Credit: PLA Media
A celebration was held Tuesday night (Nov. 7) to mark the completion of the renovation of historic RCA Studio A. Mayor Megan Barry, proprietors of the studio, BR549’s Chuck Mead and the Music Row community gathered for the official lighting ceremony of the replica signage featuring the iconic RCA dog “Nipper” and his Victrola phonograph. This completes a nearly three-year interior and exterior restoration that has returned the studio building to its 1960s-era glory.
“This is about more than returning an iconic image to Music Row,” Mayor Barry said at the celebration on the front lawn. “It’s really the culmination of the preservation and restoration of a cultural and historic landmark. Nashville is proud to be home to one of the world’s most important recording studios.”
Pictured (L-R): Mayor Barry, Will Pinkston and owners Aubrey Preston and Chuck Elcan
The dog and phonograph adorned the façade of Studio A until RCA retired the logos in 1968. Studio A obtained permission from Technicolor, which now owns the historic RCA marks, to recreate the image on the front of the building. Former Ryman Auditorium curator Brenda Colladay worked with Nashville sign maker Joslin & Son Signs to examine photos from the ‘60s and create replica signage of the dog and phonograph alongside RCA’s old lightning-bolt logo.
Three years ago, musicians and preservationists rallied around Studio A after developers announced plans to demolish the building and replace it with condos and a restaurant. Philanthropists Mike Curb, Chuck Elcan and Aubrey Preston stepped forward, purchasing the historic landmark to save it from the wrecking ball. Shortly before the 50th anniversary of Studio A in 2015, the federal government added the site to the National Register of Historic Places.
Opened in 1965, Studio A’s client list — past and present — is a Who’s Who of music stars. Past clients include country legends Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, and George Strait as well as newer artists like Hunter Hayes, Jamey Johnson, and Kacey Musgraves. Pop and rock artists who have worked at the Studio A complex include Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees, and newer artists like Sara Bareilles and Kesha.
Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton) is the Studio A producer-in-residence leading the studio into the future.
Aubrey Preston address Studio A supporters. Credit: Anthony Scarlati
Did you know? RCA’s iconic Nipper and Victrola were based on “His Master’s Voice,” a painting by 19th-Century English artist Francis Barraud depicting a terrier listening quizzically to a phonograph. The painting served as the basis for a trademark image acquired in 1899 by Gramophone and adopted by several producers of playback machines and record labels — including the Victor Talking Machine Company, which later became part of Radio Corporation of America, or RCA.
Credit: Sony Music Archives
Taylor Swift Announces Reputation U.S. Stadium Tour Dates
/by Jessica NicholsonAdditional shows will be announced in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Tickets for the North American leg will go on-sale to the general public on Dec. 13. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance of the public on-sale in North America via Taylor Swift Tix powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan. Registration is currently open and continues until Nov. 28.
The announcement follows the release of Swift’s highly-anticipated sixth studio album, reputation, which released Friday, Nov. 10. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album sold more than 700,000 on its first day of release.
Swift also performed two songs on Saturday Night Live over the weekend, including “Call It What You Want” and “…Ready For It?”
In Pictures: ole Celebrates CMAs
/by Jessica Nicholsonole celebrated this year’s CMA Awards with two parties, including a CMA Awards viewing party on Wednesday evening (Nov. 8) and the company’s sixth annual post-CMA Awards fiesta on Thursday, Nov. 9 at its Nashville office.
Earlier this week, ole took home honors from both the ASCAP Country Music Awards and the BMI Country Awards. At the ASCAP Country Music Awards, ole earned three honors, for “How I’ll Always Be” and “I Know Somebody” both co-written by Jeremy Stover, and “How Not To,” co-written by Adam Hambrick.
At the BMI Country Awards, ole legacy writer Jesse Lee was honored for “Peter Pan.” “A Little More Summertime,” co-written by Tony Martin and “How I’ll Always Be,” co-written by Jeremy Stover, were also honored.
Moe Bandy Signs With 117 Publicity
/by Jessica NicholsonMoe Bandy
Moe Bandy has joined 117 Publicity’s roster for exclusive PR representation.
“I’ve loved working with Moe and his team in the past, so I’m excited to be onboard again for his future projects and continued road success! Adding Moe to the 117 Publicity roster demonstrates our commitment to traditional country music and the artists that have given so much to this genre. I love everything about our roster of clients and their music,” said Zach Farnum, President & CEO of 117 Entertainment Group.
“I am really excited about working with Zach and 117 Publicity. We’re looking forward to some neat things happening for traditional country music in the future with 117,” said Bandy.
Cole Swindell Plots Down Home Tour For 2018
/by Jessica NicholsonCole Swindell will return to the road in January 2018, in support of Down Home Sessions IV EP which releases Nov. 24. The Cole Swindell Down Home Tour follows three previous sold-out headlining Down Home Tours. The 2018 tour will kick off in his home state of Georgia at the Georgia Theatre in Athens on Jan. 11. Swindell’s labelmate and rising newcomer Morgan Evans will open.
Other familiar tour stops on the Down Home Tour include Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville, Tenn., and Joe’s Bar in Chicago.
Pre-sale tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 14 and will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Cole Swindell’s Down Home Tour:
Jan. 11: Athens, Ga.; Georgia Theatre
Jan. 12: Savannah, Ga.; The Stage on Bay
Jan. 18: Knoxville, Tenn.; Cotton Eyed Joe
Jan. 19: Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Druid City Music Hall
Jan. 25: Chicago; Joe’s Bar
Jan. 26: Oxford, Ohio; Brick Street Bar
Jan. 27: Charlottesville, Va.; Jefferson Theater
CCM News: Rend Collective, Tenth Avenue North, Zach Williams
/by Sarah SkatesRend Collective Continues Sold-Out Run
Rend Collective
Rend Collective has announced dates for their Good News North America Tour Pt. 2. Kicking off March 1 in Orlando, the tour will hit 32 markets throughout the U.S. The band is getting ready to wrap up their headlining part 1 of the outing on Nov. 19, which sold out every night of the 10-date run in Canada and other major markets.
The album Good News is available for pre-order on all online retailers in advance of its Jan. 19 release. It includes the lead single, “Rescuer (Good News),” which went top 20 and has more than 1.7 M music video views on YouTube.
Tenth Avenue North “Decade The Halls”
Tenth Avenue North’s Christmas album, Decade The Halls Vol. 1 (Remade Records) is available today (Nov. 10). This unique concept-album is a musical walk through the last 100 years of Christmas music with each song featuring a different decade starting in the 1920s all the way to present day.
The band will be taking this concept album on the road next month with Zach Williams and Meredith Andrews. Tour dates and ticket information can be found at tenthavenuenorth.com/tour.
Zach Williams Plans Christmas Single
Zach Williams, the GMA Dove Awards reigning New Artist of the Year, will debut his first original Christmas song, “The Call Of Christmas.” He will be sharing the song, along with a few other holiday favorites, when he joins Tenth Avenue North on their Decade The Halls Christmas Tour. Williams is currently on the fall leg of Casting Crowns’ The Very Next Thing Tour. He will also be part of the Rock & Worship Roadshow in the spring.
Williams’ current radio single, “Old Church Choir,” held the No. 1 spot for 12 weeks in a row (BDS Audience chart). Additionally, the song can be heard on ESPN, which has licensed it for Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday NFL Countdown through January 2018.
Sir Rosevelt Debut Album Coming In December
/by Sarah SkatesSir Rosevelt followed the release of debut single “Sunday Finest” with their first-ever network TV performance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! In addition, the song was featured throughout TNT and TBS’ hugely-rated coverage of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. (See the official music video.)
Sir Rosevelt will celebrate the album release with a performance at CBS Radio’s “An Epic New Year’s Eve Weekend,” slated for Friday, Dec. 29 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The show marks the band’s first U.S. live date following critically-acclaimed performances earlier this year in London and Australia. Additional North American live dates will be unveiled soon for 2018.
Track Listing
1. Sunday Finest *
2. Something ‘Bout You **
3. The Bravest **
4. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us
5. Hurricane
6. For My Own *
7. Robert Baker
8. Take Your Love Away
9. Slow Motion
10. Let Me Go
11. Infinite & Endless
* Co-written by Pharrell Williams
** Co-produced by Timbaland
Garth Brooks Announces More Nashville Shows
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks is adding more concerts to his Nashville run which will conclude the Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood. Friday morning (Nov. 10), Brooks announced he will be playing Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 9, 10, 15, and 17, in addition to his initially announced show on Dec. 16.
On Ticketmaster.com, it appears that tickets may already be sold-out for the newly added dates.
Even more shows could be added.
Tickets for the shows went on sale Friday morning (Nov. 10).
On Wednesday, Brooks took home his sixth Entertainer of the Year honor at the CMA Awards.
RIAA Reveals Gold & Platinum Honors For October 2017
/by Jessica NicholsonMulti-Platinum Singles:
Lee Brice, “Hard To Love” (2x)
Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road” (4x)
Platinum Singles:
Kane Brown, “What Ifs,” (ft. Lauren Alaina)
Lee Brice, “Drinking Class”
Meghan Trainor, “Better When I’m Dancing”
Gold Singles:
Brothers Osborne, “It Ain’t My Fault”
Danielle Bradbery, “The Heart Of Dixie”
Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton, “Islands In The Stream”
LANCO, “Greatest Love Story”
Lee Brice, “That Don’t Sound Like You”
Luke Combs, “When It Rains It Pours”
Skillet, “Feel Invincible”
Thomas Rhett, “Unforgettable”
Gold Albums:
Lee Brice, Love Like Crazy
Lee Brice, I Don’t Dance
RCA Studio A Celebrates Return To 1960s-Era Glory
/by Sarah SkatesCredit: PLA Media
A celebration was held Tuesday night (Nov. 7) to mark the completion of the renovation of historic RCA Studio A. Mayor Megan Barry, proprietors of the studio, BR549’s Chuck Mead and the Music Row community gathered for the official lighting ceremony of the replica signage featuring the iconic RCA dog “Nipper” and his Victrola phonograph. This completes a nearly three-year interior and exterior restoration that has returned the studio building to its 1960s-era glory.
“This is about more than returning an iconic image to Music Row,” Mayor Barry said at the celebration on the front lawn. “It’s really the culmination of the preservation and restoration of a cultural and historic landmark. Nashville is proud to be home to one of the world’s most important recording studios.”
Pictured (L-R): Mayor Barry, Will Pinkston and owners Aubrey Preston and Chuck Elcan
The dog and phonograph adorned the façade of Studio A until RCA retired the logos in 1968. Studio A obtained permission from Technicolor, which now owns the historic RCA marks, to recreate the image on the front of the building. Former Ryman Auditorium curator Brenda Colladay worked with Nashville sign maker Joslin & Son Signs to examine photos from the ‘60s and create replica signage of the dog and phonograph alongside RCA’s old lightning-bolt logo.
Three years ago, musicians and preservationists rallied around Studio A after developers announced plans to demolish the building and replace it with condos and a restaurant. Philanthropists Mike Curb, Chuck Elcan and Aubrey Preston stepped forward, purchasing the historic landmark to save it from the wrecking ball. Shortly before the 50th anniversary of Studio A in 2015, the federal government added the site to the National Register of Historic Places.
Opened in 1965, Studio A’s client list — past and present — is a Who’s Who of music stars. Past clients include country legends Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, and George Strait as well as newer artists like Hunter Hayes, Jamey Johnson, and Kacey Musgraves. Pop and rock artists who have worked at the Studio A complex include Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees, and newer artists like Sara Bareilles and Kesha.
Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton) is the Studio A producer-in-residence leading the studio into the future.
Aubrey Preston address Studio A supporters. Credit: Anthony Scarlati
Did you know? RCA’s iconic Nipper and Victrola were based on “His Master’s Voice,” a painting by 19th-Century English artist Francis Barraud depicting a terrier listening quizzically to a phonograph. The painting served as the basis for a trademark image acquired in 1899 by Gramophone and adopted by several producers of playback machines and record labels — including the Victor Talking Machine Company, which later became part of Radio Corporation of America, or RCA.
Credit: Sony Music Archives
Reba, Brooks & Dunn Add 2018 Vegas Dates
/by Sarah SkatesReba McEntire, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have announced they will return to Las Vegas in 2018 for additional shows of their hit residency, “Together in Vegas,” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Tickets for 12 new 2018 dates, scheduled March 14 – 24, and Aug. 15 – 25, will go on sale to the public Friday, Nov. 17 at noon PT.
The new 2018 dates going on sale are:
March: 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24
August: 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25
Previously announced 2017 dates on sale now with limited tickets still available are:
Nov. 29 and December: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10
Since opening in June 2015, “Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas” has paid tribute to veterans and military personnel during Brooks & Dunn’s performance of their hit “Only in America.” As an additional salute in honor of Veteran’s Day, the trio are offering a special half-price military discount on tickets to select 2018 shows purchased during the month of November. (Offer must be redeemed in-person at The Colosseum box office). Details at thecolosseum.com.