Shane McAnally
Shucked, the Tony Award-winning musical created by Nashville icons Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark, has begun its run at Nashville’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC).
After captivating audiences at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, the show—celebrated for its sharp humor and heartwarming storytelling—will play at TPAC through Nov. 10, marking the start of its North American tour.
Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark. Photo: Emilio Madrid
With a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn, music by Clark and McAnally, and direction by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, Shucked delivers a comedic tale centered around corn, proving that sometimes tearing down walls, rather than building them, is the only way to preserve what matters.
In celebration of this milestone, MusicRow spoke with McAnally, who reflected on the creative success he and Clark achieved with Shucked after working on the project for over a decade.
“The first preview on Broadway, which happened a month before opening night, was an out-of-body experience. I’ve never felt a feeling like that. We were sitting next to each other on the balcony, Brandy and I, and when Alex Newell sang ‘Independently Owned’ and the audience got on their feet, I looked at Brandy and said, ‘I don’t feel like I’m on the ground.’ I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing that.”
The show’s impact resonated widely, earning nine Tony Awards nominations in 2023, and Newell, who played Lulu, won Best Featured Actor In A Musical. The musical also earned 12 Drama Desk Awards nominations and won two, with McAnally and Clark taking home Outstanding Music and Newell winning Outstanding Featured Performance In A Musical. The cast album later earned a Grammy nomination.
The brilliance of Shucked lies in its ability to weave profound meaning into a story that’s outrageously funny.
“I’ve always leaned towards humor, even in the saddest of times. I think gay people, by nature, lean on humor to mask pain or garner acceptance, so I’ve always considered myself a funny person,” McAnally says. “But what happens in a theater of people is that they all of a sudden realize that they’re laughing at the humanity—they’re laughing because they can relate. It doesn’t matter who you’re sitting next to or your differences, when it comes to laughter, it’s universal.”
McAnally says that it was easy to observe audience members soaking in the message of Shucked after they’ve delighted in a side-splitting laugh.
“People are disarmed when they’re laughing. They don’t have their guard up. They open up, and then you have the opportunity to get in there.”
Alex Newell as Lulu in Shucked at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City. Photo: Emilio Madrid
Another charm of Shucked is its playful embrace of country culture. While it’s not the first country-inspired musical to succeed on Broadway—think Oklahoma! or Annie Get Your Gun—seeing polished theater professionals romp around in a show about corn brings a refreshing, lighthearted break in a time of growing divides.
McAnally, a Texas native, shares how he sometimes clarified southern expressions and country dialects during rehearsals.
“A lot of these actors went to Berkeley or Juilliard, so even if they’re from the south, they’ve had it beaten out of them,” he says. “There are compromises in there. There are things that would not fly in the country litmus test, but we found a middle ground so that people that loved Broadway didn’t feel completely outside of the music. It had to be accessible for both crowds and I think we got that.”
Reflecting on the parallels between the theater world and Music Row, McAnally notes some similarities.
“It’s like Music Row in that the odds are not in your favor,” McAnally says with a laugh. “Just like making it in country music, you have to have a lot of faith, but you also have to have some naivety, because if you know too much, you wouldn’t do it. If we had known the true odds when Brandy and I got into it, we wouldn’t have done it.
“It’s a miracle that this thing went to Broadway and now is getting to tour,” he adds. “We’re so blessed. Yes, the material is wonderful, but there’s a lot of great material out there that just doesn’t get its chance.”
Now, bringing Shucked to Nashville, McAnally feels immense gratitude.
“I cannot wait to be in Nashville sitting among not just people that are in the industry and love country music, but just true southerners who want to see how we brought the worlds together. Hopefully, we did it justice and make people proud. I know that we did, and I’m ready for everybody that didn’t have the chance to go to New York to be able see it.”
Tickets remain available for Shucked‘s multi-night run in Nashville.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jelly Roll Gives ‘Stunning Vocal Performance’
/by Robert K OermannJelly Roll. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson
With the fresh fall season comes a fresh crop of country newcomers to the DISClaimer column.
Making their debuts today are John Morgan, Pitney Meyer, Chappell Roan, Colt Graves, Shelley Rena and this week’s DISCovery Award winner Maoli.
Among the column regulars, Chris Janson has the song and Karley Scott Collins has the vocal performance. But the Disc of the Day belongs to Jelly Roll. This makes two wins in a two for the big guy.
VINCENT MASON / “Speak Of The Devil”
Writers: Aaron Armstrong/Sutton Smith/Vincent Mason; Producer: Brett Truitt; Label: MCA Nashville/Music Soup/Interscope Records
– The hussy in the red dress turns out to be a one-night stand instead of true love, which breaks the country boy’s heart. The jaunty, bouncy track backs a bopping vocal performance that’s earnest and charming.
SAM HUNT / “Liberty”
Writers: Chris LaCorte/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt/Shane McAnally/Zach Crowell; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Chris LaCorte, Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell; Label: MCA Nashville
– Tuneless babbling set to a dull, plodding, somnambulant beat.
KAYLEY GREEN / “Catching Up”
Writers: Emma-Lee/Karen Kosowski/Kayley Green; Producer: Ross Copperman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The heartbreaker gets his comeuppance when she walks out. It’s his turn to be miserable, now. Sung with conviction over a supportive mid tempo track.
PITNEY MEYER / “Trail Of Tears”
Writers: John Meyer/Mo Pitney; Producers: Daniel Kohavi, Eric Quinlan, John Meyer, Mo Pitney; Label: Curb Records
– Mo Pitney and John Meyer got together at jam sessions during bluegrass conventions. This song came about when both artists discovered they were simultaneously having the same thoughts although miles apart. It is a bluegrass toe-tapper propelled by banjo licks and fiddle flourishes. The lyric is about ‘the thanksgiving table of redemption’ and the quest for reconciliation between “the pioneers” and the indigenous people they wronged.
JELLY ROLL / “Liar”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Jason DeFord/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: BBR Music Group
– This man is going from strength to strength. This pulse-quickening country-rocker is brilliantly produced with pounding rhythm, stuttering guitar and inspirational choir. But the star attraction here is a stunning vocal performance, full of fire, fury and passion. He has had six No. 1 records in succession, and I see no reason whatsoever that this shouldn’t be number seven.
COLT GRAVES / “Burning House”
Writers: Colt Graves/Dan Pellarin/Jake Parshall/Nathan Keeterle; Producer: Jake Parshall; Label: Mosley Music LLC
– This is rather scary and unsettling. It seems to be about heading for death because of the grip of alcohol. Electric guitars stir a boiling pot of sound while he hollers urgently.
SHELLEY RENA & DOLLY PARTON / “Not Bad”
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producers: Dolly Parton, Richie Owens; Label: Owepar Music
– This rousing country rocker spotlights Parton’s alto-voiced cousin with the superstar adding her customary charismatic vocal harmony. The screaming-electronic production is somewhat cluttered sounding, but there’s admirable energy here. The track is drawn from the new collection Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA.
MAOLI & BRETT YOUNG / “Broke Heart Break”
Writers: Brett Young/Jesse Frasure; Producers: Dann Huff, David Lyndon Huff, Jesse Frasure; Label: Maoli Music
– Delightful listening. Maoli is a Hawaiian country singer who has acquired a following on the West Coast and the Pacific Rim by covering Young’s songs. Young reached out to him, traveled to Maui and presto a collaboration was born. Maoli’s heartfelt singing rides atop a bubbling, cheerful track that tickles the ears. Press “repeat” on this one.
CHAPPELL ROAN / “The Giver (She Gets The Job Done)”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: Island Records
– Current pop-music “it girl” Roan introduced this previously unreleased number on Saturday Night Live last weekend. Surprise: It’s a county tune, punctuated by scampering fiddle notes and a gal-power chorus. Double surprise: It’s a rollicking, catchy, lesbian anthem.
CHRIS JANSON / “Cheap”
Writers: Brian White/Chris Janson/Keesy Timmer/Mitch Oglesby/Will Nance; Producers: Chris Janson, Michael Wayne Wilkes, Mitch Oglesby; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– ‘When you’re down to your last heart beat/Time makes money look cheap.’ A breezy, shuffling track backs a wonderfully written lyric about making more of your life than just amassing cash. Janson’s delivery is spot on. This absolutely deserves to be a hit.
JOHN MORGAN & JASON ALDEAN / “Friends Like That”
Writers: Brent Anderson/John Morgan/Lydia Vaughan/Will Bundy; Producers: Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy; Label: Broken Bow Records
– Upbeat and jaunty. She’s left him, but he doesn’t care because he has his buddies around him, whiskey to drink and a warm fireplace. This is Morgan’s record all the way. Aldean adds a little shadowy vocal coloring.
KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Religion And Politics”
Writers: Alex Kline/Joybeth Taylor/Karley Scott Collins; Producers: Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Cool song, in the same vein as Sammy Kershaw’s 1997 hit “Politics Religion and Her.” Super, super cool vocalist, with an ear-grabbing, rich, husky alto and a catch in her throat that makes you hang on every line. I remain a huge fan of this lady.
Wynn Williams Signs With CAA
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L–R): Good Company Entertainment-Texas’s Keith Gale, Good Company Entertainment’s Parker Fowler, Good Company Entertainment-Texas’s Joe Carter, Wynn Williams, CAA’s Darin Murphy, Andrew Dominijanni and Brian Waymire
Indie-country artist Wynn Williams has signed with CAA for exclusive booking representation.
“Working with the CAA team is a dream come true,” shares Williams. “Our partnership will put me in front of fans old and new across the U.S. and the globe. We’re working on new music to roll out in a 2025 waterfall series leading to a new album; the opportunity will expand my reach to share the new music with a broader audience of country music fans. I’m excited to see what the future holds and appreciate the folks at CAA, and my management team at Good Company Entertainment, for believing in me.”
Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, he graduated from Texas A&M as a collegiate wrestler, before beginning his music career in 2016. Through his three album releases, Words Fly, Wynn Williams and Your Love, Williams has amassed over 12 million global streams and averages 300,000 monthly listeners across all streaming platforms. His latest single, “A Woman Can Do That To A Man,” was released last month and further solidified his Texas sound.
Additionally, the singer has showcased his sound on the road, opening for Randall King, Aaron Watson, Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Clay Walker, Tracy Lawrence and more. Throughout 2024, Williams trekked across the country for a multitude of shows, and was recently overseas for Festival International de Country Music de Santa Susanna in Spain.
Williams is managed by Good Company Entertainment-Texas.
Anthem Entertainment & Wax Records Unveil Partnership
/by John Nix ArledgePhoto: Alyssa Reid
Independent music company Anthem Entertainment and Canadian independent label Wax Records have unveiled a creative partnership aimed at revolutionizing the artist development process. The collaboration, formed in response to today’s evolving music landscape, will work to streamline the music-making process by providing songwriters and producers with resources such as an in-house studio, dedicated writing rooms, international song camps and more.
Wax Records brings over 20 years of industry experience with partners such as Virgin Music, Universal Music, Sony ATV and a roster consisting of artists like Alyssa Reid, Shawn Desman and Virginia to Vegas. Anthem Entertainment offers the talents of hit songwriters such as Chantal Kreviazuk and Timbaland as well as a large catalog of songs, creative teams and studio spaces. By enhancing the relationship between publishing and creative, they hope to offer artists a global experience with both publishing opportunities and label services.
“I’m thrilled to welcome the Wax team—and their exceptional roster of artists—into the Anthem family,” states Jason Klein, Anthem Entertainment CEO. “Jamie and Ron have built an extraordinary label, with a creative and agile approach to artist discovery, development and marketing that transcends conventional limitations. This partnership will allow Wax to elevate their outstanding work with additional resources and infrastructure, and introduce an exciting new creative pipeline for Anthem’s songwriters. The possibilities for global success with this partnership are limitless.”
“The global music marketplace is an ever-changing adventure. Through countless hours of dedication and hard work, we strive to cultivate a vibrant entrepreneurial culture that supports and provides globalization opportunities for our community,” shares Jamie Appleby, Wax Records President and Head of A&R. “We are excited for the next evolution of Wax Records, and have tremendous admiration for Jason and the exceptional team at Anthem. This new venture will expand our on-going commitment to our incredible artists, venture partners and sub-label groups.”
Music Forward Foundation & Gibson Gives Announce 2024 LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award Recipients
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Music Forward Foundation has partnered with Gibson Gives to support the annual grant program, the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards, and announce this year’s winners.
The goal of the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards is to help break down the barriers of access in the music industry and promote a more inclusive music industry overall. The 10 2024 LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award recipients include Alessio Thorpe (Crimson Moon), Asália, Indigo Ansin (Chrysalis), Mel Fine, Molly Grace, Nai’a, Poet22, Sari Jordan, Shelby Ruger and Zellie.
Each recipient will receive a three-thousand-dollar grant, a thousand dollars in Gibson retail for an instrument, performance opportunities at the Gibson Garage Nashville and other venues, a career mentoring session with singer-songwriter and producer Butch Walker, and quarterly mentorship with the Gibson and Music Forward teams.
Gibson Gives will donate over $43,000 to the program this year, including $33,000 in cash grants and $10,000 in Gibson retail for an instrument. Music Forward develops and administers the grants from selection to distribution, and both teams develop and execute mentorship programs. The quarterly mentorship opportunities range from songwriting sessions with Gibson artists to exploring a variety of trending topics and skills, including Gibson and Live Nation leadership professionals sharing knowledge and insight, and learning from experts in the industry, from bands to boardrooms and everything in between.
“Gibson Gives is proud to partner with Music Forward to support the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards,” says Erica Krusen, Global Executive Director, Gibson Gives. “We believe in the power of individual voices and strive to break down barriers, promoting a more inclusive music industry. These awards support often-marginalized artists, nurturing their growth and helping them achieve their greatest artistic potential.”
“At Music Forward, we work towards inspiring young artists and providing resources to drive their careers forward while making the industry more inclusive for all voices,” adds Nurit Siegel Smith, Executive Director, Music Forward Foundation. “The LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards is a staple of our programs, and we are excited for our partnership with Gibson Gives to continue to empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ musicians.”
Program participants and grant recipients include Phoebe Bridgers, Trombone Shorty and Andrae Alexander.
Country Bay Music Festival Adds New Stage For Rising Artists
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L–R): Willie Jones, Emily Ann Roberts, RVSHVD and Orlando Mendez
This year’s Country Bay Music Festival, taking place this weekend (Nov. 9–10) at the Miami Marine Stadium, will feature a brand-new second stage showcasing country’s up-and-comers.
The festival will also embrace a diverse roster of genre-bending acts like Willie Jones and RVSHVD and welcome over 24 performers for its second annual event.
The Demesmin & Dover Rodeo Roundup Stage will debut with performances by both Jones and RVSHVD as well as Eddie and The Getaway, Emily Ann Roberts, Jay Webb, MC4D, Orlando Mendez, Waylon Wyatt, Ryan Charles, Shaylen and DJ Illmanik. While listening to the live music, attendees can take line dancing lessons provided by Miami’s PBR Buckle Bunnies.
As previously announced, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band will headline the event, which will also include performances by Diplo presents Thomas Wesley, Dustin Lynch, Chase Rice, Chris Janson, Parmalee, Redferrin, Ryan Montgomery, Chase Matthew, Niko Moon and Gabby Barrett, who will take the Ford Main Stage.
Limited tickets are available. For more information, click here.
First Round Of Performers Revealed For 58th Annual CMA Awards
/by Liza AndersonThe first round of performers have been revealed for the 58th annual CMA Awards.
Returning as host for a fourth straight year, two-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan is set to perform his 31st No. 1 hit, “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.” First-time CMA Awards host, reigning Entertainer of the Year and four-time nominee this year, Lainey Wilson will also take the stage to sing her current single, “4x4xU,” and Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Ashley McBryde will be on hand to deliver a special performance. Among the lineup are first-time nominees Post Malone, who will treat the crowd to “Yours,” a song inspired by his daughter, and Shaboozey, who is set to perform a medley of his multi-Platinum smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and new single “Highway.” Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year and five-time nominee Chris Stapleton will also grace the stage for “What Am I Gonna Do.”
Additionally, three-time CMA Award winner Dierks Bentley will be joined by Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes for a rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.” Post Malone and Stapleton will also unite to perform “California Sober,” and two-time CMA Award winner Thomas Rhett will welcome Teddy Swims to the CMA Awards stage, as a mash-up of their hits “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman” and “Lose Control” will mark their first performance together.
The awards ceremony will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 7 p.m.–10 p.m. CT on ABC, and will be available next day on Hulu.
Shane McAnally Talks The Gift Of ‘Shucked’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellShane McAnally
Shucked, the Tony Award-winning musical created by Nashville icons Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark, has begun its run at Nashville’s Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC).
After captivating audiences at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, the show—celebrated for its sharp humor and heartwarming storytelling—will play at TPAC through Nov. 10, marking the start of its North American tour.
Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark. Photo: Emilio Madrid
With a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn, music by Clark and McAnally, and direction by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, Shucked delivers a comedic tale centered around corn, proving that sometimes tearing down walls, rather than building them, is the only way to preserve what matters.
In celebration of this milestone, MusicRow spoke with McAnally, who reflected on the creative success he and Clark achieved with Shucked after working on the project for over a decade.
“The first preview on Broadway, which happened a month before opening night, was an out-of-body experience. I’ve never felt a feeling like that. We were sitting next to each other on the balcony, Brandy and I, and when Alex Newell sang ‘Independently Owned’ and the audience got on their feet, I looked at Brandy and said, ‘I don’t feel like I’m on the ground.’ I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing that.”
The show’s impact resonated widely, earning nine Tony Awards nominations in 2023, and Newell, who played Lulu, won Best Featured Actor In A Musical. The musical also earned 12 Drama Desk Awards nominations and won two, with McAnally and Clark taking home Outstanding Music and Newell winning Outstanding Featured Performance In A Musical. The cast album later earned a Grammy nomination.
The brilliance of Shucked lies in its ability to weave profound meaning into a story that’s outrageously funny.
“I’ve always leaned towards humor, even in the saddest of times. I think gay people, by nature, lean on humor to mask pain or garner acceptance, so I’ve always considered myself a funny person,” McAnally says. “But what happens in a theater of people is that they all of a sudden realize that they’re laughing at the humanity—they’re laughing because they can relate. It doesn’t matter who you’re sitting next to or your differences, when it comes to laughter, it’s universal.”
McAnally says that it was easy to observe audience members soaking in the message of Shucked after they’ve delighted in a side-splitting laugh.
“People are disarmed when they’re laughing. They don’t have their guard up. They open up, and then you have the opportunity to get in there.”
Alex Newell as Lulu in Shucked at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City. Photo: Emilio Madrid
Another charm of Shucked is its playful embrace of country culture. While it’s not the first country-inspired musical to succeed on Broadway—think Oklahoma! or Annie Get Your Gun—seeing polished theater professionals romp around in a show about corn brings a refreshing, lighthearted break in a time of growing divides.
McAnally, a Texas native, shares how he sometimes clarified southern expressions and country dialects during rehearsals.
“A lot of these actors went to Berkeley or Juilliard, so even if they’re from the south, they’ve had it beaten out of them,” he says. “There are compromises in there. There are things that would not fly in the country litmus test, but we found a middle ground so that people that loved Broadway didn’t feel completely outside of the music. It had to be accessible for both crowds and I think we got that.”
Reflecting on the parallels between the theater world and Music Row, McAnally notes some similarities.
“It’s like Music Row in that the odds are not in your favor,” McAnally says with a laugh. “Just like making it in country music, you have to have a lot of faith, but you also have to have some naivety, because if you know too much, you wouldn’t do it. If we had known the true odds when Brandy and I got into it, we wouldn’t have done it.
“It’s a miracle that this thing went to Broadway and now is getting to tour,” he adds. “We’re so blessed. Yes, the material is wonderful, but there’s a lot of great material out there that just doesn’t get its chance.”
Now, bringing Shucked to Nashville, McAnally feels immense gratitude.
“I cannot wait to be in Nashville sitting among not just people that are in the industry and love country music, but just true southerners who want to see how we brought the worlds together. Hopefully, we did it justice and make people proud. I know that we did, and I’m ready for everybody that didn’t have the chance to go to New York to be able see it.”
Tickets remain available for Shucked‘s multi-night run in Nashville.
Visionary Media Group & The Pack Shack To Pack Meals For Hurricane Victims
/by John Nix ArledgeVisionary Media Group, together with The Pack Shack, a leader in charitable food packing and distribution, will hold a 200,000-meal packing event, “Feed The Funnel,” at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 2 p.m.–7 p.m.
The event, designed for participants ages 12 and up, requires advance registration and is currently accepting donations via its Visionary Impact Fund. For more information, click here.
“I’m honored to stand alongside The Pack Shack and Lipscomb University—and their 400+ student volunteers—plus our artist and staff to pack 200,000 meals for so many who were hard hit by Helene and Milton,” says Dr. Ron Zamber, Founder, Managing Director & Chairman of Visionary Private Equity Group and Visionary Media Group. “We welcome as many people as would like to join us for a high energy and impactful day of community spirit and support at our ‘Feed the Funnel’ party dedicated to providing relief for those affected by recent hurricanes.”
Bret Raymond, CEO of The Pack Shack, says, “In the wake of devastating hurricanes that have impacted countless lives, the Nashville community is coming together to help those in need. This is a chance to actively and practically show support for those who need it most right now. Every meal we pack can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the hurricanes.”
“We are honored to be able to host this event on our campus in partnership with The Pack Shack and Visionary Media Group,” adds Brent Roe-Hall, Dean of Student Life for Spiritual Formation at Lipscomb University. “Serving others is an important way to make a difference and we are pleased to have this opportunity to impact the lives of those who need it most right now.”
RIAA 2024 Music Job & Benefits Report Shows Contributions To Economic Growth
/by Liza AndersonThe Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released a new report, conducted by Secretariat Managing Director Robert Stoner and Director Jéssica Dutra, that reflects data provided by independent labels, performing rights organizations (PROs), independent venues, music museums and other organizations across the nation.
This report uses the latest consolidated data available at this scale and covers periods both before and after the onset of COVID in March of 2020.
According to the data shown, the music industry has contributed $212 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (5.7% annually from 2017–2020) and accounts for 2.5 million jobs. The report’s state-by-state breakdown seeks to provide a closer look at how recorded music is a driving force within the broader ecosystem from venues, festivals, brick-and-mortar stores, digital platforms to artists, songwriters, music schools and more.
Chart Graphic: Courtesy of The U.S. Music Industries Jobs & Benefits: The 2024 Report
The top six states for each of the relevant measures (earnings, employment and value added) consist of California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
In California, music contributed more than $51.4 billion as fans flocked from Coachella to the Troubadour, two of 80,433 notable music establishments, and 416,802 students expanded their talents across the state. Latin, pop and southern rock fuel the Florida scene, which supports 169,706 jobs and adds $9.3 billion to the U.S. GDP. New York generated $24.9 billion in music industry value in 2020, resulting in 1.3 times the rate that music contributes to U.S. GDP and adding 210,878 jobs to the market.
With 114,731 jobs supported and 6,715 royalty recipients, Pennsylvania brings $6.3 billion to U.S. GDP. Home to 74,289 songwriters in Nashville, Memphis and cities in between, music industries hit $7.5 billion and contributed nearly twice as much to Tennessee’s GDP (1.7%) as the national average (0.9%). Beyond Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival, Texas hosts 127,993 songwriters and pumps $26.6 billion into the economy.
To read the full report, click here. For RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier‘s perspective on the findings, click here.
Kevin Jonas Sr. Gets Festive On Debut Christmas EP, Out Friday
/by Lorie HollabaughKevin Jonas Sr. will release his debut Christmas EP, Ready Set Glow — A Holiday Collection, this Friday (Nov. 8) via Red Van Records.
The project features seven tracks, most of which he co-wrote alongside Bob DiPiero, Amy Stroup and the EP’s producer David Kalmusky. Additionally, his wife, Denise Jonas, lends her vocals to select songs.
The collection opens with the title track, a duet from the couple that includes guest vocals from members of Jonas Group Entertainment, Red Van Records and friends. Nick Jonas serves as a co-writer on “Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer),” which he penned at the age of nine. Another highlight includes the medley “Jesu Bambino/O Holy Night,” recorded with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and arranged by David T. Clydesdale.
“35 years ago, I promised my wife Denise that I would record and release a Christmas record, and now it’s finally coming to life,” shares Jonas Sr. “Ready Set Glow — A Holiday Collection is all about the magic and warmth of the holiday season, shared with family and friends.”
Ready Set Glow — A Holiday Collection Track Listing:
1. “Ready Set Glow (feat. Denise Jonas)”
2. “Jesu Bambino/O Holy Night”
3. “ChrisMess”
4. “Stained Glass Window”
5. “Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)”
6. “Wrap me up in Christmas”
7. “ChrisMess – Friends Bonus Version”