Rascal Flatts toasted the release day of its new album, Rewind, with a completely unique event Tuesday (May 13) in Hollywood, Calif. at Avalon Hollywood, located at the legendary intersection Hollywood & Vine. The project’s 13 cuts include the title track, which hit No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart on April 3. The Deluxe version includes an additional 4 original songs. An extravagant dinner preceded a concert by the band. One hundred percent of ticket sales for the event will be donated to the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Big Machine Records, in partnership with Citi Private Pass, offered VIP attendees a luxury listening experience, treating them to a seated dinner in the Mezzanine outdoor atrium of Avalon. World-renowned wine maker Michael Hendry of Hendry Ranch Wines served as the host, on what turned out to be one of L.A.’s hottest days this year.
Rascal Flatts toasted the release day of its new album, Rewind, with a completely unique event Tuesday (May 13) in Hollywood, Calif. at Avalon Hollywood.
While enjoying a six-course meal of artisan cheeses, grilled California prawns, farro and baby kale salad, local sea bass, pepper crusted New York strip and a chocolate ganache finish, Hendry walked the invited guests through the album song-by-song, pairing fine wines from his vineyard with the mood of each track.
The pairings were as unique as the songs. A 2011 Hendry Blocks 7 & 22 Zinfandel was paired with “Payback,” the first track on the album which draws in and hooks the listener, much like the red raspberry fruit and classic spice of the wine which is one of the winery’s most popular offerings. “Rewind” was joined with the 2010 Hendry Pinot Noir due to the softer tone of the wine and from its grape that grew more than 2000 years ago—a play on the word “rewind.” The song “Riot” was appropriately paired with the 2012 Hendry Pinot Gris due to the wine’s soft, gentle currants balanced with substance and meaning. As each song finished, a new round of tastings were offered until all 13 songs had been sampled both with the ears and on the lips.
Coming straight from a performance on
The Voice, band members
Gary LeVox,
Jay DeMarcus, and
Joe Don Rooney greeted the VIPs saying, “We are so thrilled to have the
Rewind album out. It’s taken us over a year and half to make the record and we put our heart and soul into it. Today has been huge. We’ve let 17 of our babies leave the house. We are empty nesters now.”
Afterwards, the select guests spent time with Rascal Flatts for photo ops and a short gabfest before heading downstairs to the main theatre for a performance.
Joining a packed house of Citi members and contest winners who were also celebrating the release with food and wine tastings in the performance hall, the combined party goers listened as Rascal Flatts performed a short set including “Payback,” “Riot,” “Rewind,” “Broken Road” and “Cumberland Road.” All Access’
RJ Curtis emceed, helping the band bring a few well-placed jokes to a thoroughly entertaining evening.
Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox
Artist Pics (5/16/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonDuo Florida Georgia Line made their debut appearance on Ellen, where they performed their fifth consecutive platinum-certified single “This Is How We Roll.”
Pictured (L-R): FGL’s Brian Kelley, Ellen and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard.
• • •
CMT Radio’s Cody Alan recently spoke with Miranda Lambert in the CMT Radio studio about her upcoming album, Platinum, due out June 3.
Cody Alan and Miranda Lambert
• • •
Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves recently collaborated for an episode of CMT Crossroads; the episode is set to premiere Friday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET on CMT. Taped in Los Angeles, CMT Crossroads will feature the two stars swapping lyrics and stories behind their hits. Perry’s “Roar” and “Teenage Dream,” as well as Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” and “Merry Go ‘Round” are among the songs featured in the episode.
For the first time, the new episode will air across multiple channels, including VH1, MTV, MTV Hits and Palladia. Additional air dates will be announced soon.
Pictured (L-R): Kacey Musgraves and Katy Perry
Brad Paisley Tapped As Celebrity Expert For ABC's 'Rising Star'
/by Troy_StephensonOther members on the expert panel include pop star Kesha and Hip Hop’s Ludacris. The show will be hosted by singer-songwriter Josh Groban. All four celebrities are scheduled to appear together at the Billboard Music Awards this Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Big Machine Music Teams With Inc. Magazine For GrowCo Conference
/by Jessica NicholsonBMM will be branded as a sponsor throughout the conference in addition to showcasing how attendees can enlist BMM for original or licensed music for their company’s branding and commercial initiatives. BMM recently created original music content for companies and brands such as General Mills and Crown Royal.
“We believe songwriters are just as much entrepreneurs as anyone, especially in Nashville,” said BMM Vice President Mike Molinar. “Inc. magazine is dedicated to covering the most business-savvy and creative companies of our generation and we are ecstatic to align Big Machine Music alongside them. We look forward to showcasing our incredible songwriters and uncovering opportunities to partner with those companies in attendance.”
BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta will speak to a select group of business leaders on behalf of Capital One – another sponsor of GROWCO. He joins additional conference speakers including Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban and Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter.
'Nashville' Incentives Drop $5.25 Million
/by Eric T. Parker“It was not an easy decision to make,” noted Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “We obviously had lots of conversations, and I’m sure it’s not the amount they wanted.”
The Tennessean noted that an $8 million incentive package for 22 episodes of ABC’s Season Three was accepted after weeks of negotiations, concluding as such:
“We’re [investing] for the ability to communicate what this city has to offer to people who historically have never been exposed to Country music and the music scene of this fabulous city,” noted CEO, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Colin Reed, to the paper.
By comparison, Season Two’s 2013-14 incentives totaled 13.25 million proposed dollars, $500,000 of which from Metro Nashville’s first investment in the production, whereas the production enjoyed a sole state investment of between 25-32 percent of Tennessee-based costs for the 2012-13 debut season. Those incentives are noted as totaling a reported $14 million.
International distribution of the program to more than 50 countries was noted as a major reason for the continued investment. “It’s been an overwhelmingly good thing for the city,” continued Dean. “We have a strong tourism economy and a strong convention economy, but this just adds to it in a way that we would never be able to do on our own.”
The paper notes that payroll for non-actors totaled $13 million for Season Two, with 90 percent of the staffing being local. News 2 notes the production has a $40 million per year impact on Nashville while supporting up to 500 local jobs.
Big Machine Records, in association with ABC Studios, Lionsgate and ABC Music Lounge, has released a total of four soundtracks for the program, contributing to sales of over 600,000 albums and 3 million individual track downloads.
Artist Updates (5/16/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker. Photo: Chris Hollo
Darius Rucker will host his fifth annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on Monday, June 2 at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville. Featuring performances by Rucker and a star-studded lineup including Clint Black, Eli Young Band, David Nail, Cassadee Pope, Kenny Rogers, Corey Smith and Thompson Square, the sold-out show unofficially kicks off CMA Music Festival Week.
All proceeds from the concert will go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• • •
As a result, the singer has been forced to cancel his commitments into next week, including shows in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif., along with his scheduled appearances on The Talk (CBS) and The Grand Ole Opry.
Morgan is expected to fully recover.
• • •
To donate to the PledgeMusic Campaign, visit meghanlinsey.com.
• • •
Columbia Nashville artist Tyler Farr played his Top 15 hit single, “Whiskey in My Water” for the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night in Nashville. The singer also celebrated his first CMT Awards nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year for his #1 platinum-selling hit title-track, “Redneck Crazy.”
Farr is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the upcoming MusicRow Awards.
Photo: Chris Hollo
Weekly Chart Report (5/16/14)
/by Troy_StephensonIndustry Ink (5/16/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe roundtable will gather information on the following topics in order for the Internet Policy Task Force to have a complete and thorough record upon which to make recommendations: legal framework for the creation of remixes, the relevance and scope of first sale doctrine in the digital environment, and the appropriate calibration of statutory damages in the contexts of (i) individual file sharers and (ii) secondary liability for large-scale infringement.
To register, visit signup4.net.
• • •
The T.J. Martell Foundation celebrated the career achievements of entertainment executive Rob Beckham, Co-Head of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, on May 12 at the inaugural 2014 Ambassador of the Year Event held in Nashville. The program recognizes an individual who has risen to the top of their field through commitment, perseverance and dedication and who also serves as a mentor to the next generation of rising young executives. The event brought in over $50,000 for cancer research.
Beckham is a partner at WME, with a client roster which includes Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Reba, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Gary Allan, Chris Young, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Niemann and many others. He is involved in numerous Nashville community organizations and supports several non-profit associations.
Pictured (L-R): Comedian and Master of Ceremonies Ralphie May; Storme Warren; Tinti Moffat, Director of Strategic Development, Southern Region – T.J. Martell Foundation; honoree Rob Beckham; Laura Heatherly, CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation.
• • •
The SSM Label Group (SSM Nashville/SSM Entertainment) has signed songwriter/artist Kayla Adams to their roster, according to the label’s GM Ben Ewing. The label is currently prepping the release of Adams’ debut single, “Sober & Sorry.” Adams joins rising duo Branch & Dean and reality TV star Wes Hayden as the third act signed to the Nashville-based label.
Standing (L-R): Martha Moore (so much MOORE media), Kelsey Edgar (SSM), Sam Holly (SSM), Janine LeClair (SSM Office Manager), Ben Ewing (SSM General Manager) and Dean Scallan (Producer).
Seated: Kayla Adams and her Yorkshire Terrier Tory
(Photo Courtesy of SSM Nashville Records)
• • •
Rascal Flatts: 'Rewind' With 13 Glasses Of Wine
/by Sherod RobertsonBig Machine Records, in partnership with Citi Private Pass, offered VIP attendees a luxury listening experience, treating them to a seated dinner in the Mezzanine outdoor atrium of Avalon. World-renowned wine maker Michael Hendry of Hendry Ranch Wines served as the host, on what turned out to be one of L.A.’s hottest days this year.
Rascal Flatts toasted the release day of its new album, Rewind, with a completely unique event Tuesday (May 13) in Hollywood, Calif. at Avalon Hollywood.
While enjoying a six-course meal of artisan cheeses, grilled California prawns, farro and baby kale salad, local sea bass, pepper crusted New York strip and a chocolate ganache finish, Hendry walked the invited guests through the album song-by-song, pairing fine wines from his vineyard with the mood of each track.
The pairings were as unique as the songs. A 2011 Hendry Blocks 7 & 22 Zinfandel was paired with “Payback,” the first track on the album which draws in and hooks the listener, much like the red raspberry fruit and classic spice of the wine which is one of the winery’s most popular offerings. “Rewind” was joined with the 2010 Hendry Pinot Noir due to the softer tone of the wine and from its grape that grew more than 2000 years ago—a play on the word “rewind.” The song “Riot” was appropriately paired with the 2012 Hendry Pinot Gris due to the wine’s soft, gentle currants balanced with substance and meaning. As each song finished, a new round of tastings were offered until all 13 songs had been sampled both with the ears and on the lips.
Afterwards, the select guests spent time with Rascal Flatts for photo ops and a short gabfest before heading downstairs to the main theatre for a performance.
Joining a packed house of Citi members and contest winners who were also celebrating the release with food and wine tastings in the performance hall, the combined party goers listened as Rascal Flatts performed a short set including “Payback,” “Riot,” “Rewind,” “Broken Road” and “Cumberland Road.” All Access’ RJ Curtis emceed, helping the band bring a few well-placed jokes to a thoroughly entertaining evening.
Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox
MusicRowPics: Heather Morgan Honored with MusicRow Challenge Coin
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): MusicRow Chart Director Troy Stephenson and songwriter Heather Morgan. Photo: Kelsey Grady
Heather Morgan, a co-writer behind Sara Evans‘ recent MusicRow chart-topper (for the week of April 24) “Slow Me Down,” visited the MusicRow office Wednesday (May 14) to be honored with her own MusicRow Challenge Coin.
Over the years, challenge coins have marked significant occasions and commemorated outstanding individuals. Continuing that tradition, the MusicRow Challenge Coin honors songwriters and artists whose compositions top the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.
“Slow Me Down” was penned by Morgan, along with co-writers (and fellow MusicRow Challenge Coin honorees) Jimmy Robbins and Marv Green. The writing session for “Slow Me Down” was the first time Texas native Morgan had co-written with Green and Robbins together.
“Jimmy does such amazing tracks and he had this amazing guitar part,” Morgan said. “Marv had this line about ‘Hurry Up and Slow Me Down’ that he had held onto for a while, and Jimmy started playing a really cool guitar line. I started singing ‘If you let this train roll down these tracks,’ and Jimmy commented that those lines sounded like a second verse. So it was very collaborative, and it was like this little tornado started. It took an hour or so to write. Marv had to leave and I was singing the demo and we thought, ‘We like this.’ Someone at Sony played it for Sara and she liked it.”
Publishers on the track include Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., The Good The Bad The Ugly Publishing, Made for This Music, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Universal Music Corp./Extraordinary Alien Publishing.
For a full list of MusicRow Challenge Coin recipients, visit musicrow.com.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Kelsey Grady, Eric Parker, and Troy Stephenson; songwriter Heather Morgan; MusicRow‘s Jessica Nicholson and Sarah Skates.
Sara Evans' Slow Me Down Tour Goes Full-Speed in May
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Slow Me Down Tour, which wraps Oct. 24 in Reno, Nev., will find Evans offering several of her signature hits, including “Suds In The Bucket,” “Born To Fly,” “A Real Fine Place To Start,” and “A Little Bit Stronger.”
To launch the tour, Evans will appear on the Fox & Friends Summer concert series on May 24.
Slow Me Down Tour Dates:
May 24 Caruthersville, MO -Lady Luck Casino
June 7 Nashville, TN -LP Field
June 12 Lemoore, CA -Tachi Palace Casino
June 13 Oroville, CA -Gold Country Casino
June 14 Santa Rosa, CA -Sonoma Country Fairgrounds
June 21 Cullman, AL -Rock The South
July 5 Bossier City, LA -Margaritaville Resort
July 10 Duluth, MN -Bayfront Park
July 11 Clinton, IA -Wild Rose Casino & Resorts
July 12 Emmetsburg, IA -Wild Rose Casino & Resorts
July 13 Rhinelander, WI -Hodag Country Festival
July 18 Bremen, GA -Mill Town Music Hall
July 19 Panama City, FL -Bay Pointe Marina
July 25 Deadwood, SD -Deadwood Mountain Grand
July 26 Colorado Springs, CO -World Arena
July 27 Denver, CO -Coors Field
Aug. 1 Waverly, IN -Bremer County Fair
Aug. 2 Michigan City, IN -Blue Chip Casino
Aug. 9 Sedalia, MO -Missouri State Fair
Aug. 15 West Wendover, NV -Peppermill Concert Hall
Aug. 16 Lewiston, ID -Clearwater River Casino
Aug. 17 Brownsville, OR -The Willamette Country Music Fair
Aug. 29 Cohasset, MA -South Shore Music Circus
Aug. 30 Hagersville, Canada -Hagersville Summer End Festival
Aug. 31 Jackson, NJ -Six Flags
Sept. 1 Woodstock, CT -Woodstock Fair
Sept. 5 Thief River Falls, MN -Seven Clans Casino
Sept. 6 Fort Yates, ND -Prairie Knights Casino
Sept. 27 Fort Worth, TX -Bass Performance Hall
Oct. 19 Thousand Oaks, CA -Kavli Theater
Oct. 23 Santa Ynez, CA -Chumash Casino
Oct. 24 Reno, NV -Grand Sierra Resort