Jake Owen.
Jake Owen will host the 9th Annual ACM Honors celebration, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera winners from the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, on September 1 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Performers will include Jason Aldean, Roy Clark, Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Owen and Restless Heart. Presenters for the evening include Kelsea Ballerini, RAC Clark and The Swon Brothers.
Honorees include Special Awards recipients Barry Adelman, Luke Bryan, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (awarded posthumously), Eric Church, Tim DuBois, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill and Alabama.
Luke Laird will be honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Chuck Ainlay, Tom Bukovac, Dan Dugmore, Jay Joyce, Greg Morrow, Michael Rojas, Ilya Toshinsky and Glenn Worf.
Industry Award winners include Ed Warm of Joe’s Live, Sally Williams of Ryman Auditorium, Country Thunder USA: East in Twin Lakes, WI, Hard Rock Live in Biloxi, MS, Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA, Joe’s Bar in Chicago, IL, MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, NV, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.
This marks Owen’s second time hosting the event and the sixth time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman. Tickets are $42.00 and will go on sale to the general public at Ticketmaster.com and the Ryman box office, Friday (July 31).
Parallel Inks Alex Hall for Publishing, Mangement
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (back row L-R): Mike Snider, WME; Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, LLP; (seated L-R): Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing; Alex Hall; Hannah Showmaker, Parallel Entertainment
Parallel Entertainment has announced the signing of country artist Alex Hall to their roster for both personal management and publishing representation.
“We are so excited to have Alex Hall join our team,” says Parallel’s Tim Hunze. “We knew he was a star the minute he picked up the guitar and sang. We are looking forward to helping him fulfill his dreams.”
“I met with a lot of different people, and it’s good when you have somebody in your corner who is working as hard–if not harder–than you are, every day of the week,” says Hall. “It’s an incredible feeling to have such a great team who is behind working hard, and believing in you as well,”
The Georgia-native has opened shows for acts including Scotty McCreery, Jana Kramer, and Thomas Rhett.
Ninth Annual ACM Honors Prep Jake Owen As Host
/by Lorie HollabaughJake Owen.
Jake Owen will host the 9th Annual ACM Honors celebration, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera winners from the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, on September 1 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Performers will include Jason Aldean, Roy Clark, Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Owen and Restless Heart. Presenters for the evening include Kelsea Ballerini, RAC Clark and The Swon Brothers.
Honorees include Special Awards recipients Barry Adelman, Luke Bryan, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (awarded posthumously), Eric Church, Tim DuBois, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill and Alabama.
Luke Laird will be honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Chuck Ainlay, Tom Bukovac, Dan Dugmore, Jay Joyce, Greg Morrow, Michael Rojas, Ilya Toshinsky and Glenn Worf.
Industry Award winners include Ed Warm of Joe’s Live, Sally Williams of Ryman Auditorium, Country Thunder USA: East in Twin Lakes, WI, Hard Rock Live in Biloxi, MS, Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA, Joe’s Bar in Chicago, IL, MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, NV, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.
This marks Owen’s second time hosting the event and the sixth time the ceremony will be held at the Ryman. Tickets are $42.00 and will go on sale to the general public at Ticketmaster.com and the Ryman box office, Friday (July 31).
Jewel Duets With Dolly on New Sugar Hill Project
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“This is just me. These are my thoughts. These are my feelings,” Jewel said. “This is my poetry. It really felt like returning to a part of me that I didn’t mean to lose, but with time and relationships and life and surviving and dealing, you take on new things and not all of them are great. I was trying to keep my mind quiet and honestly get back to something I feel like I’d lost touch with in my life. It was really an exercise in shutting out fear.”
Among the tracks on the new project are “My Father’s Daughter,” an autobiographical duet with Dolly Parton about Jewel’s father and grandmother. Relationship remnants are explored on tunes like “Love Used To Be,” and “Mercy,” and previously unrecorded live favorites “Carnivore” and “Boy Needs A Bike” also appear on the new collection.
Jewel is also releasing her memoir, Never Broken, on September 15.
Dierks Bentley Lists Nashville Home For $1.7m
/by Eric T. ParkerPhotos: Village Real Estate
Dierks Bentley has listed his Nashville-area home for $1.7 million. The four bedroom, four bath home sits on .6 acres near Lipscomb University, on Granny White Pike.
Built in 1930, the remodeled home features a two-car garage, landscaped pool area, covered walkway to main house, play area and clay tiled roof.
Village Real Estate has the full listing.
SXSW Registration Opens Monday, August 3
/by Eric T. ParkerThis year, the organization will host its Eco SXSW event from October 5-7, 2015 at the Austin Convention Center. Including speakers and sessions for marketers, the 2015 events are intended to create a space for business leaders, investors, innovators and designers to drive economic, environmental and social change. Register by Friday (July 31) to save $200.
New Artist Discovery: Artist Growth, BMG Alliance, Nash Next
/by Lorie HollabaughArtist Growth Partners with Caroline For Artist Discovery
Artist Growth will further help unsigned artists gain exposure from a network of industry members with the launch of its AG Accel Network. Caroline, the full-service partner to independent labels and artists, is the first to join the newly announced network.
As part of AG Accel, Caroline’s associated labels can now evaluate and potentially sign artists based on their own self-reported data from the road, using Artist Growth to track sales of CDs, merchandise and tickets. Premium accounts ($14.99/mo.) will now be able to opt-in to the network to make their data available to labels, managers, booking agents, promoters and brands around the world.
BMG has formed a new alliance designed to accelerate the careers of emerging music artists with BroadbandTV (BBTV), which operates two of the largest music networks on YouTube. Named Windfall, the joint venture is a model allowing artists to benefit from the publishing company’s rights management and distribution services along with BBTV’s online video services, including production, premium channel and fan uploaded content management, technology, distribution, and monetization.
“The launch of Windfall supports our goal to more than double the size of our music network over the next 12 months,” said Shahrzad Rafati, Founder/CEO, BroadbandTV. “Not only does this partnership with BMG break new ground in expanding the relationship between artists and labels, it’s a big step forward in the music industry as a whole where online video has become such a massive strategic component to engage with fans. With Windfall, we’re not just creating music stars, but media stars.”
The NASH Next search for the Next Country Superstar will close its doors on August 7. Social Challenge Rounds will begin for 100 selected artists August 14, including five rounds using apps including Twitter, Periscope, and Instagram. Ten finalists will then be chosen for the final video round from October 28-November 22 with judges Kix Brooks, James Stroud and John Dickey.
More information and to participate, visit nashnextcountry.com.
Mac McAnally To Release Solo Album In September
/by Troy_StephensonMac McAnally
Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame member Mac McAnally will release his self-produced, performed and sung album on September 18 on Mailboat Records.
Titled A.K.A. Nobody, the Nashville mainstay has writing credits on all but one song with several top names also contributing (track list below), including Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Chris Stapleton and Al Anderson.
“This selection of music made me stay up late and get up early for the last several years in between also working on musical projects with other artists, which I also love to do,” McAnally says. “I had the chance to give some long attention to the songs that demanded it. I’m very proud of both the work and that my fans continue to follow my little career. Small though it may be it’s one of the biggest blessings ever. I’m grateful… and to borrow one of the song titles ‘Proud To Be Alive.'”
McAnally will continue tour with Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band through December, hitting New Jersey, California, Florida and two dates in Paris, France.
McAnally has been honored every year since 2008 as Musician of the Year at the CMA Awards. He has also written No. 1 songs for Chesney (“Down the Road”) and Alabama (“Old Flame”) Sawyer Brown (“All These Years”) and Shenandoah (“Two Dozen Roses”).
A.K.A. Nobody track listing:
1. A Little Bit Better (Chris Stapleton/Mac McAnally)
2. Last But Not Least (Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Jimmy De Martini/Coy Bowles/McAnally)
3. Mississippi, You’re On My Mind (Jesse Winchester)
4. With A Straight Face (McAnally)
5. Don’t Remember Leaving (McAnally)
6. Zanzibar (McAnally)
7. Place Where You Belong (Al Anderson/McAnally)
8. Proud To Be Alive (McAnally)
9. Better Get Your Story Straight (McAnally)
10. Everything (Ain’t Too High a Price) (McAnally)
11. Loser Gumbo (Sonny Landreth/McAnally)
12. Coast of Carolina (Jimmy Buffett/McAnally)
13. Someday (McAnally)
14. Island Rain (Kenny Chesney/McAnally)
15. Working Prayer (McAnally)
Industry Ink: YEP, Music Health Alliance
/by Lorie HollabaughYEP Launches 2nd Annual Mentorship Program
Young Entertainment Professionals network (YEP), is currently accepting applications for its 2nd annual Springboard program, which pairs prospects with a YEP board member who will guide in navigating the Music Row landscape and provide key connections to the industry. Springboard mentors include: Laura Alexander (Kobalt), Andrew Cohen (I.R.S. Records Nashville), Matt Cottingham (Ritholz Levy), Jarrod Holley (Eli Young Band/Invasion Agency), Kristen Kee (Sony Music Nashville), MaryAnn Keen (TenTen Music/Nettwerk Music Group), Lee Krabel (HoriPro Entertainment), Kendall Lettow (THiS Music), Marc Rucker (Crush Music), Garrison Snell (Gyrosity Projects), and Laura Williams (Regions Bank). Applications will be accepted through August 31 at springboard.yepnashville.
YEP will also host a free songwriters round tomorrow night (July 29) at Nashville’s The Basement, from 6:30-8:30 p.m featuring Hunter Phelps, Ben Goldsmith, Kristina Kidd, Lockhart (Johnny Bulford & Janell Wheeler), Anna Graceman and Cole Taylor.
The Music Health Alliance has announced its Director of Operations and Senior Care, Shelia Shipley Biddy, has now earned the title of Certified Senior Advisor. Earned through a series of courses and testing administered by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Biddy’s training compliments her professional skills to better serve the growing senior demographic.
“Many of our industry veterans work well beyond their retirement age, creating challenges for companies who are not geared to guide their employees outside their normal health insurance group plans,” said Biddy. “Mistakes can be made and they are often costly to the individual. With this new certification, I am better prepared to explain options and guide them to qualified resources.”
For more information about these or other services provided, contact Biddy at 615-200-6892.
[Updated] Weekly Register: Alan Jackson, Jason Isbell Vie For Top Spot
/by Sarah SkatesCountry stalwart Alan Jackson and indie darling Jason Isbell released albums this week and both staked claim as the week’s best-selling country project. How is that possible?
After Nielsen Soundscan discovered an error in independent record store sales reporting yesterday (July 27), it re-ran the chart numbers. This resulted in Isbell debuting with 46K on the country albums chart (which measures sales only), slightly ahead of Jackson with 45K. Meanwhile, on the Top 200, which measures total activity (sales, streaming, etc.) Jackson had 48K, nudging out Isbell’s 47K.
Jackson’s Angels and Alcohol is his first studio album of all new music in three years. The project was produced by his longtime collaborator and friend Keith Stegall. It is the singer’s fourteenth album to debut at No. 1.
Average Joes act Moonshine Bandits debuted with 4K, landing at No. 13 country. The duo comprised of Tex and Bird collaborated with Nashville songwriters on the new album including Ira Dean (formerly of Trick Pony). Released on BackRoad Records, the project was produced by Durwood Black and Ty Weathers.
Top 5 Country Albums This Week
Jason Isbell 46K
Alan Jackson 45K
Sam Hunt 13K
Zac Brown Band 9.5K
Eric Church 8K
Luke Bryan owns the No. 1 spot on the country tracks chart (No. 15 overall) with “Kick The Dust Up” selling 56K. Meanwhile, his song “Strip It Down” debuts at No. 5 country (No. 25 overall) selling 44K. His next album will be released Aug. 7.
Top 5 Country Tracks This Week
Luke Bryan “Kick The Dust Up” 57K
Little Big Town “Girl Crush” 51K
Sam Hunt “House Party” 45K
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 45K
Luke Bryan “Strip It Down” 44K
Ascend Amphitheater To Host Free Open House This Weekend
/by Sarah SkatesRiverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.
Ascend Amphitheater’s four-day grand opening weekend includes an open house for the community on Sunday, Aug. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be performances by local bands and DJs as well as tours of the amphitheater. The event is free and open to the public, and members of the community are encouraged to bring school supplies to donate to LP Pencil Box.
Those coming to the community open house are invited to bring their soccer balls and frisbees to enjoy the soccer-field sized green space called The Green. Metro Parks will provide basketballs so people can play on the two half-court basketball courts. Other games and features include custom swings, game boards for chess and checkers, a fitness circuit and greenway trails. Community members are also invited to bring their dogs on leashes to enjoy the 13,000-square-foot dog park, where dogs can roam free. There is also WiFi access. Free parking for community day will be available at Nissan Stadium, across the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Hattie B’s, Martin’s Bar-B-Que and Padrino’s Pops are confirmed as some of the offerings that will be available at Music City’s new outdoor live music venue when it opens. The venue’s first concert will be July 30 when Eric Church plays the first of two sold-out shows at the amphitheater.