RCA Names Elizabeth Sledge Mgr. Regional Promotion

elizabeth-sledge-1Keith Gale, Vice President, National Promotion, for RCA Records Nashville has announced that Elizabeth Sledge is the new Manager, Regional Promotion for RCA Nashville. Based in Nashville, Sledge is on board immediately, working the territory previously helmed by Norbert Nix, who was promoted in April to National Director. Most recently Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for Montage Music Group, Sledge is a 10-year industry veteran who is returning to the Sony Music Nashville family after beginning her radio promotion career with the Columbia Nashville imprint in 2002. Her e-mail will be active shortly at liz.sledge@sonymusic.com. For now, Sledge can be reached at 615-301-4465 or toll-free at 800-463-0579.

Once Again Underwood’s a 10

849229c1-3048-8909-cc789d89351a1d3a_200Arista artist Carrie Underwood has already sold more than 10 million albums with her first two releases, and now the singer scores another 10, with her current single, “I Told You So,” becoming her tenth single to top a key sales or airplay chart. The accomplishment distinguishes the four-time Grammy winner as the first country artist in history ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles on the strength of their first two albums. This week’s No. 1 is the fifth consecutive chart-topper from Underwood’s Carnival Ride album, which includes “Just a Dream” and three hits the singer co-wrote: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” and “Last Name.” The recently crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year has also taken a former #1 song to the top of the country charts a second time – 21 years after Randy Travis took “I Told You So” to the top. She becomes the first country artist to return a song to #1 since Alan Jackson took Don Williams’ “It Must Be Love” back to the top nearly nine years ago. “I Told You So” is also available as a digital single in a duet version featuring Travis.

Joe Nichols Issues “‘Believers’ Challenge”

joeUniversal Records South artist Joe Nichols‘ new single, “Believers,” is garnering some strong reactions from the fans. Released to radio on April 20, the song’s message is already inspiring listeners to share their own stories of getting through tough times. To help them share their stories, Nichols has set up a special site for people to record a brief video, stating why they are a believer (youtube.com/officialjoenichols). Submissions will be considered for inclusion in a possible music video for the song. “Believers” is the leadoff single from Nichols’ new, as yet untitled CD, which is set for a late summer release.

“It’s just amazing the kind of feedback we’re getting from this song,” Nichols said. “I wanted to give people a way to share with each other what inspires them and makes them believers.”

Nichols explains the “Believers” site below.

CMA Launches “CMA Industry Insite”

cmaAs part of its ongoing strategic mission of being a resource for the country music industry, the Country Music Association is launching “CMA Industry InSite,” a monthly online educational series for CMA members. The first episode — on publishing — will be available Monday, May 18 on CMA’s member Web site (MyCMAworld.com). Future topics include personal management, record labels, radio, social networking, entertainment law, and touring. New episodes will be posted on the third Monday of the month. CMA members will also be able to submit questions to the panel of experts interviewed for each episode. The series was developed by CMA’s Artist Relations Committee, chaired by Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, to lay a foundation for how the various business interests within the industry function. The series is produced by digital marketing firm Hi-Fi Fusion.

“Initially, this information was available to new artists on DVD, but the format made the information obsolete very quickly and did not allow us to keep pace with the changing face of the industry,” Brooks said. “Housing the series online and archiving the episodes once they are posted enables us to routinely update the material to stay current with changing business trends.”

It was also important to the Artist Relations Committee that the project reach beyond the artist community and become a tool that could be easily accessed at any time by CMA’s entire membership. Each segment, which is 8-10 minutes long, features specialists from that field. Each month, a new segment will be rolled out to the community with the opportunity to submit questions to the experts with the answers posted online.

Participants in the publishing episode include: Chris DuBois, Partner, Sea Gayle Music; Rusty Gaston, General Manager/Partner, This Music; Ree Guyer Buchanan, President/Owner Wrensong Publishing/WE Records; Pat Higdon, President, Universal Music Publishing Group; Victoria Shaw, President/Owner AvaRu Music; Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville.

Global Events Kick Off CMA Fest

cmaSixteen prominent international country artists will convene in Music City next month to participate in a series of global country music events, beginning June 8 in downtown Nashville. The CMA Global Artist Party (presented by CMA and sponsored by NiteTrain Coaches) will once again serve as the unofficial start to the 2009 CMA Music Festival with its annual showcase on Monday, June 8. The event, hosted by Jace Everett, will feature a total of eight artists from Australia, Ireland, U.K., Canada and New Zealand, including Australia’s “Telstra Road to Tamworth” winner, Peter McWhirter. The showcase begins at 6:15 PM at The Stage on Broadway.

CMA Global Artist Party performers include Kirsty Lee Akers (Australia), Colm Kirwan (Ireland), Lucie Silvas (U.K.), Alex J. Robinson (Canada), Peter McWhirter (Australia), Ashley Cooper (New Zealand), The McClymonts (Australia) and George Canyon (Canada).

aristoThe annual AristoMedia Global Showcase (presented by AristoMedia and sponsored by CMA, NiteTrain Coaches and Digital Rodeo) will be held Tuesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at The Second Fiddle. International artists from France, U.K., Norway, Switzerland, Australia and Canada will perform, including the “Telstra Road to Tamworth” Songwriter’s Award winner Corey Colum. Former Mavericks bassist and Digital Rodeo Director of Industry Relations Robert Reynolds will host the event, which will feature Pierre Lorry (France), Brianie (U.K.), Tore Andersen (Norway), Rolf Fritschi (Switzerland), Dianna Corcoran (Australia), Codie Prevost (Canada), Corey Colum (Australia) and David Bradley (U.K.).

“Both of these events are certainly a highlight for the global Country Music community each year,” says AristoMedia President Jeff Walker. “Music City is regarded as the heart of Country Music and the CMA Music Festival is one of the best live events in the world.  The chance for these artists to travel and perform here is not only an exciting opportunity for the artists, but for the city of Nashville and the entire international country music movement as well.”

Austin Guitarist Stephen Bruton Dies

brutonGuitarist/singer/songwriter/producer Stephen Bruton, a highly respected and much-loved member of the Austin, Texas music community, died Saturday (5/9) in Los Angeles of complications of cancer. He was 60. Bruton served as guitarist for Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and spent several years on the road as guitarist for Bonnie Raitt.

Turner Stephen Bruton was born Nov. 7, 1948, in Wilmington, Delaware, but moved with his family to Texas when he was 2.  As a teenager, he won banjo competitions, switching to guitar in his teens. Shortly after graduating from Texas Christian University, Bruton joined Kristofferson’s band just as the singer/songwriter’s career was getting started and toured with him on and off for decades.

He recorded five critically acclaimed solo albums, and his songs were recorded by artists including Raitt, The Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kristofferson), Jimmy Buffett, Patty Loveless and numerous others. He died at the home of his childhood friend, producer T Bone Burnett, with whom he had been working on Crazy Heart, a film being produced by Burnett. Bruton produced the music for the film.

“We finished it about two weeks ago,” Burnett said. “I’m deeply grateful he got to complete his work on the film. It meant a tremendous amount for him to get it finished. In the last 72 hours things just started shutting down. I think everybody thought he would kick it quickly because he was Stephen Bruton. We all thought he was invincible.”

Prime Time Press Conferences Irk Broadcasters

Executives at the largest broadcast networks claim that the new president has already cost them $30 million in ad revenue  as a result of his three prime-time news conferences. The Hollywood Reporter story notes that none of the broadcasters mentioned in the article were willing to go on the record, but says that the Fox network’s decision not to carry the last news conference, might serve as a precedent. The Hollywood Reporter quotes one unnamed broadcast exec who says, “We will continue to make our decisions on White House requests on a case-by-case basis, but the Fox decision gives us cover to reject a request if we feel that there is no urgent breaking news that is going to be discussed.”

[Hollywood Reporter]

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“The Session Players” Announces Online Chat

sesionOn Tuesday, May 19 beginning at 8:00 PM CT, The Session Players (www.thesessionplayers.com) will host a special live online chat. The website offers an up-close, inside look at the recording process through the eyes of the musicians who make it happen. The online chat will allow anyone anywhere in the world to talk directly to the players featured in the premier webisode, Sand Bank Road. Callers can ask about the creative process, the instruments used and about the musicians’ experiences working on countless recording projects. As the date for the chat moves closer, members of the site’s email list will receive up-to-the-minute details about the chat, including a complete list of the musicians that will be online and details about participating in the chat. Those who have not yet signed up for the email list can get the updated information by logging onto the site and visiting the Forum’s Music Category. Today (5/8), the site also began featuring a special promo of webisode two, Second First Impression.

Rebel Hearts

“Jesse Dunn”

RHR/Nine North

rh-playlist“Jesse Dunn” is the newest single by vocal group Rebel Hearts. Comprised of Darren Castle, Don McDowell and Kody Anderson, their music is a blend of country and rock that draws on influences like Elvis, Garth, and the Eagles.

Singer/songwriter Don McDowell created Rebel Hearts in 1997 and recruited Canadian producer/pianist/songwriter Steve Soucy. Don also added lifetime friend and lead singer Darren Castle to front the group and they began recording music. Kody Anderson was added to the fold in 2003.

After a string of independent radio releases, Rebel Hearts broke into the Billboard charts in 2000. In 2002-2003, Rebel Hearts videos for “Daddy’s Dream” and “Everything To Me” aired on Great American Country (GAC). In the summer of 2007, Rebel Hearts finalized their CD Runnin’ Wild with a Renegade Heart for international release. The album features the European radio hits “Good to Go,” “Wrangler Walk” and “Hard Rock Hotel.”

The videos for “Jesse Dunn” (link included below) and “Wrangler Walk” have been released to GAC and CMT. Current full-length project Rebel Hearts-Runnin’ Wild is a  CD/DVD featuring 6 videos.

“Jesse Dunn” video
http://www.RebelHearts.com

SOLID Readies Music Row Yard Sale

solidNashville Music Industry Organization SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) has announced the 2009 edition of its Music Row Yard Sale. This year’s yard sale will take place during the CMA Music Festival on June 13 at 8 AM at Nashville’s Sommet Center. SOLID has provided collection bins to Music Row businesses for donations to the yard sale. Businesses willing to donate promotional items should add them to their collection bin or contact the SOLID Yard Sale Chair, Katie Pope, at kpope@sesac.com. Autographed items will be auctioned off throughout the day and any signed memorabilia from your company is greatly appreciated. A SOLID representative will be by later in the month to collect the donated items. SOLID has traditionally teamed with Leadership Music on the Music Row Yard Sale, but beginning this year they are taking full responsibility for the event. For more information click here.