December 2018

Adam Wurtzel and Ryan Grubb, the collaborative masterminds behind top country music programmes ‘The Pickup’ and ‘The Nashouse’, have partnered with CountryLine, the world’s first digital country music destination, to launch exclusive country music content across the platform in the form of NashLine. CMA Media Achievement Award nominee, Adam Wurtzel, has been interviewing top country artists since he first moved to Nashville in 2012. He met producer Ryan Grubb when Grubb came on board The Pickup, a 5-minute bi-weekly series that focused on classic country artists. Wurtzel and Grubb’s partnership has continued onto various other projects, leading to their most exciting one yet – NashLine, exclusive country content for the CountryLine app, straight from Nashville, the home of country. NashLine will be a series of 3-5 minute interviews and country chat made available exclusively via the app. With NashLine shows so far featuring interviews with Raelynn, Brantley Gilbert and Michael Ray and many more in the pipeline, the show is a must watch for country fans worldwide. Founded by entrepreneur, actress and avid country music fan, Nathalie Cox, alongside award-winning media and tech entrepreneur Simon Walker, who co-developed BBC iPlayer, CountryLine fuses digital technology and country music. The platform delivering on-demand performances, interviews, news, views and TV shows, and has high profile investors by the likes of Sir Elton John, Eric Nicoli (former Chairman, EMI) and Ed Richards (former CEO, Ofcom), as well as a variety of listings, bookings, mobile payments, loyalty and member benefits. A CountryLine subscription costs £2.99 per month or £29.99 for a year.

Jimmie Allen, Ross Copperman, Travis Denning and Laura Veltz will be taking part in the Country Music Association’s CMA Songwriters Series at C2C 2019 on 7 March, with the event being held in indigo at The O2. Hosted by Cam, this will be the sixth London appearance for the CMA Songwriters Series during C2C and comes off the back of the hugely successful CMA Songwriters Series tours in Europe and the UK in October. The concept of the CMA Songwriters Series is to introduce new artists and songwriters into the genre through its intimate storytelling format, with audiences getting the full story behind every song in a two-hour seated show as artists take it in turns to perform their songs acoustically. “The CMA Songwriters Series has developed a reputation for delivering some wonderful magic moments on the eve of C2C each year,” said Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “We anticipate our next performance will be no different and we’re thrilled to reveal the 2019 line-up. “Presenting hit songwriters and introducing new acts to U.K. audiences is so gratifying, with fans in the U.K. being so attentive and open to discovering new country artists.” A number of high profile artists have partaken in the CMA Songwriters Series in years gone by, including Maren Morris, Kristian Bush, Drake White, Jessi Alexander, Charlie Worsham, Brandy Clark and many more.

Lonnie Donegan, Aubrey Lovejoy and Alan Cackett were formally inducted into the British Country Music Association (BCMA) Hall of Fame on 24 November for their contributions to the genre. Donegan, who passed away in 2002, was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame, with the ‘King of Skiffle’ being celebrated for his influence on the genre. The Scotland born artist, who was 71 when he passed, was the first UK male singer to have two US Top 10 hits and was once described as “Britain’s most successful and influential recording artist before The Beatles.” In 1997, Donegan was awarded an Ivor Novello lifetime award and in 2000 was enlisted as an MBE, while musicians such as Paul McCartney, Brian May and Jack White have all hailed Donegan’s influence on music. Meanwhile, Lovejoy has been involved in the country music scene for close to four decades and has long been established as one of the UK’s finest country music acts from years gone by. Finally, Cackett has been a key member of the genre for almost half a century and was formerly the editor of Maverick magazine. Cackett first got involved with the BCMA in 1970 when he was commissioned with producing the first BCMA Yearbook and subsequently grew into the genre to the point he founded and became Publisher/Editor of Maverick. Moving onto the awards themselves, The Wandering Hearts had a hugely successful night as they took home Entertainer of the Year, Group of the Year and UK Album of the Year on the night, while Luke Thomas won Musician of the Year. The winners are as follows: Entertainer of the Year – The Wandering Hearts Male Vocalist of the Year – Darcy Group of the Year – The Wandering Hearts Duo of the Year – Gasoline and Matches International Touring Artist – Jenn Bostic Video of the Year – Backwoods Creek, When I Grow Up Musician of the Year – Luke Thomas Horizon Act – Izzie Walsh International Album of the Year – Brothers Osbourne, Port St Joe UK Album of the Year – The Wandering Hearts, Wild Silence International Song of the Year – Luke Combs, When It Rains It Pours UK Song of the Year – Jade Helliwell, Boom Tick UK Female of the Year – Jade Helliwell Best Original Festival – Buckle & Boots Country Festival PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2018 Best Solo – Kezia Gill Radio Presenter of the Year – Bob Harris Band of the Year – Izzie Walsh Album of the Year – The Shires, Accidentally on Purpose INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018 Services to Country Music – Mike Curb UK Services to Industry – Mark Hagen International Services to Industry – John Marks