In Pictures: Post Monroe, Kenny Chesney, Ryan Follese, Blake Shelton

Post Monroe Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher (Vice President, General Manager at Grand Ole Opry) Whitney Duncan, Shelby McLeod, Lorrie Morgan, Ashlee Hewitt. Photo: Chris Hollo

Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher (Vice President, General Manager at Grand Ole Opry) Whitney Duncan, Shelby McLeod, Lorrie Morgan, Ashlee Hewitt. Photo: Chris Hollo

Trio Post Monroe recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut on June 18. The group performed their current single, “Red Hot American Summer” on the Opry stage, and were joined backstage by Opry member Lorrie Morgan.

Kenny Chesney Spreads The Love to 41,000 Fans In Milwaukee

Pictured (L-R): Dawn Faust, Columbia’s Shane Allen, KWNR Las Vegas JoJo Turnbeaugh, Rachel Houselander, WMIL Milwaukee Kerry Wolfe, Mary Turnbeaugh, Midwest Communication’s Jeff McCarthy, Kenny, Maurice Miner, Tom Baldrica, Columbia’s Bo Martinovich, and Morris-Higham’s Scot Michaels.

Pictured (L-R): Dawn Faust, Columbia’s Shane Allen, KWNR Las Vegas JoJo Turnbeaugh, Rachel Houselander, WMIL Milwaukee Kerry Wolfe, Mary Turnbeaugh, Midwest Communication’s Jeff McCarthy, Kenny Chesney, Maurice Miner, Tom Baldrica, Columbia’s Bo Martinovich, and Morris-Higham’s Scot Michaels.

Kenny Chesney’s 14-stadium Spread the Love Tour continues spreading the records. Chesney brought his music to Milwaukee’s Miller Park with 41,342 members of the No Shoes Nation in attendance for Chesney’s show with Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and Old Dominion.

 

BMLG’s Ryan Follese Brings New Single to SiriusXM

Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen, SiriusXM Sr. Director of Programming J.R. Schumann, Ryan Follese, SiriusXM On-Air Personality Buzz Brainard and Switched On Entertainment President & CEO John Hamlin

Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen, SiriusXM Sr. Director of Programming J.R. Schumann, Ryan Follese, SiriusXM On-Air Personality Buzz Brainard and Switched On Entertainment President & CEO John Hamlin

Newly signed Big Machine Label Group artist Ryan Follese visited SiriusXM’s The Highway to celebrate the launch of his single “Float Your Boat.” The celebration continued that day at Nashville’s Margaritaville, with a special Happy Hour live performance.

Ryan Follese getting the weekend started while performing “Float Your Boat” for the Music Row Happy Hour crowd on SiriusXM’s The Highway

Ryan Follese getting the weekend started while performing “Float Your Boat” for the Music Row Happy Hour crowd on SiriusXM’s The Highway.

Blake Shelton Welcomes Gwen Stefani For Country Jam Performance

Gwen Stefani helps Blake Shelton celebrate his 40th Birthday at 25th Anniversary Country Jam joining him onstage to perform their song "Go Ahead And Break My Heart." Photo: Joshua Timmermans / Country Jam

Gwen Stefani helps Blake Shelton celebrate his 40th Birthday at 25th Anniversary Country Jam joining him onstage to perform their song “Go Ahead And Break My Heart.” Photo: Joshua Timmermans / Country Jam

Blake Shelton celebrated his 40th birthday with a performance at the 25th Anniversary Country Jam. During his two-hour set, he welcomed pop artist Gwen Stefani to perform their song “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” featured on Shelton’s If I’m Honest album.

 

Farm Aid Reveals Lineup For Concert In Bristow, Virginia

Farm Aid image

Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Alabama Shakes and Sturgill Simpson will headline Farm Aid 2016. The music and food festival will take place at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia, on Sept. 17.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Jamey Johnson, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Carlene Carter and Insects vs Robots are also on the bill.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday (June 27).

“Folks are educating themselves about where and how food is grown—they’re hungry for the truth,” said Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson. “Family farmers bring us good food, protect our soil and water, and strengthen our country. The Farm Aid concert is a day for us to honor that truth and keep working for family farmers.”

“Music and food have an incredible power to bring people together,” said Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar. “Farm Aid is a day that illustrates the diversity and strength of the Good Food Movement. At Farm Aid 2016, we’ll join forces and raise our voices for a farm and food system that is good for people and communities, not just for the profits of a few.”

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid’s annual concerts raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food.

Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $50 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Meghan Linsey Signs Management Deal With Pennington Entertainment

Meghan Linsey. Photo:

Meghan Linsey. Photo:

Meghan Linsey, formerly of the duo Steel Magnolia and a contestant on The Voice, has signed with artist management company Pennington Entertainment.

Led by veteran music executive and CEO Shawn Pennington, the company also represents Thompson Square, Parmalee and newcomer Casee Allen.

“Meghan’s uniquely powerful, soulful, and distinctive voice have put her in a class all her own,” says Pennington. “There is incredible new music on the horizon and a soon-to-be announced opportunity that will highlight her amazing talents and extend her brand into a whole new space! Our team is honored that she chose Pennington Entertainment for her new home. We could not be more excited!”

“I am so thrilled to be working with Shawn and the Pennington Entertainment team,” says Linsey. “I have been doing everything independently for a while now, so it’s exciting to be able to focus more on the creative side of what I do. I believe that Shawn’s experience and knowledge of the business will only make myself and my small, creative team stronger. This feels like a great partnership and I’m looking forward to doing big things together.”

Musicians Corner Announces Summer 2016 Lineup

MCSummer

Blind Boys of Alabama, Lera Lynn, Holly Williams, Robbie Fulks, Jon McLaughlin and more will be part of the Musicians Corner lineup for its Summer 2016 season, which will launch Saturday, Aug. 6. Additional summer season shows will follow on Aug. 13, 20, 27, and Sept. 3.

“We have not hosted events in August since 2010,” said John Tumminello, Executive Director. “We’re bringing back summertime music in the park with an incredible lineup of talented artists.”

Saturday, Aug. 6 will feature performances from Blind Boys of Alabama, AJ Ghent Band, Matt Brown and Dwan Hill. Aug. 13 will include a lineup of Lynn, McLaughlin, The Sisterhood (Alyssa Bonagura & Ruby Stewart), and The Daybreaks.

Williams, Tony Lucca, Christian Lopez Band and Mocha will perform Aug. 20, while Aug. 27 features the Logan’s Roadhouse Presents-ASCAP Artist Showcase, featuring Ruby Amanfu, Fulks, The Bundys and more.

Andrew Ripp and Vanderbilt Melodores are among the performers slated for Sept. 3.

Events will take place each day from noon to 5 p.m. in Musicians Corner’s permanent home in Centennial Park, and will include food trucks, Dogville activities and services, local artisans, Musicians Corner Pub, and Kidsville activities.

Musicians Corner’s Spring 2016 season continues on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 with performances from The Jayhawks, Dom Flemons, Griffin House and more.

Kip Moore Brings Jon Pardi For Me And My Kind Tour

unnamedKip Moore will headline the Me and My Kind Tour with special guest Jon Pardi this fall. The tour launches Sept. 30 in Oklahoma City.

Moore will also headline Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater for The Big 98’s annual Guitar-B-Que on Aug. 10, a live concert and guitar auction to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“Being out on the road is where me and the band feel most at home,” said Moore. “Even though we’ve been nonstop already this year with the headlining shows in The UK and the Miranda tour, it just doesn’t feel natural to slow down, our live show is when we are in our element. I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to test some new material that we’ve been working on out on the road and having Jon out with us too, I’m sure we’re going to get into some trouble out there.”

Me and My Kind Tour Dates:

Sept. 30: Oklahoma City
Oct. 1: Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 6: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Oct. 8: Toledo, Michigan
Oct. 13: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Oct. 20: Boston
Oct. 21: Pittsburgh
Oct. 27: Bemidji, Minnesota
Oct. 28: St. Paul, Minnesota
Nov. 10: Atlanta
Nov. 11: Birmingham, Alabama
Nov. 12: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Nov. 17: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Nov. 18: Peoria, Illinois
Nov. 19: Kansas City, Missouri
Dec. 1: New York City
Dec. 3: Philadelphia
Dec. 8: Detroit

Nashville Songwriters And Artists Add Signatures To DMCA Petition

Screen Shot 2016-06-20 at 1.25.40 PM

A number of Nashville’s top songwriters and recording artists have banded with musicians from all genres to urge lawmakers to reform the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The call to action is part of an ad that is running in Washington D.C. magazines The Hill, Politico, and Roll Call. The DMCA was enacted in 1998.

Under the DMCA, record labels and publishing companies are responsible for approaching website owner/operators to take down pirated music that they have illegally made available on their sites. It was signed into law during the era of dial-up internet and static websites, a time before music streaming and downloads had a dominant impact on the sale of music.

Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Jack White, Liz Rose, Luke Laird, Brett James, Kings of Leon, Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Kip Moore, Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Martina McBride, Hunter Hayes and Vince Gill are among those who have added their names in support. More than 180 songwriters and artists have called for a reform of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act through the letter. Several artists signed a petition on April 1 regarding the same subject.

Nineteen music industry organizations join the artists in support and include: A2IM, AFM, ASCAP, Azoff Music, BMI, Global Music Rights, Kobalt, NARAS, NMPA, NSAI, RIAA, SESAC, Sony/ATV, Sony Music, SoundExchange, Universal Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell and Warner Music Group.

“This is a historic moment in the music business,” says Irving Azoff, chairman and CEO of Azoff MSG Entertainment. “This diverse group of artists coming together illustrates that this is a movement, which should not be underestimated.  In all my years, this is the only time I can remember everyone—artists, songwriters, managers, labels, publishers, PROs—agreeing and collectively calling for change.  This is just the beginning.  The entire industry is united and committed to pursuing a fair resolution. We are fighting for the future.”

The petition comes as many major labels are in discussions to renew their licensing deals with YouTube. The U.S. Copyright Office is also studying the DMCA’s safe harbors, while the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is reviewing copyright law.

The ad reads:

DEAR CONGRESS:THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT (DMCA) IS BROKEN AND NO LONGER WORKS FOR CREATORS

As songwriters and artists who are a vital contributing force to the U.S. and to American exports around the world, we are writing to express our concern about the ability of the next generation of creators to earn a living. The existing laws threaten the continued viability of songwriters and recording artists to survive from the creation of music. Aspiring creators shouldn’t have to decide between making music and making a living. Please protect them.

One of the biggest problems confronting songwriters and recording artists today is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This law was written and passed in an era that is technologically out-of-date compared to the era in which we live. It has allowed major tech companies to grow and generate huge profits by creating ease of use for consumers to carry almost every recorded song in history in their pocket via a smartphone, while songwriters’ and artists’ earnings continue to diminish. Music consumption has skyrocketed, but the monies earned by individual writers and artists for that consumption has plummeted.

The DMCA simply doesn’t work. It’s impossible for tens of thousands of individual songwriters and artists to muster the resources necessary to comply with its application. The tech companies who benefit from the DMCA today were not the intended protectorate when it was signed into law nearly two decades ago. We ask you to enact sensible reform that balances the interests of creators with the interests of the companies who exploit music for their financial enrichment. It’s only then that consumers will truly benefit.

 

Big Machine Label Group Adds Becca Walls For Big Machine Radio

Becca Walls

Becca Walls

Becca Walls has been hired by Big Machine Label Group as Manager, Content and Host for Big Machine Radio.

Walls broadcasts a daily show on Big Machine Radio from Nashville in addition to live, on-location events such as the CMT Awards and Live From CMA Music Festival.

Big Machine Radio is a commercial-free, digital station featuring exclusive content from BMLG recording artists and is available on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and BigMachineRadio.com.

Walls previously hosted a midday show at WKDF/NASH-FM for 16 years.

“We all know what a professional Becca is at including the listener’s perspective as she interacts with the artists. With Becca, we will able to take full advantage of all the amazing content the BMLG team and artists provide,” said Dave Kelly, Director of Strategic Research. “We are continuing to grow access points for Big Machine Radio and are in the process of launching other forms of direct to consumer content delivery. Becca is the perfect person for the future of what we are building.”

“I am beyond excited to be part of the innovative and hard-working team at BMLG in a position that combines my passion for radio with my love of music and interviewing artists,” said Walls. “The opportunity to be creative and put all my skill sets to use is a dream scenario for me. In addition, I have always had a great respect for Scott Borchetta and am thrilled to be reunited with Dave Kelly, who was my OM/PD for several years at Citadel/Cumulus Nashville.”

Walls can be reached at becca.walls@bmlg.net  or at 615-574-7834.

Carrie Underwood, Co-Writers Tackle New ‘Sunday Night Football’ Theme For NBC

Carrie Underwood.

Carrie Underwood.

Carrie Underwood and three co-writers have rewritten the hit “Somethin’ Bad” into “Oh, Sunday Night,” the new theme for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Incorporating country, rock and pop, Underwood has recorded the new version for the upcoming season.

The original “Somethin’ Bad” was a Grammy-nominated 2014 single for Underwood and Miranda Lambert. Underwood worked with original “Somethin’ Bad” co-writers Chris DeStefano, Brett James and Priscilla Renea to update the song. The result, “Oh, Sunday Night,” was produced by Mark Bright and DeStefano.

“I love being part of the Sunday Night Football family and can’t wait for the fans to hear the new theme song,” said Underwood, who is in her fourth season performing the open for NBC.

“We’re excited to kick off our second decade of Sunday Night Football on NBC with a new opening theme,” said Fred Gaudelli, Executive Producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football. “Earlier this offseason, Carrie said she had a special idea for a new SNF open song. When we got into the recording studio in Nashville, the song instantly came to life, and will be a dynamic addition to our show.”

The Cadillac Three’s ‘Bury Me In My Boots’ Track List Revealed

The Cadillac Three

The Cadillac Three enlisted a bevy of Nashville’s top songwriters for their Aug. 5 release, Bury Me In My Boots.

While band members Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason and Kelby Ray each contributed writing credits to the 14 tracks on the Big Machine Records project, they also brought in writers including Corey Crowder, Jesse Frasure, Luke Laird, Brent Anderson, Jerrod Niemann, Jimmy Robbins, Ryan Hurd, Lindsay Rimes, Jon Nite, and Andrew Dorff.

Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and Mike Eli join on the band’s previous single, “The South,” which is included on the project. The Cadillac Three produced seven of the tracks on Bury Me in My Boots, with the other seven tracks produced by Dann Huff and Justin Niebank.

Bury Me in My Boots Track Listing
1. “Bury Me In My Boots”** (Kelby Ray Caldwell, Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason)
2. “Slide” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Lindsay Rimes)
3. “Drunk Like You”** (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Jesse Frasure)
4. “Graffiti” (Neil Mason, Corey Crowder, Luke Dick)
5. “Buzzin’”** (Jaren Johnston, Luke Laird)
6. “Party Like You”** (Jaren Johnston, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins)
7. “Ship Faced” (Jaren Johnston, Brent Anderson, Jerrod Niemann)
8. “Soundtrack to a Six Pack”** (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Benjamin Cashatt)
9. “White Lightning”** (Jaren Johnston)
10. “The South” (feat. Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli)** (Jaren Johnston)
11. “This Accent” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Jimmy Robbins)
12. “Peace Love & Dixie” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Ryan Hurd)
13. “Hot Damn” (Kelby Ray Caldwell, Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Andrew Dorff)
14. “Runnin’ Red Lights”** (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason)

Produced by The Cadillac Three
**Produced by Dann Huff and Justin Niebank

Weekly Register: Brandy Clark, Frankie Ballard Make Top 10 Debuts

Brandy Clark

Brandy Clark

Superb singer-songwriter Brandy Clark and soulful rocker Frankie Ballard make solid debuts this week on the country albums chart. Clark’s Big Day In A Small Town debuts at No. 8 country (No. 84 overall), selling 7.4K. Meanwhile, Ballard’s El Rio debuts at No. 9 country, with 6.7K.

Also making a big debut is the latest Now That’s What I Call Country compilation, which lands at No. 3 country and No. 28 overall, with 15.5K sold.

Just outside the Top 10 is Cold River Records artist Drew Baldridge‘s Dirt On Us, which lands at No. 11 country, selling 5.7K. Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle’s Colvin & Earle enters at No. 13 wit 5.6K albums sold.

Blake Shelton‘s If I’m Honest holds the top spot on the country chart with 22K sold, followed by Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller at No. 2 with 20K sold. Keith Urban‘s Ripcord lands at No. 4, with 12K sold this week, while Dierks Bentley‘s Black rounds out the Top 5 with 11.5K sold.

El Rio

Drake‘s Views remains atop the overall albums chart, with combined units of 121K. Of that number, 27K are albums, while the remainder factors in single-song downloads and streams. Following the Tony Awards on June 12, Hamilton, the Original Broadway Cast album rises to No. 3 this week, with 45K sold and combined units totaling 61.5K.

Also on the overall chart is the debut of Little Big Town‘s pop project with Pharrell, Wanderlust, which debuted at No. 105 overall, with 6.5K combined units in its debut week.

Overall album sales have decreased 13.3 percent YTD, while overall digital album sales have decreased 18.1 percent. Country album sales have decreased 5.1 percent YTD, while country digital sales have declined 12.2 percent.

Florida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line

On the country tracks rankings, Florida Georgia Line‘s “H.O.L.Y.” remains atop the list, with 72K sold this week. Tim McGraw‘s “Humble and Kind” follows with 32K, along with Dan+Shay‘s “From The Ground Up” at No. 3 (26K), Carrie Underwood‘s “Church Bells”  at No. 4 (25K), and Luke Bryan‘s “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day” at No. 5 (23K).

The top country track debut this week is Todd Crisley & Sara Evans‘ “Infinite Love,” which sold 12K to land at No. 19 country and No. 67 overall.

Justin Timberlake‘s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” stays atop the overall tracks sales charts, with 124K sold this week, and 1.175 million sold to date.

Overall track sales have diminished 24 percent YTD, while country track sales have declined 21.5 percent.