Jason Aldean performs on the 2015 iHeartRadio Music awards.
The 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards brought lots of star power to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday night (March 29). The second annual event aired on NBC.
The awards “showcase the year’s most popular artists and songs determined by the iHeartRadio Chart and fan voting through iHeartRadio stations nationwide,” according to a press release. Fan voting determined the winners of Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics and the first-ever Renegade Award, sponsored by Jeep. More on the fan voting.
2015 iHeartRadio Innovator Award- Justin Timberlake
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Iggy Azalea
Luke Bryan
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
Best Collaboration
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj – WINNER
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Problem” – Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
Best New Artist
Bastille
Cole Swindell
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Sam Smith – WINNER
Country Song of the Year
“Bartender” – Lady Antebellum
“Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean – WINNER
“Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
“Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
“Play It Again” – Luke Bryan
Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year
“Don’t Tell ‘Em” – Jeremih featuring YG – WINNER
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z
“Flawless” – Beyoncé
“Loyal” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga
“New Flame” – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross
Dance Song of the Year
“Animals” – Martin Garrix
“Blame” – Calvin Harris featuring John Newman
“La La La” – Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith
“Summer” – Calvin Harris – WINNER
“Waves” – Mr. Probz
Alternative Rock Song of the Year
“Come With Me Now” – KONGOS
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Fever” – The Black Keys
“Something From Nothing” – Foo Fighters
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier – WINNER
Best Lyrics
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
“Habits (Stay High)” – Tove Lo
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
Best Fan Army
5SOSFAM – 5 Seconds of Summer – WINNER
Arianators – Ariana Grande
Bey Hive – Beyoncé
Team Breezy – Chris Brown
Sheerios – Ed Sheeran
Church Choir – Eric Church
Directioners – One Direction
Selenators – Selena Gomez
Mendes Army – Shawn Mendes
Swifties – Taylor Swift
Renegade Award
Brantley Gilbert – WINNER
Charli XCX
Hozier
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Brantley Gilbert accepts the Renegade award.
Florida Georgia Line perform “Sun Daze.”
Taylor Swift performs with Madonna at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Kelly Clarkson performs “Heartbeat Song.”
Justin Timberlake accepts the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.
Meghan Trainor performs “Dear Future Husband.”
New Songwriters Series To Kick Off “Front and Center”
/by Kelsey_GradyPictured (L-R): Bob DiPiero, Charlie Worsham, Brandy Clark, and Shane McAnally perform during “Front and Center” CMA Songwriters Series. The episode will begin airing April 11 on Public Television. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA
The critically acclaimed music series Front and Center will kick off its new season with four all-new CMA Songwriters Series episodes with Hunter Hayes, Bob DiPiero featuring Brandy Clark, Sara Evans with Martina McBride, and Little Big Town.
The show will air Saturday on Public Television, and feature guest appearances from some of Nashville’s best-known songwriters including Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Gretchen Peters, Liz Rose, Gordie Sampson, The Warren Brothers, and songwriting artist Charlie Worsham.
“Kicking off the start of the new season of ‘Front and Center’ with our CMA Songwriter Series episodes is something that we’re especially excited about,” said Don Maggi, “Front and Center” Executive Producer. “Not only were the performances of the artists who participated special, but the respect that they showed the songwriters and the stories that they told, gave us some incredible moments.”
Upcoming Front and Center Airdates
April 4 – Hunter Hayes
April 11 – Bob DiPiero featuring Brandy Clark
April 18 – Sara Evans and Martina McBride: Ladies Night Out
April 25 – Little Big Town
Robert Earl Keen Honored with BMI’s Troubadour Award
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Kathleen Keen, Robert Earl Keen, Dualtone’s Scott Robinson
Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen recently joined BMI for an album release party celebrating his latest release, The Happy Prisoner.
During the party, Keen was also honored with the inaugural Troubadour Award presented by BMI’s Jody Williams. “It’s hard to define success as a songwriter,” says Williams. “We have charts and sales tallies and best-of lists, all designed to help us keep track of who’s on top. But the best songwriters will tell you, that as exciting and encouraging as those benchmarks can be, they aren’t necessarily the most accurate barometers of success. The Troubadour Award celebrates the artists who craft for the sake of the song. It’s the songwriter’s songwriter award.”
Keen and his band then played a set of new music. “This award means so much to me,” says Keen. “I have always been a songwriter; it’s in my blood.”
Keen will be touring in support of the album throughout the spring.
Music Row Area Makes Way For 230 Apartments By Spring 2017
/by Eric T. ParkerForestar Development Group/Niles Bolton Associates
Demolition began last week and continues this week (March. 30) for Forestar Group Inc.’s mixed-use Music Square Flats, set to take over the 17th Ave. block of Music Row, where SESAC sat. Construction is set to begin on the six-story project in June, with a spring 2017 opening.
Officially the addresses 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 Music Square West will be overtaken by the Austin-based developer’s 230-apartment build, which will also include retail space.
The leasing agency for the project has not yet been announced. Forestar is the same developer behind the 324-unit multifamily community Acklen, currently in construction on West End Ave.
As earlier reported, SESAC is in the process of building a new $20 million home on Music Row.
Brett Eldredge Added To WME Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonBrett Eldredge
WME has added Brett Eldredge to its artist roster. The Illinois native co-wrote 11 of the 12 songs on his debut project, Bring You Back (Warner Music Nashville) and has penned songs for Trace Adkins, Gary Allan, Jake Owen, Neal McCoy, and others.
He recently notched his third No. 1 single with “Mean To Me.”
Eldredge will join Darius Rucker‘s Southern Style tour, which launches May 14 in Holmdel, N.J.
He is managed by Longshot Management’s Rob Baker.
Tin Pan South Photo Wrap Up
/by Kelsey_GradySongwriters and their ardent admirers continued to congregate at music venues across Nashville over the weekend, wrapping up NSAI’s 23rd Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank.
Music City’s top music venues hosted more than 350 songwriters, performing 92 shows over the course of the Festival last week.
Pictured (L-R): Ben Cooper, Gordon Kennedy, Region Bank’s Jim Schmitz, Chuck Wicks, and Matt Jenkins at the BB King’s Blues Club Friday night. Photo: Bev Moser
Pictured (L-R): RaeLynn, Jimmy Robbins, Michael Carter and JT Harding at the Hard Rock Cafe Friday night. Photo: Bev Moser
Pictured (L-R): Katy Epley, Musicians On Call; Rodney Clawson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Dana Sones, Musicians On Call; James Howell, Musicians On Call at the Listening Room Cafe Friday night. Photo: Bev Moser
Pictured (L-R): Regions Bank Sr. VP Lisa Harless, Victoria Shaw, John Oates and Tosha Hill at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Photo: Bev Moser
Pandora’s Page To Join Cumulus
/by Jessica NicholsonTommy Page
Cumulus Media has added Tommy Page as Sr. VP of Brand Partnerships. In the new role, Page will connect brands with Cumulus listeners, with content being distributed by Westwood One, according to Billboard.
He will report to Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey, and will be based in New York City.
Page joins Cumulus from Pandora, where he played a significant role in outreach to artists and the industry after the company earned criticism over its royalty rates. Page joined Pandora in 2013, after two years at Billboard.
Page’s industry career began as a recording artist for Sire Records. His best-known hit was 1990’s “I’ll Be Your Everything.” He later returned to NYU’s Stern School of Business to pursue a career as a music exec. He then spent 14 years as an A&R and radio promotion exec for Warner Bros./Reprise.
UMPG Snags Indie Breakout Artist Justin Adams
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R) back: Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R; and Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG. Front: Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Adams; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Scott Safford, attorney.
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed budding artist/songwriter Justin Adams to an exclusive publishing agreement.
Adams’ 2013 self-titled independent EP featured co-written songs with established writers including Kent Blazy and Karyn Rochelle. Adams has reached No. 4 on the iTunes Country Music Albums chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Country Albums.
MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann gave the Oklahoma native and former college football player’s “Miss Me Whiskey” the DISCovery award in August 2013, noting: “He hooked me from the well-written opening lines. This is a real piece of songwriting craftsmanship, and fact that he sings it with so much force makes it that much more involving. An artist who has all the ammo he needs for stardom. And I loved the haunting instrumental coda.”
“Justin is one of the hardest working, extremely focused and brightest artists that we’ve had the fortune to sign. We look forward to helping Justin take his artistry and music to the next level,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager.
“UMPG is one big family and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Kent, Missy, and the rest of the amazing team there,” said Adams.
In the wake of his writing success Adams has been balancing a busy tour schedule, sharing the stage with Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Eli Young Band, David Nail, Love and Theft, Easton Corbin, Eric Paslay and Charlie Worsham.
BMLG Signs Pop Artist Laura Marano
/by Jessica NicholsonLaura Marano with BMLG’s Allison Jones. Photo: Laura Marano/Twitter.
Big Machine Label Group has added pop artist and actress Laura Marano to its roster, MusicRow has confirmed.
The 19-year-old entertainer, who stars as Ally in Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally, recently earned Favorite TV Actress at the 2015 Kids’ Choice Awards. She has also appeared on Without a Trace, Back to You, Ghost Whisperer, Flash Forward, True Jackson, and other series.
Marano recorded several tracks for the soundtrack album Austin & Ally: Turn It Up, along with co-star Ross Lynch. She is also featured on Disney Channel’s Play It Loud compilation, and recorded “I Love Christmas” as part of Disney Channel’s holiday compilation Holidays Unwrapped.
The singer/actress revealed the label signing via social media over the weekend.
Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert Take Home iHeartRadio Awards
/by Sarah SkatesJason Aldean performs on the 2015 iHeartRadio Music awards.
The 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards brought lots of star power to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday night (March 29). The second annual event aired on NBC.
The awards “showcase the year’s most popular artists and songs determined by the iHeartRadio Chart and fan voting through iHeartRadio stations nationwide,” according to a press release. Fan voting determined the winners of Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics and the first-ever Renegade Award, sponsored by Jeep. More on the fan voting.
2015 iHeartRadio Innovator Award- Justin Timberlake
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Iggy Azalea
Luke Bryan
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
Best Collaboration
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj – WINNER
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Problem” – Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
Best New Artist
Bastille
Cole Swindell
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Sam Smith – WINNER
Country Song of the Year
“Bartender” – Lady Antebellum
“Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean – WINNER
“Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
“Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
“Play It Again” – Luke Bryan
Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year
“Don’t Tell ‘Em” – Jeremih featuring YG – WINNER
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z
“Flawless” – Beyoncé
“Loyal” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga
“New Flame” – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross
Dance Song of the Year
“Animals” – Martin Garrix
“Blame” – Calvin Harris featuring John Newman
“La La La” – Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith
“Summer” – Calvin Harris – WINNER
“Waves” – Mr. Probz
Alternative Rock Song of the Year
“Come With Me Now” – KONGOS
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Fever” – The Black Keys
“Something From Nothing” – Foo Fighters
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier – WINNER
Best Lyrics
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift – WINNER
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
“Habits (Stay High)” – Tove Lo
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
Best Fan Army
5SOSFAM – 5 Seconds of Summer – WINNER
Arianators – Ariana Grande
Bey Hive – Beyoncé
Team Breezy – Chris Brown
Sheerios – Ed Sheeran
Church Choir – Eric Church
Directioners – One Direction
Selenators – Selena Gomez
Mendes Army – Shawn Mendes
Swifties – Taylor Swift
Renegade Award
Brantley Gilbert – WINNER
Charli XCX
Hozier
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Brantley Gilbert accepts the Renegade award.
Florida Georgia Line perform “Sun Daze.”
Taylor Swift performs with Madonna at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Kelly Clarkson performs “Heartbeat Song.”
Justin Timberlake accepts the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.
Meghan Trainor performs “Dear Future Husband.”
Tin Pan South: In Pictures
/by Kelsey_GradySongwriters including Will Hoge, Brandon Lay, and Pat Alger performed at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe Wednesday evening as part of the CMA Presents Show.
Pictured (L-R): Amy Smart, Country Music Association; Pat Alger; Brandon Lay; Will Hoge; Chris Crawford, Country Music Association at the CMA Presents show at the Hard Rock Cafe Wednesday night. Photo: Bev Moser
Last night, Creative Nation played a sold out round at Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe for Tin Pan South. The evening included music from hitmakers Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Natalie Hemby as well as Creative Nation artists, Steve Moakler and Maggie Chapman.
Pictured (L-R): Steve Moakler, Maggie Chapman, Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Barry Dean
Nashville’s famed Hard Rock Café was the setting for SESAC’s annual Tin Pan South 2015 Showcase. Boasting an incredible lineup, songwriters Hillary Scott (“Need You Now”), Rob Hatch (“I Don’t Dance”), Larry McCoy (“Make Me Wanna”) and Lance Miller (“Drink To That All Night”) delivered a rousing night of hits and emotional performances for the capacity crowd.
Pictured (L-R): Region Bank’s Brian O’Meara, Larry McCoy, Hillary Scott, SESAC’s Tim Fink, Rob Hatch, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Lance Miller. Photo: Bev Moser
James Otto performed at The Listening Room cafe on Tuesday as part of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. He played his new single “Somewhere Tonight” along with other classics such as “In Color.”
Pictured (L- R): James Otto, Trent Tomlinson, Clint Daniels, Anthony Smith. Photo: Bev Moser
The Station Inn hosted performances from Vince Gill, Leslie Satcher, Bobby Tomberlin, and Bill Anderson Thursday night.
Pictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Leslie Satcher, Bobby Tomberlin and Bill Anderson at the Station Inn Thursday night.
Sarah Buxton, Dave Berg, Jordan Lawhead, and Marc Beeson performed Thursday evening at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe.
Pictured (L-R): Jordan Lawhead; Marc Beeson; Lisa Harless, Regions Bank; Dave Berg; Sarah Buxton at The Bluebird Cafe Thursday night.