Publishers and songwriters accept Song of the Year honors for “Merry Go ‘Round.” (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, songwriter Josh Osborne, songwriter Kacey Musgraves, songwriter Shane McAnally, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Black River’s Gordon Kerr, UMPG’s Kent Earls. Photo: Isabel Ross
Publishers and songwriters of Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck.” (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, songwriter Connie Harrington, Sony/ATV EMI’s Tom Luteran, songwriter Jimmy Yeary, songwriter Jessi Alexander, Disney Music’s Patrick Clifford. Photo: Isabel Ross
Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Photo: Isabel Ross
OMG! If the
MusicRow Awards are 25 years old, how old does that make Bobby Karl?!
Okay, seriously: It was newsworthy enough that this week was the magazine’s Silver Anniversary honors event. But even more news was made by exploding country ingénue
Kacey Musgraves, who became the first person ever to take home both the Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Songwriter awards. Not only that, she co-wrote her hit “Merry Go ‘Round,” which tied for Song of the Year.
“This has been a crazy year,” said Kacey. “I’m really proud of what’s happening in this town….It’s a great time for everyone, creatively.”
“My mom is here, who inspired the song,” said Kacey’s “Merry Go ‘Round” co-writer
Shane McAnally (
MusicRow’s current cover boy). It seems that his mother remarked to him that there was so much traffic on her street that someone was either selling Mary Kay or Mary Jane, both of which figure in the song’s lyric.
“I just feel real fortunate to be a part of a song I love so much,” said co-writer
Josh Osborne.
“This song really strikes something in me,” added Kacey. “When we wrote it, I almost cried.
“This is such a special day I’ll never forget.”
The Lee Brice hit “I Drive Your Truck” was the other song that tied for Song of the Year. It was inspired by an NPR interview that songwriter
Connie Harrington heard. The man being interviewed (Paul Monti) said that he tried to remain close to his son killed in Afghanistan by driving his truck. She took the idea to
Jessi Alexander. Then they roped in co-writer
Jimmy Yeary.
Song of the Year (“I Drive Your Truck”) co-writer Connie Harrington. Photo: Isabel Ross
“I love Jessi Alexander,” said Jimmy at the MR event. “I love Connie Harringthon. They’ve got big hearts. Connie cried the whole time we wrote this.”
“I’m not gonna cry,” said Connie when she took the mic. Then she did. Which was so cool. “Thank you for your stories that move us songwriters.”
“This song was so blessed,” added Jessi. “I was the lucky one that [songwriting] day.”
Both songs were performed by their writers at the awards reception. “Merry Go ‘Round” was captivating, with Kacey Musgrave’s sweet/sad delivery about “dust settling in this town” being backed by Josh and Shane’s guitars and harmony voices.
“I Drive Your Truck” was spellbinding. I already knew that Jessi was a sensational singer. Jimmy traded verses with her, and his gently raspy delivery was every bit as hypnotic as his co-writer’s.
The event began at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (6/25) as a cocktail-hour soiree. After welcoming remarks from ASCAP’s hosts-with-the-most
LeAnn Phelan and
Michael Martin, MusicRow publisher/owner
Sherod Robertson took the stage. “Twenty-five years is such a milestone,” he said in greeting. “And one that I am thrilled to share with all of you today, who have made it possible. These awards started back in 1989, before I had even ventured into the business, and it is an honor to continue this legacy today.”
Okay, now you’re really making me feel old.
The 25th annual awards also saluted the 2013 Producer of the Year. That is
Dann Huff, who has worked with The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and more. “As we all know, this town is graced with an amazing array of talent, unparalleled in all the world,” said Dann. “I am so absolutely dependent on all that talent. You are only as good as the people behind you.”
(L-R): Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally perform “Merry Go ‘Round.” Photo: Isabel Ross
“It takes a village,” echoed multiple winner Kacey.
MusicRow’s Sarah Skates and
Eric Parker presented the Top Ten All-Star Musician Awards. These are the only Nashville honors given each year to the recording-session community. This year’s winners included
Jimmie Lee Sloas, Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest, Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin, Wes Hightower, Ilya Toshinsky, Charles Judge, engineer
Justin Niebank and – in another unprecedented occurrence – fiddler triple winners
Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin and
Stuart Duncan.
“It’s an amazing community to be a part of,” said Greg. “There’s so much going on with different genres. It’s a great time to be here.”
“The producers and artists encourage us to be as great as it can possibly be,” added Jonathan.
A multitude of fabulons attended the reception at ASCAP. Working the room were
David Preston, David Ross, Dale Bobo, John Briggs, John Mabe, Jon Randall Stewart, Michael Smith, Rich Fagan, Rick Kelly, Barry Coburn, Barry Dean, Bill Wence, Ben Vaughn, Jessica Nicholson, Jeff Walker, Janie West, Andrew Kintz, Anthony Smith, Celia Froehlig, Tom Luteran, Charlie Monk, Caitlin Rantala, Frank Myers, Woody Bomar, Suzanne Lee, Dennis Banka, Patrick Clifford, Susan Collier, Ralph Murphy, Sherrill Blackman, Doak Turner, Luke Laird, Don Cusic, Manuel and oh so many more.
“I just don’t feel like it gets better than this,” said Sherod Robertson following the evening’s wonderful and amazing songwriter performances. “Thank you for attending.”
See the
winners list.
Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Winners. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Sarah Skates, Jonathan Yudkin (Fiddle), Wes Hightower (Vocals), Charles Judge (Keyboards), Dan Dugmore (Steel), Greg Morrow (Drums), Eric Parker (MusicRow). Photo: Isabel Ross
Bobby Karl Works The MusicRow Awards
/by Bobby KarlPublishers and songwriters accept Song of the Year honors for “Merry Go ‘Round.” (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Black River’s Celia Froehlig, songwriter Josh Osborne, songwriter Kacey Musgraves, songwriter Shane McAnally, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Black River’s Gordon Kerr, UMPG’s Kent Earls. Photo: Isabel Ross
Publishers and songwriters of Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck.” (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, songwriter Connie Harrington, Sony/ATV EMI’s Tom Luteran, songwriter Jimmy Yeary, songwriter Jessi Alexander, Disney Music’s Patrick Clifford. Photo: Isabel Ross
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM—Chapter 431
Producer of the Year Dann Huff. Photo: Isabel Ross
OMG! If the MusicRow Awards are 25 years old, how old does that make Bobby Karl?!
Okay, seriously: It was newsworthy enough that this week was the magazine’s Silver Anniversary honors event. But even more news was made by exploding country ingénue Kacey Musgraves, who became the first person ever to take home both the Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Songwriter awards. Not only that, she co-wrote her hit “Merry Go ‘Round,” which tied for Song of the Year.
“This has been a crazy year,” said Kacey. “I’m really proud of what’s happening in this town….It’s a great time for everyone, creatively.”
“My mom is here, who inspired the song,” said Kacey’s “Merry Go ‘Round” co-writer Shane McAnally (MusicRow’s current cover boy). It seems that his mother remarked to him that there was so much traffic on her street that someone was either selling Mary Kay or Mary Jane, both of which figure in the song’s lyric.
“I just feel real fortunate to be a part of a song I love so much,” said co-writer Josh Osborne.
“This song really strikes something in me,” added Kacey. “When we wrote it, I almost cried.
“This is such a special day I’ll never forget.”
The Lee Brice hit “I Drive Your Truck” was the other song that tied for Song of the Year. It was inspired by an NPR interview that songwriter Connie Harrington heard. The man being interviewed (Paul Monti) said that he tried to remain close to his son killed in Afghanistan by driving his truck. She took the idea to Jessi Alexander. Then they roped in co-writer Jimmy Yeary.
Song of the Year (“I Drive Your Truck”) co-writer Connie Harrington. Photo: Isabel Ross
“I love Jessi Alexander,” said Jimmy at the MR event. “I love Connie Harringthon. They’ve got big hearts. Connie cried the whole time we wrote this.”
“I’m not gonna cry,” said Connie when she took the mic. Then she did. Which was so cool. “Thank you for your stories that move us songwriters.”
“This song was so blessed,” added Jessi. “I was the lucky one that [songwriting] day.”
Both songs were performed by their writers at the awards reception. “Merry Go ‘Round” was captivating, with Kacey Musgrave’s sweet/sad delivery about “dust settling in this town” being backed by Josh and Shane’s guitars and harmony voices.
“I Drive Your Truck” was spellbinding. I already knew that Jessi was a sensational singer. Jimmy traded verses with her, and his gently raspy delivery was every bit as hypnotic as his co-writer’s.
The event began at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (6/25) as a cocktail-hour soiree. After welcoming remarks from ASCAP’s hosts-with-the-most LeAnn Phelan and Michael Martin, MusicRow publisher/owner Sherod Robertson took the stage. “Twenty-five years is such a milestone,” he said in greeting. “And one that I am thrilled to share with all of you today, who have made it possible. These awards started back in 1989, before I had even ventured into the business, and it is an honor to continue this legacy today.”
Okay, now you’re really making me feel old.
The 25th annual awards also saluted the 2013 Producer of the Year. That is Dann Huff, who has worked with The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and more. “As we all know, this town is graced with an amazing array of talent, unparalleled in all the world,” said Dann. “I am so absolutely dependent on all that talent. You are only as good as the people behind you.”
(L-R): Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally perform “Merry Go ‘Round.” Photo: Isabel Ross
“It takes a village,” echoed multiple winner Kacey.
MusicRow’s Sarah Skates and Eric Parker presented the Top Ten All-Star Musician Awards. These are the only Nashville honors given each year to the recording-session community. This year’s winners included Jimmie Lee Sloas, Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest, Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin, Wes Hightower, Ilya Toshinsky, Charles Judge, engineer Justin Niebank and – in another unprecedented occurrence – fiddler triple winners Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin and Stuart Duncan.
“It’s an amazing community to be a part of,” said Greg. “There’s so much going on with different genres. It’s a great time to be here.”
“The producers and artists encourage us to be as great as it can possibly be,” added Jonathan.
A multitude of fabulons attended the reception at ASCAP. Working the room were David Preston, David Ross, Dale Bobo, John Briggs, John Mabe, Jon Randall Stewart, Michael Smith, Rich Fagan, Rick Kelly, Barry Coburn, Barry Dean, Bill Wence, Ben Vaughn, Jessica Nicholson, Jeff Walker, Janie West, Andrew Kintz, Anthony Smith, Celia Froehlig, Tom Luteran, Charlie Monk, Caitlin Rantala, Frank Myers, Woody Bomar, Suzanne Lee, Dennis Banka, Patrick Clifford, Susan Collier, Ralph Murphy, Sherrill Blackman, Doak Turner, Luke Laird, Don Cusic, Manuel and oh so many more.
“I just don’t feel like it gets better than this,” said Sherod Robertson following the evening’s wonderful and amazing songwriter performances. “Thank you for attending.”
See the winners list.
Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Winners. Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Sarah Skates, Jonathan Yudkin (Fiddle), Wes Hightower (Vocals), Charles Judge (Keyboards), Dan Dugmore (Steel), Greg Morrow (Drums), Eric Parker (MusicRow). Photo: Isabel Ross
Weekly Register: SoundScan Discounts Jay Z Promotion; 'The Voice' Reigns
/by bossrossBut questions quickly arose over whether this promotion would/should count for SoundScan chart totals. “Our role as the chart of record is to set the rules, and hopefully even raise the level of play,” said Werde. “It is in this spirit that I say it wasn’t as simple as you might think to turn down Jay-Z when he requested that we count the million albums that Samsung ‘bought’ as part of a much larger brand partnership, to give away to Samsung customers.”
SoundScan has always been based purely on sales, but in today’s changing environment, new paid subscription services are also creating revenue streams that in some ways resemble retail sales. Will they someday find their way onto the sales charts? “Just because the Billboard 200 has been based purely on sales of an album for the entirety of the life of the chart doesn’t mean it must always remain so,” Werde says wisely, promising to consult with industry leaders over these questions. “Rest assured,” he concludes. “Billboard will find the right balance.”
And now let’s count the Weekly Register...
Hunter Hayes fans received a special treat this week in the form of a special Encore (edition) of his first album with added material. The new Encore set includes 12 tracks from Hayes’ original self-titled release plus additional music and video material. On Amazon (June 26), Encore was priced at $11.88 CD or $12.49 MP3 album. iTunes had Encore for download at $14.99. Fans applauded the release by boosting it to the No. 1 position on the Current Country Top 75 with sales of almost 40k units. Feeling the Hayes heat, Florida Georgia Line stepped back to No. 2 this week, adding about 33k units to the duo’s impressive RTD total of 760k.
Danielle Bradbery debuted a Complete Season 4 Collection of songs she performed on The Voice. It landed at No. 6 with sales of almost 18k (100 percent digital). I have been writing about this talented 16-year-old quite a bit lately, and admittedly I am quite a fan, but her recent victory on the singing show, plus weekly single sales have been nothing short of amazing. The Swon Brothers, also Voice alums, debut with a similar season collection at No. 18 with over 6k units (100 percent digital).
And finally, LoCash Cowboys enter our list with a self-titled collection that debuts at No. 25 with almost 4.5k units.
A quick look at our weekly grids shows country’s lead fading like a pair of old denims as it frays from up 2 percent to up .9 percent. This still compares nicely against the industry overall which is down 5.3 percent. One reason for country’s slide is last year’s Kenny Chesney debut which arrived at this time (Welcome To The Fishbowl) and shifted a whopping 193k.
The Digital Genre Tracks chart this week also pays solid tribute to The Voice [again]. Ms. Bradbery debuts at No. 5 with “Born To Fly” (68k units) and gets to No. 10 (50k) with “Maybe It Was Memphis” now in its 7th week on the chart. The Swon Brothers grab No. 7 with “Danny’s Song” (63k) and No. 12 with “I Can’t Tell You Why” (44k). In all the duo has four tracks that charted in the Top 100 and Bradbery owns nine positions. These are incredible stats for such new acts.
Hunter Hayes supports his new album release with the No. 3 track (110k) this week, “I Want Crazy,” and six additional tracks. Remaining at No. 1 are Florida Georgia Line, adding a stellar 244k new downloads to an RTD now over 4.5 million. Also notable is Blake in the No. 2 spot with “Boys Round Here,” selling almost 115k downloads.
Comparing this week to last week, country track sales rose 6 percent, giving the country genre a 13.5 percent market share of overall all-genre track sales YTD.
Next week is the end of the second quarter, stay tuned…
Americana Conference Will Offer Entertainment Law Symposium
/by Jessica NicholsonThe CLE program provides attorneys with the ability to obtain 12+ hours of CLE credit during the three-day conference. The Nashville Entertainment Law Symposium will present panels on touring and personal appearances, current topics in entertainment litigation, licensing, film and television and legal ethics. The panels will feature national and local speakers including Christine Lepera of New York (current Chair of the Forum), Richard J. Idell (Incoming Chair of the Forum), Nashville Forum Committee Members Henry Root (Los Angeles), Kirk Schroder (Richmond, Va.), Todd Brabec (Los Angeles), Mike Milom (Nashville) and Jim Zumwalt (Nashville).
A portion of the proceeds from the CLE program will go to benefit the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts program, which provides free legal advice to low-income artists of all disciplines, as well as emerging arts nonprofits. With a roster of over 250 generous volunteer lawyers and professionals, this program has provided $1.2 million worth of pro bono services to the creative community since opening six years ago.
Dr. Ralph Stanley To Launch Farewell Tour in October
/by Jessica NicholsonDr. Ralph Stanley
Dr. Ralph Stanley will launch his farewell tour, billed as Man of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell, on Oct. 16. The tour will include more than 80 shows at festivals, folk clubs and performing arts centers, and will run through December 2014. Accompanying Stanley will be his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.
“What an honor it is to be a part of a musical legend and to work with my all-time hero’s final musical journey,” says Josh Trivett, Stanley’s co-manager. “Dr. Ralph is an American and an international musical icon who has influenced so many modern stars with his trademark mountain sound. Man of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell will be a fantastic celebration of the life of Dr. Ralph, the mountain music he’s made famous and his legacy that will endure through the course of time.”
Over his lengthy career, the entertainer has earned three Grammy awards. He was the distinctive sound behind the seven-million-selling O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack album. Dr. Stanley is a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000. As a bandleader, Stanley shepherded the careers of Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks and Charlie Sizemore.
Dates for the opening weekend of the Man of Constant Sorrow Tour:
Arturo Buenahora, Jr. Launches Little Louder Music
/by Jessica NicholsonArturo Buenahora
Veteran music publisher and Nashville native Arturo Buenahora, Jr. has announced his new publishing company, Little Louder Music, will be opening July 2013. First songwriter signings are Jeff Hyde and, through his overall publishing deal with Sony/ATV, Eric Church.
“I feel like my whole career has been building up to this company and I am excited to represent some of the most talented people in the world,” said Buenahora. “To me, this business is about two things, great music and talented people and I am excited to be working with both.”
After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Buenahora began his career at Sony/ATV where he stayed for 10 years and ultimately held the position of Sr. Director of Creative Services and Production. While there, he signed and developed Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Eric Church, paving the way for A&R stints at Capitol Nashville and Universal South Records. Buenahora most recently was the GM of Ole Music Publishing where he signed Ryan Tyndell and Charlie Worsham, who just released his debut single on Warner Bros. Records. In addition to Worsham’s debut album, Buenahora has recently worked on Dierks Bentley’s forthcoming album Riser on Capitol Records Nashville and he will continue his Executive Production role on Church’s next studio album. Church’s last album, Chief, is the reigning ACM and CMA album of the year.
Buenahora is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Music and was recently named to Billboard’s “40 under 40” list. He can be reached at ab@littlelouder.com.
BMG To Represent Rolling Stones Catalogue
/by Michael_SmithThe Rolling Stones. Photo: PA
The legendary Rolling Stones have selected BMG to represent their music publishing catalogue. Starting July 1, BMG will handle publishing for songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards since 1983. ABKCO maintains ownership of the Stones’ 1963-1971 catalog and EMI Music Publishing owns the 1971-1983 catalog.
The songs to be directly published by BMG span the albums Dirty Work (1986), Steel Wheels (1989), Voodoo Lounge (1994), Bridges To Babylon (1997) and A Bigger Bang (2005) as well as future compositions. They include classic Stones tracks such as “Mixed Emotions,” “Love Is Strong,” “You Got Me Rocking” and “Doom And Gloom.”
“This deal is incredibly important for BMG,” says BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch. “Keith and Mick have clearly created one of the most outstanding song collections in rock ‘n’ roll history. They have not only created the soundtrack of all of our lives, they have been a dynamic and constant force for cultural change. They could sign to any company they wanted to. The fact that they have chosen to sign with BMG is a significant vote of confidence in our team and in our creative and administration services. We will justify their trust in us.”
The Rolling Stones are currently in the US performing on their 50 & Counting Tour.
DISClaimer: Sizzling Music For A Hot Summer
/by Robert K OermannThe Henningsens
Hot enough for you? Summer weather has arrived in Middle Tennessee a little later this year, but no less muggy and oppressive than usual. Appropriately, our disc makers are turning up the heat as well. In this column, you’ll find outstanding work, tailored to the season, from Craig Morgan, Tim McGraw, Philip Claypool and Mark McKinney. The duet of Sherry Lynn and Crystal Gayle is also cooking with gas. Our Disc of the Day award goes to a non-summer themed outing, “I Miss You” by The Henningsens. These three folks sound starward bound with this dynamic single. Sidewalk Records is a Curb imprint that is introducing our DisCovery Award winner, a promising singer-songwriter named Dylan Scott. So bon voyage to him.
GRETCHEN WILSON/Crazy
Writers: Vicky McGehee/Rachel Farley/Brian Davis; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Peermusic III/February 4/Rockin Rose/Mike Curb, BMI; Redneck (track)
-She sings so well. Why bury her performance with grinding, wailing electric guitars?
SHERRY KENNEDY/Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Writers: Lance/Singleton/Wallace; Producer: Mark Moseley; Publisher: Sony, no performance rights listed; Sheaken (CDX)
-Ruth Brown, who sang the original 1955 r&b version of this, was known as “Miss Rhythm.” This must be “Miss Anti-Rhythm.”
CRAIG MORGAN/Wake Up Lovin’ You
Writers: Josh Osborne/Matt Ramsey/Trevor Rosen; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Want a Fresh One/Black River/Music of RPM/Sonic Geo/Unfair Entertainment/Songs of Bims/Calhoun Enterprises, ASCAP; Black River
-This steady stomper begins with the sound of an alarm clock, and the production work is stellar throughout. Yet nothing detracts from his completely gripping, electrifying vocal performance. This guy gets to me every time. Play him.
TIM SWEENEY/Baby I Try For You
Writer: Tim Sweeney; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publisher: Tim Sweeney, BMI; Old House (track)
-He sings in an earnest, airy tenor. The ballad is bland.
TIM MCGRAW/Southern Girl
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Lee Thomas Miller/Rodney Clawson; Producers: Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw; Publishers: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Writers of Sea Gayle/Itchy Baby/Big Red Toe/Amarillo Sky, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine (track)
-The bouncy song name-checks New Orleans, Tupelo, Memphis, Savannah, Daytona and other Dixie spots while praising the virtues of Southern ladies. But Tim’s personable vocal and the catchy, effects-dotted production are the real stars here.
Dylan Scott
DYLAN SCOTT/Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy
Writers: Dylan Scott/Forest Glen Whitehead; Producer: Jim Ed Norman; Publishers: Curb/Want a Fresh One/Black River, ASCAP; Sidewalk
-He’s a country baritone effortlessly negotiating tongue-tripping verses and then rounding the corners into the choruses with terrific elan and confidence. Absolutely worth your spins.
PHILIP CLAYPOOL/Strong One
Writers: Philip Claypool/Jeff Silbar; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Heyday/Silbar, BMI/ASCAP; Heyday
-This former Curb artist of the 1990s is back with a chin-up, positive-think rocker. I love his drawling phrasing on this driving, relentless production. The icing on the cake is that it is extremely well-written.
SHERRY LYNN AND CRYSTAL GAYLE/Beautiful Life
Writers: Danny Wells/Jose Luis Pagan/Sarah Lenore; Producers: Ted Hewitt & Christos Gatzimos; Publishers: Cauley Music Group/BMG Chrysalis/Songs of Universal/Money Mack/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI; Steal Heart
-Sherry and Crystal trade lines with equal fire and finesse on this dandy country-rocker. It’s a really commercial and radio-ready toe-tapper. Co-producer Gatzimos is Crystal’s grown-up son.
THE HENNINGSENS/I Miss You
Writers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; Arista (track)
-This family trio latches onto this driving, thumping slab of wistful longing with enormous energy. The vocals are simply stunning, and the backing track has superb intensity and pent-up power. The finale, three-part harmony chord will break your heart.
MARK McKINNEY/Stolen Cash
Writer: none listed; Producer: Eric McKinney and Mark McKinney; Publisher: none listed; MM
-It’s a gently rolling, easy-going, good-time thang. The catchy ditty is about falling giddy in love while summering at the beach. It goes down mighty smoothly.
2013 MusicRow Award Winners
/by Sarah SkatesJimmy Yeary (L) and Jessi Alexander perform Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck,” which they wrote with Connie Harrington.
Kacey Musgraves accepts Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Photos by Isabel Ross
MusicRow Magazine presented its 25th annual subscriber-voted MusicRow Awards on June 25 during a ceremony hosted by ASCAP at the organization’s Nashville offices. The awards event, led by MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson, recognized the 2013 Breakthrough Artist, Breakthrough Songwriter, Song of the Year and Producer of the Year. Additionally, Top Ten Album All-Star Musician Awards were presented to session players who performed on the most top ten albums during the eligibility period.
25th Annual MusicRow Award Winners
Breakthrough Songwriter—Kacey Musgraves (co-writer of “Merry Go ‘Round,” “Mama’s Broken Heart”)
Producer of the Year—Dann Huff (Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson)
Breakthrough Artist—Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year (tie)—“I Drive Your Truck,” by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary (published by Vistaville Music/Happy Tears Music/EMI Blackwood/Watch This Girl Publishing/Great Day At This Time Music/Beattyville Music)
—“Merry Go ‘Round,” by Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally (published by 351 Music/Warner Tamerlane Publishing/Crazy Water Music/Little Blue Egg/Universal Music Corporation/Want A Fresh One)
Keys—Charles Judge
Guitar—Ilya Toshinsky
Steel—(tie) Dan Dugmore and Paul Franklin
Bass—Jimmie Lee Sloas
Fiddle—(tie) Jonathan Yudkin, Larry Franklin, and Stuart Duncan
Drums—(tie) Greg Morrow and Shannon Forrest
Engineer—Justin NiebankAn in-depth look at the award recipients can be found in MusicRow’s June/July 2013 print edition, available now.
Single copies of the awards issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $10, and are included with yearly subscriptions at no additional cost. The MusicRow Awards are one of three annual events hosted by MusicRow. Others include Rising Women on the Row and the CountryBreakout Awards.
Dann Huff is honored as Producer of the Year by (L-R): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Sarah Skates and Eric Parker
Signings and Hirings
/by Jessica Nicholson• Still Working Music has signed songwriter Ryan Lafferty. Lafferty, a West Virginia native, moved to Nashville in the summer of 2012; he is currently recording with producer Jeff Stevens. “I am so excited to be working with Ryan,” says Chief Creative Officer Tommy Lee James. “He is not only an amazing singer but a great asset to our writing team over here at Still Working.”
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lee, Senior Creative Director, BMG Chrysalis; Alex Orbison, President, Still Working Music; Kendall Lettow, Creative Director, Still Working Music; Ryan Lafferty; Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Chrysalis; Tommy Lee James, Chief Creative Officer, Still Working Music; Scott Safford, Lafferty’s attorney, Safford-Motley.
Brandon Perdue
• Catch This Music LLC (CTM) has hired in-house audio engineer Brandon Perdue. Perdue, a 2006 Belmont University graduate, spent three years as a production coordinator and assistant engineer for producer Blake Chancey. He also worked at Chancey’s RPM Music Group, managing the publishing catalog and serving as an in-house engineer.
Since 2010, Perdue has also produced and engineering independently, recording and developing acts. “Brandon has a terrific track record, and Catch This Music is very excited to be welcoming him on as an in-house audio engineer,” says CEO Eddie Robba. “We know his contributions to the team will be essential to future CTM projects.”
“We are super pumped about this new record and felt that it really deserved the added energy of a label behind it. That is why we are so excited to partner with Compass, one of the premier independent roots labels,” says lead singer and guitarist Zach Bevill. “Together, we have a vision for where this record could go and how to take it there. It’s a great time to be a part of this band!”
Little Jimmy Dickens To Begin Short-Term Radiation Treatments
/by Jessica NicholsonLittle Jimmy Dickens performs on the Grand Ole Opry.
Grand Ole Opry icon Jimmy Dickens, 92, is set to begin three weeks of short-term radiation treatments for a pre-cancerous condition on his vocal cords next week. The Opry member’s doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
“I can’t begin to express my sincere gratitude for the thoughts and prayers that are being sent my way,” Dickens said. “My family and I appreciate the support, and I can’t wait to return home to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in one of my favorite rhinestone suits someday soon.”
The entertainer has been unable to perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage for most of this year. His most recent scheduled Opry appearance was on Dec. 22, 2012, and he also made a surprise appearance on the Opry stage on April 12.
Dickens became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1948 and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. Among his hit songs are “Take An Old Cold Tater (And Wait),” “Country Boy,” “Out Behind The Barn” and “May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.”
Cards and well wishes can be sent to the address below:
Jimmy Dickens
c/o Grand Ole Opry House
2804 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214