Music Industry News Archives - Page 20 of 36

Country Christmas gift ideas and stocking stuffers

CDs and more for your Country gift list

Santa’s gone Country! Here’s a whole sleigh-full of Country stocking suffers for family, friends and you too. You deserve it! Scroll down for mini-reviews and handy links.

Top artists on ‘Country Faith Christmas 2’
A blue (grass) Christmas with Dailey & Vincent
Tracy Lawrence is ‘Frozen in Time’
Brett Eldredge: still GLOWing strong
Rodney Crowell finds ‘Christmas Everywhere’
Martina McBride swings into Christmas
A quirky Yuletide: from lullabies to kazoos
Celebrate with Ray Stevens
Scroll down for mini-reviews and links

Top artists on ‘Country Faith Christmas 2’

If you’re headed to Cracker Barrel, here’s a CD you could find. ‘Country Faith Christmas Vol. 2’ is a new Christmas album from the faith-based brand, Country Faith. The CD features top Country Music artists including Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Kelsea Ballerini, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Jr, Darius Rucker, John Berry and more. Distributed through Curb/Word Entertainment, the album is available now through digital retailers, including Apple Music and Amazon. The CD will be sold exclusively in Cracker Barrel stores and is one of only four featured Christmas releases at Cracker Barrel’s over 600 stores, which are located across the U.S. More details here.

A blue (grass) Christmas with Dailey & Vincent

If someone you know is dreaming of a blue (grass) Christmas, here’s the perfect gift. Multi-GRAMMY® nominated duo Dailey & Vincent have released of their first-ever Christmas record, ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ available now from BMG. The Sounds of Christmas experience is more than just an album release as momentum continues throughout the holiday season with a nationally broadcast television Christmas concert special, four all-new Christmas episodes of “The Dailey & Vincent Show” on RFD-TV and a 15-city Christmas tour. The album features Christmas classics like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain” as well as never-before-heard holiday tunes such as “Road To Bethlehem” featuring Dolly Parton. Tour info and more here.

Tracy Lawrence is ‘Frozen in Time’

Here’s a new album from one of favorite people: Tracy Lawrence. ‘Frozen In Time’ offers a mix of classic holiday favorites plus four original tracks, including the album’s title track, co-written by Tracy and Rick Huckaby. Tracy describes that song as “a festive nod to family traditions served up Western Swing style, with a side of holiday cheer.” Your gift recipients can enjoy the album on CD, vinyl or digital (available here). Track listing and more info at Tracy’s website.

Brett Eldredge: still GLOWing strong

In 2016, Brett Eldredge released a Christmas album titled, ‘Glow.’ Now he has re-released the album in a ‘de-luxe edition’ that includes all the original tracks plus five new tracks. Brett has added his renditions of ‘Do You Hear What I Hear,’ ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘Sleigh Ride,’ ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Time Is Here.’ He has also added some pre-holiday dates to his tour schedule and no doubt he’ll be singing some of the tracks from the album. Gift idea: add a couple of tour show tix to the album for that special someone. Go to Brett’s webpage here. And check out the cool ‘snow globe’ graphic with Brett in a powder blue tux!

Rodney Crowell finds ‘Christmas Everywhere’

Singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell says that he’s read the poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (a.k.a. “Twas The Night Before Christmas”) on Christmas Eve to his children and grandkids for more than 40 years. If he wants a break from tradition, he could play them his new Christmas album, “Christmas Everywhere” instead. Unlike most other Xmas offerings, this album consists of twelve original Christmas-themed songs, and features guest stars (including Vince Gill) and his own kids. The album is available digitally, on CD and on vinyl (black or marbled red and green). Order your copy here. More info at Rodney’s website.

Martina McBride swings into Christmas

“It’s The Holiday Season” and that’s the title of Martina McBride’s 2018 yuletide album (her first since 1988’s “White Christmas”). The new album features more of a Christmas-pop vibe than the previous album that focused more on Christmas hymns. Recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, Martina is backed by orchestras with 40+ top musicians. Martina will also be taking that big band sound on the road for a number of pre-Christmas dates. If someone on your gift list is more into cooking than listening to Holiday tunes, Martina has a book for that. Her second cookbook, ‘Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life,’ is out just in time for gift buying. All of Martina’s merch is available vis her website and the usual retail outlets.

A quirky Yuletide: from lullabies to kazoos

Do you know somebody who would enjoy something a little, er… different? The CMH Label Group is releasing more of its catalog to Global Radio for the Christmas season. This includes a brand-new 3 song EP, “Rockabye Baby,” featuring Yuletide hits “All I Want For Christmas is You,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Last Christmas.” Speaking of unique renditions of Christmas classics, it doesn’t get more unorthodox than a “Kazoo Christmas,” except for maybe a “Surfin’ Christmas.” And what would a CMH Christmas be without “Pickin’ On Christmas,” a collection of holiday hits done in our one-of-a-kind bluegrass style. “Stars & Snow” is an album full of Texas Country covers of both modern and traditional Christmas classics. Then, it’s time for a Feliz Navidad, as the Red Hot Jalapenos take you on a trip to a “Christmas South of the Border.” You can find links to these and more here.

Celebrate with Ray Stevens

How about gifting Ray Stevens fans with some show tickets? The music legend is “decking the halls” at his new Nashville showroom, CabaRay. Through Saturday, December 29, Stevens will perform multiple live “Christmas at CabaRay” dinner shows at the venue. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the CabaRay,” says Stevens. “The CabaRay is now fully decorated for the holidays and the shows take on a decided Christmas flavor right after Thanksgiving.” At each show, dinner seating begins at 6:00 p.m. with the live concert following at 7:30 p.m. Ticket pricing: $99 seats include VIP seating, dinner and live show / $79 seats include dinner and show on the main dining floor / $59 seats are available in the balcony (does not include dinner). Tickets are available now at Ray’s website or by calling 615-327-4630. CabaRay is located at 5724 River Road in West Nashville.

There you have it: my roundup of Country Christmas gift ideas for 2018. Now go shopping, in-store or online. Merry Christmas!

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

Tracy Lawrence, country stars, give back at Christmas

Country artists generous with time and talent

Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’
Christmas 4 Kids helps children in need
Michael Ray’s Wrigley Cares helps shelter animals
Charlie Daniels reaches out to veterans

scroll down to read all these stories

Country artists are among the most generous members of show business when it comes to giving their time and talent to help others or to support a charity. As we approach the Holiday season, many country stars are finding ways to help those in need.

Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’

Case in point: Tracy Lawrence. He is already warming up the fryers and calling up his friends in music. The reason is Tracy’s 13th annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry at Nashville Rescue Mission. Now a long-standing Holiday tradition, the event takes place Tuesday, November 20. It will provide hundreds of tasty and nutritious meals for ‘underserved’ people in Metro Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Tracy will be up and out early in the morning to get the turkey fryers fired up. The day will wrap up at the Wildhorse Saloon at 7:00 pm with live performances by Tracy and some of his friends. Proceeds will benefit Nashville Rescue Mission. Scheduled to appear: EMI recording artist Eric Paslay, BMG/Chrysalis singer/songwriter Doug McCormick, Outlaw Country duo Halfway To Hazard, newcomer Bristyn Camp and some special surprise guests. A live auction to benefit the Rescue Mission takes place during the show. Continue reading “Tracy Lawrence, country stars, give back at Christmas”

CMA Awards: The Winners

Paisley and Underwood co-host

An amazing night at the 52nd annual CMA Awards! Security was (understandably) tight at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, but we were safely seated and treated to one of the best shows in years.

Too many high spots to mention them all. But Keith Urban‘s emotional acceptance of the Entertainer of the Year Award and Garth Brooks debut of ‘Stronger Than Me’ (dedicated to wife Trisha Yearwood) were lump-in-the-throat moments.

More than thirty-five live performances were featured and Executive Producer Robert Deaton and his crew kept it flowing seamlessly.

‘Ten Year Town’

For anyone who doubts that Nashville is known as a ‘ten year town,’ Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year for ‘Golden Hour.’ It was the tenth anniversary of her move to Nashville.

All the winners

In case you missed any of the results, Here is a list of all the nominees with winners’ name in bold.

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban – WINNER

Single of the Year

“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood – WINNER

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Keith Urban

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland

New Artist of the Year

Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs – WINNER
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER

Album of the Year

From A Room: Volume 2, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
Graffiti U, Keith Urban
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain, Dierks Bentley

Song of the Year

“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton – WINNER
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Musical Event of the Year

“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris feat. Vince Gill
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney – WINNER
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line

Music Video of the Year

“Babe,” Sugarland feat. Taylor Swift
“Cry Pretty,” Carrie Underwood
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson
“Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett – WINNER
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

Musician of the Year

Jerry Douglas, Dobro
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Dann Huff, Guitar
Mac McAnally, Guitar – WINNER
Derek Wells, Guitar

For news, video and more info, visit the CMA Awards official website.

Country, Bluegrass, Americana news and more

November’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ sneak peek

‘Hannah’ new single from Tom Mackell EP
Dailey & Vincent’s ‘first ever’ Xmas album
77 million streams for Tenpenny’s ‘Drunk Me’
Kip Moore has acoustic ‘Room To Spare’
And much more

Catch up on more than thirty music news items in the November 2018 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row. The entire column (and a whole lot more) is now posted here at Nashville Music Guide, complete with photos, videos and graphics. Thank you NMG editor Amanda Andrews! You always make the column look SO good.

The column is the longest-running Country music column in America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at just a few of the items in the November column.

‘Hannah’ new single from Tom Mackell EP

AMERICANA NEWS: Tom Mackell hails from Philadelphia and debuts a unique sound resembling a cross between outlaw country and Americana. The Nashville based singer/songwriter has released his latest single ‘Hannah’ – the first single from a forthcoming E.P. slated for early 2019.

Fusing elements of classic Americana and outlaw country revival with youthful sincerity, ‘Hannah’ explores an old country adage through the lens of a millennial songwriter. Despite the challenges that inspired the song, Mackell has managed to turn 2018 into a banner year musically, crafting a new album on which ‘Hannah’ will appear, in addition to touring with 90’s stalwart Sister Hazel and securing forthcoming dates with ‘The Voice’ alum Tony Lucca. Music, tour dates and more at tommackell.com.

Dailey & Vincent’s ‘first ever’ Xmas album

BLUEGRASS NEWS: Heading into the holiday season, multi-GRAMMY® nominated duo Dailey & Vincent are gifting fans their first-ever Christmas record, ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ available from BMG. The collection of Christmas classics and never-before-heard holiday tunes ranked No. 2 on the Amazon’s Holiday Hot New Releases.

To order ‘Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas,’ click here. Country music icon Dolly Parton collaborated with Dailey & Vincent on the Jimmy Fortune and Jeff Bates penned “Road To Bethlehem. The bluegrass veterans were also joined by 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ricky Skaggs, on a cut of Alabama’s “Tonight It’s Christmas,” which is one of two bonus tracks available exclusively when fans purchase the Christmas record at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and online at CrackerBarrel.com. Tour dates and album info at daileyandvincent.com.

77 million streams for Tenpenny’s ‘Drunk Me’

Mitchell Tenpenny. Photo credit: Alan Poizner

CD RELEASES: Nashville native Mitchell Tenpenny burst onto the scene earlier this year when his RIAA-certified Gold single, ‘Drunk Me’ hit airwaves across the country. The breakthrough song has earned more than 77 million on-demand streams tracking 3 million a week, and has surpassed 500,000 units of downloads in the U.S.

Tenpenny’s debut album, ‘Telling All My Secrets,’ will be available everywhere Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, on the Riser House/Columbia Nashville. The title track is available now with pre-order. Tenpenny wrote 56 songs in preparation for the album narrowing it down to 11 strong tracks that tell his story including Top 15 single ‘Drunk Me,’ and fan favorite ‘Alcohol You Later.’ His total career streams exceed 104 million, across various platforms. Music and tour info here.

Kip Moore has acoustic ‘Room To Spare’

EP NEWS: Kip Moore announced he will release ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP on November 16. Driven by a promise to fans to share an acoustic EP, Moore shared further insight into the project exclusively with American Songwriter, including the creative process that went in to the seven-song collection and co-writing five of the tracks.

Audiences across the country will also be able to experience the new tracks live this fall as Moore also revealed a limited Room To Spare: Acoustic Tour kicking off in Milwaukee, WI on 11/29. The new EP showcases multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Moore’s signature sound in a stripped-down setting. Music, merch, tour updates and more here.

Read the entire column and much more at Nashville Music Guide!

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

Still the King: Elvis at his best

‘Elvis: ’68 Comeback Special: 50th Anniversary Edition.’

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic events in the history of rock and pop music. The television event originally titled simply ‘Elvis’ soon became known as the ’68 Comeback Special.’ To mark the anniversary, Legacy Recordings/Sony Music has released ‘Elvis: ’68 Comeback Special: 50th Anniversary Edition.’

A personal note: Those who know me know that I am and always have been a huge fan of Elvis. I’ve been told that my office ‘looks like Graceland has been moved to Nashville’! So this new box set is really good news for me and all of his fans.

This 50th Anniversary Edition is much more than simply a re-release of the original taped TV show. It’s a 7-disc box set that includes the NBC-TV show, ‘Elvis,’ along with enough extra goodies to keep any Presley fan enthralled for days. A total of seven discs includes 2 newly mastered Blu-ray discs with all-known recordings and rehearsals from the RCA vaults and NBC’s videotapes, plus never-before released interviews and out-takes.

Elvis hints at frustration with his movies

It seems hard to believe now, but by early 1968, Elvis was depressed about the way his career seemed have plateaued. Critics and fans felt the same way. Since January 1967, only two of his eight single releases had charted and didn’t even crack Billboard’s top twenty. He was churning out movie after movie with ever-weaker storylines and largely forgettable soundtracks. (The soundtrack album linked to the 1968 movie Speedway stalled at number 82 on Billboard’s album charts.) Continue reading “Still the King: Elvis at his best”

Darius Rucker celebrates Number One ‘For the First Time’

Co-writers join Rucker at Number One party

Darius Rucker, Derek George and Scooter Carusoe were honoured at a Number One party, hosted by ASCAP and First Tennessee Bank held at ASCAP’s Nashville office. ‘For the First Time,’ Rucker’s ninth Number One, produced by Ross Cooperman, is the second single from the album, ‘When Was the Last Time’ (Capitol Nashville).

‘For The First Time’ is the third Number One for Derek George as a writer. For Scooter Carusoe, the song is his fifth as a songwriter and his fifteenth as a publisher.

Before the award ceremony, Darius, Derek and Scooter sat down to take questions from music industry journalists.

L to R: Derek George, Darius Rucker, Scooter Carusoe. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Darius recalled the writing session during which ‘For The First Time’ was written. “For me, we started out with just that first line, I mean, I didn’t even need to hear the chorus. I’m like, that’s cool,” he said. “It was one of those songs; I was just writing about me again, once we started writing. It’s a song that, at this point in my career, it was a really cool song to write. To have so much fun as I’ve had, thinking about all the things I said I was going to do when I was a kid, if I would ever make it, and now, everything in that song came from my bucket list.”

‘That never, ever get’s old’

Asked what it felt like when he heard that the song had reached Number One, Darius said with a chuckle that he found out when he was on the road. “I want to say something that Charles Kelly said to me that will always stand the test of time. He said, ‘that never gets old.’ And I was like, yeah, that never, ever gets old. It’s always awesome.” Continue reading “Darius Rucker celebrates Number One ‘For the First Time’”

President signs Music Modernization Act

Songwriters ‘breathe sigh of relief’

“The Music Modernization Act (MMA) is now law! We have worked on elements of this legislation for 15 years. With the passage of this law, every professional songwriter in America, including myself, who has suffered devastating economic losses in the era of digital music delivery, can now breathe a sigh of relief and be optimistic about the future of our profession. Along with the songs that bear my name, this is my proudest career accomplishment.” – Steve Bogard, writer of 10 #1 songs and President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)

“Now the job of utilizing the tools found in the Music Modernization Act begins,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. “NSAI and other songwriter organizations will immediately select songwriter board and committee members for the new Music Licensing Collective (MLC) that commences operation on January 1, 2021. We have two years to build the first-ever songwriter, music publisher run mechanical licensing collective. This will be the first collection agency that pays songwriters 100 cents from every royalty dollar since the digital streaming companies will pay operational costs of the MLC.”

Note: the text of this post is taken from a media release issued on October 11, 2018, by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. For more information, visit the NSAI website.

Higher streaming royalties

Higher streaming royalties resulting from the marketplace rate standards included in the Music Modernization Act will come over time when the next Copyright Royalty Board proceeding occurs in four years or when ASCAP or BMI have rate court proceedings under the terms of the MMA. Agreements reached with streaming companies or court proceedings could result in higher streaming rates.

“It is not too bold to say this is the most important songwriter legislation ever adopted by Congress. When we negotiate our digital rates or go to trial-type proceedings, we expect rates that are much fairer based on what the market should pay,” Bogard added.

44% mechanical license royalty increase

Songwriters WILL see an immediate 44% mechanical royalty increase beginning in January 2019 from the previous Copyright Royalty Board trial where NSAI and the National Music Publishers Assn. represented American songwriters and won the largest mechanical royalty increase in history. The increase will phase in over a five-year period.

Steve Bogard (President, NSAI), Darius Rucker, Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI), Congressman Doug Collins (GA), Lee Thomas Miller (Former President, NSAI) at the Nashville Songwriter Awards

THE MMA in a nutshell:

Changes the standard by which songwriter streaming rates are established replacing an outdated 1909 law that governs songwriter mechanical or sales royalties, changes consent decree regulations from 1941 that govern songwriter performance royalties.
Requires the random selection of judges when performing rights societies ASCAP or BMI go to a rate court proceeding. Presently those judges are appointed for life.
Creates a new Music Licensing Collective governed by songwriters and music publishers to oversee and administer digital mechanical licensing and payments, resolve disputes and administer unclaimed royalties.
Eliminates the disastrous Notice of Intent (NOI) program administered by the U.S. Copyright Office that shifted the digital mechanical licensing burden back to songwriters.
Guarantees streaming royalty payments to artists whose recordings were done before 1972 who now are not required to be paid due to a loophole in the Copyright Act.
Stipulates direct streaming royalty payments to record producers and engineers.

More information about NSAI here.

Loretta Lynn, Skynyrd, more on Inside Track

October’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ sneak peek

‘Wonderful Women Who Write’ at The Bluebird
Martina McBride’s new Christmas album
Loretta Lynn: CMT’s ‘Artist of a Lifetime’
Lynyrd Skynyrd bid farewell
and much more

Catch up on more than thirty music news items in the October 2018 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row. The entire column (and a whole lot more) is now posted here at Nashville Music Guide, complete with photos, videos and graphics. Thank you NMG editor Amanda Andrews! You always make the column look SO good.

The column is the longest-running Country music column in America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at just a few of the items in the October column.

Bluebird to host ‘Women Who Write’

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Carlene Carter will host an October residency at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe. Aptly titled ‘Wonderful World of Women Who Write,’ the series will feature some of her favorite female songwriters and collaborators. Lilly Hiatt and Elizabeth Cook will be featured at the October 2 show. Lauren Morrow and Pam Tillis are scheduled for October 16, and Gretchen Peters and Matraca Berg will join Carter on October 30. All shows are 9 p.m. Central. Reservations will be available on a pre-paid basis for $25.00 one week ahead of each show date at The Bluebird Cafe website. bluebirdcafe.com.

It’s Christmas in October for Martina McBride

Martina McBride did not let the Nashville summer heat ruin her Christmas spirit, and begins her gift giving with the release of ‘It’s The Holiday Season.’ The 9-song holiday set will be released on October 19, the first with her new record label partner, BMG. McBride also continues her ‘The Joy of Christmas Tour’ tradition, this time bringing to life the harmonic, orchestral sounds on the album by using local symphonies on each stop. For this album, McBride collaborated with the late Patrick ‘Pat’ Williams to arrange a set of classic Christmas songs with accompaniment from more than 40 world-class musicians at the famed Capitol Studio in Los Angeles and Blackbird Studio in Nashville. Details here.

CMT honors Loretta Lynn

Continue reading “Loretta Lynn, Skynyrd, more on Inside Track”

SOURCE Awards honor women in music

Six of Nashville’s ‘Leading Ladies’

It was a busy week in Music City. Just one day before the CMA celebrated its 60th anniversary, Nashville’s music and entertainment communities were celebrating the careers of six Hall of Fame inductees at the 2018 SOURCE Awards. SOURCE Nashville is the longest-running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville. The celebration was held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium, August 25, 2018, and was sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms.

The 2018 SOURCE Hall Of Fame inductees are:

(Left to Right) Front row: Tammy Genovese, Jo Ann Berry, Holly Gleason. Back Row: Barbara Baker, Cathy Gurley, Anita Hogin, Ronna Rubin. Photo Credit: Bev Moser

Barbara Baker, Blue Crest Music Publishing, Tree Publishing, Ray Baker Productions, Frank Mull Promotions, Baray Music.
JoAnn Berry, KHOO Radio, Jim Halsey Co., Dick Blake Int., World Class Talent, CBN.
Tammy Genovese, Country Music Association, The Country Network, Music City Sports and Entertainment Group, Crossroads Arena.
Holly Gleason, Miami Herald, Rolling Stone, L.A. Times, HITS, Sony Nashville, Joe’s Garage, Midwest Midnight Music, Kenny Chesney.
Cathy Gurley, WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, Country Music Association, Capitol Nashville, Gurley and Co., You Have The Power.
Anita Hogin, Shelby Singleton Inc., Jack Clement, Inc., Picalic Group of Companies, International Artist Management, H Three Events.
Ronna Rubin, Warner Bros. Records, Rubin Media.

SOURCE Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and inducted based upon peer recommendations, biographies, accomplishments, reputation, the number of years each individual has worked within the entertainment industry, and level of community involvement.

About SOURCE Nashville

Founded in 1991 by Shelia Shipley Biddy, Judy Harris and Pat Rolfe, SOURCE is the longest running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville, and is dedicated to fostering relationships and opportunities for its members through continuous education, networking, and community service initiatives.

SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting an exclusive community of accomplished women professionals who work in all facets of Nashville’s entertainment industry. For more information, please go to the organization’s website.

CMA celebrates 60th anniversary in Nashville

20 special performances honor six decades

Time flies when you’re having fun. Sixty years? Really? It was party time in Nashville Wednesday as the Country Music Association (CMA) celebrated its 60th anniversary at an invitation-only music industry party at the Wildhorse Saloon.

I came to Nashville in 1990 and quickly realized that the CMA was country music’s biggest supporter, promoter and resource. The CMA started out with just 160 members and has grown to more than 7,400 (including, proudly, yours truly.)

To mark the occasion the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and the City of Nashville, officially proclaimed September 25, 2018 Country Music Association Day.

Country artists and Joe Denim and the All-Star Band join CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern and CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms to toast CMA’s 60th Anniversary. Photo credit: Tammie Arroyo / Shutterstock

It was a gala evening, celebrating the CMA’s growth and success as well as the artists that have been part of that success. Everybody was there. Michael Ray, Craig Wayne Boyd, Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely, the Gatlin Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Lee Brice, Julie Roberts and the list goes on. More than 20 acts performed 60 years of country hits, backed by my friend Joe Denim and his All-Star Band.

From Jeannie Seely to Lee Brice

After welcoming remarks from CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern, Jeannie Seely kicked off the evening with a stunning performance of “Who Needs You.” Michael Ray and Craig Wayne Boyd performed back-to-back Merle Haggard classics, with Ray singing “Okie from Muskogee” and Boyd singing “The Fighting Side of Me.”

Halfway to Hazard performed a tribute to Troy Gentry. Photo credit: Jamie Schramm / CMA

My favorite performance of the event was Halfway to Hazard performing Montgomery Gentry’s “My Town” in a wonderful heartfelt tribute to their own Kentucky boy, Troy Gentry.

Backstage, Lee Greenwood and Larry, Steve & Rudy, The Gatlin Brothers, sang an impromptu version of Greenwood’s hit “God Bless The U.S.A.,” which the Gatlin Brothers provided background vocals for on the original 1984 recording.

Artists joined Trahern and CMA staff on stage for a birthday toast and sing-a-long rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Lee Brice closed the evening with a stellar performance of Hank Williams Jr.’s “Family Tradition.” (See below for the full setlist.)

CMA: the first music genre trade group

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. The organization, which started with 160 members, has grown to more than 7,400 industry professionals around the world representing every aspect of the business. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. Find more about the CMA at their website.

The full setlist:

Jeannie Seely – “Who Needs You” (1960)
Larry, Steve & Rudy, The Gatlin Brothers – “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You)” (1983) & “All The Gold In California” (1979)
Michael Ray – “Okie From Muskogee” (1968)
Craig Wayne Boyd – “The Fighting Side of Me” (1970)
Joe Denim & Danielle Peck – “You’re the Reason Our Kids are Ugly” (1978)
Mark Wills – “The Gambler” (1979)
Hilary Williams – “Old Habits” (1980)
TG Sheppard & Kelly Lang – “Islands in the Stream” (1983)
Lee Greenwood – “God Bless The U.S.A.” (1984)
Ty Herndon – “Living In A Moment” (1996)
Mark Collie – “Even The Man In The Moon Is Crying” (1997)
Jamie O’Neal – “There Is No Arizona” (2001)
Halfway to Hazard – “My Town” (2002)
Mark Wills – “19 Somethin’” (2002)
Darryl Worley – “Have You Forgotten?” (2003)
Julie Roberts – “Break Down Here” (2004)
Chuck Wicks – “Stealing Cinderella” (2008)
Michael Ray – “One That Got Away” (2018)
RaeLynn – “Tailgate” (2018)
Lee Brice – “Songs In The Kitchen” (2017), “I Drive Your Truck” (2013), and “Family Tradition” (1979)