Pictured (L-R): ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP Country Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jordan Davis, ASCAP VP, Nashville Membership Mike Sistad. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
The 61st annual ASCAP Country Awards on Monday (Nov. 6) was a lavish cocktail supper that crowned Ashley Gorley and Jordan Davis as its 2023 champs.
Gorley won his 10th Songwriter of the Year honor from the performance rights society. This makes him the most honored country songwriter in the organization’s history.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Pete Chiappeta, Domain Capital Group, Tape Room’s Blain Rhodes, CEO Sony Music Publishing Nashville Rusty Gaston, Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, ASCAP Nashville Senior Director of Creative Evyn Mustoe, VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad; (L-R, front row): ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and writer of the Song of the Year Ashley Gorley, Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
“I want to first, as always, thank God,” he said. “Huge thanks to everybody at ASCAP for all they’ve done and continue to do for me. I’ve been with ASCAP since I was a student at Belmont….I’m blessed to be a part of this.”
The songwriter’s Morgan Wallen hit “You Proof” was named ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year. On video, Gorley was lauded by Wallen, as well as Ernest, Kelly Lovelace, Parmalee, Dierks Bentley, Chris DeStefano and Chris DuBois.
In contrast to the often awarded Gorley, the organization’s 2023 Songwriter/Artist of the Year was Jordan Davis, winning the honor for his first time.
“This is my favorite night of the year,” said Davis. “Everybody in this room came through ASCAP. I can’t thank you enough.” The MCA Records star recalled moving to Music City 12 years ago on a Sunday. The following day, he went to ASCAP and wrote his first Nashville song. “I love being a part of Nashville, Tennessee, and I love being part of country music. I love country music.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville team. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
Davis co-wrote last year’s CMA Song of the Year, “Buy Dirt.” This year, his “Next Thing You Know” is nominated as the CMA’s Single, Song and Video of the Year. ASCAP also awarded him for his co-written hit “What My World Spins Around.”He was saluted on video by Luke Combs, Josh Jenkins, Cindy Mabe, Dierks Bentley, Matt Jenkins and his singer-songwriter brother Jacob Davis.
ASCAP’s Publisher of the Year was Sony Music Publishing. Accepting was Sony’s Rusty Gaston. “Thank you to ASCAP — you fight for songwriters, and we’re so grateful for it,” he said. “This is a gift that we get to do every day. Songs have the power to change the world. It’s an honor to be doing this together.”
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Lainey Wilson at the ASCAP Country Music Songwriter Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
At the gala, ASCAP honored the writers and publishers of 50 country hits. They were saluted on silent video screens during the first hour of the soiree.
Presiding at the podium were ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews, Mike Sistad and Paul Williams. Matthews congratulated David Lee Murphy, and the late John Jarrard on their election to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Bob McDill on his elevation into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sistad gave a shout-out to attendee Lainey Wilson on her nine 2023 CMA Award nominations.
ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Kelsea Ballerini at the ASCAP Country Music Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
Williams said, “There is no place where I feel more safe than in a room full of songwriters, my tribe. You are my family. The city is changing, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and soul of what you do. It is holy work. And it is needed now more than ever.”
Among the celebrity songwriters in attendance were Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kip Moore, members of Old Dominion, Craig Wiseman, Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, HunterGirl and Tony Lane. Eight of the assembled songwriters won their first ASCAP awards at the event, and they were invited to commemorate the occasion with a group portrait.
This year’s ASCAP event was a sharp break from the past. Rather than a formal banquet or a staged awards show, the gala was an elegant-yet-relaxed cocktail supper. The venue was the sophisticated Twelve Thirty Club on Broadway next to the National Museum of African American Music. The club is opulently appointed throughout its several spaces. Guests mingled in a rooftop lounge overlooking Lower Broadway, a gleaming pair of long bars, a sunken lounge featuring red-velvet cocktail seeing and leather booths and a mezzanine with white-and-black marble checkered floors. A sushi and shrimp-cocktail serving bar in one dining area curved beneath a glowing domed ceiling with an ultra-modern chandelier. A second dining area featured gleaming black-and-chrome furnishings for enjoying beef, chicken, potatoes and veggies.
Pictured (L-R): VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, TJ Osborne, John Osborne, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
The wait staff members, male and female, looked like stars-in-waiting — they looked so remarkably and uniformly attractive. They circulated with candied bacon cubes, cheeseburger sliders, truffled cheese-bread bites and other snacks.
Industry dignitaries in attendance included The Recording Academy’s Alicia Warwick, Belmont dean Brittany Schaffer, the NSAI’s Bart Herbison and Jennifer Turnbow, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell, the Bluebird Cafe’s Erika Wollam Nichols, Billboard’s Tom Roland, the NMPA’s David Israelite, First Horizon Bank’s Andrew Kintz and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Mark Ford. Other Music Row executives at the ASCAP gala included Tom Luteran, Troy Tomlinson, Ben Vaughn, Ree Guyer, Josh Van Valkenburg, Gilles Godard, Regina Stuve, Brad Kennard, Cyndi Forman, Vincent Candilora, Bob Doyle, Jon Singer, Bj Hill, Leslie DiPiero, Mike Molinar, Kris Ahrend and Dale Bobo.
Click here for a complete list of ASCAP Country Award winners.
Sheryl Crow To Release First Studio Album Since 2018 With ‘Evolution’
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Courtesy of The Valory Music Co.
2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Sheryl Crow will release her 11th full-length studio album, Evolution, on March 29.
The lead single from the project, “Alarm Clock,” is out now and was co-written Crow, Mike Elizondo and Emily Weisband. Featuring nine new songs, Evolution was produced by Elizondo and will be released via The Valory Music Co.
Crow had stated she would not release another full-length album after her collaborative album Threads in 2018, so the announcement came as a surprise. Threads featured some newer artists as well as Crow’s friends and heroes, including Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell, Keith Richards and more.
“Everything is more song-oriented now with streaming, and making an album is a huge endeavor,” says Crow. “I started sending just a couple of demos to Mike, but the songs just kept flowing out of me and it was pretty obvious this was going to be an album. This music and these lyrics came from sitting in the quiet and writing from a deep soul place. I said I’d never make another record, thought there was no point to it. But this music comes from my soul. And I hope whoever hears this record can feel that.”
ASCAP Tosses Epic Party To Honor Songwriters & Publishers
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP Country Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jordan Davis, ASCAP VP, Nashville Membership Mike Sistad. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
The 61st annual ASCAP Country Awards on Monday (Nov. 6) was a lavish cocktail supper that crowned Ashley Gorley and Jordan Davis as its 2023 champs.
Gorley won his 10th Songwriter of the Year honor from the performance rights society. This makes him the most honored country songwriter in the organization’s history.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Pete Chiappeta, Domain Capital Group, Tape Room’s Blain Rhodes, CEO Sony Music Publishing Nashville Rusty Gaston, Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, ASCAP Nashville Senior Director of Creative Evyn Mustoe, VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad; (L-R, front row): ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and writer of the Song of the Year Ashley Gorley, Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
“I want to first, as always, thank God,” he said. “Huge thanks to everybody at ASCAP for all they’ve done and continue to do for me. I’ve been with ASCAP since I was a student at Belmont….I’m blessed to be a part of this.”
The songwriter’s Morgan Wallen hit “You Proof” was named ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year. On video, Gorley was lauded by Wallen, as well as Ernest, Kelly Lovelace, Parmalee, Dierks Bentley, Chris DeStefano and Chris DuBois.
In contrast to the often awarded Gorley, the organization’s 2023 Songwriter/Artist of the Year was Jordan Davis, winning the honor for his first time.
“This is my favorite night of the year,” said Davis. “Everybody in this room came through ASCAP. I can’t thank you enough.” The MCA Records star recalled moving to Music City 12 years ago on a Sunday. The following day, he went to ASCAP and wrote his first Nashville song. “I love being a part of Nashville, Tennessee, and I love being part of country music. I love country music.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville team. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP
Davis co-wrote last year’s CMA Song of the Year, “Buy Dirt.” This year, his “Next Thing You Know” is nominated as the CMA’s Single, Song and Video of the Year. ASCAP also awarded him for his co-written hit “What My World Spins Around.”He was saluted on video by Luke Combs, Josh Jenkins, Cindy Mabe, Dierks Bentley, Matt Jenkins and his singer-songwriter brother Jacob Davis.
ASCAP’s Publisher of the Year was Sony Music Publishing. Accepting was Sony’s Rusty Gaston. “Thank you to ASCAP — you fight for songwriters, and we’re so grateful for it,” he said. “This is a gift that we get to do every day. Songs have the power to change the world. It’s an honor to be doing this together.”
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Lainey Wilson at the ASCAP Country Music Songwriter Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
At the gala, ASCAP honored the writers and publishers of 50 country hits. They were saluted on silent video screens during the first hour of the soiree.
Presiding at the podium were ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews, Mike Sistad and Paul Williams. Matthews congratulated David Lee Murphy, and the late John Jarrard on their election to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Bob McDill on his elevation into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sistad gave a shout-out to attendee Lainey Wilson on her nine 2023 CMA Award nominations.
ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Kelsea Ballerini at the ASCAP Country Music Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
Williams said, “There is no place where I feel more safe than in a room full of songwriters, my tribe. You are my family. The city is changing, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and soul of what you do. It is holy work. And it is needed now more than ever.”
Among the celebrity songwriters in attendance were Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kip Moore, members of Old Dominion, Craig Wiseman, Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, HunterGirl and Tony Lane. Eight of the assembled songwriters won their first ASCAP awards at the event, and they were invited to commemorate the occasion with a group portrait.
This year’s ASCAP event was a sharp break from the past. Rather than a formal banquet or a staged awards show, the gala was an elegant-yet-relaxed cocktail supper. The venue was the sophisticated Twelve Thirty Club on Broadway next to the National Museum of African American Music. The club is opulently appointed throughout its several spaces. Guests mingled in a rooftop lounge overlooking Lower Broadway, a gleaming pair of long bars, a sunken lounge featuring red-velvet cocktail seeing and leather booths and a mezzanine with white-and-black marble checkered floors. A sushi and shrimp-cocktail serving bar in one dining area curved beneath a glowing domed ceiling with an ultra-modern chandelier. A second dining area featured gleaming black-and-chrome furnishings for enjoying beef, chicken, potatoes and veggies.
Pictured (L-R): VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, TJ Osborne, John Osborne, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP
The wait staff members, male and female, looked like stars-in-waiting — they looked so remarkably and uniformly attractive. They circulated with candied bacon cubes, cheeseburger sliders, truffled cheese-bread bites and other snacks.
Industry dignitaries in attendance included The Recording Academy’s Alicia Warwick, Belmont dean Brittany Schaffer, the NSAI’s Bart Herbison and Jennifer Turnbow, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell, the Bluebird Cafe’s Erika Wollam Nichols, Billboard’s Tom Roland, the NMPA’s David Israelite, First Horizon Bank’s Andrew Kintz and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Mark Ford. Other Music Row executives at the ASCAP gala included Tom Luteran, Troy Tomlinson, Ben Vaughn, Ree Guyer, Josh Van Valkenburg, Gilles Godard, Regina Stuve, Brad Kennard, Cyndi Forman, Vincent Candilora, Bob Doyle, Jon Singer, Bj Hill, Leslie DiPiero, Mike Molinar, Kris Ahrend and Dale Bobo.
Click here for a complete list of ASCAP Country Award winners.
Trish Williams Warren Passes
/by Lorie HollabaughAnna Patricia “Trish” Williams Warren, a longtime employee of producer Jerry Kennedy’s JK Productions, passed away Oct. 23. She was 78.
Warren grew up in Newton Grove, North Carolina, and after graduation, attended the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, graduating with a degree in music. She began her career as a middle school music arts teacher, but after a year, moved to Nashville to begin a career in the country music industry.
She took a job at Al Galico Music Publishing Company and in 1970, moved to Mercury Records, working with producer Jerry Kennedy. When Kennedy formed his own production company, JK Productions, she moved with him, working there until she retired. In 2007, she received the Source Foundation Award, which recognizes the achievements and contributions made by women in the country music industry.
After retirement from the music industry in 1991, Warren moved back to her hometown to marry her seventh-grade sweetheart, Larry Warren, and be closer to family. In retirement, she co-owned and operated Williams Sand & Gravel, which she inherited from her father. She also served Newton Grove Methodist Church and Hopewell Methodist Church for over 30 years, serving variously as pianist, organist, choir director and music director.
Warren is survived by her husband, Larry D. Warren, her sisters, Linda Williams Whitfield, DeLena Williams Bryan (and husband Mark) and Edna Williams McGuirt, all of Newton Grove. She is also survived by five nephews and 12 great nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cousins and friends.
The family received friends on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at West & Dunn Funeral Home in Newton Grove. A Graveside funeral service was held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Newton Grove on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Memorials in Trish Williams Warren’s name may be made to the Newton Grove Methodist Church’s General Fund (P.O. Box 471, Newton Grove, NC 28366) or to Hopewell Methodist Church (4641 Church Road, Newton Grove, NC 28366) or to a charity of one’s choice.
HarbourView Acquires Select Publishing Assets From Kane Brown
/by LB CantrellKane Brown. Photo: Diwang Valdez
HarbourView Equity Partners (HarbourView) has purchased certain publishing assets from multi-Platinum and award-winning country star Kane Brown.
Some of Brown’s country chart-topping hits include “What Ifs,” which received eight-time Platinum RIAA certification, “Homesick,” “Used to Love You Sober,” “Like I Love Country Music” and “Lose It.” Additionally, Brown has had top 40 hits including “One Thing Right” and “Be Like That,” which both remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 23 and 22 weeks respectively. Brown has also collaborated with noteworthy artists such as Khalid, H.E.R., Marshmello, Becky G, John Legend and Nelly.
“Partnering with someone like Kane who adds such a beautiful texture to the country genre is consistent with who we are as a firm. Kane is a special talent, and we are excited to be on the journey,” says Sherrese Clarke Soares, HarbourView Equity Partners CEO & Founder
“I’m grateful to Sherrese and HarbourView for their belief in my songwriting catalog. These songs that I’ve written are very meaningful to my fans and my career,” shares Brown.
With the acquisition of some of Brown’s publishing assets, HarbourView adds to a diversified catalog of more than 24,000 songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams.
Fox Rothschild LLP served as legal counsel to HarbourView in this transaction. Brown was represented by Jess L. Rosen at Greenberg Traurig LLP. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Kenny Chesney Plots ‘Sun Goes Down’ Stadium Tour For Summer 2024
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann
Kenny Chesney has announced the “Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour,” which will kick off April 20.
Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker and Megan Moroney will join Chesney on the 18-date tour, which will visit stadiums in Tampa, Arlington, Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Seattle and more, with a Nashville date at Nissan Stadium Aug. 3.
“I wanted a name that suggested—obviously—when all the good stuff starts to happen,” says Chesney says of his 2024 tour name. “The one thing I’ve learned about No Shoes Nation and these stadium shows is they start the good times early and they just keep it going. But we all know, when the sun goes down, that’s when people really get loose and enjoy themselves.
“That was the thing about Uncle Kracker and my song,” he continues. “It captured a vibe and a moment so perfectly. No matter how much fun you’re having all day long, ‘everything gets hotter when the sun goes down…’ I know from years of experience that’s true. So, I can’t wait to get back out there, stadium-sized ’cause there’s nothing like 60,000 members of No Shoes Nation singing these songs. It’s gonna be awesome.”
“Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour” Dates:
Saturday, April 20, 2024 – Tampa, Fla. – Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, April 27, 2024 – Charlotte, N.C. – Bank of America Stadium
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – Minneapolis, Minn. – U.S. Bank Stadium
Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium
Saturday, May 18, 2024 – Atlanta, Ga. – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Saturday, May 25, 2024 – Landover, Md. – FedExField
Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Acrisure Stadium
Saturday, June 8, 2024 – Philadelphia, Pa. – Lincoln Financial Field
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – Chicago, Ill. – Soldier Field
Saturday, June 22, 2024 – Milwaukee, Wisc. – American Family Field
Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Kansas City, Mo. – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Saturday, July 13, 2024 – Seattle, Wash. – Lumen Field
Saturday, July 20, 2024 – Los Angeles, Calif. – SoFi Stadium
Saturday, July 27, 2024 – Denver, Colo. – Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 – Nashville, Tenn. – Nissan Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 – Detroit, Mich. – Ford Field
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 – East Rutherford, N.J. – MetLife Stadium
Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 – Foxborough, Mass. – Gillette Stadium
Musicians On Call Welcomes New Team Members
/by Liza AndersonPictured (clockwise): Cindy Gonzalez, Lia Okenkova, Jenny Methling and Simba Woodard
Musicians On Call (MOC), the nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments, has welcomed Jenny Methling as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Cindy Gonzalez and Simba Woodard as Program Coordinators and Lia Okenkova as Grants Coordinator.
Methling joins the organization after most recently working for 615 Leverage + Strategy, where she focused on brand partnerships and strategic artist marketing initiatives. she also oversaw projects for brands including Dunkin’, Anheuser-Busch, Six Flags, Crown Royal and more. In her new role, Methling will lead the vision and strategy of MOC’s Corporate Partnerships department and will be responsible for identifying, developing and managing high-level strategic partnerships with corporate partners to advance MOC’s mission and drive organizational growth.
With a passion for nonprofit work and a love for giving back to her community, Gonzalez will manage MOC’s bedside programs in New York City and Philadelphia while recruiting and coordinating volunteers and serving as the liaison with local hospital partners. Woodard has worked as an educator, a teaching artist and a DEI consultant, focusing on the use of individual stories and cultural experiences to achieve equity in all spaces. In his new position, he will manage the organization’s national virtual and streaming programs.
Okenkova is a Vanderbilt University graduate who has worked within the arts nonprofit and corporate philanthropy sectors, particularly in corporate social responsibility, development and education. As Grants Coordinator, she will oversee and execute grant applications and stewardship as well as provide general support to the Fundraising department.
“This is an exciting time for Musicians On Call as we welcome new team members whose creativity and passion will help take our mission to new heights,” says Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President & CEO. “We can’t wait to see all the wonderful contributions they will make to our organization.”
Reba McEntire Celebrates ‘Not That Fancy’ With Special Ryman & Opry Appearances
/by Lorie HollabaughReba McEntire during her “Not That Fancy: An Evening With Reba & Friends” event at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA
Pictured (L-R): Manager Justin McIntosh, UMG Nashville’s Cindy Mabe and Reba McEntire. Photo: Rachael Black for the Grand Ole Opry
She started off Saturday night (Nov. 4) headlining the Grand Ole Opry, performing songs from the new project. UMG Nashville honored McEntire with a plaque for her hit “Fancy” earning double-Platinum certification and surpassing 400 million streams during the special evening.
Sunday night (Nov. 5), McEntire joined her Reba co-star Melissa Peterman on the Ryman stage for “Not That Fancy: An Evening with Reba & Friends” to talk about the new book. The evening included personal stories, laughs, a special performance and even included a few surprise guests as her boyfriend Rex, son Shelby, friend Marci and siblings Alice and Pake joined her on stage.
McEntire was also honored with a New York Times Bestseller plaque for her book, which also landed on bestseller lists for The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Publishers Weekly.
Harper Collins honoring Reba McEntire with a New York Times Bestseller plaque. Photo: Ryan Camp
Aaron Eshuis Signs With Concord Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, back row): Concord’s Shawn Thompson, Melissa Spillman, Matt Turner, Brad Kennard and Ritholz, Levy, Fields LLP ‘s Chip Petree; (L-R, front row): Aaron Eshuis and Jessica Turri Eshuis. Photo: Audrey Spillman
Songwriter and producer Aaron Eshuis has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. The deal, effective immediately, includes a selection of his existing catalog and all future works.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan native has had cuts by Rascal Flatts, A Thousand Horses, Kameron Marlowe, Corey Kent, Cole Swindell, Kylie Morgan, Meghan Patrick, Mason Ramsey and more. He scored his first No.1 in late 2018 with Scotty McCreery’s “This Is It.”
In addition to songwriting, Eshuis produced Ryan Hurd’s debut album Pelago, which included No. 1 song “Chasing After You,” as well as McCreery’s Seasons Change, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and his “Damn Strait,” “You Time” and “It Matters To Her.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Aaron to the Concord roster,” says Melissa Spillman, VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing Nashville. “He has already proven himself a multi-faceted songwriter, and Aaron’s success as a producer in Nashville only adds to the excitement. We look forward to the future!”
“I’m thrilled to be joining up with the team at Concord,” says Eshuis. “These are some of the best people I’ve met in Nashville, and I knew from our first meeting that we could do some great work together.”
David Ray Stevens Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellDavid Ray Stevens moves into the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. Stevens, who recently signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, is a co-writer on Jelly Roll’s rising collaboration with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me.”
Zach Bryan maintains his position at the top of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for the ninth consecutive week this week, while Ashley Gorley (No. 2), Tracy Chapman (No. 3), Jelly Roll (No. 4) and Chase McGill (No. 5) complete the top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ Celebrates Milestone With New Video
/by Lorie HollabaughUMGN CEO and Chair Cindy Mabe Presents RIAA 5x Platinum Plaque to Brenda Lee. Photo: Chris Hollo
Rock and Roll Hall and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee is celebrating the 65th anniversary of her classic signature holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” with a brand new video of the song, out now.
Featuring cameos by Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood, the video shows Lee getting ready for her favorite holiday by trimming the tree and baking cookies, and there is even a special visit by Santa. Released when Lee was just 13 years old, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was written by Johnny Marks, who wrote many of the holiday standards. Last year the song was the second-highest streamed Christmas song with 240 million streams, and was recently certified 5x Platinum.
“For those out there who know me and have supported me and my music through the years, I’ve very proud to be putting out the first ever music video for ‘Rockin’.’ This song has been so special to me—I never thought it would be my signature song, but I love that it is because it brings so much joy,” shares Lee. “I remember the day I recorded this wonderful Johnny Marks song, and here we are 65 years later and I’m only here because of you. I won’t ever meet all of you, but I know you are there and have been since I was a little girl—so Thank You and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!”
A new EP, A Rockin’ Christmas with Brenda Lee, is also out now featuring Lee’s hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and other holiday favorites including “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock” “A Marshmallow World” and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” reimagined by Filous.
Lee will perform “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” on the upcoming NBC television special Christmas at the Opry, which airs Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET and streams next day on Peacock.