Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird; Rhett Akins; Chris DeStefano; Tyler Hubbard; Shane McAnally. (Front row, L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Josh Osborne; Ross Copperman; Ashley Gorley; Zach Crowell; Brett James; host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
Several of Nashville’s chart-topping songwriters were recognized as CMA Triple Play Award winners during the seventh annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held today (Feb. 3) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.
Seventeen songwriters were honored with the award, which is presented to those who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12-month period.
CMA Triple Play Award recipients included Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowell, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Brett James, Jaren Johnston, Brian Kelley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, and Brad Tursi.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; CMA’s first triple Triple Play Award recipient Ashley Gorley; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
For the first time since CMA began an annual recognition program for the Triple Play Awards, the Association presented three trophies to one songwriter. Gorley had nine songs reach No. 1 last year. The three Triple Play Awards bring Gorley’s total number of Triple Play honors to seven.
“Being on stage today with so many friends is a great feeling,” Gorley said. “We are all thankful for the CMA and the community of Nashville for respecting and recognizing us as songwriters, and awarding what we do behind the scenes. I’m thankful to be a part of the day.”
Copperman, DeStefano, and McAnally each received two Triple Play trophies, each having six songs race to the top of the charts. This brings their Triple Play Awards career totals to two, three, and four, respectively.
Akins and Laird received their fifth Triple Play Awards during the luncheon.
Receiving their first Triple Play Award today were Copperman, Crowell, Hubbard, Hunt, Johnston, Kelley, Ramsey, Rosen, and Tursi.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Triple Play Award recipient and reigning CMA Song of the Year Award winner Hillary Lindsey; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
“Songwriters keep Music City playing and I’m honored to return as host for this important event celebrating this significant milestone in their careers,” said Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board member.
“We are very pleased to recognize these talented songwriters and songwriting artists for this impressive accomplishment and significant contribution to country music,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Their craft evokes emotion and we are grateful they’ve chosen the country format to share their rare talents with the world.”
A full list of this year’s CMA Triple Play Award winners follows (in alphabetical order):
- Rhett Akins: “Just Gettin’ Started,” “TonightLooks Good On You,” “Young & Crazy”
- Ross Copperman: “Beat Of The Music,” “Don’t It,” “Smoke,” “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Strip It Down,” “Lose My Mind”
- Zach Crowell: “Where It’s At,” “House Party,” “Hell Of A Night”
- Chris DeStefano: “Rewind,” “Something In The Water,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Little Toy Guns,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Smoke Break”
- Ashley Gorley: “Play It Again,” “Yeah,” “I See You,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Don’t It,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Young & Crazy,” “Nothin’ Like You”
- Tyler Hubbard: “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Sun Daze”
- Sam Hunt: “We Are Tonight,” “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time”
- Brett James: “I Hold On,” “Bottoms Up,” “Something In The Water”
- Jaren Johnston: “Beachin’,” “Sunshine & Whiskey,” “Raise ‘Em Up”
- Brian Kelley: “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Sun Daze”
- Luke Laird: “American Kids,” “Sunshine & Whiskey,” “Talladega”
- Hillary Lindsey: “Shotgun Rider,” “Girl Crush,” “Little Toy Guns”
- Shane McAnally: “American Kids,” “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Say You Do,” “Wild Child,” “Young & Crazy”
- Josh Osborne: “Leave The Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Wild Child”
- Matthew Ramsey: “Say You Do,” “Save It For A Rainy Day,” “Break Up With Him”
- Trevor Rosen: “Say You Do,” “Sangria,” “Break Up With Him”
- Brad Tursi: “A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” “Save It For A Rainy Day,” “Break Up With Him”
CMA Honors Triple Play Award-Winning Songwriters
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird; Rhett Akins; Chris DeStefano; Tyler Hubbard; Shane McAnally. (Front row, L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Josh Osborne; Ross Copperman; Ashley Gorley; Zach Crowell; Brett James; host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
Several of Nashville’s chart-topping songwriters were recognized as CMA Triple Play Award winners during the seventh annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held today (Feb. 3) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.
Seventeen songwriters were honored with the award, which is presented to those who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12-month period.
CMA Triple Play Award recipients included Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowell, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Brett James, Jaren Johnston, Brian Kelley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, and Brad Tursi.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; CMA’s first triple Triple Play Award recipient Ashley Gorley; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
For the first time since CMA began an annual recognition program for the Triple Play Awards, the Association presented three trophies to one songwriter. Gorley had nine songs reach No. 1 last year. The three Triple Play Awards bring Gorley’s total number of Triple Play honors to seven.
“Being on stage today with so many friends is a great feeling,” Gorley said. “We are all thankful for the CMA and the community of Nashville for respecting and recognizing us as songwriters, and awarding what we do behind the scenes. I’m thankful to be a part of the day.”
Copperman, DeStefano, and McAnally each received two Triple Play trophies, each having six songs race to the top of the charts. This brings their Triple Play Awards career totals to two, three, and four, respectively.
Akins and Laird received their fifth Triple Play Awards during the luncheon.
Receiving their first Triple Play Award today were Copperman, Crowell, Hubbard, Hunt, Johnston, Kelley, Ramsey, Rosen, and Tursi.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Triple Play Award recipient and reigning CMA Song of the Year Award winner Hillary Lindsey; and host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA
“Songwriters keep Music City playing and I’m honored to return as host for this important event celebrating this significant milestone in their careers,” said Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board member.
“We are very pleased to recognize these talented songwriters and songwriting artists for this impressive accomplishment and significant contribution to country music,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Their craft evokes emotion and we are grateful they’ve chosen the country format to share their rare talents with the world.”
A full list of this year’s CMA Triple Play Award winners follows (in alphabetical order):
Sam Hunt, Seal To Perform For Super Bowl 50 NFL Tailgate Party
/by Jessica NicholsonSam Hunt. Photo: UMG Nashville
Sam Hunt and Seal will headline the Super Bowl 50 NFL Tailgate Party at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday, Feb. 7, as the Denver Broncos meet the Carolina Panthers. Coverage of the two performances will be televised as part of CBS’s Super Bowl Sunday pregame show, The Super Bowl Today. The announcement was made by the NFL and CBS.
More than 118.5 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history. The pregame show and Super Bowl 50 will be broadcast worldwide.
The NFL previously announced that Coldplay will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 HalftimeShow. The pregame and halftime shows is an NFL Network Production and will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and directed by Hamish Hamilton.
Artist Updates: The Mavericks, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Zac Brown
/by Eric T. ParkerThe Mavericks Celebrate Grammy Nods with Grammy Week Performance
Pictured (L-R): Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, Raul Malo and Jerry Dale McFadden. Photo: Trey Fanjoy
Two-time Grammy nominees The Mavericks will perform during the Los Angeles event’s Awards Premiere Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on Monday, Feb. 15 from 12:30–3:30 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the event at GRAMMY.com/live and CBS.com via the international live stream. The 58th Grammy Awards will premiere on CBS at 7 p.m. CT that evening.
Band members celebrated nods for Best Americana Album (Mono) and Best American Roots Song for “All Night Long” on Monday, Feb. 1 during the Nashville Grammy nominee party at Loews Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Alan Jackson Extends Keepin’ It Country Tour
Alan Jackson. Photo: Kristy Belcher; Lauren Alaina. Photo: Joseph Llanes
Alan Jackson is extending his successful Keepin’ It Country Tour into 2016 with 11 performances through November with additional dates expected. Rising star Lauren Alaina has been tapped as special guest after March 18. Jackson’s first show of the new year finds him at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 22. Jackson’s 2016 tour is a continuation of his recent 25th anniversary celebration last year.
Tickets and information are available at alanjackson.com.
Little Big Town To Receive Music Biz Award
Little Big Town
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present its prestigious Artist of the Year Award to Little Big Town at the Music Biz 2016 Awards Luncheon in Nashville on Wednesday, May 18, at the Renaissance Hotel. The event will also feature the presentation of Breakthrough Artist Awards to Sam Hunt and Halsey, as well as the soon-to-be-announced Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement and Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award.
Music Biz 2016 will be held May 16-18. Early bird registration is available until March 11, 2016.
Zac Brown Teams for Art Guitars
Proceeds will be donated to Brown’s nonprofit Camp Southern Ground, which gives children with academic, social and emotional difficulties the chance to learn life skills and team work in a positive, healthy and organic environment.
Aubrie Sellers Cranks Up New Music At East Nashville Release Party
/by Craig_ShelburneAubrie Sellers. Photo: Kevin Grace
Aubrie Sellers celebrated the release of her debut album in a machine shop in East Nashville on Tuesday night (Feb. 2), underscoring her commitment to what she calls “garage country.”
Although Greening Auto Company is better known for its full builds, on this stormy night, it served as a full house for a broad spectrum of industry members from music publishing, media, radio and more than a few fellow musicians. She also brought up her parents, Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers, to harmonize on “Like the Rain” during her set, which balanced her rock influences with her sweet, vulnerable vocals. Frank Liddell, her producer and stepfather, enjoyed the show from the middle of the garage floor.
Aubrie Sellers and band. Photo: Kevin Grace
Guests were given vinyl copies of Sellers’ debut album, New City Blues, as they ducked under the garage door into the wet night. She released the project via Carnival Music/Aubrie Sellers Music/Thirty Tigers on Jan. 29.
Sellers’ next show in Nashville is slated for Feb. 20 at the Ryman Auditorium, where she’ll open for Chris Stapleton. She is also confirmed for the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California, on April 29.
Scotty McCreery Exits Mercury Nashville/Interscope
/by Craig_ShelburneScotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery and Mercury Nashville/Interscope have parted ways, MusicRow has confirmed through the singer’s publicist and former label.
“I enjoyed being on Mercury Nashville/Interscope and I appreciate all the great people who worked hard on my behalf while I was there,” McCreery said. “I am excited about what the future holds and the opportunities being presented to me.”
McCreery signed to the label shortly after winning American Idol in 2011. He made history as both the youngest artist and the first male country artist to debut his first studio album atop the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 2.5 million albums.
His platinum singles include “See You Tonight,” “The Trouble With Girls” and “I Love You This Big,” while “Feelin’ It” reached gold certification. He released a single titled “Southern Belle” in August.
His album releases on the label are the platinum-certified Clear as Day (2011), the gold-certified Christmas with Scotty McCreery (2012), and See You Tonight (2013)
McCreery co-wrote “See You Tonight” with Zach Crowell and Ashley Gorley. Last year, he won a BMI Award for co-writing one of the Top 50 Country Songs of 2015.
Big Machine Label Group Will Showcase Five Artists At CRS Luncheon
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise from top left): Justin Moore, Tara Thompson, Drake White, Tucker Beathard, and Jennifer Nettles
Big Machine Label Group artist Jennifer Nettles will bring plenty of vocal power to the stage during Country Radio Seminar, as part of the lineup for the BMLG luncheon at CRS . The event is slated for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Omni Nashville’s CRS Performance Hall.
Nettles released her first single for the label, “Unlove You,” in December. Other talent on the bill include Justin Moore, Tara Thompson, Drake White, and Tucker Beathard. This year marks BMLG’s first CRS-sanctioned luncheon event.
“Country Radio Seminar brings such an energy to the radio and music communities—unlike any other industry convention, and each year, Big Machine Label Group aims to deliver the best experience for those in attendance,” says BMLG SVP Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy and CRS Board Member John Zarling. “This year, our first at the Omni, will be a special one, and for this reason we wanted to be at the heart of it all. With Jennifer, Justin, Tara, Drake and Tucker, this hour of music will spotlight some of the most compelling music coming out of the label group this year.”
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum To Host ‘Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church’
/by Jessica NicholsonSongwriters behind several of Eric Church‘s chart-topping hits will share stories behind the songs during ‘Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church,’ a program to be hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Luke Laird, Casey Beathard, Jeremy Spillman, and Jeff Hyde will perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. The program supports the museum’s exhibition Eric Church: Inside The Outsider, which ends its run on Feb. 21.
Inside the Outsider examines Church’s career with stage wear, guitars, song manuscripts, photos and more from his personal collection. Items include a Harmony H-303 three-quarter-size acoustic guitar played by Church as a child, a gold necklace with Hank Williams Jr.’s logo (a gift to Church from Williams), ACM and CMA Album of the Year Awards for Chief, a notebook with handwritten notes and set lists from The Outsiders World Tour, and more.
The program is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Museum members can make reservations by calling 615-416-2001 or emailing reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org. The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.
Brantley Gilbert Taps Justin Moore, Colt Ford For Summer Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonBrantley Gilbert. Photo: James Minchin
Brantley Gilbert will launch his Take It Outside summer tour on June 2 at Mansfield, Massachusetts’ Xfinity Center. Gilbert will bring Justin Moore and Colt Ford along for the tour’s 22 dates, which run through October 2016.
The trio of artists has toured with each other over the years, while Gilbert and Moore previously collaborated with Thomas Rhett on “Small Town Throwdown.”
“This is one of those tour’s that’ll be crazy before it even rolls,” says Gilbert. “Justin likes to really push the limits, and he’s a pretty serious performer. Colt is one of those guys who gets how to hit a crowd right between the eyes. If you love your country on the rougher side, this is gonna be a show for you.”
Take It Outside Summer Tour Dates:
June 2 – Mansfield, Massachusetts (Xfinity Center) **with Kip Moore, Colt Ford
June 3 – Hartford, Connecticut (The XFINITY Theatre)
June 11 – St Louis, Missouri (Hollywood Casino Amphitheater)
June 12 – Kansas City, Missouri (Cricket Wireless Amphitheater)
June 17 – Gilford, New Hampshire (Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook)
June 19 – Bristow, Virginia (Jiffy Lube Live)
June 23 – Raleigh, North Carolina (Walnut Creek Amphitheater)
June 24 – Charlotte, North Carolina (PNC Music Pavilion)
June 26 – Orange Beach, Alabama (The Amphitheater at The Wharf)
July 8 – Darien Center, New York (Darien Lake Performing Arts)
July 9 – Chicago, Illinois (Hollywood Casino Amphitheater)
July 22 – Mountain View, California (Shoreline Amphitheater)
July 24 – San Diego, California (Sleep Train Amphitheater)
July 31– Wheatland, California (Toyota Amphitheater)
Aug. 5 – Albuquerque, New Mexico (Isleta Amphitheater)
Aug. 6 – Phoenix, Arizona (Ak-Chin Pavilion)
Aug. 20 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (First Niagara Pavilion)
Sept. 8 – New Orleans, Louisiana (Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square)
Sept. 9 – Houston, Texas (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
Sept. 10 – Dallas, Texas (Gexa Energy Pavilion)
Oct. 13 – Salt Lake City, Utah (USANA Amphitheater)
Oct. 14/15 – Morrison, Colorado (Red Rocks Amphitheater)
Ross Copperman, Jon Nite Receive MusicRow’s No. 1 Challenge Coins
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): Ross Copperman and Jon Nite
Ross Copperman and Jon Nite received their latest No. 1 MusicRow Challenge Coins this week for co-writing “Break On Me.” The song was recorded by Keith Urban and released as the second single from his forthcoming studio album, RipCORD. The song reached the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart on January 14, 2016.
Copperman co-wrote four songs that reached No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart in 2015. He currently has two songs working their way up including Brett Eldredge’s “Drunk On Your Love” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Confession.” He also produced Dierks Bentley’s upcoming album, Black.
Jon Nite picked up three coins last year for co-writing “Strip It Down” by Luke Bryan, “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses, and “Beachin’” by Jake Owen.
All songwriters and artists that reach the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart receive the No.1 Challenge Coin. See the full list of recipients.
CMT Plans Scripted Drama Based On ‘Million Dollar Quartet’
/by Craig_ShelburneCMT and production company Thinkfactory Media are adapting the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet into an eight-episode limited-run scripted drama premiering later this year. The series is timed to the historic 60th anniversary of the famed “Million Dollar Quartet” recording sessions featuring icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins at Sun Records in Memphis. Production is set to begin in Memphis this spring.
CMT and Thinkfactory Media (History Channel’s Hatfields & McCoys) have begun a nationwide casting search for actors to portray young Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Ike Turner, Carl Perkins and supporting roles. Auditions will be held at the historic Humes Preparatory Academy Middle School, Presley’s alma mater, on February 13. The line for casting forms at 7 a m. and those auditioning are asked to arrive in 1950s hair and wardrobe. For more information on the casting call, visit www.mdqseries.com.
Brian Philips
“Million Dollar Quartet will capture the star-crossed Memphis moments which led to the most explosive pop culture movement of the 20th Century, the birth of rock ‘n’ roll,” remarked Brian Philips, CMT president. “The characters are all larger-than-life, so casting is a daunting challenge, but we’re counting on the magic of Memphis to come alive again! This is among our most ambitious projects ever, and we entrust it to a proven epic filmmaker, Leslie Greif.”
“We are thrilled to be working with CMT as they enter the scripted drama arena,” said Leslie Greif, CEO & Founder of Thinkfactory Media. “At Thinkfactory Media, we pride ourselves in finding, developing and delivering products that fit the networks we work with, and Million Dollar Quartet is perfectly suited for CMT because of its deep ties to country music and Nashville. The entire Thinkfactory Media team and I are proud to be part of their expansion into rich new territory.”
Million Dollar Quartet marks one of two scripted series coming to CMT this year. This summer, CMT will premiere Still The King, an ensemble comedy starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Joey Lauren Adams, Madison Iseman, Lacey Chabert, Leslie David Baker, and Kevin Farley.