Inside Track on Music Row – Summer 2022 Edition

Recording Technology News:

Multiple Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett has unveiled the completion of special studio recording sessions with Bob Dylan, during which the universally acclaimed artist revisited a personally chosen set of his iconic songs for the first time in decades. These recordings have resulted in the creation of Ionic Originals: Newly developed discs that advance the art of recorded sound and mark the first breakthrough in analogue sound reproduction in more than 70 years. Through the creation of the patented Ionic Original, Burnett has built upon his mission as an advocate for the sonic excellence of analogue sound by making unprecedented strides in fidelity and durability of the medium. By forming a new company, NeoFidelity, Inc. to record artists across a wide range of musical genres and provide a platform of distribution for Ionic Originals, Burnett is also determined to reset the valuation for recorded music. “An Ionic Original is the pinnacle of recorded sound,” says Burnett. “It is archival quality. It is future proof. It is one of one. Analogue sound has more depth, more harmonic complexity, more resonance, better imaging. Analogue has more feel, more character, more touch. Digital sound is frozen. Analogue sound is alive.”

Ryman News:

The “9th Annual Gretsch Presents Georgia on My Mind” benefit concert, hosted by Brent Cobb and Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray, returned to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, May 10 with performances by Amy Grant, Amythyst Kiah, Alison Brown, Ben Chapman, Butch Walker, Channing Wilson, Charlie Starr, Elizabeth Cook, John Driskell Hopkins, Jontavious Willis, Katie Pruitt, Kevn Kinney, Kristina Murray, The Lone Bellow, O.N.E The Duo and Patterson Hood. World-class musicians Josh Day, Brian Allen, Scott Patton, Jeff Fielder, and Adrian Carter will anchor the house band for the show, with proceeds benefiting Georgia Music Foundation and its Georgia Music Grants, which fund music programs at schools, after-school programs and summer camps. Cobb and Ray — both previous “Georgia On My Mind” performers — inherited the hosting mantle from the Peach Pickers (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip) in 2020, but hosted the last two years’ benefit shows virtually, due to Covid. The May 10th concert marks the event’s return to the Ryman. The Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit organization, has awarded nearly $600,000 in Georgia Music Grants since the first “Georgia On My Mind” in 2014.

Signing News:

Songwriter Scooter Carusoe has signed a joint worldwide publishing deal. Endurance Music Group and Warner Chappell Nashville have entered into a joint worldwide publishing agreement with acclaimed songwriter TravisHill, known professionally by his pen name Scooter Carusoe. Notable recent releases co-written by Carusoe include “You All Over Me” from Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift, “Want That Back” by Brett Eldredge, and “Some Habits” by Cole Swindell. He also claims recent cuts by fellow EMG songwriter Jimmie Allen, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Hailey Whitters. His songs have been performed on the Grammys, the CMA Awards, and the ACM Awards, and have earned multiple NSAI, ASCAP, and SESAC awards. His works have been recorded by Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Uncle Kracker, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Sugarland, Gary Allan, Jordan Davis, Chase Rice, Eli Young Band, Lee Brice, and more.

Singer Songwriter News:

Multi-talented performer, singer/songwriter, radio host and children’s book author, Laura Bryna, has announced the release of her new single “Body First” available now via all digital retail and streaming platforms (UMG/BUGALO Records) at https://laurabryna.com/music-body-first/.   Her eighth studio recording and radio release, the track makes evident Bryna’s versatility and talents to cater to multiple genres and attract music enthusiasts from across the globe (including the U.S., France and Germany). An introduction to her new EP (scheduled for a late summer/early fall 2022 release), the soulful, saucy track is an uninhibited suggestive invitation that only two lovers can embrace with words unspoken. “This is a special song that we hope will be a romantic anthem for many years to come; I’m excited to be a part of another Laura Bryna smash,” said co-writer and music producer, Damon Sharpe. “I’m a hopeless romantic and wanted to record a love song,” said Bryna. “We pushed the envelope and didn’t play it safe when it came to writing the lyrics and creating the corresponding video. It’s a yummy, sexy tune and the [music video] visual illuminates the chemistry between two lovers.” Music and more at https://laurabryna.com.

Single News:

Mercury Nashville Recording artist Travis Denning has released a new track, “She’s On It,” available to listen at https://strm.to/ShesOnItPR.   Co-written by Denning with Jamie Paulin, Paul DiGiovanni and co-produced by Paul DiGiovanni and Jeremy Stover, the song is a reflective track that builds to an anthemic chorus, tailor-made for Denning’s live set. Known for his high-energy live show, Denning just wrapped a stint opening for Cole Swindell and recently took the Main Stage at Tortuga Music Festival.  Denning has been tapped to join Dierks Bentley out on the road this summer, and will also perform at upcoming major festivals including Stagecoach, CMA Fest, TidalWave Music Festival and more. “We recently played ’She’s On It’ at a live show and the reaction felt instantaneous,” shared Denning. “This track has been a favorite of mine and the team’s for a little while and so we felt like now was the time to put it out there to a wider audience. Hopefully listeners dig it. I can’t wait to get out there and play it at more shows.” For more information, visit https://www.travisdenning.com. NOTE: He and his fiancée Madison Montgomery have not set a date yet. I was her father’s intern at Atlantic Records in 1992 (John Michael Montgomery)!


Billboard No. 1 singer-songwriter Dustin Collins has released “Workin’ Man,” the lead single and title track from his forthcoming album, via DCDL Entertainment. Workin’ Man was produced by industry veterans Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire) and Bill McDermott (Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley). Stream or download “Workin Man” at https://orcd.co/DustinCollinsWorkinMan. Collins penned seven songs on the album, including ‘Workin’ Man.” The album also features songs written by CMA winner Brett Eldredge, Larry McCoy (Thomas Rhett’s “Make Me Wanna”), Sherrie Austin (Blake Shelton’s “Startin’ Fires”) and Will Rambeaux (Faith Hill’s “Wild One”).  A portion of proceeds from “Workin’ Man” and the full album will benefit GUMI (Glad You Made It) Camp USA. GUMI focuses on providing U.S. veterans with the tools they need to help them heal after deployment overseas and enable them to re-enter society. The camp is located on a 258-acre piece of property in southeast Taney County, Mo. Veterans may reside without cost to them and heal at their own pace. Tour updates, music, etc  at https://dustincollinsofficial.com, twitter (@Dustincollins88), instagram (@dustincollinsofficial) and Facebook.

Song News:

CJ Solar has released “Hungover Enough,” the third song from his upcoming The Future’s Neon album on Raining Bacon Records. A rare piano-centered ballad from the country rocker, CJ wrote the emotional tune with Lydia Vaughan. Check it out at https://music.empi.re/hungoverenough.  “One of the first songs I wrote over zoom during 2020, and I kept coming back to it when we got in the studio but I wanted to keep it broke down,” said CJ. “Reminds me of a classic 70s rock melody with modern lyrics and if you know me, you know I love blending the two!”  CJ’s current radio single, “All I Can Think about Lately,” has been one of the most added songs on the MusicRow chart since its release and jumped from 15-7 on the CDX TRACtion True Indie Chart after being the week’s greatest spin gainer. A native of Baton Rouge, CJ will make his debut appearance at the State Fair of Louisiana this Saturday. Tour updates at https://www.cjsolar.com and @cjsolar

Songwriter News:

Porter Howell – one of the founding members of Little Texas – took advantage of the downtime caused by the pandemic to focus on his songwriting. “I probably wrote 40 songs by myself in 2020 alone,” Howell acknowledges. “Initially I was saving them for other people,” he explains, either with a co-writer in mind to help finish them or for a particular artist to record. But with some encouragement from his longtime partner and family, Howell slowly started making demos, “and I came to realize there was a personal angle to this particular group of songs.” That particular group of songs became This Town Was, Howell’s first side project as a singer/songwriter. In a review for Billboard.com, Jessica Nicholson tabbed the title track “an ode to the ever-changing ways of Nashville”. The video and single have just been released ahead of the 10-track album. Anyone who knows Nashville’s history will be drawn to the authenticity of the heartfelt lyrics as Howell soulfully sings about how the town he grew up in professionally has changed so much. Watch the “This Town Was” music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-EABfkuses.  (@porterhowellmusic)


Allie Colleen Photo Credit: Victoria Roth

Singer/Songwriter, Allie Colleen, who wants her music to be categorized as great music more than a specific genre, announced the digital release of her new spine-tingling and empowering single, “Halos and Horns,” produced by Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann and co-engineered by Cody LaBelle and Allie Colleen. The Outlaw Country tune depicts a picture of cowboys and angels torn between leather and lace, evil and good. The song was penned by Eric Dodd, Stephen Hunley and Allie Colleen. Allie knew when they were writing this one it was going to be big, a piece to the puzzle to her as an artist and her sound. She believes in women and believes in country music and this song showcases how much women belong in Country music. Women are outlaws and cowboys. Women are tough and outwork anyone around us. This song is not Allie Colleen trying to hang with the boys, but to hopefully encourage listeners that there are women out there making some rad country music right now and there is a place for women at the table. Listen/buy “Halos and Horns” at on all digital music platforms via https://smarturl.it/halosandhorns_ac.

Spotlight News:

Entertainer Jason Coleman appears in the current quarterly publication of The Nashville Musician Magazine. It is quite an honor to receive a spotlight on the pages of the “Official Journal of AFM Local 257,” Nashville’s musicians union. It is the same union of which Coleman is a member and his grandfather, one of the most legendary piano players in Music City, Floyd Cramer, once belonged. Under the headline of “Heard on the Grapevine,” Jason Coleman is noted for carrying-on his grandad’s famous ‘slip-note’ style of piano playing, not only through live concerts, but through his online tv show and his radio show on WSM, both simply called The Jason Coleman Show. Jason Coleman’s story is placed right between news on Kelsea Ballerina and Ronnie Milsap. Coleman’s next big tribute to his grandad takes place on June 6th when he performs at the Arkansas CMA Awards as Floyd Cramer is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The tribute will feature a collaboration with Jason Coleman and Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely. Article link: www.issu.com/nashvillemusicians.

Syndicated Music News:

“Sunday’s Kind of Country,” the nationally-syndicated radio program and television show focused on positive and inspirational country music, celebrated its 27th year on the radio with a special broadcast Sunday, April 17. The radio show, available on nearly 40 stations from coast to coast, as well as on HLEradio.com and the TuneIn radio app, highlighted a selection of guests and performances from the program’s historical archive and celebrated Easter with Dolly Parton’s “He is Risen” at the top of every hour.  Initially established as a three-hour radio show in 1995 by four-time CCMA/ICMA Personality of the Year, Robby Lynn (Steptoe), “Sunday’s Kind of Country” bridges the gap between Gospel/Praise shows and secular country music programming as “America’s rest stop for country music with a positive message.” Since its inception, the radio show has steadily grown its audience, capturing 29,900 listeners every quarter-hour through feature interviews and live in-studio performances by today’s hottest country artists. For more information on Sunday’s Kind Of Country and their affiliate broadcasters, visit https://www.skocnow.com or find them on Facebook. @SundaysKindofCountry

Tour News:

8x GRAMMY Award-winner Chris Stapleton will extend his “All-American Road Show” tour, produced by Live Nation, with newly confirmed shows at Tuscaloosa’s Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, Orange Beach’s The Wharf Amphitheater, Gilford’s Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (two nights) and Houston’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Tickets for the new dates are available now.  Citi is the official card of the “All-American Road Show” tour.  Among many additional dates was “A Concert for Kentucky”—a special performance held at University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field on April 23. The concert was the first ever held at UK’s Kroger Field featured very special guests Willie Nelson and Family, Sheryl Crow and Madeline Edwards. 100% of the concert’s net proceeds will benefit Stapleton’s Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund. See below for complete tour itinerary.  The performances add to another triumphant year for Stapleton, who won three awards at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Best Country Album (Starting Over), Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave”) and Best Country Song (“Cold”).  See https://www.chrisstapleton.com for tour updates and tickets. @chrisstapleton


Cody Johnson’s summer tour is in full swing and will be to September 23rd. Cody’s Rodeo Houston performance where he became the third performer ever to sell out opening night following records set in previous years by Garth Brooks (2018) and George Strait (2017). With a crowd of 70,554 cheering fans, Johnson launched the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s ™ 90th anniversary season after a forced hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic. It was his fourth Rodeo performance. Johnson continues his own headline concerts through this fall. For more info and full tour schedule visit https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/tour.  Cody Johnson also will join the GRAMMY Award-winning Zac Brown Band as special guest on two shows this summer during their 2022 international “Out In The Middle Tour.” Johnson, whose live performances are regarded by fans and media alike as an electrifying must-see-in concert-performer and who is touted as a ‘hard-driving entertainer’ (by Billboard), will appear on the July 15 Fenway Park/Boston and August 18 Citi Field/New York City concerts. Cody Johnson has established a following of passionately loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country. Cody’s gold-selling ’Til You Can’t” single reach the #1 position on Billboard’s airplay, streaming and sales-based ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart, added more RIAA platinum and gold singles and album certifications bringing his career total to 12 certifications, played sold-out concerts and more. In fact, Johnson increased his worldwide streams by nearly One Billion in 2021, growing from Two Billion to nearly Three Billion streams.

Tribute Music News:

Steve Earle & The Dukes’ new album, Jerry Jeff, is available now on all streaming services.  After Jerry Jeff Walker’s memorial in 2021, Earle booked time at Electric Lady Studios to make a tribute album of Walker’s songs, much like he did on 2009’s Townes and 2019’s Guy, made after the deaths of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. Earle has said these projects were a necessary form of therapy, and they stand as some of his best records.  “This record completes the set, the work of my first-hand teachers,” Earle writes in the liner notes. “The records were recorded and released in the order in which they left this world. But make no mistake – it was Jerry Jeff Walker who came first.” More info on Steve Earle and stream the full album or and preorder the CD or preferred vinyl — available August 26 at http://www.steveearle.com.

Trio Music News:

Breakout trio Chapel Hart is taking country music by storm. Making a show-stopping appearance on the red carpet at the 2022 CMT Awards with their brand new music video for their song “Made For Me” charting at #3 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown, the group is making waves and turning heads. Their locked-in, chill-inducing three part harmonies are undeniable and capture the attention of every audience they perform for. With a full schedule of upcoming tour dates, the group is staying busy performing for their rapidly growing fan base. Recently, Chapel Hart was featured on the cover of OffBeat Magazine with the magazine claiming, “There’s nothing like them.” The OffBeat Magazine cover comes ahead of their upcoming performance at the French Quarter Fest in New Orleans, LA. In 2021 Chapel Hart was inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country. See their website https://www.chapelhart.com for the full Chapel Hart tour schedule and follow along on their social media for updates.

TV/Network Music News:

The Design Network has announced a brand new show featuring multi-Platinum music star, Darius Rucker. “Rucker’s Reno” follows the three-time Grammy winner as he revives a historic mansion in the heart of his Charleston, S.C. hometown, turning a vacant city landmark into a modern treasure for his family to enjoy.  “Rucker’s Reno” stares history in the face, exploring how the American South has evolved since the days of slavery, and has since offered a more equitable and inspiring narrative for locals – through the creative lens of home design. The entire new six-part series from The Design Network is available early to viewers now on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free video streaming platform, and rolling out to other services on May 30. “It’s always an honor when I get to showcase my hometown of Charleston to the world, and I’m thankful to The Design Network for such a great platform to do just that,” Darius Rucker said. More about Darius at https://www.dariusrucker.com and @DariusRucker

Veterans Music News:

Nashville-based nonprofit CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group’s campaign to release a new veteran-written track on the 20th of every month — paying tribute to the 20 veterans and active-duty members that commit suicide every single day — continued April 20 with “Miss Those Memories,” available now (via Big Machine Records). Listen/stream via https://bmlg.lnk.to/MTMPR.  The tune was written by Marine Veteran Lloyd Howard Jr. alongside multi-platinum hitmaker Justin Moore, award-winning songwriter Casey Beathard, and CreatiVets co-founder Richard Casper. A product of one of CreatiVets’ lauded songwriting programs, which aims to pair combat veterans with songwriters in Nashville to learn how to use music as a form of therapy, the moving song was inspired by Howard’s harrowing time in service and his positive approach to life after war. Featuring lead vocals by Beathard and background vocals by Moore, the poignant track serves as a reminder that countless veterans are faced with a new set of battles after returning home. More about CreatiVets, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization helping veterans with opportunities to use art, music, and creative writing to heal their unseen wounds of war at https://creativets.org.

Video News:

Country supergroup Texas Hill has released an official music video for “Heaven Down Here,” the title track from their debut album which dropped earlier this year. The visual made its world premiere exclusively with Heartland Network and features an intimate mix of live performance and behind-the-scenes moments from their album release show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. “We shot this music video at our album release show back in January,” said group member Craig Wayne Boyd. “It was the first song in the set, and you can tell by the looks on our faces… getting to celebrate our first album together with family and friends in the audience was as close to ‘Heaven Down Here’ as it gets.” Heaven Down Here includes previously released tunes from their self-titled debut EP plus five new tracks. The trio first began writing and performing together in 2019 and announced the band publicly in June of 2020 via Billboard. Since then, Texas Hill has found a fan in anyone that takes the time to listen. Info, music and tour info at https://www.texashillofficial.com.


Multi-Platinum selling superstar Cole Swindell has released the video for his song “Down To The Bar,” featuring HARDY and his Down To The Bar Tour tourmates Travis Denning and Ashley Cooke, across his social media channels.  Watch the video “Down To The Bar” at https://coleswindell.lnk.to/downtothebar_omv directed by Michael Monaco (FlyHi Films) and filmed in downtown Nashville. “I had so much fun on my Down To The Bar Tour with Travis and Ashley out on the road with me this spring,” said Swindell. “We just carried that good time over to this video and I hope fans can see how much fun that tour was for all of us. This video would not have been the same without them and it’s awesome to have HARDY be such a big part of the song/video as well. They added a lot to the tour and it just felt right to have them in the video that the tour was named after.” “Down To The Bar” (featuring HARDY) was written by Swindell, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt and Josh Thompson. Tour dates and more at www.ColeSwindell.com  @coleswindell


Rising country artist Brandon Hartt has premiered the music video for his new upbeat single titled “Paw Paw.” Brandon’s new single is one of six tracks on his EP “Gas” released May 20th.  “Paw Paw” paints the picture of just how influential Hartt’s adoptive father was by sharing the things he taught him as a child through his lyrics. Brandon’s desire to give back has led him to establish The Brandon Heart Survival Fund, which will help children around the nation navigate the struggles associated with the adoption system. Hailing from Stanly County, North Carolina, Brandon Hartt was one of eight children raised in a devout Christian home. He wanted to be a preacher but then heard of Elvis Presley and “discovered Gospel takes many forms.” A talented multi-instrumentalist and music production graduate from Berkeley, Hartt is a creative artist who strives to stay true to himself and his music. He plays piano, guitar, banjo, sitar, harmonica, bass guitar, drums and also produces music and does “whatever the spirit leads him to.”  More at https://www.facebook.com/brandonharttmusic/.

WWWEBSITES TO CHECKOUT

www.cdxcd.com / www.proverbs1210rescue.org.| www.radiosobro.com / www.furchguitars.com / www.shannoncountry.com | www.endurancemg.com / www.cmaworld.com  / www.cdxcd.com / www.musicrow.com  

WHO’S LOOKING  *  WHO’S CUTTING:  

Brianna Helbling, Gyth Rigdon, Josh Gallagher, Caleb Mills, Chasity Bailey, Brett Eldredge, Dustin Lynch, Lindsey Ell, Eddie Montgomery, and Little Big Town.

Preshias Harris provides this exclusive monthly column with Nashville Music Guide to keep artists, musicians, writers and more up to date on the news that is coming from music row and beyond. It includes music industry news from labels, publishers, writers, singers and more.

Inside Track is a monthly column by Preshias Harris.

Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com   Google “Preshias”  (TN/USA)

Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com  Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com.

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