At CMA World GlobaLive! trophies were presented to event host Morgan Evans, who received the CMA Global Country Artist Award, and CMA Board member and CEO of Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta, who received the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. (L-R): Frank Bumstead, Chairman Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, Inc. and CMA Board Chairman; Scott Borchetta; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Rob Potts, CEO and Manager Director of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, and CMA International Committee Vice Chairman; Jeff Walker, CEO/Founder of AristoMedia, CMA World GlobaLive! Executive Producer, and CMA Board member; David Ross, President of BossRoss Media and CMA Board member; and Morgan Evans. Photo: John Russell / CMA
Chapter 490
Day Two of the CMA Music Festival week echoed Day One with its even mix of industry schmoozathons and fan events.
NATD PICNIC
The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) launched a new Fan Fair tradition by staging a picnic in the pavilion at Fannie Mae Dees Park (you probably call it “Dragon Park,” like the rest of us). At noon on Tuesday (6/9), its members and their guests gathered to share traditional fixin’s such as hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, barbecue, potato salad, pickles, chips and cookies.
Several artists were there, including singer-songwriter Randi Perkins, Saturday Night Live alumnus Victoria Jackson, Moore & Moore (agents as well as singers) and Opryland veterans Russ & Becky Jeffers, who now work for Hemphill Coaches.
“We are artists as well as professional hot-dog cookers,” proclaimed the bespectacled duo The Professor & The Bull. They were, indeed, the picnic’s frankfurter preparers. And are highly entertaining as an act.
Bonnie Sugarman, Dick Beecham, Ray Shelide, Bob Battle, Shelly Mullins, Dave Barton, Marge Bell, Travis Wolf, Annette Clark, Rod Harris, Dan Wunsch, Robert Williams and Fred Vail were among those working the room.
Attendee Ed Salamon has a new book, Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Rock & Roll. So does NATD member Dean Unkefer of Special Promotions. His is a novel titled 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad From Hell. Universal Pictures has picked up the movie rights for it. Wow—from the Colgate Country Showdown to Hollywood in one easy step.
NATD president Steve Tolman announced that the 57-year-old organization’s annual gala will be held on Nov. 10 this year. During the next 30 days, the group will be choosing its honorees. So if you have any suggestions, give Tolman a ring at LogiCom.
Past banquets have saluted Charlie Daniels, George Jones, TV’s Demetria Kalodimos, the Symphony’s Alan Valentine, Martina McBride, Alabama, Michael W. Smith, top agents and managers, sports figures, politicians and more. This year will be the fifth annual NATD Honors gala.
CMA WORLD GLOBALIVE
Meanwhile, downtown, the Festival fans gathered at Walk of Fame Park for a Tuesday afternoon of music. This was the rescheduled “CMA World GlobaLive!” concert. It had been rained out on Monday.
Above the stage hung the flags of the participating countries—Australia, Brazil, Ireland, The Netherlands, Britain, New Zealand and Canada. I heard a spirited set by the rockin’ Dutch outlaw-bluegrass band Stringcaster.
The sun was shining brightly. The humidity was at the usual CMA Fest level. A respectably sized crowd of a couple hundred lounged on the grass, on hammocks scattered throughout the lawn, on the walls flanking the park and on comfortable lawn furniture beneath a large green shade tent.
These artists, who have come so far to participate in CMA Fest, were greeted with enthusiastic applause. It must be quite an experience for them.
The Netherlands sent us Femke as well as Stringcaster. Brazil’s entry was a group called Indiana. From Canada came MacKenzie Porter and The Lovelocks. The Shires and Ward-Thomas represented the U.K. and Ireland. The New Zealand and Australian acts were The Adam Eckersley Band, Cam Luxton, Mickey Pye and show host Morgan Evans.
In the evening, the industry reclaimed the spotlight. Warner Bros. Records took over 3rd & Lindsley to showcase the forthcoming second album by the divine Ashley Monroe. She topped the charts dueting with Blake Shelton on “Lonely Tonight.” Now, please, let it be her turn to shine as a solo female country star.
On Lower Broadway later that night, Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line delighted fans with their outdoor rehearsals for the CMT Awards. These superstar soundchecks were totally free. So are their televised performances from the Broadway stage on Wednesday night during the awards. The rest of the CMT stars will be performing in front of a sold-out audience in Bridgestone Arena.
Carrie Underwood Is Big Winner At 2015 CMT Music Awards
/by Sarah SkatesCarrie Underwood at the CMT Music Awards. Photo: Bev Moser
The CMT Music Awards were presented tonight (June 10) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, airing live on CMT. Erin Andrews and Brittany Snow hosted the event.
Carrie Underwood was the leading nominee with five nominations. With her wins tonight, she has earned 13 CMT belt buckles throughout her career, more than any other artist in the show’s history.
Winners are determined by fan voting at CMT.com. Voting for most categories closed on Monday, June 8. Voting for Video of the Year was conducted throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to select the night’s big winner.
Read MusicRow‘s full coverage of the live event here.
Winners below in RED.
Video of the Year
Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water,” Directed by Raj Kapoor
Dierks Bentley, “Drunk On A Plane,” Directed by Wes Edwards
Florida Georgia Line, “Dirt,” Directed by Nigel Dick
Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down,” Directed by Wes Edwards
Luke Bryan, “Play It Again,” Directed by Michael Monaco
Miranda Lambert w/ Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad,” Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Male Video of the Year
Dierks Bentley, “Drunk On A Plane”
Eric Church, “Talladega”
Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down”
Keith Urban, “Somewhere In My Car”
Kenny Chesney, “American Kids”
Luke Bryan, “Play It Again”
Female Video of the Year
Carrie Underwood, “Little Toy Guns”
Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water”
Lee Ann Womack, “The Way I’m Livin'”
Miranda Lambert, “Little Red Wagon”
RaeLynn, “God Made Girls”
Reba, “Going Out Like That”
Group Video of the Year
A Thousand Horses, “Smoke”
Eli Young Band, “Dust”
Lady Antebellum, “Bartender”
Little Big Town, “Day Drinking”
The Band Perry, “Chainsaw”
Zac Brown Band, “All Alright”
Duo Video of the Year
Big & Rich, “Look At You”
Brothers Osborne, “Rum”
Florida Georgia Line, “Dirt”
Florida Georgia Line, “Sun Daze”
Maddie & Tae, “Girl In A Country Song”
The Swon Brothers, “Later On”
Breakthrough Video of the Year
Chase Rice, “Gonna Wanna Tonight”
Frankie Ballard, “Sunshine & Whiskey”
Kelsea Ballerini, “Love Me Like You Mean It”
Maddie & Tae, “Girl In A Country Song”
RaeLynn, “God Made Girls”
Sam Hunt, “Leave The Night On”
Collaborative Video of the Year
Blake Shelton Featuring Ashley Monroe, “Lonely Tonight”
Brantley Gilbert Featuring Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett, “Small Town Throwdown”
Jennifer Nettles Featuring Brandy Clark, “His Hands”
Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter, “Wild Child”
Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”
Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill, “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”
CMT Performance of the Year
Bob Seger and Jason Aldean, “Turn The Page” (from CMT Crossroads)
Brett Eldredge, “Beat of the Music” (from CMT Ultimate Kickoff Party)
John Legend with Lee Ann Womack, “You and I (Nobody in the World)” (from CMT Crossroads)
Katy Perry with Kacey Musgraves, “Roar” (from CMT Crossroads)
Keith Urban, “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” (from CMT Artists of the Year)
Kenny Chesney, “American Kids” (from CMT Instant Jam)
Lady Antebellum and Aloe Blacc, “Wake Me Up” (from CMT Ultimate Kickoff Party)
Lady Antebellum and Chris Stapleton, “Drink A Beer” (from CMT Artists of the Year)
All Eyes (And Ears) On Tonight’s CMT Music Awards
/by Troy_StephensoniHeartMedia personalities and shows recently participated in exclusive radio remote broadcasts in Nashville. The Bobby Bones Show, CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan, The Michael J Show, The Boxer Show, and The Crook & Chase Countdown interviewed award nominees and stars including Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, and more.
The show will be hosted by Erin Andrews and Brittany Snow and will include performances by Eric Church, Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Zac Brown Band, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum and Luke Bryan.
TeliaSonera Invests $115 Million In Spotify
/by Troy_Stephenson“We have a long and great relationship with TeliaSonera and I’m pleased we’re able to take this to the next level together with this strategic partnership”, said Daniel Ek, CEO and Founder, Spotify.
Reports indicate the investment was part of a $526-million fundraising round, allowing Spotify to top $1 billion collected since its creation in 2008.
This deal follows the recent announcement that Apple will be launching a music streaming service expected to compete with Spotify.
Mutt Lang-Produced: Ashley Clark’s ‘Greyhound’ Leaves Station
/by Eric T. ParkerThe five-song collection is a taste of the upcoming full-length debut, produced by Mutt Lange over a two-year period.
Clark made his Grand Ole Opry debut last month (May 15) singing his single “Greyhound.” Co-written with brother Austin Clark, the official music video was shot in Los Angeles.
The Virginia-native is one of 11 children who previously toured as the Clark Family Experience. Ashley’s fiddle playing set him apart, finding him touring in Carrie Underwood‘s band before stepping out on his own with manager Simon Fuller (XIX Entertainment).
Ashley Clark – Upcoming Performances
6/18 – Fresno, CA @ KISS Country Summer Concert @ Rotary Amphitheatre
6/21 -Denver, CO @ Jackson’s All American Sports Grill – KWOF
7/4 – Greeley, CO @ Greeley Stampede (w/ Gary Allan and Jerrod Niemann)
7/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Go Country 105 new artist series @ JW Marriott
Publishing Roundup: ole, Eleven Eleven, Big Loud Shirt, Music Row Admin Group
/by Lorie Hollabaughole Signs Geesbreght
ole has signed songwriter April Geesbreght to a worldwide publishing deal. Geesbreght penned Aaron Shust’s “My Hope Is in You,” which spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Christian chart. She has also penned pop, country, and children’s songs in addition to tracks for TV and film. She is currently writing with Lauren Alaina and Cassadee Pope and several other artists for their upcoming projects.
(L-R): Back: Randall Foster (ole Sr. Director, Creative Licensing), John Ozier (ole GM, Creative), Shellien Kinsey (ole Creative Coordinator), and Ben Strain (ole Creative Director). Front: ole songwriter April Geesbreght and Emily Mueller (ole Creative Manager)
Max T. Barnes Inks With Eleven Eleven
Max T. Barnes has inked an exclusive agreement with Eleven Eleven Publishing. Barnes’ penned tunes include Collin Raye’s “Love, Me,” Diamond Rio’s “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” Randy Travis’ “Before You Kill Us All,” and many others. Barnes joins a stable of writers at Eleven Eleven that includes Nathan Bell, Doug Gill, Angela Kaset, Charley Stefl and Wendy Waldman.
(L-R): Eleven Eleven’s Jason Morris and Jewel Coburn, Max T. Barnes and BMI’s Perry Howard
Big Loud Shirt celebrates Rodney Clawson Milestone
With a spread that included party favors and a large gold cake, Big Loud Shirt celebrated writer Rodney Clawson’s 20th #1 single, “Sippin’ On Fire” this Monday (6/8).
Music Row Administrators Celebrates Sixteen Years
The Music Row Administrators Group is celebrating its 16th anniversary June 18 at 1:00 p.m. with a luncheon in the ASCAP First Floor Conference Room. Attendees should bring their own lunch for the party, (brown bag or take-out), but drinks and an anniversary cake will be provided for the celebration.
Founded in 1999 by Shirley Hutchins and the late Peggy Bradley, the group began as an informal, monthly, brown bag lunch meeting to discuss new use license requests, complicated changing royalty issues and assist the small band of indie publishers and administrators with questions.
Opry Kicks Off CMA Fest With Stars… And Schwarzenegger
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Grand Ole Opry kicked off CMA Fest week with a packed Tuesday night show. Grand Ole Opry members Carrie Underwood, Bill Anderson, and Del McCoury along with Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, Scotty McCreery, Mickey Guyton, and Mo Pitney all hit the historic stage during the evening, with surprise backstage guests Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Arnold watching from the wings.
The music kicked off early in the afternoon with a free Opry Plaza Party featuring Tyler Farr and Mo Pitney. Underwood launched her CMA Music Festival week of appearances with a return to the Opry stage, and had her official fan club party at the Opry as well. Scheduled artists on the Opry stage later this week include Charles Esten, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Mickey Gilley, Chris Janson, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mel Tillis, Josh Turner, Clay Walker.
In addition to Friday and Saturday night performances, the Opry will offer a special matinee at the Ryman Auditorium Saturday at 3 p.m. Additionally, Opry artists including Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, and members of ABC’s Nashville cast are scheduled for autograph signings downtown at Opry Originals and the Ryman Auditorium.
Photos: Chris Hollo.
Carrie Underwood
Tyler Farr
Mickey Guyton
Tom Arnold and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Weekly Register: Debuts By Willie & Merle, Billy Currington, Gloriana
/by Sarah SkatesAlso on the country album chart, Billy Currington’s Summer Forever debuted at No. 3 with 21K. Gloriana entered at No. 13 with Three selling 4.5K.
Willie and Merle 31K
Zac Brown Band 23K
Billy Currington 21K
Sam Hunt 14K
Brantley Gilbert 9.9K
Top 5 Country Tracks this week
Little Big Town “Girl Crush” 71K
Luke Bryan “Kick The Dust Up” 58K
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 51K
Blake Shelton “Sangria” 44K
Eric Church “Like A Wrecking Ball” 31K
On the overall albums chart, Florence & The Machine debuted at No. 1 with How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful selling 137K (128k album only). And on the overall tracks chart, Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” holds onto the No. 1 spot, selling 161K.
Overall -3.6%
Country -9.8%
YTD Singles
Overall -10.3%
Country -16.2%
*according to Nielsen Soundscan
Ashley Monroe Slays Hearts During Live Album Preview
/by Eric T. ParkerAshley Monroe and band. Photo: Yahoo!
With a cream pantsuit jacket contrasting the steel and mahogany strapped around her shoulder last night (June 9), Ashley Monroe broke a few hearts at Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley.
Her wedding diamond sparkled on her hand, cautioning too affectionate admirers, while her songs told a similar story of heartache and desire.
With an easy saunter in snakeskin ankle boots, she took the mic and introduced “I Buried Your Love Alive,” a song from her forthcoming Vince Gill and Justin Niebank produced sophomore effort, available July 24 via Warner Bros.
“I love sad songs,” proclaimed Monroe. “Makes you feel stuff, don’t it?”
She toured through her Pistol Annies days, performing “Unhappily Married” and the No. 1 “Heart Like Mine,” co-written with best friend Miranda Lambert.
A five-member band, complete with stand-up bass, backed her on new material including “If The Devil Don’t Want Me,” “Bombshell,” “Winning Streak,” and “Mayflowers.”
“Here’s a fast song, get ready,” teased the 28-year-old talent, introducing her upbeat single “On To Something Good.” She continued with outstanding new titles, including the easy ride of “If Love Was Fair,” and “The Blade,” a freshly-written perspective on a broken heart.
Longtime manager John Grady ushered Monroe back to the stage for an encore of “Weed Instead of Roses” and an acoustic finale of “Hickory Wind.”
The evening was professionally recorded, and broadcast live by Yahoo!
Sammy Kershaw Releases First New Country Album In 5 Years
/by Troy_StephensonSammy Kershaw has released his first album of new country material in five years called, I Won’t Back Down. It was released through Cleopatra Records and produced by Kershaw.
The Louisiana native’s career spans three decades and includes a list of radio hits in the ’90s.
“The fans have waited for a while. Hell, I’ve waited for a while,” says Kershaw. “At our shows, or wherever we go, people keep asking for new music. I’m glad to have a new record coming their way.”
Track list for I Won’t Back Down:
1. Take A Letter Maria
2. Lay Back Down
3. Grillin’ and Chillin’
4. Fixer Upper
5. Groove
6. I Won’t Back Down
7. I Had To Give That Up Too
8. I Can’t Wait To Waste A Little Time
9. Send In The Rodeo Clowns
10. Don’t Move
11. Why You Wanna Do Me This Way
12. Let’s Lay Here Forever
Bobby Karl Works Music Fest: CMA World GlobaLive! And NATD Picnic
/by Bobby KarlAt CMA World GlobaLive! trophies were presented to event host Morgan Evans, who received the CMA Global Country Artist Award, and CMA Board member and CEO of Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta, who received the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. (L-R): Frank Bumstead, Chairman Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy, Inc. and CMA Board Chairman; Scott Borchetta; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Rob Potts, CEO and Manager Director of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, and CMA International Committee Vice Chairman; Jeff Walker, CEO/Founder of AristoMedia, CMA World GlobaLive! Executive Producer, and CMA Board member; David Ross, President of BossRoss Media and CMA Board member; and Morgan Evans. Photo: John Russell / CMA
Chapter 490
Day Two of the CMA Music Festival week echoed Day One with its even mix of industry schmoozathons and fan events.
NATD PICNIC
The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) launched a new Fan Fair tradition by staging a picnic in the pavilion at Fannie Mae Dees Park (you probably call it “Dragon Park,” like the rest of us). At noon on Tuesday (6/9), its members and their guests gathered to share traditional fixin’s such as hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, barbecue, potato salad, pickles, chips and cookies.
Several artists were there, including singer-songwriter Randi Perkins, Saturday Night Live alumnus Victoria Jackson, Moore & Moore (agents as well as singers) and Opryland veterans Russ & Becky Jeffers, who now work for Hemphill Coaches.
“We are artists as well as professional hot-dog cookers,” proclaimed the bespectacled duo The Professor & The Bull. They were, indeed, the picnic’s frankfurter preparers. And are highly entertaining as an act.
Bonnie Sugarman, Dick Beecham, Ray Shelide, Bob Battle, Shelly Mullins, Dave Barton, Marge Bell, Travis Wolf, Annette Clark, Rod Harris, Dan Wunsch, Robert Williams and Fred Vail were among those working the room.
Attendee Ed Salamon has a new book, Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Rock & Roll. So does NATD member Dean Unkefer of Special Promotions. His is a novel titled 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad From Hell. Universal Pictures has picked up the movie rights for it. Wow—from the Colgate Country Showdown to Hollywood in one easy step.
NATD president Steve Tolman announced that the 57-year-old organization’s annual gala will be held on Nov. 10 this year. During the next 30 days, the group will be choosing its honorees. So if you have any suggestions, give Tolman a ring at LogiCom.
Past banquets have saluted Charlie Daniels, George Jones, TV’s Demetria Kalodimos, the Symphony’s Alan Valentine, Martina McBride, Alabama, Michael W. Smith, top agents and managers, sports figures, politicians and more. This year will be the fifth annual NATD Honors gala.
CMA WORLD GLOBALIVE
Meanwhile, downtown, the Festival fans gathered at Walk of Fame Park for a Tuesday afternoon of music. This was the rescheduled “CMA World GlobaLive!” concert. It had been rained out on Monday.
Above the stage hung the flags of the participating countries—Australia, Brazil, Ireland, The Netherlands, Britain, New Zealand and Canada. I heard a spirited set by the rockin’ Dutch outlaw-bluegrass band Stringcaster.
The sun was shining brightly. The humidity was at the usual CMA Fest level. A respectably sized crowd of a couple hundred lounged on the grass, on hammocks scattered throughout the lawn, on the walls flanking the park and on comfortable lawn furniture beneath a large green shade tent.
These artists, who have come so far to participate in CMA Fest, were greeted with enthusiastic applause. It must be quite an experience for them.
The Netherlands sent us Femke as well as Stringcaster. Brazil’s entry was a group called Indiana. From Canada came MacKenzie Porter and The Lovelocks. The Shires and Ward-Thomas represented the U.K. and Ireland. The New Zealand and Australian acts were The Adam Eckersley Band, Cam Luxton, Mickey Pye and show host Morgan Evans.
In the evening, the industry reclaimed the spotlight. Warner Bros. Records took over 3rd & Lindsley to showcase the forthcoming second album by the divine Ashley Monroe. She topped the charts dueting with Blake Shelton on “Lonely Tonight.” Now, please, let it be her turn to shine as a solo female country star.
On Lower Broadway later that night, Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line delighted fans with their outdoor rehearsals for the CMT Awards. These superstar soundchecks were totally free. So are their televised performances from the Broadway stage on Wednesday night during the awards. The rest of the CMT stars will be performing in front of a sold-out audience in Bridgestone Arena.