Thompson Square
kicks off its
2014 Just Feels Good Tour tonight (Feb. 6) in Jackson, Calif. The revamped show includes 86 moving lights and 18 individual high-definition video screens, though
Keifer and
Shawna Thompson also create an intimate, interactive concert experience for their fans.
“I don’t think we’ve been this pumped since we’ve been in Nashville. We’ve had some great opportunities over the past couple of years to be on three major tours. Each tour was amazing and we’re grateful to have been a part of them all, but this year we just want to do our own thing and get back to a one show, one band and one great crowd kind of mind set,” says Keifer Thompson.
“We also wanted to showcase more songs off our sophomore album
Just Feels Good,” adds Shawna. “We made this record for our fans and want to show them our live interpretation of these songs that were so carefully chosen for our second album. We have a lot of surprises and have worked very hard to make this our best tour to-date.”
2014 Just Feels Good Tour dates include:
2/6/14 Jackson, Calif. Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel
2/7/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/8/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/10/14 Friant, Calif. Table Mountain Casino
2/12/14 Las Vegas Silverton Casino
2/22/14 Michigan City, Ind. Stardust Event Center
3/1/14 Kansas City, Mo. Uptown Theater
3/2/14 Plant City, Fla. Florida Strawberry Festival
3/4/14 Austin, Texas Rodeo Austin
4/10/14 Florence, Ariz. Country Thunder
6/12/14 Lancaster, Pa. American Music Theater
6/15/14 Hunter Mountain, N.Y. Taste of Country Music Festival
6/21/14 Hot Springs, Ark. Timberwood Amphitheater
7/24/14 Twin Lakes, Wis. Country Thunder
8/09/14 Detroit Lakes, Minn. WE Fest
8/16/14 Brownsville, Ore. The Williamette Country Music Festival
For more information, visit
thompsonsquare.com.
10th Annual 'Stars For Second Harvest' Benefit Coming To Ryman
/by Jessica NicholsonHosted by founder of Big Loud Shirt Industries and hit songwriter Craig Wiseman, the show will feature unplugged acoustic style performances by some of country music’s most acclaimed songwriters and performers. Last year’s benefit concert and live auction held at the Ryman raised $100,000, providing 400,000 meals to the hungry in Middle Tennessee through Second Harvest Food Bank. Over the last decade the show has raised $611,032.
“Stars for Second Harvest is one of my favorite events each year,” said Wiseman. “I am honored to be part of such a tremendous benefit in helping to raise awareness for the hungry in Middle Tennessee. We are proud to welcome O’Charley’s as our presenter for the 10th straight year. Their significant contributions and support have not only made this event possible, but have also provided a million meals to local families in the process. My hope this year is to reach $250,000 in sales for our 10th anniversary.”
“We are excited to reach our 10th anniversary milestone for Stars for Second Harvest,” said Jaynee Day, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. “We are beyond grateful for the awareness and support this show has brought to hungry people in need.”
Concert tickets are on-sale beginning today for $35.00 plus applicable service charges and are available via Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, Ryman box office, Ryman.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. For preferred VIP seating of $50.00, please contact Second Harvest Food Bank at 615-329-3491.
Proceeds from the concert benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger.
Writer's Den Signs Fuller
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (seated, L-R): John Rolfe, Writer’s Den attorney; Melissa Fuller; Bobby Rymer, Writer’s Den partner. (standing, L-R) – Writer’s Den writers Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.
The Writer’s Den Music Group has signed singer/songwriter Melissa Fuller to her first worldwide publishing agreement.
“I’m so excited to be working with Melissa,” said company partner Bobby Rymer. “She’s an incredibly talented songwriter with a strong work ethic. I love that combination and look forward to trying to keep up with her!”
Fuller, a Wyoming native, released her Crazy Dream EP in 2012 and is working on a new album for release this spring. She was chosen by the Recording Academy and Hitlab as an Emerging Artist Competition Finalist during the 55th Grammy Awards week early last year.
“Bobby Rymer is my mentor, sage, publisher and truly one of the most incredible people I’ve met after eight years in Nashville,” said Fuller. “I’m absolutely honored to be working with him and the other songwriters in our office, including Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.”
Writer’s Den was formed in 2007 by Rymer and entrepreneur Gaylen Rust. Songwriters Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler are signed to Writer’s Den. The company also represents the catalogs of Bonnie Bishop, Tami Hinesh, Trent Jeffcoat and Adam Wright.
Weekly Chart Report (2/7/14)
/by Michael_SmithLonestar Begins Acoustic Tour Tonight
/by Jessica Nicholson“We are really excited to kick off 2014 back on the road in support of our latest album, Life As We Know It,” says Sams. “This February and March, we are bringing the tour back to the basics with an all new, stripped down, acoustic show. This setting allows us to really showcase our songs in their original form of just voice and instruments, without all the production. Unlike anything we’ve ever done before, the show will be full of audience interaction that will be social media driven and allow fans the unique opportunity to come on stage with us. We look forward to seeing all of our fans at our shows!”
LONESTAR 2014 Acoustic Tour Dates:
Feb. 6 Scottsdale, Ariz. – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 8 Redding, Calif. -Cascade Theatre
Feb. 9 Chico, Calif. – California State University Chico – Laxson Auditorium
Feb. 13 Tucson, Ariz. – Fox Tucson Theatre
Feb. 14 El Cajon, Calif.- Sycuan Casino
Feb. 15 Santa Clarita, Calif. – College of The Canyons Performing Arts Center
Feb. 16 Modesto, Calif. – Gallo Center for the Arts – Mary Stuart Rogers Theatre
Feb. 17 Folson, Calif. – Harris Center
Feb. 28 Tulsa, Okla. – Mabee Center
March 12 Orono, Me. – University of Maine – Collins Center for the Arts
March 13 Red Bank, N.J. – Count Basie Theatre
March 14 Greenville, S.C. – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
March 15 Bradford, Pa. – Bradford Area High School Auditorium
March 22 Biloxi, Miss. – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hard Rock Live
Sarah Davidson To Release EP March 25
/by Jessica NicholsonDavidson will appear as a cast member on TNT’s new unscripted series Private Lives of Nashville Wives. Davidson penned and recorded the title track for the series, “Bright Lights Big City,” and songs off the EP will be featured throughout the season. Private Lives of Nashville Wives premieres on TNT Feb. 24 at 10/9 p.m. CT.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah into the Suretone Entertainment family,” says Suretone Entertainment Chairman, Carl Stubner. Davidson has signed on with Suretone for label and management representation. “She is exceedingly talented and this debut EP really shows her diversity and range. Sarah is one of those artists born with an empathy that shines through her music and allows her to connect with her audience on a deeper level. With that and the platform of the TNT series, we know this is just the beginning for her.”
Walmart will begin exclusive physical distribution of the album on March 25; the project will be release on iTunes the same day. Physical EPs will be available after the exclusivity period everywhere retail is sold. The album can be streamed at soundcloud.com
“Sarah Davidson” Track Listing:
Clear Channel, Horizon Media Form Partnership
/by Jessica NicholsonThe alliance will enable the companies to leverage Clear Channel’s assets including out of home, broadcast, mobile, digital and events to benefit Horizon’s clients, proving the effectiveness and ROI of broadcast and out of home through deep integrated marketing partnerships.
The alliance provides Horizon Media with exclusive rights to several programs, including select Artist Integration Programs, World Premieres, customized shows at Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio Theaters in New York and Los Angeles, and more. In addition, the agency will have access to the full array of creative talent at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for special content creation opportunities.
The partnership will also allow for the co-creation of new psychographic targeting systems utilizing Horizon’s proprietary tools and insights fused with unique music and consumer research built on Clear Channel Media’s industry-leading national reach. The valuable research insights developed throughout the partnership will fuel further media mix model development.
“We’re excited about this ground-breaking partnership and the positive impact it will have for our clients’ business,” said Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media. “I’ve been impressed with the transformation of Clear Channel into a multi-platform company that can provide national reach while activating locally and providing measurable ROI.”
“Clear Channel and Horizon are committed to the same goal — providing our advertising partners with superior ROI on their marketing expenditures,” said Bob Pittman, Clear Channel’s Chairman and CEO. “We are excited to create new ways to use our unique assets and the powerful, engaged and interactive relationships we have with consumers 24/7 — and we’re looking forward to taking the innovation to a new level for Horizon partners through this groundbreaking new relationship and creative alliance.”
Thompson Square Launches 'Just Feels Good Tour' Tonight
/by Jessica NicholsonThompson Square
Thompson Square kicks off its 2014 Just Feels Good Tour tonight (Feb. 6) in Jackson, Calif. The revamped show includes 86 moving lights and 18 individual high-definition video screens, though Keifer and Shawna Thompson also create an intimate, interactive concert experience for their fans.
“I don’t think we’ve been this pumped since we’ve been in Nashville. We’ve had some great opportunities over the past couple of years to be on three major tours. Each tour was amazing and we’re grateful to have been a part of them all, but this year we just want to do our own thing and get back to a one show, one band and one great crowd kind of mind set,” says Keifer Thompson.
“We also wanted to showcase more songs off our sophomore album Just Feels Good,” adds Shawna. “We made this record for our fans and want to show them our live interpretation of these songs that were so carefully chosen for our second album. We have a lot of surprises and have worked very hard to make this our best tour to-date.”
2014 Just Feels Good Tour dates include:
2/6/14 Jackson, Calif. Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel
2/7/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/8/14 Lincoln City, Ore. Chinook Winds Casino
2/10/14 Friant, Calif. Table Mountain Casino
2/12/14 Las Vegas Silverton Casino
2/22/14 Michigan City, Ind. Stardust Event Center
3/1/14 Kansas City, Mo. Uptown Theater
3/2/14 Plant City, Fla. Florida Strawberry Festival
3/4/14 Austin, Texas Rodeo Austin
4/10/14 Florence, Ariz. Country Thunder
6/12/14 Lancaster, Pa. American Music Theater
6/15/14 Hunter Mountain, N.Y. Taste of Country Music Festival
6/21/14 Hot Springs, Ark. Timberwood Amphitheater
7/24/14 Twin Lakes, Wis. Country Thunder
8/09/14 Detroit Lakes, Minn. WE Fest
8/16/14 Brownsville, Ore. The Williamette Country Music Festival
For more information, visit thompsonsquare.com.
Bonnaroo To Announce Lineup Feb. 19
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 2014 Bonnaroo Lineup Announcement Megathon, aka BLAM!, will be broadcasted exclusively on Xbox and syndicated on Bonnaroo.com on Wednesday, Feb. 19, with the pre-show event starting at 7 p.m. EST and BLAM! at 9 p.m. EST. BLAM! hosts, Taran Killam (Saturday Night Live) and comedian Hannibal Buress, will reveal the lineup Bonnaroo-style party featuring a SuperJam with the Flaming Lips and Ben Folds, plus special guests.
“Bonnaroo transcends the festival weekend, and with Xbox, we’re creating a virtual destination befitting of the live experience,” says Jonathan Mayers of Superfly Presents, co-founders of Bonnaroo with AC Entertainment. “The partnership shows our commitment to serving our global community with innovative Bonnaroo content year round.”
Cole Swindell Receives MusicRow's First-Ever No. 1 Challenge Coin
/by Jessica NicholsonCole Swindell with his first MusicRow Challenge Coin.
Cole Swindell visited the MusicRow offices recently to accept MusicRow‘s first Challenge Coin which is given to artists and songwriters who earn a No. 1 song on MusicRow‘s Country Breakout chart. Established in 2002, the MusicRow chart provides airplay measurement from approximately 100 secondary country radio markets across the United States. The Challenge Coin was created in 2014 and each coin is uniquely numbered. Swindell and fellow songwriter Shane Minor co-wrote “Chillin’ It,” which garnered Swindell his first chart-topping song on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout chart.
“This has been such an incredible year,” says Swindell. “To have my first No. 1 song is incredible. I’ve always wanted to be an artist and to see my songs top the charts, so this means a lot. To get the first-ever MusicRow Challenge Coin is awesome.” The Georgia native spent much of 2013 opening up for buddy and fellow Georgian Luke Bryan on Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour and Farm Tour.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson, Cole Swindell, and MusicRow Chart Director Michael Smith
For those who are unfamiliar, challenge coins celebrate distinguished individuals, and the challenge coin term and tradition is believed to date back to WWI, when they were initially given to American soldiers. Varying accounts exist, but the most common story behind the coin’s name is as follows. After receiving a challenge coin, organization members carried it with them at all times. When challenged to prove membership, they would produce it to verify their membership status. Some stories add if the member couldn’t produce the coin, they had to buy the challenger(s) a drink and vice versa.
Cole Swindell with MusicRow staff members.
Although challenge coins carry a strong military background, they have been awarded to individuals in other spheres, including film, science and music. Each week, MusicRow will honor the industry’s brightest players, awarding challenge coins to artists and songwriters who have earned a No. 1 song on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart, beginning with the first MusicRow Chart in 2014.
Swindell’s self-titled debut album will be released Feb. 18 on Warner Bros. Records.
Pictured (L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s Tree Paine, Sherod Robertson, Cole Swindell, and Red Light Management’s Kerri Edwards.
Industry Ink
/by Sarah SkatesRhonda Vincent was named Entertainer of the Year at the recent 40th Annual SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) Awards in Nashville. She was also inducted into the SPBGMA Hall of Greats. Her album, “Only Me,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album chart this week.
Mark Robinson has joined BMG Chrysalis US as SVP and General Counsel, reporting directly to Laurent Hubert, President of Creative and Marketing. Based in New York, Robinson will head the North American Business and Legal Affairs team. Most recently, Robinson was employed at Warner Music Group where he served as Vice President & Senior Counsel since 2004.
• • •
Kenny Rogers is set for two Valentines performances with the Nashville Symphony, Feb. 14-15. Other shows at the Schermerhorn this month include Chris Thile (Feb. 18) and A Symphonic Tribute to the Beatles (Feb. 20-22).
• • •
The film OK Buckaroos: The Life, Music and Good Times of Jerry Jeff Walker will premiere tonight (Feb. 6) at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Theater.
• • •
The ACM Lifting Lives “My Cause” web feature for February will spotlight American Young and Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision. Click here to watch the February “My Cause” video and donate.
• • •
Sean Michael Kelly
LifeNotes: Sean Michael Kelly, owner of 1600 AM KUSH Radio in Cushing, Oklahoma, died Thurs., January 30 in a car accident. He was 53. Kelly was passionate about music and took over the business following his father’s death. He is survived by wife Mary; son, Aaron Kelly and his wife Jacintha; granddaughter, Cadence Kelly; and many others. Funeral services were held yesterday (Feb. 5) and handled by the Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Cushing. A memorial account has been set up at RCB Bank in Kelly’s name. In addition, donations may be made to Love, Inc. of Cushing. MusicRow extends sincere condolences to Kelly’s loved ones.