Pictured (L-R, back row): Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson, Big Loud’s Mike Giangreco, Anthem Entertainment’s Courtney Crist, Red Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb, Concord’s Brad Kennard, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri and Sony Music Nashville’s Dennis Reese; (L-R, front row): BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Brett Tyler, Kelly Archer, Corey Kent, Chris Farren and Studio Bank’s Ron Cox. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
BMI hosted their first No. 1 celebration of 2024 on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 20) for Corey Kent‘s first-ever chart-topper “Wild as Her,” a Chris Farren-produced track written by Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler and Morgan Wallen.
Excitement and pride for the song’s creators emitted from fellow industry members as they filled the lobby. BMI’s MaryAnn Keen kicked things off by calling Kent, Farren, Tyler and Archer to the stage.
She shared that although Wallen couldn’t to make it to the event, everyone was happy that he was able to be there that day to co-write the Platinum-certified single. Keen moved on to talk about Tyler, who notched his second No. 1 with “Wild as Her.” She described his years of hard work and patience, and advised the crowd “not to sleep on him” as she called him “the next big thing.” Keen then brought attention to Archer and the significant impact she’s had as a female songwriter in the country format. She continued by noting that the songstress now has four No. 1s under her belt and listing the numerous accolades Archer has collected over the course her career thus far. Keen finished by addressing Kent and spotlighted his explosion in the Nashville music scene as well as the support he shows fellow songwriters by recording outside cuts.
The artist’s adorable son made his way on stage to sit on his dad’s lap as Anthem Entertainment’s Courtney Crist stepped up to the mic. Crist expressed her love for the hit and referred to it as “a song every songwriter wishes they had written.” She stated how happy Anthem is to represent Tyler and Archer and thanked all of their partners as well as Farren and Kent for their involvement before congratulating the contributors. Red Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb took the floor to applaude each person that helped get “Wild as Her” to where it is today and speak more about Archer.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Liza Anderson, Brett Tyler, Kelly Archer, Corey Kent, Chris Farren and MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
“Kelly doesn’t give up on her songs, and this song is a prime example [of that],” he said. “She knows what will connect with fans, because she has been one and continues to be one. She also pushes for the song to be highest quality it can be in the writers’ room and it comes through.” Lamb added, “Kelly doesn’t give up on herself. There are many moments throughout her story where she could’ve thrown in towel and moved back home but because of her confidence and God-given gift to write songs, her music continues to impact countless people. Finally, Kelly doesn’t give up on her people. She fights hard for the people she cares for and trusts her team.”
Big Loud’s Mike Giangreco was on deck to represent Wallen noting, “It’s always important to [Morgan] to celebrate the songwriters, and it’s important to him that he’s a songwriter on another No. 1 song,” and took some time to thank BMI and the teams included in the accomplishment while congratulating Kent, Farren, Tyler and Archer.
Up next was Warner Chappell Music’s Jessi Stevenson, who explained that “Wild as Her” is a testament to the fact that maybe the artist a song is meant for isn’t ready or in town yet and goes to show that writers should never give up on the work in their catalogs. She wrapped by acknowledging all of the contributing companies and commending the track’s creatives.
Concord’s Brad Kennard spoke on behalf of Matt Turner, who was unable to attend. He followed his praises of the singer, producer and writers by reading a special statement from Turner, who witnessed the full evolution of “Wild as Her.” Studio Bank’s Ron Cox then stepped up to emphasize how sacred and special these parties are and announce that a donation had been in Kent and the songwriters’ names to the Tim Tebow Foundation, which provides worldwide support to vulnerable people living in chaos and crisis. Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly took the stage to discuss how the tune influenced the country music conversation before Sony Music Nashville’s Dennis Reese took the stage to tell the more of the story behind the song and salute those who gave it life. Reese recalled hearing “Wild as Her” for the first time and detailed texting Steve Hodges immediately after hearing it about how he wanted it on RCA while describing what led to Kent’s signing.
“It takes a lot not just to get a song to No. 1, but to be a song that really has staying power,” he stated. “This song is still streaming almost four million a week—that’s the sign of a hit to me. It’s something people want to go back to over and over and it becomes a part of the soundtrack of their lives.”
Farren then expressed his gratitude and appreciation for his team members and the other individuals that played key roles the smash single’s success while recounting its growth. “There’s so much goodwill surrounding this song, it really fills me with a lot of satisfaction and joy,” he said. Farren recognized the writers before shining a light on Kent. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of artists over the years, some really good ones. In a world where it’s really hard sometimes to distinguish the really good from the mediocre, because there’s a lot of mediocre, [Corey] is the real deal. There’s nothing fake about what he does.”
Archer was the first writer to speak and thanked all of the contributing parties for their hard work and belief in “Wild as Her.” Among the many individual shoutouts, she gave a special one to Red Creative Group’s Jeremy Stover for talking her into staying in Nashville, and moved into recognizing her fellow collaborators and Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), where she serves on the Board of Directors. “Everyone who came out today, I really appreciate you all—from my co-writers to my friends,” Archer shared before informing everyone of the important work NSAI does for songwriters.
Tyler then took the stage to crack a few jokes and make us all laugh, while sincerely stating his admiration for his fellow creators and the musicians and engineers involved. He moved on to thank all of those in both his personal corner and his professional corner. Humorous yet touching, Tyler concluded, “I want to thank TJ Maxx for dressing me, my wife’s Starbucks habit for stressing me, the devil for testing me and Corey singing ‘Wild as Her’ for blessing for me.”
Finally, Kent took the mic, a ray of light beaming through the lobby onto him. He started by thanking his family, God and every group involved in his milestone song. Kent finished by lauding Archer, Tyler and Wallen. “At the end of the day, as honored as I am to be standing up here, this in my mind is a songwriters’ award. So please, one more time, make some noise for the people that wrote this song.”
Banjo Great & ‘Hee Haw’ Star Roni Stoneman Passes
/by Robert K OermannRoni Stoneman. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Roni Stoneman, a member of the CMA Award-winning group The Stonemans and a longtime comedian and musician on the country television show Hee Haw, has died at age 85.
Born Veronica Loretta Stoneman in 1938, she was the youngest daughter of Country Music Hall of Fame member Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman (1893-1968). He and his wife Hattie Frost Stoneman (1900-1976) had 23 children, 15 of whom survived to adulthood and seven of whom formed a family band with him. Pop Stoneman was one of country music’s pioneers of the 1920s. He faced hard times during the 1930s, then began rebuilding his career with his children.
Roni Stoneman was raised by her parents to become a country music professional. At around age 9, she joined the family act in 1947, which was initially billed as Pop Stoneman and His Little Pebbles. Three of the children became renowned for their instrumental talents. Roni perfected three-finger bluegrass banjo. Donna excelled at “cross picking” mandolin. Scotty Stoneman (1932-1973) was a five-time national fiddle champion who was regarded as one of country music’s great fiddlers before dying of alcoholism.
In 1957, Roni Stoneman, age 19, was tapped to play on American Banjo: Tunes & Songs in Scruggs Style. This is now regarded as the first bluegrass album. During the early 1960s, The Stonemans became wildly popular on folk and bluegrass festival stages, playing everywhere from the Monterey Folk Festival to the Smithsonian Institution.
She and The Stonemans began recording for Starday Records in 1962. In 1965, The Stonemans relocated to Nashville, where they were guided by Jack Clement on a series of albums for MGM and RCA. In 1966, the group landed its own syndicated TV series, Those Stonemans, and became the long-running headline act at The Black Poodle nightclub in Printer’s Alley. Roni’s solo spot was often the comedic “Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog.”
In 1967, The Stonemans won the inaugural CMA Vocal Group of the Year award. After Pop died in 1968, Roni’s autoharp-playing older sister Patsy Stoneman (1925-2015) assumed leadership of the family group. The 1969 Pop Stoneman Memorial Album on MGM contained a gem, a previously recorded Roni Stoneman and Pop Stoneman duet on the folk song “The Mountaineer’s Courtship.” This was one of the last attempts to market old-time music by a major label. On the road, Roni’s comedy and banjo talents, plus Donna’s dancing and mandolin work, continued to define The Stonemans’ showmanship.
Roni left the group for a solo career around 1971. Two years later, she joined the cast of Hee Haw. The show routinely showcased her banjo virtuosity, but she became even more beloved for portraying the braying, gap-teethed, ironing-board harpy “Ida Lee Nagger,” shrieking one liners at her shiftless drunk of a husband, “LaVerne” (Gordie Tapp).
In between annual tapings of the show, Roni Stoneman headlined as a solo act at Disneyworld, entertaining an estimated 250,000 fans there in 1976. She also appeared in the 1975 film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings starring Burt Reynolds. An acclaimed 1981 double LP titled The First Family of Country Music showcased nine Stoneman siblings, including Roni. Her daughters Barbara and Georgia also appeared on the record, as did the children of her brothers and sisters. She launched her own Roni Stoneman’s Music Park in Kentucky in 1989. It failed, leading to her bankruptcy petition late that year.
Her skits on Hee Haw continued. In addition to her “Ida Lee’ character, she was “Mophead,” the maid in the “Empty Arms Hotel” skits. She also starred in the show’s Hee Haw Banjo Band, demonstrating her picking prowess. Hee Haw became the most successful and longest lived syndicated TV program in history. During her tenure with the show, she recorded solo efforts for the Chart, Dot, Playback and Spin Chek labels. Roni Stoneman remained with Hee Haw until 1991. In 1992, she formed her all-female country band The Daisy Maes. In the 1990s, she worked the bluegrass-festival circuit with her bluegrass group Formal Grass. She divorced the fifth of her abusive husbands during this era.
Sometimes billed as “The First Lady of the Banjo,” Roni Stoneman continued to book solo shows into the early 2000s. She entertained in country nightclubs, on bluegrass festivals and at college campuses. She appeared at the annual International Country Music Conference of academics in Nashville in 2003 and 2012. She recorded a solo CD, Bummin’ Around, and collaborated with sister Donna on The Legend Continues. With sister Patsy, the women also issued The Stoneman Tradition. In 2007, Roni Stoneman published her autobiography, Pressing On. She and her family were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
Roni Stoneman died on Thursday, Feb. 22 surrounded by her children. She had been in hospice care recently. Her death leaves sister Donna, 90, as the original family’s sole survivor. In addition to Donna, Roni Stoneman is survived by five children. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
JUST IN: BMLG Records Rebrands As Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
/by LB CantrellBig Machine Label Group imprint BMLG Records is rebranding as Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Initially founded as a joint venture in 2009 as Republic Nashville, Big Machine Label Group acquired full ownership of the imprint in 2015 and renamed it BMLG Records.
The imprint’s new namesake is meant to serve as a mark of a safe place for artists and executives to write, create, grow and flourish. Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s artist roster includes Riley Green, Brett Young, Chris Janson, Lady A, Greylan James and Shane Profitt. Jimmy Harnen remains the President/CEO, with operations continuing as normal.
“Under Jimmy’s leadership, this imprint has built an incredible reputation with the monstrous success of Florida Georgia Line and Lady A, more than 40 No. 1 hits, countless RIAA certifications/awards and impressive team of music executives that share in his passion,” shares Big Machine Label Group Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta. “Since its inception, this label has been an exercise in experimentation and innovation and I have no doubt that the possibilities are endless for this team.”
“This label has always given artists the freedom to create music that is true to them and we want to double down on that and continue to create even more of a haven for creativity and an environment that fosters development,” says Harnen. “We want to take the time to nurture talent and provide a place they can call home.”
Janson’s forthcoming single “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” will be the first release under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. It comes out March 8.
“This rebranding is EXCITING, and I’m very happy to be first out of the gate, with ‘Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,'” Janson says. “The entire team has my upmost respect, confidence, and gratitude. They have shown me what a winning team is, and I’m more than proud to be here and to be recognized on Harbor’s amazing artist roster.”
“This team has been in my corner since the very beginning. They’ve been so supportive of my family and my dreams and truly have always been a safe harbor for me and my music—the new name feels fitting,” adds Young
Green says, “Scott and Jimmy have always created an artist-first culture and I’m glad to be part of this team as it expands further.”
“Jimmy and his team are some of the most passionate advocates for country music and we’re excited to see what we can do together next,” adds Lady A.
Industry Ink: Chase Matthew, Concord, Nashville Briefing, ‘Melodies For Minds’
/by Madison HahnenChase Matthew Receives RIAA Platinum & Gold Certifications
Chase Matthew
Rising country artist Chase Matthew was surprised with two RIAA certifications after his Opry performance on Feb. 16. The first plaque was presented for “County Line,” which is his first ever RIAA Platinum certification. He was also presented with a RIAA Gold certification for “Love You Again.”
Matthew has earned over 930 million global career streams, 280 million of those being for “County Line.” “Love You Again,” the singer’s debut single, is currently in the top 30 at country radio.
Colton Venner & Clayton Mullen Perform At Concord Studios
Pictured (L-R): Brad Kennard, Courtney Allen, Clayton Mullen, Colton Venner, Melissa Spillman and Matt Turner. Photo: Audrey Spillman
Last week, Concord Music Publishing hosted a special event at Concord Studios in Nashville featuring songs from Colton Venner and Clayton Mullen.
Nashville Briefing Celebrates Annual 30 Under 30 List
Pictured (L-R): Jackie Augustus (Spotify), Carlile Willett (WME), Claire Heinichen (Spotify), Andrew Hart and Zak Kuhn (Founder, Nashville Briefing). Photo: Sam Harris
Members of the Nashville music industry gathered at The Eighth Room on Monday night (Feb. 19) to celebrate Nashville Briefing‘s annual 30 Under 30 List. People in attendance included Judah & The Lion’s Judah Akers, Chase Matthew, Ian Munsick, Spotify’s Jackie Augustus, Spotify’s Claire Heinichen, CAA’s Blake McDaniel, The Neal Agency’s Ryan Beuschel, songwriter Jordan Dozzi, WME’s Carlile Willett, Monument Records’ Joel Beaver, Sony Music Nashville’s Parker Stacey and many others.
“It’s crazy to think about what has come from this annual list and event” said Nashville Briefing Founder Zak Kuhn. “Our first year, we had someone raise money for their startup from a VC they met at our party. Last year, someone met their publisher at this party. I can’t wait to hear about who met who this time around. Four years in, being included on our 30 UNDER 30 list has become like a Nashville secret handshake. We’ve built a mega community of honorees that not only gather once a year to party in person, but are in touch year round to continue supporting each other’s careers.”
‘Melodies For Minds’ Raises Over $268,000
Walker Hayes. Photo: Grace Kirkpatrick
On Feb. 6, Loveless Café hosted “Melodies For Minds,” an event that raised over $268,000 for The Refuge Center for Counseling and the Change Your Brain Foundation. Country star Walker Hayes headlined the event, while other notable attendees included Adam Woolard, Ben Zobrist, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, David Arquette, Christina Arquette, Cole and Savannah LaBrant, Kristin Cavallari, Jed Wyatt, Lacey Hester, Noah Hester, Savannah Chrisley and more.
“‘Melodies For Minds’ was an undeniable success and we are so excited for the ripple effect it will have on our community as the word about mental health and brain health continues to spread outwards. Breaking the stigma around mental health and acknowledging the need to ‘not be okay’ is the first and hardest step to take towards healing, but it is one we get to take together as a community,” shares Amy Alexander, Founder of The Refuge Center.
The MLC Makes Six Appointments To Advisory Committees
/by Liza AndersonThe Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has made six appointments to its advisory committees.
“The MLC Board and its nominating committee appreciate all the submissions by writers and publishers who want to do their part by working with The MLC on these important committees. In reviewing and interviewing the many applicants, the board has chosen those who we believe will best contribute to the diversity and knowledge of the existing committees,” states Alisa Coleman, The MLC Board Chair.
Songwriter David “DQ” Quiñones has been appointed to the Dispute Resolution Committee along with Consuelo Sayago, Industry Relations Advisor at Spirit Music Group, and Matthew Skiba, Vice President, Rights & Content at Vydia. The Dispute Resolution Committee makes recommendations to the organization’s board on policies and procedures for the processing of royalties related to works that are subject to disputes over ownership, and is comprised of five songwriters and five representatives of music publishers.
Lidia Kim, Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs at Concord Music Publishing, has been appointed to the Operations Advisory Committee. The Operations Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the board on policies and procedures related to the operations of the Collective, including the efficient investment in and deployment of information technology and data resources. It consists of of six representatives of music publishers and six representatives of digital music providers.
Songwriter “Bruce” Waynne Nugent has been appointed to the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee alongside Dale Esworthy, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Administration at Sony Music Publishing. The Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee recommends policies and procedures to board related to the distribution of unclaimed accrued royalties, and is comprised of five songwriters and five representatives of music publishers.
Committee appointments are for three-year terms.
The Wilder Blue Forms Partnerships With Make Wake Artists/Deep Roots Management & WME
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Dylan Wright (Deep Roots Management), Eric Berger (Make Wake Artists/Deep Roots Management), Chris Kappy (Make Wake Artists), HB Riordan (Make Wake Artists), Zane Williams, Lyndon Hughes, Andy Rogers, Sean Rodriguez, Paul Eason, Carrie Murphy (WME), Shaun Reeder (Atomic Music Group), Geoff Turner (WME), Braeden Rountree (WME). Photo: Devan Garcia
Texas band The Wilder Blue has signed with Nashville-based management companies Make Wake Artists and Deep Roots Management. The band, who just made their Grand Ole Opry debut, will be co-managed by Make Wake’s Chris Kappy and Deep Roots’ Dylan Wright, with Make Wake/Deep Roots’ Eric Berger and HB Riordan as partnering day-to-days.
The Wilder Blue formed in 2019, and is comprised of primary frontman and songwriter Zane Williams, lead guitarist Paul Eason, bassist Sean Rodriguez, drummer Lyndon Hughes and multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers. Their most recent album, Super Natural, shows off their Texas twang and southern harmonies. It was produced by Grammy-nominee Brent Cobb.
“We are very excited to be a part of the team that represents The Wilder Blue,” shares Kappy. “This supergroup of musicians and vocal talent is something to behold. With five-part harmonies and musicianship that rivals a band of session players, we know that witnessing this live show is a joy for any music lover. We look forward to helping more eyes and ears experience the phenomenon that is The Wilder Blue.”
“We are thrilled about our partnership with this exceptionally talented group of individuals comprising The Wilder Blue,” says Wright. “Their mastery of five-part harmonies is on par with the industry’s finest, showcasing a level of musical excellence that is truly remarkable. With their exceptional songwriting, we anticipate that this band will make a significant impact on both the country and Americana music scenes.”
As the band continues to emerge out of Texas, they’ve also signed with WME for global representation, working with WME Partner Braeden Rountree and agents Geoff Turner and Carrie Murphy.
“We have been big fans of The Wilder Blue’s incredible music for some time,” says Turner. “The energy and musicianship they bring in a live setting is a level all its own, and we are honored to be a part of their team.”
“Combining talents and working together is how The Wilder Blue got to where we are,” shares Williams. “Adding the talented folks at Make Wake Artists and WME to our team is the perfect opportunity to take us even farther and we are pumped to take this journey together.”
The Wilder Blue will join Luke Combs on his upcoming “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour,” which includes 30 stadium shows.
Kenny Chesney Shares Tracklist & New Song From Upcoming Album ‘Born’
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney has unveiled the tracklist for his upcoming album Born, out March 22. To coincide with preorders going live, Chesney has released the introspective “Thinkin’ Bout” for his latest grat track, which centers around the complicated tangle of knowing it’s time to move on and not quite being able to let go.
“The hardest part of letting go,” says Chesney, “is actually letting go. All that chemistry, all that intimacy, all that doesn’t need to be said is such a big thing… Whatever’s wrong, obviously it’s not gonna change. But it gets late, you get thinking–and next thing you know, you’re tumbling back into something that just can’t be. I love this song, because it gets into that space where you’re thinking about knowing you shouldn’t do this, shouldn’t think about that person, and that’s when maybe the letting go can really start to happen no matter how good it feels or how much you make each other laugh.”
The project contains 15 songs including lead-off track “Take Her Home” as well as “Just To Say We Did,” “One More Sunset,” “Blame It On The Salt,” “One Lonely Island” and more. Top tier fan club members and anyone who has already purchased tickets to the “Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour” received a link to purchase a special tour edition of Born with three extra live tracks. Fans who buy tickets going forward will receive the link as well.
Born Track Listing:
1. “Born”
2. “Just To Say We Did”
3. “Take Her Home”
4. “Few Good Stories”
5. “Thinkin’ Bout”
6. “Guilty Pleasure”
7. “One More Sunset”
8. “Top Down”
9. “The Way I Love You Now”
10. “This Too Shall Pass”
11. “Blame It On The Salt”
12. “Come Here, Go Away”
13. “One Lonely Island”
14. “Long Gone”
15. “Wherever You Are Tonight”
Travis Denning To Release Debut Album ‘Roads That Go Nowhere’
/by Madison HahnenTravis Denning will release his debut album Roads That Go Nowhere on May 24. The Mercury Nashville artist co-wrote 12 of the 15 tracks on the record, and it was produced by Paul DiGiovanni and Jeremy Stover. The project also includes features from Hardy and Josh Ross.
“Roads That Go Nowhere is a culmination of songs and stories that I really believe reflect where I’ve come from, what I’ve been through, and the places I’ve yet to go and where I want to go,” shares Denning. “That’s with love, music, life, everything. I’m at that point in my life where I’m able to look back and reflect on the things that have gotten me here. A lot of them are positive and there are some negatives for sure. But I think that’s kind of everybody’s goal is to be able to look back and just be happy with the progress they’ve made and the potential they’ve still got.
“I wanted to take that mindset lyrically and production wise for the record that I’ve gotten to where I am, and I’ve had the successes I’ve had because I just stuck to the guns of what I enjoy doing. That’s being a guitar player, it’s trying to moonlight as a metalhead in country music and telling the stories about the things I have conviction about.”
To celebrate the announcement of the album, Denning has released the title track “Roads That Go Nowhere.”
Denning will be playing headline dates through the fall, and will be supporting Hardy in his “Quit!! Tour” this spring and summer.
Roads That Go Nowhere Track Listing:
1. “Why I’m Drinking” (Josh Kerr, Jon Nite, Cole Taylor)
2. “I Know How It Sounds” (Travis Denning, Will Bundy, Chase McGill)
3. “Better At Leaving” (Travis Denning, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell)
4. “Strawberry Wine And A Cheap Six Pack” (Travis Denning, Thomas Archer, Paul DiGiovanni, Jerry Flowers)
5. “Going Places” (Travis Denning, Paul DiGiovanni, Matt Mulhare, Jeremy Stover)
6. “Someone That Isn’t Me” (Travis Denning, Paul DiGiovanni, Blake Pendergrass, Bobby Pinson)
7. “Southern Rock (Featuring Hardy) “(Travis Denning, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill)
8. “Love You Past That” (Travis Denning, Bobby Pinson, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Stover)
9. “Things I’m Going Through” (Jordan Dozzi, Matt Mulhare)
10. “Add Her To The List” (Paul DiGiovanni, Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover)
11. “Roads That Go Nowhere” (Travis Denning, Ben Foster, James McNair)
12. “The Sound Of A Beer Getting Cracked (Featuring Josh Ross)” (Travis Denning, Will Bundy, Chase McGill)
13. “Can’t Find One” (Travis Denning, Chase McGill, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Stover)
14. “Here And Her” (Travis Denning, Ben Johnson, Cole Taylor)
15. “Ocmulgee River” (Travis Denning)
‘Mamaw’s House’ Tops The MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart
/by LB CantrellThomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen top the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with their collaboration “Mamaw’s House.”
The two singers wrote the song with Matt Dragstrem and Chase McGill, and it is included on Rhett’s retrospective 20 Number Ones collection. “Mamaw’s House” features Rhett and Wallen reflecting on their shared experience of spending time at their grandmother’s homes.
“Mamaw’s House” currently sits at No. 8 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 6 on the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Corey Kent Celebrates First Chart-Topper ‘Wild As Her’ With No. 1 Party
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R, back row): Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson, Big Loud’s Mike Giangreco, Anthem Entertainment’s Courtney Crist, Red Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb, Concord’s Brad Kennard, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri and Sony Music Nashville’s Dennis Reese; (L-R, front row): BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Brett Tyler, Kelly Archer, Corey Kent, Chris Farren and Studio Bank’s Ron Cox. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
BMI hosted their first No. 1 celebration of 2024 on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 20) for Corey Kent‘s first-ever chart-topper “Wild as Her,” a Chris Farren-produced track written by Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler and Morgan Wallen.
Excitement and pride for the song’s creators emitted from fellow industry members as they filled the lobby. BMI’s MaryAnn Keen kicked things off by calling Kent, Farren, Tyler and Archer to the stage.
She shared that although Wallen couldn’t to make it to the event, everyone was happy that he was able to be there that day to co-write the Platinum-certified single. Keen moved on to talk about Tyler, who notched his second No. 1 with “Wild as Her.” She described his years of hard work and patience, and advised the crowd “not to sleep on him” as she called him “the next big thing.” Keen then brought attention to Archer and the significant impact she’s had as a female songwriter in the country format. She continued by noting that the songstress now has four No. 1s under her belt and listing the numerous accolades Archer has collected over the course her career thus far. Keen finished by addressing Kent and spotlighted his explosion in the Nashville music scene as well as the support he shows fellow songwriters by recording outside cuts.
The artist’s adorable son made his way on stage to sit on his dad’s lap as Anthem Entertainment’s Courtney Crist stepped up to the mic. Crist expressed her love for the hit and referred to it as “a song every songwriter wishes they had written.” She stated how happy Anthem is to represent Tyler and Archer and thanked all of their partners as well as Farren and Kent for their involvement before congratulating the contributors. Red Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb took the floor to applaude each person that helped get “Wild as Her” to where it is today and speak more about Archer.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Liza Anderson, Brett Tyler, Kelly Archer, Corey Kent, Chris Farren and MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
“Kelly doesn’t give up on her songs, and this song is a prime example [of that],” he said. “She knows what will connect with fans, because she has been one and continues to be one. She also pushes for the song to be highest quality it can be in the writers’ room and it comes through.” Lamb added, “Kelly doesn’t give up on herself. There are many moments throughout her story where she could’ve thrown in towel and moved back home but because of her confidence and God-given gift to write songs, her music continues to impact countless people. Finally, Kelly doesn’t give up on her people. She fights hard for the people she cares for and trusts her team.”
Big Loud’s Mike Giangreco was on deck to represent Wallen noting, “It’s always important to [Morgan] to celebrate the songwriters, and it’s important to him that he’s a songwriter on another No. 1 song,” and took some time to thank BMI and the teams included in the accomplishment while congratulating Kent, Farren, Tyler and Archer.
Up next was Warner Chappell Music’s Jessi Stevenson, who explained that “Wild as Her” is a testament to the fact that maybe the artist a song is meant for isn’t ready or in town yet and goes to show that writers should never give up on the work in their catalogs. She wrapped by acknowledging all of the contributing companies and commending the track’s creatives.
Concord’s Brad Kennard spoke on behalf of Matt Turner, who was unable to attend. He followed his praises of the singer, producer and writers by reading a special statement from Turner, who witnessed the full evolution of “Wild as Her.” Studio Bank’s Ron Cox then stepped up to emphasize how sacred and special these parties are and announce that a donation had been in Kent and the songwriters’ names to the Tim Tebow Foundation, which provides worldwide support to vulnerable people living in chaos and crisis. Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly took the stage to discuss how the tune influenced the country music conversation before Sony Music Nashville’s Dennis Reese took the stage to tell the more of the story behind the song and salute those who gave it life. Reese recalled hearing “Wild as Her” for the first time and detailed texting Steve Hodges immediately after hearing it about how he wanted it on RCA while describing what led to Kent’s signing.
“It takes a lot not just to get a song to No. 1, but to be a song that really has staying power,” he stated. “This song is still streaming almost four million a week—that’s the sign of a hit to me. It’s something people want to go back to over and over and it becomes a part of the soundtrack of their lives.”
Farren then expressed his gratitude and appreciation for his team members and the other individuals that played key roles the smash single’s success while recounting its growth. “There’s so much goodwill surrounding this song, it really fills me with a lot of satisfaction and joy,” he said. Farren recognized the writers before shining a light on Kent. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of artists over the years, some really good ones. In a world where it’s really hard sometimes to distinguish the really good from the mediocre, because there’s a lot of mediocre, [Corey] is the real deal. There’s nothing fake about what he does.”
Archer was the first writer to speak and thanked all of the contributing parties for their hard work and belief in “Wild as Her.” Among the many individual shoutouts, she gave a special one to Red Creative Group’s Jeremy Stover for talking her into staying in Nashville, and moved into recognizing her fellow collaborators and Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), where she serves on the Board of Directors. “Everyone who came out today, I really appreciate you all—from my co-writers to my friends,” Archer shared before informing everyone of the important work NSAI does for songwriters.
Tyler then took the stage to crack a few jokes and make us all laugh, while sincerely stating his admiration for his fellow creators and the musicians and engineers involved. He moved on to thank all of those in both his personal corner and his professional corner. Humorous yet touching, Tyler concluded, “I want to thank TJ Maxx for dressing me, my wife’s Starbucks habit for stressing me, the devil for testing me and Corey singing ‘Wild as Her’ for blessing for me.”
Finally, Kent took the mic, a ray of light beaming through the lobby onto him. He started by thanking his family, God and every group involved in his milestone song. Kent finished by lauding Archer, Tyler and Wallen. “At the end of the day, as honored as I am to be standing up here, this in my mind is a songwriters’ award. So please, one more time, make some noise for the people that wrote this song.”
Morgan Evans To Release Live Album From Sydney Opera House Shows
/by Lorie HollabaughMorgan Evans will release his album Live At The Sydney Opera House on Friday, April 12.
The live album was recorded over his two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House in September 2023. Featuring tracks from his Life Upside Down EP, his hits and special guest collaborations with Australian icon John Williamson and Kita Alexander, the project captures the electrifying energy of the tour.
“It was an absolute honor, and a joy, to play the shows at the Sydney Opera House,” says Evans. “Playing that place is probably a momentous occasion for anyone, but for an Aussie, it’s the one. There was a vibration in the room those nights, like we knew, like everyone knew it was going to be special, and in that beautiful, cavernous concert hall we sang and played country music the only way we know how! There were a lot of truly magical moments, and I’d like to think people will hear and feel them all on this record. But most of all I hope they feel what we felt leaving the stage that night, an Aussie pride, like we were in it together, and like everything is going to be alright.”
Evans will return to Australia this March and April for a regional run of dates for the “Life Upside Down Tour,” performing in places he missed last year. Kicking off at Country Fest QLD in Bloomsbury on March 30, he will then visit Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Geelong, Bendigo, Hobart and Perth. The tour is a continuation of the sold-out run of dates he performed in 2023, where at the end, he was surprised with a plaque for one million ARIA certified single sales.
Live At The Sydney Opera House Track List:
1. Young Again
2. Country Outta My Girl
3. Kiss Somebody
4. Waltzing Matilda (Interlude)
5. Love Is Real
6. I Can’t Make You Love Me (Interlude)
7. Over For You
8. Say What You Want
9. Date Night feat. Kita Alexander
10. Rip Rip Woodchip feat. John Williamson
11. Dedications Interlude
12. Things That We Drink To
13. Pete and Brownie Go To Town (Interlude)
14. Hey Little Mama
15. Day Drunk
16. I Still Call Australia Home (Interlude)
17. On My Own Again