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”
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”
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!””
Set for June 06 – 09 June in Nashville with 11 official stages
The annual CMA Fest is set for Thursday June 06 through Sunday June 09, and Nashville will welcome many country music fans from every state plus Europe and the rest of the world. Full details are available here.
Artist lineups announced
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 48th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 international countries.
In 2018, CMA Fest featured 11 official stages with hundreds of artists performing—all to benefit music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation.
Fans enjoy last year’s CMA Fest
CMA Fest has revealed the lineups for three daytime stages that are free to the public during the four-day festival in June. Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park, Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza and Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage will feature over 110 performances Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, highlighting fan favorites and rising Country stars daily. Continue reading “CMA Fest 2019 welcomes country music fans from all over the world”
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.
World’s largest songwriter festival attracts fans from all over the world
Hundreds of songwriters, music publishers, media and music industry people – along with thousands of fans – gathered for the 27th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank. Tin Pan South Fast Access passes sold out within days. The Festival took place in Nashville, March 26 – 30 with hit songwriters performing at different venues across the city.
Over 400 songwriters performed at this year’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, telling stories behind the biggest hits they’ve written and then performing the songs as they were originally composed. There were also special guests who popped in to help out their ‘Songwriter Friends.”
Trae Landon. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
Singer/songwriter Craig Campbell performed at his scheduled appearance at The Bluebird Cafe early show and then headed across town to join Trea Landon at his Listening Room Cafe round for Play It Again Music Publishing with Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Josh Mirenda and Justin Wilson. Cole Taylor also made a surprise appearance.
94 shows across Nashville
There were 94 shows scheduled at various locations around Nashville. Highlights for the first night included two sold-out shows at The Bluebird Cafe, legends TG Sheppard, Eddy Raven, Frank Myers and others at the Hard Rock Cafe late show, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne and others at new Tin Pan venue TRUE Music Room and Bar, rocker Jim Peterik and friends at The Local and more. Continue reading “Tin Pan South showcases hit songwriters”
Free-spirited singer songwriter creates music to have fun to
Alexis Ebert’s list of achievements is impressive. When you meet her, it’s even more impressive to realize that she has already packed all this into such a young life. Her resumé includes items that performers twice her age are still dreaming about.
Alexis Ebert. Photo: Rezonant Music Publishing
Opening for Tanya Tucker as a child, snagging a song publishing deal at the age of eleven. Then performing in a major theater production and touring when she was twelve, as well as singing for the President. Sharing the same stage as Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Sugarland, Trace Adkins and many more. Having her songs included in the soundtrack of theatrical movies. Arriving in Nashville and cutting an album followed by the heartbreak of a major label record deal that fell apart.
Experiences, both good and bad, that have served to empower Alexis to make her the songwriter and recording artist she is today. Now she has a new single, “Ride or Die” with a full album to follow. During the 2019 Country Radio Seminar, we sat down to talk about her new music (the video for “Ride or Die” includes a cameo appearance by John Rich) and her unique musical journey.
‘Ride Or Die’ drops March 29
Your new single, “Ride or Die,” will drop March 29, and that’s a real rockin’ song that you wrote with Tammy Hyler. It sounds like you had a lot of fun with that song.
Alexis Ebert: Yes, a lot of fun! I went into it wanting to write a bad-ass song. Basically, the story of “Ride Or Die” is about the guy who isn’t just going to pick you up from jail, but he’d be sitting right next to you, there in jail. That person who is just going to be there regardless, good or bad. They’re going to hang with you. You’re probably going to get into some trouble but it’s going to be worth it. That’s the whole idea behind it. There’s a music video that we shot. There’s a cameo from John Rich in the video. That video should come out in the next couple of weeks. Continue reading “Alexis Ebert is set to “Ride Or Die” with new single”
When Blake Shelton likes you, he shows his love with a kiss.
L to R: Unidentified, Blake Shelton, Eddie Haskell, Unidentified. Can you help I.D. these guys? Photo: Preshias HarrisDierks presents award to Blake. Photo: Catrina Engleby / Nashville Music Guide
During the Warner Music Nashville “Warner Wednesday” luncheon, part of this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS), Blake was presented with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award. He received the award from last year’s recipient, Dierks Bentley.
“I scratched my name off,” said Dierks as he handed over the Award. “It’s all yours.”
Accepting the award, Blake pulled Dierks in close and planted a big kiss on his forehead.
Who ARE those radio guys?
But this wasn’t the first time Blake has surprised someone at CRS with a kiss. Back in 2003, I caught up with Blake at that year’s CRS. It was then held at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel and the ‘old’ Convention Center. As we talked, three country radio air personalities joined us. The guys all moved in close for the photo, and that’s when Blake planted one on the guy next to him!
So I know that Blake is the kisser. But who is the kissee? Take a look at the photo above. I have lost my notes from that day and I need your help!
I know that the curly-haired gent to Blake’s left is Eddie Haskell, now Senior VP / Programming for iHeartMedia, Ft Collins, CO. Eddie was previously Program Director at KYGO-FM 98.5 Denver, CO.
But who are the other two fellers, both the ‘kissee’ far left, and the fourth man, far right?
C’mon, air personalities and radio biz people; help me out here and I’ll send you a little ‘thank you’ gift and post the correct photo I.D. (and your name) in a post at www.nashvillemusicline.com
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
February ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ ready to read now
Nashville Music Guide, February 2019
Just in time for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019, the February issue of Nashville Music Guide is now available with a special print edition in addition to the online version.
Click here, then click on the picture of the February cover. You can then read the entire magazine on any device. My column, ‘Inside Track on Music Row,’ appears on pages 25 through 35, with plenty of full-color photos.
You can also pick up a print copy at Nashville music venues and at CRS, taking place at the Omni Hotel, Nashville, February 13 through 15.
Meanwhile here are just a few of the items in my February column. Read the full column at NMG!
Randy Houser’s new album ‘Magnolia’ marks new era
Bluebird Café’s 37thyear as Nashville icon
Marshall Tucker Band: no sign of slowing down
Marty Brown signs with Plowboy Records
TG Sheppard: “I Wanna Live Like Elvis”
Scroll down to read these brief excerpts, then check out the entire column at Nashville Music Guide.
ALBUM NEWS
Randy Houser’s highly anticipated new album, ‘Magnolia’, is now available to stream in its entirety via NPR Music’s First Listen. Houser performed his favorite song from the album, “No Stone Unturned” on Good Morning America in January, and has been making appearances in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, Houston, New York City (again) and Baltimore in support of the new album including performances on Sirius XM Play, iHeart Radio Theater and NASH FM.
This album marks a new era for Randy. Feeling impassionate, Houser opted to slow things down and set up camp in his good buddy and co-producer Gattis’ studio in East Nashville to recalibrate and rediscover his passion for creating music. He spent nearly two years fully invested in his songwriting which resulted in ‘Magnolia’ and a new sound that is un-polished yet authentically Houser. Continue reading “Nashville Music Guide Special CRS edition”
Songwriters, artists: sign petition to support MLC to collect streaming royalties. Take action now!
Nashville, TN (February 4, 2019) – The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the Songwriters of North America (SONA), National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), today unveiled broad endorsements for their industry-consensus Music Licensing Collective (MLC) submission to the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO).
The submission, which will be filed by March 21st, creates the collective required by the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to license and administer mechanical rights. Additionally, the groups announced the MLC Board and Committee appointments and launched a website for all of the songwriters and artists who support the MLC to sign an official petition: SupporttheMLC.com and a site for music publishers to add their endorsements: SongConnect.org.
“We’ve worked for decades for the benefits the MLC will bring songwriters/composers, including licensing their digital mechanical royalties at no cost since the streaming music companies have agreed to fund the collective.” – Steve Bogard, President, NSAI
Increased royalty payments from streaming services
Personal note: The Music Licensing Collective (MLC) needs your support to ensure its success on your behalf. It will create and maintain a thorough database of music composition copyrights (and the copyrights’ owners), collect mechanical royalties from digital music streaming services, and transmit those royalties to copyright holders based on the ownership claims set forth in the database.
Streaming services will pay mechanical royalties to the MLC based on the number of streams each song has racked up. This a major benefit for both artist and songwriters. The MLC will also set up a blanket mechanical license for streaming of music compositions, replacing the unwieldy Notice of Intention (NOI) that is currently filed when a streaming service cannot track down a copyright owner. This will result in significantly higher royalty payments for copyright holders in the MLC’s master database.*
All you have to do is join. And its free.
“The U.S. Copyright Office will choose who runs the MLC this Summer. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Songwriters of North America (SONA) and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) helped passed the MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT, working on the legislation for years. We are asking for your support for the MLC being created by us. We KNOW we can do the best job when it comes to licensing your songs and protecting your royalties because we’ve been doing it for decades.” – quote from the MLC website.
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”
