Blake Shelton, songwriters bless ‘God’s Country’

No. 1 party celebrates ‘fastest rising’ chart topper

By Preshias Harris

Blake Shelton was in God’s Country on Wednesday, thanks to songwriters Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt.  More precisely, he was at a Number One party that was held at Ole Red in Nashville, which of course is in God’s Country!

At the media meeting before the awards presentation ceremony, Shelton said he was on a tractor, working on his farm in Oklahoma when he received the demo of the song, “God’s Country,” on his phone.  He recalled, “I was trying to drive and look at my phone at the same time and I figured out a way to play the song inside this machine through the Bluetooth that it had. And that’s when I heard “God’s Country” for the first time.”

(L – R): Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Blake Shelton. (Photo: Preshias Harris)

Turning to the three songwriters, he added, “I was literally working in the spot where, in the video, where we burned the tractor.”  He said that he immediately called producer Scott Hendricks who had sent him the demo and said, “I don’t know where the song came from, but that makes me want to make another record.”

A very fast ‘farm-to-table’ song

“God’s Country” (Warner Bros. Nashville) had one of the fastest journeys ever to the top of the Country singles chart. The speed with which Shelton recorded the song so soon after hearing it and its rapid success took the song’s writers by surprise. “It was a very fast ‘farm-to-table’,” noted Hardy. The song was written on a Thursday, Blake heard it that weekend and by Monday he had recorded it. It was also the fasted song to achieve Platinum status from the RIAA in more than a year.  So far in 2019, it holds the distinction of being the ‘most streamed country song.’ Continue reading “Blake Shelton, songwriters bless ‘God’s Country’”

Mechanical Licensing Collective gets go-ahead from U.S. Copyright

MLC will oversee collection of digital royalties for songwriters

By Preshias Harris

U.S.-based songwriters have a new champion in their corner. In July, the U.S. Copyright Office chose the industry-consensus Mechanical Licensing Collective, or MLC, to be the new agency to oversee licensing of digital mechanical royalties for American songwriters.

“The cost of collecting our royalties is, for the first time, paid for by the streaming companies instead of being deducted from our songwriter earnings.” – Steve Bogard, President, NSAI

As digital distribution of music grows and CD sales decline, songwriters have found it increasingly difficult to track royalties that are rightfully theirs.  The Music Modernization Act (MMA) became law in October 2018 and set in motion the process to appoint an entity to oversee licensing of digital royalties.

Prior to the adoption of the Music Modernization Act, streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music themselves were responsible for identifying copyright owners and paying royalties.  However, in many instances, streaming companies were using songs without proper licenses.  In such cases, music publishers and songwriters had to resort to costly lawsuits or simply give up the fight. Now, the MLC will be charged with identifying songwriters and copyright owners and paying them royalties when their songs are played on a music streaming service.

Strong approval from songwriters

Continue reading “Mechanical Licensing Collective gets go-ahead from U.S. Copyright”

Jordan Davis’ No. 1 party was a family affair

“Take It From Me” co-written with brother Jacob Davis and Jason Gantt

By Preshias Harris

It was a family affair – sort of – for Jordan Davis as he celebrated his second Number One song.  The family tie-in?  He co-wrote the song, “Take It From Me,” with his brother Jacob Davis along with Jason Gantt. It was a “number one” in more ways than one: this was the first No. 1 as writers for both Jacob and Jason.

L to R: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Jason Gantt at the No. 1 party. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Jordan, Jacob and Jason met with media to talk about the song before the official presentations hosted by the performing rights organizations, ASCAP and BMI. The party took place at the venue Ruby in Nashville on Tuesday, July 30.

Exactly one year to the day

I asked Jordan if he realized it was exactly one year ago – July 30, 2018 – that we had all gotten together to celebrate his previous No. 1.

“Oh my gosh, you’re right!” he said. “Hey, have you been talking to my mama? She reminded me yesterday that it was exactly four years to the day that Jacob and me played the Bluebird Café for the first time!”

Jordan made a point of thanking the songwriters in Nashville who accepted him even “when I wasn’t writing good songs like this.”  He said those writers continued to stick with him instead of kicking him out and replacing him with another writer.

Second No. 1 from Home State

Continue reading “Jordan Davis’ No. 1 party was a family affair”

Morgan Wallen raises a toast with “Whiskey Glasses”

Happy heartbreak song written by Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish honored at No. 1 party

 By Preshias Harris

Some songs just hit you right away, and that’s how it was for Morgan Wallen when he heard the demo for “Whiskey Glasses.”

“I heard it and we were like, Hell yeah!” said Morgan during the media meeting prior to the presentations.  He and the song’s two writers, Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish were at the Sutler in Nashville on Monday, July 29 to celebrate the chart-topping success of “Whiskey Glasses.”  The song is the third single from Morgan’s debut album, If I Know Me, produced by Joey Moi. The celebration was hosted by ASCAP and BMI.

(L to R): Kevin Kadish, Morgan Wallen, Ben Burgess. Photo: Steve Lowry

Morgan received national attention when he competed on season 6 of The Voice in 2014 where he joined Team Usher and was later ‘stolen’ by Team Adam Levine.  Although Morgan was ultimately eliminated in the Playoffs, his performance led to a record deal with Big Loud Records and the album If I Know Me.

Morgan knocked Blake Shelton from No. 1 spot

Continue reading “Morgan Wallen raises a toast with “Whiskey Glasses””

Summer NAMM 19 rocked Nashville

An in-depth immersion in the music industry

By Preshias Harris

L to R: Jess Farmer, Heidi Newfield, Mikayla Lane. Jess and Mikayla were excited to know that she has a new album fixing to drop in just a few short weeks. Photo: Preshias Harris

Summer NAMM 2019 is now one for the history books, but once again, it was a three-day ‘Musical Mecca’ for anyone whose life revolves around the world of music.

I was there for all three days at Nashville’s Music City Center. Although I have attended Summer NAMM many times (and occasionally the even larger ‘winter’ NAMM in Anaheim, California) it was a joy to experience the excitement through the eyes and ears of the emerging singers and songwriters who accompanied me to this year’s event.

The Make Music Experience

NAMM is a trade-only business show catering to domestic and international dealers and distributors.  However, for the second year running, Saturday was designated the ‘Make Music Experience,’ an all-day, all-access event for music enthusiasts to demo the latest music and pro audio gear from top manufacturers.

Once again, the Make Music Experience was a ‘Who’s Who’ of Nashville’s musical talent with well-known recording artists and musicians mingling with the non-pro visitors who were able to get a taste of what the music industry is all about.

Lee Roy Parnell at the Gibson booth. Photo: Catrina Engelby

Continue reading “Summer NAMM 19 rocked Nashville”

Michael Ray celebrates at Grand Ole Opry

His third No. 1: “One That Got Away”

By Preshias Harris

It was party time backstage at the Grand Ole Opry as Warner Music Nashville recording artist Michael Ray celebrated his Number One song, “One That Got Way.” The party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI, honored the song’s writers Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen Jesse Frasure and Josh Osborne. “One That Got Away” is Michael’s third No. 1.

L to R: Josh Osborne, Michael Ray, Jesse Frasure, WMN’s Adrian Michaels and Cris Lacy. Photo: Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

Osborne and Frasure joined in the celebration, but Ramsey and Rosen (both members of Old Dominion) were unavailable as they were on tour.

“Treated me like a brother”

“It ain’t a party without a cake!” Photo: Shannon McCombs

My BFF and fellow Kentuckian, Shannon McCombs, was at the event, reporting on behalf of her weekly syndicated CDX Country News feature.  Shannon asked Michael about the artists he looks up to, like Mark Wills and Travis Tritt and what its like to have them as outspoken fans of his.

“Mark Wills, Travis, Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Dailey and Vincent… I could go on and on about the artists that have treated me like a brother from day one,” replied Michael.  “These are the guys that are the reason I started playing guitar.  I was learning their songs when they would come on the radio, with my acoustic guitar. I would listen to them with my dad and now I’m able to introduce them to my dad. It’s like this beautiful circle.”

About the writers…

Continue reading “Michael Ray celebrates at Grand Ole Opry”

Eli Young Band celebrates “Love Ain’t” at No. 1 party

4th Number One for multi-platinum band

by Preshias Harris

It was celebration time on Monday, July 15, for the Eli Young Band and three of America’s hottest songwriters.  They were joined by record label executives, music publishers and other music industry bigwigs at the Sutler in Nashville. The reason? A Number One party for Eli Young Band’s fourth career chart-topper, “Love Ain’t.”

L to R; Jon Jones, James Young, Mike Eli, Chris Thompson, Ashley Gorley. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

The guys in the Eli Young Band are some of Nashville’s most respected musicians with a career together stretching back more than twenty years.  “Love Ain’t” is their first No. 1 song in six years.

“How do you keep your band cool for twenty years?  Well, you never veer from your artistic vision or the integrity of every note that you play.” – Scott Borchetta, CEO, Big Machine Label Group

“Love Ain’t” was written by three songwriting superstars: Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman.  It was the 42nd No. 1 for Gorley and the 19th No. 1 for Copperman, a two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.  With numerous No. 1 credits, McAnally is also one of the on-screen talent producers for the NBC-TV reality series ‘Songland.’

How “Love Ain’t” got to Eli Young

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Garage Tapes: Exile releases long-lost demo treasures

30-track double album launched ‘underground’

by Preshias Harris

Not many bands can claim a history going back fifty-five years with five original members from the 1980s still touring today.  One of those rare bands is Exile who have scored chart hits in both the pop and country genres.

On Saturday, July 13, I spent the afternoon underground with Exile. The band was celebrating the release of their new album, The Garage Tapes, in The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.  It was sweltering hot and humid outside but refreshingly cool inside the Caverns as Exile took the stage to answer questions during the sound check prior to the show.

Exile perming at The Caverns for the release of ‘The Garage Tapes.’Photo: Bev Moser, B! Noticed P.R.

The Garage Tapes is a 30-track double album consisting of tracks that have remained largely unheard since they were recorded between 1979 and 1982.  In answer to my question, Exile’s J.P. Pennington said the tracks were originally just demos (demonstration recordings) of songs that were recorded at LEMCO Studios in Lexington, KY.

“Cecil Jones, the owner of LEMCO was a big fan of ours,” said J.P.  “So that’s how it sort of came about. In exchange for us working as session musicians, he’d give us studio time.  We’d go in there almost every night for weeks, months.” Continue reading “Garage Tapes: Exile releases long-lost demo treasures”

Musicians Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees

Alabama, Steve Wariner, Don Everly and more to be honored

Joe Bonamassa at the Musicians Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Mike Harris

Some famous names – and some not-so-well-known names—were announced this afternoon, Tuesday, July 16, at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum.  A group of musicians, media and fans gathered to hear guitar wizard Joe Bonamassa announce the 2019 inductees to the Musicians Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored with a concert on October 22, 2019 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Noting that he had recently moved to Nashville, Bonamassa wryly said, “I guess I’m part of the problem, not the solution.”  He then announced the 2019 inductees.

This year’s inductees at the October ceremony will be:

  • Felix Cavaliere – keyboardist with the (Young) Rascals
  • Steve Wariner – guitarist and singer-songwriter
  • The Surfaris – for the song “Wipe Out”
  • Don Everly – of the Everly Brothers, who will receive the Iconic Riff Award
  • ALABAMA – the band will receive the first ever Life Time Achievement Award
  •  The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section – who started it all at Fame Studios
  • The Nashville A-Team – the iconic session musicians
  • The Muscle Shoals Horn Section
  • Owen Bradley – this year’s Musicians Hall of Fame Producer
  • Billy Sherrill – recipient of this year’s Engineer Award
  • Bob Taylor – Taylor Guitars founder will receive the Industry Icon Award

(Scroll down for more details on all of the 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame honorees)

Pre-sale tickets will be available August 2, 2019 for Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum members (to become a member click here ). Tickets will be on sale to the public on August 5, 2019 through the Schermerhorn Symphony Center box office.

More Information on the inductees: Continue reading “Musicians Hall of Fame announces 2019 inductees”

MusicRow Awards honor Nashville’s best and brightest

Ashley McBryde, Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Tenille Townes among top winners

by Preshias Harris

Hard to believe that the MusicRow Awards have been around for more than three decades. On the evening of Wednesday, June 26, 2019, an invitation-only crowd of enthusiastic music industry folks gathered to recognize the best of the best in Nashville.

The invitation-only audience at the 2019 MusicRow Awards. Photo credit: Steve Lowry/MusicRow

Over the years, both MusicRow magazine and the MusicRow Awards have grown in stature and importance to the Nashville music industry.  2019 marked another milestone: The 31st Awards gala was held at Nashville’s historic War Memorial Auditorium for the first time.

Alecia Davis

The gala was co-hosted by MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson and popular TV personality Alecia Davis. Alecia is a ‘go to’ anchor on the red carpet and backstage at the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, the Grammys and many more telecasts.

The MusicRow Awards feel particularly special to those of us close to Nashville’s music scene because they go a little deeper than many other award shows.  This is the one awards ceremony that also honors the studio players and engineers who are literally instrumental in creating the hits.

“In an industry where we all face a mountain of rejection and hear ‘No’ more often than ‘Yes,’ having support from your peers is sometimes the only thing that gets you though the day. It fuels you to keep fighting and keep believing in your talent and purpose.” – Sherod Robertson, MusicRow Publisher/Owner

‘Breakthrough’ defines MusicRow Awards

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