Randall King. Photo: Yve Assad
Today’s DISClaimer includes entries from the farthest ends of country’s audio spectrum, from bluegrass to pop.
The bluegrass world is bringing us a couple of cover tunes, Rhonda Vincent’s take on “Wagon Wheel” and Bill Taylor’s version of “Roll Me Away.” Of the two, Taylor’s re-imagining of Bob Seger is the cooler track. In fact, it wins him a DISCovery Award. Also: I love the name of his band, The Appalachian Heatherns.
From way over on the pop side, we have Maren Morris and Shelby Lynne. Both have left country music far behind, but are making extraordinary records nonetheless.
From somewhere down the middle of the country music world we have our Disc of the Day award winner. It’s Randall King and his “I Could Be That Rain.”
BILL TAYLOR / “Roll Me Away”
Writer: Bob Seger; Producer: Randall Deaton; Label: Lonesome Day Records
– I have always been a huge Bob Seger fan. So are the folks gathered on the new, multi-artist album Silver Bullet Bluegrass. This hearty, chesty baritone has one of the collection’s standout tracks, an exhilarating ride on wheels of fleet picking and close harmony singing. It feels like a splash of mountain spring water on your face. And it turns out that Seger’s 1983 rock classic sounds simply splendid in a bluegrass setting. Appalachia meets Motor City. Enthusiastically recommended.
MAREN MORRIS / “I Hope I Never Fall In Love”
Writers: Delacey/Evan Blair/Lucy Healey/Maren Morris; Producer: Evan Blair; Label: Columbia Records
– This echoey, throbbing, bittersweet ballad has a lovely ‘60s pop vibe. The luscious melody is bolstered by a thumping backbeat, ringing guitar and ghostly female vocal harmonies. It’s drawn from her upcoming pop EP Intermission, due Aug. 12.
RANDALL KING / “I Could Be That Rain”
Writers: Brian Fuller/Mason Thornley; Producers: Jared Conrad, Randall King; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– It is one of the great mysteries of our time why this superb vocalist is not yet a country superstar. As always, he delivers the goods. This time, he rides atop a cool rhythm pattern and some crashing guitars as he wails to the heavens. So nice I played it twice.
PHIL VASSAR & JEFFREY STEELE / “Like A Man’s Supposed To”
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Phil Vassar; Producers: Jeffrey Steele, Scott Baggett; Label: 3 Ring Circus Records
– These two dudes are multiple award-winning troubadours. As a team, they sound like real brothers. This mid-tempo track has a retro, blue-eyed-soul flavor, punctuated by organ and sax blasts.
GREYLAN JAMES / “Who Broke Up With You”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Brad Clawson/Greylan James; Producers: Brock Berryhill, Greylan James, Jason Massey; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– It starts out kinda dull, but when he kicks into the hooky part, the thing takes off. The gist of it is that the guy who broke up with her must have been out of his mind. The production churns along nicely as he unspools his observations.
MEGAN MORONEY / “Hell Of A Show”
Writer: Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records
– He treats her mean, but she has to hide her heartbreak because the show must go on. Anyone who has had to smile in spite of pain can relate to this tiny gem. It is performed with just a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment to her aching vocal delivery. The brief, tender little heartbreaker is the closing track on her brilliant new sophomore album Am I Okay?
JETT HOLDEN & CASSADEE POPE / “Karma”
Writer: Jett Holden; Producer: Will Hoge; Label: Black Opry Records
– This one is a darkly sinister rocker with a rapid-fire vocal delivery. He sings splendidly, Pope adds a perfect vocal assist, and the production kicks butt. Like many beginning country songwriters, he is overly word-y. But there is real promise here.
SHELBY LYNNE / “Gone To Bed”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Karen Fairchild/Shelby Lynne; Producers: Ashley Monroe, Gena Johnson, Karen Fairchild, Shelby Lynne; Label: Monument Records
– Lynne’s first album in nine years is an audio pop wonderland. Its single starts off with an extended, spoken-word heartbreak meditation, followed by a dreamy, airy tune in an electronic soundscape. Titled Consequences of the Crown, the collection drops on Aug. 16. Throughout the project, she is utterly fascinating.
DILLON JAMES / “River Black”
Writers: Dan Alley/Dillon James/Jason Gantt; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Buena Vista Records
– The title tune of this guy’s debut EP is a bluesy country rocker with a stately, stomping pace. Moody and intense.
RHONDA VINCENT / “Wagon Wheel”
Writers: Bob Dylan/Ketch Secor; Producer: Rhonda Vincent; Label: Upper Management Music
– The Queen of Bluegrass drops her new Destinations and Fun Places collection tomorrow (Aug. 9). She has already issued her covers of “Please Mr. Please” and the IBMA award-nominated “City of New Orleans” as teasers for the album. Now the Opry star is taking on the Darius Rucker/Old Crow Medicine Show hit with a soprano vocal harmony by Alison Krauss. Vincent and her band The Rage take an extended instrumental ride toward the song’s finale, extending the single to seven minutes in length. This is the oft-played song’s sweetest version yet.
REDFERRIN / “Just Like Johnny”
Writers: Blake Redferrin/Micah Wilshire; Producers: Jake Saghi, Micah Wilshire, Redferrin; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– The reason he is “just like Johnny” is that he is deeply into substance abuse. He cautions her that he “ain’t nowhere close to walking that line.” He loves her, but thinks he will always hurt her, let her down and put her through misery…. and that he will never change. Depressing yet compelling.
JOE ELY / “Driven To Drive”
Writer: Joe Ely; Producer: Joe Ely; Label: Rack ‘Em Records
– Some 23 albums into his career, this Americana stalwart is issuing a “road” album that celebrates the freedom of the highway. This propulsive country-rocker sets the mood.
LAST DAY: Voting For 36th Annual MusicRow Awards Ends TODAY
/by MusicRow StaffToday is the last day to vote for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank. Ballots can be cast until 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 9.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a subscriber here.
Click here to view the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Nominees for the MusicRow Awards are determined by a committee. For the categories of Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer, outside nominations are also considered. For the Male and Female Songwriter of the Year categories, nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. All nominations are based on projects that were active between the period of June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024.
Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards for Bass, Drums, Engineer, Fiddle, Guitar, Keyboards, Steel, and Vocals will also be announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, recognizing the studio players who performed on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period.
2024 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Entertainer Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Entertainer of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville artist during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.
Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs recently kicked off another stadium tour, setting attendance records in Milwaukee, Buffalo and University Park. The Asheville, North Carolina native led the 2024 ACM Award nominations with eight nods and performed an unforgettable duet of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman during the 2024 Grammy Awards. Combs’ cover of the track won Single of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, spent five consecutive weeks on top of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and reached No. 1 on the Hot AC chart, becoming the first song by a male solo artist to ever top both the Hot AC and Country chart. The song has been streamed over 1.1 billion times, has been certified double-Platinum and spent 18 weeks in the top five of Billboard‘s all-genre Hot 100 chart, eight of which were spent at No. 2. His Gettin’ Old album has further established Combs as one of music’s most authentic and powerful voices. He also recently released his Fathers & Sons collection celebrating the journey of parenthood.
Platinum artist Cody Johnson has built a following of passionately loyal fans, selling out shows across the country. To date, Johnson has garnered 46 career RIM certifications, a Pandora Billionaire Award, seven billion global streams and two No. 1 singles. He has earned multiple industry honors including CMT Artist of the Year, three CMT Music Awards, two CMA Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeart Music Awards. The Texas native’s latest studio album, Leather, features the No. 1 Gold-certified hit single “The Painter,” and top-10-and-climbing emotional tune, “Dirt Cheap.” His feature-length documentary, Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, has notched Telly Awards and honors at The Wild Bunch Film Festival and the Wild West Film Festival. He has made television appearances on Today, The Kelly Clarkson Show and more, in addition to live performances at the iHeart Music Awards, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, CMT Giants honoring Vince Gill and more. He recently wrapped his arena tour, including a sold-out stop at Bridgestone Arena.
Award winning singer-songwriter Jelly Roll burst into the country music scene with his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel. The project debuted in the top three on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart and at No. 2 on the Top Country Album chart, earning the biggest country debut album in Billboard consumption chart history. In 2023, the Nashville native won four People‘s Choice Country Awards, three CMT Music Awards, Billboard‘s 2023 Breakthrough Award and the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. He is also one of three artists to have scored three Country Airplay No. 1s in 2023 and the first to do it with his first three singles. The two-time Grammy nominee shares confessional, vulnerable expressions of self doubt through his tunes, including smash hit “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson and “Need A Favor.” His documentary Save Me became the most watched music documentary on ABC News. On the heels of his new release “I Am Not Okay,” he is gearing up for his headlining arena tour this fall.
10-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton is one of country’s most respected and beloved musicians. At the 2024 ACM Awards, he brought home another four trophies, bringing his total to 19, while also holding 16 CMA Award wins. The release of his latest album, Higher, was met with overwhelming critical acclaim, including two Grammy wins for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song with “White Horse.” The project also includes top-35-and-climbing “Think I’m In Love With You.” With his reputation for delivering electric live performances, the Kentucky native recently appeared on Saturday Night Live for the third time. Stapleton has also had recent collaborations with Dua Lipa, Slash and George Strait, and appeared on the Tom Petty tribute album. He will continue his global headlining amphitheater tour throughout the year, while also playing stadiums with George Strait and Little Big Town.
With 11 Billboard Music Award wins in 2023, Morgan Wallen continues to push his fame to the top. His third studio album, One Thing At A Time, has remained atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, taking the record for most weeks at No. 1 for a country album, and was the most streamed album of the year on Spotify. The six-time Platinum hit “Last Night” was streamed over 1.5 billion times, becoming the most-streamed song of any genre in the U.S. across Apple Music and Spotify and the longest-running No. 1 solo song in the Hot 100 chart’s history at 16 weeks total. His recent history making collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” impacted at country radio with 167 first-week adds, debuting at No. 15 on the Media base charts. The track has become the longest-running No. 1 of 2024. His 2023 stadium tour took the Tennessee native to five countries, playing for over 2.4 million fans. Wallen was also honored with the distinction of Billboard and Pollstar Country Tour of the Year.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson has become a force in the music industry. As the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, her unique sound and spirit has led her to earn numerous accolades and develop a diehard fan base. Nearly 10 years after leaving her small town in Louisiana, she earned her first Platinum No. 1 hit with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” She’s built on that success, scoring six more No. 1 smashes and becoming the lead female artist with the most No. 1 hits this decade. Wilson has earned two Grammy nominations, nine ACM Awards, seven CMA Awards and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thus far, her music has taken her worldwide. Wilson also made her acting debut in season five of Paramount’s smash hit series Yellowstone. She is currently gearing up for the release of her next album, Whirlwind, containing previously-released tracks “Country’s Cool Again,” “4x4xU” and top-15-and-rising single “Hang Tight Honey.” Wilson is also in the middle of her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” across North America.
Luke Bryan Reveals Eighth Studio Album Coming In September
/by LB CantrellFive-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan will release his eighth studio album, Mind Of A Country Boy, on Sept. 27 via Capitol Records Nashville.
Produced by father and son Jeff and Jody Stevens, the 14-track project is Bryan’s first new album in four years. Mind Of A Country Boy finds the singer exploring themes of country living, family and faith that have built his 17-year career.
“I’ve been able to take my time and really compile songs for this album,” Bryan says. “If it’s a song that I cut two or three years ago, and I still love it, and it still sounds fresh, then I feel like it’ll stand the test of time.
“I think this album, as I’ve tried to do with all my albums, just has a little bit of everything,” he adds. “I do some things different vocally on this one that I’ve not done before. It’s about each song having its place and having its meaning. It’s trying not to be overly redundant with songs. I think that’s why I’ve been blessed to have a long career and what I feel like this album’s going to do.”
Mind Of A Country Boy includes previously-released tunes “But I Got A Beer In My Hand,” “Southern and Slow” and the title track as well as his 30th No. 1 hit “Country On” and current single “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.” To celebrate the album news, Bryan will release another track, “Closing Time In California,” just in time for his “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” stops in San Diego and Los Angeles this week.
On the live front, Bryan has established a legacy of highly-successful concert events like his Spring Break concerts that have gathered more than 200,000 fans on the Florida shores as well as his “Farm Tour,” which will kick off its 15th run next month, and his destination concert experience Crash My Playa that will celebrate its 10th anniversary in January.
“I’m still having a lot of fun in my concerts, and it’s still a big ole party,” he shares. “But I think as you grow older and mature, subject matters change and things that you can sing about change. But the love of trying to find the right song and a song that moves people is still at the forefront of what I want to do as an artist.”
Mind Of A Country Boy Track Listing:
1. “Mind Of A Country Boy” (Luke Bryan, Ben Hayslip, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins)
2. “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” (Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Jordan Minton, Rhett Akins)
3. “Country Song Came On” (Ryan Beaver, Dan Alley, Neil Medley)
4. “Pair Of Boots” (Bobby Pinson, Taylor Phillips, Tofer Brown, Jaxon Free)
5. “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” (Chase McGill, Matt Dragstrem, Geoff Warburton)
6. “Kansas” (Chase McGill, Hillary Lindsey, Matt Dragstrem)
7. “Country On” (Mark Nesler, David Frasier, Mitch Oglesby, Styles Haury)
8. “Fish On The Wall” (Dallas Davidson, Chris Tompkins, Ben Johnson)
9. “She’s Still Got It” (Rodney Clawson, Heather Morgan, Will Bundy, Jim McCormick)
10. “Closing Time In California” (John Byron, Mark Holman, Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill)
11. “For The Kids” (Luke Bryan, Justin Ebach, Brad Tursi)
12. “Southern and Slow” (Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson, Chase McGill)
13. “I’m On A Tractor” (Neil Thrasher, Lee Thomas Miller)
14. “Jesus ‘Bout My Kids” (Jeff Hyde, Tucker Beathard, Ben Stennis, Brad Rempel)
Vince Gill Added To ‘Concert For Cumberland Heights’ Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughVince Gill
Vince Gill has been added to the “Concert for Cumberland Heights: A Night of Stories & Song” lineup.
Taking place next Thursday (Aug. 15) at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the event will also feature performances by Charles Kelley, Bob DiPiero, Victoria Shaw, Randy Montana, Ernest, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman and The Warren Brothers as well as an appearance by Cumberland Height’s music therapist John McAndrew.
Since 1996, the “Concert for Cumberland Heights” has raised over $3.6 million for the John Hiatt Fund for Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment, which provides support for the nonprofit’s programs and patient scholarships dedicated to transforming lives through addiction recovery.
“I feel a strong connection to the work that Cumberland Heights does,” says Kelley, who is two years into his sobriety journey. “It’s an honor to be part of an event that helps others on their path to recovery.”
Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.
Scotty Hasting Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut
/by Liza AndersonScotty Hasting during his Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry
Scotty Hasting recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut as the Opry celebrated the 30th anniversary of Forrest Gump.
After receiving an invitation from Gary Sinise, Hasting fulfilled his dream of stepping into the historic circle. Prior to the performance, he welcomed 49 CMA EDU students backstage to wrap the first day of the program’s 11th annual Leadership Summit.
Scotty Hasting & Gary Sinise. Photo: Dawn Delvo
Following an introduction from Forrest Gump producer Wendy Finerman, Hasting was immediately greeted with a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd. He then kicked off his set with a rendition of “Fortunate Son” from the film’s soundtrack. Between the hoots and hollers from friends, family and fans, Hasting took it all in and shared the significance of the next number.
“This next song is the hardest song I’ve ever written…April 21, 2011 was the day that I got shot in Afghanistan,” he stated. “The hardest thing about being at Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center] wasn’t trying to survive, it wasn’t going to occupational therapy, it wasn’t going to physical therapy. It was the fact that some of the greatest people I’ve ever known were still in Afghanistan, they were losing their lives, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
Hasting continued, “The hardest one was everyone’s best friend. His name was Adam [‘Ham’] Hamilton. Actually, his family is here right now.”
Everyone rose from their seats once again in thanks and support of the Hamilton family’s service and sacrifice. The artist proceeded to tell the story of “How Do You Choose,” which he wrote following a conversation with Hamilton’s mother after she came to see him perform on Broadway in Nashville. Hasting performed the emotional track for the audience, which included 16 of Hamilton’s family members and friends—leaving over 4,000 Opry guests and himself with tear-brimmed eyes.
Additionally, Hasting accepted a formal invitation to serve as the Grand Marshal for the Second Annual National Veterans Parade yesterday (Aug. 7). The parade is set to take place in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 10.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Randall King ‘Wails To The Heavens’ On New Single
/by Robert K OermannRandall King. Photo: Yve Assad
Today’s DISClaimer includes entries from the farthest ends of country’s audio spectrum, from bluegrass to pop.
The bluegrass world is bringing us a couple of cover tunes, Rhonda Vincent’s take on “Wagon Wheel” and Bill Taylor’s version of “Roll Me Away.” Of the two, Taylor’s re-imagining of Bob Seger is the cooler track. In fact, it wins him a DISCovery Award. Also: I love the name of his band, The Appalachian Heatherns.
From way over on the pop side, we have Maren Morris and Shelby Lynne. Both have left country music far behind, but are making extraordinary records nonetheless.
From somewhere down the middle of the country music world we have our Disc of the Day award winner. It’s Randall King and his “I Could Be That Rain.”
BILL TAYLOR / “Roll Me Away”
Writer: Bob Seger; Producer: Randall Deaton; Label: Lonesome Day Records
– I have always been a huge Bob Seger fan. So are the folks gathered on the new, multi-artist album Silver Bullet Bluegrass. This hearty, chesty baritone has one of the collection’s standout tracks, an exhilarating ride on wheels of fleet picking and close harmony singing. It feels like a splash of mountain spring water on your face. And it turns out that Seger’s 1983 rock classic sounds simply splendid in a bluegrass setting. Appalachia meets Motor City. Enthusiastically recommended.
MAREN MORRIS / “I Hope I Never Fall In Love”
Writers: Delacey/Evan Blair/Lucy Healey/Maren Morris; Producer: Evan Blair; Label: Columbia Records
– This echoey, throbbing, bittersweet ballad has a lovely ‘60s pop vibe. The luscious melody is bolstered by a thumping backbeat, ringing guitar and ghostly female vocal harmonies. It’s drawn from her upcoming pop EP Intermission, due Aug. 12.
RANDALL KING / “I Could Be That Rain”
Writers: Brian Fuller/Mason Thornley; Producers: Jared Conrad, Randall King; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– It is one of the great mysteries of our time why this superb vocalist is not yet a country superstar. As always, he delivers the goods. This time, he rides atop a cool rhythm pattern and some crashing guitars as he wails to the heavens. So nice I played it twice.
PHIL VASSAR & JEFFREY STEELE / “Like A Man’s Supposed To”
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Phil Vassar; Producers: Jeffrey Steele, Scott Baggett; Label: 3 Ring Circus Records
– These two dudes are multiple award-winning troubadours. As a team, they sound like real brothers. This mid-tempo track has a retro, blue-eyed-soul flavor, punctuated by organ and sax blasts.
GREYLAN JAMES / “Who Broke Up With You”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Brad Clawson/Greylan James; Producers: Brock Berryhill, Greylan James, Jason Massey; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– It starts out kinda dull, but when he kicks into the hooky part, the thing takes off. The gist of it is that the guy who broke up with her must have been out of his mind. The production churns along nicely as he unspools his observations.
MEGAN MORONEY / “Hell Of A Show”
Writer: Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records
– He treats her mean, but she has to hide her heartbreak because the show must go on. Anyone who has had to smile in spite of pain can relate to this tiny gem. It is performed with just a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment to her aching vocal delivery. The brief, tender little heartbreaker is the closing track on her brilliant new sophomore album Am I Okay?
JETT HOLDEN & CASSADEE POPE / “Karma”
Writer: Jett Holden; Producer: Will Hoge; Label: Black Opry Records
– This one is a darkly sinister rocker with a rapid-fire vocal delivery. He sings splendidly, Pope adds a perfect vocal assist, and the production kicks butt. Like many beginning country songwriters, he is overly word-y. But there is real promise here.
SHELBY LYNNE / “Gone To Bed”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Karen Fairchild/Shelby Lynne; Producers: Ashley Monroe, Gena Johnson, Karen Fairchild, Shelby Lynne; Label: Monument Records
– Lynne’s first album in nine years is an audio pop wonderland. Its single starts off with an extended, spoken-word heartbreak meditation, followed by a dreamy, airy tune in an electronic soundscape. Titled Consequences of the Crown, the collection drops on Aug. 16. Throughout the project, she is utterly fascinating.
DILLON JAMES / “River Black”
Writers: Dan Alley/Dillon James/Jason Gantt; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Buena Vista Records
– The title tune of this guy’s debut EP is a bluesy country rocker with a stately, stomping pace. Moody and intense.
RHONDA VINCENT / “Wagon Wheel”
Writers: Bob Dylan/Ketch Secor; Producer: Rhonda Vincent; Label: Upper Management Music
– The Queen of Bluegrass drops her new Destinations and Fun Places collection tomorrow (Aug. 9). She has already issued her covers of “Please Mr. Please” and the IBMA award-nominated “City of New Orleans” as teasers for the album. Now the Opry star is taking on the Darius Rucker/Old Crow Medicine Show hit with a soprano vocal harmony by Alison Krauss. Vincent and her band The Rage take an extended instrumental ride toward the song’s finale, extending the single to seven minutes in length. This is the oft-played song’s sweetest version yet.
REDFERRIN / “Just Like Johnny”
Writers: Blake Redferrin/Micah Wilshire; Producers: Jake Saghi, Micah Wilshire, Redferrin; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– The reason he is “just like Johnny” is that he is deeply into substance abuse. He cautions her that he “ain’t nowhere close to walking that line.” He loves her, but thinks he will always hurt her, let her down and put her through misery…. and that he will never change. Depressing yet compelling.
JOE ELY / “Driven To Drive”
Writer: Joe Ely; Producer: Joe Ely; Label: Rack ‘Em Records
– Some 23 albums into his career, this Americana stalwart is issuing a “road” album that celebrates the freedom of the highway. This propulsive country-rocker sets the mood.
Big Machine Music Signs Lanie Gardner
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Big Machine Label Group’s Megan Joyce and Lauren Davis, Left Right Management’s Jonathan Craig, Taylor Guttmann and PLLC’s Rachel Guttmann; (L-R, front row): Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Lanie Gardner and Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle. Photo: Eden Gerlock for Big Machine Music
Big Machine Music has signed singer-songwriter Lanie Gardner to an exclusive co-publishing deal.
Gardner, a North Carolina native, was born into a musical family who supported her writing from the age of 12. Influenced by a blend of rock and country, she has earned over a million social media followers with her sound.
“Lanie is a force of nature. While still early in her journey, she is already a powerhouse of originality as an artist, songwriter and person,” says BMM’s President Mike Molinar. “We are proud that she has chosen Big Machine Music to join her team as her publishing partners.”
“I am so excited to sign my first publishing deal. Alex Heddle, Mike Molinar and the team at Big Machine Music understand that songwriting is core to my artistry,” shares Gardner. “Here’s to new beginnings!”
Gardner latest release “Chasing The Wind” is featured on Twisters: The Album, alongside a track list of some of today’s biggest country music stars.
12th Annual Watershed Festival Rocks The Gorge Amphitheatre
/by Lorie HollabaughWatershed Festival 2024. Photo: FlyHi Films
The 12th annual Watershed Festival took place this past weekend at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre with a slate of performances from headliners Old Dominion, Luke Bryan and Hardy, among others.
Old Dominion headlining Watershed Festival 2024. Photo: Bubba Sellars
Zach Top kicked off the three-day event on Friday (Aug. 2) along with Meg McRee and Terri Clark. As night began to fall, Riley Green took the stage, inviting Jake Worthington out and honoring the late Toby Keith with a clip of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” Old Dominion then closed out the night, welcoming Top back out to perform a rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.”
Saturday morning (Aug. 3) started with the first-ever Speedy Shedder Fun Run, a race for festival-goers that welcomed donations to support OK Kids Korral, a haven for families while a child undergoes cancer treatment. Packed with sets across two stages, attendees sang along to Ashland Craft, Brian Kelley, Dylan Scott and Cole Swindell. Bryan opened his set with “That’s My Kind of Night,” and also paid tribute to Keith with a cover of “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” He later had Swindell and Scott join him on stage for “This Is How We Roll.”
The annual contest for best campsite continued this year with the theme “Brought to you courtesy of the red, white and blue,” in memory of Keith, and both Friday and Saturday nights ended with dance parties under the stars at the Next From Nashville Stage with late night sets from Dee Jay Silver.
Pecos & The Rooftops, The Cadillac Three and Koe Wetzel concluded the festivities alongside headliner Hardy, who brought his genre-blending anthems and high-energy production. The weekend also featured performances from McRee, Worthington, Annie Bosko, Sadie Bass, Zandi Holup, Greylan James, Jade Eagleson, Graham Barham, Kassi Ashton and more on the Next From Nashville stage.
Hardy headlining Watershed Festival 2024. Photo: Bubba Sellars
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit To Release ‘Live From The Ryman Vol. 2’
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Isbell and The 400 Unit will release Live From The Ryman Vol. 2, the latest collection of tracks recorded during their sold-out stints at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, on Oct. 4 via Southeastern Records.
Live From The Ryman Vol. 2 pulls multi-track recordings by the band’s longtime front-of-house engineer Cain Hogsed from four of the last six years of Ryman shows. Co-produced by Jason Isbell and Hogsed and mixed with Todd Tidwell, the album features 15 live versions of songs from their last two studio albums, Reunions and Weathervanes, as well as a rendition of “The Last Song I Will Write” from Isbell’s 2009 self-titled project and a cover of Tom Petty’s “Room at the Top.”
The group will return to the historic venue for their annual eight-night residency in October.
Live From The Ryman Vol. 2 Track Listing:
1. “Save the World”
2. “King of Oklahoma”
3. “Only Children”
4. “Overseas”
5. “Dreamsicle”
6. “Running with Our Eyes Closed”
7. “Middle of the Morning”
8. “The Last Song I Will Write”
9. “Strawberry Woman”
10. “Cast Iron Skillet”
11. “Miles”
12. “River”
13. “When We Were Close”
14. “Room at the Top”
15. “This Ain’t It”
Capitol Christian Music Group Promotes Three
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Emily Dashiell, Jeff Gunkel and Carlos Monnaco. Photos: Austin Lord
Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has promoted Emily Dashiell to Senior Vice President of Commercial Partnerships, Jeff Gunkel to Senior Vice President of Market Development and Carlos Monnaco to Senior Vice President of Finance.
“We are thrilled to share the exciting news of Emily Dashiell, Jeff Gunkel and Carlos Monnaco’s well-deserved promotions,” share CCMG Co-Presidents Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy. “Their commitment to the company and their teams has been instrumental in our success and in our relationships with our artists and writers. We know that they will continue to do great things in their expanded roles.”
Capitol Christian Music Group staff. Photo: Austin Lord
Dashiell joined CCMG as Brand Manager in 2015 to launch the company’s proprietary curator brand, SOZO Playlists. She most recently served as Vice President of Marketing & Commercial Partnerships, and was integral to the commercial success of artists NF, Anne Wilson, TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, Blessing Offor and more. In her new position, Dashiell will oversee CCMG’s revenue strategies across its entire portfolio. Additionally, she plans to continue to focus on partner activations with DSPs while also guiding the label business across global distribution, eCommerce/D2C, catalog marketing, streaming and playlisting strategy.
“I am incredibly honored to step into my expanded role at Capitol CMG! I want to thank Hudson Plachy and Brad O’Donnell for their continued leadership and support,” says Dashiell. “The future of Christian and gospel music is robust—and I’m eager to help drive new commercial strategy, bespoke innovation and accelerated growth for our talented roster of artists.”
Joining the company in 2004, Gunkel spent his first 14 years in key roles with CCMG Publishing. Rising from Vice President of Market Development, he will now oversee the areas of market development and digital rights as well as Re:Think Records, which Gunkel helped relaunch in 2018. Under his leadership, Re:Think aims to work alongside artists and labels to grow their audience and enhance listener engagement.
“I am honored and excited to step into this new role,” expresses Gunkel. “Christian music has a vibrant future that will be built by artists paving new paths outside traditional industry landscapes. Re:Think is committed to constant evolution, setting its sights on how to meet the needs of artists by growing their reach to impact future generations.”
Monnaco formerly served as Vice President of Finance, and recently celebrated 18 years with the CCMG. His responsibilities have now expanded to include oversight of financial planning and analysis, royalty accounting and IT.
“Having served in the music industry for many years now, this opportunity to help steward the legacy of our artists and writers is both humbling and exciting,” says Monnaco. “I’m grateful to both Hudson and Brad and look forward to keep supporting our creative community as they continue to bring an uplifting message to a worldwide audience.”