BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick; four-time GRAMMY® nominee Maren Morris and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders. Photo: Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Chapter 552
The first big party of the year is also one of the best.
The Grammy Nominee Party has it all – twinkling stars, great food, lovely location, enchanting music and a bounty of fabulons. Staged Thursday evening, Jan. 26, at Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza, this year’s soiree attracted such celebs as The Isaacs, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Cassadee Pope, Luther Dickinson, Tim Stafford of Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (who harmonized a cappella for the press on the red carpet), Sierra Hull, Lori McKenna, Thomas Rhett, Drake White, The Time Jumpers, Clint Lagerberg and such CCM folks as Gordon Mote, For King & Country, Emily Weisband, Jonathan Smith, Bernie Herms and Michael Farren.
“It is with great pride that we honor these nominees and their works,” said Shannon Sanders. “The Grammy nomination is a true measure of your dedication to your craft.” The double Grammy winner is the president of the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy. Shannon was resplendent in a silver tux jacket with a black diamond pattern and black lapels, worn over a black shirt and black bow tie.
Academy Southern regional executive Susan Stewart pointed out that the Nashville chapter has 107 nominees spread over 26 categories, including folk, reggae, blues, new age, bluegrass and r&b, as well as the country, Christian and Americana fields.
Pictured (L-R): Best New Artist GRAMMY® nominees Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Chapter executive director Alicia Warwick made a special presentation to songwriters Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. Their “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” as recorded by Bonnie Raitt is going into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“You can imagine how this touches one,” said Mike. “I think of Allen as my youngest son or my baby brothers. Anyway, I love him.” Allen added, “Mike has been a true mentor to me.”
Addressing the room full of honorees, Shannon offered this advice: “Enjoy the moment. Be here. Soak it all in.”
“The moment” included smooth jazz sounds courtesy of The Birdsong Trio. The group played throughout the cocktail reception and can make any occasion seem a whole lot more elegant.
“The moment” also included a centrally sited buffet that included hot-chicken skewers, kobe beef cheeseburger sliders, fig & duck confit flatbreads, truffled mac & cheese, “So-Cal” shrimp & grits, BBQ chicken skewers, mushroom & truffle flatbreads and apple, pear and walnut salad. Plus fruit torts, chocolate covered strawberries and other sweets.
Pictured (L-R): Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, GRAMMY® nominee Kelsea Ballerini, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick and GRAMMY® nominee Thomas Rhett. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/ Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Working the room were Mayor Megan Barry, Pete Fisher, Allison Brown Jones, Tamara Saviano, George Flanigan IV, Drew Alexander, Gordon Kerr, Sherod Robertson, multi-tattooed songwriter Justin Weatherbee, Earle Simmons, Steve Buchanan, Lori Badgett, Pat McMakin, Jesse Knutson, Jules Wortman, Dawn Delvo, Eric T. Parker, Haley Crow and Jessica Nicholson.
Daniel Miller, Daniel Hill, Terry Bumgarner, Terry Hemmings, Mark Bright, Mark Ford, Mike Molinar, Mike Sisted, Robert Deaton, Bob Doyle, Fletcher Foster, Ronna Rubin, Joanna Carter, John Ozier, Virginia Hunt Davis, Beverly Keel, Regina Stuve, Tracy Gershon and Chris Keaton schmoozed mightily.
So did Jeff Balding, David & Carolyn Corlew, Tom Roland, Allen Brown, Doug Howard, Julie Boos, Cindy Watts, Rod Essig, Susan Niles, Hunter Kelly, Ken Robold, Shannon Hatch, Lisa Harless, Diane Pearson and Molly Hannula. Academy senior vice president Nancy Shapiro smiled, gazing over a fabulous event she launched more than two decades ago.
By the way, British “blue-eyed soul” superstar Sam Smith (“Stay With Me”) was a guest in the hotel. He won four Grammys in 2015 (including Record of the Year and Best New Artist), so we hoped he’d come downstairs to our party. Alas, he did not.
The Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 12, 2017.
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders; four-time GRAMMY® nominee Lori McKenna, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Pictured (L-R): GRAMMY® nominees Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Bobby Karl Works The Nashville Grammy Nominee Party
/by Bobby KarlBOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick; four-time GRAMMY® nominee Maren Morris and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders. Photo: Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Chapter 552
The first big party of the year is also one of the best.
The Grammy Nominee Party has it all – twinkling stars, great food, lovely location, enchanting music and a bounty of fabulons. Staged Thursday evening, Jan. 26, at Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza, this year’s soiree attracted such celebs as The Isaacs, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Cassadee Pope, Luther Dickinson, Tim Stafford of Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (who harmonized a cappella for the press on the red carpet), Sierra Hull, Lori McKenna, Thomas Rhett, Drake White, The Time Jumpers, Clint Lagerberg and such CCM folks as Gordon Mote, For King & Country, Emily Weisband, Jonathan Smith, Bernie Herms and Michael Farren.
“It is with great pride that we honor these nominees and their works,” said Shannon Sanders. “The Grammy nomination is a true measure of your dedication to your craft.” The double Grammy winner is the president of the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy. Shannon was resplendent in a silver tux jacket with a black diamond pattern and black lapels, worn over a black shirt and black bow tie.
Academy Southern regional executive Susan Stewart pointed out that the Nashville chapter has 107 nominees spread over 26 categories, including folk, reggae, blues, new age, bluegrass and r&b, as well as the country, Christian and Americana fields.
Pictured (L-R): Best New Artist GRAMMY® nominees Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Chapter executive director Alicia Warwick made a special presentation to songwriters Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. Their “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” as recorded by Bonnie Raitt is going into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“You can imagine how this touches one,” said Mike. “I think of Allen as my youngest son or my baby brothers. Anyway, I love him.” Allen added, “Mike has been a true mentor to me.”
Addressing the room full of honorees, Shannon offered this advice: “Enjoy the moment. Be here. Soak it all in.”
“The moment” included smooth jazz sounds courtesy of The Birdsong Trio. The group played throughout the cocktail reception and can make any occasion seem a whole lot more elegant.
“The moment” also included a centrally sited buffet that included hot-chicken skewers, kobe beef cheeseburger sliders, fig & duck confit flatbreads, truffled mac & cheese, “So-Cal” shrimp & grits, BBQ chicken skewers, mushroom & truffle flatbreads and apple, pear and walnut salad. Plus fruit torts, chocolate covered strawberries and other sweets.
Pictured (L-R): Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, GRAMMY® nominee Kelsea Ballerini, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick and GRAMMY® nominee Thomas Rhett. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/ Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Working the room were Mayor Megan Barry, Pete Fisher, Allison Brown Jones, Tamara Saviano, George Flanigan IV, Drew Alexander, Gordon Kerr, Sherod Robertson, multi-tattooed songwriter Justin Weatherbee, Earle Simmons, Steve Buchanan, Lori Badgett, Pat McMakin, Jesse Knutson, Jules Wortman, Dawn Delvo, Eric T. Parker, Haley Crow and Jessica Nicholson.
Daniel Miller, Daniel Hill, Terry Bumgarner, Terry Hemmings, Mark Bright, Mark Ford, Mike Molinar, Mike Sisted, Robert Deaton, Bob Doyle, Fletcher Foster, Ronna Rubin, Joanna Carter, John Ozier, Virginia Hunt Davis, Beverly Keel, Regina Stuve, Tracy Gershon and Chris Keaton schmoozed mightily.
So did Jeff Balding, David & Carolyn Corlew, Tom Roland, Allen Brown, Doug Howard, Julie Boos, Cindy Watts, Rod Essig, Susan Niles, Hunter Kelly, Ken Robold, Shannon Hatch, Lisa Harless, Diane Pearson and Molly Hannula. Academy senior vice president Nancy Shapiro smiled, gazing over a fabulous event she launched more than two decades ago.
By the way, British “blue-eyed soul” superstar Sam Smith (“Stay With Me”) was a guest in the hotel. He won four Grammys in 2015 (including Record of the Year and Best New Artist), so we hoped he’d come downstairs to our party. Alas, he did not.
The Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 12, 2017.
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders; four-time GRAMMY® nominee Lori McKenna, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Pictured (L-R): GRAMMY® nominees Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett. Photo: courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Frederick Breedon WireImage.com ©2017
Josh Turner To Release Sixth Studio Album
/by Jessica Nicholson“I’m really proud of this album,” says Turner. “It was really important for me to expand creatively and explore in new ways for this record. The way I pick songs is different now. There are so many things in my life and career that have matured me as an artist.” He adds, “I’ve had another child since my last project!”
For Turner, the title Deep South “represents hardworking people who find joy in the simple things in life; heritage, church, community, high school sports, being outdoors. It is a culture.” Pre-order packages including specialized Deep South merchandise
Deep South Track Listing:
1. Deep South
2. All About You
3. Hometown Girl
4. Beach Bums
5. Southern Drawl
6. Where The Girls Are
7. Never Had A Reason
8. Wonder
9. One Like Mine
10. Lay Low
11. Hawaiian Girl
Project Music Accelerator Welcomes Third Year Participants
/by Lorie HollabaughThis year’s participants are Event Escrow’s CEO Ben Hodge,(Texas); EyeBuy TV’s CEO Todd Coulter (California); Scripturally Sound’s CEO Kimberly Lannear (Tennessee); and Hi Karl’s CEO Florian Doumenc (New York). With over 120 applications from around the globe, the program welcomes participants from the United States, France, Spain, Australia and Mexico.
Industry veteran Stephen Linn joins the EC team as the program’s Music Entrepreneur in Residence to work hands-on with the participants and to further build the industry connections and curriculum. Eleven leading industry individuals and businesses including artist managers, major labels, artists, publishing, PROs and more are supporting the startups with investment capital.
CMA’s title sponsorship is rejoined this year by LaunchTN, Pinnacle Bank, BMI, Belmont University, Linda & Doug Howard, Rock/Paper/Scissors and the Music Biz Association.
“The Project Music accelerator continues to be supported by virtually every aspect of the music industry,” noted Joe Galante, Project Music co-founder and EC master mentor. “Managers, major labels, artists, publishing, PRO’s, and industry leaders have come together to not only provide funding, but to identify and nurture opportunities to advance the industry through tech innovation.”
For more visit projectmusic.co.
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lady A, Dierks And More Featured on ‘The Shack’ Soundtrack
/by Lorie HollabaughThe first song Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have co-written together, “Keep Your Eyes On Me,” is available starting today as an instant grat track as part of pre-sales for the new soundtrack The Shack: Music From And Inspired By The Original Motion Picture. Another track from the movie, “Stars (The Shack Version)” by Skillet, is also available as an instant download as well. McGraw also narrates the new film and appears in it as the character “Willie.”
The companion album to the New York Times best-selling book “The Shack” also features songs by Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Brett Eldredge, NEEDTOBREATHE, Kelly Clarkson and Aloe Blacc and more, as well as Dan + Shay‘s new single, “When I Pray For You,” which is featured in a soundtrack trailer for the new movie. The song will be the third instant grat track available for download with album pre-orders, and a companion video for “When I Pray For You,” will premiere later in the month.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “Keep Your Eyes On Me,” which was co-penned by McGraw and Hill along with Lori McKenna and Shane McAnally, is currently featured in film trailers for the movie.
The new soundtrack will be released Feb. 24 to coincide with the nationwide release of the film from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment on March 3.
Before the film opens nationwide, fans can attend an exclusive “Movie Premiere Night” in select theaters on March 2, where they will see the film, followed by special behind-the-scenes footage, including a taped conversation with the actors and acoustic performance of “When I Pray For You” by Dan + Shay.
“THE SHACK – MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE”
(Atlantic Records)
Industry Ink: Compass Records, Streamsound/Red Vinyl, Crosshair Music, Musicpreneur Storehouse
/by Jessica NicholsonCompass Records Signs Old Salt Union
Pictured (L-R): Garry West (Compass Co-Founder), Alison Brown (Compass Co-Founder), Ryan Murphey (Banjo), John Brighton (Fiddle), Rob Kindle (Guitar), Jesse Farrar (Upright Bass) And Justin Wallace (Mandolin)
Compass Records has added Old Salt Union to the roster.
Old Salt Union includes banjo player Ryan Murphey, fiddler player John Brighton, guitarist Rob Kindle, upright bass player Jesse Farrar, and mandolin player Justin Wallace, The band formed in 2012. Old Salt Union recorded their debut album a few months after forming. In 2015 Old Salt Union captured first place at the FreshGrass band contest, winning a $5,000 prize and a day at Compass Sound Studio with producer/label co-founder Alison Brown.
“We’ve been on the road for the past four years in search of a label that handles themselves with the integrity, professionalism, and generosity that Compass Records offers,” the band members said. “After traveling to every corner of this country, we’ve finally come home. Old Salt Union is extremely excited to embark on this new journey to expand the reach of our music. We have total faith that Compass will steer us in the right direction. Onward and Upward!”
“I’ve never seen a string band turn a roots music festival into a rave until I witnessed Old Salt Union live!. This is a band that knows how to please a crowd and they are inventive, spirited players to boot. We are proud to be associated with them and look forward to introducing their music to fans far and wide,” says label co-founder Garry West.
Brown says, “The guys came in with a new song and together we fleshed out an arrangement that borrowed inspiration equally from New Grass Revival and Fleet Foxes. I loved the band’s open-minded approach to recording as well as their enthusiasm for experimenting with new ideas. It was such a great day that it made perfect sense to think about how we could work together on a larger scale.”
Cheri Cranford To Exit Streamsound Records/Red Vinyl Music
Cheri Cranford
After a nearly four-year run and following the recent sale of Red Vinyl Music, Cheri Cranford will exit her position as General Manager, Streamsound Music Group, effective Feb. 1. Cranford will continue to manage the building which is currently for sale and will take on special events and projects independently while seeking her next opportunity. Prior to Streamsound Music Group, Cranford worked at Sony Music Entertainment for 25 years in various roles. She can be reached at cheri.cranford@comcast.net, or at 615-473-6837.
Crosshair Music Launches
Nashville entrepreneur Garrison Snell has launched online platform Crosshair Music, which aims to connect artists, especially independent artists, directly with playlist curators and other digital curators.
Snell rolled out the web application’s latest version in January. Crosshair currently works with 500 active playlists and tastemakers, representing a combined following of 42 million.
Alternative band Judah and the Lion recently used Crosshair to promote “Take It All Back” securing placement on essential independent playlists that helped propel the song to 9 million Spotify streams. “Take It All Back” eventually became the band’s first No. 1 hit, topping Billboard magazine’s Alternative songs chart in January.
The Musicpreneur Storehouse Announces Fundraising Totals for 2016
Pictured (L-R) :Lisa Settle, Vicky Burnette, and Goose Gossett, Lyrics On The Lake Festival Directors; Brinn Black, Musicpreneur Storehouse CEO; Tim Gray, Musicpreneur Storehouse CFO.
The Musicpreneur Storehouse, a Nashville nonprofit organization, has doubled their fundraising activities since its 2014 inception. The group has raised $119,000 to date with over half collected last year.
“MPS’s annual program and main fundraising event, Lyrics on the Lake was the driving force behind 2016’s success,” said the non-profit’s Founder, Brinn Black. “We raised a grand total of $65,000 last year! That allowed us to donate $20,000 to The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Central and Southwest Virginia, as well as set aside $20,000 toward our core mission of ensuring that the future stars and leaders of Nashville have the resources to create, build, and sustain lasting careers and growing businesses,” Black added. Lyrics on the Lake is a five-day songwriters festival held in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.
The organization hosted over a dozen other philanthropic events during 2016 including 17 fundraising concerts. One of those events was a Stuff-A-Truck Donation Drive to benefit the victims of the West Virginia Flood. The non-profit partnered with Clover Hill High School as well in Chesterfield, VA to fill three 18 wheelers with 15 tons of dog food, 5,400 rolls of paper towels, 17,280 bottles of water and a multitude of cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, household items, clothing, and more for the cause.
Keith Urban, Little Big Town to Honor Bee Gees in Grammy Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Grammys will pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the landmark soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever with a special, “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees,” on Feb. 14, two days after the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. Keith Urban, Little Big Town, John Legend, Celine Dion, Nick Jonas, Pentatonix, Demi Lovato, DNCE, Tori Kelly, and Andra Day will perform to honor five-time Grammy winners and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Bee Gees during the live concert taping at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater. Additional performers will be announced soon.
Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb, who released a solo album late last year, will also be on hand to perform a selection of hits from the legendary soundtrack, which won Album Of The Year at the 21st Annual Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2004.
“The Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice—were international musical icons who helped make Saturday Night Fever an emblem of 1970s pop culture,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “With expert harmonies, undeniable groove, and a personal charisma matching their on-stage persona, the iconic band of brothers defined not just a genre, but a generation. I’m looking forward to celebrating one of the most famous soundtracks ever produced and reliving Saturday Night Fever, once again.”
The special will be broadcast later this year on CBS.
Triple Tigers Records Names Kevin Herring As SVP, Promotion
/by Jessica NicholsonKevin Herring
Triple Tigers Records has added a leading name to their growing arsenal of executives. Most recently with Warner Nashville, Kevin Herring joined the Triple Tigers team as Senior Vice President for National Promotion on Jan. 23. Herring’s resumé includes leadership roles with not only Warner, but also a 13-year tenure with Disney’s Lyric Street Records, and Mercury Nashville, where he and Norbert Nix, Triple Tigers’ GM, were teammates in the 90’s.
“It’s exciting to start with a clean sheet of paper, writing a new success story one page at a time,” says Herring. “Triple Tigers is stacked with amazing industry vets, and focusing on a talent like Russell Dickerson right out of the gate, for me, is a sure fire winning formula.”
Nix added, “This acquisition assures radio how serious and committed we are to competing at the highest levels. Kevin brings not only experience, but leadership, and the kind of strategic thinking that will inspire significant and meaningful results.”
Herring can be reached at kevin@tripletigers.com
Weekly Chart Report (1/27/17)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
DISClaimer: Frankie Ballard, Mo Pitney Tie In A Dead Heat
/by Robert K OermannIt’s Star Time in today’s country edition of DISClaimer.
Luke Bryan, Billy Currington, Reba McEntire and Jason Aldean are all here with new tunes. The rockers ruled the listening session, with Frankie Ballad and Mo Pitney finishing in a dead heat for the Disc of the Day prize.
The DisCovery Award goes to youthful-sounding Bailey Bryan.
Bailey Bryan
BAILEY BRYAN/Own It
Writers: Bailey Bryan/Dennis Matkowsky/Casey Brown; Producer: Dennis Matowsky; Publishers: Kompass Kopyrights/Bailey Bryan/Karles/Kobalt/So Essential/Not Just Another Song, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; 300/VAR (CDX)
– Punchy and perky. The up-to-date lyric drops lots of contemporary, youthful references and the bouncy beats just don’t quit. Plus, it’s cool that it stops dead in its tracks.
BILLY CURRINGTON/Do I Make You Wanna
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Zach Crowell/Matt Jenkins/Jerry Flowers; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: External Combustion/Songs of Southside Ind./WB/Atlas/Who Wants to Buy My Pub, ASCAP; MERCURY (CDX)
– An attractive come-on with a breezy tempo, a softly pleading vocal and a wafting audio atmosphere. Let’s face it, this guy just has an unerring knack for finding hit songs.
LUKE BRYAN/Fast
Writers: Luke Bryan/Rodney Clawson/Luke Laird; Producers: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/Round Hill Works/Big Loud Proud Crowd/Farm Town/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation, BMI; Capitol (CDX)
-I like the way his voice is so high up in the mix that it sounds like he’s sitting next to you. It gives the record a relaxed, intimate quality that’s quite lovely. It also helps that the song is so well written.
MO PITNEY/Everywhere
Writers: Mo Pitney/Dean Dillon/Paul Overstreet; Producers: Dean Dillon/Paul Overstreet; Publishers: Mike Curb/Sixteen Stars/Tenorado/Music From Philbily, BMI; Curb (CDX)
– Mo shows that he knows his way around a tempo tune. This is a roll-the-window-down driver with a relentless rush of energy. His strong singing in the verses is joined by celestial harmony vocal work on the choruses. Loved it.
LAUREN ALAINA/Road Less Traveled
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Jesse Frasure/Meghan Trainor; Producer: busbee; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Lylas/Rio Bravo/Year of the Dog/MTrain/Words & Music, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury/19
– The message of this bopper is to be yourself and don’t follow the crowd. The “rebel heart” in the lyric is carried through in her bright, upbeat, soprano delivery. But it went on a little too long, and by the time it finally ended, I was kinda worn out.
JASON ALDEAN/Any Ol’ Barstool
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-You want to know how he feels since she left? Ask any ol’ barstool in this town. The lyric is nifty, and the track is very cool sounding.
MARK McKINNEY/Bridge
Writers: Mark McKinney/Cassie McKinney; Producers: Eric McKinney/Mark McKinney; Publishers: none listed; Texas Evolution
-Somewhat spare sounding. The sparsely instrumented production is matched by his stark vocal performance. Compared to what else is in today’s reviewing stack, it seems a little weak.
BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Weekend
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Andrew DeRoberts; Producers: Dann Huff; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Indiana Angel/BMG Gold/Lanercost, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
– It’s one of those spoke-sung things in the verses that then bursts into semi-melodic,shouted choruses. This is getting old.
FRANKIE BALLARD/You Accomp’ny Me
Writer: Bob Seger; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publisher: Gear, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Back in the day, Frankie used to open shows for fellow Michigan music maker Bob Seger. So an homage to his mentor seems entirely appropriate. His churning guitar work and earnest vocal give this golden goodie new luster. It’s totally cool how it builds in intensity as it goes along.
REBA McENTIRE/Back To God
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Randy Houser; Producer: Reba McEntire/Doug Sizemore; Publishers: ole Big Business/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Burn 1 Baby/BMG, BMI; Rockin/Nash
– Reba’s new double-disc gospel set Sing It Now consists of classic tunes on Disc One. Disc Two contains newly penned religious numbers. This one instructs us to return to praying and working on salvation.
ASCAP’s “I Create Music” Expo To Celebrate Nashville Songwriters
/by Jessica NicholsonSeventeen top hit songwriters and producers from all music genres will be among those who take the stage at this year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO. Now in its 12th year, the expo will take place April 13–15 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.
Desmond Child, Ashley Gorley, Darrell Brown, and Matt Jenkins are among those Nashville connections slated to take part.
Gorley, recipient of four ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Awards, will lead an EXPO session at the 2017 conference.
Jenkins will serve as a panelist this year. Jenkins has earned four chart-topping hits, including the recent No. 1 singles ”Setting the World on Fire,” recorded by Kenny Chesney featuring Pink, and ”Song for Another Time,” recorded by Old Dominion.
Child will be in conversation with R&B star Aloe Blacc in one of the conference’s marquee events. Child has penned over 70 Top 40 singles throughout his career, working with the likes of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, KISS and Cher. His credits include: “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Dude Looks Like A Lady,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and more.
“We are elated to have some of today’s top songwriters and producers joining us for this year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams. “Some have been creating music for a long time; others have just enjoyed the success of their first hit song. All will be excited and ready to share their personal experiences and hard-won knowledge with ASCAP EXPO attendees.” Williams, winner of three Grammys and an Oscar, will moderate the EXPO’s annual legislative panel and will provide EXPO attendees with wisdom from his 50-year songwriting career.
Throughout the three-day ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, participants can attend creative and business-focused panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, one-on-one sessions, networking events, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations and performances. The ASCAP EXPO provides music creators with an unforgettable and authentic experience, knowledge, tools, connections and a community of support and guidance they can’t find anywhere else.
For more, visit ascap.com/expo.