It’s Dueling Divas Day!
Unquestionably the two best records in this stack of platters belong to Martina McBride and Carlene Carter. Ironically, both are produced by Don Was and both are due for release next Tuesday, April 8.
Carter’s comeback finds her touching home with her family’s distinguished musical roots. It earns her a Disc of the Day prize. Honorable Mention nods go to Ray Price and the Brian Lavender Band, as well as the divine Martina.
I have no earthly idea who Cody Jinks is. His single doesn’t contain any clues. But he is still the DisCovery Award winner today.
BRIAN LAVENDER BAND/Good Ole Country Boy
Writer: Joe Vulpis; Producer: Steve Pope; Publisher: none listed; Lavender (track)
-The song is strictly generic, but his cool, raspy vocal and the kickin’ band elevate it well beyond what it deserves. There’s a cool, processed-vocal interlude that perks it up, too. Very listenable.
LONESTAR/Just The Rain
Writers: Richie McDonald/Jeremy Bussey; Producer: Lonestar; Publisher: NuState/Buzzcutt; BMI/SESAC; 4Star (track)
-It’s a power ballad of emotional loss. Richie’s vocal is, as usual, a thing of wonder. The song could use a chorus melody with more hooks.
ALLISON VELTZ/Bright Side
Writers: Allison Veltz/Jess Cates/Dan Muckala; Producers: Mark Bright & Dan Muckala; Publishers: Sony ATV Cross Keys/My Good Girl/EMI April/Very High/Wintergone/Kobalt, ASCAP; Blaster
-The poppy production is crunchy and catchy. Her youthful-sounding singing voice needs some seasoning and experience.
GARTH BROOKS/Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producer: Mark Miller; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree; BMI; BBR (track)
–Working Man’s Poet is a tribute to the titanic Merle Haggard that includes contributions from Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen and more. Garth drops by to offer a steel-soaked two-step rendition of this classic honky-tonk tune. Country, country, country.
RICK DROIT & SARA HICKMAN/Wild Mustangs
Writers: none listed; Producer: Rick Droit; Publisher: none listed; MoonGarden
-Perplexing. It has a certain throwback, hippie vibe with its quasi-poetic lyrics. The track is kinda bouncy. Their voices are ultra-white and bland-ish. But it is oddly listenable.
CARLENE CARTER/Me and the Wildwood Rose
Writers: Carlene Carter; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
– Carlene’s Carter Girl CD features seven Carter Family classics, modernized, plus tunes from Helen, June and Maybelle. Her own songwriting contribution is this lilting piece of nostalgia for her lost girlhood and her sister who died too young. The album, which is lovely, drops next week. Be there or be square.
CODY JINKS/Alone
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Codyjinks
-He definitely has vocal “presence.” This resonant, baritone performance arrives backed by equally ringing steel and electric-guitar riffs. The lonesome song is pretty cool, too. Who is this guy?
RAY PRICE/Beauty Lies in the Eyes
Writers: Rich Grissom/Jon P. Gray; Producer: Fred Foster; Publishers: Life’s a Pitch/Pitch Pitch/It’s a Matter of Music, ASCAP/BMI; AmeriMonte (track)
-How many of us get to leave this world doing what we love the most? Ray Price knew he was dying when he came back to Nashville to record his final album. This lovely ballad leads off a collection that showcases one of the music world’s most iconic and legendary voices. Vince Gill provides the harmony singing, but it’s Ray who tugs at your heartstrings all the way. Essential.
JEFF MADDOX/Running
Writers: Jeff Maddox; Producer: Robert Metzgar; Publishers: Bobby & Billy/Sony-ATV, BMI; Platinum (CDX)
-This guy has definitely listened to his fair share of Haggard and Jennings. The peppy, hillbilly track keeps him on his toes, pushing him forward even though he doesn’t have a rockin’ bone in his body.
MARTINA MCBRIDE/Suspicious Minds
Writers: Mark James; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; Vinyl (track)
-The mark of a great interpreter is the ability to own a song, even a familiar one. McBride’s Everlasting CD showcases this peerless stylist reviving hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s, making you hear them afresh. Tackling this Elvis classic, she brings out the essentially “female” nature of the lyric, what with its references to crying and male jealousy. The honking baritone sax is the perfect underscore. The album drops next Tuesday, when you can catch her and her blue-eyed soul band performing this on the Today show. Actually, she’ll be pretty much inescapable next week, since she’s also appearing on VH-1, GAC, Arsenio Hall and on the cover of Country Weekly.
Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry To Team For 'CMT Crossroads'
/by Jessica NicholsonKacey Musgraves
2014 keeps getting brighter for Kacey Musgraves. The “Keep It To Yourself” singer will team with pop star Katy Perry for an episode of CMT Crossroads, MusicRow has confirmed.
The episode will be taped in Los Angeles this month, and is set to air on CMT on June 13 at 10 p.m. ET, followed by airings on Viacom networks VH1, MTV, and Palladia at later dates.
Musgraves joined Perry’s We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2013, and earned a position as one of several opening acts on Perry’s Prismatic Tour, which will launch June 22 in Raleigh, N.C.
Earlier this year, Musgraves picked up two Grammy honors, including Best Country Song (“Merry Go Round”) and Best Country Album (Same Trailer, Different Park).
Musgraves is also MusicRow‘s 2013 Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.
DISClaimer: The Dueling Divas
/by Robert K OermannUnquestionably the two best records in this stack of platters belong to Martina McBride and Carlene Carter. Ironically, both are produced by Don Was and both are due for release next Tuesday, April 8.
Carter’s comeback finds her touching home with her family’s distinguished musical roots. It earns her a Disc of the Day prize. Honorable Mention nods go to Ray Price and the Brian Lavender Band, as well as the divine Martina.
I have no earthly idea who Cody Jinks is. His single doesn’t contain any clues. But he is still the DisCovery Award winner today.
BRIAN LAVENDER BAND/Good Ole Country Boy
Writer: Joe Vulpis; Producer: Steve Pope; Publisher: none listed; Lavender (track)
-The song is strictly generic, but his cool, raspy vocal and the kickin’ band elevate it well beyond what it deserves. There’s a cool, processed-vocal interlude that perks it up, too. Very listenable.
LONESTAR/Just The Rain
Writers: Richie McDonald/Jeremy Bussey; Producer: Lonestar; Publisher: NuState/Buzzcutt; BMI/SESAC; 4Star (track)
-It’s a power ballad of emotional loss. Richie’s vocal is, as usual, a thing of wonder. The song could use a chorus melody with more hooks.
ALLISON VELTZ/Bright Side
Writers: Allison Veltz/Jess Cates/Dan Muckala; Producers: Mark Bright & Dan Muckala; Publishers: Sony ATV Cross Keys/My Good Girl/EMI April/Very High/Wintergone/Kobalt, ASCAP; Blaster
-The poppy production is crunchy and catchy. Her youthful-sounding singing voice needs some seasoning and experience.
GARTH BROOKS/Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producer: Mark Miller; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree; BMI; BBR (track)
–Working Man’s Poet is a tribute to the titanic Merle Haggard that includes contributions from Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen and more. Garth drops by to offer a steel-soaked two-step rendition of this classic honky-tonk tune. Country, country, country.
RICK DROIT & SARA HICKMAN/Wild Mustangs
Writers: none listed; Producer: Rick Droit; Publisher: none listed; MoonGarden
-Perplexing. It has a certain throwback, hippie vibe with its quasi-poetic lyrics. The track is kinda bouncy. Their voices are ultra-white and bland-ish. But it is oddly listenable.
CARLENE CARTER/Me and the Wildwood Rose
Writers: Carlene Carter; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
– Carlene’s Carter Girl CD features seven Carter Family classics, modernized, plus tunes from Helen, June and Maybelle. Her own songwriting contribution is this lilting piece of nostalgia for her lost girlhood and her sister who died too young. The album, which is lovely, drops next week. Be there or be square.
CODY JINKS/Alone
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Codyjinks
-He definitely has vocal “presence.” This resonant, baritone performance arrives backed by equally ringing steel and electric-guitar riffs. The lonesome song is pretty cool, too. Who is this guy?
Writers: Rich Grissom/Jon P. Gray; Producer: Fred Foster; Publishers: Life’s a Pitch/Pitch Pitch/It’s a Matter of Music, ASCAP/BMI; AmeriMonte (track)
-How many of us get to leave this world doing what we love the most? Ray Price knew he was dying when he came back to Nashville to record his final album. This lovely ballad leads off a collection that showcases one of the music world’s most iconic and legendary voices. Vince Gill provides the harmony singing, but it’s Ray who tugs at your heartstrings all the way. Essential.
JEFF MADDOX/Running
Writers: Jeff Maddox; Producer: Robert Metzgar; Publishers: Bobby & Billy/Sony-ATV, BMI; Platinum (CDX)
-This guy has definitely listened to his fair share of Haggard and Jennings. The peppy, hillbilly track keeps him on his toes, pushing him forward even though he doesn’t have a rockin’ bone in his body.
MARTINA MCBRIDE/Suspicious Minds
Writers: Mark James; Producer: Don Was; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; Vinyl (track)
-The mark of a great interpreter is the ability to own a song, even a familiar one. McBride’s Everlasting CD showcases this peerless stylist reviving hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s, making you hear them afresh. Tackling this Elvis classic, she brings out the essentially “female” nature of the lyric, what with its references to crying and male jealousy. The honking baritone sax is the perfect underscore. The album drops next Tuesday, when you can catch her and her blue-eyed soul band performing this on the Today show. Actually, she’ll be pretty much inescapable next week, since she’s also appearing on VH-1, GAC, Arsenio Hall and on the cover of Country Weekly.
Inaugural ACL Hall of Fame To Induct Willie Nelson
/by Jessica NicholsonThe inaugural Induction Ceremony will take place Saturday, April 26, 2014, at ACL’s original home at KLRU’s Studio 6A. Performers during the evening will include Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Double Trouble, Doyle Bramhall II, Mike Farris, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Robert Randolph and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Former University of Texas football head coach Mack Brown will participate in the inductions.
The inaugural ceremony will be an invitation-only benefit for ACL parent station KLRU-TV, Austin PBS.
“There are other Halls of Fame, but none quite like this,” says ACL Executive Producer Terry Lickona. “Austin City Limits has become a unique American institution, in both the worlds of popular music and television. It has such a rich history and legacy that we decided it was time to celebrate and honor the artists and individuals who made it what it is today.”
ACL began broadcasting in 1976 as a live-music show that served to showcase musicians; it has since grown to feature performers of all genres from all over the globe. ACL’s 40th Season will premiere in October 2014. The program airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide, and episodes are made available online at acltv.com.
Industry Ink (4/1/14)
/by Jessica NicholsonTommy Garrett
Tommy Garrett, Program Director and afternoon on-air personality for WRNS in New Bern N.C., has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Blue Guitar Music.
“Not only is Tommy a terrific radio executive and talent, he is also a truly gifted songwriter. We hope this relationship gives him the opportunity to realize his full potential as a writer,” said Blue Guitar GM Mike Kraski.
• • •
Jennifer Stowe
Jennifer Stowe, Marketing Manager for Warner/Chappell Production Music and her husband, John Stowe, welcomed a daughter, Eleanor Gray, on March 8, 2014 at 12:57 p.m.
• • •
Craig Campbell
Bigger Picture recording artist Craig Campbell‘s 2nd annual Celebrity Cornhole Challenge will take place Tuesday, June 3 at the corner of Demonbreun and 3rd Ave. S. in downtown Nashville. Sponsored by McPherson Guitars, the challenge will begin at 4 p.m. CT. Campbell will be joined by other artists including Jerrod Niemann and labelmates Blackjack Billy to raise money for T.J. Martell’s Colon Cancer research efforts.
“My father passed away at the age of 36 from the disease,” says Campbell. “Come out during this year’s CMA Fest to have a fun time in support of a great cause!” Tickets will be available beginning in April and this year fans will be able to participate in the Cornhole tournament alongside the artists.
AMA Forms Australia Americana Advisory Group
/by Jessica NicholsonThe group is comprised of Brian Taranto (Love Police), Marty Jones (Rhythm Magazine), Jeremy Dylan (Seven Shells Media), Dan Biddle (TCO Artists) and Dobe Newton (Bushwhackers, CMAA President). Nashville-based Australian producer and AMA Board President Mark Moffatt will chair the group.
These professionals will focus on creating awareness of Americana music in Australia, foster opportunities for Australian artists in the US and create connections for US artists in Australia.
Americana Music Association executive director Jed Hilly says, “We are fully aware of the incredible depth of talent in Australia and of the contribution artists like Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly and many others have made to our genre. We look forward to strengthening these ties through the newly formed advisory group and to the opportunities this relationship will provide on both sides of the Pacific.”
Sakamoto Named IEBA International Director
/by Jessica NicholsonRon Sakamoto
The members of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), have voted Ron Sakamoto, President of Gold & Gold Productions, as their new International Director.
Sakamoto is one of the leading concert promoters in Canada. His entertainment career began at age 17 when he opened a teen venue, The Honeycomb Club, before launching his own concert promotion company, Gold & Gold Productions. He has previously served on the board of the Country Music Association (CMA) and was recently nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) Promoter of the Year.
Nicole More
Co-owner of Joe’s Bar, two-time ACM Nightclub of the Year, Warm serves on the boards of CMA, ACM and ACM Lifting Lives. He is a partner in Chicago’s Bub City, a 2014 ACM nominee for “Nightclub of the Year.” Warm is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for IEBA.
Ali Harnell, Senior Vice President at AEG Live/TMG, will lead IEBA’s 2014 Marketing Committee. Karen Clark, Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Financial Partners, will lead the Long Range Planning & Membership Committee. Kevin Neal, President of Buddy Lee Attractions (BLA), will serve as chair of the Scholarships & Educational Outreach Committee.
IEBA’s 44th Annual Conference will be held Sept. 27-30, 2014 at the Omni Nashville.
BMI, ASCAP, SOCAN Form Collaborative Song Registration Process
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicMark allows PRO members to register songs through a single interface, including works co-written by songwriters who are members of different performing rights organizations. After the song is registered through MusicMark, the song’s data is sent to all three PROs (BMI, ASCAP, and SOCAN) for inclusion in their respective repertoires. This is a useful development for the songwriting and publishing community, as co-writing among songwriters affiliated with different PROs has been commonplace in Music City for years.
MusicMark represents a collaboration between the PROs, though not an official joint venture. Each PRO will continue to maintain its own back offices and copyright records.
The PROs debuted the new common site after music publishers requested a more efficient way of registering works with the PROs. MusicMark is jointly managed by executives from all participating societies.
MusicMark will aid in providing more accurate copyright information, and a synchronized view of works in the repertoires of ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN. A PDF of extended questions is available online.
For more information on getting started, writers and/or publishers can contact their respective representatives at BMI, ASCAP or SOCAN.
Underwood To Perform at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
/by Jessica NicholsonStevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and Sheryl Crow are set to join Underwood as part of the musical tribute to Ronstadt. Eagles member Glenn Frey is slated to induct Ronstadt; Frey played guitar for her before forming the Eagles.
Other inductees for 2014 include Cat Stevens, the E Street band, Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, KISS, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Andrew Loog Oldham (an early manager of the Rolling Stones) and Brian Epstein (an early manager for the Beatles).
The ceremony will be broadcast on May 31 on HBO.
'Working Man's Poet: A Tribute To Merle Haggard' Releases Today
/by Jessica NicholsonMickey Jack Cones, Derek George, Michael Knox, Jeff Stevens, and Mark Miller are the producers behind the project.
“Merle Haggard is a founding-father of country music and is an inspiration to us all. I am honored to be a part of such a significant collaboration between today’s biggest artists and a one of the greatest country music legends of our time,” says Cones.
The Academy of Country Music, in association with dick clark Productions, will also be honoring Merle Haggard’s 50 year career in country music with the Crystal Milestone Award at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 6 (8:00 PM-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Mark Your Calendar – April 2014
/by Eric T. ParkerApril 3
Soul Circus Cowboys/That’s The Way We Roll/SMG Records
April 6
Zane Williams/Little Too Late/Be Music & Entertainment
April 7
Love and Theft/Night That You’ll Never Forget/RCA Records Nashville
Randy Rogers Band/Satellite/Room 8-Crescendo
Homer Hart/Good Bad Habit/Edgehill Nashville
Bryan Edwards/My Backyard/4 Music
April 14
Brandon Hamilton/More/Edgehill Music
Scotty McCreery/Feelin’ It/19-Interscope-Mercury
Joe Allen/Can’t Take These Things/Stubborn Horse Records
Frankie Ballard/Sunshine & Whiskey/Warner Bros.-WRN
Markus Fox/I’m Still Coming Home/Outdoor Music
Jill & Julia/Wildfire/Lamon Records Nashville
April 21
Thompson Square/Testing The Water/Stoney Creek
Danielle Bradbery/Young In America/Big Machine
Jake London/Somewhere Down The Road/Lamon Records Nashville
April 28
Tim Sweeney/Somebody to Love/Oil House Records
April 1
Dan+Shay/Where It All Began/Warner Bros. Records
Josh Thompson/Turn It Up/Showdog-Universal
The Infamous Stringdusters/Let It Go/High Country Recordings
Various Artists/Working Man’s Poet: A Tribute To Merle Haggard/Broken Bow Records
Charlie Daniels/Off The Grid—Doin’ It Dylan/Blue Hat Records-MRI-RED
April 8
Martina McBride/Everlasting/Blackbird-Kobalt
Emmylou Harris/Wrecking Ball [re-release]/Nonesuch Records
Carlene Carter/Carter Girl/Rounder
April 15
Rodney Crowell/Tarpaper Sky/New West Records
Oak Ridge Boys/Boys Night Out/Cleopatra Records
Ray Price/Beauty Is…/AmeriMonte Records
Randy Rogers Band/Homemade Tamales [CD/DVD]/Tommy Jackson Records
Jill & Julia/Jill & Julia/Lamon Records Nashville
April 22
Rachele Lynae/Rachele Lynae/Momentum Label Group
April 29
Jake London/Runaway Heart/Lamon Records Nashville
April 5
ACM Lifting Lives Celebrity Golf Classic at TPC Las Vegas
April 6
49th Annual ACM Awards held live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
April 8
NAB Radio Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP, during the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas
April 10
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn
April 12
20th Anniversary Celebrity Fight Night, Phoenix, AZ
April 17-26
The 45th annual Nashville Film Festival at Regal Green Hills Cinema 16
April 24-26
ASCAP’s 9th annual “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles
April 29
2014 Symphony Fashion show at Schermerhorn Symphony Center