Amy Grant is releasing a new 18-track project, Lead Me On Live 1989, on Oct. 6 featuring unreleased songs from the Fort Worth, Texas stop of her “Lead Me On Tour” in 1989.
The album was originally recorded during the tour and also includes a few songs from the 20th anniversary edition of the original Lead Me On album.
Pulled from the vault 34 years later, this is the first time fans will have the opportunity to experience all the songs from Grant’s biggest tour up to that point in her career. Prior to her global pop-star success with Heart In Motion, 1988-1989 was a time of incredible audience growth for Grant, and found her pulling out all the stops for an unparalleled experience.
“When I first heard the recordings from 1989 from the ‘Lead Me On Tour,’ the thing that bowled me over was just what a talented band I had on the road,” says Grant. “I have loved every band configuration I’ve ever had on the road and all are so special to me, but there was something unique about that group of players and singers during the ‘Lead Me On Tour.’
“First of all, there were so many of us on the stage and so many types of instrumentation like harmonica solos, flute solos, saxophone, mandolins, lots of keyboards and stacks of vocals, it just felt like one big family reunion every night. The size and scope of the production and the big experience we were trying to create also made this tour very special. The energy of the crowd felt like an infinite number eight with energy coming from us on stage, it circling through the audience and then coming back to us and it brought back so many amazing memories. I’m so grateful we captured that moment in time.”
Lead Me On Live 1989 will be available digitally as well as on a two-CD collection. iTunes will have the album for pre-ale with track “Wait For The Healing” available, starting Sept. 15. All-new merch, fan packs and bundles for the project will also be available. Additionally, the salvageable film footage from the 1989 Fort Worth show that has been “in the vault” will finally see the light of day on YouTube and social media platforms in the forms of music videos, shorts, reels and more. For more information, click here.
This fall, Grant will hit the road starting Sept. 20 performing her hits along with selections from the Lead Me On Live 1989 project. On Nov. 26, Grant and her long-time friend and collaborator Michael W. Smith will begin their “2023 Christmas Tour.”
Lead Me On Live 1989 Track Listing:
1. “Love Of Another Kind”
2. “Wait For The Healing”
3. “Shadows”
4. “Everywhere I Go”
5. “All Right”
6. “Saved By Love”
7. “1974”
8. “Stay For A While”
9. “Emmanuel”
10. “El Shaddai”
11. “Lead Me On”
12. “Find A Way”
13. “Band Intros”
14. “I Love You”
15. “Wise Up”
16. “Fight”
17. “Angels”
18. “Say Once More”
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.
Music Biz 2024 To Take Place May 13-16
/by Liza AndersonThe Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced that the Music Biz 2024 conference will take place May 13-16 at the JW Marriott Nashville.
The 2023 conference brought together over 2,100 attendees from more than 800 companies across 30 countries to hear expert viewpoints on the latest trends and technology, seek out new business partnerships and celebrate those who are innovating the ways the industry operates.
Registration rates remain the same as 2023 for in-person ticket holders. Music Biz has also open discounted hotel registrations at the JW Marriott Nashville for $299 per night.
There is a limited number of meeting rooms and suite options for companies looking to host private conversations with their partners or showcases on-site during the conference. Companies interest in booking can contact Jessicca Garcia, Music Biz Events Manager, at jessicca.garcia@musicbiz.org.
In 2024, Music Biz will continue to source the educational program from industry professionals, as the association determines the program tracks and conversations most relevant to the industry in the coming months. The Call for Presentations will begin early next month and wrap on Friday, Dec. 8. Full criteria and submission forms for this year’s process will be announced soon.
For more Music Biz 2024 information, click here.
Amy Grant To Release Vault Project ‘Lead Me On Live 1989’
/by Lorie HollabaughAmy Grant is releasing a new 18-track project, Lead Me On Live 1989, on Oct. 6 featuring unreleased songs from the Fort Worth, Texas stop of her “Lead Me On Tour” in 1989.
The album was originally recorded during the tour and also includes a few songs from the 20th anniversary edition of the original Lead Me On album.
Pulled from the vault 34 years later, this is the first time fans will have the opportunity to experience all the songs from Grant’s biggest tour up to that point in her career. Prior to her global pop-star success with Heart In Motion, 1988-1989 was a time of incredible audience growth for Grant, and found her pulling out all the stops for an unparalleled experience.
“When I first heard the recordings from 1989 from the ‘Lead Me On Tour,’ the thing that bowled me over was just what a talented band I had on the road,” says Grant. “I have loved every band configuration I’ve ever had on the road and all are so special to me, but there was something unique about that group of players and singers during the ‘Lead Me On Tour.’
“First of all, there were so many of us on the stage and so many types of instrumentation like harmonica solos, flute solos, saxophone, mandolins, lots of keyboards and stacks of vocals, it just felt like one big family reunion every night. The size and scope of the production and the big experience we were trying to create also made this tour very special. The energy of the crowd felt like an infinite number eight with energy coming from us on stage, it circling through the audience and then coming back to us and it brought back so many amazing memories. I’m so grateful we captured that moment in time.”
Lead Me On Live 1989 will be available digitally as well as on a two-CD collection. iTunes will have the album for pre-ale with track “Wait For The Healing” available, starting Sept. 15. All-new merch, fan packs and bundles for the project will also be available. Additionally, the salvageable film footage from the 1989 Fort Worth show that has been “in the vault” will finally see the light of day on YouTube and social media platforms in the forms of music videos, shorts, reels and more. For more information, click here.
This fall, Grant will hit the road starting Sept. 20 performing her hits along with selections from the Lead Me On Live 1989 project. On Nov. 26, Grant and her long-time friend and collaborator Michael W. Smith will begin their “2023 Christmas Tour.”
1. “Love Of Another Kind”
2. “Wait For The Healing”
3. “Shadows”
4. “Everywhere I Go”
5. “All Right”
6. “Saved By Love”
7. “1974”
8. “Stay For A While”
9. “Emmanuel”
10. “El Shaddai”
11. “Lead Me On”
12. “Find A Way”
13. “Band Intros”
14. “I Love You”
15. “Wise Up”
16. “Fight”
17. “Angels”
18. “Say Once More”
George Strait & Chris Stapleton Extend Stadium Shows Into 2024
/by Lorie HollabaughGeorge Strait and Chris Stapleton are extending their run of stadium shows into 2024 with nine new dates. Little Big Town will join them for the extended run of one-off stadium dates next year.
In addition to summer shows in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Ames, Charlotte, East Rutherford, Salt Lake City, Detroit and Chicago, Strait will also supersize his longstanding “Strait to Vegas” show with a December date at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement.
Tickets to all shows except Jacksonville will be available Sept. 22. Tickets to the Jacksonville show go on sale Oct. 20. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public Sept. 15-21. For more information, click here.
“I’ve always said we have the best fans in the world, and to see so many of them show up for these shows just makes us want to keep bringing them more,” shares Strait. “I’ve also missed performing in Las Vegas during NFR, so I’m happy to see that show come together in 2024. See you soon!”
George Strait & Chris Stapleton 2024 Stadium Shows:
May 4 – Indianapolis, Ind. || Lucas Oil Stadium
May 11 – Jacksonville, Fla. || EverBank Stadium
May 25 – Ames, Iowa || Jack Trice Stadium
June 1 – Charlotte, N.C. || Bank of America Stadium
June 8 – East Rutherford, N.J. || MetLife Stadium
June 29 – Salt Lake City, Utah || Rice Eccles Stadium
July 13 – Detroit, Mich. || Ford Field
July 20 – Chicago, Ill. || Soldier Field
Dec. 7 – Las Vegas, Nev. || Allegiant Stadium
SMACKSongs Promotes Lee Krabel To Sr. VP Of Publishing
/by LB CantrellLee Krabel. Photo: Lance Wilson
SMACKSongs has promoted Lee Krabel to Senior Vice President of Publishing, effective immediately.
Since joining the company in 2016 as Creative Director, Krabel has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s creative direction and fostering an environment where songwriters can thrive over the years.
At SMACK, Krabel runs point on an array of talented songwriters, including Josh Jenkins, Ross Copperman, Scott Stepakoff, Tigirlily Gold, McCoy Moore and Clara Park. In his new role, he will continue to oversee SMACK’s entire roster of songwriters, manage the creative staff, book writing sessions, pitch songs, and identify and sign new and promising writers.
“This is well deserved! Lee has been a huge part of the success of SMACK for the past 7 years and helped grow the team to what it is today,” says SMACK President, Robert Carlton. “I’m excited to see what this next chapter has in store. With Lee here, I know our writers will always be in good hands.”
Krabel shares, “The writers and staff at SMACK continue to build one of the best independent publishers in the world. I’m very thankful that Shane [McAnally], Robin [Palmer] and Robert continue to believe in me to be a part of this great team. It feels like we are just getting started and I can’t wait to see where SMACK grows from here.”
Congratulate Krabel at lee@smacksongs.com.