BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams pose with 2016 President’s Award recipient Kenny Chesney. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 549
This year’s BMI Awards crowned a new songwriting king, saluted an established superstar and honored one of country music’s most popular songs of the year.
Ross Copperman was the organization’s first-time Country Songwriter of the Year. Kenny Chesney, who has 30 No. 1 hits, was given the BMI President’s Award. “Die a Happy Man,” written by its singer Thomas Rhett with Sean Douglas and Joe London Spargur, won the Frances W. Preston Country Song of the Year Award.
Sony-ATV set a new record by winning BMI’s Country Publisher of the Year honor for the 15th time. Georgia Congressman Doug Collins was given the BMI Champion Award for his legislative efforts on behalf of the songwriting community.
The ceremony, staged at BMI’s Music Row headquarters on Tuesday night (Nov. 1), also made history by honoring a record-setting 16 first-time songwriter winners. These included Cam (Ochs), Chris Janson, Michael Ray, Granger Smith, Jamie Lynn Spears, Tyler Johnson, Jennifer Wayne and Brian Davis.
Video segments praising Chesney were interspersed among the awards throughout the first half of the ceremony. Then came the musical tributes. Keith Urban delivered “I Go Back” in an arrangement that evolved from acoustic-guitar simplicity to a full-band, electric-guitar rave-up. Dean Dillon provided a touching, tender, solo on “Tin Man.” Eric Church injected his intensity into “Anything But Mine.” All three received standing ovations.
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, Lauren Gregory, singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett, Vice President of Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
“I don’t think I’ve ever in my whole life felt so much love in a room,” said Chesney. “God put a song in my heart years ago. He made me want to write songs. Without that, there wouldn’t be anything else….Thank you very much for this moment. I’ll never forget it.”
Copperman was honored for writing seven major hits in 2015-16. The artists of six of those tunes were there to celebrate with him. They were Billy Currington, who sang Copperman’s co-written “Don’t It;” A Thousand Horses, who did “Smoke;” Urban, who immortalized “John Cougar, John Denver, John 3:16;” Luke Bryan, who hit with “Strip it Down” and Brett Eldredge, who recorded “Drunk on Your Love” and “Lose My Mind.” The sixth awarded Copperman song was “Confession,” sung by Florida George Line.
BMI’s Jody Williams described Copperman as, “a songwriter, producer, musician and a leader of a new generation in Nashville.”
“I want to dedicate this award to every song plugger in this town,” said the honoree. He read a poem he composed for them, adding, “Thank you to every song plugger and publisher….I couldn’t do this without you. This is such a huge honor.”
The annual BMI gala is typically studded with stars, and this year’s event was no exception. Among the record makers in attendance in addition to Chesney, Rhett, Church, Janson, Ray, Smith, Cam and Eldredge were such songwriting award winners as Chris Young, Dan + Shay, Jaida Dreyer, LOCASH, Rhett Akins, Heather Morgan and Cole Swindell.
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, singer-songwriter Maren Morris, and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
Fans lined the street opposite BMI to get a glimpse of entering attendees Little Big Town, Kix Brooks, Frankie Ballard, Jake Owen, Bill Anderson, John Oates, Doobie Brother Tom Johnston, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Rob Crosby, Scotty McCreery, Mac Davis, Dickey Lee, Kane Brown, Chase Bryant, Shawn Camp and new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Randy Travis, who drew a standing ovation when introduced during the banquet upstairs.
Clay Walker, Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge and a few others delighted the fans by crossing the street before entering the gala and posing for selfies. The crowd squealed with delight.
Inside, you couldn’t turn around without bumping into an award winner during the cocktail hour. Barry Dean, Al Anderson, Tom Douglas, Luke & Beth Laird, Trent Summar, Jim Collins, Brett & Jim Beavers, Casey Beathard, Tommy Cecil, Rodney Clawson, Jeffrey Steele (winning his 30th BMI Award), Dallas Davidson (his 25th), Westin Davis, Andrew Dorff, Liz Rose, Connie Harrington, Lee Thomas Miller, Jay Knowles, Lori McKenna, Melissa Pierce, Michael White and Phil O’Donnell were schmoozing up a storm.
But award winners are only part of the story at this annual whoop-de-do. It is, at its heart, a gigantic family-reunion party.
Jody Williams even admitted as much: “Make no mistake about it; this is a party, and we are going to celebrate.”
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, singer-songwriter Luke Bryan, Caroline Boyer, and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
If it was songwriting superstars you sought, BMI can easily fill the bill. In attendance were Rory Bourke, Even Stevens, Mark James, Bob & Leslie Tomasina DiPiero, Roger Murrah, Norro Wilson, Whitey Shafer, Aaron Barker and Jerry Chestnutt, as were such legendary producers as Byron Gallimore, Keith Stegall, Tom Collins, David Malloy and Jerry Crutchfield.
We dined on greens with pumpkin salad, beef medallions, hen quarters with currant glaze, green beans, mashed potatoes and heirloom carrots. The banquet décor was simple but elegant, focusing largely on floral arrangements. The BMI garage sides were open to the unseasonably warm air and overlooked the lights of the city.
Enjoying the vibe were Sally Williams, Jay Williams, Kyle Lehning, Kyle Young, Cindy Watts, Cindy Hunt, Hunter Kelly, Scott Siman, Scott Stem, Charlie Feldman, Charlie Monk, Jerry House, Autumn House-Tallant, Mark Hartley, Mark Brown, Dave Pomeroy, David Preston, David Briggs, David Crow, Tim Nichols, Tim Wipperman, Bobby Cudd, Bobby Pinson, Steve Lassiter, Steve Lowery, John Marks, John Huie, Jim Free, Jimmy Carter, Butch Baker, Dale Dodson, Fletcher Foster and Susan Stewart.
In addition to Williams, the awards presentations were handled by CEO Mike O’Neill, Bradley Collins, Phil Graham and the exquisite Leslie Roberts.
“It’s hard to believe this is my 40th BMI country dinner,” said Graham. Ooof. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we all began this meet-and-greet journey?
BMI’s Jody Williams poses with Publisher of the year Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville onstage at the 64th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 1, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Marching along merrily were Kos Weaver, Andrew Kintz, T.K. Kimbrell, Jay Orr, Will Rambeaux, MaryAnn McCready, Mayor Megan Barry, new singer-songwriter Trent Harmon, Debbie Carroll, Tony Conway, Whitney Daane, Arturo Buenahora and Walter Campbell.
Doug Johnson, Ron Cox, Brandi Simms, Allen Brown, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, Michael Heeney, Leslie Fram, Barry Coburn, Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow, Sherod Robertson, Tracy Gershon, Patrick Clifford and Amy Mayo were working the room, too.
So were Josh Van Valkenburg, Terry Bumgarner, Rick & Janis Carnes, Joe & Phran Galante (who looks fabulous), Phyllis Stark, Becca Walls, Holly Gleason, Alicia Warwick and Clay Myers.
After the awards banquet, we headed back to the BMI lobby for dessert and dancing to The Guilty Pleasures.
As we exited, the fans were still in formation on their sidewalk. God bless ‘em.
Singer-songwriter Lori McKenna attends the 64th Annual BMI Country awards. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for BMI
Keith Urban performs onstage at the 64th Annual BMI Country Awards. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
Charity Roundup: Josh Turner, KTHK, Newsboys
/by Lorie HollabaughJosh Turner Meets and Greets for Second Harvest
Photo: Rick Diamond
Josh Turner teamed up with Nashville’s Cost Plus World Market for a special meet and greet/food drive Sunday (10/30) and raised over 1000 pounds of non-perishable food for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Turner met and took photos with fans and the strong turnout resulted in over a half ton of food going to families in the middle Tennessee area in time for the upcoming holidays.
KTHK Star Guitar Charity Auction A Success
Pictured (L-R): KTHK Cory Daniels, Winning Bidders Mr. & Mrs. Overdorf, KTHK Don Jarrett
MusicRow CountryBreakout panel station KTHK-FM in Idaho Falls, Idaho, held their 4th annual Star Guitar Charity Auction on The Early Bird Show Oct. 20-31, auctioning off eight guitars signed by country stars like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and dozens more. The event raised $6,700 for three local charities, the Veteran’s Mobility Corp, District#91 & District #93 school music programs, and The Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect. The station has raised nearly $28,000 for local charities over the last four years.
Newsboys Help Guardian For Heroes on Love Riot Nashville Stop
Pictured (L-R): Newsboys’ Jody Davis and Michael Tait; Guardian for Heroes’ Jeff Kyle; BeastMode for the Brave’s George Chmiel; and Newsboys’ Duncan Phillips and Jeff Frankenstein backstage at Nashville’s Curb Event Center before Friday’s “Love Riot Tour” stop. Photo: KohlPhoto
The Newsboys “Love Riot Tour” Nashville show at the Curb Event Center Friday night (Oct. 28) served as a benefit for the Guardian for Heroes Foundation. Established by late U.S. Navy SEAL and “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, the organization assists combat veterans transitioning to post-military life. During the evening, Guardian for Heroes’ Jeff Kyle, brother of Chris Kyle, spoke about the foundation’s mission and purpose. BeastMode for the Brave endurance athlete George Chmiel also joined Kyle onstage to share about his run across America to raise awareness about the serious issues veterans face upon returning home from the battlefield. Chmiel is currently on track to run more than 3,000 miles in 60 days.
Bobby Karl Works The Room: 2016 BMI Country Awards
/by Bobby KarlBMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams pose with 2016 President’s Award recipient Kenny Chesney. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 549
This year’s BMI Awards crowned a new songwriting king, saluted an established superstar and honored one of country music’s most popular songs of the year.
Ross Copperman was the organization’s first-time Country Songwriter of the Year. Kenny Chesney, who has 30 No. 1 hits, was given the BMI President’s Award. “Die a Happy Man,” written by its singer Thomas Rhett with Sean Douglas and Joe London Spargur, won the Frances W. Preston Country Song of the Year Award.
Sony-ATV set a new record by winning BMI’s Country Publisher of the Year honor for the 15th time. Georgia Congressman Doug Collins was given the BMI Champion Award for his legislative efforts on behalf of the songwriting community.
The ceremony, staged at BMI’s Music Row headquarters on Tuesday night (Nov. 1), also made history by honoring a record-setting 16 first-time songwriter winners. These included Cam (Ochs), Chris Janson, Michael Ray, Granger Smith, Jamie Lynn Spears, Tyler Johnson, Jennifer Wayne and Brian Davis.
Video segments praising Chesney were interspersed among the awards throughout the first half of the ceremony. Then came the musical tributes. Keith Urban delivered “I Go Back” in an arrangement that evolved from acoustic-guitar simplicity to a full-band, electric-guitar rave-up. Dean Dillon provided a touching, tender, solo on “Tin Man.” Eric Church injected his intensity into “Anything But Mine.” All three received standing ovations.
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, Lauren Gregory, singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett, Vice President of Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
“I don’t think I’ve ever in my whole life felt so much love in a room,” said Chesney. “God put a song in my heart years ago. He made me want to write songs. Without that, there wouldn’t be anything else….Thank you very much for this moment. I’ll never forget it.”
Copperman was honored for writing seven major hits in 2015-16. The artists of six of those tunes were there to celebrate with him. They were Billy Currington, who sang Copperman’s co-written “Don’t It;” A Thousand Horses, who did “Smoke;” Urban, who immortalized “John Cougar, John Denver, John 3:16;” Luke Bryan, who hit with “Strip it Down” and Brett Eldredge, who recorded “Drunk on Your Love” and “Lose My Mind.” The sixth awarded Copperman song was “Confession,” sung by Florida George Line.
BMI’s Jody Williams described Copperman as, “a songwriter, producer, musician and a leader of a new generation in Nashville.”
“I want to dedicate this award to every song plugger in this town,” said the honoree. He read a poem he composed for them, adding, “Thank you to every song plugger and publisher….I couldn’t do this without you. This is such a huge honor.”
The annual BMI gala is typically studded with stars, and this year’s event was no exception. Among the record makers in attendance in addition to Chesney, Rhett, Church, Janson, Ray, Smith, Cam and Eldredge were such songwriting award winners as Chris Young, Dan + Shay, Jaida Dreyer, LOCASH, Rhett Akins, Heather Morgan and Cole Swindell.
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, singer-songwriter Maren Morris, and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
Fans lined the street opposite BMI to get a glimpse of entering attendees Little Big Town, Kix Brooks, Frankie Ballard, Jake Owen, Bill Anderson, John Oates, Doobie Brother Tom Johnston, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Rob Crosby, Scotty McCreery, Mac Davis, Dickey Lee, Kane Brown, Chase Bryant, Shawn Camp and new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Randy Travis, who drew a standing ovation when introduced during the banquet upstairs.
Clay Walker, Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge and a few others delighted the fans by crossing the street before entering the gala and posing for selfies. The crowd squealed with delight.
Inside, you couldn’t turn around without bumping into an award winner during the cocktail hour. Barry Dean, Al Anderson, Tom Douglas, Luke & Beth Laird, Trent Summar, Jim Collins, Brett & Jim Beavers, Casey Beathard, Tommy Cecil, Rodney Clawson, Jeffrey Steele (winning his 30th BMI Award), Dallas Davidson (his 25th), Westin Davis, Andrew Dorff, Liz Rose, Connie Harrington, Lee Thomas Miller, Jay Knowles, Lori McKenna, Melissa Pierce, Michael White and Phil O’Donnell were schmoozing up a storm.
But award winners are only part of the story at this annual whoop-de-do. It is, at its heart, a gigantic family-reunion party.
Jody Williams even admitted as much: “Make no mistake about it; this is a party, and we are going to celebrate.”
Pictured (L-R): President and CEO of BMI Michael O’Neill, singer-songwriter Luke Bryan, Caroline Boyer, and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI Jody Williams. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
If it was songwriting superstars you sought, BMI can easily fill the bill. In attendance were Rory Bourke, Even Stevens, Mark James, Bob & Leslie Tomasina DiPiero, Roger Murrah, Norro Wilson, Whitey Shafer, Aaron Barker and Jerry Chestnutt, as were such legendary producers as Byron Gallimore, Keith Stegall, Tom Collins, David Malloy and Jerry Crutchfield.
We dined on greens with pumpkin salad, beef medallions, hen quarters with currant glaze, green beans, mashed potatoes and heirloom carrots. The banquet décor was simple but elegant, focusing largely on floral arrangements. The BMI garage sides were open to the unseasonably warm air and overlooked the lights of the city.
Enjoying the vibe were Sally Williams, Jay Williams, Kyle Lehning, Kyle Young, Cindy Watts, Cindy Hunt, Hunter Kelly, Scott Siman, Scott Stem, Charlie Feldman, Charlie Monk, Jerry House, Autumn House-Tallant, Mark Hartley, Mark Brown, Dave Pomeroy, David Preston, David Briggs, David Crow, Tim Nichols, Tim Wipperman, Bobby Cudd, Bobby Pinson, Steve Lassiter, Steve Lowery, John Marks, John Huie, Jim Free, Jimmy Carter, Butch Baker, Dale Dodson, Fletcher Foster and Susan Stewart.
In addition to Williams, the awards presentations were handled by CEO Mike O’Neill, Bradley Collins, Phil Graham and the exquisite Leslie Roberts.
“It’s hard to believe this is my 40th BMI country dinner,” said Graham. Ooof. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we all began this meet-and-greet journey?
BMI’s Jody Williams poses with Publisher of the year Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville onstage at the 64th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 1, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Marching along merrily were Kos Weaver, Andrew Kintz, T.K. Kimbrell, Jay Orr, Will Rambeaux, MaryAnn McCready, Mayor Megan Barry, new singer-songwriter Trent Harmon, Debbie Carroll, Tony Conway, Whitney Daane, Arturo Buenahora and Walter Campbell.
Doug Johnson, Ron Cox, Brandi Simms, Allen Brown, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, Michael Heeney, Leslie Fram, Barry Coburn, Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow, Sherod Robertson, Tracy Gershon, Patrick Clifford and Amy Mayo were working the room, too.
So were Josh Van Valkenburg, Terry Bumgarner, Rick & Janis Carnes, Joe & Phran Galante (who looks fabulous), Phyllis Stark, Becca Walls, Holly Gleason, Alicia Warwick and Clay Myers.
After the awards banquet, we headed back to the BMI lobby for dessert and dancing to The Guilty Pleasures.
As we exited, the fans were still in formation on their sidewalk. God bless ‘em.
Singer-songwriter Lori McKenna attends the 64th Annual BMI Country awards. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for BMI
Keith Urban performs onstage at the 64th Annual BMI Country Awards. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI
Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Elle King Win Early CMA Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: Dierks Bentley, Elle King, Chris Stapleton
Going into tonight’s (Nov. 2) 50th Annual CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, and Elle King are already big winners.
Bentley and King earned Musical Event of the Year for “Different For Girls,” which was announced just prior to Bentley’s performance this morning on Good Morning America. The performance took place outside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Stapleton earned Music Video of the Year for “Fire Away,” as well as video director Tim Mattia.
Stapleton is an Entertainer of the Year nominee, and is also nominated for Single of the Year (“Nobody To Blame”) and Male Vocalist of the Year. He was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his performance of “You Are My Sunshine” with wife/vocalist Morgane Stapleton.
Bentley is nominated for Album of the Year (Black) and Male Vocalist of the Year. He was also nominated in the Video of the Year category, for “Somewhere On A Beach.”
The remaining category winners will be revealed during tonight’s The 50th Annual CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
#CMTNextWomen Honors New Class, Debuts Award, Announces 2017 Tour
/by Eric T. ParkerCMT Next Women of Country Group. Photo: Bev Moser
Three inductees into CMT’s Next Women of Country (NWOC) class of 2016 performed alongside alumna and other newcomer artists and during the network’s fourth annual celebration, held Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 1) at City Winery.
Maggie Rose, Lucie Silvas and Margo Price were among those selected to offer songs on behalf of their previously announced freshman class, including Caitlyn Smith, Jamie Lynn Spears, Jillian Jacqueline, Kree Harrison, Logan Brill, Post Monroe and Runaway June.
Brandy Clark (L), Leslie Fram (R). Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Surprise co-host Brandy Clark performed “Two Kids No Husband” before CMT Sr. VP of Music Strategy and Talent, Leslie Fram, surprised her with the first annual NWOC Impact Award.
“We started the [NWOC] franchise because of Brandy Clark,” said Fram after Clark detailed how a promise of support from the executive led her to spend her savings on a video for “Stripes.”
Pictured (L-R): Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, CMT’s Leslie Fram. Photo: Bev Moser
Two in-the-round performances were delivered. Before the second round, Martina McBride made a surprise appearance to announce her 2017 Love Unleashed Tour will be amplified by CMT’s NWOC series and feature special guest Lauren Alaina.
“CMT’s Next Women of Country is a movement that I truly believe in—throughout my career I’ve championed women,” said McBride. “Mentoring and passing along any lessons or knowledge we’ve learned to the new generation is really important and I’m learning from them. For women, when one of us wins, we all win and we’re stronger when we support each other. I’m thrilled to be a part of this!”
Pictured (L-R): Tara Thompson, Mickey Guyton, Maggie Rose, Maddie & Tae, Aubrie Sellers. Photo: Bev Moser
Kicking off the first round of performances were Aubrie Sellers (“New City Blues” and a cover of The Kinks’ “All Day And All Of The Night”), Maddie & Tae (“Somebody Will,” written for their upcoming album), Maggie Rose (“More Dreams Than Dollars,” a new title and was announced as a recent signee with Narvel Blackstock), Mickey Guyton (“What I’ve Yet To Find,” a Lady Antebellum-written song she found before getting signed), and Tara Thompson (“A World Without Willie,” co-written with Alex Kline, Erin Enderlin, Leslie Satcher).
Pictured (L-R): RaeLynn, Margo Price, Lucie Silvas, Lindsay Ell, Lauren Alaina. Photo: Bev Moser
Alaina led the second round of performances (“Road Less Traveled”) with additional artists Lindsay Ell (“All Alright”), Lucie Silvas (“I Really Loved You”), Margo Price (“Hands Of Time”), and RaeLynn (“Love Triangle”).
“Four years ago we identified a gaping hole in the industry,” said Fram. “[We tried to find a way] for women to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, support each other, and grow female voices in our industry. So much has happened in the last few years, we’ve had a tour going into its third year, a digital franchise, 20 artists in the CMT studio, and our next class.”
Industry Ink: Capitol Records, Pennington Entertainment, Pandora
/by Jessica NicholsonCapitol Records Celebrates 75th Anniversary
As part of the celebration, a year-long vinyl reissue campaign, titled The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection, will comprise 75 albums, including Bobbie Gentry’s Ode To Billy Joe, Buck Owens‘ Buck Owens, Glen Campbell‘s By The Time I Get To Phoenix, and Merle Haggard‘s Mama Tried.
On Nov. 15, Capitol Records will become the first record company to receive a star of recognition from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which will be installed in front of the landmark Capitol Tower, adjacent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The campaign will also include the release of a deluxe photograph/essay book, 75 Years of Capitol Records, which will release on Dec. 15. A docu-series is also being produced by Nigel Sinclair/Whitehorse Pictures, with individual episodes to be directed by music luminaries and Capitol artists.
Pennington Entertainment Hires Two
Danielle Clement joins Pennington Entertainment as executive assistant and special projects coordinator. With a degree in public relations, Clement has previously worked for Walt Disney World, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ryman Hospitalities, Crye-Leike and is currently an artistic director at VSA Tennessee, teaching dance to young adults with Down syndrome. Additionally, Clement serves her community as a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Former Sr. VP of Artist Management at BBR Management, Shawn Pennington, launched Pennington Entertainment in March with a client roster that includes Thompson Square, Parmalee, The Hillbilly Way and more.
Pandora Releases ‘Ones To Watch’ List
Pandora has released its list of ‘Ones To Watch’ in 2017, talented musicians that are new to the country scene.
Those artists include Tenille Arts, Brent Cobb, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Erik Dylan, Seth Ennis, Ryan Follese, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Taylor Ray Holbrook, Ryan Hurd, Cody Jinks, Steve Moakler, RaeLynn, Brandon Ray, Runaway June, Adam Sanders, Aubrie Sellers, The Shires, and Sister C.
Track Listing For George Strait’s Second Box Set Released
/by Jessica NicholsonThe full track listing for George Strait‘s previously announced second box set has been released.
Strait Out of the Box: Part 2, a three-disc, 56-track collection includes 26 of Strait’s chart-topping hits, as well as two new tracks co-written by Strait. “Kicked Outta Country” was co-written with Jamey Johnson, while “You Gotta Go Thorough Hell” was co-penned with Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon.
He also has 18 hand-picked album cuts. The project spans 20 years of Strait’s career, ranging from 1996-2016. Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 follows the 8x platinum 1995 set Strait Out of the Box.
The set will release Nov. 18 exclusively at Walmart.
“Going back through all the songs for this box set does bring back a lot of old memories,” says Strait. “A lot of them we considered for radio singles and for whatever reason, we just picked something else. It was not that hard to pick them after I looked through them because there are just so many that are my favorites.”
Strait will perform at The 50th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday. The broadcast airs on ABC Nov. 2 at 8/7c live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 Track Listing
Disc 1 (1996-2000)
1. Blue Clear Sky
2. Carried Away
3. Rockin’ In The Arms Of Your Memory
4. I Can Still Make Cheyenne
5. Round About Way
6. Carrying Your Love With Me
7. One Night At A Time
8. Today My World Slipped Away
9. The Nerve
10. I Just Want To Dance With You
11. True
12. Maria
13. We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This
14. Meanwhile
15. Write This Down
16. The Best Day
17. Looking Out My Window Through The Pain
18. Go On
Disc 2 (2001-2008)
1. She’ll Leave You With A Smile
2. Run
3. Living and Living Well
4. My Life’s Been Grand
5. Cowboys Like Us
6. Desperately
7. Four Down and Twelve Across
8. I Hate Everything
9. Seashores of Old Mexico
10. She Let Herself Go
11. Give It Away
12. Wrapped
13. It Just Comes Natural
14. Texas Cookin’
15. How ’Bout Them Cowgirls
16. Come On Joe
17. Troubadour
18. River Of Love
19. I Saw God Today
Disc 3 (2009-2016)
1. Living For The Night
2. Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
3. Arkansas Dave
4. Love’s Gonna Make It Alright
5. Drinkin’ Man
6. Shame On Me
7. Here For A Good Time
8. House Across The Bay
9. Blue Marlin Blues
10. I’ll Always Remember You
11. Give It All We Got Tonight
12. I Just Can’t Go On Dying Like This
13. That’s What Breaking Hearts Do
14. The Night Is Young
15. I Believe
16. Goin’ Goin’ Gone
17. Everything I See
18. Kicked Outta Country*
19. You Gotta Go Through Hell*
ABC Airs Pre-CMA Awards Television Special
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R): Hunter Hayes, Cassadee Pope, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Robin Roberts, Carrie Underwood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Dierks Bentley. Photo: ABC/Chris Hollo
ABC television network offered viewers an hour-long warm up to the 50th annual CMA Awards last night (Oct. 31). The network aired All Access Nashville: Celebrating the CMA Awards With Robin Roberts. The show included highlights of memorable moments at the CMA Awards and performances by country music stars at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.
Among those making appearances were longtime CMA Awards co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, as well as Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Cassadee Pope, Reba, Jake Owen and Hunter Hayes.
This is the eighth year ABC has shown a pre-CMA Awards television special. Monday night’s show aired at 10 PM/ET and came in third place among the major networks, attracting about 4.63 million viewers, according to Zap2It.
The 50th annual CMA Awards air Wednesday night Nov. 2 on ABC.
Hillary Scott, Reba McEntire and Cassadee Pope perform “Why Haven’t I Heard From You.” Photo: ABC/Chris Hollo
Robin Roberts and Dierks Bentley. Photo: ABC/ Chris Hollo
Bobby Karl Works The Room: 2016 ASCAP Country Awards
/by Bobby KarlPublisher and Song of the Year honoree Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, Publisher and Song of the Year honoree Warner Chappell’s Jon Platt. Photo: Ed Rode
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 548
It was “Kentucky Night” at the 54th annual ASCAP Country Awards.
Staged at the Ryman Auditorium on Monday (Oct. 31), the gala honored Ashley Gorley as its Songwriter of the Year, Ricky Skaggs with its ASCAP Founders Award and Chris Stapleton with its ASCAP Vanguard Award. All are sons of the Blue Grass State.
“This has been amazing,” said Gorley. “I just want to thank my co-writers and this whole community.” He explained that Nashville’s music folks rallied to his side during this past year when both his mother and his wife battled cancer.
The songwriter is such a Kentuckian that he has a blue University of Kentucky basketball court in his backyard. Accordingly, UK Wildcats basketball coach John Calipari presented Gorley with his award. This was Gorley’s fourth time to win ASCAP’s top country songwriting prize.
“I’m proud to present to a member of the Big Blue Nation,” said Calipari. “If you’re named songwriter of the year four years, you are a champion,” he added. Trace Adkins sang Gorley’s co-written 2008 goldie “You’re Gonna Miss This” in his honor. The songwriter’s new ASCAP award was due to the seven No. 1 hits he co-wrote in 2015.
Kelsea Ballerini opens the ASCAP Country Music Awards with “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Photo: Ed Rode
John & TJ Osborne had just performed a blistering version of their hit “Stay a Little Longer” with Sam Bush and Dave Pomeroy when it was suddenly announced as the ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Both brothers seemed stunned.
“I was over the moon just to be up here playing with Sam Bush,” said TJ. “I can’t believe this just happened.” John offered advice to those aspiring to become successful songwriters: “Keep f—king going! Keep doing it, and it will happen.”
Skaggs was saluted by Gordon Kennedy and Peter Frampton with a rocking “My Cup Runneth Over.” The close-harmony quartet of Alison Krauss, Jamey Johnson, Sydney Cox and Suzanne Cox offered a sublime “Waiting for the Sun to Shine.” Both of these performances drew standing ovations. Garth Brooks rounded out the Skaggs tribute with “Highway 40 Blues,” accompanied by Bush and Justin Moses.
Marty Stuart made the Founders Award presentation, saying, “I followed him as a guiding light. He inspired multiple generations of songwriters and singers. A statesman has evolved. For more than four decades, Ricky Skaggs has been an undeniable force in bluegrass and country music. Give him a hand.”
“Not being a real known, famous songwriter, I never dreamed that I could get an ASCAP award,” said Skaggs. “What an awesome thing. You know, I’m still making music. I came to this town to make music, not to win awards.”
ASCAP’s Michael Martin and President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP Vanguard Award honoree Chris Stapleton, ASCAP’s CEO Elizabeth Matthews, EVP of Membership John Titta and Mike Sistad. Photo: Peyton Hoge
Stapleton apologized in advance for not being good at acceptance speeches. “I don’t know what to say about everything that’s happened over the last year and a half or so,” he began. “When I found out you could have a job being a songwriter, I thought, ‘That’s the greatest job in the world. I gotta figure out how to do it.’
“I’ve learned so much from so many people in this room. It’s an amazing honor to get this award tonight,” added the Visionary winner.
Warner/Chappell won the country Publisher of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. Radio personality Bobby Bones was given the Partners in Music Award for helping to make stars of Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini and Cam, among others.
“All I do is show people what we already know is fantastic …and give people a place to shine,” said Bones.
The ceremony was embellished with plenty of performances. In addition to Adkins, Brooks and the others cited above, Ballerini offered “Love Me Like You Mean It” to open the show.
Song of the Year honorees Brothers Osborne perform “Stay a Little Longer.” Photo: Ed Rode
Brothers Osborne’s “Stay a Little Longer” was one of the five top ASCAP country songs of the year. The other four were also performed at various points throughout the gala.
Corey Crowder and Chris Young tore into “I’m Coming Over.” Craig Wiseman and Luke Laird offered a lively “Gonna.” Dan + Shay wore outfits meant to imitate Gorley and Chris DeStefano as all four performed “Nothin’ Like You.” That one drew a standing ovation. Old Dominion band mates Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi did “Save It for a Rainy Day.” Their band spent most of the year touring with “Save It” singer Kenny Chesney.
A number of record makers took the stage as either presenters or award winners. These included Kip Moore, Canaan Smith, Scotty McCreery, Jonathan Singleton, Frankie Ballard, Billy Currington, John Rich, Randy Goodrum, Maddie & Tae, Cam, William Michael Morgan, Brett Young, Ryan Hurd, J.T. Harding, Matthew West, Brett James, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three and Old Dominion’s Geoff Sprung and Trevor Rosen.
These Country Music Week activities are not for amateurs. They are endurance marathons. We arrived around 7 p.m. and didn’t stumble out of there until after 11:30 p.m. Those who don’t have deadlines go off into the night for after-parties.
The cocktail supper featured mini chicken pot pies, brisket mac & cheese, beef short ribs & mashed potatoes, quinua & kale salad, shrimp cocktail and blue-cheese asparagus. Schmoozers included Mike Dekle, Mike Vaden, Mike Milom, Mike Sistad, Michael Martin, Chris DuBois, Chris Farren, Chris Oglesby, Josh Kear, Josh Osborne, Dan Hodges, Dan Keen, John Ozier, John King, Jon Nite, John Titta, Dave Berg, Dave Pahonek, David M. Ross, Marc Beeson, Mark Ford, Paul Williams, Paul Pointius, Gary Nicholson, Gary Burr & Georgia Middleman, Glen Middleworth, Bill Velez and Billy Paul.
ASCAP’s Michael Martin and President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP Founders Award honoree Ricky Skaggs, and ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta. Photo: Ed Rode
It was Halloween night, so a few folks donned costumes for the occasion. I spotted a can-can girl, a Santa elf, two riverboat dandies, a ladybug with spotted wings, some cowboys (of course) and several witch hats, including one on Ree Guyer-Buchanan. Erika Wollam Nichols wore a sheath with black and orange sequins in a jack-o-lantern pattern.
There were other looks we liked. Celia Froelig was a dish in a white sequined sheath. Mark Bright sported deluxe red leather sneakers. Carla Wallace wore a flowing, floral patterned, floor-length gown. Byron Hill was in a black velvet jacket. Cam’s outfit included a sparkling, multi-colored bodice and a vivid green skirt with a long train. Bones matched the Ryman ushers in his red blazer.
Working the room were Liz Rose, Elizabeth Matthews, Matt Rogers, Frank Rogers, Robert Ott, Bobby Rymer, Terry Wakefield, Teresa George. Pat Alger, Doug Howard, Jewel Coburn & Jason Morris. Wayland Holyfield, Ron Cox, Hank Adam Locklin, Walter Campbell, Tom Long and Buddy Cannon.
Plus, Garth Fundis, Tinti Moffatt, Tony Brown, Kerry O’Neill, Stewart Dill, Vincent Candilora, Herkie Williams, Ralph Murphy, Cheryl White, Desmond Child, Ron Stuve, Lon Helton, Cyndi Forman, Jimmy Robbins, Zach Crowell, Derek George and Hillary Lindsey.
Country Music Week activities continue with the BMI Awards on Tuesday and the CMA Awards on Wednesday. Rock on, fabulons.
Ashley Gorley, Dan + Shay and Chris DeStefano perform “Nothin’ Like You” in costume as each other. Photo: Ed Rode
ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Robert Filhart, ASCAP Partners In Music Award honoree Bobby Bones, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. Photo: Ed Rode
NMPA, NSAI Submit Streaming Rates Proposal to Copyright Royalty Board
/by Lorie HollabaughThe National Music Publishers’ Association and the Nashville Songwriters Association International submitted a proposal today (Nov. 1) to the Copyright Royalty Board to determine the interactive streaming services rates payable by services like Pandora, Spotify, and others for 2018-2022. NMPA’s full brief can be seen here and proposed rates and terms here.
“Interactive streaming is becoming the dominant way in which consumers listen to music,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “This trend will continue, therefore it is imperative that we improve the rates paid by streaming services like Spotify to ensure that the songwriters who create the songs on which these platforms are built, are paid fairly. The current licensing model is structured as a percentage of revenue, and we must change this to a structure where songwriters are paid in accordance with the inherent value – and popularity – of their work instead of the success of a given service’s business model. We are laser-focused on achieving royalty rates that are set on a per-play and per-user basis. While we remain open to achieving a settlement with the digital services to avoid a trial as we have done in the past, we are ready to fight for exactly what songwriters deserve.”
Ryman Auditorium Plans Six-Show Residency With Little Big Town
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Ryman Auditorium will host its first residency in 2017, with Little Big Town slated for a six-show series beginning Feb. 24, the same day their seventh studio album, The Breaker, will release. Additional shows will be held on Feb. 25, May 19-20, and Sept. 15-16.
Little Big Town’s members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook made the announcement during a press conference at the Ryman Auditorium, with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Ryman Auditorium general manager Sally Williams.
Pictured (L-R): Jimi Westbrook, Nashville mayor Megan Barry, Karen Fairchild, Ryman Auditorium GM Sally Williams, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Sandbox Management’s Jason Owen.
Fairchild said that the residency’s first shows will center around new album The Breaker, and hinted that the residency could include performances from legendary performers who have never played the Ryman stage, with the group providing harmonies.
The Breaker includes the group’s current single, “Better Man,” which was a solo write penned by Taylor Swift. The group said the song was the first time Swift had ever pitched a song.
“We said, ‘We are not just going to blab that you wrote this immediately,'” Fairchild recalled of their conversation with Swift. “She said, ‘That’s the greatest honor as a songwriter that you could ever give me is that you don’t want anyone to know I wrote it.’ We knew we would tell eventually and it was a hard question to dodge for a while and the only reason we didn’t say is because we wanted for you to hear it for what it’s worth and it’s a beautiful song. At her heart, she is the biggest pop star in the world, but she’s a songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, and she likes to tell a story and we didn’t want you to have any subtext there other than to hear the song, and we did that. It had the biggest add day in our history with our guys at Universal that we’ve ever had.”
Tickets for the Ryman Auditorium residency will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.