Luke Combs. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Though Luke Combs served as headliner during the first of two sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Friday (Feb. 2), it was clear that there were two newly-minted stars on the stage that evening.
Equal parts soulful, powerful vocalist and astute songwriter, opening act and Warner Music Nashville artist Ashley McBryde held court at country music’s mother church. McBryde seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with the audience, her relaxed performance style peppered with witty remarks.
“People often ask me if Dahlonega is a real place,” she said before introducing “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega.” “If I was going to make up a place, it would be a lot easier to spell.”
Before introducing her breakthrough track “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” McBryde recalled a middle school teacher who advised that McBryde should come up with a good backup plan after she declared her dreams of being a songwriter and singer.
“All these years I thought she said, ‘Get a good backup band,'” McBryde quipped, gesturing to the ace band onstage with her. McBryde caused a stir when she performed the song onstage at the Grand Ole Opry House in June 2017.
Much of the time she stayed close to center stage for songs such as the tender “The Jacket” and saucy “Tired Of Being Happy,” stomping her boots against the hallowed wooden Ryman stage.
Following roaring version of her current single “American Scandal,” the Ryman Auditorium crowd erupted in a standing ovation for the promising newcomer.
Ashley McBryde. Photo: John Peets
Before headliner Luke Combs even set foot on the stage for the first of two sold-out shows at the Ryman, the audience could already hear his burly voice. Once he stepped into the spotlight, the evening was all about songs and swagger as Combs, red Solo cup in hand, effortlessly directed an evening of crowd favorite songs. The audience was instantly on its feet, and spent the remainder of the evening ardently singing the words to every song Combs’ burly voice put forth, album cut and singles alike.
Combs barreled through a set that included the majority of tracks on his debut Columbia Nashville/River House Artists album, his rough-hewn voice packing plenty of power, with extra shred on his upper range. Combs just might have the most commanding voice of any current male, mainstream country hitmaker not named Chris Stapleton.
He offered older cuts he wrote in college (“She Got The Best of Me”) and songs penned just a few weeks earlier (“Houston We Have A Problem”).
Notably, Combs’ only pop cover of the evening was a rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” which Combs handled ably, though it was clear the audience preferred his own swaggering original material. Fans can expect more new tracks soon, as Combs revealed he recently recorded 20 new songs in the span of seven days.
Combs took a few moments on the stage alone, with only his guitar, to offer a solo, acoustic rendition of his album’s title track, “This One’s For You.” He remarked the acoustic segment took him back to his days playing clubs in North Carolina. The fans hung onto every word, lighting up their cell phones in the balcony and the floor seats.
“How many of you ever broke up with someone and your life got better?” he quipped, offering his second No. 1 hit “When It Rains (It Pours).”
Combs wrapped the show with his current single “One Number Away,” and his smash debut single “Hurricane.”
“I dropped out of college with 21 credits left,” Combs shared with the audience during the set. “They told me to get a real job, and two nights sold-out at the Ryman is a pretty good job.”
Combs will take the stage in Nashville again on Wednesday evening, as one of the New Faces of Country during this year’s Country Radio Seminar.
Lance Carpenter Signs With United Talent Agency
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lance Roberts Agent, Co-Head of UTA Nashville Office; Lance Carpenter,, Curt Motley, Agent, Co-Head of UTA Nashville Office; Nick Meinema, Agent, Co-Head UTA Nashville Office; Mandi Dixon (Lance Carpenter’s Manager of Mandolin Entertainment).
Nashville recording artist and songwriter Lance Carpenter has signed with United Talent Agency in all areas. Carpenter recently earned a No. 1 single for co-writing the hit track “Love Me Like You Mean It,” by Kelsea Ballerini. Following his self-titled debut album, Carpenter released a five-track EP titled, Mustang, in 2017.
He has performed alongside major musicians including Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Randy Rogers Band, among others. He recently signed to Toby Keith’s Show Dog Records, in addition to releasing a debut duet and music video with Krystal Keith titled, “Anyone Else.”
Carpenter will continue to be represented by Mandi Dixon of Mandolin Entertainment and Austen Adams of Dickinson Wright.
Country Radio Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise from top left): Andy Ritchie and Alison Mencer; Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry; Lisa McKay; Mike O’Malley; Scott Evans; Steve Harmon.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame announced nine broadcasters (including seven on-air personalities and two off-air broadcasters) that will join in 2018, as artist Cassadee Pope revealed this year’s inductees during Monday’s (Feb. 5) opening ceremonies for Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
The 2018 Country Radio Hall of Fame Class includes Radio category honorees Michael O’Malley of the Albright, O’Malley & Brenner consulting firm, and the late Lisa McKay, VP/Programming at Curtis Media/Raleigh, who doubled as PD for WQDR. The Air Personality category includes Andy Ritchie and Alison Mencer (“Andy & Alison”) formerly of WIVK/Knoxville; Steve Harmon and Scott Evans (“Harmon And Evans”) formerly of KPLX/Dallas and WXTU/Philadelphia; and Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry (“Barrett, Fox, And Berry) still active at KKNU/Eugene, Oregon.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.
The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held in Nashville on Wednesday, June 20, at a location to be announced soon.
On The Cover: 2018 ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Awards Issue
/by Jessica NicholsonKelsea Ballerini is featured as the cover artist for MusicRow Magazine’s 2018 CountryBreakout Awards Issue, which is available now.
MusicRow Magazine’s 2018 CountryBreakout Awards Issue honors the artists, label imprint, and songwriter who have garnered the most spins on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart over the past year. This issue also features interviews with Universal Music Group’s Mike Dungan, country legend and radio professional Kix Brooks, playlist curators including Amazon’s Emily Cohen, Spotify’s John Marks, and Pandora’s Rachel Whitney, and tackles changes in the radio industry with radio executives Pat Paxton (Entercom), and Ed Carter (WLLX).
In this issue, Kelsea Ballerini also celebrates receiving five MusicRow Challenge Coins, commemorating her five No. 1 singles on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.
This issue is available for purchase, or with a subscription to MusicRow Magazine.
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Artist Name: Kelsea Ballerini
Label: Black River Entertainment
Current Album: Unapologetically
Current Single: “Legends”
Current Producer(s): Forest Glen Whitehead, Jason Massey, Shane McAnally, Lindsay Rimes, and Jimmy Robbins
Management: Iconic Entertainment
Booking: CAA
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Recent Hits: “Legends,” “Yeah Boy,” “Peter Pan,” “Dibs,” and “Love Me Like You Mean It”
RIAA Certifications: Platinum Singles – “Peter Pan,” “Dibs,” and “Love Me Like You Mean It”; Gold Single – “Yeah Boy”; Gold Album – The First Time; Approaching Gold Single – “Legends”
Career Highlights/Awards: MusicRow CountryBreakout Award for Femal Artist of the Year (2018), ACM Honors’ Gene Weed Milestone Award (2017), ASCAP Vanguard Award (2017), CMT’s Next Women of Country Impact Award (2017), Nashville Business Journal’s Artist of the Year (2017), iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Country Artist (2017), MusicRow CountryBreakout Award for Breakout and Female Artist of the Year (2017), ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year (2016), ACCA Award for Breakthrough Female of the Year (2016), CMT Artists of the Year Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2016), three Radio Disney Music Awards and Billboard’s Rising Star title (2015). During release week for Unapologetically, Ballerini performed at her alma mater Central High School in Knoxville, TN, on October 28 in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, as well as performed and hung out with her fans during an intimate Spotify Fan First event at Nashville’s The Back Corner on October 30. Ballerini is featured on The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with “Children Go Where I Send You” from Sony Pictures Animations motion picture The Star.
Notable TV Appearances: Co-host of CMA Fest 2017 and ABC’s Greatest Hits; headlined CBS’ The Thanksgiving Day Parade and “Kelsea Ballerini” AT&T AUDIENCE Network Concert Special; performed on the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Good Morning America, Live With Kelly and Ryan, TODAY, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CMA Country Christmas and Nickelodeon Halo Awards; guest appearance on Project Runway.
On Tour: The Unapologetically Tour with Walker Hayes. (coming Feb. 14 to Nashville, Tennessee with Walker Hayes and Bailey Bryan). This summer, Kelsea will join Keith Urban on his Graffiti U World Tour 2018. Other upcoming tour dates include Rodeo Houston (Houston, TX on March 3), Stagecoach Festival (Indio, CA on April 27), C2C 2018 (UK, March 9-11), and CMC Rocks (Australia, March 15-18).
NSAI Announces Board Of Directors
/by Jessica NicholsonCurrent board members who were re-elected to an additional two-year term include Tony Arata, Steve Bogard, Jeff Cohen, Ben Glover, Connie Harrington, Byron Hill, Liz Rose and Jenn Schott.
These members join existing board members Rhett Akins, Jim Beavers, Roger Brown, Beckie Foster, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, Tim Nichols, Gary Nicholson, Josh Osborne, Rivers Rutherford, Anthony Smith, Caitlyn Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Troy Verges and Danny Wells, whose terms expire in 2019. Additionally, past-president Lee Thomas Miller sits on the board as a non-voting ex-officio member.
The election includes votes by the NSAI Professional Songwriter Membership and appointments by the NSAI Board of Directors. Officer elections will occur at the May 2018 board meeting.
Opry Entertainment Adds Jordan Pettit, Ups Gina Keltner And Lisaann Dupont
/by Jessica NicholsonJordan Pettit, Gina Keltner
Jordan Pettit has joined Opry Entertainment Group as Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy, reporting to Senior Vice President of Programming & Artist Relations and Grand Ole Opry General Manager, Sally Williams.
Pettit joins Opry Entertainment Group from RedBrandana, where he was responsible for building artist awareness and creating experiential branding opportunities. Prior to founding RedBrandana, Jordan was the Vice President & National Director of National Radio Marketing at Warner Music Group in Nashville.
Additionally, Gina Keltner has been promoted to Director of Opry Talent Scheduling and Logistics for the Grand Ole Opry, while Lisaann Dupont has been promoted to Director of Communications for Opry Entertainment, supporting Ryman Auditorium, Ole Red and Opry City Stage.
In his new role, Pettit will focus on nurturing strong relationships within the music community and developing artist friendly initiatives utilizing assets and opportunities from across Opry Entertainment’s business. He also will work withGina Keltner on programming strategy for the Grand Ole Opry and with Dolly Chandler on programming strategy for Opry City Stage and Ole Red.
Sally Williams, Senior Vice President of Programming & Artist Relations, said, “Over the past year, we have built a phenomenal team to support our growth across Opry Entertainment. Jordan’s creativity and passion for artist development made him a natural addition to that team as we work to engage with artists at all stages of their careers through our growing portfolio of brands.”
MercyMe Releases Best Of Collection To Coincide With New Film, ‘I Can Only Imagine’
/by Lorie HollabaughTo accompany the new film, the band has cut a special new version of “I Can Only Imagine” made just for the movie titled “I Can Only Imagine (The Movie Session).” The official music video was just released for the new movie, I Can Only Imagine. The film is a gripping reminder of the power of forgiveness and beautifully illustrates that no one is ever too far from second chances. “I Can Only Imagine (The Movie Session)” is available for download and streaming now along with a digital pre-order for the upcoming album.
“We’re so excited to get to share this new version of ‘I Can Only Imagine’ with everyone. The song has meant a lot to me over the years, and it really came out of a difficult season,” said Millard. “It brought me a lot of hope, but there has always been something very melancholy about the song in the way that it was recorded before. Getting to do it over this time around, I really felt like it would be awesome to shape in a more celebratory tone, where it conveys us rejoicing in the fact that we don’t have to imagine much longer. It has this cinematic and whimsical feel about it, and it really fits with how I see the song today differently than when I first wrote it.”
The group is also preparing for the release of their new single, “Grace Got You” Feat. John Reuben, which will be released to radio nationwide on Mar. 2.
I Can Only Imagine hits theaters March 15.
Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley Join Vector Management
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Vector Management’s Ken Levitan, Trey Hensley, Rob Ickes, Vector Management’s Bob Burwell and Jason Henke.
Compass Records recording artists Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley have signed with Vector Management for exclusive worldwide management representation.
“We’re extremely excited to be working with Bob Burwell, Jason Henke, Ken Levitan and all of the folks at Vector Management! It’s such an honor to be associated with such an incredible organization and managers who have done so many awesome things for so many artists,” Ickes and Hensley commented. “We’re looking forward to a long future together!”
“We’re thrilled to work with Rob and Trey and champion their world-class talent internationally,” Vector Management’s Jason Henke said. “They have a rare musical chemistry that emits from the stage, and their extraordinary musicianship and authenticity shine through in everything they do.”
Ickes and Hensley are currently working on their third album, with new music set to be released later this year. The duo’s debut album, Before the Sun Goes Down, garnered a Grammy Award nomination and their second album, The Country Blues, received widespread critical acclaim.
Ickes has won the Dobro Player of The Year Award from the IBMA an unprecedented 15 times and was also a founding member of the critically-acclaimed bluegrass supergroup Blue Highway. His playing has graced the recordings and concerts of artists such as Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and many others.
Hensley is a gifted picker, vocalist, and songwriter who, at just 11 years old, was invited by Marty Stuart to perform on the Grand Ole Opry with Stuart and Earl Scruggs. Hensley has performed with the likes of Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Wariner, Ricky Skaggs, J.D. Crowe and several others.
Ickes and Henley are set to perform at Nashville’s Station Inn on Thursday, Feb. 8.
Mac McAnally Inducted Into Alabama Music Hall Of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughThe ceremony was taped for broadcast in the spring by Alabama Public Television, and included two live performances by McAnally with an all-star Muscle Shoals house band. The honor is the latest in a string of accolades for the talented singer/songwriter, who is already a member of the Mississippi Musicians Hall Of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
“Mac is authenticity personified,” Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Director member Judy Hood noted. “He’s as good as it gets personally and professionally. He is a treasure and it’s about time we threw a party to celebrate him.”
“The particular music community that is Muscle Shoals is one of the blessings of my life,” says McAnally, referencing his extensive history of recording and producing at Alabama’s famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. “To sit at the feet of (producer) Rick Hall, (producer) Terry Woodford and (producer) Clayton Ivey, all the players I got to work with, changed the course of my life in a big way. So to get this award, and for it to happen there, is really a big deal. I’m truly grateful for everything that’s transpired there.”
After quitting high school in eleventh grade, McAnally became an in-demand session player in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At age 20, he released his first album, which included the Top 40 pop hit “It’s A Crazy World.” He eventually gravitated to a behind-the-scenes role as a producer, session musician and songwriter. As a producer, McAnally has worked with Jimmy Buffett, Ricky Skaggs, Restless Heart and Sawyer Brown, among others. As a session guitarist, pianist and backing vocalist, he has worked with Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Amy Grant, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Jimmy Buffett. McAnally has been a touring member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band since 1998.
Hits from McAnally’s extensive catalog include “It’s My Job” and “Coast of Carolina” (both recorded by Jimmy Buffett), “All These Years,” “Thank God For You” and “This Time” (all recorded by Sawyer Brown), “Two Dozen Roses” (recorded by Shenandoah), “Old Flame” (recorded by Alabama) and “Down The Road” (recorded by Kenny Chesney as a duet with McAnally).
peermusic Expands Nashville Team
/by Jessica NicholsonKendall Lettow, Matt Michiels
peermusic Nashville is expanding its Creative team and has tapped publishing executives Matt Michiels and Kendall Lettow as Senior Creative Director and Creative Manager, respectively, as announced today by Michael Knox, Vice President, peermusic Nashville.
“Our company has a rich history, over 90 years strong, of championing songwriters,” said Knox. “Our songwriters know that we are in it for the long haul and that we have a best-in-class creative team to help find talent, develop careers, and ensure a platform for their songs to be noticed. Appointing talented and proven creative executives is an important part of ensuring this standard, and I am very happy to welcome Matt and Kendall to our team.”
Michiels began his career working part-time for Gallimore Productions & Song Garden Publishing founded by producer Byron Gallimore. There he assisted in production coordination on albums by Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina. This led to an opportunity to join Warner/Chappell Nashville in 2004 as Production Manager where he handled all aspects of the catalog for the pub company’s writers and A&R staff. Over the next 13 and half years his role expanded greatly to include song pitching, graphic design for marketing, pitching for film and television, and consulting for the development of Warner/Chappell’s global creative technology solutions. Matt has secured cuts with Ashley Monroe, Dustin Lynch, Michael Ray, Jason Aldean, Ryan Hurd, and Lindsay Ell among others. He is a native of Meridian, Mississippi and holds a B.A. in Music from The University of Alabama.
Lettow holds a degree from the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University and has worked in the Nashville music publishing community for eight years working in the Creative departments of Kobalt Music, Still Working Music, and THiS Music where she managed writers and pitched songs, landing song placements with major label country artists. Most recently, Lettow held a creative position at the publishing company MV2 Entertainment.
peermusic Nashville’s office is led by Michael Knox – a music industry veteran who knows a thing or two about making a hit. Knox has 20 #1 songs under his belt as a producer, over 40 million singles and 18 million albums sold during his career. In addition to discovering Jason Aldean, being a top publisher and having an artist management business, Knox’s production credits include Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Frankie Ballard, Josh Thompson, Tyler Rich, Michael Tyler, as well as the late, legendary Buddy Knox, who is also his father. Knox has also served on the ACM Board of Directors (current), CMA Board of directors and GRAMMY Special Committees.
Country music pioneer, Jimmie Rodgers, was one of the first writers signed to peermusic back in 1927 by the company founder Ralph S. Peer and would later become one of the first performers inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Over 90 years later, the company still publishes the Rodgers catalog, and has even has signed a descendant of Jimmie Rodgers, Michael Tyler, to a publishing deal. In the summer of 1927, Peer also recorded The Carter Family and other acts in a series of sessions known as The Bristol Sessions, which Johnny Cash once called “the single most important event in the history of country music.” Peer also played a role in founding BMI, an early champion of country music. Today, Knox ensures that the company’s rich history of championing songwriters with its Nashville office remains as strong as ever.
Luke Combs and Ashley McBryde At The Ryman: When Stars Are Born
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Combs. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Though Luke Combs served as headliner during the first of two sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Friday (Feb. 2), it was clear that there were two newly-minted stars on the stage that evening.
Equal parts soulful, powerful vocalist and astute songwriter, opening act and Warner Music Nashville artist Ashley McBryde held court at country music’s mother church. McBryde seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with the audience, her relaxed performance style peppered with witty remarks.
“People often ask me if Dahlonega is a real place,” she said before introducing “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega.” “If I was going to make up a place, it would be a lot easier to spell.”
Before introducing her breakthrough track “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” McBryde recalled a middle school teacher who advised that McBryde should come up with a good backup plan after she declared her dreams of being a songwriter and singer.
“All these years I thought she said, ‘Get a good backup band,'” McBryde quipped, gesturing to the ace band onstage with her. McBryde caused a stir when she performed the song onstage at the Grand Ole Opry House in June 2017.
Much of the time she stayed close to center stage for songs such as the tender “The Jacket” and saucy “Tired Of Being Happy,” stomping her boots against the hallowed wooden Ryman stage.
Following roaring version of her current single “American Scandal,” the Ryman Auditorium crowd erupted in a standing ovation for the promising newcomer.
Ashley McBryde. Photo: John Peets
Before headliner Luke Combs even set foot on the stage for the first of two sold-out shows at the Ryman, the audience could already hear his burly voice. Once he stepped into the spotlight, the evening was all about songs and swagger as Combs, red Solo cup in hand, effortlessly directed an evening of crowd favorite songs. The audience was instantly on its feet, and spent the remainder of the evening ardently singing the words to every song Combs’ burly voice put forth, album cut and singles alike.
Combs barreled through a set that included the majority of tracks on his debut Columbia Nashville/River House Artists album, his rough-hewn voice packing plenty of power, with extra shred on his upper range. Combs just might have the most commanding voice of any current male, mainstream country hitmaker not named Chris Stapleton.
He offered older cuts he wrote in college (“She Got The Best of Me”) and songs penned just a few weeks earlier (“Houston We Have A Problem”).
Notably, Combs’ only pop cover of the evening was a rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” which Combs handled ably, though it was clear the audience preferred his own swaggering original material. Fans can expect more new tracks soon, as Combs revealed he recently recorded 20 new songs in the span of seven days.
Combs took a few moments on the stage alone, with only his guitar, to offer a solo, acoustic rendition of his album’s title track, “This One’s For You.” He remarked the acoustic segment took him back to his days playing clubs in North Carolina. The fans hung onto every word, lighting up their cell phones in the balcony and the floor seats.
“How many of you ever broke up with someone and your life got better?” he quipped, offering his second No. 1 hit “When It Rains (It Pours).”
Combs wrapped the show with his current single “One Number Away,” and his smash debut single “Hurricane.”
“I dropped out of college with 21 credits left,” Combs shared with the audience during the set. “They told me to get a real job, and two nights sold-out at the Ryman is a pretty good job.”
Combs will take the stage in Nashville again on Wednesday evening, as one of the New Faces of Country during this year’s Country Radio Seminar.