Pictured (clockwise, from top left): David Ross, Founder/President/CEO, Reviver Records; Gator Michaels, Executive VP, Reviver Records; Kenny Chesney; David Lee Murphy.
David Lee Murphy is taking another turn behind the mic and releasing his own album project, No Zip Code, on Reviver Records. Produced by Kenny Chesney and Buddy Cannon, the project will be Murphy’s fifth studio album, and his first with Reviver Records. He previously enjoyed chart success with his chart-topping classic “Dust on the Bottle” and the most-played song of 1995 “Party Crowd.”
Murphy hasn’t strayed far from the charts since then though, having penned more than 50 cuts, including No. 1 songs for Jason Aldean (“Big Green Tractor,” “The Only Way I Know”), Blake Shelton (“The More I Drink”), Gary Allan (“A Feelin’ Like That”), Jake Owens (“Anywhere With You”), Eli Young Band (“Always the Love Songs”), Thompson Square (the Grammy-nominated “Are You Gonna Kiss Me (Or Not)”) and Kenny Chesney (“Livin’ In Fast Forward,” “Pirate Flag”). He’s also had album cuts for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, and Keith Urban.
“We are thrilled to welcome David Lee Murphy to Reviver,” says label CEO David Ross. “His songs, his style and this record are incredible. We can’t wait to get to work.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever get out here and do this again,” Murphy says. “You focus on writing, and that’s its own kind of great. But Kenny and I got to talking, and it seemed like something worth doing. Then when we got in the studio, it felt so good, every day was more exciting than the one before.”
“David Lee is the original – and the last of – the hillbilly rock stars,” said Chesney of Murphy. “His groove, the way he lays into a melody is so smooth, yet he uses the words for shaping the rhythm. He knows the life, and he bottles it up in song. Making this record showed us what country music can be in the 21st century.”
David Lee Murphy Returns To Recording With Chesney/Cannon-Produced ‘No Zip Code’
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (clockwise, from top left): David Ross, Founder/President/CEO, Reviver Records; Gator Michaels, Executive VP, Reviver Records; Kenny Chesney; David Lee Murphy.
David Lee Murphy is taking another turn behind the mic and releasing his own album project, No Zip Code, on Reviver Records. Produced by Kenny Chesney and Buddy Cannon, the project will be Murphy’s fifth studio album, and his first with Reviver Records. He previously enjoyed chart success with his chart-topping classic “Dust on the Bottle” and the most-played song of 1995 “Party Crowd.”
Murphy hasn’t strayed far from the charts since then though, having penned more than 50 cuts, including No. 1 songs for Jason Aldean (“Big Green Tractor,” “The Only Way I Know”), Blake Shelton (“The More I Drink”), Gary Allan (“A Feelin’ Like That”), Jake Owens (“Anywhere With You”), Eli Young Band (“Always the Love Songs”), Thompson Square (the Grammy-nominated “Are You Gonna Kiss Me (Or Not)”) and Kenny Chesney (“Livin’ In Fast Forward,” “Pirate Flag”). He’s also had album cuts for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, and Keith Urban.
“We are thrilled to welcome David Lee Murphy to Reviver,” says label CEO David Ross. “His songs, his style and this record are incredible. We can’t wait to get to work.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever get out here and do this again,” Murphy says. “You focus on writing, and that’s its own kind of great. But Kenny and I got to talking, and it seemed like something worth doing. Then when we got in the studio, it felt so good, every day was more exciting than the one before.”
“David Lee is the original – and the last of – the hillbilly rock stars,” said Chesney of Murphy. “His groove, the way he lays into a melody is so smooth, yet he uses the words for shaping the rhythm. He knows the life, and he bottles it up in song. Making this record showed us what country music can be in the 21st century.”
Little Big Town To Launch Breakers Tour In 2018 With Kacey Musgraves, Midland
/by Lorie HollabaughThe multi-city run kicks off Feb. 8 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City and will hit 26 markets, including stops in Austin, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C. and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Additional stops will be announced at a later date.
A preview of The Breakers Tour featuring a very special performance by Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Midland, will take place tonight on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
Tickets for the new tour go on sale this Friday, Sept. 22, and two enhanced ticket experiences, the ‘Happy People’ and ‘The Breaker’ experiences, will be offered throughout the tour. Additional experiences available include a meet & greet with Little Big Town, a Q&A session, exclusive merchandise, and more. Ticket information can be found at LittleBigTown.com.
2018 Dates For The Breakers Tour Featuring Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Midland:
2/8 – Oklahoma City OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
2/9 -Austin TX Frank Erwin Center
2/10 – Grand Prairie TX Verizon Theatre – Grand Prairie
2/15 – Columbus OH Schottenstein Center
2/16 – Rosemont IL Allstate Arena
2/17 – Toledo OH Huntington Center
2/22 – Wilkes-Barre PA Mohegan Sun Arena
2/23 – Uncasville CT Mohegan Sun
2/24 – New York NY Radio City Music Hall
3/2 – Reading PA Santander Arena
3/3 -Washington DC Anthem
3/15 – Green Bay WI Resch Center
3/16 – Duluth MN Amsoil Arena
3/17 – Grand Forks ND Ralph Engelstad
3/22 – Grand Rapids MI Van Andel Arena
3/23 – Cedar Rapids IA U.S. Cellular Center
3/24 – Sioux City IA Tyson Events Center
4/5 – Minneapolis MN Target Center
4/6 – Milwaukee WI BMO Harris Bradley Ctr
4/7 – St. Louis MO Chaifetz Arena
4/19 – Greensboro NC Greensboro Coliseum
4/20 – Greenville SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
4/21 – Atlanta GA Infinite Energy Arena
Disney Music Group Promotes Ciara Shortridge
/by Jessica NicholsonDisney Music Group has promoted Ciara Shortridge to the new role of A&R Manager. Shortridge began her career with Disney in September 2009 and previously held the roles of A&R Coordinator and A&R Representative. Ciara will report to Barbara Vander Linde, VP, Music Publishing/A&R at Disney Music Group.
In her new role, Shortridge will manage the Disney Music Group Nashville office, and will be responsible for signing, developing, and exploiting exceptional talent, as well as helping to bring internal Disney, international, and multi-platform and multi-genre placement opportunities to the Nashville community.
Vander Linde says, “Ciara has been the heart of our Nashville office, and I am thrilled to share the news of her promotion.”
Singer-Songwriter Mark Selby Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonMark Selby
Nashville-based recording artist and songwriter Mark Selby died Monday (Sept. 18) after a battle with cancer. He was 56.
Selby was a recording artist, songwriter, session guitar player and producer released albums on Vanguard Records. He wrote a string of hits with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, including “Deja Voodoo,” “Slow Ride,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Blue on Black,” which was No. 1 for 17 weeks and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Song of the Year. He also wrote the Dixie Chicks’ first No. 1 single “There’s Your Trouble” and had his songs recorded by many other artists including Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Roy Parnell and Keb’ Mo. A highly-regarded session player, Selby played on recordings by Kenny Rogers and Wynona Judd.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Selby spent his youth harvesting wheat and playing in bands throughout the Midwest before moving to Hays, Kansas to attend Fort Hays University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Selby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Selby is survived by his wife and songwriting partner, Tia Sillers.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusicCares in memory of Mark Selby.
Memorial Service Set For Don Williams
/by Jessica NicholsonDon Williams
A memorial service honoring Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Williams will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The ceremony will be held in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame (located at 222 5th Ave. S. in Nashville) for the music industry, friends and family. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with the memorial service commencing promptly at 4:30 p.m.
Williams, 1978 CMA Male Vocalist of the year and known as the “Gentle Giant” for his mellow laid-back delivery of more than 40 Top 10 country hits during his five-decade career, died on Sept. 8 following a brief illness. He was 78. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to MusiCares, Music Health Alliance or a charity of your choice.
To read Don Williams’ full obit written by MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann, click here.
‘Pickler & Ben’ Debuts To Solid Ratings
/by Jessica NicholsonKellie Pickler and Ben Aaron. Photo: George Burns Jr.
New lifestyle and entertainment daytime television show Pickler & Ben, which features hosts Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron, launched with solid ratings yesterday (Sept. 18). The show provided a 42 percent ratings increase compared to the time slot’s former show, earning the No. 1 rating in the Nashville market and a higher rating than the second and third ranked stations in the time slot, combined. Preliminary ratings show Pickler & Ben had a 6.8 household rating, with Live with Kelly and Ryan bringing in a 3.6 rating and The Today Show showing a 2.8 rating.
Pickler & Ben airs in 38 local television markets across the country and nationally on CMT. The show features Kellie and Ben hosting segments with top celebrities, tastemakers and experts on everything from entertaining and home design to cooking, DIY and more. The show is recorded in front of a live audience on a modern farmhouse-style set in Nashville.
Pickler & Ben is produced by Faith Hill, Happy Street Entertainment co-founder Lisa Erspamer, and Sandbox Entertainment president/CEO Jason Owen, in partnership with the E.W. Scripps Company. Joe Terry directs Pickler & Ben. Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution is distributing the show in national syndication.
Seventh Annual Touring Career Workshop Set For Oct. 25
/by Lorie HollabaughRegistration is open now for this year’s event, which will feature industry heavyweights Mark Steinwachs (Bandit Lites), Todd Ortmeier (Florida Georgia Line), Erik Leighty (Miranda Lambert), Mark Oglesby (One Republic), Zito (One Republic and many others. Areas of expertise covered will include getting a gig, touring and retirement planning, balancing life on and off the road, and a very special panel by some of the industry’s most successful production managers.
“We did a good bit of outreach to those in our industry in regards to what they wanted to learn about this year,” says Chris Lisle. “Using that input, we put together an event that will present a variety of relevant, useful topics.”
Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event will run from 6-9 p.m. There will be a networking event immediately following the sessions until 11 p.m.
iPhone Users Can Now Take Advantage Of Waze, Spotify Integration
/by Jessica NicholsonWaze has announced that iOS device users can now use both Spotify and Waze without the need to switch between apps. The integrated experience was previously an Android-only feature, but will be rolling out over the next few weeks for iOS users.
The new update not only allows users to have their Waze alerts and music (or podcasts) stream together, but allows users to control song selection, view recently played content, switch between apps with one tap, and to access tailored Spotify recommendations.
As a safety precaution, browsing via Spotify will be blocked while a user is driving, though a passenger can access browsing.
Jillian Jacqueline, Jonathan Singleton, The Sisterhood To Play ASCAP Pilgrimage Festival Stage
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): The Frist’s Angie Weeks, Nikki Lane, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Devon Gilfillian, and The Frist’s Crystal Churchwell. Photo: Lo Hanson
ASCAP has partnered for the second year in a row with the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival to present the official ASCAP Shady Grove Stage at the festival on Sept. 23-24.
The ASCAP Shady Grove Stage will feature performances by Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angaleena Presley, Charley Crockett, Devon Gilfillian, Ivory Layne, Jillian Jacqueline, Jonathan Singleton, Rosi Golan, The Bros. Landreth, The Sisterhood and the “Play Pilgrimage” contest winner, Cody Huggins.
A complete schedule of ASCAP Shady Grove Stage set times can be found here.
Paul McGuire Joins ole’s YouTube Multi-Channel Network To Produce, Host Content
/by Lorie HollabaughRobert Ott, Paul McGuire
Former CMT host Paul McGuire has joined ole as a producer of premium content and a show host for ole’s YouTube Multi-Channel Network (MCN), which will focus on live music content and interviews across genres.
An award-winning broadcaster, McGuire has hosted and produced shows for YTV, CTV, CMT, Global Television Network, The Food Network, The History Channel and others while interviewing top actors, politicians, scientists, rock stars, athletes and business leaders. In 2016, Paul was presented with the Country Music Association’s International Broadcaster of The Year Award.
“ole is very pleased to welcome Paul McGuire as we take our MCN to the next level,” said ole CEO & Chairman Robert Ott. “Paul’s 24-year history as a broadcaster and content producer is going to be invaluable. We look forward to bringing our audience some very unique and exclusive content.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about joining the team at ole,” said McGuire. “A homegrown success story like no other, this a group of people who excel at turning obstacles into opportunities, challenges into breakthroughs and hard work into concrete results. With their limitless enthusiasm and love for music, I can’t wait to see what we can do together. Their toy box is HUGE – Let’s play!”
In one of his first productions for the company, McGuire will report from the ole-sponsored red carpet at the 2017 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 23 in Toronto with content set to air on ole’s MCN the following day. Subsequently, McGuire will produce original content spotlighting ole talent and acts, including “John Cody: Hard Won,” a tribute to the ole label group artist. McGuire will also host “Paul McGuire’s Country Countdown,” a weekly country music countdown show.