Lauren Daigle Becomes First Female CCM Artist To Earn Two Gold Singles From Debut Album

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Pictured (L-R): Gregg Chimento, Kory Henkel, John Stokes, Lauren Daigle, Kris Love, Steve Ford, John Mays

Centricity Music artist Lauren Daigle was recently honored with two gold-certified singles from her 2015 debut album, How Can It Be. The feat makes Daigle the first female CCM artist to achieve two gold singles from a debut album.

Her debut Centricity Music album launched both “How Can It Be,” which earned certification for 500K units sold in November 2016; “Trust In You” earned the same recognition in May 2017. Daigle’s label team surprised her with a commemorative presentation and plaque during last week’s Christian Music Broadcasters’ Momentum conference in Orlando.

In 2015 “How Can It Be” earned Gospel Music Association Awards for Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year, along with a K-Love Fan Award for Worship Song of the Year. It reached No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Songs Chart, plus No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. In 2016 “Trust In You” won the GMA Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and earned Billboard Music Award and GRAMMY Award nominations. It was No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Songs Chart, plus No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs Chart for 19 consecutive weeks.

Music Health Alliance Announces New Hires, Promotions

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Bonita Allen                                                                 Allison Klein

Music Health Alliance has announced some new staff hires and promotions within the organization.

MHA Founder Tatum Hauck Allsep adds CEO responsibilities, while Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy is elevated to COO of the non-profit. Taylor Clay has also been promoted to the position of Director of Advocacy & Insurance for the company.

Bonita Allen and Allison Klein have also joined the staff at MHA. Allen, whose previous stops include BMI, MCA, Bluewater Music and Westwood One, joins as Director of Client Services & Advocacy. In her new role she will be the initial contact for all members of the music industry seeking the organization’s free services. She can be reached at bonita@musichealthalliance.com.

Klein, whose background includes digital marketing and brand management, joins MHA as Director of Advocacy, Insurance & Marketing. She will oversee marketing services for the 501c3 in addition to client advocacy and individual health insurance needs and can be reached at allison@musichealthalliance.com.

“As the need for MHA’s programs and services continues to grow at a record setting pace, I am thrilled to announce these additions,” said Music Health Alliance CEO and Founder, Tatum Hauck Allsep. “Bonita brings more than 35 years of music and entertainment experience as well as a sincere compassion and a wealth of health care knowledge. While Allison’s background in digital strategy, sponsorships and marketing will add a new dimension to MHA’s communications as we grow, it’s her inherent love for helping others and resourceful nature that make her a great advocate addition. They both bring MHA closer to our mission to Heal the Music each and every day.”

Kimberly Dunn, MHA Director of Group Health, is spearheading an expansion of Music Health Alliance’s Group Health division, ensuring that the small businesses in music industry have an experienced, not-for-profit advocate on their side. Dunn continues to act as an advocate to all employees on group plans from birth to end of life to ensure that all of their healthcare needs are met.

 

Luke Bryan Announces Additional Support For Farm Tour 2017

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Luke Bryan has announced additional guest artists on his ninth annual Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2017, set to run Sept. 28 through Oct. 7. Joining previously announced opener Jon Pardi are Adam Craig, the Peach Pickers (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson & Ben Hayslip) and Jon Langston plus DJ Rock. Details on Bryan’s openers for each tour date are listed below.

Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2017
Sept. 28: Lincoln, NE, Benes Farm. Openers: Adam Craig, Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi
Sept. 29: Baldwin City, KS, Don-Ale Farms. Openers: Adam Craig, Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi
Sept. 30: Boone, IA, Ziel Farm. Openers: Adam Craig, Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi
Oct. 5: Fort Wayne, IN, Spangler Farms West. Openers: Jon Langston, Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi
Oct. 6: Edinburg, IL, Ayers Family Farm. Openers: Jon Langston, Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi
Oct. 7: Centralia, MO, Stowers Farm. Openers: Peach Pickers, Jon Pardi

Matt Maher To Release ‘Echoes’ On Sept. 29

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Matt Maher will release his sixth studio album titled Echoes (Essential/Sony) on Sept. 29. The album is now available for pre-order with two instant downloads, the radio single, “Your Love Defends Me” along with the track “What A Friend.”

Maher has penned several No. 1 hits, including the gold-certified “Lord I Need You,” and his 2015 hit “Because He Lives (Amen).” Maher will join Chris Tomlin’s Good Good Father Tour this fall.

Echoes Track Listing:
Echoes (One Matt Maher / Mitch Parks / Aaron Smith)
Clean Heart (Matt Maher / Audrey Assad)
What A Friend (Adam, Abby, Matt (IAT) / Matt Maher / David Garcia)
Holy (Matt Maher / Chris Tomlin / Hank Bentley / Mike Donahey / Jason Ingram)
Your Love Defends Me (Matt Maher / Hannah Kerr)
Just As I Am (Matt Maher / Ed Cash / Mia Fieldes)
Awake My Soul (Matt Maher / Matt Redman / Laura Story / Jonas Myrin)
Faithfulness (Matt Maher / Stephen McWorter / Jacob Sooter)
Echoes Two (Matt Maher / Mitch Parks / Aaron Smith)
Picket Sign (Matt Maher / Mack Brock / Ike Ndolo / Josh Silverburg)
Won’t Let Me Down (Matt Maher / Jason Ingram / Brian Fowler)
Least Of These (Matt Maher / John Tibbs)
The Cross Forever Speaks (Matt Maher / Jason Ingram / Paul Mabury)
Into Your Hands (Matt Maher / Trevor Morgan / Jason Ingram / Paul Mabury)
As Good As It Gets (Matt Maher / Francesca Battistelli / David Garcia)

‘CMT Crossroads’ Earns Ratings Milestone With Florida Georgia Line, Backstreet Boys Pairing

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Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line. Photo: courtesy CMT

CMT’s seminal music series, CMT Crossroads, notched its highest ratings in more than five years with the pairing of pop group Backstreet Boys with country duo Florida Georgia Line. The episode, which aired Wednesday, Aug. 30, became the highest-rated Crossroads among Adults 18-49 (.21) and Women 18-49 (.34) since another cross-genre mashup with Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood in 2012 (Nielsen Live+3).

Following the telecast, Florida Georgia Line reported triple-digit sales gains on iTunes for singles performed on the show. On the day following the premiere versus the same day a week prior, “Smooth” netted a 172 percent increase on iTunes; with similar gains for “God, Your Mama, And Me” (+131%), “H.O.L.Y.” (+123%) and “Cruise” (+122%). Backstreet Boys reported a +22 percent increase in streaming overall.

The special was a hit with fans on social media as well, with #CMTcrossroads trending nationally and ranking in the Top 5 most-talked about Cable Premieres across Facebook and Twitter that night. The episode garnered over 18,000 interactions on social, with the bulk of those on Facebook. Nearly 88 percent of the interactions on Facebook were generated by females according to Nielsen Social.

Taped in front of a live audience in Franklin, TN, “CMT Crossroads: Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line” features collaborations on songs including “I Want it That Way,” “As Long As You Love Me,” “H.O.L.Y.,” “Cruise” and more. The groups, who also happen to be great friends, recently performed together for sold-out crowds at Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Minneapolis Target Field as part of FGL’s headline The Smooth Tour 2017.

“CMT Crossroads” is produced by CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and Switched On Entertainment’s John Hamlin.

In Pictures: Dolly Parton, Grand Ole Opry, BMI, SESAC, The People Sing!, NSAI, TPAC

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Dolly Parton Crashes the Premiere Episode of ‘Pickler & Ben’

Pictured (L-R): Faith Hill, Kellie Pickler, Dolly Parton, and Ben Aaron. Photo: George Burns, Jr

Legend and icon Dolly Parton made an unexpected visit to the set of Pickler & Ben to surprise Kellie Pickler, co-host Ben Aaron, and Executive Producer Faith Hill for the premiere episode of their new Nashville-based talk show. Pickler & Ben is the first national show of its kind and will premiere on Monday, Sept. 18.

The show will air first in 21 markets owned and operated by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP), and 17 additional markets through Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, and on CMT the morning after the first run.

 

The Grand Ole Opry Celebrates Country Cares for St. Jude Kids

Pictured (L-R): Charles Esten, Luke Bryan, Sally Williams (GM, Grand Ole Opry/SVP, Programing & Artist Relations, Opry Entertainment), Randy Owen, Bill Cody (650 WSM AM), and Kerri Edwards ( KP Entertainment/Luke Bryan manager). Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

Pictured (L-R): Luke Bryan, Kael, and Clare Bowen. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

Pictured (L-R): Kael, his brother Brody, and Randy Owen. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry celebrated Country Cares for St. Jude Kids during a special show Wednesday night (Sept. 13). Among the performers were Randy Owen of Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama, four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, and Clare Bowen and Charles Esten of the hit series Nashville.

St. Jude patient Kael, who is five years old, took the stage as a special guest announcer for the night. After Kael presented Owen with a memento thanking him for 28 years of work with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, the Country Music Hall of Famer returned the favor and surprised Kael and his brother Brody with their own Opry keepsakes.

The month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and supporters are encouraged to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in its efforts to end childhood cancer.

 

BMI Kicks Off AmericanaFest with a Full House

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Phoebe Hunt, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry

Pictured (L-R): Meg Sellers (Diageo), Jenna Desmond (SUSTO), Branden Bosler (BMI), Corey Harper (SUSTO), Marshall Hudson (SUSTO), David Preston (BMI), Dries Vanderberg (SUSTO), Nina Carter (BMI), and Justin Osborne (SUSTO). Photo: Steve Lowry

BMI hosted the official AmericanaFest kickoff party Tuesday night (Sept. 12) and set the bar high for the festival to follow. Fans and industry VIPs packed the BMI lobby to capacity as three of Americana’s hottest acts took the stage.

Hurray for the Riff Raff kicked off the night with a phenomenal acoustic set, followed by an instrument-filled performance from Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers. Susto had guests dancing and cheering for more and wrapped up the night with an impromptu encore performance.

 

SESAC Creative Services Team with Christian Lopez

Pictured (L-R): Lydia Schultz, ET Brown, Christian Lopez, and Cristina Wheeler.

SESAC Creative Services team enjoyed a night out with SESAC artist Christian Lopez at the AmericanaFest Razor & Tie Kick-off Happy Hour on Tuesday (Sept. 12).

 

The People Sing! Presented by the Americana Music Association

Pictured (L-R): Teddy Thompson, Marcus Hummon, Elizabeth Cook, Kelsey Waldon, Mike Khalil, Rhiannon Giddens, Joe Henry, Alice Randall, Mike Cooley, Billy Bragg, Valerie June, Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer, Hayes Carll, Gretchen Peters, Barry Walsh, and Otis Taylor. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images [Click photo to enlarge]

Pictured (L-R): Allison Moorer, music director; Anthony Arnove, director/producer; and Christi Dortch, executive VP of programming & sales at TPAC. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): Mike Khalil, Elizabeth Cook, Shelby Lynne, Marcus Hummon, Allison Moorer, Joe Henry, Hayes Carll, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Bragg, and Teddy Thompson. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium filled on Tuesday night (Sept. 12) for The People Sing! presented by the Americana Music Association and Voices of a People’s History. The event featured performances by Allison Moorer, Hayes Carll, Alice Randall, Joe Henry, Teddy Thompson, Otis Taylor, Elizabeth Cook, Shelby Lynne, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Bragg, Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, and more.

“We were thrilled to bring our family of troubadours and troublemakers to the historic War Memorial Auditorium last night and honored to partner with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Americana Music Association,” said director/producer Anthony Arnove. “We have long dreamed of a performance driven by musicians of the calibre who performed in The People Sing! Last night really was a vision years in the making.”

 

NSAI in DC

Pictured (L-R): Bart Herbison, Brooke Perry, and Forest Glen Whitehead.

Pictured: Forest Glen Whitehead performs for Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) was on Capitol Hill this week for meetings with Members of Congress. Songwriter/producer Forest Glen Whitehead performed for Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold and staff.

 

World Premiere Of Part Of The Plan at TPAC

Pictured (L-R): Nashville actors Chaley Rose and Sam Palladio, professional golfer Brandt Snedeker and wife Mandy, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and wife Tiffany Fallon. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), JT Hodges, and Kasey Hodges. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Famous faces and VIPs turned out at Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Sunday night (Sept. 10) for the world premiere of Part of the Plan, the new, original American musical featuring the music and lyrics of celebrated singer-songwriter, the late Dan Fogelberg.

Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts), Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), country artist Maggie Rose, Nashville actors Sam Palladio and Chaley Rose, Alison Krauss, blues artist Casey James, Jay Buchanan (Rival Sons frontman), Shane MacAnally, Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Bobby Braddock, Grammy-winning songwriter Don Henry, PGA pro Brandt Snedeker, Emmy-nominated actress Brynn Thayer, and Jean Folgerberg (Dan’s wife) were among those in attendance. Nashville music and entertainment industry names included John Marks, Bonnie Garner, Skip Bishop, Leslie Fram, Neal Spielberg and Tracy Gershon, among others.

Part of the Plan runs through Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. For tickets and additional information, visit the TPAC website.

Pilgrimage Festival Producers Balance Growing Event With Boutique Feel

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Pilgrimage Festival co-producer Kevin Griffin.

When Kevin Griffin decided to go for a run down Franklin Road four years ago, he didn’t know he was setting out on a Pilgrimage. But as he looked at beautiful Harlinsdale Farm in his adopted hometown of Franklin, Tenn., the longtime Better Than Ezra frontman envisioned his next journey: a music festival.

Fast forward to 2017, where Griffin and co-producers Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan are a week away from the third annual Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, set for Sept. 23 and 24 at Harlinsdale Farm. Next week’s forecast is sunny—for both the weather and the experience.

The event has grown tremendously since it debuted in 2015, and now operates as a full-time enterprise with an office in Franklin. Griffin says it has “exceeded our wildest dreams.” Daily attendance doubled from the first to second years, and is growing again this year, when about 30,000 fans will be grooving to the sounds of Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder, Ryan Adams, Fitz and The Tantrums, The Avett Brothers and more. Griffin says the property can easily handle attendance of 60,000.

He attributes excellent word-of-mouth to the growing numbers, noting that the musical line-up for the first year was arguably stronger than the second year, and attendance doubled anyway. That is because so much attention is given to the ease of getting in and out of the festival grounds, convenience of purchasing food and drinks, creating a cool artisan marketplace and unique vibe.

Whelan says, “The guest experience is very important to us, as well as the overall brand and what it represents to the community. We are proud of that and it’s something we work very hard at. It’s not just about the music. It’s about the experience for everybody, from the time they decide to come to Pilgrimage to the time they leave. We spend a lot of time curating the line-up and have a healthy debate internally about the music and food programming and everything that goes with the brand. Our goal long-term is that the festival always have a boutique feel to it.”

Griffin agrees, “We want people this year to have as good of a time as the first two years. With this festival, we’ve wanted to walk before we run, and grow at a pace that we can handle.”

This year the grounds will include a new Americana Music Triangle Experience, featuring musical storytelling and décor curated by American Pickers. Also new is the Farm to Turntable area, offering food trucks in a horse paddock. “With the larger crowd this year, we wanted to expand the footprint because there is so much space out there,” says Griffin.

After that healthy debate about the musical line-up, Pilgrimage organizers turn their wish list of performers over to longtime talent booker Jay Sweet.

This year the festival has its biggest artist to-date—Timberlake, a Franklin-area resident who is co-producing the event as well as headlining on Saturday night.

“Justin’s been a great partner since he signed on over a year ago,” continues Whelan. “Obviously with him performing this year he’s very engaged with what Pilgrimage looks like, the line up, what his set will look like. The exposure he’s brought (has been amazing) and his involvement is not just about this year, it’s about the growth of Pilgrimage moving forward. He’s a global superstar who appeals to high school kids, grandparents and everybody in between.”

By design, Pilgrimage attracts all ages. Griffin says, “It’s the kind of festival the Nashville area was missing—a multi-genre festival that represents all the great music and food from the area, merchants and artisans. A Middle Tennessee cultural experience for the whole family.”

Nashville AIMP Chapter To Host Third Annual Songwriter Series

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The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers will host its third annual Songwriters Series on Monday, Sept. 25 at The Country from 4-6 p.m. CT. The series will feature six new-and-noteworthy independent songwriters in writers’ rounds.

The series was created by a committee of industry professionals and is headed by SMACKSongs’ Michael Baum and Wrensong’s Ree Guyer, and launched in 2015 to showcase some of Nashville’s standout songwriters and bring the Nashville independent publishing community together for a night of celebration.

The Class of 2017 was chosen from more than 50 submissions and voted on by a committee of industry professionals. The six songwriters chosen for this year’s class are Hannah Ellis, Ross Ellis, Michael Hardy, Ashley McBryde, Daniel Ross and Sarah Turner, who each represent different independent Nashville-based publishers.

Writers of the last two years’ classes have continued to receive cuts and acclaim within the industry including current charting singles, ACM nominations, and number one songs.

Previous songwriter classes include:
Class of 2016: Brinley Addington, Ash Bowers, Dustin Christensen, Erik Dylan, Jeffrey East and Josh Jenkins
Class of 2015: Maggie Chapman, Luke Dick, Jameson Rodgers, Matt Rogers, Hailey Whitters and J.P. Williams

Alabama To Offer Up Christmas Cheer On First Holiday Album In 21 Years

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Alabama is releasing their first new Christmas album in over two decades on Oct. 6. American Christmas, due out on BMG, is a collection of holiday favorites including “Away In A Manger,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells,” as well as four new songs contributed by the band. The album also includes an updated version of the group’s heartwarming holiday classic “Christmas In Dixie,” which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.

“To all our fans: Christmas is a special time for Alabama. We hope it is for you. From our hearts to you, we give you this Christmas gift.  Thank you for the love and support, all these years,” said Jeff, Teddy and Randy, “Merry Christmas!”

The album will be available at Cracker Barrel and other retailers and online digitally at Amazon, iTunes and Spotify and other outlets.

Track list:
 1-   Ain’t Santa Cool
 2-   Go Tell It On The Mountain
 3-   Silent Night
 4-   Why Can’t Christmas Day Last All Year Long
 5-   Away In A Manger
 6-   Christmas Joy
 7-   First Christmas Without Daddy
 8-   Winter Wonderland
 9-   Greatest Gift
 10- Jingle Bells
 11-  Remember Me
 12- (I Wanna) Rock N Roll Guitar
 13- Christmas In Dixie
 14- Sure Could Use Some Christmas Around Here
 15- Auld Lang Syne

BMI And Dualtone Celebrate Lumineers Day In Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Vice President of Writer Publisher Relations Jody Williams, BMI’s Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships & Events Mason Hunter, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers, Dualtone Co-Founder and CEO Scott Robinson, Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers and Dualtone President Paul Roper

It was Lumineers Day in Nashville on Thursday (Sept. 14) as the group’s successes were touted by Dualtone at a special celebration at BMI. The group was presented with plaques during the event honoring the successes of their triple-Platinum self-titled debut album and certified Gold follow-up album Cleopatra.

Their three platinum singles – “Ho Hey,” “Stubborn Love,” and “Ophelia” – and two gold singles – “Flowers in Your Hair” and “Cleopatra” – were also recognized by BMI’s Vice President of Writer Publisher Relations, Jody Williams, who presented the group with MillionAir awards in recognition of 3 million radio performances.

The special ceremony concluded with a surprise from Williams: a proclamation declaring September 14, 2017 “The Lumineers Day” in Nashville signed by Mayor Megan Barry.

BMI’s Jody Williams, The Lumineers and BMI’s Mason Hunter pose after the award presentations