Country music, I mean real country music, returns with a vengeance this week.
With top-shelf performances by Alan Jackson, Jon Pardi and Chris Janson in the listening stack, I was in heaven. The female records hold up the pop-flavored part of the equation this week, with superlative offerings from Cam, Taylor Swift and Carly Pearce.
Since this column is wall-to-wall established acts, there is no DisCovery Award contender in sight. So instead, I am spreading the Disc of the Day love.
Chris Janson and Alan Jackson touched me deeply, so they are sharing the male prize.
Cam rocked and Taylor Swift provided ballad excellence. So they are both collecting the female trophy.
THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Shane McAnally; Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure/Thomas Rhett; EMI Blackwood/Cricket on the Line/Sony/ATV/Rio Bravo/Telemitry; Valory (track)
– This piano-embellished heartbreak ballad is a nice change of pace. The plot is, she wants to get married, but not to him. Boo hoo.
CRAIG WAYNE BOYD/Stuck In My Head
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Copperline
– This 2014 winner on The Voice rocks out on this catchy ditty. He sings with gusto. The title is repeated a little too often for my taste. I guess he wants it to get “Stuck in My Head.”
TAYLOR SWIFT/New Year’s Day
Writers: Taylor Swift; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– I got so used to her pop bopping that I forgot what a tender balladeer she can be. This tender, piano-based heart breaker is a vivid reminder. Wistful and winning. Very, very cool.
CARLY PEARCE/Hide the Wine
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: busbee; Publishers: WB/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/Universal/We Are Creative Nation/Jake & Mack/Songs of Universal/BMG Gold/Rezonant, ASCAP; Big Machine (track)
– He’s back in town, and that spells trouble. He’s no good, but she can’t resist him. So while the track thumps splendidly around her, she wails about getting rid of the vino, the music and the comforts that make her easy pickings. Rhythm happy.
CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Each vocal performance seems more expressive than the one before. He drew me into this with extraordinary intimacy. It’s also a wonderfully inventive lyric about behaving like a gentleman. A superb record.
MARGIE SINGLETON/Jesus Is My Pusher
Writer: Margie Singleton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Ashmar, BMI; Ashley
– At age 82, this veteran is writing and singing with verve. This is one of her new gospel songs, but she’s also still creating solid honky tonkers. Margie is best known for her duet work with George Jones (”Waltz of the Angels”), Faron Young {”Keeping Up With the Joneses”) and Leon Ashley (”Hangin’ On”) in the 1960s, but she has always crafted equally distinctive solo sides (”Old Records,” “The Eyes of Love”).
ALAN JACKSON/The Older I Get
Writers: Alan Jackson; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; EMI (download)
– Philosophical and heartfelt. He is still the BEST, and I will be forever a fan. A lump-in-throat song and performance. Play and believe.
CAM/Diane
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista/RCA
– Man, this thing roars out of the chute like a runaway bronco. The stacked harmonies are as gripping as the pile-driving rhythm track. In the lyric, she’s a home wrecker who is trying to explain herself to Diane, the woman she has wronged. I was charmed by this track from the moment I heard her sing it during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
JON PARDI/She Ain’t In It
Writers: Clint Daniels/Wynn Varble; Producers: Bart Butler/Jon Pardi; Publishers: Writers of Sea Gayle/ClearBox Rights/Spirit of Catalog Holdings/Spirit of Nashville One/BMG Platinum/Mater Pie, BMI; Capitol (track)
-This guy gives me hope for the future of the genre. Unlike so many of his peers, he is unashamedly, unapologetically country, country, country. This swaying, heartbreak lament pushes all my buttons. The rolling tempo, the sighing steel, the gentle-twang guitars, the twin fiddles and his drawling baritone vocal are all exquisite.
KANE BROWN/Heaven
Writers: Shy Carter/Matthew McGinn/Lindsay Rimes; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; BMI/SESAC; RCA (track)
– Sensuous, dreamy and romantic. How could Heaven be any better than lying in her arms? There you have it.
Crosshair Delivers Second Monthly List Identifying Their Top Influencer Playlists
/by Eric T. ParkerNashville-based Crosshair Music has issued it’s second edition top 20 influencers from its Crosshair Elite, a program benefiting artists and influencer interaction from its back-end analytic system.
The influencers help artists from all genres—including country—gain the attention from global Spotify-sponsored playlists. The distribution list is a reward perk, thanking the influencers for their involvement in providing feedback to undiscovered music. Crosshair notes its influencers list are first movers and partners to independent music, regularly getting an artist’s song over 1,000 plays as well as get them on the radar of the editors at Spotify.
One country music influencer has been added to the top 20 list, making three influencer playlists in the genre.
Crosshair’s December 2017 Country Music Elite Influencers
New: Eric Lacey’s Spotify Playlist: Country Beer Drinking Songs (2,000+ followers)
Adam Denney’s Spotify Playlist: 2017 Country Music (3,000+ followers)
Ashley Bowsher’s Spotify Playlist: Pop & Country (2,000+ followers)
ELIAS Opens Nashville Studio
/by Lorie HollabaughCreative agency ELIAS has opened a Nashville office led by Executive Creative Director Vincenzo LoRusso. The newly-launched location serves as a central hub between all ELIAS’ studios, allowing LoRusso greater flexibility to collaborate with his entire national team and growing roster of diverse musical talent in the Nashville area.
Relocating from ELIAS’ headquarters in Santa Monica, LoRusso will continue to oversee the music company’s entire slate of work out of its Santa Monica, New York and recently opened Chicago and Nashville offices. He re-joined ELIAS in 2010 and has been instrumental in growing its creative team to include talent with diverse backgrounds in composing, producing, engineering and sound design.
LoRusso boasts over two decades of experience as a Grammy nominated producer and mixer working with artists such as Debbi Harry, Perry Farrell, Alex Ebert, Johnny Cash, Joan Osborne, members of Cypress Hill and Guns & Roses, and others. As the former creative director and lead composer, he helped launch Massive Music’s West Coast office and led the production team that developed and launched the successful Elias Music Library. For over 30 years ELIAS has remained one of the world’s most esteemed custom music, audio branding and library production studios.
Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley To Lead Country LakeShake
/by Lorie HollabaughDierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton are set to lead the 2018 Country LakeShake festival in Chicago, slated for June 22-24.
Also on the bill are Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Russell Dickerson, Jillian Jacqueline, Tracy Lawrence, Chris Lane, Jackie Lee, LOCASH, RaeLynn, Runaway June, Dylan Scott and Cole Swindell.
The three-day festival, which takes place at Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island, also features a second “Next From Nashville” stage highlighting up and coming artists whose lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
Three-day and single-day passes for the Windy City festival will go on sale Friday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. CT at lakeshakefestival.com.
Mark Your Calendar—December 2017
/by Eric T. ParkerAlbum Releases
Chris Stapleton/From A Room: Volume 2/Mercury Records Nashville
Danielle Bradbery/I Don’t Believe We’ve Met/BMLG Records
December 8
Luke Bryan/What Makes You Country/Capitol Records Nashville
Walker Hayes/boom/Monument Records
Single Releases
Cam/Diane/Arista
Carly Pearce/Hide The Wine/Big Machine
CJ Solar/Airplane/Sea Gayle Records
Remington w/ Amy Jack/Dallas Until I Die/Amy Jack Music
Terry McBride/Boots Off/MV2 Production
Michael Tyler/Hey Mama/ Reviver Records
Brown & Gray/Top Down/NHMM
December 11
Chris Janson/Drunk Girl/Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville/WAR Radio & Streaming
Lindsay Ell/Criminal/Stoney Creek
Jerrod Niemann/I Got This/Curb
Industry Events
Final voting for the 2017 CMA Touring Awards closes
December 21
Grammy final ballot due
December 31
New Year’s Eve In Nashville: Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Carly Pearce
Weekly Chart Report 12/1/17
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Taylor Swift’s ‘reputation’ Released To Streaming Platforms
/by Lorie HollabaughThe project, her sixth studio album, racked up big numbers in early sales upon its Nov. 10 release, pulling in 1.238 million units in its first week alone in U.S. sales. The title debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen Soundscan’s all-genre albums chart, and echoes Swift’s first-week sales numbers for 2014’s 1989, which did 1.287 million in sales during its first week. Her album Red sold 1.208 million in its first week, while Speak Now pulled in 1.047 million.
CMA Honors Vince Gill, Megan Barry, Butch Spyridon, Kitty Moon Emery
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Butch Spyridon, CEO, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. (CMA Chairman’s Award); CMA Foundation Board Chairman Joe Galante; CMA Board President Bill Simmons; CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams, SVP of Programming and Artist Relations for Opry Entertainment; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (Chairman’s Award); Vince Gill (CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award); Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO; Pat Emery (accepting the CMA Joe Talbot Award on behalf of late wife Kitty Moon Emery); and Damon Whiteside, CMA CMO. [CLICK TO ENLARGE]
Eighteen-time CMA Awards-winning artist and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill was honored with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp President/Chief Executive Officer Butch Spyridon received the CMA Chairman’s Award, and beloved Nashville business leader and former CMA Board Chairman and President Kitty Moon Emery was posthumously honored with the Joe Talbot Award.
“Vince Gill defines the word humanitarian, and we’re thrilled to present him with the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, which has only been awarded twice before,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “Mayor Barry and Butch Spyridon have been invaluable partners in Nashville through their support of CMA Fest and country music in general. And Kitty Moon Emery was a true trailblazer whose contributions to country music and the City of Nashville will be remembered and appreciated for many years to come.”
Pictured (L-R): Spyridon, Mayor Barry, CMA Chairman Sally Williams, and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA
“Both Megan and Butch have been dream collaborators, effortlessly working with Sarah and everyone at CMA to create an environment where we all win,” said CMA Board Chairman Sally Williams as she presented the CMA Chairman’s Award to the city leaders. “Their commitment to Country Music and specifically to CMA Fest is unwavering. In 2017, we drew record-breaking crowds for Fest. We’re all grateful for their continued partnership and support of country music.”
In a heartfelt speech, Emery’s devoted husband Pat Emery accepted the award in her honor and shared, “Kitty would tell me to tell you she loved you. She loved the CMA more than anything I think she ever did in her life.”
In addition, Trahern presented mementos to Williams, CMA Board President Bill Simmons, and CMA Foundation Chairman Joe Galante.
Vince Gill accepts the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA
DISClaimer: Country Music Making A Comeback?
/by Robert K OermannWith top-shelf performances by Alan Jackson, Jon Pardi and Chris Janson in the listening stack, I was in heaven. The female records hold up the pop-flavored part of the equation this week, with superlative offerings from Cam, Taylor Swift and Carly Pearce.
Since this column is wall-to-wall established acts, there is no DisCovery Award contender in sight. So instead, I am spreading the Disc of the Day love.
Chris Janson and Alan Jackson touched me deeply, so they are sharing the male prize.
Cam rocked and Taylor Swift provided ballad excellence. So they are both collecting the female trophy.
THOMAS RHETT/Marry Me
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Shane McAnally; Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure/Thomas Rhett; EMI Blackwood/Cricket on the Line/Sony/ATV/Rio Bravo/Telemitry; Valory (track)
– This piano-embellished heartbreak ballad is a nice change of pace. The plot is, she wants to get married, but not to him. Boo hoo.
CRAIG WAYNE BOYD/Stuck In My Head
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Copperline
– This 2014 winner on The Voice rocks out on this catchy ditty. He sings with gusto. The title is repeated a little too often for my taste. I guess he wants it to get “Stuck in My Head.”
TAYLOR SWIFT/New Year’s Day
Writers: Taylor Swift; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– I got so used to her pop bopping that I forgot what a tender balladeer she can be. This tender, piano-based heart breaker is a vivid reminder. Wistful and winning. Very, very cool.
CARLY PEARCE/Hide the Wine
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: busbee; Publishers: WB/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/Universal/We Are Creative Nation/Jake & Mack/Songs of Universal/BMG Gold/Rezonant, ASCAP; Big Machine (track)
– He’s back in town, and that spells trouble. He’s no good, but she can’t resist him. So while the track thumps splendidly around her, she wails about getting rid of the vino, the music and the comforts that make her easy pickings. Rhythm happy.
CHRIS JANSON/Drunk Girl
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Each vocal performance seems more expressive than the one before. He drew me into this with extraordinary intimacy. It’s also a wonderfully inventive lyric about behaving like a gentleman. A superb record.
MARGIE SINGLETON/Jesus Is My Pusher
Writer: Margie Singleton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Ashmar, BMI; Ashley
– At age 82, this veteran is writing and singing with verve. This is one of her new gospel songs, but she’s also still creating solid honky tonkers. Margie is best known for her duet work with George Jones (”Waltz of the Angels”), Faron Young {”Keeping Up With the Joneses”) and Leon Ashley (”Hangin’ On”) in the 1960s, but she has always crafted equally distinctive solo sides (”Old Records,” “The Eyes of Love”).
ALAN JACKSON/The Older I Get
Writers: Alan Jackson; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; EMI (download)
– Philosophical and heartfelt. He is still the BEST, and I will be forever a fan. A lump-in-throat song and performance. Play and believe.
CAM/Diane
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista/RCA
– Man, this thing roars out of the chute like a runaway bronco. The stacked harmonies are as gripping as the pile-driving rhythm track. In the lyric, she’s a home wrecker who is trying to explain herself to Diane, the woman she has wronged. I was charmed by this track from the moment I heard her sing it during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
JON PARDI/She Ain’t In It
Writers: Clint Daniels/Wynn Varble; Producers: Bart Butler/Jon Pardi; Publishers: Writers of Sea Gayle/ClearBox Rights/Spirit of Catalog Holdings/Spirit of Nashville One/BMG Platinum/Mater Pie, BMI; Capitol (track)
-This guy gives me hope for the future of the genre. Unlike so many of his peers, he is unashamedly, unapologetically country, country, country. This swaying, heartbreak lament pushes all my buttons. The rolling tempo, the sighing steel, the gentle-twang guitars, the twin fiddles and his drawling baritone vocal are all exquisite.
KANE BROWN/Heaven
Writers: Shy Carter/Matthew McGinn/Lindsay Rimes; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; BMI/SESAC; RCA (track)
– Sensuous, dreamy and romantic. How could Heaven be any better than lying in her arms? There you have it.
Academy Of Country Music Changes Radio Awards Criteria
/by Lorie HollabaughAdditional changes to On-Air Personality of the Year, National On-Air Personality of the Year and Radio Station of the Year categories include a shorter aircheck, and a streamlined essay portion with a maximum length of five hundred words – replacing the individual written summaries of industry or community work, etc. For additional details, visit acmcountry.com/
Open submissions for the 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will begin Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 at ACMcountry.com and will end at 7 p.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018. The radio eligibility period is between Nov. 24, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2017.
The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards will air live next spring from Las Vegas on a date to be announced, on CBS.
The Seldom Scene Signs With Rounder Records
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Sally Love Connell
The Seldom Scene, one of the most enduring and acclaimed bands in bluegrass since its formation in the early 1970s, has signed with Rounder Records.
Over the years the group’s lineup, which consists of guitarist Dudley Connell, Lou Reid on mandolin and guitar, Fred Travers on Dobro, Ronnie Simpkins on bass, and the band’s newest member, multi-instrumentalist Ron Stewart on banjo and fiddle, has boasted some of bluegrass’ finest musicians.
“I’ve always been impressed by the Seldom Scene’s ability to find great songs from different genres and make them their own and ultimately a part of the bluegrass repertoire,” said Rounder co-founder Ken Irwin. “Although we haven’t worked with the Scene, we have worked with most members of the current band in different configurations and are very excited about working with them on this new recording.”
“We’re very excited about this new recording we’re about to do for Rounder Records,” said Reid. “Ken Irwin has brought some fresh and great ideas for the material we’ll be recording in the near future. I can’t wait to get in the studio with Dudley, Fred and Ronnie, who I have spent twenty years traveling and recording with, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome our old friend Ron Stewart to the band.”
The band will release a new album in 2018.