Brett Eldredge
Is it because of Sunday’s ACM telecast that so many stars are lined up for this week’s column?
George Strait, Brett Eldredge, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are all on tap. As are such familiar names as Emerson Drive, Kid Rock and Little Texas.
Sure enough, one of them has the Disc of the Day. It’s Brett Eldredge. By the way, the reason there are so many writers and publishers listed on the disc is that it interpolates some of the 2006 Gnarls Barkley pop smash “Crazy.”
The winner of this week’s DisCovery Award is a burly-looking Indiana fellow named Allan Craig Miller. I don’t know when I have heard a debut single that is this consistently excellent on so many levels.
LUKE BRYAN/Games
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-They play juvenile head games with one another, to the point where he doesn’t know if he’s winning or losing. Who cares? How come they always wind up at the same bars and the same parties? And why is this performed as if this was all something deeply profound?
KID ROCK/First Kiss
Writers: R.J. Ritchie/M. Young; Producer: Kid Rock/Dann Huff; Publishers: RJR/Kobalt/Jo Ray Dean/Bluewater, BMI; Warner Bros.
-Blue-collar rock, like most of his singles. He doesn’t have much range as an artist, but what he does, he does well.
GEORGE STRAIT/Let It Go
Writers: George Strait/Bubba Strait/Keith Gattis; Producers: Chuck Ainlay/George Strait; Publishers: Day Money/Horipro/Living for the Night/Sony-ATV Tree/Pioneer Town, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
-The loping, lackadaisical pace suits his laid-back delivery and the song’s easy-going philosophy. He still sounds great. I wish there were more like him.
COREY SMITH/Feet Wet
Writers: Corey Smith; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Shooting Moon, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
-Ten albums into his career, this singer-songwriter turns to country pro Stegall as his producer. The result is a wonderfully catchy single with built-in sunshine. Come on in, the water’s fine.
BRETT ELDREDGE/Lose My Mind
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Heather Morgan/Ross Copperman, others; Producers: Ross Copperman/Brett Eldredge; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/Paris Not France/EMI Blackwood/Songs by Red Room, BMI, others; Atlantic
-I love how “alive” and in-your-face his vocal sounds. That’s especially cool because of the really snazzy production that’s behind it. A very, very hip and forward-looking record.
Allan Craig Miller
ALLAN CRAIG MILLER/Between Saturday & Sunday
Writers: Erik Halbig/Todd Taylor; Producer: Erik Halbig; Publishers: Curucu/Magic Mustang, BMI; Gray Area (CDX)
-This is a splendid, jaunty, bouncing, blue-collar thumper just made for dancing. The lyric hook is ultra-cool: “I need one more day between Saturday and Sunday.” Don’t we all? Play this. Country fans are gonna love it a heap.
LITTLE TEXAS/Can’t Get In A Hurry Here
Writers: D. Gray/P. Howell/D. O’Brien; Producers: Anthony Martin/Little Texas; Publishers: Del Yeah/P-90/Writer’s Den/Songs O’Brien, ASCAP; Cleopatra (CDX)
-Listless and sleepy. Maybe that’s the whole idea behind the song, but I still wanted to nod off.
JASON ALDEAN/Tonight Looks Good On You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-The terrific, deep-sonic, echoey, full-blooded production is the finest of his career to date. It creates the perfect cushion for his delivery of the deliriously romantic lyric. A smash.
GARTH SHAW/California Dreamin’
Writers: John Phillips/Michelle Phillips; Producers: Garth Shaw/Dan Mitchell; Publisher: Universal, ASCAP; Roadie (track)
-He’s billed as, “the original singing roadie.” Shaw has been road managing for decades with stars such as Kenny Rogers, Sawyer Brown and The Starland Vocal Band. Now, at age 65, he’s releasing his first EP. It contains three of his original tunes, a couple of Rick Nelson covers and this Mamas & Papas classic. The original had those big echo-chamber vocals. Shaw’s “dry” delivery gives the familiar song the quality of a folk tune.
EMERSON DRIVE/Who We Are
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Star (ERG)
-In praise of everyday folks who go to happy hour, wear ball caps, save their pennies and treat each other kindly. Nice thump in the backbeat, banjo droplets and spoken-word encouraging interjections. Quite listenable.
Eric Church To Christen Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater
/by Jessica NicholsonEric Church. Photo: Mike Coppola
Eric Church will help launch Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater, located at Riverfront Park, with a solo acoustic performance on July 30. Tickets for Church’s show will go on sale April 30, at 10 a.m. The concert, as well as the full fall 2015 music lineup for the amphitheater, was announced by Mayor Karl Dean and Live Nation during a press conference this morning in Nashville.
“The newest addition to Music City’s live music scene will get off to a great start with a concert from Eric Church, who represents what’s great about Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “His songs can’t be confined to just one genre; he draws from country, rock and other types of music that help make the scene here in Nashville so vibrant and eclectic.”
The opening celebration will also include a concert from classic rock bands Earth, Wind and Fire, with Chicago, on Aug. 1.
The 6,800 capacity amphitheater will feature a large 100 foot by 60 foot stage providing panoramic views and terrific sight-lines from every seat in the venue. It will be part of the 10-acre Riverfront Park, which also opens on July 30.
On Aug. 2, an open house will be held at the park and Ascend Amphitheater from 1-5 p.m., featuring behind-the-scenes tours and performances from local bands.
The Nashville Symphony’s Alan Valentine, Mayor Karl Dean, Music City Music Council chair Ed Hardy, Ascend Federal Credit Union’s Caren Gabriel, Live Nation president of North American Concerts Bob Roux, and many others were in attendance to announce the venue’s name, concert lineup, and opening date.
“Ascend Amphitheater is a perfect complement to Music City’s wide array of other world-class performance spaces and is destined to become one of the most iconic open-air venues ever built,” said Roux. “We thank Mayor Dean and the City of Nashville for their vision and dedication to develop an absolutely perfect venue on one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. The Ascend Amphitheater was designed for live music fans and the artists we have the privilege to work with, and I can’t wait for everyone to come together and enjoy it.”
The amphitheater will also serve as an outdoor home for the Nashville Symphony, with the symphony’s first full season at the amphitheater beginning in 2016.
Riverfront Park will include 10 acres of gardens, 1 mile of paths, a 13,000-square-foot dog park, two half-court basketball courts, exercise facilities, and more.
Riverfront Park and the amphitheater will also become the new home for Music City’s biggest events, including the annual July 4th celebration, “Let Freedom Sing.” In addition the New Year’s Eve event will also attempt to incorporate use of the space.
See a video about the venue.
Ascend Amphitheater’s 2015 fall music season lineup
Eric Church—July 30
Earth, Wind, & Fire; and Chicago—Aug. 1
Phish— Aug. 4
Jill Scott—Aug. 5
Counting Crows, Citizen Cope and Hollis Brown—Aug. 7
Steely Dan and Elvis Costello—Aug. 8
The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson—Aug. 9
NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb and Colony House—Aug. 14
Idina Menzel—Aug. 15
Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick—Aug. 16
Sublime with Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon—Aug. 18
Australian Pink Floyd with LedZepplin2—Aug. 22
Old Crow Medicine Show—Aug. 28
Under The Sun Tour—Aug. 29
ZZ Top with Blackberry Smoke—Sept. 1
Widespread Panic—Sept. 5-6
Americanafest on the Riverfront (presented by AEG Live)—Sept. 19
Daryl Hall and John Oates—Sept. 23
Lynyrd Skynyrd—Oct. 2
Chris Tomlin (in partnership with Awakening Events)—Oct. 8
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals with Lake Street Drive (in partnership with NS2)—Oct. 10
Industry Pics: Belmont University, KingSpirit Music, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
/by Kelsey_GradyBelmont University Honors Michael W. Smith with the Applause Award
Belmont University’s School of Music honored acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Michael W. Smith with the Applause Award at Saturday night’s annual President’s Concert. The Applause Award is the most distinguished award presented by Belmont’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and is given annually to honor those who have made significant contributions to the arts.
Michael W. Smith accepting Belmont University’s School of Music Applause Award
KingSpirit Music Loans Original Song Lyrics to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
KingSpirit Music publisher Todd Wilkes has loaned the original lyrics to “The Song Remembers When,” written by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Hugh Prestwood, to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, for a future display in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery. The song was a No. 1 hit recorded by Trisha Yearwood, as well as the title track of her 1993 album for MCA Nashville.
“The Song Remembers When” landed Prestwood the Primetime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics” and the NSAI Song Of The Year. After the song was recorded, Prestwood presented his original lyrics to publisher, Todd Wilkes, as a token of thanks for placing the song for Prestwood.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is located on the first floor of the Music City Center, at 201 5th Ave. S.
Pictured (L-R): Hall of Fame member Layng Martine Jr., Hall of Fame member Hugh Prestwood, Hall of Fame member/Board Chair Pat Alger, Todd Wilkes
John Anderson Finds His ‘Goldmine’
/by Troy_Stephenson“With Goldmine, I thought, first off, I’m going to take my songs into the studio and make a record like I think it ought to be made, without all those other influences,” Anderson says. “I’m more pleased with the sound of this record than I have been in a long time.”
The first single, “I Work a Lot Better” will be shipped to radio on May 11.
Anderson is a member of the Nashville Songwriteres Hall Of Fame and is currently on tour.
Goldmine Track Listing and Songwriters:
1. Freedom Isn’t Free (John Anderson/James C. Hicks Sr.)
2. Magic Mama (Merle Haggard)
3. Back Home (John Anderson/Jimmy Stevens/Jeff Farr)
4.Goldmine (John Anderson/Josh Turner)
5. Happily Ever After (John Anderson/James C. Hicks Sr.)
6. I Work A lot Better (John Anderson/Josh Turner)
7. I Will Cross O’er the River (John Anderson)
8. Louisiana Son Of A Beast (John Anderson/Bill Emerson/Jody Emerson)
9. Holdin’ On (John Anderson/Jimmy Stevens)
10. Song the Mountain Sings (John Anderson/Buddy Cannon)
11. On And On And On… (John Anderson/Jimmy Fortune)
12. Don’t Forget To Thank the Lord (John Anderson/John Rich)
13. You All Are Beautiful (John Anderson/James C. Hicks Sr.)
BMI’s Basement East Showcase Series To Highlight Indie Writers
/by Jessica NicholsonThe series aims to highlight Nashville’s eclectic independent music scene, with the first show featuring alt-country artist Cody Brooks, pop singer Andrea Davidson, and Southern funk band Joel & The Gents.
“This is a great way to support our songwriters,” says Clay Bradley, BMI’s Associate Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. “We’re dedicated to developing and highlighting our many talented acts, and we’re thrilled to be able to do this at The Beast.”
The Beast is the sister venue to the legendary Basement venue, home to BMI’s quarterly Buzz at the Basement up-and-coming songwriter series.
“It’s been growing for a while,” says BMI singer/songwriter Brooks. “It is a ground floor movement, not even that, it’s underground. Hell… it’s in a basement, and the roots of this city give us shelter. What a brave move incorporated (BMI) to feed the belly of the Beast.”
Warner Music Nashville Signs Chris Janson
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Kevin Herring, SVP Promotion, Warner Music Nashville; Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN; Chris Janson; John Esposito, President & CEO WMN. Photo: Mary Catherine Rebrovick
Singer-songwriter Chris Janson has inked a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records through Warner Music Nashville. The Missouri native joins a label roster that includes artists Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Monroe, and more.
Janson recently notched a No. 1 on the iTunes country chart with his independent single “Buy Me A Boat,” after iHeartMedia radio talent Bobby Bones played the song on his morning show, which is aired on more than 80 radio stations. He has also partnered with CMT for the song’s music video.
The country singer-songwriter has opened for Florida Georgia Line, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams, Jr. Janson co-wrote Tim McGraw’s single “Truck Yeah.”
“Artistry, passion and hard work are the driving force here at Warner Music Nashville and Chris Janson exemplifies those very qualities,” said WMN President and CEO John Esposito. “The guy played 16 hours a day at Tootsie’s for a year and he’s played the Opry almost a hundred times. Man, that’s dedication and playing for the love of the music. Our VP of A&R Cris Lacy has been championing and following his decade-long path in Nashville and we’re ecstatic to welcome such a unique talent to the WMN family.”
“I knew from the first meeting in Espo’s office with this team, that Warner Bros. is where I was going to be and I appreciated the passion and love that I felt from the building,” said Janson. “I couldn’t be any more excited, and genuinely thankful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to a long career with Warner.”
iHeartMedia has now added Janson to its “On The Verge Artist” program. Through the program, “Buy Me A Boat” will air on 140 country radio stations for six weeks, beginning May 4. The program includes on-air exposure and significant digital and social support across iHeartMedia’s network.
“As soon as our country music programmers heard Chris Janson’s music, we knew he would be perfect for our ‘On The Verge Artist’ program,” said Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President and General Manager of National Programming Platforms for iHeartMedia. “Discovering breakthrough artists like Janson and connecting them to new fans nationwide is what the ‘On The Verge Artist’ program is all about, and we know our country radio listeners will agree.”
DISClaimer: An Eclectic, Star-Studded Lineup
/by Robert K OermannBrett Eldredge
Is it because of Sunday’s ACM telecast that so many stars are lined up for this week’s column?
George Strait, Brett Eldredge, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are all on tap. As are such familiar names as Emerson Drive, Kid Rock and Little Texas.
Sure enough, one of them has the Disc of the Day. It’s Brett Eldredge. By the way, the reason there are so many writers and publishers listed on the disc is that it interpolates some of the 2006 Gnarls Barkley pop smash “Crazy.”
The winner of this week’s DisCovery Award is a burly-looking Indiana fellow named Allan Craig Miller. I don’t know when I have heard a debut single that is this consistently excellent on so many levels.
LUKE BRYAN/Games
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-They play juvenile head games with one another, to the point where he doesn’t know if he’s winning or losing. Who cares? How come they always wind up at the same bars and the same parties? And why is this performed as if this was all something deeply profound?
KID ROCK/First Kiss
Writers: R.J. Ritchie/M. Young; Producer: Kid Rock/Dann Huff; Publishers: RJR/Kobalt/Jo Ray Dean/Bluewater, BMI; Warner Bros.
-Blue-collar rock, like most of his singles. He doesn’t have much range as an artist, but what he does, he does well.
GEORGE STRAIT/Let It Go
Writers: George Strait/Bubba Strait/Keith Gattis; Producers: Chuck Ainlay/George Strait; Publishers: Day Money/Horipro/Living for the Night/Sony-ATV Tree/Pioneer Town, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
-The loping, lackadaisical pace suits his laid-back delivery and the song’s easy-going philosophy. He still sounds great. I wish there were more like him.
COREY SMITH/Feet Wet
Writers: Corey Smith; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Shooting Moon, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
-Ten albums into his career, this singer-songwriter turns to country pro Stegall as his producer. The result is a wonderfully catchy single with built-in sunshine. Come on in, the water’s fine.
BRETT ELDREDGE/Lose My Mind
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Heather Morgan/Ross Copperman, others; Producers: Ross Copperman/Brett Eldredge; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/Paris Not France/EMI Blackwood/Songs by Red Room, BMI, others; Atlantic
-I love how “alive” and in-your-face his vocal sounds. That’s especially cool because of the really snazzy production that’s behind it. A very, very hip and forward-looking record.
Allan Craig Miller
ALLAN CRAIG MILLER/Between Saturday & Sunday
Writers: Erik Halbig/Todd Taylor; Producer: Erik Halbig; Publishers: Curucu/Magic Mustang, BMI; Gray Area (CDX)
-This is a splendid, jaunty, bouncing, blue-collar thumper just made for dancing. The lyric hook is ultra-cool: “I need one more day between Saturday and Sunday.” Don’t we all? Play this. Country fans are gonna love it a heap.
LITTLE TEXAS/Can’t Get In A Hurry Here
Writers: D. Gray/P. Howell/D. O’Brien; Producers: Anthony Martin/Little Texas; Publishers: Del Yeah/P-90/Writer’s Den/Songs O’Brien, ASCAP; Cleopatra (CDX)
-Listless and sleepy. Maybe that’s the whole idea behind the song, but I still wanted to nod off.
JASON ALDEAN/Tonight Looks Good On You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-The terrific, deep-sonic, echoey, full-blooded production is the finest of his career to date. It creates the perfect cushion for his delivery of the deliriously romantic lyric. A smash.
GARTH SHAW/California Dreamin’
Writers: John Phillips/Michelle Phillips; Producers: Garth Shaw/Dan Mitchell; Publisher: Universal, ASCAP; Roadie (track)
-He’s billed as, “the original singing roadie.” Shaw has been road managing for decades with stars such as Kenny Rogers, Sawyer Brown and The Starland Vocal Band. Now, at age 65, he’s releasing his first EP. It contains three of his original tunes, a couple of Rick Nelson covers and this Mamas & Papas classic. The original had those big echo-chamber vocals. Shaw’s “dry” delivery gives the familiar song the quality of a folk tune.
EMERSON DRIVE/Who We Are
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Star (ERG)
-In praise of everyday folks who go to happy hour, wear ball caps, save their pennies and treat each other kindly. Nice thump in the backbeat, banjo droplets and spoken-word encouraging interjections. Quite listenable.
Billy Currington To Release ‘Summer Forever’ in June
/by Jessica NicholsonWith producer Dann Huff at the helm, the project features song from writers including Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Florida Georgia Line and Jimmy Robbins.
“Making this album was such a blast for me. I put a lot of love into this project and couldn’t be more excited for fans to hear the new music,” shares Currington. “Summer Forever for me represents a positive, happy, good time lifestyle and that’s what I hope the fans feel when they hear this record.”
Currington will no doubt include songs from his forthcoming album when he joins Tim McGraw‘s Shotgun Rider Tour this summer. The tour launches in Little Rock, Ark., on June 5 and includes a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Aug. 15.
Summer Forever Track Listing:
1. Don’t It
Written by Jaren Johnston, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman
2. Drinkin’ Town With A Football Problem
Written by Aaron Henningsen, Brian Henningsen, Clara Henningsen, Elizabeth McDavid Elkins and Vanessa Ann Olivarez
3. Wake Me Up
Written by Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins and Ashley Gorley
4. Good Night (Featuring Jessie James)
Written by Daniel Tashian, Claire Guerreso and Rosi Golan
5. Jonesin’
Written by Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins and Hillary Lindsey
6. Give It To Me Straight
Written by Abe Stoklasa and Mark Trussell
7. It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To
Written by Billy Currington, Cary Barlowe and Shy Carter
8. Nowhere Town
Written by Aimee Mayo-Lindsey, Chris Lindsey and Josh Osborne
9. Do I Make You Wanna
Written by Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell, Matt Jenkins and Jerry Flowers
10. Sweet Love
Written by Donovan Woods, Madeleine Slate and Dan Swinimer
11. Soundtrack
Written by Bobby Huff and Ben Burgess
12. Summer Forever*
Written by Cole Swindell, Jaren Johnston, Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard and Jesse Frasure
Produced by Dann Huff
*Produced by Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure
Schedule Set For CMA Music Fest’s Nightly Concerts
/by Sarah SkatesThe event will be held June 11-14. Four-day tickets, which include access to the nightly concerts, are sold out.
LP Field Schedule
Thursday, June 11: Alan Jackson, Sam Hunt, Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean
Friday, June 12: The Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Brice, Maddie & Tae, Randy Houser, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan
Saturday, June 13: Wynonna & The Big Noise, Chris Young, Thomas Rhett, Brett Eldredge, Little Big Town
Sunday, June 14: Neal McCoy, Cole Swindell, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley
3 Ring Circus Adds Welling To Writer Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): 3 Ring Circus Music Director of A&R/Artist Management Casey LeVasseur, 3 Ring Circus Music GM Darrell Franklin, Parker Welling, 3 Ring Circus Music President Jeffrey Steele, BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Leslie Roberts. Photo: 3 Ring Circus Music
“Parker is a great new talent way beyond her years. I’m thrilled to work with her and can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Steele.
Welling will join the rest of her 3 Ring Circus Music Family down in Key West for BMI’s Key West Songwriter’s Festival May 6 – 10.
SESAC Sponsors 2015 GRAMMYS On The Hill Awards
/by Eric T. ParkerAlicia Keys and SESAC’s Pat Collins.
SESAC was the lead sponsor of The Recording Academy’s GRAMMYS On The Hill Awards last week, Wednesday, April 15, at the Hamilton Live in Washington D.C.
First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance to present Alicia Keys with the Recording Artists’ Coalition Award while House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) were honored for their support and understanding of music creators’ unique role in American life.
SESAC artist/songwriter/producer Angela Hunte, who penned the chart-topping “Empire State of Mind,” a hit for Keys and Jay-Z, helped honor Keys by joining in for a few verses in closing out the evening. SESAC’s American Authors were on hand to perform and were joined on-stage with some two dozen members of Congress in a spirited rendition of the group’s hit song “Best Day of My Life.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Grammy Foundation’s Grammy Signature Schools program, which provides support for underserved music programs throughout the country.
The Recording Academy’s Neil Portnow, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and SESAC’s Pat Collins.
Picture (L-R): SESAC’s Pat Collins, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Bob Goodlatte and the Recording Academy’s Neil Portnow.
American Authors perform “Best Day of My Life.”