Country Radio Seminar Appoints 12 New Agenda Committee Members

/by

The Country Radio Seminar has selected 12 new industry members to join its 2017-2018 Seminar Agenda Committee. The Agenda Committee members lead the discussion in planning the agenda for CRS 2018, set for February 5-7 at Nashville’s Omni Hotel. Heading up this year’s Agenda Committee is Greg Frey (Cumulus) serving as Chairman, alongside Co-Chairmen Judy Lakin (Cox) and Jay Cruze (iHeartMedia).

The new Agenda Committee members include Josh Bennett (Nielsen Music), EJ Bernas (Social Pulse Media), Bill Macky (Black River Entertainment), Brent Michaels (KUZZ/KRJK/Buck Owens Prod.), Lou Ramirez (Warner Music Nashville), Larry Rosin (Edison Research), Toby Tucker (Neuhoff Media), Monta Vaden (All Access), Lisa Wall (WLHK/Emmis), Robin Ward (KFRG), Erich West (iHeartMedia/WDRM), and Sue Wilson (Rubber City Radio Group/WQMX).

Returning Agenda Committee members are: Lee Adams (Broken Bow Records), Sam Alex (Townsquare Media), Andrew Curran (DMR/Interactive), Tim Gerst (Thinkswell), Carolyn Gilbert (NuVoodoo Media), Jeff James (Signet Interactive), Bruce Logan (CBS Radio), Billy McKim (Texas A&M University), Eric Michaels (WTHI-Midwest Communications), Terry Phillips (CBS/WYCD), J.R. Schumann (SiriusXM), Jenny Shields (Premiere Radio Networks), and Brook Stephens (Leighton Broadcasting).

Weekly Chart Report (5/5/17)

/by

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

Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Cash To Be Featured In CMHoF Sessions

/by

Ricky Skaggs

Ricky Skaggs and Johnny Cash will be spotlighted in upcoming events at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Skaggs will be the subject of a museum program on Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. CT, highlighting his 50+ years in entertainment.

The 75-minute event will be hosted by the museum’s Peter Cooper. Skaggs will talk with Cooper about his remarkable life in music and perform briefly. It will be illustrated with vintage photos, film footage, and recordings. Following the event, Skaggs will sign copies of his autobiography Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music and the album Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass – Tribute to 1946 and 1947, available for purchase in the Museum Store.

On Saturday, May 27, the CMHoF will host an afternoon with Cindy, Kathy, Rosanne and Tara Cash, daughters of Johnny Cash, for Becoming Our Father: Johnny Cash’s Daughters In Conversation. The program will take place at 2 p.m. in the CMA Theater.

In this in-depth interview—also hosted by Cooper—the daughters will share their stories, remembrances, and perspectives on Johnny Cash, while discussing and sharing photographs never seen outside the family.

Family scrapbooks on exhibit at the CMHoF offer a personal look at the world, through the camera lens and the words of young J.R. Cash. In the early 1950s, the man who would become Johnny Cash joined the U. S. Air Force and left rural Arkansas, sailed across the Atlantic to Florence, Italy, and then traveled by plane to a military base in Germany. While stationed in Europe, he photographed people and places, and made meticulous notes about his discoveries and adventures. His photographs and notes are contained in two personal scrapbooks, kept by daughters Cindy, Kathy, Rosanne, and Tara Cash and reproduced in the museum display I’ve Been Everywhere: Becoming Johnny Cash.

Both programs will also be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.

MusicRowPics: The Railers Catch A New Groove With “11:59 (Central Standard Time)”

/by

The Railers. Photo: Haley Crow

It’s rare to hear a concertina in modern country music, but new Atlantic/WMN trio The Railers incorporates a variety of such instrumentation into their engaging stage show.

“This was the very first instrument I got,” said The Railers member Cassandra Lawson of her heavily used instrument. “It’s more gaffe tape than squeezebox. It’s kind of like Willie’s guitar, you just want it to keep going.”

The trio of singer-songwriters includes brothers Jordan and Jonathan Lawson, and Jonathan’s wife Cassandra. The brothers met Cassandra in college, and they discovered they all had similar musical ambitions. After moving to Nashville, Jordan became a sideman playing with Josh Turner, while Jonathan got a similar gig playing with Sara Evans. In 2010, the trio quit their full-time jobs to wholeheartedly pursue their own aspirations of becoming recording artists. In 2012, they signed with Warner Music Nashville.

In 2014, they released the EP The Railers: The Geraldine Session, as well as the single “Kinda Dig The Feeling,” which was featured on the television series Nashville.

Now they are back with the groovy, infectious new single “11:59 (Central Standard Time),” and have been on the road for the past two months performing the track for radio station programmers around the country.

The track’s feel-good, breezy melody further elevates party-ready lyrics that include Spin the records round, if we blow the speakers out/We’ll just rock this mother a cappella.

“We looked for a long time to find something that felt infectious and catchy and felt like us,” said Jonathan.

The Railers with MusicRow staff.

During a recent visit to the MusicRow office, The Railers offered acoustic renditions of tracks including “11:59 (Central Standard Time)”, along with “These Hands,” “Just Friends,” which Jonathan says is “about when you are in that stage of the relationship where you are just friends with somebody, but you are both kind of hoping it becomes something more.”

See the trio’s retro-themed video for “11:59 (CST)” below:

YouTube video

Americana Honors & Awards Nomination Ceremony To Stream Live

/by

The 2017 Americana Honors & Awards Nomination Ceremony will be streamed live on Tues., May 9 from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater.

The event will feature an intimate musical celebration featuring hosts The Milk Carton Kids, with special guests to be announced.

Visit countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming starting at 2 p.m. CT to share this special afternoon.

The Americana Honors & Awards will be held Sept. 13 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Warner/Chappell Production Music Names Director Of Licensing

/by

Steve Swenson

Warner/Chappell Production Music has appointed Steve Swenson as Director of Licensing. In this role, Swenson will focus on developing the company’s licensing reach in sports, broadcast and corporate markets, and he will be based in Tampa, Florida.

Swenson joins Warner/Chappell Production Music from HSN, where he oversaw audio strategy.

He can be reached at steve.swenson@warnerchappellpm.com.

GMA Honors Celebration To Recognize Amy Grant, Yolanda Adams, Natalie Grant And More

/by

The 4th Annual GMA Honors Celebration is set for May 9 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville. This year’s celebration inductees include Steve Green, Yolanda Adams, Gold City Quartet, and Reunion Records founders Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell. The 2017 honorees include Amy Grant for Helping Hands, Dr. Shirley Caesar for Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries, Compassion International, and Natalie Grant for Hope for Justice.

Tye Tribbett and Jekalyn Carr will join Donnie McClurkin in a tribute to Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame inductee Yolanda Adams at the Honors Celebration.

“The Gospel Music Association is proud to celebrate this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and to recognize the philanthropy of our worthy honorees,” said GMA president Jackie Patillo. “GMA Honors is a great opportunity for our music community to come together and commemorate our trailblazers as well as those who are giving back to help make life better for others.”

Tables and individual tickets are available for purchase to the event, which include dinner and admission to the honors ceremony. Sponsorships are also available. Ticket and table sponsor information is available at gospelmusichalloffame.org.

DISClaimer: Old Dominion, Charlie Worsham, The Railers Offer Summer-Ready Tracks

/by

I’ve got yer country summer playlist right here.

This week’s listening stack is brimming with breezy, uptempo, smile-a-minute singles that are just right for sunny weather. High Valley, Old Dominion, Canaan Smith, Charlie Worsham, Randy Moore and The Railers all popped up with summertime sounds at exactly the same time.

Old Dominion and Charlie Worsham finished in a dead heat for the Disc of the Day prize.

The Railers rule as the DisCovery Award winners. I know, I know: They’re not brand new. But it has been three long years since they were first in “DISClaimer,” so they might as well be.

 

RANDY MOORE/Sunshine State Of Mind
Writer:R. Moore; Producer: R.C. Moore; Publisher: Undead, SESAC; Highway 59 (track)
– Jaunty, catchy and tropical sounding. Very much in the island/Buffett/Parrothead groove. His vocal delivery is loaded with warmth.

WILLIAMS HONOR/No Umbrella
Writers: Gordon Brown/Reagan Richards/Cyndi Thomson; Producer: Gordon Brown; Publishers: All Hour G1B/Lady Rae Gun/Bella Love, ASCAP/BMI; All Hour (track)
– This is a male-female country duo from Asbury Park, NJ. She sings lead in a throaty, emotive tone on this plea to end heartbreak. His production is atmospheric and airy.

GARTH BROOKS/Ask Me How I Know
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed;Pearl (ERG)
– The verses are cast in a moody, lower-register voice. Then the choruses explode with much more intensity. The lyric addresses a rounder who is going to get his comeuppance from a gal one of these days.

A THOUSAND HORSES/Preachin’ To The Choir
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BMLG (ERG)
– Like much of their music, this is fairly rocked up. Lots of electric guitar in the mix and an overall rowdy vibe.

THE RAILERS/11:59 (Central Standard Time)
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Irresistibly infectious. This bopping party ditty is a perfect summertime sound. Stay up all night with these happy kids.

YouTube video

CHARLIE WORSHAM/Cut Your Groove
Writers: none listed; Producers: Frank Liddell/Eric Masse; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– I remain a fan. His earnest tenor vocal performance is matched with a breezy track that pushes the tempo onward and upward. Luscious, lustrous, lilting listening.

JERROD NIEMANN/God Made A Woman
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb (ERG)
– Pensive and powerful. He finds himself loved and cherished beyond anything he deserves. The ballad swells with strings and steel as he caresses each line.

OLD DOMINION/No Such Thing As A Broken Heart
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA (ERG)
– I love the burbling, bubbling rhythm track. The sunny, upbeat, chin-up lyric is packed with supercool advice, notably, “You gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart.” Not to mention, “Chase after the dream, don’t chase after the money.” I guarantee that this little record is going to make you feel good, good, good.

HIGH VALLEY/She’s With Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– The handclaps are delightful, and the tempo is undeniably compelling. This toe tapper is an instant add, and ya gotta love that.

CANAAN SMITH/Like You That Way
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (ERG)
– Romance in a sunny, super-positive light. It’s not the deepest thing I’ve ever heard, but it is effortlessly appealing.

YouTube video

Third Man History Explored In 4-Part Apple Music Series

/by

Third Man Records is taking over Apple Music’s Beats 1 in May for a month-long residency that will delve deep into the history, sound, and influences of Music City’s local label, including the worlds of film and print.

In the series’ first episode, Ben Blackwell and Ben Swank (employees No. 1 and 2 of Third Man Records) set up a studio deep inside Third Man headquarters in Nashville to give a first account history of the label’s inception and their roles. They’ll also take listeners through some of their favorite releases from the past eight years of Third Man, including reissues, unique vinyl editions, and live performances.

Takeover: Third Man Soundsystem will premiere its first of four episodes on Apple Music tonight (May 4) at 9 p.m. CT, with an encore airing May 7 at 11 a.m. CT. Additional episodes air throughout May on Thursday evenings, with a repeat on Fridays. After premiering, the show will be available on demand at Apple Music.

Meghan Trainor To Receive ASCAP’s Vanguard Honor

/by

Meghan Trainor. Photo: Epic Records

Meghan Trainor will receive ASCAP’s Vanguard Award at the 34th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards May 18. The invitation-only gala, which celebrates the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed pop songs of 2016, takes place at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. The Vanguard Award recognizes the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music. Previous ASCAP Vanguard Award recipients include Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Beastie Boys, Beck, Björk, Sara Bareilles, Diplo, fun., Jack Johnson, The Killers, Modest Mouse, The Strokes, St. Vincent and Walk the Moon.

“Meghan has made incomparable strides in her career in the time that I’ve known her, but it has always been clear that her talent would take her above and beyond the pop charts,” said ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta. “Whether she’s writing chart-topping songs for herself or someone else, we can’t wait to hear what Meghan does next.”

Trainor’s single “NO,” from her second album, Thank You, received a RIAA Gold certification for sales exceeding 500,000 in less than a month, and is now double platinum. The second single from Thank You, “Me Too” is also double platinum and the album is gold.  Trainor’s co-write “Road Less Traveled” with Lauren Alaina recently topped Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, and she also penned the Number One Rascal Flatts hit, “I Like the Sound of That,” along with songs for Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Sabrina Carpenter and more.