Jessie Jo Dillon Signs With Big Machine Music

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Pictured (L-R): Back Row – BMM’s Senior Director Publishing Alex Heddle; Front Row – BMM’s Assistant Publishing Jillian Whitefield, Jessie Jo Dillon, BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar Photo courtesy of Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music has signed Jessie Jo Dillon to an exclusive co-publishing agreement. Dillon earned a Grammy nomination in 2011 in the Best Song Category for her first-ever cut, George Strait’s “The Breath You Take,” a song she co-wrote with Casey Beathard and her father, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Dean Dillon.

Dillon co-wrote “Girl Next Door,” “Daughter” and “You Can Come Over” with Brandy Clark for her latest album as well as “Rich” with Maren Morris for her CD Hero. George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Nettles and more, have also all recorded Jessie Jo’s songs, and she joins a roster that includes Jonathan Singleton, Laura Veltz and Josh Thompson, among others.

“While Jessie Jo has felt like family to our team for a long time, we are honored that she chose us to represent her and her songs,” said BMM’s VP/GM Publishing Mike Molinar. “She is a special songwriter who has a magical ability to craft a song that resonates with everyone.”

“I am over the moon to be joining the Big Machine Music tribe alongside some of my favorite songwriters and publishers,” said Dillon. “Mike and the Big Machine Music team have always been big believers in me and my writing so this really feels like coming home.”

Nashville Presenters Announced For Sunday’s Grammy Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Rhett

Presenters for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards telecast will include three-time Grammy winner and current nominee Kelly Clarkson; three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw and five-time Grammy winner Faith Hill; and current Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett.

Taking place at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by James Corden, the awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Additional presenters include five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion; singer/songwriter Jason Derulo; current Grammy nominee Halsey; singer/ songwriter Camila Cabello; current Grammy nominees The Chainsmokers; actress Laverne Cox; pop/funk band DNCE; actress Taraji P. Henson; actress/model Paris Jackson; previous Grammy nominee Nick Jonas; previous Grammy nominee Jennifer Lopez; singer/songwriter Katharine McPhee; two-time Grammy winners and current Grammy nominees Pentatonix; actress Gina Rodriguez; TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; current Grammy nominee Solange; and previous Grammy nominee and actor John Travolta.

Previously announced performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sturgill Simpson, Gary Clark Jr., Adele, William Bell, Chance The Rapper, Daft Punk, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Tori Kelly, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Lukas Graham, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Anderson .Paak, Katy Perry, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Weeknd.

The 59th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Webster PR to Host Third Annual Legendary Lunch

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Webster Public Relations will be presenting their Legendary Lunch event Feb. 22 at the Hilton Downtown. Now in its third year, the luncheon gives radio reps and the media an opportunity to mix and mingle with over 30 legendary country acts in the same room, including Bill Anderson, Roy Clark, John Conlee, Crystal Gayle, Brenda Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Tanya Tucker and more.

Bill Cody of WSM-AM will be broadcasting live from the Legendary Lunch and will be simulcast on the Heartland Network, and media are invited to attend the red carpet arrival and press conference held prior to the lunch.

“We are honored to team with Webster Public Relations to present the 3rd Annual Legendary Lunch,” said Chris Kulick, WSM General Manager. “I know that 650 AM WSM listeners and Heartland viewers will continue to embrace these legendary and iconic artists, as they have for many years!”

Weekly Chart Report (2/10/17)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

UMG Nashville Reveals “Team UMG At The Ryman” Lineup

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A star-studded lineup has been revealed for Universal Music Group Nashville’s “Team UMG at the Ryman” at CRS 2017, to be held Feb. 23, 2017 at the Ryman Auditorium. This year’s performers are Lauren Alaina, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton, Josh Tuner, and Keith Urban.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the show will start at Noon. As in previous years, seminar registrants will receive a boxed lunch prior to the event. CRS attendees will have the option to either walk or use shuttles, provided by UMG Nashville, going from the Omni Hotel to the Ryman Auditorium between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, Mike Dungan comments, “The box lunches aren’t anything to write home about, but the show is fantastic! Always the most anticipated event at CRS, we will see you there!”

To review more of this year’s agenda, please visit countryradioseminar.com.

ASCAP Announces Songwriters Selected for 2017 GPS Project

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Pictured, Front row (L-R): ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, GPS Project songwriters Madeleine, Emma Place, Rob Carona and Tommy Kratzert, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad. Back row (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, GPS Project songwriters Ian Christian, Martin McDaniel, Lainey Wilson and Katie Cole, and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart. Not pictured: GPS Project songwriters Anna Vaus, Madeleine Slate, Robyn Collins and Blake Griffith, and ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe. [Click photo to enlarge]

The ASCAP Nashville creative team has announced the songwriters selected for the 6th annual ASCAP GPS Project. The GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) program showcases songwriters the creative team has identified as ready or very close to being ready for a publishing deal. Over the course of the year, the writers will be paired with publishers who will listen and critique their songs, and then participate in a follow-up meeting to help develop the writer and solidify the relationship. By the end of the year, the writer will have met with at least five publishers. In 2016, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Robert Filhart added a GPS Project writers retreat and a songwriters round to the program, which will continue in 2017.

The ASCAP GPS Project class of 2017 includes songwriters Rob Carona, Ian Christian, Katie Cole, Robyn Collins, Blake Griffith, Tommy Kratzert, Madeleine, Martin McDaniel, Emma Place, Madeleine Slate, Anna Vaus and Lainey Wilson.

The publishers participating in the 2017 ASCAP GPS Project include Writers Den, Disney Music Publishing, BMG, Big Machine, This Music, Wrensong, Black River, Big Yellow Dog, Sea Gayle, King Pen Music, Razor and Tie and Sony ATV.

Lance Carpenter Joins BMI

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Pictured (L-R): Mandolin Entertainment’s Mandi Dixon, Parallel Entertainment’s Tim Hunze and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Seated: BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter.

Newly-signed BMI songwriter Lance Carpenter stopped by the company’s Nashville office to celebrate on Feb. 9. Carpenter has several cuts, including the Kelsea Ballerini chart-topper “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

The singer-songwriter is signed to Parallel Entertainment for publishing and Mandolin Entertainment for artist management.

Still Working Music, Big Deal Music Sign Dylan Altman

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Pictured (L-R): Dale Bobo (Big Deal), Chuck Fleckenstein (Still Working), Sara Beal (Still Working), Alex Orbison (Still Working), Dylan Altman, Pete Robinson (Big Deal), Chelsea Kent (Still Working), Tommy Lee James (Still Working), Greg Gallo (Big Deal). [Click photo to enlarge.]

Still Working Music and Big Deal Music have signed hit songwriter Dylan Altman. Dylan has had top charting songs with Jake Owen (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night”), Jason Aldean (“Take A Little Ride”), and Tim McGraw (“Watch The Wind Blow By”). He has also had cuts with artists such as Chase Bryant, Eli Young Band, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, and others.

“I’ve long viewed Dylan Altman as ‘one of ours’ even when he wasn’t, just because he so often was penning great songs with our other Still Working writers. It is an honor to now add Dylan and his immense writing skill to our Still Working roster – doing so with the superb team over at Big Deal is the cherry on the top. Welcome Dylan Altman!” says Alex Orbison, President of Still Working Music.

“All of us at Big Deal are huge fans of both Dylan and the folks at Still Working. We look forward to a long, fun and successful partnership,” says Pete Robinson, SR VP/GM Big Deal Music Nashville.

Still Working Music was founded in 1990 by Barbara Orbison and is now run by her sons, Alex Orbison (President) and Roy Orbison, Jr. (Co-President). Its catalog includes hits by Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Lost Frequencies. Still Working Music’s extensive catalog also contains cuts by One Direction, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Easton Corbin, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, and Joe Walsh.

Current Still Working Music writers are Tommy Lee James, Gordie Sampson, Jon Randall, Ryan Lafferty, Chase Bryant, Derrick Southerland, Matt Nolen, and Alana Springsteen.

Big Deal Music has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.

Donovan Woods to Release New EP March 3

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Donovan Woods is releasing his new four-song digital EP They Are Going Away, on March 3.

The Warner/Chappell writer has penned songs Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Charlie Worsham and Charles Kelley, who recorded his song “Leaving Nashville” for his solo CD. The lead track on Woods’ new project, “What They Mean,” was penned with Kelley and is a response to a curious child in the backseat of a car who is listening carefully to the car radio.

“The songs are about coping with loss, and wholesale changes, that sort of thing,” offers Woods. “The title, I suppose, is trying to get at the temporariness of everything. Time speeds up when you get older, that’s an observable fact. It starts to feel like you’re always chasing some ineffable thing. It’s why your dad often had a slightly bewildered look in his eyes.”

In support of the release, Woods will embark on an 11-city Northeastern tour with Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), which includes stops in Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, New York, Richmond, and Boston, among others.

TRACKLISTING:
What They Mean
It’ll Work Itself Out
Drove Through Town
Empty Rooms

DisClaimer: Blake Shelton, Lari White Offer Top New Tracks

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The guys and gals competed head to head this week.

The ladies were paced by the superbly diverse new collection by Lari White. And two of them tied for the DisCovery Award. That would be Arista Manning and Kristi Warner.

As for the fellows, they fielded quite a team to compete against Lari for Disc of the Day. Her challengers included Marty Stuart, Travis Rice, Kane Brown, Randy Thompson and our winner, Blake Shelton.

SOUTHERN HALO/Living Like That
Writers: Nathan Dale Stoops/Paul Taylor/Benjamin Francis Harris/Aubrey Felice Collins; Publishers: Tunes of RPM/Paul Taylor/Music of RPM, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; Producers: Cat Gravitt & Gerald O’Brien; Southern Halo (track)
-This female trio rocks out on a rapid-tempo ode to living life in the fast lane. Feisty and fun.

 
KEITH URBAN & CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Fighter
Writer: Keith Urban/busbee; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Mary Rose/7189 Music/BMG Rights, BMI; Producer: busbee & Keith Urban; Capitol Nashville
-This pop-music duet features electronic beats and processed vocals. It is nicely composed, with her asking questions about their love and him responding with assurances of strength, fidelity and endurance.

Youtube video

 
RANDY THOMPSON/Midnight Blue
Writers: Randy Thompson; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Sean Russell; RTB (track)
-Ringing guitars, an echoey atmosphere, a super melody and a solid, manly vocal are the calling cards here. This guy has the goods.

KANE BROWN & LAUREN ALAINA/What Ifs
Writers: Kane Brown/Matthew McGinn/Jordan Schmidt; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Dann Huff; RCA Nashville (track)
– Nicely done. The craftsmanship in the songwriting is top notch, and his baritone vocal is packed with personality. The swirling melody and the dense production are the icing on this tasty cake. The female accompanying voice belongs to Lauren Alaina.

Youtube video

 
KRISTI WARNER/Gravity
Writers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Fred Vail; KW (track)
– The title tune of this gal’s CD is a driving, forceful, uptempo tune that she delivers like a pro. I like the little falsetto soprano embellishments in her phrasing on the choruses as well as her straightforward drawl in the verses. Promising.

 
LARI WHITE/Moonshine
Writers: Tom Bukovac/Lari White; Publishers: SWG, BMI; Producer: Lari White; Skinny WhiteGirl Music (track)
– Lari’s first new collection in 13 years is a double CD titled Old Friends / New Loves. One disc contains imaginative reinterpretations of her 1990s hits (”Now I Know,” “That’s My Baby,” “Lead Me Not,” “That’s How You Know,” etc.). The New Loves disc showcases her new songwriting accomplishments, including this moody, multi-tracked, swampy delight. Haunting, compelling and completely captivating. The album drops tomorrow. Get it.

 
TRAVIS RICE/Don’t Waste The Rain
Writers: Travis Rice; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; Producer: Noah Henson; TR
– This former DisCovery Award winner is back, this time with a sexy, romantic ballad. It’s raining. He’s horny. And he’s calling her at work with a come-on to come home. A steamy video accompanying this can be seen on his website.

 
BLAKE SHELTON/Every Time I Hear That Song
Writers: Aimee Mayo/Chris Lindsey/Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Publisher: Warner Tamerlane/The Queen of Dot Dot Dot/Universal/Chris Lindsey’s Songs/EMI Blackwood/Sagequinnjude/Famlove, BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Warner Bros. (track)
– The romance may be over, but a song can bring back its memory in an instant. Blake sings with heartfelt intensity and the song’s solid structure gives Scott’s production enough space to move around in. Listenable in the extreme.

Youtube video

 
ARISTA MANNING/Ride This Night
Writer: Phillip James Roselle/Andrew Rollins/Nicole Scott; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Steve Pope; AM (track)
– The title tune of her debut EP is a rushing wind of energy with some very clever audio gimmicks in the production. Her soaring delivery is a burst of brightly smiling sunshine. I just have one question: Did her parents name her after a record company?

MARTY STUART/Whole Lotta Highway
Writer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Mike Campbell; Superlatone (track)
– The advance single from Marty’s forthcoming Way Out West collection (due March 10) is a rolling, wide-open-road song that sports silvery steel work, a splendidly thumping country-rock rhythm track and smooth-groove harmony vocals by his Fabulous Superlatives. I remain an enormous fan.