Willie Nelson’s 2018 Luck Reunion Lineup Announced

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Luck Reunion has revealed the lineup for its 2018 festival taking place at Willie Nelson‘s ranch in Luck, Texas, on March 15. In partnership with Southwest Airlines and anchored by a headlining set by Willie and his family, Luck Reunion will welcome more than 40 artists from a wide range of genres, including: Particle Kid, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Kurt Vile, Nikki Lane, Waxahatchee, Josh Ritter, Lily Hiatt, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ezra Furman, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and many more.

Luck Reunion and Southwest made an early trip to Luck, Texas, to reveal the 2018 Reunion performers and the Southwest Artist On The Rise To Luck competition finalists. As the cameras rolled, comedian Billy Wayne Davis and 2017’s Artist On The Rise, Devon Gilfillian, took over the Luck World Headquarters to make the big announcement with the help of some special guests. Davis called Josh Hedley to let him know he’d landed the gig and, impressively, managed to get Willie himself on the line. Artists in the running for the On The Rise To Luck competition include: Mt. Joy from Los Angeles, Thomas Csorba from Houston, Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra from San Francisco, Kirby Brown from Dallas, and Hugh Masterson from Milwaukee. Fans can vote for their choice at southwest.fm/luck-reunion-2018. 

Luck Reunion 2018 Lineup:
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Kurt Vile
Nikki Lane
Waxahatchee
Hiss Golden Messenger & Paul Cook
Josh Ritter
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Ezra Furman
John Paul White
Paul Cauthen
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Ray Wylie Hubbard
John Doe
Cody Canada
Kelly Willis
The Texas Gentlemen
Particle Kid
Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Blank Range
Alta Mesa
Son Little
David Ramirez
Twain
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
Joshua Hedley
Kevin Morby
Devon Gilfillian
Erika Wennerstrom
Lily Hiatt
Cut Worms
Night Moves
Hop Along
Buck Meek
Kevn Kinney
Caleb Caudle
Sam Lewis
Courtney Marie Andrews
Charley Whitten
Michael Nau
Sunny War

Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Caitlyn Smith To Play Pandora SXSW Shows

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Devin Dawson, Caitlyn Smith, and Walker Hayes are among the artists tapped to perform at Pandora’s seventh annual South by Southwest Festival shows which will take place from March 13-15 at The Gatsby in Austin, Texas. Pandora at SXSW will feature performances by the hottest emerging artists of 2018 spanning indie, pop, Latin, R&B, hip-hop, Americana and country at the free event.

“Entering the seventh year of Pandora at SXSW, the program has grown to a highly-anticipated musical showcase spotlighting the year’s hottest emerging talent on the verge of mainstream success,” said Aimee Lapic, Chief Marketing Officer at Pandora. “We are excited to introduce Pandora listeners to this year’s diverse lineup of talent and continue connecting emerging artists with new fans during one of the largest live music showcases at South by Southwest Music Festival.”

Pandora at SXSW Lineup:
Amy Shark
Caitlyn Smith
Cuco
Dashboard Confessional
Demo Taped
Devin Dawson
Duckwrth
Elley Duhé
Harry Hudson
Jade Bird
Jaden Smith
Karol G
Kelela
Liza Anne
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Morgan Saint
Mt. Joy
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Nikki Lane
Salt Cathedral
Smokepurpp
Sunflower Bean
SYML
Tank and the Bangas
The Wallows
Tinashe
Walker Hayes

Industry Exec Launches ETC: Ellen Truley Consulting

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Ellen Truley

Music industry veteran Ellen Truley has launched ETC: Ellen Truley Consulting, a full-service marketing firm specializing in branding, partnerships, digital strategy, publicity, event production, art direction and project management.

Truley recently served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations for SESAC, where she oversaw global marketing initiatives for the music rights organization. As her first client, Truley has tapped SESAC PRO to serve in an advisory role on upcoming events and projects.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be starting my new company, ETC,” says Truley. “I’m very grateful for my time at SESAC. It was wonderful to be a part of the team that elevated the organization to the leading international music rights company that it is today. To now be able to continue to work alongside the SESAC team, as well as collaborate with other progressive businesses, is truly the best of both worlds. The timing is perfect to launch ETC.”

“Ellen has been an important part of SESAC over the last 22 years. During this time, she has witnessed many changes on and around Music Row, while serving as a loyal ambassador to the company and elevating the brand of SESAC within the industry,” said John Josephson, chairman and CEO, SESAC Holdings, Inc. “I am very grateful to Ellen, her commitment, and to her countless contributions over the years and I look forward to continuing the strong working relationship in the future with her new company.”

Truley’s many industry achievements include being named as one of Billboard magazine’s Women in Music for three consecutive years (2011-2013), and most recently commemorated at Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Truley serves on the boards of the T.J. Martell Foundation and the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board. She is also a member of NARAS, CMA and ACM.

Truley’s career also includes roles at Billboard magazine and ad agency Acuity Marketing Communications.

Ellen Truley can be reached at [email protected].

 

Big Deal Music Goup Inks Admin Agreement With Notable Music

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Cy Coleman

Big Deal Music Group has entered into a long-term worldwide administration agreement with Notable Music, the company founded by composer Cy Coleman in 1962.

A child prodigy pianist, Mr. Coleman played his first gig at Carnegie Hall at the age of 5 and would go on to write such classic songs as “Witchcraft,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “Big Spender,” and “Hey Look Me Over,” among others. His work on Broadway is unparalleled, having major hit shows each decade of the 1960s (Wildcat, Little Me, Sweet Charity), 1970s (Seesaw, I Love My Wife, On the Twentieth Century), 1980s (Barnum, City of Angels), and 1990s (Will Rogers Follies, The Life). Coleman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1981 and served on ASCAP’s Board of Directors for three decades.

The Notable Music catalog also includes works by some of the most important American contemporary songwriters including Bobby Hebb, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips and Tift Merritt.

“Anchored by Cy Coleman’s enduring compositions, Notable Music is a wellspring of incredible writers and their songs,” said Big Deal Music Group Founder and President, Kenny MacPherson. “I’m thrilled to welcome this amazing catalog into the Big Deal family.”

“Notable’s association with Kenny and his team goes back many years to when we worked together at Chrysalis,” said Shelby Coleman, Cy’s widow and President of Notable. “We are thrilled to be back in such a creative environment and look forward to continuing to create new opportunities for the influential and hugely popular songs that Cy and the rest of the Notable writers have brought into the world.”

Brett Young, Jesse Lee Celebrate No. 1 Single “Like I Loved You”

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Pictured (L-R): Scott Borchetta, BMI’s David Preston, Jesse Lee, ole’s John Ozier, Brett Young, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen and Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar. Photo: Ed Rode

BMLG Records artist Brett Young celebrated “Like I Loved You,” the third No. 1 single from his self-titled debut album, during a celebration held at new music venue Nashville Underground on Monday (Feb. 12).

“These will never get old,” Young told the industry crowd. “I think anybody that knows me at this point knows I feel really grateful and blessed to even get the opportunity to do this. I moved here because I thought I wanted to write songs and the best songwriters were in Nashville. I started writing songs and trying to get people to record them, but then I had to sing the demos, and next thing I know, [BMLG’s] Laurel Kittleson was coming out to every writers’ round I was playing. She brought us to Jimmy [Harnen] and there was a record deal…we have the best promo staff. Three for three, there’s not a better percentage.”

In addition to notching his third No. 1 song, Young has the distinction of becoming one of only three country artists to earn a Gold-certified album in the past year.

It’s notable that while most recently-released country songs list multiple writers, “Like I Loved You” has only two writers—Young and Jesse Lee. Each writer’s work on the song is repped an independent music publisher, Big Machine Music and ole Music Publishing.

Ole’s John Ozier presented Young and Lee with iPads to celebrate the chart-topping song. “This is as big of a record as you can get,” said Ozier.

Young’s producer Dann Huff was also honored and noted that Young was “knee-deep in his second record.” Huff also noted that Young’s upcoming second album will mark Huff’s first time playing a piano part on an album.

Among those making presentations were ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMI’s David Preston, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen.

Pictured (L-R): Back Row – BMLG Records’ Andrew Thoen, Leah Fisher, Scott Borchetta, Lauren Longbine; Front Row – BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen, Jesse Lee, Brett Young, BMLG Records’ Liz Santana, Michelle Kammerer, Matthew Hargis

MusicRow Magazine’s Sherod Robertson also honored the writers with MusicRow Challenge Coins to commemorate the chart-topping success of “Like I Loved You” on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

The Country Music Association’s Brandi Simms and the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Darcie Van Etten also honored the writers.

Lee thanked her parents for encouraging her dreams of working in music, and thanked her husband for supporting her creative work as a songwriter.

“We all know us songwriters are the craziest,” she quipped, before thanking Big Machine’s promo staff and Huff for his production work.

“Thank you ole for giving me a home for two years, and for [ole’s Emily Mueller] for setting up the write. The second I heard Brett’s voice, it was absolutely amazing. I didn’t have any success yet as a writer either, but when I heard him, I immediately said yes. He walked [into the writer’s room], and I thought, ‘Well, he looks like that and he sounds like this, he’s going to be a star.’ I’m just glad I was there. Thank you Brett for working your tail off for this song.”

Lee, who is known for penning the hit “Peter Pan” with Kelsea Ballerini, also shared what earning this No. 1 song meant to her. “Without getting all #metoo and Grammys and white, it feels really special to be a female [songwriter] up here with a male artist on a two-way No. 1 song. It’s great that other females are getting inspired and it’s not just a male town. You just have to write smart and try to out-write everybody and find those people you connect with. I have a lot of those people in this room and I love you all.”

Jesse Lee and Brett Young. Photo: Ed Rode

Shenandoah Preps First Album In 20 Years

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Shenandoah

Country group Shenandoah, including frontman Marty Raybon and founding member Mike McGuire, have re-teamed for new music on their upcoming album Reloaded, marking their first new album in 20 years.

The album includes live renditions of their top hits, as well as three new songs produced by Jay DeMarcus. The album, released by BMG, will be available March 16.

RELOADED TRACK LISTING:
1. Next To You, Next To Me (LIVE)
2. If Bubba Can Dance, I Can Too (LIVE)
3. The Moon Over Georgia (LIVE)
4. Mama Knows (LIVE)
5. Sunday In The South (LIVE)
6. I Want To Be Loved Like That (LIVE)
7. Ghost In The House (LIVE)
8. Two Dozen Roses (LIVE)
9. The Church On Cumberland Road (LIVE)
10. Noise
11. That’s Where I Grew Up
12. Little Bit of Livin

Steve Moakler Hits The Road On Born Ready Tour This Spring

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Steve Moakler. Photo: Spencer Combs

Steve Moakler just released the title track, “Born Ready” from his new album, and is set to hit the road on the Born Ready Tour powered by Mack Trucks this Spring. The tour kicks off March 22 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Chameleon Club and will wrap May 19 at Detroit, Michigan’s The Shelter. Fans can find ticket information at stevemoakler.com.

Born Ready will be released later this year on CN Records (Creative Nation Records).

“I’m fired up about getting back on the road this spring!” said Moakler. “This will be our fifth consecutive spring headline tour, and I’m honored that Mack Trucks will be a part of our growing tradition this year. I can’t wait to play the new music we’ve been working on and start a new chapter with our fans. I think it’s gonna be the best one yet!”

Moakler’s Born Ready Tour will feature special guest, Corey Kent White, and continues the singer/songwriter’s partnership with Mack Trucks that began last year and led to the creation of “Born Ready,” co-written by Moakler, Barry Dean and Luke Laird. Mack Trucks selected Moakler to help celebrate the release of their new Mack Anthem® highway model because he shares the company’s values of, “hard work, family and honesty.”

“This heartfelt song speaks to the spirit of our fundamentally American brand, and pays tribute to the hard-working professional trucks drivers out on the road every day keeping economies around the world moving,” said John Walsh, Mack Trucks Vice President of Marketing. “These often unsung heroes, and all of the men and women working tirelessly every day for their families, now have a much-deserved new voice.”

2018 Born Ready Tour Dates
Thursday, March 22 – Chameleon Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Friday, March 23 – The Wonderbar, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Saturday, March 24 – Gramercy Theatre, New York, New York
Thursday, March 29 – Union Stage, Washington, D.C.
Friday, March 30 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, Warrendale, Pennsylvania
Saturday, March 31 – The Camel, Richmond, Virginia
Thursday, April 5 – Rose Music Hall, Columbia, Missouri
Friday, April 6 – The Bluebird, Bloomington, Indiana*
Saturday, April 7 – The Basement, Columbus, Ohio
Thursday, April 12 – The Social, Orlando, Florida
Friday, April 13 – Saddlebags, Savannah, Georgia
Saturday, April 14 – Terminal West, Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, April 19 – House of Blues Cambridge Room, Dallas, Texas
Friday, April 20 – House of Blues Bronze Peacock, Houston, Texas
Saturday, April 21 – The Tap, College Station, Texas
Sunday, April 22 – Antone’s, Austin, Texas
Thursday, April 26 – The Grey Eagle, Asheville, North Carolina
Friday, April 27 – The Boathouse, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Saturday, April 28 – Civitan Park, Guntersville, Alabama
Thursday, May 3 – Wooly’s, Des Moines, Iowa
Friday, May 4 – The Single Barrel, Lincoln, Nebraska
Saturday, May 5 – Turf Club, St. Paul, Minnesota
Thursday, May 10 – High Noon Saloon, Madison, Wisconsin
Friday, May 11 – The Rave II, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Saturday, May 12 – Boondocks, Springfield, Illinois
Thursday, May 17 – The Stache, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Friday, May 18 – Joe’s on Weed Street, Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, May 19 – The Shelter, Detroit, Michigan*

*Denotes dates where Corey Kent White is not a special guest

Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood Sign CLASSICS Act Petition

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A coalition of 213 musical artists, supported by eight leading music organizations, called upon the U.S. Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act, bipartisan legislation pending in both the House and Senate. A two-page advertisement, featuring artists and signees Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Loretta Lynn, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, k.d. lang,  as well as the John R Cash Trust and Hank Williams Sr., will appear in Wednesday’s (Feb. 14) issue of Politico.

The eight organizations supporting the act include The Recording Academy, A2IM, The American Federation of Musicians, RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, Content Creators Coalition, Music First, and SoundExchange.

In the advertisement, the artists state:

“Digital radio makes billions of dollars a year from airplay of music made before Feb. 15, 1972. Yet, because of an ambiguity in state and federal copyright laws, artists and copyright owners who created that music receive nothing for the use of their work. The CLASSICS Act (H.R. 3301 / S. 2393) would correct this inequity and finally ensure that musicians and vocalists who made those timeless songs finally get their due. We urge Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act and other pro-artist reforms quickly.”

The CLASSICS Act is one component of a package of music licensing reforms supported by the organizations that includes additional critical reforms such as the Music Modernization Act (H.R. 4706 / S. 2334), the AMP Act (H.R. 881) and the establishment of market-based rate standards. In the coming weeks, music community leaders anticipate the House Judiciary Committee will commence formal consideration of the music licensing reform legislation with the goal of consolidating the key reforms into a single bill.

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Weekly Register: Justin Timberlake Tops Albums Chart, Montgomery Gentry Makes Top 5 Country Debut

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Following his half-time show performance at this year’s Super Bowl, Nashville resident Justin Timberlake topped the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200 rankings this week with his new album Man of The Woods. The album moved 293K, with 242K being traditional album sales.

On the country albums chart, Montgomery Gentry has this week’s top debut, with Here’s To You at No. 3, with 14K. The album marks the first release following the death of Montgomery Gentry member Troy Gentry last year.

The only other Top 10 country debut this week was Now 65, which landed at No. 10 with 25K.

Chris Stapleton has three projects in the Top 5 on the country albums rankings again this week, with From A Room Vol. 2 leading this week’s country albums rankings with 17K. Stapleton’s Traveller is at No. 2 with 15K, and From A Room Vol. 1 sits at No. 5 with 14K.

Kane Brown‘s self-titled album is at No. 4 this week, with 14K.

On the Top 5 country digital song downloads chart, Florida Georgia Line‘s collaboration with Bebe Rexha is again at No. 1 this week, with 34K. Jason Aldean‘s new track “You Make It Easy” is at No. 2 with 26K, followed by Thomas Rhett‘s “Marry Me” at No. 3 with 17K. Stapleton’s “Broken Halos” is at No. 4 with 15K, with Brown’s “Heaven” rounding out the Top 5 with 14K.

Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.

Bakersfield Music Hall Of Fame Announces Final Six Inductees

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Tommy Collins, Larry Daniels, Luther Davis, Cousin Herb Henson, Ken Nelson, and Jean Shepard have been added to the 17 members of the inaugural class of the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame for 2017-2018. The final six entertainment personalities selected represent a broad and diverse range of the music that has been exported to the world from Kern County and the surrounding area and will be enshrined on March 1 at 7 p.m. at the Hall. 

The names of the Inaugural Inductees will be placed in the Galaxy of Stars, and will have a full-length, artist-rendered sketch created in their honor. The March 1 ceremony will feature appearances from members of the inductees’ families, as well as musical performances. For ticket information visit BakersfieldMusicHallOfFame.com.