
Bailey Zimmerman
Bailey Zimmerman continues his record-breaking streak following the release of his debut album Religiously. The Album. on Friday (May 12). The album’s first-day streams exceeded any other debut country album ever on Amazon Music globally. The project also earned the most first-week streams of any debut country album on Amazon Music globally.
Zimmerman is the 2023 country Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, which means he receives support platform wide. As part of the Breakthrough program, Zimmerman and his team get to work alongside Amazon Music to develop a long-term, customized global plan tailored to their specific needs. This includes video and audio content, global marketing support, custom merch stores on the Amazon website and increased visibility across Amazon Music’s playlists and programming.
For Zimmerman, the Breakthrough Artist program allowed him to participate in Stagecoach opportunities including a backstage livestream interview on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, meet-and-greet and merch giveaways with fans at the Amazon Music Live lounge, along with a dedicated Breakthrough billboard placement in Palm Springs. He was also a featured guest on Country Heat Weekly podcast, performed at the 58th annual ACM Awards as a part of the annual Breakthrough performance and came together with Amazon Music to celebrate his new album with an album release event in Austin.
In June, Zimmerman will participate in a CMA Fest activation, make a special guest appearance on Country Grammar Radio on Amazon Music, participate in Country Music Month initiatives and will receive campaign support from Amazon Live.
Zimmerman’s record-breaking success with Religiously. The Album. marks the third consecutive time that a country Breakthrough Artist has broken this record. Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, Gabby Barrett, broke the record in 2020, as did Breland in 2022, exemplifying the strength of the program.
“Amazon Music is dedicated to championing artists in all facets of their career and our Breakthrough Program allows us to work alongside artists in a special way,” Amazon Music’s Artist Relations Co-Lead, Chris Graham, tells MusicRow. “Breakthrough includes increased visibility across our stations and playlists, such as Amazon Country Music’s global playlist Country Heat, but it also extends to livestream performances (including Festivals), bespoke marketing activations and events, social promotion, merch offerings, Amazon Original songs, editorial content and more.”
He adds, “Breakthrough is intentionally a long-term program that allows us to get behind an artist for several months. That long-game perspective is key to finding and growing a fanbase for our Breakthrough Artists on Amazon Music and executing on their behalf throughout the campaign and beyond. It really allows us to take the time to build with them and take our customers and their fans along for the ride; and in turn, breaking some records along the way!”
New Loretta Lynn Devotional Book To Be Released Posthumously
/by Lorie HollabaughLynn’s final offering is a collection of prayers combined with song lyrics inspired by her songwriting sessions with fellow hit songwriter and co-author, ordained minister Dr. Kim McLean. McLean is a Dove award-winning singer-songwriter who has had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack and others. Through A Song & A Prayer, readers of all faiths and walks of life will have the opportunity to bask in a month’s worth of spiritual encouragement from Lynn’s own resilient faith.
“Originally slated to come out in December, mom worked all summer to complete this book. It was so important to her because she had never devoted an entire book to her faith. Mom was always open about her faith but it was a deeply personal matter to her, one in which we knew at the core was the most important thing in her life. Her passing has made this project all the more special to us and we know her fans will feel the same way,” says Lynn’s daughter Patsy Lynn Russell.
“My writing sessions with Loretta were inspired by our friendship and faith,” says McLean. “She always told me we need to ‘write it the way we say it,’ and these are the things she felt were important to say. It is a capstone project, and a culmination of her wholehearted, unapologetic love of God, of people, and of life. We were similar in many ways and connected on a soul level, but her fans know that’s the only way Loretta ever connected – heart to heart. We laughed all the time when we wrote, sometimes argued, then laughed again. This book came about so naturally. Loretta said this project was special to her, and I’m honored to be her collaborator and friend. She was such an inspiration.”
AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund Distributes Record $91 Million In Royalties
/by Caela GriffinThe American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) and SAG-AFTRA announced that the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund has recently distributed record amount of over $91 million in royalties to union and non-union session musicians and vocalists.
These royalties are paid for their performance on songs played on satellite radio, non-interactive streaming, other digital formats and international neighboring rights. As digital platforms continue to grow, the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund will play an increasingly important role in collecting and distributing royalties to these deserving performers.
This non-profit Fund has distributed over $650 million in royalties to tens of thousands of non-featured performers and their beneficiaries as a testament to their commitment to support musicians and vocalists across nearly every genre of music.
For more information, click here.
Dailey & Vincent Sign With Morris Higham Management
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Morris Higham’s Clint Higham, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, and Morris Higham’s Robert Filhart. Photo: Courtesy of Morris Higham Management
Morris Higham Management has signed Grammy-winning duo Dailey & Vincent.
The Grand Ole Opry members have toured across the globe and played iconic stages including the Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall, sharing their love of bluegrass and country across the Southeast with their own Dailey & Vincent’s American Made Music Festivals.
Dailey & Vincent’s most recent live CD, Dailey & Vincent Alive, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and remained at the top position for over 15 weeks. The pair’s first-ever Christmas album, Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Chart, the only country, bluegrass and gospel act in the Top Ten. In 2022 they released Let’s Sing Some Country on BMG Nashville, and are currently on season six of their national television series, The Dailey & Vincent Show on RFD TV.
“The first thing we look for when signing an artist is the quality of the music. When I heard ‘Let’s Sing Some Country,’ I knew we wanted to work with Jamie and Darrin,” says Morris Higham’s Clint Higham. “Great songs, great voices and world-class musicians. The team and I are really excited to be working with Dailey & Vincent as they begin the next chapter of their award-winning career.”
“We are beyond excited to sign with Morris Higham Management. We are looking forward to working with our new managers Clint Higham, Robert Filhart and the entire team as we move forward into the future with these incredible people and professionals,” says Dailey & Vincent.
RIAA CEO Issues Statement On Supreme Court Decision In Warhol Case
/by Sherod RobertsonThe Supreme Court ruled against the Warhol Foundation yesterday, May 18, on the case of Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v Goldsmith.
Using an iconic image of Prince shot by photographer Lynn Goldsmith in 1981, Andy Warhol transformed it into a series of artworks in the 1980s. Warhol’s interpretations of the image were his classic pop-art style, including vibrant colors and stylistic alterations. Goldsmith only learned about Warhol’s work in 2016 and immediately filed a lawsuit against the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, alleging copyright infringement.
Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier responded to the ruling.
“We applaud the Supreme Court’s considered and thoughtful decision that claims of ‘transformative use’ cannot undermine the basic rights given to all creators under the Copyright Act. Lower courts have misconstrued fair use for too long and we are grateful the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the core purposes of copyright. We hope those who have relied on distorted – and now discredited – claims of ‘transformative use,’ such as those who use copyrighted works to train artificial intelligence systems without authorization, will revisit their practices in light of this important ruling.”
The Supreme Court ruling has challenged the status quo by redefining the boundaries around fair use and copyright protection. It clarified that aesthetic changes alone are not sufficient to warrant fair use protection, and the transformative use must have a significant impact on the original work. The ruling provides protection to photographers and artists to maintain control.
Ian Munsick Brings Some Western Magic To Ryman At Sold-Out Debut
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): WMN’s Kristen Williams, Erv Woolsey Co.’s Erv Woolsey and Allen Mitchell, WMN’s Clark Tedesco, Not A Public Figure’s Caroline Munsick, Ian Munsick, WMN’s Ben Kline, Stephanie Davenport, Cris Lacy, Tim Foisset, Shane Tarleton and Patrick Sabatini. Photo: Cobi Spence
Ian Munsick celebrated his album White Buffalo earlier this week on Tuesday night (May 16) at the Ryman with a sold-out Music City show.
The Warner Music Group Nashville artist treated the packed house to the 18 songs on his Western-inspired project, kicking off the show with the tongue-in-cheek, uptempo first track “From the Horse’s Mouth.” Halfway through the set, Munsick delivered a stripped-down performance of “Long Haul” from his debut album Coyote Cry, and “Long Live Cowgirls,” his hit duet featuring Cody Johnson which has racked up nearly 100 million streams.
Ian Munsick brings brothers and dad on-stage for a special encore family performance of Wade Montgomery’s “Weakness.” Pictured (L-R): Sam Munsick, Tris Munsick, Ian Munsick and Dave Munsick. Photo: Cobi Spencer
Munsick received a plaque commemorating the milestone during an industry reception ahead of the show. Introducing the song, Munsick shared the news with the crowd.
“About an hour ago, my label Warner Music had a party backstage and they gave me a plaque because my song ‘Long Live Cowgirls’ went Gold,” he shared. “To my surprise, they gave me another plaque because it turns out ‘Long Haul’ just went Gold as well. Now, neither of these songs were on the radio very often. That just means that you guys made these songs go Gold all by yourselves. So thank you for listening to my music—it’s because of you that I get to be on this stage and I could never thank you guys enough.”
After completing the album’s tracklist with “Indian Paintbrush,” the ecstatic crowd began stomping their feet for his stampeding breakthrough hit “Horses Are Faster,” which inspired Munsick to move to Nashville. After concluding his set to a standing ovation, Munsick appeared for a special encore performance of one of his first recordings, a cover of Wade Montgomery‘s “Weakness,” alongside The Munsick Boys comprised of his father Dave and brothers Tris and Sam Munsick.
Tuesday’s show was the final ride on Munsick’s headlining “Long Live Cowgirls Tour,” which sold out shows across the country including stops in New Braunfels, Baton Rouge, Denver and more.
Ryman & BMI Block Party To Return For 50th CMA Fest
/by Caela GriffinThe Ryman Auditorium and BMI have announced this year’s lineup for the Ryman & BMI Block Party, presented by RTIC. The three-day free event will return during the 50th annual CMA Fest, June 8-10, from 12–6 p.m. at the PNC Plaza outdoor stage.
The party’s lineup will showcase some of Nashville’s emerging talent including Clayton Anderson, The Bennett Hall Band, Matt Castillo, Chapel Hart, Mae Estes, Reid Haughton, Angie K, Ella Langley, Vincent Mason, Dan Smalley, Nate Kenyon, Trey Lewis, Bryan Martin, Neon Union, On The Outside, RVSHVD, Jillian Steele, The Chattahoochies and The Woods.
Following last year’s inaugural event, BMI continues their commitment to nurture and develop songwriters at the earliest stages of their careers. Fans will have the opportunity to connect and discover new artists each day through photo opportunities, giveaways, food trucks and more.
For more information, click here.
‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90’ Coming To Cinemas June 11
/by Lorie HollabaughWillie Nelson and Keith Richards perform at Nelson’s 90th birthday concert. Photo: Randall Michelson/Hewitt Silva-Live Nation
Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, the two-day concert extravaganza celebrating Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday, is coming to cinemas. The new film will premiere in theaters on June 11, with a special encore presentation on June 13-14.
The limited theatrical release from Blackbird Presents, Mark Rothbaum, and Joe Hand Promotions will feature a selection of the most memorable moments and unforgettable collaborations from the celebration, held on April 29-30 before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in L.A. The two-hour-plus film will give fans the opportunity to re-live or experience the star-studded show for the first time, and includes performances by Nelson, Keith Richards, Snoop Dogg, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, The Lumineers, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Billy Strings and many more.
The concert will include highlights from across the two nights of shows with full performances and special guest presentations, and fans in the cinemas will be treated to an immersive experience, with a state-of-the-art cinematic presentation and pristine 5.1 stereo surround sound. Tickets for this exclusive concert event are available for purchase at willienelson90experience.com.
“Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented. Willie wanted to make sure his 90th birthday party included and was accessible to all of his fans. This concert film release will allow everyone to join in and celebrate with Willie and an amazing line-up of superstar artists. We are thrilled to share this concert event with fans around the globe in such a unique and powerful way,” says Nelson’s manager Rothbaum and Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents.
Morgan Wallen Takes ‘Last Night’ To No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart
/by LB CantrellMorgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer
In just 11 weeks since entering the chart, Morgan Wallen‘s “Last Night” is the No. 1 song on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
The tune was written by John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Ryan Vojtesak, and appears on Wallen’s third studio album One Thing At A Time.
Wallen is currently on doctor-ordered vocal rest after suffering vocal fold trauma, forcing him to reschedule six weeks of shows. Although he was unable to attend, the country superstar was awarded the Male Artist of the Year trophy at last week’s ACM Awards.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Bailey Zimmerman Shatters Global Amazon Music Record [Exclusive]
/by LB CantrellBailey Zimmerman
Bailey Zimmerman continues his record-breaking streak following the release of his debut album Religiously. The Album. on Friday (May 12). The album’s first-day streams exceeded any other debut country album ever on Amazon Music globally. The project also earned the most first-week streams of any debut country album on Amazon Music globally.
Zimmerman is the 2023 country Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, which means he receives support platform wide. As part of the Breakthrough program, Zimmerman and his team get to work alongside Amazon Music to develop a long-term, customized global plan tailored to their specific needs. This includes video and audio content, global marketing support, custom merch stores on the Amazon website and increased visibility across Amazon Music’s playlists and programming.
For Zimmerman, the Breakthrough Artist program allowed him to participate in Stagecoach opportunities including a backstage livestream interview on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, meet-and-greet and merch giveaways with fans at the Amazon Music Live lounge, along with a dedicated Breakthrough billboard placement in Palm Springs. He was also a featured guest on Country Heat Weekly podcast, performed at the 58th annual ACM Awards as a part of the annual Breakthrough performance and came together with Amazon Music to celebrate his new album with an album release event in Austin.
In June, Zimmerman will participate in a CMA Fest activation, make a special guest appearance on Country Grammar Radio on Amazon Music, participate in Country Music Month initiatives and will receive campaign support from Amazon Live.
Zimmerman’s record-breaking success with Religiously. The Album. marks the third consecutive time that a country Breakthrough Artist has broken this record. Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist, Gabby Barrett, broke the record in 2020, as did Breland in 2022, exemplifying the strength of the program.
“Amazon Music is dedicated to championing artists in all facets of their career and our Breakthrough Program allows us to work alongside artists in a special way,” Amazon Music’s Artist Relations Co-Lead, Chris Graham, tells MusicRow. “Breakthrough includes increased visibility across our stations and playlists, such as Amazon Country Music’s global playlist Country Heat, but it also extends to livestream performances (including Festivals), bespoke marketing activations and events, social promotion, merch offerings, Amazon Original songs, editorial content and more.”
He adds, “Breakthrough is intentionally a long-term program that allows us to get behind an artist for several months. That long-game perspective is key to finding and growing a fanbase for our Breakthrough Artists on Amazon Music and executing on their behalf throughout the campaign and beyond. It really allows us to take the time to build with them and take our customers and their fans along for the ride; and in turn, breaking some records along the way!”
Vintage Willie Nelson Albums To Get The Vinyl Treatment
/by Lorie HollabaughThe releases will kick off June 23 with his 2002 collaborative album, The Great Divide, followed by 1998’s Daniel Lanois-produced Teatro on Aug. 4 in honor of its 25th anniversary.
The Great Divide saw Nelson duet with a roster of artists across the musical spectrum on a rousing collection of originals and covers for his 50th studio album. Joined by a diverse group including Alison Kraus, Bonnie Raitt, Brian McKnight, Kid Rock and Lee Ann Womack, the collection features highlights such as the Rob Thomas-penned duet, “Maria (Shut Up And Kiss Me)” as well as “Mendocino County Line,” co-written by Bernie Taupin, who also co-wrote “This Face.” Other standouts include covers of Mickey Newbury’s “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In),” Cyndi Lauper’s signature tune, “Time After Time,” and the title track which sees Nelson taking the lead for a Spanish-tinged original.
Nelson’s 2000 ode to the blues, Milk Cow Blues, will arrive Sept. 15 as a double LP, while 1996’s stripped-back Spirit will bow on Oct. 20, ahead his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 3. The Great Divide and Milk Cow Blues will be making their vinyl debuts while Teatro and Spirit return to vinyl due to popular demand.
All albums will be available on 180-gram black vinyl as well as a limited edition color variant on 140-gram vinyl, exclusively available through uDiscover Music and Nelson’s website. The Great Divide and Spirit will be pressed on clear vinyl while Teatro and Milk Cow Blues will be on translucent red vinyl and orange vinyl. The LPs are available for pre-order now. For more information, click here.