CRS 2024 To Feature Jason Prinzo As Keynote Speaker

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Mental health advocate Jason Prinzo will be the keynote speaker for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2024. He will hold his session “Your Brain Is A Liar: Recognizing and Understanding The Impact of Your Mental Health” on Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m.

After facing early-life traumas, Prinzo set out on his mental health journey. After high school, the Cincinnati native started a 25-year career in radio and record promotion. Through his time, he gained an understanding of the emotional challenges being in the music industry can cause. Despite being in the middle of a successful career, he was battling depression, anxiety, anger and imposter syndrome. By sharing his story with audiences, he highlights the realities of mental illness, challenges misconceptions, fosters empathy, promotes self-care and inspires others on their paths to coping and discovery.

“Your Brain Is A Liar” will focus specifically on how anxiety affects us professionally, overcoming imposter syndrome, understanding the effects of trauma, the benefits of therapy and practical steps to alleviate symptoms, within the specific context of the music industry.

Additionally, CRS will also include the “Paws n’ Play Program.” In partnership with Agape Animal Rescue & Training Center, attendees will be able to interact with puppies during session breaks. While providing stress relief, those who visit the site will also learn about fostering, adopting and dog training tips.

CRS Executive Director, RJ Curtis, says, “CRS continues our serious commitment to providing mental health resources for our industry members. Jason’s deep background in the music business brings a relatable, hands-on approach to our attendees and their unique challenges. We strongly urge everyone to see his talk on Friday. An additional hands-on experience this year is our first-ever Hug-A-Pup program, where attendees can use session breaks to meet and play with adorable, adoptable puppies—the ultimate stress relievers—which will brighten everyone’s day.”

Luke Combs Extends Record On MusicRow Radio Chart With Five-Week No. 1

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Luke Combs. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

Luke Combs is on his longest consecutive run at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, with his “Where The Wild Things Are” notching its fifth week in the top spot this week.

“Where The Wild Things Are” was written by Randy Montana and Dave Turnbull and appears on Combs’ Gettin’ Old album.

Combs is gearing up to perform his hit “Fast Car” alongside its writer Tracy Chapman at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 4). He is also up for Best Country Solo Performance for the beloved cover.

“Where The Wild Things Are” currently sits at No. 7 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 7 on the Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Blanco Brown Announces Upcoming EP ‘Heartache & Lemonade’

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Grammy-nominated artist Blanco Brown has announced that his new EP Heartache & Lemonade, via Wheelhouse Records/BMG Nashville, will be available April 5.

Already known for breaking barriers in the country music scene with his proclaimed “Trailer Trap” sound, Brown will showcase his versatility in singing, songwriting and producing on the project. Listeners will be able to hear his distinctive style and charisma on each song.

“This EP feels a bit different for me,” says Brown. “I’ve now traveled the world, looked death in the eyes and somehow made it back alive. Bitter moments never lasted, sweeter moments brought me back to purpose…Heartache & Lemonade brings about a new chapter. Try turning some of your worst moments into a smile every once in a while.”

To celebrate the announcement, Brown dropped the lead single, “Sunshine Shine,” today (Feb. 2). The single is centered around positivity and resilience, with catchy melodies. The feel-good anthem seeks to resonate with listeners from the first play.

George Richey Estate Sues Showtime Over His Depiction In ‘George & Tammy’ Miniseries

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Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain as George Jones and Tammy Wynette

Showtime is being sued over its award-winning 2022 miniseries George & Tammy by the estate of Tammy Wynette‘s last husband, the late George Richey.

Richey’s heirs are displeased with his portrayal in the series and contend that it disparages and villainizes him, and as such, is in violation of a previous non-disparagement agreement with Georgette Jones, Wynette and Jones’ daughter who participated in the making of the show.

Jones was a consulting producer on George & Tammy and penned the memoir it was based on, therefore the lawsuit claims the series represented the network’s “interference of contract” in a previous settlement agreement the estate had made with Jones seven years prior not to defame or disparage Richey. Jones is not named as a defendant in the suit however, only the network.

The suit was filed Thursday (Feb. 1) in Delaware on behalf of Richey’s widow Sheila Slaughter Richey, the executor of Richey’s estate, as well as the couple’s daughter, Tatum Keys Richey. George Richey, who was portrayed by actor Steve Zahn in the miniseries, passed away in 2010.

Claims in the filing include accusations that the miniseries paints Richey out to be an abusive husband who encouraged Wynette’s painkiller addiction and engaged in financial and managerial manipulation of the country star. Attorneys for the Richeys claim Paramount Networks was aware of the non-disparagement agreement with Jones when the company was adapting her book and employing her on the miniseries. The suit asks for Paramount and Showtime to be forced to withdraw George & Tammy from any form of distribution, and be held responsible for restitution to be determined in a trial.

In a statement, the estate’s attorney Todd McMurtry shares, “Showtime transformed George Richey into the villain of its story, raking in profits and views. Showtime unjustly benefitted from Georgette’s violation of her prior contractual promise to never again disparage or encourage the disparagement of the Richey family. We are honored to represent Sheila and Tatum Richey in this important lawsuit. Many serious issues are at stake, and we look forward to addressing them with the court.”

Chris Young Shares Message & Surprises Fans With ‘Double Down’ Release

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Following last week’s release of video evidence and the Nashville District Attorney’s dismissal of all charges against him after his arrest, Chris Young shared a personal message with fans and announced the release of his new song “Double Down” via social media today (Feb. 1).

“Hey guys, so I just wanted to say something. You know, I’m still processing a lot through the false accusations and everything that went on in the past week But I wanted to say first and foremost, thank you to everybody that had my back,” he expressed. “It meant the world to me and I had so many friends and fans reach out and say ‘We got you, we don’t believe you did any of this.’ So it’s really nice to see the charges get dismissed. It’s not something I wish anybody has to go through ever. But, like I said, the bright spot was seeing just all the love and support. So what I wanted to do as a thank you to you guys—because this was not planned—is drop a new song from the album so you guys will have something to listen to. We’re going to put out ‘Double Down’ at midnight and I really hope you guys enjoy this one. Crank it up, enjoy it—I appreciate you, I love you and thank you.”

Written by Monty Criswell, Derek George and Tyler Reeve, “Double Down” is one of 18 songs on Young Love & Saturday Nights, out March 22.

 

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Pryor Baird Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Pryor Baird receiving a standing ovation during his Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Starstruck Entertainment

Pryor Baird stepped into the legendary circle for the very first time and made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday night (Jan. 26).

Pictured (L-R): Black River’s Rick Froio, Doug Johnson, Starstruck Entertainment’s Berkley Kriz, Pryor Baird, Grand Ole Opry’s Dan Rogers and Black River’s Gordon Kerr. Photo: Patrick Sheehan

Friday also marked the release of his latest single, “Mighta Met A Girl.” Baird performed the new tune on the sacred stage along with unreleased ballad “Beauty In The Broken,” which he dedicated to his father who recently passed unexpectedly. Afterwards, he was joined by his family, friends and team in the Opry’s Circle Room for an intimate post-debut celebration.

Hosted by Baird’s label and publishing home, Black River Entertainment, as well as his management team, Starstruck Entertainment, the evening included remarks from the artist and a commemorative cake donning the image of a five-year-old Baird with his first guitar in addition to the Grand Ole Opry stage.

“I want to say thank you to every single person that has ever reached into what I’m doing and said, ‘We believe in it. We want to be a part of it.’ That just speaks volumes, and I’m so thankful,” he said during the reception. “I truly have the greatest team, family and fans—thank you so much for letting this be a reality. Work hard, and dream big.”

Additionally, Baird will perform as a part of the “Nashville Hits The Roof ” series tonight (Feb. 1) at Tin Roof in Nashville before hitting the road for shows in South Carolina and North Carolina.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Morgan Wallen Shows Off The ‘Warmth In His Singing Voice’

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: Matt Paskert

We have fresh faces and fresh sounds in DISClaimer today.

Vying for the DISCovery Award were first-timers Kashus Culpepper, Karley Scott Collins and Lizzie No. Right alongside them are new tunes from such marvelous “baby acts” as Tigirlily Gold, Zach Top, Sierra Ferrell, and Jordyn Shellhart. Give ‘em all a hand, and hand the prize to Lizzie No.

There’s not much competition for the Disc of the Day award. Not when you have a titan like Morgan Wallen in the mix. He wins, hands down.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Marlboro Reds”
Writers: Karley Scott Collins/Alex Kline/Scott Stepakoff; Producers: Karley Scott Collins/Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Cool, minor-key and moody sounding. The bluesy outing is a recollection of hanging out with grandma when she steps outside for her smoke breaks. Very ear-catching and kinda haunting.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Spin You Around”
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Paul Trust/Sergio Sanchez; Producers: Joey Moi/Morgan Wallen/Bryan Sutton/Paul Trust; Label: Big Loud
– I just love the warmth in his singing voice. While Bryan Sutton’s acoustic guitar strums beautiful filigrees, Wallen pleads for favors from the one who stole his heart away. Supremely excellent work.

SIERRA FERRELL / “Dollar Bill Bar”
Writers: Melody Walker/Sierra Ferrell; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Rounder Records
– She has the greatest stone-country voice, is a brilliant writer and packs a wallop as a show-woman. Put simply, this is one of the most creative artists in this genre today. Her jaunty kiss-off single is delightfully innocent and saucy at the same time. Also, check out the YouTube video of Ferrell making her national TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live with her barn-burning “Fox Hunt.” The new album isn’t due until March. Put me on the waiting list.

TYLER HUBBARD / “Turn”
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Casey Brown/Josh Miller; Producers: Jordan Schmidt/Tyler Hubbard; Label: EMI Nashville
– She’s so special that she can turn bad to good in a heartbeat. Romantic hillbilly sincerity in every note. A thumping backbeat and some dandy guitar don’t hurt a bit. This dude never disappoints.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Who Hurt You”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: KC
– The grit in his voice stopped me in my tracks. With just his acoustic guitar for accompaniment, he is thoroughly gripping. The well-written song has a philosophical bent in its description of a man with inner wounds. Somebody sign this guy pronto.

BRADY SEALS/ “My Love”
Writers: Brady Seals/Porter C. Howell/Thomas D. Barnes; Producers: Brady Seals/Christy Dinapoli; Label: Hillbilly
– This ultra-romantic charmer is being released in time for Valentine’s Day. It was previously a No.1 hit for Brady’s old band Little Texas in 1994. This new version, complete with stacked chorus vocal harmonies, is a welcome reminder of what a lovely song it is. Play it.

LIZZIE NO/ “Halfsies”
Writer: Lizzie No; Producers: Lizzie No/Graham Richman/Patrick Dillett; Label: Thirty Tigers/Miss Freedomland
– This is the title tune of Lizzie No’s debut album, which dropped last week. I love the way it builds from stark snare-and-guitar accompaniment to a full production soaked in steel and cascading strings and voices. What is equally cool is the way her dry soprano delivery remains on top of it all, delivering an intricate, poetic lyric of surviving pain. Wildly promising.

JORDYN SHELLHART & CHARLIE WORSHAM/ “A Nice Thing To Do”
Writers: Cameron Jaymes/Jordyn Shellhart; Producer: Cameron Jaymes; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Languid and dreamy, with both voices sounding intimate and comforting. The echoey track is gorgeously produced. A sublime listening experience. Need I add that I am a huge fan of both of these talents?

ZACH TOP/ “Sounds Like The Radio”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– Top’s new radio single and video are a revelation. As if it wasn’t enough that he’s a hunk who sings like a honky-tonk hero, he also plays stinging lead guitar. The song is a hooky throwback to ‘90s country that is as refreshing as ice water on a summer day. This man is everything you could want in a country superstar.

LOGAN MIZE & JESSIE JAMES DECKER/ “If You’re Up”
Writers: Abe Stoklasa/Daniel Tashian/Sarah Buxton; Producer: Daniel Tashian; Label: Big Yellow Dog
– They’ve broken up, but not really because they still want to hook up. It might be late, late, late at night, but how about it, babe? Chiming, ringing guitars and oomphy percussion percolate behind their equally strong vocals. A righteous little record.

TIGIRLILY GOLD/ “I Tried A Ring On”
Writers: Josh Jenkins/Pete Good/Kendra Slaubaugh/Krista Slaubaugh; Producer: Pete Good; Label: Monument
– She jumped the gun and married the guy too soon. Now it’s over and she regrets it all. The churning, multi-textured, mid-tempo production is awesome and the two sisters have never sounded more vocally expressive. By far their best effort yet.

CHARLES ESTEN/ “Love Ain’t Pretty”
Writers: Charles Esten/Marshall Altman/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Marshall Altman Label: CE
– His years on the Nashville TV show and multiple Opry appearances have made him familiar to millions. So it comes of something as a shock to learn that the collection that Esten released last week is his debut album. Its title tune is a troubadour gem that melds his soft vocal delivery with a beautifully mixed ballad track. “Love ain’t pretty,” he sings, “but it’s beautiful.” Amen.

Leadership Music Now Accepting Applications For Class Of 2025

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Leadership Music has started accepting applications from established music industry leaders for the Class of 2025, which will be the organization’s 35th class. Applications must be submitted by midnight on Feb. 29.

Based in Nashville, the national program is designed to educate participants in various music industry facets as well as support dialogue and understanding among leaders while exploring the challenges facing the business.

Leadership Music takes place in-person over the course of eight months. Class participants attend the Opening Retreat in October, followed by six all-day sessions, meeting once a month, which focus on key areas including Songwriting & Publishing, Artist, Live Music, Production, Record Company and Media. The program then ends with graduation at the Closing Retreat in May 2025.

“Members of the class are leaders in their field, and the program exposes them to all segments of the music industry, expanding their knowledge beyond their area of expertise,” says Leadership Music Executive Director Debbie Linn. “But Leadership Music is so much more than an educational program—it’s a transformative experience. One of the most gratifying aspects is witnessing the genuine relationships forged by the class during the eight-month program.”

To apply and for more information, click here.

UMG Says It Will Pull Catalog From TikTok Following Contract Expiration

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The catalog of major label Universal Music Group (UMG) will potentially be removed from TikTok, one of the world’s largest social platforms, due to their inability to come to an agreement during the negotiation of their contract, which expired yesterday (Jan. 31). This measure would not only include the work of UMG artists such as global sensations Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake, Ariana Grande and many more, but any song that any Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) songwriter contributed to as well.

According to an open letter from UMG to its artists and songwriters shared on Tuesday (Jan. 30), TikTok and UMG disagreed on three key factors in the negotiation, including compensation for artists and songwriters, appropriate protection measures in regards to artificial intelligence, and online safety for TikTok’s users.

In the letter, UMG stated that it had been working with the platform to address its concerns, but that the platform “responded first with indifference, and then with intimidation.”

The letter proceeded: “As our negotiations continued, TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth. How did it try to intimidate us? By selectively removing the music of certain of our developing artists, while keeping on the platform our audience-driving global stars.

“TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans. We will never do that. We will always fight for our artists and songwriters and stand up for the creative and commercial value of music.”

UMG shared that while it recognized the challenges that the measures would cause for artists and their fans, the company has “an overriding responsibility to our artists to fight for a new agreement under which they are appropriately compensated for their work.”

TikTok responded to UMG’s open letter on Tuesday (Jan. 30), sharing that it is “sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters.

“Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent. TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans.”

If is unclear when or if the parties will come to new agreement. This is a developing story.

Peytan Porter Steps Into Her Own On New EP ‘Grown’

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Singer-songwriter Peytan Porter is gearing up for the release of her brand new project Grown, on March 1. A new video for the track “Lemonade” from the project is out today (Feb. 1).

The gritty, six-song EP—all co-penned by Porter—features a collection of thought-provoking lyrics that illuminate the places where she stands apart as she comes into her own as an artist.

“I’m not apologizing for or watering down the colors of who I am anymore,” Porter shares. “I’m getting in tune with a sound and style that’s all mine and stepping into being more transparent with the way I think and see the world and it really feels like I’m setting myself free. It’s definitely a coming of age for me.”

The silky slink of “God’s Hotel,” co-written with Faren Rachels and Jeff Garrison, offers a first glimpse of both the project’s sound and headspace, showcasing a weathered sunburst of Americana and a theme of making room for oneself. Likewise, the title track “Grown” is all about finding peace and pride in the lives we build, even when they’re not what we expected, and finding beauty in the silver linings. “High Road” features a swampy Delta-blues swagger, and the wistful “Speaking of Georgia” finds Porter musing on what might have been. “Run the Radio,” written alongside Greg Bates and Trent Dabbs, is filled with nostalgia and pride, drawing listeners into Porter’s story.

YouTube video

Fresh off the heels of her acclaimed debut project In My Head earning 10 million streams across her platforms, Porter has garnered a substantial following in recent years, with 330,000 followers across all platforms and 50 million views on TikTok. The emerging artist has already earned a number of accolades including being a TikTok Songwriter of the Year Nominee at the 2022 iHeart Radio Awards, and she was named a CMT’s Next Up Now Artist.

Porter is managed by Red Light Management and published by Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music.

Grown Track List:
1. Lemonade – Written by Peytan Porter, Ian Christian, Matt Willis
2. God’s Hotel – Written by Peytan Porter, Faren Rachels, Jeff Garrison
3. High Road – Written by Peytan Porter, Brinley Addington, Matt Morrisey
4. Speaking of Georgia – Written by Peytan Porter, Billy Montana, Mark Trussell
5. Grown – Written by Peytan Porter, Steve Moakler, Mark Trussell
6. Run The Radio – Written by Peytan Porter, Greg Bates, Trent Dabbs