On Friday, September 12, Jerrod Niemann‘s childhood dream came true when he headlined the revered Ryman Auditorium to the delight of a packed house. “I remember when I first moved to town, my buddies and I would hang out in the honky-tonks off Lower Broadway and the Mother Church of Country Music would always smile down at us from her perch,” said Niemann. “It’s a rite of passage for all musicians to grace her stage as the main act.”
Donning his signature cap, the Sea Gayle Records/Artista Nashville artist opened with “We Know How to Rock,” from his third major label release, High Noon. And with his unique Country swagger, Niemann launched into “One More Drinking Song” for the enthusiastic crowd, followed by the newer song “I’m Here ‘Cause I Ain’t All There.”
Radio VIPs were treated to dinner at Jack’s Bar-B-Que by Jerrod Niemann and the Artista Nashville promo team prior to the concert. Pictured (L-R): Front Row – *Rusty Sherrill, Mike Kennedy (PD, KBEQ), *Lesly Tyson, Charlie Cook (PD, WKDF/WSM) and Kay Manley (MD/APD WGKX); Middle Row – *Elizabeth Heller, Lana DeLuca (Promotions Cumulus), Lonnie Napier (Exec. Producer American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, Kickin’ It with Kix), Nikita Palmer (NASH Network Producer, Cumulus Media), Jerrod Niemann, Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Heather McBee (industry vet), Colleen Lelis (John Marks’s wife); Back Row – Micheal Bryan (PD WSIX), *Andy Elliott, John Marks (SiriusXM Sr. Dir. of Programming), Will Overton (WME), Bill Simmons (Fitzgerald-Hartley management), *Lauren Thomas, *Jeri Cooper, *Ali O’Connell and Christy Garbinski (Sony Promotion Rep); Photo Bomb: Robert Simon (Lesly Tyson’s fiancé); Photo: Ivor Karabatkovic. (* Arista Nashville promo staff)
The set list included popular tunes “Only God Could Love You More,” “Shinin’ on Me,” “Beach Baby,” and “Lover, Lover,” which wooed the audience for a successful sing-along from the very first word. Two members of the six-man band, the Hung Jury, grabbed a trombone and saxophone to assist Niemann on his respectable rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” which the crowd loved.
He gave a shout out to fiancé
Morgan Petek before performing “What Do You Want,” and shared that he would be getting married in a month, while more cheers ensued. During “Buzz Back Girl,” the current single from
High Noon, Niemann took ample time shaking hands with members of the audience as they came forward to the stage.
Fan favorite “Donkey” caused a stampede of stomping feet on the auditorium’s wood floor, escalating the energy for his chart-topper: the RIAA Gold-certified multi-week No. 1 hit “Drink to That All Night.”
Opening for Niemann and continuing his
Get Your Buzz Back Tour this fall, Big Loud Mountain’s
Chris Lane warmed up the audience with several songs including his first single, “Broken Windshield View,” a showcase for his powerful vocals. Catching up with him backstage before his first ever performance at the Ryman, Lane told
MusicRow about recording his first single. “The song title alone jumped out and grabbed me,” he says. The video features his work truck from his landscaping job before moving to Nashville. “It had a huge crack across the windshield,” he says. The video was shot in his hometown Kernersville, NC. “Singing is something I always enjoyed doing. Growing up, I would never do that in front of anybody, because sports was really all I ever knew growing up.” But that’s all changed now.
Chris Lane celebrates his debut Ryman Auditorium performance backstage with his management team. Pictured (L-R): Back Row: Big Loud Mountain’s Seth England, Akii Lanier, Big Loud Mountain’s Brandon Matthews, Chris Lane, Big Loud Mountain’s Craig Wiseman, KK Wiseman, Big Loud Mountain’s Christina Sharpe and Big Loud Mountain’s Joey Moi; Front Row – Denise Roxen, Big Loud Shirt’s Amy Allmand and Big Loud Mountain’s Bart Allmand
Industry Pics: Tomlin Celebrates RIAA Certs, Grand Ole Opry, T.J. Martell Foundation
/by Jessica NicholsonCCM artist Chris Tomlin held a private performance at Nashville’s 12th and Porter last week to preview songs from his upcoming 10th studio album, Love Ran Red, which will release Oct. 27.
During the event, sixstepsrecords’ Chief Strategist Shelley Giglio and Capitol CMG President Peter York presented Tomlin with plaques to certify the RIAA Platinum certification of his songs “How Great Is Our God” and “Our God,” as well as the RIAA Gold Certification of “Indescribable,” “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” “I Will Follow,” “I Will Rise,” and “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies).”
Pictured (L-R): Bill Hearn, Capitol Christian Music Group President & CEO; Chris Tomlin; Shelley Giglio, Chief Strategist, sixstepsrecords; Peter York, President, Capitol Christian Music Group
• • •
During Friday evening’s (Sept. 12) Grand Ole Opry, Country legends Ray Stevens, Mel Tillis and Roy Clark reunited to share career memories and lots of laughs.
Pictured (L-R): Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Ray Stevens
• • •
Tommy Shaw, founder of STYX, recently presented Tinti Moffat (Director Strategic Development of the T.J. Martell Foundation) with a $50,000 check at the Let’s Talk Nashville fundraising event which took place Sept. 4 at the Nashville Country Club.
Guests included Brent Dougherty (Host of 3HL Sports Network), Joe Guercio (Musical Director/Composer for Elvis Presley), Pete Fisher (Vice President and General Manager, Grand Ol’ Opry), emcee John Dwyer (Former News Channel 2 Anchor) and many others. Shaw presented the check on behalf of the Rock for a Cure Foundation which will be earmarked for future Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research.
Pictured (L-R): Tinti Moffat, Tommy Shaw, Ben Jumper. Photo: Randi Radcliffe
• • •
30 Music Square West Tenants to Exit
/by Sarah SkatesGrand Victor Sound studio
Tenants of the building at 30 Music Sq. W. have been instructed to move out before Dec. 1, following the controversial sale of the property to Bravo Development.
The property is home to historic RCA Studio A, which is today know as Ben Folds’ Grand Victor Sound studio. Citing the legendary artists who recorded there, Folds rallied support to save the property from being sold and likely demolished. The sale to the developer went through anyway, and the building inspections that followed deemed it “no longer economically viable.”
Bravo’s Tim Reynolds released this statement yesterday (Sept. 15): “From the time I purchased this building at 30 Music Sq. W., I have been extremely candid about my intentions to fully assess its condition before making any decisions. I engaged structural, electrical and mechanical engineers to oversee that process and they came back with reports that detailed the extremely poor condition of both the 20,000-square-foot building and the 5,000-square-foot studio. I released those reports to the public several weeks ago so they could understand the situation better. It is based on these reports that I must make my decisions about this building moving forward. I have kept my tenants informed of the process and have been very open with them about what the future might hold.”
Read more about the studio’s history.
Nashville Celebrates Inaugural 'Women In Music City Awards'
/by Jessica NicholsonHillary Scott. Photo: Nathan Morgan/Nashville Business Journal
The Nashville Business Journal celebrated several music business honorees last night (Sept. 15) at the Omni Nashville as part of its inaugural 2014 Women in Music City Awards. The event feted women in Nashville’s music business community who are making an impact on the $9.8 billion industry.
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott served as the keynote speaker. In attendance were Scott’s parents, MCN Interactive’s Lang Scott, and singer-songwriter Linda Davis.
Honorees included Marcie Allen of MAC Presents, Sharon Brawner of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Debbie Carroll of MusiCares, Tiffany Dunn of Loeb & Loeb LLP, Kerri Edwards of Kpentertainment, Leslie Fram of CMT-Viacom, Lisa Harless of Regions Bank, Ali Harnell of AEG Live/The Messina Group, Kelli Cashiola Haywood of Starstruck Entertainment Group, Laura Heatherly of T.J. Martell Foundation, Linda Edell Howard of Adams & Reese LLP, Martha Ivester of Creative Artists Agency, Beverly Keel of Middle Tennessee State University, Gina Keltner of Grand Ole Opry, Chandra LaPlume of Taillight, Shari Lewin of William Morris Endeavor, Cindy Mabe of Universal Music Group Nashville, Pam Matthews of International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), Mary Ann McCready of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Jill Napier of Music Services Inc., Erika Wollam Nichols of The Bluebird Café, Diane Pearson of City National Bank, Kelly Rich of Big Machine Label Group, Alison Smith of BMI, Ellen Truley of SESAC and Sally Williams of Ryman Auditorium/Opry Entertainment Group.
Clear Channel Becomes iHeartMedia
/by Troy_Stephenson“iHeartMedia reflects our commitment to being the media company that provides the most entertainment to the most engaged audiences wherever they go, with more content and more events in more places on more devices,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “We have massive consumer reach and influence across our platforms because we know how to program the live content people want to hear, see and share right now, we are the largest mobile media company in existence — more than 60 percent of our broadcast usage is out of home, compared to just 30 percent for other mobile devices – and we deliver more live programming than any other media company today, built on the national and local on-air personalities who are the heart of our powerful broadcast radio franchises. Combined with Clear Channel Outdoor’s reach of over half a billion people worldwide across 30 countries and five continents, it’s clear that no other company can match our reach or broad spectrum of media platforms.”
In connection with the company’s new brand, the company’s ticker symbol (OTCCB: CCMO will also change, effective Sept. 17. Of the company’s major businesses, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will become iHeartMedia; other company brands, including iHeartRadio, Premiere Networks, Total Traffic and Weather Network, Katz Media Group and RCS, will retain their current names.
Rucker Preps Debut Holiday Album
/by Eric T. ParkerFrank Rogers produced the 12-track album, which includes holiday classics and two Rucker originals, “Candy Cane Christmas” (Rucker/Rogers/Steve Leslie) and “What God Wants For Christmas” (Rucker/Rogers/Monty Criswell). Special guest appearances include Sheryl Crow for the holiday standard “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
Rucker is also in the studio prepping his fourth solo County album to be released in early 2015. The album’s debut single “Homegrown Honey” has just been released to Country radio.
Home For The Holidays Track Listing:
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
White Christmas
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Winter Wonderland
Please Come Home For Christmas
What God Wants For Christmas
Baby, It’s Cold Outside (feat. Sheryl Crow)
O Come, All Ye Faithful
You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Candy Cane Christmas
Jerrod Niemann Headlines The Ryman Auditorium
/by Sherod RobertsonDonning his signature cap, the Sea Gayle Records/Artista Nashville artist opened with “We Know How to Rock,” from his third major label release, High Noon. And with his unique Country swagger, Niemann launched into “One More Drinking Song” for the enthusiastic crowd, followed by the newer song “I’m Here ‘Cause I Ain’t All There.”
Radio VIPs were treated to dinner at Jack’s Bar-B-Que by Jerrod Niemann and the Artista Nashville promo team prior to the concert. Pictured (L-R): Front Row – *Rusty Sherrill, Mike Kennedy (PD, KBEQ), *Lesly Tyson, Charlie Cook (PD, WKDF/WSM) and Kay Manley (MD/APD WGKX); Middle Row – *Elizabeth Heller, Lana DeLuca (Promotions Cumulus), Lonnie Napier (Exec. Producer American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, Kickin’ It with Kix), Nikita Palmer (NASH Network Producer, Cumulus Media), Jerrod Niemann, Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Heather McBee (industry vet), Colleen Lelis (John Marks’s wife); Back Row – Micheal Bryan (PD WSIX), *Andy Elliott, John Marks (SiriusXM Sr. Dir. of Programming), Will Overton (WME), Bill Simmons (Fitzgerald-Hartley management), *Lauren Thomas, *Jeri Cooper, *Ali O’Connell and Christy Garbinski (Sony Promotion Rep); Photo Bomb: Robert Simon (Lesly Tyson’s fiancé); Photo: Ivor Karabatkovic. (* Arista Nashville promo staff)
The set list included popular tunes “Only God Could Love You More,” “Shinin’ on Me,” “Beach Baby,” and “Lover, Lover,” which wooed the audience for a successful sing-along from the very first word. Two members of the six-man band, the Hung Jury, grabbed a trombone and saxophone to assist Niemann on his respectable rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” which the crowd loved.
He gave a shout out to fiancé Morgan Petek before performing “What Do You Want,” and shared that he would be getting married in a month, while more cheers ensued. During “Buzz Back Girl,” the current single from High Noon, Niemann took ample time shaking hands with members of the audience as they came forward to the stage.
Fan favorite “Donkey” caused a stampede of stomping feet on the auditorium’s wood floor, escalating the energy for his chart-topper: the RIAA Gold-certified multi-week No. 1 hit “Drink to That All Night.”
Opening for Niemann and continuing his Get Your Buzz Back Tour this fall, Big Loud Mountain’s Chris Lane warmed up the audience with several songs including his first single, “Broken Windshield View,” a showcase for his powerful vocals. Catching up with him backstage before his first ever performance at the Ryman, Lane told MusicRow about recording his first single. “The song title alone jumped out and grabbed me,” he says. The video features his work truck from his landscaping job before moving to Nashville. “It had a huge crack across the windshield,” he says. The video was shot in his hometown Kernersville, NC. “Singing is something I always enjoyed doing. Growing up, I would never do that in front of anybody, because sports was really all I ever knew growing up.” But that’s all changed now.
Chris Lane celebrates his debut Ryman Auditorium performance backstage with his management team. Pictured (L-R): Back Row: Big Loud Mountain’s Seth England, Akii Lanier, Big Loud Mountain’s Brandon Matthews, Chris Lane, Big Loud Mountain’s Craig Wiseman, KK Wiseman, Big Loud Mountain’s Christina Sharpe and Big Loud Mountain’s Joey Moi; Front Row – Denise Roxen, Big Loud Shirt’s Amy Allmand and Big Loud Mountain’s Bart Allmand
48th Annual CMA Awards First Round of Performers Announced
/by Troy_StephensonThree-time nominee Luke Bryan, nine-time nominee Miranda Lambert, three-time nominee Blake Shelton, and four-time nominee Keith Urban will all perform at the awards show on Wednesday, Nov. 5. It will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Bryan is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, as well as for Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Crash My Party.
Lambert is nominated this year for Entertainer, Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for Platinum. She is in the Musical Event Category twice, once for “We Were Us” with Urban and “Somethin’ Bad” with Carrie Underwood. Her nominations for the awards also include Music Video of the Year for both “Automatic” and “Somethin’ Bad.” In addition, “Automatic” is also nominated for Single and Song of the Year.
Shelton has been nominated for Entertainer three times, including a win in 2012. He is nominated again in 2014 for Male Vocalist, Entertainer and Single of the Year for “Mine Would Be You.”
Urban is nominated for Entertainer, which he won in 2005; Male Vocalist, which he has won three times; Album of the Year for Fuse, and Musical Event with Lambert for “We Were Us.”
Winners of “The 48th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members emailed to CMA members Thursday, Oct. 9. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, Oct. 27 (5:00 PM/CT).
Industry Ink: Lee Brice, FLO {thinkery}, CTM
/by Jessica NicholsonLee Brice was recently surprised during a show at Madison Square Garden, where the RIAA recognized “I Don’t Dance” as the fastest certified platinum country single released in 2014.
Today co-host Hoda Kotb joined Brice on stage to reveal the award. “I Don’t Dance” is the title track of Brice’s third album. It recently earned a CMA nomination for Song of the Year. “I Don’t Dance” was penned by Brice, Rob Hatch and Dallas Davidson.
Lee Brice celebrates the platinum success of “I Don’t Dance.” Photos: Avi Gerver/MSG Photos
• • •
Don VanCleave
Nashville-based FLO {thinkery} has added Don VanCleave to its core group of senior executive advisers.
VanCleave co-founded Record Store Day and led ThinkIndie, a distributor of exclusive music to the independent record store community. He founded the Coalition of Independent Music Stores in 1995 and led the organization until 2009.
He is also the recipient of the first Independent Spirit Award from NARM in 2009. He also manages the band Moon Taxi through his DVC Management Company.
• • •
Mitch Werthington
Catch This Music has hired Mitch Werthington as a social media manager. The graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. After graduating, he was lead singer for southern rock band Southwood. He moved to Nashville to concentrate on songwriting and to work in the music industry.
“Mitch has a drive to create great songs, he also carries with him a strong vision to help grow the CTM brand. Mitch brings to our family amazing knowledge of social media and graphic design. We are honored to have him join our team of creators,” says CTM President/CEO Eddie Robba.
Ryman Auditorium To Revive 'Sam's Place' Gospel Series
/by Jessica NicholsonSteven Curtis Chapman has signed on to host the “Sam’s Place—Music For The Spirit,” which launches Nov. 2 with Christian artists MercyMe and Tenth Avenue North. Future performers will include Danny Gokey, Amy Grant and Ray Stevens, Brandon Heath, Ricky Skaggs, Michael W. Smith, and Third Day.
Additional artists will be added to the series soon.
Christian radio network K-LOVE, which has more than 400 stations nationwide, will begin airing segments of the show next year.
Future show dates include Dec. 7, Jan. 11, Feb. 15, March 1 and April 5. Tickets for individual shows are priced at $27.50, $34.50, and $39.50. A portion of sales will benefit the charity Show Hope.
“Sam’s Place” is named after Sam Jones, an evangelist responsible for converting Thomas Ryman to Christianity in 1885. Ryman went on to build the Union Gospel Tabernacle, which was originally constructed as a venue for Jones to preach in. The venue was renamed the Ryman Auditorium in 1904.
Bobby Karl Works McGraw's 'Sundown Heaven Town' Preview Party
/by Bobby KarlChapter 468
Music Row does not customarily party on Sundays, but we can make an exception when the star shines bright enough.
“There’s only one guy I know who’s cool enough to get all of you out on a Sunday night,” said Scott Borchetta greeting the shoulder-to-shoulder throng at Gray’s on Main in Franklin (Sept. 14). “And his name is Tim McGraw.”
Mind you, in this town, Sunday is referred to as “church night.” Not only that, the 49ers were playing the Bears on NBC; the Ken Burns doc about the Roosevelts was airing on PBS; Boardwalk Empire was staging its season debut on HBO. But there we were, hoisting our glasses to a new CD called Sundown Heaven Town. That’s how much we admire the man.
“Congratulations….again,” I said to Tim, referring to his new collection. “And again, and again, and again,” he chuckled in reply, alluding to his 13th CD of new material, his 54 top-10 hits and his 20 years as a hit maker. “You can never have too many ‘agains,’” sez I. He remains an ageless icon, kept aloft by his flawless taste in songs, much aided by attendees Byron & Missi Gallimore.
You haven’t lived until you’ve been hugged by Faith Hill. Mrs. McGraw remains heart-stoppingly beautiful, as well as being one of our greatest Nashville vocalists. She was in attendance, as were all three of the Tim & Faith daughters — Gracie, 17, Maggie, 16, and Audrey, 12. Their parents can be heard singing together on the new album’s “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s.”
That has already been a hit from the collection, as has “Lookin’ For That Girl.” A third single, “Shotgun Rider,” was also issued prior to the CD’s official release on Tuesday. That’s because the label initially intended for Sundown Heaven Town to be released months ago. But it wasn’t, so three singles dribbled out in advance, which is unusual.
Lots of folks there didn’t care when it came out, just as long as it did. They were thrilled to be among the songwriters chosen for the project. For Maren Morris, Tim’s version of “Last Turn Home,” marks her first songwriting cut. Abe Stoklasa (“Portland, Maine”) is also at the dawn of a promising writing career.
They celebrated alongside Barry Dean (whose “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” is on the album), Rhett Akins (“Dust”), Rivers Rutherford (“Overrated”), Marv Green (“Shotgun Rider”), Tom Douglas (“Words Are Medicine,” “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”) and The Warren Brothers (“Black Jacket,” “I’m Feelin’ You,” “Kids Today,” “Keep On Truckin’”). Tim and the Warrens are good buddies, and they have opened for him on the road.
“There are so many people here who helped make this record, and so many singers better than I am,” said Tim of the songwriters who contributed. “The reason there are 18 songs on this record is because there is so much talent here. We live in a town of great poets….I want you to be as proud of it as I am.”
He sang “Shotgun Rider,” “Keep On Truckin’” and “Felt Good On My Lips” for the folks, then turned the stage over to the songwriters. “Anybody who wants to sing, jump up here and play for us,” invited Tim.
Schmoozing and cheering at the cocktail supper were Charlie Chase, Lorianne Crook, Jimmy Carter, Lisa Konicki, Deborah Evans Price, Tom Lord, R.J. Curtis, Debbie Carroll, Jay Frank, Kelly Rich (upon whom some oaf splashed red wine), Bob Doerschuk, Rod Essig, Sherod Robertson, Ken Tucker, Suzanne Gordon, Phyllis Stark, Leslie Fram, Nan Kelly and John Allen. The fire marshal wasn’t invited: The place was beyond packed.
Jayme Austin still remembers the first time she was name checked by Bobby Karl, which tickles me no end. Carla Wallace is all aglow that her singer-writer, Meghan Trainor, is atop the pop hit parade with “All About That Bass.” Allison Jones glows, too, since she got Meghan her first two cuts, which were by Rascal Flatts. Al Hagaman is excited that longtime friend and client K.T. Oslin is making music again.
But we all knew who this night was about. “The Man, himself, is in the house!” proclaimed Jack Purcell in welcoming the crowd. “Whenever you write a great song,” said Brett Warren, “the first person you think of is Tim McGraw.” “He sings every single one as though he wrote it,” said Scott Borchetta. “I am so proud that he calls Big Machine home.”