Pictured (clockwise from top left): Ben McPeak, Dylan Jakobsen, Midland
Happy New Year.
We’re starting 2017 the right way in DISClaimer, by showcasing artists who are new and promising. In a first for this column, we have a three-way tie for the DisCovery Award. Let me direct your attention to one of the most solid singers I’ve heard in a while, Ben McPeak. Next pay heed to a trio of hunks called Midland. Then lend the edgy Dylan Jakobsen your ears. All three are fine, fine listening experiences.
One theme of the day seemed to be weird band names — Australia’s Tornadoes, The Runaway Hamsters, The Easy Leaves — and that’s the most interesting thing about all three.
The Disc of the Day goes to veteran Billy Hardwick Jr. His “The Day Merle Haggard Died” is as country as it gets.
THE EASY LEAVES/Fresno
Writers: Sage Fifield; Producer: Brad Dollar; Publisher: none listed; Omega (track)
-The tempo slogs through sludge. The echo chamber is ten miles deep. The vocals are hillbilly nasal and way pitchy. It says here that it was recorded live.
BILLY HARDWICK JR./The Day Merle Haggard Died
Writers: Billy Hardwick Jr.; Publisher: Rusty Washboard, BMI; Producer: none listed
-Country to the core. It name-checks the Hag’s song titles as it tells the tale of a performer who yearns to be just like his idol. This veteran has always been considered “too country.” Which is fine with me.
THE RUNAWAY HAMSTERS/A Little Country
Writers: The Runaway Hamsters/Kent Wells; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Way West/Creek Valley, BMI/ASCAP
– This acts consists of three sisters and a brother, all of whom are pre-teen. They sound exactly like little kids playing dress-up. Bouncy and bubblegummy.
MIDLAND/Drinkin’ Problem
Writers: Jess Carson/Cameron Duddy/Mark Wystrach/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producer: Shane McAnally, Dann Huff & Josh Osborne; Publisher: WB/Jess Carson/Warner-Tamerlane/Vaqueros Galacticos/Tropical Cowboy/Smack Hits/Kobalt/Songs of Black River/One Little Indian Creek, ASCAP/BMI/GMR; Big Machine
-Airy and vaguely “western” sounding, with plenty of breezy steel and lightly twanging guitar work. Nicely understated vocal work on the gentle melody. Extremely promising.
GARY WEST/Right
Writer: Wynn Varble; Producer: Gary West; Publisher: none listed
-West’s new CD is a salute to The Man in Black, titled For the Love of Cash Volume 2. He offers his own take on standards like “Ring of Fire,” “Understand Your Man” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” mixed in with new tunes. This witty, tongue-in-cheek ditty is a catchy toe tapper with stuttering guitar and rumbled, Cash-like vocals. Also check out the equally catchy “I Ain’t Playin’ No Jason Aldean.”
JOSEPH WELZ/Save The Night
Writers: Joey Welz; Producer: Joey Welz; Publisher: Ursula, BMI
-His whispered vocal wobbles from note to note, seldom landing accurately. The cheesy, piano-and-saxophone production is a riot.
THE HAMMOND BROTHERS/Let It Rain On Me
Writers: Dale & Gale Hammond; Producers: Dale & Gale Hammond; Publishers: Vonger, no performance rights listed; Vonger (CDX)
– Pleasant and inoffensive, featuring good sibling harmony vocals. But I don’t know that I’d play it more than just this once.
AUSTRALIA’S TORNADOES/Cowboy For A Night
Writer: Darrell T. Ewing; Producers: Hillbilly Rick, Dave Goodger, Mark Borg; Publishers: none listed; BMI; HR (CDX)
– Basic neo rockabilly, with a rollicking piano, a honking sax and a jitterbug beat. There’s nothing special about the singing, but it gets the job done.
DYLAN JAKOBSEN/Silverado
Writer: Dylan Jakobsen; Producer: Dylan Jakobsen; Publishers: none listed, BMI; CB (CDX)
– I like the rasp in his voice and the powerful rhythm track. The lonesome lyric is sweet, too. This is very, very cool sounding. Who are you? Send more.
BEN McPEAK/Fix You Up
Writers: Hayslip/Wiseman/Akins; Producer: Billy Decker; Publisher: none listed; BMM (CDX)
– He’s gonna cure her heartache with a night on the town, followed by some smooching in the car. He sings with plenty of chesty oomph, and the track rocks nicely. Well done.
Weekly Chart Report (1/6/17)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
DISClaimer: Three Promising Newcomers Earn DISCovery Honor
/by Robert K OermannPictured (clockwise from top left): Ben McPeak, Dylan Jakobsen, Midland
Happy New Year.
We’re starting 2017 the right way in DISClaimer, by showcasing artists who are new and promising. In a first for this column, we have a three-way tie for the DisCovery Award. Let me direct your attention to one of the most solid singers I’ve heard in a while, Ben McPeak. Next pay heed to a trio of hunks called Midland. Then lend the edgy Dylan Jakobsen your ears. All three are fine, fine listening experiences.
One theme of the day seemed to be weird band names — Australia’s Tornadoes, The Runaway Hamsters, The Easy Leaves — and that’s the most interesting thing about all three.
The Disc of the Day goes to veteran Billy Hardwick Jr. His “The Day Merle Haggard Died” is as country as it gets.
THE EASY LEAVES/Fresno
Writers: Sage Fifield; Producer: Brad Dollar; Publisher: none listed; Omega (track)
-The tempo slogs through sludge. The echo chamber is ten miles deep. The vocals are hillbilly nasal and way pitchy. It says here that it was recorded live.
BILLY HARDWICK JR./The Day Merle Haggard Died
Writers: Billy Hardwick Jr.; Publisher: Rusty Washboard, BMI; Producer: none listed
-Country to the core. It name-checks the Hag’s song titles as it tells the tale of a performer who yearns to be just like his idol. This veteran has always been considered “too country.” Which is fine with me.
THE RUNAWAY HAMSTERS/A Little Country
Writers: The Runaway Hamsters/Kent Wells; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Way West/Creek Valley, BMI/ASCAP
– This acts consists of three sisters and a brother, all of whom are pre-teen. They sound exactly like little kids playing dress-up. Bouncy and bubblegummy.
MIDLAND/Drinkin’ Problem
Writers: Jess Carson/Cameron Duddy/Mark Wystrach/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producer: Shane McAnally, Dann Huff & Josh Osborne; Publisher: WB/Jess Carson/Warner-Tamerlane/Vaqueros Galacticos/Tropical Cowboy/Smack Hits/Kobalt/Songs of Black River/One Little Indian Creek, ASCAP/BMI/GMR; Big Machine
-Airy and vaguely “western” sounding, with plenty of breezy steel and lightly twanging guitar work. Nicely understated vocal work on the gentle melody. Extremely promising.
GARY WEST/Right
Writer: Wynn Varble; Producer: Gary West; Publisher: none listed
-West’s new CD is a salute to The Man in Black, titled For the Love of Cash Volume 2. He offers his own take on standards like “Ring of Fire,” “Understand Your Man” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” mixed in with new tunes. This witty, tongue-in-cheek ditty is a catchy toe tapper with stuttering guitar and rumbled, Cash-like vocals. Also check out the equally catchy “I Ain’t Playin’ No Jason Aldean.”
JOSEPH WELZ/Save The Night
Writers: Joey Welz; Producer: Joey Welz; Publisher: Ursula, BMI
-His whispered vocal wobbles from note to note, seldom landing accurately. The cheesy, piano-and-saxophone production is a riot.
THE HAMMOND BROTHERS/Let It Rain On Me
Writers: Dale & Gale Hammond; Producers: Dale & Gale Hammond; Publishers: Vonger, no performance rights listed; Vonger (CDX)
– Pleasant and inoffensive, featuring good sibling harmony vocals. But I don’t know that I’d play it more than just this once.
AUSTRALIA’S TORNADOES/Cowboy For A Night
Writer: Darrell T. Ewing; Producers: Hillbilly Rick, Dave Goodger, Mark Borg; Publishers: none listed; BMI; HR (CDX)
– Basic neo rockabilly, with a rollicking piano, a honking sax and a jitterbug beat. There’s nothing special about the singing, but it gets the job done.
DYLAN JAKOBSEN/Silverado
Writer: Dylan Jakobsen; Producer: Dylan Jakobsen; Publishers: none listed, BMI; CB (CDX)
– I like the rasp in his voice and the powerful rhythm track. The lonesome lyric is sweet, too. This is very, very cool sounding. Who are you? Send more.
BEN McPEAK/Fix You Up
Writers: Hayslip/Wiseman/Akins; Producer: Billy Decker; Publisher: none listed; BMM (CDX)
– He’s gonna cure her heartache with a night on the town, followed by some smooching in the car. He sings with plenty of chesty oomph, and the track rocks nicely. Well done.
LifeNotes: ‘Hee Haw’ Producer Sam Lovullo Passes
/by Robert K OermannHee Haw made television history by being continuously produced from 1969 to 1993. This was the longest run of any non-news program in U.S. broadcasting. Lovullo was also the show’s casting director, hiring a who’s-who of country comedians and musicians.
He was a native of New York State who attended UCLA in California as an accounting major in its school of business
administration. Lovullo’s goal was to work on Wall Street, but after graduation in 1954, he took a job in the accounting department of CBS television.
He rose through the ranks to become the financial administrator of such CBS shows as Lassie, The Judy Garland Show and the top-rated The Beverly Hillbillies. In 1967, he became the associate producer of The Jonathan Winters Show.
After that show ended in 1969, Lovullo and his Winters writers John Aylesworth and Frank Peppiatt joined forces to create Hee Haw. It ran on CBS from 1969 to 1971, then entered into an extremely successful phase as a syndicated series.
Lovullo hired established stars Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Stringbean, George Lindsey, Roni Stoneman, Archie Campbell and cohosts Roy Clark and Buck Owens as cast members. He also brought to fame such mainly unknown personalities as Junior Samples, Gordie Tapp, Lulu Roman, Gunilla Hutton, Gailard Sartain, Misty Rowe, Cathy Baker, Don Harron, Linda Thompson, Lisa Todd, Barbi Benton, The Hager Twins and Marianne Gordon.
In addition to producing Hee Haw, Lovullo was behind the spin-off series Hee Haw Honeys. His TV credits also include The Nashville Palace and Swing Out Sweet Land.
Although a resident of California, he did all of his Hee Haw television work in Nashville. He also served on the boards of the Nashville-based Country Music Association and Gospel Music Association.
For his international contributions to country music, Sam Lovullo was given the Jim Reeves Memorial Award by the Academy of Country Music in 1974.
Sam Lovullo chronicled his show-business experiences in his 1996 memoir Life in the Kornfield: My 25 Years at Hee Haw (co-written with Marc Elliot).
According to CMT.com, he passed away at his home in Encino, California. He is the father of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball manager Torey Lovullo. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
MusicRowPics: Bailey Bryan Releases Vertical Video For Debut Single
/by Jessica NicholsonBailey Bryan
Bailey Bryan is on a mission to share her truest self with the world, and to encourage other young people to feel the freedom to do the same. Today (Jan. 5), the 18-year-old singer-songwriter revealed the video for her debut single “Own It.” The peppy musical confection aims to inspire listeners to accept their quirks and idiosyncrasies.
“I walked in with literally just a list of things about myself…things I liked, things I didn’t like, things I was trying to come to terms with,” Bryan says of the songwriting process. “Like, I wear Converse a lot, I don’t like to stay up too late. The song became about things I needed to hear, like, ‘I’m a beautiful mess,’ and ‘I don’t care what they say.’ It’s not always easy to live your life that way. So, that’s part of the reason I’m happy it’s my first single, because that’s what I get to sing over and over again, and a lot of times I’m singing it to myself.”
The just-released video for “Own It,” produced by Green Shoe Studios, captures her generation’s affinity for all things mobile and digital, and is infused with images of smartphones, chat messages, voice memos and more. The clip was shot vertically, and designed to be optimally viewed on mobile devices. Staying true to the song’s message, Bryan has encouraged fans to share their personal “own it” stories on social media, where she regularly shares her own day-to-day victories and struggles.
The Washington native has resided in Nashville for little more than a year, after moving to Music City with her mother, father, and younger brother. Though her family has returned to their home state, she calls them her biggest supporters.
“There is no way I could do this without them,” says Bryan.
Bryan has quickly assembled a team of professionals, inking a joint venture with 300 Entertainment and Warner Music Nashville, as well as working with The GreenRoom and Kompass Music Publishing.
Bryan recently visited the MusicRow offices, where she previewed tracks including “Own It” and “Deja Vu,” as well as “After All,” which she wrote at age 14.
Bryan is one of three artists nominated for the 2017 Grammy Artist of Tomorrow, with a ringing endorsement from Lady Antebellum member Hillary Scott. Fans can vote for the honor through Feb. 8.
Bailey Bryan with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow
Bailey Bryan with MusicRow staff.
Rodney Crowell Announces New Album, Music Video, Tour Dates
/by Eric T. ParkerRodney Crowell is set to release Close Ties on March 31, supported with a music video in addition to an upcoming tour and Grammy Museum conversation and performance.
The 10-song album (track listing below) will be released via New West Records, and is Crowell’s first in over three years, following his duets project with Emmylou Harris, The Traveling Kind. Jordan Lehning and Kim Buie co-produced Close Ties, which features a duet with Sheryl Crow and a vocal collaboration with John Paul White and Crowell’s ex-wife Rosanne Cash. “It Ain’t Over Yet” is the first time Crowell and Cash have appeared on record together since 1988, “It’s Such A Small World,” which was Crowell’s first chart-topping song.
Rolling Stone Country premiered the video for Crowell’s collaboration with White and Cash, “It Ain’t Over Yet,” which also features legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael.
Close Ties is a loose concept record that ranges from songs about Crowell’s childhood in Texas (“East Houston Blues”) to songs about arriving in Nashville as a young songwriter (“Nashville 1972”) to songs about friends (the anguished “Life Without Susanna”) and lovers lost (“Forgive Me Annabelle”).
“I have declared my loyalty to Americana. It’s a hard category for people to get their heads around, or at least the terminology is. But all the people who represent it – Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and more recent stars like John Paul White and Jason Isbell – share a common thread, and that thread is poet,” says Crowell. “Whether they are actual poets or their music exemplifies a poetic sensibility, generally speaking, the Americana artist shuns commercial compromise in favor of a singular vision. Which resonates with me.”
Close Ties will be available on compact disc, LP, and is now available for digital pre-order.
The Americana Music Association and the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles have also announced An Evening With Rodney Crowell on Monday, Jan. 23. The conversation and performance will kickoff the 2017 Americana Series at the Museum’s 200-seat Clive Davis Theater and will be moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. Crowell has also announced tour dates in advance and in support of Close Ties, kicking off February 14 in New Braunfels, Texas (Dates below with more to be announced).
Close Ties Track Listing:
1. East Houston Blues
2. Reckless
3. Life Without Susanna
4. It Ain’t Over Yet (featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White)
5. I Don’t Care Anymore
6. I’m Tied To Ya (featuring Sheryl Crow)
7. Forgive Me Annabelle
8. Forty Miles From Nowhere
9. Storm Warning
10. Nashville 1972
Rodney Crowell On Tour (More Dates To Be Announced):
February 14 – New Braunfels, TX @ Brauntex Theater
February 15 – Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing
February 16 – Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing
February 19-26 – The Cayamo Cruise
March 14 – Aspen, CO @ Wheeler Opera House
March 15 – Ft. Collins, CO @ The Armory
March 16 – Boulder, CO @ eTown
March 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
March 24 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
March 25 – Chicago, IL @ City Winery
March 30 – New York, NY @ City Winery
March 31 – Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater
April 1 – Washington, DC @ The Hamilton
April 7 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theater (*Darrell K. Royal Homecoming Show)
May 7 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theater
May 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
May 10 – Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage
May 13 – Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater
September 16 – Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival
Dallas Wilson Signs With Riser House Publishing
/by Haley CrowPictured (Front Row): Dallas Wilson. (Back Row, L-R): Mitchell Tenpenny, Riser House; Kristen Ashley, Riser House; Jim Zumwalt, Shackelford Law; Jason VanAuken, Riser House; Jennifer Johnson, Riser House; Lilly-June, Dog/Riser House Mascot; Lauren Spahn, Shackelford Law; Paige Pugh, Riser House.
Songwriter Dallas Wilson has received his first publishing deal, signing with Riser House Publishing. Wilson is the second writer to join the Riser House team following Michael Whitworth’s signing last October.
Wilson was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up around the industry. Wilson’s father is studio drummer and hit songwriter Lonnie Wilson and his mother was a background singer for Loretta Lynn.
“Everyone on the Riser House team is incredible. They have such a positive energy and I’m so excited to be a part of it. I’m so thankful for Mitchell Tenpenny for introducing me to Jennifer, Kristen, and Paige!” Wilson says.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year than signing Dallas Wilson,” says Riser House’s Kristen Ashley. “He’s a great addition to our Riser House team and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what he’s been doing.”
“Dallas brings a totally different dynamic to our team and is quickly becoming new co-writers’ favorite addition to the room. We are so ecstatic to welcome him to our Riser House family,” says Riser House’s Paige Pugh.
Riser House Publishing was founded in 2016 by Jennifer Johnson.
Industry Ink: Good Company Entertainment, Brett Young, Katherine Forbes, Stout Burgers & Beers
/by Lorie HollabaughKeith Gale, Jake Owen Celebrate New Venture
Pictured (L-R): Jake Owen, Keith Gale
As previously reported, Keith Gale has teamed with Jake Owen to form a new management venture, Good Company Entertainment.
In the new venture, Gale will serve as Owen’s manager, while Jon Andolina, Director/Tour Marketing & Sponsorships, handles day-to-day management responsibilities for Owen. Greg Fowler will continue as Owen’s tour manager. Gale can be reached at his new post at 1033 16th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212. His new email is Keith@goodcompanyent.com.
Music Execs Team For Restaurant Venture
Several music industry members have invested in a Brentwood, Tennessee restaurant called Stout Burgers and Beers.
Songwriter Andrew Fromm, Madison House’s Jordan Burger, Combustion Music’s Chris Van Belkom, artist manager Chris Allen, booking agent Tom Kemp, and CMT’s Paul Logan have all invested in the new venture. Stout also has restaurants in Los Angeles and Louisville. Also part of the venture are Fitz & The Tantrums member Noelle Scaggs, and songwriter Bart Allmand.
For more, visit stoutburgersandbeers.com.
Brett Young Visits NASH FM Studios In NYC
Brett Young stopped by the NASH FM 94.7 studios in New York City yesterday to chat with Jesse Addy. Young will return to the city in a few months on Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights Tour, which stops at Madison Square Garden on March 1. While at NASH Brett performed “In Case You Didn’t Know,” a song off his self-titled debut album out Feb. 10.
Katherine Forbes Launches Female Musician Networking Site
Katherine Forbes has launched an online platform called Music Biz Besties to create a community to connect female musicians and industry leaders. Forbes created the site, which features personal profile pages, to help foster industry relationships beyond social media.
Music Biz Besties also offers educational resources including a free online course, webinar trainings, a three-part educational video series, and her new signature online marketing course.
More information can be found at musicbizbesties.com.
Blake Shelton to Open Multimillion Dollar Venue in Downtown Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton is transforming his hit “Ol’ Red” into an entire lifestyle brand, anchored by a huge, new, multimillion dollar entertainment venue set to open on Nashville’s lower Broadway. Shelton is partnering with Ryman Hospitality Properties for the new venture, which is part of Ryman Properties’ strategy to create retail, entertainment venues, and digital content that celebrate the country lifestyle and resonate with country’s rapidly growing fan base around the globe.
Ole Red Nashville will be a multi-level, 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue with a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and private VIP booths for small groups. Set to open in 2018 at 300 Broadway, the complex will also include a private event space and a 6,000-square-foot rooftop with an indoor/outdoor bar/restaurant with views of Lower Broadway. The venue’s performance space will be equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system tailor-made for everything from intimate concerts and live band karaoke to artist showcases.
“It’s amazing to me to see a song that’s been such a big part of my career come to life in the plans for Ole Red,” said Shelton. “Nashville and Tishomingo are both places that are important to me, and it’s great that each location is going to have its own personality inspired by one of my favorite songs. It’s always been a dream of mine to create something like this where people know they’re going to have a good time as soon as they walk in the door, and I couldn’t be more excited that my friends at the Opry and Ryman Hospitality Properties are making it happen.”
“The Grand Ole Opry is known for connecting fans to the artists and the music they love and that is what the Ole Red brand is all about,” said Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman/CEO. “Not only is Blake Shelton one of the most popular entertainers of his generation, his performance style and passion for authentic country music have also made him a fixture on the Grand Ole Opry stage since the early days of his career. Ole Red will immerse fans in all the elements of a great country song—with some unexpected twists from Blake along the way.”
Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties also announced plans to open a second venue, Ole Red Tishomingo, set to open in late 2017 in Shelton’s hometown of Tishomingo, Okla.
Renderings for the Nashville location can be seen below.
peermusic Inks Publishing Deal With Jennifer Hanson
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Michael Knox, Vice President of Nashville, peermusic; Jennifer Hanson; Kim Wiggins, peermusic Senior Creative Director.
Singer/songwriter Jennifer Hanson has signed an exclusive publishing deal with peermusic.
Hanson has penned songs including “Leave The Pieces” (The Wreckers), “A Different World” (Bucky Covington), and “Let Me Down Easy” (Billy Currington). She also co-wrote “Country Strong,” the title track for the movie of the same name, which starred Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw.
“Jennifer Hanson is hands down one of my favorite songwriters in town,” said peermusic VP Michael Knox. “When Kim Wiggins brought her to me and said she was looking for a deal, it was that missing piece we had been looking for.”
“I’m beyond thrilled to be signing with peermusic,” said Hanson about her new publishing home. “The enthusiasm and support that Michael Knox, Kim Wiggins and the rest of the peermusic team have shown me has been incredible and I look forward to a productive and successful partnership.”
Brett Eldredge Gets Tropical New Year’s Surprise
/by Lorie HollabaughBrett Eldredge got quite a New Year’s surprise during his trip to the Caribbean to usher in 2017 when he discovered an unwanted visitor in his bathroom – a coiled-up snake! Eldredge posted a video of his beachfront friend online that immediately went viral.
The hardworking singer just wrapped a year of highs including releasing his first-ever holiday CD Glow, his sixth consecutive No. 1 single with “Wanna Be That Song,” appearances on “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “Live With Kelly,” and the “CMA Country Christmas” special, and his beloved Cubbies winning the World Series.