Belmont University Selects Inaugural Recipient Of Miranda Lambert “Women Creators” Scholarship
Anna Vaus
Belmont University Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business student Anna Vaus has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the ‘Women Creators’ scholarship, established in 2015 by Miranda Lambert.
The scholarship was created to honor a female Belmont student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies, and is actively working towards pursuing her dream of working in the music industry. The scholarship will provide Vaus with more than $40,000 in scholarship funds beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.
Originally from San Diego, Vaus was inspired toward music early on from her father, Grammy-winning artist, Steve Vaus (also known as Buck Howdy.) She has opened for Hunter Hayes, Lonestar, Billy Ray Cyrus, LeAnn Womack and Phil Vassar, and made her Bluebird Cafe debut in February. Vaus is currently a junior at Belmont, majoring in songwriting with a minor in music business.
Lambert established the Women Creators scholarship in an effort to encourage outstanding women to follow their passions and pursue careers in the music industry. Eighty candidates completed an online application and submitted original music. The Curb College had a selection committee review the applications and the top six finalists were sent for Lambert’s review.
AmericanaFest Announces Radio Panels
Americana Music Festival & Conference has announced is initial lineup of radio panels. Panels will focus on topics including making a transition from Americana to AAA, AMA chart mechanics, attracting younger audiences to Americana radio, managing volunteers, adapting to the digital delivery of music and working with on-air programming software options.
An additional panel will focus on how radio stations can partner with local and online retail to spread their brands. The Songlines Music Meeting will allow attendees to participate in a simulated Music Meeting, to listen to a dozen mostly yet-to-be-released new songs that the room will score and discuss in detail. Radio, TV, and internet programmers will discuss why they make the choices they make.
AmericanaFest will take place Sept. 20-25 in Nashville. To register, visit eventbrite.com.
Silverado Records Signs Melissa Mickelson
Melissa Mickelson
Silverado Records has signed Melissa Mickelson. The label will re-release her 2015 self-titled EP, which features a rendition of the Barbara Mandrell classic “I Was Country (When Country Wasn’t Cool).” A new EP is slated to release in 2017.
“Melissa is an incredibly fun and energetic personality, and we’ve really enjoyed getting to know her,” said Silverado Records A&R Director Aaron Chesling. “We can’t wait to share with you some new music she’s been working on, and letting her amazing personality bubble through the music,” he added.
“Melissa’s next project is setting up to be a very fun and realistic look at who she is as a person, and we couldn’t be more excited about that,” said Silverado Records CEO Scott Thomas. “The more you get to know her, the more you want to hang out with her and hear what she’s working on musically. Our team is very excited to be a part of growing her fan base and sharing some great Country music from her,” he said.
Mickelson added, “I am so excited to join the Silverado Records family! It is a dream come true to have found a place where I can be myself and allow my music to reflect who I really am. They’re an amazing team of people who believe in me. Working together, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Loeb & Loeb LLP has hired Elisabeth “Bess” Morgan at the law firm’s Nashville office as Senior Counsel in the Advanced Media and Technology Department. Her practice focuses on intellectual property counseling and transactional matters, as well as brand marketing and regulatory compliance.
Morgan was previously an associate at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.
“Bess’s depth of knowledge in the IP, branding and marketing space will enhance the capabilities of the tight-knit and specialized team we have here in Nashville,” said Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville Office Manager of Administration Tiffany Dunn, a partner in the firm’s Entertainment Department. “This addition underscores Loeb’s commitment to the city’s continued growth and to our clients shaping the ‘New Nashville’ that now offers a thriving startup scene and numerous opportunities for established businesses across sectors.”
Morgan represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and manages all aspects of enforcing intellectual property rights, including prosecuting and defending actions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, protecting intellectual property with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and representing clients in Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceedings. She is also experienced in negotiating and drafting a variety of intellectual property-related agreements, including assignment, license, co-existence and settlement agreements.
As previously reported, Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville office will relocate this fall from Hillsboro Village back to Music Row into the new building at 35 Music Square East, home to the Country Music Association and SESAC.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164625/Elisabeth-Morgan.jpg381570Jessica Nicholsonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngJessica Nicholson2016-09-06 09:05:352016-09-06 09:05:35Loeb & Loeb Hires Bess Morgan As Senior Counsel
Florida Georgia Line‘s third BMLG album, Dig Your Roots, debuted atop the country albums chart this week with 126K album sold. The project also lands at No. 2 on the overall chart with 145K units of combined sales and streaming. It’s bested only by Barbra Streisand‘s Encore, Movie Partners, which sold 148K, and had combined units of 149K.
On the country albums chart, Dolly Parton‘s Pure & Simple moves down one spot to No. 2, with 13K sold. Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller is at No. 3, with 12K. Blake Shelton‘s If I’m Honest lands at No. 4 with 8.2K, and Justin Moore‘s Kinda Don’t Care rounds out the Top 5 with 7.7K.
Overall, album sales have declined 14.7 percent YTD, while overall digital album sales have declined 19.4 percent. Country album sales are down 9 percent YTD, while country digital album sales are down 14.5 percent.
Collaborations abound in the country tracks rankings this week. On the top country tracks rankings, Kenny Chesney‘s collaboration with Pink, “Setting The World On Fire,” is No. 1, with 32K sold, and 223K sold to date. Florida Georgia Line’s collaboration with Tim McGraw, “May We All,” is at No. 2, with 26K. Miranda Lambert‘s “Vice” sits at No. 3 with 24.5K, while Dierks Bentley‘s duet with Elle King, “Different For Girls,” is at No. 4 with 21K. Florida Georgia Line’s second entry rounds out the top 5, with “H.O.L.Y.” moving 19.5K this week.
Jason Aldean‘s latest single, “The Way a Night Should Feel,” debuts just outside the top 5, at No. 6 on the country tracks rankings and moving 18.5K.
Overall track sales have declined 24.9 percent YTD, while country track sales have declined 23.2 percent YTD.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164625/FGL_Dig_Your_Roots.jpg261390Jessica Nicholsonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngJessica Nicholson2016-09-06 09:03:162016-09-06 09:03:16Weekly Register: Florida Georgia Line Lands No. 1 Country Album
iHeartMedia Nashville’s new classic country station, The BIG Legend 98.3, launched commercial-free today (Sept. 2) at 5 p.m. CT. The station was previously alternative station Alt 98.3 and the switch came as a surprise.
The station is iHeartMedia Nashville’s second BIG Country Brand, joining Nashville sister station The BIG 98. The new classic country station competes in the Nashville market against Cumulus’ 95.5 Nash Icon, as well as 650 WSM-AM, home to the Grand Ole Opry.
The BIG Legend 98.3 launched with songs from Alabama, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Reba, Travis Tritt, and more.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of a pure Classic Country radio station brand for the city where this music was born and lives on so strongly today,” stated Rod Phillips, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Nashville and iHeartCountry’s Brand Manager. “This new station is the perfect match to our sister station, The Big 98, WSIX that made these songs so famous through the years.”
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164626/The-Legend-logo.jpg600600Jessica Nicholsonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngJessica Nicholson2016-09-02 21:21:432016-09-02 21:21:43iHeartMedia Surprises Nashville With Classic Country Station
Easton Corbin accepts his MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for “Baby Be My Love Song.” Photo: Molly Hannula
Easton Corbin visited the MusicRow office to accept a MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for his 2015 hit, “Baby Be My Love Song,” from his third album About To Get Real. Jim Collins and Brett James penned “Baby Be My Love Song.”
“I just loved the melody of that song,” says Corbin. “It was like, ‘I can listen to this over and over again, and it doesn’t get old. It has a modern feel to it, but it still is country.”
The past six years have been a whirlwind for the Mercury Nashville singer-songwriter, who earned consecutive No. 1 hits from his 2010 debut, bringing a more traditional country sound back to the radio with “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.” His sophomore album, 2012’s All Over The Road, produced the hits, “Lovin’ You Is Fun,” and “All Over The Road.”
His current single, the earnest ballad “Are You With Me,” paints pictures of drinking margaritas under a Mexican sky and chasing down dreams with a significant other. The track originally appeared on All Over The Road project, though the song wasn’t selected as a radio single. Still, Mercury Nashville and Easton were sufficiently convinced of the single’s radio hit potential to include the song on About To Get Real.
Easton Corbin with MusicRow staffers.
“I believe in the song and everyone on the team believes in the song. I was hoping at some point we could give it a chance to be a single and so that’s why they let me move it over to this record,” says Corbin. “It’s about adventure and it’s a love song, about throwing all caution to the wind. Just throwing it all out there and not worrying about what happens.”
Before “Are You With Me” finally got its run at country radio, the track (well, at least the first four lines) became a bonafide smash overseas in 2014, thanks to Belgian DJ and record producer Lost Frequencies, who sped up the track and remixed it as an electronic dance song. “Are You With Me” topped the music charts in Belgium, Australia, Germany and other countries, and found multi-platinum success.
“That was so random,” recalls Corbin. “My buddy called and told me that and I was like, ‘Are you sure?’”
This year, the majority of Corbin’s time has been spent on the road, opening for Carrie Underwood’s juggernaut of a tour, The Storyteller Tour- Stories In The Round.
By the end of 2016, Corbin will have performed nearly 100 shows as part of the Storyteller Tour, one that finds him entertaining fans with a 360-degree, in-the-round setting on a massive stage.
“That stage is the biggest stage I’ve ever been on and a lot of moving parts,” says Corbin. “It’s been a really awesome experience.”
He says maneuvering the stage and in-the-round format also requires some careful planning. “There are some spaces and gaps where you have to be really careful or you could hurt yourself. So just learning the stage was a big challenge and we really didn’t get to rehearse with the stage much before the tour. Also, making sure you get to all the folks around the stage during the performance within the 45-minute set.”
As Underwood and Corbin launch the fall leg of the tour, which runs through Nov. 28 at West Valley City, Utah, Corbin also has a few ideas for switching up his set list and keeping the music fresh.
“There will be some surprise covers I do out there,” says Corbin, noting fans can expect a non-country cover. “It’s something nobody would ever think I would sing.”
He notes that while he’s occasionally included covers of Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” and DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean” in concert, but doesn’t mean he will be straying from his traditional country sensibilities anytime soon.
He concludes, “The way I do it, if I put my voice on anything it’s going to sound country and the way I approached it, it’s a country song. It shows a bit of dynamic, like ‘Hey, I can do that too.’ I’m not trying to be pop at all, trust me. But if it’s a good song, it’s a good song. And I think ‘Are You With Me’ is a prime example. It’s an EDM song too. It’s a country song, but you can do it the other way and people still love it.”
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https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164627/Easton-Corbin_570.jpg380570Jessica Nicholsonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngJessica Nicholson2016-09-02 14:32:422016-09-02 14:32:42Exclusive: Easton Corbin Pushes Boundaries While Staying Country
Pictured (L-R): Allison Jones, Sr. VP of A&R Big Machine Label Group; Ronnie Dunn; Jim Weatherson, GM Nash Icon. Photo: Jessica Valiyi
Ronnie Dunn gathered friends and industry members to hear songs from Tattooed Heart, his upcoming album on Big Machine Label Group. Dunn hosted the intimate gathering in his barn and personal studio, where he recorded most of the vocals for the project. The album will be released on Oct. 21.
Aaron Lewis Previews Sinner Album
Vector Management’s Ross Schilling, Dot Records’ Chris Stacey, Aaron Lewis, Dot Records’ Kris Lamb. Photo: Nick Rau
Aaron Lewis performed a number of songs from an upcoming album, Sinner, at Nashville’s 12th & Porter on Wednesday night (Aug. 31). Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski joined Lewis onstage for a bluesy rendition of “I Lost It All” as well as “Whiskey And You” and “Mama.”
Lewis will release Sinner on Sept. 16 on Dot Records, an imprint of Big Machine Label Group. He recorded the album over the course of 16 hours at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with producer Buddy Cannon.
“I listened to new country radio for an entire day,” Lewis shared before launching into his single. “Those artists inspired me and I need to thank them. So did the greats because they remind me what real country is. This is music I grew up on.”
Music Industry Figure Joe Johnson Turns 89 With Friends
Pictured (L-R): Randy Rayburn, Joe Johnson, David Bennett
Friends of music industry figure Joe Johnson gathered at Midtown Café in Nashville to celebrate music industry legend Joe Johnson’s 89th birthday. The party was hosted by Randy Rayburn, David Bennett and Rick Sanjek. Guests included Manuel, Lorrie Morgan, Ralph Murphy, and Dianne Sherrill.
Johnson’s career in the music industry began in Nashville at Columbia Records before he moved to L.A. to work with the iconic Gene Autry at Four Star Records. Autry and Johnson purchased the company in 1961.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164626/Ronnie-Dunn.png380570Craig_Shelburnehttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngCraig_Shelburne2016-09-02 14:29:172016-09-02 14:29:17In Pictures: Ronnie Dunn, Aaron Lewis, Joe Johnson
Tucker Beathard will headline clubs during the Rock On College Tour this fall, starting in Champaign, Illinois on Oct. 13. Aubrie Sellers will be a special guest on the tour, which will visit cities of Big Ten college teams.
“If I learned anything from growing up on a field surrounded by coaches and athletes, it’s that you have to keep your head down and keep practicing. Two hundred shows later, and I think we are ready to go tackle our first club tour. It’s going to be cool to have Aubrie out with us because we’ve gotten to be friends this year. She doesn’t sound like anyone else out there, and her band is ridiculously good. There’s no place better than a college town in the fall…I’m really excited to get started!”
Rock On College Tour Dates:
Oct. 13: Champaign, Illinois
Oct. 14: Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct. 15 Rosemont, Illinois
Nov. 3: Madison, Wisconsin
Nov. 4: Lansing, Michigan
Nov. 5: Bloomington, Indiana
Nov. 9: Oxford, Ohio
Nov. 11: Columbus, Ohio
Nov. 12: Iowa City, Iowa
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164629/unnamed.jpg560490Craig_Shelburnehttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngCraig_Shelburne2016-09-02 13:57:442016-09-02 13:57:44Tucker Beathard Plans College Tour With Aubrie Sellers
Danielle Bradbery Joins BMLG Team On NASH Next Panel
Danielle Bradbery
Danielle Bradbery will join the national judging panel for Cumulus’ NASH Next 2016, a national and grassroots search for America’s newest country star. The winner will be announced by Reba McEntire and will receive a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group.
Bradbery joins national judges Scott Borchetta, Kix Brooks, Jay DeMarcus, and a contest-winning listener of one of Cumulus’ stations. The four-month competition will first be judged by Cumulus listeners and local music industry professionals in their communities.
RED BOW Records’ Brooke Eden Reveals New Single
Brooke Eden. Photo: Joseph Llanes
RED BOW Records/BBR Music Group artist Brooke Eden released a new single “Diamonds” on Friday (Sept. 2). The song will be featured Monday on Tyler Perry’s TLC series, Too Close To Home. Eden also recorded the theme song for the show. “Diamonds” has also landed on Spotify’s “New Boots” playlist.
“I grew up in a small town. On the weekends we couldn’t necessarily have house parties because they would get shut down even before it started because of noise complaints. Instead, we would drive out to the woods and hang out using the headlights from our cars as lights. All the girls would get real dressed up and we’d listen to music and dance around in the headlights ‘shining like diamonds,’” says Eden, who co-wrote the song.
Meghan Linsey Added To Nashville AIDS Walk and 5K Run
Meghan Linsey. Photo: Jeremy Ryan
Meghan Linsey has been announced as honorary chair for the Nashville 25th Annual AIDS Walk and 5K Run on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Public Square Park. The 2016 goal for Tennessee’s oldest continuously running HIV/AIDS fundraiser goal is to raise $240,000. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Linsey will perform the national anthem to kick off the walk, followed by a short performance to send off the walkers at 11 a.m. The event raises money to help Nashville CARES’ work to prevent HIV infections and serve those living with it.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164628/BradberyWeb-slider.jpg380570Eric T. Parkerhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngEric T. Parker2016-09-02 13:45:282016-09-02 13:45:28Artist Updates: Danielle Bradbery, Brooke Eden, Meghan Linsey
SMACKSongs has hired Lee Krabel as Senior Creative Director. The Belmont University graduate joins SMACKSongs after previous stops at Sea Gayle Music as well as HoriPro Entertainment, where he served as Creative Director from 2011 to 2016.
“I’m excited to be a part of the incredible team at SMACK,” Krabel said. “I’m looking forward to working with the amazing songwriters at SMACKSongs.”
SMACKSongs is led by award-winning songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Krabel joins the company’s creative staff, which includes Robin Palmer, Robert Carlton and Elle Hussey.
SMACKSongs was named No. 7 Hot Country Music Publisher by Billboard Magazine and 2015 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP).
“We are so fortunate to have a teammate with Lee’s talents and abilities,” noted Palmer, Senior VP, Creative. “He is a great addition to our creative staff!”
SMACKSongs is a Nashville-based music publishing company that represents SMACK partners/hit songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, Green River Ordinance’s Josh Jenkins, Matthew McGinn, Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen and the new music of singer/songwriters JoSMITH and Walker Hayes.
Pictured (L-R): Lee Krabel, SMACKSongs Sr VP/Creative Robin Palmer, SMACKSongs owner/partners Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Photo: Elle Hussey
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/10164627/Lee-Krabel.jpg570570Craig_Shelburnehttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngCraig_Shelburne2016-09-02 11:43:232016-09-02 11:43:23SMACKSongs Adds Lee Krabel as Senior Creative Director
Luke Bryan has revealed the songs and songwriters on his first-ever Farm Tour EP, Farm Tour…Here’s To The Farmer. Produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, the five-song project releases on Sept. 23 in advance of his eighth annual Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2016, set to run Oct. 5-15.
Farm Tour…Here’s To The Farmer Track List:
1. “I Do All My Dreamin’ There” (Craig Wiseman, Jim McCormick)
2. “Here’s To The Farmer” (Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Chase McGill)
3. “Love Me In A Field” (Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem)
4. “You Look Like Rain” (Tony Lane, Bobby Hamrick, Marti Dodson)
5. “Southern Gentleman” (Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley)
During last year’s tour, Bryan performed for over 110,000 fans during the eight-city run. A portion of the ticket proceeds are granted for local college scholarships (“Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship”) to students from a farming family or a student that is an agriculture major within the communities the tour plays. Additionally, Bryan and Bayer make a presentation to a local farmer onstage in each city of the Farm Tour.
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/10165148/unspecified-6.jpg570570Craig_Shelburnehttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngCraig_Shelburne2016-09-02 11:30:252016-09-02 11:30:25Luke Bryan Reveals Track List For Farm Tour EP
Industry Ink: Belmont University, AmericanaFest, Silverado Records
/by Jessica NicholsonBelmont University Selects Inaugural Recipient Of Miranda Lambert “Women Creators” Scholarship
Anna Vaus
Belmont University Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business student Anna Vaus has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the ‘Women Creators’ scholarship, established in 2015 by Miranda Lambert.
The scholarship was created to honor a female Belmont student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies, and is actively working towards pursuing her dream of working in the music industry. The scholarship will provide Vaus with more than $40,000 in scholarship funds beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.
Originally from San Diego, Vaus was inspired toward music early on from her father, Grammy-winning artist, Steve Vaus (also known as Buck Howdy.) She has opened for Hunter Hayes, Lonestar, Billy Ray Cyrus, LeAnn Womack and Phil Vassar, and made her Bluebird Cafe debut in February. Vaus is currently a junior at Belmont, majoring in songwriting with a minor in music business.
Lambert established the Women Creators scholarship in an effort to encourage outstanding women to follow their passions and pursue careers in the music industry. Eighty candidates completed an online application and submitted original music. The Curb College had a selection committee review the applications and the top six finalists were sent for Lambert’s review.
AmericanaFest Announces Radio Panels
Americana Music Festival & Conference has announced is initial lineup of radio panels. Panels will focus on topics including making a transition from Americana to AAA, AMA chart mechanics, attracting younger audiences to Americana radio, managing volunteers, adapting to the digital delivery of music and working with on-air programming software options.
An additional panel will focus on how radio stations can partner with local and online retail to spread their brands. The Songlines Music Meeting will allow attendees to participate in a simulated Music Meeting, to listen to a dozen mostly yet-to-be-released new songs that the room will score and discuss in detail. Radio, TV, and internet programmers will discuss why they make the choices they make.
AmericanaFest will take place Sept. 20-25 in Nashville. To register, visit eventbrite.com.
Silverado Records Signs Melissa Mickelson
Melissa Mickelson
Silverado Records has signed Melissa Mickelson. The label will re-release her 2015 self-titled EP, which features a rendition of the Barbara Mandrell classic “I Was Country (When Country Wasn’t Cool).” A new EP is slated to release in 2017.
“Melissa is an incredibly fun and energetic personality, and we’ve really enjoyed getting to know her,” said Silverado Records A&R Director Aaron Chesling. “We can’t wait to share with you some new music she’s been working on, and letting her amazing personality bubble through the music,” he added.
“Melissa’s next project is setting up to be a very fun and realistic look at who she is as a person, and we couldn’t be more excited about that,” said Silverado Records CEO Scott Thomas. “The more you get to know her, the more you want to hang out with her and hear what she’s working on musically. Our team is very excited to be a part of growing her fan base and sharing some great Country music from her,” he said.
Mickelson added, “I am so excited to join the Silverado Records family! It is a dream come true to have found a place where I can be myself and allow my music to reflect who I really am. They’re an amazing team of people who believe in me. Working together, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Loeb & Loeb Hires Bess Morgan As Senior Counsel
/by Jessica NicholsonElisabeth “Bess” Morgan
Loeb & Loeb LLP has hired Elisabeth “Bess” Morgan at the law firm’s Nashville office as Senior Counsel in the Advanced Media and Technology Department. Her practice focuses on intellectual property counseling and transactional matters, as well as brand marketing and regulatory compliance.
Morgan was previously an associate at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.
“Bess’s depth of knowledge in the IP, branding and marketing space will enhance the capabilities of the tight-knit and specialized team we have here in Nashville,” said Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville Office Manager of Administration Tiffany Dunn, a partner in the firm’s Entertainment Department. “This addition underscores Loeb’s commitment to the city’s continued growth and to our clients shaping the ‘New Nashville’ that now offers a thriving startup scene and numerous opportunities for established businesses across sectors.”
Morgan represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and manages all aspects of enforcing intellectual property rights, including prosecuting and defending actions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, protecting intellectual property with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and representing clients in Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceedings. She is also experienced in negotiating and drafting a variety of intellectual property-related agreements, including assignment, license, co-existence and settlement agreements.
As previously reported, Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville office will relocate this fall from Hillsboro Village back to Music Row into the new building at 35 Music Square East, home to the Country Music Association and SESAC.
Weekly Register: Florida Georgia Line Lands No. 1 Country Album
/by Jessica NicholsonFlorida Georgia Line‘s third BMLG album, Dig Your Roots, debuted atop the country albums chart this week with 126K album sold. The project also lands at No. 2 on the overall chart with 145K units of combined sales and streaming. It’s bested only by Barbra Streisand‘s Encore, Movie Partners, which sold 148K, and had combined units of 149K.
On the country albums chart, Dolly Parton‘s Pure & Simple moves down one spot to No. 2, with 13K sold. Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller is at No. 3, with 12K. Blake Shelton‘s If I’m Honest lands at No. 4 with 8.2K, and Justin Moore‘s Kinda Don’t Care rounds out the Top 5 with 7.7K.
Overall, album sales have declined 14.7 percent YTD, while overall digital album sales have declined 19.4 percent. Country album sales are down 9 percent YTD, while country digital album sales are down 14.5 percent.
Collaborations abound in the country tracks rankings this week. On the top country tracks rankings, Kenny Chesney‘s collaboration with Pink, “Setting The World On Fire,” is No. 1, with 32K sold, and 223K sold to date. Florida Georgia Line’s collaboration with Tim McGraw, “May We All,” is at No. 2, with 26K. Miranda Lambert‘s “Vice” sits at No. 3 with 24.5K, while Dierks Bentley‘s duet with Elle King, “Different For Girls,” is at No. 4 with 21K. Florida Georgia Line’s second entry rounds out the top 5, with “H.O.L.Y.” moving 19.5K this week.
Jason Aldean‘s latest single, “The Way a Night Should Feel,” debuts just outside the top 5, at No. 6 on the country tracks rankings and moving 18.5K.
Overall track sales have declined 24.9 percent YTD, while country track sales have declined 23.2 percent YTD.
iHeartMedia Surprises Nashville With Classic Country Station
/by Jessica NicholsoniHeartMedia Nashville’s new classic country station, The BIG Legend 98.3, launched commercial-free today (Sept. 2) at 5 p.m. CT. The station was previously alternative station Alt 98.3 and the switch came as a surprise.
The station is iHeartMedia Nashville’s second BIG Country Brand, joining Nashville sister station The BIG 98. The new classic country station competes in the Nashville market against Cumulus’ 95.5 Nash Icon, as well as 650 WSM-AM, home to the Grand Ole Opry.
The BIG Legend 98.3 launched with songs from Alabama, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Reba, Travis Tritt, and more.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of a pure Classic Country radio station brand for the city where this music was born and lives on so strongly today,” stated Rod Phillips, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Nashville and iHeartCountry’s Brand Manager. “This new station is the perfect match to our sister station, The Big 98, WSIX that made these songs so famous through the years.”
Exclusive: Easton Corbin Pushes Boundaries While Staying Country
/by Jessica NicholsonEaston Corbin accepts his MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for “Baby Be My Love Song.” Photo: Molly Hannula
Easton Corbin visited the MusicRow office to accept a MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for his 2015 hit, “Baby Be My Love Song,” from his third album About To Get Real. Jim Collins and Brett James penned “Baby Be My Love Song.”
“I just loved the melody of that song,” says Corbin. “It was like, ‘I can listen to this over and over again, and it doesn’t get old. It has a modern feel to it, but it still is country.”
The past six years have been a whirlwind for the Mercury Nashville singer-songwriter, who earned consecutive No. 1 hits from his 2010 debut, bringing a more traditional country sound back to the radio with “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.” His sophomore album, 2012’s All Over The Road, produced the hits, “Lovin’ You Is Fun,” and “All Over The Road.”
His current single, the earnest ballad “Are You With Me,” paints pictures of drinking margaritas under a Mexican sky and chasing down dreams with a significant other. The track originally appeared on All Over The Road project, though the song wasn’t selected as a radio single. Still, Mercury Nashville and Easton were sufficiently convinced of the single’s radio hit potential to include the song on About To Get Real.
Easton Corbin with MusicRow staffers.
“I believe in the song and everyone on the team believes in the song. I was hoping at some point we could give it a chance to be a single and so that’s why they let me move it over to this record,” says Corbin. “It’s about adventure and it’s a love song, about throwing all caution to the wind. Just throwing it all out there and not worrying about what happens.”
Before “Are You With Me” finally got its run at country radio, the track (well, at least the first four lines) became a bonafide smash overseas in 2014, thanks to Belgian DJ and record producer Lost Frequencies, who sped up the track and remixed it as an electronic dance song. “Are You With Me” topped the music charts in Belgium, Australia, Germany and other countries, and found multi-platinum success.
“That was so random,” recalls Corbin. “My buddy called and told me that and I was like, ‘Are you sure?’”
This year, the majority of Corbin’s time has been spent on the road, opening for Carrie Underwood’s juggernaut of a tour, The Storyteller Tour- Stories In The Round.
By the end of 2016, Corbin will have performed nearly 100 shows as part of the Storyteller Tour, one that finds him entertaining fans with a 360-degree, in-the-round setting on a massive stage.
“That stage is the biggest stage I’ve ever been on and a lot of moving parts,” says Corbin. “It’s been a really awesome experience.”
As Underwood and Corbin launch the fall leg of the tour, which runs through Nov. 28 at West Valley City, Utah, Corbin also has a few ideas for switching up his set list and keeping the music fresh.
“There will be some surprise covers I do out there,” says Corbin, noting fans can expect a non-country cover. “It’s something nobody would ever think I would sing.”
He notes that while he’s occasionally included covers of Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” and DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean” in concert, but doesn’t mean he will be straying from his traditional country sensibilities anytime soon.
He concludes, “The way I do it, if I put my voice on anything it’s going to sound country and the way I approached it, it’s a country song. It shows a bit of dynamic, like ‘Hey, I can do that too.’ I’m not trying to be pop at all, trust me. But if it’s a good song, it’s a good song. And I think ‘Are You With Me’ is a prime example. It’s an EDM song too. It’s a country song, but you can do it the other way and people still love it.”
In Pictures: Ronnie Dunn, Aaron Lewis, Joe Johnson
/by Craig_ShelburneRonnie Dunn Throws A Barn Party
Pictured (L-R): Allison Jones, Sr. VP of A&R Big Machine Label Group; Ronnie Dunn; Jim Weatherson, GM Nash Icon. Photo: Jessica Valiyi
Ronnie Dunn gathered friends and industry members to hear songs from Tattooed Heart, his upcoming album on Big Machine Label Group. Dunn hosted the intimate gathering in his barn and personal studio, where he recorded most of the vocals for the project. The album will be released on Oct. 21.
Aaron Lewis Previews Sinner Album
Vector Management’s Ross Schilling, Dot Records’ Chris Stacey, Aaron Lewis, Dot Records’ Kris Lamb. Photo: Nick Rau
Aaron Lewis performed a number of songs from an upcoming album, Sinner, at Nashville’s 12th & Porter on Wednesday night (Aug. 31). Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski joined Lewis onstage for a bluesy rendition of “I Lost It All” as well as “Whiskey And You” and “Mama.”
Lewis will release Sinner on Sept. 16 on Dot Records, an imprint of Big Machine Label Group. He recorded the album over the course of 16 hours at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with producer Buddy Cannon.
“I listened to new country radio for an entire day,” Lewis shared before launching into his single. “Those artists inspired me and I need to thank them. So did the greats because they remind me what real country is. This is music I grew up on.”
Music Industry Figure Joe Johnson Turns 89 With Friends
Pictured (L-R): Randy Rayburn, Joe Johnson, David Bennett
Friends of music industry figure Joe Johnson gathered at Midtown Café in Nashville to celebrate music industry legend Joe Johnson’s 89th birthday. The party was hosted by Randy Rayburn, David Bennett and Rick Sanjek. Guests included Manuel, Lorrie Morgan, Ralph Murphy, and Dianne Sherrill.
Johnson’s career in the music industry began in Nashville at Columbia Records before he moved to L.A. to work with the iconic Gene Autry at Four Star Records. Autry and Johnson purchased the company in 1961.
Tucker Beathard Plans College Tour With Aubrie Sellers
/by Craig_ShelburneTucker Beathard will headline clubs during the Rock On College Tour this fall, starting in Champaign, Illinois on Oct. 13. Aubrie Sellers will be a special guest on the tour, which will visit cities of Big Ten college teams.
Tucker’s debut single for Big Machine Label Group, “Rock On,” is No. 1 on this week’s MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.
“If I learned anything from growing up on a field surrounded by coaches and athletes, it’s that you have to keep your head down and keep practicing. Two hundred shows later, and I think we are ready to go tackle our first club tour. It’s going to be cool to have Aubrie out with us because we’ve gotten to be friends this year. She doesn’t sound like anyone else out there, and her band is ridiculously good. There’s no place better than a college town in the fall…I’m really excited to get started!”
Rock On College Tour Dates:
Oct. 13: Champaign, Illinois
Oct. 14: Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct. 15 Rosemont, Illinois
Nov. 3: Madison, Wisconsin
Nov. 4: Lansing, Michigan
Nov. 5: Bloomington, Indiana
Nov. 9: Oxford, Ohio
Nov. 11: Columbus, Ohio
Nov. 12: Iowa City, Iowa
Artist Updates: Danielle Bradbery, Brooke Eden, Meghan Linsey
/by Eric T. ParkerDanielle Bradbery Joins BMLG Team On NASH Next Panel
Danielle Bradbery
Danielle Bradbery will join the national judging panel for Cumulus’ NASH Next 2016, a national and grassroots search for America’s newest country star. The winner will be announced by Reba McEntire and will receive a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group.
Bradbery joins national judges Scott Borchetta, Kix Brooks, Jay DeMarcus, and a contest-winning listener of one of Cumulus’ stations. The four-month competition will first be judged by Cumulus listeners and local music industry professionals in their communities.
RED BOW Records’ Brooke Eden Reveals New Single
Brooke Eden. Photo: Joseph Llanes
RED BOW Records/BBR Music Group artist Brooke Eden released a new single “Diamonds” on Friday (Sept. 2). The song will be featured Monday on Tyler Perry’s TLC series, Too Close To Home. Eden also recorded the theme song for the show. “Diamonds” has also landed on Spotify’s “New Boots” playlist.
“I grew up in a small town. On the weekends we couldn’t necessarily have house parties because they would get shut down even before it started because of noise complaints. Instead, we would drive out to the woods and hang out using the headlights from our cars as lights. All the girls would get real dressed up and we’d listen to music and dance around in the headlights ‘shining like diamonds,’” says Eden, who co-wrote the song.
Meghan Linsey Added To Nashville AIDS Walk and 5K Run
Meghan Linsey. Photo: Jeremy Ryan
Meghan Linsey has been announced as honorary chair for the Nashville 25th Annual AIDS Walk and 5K Run on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Public Square Park. The 2016 goal for Tennessee’s oldest continuously running HIV/AIDS fundraiser goal is to raise $240,000. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Linsey will perform the national anthem to kick off the walk, followed by a short performance to send off the walkers at 11 a.m. The event raises money to help Nashville CARES’ work to prevent HIV infections and serve those living with it.
SMACKSongs Adds Lee Krabel as Senior Creative Director
/by Craig_ShelburneLee Krabel
SMACKSongs has hired Lee Krabel as Senior Creative Director. The Belmont University graduate joins SMACKSongs after previous stops at Sea Gayle Music as well as HoriPro Entertainment, where he served as Creative Director from 2011 to 2016.
“I’m excited to be a part of the incredible team at SMACK,” Krabel said. “I’m looking forward to working with the amazing songwriters at SMACKSongs.”
SMACKSongs is led by award-winning songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Krabel joins the company’s creative staff, which includes Robin Palmer, Robert Carlton and Elle Hussey.
SMACKSongs was named No. 7 Hot Country Music Publisher by Billboard Magazine and 2015 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP).
“We are so fortunate to have a teammate with Lee’s talents and abilities,” noted Palmer, Senior VP, Creative. “He is a great addition to our creative staff!”
SMACKSongs is a Nashville-based music publishing company that represents SMACK partners/hit songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, Green River Ordinance’s Josh Jenkins, Matthew McGinn, Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen and the new music of singer/songwriters JoSMITH and Walker Hayes.
Pictured (L-R): Lee Krabel, SMACKSongs Sr VP/Creative Robin Palmer, SMACKSongs owner/partners Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Photo: Elle Hussey
Luke Bryan Reveals Track List For Farm Tour EP
/by Craig_ShelburneLuke Bryan has revealed the songs and songwriters on his first-ever Farm Tour EP, Farm Tour…Here’s To The Farmer. Produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, the five-song project releases on Sept. 23 in advance of his eighth annual Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2016, set to run Oct. 5-15.
Farm Tour…Here’s To The Farmer Track List:
1. “I Do All My Dreamin’ There” (Craig Wiseman, Jim McCormick)
2. “Here’s To The Farmer” (Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Chase McGill)
3. “Love Me In A Field” (Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem)
4. “You Look Like Rain” (Tony Lane, Bobby Hamrick, Marti Dodson)
5. “Southern Gentleman” (Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley)
During last year’s tour, Bryan performed for over 110,000 fans during the eight-city run. A portion of the ticket proceeds are granted for local college scholarships (“Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship”) to students from a farming family or a student that is an agriculture major within the communities the tour plays. Additionally, Bryan and Bayer make a presentation to a local farmer onstage in each city of the Farm Tour.