Clint Black, Marty Rabon, Bellamy Brothers add their voices
By Preshias Harris
Buddy Jewellcaptured hearts and ears across America when he emerged as the fan-voted winner of Nashville Star’s inaugural season – ahead of second placed Miranda Lambert.
His prize included a record deal with Columbia Records and an album to be produced by country superstar Clint Black, as he recounted in an interview with me at Center Stage Mag here.
The self-titled album quickly earned Gold certification, and the debut single, “Help Pour Out the Rain,” became the highest-debuting single by a new country artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating charts.
The second single from that self-titled album was “Sweet Southern Comfort” penned by Rodney Clawson and Brad Crisler, released in October 2003, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks the following year.
Celebrating the song’s twentieth anniversary, Jewell has now recorded a new version of the hit song and he invited some famous friends to join him on the track: Clint Black, Marty Rabon of Shenandoah and the Bellamy Brothers.
I caught up with Buddy Jewell during Country Radio Seminar in March and he told me the story behind the original 2003 recording and why Clint Black had to be part of the new version too.
Jewell has certainly earned his place in the spotlight, recording 5,000 demos as an in-demand demo singer for ten years before the Nashville Star opportunity came along. But when he could finally record his own albums, “singing all those demos really helped a lot,” he told me.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a 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@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris
Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items
How artists and songwriters can stay safe on social media
Bellamy Brothers still touring! Exclusive interview
Copyright Royalty Board OK’s big raise for songwriters
ACM Lifting Lives: stars turn out in Vegas
The Outlaws, Blackhawk benefit MusiCares, cancer research
Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items
Social media safety vital for singers, songwriters
Staying safe on social media is important for everyone, but it can be vital for young singers, musicians and songwriters who are posting photos and information about themselves as a way to build a following and boost their careers. However, your posts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can also attract stalkers, cyber-scammers and identity thieves.
For a helpful guide to staying safe online, read this article by Jim Akin posted on Experian’s website. Among Jim’s recommendations: adjust your Facebook privacy settings and uncheck the ‘Discoverability’ boxes in Twitter’s safety and security controls. He also suggests being discreet about your whereabouts on social media. He explains how to disable location tagging on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read the full article for many more helpful online safety tips.
Bellamy Brothers still circling the globe
David (left) and Howard Bellamy. Photo: Preshias Harris
The Bellamy Brothers remain hugely popular both in the USA and overseas. They have been touring almost nonstop for more than 40 years. They have written a new autobiography titled ‘Let Your Love Flow: Life and Times of the Bellamy Brothers’ that will be available this month. Additionally, ‘Honky Tonk Ranch,’ a TV show about their hectic lives, is set to air in the USA on the Cowboy Channel.
I caught up with Howard and David Bellamy while they were on a brief break between international tour dates, and we sat down in Nashville to talk about their new projects. My exclusive interview with the Bellamys has now been posted at Country Music News International, a blog based in Germany. You can find the full interview here.
Songwriter royalties: ‘significant increase’
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has released its ruling on mechanical rates for songwriters for 2018 – 2022. This decision is the result of a trial that took place between March and June of 2017 with NMPA and the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI), representing the interests of music publishers and songwriters against Google, Amazon, Apple, Spotify and Pandora.
The court’s decision includes a significant increase in the overall percentage of revenue paid to songwriters from 10.5% to 15.1% over the next five years – the largest rate increase in CRB history. Additionally, the CRB removed the Total Content Cost (TCC) cap, giving publishers the benefit of a true percentage of what labels are able to negotiate in the free market resulting in significantly higher royalties for songwriters.
The CRB also increased the TCC rate resulting in the most balance between record label and publishing rates in the history of mechanical licensing. In addition, the CRB granted a late fee which will dramatically alter the licensing practices of digital music companies. Read the full press release from NSAI here.
ACM is ‘Lifting Lives’ in Vegas
With the ACM Awards just around the corner, it seems like half of Nashville is heading to Las Vegas. The stars and their crews will be getting there early for ACM’s ‘Party For A Cause.’ On Friday, April 13, The Joint at the Vegas Hard Rock is the venue for ‘ACM Stories, Songs & Stars,’ a songwriters’ event benefitting ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Among those scheduled to appear: Lee Brice, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally and more, The event will be hosted by Storme Warren.
The next morning, Saturday, April 14, Darius Rucker and Charles Kelley host ACM Lifting Lives Top Golf Tee-Off at the MGM Grand’s Top Golf. Among the celebs who have signed up: Chris Lane, Levi Hummon, Raelynn, Eric Pasley and more.
It’s back to the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sunday night for the Official After Party with performances by Lauren Alaina, Lee Brice, Luke Combs, Cassadee Pope, Jerrod Niemann, Tracy Lawrence and more.
Anything else? Oh yes! Almost forgot. The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas, Sunday, April 15, 8:00pm / 7:00 Central on CBS, hosted by Reba McEntire. The show will pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival.
Since 2008 ACM Lifting Lives has given more than 8 million dollars to more than 150 worthy causes and supports many projects throughout the year to create awareness and help those in need.
Blackhawk and The Outlaws make $$ donations to MusiCares and cancer research
Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization.
L to R: Debbie Carroll (MusiCares Sr. Executive Director), Henry Paul (BlackHawk / The Outlaws)
Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund”) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund”).
“The ‘Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund’ and ‘The Fallen Outlaws Fund’ were both formed to help give back to two very worthwhile causes in the name of BlackHawk and Outlaw fans, respectively,” says Paul. “Raising money for cancer research at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and also for MusiCares, an organization that helps fund healthcare costs for uninsured musicians, is the cause. Honoring former founding BlackHawk member Van Stephenson and former founding Outlaws members Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe, by perpetuating their memory in the name of these two charities, is our goal.”
Staying safe on social media is important for everyone, but it can be vital for young singers, musicians and songwriters who are posting photos and information about themselves as a way to build a following and boost their careers. However, your posts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can also attract stalkers, cyber-scammers and identity thieves.
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has released its ruling on mechanical rates for songwriters for 2018 – 2022. This decision is the result of a trial that took place between March and June of 2017 with NMPA and the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI), representing the interests of music publishers and songwriters against Google, Amazon, Apple, Spotify and Pandora.
With the ACM Awards just around the corner, it seems like half of Nashville is heading to Las Vegas. The stars and their crews will be getting there early for ACM’s ‘Party For A Cause.’ On Friday, April 13, The Joint at the Vegas Hard Rock is the venue for ‘ACM Stories, Songs & Stars,’ a songwriters’ event benefitting 