Lady A Sells Ryman 2X; Strait/Reba Tour; Hope For Haiti

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Lady A's Hillary, Charles and Dave are the guest hosts on this week's installment of "CMT Top 20 Countdown," premiering today (1/15). Photo (l-r): Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley. Photo Credit: Brian Bayley

Lady A's Hillary, Charles and Dave are the guest hosts on this week's installment of "CMT Top 20 Countdown," premiering today (1/15). Photo (l-r): Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley. Photo Credit: Brian Bayley

Due to the sell-out success of Lady Antebellum’s upcoming March 11 concert at the Ryman Auditorium, another show has been added on Wed., March 10. Tickets available via ryman.com and Ticketmaster outlets.

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The George Strait/Reba tour kick-offs next weekend in Baltimore, MD with guest Lee Ann Womack. After Baltimore, the tour continues to Greensboro, NC with additional dates coast to coast through March…Reba also has a new DVD coming out. CMT Invitation Only: Reba will be released Tuesday, Feb. 9 via CMT and the Valory Music Co.

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In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, MTV Networks is presenting Hope for Haiti, a global telethon to air commercial-free across ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, and CMT on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and 7:00 p.m. CT. Leading the charge will be George Clooney in Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean in New York City and CNN’s Anderson Cooper from Haiti. Musical performances and celebrity appearances are yet-to-announced. Proceeds will be split evenly among Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF and Yele Haiti Foundation. Facebook and MySpace have also signed on as official social media partners.

Willie Nelson Joins Rounder Roster

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willieWillie Nelson has signed with Rounder Records for the release of his next studio album, Country Music, coming April 13.

Produced by T Bone Burnett, Country Music features old-time banjo master Riley Baugus, double bassist Dennis Crouch, Buddy Miller on guitar, Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Burnett himself and others.

“Some folks have mistakenly called it bluegrass,” says Burnett. “It’s actually pre-bluegrass. It’s some of the songs Willie’s been singing his whole life.” The material ranges from 1920s to 1960s.

Recorded live in Nashville in four days, it includes “The Man With the Blues,” which Burnett says is the first song Willie ever wrote. Other tracks include covers of “Dark As a Dungeon” by Merle Travis and “You Done Me Wrong” by Ray Price.

Nelson, known for a relentless touring schedule of over 200 days a year, will return to the road again in 2010. The full tour itinerary is yet-to-be announced.

The legendary artist, songwriter, actor, and social activist has a career spanning six decades and more than 200 releases.

In August 2009 Blue Note released his Grammy nominated studio album American Classic. Prior to that he was signed to Lost Highway Records.

Country Music track listing:

1. Man With The Blues
2. Seaman’s Blues
3. Dark As A Dungeon
4. Gotta Walk Alone
5. Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
6. My Baby’s Gone
7. Freight Train Boogie
8. Satisfied Mind
9. You Done Me Wrong
10. Pistol Packin’ Mama
11. Ocean Of Diamonds
12. Drinking Champagne
13. I Am A Pilgrim
14. House of Gold
15. Nobody’s Fault But Mine

Leadership Music Begins Exec. Dir. Search

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lmuNashville-based Leadership Music has begun its search for a new executive director to replace Kira Florita, whose resignation as the chief staff executive becomes effective Jan. 18. Pat Collins, SESAC chief operating officer and president of the Leadership Music Board of Directors, is chair of the five-member search committee.
Applicants must have experience leading small teams, a history of working well with volunteers as well as board members, and a background in accounting/finance. Resumes and letters of interest should be sent to edsearch@leadershipmusic.org. A more detailed description of this position can be found at www.leadershipmusic.org . Resumes will be accepted through Feb. 8.
Leadership Music, Inc. is an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1989. Its mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals through an annual education program and other events.

Ole Acquires Richie McDonald Catalogue


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rmMusic publisher ole has acquired the majority of songwriter/performer Richie McDonald’s 250-song catalogue, and entered an administration deal with him for select new copyrights. Best known as the singer for multi-platinum group Lonestar, McDonald’s catalogue includes the No. 1s “I’m Already There,” “ My Front Porch Looking In,” and “Mr. Mom,” as well as the hits “Coming Home for Christmas,” “Let Them Be Little,” “Mountains,” and “Simple as That.” His songs have also been recorded by John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Billy Dean, Sara Evans and others.

With offices in Nashville, Los Angeles and Toronto, 
ole is one of the world’s largest independent, full-service music publishers. The ole catalogue includes over 40,000 songs and 30,000 hours of film and TV music. Among the company’s most recent awards are Canadian Country Music Association Publisher of the Year for 2007, 2008, 2009; SESAC #1 Most Performed Song “White Horse” (Liz Rose/Taylor Swift); and 2009 BMI Awards for “Trying To Stop Your Leaving” (Brett Beavers/James Beavers) and “Picture to Burn” (Rose/Swift). ole also earned its first Grammy nomination in December 2009 for Best Country Song for “White Horse.”

Jessica Harp

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jharp-playlist“A Woman Needs”

Warner Music Nashville

Warner Music Nashville is releasing Jessica Harp’s empowering new single “A Woman Needs” to country radio, and it goes for adds January 19. To coincide with the release, Harp is offering three “making of the video” webisodes and the exclusive premiere of the song’s video on AOL’s The Boot. The webisodes will be part of a contest where fans will obtain a code to enter a page at www.jessicaharp.com/awomanneeds and the winner will win a weekend getaway to Nashville and a meeting with Harp. “A Woman Needs” parts 1 and 2 are posted Theboot.com and Part 3 will be available Friday, Jan. 22. The full video will post on Monday, Jan. 25. A winner for the contest will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 4 at www.jessicaharp.com.

In June 2004, Harp set out for Nashville to finalize a solo recording contract as a country artist. Fate intervened along the way when her best friend (pop star Michelle Branch) called and asked her to form a country/pop duo, which the girls dubbed The Wreckers. A No. 1 country single, a gold album, a Grammy-Award nomination, and high-profile tours with Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban followed, but Harp could never shake the feeling of wanting to show the world what she could do on her own.

Now she has that chance with the upcoming release of her major-label solo debut A Woman Needs — a breezy modern-country collection that finds the honey-voiced Harp telling appealingly relatable stories about her life, loves, and heartbreaks. “Country music is about real people and real things, and that always spoke to me not only as a music fan, but as a singer-songwriter,” Harp says. “I like to tell stories with my songs. This is the album I have dreamed of making since I was eight years old and singing along to my mom’s Judds and Reba McEntire records.”

“In a way, it’s like going back to square one after being in a successful band,” she continues, “but at the same time, it makes everything that I’ve done on my own feel that much stronger because I know I have stood on my own two feet and, against all odds, proven myself all over again.”

www.jessicaharp.com
http://www.myspace.com/jessicaharp

May Moves To Warner/Chappell VP/GM

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Phil-May-01Phil May has been appointed to the newly created position of  VP/GM Nashville at Warner/Chappell Music. May will report directly to Scott Francis, President Warner/Chappell Music and Chairman/CEO Warner/Chappell Music U.S. May will oversee business and administrative activities for the Nashville office and work closely with Tracy Gershon, Senior VP A&R who also reports to Francis. May’s responsibilities include the day-to-day business management of Warner/Chappell’s Nashville office, as well as the contracts and copyright administration departments. May will negotiate songwriter contracts and the acquisition of songwriter catalogs while identifying future strategic partnerships in Nashville.

Prior to joining Warner/Chappell Music, May was one of the Founding Partners of global music publisher R2M Music LLC, from 2006 to 2009, where he worked on catalog valuations and acquisitions and integrated acquired catalogs into R2M Music’s portfolio. He also spent 11 years with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, including from 2001 to 2003, as VP of Global Administration where he headed the company’s U.S. and international royalties, copyright, licensing and information systems departments.

Last Fall the Warner/Chappell Nashville office also brought veteran Steve Markland on board as VP of A&R. Markland reports to Gershon.

Westerman Follows Hill To Red Light

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Sandra Westerman

Sandra Westerman

MusicRow has learned that Sandra Westerman will be leaving her VP position at Borman Entertainment to move to a similar role at Red Light Management in Coran Capshaw’s Nashville office starting Jan. 19. Westerman spent over 17 years with Borman Entertainment. She can now be reached at Sandra.Westerman@redlightmanagement.com

Westerman was active in the day-to-day role for former Borman client Faith Hill who recently joined the Red Light roster.

According to a MusicRow story on Jan. 8, Hill’s career will be overseen by Red Light principle Coran Capshaw and President Will Botwin from the firm’s New York offices. Earlier last year, Hill’s superstar husband Tim McGraw also signed with Red Light for career management after leaving his long time association with RPM Management.

Nashville In LA: Bryan, Urban, Orbison

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Photo L-R: Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director, Luke Bryan. Michel Bourquard /Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

L-R: Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director, Luke Bryan. Photo: Michel Bourquard /Courtesy ACM

Music City stars have been making the rounds on the west coast.

The Academy of Country Music welcomed professional ACM member and Capitol Records Nashville artist Luke Bryan to their offices for a visit when he was in Los Angeles earlier this week to tape CBS’ The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

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Keith Urban made his new video in Los Angeles last month. The two-day shoot directed by Noble Jones took place mostly at the Santa Monica pier. The video is for new single “’Til Summer Comes Around” which he co-wrote with Monty Powell. Urban will return to LA for the Jan. 31 Grammy Awards where is a four-time nominee.

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It was just revealed that the legendary Roy Orbison will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony on Jan. 29. His family Barbara, and sons Roy Jr. and Alex will be there for the event. The late musician is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Aldean Adds Ash To Tour

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Ash Bowers

Ash Bowers

Stoney Creek Records artist Ash Bowers has been added to Jason Aldean’s upcoming Wide Open tour set to launch Jan. 22. Bower’s first Wide Open appearance begins 1/28 in Austin, TX.

“I was lucky enough to open a few dates for Aldean in November last year and had a blast playing for those big crowds,” says Bowers. “When I was told I was going to join in on the fun again I was thrilled. What a great way to kick off a new year!”

Bower’s debut single “Stuck” never charted on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, but hopes are high for his second attempt, “Ain’t No Stopping Her Now” set to ship on Jan. 15. The new song was written by Bowers and Kyle Jacobs, who co-wrote “More Than A Memory” for Garth Brooks. Other Stoney Creek artists include Megan Mullins and Crossin Dixon. Stoney Creek is part of the Broken Bow Records family, Aldean’s label home.

As previously announced Capitol’s Luke Bryan (“All My Friends Say”) is also part of the tour for most of the dates. For more info visit www.jasonaldean.com

2010 WIDE OPEN TOUR DATES w/ASH BOWERS
1/28 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
1/29 Beaumont, TX Ford Park Arena
1/30 Tyler, TX Oil Palace 2/4 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
2/5 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
2/18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
2/19 Highland Heights, KY Bank of Kentucky Center
2/20 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
2/25 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
2/26 Univ. Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
3/10 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum
3/12 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
3/18 Broomfield, CO The Odeum
3/19 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
3/20 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena
3/21 Pocatello, ID Holt Arena
3/25 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
3/26 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
3/27 St. Charles, MO Family Arena

Sony Sets Schedule For Jackson, Gokey, Thompson

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Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson

Sony is starting 2010 with a full slate of releases scheduled through the spring. Superstar Alan Jackson has a new Arista Nashville album, Freight Train, coming March 30. That month also brings the March 2 release of American Idol finalist Danny Gokey’s debut project. And first on the docket for 2010 is newcomer Josh Thompson Feb. 23 release.

For Jackson’s 18th album he reunited with longtime producer/collaborator Keith Stegall; the combination that has helped boost the singer to over 50 million album sales. Stegall, Kylie Sackley, and Vickie McGehee co-wrote the lead single, “It’s Just That Way,” which is climbing MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart at No. 43 after just three weeks, and earned a flattering review from critic Robert Oermann. “It’s Just That Way” is one of three songs on the album that feature acclaimed bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent on background vocals. Jackson also enlisted Lee Ann Womack for a remake of the Vern Gosdin/Janie Fricke duet “Till the End.” Jackson wrote or co-wrote eight of  the album’s dozen tracks, including one he penned with Roger Murrah, with whom he wrote the now-classic, “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.” Freight Train is the follow-up to his Good Time collection which produced three No. 1 singles.

Danny Gokey

Danny Gokey

The 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville camp is preparing for the March 2 release of Gokey’s Mark Bright-produced debut album, My Best Days. The first single, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me,” is earning airplay and is available as a digital single. Fans who pre-order the album at dannygokey.com will receive the CD, an instant download of “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me,” and an autographed CD booklet (while supplies last). Gokey has been on a radio tour and was in Nashville last weekend to participate in Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, where he made his Grand Ole Opry debut.

josh thompson

Josh Thompson

Sony is also offering incentives to fans who pre-order Josh Thompson’s Feb. 23 release Way Out Here. Fans who pre-order the album on joshthompsonofficial.com will also receive an autographed booklet. At the site they can stream and purchase the four tracks from his self-titled digital EP, and play the “Whack-A-Beer” game, named for his single “Beer on the Table.” Next month he heads out on the 32-date Jagermeister Country Tour with headliner Eric Church.