April Music Column 2019
Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com Google “Preshias” (TN/USA)
VERSE OF THE MONTH:
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. – Psalm 71:23.
ACM NEWS & AWARDS:
The Special Award Winners were announced for the 54th ACM Awards. Jason Aldean will receive “Artist of the Decade’ achievement award. He is nominated for entertainer of the year, an award he has won the last three years running. The ACM’s artist of the decade honor is named in memory of the show’s longtime producer, Dick Clark. The ACM Awards will be held April 7th at 7pm CST on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Performers scheduled are: “ACM FLASHBACKS” honoring Classic Country with performances by Brooks & Dunn with Luke Coombs, Strait & Lambert (she is the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history with 32 wins), Khalid & Kane Brown, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson. Other exciting performances with Dan + Shay, Maren Morris, FGL, Brothers Osbourne, Brandi Carlile, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Ashley McBryde (one of my fav) and maybe other music surprises. For a full list of nominations and early awards given, go www.acmcountry.com
ALBUM NEWS:
Brooks & Dunn have released another taste of their upcoming collaboration album project REBOOT, due out April 5. “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You,” their duet with Brett Young is now available. The new collaboration offers up a twist on the track, which in the hands of producer Dann Huff. “Dann really ran with this one,” Ronnie Dunn explains. “He locked into this funky groove on the guitar with a killer light-R&B vibe, and it’s perfect for Brett’s voice.” REBOOT will see Brooks & Dunn team up with Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, LANCO, Ashley McBryde, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Midland, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Tyler Booth and Kacey Musgraves on re-ignited versions of their biggest hits. Details at brooks-dunn.com
ARTIST NEWS:
Kip Moore kicked off the second leg of his headlining ROOM TO SPARE: ACOUSTIC TOUR, with a weekend of sold-out shows. The opening stint began with sellouts in Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, IN, wrapping in Bowling Green, KY. Moore continues on his headlining tour with stops in Minneapolis, MN, Ottumwa, IA and Springfield, MO, with special guest Charlie Worsham for select shows. For a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets visit: kipmoore.net. Moore recently released his next single “The Bull,” taken from his third studio album SLOWHEART that spawned his fourth No. One hit “More Girls Like You.” His three previous No. One hit singles: GOLD certified “Beer Money,” PLATINUM certified “Hey Pretty Girl,” and the DOUBLE PLATINUM breakout hit “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.” Tour updates and more at kipmoore.net
BUSINESS MUSIC NEWS:
Luck Productions has announced the new Luck Embassy program, a unique artist-facing portal geared toward helping musicians where it counts. Luck is joining forces with ASCAP and Embassy partners—Southwest®, Gibson, The Line Hotel, and Modern Electric Sound—to develop a platform that offers year-round artist support directly to #luckfamily. “ASCAP has always celebrated music’s history while lifting up the next generation of songwriters, so partnering with Luck Reunion to support the Luck Embassy program made perfect sense. ASCAP shares Luck’s spirit of support for artists and their creative families, and together we hope to be a friendly place for them to turn, no matter where they are in their careers or what kind of music they create,” said ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Nashville-based Membership Director.
CANADA MUSIC NEWS:
Reviver Records artist Tenille Arts took home four awards from the Saskatchewan Country Music Association last year, and she is tied for the most nominations at six for the 30th annual awards celebration in April. Nods this year include “Female Artist of the Year,” “Interactive Artist of the Year,” “Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year,” “Single of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year” for her Canadian single “Mad Crazy Love.” She is also nominated in the “Video of the Year” category for U.S. single “I Hate This,” which she performed on The Bachelor in January. The Awards will be presented in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 14, 2019. “To all the Saskatchewan Country Music Association members, thank you so much for getting me to the final ballot,” said Tenille, who hails from Weyburn, Saskatchewan. “Can’t wait to see you in April at the #SCMAs!” Tour dates and music at tenillearts.com.
CD RELEASE:
In celebration of four decades of hits, John Anderson has released his CD ‘40 Years and Still Swingin‘. The new two-disc album revisits the songs that speak straight to his creative artistry and commitment to the genre. The 40-song album includes several previously unreleased tracks as well as fresh new takes of his biggest hits, including “Seminole Wind,” “Black Sheep,” “Money in the Bank,” “Straight Tequila Night,” “Swingin,'” and “Wild and Blue.” The new collection of songs is available for purchase now at Amazon.com. Album streaming (Spotify) and downloads (iTunes, Google Play) also available. He has also been on the road with Blake Shelton. Tour tickets and music at johnanderson.com.
CD NEWS:
Celebrating five decades in the entertainment industry as an international award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, author and producer, Stella Parton has released her 40th studio album, Survivor. The 10-track collection addresses different issues from the #MeToo movement and drug abuse to Alzheimer’s disease and divorce. Survivor features eight of Parton’s original songs including “I Ain’t Leavin’ ‘Til I’m Even,” a collaboration with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wayne Carson (“Always On My Mind”). For the remaining two songs, Parton put her own spin on Bob Seger’s classic “Like A Rock” and Avicii’s mega-hit “Wake Me Up.” Parton independently produced Survivor, which she recorded at Nashville Sound Project House with engineer Mike Loudermilk. Survivor pays tribute to the self-sufficient spirit Parton established as the sixth of twelve children born to her impoverished Smoky Mountain Family. Stream/download info at StellaParton.com.
COUNTRY MUSIC HoF NEWS:
The Country Music Association has announced the 2019 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame – Jerry Bradley, Brooks & Dunn and Ray Stevens. Bradley will be inducted in the “Non-Performer” category, which is awarded every third year in rotation with the “Recording and/or Touring Musician” and “Songwriter” categories. Brooks & Dunn will be inducted in the “Modern Era Artist” category, and Stevens will be inducted in the “Veterans Era Artist” category. “One of my favorite days of the year is when I get to tell the new class they are being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This is the highest achievement in Country Music, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Jerry, Brooks & Dunn and Ray into the distinguished group and honor this incredible career milestone.” Bradley was the head of RCA Records from 1973 to 1982. During his tenure, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton and Jerry Reed achieved pop-crossover stardom, and Elvis Presley returned to the Country hit parade. More at cmaworld.com.
DUO NEWS:
The Bellamy Brothers will be back on their 2019 European tour later this year and have just wrapped up the successful “Friends & Heroes 2019 Tour” with Blake Shelton. Between June and October, 2019, Howard and David Bellamy will play major dates in Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK. The Bellamys also have a packed calendar for US tour dates for the rest of the year. Between filming season two of their hit reality series “Honky TonkRanch,” and preparing for to hit the road with Blake Shelton, Bellamy Brothers’ found time to record fourteen all-new tracks for their album, ‘Over The Moon’. The album was produced by David and Howard Bellamy along with Randy Hiebert, and recorded at Bellamy Brothers Studio in Darby, Florida. Tour updates and more at BellamyBrothers.com.
DUO NEWS 2:
The Young Fables duo, Laurel and Wes, will be playing house concerts, music festivals and live music venues allacross America in 2019. In March, they arrived on the West Coast to kick off their Playhouse Tour. Each show includes what the duo call “a night of stories, smiles and solos.” The Young Fables are inviting fans to be part of the Playhouse Tour. “We love playing intimate house concerts for new audiences,” they said. “We travel with a sound system and lights to set the mood just right for you and the lucky guests you invite.” To find out more about their ‘modern traditional country’ and about hosting a house concert, visit theyoungfables.com.
EP MUSIC NEWS:
Maddie & Tae have unveiled details for their upcoming EP ‘One Heart To Another’, available April 26 on Mercury Nashville. Featuring five tracks, predominantly co-written by Maddie & Tae’s Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye, the project represents stories of love, loss and redemption and is a snapshot of more music to come from the award-winning duo later this year. [This project] “is about two best friends experiencing the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and everything in between together. We hope our fans hear the vulnerability, heart break, strength, truth and passion we’ve poured into this,” said Maddie. Maddie & Tae recently earned a Duo of the Year nomination for the upcoming 54th Academy of Country Music Awards making it their sixth career nomination from the ACM. Music and more at maddieandtae.com.
INDIE NEWS:
Barbed Wire Entertainment flagship recording artist, Kolt Barber, is set to release his third single, “Cowboy,” to country radio on Monday, April 22, 2019 and all digital retail and streaming outlets on Friday, May 10, 2019. The skilled “jack of all trades,” who has honed his craft to write, compose and produce trademarked tunes as a career singer/songwriter and recording artist, channels his inner spirit and real time life experiences to tell musical tales that come straight from the heart. The new single (written and produced by Barber) is no exception as an authentic signature in the “Kolt Barber” brand. The rock ‘n roll maverick delivers a fierce vocal performance fired by wide open electric guitars (seven total—from Gibson to Fender) making “Cowboy” as exciting as an 8-second-ride in just under 3:07. Catch the song at koltbarber.net
INDUSTRY NEWS:
Nashville music industry veteran, Joe Kelly, who began his career working for CDX, which was owned by Country Music Hall of Fame Broadcaster Charlie Douglas and national record promotion veteran Paul Lovelace, in 1992 and remained with the company until 1999 before venturing into in-house label radio promotion. Now, in 2019, Joe has become the sole owner of CDX, a delivery system for labels and artists to supply their upcoming singles to all full-time US country stations, international presenters, satellite providers, syndicators and programming consultants. The new office is located at: 920 Twin Elms Court, Nashville, TN 37210. Phone: 615-292-0123. “This is a very exciting time for us. When I started with CDX, clients’ music was distributed via the then new medium of CD,” said Joe Kelly. “Today, our clients’ singles are digitally distributed via InstaTrack e-blast, and also included on our regular CD compilation disc.” More at cdxnashville.com.
INT’L MUSIC NEWS:
Lindsay Ell continued her global tour as she took to the stage at Australia’s CMC Rocks. She launched the worldwide trek with an appearance at Verti Arena for the C2C (Country to Country) Festival’s first-ever Berlin date, before setting out for shows in Amsterdam, Munich and Cologne as part of the CMA’s ‘Introducing Nashville’ series, as well as headlining shows for her fans. Ell, a multi-instrumentalist musician, vocalist, songwriter and 2019 ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee, wowed crowds with her musicianship as she worked her way through songs from ‘The Project’ which debuted at No. 1 on the Country Album Sales Chart. One memorable moment of the tour came at one of Ell’s headlining shows in Munich. While she may be a master of the guitar, she lacks to ability to whistle. Delivering a cover of Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” she asked the crowd if anyone knew how to whistle. The crowd spontaneously broke into a perfectly harmonized choir of whistles as Ell stepped away from the mic and took in the amazing acapella moment, a reminder of the power of music. More at lindsayell.com.
LABEL NEWS:
(BMLG) Artist Brett Young wrapped his third sold-out show in Los Angeles at The Novo on March 25, making him the first country artist to have three shows in a row at the iconic venue. The SoCal native kept packed houses fired up, scorching through a set of chart-topping hits, album cuts and addictive covers including The Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Additionally, Young is toasting to even more career milestones as his previous smash singles “In Case You Didn’t Know” and “Mercy” have earned RIAA 4X PLATINUM and 2X PLATINUM certifications, respectively. His current single, “Here Tonight” moved inside the Top 5 on the Country charts, and has more than 90 million streams in the US. Young’s sophomore release TICKET TO L.A. (BMLG Records) debuted atop the Billboard Country Albums chart and follows his PLATINUM self-titled debut, which dominated the Top 20 on the Country Albums chart for 37 weeks. More at BrettYoungMusic.com.
(Plowboy Records) Country entertainer and hit songwriter Marty Brown has released a romantic, sun-drenched companion video for his new single, “Umbrella Lovers.” The clip, produced, directed and filmed by Brown, premiered on Taste of Country. The video was filmed in Orange Beach, AL and Franklin, KY. A family affair that features Marty’s daughter Emma in a starring role (along with real life boyfriend Bruce Taylor), with her siblings Randy and Christian cast as OT’s Grill patrons. Brown’s wife Shellie shines as the pub’s waitress fortifying Marty with liquid refreshment as he composes the song, guitar in hand. Marty said that one of the large prop umbrellas blew away during filming. “Some fishermen grabbed it as it tumbled down the beach,” Brown recalls. “Said it was the only thing they’d caught all day. That was a bit of luck for us for sure.” See the video at martybrownmusic.com.
LEGEND NEWS:
Great news! After suffering a stroke and spending two weeks in the hospital, Jerry Lee Lewis has been transferred to a rehabilitation center. “Jerry Lee Lewis is expected to fully recover with aggressive and intensive rehab. From what I have seen thus far, he is heading in the right direction,” said Dr. Rohini Bhole, M.D., Lewis’ Neurologist. As such, Jerry Lee Lewis will unfortunately have to cancel his appearances on April 28 at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, May 18 at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, Tenn. and on June 8 at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Va. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer greatly appreciates the prayers and well wishes he’s received from fans all over the world. He wants them to know he can’t wait to get back onstage and into the studio to make his Gospel record. Follow ‘The Killer’ at jerryleelewis.com
Rock Legend: The world’s most renowned drummer and Beatles legend Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band are hitting the road in celebratory fashion for the group’s “30th Anniversary Tour.” Starr and his band will make their debut in Star City, Roanoke, Virginia, at Berglund Center on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Alongside his All-Starr Band — Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Gregg Rolie, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette and Hamish Stuart — Starr’s set will include his original-solo songs as well as the classics true Beatles fans will want to hear. Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, Sir Ringo Starr began his career with The Beatles in the 1960s, Ringo has been one of the world’s brightest musical luminaries. He has enjoyed a successful, dynamic solo career as a singer, songwriter, drummer, collaborator, and producer. He is a longtime advocate for humanitarian and environmental causes. Tour details at ringostarr.com.
MEDIA NEWS:
Kip Moore announced he will release ROOM TO SPARE, his first Record Store Day vinyl on April 13. The special collection of songs will include seven tracks that were released on his ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC EP, marking the first time the songs will be available on vinyl. As well as the stripped-back acoustic tracks, there will be five additional tracks from Moore’s previous studio albums including “Plead The Fifth,” “Last Shot,” “The Bull” and “Guitar Man” taken from SLOWHEART and “That Was Us” from WILD ONES. Fans can purchase the vinyl at participating record stores, available to search here. “I’m still a big believer that there’s something special about the physical part of buying a record,” said Moore. “For me, there’s nothing better than the sound of vinyl and so I’m really happy that these songs are going to be able to be heard that way.” More at kipmoore.net.
MUSIC NEWS:
Rascal Flatts have been presented with Pandora’s “Billionaire Plaque.” The milestone plaque marks the trio receiving over four billion streams on Pandora. One band. Ten albums. Seventeen No. One hits. Over 27 million records. The trio’s new single “Back To Life” is currently ascending at Country radio and follows back-to-back chart-topping singles “Yours If You Want It” as well as “I Like The Sound Of That” (Big Machine Records). Rascal Flatts recently dropped a four-song EP, JUKEBOX as a surprise for fans, featuring special spins on their most-loved songs. Tour updates, music and more at rascalflatts.com.
MUSICIAN NEWS:
‘Blue Dizzy’ at Wildhorse is a new monthly entertainment experience reminiscent of a bygone era of supper clubs and variety shows. Anchored by musicians, music and comedy from Joe Denim and featuring special guest appearances from A-list performers, expect onstage barstool gossip, loads of laughter and the opportunity to take a spin around the dance floor. Blue Dizzy kicked off in March. The April 18 show features William Michael Morgan and Ray Scott. The monthly series will run through November at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. “Blue Dizzy will offer an ‘only in Nashville’ interactive experience, fueled by music, people, and libations,” said Denim. “Fans will get to see the artists and performers in a different light than at a typical show, and that light shines from Blue Dizzy.” A portion of the proceeds will benefit the CMA Foundation. Tickets and info at wildhorsesaloon.com.
NSAI NEWS:
Some advance notice to mark your calendar now: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has announced that its Nashville Songwriter Awards presented by City National Bank will return to the Ryman Auditorium in 2019. The star-studded evening is set for September 17, 2019, and the event will be one not to miss. “We are very proud to present this important and exciting event recognizing Nashville’s finest songwriters and their songs again at the hallowed Ryman Auditorium,” said NSAI President, award-winning songwriter Steve Bogard. “It promises to be an amazing night full of memorable performances honoring the best in our business.” Updates will follow. More about NSAI at nashvillesongwriters.com.
NUMBER ONE NEWS:
Scotty McCreery celebrated his secondNo. 1 hit, “This Is It,” co-written with Aaron Eshuis and Frank Rogers, at a No. 1 party co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI on March 20. Scotty wrote it 2 weeks before proposing to his long-time girlfriend, Gabi Dugal. He sang it at their wedding, and footage from the wedding formed part of the music video for the song. It followed his previous No. 1, “Five More Minutes.” See a full report, including remarks by Scotty and his co-writers, at my blog www.nashvillemusicline.com .….
It’s three strikes in a row for Kane Brown. In baseball that means you’re out. But when you’re bowling, three strikes is something to cheer about. That’s why Kane and his co-writers Will Weatherly and Chase McGill celebrated “Lose It,” Kane’s third consecutive No. 1 at the Tusculum Strike and Spare bowling alley. Producer Dan Huff was there too to join in the fun that was emceed by BMI’s Leslie Roberts. More at kanebrownmusic.com.
RADIO NEWS:
Capitol Records’ Caylee Hammack makes a bold introduction with “Family Tree,” her debut single for Capitol Nashville, now at radio. Hammack co-wrote and co-produced the track that ties together her fiery attitude and distinct vocals. She was recently highlighted as one of 2019’s artists to watch by outlets such as The Bobby Bones Show and HITS Magazine and with over two million streams just weeks after introducing the song to fans. The summer is heating up for Hammack as she claims upcoming slots with both Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne on their tours and will appear at some of country music’s biggest festivals including Tortuga, Country LakeShake, Faster Horses Festival and more. Tour schedule and music at cayleehammack.com.
ROW NEWS:
Music Row industry vets David Corlew and Bob Frank have announced the formation of a new Nashville-based publishing company, Corlew-Frank Music. Scott Brown of The Scooter Brown Band has signed on as the group’s flagship songwriter. Seasoned publisher Kim Jones has accepted a position as the company’s Creative Director. “David and I are looking forward to building Corlew-Frank Music into a preeminent independent publishing company,” says Frank. “He has a tremendous history of success and finding talented writers very early on in their development.”
SINGLE NEWS:
Love and Theft return to the forefront with their new single “Gimme Tonight.” The sultry upbeat jam written by Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three) and the late Andrew Dorff, will be available worldwide on April 19th. With this release (produced by Love and Theft, Josh Leo and Jim Ed Norman) the duo continues to evolve and push boundaries with their music by featuring their signature harmonies wrapped in a fresh modern sound and production. CMA, ACM and CMT-nominated duo Love and Theft, made up of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, first hit the scene with their debut single “Runaway” which landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard Country Charts. They followed it up with their #1 platinum hit, “Angel Eyes”, from their self-titled album on RCA Records Nashville. The album also yielded “If You Ever Get Lonely,” “Running Out Of Air,” and fan-favorite “Amen.”
SONG NEWS:
John Berry has released a heartfelt and personal song from his latest project, “Thomas Road.” The endearing single, titled “The Richest Man” is dedicated to his dad who taught him that the most valuable things in life typically had very little to do with money. “We wanted this to be personal and tell a story,” Berry told Billboard, “to create a meaningful video to honor those who enriched our lives with the values, and put priority on the things in life that truly have lasting meaning.” Berry added: “It is with a grateful heart for a dad that loved me and showed me what was important in life that I dedicate this work to my father, Jim Berry, and to other fathers that walked before and after him, that strove to make their children’s lives full and rich in what really mattered, faith, family, and friends.” Going back to his roots, the EP, “Thomas Road,” is named after the street he grew up on in Decatur, GA. Links to video and music at johnberry.com.
TRIO NEWS:
The new country trio Lockeland (Michael Boris, Kyndon Oakes and Mark Vikingstad) has introduced its debut single, “Til The Cows Come Home.” The fun-loving hook is cleverly coined with nursery rhyme lyrics electrified by heart-pounding drumbeats, rockin’ guitar licks and smooth, groovin’ harmonies. The easy-does-it, tongue-in-cheek love song gives a shout-out to Russell Stover—likening a newfound love to a “box of chocolates—and “Full Moon Fever.” Lockeland is straight-up contemporary country with a throwback twist; the trio’s blend of talents complement one another naturally and instinctively. With a captivating, subtle, sneaking energy, whether in an intimate acoustic setting or a rockin’ full band show, Lockeland stakes its claim on the map to create a memorable experience like no other. More info at lockelandband.com.
TOUR NEWS:
Michael Ray began the year with his appropriately named ‘Nineteen Tour.’ Currently confirmed dates stretch into August 2019. Check out latest tour updates at MichaelRayMusic.com, and stream “One That Got Away.” ….
Rascal Flatts announced their stacked headlining SUMMER PLAYLIST TOUR. Kicking off at two thirds of the group’s home state of Ohio with a stop in Cincinnati on 5/16, the trio revealed that special guests will join them on the road this summer. Known for championing artists, Rascal Flatts has invited Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Jordan Davis, Jimmie Allen, Morgan Evans and LOCASH to join them on select dates along the way. “We’ve been so fortunate on our journey to be able to have the best of the best new and established artists join us out on tour,” said Gary LeVox. “It’s been awesome to see those artists go on to such amazing successes. We’re excited this year to be able to have an awesome lineup of special guests, and we’re just ready to get back out on the road this summer.” Tickets for select cities available now at www.Megaticket.com. Tour info updates at RascalFlatts.com.
VIDEO NEWS:
The members of Farewell Angelina are looking sharp in their new music video for “Ghosts.” Premiered by CMT, the video showcases the women in ritzy dresses as they sing their reflective song from their recently released Women & Wine EP. Andrea Young, Ashley Gearing, Lisa Torres and Nicole Witt look as timeless as ever as they perform the song, penned by Young and Witt with Logan Brill. Inspiration to write the song came after Andrea played the Grand Ole Opry one night. She posted a picture of the historic stage to her Instagram saying “Even The Ghosts Are Singing Tonight.” One of her personal heroes and mentors was George McCorkle of the Marshall Tucker Band who wrote the sampled, “Fire On The Mountain,” in fact, she played his last show with him at the Gillioz Theater in Springfield, Mo. Link to the video at farewellangelinamusic.com.
WWWEBSITES TO CHECKOUT:
www.cmaworld.com / www.namm.org /
www.cdxcd.com / www.proverbs1210rescue.org.
WHO’S LOOKING * WHO’S CUTTING:
Brooke Eden, Luke Bryan, Heath Coleman, Jess Taylor,
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