Maren Morris has extended her Hero Tour into the fall, adding 10 more dates that will hit Milwaukee, Memphis, Kansas City, Tulsa and other cities around the country through October 28.
Tickets for the additional dates go on sale on Morris’ website at 10AM this Friday, May 5. For the fall dates Morris has partnered with CID Entertainment to offer special VIP experiences including a meet and greet, early venue entry, an exclusive signed poster, and special VIP merchandise. A portion of the proceeds from the VIP experiences will be donated to The HEROES Fund which benefits fine arts programs and music education in public schools.
Ryan Hurd, who opened the sold-out winter/spring leg of Morris’ tour, will also provide support for the fall dates.
The HERO Tour 2017 (U.S. Fall dates)
10/5 State Theatre, Kalamazoo, MI
10/6 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
10/7 7 Flags Event Center, Clive, IA
10/12 Keith-Albee Theatre, Huntington, WV
10/13 Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
10/19 City Hall Live, Brandon, MS
10/21 Soul Kitchen, Mobile, AL
10/26 Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland, Kansas City, MO
10/27 Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK
10/28 The Cotillion, Wichita, KS
Industry Ink: Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum, Demolition Music Publishing, ole
/by Lorie HollabaughCMHoF Names Sr. Director/ Events and Culinary
Demolition Music Publishing Names Creative Manager
Michael August has been named Creative Manager of Demolition Music Publishing, effective June 1. A New Jersey native who moved to Nashville three years ago, August has been a writer on the Demolition team for the past two years.
“Michael is one of those quality people who has everything we need in a creative manager,” said Demolition President, Jon D’Agostino. “He’s well-liked, smart, organized, a hard worker, and a hell of a songwriter himself. He’s going to help make some great things happen for our Demolition team.”
ole, Jingle Punks Team With Convergent
Combining mood-based music with Convergent’s hyper-targeted digital marketing solution provides a sensory-rich experience, all on a single platform.
In Pictures: Shania Twain, Amy Grant, ASCAP
/by Haley CrowShania Twain Rocks Stagecoach, Debuts New Single
Pictured (L-R): Shania Twain and Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Brantley Gutierrez
Pictured (L-R):Nick Jonas and Shania Twain. Photo: Brantley Gutierrez
Global superstar and five-time Grammy award-winner Shania Twain rocked Stagecoach Saturday night (April 29), thrilling 75,000 music fans who made their way to Indio, California. Headlining and performing at the festival for the first time, Twain opened with fan-favorite, “Rock This Country,” setting the scene for a performance which had the audience packed into any available space in front of the Mane stage.
Filled with hit after hit, her 90-minute set included surprise performances from Nick Jonas, who came out to join Twain for a version of Twain’s hit “Party For Two,” and Kelsea Ballerini, who accompanied Twain for “Any Man of Mine.” Twain also debuted her brand new single, “Life’s About To Get Good,” due out in June. Twain is set to release her first new album in 15 years later this year.
Amy Grant Inducted Into Music City Walk Of Fame
Photo: Donn Jones
Pictured (L-R): John Huie, Amy Grant, Bart Millard and Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. Photo: Donn Jones
In recognition of her significant contributions to Nashville and its musical heritage, six-time Grammy award-winner Amy Grant was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame on Thursday, April 27. Joining Grant were longtime friend and CAA agent John Huie, and Bart Millard from MercyMe, who gave a moving and heartfelt introduction to Grant. Also inducted was Nashville philanthropist and businesswoman Martha R. Ingram.
ASCAP Showcases Unsigned Artists at The Basement
Pictured (L-R): Anna Tivel, Maybe April, Seaforth and ASCAP’s Beth Brinker (second from right). Photo: Courtesy ASCAP
ASCAP hosted the spring installment of its long-running showcase series at The Basement in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, April 26, which featured unsigned songwriter-artists Anna Tivel, Maybe April and Australian duo Seaforth. The next ASCAP Presents showcase at The Basement will be held on Wednesday, May 17 and will feature Donovan Woods and more to be announced.
More Innovation In Music Awards Winners Announced, Ceremony Set For June 6
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 2017 Class of Innovation in Music Awards:
Heritage Award: Mike McVay, McVay Media/McVay Syndication/ Listener Driven Radio
Innovation in Music, Executive: David Macias, Thirty Tigers
Innovation in Music, Artist & Creative: Shane McAnally, SMACKSongs
Innovation in Music, Live/Touring: Brian O’Connell, Live Nation
Innovation in Music, National Media: Leslie Fram, CMT
Innovation in Music, National Radio: Bobby Bones, iHeartMedia
Innovation in Music, Digital Media: Gogi Gupta, Gupta Media
Innovation in Music, Digital Broadcast: J.R. Schumann, SiriusXM
The previously announced 2017 Major Market Radio nominees for the Innovation in Music Award are Mark Anderson, WDSY/Pittsburgh; Johnny Chiang, KKBQ/Houston; Lauren MacLeash, KMNB/Minneapolis; Tim Roberts, WYCD/Detroit; Gregg Swedberg, KEEY/Minneapolis. The Medium Market Radio nominees are Bev Rainey, KBQI/Albuquerque; Jon Reilly, WKLI/Albany; John Thomas, WRNX/Springfield; Sue Wilson, WQMX/Akron. The nominees for the Innovation in Music Award recognizing Small Market Radio are Scott Donato, WGTY/York; Kory James, KPLM/Palm Springs;Rik McNeil, KJUG/Visalia; Dave Michaels, WQHK/Ft. Wayne.
The winners of all three Country Radio awards will be revealed during the inaugural ceremony. Information on how to purchase awards show tickets will be released in the coming weeks.
Country Group OSMR Releases EP ‘Sweet Life’
/by Jessica NicholsonThe EP’s title track, and current single, “Sweet Life” was recently featured on SiriusXM’s The Highway On The Horizon. The band is gearing up for a series of tour dates that include a Nashville stop at Whiskey Jam on May 15 and multiple shows with The Cadillac Three.
The group recently stopped by the MusicRow office to preview tracks from Sweet Life.
Sweet Life EP Track Listing:
1. Lookin’ At You (Marcus Kiser/Danny Myrick/Jimmy Robbins)
2. Sweet Life (Marcus Kiser/Danny Myrick/Jimmy Robbins)
3. Back Pocket (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd/Neil Mason)
4. Book of Waylon (Marcus Kiser/Neil Mason)
5. Pontiac (Marcus Kiser/Neil Mason)
6. Little Miss Rock ‘n’ Roll (Marcus Kiser/Danny Myrick/Randy Montana)
Charles Esten To Host 2017 CMT Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonCharles Esten
Nashville star Charles Esten will host the fan-voted 2017 CMT Music Awards live from Nashville on Wednesday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The announcement was made by Esten on Instagram.
The news comes as the music drama preps to return with new episodes on Thursday, June 1 at 9 p.m., ET/PT. Recently topping ratings and viewership for CMT, a new season is slated to premiere early next year.
Blake Shelton, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett are set to perform with additional artists, presenters and special guests being announced soon.
Maren Morris Adds Ten Dates To Hero Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughTickets for the additional dates go on sale on Morris’ website at 10AM this Friday, May 5. For the fall dates Morris has partnered with CID Entertainment to offer special VIP experiences including a meet and greet, early venue entry, an exclusive signed poster, and special VIP merchandise. A portion of the proceeds from the VIP experiences will be donated to The HEROES Fund which benefits fine arts programs and music education in public schools.
Ryan Hurd, who opened the sold-out winter/spring leg of Morris’ tour, will also provide support for the fall dates.
The HERO Tour 2017 (U.S. Fall dates)
10/5 State Theatre, Kalamazoo, MI
10/6 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
10/7 7 Flags Event Center, Clive, IA
10/12 Keith-Albee Theatre, Huntington, WV
10/13 Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
10/19 City Hall Live, Brandon, MS
10/21 Soul Kitchen, Mobile, AL
10/26 Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland, Kansas City, MO
10/27 Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK
10/28 The Cotillion, Wichita, KS
Old Crow Medicine Show Performs ’50 Years of Blonde on Blonde’ At Country Music Hall of Fame
/by Dan_StrassbergGrammy-award winning string-band Old Crow Medicine Show today (April 28) released their sixth album, 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde, a recreation of Bob Dylan’s classic album Blonde on Blonde. The album is being released via Columbia Records, which also released Dylan’s iconic original version. 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde, a 14-track set, was recorded live at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On Thursday (April 27) the band returned to the Country Music Hall of Fame for a special event featuring footage from the live recording, a panel discussion, and performance.
The group discussed what it meant to them to recreate what they referred to as the first “pop” album, part of which was recorded in Nashville, and how important it was for them to have the album released by Columbia Records. They also discussed some of the more challenging aspects of the recording process, such as memorizing all the lyrics to Dylan’s “masterpieces.”
The panel was followed by a meet and greet, and a live set which included performances of “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” “One of Us Must Know,” “Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine,” “ Just Like a Women,” and “Obviously 5 Believers.”
The Old Crow Medicine Show Performing Blonde on Blonde tour is set to start May 4. The album will be performed in its entirety in 26 cities in the US and Europe.
Brad Paisley Releases Country Music’s First Visual Album ‘LOVE AND WAR’
/by Haley CrowBrad Paisley has released a visual version of his new album LOVE AND WAR, featuring videos for all 16 tracks which flow seamlessly as a movie to tell the album’s complete story. Locations of the video shoots ranged from a concert in a Sleep Number store in a mall, a party at Brad’s parent’s house, to the USS Midway in San Diego, CA.
The project is available exclusively on Apple Music starting today Friday, April 28. Paisley is the first country artist to release a visual album, and fans can view a sneak peek here.
Below is a complete list of video credits for the LOVE AND WAR visual album.
Artist Action: Raelynn’s Late Night Debut, ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ Turns 25, Darius Rucker Goes Undercover
/by Lorie HollabaughRaelynn Visits Seth Meyers
Raelynn made her late-night TV debut Thursday (April 27) on NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers, performing a raw and emotional rendition of her current single, “Love Triangle.” See it here.
Penned with Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins, the track is the lead single from her debut album, Wildhorse, and is currently in the Top 30 on the country charts. Raelynn’s RaVe TOUR will hit Nashville May 24.
“Just Call Me Cyrus”
It’s been 25 years since “Achy Breaky Heart” was released on March 23, 1992. And today Billy Ray Cyrus is marking the anniversary of his trademark hit with a new version of the song. The singer, who has adopted the one-name moniker Cyrus, trekked to Muscle Shoals, Ala. to re-record the song with members of the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
Cyrus is also gearing up for the second season of CMT’s series Still The King.
Darius Rucker Goes Undercover
For the first time on the series, state-of-the-art prosthetic makeup was used to disguise Rucker.
Darius Rucker will be the first celebrity featured on CBS’s Undercover Boss. Rucker traveled to Austin, Texas on a journey to discover great musical talent. During his time undercover, he ran an open mic night, worked as a roadie, and strolled Austin’s famous Sixth Street in search of standout street performers. The episode airs Friday, May 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
Big Video Premieres: Thomas Rhett Gives Sneak Peek, Kenny Chesney Teams With SiriusXM
/by Sherod RobertsonSeveral lucky industry members and invited guests attended Thomas Rhett‘s sneak-peek of the music video for “Craving You” ft. Maren Morris, Rhett’s lead single and title track from his third studio album. The video is slated to be released in the near future.
The viewing was held at BMI’s theater on Tuesday, April 25. Introduced by Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta, both Thomas Rhett and Morris discussed their experience filming the video for the attendees.
Grammy-winner Morris joined Thomas Rhett to perform the new single, written by Dave Barnes and Julian Bunetta, at tour stops at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21.
Kenny Chesney Leads Into Video Premiere With Mystery Teasers
Click to see the video.
Kenny Chesney debuted the video for “Rich and Miserable,” an album track from Cosmic Hallelujah, this morning (April 28) on SiriusXM, marking the first world premiere on the satellite radio platform’s website. Chesney teased the premiere in an unconventional way, without mention of the song or the artist, via clips which popped up on SiriusXM’s site, with only the tag “World Video Premiere,” a date (Friday, 4/28/17) and time (10 a.m. EST).
“I think there’s so much more to what goes on a record than radio can play,” Chesney says of the decision, “and some songs need to be heard. For ‘Rich and Miserable,’ it felt like it was addressing so many of the things we’re sold and told—about what makes us happy, or we’re supposed to want, or are expected to do. I didn’t want that message getting lost, so we decided to skip a video on some of the singles and do this instead. What was even better is that the people we work with at SiriusXM understood doing this was about the message. They allowed us to break out what the song was about without relying on an artist’s name or the usual tags. They saw the importance of what we’re trying to say.”