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Preshias talks Nashville Music on Y’all Show

Virtual Award shows, podcasts, new music and more on this week’s Y’all Show

*Preshias talks about Jon’s favorite artist, Steve Wariner*

Preshias was the guest once again on the Y’all Show with host Jon Rawl as they talked about what’s happening in Music City. Among the topics:

#SaveOurStages set for Oct 16 – 18 brings out the stars to help save independent venues facing closure due to the pandemic
The Billboard Music Awards; the country music nominees
CJ Solar’s full band virtual concert on SET.live, October 15
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival is virtual and FREE
Steve Wariner will be “Inside the Circle” at the Grand Ole Opry
Dennis Quaid has a message of unity and patriotism
Tim McGraw to receive Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award
Elvie Shane’s “My Boy” most added song at Country Radio
Holly Dolly Christmas tops Country album charts
An “I Know Country” Q&A for the week of Oct 11 – Oct 17, and more

Watch the entire show at the Y’all website or at the Y’all channel on YouTube.

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 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com

What does it take to write fifty No. 1 hits?

Ashley Gorley opens up to cmt.com about writing hit songs

By Preshias Harris

However successful you are as a songwriter, your name will always be in parentheses (and probably italics) while the song title and the artist’s name will be in big, bold type.

But seeing his name in parentheses is just fine with Ashley Gorley. He recently became the first and only songwriter in any music genre to write FIFTY No. 1 hits in the history of the Mediabase and Billboard airplay charts.

Ashley spoke with music journalist Alison Bonaguro who interviewed him for cmt.com. What Ashley said about his approach to songwriting and his disdain for celebrity status should serve as an inspiration and an object lesson for all emerging and aspiring songwriters. Read Alison’s full interview with Ashley here at cmt.com.

Ashley has come a long way from his Danville, KY, roots to his record-setting perch on Nashville’s Music Row. But it was no overnight success. Even after snagging a song publishing deal, it was seven years before his name (in parentheses) appeared under the title of a Top 40 song, and longer still before he was credited with a No. 1 – “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” for Carrie Underwood.

Self-imposed work ethic drives success

Unsurprisingly, Ashley’s work ethic plays as big a role in his success as his talent. He tells Alison:

Tin Pan South Songwriters Fest goes virtual Oct 20-24

Tin Pan South 2020: a free-to-access virtual experience

By Preshias Harris

Tin Pan South is still on – but with a new twist, thanks to the pandemic. For 2020, Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will be virtual with five evenings of amazing music and more from the cream of today’s songwriters. Put the dates in your calendar: October 20 – 24, 2020.

Tin Pan South, billed as ‘the world’s largest songwriter festival, was launched in 1993 by the members of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). An announcement at the Tin Pan South website states:

Make plans for a Tin Pan South Festival like no other! In partnership with NSAI, Regions Bank is presenting a virtual version of the festival and it’s happening October 20-24, 2020! Check out the line-up and plan to watch some of your favorite songwriters from the comfort of your own home right here at tinpansouth.com. Did we mention all events are FREE to watch?! Clear your calendars and tune in!

Initially planned for March 2020, the now-virtual Festival, again presented by Regions Bank, will be free of charge to enjoy.

Among the songwriters already on the schedule:

CHRIS DESTEFANO – JIMMIE ALLEN – SHANE MCANALLY – CARLY PEARCE – ALLISON VELTZ CRUZ – SHAED – JOHN PAUL WHITE – TROUBADOR 77 – RITA WILSON – CAROLINE WATKINS – LIZ ROSE – MATTHEW RAMSEY – HARLOE – WADE BOWEN – LORI MCKENNA ROB SNYDER – JAKE MITCHELL – JOSH LONDON – EMILY WEISBAND – ROB HATCH – CHANNING WILSON – JOSH MIRENDA – EMILY SHACKELTON – UNCLE KRACKER – VICTORIA SHAW – WYATT DURRETTE – DYLAN LEBLANC – JEFF COHEN – MEGHAN KABIR – GEM AND EYE – ERIKA ENDER – AARON BARKER – J.T. HARDING – ERIC BAZILIAN – VICTORIA BANKS – BRANDON STANSELL – MIGNON – DERIC RUTTAN – NAT DUNN – KELLY ARCHER – SAMMY BRUE – JIM COLLINS – MARK ERELLI – KRISTAL TYTEWRITER – CHRIS BARRON – JENNA ANDREWS – DESMOND CHILD – ROB ALDRIDGE – JUSTIN OSBORNE – LEE ROY PARNELL – JIM PETERIK – DEAVID LEE MURPHY – KRIS DELMHORST – DR. DANNY – MEL WASHINGTON – JAMES LEBLANC – COYLE GIRELLI – CHRIS BARRON – SOUTHERLAND – ASHLAND CRAFT – SETH ENNIS – ROBYN COLLINS – TREVOR ROSEN – PHIL BARTON – JOSH OSBORNE – ERNEST

#SaveOurStages 3-day virtual festival set for Oct 16 – 18

Livestreaming shows just part of #SaveOurStages action plan

By Preshias Harris

Independent venues are where most emerging singers and songwriters make their first stage appearances as they hone their skills and reach out to audiences, often in smaller, more intimate settings.

Now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting ban or limits on public performance, those independent venues are the ones suffering the most – and are most likely to go dark forever. That would be a disappointment for potential audiences, but more seriously, it could be devastating for those singers, musicians and songwriters who rely on those venues to launch and develop their careers. (You can help by letting the Senate and the House of Representatives know you support this project. See below.)

In an effort to raise awareness and funds, the stars are coming out to put their talent and their celebrity status behind a push to “Save Our Stages.” The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is partnering with YouTube for a 3-day virtual music festival to #SaveOurStages. #SOSFEST will live stream on NIVA’s official YouTube channel October 16-18 and will feature all new performances. This benefit event aims to generate significant awareness, advocacy and donations for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, directly supporting our most vulnerable venues experiencing catastrophic revenue loss.

Nashville #SaveOurStages shows

Throughout the 3-day virtual festival, live performances will stream directly from some of those iconic venues across America – including, of course, Nashville. Already announced: Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini at the Exit/In, Brothers Osborne at Mercy Lounge and Reba McEntire at the Ryman Auditorium. More are being added.

90% of independent venues will not survive the COVID-19 pandemic without financial aid. Your voice matters — Tell your legislators to save independent music venues! More than 2 million live music lovers have written letters to their elected officials via Help to #SaveOurStages by telling Congress to ACT NOW! You can make a difference. See how to tell your legislators to save independent music venues HERE!

Cassadee, Tanya, Darius, Reba and more

Country music news with Preshias on the Y’all show

Preshias and Y’all Show host Jon Rawl talk about what’s happening in the world of country music in this week’s livestream.

Among the topics:

Cassadee Pope faces her fear of cooking
Carrie Underwood’s My Gift album debuts at No. 1
Mac Davis ‘buried in his blue jeans’ in Lubbock
Tanya Tucker’s live version of “Delta Dawn”
Reba McEntire & Darius Rucker to host CMA Awards
A country music Q&A from Preshias’ book, “I Know Country” and more

Watch the show at the Y’all website or on YouTube.

Inside Track on Music Row: what’s new in Nashville

October’s Inside Track by Preshias now posted at NMG

You’ll find around 30 news items in this month’s column that I have been writing for more than a quarter of a century! Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in America – and probably the world.

Thanks, as always, to Amanda Andrews and her crew at Nashville Music Guide for making Inside Track on Music Row look SO good every month. For October, you’ll find the entire column with added music, videos, photos, graphics and more.

Among the many news items and stories in the October 2020 Inside Track:

Keith Urban’s new album, The Speed of Now
Reba McEntire’s 30th Anniversary edition of Rumor Has It
Ashley Gorley named Songwriter of the Year for a record fifth time
New music from Shenandoah, their first in 26 years
Chris Stapleton drops another single, ahead of the November release of Starting Over
Hit writer Kent Blazy (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”) releases Authentic album
Christmas albums from Dolly, Carrie, Maddie & Tae and more
Updates on rescheduled tours for Scotty McCreery, Lee Brice
The only 2020 live gig for superstar group Alabama
New single, video and Neon Town album from David Adam Byrnes
Ray Stevens is livin’ it up in quarantine with hit song and video
UK trio Essex County crossing the pond with “Love at First”

Plus more ‘news you need to know’ for music industry insiders and country music fans. It’s all in the October Inside Track on Music Row at Nashville Music Guide Magazine (print and online). Find the October edition of Inside Track on Music Row by Preshias here.

NMG has been publicizing Singers, Musicians, and Writers to Nashville’s Music Row and Beyond Since 1995.

Lzzy Hale: “Put yourself out there!”

Learn from the train wrecks

By Preshias Harris

Lzzy Hale, the Grammy-winning, rockin’ vocalist, guitarist and co-founder of Halestorm, has had her share of setbacks along her career path, but she treats these obstacles as learning moments and incentives to keep focused on the end goals. She has some encouraging words for emerging singers, songwriters and musicians in an article titled How to Succeed in Music, published in Sweetwater Sweet Notes:

“For every great song of mine that has truly connected with people, there are hundreds of bad ones that came before it. For every great show, there are hundreds of train wrecks that helped me learn what worked and what didn’t. If you don’t know what you don’t want to be, you’ll never become the person you do want to be.”

She continues: “You practice and hone your craft, so when opportunities come your way, you’re ready for them. Opportunity is a funny thing, because you can’t just sit there and wait for one to magically fall out of the sky and into your lap. You have to say ‘yes’ to adventure and put yourself out there.”

Lzzy encourages emerging artists to play everywhere and anywhere you can. In the early days of Halestorm, she says, the band played bowling alleys, malls, even a funeral, but the experience they acquired meant they were ready when real opportunity finally knocked.

*Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher interviews Lzzy Hale*

Check out Lzzy’s interview with Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher here and see Lzzy talk about her guitar rig (including her custom Gibson signature guitars) here. Check out Halestorm’s new EP, Reimagined at their official website. Find all the musical goodies from studio equipment to mics and instruments (and everything in between) at Sweetwater’s website here.

David Adam Byrnes lights up ‘Neon Town’

New album and single from a country artist on the rise

By Preshias Harris

Recently, I caught up with David Adam Byrnes, a singer-songwriter on the verge of major stardom with a new album, Neon Town, set for release in October.

I have known Arkansas-born David Adam for years, both as an industry friend and a fan of his music. I sent him a “12 Pack” of questions, and reading his answers (via e-mail) made me laugh and smile! It was definitely my dose of sunshine for the week.

But first, the big news about his new album. From a small-town Arkansas kid to a mainstream songwriting scholarship in Nashville to a return to his independent country music roots, David Adam Byrnes is making the scene in Texas with singles flying up the Texas radio chart.

On October 2nd, Byrnes released his new album Neon Town, and for several months its presence has already been felt with three back-to-back #1 hit singles. The very week the second single, “I Can Give You One,” hits #1 in Texas, the virus pandemic hits the world. Shows canceled, album release canceled…life as we know it, canceled. After months of shutdown David decided that the show must go on. On April 10th he released his new single “Neon Town,” the title track to the new album, and it has also reached the #1 spot.

Preshias talks about this week’s Nashville news

Mac Davis passes, new albums from Chris Stapleton, Shenandoah and Dolly, the Opry at 95 and more

Watch the show on YouTube here.

Among the topics they discussed:

The sad loss of singer-songwriter Mac Davis at age 78
“Cold,” the new song from Chris Stapleton’s upcoming album, Starting Over
Every Road is the title of the new album from Shenandoah – their first album of all-new music in 26 years
The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 95th year with a lot of stars but not much of a ‘live’ audience
Carrie Underwood is set to perform songs from her Christmas album, My Gift, on an HBO Max Special
Time-Life is releasing a 19-DVD deluxe set titled Dolly: The Ultimate Collection, and Dolly Parton’s Holly Dolly Christmas album arrives October 2nd
An “I Know Country” Q&A from Preshias’ book of the same name, and more!

Find this week’s Y’all Show on YouTube here or see the show and read the program notes at the Y’all website here.

Preshias talks ACM Awards and more on Y’all Show

See Preshias talking with host John Rawl on this week’s Y’all Show, September 23, 2020

Nashville Music Line: Maddie & Tae Christmas CD, Keith Urban

Click on link above to watch the video

Among other topics, Preshias and Jon discuss:

The results of the 2020 ACM Awards, the first time the show has been held (without an audience) in Nashville
A new 16-track album from Keith Urban
Christmas albums from Maddie & Tae, Carrie Underwood, Runaway June Terri Clark and Dolly Parton
Alabama’s only gig in 2020
A biopic miniseries about George Jones and Tammy Wynette
A new outdoor stage at the Ryman Auditorium
This week’s I Know Country Q&A and more

See this week’s Y’all Show here.