Luke Bryan Recruits Celeb Friends For ACM Support

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Fan voting is open for the ACM Awards in the new artist categories and singers are coming up with unique ways to reach out for votes. Luke Bryan rounded up celebrity friends for a video for his bid for ACM Top New Solo Vocalist. His spoof of the “Don’t Vote” video used during the 2008 presidential campaign features 23 celebs, such as Capitol Nashville labelmates Dierks Bentley, Kenny Rogers and members of Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum, as well as Jason Aldean, Haylie Duff, Blake Shelton, and baseball star Chipper Jones.

The video, already considered a viral success with over 20,000 views, has created a buzz since being posted last Wednesday (3/3) on Bryan’s official YouTube page. In addition the video has been picked up by numerous media sites and radio station web sites.

UMPG Re-Signs Two Hit Songwriters

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UMPG has recently re-signed Rivers Rutherford and Luke Laird to exclusive world-wide publishing agreements.

Rutherford, who originally signed with UMPG in 1996 has had 8 No. 1 hit songs, and has enjoyed numerous awards and nominations from ASCAP, Billboard, ACM and CMA. Rutherford received the ASCAP Song of the Year in 2002 for "Ain't Nothin' 'Bout You" recorded by Brooks & Dunn and was honored with ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year award in 2006. Rutherford's songs have been recorded by Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, Reba McEntire, Gary Allan, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Deana Carter, Justin Moore, Darius Rucker, Trick Pony, and Montgomery Gentry. Pictured (L-R): UMPG Nashville’s President Pat Higdon and UMPG Nashville’s Senior Vice President-Creative Kent Earls; Seated: Rivers Rutherford; Photo by: Kay Williams

Luke Laird has had numerous No. 1 hits including “Last Name” and “So Small” both off Carrie Underwood’s "Carnival Ride" CD which has scanned over 3 million units to date. Laird also co-wrote four songs on Underwood’s third and most recent release "Play On," including her current single, “Temporary Home.” “Hillbilly Bone,” recorded by Blake Shelton and featuring Trace Adkins, is another current Laird penned single climbing the country charts. Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Lee Ann Womack, Jessica Simpson, Holly Williams, Clay Walker, Jessica Harp, Julianne Hough, Little Big Town, Katharine McPhee, Joe Nichols and Laura Bell Bundy are just a few of the artists who have recently chosen to record Luke’s work. Pictured (l-r): UMPG Nashville’s Senior Vice President – Creative Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville’s President Pat Higdon. Seated: Luke Laird; Photo by: Kay Williams

Parton Opens Nashville Store; New Wynette Biography

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Dolly Parton will celebrate the official grand opening/ribbon-cutting ceremony for her first retail store, Trinkets & Treasures, on Friday, March 12. The 1000 sq. ft. space at 126 2nd Ave. N. in downtown Nashville is designed to reflect Dolly’s classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” with a mix of pink, yellow, red, blue, green and purple.

Fans on hand at the ribbon cutting can win a meet and greet with the superstar through raffles, a “Dress Like Dolly” look-alike competition, and a contest for fans dressed in the most “Dolly gear.”

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A new Tammy Wynette biography hit bookstore shelves last week. For the project, writer Jimmy McDonough interviewed numerous friends and family members of the late songstress, including George Jones and producer Billy Sherrill. Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen (Viking) has earned praise from the New York Times.

Wynette died in 1998, leaving a legacy of work, including 17 No. 1 hits such as “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Take Me to Your World,” and “Stand by Your Man.”

McDonough appears tonight (3/9) at Nashville’s Davis-Kidd Booksellers at 7 pm.

Swift Launches iPhone App, Brings Tour Back To US

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Taylor Swift’s Fearless 2010 Tour began its run through the US over the weekend, with sold-out shows in Tampa, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale/Sunrise, FL. The 39-date tour is visiting arenas and stadiums in 31 cities throughout the US and Canada over the next three months. Last month, she took the Fearless tour overseas, playing eight sold-out shows in Australia and Japan.

In other Swift news, this week Big Machine Records launched the official Taylor Swift iPhone application. The free app features Facebook and Twitter connectivity and is available here. Built using Mobile Roadie’s leading mobile app platform, the app is enabled with push notification so that any time the superstar releases new music, videos or photos, fans will be instantly updated on their iPhones. Fans can also see her most up-to-date tour information, find and connect with other fans in their area, and share photos with each other.

Bentley Explores Bluegrass Roots On New Album

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Dierks Bentley today (3/8) revealed details about his upcoming album, which has him delving deep into bluegrass and roots music. Up On The Ridge will be released this summer and features Bentley working with some of the finest acoustic musicians in the world.

For the album he joined with longtime collaborators the Del McCoury Band as well as new musical partners Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. The disc also features vocal and instrumental contributions from Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Tim O’Brien, Sam Bush, and many others.

“It’s my version of bluegrass music,” offers Bentley, who says the genre is his first love. “It’s not just banjos cranked up to eleven. It throws out a big net.” For the album he worked with award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall and respected recording engineer Gary Paczosa. Some songs from the project are from Bentley’s proven pen, and others come from what might be unexpected sources, like Bob Dylan.

Oscars Score In Ratings, “Weary Kind” Wins Song

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Pictured at the post party for a Nashville screening of "Crazy Heart." (L-R): BMI's Jody Williams, Lost Highway recording artist Ryan Bingham, T-Bone Burnett, Jeff Bridges, and New West Records President Cameron Strang. Photo: Erika Goldring

Country music had a much deserved moment in the Hollywood spotlight last night (3/7). “The Weary Kind,” written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song during the telecast which drew the highest ratings since 2005.

Bingham, a Lost Highway artist, and Burnett penned the song for Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges as a past-his-prime country singer. Bridges also won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of “Bad Blake.” Bridges, Bingham and Burnett all won in similar categories during the recent Golden Globes.

Also at the Oscars, Sandra Bullock was named Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in The Blind Side, a film that also starred Tim McGraw in a supporting role.

According to preliminary data from Nielsen, last night’s Academy Awards drew an average audience of 41.3 million viewers. This is the show’s highest ratings in five years, since 2005 when 42.2 million people tuned in. The Oscars sank to record low viewership in 2008 with 31.8 million. By last year its numbers had rebounded, making this the second consecutive year of ratings growth.

CBS reports that Nielsen is counting digital video recorder data for the first time this year, which could make comparison to last year’s ratings a little off.

Below is Bingham’s performance of “The Weary Kind” on SIRIUS XM’s Outlaw Country.

FBMM Names New VP and Owner/Shareholder

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Carmen Romano, Jr.

Carmen Romano, Jr., managing director of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. has become a vice president and owner/shareholder of the company. Romano joins founding owners Chuck Flood, Frank Bumstead, and Mary Ann McCready together with owners Jamie Cheek (2006) and Duane Clark (2008).

Romano has been an entertainment industry business manager for the past twenty years and prior to joining FBMM to open their New York office in 2004, was president of Progressive Business Management. He is a graduate of Bloomfield College, an active member of NARAS and currently resides in Livingston, New Jersey.

Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy Inc. is a Nashville-based firm, founded in 1990, which specializes in financial and business management and represents a diverse roster of artists including Rascal Flatts, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Gnarls Barkley, Vince Gill, My Chemical Romance, Dierks Bentley, Pearl Jam, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, MGMT and John Hiatt, among others.

Leadership Music Accepting Applications

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Leadership Music is accepting applications for its next class of entertainment industry professionals. The eight-month-long education program, which starts in September 2010 and ends in May 2011, will continue be based in Nashville. Participants are required to attend orientation and monthly day-long sessions on Fridays, as well as two-day opening and closing weekend retreats.

Application forms and information are available at www.leadershipmusic.org. Deadline to submit applications is March 26. Those who have completed applications in the last two years need only submit an updated form. Applications can be submitted three ways:

Mail: Applications, Leadership Music, PO Box 158010, Nashville, TN 37215-8010
Fax: 615-770-7092
Email: [email protected]

Country Acts Throwdown On Multi-Stage Tour

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This summer the Country Throwdown Tour will make its way across the U.S. with a star line-up, festival atmosphere and affordable tickets. Kevin Lyman of 4Fini Inc. modeled the country outing after his successful Vans Warped Tour, which is the longest running traveling music and extreme sports festival in the world today.

The Country Throwdown Tour Presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will commence May 14 in Tampa, FL and wrap June 20 in Mountain View, CA.  Headlining the run is Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram. Other artists confirmed for the first annual multi-stage tour include Eric Church, the Eli Young Band, The Lost Trailers, Heidi Newfield, Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses, Jonathan Singleton & The Grove and Emily West.

A Bluebird Café tent offering daytime sets, and music during the mainstage set changes, will feature emerging songwriter-artists Ashley Ray, Brad Tursi, Cory Branan, Dave Pahanish, Jedd Hughes, Sarah Buxton, Troy Olsen, Heather Morgan and Walker Hayes.

Among the other activities will be a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors, happy hour, autograph sessions, and chances for seat upgrades. Country Throwdown is building interest with an iPhone app and free Mp3s on its web site.

Organizers are also offering numerous deals on tickets. The limited time Throwdown Ticket Takeover splits the amphitheater seats down the middle, with one side offering a flat price for any seat during the pre-sale, while regular tiered ticketing will be available for later purchase for the other half of the amphitheater. Pre-sale tickets are available via Ticketmaster and also serve as a jump-the-line pass for first access into the venue. Customers of tour sponsors Rockstar Energy Drink and Wrangler jeans will also be eligible for discounts.

In addition, a select number of Country Throwdown shows are included in the 2010 Country Megaticket package. This limited-time offer gives fans the same seat of their choice in the same venue for several top shows throughout the year such as Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw. Country Throwdown is also teaming up with Tickets-for-Charity® to offer fans premium seats and exclusive VIP Packages to benefit great causes.

Tour dates

5/30    Saratoga Springs, NY
5/31    Gilford, NH
6/4    Virginia Beach, VA
6/6    Bristow, VA
6/9    Houston, TX
6/10    Dallas, TX
6/12    Salt Lake City, UT
6/13    Denver, CO
6/16    Bakersfield, CA
6/17    San Diego, CA
6/18    Phoenix, AZ
6/19    Irvine, CA
6/20    Mountain View, CA

DVD Set Coming From ZBB And Friends

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Zac Brown Band is prepping the May 4 release of a DVD/2-CD package called Pass the Jar. The concert DVD is from the band’s Oct. 30, 2009 superstar show at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre which benefited the rebuilding of Athens, GA landmark, the Georgia Theatre.

The Pass the Jar DVD will feature eighteen performances, with ZBB alongside guests Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Joey + Rory, Shawn Mullins, Angie Aparo and Aslyn. The show includes songs from the ZBB’s platinum album The Foundation, their favorite covers, and new unreleased material. It was shot in HD and directed by Darren Doane (who also shot the band’s videos for “Toes” and “Highway 20 Ride”).

The Pass the Jar 2-CD companion will include audio from the DVD as well as six other tracks.

Fans who pre-order Pass the Jar will get access to pre-sale tickets for ZBB’s homecoming show at Atlanta’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 8.

Pass The Jar – Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta DVD/2 CD Tracklist:

DVD
1.    Intro
2.    Whatever It Is
3.    It’s Not OK
4.    Jolene
5.    Who Knows
6.    The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
7.    Sic ‘Em On A Chicken
8.    Junkyard (feat. Angie Aparo)
9.    The Devil Went Down To Georgia
10.  Trying to Drive (feat. Aslyn)
11.  Alabama Jubilee (feat. Barry Waldrep)
12.  Can’t You See (feat. Kid Rock)
13.  Highway 20 Ride
14.  Colder Weather (feat. Little Big Town)
15.  Free / Into the Mystic (feat. Joey + Rory)
16.  Toes
17.  America The Beautiful
18.  Chicken Fried
19.  We’re Gonna Make This Day

CD 1
1.   Whatever It Is
2.   Let It Go
3.   It’s Not OK
4.   Jolene
5.   Who Knows
6.   The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
7.   Sic ‘Em On A Chicken
8.   Where The Boat Leaves From
9.   Trying to Drive (feat. Aslyn)
10. Alabama Jubilee (feat. Barry Waldrep)
11. Blackbird (feat. Matt Mangano)
12. The Devil Went Down to Georgia

CD 2
1.   Can’t You See (feat. Kid Rock)
2.   Highway 20 Ride
3.   Whiskey’s Gone
4.   Colder Weather (feat. Little Big Town)
5.   Free / Into the Mystic (feat. Joey + Rory)
6.   America The Beautiful
7.   Chicken Fried
8.   I Shall Be Released
9.   Bar  (feat. Sonia Leigh and guests)
10. Toes (feat. Shawn Mullins)
11. We’re Gonna Make This Day