Anthem Entertainment has renewed its pub deal with multi-platinum artist and songwriter Chris Janson.
Janson, who’s been with Anthem since 2016, recently released his first album since inking with BMLG, The Outlaw Side of Me, on 6/16. The project includes his Top 20 bound single, “All I Need Is You,” focus track “21 Forever” f/Dolly Parton & Slash, plus more collaborations with heavy hitters like Darius Rucker and Brantley Gilbert.
“We are excited to continue and expand our co-publishing venture with Chris Janson,” said Anthem Music Publishing Nashville President, Gilles Godard. “We look forward to celebrating many more hits together!”
“Chris Janson is the real deal, period,” added Noah Dewey, vp of creative for Anthem Nashville. “It's a privilege to work with him and his wife Kelly, on our continuing partnership at Anthem Entertainment.”
In 2015, Janson earned his first Top 5 hit with the four-times-platinum single “Buy Me a Boat,” which peaked at #3 on the Country Airplay chart and #1 on Mediabase. His 2019 singles “Done” and “Good Vibes” also hit #1, while the latter single—in addition to “Drunk Girl” and “Fix a Drink”—recently went platinum.
Seen above before writing their own anthem are (l-r) Lance Roberts, Anthem Creative Director Chandler Thurston, Anthem VP of Creative Noah Dewey, Kelly Janson, Chris Janson, Anthem Sr. Creative Director Courtney Crist, Maddie Sanderson, Anthem Creative Coordinator Gracie Glass and Tom Lord.
Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation and Tractor Supply Company have teamed up for the third consecutive year to donate $250k+ to animal shelters across the nation.
Through MuttNation’s Mutts Across America program, one shelter or foster-based rescue in every state—plus Washington, D.C. and a “Wildcard” pick—will receive a $5k. Since the initiative began nine years ago, it has supported 450+ shelters with $1.75m+ in grants.
“Finding deserving shelters and rescue groups across the country is easy,” said Bev Lambert, Miranda’s mother and co-founder of MuttNation. “We’re so proud to partner with Tractor Supply on this and other programs, allowing us to elevate our goals and increase the number of animals’ lives we can change,” added Miranda.
"Miranda’s passion for this cause and the work she has done through MuttNation truly inspire us and supporting their work is a privilege and joy,” said Kimberley Gardiner, chief marketing officer at Tractor Supply.
This year, MuttNation and Tractor Supply also started the Relief for Rescues Fund to help shelters and shelter pets recover from natural disasters. To date, the fund has generated over $357k to support shelter animals affected.
Photo Credit: Jamie Wright
BRELAND, Kane Brown and Chris Stapleton are among the artists who will receive special awards at the 16th annual Academy of Country Music Honors.
The Triple Crown Award will be conferred upon Stapleton while Brown will take home the International Award and BRELAND will be recognized with the inaugural Lift Every Voice Award.
Also being acknowledged are Tim McGraw and Mike Dungan with the Icon Award, Troy Vollhoffer with the Lifting Lives Award, Charlie Cook and Bill Mayne with the Service Award, Charlie Daniels with the Spirit Award and Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter and K.T. Oslin, each of whom has been chosen for the Poet’s Award.
The event will take place on 8/23 at the Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and will be hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce for the third straight year.
Additionally, the event will celebrate previously announced Studio Recording Award winners, Industry Award Winners, Artist-Songwriter of the Year HARDY and Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley from the 58th ACM Awards cycle.
“This year’s ACM Special Award honorees have made a tremendous impact on the music we know and love,” said Kerri Edwards, Chair of the ACM Special Awards Committee. “I’d like to thank our committee members for their invaluable participation and contributions in selecting this year’s exceptionally worthy class of honorees and offer my congratulations to all of the recipients.”
Performers will be announced in the coming weeks. General on-sale tickets are available 6/30 via AXS.
BMLG has tapped Rachel Burleson as its director of streaming.
She arrives from the Big Machine Records imprint where she worked as project manager for a roster that includes Tim McGraw, Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean, among others.
“Since joining Big Machine, Rachel’s talent, knowledge, drive and attention to detail have been invaluable,” said BMR’s GM Clay Hunnicutt. “This next step as Director of Streaming puts her in the right place at the right time to continue to grow our entire artist line up.”
“With her close working relationships between Big Machine’s artist roster and internal teams, we have full confidence she’ll excel in her new role,” added BMLG’s EVP, Label Operations, Mike Rittberg.
The Belmont University alum’s prior stops also include Creative Nation and internships with Sony Music Nashville, KP Entertainment and Activist Artist Management (formerly ROAR).
“It’s been an honor to work with the Big Machine team for the past few years,” shared Burleson. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue serving our artists in my new role and helping them connect with listeners across streaming platforms.”
Winners of the ACM Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards will be celebrated during the 16th Academy of Country Music Honors on 8/23 at the Ryman Auditorium.
Special Award recipients, who will be announced soon, will also be honored at the event. Performers will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Industry and studio award winners include Justin Niebank, who now has nine ACM Audio Engineer of the Year awards; and Jay Joyce, who is receiving his sixth Producer of the Year award. Joe’s on Weed St. receives its sixth ACM Award for Club of the Year, and the club’s owner, Ed Warm, receives his fifth ACM Award for Promoter of the Year.
INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Casino Of The Year - Theater: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, Fl a
Casino Of The Year - Arena: Harveys Lake Tahoe – Stateline, Nev.
Festival Of The Year: Country Thunder – Bristol, Tenn.
Fair/Rodeo Of The Year: Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo - Houston
Club Of The Year: Joe’s On Weed St. – Chicago
Theater Of The Year: Grand Ole Opry House - Nashville
Outdoor Venue Of The Year: Bank Of Nh Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Arena Of The Year: Moody Center – Austin
Don Romeo Talent Buyer Of The Year: Troy Vollhoffer – Premier Global Production
Promoter Of The Year: Ed Warm – Joe’s Live
STUDIO RECORDING AWARD WINNERS
Bass Player Of The Year: Mark Hill
Drummer Of The Year: Aaron Sterling
Acoustic Guitar Player Of The Year: Tim Galloway
Electric Guitar Player Of The Year: Derek Wells
Piano/Keyboards Player Of The Year: Dave Cohen
Specialty Instrument(s) Player Of The Year: Jenee Fleenor
Audio Engineer Of The Year: Justin Niebank
Producer Of The Year: Jay Joyce
Grab your bug spray, people—the City Parks Foundation’s 2023 fundraiser in Central Park will feature Tim McGraw as its headline performer.
Slated for 9/28 on the SummerStage, the event will honor iHeartMedia CPO/President of National Programming, Tom Poleman, with the SummerStage Icon Award.
The Co-Founder/Principal of The Young Women's Leadership School of the Bronx, Devon Eisenberg, will receive the People & Parks Award.
McGraw’s exclusive performance will follow the dinner and awards ceremony.
Through its Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Festival, the City Parks Foundation is one of the largest presenters of free arts and cultural programs in NYC parks, and serves more than 275k New Yorkers each year through arts, education, sports and community-building initiatives.
Tables and tickets for the City Parks Foundation's 2023 fundraiser can be found here.
Stephen Wilson Jr. made his CMA Fest premiere 6/9, performing at the Maui Jim Reverb Stage.
Wilson dropped his debut, the EP bon aqua, on Big Loud Records earlier this year and made his Grand Ole Opry and Stagecoach bows during a tour supporting The Lone Bellow.
In the next few months, he's set to join Drake White, Charley Crockett, 49 Winchester and Joss Stone on the road and make his Red Rocks debut, supporting Midland, on 10/14.
Seen just before taking a party bike to the nearest honky-tonk are (l-r) top row: Big Loud’s Candice Watkins, UTA’s Brian Hill, Scott Clayton and Brett Saliba, Range Media’s Jordy Dettmer, Wilson, ALJ MGMT’s Alicia Jones, Range’s Matt Graham, BMG Publishing’s Chris Oglesby, UTA’s Holly Hunter, Missing Piece Group’s Bobby Crane, Big Loud’s Sarah Knabe; bottom row: Range’s Shawn McSpadden, UTA’s Bryan Vastano and Jaime Roberts, SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, UTA’s Elisa Vazzana, Beth Morton, Taylor Krebs and Lolo McClusky and Big Loud’s Seth England.
On Tuesday (6/13), EMI Records Nashville’s Tyler Hubbard gathered with his fellow co-writers, publishers, label and friends to celebrate earning his second #1 single as a solo artist.
Hosted by BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, the event kicked off with tribute by BMI’s MaryAnn Keen for the gold-certified “Dancin’ in the Country,” which hit number #1 just weeks ago, as well as the now platinum-certified “5 Foot 9,” which writers Hubbard, Jaren Johnston and Chase McGill, and co-producer Jordan Schmidt were on hand to celebrate.
Hubbard was also joined by “Dancin’ in the Country” co-writers Ross Copperman, Jon Nite and Keith Urban as well as co-producer Schmidt.
Additionally, the night included a donation presentation made by Studio Bank’s music, arts & entertainment executive, Ron Cox, on behalf of Hubbard and the songwriters to For Others, a nonprofit that works to restore at-risk children, young adults and families.
A donation presentation was also made by Troy Tomlinson from UMPG on behalf of Hubbard and the songwriters to Music Cares.
“This is bigger than a No. 1 – thank you for allowing me to have an individual voice. Thank you for believing in me and the possibility to do something that’s not commonly done and thank you for inspiring me,” said Hubbard.
Seen above before breaking out into a choreographed dance are (l-r) back row – EMI’s Jimmy Rector, UMGN’s Mike Harris, RIAA’s Jackie Jones, UMGN’s Cindy Mabe, Chelsea Blythe and Lori Christian; front row – SESAC’s Nite, BMI’s Copperman, Hubbard and Urban, and ASCAP’s Schmidt.
