Industry Salutes Easton Corbin’s Hot-Streak

Easton Corbin and Carson Chamberlain

Easton Corbin was feted at a lunchtime celebration today (7/13) at BMI’s Music Row offices. The Mercury Records artist is the only solo male in the last 17 years to have his first two singles reach the top of the radio charts.

He broke through in a major way with debut single “I’m A Little More Country Than That,” written by Rory Feek, Don Pothyress and Wynn Varble. He followed that up with the No. 1 “Roll With It,” from the pens of David Lee, Tony Lane and Johnny Park. Some of these writers were on hand today to help mark the artist’s success.

UMG Nashville General Manager Ken Robold started the accolades, noting that Corbin’s album is nearing Gold territory with 400,000 units sold. The project has spawned 1 million single downloads.

BMI’s Jody Williams was the next presenter, exclaiming to Corbin, “There are a lot of publishers in this room who have invested in your career and boy, are they glad they did!”

Sure enough, among the publishers in BMI’s back lobby were Pat Higdon, Roger Murrah, Troy Tomlinson, Carla Wallace and Kos Weaver. Corbin is building his own songwriting career at Bug Music.

CMA’s Brandi Simms also saluted Corbin’s hot-streak. Cheering in the front row were fellow CMA staffers Bob Doerschuk and Betsy Walker. Doerschuk joked that the ladies are part of the organization’s unstoppable “plaque squad.”

Then Corbin and producer/songwriter Carson Chamberlain treated the industry crowd to an acoustic performance of the hits we were there to celebrate.

Corbin’s UMG and BMI team members were among the dozens of minglers dining on delicious veggie orzo, shrimp skewers, sliced tomatoes tossed in vinaigrette, chicken tenderloins, and miniature desserts.

On the way out partygoers received Easton-autographed posters (pictured above) commemorating the occasion.

(L-R): Carson Chamberlain (producer); Damon Moberly (Mercury VP, National Promotion); Sally Green (Mercury Director, Regional Promotion, Northeast); Joe Putnam (UMGN VP, National Road Promotion); Easton Corbin; Royce Risser (UMGN Sr. VP, National Promotion); Doug Nichols (Turner & Nichols & Associates, Co-Manager); Ken Robold (UMGN Executive Vice President, General Manager); Eddie Mascolo (Turner & Nichols & Associates).