Blake Shelton and Sam Hunt To Join Luke Bryan For Crash My Playa Event

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Luke Bryan has some superstar buddies crashing his fun-filled concert event Crash My Playa in Riviera Maya Mexico January 17-20 as Blake Shelton and Sam Hunt have signed up as headliners for the all-inclusive concert vacation experience. Shelton and Hunt will each headline one of the nightly concerts on the beach, with Bryan giving fans two headlining performances during the four-day event. 

“Blake and Sam are two of the hottest artists in country music and I couldn’t be any more pumped that they have agreed to come join me this year. I swear this event just gets better and better each year!” said Bryan.

Limited packages remain for the fourth installment of the destination event, which has sold out for three years in a row. Fans can stay at the event’s host resort, the Barceló Maya, or opt for one of several carefully selected tropical resorts and enjoy all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like deep sea fishing, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa merchandise packages, and more. Additional artists, details about poolside performances and more exciting event updates will be revealed soon.

“It’s a dream come true to go back to Mexico to join my BFF Luke for Crash My Playa. We had such a blast playing together last year that I’d come back every year if he’d let me,” said Shelton.

Weekly Chart Report (9/8/17)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Nashville Band Judah & The Lion Talk Ryman Auditorium Headlining Shows, Chart Success

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Nashville-based rock band Judah & The Lion first formed in 2011 while students at Nashville’s Belmont University. After six years spent crafting music that blends notes of hip-hop, pop, soul and bluegrass, and painstakingly building a loyal fanbase one show at a time, the band earned their first No. 1 on Billboard’s alternative chart early this year with “Take It All Back,” a mash of drums, banjo, mandolin and a compelling chorus. The song’s video has been viewed nearly 4 million times on YouTube. They followed the success with their current single, “Suit & Jacket.”

Judah & The Lion returns to Nashville this weekend for their first headlining shows at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday (Sept. 8) and Saturday (Sept. 9).

In March, the band released the deluxe edition of their Dave Cobb-produced, indie label album Folk Hop ‘N’ Roll, which includes four new tracks and an acoustic take on “Take It All Back.” The album is at No. 21 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, and at No. 6 on the Alternative New Artist Albums chart.

MusicRow spoke with Judah & The Lion drummer Spencer Cross about the upcoming Ryman Auditorium shows and the band’s hard-earned road to success.

Congratulations on your upcoming headlining gigs at the Ryman.

Cross: It’s exciting. We’ve opened there a couple of times but this is our first time headlining. The fact that we get to play it twice is a dream come true.

What was the first show you remember seeing at the Ryman Auditorium?

Actually the first time I ever went there was when we opened for Mat Kearney. It’s a surreal experience walking in, and it just feels different than any other venue I’ve ever been to. There’s just a reverence and you can feel it in the air. It’s a special place.

Concerts in Nashville are known for having surprise elements. Do you have special plans for your upcoming Nashville shows?

Definitely. Not to give too many things away, but we want to do some different arrangements and have some special things up our sleeves.

Your two albums have both been released on indie labels. What has been your strategy for building your fanbase so far?

We’ve just been road warriors. We toured in a van and trailer for three or four years straight and just this past couple of months, when we went on tour with Incubus, we did our first tour in a bus. So just grinding it out on the road. And that’s really how we’ve built our fanbase, going to places over and over. In the beginning it was putting our music up for free online and trying to spread the word. At the beginning that provided a fanbase and we started going from there. We just always had that indie underdog thing spirit about us.

How did the band form?

We met at Belmont in late 2011. Judah played baseball at Belmont and had been writing songs. He wanted to hear them with some different instruments. He had been playing them with other people and it hadn’t been working so he knew Nate played banjo and asked him to come along and Nate knew Bryan who played mandolin. The three of them, that was the first time they played together. For their first shows at Belmont, one of student showcases, they needed a drummer and that’s when they asked me to join. Belmont was a great platform; people are so supportive. Obviously it’s Nashville and it’s a music-based school, but people are so supportive of artists that come out of there. It was a great family to grow up in.

Another Belmont band, The Lonely Biscuits, are opening for one of your Ryman shows; did you know them during your time at Belmont?

We did know them. I think they came in when [fellow Judah & The Lion member] Brian [MacDonald] and I came to Belmont. They were the same year. I think they formed right off the bat. They are some of our favorite people and great musicians. They opened for us last fall for several shows so we are excited to have them out to the Ryman ones.

How did “Take It All Back” come about?

That song was written in a shed on Music Row, a shed that I think doesn’t exist anymore. We had some friends that have offices there and there was a gross shed in the back and they let us rehearse in. We actually wrote it several years ago as we were rehearsing for our first headlining tour for our first album [Kids These Days]. We finished a song and Nate [Zuercher] started playing this random riff and it was the tagline for “Take It All Back.” I started playing that hip-hop beat and we went from there. It came together super spontaneously, and the song was written in like three minutes. We started playing it live during that tour because we were like, ‘Oh this is a cool song, we’ll just see how the fans like it.’ And fans kept asking if we were going to record it. When we went into the studio for Folk Hop ‘N Roll we were like, “We have to record this song.”

You guys recorded Folk Hop ‘N Roll in two weeks with producer Dave Cobb.

Dave has a great approach to music and he has a very raw approach and he’s all about grabbing that natural sound and not over-thinking it. He lets the music speak for itself. He’s known mostly for country and Americana stuff, but he has an incredible range of knowledge on music and hip-hop and soul and everything. He had a lot of ideas and opinions that helped us get out of it what we wanted to. He works fast too. It’s very off the cuff and hopefully you get a taste of the live feel of the music. We are always thinking about the live show.

Kelly Clarkson Announces Atlantic Records Debut Project ‘Meaning Of Life’

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Kelly Clarkson will return with her debut project for Atlantic Records on Friday, Oct. 27. The new album, Meaning Of Life, will feature songs including “Move You” and the album’s first single, “Love So Soft.”

The album is Clarkson’s eighth, following 2015’s Piece By Piece. For the new project, the Texas-born, Nashville-based Clarkson worked again with writers and producers including Jason Halbert, Jesse Shatkin, Greg Kurstin, as well as with first-time collaborators Mick Schultz, The Monarch, Nick Ruth and more.

Clarkson is also set to return to NBC next year in her new role as coach on the new season of The Voice, which will premiere in February 2018. Alongside her latest music offering, Clarkson made her literary debut in 2016, with the children’s book River Rose And The Magical Lullaby. Clarkson’s followup, River Rose And The Magical Christmas, will be published Oct. 24 via HarperCollins.

DISClaimer: Chase Rice, Zac Brown Band, Brandon Lay Top This Week’s Offerings

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Country music returns to form in this post Labor Day season, and that means all boys, all the time.

There are two Disc of the Day awards, and both are production triumphs. They belong to Chase Rice and to the Zac Brown Band. These are singles that will tickle your ears.

The DisCovery Award goes to singer-songwriter Brandon Lay. He’s a sports-loving preacher’s kid from Jackson, TN, as you might guess from the lyrics of his debut single.

Did you miss me when I took last week off? Our San Diego vacation was delightful. In the city’s Balboa Park they have the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ, and we caught a concert there. At Eddie V’s bar in Seaport Village, we grooved to the AJ. DeGrasse jazz trio. And just so you know, the two best places to buy vintage vinyl there are Record City in Hillcrest and Folk Arts Rare Records in North Park.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Roots
Writers: Zac Brown, Niko Moon, Ben Simonetti, and Coy Bowles; Producers: Dave Cobb and In The Arena Productions; Publishers: Day for the Dead Publishing, administered by Reach Music Tunes, SESAC / Siva Moon Publishing, all rights administered by W.B.M. Music Corp., SESAC / Simonetti Music Publishing, administered by Kobalt Group Publishing, SESAC; Warner Music
– The saga of a traveling minstrel, performed with loads of rhythmic punch, filled with delightfully complex layered tracks and soaked in glorious vocal harmonies. These guys rule.

OLD DOMINION/Written In The Sand
Writers: Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Brad Tursi/Shane McAnally; Producers: Shane McAnally; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/GMR; RCA (track)
– Will the relationship last? It should, if she goes for lines this clever. “Are we written in the stars, or are we written in the sand?” “Are we names in a tattoo or just a number on a hand?” “Are we just a backseat, trying to get it while we can?” “Are we last-call kissin,’ or are will we be reminiscin’ for the next 40 years?”

DAN+SHAY/Road Trippin’
Writers: Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Martin Johnson; Producers: Martin Johnson, Dan Smyers; Publishers: ã2016 WB Music Corp. / Beats and Banjos (ASCAP) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Shay Mooney Music (BMI) / EMI April Music Inc. / Twintipskier Music (ASCAP); Warner Music
– I remain a fan. Hold onto summer a little bit longer with this sunny, breezy, thumpy ditty about vacation joys.

MIDLAND/Make A Little
Writers: Jess Carson/Cameron Duddy/Mark Wystrach/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne; Publishers: WB/TipTop/Tropical Cowboy/Warner-Tamerlane/Kitt Cass/Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt/Anderson Fork in the Road/Smackville, ASCAP/BMI/GMR; Big Machine
– Somewhat bland, under-produced country-rock that goes in one ear and out the other.

MATT & THE HERDSMEN/Miss My Chance
Writers: Matt Castillo/Eddie Seanz; Producer: David Perecefull; Publisher: none listed; BMI/SESAC; MH (track)
– This band is five Hispanic guys from Texas stirring an old-school country-rock stew. It sounds like live, raw, sawdust-floor, honky-tonk, beer-drinking music. However, neither the lead singer nor the production values are worth much.

BIG & RICH/Smoke In Her Eyes
Writers: John Rich/Rodney Clawson/Vicky McGehee; Producers: Big Kenny & John Rich; Publishers: J Money/Rich Entertainment Group/Kobalt/Round Hill Works/Big Loud Proud Crowd/Shirts at Work/Magic Mustang/Vick Town/BMG, ASCAP/BMI; Big & Rich/Thirty Tigers
-Don’t go near her: She’s not in the bar for a good time. She’s drinking off a bad goodbye. It’s well written, but a little “busy” sounding.

STEVE AZAR & THE KINGS MEN/Down At The Liquor Store
Writers: Steve Azar; Producers: Azar, AAron Bethune; Publishers: Just Al/Jigger & Jug, BMI; Ride (track)
– This is the title tune of a CD that pairs Azar with some of Mississippi’s top-flight sidemen, musicians who have played with Elvis, B.B. King and Little Milton. It is also the soundtrack of a documentary film titled Something In the Water. The Deep South vibe here is laid back, nostalgic, conversational and atmospheric.

BRANDON LAY/Speakers, Bleachers and Preachers
Writers: Brandon Lay/Luke Laird/Shane McAnally; Producers: Paul DiGiovanni/Brandon Lay; Publishers:2017 Mid South Mood Maker Music/WB Music Corp. (ASCAP); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake & Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); EMI (CDX)
– Lotsa words and not much melody. But very evocative and listenable and radio ready.

DARIUS RUCKER/For The First Time
Writers: Darius Rucker/Derek George/Scooter Carusoe; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: 2017 Sony/ATV Accent/GrowingMusic Publishing; WB Music Corp./Funky Friars Music, admin. by WB Music Corp.; Scrambler Music/Abbotts Creek Music Two, a div. of Carnival Music Group (ASCAP); Capitol (CDX)
– Let yourself go and do something spontaneous while the steady, stomping tempo marches along relentlessly and hands clap in time. “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” asks Darius as the electric guitars grind.

CHASE RICE/Three Chords & The Truth
Writers: Chase Rice, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: © 2017 Sony/ATV Countryside (BMI) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC, Dack Janiels Publishing (BMI) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC, EMI, Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC, Rezolant Music (BMI) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC, EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission; Broken Bow (ERG)
– “All I need is you, three chords and the truth.” With an echoey, swirling, shuddering undertow of a track as a backdrop, he sings of betting on your music dreams and getting lost in song. “Ring of Fire,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Copperhead Road,” “Amazing Grace,” “Mama Tried” and “Sweet Bye and Bye” all get shout outs. Audio magic.

iHeartMedia’s Bobby Bones Welcomes Jake Owen, Kristian Bush For Nashville Podcast Network

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iHeartMedia’s Bobby Bones has announced the launch of the Nashville Podcast Network, an eclectic collection of seven podcasts from a variety of hosts, including country artists such as Kristian Bush and Jake Owen. The network will also be home to Bones’ own BobbyCast, which features the radio host’s interviews with artists and songwriters, including Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Maren Morris and more.

The network will give listeners an inside look at the lifestyle and pop culture in Nashville and will be available for download across various podcast platforms including iHeartMedia, reaching iHeartRadio’s millions of listeners.

“My focus is content and to provide my audience with many options for it,” Bones said. “If you’re into fashion or music or even the stories of American heroes, this network is here to make sure you are always just one tap away from being entertained or informed.”

NASHVILLE PODCAST NETWORK

BobbyCast: iHeartMedia’s Bobby Bones goes behind-the-scenes in Nashville with BobbyCast, a podcast featuring songwriters, artists and candid conversations about the inner workings of Nashville’s music scene and Bones’ nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show.

Velvet’s Edge with Kelly Henderson: Based on the blog VelvetsEdge.com, this podcast will feature fashion, beauty, lifestyle and travel from one of Nashville’s most prominent female tastemakers and taste finders.

The Frontline Generation with Marjorie K. Eastman: This is a “hero” podcast, sharing the inspiring stories of people who have found a way to serve, to give back, those who have stepped up to help. Award winning author Marjorie K. Eastman, a combat veteran herself, will interview frontline leaders, including veterans, law enforcement, first responders, philanthropists and more.

Good Company with Jake Owen: Jake Owen has numerous No. 1 albums and hits, including personal songs that reflect on his own life. This podcast takes listeners a step further as Owen dives into the good and bad sides of being a country music superstar.

Whiskey Riff Raff: The creators of the country music site WhiskeyRiff.com talk raw and candidly from the perspective of country music fans. These podcasts are uncensored, highly opinionated and often involve a lot of alcohol.

Geeking Out with Kristian Bush: Fans matter, and everybody is a fan of something. Kristian Bush, one-half of the Grammy-winning duo Sugarland, talks to people from all walks of life about what they’re geeking out over, and shares his own musical obsessions along the way.

BoBo and Mikey: This is a podcast for kids ages four to eight, featuring two larger-than-life characters BoBo and Mikey. Each episode will include an educational lesson with the fun feel of listening to a cartoon.

Chris Young Reveals Tracklist For Anticipated Album ‘Losing Sleep’

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Chris Young today (Sept. 7) revealed the song stack for his upcoming album, Losing Sleep, due Oct. 20 on RCA Records Nashville.

It is the third album release in under two years for the prolific and creative artist. Losing Sleep finds Young pushing himself forward as a co-writer on every song for the first time. In addition, he continues as co-producer for the third time, working alongside previous collaborator Corey Crowder.

“Every album you make as an artist, you want to continue to grow,” says Young. “And you also want people to be in love with it. That’s such a difficult thing to balance, but I think there’s a little bit of something for everybody on this record.”

Losing Sleep offers songs co-written with Young’s core group of tunesmiths including Crowder and Josh Hoge, as well as his first collaborations with hitmakers including Liz Rose and Jon Randall.

As he gears up for the album release, Young will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 17.

Chris Young Losing Sleep

1. “Losing Sleep” (click to listen) – Chris Young, Chris DeStefano, Josh Hoge
2. “Hangin’ On” – Chris Young, Corey Crowder, Josh Hoge
3. “Holiday” – Chris Young, Cary Barlowe, Johnny Bulford, Corey Crowder
4. “Radio And The Rain” – Chris Young, Corey Crowder, Josh Hoge
5. “Where I Go When I Drink”- Chris Young, Tyler Reeve, Trent Tomlinson
6. “She’s Got A Way” – Chris Young, Cary Barlowe, Corey Crowder
7. “Leave Me Wanting More” – Chris Young, Corey Crowder, John Pierce
8. “Trouble Looking”- Chris Young, Corey Crowder, Liz Rose
9. “Woke Up Like This” – Chris Young, Corey Crowder, Josh Hoge
10. “Blacked Out” – Chris Young, Josh Hoge, Jon Randall

Skyville Live To Host Graham Nash And Special Guests

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Skyville Live will host an incredible lineup featuring Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; The Hollies) and special guests on Friday, Sept. 15. Joining the music icon for the show during AmericanaFest will be Ricky Skaggs, The Milk Carton Kids, The Secret Sisters and River Whyless.

Filmed live in front of an audience in Skyville Live’s Nashville studio, the 8 p.m. CT show will also stream on AOL, Yahoo Music! and Rated Red. Full streaming details can be found at SkyvilleLive.com.

“Graham Nash has written some of the world’s most memorable songs, is one of the greatest harmony singers I have ever heard and has made such a major impact on music as the founding member of two groups that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We’re looking forward to him joining the list of legends that have taken the Skyville Live stage,” commented Wally Wilson, creator of Skyville Live. “And with the iconic Ricky Skaggs on the lineup, along with some tremendous groups that are making their own mark on music, it’s going to be an amazing night of music here in Music City.”

The latest edition of Skyville Live will also feature the Skyville Live band of industry elites. Led by guitarist Kenny Greenberg, the band features Mike Rojas (keys), Justin Schipper (pedal steel), Glenn Worf (bass), and Nick Buda (drums).

Industry Leaders Exemplify Importance Of Building Your Circle

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Pictured at the recent reunion (L-R): Front Row – Melissa Kij Bailey (MTSU), Kelly King (King Pen Music), Autumn House-Tallant (Red Light Management), Stephanie Green (Gravity Gone Music); Middle Row – Bob Berg (Air Deluxe Music), Ben Vaughn (Warner-Chappell), Kent Earls (UMPG), Rusty Gaston (This Music), Dan Hodges (DHM); Back Row – Jeremy Stover (Red Creative Group), Kyle T. Jones, Jayson Wyatt (SESAC), Tom Luteran (Sony/ATV), Rod Parkin. Not pictured – Cris Lacy (Warner Music Nashville), Paul Compton (Music Highway), Steve Carmack (manager), Shannon Myers.

Songplugger Reunion Shows The Importance of Networking

More than 20 years ago a group of young songpluggers started a monthly tradition of gathering at a restaurant on Music Row called Sammy B’s. Today, these friends have weathered the ups and downs of the music business and become leaders in their fields. Even though Sammy B’s is now an abandoned building on 16th Ave. and the meetings eventually dissipated, the group recently reunited to reminisce and celebrate their lasting bond.

Publisher Dan Hodges recalls the group’s early days. “We decided to band together and share information on what types of songs the artists and producers were looking for and any other happenings on Music Row,” he says. “It was an attempt to build friendships, but also to stay informed.

“At the time, we were all just trying to break into the industry, so most of us didn’t yet have all of the relationships with the major producers or artists to be as effective as we wanted. We found that each person might have stronger connections than others in certain areas. We also found it much easier to book a meeting with a label head, producer or artist if we did so as a group. That person could hear the best couple of songs for a particular artist from each person and knock out 15 companies at once, saving them time. It proved fruitful for all.”

Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran learned a lot from his peers in the group at the time. “One of the best parts of being involved with a plugger group, especially early in your career is to see how other personalities interact with artists, producers,” he says. “My style tends to be excited, emotional and usually loud. To be able to incorporate other members of the group’s different styles and strengths definitely made me a better plugger and helped me grow as a music professional.”

Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn enjoyed reconnecting with longtime friends. “Having a reunion with the first publishing group I was ever a part of in my early 20s really reinforced how special we all have it living and working in the Music Row community in Nashville,” he says. “There are so many stories of connection that built great music and furthered careers of talent up and down Music Row. And these same special people continue to be friends and colleagues to this day.”

Kelly King of King Pen Music has benefited from her wide network. “Relationships are the key to this industry,” she says. “You have to know music, but you also have to be able to connect with each other. It’s the only way we can make things happen. We have to support each other, challenge each other, and help each other succeed. Everyone has a different area of expertise, and without every specialty present, nothing gets done.”

Hodges agrees, “In the long run, those relationships will serve you well.”

BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, John Varvatos Launch Rock Joint Venture

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Scott Borchetta, John Varvatos

Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta and fashion designer John Varvatos have launched a joint venture that pairs BMLG with the renowned American fashion designer, aimed at discovering and developing rock acts. The first artist being represented on the newly created Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records is California-based rock band badflower.

Borchetta and Varvatos met over five years ago at an Aerosmith concert where Cheap Trick was opening. Borchetta had just begun managing Cheap Trick and signed them to his Big Machine Records imprint. Cheap Trick went on to play a 35-year anniversary show celebrating [the band’s 1978 live album] At Budokan at John Varvatos Bowery location which is where the two entrepreneurs’ paths crossed once again.

“The cultural fashion of John Varvatos has always been a powerful rock and roll brand and one I’ve aspired to be a part of,” said Borchetta. “John and I immediately connected with our outrageous love for rock music. When I discovered that he was more than just a fan, and has a true eye and ear for rock talent, I was blown away. Combining our two brands together will help us achieve our goal in finding and enabling the next great rock artists.”

“Scott and I are extremely passionate about the future of rock music! Having the opportunity to partner with the BMLG team is the perfect match and timing to find the next rock and roll rebels. We are looking for artists with passion, angst and a soul, and those that have a voice to be heard during these troubled times. People say rock is dead… we say, ‘Long Live Rock!” added Varvatos.

This venture is not the first time Borchetta and Varvatos have created together. They previously partnered on the 2015 release of Zac Brown Band’s album Jeckyll +Hyde.

Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group not only finds its roster of artists on top of the pop and country charts, it has also found success in re-launching household rock and roll acts like Steven Tyler and Cheap Trick, the latter currently experiencing its 12th week at No. 1 on the Classic Rock Chart with “Long Time Coming.”