Here are a few excerpts from the February 2017 edition of my monthly column, “Inside Track on Music Row,” the longest continually-running country music column in the USA. You can read the entire column (and previous columns) on my blog page at the website for my country music Q&A book, “I Know Country!”
CD NEWS
Ronnie McDowell
Ronnie McDowell, known for 40 years of hit singles and genuine warmth that fills seats show after show, is set to release Songs I Love, a brand new album featuring his versions of his all-time favorite songs, as well as two original tracks. Fans can pre-order the album, along with McDowell’s most recent print, as part of an exclusive bundle on Ronnie McDowellStore.com. McDowell is accompanying the album with his most recent artwork in the exclusive pre-order bundle. “Just In The Nick Of Time” features Elvis Presley and his 1950’s band (Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and Bill Black) on their way to a show. Each print and CD will be autographed by McDowell.
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has revealed their 2017 Exhibit lineup. Mark your calendar now for the following: Jason Aldean Exhibit May 26 to November 5, 2017; Shania Twain Exhibit June 26 2017 to June 17, 2018; Loretta Lynn Exhibit August 25, 2017 to June 11, 2018; Tim and Faith Exhibit November 17, 2017 to May 13, 2018. See full details, photos and videos relating to the upcoming Exhibits at countrymusichalloffame.orgContinue reading “A Taste of February’s “Inside Track…””
Songwriters from all over America (and beyond) are already clearing their calendars to be part of the biggest week of the year for those who share their craft.
The Tin Pan South 2017 poster designed by Micah Mathewson, Watkins College of Art, Design & Film
The Silver Anniversary of The Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival has bumped the scheduled show count up to triple digits. For the first time in the event’s 25-year history, fans will have the opportunity to choose between over 350 songwriters performing at a record 100 shows at ten of Nashville’s top venues March 28 through April 1, 2017. 3rd & Lindsley has a full slate of 10 shows, and Blue Bar, The Bluebird Cafe, The Country, Commodore Grille, Douglas Corner, Hard Rock Cafe, the Listening Room Cafe, Station Inn and Whiskey Rhythm are back to present nightly shows.
Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Tin Pan South reigns as the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. Regions Bank returns for the tenth year as the presenting sponsor of the Festival.
‘All Show’ passes available
Planning to go to some of the shows? First stop: www.tinpansouth.com where you can buy passes for the entire festival. The price is $115.00 for NSAI members and $125.00 for non-members. Note that passes cannot be purchased by phone and must be picked up at the NSAI office as they will not be mailed out. Continue reading “Tin Pan South returns for ‘biggest event in 25 years’”
His first number one song, four years in the making
Congrats to Warner Bros / WMN’s newcomer William Michael Morgan and the co-writers Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen who were feted on January 30th for Morgan’s Number One hit “I Met A Girl.” The Number One party, held at South, was co-hosted by ASCAP and First Tennessee Bank. The song, produced by Scott Hendricks (Blake Shelton) and Jimmy Ritchey (Mark Chesnutt), is from Morgan’s debut studio album, VINYL (Warner Bros Nashville) which was released on September 30, 2016, following his self-titled EP.
Photo Credit: Preshias Harris Left to Right: Shane McAnally, William Michael Morgan and Trevor Rosen. Not pictured is Sam Hunt.
“I Met a Girl” is the debut single and first number one record for Morgan and has sold over 300,000 copies since its radio add date of August 24, 2015. It was also included on his debut studio album, “Vinyl,” which was released on September 30, 2016, following his self-titled EP.
During the media interviews prior to the Number One celebration, Shane said that they’d written the song about four years ago. Morgan said, “We hung on to it and hung on to it.” He recalled. “Once it was recorded, we kept listening to it. We believed it was just a wonderful song all around.”
The lyrics have special meaning for Morgan
The song has a poignant meaning for Morgan. Thinking back to the birth of his daughter and meeting his fiancé brings a whole new meaning to the song for him. “God was moving the chess pieces around,” he said. “We found out the song was Number One on the same day as the album ‘Vinyl’ came out.”
“I Met A Girl” Number One Party
It seems the song has resonated with listeners, too. “I Met A Girl” spent 52 weeks on the charts and has reached an airplay audience of 1.1 billion. The song has also been streamed 25 million times.
The song has received positive reviews from music critics. Taste of Country® awarded “I Met a Girl” with the Taste of Country® Critic’s Pick, saying that the single is “a warm country love song that slows time” adding that “strong songwriting and Morgan’s smooth baritone make the song tough to resist.” So hit replay! More at www.williammichaelmorgan.com.
It takes perseverance
Personal note: Aspiring artists and songwriters should take note of Morgan’s progress along the road to chart success. Around four years elapsed between the time the song was written and the afternoon he stood up to receive his Number One award. If you expect fame and fortune within months of arriving in Music City, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. It takes perseverance and strength of character to keep improving your musical skills, perfecting your stagecraft, building your network of industry contacts and learning from your co-writers. When the real opportunity appears, you’ll be ready to grasp it!
Helping singers and songwriters ‘Learn more, earn more, be more.’
If you are fairly new to the music business (and even if you’re not) it can feel like your career is a mainly solitary enterprise. But fear not: You are not alone!
Let me point you in the direction of MusicStartsHere, an aptly named website that is like a virtual coffee shop where songwriters and musicians can hang out online. Unlike ‘real’ coffee joints, you don’t have to buy a five dollar mocha latte: it’s free to hang out. Just sign up and you’re in.
The site’s three co-founders – Will Carter, Adam Melcher and Doak Turner* – share a love of music and an understanding that artists and songwriters need opportunities to network with their peers and increase their skills and experience.
The ‘Knowledge’ section of MusicStartsHere is divided into five categories: Songwriters, Artists, Production, Musicians and Industry. Under the ‘Songwriters’ tab, for example, you’ll find subheads such as Songwriter Articles, Songwriter Video Interviews, Contributing Songwriters and WSM-AM Songwriter Show.
It’s all about community
MusicStartsHere is all about community, and, sure enough, under the ‘Community’ section you’ll find links to blogs aimed at songwriters, musicians, singers and others in the music industry. There’s also a section devoted to News and Events to keep you up to speed with info about the music biz and upcoming shows.
Doak Turner. Photo credit: MusicCityNashville.net
According to co-founders Will, Adam and Doak, the mission of MusicStartsHere is quite simple. It was created with the purpose of informing, educating, and connecting those in the music and entertainment industries. They see it as an online resource, marketplace, and gathering square for like-minded individuals to work, earn, inspire, and create together.
The ‘ultimate sandbox’
As they say at the website, “The nature and culture of MusicStartsHere is a collaborative one, that understands that success can’t be reached alone. By sponsoring local events, allowing industry professionals to solicit their services, and offering a venue for singer/songwriters or producers to showcase their music catalogs, MusicStartsHere has provided the ‘ultimate sandbox’ allowing each member an opportunity to build their own sand castles of creativity and success to help them on their personal journey through this crazy adventure better known as the music business…”
If you are serious about your music career or if you’re just beginning to wiggle your toes in the ‘sandbox,’ I suggest you click here to see how MusicStartsHere might be a useful resource for you.
* Doak Turner is my longtime BFF in the music business. It was Doak who introduced me to the Governor of West Virginia way back when I handled promotion and media relations for the NY Times bestseller, “Chicken Soup for the Country Soul.”
Carrie and Keith overcome setbacks, never lose sight of ‘The Prize’
Two country artists have chalked up remarkable career achievements in the past few days. And both can serve as an inspiration to those who are just beginning a career in music.
Carrie Underwood
First of all, congrats and kudos to Carrie Underwood who is celebrating a major career milestone. The CMA Vocalist of the Year has scored her 25th Number One with her current single, “Dirty Laundry.” The song marks Underwood’s 22nd chart-topping hit on country radio, but when you add in a Billboard Hot 100 Number One (“Inside Your Heaven”) plus her two Number Ones on the Hot Country Songs chart (“Something Bad” and “Something in the Water”), she has scored a total of twenty five chart toppers.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, Keith Urban made certain of a spot in music history when his single, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” simultaneously topped FOUR major charts. The song was Number One on Billboard Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs, Country Digital Song Sales and Country Streaming charts.
Keith Urban. Photo credit: American Idol
Urban is only the third artist to achieve this feat, following Jason Aldean (“Burning It Down,” 2014) and Luke Bryan (Play It Again,” 2014). “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is Urban’s twenty-first Billbioard Country Airplay Number One.
It might seem that both Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are just plain lucky but that is definitely NOT the case. Both artists had to overcome disappointments and setbacks before they achieved the success they enjoy today.
Record deal falls apart
Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where her father worked in a sawmill and her mom taught elementary school. At age 14, she went to Nashville and auditioned for Capitol Records. She must have felt she was on the way to fame when Capitol prepared to sign her to the label. But it wasn’t to be: the label’s management changed and, as a result, the plans for her record deal were scrapped.
That might have been enough to discourage most young artists, but not Underwood. Looking back on that roadblock, she said, “I honestly think it’s a lot better that nothing came out of it now, because I wouldn’t have been ready then. Everything has a way of working out.”
She went back to Oklahoma, finished her high school and college education, graduating magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a degree in mass communication. But music was still her passion and, having polished her musical experience over the years, she auditioned for American Idol and went on to win Season Four, becoming one of the most successful artists, not only in Idol history but also in all of country music.
Urban makes the big move
Keith Urban found a measure of ‘local’ success in Australia after moving there from his native New Zealand. Like Underwood, Urban saw talent contests as a way to further his career, competing in Australia’s ‘New Faces’ show. In 1992, he made the momentous decision to leave behind that local fame and move to the USA where he was a virtual unknown, finding work as a session guitarist and then starting a band, The Ranch, that had some success on Capitol Records. Meanwhile, he was becoming an increasingly successful songwriter, scoring cuts on Toby Keith and 4 Runner, among others.
His solo career took off with a self-titled album that produced his first Number One single with more to follow. But success took its toll and Urban became addicted to cocaine. For many artists, this would be the beginning of the end; the start of a spiral into obscurity.
However, Urban found the strength to fight and overcome his addiction with the help of a rehab program and the support of a loving wife and family. He has gone on to become one of country music’s most consistently successful stars with a string of Number One hits and a mantle full of industry awards. Echoing his own career-launching participation in talent shows, he has served as judge on The Voice in Australia and American Idol in the USA.
Setbacks are opportunities in disguise
In many ways, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban serve as inspirations for aspiring artists and songwriters. In Underwood’s case, she saw the collapse of her initial record deal not as a career-killer but as an opportunity to go back and work on improving her skills as a performer so she was truly ready for the big time when the Idol opportunity came her way. Urban had the strength of faith in his abilities to leave his homeland and start over in the USA… and then virtually re-start again after beating his addiction.
Both had the perseverance to keep their eyes on the prize. Your music career will inevitably face obstacles but if you see each obstacle as a learning experience rather than as a career-ender, you will be better prepared when the next opportunity presents itself. Make a pledge to yourself to persevere, to develop ‘staying power,’ to persist in achieving your goal of a rewarding career in music. Remind yourself that all of today’s top stars faced times of despair and disappointment. But they persevered until they achieved the success of which they never lost sight!
Protect your online presence!
Check out carrieunderwoodofficial.com – and note the ‘official’ in the address if you want to reach the ‘correct’ Carrie! And also check out keithurban.net, because the site named ‘keithurban.com’ belongs to somebody selling paintings, not to ‘our’ Keith. As a further object lesson, let these situations remind you of the importance of protecting your name and establishing ‘official’ websites and social media before anyone has the chance to beat you to it!
Two of Country’s sweetest voices are off the market. Kacey Musgraves got her ring on Christmas day, from fellow artist Ruston Kelly. “I didn’t say yes…I said HELL YESSSS!!” Musgraves posted on Instagram Christmas Day.
Kelsea Ballerini’s sparkly new ring!
Then Australian artist Morgan Evans asked Country Music Sweetheart Kelsea Ballerini to be his wife on Christmas Day. The two met when they co-hosted Australia’s Country Music Channel Awards this past March. Kelsea wrote on Instagram: “This morning, nine months and 13 days later, he got down on one knee in the kitchen while I was burning pancakes and asked me to marry him.”
Dolly Parton has always be someone who’ll step up and take decisive action whether it applies to her career or – in this case – to the needs of “her people” in the East Tennessee mountains.
Dolly Parton
In a little more than two weeks after the wildfires that spread across Dolly Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton and the Dollywood Foundation launched the distribution of assistance from the My People Fund. During the four day cash distribution, 884 families received their initial support payments.
“It’s a blessing during this holiday season that we are able to help as many families as we have so far,” Parton said. “We know there are more families out there who need our help and we encourage them to be in contact with us before our January distribution.”
The Dollywood Foundation My People Fund provides $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible. A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.
Dolly’s Telethon
Millions of people watched Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon on Tuesday, December 13 on Great American Country, AXS-TV, RFD-TV and The Heartland Network and during several rebroadcasts throughout the last week. As a result, donations continued to roll in and thanks to generous people from coast to coast and Parton’s friends, the total amount raised has climbed to $9.3 million.
Dolly’s Smoky Mountain Rise to benefit ‘My People’ fund
“As, Dolly said, the response has been overwhelming,” David Dotson, Dollywood Foundation President said. “We will distribute all $9.3 million to the families affected. That will insure all of the money raised will go to where Dolly promised it would go.”
The next distribution is January 26 and 27, 2017 at the LeConte Events Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
A sell-out event, the Charlie Daniels 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam hit a capacity of 15,784 patrons in the building and was a star-studded show with a portion of the proceeds benefitting The Journey Home Project. The event featured guests 3 Doors Down, Luke Bryan, Kid Rock, Larry The Cable Guy, Chris Stapleton and Travis Tritt with the Charlie Daniels Band for another historic jam. The jam featured a variety of the artists singing standards like “Can’t You See” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”
Surprised by award
Charlie Daniels was surprised with the Rare Country Humanitarian of the Year Award by Randy Travis and Lt. General Keith Huber before playing his mega-hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” to a sold out crowd at his 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday evening.
“Looking back over my 50 plus year career, this is among the top five shows I have ever done in my entire life, Volunteer Jam 2016,” said Charlie Daniels of the momentous occasion.
Charlie Daniels, Kid Rock and Travis Tritt
Since 1974, Daniels has commissioned his musical friends and peers to come together on a “volunteer” basis to hang out, “jam” together, and entertain crowds in an unconventional, laid-back fashion unknown to any other concert event — all while dedicating concert proceeds to worthy causes. This year’s event featured extra special “jam” sessions with some of Charlie’s most prolific friends who celebrated the Country Music Hall of Famer, his birthday, and his many accomplishments.
A portion of the proceeds from the night went to the The Journey Home Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit co-founded by Daniels and manager, David Corlew, to help Veterans of the United States Armed Forces. For more info on The Journey Home Project, please visit: thejourneyhomeproject.org.
Charlie Daniels’ 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam was produced by Mike Smardak of Outback Concerts in association with David Corlew & Associates and Webster & Associates.
In a video message Dolly Parton has announced a new effort by The Dollywood Company and The Dollywood Foundation to establish a fund to assist the victims of the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires in Tennessee. The new My People Fund will provide $1000 each month to Sevier County families who lost their homes.
Dolly Parton launches ‘My People’ Fund
“I’ve always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place special,” Parton explained. “That’s why I’ve asked my Dollywood Companies—including the Dollywood theme park, and DreamMore Resort; my dinner theater attractions including Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Adventure; and my Dollywood Foundation—to help me establish the My People Fund.
A ‘hand up’
“We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”
KY Southern Rock icons still blazin’ after 50 years
My Kentucky buddies are at it again: a new album, that is, from my longtime friends, The Kentucky Headhunters. They’re back from the Rock n’ Roll Jungle, as they put it, with their latest project titled ‘On Safari.’
Kentucky Headhunters: ‘On Safari’
The album, set for a November 4 release premiered on Hillbilly Jim’s Haunted Hayride on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel over the Halloween weekend. That was appropriate, given an album cover that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a ‘Tales From the Crypt’ comic. But judging from the teasers you can hear as part of a 20+ minute EPK at the Headhunters’ website, the emphasis is on their unique blend of Southern rock and blues-tinged country.
A note on the website states that several life-changing events affected the band’s attitude as they recorded the new album. Band members Richard and Fred Young lost their father just three days before heading into the studio to record On Safari, causing the HeadHunters to let their guard down and pour even more emotion into the record, which they have dedicated to the memory of Richard and Fred’s father. Additionally, the band felt a new energy following their first-ever European tour and that energy is evident on tracks that nod at the importance of family and the Southern way of life.
The Kentucky Headhunters. Photo credit: Joe McNally
Almost fifty years into their music career, the Kentucky Headhunters are still breathing fire and fresh air into their infectious, hard-rocking, unique sound. See ‘em live by all means, but definitely give a listen to their 12th studio album, ‘On Safari.’
Let me point you in the direction of 
