News From Trace, Luke, Brad and More

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Ttraceadkinsrace Adkins has joined the cast of the independent feature film Lifted, currently shooting in Birmingham. Written and directed by Lexi Alexander (Punisher: Warzone) and produced by Deborah Del Prete (Wedding Planner), Lifted is about a young singer whose family life is disrupted when his Marine father is re-deployed to Afghanistan. Adkins plays country superstar, “Jimmy Knox,” a guest judge at the American Idol-like “Teen Starquest.”

Adkins is also set to perform the national anthem at this year’s ceremony to honor the 40 heroes of United Flight 93, who lost their lives on 9/11 in a field in Shanksville, PA. The ceremony will begin at 9:45 AM on September 11, 2009, adjacent to the temporary memorial site in Shanksville.

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Luke Bryan’s “Do I” has sold more than 100,000 digital downloads since June. It is the lead single off  the Georgia native’s sophomore album Doin’ My Thing, scheduled for release Oct. 6. The video, shot in downtown Nashville by director Shaun Silva, is No. 1 this week on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown. “Do I” was written by Bryan and his Capitol Nashville labelmates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum.

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Jewel will remain on the road through the fall doing an acoustic tour. She has been touring behind her Lullaby release, and heads back out Oct. 27 with stops in 16 cities. She is also offering VIP meet-and-greet packages with backstage access and autographed memorabilia via her Web site.

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This past weekend Brad Paisley took his American Saturday Night tour to the Northeast United States and played to sold-out crowds in Meadville, PA; Cleveland, OH; Bethel Woods, NY and Essex Junction, VT.  The Northeast has been getting blasted with the effects of recent tropical storms and hurricanes but concert attendees didn’t let a little rain deter their fun.

Paisley continues the tour this week and heads a little farther north into Canada – shows in Halifax, NS; Saint John, NB and Allentown, PA. Despite having torrential storms over the past two weeks in Halifax the tour has opened additional seating to accommodate the overwhelming demand for tickets.
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GAC’s Storme Warren, Jason Meadows, Brett Warren and others are scheduled for the Mounted Shooter competition at Murfreesboro’s Tennessee Miller Coliseum on Wed., Sept. 2. “Shoot for a Cure” is an exhibition and competition, with performances and a live auction benefiting the Susan G. Komen Greater Nashville for breast cancer awareness. Event is at 6 pm. Tickets are available at the venue. $10 for adults, $5 for students, children under 10 free
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Ralph Stanley will headline the Mount Juliet Homecoming, Oct. 9 – 10. The picnic style event will have live music, food, and attendees are encouraged to bring their musical instruments for open jam sessions. It will be held at Happy Hollow Farms in Mount Juliet, Tenn. (563 Main Street, Mount Juliet, TN, 37122).

SOLID Recruitment, NELA Winner

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SOLID member Jessica Myers (L) was a winner at the 2009 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards, held recently at David Lipscomb. Myers is Bluewater Music's Manager of Administrative Services. Pictured at the awards with SOLID Pres. Alicia Warwick (R).

SOLID (Society of Leaders In Development) will hold its new member recruitment party on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at The Rhythm condos located on 501 Demonbreun Street, 5th Floor. Potential members are invited from 5:00 to 7:30 PM to meet and mingle with current SOLID members and alumni. Food and drinks will be provided.

Those who have been working in the music business for a year are eligible to apply. Check out www.solidnashville.com for more information. Applications must be in by Oct. 31.

Tech Trail: Apple, Twitter, And Rock Band

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Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas, Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles are active Twitter users and recently drew on the social networking site to connect with their fans on the release of their debut album, World Wide Open.

Last Tuesday, Love And Theft, or @LNTweet as they are known to their Twitter followers, Tweeted that they would be stopping at a Nashville area Best Buy store to purchase the first copy of their CD. They were happily greeted by a large gathering of fans who showed up at the store to pick up the record and get it signed by the band.

Love And Theft at Best Buy Photo: Aaron Crisler

Love And Theft at Best Buy, Photo: Aaron Crisler

You can see all the latest Tweets from your favorite artists like Love And Theft on MusicRow’s Artist Twitter Talk page here.

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Theories abound about Apple’s big announcements coming Wednesday, Sept. 9 in San Francisco. The iPod will be the focus, but details aren’t confirmed. It is likely a new version of the iPod will be introduced, including a camera, as well as the next-generation iPhones, which will include video recording capabilities. Many experts also say the iPhone may soon be available through carriers other than AT&T.

Other rumors on AppleInsider.com suggest the introduction of iTunes 9, which might have social networking features and support the Blu-ray format.

The Web site reports, “The Sept. 9 date has also fueled rumors that The Beatles’ discography could finally make its long-awaited appearance on iTunes. That Wednesday is the same day the band is re-releasing its entire catalog, as well as the game The Beatles: Rock Band.”

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Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games are launching “Rock Band Bar Nights,” which will provide tools for U.S. bar owners to host their own Rock Band Nights. It’s like karaoke on steroids.

Warner Music Group Expands Nashville Operations

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Bennett-EspitoWarner Music Group Corp. is expanding its Nashville operations with the formation of Warner Music Nashville, which will include Warner Bros. Nashville, Word Entertainment, and the re-launched Atlantic Nashville label. The story was first reported by MusicRow on Aug. 21, via a subscriber-only Breaking News Bulletin.

The division will be led by music industry veteran, John Esposito, who has served since 2002 as President, and then President and Chief Executive Officer of WMG’s sales and marketing division, WEA Corp. Effective immediately, Esposito will assume the newly created position of President, Warner Music Nashville and will be based in Nashville. As a result, Bill Bennett, EVP and General Manager of Warner Bros. Nashville will leave the company to pursue new opportunities. During his tenure, Bennett was instrumental in numerous successes at Warner Bros. Nashville, including multi-Platinum artists Big & Rich and Blake Shelton, as well as emerging stars The Wreckers, Gloriana and James Otto, among many others. Mark Bright will continue to lead Word Entertainment as President and CEO. Mike Jbara, WEA’s EVP and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Esposito.

Esposito said, “This is a dream come true for me. I have long been involved with and have loved the artistry, creativity and wonderful vibe of Nashville. I look forward to enhancing Warner Music’s business there by building upon Warner Bros.’ and Word’s great accomplishments while also working to establish Atlantic as a powerful and artist-friendly destination in the Nashville community.”

In making the announcement, Lyor Cohen, WMG’s Vice Chairman and Chairman and CEO, Recorded Music – Americas and the UK said, “Nashville is a critical music community, both creatively and economically. Warner Bros. Records Nashville under the leadership of Bill Bennett has done an excellent job representing WMG in this vibrant music capital. With the creation of Warner Music Nashville, we will build upon the outstanding work of Bill and his team and create even more A&R, marketing and promotional firepower.”

“I am very proud of the work we’ve accomplished over the years, especially the fantastic success we’ve seen from our multi-Platinum artists such as Faith Hill, Michelle Branch, and Big & Rich, as well as the outstanding results we are seeing from developing artists such as Gloriana, James Otto and Word’s Francesca Battistelli,” said Warner Bros. Records’ Chairman and CEO, Tom Whalley. “To now be given an even greater mandate from WMG and the dedicated efforts of a talented executive such as Espo is a terrific opportunity for our team in Nashville to focus on expanding WMG’s presence in the Country and Christian genres. Bill is a terrific executive who’s leaving at the top of his game and I want to personally thank him for his excellent work leading Warner Bros. Nashville to its best performance in many years.”

Atlantic Records’ Chairman and CEO, Craig Kallman said, “The past year has seen Atlantic Records return to the country world for the first time in nearly a decade…The phenomenal success of the Zac Brown Band has proved that our instincts and our timing were right and, along with upcoming artists like Jesse Lee and the Invite, they are taking us down the country path again.”

As President and CEO of WEA, Esposito was responsible for WEA Corp.’s sales, distribution and marketing activities as well as the global management and distribution of WMG’s digital assets. In addition, Esposito was responsible for the Digital Sales and Marketing group, which manages the mobile and online business for WMG’s U.S. labels. Esposito also oversaw WMG’s independent Alternative Distribution Alliance.

Esposito joined WMG from The Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) where he was General Manager/Executive Vice President. Prior to IDJ, Esposito held a variety of executive positions at PolyGram, Inc., as well as chief operating officer of music and movies at The Wiz retail chain, and Regional Vice President of Mitsubishi Electronics America. He is an active environmentalist and serves on the Board of Directors for the TJ Martell Foundation.