Category: Music Industry News

July ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

Column posted and ready to read now

My monthly column, ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ is now posted at Nashville Music Guide’s website.  It is the longest continually-running monthly country music column in the USA.

As always, my thanks to Amanda and the NMG staff for making ‘Inside Track’ the best looking (and most read) country music feature on the Web!

Among this month’s 30+ music news items in the column…

  •  Exile to celebrate new double album with fans & industry, July 13
  • Brett Young’s Acoustic Sessions EP set for September release
  • Blake Shelton joins Garth Brooks in ‘Fun’ Dive Bar duet
  • NAMM Music Industry Day set for July 20
  • Scroll down for brief summaries and links
ALBUM NEWS

A little over forty years have passed and over 8 million records have been sold, including three Gold records and eleven number one hit songs since Exile began making music in a small garage in Lexington, Kentucky making demos of their songs. Exile will now share their most current CD project, Exile – The Garage Tapes.  The 30 song, two CD compilation is set for release in the upcoming weeks.  Industry and fans are invited to celebrate at a VIP CD release event to take place in the cave at The Caverns in Pelham, TN on July 13. … Read the full story here. Continue reading “July ‘Inside Track on Music Row’”

CMA Fest 2019 wrapped up with a great Day Four

Four straight days of sold-out shows and capacity crowds

The fourth and final night at the 48th annual CMA Fest came to a close with a crowd-pleasing performance by Luke Bryan as he cranked up the fans in Nissan Stadium with his cover version of Jon Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

Keith Urban, Chris Janson and Maren Morris were also on hand to make sure thousands of country music fans went home happy with four days of musical memories.

RaeLynn on stage on Day 4. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby

Many fans went home wet, too, as the 2019 CMA Fest was memorable for several sudden rainstorms.

Walker Hayes performs during Day 4 at CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby

“Despite some weather challenges, this year’s CMA Fest was truly one to remember,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, who noted that the annual festival is a great event for fans to see their favorites and discover new artists. “The feedback I received from artists is how much they enjoy the more intimate interactions with fans that CMA Fest offers,” Trahern added.

“We managed to integrate the CMA Foundation and our music education efforts throughout the festival, which culminated with the Eagle Honor Choir belting out Carrie Underwood’s ‘The Champion’ to a packed house at Nissan Stadium Sunday night. It was certainly one of the highlights of the festival.”

Among this year’s memorable highlights:

Continue reading “CMA Fest 2019 wrapped up with a great Day Four”

Billy Ray Cyrus, Lil Nas X, take “Old Town Road” to CMA Fest with Keith Urban

Kelsey Ballerini gets surprise No. 1 news during Day Three

Day Three of the 2019 CMA Fest saw a trio of stars that had never before taken the festival stage together.  Fans were surprised and delighted to see Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban take the Nissan Stadium stage to perform the No. 1 song in the country, “Old Town Road.”

Billy Ray Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Keith Urban at CMA Fest. Photo CMA

The surprised crowd roared as Cyrus, Nas X and Urban played the hit song, standing, dancing and singing along with the stars.

Backstage at Nissan Stadium, Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson presented Cyrus with a 2019 MNPD coin commemorating Metro Nashville’s new headquarters building and acknowledging the sacrifices made by their officers.  The coin bears Cyrus’ song “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”

Luke Combs joins “Real Good Man” McGraw

Continue reading “Billy Ray Cyrus, Lil Nas X, take “Old Town Road” to CMA Fest with Keith Urban”

Stars thrill crowds at Day Two of CMA Fest

Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and more bring their best

Rain didn’t stop the music

Jordan Davis entertains at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby

The Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater was packed with fans at a sold-out show headlined by Brett Young. Meanwhile, Chevy Riverfront Stage was filled with capacity crowds for three back-to-back performances. These included Jordan Davis, The Voice alumni Morgan Wallen and Hunter Hayes’ set.

Elvie Shane performs at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby

More Enthusiastic fans were cheering on Elvie Shane (BBR’s newest signee) and former American Idol alumni and country sweetheart Lauren Alaina.  Fans were singing along to their favorite songs throughout the sets.

LOCASH also had the crowd singing along at the Radio Disney Country Stage and CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship recipient Travis Denning brought the energy to the Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park.

“Beer Can’t Fix” Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi

Continue reading “Stars thrill crowds at Day Two of CMA Fest”

Speak Up for Music Row

Tell legislators: Music Row destruction must stop

Sad but true:  Music Row is disappearing, one historic building at a time.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has now designated Music Row as one of “America’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places for 2019.” Sign the petition here.

Those modest little houses along Sixteenth and Seventeenth Avenue are where so many of Country music’s best-known songs were written or recorded.  Some of the buildings had signs outside, identifying the name of the music publishing company or the recording studio that was hidden inside.  But many remained anonymous, their identity known only to the session musicians, sound engineers, songwriters and recording artists that could be seen entering or leaving at all hours of the day and night. Continue reading “Speak Up for Music Row”

June ‘Inside Track’ ready to read

Vince Gill, Brett Young, Garth, Chris Young and more in June column

The June edition of my column, “Inside Track on Music Row,” is now available! The column is published monthly at Nashville Music Guide’s website.  You can find copies of the print edition of June’s NMG at many music venues throughout Nashville.

You can read a free PDF version of the entire print edition of the magazine here. NMG is full of music news, reviews and info.  My column appears on pages 29 through 36.

Inside Track is the longest-running monthly country music column in America.  The June column features dozens of news items about new releases, upcoming tours and more.

Among this month’s music news items…

  • New Vince Album set to drop in August
  • Brett Young launches Acoustic Sessions videos
  • John Paul White is The Hurting Kind 
  • Zach Stone offers “Hands On” track
  • and much more in my seven page column of music news at Nashville Music Guide 

New Vince Album set to drop in August

ALBUM NEWS:  Vince Gill is set to release his new album, ‘Okie,’ on Aug. 23.  The word ‘Okie’ was once a derogatory term to refer to inhabitants of Oklahoma who migrated to the west coast as a result of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Gill is an Oklahoma native and has proudly appropriated the term for the upcoming album that embraces his Oklahoma roots.  Gill wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks on the album.  “I thought this was going to be a songwriter record, not a concept album,” Gill says. “It wound up being more information than I’d envisioned.” Continue reading “June ‘Inside Track’ ready to read”

John Rich says “Shut Up About Politics!”

Granny inspires new Redneck Riviera whiskey

When does John Rich find time to sleep? He is currently running numerous parallel ventures, any one of which would be a full-time career for most people.

A solo recording career, his association with Big Kenny as the hit-making duo Big and Rich, rolling out the Redneck Riviera brand (including his restaurant on Nashville’s Lower Broad), fundraising for the charity Folds of Honor, starting up the all-American-made Redneck Riviera Whiskey, and now a Special Reserve blend named for his dear old Granny… But wait, there’s more, as they say in the informercials. John also has the No. 1 song on the Country download charts with a quirky story behind it.

“A blank sheet of paper is the most boundless thing you can ever look at.  The Declaration of Independence started out as a blank sheet of paper.  The Bible started out as blank sheets of paper.  Songs are blank sheets of paper before you turn them into something.” – John Rich 

We sat down to catch up with John at his unique Nashville home, aptly named Mount Richmore, and we were joined by John’s 87-year-old grandmother who is affectionally known as Granny Rich.

Granny Rich inspires strong work ethic

John Rich and Granny Rich

Yes, the same Granny Rich who is the inspiration for Redneck Riviera Granny Rich Reserve, the new addition to John’s line of whiskey. John admitted that your grandmother wouldn’t be the first person you’d normally go to when you’re thinking about launching a new whiskey. But as he pointed out, Granny Rich isn’t your normal grandmother. Continue reading “John Rich says “Shut Up About Politics!””

Chris Young “Hangin’ On” for eleventh No. 1

Celebrates with co-writers at Number One party

It was party time for Chris Young and co-writers Corey Crowder and Josh Hoge on Monday, April 29, as they were feted at a Number One party for “Hangin’ On.” This was a party with a slight difference: it was a lunchtime event, instead of the usual afternoon or early evening get-togethers. The party was co-hosted by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

(Left to right) Front row: Liz Rose (Liz Rose Music), Corey Crowder, Chris Young and Josh Hoge. Back Row: Michael Martin (Vice President ASCAP Nashville), Beth Brinker (Associate Creative Director ASCAP), Scott Ponce (Liz Rose Music) and Mike Sistad (Senior Creative Director ASCAP). Photo credit: Preshias Harris.

In answer to a question at the press briefing before the party, Young spoke about the unusual timing of the party. “It’s the only time when all of us can get together,” he said. “It’s not like it’s not a huge, huge deal and people don’t dream of getting up one day and writing a song that goes to number one.  That’s why these [No. 1 parties] are so important, no matter what form they take. It’s something so special for all that stuff to come together at once and you’d have a number one.  I had a [number] 37, a 52 and a 37 at the start of my career, so a number one feels really, really good and we should celebrate it.”

“Hangin’ On” is Young’s eleventh No. 1 as an artist and his ninth as a songwriter.

“The first place I wrote a song”

(L to R) Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Josh Hoge at the press briefing. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

The celebration took place at BMI’s Nashville office, and Young noted that it seemed to be the perfect location as it marks a special place on his career trajectory.  “This building we’re in right now [BMI Nashville]; this was the first place I wrote a song,” he revealed.  He went on to explain how that first writing session came about. Continue reading “Chris Young “Hangin’ On” for eleventh No. 1”

Sammy Sadler reboots career with new projects

Sole survivor of Murder on Music Row

Sammy Sadler. Photo: WBA Entertainment

Sammy Sadler was an emerging artist in the late 1980s on the brink of a successful career with a record deal at Evergreen Records.  He was full of optimism and high hopes when he and his friend Kevin Hughes were walking along Music Row in Nashville on March 9, 1989.

Hughes was a chart researcher at Cash Box magazine.  While still a student at Belmont University, he had worked as an unpaid intern before being put on the magazine’s payroll by Richard “Tony” D’Antonio, Cash Box’s director of Nashville operations.

Hughes had become suspicious that money was changing hands in order to push certain records up the charts.  He had voiced his concerns to friends and family and was considering leaving Music City and returning home to Illinois.

Deadly attack

Continue reading “Sammy Sadler reboots career with new projects”

Marty Brown is back with ‘American Highway’

First studio album in 20+ years

Marty Brown is truly an irrepressible and unique personality in the world of Country music as anyone who has seen him play live can tell you. The Maceo, Kentucky, native came to Nashville and recorded several albums in the 1990s that garnered a lot of critical acclaim.

He then took a break from recording but was co-writing songs for other artists including Brooks and Dunn, Trace Adkins and Tracy Byrd.

America’s Got Talent brought him new fans

Marty Brown. Photo credit: America’s Got Talent

Marty found an entire new audience with his appearance on the eighth season of America’s Got Talent. The YouTube clip of his audition generated more than 11 million views. He reached the semi-finals, endearing himself to viewers and listeners with his voice and his lovable character.

He is now back with American Highway, his first studio album in more than twenty years. It is set for release May 17, 2019. Continue reading “Marty Brown is back with ‘American Highway’”