Jesse Rice Sets Sail With New ‘Pirate Sessions’ January 27

/by

Jesse Rice, a writer on the Florida Georgia Line debut smash “Cruise,” mixes a concoction of trop-rock and country on his new The Pirate Sessions III CD available on iTunes Jan. 27. Much like the predecessors Sessions I and II, Rice takes listeners on a journey to a paradise filled with copper-tone beach goers sharing umbrella drinks on the new collection.

The project includes tunes co-written by Rice and Trent Summar, Stephen B. Liles, Eric Gunderson, Chase Rice, and Clayton Anderson among others, and a song featuring special guest Michael Ray, “88 In The Shade.”

“The Pirate Sessions is an album series that serves as an escape to a carefree, beachfront good-time for fans,” says Jesse. “I really enjoy not only performing these songs live, but also getting to record them with my friends here in Nashville. Our previous sessions featured Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice and this one has surprise guests as well.”

To kick off the CD’s release Rice is hosting an album release show on Jan. 27 at the Port Theater in Port St. Joe, Florida.

Rosanne Cash, Steve Wariner, Frank Rogers, Sonny Curtis To Lead 2017 ‘The First And The Worst’ Event

/by

The third annual “The First And The Worst” event is slated for March 1, 2017 at Nashville’s City Winery. The event benefits Nashville non-profit Music Health Alliance, which provides free support to songwriters, artists, musicians and music industry professionals at every stage of their career in finding affordable healthcare solutions and financial resources.

Rosanne Cash (“I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” “Seven Year Ache”), Sonny Curtis (“I Fought The Law,” “I’m No Stranger To The Rain”), Frank Rogers (“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Alright”) and Steve Wariner (“Long Necked Bottle,” “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven”) will headline 2017’s “The First And The Worst.”

Hosted by Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/music critic Peter Cooper the event allows the audience to peek inside the brilliant minds of hit songwriters long before they had ever written a chart-topper or had songs recorded by superstar artists. Additional performers for this year’s event will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Sponsor tables start at $1,500 and can be purchased by contacting Music Health Alliance’s Shelia Shipley Biddy at shelia@musichealthalliance.com. In addition, a silent auction will be held at the March 1.

Individual tickets go on-sale beginning Thursday (Jan. 19) at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $50 for balcony seats and $75 for floor seats.

CRS, Edison Research Panel to Explore Country Fans’ Mobile Use

/by

The Country Radio Seminar and Edison Research will present new research data on mobile music options for listeners in “The Mobilization of Country Radio” panel on February 23rd. Presented by Edison’s Larry Rosin, Tom Webster and Megan Lazovick, as well as mobile expert Tim Hayden, co-author of “The Mobile Commerce Revolution,” the panel will explore the diversity of radio usage, streaming behaviors, and online music consumption of today’s fans.

To obtain the research data, Edison conducted one-on-one interviews with 1,500 participants to investigate their mobile-usage habits as well as observed a day-in-the-life to fully understand a typical day’s mobile usage and to “put a face with the phone.” With mobile devices playing a central role in so many lives, Edison wanted to explore how country listeners compare to those of other formats, how the smartphone is changing the way users listen to radio and consume music, what other types of things they are using those devices for, and just how radio can capitalize on those behaviors.

More information on this and other CRS panels can be found at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or on the CRS mobile app, which provides attendees with an expanded agenda, panel descriptions, speaker bios, live performances, CRS after-hour activities and more.

 

BMLG To Launch Digital Video Platform

/by

Big Machine Label Group will soon launch a proprietary digital video platform, Big Machine TV, giving fans direct access to content featuring the label’s roster of artists. Video viewership on the new platform will count toward Nielsen’s consumption charts.

The platform will include music videos, exclusive interviews, announcements, and behind-the-scenes content for all of the label’s artists, including Taylor Swift, Reba, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and more. Each artist will have an individual channel on the platform, allowing fans and viewers to search for desired content easily.

“Big Machine has always pushed the envelope, and we found ourselves asking, ‘Is there a better way when it comes to syndicating our online content, pushing it onto social media, protecting it and ultimately monetizing it at the highest rate possible to benefit our artists?’” said BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta. “And the answer was ‘yes’. The Big Machine TV platform is an incredible tool to better serve our artists and their fans by delivering content when and how we want, all the while making sure the creators are compensated fairly.”

More details about the launch will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Industry Ink: Darius Rucker, John Esposito, 30A, Nashville Rising Star, Mississippi Hall Voting

/by

Darius Rucker Gets Randy Owen ‘Angel’ Honor

Pictured (L-R): Randy Owen; President and CEO of ALSAC Richard Shadyac Jr.; Darius Rucker. Photo: Seth Dixon

Darius Rucker was recently honored with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Academy Of Country Music. ACM Lifting Lives surprised Rucker with a $50,000 donation to St. Jude given in recognition of his work with both the hospital and the ACM.

 

Espo Addresses Monmouth Graduates

(L to R) Henry Mercer, chairman of the Monmouth University Board of Trustees, Paul R. Brown, president of Monmouth University, Olympic gold medalist and Distinguished Alumni Recipient Christie Rampone and Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito

Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito delivered the commencement address to over 400 students at Monmouth University on Friday (Jan. 13) before receiving an honorary doctorate of music from the University from Monmouth president Paul R. Brown.

 

ASCAP Celebrates At 30A

Pictured (L-R): Derek George, Jaren Johnston, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Cole Taylor, Cale Dodds, Josh Kerr, Abe Stoklasa, Emily Weisband, ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Josh Kear and Frank Rogers

ASCAP was a major sponsor of the 30A Songwriters Festival for the 7th consecutive year, and this year’s festival included performances from writers like Josh Kear, Jaren Johnston, Jimmy Robbins, Derek George, Josh Kerr, and Brent Anderson. ASCAP showcases were held at The Boathouse in Watercolor, and on Friday night, special guests included Emily Weisband and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, who performed “Need You Now” with his co-writer Josh Kear.

 

Nashville Rising Star Launches Open Mic Contest

“Nashville Rising Star” is excited to announce Series 8 of their songwriter open mic competition. The contest will be held at the Whiskey Room at King’s Bowling in Nashville and is open to all songwriters of any genre. The contest started Jan. 11 and will be held Wednesdays for nine weeks.

The semi-finals will be held March 1 featuring 14 preliminary round winners. The audience (at the venue and online) selects one writer, and the music industry panel selects three writers to move on to the final round. The final round will be on March 8 and the grand prize winner will receive $500 cash and other career advancing prizes.

 

MAX Hall of Fame Voting Open

The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) is asking fans to participate in the selection of the inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class by voting from the Top 65 nominees that were selected by the nominating committee. Voting will be open until Feb. 17, and fans can vote once per email for their top 15 nominees. To read about the nominees, which include Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Jimmy Buffett, and Faith Hill, go to msarts.org.

Artist Pics: Little Big Town, Harlem Globetrotters, Old Dominion, Tucker Beathard

/by

Little Big Town’s Disney Surprise

Little Big Town pose for a selfie with Radio Disney Country correspondent Savannah Keyes and the Wadsworth High School Choir after the group surprised the choir at a music workshop at Walt Disney World. Photo: Greg Newton

Little Big Town surprised students from Ohio’s Wadsworth High School on Friday (Jan. 13) as they finished up a Disney Performing Arts workshop at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall with a visit that was part of Give a Note Foundation’s 2017 Music In Our Schools Tour. The kickoff event was part of the fourth annual Music In Our Schools – Music Inspires Tour founded by the Give a Note Foundation, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The event continues to grow each year thanks to the generosity of contributors such as Disney Performing Arts, Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country, and the CMA Foundation.

 

Country Families Have Some Globetrotters Fun

The Harlem Globetrotters and Josh Turner and his family Photo: Frederick Breedon

A group of country artists and their families had a ball when the Harlem Globetrotters came to town Sunday (Jan. 15) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and enjoyed a meet and greet with the world-famous team, which has been entertaining millions of fans around the globe for the past 91 years. Josh Turner, with wife Jennifer and sons Hampton, Otis and Colby, Allison DeMarcus with children Madeline and Dylan, David Nail with wife Catherine and twin children Lawson and Lillian, and songwriter Bobby Braddock with daughter, Lauren Braddock Havey and his grandson Braddock Havey were all on hand for the fun. Turner’s son Hampton even appeared on the court in the game’s final quarter and swished a long shot, causing the arena to erupt in cheers. For his achievement, Hampton was awarded with a Harlem Globetrotters autographed jersey presented by Globetrotters star, Ant Atkinson.

 

Old Dominion Pops Up In Nashville

Old Dominion surprised more than 500 fans at the Basement East in Nashville on Thursday night (Jan. 12) with a pop-up show. During the surprise 90-minute set, the band performed their chart topping singles “Break Up With Him” and “Song For Another Time” along with fan favorites from their album Meat and Candy and cuts they’ve written for Kenny Chesney, Tyler Farr and more.

 

Tucker Beathard Makes His Opry Debut

Tucker Beathard with Pete Fisher

Tucker Beathard made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday (Jan. 14), walking into the Opry Circle for the first time with just his guitar and performing a reflective rendition of his new single “Momma And Jesus.”

Beathard also played a new song for the Opry audience, “18,” during his debut on the hallowed stage, which also marked the final one for Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher after 17 years of welcoming new artists into the circle.

Keith Urban, Ross Copperman, Joe Fisher Team With Kobalt For New Publishing Venture

/by

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Mike Milom, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC; Joe Fisher, Partner, BOOM; Keith Urban, Singer/Songwriter, Partner, BOOM; Ross Copperman, Partner, BOOM.  Pictured (Back row, L-R): Mary Ann McCready, Flood Bumstead McCready McCarthy; Stephanie Cox, VP Creative, Kobalt; Jesse Willoughby, Kobalt GM, Kobalt Nashville; Willard Ahdritz, CEO and founder, Kobalt; Richard Sanders, President, Kobalt; Laura Alexander, Senior Director Creative, Kobalt; Kimberly Holcombe, Senior Manager Client Relations, Kobalt; Brooke Yancey, (formerly Creative Assistant, Kobalt).

Kobalt has signed a deal with BOOM, the collaborative publishing venture launched by country singer-songwriter Keith Urban, writer/producer Ross Copperman and A&R professional Joe Fisher. Kobalt will be administering and funding the company along with providing creative support. BOOM’s current roster includes Jordan Minton, Cali Rodi and Logan Turner.

Jesse Willoughby, General Manager of Kobalt, Nashville commented, “We’re beyond excited to announce our partnership with BOOM, to be involved with such an extraordinary group including Keith, Joe and Ross means a tremendous amount to the continued growth of Kobalt Nashville. I speak for everyone on the team with great enthusiasm as we help to grow this new venture.”

“We’re honored to be partnering with our friends at Kobalt,” said Urban, Fisher and Copperman in a joint statement. “They’re leaders in the industry with a dedicated focus on technology that makes them one of the best administrative company’s in the world. Their creative team is extraordinary and we’re looking forward to only great things in the future.”

Richard Sanders, President of Kobalt Music said, “When artists, writers and industry professionals of this caliber come together to form their own venture, and choose to partner with Kobalt, it is truly an honor and it speaks volumes to the trust people have in the company.”

Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood Among Grammy Performers

/by

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood are among the first round of performers announced for the upcoming Grammy Awards in February. Other performers revealed include Metallica, The Weeknd, and John Legend.

No word if Urban and Underwood will perform separately or together during the ceremony, as they appear together for “The Fighter” on Urban’s Ripcord project.

Urban is nominated for Best Country Album for Ripcord, as well as for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” The track also netted a Best Country Song nomination for songwriters Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey and Steven Lee Olsen.

Meanwhile, Underwood is also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Church Bells.”

The 2017 Grammy awards will be held Feb. 12 at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The ceremony airs live at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum To Honor Traci Thomas

/by

Traci Thomas

The 10th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum will honor manager and Americana Music Association co-founder Traci Thomas.

As part of Thirty Tigers, Thomas aided Jason Isbell’s career ascent to becoming a recent Grammy winner, earning two trophies in 2015 for Best American Roots Song and Best Americana Album. Thomas also oversaw the rise of soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Her current clients include duo Allison Moorer & Shelby Lynne, as well as John Moreland.

Made possible by the Gibson Foundation, the forum is presented annually to honor a music industry leader who continues the legacy of pioneer Louise Scruggs.

The forum is set for Feb. 15, 2017, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. Reservations can be made by emailing rsvp@countrymusichalloffame.org.

Industry Ink: The Country Network, IBMA, Silverado Records

/by

The Country Network’s Nashville Team Adds Program Director

Kent Bailey

Kent Bailey has joined The Country Network’s Nashville team as Program Director. Bailey’s experience in radio and TV spans over three decades, including stints at CMT International, as well as alongside former associate Cary Rolfe, VP of Programming and Artist Relations for The Country Network.

Bailey assisted Rolfe in programming The Country Network during its original launch in 2012 (and subsequently ZUUS Country, until its sale in late 2015). Bailey reunited with Rolfe and has been working with The Country Network in Nashville as a programming consultant since June, contributing greatly to its initial success. Bailey can be reached at kent@tcncountry.com.

 

IBMI Adds Member Services Director, Opens Showcase Applications

Amy Beth Hale

Amy Beth Hale has joined the staff of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) as Member Services Director. Hale was most recently Director of Writer/Publisher Relations at SESAC Nashville, working closely with songwriters and publishers as well as maintaining SESAC’s audio library and overseeing the maintenance of their database. Hale is a member of the Leadership Bluegrass class of 2011. She can be reached at amybeth@ibma.org or 615-256-3222.

Additionally, the IBMA has opened its showcase applications for the 2017 Bluegrass Ramble, which will take place during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass. All emerging bands plus established bands with new music or new personnel are encouraged to apply. The application process runs through Feb. 28. Bands can apply at ibma.org.

 

Exegan Music Group Promotes Silverado’s Chesling To VP Role

Aaron Chesling

Aaron Chesling has been promoted to VP, A&R at Silverado Records’ parent company, Exegan Music Group. Chesling will continue to oversee A&R at Silverado Records as well as the company’s other properties. Chesling formerly served as Logistics Coordinator for Big Machine Records.

“We have an exciting year planned and are very excited to have Aaron helming a key element of our strategy,” said Exegan Music Group CEO Scott Thomas.

“This past year building up Silverado Records here in Nashville, and working with Scott on some new projects going forward have been an awesome experience. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter,” Chesling said.

Silverado, which launched in 2016, boasts an artist roster that includes Joe Diffie, HISH, Zack Dyer, Ali Morgan and Melissa Mickelson.

Exegan Music Group was formed in 2010 by Scott Thomas and a group of investors. The company owns and manages more than a dozen small record labels and catalogs, including Gateway Records, Poison Tree Records and more.