Summer NAMM Headed To NCC

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June is shaping up to be a particularly busy month for Tennessee’s entertainment industry, with the CMT Music Awards, CMA Music Fest, and Bonnaroo all happening in its first two weeks. But wait, there’s more: the 2010 Summer NAMM will be held June 18-20 at the Nashville Convention Center, and will feature over 400 exhibitors from equipment manufacturers, retailers, distributors and more. Attendees will see hundreds of new products before they arrive in stores, watch intimate artist performances, and learn about the state of the industry at the trade show, panels, and keynotes.

And for the first time students, parents, and music enthusiasts are invited to attend the show floor for “Wanna Play Music Sunday” on June 20. Visitors will see demonstrations of new products, live performances, attend workshops, and talk with industry insiders.

Morgan Tells Troops You’re Not Alone

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Artist Craig Morgan has become a spokesperson for Not Alone, an organization that empowers warriors and families dealing with combat stress through training, education, counseling and support. “When I heard about what Not Alone was doing, I knew I wanted to be involved,” said Morgan. “We can’t sit quietly aside while our country’s bravest are struggling. They put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and they deserve to be honored and know that if they need help, they are not alone.”

Thousands of military men, women and their families struggle with the after effects of combat and the difficulties transitioning to life back at home. American soldiers of the 21st century are serving in combat longer than almost any U.S. soldiers in the nation’s past, often serving multiple deployments with little break in between. Three in 10 soldiers show signs of mental illness or marital problems after their third and fourth deployments. In his role as spokesperson for Not Alone, Craig will bring awareness to this resource through his website, media interviews and concert appearances. Craig is currently a part of Carrie Underwood’s “Play on” tour, where he will perform for hundreds of thousands of fans through June.

Prior to becoming a country music star, Craig Morgan spent over 10 years of active duty in the Army and additional years in the Army Reserves.  He is an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award. to learn more about Not Alone visit www.notalone.com or www.craigmorgan.com.

Shane Barrett Departs Ole Music

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Shane Barrett

Shane Barrett has exited ole Music Publishing to pursue his next opportunity after five years as the company’s Creative Director. Other recent changes at ole include the addition of Arthur Buenahora as Senior Creative Director. In addition, publishing veteran Mike Sebastian joined ole as a consultant following ole’s recent puchase of Blacktop Music Publishing, Sebastian’s former employer.

Barrett can be reached at 615-474-3665 or at [email protected].

Bluebird Hosts “Birdsongs” Benefits

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Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe is getting ready to kick off “Birdsongs,” a series of shows presented to benefit the Bluebird. BirdSongs will kick off June 1 with an extra special evening of songs and stories; Nashville Hall of Fame songwriters Sonny Curtis, Richard Leigh and Jim Weatherly will start the evening with a 6:00 PM show. This will be followed by the 9:00 PM show featuring long-time Bluebird friend, supporter and Hall of Fame songwriter, Don Schlitz, along with Grammy winners Vince Gill and Amy Grant with special guest Mary Chapin Carpenter.
 Reservations for both shows are available beginning tomorrow morning (5/26) at 8:00 AM at www.bluebirdcafe.com.

When Amy Kurland decided to retire, she recognized how important it was for The Bluebird Café to stay in the hands of the writers whose songs established the club’s legendary status. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) was honored to be asked to steward this important venue and NSAI’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept Kurland’s invitation, acknowledging that The Bluebird Cafe belongs to the songwriters who have made it famous and those who will continue to do so.  No other performance space encompasses the history of Nashville’s songwriting community nor has provided the proving ground for songwriters as has The Bluebird Café and NSAI was honored that Amy would consider bequeathing her legacy to Nashville’s songwriters.

In honor of this legacy and commitment, The Bluebird is seeking help from the songwriters it has long supported, to ensure the future of the club. And they are rallying to support the venue that has long provided the opportunity for them to be heard. For the BirdSongs campaign, all songwriters are donating their performances beginning with the Bluebird’s Birthday month of June and periodically throughout the rest of the year. All door admission from June 1-July 3, both early and late shows, will go towards providing a solid foundation for the future of The Bluebird.

“Historically The Bluebird hosts over 50 shows annually for a variety of community organizations and causes,” said COO Erika Wollam Nichols, “Stabilizing the future of The Bluebird not only benefits the songwriters but also provides our entire community with a venue to raise awareness of, and funds for, their causes. From the monthly YMCA shows, to January’s Alive Hospice series, The Alzheimers Association, Happy Tales Humane, SOLID, Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hands On Nashville…the Bluebird and the songwriters who perform here have long joined forces to offer this venue to our friends in the community to support their causes.”

The BirdSongs campaign will help ensure that The Bluebird Café will continue to be here for both the songwriters and our friends in the community for many years to come.

A preview of June’s BirdSongs events can be found on line at www.bluebirdcafe.com. Shows will be added as they are confirmed. Reservations will also be available on the website.

BMI’s Website Goes Mobile

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BMI has launched a mobile version of its award-winning website www.bmi.com for iPhone, Android, Palm, Symbian and the upcoming Blackberry 6.0 phones. Mobile users will see the new mobile site when they log onto www.bmi.com.

“We know that tens of thousands of visitors to BMI.com already access information via smart phones,” said BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. “This is a logical step to enable our web visitors to discover the information on BMI’s business, its members, licensing processes, and over 200 sponsored events.”

BMI also announced that it will launch a mobile web version of its highly trafficked Online Services area by the end of June, giving its songwriters, composers and music publishers secure account access for their royalty statements and catalog of musical works via their smart phones.

“BMI was the first in the industry to launch a website in September 1994. We understood the power of the Internet then, and we understand how quickly everything is transitioning to a mobile environment today,” said Bryant. “We will continue to develop applications for new technologies that our affiliates and licensees use in the course of business. We know that business information needs to be available at anytime, anywhere, in a secure and portable mode. Our mobile applications continue our commitment to this pioneering tradition.”

Steve Wariner Unveils New Website/Contest

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Grammy-winning recording artist, songwriter and guitarist Steve Wariner, in connection with BubbleUp, Ltd., will launch a completely revamped Web site at www.stevewariner.com on Monday, June 7. The new site will feature exclusive videos and photos, the latest news and tour dates, regular posts from Steve, and much more.

“I’m excited about all of the possibilities with this new site,” said Wariner.  “The folks at BubbleUp are extremely creative and adept at implementing our ideas. I appreciate all the ways this site will give me to stay connected.”

In preparation for the launch, SelecTone Records will begin two weeks of promotion. Fans can log onto Wariner’s site and enter a sweepstakes to win the following prizes (all winners chosen at random; no purchase necessary to enter):

1 Grand Prize winner – One autographed Takamine acoustic guitar and a 1-hour guitar lesson in Nashville with Steve (travel and lodging not included)

2 winners – Autographed guitar

1 winner – A five-minute phone call with Wariner, with the option for the singer to record a custom outgoing message on the winner’s cell phone voicemail.

2 Winners – Grand Ole Opry Package, including 4 tickets to an upcoming Steve Wariner Opry performance of the winners’ choice, and a backstage Opry tour given by an Opry staff member (travel and lodging not included; no winners or guests under the age of 12.)

20 Winners – Participate in a live, interactive audio conference call with Steve. The call will last from 30-45 minutes with a moderator. Winners will be emailed an 800 number and passcode with date and time to dial in, and winners will submit questions via email one day prior to the call, one question per caller.

1 Winner – Autographed Steve Wariner artwork

3 Winners – Autographed CD – Steve Wariner, c.g.p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins

3 Winners – Autographed photo

In addition, everyone who enters the sweepstakes will be given access, via a private link, to a Webcast during which Steve will perform 3 songs. The live webcast will take place on Saturday, June 12 at 12 PM CT, and it will also be available on demand until June 14 at 12 PM CT. The link for the webcast will be emailed to all who enter the sweepstakes on or before June 11.

Brian Clough Wins CMA Int’l Broadcaster Award

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CMA’s Bobbi Boyce (right) presents The International Broadcaster Award to Brian Clough

British radio personality Brian Clough was surprised with the CMA International Broadcaster Award during a recent lunch in Durham, England. The Award was presented to him by Bobbi Boyce, CMA International Consultant.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with the honor given to me by the Country Music Association and ponder as to why I should be rewarded with such an accolade for something that has been a great enjoyment to do for the best part of my life,” said Clough. “A sincere thank you to all those folks who thought I was worthy of the award, and a special thank you to all the artists for providing some of the greatest music around.”

Clough was introduced to country music as a teenager in the ’60s while listening to artists such as Don Gibson and Roger Miller on the radio. For 30 years, he has presented and produced country music radio programs at such places as the Independent Metro and Great North Radio Group, Harmony Radio, Century Radio, DLR, NLR, and Smooth Radio. Readers of a national magazine once voted him one of the top six country presenters in Great Britain. He has written a country music column for The Northern Echo, one of Great Britain’s largest daily regional newspapers, for 26 years, and also serves as the entertainment editor for www.euvue.co.uk.
 
The CMA International Broadcaster Award recognizes outstanding achievement by radio broadcasters outside the United States who have made important contributions toward the development of Country Music in their country. Previous winners are listed at CMAworld.com.

Bonnaroo To Donate To Flood Relief

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Bonnaroo will donate up to $50,000 to aid the flood relief efforts for Music City. Great Stage Park, the home of Bonnaroo, escaped flood damage but the cleanup efforts to help rebuild Nashville after one of the most devastating natural disasters in this city’s history have only just begun, and the festival has created several ways for the Bonnaroo community to get involved and make a difference.

Bonnaroo has already donated $10,000 to the Middle Tennessee Red Cross, and festival organizers, Superfly Presents and A.C. Entertainment, are encouraging all friends and fans to help out in any way possible. Now through Sunday, June 6, Bonnaroo will be facilitating donations, via the Bonnaroo Works Fund, and matching them, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000. All donations will go to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Additionally, while he’s not on stage as part of Bonnaroo’s Café lineup this year, Jonathan Sexton (of Jonathan Sexton & the Big Love Choir) and Bonnaroo will be partnering up to show Nashville some “Big Love” by attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the most hugs in a 24-hour period (he’ll have to hug more than 7800 people!). For every hug given Bonnaroo hopes friends and fans will donate to the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville “Restore the Dream” Fund. Bonnaroo will then match donations up to $10,000. Sexton will be stationed at the post office at the Bonnaroo Festival site from noon on Friday, June 11 to noon on Saturday, June 12.

Established in 2009, the Bonnaroo Works Fund was created to further the festival’s community investment and philanthropic endeavors. The Fund is administered by the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF), a 501(c)(3) community foundation which manages philanthropic endeavors for numerous businesses and organizations in Tennessee. Since its inception eight years ago, Bonnaroo has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting numerous local, regional and national non-profits, with a special focus on the Coffee County community where the festival is based. Bonnaroo has generated and distributed over $3,000,000, mostly in direct contributions to a variety of initiatives and causes, mostly in Coffee County.

“Girls With Guitars” Gather For Flood Relief

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Tomorrow night (5/25) at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley, Girls With Guitars will get together and make some great music to benefit Nashville flood relief. Singer/songwriters including Mary Gauthier, Lisa Carver, Robin Ruddy, Kimberley Dahme, Cheley Tackett, Lani Nash, Tammy Fowler, Annie Mosher and Mindy Smith will come together for a very special night of music for a great cause. Suggested donation is $10. All proceeds will go to the MusicCares Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping out musicians in need.

The event will run from 6:00-8:00 PM and will kick off with an exciting donation match challenge. Those who can’t attend the show but would like to donate to the cause can make their check payable to MusicCares Foundation, and include “Girls With Guitars-Flood Relief Benefit” in the memo line. Send donations to Parlor Productions/Music Row Realty, 1317 16th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37212.

Landon Michael

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“You’re Invited”

Big Dog Records/Lofton Creek

When Landon Michael decided to pursue a career in music, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But, he knew the industry was changing and that he needed to approach it differently.

“I came to Nashville with the intent to record songs as much and as often as possible,” says Landon. “I knew I needed to build my recording experience and hone my voice.”

And out of his recording sessions has come his single, “You’re Invited.” Written by Trey Matthews, Brad Martin and David Chamberlain, “You’re Invited” is an upbeat song primed for summer airplay and aimed at working folks who just want to cut loose after a hard week.

Landon will also be performing a showcase during the first ever Billboard Country Music Summit in Nashville June 7 at the Hermitage Hotel.

www.landonmichael.com
www.myspace.com/landonmichaelmusic

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