Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS JULY 6, 2020 | PAGE 1 OF 22 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE [email protected] Bryan Has ‘One’ What’s New? HARDY, McCollum, Quick ‘Margarita’ >page 4 Hammack Prep National Debut Projects Charlie Daniels Anyone who thinks country music occupies a narrow band in exhibiting a country tone and spunk that compare favorably Remembered the stylistic universe would do well to check out some of the to Carly Pearce and Jana Kramer. Ellis has dropped one self- >page 12 new artists on the way in the last half of 2020. funded EP prior to her forthcoming Nashville label debut, and Rock-edged HARDY and Tim Montana, pop-leaning Noah she also landed a cut on the Teen Wolf soundtrack. Schnacky, Texas-bred Parker McCollum and emotionally raw • Filmore (Curb) — Percolating rhythms and old-school Caylee Hammack comprise a good chunk of the next group pop melodies are the norm for Filmore and his passionate Jimmie Allen Gets of acts with their first albums or EPs for a major label or top tenor. A Wildwood, Mo., native, he honed his chops while Paired Up indie on the way. working the college circuit and built an online presence >page 14 Many of the sounds arriving at the moment might not have on his way to a Curb deal. His first full album for an estab- been accepted in another age, though the genre is constantly lished label, State I’m In, is expected Oct. 30, following a new evolving, reflecting the changing single mid-August. influences of its artists and its audi- • Ryan Griffin (Altadena/ ACM Wine Party With ences. In some cases, such as Ryan Warner) — The 2019 death of Pearce, Townes Griffin, who grew up idolizing both producer busbee (Pearce, Maren >page 14 country figures and R&B balladeer Morris) delayed his debut EP, Brian McKnight, an act can pin- though it’s now in the mix for late point the exact moment they real- August. Bearing a blue-eyed soul Makin’ Tracks: ized the boundaries had shifted. resemblance to Rascal Flatts’ “I was driving down the driveway, Gary LeVox, Griffin’s high notes Mickey Guyton’s GRIFFIN HAMMACK FILMORE ‘Black Like Me’ I got about halfway down, and I was hint at painful vulnerability >page 19 heading to school in the morning,” even as they suggest a hopeful he recalls. “The song ‘You’ll Think of Me’ came on the radio. It future. A former tour opener for Old Dominion, Griffin also was Keith Urban, and I literally put my car in park, turned the cowrote Kelsea Ballerini’s “Dibs.” radio up, closed my eyes and just sat there. And I realized in that • Caylee Hammack (Universal Music Group) — Nominated Country Coda: moment that there’s a place for me in country music.” for two Academy of Country Music Awards, Georgia-bred Paisley Left Here’s a look at those who hope to make a place for them- Hammack has overcome two house fires and a teenage bout ‘Water’ Mark selves with their first big-time album or EP during the final six with cancer to arrive at the precipice of her first album, If It >page 22 months of 2020: Wasn’t for You (Aug. 14, Capitol Nashville). She evokes a raw, • Hannah Ellis (Curb) — The former Voice competitor turned worldly quality as a vocalist while occasionally tapping a Dolly a Curb | Word publishing deal into a full recording contract, Parton-like innocence. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE JULY 6, 2020 | PAGE 2 OF 22 • HARDY (Big Loud) — After writing hits for Blake Shelton, LOCASH and Morgan Wallen, HARDY’s own “One Beer” (No. 25, Country Airplay) is making his one name much more familiar to the average country fan. Smart, twisty songwriting and his penchant for small-town stories seed a first album expected in late summer or early fall ladled with classic-rock, Southern rock and alt-rock influences. • Parker McCollum (MCA Nashville) — Already a known quantity on the Texas club circuit, McCollum is breaking out nationally with catchy single “Pretty Heart” (No. 26, Country Airplay). With two previous indie albums under his belt, he already has a healthy backlog of heart-on-the-sleeve admis- sions to keep new fans exploring. Will the first major-label project be an EP? LP? TBD. Kane Brown (left) delivered the first TV performance of “Worldwide • Tim Montana (Knox Music) — “For Montana, the Big Sky is the limit.” Beautiful” during an appearance with gospel singer Jonathan The cheeky final line of his bio references Montana’s home state and McReynolds on the BET Awards, which aired June 29. his real last name. A gritty, blues/rock sound fits that background, as do friendships with Kid Rock and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Montana arrives at the BBR Music Group through producer Michael Knox (Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins). • MacKenzie Porter (Big Loud) — With her first Big Loud single, “These Days,” released to radio in April, Porter’s girl-next-door vocals cut like a blade while the distinct lift of her choruses comes direct from the Taylor Swift school of songwriting. Thrice nominated in the Canadian Country Music Awards, Porter’s first American album has a tentative October release date attached. • REDFERRIN (Round Here) — Emerging on Florida Georgia Line’s label, singer-songwriter Blake Redferrin owns his sound, easing into a drawling effort while obliquely celebrating his neck with “Red in My Last Name.” His hard consonants and Southern enunciations suggest he draws heavily from FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. No official date for REDFERRIN’s debut EP has been set, though it could come as early as August. Carly Pearce (left) received a surprise visit from Country Music • RoadHouse (BBR Music Group) — Forget “Dueling Banjos.” Country’s Association CEO Sarah Trahern during the July 1 livestream of CMA now looking at dueling turntables with an EP from Dee Jay Silver and DJ Summer Stay-Cay. Trahern presented Pearce plaques honoring her Ikon. What’s in store — remixes and mashups of established hits, similar RIAA-certified gold single “Hide the Wine” and platinum duet with Lee to Silver’s country concert productions? Original EDM material sung by Brice, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” country artists, a la Diplo? The label is leaving room for both possibilities. • Noah Schnacky (Big Machine) — Two of the seven titles on his eponymous debut, “Meet the Man” and “Hello Beautiful,” practically announce the project as an introduction. Due July 24, the EP is loaded with optimism, a trait that has helped him amass 2.3 million TikTok followers. Schnacky’s breathy, pop-tipped phrasing owes a debt to Gavin DeGraw and John Mayer. • Elvie Shane (BBR Music Group) — A former preacher, Shane saw the light and became an evangelist for country music, inspired by the energy of Bruce Springsteen and the grit of fellow Kentuckian Chris Stapleton. His Maddie & Tae members Maddie Marlow (center) and Tae Dye talked forthcoming EP frames him as a bad ass, though “My Boy,” built on his love pork rinds and tour buses with CMT host Cody Alan during the July 1 for his stepson, suggests he convincingly observes the Golden Rule. livestream CMA Summer Stay-Cay. CMT. TAE: & MADDIE MACHINE. ELECTRIC PEARCE: IMAGES. GETTY SHEARER JOHN BROWN: FOR YOUR CMA CONSIDERATION His voice and his song is exactly what this upside down world “An indispensable voice in needs right now. Good job Kane! J modern country music. …Music (that) will ultimately The world bring folks together.” needs this one Kane Brown right now This song was - BILLBOARD is literally what meant for everyone NEEDS! right now, This is just the song that was right here needed for the situation the world is going through. This song is the You make everything best thing to come a little bit better in these out of 2020!! times of hurt Amen!! My Such a powerful song! Thank you for this KB! favorite song at the moment!! This is exactly ENTERTAINER what the world of the Year needs to hear, believe, and ———————————— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— —————— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————— live by! MALE VOCALIST This song is of the Year amazing. The This song is whole world———————————— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— —————— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————— needs to hear SO MOVING, and understand every human these words. I SONG love this song! of the Year needs this “WORLDWIDE BEAUTIFUL” God had a purpose for you in this world, and he’s using you NOW through your music – Lord knows we needed this now more than ever!! © 2020 Sony Music Entertainment. BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRILJULY 1 3,6, 2020 | PAGE 4 OF 1922 ON THETHE CHARTSCHARTS JIMJIM ASKERASKER [email protected] [email protected] DownSamH Theunt Hatch,’s Southside Up The R ulesChart: Top Luke Countr Bryan’sy Albu‘Onems; Brett Margarita’ Young Completes‘Catch’-es Fifth 2020’s Airplay QuickestLeader; Trip Travis To Denning No. 1 On MakesCountry History Airplay SamLuke HuntBryan’s banks second his studio 23rd No. full-length, 1 on Billboard and first’s Country in over Airplay five years, chart Southside as “One sales‘BONES’ (up 21%) STILL in BEST the tracking Maren Morris week. On’ crossover Country smash Airplay, “The it hops Bones” 18-15 (Columbia (11.9 mil- (MCAMargarita” Nashville/Universal (Row Crop/Capitol Music Nashville)Group Nashville), rises 2-1 debuts on the at No.July 1 11-dated on Billboard list.’s lionNashville) audience tops impressions, Hot Country up Songs 16%). for an 18th week. Her first leader, which TopThe Country song gained Albums by 13% chart to dated 32.8 April million 18. audienceIn its first impressions week (ending in theApril week9), it took over atop the March 14-dated tally, drew 45.9 million in all-format audi- earnedending 46,000July 5, according equivalent to album Nielsen units, Music/MRC including Data.