Quartz Hill Records Adds Ray Vaughn, Greg Raneiri

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Pictured (L-R): Ray Vaughn and Greg Raneiri

Quartz Hill Records has added two promotion and radio industry veterans to its label team. Longtime promotion executive Ray Vaughn has been named a Director of Promotion for the label while radio industry professional Greg Raneiri will serve as Manager of Promotion.

A 31-year promotion veteran, Vaughn has worked with some of the biggest names across all genres of music including George Strait, Tom Petty, Lyle Lovett, John Mellencamp, KISS, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, The Who, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse and more. Additionally, Vaughn was part of Warner Music Nashville’s original WAR staff, helping to develop the careers of Frankie Ballard, Big & Rich, Dan+Shay, Chris Janson, Gabby Barrett and Ashley McBryde.

Raneiri has spent the last 12 years working in nearly every radio format with stops in Philadelphia, PA (WRDW / WXTU), Meridian, MS (WJDQ) and Medford, OR (KTMT). He most recently served as Assistant Program Director/ Music Director for KSON in San Diego, CA.

Both positions are effective immediately and will report directly to Quartz Hill Records VP of Promotion & Marketing April Rider.

“There is so much excitement over Ray joining our team and bringing his extensive knowledge, experience and passion to the label. Equally so, we are thrilled and very lucky to have Greg making his promotion debut from radio and bringing an unparalleled passion and love for our format back to his roots at radio. This rounds out our team perfectly. I could not be prouder to introduce such an amazing group of people as our Quartz Hill promotion team,” said Rider.

Quartz Hill’s first single release, “You Ain’t Pretty” by flagship artist Nate Barnes is available now across all digital retailers and streaming services.

Lauren Daigle To Issue Limited-Edition Vinyl Version Of ‘Look Up Child’

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In 2018, Lauren Daigle released Look Up Child, a sales juggernaut that contained Daigle’s Grammy-winning, 3x multi-Platinum hit “You Say,” as well as the Platinum-certified “Rescue” and Gold-certified “Still Rolling Stones.” The album was also named Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at last year’s Grammy awards.

On Dec. 11, she will release a limited-edition vinyl version of the project, via Centricity Music and distributed by 12Tone Music. This double-LP features metallic foil accents and numbering in a double gatefold jacket. The project, which will be limited to 1,500 copies worldwide, was mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Quality Record Pressings on 180-gram vinyl at 45 RPM.

“We put so much emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the sound on Look Up Child – keeping it as organic as possible,” Daigle said. “We focused on every note on the piano, every beat of the drum, every breath in the vocals and there’s nothing like vinyl to bring out that richness. So, we decided to share it through a limited-edition vinyl pressing.”

Matt Stell’s “Everywhere But On” Earns Gold Status

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Matt Stell was surprised with a Gold plaque during his Geico Green Room interview with Natalie Stovall on Nov. 28, 2020. Photo: Grand Ole Opry Photo by Chris Hollo

Matt Stell received a surprise during his appearance on the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 28, when he was given the news that his recent single “Everywhere But On” has gone Gold and was awarded a plaque commemorating the achievement.

The moment took place backstage in the GEICO Green Room after the Circle TV show Opry Live, and host and Runaway June member Natalie Stovall presented Stell with the plaque celebrating his latest career accolade.

Stell’s new EP, Better Than That, released in October and features eight tracks (five of which he wrote), including the smash “Prayed For You,” which was one of NSAI’s 10 Songs We Wish We Had Written for 2020, and “Everywhere But On.” He has earned more than 360 million cumulative streams across his catalog to date.

Kane Brown To Play Halftime Show At Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game

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Kane Brown. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Kane Brown is set to headline the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington halftime show on Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff will begin at 4:40 p.m. ET, and the game will air on FOX.

The performance is a Cowboys tradition, helping to serve as a call to action for Americans to donate to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. The funds raised through the iconic Red Kettles are at risk this year due to COVID-19 and requests for help are at an all-time high, making this year’s Red Kettle Kickoff more important than ever in providing shelter and meals for the homeless and hungry, Christmas toys for children and social service programs to millions of people in need year-round.

The Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show has been nationally televised for 23 years. Brown joins a list of Red Kettle Kickoff celebrity halftime performers that includes Ellie Goulding, Meghan Trainor, Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gilman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

Rascal Flatts Tops ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart

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“How They Remember You” by Rascal Flatts takes the No. 1 position on the CountryBreakout Radio Chart. This is the title track to the band’s latest EP released in July via Big Machine Records. The single was written by Marc Beeson, Josh Osborne, and Allen Shamblin.

Celebrating 20 years as a band this year, the group also released Twenty Years Of Rascal Flatts The Greatest Hits, a 20-song collection of the trio’s biggest and most sentimental smashes including 13 of the trio’s 17 No. 1 singles from “These Days” and “Fast Cars And Freedom,” to “Bless The Broken Road,” “My Wish” and many more.

Click here or above to access the MusicRow Weekly.

Cordovas Honor 50th Anniversary Of Leon Russell’s “A Song For You” With Cover Version

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Nashville-based band Cordovas have released an Amazon Original cover of Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.”

The Amazon Original arrives on the fourth anniversary of Leon Russell’s passing and commemorates the 50th anniversary of “A Song For You,” which was released in 1970.

“The thing he has done in this song is he’s lived his whole life. An entire life happened in this song. It’s his masterwork,” says Cordovas frontman and songwriter Joe Firstman. “It was nice to have been asked to do the Amazon Original because this would have very easily been the first song I would have ever chosen to sing of Leon Russell’s. What you want to bring to me, for me, was to not try and reinvent it. It was to take that pureness that I have always known that has been near to me since I started playing piano and singing songs.”

“Leon Russell is a revered figure as a songwriter, bandleader and musician throughout rock history. The Leon team was delighted to team up with Amazon Music, ATO Records and Cordovas to honor Leon’s legacy and the 50th anniversary of his self-titled debut album.  Cordovas’ take on ‘A Song For You’ beautifully captures the power and spirit of Leon Russell and proves how timeless his music and songwriting truly is. A tip of Leon’s hat to Cordovas!” said Primary Wave’s head of streaming Mike Fordham, who works with the Leon Russell estate.

The Cordovas recently released their new album Destiny Hotel on ATO Records and the lead single “High Feeling” has climbed to No. 3 on the Americana radio singles chart, with the album reaching the top 10 on the album chart. “High Feeling” is also the soundtrack for a new ESPN/SEC Network ad airing nationally across the U.S. for the next three months.

Corey Kent Signs With ONErpm For Distribution

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Corey Kent has signed a distribution deal with global music solutions company ONErpm. Kent and his team at Combustion Masters have partnered with ONErpm’s in-house imprint Verge Records to release his latest single, “Gold,” available now.

An Oklahoma native, Kent was touring by age 11 as the lead singer of a Western Swing band, opening for legends like Roy Clark and The Oak Ridge Boys. In 2010, he found himself on stage singing “Milk Cow Blues” with country icon Willie Nelson. By 17, Kent had moved to Nashville. Shortly after graduating college he co-wrote his first No. 1, William Clark Green’s “Hit You Where It Hurts.”

“We are honored to be working with Corey and Chris and the team at Combustion in this joint venture, for which ONErpm is the ideal distribution vehicle,” said Verge Records President and COO Mickey Jack Cones.

 

Thomas Rhett’s “What’s Your Country Song” Is Most Added On ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart

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Thomas Rhett. Photo: Nick Rau

Thomas Rhett‘s latest single, “What’s Your Country Song,” is the most-added song again this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, with nine new panel station adds. The song rises from No. 30 to No. 17, earning 931 total spins. “What’s Your Country Song” is also the two-week most-added, with 40 new station adds (53 total).

The song marks the first track from Thomas Rhett’s upcoming fifth studio project for The Valory Music Co. Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins are also set to co-host this year’s CMA Country Christmas, which airs Nov. 30 on ABC.

Brett Eldredge, Meghan Trainor, Pentatonix, More Carol For A Cause To Benefit Feeding America

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Brett Eldredge. Photo: Greg Noire

Brett Eldredge, Meghan Trainor, Brandy, Andy Grammer, Sofia Reyes, Pentatonix, and Ally Brooke have joined forces with T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods in a mission to help consumers find joy in the magic of the season and feed people in need across America at the same time. Through an Instagram Reels campaign, #CarolForACause, the retailers are putting a new twist on holiday carols to give back. 

The artists will #CarolForACause and invite consumers to sing a favorite carol a cappella, play music, and dance or lip sync over a classic holiday track. The campaign launched with Meghan Trainor on Nov. 17, with a new Instagram Reel launching each week from one of the musicians singing their favorite holiday carol from the comfort of their own homes.

Through Dec. 27, consumers can participate in spreading holiday cheer by recording an Instagram Reel with the hashtag #CarolForACause. For every Instagram Reel recorded and shared from a public Instagram account with the hashtag, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods will donate $10 to Feeding America, up to $1 million, to help feed people in need.

“We may not be able to carol from door-to-door this year, but we hope to help people tap into new ways to spread cheer and ignite the joy of giving back to their local communities year-round,” said Victoria Shonkoff, VP, Marketing Director for T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods. “By reimagining a classic holiday tradition for a good cause, we’ll help make celebrations possible for people in need this holiday season.”

“Feeding America’s mission is to feed America’s hungry and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. As a result of the pandemic, our nationwide network of food banks have seen an increase in demand for food assistance. Our 200 member food banks need support from the communities we serve now more than ever,” said Casey Marsh, Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. “We are grateful for T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods’ continued commitment to help provide millions of meals to people in need.”

 

DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Chris Young, Brandy Clark, And More

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Sam Hunt

In this wildly uneven listening session, I was alternately lifted out of my seat and glued to it by dull inertia.

The triumphs here belong to The Wild Feathers, Dillon Carmichael, the collaboration between Chris Young & Kane Brown and our Disc of the Day winner, Brandy Clark.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

SAM HUNT/”Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s”
Writers: Chris LaCorte/Ernest K Smith/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt/Zach Crowell; Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Between the Pines, LLC/BIPOD/Spirit Two Nashville/Miller Crow Music/Kyler’s Kinda Night/Songs Of Universal, Inc./Ern Dog Music/Big Loud Mountain/Tree Vibez Music, LLC/Sony/ATV Accent/Smackborne Music, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: MCA Nashville
-His successful formula is in place—spoken-word verse, sparse rhythm, chorus with the title phrase repeated over and over. The fact that the phrase has nothing to do with the rest of the lyric doesn’t seem to matter. I got bored quickly.

THE WILD FEATHERS/”Fire”
Writers: Ricky Young; Publishers: none listed; Producer: The Wild Feathers; Label: Magnolia Record Club
-I loved these guys when they were a pop/rock band, and the quality of their output has remained completely excellent since they began marketing their sound as country. This fabulously melodic, brilliantly harmonized tune has a soaring, uplifting quality underpinned by throbbing bass, punchy drumming, sighing organ and chiming guitars. It’s an awesome listening experience that is drawn from a collection titled Medium Rarities. During the pandemic, the group reached into its vaults for unreleased, unheard tracks to assemble the collection. If something this stunning was “buried,” I can’t imagine how great the new material is going to be. I remain a massive fan.

DEVIN DAWSON/ “He Loved Her”
Writers: Devin Dawson/Nicolle Galyon/Jordan Reynolds; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: WMN/Atlantic
-It’s an homage to his grandfather, an ordinary man whose decency was extra-ordinary. But Dawson’s colorless singing voice and the generic production doesn’t rise to the occasion.

KALIE SHORR/”My Voice”
Writers: Kalie Shorr/Simon Reid/Fred Wilhelm/Skip Black; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Skip Black/Kalie Shorr; Label: TMWRK
-The sound is crashing country-punk and the lyric is a very involving look at her journey on an unconventional road. This lady is carving out her own niche, and bravo for that.

CHRIS YOUNG & KANE BROWN/”Famous Friends”
Writers: Chris Young/Cary Barlowe/Corey Crowder; Publisher: none listed, BMI/SESAC/ASCAP; Producer: Corey Crowder/Chris Young; Label: RCA
-Very cute. The “famous friends” of the title are people you’ve never heard of who live in Rutherford County (Chris), Hamilton County, GA (Kane) and Davidson County (both). The bopping track and the two stars’ jaunty vocals celebrate these everyday heroes. Hit bound.

BRANDY CLARK/”I’ll Be the Sad Song”
Writers: Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillon/Chase McGill; Publishers: Highway 508/New House of Sea Gayle/ClearBox Rights/Jay Gatsby/Revelry/Kobalt/Songs of Universal/Plum Nelly, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Warner 
-It’s a happy coincidence that I was listening to this woman’s awesome album (again) over the weekend and bitching about how this blindingly brilliant troubadour was being overlooked by the country mainstream. Then, BAM, yesterday it got nominated for a Grammy Award, as did its single “Who You Thought I Was.” The collection’s title, Your Life Is a Record, comes from the lyric of this song. The haunting melody, wistful mood and sweet/sad singing pierce your heart and linger there long after the sound fades away. That’s what a masterpiece can do.

PARMALEE & BLANCO BROWN/”Just the Way”
Writers: Matt Thomas/Nolan Sipe/Kevin Bard; Publishers: Sony/ATV Countryside/JM Thomas Music/Sony/ATV Tunes LLC/Kevin Bard Music/Margetts Road Music/Nolan W. Sipe Music, ASACP/BMI; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Stoney Creek
-I originally reviewed this back in April. Now there’s a video that underscores its message of acceptance by showing girls and women of widely varying physical images.

STURGILL SIMPSON/”Breaker’s Roar”
Writers: Sturgill Simpson; Publisher: none listed; Producer: David Ferguson/Sturgill Simpson; Label: High Top Mountain
-He has a rock Grammy nomination this year, so of course his next step is a bluegrass album. That recording, titled Cuttin’ Grass, features an all-star bluegrass instrumental lineup backing Simpson on rearrangements of his songs from earlier albums. This one, featuring Sierra Hull, is an utter transformation. The sound is elegant, pristine and clear (which is saying something, considering the artist’s prior tendency to mumble). The COVID survivor’s Kentucky roots are definitely showing.

RUSSELL DICKERSON & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/”It’s About Time”
Writers: Casey Brown/Parker Welling/Russell Dickerson; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Dann Huff/Casey Brown/Russell Dickerson; Label: Triple Tigers
-It’s a party anthem on steroids. And it is impossible not to get caught up in its energy and verve.

DILLON CARMICHAEL/”Hot Beer”
Writers: Michael Hardy/Ashley Gorley/Hunter Phelps/Ben Johnson; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jon Pardi; Label: Riser House
-Hilarious. Dillon’s brawler voice sasses the lyric like a rampaging buffalo. She asks him to take her back, and he replies that he’d rather drink a hot beer and do a lot of other goofy, stupid stuff. With those songwriting credits and Pardi producing, you know it’s country, country, country. It is also Essential Listening.