Martina McBride has added 40 dates to her Everlasting Tour. Backed by an 11-piece band, McBride is touring in support of her chart-topping Everlasting project, which finds the powerful vocalist putting her own artistic spin on classic soul records such as “Wild Night” (Van Morrison), “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Otis Redding) and others.
“We’ve worked hard to put together a show that is visually entertaining as well as very rich musically,” shares McBride. “There’s so much for the audience to see and experience. I feel like this show really takes the audience on a musical journey. The songs from Everlasting and my hits blend seamlessly together throughout the night.”
Seven dates on the fall leg have already sold-out, including Meridian, Miss; Forrest City, Ark.; Lake Charles, La.; two dates in Nashville; Midland, TX; and Dayton, OH.
*8/28 Meridian, MS MSU Riley Center for The Performing Arts
*8/29 Forrest City, AR East Arkansas Community College Fine Arts Center
*8/30 Lake Charles, LA L’Auberge Casino and Hotel
*8/31 Nashville, TN 3rd and Lindsley
9/5 Carmel, IN The Palladium
9/6 Wabash, IN Honeywell Center
9/11 Deadwood, SD Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center
9/12 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino
9/13 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theater
9/18 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
9/19 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino Resort
9/20 Pomona, CA Los Angeles County Fair
9/22 San Diego, CA House of Blues
*9/25 Midland, TX Wagner Noel PAC
9/26 Durant, OK Choctaw Event Center
9/27 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
10/2 Dartmouth, NS Dartmouth Sportsplex
10/3 Moncton, NB The Center at Casino New Brunswick
10/4 St Johns, NL Canada Mile One Centre
10/9 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
10/10 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
10/11 Waterbury, CT Palace Theatre
10/16 Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
10/17 Melbourne, FL King Center for the Performing Arts
10/18 Niceville, FL Mullett Festival
10/24 Athens, GA Classic Center Theater
*11/1 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
11/7 Dearborn, MI Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
*11/8 Dayton, OH Schuster Center
11/13 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
11/14 Utica, NY The Stanley
11/15 Lynn, MA Lynn Auditorium
11/21 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
11/29 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
12/3 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
12/4 Northfield, OH Hard Rock Live
12/5 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
12/11 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theatre
12/12 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theatre
12/13 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre
*Indicates sold out
Sturgill Simpson, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell Added as Americana Awards Performers
/by Jessica NicholsonThey will join previously announced performers Loretta Lynn, Flaco Jimenez, Taj Mahal, and Jackson Browne. Presenters will include Vince Gill, Keb Mo, Amy Ray, Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Cook, JD Souther, Todd Snider, Rhett Miller, John Ritter, John Paul White, Joe Henry and more.
The event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, and will be hosted by Lauderdale. Miller will lead the house band, which includes Don Was, Joachim Cooder, Tim Lauer, The McCrary Sisters, and Ry Cooder.
The 13th annual Honors & Awards show will air on SiriusXM “Outlaw Country” and online at NPR’s Folk Alley. PBS will air the show Nov. 22 in the Austin City Limits time slot. For the first time, the show will also air on Australia’s CMC (Country Music Channel).
Music Biz Attorneys Make 'Best Lawyers' List
/by Sarah SkatesInclusion in the 21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2015) is based on more than 5.5 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by their peers within the legal community. Adding to the list’s reliability, lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to appear in the rankings. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become a definitive guide to legal excellence.
Adams and Reese—Linda Edell Howard, Philip M. Kirkpatrick, Lynn Morrow
Almon Law—Orville Almon, Jr.
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings—Samuel D. Lipshie
Dickinson Wright—Derek C. Crownover
Hall Booth Smith—Karl Braun
Harris Martin Jones—James H. Harris III
Loeb & Loeb—Tiffany Dunn, Denise M. Stevens
McInteer & O’Rear—Howell O’Rear
Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley—David Crow, Christian A. Horsnell, D. Page Kelley, W. Michael Milom
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough—Kevin M. Doherty
Riley Warnock & Jacobson—Chris Vlahos, Timothy L. Warnock
Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes—John C. Beiter
Watkins & McNeilly—R. Horton Frank III
Valory Music Co. Signs Levi Hummon
/by Sarah SkatesPictured (L-R): Back Row – Iconic Entertainment’s Brian O’Neil, BMLG’s Malcolm Mimms, Allison Jones, Andrew Kautz and Iconic Entertainment’s Ally Rodriguez; Front Row – BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Levi Hummon & Iconic Entertainment’s Fletcher Foster. Photo: Seth Hellman for The Valory Music Co.
The Valory Music Co. has signed Levi Hummon, a Nashville native who is working on his debut album, due out next year.
Hummon is managed by Fletcher Foster’s Iconic Entertainment Group. The 23-year-old is the son of Grammy winning songwriter Marcus Hummon (“God Bless The Broken Road”) and Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of the Thistle Farms philanthropy. Hit songwriter Desmond Child has also been a key part of Levi Hummon’s development.
“As our Country format ebbs and flows, it’s always so important from an A&R perspective to look past what’s happening now and make some moves on the future direction,” said BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta. “Levi’s unique vision and incredible artistry is exactly the kind of musical move we want to make now. This is a very significant artist signing.”
“It really feels like a dream come true to be a part of the Valory/BMLG family! I’ve gotten to know a lot of the staff already, and it feels like one big family,” said Levi. “This label home already feels so supportive and is a perfect fit for my music. I also want to give a special shout out to my dad, who has been both a friend and mentor to me through this process, and a huge thank you to Desmond Child and Fletcher Foster for their belief in me.”
Levi Hummon has collaborated with Shane MacAnally, Andrew Dorff, Josh Osborne, Jonathan Singleton, Nathan Barlowe, Brandy Clark and Trevor Rosen among others.
The Valory roster includes superstar Reba, chart-topping stars Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett as well as legendary band The Mavericks and newcomer RaeLynn.
Martina McBride Adds 'Everlasting Tour' Dates
/by Jessica Nicholson“We’ve worked hard to put together a show that is visually entertaining as well as very rich musically,” shares McBride. “There’s so much for the audience to see and experience. I feel like this show really takes the audience on a musical journey. The songs from Everlasting and my hits blend seamlessly together throughout the night.”
Seven dates on the fall leg have already sold-out, including Meridian, Miss; Forrest City, Ark.; Lake Charles, La.; two dates in Nashville; Midland, TX; and Dayton, OH.
*8/28 Meridian, MS MSU Riley Center for The Performing Arts
*8/29 Forrest City, AR East Arkansas Community College Fine Arts Center
*8/30 Lake Charles, LA L’Auberge Casino and Hotel
*8/31 Nashville, TN 3rd and Lindsley
9/5 Carmel, IN The Palladium
9/6 Wabash, IN Honeywell Center
9/11 Deadwood, SD Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center
9/12 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino
9/13 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theater
9/18 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
9/19 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino Resort
9/20 Pomona, CA Los Angeles County Fair
9/22 San Diego, CA House of Blues
*9/25 Midland, TX Wagner Noel PAC
9/26 Durant, OK Choctaw Event Center
9/27 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
10/2 Dartmouth, NS Dartmouth Sportsplex
10/3 Moncton, NB The Center at Casino New Brunswick
10/4 St Johns, NL Canada Mile One Centre
10/9 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
10/10 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
10/11 Waterbury, CT Palace Theatre
10/16 Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
10/17 Melbourne, FL King Center for the Performing Arts
10/18 Niceville, FL Mullett Festival
10/24 Athens, GA Classic Center Theater
*11/1 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
11/7 Dearborn, MI Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
*11/8 Dayton, OH Schuster Center
11/13 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
11/14 Utica, NY The Stanley
11/15 Lynn, MA Lynn Auditorium
11/21 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
11/29 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
12/3 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
12/4 Northfield, OH Hard Rock Live
12/5 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
12/11 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theatre
12/12 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theatre
12/13 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre
*Indicates sold out
Artist Pics: Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Chase Rice
/by Kelsey_GradyMontgomery Gentry is back in the studio with producer Michael Knox putting the finishing touches on their brand new album, which is expected to release on Blaster Records in early 2015. The duo’s debut single, “Headlights,” written by hit tunesmiths Wendell Mobley, Bob DiPiero, and Tony Martin, will be available for fans to download digitally on Sept. 2.
Pictured (L-R): Michael Knox, Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry Photo: Eddie Kilgallon
• • •
Saturday night, Starwood Preferred Guest hosted a special intimate concert for SPG members with Kellie Pickler at Four Points By Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood as part of the SPG Hear The Music, See The World concert series. Nashville’s Connie Britton and newcomer Laura Benanti showed up to enjoy Pickler’s VIP performance, who also guest starred on the TV show’s popular second season.
Pictured (L-R): Laura Benanti, Kellie Pickler, Connie Britton Photo: Getty/WireImage
• • •
Chase Rice stopped by to chat with Crook & Chase recently about his album Ignite the Night, which was released earlier this week.
Pictured (L-R): Charlie Chase, Chase Rice, Lorianne Crook
Industry Ink: Vector Management, Integrity Music, Nashville Entertainment Law Symposium
/by Jessica Nicholson• • •
Stu G and Mike Murray, Creative Director at Integrity Music Publishing
Integrity Music Publishing has signed Stu G as an exclusive songwriter. He is a member of One Sonic Society and a founder of worship band Delirious?. Integrity Music is home to songwriters including Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Israel Houghton and more.
Stu G’s songwriting credits include “The Greatness of Our God” (Natalie Grant/One Sonic Society), “Majesty” (Delirious?), and more.
• • •
Speakers will include Nashville Forum Committee members Jeffrey Brabec (Beverly Hills), Todd Brabec (Los Angeles), Henry Root (Los Angeles) Kirt Schroder (Richmond, Va.), Judy Tint (New York), Michael Milom (Nashville), James Zumwalt (Nashville), as well as Nashville guests John Beiter, Stephanie Taylor, John Strohm, Nicolas Beaudoing, Kent Marcus, Denise Stevens, Jeremy Brook, JD Connell, Megan Joyce and others.
To register, visit eventbrite.com. Registration deadline is Aug. 29.
Merle Haggard Taps Chris Janson For Ryman Concerts
/by Sarah SkatesChris Janson performs at the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza during the 2014 CMA Music Festival.
Merle Haggard is performing at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium tonight (Aug. 25) and tomorrow (Aug. 26), with Chris Janson set to open both sold-out dates.
“It’s an incredible honor to play on this show and I’m humbled. It’s hard to even find words to describe…this is a career milestone for me and I’m beyond grateful,” shares Janson. “It’s just a few shorts steps from the back door of Tootsie’s where I had my first gig and a lot of hard work later to make it to the Ryman with Merle. A dream come true!”
Janson, who played more than 100 shows last year, has opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Florida Georgia Line, and Hank Williams Jr. This summer he played at major festivals Country Thunder, We Fest and Creekfest. Since Janson’s Grand Ole Opry debut last year, he has been asked to perform on the coveted stage over 50 times.
The talented songwriter began writing at 18-years-old, and has scored cuts by Tim McGraw (“Truck Yeah”), Justin Moore (“Off The Beaten Path”) and Parmalee (“Back In The Day”).
Merle Haggard will play the Ryman tonight.
Warner/Chappell Extends Pub Deal With James, Cornman Music
/by Jessica NicholsonBen Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville, said, “Whether it’s the writing room, the office, the studio, or the board room, Brett James operates at the highest level as a songwriter, producer, talent developer, and publisher. It’s a real pleasure for Warner/Chappell to represent Brett and work with his team of Nate Lowery and Shea Fowler at Cornman Music. There is so much great music coming from Brett and Cornman—watch out world.”
James added, “Warner/Chappell is the perfect partner for me and my Cornman Music family. They combine a peerless creative culture with a worldwide administrative juggernaut to provide us with an amazing platform for success. I truly enjoy working and playing with them on a daily basis and am thrilled to continue our relationship.”
James has had over four hundred of his songs recorded, 17 of which were No. 1 hits, and has worked on albums with combined sales of more than 100 million copies.
Florida Georgia Line To Headline Tailgate Concert
/by Troy_StephensonPictured (L-R): Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley
Florida Georgia Line has teamed up with Coors Light to headline the “Anything Goes Tailgate” concert at the Shipyards in Jacksonville, Fla. on Oct. 31, 2014.
The event will kick off the Georgia-Florida Weekend where the University of Georgia and University of Florida will play on Saturday Nov. 1, 2014. The event serves double-duty as a release party for their new album Anything Goes, which will be released on Oct. 14.
“How can you get any more relevant than Florida Georgia Line at the Georgia Florida game?” said Billy Catlin, Principal of Orange Peel Entertainment. “Eight bands with FGL headlining on a forty-four acre riverfront property … it can’t get much better than this for locals, as well as Florida and Georgia fans.”
The event sponsored by Your Southern Chevy Dealers, Monster Energy Drink and Costa Sunglasses will also feature openers Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, Clare Dunn, John King, Michael Ray and more.
Fans can get a ticket to the concert and an exclusive t-shirt with a digital copy of the new album by visiting www.jaxtailgate.com. Ticket bundles start at $23 (plus applicable fees) and go on-sale Saturday Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. ET.
Second Annual ASCAP Music City Retreat
/by Kelsey_GradyPictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Evan Trindl, Dan+Shay’s Dan Smyers, Brett James, Dan+Shay’s Shay Mooney, Robopop and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing’s Ryan Beuschel
Photo: Ed Rode
ASCAP’s Nashville office recently hosted the second annual ASCAP Music City Retreat three-day songwriting event, held at Blackbird Studios in Berry Hill. The retreat served to highlight the unique talents of the ASCAP songwriting community in country and pop music, and combined some of the hottest ASCAP songwriters and songwriter-artists based in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and across the country, hand-selected by ASCAP membership staff representing each genre.
The purpose of the event is to provide an intimate and focused setting for hit songs to be created, and ultimately recorded and released while developing long-lasting relationships between the songwriters involved for future collaborations.
Songwriter-artist participants included Dan+Shay, Tom and Mike Gossin of Gloriana, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three, Love and Theft, Mickey G, Priscilla and David Nail. Country music songwriter participants included Jessi Alexander, JT Harding, Brett James, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, as well as songwriter-producers Chris DeStefano and Jimmy Robbins. Pop songwriters and producers who participated in the retreat included AC, DJ Whiteshadow, Robopop and Kyle Shearer.
Their combined songwriting and production credits include huge hits recorded by a diverse list of artists such as Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga, Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Lana Del Ray, Luke Bryan, Maroon 5, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Lambert, Pitbull, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and more.
Pictured (L-R): Jimmy Robbins and Gloriana’s Tom Gossin. Photo: Ed Rode
Pictured (L-R): Jessi Alexander, Kyle Shearer and Gloriana’s Mike Gossin. Photo: Ed Rode
Pictured (L-R): Chris Tompkins, Priscilla and Jaren Johnston. Photo: Ed Rode
Pictured (L-R): Josh Kear, Jimmy Robbins, Love and Theft’s Eric Gunderson, AC, (front row) ASCAP Nashville Creative Department co-head LeAnn Phelan and ASCAP Los Angeles Creative Director Evan Trindl. Photo: Ed Rode