Sam Hunt Plans Nashville Street Party

MCA Nashville artist Sam Hunt will host a street party in downtown Nashville Tuesday, Oct. 27. The party will be presented by Bose.

Hunt is nominated for three CMA Awards, including New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year, as well as three American Music Awards, including New Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Artist-Country, and Favorite Album-Country.

 

Scotty McCreery Earns 2016 Patrick D. Kenan Award for Vocal Health and Wellness

Scotty McCreery will be honored with the 2016 Patrick D. Kenan Award for Vocal Health and Wellness at Duke Voice Care Center’s 10th Annual World Voice Day celebration, slated for March 29.

The event will be held at the Cary Arts Center in Cary, N.C.

To keep up his demanding touring schedule, McCreery says he is careful to practice good vocal care.

“My voice is my livelihood, so taking care of it is essential,” said McCreery. “I make sure to stay as healthy as I can and not put any strain on my voice…well, unless I’m at an NC State sporting event! I also consult with my doctors regularly to make sure my vocal cords remain in great condition.” McCreery will offer an acoustic performance and share more secrets for keeping voices healthy at the event. 

“Voices are the foundation of who we are. Our voices serve to inspire us, contributing to our beliefs and values, influencing the collective history of the human race. We honor our voices on World Voice Day and the unique contribution of everyone’s voice signature,” says Duke Voice Care Center Director David Witsell, MD, MHS.

 

RaeLynn To Perform For Songs For Sound

RaeLynn will perform at the Great Georgia Air Show in Peachtree, Ga., on Oct. 31 as part of Songs for Sound, a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of people suffering from hearing loss.

A screening vehicle will be at the event on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 to offer free auditory screenings, equipment demos and other information and giveaways to help raise hearing health awareness and offer support for veterans and their families.

RaeLynn’s debut single, “God Made Girls,” has sold over a half a million copies. Her follow-up, “For A Boy,” is now available on iTunes along with her EP release, aptly titled ME.

RaeLynn will also appear at the Songs for Sound mobile center on Oct. 31 for private meet-and-greets. Passes are available for a donation to benefit Songs for Sound at www.songsforsound.com.

 

Singer-songwriter Christy McDonald Releases “Here Comes The Night”

Christy McDonald has released the single “Here Comes The Night.” In conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, a portion of the proceeds from the song will be donated to the T.J. Martell Foundation for cancer research.

The track features former Iron Maiden member Alf Batz on guitar, as well as three-time Grammy nominee Shaun Murphy on background vocals. The track was produced by McDonald, AJ Masters and Grady Walker. Masters died of cancer in 2015, inspiring McDonald to use the song as a vehicle to give back.

[Update, 4:34 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23]: Joey+Rory have canceled the duo’s five upcoming Joey+Rory Farmhouse Concert dates, according to their website. The concert dates had been slated for Nov. 6 and 7, and Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at a concert hall located at the duo’s farm south of Nashville.

Tickets that have already been purchase for the concerts will be reimbursed. For questions regarding ticket reimbursement, contact farmhousedistribution@gmail.com.

[Original post, published at 11:01 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23]:

Joey+Rory singer Joey Feek has terminal cancer, her husband and musical partner Rory Feek revealed in a recent blog post at thislifeilive.com.

“Sometimes there just aren’t enough surgeries — or doctors — or chemotherapies — or prayers. And you have to wipe the tears from your cheeks and say the words that you were hoping to never have to say …” he writes. “Enough.”

The couple decided to stop cancer treatments after learning that Joey’s stage 4 cervical cancer has been spreading aggressively, despite daily chemotherapy and radiation treatments, as well as a recent surgery. Joey Feek was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014, not long after the couple welcomed daughter Indiana.

Before the next round of chemo was to start on this past Thursday in Atlanta, the doctors scheduled a CT scan to be done the day before. This was her first major scan since before she had the big surgery in July.  So the goal was to see how her body has responded, after the removal of the all the cancer and the first five weeks of treatment.  To make sure that there were no signs of the cancer still around.

But there was.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this…”  That’s how the conversation began.

Then the doctor explained that the scans revealed that two quarter-sized tumors have already grown back in the same area that they had been blasting daily with chemo and radiation. And that many more smaller tumors were visible all throughout the abdominal region.  She said that the cancer was aggressively spreading in spite of all they’ve been doing.

So we did what you do when the medicine isn’t working, and the doctors are at a loss…and when the ‘statistics” say you can do more chemo, but it will only buy you a little time…

We came home. Not to die. But to live.

To put our hands in each others and sit out on the back porch and watch the sun set as our sweet little baby girl plays on a blanket in front of us.  To bask in the glory of the beautiful life He’s blessed us with, and try not to question why we can’t have more of it together.  And why He is allowing this to happen.
The doctors gave us an estimate of how much time they believe that Joey has, and we both looked at the calendar that hangs by our kitchen door, then I took the calendar off the wall and threw in the trash can.

So we don’t have forever.  We’ve got right now.

And that’s enough.

The couple continues to ask for prayers from family, friends, and fans.

“One of the mantra’s that I always try to live by is to have incredibly ‘high hopes, but low expectations,’ So, even though we know we’ve reached the end of what medicine can do — and while we prepare for what God has put in front of us… Joey and I will continue to pray for a miracle. We ask for your prayers too. For a miracle. And even more so, for peace with His decision.

That is enough.

Kompass Music Signs SVRCINA

Kobalt Music Publishing’s sister company, Kompass Music, has entered into an agreement with artist/writer SVRCINA.

SVRCINA has been in Nashville’s writing community for several years. In 2009, while going by the name Molly Hunt, she was just 13 when she signed a publishing deal with AWMG Entertainment. She is working on a new EP set for release in 2016.

Kompass is a multimedia company focused on artist development, film, and television placements administered by Kobalt music worldwide.

 

Publishers Compete In COHKS Dart Tournament in Nashville

This past Wednesday, the semi-annual COHKS Dart Tournament was held at Edgefield Sports Bar and Grill in East Nashville. The five competing publishers making up the letters in COHKS include Combustion Music, Ole Rights Management, HoriPro Entertainment Group, Kobalt Music Group, and Sea Gayle Music Publishing. Each company provides two teams who compete for the holy grail of dart trophies, which was previously held by Ole.                

The tournament went into double elimination until the last two teams went head to head for the win. Sea Gayle beat out HoriPro in the final round, taking home the trophy.

 

AIMP To Host A&R Development Panel

AIMP  will welcome several top independent music publishing execs on Oct. 29 to discuss publishing and A&R development. Michael McAnally Baum, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Rusty Gaston, John Ozier, and Kos Weaver. Sea Gayle Music’s Marc Driskill will moderate the panel.

The panel will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.  at ASCAP’s Connie Bradley Board Room, located at 2 Music Square West. The event is free for AIMP members, and $20 for AIMP non-members.

Fifth Third Bank has signed on as a sponsor. To register, visit aimp.org.

 

Rend Collective Launches Rend Family Records With Capitol Christian Music Group

Northern Irish folk worship band Rend Collective has announced the launch of Rend Family Records, a partnership with Capitol Christian Music Group.

The label’s first signing is Urban Rescue, a revival band from Los Angeles, fronted by Jordan Frye. Urban Rescue has released “Kaleidoscope,” the first single from its upcoming album.

“Rend Collective has always been about finding wild and colourful ways to worship God, so as Rend Family Records, we hope to shine a spotlight on artists who are redefining the landscape of musical worship,” Rend Collective shared. “We’re calling ourselves a ‘family’ on purpose, because we want this label to be another extension of the thing we call ‘church.’ Our goal is to create an environment where discipleship is valued more than the ‘next great idea,’ to be pastorally-minded instead of product-driven.”

Backroad Anthem band members Craig Strickland (lead vocals/acoustic), Toby Freeman (lead vocals/electric), Eric Dysart (fiddle), Josh Bryant (lead electric), Brandon Robold (bass/vocals), and Isaac Senty (drums), met while leading worship at a church in Fayetteville, Ark., approximately three years ago, and discovered they shared a mutual passion for country music.

“We decided to make a country cover band to make money on the side, and we all had ‘real’ jobs,” says band member Craig Strickland. After the third performance sold out, the guys quickly realized the newly-formed band would soon become more than a side gig. Within six months of forming, the Backroad Anthem was opening for artists including Justin Moore and Eli Young Band.

They also brought their music to college students across the country. “We built a following outside Nashville by singing at sorority houses around the SEC/Big 12 like Mississippi State, Alabama, Kansas State, Georgia,” says Craig. “It’s amazing how when you walk up to a sorority house with six dudes and a fiddle, they will let you in,” he quipped.

The band offered a three-song acoustic preview at the MusicRow office this week. The performance included “No Show,” “Disco Ball,” and their current single, “Torn.”

“We started out in a Suburban,” Strickland recalled of the band’s early days. “My dad’s company boss gave us the Suburban and we were in that for three years.” Thanks to a generous, music-loving benefactor, the group recently upgraded. “We were playing this private event for this guy who just loves music and owns a few companies. He said he wanted to help us get out of the Suburban and into something a little bigger. We were like, ‘Keep talking…’” he laughed. “I went to lunch with him and I told him that in order to get to the status we want to be at, selling out arenas, at the top and playing music in front of thousands each night, we wanted people to come alongside us, either financially or by getting the word out.” The band is now traveling to gigs in a Mercedes Sprinter Van.

The new ride is being put to good use. Backroad Anthem has signed with WME, and performs upwards of 150 shows per year. Their schedule includes a hometown concert in Fayetteville on Oct. 23. They will play Nashville’s Exit/In on Nov. 17.

The band just earned the Discovery of the Day honor from MusicRow‘s Robert Oermann‘s weekly DISClaimer column.

Backroad Anthem’s debut four-song EP, Torn, is available now.

 

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has announced the newly-elected Board of Directors for the 2015-16 term. Previously announced officers include Chairman Paul Barnabee, President Ken Tucker, Vice President Ben Vaughn, Treasurer Duane Clark, Parliamentarian Paul Moore, Sergeant-at-Arms Tim DuBois and Secretary Tiffany Moon.

“I’m excited to work with so many committed industry leaders who have invested their time and shown real devotion to hands-on involvement with the Academy,” said Barnabee. “As a team, we have helped the ACM brand accomplish record-setting feats this year and I know we all look forward to more excitement in 2016.”

This year, there were six qualifying professional categories elected by the Academy’s membership. In addition to those elected, director-at-large positions have been appointed by Chairman Paul Barnabee, President Ken Tucker and Vice President Ben Vaughn. Directors are elected from each category based on the number of members in that category. Each director serves staggered two-year terms, with half the board membership changing each year.

Newly elected members of the Board of Directors include (full board listing with categories also attached):

Tony Brown, TBE Enterprises
Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light Management / 377 Management
Byron Gallimore, Streamsound
Rusty Gaston, THiS Music
Roger Gearhart, Graham Brothers Entertainment
Michael Knox, Michael Knox Productions / peermusic Nashville
Dustin Lynch
David Macias, Thirty Tigers
Chris Parr, MAVERICK
Kimberly Perry
Peter Strickland, Warner Music Nashville
Cole Swindell
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live

Newly appointed members of the Board of Directors include:

Chuck Aly, Country Aircheck
Bradley Collins, BMI
Crystal Dishmon, ShopKeeper Management
Kerri Edwards, KPentertainment
Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry
Brandon Gill, Morris Higham Management
Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley Co.
Pat Higdon, Patrick Joseph Music
Greg Hill, Hill Entertainment Group
Gayle Holcomb, WME
T.K. Kimbrell, T.K.O. Artist Management
Greg McCarn, Black River Records
Doc McGhee, McGhee Entertainment
Daniel Miller, Fusion Management
Carmen Romano, FBMM
Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group

FULL ACM BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-2016

OFFICERS

Chairman Paul Barnabee, Sony Music Nashville
President Ken Tucker, Apple
Vice President Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell Nashville
Treasurer Duane Clark, FBMM
Parliamentarian Paul Moore, PGM Connections, LLC.
Sergeant-at-Arms Tim DuBois, Artist Management Partners
Secretary Tiffany Moon, Academy of Country Music

AFFILIATED

Tony Brown, TBE
Buddy Cannon, Cannon Productions
Michael Knox, Music Knox / peermusic Nashville
Mike Kraski, Tenacity Management
Kathy Armistead Olen, Atticus Brand Partners

ARTIST/ENTERTAINER/MBI

Lee Brice
Dustin Lynch
Kimberly Perry
Cole Swindell

CLUB/CASINO/CONCERT-VENUE OPERATOR

Roger Gearhart, Graham Brothers Entertainment
Jerry Hufford, Buck Owens’ Enterprises
Troy Volhoffer, Premier Global Partners
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live

COMPOSER

Lee Thomas Miller

MANAGER

George Couri, Triple 8 Management
Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light Management / 377 Management
Chris Parr, MAVERICK

MEDIA/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media

MUSIC PUBLISHER/PRO

Frank Liddell, Carnival Music
Rusty Gaston, THiS Music

ON-AIR PERSONALITY

Bob Kingsley, Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40

RADIO

Charlie Cook, Cumulus Nashville

RECORD COMPANY

Byron Gallimore, Streamsound
Cindy Mabe, Universal Music Group Nashville
David Macias, Thirty Tigers
Peter Strickland, Warner Music Nashville

TALENT AGENT

Curt Motley, PARADIGM Agency

TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER

Brad Garrett, Police Productions
Brian O’Connell, Live Nation

TV/MOTION PICTURE

Tom Forrest, taillight

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Chuck Aly, Country Aircheck

Bradley Collins, BMI

Ross Copperman

Benson Curb, Curb Records

Dallas Davidson

John Dickey

Crystal Dishmon, Shopkeeper Management

Kerri Edwards, KPEntertainment

Seth England, Big Loud Shirt Music Publishing*

Chris Farren, Combustion Music

Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry

Leslie Fram, CMT

Jay Frank, Universal Music Group

Brandon Gill, Morris Higham Management

Jimmy Harnen, BMLG

Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley Co.

Pat Higdon, Patrick Joseph Music

Mary Hilliard Harrington, The GREENROOM

Greg Hill, Hill Entertainment Group

Gayle Holcomb, WME

Laura Hutfless, FlyteVu

T.K. Kimbrell, T.K.O. Artist Management

Jon Loba, BBR Music Group

Greg McCarn, Black River Records

Doc McGhee, McGhee Entertainment

Shawn McSpadden, Red Light Management

Daniel Miller, Fusion Management

Chris Oliveria, CBS Radio*

Carmen Romano, FBMM

Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group

Kimberly Schlapman

Lane Wilson, WME

*Selected by the officer leadership team to fill the remaining period of vacated one-year director-at-large terms.

PAST CHAIRS

Darin Murphy, CAA
Ken Robold, Sony Music Nashville
Butch Waugh
Bill Mayne, Country Radio Broadcasters
John Grady, Crush Management
Rod Essig, CAA