The final round of voting for the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards closes Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. PST.
Winners will be announced at the 53rd ACM Awards, airing LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Nomination highlights include:
Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories this year, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year categories; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos.” He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Whiskey and You.”
Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, for both Album of The Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly, he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me,” along with director TK McKamy and producer Dan Atchison.
Keith Urban earned five nominations including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year and eleventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is also nominated for Song of the Year for “Female,” and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood). Urban won Top New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000, and Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005. A win in the Entertainer of the Year category would also make him the eighth ever ACM Triple Crown winner.
Songwriter Shane McAnally received five nominations. He is nominated as Songwriter of the Year, and twice as songwriter in the Song of the Year category for Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Keith Urban’s “Female.” McAnally is also nominated in the Album of the Year category for Old Dominion’s album Happy Endings, and in the Single Record of the Year category as a producer in Midland’s single “Drinkin’ Problems.”
Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including her twelfth nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. If she wins, it will be her ninth consecutive win in this category. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Miranda is currently tied for the winningest artist in ACM history with 29 awards along with Brooks & Dunn. This year she is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Tin Man,” and for Video of the Year for “We Should Be Friends.”
Reigning New Female Vocalist of the Year Maren Morris received four nominations, including her second nod in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Morris is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Dear Hate” (featuring Vince Gill). She is nominated again in the category with Thomas Rhett for “Craving You.”
Sam Hunt received three nominations for his hit “Body Like A Back Road.” One nod in the Single Record of The Year category, and two, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of the Year category.
Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. This would be their fourth consecutive win and fifth overall. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for Breaker, and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man.”
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Midland, received three nominations for Vocal Group of the Year, New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Single Record of the Year for “Drinkin’ Problem.”
Eighteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Faith Hill received their first-ever nomination as a duo in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.
iHeartMedia Reaches Debt Restructuring Agreement
/by Lorie HollabaughTo implement the balance sheet restructuring, iHeartMedia and certain of its subsidiaries, including iHeartCommunications, Inc., have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries did not commence Chapter 11 proceedings.
The Company has filed a series of motions with the Bankruptcy Court to maintain business-as-usual operations and uphold its commitments to its employees and other stakeholders during the process. These “first day” motions will help facilitate a smooth transition into Chapter 11, and the company believes that its cash on hand, together with cash generated from ongoing operations, will be sufficient to fund and support the business during the Chapter 11 proceedings.
“iHeartMedia has created a highly successful operating business, generating year-over-year revenue growth in each of the last 18 consecutive quarters. We have transformed a traditional broadcast radio company into a true 21st century multi-platform, data-driven, digitally-focused media and entertainment powerhouse with unparalleled reach, products and services now available on more than 200 platforms, and the iHeartRadio master brand that ties together our almost 850 radio stations, our digital platform, our live events, and our 129 million social followers,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The agreement we announced today is a significant accomplishment, as it allows us to definitively address the more than $20 billion in debt that has burdened our capital structure. Achieving a capital structure that finally matches our impressive operating business will further enhance iHeartMedia’s position as America’s #1 audio company.”
Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan, MercyMe Join Trace Adkins’ “Jammin’ To Beat The Blues”
/by Jessica NicholsonTrace Adkins will welcome Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan and MercyMe on March 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for Jammin’ To Beat The Blues, a concert that will benefit Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee. Also joining the show will be previously-announced performers Jason Crabb and High Valley.
In addition to his multi-faceted music and acting career, Adkins supports the Wounded Warrior Project and the American Red Cross, and has taken part in 12 USO Tours.
FBMM Promotes Four Staffers
/by Jessica NicholsonEntertainment business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. has promoted four team members: Danielle DeMaso and Brian Gordner to account managers, Chris Scott to account executive, and Laramie Lomanto to senior account assistant.
“Here at FBMM, we pride ourselves on putting our clients first. Danielle, Brian, Chris and Laramie have all shown great potential during their time at FBMM,” said Jamie Cheek, president and co-owner of FBMM. “We are fortunate to have staff members on our team who are passionate about the music industry, and it is a joy to see them grow within FBMM.”
DeMaso began working at FBMM in February 2015 and is now an account manager. Prior to working at FBMM, DeMaso worked at Kraft CPAs and was an accounting manager in other organizations, including leading teams at Whisenant Stewart Watrous & Associates, PLLC. She has worked in both public and private accounting for the past 25 years.
Gordner joined the FBMM team in May 2012 and has also been named an account manager. In 2016, he became a Certified Management Accountant. Gordner brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the FBMM team, having worked eight years in the music industry, spending five as a tour manager. He worked as the tour and production manager at Augustana Music Inc., and managed ticket packages for the Aerosmith Fan Club at Paid Inc. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University at Buffalo in 2004.
Scott came to FBMM in December 2014 and is now an account executive. Previously, he worked as a tour manager for Hooah Music, Inc., and SheDaisy. He also worked as a production manager at TLE, Inc., and in artist management at F3 Entertainment. Scott received his associate degree at Western Kentucky University.
Lomanto started working with FBMM in August 2015 and is now a senior account assistant. Prior to working at FBMM, Lomanto worked as a sound technician for The Loop Ministries and interned with Music Row Music Group. She received her Bachelor of Administration degree in music business at Belmont University in 2015.
Spirit Music Nashville Adds Songwriter Kyle Rife To Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Billy Lynn, VP, Creative, Spirit Music Nashville; Denise Stevens, Attorney, Loeb & Loeb; Kyle Rife; Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville; Brian Bradford, Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville; and Freeman Wizer, Sr. Director of Creative, Spirit Music Nashville.
Spirit Music Nashville has signed songwriter Kyle Rife to an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement, as announced today by Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville. Rife’s agreement with Spirit marks the latest in the company’s aggressive series of Nashville-focused signings and catalog acquisitions. One of Nashville’s most promising songwriters and performers, Rife has co-written songs with Jeffery Steele, Mac McAnally, Darius Rucker, and Spirit’s own Frank Rogers, and he’s performed alongside Rucker, Taylor Swift, Kid Rock and ZZ Top.
“Kyle is a gifted guitarist, performer, and songwriter. We are very excited to help Kyle take his songwriting career to the next level and beyond,” said Daniel Hill.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled or honored to be a part of such an incredible group of publishers. I respect Daniel Hill and Billy Lynn [Spirit Music Nashville’s Vice President of Creative] beyond words. For them and everyone at Spirit Music Group, to see value in what I do… I’m just truly grateful. I already feel right at home!” said Kyle Rife.
An Everett, WA native, Rife took up guitar at age six and was performing publicly by the third grade. After high school he toured with various bands and eventually headlined at a Jimmy Buffett music festival in Key West, Florida.
Rife’s talent impressed both Buffet and artist and songwriter Ilo Ferriera, which led to a number of opportunities including two years of touring with Buffet as direct support; opening for Dave Matthews Band in Sao Paulo, Brazil; recording sessions in Kingston Jamaica with Sly & Robbie under the direction of Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell; as well as a private performance for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Rife relocated to Nashville and began working with Joel Crouse, touring regularly with Darius Rucker. In 2013, Rife and Crouse opened 16 sold-out shows for Taylor Swift as part of her Red tour. Rife then joined Tim Montana as the band’s lead guitarist, which led to tours alongside Kid Rock and ZZ Top.
Centricity Signs Isaac Peabody
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 24-year old Seattle native, who goes by the stage name Peabod, caught Centricity’s attention with his independently-produced assortment of meticulously crafted rap songs. Peabod puts a new spin on the genre, yielding infectious positivity and wordplay that connects with audiences of all ages.
“Isaac is such a significant signing for us,” Centricity Sr. VP A&R John Mays said. “It’s always rare when we discover someone who we realize almost immediately is such a perfect fit for us personally, but beyond that, his music represents an entire new frontier for Centricity. Once we met him we knew we had to partner with him.”
Peabod is working on his debut Centricity EP, which will be released this summer.
Australasia’s Performing Rights Organization APRA AMCOS to Open Nashville Office
/by Jessica NicholsonAustralasia’s Performing Rights Organization, APRA AMCOS, has announced plans to open a Nashville office at InDo Nashville. The organization’s incoming CEO, Dean Ormston, presented the news at the Nashville stop of the PROs Global Roadshow which also included events in Los Angeles and London. The evening featured a keynote talk and performance by GRAMMY Award winning songwriter and music publisher, Liz Rose, and performances by APRA AMCOS members Carl Wockner, Seaforth, Danielle DeAndrea, Kylie Sackley (Sam Hunt, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson), and Phil Barton (Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, David Nail).
Music industry executives and Aussies and Kiwis, who live in Nashville, enjoyed presentations by Ormston, APRA Chair Jenny Morris, and Director of Member Relations Milly Petriella about the many music education and artist initiatives lead by the PRO and the positive economic impact from songwriting to the Australasian economy.
Producer and Americana Music Association board president Mark Moffatt, who serves as the Nashville APRA AMCOS member relations representative, coordinated the event which celebrated the many Australian and New Zealanders who are a vibrant part of the music industry in Nashville.
Further details about the APRA AMCOS office, which will be located at 632 Fogg Street, in the InDo Nashville building, will be announced in the coming months.
Sam Fisher Joins Deep South Entertainment
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Sam brings to this team an honest and passionate approach to artist management,” said Rose. “I’ve known him since his days as a touring musician and have always hoped we could find a way to work together. The timing is perfect here and we’re all thrilled to have him join Deep South.”
“I’ve known and admired Dave Rose and the Deep South team for years. Their knowledge, integrity, and kindness have been key ingredients to their 20+ years of success. My clients and I are honored and excited to join such an incredible team,” says Fisher.
Deep South’s roster of management clients includes Parmalee, Stryper, Marcy Playground, Vienna Teng, Kasey Tyndall, and Lainey Wilson.
Luke Combs Announces Fall European Headlining Tour At C2C
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Combs surprised festival attendees at the C2C Festival overseas this week in Europe with the announcement that he will return this October on his first-ever headlining tour to the UK, Netherlands and Germany. Minutes after going on sale last Friday, tickets sold out in Glasgow for the announced shows and moved so quickly for London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, he immediately added a second show at the venue and made more tickets available for UK fans.
At his London debut at The O2 this week Combs encountered an arena full of 15,000 singing back every word to not only his double Platinum hit “Hurricane” and single “When It Rains It Pours”, but even the unreleased tracks and fan favorite cuts from his first independently released EPs “She Got The Best Of Me” and “Can I Get An Outlaw.”
He continues his whirlwind international month by heading to Australia for the first time performing as a part of the CMC Rocks Festival in Queensland and headlining shows in Melbourne and Newtown. Stateside Combs is currently on his sold-out 55-city debut headlining tour, and joins Jason Aldean on the Summer 2018 They Don’t Know Tour before heading overseas this Fall.
Luke Combs – Fall 2018 European Tour:
October 3 O2 Institute Birmingham Birmingham, GB
October 4 O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire London, GB
October 5 O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire London, GB
October 7 O2 ABC Glasgow Glasgow, GB
October 8 O2 Ritz Manchester Manchester, GB
October 10 Amsterdam Melkweg Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 11 Columbia Theatre Berlin, Germany
Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert Set For Elton John Tribute
/by Jessica NicholsonElton John.
Music stars including Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and Maren Morris, along with Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Sam Smith and Chris Martin, will celebrate the career of Elton John on the tribute special Elton John: I’m Still Standing–A GRAMMY® Salute, to be broadcast Tuesday, April 10 (9–11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The concert showcases musicians from multiple genres performing classic songs from John’s music catalog with longtime co-writer Bernie Taupin and features special appearances by Jon Batiste, Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Jackson, Anna Kendrick, Gayle King, Lucy Liu, Valerie Simpson, and Hailee Steinfeld.
Lambert will perform “My Father’s Gun,” while Morris will offer “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” Little Big Town will perform “Rocket Man,” while Sheeran will perform “Candle In The Wind” and Kesha will tackle “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
Elton John will close the show with several songs including “Bennie And The Jets,” and “I’m Still Standing.”
Elton John: I’m Still Standing–A GRAMMY Salute continues the tradition of previous Emmy®-winning TV specials presented by CBS, the Recording Academy™, and AEG Ehrlich Ventures, including Sinatra 100—An All-Star GRAMMY Concert, Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life—An All-Star GRAMMY Salute, The Beatles: The Night That Changed America—A GRAMMY Salute and Stayin’ Alive: A GRAMMY Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees.
Reminder: ACM Awards Final Round Voting Ends March 14
/by Jessica NicholsonThe final round of voting for the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards closes Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. PST.
Winners will be announced at the 53rd ACM Awards, airing LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Nomination highlights include:
Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories this year, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year categories; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos.” He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Whiskey and You.”
Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, for both Album of The Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly, he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me,” along with director TK McKamy and producer Dan Atchison.
Keith Urban earned five nominations including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year and eleventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is also nominated for Song of the Year for “Female,” and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood). Urban won Top New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000, and Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005. A win in the Entertainer of the Year category would also make him the eighth ever ACM Triple Crown winner.
Songwriter Shane McAnally received five nominations. He is nominated as Songwriter of the Year, and twice as songwriter in the Song of the Year category for Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Keith Urban’s “Female.” McAnally is also nominated in the Album of the Year category for Old Dominion’s album Happy Endings, and in the Single Record of the Year category as a producer in Midland’s single “Drinkin’ Problems.”
Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including her twelfth nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. If she wins, it will be her ninth consecutive win in this category. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Miranda is currently tied for the winningest artist in ACM history with 29 awards along with Brooks & Dunn. This year she is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Tin Man,” and for Video of the Year for “We Should Be Friends.”
Reigning New Female Vocalist of the Year Maren Morris received four nominations, including her second nod in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Morris is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Dear Hate” (featuring Vince Gill). She is nominated again in the category with Thomas Rhett for “Craving You.”
Sam Hunt received three nominations for his hit “Body Like A Back Road.” One nod in the Single Record of The Year category, and two, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of the Year category.
Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. This would be their fourth consecutive win and fifth overall. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for Breaker, and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man.”
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Midland, received three nominations for Vocal Group of the Year, New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Single Record of the Year for “Drinkin’ Problem.”
Eighteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Faith Hill received their first-ever nomination as a duo in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.