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NIELSEN AUDIO began delivery of MAY monthly PPM results TODAY (6/12) in these markets:NEW YORK; LOS ANGELES; CHICAGO; SAN FRANCISCO; DALLAS; HOUSTON; PHILADELPHIA; ATLANTA; NASSAU-SUFFOLK; RIVERSIDE-SAN BERNARDINO; SAN JOSE; and ... more »
Dave Dame Joins Black River Entertainment As Dir./West Coast Promotion
BLACK RIVER ENTERTAINMENT (BRE) has tapped DAVE DAME as Dir./West Coast Promotion, effective TODAY (6/12). He succeeds STEVE PLESHE, who departed the company last month to joined CUMULUS ... more »
Little Big Town - "When Someone Stops Loving You" (Capitol Nashville)
Luke Combs already has a #1 single and album in his hip pocket, and after a week of polling radio for feedback on his second single, “When It Rains It Pours,” one has the feeling he's well on his way to a really fantastic year. This is a gigantic, smash hit record that brings tempo, strong vocal presence, and a quality we haven't seen a lot of in recent years with Country music: A clever turn of a phrase with a subtle, wry sense of humor. A title like "When It Rains It Pours" usually portends anguish, heartbreak, and tons of sorrow. Well, Combs has flipped the script on those themes, instead telling a fun, uplifting tale of how many things can go so incredibly right when someone so obviously wrong for you leaves. Things like winning the lottery, being the right caller for a radio contest, and – hitting perfectly on Combs' everyman image and that sense of humor I mentioned earlier – winning the Moose Club raffle. As Combs sings, perhaps the biggest prize is this: “And I ain’t gotta see my ex-future mother-in-law anymore / Oh, Lord, when it rains it pours // I’ve been on one hell of a redneck roll for three weeks now / And it all started on the day that she walked out." That reference to radio is a subtle one, not the familiar, patronizing kind designed simply to get a PD's attention. "When It Rains It Pours" is just one song from one of the best albums of 2017. Play it right away, and spin it during the day, because Combs' run of luck is just beginning, and you'll want to be thought of as someone who got it right away. 
Coming straight off the heels of her last single, "Love Triangle," RaeLynn keeps the connection between fans strong with her newest release, "Lonely Call." The track's title immediately tells you what the song is about, but RaeLynn has made it pretty clear what the song personally means to her. She explained that the track was written a few years back when she and now-husband, Josh, experienced a break-up before they eventually got married. The break-up didn't last long, but during the off-period, RaeLynn told him that she refused to be his 'lonely call,' or someone to talk to when he's feeling alone and missing her. Although RaeLynn's situation can be very relatable, there are several other meanings to the new tune. As she now deals with a long-distance marriage with Josh, who is an active member of the United States military, RaeLynn is spending a lot of time away from him, so this song could easily relate to the lonely call you make to your significant other when you can't physically be with them. Or, it could be the call you want to make to someone who is no longer in your life. Well, Country Radio, get to playing "Lonely Call," so that your listeners never feel alone!
Lee Brice, father of three – with baby girl Sara joining the fold as recent as June 2nd – is fully credentialed to speak about fatherhood. And, he's further qualified to sing "Boy," his latest single, as his first two children are of the male gender. As we near Father's Day, all guys think of their dad, and all dads with sons – whether they admit it or not – become reflective about how to shape their young boys' journey towards manhood. Here, Brice offers early wisdom, guidance, and love, all based on experience. "Boy, you're gonna know it all / You'll think you're ten feet tall / And run like you're bulletproof / And total a car or two / Boy, you're gonna hate this town / Wish you could burn it down / That fire in your eyes is 20 counties wide / But boy, you're gonna love 17 / And boy, you'll do some stupid things." As a guy, and father of three boys, I can vouch for all of the above being true. This is a touching, loving, and very listenable song timed perfectly around Father's Day, but the sage advice passed on here has no expiration date.
Maybe you aren't totally familiar with Ryan Hurd just yet, but I know you're already familiar with his work. If not from his penning of Dierks Bentley's "I'll Be The Moon," which just happens to feature Hurd's girlfriend, Maren Morris, then certainly from his co-write with Brent Anderson on Blake Shelton's "Lonely Tonight." The latter earned Hurd nods from the CMA Awards and the Grammys in addition to a sparkly #1 plaque for his wall. After writing songs cut by Shelton, Bentley, Jake Owen, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, and others, Hurd signed his own recording deal with RCA Nashville earlier this year. Having released his self-titled EP in April, Hurd has garnered millions of Spotify streams and is making his first run at Country radio with "Love In A Bar," an autobiographical love song about the beginning of his relationship with Morris. "We found love in a bar / In the back of a patio corner / Away from the lights / It was us and Corona / And hearts on fire like the cigarettes / You smoke when you drink / Now we can't turn back / Cause the words came out / And the truth can't lie / And we've been sayin' it / With our eyes the whole time / That you had my whole heart / Yeah, we found love in a bar." Whether you found love for one night or til death do you part, finding love in a bar is almost ubiquitous. Hurd has been on the road with Thomas Rhett's "Home Team Tour," and if the crowds I witnessed singing along to every word -- or the fact that I've had his EP on repeat for months -- are any indication, Hurd has a bonafide hit on his hands and a long career in front of him.
There's a key line in Brantley Gilbert's new single, "The Ones That Like Me," that I think correctly sums up his place in the current pantheon of Country music: "Those that hate me don't know me." Gilbert can be an intimidating presence, with a ballcap mostly obscuring his face and eyes and numerous tattoos, which can be mistaken for a menacing personality. His Rock-fueled interpretation of Country music is often polarizing. But, to the ones that have met -- and actually know -- Brantley Gilbert, he's a bit of a teddy bear, and one helluva likeable dude: polite, soft-spoken, and gentle. And, as we find out in this tune, he's loyal as hell to those loyal to him. "The ones that need me got me / The ones that doubt me can't stop me / Even the ones that said forget him / You can bet they ain't forgot me / Either wanna hit me or hold me / Those that hate me don't know me / And the ones that don't trust anybody trust me / Yeah, the ones that like me love me." This is for all the outsiders who, for some reason, others haven't invested the time or energy to understand. If you like him already, yep, you'll love this. If you're a doubter, take a closer listen, because there's another key line here for when you eventually become a believer: "The ones that need me, got me." 
How many times have you heard the phrase "You'll find love when you stop looking for it" in your life? Or, have you been the one saying it to others? Maybe it's true, because it certainly seems to happen that way for many, and Granger Smith is bringing that story to life from the guys' point of view with his newest single, "Happens Like That." In the song -- which Smith penned with Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard and co-writers Jordan Schmidt, Justin Wilson, and Andy Albert -- Smith recounts a boys night out that turned in to more than he bargained for when a beautiful woman came and knocked the wind out of him. "It happens like that / Outta the blue sky / Lost in her blue eyes / When it happens like that / Nothing to lose / Turns right into you / Doing all you can do / Just to keep her around / Til the moon goes down / And you're back at your house / One thing leads to another / You're loving each other / One look and you never look back / It happens like that." This mid-tempo, feel-good, love-out-of-nowhere song feels right in Smith's wheelhouse and will be instantly familiar for longtime fans of Smith and his no-nonsense, Country swagger. Give it a listen, and let your audience decide if it's love at first spin.
Gary Allan’s best work has always come when he reveals his dark, brooding, and mysterious sides. Those themes fit him to a tee; you’re not likely to ever hear him deliver Spring Break, tailgate party, or beach themes. And so, here he is on “Mess Me Up,” practically begging for pain and heartache, rather than face the prospect of being alone. The self-torture starts right out of the gate: “Twist that knife / Come on, make it hurt / Make me go out in the field / Light a fire and just watch it burn / Stand me up / On a Friday night / Tell me you love me / Then tell me that you’ve changed your mind.” Autobiographical, right? Not exactly. The song was written by perennial hit makers Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, and Shane McAnally, who apparently found their really, really dark place that day. As this tune unfolds, you feel things getting uglier with each line, with Allan prepared to cope with the worst: “I want what I want / I don't care if it's not what I need.” This tune is gripping, and you’ll feel compelled to get out of the house and help someone after listening. Allan’s voice and the music he gravitates toward are unique to this format – nobody else brings pain and grit to the surface like him. It’ll definitely bring substance to your radio station. 
Maggie Rose has been building a brand and a following among Nashville music lovers for years, and now she's ready to catch "fire" with her new single, "Body On Fire." Rose, a singer-songwriter with killer pipes and a unique style, is bringing a seductive sensuality to your radio. Old enough to know better, but still too young to care, Rose's spunk and sass is surpassed only by her ability to lay down a silky vocal on this cut. "Never get enough / Never get enough / So, bring me all your love / Hurry it up / Whatever you want / Got my permission // Tonight / We can do anything / We can be everything we want to be / And I / I want to feel your lips / And give you all that you've been missing / Champagne rush / Straight to my head / God me love drunk / Laying in my bed / You don't even need to try / You just set my body on fire / You just set my body on fire." A combination of youthful adventure and mature self-confidence is on full display as Rose brings swagger to the flirtatious suggestions throughout the song. It's got a beat and a hook that are both undeniable. Sometimes it feels good to be bad, so dare to go out on a limb with a stand-out song from an unsigned act and let Maggie Rose set the airwaves on fire.
The perfect love song for just about anyone or anything is Lindsay Ell's "Waiting On You." It's Monday's love song to the weekend. It's the tune you're singing in your head while you're waiting for your food right after telling the waiter your order. It's December's anthem for summertime. It's a love note to the person you met at the bar that hasn't called you yet. It's a hungry artist's urgent message to Country radio. "Like a sailboat wishing for the wind to blow / Like a fast car looking for the green to go / I'm right here, baby / Don't keep me waiting on you." Think about it: We are all thinking about the weekend to get here early on Monday morning, wishing for our food the second we order it, craving sunshine when it's snowing, and trying to be patient when it comes to hearing from our love interest. Whatever situation you find yourself in, we all have experience with the waiting game. In Lindsay Ell's case, she is so ready to bring the tempo to Country radio; she's just waiting on y'all to make the move. The song's groove and catchy lyrics consistently send nothing but good vibes. It makes the waiting game a lot less about desperate times, but more about spunk and a 'you'd-be-silly-not-to' attitude. So come on, Country radio, Lindsay Ell is "Waiting On YOU!"
"It's summer! Where's the tempo?!" I cannot tell you how many times I've heard this lately. And, I get it. Really, I do. We've gotten a ton of great music from artists lately, but there has been a rather large percentage of down-tempo offerings. Enter your Summer Savior, Chris Janson. Remember that time he took over the world with a song about a boat? Well, he's learned a thing or two since then. Money can't buy everything, and he can't fix everything. But you know what he can fix? A damn drink, son. This is a fun, tempo-driven song that has all the makings of a summer smash. If this isn't the theme song of every pontoon pontificator in America by the end of the summer, you can butter my butt and call me a biscuit. Who among us can't get behind sentiments like these, after all: "I turn on Fox News / And then CNN / But it's the same dang thing all over again / The world's in the toilet / And the market's in the tank / Well, I can't fix that, nah // But I can fix a drink / Pour it on ice / Mix it on up and get you feeling right / I can get you buzzed / I can get you smilin’ / I can make you feel like you’re sittin’ on an island / I can make it fruity / Or I can make it strong / All you gotta do is tell me what you want / Put it to your lips / Take a little sip / Tell me what you think / Yeah I can fix a drink." Seriously. That's just fun in a cup with a sidecar of truth, right there. Surely I don't have to convince you of the viability here. So, throw this in the blender of your playlist, and let it do its job getting everybody a little buzzed all summer long.
By now, we all know that the pendulum is swinging, right? More and more traditional voices are flowing through your speakers, and Country is inching Country-er by the day. Enter, Scotty McCreery's "Five More Minutes." McCreery has developed one of the most loyal fan bases in our format since his time on "American Idol," but the other thing he has developed is his point of view. McCreery's voice brings the traditional sounds of Country to the forefront, but his world view has matured over the years. With "Five More Minutes," McCreery touches on familiar themes of life and love, but with an aged perspective as he looks back on things he wishes he could have savored a touch longer. Fishing with his grandfather, kissing on the front porch, and taking the field in high school sporting events are oh so familiar to us all, no matter how far removed we are in years. "Time rolls by / The clock don’t stop / I wish I had / A few more drops / Of the good stuff / The good times / Oh, but they just keep on flying / Right on by / Like it ain’t nothing / Wish I had me a pause button / Moments like those / Lord knows I’d hit it / Give myself five more minutes." This is a mid-tempo with a lyric expertly delivered by McCreery, and a song which has already garnered buzz before ever hitting the airwaves. McCreery's live performance of "Five More Minutes" at the Grand Ole Opry earned him a viral video and a fan-voted award for the singular performance. With a built-in fan base, a powerful song that moves people each night he performs it, and an authentic Country vocal, McCreery is poised for what could be the biggest hit of his career to date. 
Knock, knock! Who's there? Opportunity. And, when opportunity knocks, rings the doorbell, waves at you through the window, hits you up on social media, and leaves you a voicemail, you should probably answer it eventually. So, I present to you, the case of Chris Stapleton and "Either Way." Stapleton. The guy snuck up on the world and sold over two and a half million copies of his first album, "Traveller." Two and a half million, y'all. Stapleton has now released his sophomore album, "From A Room: Volume 1," and his latest single, "Either Way." Look, I know what you're going to say. I've actually already heard it from several of you. "It's too slow." "There's no tempo." "Where's the production on this track?" "The vocals are too low in the verses." "It's just a guy and a guitar." "This is a station stopper." And, I know that there are approximately fifty-leven fafillion ballads out right now. I get it. But, when opportunity knocks... Here's a ballad, unlike anything else you're playing on the radio, dressed in Platinum clothes sewn by over two and a half million buyers. I don't know if any of those two and a half million people listen to your station -- but wouldn't you like them to? Stapleton delivers this cutting, gripping, heart-wrenching track with just the purity of his voice and the simplicity of an acoustic guitar. "We can just go on like this / Say the word we'll call it quits / Baby, you can go or you can stay / I won't love you either way." It's a real, raw, emotional performance from one of the best -- if not the best -- vocalists in our format. With an appeal that reaches young to old, and a voice that lends itself to equal parts Outlaw Country and Soul, Stapleton is the "it" guy right now who finds himself an outsider in many scenarios. As Phoebe Buffay once said so eloquently, "Oh my God, he's not even appreciated in his own time! I would give anything to not be appreciated in my own time!" Throw it in a big, bold rotation. Let the song and the singer do the talking for you for a couple of weeks. And if it doesn't work on your station and for your listeners, then I suppose it is what it is. But, I can guarantee you this single and this album will sell like hot cakes..."Either Way."
It’s one thing to have programmers laud new songs when prompted, but when they start sharing unsolicited, enthusiastic feedback, you know the music has cut through. That appears to be the case with Parmalee’s new single, “Sunday Morning,” a crisp, tight, catchy song that has what every PD likes – tempo. But, it’s not just ear candy. “Sunday Morning” is also endearing; a tune about that one person in your life who serves as the eye of the hurricane, able to bring stability and harmony to your otherwise crazy world. “Cause when I get lonely, you don’t have to get on my mind / ‘Cause you’re already on it and you touch me just in time / Making it all feel alright, slowing it all down just right / When I’m lost on a Saturday night, baby you save me just like Sunday Morning.” The song is equal parts Pop and Rock – which is to say, it’s completely suitable for mainstream Country radio. Parmalee is due for new music, and a sophomore album is on its way to follow up on 2013’s “Feels Like Carolina.” The first song out of the gate feels like a hit. 
Love. It's a theme that crosses the ages, distances, and even breaks through those pesky format barriers. Love is a language in and of itself, and everyone has their own love language. Fortunately for most men, a love song is an arrow straight to the heart of most women, and Russell Dickerson may have one of the sharpest arrows in the quiver. "Yours" is an ode to his wife of four years, but it could just as easily be about any couple of any age in any city on the planet. Who hasn't been changed for the better by true love? It's what keeps the world spinning -- the hope and dream that we can be made better by the unconditional love of another human. "I was a worn out set of shoes / Wandering the city street / Another face in the crowd / Head looking down / Lost in the sound of a lonely melody / Empty pockets at a roulette / Always landing on a lost bet / Just live for the spin and hope for the win / Go all in just to lose again // But... / I came to life when I first kissed you / The best me has his arms around you / You make me better than I was before / Thank God I'm yours / The worst me is just a long gone memory / You put a new heartbeat inside of me /You make me better than I was before / Thank God I'm yours." With a production and feel that lingers somewhere between McGraw's "She's My Kind Of Rain" and Hunt's "Take Your Time," this is a modern-day classic in the making that is tailor made for weddings, proposals, or long slow dances in the rain. With streaming numbers and sales figures on his side, Dickerson is looking to make the leap to terrestrial radio, and we'd be foolhardy to ignore the power of a stirring love song like "Yours," Russell. 
Anybody in radio who’s a fan of Jerrod Niemann – which is to say, a lot of you – know of the love story which united him and his wife, Morgan. With his new single, “God Made A Woman,” Niemann has written a beautiful, lush ode to Morgan, crediting her with coming to his rescue, while thanking God for sending her, explaining: “Never gave Him a reason to bless me at all / And I still can't believe that an angel would fall / For a guy like me, guess He sees who needs saving / Every night I hit my knees again, thanking the Lord she's a lot like Him / She loves me with a grace that's truly amazing.” It’s not the first time she’s been an inspiration for Niemann. The excellent “What Do You Want From Me,” off his debut album, “Judge Jerrod And The Hung Jury,” was inspired by a phone call from Morgan after she’d moved to India. She ultimately came back into his life, and thankfully so. They soon married, and Niemann has brought us this powerful tune, which showcases his strong baritone and underrated singing skills. Kenny Rogers used to say of picking love songs that he looked for ones with messages women wanted to hear and that men wanted to say. With “God Made A Woman,” you can check off both boxes here. 
London Southern
