Photo: Courtesy of the Kelley Family. Album Cover Art: Jake Witsken
Brian Kelley has unveiled his sophomore album, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son, via Big Machine Records.
Featuring 12 tracks written solely by Kelley, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son takes a deep dive into the songsmith’s identity, exploring family ties, rural values and more. Shaking up his usual collaborative style, he decided to look within for inspiration and took away a new appreciation for his craft as a result.
“I’m probably more excited than ever to be making music and writing songs. I’m in a place in my life where I’m going to record and write whatever I want and put it out whenever I want, and that excites me. I just have so much freedom to go wherever my creativity and my authenticity takes me. So that just fires me up,” shares Kelley. “To be honest with you, this record caught me off guard. But once I had an inkling of what it could be, and what was happening, it was a moment I didn’t want to pass up.”
The tunes were penned over the last few months, then recorded and produced with Executive Producer Katlin Owen and Co-Producer Caleb Gilbreath. Featuring much of Kelley’s touring band, they aim to cover personal themes with a unique clarity of voice. The album also seeks to all filters between the artist and his fans with song like “If I Go First,” a ballad dedicated to his wife of over 10 years, Brittney, promising eternal love even after their earthly vows are complete.
Early releases include “Put Myself On,” which was written as an unapologetic message of self-sufficiency, and the compassionate “Hold On, Cowboy.” Elsewhere, tunes like “Shit Kickers” help celebrate those who wear their work boots like a badge of honor and “Heaven In A Holler” seek describes the simple perfection of a country life, grounded in family and faith. The title track serves as a tribute to Kelley’s parents, who just celebrated their 51st anniversary and remain his inspiration.
“What I want fans to know and feel is that these are all brand-new songs,” he says. “These aren’t songs that were written two or three years ago, this is a chapter in time. It’s a season, and the way this record sounds, it’s the soundtrack to my life these past couple months. So, I just went for it.”
Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son Track Listing:
1. “Rockin’ Randall”
2. “Shit Kickers”
3. “Cowboy Gold”
4. “Hit A Lick”
5. “Heaven In A Holler”
6. “Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son”
7. “The Board”
8. “Hold On, Cowboy”
9. “Put Myself On”
10. “Too Pretty A Place To Fight”
11. “If I Go First”
12. “Back Pocket Blues”
Industry Ink: Chase Rice, BMI, Ashley Cooke & Brantley Gilbert, Liz Rose Music
/by Lorie HollabaughChase Rice Soars At Bluebird Debut
Pictured (L-R): Eddie Kloesel (Why&How), Rhiannon Ferronetti (Why&How), Chase Rice, Avery Bon (Why&How), Halie Hampton Mosley (Why&How) and Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media). Photo: Evan DeStefano
Chase Rice recently made his Bluebird debut to celebrate his Fireside Sessions surprise release. The collection features all 25 songs from his albums I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell and Go Down Singin’, as live, single-take versions.
BMI & Studio Bank Celebrate Partnership With Songwriter Round
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Ryan Larkins, Kelly Archer, Rhett Akins, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox, Studio Bank’s Eunice Hernandez and Studio Bank’s Aaron Dorn.
BMI recently celebrated longtime sponsor, Studio Bank, during an evening of entertainment at its Nashville location. Hosted by BMI’s Mason Hunter, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox and Aaron Dorn welcomed attendees who enjoyed music from hit BMI songwriters Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer and Ryan Larkins.
Ashley Cooke & Brantley Gilbert Duet On The Kelly Clarkson Show
Ashley Cooke and Brantley Gilbert brought their chart-climbing last-call duet to The Kelly Clarkson Show with a sizzling performance of “Over When We’re Sober” this past Friday, Oct. 25.
“Over When We’re Sober” was co-written by Gilbert with Justin Wilson, Jelly Roll and Brock Berryhill. The nationwide TV performance comes after Cooke’s headlining “Your Place Tour” celebrated its opening weekend with shows in Utah and Denver this past weekend.
The Listening Room Hosts Live Song Pitch Round With Liz Rose Music & Friends
Pictured (L-R): Phil Barton, Lauren McLamb, Gracie Glass, Kate Shirley, Joe Fox, Adam Sanders, Joe Ragosta, Dave Pacula, The Listening Room’s Zach Anderson, Scott Ponce and Eric Paslay. Photo: Courtesy The Listening Room
Last week, The Listening Room Cafe hosted music industry and fans for an exclusive Live Song Pitch Round, featuring Liz Rose Music and Friends including Phil Barton, Joe Fox, Adam Sanders, Lauren McLamb, Eric Paslay and Joe Ragosta. The unique event, which the venue plans to turn into a recurring series, featured hit writers playing their uncut songs to A&R and industry professionals, giving a live public audience a behind-the-scenes look at the heart of Nashville’s songwriting scene.
Jelly Roll’s New Album Pushes Him Into MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart Top 10
/by Madison HahnenJelly Roll. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson
Jelly Roll‘s recently-released Beautifully Broken album has helped the singer-songwriter climb up the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He sits at No. 9 this week with “Get By,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Liar” and “Winning Streak.”
Zach Bryan remains in the No. 1 spot for the eighth consecutive week with “28,” “American Nights” and “Pink Skies.” Ashley Gorley jumps to No. 2 with “Fix What You Didn’t Break,” “I Am Not Okay,” “I Had Some Help,” “Liar,” “Losers,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” and “Whiskey Whiskey.”
Chris Stapleton (No. 3), Riley Green (No. 4) and Jessie Jo Dillon (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Concord Closes $850 Million In Asset-Backed Securitization
/by Madison HahnenThese issuances backs Concord’s ongoing effort to strategically grow and monetize its music assets and cement the company as a meaningful force in the industry. The notes will be acquired by music royalties from a range of catalogs containing over a million songs, including works recorded by The Beatles, Carrie Underwood, Cheap Trick, Creed, Genesis, Kiss, Mike + The Mechanics, Otis Redding, Phil Collins, Plain White T’s, R.E.M., REO Speedwagon and The Rolling Stones.
Apollo, through its Capital Solutions business, Apollo Global Securities, LLC, and its affiliate Redding Ridge Asset Management, built the asset-backed securitization as well as led an investor syndicate for the transaction. ATLAS SP Securities, a division of Apollo Global Securities, LLC, was a joint bookrunner for the deal. Proceeds from the issuance will be used to retire the private 2023-1 note issuance, fund additional acquisitions and assist in Concord’s continued growth.
“This transaction represents another significant milestone for Concord and the global music industry as we close our third music ABS offering, continuing our strategic efforts to elevate and support the artists and writers in our catalog,” says Bob Valentine, Concord CEO. “We are proud to manage a catalog with such a remarkable depth of artistic talent and cultural importance. We are grateful to our financing partners, Apollo and ATLAS SP, for helping us create a long-term capital structure that supports our growth and strengthens the financial foundation that allows us to keep investing in the music industry. As we grow to new heights, our focus continues to be squarely on our artists and the incredible art they create.”
Valued at more than five billion dollars, the catalog results in an approximate 52% loan-to-value ratio for the offering, and the notes are ranked A+ by KBRA and A2 by Moody’s. Concord’s new five-year notes issuance is backed by an actively-managed catalog of more than a million different music assets across a wide range of genres, including over 300 Grammy Award winners and more than 400 recordings with RIAA Gold, Platinum, multi-Platinum and Diamond certifications.
“Concord’s management has demonstrated exceptional vision in building a catalog that reflects the breadth and evolution of modern music, and we are pleased to work with Concord once again on this significant transaction,” shares Bret Leas, Apollo Partner & Co-Head of Asset-Backed Finance.
“By anchoring and structuring this ABS, we have continued to help Concord unlock the value of their extraordinary music catalog. We are proud to provide a tailored solution to support their success,” adds Apollo’s Paul Sipio.
FTI Consulting served as the backup manager for the transaction, with the Bank of New York Mellon acting as trustee. Virtu Global Advisors, LLC provided valuation services, while DLA Piper was legal counsel for Concord and Milbank LLP for Apollo affiliates.
Third Annual GoldenSky Festival Unites Over 75K Country Music Fans
/by Liza AndersonGoldenSky Country Music Festival 2024. Photo: Jake Miller
The third annual GoldenSky Country Music Festival brought over 75,000 fans from across the nation and beyond together last weekend (Oct. 18–20) at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California.
Extended to a three-day function this year, the festival featured more than 35 performances on two stages from headliners Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan as well as Turnpike Troubadours, Riley Green, Bailey Zimmerman, Elle King, Gabby Barrett, Ashley McBryde, Clint Black, Shaboozey and GoldenSky Rising Star competition winner Burke., among others. One of multiple highlights included Green joining Rhett for their tune “Half Of Me” on Saturday (Oct. 19).
Thomas Rhett and Riley Green during GoldenSky Country Music Festival 2024. Photo: Steve Thrasher
Additionally, fans could choose from over 150 samples of local, regional and national craft beer, hard seltzer and cider each day from 12:30–3:30 p.m. at the GoldenSky Beer Festival, and enjoy nonstop music, line dancing lessons and partner two-stepping at The River City Dance Hall & Saloon. Local food experience The Farmhouse, presented by the California Farm Bureau, offered selections from Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse, Mulvaney’s B&L, Druthers Sutter Park and Jayna Gyro, and the El Dorado Market highlighted local businesses in Sacramento and the Central Valley.
Following the festival on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 20), many fans attended the Goldfield Trading Post afterparty, which featured a live DJ and line dancing.
Reba McEntire’s ‘Keep On Loving You’ To Get Vinyl Treatment
/by Lorie HollabaughReba McEntire will celebrate the 15-year anniversary of her album Keep On Loving You with the project’s first vinyl release on Dec. 6.
Keep On Loving You debuted in 2009, topping both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The album featured the chart-topping smash “Consider Me Gone” as well as hits like “Strange,” and “I Keep on Loving You.”
Additionally, McEntire’s new sitcom, Happy’s Place, premiered last week and garnered 10 million total viewers across NBC and Peacock. The debut marks the best new NBC comedy launch yet and improved its timeslot by 90 percent in total viewers.
Keep On Loving You Vinyl Track Listing:
1. “Strange”
2. “Just When I Thought I’d Stopped Loving You”
3. “I Keep On Lovin’ You”
4. “I Want A Cowboy”
5. “Consider Me Gone”
6. “But Why”
7. “Pink Guitar”
8. “She’s Turning 50 Today”
9. “Eight Crazy Hours (In The Story Of Love)”
10. “Nothing To Lose”
11. “Over You”
12. “Maggie Creek Road”
13. “I’ll Have What She’s Having”
Joe Nichols’ New ‘Honky Tonks And Country Songs’ Out Now
/by Lorie HollabaughJoe Nichols has released his latest album, Honky Tonks and Country Songs, out now via Quartz Hill Records.
The first single from the project, “Better Than You,” has been a top five most-added song at country radio (Mediabase) for four consecutive weeks, including one week before the track’s official impact date. The emotionally charged duet with rising country star Annie Bosko is about love at first sight, your last first kiss and realizing nothing else could compare with the feeling you’ve found.
Other tracks from the new project include “Doin’ Life With You,” “Bottle It Up,” “Helpless in a Honky Tonk,” “Hard Fires” and a cover of the Hank Williams Jr. classic “Country Boy Can Survive,” which has become a fan-favorite at Nichols’ shows.
“My favorite thing about making this new album was, I think my voice is in good shape right now—the best shape it’s been in years,” Nichols says. “In the studio, I think I sounded more true to me, and how I started, than I have in several records. And I knew we had some good country songs, like ‘Doin’ Life With You,’ ‘Bottle It Up’ and several of the country-er things on this record, like ‘Helpless in a Honky Tonk’ and ‘Honky Tonks and Country Songs.’ I just felt like we could lay back and lay down some of those ‘old-school me’ vocals.”
Last week Nichols launched his long-awaited new record at Gilley’s Dallas, headlining the celebration to mark the world-famous honky tonk’s 21st anniversary.
Honky Tonks and Country Songs Track List:
1. “Honky Tonks and Country Songs” – (Tyler Hubbard/Matt Jenkins/Travis Wood/Casey Brown)
2. “Bottle It Up” – (Josh Kear/Dan Isbell/Paul Sikes)
3. “People Still Doin’ That” – (Justin Lantz/Clint Daniels/Jeremy Crady)
4. “Helpless in a Honky Tonk” – (Jared Keim/Ryan Beaver/Neil Medley/Dan Alley)
5. “Country Boy Can Survive” – (Hank Williams Jr)
6. “Hard Fires” (featuring Stevie Woodward) – (Michael Carter/Adam Craig/Matt Rogers)
7. “Doin’ Life With You” – (Jimmy Yeary)
8. “Y’all Do” – (Jake Mitchell/Michael Hardy/Mike Walker)
9. “On and On” – (Jason Sellers/Terri Jo Box/Dan Smalley)
10. “Better Than You” (Joe Nichols & Annie Bosko) – (Derek George/John Pierce)
11. “Amazing Ways” – (Dan Isbell/Jordan Minton/Jonathan Smith)
Brian Kelley Unveils Solo-Penned Sophomore Album
/by Liza AndersonPhoto: Courtesy of the Kelley Family. Album Cover Art: Jake Witsken
Brian Kelley has unveiled his sophomore album, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son, via Big Machine Records.
Featuring 12 tracks written solely by Kelley, Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son takes a deep dive into the songsmith’s identity, exploring family ties, rural values and more. Shaking up his usual collaborative style, he decided to look within for inspiration and took away a new appreciation for his craft as a result.
“I’m probably more excited than ever to be making music and writing songs. I’m in a place in my life where I’m going to record and write whatever I want and put it out whenever I want, and that excites me. I just have so much freedom to go wherever my creativity and my authenticity takes me. So that just fires me up,” shares Kelley. “To be honest with you, this record caught me off guard. But once I had an inkling of what it could be, and what was happening, it was a moment I didn’t want to pass up.”
The tunes were penned over the last few months, then recorded and produced with Executive Producer Katlin Owen and Co-Producer Caleb Gilbreath. Featuring much of Kelley’s touring band, they aim to cover personal themes with a unique clarity of voice. The album also seeks to all filters between the artist and his fans with song like “If I Go First,” a ballad dedicated to his wife of over 10 years, Brittney, promising eternal love even after their earthly vows are complete.
Early releases include “Put Myself On,” which was written as an unapologetic message of self-sufficiency, and the compassionate “Hold On, Cowboy.” Elsewhere, tunes like “Shit Kickers” help celebrate those who wear their work boots like a badge of honor and “Heaven In A Holler” seek describes the simple perfection of a country life, grounded in family and faith. The title track serves as a tribute to Kelley’s parents, who just celebrated their 51st anniversary and remain his inspiration.
“What I want fans to know and feel is that these are all brand-new songs,” he says. “These aren’t songs that were written two or three years ago, this is a chapter in time. It’s a season, and the way this record sounds, it’s the soundtrack to my life these past couple months. So, I just went for it.”
Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son Track Listing:
1. “Rockin’ Randall”
2. “Shit Kickers”
3. “Cowboy Gold”
4. “Hit A Lick”
5. “Heaven In A Holler”
6. “Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son”
7. “The Board”
8. “Hold On, Cowboy”
9. “Put Myself On”
10. “Too Pretty A Place To Fight”
11. “If I Go First”
12. “Back Pocket Blues”
Kelsea Ballerini Meets Fans At ‘Baggage Claim’ To Celebrate Album Release
/by Madison HahnenSpotify and Kelsea Ballerini present Baggage Claim: an Exclusive Listening of Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini at The Carlyle in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Kelsea Ballerini celebrated the release of her newest album Patterns with an exclusive Spotify listening event, “Baggage Claim,” last Thursday (Oct. 24) at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City.
Kelsea Ballerini and Cassie Dilaura speak onstage during Spotify presents Baggage Claim: an Exclusive Listening of Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini at The Carlyle in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Ballerini invited her top Spotify listeners in the area to hear the album before its release, and participated in a Q+A session. She also performed the previously-released “Two Things.”
“I would argue that this is the most love-filled record I’ve ever made,” Ballerini said of Patterns. “I think the presence of love in every song is at the forefront.
“There’s a lot on it,” she added. “If you want a friendship song it’s there. If you want a falling in love song, it’s there. If you want like, ‘I’m gonna ram my head through a wall because I’m so frustrated at someone’ songs. Obviously, it’s there, there’s a couple of those.”
When asked about the process of making the album, Ballerini reflected, “This is the most pressure I’ve ever put on myself to make a record because I felt so grateful that there were new ears on my music, but then I also wanted to honor the people who had been on board since ‘Love Me Like You Mean It.’”
“How Much Do You Love Me” intrigued fans right away, and Ballerini clued them in on the behind the scenes of the track. “This song is the softest song on the album. I remember writing it downstairs on guitar and Chase [Stokes] was like ‘what’s that?’ And I was like, this is a love song.”
Spotify and Kelsea Ballerini present Baggage Claim: an Exclusive Listening of Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini at The Carlyle in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Spotify and Kelsea Ballerini present Baggage Claim: an Exclusive Listening of Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini at The Carlyle in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Spotify and Kelsea Ballerini present Baggage Claim: an Exclusive Listening of Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini at The Carlyle in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify
Steven Curtis Chapman, More Set For Chosen Road’s ‘Mountain Aid’ Benefit
/by Lorie HollabaughBluegrass hitmakers and native Appalachians Chosen Road have brought together a star-studded lineup for “Mountain Aid: Music For Healing, Strength For Tomorrow,” a benefit concert for relief efforts in Appalachia set for Nov. 14 in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The concert at Freedom Hall Civic Center will feature performances by Steven Curtis Chapman, Brandon Heath, Point of Grace, Jason Crabb, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South), the Jason Lovins Band, TaRanda Greene and event organizers Chosen Road.
“Chosen Road is thrilled to help bring ‘Mountain Aid’ to life,” shares group co-founder Jonathan Buckner. “When we heard how many of our friends and neighbors in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee were affected, we knew we had to take action. Our dear friends in the Jason Lovins Band agreed, and they stepped up in a special way to help make this event possible.
“We’re so grateful for their support, as well as for all the amazing artists who are graciously lending their time and talents for a night to remember. These mountains and the people who call them home have shaped our music and we owe so much to them. Our prayer is that ‘Mountain Aid’ will not only help raise funds and bring hope for those in need but will, most importantly, make an eternal impact in Appalachia.”
With a goal of supporting and bringing hope to communities affected by Hurricane Helene, all proceeds from “Mountain Aid” will benefit Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970. Tickets are $20 (children 2 and under admitted free) and can be purchased here.
SESAC Music Group Acquires HAAWK
/by Liza AndersonRyan Born
SESAC Music Group has acquired Helping All Assets With Knowledge (HAAWK), a media software and services company that specializes in copyright management and monetization for independent music, film, television and video catalogs.
HAAWK provides full-service administration of YouTube’s Content ID system and Facebook’s Rights Manager platforms, including Instagram, serving a broad range of record labels, publishers and music rightsholder clients. The company will now operate alongside Audio Salad as part of the artist and label distribution services segment of SESAC Music Group’s Music Services division, with headquarters remaining in Los Angeles under the leadership of CEO Ryan Born, who founded the company in 2017.
“This is truly a dream come true. HAAWK already leads the way in providing unmatched opportunities and increased royalty revenue for our clients across YouTube, Facebook, and social video platforms. By partnering with SESAC Music Group, we’re opening the door to even greater possibilities, enabling us to scale globally and offer more advanced royalty collection and administration services to our clients,” says Born.
“HAAWK’s mission aligns with SESAC Music Group in delivering maximum value and transparency to music creators. Their leadership and technology strengthen our services for independent labels and publishers worldwide,” shares John Josephson, Chairman & CEO, SESAC Music Group.