Tag: NSAI Song Contest

New albums! New singles! Tour updates!

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ October 2024

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I still have my first paycheck. It was just, I think, a dollar or two that I got when I started as a songwriter with BMI, and I had some songs there that I had through the company, and in the mail I got this big old check for, like, a dollar and a half or something. Somebody had recorded one of my songs.” – Dolly Parton

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. – Romans 15:13

SO much to get to this month!  A heapin’ helpin’ of new albums from Luke Bryan, Amy Grant, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Mitchell Tenpenny and Drake White… a stack of new singles from Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Bryce Leatherwood, Dave Lenahan, Joe Nichols, Sofia Scott and Billy Strings… plus all the People’s Choice Awards winners, NSAI Song Contest News, tour updates and more. Scroll down to catch up…

ALBUM NEWS: 

LUKE BRYAN: Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan released his newest album, Mind Of A Country Boy, September 27, 2024.  (Listen/Add the album here.) Bryan invited industry peers and songwriters who have cuts on the album to a launch party held at the Green Door Gourmet in Nashville, September 10. The bash featured country themed elements as tips to Luke’s upbringing and lifestyle including boiled peanuts and farm vegetables as take away party favors, Luke-themed cocktails and his performance held in the barn on the property.

Luke Bryan

During the launch party, Bryan performed some news songs from Mind Of A Country Boy. Before the party Luke spoke to media and expressed this album, “reflects the more mature me with song selections that best represent where I am in life.”

Now, Luke is launching his fifteenth Farm Tour as he sets up stages in the fields of local farms and a creates a mini city for the day. Special guests this year include Conner Smith, Tucker Wetmore, the Peach Pickers (songwriters Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins with guest Rodney Clawson), and DJ Rock. Find all tour dates here. #LukeBryan

AMY GRANT: Six-time Grammy-winner Amy Grant released the House Of Love Expanded Anniversary Edition on September 27. Listen here. Previously released is the digital single “Politics Of Kissing,” which, like several selections on this edition, has never been available digitally and was originally only released on the UK version of House Of Love in 1994. 

“Gathering the materials for this Expanded Anniversary Edition of House Of Love brought a flood of memories back to me,” recalls Grant. “Those days were full of dreams coming true and lots of irons in the fire. A circle of extended family and friends helped us share the load of caring for our young family, planning a big tour and creating music that would be the follow-up to the magical time of Heart In Motion.  We were managing the joyful chaos of life; riding a big wave and hoping not to wipe out.  I love the songs on House Of Love and am excited to release all the music made in that time…the B-sides, all the remixes and the newly re-imagined versions of select songs.”

Continue reading “New albums! New singles! Tour updates!”

It’s Songwriter Contest time again!

NSAI’s 24th Song Contest launches August 1st

by Preshias Harris

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with presenting sponsors The Bluebird Cafe and CMT have announced additional details for the 24th annual NSAI Song Contest. (Scroll down to see how to enter.) 

Launching August 1 at 12:00pm Central, this year’s contest will award over $20,000 worth of prizes including: two cash prizes ($5,000 and $2,500), $1,500 towards a Guitar Center purchase, two 417e guitars from Taylor Guitar, a mentor session with either Ingrid Andress or David Hodges, a one-year single-song publishing contract with Anthem Entertainment, a tour of the CMT Headquarters and 2 pairs of tickets to 2024 CMT Music Awards, an experience at The Bluebird Cafe and more.

Songwriters of all genres are invited to submit their songs and/or lyrics here www.nsaisongcontest.com to be evaluated by industry professionals for valuable feedback and for their chance to win big. Up to 22 entries will place in the contest after several phases of judging, including a live final judging where the Lyric Category winner will be announced and the Song Category Top 10 finalists will be judged once more before revealing the Grand Prize Song Category Winner. Judging will take place no later than January 2024. 

Continue reading “It’s Songwriter Contest time again!”

‘Inside Track’ mid-month update

Elvie Shane at No. 1, Chris Young and Kane Brown celebrate… and more

By Preshias Harris

Here’s a quick round-up of some of the stories that will be in my column in November. Scroll down for news about Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Kane Brown, this year’s NSAI Annual Song Contest, the 2021 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame … and “My Boy” Elvie Shane’s long climb to No. 1!

“My Boy” tops Billboard Airplay chart

Elvie Shane is No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated Oct. 23, 2021!  Elvie’s debut single, “My Boy” (Wheelhouse), leaps from No. 5 to No. 1 for its 54th week on the chart, according to MRC Data. That’s right: a nail-biting fifty-four week climb!

On Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (blending airplay, streaming and sales data), “My Boy” rose from No. 7 to No. 4.  Written by Elvie along with Nick Columbia, Lee Starr and Russell Sutton, “My Boy” is a track from Elvie’s upcoming album Backslider, set for release Oct. 29.

Earlier on Instagram, I proudly posted:

Sharing a plaque of memorable photos with Elvie Shane

So excited for @elvieshanemusic. He has the #1 #countrymusic song for #Myboy. I gave him this 2021 music milestone plaque when he, Mandy and their baby stopped by the office a couple of weeks ago.  Photos are of his first tour bus, his first Grand Ole Opry appearance, Bonnaroo stage, and Elvie, Mandy and Caleb in a People Magazine exclusive. I watched him work hard all these years and wanted to give him something to remind him how truly special 2021 has been for his career and his family.  I was blessed to be there at the journey’s start. Love y’all Elvie.

“My Boy” was written from Elvie’s perspective as a stepfather. “We’ve been told for five years that this song was a No.1,” Shane told Billboard. “I always found it hard to believe that I could be part of something like that.”

Preorder/presave Backslider here.

NSAI’s Song Contest open for entries

Continue reading “‘Inside Track’ mid-month update”