Darius Rucker To Be Featured on CMT’s Inside Fame
Twenty years after Darius Rucker first achieved musical success as a member of group Hootie & the Blowfish, the now award-winning country artist shares the moments behind his success in both pop and country with a new episode of CMT’s bio-series Inside Fame: Darius Rucker. The episode premieres Saturday, Feb. 7 at 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Rucker’s upcoming fourth studio album, Southern Style, will release March 31. The singer-songwriter’s Southern Style Tour, featuring Brett Eldredge, will launch May 14 in Holmdel, N. J.
Inside Fame is a CMT original production, with Jayson Dinsmore, Lewis Bogach and John Miller-Monzon serving as executive producers.
Florida Georgia Line, NEEDTOBREATHE Set for Live In The Vineyard Festival
Florida Georgia Line, NEEDTOBREATHE, Melissa Etheridge, Katy Tiz, Oh Honey, and The Veronicas are slated to perform during the 15th installment of the “Live In The Vineyard” festival. To be held March 26-29 in Napa Valley, Calif., the private festival happens twice per year, and give attendees access to recording artists, top tier wine makers, and acclaimed chefs.
For more information, visit liveinthevineyard.com.
Storme Warren To Host Third Annual Nashville Universe Awards
The third annual Nashville Universe Awards will welcome host Storme Warren (SiriusXM’s “The Highway”) at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. CT. Established in 2012, the awards highlight upcoming artists, from musicians to filmmakers, while introducing them to industry tastemakers.
Nominees in five top categories were recently revealed:
Entertainer of the Year
Don Woods
2 Steel Girls
Gibson Cage
3 Lanes Crossing
Trailer Choir
Male Vocalist of the Year
Troy Hoss
Kevin Klein
Michael Moore
Chris Rogers
Tom Dixon
Female Vocalist of the Year
Amy Rose
Keeghan Nolan
Carmen Brandy
Taylor Parks
Jolina Carl
Vocal Group of the Year
The Southern Experience Band
Darrin Morris Band
Phoenix Drive
3 Lanes Crossing
The Plott Hounds
Song of the Year
The Suitcase – Garrett Steel
Forward – 2 Steel Girls
Kick Start This Party – Tom Dixon
Whiskey Melody – Don Woods
The Cheatin’ Song – 3 Lanes Crossing
LOCASH To Launch ‘2015 I Love This Life Tour’ on Feb. 15
LOCASH. Photo: Jake Harsh
Duo LOCASH will visit a string of popular music markets on its 2015 I Love This Life Tour. The trek will launch Feb. 15 in Westbury, N.Y. Upcoming stops include Evansville, Ind., Melbourne, Fla., Annapolis, Md., Hunter, N.Y., Rhinelander, Wis., Sunrise Beach, Mo., and more. LOCASH’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas recently signed to Reviver Records, and are ready to bring their energetic live shows to fans. The duo’s new single, “I Love This Life,” will impact country radio during the week of Country Radio Seminar.
“We know we can make this new record deal very successful,” Lucas said. “We’ve got a lot of amazing fans and people who believe in us, and we’ve thrown kindling all over the place — now it’s time to light it.”
For tour dates, visit locashmusic.com.
[Updated]: LifeNotes: Bob Meador, Husband of Jo Walker-Meador, Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): David McCormick, Jo Walker-Meador and Bob Meador at the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony. Photo: David McCormick
[Updated, Feb. 5]: Services have been set for Bob Meador. A public visitation will be held Saturday, Feb. 7 from 4-6 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Memorial Park, located at 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville. On Monday, Feb. 9, a public visitation will be held at 10 a.m., with a memorial service beginning at 12 noon at Christ Presbyterian Church, located at 2323 Old Hickory Blvd. in Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pearl Point (formerly the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation).
• • •
[Original post]: Bob Meador, husband of music industry executive Jo Walker-Meador, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, at age 88.
Meador had two children, Rob and Karen, from a previous marriage. He had been battling leukemia.
Bob and Jo were married 33 years ago.
As executive director of the Country Music Association (CMA) from 1962 to 1991, Jo Walker-Meador was influential in the growth of the country music industry during those years. One year before she took the helm at the CMA, full-time country radio stations numbered fewer than 100 nationwide. By 1995, there were nearly 2,400 country radio stations. She is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements for Bob Meador are pending.
Industry Pics: ACM, ASCAP, CMT
/by Jessica NicholsonNative Run Signs Up For ACM Membership
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Show Dog-Universal duo Native Run to the office, where they performed their debut single, “Good On You” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.
Native Run sign up as members of the ACM. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music
ASCAP Hosts Showcase Series’ February Installment at the Bluebird Cafe
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) hosted the February installment of its long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe on Wed., February 4th. The “in the round” showcase featured veteran hit songwriter Marla Cannon-Goodman (“The Fool” – Lee Ann Womack), songwriter-artist Josh Jenkins, Combustion Music Publishing songwriter-artist Matt Jenkins (“Where It’s At” – Dustin Lynch), and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing songwriter Aaron Eshuis (“Payback” – Rascal Flatts), who celebrated his first-ever performance at Nashville’s famed listening room.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Aaron Eshuis, Matt Jenkins and Josh Jenkins. Photo: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.
CMT Welcomes Mitchell Tenpenny
New artist Mitchell Tenpenny visited CMT last week to perform songs from his new album Black Crow.
Tenpenny is currently on a radio tour and is featured in a documentary entitled Voyage which is also available on iTunes. Tenpenny wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs on Black Crow, which will release April 28.
Mitchell Tenpenny with CMT staff.
Warner/Chappell, Out Of The Taperoom Add To Writer Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonHunter Phelps
Warner/Chappell Music and Ashley Gorley’s Out Of The Taperoom Music have signed a worldwide publishing deal with songwriter Hunter Phelps. Phelps has shared the stage with major acts including Blake Shelton, Gary Allan, and Jason Aldean.
Regarding the announcement, Gorley said, “Hunter is a an amazing singer and his instincts as a songwriter are special. We are working on music with Hunter that is going to continue to build his fan base.”
Artist Updates: Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, LOCASH, Nashville Universe Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker To Be Featured on CMT’s Inside Fame
Rucker’s upcoming fourth studio album, Southern Style, will release March 31. The singer-songwriter’s Southern Style Tour, featuring Brett Eldredge, will launch May 14 in Holmdel, N. J.
Inside Fame is a CMT original production, with Jayson Dinsmore, Lewis Bogach and John Miller-Monzon serving as executive producers.
Florida Georgia Line, NEEDTOBREATHE Set for Live In The Vineyard Festival
For more information, visit liveinthevineyard.com.
Storme Warren To Host Third Annual Nashville Universe Awards
Nominees in five top categories were recently revealed:
Entertainer of the Year
Don Woods
2 Steel Girls
Gibson Cage
3 Lanes Crossing
Trailer Choir
Male Vocalist of the Year
Troy Hoss
Kevin Klein
Michael Moore
Chris Rogers
Tom Dixon
Female Vocalist of the Year
Amy Rose
Keeghan Nolan
Carmen Brandy
Taylor Parks
Jolina Carl
Vocal Group of the Year
The Southern Experience Band
Darrin Morris Band
Phoenix Drive
3 Lanes Crossing
The Plott Hounds
Song of the Year
The Suitcase – Garrett Steel
Forward – 2 Steel Girls
Kick Start This Party – Tom Dixon
Whiskey Melody – Don Woods
The Cheatin’ Song – 3 Lanes Crossing
LOCASH To Launch ‘2015 I Love This Life Tour’ on Feb. 15
LOCASH. Photo: Jake Harsh
Duo LOCASH will visit a string of popular music markets on its 2015 I Love This Life Tour. The trek will launch Feb. 15 in Westbury, N.Y. Upcoming stops include Evansville, Ind., Melbourne, Fla., Annapolis, Md., Hunter, N.Y., Rhinelander, Wis., Sunrise Beach, Mo., and more. LOCASH’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas recently signed to Reviver Records, and are ready to bring their energetic live shows to fans. The duo’s new single, “I Love This Life,” will impact country radio during the week of Country Radio Seminar.
“We know we can make this new record deal very successful,” Lucas said. “We’ve got a lot of amazing fans and people who believe in us, and we’ve thrown kindling all over the place — now it’s time to light it.”
For tour dates, visit locashmusic.com.
Who’s Earned Gold And Platinum in Nashville?
/by Eric T. ParkerAmong those standard certifications are the 4x Platinum Taylor Swift (1989) and the Platinum Garth Brooks (Man Against The Machine) and Blake Shelton (Loaded: The Best Of Blake Shelton). Adele‘s 2011 project 21 has now been certified at 11x Platinum.
Digital certifications–which include one download for one certification and 100 on-demand audio and/or video streams as 1 certification–find Florida Georgia Line‘s single “Cruise” at 9x Platinum, and the duo’s 2014 single “Sun Daze” takes in Gold. Brantley Gilbert‘s single “Bottoms Up” moves 2x Platinum.
Swift’s 2008 single “You Belong With Me” moves into 7x Platinum, followed by her 2008 “I Knew You Were Trouble” at 6x Platinum, the 5x Platinum “Shake It Off” from 2014 and “Blank Space” strangely finds two slots, one at 3x and 2x Platinum (we’ll just assume it’s the former). Swift plots five additional singles on the January singles chart, including “Welcome To New York,” the single that donates the profits to NYC public schools.
Meghan Trainor‘s “All About That Bass” single has sold 6x Platinum, followed by her “Lips Are Movin” at 2x Platinum (again listed twice, another at 1x Platinum). The Band Perry‘s 2010 “If I Die Young” slides in with 6x Platinum, while label mates Eli Young Band takes in Platinum for “Drunk Last Night.” “Shotgun Rider” gives Tim McGraw Gold sales, next to BMLG rising star RaeLynn, whose “God Made Girls” also earns the status. Blake Shelton also earns Gold for “Neon Light.”
The full report can be found here.
Capitol Christian Music Group Honors TobyMac For Career Milestone
/by Jessica NicholsonCapitol Christian Music Group President & CEO Bill Hearn presents TobyMac with a plaque to commemorate five studio records becoming RIAA Certified Gold
Capitol Christian Music Group artist TobyMac‘s album Eye On It recently earned an RIAA Gold Certification, marking a new career milestone.
TobyMac was honored during a staff presentation at Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) by President & CEO Bill Hearn, recognizing that the honor makes TobyMac the first artist in CCMG history to have five studio solo projects achieve Gold certification.
“The fact that Eye On It and now all five of TobyMac’s albums have been certified Gold by the RIAA is a testimony to how deeply his music resonates with music lovers all over the world. This remarkable achievement is also a first for any artist at Capitol Christian Music Group. The team at Capitol could not be more proud of our history and now extended partnership with the iconic TobyMac,” said Hearn.
Nashville Music Moguls Make ‘Billboard’ Power 100 List
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise, from top left): Scott Borchetta, Clint Higham, Mike Dungan, Brian O’Connell, Clarence Spalding, Louis Messina, and John Esposito.
Billboard recently released its 2015 Power 100 Index, and some of Nashville’s power players are included alongside other top industry moguls.
Topping the list is Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge, who led the charge in breaking four new artists in 2014, including Iggy Azalea, 5 Seconds of Summer, Sam Smith,and Ariana Grande, each selling more than 1 million albums and track equivalents in the United States in 2014. UMG also distributed the year’s best seller, Taylor Swift‘s 1989.
At No. 2 is Live Nation president/CEO Michael Rapino. Live Nation claimed 22 of 2014’s top 25 tours. Rapino helps guide some 20,000 employees in 100 offices around the world.
Rounding out the Top 10 are: Azoff MSG Entertainment’s Irving Azoff (No. 3), Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Martin Bandier (No. 4), Apple’s Jimmy Iovine (No. 5), Red Light Management owner/founder Coran Capshaw (No. 6), Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris (No. 7), iHeartMedia Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman (No. 8), Creative Artist Agency’s Rob Light (No. 9), with Apple’s Eddy Cue and iTunes’ Robert Kondrk at No. 10.
Several power players with strong Nashville ties also made the rankings, including:
No. 23: Big Machine Label Group Founder/CEO Scott Borchetta
No. 33: Universal Music Group Nashville Chairman/CEO Mike Dungan
No. 37: Live Nation president of country music touring Brian O’Connell
No. 66: Warner Music Nashville president/CEO John Esposito
No. 74: The Messina Group president Louis Messina
No. 76: Maverick partner Clarence Spalding
No. 93: Morris Higham Management’s Clint Higham
Nashville Artists Added As Presenters at 57th Annual Grammy Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry-turned-pop star Taylor Swift, and “All About That Bass” songstress (and Big Yellow Dog songwriter) Meghan Trainor are also among the latest names revealed as presenters, in addition to James Corden, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Barry Gibb, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pentatonix, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, The Weeknd, and Stevie Wonder.
Among the country performers Sunday night will be Best New Artist nominee Brandy Clark, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw (in tribute to Glen Campbell), Eric Church, and Dwight Yoakam.
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, beginning at 5 p.m. PST on CBS.
Weekly Chart Report (2/6/15)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report
Brad Paisley’s Summer Tour To Feature Mickey Guyton, Justin Moore
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley. Photo: Jim Shea
Brad Paisley will welcome Mickey Guyton and Justin Moore for his 2015 Crushin’ It World Tour, slated to launch May 15 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Paisley is currently headlining his Country Nation World Tour presented by KRAFT Cheese through March 2015. He recently partnered with Boot Barn® to develop an exclusive line of jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts called Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley.
2015 Crushin’ It World Tour dates
May 15| Susquehanna Bank Center|Philadelphia, PA
May 16| Walnut Creek Ampitheatre|Raleigh, NC
May 17| Shaky Boots Music Festival|Atlanta, GA *
May 30 | Blue Ridge Music Festival|Salem,VA *
May 31| PNC Music Pavilion|Charlotte, NC
June 4 | Ak-Chin Pavilion |Phoenix, AZ
June 5| Hollywood Bowl|Los Angeles, CA
June 6 | Sleep Train Amphitheatre|San Diego, CA
June 12| Sleep Train Amphitheatre|Sacramento, CA
June 13| Shoreline Amphitheatre|Mountain View, CA
June 20| Windy City LakeShake Festival|Chicago, IL *
June 26| First Niagara Pavilion|Pittsburgh, PA
June 27 | FarmBorough Country Music Festival|New York, NY *
June 28 | Darien Lake Performing Arts Center| Darien Center, NY
July 17| Blossom Music Center|Cleveland, OH
July 18 | Faster Horses Country Music Festival|Brooklyn, MI *
July 24| Bethel Woods Center for the Arts|Bethel, NY
July 25| XFINITY Theatre|Hartford, CT
July 26| Saratoga Performing Arts Center |Saratoga Springs, NY
July 31| Mountain Home Country Music Festival|Mountain Home, ID *
Aug. 1| Camrose Regional Exhibition|Camrose, AB
Aug. 7| Boots & Hearts Music Festival|Oro-Medonte, ON *
Aug. 9| Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion|Gilford, NH
Aug. 21| Texas Thunder Country Music Festival| Gardendale, TX *
Aug. 22| Winstar Casino|Thackerville, OK
Aug. 28 |Riverbend Music Center |Cincinnati, OH
Aug. 29| Klipsch Music Center | Indianapolis, IN
Aug. 30| Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre| St. Louis, MO
Sept. 17| Isleta Amphitheater|Albuquerque, NM
Sept. 19| USANA Amphitheatre | Salt Lake City, UT
Sept. 25| XFINITY Center | Boston, MA
Sept. 26| Jiffy Lube Live| Washington, DC
Sept. 27| Farm Bureau Live | Virginia Beach, VA
Oct. 2| MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre|Tampa, FL
Oct. 3| Cruzan Amphitheatre | W. Palm Beach, FL
*Dates are festivals – include Paisley and multiple artists