“Crook & Chase” To Tape At Ford Theater

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crook-and-chaseThe Crook & Chase television show will launch a special series taping at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Ford Theater on Aug. 4. The first episode will feature Joe Nichols debuting two songs from his upcoming album in an acoustic performance. Because each show will also feature a Hall of Fame member, Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune will be on hand for the first week to talk about his induction and perform.

The Crook & Chase Hall of Fame Super Series! will be taped before a live audience every Tuesday from 3 -4 PM, Aug. 4 through Sept. 8. Audience seating is complimentary with paid admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or for Museum members. A highlight will be the Aug. 11 visit by new Hall of Fame inductee and legendary entertainer Barbara Mandrell.

This unique partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum expands the ongoing mission of Crook & Chase via their national television, radio, and internet platforms to present Nashville as an exciting tourist destination. Specifically, this series is designed to support the Museum’s membership initiative, as well as spotlight the exhibits and programming.

The Crook & Chase Hall of Fame Super Series! will air Thursdays at 7 PM/CT, and Saturdays at 6 PM/CT on RFD-TV from Aug. 13 through Sept. 19.

Artist News: Currington Comments On Festival, Holly Williams Engaged

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BillyCurringtonAs reported in this morning’s subscription-only @MusicRow, there was a horrific accident on Saturday night at the Big Valley Jamboree music festival in Camrose, Alberta. Gale force winds caused the stage to collapse just as Billy Currington was finishing his set.  Here is a bit more of the story courtesy of his label, UMG Nashville:

Currington was taken to the hospital and suffered a minor concussion but is expected to make a full recovery. He has been released from the hospital and has returned to his home in Nashville. Currington’s bass player Alex Stevens was pinned under the wreckage of the stage for half an hour while rescue personnel removed debris to free him. Stevens underwent immediate surgery to repair a severed artery and nerves in his left arm and is currently receiving treatment in Nashville. Currington sent a message to his fans today via Twitter, “The boys and I are very grateful to be home and for life itself. We thank you for your prayers and concern and will see you on the road again soon.” Currington also comments from his home in Nashville, “my heart goes out to the family of Donna Moore who was killed and all of the other fans who were hurt on Saturday.”

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Holly Williams is engaged to Nashville drummer Chris Coleman. He proposed last week while the two were picnicking and searching for civil war relics in Leipers Fork, TN. Coleman surprised her with the antique ring by hiding it in an engraved wooden box and burying it for her to discover. No wedding date has been set.

Williams is currently touring in support of her sophomore album on Mercury Records, Here With Me. In addition to opening select dates for Sugarland, she will be joining Madeleine Peyroux on tour during the month of August.

Holly Williams and fiance Coleman

Holly Williams and fiance Chris Coleman

Musical Chairs at BMI and Sony/ATV

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Russ-Blose-09Broadcast Music, Inc. has promoted Russ Blose to Assistant Vice President, Strategic Operations where he will manage the Operations/Analysis & Information group, which is moving from BMI’s New York facility to Nashville. That department’s functions are being merged with the Strategic Solutions Group already managed by Blose. In addition, he will lead the department charged with business continuity and IT disaster recovery and the corporate capital expenditure approval system.

Reporting directly to Senior Vice President, Operations & Information Technology Milt Laughlin, Blose is based in the Nashville office. Blose was formerly Senior Director, Strategic Solutions, a position he has held since joining the organization in 2005.

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wigginsSony/ATV Nashville has hired seasoned songplugger Kim Wiggins as Creative Manager. She was previously with Blacktop Music and Acuff-Rose Music Publishing where she worked with some of the industry’s top songwriters.

To contact Wiggins, call 615-726-8300 or email her at [email protected].

Taylor Swift In Feature Film “Valentine’s Day”

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Swift has been photographed in several scenes alongside Taylor Lautner, who starred in the blockbuster Twilight.
Swift has been photographed in several scenes alongside Taylor Lautner, who starred in the blockbuster “Twilight.”

Taylor Swift has an acting role in the upcoming romantic comedy Valentine’s Day. The film from director Garry Marshall is the story of five interconnected couples in L.A. who make-up and break-up based on the expectations surrounding the holiday. The top-notch casts also include Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Shirley MacLaine, Ashton Kutcher, Patrick Dempsey and numerous others. Swift also had a cameo in the Hannah Montana movie, and has acted on CSI.

According to IMDB, the movie is scheduled for a Feb. 12, 2010 release by New Line Cinema. Director Marshall is behind a string of hits including Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, The Runaway Bride, and Beaches.

Paparrazzi shot of the Taylors on set.
Paparrazzi shot of the Taylors on set.

Womack, Pickler Help CMA Songwriters Series Spread Word About Country Music

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kpicklerThe popular CMA Songwriters Series, which has played to sold-out crowds in New York City for the past five years, will be hitting the road this Fall with s hows in Los Angeles and Chicago. Each concert will feature a songwriter/artist alongside hit tunesmiths and will be hosted by Bob DiPiero, writer of hits such as “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” recorded by Brooks & Dunn, “Blue Clear Sky” recorded by George Strait, and “Gone” recorded by Montgomery Gentry.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15 the L.A. event at the House of Blues will feature Kellie Pickler and songwriters Chris Lindsey (“Amazed,” Lonestar and “Let’s Make Love,” Tim McGraw w/ Faith Hill), and Aimee Mayo (“This One’s For the Girls,” Martina McBride and “Red High Heels,” Pickler). The Los Angeles show is sponsored by Electronic Arts and is in conjunction with The L.A. Office RoadShow, the “must attend” event for brands, entertainment marketers and agencies. KKGO, Go Country 105 FM, the station under the direction of Senior Manager Country Programming Charlie Cook will support the event. Tickets will be available for $12.50 via Ticketmaster.

leeannwomackLee Ann Womack will headline two shows in Chicago: Friday, Oct. 2 at Joe’s Bar, and Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Chicago Country Music Festival. Joining her will be Dean Dillon (“The Chair,” “Unwound,” “Ocean Front Property,” and “Marina Del Rey,” George Strait and “A Lot of Things Different,” Kenny Chesney), and Scotty Emerick, (“I Love This Bar,” and “Good As I Once Was,” Toby Keith and “Beer For My Horses,” Keith and Willie Nelson).

Tickets to the Oct. 2 event at Joe’s Bar are $20 each and will go on sale August 7. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster or at Joe’s (cash only-no service charge). The Chicago Country Music Festival takes place October 3 and 4 in Grant Park. The event is free and open to the public.

NYT Profiles Country Youth Movement

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Whitney Duncan

Whitney Duncan

New York Times writer Jon Caramanica puts the crosshairs to Nashville’s country music youth movement in an article titled, Country’s New Face: It’s Young and Blond.

Ms. Swift, 19, who has sold more than seven million records in the last four years, has proved to be seismic in Nashville. And thanks to the pop crossover success of Ms. Swift and Carrie Underwood, 26, who has sold 10 million albums, notions of where a country star might fit in are being rewritten almost daily.

Ms. Swift was among the first country artists to aggressively use online media to promote herself. “That helped apply a lot of pressure to radio, or helped them notice her, depending how you look at it,” Mr. Ross said. But country music still lags behind other genres in its use of the Internet. Music Row recently began publishing a chart tracking Twitter followers of country acts. Apart from Ms. Swift, Ms. Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray, no country artist has more than 100,000 followers, a threshold crossed by several major and minor stars in other genres: Justin Timberlake, Moby, Matisyahu, Jim Jones, even Jon Secada.

Read the full story [New York Times; Country’s New Face: It’s Young and Blonde]