TJ Martell Sets Honors Gala

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Business and music industry leaders and celebrities will gather at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel on Monday, March 22 to celebrate the T.J. Martell Foundation Honors Gala.

In Nashville, the Foundation annually supports cancer research through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in honor of Frances Preston, national President of the T.J. Martell Foundation and former President and CEO of BMI. Last year’s event raised over $400,000 to benefit cancer, leukemia and AIDS research.

Along with supporting this very worthwhile cause, the Gala will recognize Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, the Honorable William H. Frist, M.D., country music’s Brooks and Dunn, Michael Bolton and Susan Simons for their humanitarian efforts.

Entertainment for the invitation-only, black-tie event will include the Fisk University Jubilee Singers, Dave Mason and others yet to be announced.  The Honors Gala is also known for its marquee presenters, which this year features Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Ross Perot, Jr., Pete Coors and Frances Williams Preston.

“Even though this is our second year putting on the Honors Gala for the Martell Foundation, it is arguably one of the biggest nights in Nashville,” says Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the Nashville branch of the T.J. Martell Foundation. “We are extremely grateful host such a wonderful event and honor five outstanding individuals, all in the name of benefiting the research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.”

Governor Bredesen will receive this year’s Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Bredesen has been gracious with his support of numerous causes, including Nashville’s Table, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cover Tennessee, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the Land Trust for Tennessee and the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.

The Lifetime Medical Achievement Award will go to Senator Frist. Along with establishing the Vanderbilt Multi-Organ Transplant Center, Senator Frist is known for his dedication to medical missions in developing nations through his work with Hope Through Healing Hands, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the ONE campaign, which promotes global health as a currency for peace around the world.

Country superstars Brooks and Dunn will receive the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award. After spending 20 years together, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn announced they will be going separate ways following their 2010 The Last Rodeo tour.

The inaugural Frances Williams Preston Lifetime Music Industry Award, whichrecognizes lifetime commitment of outstanding endeavors as a musician, will go to Bolton. Besides playing to sold out arenas worldwide, Bolton has sold
over 53 millions albums and won two Grammys for Best Male Vocalist and six American Music Awards.

Born and raised in Nashville, Simons will be honored with the Spirit of Nashville Award for her years of charitable service to Middle Tennessee. Simons has associated herself with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Alive Hospice, the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, the Metropolitan Convention Center Commission, the Community Foundation, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, United Way, and the International Women’s Forum, to name a few. Click here for more information.

Rascal Flatts Fetes Country Radio

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Last night (2/24) Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney gathered at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel to relive the band’s favorite memories with country radio and celebrate the hundreds of programmers and on-air talent who have been a part of their ascension on the charts over the last ten years.

The band members took the stage and gave a special acoustic performance for the more than 300 assembled radio guests. Highlights included a rendition of Shenandoah’s “Church On Cumberland Road” with Marty Raybon along with their own version of “Jessie’s Girl” called “Bubba’s Girl,” which they created during their thirteen-week radio promo tour in 2000.

After looking back at photos from the band’s first ten years recalling memories from early gigs, LeVox declared, “The reason we’re here is because you gave us the chance to do all that. Thank you country radio for an amazing first ten years in the business.”

As the evening wrapped, Rascal Flatts honored several country radio stations and programmers who supported Rascal Flatts’ music over the last ten years. Celebrated for most radio airplay were WQIK/Jacksonville, WTQR/Greensboro, and KUBL/Salt Lake City. WCOL/Columbus, KNIX/Phoenix and WKHX/Atlanta were honored for the most spins for the band’s first single, “Prayin’ For Daylight” while KBEQ/Kansas City received the designation of being the first radio station in the country to play their debut single. All honorees received a custom Rascal Flatts 10-year commemorative Les Paul guitar.

Brooks & Dunn Final Show To Benefit Hall of Fame

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Superstar duo Brooks & Dunn announced today during the Country Radio Seminar’s Sony Luncheon that the final show on their upcoming The Last Rodeo Tour will be August 10 in Nashville. The show will will help raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame, and will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

In sharing the news, Brooks & Dunn offered this statement: “For several years, we have tossed around ideas for the best way to make a contribution to the Museum. We have a tremendous appreciation for the road that was traveled by the great stars that came before us. Their long nights in station wagons with instruments strapped on the roofs built an industry that allowed us to cruise around in big tour buses. Our last show together will certainly be a historic point in our lives and careers, and we feel it’s only right that the proceeds from this concert go to a place where all history in our business is so reverently preserved.”

“The enormity of this gesture, including the endorsement it implies and the example it sets, is something the Museum’s board and staff will contemplate with gratitude for a very long time,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “We are grateful to Kix and Ronnie for supporting our educational mission and for putting the Museum on the radar screen of their nation of fans. The only word for them is magnificent!”

The Nashville show will join the majority of The Last Rodeo Tour dates going on sale March 6, on LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com.

Digital Expert Sees Downturn for Downloads 


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Speaking at the opening panel of the Digital Music Forum East in Manhattan yesterday (2/24), Russ Crupnick, an analyst with the research firm, the NPD Group, predicted a grim future for free streaming music sites that enable users to listen to songs any time free of charge.

Presenting data on U.S. music purchases from 2007 to 2009, Crupnick said users at these sites make 13 percent fewer digital download purchases. He went on to explain that users of online radio services like Pandora, which does not allow users to choose songs, but presents music randomly, see a 41 percent increase in download sales. As a result, he explained, the “free music” business model is quickly losing traction at record companies.

“We’re eating our young,” Crupnick said. “For some people more listening just means more listening and tends to lead to less purchasing.”

Overall, the NPD Group’s research shows that 24 million fewer people bought music in 2009 compared to 2007 and that newer digital consumers were quickly losing interest, with the number of people who purchased downloads dropping to 34.6 million in 2009 from 35.2 million in 2008.

Last year, free on-demand sites SpiralFrog and Ruckus closed their doors. Only Pandora has shown a profit. Spotify, the on-demand service that has taken hold in Europe, is planning a U.S. launch this spring, but may have a difficult time getting the labels to go for an on-demand, ad-supported business model.

Edgar Bronfman, Warner Music Group chairman, recently voiced his skepticism about the ad-supported model, saying, “Free streaming services are clearly not net positive for the industry.”

Speaking at the Digital Music Forum, Thomas Hesse, President of Sony Music Entertainment’s Global Digital Business, was more optimistic about Spotify’s chances for success in the U.S., saying he was pleased with the company’s efforts to convert customers from the company’s free service to a subscription model. Hesse predicted a “bright future” for the digital marketplace and recommended a more niche-oriented approach.

“There are markets that are underserved in today’s digital environment,” he said.

Krauss Parts Ways With DS Mgt.

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Alison Krauss and her long-time manager, Denise Stiff (DS Management), have announced their intention to part ways.

“We have had a wonderful 23 years together and are proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Krauss and Stiff said in a joint statement. “This is a difficult decision, but we have decided to end our professional relationship. We have the utmost respect and love for one another.”

Krauss continues to record for independent label Rounder Records, where she signed at age 14. Her most recent release, Raising Sand, was a collaboration with legendary rocker Robert Plant. The album won numerous awards across multiple genres, garnering top awards at the 2009 Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. With 27 Grammy Awards, Krauss is the most awarded female in Grammy history. She and her acclaimed band Union Station are currently working on a new album.

DS Management, a part of the Front Line management group, represents 13-time Grammy winner Dan Tyminski, and has signed new artist Alyssa Bonagura.  Stiff was Executive Producer of Music for the award-winning film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?.  She also produced the multi-act Down From the Mountain tour, and was the Associate Producer of the Down From the Mountain album. She subsequently produced the Great High Mountain tour, which highlighted music from the films Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Artist Showcases Light Up CRS

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UMG Parties at the Ryman
Universal Music Group Nashville showcased 18 acts during their CRS luncheon yesterday (2/24) at the Ryman auditorium. Artists included Easton Corbin, Laura Bell Bundy, Josh Kelley, Coldwater Jane, Randy Montana, Mallary Hope, Ashton Shepherd, Randy Rogers Band, Ryan Bingham, David Nail, Julianne Hough, Billy Currington, Jamey Johnson, Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Vince Gill and Sugarland.

Front Row (l-r): Brandon Jane (Coldwater Jane), Leah Crutchfield (Coldwater Jane), Corbin, Shepherd, Bundy, Kelley, Hope, Montana, 2nd Row (l-r): Brady Black (Randy Rogers Band), Geoffrey Hill (RRB), Randy Rogers (RRB), Nail, Hough, Currington 3rd Row (l-r): Johnson, Jon Richardson (RRB), Turner, Allan, Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) 4th Row (l-r): Womack, Gill, Kristian Bush (Sugarland) Ryan Bingham (not pictured) Photo credit: Peyton Hoge

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Big Machine Meets CMT at CRS
CMT and Big Machine Label Group joined forces on Tuesday night (2/23) for a CRS after-hours event at the CMT offices that included new music from acts on Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., and Republic Nashville.  The evening included performances from Jewel, Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry and Eden’s Edge along with special guest Melissa Peterman. Others in attendance included Jack Ingram and Justin Moore as well as CMT’s new Top 20 Countdown host, Evan Farmer.  CMT Radio Live’s Cody Alan was broadcasting live during the event and featured interviews with all performers.

(l-r): Evan Farmer, Host, CMT Top 20 Countdown; Justin Moore; Cody Alan, Host/EP CMT Radio Live; Melissa Peterman; Brian Philips, President, CMT; Jewel; Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta; Hannah Blaylock, Dean Berner and Cherrill Green of Eden’s Edge; Jay Frank, SVP Music Strategy, CMT; Jack Ingram. Photo credit: WireImage.com/Rick Diamond

(l-r) Republic Nashville’s Jimmy Harnen; Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry of The Band Perry; Jay Frank, SVP Music Strategy, CMT; Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta; Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia; Brian Philips, President, CMT; Melissa Peterman; John Hamlin, SVP Production, Development and Talent, CMT Photo credit: WireImage.com/Rick Diamond

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JaneDear Girls Rock the House
Warner Music Nashville staffers and guests gathered at the home of John Rich (aka Mt. Richmore) for a CRS showcase performance from new act the JaneDear Girls.

(l-r) Warner Music Nashville President John Esposito, the JaneDear Girl's Susie Brown, Managers from Turner Nichols Management Doug Nichols and Trey Turner, the JaneDear Girl's Danelle Leverett, and Warner Music Nashville VP of Promotions Bob Reeves.

Stacey To Head Warner Music Promotion


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Warner Music Nashville announced today (2/24) that Chris Stacey has been named Senior Vice President and head of Radio Promotion. Stacey will oversee the division’s newly-created two-team radio promotion department and report directly to WMN President and CEO, John Esposito. The department will oversee country roster releases for all WMG labels with a Nashville presence, including Atlantic Nashville, Reprise and Warner Bros. Nashville.

The two-team structure represents a new approach that expands WMN’s resources and allows the radio promotion staff to specialize in individual artists, dedicate more time to individual releases, work singles deeper into their airplay cycles and offer WMG labels a broader range of in-house expertise to draw upon. WMN’s current radio promotion team will remain in place and continue to be overseen by Bob Reeves, Vice President of Promotion who, along with the head of the newly-created second team, will report directly to Stacey.

In making the announcement, Esposito said: “We have a wonderful roster of artists who deserve the most thoughtful yet aggressive approach to radio promotion possible. I have known Chris for more than 10 years and know that in him we will have the executive with the experience and talent who can help drive that effort forward. During his nearly two decades in the business, Chris has exhibited entrepreneurial initiative and brought an enormously creative approach to getting the music of so many great artists to their fans.”

“Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to work with many of the best artists and promotion people in the business, so when the opportunity presented itself to build out this organization and create a power house for breaking artists, I couldn’t resist,” said Stacey. “Being able to help Espo execute his vision for what a major label should be in 2010 is a true honor, and I look forward to contributing and helping to assure Warner Music remains one of the most innovative companies in the business.”

Throughout his career, Stacey has worked with some of the most accomplished artists in music, including Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Counting Crows, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Shania Twain, Toby Keith and Willie Nelson, among many others. He most recently served as head of the music division for Mozes, a mobile marketing and promotion company specializing in artist and fan connections.

In 2000, Stacey helped start up Lost Highway Records, a highly respected niche Country music label, where he served as Senior Vice President of Promotion and Artist Development. In 2003, Stacey formed Vector Promotions, a division of the successful Vector Management firm, and later founded Hurricane Interactive Promotions, a mobile marketing and promotion company that was eventually acquired by Mozes.

Stacey began his career in 1990 as an intern for MCA Records and landed his first paying job as a regional promoter for Mercury Records in 1993. Between 1993 and 2003, he held a number of increasingly important positions at Mercury, eventually becoming Senior Vice President of Promotion. He also is the founder of Rock The Ocean, a charitable foundation devoted to protecting the world’s oceans.

A music industry veteran and artist manager, he was formerly Senior Vice President of Promotion and Artist Development for Universal Music Group’s Mercury Nashville record label. Chris has worked artists including Shania Twain, Toby Keith and Terri Clark, among others. Later, he formed his own company Vector Promotions, a prominent independent radio promotion company representing many of today’s most successful artists including: Maroon 5, Dylan, David Gray, Stone, Los Lonely Boys, and many more. Vector Promotions was affiliated with Vector Management & Recordings which represent Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Michael McDonald, Jonny Lang, Trace Adkins, Bon Jovi, Kid Rock and Damien Rice to name a few.

Underwood, Steel Magnolia, a Chesney App and a Kershaw

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Underwood Guests On “How I Met Your Mother”
Carrie Underwood will make a one-off guest star appearance on CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The episode will air on Monday, March 1. Underwood will appear as a new character, Tiffany, an enigmatic pharmaceutical sales rep and love interest for Ted, played by Josh Radnor. How I Met Your Mother airs on CBS Television, Mondays, 7:00-7:30pm CT.

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Chesney Thinks His App is Sexy
Kenny Chesney is on the phone – the iPhone that is. Working with Nashville-based design and innovation firm Aloompa’s owners Drew Burchfield, Kurt Nelson and Tyler Seymour, the team responsible for the Bonnaroo app, the country superstar started from scratch and created “the app I’d’ve liked one of my favorite artists to have had when I was a kid living on music.”

With a No Shoes Radio component that provides an extensive playlist, iPhone and iPod touch users can have Chesney’s personal mix playing as they navigate the application’s other functions.

“It’s a good way to put your songs and tour directly in your fans’ hands,” Chesney says. “I decided rather than be first, I’d take some time and create something that gives the fans the most comprehensive application we could create. And I wanted it to be free for them, just to say thanks for being part of all of this!”

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Steel Magnolia Hits “CBS’ Early Show”
Big Machine duo Steel Magnolia released their debut EP only yesterday (2/23) and the release quickly jumped into the the Top15 on the iTunes album chart. Steel Magnolia EP features their Top 15 hit single, “Keep On Lovin’ You.” 
 Following a whirlwind week of performances and interviews at the Country Radio Seminar, the ACM Top New Vocal Duo nominees will travel to New York City to perform on the CBS’ Early Show’s “Second Cup Café” this Saturday (2/27). The show airs nationwide each Saturday at 8 AM CT.

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Kershaw Assembles New Team
Veteran country artist Sammy Kershaw has assembled a new team of industry players to assist in releasing and promoting his records as well as touring. 

Industry vet Billy Holland has assumed day-today management for Kershaw and can be reached at 38 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 476-0938 or [email protected]. Also, industry guru Neal Spielberg of Spielberg Consulting is handling Physical and Digital Distribution via Rocket Science Records/Sony/RED Distribution. Spielberg can be reached at (615) 293-4974 or [email protected].
In addition, Susan Niles Public Relations is handling publicity. Contact Susan Niles at (615) 352-8080 or [email protected]. Jake Kennedy with New Frontier Touring is on-board as booking agent, 1503 17th Avenue South, Nashville, TN. 37212 (615) 321–6152 or [email protected].

CMA Holds Annual Artists Luncheon

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The Nashville School of the Arts guitar ensemble performed for guests at the Seventh Annual CMA Artist Luncheon yesterday. Nashville School of the Arts (NSA)has been a recipient of funds from “Keep the Music Playing,” CMA’s charity initiative which donates half the net proceeds from the CMA Music Festival to Metro Nashville public schools for music education.

(back row l-r) Principal Bob Wilson of Nashville School of the Arts; NSA instructor Dr. James Satterwhite; Pam Garrett, Executive Director, Nashville Alliance for Public Education; Jay DeMarcus, CMA Artist Relations Co-Chairman; and Dr. Jesse Register, Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. (front row l-r) NSA students: 10th grader Ben More, 10th grader Tyler Mayo, 11th grader Dylan Owens, and 10th grader Max Marlowe.

CRB Inducts 2010 Radio Hall of Famers

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Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) inducted the 2010 class of the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame last night (2/23) at a special ceremony at the Nashville Convention Center.

Bill Bailey, Laurie DeYoung and Rudy Fernandez are the 2010 Country Music DJ inductees, while Dan Halyburton, Mike Hammond and Cy Blumenthal (posthumous) are the Country  Radio inductees.

The class of 2010 was instated at the dinner and awards ceremony that unofficially kicks off Country Radio Seminar each year. Brooks & Dunn took home the CRB Career Achievement Award, and Charlie Cook received the CRB President’s Award. Dierks Bentley was on hand with members of the McCoury family to perform a special acoustic version of Brooks & Dunn’s “Red Dirt Road.” The surprise of the evening was an appearance by Taylor Swift, who introduced Radio Hall of Famer Hammond.

The 2010 class of the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame, pictured(l-r) Family of Cy Blumenthal, deceased (Radio), Dan Halaburton (Radio), Ronnie Dunn (Career Achievement), Laurie DeYoung (DJ), Kix Brooks (Career Achievement), Mike Hammond (Radio), Bill Bailey (DJ), Rudy Fernandez (DJ), Charlie Cook (Presidents Award Winner)

The 2010 CRB Career Achievement Award winners, Brooks & Dunn, pose with Dierks Bentley (c), who performed the duo’s “Red Dirt Road” with members of the McCoury family. Brooks & Dunn were honored with the award at the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame ceremonies at the Nashville Convention Center on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. Photo: Bev Moser