River House Artists and Warner Music Nashville rising star Austin Snell will embark on his first headlining tour this fall. The “Muddy Water Rockstar Tour” will bring Snell’s signature brand of grunge country to Chicago, Washington DC, Nashville and more.
Just before the tour starts on Sept. 1, Snell will release “Send You The Bill,” the first track off of his debut EP, Muddy Water Rockstar.
“It’s crazy to me that I saw some of my favorite artists play the venues on this tour just a few years back, and now I’ll be playing on those same stages this Fall,” says Snell. “I’m pumped to get out on the road and let people experience some of what we’ve been prepping for since the start of the year.”
The tour marks a major milestone in an already exciting year for Snell. In addition to his headlining dates, he will open a show for Nickelback, one of the bands he counts as an influence.
Last month, Snell released a three-song project titled “Songs From My Phone.” Earlier this year, he was named the latest and first country artist to be selected as a part of SiriusXM’s Artist Accelerator program and was also a Highway Find via SiriusXM’s The Highway.
His previously released tracks, “Excuse The Mess,” “Get There First,” “Pray All The Way Home” and a cover of Cassadee Pope’s hit single “Wasting All These Tears” have helped add to his more than 80 million global career streams.
“Muddy Water Rockstar Tour” Dates:
9/1 – Schaghticoke Fair – Schaghticoke, NY
9/23 – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO
9/28 – Statesboro, GA – The Blue Room
9/29 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
9/30 – Milledgeville, GA – Ned Kelly’s Down Under
10/5 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
10/6 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
10/7 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club – The Rave Bar
10/12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
10/13 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
10/14 – Hatfield Lions Club Pavilion – Hatfield, MA
10/26 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
10/27 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord Music
10/28 – Carboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/1 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
11/2 – Louisville, KY – PBR Bar
11/3 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
Ian Christian Signs With Sea Gayle Music
/by Lorie HollabaughIan Christian
Songwriter and producer Ian Christian has signed a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music.
The Jacksonville, Florida native is a rocker-turned-producer who grew up touring the East Coast in several bands. His love for music led him to L.A. and eventually to Nashville in 2014. He was selected as one of the writers in the AIMP’s Class of 2020 and nominated for AIMP’s 2022 Publisher Pick. Christian has had cuts with artists including Megan Moroney, Lily Rose, Jordan Fletcher and Ella Langley, and is also a co-writer on Matt Stell‘s single, “Man Made.”
“Ian brings top level songwriting skills, production capabilities and musicianship into every writing session that he is a part of,” says Chris DuBois, CEO of Sea Gayle Music. “We couldn’t be more excited about having him as part of the Sea Gayle family.”
“Sea Gayle has felt like family since day one. I feel right at home with the artists, writers and creative team,” says Christian.
Weekly Register: Zach Bryan Scales The Country Streaming Songs Chart
/by Liza AndersonZach Bryan‘s “Something In The Orange” reclaims its spot among the top country streaming songs this week, landing at No. 3 with 14 million new streams, adding to 831 million ATD according to Luminate data.
Morgan Wallen‘s “Last Night” stays atop the chart with 26 million streams, adding to 721 million ATD. Luke Combs‘ cover of “Fast Car” moves back up to No. 2 with 19 million new streams, adding to 271 million ATD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” returns to No. 4 with 13 million streams, adding to 280 million ATD, while Jason Aldean‘s “Try That In A Small Town” takes No. 5 with 12 million new streams, adding to 21 million ATD.
On the country albums chart, Taylor Swift‘s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) prevails at No. 1 with 121K in total consumption (47K album only/93 million song streams). Wallen’s One Thing At A Time stays at No. 2 with 105K (4.3K album only/127 million song streams), and his Dangerous: The Double Album remains at No. 3 with 48K (1.1K album only/60 million song streams). Combs’ Gettin’ Old rises to No. 4 with 32K (2.4K album only/35 million song streams), and Bryan’s American Heartbreak slides to No. 5 with 32K (1.6K album only/39 million song streams).
Photographer John Shearer Signs With Form Artists & Day Reps
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Shearer. Photo: Andres Martinez
Photographer John Shearer has joined the rosters of L.A.-based Form Artists for entertainment and Day Reps for advertising.
Shearer been a leading photographer in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. His passion for photography was sparked during his college years, when he developed a mentor relationship with the iconic rock photographer Jim Marshall. Since then, he has become a specialist in entertainment portraiture, key art, advertising, album covers, and backstage documentary coverage—working with a diverse range of clients from artists and record labels to brands, TV networks, movie studios and publications.
“I am excited to be joining the rosters of Form Artists for entertainment and Day Reps for advertising! Two strong, female led photo agencies based in Los Angeles,” Shearer shares. “It’s been a long time coming, and I can’t wait to see where we take it from here.”
Shearer’s approach to photography centers around relationships and he’s earned long-standing relationships with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Bob Dylan, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and many others.
In 2015, Shearer moved from L.A. to Nashville, where he now works out of his studio. His work takes him around the world, but he enjoys spending time with wife, The Home Edit co-founder Clea Shearer, and their two children, and exploring the outdoors through mountain biking and hiking.
Pictured (L-R): Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott of Lady A, Breland and Charles Kelley of Lady A attend CMA Fest. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA
Taylor Swift performs onstage during night one of “The Eras Tour” at Nissan Stadium. Photo: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: John Shearer
Ariana Grande at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Photo: John Shearer
Keith Urban’s The Speed Of Now Part 1 album cover. Photo: John Shearer
Click here to see more of Shearer’s work.
Play It Again Music Group Hires Grayson Clotfelter
/by LB CantrellGrayson Clotfelter
Grayson Clotfelter has joined Play It Again Music Group (PIAMG) as Creative Manager. In his newly appointed role, he will oversee the creative direction of Play It Again’s roster of writers, which includes owner and hit songwriter Dallas Davidson as well as Lee Brice, Lewis Brice, John Morgan, Dylan Marlowe, Kyle Fishman, John Edwards and Tyler Farr.
Clotfelter is a Georgia native and an MTSU alum. After college, he started his career as a catalog manager at UMPG Nashville. After growing his relationships while at UMPG, Clotfelter went out on the road with Seaforth and then joined Lily Rose in 2022. After two years on the road, he was drawn back to his passion of working with songwriters, and joined PIAMG.
“I’m very excited to announce Grayson Clotfelter as PIAMG’s Creative Manager,” says Davidson. “Grayson came in our door and made an immediate impact on our company and our songwriters. He’s a very versatile guy, bringing not only knowledge from Universal Music Publishing, but also his time spent on the road as tour manager for Lily Rose. He understands and relates well to creative people. Grayson is responsible, focused and, most importantly, passionate about our writers. He’s a great asset to PIAMG.”
“Working with the incredible team and songwriters at Play It Again has been nothing short of amazing,” says Clotfelter. “Dallas Davidson is someone I’ve always looked up to and I’m thrilled to join his company and continue to grow in the world of publishing.”
Nick Brophy Signs With Peermusic Nashville
/by Liza AndersonNick Brophy. Photo: Mark Seliger
Grammy-winning songwriter, producer and engineer Nick Brophy has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Peermusic Nashville.
Brophy has had cuts with Hootie & the Blowfish, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts, and mixed three consecutive No. 1 singles by Kip Moore (double-Platinum “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” Gold-certified “Beer Money” and Platinum-certified “Hey Pretty Girl”) as well as Jimmy Fallon’s comedy album Blow Your Pants Off, which features Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Timberlake. His engineering credits include Everclear‘s Platinum-certified album Sparkle and Fade, Avril Lavigne‘s six-time Platinum album Let Go and The Rolling Stones‘ four-time Platinum album 40 Licks. Brophy’s work has contributed to the sale of more than 21 million albums and singles sold worldwide in addition to 12 Grammy nominations.
He is also makes up LÒNIS, a multi-genre, writing/production duo, with singer-songwriter and producer Jennifer Hanson, who is also with Peermusic Nashville. The duo formed to create a creative outlet for the eclectic, alternative and indie songs they’ve been writing and producing for themselves and other artists.
“I’ve known Nick for a long time and have always been a big fan. He’s got the ability to write across genres, with impact in Nashville and into global markets with high profile projects. Nick will be a standout for us and a great creative addition for Peermusic,” says Michael Knox, President, Peermusic Nashville.
Craig Currier, VP, Director of Advertising Markets, Peermusic Nashville adds, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Nick over the past few years now on various artist projects—his talents as a writer, producer, mixer and instrumentalist are second to none. Nick’s creative instincts in working with artists are among the best I’ve seen. I’m excited to have him join our Peermusic roster and humbled by his trust in us to make Peermusic his exclusive home.”
“I have been independent for the past six years, closely collaborating with the incredibly talented Craig Currier, Michael Knox and the entire Peermusic team. Throughout this time, I have experienced their genuine understanding and support for multi-genre writers and producers like myself. Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have played an important role in achieving great success for me over the last several years. Today, I am thrilled to announce my official partnership with Peermusic. I have complete confidence that together, we will forge a path of continued success, leaving an enduring mark on the music industry,” says Brophy.
Austin Snell Heading Out On The ‘Muddy Water Rockstar Tour’
/by LB CantrellRiver House Artists and Warner Music Nashville rising star Austin Snell will embark on his first headlining tour this fall. The “Muddy Water Rockstar Tour” will bring Snell’s signature brand of grunge country to Chicago, Washington DC, Nashville and more.
Just before the tour starts on Sept. 1, Snell will release “Send You The Bill,” the first track off of his debut EP, Muddy Water Rockstar.
“It’s crazy to me that I saw some of my favorite artists play the venues on this tour just a few years back, and now I’ll be playing on those same stages this Fall,” says Snell. “I’m pumped to get out on the road and let people experience some of what we’ve been prepping for since the start of the year.”
The tour marks a major milestone in an already exciting year for Snell. In addition to his headlining dates, he will open a show for Nickelback, one of the bands he counts as an influence.
Last month, Snell released a three-song project titled “Songs From My Phone.” Earlier this year, he was named the latest and first country artist to be selected as a part of SiriusXM’s Artist Accelerator program and was also a Highway Find via SiriusXM’s The Highway.
His previously released tracks, “Excuse The Mess,” “Get There First,” “Pray All The Way Home” and a cover of Cassadee Pope’s hit single “Wasting All These Tears” have helped add to his more than 80 million global career streams.
“Muddy Water Rockstar Tour” Dates:
9/1 – Schaghticoke Fair – Schaghticoke, NY
9/23 – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO
9/28 – Statesboro, GA – The Blue Room
9/29 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
9/30 – Milledgeville, GA – Ned Kelly’s Down Under
10/5 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
10/6 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
10/7 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club – The Rave Bar
10/12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
10/13 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
10/14 – Hatfield Lions Club Pavilion – Hatfield, MA
10/26 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
10/27 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord Music
10/28 – Carboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/1 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
11/2 – Louisville, KY – PBR Bar
11/3 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
Industry Ink: Carrie Underwood, Shawn Parr, Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood Races Into IndyCar History On The Side Of No. 60 Car
Carrie Underwood
In honor of Carrie Underwood’s performance at the Iowa IndyCar race this past weekend, the No. 60 car of Meyer Shank Racing displayed the logo of her new SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Country, on the side pod. Underwood stopped by the garage before the race to say hello to drivers Helio Castroneves and Conor Daly.
Race fans will see Carrie’s Country on the No. 60 car again at the Nashville race on Aug. 6, and fans can check it out on channel 60 on SiriusXM.
Shawn Parr’s ‘Backstage Country’ Takes No. 1 Nights on WXTU In Philly
Shawn Parr
Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country has taken the lead with Philadelphia radio listeners as the No. 1 rated show for Nights and Persons 25-54, on country station 92.5 XTU/WXTU-FM. Parr’s Backstage Country is heard on over 80 U.S. radio stations and in 27 of the top 50 DMA markets on affiliates including Beasley Media Group stations WKLB-FM, Boston, Massachusetts; WQYK-FM in Tampa, Florida; KCYE-FM, Las Vegas, Nevada; WSOC-FM, Charlotte, North Carolina; WKXC-FM, Augusta, Georgia; and WKML-FM, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
“I am so blessed to have such an incredibly creative team who loves what we do every day,” says Parr. “To be part of such a heritage station in Philadelphia and their team is truly a dream come true. Congratulations!”
Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers Celebrate Billy Bob’s Sellout
Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers perform at Billy Bob’s
Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers sold out Billy Bob’s Texas this past weekend (July 21 and 22) as a part of their “Hold My Beer Vol. 3 Tour.” The tour will make stops in August in Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi and Helotes.
The two just released Hold My Beer Vol. 3, a six-song project exploring love, life on the road, nostalgia, and of course, hoisting a cold one.
McBride & The Ride’s ‘Marlboros & Avon’ Out This Friday
/by Lorie HollabaughMcBride & The Ride is releasing their new EP, Marlboros & Avon, this Friday (July 28).
The new five-song collection features all three original members, Terry McBride (lead vocals/bass), Ray Herndon (vocals/guitar) and Billy Thomas (vocals/drums), marking the first time in nearly 30 years since they’ve done a project together. The 90’s country favorites have been steadily building their return starting with the release of the title track last fall.
The nostalgic “Marlboros & Avon” sets the stage for an act that has emerged on the scene refreshed and ready to entertain following a couple of decades individually playing with artists like Brooks & Dunn, Lyle Lovett and Vince Gill. Listeners will also find the band’s take on Webb Pierce’s iconic “Honky Tonk Song” with twangy steel and throwback guitars as well as “Along Comes A Girl,” which features a ‘see what they did there’ twist of the hook on the new EP.
“We are just having so much fun. Writing and producing this project together has been super collaborative and a great way to use our collective strengths,” McBride shares. “There was no need for bells and whistles on the recording, it’s us playing stone cold country music just like we do at the live show.”
The group plans to celebrate the EP’s release with a free show Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. in Nashville at Ole Red.
24th Annual NSAI Song Contest To Launch In August
/by Caela GriffinThe Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with presenting sponsors The Bluebird Cafe and CMT have announced details for the 24th annual NSAI Song Contest.
Launching Aug. 1 at 12:00 p.m. CT, this year’s contest will award over $20,000 worth of prizes. Songwriters of all genres are invited to submit their songs and/or lyrics to be evaluated by industry professionals for feedback and their chance to win.
All eligible submissions received by NSAI from Aug. 1 at 12:00 p.m. CST through Sept. 30 at 5:00 p.m. CT will be judged in their respective categories by music industry professionals with a 10-question scorecard evaluation. Highest scoring entries will advance to the second round for another review, and in the third round of judging, up to 10 finalists and up to 10 honorable mentions will be determined for the Song Category, and the Lyric Category winner and runner-up will be selected.
In January 2024, the top finalists for the Song Category will be scored during a live-streamed event where a panel of elite music industry professionals will score each submission from one to 10, with the highest combined score receiving the Song Category Grand Prize.
This year’s prize packages include two cash prizes ($5,000 and $2,500); $1,500 towards a Guitar Center purchase; two 417e guitars from Taylor Guitar; a mentor session with either Ingrid Andress or David Hodges; one-year single-song publishing contract with Anthem Entertainment; a tour of the CMT Headquaters and two pairs of 2024 CMT Music Awards tickets; and an experience at The Bluebird Cafe, among others.
For more information, click here.
A2IM Announces 2023 Board Of Directors, Executive Committee & Advisory Board
/by Liza AndersonThe American Association of Independent Music, Inc. (A2IM) has announced its Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Advisory Board for 2023.
The Board of Directors advocates for the members at large and assists in establishing the organization’s strategic priorities. Elected for three-year terms, members of the Board of Directors provide guidance to ensure the continued success of the independent music sector. A2IM’s Advisory Board members serve one-year terms in order to broaden the perspective of the board.
Newly elected Board Members include Tony Alexander (President & Managing Director, Made in Memphis Entertainment), Nabil Ayers (President, Beggars Group), Hays Rudolph (General Counsel and VP of Business & Legal Affairs, Secretly) and Zena White (COO, Partisan Records).
Heather Johnson (Director of Label Operations, FIXT) will lead the Executive Committee as Chair this year. Victor Zaraya (COO, Concord Music Group) will serve as Treasurer, and Alexander will fulfill the role of Secretary.
The Advisory Board roster consists of Kristin Epstein (Operations Director, Screenwave Media), Steve Kline (President/COO, Better Noise Music), Jennifer Newman Sharpe (General Counsel and Head of Business & Legal Affairs, Exceleration Music), Elliott Peters (SVP, Global Business, Empire), Jason Peterson (CEO, Cinq Music/GoDigital Media Group) and Reed Watson (Co-Owner, Single Lock Records).