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Brandy Clark To Release Warner Bros. Records Album In June

March 22, 2016/by Eric T. Parker

Brandy Clark

Brandy Clark will release her major label debut, Big Day In A Small Town, with Warner Bros. Records (Los Angeles), June 10.

Warner’s Nashville outpost will be heavily involved in the roll-out of the Jay Joyce-produced project as the album’s current single,”Girl Next Door,” was released to country radio in February with a music video released earlier this month.

The 11-track album follows the CMA and Grammy-nominated songwriter’s acclaimed 12 Stories (2013).

Clark shares writing credits on every track on the new album, excluding the solo-written “Drinkin’ Smokin’ Cheatin’.” Co-writers include Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, Mark D. Sanders, Lori McKenna, Jeremy Spillman, and more. Kacey Musgraves join Clark for featured vocals on “Daughters.”

Ahead of the full-length release on Record Store Day (April 16), Warner Bros. Records will release a green 7″ vinyl single for “Girl Next Door” with side B featuring “Homecoming Queen,” plus the same song covered by Sheryl Crow on her own 2013 Warner Bros. Records project.

Album artwork is forthcoming.

Big Day In A Small Town Track Listing

Soap Opera – Brandy Clark/Bryan Simpson
Girl Next Door – Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillon/Shane McAnally
Homecoming Queen – Brandy Clark/Luke Laird/Shane McAnally
Broke – Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne
You Can Come Over – Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillon/Mark Narmore
Love Can Go To Hell – Brandy Clark/Scott Stepakoff
Big Day In A Small Town – Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally/Mark D. Sanders
Three Kids No Husband – Brandy Clark/Lori McKenna
Daughter – Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jeremy Spillman
Drinkin’ Smokin’ Cheatin’ – Brandy Clark
Since You’ve Gone to Heaven – Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally

Weekly Register: Randy Houser Fires Up Albums Charts

March 21, 2016/by Jessica Nicholson

Randy Houser‘s latest album, Fired Up, made a solid debut on the music charts, landing at No. 3 this week on the country album chart and No. 15 on the overall album chart, selling 25k (21k album only). Joey + Rory‘s Hymns collection tops the country albums chart this week, with 44k sold. They are followed by Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller, which moved 27k this week (1,049,818 RTD). Houser’s Fired Up, Loretta Lynn‘s Full Circle (8k) and Sam Hunt‘s Montevallo (6.9k) round out the top 5.

Rihanna‘s Anti tops the overall albums charts, with 54k (17k album only).

Overall, country album sales are down five percent and country digital sales are down 14.8 percent. Overall album sales are down 16.6 percent, while overall digital sales are down 23.7 percent.

Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton‘s “Came Here To Forget” tops the country digital tracks rankings this week, with 51k sold. He is followed by Maren Morris‘ “My Church” (33k), Tim McGraw‘s “Humble and Kind” (32.8k), Dierks Bentley‘s “Somewhere On A Beach” 28.4k), and Cole Swindell‘s “You Should Be Here” (28k).

Lukas Graham‘s 7 Years tops the overall digital tracks chart, with 125k sold.

On the digital tracks rankings, overall track sales have shrunk by 26.1 percent, while country track sales have decreased by 22.1 percent.

Info provided by Nielsen Soundscan.

Weekly Chart Report (3/18/16)

March 18, 2016/by Troy_Stephenson

Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

DISClaimer: Sam Hunt Wins Disc Of The Day

March 17, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

The songs are the real stars this week.

Lonestar, Reba, Jana Kramer and John Anderson have all latched on to outstanding pieces of material. Any one of them could be a Disc of the Day.

Singer-songwriter Sam Hunt has carved out a special niche with his one-of-a-kind ditties. One of the best of them on his Montevallo album is now its sixth single. “Make You Miss Me” is the real Disc of the Day winner.

Kane Brown easily wins the DisCovery Award. His “Used to Love You Sober” is a first-rate song, too.

JOHN ANDERSON/Magic Mama
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producers: John Anderson & Joe Spivey; Publisher: none listed; Bayou Boys
– I’ll never get over this timeless stylist. Here, he returns to his goofy-hillbilly personna. The band swings like crazy while he drawls out the good-time lyrics. Pianist Gary Smith, steel man Glenn Rieuf and fiddler Joe Spivey sound like they’re just as big a ball as the star. A boatload of fun.

SAM HUNT/Make You Miss Me
Writers: Sam Hunt/Josh Osborne/Matt Ramsey; Producers: Zach Crowll & Shane McAnally; Publishers: Universal/Three Mules/Sons of Black River/Sonic Geo/Calhoun Ent./Music of RPM/HoriPro, ASCAP; MCA
– Mr. Romance returns with his mix of husky, quasi-spoken passages and memorable sung choruses. The gist of it is that his lover always disposes of relationships, so he’s going to make himself so memorable that she won’t be able to move on. The track includes a fine harmony vocal — it’s either Hillary Lindsey or Mickey Guyton (the credits on the CD aren’t specific). Excellent listening.

CYNDI LAUPER/Funnel of Love
Writers: Charlie McCoy/Kent Westberry; Producers: Tony Brown & Cyndi Lauper; Publisher: Universal Cedarwood, BMI; Sire
– Cyndi has a romp with this Wanda Jackson rockabilly classic. The twangster guitar, snazzy organ and slapping snare backing her are as brightly bopping as she is. Extremely cute.

JANA KRAMER/Said No One Ever
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Natalie Hemby/Busbee; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/A Girl Named Charlie/HappyGoWrucke/Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse/BMG Platinum/Jam Writers Group/Hello I Love You, BMI; Elektra/Warner Bros.
– Percolating and perky, with just a touch of “attitude.” The lyric is as cute as the dickens, listing phrases that no one ever says, like, “Who are the Rolling Stones?” “I love politics,” “I’m happier when I’m lonely,” “Wish you’d talk more about yourself,” “Don’t want love to last forever,” “Bring back the pay phone,” “I wish you’d kiss me less” or “Can’t wait for Monday.” So nice I played it twice.

KANE BROWN/Used to Love You Sober
Writers: Kane Brown/Josh Hoge/Matthew McVaney; Producer: Matt McVaney; Publisher: none listed, BMI/SESAC; RCA
– His dark, earthy baritone is simply terrific, especially on the verses. A slab of alcohol-soaked misery that grabs hold and won’t let go. A star is born.

REBA/Just Like Them Horses
Writers: Liz Hengber/Tommy Lee James; Producers: Tony Brown & Reba McEntire; Publishers: Starstruck Writers Group/Giving Out Wings/BMG Platinum/SWMBMGBMI/Once in a Blue Tune, ASCAP/BMI; Nash Icon
– Heart tugging. Waves of freedom, nostalgia, loss and letting go wash over this tenderly evocative song. As usual, she sings the heck out of it.

MICHAELA ANNE/Won’t Go Down
Writers: Michaela Anne/Dave Brainard; Producer: Dan Knobler; Publishers: Michaela Anne/Dave Brainard, BMI/ASCAP; Kingswood
– This recent transplant from Brooklyn to Nashville has a lively, sprightly single from her new CD, Bright Lights and the Fame. Slashing country guitars and a take-no-prisoners rhythm section back her silky delivery.

CHASE RICE/Whisper
Writers: Chase Rice/Chris DeStefano/Jon Nite; Producers: Chase Rice & Chris DeStefano; Publisher: Sugar Glider Music, EMI April Music, ASCAP; Columbia Nashville/Dack Janiels Records (track)
– Cluttered sounding. The production is a jumbled mess. The melody goes nowhere. There’s not much that’s “country” about it.

BOBBY BONES & THE RAGING IDIOTS/If I Was Your Boyfriend
Writers: Bobby Bones/Michael Saenz/Mical Trejo; Producers: Nick Autry & Bobby Bones; Publishers: Songs of Black River/Only Funny Online/Mical Trejo Tuneage, ASCAP/SESAC; Black River
– I kept wanting it to become funny. The hopeless vocals are the most amusing part.

LONESTAR/Never Enders
Writers: Dean Sams/Richie McDonald/Marv Green; Producer: Dean Sams; Publishers: Last Song Standing/ClearBox/NuSlate/Warner-Tamerlane/The Good The Bad The Ugly, BMI; Shanachie
– The foursome comes out swinging with this rocking, soaring celebration of enduring love. Grab your honey and jitterbug across the dance floor. And give a rebel yell for that Michael Britt guitar solo.

AIMP Nashville Plans Inaugural Awards Show

March 16, 2016/by Sarah Skates

The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) will host the inaugural AIMP Nashville Awards, presented by Spotify, on April 18, 2016 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Beginning at 6 p.m., the celebration will salute the top independent publishers, songs and songwriters of 2015.

Co-chaired by SMACKsongs’ Michael Baum and Wrensong’s Ree Buchanan, the AIMP created a planning committee to represent all sectors of the independent Nashville music community to conceptualize the event.

“Michael and I had a dream to create an event that celebrated independent songwriters and their publishers,” says Buchanan. “In Nashville, independents make up more that 50 percent of the market. That should be awarded.”

The invitation-only AIMP Nashville Awards will pay tribute to the top independent publisher, songwriter and song from 2015, as voted on by AIMP members. Top independent writer and publisher awards are calculated by the NEKST chart. The celebration will also honor the top-streamed country song on Spotify and Song Champion of the Year, recognizing a member of the industry whose actions exemplify him or her as a song/songwriter advocate.

“Spotify is delighted to be the sponsor of the AIMP Nashville Awards,” said James Duffett-Smith, Publisher Relations, Spotify. “The independent publishing community in Nashville has contributed an enormous amount to the music of this iconic town, and we are privileged to play a part in recognizing their talented songwriters.”

Weekly Register: Blake Shelton, Joey + Rory Top Country Sales Charts

March 14, 2016/by Jessica Nicholson

On the digital country tracks chart, Blake Shelton’s latest single, “Here To Forget” takes the top spot this week (and lands at No. 10 overall) with 53k sold. Following Shelton at No. 2 on the digital country tracks rankings is Maren Morris, whose “My Church” has a loyal following with 36k sold. Jake Owen’s “American Country Love Song” is at No. 3 with (35k), followed by Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” at No. 4 (33k), and Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here” at No. 5 (30k).

On the overall digital tracks rankings, Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” is No. 1, with 121k sold. The top debut this week is from Meghan Trainor. “No” lands at No. 2 on the overall digital singles rankings, with 113k sold.

Overall digital tracks sales are down 26.1 percent, with country tracks sales down 22.1 percent.

On a bright note, Cam’s “Burning House” digital single has sold more than 1 million.

Following the death of Joey+Rory’s Joey Martin Feek on March 4, the duo’s latest album Hymns, has taken the top spot on the Country album rankings, with 44k sold. The project is at No. 10 on the all-genre album rankings.

They are followed on the country albums chart this week by Chris Stapleton’s Traveller at 31k, Granger Smith’s Remington with 24k, Loretta Lynn’s Full Circle (20k) and Sam Hunt’s Montevallo (7.5k).

Kendrick Lamar’s Untitled Unmastered debuted at No. 1 on the overall rankings this week, with 178k (142k album only). The project marks Lamar’s second chart-topping project in less than a year, after To Pimp A Butterfly. Untitled Unmastered was a surprise album drop, and released to digital retailers and streaming services on March 4. The physical version of Untitled Unmastered (explicit version) released March 11. An edited version will release March 18.

Year to date, country album sales are down 4.2 percent, with country digital album sales down 12.8 percent. Overall album sales are down 16.4 percent, while overall digital album sales are down 23.5 percent.

Weekly Chart Report (3/11/16)

March 11, 2016/by Troy_Stephenson

Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

DISClaimer: Chuck Wicks, Jessie G, Tim Elliott, Southern Halo Take Indie Spotlight

March 10, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Chuck Wicks

It’s high time we did some tidying up around here.

Several of these indie acts have been in the to-be-listened-to pile of platters for weeks. They’re usually pushed aside by major-label artists, but today they’re in the spotlight.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Chuck Wicks.

But the real news du jour is in the DisCovery Award department. We have three winners — a female, a male and a group. The female DisCovery is power voiced Jessie G. Our male winner is jaunty Tim Elliott. The group DisCovery is the sister act Southern Halo. Congratulations, one and all.

Southern Halo

DIANA UPTON HILL/Southern Gentlemen
Writers: Georgia Thomas Edgeworth/Robin Grant; Producer: Bryan White: Publishers: Moonlight Through the Pines/Saved By the Belle, ASCAP/BMI; Third Floor
– The drums are slamming in this rocked-out mix. Indeed, she’s almost drowned out by them. Her pert soprano checks off the states of Dixie in the choruses. Which is cute.

CHUCK WICKS/She’s Gone
Writers: Chuck Wicks/Brett Tyler/Jeffery East; Producers: Chuck Wicks/Andy Dodd; Publishers: none listed; Blaster (track)
– I like the open, quiet spaces in the production. They allow his voice to crack in all the right places and draw your attention to the spare, lonely lyric. The rising intensity in the sound is cool, too. Recommended.

WILL CARTER/I Don’t Know Why
Writers: Will Carter/Jude Dyllan; Producer: Jude Dyllan; Publishers: Will Carter/Jude Dyllan, BMI; WC
– He sings well. The song does nothing for me.

SMITH & WESLEY/Sweet Life
Writers: Scott Smith; Producer: Shane Hill; Publishers: Dream Walkin’, ASCAP; Garage Door
– Twin-guitar Southern rock with bro-country lyrics. It conspicuously lacks a melody.

Tim Elliott

CLARE DUNN/Tuxedo
Writers: Clare Dunn/Ben West/Brett James; Producers: Clare Dunn/Ben West; Publishers: BMG Gold/Leer Jet 87/BMG Platinum/For the Kids Platinum/Legitimate Effort/WB/Songs of Brett, BMI/ASCAP; MCA (CDX)
– Country quasi-rap in the verses. Big-voice choruses. The echo on her alto puts her right in your face. Inventive songwriting and innovative production touches.

TIM ELLIOTT/Boom
Writers: Tim Elliott/Bob Moffatt/Clint Moffatt/Chris Womack; Producer: Kent Wells; Publishers: Boggs River/Chase the Music/Reynsong, ASCAP/BMI; BRE (CDX)
– Very clever. He counts down the numbers until the lovin’ starts. The production burbles along at a percolating pace, and his voice has a youthful innocence. Endearing.

KELLEY SALLEE SNEAD/Always A Stranger
Writers: Snead/Frederick/Sallee Snead; Producers: Doak Snead/Tony Garber; Publisher: Doak Snead, BMI; KSS (track)
– Veteran songwriter Doak Snead’s wife has a form of Parkinson’s that has taken away her ability to sing. He and co-producer Tony Garber have compiled the best of her song demos, fully produced masters, work tapes and home recordings to make the album Roses & Tumbleweeds: A Retrospective. She is a fine vocalist, equally at home on ballads and uptempo fare. The CD is available on iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon.

SOUTHERN HALO/Little White Dress
Writers: Natalie Morris/Cat Gravitt/Gerald O’Brien; Producers: Cat Cravitt/Gerald O’Brien; Publishers: Southern Halo/Razor and Tie/Ink Pen Mama, BMI/SESAC; Southern Halo
– This is a trio of singing sisters who harmonize like angels. The song is as catchy as all get out, with a solid backbeat, cool guitars and a wedding-day chorus to die for. Super listening.

Jessie G

JESSIE G/Drop A Line
Writers: Jessie Goergen/Joshua Withenshaw/Davis Branch; Producers: Gretchen Wilson/Jessie G; Publishers: Straight Off the Boat/Home Is a Time Not a Place, ASCAP/BMI; JG (track)
– Gretchen Wilson is behind the board for this minor-key, bluesy stomper. The singer has firepower to spare. A left-field winner.

RODEO GYPSY/Southern Proof
Writers: Bridgette Powell/Dustin Sciaraffo/Jonathan Robinson; Producer: Sam Tate; Publishers: Tuf Monkey, BMI/ASCAP; BAM (track)
– Rodeo Gypsy is a trio comprised of Bridgette Powell, Dustin Sciaraffo and Becca Cummins. Their debut outing is an acoustic ditty with stark bongo-dobro-guitar-bass accompaniment. The harmonies are dandy. The lyric is of the Dixie-proud variety. It might not be the most commercial thing I’ve ever heard, but it certainly is pleasant listening.

Mickey Guyton Confirmed For Special Performance At Rising Women On The Row

March 9, 2016/by Craig_Shelburne

Mickey Guyton

Mickey Guyton is confirmed for a special performance at MusicRow’s fifth annual Rising Women on the Row event. Presented by City National Bank, the ceremony will salute five music businesswomen on Friday, April 8 at 8:30 a.m. at Omni Nashville Hotel.

As previously announced, Ali Harnell, Senior Vice President at AEG Live, will be the featured speaker. In addition, the 2016 Rising Women honorees are: Abbey Adams, Senior Creative Director, A&R – Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Amanda Cates, Head of Marketing and Digital Strategy – Maverick Nashville; Cris Lacy, VP, A&R – Warner Music Nashville; Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations – BMI; and Risha Rodgers, Partner – WME.

Tickets for the 2016 event are sold out. With any Rising Women on the Row inquiries, please contact Eric at eparker@musicrow.com.

Born in Arlington, Texas, Mickey Guyton moved around the Lone Star state as her father’s engineering job took them to Waco, Tyler, Dallas and Fort Worth. Music was a constant in her nomadic life. She began singing gospel in church when she was only five and grew up listening to a variety of artists, including Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes, Whitney Houston and gospel innovators BeBe and CeCe Winans.

Guyton moved to Los Angeles after high school to attend Santa Monica College. She worked long hours at two jobs, struggling to make ends meet, but held on to her dream of becoming a country singer. A chance encounter turned everything around. A friend introduced her to producer Julian Raymond (Glen Campbell, the Wallflowers) who was immediately impressed with her.

He connected her to Gary Borman and his partner Steve Moir, the company that built the careers of Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Guyton moved to Nashville in 2011 to pursue her dream and has embedded herself in the town’s songwriter community.

Also in 2011, Guyton signed to Capitol Records Nashville and sang at the White House during an all-star concert that included James Taylor, Dierks Bentley, Kris Kristofferson, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker and Lyle Lovett. The show was captured by PBS and broadcast as part of their In Performance at the White House series. Her rendition of Patsy Cline’s classic “Crazy” was one of the highlights of the night.

Guyton released her self-titled debut EP on May 26 and collaborated with award-winning producers Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, and Luke Laird. “Better Than You Left Me” was Guyton’s powerful debut single, which she co-wrote with Jennifer Hanson, Jenn Schott and Nathan Chapman. Last year, Guyton sang on ABC’s Good Morning America, toured with Brad Paisley on his Crushin’ It World Tour and released the holiday single “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from Disney’s Frozen.

She is nominated this year for her first ACM Award for Best New Female Artist.

Ali Harnell Will Be Featured Speaker At Rising Women On The Row

March 7, 2016/by Craig_Shelburne

Ali Harnell

MusicRow is proud to announce that Ali Harnell, Senior Vice President at AEG Live, will be the featured speaker for the fifth annual Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Friday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Guests will be treated to insights from Harnell during a conversation with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson.

A special performance will also be given by Capitol Records Nashville rising star Mickey Guyton.

As previously announced, the 2016 Rising Women honorees are: Abbey Adams, Senior Creative Director, A&R – Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Amanda Cates, Head of Marketing and Digital Strategy – Maverick Nashville; Cris Lacy, VP, A&R – Warner Music Nashville; Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations – BMI; and Risha Rodgers, Partner – WME.

Tickets for the 2016 event are sold out. With any Rising Women on the Row inquiries, please contact Eric at eparker@musicrow.com.

Harnell has managed the Southeast region for AEG Live, overseeing all aspects of bookings and operations as well as national touring activity for Sugarland, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, and others since 2004. She is co-creator of and curates talent for the international country music festival C2C.

In 2014 Harnell was named Promoter of the Year for IEBA, made Billboard‘s prestigious Top 50 Women in Music annual list the past two years as well as Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City list. In 2015 she was nominated CMA Promoter of the Year and listed as a Nashville Power Player by Billboard.

In addition to her position at AEG Live, she is artist co-manager for The Shadowboxers and Kristian Bush. Philanthropically over the past few years, she chaired Magdalene/Thistle Farms annual fundraiser, was TJ Martell’s Ambassador of the Year, and has produced the annual All For The Hall benefit concerts in Nashville since 2009.

Memberships include Board President, NACPA; Vice President, IEBA; Lifebeat/Music Fights AIDS; ACM; and CMA.

City National Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2016 Rising Women on the Row.

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