Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
October’s Inside Track by Preshias now posted at NMG
You’ll find around 30 news items in this month’s column that I have been writing for more than a quarter of a century! Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in America – and probably the world.
Thanks, as always, to Amanda Andrews and her crew at Nashville Music Guide for making Inside Track on Music Row look SO good every month. For October, you’ll find the entire column with added music, videos, photos, graphics and more.
Among the many news items and stories in the October 2020 Inside Track:
Keith Urban’s new album, The Speed of Now
Reba McEntire’s 30th Anniversary edition of Rumor Has It
Ashley Gorley named Songwriter of the Year for a record fifth time
New music from Shenandoah, their first in 26 years
Chris Stapleton drops another single, ahead of the November release of Starting Over
Hit writer Kent Blazy (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”) releases Authentic album
Christmas albums from Dolly, Carrie, Maddie & Tae and more
Updates on rescheduled tours for Scotty McCreery, Lee Brice
The only 2020 live gig for superstar group Alabama
New single, video and Neon Town album from David Adam Byrnes
Ray Stevens is livin’ it up in quarantine with hit song and video
UK trio Essex County crossing the pond with “Love at First”
Plus more ‘news you need to know’ for music industry insiders and country music fans. It’s all in the October Inside Track on Music Row at Nashville Music Guide Magazine (print and online). Find the October edition of Inside Track on Music Row by Preshias here.
NMG has been publicizing Singers, Musicians, and Writers to Nashville’s Music Row and Beyond Since 1995.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Lzzy Hale, the Grammy-winning, rockin’ vocalist, guitarist and co-founder of Halestorm, has had her share of setbacks along her career path, but she treats these obstacles as learning moments and incentives to keep focused on the end goals. She has some encouraging words for emerging singers, songwriters and musicians in an article titled How to Succeed in Music, published in Sweetwater Sweet Notes:
“For every great song of mine that has truly connected with people, there are hundreds of bad ones that came before it. For every great show, there are hundreds of train wrecks that helped me learn what worked and what didn’t. If you don’t know what you don’t want to be, you’ll never become the person you do want to be.”
She continues: “You practice and hone your craft, so when opportunities come your way, you’re ready for them. Opportunity is a funny thing, because you can’t just sit there and wait for one to magically fall out of the sky and into your lap. You have to say ‘yes’ to adventure and put yourself out there.”
Lzzy encourages emerging artists to play everywhere and anywhere you can. In the early days of Halestorm, she says, the band played bowling alleys, malls, even a funeral, but the experience they acquired meant they were ready when real opportunity finally knocked.
Check out Lzzy’s interview with Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher here and see Lzzy talk about her guitar rig (including her custom Gibson signature guitars) here. Check out Halestorm’s new EP, Reimagined at their official website. Find all the musical goodies from studio equipment to mics and instruments (and everything in between) at Sweetwater’s website here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and
music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring
artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The
Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow
her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
New album and single from a country artist on the rise
By Preshias Harris
Recently, I caught up with David Adam Byrnes, a singer-songwriter on the verge of major stardom with a new album, Neon Town, set for release in October.
I have known Arkansas-born David Adam for years, both as an industry friend and a fan of his music. I sent him a “12 Pack” of questions, and reading his answers (via e-mail) made me laugh and smile! It was definitely my dose of sunshine for the week.
But first, the big news about his new album. From a
small-town Arkansas kid to a mainstream songwriting scholarship in Nashville to
a return to his independent country music roots, David Adam Byrnes is making
the scene in Texas with singles flying up the Texas radio chart.
On October 2nd, Byrnes released his new album Neon Town,
and for several months its presence has already been felt with three
back-to-back #1 hit singles. The very
week the second single, “I Can Give You One,” hits #1 in Texas, the virus
pandemic hits the world. Shows canceled,
album release canceled…life as we know it, canceled. After months of shutdown David decided that
the show must go on. On April 10th he released his new single “Neon Town,” the
title track to the new album, and it has also reached the #1 spot.
The sad loss of singer-songwriter Mac Davis at age 78
“Cold,” the new song from Chris Stapleton’s upcoming album, Starting Over
Every Road is the title of the new album from Shenandoah – their first album of all-new music in 26 years
The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 95th year with a lot of stars but not much of a ‘live’ audience
Carrie Underwood is set to perform songs from her Christmas album, My Gift, on an HBO Max Special
Time-Life is releasing a 19-DVD deluxe set titled Dolly: The Ultimate Collection, and Dolly Parton’sHolly Dolly Christmas album arrives October 2nd
An “I Know Country” Q&A from Preshias’ book of the same name, and more!
Find this week’s Y’all Show on YouTube here or see the show and read the program notes at the Y’all website here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Talks about each track on new album, Born Here Live Here Die Here
By Preshias Harris
Recording artists are always looking for ways to promote their music, and emerging artists usually have an additional challenge: a limited promotion budget.
Read on to learn more about an innovative option and how one of country music’s biggest stars is making it work for him.
The worldwide pandemic has created major problems for musicians who need to get in front of their fans. With a total halt put on touring, country artists have now had to go for months without that all-important fan interaction.
Fan reaction to new songs
Most artists try out one or two new song at a concert to
judge the fans’ reaction. Then they and
their marketing teams can use that reaction to decide which new music to
release. But no concerts mean no fan reaction.
Now many artists are using social media and the internet to reach out to their fans. One online destination – https://music.com/ – seems the ideal place to link artists with their fans, and Luke Bryan is one of country music’s biggest stars to take full advantage of the opportunity the site offers.
Music.com is focused on artist-forward, first-person storytelling. At the site, artists share personal thoughts and ideas about their music in a deeply personal way. Now Luke is doing just that, sharing personal details about each track on his new album, Born Here Live Here Die Here (Capitol Nashville). Released August 7, 2020, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Album charts. Here’s Luke’s page at music.com.
It’s always good to hear new music from a (relatively) new singer, but when that new music is a song written by four respected Nashville songwriters – two veterans and two emerging stars – it’s certainly a newsworthy event. But here’s where it gets extra special for me. The creative team behind the song includes two long-time and much-loved friends of mine.
Hard to believe, but my friendship with both Doug and Dave goes back more than a quarter of a century! Doug is probably best-known for the Randy Travis mega-hit, “Three Wooden Crosses” (co-written with Kim Williams) that became the CMA, ACM, CCMA and NSAI ‘Song of the Year,’ as well as Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy”, a Billboard Song of the Year. As a producer and A&R exec, he’s worked with a “who’s who” of country music talent from Clay Walker and Joe Diffie to Blake Shelton and Kelsea Ballerini.
Dave Gibson
Dave Gibson is another Music Row stalwart who has been a long-time friend of mine. His list (a long list) of writing credits includes songs for Confederate Railroad (“Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind”), Alabama (“Jukebox on My Mind”), Montgomery Gentry (“Lonely and Gone”) plus big cuts on Conway Twitty, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner and more. Dave’s latest project is The Waterhole Bunch, a show that premiered on ROKU TV Worldwide in August that he describes as “puppets and humans making music and mayhem.”
The only songwriter in any genre with 50 Airplay No. 1s
by Preshias Harris
Ashley Gorley at the 2020 MusicRow Awards. Photo: Preshias Harris
Hitmaker and songwriting powerhouse Ashley Gorley set a new record August 3 as he notches his 50th No.1 song at Country radio with LOCASH’S Mediabase chart topper, “One Big Country Song.”
Gorley isn’t just the first songwriter in the Country format to achieve this feat, but it stamps him as the only songwriter of any genre to earn 50 No.1s in the history of the Mediabase and Billboard Airplay charts.
Gorley wrote “One Big Country Song” with fellow hitmakers Jesse Frasure and Hardy. The song follows Gorley’s 49th No. 1, “Hard to Forget,” recorded by Sam Hunt. Gorley’s first No. 1 was “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” for Carrie Underwood. in 2006. Scroll down for a full list of all 50 of Gorley’s chart-toppers.
Thank you, Ashley Gorley, for my delight at being able to watch you write your way into global music history. It makes me extremely proud of my Kentucky connection, along with our shared love of Kentucky Wildcats basketball. Now let’s get Ashley nominated for the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame! This would be a wonderful boost for our Kentucky Music legacy. Danville, Kentucky, native Ashley needs to be alongside the Everly Brothers, The Judds, Dwight Yoakum, The Kentucky Headhunters, Exile, Steve Wariner and the rest of our history of Kentucky Music inductees. – Preshias Harris
Despite the continued restriction on touring due to the pandemic, there is still a lot going on in country music. Among the good news: streams in the country music genre are up 21% for the first six months of 2020 vs the same period last year! But wait, there’s more. Including:
Tyler Childers’ hilarious new animated music video for “Country Squire”
‘Nash trash’ duo Hasting & Co. sport a new “Canadian Tuxedo”
Brett Eldredge takes fans on a Sunday Drive” with new single
Chris Young test-markets “If That Ain’t God” on social media
Whisperin’ Bill Anderson reimagines big hits on his 73rd album
We need music more than ever during pandemic
Stars and fans honor Charlie Daniels at memorial service
An I Know Country Q&A to test you Country IQ!
…and more. Scroll down to continue reading
Need
a reason to smile? You need to take a look at
the official music video for Tyler Childers’ “Country Squire”! The
hilarious animation is directed by Kentucky-based comic book artist, Tony Moore
(known for his award-winning work on The Walking Dead, The Exterminators and
Fear Agent), “Country Squire” is Moore’s first music video project and was
created in partnership with Bomper Studio. Watch the animated video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxuLRkHn7rQ
