Jordan Rager performs for MusicRow staff.
As an independent artist living in Logansville, Georgia, Jordan Rager amassed an impressive online following, including 27,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 3.7 million views. Those numbers weren’t pure luck for the “Southern Boy” singer, but rather a combination of Rager’s musical talent, and a strategic move on the part of Rager’s co-manager Barry Williams.
“Barry had the idea to do YouTube videos, where if it was [Jason] Aldean or FGL [Florida Georgia Line] or whoever was putting out a new song, I would try to be the first person to cover it and put it on YouTube,” recalls Rager. “So when they searched the song, they would either get the music video, or my video.”
Viewership for the now 21-year-old’s cover videos (including Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” and Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again”) spiked, as did views of his own original material. He soon garnered the attention of professional artists like Justin Moore.
“Justin Moore YouTube searched his own cover songs, and my video was one of the first that popped up,” Rager says. An invitation from the Valory Music Co. star soon found Rager joining his Off The Beaten Path Tour.
“Every time [Barry and I] talk about it, he still goes, ‘Hey, you’re welcome,’” Rager laughs. “It ended up being a really good idea.”
Rager soon signed his first major record deal, joining the Broken Bow Records family in 2014.
“We went through the whole shopping labels, and Broken Bow felt like home,” Rager recalls. “I actually came in to BBR when I was around 19, and I played three songs by myself. I stared at my shoes the whole time because I was nervous as hell playing for a label like that. [BBR executives] Jon Loba, Carson James, and Benny Brown were in the meeting. They were like, ‘You sound good, but you’re not there yet.’ I went back to writing songs and playing shows.”
A few years later, Broken Bow execs signed the artist after seeing a progression in Rager while he performed alongside Moore and Randy Houser with signature country-rock offerings such as “Underage” and “She Might Be.”
Rager’s debut single, “Southern Boy,” featuring Jason Aldean, was just released to radio, and has already landed on Spotify’s United States Viral 50 Chart. The emotional tune was penned by Luke Laird, Barry Dean, and Rager’s producer Jeremy Stover as a tribute to Chattanooga teen Cameron Scroggins, who died of cancer at 16.
“The first time I heard it, I knew it was something special,” Rager recalls of the song. “Cameron was diagnosed with cancer at age 15, and passed away at 16. Jeremy said for that year of his life that Cameron was sick, Cameron never lost his smile. I thought this is a story that needs to be heard by people.
“We had talked about me and Jason doing a duet for a while, and everything just kind of fell together perfectly. That was the [song] that everybody—me and Jason included—wanted to go with, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to get this one out.”
Rager offered an acoustic, solo take on the single during this week’s visit with MusicRow, as well as “Party Like You,” “Underage,” and “Feels Like One Of Them.”
After hitting the road during a good portion of 2015 on a radio tour, Rager will spend most of his next several weeks in the studio, finishing up his debut project for Broken Bow.
“I’d say we are 90 percent done with the record,” says Rager.
Jordan Rager with MusicRow staff.
Dreamlined Entertainment Reveals First Signing In Co-Venture With Dune Grass Music
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jason Campbell and Keith Stegall, Dreamlined Entertainment Group; Neal Coty and Hannah Gilbert, Dune Grass Music; Brian Maher, Dreamlined Entertainment Group/Dune Grass Music.
Producer/songwriter Keith Stegall‘s Dreamlined Entertainment has inked a publishing co-venture with Dune Grass Music.
Brian Maher is the first songwriter to be signed under the co-venture. Maher co-wrote Justin Moore’s chart-topping hits “Small Town USA” and “Til My Last Day.” Maher has had other cuts by Taylor Swift, Jackie Lee, Gwen Sebastian, and Emerson Drive, among others.
Grammy-winner Stegall has produced Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band, among many others.
Dune Grass Music is a Nashville-based publishing company with six staff writers and offices in Berry Hill and Virginia. Neal Coty, creative director and exclusive songwriter, was a Mercury Records artist and has co-written singles for Blake Shelton, Mark Chesnutt, James Wesley, and Craig Morgan. Hannah Gilbert manages song pitching and administration.
“Combining the enormous talent, hard work and enthusiasm of Dreamlined’s and Dune Grass’ writers, with Brian Maher and the co-venture’s future writers, will produce tremendous synergy and great success,” says Stegall.
Coty adds, “Dune Grass writers are over the top excited about this opportunity to work with widely acclaimed veteran Keith Stegall. We can’t wait to get going.”
Taylor Swift Supports Kesha With $250,000 Donation During Legal Battle
/by Jessica NicholsonTaylor Swift
Taylor Swift is the latest star to put her support—and in Swift’s case, a huge donation—behind fellow singer Kesha.
Country-turned-pop star Swift recently donated $250,000 to fellow pop star and Nashville native Kesha to aid in Kesha’s legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, according to E Online.
“In a show of support, Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with any of her financial needs during this trying time,” Taylor’s spokesperson Tree Paine said in a statement.
Kesha’s mom also confirmed the news by tweeting, “Taylor Swift has just generously donated $250,000 to Kesha, as a show of support during this difficult time. AMAZING!!”
Kesha’s mom also tweeted her gratitude for Swift’s support, saying, “A persons wealth is not measured by what they have but by WHO they help with it. And Taylor Swift is a truly RICH PERSON. Thank you,” she shared on social media. “Most important for Kesha, is that these beautiful, powerful women are standing behind her, letting the world see how powerful the truth is!”
Kesha filed a preliminary injunction motion that would allow her to release music outside of the authority of producer Dr. Luke, and would release her from her contract with Sony Music. The pop singer alleges that she was raped, and physically and verbally assaulted while working with the producer.
Kesha is signed with Dr. Luke’s publishing company, Prescription Songs, and label, Kemosabe Records (a Sony imprint). The contract requires he produce at least six songs on each of her albums, according to the New York Times. Kesha hasn’t released an album since 2012’s Warrior.
“Kesha Rose Sebert wants nothing more than to be able to record an album,” her lawyers wrote in the motion for preliminary injunction, which would block Sony and Dr. Luke from pursuing damages if she released music outside of her agreement. “Her only condition is that she be allowed to record with a record label that is not affiliated with someone who has emotionally and sexually abused her.”
State Supreme Court in Manhattan ruled on Friday (Feb. 19) that Kesha could not be released from her recording contract with Dr. Luke and Sony Music Entertainment, while the case is ongoing.
In a statement on Monday, Christine Lepera, a lawyer for Dr. Luke, said: “Kesha is already ‘free’ to record and release music without working with Dr. Luke as a producer if she doesn’t want to. Any claim that she isn’t ‘free’ is a myth.
“As Dr. Luke has said repeatedly, the allegations against him are outright lies that have been advanced to extort a contract renegotiation and money. Kesha and her counsel have cavalierly subjected Dr. Luke and his family to trial by Twitter, using a vicious smear campaign to ruin his reputation for financial gain while failing to support their claims.”
Other artists who have spoken out in support of Kesha include Lorde, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and more.
LifeNotes: Gospel Music Legend Buck Rambo Passes
/by Craig_ShelburneBuck Rambo
Richard Fay “Buck” Rambo, patriarch of the gospel music family, The Rambos, died Sunday (Feb. 21) in Palmetto, Florida, at the age of 84. He was surrounded by his wife Mae and family members.
He was born in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, son of Noah Burton Rambo and Mary Irisilda Rambo. Buck was married to Mae Kutz Rambo on April 1, 1995.
Buck Rambo’s career spanned 60 years and includes many accolades including numerous Grammy and Dove Award nominations. He became a Christian in 1949, went into full-time ministry in 1954, and in 1960, he started a Gospel singing group, The Gospel Echoes, which later became The Singing Rambos with daughter Reba and her mother Dottie.
He was one of the first Board members for the Gospel Music Association and a founding father of the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame. In the early ‘60s, Buck was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Quartet Convention. In 1964, Buck sang for over a million people at the first Washington For Jesus Rally. He is author of the book, The Legacy of the Rambos, and was on the first Gaither Homecoming video.
The Rambos were asked to go to the Strategic Air Command Bases in 1966 and went on a six-week tour of our northern outposts in Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Iceland entertaining the United States’ troops. In February of 1967, because of the tremendous response to the Arctic Tour, they embarked on a six-week tour to Vietnam to sing for the U.S. military forces there. This was a life-changing experience for The Singing Rambos. They also participated in concert tours for the military several times in Europe and ministered in over 16 different countries doing live concerts and television, including a concert with the Holland Symphony where they sang for 350,000 people.
In 1968, The Singing Rambos began working in television. They were a huge part of the early beginnings of the 700 Club, PTL Network, TBN Network, and The Gospel Singing Jubilee–a weekly television show featuring popular gospel singing groups of that era.
After The Rambos disbanded in about 1994, Buck continued to travel and minister with his wife, Mae, for the next several years doing concerts in churches and as a missionary in many countries, with his latest trip being to Costa Rica in 1999. In retirement, Buck spent his time visiting hospitals, nursing homes and praying for the sick as well as painting beautiful stills. He toured occasionally with Rambo McGuire and was a featured soloist on their projects, Rambo Classics and Dove-Award winning Grassroots Rambos.
His wife Mae Rambo stated, “Today the greatest man on earth passed from this life to his Heavenly home to touch the face of God. Buck had the most amazing time walking through this life on earth, but he is now celebrating in the light and presence of our Lord. While he was preparing to leave this world he could indeed say, ‘It is well with my soul.’ Buck had a huge heart and when it stopped beating it broke ours. I know with time that my memories will bring a smile more quickly than tears, and I was honored and blessed to be his wife for almost 21 years.”
Survivors include his wife Mae, daughter Reba Rambo (Dony) McGuire, grandchildren Israel Anthem McGuire, Destiny Rambo McGuire, Dionne (Scott) Dismuke, Dyson Dismuke, sister Hilda Bullock, brothers Donald (Betty) Rambo, Jackie (Shirley) Rambo of Dawson Springs, KY, sister-in-law Anna Jo Rambo of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and brother-in-law James Ausenbaugh.
Arrangements are forthcoming and being handled by Williamson Memorial Home in Franklin, Tennessee.
SESAC Moves Into New Headquarters
/by Jessica NicholsonSESAC’s new Music Row headquarters.
Beginning Monday, Feb. 22, performing rights organization SESAC’s global headquarters has a new address, at 35 Music Sq. E. in Nashville. The $20 million project, which occupies 110,000 square feet, resides at properties on Music Square East that the performing rights organization purchased from Benny Brown and his wife Carolyn, owners of Broken Bow Music Group.
The Music Row building will include all of the company’s core departments, including Writer/Publisher Relations, Business Affairs, Business Development Center, Corporate Relations, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Licensing and Royalty Distribution/Research Services Department.
The company phone number will remain 615-320-0055.
The move consolidates two offices that SESAC previously occupied at 55 Music Square E. and 66 Music Square E.
Weekly Register: Joey + Rory Earn No. 1 Country Debut
/by Craig_ShelburneJoey + Rory didn’t win a Grammy last week, but they can claim a No. 1 spot on the country album chart this week with Hymns. Due to some early sales ahead of its Feb. 12 street date, the project technically debuted on the chart last week, but it grabs No. 1 thanks to sales of 68K. It’s at No. 4 on the overall chart.
Among the new arrivals are Vince Gill’s Down to My Last Bad Habit (No. 4, 17K), dirty country comedian Wheeler Walker Jr.’s Redneck S— (No. 8, 5.8K), and Wynonna & the Big Noise’s self-titled release (4.7K).
Meanwhile, new Big Machine Label Group artist Brett Young lands at No. 35 with his self-titled EP, and Lorrie Morgan’s Letting Go…Slow enters at No. 47.
Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” crashed the country digital tracks sales following their performance on the Grammys. The group won Best Country Duo/Group Performance, and the song’s writers picked up Best Country Song statuettes. Last week, the track surpassed 2 million units. This week, they add 48.5K to the grand total.
Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” lands at No. 2 (40K), trailed by Carrie Underwood’s “Heartbeat” (37K), Maren Morris’ “My Church” (35K) and Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here.”
Sam Hunt
Hunt holds down the No. 6 and 7 positions with “Break Up in a Small Town” (28.5K) and “Take Your Time” (24K). Hunt and Underwood performed the latter track on the Grammys as part of a mashup with “Heartbeat.” Overall sales of “Take Your Time” should surpass two million units by the end of the month.
Brett Eldredge’s “Drunk on Your Love” (24K), Luke Bryan and Karen Fairchild’s “Home Alone Tonight” (23K) and Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” (20K) round out the Top 10.
Adele’s 25 jumps back to No. 1 on the overall album chart with 151K units (125K albums only). Flo Rida’s “My House” stays lodged at No. 1 on the overall digital tracks chart with 125K.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
MusicRow’s Rising Women On The Row: Submissions Close Tuesday
/by Craig_ShelburneNominations for MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row will close tomorrow, Tuesday (Feb. 23). The fifth annual honors will recognize five deserving businesswomen who have become substantial contributors and visionary leaders in the Nashville music industry.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2016 RISING WOMEN ON THE ROW NOMINATION FORM
Multiple nominations do not increase the odds of being selected, but you may nominate as many women as you like with separate forms. Self-nominations are also welcome. Please feel free to submit candidates you have nominated in prior years.
The event will be held Friday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m. the Omni Hotel Nashville.
Tickets for the 2016 event are sold out. With any Rising Women on the Row inquiries, please contact Eric at eparker@musicrow.com.
Jordan Rager Spins YouTube Views Into BBR Deal, Debut Single
/by Jessica NicholsonJordan Rager performs for MusicRow staff.
As an independent artist living in Logansville, Georgia, Jordan Rager amassed an impressive online following, including 27,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 3.7 million views. Those numbers weren’t pure luck for the “Southern Boy” singer, but rather a combination of Rager’s musical talent, and a strategic move on the part of Rager’s co-manager Barry Williams.
“Barry had the idea to do YouTube videos, where if it was [Jason] Aldean or FGL [Florida Georgia Line] or whoever was putting out a new song, I would try to be the first person to cover it and put it on YouTube,” recalls Rager. “So when they searched the song, they would either get the music video, or my video.”
Viewership for the now 21-year-old’s cover videos (including Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” and Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again”) spiked, as did views of his own original material. He soon garnered the attention of professional artists like Justin Moore.
“Justin Moore YouTube searched his own cover songs, and my video was one of the first that popped up,” Rager says. An invitation from the Valory Music Co. star soon found Rager joining his Off The Beaten Path Tour.
“Every time [Barry and I] talk about it, he still goes, ‘Hey, you’re welcome,’” Rager laughs. “It ended up being a really good idea.”
Rager soon signed his first major record deal, joining the Broken Bow Records family in 2014.
“We went through the whole shopping labels, and Broken Bow felt like home,” Rager recalls. “I actually came in to BBR when I was around 19, and I played three songs by myself. I stared at my shoes the whole time because I was nervous as hell playing for a label like that. [BBR executives] Jon Loba, Carson James, and Benny Brown were in the meeting. They were like, ‘You sound good, but you’re not there yet.’ I went back to writing songs and playing shows.”
A few years later, Broken Bow execs signed the artist after seeing a progression in Rager while he performed alongside Moore and Randy Houser with signature country-rock offerings such as “Underage” and “She Might Be.”
Rager’s debut single, “Southern Boy,” featuring Jason Aldean, was just released to radio, and has already landed on Spotify’s United States Viral 50 Chart. The emotional tune was penned by Luke Laird, Barry Dean, and Rager’s producer Jeremy Stover as a tribute to Chattanooga teen Cameron Scroggins, who died of cancer at 16.
“The first time I heard it, I knew it was something special,” Rager recalls of the song. “Cameron was diagnosed with cancer at age 15, and passed away at 16. Jeremy said for that year of his life that Cameron was sick, Cameron never lost his smile. I thought this is a story that needs to be heard by people.
“We had talked about me and Jason doing a duet for a while, and everything just kind of fell together perfectly. That was the [song] that everybody—me and Jason included—wanted to go with, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to get this one out.”
Rager offered an acoustic, solo take on the single during this week’s visit with MusicRow, as well as “Party Like You,” “Underage,” and “Feels Like One Of Them.”
After hitting the road during a good portion of 2015 on a radio tour, Rager will spend most of his next several weeks in the studio, finishing up his debut project for Broken Bow.
“I’d say we are 90 percent done with the record,” says Rager.
Jordan Rager with MusicRow staff.
Industry Ink: Sony Music Nashville, Sweet Talk PR, C2 Media Relations
/by Craig_ShelburneMaren Morris, Sony Staff Hang Out at the Ryman
Pictured (Seated, L-R): Fount Lynch, VP, Media; Ken Robold, EVP & COO, Taylor Lindsey, VP, A&R; Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO; Maren Morris; (Standing, L-R): Caryl Healey, VP, Sales; Steve Hodges, EVP, Promotions & AD; Jim Catino, VP, A&R; Rachel Fontenot, Director, Marketing; Norbert Nix, VP, Promo, Columbia; Paul Barnabee, SVP, Marketing; Mary Catherine Kinney, Manager, Media.
Maren Morris celebrated backstage with Sony Music Nashville label personnel for her first solo performance at The Ryman Auditorium. The “My Church” singer opened for Chris Stapleton on Thursday night (Feb. 18).
Sweet Talk Publicity Seeks Senior Account Executive
Resumes can be sent to jensen@sweettalkpr.com. Requirements are as follows:
Dailey & Vincent Join C2 Media Relations
Dailey & Vincent
Bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent has been added to the C2 Media Relations roster. The duo has performed at Carnegie Hall, sold out three consecutive shows at The Ryman Auditorium and will make their orchestra debut with the Nashville Symphony on April 12. Their variety show, The Dailey & Vincent Show, is about to kick off its second season on RFD TV.
The C2 Media Relations roster also includes Lonestar, Trick Pony, Lucy Angel, Curb Records’ Ashley Gearing, Brian Collins and more.
Cumberland Heights To Open Music Row Location, Celebrates 50 Years
/by Jessica NicholsonCumberland Heights board members and staff hold commemorative coins to celebrate Cumberland Heights’ 50th anniversary.
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation center Cumberland Heights has had a longstanding relationship with the Nashville music industry. However, the non-profit organization has never had a facility on Music Row. That will change in May when Cumberland Heights opens its first Music Row intensive outpatient facility (IOP), to be located at 1619 17th Ave. South.
The IOP treatment program is designed for individuals who have completed or do not require medically-supervised detoxification.
Cumberland Heights also offers a professional musicians track, which combines traditional treatment with specialized components geared toward professional musicians. Musicians learn how the disease effects their profession, and how to surround themselves with a support system for recovery. The Music Row IOP will also be available to work with people who live and work near Music Row. This includes the collegiate recovery community as well as the many business people working downtown who would find this IOP convenient to them in their recovery.
The opening will mean a total of 10 locations available to help communities in Tennessee. Cumberland Heights has IOP facilities in Chattanooga, Cool Springs, Crossville, Hermitage/Old Hickory, Jackson, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Sumner County (Gallatin), in Nashville on River Road and soon Music Row.
“We are honored and proud to have been a trusted provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment for five decades,” said Jay Crosson, CEO of Cumberland Heights. “Fifty years of experience brings us so many positive examples of helping patients and their families – we hope to be able to share some of these with the community throughout the year.”
During a celebration party, staff and board members received 50th anniversary commemorative coins modeled after “sober coins” that are used during recovery.
Moraine Music Group Unearths 1972 Album, Gets HBO Placement
/by Craig_ShelburneA lost 1972 album by Benny Hester, who went on to become a CCM artist and television producer, was released Friday (Feb. 19) by Nashville’s Moraine Music Group, ahead of a synch placement in HBO’s Girls.
Simply titled Benny…, the psych-pop album is being released more than four decades after a fire at the label/recording studio destroyed the master recordings and most of the stock in advance of the intended street date. Promotional copies had been sent out before the fire and later became collector’s items.
Benny Hester, 1972
One of the tracks, “No The End Is Not Near,” will be featured in the season debut of Girls on Sunday (Feb. 21).
Hester stated, “I recorded my album in 1972 with hope, looking ahead to the future. A fire destroyed those dreams then, but now in 2016, I’m releasing the album, Benny…, for the first time. Miracles can happen… never give up.”
Brent Pacheco, an audiophile and fan of Hester’s, transferred the album to digital from Hester’s original vinyl promotional copy.
It was the first project ever produced by Brent Maher, who co-wrote and produced many of The Judds’ biggest hits in the 1980s. Maher and Hester met in Las Vegas in the early 1970s and recorded the project with three members of Elvis Presley’s TCB band—Ron Tutt, James Burton, and Glen Hardin—as well as Jerry Scheff, Larry Muhoberac, and Joe Osborn.
Maher says, “Having the first album I ever produced coming out 44 years later and being used in an HBO show is a wonderful surprise. It has been a joy to relive the making of the album and have new fans enjoy the project!”
Hester went on to record CCM hits like “Run” and to produce the Nickelodeon television show Roundhouse. His best-known CCM songs are “When God Ran” and “Secret Thoughts.”