featured-2 Archives - Page 129 of 345

DisClaimer: Review-Column ‘Virgins’ Vie For DisCovery Award

July 23, 2015/by Robert K Oermann

Every dog has his day, and the meek shall inherit the earth.

Today we have six DisClaimer “virgins” who are hoping that something like that is the truth. Despite the promise shown by Tucker and the delightfully named Beka & The Gin Hall Hustlers, the one newcomer who earns the DisCovery Award is Homegrown. This band arrives fully armed with stellar vocal abilities, top-notch production and songwriting skill.

Ricky Gunn and Mary Sarah have both been here before. As have our real veterans, Sammy Sadler and our undisputed Disc of the Day winner, Ronnie Dunn. Read on.

THE STICKERS/Countrified
Writer: Neil Mason/Corey Crowder/Matt McGinn; Producer: Tony Castle; Publisher: Nettwerk One B/Revelry/Nevada House, BMI; Wodarek
—Half-spoken, half-sung verses. Shouted/screamed choruses. Twang guitar. Stomping beats. Shout outs to Conway Twitty and Randy Travis. I’m not buyin’ it.

MARY SARAH/Dress Up This Town
Writer: Mary Sarah/Melisssa Bollea/Bill DiLuigi; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; 144 Entertainment
—Pert, chirpy vocal and a sunny, upbeat attitude. Bright sounding. Summery.

BROOKE HOGAN/Girlfriend
Writer: Brooke Ellen Bollea/Drew Davis/Erik Halbig; Producer: Blake Bollinger; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; MollyDog
—Her throaty, alto delivery is ear catching. The tempo is infectious. The song is too wordy and should have been edited.

RONNIE DUNN/Ain’t No Trucks in Texas
Writer: Wendell Mobley/Tony Martin/Neil Thrasher; Producer: Jay DeMarcus; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Fonde Mountain/Sony-ATV Tree/Casa Jaco/Songs of Peer/Team Thrash, BMI/ASCAP; Nash Icon
—This is what it’s all about: A finely written country-weeper song, a supremely brilliant honky-tonk singer and a sterling contemporary production loaded with sonic dynamics. You youngsters should be taking notes on records like this.

AUSTIN MEADE/Feeling Closer
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Austin Meade
—Muffled, muddy sound. Barely-there singing. Aimlessly wandering lyric in search of a chorus. Pass.

SAMMY SADLER/Thinking About Mexico
Writer: Bart Butler/Tony Ramey; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Bill Butler/O Tex, BMI
—Sammy Sadler is still best known as the survivor of the 1989 Music Row assault that murdered Cash Box chart manager Kevin Hughes (convicted Richard “Tony” D’Antonio died in prison last year). His latest floats on bobbing steel notes and echoey mariachi horns and features the strongest singing of his career to date. Solid. Listenable.

TUCKER/#Country
Writer: E. Durrance/B. Deese/J. Parsons/Tucker; Producer: Ryan Sutton; Publisher: none listed; Big Pond/CEO
—Tucker is a multi-instrumentalist who has backed Jimmy Wayne, James Otto, Michael Peterson and others. Now stepping out as a singer-songwriter, he enters the country fray with a bro-country rocker loaded with redneck cliches. He’s good, but should have chosen a debut single that stands out rather than blending in.

RICKY GUNN/Living Like Me
Writer: Ricky Gunn/Dan Hannon; Producer: Dan Hannon & Billy Hume; Publisher: Emilex/NCE, BMI; NCE
—This fellow has received good notices in this column before. His latest has several things going for it. As before, he delivers vocally. In fact, this outing sounds even more personable and Southern than before. Also as before, he is backed with a well-mixed production. The upbeat song isn’t exactly a world beater, but it will do.

BEKA & THE GIN HALL HUSTLERS/Hollywood with Cowboy Hats
Writer: Beja Bronc; Producer: Beka Bronc; Publisher: Lil Miss Rebecca, BMI; Sassy Pants
—These guys have the best band name of this session, for sure. As it promises, their twangy-bop song is a wicked-funny jab at Music City. You see, she’s going to borrow money from Taylor Swift, marry Kenny Chesney and make it big.

HOMEGROWN/Summer Song
Writer: C. Brannon/K. Brannon/Cole Ivey; Producer: Andy Bowen & The Rockporium; Publisher: none listed; Homegrown Entertainment
—Excellent brother-vocal vocal harmonies washing over a highly tuneful composition. This is perfectly produced beach music. Play and believe.

Weekly Register: Sam Hunt Still at No. 1

July 20, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Sam Hunt surprised over 55,000 Taylor Swift concert-goers at last night’s sold out Soldier Field in Chicago. Before joiningHunt on his Platinum-selling, No. 1 smash hit, “Take Your Time.” Photo: TAS Rights Management

Sam Hunt, who has the No. 1 country album this week, surprised over 55,000 Taylor Swift fans at last night’s (July 19) sold out concert at Soldier Field in Chicago. She joined Hunt on his Platinum-selling, No. 1 “Take Your Time.” Photo: TAS Rights Management

Soundscan is completing its transition to a new measurement period. Due to the change, last week’s Soundscan sales chart was based on an 11-day period. This week’s chart is based on the standard 7-day period. Therefore, last week’s chart was inflated and week-to-week comparisons aren’t apples-to-apples.

The change is due to the official music release day moving from Tuesday to Friday.

There were no notable country debuts this week, so let’s look at the top 5, where Sam Hunt has the No. 1 album, and two tracks in the top 5.

Top 5 Country albums this week
Sam Hunt 13K/643K RTD
Zac Brown Band 11K/445K RTD
Kacey Musgraves 10K RTD/89K RTD
Little Big Town 9K/296K RTD
Eric Church 7K/1 mil RTD

Top 5 Country tracks this week
Little Big Town “Girl Crush” 57K, 1.481M RTD
Luke Bryan “Kick The Dust Up” 51K, 588K RTD
Sam Hunt “House Party” 46K, 451K RTD
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 45K, 1.539K RTD
Thomas Rhett “Crash and Burn” 39K, 398K RTD

Tyrese had the top overall debut with total activity of 86K.

Soundscan says there will be adjustments to this week’s report.

Blake and Miranda Call It Quits

July 20, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Pictured (L-R): Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at the BMI Country Awards. Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI

Country music superstar couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert divorced after four years of marriage, MusicRow has confirmed.

The couple issued the following statement to the Associated Press:

“This is not the future we envisioned. And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter.”

Weekly Chart Report (7/17/15)

July 17, 2015/by Troy_Stephenson

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

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Announces 2015 Inductees

July 16, 2015/by Sarah Skates

nashville songwriters hall of fame press conf

Pictured at the inductees announcement at Columbia Studio A are (L-R): Mark Ford, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation; inductees Craig Wiseman, Even Stevens and Mark James and Pat Alger, chair of the organization’s board. The cake acknowledges the organization’s 45th anniversary. Photo: Bev Moser

Rosanne Cash, Mark James, Even Stevens and Craig Wiseman will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame at a gala event on Oct. 11.

Cash popularized many of her own compositions, including “Seven Year Ache,” “Blue Moon With Heartache” and “Hold On.” James’ songwriter credits include “Hooked On A Feeling” (B.J. Thomas, Blue Swede), “Suspicious Minds” (Elvis Presley) and “Always On My Mind” (Willie Nelson). Stevens is the tunesmith behind “Suspicions” and “Drivin’ My Life Away” (Eddie Rabbitt) and “Crazy In Love” (Conway Twitty). Wiseman’s resume is known for “Live Like You Were Dying” (Tim McGraw), “Believe” (Brooks & Dunn) and “The Good Stuff” (Kenny Chesney).

Pictured clockwise from top left: Rosanne Cash, Mark James, Even Stevens, Craig Wiseman

“Nashville remains the primary destination for anyone with an appreciation of songwriters and the art of songwriting,” said Pat Alger, a past inductee and chair of the organization’s board of directors. “Since 1970, the legacy of those great songwriters has been celebrated and preserved by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Each year only a few are elected to this high honor, and this year we are proud to welcome the class of 2015: Mark James and Craig Wiseman in the songwriter category; Even Stevens in the veteran songwriter category and Rosanne Cash as our songwriter/artist.”

The four new inductees will join the 196 existing members of the elite organization when they are officially inducted during the 45th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Music City Center. The evening will feature tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. In recent years artists such as Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift have participated in the event. Fellow songwriters’ organization the Nashville Songwriters Association International also presents its annual awards for Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written” as determined by their professional songwriters division.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Gala are $250 each. Select seating is available to the public and may be purchased as available by contacting Executive Director Mark Ford at hoftix@nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com or 615-460-6556.

Prior inductees include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Garth Brooks, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Johnny Cash, Don & Phil Everly, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.

Rosanne Cash has released 15 albums of extraordinary songs that have earned four Grammy Awards and nominations for 11 more, as well as 21 Top-40 hits, including 11 #1 singles. Born in Memphis to legendary Country artist Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto, Rosanne’s second album was the landmark Seven Year Ache in 1981. The self-penned song, “Seven Year Ache,” became a #1 record (her first), as did her “Blue Moon With Heartache.” Co-writer Vince Gill also hit with two of their songs during the ’80s: “If It Weren’t For Him” and “Never Alone.” From that point, Rosanne’s albums would prove worthy vehicles for her considerable songwriting talent, as evidenced by “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” “Second To No One,” “Hold On” (the 1987 BMI Country Song of the Year), “If You Change Your Mind,” “What We Really Want” and “The Wheel.” Her latest release, 2014’s The River and the Thread, received three Grammy Awards earlier this year. Additionally Rosanne has been selected as the 2015 artist in residence for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where she will perform three concerts in September.

Even Stevens is a noted record maker, producer and graphic artist. The Ohio native served in the U.S. Coast Guard, then settled in San Francisco to perform in the city’s nightspots as a folkie. Back in Ohio, he was working as a graphic artist when an uncle persuaded him to come to Nashville to pitch the songs he’d been writing. Hooking up with the then-unknown Eddie Rabbitt, Even began collaborating on songs that would soon make his friend a superstar: “Drivin’ My Life Away,” “I Love A Rainy Night,” “Step By Step” and “Suspicions” (BMI’s 1980 Country Song of the Year). Even’s collaborations with others resulted in hits for artists like Dr. Hook (“When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman”), Conway Twitty (“Crazy In Love”), Ricky Skaggs (“Lovin’ Only Me”), Lacy J. Dalton (“Black Coffee”) and the Oak Ridge Boys (“No Matter How High”). “Love Will Turn You Around” by Kenny Rogers was named ASCAP Country Song of the Year in 1982.

Mark James grew up in Houston, Texas, along with B.J. Thomas, who was the first to make his songs hits. By the late 1960s, Mark was signed as a staff songwriter to Memphis producer Chips Moman’s publishing company. Moman produced Thomas’ versions of “The Eyes Of A New York Woman” and “Hooked On A Feeling” in 1968-69, and these became Mark’s debut songwriting successes. He issued his own version of “Suspicious Minds” (also produced by Moman) on Scepter Records in 1968 before Elvis Presley made it a smash the following year using the same arrangement. These songs, as well as hits such as “Sunday Sunrise” (Brenda Lee) and “Moody Blue” (Elvis Presley) were all created by Mark as a solo writer. Mark also co-wrote the hits “It’s Only Love” (B.J. Thomas) and “One Hell Of A Woman” (Mac Davis). One of Mark’s biggest hits came via Willie Nelson’s 1982 recording of “Always On My Mind.” A collaboration with fellow Memphians Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson, that song – named 1982 Song of the Year for NSAI, the ACM and the CMA – earned the writers a pair of Grammys for Best Country Song and for Best Song.

Craig Wiseman moved to Nashville in 1985 to pursue a songwriting career and by age 24 received his first cut by the legendary Roy Orbison. Since then, the Hattiesburg, Miss., native has become one of Nashville’s most celebrated songwriters. He was ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 2003, 2005 & 2007 and in 2014 earned the organization’s Heritage Award as its most-performed Country music songwriter of the past century. In 2005, he received a Best Country Song Grammy for “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw. That song also earned both ACM and CMA Song of the Year honors, as did his “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn the following year. Other hits from Craig’s catalog include “Summertime” and “The Good Stuff” by Kenny Chesney (2003 ASCAP Country Song of the Year), “Where The Green Grass Grows” by Tim McGraw, “Love Me If You Can” by Toby Keith, the AC hit “A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill, “Hillbilly Bone” by Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, “Boys ’Round Here” by Blake Shelton & The Pistol Annies and the rock hit “Chalk Outline” by Three Days Grace. To date, Craig has had well over 300 cuts, 100 singles and 21 #1s.

DisClaimer: Veterans and Youngsters Duke It Out

July 16, 2015/by Robert K Oermann

Mitchell Tenpenny

The veterans and the youngsters duked it out today.

The kids with winning sounds included Striking Matches, Boone, Kayla Adams, Waterloo Revival and our DisCovery Award winner, Mitchell Tenpenny.

But several established stars showed the newbies how to do it right. The late, legendary Ray Price, six-years hit maker Easton Corbin and the enduringly great Alan Jackson all hit home runs. Alan rules with the Disc of the Day.

ALAN JACKSON/Jim and Jack and Hank
Writer: Alan Jackson; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: EMI April/Tin Angels, ASCAP; ACR/EMI
—Go on and leave him, lady. He doesn’t need you, because he’s got Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Hank Williams. This super-clever toe-tapper is one big grin from start to finish. Somebody get the name of that electric guitarist. Stay tuned for Alan’s ad libs at the fadeout.

LONNIE SPIKER/Love Would Have Wanted It That Way
Writer: Curt Ryle; Producer: Curt Ryle; Publisher: Big Matador, BMI; Megalith
—It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from this guy. His new CD is titled In Another Life, and its kick-off single is a slow, slow ballad about a recovering alcoholic begging for forgiveness from the love who left him. It’s old-school country, and he sings it that way.

BOONE/Summer Girls
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Supergroup/Nine North
—Jaunty and sunny, with a loping, easy-going, groovy rhythm track. Very pleasant. The ending is rather abrupt.

EASTON CORBIN/Yup
Writer: Shane Minor/Phil O’Donnell/Wade Kirby; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Code Six Charles/Sixteen Stars/Rooster Pecked/HoriPro/Round Hill Works/Kirbtone, BMI; Mercury
—Oh go ahead and have another. You know tomorrow’s gonna hurt, but she’s too fetching to think about that now. This is a single with loads of personality and a track that is ultra charming. A winner.

WATERLOO REVIVAL/Bad For You
Writer: George Birge/Cody Cooper/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publisher: Raincreek/C.R. Cooper/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/EMI April/Jon Mark Nite/Sony-ATV, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine
—The song isn’t much, but the track rocks, and they sing with oomph.

STRIKING MATCHES/Miss Me More
Writer: Justin Davis/Sarah Zimmerman/Melissa Peirce; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Publisher: Universal/Justin Davis/Sarahzimm/Nashvistaville/Platinum Molly/East Pass, ASCAP/BMI; I.R.S.
—Sparkling vocals, catchy tune, crunchy track, ear tickling instrumental touches, crystalline production. Thoroughly refreshing.

BUCKY COVINGTON/I Feel Ya
Writer: Eric Mallon/Ruben Estevez/Jason Afable; Producer: Dale Oliver/Bucky Covington; Publisher: Mallonation/Red Mango, ASCAP/BMI; Bare Footin
—Good natured and well intentioned. I have always liked his husky, slight-rasp vocal style. Even though he always seems to be teetering on the edge of the pitch.

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Love & Rock N’ Roll
Writer: Mitchell Tenpenny/Brad Clawson; Producer: Chris McCollum & Michael Everett; Publisher: Creation Lab, BMI; Creation Lab
—He has a whispery, airy delivery that inexorably draws you in. The pinpoint production is pristinely perfect. These guys definitely have something here.

KAYLA ADAMS/Burn a Little Colder
Writer: Billy Atherholt/Pete Nanney/Kayla Adams/Alex Dooley; Producer: Marlon Dean Scallan; Publisher: Straight Shooter, BMI; SSM
—He is just too alluring, she complains. Methinks she doth protest too much. Especially since the track swirls so sensuously.

RAY PRICE/It Will Always Be
Writer: Willie Nelson; Producer: Fred Foster; Publisher: Warnger-Tamerlane/Act Five, BMI; Amerimonte
—As I have said before, Ray’s final album, Beauty Is, is an audio jewel. The Hall of Famer’s resonant baritone was a thing of wonder right up to the end. His wistful delivery of this Willie love lyric is accompanied by poetically sighing steel, a string section that breathes with him and a pan flute solo. Utterly lovely.

Ascend Amphitheater Unveiled, Preps Free Open House

July 15, 2015/by Eric T. Parker

Riverfront Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.

Over two years since it was announced, Riverfront Park’s Ascend Amphitheater will celebrate its grand opening ribbon cutting July 30.

Eric Church will then christen the venue during the Live Nation Concert Series presented by Journey’s (the Nashville-headquartered teen retail chain) with two sold-out acoustic evenings July 30-31. A free, four-day community open house will be held Aug. 2 from 1:00-5:00 p.m complete with tours of the amphitheater and performances by local bands and DJs.

The park includes a 1.5 acre lawn known as “The Green,” as well as previously announced multi-use greenway trails, which serve as a connection to city greenways and parks north, south, east and west. Also featured are ornamental gardens (with 267 trees representing over 38 species helping achieve Level 1 arboretum status), Nashville’s first downtown dog park, WiFi access, exercise and sports facilities, including two basketball half-courts and over-scaled customized swings.

The 11 acre parcel is currently on track to receive LEED Gold Certification for its green roof (with solar panels and media charger), 400,000‐gallon rain harvesting tank, geothermal heating, cooling and ice machine system, 48 bike parking spaces and bike repair station.

Aimed at becoming the “front porch” of Nashville, the project’s design is intended to reflect the Cumberland River it sits beside. Sinuous curves throughout the park and multi‐coursed limestone walls and building face are intended to feel as if they are being carved out of the earth. Site walls (rebar fence and railing) and the amphitheater steel skeleton and open roof structures reflect those of abandoned gantry cranes from the barge industry and steel structured bridges.

“Ascend Amphitheater and Riverfront Park transform a prime piece of downtown real estate with great music and beautiful green space for all of our residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Karl Dean.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean leads Riverfront Park Project Team tour. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean leads a Riverfront Park Project Team tour. Photo: Metro Photographic Services.

Ticketed events will close the park, where the state‐of‐the‐art electronic shell accommodates acoustic performances through small microphones over the orchestra to feed advanced digital signal processing and loudspeakers to create the same reflections an orchestra would hear from a physical hall. It is one of only a handful of outdoor electronic shells in the world.

The amphitheater provides seating for approximately 6,800 (2,200 removable chairs, lawn capacity of 4,500 and approximately 100 premium box seats between the reserved seating and lawn). A 45‐foot grade overlook offers sightlines of no more than 300 feet to the 55‐foot x 100‐foot stage.

The artist wing of the amphitheater supports five dressing rooms of varying sizes with private baths. In addition, “The Alley” is an artist lounge area where a private outdoor deck is provided. “The Mockingbird Cafe” has a full kitchen and provides dining for the stage crew or a small event. The 2500‐square‐foot “Riverfront Room” sits below the stage facing the park green with an adjacent outdoor, natural stone terrace to accommodate meet‐and‐greet events with artists or private community events.

2015 Ascend Amphitheater Dates

7.30-31 – Eric Church (sold-out)
8.1 – Chicago & Earth Wind and Fire
8.4 – Phish (sold-out)
8.5 – Jill Scott
8.6 – My Morning Jacket with Moon Taxi
8.7 – Counting Crows with Citizen Cope and Hollis Brown
8.8 – Steely Dan with special guest Elvis Costello
8.9 – Sublime with Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.14 – NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb, and Colony House
8.15 – Idina Menzel
8.16 – Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick
8.18 – Sublime With Rome, Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon
8.22 – Australian Pink Floyd with LedZeppelin2
8.28 – Old Crow Medicine Show
8.29 – Under the Sun Tour
9.1 – ZZ Top with Blackberry Smoke
9.5-6 – Widespread Panic
9.23 – Daryl Hall and John Oates
9.27 – Janet Jackson (sold-out)
10.2 – Lynyrd Skynryd
10.8 – Chris Tomlin with Rend Collective
10.9 – Florence and the Machine
10.10 – Grace Potter with Lake Street Dive
10.11 – Jackson Browne
10.13 – All Time Low and Sleeping with Sirens

CMA Music Festival Generates Record $46.8 Million in Spending

July 9, 2015/by Sarah Skates

Chase Rice performs at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Friday, June 12 during the 2015 CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville.

The 2015 CMA Music Festival generated a record $46.8 million in direct visitor spending, an increase of $7.5 million over last year according to numbers released by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) today (July 9).

“The CMA Music Festival is a big part of our brand as Music City, and the event’s enormous economic impact through direct visitor spending is a great thing for Nashville,” Mayor Karl Dean said. “The CMA Foundation’s contribution of instruments to Metro Schools students further strengthens the festival’s positive impact. I appreciate both the CVC and CMA as incredible partners in bringing more visitors to Nashville and congratulate them for the continued growth and success of CMA Fest.”

This year’s CMA Music Festival sold out seven months in advance prompting a record-setting daily attendance of 87,680 fans—besting 2014 numbers by 9.6 percent, the CMA reported in June. According to the NCVC, the estimated number of room nights for festival attendees was 158,000—up from 150,000 last year—and the average length of stay was 5.2 days.

“As the city’s largest event, CMA Music Fest continues to outperform itself year after year, generating more visitor spending than any other event and providing prime-time national TV exposure for Music City,” said Ken Levitan, chairman of the NCVC board of directors and president of Vector Management. “The CMA’s expansion of the footprint, offering more free music than ever before and extending event days all resulted in record spending, record attendance and record room nights sold. These figures show the CMA’s strategy of keeping the event at an affordable value is important to the overall growth of the event.”

For the first time, the NCVC was able to calculate non-ticket holder direct spending, which represents an additional $13.6 million in direct visitor spending, driving total spending to $60.4 million.

“We worked very hard this year to let local and regional residents know that you don’t need a four-day ticket to enjoy this event,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “There were seven free stages throughout downtown and it’s rewarding to see our attendance increase in those areas. It is especially nice when you consider the positive impact on the city, which has been an outstanding partner.”

In addition, the NCVC’s survey results showed:

83 percent of attendees traveled more than 50 miles
46 percent of attendees were attending for the first time
87 percent indicated they were likely to return next year
55 percent have an annual household income of $75,000 or more
10 percent of visitors were from international markets

The figures are based on the NCVC’s onsite/in-person surveying of 2,219 attendees during the event in June.

DisClaimer: Sammy Kershaw Wins Disc of the Day

July 9, 2015/by Robert K Oermann

Sammy Kershaw

Returning veterans and promising newcomers are this week’s musical recipe here at DisClaimer.

Among the former is Sammy Kershaw, who lands the Disc of the Day prize.

Among the latter are Smith & Wesley, Allie Louise and our DisCovery Award winner, Abbey Cone. Her debut CD is titled Abbey. For some odd reason, it does not contain her single. You have to go to her website to find that. Go figure.

Neither newcomers nor veterans are The Cains, Levi Riggs and Brian Collins, all of whom are making their sophomore appearances in this column. Another thing they have in common is that all three of their new singles more than affirm the promises made by their debuts.

McKENNA FAITH/Somethin’ Somethin’
Writer: McKenna Faith/Caleb Sherman/Monique Staffile/Yvette Garcia; Producer: Caleb Sherman & McKenna Faith; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Treble (CDX) (www.mckenna-faith.com)
—You mean not one of those four writers could come up with a melody?

ALLIE LOUISE/Perfect Storm
Writer: Allie Louise/Doug Kahan/Kaci Bolls; Producer: Eddie Gore; Publisher: Sixth Beat/Dug That, ASCAP/BMI; Sixth Beat (CDX) (www.allielouiseofficial.com)
—I like the little “break” in her voice, and her songwriting is pretty decent. The production rocks and rumbles. Promising.

LEVI RIGGS/Nothin’ I Don’t Love
Writer: Brett James/Steve Diamond; Producer: Matt McClure; Publisher: Spny-ATV Cross Keys/New Diamonds/BMG Gold/Stage Three/BMG Chrysalis, ASCAP; Windridge (CDX) (www.leviriggs.com)
—The man is a strong, strong singer. The song is a dandy. The track rocks splendidly. This one’s a winner, folks.

BRIAN COLLINS/Shine a Little Love
Writer: Brian Collins/Paige Logan; Producer: Mills Logan, Kenny Greenberg & Brian Collins; Publisher: Blue Light/Molly Jack, SESAC/ASCAP; Blue Light (CDX) (www.briancollins.com)
—At the risk of repeating myself, there already is an established country record maker with this name. He reads this column and knows about you purloining his identity. This new single is hearty and well-meaning, carrying an upbeat message, delivered vibrantly.

BLAIR MATTHEWS/Ride
Writer: Blair Matthews; Producer: Blair Matthews; Publisher: none listed, BMI; StoneyHill (CDX) (www.blairmatthews.com)
—It is a need-for-speed ode to motorcycle riding. He’s no powerhouse as a singer, so the tempo and energy try to compensate.

ABBEY CONE/Love Like Him Again
Writer: none listed; Producer: Rocky Gribble & Curtis Jojnes; Publisher: none listed; AC (track) (www.abbeycone.com)
—Kudos for launching your career with a heartbreak ballad. We need more performers with moxie (and talent) like this. She’s only 16, but there’s nothing juvenile about this vocal performance. Achingly lovely.

LYNN ANDERSON/Drift Away Gospel
Writer: Mentor R. Williams; Producer: Bil VornDick & Bruce Dees; Publisher: Almo/Rockin MW, ASCAP; Center Sound (track) (www.lynnandersonshow.com)
—Veteran Anderson returns with a religious rewriting of this much-loved pop standard. Her delivery is throaty and low, with just the right touch of devotion. The gospel album it appears on, Bridges, features guests such as The Oak Ridge Boys and The Martins, plus a supporting cast of A-list Music Row players.

THE CAINS/Journey’s End
Writer: Taylor Cain/Madison Cain/Becki Devries; Producer: Daniel Agee; Publisher: Taylor Cain/Madison Cain/Becki Devies Watsky/Kobalt, ASCAP; DayStreet (track)
—This attractive sibling trio kicks the tempo up a little to deliver this sparkling, fizzy cocktail of pop optimism. Shiny and bright, with a delightfully layered production.

SAMMY KERSHAW/Grillin’ and Chillin’
Writer: C. Beathard/S. Caruso; Producer: Sammy Kershaw; Publisher: Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose/Carnival, BMI/ASCAP; Cleopatra (CDX) (www.sammykershaw.com)
—He’s still one of our finest honky-tonk vocalists. This laid-back ditty sounds exactly like a relaxing summer afternoon. Beautifully under-produced for pleasing audio simplicity. Bonus points for name-checking Dean Dillon.

SMITH & WESLEY/Need Somebody Bad
Writer: Todd Smith/Randy Boudreaux; Producer: Shayne Hill; Publisher: Dream Walkin,’ ASCAP; Garage Door (track) (www.smithandwesley.com)
—Rocking twin guitars, Allman-style. Brother-duet vocals, perfectly matched. What’s not to like?

Holly Bell Exits City National Bank

July 9, 2015/by Sherod Robertson

Holly Bell

Holly Bell, who served as City National Bank’s Sr. VP Southeast Team Manager, Entertainment Division, has exited her position to pursue a new opportunity that has yet to be announced.

Lori Badgett and Diane Pearson will now handle daily management of the Nashville office as team leaders.

Bell joined City National Bank in 2010 where she led the specialized sports and entertainment bankers’ team. She brought two decades of entertainment, sports, and private banking experience to the post.

Bell serves on the board of YEP (Young Entertainment Professionals) and Music City Alliance, and is a Leadership Music alum. She can be reached at hollybell3@icloud.com.

Tag Archive for: featured-2