Music Industry News Archives - Page 13 of 36

What does it take to write fifty No. 1 hits?

Ashley Gorley opens up to cmt.com about writing hit songs

By Preshias Harris

However successful you are as a songwriter, your name will always be in parentheses (and probably italics) while the song title and the artist’s name will be in big, bold type.

But seeing his name in parentheses is just fine with Ashley Gorley. He recently became the first and only songwriter in any music genre to write FIFTY No. 1 hits in the history of the Mediabase and Billboard airplay charts.

Ashley spoke with music journalist Alison Bonaguro who interviewed him for cmt.com. What Ashley said about his approach to songwriting and his disdain for celebrity status should serve as an inspiration and an object lesson for all emerging and aspiring songwriters. Read Alison’s full interview with Ashley here at cmt.com.

Ashley has come a long way from his Danville, KY, roots to his record-setting perch on Nashville’s Music Row. But it was no overnight success. Even after snagging a song publishing deal, it was seven years before his name (in parentheses) appeared under the title of a Top 40 song, and longer still before he was credited with a No. 1 – “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” for Carrie Underwood.

Self-imposed work ethic drives success

Unsurprisingly, Ashley’s work ethic plays as big a role in his success as his talent. He tells Alison:

Tin Pan South Songwriters Fest goes virtual Oct 20-24

Tin Pan South 2020: a free-to-access virtual experience

By Preshias Harris

Tin Pan South is still on – but with a new twist, thanks to the pandemic. For 2020, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will be virtual with five evenings of amazing music and more from the cream of today’s songwriters. Put the dates in your calendar: October 20 – 24, 2020.

Tin Pan South, billed as ‘the world’s largest songwriter festival, was launched in 1993 by the members of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). An announcement at the Tin Pan South website states:

Make plans for a Tin Pan South Festival like no other! In partnership with NSAI, Regions Bank is presenting a virtual version of the festival and it’s happening October 20-24, 2020! Check out the line-up and plan to watch some of your favorite songwriters from the comfort of your own home right here at tinpansouth.com. Did we mention all events are FREE to watch?! Clear your calendars and tune in!

Initially planned for March 2020, the now-virtual Festival, again presented by Regions Bank, will be free of charge to enjoy.

Among the songwriters already on the schedule:

CHRIS DESTEFANO – JIMMIE ALLEN – SHANE MCANALLY – CARLY PEARCE – ALLISON VELTZ CRUZ – SHAED – JOHN PAUL WHITE – TROUBADOR 77 – RITA WILSON – CAROLINE WATKINS – LIZ ROSE – MATTHEW RAMSEY – HARLOE – WADE BOWEN – LORI MCKENNA ROB SNYDER – JAKE MITCHELL – JOSH LONDON – EMILY WEISBAND – ROB HATCH – CHANNING WILSON – JOSH MIRENDA – EMILY SHACKELTON – UNCLE KRACKER – VICTORIA SHAW – WYATT DURRETTE – DYLAN LEBLANC – JEFF COHEN – MEGHAN KABIR – GEM AND EYE – ERIKA ENDER – AARON BARKER – J.T. HARDING – ERIC BAZILIAN – VICTORIA BANKS – BRANDON STANSELL – MIGNON – DERIC RUTTAN – NAT DUNN – KELLY ARCHER – SAMMY BRUE – JIM COLLINS – MARK ERELLI – KRISTAL TYTEWRITER – CHRIS BARRON – JENNA ANDREWS – DESMOND CHILD – ROB ALDRIDGE – JUSTIN OSBORNE – LEE ROY PARNELL – JIM PETERIK – DEAVID LEE MURPHY – KRIS DELMHORST – DR. DANNY – MEL WASHINGTON – JAMES LEBLANC – COYLE GIRELLI – CHRIS BARRON – SOUTHERLAND – ASHLAND CRAFT – SETH ENNIS – ROBYN COLLINS – TREVOR ROSEN – PHIL BARTON – JOSH OSBORNE – ERNEST

#SaveOurStages 3-day virtual festival set for Oct 16 – 18

Livestreaming shows just part of #SaveOurStages action plan

By Preshias Harris

Independent venues are where most emerging singers and songwriters make their first stage appearances as they hone their skills and reach out to audiences, often in smaller, more intimate settings.

Now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting ban or limits on public performance, those independent venues are the ones suffering the most – and are most likely to go dark forever. That would be a disappointment for potential audiences, but more seriously, it could be devastating for those singers, musicians and songwriters who rely on those venues to launch and develop their careers. (You can help by letting the Senate and the House of Representatives know you support this project. See below.)

In an effort to raise awareness and funds, the stars are coming out to put their talent and their celebrity status behind a push to “Save Our Stages.” The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is partnering with YouTube for a 3-day virtual music festival to #SaveOurStages. #SOSFEST will live stream on NIVA’s official YouTube channel October 16-18 and will feature all new performances. This benefit event aims to generate significant awareness, advocacy and donations for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, directly supporting our most vulnerable venues experiencing catastrophic revenue loss.

Nashville #SaveOurStages shows

Throughout the 3-day virtual festival, live performances will stream directly from some of those iconic venues across America – including, of course, Nashville. Already announced: Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini at the Exit/In, Brothers Osborne at Mercy Lounge and Reba McEntire at the Ryman Auditorium. More are being added.

90% of independent venues will not survive the COVID-19 pandemic without financial aid. Your voice matters — Tell your legislators to save independent music venues! More than 2 million live music lovers have written letters to their elected officials via Help to #SaveOurStages by telling Congress to ACT NOW! You can make a difference. See how to tell your legislators to save independent music venues 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

Cassadee, Tanya, Darius, Reba and more

Country music news with Preshias on the Y’all show

Preshias and Y’all Show host Jon Rawl talk about what’s happening in the world of country music in this week’s livestream.

Among the topics:

Cassadee Pope faces her fear of cooking
Carrie Underwood’s My Gift album debuts at No. 1
Mac Davis ‘buried in his blue jeans’ in Lubbock
Tanya Tucker’s live version of “Delta Dawn”
Reba McEntire & Darius Rucker to host CMA Awards
A country music Q&A from Preshias’ book, “I Know Country” and more

Watch the show at the Y’all website or on YouTube.

Inside Track on Music Row: what’s new in Nashville

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 talks about this week’s Nashville news

Mac Davis passes, new albums from Chris Stapleton, Shenandoah and Dolly, the Opry at 95 and more

Watch the show on YouTube here.

Among the topics they discussed:

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’s Holly 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 talks ACM Awards and more on Y’all Show

See Preshias talking with host John Rawl on this week’s Y’all Show, September 23, 2020

Nashville Music Line: Maddie & Tae Christmas CD, Keith Urban

Click on link above to watch the video

Among other topics, Preshias and Jon discuss:

The results of the 2020 ACM Awards, the first time the show has been held (without an audience) in Nashville
A new 16-track album from Keith Urban
Christmas albums from Maddie & Tae, Carrie Underwood, Runaway June Terri Clark and Dolly Parton
Alabama’s only gig in 2020
A biopic miniseries about George Jones and Tammy Wynette
A new outdoor stage at the Ryman Auditorium
This week’s I Know Country Q&A and more

See this week’s Y’all Show here.

Luke Bryan reaches out to fans on music.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.

Ashley Gorley hits 50th No. 1

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

#kymusichalloffame #hitsongwriter #50number1s #ascapsongwriteroftheyear

Brett Eldredge, Bill Anderson, Chris Young, in the news

Catching up around Nashville’s Music Row

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 73^rd 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