Luke Laird

{{redirect|Creative Nation|the cultural policy introduced in 1994 in Australia|Keating Government#Culture and society}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Luke Laird

| image = Luke Laird Headshot 2020 (Credit - Spencer Combs).jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|5|4}}

| birth_place = Hartstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| origin =

| genre = {{flatlist|

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| occupation = Songwriter

| years_active = 2004–present

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|http://creativenationmusic.com}}

}}

Luke Robert Laird (born May 4, 1978 in Hartstown, Pennsylvania{{cite web|url=http://meadvilletribune.com/local/x1174316116/Hit-song-writer-and-former-local-Laird-enjoys-Nashville-music-scene|title=Hit-song writer and former local Laird enjoys Nashville music scene|work=The Meadville Tribune|first=Pet|last=Chiodo|date=June 1, 2010}}) is an American country music songwriter and producer. He has written over 20 number one Billboard singles, including Carrie Underwood's "So Small", "Temporary Home", and "Undo It"; Blake Shelton's "Gonna"; Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger"; Rodney Atkins's "Take a Back Road"; Eric Church's "Drink in My Hand", "Give Me Back My Hometown", and "Talladega"; Little Big Town's "Pontoon";{{cite web | url = http://www.musicrow.com/2012/09/little-big-town-earns-first-no-1-single/ | title = Little Big Town Earns First No. 1 Single | work = MusicRow | first = Eric | last = Parker | date = September 4, 2012}} Luke Bryan's "I See You" and "Fast"; Thomas Rhett's "T-Shirt"; Kenny Chesney's "American Kids"; Lady Antebellum's "Downtown"; and Jon Pardi's "Head Over Boots."{{cite web|url=http://theboot.com/jon-pardi-head-over-boots-lyrics|title=Story Behind the Song: Jon Pardi, 'Head Over Boots'|work=The Boot|first=Gayle|last=Thompson|date=January 4, 2017}} He has also written and produced songs for Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Kacey Musgraves, Toby Keith, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Darius Rucker, and many others.{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/luke-laird-p972689/credits | title = Luke Laird - Credits | publisher = AllMusic}}

Early life

Laird was born in Hartstown, PA on May 4, 1978. He wrote songs and learned guitar in elementary school.{{Cite web|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2014/01/songwriter-u-masters-songwriting-luke-laird/?v=7516fd43adaa|title=Masters of Songwriting|last=Schlansky|first=Evan|date=January 31, 2014|website=American Songwriter}} After seeing a Randy Travis concert in high school, Laird claims he became fascinated with songwriting and production.{{Cite web|url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/news/writers-round-luke-laird/|title=The Writer's Round with Luke Laird|last=Reuter|first=Anne|date=June 2, 2017|website=Sounds like Nashville}} He taught himself basic elements of music theory by listening to the radio and dissecting songs. Laird's parents took him in high school to see Middle Tennessee State University and its recording program, and he enrolled there in 1997, graduating in 2001 with a degree in Recording Industry Management.{{cite web|url=http://boropulse.com/2011/07/luke-laird-one-of-music-city%E2%80%99s-top-songwriters-is-also-an-mtsu-alum/|title=Luke Laird: One of Music City's Top Songwriters is also an MTSU Alum|last=Allen|first=Eric|date=July 6, 2011|work=The Murfreesboro Pulse|access-date=November 6, 2011}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/songwriter-spotlight-luke-laird-20140613|title=Songwriter Spotlight: Luke Laird|last=Dunkerley|first=Beville|date=June 13, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone}}

After college Laird moved to Nashville. Laird's first job in the industry was assistant tour manager for Brooks & Dunn, though he spent his weekends writing. He participated in songwriter nights in Nashville at venues such as Bluebird Cafe. In 2002, Chris Oglesby, at BMG Music at the time, offered Laird a publishing deal. BMG was later bought by Universal Music Publishing Group, which took over Laird's contract and made him a staff writer in 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.countrymusiconline.net/lukelaird.html|title=Songwriter Spotlight: Luke Laird|last=Laundauer|first=Janelle|date=March 23, 2008|website=Country Music Online}}

While working at BMG he met a receptionist, Beth Mason. The two were married in 2010, and went on to co-found Creative Nation in 2011.

Music career

Early in his time at UMPG, Bill Luther took an interest in him and encouraged him as a writer. Luther brought Laird along with him to write a song with Hillary Lindsey.{{cite web|url=http://www.countrymusiconline.net/lukelaird.html|title=Luke Laird Chases His Dream of Becoming A Songwriter –– And Scores BIG With 'So Small'|last=Landauer|first=Janelle|date=March 23, 2008|work=Country Music Online|access-date=November 6, 2011}} The three worked together and named a song around their rapport, called "Painless." The song went on to be Laird's first released song by Lee Ann Womack in 2005.

Laird and Lindsey went on to work on a number of songs with Carrie Underwood, including his first number one single "So Small" in 2007. The song held the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts for three weeks and went platinum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanyhodak/2015/12/14/20th-1-song-grammy-nods-mark-memorable-week-for-songwriter-luke-laird/#58c772da52ca|title=20th Number One Song and Grammy Nods Mark Memorable Week for Songwriter Luke Laird|last=Hook|first=Brittany|date=December 14, 2015|website=Forbes}} Since then Laird has co-written 23 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2017/06/20/how-this-guy-wrote-your-favorite-songs-and-youve-never-heard-of-him/#547ccbf6799c|title=This Guy Wrote Your Favorite Songs|last=Ross|first=Danny|date=June 20, 2017|website=Forbes}} He is a proponent of the “New Country” style of country music, and has worked with pop artists such as Ne-Yo and John Legend.{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2011/06/songwriter-u-nashville-songwriter-series-luke-laird/|title=Nashville Songwriter Series: Luke Laird|last=Moore|first=Rick|date=June 27, 2011|website=American Songwriter}} He has written No. 1 hits with Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Eric Church, among others, and has had hits with artists such as Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, and Kacey Musgraves, among others.

He was named BMI's Country Songwriter of the Year in 2012, and his song with Rodney Atkins, "Take a Back Road" was named Song of the Year.{{cite web | url = http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2012/10/30/2012-bmi-country-awards-honor-tom-t-hall-dallas-davidson-luke-laird/ | title = 2012 BMI Country Awards honor Tom T. Hall, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird | work = The Tennessean | first = Dave | last = Paulson | date = October 30, 2012}} He was named ACM's Songwriter of the Year in 2015.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/loretta-lynn-luke-bryan-are-early-2015-acm-awards-winners-20150407|title=Loretta Lynn, Luke Bryan are Early 2015 ACM Awards Winners|last=Staff|date=April 7, 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone}}

He has been nominated for four Grammys for Best Country Song: twice in 2015, for Kenny Chesney's "American Kids" and for Eric Church's "Give Me Back My Hometown,"{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-nominees-winners-list-story.html|title=Grammys 2015|last=Staff|date=February 8, 2015|newspaper=LA Times}} in 2016 for Tim McGraw's "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools,"{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/02/14/mtsu-honors-luke-laird-l-reception/80389682/|title=MTSU Honors Luke Laird with L.A. Reception|last=Watts|first=Cindy|date=February 14, 2016|website=The Tennessean}} and in 2019 for Kacey Musgraves' "Space Cowboy", which he won.{{cite web |title=61st Annual GRAMMY Awards |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards-2018 |website=GRAMMY.com |access-date=29 January 2024}} Although he is primarily interested in songwriting, Laird also produced two Grammy nominated albums by Kacey Musgraves, the 2014 Same Trailer Different Park–which won{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2014-musgraves-country-album-20140122,0,1496017.story#axzz2rpoWIdge|title=Grammys 2014: Kacey Musgraves wins award for best country album|last=Lewis|first=Randy|date=January 26, 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 29, 2014}}–and the 2016 Pageant Material.

Creative Nation

In 2011, Laird and his wife Beth founded Creative Nation, a music publishing and management company for country music songwriters and producers. While Beth Laird handles logistics, Luke Laird focuses on songwriting.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3i724a018466b89411a672e7d84ad5df47|title=POWER PLAYERS: 30 UNDER 30: Beth Mason Laird, Director of writer/publisher relations, BMI Nashville|date=August 18, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 17, 2012|archive-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118162215/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3i724a018466b89411a672e7d84ad5df47|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/music/2014/04/10/creative-nations-power-couple-hitmakers/7573243/|title=Creative Nation's Power Couple are Hitmakers|last=Rau|first=Nate|date=April 10, 2014|website=The Tennessean}}

The company includes Kassi Ashton, Derek Bahr, Oscar Charles, Barry Dean, Jonathan Hutcherson, Lori McKenna, Sandra McCracken, Mia Mantia, Steve Moakler, Ben West, Travis Wood, and Laird himself.{{Cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2016/08/creative-nation-adds-belmont-student-kassi-ashton-to-roster/|title=Creative Nation Adds Belmont Student Kassi Ashton to Roster|last=Nicholson|first=Jessica|date=August 3, 2016|website=Music Row}}{{cite web |title=Current Clients — Creative Nation |url=https://www.creativenationmusic.com/clients |website=Creative Nation |access-date=29 January 2024}} Previous clients include Alec Bailey, Casey Brown, Natalie Hemby, Muscadine Bloodline, Tyler Johnson, and Native Run.{{cite web |title=CATALOG — Creative nation |url=https://www.creativenationmusic.com/catalog |website=Creative Nation |access-date=29 January 2024}} The company has had partnerships with Concord Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony ATV Music Publishing, and Pulse Music Group.{{cite web |last1=Cantrell |first1=LB |title=Lori McKenna Enters Partnership With Concord, PULSE & Creative Nation |url=https://musicrow.com/2021/07/lori-mckenna-enters-partnership-with-concord-pulse-and-creative-nation/ |website=Music Row |access-date=20 February 2024 |date=27 July 2021}}{{cite press release | url = http://www.universalmusic.com/corporate/detail/1221 | title = Universal Music Publishing Group Re-Signs Nashville Hit-Maker Luke Laird To New, World-Wide Publishing Agreement | publisher = Universal Music Publishing Group | date = March 6, 2012}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=261468 |title=Pulse Recording and Creative Nation Announce Exclusive Partnership |publisher=Globenewswire.com |access-date=2014-08-10}}

Discography

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/luke-laird|title=Luke Laird|date=2018-05-22|work=GRAMMY.com|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en}}

2019 Winner: Best Country Song (writer) - "Space Cowboy" by Kacey Musgraves
2016 Nominee: Best Country Song (writer) - "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" by Tim McGraw
2015 Nominee: Best Country Song (writer) - "American Kids" by Kenny Chesney
2015 Nominee: Best Country Song (writer) - "Give Me Back My Hometown" by Eric Church
2014 Winner: Best Country Album (producer) - "Same Trailer Different Park" by Kacey Musgraves

Country Music Association Awards

2017 Winner: Triple Play Award{{Cite news|url=http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-honors-triple-play-award-winning-songwriters-eighth-annual-cma-songwriters-luncheon/|title=CMA Honors Triple Play Award-Winning Songwriters During Eighth Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon - CMA World - Country Music Association|date=2017-02-15|work=CMA World - Country Music Association|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002404/http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-honors-triple-play-award-winning-songwriters-eighth-annual-cma-songwriters-luncheon/|url-status=dead}}
2016 Winner: Triple Play Award{{Cite news|url=https://musicrow.com/2010/10/cma-honors-triple-play-writers/|title=CMA Honors Triple Play Writers|date=2010-10-14|work=MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2015 Winner: Triple Play Award{{Cite news|url=https://musicrow.com/2014/02/cma-honors-songwriters-with-triple-play-awards/|title=CMA Honors Songwriters With Triple Play Awards|date=2014-02-04|work=MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2014 Winner: Triple Play Award
2013 Winner: Triple Play Award{{Cite news|url=https://musicrow.com/2013/01/cma-presents-triple-play-awards/|title=CMA Presents Triple Play Awards|date=2013-01-30|work=MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2011 Winner: Triple Play Award
2015 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - “American Kids” by Kenny Chesney{{Cite web|url=http://theboot.com/2015-cma-awards-winners/|title=2015 CMA Awards Winners -- Complete List|website=The Boot|date=5 November 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}}
2015 Nominee: Album of the Year (producer) – Pageant Material by Kacey Musgraves
2014 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "Give Me Back My Hometown" by Eric Church{{Cite news|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/country-music-association-awards-list-nominees-180557227.html|title=Country Music Association Awards, list of nominees|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-GB}}
2013 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "Pontoon" by Little Big Town{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/cma-awards-2013-full-nominees-list-revealed_n_3900604.html|title=CMA Awards 2013: Full Nominees List Revealed|last=Friedlander|first=Kari|date=2013-09-10|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2013 Nominee: Album of the Year (producer) - Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
2013 Nominee: Single of the Year (producer) - "Merry Go 'Round" by Kacey Musgraves

Academy of Country Music Awards

2019 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "Space Cowboy" by Kacey Musgraves
2017 Nominee: Songwriter of the Year{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/03/celebrities/acm-awards-winners-2017/index.html|title=ACM Awards 2017: Jason Aldean takes home entertainer of the year|last=Melas|first=Chloe|work=CNN|access-date=2018-08-30}}
2015 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "American Kids" by Kenny Chesney{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/loretta-lynn-luke-bryan-are-early-2015-acm-awards-winners-20150407|title=Loretta Lynn, Luke Bryan Are Early 2015 ACM Awards Winners|last=Staff|date=2015-04-07|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2015 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "Give Me Back My Hometown" by Eric Church
2015 Winner: Songwriter of the Year
2014 Winner: Album of the Year (producer) - Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/2014-academy-country-music-awards-complete-winners-list/story?id=23220202|title=2014 Academy of Country Music Awards - Complete Winners List|last=Staff|date=2014-04-07|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}}
2014 Nominee: Songwriter of the Year
2013 Nominee: Songwriter of the Year{{Cite news|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/02/13/academy-of-country-music-awards-2013-nominees-full-list-nominations/|title=2013 Academy Of Country Music Award Nominees: Taylor Swift & More — Full List|last=Rogers|first=Chris|date=2013-02-13|work=Hollywood Life|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613015102/https://hollywoodlife.com/2013/02/13/academy-of-country-music-awards-2013-nominees-full-list-nominations/|url-status=dead}}
2012 Nominee: Songwriter of the Year{{Cite news|url=http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2012/02/28/2012-acm-awards-nominees/|title=2012 ACM Awards Nominees|date=2012-02-28|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en}}

American Country Awards

2013 Nominee: Song of the Year (writer) - "Pontoon" by Little Big Town{{Cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/2013-american-country-awards-winners/|title=2013 American Country Awards Winners – Full List|website=Taste of Country|date=11 December 2013 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-30}}

BMI Country Music Awards

2012 Winner: Songwriter of the Year{{Cite news|url=https://musicrow.com/2012/10/bmi-country-award-winners-2/|title=BMI Country Award Winners|date=2012-10-31|work=MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City|access-date=2018-08-30|language=en-US}}
2012 Winner: Song of the Year (writer) - "Take a Back Road" by Rodney Atkins

References

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Category:American country record producers

Category:American country songwriters

Category:American male songwriters

Category:Middle Tennessee State University alumni

Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania

Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania

Category:Canadian Country Music Association Songwriter(s) of the Year winners