LOCASH Celebrates First No. 1 With Veteran Songwriters During CRS

Pictured (L-R, Back row): Rezonant’s Tim Wipperman and Rebekah Gordon, ole’s Ben Strain, Reviver Records’ Gator Michaels, producer Lindsay Rimes, SONY ATV’s Tom Luteran, ole’s John Ozier, BMI’s David Preston, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, and Warner/Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel. Seated (L-R): BMI songwriter Ross Copperman, ASCAP songwriter Jeremy Stover, LOCASH’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, BMI songwriter Rhett Akins

BMI’s David Preston welcomed a rowdy CRS crowd to the first No. 1 party for the ACM-nominated LOCASH at Nashville’s Lower Broadway venue The Valentine. The celebration also honored the first No. 1, “I Know Somebody,” for the duo’s independent label Reviver Records, and producer Lindsay Rimes.

Preston offered No. 1 pewter cups on behalf of the PRO and its sponsor Pinnacle Bank before Ron Cox presented donations to the Nashville Rescue Mission on behalf of the songwriters Rhett Akins (BMI), Ross Copperman (BMI) and Jeremy Stover (ASCAP).

ASCAP’s Michael Martin took the stage to recognize Stover on behalf of their sponsor, First Tennessee Bank, and the PRO’s executive team in the audience: CEO Elizabeth Matthews, President Paul Williams and EVP John Titta.

“I Know Somebody” was the first collaboration with the three songwriters.

Stover’s ole affiliate (and admin rep for Reviver and LOCASH) John Ozier, presented iPads on behalf of his team and made mention of his song plugger Ben Strain, who pitched the outside cut to the duo.

“David Ross and the Reiver staff pulled off a miracle, pulling this song from No. 6 to No. 1,” recalls Ozier.

A tearful Stover welcomed his daughter to join him on stage after thanking everyone onstage, in addition to his family for his sixth No. 1. “My parents are here,” said Stover. “Thanks to my wife Miley and the kids for being so supportive. It’s so much sweeter having you be a part of this.”

Sony/ATVs Tom Luteran made mention of Copperman’s double triple play award (six No. 1s in a 12-month period) before turning the mic over to the songwriter’s current publisher, Tim Wipperman and Rebekah Gordon. The Rezonant Music executives made mention of Copperman now having received 16 No. 1 songs after presenting a bottle of wine to their songwriter.

“Thank you to Reviver Records,” said Copperman, before his daughter joined onstage too. “We are so thankful for you guys. Going from No. 6 to No. 1 [on the chart], I still want to know the story behind that because that’s amazing! I want to get to know you more.”

Warner/Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel had the honor of offering remarks on Akins’ 26th No. 1.

Beuschel recalled the soon-to-be grandfather for two comparing writing songs to deer hunting. “‘If you’re not in the woods, you’re not going to get anything,'” said Beuschel of Akins’ motto. “At the time [Rhett had] 24 No. 1s, but he said, ‘When I get to 25 No. 1s, I’ll feel like I’m halfway there.’ Nothing fired me up more as a publisher to work with someone feeling like they’re just getting started after the massive success he’s had. We’re looking forward to getting to 50!”

Akins remarked, “I have a Mediabase password, which is like being on crack and watching the stock market. I literally checked my phone every two minutes…it was like a horserace with Billy Currington and LOCASH. I could not sleep. The next morning they were No. 1 and it was the greatest feeling on earth, so thank you Reviver!”

Reviver’s Gator Michaels noted LOCASH’s follow-up single, “Ring On Every Finger,” keeps it in the family—written by Akins’ son Thomas Rhett. Michaels also noted his duo respects songwriting and wants the best song to win, which is why the outside song was released.

Rimes was praised by everyone who took to the mic. “Sometimes in this town, you feel nobody will take a chance on you, and these guys did.”

LOCASH’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas presented all the songwriters with custom, and valuable, Pappy & Company bourbon bottles, and engraved decanters and rocks glasses.

Brust congratulated Rimes, everyone on stage, thanked country radio, his family and the band’s management at Vector before telling of his first meeting with Akins. The two had a hunting incident involving blood, and Brust did not have insurance to go the hospital so Akins had to use superglue to help. “I have insurance now because of you [songwriters],” said Brust.

Lucas announced his wife is pregnant with their third child during his turn at the mic, with gratitude for everyone involved.

“We had Program Directors all over the county calling us, saying “‘Guys we’re playing your song 3 times in a row because we want you to get a No. 1,’” recalled Lucas. “It also came from other label promotion staff members because they all believed in LOCASH from 10 years ago. Thank you country radio—You’ve changed our lives with this first No. 1.”