Craig Campbell To Honor Influences With New Album ‘Class Of ’89’

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Craig Campbell is paying homage to the songs and influences that helped shape him as an artist with his forthcoming album, Class Of  ’89, out April 19 via Grindstone Recordings.

For the project, he reinvented six classic country tracks that are special to him, including “Killin’ Time,” “Too Cold At Home” and “On The Other Hand.” Additionally, the album cover was taken by a local photographer in Campbell’s hometown of Lyons, Georgia after he won his first talent show singing another featured track, “Be My Baby Tonight.”

“Killin’ Time was the first album (cassette) I ever bought with my own money. That album changed my life,” he recalls. “‘Too Cold At Home’ is a song we played every show. That song became a staple for us, and the fans got to where they expected us to play it. And ‘On The Other Hand’ was the first song my wife ever heard me sing. She didn’t even really know me at the time but she says that’s the moment I landed on her radar!

“I have been dreaming of recording this album for as long as I can remember,” continues Campbell. “These songs are some of the reasons I fell in love with country music in the first place. Every song on this album has a story, and each one of those stories shaped me into the country singer I am today. There will never be anyone that can do these songs as good as the originals, but at the very least I hope I made them proud.”

Brian Kelley To Tell His ‘Tennessee Truth’ In May

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Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Records

Brian Kelley plans to speak his Tennessee Truth with the release of his full-length debut album on May 10 via Big Machine Records.

Produced by Dann Huff, the project was crafted to incorporate both ’90s country elements and sounds designed to electrify the largest venues. Throughout Tennessee Truth, Kelley attests to the rejuvenation that rural living and everlasting love can provide as well as the power of guitars. He notes, “It’s a way for me to express myself and my family and our values.”

The Diamond-selling artist co-wrote eight of the album’s 12 tracks including single “Kiss My Boots,” which Kelley considers to be the most personal lyrical statement of his songwriting career. He shared the song today (March 6) along with it’s accompanying Ben Christensen-directed video.

YouTube video

“It was healing to write. I feel released now,” says Kelley of the track. “Everyone processes things differently. I went inward. I went to work and stayed busy. I’m proud of myself for doing it that way. It was worth it. Now, I have a song that helped me through a tough time. Hopefully, ‘Kiss My Boots’ can help a lot of people [by] giv[ing] them some confidence [to] help them get their power back.”

Tennessee Truth Track Listing:
1. “Acres”
2. “How We’re Livin'”
3. “King Ranch”
4. “Trucks, Ducks, Bucks & Beer”
5. “Goin’ Places”
6. “Barefeet Or Boots”
7. “Dirt Road Date Night”
8. “10 O’Clock On The Dock”
9. “See You Next Summer”
10. “Doin’ Nothin'”
11. “Dirt Cheap”
12. “Kiss My Boots”

BREAKING: UMG Nashville Appoints David Friedman To VP, National Promotion & Strategy

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David Friedman

UMG Nashville has elevated David Friedman to the newly created position of Vice President, National Promotion & Strategy.

Most recently, Friedman led the MCA Nashville Promotion team. In his new role, he will oversee all strategic elements of UMG Nashville’s Promotion operation. He brings over 25 years’ experience to the role including eight with UMG Nashville, where he has worked across the full artist roster.

“Over the past year, the UMG Nashville Promotion department has evolved, and having someone with David’s vast experience running point on our overall radio strategy makes the department stronger,” says UMG Nashville EVP & COO, Mike Harris. “Having his expertise at the center is a natural fit, and I’m really excited for David and to see where he can take this new role.”

“UMG Nashville has the best roster in the business, so I’m very excited to expand my role and work with all of our artists in this new capacity,” adds Friedman. “UMG has been my home for eight plus years and I’m looking forward to working with all four of our iconic imprints in plotting a course for the future. Thank you, Mike and Cindy [Mabe], for this great opportunity!”

David J To Share ‘Commitment Issues’ With Fans This Month

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David J is set to drop his Sony Music Nashville/Runner Music debut EP, Commitment Issues, on March 22.

The eight-song project features co-writes with Ryan Tedder, Grant Boutin, Danny Majic and more as well as a solo write by the artist, “Lie To Me.” The collection spotlights his ability to blend country storytelling with pop and hip hop elements. The 20-year-old taught himself to sing and play multiple instruments at the age of 15.

“There’s a song for everybody on the EP—it perfectly describes my musical taste, how I grew up listening to country but always liked hip hop. It embodies the music I like to make, and it’s a really good representation of who I am,” he says.

Additionally, the singer-songwriter will hit the road on his headlining “Commitment Issues Tour,” which kicks off April 4.

Commitment Issues Track Listing:

1. “Found A Girl” (David J/Danny Majic/Andrea Rosario/Dave Villa)
2. “Still” (David J/Grant Boutin/Coleton Rubin/Phil Simmonds)
3. “Feels Like You” (David J/Cate Downey/Phil Simmonds/Grey Ziegler)
4. “Boots To The Club” (David J/Emily Falvey/Austin Goodloe)
5. “Once” (David J/Dylan Brady/Michael Whitworth)
6. “After We Broke Up (feat. Frawley)” (David J/Cate Downey/LØLØ/Danny Majic/Lauren Frawley)
7. “Rest Of Your Life” (David J/Andrew DeRoberts/Ryan Tedder/Tyler Spry)
8. “Lie To Me” (David J)

Martina McBride To Speak At Change The Conversation Event

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Martina McBride. Photo: Robby Kline

Change The Conversation has tapped country legend Martina McBride for “A Conversation With Martina” on April 17.

“I was fortunate to have some great women in country who regularly encouraged me, and I remember how much it meant to get that compliment or that support or that feeling of ‘I see you,'” shares McBride. “I have the chance now to do that for a new generation of female musicians.”

Change The Conversation Co-Founder Tracy Gershon will lead the event, which will spotlight McBride’s career thus far.

McBride has also been a national advocate for women in country music and has used her platform to address gender inequities in the industry.

“I decided to speak about the lack of gender equality in country music because there’s still so much room for improvement,” she says. “I really believe that country music is so special because it’s about real life for so many people.  Real emotions, real stories…and it’s important to show more than one gender’s point of view.

“I think of the young women country music fans and think, ‘Where are their stories? Where are the things they can relate to?’ If you look back through country music history, so many of the timeless songs, the songs that made the biggest impact, are from women artists singing about their struggles or their pain or saying things with a sense of humor that other women can relate to.” McBride continues. “I think it’s important that we do whatever we can so that we don’t have a significant part of history that is missing from country music. We need to do whatever we can to rebalance these scales. Things can only get better if we’re all willing to come to the table and talk about the real issues.”

Sponsored by Regions, Media Row and The Change Agent·cy, the event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.

Randy Rogers Band Takes The Ryman Stage For Back-To-Back Shows

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Randy Rogers Band during their sold-out show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Annelise Sarah

Randy Rogers Band took the historic Ryman Auditorium stage in Nashville for back-to-back headlining shows on Friday (March 1) and Saturday (March 2) as part of the 20th anniversary tribute to their sophomore album, Rollercoaster.

Throughout the weekend, the group treated their audiences to fan-favorite hits and special guests. Friday night featured fellow Texan and collaborator Wade Bowen as the opening act and surprise guest later in the evening.

For Saturday’s sold-out show, collaborator Cody Canada and Stoney LaRue, also from the Lone Star State, set the tone with their opening sets. Additionally, Canada joined the band on stage for their co-penned hit “This Time Around,” and Rollercoaster producer Radney Foster made an appearance for “Kiss Me In The Dark.”

“My Texas Independence weekend was spent with all the bands I love in the most iconic venue in town. Nashville, Ryman Auditorium, thank you for embracing our brand of country music,” expressed Randy Rogers.

Tennessee Songwriters Week Wraps With Showcase Events Across The State

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Meagan Allen

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development recently wrapped its annual Tennessee Songwriters Week, celebrating the craft of songwriting around the state.

The competition’s sixth year had over 1,200 songwriters participating, performing at qualifying rounds at more than 50 venues, museums, attractions and cafes across the state during February. The showcase events took place last week all over Tennessee, where seven finalists were selected by judges to perform at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Those finalists include Izzy Arthurs, Jacc Moran, Ned Abernathy, Jeremy Wise, Echoing Sunset, Jack Settle and Meagan Allen.

Alex Hall, Adam Sanders and Tigirlily Gold served as judges for the competition in addition to CMT’s Leslie Fram. Tigirlily Gold also performed their song “I Tried A Ring On” at the showcase event in Portland, Tennessee, and Blake Shelton made a surprise video call to the audience and songwriters at the showcase event at Ole Red in Gatlinburg.

Each of the seven finalists earned the opportunity to perform at The Bluebird Cafe during a private event in March with music industry professionals as well as a branded commemorative Taylor guitar, two-night stay in Nashville, $100 gift card for travel and a one-year membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

Helmed by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week was established in 2019 to support music venues, celebrate songwriters with live performances in all genres of music, drive visitation and inspire travelers to experience the state’s music stories, history, attractions and venues. Since its inception, more than 4,000 songwriters have shared their original music across Tennessee stages during the annual celebration.

Eric Church Expresses Gratitude By Giving Chief’s Building To Fans

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Rendering of Chief’s Exterior. Photo: Courtesy of Chief’s

To thank his longtime supporters, Eric Church has given fans deeds to the individual bricks that form his new restaurant and live music venue in downtown Nashville, Chief’s.

Chief’s Sample Deed

Tens of thousands of people went online to match their personal deeds to the physical framework of the revitalized six-story establishment, making them a part of the new project.

“You’ve helped me build my career brick by brick, and I want the whole world to know that the building is yours,” Church shared with fans. “This is not just another club downtown. This is our house. I’ve been involved in every step of restoring this historic building into a place we can call our own and, because you’ve been with me every step of my career, I’m proud to dedicate a physical brick of the Chief’s building to each and every one of you.”

Fans also received the first of an ongoing series of digital collectibles, including a digital version of their brick that provides access to exclusive content in addition to more new perks like never-before-heard demos, unreleased video footage and priority entry at Chief’s. Other digital collectibles consist of access to a fan first edition vinyl of Church’s entire catalog as well as a copy of every new piece of vinyl released going forward, with all color variants.

Still under construction at 2nd Ave. N. and Broadway, Chief’s will feature a music venue and additional live entertainment throughout the building as well as unique décor including an array of Church’s concert posters. The space will also house a studio for Eric Church Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM and broadcasts by various media partners.

Additionally, rare items will be given away through the new technology. These items include a signed guitar paired with a digital collectible that grants access to content such as a lesson from Church’s guitarist Driver Williams and videos of the superstar’s guitar performances. Other giveaways include year-long subscriptions to SiriusXM and a chance to record a guest DJ set at the Chief’s studio as part of Eric Church Outsiders Radio’s Insiders Hour.

“My songs are mine, until I release them, and then they’re never mine again. And this building’s a lot that way,” reflects Church. “It’s been mine in the building of it, in the cultivating with the stories, the challenges and the successes. But once Chief’s opens, it’s not mine anymore. It belongs to the Choir. It belongs to the fans. It belongs to the patrons. It belongs to the stories they create there. It belongs to the music they listen to there and share from there. So, my story ends where theirs begins and that’s the essence of what you do musically and what we’re trying to do at Chief’s.”

CMT Next Women Of Country Presents Carter Faith As Featured Performer At 2024 Rising Women On The Row

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Presented by CMT Next Women of Country, singer-songwriter Carter Faith will bring her musical talents to MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Tuesday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

The 11th annual celebration will honor the 2024 class of Rising Women on the Row honorees, which include Tiffany Kerns, Taylor Lindsey, Sloane Cavitt Logue, Halie Hampton Mosley, Melissa Spillman and Candice Watkins. Read about the honorees here.

City National Bank, CMT Next Women of Country and Loeb & Loeb are Presenting Sponsors for the 2024 Rising Women on the Row.

As previously announced, music industry veteran Kerri Edwards will be the featured speaker at the event.

Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. Tickets will not be sold at the door, as the event is sold out.

Carter Faith has quickly made a name for herself in Music City. Whiskey Jam founder Ward Guenther has claimed that Faith is the “future of the next 10 years of Nashville” and Billboard named her Rookie of the Month. In addition to these accolades, Spotify included her on their annual Hot Country Artist To Watch list while also including her in their Fresh Finds program—marking the up-and-comer as the first country artist to ever be a part of this prestigious program.

Originally from Davidson, North Carolina, Faith taught herself how to play guitar and piano, and soon after began crafting lyrics as a way to make sense of the world around her. Faith has performed at numerous venues, including closing out a sold-out show at the legendary Ryman Auditorium as well as the historic Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville. She’s toured nationwide alongside artists like Cole Swindell, Carly Pearce, Luke Grimes, Keith Urban, Old Dominion, Chris Young, Kip Moore, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Willie Nelson, with many more tour looks expected this year.

The songstress recently signed with Universal Music Publishing Group and over the last two years, she’s garnered more than 60 million streams with her releases “Wild,” “Already Crazy,” “Greener Pasture,” “Cowboys & Dreamers,” “Joyride” and “Easy Pill,” as well as her debut EP Let Be Love. Faith is currently working on her debut album that is expected to be released in 2024.

Tenille Arts Slates ‘To Be Honest’ For May

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Award-winning singer-songwriter Tenille Arts has set the release of her fourth studio album, To Be Honest, for May 3. The 14-track project will be available via Dreamcatcher Entertainment and distributed through STEM.

“To Be Honest is the most important album of my musical journey so far, and I couldn’t be prouder of it,” says Arts. “After celebrating the highest highs of my career, I ended up in a difficult place in my life. As always, I went to music to process what I was going through. These 14 songs share a truly honest take of where I’ve been in the past couple of years. I hope that when people listen they know that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes… and that there’s still so much happy and beautiful even in the hard times. I owe my fans something deeply real and I owe myself something deeply real. Thank you for taking the time to listen!”

YouTube video

Arts co-penned 12 out of the 14 tracks with her frequent collaborators and hit songwriters such as Ross Copperman, Emily Weisband, James McNair, Alex Kline, Allison Veltz Cruz, Jesse Frasure, Jessie Jo Dillon and more. The final song recorded for the record, “So Do I,” was written by music superstar Demi Lovato with King Henry, Sasha Sloan and Laura Veltz. Copperman, Henry, Kline, Frasure and Nathan Chapman all have producer credits on the album.

Track “Wonder Woman” sees the return of a history making team comprised of Arts, Veltz Cruz and Kline, who became the first all-female team to write, record and produce a No. 1 country single with “Somebody Like That” off Arts’ Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between album.

To Be Honest also features two collaborations, “Jealous Of Myself” with LeAnn Rimes and “Last Time Last” with Maddie & Tae. 

To Be Honest Track Listing:
1. “To Be Honest” (Ross Copperman, Emily Weisband, James McNair, Tenille Arts). Produced by Ross Copperman
2. “So Do I” (King Henry, Demi Lovato, Sasha Sloan, Laura Veltz). Produced by King Henry
3. “Wonder Woman” (Alex Kline, Tenille Arts, Allison Veltz Cruz). Produced by Alex Kline
4. “Dying To Be Pretty” (Jesse Frasure, Jessi Jo Dillon, Tenille Arts). Produced by Jesse Frasure
5. “Something I Can Cry To” (Jesse Frasure, Jessi Jo Dillon, Tenille Arts). Produced by Jesse Frasure
6. “How Do You Sleep” (Sasha Sloan, Henry Agincourt Allen, Tenille Arts). Produced by King Henry
7. “People Change” (Chris Lacorte, Emily Weisband, Tenille Arts). Produced by Ross Copperman
8. “Want Her Back” (Tenille Arts, Scott Stepakoff, Aaron Eshuis). Produced by Ross Copperman
9. “Next Best Thing”  (Emily Weisband, Ross Copperman, Tenille Arts). Produced by Ross Copperman
10. “Call Me When You Get Home Friends” (Tenille Arts, Alex Kline, Trannie Anderson). Produced by Alex Kline
11. “Mama’s Eyes” (Tenille Arts, Alex Kline, Trannie Anderson). Produced by Alex Kline
12. “Summer Don’t Go” (Allison Veltz Cruz, Jordan Reynolds, Tenille Arts). Produced by Ross Copperman
13. “Jealous of Myself” (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Emily Weisband, Trevor Rosen, John Byron). Produced by Nathan Chapman
14. “Last Time Last” (feat. Maddie & Tae)  (Tenille Arts, Alex Kline, Allison Veltz Cruz, Trannie Anderson). Produced by Alex Kline