Disc of the Day winner Eric Church. Photo: John Peets
Competence is not greatness.
Half of what we have here is competent work by journeymen Music Row songwriters who made businesslike appointments to “create.” From them come bland, radio-wallpaper songs put together by committee. Many of them will be hits, but probably none of them will be remembered 10 or even five years from now.
The other half of these discs have songs that stick in your brain long after their final notes have sounded. They are Josh Turner’s “Lay Low,” Eric Church’s “Talladega,” Bernie Nelson’s “Lonelyville” and Angaleena Presley’s “American Middle Class,” plus a new contribution to country’s drinking-song tradition from Cole Swindell.
It is from this talent pool that we draw this week’s award winners.
Eric Church has the Disc of the Day. And
Angaleena Presley wins the DisCovery Award.
COLE SWINDELL/Ain’t Worth The Whiskey
Writers: Cole Swindell/Adam Sanders/Josh Martin; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Year of the Dog/Josh Martin, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; Warner Bros.
-A new classic drinking song is born. Bottoms up.
BERNIE NELSON/Lonelyville
Writers: Bernie Nelson/Steve Hemp; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Dumpster Diver/Hemptones, ASCAP; If I Know Blue
-Sung with immense heart, produced to punchy perfection and written like a mini masterpiece. He implores her to accompany him in escaping “Lonelyville,” where they put “rust on your dreams and dust on your heart.” If this isn’t a smash for him, somebody else ought to record it pronto. The next Springsteen, perhaps?
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Freestyle
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Shane McAnally; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Lady Antebellum; Publishers: Beards and Bullets/30A Getaway/Hobbs Hill/Kobalt/Universal/Smack Ink, ASCAP/SESAC; Capitol (CDX)
-Not as melodic as we have come to expect from these folks. Instead, there’s a lot of lyric babbling and choppy rhythm. Disappointing, if energetic.
SARA EVANS/Put My Heart Down
Writers: Nathan Chapman/Andrew Dorff/Elizabeth Huett; Producers: Mark Bright/Sara Evans; Publishers: none listed, BMI; RCA (CDX)
-Feminine and brightly listenable. Her best in quite some time.
DisCovery Award winner Angaleena Presley
-It is somewhat wordy, but Currington’s effortlessly smooth, warmly personal and highly accomplished vocal draws you in and sells it. Solid and hit bound.
DAVID SHELBY/Podunk
Writers: Ozier/Haselden/Hayes; Producers: Teddy Gentry/Charles English; Publishers: Tazmaraz, BMI; Highway South
-It’s a new song, but it has so many cliches you’ll think you’ve heard it before.
GLORIANA/Trouble
Writers: Rachel Reinert/Mike Gossin/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Matt Serletic; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/GFY/MG1984/Songs By Red Room/EMI April/Jon Nite, BMI/ASCAP; Emblem/Warner
-There already is a Little Big Town. And they’re a lot better than this.
ANGALEENA PRESLEY/American Middle Class
Writers: Angaleena Presley; Producers: Angaleena Presley/Jordan Powell; Publishers: Ten Ten, ASCAP; Slate Creek (track)
-“Holler Annie” from The Pistol Annies has her own CD at last. Its title tune is a thumping, slapping, snappy salute to the poor and hard-working folks who are the backbone of this country. You tell ‘em, lady.
ERIC CHURCH/Talladega
Writers: Eric Church/Luke Laird; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Twangin and Slangin, BMI; EMI (track)
-From the first moment I heard the
Outsiders CD, this was my pick to click as a single. You can practically touch its nostalgia for lost youth, boyhood friendships and faded innocence. I’ve always been in the congregation of this Church.
JOSH TURNER/Lay Low
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MCA (ERG)
-This is a wonderfully addictive single, and I totally applaud its sentiment. He yearns to go someplace out of cellphone range, celebrate nature and rediscover his beloved. Listen to this man and his seductive song. Then go unplug yourself, for a change.
Academy of Country Music Elects Board of Directors for 2014-2015
/by Jessica NicholsonIn addition, Tim DuBois (Artist Management Partners) has taken the new Officer position of Sergeant-at-Arms, as selected by current ACM officers.
Newly elected members of the Board of Directors include:
Lee Brice
Buddy Cannon, Cannon Productions
Charlie Cook, Cumulus Nashville
George Couri, Triple 8 Management
Tom Forrest, taillight
Brad Garrett, Police Productions
Jerry Hufford, Buck Owens’ Enterprises
Bob Kingsley, Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40
Mike Kraski, Tenacity Management
Frank Liddell, Carnival Music
Kathy Armistead Olen, Atticus Brand Partners
Cindy Mabe, Universal Music Group Nashville
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Lee Thomas Miller
Curt Motley, PARADIGM Agency
Brian O’Connell, LiveNation
Troy Volhoffer, Premier Global Partners
Chairman Darin Murphy, President Paul Barnabee and Vice President Ken Tucker have appointed 13 Director-at-Large positions. Each director serves staggered two-year terms, with half the board membership changing each year.
Newly appointed members of the Board of Directors include:
Ross Copperman
Benson Curb, Curb Records
Dallas Davidson
John Dickey, Cumulus Media
Chris Farren, Combustion Music
Leslie Fram, CMT
Jay Frank, DigSin
Jimmy Harnen, BMLG
Mary Hilliard Harrington, The GREENROOM
Laura Hutfless, CAA
Clay Hunnicutt, Clear Channel
Kurt Johnson, Townsquare Media
Marion Kraft, Shopkeeper Management
Jon Loba, BBR Music Group
Dan Mason, CBS Radio
Shawn McSpadden, Red Light Management
Greg Oswald, WME
Kimberly Schlapman
ole Expands Deal With Singer-Songwriter Haley Reinhart
/by Jessica NicholsonIndependent rights management company ole has expanded its deal with singer-songwriter Haley Reinhart. The deal previously resulted in sync placements on Lifetime Television, ABC’s Rookie Blue, feature film Step Up Revolution, and others.
Under the new agreement, ole will gain worldwide co-publishing rights to Reinhart’s existing catalog and future compositions. ole will also provide support for the recording of Reinhart’s new EP.
Pictured (L-R): Jennifer Essiembre (ole Creative Manager), David Weitzman (ole VP Business
Development), Haley Reinhart, Leo V. Williams IV (ole GM Creative LA).
SoundExchange Influencers Series Returns To The Bluebird Cafe
/by Troy_StephensonDavid Pack is the co-founder and lead singer of Ambrosia, as well as a GRAMMY Award-winning producer who has worked with everyone from Bono to Michael McDonald. Joining Pack on stage will be GRAMMY-nominated and platinum-selling country star Jamie O’Neal, along with recent ABC Rising Star contestant Sarah Darling. Jimmy Nichols has crafted music for Reba McEntire and Faith Hill and will make a guest appearance.
The SoundExchange Influencers Series seeks to bring music legends and up-and-comers together to highlight each generation’s impact on the next. The series will also bring to light some of the issues facing legacy artists, namely, fair pay and recognition for all sound recordings across all mediums and all eras of music.
“SoundExchange is thrilled to be hosting such a special event. All music— past, present, and future—has an effect on what comes after it,” said SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe. “The SoundExchange Influencers Series recognizes the impact that legacy artists have had on the music of today, as well as the lasting impression they’ll have on musicians to come. This is our opportunity to hear stories from and honor those recording artists who have truly paved the way for future generations.”
DISClaimer: Songs That Last
/by Robert K OermannDisc of the Day winner Eric Church. Photo: John Peets
Competence is not greatness.
Half of what we have here is competent work by journeymen Music Row songwriters who made businesslike appointments to “create.” From them come bland, radio-wallpaper songs put together by committee. Many of them will be hits, but probably none of them will be remembered 10 or even five years from now.
The other half of these discs have songs that stick in your brain long after their final notes have sounded. They are Josh Turner’s “Lay Low,” Eric Church’s “Talladega,” Bernie Nelson’s “Lonelyville” and Angaleena Presley’s “American Middle Class,” plus a new contribution to country’s drinking-song tradition from Cole Swindell.
It is from this talent pool that we draw this week’s award winners. Eric Church has the Disc of the Day. And Angaleena Presley wins the DisCovery Award.
COLE SWINDELL/Ain’t Worth The Whiskey
Writers: Cole Swindell/Adam Sanders/Josh Martin; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Year of the Dog/Josh Martin, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; Warner Bros.
-A new classic drinking song is born. Bottoms up.
BERNIE NELSON/Lonelyville
Writers: Bernie Nelson/Steve Hemp; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Dumpster Diver/Hemptones, ASCAP; If I Know Blue
-Sung with immense heart, produced to punchy perfection and written like a mini masterpiece. He implores her to accompany him in escaping “Lonelyville,” where they put “rust on your dreams and dust on your heart.” If this isn’t a smash for him, somebody else ought to record it pronto. The next Springsteen, perhaps?
LADY ANTEBELLUM/Freestyle
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Shane McAnally; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Lady Antebellum; Publishers: Beards and Bullets/30A Getaway/Hobbs Hill/Kobalt/Universal/Smack Ink, ASCAP/SESAC; Capitol (CDX)
-Not as melodic as we have come to expect from these folks. Instead, there’s a lot of lyric babbling and choppy rhythm. Disappointing, if energetic.
SARA EVANS/Put My Heart Down
Writers: Nathan Chapman/Andrew Dorff/Elizabeth Huett; Producers: Mark Bright/Sara Evans; Publishers: none listed, BMI; RCA (CDX)
-Feminine and brightly listenable. Her best in quite some time.
DisCovery Award winner Angaleena Presley
BILLY CURRINGTON/Don’t It
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Ashley Gorley/Ross Copperman; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Highly Combustible/Sadler’s Favorite/WB/EMI Blackwood/Songs By the Red Room, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury (CDX)
-It is somewhat wordy, but Currington’s effortlessly smooth, warmly personal and highly accomplished vocal draws you in and sells it. Solid and hit bound.
DAVID SHELBY/Podunk
Writers: Ozier/Haselden/Hayes; Producers: Teddy Gentry/Charles English; Publishers: Tazmaraz, BMI; Highway South
-It’s a new song, but it has so many cliches you’ll think you’ve heard it before.
GLORIANA/Trouble
Writers: Rachel Reinert/Mike Gossin/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Matt Serletic; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/GFY/MG1984/Songs By Red Room/EMI April/Jon Nite, BMI/ASCAP; Emblem/Warner
-There already is a Little Big Town. And they’re a lot better than this.
ANGALEENA PRESLEY/American Middle Class
Writers: Angaleena Presley; Producers: Angaleena Presley/Jordan Powell; Publishers: Ten Ten, ASCAP; Slate Creek (track)
-“Holler Annie” from The Pistol Annies has her own CD at last. Its title tune is a thumping, slapping, snappy salute to the poor and hard-working folks who are the backbone of this country. You tell ‘em, lady.
ERIC CHURCH/Talladega
Writers: Eric Church/Luke Laird; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Twangin and Slangin, BMI; EMI (track)
-From the first moment I heard the Outsiders CD, this was my pick to click as a single. You can practically touch its nostalgia for lost youth, boyhood friendships and faded innocence. I’ve always been in the congregation of this Church.
JOSH TURNER/Lay Low
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MCA (ERG)
-This is a wonderfully addictive single, and I totally applaud its sentiment. He yearns to go someplace out of cellphone range, celebrate nature and rediscover his beloved. Listen to this man and his seductive song. Then go unplug yourself, for a change.
Phil Everly Benefit Concert To Feature Singer-Songwriter Paul Simon
/by Sherod RobertsonThe evening’s festivities will take place at Sylvia Roberts‘ famed house, featured in ABC-TV’s Nashville, for a rare acoustic performance at 6:00pm by 12-time Grammy winner Paul Simon. The concert will honor the legacy of Phil Everly who passed away in 2014 due to complications from COPD.
Phil Everly, along with his brother Don Everly, formed one of the most influential duos in music, the Everly Brothers. Paul Simon says, “I wish I’d have met him earlier. He was such a good friend.”
In attendance at the event will be Phil Everly’s wife, Patti Everly, who says, “In addition to being a gifted singer, musician and songwriter, Phil was also an amazing husband, dedicated father, grandfather and uncle. COPD took Phil too early. I am grateful for the support of Paul Simon in helping to raise awareness about this devastating disease and be a part of this special evening with proceeds going towards the COPD Foundation.”
Tickets for the intimate gathering start at $500 and are available here.
Weekly Register: FGL's 'Anything Goes' Debuts At No. 1
/by Sarah SkatesFGL’s latest is one of the best-selling Country debuts of the year. Other top debuts include Aldean (278K), Brantley Gilbert Just As I Am (211K) and Eric Church The Outsiders (288K), according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Highly listenable duo The Swon Brothers debuted with 10K this week. And Little Big Town’s anticipated release hit shelves yesterday. (How much longer can we use the term “hit shelves”?) Check Weekly Register next week to see how many fans sought out Pain Killer for retail relief. Later this month brings new music from rising star Sam Hunt and mainstay Darius Rucker (Holiday release). Also on the Country docket in 2014 are releases from Maddie and Tae (EP), Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Toby Keith, The Doobie Brothers Country collaboration, and hits packages from Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.
Tracking Tracks
Taylor Swift owns the top two spots on the overall tracks chart this week. “Out of the Woods” debuts at No. 1 selling 195K, while “Shake it Off” settled at No. 2 selling 178K, and reaching 2.5 million RTD. At No. 3, Meghan Trainor’s smash “All About That Bass” bumped its way to 148K clicks and tops 3 million RTD.
The highest selling Country track debut is Aaron Watson’s “That Look,” garnering 19K downloads. Toby Keith’s “Drunk Americans” entered with 15K downloads.
Nashville Artists Up For 'People's Choice' Nominations
/by Eric T. ParkerNashville artists are up for all genre awards, Country categories, and TV segments on the ballot, which also includes a Write In section for nominees not listed.
The 2015 awards show will air on Jan. 7, 8:00 CT on CBS. Vote for your nominees now.
Select first-round nominees for the People’s Choice ballot:
[All Genre] Album: Platinum Miranda Lambert, The Outsiders Eric Church, Partners Barbra Streisand
[All Genre] Breakout Artist: Cole Swindell, Meghan Trainor
[All Genre] Group: The Black Keys, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum
[All Genre] Female Artist: Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor
[All Genre] Male Artist: Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney
[All Genre] Song: “All About That Bass” Meghan Trainor, “Shake It Off” Taylor Swift
Pop Artist: Taylor Swift
Dramatic TV Actress: Hayden Panettiere
Dramatic TV Actor: Charles Esten
Network Drama: Nashville
TV Show: American Idol, The Voice
Industry Ink: "Drunk Americans," Alison Brown, Hertzog/ Embry, WRFTC
/by Kelsey_GradySea Gayle, Smack Songs, and Love Monkey raised a glass recently to celebrate Toby Keith’s new single “Drunk Americans.” The song written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Bob DiPiero was most added this week at radio with 63 adds. During the celebration at REBAR, the venue put the song into heavy rotation, to the surprise of the other patrons who eventually sang along.
• • •
The organization with music industry ties invites friends to join them as Black 13 artists and special guests, Dannii Garbiras and Josh Davis, provide a series of custom-designed flash art for tattoo customers with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit Women Rock for the Cure.
• • •
Hertzog, Embry wedding. Photo: Jessica Caver Photography
Congrats to Hearts Bluff Music’s Ashley Hertzog and musician/ producer Mason Embry who were married at the Hermitage Golf Course on Sunday, Oct. 12.
• • •
Grammy-winning banjoist and Compass Records Group co-founder Alison Brown is among 34 artists to receive a USA Fellowship from United States Artists. The grant is worth $50,000.
“USA Fellowships are awarded to innovative artists of all ages and at all stages of their careers, who are nominated for their commitment to excellence and the enduring potential of their work,” said United States Artists CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram.
Alison Brown
MusicRowPics: Outshyne
/by Jessica NicholsonOutshyne visit
South Carolina natives and Outshyne band members Waylon Owings, Josh Coleman, Casey Joe Kelly, Jason Paxton, and Matthew “Smiley” Norris, have been making music together since 2007.
“We were a group of friends who wanted to have fun,” said Coleman. “We never thought about doing music for a living, and we all had day jobs. But our fan base began growing so fast. We were playing around the Carolinas and other places started calling, so our tour base kept expanding.” The band’s formation was a natural outcome of the members’ friendship and common bond of music. The band’s unique name came about in a similarly laid-back, organic fashion. “We had a friend who had a party and wanted us to play at it,” said Coleman. “Our bass player said he wouldn’t play if we didn’t have a name, so we put name ideas in a hat, and Outshyne is what we drew.”
The band’s catchy songs incorporate a Country-pop sheen, and their unique vocal blending sounds almost akin to family harmonies. The band now plays approximately 200 dates per year. Earlier this year, Outshyne signed with Buddy Lee Attractions for booking.
The band recently visited MusicRow‘s office in Nashville to perform songs from their upcoming project. They offered their current single, “Night With Your Name On It,” which recently began gaining traction on SiriusXM. The song was co-written by MusicRow‘s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year for 2014, Cole Swindell. They followed with “Moonlight Crush” and “Ain’t,” a song that is slated for their next album. Their previous album was produced by Chip Matthews and Jeffrey Steele.
Though the band is often in Nashville, writing and recording, their roots are still in South Carolina. “We’re still debating the move to Nashville,” said Josh. “We all have families in South Carolina, but we are in Nashville a lot.”
[slide]
Chris Young Announces 2015 A.M. World Tour Dates
/by Kelsey_GradyPhoto: Ben Enos
Chris Young is prepping his passport for the third consecutive year sharing his shows with an international audience as he makes plans for his 2015 A.M. World Tour which kicks off in Australia.
The RCA Records Nashville Artist made his inaugural trip to the UK and Ireland in 2013 for the CMA Songwriters Series. That same year he made his CMC Rocks The Hunter debut. In 2014 Young made another trek across the pond for shows in London, Dublin, Stavanger, Oslo, Gotteborg and Stockholm.
Dates for 2015 A.M. World Tour
Melbourne (3/11)
Sydney (3/13)
Ipswich (3/14)
Honolulu
London (9/14)
Dublin (9/17)
Munich (9/19)
Cologne (9/20)
Berlin (9/22)
Switzerland
Chris Young’s latest album A.M. has already yielded his Gold certified, sixth chart-topper “Who I Am With You” and Top 5 hit and Gold-certified single “Aw Naw.” His latest hit, “Lonely Eyes,” is quickly climbing the charts.
Find out more about the 2015 A.M. World Tour at www.chrisyoungcountry.com.