November 2019 - Nashville Music Line

Matt Stell celebrates “Prayed For You” at No. 1 party in Nashville

Joined by co-writers Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz-Cruz

By Preshias Harris

It was a lot of “firsts” when Nashville’s music industry came out to celebrate on 19 November. It was the Number One party for “Prayed For You,” recorded by Matt Stell who wrote the song with Ash Bowers and Allison Veltz-Cruz.

It was Matt Stell’s first No. 1 as an artist. And it was the first No. 1 as songwriters for Stell, Bowers and Velts-Cruz. Additionally, the song was recognized as the only artist debut single to top the Country Airplay chart in 2019. “Prayed For You” has been certified Gold (and will receive a Platinum certification) with more than 125 million streams.

(L to R): Ash Bowers, Matt Stell and Allison Veltz-Cruz field questions during the media meeting. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

(On behalf of Kyser Musical Products, I presented Stell with an ASCAP-branded Keyser Capo, awarded to an ASCAP writer on the occasion of writing his or her first No. 1.)

From medical career to music

During the media meeting before the Award presentation, I reminded Matt that he seemed to be set for a medical career until he met up with Ash Bowers. I asked him what it was about that meeting that changed his career course.

Inside Track on Music Row

November 2019 ‘Inside Track’ posted at Nashville Music Guide

My column, ‘Inside Track on Music Row,’ is the longest-running country music column in the USA. The November 2019 edition is now posted at Nashville Music Guide. You can read the full column here.

Among the many news items in this month’s column…

Jason Aldean’s new album, 9, set for release November 22. Jason says, “Early on I always thought if we ever got to make nine albums, I’m going to call it 9. It was my baseball number growing up, and it’s just kind of always been my lucky number”…

Chris Young made his directorial debut with the music video for his newest hit, “Drowning.” Co-directed with Native 31 Films Producer and Director Jeff Johnson, the video opens with Young holding a photo of Adam Carnes, his longtime friend whose loss is memorialized in the song’s lyrics…

Steven Curtis Chapman, Gospel music’s most awarded artist, continued bringing home the hardware with his 59th Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Bluegrass / Country / Roots Album of the Year, Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows…

Clint Black has released Still Killin’ Time featuring eight live recordings of Clint’s hits and two studio recordings of songs that nearly made it onto his debut album Killin’ Time…

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission: Possible Charity Concert will be held on Tuesday November 26 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. This year marks the 14th year that Tracy has hosted his Mission: Possible event that assists feeding homeless men, women and children…

2019 Christmas 4 Kids concert headliner is “Just Another Day in Paradise” hitmaker Phil Vassar. He is the face of the nonprofit fundraising event, with Matt Ramsey of Old Dominion, Lonestar, Eddie Montgomery, Craig Wiseman, Jeffrey Steele and more set to appear…

Read the full versions of the news items listed above and many more. Click here to go to the full column at Nashville Music Guide.

Syndicated shows spread country music worldwide

Hope Nation Radio Founder Nile Peaytt lands international success

By Preshias Harris

Nile “Big Daddy” Peaytt

One of the most caring and inspiring people I have ever met is Nile Peaytt, known to his friends (including me!) as “Big Daddy” who co-founded a wonderful organization known as Hope Nation Radio (HNR). Scroll down to read more about the programming on HNR, including shows that can be enjoyed by kids in hospital. But here is news about Nile spreading Nashville’s music worldwide.

“By doing these shows overseas, we have a chance to bring a taste of Nashville to places that are hungry for country music. Having a chance to be that voice means the world to me. We’re about to paint the world redneck.” – Nile “Big Daddy” Peaytt

Nile “Big Daddy” Peaytt of Hope Nation Radio has recently launched two brand new weekly syndicated radio shows, 90’s Country Flashback and 615 The Grind. 90’s Country Flashback, as the name alludes to, focuses on playing the best country hits from the 90’s while 615 The Grind is geared towards today’s country, new country artists and country news. Though the shows have only been around for a short amount of time, both have already been picked up internationally.

Shows airing in Ireland and Australia

90’s Country Flashback has seen success in Dublin, Ireland where it has been picked up on Total Country FM (listen online here via TuneIn) on Tuesdays at 6PM, Wednesdays at 7AM, Thursdays at 1PM, and Sundays at 6PM (GMT). “I love doing this show!” says Nile. “These artists blazed a trail and their music set the charts on fire. 90’s country was something special.” Continue reading “Syndicated shows spread country music worldwide”