Old Dominion To Launch Happy Endings Tour In February

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Old Dominion is kicking off 2018 with a brand new tour, the Happy Endings Tour, which launches Feb. 1 in Canada. Michael Ray and Brandon Lay are set to open the U.S. dates, while new Canadian country groups The Washboard Union and Cold Creek County will open the Canadian run.

“We are taking OD WORLDWIDE! We can’t wait to get out there and see what kind of Old Dominion fans we have around the world,” said Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey. “It’s amazing when we hear from our fans out there – so we couldn’t be more excited to bring our music to them face to face.”

The band released their sophomore album Happy Endings earlier this year which includes their current single “Written in The Sand” and the chart-topper “No Such Thing As a Broken Heart.” They are currently a special guest on select dates with Thomas Rhett’s Home Team Tour across the US and UK and this past summer performed in front of two sold-out crowds at Gillette Stadium opening for Kenny Chesney. They also wrapped a successful national Bud Light Dive Bar concert series that hit select cities across the US. By the end of the year, they will have played over 145 shows in front of 1.3+ million fans.

Tickets for the Happy Endings tour go on sale October 20, 2017.

HAPPY ENDINGS WORLD TOUR 2018 DATES:
Feb 1              Regina, SK, Conexus Arts Centre*
Feb 2              Winnipeg, MB, Club Regent*
Feb 3              Saskatoon, SK, TCU Place*
Feb 5              Calgary, AB, Grey Eagle Events Centre*
Feb 6              Edmonton, AB, Rogers Place*
Feb 7              Lethbridge, AB, Enmax Centre*
Feb 9              Kamloops, CB, Sandman Centre*
Feb 10            Abbotsford, BC, Abbotsford, Centre*
Feb 11            Penticton, BC, South Okanagan Events Centre*
TBA                Redding, CA, Redding Civic Center^
Feb 16            Central Point, OR, Seven Feathers Event Center^
Feb 17            Kennewick, WA, Toyota Center^
Feb 22            Missoula, MT, Adams Center^
Feb 23            Billings, MT, Shrine Auditorium^
Feb 24            Rapid City, SD, Don Barnett Arena^
March 9          London, UK, The O2 Arena-C2C
March 10        Glasgow, UK, The SSE Hydro-C2C
March 11        Dublin, IE, 3Arena- C2C
March 16        Ipswich, Queensland, AUS, CMC Rocks
March 17        Ipswich, Queensland, AUS, CMC Rocks
* with The Washboard Union & Cold Creek County
^ with Michael Ray & Brandon Lay

Industry Pics: SMACKSongs, ASCAP, Grand Ole Opry, BMG, BBR, T.J. Martell

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SMACKSongs Celebrates First Writers’ Night

Pictured (front row, L-R): Midland’s Jess Carson, SMACKSongs’ Kylie Morgan, Shane McAnally, Midland’s Cameron Duddy, and SMACKSongs’ Renee Blair. (back row, L-R): Midland’s Mark Wystrach, SMACKSongs’ Josh Osborne, Matt McGinn, Ryan Beaver, and Aaron Eshuis.

SMACKSongs celebrated its first writers’ night at the Listening Room Café in Nashville last Wednesday (Oct. 11). The round was hosted by SMACKSongs partners, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and featured surprise performances by Walker Hayes and Midland.

Other performers included SMACKSongs writers Ryan Beaver, Renee Blair, Aaron Eshuis, Kylie Morgan, and Matt McGinn. Presented by Kobalt, the evening was part of the company’s week-long Global Creative Retreat in Nashville.

 

ASCAP Presents at The Bluebird Cafe

Pictured (L-R): Shane Gamble, Jeb Gipson, Hailey Whitters, Josh Matheny, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad.

The October installment of ASCAP’s long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe was held last Wednesday (Oct. 11) and featured Shane Gamble, Sea Gayle’s Jeb Gipson, Carnival Music’s Hailey Whitters and Curb Music Publishing’s Josh Matheny, who is a member of the band Steel Union.

 

Chris Janson, Keith Urban’s Grand Ole Opry Surprise

Pictured (L-R): Chris Janson and Keith Urban.

Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Janson joined Keith Urban for two surprise performances at the Grand Ole Opry last Tuesday night (Oct. 10).

Urban welcomed Janson to the legendary stage by declaring, “If there’s justice, in one year he’s going to be Entertainer of the Year,” before launching into their guitar-drenched and harmonica-infused take on the John Michael Montgomery hit “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).”

Check out a video of the performance here.

 

BMG and BBR Music Group Celebrate Country Music Week in UK

Randy Houser. Photo: Anthony D’Angio

Lindsay Ell. Photo: Shawn Ell

Walker McGuire. Photo: Luke Dyson

BMG and BBR Music Group celebrated a strong presence at this year’s Country Music Week (Oct. 2-8) in the UK, launching with a special live event at London’s Bush Hall. Broken Bow Records Presents showcased Randy Houser, Lindsay Ell, and Walker McGuire (comprised of Jordan Walker and Johnny McGuire).

 

T.J. Martell Foundation’s 5th Annual Chic Awearness Event

Pictured (L-R): Melissa Thompson, Jayne Wochomurka, Linda Davis, Tammie Eldridge, Dawn Mangrum, Hope Loftis, Marci Houff, Memarie Gayle, Sally Rose, Leora Allen, and Janet Schock. Photo: Bev Moser.

The 5th Annual Chic Awearness event was held on Monday, Sept. 25 at Nashville restaurant Prima and raised over $100,000 to benefit the T. J. Martell Foundation’s ovarian cancer research program.

Hosted by NewsChannel 5’s Carrie Sharp, event highlights included a moving survivor speech, an exciting live auction and a spirited fall fashion show by Levy’s.

Brantley Gilbert Announces ‘The Ones That Like Me’ Tour For 2018

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Brantley Gilbert is launching The Ones That Like Me Tour in 2018, which will kick off Feb. 1 at DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The initial leg of the tour, which includes openers Aaron Lewis and newcomer Josh Phillips, will hit 36 cities and run through May 12.

“People tell you all kinds of things about marketing,” Gilbert says of his tour’s name. “But I want to call it something that speaks to what this tour is: a chance for me to get together with all the people out there who get this music, who believe in these songs and live their lives just like the people back home do. We are all proud Americans, who try to stand up and do the right thing. That isn’t marketing, that’s life – and that’s what my music is made of.”

THE ONES THAT LIKE ME 2018 TOUR DATES:
2/1 | DCU Center – Worcester, MA
2/2 | GIANT Center – Hershey, PA
2/3 | Times Union Center – Albany, NY
2/8 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Greenville, SC
2/9 | Thompson Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN
2/10 | BancorpSouth Arena – Tupelo, MS
2/15 | EagleBank Arena – Fairfax, VA
2/16 | The James Brown Arena – Augusta, GA
2/17 | North Charleston Coliseum – Charleston, SC
3/24 | Tuscaloosa Amphitheater – Tuscaloosa, AL
4/19 | Lexington Center-Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY
4/20 | Salem Civic Center – Salem, VA
4/21 | Eastern Kentucky Expo Center – Pikeville, KY
4/26 | Wright State University Nutter Center – Daytone, OH
4/27 | ISU Hulman Center – Terre Haute, IN
4/28 | Walmart Amp-Arkansas Music Pavillion – Rogers, AR
5/10 | US Cellular Center – Cedar Rapids, IA
5/11 | Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
5/12 | Erie Insurance Arena – Erie, PA

Artist Manager Terry Elam Passes

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Artist manager Terry Elam, who was with Fitzgerald Hartley for 28 years, died Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from lung cancer. He was 66.

He currently co-managed Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill and managed the Grammy-winning band The Time Jumpers.

Prior to his work with Fitzgerald Hartley, Elam worked with Roy Orbison until Orbison’s death in 1988. Elam is survived by his wife of 42 years, Donna, as well as four children: Erica, Brett, Matthew and daughter-in-law Jordan Craven Elam, and Scott Elam. Son Matthew is a booking agent with WME. He is also survived by grandchildren George, Charles, Annie and Mary Virginia Elam, his mother Helen Horne and brother Robert Elam.

Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Donations can be made to: Terry Elam/IEBA Endowed Scholarship for Music Business. Checks are made payable to Belmont University and please indicate Terry Elam Scholarship on memo line.

Mailing address:
Belmont University
Office of Development, Fidelity Hall 105
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212

Country Rising Expands To Support Las Vegas Victims, Announces Lineup Changes

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The recently announced star-studded benefit concert Country Rising, set for Nov. 12 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, will now support victims of the Las Vegas shooting in addition to those in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Caribbean islands who have been impacted by the recent hurricanes.

Keith Urban has been added to the superstar lineup, while Garth Brooks will no longer be part of the event in Nashville due to a scheduling conflict with additional tour dates being added in Spokane, Washington. Instead, Brooks will donate all proceeds from his two added concerts on Nov. 12 to The Country Rising Fund.

The Nashville lineup also includes Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, George Strait and Carrie Underwood.

A new on-sale date for tickets and VIP packages has been set for Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. CT via ticketmaster.com. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. CT through Citi’s Private Pass program.

Tiffany Moon Exits ACM

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Tiffany Moon, EVP and Managing Director for the Academy of Country Music (ACM), has exited her role at ACM. The organization says there are no plans for a replacement. Moon served as interim CEO of the organization from May 2016 to 2017, when it was announced Pete Fisher would permanently fill the position.

ACM CEO Pete Fisher said:

“Although I have only worked side-by-side with Tiffany since late January, as an ACM Board member, I have had the pleasure of observing all she has given to the Academy over her 15 years of service.  She has made an indelible impact which will benefit this great organization for many years to come.  It is because of her great work, in partnership with a terrific staff and Board, that we are able to dream big dreams and chart the Academy’s future course.”

Dreamlined Entertainment Appoints VP, Creative And Artist Development

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Ginny Johnson

Dreamlined Entertainment, led by acclaimed producer Keith Stegall, has appointed Ginny Johnson as Vice President of Creative and Artist Development. Johnson comes to Dreamlined from Knotting Hill Music, where she spent the past three years as Creative Director overseeing Music Publishing.

Johnson can be reached at  Gjohnson@dreamlinedentertainment.com

Shenandoah Returns To Radio After 20 Years With New Jay DeMarcus-Produced Track

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Shenandoah is releasing a new single, “Noise” today. The group recently inked a recording contract with BMG for the new single and forthcoming album, which is slated for the first quarter of 2018. Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, a longtime friend of the band, produced the new song.

“Special thanks to Jay DeMarcus for taking such an interest in Shenandoah to produce this song on us,” said Shenandoah’s Mike McGuire. “If it hadn’t been for him, we’d have never gone in the studio to do this project. He struck the perfect balance of keeping our original sound and at the same time, making us sound current.”

“Having the fortunate opportunity to get a record deal with BMG after 30 years of being in this business is beyond exciting,” says Shenandoah lead singer Marty Raybon. “The new music has given flames to embers that have burned since we started in 1987. It’s been 20 years since our last recordings. The new music is fresh, up to date and allows us to continue where we left off. We feel like we still have so much to say when it comes to music and it gives us the joy of sharing it with country music fans all over the world.”

“Noise” is available for digital download now at iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon and Google Play.

Scooter Brown Band Shares New Tunes With ‘MusicRow’

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Scooter Brown Band. Photo: Haley Crow

Red River Entertainment’s Scooter Brown Band visited MusicRow on Wednesday (Oct. 11) to share music off their Sept. 8 release, American Son. The album features Charlie Daniels, whose longtime manager David Corlew manages the 5-person group.

“It is refreshing to see someone doing it like the old days,” said Corlew. “Playing 150 dates a year without a bus, working hard to build a name.”

Bob Frank (BFD) producer Casey Wood (Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels), and Steve Lassiter (APA) round out the band’s support team.

Of the 13 tracks on American Son, lead singer and Colorado native Scott Brown has writing credits on 12, only because a cover of Charlie Daniels’ “New York City King Size Rosewood Bed” rounds out the listings.

Pictured (L-R): David Corlew, Scooter Brown Band, and MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow

Brown was in the Marine Corps and served in Iraq in 2003 when a buddy helped him learn how to play the guitar and expand on the songwriting he dabbled with in high school. After trying his hand in the Texas music scene, Brown met Corlew, who brought him more into the Southern states, where their music has most resonated, said Brown.

Two members of the group visited, sampling “Story Of My Life, and “Never Met A Heart I Wouldn’t Break” and the title track, “American Son.”

Scooter Brown Band with MusicRow staffers. Photo: Bev Moser

Midland Celebrates First No. 1 Hit, “Drinkin’ Problem,” With Nashville Party

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Pictured (L-R): Midland’s Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy

Nashville’s music industry members had no problems opening a cold one to toast the Big Machine Records trio Midland’s first No. 1 song, “Drinkin’ Problem,” earlier this week during a shindig at Nashville’s The Sutler Saloon.

On Oct. 11, The Sutler Saloon was packed to celebrate Midland members Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, as well as their “Drinkin’ Problem” co-writers Shane McAnally (GMR) and Josh Osborne (ASCAP). The Gold-certified song marks the Midland members’ first No. 1 both as songwriters and artists.

BMI’s Bradley Collins and ASCAP’s Beth Brinker hosted the event. Brinker surprised ASCAP writers with Yeti coolers, while BMI’s Collins offered a BMI guitar, which is offered to BMI writers who celebrate their first No. 1 song.

Pinnacle Bank’s David Smith announced a donation to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital on behalf of the writers.

“Drinkin’ Problem” is McAnally’s 25th No. 1 song, and Osborne’s 14th No. 1 hit.

Among those celebrating the No. 1 hit were BMLG’s Scott Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, SMACKSong’s Michael McAnally Baum, producer Dann Huff, engineer Justin Niebank, Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen, Country Aircheck’s Paul Williams and CRB’s Holly Freeman.

Pictured (Bac row, L-R): Black River’s Dave Pacula, Spirit Music’s Daniel Hill, BRND MGMT’s Matt Graham, Sandbox’s Jason Owen, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Dann Huff, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, SMACKSongs’ Michael Baum. Pictured (Front row, L-R): ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Josh Osborne, Midland, Shane McAnally, SMACKSongs’ Robin Palmer, BMI’s Bradley Collins

“There are a lot of people here that have shaped our destiny,” said Duddy. “Someone said yesterday—I believe it was me, so to quote myself—in a year it looked like we had ran a marathon with our faces. The BMLG promo team, your work ethic has inspired us in ways you’ll never understand. It was boot camp from the beginning.”

“This industry is a family and the fact that we’ve been allowed into this family is the biggest honor of our lives,” said Carson. “People ask us what have been some of the things that have happened this year that have had an impact and it’s hard to even take stock. This train doesn’t stop but it’s the people we are surrounded by and people that elevate us and brought us to this place that I’m just so grateful for. Scott for taking a chance on us. Dann in the studio is the maestro, he hears everything. Josh, like our soul brother and family to us. We speak the same language. Shane, I want to be like Shane and I want to someday be where he’s at and have the respect that he’s got. Thank you to everybody.

“They say to work with people who are more talented and smarter than you are, and that’s what I did in getting together with Jess and Cameron,” said Wystrach. “I’ve been learning ever since. That’s what this band has done collectively. We literally have the dream team. Nobody’s tried to screw with our vision or say, ‘This isn’t right.’ Everybody thought there was something special and I know someday I’ll look back in my life and say that this is one of the best things in my life, getting to work with these guys and build this family. There is a bit of a rule: Would you want to invite these people home for family dinner? And it’s true there is not a person on this stage I wouldn’t want to invite home to my family’s ranch in Arizona and we’d have the time of our lives because we have shared interests and passions and work interests and a love for music.”

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, BMR’s Nicole Hunt, AJ Calvin, Erik Powell, Jim Weatherson and Kris Lamb. Pictured (Front row, L-R): Josh Osborne, Midland, Shane McAnally, Dann Huff