the chest. Scotty knew it when he wrote it.”
Dickerson has followed his No.1 single with his first Academy of Country Music Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
“Leading up to this deal was so many years of writing, touring and even starting our own label with my manager,” says Dickerson, “so we could release music and to keep pushing this forward. It was honestly a sigh of relief because before Triple Tigers it was all hands on deck 24/7. Everyone on the team was working in over-drive. But when I signed with Triple Tigers we were able to partner up with a radio team we were confident could take this to new heights.”
Triple Tigers Records’ promotion team, including former Warner Music exec Kevin Herring and former Capitol exec Diane Lockner, gives the new indie label the radio promotion muscle, combined with a cooperative, laser focus on their artists.
Russell Dickerson. Photo: Kailey Dickerson
“These people are seasoned pros,” Nix says. “To get people like that is really hard. At the major labels, you have three or four imprints, but you are really competing against each other. The difference is, we can maneuver quite quickly, and we have the muscle of Sony behind us, too. We are a commercial country label with these ties, but our promotion staff focuses specifically on Triple Tigers artists.”
In his previous role as VP, Promotion at Columbia Nashville, Nix worked with Triple 8 Management to promote Chase Rice, earning two Top 5 songs with “Ready Set Roll” and “Gonna Wanna Tonight.”
“What we learned there was the template for this partnership,” Nix says. “I was at Columbia and David Macias signed Chase Rice to Thirty Tigers and Triple 8 managed Chase. Triple 8 has a marketing team like a label. They are effective for their artists, and in the promotion world where I come from, it’s about results.”
Nix says Triple Tigers has plans to add to the roster, though he says the expansion process will be slow and deliberate.
“The bar is really high right now with that, because they would be following Russell and Scotty,” Norbert says.
“[Triple Tigers’] first two singles have gone No. 1 and it just shows that if you have people who believe in the song, great things can be happen,” McCreery says. “It all comes down to the song.”
Atlantic Records Signs Skillet’s Jen Ledger To Solo Deal
/by Jessica NicholsonJen Ledger, drummer and vocalist of multi-platinum selling rock band Skillet, has signed a solo deal with Atlantic Records and Hear It Loud, the imprint encompassing the creative team of Skillet’s John & Korey Cooper and longtime manager, Zachary Kelm.
Her self-titled debut EP, LEDGER is set to release April 13. Ledger’s unique vocals and powerful stage presence have given her a distinct role in Skillet since joining the band when she was just 18. She has been collaborating with Korey Cooper and Nashville-based producer Seth Moseley, whose credits include For King & Country and Francesca Battistelli.
“It’s so surreal that I will be releasing my first EP in just a few weeks!,” said Ledger. “The writing and recording process with Korey Cooper, John Cooper, Seth Mosley and many others has been so much fun and I’ve loved every second of it! Learning, growing, and creating with these ridiculously talented people has been one of the most rewarding seasons of my life. We’ve created something fresh that feels unique to me. I can’t wait to share these songs with everyone; it feels like I’m getting to share a new side of myself!”
In addition to her role as drummer and vocalist with Skillet, on “joy.UNLEASHED | The Tour,” Ledger, along with a full band, will be opening the tour with new, original songs. The tour will stop in over a dozen markets from mid-April through early May, visiting San Antonio, Cedar Rapids, Huntsville, Orlando, Miami and more.
“Skillet fans are going to flip when they hear LEDGER. This is what they’ve been asking for for a long time,” said Skillet front man, John Cooper. “Jen has come into her own as a singer, songwriter, and as a front person. We took our time making sure we were releasing the best project we could. The time has finally come and we cannot wait for fans to hear it!”
LEDGER Track Listing:
1. Not Dead Yet
2. Warrior
3. Bold
4. Foreigner
5. Ruins
6. Iconic
Tree Vibez Music Hosts Industry Showcase Series For Nashville Labels
/by Jessica NicholsonTree Vibez Music writers showcase new songs at FGL House. [Click photo to enlarge]
For the second year in a row, major labels and their related publishing arms were invited to sample the freshest songs from their team – as well as the freshest food-and-cocktail creations from Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley’s downtown Nashville entertainment destination, FGL HOUSE.
BBR Music Group/BMG helped kick off three days of music on Monday (March 12), with Sony Music Nashville joining in on Tuesday (March 13), and Big Machine Label Group wrapping things up on Wednesday (March 14).
BBR Music Group/BMG. [Click photo to enlarge]
Sony Music Nashville. [Click photo to enlarge]
Big Machine Label Group. [Click photo to enlarge]
Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery Bring Double Victories For Triple Tigers
/by Jessica NicholsonFor being in his early twenties, Scotty McCreery has experienced plenty of whirlwind highs and lows in his relatively brief career. After an American Idol win in 2011, a chart-topping debut album, and a smattering of Top 20 songs, McCreery was dropped from Universal Music Group in 2016. In 2018, he’s returned as a power player, earning his very first No. 1 song with “Five More Minutes,” his first single release on his new label home, Triple Tigers Records. His debut Triple Tigers album, Seasons Change, released today (March 16).
Scotty’s success also marks the second No. 1 single for Triple Tigers Records, following the label’s initial radio offering with Russell Dickerson’s “Yours,” which topped the country charts last year.
With the latest singles from McCreery (“This Is It”) and Dickerson (“Blue Tacoma”), Triple Tigers General Manager Norbert Nix hopes to continue the chart-topping streak.
“Hitting No. 1 is hard to do as an indie,” Nix tells MusicRow.com of Russell’s No. 1 song. “The thing about Russell is when I heard [“Yours”] and saw the video, I thought there was something special about it. But he was also touring and had the Spotify thing going. It was amazing to me that he wasn’t signed. I think people were looking at him, but it’s all luck and timing, as they say.”
Norbert Nix
Timing was also an essential element in McCreery’s current success. McCreery had co-written “Five More Minutes” in 2015, following the passing of his grandfather, and he’s been a champion for the song ever since.
He signed with Triple 8 Management in 2016, the same year his deal with Universal concluded. Later that year, it was announced Triple 8 management’s George Couri and Bruce Kalmick had teamed with Nix and Thirty Tigers’ David Macias to form Triple Tigers Records.
“It’s a really unique partnership between the three of us,” Nix says. “The A&R philosophy is one that we have to be unanimous among the three partners to sign something. It’s worked really well that way, so we have a philosophy of finding the most compelling artists and music out there.”
Triple 8 Management initially released McCreery’s “Five More Minutes” to country radio, and without the help of a major label, the song began gaining traction on the music charts.
“I believed in the song,” McCreery says. “The transition happened, and we just decided to put it out there and Triple Tigers decided they want to come on board. They are set up to win.”
By August 2017, McCreery had become the second artist to sign with Triple Tigers Records. For Nix, the decision to become involved with McCreery’s career was an easy one.
“He was 23 years old and is so viable as an artist,” Nix says. “To us, ‘Five More Minutes’ was a career song. It was one of those really visceral songs that really hits you in the chest. Scotty knew it when he wrote it.”
Dickerson has followed his No.1 single with his first Academy of Country Music Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
“Leading up to this deal was so many years of writing, touring and even starting our own label with my manager,” says Dickerson, “so we could release music and to keep pushing this forward. It was honestly a sigh of relief because before Triple Tigers it was all hands on deck 24/7. Everyone on the team was working in over-drive. But when I signed with Triple Tigers we were able to partner up with a radio team we were confident could take this to new heights.”
Triple Tigers Records’ promotion team, including former Warner Music exec Kevin Herring and former Capitol exec Diane Lockner, gives the new indie label the radio promotion muscle, combined with a cooperative, laser focus on their artists.
Russell Dickerson. Photo: Kailey Dickerson
“These people are seasoned pros,” Nix says. “To get people like that is really hard. At the major labels, you have three or four imprints, but you are really competing against each other. The difference is, we can maneuver quite quickly, and we have the muscle of Sony behind us, too. We are a commercial country label with these ties, but our promotion staff focuses specifically on Triple Tigers artists.”
In his previous role as VP, Promotion at Columbia Nashville, Nix worked with Triple 8 Management to promote Chase Rice, earning two Top 5 songs with “Ready Set Roll” and “Gonna Wanna Tonight.”
“What we learned there was the template for this partnership,” Nix says. “I was at Columbia and David Macias signed Chase Rice to Thirty Tigers and Triple 8 managed Chase. Triple 8 has a marketing team like a label. They are effective for their artists, and in the promotion world where I come from, it’s about results.”
Nix says Triple Tigers has plans to add to the roster, though he says the expansion process will be slow and deliberate.
“The bar is really high right now with that, because they would be following Russell and Scotty,” Norbert says.
“[Triple Tigers’] first two singles have gone No. 1 and it just shows that if you have people who believe in the song, great things can be happen,” McCreery says. “It all comes down to the song.”
The Shadowboxers To Release Debut EP ‘Apollo’ March 23
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Shadowboxers
Nashville-based band The Shadowboxers will release their debut EP Apollo on March 23. The group hits the road this weekend as part of Justin Timberlake‘s Man Of The Woods Tour.
In addition to joining Timberlake’s tour, the band announced On The Side, a slate of headlining club shows that will include stops at PUBLIC Arts in NYC (March 23), The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles (April 30), Basement East in Nashville (May 10) and The Ground in Miami (May 20).
Apollo, released via Villa 40/Sony/RED Music is available for pre-order now and will be available for purchase on all tour dates beginning March 21, when they open the Man Of The Woods Tour at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
“We have been preparing for this moment now for a few years and it is so exciting to finally be staring down the release of this first EP and to celebrate by hitting the road with JT,” the band says. “We poured over these recordings and didn’t cut a single corner. It feels really good to be releasing a body of work that truly represents who we are as a band and we can’t wait to play these songs every night on tour.”
THE SHADOWBOXERS – 2018 TOUR DATES
Tour dates below are part of 2018 Man Of The Woods Tour unless otherwise noted.
**ON THE SIDE headline tour date (not part of MOTW Tour)
Date City Venue
March 18 Washington, DC Capital One Arena
March 21 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden
March 22 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden
March 23** New York City, NY** PUBLIC Arts**
March 25 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
March 27 Chicago, IL United Center
March 28 Chicago, IL United Center
March 31 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
April 2 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
April 4 Boston, MA TD Garden
April 5 Boston, MA TD Garden
April 12 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena
April 14 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
April 15 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
April 24 San Jose, CA SAP Center
April 25 San Jose, CA SAP Center
April 28 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
April 29 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
April 30** Los Angeles, CA** Peppermint**
May 2 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena
May 5 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
May 7 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
May 9 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
May 10** Nashville, TN** Basement East**
May 11 Atlanta, GA Infinite Energy Arena
May 14 Orlando, FL Amway Center
May 15 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
May 18 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
May 19 Fort Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center
May 20** Miami, FL** The Ground**
May 23 Houston, TX Toyota Center
May 25 Houston, TX Toyota Center
May 27 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
May 28 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
May 30 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
June 1 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
June 2 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Matt Stell Joins ASCAP
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Wide Open Music’s Amy Hendon Scott, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Robert Filhart and Ralph Murphy, Matt Stell, ASCAP’s Holly Chester, Wide Open Music’s Ash Bowers, ASCAP’s Mary Self and Mike Sistad.
Matt Stell stopped by the ASCAP offices on Music Row this week to officially join the performing rights organization as a songwriter member.
“Matt Stell is the real deal. Not only is he an incredible singer and songwriter, but he is also one of the most genuine people we’ve had the pleasure to work with,” says Robert Filhart, ASCAP Creative Director. “He has worked hard to hone his songwriting skills, participating in both The ASCAP Foundation Country Songwriters Workshop and later as part of our GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) Program. We could not be more excited for Matt and the Wide Open team on the release of this new music, and we are so proud that Matt is a member of the ASCAP family.”
The country newcomer released his debut EP, Last of the Best, today (March 16). The project was produced by Stell and Ash Bowers from Wide Open Music.
Stell is managed by Wide Open Music, booked by United Talent Agency, and signed to LOUDMOUTH PR for publicity represention.
Trea Landon Joins Warner Music Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN); Trea Landon; Cris Lacy (SVP A&R, WMN)
Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Trea Landon. Upon his 2015 arrival in Nashville, the 24-year-old Claxton, Georgia native inked a deal with Play It Again Publishing and is currently represented by William Morris Endeavor. Landon has earned more than 1.5 million Spotify streams on his independently released tracks and has opened shows for Craig Campbell, Luke Combs and more.
CMHoF’s Sr. VP Of Museum Services Carolyn Tate Announces Exit
/by Jessica NicholsonCarolyn Tate
Carolyn Tate, senior vice president for museum services at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, has announced that she will leave her post to work with private celebrity and family archival collections. Over two terms, from 1986 to 1994, and from 2002 to the present, Tate has dedicated more than 25 years to the museum and its mission of preserving and interpreting the history of country music.
“Carolyn’s significant contributions to the growth and stability of this museum cannot be overstated,” said CEO Kyle Young. “She has set high standards for the institution and for her colleagues. We wish her well and offer our sincere thanks for her sustained hard work and dedication on behalf of the museum.”
Working together to ensure a smooth transition, Young and Tate are conducting a national search for her successor. Tate will remain with the museum until that person is identified. She will then move into a consulting role until around the end of the year.
Tate administers the museum’s collection of more than 2.5 million items, including stage wear, instruments, films, photographs, and recordings, and a print library of books, periodicals, and clippings.
She oversees the planning, design, and installation of exhibitions in the museum’s gallery space, Historic RCA Studio B, and the Taylor Swift Education Center.
Tate played a pivotal role as project manager of the $87.5 million museum expansion completed in 2014. She supervised the planning, design, and construction for the addition of 214,000 square feet to the museum’s archives, exhibit galleries, and public spaces.
During her two tenures at the museum, Tate has filled many critical roles. From 1986 until 1994, she was production and advertising manager, responsible for copywriting, creative direction and editorial supervision. She also managed the production of books, magazines, and historical albums.
“I’ll never completely leave the museum,” Tate said. “Too much of my blood, sweat and tears are here, and it will always be in my heart. But it is time to look toward the future, for myself and for the museum, where the next generation of professionals is ready to carry on this work. We have assembled an accomplished and capable staff. They will maintain our high standards of excellence and they are dedicated to accuracy and objectivity.”
“Had it not been for Carolyn Tate, this museum would be a different and lesser place,” said Young. “She has been invaluable in our growth, and she will remain an example to all of us who learned from her.”
Collin Raye Inks Deal With Absolute Publicity
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Collin Raye, Absolute Publicity’s Caroline Fields, Kay Waggoner Burney, Don Murry Grubbs
Collin Raye has signed with Absolute Publicity for PR representation.
“Wow, what an honor to represent the great Collin Raye!” adds Absolute Publicity president Don Murry Grubbs. “We recently spent some time getting to know Collin and walked away feeling like family. Big things coming this year!”
“Very, very happy and proud to be joining the roster at Absolute Publicity!” said Raye. “So many of my artist friends are on the roster. I already feel at home with Don and his awesome staff. Good things ahead!”
Raye will make an announcement regarding new music in the coming weeks.
Jason Aldean Shares Album Details On ‘Rearview Town’
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Aldean has revealed the track listing behind his upcoming eighth studio album Rearview Town, due out April 13. Aldean once again joined forces with longtime producer Michael Knox for the 15-song CD, which features tracks penned by Michael Tyler, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Josh Thompson, Morgan Wallen, David Lee Murphy, Wendell Mobley, and more. The project also features a duet with Miranda Lambert, “Drowns The Whiskey.”
Beginning today, fans who pre-order the album at any available digital retailer will instantly receive a download of its title-track.
“It’s about putting things behind you…things that have held you down…and looking ahead,” said Aldean of Rearview Town’s title track. “When you look at my career and the personal experiences I’ve gone through, it really seemed like a fitting title for this record and it’s one of the best songs I’ve ever recorded. It was important to me to pick songs that have substance to them, I’m more conscious of that these days.”
REARVIEW TOWN TRACK LISTING:
1. Dirt to Dust – (Jaron Boyer, Ben Stennis, Michael Tyler)
2. Set It Off – (Brandon Kinney, Jody Stevens, Josh Thompson)
3. Girl Like You – (Jaron Boyer, Josh Mirenda, Michael Tyler)
4. You Make It Easy – (Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Jordan Schmidt, Morgan Wallen)
5. Gettin’ Warmed Up – (Jaron Boyer, Josh Mirenda, Cole Taylor)
6. Blacktop Gone – (Brett Beavers, Derric Ruttan, Josh Thompson)
7. Drowns the Whiskey (Feat. Miranda Lambert) – (Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson)
8. Rearview Town – (Kelley Lovelace, Bobby Pinson, Neil Thrasher)
9. Love Me or Don’t – (Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Schmidt, Morgan Wallen)
10. Like You Were Mine – (Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, Brian White)
11. Better at Being Who I Am – (Casey Beathard, Wendall Mobley, Neil Thrasher)
12. I’ll Wait for You – (Nick Brophy, Michael Delaney, Jennifer Hanson, Neil Thrasher)
13. Ride All Night – (Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Houston Phillips)
14. Up in Smoke – (Jessi Alexander, David Lee Murphy, Chris Stevens)
15. High Noon Neon – (Tony Martin, Lee Miller, Neil Thrasher)
Bobby Bones’ New Inspirational Book Due Out June 19
/by Lorie HollabaughIn it, Bones shares funny and inspirational stories about his biggest misses in life and how he turned them into lessons and wins. He offers up ideas and motivations for finding success even when facing impossible odds or tough failures and includes anecdotes from some celebrity friends who open up about their own missteps as well, including Brooklyn Decker, Charlamagne Tha God, Andy Roddick, Chris Stapleton and more. Bones discusses the new book with people.com.
“I want people to see that other people are failing too,” Bones said. “Instagram isn’t real life. I wrote this book so people could see they weren’t alone. I wrote this book to give people the tools to use failure to their advantage. This book will probably be a failure too…and that’s ok!”