sign in sign up
<<
Home , Academy of Country Music, Alan Jackson, A Broken Wing, Bobby Bare, Brad Paisley, Brett James

August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Friday, August 27, 2021

14th Annual ACM Honors Celebrates SIGN UP HERE (FREE!) Industry & Studio Recording Winners From 55th & 56th ACM Awards If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it, sign up here.

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES

14th Annual ACM Honors

Beloved TV Journalist And Producer Lisa Lee Dies At 52

“The Storyteller“ Tom T. Hall Passes

Luke Combs accepts the Gene Weed Milestone Award while Ashley McBryde Rock And Country Titan Don looks on. Photo: Getty Images / Courtesy of the Academy of Everly Passes

Kelly Rich To Exit The presented the 14th Annual ACM Honors, Music recognizing the special award honorees, and Industry and Studio Recording Award winners from the 55th and 56th Academy of Country SMACKSongs Promotes Music Awards. Four The event featured a star-studded lineup of live performances and award presentations celebrating Special Awards recipients and Announces (ACM Cliffie Stone Icon Award), and Ross Fourth Studio Copperman (ACM Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), and Michael Strickland (ACM Gene Weed Milestone Award), Dan + Shay Reservoir Inks Deal With (ACM International Award), RAC Clark (ACM Mae Boren Alabama Axton Service Award), (ACM Spirit Award), , and (ACM Poet’s Award) Old Dominion, Lady A and Ken Burns’ Country Music (ACM Award). Announce New

Also honored were winners of the 55th ACM Industry Awards, 55th & 56th Alex Kline Signs With Dann ACM Studio Recording Awards, along with 55th and 56th ACM Huff, Sheltered Music of the Year winner, . The show will air live on Circle TV on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 8pm ET with encore on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 12am Publishing ET. DISClaimer Singles Reviews Artists who performed on stage included , , Devin Dawson, Jessie Jo Dillon, , , And much more… HARDY, Caylee Hammack, , , Lady A,

Page 1 of 20

August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Ashley McBryde, , RaeLynn, Jordan Reynolds, Brittney Spencer, , Laura Veltz, Sam Williams and . The house band for the evening included Elizabeth Chan, Annie Clements, Stephcynie Curry, Kris Donegan, Mike Hicks, Jordan Lawson, Justin Schipper and Therry Thomas; lead by musical director Derek Wells. Additional special guest presenter included Sarah Trahern. Jordan Lawson, Justin Schipper and Therry Thomas; lead by musical director Derek Wells.

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay accept the Jim Reeves International Award. Photo: Getty Images / Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

Beloved TV Journalist And Producer Lisa Lee Dies At 52

Lisa Lee, senior vice president of creative and content for the Academy of Country Music, passed away on Saturday (Aug. 21) after a battle with brain cancer. She was 52.

Lee was born Alicia Faye Young in Cabot, , on Dec. 24, 1968.

One of her early jobs was at KTAL-TV, an NBC affiliate serving Texarkana and Shreveport, , where she began to be interested in entertainment stories. She started covering country music and events in the Arkansas area and surrounding states at this time.

Jim Owens and Associates, production company behind TNN Country News, hired her, and she moved to to work for the company from 1995 to 1999.

In 2000, Lee moved to CMT and CMT.com as a news correspondent and producer.

In 2007, Lee accepted the Academy of Country Music’s offer to draw on her experience as a TV journalist and producer to help the Academy establish and grow their own in-house creative and video production department. As the Academy’s lead staff producer, she oversaw all video production as well as the design, creation, and editing of ACM logos, digital and printed materials including ACM Tempo magazine, the ACM Awards program book, and both the ACM and ACM Lifting Lives websites.

With her long history of production and network teamwork, Lee served as a liaison with CBS television’s creative departments and CBS.com for promos and creative content surrounding the annual ACM Awards. She was named producer of the Academy of Country Music Honors, a live industry event dedicated to celebrating the Academy’s special award honorees, off-camera category winners, and ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards winners. Held each year at the historic in Nashville, Lisa imbued the event with a real love for the people who go the extra mile to support, expand, and protect Country Music in its most creative places.

In 2014, Lee wrote and created This Is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards. The deeply researched coffee table book celebrated the 50 the anniversary of the ACM Awards and included a forward by Reba McEntire. MR

Page 3 of 20

August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

“The Storyteller” Tom T. Hall Passes

Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall died Friday, Aug. 20 at age 85.

Known as “The Storyteller,” the singer-songwriter and star passed away on Friday, according to his son Dean Hall. He had been in failing health for several years.

Tom T. Hall created such indelible songs as “Harper Valley P.T.A.” for Jeannie C. Riley, “” for Alan Jackson and “How I Got to Memphis” for . As a recording artist, he placed more than 50 singles on the country popularity charts in 1967-87, 21 of which became top-10 hits.

The Nashville Hall of Fame inductee was born near Olive Hill, KY in 1936. His family was poor, but the boy’s upbringing was relatively carefree. He picked up the at age four and wrote his first song when he was nine.

His childhood ended at age 13 when his mother died, as did his boyhood musical hero, the latter immortalized in his 1971 hit “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died.” When he was 15, his father was shot and wounded in a hunting accident, Hall dropped out of school and went to work in a garment factory, a “sweat shop.”

He joined a local bluegrass band and began appearing on WMOR radio in Morehead, . When his fellow were drafted for the Korean War, Hall remained at the station as a .

In 1957, he enlisted in the Army for a three-year hitch. While stationed in Germany, he earned his high-school diploma and performed in a servicemen’s country band. He impressed the G.I.’s with his original songs. His 1970 hit “Salute to a Switchblade” was inspired during this time.

Back in civilian life, he resumed work as a D.J. and attended college in Virginia on the G.I. Bill. An acquaintance sent his songs to Nashville, where Newkeys Music signed him to a songwriting contract. The company’s co-founder Jimmy C. Newman turned Hall’s “D.J. For a Day” into a top-10 country hit in 1963. On Jan. 1, 1964, Tom T. Hall moved to Music City with $46 and a guitar.

Within months of his arrival, Dave Dudley scored with Hall’s songs “Mad” (1964) and “What We’re Fighting For” (1965). Dudley subsequently issued singles of eight additional Hall songs, including the No. 1 hit “The Pool Shark” (1970). Newman reprised his support with the top-10 hits “Artificial Rose” (1965) and “Back Pocket ” (1966). Meanwhile, Johnny Wright hit No.1 in 1965 with Hall’s “Hello Vietnam.”

Mercury Records signed Tom T. Hall as a recording artist, and he debuted on the country charts with the top-40 hit “I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew” in 1967. During that same year, fellow Mercury artist asked him to write her a song. She was out of town when he finished it, so newcomer Jeannie C. Riley was pitched the tune. Her version of “Harper Valley P.T.A.” was recorded on a Friday night in 1968. By Saturday afternoon, radio stations were playing it. By the close of the following week, factories were shipping the singles to stores as fast as they could press them.

“Harper Valley P.T.A.” topped the pop and country charts, sold six million copies, won a Grammy and a CMA award, inspired a movie and a TV series and became a national sensation. Tom T. Hall never recorded it.

Read more of Robert K. Oermann's obituary for Tom T. Hall here.

Page 5 of 20 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Rock And Country Titan Don Everly Passes

Don Everly, one of the most influential artists in pop-music history, died in Nashville on Saturday (Aug. 21).

His death at age 84 was confirmed yesterday by Variety, The , The Washington Post, the BBC and other worldwide media outlets. As half of , he became an inaugural inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The team is also in the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Everlys have sold more than 40 million records. They toured globally for six decades.

Don and younger brother Phil Everly (1939-2014) were famed for their spine-tingling vocal harmonies, The Everly Brothers were profound influences on artists ranging from to Simon & Garfunkel. Their sound has been cited by , The Eagles, Peter & Gordon, , , , , , , The and every harmony duo that has succeeded them.

Don’s driving, open-tuned, steel-string guitar work was also influential. of is among many who emulated it.

Don Everly was the writer behind such enduring songs as “Cathy’s Clown,” “ (To Watch Good Love Go Bad),” “(‘Til) I Kissed You” and “.” Both he and Phil also had solo recording careers.

Born in 1937, Isaac Donald Everly was the son of country entertainers Ike Everly (1908-1975) and Margaret Everly. He was born in the family’s home state of Kentucky. Phil followed two years later. He was born in , where Ike was working in local clubs and on WLS radio.

Former coal miner Ike Everly was an accomplished guitarist whose distinctive thumb-picking style was admired by , , Mark Knopfler and many others. mentored by his father from an early age, and made his debut as a radio performer in 1945 when Ike was working at KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa. He had a regular segment as “Little Donnie.”

The Everly parents and their sons turned their radio appearances into a family affair when Margaret, Don and Phil joined Ike’s act. Thus, The Everly Brothers became show-biz professionals in 1949, when Don was 12 and Phil was 10. The family relocated to WROL in Knoxville, in 1953.

Ike contacted Chet Atkins in Nashville, who took an interest in Don’s songwriting. Atkins took the teenager’s song “Thou Shalt Not Steal” to , who scored a big country hit with it in 1954. In addition, recorded Don’s “Here We Are Again.” After he graduated from high school, the brothers moved to Nashville.

Still shepherded by Atkins, The Everly Brothers signed with in 1955 and issued “The Sun Keeps Shining”/ “Keep A Lovin’ Me,” both Everly originals. The single went nowhere. Atkins kept plugging away on the brothers’ behalf. They were rejected by RCA and Capitol. But recorded their song “The Life I Have to Live” for Decca in 1957.

Wesley Rose at Acuff-Rose Publishing signed the boys to songwriting contracts and took them to . Acuff-Rose staff writers Boudleaux & Felice Bryant supplied the Everlys with “Bye Bye Love,” to which Don applied a rollicking beat. In the summer of 1957, it rocketed to the top of the pop, r&b and country charts. Backed by Don and Chet’s ringing , the single combined the brothers’ hillbilly harmonies with the punch of rhythm & , a perfect distillation of the emerging rock & roll sensibility.

Read more of Robert K. Oermann's obituary for Don Everly here.

Page 6 of 20 Friday, August 27, 2021

CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG New On The Chart —Debuting This Week song/artist/label—Chart Position Wild Hearts/Keith Urban/Capitol — 49 One Mississippi//RCA Nashville — 60 Sand In My Boots//Big Loud Records — 61 Steal My Love/Dan + Shay/Warner Music Nashville — 66 The American Face/The Isaacs/House of Isaacs — 78

Greatest Spin Increase song/artist/label—Spin Increase Wild Hearts/Keith Urban/Capitol — 349 One Mississippi/Kane Brown/RCA Nashville — 297 Fancy Like/Walker Hayes/Monument — 183 Sand In My Boots/Morgan Wallen/Big Loud Records — 172 If I Didn't Love You/ & /Broken Bow/Macon Music/Capitol — 154 Cold As You/Luke Combs/Columbia/River House Artists — 145 Best Thing Since Backroads//Big Loud Records — 123

Most Added Luke Combs earns his fourteenth MusicRow Challenge Coin for his single, “Cold As You.” These coins include his now twelve career No. song/artist/label—No. of Adds 1s, a songwriter credit for “I Hope Your Happy Now” by Carly Pearce Wild Hearts/Keith Urban/Capitol — 28 and , and his feature on Jameson Rodger’s hit “Cold Beer One Mississippi/Kane Brown/RCA Nashville — 24 Calling My Name” which went No. 1 on the MusicRow Sand In My Boots/Morgan Wallen/Big Loud Records — 14 CountryBreakout Chart three weeks ago. Midnight Goodbye/Lucie Tiger/2120 Music — 10 Steal My Love/Dan + Shay/Warner Music Nashville — 9 Combs co-wrote the single with , , and Bye Mom/Chris Janson/Warner Music Nashville — 6 .

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting Last week, Combs was honored as Artist of the Year at the 33rd song/artist/label—No. of Spins annual MusicRow Awards. I Don't/Tiffany Woys feat. Jordan Fletcher — 177 Wilder Days/Morgan Wade/Ladylike Records — 172 Each songwriter and artist earning No. 1 It Down/Brian Callihan/Reviver Records — 163 credit on the MusicRow Chart receives a New Truck//Curb — 163 MusicRow Challenge Coin. Click here to They Don't Make 'Em Like That No More//Big view a full list of recipients. Noise — 161

MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Reporting Stations WHMA Anniston, AL WAAG Galesburg, IL WTCM Traverse City, MI WFRY Watertown, NY WLLX Lawrenceburg, TN WXFL Florence, AL WMCI Mattoon, IL KYSM Mankato, MN KWHW Altus, OK KFTX Corpus Christi, TX KHBZ Harrison, AR WYOT Rochelle, IL KZPK St. Cloud, MN KITX Hugo, OK KYKX Longview, TX KQUS Hot Springs, AR WRTB Rockford, IL KWWR Mexico, MO KWEY Weatherford, OK KYYK Palestine, TX KDXY Jonesboro, AR WCCI Savanna, IL KFAV Warrenton, MO KWOX Woodward, OK KXOX Sweetwater, TX KWCK Searcy, AR WIFE Connersville, IN WFAY Fayetteville, NC KRKT Albany, OR WAKG Danville, VA KRAZ Santa Barbara, CA KAIR Atchison, KS KZZY Devils Lake, ND WVNW Lewistown, PA WAXX Altoona, WI WPAP Panama City, FL WKDZ Cadiz, KY KRVN Lexington, NE WNBT Mansfield, PA WJVL Janesville, WI WUBB Savannah, GA WBKR Owensboro, KY KBRX O’Neill, NE WCFT Selinsgrove, PA WGLR Platteville, WI KXIA Marshalltown, IA WDHR Pikeville, KY Jersey Shore Country WFGE State College, PA WQPC Prairie du Chien, WI KIAI Mason City, IA KRRV Alexandria, LA KQBA Santa Fe, NM KMOM Aberdeen, SD WCOW Sparta, WI KBOE Oskaloosa, IA WUUU Covington, LA WDNB Monticello, NY KZZI Spearfish, SD WTNJ Beckley, WV KTHK Idaho Falls, ID WKPE Hyannis, MA WOLF Syracuse, NY WUCZ Carthage, TN WDGG Huntington ,WV WOOZ Carterville, IL WVMD Cumberland, MD WCJW Warsaw, NY WDKN Dickson, TN Friday, August 27, 2021

Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power

8 4 1 Cold As You / Luke Combs / Columbia/River House Artists 1646/59 10 145 37 3 2 Cold Beer Calling My Name / feat. Luke Combs / River House Artists/ 1540/44 2 27 Columbia Nashville 15 7 3 You Should Probably Leave / / Mercury Nashville 1525/64 6 90 5 12 4 If I Didn’t Love You / Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood / Broken Bow/Macon Music/Capitol 1465/57 12 154 33 6 5 / Elvie Shane / Wheelhouse Records 1446/47 1 8 22 9 6 Chasing After You / w/ / 1420/50 6 76 26 5 7 Knowing You / / Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville 1368/47 -6 -91 11 10 8 Same Boat / Band / Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville 1355/58 2 26 30 8 9 Freedom Was A Highway / & / Stoney Creek Records 1341/49 -2 -24 19 11 10 / Ballerini / Black River Entertainment 1332/59 1 8 33 13 11 Give Heaven Some Hell / HARDY / Big Loud Records 1305/58 1 12 8 15 12 Heart On Fire / / EMI Records Nashville 1287/60 7 87 42 1 13 Just About Over You / Priscilla Block / Mercury Nashville 1246/49 -18 -272 18 14 14 It’s Cause I Am / / Big Machine 1245/58 0 1 41 17 15 You Time / Scotty McCreery / Triple Tigers Records 1134/39 2 27 31 16 16 To Be Loved By You / Parker McCollum / MCA Nashville 1133/56 1 11 27 18 17 / Lauren Alaina feat. / Mercury Nashville 1059/52 0 2 44 19 18 If It Wasn’t For Trucks / Riley Green / BMLG 991/45 -3 -26 16 21 19 Tip Jar / Jackson Michelson / Curb 965/47 5 50 6 22 20 Buy Dirt / Jordan Davis feat. / MCA Nashville 923/52 11 89 6 31 21 Fancy Like / Walker Hayes / Monument 878/39 26 183 16 26 22 Thinking ‘Bout You / feat. MacKenzie Porter / Broken Bow 872/45 7 59 23 23 23 My Masterpiece / / Capitol 872/40 5 40 36 28 24 Whiskey And Rain / Michael Ray / Warner Music Nashville 851/41 6 51 11 29 25 Never Mine / Craig Campbell / Grindstone Records 835/49 8 60 18 27 26 Not Yet / Brett Young / BMLG 834/43 3 26 18 24 27 I’m Not For Everyone / / EMI Records Nashville 829/45 0 2 17 25 28 Fill Them Boots / / Big Loud Records 795/44 -3 -25 26 30 29 I Can’t / feat. Old Dominion / Monument Records 712/42 -1 -8 22 32 30 ABBY / Travis Denning / Mercury Nashville 692/35 2 12 7 34 31 That’s What Cowboys Do / / Pearl Records 671/38 7 43 14 33 32 Back Then, Right Now / Tenille Arts / 19th & Grand Records 658/42 0 2 9 35 33 Old School / Toby Keith / Show Dog Nashville 656/39 6 39 12 36 34 Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) / Elle King & / RCA Nashville 619/32 7 40 3 41 35 Best Thing Since Backroads / Jake Owen / Big Loud Records 594/41 26 123 16 37 36 Pretend He’s You / Ashley Barron / SSM Nashville 568/39 2 10 11 40 37 Fine / Mira Goto / ArtistMax 541/30 6 29 21 38 38 Villain / Lily Rose / Big Loud Records 527/26 -3 -15 4 45 39 Beers On Me / feat. BRELAND & HARDY / Capitol 496/33 10 46 5 42 40 7500 OBO / Tim McGraw / Big Machine 482/33 4 18 Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power

13 43 41 Local Honey / Mo Pitney / Curb 471/27 2 11 26 46 42 Home Sweet / / Triple Tigers Records 463/29 5 24 17 44 43 Woman You Got / Maddie & Tae / Mercury 450/31 -1 -4 12 50 44 Dirt / Elise Harper / Skyfall Music 435/22 14 55 12 47 45 Get Lost / Lucas Hoge / Forge Entertainment Group 428/27 1 6 8 49 46 Can It Go? / Hailey Whitters feat. / Big Loud/S&D/Pigasus 400/29 2 6 13 52 47 Princess / Dallas Remington / RoadWarrior Records 390/27 8 30 15 51 48 Something Good To Miss / Juna N Joey / River Run Records 373/26 2 8 1 175 49 Wild Hearts / Keith Urban / Capitol 366/30 127 349 5 56 50 Am I The Only One / / Valory 361/25 10 34 10 53 51 American Summer / Kylie Trout / Kylie Trout Music 360/23 5 17 6 54 52 Grow Up / Ian Flanigan feat. / Reviver Records 358/30 6 21 18 57 53 Got Me This Far / Donny Lee / Donny Lee Music 356/23 10 32 5 58 54 Get To Work Whiskey / Ward Davis / Ward Davis/Thirty Tigers Records 350/31 15 45 8 60 55 Rub A Little Dirt On It / Chase Likens / On The Green 316/21 6 19 10 61 56 You’ll Always Be My Baby / Alan Jackson / EMI Records Nashville 307/21 7 21 17 59 57 Is It Me And You / Lisa Brokop / Amersong 301/21 -1 -4 14 65 58 Growing Up Too Fast / Jon Wayne Hatfield / Soundstage Music 300/18 15 39 18 55 59 That Ain’t Me No More / Matt Stell / RECORDS/Arista Nashville 300/19 -11 -37 1 0 60 One Mississippi / Kane Brown / RCA Nashville 297/24 0 297 1 96 61 Sand In My Boots / Morgan Wallen / Big Loud Records 296/22 127 172 11 68 62 Summer Song / Chris Kroeze / 277/16 15 37 10 64 63 Evangeline / Sammy Kershaw / White Mustang Records 269/19 3 8 9 67 64 Make It To Memphis / Shelley Lynch / Lynch Records 258/15 6 15 8 62 65 Better Than You’re Used To / Tyler Rich / Valory 256/21 -3 -9 1 92 66 Steal My Love / Dan + Shay / Warner Music Nashville 247/19 78 108 6 69 67 Walking In Your Wonderful Light / Rhonda Towns / Dawn Records 245/15 3 6 5 72 68 Talk Of The Town / South 62 / Graphite Sound 234/18 5 12 4 71 69 Feel Good Again / RT Johnson / CCB Nashville 232/20 4 8 7 70 70 Hillbilly Shake / AC Thomas / Birmingham Entertainment 229/21 0 1 2 75 71 Record High / Randall King / Warner Music Nashville 225/18 10 21 4 73 72 American Made / Dakota Poorman / Ten Inch Vinyl Entertainment, LLC 220/17 3 6 18 63 73 Hot Beer / Dillon Carmichael / Riser House Records 218/18 -17 -46 2 79 74 These Boots Were Made To Dance / Timothy Baker & Clayton Smalley / YN Records 210/20 11 21 3 77 75 22 Red Flags / Presley & Taylor / White Mustang Records 208/18 7 14 3 76 76 Hometown In My Headlights / JD Shelburne / JD Shelburne Music LLC 202/15 3 5 4 80 77 Please Don’t Let Me / Dylan Gerard / SSM Nashville 201/17 12 21 1 81 78 The American Face / The Isaacs / House of Isaacs 194/17 8 15 10 74 79 Lil Bit / Nelly & Florida Line / RECORDS/Columbia 192/14 -10 -21 3 78 80 You and Sunscreen / Runnin’ Shine / Great Heights Recording 185/15 -3 -5

No. 1 Song Greatest Spin Increase Highest Debut August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Kelly Rich To Exit Amazon Music SMACKSongs Promotes Four

Pictured (clockwise): Lee Krabel, Jeremy Groves, Carly Sater, Sam Sarno

SMACKSongs has promoted four members of its publishing team: Lee Krabel to VP of Publishing, Jeremy Groves to Creative Director, Sam Sarno to Creative Manager, and Carly Sater to Creative Coordinator. Kelly Rich will exit her position as Amazon’s Head of Country Music. Her last day will be Aug. 30. “Lee has done a tremendous job leading our publishing team through the pandemic,” says SVP Rich joined Amazon four years ago after time at Big of Development, Robert Carlton. “Through his Machine Label Group, UMG Nashville, DreamWorks, signings and leadership he’s brought SMACK to its Arista Nashville, BMG and Western Merchandisers. At most prosperous time to date. He’s more than Amazon she worked with artists and labels to earned the VP title. I’m excited to see how he’ll collaborative efforts around content launches, events continue to build SMACK in the coming years!” and promotions. “I’m so excited for Jeremy, Sam, and Carly. They Rich has been honored multiple times, with inclusion on have grown into three of the best publishers in town power player lists in Billboard and Variety, awards from in the last year,” says Krabel. “Their passion and the Nashville Business Journal and MusicRow’s Rising hard work for the writers at SMACK has led to one Women on the Row. MR of our best years as a company. Their promotions are well deserved and I can’t wait to see what they will accomplish in the future.”

“When Shane and I started working together almost 15 years ago, we could only dream of SMACK with such a great team,” says Robin Palmer, Chief Creative Officer. “Congrats and thanks to Lee, Jeremy, Sam and Carly for continuing to build a great place for songwriters. That’s what it’s all about.” MR

Page 10 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Kacey Musgraves Announces Long-Awaited Fourth Studio Album, Star-Crossed

Six-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves has announced that she will release her highly-anticipated fourth studio album Star-Crossed on Sept. 10 via Interscope Records / UMG Nashville.

Star-Crossed is Musgraves’ first album of new material from the Grammy winner since 2018’s Golden Hour. Musgraves collaborated once again with co-producers and writers, Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, and recorded the album in Nashville in under three weeks.

The 15-song collection is structured as a modern-day tragedy in three acts, with themes of heartache and healing.

Musgraves will also release Star-Crossed: The Film, directed by Bardia Zeinali, on Sept. 10 via Paramount+. The title track written by Musgraves, Tashian, and Fitchuk, along with the film’s trailer, are both out now. MR

Reservoir Inks Deal For Alabama’s Recorded Music Rights Catalog

Reservoir Media, Inc. has signed a deal with country supergroup Alabama for the group’s interest in its recorded music rights catalog.

The most awarded band in the history of country music with over 200 honors, Alabama has sold over 75 million albums, have 11 No. 1 Billboard country albums, and 33 No. 1 Billboard country singles. Members , Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook landed seven multi-Platinum albums and over 27 No. 1 hits during the ’80’s, including “Love in the First Degree” (1981), “Mountain Music” (1982), “” (1983), “If You’re Gonna Play in (You Gotta Have a in the Band)” (1984), and “Song of the South” (1988).

While still actively recording and touring, Alabama’s musical contributions have been recognized with inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame, three Grammy Awards, RIAA’s Country Group of the Century, and a star on the , among countless others.

“Alabama is hands down the most successful band in country music history,” says Reservoir EVP of Creative John Ozier. “The records they have broken will likely never be replicated in any genre of music and it is a true honor to welcome their works to our Reservoir family.”

“Bringing the music of a legendary group like Alabama to Reservoir is an affirmation of our strategy to continue building on our recorded , and to do so with such undeniably classic songs is incredibly meaningful to us,” adds Reservoir Founder and CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi. MR

Page 11 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Old Dominion Return With Lady A Demonstrates What A New Album, Time, Tequila & Song Can Do On Upcoming Therapy Album

Grammy-nominated band Old Dominion has announced their fourth full-length album, Time, Tequila & Therapy, will be released on Oct. 8 via Nashville. To herald the record’s arrival, the group have shared a track from the project, “All I Lady A has shared some details behind their upcoming Know About Girls.” new album, What A Song Can Do, out through BMLG Records on Oct. 22. As a preview, the trio has unveiled Through Time, Tequila & Therapy’s 13 tracks, the “Where Would I Be,” which is available on streaming group surveys the ups, downs, trials, and tribulations platforms now. of life, love, and friendships. The opener “Why Are You Still Here” ponders what an ex is up to while the The 14-track project serves as a love letter of sort to Lady upbeat “Hawaii” whisks Jimmy Buffet-style island A’s fans, and reinvigorates the band’s signature sound bliss down south. joins lead singer with help from producer Dan Huff. The project contains on the -by-way-of-Music- their Top-15-and-rising lead single “Like a Lady” as well Row soul stunner “Lonely Side of Town,” but the as plenty of unheard tracks, such as “You Keep Thinking action all culminates with “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” which puts ’s sassiness on blast, and Love” as one final chant soars off to the heavens. “Friends Don’t Let Friends,” a collaboration featuring Each band member—Ramsey, , Brad , Darius Rucker and Carly Pearce. Tursi, Whit Sellers, and Geoff Sprung— participated in the songwriting alongside Shane Additionally, , one third of the group, McAnally and . steps to the mic for his first-ever lead vocal on the devoted “Working On This Love” as it finds him delivering The album’s lead single, “I Was On A Boat That a tender acoustic poem written solo for his wife, Kelli. The Day,” recently achieved the band’s biggest radio album ends with “Swore I Was Leaving” which was the impact date of their career, receiving 248 first-week first song the trio wrote for What A Song Can Do. Writers station adds. The track currently sits as the second contributing to the project include Laura Veltz, Jesse most added song of 2021 and has already gathered Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Corey Crowder, Ryan Hurd, over 20 million streams in addition to 2.2 million and more. YouTube views. MR “We’ve rediscovered our purpose, and it’s to entertain and spread a positive message – I really truly believe that,” says. “I want our legacy to be songs that make people feel good. But, I also think there’s more to our story that hasn’t been written yet.” MR

Page 12 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Alex Kline Signs With , Sheltered Music Publishing

Alex Kline, one of Nashville’s rising producers, songwriters, and multi- instrumentalists, has become the first female producer/writer to sign with the creative joint venture between Sheltered Music Publishing and producer Dann Huff.

Through the new deal, they aim to develop producer talent, as well as artists and songwriters. Sheltered Music’s SVP, Darrell Franklin and Huff have a long history with development of talent, including , John Paul White, Jonathan Singleton, and Blackberry Smoke.

Kline recently made history as the first solo female producer to have a No. 1 at country radio with Tenille Arts’ “Somebody Like That” in April. She also co-wrote, produced, and played multiple instruments on the track. Additionally, she has writer and production credits on Arts’ recent release “Over You is You” featuring Matt Stell and a number of songs on Arts’ upcoming album, Girl to Girl, set to release in October.

She has other production credits with the likes of , Tara Thompson, Adam , Erin Enderlin, John King, Logan Murrell, , Maggie Rose, and Jillian Cardarelli among others. Along with Arts’ upcoming project, Kline is also working on Stephanie Quayle’s forthcoming album due later this year.

Her successes as a songwriter includes Ronnie Dunn (“”), Reba McEntire (“The Bar Is Getting Lower”), Mitchell Tenpenny (“I Get the Picture”), (“Slide”), Bill Anderson, (“Praying Right”), Mason Ramsey (“On My Way”) and various cuts on albums such as Clark (Raising the Bar), (Rise and Shine), Jordan Rager (Habits and Hearts), Tara Thompson (Someone to Take Your Place), and others. MR

Ben Johnson Partners With BMG To Sign Johnny Reno

Songwriter/producer Johnny Reno has signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG in partnership with hit songwriter Ben Johnson.

A Nashville native, Reno began his career at 15 playing on Nashville’s lower Broadway, and by 18 was touring with and . Though he started out as a solo artist, Reno found his true calling in production and songwriting. He wrote and produced Anthony de la Torres and Lana Condor‘s debut single “Rain in ,” as well as de la Torres’ EP, Find Me. He has also worked on records for Track45, Gayle, Kidd G, Twinnie, and Riley Roth.

“Johnny’s talent, passion, and drive to succeed makes him an instant stand out,” says Katie Kerkhover, BMG Senior Creative Director. “His ability to work seamlessly in both country and pop has him set up for a big future! We couldn’t be more excited to be working with him.”

“There’s so much that can be said about Katie, but it can be easily summarized to just say that she is actually the BEST!” says Reno. “As a person she’s just as good and honest as they come, and as an A&R person she’s always strategic and collaborative to get you in the best position for success. I’m excited to be working with her and the whole BMG team.” MR

Page 13 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly DISClaimer Single Reviews: Keith Urban, Hannah Dasher, Laci Kaye Booth

This is a star-packed edition of DisClaimer that features a dazzling number of country A-listers.

Leading the pack is Keith Urban, who wins the Disc of the Day award with fantastic competition from Kane Brown, Kenny Chesney, Chris Janson, Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson. All are worth your spins.

We also have two splendid duets today. They come from spouses & and from old buddies and . The female vocal performance du jour is unquestionably by Hannah Dasher.

The DisCovery Award goes to BMLG newcomer Laci Kaye Booth. Hannah Dasher, Keith Urban, Lacy Kaye Booth Read Robert K. Oermann's weekly single reviews column here.

MORE TOP STORIES

Jeffrey East Signs Joint Publishing Deal With AmericanaFest 2021 To Implement COVID-19 Endurance Music Group, Ash Bowers Entry Protocols

Prolific Drummer Passes , Lori McKenna Named To Recording Academy’s Songwriters & Leadership Hit Songwriter Dies Council

Tim McGraw, ASCAP, City National Bank Named Carrie Underwood Graces Sunday Night Football Title Sponsors Of Ladies Golf Show Open For 9th Consecutive Season Tournament FlyteVu Adds 11 New Staff Members, Promotes 3 Mary Ann McCready Elected As CMHOF&M Board Of Officers And Trustees Chair Sam Grow Previews Second Album With ‘You Ain’t Gone’ : Old Dominion, Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, More Play ACM Party For a Cause Songwriter Craig Karp Dies At 76

Page 14 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Martina McBride Talks The RCA Days, Bold Songs & Her Lasting Legacy [Interview]

Few have impacted the country like Martina McBride. The powerful singer and bold communicator has seen monumental success throughout her 30-year career, including selling more than 23 million albums to date and earning 14 Gold, 9 Platinum, 3 Double Platinum and 2 Triple Platinum certifications. But her legacy is far greater than her powerful selling power.

Martina started performing as a child in , playing in her family’s band, the Schiffters. As she got older she started performing in rock bands around Wichita, where she met recording engineer John McBride, who she married in 1988.

Martina remembers the night she knew time to move to Nashville and pursue a career in country music.

“[My family] had never entered any kind of contest, but for some reason we entered this battle of the bands and Dad asked me if I’d come back and sing with them. My husband, John, engineered the show and he recorded it on a cassette. During the break out to our car and listened to the cassette and it just hit me. I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.'” Martina recalls. “I love to sing all kinds of music. And up to that point, I had been singing all kinds of music, but that was the moment that I knew that this is where I wanted my focus to go. It feels like home to me and it was always my dream as a kid. That moment was a realization that this is what I wanted to do: I wanted to pursue a career in country music.

“I went back inside the building and told my mom that night, and we ended up moving to Nashville a few months later,” Martina says.

John started working as a sound engineer on tours and became production manager for a booming artist on the rise, Garth Brooks, in 1991. Martina soon started selling t-shirts for Garth.

All the while she was hustling, trying to get a five-song demo to the record labels in Nashville in hopes of a record deal.

To get past RCA Records’ strict rules about submitting new material unsolicited, she wrote “REQUESTED MATERIAL” in large letters on a bright purple package, even though RCA had not asked for the tape.

“I was singing demos, waiting tables and selling t-shirts for Garth at the time and I had heard from a friend of mine at a publishing company that RCA was looking for a female artist to sign and they had three contenders,” Martina says. “Another friend of mine had said that they don’t take any unsolicited material, so you can’t just walk in and drop your tape off. He said a little tip is when you drop your envelope off at the front desk, write ‘requested material’ on it. That’ll get it past the front and get it to the A&R person. So I did that. I went to Kinko’s and got a bright purple envelope and my husband wrote ‘requested material’ with a phone number. About later we got a phone call that they had heard the demo and they wanted to have a showcase.”

Martina’s plan worked and she signed her deal in 1991.

With a label deal secured, it was time for her to make her first record. “I wanted to be a really traditional country artist [on that record]. I wanted to be like the female Alan Jackson or something.”

Page 15 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Martina released her debut album, The Time Has Come, in May of 1992. The album earned Martina critical accolades, but it wasn’t until the release of her second album, , that she began achieving commercial success. “My Baby Loves Me” reached No. 2 on Billboard’s country charts, becoming Martina’s first hit. But her “Independence Day,” an empowering anthem about escaping domestic abuse written by Gretchen Peters, catapulted Martina into stardom.

“Independence Day” was named Song of the Year in 1995 and Video of the Year in 1994 by the CMA —but had trouble at some radio stations at first because of its serious subject matter.

“I was so passionate about the message in the song. It really touched me. So, I went to my guys and I said, ‘What’s happening?’ They said ‘Well these stations won’t play the song. They think it’s too controversial. They think the video is controversial.’ I was like, ‘Well, can you give me their numbers? Can I talk to them?’ I don’t think they’d ever had that happen before,” Martina says with a laugh. “I can remember sitting in the office at the studio and calling each of these guys one by one and just saying, ‘Talk to me about this. What is your hesitation?’ I argued my point and I did turn some of them around. Some of them did end up playing it.”

The industry, and country music fans, embraced Martina’s boldness. The Way That I Am crossed the million-seller threshold in May 1995, beginning a streak of Platinum albums that stretched into the .

“Independence Day” started a path for Martina of cutting songs that dealt with real life, even if it wasn’t pretty. She would follow her “Independence Day” up with other career songs like “,” “,” and “This One’s For The Girls.”

“I have to credit Joe Galante because he never, ever gave me any kind of pushback on recording those songs or releasing them as singles,” Martina admits. “It was really his idea to release them as singles. He never shied away from that. As a matter of fact, he wanted ‘Concrete Angel’ to be the first single off my Greatest Hits record and I was like, ‘Joe, it’s summer!’ But he was really passionate about those songs and about my vision as an artist.”

Martina became one of country music’s most acclaimed stars of the ’90s and 2000s, with four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards, three consecutively (1999, 2002-2004), and three consecutive ACM Top Female Vocalist honors (2001–2003). In November 1995, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, just four years after signing her record deal.

Since then she has been an outspoken advocate for women in country music. But she remembers the ’90s being more fair.

“We can rattle off a list of 12 to 15 female artists that were doing well then. We had a moment where it was equal— and it was awesome. When you look at country music, you have the golden era of the , , and . Then we have the late ’90s and early 2000s, which is another highlight era of country music. It was really diverse and there were so many songs about so many different topics.

“When we talk about females getting played on the radio next to some of the bro country, it’s really hard because sonically, we can’t really make song after song that has that lyric content or even sounds in the same vein as that musically. But back then I could release a record like ‘Concrete Angel’ and it was up next to maybe a Rascal Flatts record or an Alan Jackson record. From the standpoint of record production, it was so varied and so rich.”

Martina’s “This One’s For The Girls” has become an anthem of sorts for those working towards equality in country music.

Page 16 of 20 August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

“It’s a really well-written song and it’s a great record. Paul [Worley] and I made a great record on it. It’s so relatable— but I need to add another verse for the 55 year olds. There’s basically three generations that can relate to it and it’s so empowering. What I loved about it was it’s an uptempo song and it’s really hard to find an uptempo song that has some lyrical substance. That is always what I look for in a song.”

In 30 years, Martina has become a pillar of the story of country music and an inspiration to women and girls everywhere. Her career is being celebrated with an exhibit at the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

“When I started this career, I had two goals: longevity and respect. I do feel like I’ve achieved those two things, which is really amazing. To be respected and accepted as an artist and as a singer was always really important to me,” Martina says. “With the new Country Music Hall Of Fame exhibit, I feel like it’s such a sign of respect. That’s really cool and it makes me feel like I did what I set out to do.”

Martina’s exhibit, The Power of Her Voice, is open now through Aug. 7, 2022. She has also recently released special edition vinyls–Martina McBride Greatest Hits: The RCA Years and is currently on the road with Alabama and Blake Shelton. MR

Rocky Block Inks With Big Loud Publishing

Rocky Block has signed with Big Loud Publishing.

Born and raised in Nashville, Block is the son of Alt-country and radio host, Billy Block, one of the earliest advocates for the indie roots music which came to be known as Americana. He has been writing his own songs and making music since childhood, and is a co- writer on “High Horse,” by Nelly with Breland and Blanco Brown and the hip hop/country crossover “Grits & Glamour” by Nelly (with Kane Brown) on Nelly’s soon-to-arrive Heartland album.

Block also penned a No. 1 at Canadian country radio with & The Reklaws’ “Can’t Help Myself,” and has had cuts with Australian rock artist Sam Fischer (“Everybody’s Got Somebody”), pop vocalist Philmon Lee (“Where Was Your Love”), and rising country talent Ashley Cooke (“Under”).

“Rocky has been a close collaborator of the Big Loud Publishing family for a few years. His drive, consistency, and ability to craft great songs across multiple genres is something we have long admired,” says Big Loud Publishing’s Michael Giangreco, Senior Director, A&R. “We are thrilled to now have the opportunity to work with him as his publisher.”

“I’m honored and excited to be a part of the Big Loud Publishing family,” said Block. “Growing up in Nashville, it’s a dream to get to make music – much less with the best in the business. Big Loud’s track record of success is inspiring and something I look forward to contributing towards.” MR

Page 17 of 20 Sunday, August 22, 2021

This Last Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist Week Week

1 1 Beers On Me Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland Thomas Rhett Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY Good Things Dan + Shay Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen Single Saturday Night Steal My Love Dan + Shay You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton 2 2 Hunter Phelps Best Thing Since Backroads Jake Owen Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY That Ain't Me No More Matt Stell Thinking ‘Bout You Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter 3 4 Jonathan Singleton Cold as You Luke Combs Same Boat Things A Man Oughta Know 4 3 Country Again Thomas Rhett Waves Luke Bryan 5 6 Corey Crowder Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line + Kane Brown 6 5 Michael Hardy Beers On Me Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell That Ain't Me No More Matt Stell 7 7 Luke Combs Cold as You Luke Combs Luke Combs 8 8 Randy Montana Cold as You Luke Combs If It Wasn't For Trucks Riley Green We Didn't Have Much 9 9 Josh Osborne I Was On A Boat That Day Old Dominion Next Girl Carly Pearce Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen 10 10 Shane McAnally Half Of My Hometown feat. Kenny Chesney I Was On A Boat That Day Old Dominion Next Girl Carly Pearce 11 13 Martin Johnson Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert Like A Lady Lady A 12 11 J. Flowers Chasing After You Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris 13 12 Brinley Addington Chasing After You Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris 14 20 Chris Young At The End Of A Bar Chris Young & Mitchell Tenpenny Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 15 14 Tequila Little Time Jon Pardi To Be Loved By You Parker McCollum 16 22 Paul DiGiovanni Getting Over Him Lauren Alaina with Jon Pardi We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore 17 15 Drew Parker Forever After All Luke Combs 18 16 Robert Williford Forever After All Luke Combs 19 17 Ryan Hurd Waves Luke Bryan 20 19 Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 21 21 Chase McGill Waves Luke Bryan 22 23 Josh Jenkins Buy Dirt Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan Fancy Like Walker Hayes 23 18 Mark Holman Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell This Last Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist Week Week

24 24 Lainey Wilson Things A Man Oughta Know Lainey Wilson 25 25 Jason Nix Things A Man Oughta Know Lainey Wilson 26 26 Thomas Rhett Country Again Thomas Rhett 27 27 We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore 28 39 Dan Smyers Glad You Exist Dan + Shay Good Things Dan + Shay Steal My Love Dan + Shay 29 28 Elle King Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert 30 46 Jordan Reynolds Glad You Exist Dan + Shay Steal My Love Dan + Shay 31 31 Whiskey And Rain Michael Ray 32 32 Josh Thompson Whiskey And Rain Michael Ray 33 33 A. Eshuis You Time Scotty McCreery 34 34 Frank Rogers You Time Scotty McCreery 35 35 Scotty McCreery You Time Scotty McCreery 36 29 C. Dodds Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line 37 30 Chase Rice Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line 38 36 Brian Davis Memory I Don’t Mess With Lee Brice 39 37 Lee Brice Memory I Don’t Mess With Lee Brice 40 38 Memory I Don’t Mess With Lee Brice 41 40 Carly Pearce Next Girl Carly Pearce 42 47 Tayla Parx Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 43 48 Ryan Lewis Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 44 49 Shay Mooney Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 45 42 Kat Higgins Knowing You Kenny Chesney 46 43 Adam James Knowing You Kenny Chesney 47 44 Brett James Knowing You Kenny Chesney 48 45 Brett Tyler Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 49 50 Jameson Rodgers Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 50 51 Alysa Vanderheym Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 51 52 Kurt Allison If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 52 53 Tully Kennedy If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 53 54 Lydia Vaughan If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 54 55 John Morgan If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 55 56 Walker Hayes Fancy Like Walker Hayes 56 57 Shane Stevens Fancy Like Walker Hayes 57 58 Cameron Bartolini Fancy Like Walker Hayes 58 59 Chris Stapleton You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton 59 60 Chris DuBois You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton 60 61 Lee Starr My Boy Elvie Shane August 27, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

CALENDAR

Singles

August 27 Eddie Montgomery/Alive And Well/Average Joes Entertainment Becca Bowen/Better Than the Dream/Sincerely Music Group Stars Go Dim/Yes He Does/Curb |

August 30 Midland/Sunrise Tells The Story/Big Machine Morgan Evans/Love Is Real/Warner Music Nashville Travis Tritt/They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That No More/Big Noise Jennifer Belle/Heart First/JGSII Records After Midtown/Ain’t Doing Something Right/The Core/10th St. Bill Filipiak/Medicine I Need/Bill Filipiak Stephanie /Broken Down/Nash Farmher Tony Turner/Blackwater Shine/Hilliard Entertainment

Albums

August 27 Trace Adkins/The Way I Wanna Go/Verge Records Michael Ray/Higher Education EP/Warner Music Nashville Nelly/Heartland/RECORDS/Columbia Niko Moon/Good Time/RCA Nashville Boy Named /Circles EP/Mercury Nashville King Calaway/Midnight EP/Stoney Creek Records Ashley Cooke/Already Drank That Beer EP/Back Blocks Music

August 28 Chapel Hart/The Girls Are Back In Town

Industry Events

September 2-5 Bonnaroo

September 13 Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament

September 14 Nashville Songwriter Awards

Page 20 of 20

Jimmie Allen, . Photo: Courtesy of CMA Brothers Osborne. Photo: Courtesy of CMA