Single Add Dates
April 4
Keith Urban/Wasted Time/Capitol Nashville
Shelby Kimble/Missing You Like This/Phoenix Records
Casey Donahew/Feels This Right/Almost Country Entertainment
Cyndi Lauper/Funnel of Love/Sire Records
Rudy Parris/Party Out Back/Warrior Records
Cherie Darling/Sittin’ On A Step/Orchard
Tyler Hammond/Drunk Over A Girl/TLB
Josh Goodlett/I Don’t Usually Do This/Good Entertainment
April 11
Brett Young/Sleep Without You/Republic Nashville
Craig Campbell/Outskirts Of Heaven/Red Bow
Lonestar/Never Enders//Shanachie Entertainment
Trailer Choir/Ice Cold Summer/Star Farm Nashville
Hillbilly Vegas/Shake It Like A Hillbilly/SMG-Nashville
Blackjack Billy/The Booze Cruise/Reviver
April 18
Jessie G/Drop A Line/Hook & Line
Aaron Watson/Bluebonnets/Big Label Records
Matt Cline w/Andy Griggs, Buddy Jewell, Ray Stevens, Steve Cropper/If You Want My Vote/Spin Doctors
Dani Dease/Mojo Back/Stanley Music Group
April 25
Alexandra Demetree/You Still Think I’m Beautiful/SSM Nashville
Album Release Dates
April 1
Levi Hummon/Levi Hummon [EP]/The Valory Music Co.
April 8
Maggie Rose/The Variety Show. Vol.1/The Orchard
Hayes Carll/Lovers and Leavers/Thirty Tigers
Charlie Farley/All I’ve Been Through/Backroad Records-Average Joes
April 15
Del McCoury/Del and Woody/McCoury Music
Sturgill Simpson/A Sailor’s Guide To Earth/Atlantic Records
Dixie Chicks/Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home, Taking The Long Way [12″ vinyl reissues]/Columbia-Legacy
James Robert Webb/Pictures/Bison Creek Records
Mark Collie/ICON/MCA Nashville-UMe
Don Williams/Don Williams In Ireland: The Gentle Giant In Concert [DVD and CD]/Red River Entertainment-BFD-RED
April 16
Brandy Clark/Girl Next Door [RSD 7″ vinyl single with “Homecoming Queen”]/Warner Bros. Records
April 29
Martina McBride/Reckless/Nash Icon
Industry Events
April 1-3
4th ACM Party For A Cause Festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds
April 2
ACM Radio Winners Reception, to be held in Las Vegas
April 3
- 51st Academy of Country Music Awards from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on CBS at 8 PM ET/delayed PT
- iHeartRadio Music Awards on TBS, TNT and truTV at 8 p.m. ET
April 5-9
24th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
April 8
MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row event at the Omni Nashville Hotel
April 12
All For The Hall benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville
April 14-23
2016 Nashville Film Festival at Regal Cinema Green Hills
April 18
Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Awards, presented by Spotify, at the Ryman Auditorium at 6 p.m.
April 26
11th Annual Symphony Fashion Show at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
April 28-30
11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles
April 30
St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Weekly Chart Report (4/1/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Mark Your Calendar — April 2016
/by Eric T. ParkerSingle Add Dates
Keith Urban/Wasted Time/Capitol Nashville
Shelby Kimble/Missing You Like This/Phoenix Records
Casey Donahew/Feels This Right/Almost Country Entertainment
Cyndi Lauper/Funnel of Love/Sire Records
Rudy Parris/Party Out Back/Warrior Records
Cherie Darling/Sittin’ On A Step/Orchard
Tyler Hammond/Drunk Over A Girl/TLB
Josh Goodlett/I Don’t Usually Do This/Good Entertainment
April 11
Brett Young/Sleep Without You/Republic Nashville
Craig Campbell/Outskirts Of Heaven/Red Bow
Lonestar/Never Enders//Shanachie Entertainment
Trailer Choir/Ice Cold Summer/Star Farm Nashville
Hillbilly Vegas/Shake It Like A Hillbilly/SMG-Nashville
Blackjack Billy/The Booze Cruise/Reviver
April 18
Jessie G/Drop A Line/Hook & Line
Aaron Watson/Bluebonnets/Big Label Records
Matt Cline w/Andy Griggs, Buddy Jewell, Ray Stevens, Steve Cropper/If You Want My Vote/Spin Doctors
Dani Dease/Mojo Back/Stanley Music Group
April 25
Alexandra Demetree/You Still Think I’m Beautiful/SSM Nashville
Album Release Dates
Levi Hummon/Levi Hummon [EP]/The Valory Music Co.
April 8
Maggie Rose/The Variety Show. Vol.1/The Orchard
Hayes Carll/Lovers and Leavers/Thirty Tigers
Charlie Farley/All I’ve Been Through/Backroad Records-Average Joes
April 15
Del McCoury/Del and Woody/McCoury Music
Sturgill Simpson/A Sailor’s Guide To Earth/Atlantic Records
Dixie Chicks/Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home, Taking The Long Way [12″ vinyl reissues]/Columbia-Legacy
James Robert Webb/Pictures/Bison Creek Records
Mark Collie/ICON/MCA Nashville-UMe
Don Williams/Don Williams In Ireland: The Gentle Giant In Concert [DVD and CD]/Red River Entertainment-BFD-RED
April 16
Brandy Clark/Girl Next Door [RSD 7″ vinyl single with “Homecoming Queen”]/Warner Bros. Records
April 29
Martina McBride/Reckless/Nash Icon
Industry Events
4th ACM Party For A Cause Festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds
April 2
ACM Radio Winners Reception, to be held in Las Vegas
April 3
April 5-9
24th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
April 8
MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row event at the Omni Nashville Hotel
April 12
All For The Hall benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville
April 14-23
2016 Nashville Film Festival at Regal Cinema Green Hills
April 18
Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Awards, presented by Spotify, at the Ryman Auditorium at 6 p.m.
April 26
11th Annual Symphony Fashion Show at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
April 28-30
11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles
April 30
St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Jason Aldean Releases Lead Single From Upcoming Album
/by Craig_ShelburneJason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright
Jason Aldean has released “Lights Come On” as the lead single from his upcoming seventh album, due this summer on Broken Bow Records. Aldean will perform the song on Sunday (April 3) on the ACM Awards in Las Vegas. He is nominated this year in the Entertainer and Male Vocalist categories.
The song’s writers are Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Schmidt, Jimmy Robbins, Brad Warren and Brett Warren.
“Being on stage is why I do what I do, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Aldean. “This song is all about that rush you can only get from stepping on stage and listening to fans sing along to every word. It’s about throwing the biggest party from the floor to the top of the rafters for all those people who spent their paycheck to come see us. We’re bringing it to Vegas this weekend and I can’t think of a better place to kick it off than at the ACM’s.”
Aldean released his previous album, Old Boots, New Dirt, in October 2014. Its four singles were “Burnin’ It Down,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Tonight Looks Good on You,” and “Gonna Know We Were Here.”
Aldean has also released a lyric video to coincide with the release of the new single.
Shawn Pennington Launches Artist Development, Management Company
/by Jessica NicholsonShawn Pennington
Music executive Shawn Pennington has formed Pennington Entertainment, a full-service artist development and management company.
Formerly Sr. VP Artist Management at BBR Management, he begins his new venture with over 20 years of experience in touring, management, production and promotion. Pennington Entertainment’s initial clients include Parmalee and Thompson Square. BBR Management assistant Cara Kozulak will be joining Pennington Entertainment, with additional staff to be announced soon.
He joined BBR Management in 2009, and previously worked at Dale Morris & Associates, where he helped develop the careers and brands of Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, John Rich, Cowboy Troy, The MuzikMafia, and others.
Though music is his primary focus, Pennington has produced programming for major television networks including NBC, CMT, USA, GAC, and DIRECTV. The former board member of the ACM and The Charley Foundation, in partnership with Thompson Square, has aided in efforts that have raised nearly $500,000 for ChildFund International.
Pennington Entertainment will be based at 2451 Atrium Way, Ste. 1200, Nashville, TN 37214.
Pennington can be reached at (615) 651-6200 and at shawn@penningtonentertainment.com. Kozulak can be reached at cara@penningtonentertainment.com
Thirty Tigers Announces Three New Hires, One Promotion
/by Craig_ShelburneBrandon Chamberlain joins Thirty Tigers as Director of Marketing. Chamberlain previously held publicity and marketing positions at Universal Music Group Distribution and Capitol Records in Los Angeles.
Jennifer Boise joins Thirty Tigers as a Project Manager specializing in country and Texas music. Other career stops for Boise include Sony Music Nashville, Provident, Verity, and Warner Bros. Nashville.
Morgan Perry has been promoted to the position of Manager of Production. Meanwhile, John Moser steps into Perry’s former role of Indie Retail Coordinator. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Moser transitioned from full-time tour management into his new role. Both positions report to Bob Goldstone, VP, Sales.
Thirty Tigers notched a No. 1 debut on the Billboard comedy chart with a project by Wheeler Walker, Jr. in February. This spring will see releases from, among others: Santana (original lineup), Hayes Carll, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Jayhawks, and John Doe.
Thirty Tigers is a music marketing, management, distribution, publishing and film company based in Nashville. Thirty Tigers Distribution has served as a label infrastructure for a vast client base including The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chase Rice, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Bingham, Patty Griffin, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Trampled By Turtles, and many others in their 14 years of working with Sony/RED Distribution.
Taylor Swift Will Accept iHeartRadio Music Award For Best Tour
/by Craig_ShelburneTaylor Swift will receive the iHeartRadio Music Awards’ first-ever Best Tour award, recognizing The 1989 World Tour, on Sunday, April 3. The Big Machine Records artist will accept the award live and is also nominated for seven other categories including Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.
Bobby Bones and Brad Paisley are also scheduled to make appearances, along with performances by ZAYN, Chris Brown, DNCE, Fetty Wap, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, Iggy Azalea, G-Eazy, Bebe Rexha and host Jason Derulo.
The event will air live on TBS, TNT and truTV at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Forum in Los Angeles. An encore presentation will immediately follow on those networks. The iHeartRadio Music Awards will broadcast simultaneously on iHeartMedia stations nationwide and across the iHeartRadio digital music platform.
Charles Kelley Selects Single Written By Chris Stapleton And Jesse Frasure
/by Craig_ShelburneCharles Kelley
Charles Kelley has released “Lonely Girl,” written by Chris Stapleton and Jesse Frasure, as the latest single from his new solo album, The Driver. Kelley will perform the song on the ACM Awards on Sun., April 3.
“I’ve been wanting to cut this song since I heard it about three years ago,” Kelley said. “At the time, it wasn’t the right fit for Lady A, so when we started digging into my solo project, I knew it would be a big part of the record. It’s not easy to follow Stapleton’s demo, I mean he’s the best singer in our genre, but I put my own little spin on it and it’s turned out to be a favorite live.”
Frasure and Stapleton also co-wrote the ACM-nominated “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan and Cary Barlowe. Allan’s recording of that song, with guest vocals by Stapleton, is nominated in the category of Vocal Event of the Year. Thomas Rhett’s No. 1 single, “Crash and Burn,” was written by Frasure and Stapleton as well.
Kelley released The Driver on Feb. 5 on Capitol Records Nashville and received a Grammy nomination for the title track. He will launch a solo tour with special guest (and brother) Josh Kelley on April 9 in Washington, D.C.
Steve Earle’s MCA Albums Remastered For Vinyl Reissue
/by Craig_ShelburneSteve Earle’s four MCA Records studio albums—Guitar Town, Exit 0, Copperhead Road, and The Hard Way—have been remastered from the original tapes by Robert Vosgien and cut for vinyl by Ron McMaster at Capitol Mastering for LP release on May 6.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, 1986’s Guitar Town was Earle’s album debut, which propelled him into the charts and across the airwaves. The album hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s country albums chart and garnered two Grammy nominations for Earle: Best Male Country Vocalist and Best Country Song for the album’s title track, which reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s country singles chart. Certified platinum in Canada and gold in the U.S., Guitar Town also features “Goodbye’s All We Got Left,” which peaked at No. 8 on the country singles chart, as well as “Hillbilly Highway” and “Someday.”
Released in 1987, Earle’s follow-up album, Exit 0, was recorded with his touring band, The Dukes. The album hit the Top 20 of Billboard‘s country albums chart and earned Earle two more Grammy nominations: Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the album and Best Country Song for “Nowhere Road.” Another single from the album, “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied,” made the Top 25 of Billboard‘s mainstream rock chart.
Copperhead Road followed in 1988, achieving what Earle has described as a blend of heavy metal and bluegrass. The album’s guest artists include The Pogues on “Johnny Come Lately,” Strength In Numbers’ Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Mark O’Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass violin) on “Nothing But A Child,” Bill Lloyd of Foster & Lloyd on acoustic guitar, and guest vocalists including John Cowan of New Grass Revival and singer/songwriter Maria McKee. The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard‘s country albums chart, and went triple-platinum in Canada and gold in the U.S.
Earle was again joined by The Dukes for 1990’s The Hard Way, the last album he released before a hiatus that stretched into four troubled years away from the studio and the stage. The aptly-titled album was recorded in Nashville as Earle was struggling with severe drug addiction. Earle later told an interviewer, “I defend The Hard Way to the death, because I almost died in the process of making it.” In 2015, the album’s “When The People Find Out” was used as the end credits music for the HBO miniseries, Show Me a Hero.
An expanded 30th Anniversary Edition of Guitar Town will be released this fall in 2-CD and digital audio packages. Details will be announced.
BMI, ALT 983 Team For Eastside Sounds With MODOC, Jonny P
/by Craig_ShelburneALT 983’s Pictured (L-R): Kage, ALT983; Jonny P; Nina Carter, BMI
BMI and Nashville alternative station ALT 983 partnered for the latest Eastside Sounds showcase at The Basement East on Wednesday night (March 30). Presented by AT&T GigaPower, the event offered free performances from MODOC and Jonny P.
MODOC was the Artist in Residence for ALT 983, earning them exclusive interviews, in-studio performances and heavy rotation on the airwaves. Meanwhile, Jonny P opened for Leon Bridges at the Ryman Auditorium earlier this month.
Pictured (L-R): Kyle Addison, MODOC; Nina Carter, BMI; John Carlson, MODOC; Emma Applebome, ALT 983; Jody Williams, BMI; Clint Culberson, MODOC
Industry Ink: WAR Promotes Rouse, FGL Teams With Budweiser, T Bone Burnett At AmericanaFest
/by Eric T. ParkerJessica Rouse. Photo: Facebook
WAR Promotion Promotes Jessica Rouse
Warner Music Nashville’s Jessica Rouse has been upped to Sr. Promotion Coordinator, WAR Nashville. She previously was Promotion Coordinator.
“Jessica’s relentless work ethic and pursuit of making the WAR promotion staff the best it can be has not gone unnoticed,” said Kevin Herring, Sr. VP, Promotion. “She takes on everything we throw at her, and will continue to do so with gusto, as her growth in this company knows no bounds!”
FGL Teams with Budweiser
Florida Georgia Line
Photo: Jim Wright
Florida Georgia Line has partnered with Budweiser as part of the duo’s Dig Your Roots Tour as well as an album release event pegged to their upcoming album later this year.
There will be co-branded products displays at retail and the duo will take part in radio commercial voiceovers and music video integrations. Florida Georgia Line will also work with Budweiser to make surprise appearances at festivals and concerts this summer. The Dig Your Roots Tour will additionally feature Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, and Kane Brown.
T Bone Burnett to Deliver Keynote Speech at AmericanaFest
T Bone Burnett
T Bone Burnett will deliver the keynote speech at the Americana Music Festival & Conference, which will take place September 20-25 at Nashville’s downtown Sheraton Hotel.
Burnett is an Academy Award winner, Golden Globe winner and 13-time Grammy award winner, and in 2002 was the first recipient of the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive at the Americana Honors & Awards.
The keynote is part of the Americana Music Conference, and is only open to conference registrants. For more information and to purchase a conference registration, please visit www.americanamusic.org.