Industry Ink: Grammy Artist Of Tomorrow, Grayscale Entertainment, Provident Label Group

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Drake White Named 2017 Grammy Artist of Tomorrow

Drake White performs at AURORA. Photo: Rachel Giese

Drake White has been named 2017 Grammy Artist of Tomorrow from daily votes at CBS.com. Nominated by Zac Brown Band, White will be featured in Grammy Live—a live stream broadcast online across CBS.com, grammy.com and platforms through the CBS App—leading into the 59th Annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, Feb. 12.

“I am beyond honored to say that I am the Grammy Artist of Tomorrow,” shared White. “A very big thank you to Zac Brown Band and the opportunities they have afforded us both on and off the road. This is a dream.”

This week, White gathered a select group of fans for an intimate performance at AURORA Studios in Nashville. The live-streamed event offered a nationwide online preview to White’s exhilarating live homecoming shows April 12 and 13 at Nashville’s Exit/In.

 

Grayscale Entertainment Expands

Grayscale Entertainment has added two new team members to the marketing agency, Rasha Shaker, and Ivan Andrews. Shaker has been named Executive Marketing Assistant, and Andrews has joined the sponsorship division as Partnership Coordinator.

Shaker has a BA in Communication Studies from Wilkes University with focuses in public relations and Broadcast media as well as a AAS in Audio Visual Communications from Luzerne County Community College.

Andrews is a recent media and entertainment graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. While attending college, Ivan curated his own hybrid music festival called Sneakers x Speakers. This festival has been held annually in the greater Nashville area and recently celebrated its 5th anniversary.

GSM CEO, Tim Gray commented, “Maintaining company culture while balancing the level of growth the agency’s experiencing while has been imperative. Over the last six months we’ve meticulously recruited talent, not just searching for good employees, but extraordinary individuals of all experience levels that can contribute day one. I feel we’ve found that in these two young professionals.”

 

Provident Label Group Adds To Radio Promotions Team

Lindsay Crane

Provident Label Group is adding to its radio promotions team. Lindsay Crane joins the crew on March 6. Crane has worked at KLOVE/AIR1 where she has been leading promotions and events in Indianapolis. Prior to that, Crane worked with digital marketing clients.

PLG VP/Nat. Prom. Jeff Cruz says, “We could not be more excited about Lindsay coming on board. I have seen her passion for the listener, her hard work and dedication first hand while working in Indianapolis. I feel like her experience gives Lindsay a real understanding of radio’s needs for events and promotions that will really help us develop promotional tools and opportunities.”

Jessie James Decker Readies ‘Gold’ EP

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Epic Records artist Jessie James Decker is set to release her new EP Gold on Friday, Feb. 17. Produced by Daniel Agee and recorded at his studio in Nashville, the project’s lead single “Lights Down Low,” has garnered more than 6.5 million streams on Spotify, hitting No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart and Top 10 overall within 24 hours of its release.

Jessie James Decker’s Gold Tracklist:
“Lights Down Low” (Jessie James Decker, Alyssa Bonagura)
“Shoot Out The Lights” (Maren Morris, Marty Dodson, Brett Tyler)
“Girl On The Coast” ” (Jessie James Decker)
“Too Young To Know” (Maren Morris, Jesse Frasure, Tiffany Vatanyan)
“Gold” (Jeffrey Steele, Alyssa Bonagura, Brandon Hood)

Logan Mize EP ‘Ain’t Always Pretty’ Out Today

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Logan Mize is releasing his new EP, Ain’t Always Pretty, on Big Yellow Dog Music’s indie label Friday (Feb. 10). The EP is a followup to Mize’s two successful singles, “Can’t Get Away From A Good Time” (which sold over 100,000 downloads and has over 7 million streams), and his current single/title track, “Ain’t Always Pretty,” which gained early support from The Bobby Bones Show and has sold over 10,000 downloads in its first week with over 6 million streams.

“We are so happy to support Logan and his music on our label. He has such honesty and authenticity in his voice that truly bring these songs to life,” says Carla Wallace, co-owner of Big Yellow Dog Music.

Ain’t Always Pretty Track Listing:

  • Life’s A Party (Josh Kear, Mark Irwin, Chris Tompkins)
  • Better Off Gone (Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods)
  • Ain’t Always Pretty (Brett Warren, Brad Warren, Lance Miller, Chris Stevens)
  • All Time (Luke Dick, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  • Catch A Fish (Logan Mize, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)

 

 

 

 

Radney Foster Expanding ‘Sycamore Creek’ Album Into Book Project

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Radney Foster is releasing a book of short fiction in September to go along with his next album, Sycamore Creek. The book features a companion short story for each song on the CD.

“I realized that at heart, I’m a storyteller,” says Foster. “This book gives me the chance to go further than what I can say in a three minute song. If you ever wanted to know more about the characters – what they were feeling, where they came from – here is your chance.”

Fans have responded enthusiastically to the new project, fully funding the Kickstarter project in just four days. The campaign (picked by Kickstarter as a “Project We Love”) offers expanded fan-experience packages including autographed copies of the cd/book combo, VIP tickets to shows, private fly fishing trips guided by Foster, autographed guitars, and more.

Foster just wrapped a month-long run onstage at the Alliance Theatre in the musical Troubadour, which featured original music by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush. Foster will also appear in the upcoming feature film Beauty Mark.

Brandy Clark, Charlie Worsham Team Up For New Tour

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Brandy Clark and Charlie Worsham are joining forces for a 26-city tour this spring that will hit Austin, New Orleans, Richmond, Atlanta, and more. A Nashville date at the City Winery is scheduled for May 19.

The two have collaborated previously on different events, including Front and Center’s CMA Songwriter Series as well as Worsham’s 2016 Midnite Jamboree.

“Brandy is everything I love about country music. She speaks her truth, and she breaks new ground with every song she writes,” said Worsham about his new tourmate. “She’s beloved by the Nashville community, and each time she and I have collaborated, it’s been a blast. This tour is going to be so much fun, and I know the fans who fill up the venue each night will bring with them the same deep love for music that we have as artists.”

“Charlie Worsham is one of my favorite singers, songwriters, and musicians. I absolutely love his new record and where his heart is musically,” said Clark. “I can’t wait to share the stage with him.”

The revered duo will hit the road beginning April 6 at The Southern in Charlottesville, Virginia, and tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com and ticketfly.com.

An Evening with Brandy Clark & Charlie Worsham Dates
Thursday, April 6: The Southern; Charlottesville, VA
Friday, April 7: 20th Century Theatre; Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, April 8: House of Blues; Cleveland, OH
Sunday, April 9: The Ark; Ann Arbor, MI
Monday, April 10: Lyric Theatre;  Lexington, KY
Friday, April 14: The Grey Eagle; Asheville, NC
Saturday, April 15: Harvester Performing Arts Ctr; Rocky Mount, VA
Thursday, April 20: City Winery; New York, NY
Saturday, April 22: Rams Head On Stage; Annapolis, MD
Sunday, April 23: The Hamilton; Washington DC
Wednesday, April 26: Parish at House of Blues; New Orleans, LA
Thursday, April 27: Dosey Doe; The Woodlands, TX
Friday, April 28: Sam’s Burger Joint; San Antonio, TX
Saturday, April 29: Live Oak Music Hall; Fort Worth, TX
Sunday, April 30: Antone’s; Austin, TX
Friday, May 5: WorkPlay Theatre; Birmingham, AL
Sunday, May 7: The Steeple; Mobile, AL
Thursday, May 11: 40 Watt Club; Athens, GA
Friday, May 12: The Blind Tiger; Greensboro, NC
Saturday, May 13: The Broadberry; Richmond, VA
Friday, May 19: City Winery; Nashville, TN
Saturday, May 20: City Winery; Atlanta, GA
Thursday, June 15: Delmar Hall; Saint Louis, MO
Friday, June 16: Wooly’s; Des Moines, IA
Saturday, June 17: Turf Club; St. Paul, MN
Sunday, June 18: The Waiting Room Lounge; Omaha, NE

Journalist Robert K Oermann, Artist Anna Jaap Team For Exhibit Highlighting Nashville’s Hidden Histories

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Al Capone’s bookmaker John Welch built this structure between 1929 and 1932. En route between Chicago and Florida, the notorious gangster used it as his rest stop and hideout. Today, it is a recording studio called The Castle. Nearly 500 top artists have recorded at The Castle. Among them are Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Alabama, Johnny Cash, Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, and more.

A new exhibit highlighting unique locations in Nashville’s history, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” will open at the Nashville Library with a special reception Feb. 18 in the Courtyard Gallery from 3-5 p.m. Nashville artist Anna Jaap and journalist/MusicRow contributor Robert K. Oermann collaborated on the new exhibit of photos and stories of hidden historical locations that were inspired from the nearly three decades that Nashville resident Oermann spent driving, studying, and researching Music City’s history.

Portrait subjects include homes where Hank Williams and Patsy Cline once resided, Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay’s home, churches with Civil Rights Movement history, Nashville’s first auto factory, and the spot where Lay’s Potato Chips were once made.

 “Celebrating great art and artists is part of Nashville Public Library’s mission to connect our community,” said Library Director Kent Oliver. “We are pleased to showcase these portraits that give viewers such insight into our city.”

The new exhibit will run until June 18.

Both the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant and the City Reservoir (on 8th Ave. S.) were built in 1889. They are on the National Registry of Historical Places, and both are still serving the community.

‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Chart Station To Be Featured During CRS

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MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart panel station KZPK, based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, will be featured at this year’s Country Radio Seminar.

KZPK’s OM JJ Holiday and GSM Stephanie Theisen will take part in the panel Objects Are Larger Than They Appear: Small Markets That Do Big Things, which focuses on successful promotions that go above and beyond small-market scale, leading to increased revenue, greater brand awareness, and happy listeners and staff.

The panel will also include Sony Music Nashville’s RG Jones, and station WBYT FM (South Bend, Indiana)’s PD Jesse Garcia and GSM Erica Ogle.

The discussion will take place Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. at Legends Ballroom A-C, on level 2 of the Omni Hotel.

Country Radio Seminar runs from Feb. 22-24 at Nashville’s Omni Hotel. For more, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Jessie Jo Dillon Signs With Big Machine Music

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Pictured (L-R): Back Row – BMM’s Senior Director Publishing Alex Heddle; Front Row – BMM’s Assistant Publishing Jillian Whitefield, Jessie Jo Dillon, BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar Photo courtesy of Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music has signed Jessie Jo Dillon to an exclusive co-publishing agreement. Dillon earned a Grammy nomination in 2011 in the Best Song Category for her first-ever cut, George Strait’s “The Breath You Take,” a song she co-wrote with Casey Beathard and her father, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Dean Dillon.

Dillon co-wrote “Girl Next Door,” “Daughter” and “You Can Come Over” with Brandy Clark for her latest album as well as “Rich” with Maren Morris for her CD Hero. George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Nettles and more, have also all recorded Jessie Jo’s songs, and she joins a roster that includes Jonathan Singleton, Laura Veltz and Josh Thompson, among others.

“While Jessie Jo has felt like family to our team for a long time, we are honored that she chose us to represent her and her songs,” said BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar. “She is a special songwriter who has a magical ability to craft a song that resonates with everyone.”

“I am over the moon to be joining the Big Machine Music tribe alongside some of my favorite songwriters and publishers,” said Dillon. “Mike and the Big Machine Music team have always been big believers in me and my writing so this really feels like coming home.”

Nashville Presenters Announced For Sunday’s Grammy Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Rhett

Presenters for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards telecast will include three-time Grammy winner and current nominee Kelly Clarkson; three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw and five-time Grammy winner Faith Hill; and current Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett.

Taking place at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by James Corden, the awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Additional presenters include five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion; singer/songwriter Jason Derulo; current Grammy nominee Halsey; singer/ songwriter Camila Cabello; current Grammy nominees The Chainsmokers; actress Laverne Cox; pop/funk band DNCE; actress Taraji P. Henson; actress/model Paris Jackson; previous Grammy nominee Nick Jonas; previous Grammy nominee Jennifer Lopez; singer/songwriter Katharine McPhee; two-time Grammy winners and current Grammy nominees Pentatonix; actress Gina Rodriguez; TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; current Grammy nominee Solange; and previous Grammy nominee and actor John Travolta.

Previously announced performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sturgill Simpson, Gary Clark Jr., Adele, William Bell, Chance The Rapper, Daft Punk, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Tori Kelly, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Lukas Graham, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Anderson .Paak, Katy Perry, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Weeknd.

The 59th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Webster PR to Host Third Annual Legendary Lunch

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Webster Public Relations will be presenting their Legendary Lunch event Feb. 22 at the Hilton Downtown. Now in its third year, the luncheon gives radio reps and the media an opportunity to mix and mingle with over 30 legendary country acts in the same room, including Bill Anderson, Roy Clark, John Conlee, Crystal Gayle, Brenda Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Tanya Tucker and more.

Bill Cody of WSM-AM will be broadcasting live from the Legendary Lunch and will be simulcast on the Heartland Network, and media are invited to attend the red carpet arrival and press conference held prior to the lunch.

“We are honored to team with Webster Public Relations to present the 3rd Annual Legendary Lunch,” said Chris Kulick, WSM General Manager. “I know that 650 AM WSM listeners and Heartland viewers will continue to embrace these legendary and iconic artists, as they have for many years!”