Front and Center

Not to be confused with Front and Centre.

Front and Center
Logo
Country of origin	United States
Production
Producers	Front and Center Entertainment
Running time	60 minutes
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	2012 (2012) – present

Front and Center is an American television series that aired on public television in 2012, presented by PBS member station WLIW.^[1] The series was originally called Front Row Center and was developed by the producers of Soundstage.^[2] The show features Grammy Award winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, chart topping artists, and emerging artists.^[3] Front and Center profiles some of the music world's better known artists and combines behind the scenes interviews with intimate performances.^[4]

CMA Songwriter Series

In 2014, Front and Center joined with the Country Music Association (CMA) to present two separate hour-long concert specials, featuring Nashville country artists. The first episode featured Lady Antebellum and the second was a 10th Anniversary CMA Songwriters Series celebration and featured Dierks Bentley, joined by songwriters Jim Beavers, Ross Copperman, Brett James and Jon Randall.^[5] The idea came to fruition when Don Maggi, executive producer of Front and Center, paid a visit to one of the Songwriter Sessions in New York City at Joe's Pub, featuring Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn alongside several songwriters. "Hearing the passion and the stories that surround [the songs] was something that captured us and, for lack of a better word, was so real," Maggi told Rolling Stone Country, "That's something that we always try to capture on Front and Center."^[6]

List of episodes

Season 2 (2013)^[7]

Episode	Title
201	Jack Johnson
202	Train
203	JJ Grey & Mofro
204	Preservation Hall Jazz Band
205	Buddy Guy
206	Jake Bugg
207	Zakk Wylde & Les Paul Trio
208	Rock Candy Funk Party
209	The Rides

Season 3 (2014)^[8]

Episode	Title
301	The Avett Brothers
302	Jon Batiste and Stay Human
303	James Blunt
304	Ginger Baker
305	Christina Perri
306	Alt-j
307	Cyndi Lauper
308	Grouplove
309	Here Come the Mummies
310	Tom Odell

Season 4 (2014)^[9]

Episode	Title
401	Counting Crows
402	John Hiatt
403	CMA Songwriter Series with Dierks Bentley
404	Joe Satriani
405	CMA Presents Lady Antebellum
406	Keith Urban: The Hits
407	Paul Rodgers
408	The Fray
409	Richard Thompson
410	Richie Sambora

Season 5 (2015) ^[10]

Episode	Title
501	CMA Songwriter Series: Hunter Hayes
502	CMA Songwriter Series: Bob DiPiero featuring Brandy Clark
503	CMA Songwriter Series: Sara Evans and Martina McBride "Ladies Night Out"
504	CMA Songwriter Series: Little Big Town
505	Zakk Wylde
506	Train
507	The Rides
508	Trey Anastasio
509	For King & Country
510	Warren Haynes

Season 6 (2016)^[11]

Episode	Title
601	Joe Jackson
602	CMA Songwriter Series: Darius Rucker
603	CMA Songwriter Series: Ronnie Dunn
604	CMA Songwriter Series: Kip Moore
605	George Ezra
606	Børns
607	CMA Songwriter Series: Brett Eldredge
608	CMA Songwriter Series: Steven Tyler

Season 7 (2017) ^[12]

Episode	Title
701	Rob Thomas
702	Shawn Mendes
703	Cheap Trick
704	Southside Johnny
705	Steve Vai
706	The Cadillac Three
707	Kaleo
708	Dawes
709	CMA Songwriter Series: Jennifer Nettles

Season 8 (2018)^[13]

Episode	Title
801	Liam Gallagher
802	CMA Songwriter Series: Kane Brown & Luke Combs
803	Mike & the Mechanics
804	Beth Hart
805	CMA Songwriter Series: Miranda Lambert
806	Sheryl Crow
807	Seal
808	Jack Johnson
809	CMA Songwriter Series: Clint Black
810	Nile Rodgers

References

1. "About - Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
2. "Front and Center on WTTW Chicago". Chicago Public Television. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
3. "Front and Center (TV Series 2013– )". IMDb.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via www.imdb.com.
4. "Front & Center in Asbury Park: How Don Maggi made it happen". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
5. "CMA partners with PBS for country music concert specials". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
6. "CMA Brings Country Music to PBS". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
7. "September 2013 Press Release - Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
8. "Season 3 of Front and Center Announced - Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
9. "Front And Center Announces New Season To Debut This Month - Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
10. "Four All-New CMA Songwriters Series Episodes With Hunter Hayes, Bob DiPiero Featuring Brandy Clark, Sara Evans And Martina McBride, And Little Big Town To Kick-Off New Season Of Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
11. "Press Release: Front And Center's All New Season Features CMA Songwriters Series Performances With Ronnie Dunn, Brett Eldredge, Kip Moore, Darius Rucker And Steven Tyler - Front And Center". Frontandcenter.com. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
12. "Cadillac Three, Jennifer Nettles Are 'Front And Center'". Musicrow.com. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
13. "'Front and Center' Returns for New Season with Liam Gallagher and Country Songwriter Series: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-08.