Tech Talk: Twitter Gets Voice; Senate Studies Cell Radiation

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According to an eWeek.com report, the U.S. Senate under the leadership of Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is planning to study links between cell phone use and cancer. Previous studies have been mixed as to any possible links between the two. According to the Environmental Working Group some of the best phones (least radiation) are the Samsung Impression (SAR at ear—.35 W/kg) and the Motorola RAZR V8 (SAR at ear—.36 W/kg). The two worst are T-Mobile myTouch 3G (SAR at ear—1.55 W/kg) and the Blackberry Curve 8330 (SAR at ear—1.54 W/kg)
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Jajah@call is launching in beta form on Twitter this morning (9/17) according to cnet.com. The service allows Twitter users following each other to make voice calls via PCs and/or mobile devices without giving up actual phone numbers. Calls will be limited to two minutes, a restriction that the company sees as a verbal equivalent of a 140 character tweet. Facebook users also recently got the ability to communicate via voice using Vivox. Consumer reaction to the new apps is still unknown, but if reaction is strong it is likely the apps will become integrated into the respective networks.
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Mindy Smith Will Rock For The Cure

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mindyWomen Rock For The Cure’s signature benefit concert to fight breast cancer will be headlined by Mindy Smith. The third annual event, set for Thurs., Oct. 1 at 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill, will also feature performances by Universal Music Group recording artist Coldwater Jane and internet pop/country sensation Veronica Ballestrini, plus more artists soon-to-be-announced.

The pink-themed celebration kicking off breast cancer awareness month will feature pink cocktails and a silent auction. Other fundraising events in October include the “Opry Goes Pink” show on Oct. 2 with Carrie Underwood.

At the WRFTC concert, doors open at 5:30 PM and show starts at 6:30 PM. Event tickets are on sale at www.3rdandlindsley.com. $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Exclusive pink circle seats are available for $75 and include front row seating and two complimentary cocktails per ticket.

Thanks to sponsors Latocki Team Creative, Sweet Talk Publicity, 3rd & Lindsley Bar and Grill, all of the proceeds will benefit Women Rock For The Cure and the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Yearwood to Host 2009 “Christmas at Belmont”

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xmasbelmontBelmont alumna Trisha Yearwood has been named as the host for the 2009 “Christmas at Belmont” performance at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The show will be broadcast nationally on PBS December 23. “Christmas at Belmont,” produced by Nashville Public Television with funding from the Beaman Family Foundation, features popular carols, classical masterworks, world music and seasonal favorites. 400 students will join Yearwood, the Belmont School of Music Faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir for the presentation. This is only the second time the performance has been held at the Schermerhorn.

tyearwood-ann“It was a great joy to welcome Trisha back ‘home’ for our special edition of the Grand Ole Opry in honor of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate,” said Belmont President Bob Fisher. “Her vocal talents leave every audience wanting more, and we are thrilled to partner with this amazing artist and friend for our annual ‘Christmas at Belmont’ production.”

Yearwood is a 1987 graduate of Belmont, who—in addition to a busy recording career—recently authored New York Times-bestselling cookbook Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen with her mother Gwen and sister Beth. “I loved my Belmont experience,” said Yearwood, “and I’m honored to be a part of this year’s ‘Christmas at Belmont!’”

Rosanne Cash Introduces “The List”

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Pictured (L-R): Jody Williams, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; Cash; Vince Gill, President of the Museum’s Board of Officers and Trustees; and Museum Director Kyle Young. Photo: Donn Jones

Rosanne Cash introduced her new album, The List, in a private performance co-sponsored by BMI and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum® on September 15. Cash performed eight of the classic songs on her new album, which is named for a list of songs her father gave her in 1973. The List will be released October 6 on Manhattan Records. In-depth coverage of the performance is available in the 9/16 edition of @MusicRow, emailed to paid subscribers this morning.

Swift Ranks Among “People’s” Best Dressed

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Photos from People.com

Photos from People.com

Taylor Swift is among the celebrities named to People’s 10 Best Dressed of 2009 list, joining the ranks of fashionistas like First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyonce, and Nashville-born starlet Reese Witherspoon.

“Anything that glitters hypnotizes me,” she tells the magazine of her red carpet picks by designers Collette Dinnigan and KaufmanFranco. “It’s always an attention grabber.”

The Best Dressed Women of the year, according to People are:

Taylor Swift – Best Sparkle

Reese Witherspoon – Best Short Dresses

Kate Winslet – Best Red Carpet

Vanessa Hudgens –Best Hippie Chic

Cameron Diaz – Best Jeans

Michelle Obama – Best Accessible Glamour

Freida Pinto – Best Use of Color

Nicole Richie – Best Maternity

Beyoncé – Best Street Chic

Kim Kardashian – Best Bikinis

CO5 Adds Roberts, Reworks Staff

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Denise Roberts

Radio promotion and marketing company CO5 Music is reshaping its operation announced co-CEOs Tracy Brown and Todd Sievers today (9/16). David Newmark, who served as VP Country Promotion since starting the Nashville division of CO5 in 2005, has been named VP of Business Development and will focus on new business ventures and business relations.

Denise Roberts has been hired as VP Country Promotion and will oversee the regional staff. At the end of July Roberts left a similar post at Stoney Creek Records, where she had been since March. Prior to that she worked as Director National Promotion for Universal South.

At CO5 Karen Durkot takes on added responsibilities as Senior Director of Country Promotion, becoming the veteran staff sergeant while Annie Sandor will focus on marketing strategies.

Jen Dalton has exited CO5 to take a position with Jive Records and will be based in Texas.

David Newmark

David Newmark

Also leaving is “Bubba” Wayne McManners who says he is going to be an entrepreneur. He adds, “I have really enjoyed my tenure with CO5 Nashville. In the last three years, I made a whole new world of friends in Country Music and I promise I will stay in touch with all of you. I wish everybody at CO5 the best.”

Roberts can be reached at [email protected] or 818-679-5479. Other announcements are pending.

Wreck Blocks 17th Avenue

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oceanway

17th Ave. S. was blocked off at the Edgehill intersection earlier today (9/16) following an accident in front of Ocean Way Studios.

The busy street has reopened and Ocean Way Director of Operations Pat McMakin gave MusicRow the scoop on the witness accounts. First and foremost, he knows of no serious injuries as a result. According to reports, the accident occurred when hit songwriter/musician Jim (Moose) Brown (Grammy winner for “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere”) was driving down 17th Ave. this morning and a car on Edgehill ran the red light and they collided. Witness reports say that the car headed east on Edgehill ended up in the Ocean Way drive, hitting three parked cars, and pushing Brown’s red truck into the light pole and fire hydrant, over the rose bushes.

Chesney Tour Schedules A Break

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chesneyMonster ticket-seller Kenny Chesney will take a hiatus from touring next year, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year tells Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com. “It seems like in the last couple of years, I’ve been on an empty tank,” he said. “And that’s gotta change.”

With numerous hit acts in tow, Chesney’s summer tours consistently sell-out 30,000 tickets plus at stadiums, and pack arenas too. His 2009 Corona Extra Sun City Carnival which closes Saturday (9/19) in Indianapolis featured Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Chesney was the only country act in the Top 10 of Pollstar’s Midyear Report.

“It’s just a short pause,” he tells EW.com. “It would be easy to keep doing it, because it’s fun and the fans are unbelievable… Then you realize that at some point you’re missing a part of your life…I need to recharge creatively and get off the clock of having to be somewhere.”

CCMA Ratings Jump 60%

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Producer Brent Maher and Johnny Reid accept the CCMA Album of the Year trophy. Photo: Grant W. Martin

Producer Brent Maher and Johnny Reid accept the CCMA Album of the Year trophy. Photo: Grant W. Martin

The 2009 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, held Sept. 13 in Vancouver, BC, and broadcast live on CBC Television, drew a record increase in viewership numbers with an astounding 60 percent jump from last year’s ratings. 

”Not since Shania has the CCMA Awards turned in numbers like this year’s show,” said Jim Cressman, Co-Chair of the CCMA Television Committee. “Obviously, the star power of icons like Reba and Martina McBride, coupled with a tremendous list of world-class Canadian performers that included Johnny Reid, brought eyeballs to our program.”

This year’s broadcast, directed by Morris Abraham and produced by Corkscrew Media, averaged 748,000 viewers for the evening, with ratings peaking at slightly more than 1 million towards the end of the program. A repeat broadcast of the show at midnight garnered an additional 60,000 viewers.

”First and foremost, it was an amazing lineup of talent that made this year’s CCMA awards great,” said Corkscrew Media’s President/Executive Producer, Scott Henuset. “It was a pleasure working on this year’s show with the CCMA, CBC, CMT Canada and such a talented group of producers and the show’s director, Morris Abraham.”

The awards benefited significantly from the switch to a Sunday night broadcast and a strong lineup of performers, including American artists Reba and Martina McBride and Canadian acts Johnny Reid, Doc Walker, Terri Clark, Crystal Shawanda and Emerson Drive, among others.  Canadian actor and director Jason Priestley hosted the show.

Reid collected an impressive five CCMA awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and the Fans’ Choice Award.  Crystal Shawanda took home Female Artist of the Year, Doc Walker received the Group or Duo of the Year Award and newcomers Dean Brody and Tara Oram won Single of the Year and the Rising Star award, respectively.

Worldwide superstar Taylor Swift received a special CCMA award for Top Selling Album of the Year in Canada. She accepted the award via taped satellite address.

Country Music Week culminated with the CCMA awards program, but also featured dozens of additional activities and educational panels leading up to the event, including showcases, seminars, industry events, musical performances and this year’s keynote address, delivered by Nettwerk Music’s Terry McBride.

“Vancouver was a great host for this year’s Country Music Week and awards show,” said CCMA President Jackie Rae Greening. “Fans and industry professionals alike were treated to a wonderful mix of entertainment and educational panels and performances. The CCMA is once again thrilled that country music fans responded so enthusiastically to this year’s events.”



 Encore airings of the 2009 CCMA Awards can currently be seen on CMT in Canada.

Diva Martina Headed For Superstar TV Show

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Mmartinaartina McBride is among the powerhouse vocalists set for the upcoming VH1 Divas. This year’s special will air tomorrow (9/17) at 8 PM/CT and as always, the star power is blinding. McBride will share the stage with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks in a first-ever collaboration presented at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

VH1 Divas reinvents itself this year with a crop of new, young superstars, including previously announced Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis. The high profile television music special brings together music’s most powerful women and greatest performers live on one stage.

The very first VH1 Divas special took place just over ten years ago. Past divas have included Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Carole King, and Tina Turner.

Country diva McBride has earned more than 18 million in album sales, and a record-tying four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year trophies. The Kansas native’s fiery, passionate vocals have created such signature hits as “Independence Day,” “Wild Angels,” “This One’s for the Girls,” “Love’s the Only House,” and “Anyway.” Martina’s current single is the love song, “I Just Call You Mine,” from her chart-topping album Shine.