Pictured (L-R, back row): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Spencer Nohe (Warner Chappell), Chris Van Belkom (Combustion), Lee Krabel (SMACKSONGS), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Courtney Crist (Anthem), Gilles Godard (Anthem), Troy Tomlinson (Universal Publishing), Mike Dungan (UMG Nashville), Noah Dewey (Anthem), Blain Rhodes (The Tape Room), Chris Farren (Combustion). (L-R, front row): Josh Jenkins, Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis. Photo: Larry McCormack
Some of Music Row’s biggest and brightest could be found at Tailgate Brewery in Nashville’s Germantown on Monday (Oct. 3) to celebrate a couple of Jordan Davis‘ recent No. 1s. The MCA recording artist, along with his co-writers, were honored for “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” and “Buy Dirt” both making it all the way to the top of the charts.
Hosted by ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, the celebration started with “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” which made its climb to the peak of country radio in tandem with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was written in 2014 by Davis and Lonnie Fowler, who rang in his first No. 1 with the track, and was produced by Paul DiGiovanni.
Anthem Music’s Noah Dewey kicked things off, thanking all of the people who got the song to the top. He was followed by Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe who doted on Lonnie, noting that he was “an incredibly talented songwriter of timeless songs.” Whitt Jeffords from Amylase Music took the mic next, explaining that the song stood the test of time from its origin to its trip to No. 1.
When Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO of UMG Nashville, made his way to the front, he started his presentation by yelling, “I love Jordan Davis!” which earned a round of applause in agreement. He proceeded to explain that though it hadn’t been officially certified just yet, the guys were going to receive 2x Platinum plaques for the song’s success.
“The truth is, it’s not officially certified,” Mike admitted. “We have an audit glitch so it’ll be certified in like 15 minutes, but we’re celebrating anyway! We’re really proud of this record and really proud of you, Jordan.”
The writers took over from there.
Pictured (L-R): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Spencer Nohe (Warner Chappell), Lonnie Fowler, Jordan Davis, Whit Jefferds (Amylase), Noah Dewey (Anthem), and Mike Dungan (UMG). Photo: Larry McCormack
Jordan mentioned the leaps and bounds “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” had to go through to get to the top, all the while bragging on his MCA Nashville team. “MCA Nashville is the best out there,” he noted. “This is just as much y’all’s as it is me and Lonnie’s.”
He also took the crowd back to the day the song was written, explaining how special the song was. “This will always be one of my favorite songs I’ve ever released because, much like with any song I put out, I go back to the day we wrote it. I remember that more than the stuff that follows, although this is pretty damn sweet,” he shared beaming at the packed room.
Lonnie closed things out at the first of the celebrations. As it was his first No. 1, he prepared a few pages of notes, joking that he’d had enough time to think about what he wanted to say since he wasn’t sure this party was ever going to happen. He first thanked God for the gift of music, as well as his family and, of course, Jordan. “Thank you to Jordan for bringing your gift of phrasing, imagery and lyrical swagger into the room that day,” he said with a laugh. “He has a way of saying things that’s all Jordan and nobody else.”
Listing off the rest of the team responsible for bringing the song to life and sharing it around the world, he closed by recalling when he got the call that it was probably going to hit the top of the charts.
“When I got the call that it looked like the song was going to hit No. 1, I happened to be standing in a good friend’s yard in East Nashville looking at the entire upstairs of their house in the wake of the tornado. In the weeks after, the world shut down and that’s when the song hit No. 1,” Lonnie remembered. “It was definitely a difficult time to celebrate a big career success in the wake of those two things. For a long time, I didn’t know if I would get a chance to celebrate with anybody in person, but here it is. It’s actually happening. Thanks everyone for coming out, showing up and making the most of this special day.”
Pictured (L-R): Jordan Davis, Mike Dungan (Chairman & CEO, UMG Nashville), Luke Bryan, Cindy Mabe (President, UMG Nashville). Photo: Larry McCormack. Photo: Larry McCormack
Next it was time to honor “Buy Dirt,” which is nominated for the CMA Song and Single of the Year. The Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan duet, written by two sets of brothers—Jordan, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins—also won the NSAI Song of the Year last month.
SESAC’s Shannan Hatch kicked things off, touting Josh’s achievements over the last few years—this being his first No. 1. Troy Tomlinson of UMPG commended all four of the writers, as well as producer Paul DiGiovanni for his “less is more” mentality to let the vocals shine. He also announced that UMPG would be making a contribution to MusiCares on behalf of the writers to assist those with mental health and emotional needs.
Anthem’s Noah Dewey returned to the mic, explaining that the group of four best friends had charmingly named themselves the Dream Team. Lee Krabel from SmackSongs followed, putting the spotlight directly on Josh, saying: “It’s hard to imagine a better partner as a publisher. Josh is incredibly talented, but he has this energy and positivity that spreads around the office. I don’t think Smack would look the same if we hadn’t signed him seven years ago.”
Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe also came back up, saying that Jordan was “exactly why [he] got in this business,” giving him lavish praises for his songwriting career. Blaine Rhodes from Tape Room Music also echoed everyone’s sentiments of pride for the song. Combustion Music’s Chris Farren spoke about Matt’s career and thanked the Universal team and his Combustion staff.
Mike Dungan once again came to the front, this time with some figures regarding the song’s success. He noted that “Buy Dirt” was one of the top five most streamed songs for two years in a row—both in 2021 and 2022—and that the track has notched over 677 million streams to date. He mentioned its nomination at the 57th ACM Awards, as well as his expectation for a win at the upcoming 56th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9.
Next the men behind the song took a few moments at the mic.
Matt took the lead, explaining how the song came to be. “When we sat down to write this song we were at a cabin about an hour outside of Nashville,” he recalled. “We weren’t trying to write a hit, we just wanted to write something that we loved. To see the life that this song took on is really special.”
He also looked back on the last few years of Jordan’s career, while also noting the special bond that the two sets of brothers and best friends share. He thanked Luke for his part on the song, the Universal team, his family and management, as well as ASCAP and the publishers at Combustion, Tape Room and Warner Chappell.
Josh went next, immediately apologizing in advance for if he talked too much since this was his first No. 1. He thanked his family for their never ending support, and all the people along the way who helped him get to this point.
“All of us know that to get here, it takes so many people along the way to encourage you, pick you up, and believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself,” Josh shared. “I thank Lee and the crew [at Smack] whose north star has always been making music that makes people feel something. They have given me a space to create music that I believe in.” He added, “This [song captures] who we want to be as men, husbands, and fathers. We want to live this way and that will always be one of the most special things about this song.”
Jacob took over from there, echoing his thanks to his wife and daughters, and taking a moment to speak about each of his co-writers and his relationships with them. He also gave a special sentiment to his mother, who one can assume he credits for much of his love for music.
“My mom is an incredible piano player and the melodies that come out of this little lady are just incredible. I remember she wanted me and Jordan to take piano lessons, but we were going to play professional baseball so we didn’t need piano lessons,” he said cheekily. “For the four years that we took them, I sure appreciate you forcing us to do that. A lot of it stuck, so thank you.”
Luke Bryan shared his thanks next. He told the story about getting the text to be a part of the song, noting how honored he is to be featured on a song that “does what a song oughta do,” which he explained is to tell a message and inspire people.
He also made light of the conversations surrounding the upcoming CMA Awards and joked that, as co-host, he wrote into his contract that the song had to win, to which the audience roared with laughter and applause.
“This is the most fun business in the world in the best town in the world because we don’t get caught up in a bunch of flashy egos,” Luke summed. “We just love to see great songs get written and I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
The man of the hour closed things out with a speech that explained the critical role that honesty has played in his career over the years. He said that “Buy Dirt” exudes the same brand of honesty about the three important things in his life: faith, family and friends.
He spent time thanking his publishing team at Warner Chappell, his management team, UMG Nashville, and his co-writers, while also teasing future Dream Team songs to come.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve been around people from day one that have done nothing but shoot me straight and try to push my career forward,” he shared. “I’m so grateful to be at the best damn label in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m looking forward to writing many, many more songs.
“I hope, fingers crossed, that we get to talk about this song one more time in a couple of weeks [at the CMA Awards]. I do like my in with the co-host,” he said with a laugh before closing. “To every person in this room, thank you for giving me a career. I love you guys. Go buy dirt.”
LAST DAY FOR TICKETS: ‘Rising Women On The Row’ Tickets Close Tomorrow
/by LB CantrellTickets for MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast will close tomorrow (Oct. 7) at 5 p.m. The annual event will take place Oct. 20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Presenting sponsors for this year’s Rising Women on the Row are City National Bank, Loeb & Loeb, and Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group.
The ninth annual celebration will honor the next class of Rising Women on the Row honorees: Jen Conger (FBMM, Business Manager), JoJamie Hahr (BBR Music Group/BMG, Sr. VP), Mandy Morrison (City National Bank, Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager), Missy Roberts (Universal Music Publishing Group, VP, A&R), Jennie Smythe (Girlilla Marketing, CEO) and Stephanie Wright (UMG Nashville, Senior VP, A&R).
Pictured (L-R, top row): Rising Women Jen Conger, Jennie Smythe, JoJamie Hahr; (L-R, bottom row): Mandy Morrison, Missy Roberts, Stephanie Wright
Warner Music Nashville Co-President Cris Lacy has been tapped as the featured speaker for this year’s event. Attendees will be treated to insights from Lacy during an on-stage interview with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson.
Tickets are now closed. They will not be sold at the door. Previous ticket holders who had purchased their tickets/tables in 2020 have been emailed a reminder and confirmation of their seats.
Supporting Sponsorship Tables of 10 include premium seating, company logo included on full-page ad in MusicRow‘s Touring/Next Big Thing Issue (December/January), and company logo included in event program.
For any questions regarding the event, contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com.
Singer-Songwriter Mackenzie Carpenter Signs With WME
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): WME’s Adi Sharma, Sloane Cavitt Logue, Mackenzie Carpenter, G Major Management’s Virginia Bunetta and Samantha Thornton. Photo: Courtesy of WME.
Rising artist Mackenzie Carpenter has signed with WME for global representation.
Since scoring a record deal with The Valory Music Co. in May, the Georgia native has released her successful first single, “Can’t Nobody,” as well as the brand new “Huntin’ Season,” which follows a TikTok video of her performing the track at a songwriter’s round that collected over six million views.
Carpenter’s first cut as a songwriter, “Villain” recorded by Lily Rose, notched No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart after attending Belmont University in Nashville.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Mackenzie to the WME family,” shares WME Nashville office Co-Head Joey Lee. “Her songwriting and artistry are unmatched. Big things are on the horizon, and we’re excited to be a part of her journey.”
Carpenter is developing a strong fanbase both online and on the road. The 23-year-old has opened for Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Craig Campbell, Ryan Hurd and Conner Smith. Currently, she in the studio recording her debut project.
On The Cover: MusicRow’s Publisher Print Issue Features Maddie & Tae On Cover
/by LB CantrellMusicRow Magazine has released its 2022 Publisher Issue print edition. Mercury Nashville’s Maddie & Tae are featured on its cover.
Maddie & Tae first broke out in 2013 with their brilliant counter to bro-country, the Platinum-selling smash, “Girl In A Country Song,” which skyrocketed to the top of the charts and established them as only the third female duo in 70 years to top the Country Airplay charts. They took home Group/Duo Video of the Year (“Woman You Got”) at the 2022 CMT Music Awards, and were nominated a seventh time for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 55th CMA Awards. They have earned trophies from the Radio Disney Music Awards and CMA Awards, along with ACM, Billboard and CMT Award nominations. Maddie & Tae have received widespread praise from Associated Press, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, The Tennessean, The Washington Post, Glamour and others. The duo has toured with country music’s hottest stars including Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, and Brett Young. They are currently headlining the “CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour in 2022,” hitting major markets coast-to-coast.
The award-winning duo channel their unbreakable bond, honest songwriting and “some of the tightest harmonies on Music Row” (Rolling Stone) into their new collection of songs Through The Madness Vol. 2. Together as longtime friends and music collaborators, Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr co-wrote each of the project’s tracks, as well as all 8 songs on Through The Madness Vol. 1, including their most recent single, “Woman You Got,” plus fan-favorite song “Strangers.” The pair drew praise for their No. 1 debuting The Way It Feels album, including the Double Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Die From A Broken Heart.” With “Die From A Broken Heart” topping the country airplay charts, Maddie & Tae became the first and only female twosome with multiple No. 1s.
Inside, MusicRow‘s annual Publisher Issue includes the 2022 Publisher Directory, listing Nashville’s top publishing companies, as well as organizations and services available for songwriters.
“Not unlike Leonardo da Vinci creating the Mona Lisa, our own Nashville tunesmiths create masterworks of art. Our annual Publisher print edition is dedicated to this segment of our industry: the masterful songwriters who write the stories, and the publishers and team members who stand with them,” says MusicRow Magazine Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson of the issue.
For the 2022 Publisher Issue, MusicRow brings back its State of the Union roundtable, this time featuring UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, Sony Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Endurance Music’s Michael Martin, Warner Chappell’s Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, and Tape Room Music’s Kelly Bolton. Elsewhere, MusicRow taps veteran attorney Jess L. Rosen to explain the recent uptick in catalog sales.
Also featured in this issue is an opinion piece from Ben Vaughn on cutting outside songs, a glimpse into Prescription Songs’ multi-genre success, and a look back at Nashville’s history of No. 1 parties. Additionally, this issue also offers conversations with NSAI’s Bart Herbison and Reel Muzik Werks’ Teri Nelson Carpenter.
MusicRow’s 2022 Publisher Issue also highlights the work and careers of some of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters, including Sony Music Publishing’s Elle King, 50 Egg Music/UMPG’s Shane Minor, Big Loud’s Jamie Moore, BMG’s Emily Landis, Boom Music Group/Warner Chappell’s Chris Tompkins and SMACK’s Josh Jenkins.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2022 Publisher Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Kelsea Ballerini Masters Vulnerable Songwriting On ‘Subject To Change’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellKelsea Ballerini. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
For her fourth studio album, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini found herself reflecting on a season of change in her life.
Her third studio album, Kelsea, was released March 20, 2020, just as the world began to feel the thundering start of the pandemic, which put a damper on the project’s release. Though the record performed well, debuting at No. 2 and 12 on the Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively, and spawning four official singles, such as “Hole in the Bottle” and “Half of My Hometown,” Ballerini was open about her disappointment in the timing of the release.
With the pandemic raging on through 2020 and 2021, Ballerini did what a lot of creatives did: took some time to herself, reflected on her life, and wrote songs. She emerged with 15 new songs and a sharp creative vision for her fourth studio album, Subject To Change.
Ballerini and her label Black River introduced the project with her currently climbing country radio single, “Heartfirst,” a flirty track combining ’90s country with Ballerini’s signature country-pop songwriting. Subject To Change was released in its entirety in September.
The sound of the record reflects that of “Heartfirst,” with various ’90s references throughout, although Ballerini says it wasn’t necessarily intentional.
“Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood and Shania Twain are obvious references for this album, but it also was Sixpence None The Richer and Sheryl Crow,” Ballerini tells MusicRow. “But I didn’t necessarily set out to make a ’90s-sounding record, it’s just naturally influenced by what I was listening to.”
For the creation of Subject To Change, Ballerini did set out to make a cohesive project with a clear through-line, for which she tapped producers Shane McAnally and Julian Bunetta. Jesse Frasure and Alysa Vanderheym are credited as producers for the album, as well, for their work on the last track on the record, “What I Have.”
“My last album was such a quilt. Every song had its own identity as far as the songwriter group and the producer group. Each song was its own moment. I’m proud of [the Kelsea album] because it was the first time that I allowed myself the freedom and the confidence to play around. This time, I really wanted to go back to making a streamlined record,” Ballerini says. “I still wanted it to push boundaries, but I wanted it to feel like a cohesive story. It was really important to me to have production that really helped bring a vision to life and streamline it through the whole project.
“Shane and Julian not only produced it, but oversaw the whole thing. They were able to give me outside perspectives on songs they weren’t a part of writing. They brought it to life in such a beautiful way that honors country music, but also honors everything else I’m influenced by.”
While McAnally and Bunetta’s production is polished and interesting, it doesn’t get in the way of the star of Subject To Change: Ballerini’s songwriting.
For this album, Ballerini started the writing with one of the record’s gut punches—a solo write called “Marilyn” that’s based on Ballerini’s new familiarity with the struggles of the beautiful but tragic life of Marilyn Monroe. The singer-songwriter has made it a tradition to include one solo write on all her albums. For her debut, it was “The First Time.” For Unapologetically, it was “High School.” For Kelsea, it was “LA.”
“It just holds me accountable, to be honest,” she shares of the practice. “Songwriting is my favorite part of what I do. I still crave being in the room with people like Shane, Hillary Lindsey or Nicolle Galyon who sharpen me as a writer. In the same breath, I want to honor myself and trust myself to be able to take an idea all the way through and not always rely on other people. Doing one solo write on each record is just my way of holding myself accountable to that.”
The song that set the tone sonically for Subject To Change was one of the more ’90s-country sounding tracks, “Love Is A Cowboy.”
“‘Love Is A Cowboy’ was the first song that I wrote with other songwriters with the intention of writing for an album. It felt like a direction that really honors my songwriting evolution and feels sonically different than anything that I’ve done before. That really interested me,” Ballerini shares.
A highlight of the 15-track project is “What I Have.” The tune, written alongside Vanderheym and Cary Barlowe, is extremely country and shows off Ballerini’s honeyed vocals and sharp ability to convey a message.
“I was on a writing retreat. Alyssa and Cary were working on doing harmonies for [another song] ‘The Little Things’ and I was staring out the window at the ocean. I was just having a moment of reflection,” Ballerini recalls. “One of the things so many people have learned over the past couple of years is to take inventory of your life. We’re constantly changing and that’s such a theme of this album. I was just having a moment to myself, taking inventory of how my life looked in that moment and how it was the simpler things that were making me the happiest.
“I said, ‘Hey guys, can you stop the track on “Little Things?”‘ They stopped and I literally sang the chorus to ‘What I Have’ in the room. We ended up pausing on ‘The Little Things’ and wrote ‘What I Have’ in about 30 minutes,” Ballerini says. “It fell out of the sky. The record is the original demo. We tried to re-record it and it just didn’t capture the honesty and the pureness of the magic of how we wrote it.”
Like “What I Have,” many of the tracks on Subject To Change convey a growth and acceptance in Ballerini. Her “Doin’ My Best” finds her grappling with things in her life that are hard to face—such as growing apart from a friend or being called out on social media. In “Walk In The Park,” she sings about being complicated. In the title track, Ballerini puts out a big disclaimer that she, as well as all of us, are ‘subject to change’ at any time.
“Every record of mine has bookmarked two years of my twenties. This one is from 26 to 28. There’s a lot of growing up that happens in those years, but also I sat still for the first time since I’ve been in my twenties,” Ballerini says, adding that she’s learned in therapy that her coping mechanism is business.
During the pandemic, Ballerini was able to sit with her feelings, work on herself, and evaluate her relationships—which is clearly reflected in the maturity of the songwriting on the project.
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Catherine Powell
“I started processing my life differently. Having that time really allowed me to go deeper and have more time to work on myself, my friendships and relationships. As well as my songwriting and writing in general. I got to write a book. All those things really helped me accelerate growing up.”
Throughout her time in the public eye, Ballerini has managed to stay pretty vulnerable with her fans as her audience grows, while also holding some parts of herself close and protected.
“It’s a dance. I’m in a season of life right now where I’m re-figuring that out,” she admits. “I do feel a responsibility to not just show the glittery parts of my life and ‘job.’ That would be really easy to do, but it’s just not real. I feel responsibility as someone that some people look to to be more authentic, even if it’s a little bit uncomfortable sometimes. I definitely don’t tend to do it right all the time and I’ve had a messy journey with social media, but I’m constantly doing my best.
“That’s where I’m at with everything in my life,” Ballerini sums. “I’m showing up the best I can.”
Ballerini has taken Subject To Change on the road for a 10-night-only tour. She hits Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on Thursday night (Oct. 5) with four shows following. Click here for more details.
Adam Doleac Slates ‘Barstool Whiskey Wonderland’ Tour For 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughAdam Doleac. Photo: Cal & Aly
Arista Nashville/Sony Music Nashville’s Adam Doleac has announced a new 2023 headlining trek named after his brand new album, Barstool Whiskey Wonderland. The tour will feature special guest Alana Springsteen.
Doleac will visit 27 cities on the tour, which begins Feb. 9 in Dallas with stops in Boston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and more through May 6. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. local time.
His debut album, Barstool Whiskey Wonderland, features 18 tracks including “Fake Love,” a collaboration with Danielle Bradbery, that was penned by Hardy, Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris and Jordan Schmidt.
Lainey Wilson To Be Honored As Breakout Artist Of The Year At 2022 CMT Artists Of The Year
/by Lorie HollabaughLainey Wilson. Photo: Alysse Gafkjenon
Lainey Wilson will be honored as Breakout Artist of the Year at the upcoming 2022 CMT Artists Of The Year, premiering Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. CT on CMT.
“When it came to naming Breakout Artist, Lainey Wilson was unquestionably our only choice this year,” notes Leslie Fram, SVP, Music & Talent, CMT. “Not only is she a powerhouse performer and tremendously gifted songwriter with contagious energy and drive, she is just starting to show the world her range and versatility, as evident by her upcoming role on hit series Yellowstone. From naming her as part of the Next Women of Country franchise in 2019 to watching her shine on our CMT Music Awards stage with one of the most memorable performances this year, we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate Lainey’s much-deserved successes and cheer her on for all that’s next!”
Wilson has a growing string of No. 1s, including the Platinum-certified “Things A Man Oughta Know” and “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell. Her two latest singles, “Heart Like a Truck” and “wait in the truck” with Hardy, both continue to climb the charts as she readies to drop her new album, Bell Bottom Country, on Oct. 28.
This year, she has garnered three wins at 2022 ACM Awards and is the leading nominee at November’s CMA Awards, where she notches six nods. Wilson will also play upcoming dates with Luke Combs, and this fall will make her acting debut on the series Yellowstone.
“This past year has been a wild ride,” Wilson explains. “To be considered for this award reinforces that the years of hard work my team and I have put in was all worth it. The team at CMT feels like family, and the way they genuinely support artists on their platform is so special and important for dreamers like me.”
Wilson has a strong history with CMT, first named to its Next Women of Country franchise in 2019. This past April, she performed “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell on the 2022 CMT Music Awards. She has also been featured in an episode of CMT Digital’s hit series CMT Campfire Sessions.
Broadcasting from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the evening will salute Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Walker Hayes with special performances, guests and congratulatory moments. Alan Jackson will be named Artist of a Lifetime.
Additional honorees, performers and presenters for the 90-minute special will be announced soon.
Conner Smith Named Opry NextStage Artist For October
/by Lydia FarthingConner Smith. Photo: Danielle Piazza
Rising singer-songwriter Conner Smith has been tapped as the latest addition to the Grand Ole Opry’s NextStage Class of 2022. Smith will make his NextStage artist debut at the Opry on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Tickets for the evening’s show are available here.
Smith, who signed to BMI at the age of nine, has penned most of his recorded songs, including five of the six tracks on his debut collection, Didn’t Go Too Far, released via The Valory Music Co. The project features his first top 40 hit, “Learn From It,” and virial smash “I Hate Alabama.” Named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch for 2022 and Amazon Music’s 2022 Amazon Artists To Watch, the 22-year-old was the only country act named to Pandora’s all-genre Artists To Watch 2022: The Pandora Ten list.
“I have been so blessed to see a lot of my dreams come true this year but there has not been a moment comparable to my Grand Ole Opry debut,” Smith shares. “Standing in that circle, as a kid from Nashville, I truly felt the weight and history of the Grand Ole Opry in all its depth. To be even more accepted by the Opry as a NextStage Artist means more than I can say.”
Opry NextStage collaborations include live performances, strategic marketing support and short-form documentary-style storytelling created by Opry Entertainment’s content team. Opry NextStage presents rising artists who are making standout music at the forefront of their careers through the Opry’s marketing platforms, which are set to deliver more than 100 million impressions.
Smith is the sixth act to join the 2022 class that includes Breland, Callista Clark, Restless Road, Elvie Shane and Morgan Wade. The two previous NextStage classes have featured Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green and Tenille Townes, who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies. NextStage launched in 2019 with an inaugural class that included Green, Tegan Marie, Townes and Travis Denning.
Nashville’s Music Industry Gathers To Honor Jordan Davis Two Times Over
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R, back row): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Spencer Nohe (Warner Chappell), Chris Van Belkom (Combustion), Lee Krabel (SMACKSONGS), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Courtney Crist (Anthem), Gilles Godard (Anthem), Troy Tomlinson (Universal Publishing), Mike Dungan (UMG Nashville), Noah Dewey (Anthem), Blain Rhodes (The Tape Room), Chris Farren (Combustion). (L-R, front row): Josh Jenkins, Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis. Photo: Larry McCormack
Some of Music Row’s biggest and brightest could be found at Tailgate Brewery in Nashville’s Germantown on Monday (Oct. 3) to celebrate a couple of Jordan Davis‘ recent No. 1s. The MCA recording artist, along with his co-writers, were honored for “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” and “Buy Dirt” both making it all the way to the top of the charts.
Hosted by ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, the celebration started with “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” which made its climb to the peak of country radio in tandem with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was written in 2014 by Davis and Lonnie Fowler, who rang in his first No. 1 with the track, and was produced by Paul DiGiovanni.
Anthem Music’s Noah Dewey kicked things off, thanking all of the people who got the song to the top. He was followed by Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe who doted on Lonnie, noting that he was “an incredibly talented songwriter of timeless songs.” Whitt Jeffords from Amylase Music took the mic next, explaining that the song stood the test of time from its origin to its trip to No. 1.
When Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO of UMG Nashville, made his way to the front, he started his presentation by yelling, “I love Jordan Davis!” which earned a round of applause in agreement. He proceeded to explain that though it hadn’t been officially certified just yet, the guys were going to receive 2x Platinum plaques for the song’s success.
“The truth is, it’s not officially certified,” Mike admitted. “We have an audit glitch so it’ll be certified in like 15 minutes, but we’re celebrating anyway! We’re really proud of this record and really proud of you, Jordan.”
The writers took over from there.
Pictured (L-R): Mike Sistad (ASCAP), Spencer Nohe (Warner Chappell), Lonnie Fowler, Jordan Davis, Whit Jefferds (Amylase), Noah Dewey (Anthem), and Mike Dungan (UMG). Photo: Larry McCormack
Jordan mentioned the leaps and bounds “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” had to go through to get to the top, all the while bragging on his MCA Nashville team. “MCA Nashville is the best out there,” he noted. “This is just as much y’all’s as it is me and Lonnie’s.”
He also took the crowd back to the day the song was written, explaining how special the song was. “This will always be one of my favorite songs I’ve ever released because, much like with any song I put out, I go back to the day we wrote it. I remember that more than the stuff that follows, although this is pretty damn sweet,” he shared beaming at the packed room.
Lonnie closed things out at the first of the celebrations. As it was his first No. 1, he prepared a few pages of notes, joking that he’d had enough time to think about what he wanted to say since he wasn’t sure this party was ever going to happen. He first thanked God for the gift of music, as well as his family and, of course, Jordan. “Thank you to Jordan for bringing your gift of phrasing, imagery and lyrical swagger into the room that day,” he said with a laugh. “He has a way of saying things that’s all Jordan and nobody else.”
Listing off the rest of the team responsible for bringing the song to life and sharing it around the world, he closed by recalling when he got the call that it was probably going to hit the top of the charts.
“When I got the call that it looked like the song was going to hit No. 1, I happened to be standing in a good friend’s yard in East Nashville looking at the entire upstairs of their house in the wake of the tornado. In the weeks after, the world shut down and that’s when the song hit No. 1,” Lonnie remembered. “It was definitely a difficult time to celebrate a big career success in the wake of those two things. For a long time, I didn’t know if I would get a chance to celebrate with anybody in person, but here it is. It’s actually happening. Thanks everyone for coming out, showing up and making the most of this special day.”
Pictured (L-R): Jordan Davis, Mike Dungan (Chairman & CEO, UMG Nashville), Luke Bryan, Cindy Mabe (President, UMG Nashville). Photo: Larry McCormack. Photo: Larry McCormack
Next it was time to honor “Buy Dirt,” which is nominated for the CMA Song and Single of the Year. The Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan duet, written by two sets of brothers—Jordan, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins—also won the NSAI Song of the Year last month.
SESAC’s Shannan Hatch kicked things off, touting Josh’s achievements over the last few years—this being his first No. 1. Troy Tomlinson of UMPG commended all four of the writers, as well as producer Paul DiGiovanni for his “less is more” mentality to let the vocals shine. He also announced that UMPG would be making a contribution to MusiCares on behalf of the writers to assist those with mental health and emotional needs.
Anthem’s Noah Dewey returned to the mic, explaining that the group of four best friends had charmingly named themselves the Dream Team. Lee Krabel from SmackSongs followed, putting the spotlight directly on Josh, saying: “It’s hard to imagine a better partner as a publisher. Josh is incredibly talented, but he has this energy and positivity that spreads around the office. I don’t think Smack would look the same if we hadn’t signed him seven years ago.”
Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe also came back up, saying that Jordan was “exactly why [he] got in this business,” giving him lavish praises for his songwriting career. Blaine Rhodes from Tape Room Music also echoed everyone’s sentiments of pride for the song. Combustion Music’s Chris Farren spoke about Matt’s career and thanked the Universal team and his Combustion staff.
Mike Dungan once again came to the front, this time with some figures regarding the song’s success. He noted that “Buy Dirt” was one of the top five most streamed songs for two years in a row—both in 2021 and 2022—and that the track has notched over 677 million streams to date. He mentioned its nomination at the 57th ACM Awards, as well as his expectation for a win at the upcoming 56th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9.
Next the men behind the song took a few moments at the mic.
Matt took the lead, explaining how the song came to be. “When we sat down to write this song we were at a cabin about an hour outside of Nashville,” he recalled. “We weren’t trying to write a hit, we just wanted to write something that we loved. To see the life that this song took on is really special.”
He also looked back on the last few years of Jordan’s career, while also noting the special bond that the two sets of brothers and best friends share. He thanked Luke for his part on the song, the Universal team, his family and management, as well as ASCAP and the publishers at Combustion, Tape Room and Warner Chappell.
Josh went next, immediately apologizing in advance for if he talked too much since this was his first No. 1. He thanked his family for their never ending support, and all the people along the way who helped him get to this point.
“All of us know that to get here, it takes so many people along the way to encourage you, pick you up, and believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself,” Josh shared. “I thank Lee and the crew [at Smack] whose north star has always been making music that makes people feel something. They have given me a space to create music that I believe in.” He added, “This [song captures] who we want to be as men, husbands, and fathers. We want to live this way and that will always be one of the most special things about this song.”
Jacob took over from there, echoing his thanks to his wife and daughters, and taking a moment to speak about each of his co-writers and his relationships with them. He also gave a special sentiment to his mother, who one can assume he credits for much of his love for music.
“My mom is an incredible piano player and the melodies that come out of this little lady are just incredible. I remember she wanted me and Jordan to take piano lessons, but we were going to play professional baseball so we didn’t need piano lessons,” he said cheekily. “For the four years that we took them, I sure appreciate you forcing us to do that. A lot of it stuck, so thank you.”
Luke Bryan shared his thanks next. He told the story about getting the text to be a part of the song, noting how honored he is to be featured on a song that “does what a song oughta do,” which he explained is to tell a message and inspire people.
He also made light of the conversations surrounding the upcoming CMA Awards and joked that, as co-host, he wrote into his contract that the song had to win, to which the audience roared with laughter and applause.
“This is the most fun business in the world in the best town in the world because we don’t get caught up in a bunch of flashy egos,” Luke summed. “We just love to see great songs get written and I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
The man of the hour closed things out with a speech that explained the critical role that honesty has played in his career over the years. He said that “Buy Dirt” exudes the same brand of honesty about the three important things in his life: faith, family and friends.
He spent time thanking his publishing team at Warner Chappell, his management team, UMG Nashville, and his co-writers, while also teasing future Dream Team songs to come.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve been around people from day one that have done nothing but shoot me straight and try to push my career forward,” he shared. “I’m so grateful to be at the best damn label in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m looking forward to writing many, many more songs.
“I hope, fingers crossed, that we get to talk about this song one more time in a couple of weeks [at the CMA Awards]. I do like my in with the co-host,” he said with a laugh before closing. “To every person in this room, thank you for giving me a career. I love you guys. Go buy dirt.”
Kelly Prince Named Director Of Event Sales & Services At Cannery Hall
/by Lorie HollabaughKelly Prince. Photo: Jason Bihler
Kelly Prince has joined Cannery Hall as Director of Event Sales and Services. In her new role, she will oversee event management services for all events at Cannery Hall and its four events spaces–Amaranth, Row 1 Stage, The Mil, and Mainstage.
Prior to joining Cannery Hall, Prince spent the last 12 years working in the events industry in and around Nashville. She most recently worked for her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, directing event operations. Prince has also worked in event sales and services for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, War Memorial Auditorium, and Bridgestone Arena.
Additionally, she has led events for high-profile celebrities, professional sports teams, TV shows, movies, musical tours, comedy tours, conferences and more. As she takes on her new role at Cannery Hall, she will continue to serve as an Independent Event Contractor for notable clients, such as the NFL, CMA, and international stadium tours, among others.
“Cannery Hall will be a lot of things for our community: the largest independent music complex in Nashville, a cultural anchor for Cannery Row and one of the coolest event spaces in Nashville,” notes Brent Hyams, General Manager for the venue. “Kelly has been working with event producers and creating memorable events in Nashville for over a decade. Her creativity, passion and kindness will help Cannery Hall play host to some of the most talked-about events in town.”
“I love the charm and character that can only be found in historic venues, and Cannery Hall has it all,” adds Prince. “Cannery Row has held some of the most exclusive and unique events over the last 140 years. I’m excited to kickoff this next chapter of celebrations.”
All four Cannery Hall spaces are now accepting booking inquiries for summer 2023 and beyond. Cannery Hall is in the historic Cannery Row District, which has been a bedrock of Nashville’s music scene for over 40 years.
The War And Treaty & Don Schlitz Join Dottie West Birthday Bash Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe recently crowned Americana Music Association Duo/Group of the Year, The War And Treaty, and legendary songwriter Don Schlitz have joined the lineup for this year’s fourth annual Dottie West Birthday Bash celebration, slated for Oct. 11 at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley.
In addition to celebrating West’s 90th birthday, the event also honors a musician or artist who, like her, has made an indelible impact on country music. This year Country Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry Member and acclaimed Grammy-winning session musician Charlie McCoy will be honored.
Previously announced event host and 55-year Opry member Jeannie Seely and McCoy will perform, along with Country Music Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee and Grand Ole Opry members Rhonda Vincent and Mandy Barnett. The night will also feature John Schneider, Heidi Newfield, Dallas Wayne, Tim Atwood, Kenna West, Tess Frizzell, Bobby Tomberlin, and several surprise guests.
All funds raised at the event will benefit Music Health Alliance. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Previous honorees include Musicians Hall of Fame and North Carolina Hall of Fame member Jimmy Capps (2017); Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Dottie West, Ricky Skaggs and Johnny Gimble (2018); and Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson (2019).