Pictured (L-R): (back) former Poets and Prophets honorees Buzz Cason, Sonny Curtis, Mark D. Sanders, Dickey Lee, and Don Schlitz; (front): the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray, honoree Mike Reid, and songwriter Sharon Vaughn. Photo: Carissa Riccardi
Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Mike Reid was the focus of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Poets & Prophets series on Saturday, March 4. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the series, which recognized previous Poets & Prophets in the audience: Sonny Curtis, Buzz Cason, Dickey Lee, Mark D. Sanders and Don Schlitz.
With over a dozen No. 1s, Reid’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility this year.
Reid performed the Bonnie Raitt title among three others, including Tim McGraw’s No. 1 “Everywhere,” Ronnie Milsap’s 1983 hit “Stranger In My House,” and a title he said is as closely autobiographical as it can be, “More Life,” recorded by Randy Travis and Don Henley for Travis’ 25th Anniversary Collection.
A football fullback in high school outside of Juniata Gap, Pennsylvania, the lively Reid took the hall’s audience—rolling with laughter—through a five-season NFL career with the Cincinnati Bangles to eventually land in Nashville.
A middle child of three boys, Reid filed through Penn State as a history major, business major, and finally landed as a music major. Despite having few influences in music from his youth, he grew up hearing hymns in church and practicing from the age of six on his paternal grandmother’s beat-up piano. Songwriting didn’t come to the artist until he was in his mid-20s.
“I had no gifts or natural abilities in music,” said Reid. “[My gifts] were in sports. But the music was something that got in there. I just enjoyed trying things. Fortunately, my [college] coach Joe Paterno loved that he had a guy on the team that majored in music.”
Reid commented on the wear sports took on his body, and music’s constant pull. He noted the ’70s was a different time, having signed his NFL contract for only $22,000, which was double what he noted his father may have made in a year, but far less than today’s football contracts.
“It’s not all that long ago I realized sports was something I wanted to do, but I remember wanting to be a writer,” recalls Reid. “There was no discernible talent in me, but I do think following your heart sometimes requires overcoming common sense.”
After leaving the NFL, Reid’s early music career consisted of playing album covers and original songs at listening rooms around the country. He focused on comedic talents inspired from Steve Goodman to entertain a room.
“I remember back then thinking the one thing that comes close to equaling the beauty of music is a room full of people laughing,” recalled Reid. “So I tried to mix in the silliness with songs and figure out a set to engage people.”
A move from Cincinnati to Nashville in 1980 for a publishing deal with Gerry Teifer at ATV paid $100/week but Reid was dropped after a year and a half. Disheartened Reid met with Milsap’s producer Rob Galbraith.
“I walked in to Rob’s office that day feeling like Jimmy the Greek, and I walked out feeling like Jimmy Webb,” said Reid. “That one day he made me feel like a songwriter. Four months later we had a couple things on the next Milsap record.”
Mike Reid
A record deal came in the ’90s with Columbia. Despite the No. 1 success of “Walk on Faith,” Reid felt dissonance.
“I’d be out in my bunk and think of Matt, Cait, Susie, and it was selfish on my part,” recalled Reid of young fans throwing themselves at him. “I thought, ‘Buddy, you’re lost enough, you start wondering down this road you’re about to never make it out of here.’ I gave it a shot, out on the road for a couple years, but it wasn’t in the heart of me.”
Around that time, Reid wrote “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” with Allen Shamblin after hearing a news report quoting a down-and-out man. “We wrote that song as an uptempo, bluegrass country song intended for Ricky Skaggs. Two lines laid around for six months but fortunately we couldn’t get any more than that.
“One day a couple words came to me, and I thought, ‘I wonder if this is related to those lines.’ So I called Allen and we dug in. I remembered thinking there were only three places this song could go: Bonnie Raitt, Linda Rondstadt or Bette Midler. Since I had a cut on Bonnie’s Nick Of Time record, it went to her first because I had her address.”
Forthcoming songwriter events celebrating the Hall’s 50th anniversary include April 1 with Curtis at 11:30 a.m. before a round with Cason, Lee, Dallas Frazier and Dan Penn at 2 p.m. A Tin Pan South round at 3rd & Lindsley with Sanders, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock and Roger Cook and another with Al Anderson, Tom Douglas, Roger Murrah and Gretchen Peters.
Jimmy Webb and Sharon Vaughn are the next songwriters planned for the Poets & Prophets in the Ford Theater: April 29 and August 5, respectively.
Florida Georgia Line Announces Stadium Dates With Backstreet Boys
/by Lorie HollabaughFlorida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys are teaming up for three big stadium shows this summer at Boston’s Fenway Park (July 7), Minnneapolis’ Target Field (July 29), and Wrigley Field (August 12). The shows are part of FGL’s previously-announced new Smooth Tour with special guests Nelly and Chris Lane. The duo’s new single with Backstreet, “God, Your Mama, And Me,” is currently climbing up the charts.
The stadium dates were revealed this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, along with a ticket giveaway for some fans. Fans nationwide can enter here for a chance to win a trip to one of the three stadium stops courtesy of tour sponsor Advance Auto Parts.
The Smooth tour kicks off June 2 in Austin, Texas.
Songwriter Mike Reid Reflects On A Near-40 Year Nashville Career
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): (back) former Poets and Prophets honorees Buzz Cason, Sonny Curtis, Mark D. Sanders, Dickey Lee, and Don Schlitz; (front): the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray, honoree Mike Reid, and songwriter Sharon Vaughn. Photo: Carissa Riccardi
Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Mike Reid was the focus of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Poets & Prophets series on Saturday, March 4. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the series, which recognized previous Poets & Prophets in the audience: Sonny Curtis, Buzz Cason, Dickey Lee, Mark D. Sanders and Don Schlitz.
With over a dozen No. 1s, Reid’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility this year.
Reid performed the Bonnie Raitt title among three others, including Tim McGraw’s No. 1 “Everywhere,” Ronnie Milsap’s 1983 hit “Stranger In My House,” and a title he said is as closely autobiographical as it can be, “More Life,” recorded by Randy Travis and Don Henley for Travis’ 25th Anniversary Collection.
A football fullback in high school outside of Juniata Gap, Pennsylvania, the lively Reid took the hall’s audience—rolling with laughter—through a five-season NFL career with the Cincinnati Bangles to eventually land in Nashville.
A middle child of three boys, Reid filed through Penn State as a history major, business major, and finally landed as a music major. Despite having few influences in music from his youth, he grew up hearing hymns in church and practicing from the age of six on his paternal grandmother’s beat-up piano. Songwriting didn’t come to the artist until he was in his mid-20s.
“I had no gifts or natural abilities in music,” said Reid. “[My gifts] were in sports. But the music was something that got in there. I just enjoyed trying things. Fortunately, my [college] coach Joe Paterno loved that he had a guy on the team that majored in music.”
Reid commented on the wear sports took on his body, and music’s constant pull. He noted the ’70s was a different time, having signed his NFL contract for only $22,000, which was double what he noted his father may have made in a year, but far less than today’s football contracts.
“It’s not all that long ago I realized sports was something I wanted to do, but I remember wanting to be a writer,” recalls Reid. “There was no discernible talent in me, but I do think following your heart sometimes requires overcoming common sense.”
After leaving the NFL, Reid’s early music career consisted of playing album covers and original songs at listening rooms around the country. He focused on comedic talents inspired from Steve Goodman to entertain a room.
“I remember back then thinking the one thing that comes close to equaling the beauty of music is a room full of people laughing,” recalled Reid. “So I tried to mix in the silliness with songs and figure out a set to engage people.”
A move from Cincinnati to Nashville in 1980 for a publishing deal with Gerry Teifer at ATV paid $100/week but Reid was dropped after a year and a half. Disheartened Reid met with Milsap’s producer Rob Galbraith.
“I walked in to Rob’s office that day feeling like Jimmy the Greek, and I walked out feeling like Jimmy Webb,” said Reid. “That one day he made me feel like a songwriter. Four months later we had a couple things on the next Milsap record.”
Mike Reid
A record deal came in the ’90s with Columbia. Despite the No. 1 success of “Walk on Faith,” Reid felt dissonance.
“I’d be out in my bunk and think of Matt, Cait, Susie, and it was selfish on my part,” recalled Reid of young fans throwing themselves at him. “I thought, ‘Buddy, you’re lost enough, you start wondering down this road you’re about to never make it out of here.’ I gave it a shot, out on the road for a couple years, but it wasn’t in the heart of me.”
Around that time, Reid wrote “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” with Allen Shamblin after hearing a news report quoting a down-and-out man. “We wrote that song as an uptempo, bluegrass country song intended for Ricky Skaggs. Two lines laid around for six months but fortunately we couldn’t get any more than that.
“One day a couple words came to me, and I thought, ‘I wonder if this is related to those lines.’ So I called Allen and we dug in. I remembered thinking there were only three places this song could go: Bonnie Raitt, Linda Rondstadt or Bette Midler. Since I had a cut on Bonnie’s Nick Of Time record, it went to her first because I had her address.”
Forthcoming songwriter events celebrating the Hall’s 50th anniversary include April 1 with Curtis at 11:30 a.m. before a round with Cason, Lee, Dallas Frazier and Dan Penn at 2 p.m. A Tin Pan South round at 3rd & Lindsley with Sanders, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock and Roger Cook and another with Al Anderson, Tom Douglas, Roger Murrah and Gretchen Peters.
Jimmy Webb and Sharon Vaughn are the next songwriters planned for the Poets & Prophets in the Ford Theater: April 29 and August 5, respectively.
Luke Bryan Checks Out Cumulus Media’s New Performance Space
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan (left) and Chad Lopez, Vice President/Market Manager of Cumulus Media-New York (right)
Luke Bryan helped Cumulus Media christen its brand new live performance space in its radio studios at 2 Penn Plaza above Madison Square Garden on March 1 during his recent Big Apple tour date. Bryan was interviewed by NASH FM 94.7 host Jesse Addy in the new space prior to sound check for his Madison Square Garden concert later that evening.
The new venue features a 188” HD video wall, a full-color LED ticker display, and state-of-the-art audio equipment. It will serve as a warm-up and meet-and-greet venue for concerts, artist interviews and other listener events before shows at Madison Square Garden.
“Everyone here at Cumulus New York was honored and thrilled to welcome Luke Bryan to NASH FM 94.7 as the first guest to play the drums right here in our live venue,” said Chad Lopez, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-New York. “As the excitement builds around our performance space, we look forward to all of the future top level artists that will be performing in our venue.”
‘Patsy Cline: American Masters’ Airs On Nashville Public Television Tonight
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville Public Television will detail the life and career of Patsy Cline in the new documentary Patsy Cline: American Masters. The documentary airs Monday, March 6 at 8:30 p.m. CT on NPT.
Produced for THIRTEEN/American Masters, the documentary features exclusive archival material from the Cline estate, rare performances, and new interviews with Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Kacey Musgraves, Wanda Jackson, Beverly D’Angelo and others, with narration by Rosanne Cash.
On Friday, March 3, members of the Nashville music community gathered at the Johnny Cash Museum for a screening of the documentary, as well as a performance of Cline classics from vocalist Mandy Barnett.
A Q&A session was held, featuring Alan Stoker, Curator of Recorded Sound Collections at Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum; Barb Hall, Patsy Cline: American Masters Director & Producer; Beverly Keel, award-winning journalist, pop culture commentator & MTSU Recording Industry Chair; Robert K. Oermann, Music Critic, Author & Historian; Ted Swindley, Creator of Always…Patsy Cline, and Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV.
Mandy Barnett performs during an early screening of Patsy Cline: American Masters.
In Pictures: Chris Young, BMLG, The Band Perry, WMN, Ringside: A Fight For Kids, Storme Warren
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Young Celebrates Ninth No. 1 Song
Chris Young stopped by Sony Music Nashville’s office to celebrate his ninth No. 1 song, “Sober Saturday Night,” with members of the Sony staff.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Hodges, RG Jones, Nicole Walden holding Bubba Berry, Chris Young holding Dan Nelson, Liz Sledge, Lauren Thomas, Jenny Shearin, Matt Galvin, Nipper representing Larry Santiago, Joe Wills).
Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, BMLG Celebrate At iHeartRadio Awards
Big Machine Label Group celebrated with Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line following Sunday night’s iHeart Radio Awards at the Forum. Thomas Rhett earned the iHeartRadio Country Artist of the Year honor.
Florida Georgia Line and iHeartRadio Country Artist of the Year winner Thomas Rhett pose with Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, BMLG SVP of Creative Sandi Spika Borchetta and The Valory Music Co.’s General Manager George Briner at Sunday night’s (March 5) 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Forum Photo Courtesy of Big Machine Label Group
The Band Perry Celebrates Pop-Up Series In Atlanta
The Band Perry kicked off its series of nine pop-up shows Sunday night at Terminal West in Atlanta. Last month, the group released “Stay in the Dark,” the first single off its forthcoming pop album, My Bad Imagination, due out later this year.
Pictured (L-R): Sharon Kilgo; John Kilgo, VP/Music & Label Relations, Cumulus Media; Reid Perry; Mike McVay, SVP Content & Programming, Cumulus/Westwood One, Kimberly Perry and Neil Perry
Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito Celebrates ACM-Nominated Artists
Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito celebrates the future of sound with breakout artists Dan + Shay, Brandy Clark and Chris Janson, who represent Warner Music Nashville this year with nominations in all three of the ACM best new artist categories.
Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Brandy Clark, John Esposito, Shay Mooney, Chris Janson
13th Annual Ringside: A Fight For Kids Benefits The Charley Foundation
The three “Rumble on the Row” boxing bouts included: Justin Cahill (CAA) defeating Chris Fabiani (EMI Records Nashville Director of Midwest Promotion); Hannah Williams (Sony/ATV Nashville’s Creative Manager) defeating Lyndsay Church (Columbia Nashville’s Regional Promotion Manager) and Braden Gall (co-host of “Braden & Fitz” on ESPN 102.5 the GAME) defeating AJ Calvin (Southeast Director of Promotions and Marketing for Dot Records).
Photo: Karen Will Rogers
Storme Warren Gets All-Star Birthday Party
SiriusXM The Highway’s Storme Warren celebrated his birthday with an all-star celebration at Nashville’s new Famous Saloon Thursday night, (March 2). Among the artists popping by to give their well wishes were Colton Swon and Tracy Lawrence.
(L-R): Storme Warren, Colton Swon and Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Ed Rode
Music Biz 2017 Convention To Honor Adele As Artist Of The Year
/by Lorie HollabaughAdele
The Music Business Association has named Adele its Artist of the Year. The superstar will be honored on May 18 during the Music Biz 2017 convention’s Awards Luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
Adele’s latest album, 25, was the first ever to sell more than 3 million copies in a single week, blowing past the 15-year record previously held by NSYNC’s No Strings Attached. It was also the first album to sell more than a million copies in multiple weeks since Nielsen began tracking sales in 1991. 25 has since been certified Diamond for 10 million in sales by the RIAA, with the album and its single “Hello” earning Adele five Grammy Awards at this year’s ceremony.
“Adele is a once-in-a-lifetime talent who has clearly struck an indelible chord with music fans all around the world,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “Her accomplishments are unprecedented, from the record-shattering success of 25, to the glowing reviews and sold-out audiences for her massive world tour, to her Emmy-nominated TV special Adele Live in New York City. We are beyond thrilled to have her join the ranks of past Artist of the Year Award winners Little Big Town, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Green Day.”
Discounted early bird registration is now open at www.musicbiz2017.com, and a full schedule is available here.
Weekly Register: Little Big Town, Aaron Watson Reign On Country Albums Chart
/by Jessica NicholsonNew albums from Little Big Town and Aaron Watson take the top two spots on the country albums chart this week.
Capitol Nashville group Little Big Town’s The Breaker debuted at No. 1 country (No. 4 overall), with 44K. They also land at No. 6 on the overall digital albums chart.
Independent artist Aaron Watson’s Vaquero debuts at No. 2 (No. 10 overall), with 37K. Watson also debuts at No. 1 on the independent album chart, and No. 2 on the overall digital album chart.
Other albums in the top 5 on the country albums chart are Garth Brooks‘ Ultimate Collection Exclusive, with 27K, putting the collection at over 500K sold to date.
Alison Krauss‘ Windy City is at No. 4, with 16K, while Reba McEntire‘s Sing It Now rounds out the top 5, with 12K sold.
Sam Hunt
On the Digital Tracks chart, Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like A Back Road” is the top country entry, with 62K (309K RTD). Little Big Town‘s “Better Man” moved 29K to land at No. 2, with 213K RTD.
Jon Pardi‘s “Dirt On My Boots” is at No. 3, with 22K, followed by Keith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood‘s “The Fighter” at No. 4, with 21K. Florida Georgia Line‘s “God, Your Mama, and Me” rounds out the Top 5 country digital tracks, moving 20K this week.
This week’s top country debut is Brett Eldredge‘s “Somethin’ I’m Good At,” landing at No. 7 country and No. 47 overall, moving 15K.
Americana Music Association Sets Showcase, Panel For SXSW 2017
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Americana Music Association has announced the line-up for its 17th consecutive sanctioned showcase at SXSW, Wednesday, March 15 in Austin, Texas.
The official Americana showcase will feature The Secret Sisters, Kasey Chambers, Valerie June, Shannon McNally and Whitney Rose, taking place at Cooper’s Bar-B-Que (217 Congress Ave.) in Austin and starting at 8:15 p.m. A SXSW badge or wristband will be required for admission.
This year’s event is made possible by SESAC and Change The Conversation, a community coalition striving to improve the environment for women in country music.
In addition to its musical presentation, the Americana Music Association has also curated a SXSW Conference panel titled “Americana Without Borders” with speakers Crispin Parry (British Underground), Kasey Chambers (Artist), Nash Chambers (Essence Music Group), Jed Hilly (Americana Music Association) and moderator Peter Blackstock (Austin American-Statesman).
The panel will delve into Americana’s ongoing international growth and expansion while focusing on genre awareness overseas, touring perspectives and the formation of the Americana Music Association UK, the Americana Music Association Australia and other related global industry initiatives.
This featured conference session will take place Friday, March 17 at the Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St.) in Room 16AB at 12:30 p.m.
Sally Williams To Lead Opry Entertainment Group’s New Division
/by Sarah SkatesWilliams, who was previously the Company’s Vice President of Concerts & Entertainment and General Manager of Ryman Auditorium, will lead a team that will be responsible for all booking, programming, artist relations and artist collaborations across Opry Entertainment’s growing portfolio of media and entertainment assets, among them: the Grand Ole Opry, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, Opry City Stage (Summer 2017), Ole Red Nashville (Spring 2018) and Ole Red Tishomingo (Fall 2017).
As part of her new role, Williams will also serve as general manager of the Grand Ole Opry where she will be responsible for overseeing the show’s lineup, programming and member relations. She will continue to oversee programming for the Ryman.
The new division headed by Williams also includes Dan Rogers, promoted to Director of Marketing, Communication, and Artist Initiatives; Gina Keltner, promoted to Senior Talent Manager; Dolly Chandler in the new position of Opry Entertainment Group Talent Buyer; and other team members to be announced.
Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Opry Entertainment parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties, said, “In all of my time with this company, I have never been more excited about the opportunity we have to expand the Opry’s reach and share its story with more people than ever before. Given the growing breadth and depth of our assets, we are increasing the resources dedicated to partnering with the music community and better aligning our portfolio to support developing artists, honor today’s superstars, and celebrate country music’s legends. Sally is uniquely qualified to lead this new division.”
Williams, who is currently serving as the 2017 chairman of the County Music Association, joined the Company in 1999 and spent seven years managing concerts and other events for the Opry Entertainment Complex. After a brief stint with the Country Music Association, Williams returned to the Company in 2008 as General Manager of Ryman Auditorium. Under Williams’ leadership, Ryman Auditorium has been named Pollstar Magazine’s Theatre of Year for seven consecutive years and CMA’s Touring Awards Venue of the Year for five consecutive years. Williams has received numerous industry awards and recognitions for her expertise in venue management, talent buying and event promotion.
“It’s such a privilege to be part of Nashville’s music community,” said Williams. “The teams at the Opry and the Ryman are extremely passionate about being good partners in the creation of meaningful experiences for both artists and fans. I’m excited to work with them as we continue to expand these opportunities.”
Clay Mills Signs With MV2 Entertainment
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, standing): MV2 Entertainment GM Tony Harrell, Linda Edell Howard (Adams and Reese), MV2 Entertainment Sr. Creative Director Artist Development Clay Myers. Pictured (L-R, seated): MV2 Entertainment Creative Director Kendall Lettow, Clay Mills, Kelly Donley (Safford Motley). Photo: Betsy Barbour
Clay Mills has joined the roster at MV2 Entertainment.
Mills grew up surrounded by music in the Mississippi Delta and since moving to Nashville has had more than 75 major cuts, including four No. 1s, six Top 5 singles, and 12 Top 40 singles. Over the course of his career, he’s penned No. 1 hits for Darius Rucker (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”), Diamond Rio (“Beautiful Mess”), and Kimberley Locke (“Fall”), and more than 80 of his songs have been recorded by artists including Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, and Easton Corbin.
“We are honored and excited to have Clay Mills join our team,” said Tony Harrell, General Manager of MV2 Entertainment. “He is a true journeyman writer that continues to stay current and relevant in today’s changing market.”
“I’m excited to join the talented, forward-thinking, and creative team at MV2,” said Mills about the new association.