Cyndi Lauper kicked off her Detour Tour at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Monday evening, May 9, launching her 27-city trek across the United States and Europe.
She began the show with “Funnel of Love,” the first track on her new album and took the audience on a musical journey through her latest project offerings intertwining both new and old material. While “detouring,” her performances of classic country standards from her latest project included “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “The End Of The World,” “Heartaches by the Number,” and “Misty Blue.”
Her performance of “Money Changes Everything” brought the crowd to their feet with the audience gladly singing along to her hit tunes that followed, including “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and “Time After Time” before closing out the show with an encore of “True Colors.”
With this being the first stop of the tour, Lauper admitted she was still “working some of the kinks out” but the audience didn’t mind at all.
Fans have the opportunity to donate to the True Colors Fund and a chance to win exclusives, including a dinner with Cyndi Lauper backstage. Lauper is playing select dates during the DETOUR tour with Boy George, including the June 1 Vienna, Va. show, where the winning donation will have an opportunity to meet the artists backstage, have dinner with Lauper among other perks. The True Colors Fund, an organization co-founded by Lauper, works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. To donate and enter for chances to win exclusives, click here.
Afterwards, Lauper visited with music industry members at a private reception at the Ryman.
MusicRow Publisher Sherod Robertson visits with Lauper at a private industry reception following her Ryman show.
Lauper’s country album Detour, which released May 6, includes her renditions of several classic tunes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Detour features guest appearances from Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Jewel and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville with many of the city’s top session players.
She visited MusicRow earlier this year to discuss her new album and tour.
CYNDI LAUPER DETOUR TOUR:
*denotes shows with Boy George
May 9 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
May 11 Palace Theatre – Louisville, Ky.
May 13 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14 Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 16 Chicago Theater – Chicago, Ill.
May 17 Hard Rock Live – Cleveland, Ohio
May 20 Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, Conn.*
May 21 Wang Theater – Boston, Mass.*
May 25 Beacon Theater – New York, Ny.*
May 28 Sands Bethlehem Event Center – Bethlehem, Pa.*
May 29 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City, N.J.*
June 1 Wolf Trap – Vienna, Va.*
June 2 Charleston Music Hall Charleston, S.C.
June 4 Duke Energy Center Raleigh, N.C.
June 5 Symphony Hall – Atlanta, Ga.
June 8 Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla.
June 9 Dr. Phillips Center – Orlando, Fla.
June 11 Mizner Park Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, Fla.
June 12 St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Fla.
Sept. 10 ACL Live at Moody Theater – Austin, Texas
Sept. 11 Revention Music Center – Houston, Texas
Sept. 13 Civic Center Music Hall – Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sept. 15 Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 18 Paramount Theatre – Denver, Colo.
Sept. 20 The Depot – Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept. 21 Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical – Boise, Idaho
Sept. 23 Thunder Valley Casino Resort – Lincoln, Calif.
Sept. 24 Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Sept. 27 Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, Calif.
Sept. 28 Arlington Theatre – Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sept. 30 The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, Calif.
Oct. 3 Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay – San Diego, Calif.
Oct. 5 Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, Calif.
Oct. 7 Talking Stick Resort Ballroom – Scottsdale, Ariz.
Oct. 8 The Joint – Las Vegas, Nev.
In Pictures: Gospel Music Association Honors
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (Back, L-R): Jason Nelon, Howard Rachinski, Hezekiah Walker. (Front, L-R): Kelly Nelon, Autumn Nelon, Amber Nelon. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA
Hezekiah Walker, Howard Rachinski, The Nelons and Russ Taff were inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame, on Tuesday, May 10.
The induction was part of GMA Foundation’s annual GMA Honors celebration, held at Lipscomb University in Nashville.
Pictured (L-R): Jason Crabb, Russ Taff. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA
The event also honored individuals and organizations that are impacting our culture both past and present. This year’s honorees were Catherine Brewton for Hope for Harvest, Jars of Clay for Blood: Water Mission, Michael W. Smith for Rocketown, and the Gospel Music Trust Fund.
Pictured (L-R): Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Michael W. Smith. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA)
The event featured special tributes and performances by Amy Grant, Donald Lawrence, Donnie McClurkin, Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Jason Crabb, JJ Hairston, Jordan Smith, Michael English, Richard Smallwood, Selah, Travis Cottrell and Tye Tribbett.
Hillary Scott. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for GMA
A special broadcast of the GMA Honors will air June 5 at 7 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. CT and June 8 at 6 p.m. PT/8 p.m. CT on JUCE TV.
Kelsea Ballerini Confirmed For Musicians On Call Benefit
/by Craig_ShelburneKelsea Ballerini and special guests Jon Pardi and Levi Hummon are confirmed for the NASH Country Kick-Off Party on Tuesday, June 7, at 8 p.m. at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville. The announcement was made by Cumulus Media, which owns the NASH brand and media network, on Wednesday morning (May 11).
The show will benefit the non-profit organization Musicians On Call, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Pre-sale tickets are now available to Kelsea Ballerini’s fan club members and Jon Pardi’s fan club members. General admission tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. CST.
Tickets to the NASH Country Kick-Off Party are $35. The show is open to persons 18 and older, and minors are admitted with a parent or guardian. Event sponsors include Durango and Roper.
Tommy Page, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships, Cumulus Media said: “NASH is honored to partner with Musicians On Call and these very talented artists to raise money for a great cause, as music is the ultimate healer.”
Tickets are also on sale for Ballerini’s 2016 Fan Club Experience pre-show event, to be held at Mercy Lounge on Tuesday, June 7, at 4 p.m. CST. Tickets to this all-ages event are $10. Bundled tickets to both the fan club event and the NASH Country Kick-Off Party are available for $45.
Dolly Parton, NBC Plan Christmas Sequel To ‘Coat Of Many Colors’
/by Craig_ShelburneNBC has announced a new TV movie titled Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. Set to air in 2016, the premiere date will be announced in the coming months.
The original cast will return for the sequel: Jennifer Nettles as Avie Lee Parton, Ricky Schroder as Robert Lee Parton, Gerald McRaney as Rev. Jake Owens and Alyvia Alyn Lind as young Dolly Parton.
“I was so overwhelmed and touched by how many people watched Coat of Many Colors and their reaction to it,” Parton said. “The song ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ of course, has always been my favorite and has touched so many people through the years, especially me. It is a true story from a very special time in my childhood. I am so happy to share this story with the viewers and to say there is so much more to tell because mine truly has been a life of many colors. I hope the viewers will fall in love all over again.”
Press materials summarized the project in this way:
“It’s no secret that everyone loves Dolly Parton and the response to our first movie was overwhelming, both in terms of the size of the audience and outpouring of love for a film with family values and faith,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “So it felt like a no-brainer to bring this talented cast back together and tell another compelling holiday story culled from Dolly’s own life growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Her spirit and belief in God — and her music — will infuse this movie with the true spirit of Dolly Parton.”
Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love is written by Pamela K. Long. She executive produces with Sam Haskell and Dolly Parton. The film is a production of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Dixie Pixie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Stephen Herek, who directed the original film, is also back to direct the sequel.
CMT Plans ‘Concert Of The Summer’ Special With Jason Aldean
/by Craig_ShelburnePhoto: GreenroomPR
Jason Aldean’s upcoming tour stop in Chicago will be filmed for a two-hour CMT special titled Concert of the Summer, a new franchise for the network.
Thomas Rhett, A Thousand Horses and surprise guests from Chicago’s Windy City LakeShake festival will also be featured in the show.
Aldean’s Six String Circus Tour launches Thursday, May 19, in Rogers, Arkansas. He is scheduled to headline Windy City LakeShake on June 19. An air date for the special has not been announced.
Each year, CMT will proclaim one festival or event as the year’s concert of the summer and film it for television, online and social media.
“Summer festivals live large in the culture. Fans from all walks of life make pilgrimages to celebrate the power of music,” said Brian Philips, President of CMT. “With our Concert of the Summer event, we are going to capture the definitive documentary and companion programming for this big show. We’re counting on powerhouses Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett and A Thousand Horses to rock the masses. Viewers will experience the party through the eyes of both artists and fans.”
“It’s always cool when you’re approached about new ways to get music to your fans,” said Aldean. “So when CMT asked about coming out to LakeShake, I was immediately into it. We’re going to slap an all-access pass on them for the day and play until they pull the plug.”
Cyndi Lauper Kicks Off ‘Detour’ Tour In Nashville
/by Sherod RobertsonCyndi Lauper kicked off her Detour Tour at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Monday evening, May 9, launching her 27-city trek across the United States and Europe.
She began the show with “Funnel of Love,” the first track on her new album and took the audience on a musical journey through her latest project offerings intertwining both new and old material. While “detouring,” her performances of classic country standards from her latest project included “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “The End Of The World,” “Heartaches by the Number,” and “Misty Blue.”
Her performance of “Money Changes Everything” brought the crowd to their feet with the audience gladly singing along to her hit tunes that followed, including “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and “Time After Time” before closing out the show with an encore of “True Colors.”
With this being the first stop of the tour, Lauper admitted she was still “working some of the kinks out” but the audience didn’t mind at all.
Fans have the opportunity to donate to the True Colors Fund and a chance to win exclusives, including a dinner with Cyndi Lauper backstage. Lauper is playing select dates during the DETOUR tour with Boy George, including the June 1 Vienna, Va. show, where the winning donation will have an opportunity to meet the artists backstage, have dinner with Lauper among other perks. The True Colors Fund, an organization co-founded by Lauper, works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. To donate and enter for chances to win exclusives, click here.
Afterwards, Lauper visited with music industry members at a private reception at the Ryman.
MusicRow Publisher Sherod Robertson visits with Lauper at a private industry reception following her Ryman show.
Lauper’s country album Detour, which released May 6, includes her renditions of several classic tunes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Detour features guest appearances from Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Jewel and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville with many of the city’s top session players.
She visited MusicRow earlier this year to discuss her new album and tour.
CYNDI LAUPER DETOUR TOUR:
*denotes shows with Boy George
May 9 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
May 11 Palace Theatre – Louisville, Ky.
May 13 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14 Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 16 Chicago Theater – Chicago, Ill.
May 17 Hard Rock Live – Cleveland, Ohio
May 20 Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, Conn.*
May 21 Wang Theater – Boston, Mass.*
May 25 Beacon Theater – New York, Ny.*
May 28 Sands Bethlehem Event Center – Bethlehem, Pa.*
May 29 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City, N.J.*
June 1 Wolf Trap – Vienna, Va.*
June 2 Charleston Music Hall Charleston, S.C.
June 4 Duke Energy Center Raleigh, N.C.
June 5 Symphony Hall – Atlanta, Ga.
June 8 Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla.
June 9 Dr. Phillips Center – Orlando, Fla.
June 11 Mizner Park Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, Fla.
June 12 St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Fla.
Sept. 10 ACL Live at Moody Theater – Austin, Texas
Sept. 11 Revention Music Center – Houston, Texas
Sept. 13 Civic Center Music Hall – Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sept. 15 Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 18 Paramount Theatre – Denver, Colo.
Sept. 20 The Depot – Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept. 21 Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical – Boise, Idaho
Sept. 23 Thunder Valley Casino Resort – Lincoln, Calif.
Sept. 24 Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Sept. 27 Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, Calif.
Sept. 28 Arlington Theatre – Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sept. 30 The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, Calif.
Oct. 3 Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay – San Diego, Calif.
Oct. 5 Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, Calif.
Oct. 7 Talking Stick Resort Ballroom – Scottsdale, Ariz.
Oct. 8 The Joint – Las Vegas, Nev.
Taylor Swift Honored With Taylor Swift Award At BMI Pop Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonHonoree Taylor Swift accepts the BMI Taylor Swift Award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
Taylor Swift was honored with The Taylor Swift Award last night (May 10) during the 64th BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills, California. This marks the second time in BMI’s 76-year history that the company has bestowed an award in someone’s name, following a similar award for Michael Jackson in 1990.
Swift also took home the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year honor again, for penning hits from her project 1989, including “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” “Style,” and “Wildest Dreams.”
Pictured (L-R): President/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Troy Tomlinson, honoree Taylor Swift, and Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandier pose with award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
Jeff Bhasker was honored as part of the creative team behind “Uptown Funk,” which took home BMI Pop Song of the Year. Bhasker has also worked with Cam as producer and co-writer.
Sony/ATV was named BMI Pop Publisher of the Year, with 23 of the year’s most-performed songs. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil were honored with the BMI Icon Award for crafting classics including “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” “On Broadway,” “Somewhere Out There,” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.”
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Carole King and honoree Taylor Swift attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards. Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
Grand Ole Opry Announces Lineup For CMA Music Festival Week
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson
The Grand Ole Opry will launch CMA Music Festival week with two star-studded shows, featuring Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, Charles Esten and more.
The shows will take place Tuesday, June 7 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The music begins in the afternoon with a free Opry Plaza Party presented by Humana featuring Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville recording artist Janson. Opening the party will be Stoney Creek Records recording artist Lindsay Ell. Both Janson and Ell are featured on the Opry’s new EP release, Opry 9.0, Vol. II, Discoveries From The Circle.
Artists already scheduled to visit the Opry later during Music Fest Week include Easton Corbin, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, and Jamie Lynn Spears.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is scheduled to sign copies of her new book, Where The Light Gets In, in The Opry Shop at 5:30 p.m. The actress will return to the Opry stage for her second visit as a guest announcer later in the evening.
Underwood is scheduled to play the Opry twice in advance of the June 7 shows, appearing on May 20 and 21.
Garth Brooks Plots First Country Concert At New Yankee Stadium
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R): Kelly Ford, America’s Morning Show; Garth Brooks; Blair Garner and Chuck Wicks, America’s Morning Show
Garth Brooks will play his first New York City concert in 19 years on July 9 at Yankee Stadium. He made the announcement on Wednesday morning (May 11) on the NASH radio program, America’s Morning Show.
Brooks’ show will be the first country music concert to be held in the new Yankee Stadium. Trisha Yearwood will open the show. Tickets go on sale on May 20.
According to its official website, Yankee Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,287. It opened in 2009.
This is Brooks’ first concert in the city since 1997, when he played for nearly a million people in Central Park. That concert was filmed for an HBO special.
There will be an eight-ticket limit per purchase for the Yankee Stadium concert. Tickets will cost $69.23 plus a $4.50 facility fee and a $6.25 service charge for a total of $79.98.
Tickets can only be purchased at ticketmaster.com or ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks or either Ticketmaster Express 1-866-448-7849 or 1-800-745-3000. There will be no ticket sales at the venue box office or Ticketmaster outlets on May 20.
Brooks’ next scheduled shows begin Thursday (May 12) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for six shows across four days.
Pictured (L to R): John Shomby, Director of Programming, NASH Network; Leslie Slender, Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Events, Cumulus/Westwood One; Garth Brooks; Tommy Page, SVP, Brand Partnerships, Cumulus Media; Charlie Cook Vice President, Country, Cumulus Media, Operations Manager, Cumulus Nashville, Program Director, 95.5 NASH ICON WSM-FM and NASH FM 103-3 WKDF.
In Pictures: SESAC At Key West Songwriters Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonSESAC hosted a lineup of music at the 21st Annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival. The Brunch-In-The-Round was held at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar and was hosted by SESAC affiliates Rob Hatch and American Young and featured performances from songwriters Steve Bogard, Justin Ebach, Matt Willis, Nicolette Hayford, Justin Wilson and Brian White among others.
The annual Key West Songwriters Festival revolves around five days of performances from over 200 top songwriters and artists.
Pictured (L-R): John Marks, songwriter Lance Carpenter and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Sheel
Pictured (L-R): American Young’s Jon Stone, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch & Tim Fink, and songwriter Rob Hatch. Photo: Sheel
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Stevie Monce, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Tyler Reeve. Photo courtesy of SESAC.
Songwriters Brian White and Jesse Lee perform at the Brunch-in-the-Round. Photo courtesy of SESAC.
Pictured (L-R): Royston Langdon, SESAC’s Ellen Truley, Robby Towns and Steve Bogard. Photo courtesy of SESAC.
Audience Network Launches TV Series For Emerging, Unsigned Artists
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise, from top left): Aubrie Sellers, Mitch Rossell, Ryan Beaver, Julia Cole
Nashville artists Aubrie Sellers, Julia Cole, Ryan Beaver and Mitch Rossell will be featured in a new monthly music show, Audience Music: Spotlight.
The series helps showcase emerging, unsigned music talent by giving them a first live performance on national television, as well as an in-depth interview. Sellers’ episode will launch the series on June 10, followed by Isac Elliot (June 17), Cole (June 24), Rossell (June 24) and Phebe Starr (July 29).
The show crosses a diverse array of musical genres. Other participating artists include Elliot, Starr, Oh Whitney, The Sisterhood, and Armstrong Leigh.
“With the new series, we are leveling the playing field for highly talented emerging artists by helping them cut through the noise,” said Bart Peters, Vice President of Development and Production, AT&T. “We are giving them the same performance opportunity for the television broadcast, online exposure and promotion. The inspiration for the spotlight series came from watching Isac Elliot perform at a showcase — and we are pleased that Isac is performing in our spotlight series.”
Audience Network reaches over 28 million subscribers airing via national broadcast on DIRECTV (Ch 239) and U-verse (Ch 1114), on directv.com and uverse.com, and on smartphones and tablets via the DIRECTV and U-verse apps.