Pictured (L-R): Dylan Rucker, Kaiser Cunningham and Chase Rice on the set of “Bench Seat.” Photo: Evan DeStefano
With his last album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, Chase Rice broke new ground as an artist.
The man behind such hits as “Eyes On You,” “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Ready Set Roll” and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” dug deep for the 14-song project, curating an impressive body of work to both fans and the industry. With a photo of his late father gracing its cover, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell included some deeper songs about Rice’s life, such as “Key West & Colorado,” as well as some elevated party rockers that we’ve come to know Rice for, such as his currently-rising single “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer.”
Fans were especially struck by “Bench Seat,” a song Rice wrote by himself about the journey we go on with our dogs.
Chase Rice with the canine actors for “Bench Seat.” Photo: Evan DeStefano
“This song began with a whiskey and a joint sitting around a fire in Tennessee with one of my best friends in the world since college,” Rice tells MusicRow. “We were reminiscing about how two years before, in the same house, he explained to me that he had his handgun pressed against the side of his head with his finger on the trigger, when his dog walked up and put his head on his leg. That dog saved his life that day.”
He continues, “Sitting around the fire two years later, he said to me, ‘Dude, you should write a song about a guy driving around in his truck with his dog.’ I was trying to avoid country cliches on this album, but I couldn’t avoid this one. Two days later, sitting in my kitchen balling my eyes out for about 8 hours, I was exhausted, and ‘Bench Seat’ was born.”
The song’s lyrics paint a picture of a man struggling, who adopts a dog that ultimately changes his life. The two form an unbreakable bond, riding together in the cab of the man’s truck. Rice sings, “And we roll the windows down, You’re right there in that bench seat next to me. There’s a smell of fresh cut grass, Mr. Reynolds waves as we roll past State Road 44,” illustrating the pair’s tradition.
By the second verse, the man has met a girl and added to their family. But in the third verse, things go wrong. The man unexpectedly dies, and that’s when you realize, the song is the perspective of the dog.
“I always knew this day would come, just thought I’d be the first called home,” Rice sings. “Your little boy and her, don’t ya worry ’bout them. I’ve got ’em from now. See ya soon, my friend.”
The tear-jerking moment, expertly crafted by Rice, marks “Bench Seat” as a career song for the writer.
For such a special tune, Rice knew the music video had to convey its message perfectly.
“For me, the video had to portray the exact emotions I felt the day I wrote the song. It’s the only song I’ve ever written where I had the video in my head while I was writing the song—it actually really helped me write it,” he says. “Nobody else saw what was in my head that day, so I figured we wouldn’t get exactly what I was seeing, but if we could capture the real emotions, the darkness of depression, the beauty of a dog’s life and the power of redemption, that was what mattered most.”
To tackle the music video, Rice called on Nashville creative director, Kaiser Cunningham, who specializes in music video direction and production, documentary storytelling, portrait and live photography, artist branding and more.
Cunningham tells MusicRow that though he was nervous, he was up for the challenge of conveying such a special message—and its twist, three minutes in to the four minute song.
“It was important to me during the beginning of this production to think about the final product from the viewers’ perspective. I had to ask myself several times throughout the filming of this, ‘What would make me feel true emotion?’ Cunningham says. “I believe that we captured that and people can see that attention to detail executed. There were also several little Easter eggs that we left throughout the video which weren’t just for the viewer, but also specifically for Chase and his buddy’s overall storyline. For instance, the casket in the video is Carolina Blue—representative of Chase’s college football days—and the hat that his ‘son’ wears was the one Chase wore throughout the video.”
“Kaiser had worked on the road with me for years, so he knew me and how I work. This one was different because I wasn’t willing to hear any ideas of how the story should go; it was set in stone for me the day the song was written. So, for someone as creative as Kaiser, it could have been a big challenge sticking to what I had in mind, but he nailed it,” Rice says. “He took everything I wanted from coloring, to acting, to storyline and simply made it a better version of what I had in mind from the start. He knew how much this song and video meant to me. It wasn’t about either of us being right, it was about what made the video the best. No details were missed. He’s a pro, and I’m grateful for how much time and energy he put into this video.”
The reaction to “Bench Seat” has been resounding. In addition to its 1.4 million views, the video has been nominated and won multiple film awards. It received honors at the Afterlife File Festival (Spain), Barcelona Indie Awards (Spain), Canadian Cinematography Awards (Canada), Cannes International Film Festival (France), F3 Queen City Film Festival (Cincinnati, OH), Feel The Reel Festival (Glasgow, UK), Lulea International Film Fest (Sweden), Mindfield Film Festival (New Mexico), Oniros Film Festival (New York), Rome International Film Awards (Rome), Sweden Film Awards (Sweden) and North East Film Festival (Teanack, NJ), as well as other honors.
In total, “Bench Seat” has been selected among other nominees at film festivals around the world 22 times, and has won 13 awards.
Of the critical reception, Cunningham shares, “I feel like the overall reaction has just been shock and disbelief. Between the actual shot of Chase dying, the casket, the heaven scene… those are really heavy visuals for people to see and, from what I’ve heard, it’s really striking a chord with people. Moreso, when the viewer realizes the song is from the dog’s perspective it just amplifies the shock.”
He adds, “I personally did not expect it to win any awards. I knew we had an impactful story that people can relate to and that’s what my main concern was, initially. Then when I got approached about sharing this on a greater platform I was overwhelmed. I didn’t realize what we had until after the fact when we started to see how it’s affecting people. It’s been really validating to me and my career and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who has watched this, covered it, left us a comment on the YouTube video. It means the world to me.”
Chase Rice. Photo: Evan DeStefano
To both Cunningham and Rice, the fan reaction to “Bench Seat” has been extremely impactful.
Rice says, “The best recognition happens every night. The flashlights up at the end of the song, the tears, the singing along are all a singer’s dream. But, my favorite part is when I start telling the true story behind the song—the depression, near suicide, and a dog that saved a life. That’s the part I’m not sure a lot of people know.
“When I start telling it, something happens every single night. It’s the quietest I’ve ever heard our shows. They’re listening. They’re getting to know me in a way I’m uncomfortable with, but no longer willing to hide; and I’m getting to know them with the way they listen, cry and sing. Life’s hard, we all need each other. This song is that moment for all of us that lets every person in the place know that nobody is alone.”
CMA Announces 2023 International Awards Nominees
/by Lorie HollabaughNominees are recognized in multiple categories and voted on by international members of CMA along with a select panel of U.S. professionals who have extensive knowledge in the international market. The nominees are honored for their continued efforts in expanding country music’s reach around the globe.
Voting for the 2023 CMA International Awards is open now through Thursday, Sept. 28. Winners will be announced later this year.
“As we continue to see Country Music grow globally, it is thanks in large part to those who have supported our mission and spearheaded events, initiatives and programming to reach new territories around the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The dedication from each of these nominees has made them a vital part of the success of our genre internationally, and we cannot wait to celebrate them in the coming months.”
“We cannot thank our international award nominees enough for their passion and efforts in expanding our international markets,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations & Development. “As we look across the international landscape, it is evident that Country Music has more opportunity than ever to continue expanding across the globe. These international nominees are leading the charge in making that happen. We are grateful for their knowledge and commitment to representing our genre as well as their unwavering passion and commitment to expanding our international markets.”
2023 CMA International Awards Nominees:
Jo Walker Meador International Award
Recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting country music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.
Jon Cauwood (U.K. – Music Consultant)
Sina Hall (Germany – Semmel Concerts)
Natalie Waller (Australia – ABC Music)
Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award
Recognizes outstanding achievements by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by extending performance opportunities and building live audiences for country outside of the U.S.
Susan Heymann (Australia – Frontier Touring)
Anna-Sophie Mertens (U.K. – Live Nation)
Ron Sakamoto (Canada – Gold and Gold Productions, LTD.)
Neil Warnock, MBE (U.K. – United Talent Agency)
Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award
Recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country outside of the U.S.
Jill Johnson (Sweden – ‘Jills Veranda’ SVT)
Ross Jones (U.K. – Holler)
Richard Murdoch (Scotland – BBC Radio)
Dayna Bourgoin (Canada – Pure Country Radio, iHeart Radio)
International Artist Achievement Award
Recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S. artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country industry outside of the U.S. during the eligibility period.
Luke Combs
Kip Moore
Morgan Wallen
International Country Broadcaster Award
Recognizes outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the U.S. who has made important contributions for the development of country music in his/her country.
Stefanie Jüneman (Germany – FM Maximum Roc)
Joakim Richardson (Sweden – Go Country)
Ricky Ross (U.K. – BBC Radio Scotland)
Justin Thomson (Australia – KIX Country)
Wimpie van der Sandt (South Africa – Bok Radio)
Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award
Recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside of the U.S. The artist must have furthered the popularity of country as well as brought attention to the format in their foreign-based territory.
Casey Barnes (Australia)
Kaylee Bell (New Zealand)
Tebey (Canada)
Chase Rice & Kaiser Cunningham Glow In The Reception Of ‘Bench Seat’ Video [Interview]
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Dylan Rucker, Kaiser Cunningham and Chase Rice on the set of “Bench Seat.” Photo: Evan DeStefano
With his last album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, Chase Rice broke new ground as an artist.
The man behind such hits as “Eyes On You,” “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Ready Set Roll” and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” dug deep for the 14-song project, curating an impressive body of work to both fans and the industry. With a photo of his late father gracing its cover, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell included some deeper songs about Rice’s life, such as “Key West & Colorado,” as well as some elevated party rockers that we’ve come to know Rice for, such as his currently-rising single “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer.”
Fans were especially struck by “Bench Seat,” a song Rice wrote by himself about the journey we go on with our dogs.
Chase Rice with the canine actors for “Bench Seat.” Photo: Evan DeStefano
“This song began with a whiskey and a joint sitting around a fire in Tennessee with one of my best friends in the world since college,” Rice tells MusicRow. “We were reminiscing about how two years before, in the same house, he explained to me that he had his handgun pressed against the side of his head with his finger on the trigger, when his dog walked up and put his head on his leg. That dog saved his life that day.”
He continues, “Sitting around the fire two years later, he said to me, ‘Dude, you should write a song about a guy driving around in his truck with his dog.’ I was trying to avoid country cliches on this album, but I couldn’t avoid this one. Two days later, sitting in my kitchen balling my eyes out for about 8 hours, I was exhausted, and ‘Bench Seat’ was born.”
The song’s lyrics paint a picture of a man struggling, who adopts a dog that ultimately changes his life. The two form an unbreakable bond, riding together in the cab of the man’s truck. Rice sings, “And we roll the windows down, You’re right there in that bench seat next to me. There’s a smell of fresh cut grass, Mr. Reynolds waves as we roll past State Road 44,” illustrating the pair’s tradition.
By the second verse, the man has met a girl and added to their family. But in the third verse, things go wrong. The man unexpectedly dies, and that’s when you realize, the song is the perspective of the dog.
“I always knew this day would come, just thought I’d be the first called home,” Rice sings. “Your little boy and her, don’t ya worry ’bout them. I’ve got ’em from now. See ya soon, my friend.”
The tear-jerking moment, expertly crafted by Rice, marks “Bench Seat” as a career song for the writer.
For such a special tune, Rice knew the music video had to convey its message perfectly.
“For me, the video had to portray the exact emotions I felt the day I wrote the song. It’s the only song I’ve ever written where I had the video in my head while I was writing the song—it actually really helped me write it,” he says. “Nobody else saw what was in my head that day, so I figured we wouldn’t get exactly what I was seeing, but if we could capture the real emotions, the darkness of depression, the beauty of a dog’s life and the power of redemption, that was what mattered most.”
To tackle the music video, Rice called on Nashville creative director, Kaiser Cunningham, who specializes in music video direction and production, documentary storytelling, portrait and live photography, artist branding and more.
Cunningham tells MusicRow that though he was nervous, he was up for the challenge of conveying such a special message—and its twist, three minutes in to the four minute song.
“It was important to me during the beginning of this production to think about the final product from the viewers’ perspective. I had to ask myself several times throughout the filming of this, ‘What would make me feel true emotion?’ Cunningham says. “I believe that we captured that and people can see that attention to detail executed. There were also several little Easter eggs that we left throughout the video which weren’t just for the viewer, but also specifically for Chase and his buddy’s overall storyline. For instance, the casket in the video is Carolina Blue—representative of Chase’s college football days—and the hat that his ‘son’ wears was the one Chase wore throughout the video.”
“Kaiser had worked on the road with me for years, so he knew me and how I work. This one was different because I wasn’t willing to hear any ideas of how the story should go; it was set in stone for me the day the song was written. So, for someone as creative as Kaiser, it could have been a big challenge sticking to what I had in mind, but he nailed it,” Rice says. “He took everything I wanted from coloring, to acting, to storyline and simply made it a better version of what I had in mind from the start. He knew how much this song and video meant to me. It wasn’t about either of us being right, it was about what made the video the best. No details were missed. He’s a pro, and I’m grateful for how much time and energy he put into this video.”
The reaction to “Bench Seat” has been resounding. In addition to its 1.4 million views, the video has been nominated and won multiple film awards. It received honors at the Afterlife File Festival (Spain), Barcelona Indie Awards (Spain), Canadian Cinematography Awards (Canada), Cannes International Film Festival (France), F3 Queen City Film Festival (Cincinnati, OH), Feel The Reel Festival (Glasgow, UK), Lulea International Film Fest (Sweden), Mindfield Film Festival (New Mexico), Oniros Film Festival (New York), Rome International Film Awards (Rome), Sweden Film Awards (Sweden) and North East Film Festival (Teanack, NJ), as well as other honors.
In total, “Bench Seat” has been selected among other nominees at film festivals around the world 22 times, and has won 13 awards.
Of the critical reception, Cunningham shares, “I feel like the overall reaction has just been shock and disbelief. Between the actual shot of Chase dying, the casket, the heaven scene… those are really heavy visuals for people to see and, from what I’ve heard, it’s really striking a chord with people. Moreso, when the viewer realizes the song is from the dog’s perspective it just amplifies the shock.”
He adds, “I personally did not expect it to win any awards. I knew we had an impactful story that people can relate to and that’s what my main concern was, initially. Then when I got approached about sharing this on a greater platform I was overwhelmed. I didn’t realize what we had until after the fact when we started to see how it’s affecting people. It’s been really validating to me and my career and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who has watched this, covered it, left us a comment on the YouTube video. It means the world to me.”
Chase Rice. Photo: Evan DeStefano
To both Cunningham and Rice, the fan reaction to “Bench Seat” has been extremely impactful.
Rice says, “The best recognition happens every night. The flashlights up at the end of the song, the tears, the singing along are all a singer’s dream. But, my favorite part is when I start telling the true story behind the song—the depression, near suicide, and a dog that saved a life. That’s the part I’m not sure a lot of people know.
“When I start telling it, something happens every single night. It’s the quietest I’ve ever heard our shows. They’re listening. They’re getting to know me in a way I’m uncomfortable with, but no longer willing to hide; and I’m getting to know them with the way they listen, cry and sing. Life’s hard, we all need each other. This song is that moment for all of us that lets every person in the place know that nobody is alone.”
Alexandra Kay’s Debut Album ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ Due Out In October
/by Lorie HollabaughAlexandra Kay. Photo: Daniel Shippey
Alexandra Kay is releasing her debut album, All I’ve Ever Known, on Oct. 26.
Kay co-wrote all 11 of the deeply personal tracks on the new project, which was produced by Andrew Capra, Andrew Baylis and Jason Massey.
“All I’ve Ever Known is honesty. It’s a peek behind the curtain to an old kitchen window in a town of 4,000 people where I lived the past 10 years of my life. It is who I was, who I’ve become and everything in between,” shares Kay. “This album is the most raw, vulnerable, and wide open I have ever been when creating music, which can be terrifying and healing at the same time. I am so excited to connect with so many beautiful humans and watch the healing power of music as we tour this album in the fall.
The country songstress also announced her tour of the same name, which kicks off Nov. 1 in Louisville. The “All I’ve Ever Known Tour” will feature special guests Jordana Bryant and Haley Mae Campbell, and feature more than 30 stops across the U.S.
This summer, she headlined her “Backroad Therapy Tour 2” throughout Canada and the U.S., selling more than 10,000 tickets. Kay continues to amass social media fans with more than 5 million followers, over 56 million likes on TikTok and more than 57 million views on her YouTube Channel.
All I’ve Ever Known Track List:
1. Painted Him Perfect
2. Everleave
3. More Than You
4. Easy
5. I Hate Airplanes
6. Happy Once
7. How Do We Go
8. Kiss Me Goodnight
9. All I’ve Ever Known
10. She Stayed
11. I Can Do Anything
“All I’ve Ever Known Tour” Dates:
11/1 – Louisville, KY / Headliners Music Hall
11/3 – Pittsburgh, PA / Mr. Smalls
11/4 – Buffalo, NY / Rec Room
11/5 – Horseheads, NY / The “L”
11/6 – Burlington, VT / Higher Ground
11/7 – Portland, ME / State Theatre
11/10 – Worcester, MA/ Off The Rails
11/11 – Albany, NY / Empire Live
11/12 – New Haven, CT / Toads
11/14 – Lititz, PA / Mickey’s Black Box
11/15 – Baltimore, MD / Rams Head Live!
11/17 – Charlotte, NC / The Underground
11/18 – Columbia, SC / The Senate
11/20 – Asheville, NC / The Orange Peel
11/21 – Virginia Beach, VA / Elevation 27
11/22 – New York City, NY / Gramercy
11/26 – Tampa, FL / Orpheum
11/28 – Orlando, FL / The Abbey
12/1 – Dallas, TX / The Echo
12/2 – Austin, TX / Scoot Inn
12/3 – Houston, TX / House of Blues Houston
12/5 – Lubbock, TX / Jake’s Backroom
12/6 – Albuquerque, NM / Launchpad
12/7 – Phoenix, AZ / The Van Buren
12/9 – Las Vegas, NV / Stoney’s
12/10 – Los Angeles, CA / The Roxy
12/12 – Roseville, CA / Gold Field
12/14 – Salt Lake City, UT / The Grand at The Complex
12/15 – Denver, CO / Oriental
12/16 – Manhattan, KS / The Hat
12/17 – Kansas City, MO / Madrid Theater
12/19 – Oklahoma City, OK / Tower Theatre
12/20 – Columbia, MO / The Blue Note
12/22 – Nashville, TN / The Basement East
John Morgan To Release Debut EP ‘Remember Us?’ In October
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Nate Buchanan
John Morgan is set to release his six-song debut EP Remember Us? on Oct. 6.
The debut mixes heartbreakers with up-tempo barn burners, flowing between romantic relatability and nostalgia to crank-it-up singalongs. Morgan, who penned Jason Aldean’s No. 1 “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, co-wrote each song on the project and enlisted his mentor Aldean and Aldean’s bandmates Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy to help produce the EP’s title track along with “Ain’t Been There Yet” and the previously-released party-starter “Friends Like That,” which has earned more than 12.5 million on-demand streams to date.
The collection also includes the just-released “Cold Summer In San Antone” that depicts the isolation and coldness of a broken heart, even during the most brutally hot season in Texas. Likewise, the anguished “It Ain’t the Leavin'” dials in on the turmoiled chaos felt after goodbye, while the fun-loving, up-tempo “Won’t Be As Good” admits life isn’t as worthwhile without that certain someone in it.
Morgan recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and is taking the new music out on the road with Ernest, Riley Green, Jameson Rodgers and Conner Smith as well as to festivals around the country.
Remember Us? Track Listing:
^Produced by Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison & Tully Kennedy
*Produced by Will Bundy
+ Produced by Kyle Fishman & Jacob Durrett
1. “Won’t Be As Good” (John Morgan, Will Bundy, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)*
2. “Remember Us” (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)^
3. “Friends Like That” (John Morgan, Brent Anderson, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)^
4. “Cold Summer In San Antone” (John Morgan, Ben Hayslip, Will Bundy)*
5. “It Ain’t the Leavin'” (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Casey Beathard, Josh Thompson, Rocky Block)+
6. “Ain’t Been There Yet” (John Morgan, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy)^
Luke Combs’ 2024 Stadium Tour Sells Over One Million Tickets In Opening Weekend
/by Steven BoeroLuke Combs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: David Bergman.
The reigning two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs sold over a million tickets for his 2024 “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” stadium tour in the first weekend tickets were on-sale, with 16 of the 25 shows selling out immediately including back-to-back nights at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium among others.
In just a few days, Combs already matched the number of tickets sold during the U.S. leg of his 2023 “World Tour,” which sold over a million tickets across 15 stadium shows.
Combs also continues to break records with the upcoming tour, becoming the highest-selling country artist and the first ever to play back-to-back shows at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, the highest-selling male country artist at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium and Glendale’s State Farm Stadium, and the fastest-selling two-day run in the region of Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium.
Additional stops on the tour include two nights at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium, San Antonio’s Alamodome, Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium and Houston’s NRG Stadium among others. Special guests for the Friday night shows include Cody Jinks or The Avett Brothers, Charles Wesley Godwin, Hailey Whitters and The Wilder Blue, while the Saturday shows will feature Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Drew Parker and Colby Acuff.
The tour is just the latest achievement for Combs, who is nominated for four awards at the 57th Annual CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Gettin’ Old) and Single of the Year (“Fast Car”). He once again made history last week as the first artist to simultaneously hold the top two spots on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
Combs has garnered massive success with “Fast Car” as it recently spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and also reached No. 1 on the Hot AC chart, the first song by a male solo artist to ever top both the Hot AC and Country charts. The song is also currently No. 2 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, was recently certified two-time Platinum and has garnered over 512 million global streams to date.
Drake White Builds ‘The Bridge’ To New Era On Latest EP
/by Lorie HollabaughDrake White. Photo: Zack Knudsen
Drake White is set to release a new EP, The Bridge, on Oct. 6.
The seven-song collection of songs of inspiration, love and purpose is the follow-up to White’s full-length 2022 album The Optimystic, which shares the story of his journey to recovery from an on-stage stroke in 2019. The Bridge marks a new era for White as he re-discovers himself and his purpose in life, and is blended with new songs and alternative versions of The Optimystic fan-favorites.
“The Webster dictionary defines a bridge as a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle,” says White. “This is the bridge taking me to back to why I started making music in the first place.”
With two of the songs released earlier this summer, the remaining tracks consist of a duet between White and Colbie Caillat on a special rendition of “Power of a Woman,” a raw, rough-cut track of “50 Years Too Late,” a co-write collaboration with Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, and more.
Starting Oct. 20 in Fort Worth, White will embark on his co-headlining “Blow Up Your TV Tour” with Texas artist William Clark Green. The run will feature 15 dates spread out across the Western half of the U.S.
The Bridge Track List:
1. “50 Years Too Late (Ruff Cut)” (Leith Loftin, Drake White) ^
2. “Spirit” (Drake White, Phil Pence, Leslie Satcher) +
3. “Power of a Woman (ft. Colbie Caillat)” (Kelli Johnson, Lindsey Hinkle, Drake White) ^
4. “Makin’ Me Look Good Again (Wedding Version)” (Drake White, Monty Criswell, Shane Minor) ^
5. “Turn You On” (Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Drake White) *
6. “Ladder To The Sky” (Drake White, Vanessa Olivarez, Andy Skib) *
7. “Happy Hour” (Drake White, Hayes Carll) *
* produced by Drake White
^ produced by Drake White and Graham Mallany
+ produced by Drake White and Matthew Ridenour
Reservoir Acquires Rights To Kerry Kurt Phillips’ Catalog [Exclusive]
/by Liza AndersonKerry Kurt Phillips
Reservoir Media, Inc. has acquired the publishing rights to the catalog of country singer-songwriter and producer Kerry Kurt Phillips.
As a songwriter, Phillips has earned six No. 1 singles and contributed to 75 Gold and Platinum albums, accounting for over 45 million record sales.
His catalog includes Joe Diffie‘s “Pickup Man,” which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and Tim McGraw‘s chart-climber “Down on the Farm.” Phillips has also contributed to other Diffie hits such as “Is It Cold In Here” and “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox,” which reached No. 5 and No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart, respectively. Other McGraw cuts include “Do You Want Fries With That” and “Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It,” featured on his multi-Platinum albums Live Like You Were Dying and All I Want. Additionally, Phillips has worked on Grammy-winning music including “When You’re In Love” from George Strait‘s Troubadour album as well as with artists such as George Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tracy Byrd and Craig Morgan, among others.
He began playing guitar and wrote his first song, “School Bus Blues,” a parody of the Johnny Cash hit “Folsom Prison Blues,” in grade school. Phillips has been recognized with multiple awards from ASCAP, CMA, Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) and more. His catalog has been featured in countless synch placements. To date, his co-writes have appeared across the Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremony, Super Bowl commercials and campaigns for major brands like Pepsi, Ford, General Motors, Applebee’s and PGA as well as numerous motion pictures and television series.
“These songs are some of my most faithful and favorite ‘ole dawgs, and it was important to find the right home for them. Reservoir worked hard to make this deal happen, and I know they will work just as hard to take care of them and help them continue to be loved all over again,” says Phillips.
“Kerry Kurt has been one of Nashville’s top writers since the ’90s, and I have personally been a fan of his for a long time. We are proud to be integrating Kerry Kurt’s hit catalog into our country catalog and look forward to continuing showcasing his legacy,” adds John Ozier, Reservoir Executive Vice President of Creative.
Norbert Nix Exits Triple Tigers, Kevin Herring & Annie Ortmeier Named Co-Presidents
/by LB CantrellKevin Herring, Annie Ortmeier and George Couri. Photo: Jesse Lendzion
Norbert Nix has exited his position as President of Triple Tigers, the label home to Scotty McCreery, Russell Dickerson and Jordan Fletcher.
Triple Tigers’ Kevin Herring and former UMG exec. Annie Ortmeier have become Co-Presidents of the label, reporting to George Couri, Triple Tigers Co-Founder and Triple 8 Management Co-Founder.
“Triple Tigers 2.0 is here,” Couri shares. “I look forward to stepping into a more active role, as well as having Kevin and Annie form a dual attack in the worlds of both radio and streaming & digital. Kevin’s radio singles batting average here is unmatched in the industry, and Annie comes from leading streaming and digital strategies at the biggest label in the business. With our company intentionally focused on maintaining a very small group of artists who benefit from dedicated attention, there will be tremendous impact on our roster.”
Herring took his post at Triple Tigers in 2017, overseeing all radio promotion efforts for the label. He previously served as Sr. VP of Promotion at Warner Music Nashville, and VP of Promotion at Lyric Street Records. “I am very proud and honored to be entrusted with a leadership role at Triple Tigers,” he says. “This is an amazing group of people and artists who are dedicated to making world class country music and lifting up the artists, songwriters, format and community.”
Ortmeier formerly served as Sr. VP of Streaming Marketing at UMG, where she was responsible for both audio and video streaming marketing strategy for all the label’s artists. She joined UMG in 2013. She shares, “I am excited to be joining George, Kevin and the team at Triple Tigers. I have admired Triple Tigers and the incredible success they have had thus far, and am looking forward to being able to build upon that success with Scotty, Russell, Jordan and the team!”
Nix has launched an artist development company, VISCYRL. He announced his signing of Wisconsin-native Sawyer Utah in July.
Congratulate Herring via kevin@tripletigers.com and Ortmeier via annie@tripletigers.com. Reach Couri via george@triple8mgmt.com and Nix at norbert@viscyrl.com.
ACM Opens 2024 Membership Application & Renewal Window
/by Caela GriffinThe Academy of Country Music opened its window to become a member or renew membership today (Sept. 12) through Monday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. CT.
Applications must be submitted online during this membership window to qualify to obtain or maintain voting eligibility for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2024. Accepted and active members gain access to a suite of benefits including early access to tickets for ACM events, discounts on industry partner events, industry data insights, monthly educational and networking events, and more.
For more information and to apply online, click here.
“The Academy of Country Music is coming off another markedly successful year with the ACM Awards in May and a heartfelt ACM Honors show at the Ryman last month, set to return to FOX next Monday night for a primetime TV special. Coupled with a renewed commitment to greater inclusivity and equity in our country music community through several forward-thinking professional development programs, record-setting fundraising and grant disbursement from ACM Lifting Lives, and many new opportunities in development, membership in the Academy has never been more essential,” says Daniel Miller, Chair of the ACM Membership Committee. “Now is an exciting time to engage with the Academy and we encourage prospective members to apply and our current membership to renew this fall for 2024. Thanks to our committee members for recruiting our largest and most diverse membership class yet.”
The 2023 membership application and renewal cycle last year saw the ACM reach record-high levels, surpassing all existing benchmarks since organization membership numbers were tracked. This milestone was announced days before the official grand opening of the Academy’s new Nashville headquarters in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood, cementing the celebrated trade organization’s official move to Music City after nearly six decades on the west coast and creating an instant hub for the industry and country community as Nashville continues its vibrant growth.
A multi-platform recruitment and awareness campaign with a “Vote | Lead | Change” catchline will run in the weeks ahead. ACM members can cast votes for the ACM Awards, which celebrate excellence across the industry and reach millions of fans all over the world, through a pioneering partnership with Amazon’s Prime Video. Members also gain admission and access to an invaluable programming and development lineup, including exclusive events, panels, and initiatives, as well as the acclaimed quarterly magazine TEMPO.
The ACM also boasts a long-standing history as a welcoming organization for all, including a community-leading commitment towards creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in country music, from the boardroom to the stage, and invites applicants to join us as we work towards change.
Conner Smith Slates “Creek Will Rise Tour” For Fall & Winter
/by Caela GriffinPhoto: Courtesy of Conner Smith
Rising singer-songwriter Conner Smith has announced his North American headline “Creek Will Rise Tour” with special guests Lauren Watkins and John Morgan.
Smith will be bring his high energy and charisma on 20 dates, kicking off Nov. 2 in Athens, Georgia, and wrapping Jan. 27, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“Nothing about this job beats the moments you have with your fans, gathered together around a shared love for country music,” says Smith. “This tour is a step up for us and something I’ve dreamed of for a while. As a fan myself of both Lauren Watkins and John Morgan, I can’t wait to see them perform night after night.”
Fan presale begins today (Sept. 12) and public on-sale starts Friday (Sept. 15) at 10 a.m. For more information, click here.
The Nashville-raised Smith captured the live energy of the tour’s namesake “Creek Will Rise” during a sold-out home state shows earlier this year.