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Artist Updates: Dustin Lynch, Striking Matches, Garth Brooks

February 9, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Fresh off of playing Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Playa” festival in Mexico, Broken Bow Records’ Dustin Lynch recently performed sold-out shows at the popular Joe’s Bar in Chicago (Jan. 30) and The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, Wis. (Jan. 31). His set included songs such as his Top 40-and-climbing single “Hell Of A Night” and Gold-certified, multi-week No. 1 single, “Where It’s At.”

Dustin Lynch performing for a sold-out crowd at The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, Wis.

Lynch also played Ballpark Village in St Louis this past weekend (Friday, Feb. 6) for 92.3 WIL Hot Country Nights presented by Ford.

Jim Malito-Nat'l Director of Promotion, Broken Bow Records; Danny Montana-WIL Asst PD; Dustin Lynch; Kelly Rebal-Promotions Director WIL; Derrick Keith-Midday Personality WIL; Bo Matthews-Afternoon Personality WIL

Pictured (L-R): Jim Malito-Nat’l Director of Promotion, Broken Bow Records; Danny Montana-WIL Asst PD; Dustin Lynch; Kelly Rebal-Promotions Director WIL; Derrick Keith-Midday Personality WIL; Bo Matthews-Afternoon Personality WIL

• • •

Striking Matches. Photo: Stephen Scofield and Sarah Barlow

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Oates will be joined by new duo Striking Matches as performers at the Nashville Ballet’s upcoming annual fundraising event, Ballet Ball 2015. Oates will perform the Hall & Oates hit “She’s Gone,” as well as “Lose It in Louisiana,” a track from his 2014 solo album Good Road to Follow. Striking Matches will perform “When The Right One Comes Along” which was written for ABC’s Nashville, in addition to an original song composed specifically for the Ballet Ball 2015.

To be held Saturday, March 7 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center the event will feature music along with a performance from the Nashville Ballet company dancers, choreographed by Nashville Ballet company dancer Christopher Stuart.

“This year’s collaboration with John Oates and Striking Matches continues our mission of cultivating the local arts scene through partnerships with the musicians that make this Music City,” Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling said. “Incorporating original choreography from one of our company dancers adds yet another layer onto this already special collaboration.”

• • •

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks will return to Sacramento, for the first time in over 17 years, as part of his current world tour. The concerts will be held Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m., both at Sleep Train Arena. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. PST at www.ticketmaster.com, ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks or 1-800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster Express 1-866-448-7849.

Reminder: First-Round Fan Voting For ACM New Artist of the Year Ends Tomorrow

February 9, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

The first round of fan voting for the Academy of Country Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year will close Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. ET. Fans can vote now at voteacm.com and voteacm.cmt.com.

The semi-finalists for this year’s ACM New Artist of the Year are:

Brett Eldredge
Tyler Farr
Sam Hunt
Kip Moore
Thomas Rhett
Chase Rice
Cole Swindell
Dan + Shay

The final three nominees will be announced in the coming weeks and will move on to compete in the final round of voting for the New Artist category at VoteACM.com. The final round of fan voting begins April 8 and will close on April 19.

“We take pride in uncovering the best new artists in country music,” said Leslie Fram, SVP of Music Strategy, CMT. “The Academy’s New Artist category represents the best in our format, and we’re thrilled to partner with them on fan-voting.”

The ACM professional membership voted to determine the eight semi-finalists. The final three nominees for the ACM New Artist of the Year Award will be determined via the first round fan vote, combined with the ACM professional membership vote.

The final three (3) nominees will then compete for the trophy, with a final round of combined fan and ACM professional membership vote to determine the winner. The winner will be revealed on the live telecast of the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Developers Seek Rezoning To Raze Buildings on 16th Ave. S.

February 9, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Rendering of the proposed development on 16th Ave. S.

Six parcels on 16th Ave. S. could be rezoned at Thursday’s (Feb. 12) Metro Planning Commission meeting. Nashville-based businessmen Gary Belz and Brad Daniel are requesting the rezoning from office and residential to specific plan-mixed-use in order to build the 16th Avenue Apartments, according to the Nashville Post. The new development would offer 135 units as well as retail shops.

The parcels totaling about an acre are near Edgehill Village and are located at 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208 and 1212 16th Ave. S., as well as one unnumbered parcel. Four buildings would be torn down to make way for the apartment building.

A group fighting the development has created a Facebook page with details for anyone wanting to contact the planning commission or speak at the rezoning meeting.

Bobby Karl Works The Nashville Grammy Party

February 9, 2015/by Bobby Karl

Taylor Swift on the Grammys red carpet. Photo: Grammy.com

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 479

Here’s a choice: Spend hours cramped in an uncomfortable airplane seat, book an expensive hotel and sit in the vast Staples Center in L.A. …. or settle into a comfy Nashville bar with big-screen TVs, plus food and drinks within reach.

I’ll take the barroom. The Listening Room on 2nd Avenue North, to be specific. That’s where the Nashville Chapter of The Recording Academy held its Grammy-viewing party on Sunday night (Feb. 8).

The handsome, warm, brick-and-wood room was decked out with five TV monitors, one of them wall-sized. Two bars, each the width of the entire venue, made getting libations easy. A food station offered exotic cheeses, crab cakes, meatballs in barbecue sauce or marinara, Thai peanut chicken with noodles, fruits, crackers and melted cheesy mushroom caps. Desserts, too.

As we schmoozed before the CBS Grammy special began, word circulated in the crowd about the Nashvillians who were pre-telecast winners, such as Old Crow Medicine Show (Folk), Jack White (Rock Performance), The Band Perry (Country Group), For King & Country (CCM), Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile (Instrumental), The Earls of Leicester (Bluegrass), Mike Farris (Roots Gospel) and Carrie Underwood (Country Solo). Our own Hunter Hayes hosted the pre-tel ceremony.

Dierks Bentley on the Grammys red carpet. Photo: Grammy.com

At this pre-tel, now called the “Premiere,” Glen Campbell’s “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” won Country Song. Rosanne Cash picked up all three Americana honors. Jo-El Sonnier won for Regional Roots Music Album. The Hank Williams set The Garden Spot Programs 1950, co-produced by Colin Escott, took home the Historical Album Grammy. Roger Nichols phoned Hayley Williams of Paramore to congratulate her win for Best Rock Song and asked if she was in L.A. to accept it. She replied that she was here at home in her pajamas, freaking out.

She should have joined us downtown. This year’s Grammy-viewing party vibe was absolutely perfect. The Listening Room held exactly the right crowd size. Some previous viewing parties in Music City have been jam-jam packed. This year, the event was full, but you could still maneuver in the space. And we did. With four Grammys, Brit soul-pop singer Sam Smith was the big winner. But at our gala, everyone cheered whenever a Keith Urban, a Dierks Bentley, a Blake Shelton, a Taylor Swift or a Meghan Trainor appeared on screen.

Dwight Yoakam, winner Miranda Lambert (Country Album) and nominees Eric Church and Brandy Clark performed. There were 23 musical performances during this year’s Grammy telecast. All of ours did us proud.

Hunter Hayes performs on the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. Photo: Grammy.com

Eric created a true Grammy moment with his videos of social-justice movements and tribulations of our times during “Give Me Back My Hometown.” It was country music taking back its populist focus, instead of representing the reactionary know-nothingness that its artists have too often espoused.

Brandy and Dwight’s performance of her “Hold My Hand” was tender and touching. Miranda’s “Little Red Wagon” was fierce and feisty.

Working the Nashville Grammy-viewing soiree at The Listening Room were the likes of Chapter vice president David Corlew, plus Ed Salamon, Bill VornDick, Ashley Ernst, Shannon Sanders, Anthony Martin, Bri Stewart, Cerrito, Kevin Edwin, 2013 Ms. Senior America Carolyn Corlew, Nathan Pyle, Randy Perkins, Raeanne Rubenstein, Roger Nichols and Courtney White.

They helped make it the best one yet. I’ll take the barroom.

Rosanne Cash accepts a Grammy honor during the Awards Premiere Ceremony on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles

Rosanne Cash onstage at the Awards Premiere Ceremony on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. Photo: Grammy.com

Deadline Tonight To Submit Your Rising Women Nominations

February 9, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

The nomination period for MusicRow‘s fourth annual Rising Women on the Row ceremony has ended.

Selections for businesswomen on Music Row who have become substantial contributors and visionary leaders will be revealed by MusicRow prior to the March 24th ceremony.

Tickets, including sponsor table packages, are available now. Tickets will not be sold at the event.

Event speakers and performers will be revealed in the coming weeks.

LifeNotes: The Crickets Member Joe B. Mauldin Dies

February 9, 2015/by Robert K Oermann

Buddy Holly and The Crickets in 1957 (top to bottom: Allison, Holly and Mauldin)

Nashville lost one of its Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame members over the weekend when Joe B. Mauldin of The Crickets passed away on Saturday morning, Feb. 7.

Mauldin was 74 years old and had been battling cancer. In addition to being a 2012 inductee into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, he and his fellow Crickets were also installed in the Music City Walk of Fame in 2007 and in the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2008.

Joe B. Mauldin was the bass player in The Crickets. The group was the accompaniment for the legendary Buddy Holly in the 1950s, then went on to have a five-decade career on its own.

Born Joseph Benson Mauldin Jr. on July 8, 1940, he grew up in West Texas alongside Holly and the other members of the group. He joined The Crickets in 1957. Holly, Mauldin, drummer J.I. Allison and rhythm guitarist Nikki Sullivan scored their first hit as The Cricket with “That’’ll Be the Day” later that year. For the next two years, the group released a steady stream of hits. The records were sometimes billed as “Buddy Holly” and sometimes as “The Crickets.” Among the most successful were “Peggy Sue” (1957), “Oh Boy” (1957), “Maybe Baby” (1958), “Rave On” (1958) and “Think It Over” (1958).

Even songs that were not initially hits became immortal in the pop-music pantheon – “Everyday” (1957), “It’s So Easy” (1958), “Love’s Made a Fool of You” (1958), “Not Fade Away” (1957) and “Well All Right” (1958), to name a few. Mauldin co-wrote the group’s “Last Night,” “Well All Right” and “I’m Gonna Love You Too.” Holly died on Feb. 3, 1959 in a plane crash that also claimed the lives of The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) and Richie Valens. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Sonny Curtis, who had been a member of the band before its hit-making days, rejoined the group.

Following Holly’s death, The Crickets toured as the opening act for The Everly Brothers and also backed the duo in concert. The band began issuing LPs on its own in 1960.

Mauldin served in the U.S. Army in 1964-66, then became an engineer at the famed Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles. Allison and Curtis kept The Crickets name alive, and Mauldin periodically performed with them. There were numerous personnel changes over the years — Earl Sinks, Jerry Naylor, Glen D. Hardin, David Box and Gordon Payne were members at various times — but by 1976, Allison and Mauldin were the group constants.

The group appeared at the Buddy Holly Week festival in England in 1977 and toured as the opening act for country superstar Waylon Jennings in the 1970s. Mauldin, Allison and Curtis all relocated to Nashville during the 1980s.

Paul McCartney produced the group in 1988 (The Beatles had named themselves in honor of The Crickets). Nanci Griffith took the group on the road with her in the 1990s and appeared with The Crickets on her 1997 album Blue Roses From the Moon.

Griffith and Jennings both appeared on the 2004 CD The Crickets and Their Buddies, as did Eric Clapton, Phil Everly, Bobby Vee, Rodney Crowell, Graham Nash, John Prine and Johnny Rivers.

Mauldin also performed on the Crickets albums Double Exposure (2003), Still in Style (1992), T-Shirt (1988), Back in Style (1975), Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets (1962), Something Old Something New (1963) and In Style with The Crickets (1960).

In addition, he played bass on records by Dale Hawkins, Jimmy Bowen and Mike Berry. Mauldin continued to tour with The Crickets until 2013, when the band retired.

Joe B. Mauldin is survived by his wife Jane and daughters Melody Stephenson and Jennifer Mauldin.

Grammy Awards Recap: Sam Smith’s Golden Evening

February 8, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Sam Smith

The Grammy voting audience stayed with British neo-soul singer Sam Smith during the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday evening (Feb. 8). Smith took home Grammys for Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year (both for “Stay With Me”), and Best Pop Vocal Album, for In The Lonely Hour.

“Thank you all for the best night of my life,” said Smith.

After picking up three awards this year, Beyoncé became the second most-awarded woman in Grammy history (20 total Grammys). She was honored for best surround album, as well as Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance (both for “Drunk In Love”). This places Beyonce’s trophy tally behind Alison Krauss, who has 27 career wins.

Country-turned-pop songstress Taylor Swift presented the first award of the evening, for Best New Artist. She also imparted some advice to the nominees. “As a former loser of Best New Artist in 2008, you’re gonna be fine, just shake it off,” said Swift. The honor went to Smith. Country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark was among the nominees for the award. Clark took the stage later in the evening for an acoustic performance with Dwight Yoakam providing harmony. She performed fan favorite “Hold My Hand” from her sterling, Grammy-nominated album 12 Stories.

Miranda Lambert was the first country performer of the evening, giving a swagger-filled rendition of “Little Red Wagon” from her album Platinum. Lambert was nominated for four trophies. Nashville resident and “All About That Bass” songstress Meghan Trainor helped present the award for Best Country Album, which went to Lambert’s Platinum. It was Lambert’s lone win of the evening. “I love every album in this category. I put my heart and soul in this record. Thank you for this amazing night,” said Lambert.

Eric Church performs during the 57th Annual Grammy awards. Photo: Grammy.com

Keith Urban introduced Eric Church, who performed “Give Me Back My Hometown,” which was nominated for Best Country Song.

As previously reported, Carrie Underwood, Glen Campbell, Rosanne Cash, The Band Perry, Lecrae, and For King & Country were among Grammy winners earlier in the evening, prior to the telecast on CBS. Underwood picked up a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy for “Something In The Water,” while The Band Perry won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their rendition of Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind.”

Campbell himself picked up a Grammy win as a songwriter (along with Julian Raymond) in the category of Best Country Song for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.” Rosanne Cash earned Best Americana Album for The River & The Thread.

For King & Country took home Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Run Wild. Love Strong. Live Free. Lecrae (feat. For King & Country) earned Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song for “Messengers.”

Perhaps the most anticipated performances of the evening belonged once again to Smith and Beyonce. Sam Smith teamed with Mary J. Blige for a duet of “Stay With Me,” backed by a choir, while Beyonce performed a rendition of the Gospel classic “Take My Hand Precious Lord.”

Overall, Nashville’s eclectic music scene made a strong showing on music’s biggest night.

Miranda Lambert performs “Little Red Wagon” during the 57th annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Grammy.com

Selected 57th Annual Grammy Winners (in bold)

Album of the Year
Beck, Morning Phase
Beyonce, Beyonce
Ed Sheeran, x
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Pharrell Williams, Girl

Record of the Year
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
“Chandelier,” Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor

Song of the Year
“Chandelier,” Sia
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Take Me to Church,” Hozier

Best New Artist
Bastille
Iggy Azalea
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith

Best Country Album
Riser, Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders, Eric Church
The Way I’m Livin’, Lee Ann Womack
12 Stories, Brandy Clark
Platinum, Miranda Lambert

Best Country Song
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Give Me Back My Hometown,” Eric Church
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell
“Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill

Best Americana Album
The River & The Thread, Rosanne Cash
Terms of My Surrender, John Hiatt
Bluesamericana, Keb’ Mo’
A Dotted Line, Nickel Creek
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson

Best Country Solo Performance
Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water”
Eric Church, “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Hunter Hayes, “Invisible”
Miranda Lambert, “Automatic”
Keith Urban, “Cop Car”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Band Perry, “Gentle On My Mind”
Miranda Lambert With Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”
Little Big Town, “Day Drinking”
Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill, “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church, “Raise ‘Em Up”

Best Country Song
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)
Track from: Glen Campbell, I’ll Be Me Soundtrack
Label: Big Machine Records

“American Kids”
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally, songwriters (Kenny Chesney)
Track From: The Big Revival
Label: Blue Chair Records, LLC / Columbia Nashville

“Automatic”
Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Track from: Platinum
Label: RCA Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Wruckestrike

“Give Me Back My Hometown”
Eric Church & Luke Laird, songwriters (Eric Church)
Track from: The Outsiders
Label: EMI Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer And Louder Music, admin. by Sony/ATV Music PublishingLLC/Songs Of Universal , Inc./Creative Nation Music/Twangin And Slangin, admin. by Songs Of Universal, Inc.

“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston & Jeffrey Steele, songwriters (Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill)
Label: Big Machine Records

Best Rock Performance
Ryan Adams, “Gimme Something Good”
Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know?”
Beck, “Blue Moon”
The Black Keys, “Fever”
Jack White, “Lazaretto”

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Lecrae feat. For King & Country, “Messengers”
Francesca Battistelli, “Write Your Story”
Crowder, “Come As You Are”
MercyMe, “Shake”
Needtobreathe, “Multiplied”

Best Gospel Album
Erica Campbell, Help
Ricky Dillard & New G, Amazing [Live]
William McDowell, Withholding Nothing [Live]
Smokie Norful, Forever Yours
Anita Wilson, Vintage Worship

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
Francesca Battistelli, If We’re Honest
Natalie Grant, Hurricane
MercyMe, Welcome to the New
Royal Tailor, Royal Tailor

Best Gospel Performance/Song
Smokie Norful, “No Greater Love”
Erica Campbell feat. Lecrae, “Help”
Karen Clark Shearda, “Sunday A.M. [Live]”
Mali Music, “I Believe”
The Walls Group, “Love On The Radio”

Early Grammy Wins For Carrie Underwood, The Band Perry, For King & Country

February 8, 2015/by Jessica Nicholson

Carrie Underwood on the set of her video for "Somethin' In The Water."

Carrie Underwood on the set of her video for “Something In The Water.”

The accolades have begun rolling in, as Grammy honors were handed out in several categories earlier Sunday evening (Feb. 8), ahead of the live telecast of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. That means some Nashville artists are already Grammy award winners this evening.

Carrie Underwood earned Best Country Solo Performance for “Something In The Water,” a category that also featured nominees Eric Church (“Give Me Back My Hometown”), Hunter Hayes (“Invisible”), Miranda Lambert (“Automatic”), and Keith Urban (“Cop Car”).

The Band Perry took home Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their rendition of Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind.”

Campbell himself picked up a Grammy win as a songwriter (along with Julian Raymond) in the category of Best Country Song for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.”

Jack White‘s “Lazaretto” earned Best Rock Performance, while Rosanne Cash‘s The River & The Thread earned Best Americana Album.

The Band Perry

CCM duo For King & Country earned Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.

Lecrae (feat. For King & Country) earned Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Messengers,” while Smokie Norful‘s “No Greater Love” earned Best Gospel Performance/Song. Best Gospel Album went to Erica Campbell‘s Help.

The documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, featuring Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, and Judith Hill, earned Best Music Film. The project was directed by Morgan Neville, and produced by Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers.

Additional winners will be revealed during the 57th Annual Grammy Awards telecast, beginning at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.

Select Early Grammy Winners:

Best Country Solo Performance
Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water” (winner)
Eric Church, “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Hunter Hayes, “Invisible”
Miranda Lambert, “Automatic”
Keith Urban, “Cop Car”

Glen Campbell

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Band Perry,”Gentle On My Mind” (winner)
Miranda Lambert With Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”
Little Big Town, “Day Drinking”
Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill, “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church, “Raise ‘Em Up”

Best Country Song
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You (winner)
Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)
Track from: Glen Campbell, I’ll Be Me Soundtrack
Label: Big Machine Records

“American Kids”
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally, songwriters (Kenny Chesney)
Label: Blue Chair Records, LLC / Columbia Nashville

“Automatic”
Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Track from: Platinum
Label: RCA Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Wruckestrike

“Give Me Back My Hometown”
Eric Church & Luke Laird, songwriters (Eric Church)
Track from: The Outsiders
Label: EMI Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer And Louder Music, admin. by Sony/ATV Music PublishingLLC/Songs Of Universal , Inc./Creative Nation Music/Twangin And Slangin, admin. by Songs Of Universal, Inc.

“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston & Jeffrey Steele, songwriters (Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill)
Label: Big Machine Records

Best Rock Performance
Ryan Adams, “Gimme Something Good”
Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know?”
Beck, “Blue Moon”
The Black Keys, “Fever”
Jack White, “Lazaretto” (winner)

For King & Country

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Lecrae feat. For King & Country, “Messengers” (winner)
Francesca Battistelli, “Write Your Story”
Crowder, “Come As You Are”
MercyMe, “Shake”
Needtobreathe, “Multiplied”

Best Gospel Album
Erica Campbell, Help (winner)
Ricky Dillard & New G, Amazing [Live]
William McDowell, Withholding Nothing [Live]
Smokie Norful, Forever Yours
Anita Wilson, Vintage Worship

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. (winner)
Francesca Battistelli, If We’re Honest
Natalie Grant, Hurricane
MercyMe, Welcome to the New
Royal Tailor, Royal Tailor

Best Gospel Performance/Song
Smokie Norful, “No Greater Love” (winner)
Erica Campbell feat. Lecrae, “Help”
Karen Clark Shearda, “Sunday A.M. [Live]”
Mali Music, “I Believe”
The Walls Group, “Love On The Radio”

Best Americana Album
The River & The Thread, Rosanne Cash
Terms of My Surrender, John Hiatt
Bluesamericana, Keb’ Mo’
A Dotted Line, Nickel Creek
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson

Black River Entertainment Announces CRS Performers

February 6, 2015/by Troy_Stephenson

John King. Photo: Robert Chavers

Black River Entertainment will showcase the music of three of its talented singer-songwriters during this year’s Country Radio Seminar. Craig Morgan, John King, and Kelsea Ballerini will all showcase new music during the Black River Entertainment luncheon. It will be held inside the Performance Hall at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. On Friday, Feb. 27 at noon.

Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Jeremy Ryan

Black River Entertainment’s Vice President of Promotion Mike Wilson said, “We are very excited about Black River’s CRS luncheon this year. Last year’s show was so fantastic, it’s tough to beat, but I think we will. There are a lot of exciting things happening with our artists and their music— maybe even a surprise or two. You won’t want to miss it!”

Craig Morgan

Black River Entertainment’s Chief Executive Officer Gordon Kerr will once again host the label’s luncheon.

CRS 2015 is Feb. 25-27, 2015. To register for CRS 2015, please visit www.crb.org or contact the CRS offices today.

The current registration rate for the three-day event is $599.

Ronnie Milsap Now Spotlighted Three Times Throughout CMHoF

February 6, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Pictured are (L-R): Gold Mountain Entertainment’s Burt Stein, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young, Ronnie Milsap, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Carolyn Tate and Lisa Purcell. Photo: Rick Diamond.

Ronnie Milsap is now the center of a new exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame titled Ronnie Milsap: A Legend in My Time. The music legend and 2014 Hall of Famer now finds himself represented in three spots throughout the museum: one in the permanent collection, another honoring the most recent Hall of Fame inductees and the newest opening, celebrated last night (Feb. 6) during a private gathering of 100+ individuals.

Replacing the Crystal Gayle exhibit, Milsap’s turn in the museum’s spotlight focuses on the flashy outfits, award presentations, a segment of his soundboard from the 80s-90s in braille, and a keytar along with many other artifacts.

Ronnie Milsap. Photo: Rick Diamond.

Last night’s reception for friends, family and colleagues was held upstairs near the museum’s corporate offices where Milsap was recognized for career achievements, prior to today’s public opening (Feb. 5).

“He rose from a childhood fraught with emotional trauma and depravation,” said Museum’s Director and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Young. “You would never know that to meet him. He’s one of the most upbeat human beings on earth. Perhaps the most important measure of Ronnie’s success is his joyful heart. His love of life shines from his core. We’re honored and exceedingly proud to share this new exhibition with our visitors.”

“Jerry Bradley told me after I won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA that one day [I’ll] be in the Hall of Fame,” explained Milsap. “I’m gonna continue to make records, play show dates. I’m thankful my wife Joyce is with me today, she’s been an inspiration in my life. And to quote a song title for all of you here today: ‘What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life’!”

To celebrate the exhibit’s launch, a special conversation with Milsap will be hosted by museum writer-editor Peter Cooper in the museum’s 750-seat CMA Theater, Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:00 p.m.