Reports Say Lyric Street Doors To Close

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Various—but unofficial— reports, are surfacing, saying that Lyric Street Records will shutter its doors. All Access was first to break the story.

Chief Lyric Street staffers include President Randy Goodman and Sr. VP A&R Doug Howard. It also includes promo staffers Kevin Herring, Dale Turner, John Ettinger and Chris Palmer. The label’s roster also includes Bucky Covington, Love and Theft, Sarah Buxton, Trent Tomlinson, but since it inception in 1997, Rascal Flatts has been the label’s one and only superstar success story.

UPDATE: Official press release confirms phased out closure, Flatts to remain in the Disney Music Group.

“Sunday Mornin’ Country” Celebrates Roy Clark

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Country Music Hall of Fame member Roy Clark will be honored with a musical tribute at the 31st Sunday Mornin’ Country Celebration at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theatre, Sunday, June 13, at 2:30 pm. Tickets for this country/gospel music celebration are $20, and available here.  The concert will reunite many of the original Hee Haw cast members.

For more than three decades, Sunday Mornin’ Country has brought together country artists and their gospel friends to share gospel songs. This year’s line up will include Hall of Famers Clark and Charlie McCoy, along with Gary Morris, Jason Crabb, Lynn Anderson, George Hamilton IV, Buddy Jewell, Guy Penrod, The Fox Brothers, Melanie Walker, Cowboy Joe & The Babcocks, Casey Rivers, The Nashville Edition, Beyond the Ashes, The “Country Chorale” and many more.

Artists who have performed on Sunday Mornin’ Country over the past three decades include Tammy Wynette, Grandpa Jones, Roy Acuff, Chris Young, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael English.

Chairman Joe Galante Announces Departure from Sony Music Nashville

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Joe Galante

Nashville, TN – Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville, today confirms the next step of his 39-year music business career by announcing his decision to leave the company. Galante will continue his role as chairman until a new Nashville label group leader is named. Subsequently, he will actively participate in a transition consultancy once his replacement takes the helm.

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music Entertainment, remarked, “I would like to thank Joe for his many years of invaluable service to our company. It has been a true pleasure to work with an executive of his exceptional caliber. Since our days together at BMG, I have admired Joe’s remarkable passion and dedication to his artists as well as his unique ability for developing superstar talent and inspiring those around him. He has made an indelible mark on both the country music business and our entire industry and continues to do so. While he will be greatly missed, we look forward to our collaboration in the coming months. I wish him much success in his future endeavors and know from experience that he will be successful in whatever he chooses for his next chapter.”

Joe Galante reflects, “As a 21-year-old kid from Queens starting out at RCA Records in New York, I never dreamed of the nearly 40-year journey that was before me. In 1974, a temporary Nashville assignment turned permanent, and it changed my life – I thank God for it every day.

“I have been inspired by so many exceptional artists and songwriters and feel privileged to be a part of their careers. I’ve worked with unique managers and executives who helped me learn more about this business and how to better my craft. My RCA, BMG and Sony family’s support and passion for our artists’ music helped us build the label group of the year for seven of the last eight years. I also would like to thank Rolf for always being there for me, for his unwavering support of our artists, and especially, for my vision. Everyone always felt his passion around the team and the artist, and they loved spending time with him. He truly is the heart of Sony Music.

“This is solely my decision and I’m excited to begin my journey down another road.” As a final note, Galante remarks, “Nashville is my home and will continue to be.”

While leading the country division to unparalleled successes on Music Row, Joe has helped launch the careers of such stars as Alabama, Carrie Underwood, Keith Whitley, Chris Young, The Judds, Martina McBride, K.T. Oslin, Kellie Pickler, Clint Black, Jake Owen, Lonestar and Sara Evans. He and his Nashville team have bolstered the careers of superstars Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry, among others; and, in addition, he has worked with icons including Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Ronnie Milsap.

Sony Music Nashville’s roster has consistently been among the most-nominated and most-awarded. In December, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert topped multiple critics’ 2009 all-genre “best” lists; Paisley’s American Saturday Night was chosen Time Magazine’s #1 album and Lambert’s Revolution received Entertainment Weekly’s top honor.

Sony Music Nashville includes its four country label operations – RCA, Columbia, BNA and Arista Nashville – and Provident Music Group, one of the world’s leading Christian music companies. Sony Music Nashville is a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

DISClaimer 4/14/10

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It’s a back-to-basics week.

In a surprising and refreshing listening session, we were served a heaping helping of honest country sounds. Alan Jackson, Miss Leslie, Easton Corbin and Laura Dodd all turned in excellent efforts with nary a pop note in the bunch.

The Zac Brown Band album continues to delight and amaze. It has yielded yet another perfectly performed radio tune. The sunny sonics of “Free” make it the Disc of the Day.

I know I’m a little late in getting around to the charming “Giddy On Up,” by Laura Bell Bundy. But that doesn’t make her any less deserving of a DisCovery Award. Her Achin’ and Shakin’ album dropped yesterday, and she’s performing on the ACM show on Sunday.

STEVE LEE/I Like Guns
Writer: Steve Lee; Producer: Bill Chambers; Publisher: Control, no performance rights listed; Revolver (track)
—What we have here is an album composed entirely of songs about guns (“Pistol in My Hand,” “Time to Get a Gun,” “The Shoot Out” and so on). Its title tune is a monotonous, two-chord outing whose poetic reach is completely summed up in its three-word and oft-repeated title.

THE NEW RELICS/Real Love
Writer: M. Arbogast/J. Swiger/B. Martin/J. Bidwell; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Blues Alley (www.thenewrelics.com)
—Bopping, romantic, buoyant and light-hearted.

EASTON CORBIN/Roll With It
Writer: Tony Lane/David Lee/Johnny Park; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Hornebuckle/Universal Careers/WB, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury (track)
—The follow-up to the overnight-success “A Little More Country Than That” is another winner. I like this guy’s effortlessly Southern vocal phrasing and unabashed delight in country simplicity. The song’s everyday language and hook-filled melody are both huge bonuses. I’m in.

STEVE PALMER BAND/Living On The Streets
Writer: Steve Palmer; Producer: Steve Palmer Band & David Huff; Publisher: Kaynat, ASCAP; Arythmia (www.stevepalmerband.com)
—Pretentious and way too wordy.

ALAN JACKSON/Hard Hat And A Hammer
Writer: Alan Jackson; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Tri-Angels/EMI April, ASCAP; Arista (track)
—Thank the Lord for this man. No one else in contemporary country music has sung so consistently and sympathetically about the working class. This catchy toe-tapper pushes all my country-music buttons.

MISHAVONNA/Country Thing
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Redrum (track)
—It might be titled a “country thing,” but there is absolutely nothing country about its rocking track.

LAURA BELL BUNDY/Giddy On Up
Writer: Laura Bell Bundy/Jeff Cohen/Mike Shimshack; Producer: Mike Shimshack; Publisher: EMI April/If I Had a Nickel/As You Wish/Bug/Arthouse Entertainment/Music of Stage Three/Shimshack Songs, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury (track)
—This highly personable Broadway baby’s CD is divided into “Achin’” and “Shakin’” sections of six tunes apiece. The latter section kicks off with this sprightly, feisty little dance ditty. Its pretty darn irresistible. Get up and shake that thing.

LAURA DODD/Songbird
Writer: Laura Dodd; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Laura Dodd, BMI; Laura Dodd (track) (www.lauradodd.com)
—The simple piano accompaniment puts the spotlight where it belongs, on her beautiful, assured vocal and the ballad’s lovely structure. A breath of fresh air.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Free
Writer: Zac Brown; Producer: Keith Stegall & Zac Brown; Publisher: Weimerhound, BMI; Atlantic (track)
—The fifth single from this group’s stunning debut album, The Foundation, is its most lushly melodic outing yet. The sound of summer love, complete with lilting harmonies and swirling strings, organ and guitars.

MISS LESLIE/Wrong Is What I Do Best
Writer: Leslie Anne Sloan; Producer: Tommy Dettamore, Leslie Sloan & Ricky Davis; Publisher: Zero Label, BMI; Zero Label (track) (www.missleslie.com)
—Hear that? Do you know what it is? They call it country music. The title tune to this Texas woman’s latest is a swinging triumph, soaked in fiddle and steel. She writes ‘em. She sings ‘em. She plays a mean fiddle. She co-produces. I remain an enormous fan.

ACM Awards Offer Online Preview

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The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions have developed a weeklong “online experience” in support of the upcoming 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The series will stream through the official ACM Awards widget on CBS.com/acma, ACMcountry.com and other partner sites. The widget can be downloaded here.

The streams will feature exclusive content all week including, ACM Awards Daily, ACM Awards LIVE! The Day Before and ACM Awards Orange Carpet Live featuring country artists Sarah Buxton, Danny Gokey, Jennette McCurdy and Emily West.

The live feed will also be available on the ACM Facebook Fan Page as well as on Facebook Fan Pages of participating country artists. Fans will be able to submit questions via the Facebook pages for artists to answer live as they walk down the Orange Carpet at the MGM Grand. The official social media ‘hashtag’ for this year’s show is: #ACMLIVE.

“Our digital programming is a great way for country music fans to go behind the scenes and participate in the exciting events leading up to the big show,” says Orly Adelson, President of dick clark productions.

Concord Music Group Acquires Rounder

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The Concord Music Group today (4/14) announced the acquisition of Massachusetts-based independent music label Rounder Records. Rounder, celebrating its 40th year as the world’s leading American roots music label, is a major force in a broad range of musical genres including bluegrass, Americana, singer-songwriter, Cajun & Zydeco and children’s music. Rounder‘s catalog and current artist roster includes Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Béla Fleck, Steve Martin, Madeleine Peyroux, Robert Plant, Willie Nelson and children’s artist Raffi, to name a few. The acquisition of Rounder and its collection of over 3,000 masters combined with Concord Music Group’s rich catalog of more than 10,000 master recordings strengthens Concord’s status as one of the world’s most significant independent record companies, with a leadership position in multiple genres.

Rounder’s creative and marketing functions will continue to be based in Boston and its owners and founders Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton Levy will remain active with the company in a creative and advisory capacity. The company’s senior management will also remain in place: John Virant will continue as the President of Rounder; Sheri Sands will stay on as General Manager. Operating synergies will be achieved by combining the sales, administrative and support functions of the two companies.

Founded in 1970 by Cambridge folkies Irwin, Nowlin, and Leighton Levy, Rounder has been at the center of nearly all of the American roots revivals that have reshaped the music world in the last 40 years. The self-titled 1975 record by J.D. Crowe and the New South (featuring future stars Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas) revitalized bluegrass and inspired such modern stars as Krauss, who is the most decorated female artist in the history of the Grammy Awards and has sold over eight million albums and DVDs. Her collaboration with former Led Zeppelin front-man Plant on the album Raising Sand was one of 2007’s major critical and sales success stories. The album was RIAA certified platinum in early 2008 and won five Grammy Awards. Rounder has also brought the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Mississippi John Hurt back to life. In addition, their work on anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection has been universally respected.

“The combination of Concord and Rounder makes so much sense on a creative, strategic and cultural level,” says Glen Barros, President and CEO of the Concord Music Group. “With the addition of Rounder, Concord is gaining a magnificent catalog of recordings, the opportunity to work with more of the world’s most amazing artists and a company filled with some great people. Plus, Rounder’s uncompromising commitment to authenticity and intense independent spirit is perfectly in line with everything that Concord is about.”

Norman Lear, Concord Music Group Chairman and co-owner added, “We couldn’t be more honored to join together with Rounder in our collective mission to deliver great, timeless music.”

“For us, it’s always been about the music,” says Rounder’s Leighton Levy. “We have long been aware of Concord’s commitment to great catalogue labels within a vibrant and contemporary independent context, and feel the Concord Records Group provides not only a great home for our music and artists, but also a stronger and more secure position going forward.”

ACM Events With Toby Keith, Josh Thompson and Emily West

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Toby Keith

Toby Keith’s performance of “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” on the upcoming ACM Awards (Sun., April 18) will be sold on iTunes to benefit ACM Lifting Lives. Keith will be joined by Dave Koz to perform the song he wrote in memory of Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player and accomplished jazz bassist who passed away unexpectedly from complications resulting from the cancer treatments that had seemingly cured him. Proceeds from the sales of the audio and video from the ACM show will go to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), the charity selected this year by ACM Lifting Lives.

Fans will be able to pre-order the performance on the iTunes Store today and download the content following the show.

Last year, ACM Lifting Lives raised $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project from downloads and direct donations as a result of Trace Adkins’ performance on the Academy of Country Music Awards.

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Josh Thompson

Columbia newcomer Josh Thompson will document his first trip to the ACM Awards in the “Road To The ACM Awards” webisode series, exclusively on CBS.com. While in Vegas, he will also be performing for the service men and women of Nellis Air Force Base during the USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives.

The “Road To The ACM Awards” series has previously featured Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Gloriana as newcomers.

Thompson’s current single and the title track off his debut album, “Way Out Here,” was just released to radio, and he is joining Brad Paisley’s H20 2010 World Tour this summer. He has also launched the first official Josh Thompson Fan Club, called “The Chrome Bullet Crew.”

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Emily West

Emily West is preparing for a whirlwind media week that includes a fashion feature in the May issue of PEOPLE Country, a performance at the ACM Freemont Street Experience, a hosting gig for both the ACM Daily Wrap Up Show and Live Orange Carpet Show, and an appearance on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice.

The Academy of Country Music Daily Wrap Up Show will air live daily at 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT from the Las Vegas MGM Grand Casino. West will co-host the Live Orange Carpet Show on April 18. Both shows can be viewed at www.cbs.com, www.gac.com, www.acmcountry.com, www.ustream.tv and Facebook.

Also, while in Las Vegas, West will perform at the Freemont Street Experience on Friday, April 16 at 7pm PT. For more information on West check out her “West Side Stories” webisode series at AOL’s The Boot or her website.

Videos and Pics: Lady A, Buddy Jewell, Better Angels, Baldrica

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Buddy Jewell was recently in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he was a guest of the city for the big Apple Blossom Invitational Horse Race. Pictured with Bo Derek and a Johnny Depp look-alike, following the "World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade" in Hot Springs.


Better Angels Music writers at Gary Hannan’s Beer For Breakfast at Tootsie’s. (L-R): Jay Brunswick, David Byrnes, Ashley White (Creative Asst.), Gary Hannan, Ward Davis, special guest Deanna Bryant and Creative Director Todd Wilkes.

Tom Baldrica, Sony Music Nashville Marketing VP and huge Batman fan, meets TV's Batman, Adam West.

ASCAP Reorganization Continues

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ascap we create music1There has been no official word, but MusicRow has heard that the realignment at ASCAP Nashville included a number of personnel changes today, most notably in the writer rep department. Thought to be exiting due to this re-organization are Herky Williams, John Briggs, Pat Rolfe, Dan Keen and Charlene Wilhite. Remaining on board are Ralph Murphy, Mike Sistad, and Jesse Willoughby.

On Feb. 22 ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento announced an expansion of the company’s Nashville operations to become a Regional Office serving all genres of music. Industry veteran Tim DuBois was appointed Vice President and Managing Executive of the operations. On April 6, LeAnn Phelan, most recently a Writer Producer/Manager with 19 Entertainment, was tapped as Senior Creative Director at ASCAP’s Nashville Regional Office. She reports to DuBois.

New Music From Jo Dee Messina, Marty Raybon

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Raybon celebrated the release with a party at The Rutledge. Photo: Alan Mayor

Marty Raybon, best known for a long string of hits with former band Shenandoah, has a new album that landed on shelves April 6. At His Best was released through Grand Vista Records.

JoAn Anderson Fox heads up Grand Vista Records and is working with Grassroots Promotion and Quarterback Records for radio promotion. Webster & Associates is handling publicity and marketing.

With Shenandoah, Raybon had 13 No. 1 singles, such as: “The Church on Cumberland Road” (1989), “Sunday in the South” (1989), “Two Dozen Roses” (1989), “Next to You, Next to Me” (1990) and “Butterfly Kisses” (1997).

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Jo Dee Messina will release her first new material in six years on April 27 as the first in a trilogy of EPs coming throughout the year.

The initial installment, Unmistakable: Love, is a nine-track release comprising seven new songs and two live acoustic cuts. It will be followed later this year by Unmistakable: Drive and Unmistakable: Inspiration. The three EPs (Curb Records) include new music that she co-wrote and co-produced. Fans can pre-order Love at http://www.jodeemessina.com.

Last Tuesday, April 6, Messina debuted her inspirational USTREAM series, Make Something Of It With Jo Dee Messina, via a live feed on her official web site. The series can be seen every Tuesday and Thursday during April and showcases uplifting and positive stories submitted by fans.

On the live front, Messina plans to be on the road through October.