Elvis Presley’s Graceland will officially open its new $45 million, 200,000-square-feet, state-of-the-art entertainment complex, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,” on March 2, 2017.
The expansion is currently under construction across the street from Graceland and on the Grand Opening Celebration weekend Graceland will welcome visitors from around the world to its largest expansion since first opening to the public in 1982. The opening four days (March 2-5) will feature major events each day, including live concerts.
In “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” fans can experience a new “Ultimate VIP” tour, Graceland’s most exclusive tour option. On it a small group of visitors are taken on a journey through Elvis Presley’s life story touring Graceland, the new Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits, Elvis’ Custom Jets and an exclusive Ultimate VIP Tour Exhibit.
The cornerstone of the “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” experience is “Elvis: The Entertainer,”celebrating Elvis’ music, movie and live touring career. The museum will feature hundreds of artifacts from the extensive Graceland Archives, from Elvis’ early days in Tupelo, Mississippi, through his first recording session in Memphis, rise to fame, Hollywood career, Army service, life at Graceland, the Vegas years and more.
A 20,000-square-foot soundstage will play host to a variety of live music acts during the Grand Opening Celebration, showcasing the rich music history of Memphis and the best of Memphis music today. With theater seating for 1,700, the Soundstage will provide a venue for live music performances and movie screenings and premieres and will be available for private events, corporate meetings, conferences and trade show exhibitions.
The new facility will also feature two theme restaurants named for Elvis’ parents, Gladys and Vernon. Gladys’ Diner will feature classic American fare, including Elvis’ favorite, grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Vernon’s Smokehouse will feature authentic Memphis BBQ, smoked in-house. A coffee bar and ice cream shop will also be located within the complex.
Tickets for “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” are now available for opening weekend and throughout the rest of 2017, as a combined ticket with the Graceland Mansion tour, at graceland.com.
CRS 2017 Registration Rates To Increase Friday
/by Jessica NicholsonThe CRS 2017 panels include: “Objects are Larger Than They Appear: Small Markets that do BIG Things,” “Speeding Towards Tomorrow: Programming & Branding in the Mobile World,” a CRS Research Presentation: Presented by Edison Research,” “Women Empowering Women,” “Victory in the Hallways: Creating a Positive Work Culture,” “More Than Words: Presenting Ideas That Inspire Bold Action,” “Promotions Start to Finish: Part YOU,” “Capturing the Millennial Ear: Rethinking our Traditional Medium for the Next Generation,” and many more.
As a first time guest of CRS, Olympic figure skater, Scott Hamilton, will present the keynote address and will inspire others through his motivational story and how to overcome life’s obstacles.
Other CRS 2017 agenda highlights include two label luncheons and performances (sponsored by Big Machine Label Group and UMG Nashville), Acoustic Alley (sponsored by Bob Kingsley), the CRS featured speaker discussion, “My Way” with Toby Keith (sponsored by BMI), the popular New Faces of Country Music Dinner and Performance and more.
Bobby Bones Celebrates $5.9 Million Raised For St. Jude During Second Annual Show
/by Eric T. ParkerBobby Bones
Bobby Bones‘ second annual “The BIG 98 Presents: Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots’ Million Dollar Show For St. Jude” celebrated $5.9 million raised to date for the children’s research hospital from the iHeartMedia personality. Held Monday evening (Jan. 9), the Ryman Auditorium show in Nashville played a part in the efforts, not only selling-out but saw a $2 million donation from Garth Brooks.
The Black River Entertainment duo was joined by country music superstars and friends, including Craig Campbell, Lindsay Ell, Sam Hunt, Rascal Flatts, Caitlyn Smith and The Band Perry. Surprise special guests included Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne and Thomas Rhett.
Rascal Flatts offered a performance of “Life Is A Highway,” while The Band Perry induced “DONE.” Thomas Rhett covered DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean,” Brothers Osborne performed a rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee” and Sam Hunt took on Travis Tritt’s “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive.”
Brooks’ donation came after inspiration from a light-hearted phone call with Bones during the The Bobby Bones Show’s Radiothon broadcast. Upon hearing that the event raised over $1.3 million in just one day, Brooks decided to donate proceeds from a portion of the sales of his Target exclusive boxed-set The Ultimate Collection. Yesterday’s evening show came to a close with Brooks leading the crowd with a show-stopping singalong of “Friends In Low Places.”
Bobby Bones has long held radiothons, on-air fundraisers, charity concerts and more for the Memphis, Tennessee hospital.
Bobby Bones and Garth Brooks
“I’m still on a crazy high from everything that happened last night,” said Bobby Bones, host of iHeartMedia’s The Bobby Bones Show. “It’s hard to put into words how humbling nights like that are. The fact that so many superstars, that also happen to be really great people, took time out of their busy schedules to be a part of the event is not lost on me. It makes everything we do worthwhile, when we can all come together as a pretty unique community in that sense and benefit an important cause such as St. Jude. It’s one I’ll never forget.”
“We are incredibly humbled by the support of Bobby Bones, The Raging Idiots, Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Thomas Rhett, The Band Perry, Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Craig Campbell, Caitlyn Smith and the millions of country music fans that support our mission,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The funds announced last night in support of our mission are staggering and are another example of the country music industry’s incredible support of St. Jude for more than 20 years. These funds are critically important in helping St. Jude doctors and scientists find cures and save the lives of children in every community who are battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
Lari White Celebrates 25 Years In Music With Double-Disc EP
/by Jessica NicholsonLari White will celebrate 25 years as a recording artist as she prepares to release an all-new double-disc EP, Old Friends, New Loves. The project, White’s first release in 13 years, was produced via a Kickstarter campaign, and will release Feb. 10, 2017.
“It was all my wonderful fans who contributed to a Kickstarter campaign that allowed me to make this album,” White says. “This is the first recording I’ve done where the fans are the record label. They backed the project and I reported directly to them on every little detail, giving them control room access during the whole process.”
Recorded at The Holler, White’s landmark Nashville recording studio, friends and fellow stars Delbert McClinton, Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell and other long-time collaborators from her earliest days as a country artist make special guest appearances on the album. The first disc, Old Friends, is highlighted by rootsy reinventions of White’s breakout hits like “Lead Me Not,” “That’s How You Know When You’re In Love” and “That’s My Baby.” The second, New Loves, features White’s recently penned originals and favorite covers, a rich stew of Americana, soul, jazz and country songs, featuring guests Shawn Mullins and bass legend Victor Wooten.
“My fans have followed me the whole way on this crazy, creative journey,” shares White. “We love music and we love storytelling, and we don’t let ourselves be limited by rules about genre or medium or ‘brand’ for God’s sake. The only rule is that it’s honest. And I honestly LOVE country and jazz and soul and movies and literature and photography and any art that moves the human spirit to a good place.”
“I can hardly believe I’ve been lucky enough to make music my entire life,” says White. “Sharing my music-making process is one way I can say ‘Thank YOU!’ to the fans who have made it possible for an amazing 25 years!”
Pre-sale orders are available starting today on iTunes and Amazon.
Old Friends, New Loves Track Listing:
Disc A / Old Friends
1. Wishes
2. That’s My Baby
3. Lead Me Not
4. Now I Know
5. That’s How You Know
6. If You Only Knew
7. Eden Before The Fall
8. Bare
Disc B / New Loves
1. Who’s To Blame
2. Kisses and Wine
3. Maybe It’s Love
4. Moonshine
5. In God’s Hands
6. Down So Low
7. Champagne
Hank Williams Jr. Announces 2017 Tour Dates
/by Troy_StephensonHank Williams Jr has revealed his first round of U.S. tour dates for 2017, beginning on Feb. 3 in Nevada. The tour will consist of of medium and large scale venues including an appearance at the Washington State Fair.
Hank Jr.’s most recent album, It’s About Time, reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and broke the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200, landing at No. 8. During his career, Hank Williams Jr. has notched six platinum albums, 20 gold albums, 13 No. 1 albums and 10 No. 1 singles. Hank Jr. has been named ACM Entertainer of the Year, CMA Entertainer of the Year and BMI Icon in addition to winning a Grammy and being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Hank Williams Jr. Tour Dates
Feb. 3 – Peppermill Concert Hall – West Wendover, Nev.
April 29 – Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, Ga.
May 27 – Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
May 28 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, La.
June 09 – Choctaw Grand Theater – Durant, Okla.
June 10 – Silver Star Hotel and Casino-Convention Center – Choctaw, Miss
July 1 – Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel – Salamanca, N.Y.
July 2 – French Lick Resort Casino – French Lick, Ind.
Sept. 15 – Northern Quest Resort & Casino – Pepsi Outdoor Amphitheater – Airway Heights, Wash.
Sept. 16 – Washington State Fair – Puyallup, Wash.
Drake White, Bailey Bryan Up For Grammy Artist Of Tomorrow Honor
/by Lorie HollabaughBryan recently stopped by for a visit with the MusicRow staff and to perform some of her songs.
The Grammy Artist of Tomorrow nominees are on-the-rise acts who are sure to be among the most buzzed-about artists of 2017 according to the Grammy veterans who nominated them. The winning artist will be featured during the Grammy Live webcast on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at CBS.com and Grammy.com. The Grammys will air on CBS on Feb. 12.
ole Acquires Red Vinyl Music, Adds Chris Janson, Mark Irwin, Pavel Dovgalyuk
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Back row, L-R): Shellien Kinsey, ole, Creative Administration Manager; John Ozier, ole, VP Creative; Mike Whelan, ole, Sr. Creative Director; Emily Mueller, ole, Creative Manager; Ben Strain, ole, Creative Director. (Front row, L-R): Songwriter Pavel Dovgalyuk, Singer/Songwriter Chris Janson, Songwriter Mark Irwin
ole has acquired the catalog, trademarks, and songwriter contracts of Nashville-based independent music publisher Red Vinyl Music, LLC. ole will now control Red Vinyl’s catalog of nearly 3,000 songs as well as futures for songwriters Chris Janson, Mark Irwin, and Pavel Dovgalyuk. The catalog includes Tim McGraw’s current single, “How I’ll Always Be,” which was co-written by Janson and ole songwriter Jeremy Stover, and the top 25 Chris Janson song, “Holdin’ Her.”
The catalog also includes the works of Streamsound Records artist/writers Dakota Bradley, Austin Webb, Jaida Dreyer, and Dave & Julia Carlson.
“The Red Vinyl catalog is an absolute gold mine, featuring an incredible body of work across their legacy and current writers. We’re thrilled to represent them, and understand the responsibility of taking care of and adding value to the catalog and those who have helped build it,” said John Ozier, Vice President of Creative at ole. “Furthermore, partnering with Warner Bros. recording artist Chris Janson is a huge honor, as we have all been fans of Chris from the beginning. The future of the ole creative team, working with this catalog and current writers like Chris, Mark and Pavel, is definitely going to be a bright one.”
“I’m so honored to be an official ole writer,” said Janson. “I love my job, and it fires me up to have a great publishing team that works as hard as I do.”
Red Vinyl Music was established in late 2010 when producer Byron Gallimore partnered with Jim Wilkes and Tim McHugh.
Downtown Music Publishing To Administer Big Yellow Dog Catalog
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville-based Big Yellow Dog represents Meghan Trainor, Josh Kear, Maren Morris and more. Among Big Yellow Dog’s hits are Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” “Lips Are Movin” and “No”; Morris’ “My Church” and “80s Mercedes”; Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” co-written by Kear; and Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and “Blown Away,” both co-written by Kear.
Big Yellow Dog Music also has songs recorded by Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, DJ Khaled, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Demi Levato and Rascal Flatts. Their film, television and brand division had over 400 placements in 2016 including uses by JCPenney, How to Get Away with Murder, Shades of Blue, HP, Mad Max: Fury Road, Moana, Peanuts, T-Mobile, and The Edge of Seventeen.
“Kerry O’Neil, Co-Owner, Big Yellow Dog Music, has been a true friend to Downtown for many years and we have always admired the company that Carla Wallace, Co-owner and CEO, and Kerry have built,” said Andrew Sparkler, Downtown’s Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Operations. “We are thrilled to strengthen our long-standing relationship with them by welcoming Big Yellow Dog Music and their world class catalog to the Downtown family.”
“Today’s business environment is as challenging and fast-paced as any in our 18 years of business,” Big Yellow Dog’s Kerry O’Neil and Carla Wallace said in a statement. “Being able to align our company with such a serious player in copyright administration is a great opportunity for us and our writers.”
Founded in 2007, Downtown Music Publishing is headquartered in New York with offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, London, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Shania Twain Exhibit Coming To Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
/by Jessica NicholsonShania Twain
Shania Twain will be honored with an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The yet-to-be-titled exhibit will open June 26, 2017 and run through June 17, 2018.
Twain is subject of the second artist exhibit revealed by the Country Music Hall of Fame this week. Yesterday (Jan. 9), it was announced that an exhibit honoring Jason Aldean will open May 26, 2017 and will run through Nov. 5, 2017. The announcements are part of a social media giveaway, where a complete slate of exhibitions planned for the calendar year are announced each day with opportunities for fans to win a lifetime membership or a flyaway for two to attend the VIP opening of that day’s announced exhibit.
Warner/Chappell Production Music To License CPM Music Library In U.S., Canada
/by Jessica NicholsonCPM, formerly Carlin Production Music, is comprised of over 40,000 tracks spanning three series: main series, archive series and classical series. Produced by Warner/Chappell Production Music’s own London production team, CPM got its start in 1988 and has grown its reputation since, gaining a following based on its wide range of musical genres and high production standards.
“CPM has a long history and contains a wealth of versatile music across every genre imaginable,” said Warner/Chappell Production Music President & CEO Randy Wachtler. “We are extremely proud to represent such a well-regarded production music catalog across the US and Canada, and look forward to building on its already fantastic reputation.”
Graceland Expansion, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,” Set to Open March 2
/by Lorie HollabaughElvis Presley’s Graceland will officially open its new $45 million, 200,000-square-feet, state-of-the-art entertainment complex, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,” on March 2, 2017.
The expansion is currently under construction across the street from Graceland and on the Grand Opening Celebration weekend Graceland will welcome visitors from around the world to its largest expansion since first opening to the public in 1982. The opening four days (March 2-5) will feature major events each day, including live concerts.
In “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” fans can experience a new “Ultimate VIP” tour, Graceland’s most exclusive tour option. On it a small group of visitors are taken on a journey through Elvis Presley’s life story touring Graceland, the new Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits, Elvis’ Custom Jets and an exclusive Ultimate VIP Tour Exhibit.
The cornerstone of the “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” experience is “Elvis: The Entertainer,”celebrating Elvis’ music, movie and live touring career. The museum will feature hundreds of artifacts from the extensive Graceland Archives, from Elvis’ early days in Tupelo, Mississippi, through his first recording session in Memphis, rise to fame, Hollywood career, Army service, life at Graceland, the Vegas years and more.
A 20,000-square-foot soundstage will play host to a variety of live music acts during the Grand Opening Celebration, showcasing the rich music history of Memphis and the best of Memphis music today. With theater seating for 1,700, the Soundstage will provide a venue for live music performances and movie screenings and premieres and will be available for private events, corporate meetings, conferences and trade show exhibitions.
The new facility will also feature two theme restaurants named for Elvis’ parents, Gladys and Vernon. Gladys’ Diner will feature classic American fare, including Elvis’ favorite, grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Vernon’s Smokehouse will feature authentic Memphis BBQ, smoked in-house. A coffee bar and ice cream shop will also be located within the complex.
Tickets for “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” are now available for opening weekend and throughout the rest of 2017, as a combined ticket with the Graceland Mansion tour, at graceland.com.