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iHeartRadio Digital To Launch Nashville Headquarters

iHeartMedia has selected Nashville as the location for iHeartRadio’s second digital headquarters, further expanding its current New York-based digital team. More details about the new office, which will be opening its doors in Q1 2020, will be announced soon. The new location will be home to a new hub for the iHeartRadio digital product team, which will be making additional technology advances in conjunction with its teams in New York, San Antonio and Silicon Valley.

“As we continue to invest in our ad tech, products, research, sales and content, and further build on the success of our digital service, this is the right time to expand our digital team — and what better location than Nashville, given that music is at the heart of our business,” said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio. “Nashville’s technology ecosystem is thriving, and combined with the city’s rich history in music, entrepreneurial spirit and diverse culture, we believe this is the perfect location for us to extend our digital leadership and recruit highly-skilled and passionate candidates for our second iHeartRadio Digital headquarters.”

Since its official launch as an all-in-one digital service in 2011, iHeartRadio has grown to become the number one streaming broadcast radio platform — with six times the digital listening of the next largest commercial broadcast radio company. The digital app now has more than 135 million registered users and is available on over 250 platforms and over 2,000 different connected devices – including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, televisions and gaming consoles.

“At iHeart we operate as talent first in the same spirit of entrepreneurship found in successful startups,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “We are excited to expand our NYC digital team into Nashville and tap into this city’s diverse pool of high tech and creative, ambitious talent. As the leading audio company in America, this new facility will allow us to continue to deliver the best content, cultivate even more innovation and drive further listener growth and revenue opportunities to our advertisers.”

iHeartMedia plans to begin hiring immediately in Nashville for positions in engineering, product development, data science and more.

Weekly Radio Report (11/27/19)

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

Weekly Radio Report (11/22/19)

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

DISClaimer: Chris Janson Offers “True Country Excellence” With New Single “Done”

We have no complaints about musical quality this week, since everyone is giving us their best.

From the pop end of the spectrum, we have a dandy collaboration between FGL and Tayla Parx. For bluesy finesse, check out Stoney LaRue & Tanya Tucker, or take a murder-fantasy ride with Lockwood Barr. For nostalgia, we have The Righteous Brothers teaming with Ronnie McDowell and John Schneider on an oldie rewrite.

And for true country excellence, we bring you our Disc of the Day winner, Chris Janson and our DisCovery Award honorees Carvin Walls.

LOCKELAND/Drive
Writers: Susie Brown/Kyndon Oakes/Mark Vikingstad; Producer: Michael Boris/Sean Spence; Publishers: none listed; Lockeland
– The title says it all: This is a roll-down-the-windows, put-the-pedal-down, shout-to-the-heavens, open-road rock, rock, rocker. If this doesn’t quicken your pulse, you need a heart transplant. Loved, loved, loved it.

CHRIS JANSON/Done
Writers: Chris Janson/Mitch Oglesby/Jamie Paulin/Matt Roy; Producer: Chris Janson/Tommy Cecil; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music
– Well done, son. The stately tempo, his expressive vocal, the rolling-similes lyric, the swirling production and the emotional heft of this love song are all in their perfect places. This is a smash.

 

RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS, JOHN SCHNEIDER, RONNIE McDOWELL/Country Heaven
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Debut (CDX)
– It’s a rewrite of the 1974 Righteous Brothers hit “Rock & Roll Heaven,” this time name-checking Conway, George, Tammy, Merle, Johnny & June, Patsy, Hank and Waylon. The massed-vocal choruses work especially well in the finale.

LOCKWOOD BARR/6 Feet Deep
Writers: Lockwood Barr/Tim McGeary; Producer: Matt Odmark; Publisher: none listed; LB
– Dark and swampy and bluesy. The intense vibe in the music is matched by a lyric with murder on its mind. Haunting and creative.

JEFF BATES/If I Get Drunk Tonight
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Skydancer
– It’s a slow jam with a midnight-misery feeling. He can’t shake her memory, and it is torturing him. As usual, Jeff’s voice is a gripping, compelling and spirit-capturing instrument. Last call for alcohol, bar patrons.

 

STONEY LaRUE & TANYA TUCKER/Meet Me in the Middle
Writers: Stoney LaRue/Gary Nicholson; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publishers: none listed; One Chord Song
– Here’s a heartily recommended, bluesy, roadhouse bopper about making a relationship work. Tanya is a Grammy-nominee queen this week, and Stoney is always worth a listen. You’ll find this on Okie/Texas road-warrior LaRue’s new CD Onward, which also features such luminaries as John Cowan, The McCrary Sisters, Colin Linden, Kenny Greenberg and Mickey Raphael. In addition to producer Gary Nicholson, songwriting contributors include Shawn Camp, Lee Roy Parnell, Guy Clark, Merle Haggard and Jesse Winchester. Great stuff.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Fire’t Up
Writers: Brantley Gilbert, Brandon Day, Justin Weaver; Producer: Brandon Day; Publisher: none listed; Valory Music Co.
– Let’s all get drunk and rowdy. The track rocks, and Brantley sings with charisma, as always.

 

JACKSON MICHELSON/Stay Over
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Plaintive sounding, with a jittery rhythm track under a sexually frustrated storyline. His best effort to date.

TAYLA PARX & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Fight
Writers: Tayla Parx, Alysa Vanderheym, Tyler Hubbard, Josh Miller, Robin Oliver Frid; Producer: Alysa Vanderheym, Oliver “junior” Frid, Tayla Parx; Publisher: Taylor Monet Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Castle Bound Music, Inc., Big Loud Mountain and T Hubb Publishing (All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works), Josh Miller Publishing Designee, Parx Publishing Designee
– Powerhouse pop songwriter/producer Parx is often underrated as a singer. Teaming up with country’s FGL really gives her a place to shine in that department. I can hear this tuneful outing as a big crossover success for both acts, with ease. Essential listening this week.

CARVIN WALLS/Sometimes I Lie
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Carvin Walls (CDX)
– It’s a male-female duo. Both of them phrase beautifully as country vocalists, and on the choruses, they soar with equal power. The lyric is about pretending to get over a heartbreak. The crisp production and soft-to-shouted audio dynamics are pretty special here. Lend this your ears.

 

Matt Stell, Ash Bowers, Allison Veltz Cruz Celebrate First No. 1 Hit

“Prayed For You” songwriter Ash Bowers (BMI), songwriter-artist Matt Stell (ASCAP), and songwriter Allison Veltz Cruz (SESAC). Photo: Ed Rode.

RECORDS/Arista Nashville artist Matt Stell, and his co-writers Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz Cruz, celebrated their very first No. 1 country song, “Prayed For You,” during a party at Nashville venue The Sutler on Tuesday (Nov. 19).

Performing rights organizations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC hosted the event, and there were several milestones to celebrate. Stell’s “Prayed For You” is the only debut artist single to top the Country Airplay chart in 2019, and it held the top slot for two weeks. The song has earned more than 125 million streams to date, and has been certified Gold (and is well on its way to a Platinum cert).

Stell, an ASCAP writer, was honored by ASCAP exec Mike Sistad. BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrated Ash Bowers, while SESAC’s Lydia Schultz honored Allison Veltz Cruz.

Among those honoring the writers were Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Big Deal Music’s Pete Robinson, Arista Nashville’s Josh Easler and Steve Hodges, Porterfied Music’s Derek Simon, and Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly. Pinnacle Bank announced a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of the songwriters.

MusicRow Magazine’s Sherod Robertson also presented MusicRow Challenge Coins to Matt Stell, Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz Cruz to commemorate their chart-topping hit.

MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson presents Ash Bowers, Matt Stell and Allison Veltz Cruz with MusicRow Challenge Coins to commemorate their chart-topping hit “Prayed For You.” Photo: Ed Rode

“This day writing this song was really special,” Veltz Cruz said, recalling that the song is centered on her story of meeting her now-husband, Kyle. “For me, it showcases what was looking out for me that day. I was new to faith, October 2016 I started praying and I started praying for a lot of things…a husband, an awesome dude was one of them. I was baptized May 1, 2017 and I was set up to sing along with someone I didn’t know—who is now my husband—on May 5 in Atlanta. On May 11, he decided to drive up from Atlanta and take me out. That morning I had a writing session with these guys and I was looking through my journals. I looked through what I had been praying about and I just knew….I knew I would marry you the day I met you,” she said to her husband Kyle, as the audience cheered. “I want to thank all of my co-writers out there. You help me be a better writer. The people who make you better in this town, I’m just so thankful for Nashville. I couldn’t think of a better room to be in that day.”

“Nobody does this alone. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and people who believed in me, starting with Steve Williams. He’s believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Bowers said, growing emotional. “Sorry, I’m going to be like Jimmie Allen, up here crying,” he quipped. In addition to being a hit songwriter, Bowers also manages artists Jimmie Allen and Stell via his company Wide Open Music.

“To have people around me that have supported me is incredible. I met Matt a little over two years ago. He played three or four songs he had written and I was so impressed by Matt. Every day, Matt does something that shows me the kind of guy he is. I’ve seen him, over and over again, do things that put people before money and that’s rare in this town. Allison Veltz is an unbelievable songwriter. It’s truly awesome to see how God has worked in this thing. It’s amazing how Arista came into the fold. We released a video for ‘Prayed For You’ and [RECORDS exec] Barry Weiss called me up…and said he wanted to give Matt a record deal. Keith [Gale] had been introduced to me a month or so ago, and was one of the first believers outside of our little camp. He came on board and against all odds, it’s amazing the story of this because every time me and Matt would agree to make a move, it was the most unlikely move for success. We signed with a label out of New York that had no record in country music, but we knew we would be able to find a way because we believed in the song so much. I can’t say enough about the Sony Nashville team. They have so much pride in their work and deliver every day. Cindy Hunt and team for publicity, then Brendan Rich and Victoria Goodvin…we are a lean team at Wide Open, but they come into the office every day and there is no job they won’t do and they slug it out. It’s always so impressive to me,” Bowers summed.

Sony Music Nashville’s Josh Easler and Steve Hodges, Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Ash Bowers, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Matt Stell, Big Deal Music’s Pete Robinson, Allison Veltz Cruz, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, Porterfied Music’s Derek Simon. Photo: Ed Rode.

Stell concluded the day with emotional speech. He thanked Veltz Cruz and Bowers, as well as Sony, Keith Gale and Good Company Entertainment, his band, booking agency UTA, and more. “With me this went through a lot of transitions to get to where it is now,” he said. “A lot of people have a lot of ownership in this and I’m very fortunate for that.”

He grew emotional as the time came to thank his family, especially his mom.

“My mom has believed in me more than any person on the face of the planet,” he said, before offering a simple, heartfelt, “Thanks.”

“This song has changed my life in every way and the best part is getting to do it with people that I love,” Stell concluded.

Stell recently announced his first headlining tour, the Matt Stell Everywhere But On Tour, which launches Jan. 24 in San Diego.

BREAKING: Tanya Tucker, Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Lizzo Among Top Grammy Nominees

 

The nominees for the 2020 Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday morning (Nov. 20).

This year’s nominees were selected from more than 20,000 submissions across 84 categories, and reflect the wide range of artistic innovation that defined the year in music (Oct. 1, 2018–Aug. 31, 2019). The final round of Grammy voting is Dec. 9, 2019–Jan. 3, 2020. The Recording Academy will present the GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, live from Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center and broadcast on the CBS Television Network from 8:00–11:30 p.m. ET/5:00–8:30 p.m. PT.

Here are the top nominees in selected categories:

Record Of The Year:
“Hey, Ma” — Bon Iver
“Bad Guy” — Billie Eilish
“7 Rings” — Ariana Grande
“Hard Place” — H.E.R.
“Talk” — Khalid
“Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
“Truth Hurts” — Lizzo
“Sunflower” — Post Malone & Swae Lee

Album Of The Year:
i,i — Bon Iver
Norman F***ing Rockwell! — Lana Del Rey
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? — Billie Eilish
thank u, next — Ariana Grande
I Used To Know Her — H.E.R.
7 — Lil Nas X
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) — Lizzo
Father Of The Bride — Vampire Weekend

Song Of The Year:
“Always Remember Us This Way” — Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Bad Guy” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Hard Place” — Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“Lover” — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
“Norman F***ing Rockwell” — Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
“Someone You Loved” — Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
“Truth Hurts” — Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)

Best New Artist:
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalía
Tank And The Bangas
Yola

Best Pop Solo Performance:
“Spirit” — Beyoncé
“Bad Guy” — Billie Eilish
“7 Rings” — Ariana Grande
“Truth Hurts” — Lizzo
“You Need To Calm Down” — Taylor Swift

Best Pop Vocal Album:
The Lion King: The Gift — Beyoncé
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? — Billie Eilish
thank u, next — Ariana Grande
No. 6 Collaborations Project — Ed Sheeran
Lover — Taylor Swift

Best Dance Recording:
“Linked” — Bonobo
“Got To Keep On” — The Chemical Brothers
“Piece Of Your Heart” — Meduza Featuring Goodboys
“Underwater” — RÜFÜS DU SOL
“Midnight Hour” — Skrillex & Boys Noize Featuring Ty Dolla $ign

Best Rock Album:
Amo — Bring Me The Horizon
Social Cues — Cage The Elephant
In The End — The Cranberries
Trauma — I Prevail
Feral Roots — Rival Sons

Best R&B Performance:
“Love Again” — Daniel Caesar & Brandy
“Could’ve Been” — H.E.R. Featuring Bryson Tiller
“Exactly How I Feel” — Lizzo Featuring Gucci Mane
“Roll Some Mo” — Lucky Daye
“Come Home” — Anderson .Paak Featuring André 3000

Best Rap Album:
Revenge Of The Dreamers III — Dreamville
Championships — Meek Mill
I Am > I Was — 21 Savage
Igor — Tyler, The Creator
The Lost Boy — YBN Cordae

Best Country Song:
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Jeremy Bussey & Ashley McBryde, songwriters (Ashley McBryde)
“It All Comes Out In The Wash” — Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“Some Of It” — Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde & Bobby Pinson, songwriters (Eric Church)
“Speechless” — Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Dan + Shay)

Best Country Solo Performance:
“All Your’n” — Tyler Childers
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde
“Ride Me Back Home” — Willie Nelson
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Tanya Tucker

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Brand New Man” — Brooks & Dunn ft. Luke Combs
“I Don’t Remember Me Before You” — Brothers Osborne
“Speechless” — Dan+Shay
“The Daughters” — Little Big Town
“Common” — Maren Morris ft. Brandi Carlile

Best Country Album
Desperate Man — Eric Church
Stronger Than The Truth — Reba McEntire
Interstate Gospel — Pistol Annies
Center Point Road — Thomas Rhett
While I’m Livin’ — Tanya Tucker

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Thirsty Ghost — Sara Gazarek
Love & Liberation — Jazzmeia Horn
Alone Together — Catherine Russell
12 Little Spells — Esperanza Spalding
Screenplay — The Tierney Sutton Band

Best Gospel Album:
Long Live Love — Kirk Franklin
Goshen — Donald Lawrence Presents The Tri-City Singers
Tunnel Vision — Gene Moore
Settle Here — William Murphy
Something’s Happening! A Christmas Album — CeCe Winans

Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album:
X 100PRE — Bad Bunny
Oasis — J Balvin & Bad Bunny
Indestructible — Flor De Toloache
Almadura — iLe
El Mal Querer — Rosalía

Best Americana Album:
Years To Burn — Calexico And Iron & Wine
Who Are You Now — Madison Cunningham
Oklahoma — Keb’ Mo’
Tales Of America — J.S. Ondara
Walk Through Fire — Yola

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
Beastie Boys Book — (Various Artists) Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Sherratt & Dan Zitt, producers
Becoming — Michelle Obama
I.V. Catatonia: 20 Years As A Two-Time Cancer Survivor — Eric Alexandrakis
Mr. Know-It-All — John Waters
Sekou Andrews & The String Theory — Sekou Andrews & The String Theory

Best Song Written For Visual Media:
“The Ballad Of The Lonesome Cowboy” — Randy Newman, songwriter (Chris Stapleton), Track from: Toy Story 4
“Girl In The Movies” — Dolly Parton & Linda Perry, songwriters (Dolly Parton), Track from: Dumplin’
“I’ll Never Love Again” (Film Version) — Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper), Track from: A Star Is Born
“Spirit” — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Timothy McKenzie & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters (Beyoncé), Track from: The Lion King
“Suspirium” — Thom Yorke, songwriter (Thom Yorke), Track from: Suspiria

Best Music Film:
Homecoming — Beyoncé
Remember My Name — David Crosby
Birth Of The Cool — (Miles Davis)
Shangri-La — (Various Artists)
Anima — Thom Yorke

Best Children’s Album:
Ageless Songs For The Child Archetype – Jon Samson
Flying High! – Caspar Babypants
I Love Rainy Days – Daniel Tashian
The Love – Alphabet Rockers
Winterland – The Okee Dokee Brothers

 

For a full list of nominees, visit grammy.com.

ATLive Partnership With MAC Presents Brings Stellar Line-Up To 90,000 Fans

Photo: courtesy of AMB Sports and Entertainment.

AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) launched its first self-promoted concert series, ATLive this past weekend on November 15 and 17, bringing more than 90,000 fans together in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for two nights.

The impressive two-night line-up included country superstars Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, and Eric Church. Featured artists also included newly crowned Male Vocalist of the Year Luke Combs, four-time CMA and Grammy-nominated Brothers Osborne, as well as other hit makers Sam Hunt, SugarlandJudah & the Lion, and newcomer singer-songwriters Cale Dodds and Caylee Hammack.

The line-up came to AMBSE in partnership with MAC Presents led by industry power house Marcie Allen. ATLive was produced by AMBSE with Messina Group overseeing production of shows.

“Mercedes-Benz Stadium is an unprecedented venue for the city of Atlanta, so it was important to showcase an equally one-of-a-kind lineup of all-star country talent for AMB Sports & Entertainment’s first concert series,” says MAC Presents President Marcie Allen. “Thanks to the incredible artists who performed and the 90k+ devoted fans who attended ATLive. Excited for 2020!”

Pictured: Luke Combs (center) with MAC Presents President Marcie Allen and her NYU Steinhardt class at ATLive on Sunday, November 17, 2019.

“From the beginning, our goal was to create a concert series that would be the must-see event for Atlanta while allowing us the opportunity to give back to our communities and those in need. We are thrilled to say that ATLive exceeded our expectations,” says Tim Zulawski, chief revenue officer, AMB Sports and Entertainment. “It’s important for our organization to provide fans the best possible experience and for our first self-produced music series, we couldn’t be prouder of its success both for us as well as the organizations that will benefit. We look forward to bringing ATLive back for year two in 2020.”

AMBSE, in partnership with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, donated more than $100,000 each to two worthy organizations, the Johnny Mac Soldier’s Fund which honors military service and sacrifice by providing scholarships to veterans and military family members, and the Quest Community Development Organization whose mission is to develop affordable housing and provide needs-based community services for underserved individuals and families.

Blackbird Music Publishing Group, Dann Huff Ink A&R, Creative Development Deal

Dann Huff, Darrell Franklin. Photo: Darcy Ferris

Blackbird Music Publishing Group has entered a partnership with producer Dann Huff. The partnership will re-establish a creative A&R and publishing relationship between Blackbird’s SVP Darrell Franklin and Huff, which goes back 20 years and included the publishing powerhouse Crosstown Songs, one of the first U.S. acquisitions by BMG in 2009. While at Crosstown Songs, Franklin and Huff worked with songwriters and producers including busbee, Neil Thrasher, Jonathan Singleton, John Paul White of The Civil Wars and Melissa Pierce.

“My association with Dann has been an incredibly successful partnership over the years. We built a thriving company, one song at a time, and intend to repeat that on an even grander scale at Blackbird Music Publishing Group,” says Franklin.

Huff began his career by moving to Los Angeles and becoming an elite session guitarist playing on albums for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, as well as having his band, GIANT, signed to a recording and publishing deal by Blackbird Music Publishing’s President, Lance Freed while at Almo/Irving Music. Huff later returned home to Nashville, where he transitioned into production. Two decades later, Huff has long been recognized as one of Nashville’s top record producers, with multiple CMA & ACM awards, including Producer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, & Musician of the Year. He has produced some of the biggest artists in music, working with Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Brett Young, Midland, Faith Hill, Steven Tyler, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, and Reba McEntire, among others.

“Reuniting with Darrell gives me a greater opportunity to access songs from the songwriters in the songwriting community on a much broader scale,” commented Huff. “The association goes way beyond that as I look to develop new talent and independent artists through this new partnership with Blackbird Music Publishing Group.”

Blackbird Music Publishing Group, founded by The Raine Group, Keith Wortman and Blackbird Presents formed in July 2019 and previously announced the exclusive representation of the famed music catalog of Burt Bacharach, music’s “Greatest Living Composer,” as well as the hiring of Darrell Franklin, SVP of the Nashville office. With a presence in New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville, Blackbird Music Publishing looks forward to announcing additional significant signings in the coming weeks.

2019 CMA Awards: Garth Brooks Takes Seventh Entertainer Honor, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves Celebrate Top Wins

Garth Brooks wins CMA Entertainer of the Year at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, November 13 on ABC. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

This year’s CMA Awards ceremony was billed as a night that would focus on the contributions female artists have made—and are making—to the country music genre. After 11 years of co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood leading the show, for the 53rd annual event it was announced that Underwood would serve as host, joined by guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.

From the show’s opening moments on Wednesday, Nov. 13, which featured McEntire, Parton, and Underwood collaborating on “Those Memories of You,” a song made famous by Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on their 1987 album Trio, the evening’s performances showcased the decades of influence of the female voice and perspective on country music.

“We are doing it for all of the little girls watching tonight, dreaming of ruling the world of country music—or maybe just ruling the world,” said Reba.

Parton is the second female artist to have won Entertainer of the Year (in 1978), while McEntire won in 1986. Underwood was nominated this year for the coveted Entertainer trophy (she was previously nominated for the honor in 2016).

Fourteen female country hitmakers shared the stage in the opening number. They paid tribute to the CMA’s very first female Entertainer of the Year winner Loretta Lynn (who won the honor in 1972) with “You’re Looking At Country,” as performed by Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, along with Jennifer Nettles (who should have won an award for her bold red carpet outfit alone—a suit and cape embroidered with a stark message to country radio—“Play Our F*@#!N Records Please & Thank You”).

The Highwomen (Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby) offered a rendition of Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad,” while Tanya Tucker performed her own hit “Delta Dawn,” the track that introduced the world to a precocious 13-year-old Tucker in 1972.

Gretchen Wilson offered “Redneck Woman,” while Crystal Gayle performed her signature “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Terri Clark powered through “Better Things To Do,” while Sara Evans performed her 2000 hit “Born To Fly.” Powerhouse vocalist Martina McBride made a dramatic entrance on “Independence Day.”

Curiously, though hitmaker and Grammy winner Trisha Yearwood was in the audience—and has released two albums in the past year—somehow she was not among the talented female performers featured throughout the evening.

Awards day started off with promising female wins, as Jenee Fleenor was named Musician of the Year prior to the telecast. Fleenor is both the first female to be nominated—and to win—the honor in CMA history.

CMA Single of the Year winner, Blake Shelton performs with surprise guest and CMA Musician of the Year winner Jenee Fleenor. Photo: John Russell/CMA

Warner Music Nashville artist Ashley McBryde, known for her breakthrough songs including “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” was named New Artist of the Year. The crowd roared a hearty applause as she took the stage.

“I once had the pleasure of playing a tribute show for Mr. John Prine and the next day he shook my hand and he said, ‘You’re real good. You’re no Reba, but you’re real good.’ I cherish those little moments that are like that that are truth and guidance from voices that we respect and admire. And I’m thankful for that and for this and for the opportunity to step up.”

The evening also offered first-time winners in several categories.

Janie Fricke, Pam Tillis, Martina McBride and Kathy Mattea presented UMG Nashville artist Kacey Musgraves with her first Female Vocalist of the Year honor. Musgraves also picked up the Music Video of the Year honor earlier in the day for “Rainbow.” Musgraves has previously taken home four CMA Awards, including New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year (Golden Hour) and the International Achievement Award.

“The female creative spirit, the female energy is really needed right now. Whether it’s me up here or any of the other women in this category, it’s a beautiful thing…I’m really grateful to be here,” Musgraves said.

Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito and team had more to celebrate, as Blake Shelton earned his first Single of the Year win, for “God’s Country.” He dedicated his win to two beloved industry members we lost this year, busbee and Earl Thomas Conley.

Sony Music Nashville’s Morris picked up a major win, earning her first Album of the Year accolade for GIRL, which she co-produced alongside Greg Kurstin and the late busbee.

“Thank you so much. This is incredible. Thank you country music and to my peers in this room that I respect so much for voting for me for this,” she said. Morris went on to thank her manager Janet Weir, husband Ryan Hurd, and producer Kurstin, before paying tribute to busbee, who passed away in late September at age 43.

“I would be really remiss if I didn’t mention a huge facet of why this album sounds the way it does, and we miss him so dearly,” Morris said. She also thanked his wife, Jess. “Thank you for sharing your husband with us…My heart goes out to you and your beautiful daughters. I hope that when they listen to this record or any of the songs he made that made us all better, they know how amazing their father was,” Morris added.

Sony Music Nashville’s Randy Goodman and team continued to celebrate as another label artist, Luke Combs, took home two honors, including the coveted Male Vocalist of the Year honor, Combs’ first time receiving the award. The crowd roared “Luuuuuke” as he took the stage to accept the honor.

He recalled watching as Vince Gill won the award numerous times in the ‘90s. “Everybody in this room means everything to me, and this award means everything to me. This is a moment I will never forget.” Combs said.

Combs’ song “Beautiful Crazy,” which he wrote alongside Wyatt Durrette and Robert Williford, was named Song of the Year. Combs also performed “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” The honors cap a week that has seen Combs release his sophomore full-length album, What You See Is What You Get, which is poised to debut at No. 1.

Warner Music Nashville earned another accolade as Dan + Shay‘s Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney celebrated their first win as CMA Vocal Duo of the Year.

“This is overwhelming. I mean, Brooks & Dunn, are you kidding me? I have so many family and friends watching right now,” Mooney said before thanking country radio and sending love to his grandmother. “I love country music it raises us and teaches us so much about empowerment.”

“Thank you country radio for playing these songs and the country music fans,” Smyers added.

Lil Nas X was an early winner in the day, getting the trophy for Musical Event of the Year for his record-breaking smash “Old Town Road (Remix)” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.

This year’s awards show performances continued putting country music’s female entertainers in the spotlight.

Morris, who had the most nominations this year with six, performed a soulful rendition of “Girl,” surrounded by a stage of flowers, and clad in a white dress with flowing sleeves. Reba stunned with a take on her classic “Fancy,” with an elaborate, multilayered costume.

Kelsea Ballerini offered an acoustic rendering of a new track “homecoming queen?” before she was joined by Lindsay Ell on guitar for a tribute to Little Big Town with a version of “Girl Crush”—they were later joined by Maddie & Tae and Runaway June, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce, before Little Big Town added their signature harmonies as all the performers met center stage.

“You are looking at the future of country music,” Fairchild told the audience both in the Bridgestone Arena and at home.

Female Vocalist of the Year winner Musgraves teamed with music legend and fellow Texan Willie Nelson for the chill “Rainbow Connection.”

The ladies of country music weren’t the only ones with amazing collabs.

Brooks & Dunn were joined by Brothers Osborne on B&D’s “Hard Workin’ Man.” Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton teamed for their first televised performance of “Dive Bar.”

 

A few pop collabs were included, as P!nk and Chris Stapleton joined forces for “What Would You Say.” P!nk previously performed on the CMA Awards in 2017, when she performed the song “Barbies.” Halsey and Lady Antebellum teamed for Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over You” and Halsey’s “Graveyard.”

While some female artists did perform their current or recent singles (Miranda Lambert’s literally bubbly performance of “It All Comes Out In The Wash” or Carrie Underwood’s soaring and sultry “Drinking Alone”), the majority of new music came from the male performers. Shelton performed “God’s Country,” while Thomas Rhett offered “Remember You Young,” backed by a string section.

Entertainer of the Year nominees Keith Urban and Eric Church each offered acoustic takes on current releases, as Urban performed “We Were” and Church performed “Some Of It.” Sony Music Nashville continued its hot streak as Old Dominion picked up their second Vocal Group of the Year honor and performed their single “One Man Band.”

Parton led a three-song performance, joined by CCM artists Zach Williams and for King & Country. for King & Country and Parton began with “God Only Knows,” and Williams joined on “There Was Jesus.” She then performed her newly-released chart-topper “Faith,” backed by the Christ Church choir.

Joe Walsh, John Osborne, Sheryl Crow and Dierks Bentley teamed to tribute Kris Kristofferson, the winner of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. They offered “Me and Bobby McGee,” along with Chris Janson on harmonica.

With early female wins for New Artist and Album, and the awards show’s focus on giving face time to female artists in light of their struggles at country radio in recent years, the evening seemed primed for the sole female Entertainer nominee, Underwood, to take home the trophy. Fellow nominees Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton and Eric Church also led top-selling tours this year.

However, Garth Brooks‘ juggernaut of stadium shows, including an upcoming stop this weekend at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, won the evening, as he was announced as the 2019 Entertainer of the Year, making it his seventh win. Brooks—notably the only 2019 Entertainer nominee not on the UMG Nashville roster—extends his record streak as as the artist with the most CMA Entertainer wins. This year, in addition to his stadium tour, Brooks also teamed with Shelton for the single “Dive Bar,” and led his own string of pop-up club shows in various cities, dubbed the Dive Bar Tour.

In true modest Brooks fashion, he used the majority of his acceptance speech to single out other entertainers that evening that he enjoyed.

“Very sweet. Always try to call it like I see it,” Brooks said, accepting the honor. “If they gave this award for this show tonight, I’d have to give it to Reba McEntire’s performance. Kelsea Ballerini, if you wanna know what an entertainer is, take a guitar and just a single voice in the middle of an arena and shrink a room: fantastic performance tonight. Luke Combs, wherever you’re at, this [CMA Entertainer of the Year award] has got your name on it in the future, I can tell you that right now.”

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Dwight Yoakam, Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman Take Top BMI Country Honors

BMI VP, Creative Jody Williams, Dwight Yoakam, and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 639

Country music great Dwight Yoakam was in the spotlight at this year’s BMI Awards Banquet on Music Row (11/12).

The new Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was presented with the organization’s President’s Award at the BMI ceremony. His songs were sung by Jon Pardi (“Guitars, Cadillacs”), Bob Weir with Margo Price (“Fast As You”) and the sensational, harmonizing Highwomen backed by Jason Isbell (“A Thousand Miles From Nowhere”).

Video tributes were offered by Paige Levy, Billy Bob Thornton, Eric Church, Peter Cooper, Jim Ed Norman, Ken Burns, Emmylou Harris and Marty Stuart.

“Awards…remind me of how lucky I am to make a living doing what I love,” said Yoakam. “I wrote primarily because these were things I needed to say.

“Thank y’all and to everybody who played the songs tonight.”

Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Group. Photo by Erika Goldring /Getty Images for BMI

Warner Chappell was another big newsmaker of the night. Its Warner-Tamerlane arm won Publisher of the Year. Astonishingly, the company published or co-published 24 of the 50 most performed BMI songs of the year. The BMI win made it a clean sweep of all three performance-rights organizations this week, since the firm also won at SESAC on Sunday and at ASCAP on Monday.

BMI’s Songwriter of the Year award was a tie between Ross Copperman and Nicolle Galyon. “I’m so thankful every day of my life,” said Ross. “And thank-you, BMI, for everything you do for us.”

Galyon’s co-written “Tequila” was named Song of the Year. She movingly recalled first coming to the BMI banquet and watching from outside as the driver for Greg Oswald. Then she attended as a “plus one” on the arm of her award-winning songwriter husband Rodney Clawson. Then she started writing songs and winning BMI awards, herself. So it was a long trip to the stage to accept Songwriter of the Year.

“Coming to this night has been a metric of how I measured my career,” said Nicolle. “I have stars in my eyes.”

BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neil, Shay Mooney and Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, Nicolle Galyon, BMI’s Mike Steinberg, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, BMI’s Mason Hunter and BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

So did we all. This banquet offers more celebrity spotting than any other event during Country Music Week. Bill Anderson, Abby Anderson, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Chris Young, Chris Janson, Chris Lane, Rhett Akins, Rodney Atkins, Rob Crosby, Robert Earl Keen, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Jake Owens, Mac Davis, Big Kenny, Dustin Lynch, Little Big Town, Clay Walker, Kelsea Ballerini & Morgan Evans, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, John Oates, Bobby Braddock, Keith Urban, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Russell Dickerson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Cole Swindell, Eric Church, Scotty McCreery, Billy Burnette and Dwight’s fellow 2019 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Larry Gatlin were working the room.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder were present as well. They offered a spirited rendition of “Rocky Top.” The Boudleaux & Felice Bryant song was given BMI’s inaugural Evergreen Award. The late tunesmiths are also being honored this year with an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Next year marks the centennial of Boudleaux’s birth.

Sons Del Bryant and Dane Bryant accepted the BMI honor with Del recalling how their parents came to write the song. Lamar Alexander, Dolly Parton and Peyton Manning offered video salutes to “Rocky Top.”

Pictured: (Back row, L-R): Jason Gantt, Chris Stevens, BMI’s Mason Hunter, Rob Snyder, JP Williams, Channing Wilson, Riley Green, Hardy, Morgan Wallen, Leslie Roberts, Mark Holman, Blake Chaffin, Morgan Evans, Lindsay Rimes, Chase McGill. (Front, from L-R): Erik Dylan, Rob Williford, Will Weatherly, Brad Clawson, Jody Williams, Tofer Brown, Jeff Middleton attends as BMI presents Dwight Yoakam with President’s Award at 67th Annual Country Awards Dinner at BMI on November 12, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI)

One outstanding feature of the gala was that there were an impressive 20 songwriters receiving their first BMI Awards – Riley Green, Ryan Hurd, Michael Hardy, Morgan Evans and Morgan Wallen, for starters.

The other first-time honorees were Jeff Middleton, Will Weatherly, Jason Gantt, J.P. Williams, Rob Snyder, Channing Wilson, Blake Chaffin, Brad Clawson, Phillip LaRue, Chase McGill, Erik Dylan, Lindsay Rimes, Rob Willford and Mark Holman. Also receiving his first BMI country songwriting award was Chris Stevens, although he has many big CCM hits to his credit.

There were a bluezillion songwriting greats in the room. Among them were Layng Martine Jr., Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens, Even Stevens, Steve Dorff, Sherrie Austin & Will Rambeaux, Craig Wiseman, Bob DiPiero, Dan Couch, Jeffrey Steele, Chuck Cannon, Lee Thomas Miller, Gerry House, Liz Rose, Laura Veltz, Billy Montana, Dallas Davidson, Carson Chamberlain and Tom Douglas.

BMI’s Mike Steinberg, Ross Copperman, BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill, and BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Presiding over the BMI honors were Mike O’Neill, Jody Williams, Mason Hunter and Leslie Roberts. Jody was given a hail-and-farewell tribute section, since he is leaving BMI to return to song publishing in 2020.

We dined on tender, medium-rare beef medallions served on buttery potato puree with roasted brussel sprouts and cherry tomatoes. Bottles of wine from the Kix Brooks Arrington Vineyards were offered on every table.

As always, the venue was the BMI parking garage on Music Row, transformed into a banquet venue. The décor was minimalist this year – black-on-black walls & ceiling with mirrored pillars. Fuschia spotlights surrounded the stage, as did mini klieg lights. Tables wore green or black cloths with centerpieces of hot pink roses, green hydrangea, flowering kale and exotic greenery.

Industry notables schmoozing mightily included Jerry & Connie Bradley, Clay Bradley, Steve Moore, Steve Lowery, Mike Vaden, Michael Knox, Mike Dungan, Michael Molinar, Michael Campbell, David Conrad, David Crow, David & Susanna Ross, John Ingrassia, Jim Free, Joe Chambers, Dayton Duncan, Butch Baker, Ken Levitan, Lisa Harless, Roger Sovine, Rose Drake, Kerry O’Neill, Erv Woolsey, Heath Owen, Duane Clark, Randy Talmadge and Randy Goodman.

Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby of The Highwomen perform onstage. Photo by Erika Goldring /Getty Images

Not to mention Autumn House-Tallant, Hank Adam Locklin, Marion Kraft, Phil Graham, Rod Essig, T.K. Kimbrell, Kos Weaver, Byron Gallimore, Tracy Gershon, Pat Higdon, Rob Beckham, Stephanie Wright, Anastasia Brown, Phyllis Stark, Bill Denny, Derek Crownover, Bobby Cudd, Cindy Watts, Perry Howard, Mary Del Scobey & Horton Frank, Jessie Willoughby, Arturo Buenahora, Brad Kennard, Leslie Fram and Kyle Young.

Did you think I was going to exit this column without mentioning the drastic weather for this stellar event? It was unseasonably, bitterly cold that night. The usual outdoor red carpet arrivals were moved into the BMI lobby.

Women sought refuge from the cement garage in the ladies room inside the BMI building. The organization had instructed them to dress warmly, but many wore lightweight evening gowns and cocktail dresses nonetheless.

Jon Pardi performs. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

Space heaters ringed the perimeter of the event space. We lucked out, since our table had one on either side and was one of the few without a window at its back. All of the tables were provided with multiple warming blankets, presumably to be shared.

Even so, as the temperature plunged below 20 degrees, a mass exodus occurred to the BMI lobby, where brandy, coffee and desserts were offered.

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Nicole Hocking, Luke Combs and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Katelyn Jae, Kane Brown and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Luke Bryan and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Liz Rose and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

Ricky Skaggs performs. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill and Phillip Sweet. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

BMI Vice President, Creative, Jody Williams, Carrie Underwood and BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI