The 2015 CMA Music Festival will take place Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14. Below is a guide to road closures that will take place starting this week. All times listed are Central.
Closures beginning Friday, June 5:
7:00 AM – The eastbound lane of First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Street (reopens Friday, June 5 at 7:00 PM).
Closures beginning Sunday, June 7:
11:59 PM – Broadway will be closed from First to Second Avenues.
11:59 PM – First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Street (both reopen Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
Closures beginning Monday, June 8:
6:00 AM – Fifth Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Broadway (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
6:00 AM – Demonbreun will be closed from Fourth to Fifth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
8:00 AM – Titans Way will be closed (reopens Monday, June 15 by 8:00 PM).
Closures beginning Tuesday, June 9:
11:00 PM – First Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun (reopens Monday, June 15 by 2:00 AM).
11:00 PM – Molloy Street will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
11:00 PM – Demonbreun will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
Closures beginning Wednesday, June 10:
6:00 AM – Broadway will be closed from Second to Fourth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 at 1:00 AM).
Fifth Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun each day from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14.
Demonbreun will be closed from Fifth to Sixth Avenues each day from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14.
More information can be found at CMAfest.com.
Ashley Monroe Previews Tracks on ‘The Blade’
/by Eric T. ParkerThe album’s current single, “On To Something Good,” is also available ahead of three more tracks to be delivered before the release date, “I Buried Your Love Alive,” “The Weight of the Load” and “Bombshell.”
“‘The Blade’ is such a special song to me,” Monroe told People. “I have been on the receiving end of that pain. It actually makes me physically hurt when I sing it. And when I recorded it for sure, but in a good way. I’m so thankful to the writers of that song. They talked about my heartbreak in a way that I’ve never heard. That’s hard to do.”
Monroe’s sophomore Warner Bros. effort was again produced by close friends Vince Gill and Justin Niebank.
Monroe will share a new song with fans during a performance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on July 27 to celebrate The Blade’s release.
Monroe has collaborated with countless artists, being a member of the Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert, and recently earning her first No. 1 song at country radio for “Lonely Tonight,” a duet with label-mate Blake Shelton, which earned the pair a CMT Music Award nomination.
CRB Announces 2015 Artist Career Achievement Award and President’s Award
/by Kelsey_GradyDwight Yoakam and Jeff Walker
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. have announced Dwight Yoakam as the recipient of the 2015 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award, and Jeff Walker as the recipient of the 2015 President’s Award. Both awards will be presented during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony, which will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. A cocktail reception will take place at 6 p.m. with the induction ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.
“Dwight Yoakam’s career achievements are too numerous to list here, but perhaps most impressive is that he accomplished every one of them by never wavering; never flinching from his musical vision and belief system,” said CRS Hall of Fame Chairman, RJ Curtis. “He re-popularized ‘Hillbilly’ or ‘Honky Tonk’ music in a time when the format was arguably in a pop cycle and in the doldrums. His ongoing commitment to deliver a daring, bold sound to Country radio makes Dwight Yoakam an easy selection as 2015 Artist Career Achievement Recipient.”
“It would be hard to imagine the CRS without Jeff Walker. That’s because for the past 35 years, Jeff has played a vital leadership role, serving on both the executive committee of the Board and as Treasurer of the organization. His unwavering dedication and stead counsel have helped lead the CRS to the great success we enjoy today and it is my privilege to recognize that service with the 2015 President’s Award,” commented CRS Board President, Charlie Morgan.
Previously announced Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees include Joel Raab, Sammy George, Mike Kennedy, Randy Carroll and Karen Dalessandro.
Parallel Music Re-Signs Michael White
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R, back row): Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, LLP; (seated): Hannah Showmaker, Parallel Music Publishing; Michael White; Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing.
Parallel Music Publishing has re-signed hit songwriter Michael White to an exclusive global publishing agreement. White is co-writer of current singles “Kiss You In The Morning” by Warner Music Nashville’s Michael Ray and “On Your Lips” by Black River’s John King. White’s songs have been recorded by Shania Twain, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Billy Currington, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins, Hank Williams Jr., Craig Campbell, Easton Corbin and more. In addition, White co-wrote Blake Shelton’s No. 1 “The Baby” and the top 10 “Loving Every Minute” by Mark Wills.
“After knowing and respecting Tim [Hunze] through writing with the great writers he has published for many years…I’m beyond excited to continue to work together at Parallel,” says White. “I look forward to making some great music with Tim and Hannah and all the awesome people at Parallel.”
“We are first and foremost fans of Michael White. Most simply put, Michael is a pro writer. He has a passion for the craft of writing and it shows in his body of work. We at Parallel could not be more excited to continue our relationship,” says Tim Hunze, managing partner, Parallel Music Publishing.
Parallel’s catalog includes recent No. 1 hits “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert, “Better Dig Two” by The Band Perry and “’Til My Last Day” by Justin Moore. It also includes current singles “Kiss You In The Morning” by Michael Ray, “Love Me Like You Mean It” by Kelsea Ballerini and “Better Than You Left Me” by Mickey Guyton.
In addition to White, Parallel’s writer roster is home to Dean Alexander, Blake Bollinger, Lance Carpenter, Blake Chaffin, Jon Mabe, Brian Maher and Jenn Schott.
Maddie & Tae Move Release Date, Unveil Cover Art
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“We wanted to get the feel, the sound of it, and the music right,” says Tae. “You only make your first album once. We’d put so much heart into this, so many writing trips to Nashville when we were kids, building this music to be something special. We knew we were close, but we needed the time to step back and breathe, and get it right!”
The album features 11 tracks produced by Dann Huff.
Maddie & Tae also revealed the album’s cover art, captured by California photographer Allister Ann, known for her work with the Civil Wars. For the easygoing photo shoot, the girls spent the day wandering around Nashville to snag the front and back cover shots.
“The thing about us that really defines Maddie and I,” says Tae, “is we’re not those girls who want to spend a lot of time getting our hair done… We’d rather be out on a four-wheeler, playing guitar or just hanging out, having fun. That’s what the songs are made of. We thought the pictures should look like that, too—and it’s harder and easier than you’d think.”
“We did our own make-up, threw some clothes in a duffle bag and took off,” recalls Maddie. “Allister is so fun and easy, it was like a slumber party—except we were moving all day. We went to an ice cream stand, got out a friend’s old Bronco, just whatever struck us. You can see it in the pictures. Suddenly, there were shots where it really looked like us, and it was super-fun and awesome and just the best day!”
The upcoming BMLG album has already yielded a gold single, “Girl In A Country Song,” and a video which racked up 23 million VEVO views. The duo is up for three CMT Awards next week, for Breakout Video of the Year, Duo Video of the Year and Video of the Year.
Artist Pics: Jake Owen, Dwight Yoakam, Zane Williams
/by Lorie HollabaughJake Owen’s “Real Life” Journey From Waffle House To White House
Jake Owen’s fans followed him via Twitter on his journey from the Waffle House to the White House this week. He celebrated the release of new single, “Real Life,” by treating fans to a Waffle House lunch in Nashville as a nod to the lyrics of the song and the next day visited another famous house—the White House—while in Washington D.C. on Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour.
Pictured (L-R): Zeke Hunter, RCA Nashville’s SVP of Promotion Keith Gale, Jake Owen, Jon Andolina, RCA Nashville’s Elizabeth Sledge and Greg Fowler
Dwight Yoakam Almost Gets Clipped In New Clip
Dwight Yoakam took his life in his hands while shooting the video for his latest single, “Liar,” which debuted on his YouTube channel. Directed by longtime collaborator Gregory Alosio, the video captures Yoakam performing on the back of an El Camino in the middle of rush-hour traffic on Sunset Blvd. in L.A. The street was not shut down for filming, so cars were zooming by throughout the performance. “We almost got clipped once,” Yoakam told KTLA about the experience.
Dwight Yoakam
Texas Artist Zane Williams Makes Opry Debut
Be Music singer/songwriter Zane Williams recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut, where he performed his latest single, “Jayton And Jill,” which is currently No. 1 on the Texas charts.
Pictured (L-R): Zane Williams and Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher
CMT Awards Names More Performers
/by Sarah SkatesThe star-studded lineup includes previously announced performers: Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum and Luke Bryan.
Among the nominees, Carrie Underwood is the frontrunner with five awards nominations. Lady Antebellum and Kenny Chesney followed with four nominations each. Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean earned three nominations apiece, while Keith Urban and Luke Bryan both scored two nods. There are more than 45 nominated artists/groups.
Fans can vote via CMT.com through June 7 at 11:59 PM ET to determine the winners. The six finalists for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.
Road Closures For CMA Music Festival
/by Troy_StephensonClosures beginning Friday, June 5:
7:00 AM – The eastbound lane of First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Street (reopens Friday, June 5 at 7:00 PM).
Closures beginning Sunday, June 7:
11:59 PM – Broadway will be closed from First to Second Avenues.
11:59 PM – First Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Church Street (both reopen Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
Closures beginning Monday, June 8:
6:00 AM – Fifth Avenue will be closed from Demonbreun to Broadway (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
6:00 AM – Demonbreun will be closed from Fourth to Fifth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
8:00 AM – Titans Way will be closed (reopens Monday, June 15 by 8:00 PM).
Closures beginning Tuesday, June 9:
11:00 PM – First Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun (reopens Monday, June 15 by 2:00 AM).
11:00 PM – Molloy Street will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
11:00 PM – Demonbreun will be closed from First to Second Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 by 1:00 AM).
Closures beginning Wednesday, June 10:
6:00 AM – Broadway will be closed from Second to Fourth Avenues (reopens Monday, June 15 at 1:00 AM).
Fifth Avenue will be closed from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun each day from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14.
Demonbreun will be closed from Fifth to Sixth Avenues each day from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14.
More information can be found at CMAfest.com.
FGL’s Brian Kelley and Wife Bring Fashion Line To CMA Music Fest
/by Lorie HollabaughBrian and Brittney Kelley
Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and wife Brittney have taken inspiration from their extensive travels and channeled it into a new fashion line they designed together. The couple will sell pieces from the new collection at a popup store in Nashville during CMA Music Fest. Dubbed Tribe Kelley, the collection of bohemian chic clothes and accessories will be available for purchase at the Lucchese Bootmaker shop on June 11 from noon to 4 p.m.
“As for the inspiration for Brian and I to start a clothing line together, that was obvious when we caught ourselves altering and cutting basically every piece of clothing we own,” wrote Brittney on the brand’s website. “Both Brian and I are blessed enough to be modern day nomads, venturing out to experience all walks of culture and vogue. We figured we would be missing an opportunity if we didn’t create a small capsule collection of our own.”
Kelley will be modeling some of the men’s collection from the new line at the event, which will also feature women’s suede pants, printed T’s, unisex caps, and much more. The clothing can also be purchased on the website.
MusicRowPics: Jason Pritchett Stays True To Cowboy Roots
/by Sarah SkatesJason Pritchett and the Steel Horses
Jason Pritchett, the rising artist signed to Billy Dean Music Group, visited the MusicRow offices on Friday, May 29.
Along with band the Steel Horses, he previewed songs from his 5-track EP, which will be released in the next few weeks. Pritchett and Billy Dean met in Branson, Missouri where the established country star headlines the Billy Dean Live show at the Starlite Theatre. Pritcett appears in the program, and is in the midst of a 186-show run.
Billy Dean duets with Pritchett.
Dean and Pritchett wrote most of Pritchett’s material together, with a focus on tried-and-true countryisms: melody and the cowboy lifestyle. They say they are “putting the Western back into county music.”
Pritchett’s song “Independence Cowboy”—named for his hometown Independence, Missouri—even includes a lyric about the Dean hit “Billy The Kid” playing on the radio. Pritchett’s current single “Good Show” is about the daily struggles of bull riders. The singers team up to duet on another well-written cowboy story song, “Already Dead Man.”
Pritchett and Dean are building his career the grassroots way, with a focus on secondary market radio and touring small markets.
Previously, Pritchett was a top 5 finalist on the second season of America’s Got Talent.
(L-R): Billy Dean; MR’s Troy Stephenson and Kelsey Grady; Jason Pritchett; MR’s Sarah Skates, Sherod Robertson and Eric Parker
Eric and Jessie James Decker Plan Charity Casino Night
/by Troy_StephensonThe event will be a casino night theme with several table games and a Texas Hold’em tournament. There will be raffle prizes including vacation and sports experience packages.
The Eric & Jessie Decker Foundation strives to positively impact the lives of United States military service members and veterans as well as animals.
For more information, visit www.ejdeckerfoundation.com.
“On Deck with the Deckers” is by invitation only or with purchased ticket. Individual tickets may be purchased here.