Music Industry News Archives - Page 8 of 37

July ‘Inside Track’ ready to read

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ posted at NMG

Here’s a heads-up to check out the July edition of my column, posted and ready to read here at Nashville Music Guide. Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA.

Among the news items this month:

Check out 52 – In the Key of Summer, the new solo album from Sugarland’s Kristan Bush. It’s volume 2 of his four-volume project…
Powerhouse vocalist Danielle Bradbery has created a series of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to offer fans access to limited edition content and unreleased material from “Stop Draggin’ Your Boots.”…
Chris Lane and Lauren Alaina are combining for the very first time on all new duet “Dancin’ In The Moonlight,” available everywhere now…
Country newcomer Maddye Trew is celebrating the release of her new single, “Dear Loretta,” honoring her idol Loretta Lynn, written by Josh Helms, Faren and Matt Willis and produced by Luke Buishas…
Little Texas perform for the first time at The Great Texas Balloon Race in front of 5,000 fans singing along to “God Blessed Texas…
Luke Bryan is on the road with his Raised Up Right Tour and has added extra dates to his headlining engagement, Luke Bryan Vegas at Resorts World Theater…
Cole Swindell launches his headlining Back Down To The Bar Tour on Sept. 23, 2022 Joining Swindell on his tour are special guests Ashley Cooke and Dylan Marlowe….

Find the full stories of all the above items and more, along with photos, music links and more here 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

Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t” celebrated at No. 1 party

Ben Stennis, Matt Rogers honored as songwriters

By Preshias Harris

Number One parties are always important milestones in the career of an artist or songwriter. When the party also celebrates a couple of ’firsts’ then the celebration is that much sweeter.

On Wednesday, June 22, platinum-selling hitmaker Cody Johnson celebrated the chart-topping success of “Til You Can’t” with the song’s writers, Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers, jointly hosted by ASCAP and BMI. The celebration was held at The Local, fast becoming the go-to venue for Number One parties, showcases, and just good live music.

*Cody Johnson (center) expresses his thanks to songwriters Matt Rogers (left) and Ben Stennis. Photo: Preshias Harris*

“Til You Can’t” is Johnson’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. For Johnson, the achievement is all the more remarkable in that he has racked up numerous RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum recordings without actually hitting No. 1 until “Til You Can.”

The song also marked the first No. 1 for songwriter Ben Stennis, although he is no newcomer. The BMI Award winning songwriter has credits that include Tim McGraw’s “Neon Church” and cuts on Ronnie Dunn (“Damn Drunk”), Parmalee (“Roots”) and more.

Describing Stennis during the event, Josh Tomlinson, BMI’s Director, Creative, noted that he had watched Stennis grow as he “kept his head down and put in the work” that led to this moment. “It’s been a privilege to watch,” he added.

Backrow, L to R (standing) : Young Guns Publishing’s Aubrey Rupe, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Anthem’s Tim Whipperman, Warner Music Nashville’s Ben Kline, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Warner Music Nashville’s Shane Tarleton, and Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy.
L to R (seated): ASCAP writer Matthew Rogers, BMI songwriter and Warner Music Nashville recording artist Cody Johnson, BMI writer Ben Stennis (Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI)

CMA Fest back with a bang for 2022

Country music stars and fans happy to be back at CMA Fest

By Preshias Harris and Judy Mayes

I had an incredible CMA Music Fest week. I had my good friend Judy Mayes join me for some super media fun and Catrina Engelby helping us with photos!

*Nissan Stadium filled with fans for CMA Fest 2022. Photo: Caitlin Harris/CMA*

The CMA Music Festival came in like a “Hurricane” (no pun intended) with 2022 CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs. Luke invited 9,000 of his closest friends and fans to celebrate his number one songs (this makes thirteen in a row) and kicked it off Wednesday night – “CMA Fest Eve” – at BMI Nashville’s parking lot.

*Luke Combs and songwriters celebrate at BMI’s biggest No. 1 party the day before CMA Fest started. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI*

Luke brought his friends and co-writers to celebrate and perform with him. His special guests were; Drew Parker, Randy Montana, James McNair, Dan Isbell, Tyler Reeve, Rob Williford, Jonathan Singleton, Hailey Whitters, Thomas Archer, Wyatt Durrette, Ray Fulcher and Shane Minor.

Fans join Craig Campbell and celebs for Cornhole Challenge

Fight Colorectal Cancer benefit kicks off CMA Fest, raises $25,000

By Preshias Harris

Country music fans and celebs gathered to support a great cause and enjoy fun in the sun, Tuesday, June 7, for the 8^th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge. Again, the event served as an unofficial precursor to the CMA Music Festival, with so many country artists already gathering in Music City.

*Craig Campbell and the contestants gather for a group photo before the Cornhole Challenge gets under way. Photo credit: Tracie Moore*

Fans were invited to bid for the opportunity to be part of sixteen teams and play alongside celebrity contestants, with all the proceeds benefitting Fight CRC, a leading advocacy organization of relentless champions of hope in the fight against colorectal cancer. The result: The event raised more than $25,000 for the national nonprofit Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC).

The location for this year’s event was Loser’s Bar and Grill in Nashville, followed by a performance by Craig Campbell and fellow artists in the Whiskey Jam parking lot. This year’s winners were Andrew Millsaps, half of music duo Neon Union, and John Smyth, a loving caregiver for his sister Denise who was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Craig Campbell (l.) with Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge winners Andrew Millsaps (c.), half of music duo Neon Union, and John Smyth (r.), a loving caregiver for his sister Denise who was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC)

Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd celebrate No. 1 with songwriters

“Chasing After You” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers honored at No. 1 party

By Preshias Harris

First of all, Hayes Andrew Hurd is the sweetest, cutest two-year-old you could ever meet! And speaking of babies… Nine months is a fairly standard gestation period – if you are parents, anticipating the arrival of your bundle of joy. But if you are a recording artist or a songwriter, nine months can seem like a lifetime, from the moment your song cracks the chart, going for adds, increasing spins, streams and sales, until it finally rises to the top.

*A scene from the official music video for “Chasing After You”*

A nine-month chart climb is by no means a record-setter, but it was doubtless a nail-biter for Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris who recorded “Chasing After You” and also for Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers, the writers of the hit song.

The song’s success was celebrated Tuesday, May 31 at a Number One party on the rooftop of BMI’s offices in Nashville. Hurd and Morris (with son Hayes) joined friends, music publishers and industry execs to fete Addington and Flowers.

MaryAnn Keen, Associate Director of Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI, was the party’s ‘hostess with the mostest’ and introduced Jerry Flowers and Brinley Addington to the partygoers. Keen noted that she and Addington have been friends since 2008 and have often said, “Cannot wait until we are celebrating [Addington’s] first Number One,” and now it had come to fruition. She also pointed out that this song was the first chart-topper for both Addington as writer and Ryan Hurd as artist.

The Isaacs stay busy with “Humpty Dumpty Heart” and tour

IBMA, GMA Dove award winners The Isaacs continue to ride the road

By Preshias Harris

The multi-GRAMMY-nominated group, The Isaacs, don’t like to let the grass grow under their feet and a glance at their current schedule proves it.

One of the most in-demand family acts in any music genre, they are currently continuing on a long string of tour dates, already stretching into October, interspersed with frequent stops on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Additionally, there’s a charting single and their newest album to keep them busy, along with leading annual guided tours to the Holy Land.

Their current single, “Humpty Dumpty Heart”, has been welcomed by their legion of fans and is steadily climbing the charts. “Humpty Dumpty Heart” is the second single from the group’s 2021 album The American Face. See the official music video for the song here. Written by members Sonya and Becky along with hitmaker Ronnie Bowman, the song is out everywhere now. Listen to a preview here.

Elle King, Martin Johnson, Miranda Lambert celebrate No. 1

“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” hailed at No. 1 party

By Preshias Harris

One thing is for sure: Nobody wanted to go home from the Number One party for “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”. The party was held May 25 in the lobby of BMI’s Nashville offices, having moved inside from the planned rooftop locale due to the approaching rainstorm. The chart-topping hit, performed by Elle King and Miranda Lambert, was written by King and Martin Johnson.

The song had the distinction of being the first by a female duo to top the charts since Reba McEntire and Linda Davis hit No. 1 with “Does He Love You” way back in 1993. Yes, almost thirty years ago, or in a previous century, to put it another way.

Lambert and King are close friends as well as collaborators: In 2019, Lambert invited King to be part of her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour with the goal of bringing powerful female voices to the forefront.

Ryman Auditorium named Rock & Roll HoF landmark

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hails Ryman as rock venue

By Preshias Harris

*The new Historic Marker. Photo: Linda Wyatt for NML*

The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville is known as “the Mother Church of Country Music.” However, the Ryman has been a favored venue for acts from every genre of music including Rock & Roll. More than one hundred members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have played the Ryman over the decades. That connection has now been made official. Bonnie Raitt and members of Old Dominion were among the musicians, celebrities, politicians and members of the Nashville music industry who were on hand to mark the momentous event.

Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium has been designated as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In a dedication ceremony held May 26, Mark Fioravanti, President of Ryman Hospitality Properties, and Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, made the announcement at the Ryman, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary.

(L to R): Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion speak during the announcement at the Ryman. Group member Whit Sellers was unable to attend. Photo: Preshias Harris

Elvie Shane wraps his first headlining tour

Set to play Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

By Preshias Harris

A few days ahead of appearances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, Wheelhouse Records singer/songwriter Elvie Shane wrapped his first-ever headlining run on April 21 with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Basement East.

*Elvie Shane plays to a sold-out crowd at The Basement East in Nashville. Photo credit: Garrett Rizan*

Shane brought his My Kinda Trouble Tour with Frank Ray to a close, playing songs from his critically acclaimed debut album Backslider as well as surprising the capacity crowd with guest appearances by Lainey Wilson who joined Shane for a rendition of her ACM Song of the Year winning “Things A Man Outta Know” and Tenille Townes as she and Shane sang their duet “Nothin’ Lasts Forever.”

*Elvie Shane sings a duet with guest Lainey Wilson. Photo credit: Garrett Rizan*

NSAI holds “World’s Largest No. 1 Party”

Jody Williams honored with the 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award

by Preshias Harris

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with event sponsors, Truist Wealth and Ford, welcomed songwriters and guests to The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. for their long-awaited World’s Largest #1 Party. The celebration was held to honor all songs with a Nashville-associated writer that reached #1 on the Billboard Airplay, Digital, Hot or Mediabase charts during the period of September 2019 through December 2021.

The event began with a special presentation, announcing that Jody Williams, industry powerhouse and founder of Jody Williams Music, was the 2022 recipient of the ‘NSAI Champion’ award. The award is given in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI, and is chosen by the NSAI Executive Director.

*(L to R): Steve Bogard, NSAI Board President, Jody Williams, 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award recipient. Photo credit: NSAI / Savannah Grimm*

“Jody Williams has spent his professional career in the music industry helping songwriters and others. I am one such individual, in my twenty-five years as NSAI Executive Director enlisting Jody’s help dozens of times. He’s always responded and his word is as good as gold.” – Bart Herbison, Executive Director, NSAI

(If I may add my own testimonial for this well-deserved ‘NSAI Champion’ award, during his tenure in Writer Relations at BMI, I have personally seen Jody Williams get enthusiastically involved with the careers of songwriters – including new and emerging writers – often guiding them to successful publishing deals.)