Industry Ink: Bailey Zimmerman, Alabama, SmackSongs, ‘She Believed She Could’

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Bailey Zimmerman Rings In Opry Debut With RIAA Certifications

Pictured (L-R): Rohan Kohli (Sr. Dir. A&R, Warner Music Nashville), Jacob Fain (SVP A&R/Head of Research & Analytics, Elektra Entertainment), Ben Kline (Co-President, Warner Music Nashville), Bailey Zimmerman, Cris Lacy (Co-President, Warner Music Nashville), Mike Easterlin (Co-President, Elektra Entertainment), Kevin Liles (Chairman & CEO, 300 Elektra Entertainment).

Following the release of his debut EP, Leave The Light On, Bailey Zimmerman made his Grand Ole Opry debut last Friday (Nov. 4).

He celebrated afterward with family and friends, as well as members of his label and management teams, who presented him with Gold and Platinum plaques for both his current Top 5 single “Fall In Love” and fan-favorite track “Rock And A Hard Place.”

 

 

Alabama Notches Two Sold Out Shows In St. Augustine

Pictured (L-R): Alabama’s Randy Owen, Ontourage Management’s Tony Conway, and AEG Presents’ John Valentino.

Legendary country band Alabama celebrated a pair of sold out shows at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre in Florida last weekend.

They will continue their 2022 touring run with upcoming shows in Durant, Oklahoma (Nov. 26); Tulsa, Oklahoma (Nov. 27); Roanoke, Virginia (Dec. 9); and Fayetteville, North Carolina (Dec. 11).

 

 

SmackSongs Wins Big At 2022 SESAC Awards

SESAC Celebrates Song of the Year, “Fancy Like,” at the 2022 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC.

SmackSongs showed up at the SESAC Awards on Sunday night (Nov. 6), taking home Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Publisher of the Year, along with four performance awards.

Song of the Year went to Walker Hayes’ smash hit “Fancy Like,” written by Smack writers Hayes and Josh Jenkins, along with Cameron Bartolini and Shane Stevens. The song collected a Grammy Nomination, five ACM nominations, a CMT Award, and six Billboard Music Awards in 2021. Jenkins was also named SESAC Songwriter of the Year for penning hits such as “Fancy Like” and “Buy Dirt”–both of which topped the country music charts.

Smack was named Publisher of the Year, marking the second time in three years that the company has earned the title. The full-service publishing, management and digital company had over 20 songs on the chart in 2021 and 2022, as well as managed breakthrough artist Kylie Morgan and Hayes. The performance awards went to “Fancy Like” and “Buy Dirt” from Jenkins, and “7500 OBO” and “Like I Love Country Music” from Smack writer Matt McGinn.

“It’s been amazing to work with SESAC Award winners Josh Jenkins and Matt McGinn for so many years and watch them grow into their success thanks to their incredible talent and work ethic,” says Robin Palmer, Chief Creative Office at SMACK. “I couldn’t be more proud of Josh for this moment—he truly is one of the most deserving, humble, talented, and kind humans I’ve ever known!”

 

 

She Believed She Could Makes Stage Debut At Nashville’s Woolworth Theatre

Pictured (L-R): Kaylin Roberson, Regan Stewart, Layna, Maddie Walker, Belles, and Jillian Dawn

She Believed She Could, a new stage production celebrating the stories and songs of chart-topping women in country music, recently made its opening debut at Nashville’s newly opened Woolworth Theatre.

The cast of She Believed She Could is comprised of Song Suffragettes singer-songwriters, including Belles, Jillian Dawn, Kaylin Roberson, Layna, Maddie Walker, and Regan Stewart. The show runs every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights with 6 p.m. showtimes through February. The show is open to all ages.

BBR Music Group Expands Digital Department With Three New Hires

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Pictured (L-R): Britt Epley, Ainsley Barry and Aaron Wilder. Photos: Jessica Crans

BBR Music Group has expanded its digital department with the additions of Britt Epley to Sr. Manager of Digital Advertising, Ainsley Barry to Manager of Digital Marketing and Aaron Wilder to YouTube Manager.

In her new role, Epley is responsible for executing paid digital campaigns while collaborating with the digital marketing teams on digital advertising solutions. She comes to the label from UMG Nashville, where she directed digital campaigns for Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood and more. Prior to that, Epley was a Digital Channel Manager at Weller Media Agency, overseeing digital strategy and social media management for artists like Kate Yeager, Donovan Woods and Republic Records. Reporting to Elise Stawarz, Sr. Director of Digital Marketing, Epley can be reached at britt.epley@bmg.com.

Barry will handle the strategic digital initiatives for BBR’s roster in her new role. Coming to the label from Black River Entertainment, she gained experience in the Copyright and Licensing department before being promoted to Social Media Coordinator. She reports to Marissa Messer, Director of Digital Marketing, and can be reached at ainsley.barry@bmg.com.

Wilder will work directly with the YouTube Nashville office in his new position to lead and advise the label’s roster of artists in utilizing YouTube to its fullest potential, advising on video strategy, YouTube Shorts and more. He comes to BBR from the Integrity Music label, where he managed streaming efforts and the day-to-day relationship between the label, artists and DSP staff, as well as curating their playlist brand. Prior to that, he worked at Sony Music Publishing with their Global Copyright Admin department. Reporting to Kailyn Arcury, Senior Manager, YouTube, Wilder can be reached at aaron.wilder@bmg.com.

Weekly Register: Lainey Wilson’s ‘Bell Bottom Country’ Notches Top Country Album Debut

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Reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson makes the top country album debut this week with the release of her sophomore album, Bell Bottom Country. Coming in at No. 12, the record racks up 10K in total first-week consumption (4.3K album only/6.6 million song streams), according to Luminate data.

Higher up on the country albums chart are some familiar faces. At No. 1, Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album adds 41K in total consumption (1K album only/51 million song streams) this week, while Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak remains at No. 2 with 25K. Bailey Zimmerman‘s debut project, Leave The Light On, stays at No. 3 with 21K, Taylor Swift‘s Red (Taylor’s Version) keeps the fourth position with 15K, and Luke Combs‘ Growin’ Up seals the top five with 14K.

“Something In The Orange” (Zach Bryan) holds at No. 1 on the top country streaming song for a seventh week in a row. The song adds another 14 million streams, contributing to a cumulative 300 million streams RTD. “You Proof” (Morgan Wallen) follows at No. 2 with 9.6 million streams, and “Rock And A Hard Place” (Bailey Zimmerman) keeps its spot at N0. 3 with 9.1 million streams. “Thank God” (Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown) rises back up to No. 4 with 7.7 million streams, while “The Kind Of Love We Make” (Luke Combs) keeps its spot at No. 5 with 7.5 million streams.

Whiskey Myers Plots New Cross-Country Trek For February & March

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Whiskey Myers. Photo: Khris Poage

Whiskey Myers is leaping into 2023 with the announcement of their “Whiskey Myers 2023 Tour,” which will kick off Feb. 16 in Knoxville. Joining the band for the run will be Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Rival Sons and The Weathered Souls. &

With 12 dates spanning the country throughout February and March, the tour follows recent milestones for the band, including a single-day sellout of their Red Rocks Amphitheatre debut and back-to-back nights at the Ryman Auditorium, as well as a headlining arena show for over 10,000 fans at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena last month.

The tour will visit Savannah, Toledo, Albuquerque, Tallahassee, and more through March 31, with tickets on sale to the general public beginning this Thursday (Nov. 11).

Ingrid Andress Scores Second Chart-Topper With ‘Wishful Drinking’

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Ingrid Andress. Photo: Olivia Bee

Ingrid Andress has topped the Country Aircheck chart with her Platinum-certified hit “Wishful Drinking (with Sam Hunt).”

The track is Andress’ second career No. 1 and Hunt’s tenth, and appears on her sophomore album, Good Person. Andress co-wrote every track on the project, which she co-produced with Sam Ellis. The LP follows her debut project Lady Like, which scored the singer-songwriter three Grammy noms, including Best New Artist, Best Country Album and Best Country Song for the multi-Platinum No. 1 single “More Hearts Than Mine.”

Andress, who has racked up over one billion global streams, spent the year on the road as support on Keith Urban‘s 52-date North American “The Speed of Now World Tour,” which wrapped this weekend.

Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum Co-Founder & COO Linda Chambers Rises To CEO

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Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum COO and Co-Founder Linda Chambers has transitioned to CEO, effective Nov. 1. With this move, she steps into the leadership role previously held by her late husband, CEO/Co-Founder Joe Chambers, who passed away on Sept. 28, 2022.

Joe was an accomplished musician and songwriter and, as a couple, Linda and Joe opened a chain of guitar stores named Chambers Guitars. The couple later co-founded and opened the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in 2006, which relocated to Nashville’s Historic Municipal Auditorium in 2013 and also houses the Grammy Gallery.

The mission of the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum is to honor all great musicians regardless of genre or instruments, while also educating visitors about the musicians who actually played on the “soundtracks of their lives.”

“The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum is a Music City treasure,” notes Butch Spyridon, CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “The future of the Museum is bright, and we are committed to supporting Joe’s vision of making the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum a destination as it continues under the direction of Co-Founder/CEO Linda Chambers.”

The announcement follows the unveiling of the 2022 Class of Musicians Hall of Fame Inductees, which includes musicians Don McLean, Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives, Ray Stevens and Vince Gill, plus engineer George Massenburg and producer James William Guercio. The concert portion of the event will be hosted by award-winning recording artist Phil Vassar and will feature special performances by several Hall of Fame inductees and guest performers, including Rodney Crowell, Steve Miller, Wendy Moten, Mike Farris and more. Tickets are available now.

The Hall of Fame will also honor Billy F. Gibbons with its Iconic Riff Award. Some of Gibbons’ signature riffs can be heard on ZZ Top songs such as “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “La Grange.”

“Billy F Gibbons is such an incredible musician who has influenced generations and genres with his signature riffs,” Linda shares. “When we got down to picking just one song to honor him for, we were at a crossroads; they’re all so incredible! We’ll reveal our final decision during our ceremony on Nov. 22. We hope to see you there!”

Tigirlily Gold Announces Tour, Presented By Lee [Exclusive]

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Tigirlily Gold’s Kendra Slaubaugh & Krista Slaubaugh. Photo: Jared Olson

Country duo Tigirlily Gold has announced their first headlining tour, “Introducing Tigirlily Gold: The Tour Presented by Lee,” the 133-year-old iconic denim and casual apparel brand.

Comprised of sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh, Tigirlily Gold—formerly known as just “Tigirlily”—has cut their teeth on Nashville’s Lower Broadway for years, often playing four-hour sets, three to four nights a week in local honky tonks. The Monument Records act will now travel from coast to coast, including stops in Los Angeles, Denver, Boston and more on the 22-stop trek. See the full list of dates below.

Along the way, Tigirlily Gold will give back to Musicians on Call by inviting healthcare workers to each show and calling for donations on stage each night. Their generosity will culminate in a livestream at the end of the tour that will go out to all Musicians on Call hospitals.

“We are so excited to get out on the road and play some new songs for everybody,” the sisters share. “Can’t wait to spend the rest of the year with fans and friends and even more excited for what’s to come in 2023!”

“Lee has always celebrated the originals—those who unapologetically follow their own paths,” says Brigid Stevens, global vice-president of marketing for Lee. “The sisters have an authentic original voice and presence that shines through in all they do, and we’re thrilled to help support this tour.”

Josh Thompson Rises Into Top 10 On The MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Josh Thompson

While everything near the top stays about the same on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, hitmaker Josh Thompson jumps into the No. 10 spot. Rising from the 13th position, Thompson is a credited writer on Keith Urban’s “Brown Eyes Baby,” Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Half Of Me,” featuring Riley Green.

Meanwhile, Zach Bryan adds another week at the top, notching a seventh consecutive week at No. 1. He has four songs currently on the chart, including “Something In The Orange,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” and “Burn, Burn, Burn.” Because he is the only writer on each of the three tracks, all of the points earned from airplay, digital download track sales and streams go entirely to Bryan on the Songwriter Chart.

Filling out the remainder of the top five are Ashley Gorley (No. 2), Morgan Wallen (No. 3), Ernest Keith Smith (No. 4), and Luke Dick (No. 5).

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Porter Howell Yearns For Days Gone By On Upcoming Solo Debut, ‘This Town Was’

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Porter Howell

Porter Howell, frontman, lead guitarist and a founding member of ’90s band Little Texas, will release his debut side project, This Town Was, on Nov. 11 on ONErpm.

After 30 years in the business, it took a pandemic and the forced downtime from touring to compel Howell to compile the 10-track project of mostly self-penned songs.

“This album was recorded in my basement studio as honestly as possible,” Howell shares. “No production tricks necessary—guitars, steel guitar, bass, drums and keys were all tracked with players in the room, the old school way.”

Howell gets a bit nostalgic on tracks such as “Old School, “This Town Was,” and the wistful “I Thought About You Today,” penned about his late father. Other songs on the album muse on the unpredictability of life, such as “Church of the Uncertain” and “Lucky to Be Alive,” as well as love on “Kinda Gone by Then,” “The Way You Were Back Then” and “Who Might Disagree.”

Howell will perform songs from the new project at an album release party on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at The Local in Nashville.

This Town Was Track List:
1. “This Town Was” (Porter Howell)
2. “Old School” (Porter Howell)
3. “Church of Uncertain” (Porter Howell)
4. “Lucky to Be Alive” (Porter Howell)
5. “I Thought About You Today” (Porter Howell)
6. “The Way You Were Back Then” (Jay Knowles, Porter Howell, Adam Wright)
7. “My Baby” (Porter Howell)
8. “Kind of Gone by Then” (Porter Howell)
9. “Who Might Disagree” (Porter Howell)
10. “What It’s All About” (Lisa Brokop, Porter Howell, Paul Jefferson)
All songs produced by Ian Stewart

Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Madeline Merlo

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Chelsey Block, Molly Shehan, Josh Van Valkenburg, Tom Luteran, Cam Caldwell, Dale Bobo, Anna Weisband, Synnovea Halsel, Brad Belanger, and Aubrey Rupe; (L-R, front row): Rusty Gaston, Madeline Merlo, Kenley Flynn, and Zach Crowell.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed rising country singer-songwriter Madeline Merlo to a global publishing deal.

Originally from Canada, the Songland season two winner first captivated listeners with her hit “Champagne Night” performed by Lady A, which spent three weeks at No. 1 on U.S. country radio and earned her the 2021 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Songwriter of the Year award.

Merlo recently released her four-track EP Slide, produced by Zach Crowell, which saw Merlo as a co-writer on each song. The collection tells a series of dynamic stories, from budding romances in “Slide” and hit “I Need A Drink,” co-written by Sony Music Publishing songwriter Ashley Gorley, to growing up with “Young-ish,” and lessons learned in “Girl Where He Grew Up.”

She was also featured as the female voice on Cole Swindell’s latest No. 1 “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” and unveiled a new music video for “Slide” last month.

“I am so excited and honored to join Sony’s incredible roster of songwriters and continue to work closely with Zach Crowell. I am looking forward to working with this world class team that makes you feel like family every time you walk in the door! This is a huge next step for my career and truly is a dream come true,” shares Merlo.

“From the moment I heard Madeline’s song ‘Young-ish’ I knew I wanted to be a part of her career. She and Zach have perfectly threaded the needle of writing and finding big pop country hits that still make you feel something. Madeline is a phenomenal songwriter and artist with a big, bright future and I am thrilled to welcome her to SMP,” says Sony Music Publishing Nashville’s Senior Director, Creative, Kenley Flynn.