First Performers Named For CMA Awards

Sarah Skates – 09/29/2008

The star-packed lineup for The 42nd Annual CMA Awards launches with the announcement today (9/29) that nominees Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban will perform when the show airs live from Nashville’s Sommet Center, Wed., Nov. 12 at 7 PM/CT on ABC.

Chesney, the reigning Entertainer of the Year (with three total wins in this category), is this year’s top-nominated artist. He received seven nominations including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates; Single and Music Video for “Don’t Blink,” (video directed by Shaun Silva); and two Musical Event of the Year nods (one with Reba McEntire, and the second with Strait). Chesney could receive two additional trophies for producing his Album and Single with Buddy Cannon.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Strait received five nominations and could receive two additional trophies for producing his Single and Album with Tony Brown. Sugarland, the reigning Vocal Duo, also received five nominations including Entertainer (their first nomination in this category). Sugarland members Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles could each receive a second trophy for producing “Stay” with Byron Gallimore. Nettles also received a solo Song of the Year nomination as songwriter of “Stay.”

Jackson has 79 total career CMA nominations, the most of any artist in history. In 2008, he received four nominations.
Brooks & Dunn, who have won more CMA Awards than any other artist (19 Awards), are nominated this year for Vocal Duo (which they have won a record 14 times) and Album of the Year. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn could each receive an additional trophy for producing their Album with Tony Brown.

Reigning Horizon Award winner Swift received her first Female Vocalist of the Year nomination this year, while Urban and Lambert received two nominations each.

Chesney, Swift and Urban performing on “The 41st Annual CMA Awards.” Photos: John Russell/CMA

Gill And Grant Plan Annual Christmas Outing

Sarah Skates – 09/26/2008

Amy Grant and Vince Gill

Amy Grant and Vince Gill will embark on a 15-date Christmas With Amy & Vince Tour Dec. 4, in Manchester, NH, and bring it home Dec. 22 and 23 with two shows in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium. “The job of spreading Christmas cheer has simply gotten too big for Santa and Rudolph to do alone,” Gill explains. “So Amy and I are pitching in. Besides, these holiday tours have become our favorites.”

The two-hour program of standards and newer seasonal fare, will have the Grammy-winning husband-and-wife team backed by a 12-piece band including Gill’s daughter, Jenny. Plans are underway to work with local charities in order to give back to these communities.

On Sept. 30, Grant will release her first new Christmas album in nine years. The Christmas Collection is made up of selections from her three earlier Christmas CDs—plus four new tunes. She will also appear on NBC’s Holiday Celebration On Ice special co-starring Michael W. Smith, airing Nov. 30.

Van Tucker Leaves Avenue Bank

Sarah Skates – 09/26/2008

Van Tucker

Van Tucker has stepped down from her post as Chief Creative Officer of Avenue Bank. “If the bank wasn’t experiencing such great momentum, especially in the music industry, I wouldn’t be able to make this decision to prioritize some new areas in my life,” explained Tucker, adding that she will continue to be an advocate for the institution.

A message from CEO Ron Samuels agreed, “Avenue Bank has enjoyed much success in our first year of business... which enabled Van to resign to devote time to her family and personal interests. She will be missed but we are happy that she has the opportunity to embrace her life’s joys.”

To reach Tucker, E-mail van.tucker@ymail.com.

Drink Up Knowledge At BarCamp

Sarah Skates – 09/26/2008

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A little worn out from all the conferences lately? Enter BarCamp Nashville, an “un”conference event for the digital community at the Sommet Center on Oct. 18 from 9 AM-4 PM. BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences with open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants. Topics often focus on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats. Among the panels for the event: Blogging and Networking in Mass Market Media, Music Bidness 2.0, and Make Google Your Bitch! As soon as the daytime event ends, there is an after hours pub crawl on Broadway and a group rate to attend the Predators Hockey Game.

Fab Four Festival Returns To Nashville

Sarah Skates – 09/26/2008

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Beatle fans across the country will converge on Music City, Oct. 23-25 for three days of concerts, panel discussions and memorabilia displays at the Fab Four Festival 2008. The festival founded by Richard Courtney is now in its third year and will be held at The Cannery.

Among the musical performances will be tribute bands Liverpool Legends, FAB, and The WannaBeatles. An in-the-round concert will feature Gary Burr (wrote and performed with Ringo Starr), Buzz Cason (co-wrote "Solider of Love"), Marshall Crenshaw (played John Lennon in Beatlemania), and Joey Molland (Badfinger). The Long Players, made up of Bill Lloyd, Steve Allen, John Deaderick, Steve Ebe, and Brad Jones, will perform Abbey Road with guest vocalists.

Several panel discussions are set for the weekend, covering The Women Behind the Beatles, Performing and Recording with the Beatles, and Beatles Journalists. Full-day passes to the Fab Four Festival range from $30 to $50.

Kobalt Rolls-Out 3G Portal

09/26/2008

More than 100 music industry VIPs attended a lunch held Sept. 25 commemorating Kobalt's official Nashville 3rd generation portal launch introducing Kobalt's latest version of its transparent, online administration system.

(L-R): Mike Sebastian, Blacktop Music Group; attorney Casey Del Casino; Connie Bradley, Sr. VP ASCAP; Willard Ahdritz, CEO/Founder Kobalt Music Group; Tim Wipperman, Pres. Equity Music Group; Whitney Daane, Sr. VP Creative Kobalt Music Group; and Dobie Gray.

Benefits/Lifenotes Friday (9/26/08)

SOLID, Society of Leaders in Development, is gearing up to launch an eBay auction as part of this year’s Women Rock For The Cure event on Oct. 2 at 3rd & Lindsley Bar and Grill. This...

Industry News Friday (9/26/08)

Earlier this week the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), along with the Country Music Association and Avenue Bank, honored over 40 songwriters for penning the 24 country songs which reached the top of the national...

Joe Galante Receives CMA President's Award

09/25/2008

During the CMA Board of Directors meetings (9/24-25), the organization’s president Randy Goodman surprised longtime CMA Board member Joe Galante by presenting him with the CMA President’s Award. Goodman praised Galante’s leadership, creative thinking and dedication during his nearly 25 years on the CMA Board of Directors. The Sony BMG Nashville Chairman served as CMA President in 1983 and Chairman in 1986. Galante currently chairs the CMA Consumer Research committee, which is spearheading a major country music research project designed to better understand the format’s consumers, their spending habits and motivation. “This research project,” said Galante, “will provide the detailed foundation of information necessary for CMA to maintain its leadership role in the country business.”

(L-R): Clarence Spalding, CMA Board Chairman; Tammy Genovese, CMA CEO; Galante; and Goodman. Photo: Amanda Eckard/CMA

CMA Celebrates 50th Anniversary

09/25/2008

The Country Music Association (CMA) celebrated its 50th Anniversary during a reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 24. The organization was founded in 1958 as the first trade association created to promote a specific genre of music. The reception also honored Ed Benson, who recently retired from CMA after 29 years of service. Benson joined CMA in 1979 as Associate Executive Director. He assumed the role of Executive Director in 1991, and moved into the role of Chief Strategic Officer in 2006.

(L-R): Jo Walker-Meador, Country Music Hall of Fame Member and former CMA Exec. Dir.; Kix Brooks, artist, Brooks & Dunn, and member of the CMA Board of Directors; Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee; Karl Dean, Mayor of Nashville; and Ed Benson, recently retired CMA Chief Strategic Officer. Photo: John Russell/CMA