Country stations nationwide cleared a path for the all-star single “Forever Country” on Friday morning (Sept. 16). The CMA Board of Directors worked closely with radio stations for a “roadblock,” ensuring that fans couldn’t miss the milestone recording that commemorates the CMA Awards’ 50th anniversary on Nov. 2.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern tells MusicRow, “For us, country radio and the fans that listen to music on country radio are so key to the fabric for distributing our music. Starting the song there on a Friday is a great way to get some energy.”
Underscoring the importance of business relationships, she says, “I give incredible credit to our Board of Directors and the radio industry. Just like a couple of years ago when they all got together and decided to create a unified radio remote for the CMA Awards in the fall. It really came out of them. We took the track to them and said, ‘Let’s brainstorm some ideas.’”
Arranged by songwriter/producer Shane McAnally, the single is a medley of “On the Road Again,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Take Me Home Country Roads.” Thirty CMA Award winners, from several generations, lend their vocals to the single, with each artist singing a line or two.
“I think Shane McAnally is a genius and the way he was able to marry the three songs together makes it special,” Trahern says. “I mean, all of them are amazing songs. But when you weave the stories together and you think about some of those key lines—‘I’m on the road again, the life I love is making music with my friends,’ ‘I will always love you,’ ‘Country roads, take me home to the place I belong’ — together, those themes almost become a testament to our business. The life our artists spend on the road, their love for the fans, their love for the music.”
McAnally tells MusicRow, “While working on this project, I had to repeatedly pinch myself because this was truly beyond my wildest dreams. I have been obsessed and consumed with country music since I was 5 years old, and having the opportunity to collaborate with so many of my heroes is indescribable. This is truly a piece of history and I am honored to have been asked to contribute to anything that shines a light on this genre that has shaped my entire life.”
The single is being distributed by Universal Music Group Nashville. After the artists recorded their lines to the song, they returned to film their segments for a landmark music video that will be released on Tuesday (Sept. 20). Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards, the music video includes the following CMA Award winners: Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan,Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Vince Gill, Faith Hill,Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert,Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride,Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Trisha Yearwood.
During a CMA Board meeting nearly two years ago, BBC Radio’s Director of Music Bob Shennan showed a similar video that promoted BBC Music. That video sparked the idea to try a country version. Not coincidentally, the “Forever Country” video will be premiering in the United States and the United Kingdom simultaneously.
In February, Trahern met with director Joseph Kahn, who has won Grammys for his music video work on Emimem’s “Without Me” and Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar’s “Bad Blood.” She was joined by industry leaders Jason Owen (Sandbox Management), Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), Joanna Carter (Capitol Records Nashville) and Chandra LaPlume (Taillight TV). Trahern credits Kahn with the idea of mashing up three songs, rather than just focusing on one classic. All three of the songs selected were made famous by past CMA Entertainer of the Year winners.
“You can imagine how hard it was to come up with the three songs,” Trahern says. “It went into a couple of different iterations, and any of the iterations would have been amazing videos, but Shane made a great track and one of the things that I’m just so thankful for our artist community. … Our artists all appreciate the history of where they came from. All 30 artists that are in the video are CMA Award winners so they know the importance of what it means to be respected by your peers.”
With the exception of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, the artists all filmed their portions during CMA Music Festival in June.
Trahern recalls, “The artists were so excited and did such a great job, every time we ran into them at one of the stages, they’d say, ‘Oh, I love the video, I can’t wait!’ And if there were fans around, we had to help quash it a couple of times,” Trahern says. “That’s been such a great problem to have happen because I’m just so proud of how our industry engaged with the project from Day One.”
To listen to “Forever Country,” visit Spotify.
Mike Ryan Brings Texas Radio Success To Sea Gayle Music
/by Jessica NicholsonMike Ryan. Photo: Molly Hannula
Mike Ryan has unleashed multiple hits at Texas radio and now the Sea Gayle songwriter hopes to keep his upward momentum going with his new project.
Signed to the Nashville publishing company since 2013, Ryan has collaborated with Sea Gayle’s Brent Anderson, along with Ben Phillips. Bad Reputation was recorded at several studios in Nashville, including Sea Gayle co-founder Brad Paisley’s home studio, and was released in 2014. He’s currently writing material for a new album.
“I consider myself a very fortunate person to have the ability to write with these guys. It’s been a great three years so far that I’ve been with Sea Gayle,” he says. “I feel like they are some of the best writers around.”
The deal with Sea Gayle came as a welcome surprise for Ryan. Sea Gayle co-founder Chris DuBois first heard Ryan’s name through former Billy Bob’s Entertainment Director Robert Gallagher while taking in a show from Jerrod Niemann and Wade Bowen. “He asked Robert if there was anyone around town that he needed to hear about and Robert gave him a copy of my record,” Ryan said.
The record made its way into DuBois’ CD player and he invited Ryan to visit Nashville. “I thought it was going to be just a handshake, ‘nice to meet ya,’ type of thing. But he offered us a publishing deal that day.”
Since then, the Fort Worth resident has traveled to Nashville nearly every month to write songs.
During a visit with MusicRow, Ryan previewed a batch of new songs he has written for his yet-untitled fourth album, including “The Devil’s Got His Jacket On” (a co-write with Anderson and Brandy Clark), “The Rewrite,” “Ghost Town,” and “New Hometown,” a song about small-town love gone wrong that is slated as the project’s first single.
“When it doesn’t work out, it’s never a great thing,” says Ryan, “but being from a small town, it’s that much more difficult because you can’t go hang out at the same places. You have to find new ones, but the thing is, there are not new ones in a small hometown. You have to find a new hometown all together.”
Anderson returns to produce and collaborate on the album, which is slated for a 2017 release. Ryan and his team are currently pursuing a major label deal.
Mike Ryan with MusicRow staff. Photo: Molly Hannula
Garth Brooks Talks Target Exclusive Boxed Set, New Album
/by Jessica NicholsonBrooks and Target announced a partnership on Thursday (Sept. 15) that will give Garth fans a fresh look at material from a career that has spanned 25 years. Brooks will release an exclusive, 10-disc boxed set dubbed Garth Brooks: The Ultimate Collection, on Nov. 11.
The boxed set will include an exclusive version of his upcoming album, as well as nine discs of curated music from his catalog with bonus tracks exclusive to Target.
“It’s twice the size of any box set we’ve ever put out, and the first time we’ve gotten to put a new record in that box. I’m excited about this fall,” says Brooks, who released previous boxed set collections The Limited Series in 1998, a second boxed set collection (also named The Limited Series) in 2005, as well as the four-CD collection of covers Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences in 2013.
“We’ve done box sets before but they’ve always been restricted to the first half of the career or second half of the career,” Brooks explains. “This is all 25 years of selected music and they are in their own playlists. Like, I’ve always wanted to do just a cowboy CD where ‘Much Too Young’ can be put up there with ‘Rodeo,’ so it’s a pretty neat little playlist.”
Those playlists/track listings for the project have not been released, as Brooks says they are still curating them.
One new track he confirms will be part of the boxed set has already been previewed for fans, during Brooks’ recent debut full-band concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 8. The show was aired live as part of the launch of The Garth Channel on SiriusXM.
While Brooks spent the majority of that concert paying homage to his favorite iconic country songs such as George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning” and entertaining the energetic crowd with hit after hit, he did take the time to welcome one of country music’s top vocalists, his wife Trisha Yearwood, to the stage for a debut performance of “Whiskey To Wine.”
“Anytime you sing with Ms. Yearwood, it’s going to be powerful,” Brooks says. “You’re always scared of how someone’s going to accept this new music, especially the older you get, so I felt very lucky at the reception we got.
“I love ‘Whiskey To Wine’,” Brooks continued. “Very much like the promise that I told people that I would keep, that’s the most Garth piece ever.” Brooks co-wrote the song with Wynn Varble and Bryan Kennedy. “It’s got a tribute to a George Jones/Tammy Wynette kind of approach on it. I was scared that it was too country, but they sure acted like they were fine with it.”
He says the new music is in response to fan feedback he’s received during current The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood. The tour launched with 11 sold-out shows at Chicago’s Allstate Arena, and is approaching five million tickets sold. The fan attendance over the past nearly two years matches the attendance of his previous tour, which ran from 1996-1998, before Brooks temporarily retired in 2001.
“I’m enjoying the talent Nashville has in my generation and the next generation,” he says. “I hope fans know that I heard them when during the whole first year of the tour they said, ‘Where’s your pen? Where’s Garth stuff?’ To tell the truth I was scared to death that hustle was gone. I hadn’t used it in 14 or 15 years, so you force yourself to hole up, probably since November, and just start writing. It’s been a wonderful process. Whether it’s any good or not, the people will be the deciding factor on that.”
Midtown Café Opens For Breakfast
/by Eric T. ParkerPhoto: facebook.com/MidtownCafeNash
Midtown Café owner Randy Rayburn has added breakfast service at the establishment, beginning Monday (Sept. 19). The restaurant is located near Music Row at 102 19th Ave. S.
To celebrate the launch, 10 percent of breakfast and lunch sales will be donated to various non-profits during the first week, including Brian Uhl Scholarship Fund to benefit the culinary students at the Randy Rayburn Culinary School at Nashville Community College (Monday), Our Kids (Tuesday), Project Return (Wednesday), Country Music Association Foundation (Thursday) and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (Friday).
Breakfast will be served Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., with limited breakfast service until 2:30 p.m. The new menu, currently under development, will include omelets, pancakes, French toast with apricot crème fraiche and a Wyoming-inspired dish of Tennessee trout stacked on a bed of fluffy scrambled eggs.
“In a constant effort to offer something new to the Nashville community, adding a sit down breakfast was a natural progression for us,” said Rayburn. “As with everything on our menu, breakfast will be a marriage of approachable morning favorites combined with an elevated composition. We know Nashville loves business breakfasts and morning social gatherings and our goal is to offer something for both.”
Soon to celebrate its 29th anniversary, the cafe continues weekly lunch service from 11 a.m.—4:30 p.m., and dinner Monday—Saturday.
Industry Ink: BMI, Unsigned Only, Williams & Ree
/by Craig_ShelburneBMI Songwriters Sing In South Dakota
Pictured (L-R): Wendell Mobley, Lee Thomas Miller
BMI songwriters Lee Thomas Miller and Wendell Mobley helped cap off the South Dakota Retailers Association (SDRA) Annual Golf Tournament with a performance on Monday (Sept. 12) in Rapid City. The Nashville songwriters told the stories behind their songs and sang hits they have written for the likes of Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw and Joe Nichols. The SDRA represents the interests of a variety of businesses in South Dakota including the retail, restaurant and hotel industries.
Nashville Songwriter Wins Unsigned Only Grand Prize
Ingrid Andress
Ingrid Andress, a Colorado native who now lives in Nashville, picked up the grand prize in the 2016 Unsigned Only Music Competition. She won for her song “Footprints,” which was selected from a panel of industry judges among nearly 6,000 submissions.
In addition to winning $20,000 in cash, Andress also receives one-on-one mentoring from executives from Atlantic, Warner Bros., RCA, Epic, Razor & Tie, Disney Music Group/Hollywood Records, Nettwerk Music Group, Black River Entertainment, and others.
Andress said, “You always hear about this happening to other people, but I never thought it would happen to me. It’s such an amazing and rare opportunity to have people care about you and your music. It’s very inspiring to feel supported by an organization who just want you to do well because of your music ability and your love for your art.”
Williams and Ree Earn Native American Music Award
Williams and Ree. Photo: Rock Tweten
Comedy/music duo Williams and Ree have been named Entertainer of the Year Award at the 16th annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA). The ceremony will take place on Saturday (Sept. 17) at the Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino Center in Salamanca, New York.
The duo is composed of Terry Ree, who has origins in the Sioux Tribe and is dubbed “The Indian,” and Bruce Williams, known as “The White Guy.” They will be highlighted for their comedic banter that uses the pair’s musical background to infuse their slapstick humor with catchy melodies to poke fun at stereotypes. Regulars on The Nashville Network in the 1980s and 1990s, they also host a number of country music festivals.
Tyler Farr Releases Lead Single From Upcoming Album
/by Craig_ShelburneTyler Farr
Columbia Nashville artist Tyler Farr released the single “Our Town” on Friday (Sept. 16). Written by Liz Rose, Nathan Chapman and Seth Ennis, the single impacts country radio on Sept. 26.
It’s the lead single from Farr’s upcoming third album, due early 2017. The project was produced by Jim Catino and Julian King, who also produced Farr’s first two albums for the label.
“It’s been an interesting year for me with having to take time off after my micro-laryngeal surgery, but taking that time not only was a huge benefit for my voice, it was a benefit to my spirit. I had time to think, actually sit down and watch the news and see what is happening out there,” says Farr.
He adds, “I saw that the world today isn’t the same one that I remember from my youth, back before I left my own hometown, and it got me thinking. Man, there’s a lot of anger, hate and straight-up disrespect for others that seems to show no end. That doesn’t sit well with me. Where did faith, hope and love go? In my town I see constant reminders of how life used to be, and I miss that. It’s not all bad, I still do see some good things happening and I hope with ‘Our Town’ my fans can take a second and share that feeling and conviction with me, because buddy it’s strong.”
In Pictures: Hunter Hayes, Chris Young, Dan + Shay, Cassadee Pope, Dustin Lynch, Gary Morris
/by Eric T. ParkerHunter Hayes Samples New Tracks With iHeart, SoundCloud
Pictured (L-R): Justin Cole, Zack Massey, Hunter, Jackie Tigue, Gator Harrison, Rod Phillips
Hunter Hayes recently played new music for iHeart in his personal studio. The singer also sampled three new titles on his SoundCloud for fans.
Chris Young Previews Life On The Road With SiriusXM
Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Storme Warren, Chris Young, Cassadee Pope, and Dustin Lynch. Photo: Courtesy Sony Music Nashville
Chris Young gave listeners a sneak peek of new music during an exclusive one-hour special on SiriusXM’s The Highway on Tuesday (Sept. 13). In addition to Young, the live event also featured solo acoustic performances and collaborations by the headliner’s tour mates Dan + Shay, Dustin Lynch and Cassadee Pope. The second leg of Young’s headlining I’m Comin’ Over Tour kicks off Sept. 29 in Bakersfield, California.
Webster Public Relations Signs Gary Morris
Pictured (L-R): Kirt Webster, President/CEO; Gary Morris
Webster Public Relations has signed Gary Morris to its publicity roster. The versatile performer enjoyed numerous hit records on country radio as well as the stage – where he became one of the first major country music performers to conquer Broadway in the 1980s, in the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. He also contributed to the production’s million-selling soundtrack. Morris also paired with Linda Ronstadt for a run of the Puccini opera La Boheme.
Morris signed a recording deal with Warner Brothers in 1980, and hit No. 8 with “Headed For A Heartache.” The success led to more hits, such as the 1984 CMA Song of the Year “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” Morris stayed at the top of the charts with “Baby Bye Bye,” “I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You,” “100% Chance Of Rain” and “Leave Me Lonely.” His single “Lasso The Moon” was featured in the motion picture Rustler’s Rhapsody, and his 1986 duet with Crystal Gayle, “Makin’ Up For Lost Time,” was included in the soundtrack to the 80s hit TV series Dallas. Morris’ acting career also included a stint in the ’80s with the Dynasty spinoff The Colbys.
Morris has spent the past few years touring.
Industry Ink: PLA Media, MV2 Entertainment, Deluge Music
/by Jessica NicholsonPLA Media Welcomes Alyssa Bonagura To Roster
Alyssa Bonagura
Public relations and marketing firm PLA Media has added Alyssa Bonagura to its roster as she prepares for the release of her upcoming album, Road Less Traveled, on iTunes on Sept. 23. Bonagura will perform at the ASCAP Shady Grove Stage presented by City Winery at Pilgrimage Music Festival, before holding her album release show at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on Sept. 28.
The Franklin, Tennessee native has had songs recorded by Steven Tyler (“I Make My Own Sunshine”), Jana Kramer (“Circles”), and Jessie James Decker (“Lights Down Low”).
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Alyssa, having known her since she was little,” said PLA Media President Pam Lewis. “I have always loved and believed in her parents, Kathie and Michael, both as professionals and people. She grew up on the road, along with a lot of hard work, the talent is in the genes! They raised a truly amazing woman and we look forward to great things.”
Nora Collins Preps First Single, “Recover”
MV2 Entertainment artist and SESAC-affiliated singer-songwriter Nora Collins‘ releases her self-titled EP to iTunes and Spotify on Friday (Sept. 16). The EP includes Collins’ first single, “Recover.” Collins co-wrote four tracks on the five-song EP, including the follow-up single “Guess I Woulda Known By Now,” which will release later this fall. Prior to signing with MV2 Entertainment, Collins self-released four albums.
“Recover” was co-produced by Tony Harrell and David Fanning.
Nora Collins EP track listing:
1. “Recover” (written by Sarah Turner, Terry McBride, David Fanning)
2. “Guess I Woulda Known By Now” (written by Nora Collins, John Kennedy)
3. “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” (written by Nora Collins, Jenee Fleenor, Buddy Owens)
4. “Miss Me Off The Whiskey” (written by Nora Collins, Buddy Owens)
5. “Go” (feat. Reid Isbell) (written by Nora Collins, Reid Isbell, Larry McCoy)
Deluge Music Signs Susan Ruth
Pictured (L-R): Stephanie Greene, Mark Friedman, Susan Ruth and David Robkin
Deluge Music has added Susan Ruth to its roster.
“Susan is an amazingly talented songwriter, most recent cuts include Reba and Lonestar to name just a few. We look forward to a very productive future with Susan” states Deluge Music President Mark Friedman.
Weekly Chart Report (9/16/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Loretta Lynn Returns With First Christmas Album Since 1966
/by Craig_ShelburneLoretta Lynn will issue a new holiday album, White Christmas Blue, on Oct. 7 via Legacy Recordings. She recorded the songs at Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with producers Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash.
Lynn co-wrote the title track with Shawn Camp, who also sings and plays guitar on the track. White Christmas Blue is her first collection of seasonal songs since 1966.
The 12 studio performances also include new versions of two original compositions (“Country Christmas” and “To Heck With Ole Santa Claus”) which first appeared on Country Christmas (1966); traditional carols (“Away in a Manger,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night”); and seasonal pop standards (“Winter Wonderland,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas”). The album concludes with Lynn’s heartfelt recitation of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Lynn released a new country album, Full Circle, on Legacy Recordings in March.
Exclusive: CMA’s Sarah Trahern Feels The Love In “Forever Country” Single
/by Craig_ShelburneCountry stations nationwide cleared a path for the all-star single “Forever Country” on Friday morning (Sept. 16). The CMA Board of Directors worked closely with radio stations for a “roadblock,” ensuring that fans couldn’t miss the milestone recording that commemorates the CMA Awards’ 50th anniversary on Nov. 2.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern tells MusicRow, “For us, country radio and the fans that listen to music on country radio are so key to the fabric for distributing our music. Starting the song there on a Friday is a great way to get some energy.”
Underscoring the importance of business relationships, she says, “I give incredible credit to our Board of Directors and the radio industry. Just like a couple of years ago when they all got together and decided to create a unified radio remote for the CMA Awards in the fall. It really came out of them. We took the track to them and said, ‘Let’s brainstorm some ideas.’”
Arranged by songwriter/producer Shane McAnally, the single is a medley of “On the Road Again,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Take Me Home Country Roads.” Thirty CMA Award winners, from several generations, lend their vocals to the single, with each artist singing a line or two.
“I think Shane McAnally is a genius and the way he was able to marry the three songs together makes it special,” Trahern says. “I mean, all of them are amazing songs. But when you weave the stories together and you think about some of those key lines—‘I’m on the road again, the life I love is making music with my friends,’ ‘I will always love you,’ ‘Country roads, take me home to the place I belong’ — together, those themes almost become a testament to our business. The life our artists spend on the road, their love for the fans, their love for the music.”
McAnally tells MusicRow, “While working on this project, I had to repeatedly pinch myself because this was truly beyond my wildest dreams. I have been obsessed and consumed with country music since I was 5 years old, and having the opportunity to collaborate with so many of my heroes is indescribable. This is truly a piece of history and I am honored to have been asked to contribute to anything that shines a light on this genre that has shaped my entire life.”
The single is being distributed by Universal Music Group Nashville. After the artists recorded their lines to the song, they returned to film their segments for a landmark music video that will be released on Tuesday (Sept. 20). Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards, the music video includes the following CMA Award winners: Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan,Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Vince Gill, Faith Hill,Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert,Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride,Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Trisha Yearwood.
During a CMA Board meeting nearly two years ago, BBC Radio’s Director of Music Bob Shennan showed a similar video that promoted BBC Music. That video sparked the idea to try a country version. Not coincidentally, the “Forever Country” video will be premiering in the United States and the United Kingdom simultaneously.
In February, Trahern met with director Joseph Kahn, who has won Grammys for his music video work on Emimem’s “Without Me” and Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar’s “Bad Blood.” She was joined by industry leaders Jason Owen (Sandbox Management), Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), Joanna Carter (Capitol Records Nashville) and Chandra LaPlume (Taillight TV). Trahern credits Kahn with the idea of mashing up three songs, rather than just focusing on one classic. All three of the songs selected were made famous by past CMA Entertainer of the Year winners.
“You can imagine how hard it was to come up with the three songs,” Trahern says. “It went into a couple of different iterations, and any of the iterations would have been amazing videos, but Shane made a great track and one of the things that I’m just so thankful for our artist community. … Our artists all appreciate the history of where they came from. All 30 artists that are in the video are CMA Award winners so they know the importance of what it means to be respected by your peers.”
With the exception of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, the artists all filmed their portions during CMA Music Festival in June.
Trahern recalls, “The artists were so excited and did such a great job, every time we ran into them at one of the stages, they’d say, ‘Oh, I love the video, I can’t wait!’ And if there were fans around, we had to help quash it a couple of times,” Trahern says. “That’s been such a great problem to have happen because I’m just so proud of how our industry engaged with the project from Day One.”
To listen to “Forever Country,” visit Spotify.