Rascal Flatts. Photo: Todd Owyoung
It’s Veterans’ Day.
Actually the real holiday took place two weeks ago, but today’s DisClaimer column is nonetheless chock full of veteran record makers.
Rascal Flatts,
Garth Brooks,
Larry Cordle & Alison Krauss and even
The Doobie Brothers are here.
Even so, the youngsters twirled brightly in the spotlight. The two best songs of this listening session are “Bar Band,” co-written and performed by
Adam Hood, and the even more creative “Time Has Wings,” co-written and performed by
Chris Weaver. The latter is accompanied by a breath-taking production and earns the Chris Weaver Band a
DisCovery Award. Give this record your undivided attention.
Speaking of productions,
Rascal Flatts has seldom had a track as well done as “Riot” is. It earns the group a
Disc of the Day.
CHRIS WEAVER BAND/Time Has Wings
Writers: Chris Weaver/Matt Rogers; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: Tygart/Canalco/Ole Red Cape, SESAC/ASCAP; American Roots
-Holy smokes! This is awesome, full of drama and meaning and soul. He grabs you by the neck from the first notes of his gritty voice. The lyric of a couple growing into middle age and staring into their past, present and future is simply brilliant. The driving track pounds with passion while Kim Carnes and Kim Keyes lend a thrilling, gospel-chorale backing. A loud, “Amen” from this corner.
LOGAN MIZE/Can’t Get Away From a Good Time
Writers: Logan Mize/Kelly Archer/Blake Chaffin; Producers: Jim Catino/Ryan Gore/Logan Mize; Publishers: Year of the Dog/Internal Combustion/Southside Independent/Year9/Atlas/Downtown DMP/Zoe and Her Friend Munkee/Songs of Parallel, ASCAP/BMI; Arista
-I loved this guy when he was an indie act. His graduation to the major leagues is a good-natured, smiling bopper with personality to spare.
AARON WATSON/That Look
Writers: none listed; Producers: Keith Stegall/Aaron Watson; Publishers: none listed; Big label (track)
-This is a consistently good artist, and his latest is his best yet. The lyric of this mid-tempo toe tapper contrasts his shortcomings with her qualities. “She’s like a Sunday morning/I’m a Saturday night/She’s like a stained-glass window/I’m a neon sign.” The conclusion/chorus is that she’s at her best wearing nothing but a smile and “that look” in her eyes. Well done.
GARTH BROOKS/Mom
Writers: Don Sampson/Wynn Varble; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: New Sea Gayle/Emma and Maddie/Warner-Tamerlane/Precious Flour, ASCAP/BMI; Pearl/RCA
-Very sentimental. The striking, idiosyncratic ballad is sung from the point of view of a baby waiting to be born, having a conversation with God.
Chris Weaver Band
-Sprightly, brightly rocking. Their pert trio harmonies are flawless, and the lickety-split tempo tune of a guy who drives the gals nuts is ear catching, too.
RASCAL FLATTS/Riot
Writers: Jaron Boyer/Sara Haze; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publishers: Peertunes/Jaron Boyer/Songs of Universal/Comp and Circumstance, SESAC; Big Machine
-The word-y lyric sometimes scans awkwardly, but the super-compelling vocals and enthralling production pull it together and bring it home. The sound of real pros at work.
ADAM HOOD/Bar Band
Writers: Adam Hood/Pat McLaughlin; Producer: Rachel Loy; Publishers: none listed; AH (track)
-This man’s records should come with a “satisfaction guaranteed” label. He has an enviable track record as someone who always performs with class and writes with finesse. This song of a journeyman honky-tonker deserves to become an anthem of country singers everywhere. If he doesn’t have a hit with it, someone sure should.
LARRY CORDLE & ALISON KRAUSS/Two Highways
Writers: L. Cordle; Producer: Larry Cordle; Publisher: Universal-Polygram, ASCAP; MightyCord (track)
-Cordle is a successful Music Row tunesmith who is also a regular bluegrass performer. His latest CD is
All Star Duets, which finds him harmonizing with the celebrities who have made his songs famous. It is fascinating to hear Diamond Rio, Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, Kenny Chesney, Travis Tritt and the like in this context. Needless to say, the sublime Krauss slips into his lilting bluegrass setting with ease. Heartily recommended, without reservation.
JENNA JENTRY/Wise Advice
Writers: Jenna Jentry; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Publisher: Jenna Jentry, BMI; 4 Entertainment
-Jentry’s self-titled EP leads off with this busy-sounding track: Too much electric guitar and a vocal that’s not clear-sounding enough.
CHRIS YOUNG & THE DOOBIE BROTHERS/China Grove
Writers: Tom Johnston; Producers: David Lyndon Huff/Dann Huff; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane; BMI; Arista (track)
-We got a taste of “Listen to the Music” on the CMA show with Blake and Hunter rocking with the Doobies. But the group’s
Southbound CD of country collaborations has an even stronger rocker. Chris Young is performing this at his concerts and killin’ it just like he does on the album. Righteous.
Industry Ink: Global Songwriters Connection, KingSpirit Music, CMT Radio
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
Mason Hale Harris
KingSpirit Music has added Mason Hale Harris has Creative Assistant. He can be reached at mason.kingspiritmusic@gmail.com.
KingSpirit Music’s roster includes Kalisa Ewing, James LeBlanc and Eric Varnell.
• • •
The album features many of country’s biggest stars including Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride and more.
Pictured (L-R): Cody Alan, Michael W. Smith. Photo: CMT Radio
Weekly Register: Brooks Hangs Hat At No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesTop 5 country albums
Garth Brooks Man Against Machine 62K/192K RTD
Jason Aldean Old Boots, New Dirt 24K/ 556K RTD
Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes 18K/ 364K RTD
George Strait The Cowboy Rides Away: Live 17K/ 176K RTD
Darius Rucker Home For The Holidays 13K/ 44K RTD
The week’s biggest debut is by One Direction, whose Four flew in with sales of 387K to land at No. 1 overall. On the overall tracks chart, Taylor Swift remains at No. 1 with “Blank Space” selling 302K, 949K RTD.
Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” sold 43K and is this week’s top selling country track. The song is from Underwood’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1 which will be released Dec. 9.
Craig Wayne Boyd’s version of “You Look So Good in Love” from The Voice, is the top country debut track, selling 19K.
Top 5 country tracks
Carrie Underwood, “Something in the Water” 43K/ 466K RTD
Tim McGraw, “Shotgun Rider” 36K/ 260K RTD
Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ it Down” 23K/ 1.235M RTD
Sam Hunt, “Leave the Night On” 23K/ 809K RTD
Florida Georgia Line, “Sun Daze” 22K/ 156K RTD
Moraine Music's Artist Partnership Group Signs Gareth Dunlop
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Brent Maher (CEO), Gareth Dunlop, Dianna Maher (President) and Charles Yingling (Creative Director)
Gareth Dunlop is the newest signing to Moraine’s Artist Partnership Group, a division of Moraine Music. Born and raised in Belfast, Gareth Dunlop is one of the most talked about young artists from Northern Ireland and is currently signed as a writer through Moraine’s joint venture with Nettwerk One Music.
In the last month, Gareth’s track “Lay It On The King” (produced by Brent Maher) was sampled on rap superstar T.I.’s new LP Paperwork, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. In addition, Gareth’s duet with SHEL, “Hold On,” is the featured video from The Best of Me film & soundtrack. Gareth’s music can also be heard in numerous commercials (Subaru, Disney, Discover Ireland) and a wide array of television shows ranging from Fox’s Bones to ABC’s Nashville.
Moraine Music Group is one of Nashville’s independent publishers with hits spanning over 20 years. Moraine’s songs have been recorded by Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Justin Moore, The Dixie Chicks, Jonny Lang, Wynonna, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and others.
DISClaimer: Salute the Music
/by Robert K OermannRascal Flatts. Photo: Todd Owyoung
It’s Veterans’ Day.
Actually the real holiday took place two weeks ago, but today’s DisClaimer column is nonetheless chock full of veteran record makers. Rascal Flatts, Garth Brooks, Larry Cordle & Alison Krauss and even The Doobie Brothers are here.
Even so, the youngsters twirled brightly in the spotlight. The two best songs of this listening session are “Bar Band,” co-written and performed by Adam Hood, and the even more creative “Time Has Wings,” co-written and performed by Chris Weaver. The latter is accompanied by a breath-taking production and earns the Chris Weaver Band a DisCovery Award. Give this record your undivided attention.
Speaking of productions, Rascal Flatts has seldom had a track as well done as “Riot” is. It earns the group a Disc of the Day.
CHRIS WEAVER BAND/Time Has Wings
Writers: Chris Weaver/Matt Rogers; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: Tygart/Canalco/Ole Red Cape, SESAC/ASCAP; American Roots
-Holy smokes! This is awesome, full of drama and meaning and soul. He grabs you by the neck from the first notes of his gritty voice. The lyric of a couple growing into middle age and staring into their past, present and future is simply brilliant. The driving track pounds with passion while Kim Carnes and Kim Keyes lend a thrilling, gospel-chorale backing. A loud, “Amen” from this corner.
LOGAN MIZE/Can’t Get Away From a Good Time
Writers: Logan Mize/Kelly Archer/Blake Chaffin; Producers: Jim Catino/Ryan Gore/Logan Mize; Publishers: Year of the Dog/Internal Combustion/Southside Independent/Year9/Atlas/Downtown DMP/Zoe and Her Friend Munkee/Songs of Parallel, ASCAP/BMI; Arista
-I loved this guy when he was an indie act. His graduation to the major leagues is a good-natured, smiling bopper with personality to spare.
AARON WATSON/That Look
Writers: none listed; Producers: Keith Stegall/Aaron Watson; Publishers: none listed; Big label (track)
-This is a consistently good artist, and his latest is his best yet. The lyric of this mid-tempo toe tapper contrasts his shortcomings with her qualities. “She’s like a Sunday morning/I’m a Saturday night/She’s like a stained-glass window/I’m a neon sign.” The conclusion/chorus is that she’s at her best wearing nothing but a smile and “that look” in her eyes. Well done.
GARTH BROOKS/Mom
Writers: Don Sampson/Wynn Varble; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: New Sea Gayle/Emma and Maddie/Warner-Tamerlane/Precious Flour, ASCAP/BMI; Pearl/RCA
-Very sentimental. The striking, idiosyncratic ballad is sung from the point of view of a baby waiting to be born, having a conversation with God.
Chris Weaver Band
LUCY ANGEL/Crazy Too
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; G-Force
-Sprightly, brightly rocking. Their pert trio harmonies are flawless, and the lickety-split tempo tune of a guy who drives the gals nuts is ear catching, too.
RASCAL FLATTS/Riot
Writers: Jaron Boyer/Sara Haze; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publishers: Peertunes/Jaron Boyer/Songs of Universal/Comp and Circumstance, SESAC; Big Machine
-The word-y lyric sometimes scans awkwardly, but the super-compelling vocals and enthralling production pull it together and bring it home. The sound of real pros at work.
ADAM HOOD/Bar Band
Writers: Adam Hood/Pat McLaughlin; Producer: Rachel Loy; Publishers: none listed; AH (track)
-This man’s records should come with a “satisfaction guaranteed” label. He has an enviable track record as someone who always performs with class and writes with finesse. This song of a journeyman honky-tonker deserves to become an anthem of country singers everywhere. If he doesn’t have a hit with it, someone sure should.
LARRY CORDLE & ALISON KRAUSS/Two Highways
Writers: L. Cordle; Producer: Larry Cordle; Publisher: Universal-Polygram, ASCAP; MightyCord (track)
-Cordle is a successful Music Row tunesmith who is also a regular bluegrass performer. His latest CD is All Star Duets, which finds him harmonizing with the celebrities who have made his songs famous. It is fascinating to hear Diamond Rio, Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, Kenny Chesney, Travis Tritt and the like in this context. Needless to say, the sublime Krauss slips into his lilting bluegrass setting with ease. Heartily recommended, without reservation.
JENNA JENTRY/Wise Advice
Writers: Jenna Jentry; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Publisher: Jenna Jentry, BMI; 4 Entertainment
-Jentry’s self-titled EP leads off with this busy-sounding track: Too much electric guitar and a vocal that’s not clear-sounding enough.
CHRIS YOUNG & THE DOOBIE BROTHERS/China Grove
Writers: Tom Johnston; Producers: David Lyndon Huff/Dann Huff; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane; BMI; Arista (track)
-We got a taste of “Listen to the Music” on the CMA show with Blake and Hunter rocking with the Doobies. But the group’s Southbound CD of country collaborations has an even stronger rocker. Chris Young is performing this at his concerts and killin’ it just like he does on the album. Righteous.
Belmont Songwriter Plays To 470,000 Fans in China
/by Eric T. ParkerJackson Wells
Belmont junior Jackson Wells has experienced an increasing fanbase in China. In August, the New York native found himself performing as a headliner at a Chengdu festival, playing to more than 470,000 fans over three nights.
Wells, whose family recently moved from California to Liepers Fork, Tenn., first performed at China’s International Youth Music Festival in 2012 while overseas tutoring. That year the pop artist played in front of about 5,000 people. Return trips has seen his audience rise exponentially, including on YouTube, where three music videos have garnered more than 1.8 million views internationally.
“After taking eight years of Spanish in school, I just found myself getting tired of it and started developing a real interest in Chinese,” said Wells, who began studying Mandarin in high school and is also minoring now in Chinese at Belmont. “The fans all sing along to my songs in English, but I’m now recording a five-song EP in Chinese. It’s the least we could do to show that nation’s people our gratitude and respect–they have given me a career in China.”
For promotion, Wells is working with three university students in China while partnering with three Belmont students on a class project to think of further ways to promote his accomplishments overseas.
Wells travels again to China soon to perform at an environmental event organized by actor/former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The outing, which has already sold out to a crowd of 18,000, will be broadcast on the two largest public and private TV networks in China.
Wells has also performed in the United States at L.A.’s House of Blues, Universal Studios CityWalk and Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and Mercy Lounge. He was the also the featured artist at a Nashville Predators game in March.
Wells began writing songs at the age of 14. His sophomore EP, Inescapable, released in January 2013 while his first full-length independent album, Picture of Life, came in January 2014 as a collaboration with Grammy-award winning producer Bill Cuomo and Beeb Birtles, founding member of Little River Band.
For more information, visit jacksonwells.net.
Fourth Annual Beard Bash Will Celebrate No Shave November
/by Sarah Skates2014 Chairman of the Beard Dave Haywood posted this No Shave November photo update from Cozumel. Click to donate.
No Shave November’s music industry participants will celebrate their hairy faces, and fundraising efforts for St. Jude, at the Fourth annual Beard Bash. The event is set for Monday, Dec. 1, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Row Kitchen & Pub, and will be hosted by WUSY/Chattanooga’s Gator Harrison and Styckman.
Awards to be presented during the 2014 Beard Bash include Radio Fundrazors (Top Radio Fundraisers), Label Fundrazors (Top Label Fundraisers), Ofurall Fundrazor (Top Fundraising Individual), Herd It On The Radio (Largest Radio Station Team), Look For The Label Union (Largest Record Label Team), The Beard Al Yankovic Award (Best Beard Parody), MVB — Most Valuable Beard (Individual Who Does The Most) and Scraggle Rock (Worst Beard).
No Shave November participants stop shaving for a month and donate the money saved to St. Jude’s. In 2013, NSN raised an impressive $220,000 for the organization, with $396,000 raised over the past three years.
Supporters are still encouraged to help the children of St. Jude by donating at www.nsn4sjk.com or by texting LIFE to 50333, to donate $10.
Dustin Lynch Celebrates First Chart-Topper With "Where It's At"
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, front row): ASCAP co-writers Matt Jenkins and Zach Crowell, Dustin Lynch, SESAC co-writer Cary Barlowe, producer Mickey Jack Cones. (back row): Major Bob Music’s Jesse Frasure, ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Broken Bow’s Jon Loba, SESAC’s John Mullins, Tape Room Music’s Ashley Gorley, Combustion Music’s Chris Van Belkom and Chris Farren, and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing’s Ryan Beuschel. Photo: Ed Rode.
Music industry members celebrated with ASCAP, SESAC and Broken Bow Records recently to commemorate BBR artist Dustin Lynch‘s first chart-topping song, “Where It’s At.” The song also marks the first chart-toppers for ASCAP co-writers Zach Crowell and Matt Jenkins, while SESAC co-writer Cary Barlowe notches his second Country chart-topper. The event was held Monday (Nov. 24) at the Country Music Association offices in Nashville.
Online Auction Supports Americana Music Association
/by Eric T. ParkerProceeds will go towards meeting the increased demands of the Association’s growth and to lay the groundwork for an endowment to continue the work of advocating for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world.
Currently available experiences include:
This past year, the association was busy supporting new Grammy categories for American roots music artists; lobbying for a seat at a congressional debate, where Rosanne Cash spoke in support of fair pay for artists and songwriters; producing the first tribute to honor the Everly Brothers after the passing of Phil Everly; and curating a prestigious week-long event in New York City, Americanafest NYC, in partnership with Lincoln Center.
The organization’s primary fundraiser is the annual Americana Music Festival & Conference in Nashville, Tenn. The Association’s Honors & Awards show, the festival’s capstone event, was filmed at the Ryman Auditorium this past September for a program entitled ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014 which is airing this week on PBS stations nationwide (check your local listings).
Hunter Hayes To Kick Off 'Alive At The Bluebird' Series
/by Sarah SkatesHunter Hayes. Photo: Kristin Barlowe
The 2015 Alive At The Bluebird series will kick off on Jan. 2, 2015 with a performance by Hunter Hayes. The country star will be joined by hit songwriters Lori McKenna and Barry Dean at the 9:00 p.m. show. In an effort to raise additional funds for Alive Hospice, Hayes will also participate in a meet and greet with fans following his concert. Tickets/reservations will be available Friday, Dec. 5 at 11:00 a.m. CST via www.artistarena.com.
Alive At The Bluebird, presented by Tennessee Oncology and Jackson National Life Insurance Company, continues throughout January with more than 100 songwriters and artists scheduled to perform, including Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Kim Carnes, Matraca Berg, Don Schlitz, Josh Kear, Rivers Rutherford and Darrell Scott. A calendar of Alive At The Bluebird shows will be available via www.bluebirdcafe.com and www.alivehospice.org in early December.
The concert series to support Alive Hospice’s mission of end-of-life care and support for the grieving, has raised more than $600,000 over 22 years thanks to The Bluebird Cafe, sponsors, participating songwriters and fans.
Industry Ink: Magic Mustang Music/BBR Music Group, ASCAP, Garth Brooks
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lydia Schultz and Andrea Knipp
Magic Mustang Music Publishing has hired Lydia Schultz as Creative Coordinator. Schultz was previously BBR Music Group Business and Legal Affairs Associate. Schultz joined BBR Music Group in May 2013 after graduating from Belmont University with a degree in Business Administration.
Additionally, BBR Music Group hired Andrea Knipp as Business and Legal Affairs Associate. Knipp interned in the department from August 2013 through May 2014. Both roles are effective immediately.
Schultz can be reached at lydia@magicmustang.com and 615-610-2133. Knipp can be reached at andrea@bbrmusicgroup.com and at 615-610-2086.
• • •
To watch the interview, visit msn.com.
• • •
Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks has postponed media appearances in the wake of responses nationwide after the grand jury verdict last night (Nov. 24) that Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted in the death of Michael Brown.
“We landed in [New York] last night to the news of the civil unrest that was going on in our nation,” Brooks said in a statement. “To spend the day promoting our stuff like nothing was wrong, seemed distasteful to me. I will gladly reschedule any or all appearances the networks will allow. Love one another…g”
• • •
Preshias Harris
Music industry member Preshias Harris will host “A Preshias Day in Music” on Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Listening Room Cafe in Nashville from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The free event is open to the public, and will include music from country-rock band Borrowed Blue, The Voice contestant Allison Bray, rock artist Stephen Hunley, America’s Got Talent singer-guitarist Paul Thomas Mitchell, Americana music’s Jess & Aaron, indie recording artist Katie Kendall, rock band The Sifters, as well as songwriters Dustin Bragg, Rye Davis, Rusty Dean, Demi Downing, Lindsay Harding, Emily Maygnn, Gyth Rigdon, Mike Short, Laurel Taylor, Clay Underwood, Ben Whisler and Jamie Whit.
Attendees are invited to bring a “water donation” (a 12-pack or 24-bottle case) to be collected at the door by USO Nashville.