Thompson Square
Photos: Jason Davis/Getty Images for Pandora Media
Crowds lined up outside Marathon Music Works Friday night (June 5) for Pandora’s third free Pandora Country event, featuring Thompson Square with BBR labelmate Dustin Lynch and rising star Kelsea Ballerini (Black River).
Ballerini kicked off the event with a set list of Taylor Swift-approved songs including her debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Yeah Boy,” a track from her full-length debut. The 21-year-old sensation covered influential songs from her youth like Sarah Buxton‘s and Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy.”
Recognizing today’s genre-blending audiences, Ballerini treated the eager crowd to pop-favorites including Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” “Oops I Did It Again,” Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody,” N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle,” Destiny’s Child “Bootylicious,” and Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.”
Kelsea Ballerini
The perspiring performers received a warm reciprocation from the lively audience, which included Pandora listeners, media, sponsors and VIP guests. Next up for those slick-faced entertainers was Lynch, a true “urban cowboy” who proudly sported the film tee-shirt and his signature cowboy hat.
Lynch tipped that hat to cowboy superstars that came before him, performing Joe Diffie’s “John Deere Green,” Diamond Rio’s “Meet In The Middle,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and Garth Brooks’ “Rodeo.” Not to be outdone by Ballerini’s treatment of pop music, Lynch covered Drake’s “Hold On We’re Goin’ Home,” to top off his set.
Many of the Tullahoma-native’s family was in the crowd, including his grandmother, who was celebrating a birthday. Lynch serenaded her with his first No. 1 single (and a song dedicated to his grandparents), “Cowboys And Angels.”
Dustin Lynch
Benny Brown, Broken Bow Music Group’s Owner/CEO, has a secret. His key to success is great songs. Building a repertoire with those outstanding titles is Thompson Square.
The husband-wife duo wrapped the event on a well-equipped stage with reinforced lighting and props. Shawna’s eye contact was mesmerizing. Together with Keifer, the tension and chemistry compounded the quality songs like “I Got You,” “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About,” “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” “If I Didn’t Have You” and “Glass.” New music is being prepared with producers Dann Huff and Mickey Jack Cones. A preview of the driving tune “Stuck In My Head” was delivered.
The evening included many corporate sponsors, including Kingsford charcoal, Bud Light Lime Rita, Folgers Iced Café, and Velveeta’s new Jalapeño and Chipotle mac & cheese.
From time to time Pandora curates events from its unique ability to determine which artists will resonate best with local listeners by analyzing musical preferences, stations created, and thumbed-up songs. Invitations to events are then extended to Pandora listeners who have demonstrated an affinity for the identified artists.
Thompson Square
Additional events have been hosted with Trace Adkins, Love & Theft, Jack White, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Wyclef Jean, Earlsweatshirt, Chromeo, Celine Dion, Trey Songz, Diplo, Charli XCX, Neko Case, Bleachers, Tegan & Sara, Aloe Blacc, Cold War Kids, Estelle, J Balvin, The Hold Stead, Iggy Azalea and more.
Pandora Heats Up Nashville with Thompson Square, Kelsea Ballerini, Dustin Lynch
/by Eric T. ParkerThompson Square
Photos: Jason Davis/Getty Images for Pandora Media
Crowds lined up outside Marathon Music Works Friday night (June 5) for Pandora’s third free Pandora Country event, featuring Thompson Square with BBR labelmate Dustin Lynch and rising star Kelsea Ballerini (Black River).
Ballerini kicked off the event with a set list of Taylor Swift-approved songs including her debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Yeah Boy,” a track from her full-length debut. The 21-year-old sensation covered influential songs from her youth like Sarah Buxton‘s and Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy.”
Recognizing today’s genre-blending audiences, Ballerini treated the eager crowd to pop-favorites including Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” “Oops I Did It Again,” Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody,” N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle,” Destiny’s Child “Bootylicious,” and Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.”
Kelsea Ballerini
The perspiring performers received a warm reciprocation from the lively audience, which included Pandora listeners, media, sponsors and VIP guests. Next up for those slick-faced entertainers was Lynch, a true “urban cowboy” who proudly sported the film tee-shirt and his signature cowboy hat.
Lynch tipped that hat to cowboy superstars that came before him, performing Joe Diffie’s “John Deere Green,” Diamond Rio’s “Meet In The Middle,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and Garth Brooks’ “Rodeo.” Not to be outdone by Ballerini’s treatment of pop music, Lynch covered Drake’s “Hold On We’re Goin’ Home,” to top off his set.
Many of the Tullahoma-native’s family was in the crowd, including his grandmother, who was celebrating a birthday. Lynch serenaded her with his first No. 1 single (and a song dedicated to his grandparents), “Cowboys And Angels.”
Dustin Lynch
Benny Brown, Broken Bow Music Group’s Owner/CEO, has a secret. His key to success is great songs. Building a repertoire with those outstanding titles is Thompson Square.
The husband-wife duo wrapped the event on a well-equipped stage with reinforced lighting and props. Shawna’s eye contact was mesmerizing. Together with Keifer, the tension and chemistry compounded the quality songs like “I Got You,” “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About,” “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” “If I Didn’t Have You” and “Glass.” New music is being prepared with producers Dann Huff and Mickey Jack Cones. A preview of the driving tune “Stuck In My Head” was delivered.
The evening included many corporate sponsors, including Kingsford charcoal, Bud Light Lime Rita, Folgers Iced Café, and Velveeta’s new Jalapeño and Chipotle mac & cheese.
From time to time Pandora curates events from its unique ability to determine which artists will resonate best with local listeners by analyzing musical preferences, stations created, and thumbed-up songs. Invitations to events are then extended to Pandora listeners who have demonstrated an affinity for the identified artists.
Thompson Square
Additional events have been hosted with Trace Adkins, Love & Theft, Jack White, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Wyclef Jean, Earlsweatshirt, Chromeo, Celine Dion, Trey Songz, Diplo, Charli XCX, Neko Case, Bleachers, Tegan & Sara, Aloe Blacc, Cold War Kids, Estelle, J Balvin, The Hold Stead, Iggy Azalea and more.
Keith Urban To Debut Single From Next Album
/by Lorie HollabaughThe uptempo track was co-produced by Dann Huff and Urban, and instantly resonated with Urban when he heard it.
“It’s the poetic use of the three John’s and what each represents to me,” says Urban. “‘John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16’ was sent to me a few months ago by one of the songwriters and I loved it immediately—loved it so much that right before I walked out on stage at the Ryman Auditorium for CRS a few months back, I thought I’d play the song solo acoustic to see what the audience thought. Flash forward and there’s no doubt that their response that day helped make it the first single from what will be my next album. It’s a great feeling to be back in the studio shaping a new album.”
The Shane McAnally/Ross Copperman/Josh Osborne–penned song will be digitally delivered to radio tomorrow morning and will become available for purchase and streaming at midnight tomorrow.
Hit Writer Josh Osborne Signs With SMACKSongs As Partner
/by Sarah Skates(L-R): SMACKSongs Creative Manager Robert Carlton, Kobalt Music Group Senior VP Whitney Daane, Josh Osborne, SMACKSongs Creative Director Robin Palmer, Shane McAnally, attorney Jason Turner, ASCAP Nashville VP Michael Martin and attorney Jordan Keller. Photo: Jason Krupek
SMACKSongs President and CEO Shane McAnally announced the signing of songwriter Josh Osborne as a full partner of the music publisher today (June 8).
Osborne’s No. 1 songs include Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over,” Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight,” Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” and Blake Shelton’s “My Eyes.” He is a frequent collaborator of Sam Hunt (co-writing his No. 1s “Leave the Night On” and “Take Your Time”) and Kacey Musgraves (co-writing the GRAMMY-winning “Merry Go Round”). Osborne currently has three songs on the charts: Chesney’s “Wild Child,” Jake Owen’s “Real Life” and Shelton’s “Sangria.”
Kobalt, an independent music publishing and global music rights management services company, will serve as the exclusive worldwide administrator for SMACKSongs.
“Since the first time working with Josh, we always knew we wanted to someday build a partnership beyond just writing songs together,” said McAnally. “This partnership marks a new beginning for SMACKSongs and we are excited to welcome him to the SMACK family.”
“Becoming a partner at SMACK is an incredible opportunity,” said Osborne. “To get to be a part of so many projects I believe in professionally, and so many people that I believe in personally, is more than anyone in our business could ask for.”
“The addition of Josh Osborne to the SMACKSongs family further solidifies its position as one of the hottest indie publishers on Music Row,” said Kobalt Senior Vice President of Creative (Nashville), Whitney Daane. “Kobalt is proud and privileged to be a part of the team!”
Founded in 2012 by McAnally, SMACKSongs represents the songwriting catalogs of McAnally, Osborne, Matthew McGinn and Jo Eldridge (nee’ Joanna Smith). It also represents the works of Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen, members of Sony/RCA’s Old Dominion. The creative team consists of music publishing veterans Robin Palmer and Robert Carlton, with Michael Baum in business affairs and Tiffany Young running operations. SMACKSongs currently has 10 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Osborne was previously signed to Black River Publishing, which he joined in 2010.
Chesney Packs Soldier Field For Big Revival
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney brought down the house at Soldier Field in Chicago during his recent Big Revival tour on Saturday night (June 6), and though the temps were a little less than island-ish with many in the crowd donning polar fleeces, the sun-soaked vibe was still in full effect.
“It was amazing to me, cold as it was, how loud and how hard Chicago brought it,” Chesney marveled after the show. “To play somewhere as historic as Soldier Field is truly an honor—and I think about it every time we’re there—but to have that audience who are so wild and willing to share the music, that makes it one of those shows every single tour. And I tried to dress for the weather… I wore sleeves,” he joked.
Miranda Lambert, who appeared for just one date, lent a hand to Chesney during the show on his smash “You And Tequila,” and the two had so much fun together singing that they added an impromptu version of the George Strait classic “Carried Away” to the bill.
“Miranda is a fine artist and a world class singer,” Chesney said. “To be able to sing with her on ‘You and Tequila’ was amazing, because of the grit she brings with the sweet. After that, we couldn’t do just one. And man, there’s a woman who loves George Strait as much as I do, so she understands the core of what ‘Carried Away’ is all about.”
Chesney has been testifying before unprecedented crowds at huge stadiums on the Big Revival Tour, even breaking his own record at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field with over 55,000 in attendance.
See his interview with the Chicago Tribune.
CMHoF Celebrates Dylan And Cash With Free Concert
/by Kelsey_GradyNashville Cats: A New Music City Album Cover
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host a free concert on 5th Avenue South, between Demonbreun Street and Korean Veterans Boulevard on July 7 to celebrate the release of Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City, a two-disc audio companion to the exhibition.
The family-friendly evening begins at 5 p.m. with face painting and balloon artists for kids. Food trucks will be on hand, and guests will be able to purchase Mexican cuisine from Bajo Sexto Taco, located at the museum. The concert begins at 6:00 p.m. and the first 500 attendees to arrive will receive a commemorative Hatch Show Print poster.
Hosted by Hippie Radio’s Whit Hubner and Chris Lucky, artists set to perform include John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina, Julie Christensen, Radney Foster, Jeff Hanna (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Jamie Hartford, Al Kooper, Kathy Mattea, Tracy Nelson, Michael Nesmith (Monkees), Jason Ringenberg (Jason & The Scorchers), Britt Ronstadt, Steve Young, and special guests.
Tracks from the new album will be performed live by the Long Players led by Bill Lloyd (serving as the evening’s house band) and by some of the legendary session players from the original recordings, including Nashville Cats Mac Gayden, Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy and Norbert Putnam.
“When Bob Dylan came to Nashville, he provided a catalyst for many other pop, rock and folk artists to record in Music City,” says Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO. “We are thrilled to assemble some of those artists on one stage for one night only. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate that magical time and the unforgettable recordings they created than with a community concert.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City Presented by Citi, opened March 27, 2015, and runs through December 31, 2016. For more information about the exhibit click here.
Industry Ink: NASH Country Weekly, Big Loud Shirt, Martin Guitars, Buddy Lee
/by Lorie HollabaughCountry Weekly and NASH Magazine’s Big Reveal
Country Weekly and NASH magazine have a new name and redesign. The magazine, now named Nash Country Weekly, tweeted out the new look today with Sam Hunt as the first face on the redesigned cover.
Amy Allmand
Amy Allmand Exits Big Loud Shirt
Amy Allmand is exiting Big Loud Shirt after a decade with the company to pursue her photography business.
Amy can be reached here.
Jordan Kolodka joins Big Loud Shirt & Big Loud Mountain as Executive Assistant and can be reached here.
Jacqueline Renner named President of C.F. Martin & Co.
Jacqueline Renner
Jacqueline Renner has been named President of C.F. Martin & Co. Renner will work closely with Chairman and CEO Chris Martin IV on direction for the 182-year old acoustic guitar and strings manufacturer. Renner will also lead global operations for the Pennsylvania-based company. Renner was previously President of Franke Consumer Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Franke AG, where she was responsible for Franke’s consumer business in North and South America for both the Franke and KWC brands used in the luxury home market.
“Jacqueline is an outstanding business leader whose strategic thinking and brand-building experience will serve us well as we continue to grow our brand while maintaining unparalleled business and manufacturing standards expected by our customers worldwide,” said Chris Martin IV, Chairman/CEO of Martin Guitar. “We warmly welcome Jackie to the Martin Guitar family.”
Halfway To Hazard
Buddy Lee Attractions Adds Halfway To Hazard to Roster
Buddy Lee Attractions has added Halfway To Hazard to its roster following the duo’s decision to reunite earlier this year. “Halfway To Hazard is a pairing chock-full of talent; the combination of David Tolliver and Chad Warrix is loaded with entertainment value,” stated Mike Meade, Buddy Lee Attractions. “We are pleased in their decision to reunite and to be a member of their team at the brink of a major comeback.” A Los Angeles-based production company plans to film a docu-series following Halfway To Hazard’s reunion. The docu-series will include support from fellow friends in country music such as Lee Brice, Keith Anderson, and Troy Gentry.
Ben Folds To Release New Album In September
/by Troy_Stephenson“I don’t recall ever being quite so excited about an album I’m making,” Folds said. “I’ll let you decide if that’s a good thing or not. It’s just that we don’t often get to make a record that we’ve never heard before. The arrangements you will hear on this record are straight up rock – not ornamentation. The odd instrumentation – piano, cello, viola, violin, flute/piccolo/alto flute, trumpet/French horn, and clarinet/bass clarinet, with no bass and more often than not, no drums – is yielding something that I can’t wait to release. It’s a pop record, if that’s what you call what I write.”
Folds will be playing Bonnaroo on June 12 at at The Greek in Los Angeles on June 27. A fall tour and more dates into 2016 are being planned now.
Music City Walk of Fame Grows with Jack White and Loretta Lynn
/by Eric T. ParkerLoretta Lynn and Jack White with Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Loretta Lynn and Jack White were inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame yesterday (June 4) in downtown Nashville.
The newly renovated park now boasts more usable green space, increased electrical and sound capabilities, enhanced Nashville Music Garden (home to nearly 300 roses), and 63 platinum/granite stars, each tributing musicians from all genres whose music has made a significant contribution to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.
Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Parks Director Tommy Lynch, Metro Parks Board Chair George Anderson, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. President and CEO Butch Spyridon and NCVC Board Chair-Elect Beth Courtney and other dignitaries honored the two stars during the ribbon-cutting of the newly-renovated Walk of Fame Park.
“Great music and great parks are two of my favorite things, so it’s a very special occasion to open this fantastic new park and induct two incredible artists into the Music City Walk of Fame,” Mayor Dean said. “Walk of Fame Park is an expression of what our city is all about: a place that celebrates and honors great music — because music makes Nashville what it is. Loretta Lynn and Jack White capture the spirit of today’s Nashville–spanning multiple musical genres and generations. It’s more than fitting that they joined the Walk of Fame together today.”
“Nashville has been so incredibly open and supportive of what I and everyone at Third Man Records have tried to create since day one, and I will never forget it,” said White. “Art can thrive in oppressive conditions and also in supportive ones. I thank the community of Nashville for being the supportive kind and giving back to us.”
The Music City Walk of Fame–an official project of Music City, Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.–was created in the fall of 2006 on Nashville’s Music Mile, a roughly one-mile stretch that connects downtown to Music Row. Founding sponsor Gibson Guitar leads additional contributors Durango Boot, Hard Rock Café, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.
Walk of fame nominations are open to the public and are accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms are reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.
Additional stars have gone to Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap, Roy Orbison, Kenneth Schermerhorn, The Crickets, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Wynonna Judd, Frances W. Preston, Michael W. Smith, Buddy Killen, Barbara Mandrell, Vince Gill, Bob DiPiero, Rodney Crowell, Kings of Leon, Keith Urban, Steve Winwood, Kix Brooks, Kris Kristofferson, Ernest Tubb, Dolly Parton, Kid Rock and Jimi Hendrix.
Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
In Her Own Words: Taylor Talks Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughAlmost leaves you breathless.
“The benefits of playing stadiums are kinda endless,” says Swift. “It’s so many people — you’re looking out into this packed football stadium of seventy thousand people. The energy coming at you from seventy thousand people is the most unbelievable feeling in the world. It’s almost like…it almost leaves you breathless knowing that many people would want to come see you play a show so we’ll start there, that’s a benefit of playing a stadium. Also, you know you don’t have to play as many shows in a week if you’re playing stadiums so it gives you time to recharge and down time and leaves you generally not that overworked when you’re doing a stadium tour.”
Swift has also changed her thinking regarding costuming for the 1989 Tour. The fashion plate artist is working her street style into the show a bit more this time around and says she’s toning it down a notch in a sense.
More fashionable than anything done before.
“We decided on costumes for each song based on kind of the mood that they evoked. It all starts with the emotional DNA of a song and we take it from there. And I knew that I wanted this tour to be more fashionable than anything we’ve done before. In the past, our tour show clothes have seemed more like costumes and this one with the show it just seems more like really insane moments of you know, fashion, things I would love to wear on a red carpet, things I would wanna wear walking down the street. You know, I definitely wanted to pull it back into that world rather than like a Halloween costume vibe (laughs).”
Swift admits she is also very specific about ensuring that the sounds you hear on her records are replicated in the live show, meaning hours of meticulous rehearsals before the show ever gets off the ground.
I want to be as true to this album as possible.
“The first month of rehearsals was just musical so we’re in a recording studio trying to figure out how to get the live band to sound exactly like the album, ’cause I want to be as true to this album as possible. I want the drum sounds to be exactly the same drum sounds that you heard on the album etc… So, then we moved into production rehearsals which is doing all the choreography, learning all the changes in between the songs you know, finding a flow to the show. But a year in advance is when we draw up the stage and when we figure out what the stage is gonna look like. So it’s a pretty extensive, long process.”
Nashville fans will get to experience 1989 when the tour comes to town September 25-26 at the Bridgestone Arena.
Kix Brooks ‘Steaks Out’ New Cooking Channel Series
/by Eric T. ParkerKix Brooks
Kix Brooks will set out across America to find the best steakhouses in a new Cooking Channel series, Steak Out with Kix Brooks–including Nashville’s Cork & Cow and The Standard.
During six, half-hour long episodes, Brooks will visit Dallas, Denver, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Omaha and Washington D.C.
While on the road touring as a part of country music duo Brooks & Dunn, he discovered that it was rare for a city not to have a steakhouse that put a unique spin on the classic steak.
“Kix Brooks is a great addition to Cooking Channel as an aficionado of food and wine,” said Michael Smith, GM/SVP, Cooking Channel. “Over the years, viewers have come to know him as a legendary country music artist. Now, on Steak Out with Kix Brooks, they get to meet a different side of him – Kix Brooks: the passionate meat-lover.”
“We searched the country for some of the best steakhouse,” said Brooks. “If there is one thing I love as much as music–it is a great steak, so I can’t wait to share with viewers what we found.”
Produced by Giant Pirates Entertainment, it premieres Tuesday, July 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Brooks & Dunn will reunite in Las Vegas, beginning June 17, when it joins forces with Reba for REBA, BROOKS & DUNN: Together in Vegas at Caesars Palace.