Music News (4/18/18)

ACM Awards Honor Top Songwriting Talent

Miranda Lambert. Photo: ACM

During the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday evening (April 15) Miranda Lambert took home her 31st and 32nd ACM Awards (for Song of the Year- “Tin Man” and Female Vocalist of the Year), making her the all-time champion for the most Academy of Country Music Awards. 

Chris Stapleton‘s Songs From A Room: Vol. 1 was named winner for Album of the Year. While Stapleton could not be in attendance, host Reba McEntire took the stage to announce that Stapleton and his wife Morgane had just welcomed twin boys. On top of that, it was Stapleton’s 40th birthday. Later in the evening, he would add to his ACM trophy collection with another Male Vocalist of the Year honor.

Also not in attendance, Sam Hunt‘s pop radio and streaming juggernaut “Body Like A Back Road” earned Single Record of the Year.

An early award was offered to Rhett Akins, earning this year’s ACM Songwriter of the Year title. This marks Akins’ first win in this ACM category. He was presented with the honor during the ACM’s Stories, Songs & Stars event on Friday (April 13).

Read more at MusicRow.com. 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

From A Room Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA

Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville

Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records

I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits

Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezolant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)

Tin Man – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music

Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)

Columbia Nashville Signs Tenille Townes

Sony Music Nashville announces the signing of emerging singer-songwriter Tenille Townes to the Columbia Nashville imprint.

The label immediately released her EP Living Room Worktapes, produced by co-writer Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves’s Golden Hour). Listen here and watch the first installment of “Tenille Townes: My Story” on VEVO.

Townes is also signed to Big Yellow Dog Music and is currently writing and recording her debut LP with producer Jay Joyce.

The singer recently made her Sundance Film Festival and SXSW debuts. She will join Devin Dawson, Maren Morris and Steve Moakler for select tour dates this spring, and has been tapped by Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town for their co-headlining The Bandwagon Tour launching July 2018.

Townes began singing at age 5 in her rural Canadian hometown, Grande Prairie, Alberta, and penned her first song by age 14. She moved to Nashville in 2013 to pursue her music career.

Living Room Worktapes Track Listing:
1. Where You Are (Tenille Townes/Daniel Tashian/Keelan Donovan)
2. Jersey on the Wall (Townes/Tina Parol/Gordie Sampson)
3. Somebody’s Daughter (Townes/Luke Laird/Barry Dean)
4. White Horse (Townes/Jeremy Spillman/Tashian)

Seventh Day Slumber’s Joseph Rojas Launches Nashville Label Group

Joseph Rojas, founding member of Dove Award-winning Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, has formed the Nashville Label Group. The new company will house dual imprints RockFest Records, featuring Seventh Day Slumber, hitmakers Random Hero, Indiana-based melodic rockers The Protest, female solo rocker Zahna, Nashville-based rock/metal band The Persuaded; and metalcore trio Amongst the Giants.

The Nashville Label Group will also house Burtonwood Records. The label’s roster features singer/songwriter Brooke Robertson, and pop vocalist Nathan Sheridan, whose debut single, “Loves Like That,” was recently released to Christian Hot AC formats. Both RockFest Records and Burtonwood Records will be distributed by New Day Christian Distribution, with digital distribution facilitated by The Orchard (Sony).