Natalie Hemby, songwriter behind hit songs including Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” and “Automatic,” is set to debut her own solo project, Puxico, on Jan. 13. The album’s title was inspired by her grandfather’s hometown of Puxico, Missouri.
“When you put out your first record, it spells out who you are, both as an artist and as a person,” says Hemby, who grew up in Nashville. “Puxico isn’t my hometown, but it feels like it is. I’ve gone there every year since I was a kid. Musically, my roots are from that place. Puxico is roots-oriented music, from bluegrass to southern gothic to soul to old-school country.”
Hemby co-wrote all nine of Puxico‘s tracks, reflecting her talents not only as a songwriter, but as a vocalist, bandleader, and frontwoman.
“I spent my 20s trying to land a record deal, and most of my 30s writing for other people,” she says. “It’s time to put out my own record. Maybe I’m a late bloomer, or maybe it’s just finally the right time to bloom.”
The album is a family affair for Hemby. The project will be released on GetWrucke Productions, a joint venture between Hemby and her husband, producer Mike Wrucke. Wrucke oversaw the recording sessions, too, playing multiple instruments and providing all of the male harmonies along the way. Hemby collaborated with a close circle of friends on Puxico, including drummer Fred Eltringham, pedal steel performer Greg Leisz, and co-writers Trent Dabbs and Lindsay Chapman.
Fans and industry members can hear live renditions of the tracks on Puxico, when Hemby performs at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on Jan. 13 to celebrate the album’s release. Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.
Artist Updates: Chris Young, Aaron Watson, Charlie Daniels
/by Sarah SkatesChris Young Establishes Scholarship
Aaron Watson Shares New Single
Aaron Watson has released new single “Outta Style” and is sharing it for public streaming on his Soundcloud site.
Watson is known for heavy touring and in 2017 he will embark on a UK trek with dates in Glasgow, Manchester, London and Dublin.
Charlie Daniels To Receive Humanitarian Award
Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels will receive the first-ever Rare Country Humanitarian of the Year Award, honoring his commitment to veterans via The Journey Home Project. The honor will be presented by surprise guests on Wednesday (Nov. 30) during the Charlie Daniels 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The Humanitarian Award is the final honor to be announced as part of the inaugural Rare Country Awards, which showcases the year’s best in country music as determined by fans.
Mandy West Returns To GrassRoots Promotion As VP, Client Development
/by Jessica NicholsonAs VP of Client Development, West will work with new clients to develop their radio promotion and social media campaign strategies and will also represent GrassRoots Promotion’s new products and services to artist and label clients including the GrassRoots proprietary Interactive Radio Airplay Map and the Facebook Target Tastemaker Ad Campaign.
GrassRoots Promotion celebrates 20 years of business in 2016 and includes radio promotion to non-reporters, Traction, MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart, Billboard Indicator, Aircheck Activator and Texas reporters along with social media marketing, consulting and radio syndication.
GrassRoots Promotion Managing Partner and Co-owner Nancy Tunick states, “We are so thrilled to have Mandy back as part of our GrassRoots family. Mandy is uniquely qualified to work with our artist clients and labels as she has broad marketing experience and was instrumental in helping to develop many of our existing services.”
West says, “In so many ways, it feels like I’ve come home. GrassRoots is an amazing company and I’m genuinely excited to accept this new role and to be a part of an exceptionally talented team—and they’re nice people too! I’m looking forward to continuing their long-standing tradition of providing excellent client care—as well as introducing some really innovative new services and products. It’s great to be back!”
West can be reached at 615-226-3355 or at mandy@grassrootspromotion.com.
Triple Tigers Records Staffs Up
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Annie Brooks, Parker Fowler, Diane Lockner, Laura Hostelley
Triple Tigers Records has added four staffers to its radio promotions team. In October, Triple 8 Management teamed with Thirty Tigers to create the new label, led by General Manager Norbert Nix.
Diane Lockner has been named Regional Promotion/NE for Triple Tigers Records. She spent 11 years at Capitol Nashville, where she helped promote Dierks Bentley from an opener to a headlining act, numerous No. 1 singles for Keith Urban, Little Big Town’s first No. 1 record and Jon Pardi’s first No. 1 single. Previous stops include Jive Records, Virgin Records and Guardian Records where she worked with Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, P!nk, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, David Bowie and The Rolling Stones.
Annie Brooks has been named Regional Promotion/West Coast. She will represent Triple Tiger Records from her office in Portland, Oregon where she was recently the Marketing and Promotions Director for Entercom station, KWJJ, led by Mike Moore. Following her graduation from Washington State University with a degree in Applied Intercultural Communication in 2010, Brooks started as an intern at Entercom Communications where she rose to Marketing and Promotions Director, a post she has held since 2011.
Parker Fowler will serve as Regional Promotion/SE and will represent artist Russell Dickerson in launching his debut single, “Yours.” Following his graduation from Auburn University with a degree in Radio, TV and Film, Fowler began his music business career by joining Sony Nashville’s marketing department as an intern. He was soon promoted to RCA Promotions Specialist.
Laura Hostelley will represent Triple Tigers Records as Promotion Coordinator, based in Nashville. While attending Belmont University, Hostelley spent her semesters interning in various parts of the music industry including Country Aircheck, MusicRow Magazine and Sirius XM.
Weekly Register: Lambert’s ‘The Weight Of These Wings’ Flies Into Top Spot
/by Sarah SkatesMiranda Lambert’s The Weight of These Wings, a two-disc set, debuts with total activity of 133K. The project flies into the No. 1 slot on the country albums chart and No. 3 on the overall chart. Coming in at No. 1 and 2 overall were Metallica selling 291K and Bruno Mars moving 231K.
On the country chart, the Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood album, Christmas Together, sold 39K to land at No. 2. Coming in at No. 3 is the Walmart exclusive from country stalwart George Strait. Strait Out of the Box Part 2, a 3-CD set, debuts with 21K. Chris Stapleton and Florida Georgia Line round out the top 5 with sales of 13K and 12K, respectively.
On the country tracks charts, the No. 1 spot belongs to Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which crosses the Gold mark, selling 36K TW and 508K RTD. It is ranked No. 12 on the overall tracks chart. The top country debut comes from Sundance Head, a contestant on The Voice, whose cover of “No One” (Alicia Keys) sold 16K and entered at No. 4.
Top 5 Country Tracks
Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color” 36K
Little Big Town “Better Man” 26K
Florida Georgia Line ft. Tim McGraw “May We All” 22K
Sundance Head “No One” 16K
Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots” 15K
Source: Nielsen Soundscan
Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is the top country track.
Natalie Hemby To Release Debut Solo Album
/by Jessica NicholsonNatalie Hemby, songwriter behind hit songs including Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” and “Automatic,” is set to debut her own solo project, Puxico, on Jan. 13. The album’s title was inspired by her grandfather’s hometown of Puxico, Missouri.
“When you put out your first record, it spells out who you are, both as an artist and as a person,” says Hemby, who grew up in Nashville. “Puxico isn’t my hometown, but it feels like it is. I’ve gone there every year since I was a kid. Musically, my roots are from that place. Puxico is roots-oriented music, from bluegrass to southern gothic to soul to old-school country.”
Hemby co-wrote all nine of Puxico‘s tracks, reflecting her talents not only as a songwriter, but as a vocalist, bandleader, and frontwoman.
“I spent my 20s trying to land a record deal, and most of my 30s writing for other people,” she says. “It’s time to put out my own record. Maybe I’m a late bloomer, or maybe it’s just finally the right time to bloom.”
The album is a family affair for Hemby. The project will be released on GetWrucke Productions, a joint venture between Hemby and her husband, producer Mike Wrucke. Wrucke oversaw the recording sessions, too, playing multiple instruments and providing all of the male harmonies along the way. Hemby collaborated with a close circle of friends on Puxico, including drummer Fred Eltringham, pedal steel performer Greg Leisz, and co-writers Trent Dabbs and Lindsay Chapman.
Fans and industry members can hear live renditions of the tracks on Puxico, when Hemby performs at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on Jan. 13 to celebrate the album’s release. Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.
Bobby Bones To Launch Funny & Alone Stand Up Comedy Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonBones’ one-man stand-up routine will blend his love of country music and comedy, with stories from his childhood in rural Arkansas and also from hosting his radio show.
Special guests Walker Hayes and Nikita Karmen will join him for the tour.
“I’ve been doing stand up comedy since I was 19 years old, and I’m really excited to be able to do it for more people next year,” said Bones. “My favorite thing to do is be on the radio, but it’s followed very close by my love for comedy and the stage. I wanted to put together a show that lovers of comedy and music would enjoy. It’ll be fun to bring out Walker Hayes, who is one of my current favorite artists. And I’m also excited for the rest of the country to see Nikita Karmen, but mostly I’m just pumped to make people laugh.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. local time, at bobbybonescomedy.com.
BOBBY BONES: FUNNY & ALONE STAND UP COMEDY TOUR Dates:
Jan. 13: Virginia Beach, Va.
Jan. 14: Roanoke, Va.
Jan. 20: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Feb. 3: Richmond, Va.
Feb. 4: Washington, D.C.
Feb. 10: Sacramento
Feb. 11: Chico, Calif.
Feb. 24: Muskegon, Mich.
March 10: Durham, N.C.
March 11: Greensboro, N.C.
March 24: Bismarck, N.D.
March 25: Grand Forks, N.D.
March 31: Bakersfield, Calif.
April 7: Boston *(Opener TBC)
April 8: Northampton, Mass.
May 19: Wichita, Kan.
Luke Bryan Extends Kill The Lights Tour In 2017
/by Sarah SkatesThe two-time CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year has already visited 58 cities on the tour. The outing played to 1.6 million fans and wrapped at the end of October after six sold-out stadium shows, and 10 back-to-back sell-outs in five cities.
The 2017 leg opens in Huntington, West Virginia on Feb. 17. Bryan returns to Madison Square Garden on March 1 where he performed a sold-out show in 2014.
Brett Eldredge will open the Kill The Lights Tour 2017 shows.
Live Nation is the national tour promoter. Cabela’s and Citi are brand partners and Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Nov. 30.
Kill The Lights Tour 2017
Feb. 16: Huntington, W. Va.; Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Feb. 17: Bloomington, Ind.; Assembly Hall
Feb. 18: Jonesboro, Ark.; ASU Convocation Center
Feb. 23: Columbia, S.C.; Colonial Life Arena
Feb. 25: Jacksonville, Fla.; Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
March 1: New York; Madison Square Garden
March 3: Manchester, N.H.; Verizon Wireless Arena
March 4: Providence, R.I.; Dunkin’ Donuts Center
March 9: Richmond, Va.; Richmond Coliseum
March 10: Fayetteville, N.C.; Crown Coliseum
March 17: Orange Beach, Ala.; The Wharf
Lifenotes: Tony Martell, Founder of T.J. Martell Foundation
/by Jessica NicholsonMartell launched the T.J. Martell Foundation in 1975, in honor of his son T.J., who died at age 19 after battling leukemia.
Tony Martell was a music industry senior executive from the 1960s through the 1990s. He earned Executive Producer credits on more than 50 albums from artists including The Isley Brothers, The O’Jays, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. He was instrumental in bringing Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ozzy Osbourne to Epic Records. In the 1980s, Martell was head of the imprint label CBS Associated Records, where he continued working with Osbourne and signed artists including Joan Jett to the label.
The T.J. Martell Foundation has raised more than $270 million to date for scientific research.
His wife of 65 years, Vicky, died in February. Martell is survived by daughter Debbie Martell.
Memorial plans have not yet been announced.
Weekly Chart Report (11/23/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Songwriters Highlighted By ‘The Wall Street Journal,’ Nashville Public Radio
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville Songwriters Profiled In The Wall Street Journal
Pictured (L-R): Love Junkies’ Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
The Wall Street Journal recently profiled three of Nashville’s top songwriters, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose. Dubbed “The Love Junkies,” the trio’s writers have provided powerhouse songs for Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and more.
For more, visit wsj.com.
Nashville Public Radio Highlights Work Of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant
Carolyn Smith Bryant and Del Bryant
The work of late songwriters Boudleaux and Felice Bryant was highlighted by Nashville Public Radio, via an interview with former BMI leader Del Bryant. Del was interviewed by his wife Carolyn Smith Bryant about how his parents met and the important role they played in country music.
Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant were best known for songs including “Rocky Top,” “Love Hurts,” and several hits by the Everly Brothers, including “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “Bye Bye Love.”