Halfway To Hazard Joins Nine Dates On Montgomery Gentry Tour

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Country duo Halfway to Hazard will join Eddie Montgomery on the road for several dates on the Montgomery Gentry “Here’s To You” tour. Members David Tolliver and Chad Warrix were longtime friends of fellow Kentuckian Troy Gentry, who passed away following a helicopter crash last September. Halfway to Hazard will open nine shows for Montgomery, beginning Friday (Feb. 9) in Columbia, Missouri.

“It’s really hard to capture all the emotions I’m feeling with the anticipation of opening for MG this year,” says Warrix. “Troy will be so heavy on all our hearts. Eddie and the guys can use our shoulders to lean on if they need em. Lord knows we will need theirs.”

“Troy was one of our best friends, and we miss him everyday,” adds Tolliver. If we can honor him and help keep his music alive we are gonna do it. I’m so happy to be going out with Eddie and playing shows. It just feels like something we are supposed do, and I can’t wait.”

Montgomery Gentry “Here’s To You” Tour Dates Featuring Halfway to Hazard:
Feb 9 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
Feb 10 – Springfield, IL – Boondocks
Feb 23 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon
Mar 23 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
Mar 24 – Augusta, GA – Country Club Dance Hall and Saloon
May 18 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center
May 19 – Fredericksburg, VA – Celebrate Virginia After Hours
July 27 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
July 28 – Bar Harbor, ME – Criterion Theatre

Brian Wright Adds Executive VP/A&R Stripes At Universal Music Group Nashville

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Universal Music Group Nashville has promoted Brian Wright to Executive Vice President of A&R for the label group which is comprised of Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, Mercury Nashville and MCA Nashville.

Wright joined Universal Music Group Nashville over 17 years ago and previously served as Senior Vice President of A&R.  He will continue to oversee A&R initiatives for UMG Nashville’s artist roster. Wright was instrumental in such critically-acclaimed albums as Jamey Johnson’s Lonesome Song, Lee Ann Womack’s There’s More Where That Came From and George Strait’s Troubadour, Jon Pardi’s California Sunrise and Chris Stapleton’s Traveller as well as From A Room Vol. 1 and From A Room Vol. 2.

“We are nothing if we are not a company based on solid A&R principles,” says Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO Universal Music Group Nashville. “From the minute I arrived at UMG it was apparent that Brian was a top-notch A&R executive and we are proud to recognize his leadership with this promotion to EVP.”

“I am blessed to work alongside the best team in the music business,” said Wright. The ability to develop talent and make records that last forever has always been a passion that drives me.  Mike, thank you for being an extraordinary mentor.  You have built a legacy on great artists, songs and most importantly people. I am humbled to be part of the best label anywhere!”

 

Amy Grant, Vince Gill To Ring In The Holidays With Twelve Christmas Shows At Ryman

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Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Photo: Ryman Auditorium

Amy Grant and Vince Gill are continuing their Christmas tradition this December, bringing back their Christmas at the Ryman show for 12 shows in 2018 following their 10-show sellout last year.

“I’ve always loved Christmas music, and I’ve toured the country singing it for years,” Grant says. “But, there’s nothing sweeter than coming home to the Ryman Auditorium each holiday season to join Vince on this legendary stage, making even more music and memories with old friends and new.”

The shows will kick off Nov. 28 and wrap Dec. 23, and tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 9 at 10 am CT. Tickets range from $35.00 to $135.00 and will be available via ryman.com, ticketmaster.com, the Ryman box office or by calling 800-745-3000.

Jamey Johnson Launches Cross-Country 2018 Tour

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Jamey Johnson will kick off a 30-date tour for 2018 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Feb. 11. Several dates on the tour have already sold out, with more dates being added.

Johnson doesn’t create a set list for his shows, so no two shows are the same.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do until I am standing there doing it,” he says.  “That is a freedom I have enjoyed ever since I began doing this, the ability to try something new.”

In 2014, Johnson created his own label, Big Gassed Records, to release his own songs and albums as well as the music of other artists. He released the Grammy-nominated Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran in 2012.

Feb. 11 Seminole Hard Rock Casino, Hollywood, FL
Feb. 22 Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
Feb. 23 The Ranch, Ft. Myers, FL
Feb. 24 Abacoa Town Center, Jupiter, FL
Feb. 25 Cocoa Riverfront Park, Cocoa, FL
March 10 Oil Palace, Tyler, TX
March 22 Dusty Armadillo, Rootstown, OH
March 23 Boondocks, Springfield, IL
March 24 8 Seconds Saloon, Indianapolis, IN
April 12 Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont, TX
April 13 Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, TX
April 14 Galveston Co. Fairgrounds, Hitchcock, TX
April 18 Macon City Auditorium, Macon, GA
April 19 Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
April 20 Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
April 21 Crawfish Music Festival, Biloxi, MS
April 26 The Tarheel, Jacksonville, NC
April 27 MerleFest, Wilkesboro, NC
April 28 Fredericks Outdoor, Decatur, AL
May 5 ` Farm Bach 2018, Gaston, SC
May 19 JD Legends, Franklin, OH
June 23 Renfro Valley, Mt. Vernon, KY
June 29 The Shed, Maryville, TN
July 7 A.B.A.T.E. of IA Freedom Rally, Algona, IA
July 20 McGrath Amphitheatre, Cedar Rapids, IA
July 21 Rollie’s Sauk, Rapids, MN
July 22 Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN
July 27 Sumtur Amphitheatre, Papillion, NE
July 28 Dam Music Festival, El Dorado, KS
July 29 Hoyt Herman Place, Des Moines, IA

ACM Announces Radio Awards Nominees

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The Academy of Country Music® is announcing today Radio Awards nominees for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, including double nominations for KAJA-FM in San Antonio, Texas, KHAY-FM in Ventura, California, KUBL-FM in Salt Lake City, Utah, KUZZ-AM/FM in Bakersfield, California, WFMS-FM in Indianapolis, Indiana, and WIL-FM in St. Louis, Missouri.

Though not presented during the live telecast, the Radio Awards are given out during the annual Radio Winners Reception held on Saturday, April 14 in Las Vegas, the day prior to the ACM Awards live telecast from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. The full list of 53rd ACM Awards nominations will be announced in early March.

53rd ACM Radio Awards nominees are:

NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Cody Alan CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox, Eddie The Bobby Bones Show
Terri Clark Country Gold with Terri Clark
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase Crook and Chase Countdown
Ty Bentli, Kelly Ford and Chuck Wicks Ty, Kelly & Chuck

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Bud and Broadway WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
Cadillac Jack WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
Chris Carr, Kia, Maverick and McKaila KEEY-FM St. Louis Park, MN
Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, Geof Knight WKKT-FM Charlotte, NC
Roxanne Steele WYCD-FM Detroit, MI

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Dale Carter KFKF-FM Kansas City, MO
Double-L KWNR-FM Las Vegas, NV
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
Johnson and Johnson KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
The Randy, Jamie and JoJo Show KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club with Roger Todd,
Julie Kay and DJ Thee Trucker WPCV-FM Lakeland, FL
Carina With A Twist Of Lime WCYQ-FM Knoxville, TN
Buzz Jackson KIIM-FM Tucson, AZ
Steve & Geoff KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
The Odd Squad CKRY-FM Calgary, AB

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews WCOW-FM Sparta, WI
Bobby and Steve (and Mandi!) WKYQ-FM Paducah, KY
Dave Daniels KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
Pat James KHUT-FM Hutchinson, KS
The Q Crew with Jason and Ashley on Q100.3 KRWQ-FM Medford, OR

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KILT-FM Houston, TX
KMLE-FM Phoenix, AZ
KSCS-FM Dallas. TX
WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
WPOC-FM Baltimore, MD

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET (tie within category increased nominees)
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
WKDF-FM Nashville, TN
WSIX-FM Nashville, TN
WSM-FM Nashville, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
KXKT-FM Omaha, NE
WGKX-FM Memphis, TN
WQMX-FM Akron, OH
WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
KTHK-FM Idaho Falls, ID
KTTS-FM Springfield, MO
KYKZ-FM Lake Charles, LA

CRS Keynote: Cumulus Media CEO Mary Berner Speaks

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President and CEO of Cumulus Media Inc Mary Berner speaks onstage during day 2 of CRS 2018 on February 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CRS)

Cumulus Media president and CEO Mary Berner served as a keynote speaker for this year’s Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Berner shared her long-term vision for Cumulus Media, as well as her take on the state of the radio industry. Berner has served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media Inc., the country’s second largest radio company, since October 2015. 

Berner commented on the fact that the CRS keynote address marks her first time attending CRS. “That makes me sound like some Howard Hughes recluse, but in reality I wanted to spend 100 percent of the time fixing the company.”

Part of that time has been spent focusing on placing programming decisions back in the hands of local radio program directors. “That’s the only way to attract the best and brightest,” Berner stated. “If you’re the best, you don’t want people telling you what to do all day.”

She also commented on Cumulus’ current bankruptcy proceedings. In November, it was announced that Cumulus had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with $2.4 billion in debt. “It has no effect on our day-to-day operations,” Berner said, adding that she expects the company to come out of bankruptcy in late March or early April.

She also took the time to hearten the radio executives in the room, saying, “Radio has the ROI and the audience… We undersell ourselves in many aspects, especially pricing. This industry has the goods.”

Travis Denning Joins Justin Moore’s Hell On A Highway Tour

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Travis Denning is set to join Justin Moore on six dates along his Hell On a Highway Tour later this month.

A native of Warner Robins, Georgia, the Mercury Nashville artist moved to Nashville in 2014 and has written songs for Moore, Jason Aldean and Chase Rice, among others. Denning is currently in the studio working on his debut album.

Denning’s Hell On A Highway Tour dates include:

Feb 15 / BMO Harris Bank Center / Rockford, IL
Feb 16 / Allen Country Memorial Coliseum / Fort Wayne, IN
Mar 15 / Hartman Arena / Park City, KS
Mar 16 / Brady Theater / Tulsa, OK
Apr 27 / Covelli Centre / Youngstown, OH
Apr 28 / Knoxville Civic Coliseum / Knoxville, TN

In Pictures: Warner Music Nashville Hosts ‘Warner Music Monday’

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Pictured (L-R): Devin Dawson, Hunter Hayes, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), and Dan Smyers. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Warner Music Nashville hosted their annual Country Radio Seminar celebration, aptly titled “Warner Music Monday,” Monday night (Feb. 5) at the Bridge Building in Nashville.

Artists including Cole Swindell, Dan + Shay, Devin Dawson, Hunter Hayes, Michael Ray, Morgan Evans, RaeLynn, Tegan Marie and William Michael Morgan mingled with WMN executives and industry guests to kick off the three-day radio conference.

Pictured (L-R): Rod Phillips (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia), Morgan Evans, and Adrian Michaels (National Director Radio & Streaming, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Mac Daniels (KPLX and KSCS/Dallas PD), William Michael Morgan, and John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Missy Iredell (Sr. Director Artist Development, WMN), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Tegan Marie, and Veronica Zelle (Co-founder/CCO, Sweety High). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Tom Starr (Manager, Regional Radio & Streaming), Gator Harrison (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia Nashville), Tennille Harrison, Kelly Janson, Chris Janson, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), and Rod Phillips (SVP Programming, iHeartMedia). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): RaeLynn and John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), Michael Ray, and Devin Dawson. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): Alex Guerra (Promotions and Marketing Director, KNTY and KHHM), Cole Swindell, Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), Hunter Hayes, and Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming, WMN). Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge

Warner Music Nashville hosts their annual “Warner Music Monday” celebration at the Bridge Building in Nashville on February 5, 2018. Photo: Alan Poizner/Peyton Hoge [Click to enlarge]

BBR Music Group Adds Everette To Roster

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Pictured (L-R): A celebratory moment with VP/A&R Sara Knabe, BBR Music Group; Colton McGee, Director, Business & Legal Affairs, BBRMG; Brent Rupard, Everette; Anthony Olympia, Everette; Carson James, Sr. VP/Promotion, BBRMG; Jon Loba, EVP, BBRMG. Photo: Sara Kauss

The BBR Music Group/BMG annual CRS party was extra special for newcomer duo Everette. The duo, managed by Homestead/Red Light Management’s Brad Belanger, was added to BBR Music Group’s artist roster on Monday (Feb. 5).

Everette’s Brent Rupard and Anthony Olympia signed with imprint Broken Bow Records, joining superstar talent Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch and Chase Rice.

“The first time I saw Everette perform I knew I had to work with them,” says Sara Knabe, VP/A&R, BBR Music Group. “Their music made me smile, it made me want to share it with my friends and family, and it made me want to drink beer. Brent and Anthony have created a soundtrack for every day and everyone, and I am excited BBR Music Group gets to share it with the world!”

The duo will soon begin to introduce its brand of country music filled with swampy harmonicas and bluesy guitar licks (co-produced by the band and mostly self-written) to country radio and fans from coast to coast.

Everette signs its record deal alongside BBRMG staff, Homestead/Red Light Management, Country radio, Industry partners, friends and family. [Click to enlarge] Photo: Sara Kauss

Sony Music Nashville Signs Rachel Wammack

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Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino, Dennis Reese, Steve Hodges, Margaret Tomlin, Randy Goodman, Rachel Wammack, Maverick Management’s Clarence Spalding, and Sony Music Nashville’s Ken Robold, Taylor Lindsey and John Zarling.

At Tuesday evening’s (Feb. 6) Sony Music Nashville CRS Guitar Pull at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the star-studded evening launched with the signing of RCA Nashville’s newest artist Rachel Wammack to a long-term recording deal with Sony Music Nashville.

Wammack, a native of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, wrote her first song at age 12. By age 17, she was discovered by a Sony Music Nashville, and now at age 23, she has signed a record deal with the major label.

Performers at the Guitar Pull included Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Maren Morris, Cam, Luke Combs, Kane Brown, LANCO, Walker Hayes and Mitchell Tenpenny.