The guys have it.
Despite appearances by Cherish Lee, Kelsea Ballerini and Leslie Tom in this edition of “DisClaimer,” the standout releases all belong to country males. And I do mean “country,” because that seems to be the trend du jour.
Newcomer Patrick Darrah calls Nashville home these days, but he originally hails from upstate New York. Hence, his debut CD is titled Northern Truth. Give the man this week’s DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day contest boils down to two outstanding performances. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but one of them belongs to Cole Swindell, whom I have previously thought only mildly interesting. He is edged out only by Mitchell Tenpenny. Donna Hilley’s grandson comes into his own with “Drunk Me.”
PATRICK DARRAH/I Never Got Over You
Writers: Brad Wolf/Don Goodman; Producers: Drew Smith/Kevin Grantt; Publishers: Big Hitmakers/Little Tornadoes, no performance rights listed; Double Darrah
– Darrah is the latest graduate of the honky tonks of Lower Broadway. His debut single has a crunchy, ringing track and loads of melodic hooks. This is country heartache with a contemporary edge and plain-spoken honesty. Recommended.
KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs
Writers: Ballerini/Trevor Rosen/Shane McAnally; Producers: Forest Glen Whitehead/Jason Massey; Publishers: Songs of Black River/KNB/ReHits/Smacktown/Kobalt, ASCAP/GMR; Black River
– Smartly written: The lyrics turn romantic cliches on their heads. The ballad tempo is a nice change of pace for her.
RICKY COOK/Thanks A Lot Loretta
Writers: Cook/Pennington; Producer: J.P. Pennington; Publishers: Hill Pick N/Guitar Juice/Suzie Pennington, BMI/ASCAP; Imperator (track)
– His woman listens to Loretta Lynn’s records and makes it hard on her hubby. It seems he can’t come home a drinkin’ or carry on like he used to. From the guitar licks to the steel to the baritone vocal, this is country, country, country all the way.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & CHRIS STAPLETON/Say Something
Writers: Justin Timberlake/Chris Stapleton/Timothy Mosley/Nate Hillls/Larrence Dopson; Producers: Timbaland, Timberlake, Danja; Publishers: Tennman Tunes/Universal Z/Ken Tucky/WB/ole Red Cape/VB Rising/Danjahandz/Reservoir; RCA (track)
– Burbles of rhythm and electronic bleeps decorate this dizzy bopper. Both men are blue-eyed soul practitioners, so the vocal collaboration works well. Highly entertaining, but it ain’t country. The ending is so whiplash abrupt that it sounds like somebody suddenly yanked out the power cable.
NICK BRENNAN/I Want A Girl
Writers: Brennan; Producers: Cherle Brennan/Daryl Phenneder; Publisher: CEB, ASCAP; MCI
– His delivery is more spoken than sung. The track is grinding and groovy. The lyric is goofy-cute.
COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Very, very touching. Beautifully produced in an understated way. Looking back at a failed romance, he’d do everything all over again even knowing the story has an unhappy ending. As both a song and a performance, this is head and shoulders above everything else this guy has released to date.
CHERISH LEE/Tequila Cowgirl
Writers: none listed; Producers: Nate Wedan; Publishers: none listed; CL
– Cherish is the daughter of Urban Cowboy Johnny Lee (”Lookin’ for Love”) and Dallas TV vixen Charlene Tilton. The title tune of her debut Nashville album is a mid-tempo word portrait of a free spirit who goes her own way in the world. Her vocal performance is admirably expressive.
JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane)
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– The track cleverly quotes the guitar licks of John Mellencamp’s 1982 rock smash “Jack and Diane.” Not surprisingly, the lyric is full of nostalgia for lost youth. It’s all very hooky and listenable.
LESLIE TOM/Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams
Writers: none listed; Producer: John Macy; Publishers: none listed; Coastal Bend
– Plaintive and evocative, this ballad imagines what life was really like for the heartbroken Hillbilly Shakespeare. It’s the title tune of an entire concept album about the music and the legend of Hank Williams. Dean Miller guest stars on the lively track “Are You Ready for Some Hanky Panky.”
MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Riser House/Columbia
– I have been in this guy’s corner from the get-go. This is a terrific outing, full of passion and fire. His vocal goes from a whisper to a scream as the saga unfolds of a fellow who’s been sober ever since she left because when he’s drunk, he wallows in her memory. The production supports his vocal gymnastics every step of the way. Essential.
Volunteer Jam XX To Air As AXS TV Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThe concert will feature performances by Charlie Daniels and The Charlie Daniels Band, ALABAMA, Alison Krauss, Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top, Blackberry Smoke, Bobby Bare, Chris Janson, Chris Young, Chuck Leavell, Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Justin Moore, Lee Brice, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ricky Skaggs, Sara Evans, The Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt, and is hosted by Storme Warren.
“I am thrilled to partner with AXS TV in making Volunteer Jam XX an extraordinary broadcast event so that fans around the country can experience an unforgettable night of performances,” says Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents, executive producer of Volunteer Jam XX: A Tribute To Charlie, creator and executive producer of Nashville’s recent highly acclaimed All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration and Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard.
“With its electric roster of Country icons and modern hit-makers, Volunteer Jam XX is a perfect fit for AXS TV’s music programming lineup,” said Evan Haiman, vice president of music programming and production, AXS TV. “This unique event truly offers something for Country music fans of all ages to enjoy, and we look forward to sharing the star-studded special with our viewers this summer.”
Carrie Underwood, Ludacris Release Video For ‘The Champion’
/by Lorie HollabaughFans have already started joining in by sharing their own champion-inspired photos and videos across social media using #TheChampion. The song was originally written to open NBC’s Super Bowl LII with its own video seen by over 131 million viewers worldwide, and was incorporated into NBC’s current coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
“The Champion” has reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 10 countries including the U.S., where it held the top spot throughout its release week. It also debuted Top 5 on the all-genre Top 200 Digital Songs chart.
Underwood is currently in the studio working on her next album which will be released on Capitol Records Nashville.
Country Music Website RareCountry.com To Cease Operations March 31
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry music and lifestyle website RareCountry.com will cease operations on March 31. Rare Country is a subsidiary of Cox Media Group’s Rare.us.
The site was launched in 2015 with General Manager Laurissa Phillips at the helm. Among those employed by rarecountry.com were Senior Content Editor Phyllis Stark, as well as music writers Tricia Roegner Despres, Hunter Kelly, Melinda Lorge, Tammy Ragusa, and Samantha Stephens.
In 2016, the site launched the Rare Country Awards.
“We took chances, listened to our gut and created something truly special, and for that, I’m thankful,” Phillips said in a social media post. “Thank you for believing in us, taking our calls and being willing to be a part of something new.”
The site will continue publishing stories until March 31. After that date, staffers can be reached at their personal email addresses, provided below:
Hunter Kelly – hunter.kelly@me.com
Tricia Despres – despres41@comcast.net
Melinda Lorge – melindalorge@hotmail.com
Phyllis Stark – p.stark@comcast.net
Samantha Stephens – songbirdsam@gmail.com
Tammy Ragusa – tammydragusa@gmail.com
Weekly Chart Report 3/2/18
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
In Pictures: ASCAP, Carly Pearce, Cale Dodds
/by Haley CrowASCAP Presents At The Back Corner
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart and Holly Chester, Chase Goehring, Apollo Kings’ Zach Carter and Josh Carter, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Mike Sistad.
ASCAP showcased two emerging pop artists on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at The Back Corner to a capacity crowd.
Chase Goehring, a 2017 contestant on America’s Got Talent, kicked things off with an acoustic set, followed by emerging pop duo Apollo Kings. Comprised of brothers Josh and Zach Carter, Apollo Kings debuted new music from their upcoming project at the showcase. Their first single, “Freak Show,” will be released this Friday (March 2).
Carly Pearce Earns First ACM Awards Nomination
Carly Pearce learns she has been named a New Female Vocalist of the Year nominee at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards. Photo:Courtesy of Big Machine Records
Carly Pearce has been named a New Female Vocalist of the Year nominee at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.
“I have dreamt of being nominated for an ACM Award my entire life,” shared Pearce. “All the years I watched the show from my couch, wondering if I’d ever make it to the awards as a nominee are now coming true. I LOVE YOU COUNTRY MUSIC!!”
Watch the breakthrough singer/songwriter react to her first nomination here.
The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards will take place April 15 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Cale Dodds Meets U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team
Pictured: Cale Dodds with members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.
Cale Dodds recently visited WFUS radio in Tampa, Florida where he had the pleasure of meeting members of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.
Chris Tomlin, Governor Bill Haslam Discuss ‘Good Friday Nashville’ Concert
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Chris Tomlin, Kristin Allender, First Lady Haslam, Governor Haslam
Nashville resident Tomlin has committed to performing the yearly concert event indefinitely and is currently holding the venue through 2024.
‘Good Friday Nashville’ 2018 special guests include Kim Walker Smith of Jesus Culture, Matt Maher, Christine D’Clario, Tauren Wells and Pat Barrett who will all perform on stage with Tomlin throughout the night. Best-selling author and Pastor Levi Lusko will speak. ‘Good Friday Nashville’ is produced by Awakening Events, presented by K-LOVE, Air1, The Fish and WAY-FM.
The concert also aims to bring awareness to the TNFosters Initiative – a joint partnership between Governor Haslam, First Lady Haslam, The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), and Tennessee Kids Belong.
“We are so unbelievably overwhelmed by the response of Nashville to the second ‘Good Friday Nashville’ concert,” shared Tomlin. “And because of that reaction this community has come together so we can offer the concert proceeds to Tennessee Kids Belong to help children and their families. To hear about the success of Tennessee Kids Belong as well as the impact they are having locally and in the state of Tennessee, and to know that ‘Good Friday Nashville’ has even played a small role in those successes is humbling.”
Currently there are roughly 7,500 children in Tennessee’s foster care system. Of those 7,500 children, roughly 325 are available for adoption and are waiting for their forever family. The remaining children have the goal of reunification with their biological families and just need a loving foster family while they wait. The TNFosters Initiative with spearheading partner, Tennessee Kids Belong, set goals to increase the number of certified foster families in Tennessee and to place 100 children in adoptive families. By the end of the first year of the TNFosters Initiative 1,309 new foster families were certified, yielding a 40.8% increase over 2016. Additionally, 116 children were placed in forever families, far exceeding the original goal of 100 children in families.
“Every child deserves a loving family and I am grateful to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for its increased focus on recruiting new foster and adoptive families, and to Tennessee Kids Belong for supporting these efforts,” said Governor Bill Haslam. “I am inspired by the work DCS does every day providing service to the children of Tennessee in a way that models what it should look like for the rest of the country.”
“Improving child welfare by wrapping around these children and families takes an incredible amount of work, strategy and commitment on the part of the entire Department of Children’s Services staff and our partners,” stated First Lady Crissy Haslam. “I am so proud to be a part of a state that prioritizes taking care of its children.”
“We are so pleased with the progress that DCS has made last year on the foster and adoptive family recruitment,” DCS Commissioner Bonnie Hommrich said. “And we greatly look forward to the results our team and the whole TNFosters Initiative can yield in 2018 as we continue to engage, recruit and support more foster and adoptive families.”
“Tennessee Kids Belong is grateful to be working with Governor Haslam and First Lady Haslam through the TNFosters campaign,” shared Kristin Allender, Executive Director of TKB. “It’s critical to have all spheres working together to make a big, sustainable impact. That’s what we’re seeing here in Tennessee. We also want to offer a huge thank you to Chris and his entire team for their hearts for children in care. One of the hardest things about foster care is that it’s largely an invisible issue. We say all the time that we want to “give a voice” to children in foster care. It’s people like Chris who are taking that literally and serving as tremendous advocates in this space.”
Collective Artist Management Promotes Two
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Lisa Peterson, Page Fortuna
Collective Artist Management has promoted Lisa Peterson to Digital Marketing Director and Page Fortuna has been named Management Coordinator.
“We constantly search for smart people whose passion intersects with the job. Lisa and Page are perfect examples of that, and we are lucky to have them,” says Brinson Strickland, President, Collective Artist Management.
Peterson joined Collective Artist Management in 2017, with prior stints at Crowd Surf and an internship with Warner Music Nashville/Word Entertainment. She is a graduate of Belmont University.
A graduate of The College of Charleston, Fortuna joined The Collective team earlier this year, having previously interned with management company, Gold Mountain Entertainment as well as working as a tour assistant in Nashville.
Collective Artist Management’s current roster includes Clint Black, Corey Smith, Grant Landis, Edwin McCain, Sara Evans and Steve Wariner.
DisClaimer: The Guys Have It
/by Robert K OermannDespite appearances by Cherish Lee, Kelsea Ballerini and Leslie Tom in this edition of “DisClaimer,” the standout releases all belong to country males. And I do mean “country,” because that seems to be the trend du jour.
Newcomer Patrick Darrah calls Nashville home these days, but he originally hails from upstate New York. Hence, his debut CD is titled Northern Truth. Give the man this week’s DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day contest boils down to two outstanding performances. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but one of them belongs to Cole Swindell, whom I have previously thought only mildly interesting. He is edged out only by Mitchell Tenpenny. Donna Hilley’s grandson comes into his own with “Drunk Me.”
PATRICK DARRAH/I Never Got Over You
Writers: Brad Wolf/Don Goodman; Producers: Drew Smith/Kevin Grantt; Publishers: Big Hitmakers/Little Tornadoes, no performance rights listed; Double Darrah
– Darrah is the latest graduate of the honky tonks of Lower Broadway. His debut single has a crunchy, ringing track and loads of melodic hooks. This is country heartache with a contemporary edge and plain-spoken honesty. Recommended.
KELSEA BALLERINI/I Hate Love Songs
Writers: Ballerini/Trevor Rosen/Shane McAnally; Producers: Forest Glen Whitehead/Jason Massey; Publishers: Songs of Black River/KNB/ReHits/Smacktown/Kobalt, ASCAP/GMR; Black River
– Smartly written: The lyrics turn romantic cliches on their heads. The ballad tempo is a nice change of pace for her.
RICKY COOK/Thanks A Lot Loretta
Writers: Cook/Pennington; Producer: J.P. Pennington; Publishers: Hill Pick N/Guitar Juice/Suzie Pennington, BMI/ASCAP; Imperator (track)
– His woman listens to Loretta Lynn’s records and makes it hard on her hubby. It seems he can’t come home a drinkin’ or carry on like he used to. From the guitar licks to the steel to the baritone vocal, this is country, country, country all the way.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & CHRIS STAPLETON/Say Something
Writers: Justin Timberlake/Chris Stapleton/Timothy Mosley/Nate Hillls/Larrence Dopson; Producers: Timbaland, Timberlake, Danja; Publishers: Tennman Tunes/Universal Z/Ken Tucky/WB/ole Red Cape/VB Rising/Danjahandz/Reservoir; RCA (track)
– Burbles of rhythm and electronic bleeps decorate this dizzy bopper. Both men are blue-eyed soul practitioners, so the vocal collaboration works well. Highly entertaining, but it ain’t country. The ending is so whiplash abrupt that it sounds like somebody suddenly yanked out the power cable.
NICK BRENNAN/I Want A Girl
Writers: Brennan; Producers: Cherle Brennan/Daryl Phenneder; Publisher: CEB, ASCAP; MCI
– His delivery is more spoken than sung. The track is grinding and groovy. The lyric is goofy-cute.
COLE SWINDELL/Break Up In The End
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Very, very touching. Beautifully produced in an understated way. Looking back at a failed romance, he’d do everything all over again even knowing the story has an unhappy ending. As both a song and a performance, this is head and shoulders above everything else this guy has released to date.
CHERISH LEE/Tequila Cowgirl
Writers: none listed; Producers: Nate Wedan; Publishers: none listed; CL
– Cherish is the daughter of Urban Cowboy Johnny Lee (”Lookin’ for Love”) and Dallas TV vixen Charlene Tilton. The title tune of her debut Nashville album is a mid-tempo word portrait of a free spirit who goes her own way in the world. Her vocal performance is admirably expressive.
JAKE OWEN/I Was Jack (You Were Diane)
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– The track cleverly quotes the guitar licks of John Mellencamp’s 1982 rock smash “Jack and Diane.” Not surprisingly, the lyric is full of nostalgia for lost youth. It’s all very hooky and listenable.
LESLIE TOM/Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams
Writers: none listed; Producer: John Macy; Publishers: none listed; Coastal Bend
– Plaintive and evocative, this ballad imagines what life was really like for the heartbroken Hillbilly Shakespeare. It’s the title tune of an entire concept album about the music and the legend of Hank Williams. Dean Miller guest stars on the lively track “Are You Ready for Some Hanky Panky.”
MITCHELL TENPENNY/Drunk Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Riser House/Columbia
– I have been in this guy’s corner from the get-go. This is a terrific outing, full of passion and fire. His vocal goes from a whisper to a scream as the saga unfolds of a fellow who’s been sober ever since she left because when he’s drunk, he wallows in her memory. The production supports his vocal gymnastics every step of the way. Essential.
Mark Your Calendar—March 2018
/by Eric T. ParkerSingle Add Dates
Chris Young/Hangin’ On/RCA
Eric Paslay/Young Forever/EMI Nashville
Russell Dickerson/Blue Tacoma/Triple Tigers
Macy Martin/Take It Now/GTR Nashville/Kent Wells
Southern Halo/Anything Is Possible/Southern Halo
County Wide/Country Boys Dream/SMG-Nashville
March 9
Frankie Justin/Crazy/SMG-Nashville
March 12
Kelsea Ballerini/I Hate Love Songs/Black River Entertainment
Jake Owen/I Was Jack (You Were Diane)/Big Loud
Sherry Lynn/Bang Bang/Steal Heart Music
James Dupré/Hurt Good/Purfectt Pitch LLC
Kamber Cain/Your Love Is Like A Sunday/Riverfront Promotions
March 19
Travis Denning/David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs/Mercury
Trent Harmon/You Got ‘Em All/Big Machine
Lucas Hoge/Power Of Garth/Forge
Ricky Cook/Thanks A Lot, Loretta/Jerry Duncan/Imperator
Sam Shupak/Something Blue/Southern Pine Music
Album Release Date
Jessica Mack/One Love
March 9
Guthrie Trapp/Life After Dark
March 16
Scotty McCreery/Seasons Change/Triple Tigers
Shenandoah/Reloaded/BMG
The Oak Ridge Boys/17th Avenue Revival/Lightning Rods Records
March 23
Jordan Davis/Home State/MCA Nashville
High Valley/High Valley: Farmhouse Sessions [acoustic]
Jack White/Boarding House Reach/Third Man Records-Columbia
March 30
Ashley McBryde/Girl Going Nowhere/Warner Bros.-Warner Music Nashville
Mary Chapin Carpenter/Sometimes Just The Sky/Lambent Light Records-Thirty Tigers
Kim Richey/Edgeland/Yep Roc Records
Lindi Ortega/Liberty/Shadowbox Music Co.
Industry Events
Rumble On The Row’s 14th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids in Liberty Hall at The Factory in Franklin
March 9-11
C2C in London, Dublin, and Glasgow
March 11
2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Forum in L.A.
March 14
ACM Awards final round voting closes
March 26
The T.J. Martell Foundation’s 10th Annual Nashville Honors Gala at the Omni Hotel
March 27
MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row
Ashley Campbell’s Debut CD ‘The Lonely One’ Set For May Release
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Lonely One was co-produced by Ashley and her brother Cal Campbell and mostly recorded at Cal’s Agoura Borealis studios in Los Angeles. Older brother Shannon Campbell contributes vocals and guitar as well, and co-wrote the track “Looks Like Time” with Ashley. The title track of the album is due out tomorrow.
The daughter of legend Glen Campbell, Ashley initially pursued dance and acting and even performed for a time with The Groundlings, the LA comedy institution whose famous alumni include Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Lisa Kudrow. But when Ashley was asked to learn banjo for a part in a play, a spark was lit and her calling was found. She soon studied with banjo luminary Carl Jackson (her godfather and longtime member of Glen’s band) and mastered her technique. She would go on to join her father’s touring band, including his poignant Goodbye Tour in 2011-12, and appear in the award-winning 2015 documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, contributing the original song “Remembering,” which looks at Campbell’s struggles with Alzheimer’s through his daughter’s eyes.
She will embark on a UK tour in March, which will include a performance at the C2C Festival in London on a bill with Kacey Musgraves and Sugarland.
The Lonely One Track Listing:
1. A New Year (Ashley Campbell, Jerry Flowers and Patrick Davis)
2. Cry (Ashley Campbell, Bobby Pinson and John Caldwell)
3. Better Boyfriend (Ashley Campbell, Billy Montana and Tiffany Goss)
4. A Taken Man (Ashley Campbell, Sharon Vaughn and John Fortis)
5. The Lonely One (Ashley Campbell, Tiffany Goss and Jeremy Lister)
6. Good For You (Ashley Campbell, Autumn Rowe and Brian Kennedy)
7. Wish I Wanted To (Ashley Campbell and Mike Daly)
8. How Do You Know (Ashley Campbell, Shannon Campbell, Cal Campbell and Kiefo Nilsson)
9. Carl & Ashley’s Breakdown (Ashley Campbell and Carl Jackson)
10. What I’m Doin’ Here (Ashley Campbell, Lance Miller, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
11. We Can’t Be Friends (Ashley Campbell and John Fortis)
12. Looks Like Time (Ashley Campbell, Shannon Campbell, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
13. Nothing Day (Ashley Campbell and Chris Roberts)