Brad Paisley to Publish “Diary”

Country superstar Brad Paisley will publish his first book, The Diary of a Player, in May 2011 through Howard Books/Simon and Schuster. The Diary of a Player is the personal story of how Paisley became who he is today, and is a salute to the guitar gods of country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

Paisley explained the essence of the book in the liner notes for his album Play. “No matter how I have changed, learned and evolved as a person, the guitar has been a major part of it, and really the only constant,” Paisley wrote. “You can get through some real tough moments with that guitar on your knee. When life gets intense, there are people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, watch TV, pray, cry, sleep, and so on. I play.”

The book will be co-written with David Wild, an Emmy-nominated writer and producer and contributing editor to Rolling Stone.

Paisley will release his new album, Hits Alive, on November 2nd. Hits Alive will include original studio tracks and live performances from his H2O Tour. On November 10th, Paisley will co-host the CMA Awards, for which he is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Video.

Warner Chappell Celebrates “…Like Crazy,” Signs Waterman

Warner Chappell Music recently signed a world-wide songwriter/co-publishing agreement with Doug Waterman. The publisher also celebrated a 56-week, record breaking run for the Lee Brice recording of “Love Like Crazy,” co-written by Tim James.

(L-R) Steve Markland (VP of A&R), Alicia Pruitt (Sr. Director A&R), Doug Waterman, BJ Hill (Sr. Director A&R) and Phil May (VP & General Manager)

(L-R) Alicia Pruitt, Tara James, Neena Wright, Tim James, Patricia Mainello, BJ Hill, Matt Michiels, Maureen McMullan, Phil May, Steve Markland and Adrian Crosby

Taylor Swift’s Bicoastal Attack for New Album Launch

Four-time GRAMMY Award winner Taylor Swift has planned a series of events to celebrate the release of her highly-anticipated third studio album, Speak Now, which arrives in stores on October 25th.

On October 25th, Taylor will perform at the United Nations in New York City for a group of winners from contests held worldwide. This private performance will be streamed on various MTV, CMT and VH1 websites across Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. The following day, Taylor will perform at Rockefeller Plaza on the Today show’s fall concert series. That evening, she will do an interview and performance on The Late Show With David Letterman.

Taylor will do an interview and performance on Live! With Regis and Kelly on October 27th, and will visit Madame Tussauds in New York City later that day for the unveiling of her original wax figure.

On October 28th, The Ellen DeGeneres Show will devote the entire hour-long show for Taylor’s official album release party, to air on television on Monday, November 1st. The following day, Taylor will perform on Dancing With the Stars, airing on November 2nd on ABC.

Speak Now is available for pre-sale at www.SpeakNow13.com.

Weekly Chart Report (10/15/10)

Tony & Kris’ "Star A Day" promotion continued this week when Carrie Underwood stopped by to chat with the guys about marriage and her thoughts on reality shows like American Idol. (L-R): Tony, Carrie and Kris.

SPIN ZONE
It’s a tough chart week for record promoters, because there isn’t much moving at the moment. Darius Rucker’s “Come Back Song” holds strong at No. 1, but Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue” and Taylor Swift’s “Mine” are both beginning to encroach on it. Positions 1-6 remain unchanged from the previous chart, with Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, and Trace Adkins all getting a slight bump as George Strait drops back to No. 10. The lone new entry into the Top 20 comes from Sunny Sweeney, whose “From A Table Away” moves to No. 19.

Despite the generally slow movement, a handful of singles seem to be gliding through with relative ease. Tim McGraw’s “Felt Good On My Lips” and Toby Keith’s “Bullets In The Gun” are making quick work of the chart after only four weeks at No. 23 and No. 26, respectively. Just behind and threatening to overtake them is Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World,” which packs on the week’s biggest spin increase of 322 and moves to No. 29.

Sara Evans makes a welcome return to the CountryBreakout Chart with “A Little Bit Stronger,” earning the week’s highest debut at at No. 71. Also making first appearances are Little Big Town’s latest “Kiss Goodbye” at No. 72, Bellamy Brothers’ “Back In The Day” at No. 73, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “The Way I Feel” at No. 79, and Jewel’s “Ten” at No. 80.

Frozen Playlists: KCJC, KVOM, KWEY, WAAG, WCMS, WKBQ, WQSI, WWYN

LIFENOTES
MusicRow offers its condolences to family and friends of Sony Nashville VP Promotion Skip Bishop, after the passing of his mother Grace Kappes Bishop on Monday (10/11). Funeral services were held yesterday (10/14) at the Wetumpka Depot Theater in Wetumpka, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

The Wetumpka Depot Players
300 South Main Street
Wetumpka, Alabama  36092

or

First Presbyterian Church of Wetumpka
100 West Bridge Street
Wetumpka, Alabama  36092

STATION UPDATE
Riverbend’s KTHK/Idaho Falls has moved its offices. The new address is 400 W. Sunnyside, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. The business phone number is still 208-785-1400.

Upcoming Singles
October 18
Little Big Town/Kiss Goodbye/Capitol
Mark Cooke/Can’t Cheat In A Small Town/Cotton Valley
Christian Kane/The House Rules/Bigger Picture
Christine VanHoy/What I Live For/Big 7

October 25
Todd O’Neill/Cry No Mississippi/Aria
Lee Brice/Beautiful Every Time/Curb
Matt Gary/I’m Just Sayin’/17/Quarterback
Josh Turner/I Wouldn’t Be A Man/MCA

•  •  •  •  •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Sara Evans/A Little Bit Stronger/RCA — 71
Little Big Town/Kiss Goodbye/Capitol — 72
Bellamy Brothers/Back In The Day/Bellamy Brothers Records — 73
Mary Chapin Carpenter/The Way I Feel/Rounder — 79
Jewel/Ten/Valory — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Lady Antebellum/Hello World/Capitol — 322
Tim McGraw/Felt Good On My Lips/Curb — 297
Toby Keith/Bullets In The Gun/Show Dog – Universal — 251
Little Big Town/Kiss Goodbye/Capitol — 221
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury — 190

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Scott Lindsey/Get to her in a Hurry/Gray Trailer — 197
Lucy Angel/Only Woman Left/GForce — 194
Ken Domash/Ding Dang Darn It/Thunder Mountain/Spinville — 179
Chris Filer/John Deere, John 3:16/Lofton Creek — 178
Margaret Durante/Mississippi’s Cryin’/Emrose/Nine North — 176

Two Week Most Added*
Artist/song/label — New adds
Little Big Town/Kiss Goodbye/Capitol — 20
Brett Eldredge/Raymond/Atlantic/WMN — 13
Billy Currington/Let Me Down Easy/Mercury — 12
Jerrod Niemann/What Do You Want/Sea Gayle/Arista — 11
Randy Houser/A Man Like Me/Show Dog – Universal — 9
Bellamy Brothers/Back In The Day/Bellamy Brothers Records — 9

Brett Eldredge, whose debut single “Raymond” is climbing the charts, recently stopped at WMAD/Madison. (L-R): APD Steph Peters, WMAD's Tammy Lee, Eldredge, WMAD's John Flint, Warner Atlantic Reprise NE Regional Lindsay Walleman, WMPD Mike Ferris, and Warner Atlantic Reprise VP Promotion Chris Palmer.

Southern country rockers Badhorse wrapped up a three-week, 27-station radio promotional tour across eight states this week with a stop at KRRV/Alexandria, LA. (L-R) back: Robert E. and KRRV PD Hollywood Harrison. Front: Charlie Gilbert, Mike Deems, Adam Grant, Joel Bridges and Chris Mathis.

Opry Goes Pink for Women Rock for the Cure

The Opry goes pink on Friday, October 15th, in support of Women Rock for the Cure (WRFTC), a Nashville-based organization that is committed to fighting breast cancer by utilizing the passion, creativity and strength of the entertainment industry to find inspiring ways to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Nashville affiliate.

The Judds are on the Grand Ole Opry tonight, turning the Opry’s signature barn backdrop pink in support of the fight against breast cancer. In addition, fans can bid on items autographed by Wynonna and Naomi at the Opry Goes Pink Online Auction, available until October 31st at www.opry.com.

WRFTC works year-round to create awareness programs for men and women of all ages. Upcoming events include A Pink Night to Rock benefit show featuring Megan McCormick, Her & Kings Country and Coldwater Jane at the Nashville Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday, October 20th.

AMA Bases Nominees On New Media Chart

Nominees for this year’s American Music Awards were selected, for the first time, using BigChampagne’s Ultimate Chart. In previous years, the AMA assembled its nominees based upon the Billboard 100. BigChampagne describes its new Ultimate Chart as “an unprecedented aggregation of timely, relevant metrics and a product of our friends’ and partners’ hard work and well-deserved success. We analyze and integrate information about music everywhere — from Amazon and iTunes and YouTube and VEVO and Pandora and Clear Channel and Myspace and Facebook and Yahoo and AOL and many, many others. Our machines are very clever but our analysts are too. Real people grade the computers’ work to ensure accuracy.”

The chart is arranged by artists and by songs. A details tab offers a graph timeline to show momentum over various categories such as broadcast, sales, watching & listening and Fans, Friends & Followers.

Even with the new methodology and info resources, the nominees shouldn’t arrive as a shock. For a complete list of AMA nominees click here.

CMA Honors Triple Play Writers

(L-R) Steve Moore (CMA CEO), Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Victoria Shaw (songwriter and Chair of CMA's Community Outreach & Education Committee), Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, and Gary Overton (CMA Board President).

“This is an amazing accomplishment and we are very pleased to honor these talented songwriters, and songwriting artists, for their valued contribution to the format,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “They each have a rare talent that is a gift for all of us to enjoy.”

The CMA Triple Play Awards, which honor songwriters who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12 month period, were presented at the Second Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, which was held at the Pinnacle at Symphony Place in Nashville. Attendees included Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban in addition to hit tunesmiths from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as songwriter members of CMA, NSAI, and representatives of some of the most successful publishers in Music City.

“CMA represents every aspect of the Country Music industry and it’s important for us to regularly communicate and reach out to the songwriters with information about what CMA does on their behalf and why it’s important to be a member of the CMA,” said noted songwriter/producer Victoria Shaw who chairs the CMA Community Outreach and Education Committee.

Honorees accepting awards at the luncheon (alphabetical order)

Rhett Akins: “Gimmie That Girl,” “All About Tonight,” “All Over Me”

Casey Beathard: “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” “Don’t Blink,” “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”

Dierks Bentley: “Feel That Fire,” “Sideways,” “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes”

Zac Brown: “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is,” “Toes”

Kristian Bush: “All I Want To Do,” “Already Gone,” “It Happens

Dallas Davidson: “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “Rain is a Good Thing”

Tom Douglas: “I Run to You,” “Southern Voice,” “The House That Built Me”

Chris DuBois: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Then,” “Welcome to The Future”

Wyatt Durrette: “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is,” “Toes”

Ashley Gorley: “All-American Girl,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “Start a Band  2009”

Ashley Gorley: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Then,” “American Saturday Night”

Ben Hayslip: “I’ll Just Hold On,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “All About Tonight”

Alan Jackson: “Small Town Southern Man,” “Good Time,” “Country Boy”

Brett James: “It’s America,” “Out Last Night,” “Summer Nights”

Brett James: “Cowboy Casanova,” “The Truth,” “The Man I Want To Be”

Luke Laird: “Hillbilly Bone,” “Temporary Home,” “Undo It”

Hillary Lindsey: “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Just A Dream”

Kelley Lovelace: “Online,” “All-American Girl,” “I’m Still A Guy”

Jennifer Nettles: “Stay,” “All I Want To Do,” “Already Gone”

Brad Paisley: “Online,” “Letter to Me,” “I’m Still A Guy”

Brad Paisley: “Then,” “Welcome To The Future,” “American Saturday Night”

Bobby Pinson: “All I Want To Do,” “She Never Cried In Front Of Me,” “Already Gone”

Monty Powell: “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl,” “Til Summer Comes Around”

Darius Rucker: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Alright”

Stephony Smith: “How Was I To Know,” “It’s Your Love,” “Perfect Love”

Jeffrey Steele: “Love Is A Beautiful Thing,” “Everyday,” “Here”

Taylor Swift: “Should’ve Said No,” “Love Story,” “White Horse”

Carrie Underwood: “Cowboy Casanova,” “Temporary Home,” “Undo It”

Carrie Underwood: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” “Last Name”

Keith Urban: “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl,” “Til Summer Comes Around”

On Target with Keith Urban

GRAMMY Award-winning artist Keith Urban will release an exclusive deluxe version of his sixth studio album, Get Closer, at retail giant Target. This deluxe album will feature three new music tracks and four live recordings in addition to the eight original tracks and will be available at Target stores nationwide and Target.com beginning November 16th, 2010.

“It’s been an incredible experience to partner with Target,” said Urban. “I’m thrilled to offer my fans additional songs available only on Target’s exclusive deluxe version of Get Closer.”

The four live tracks were recorded during Urban’s “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour.” The title of the album, Get Closer, is Urban’s reflection on love, and how the answer to any situation in a relationship is not to run, but to always “get closer.” This sentiment is apparent in many of the songs on the album, and Urban hopes that his listeners can make a personal connection to the songs.

“We are thrilled to partner with Keith Urban – a 2010 CMA Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist nominee – on his latest album, and offer Target guests exclusive content they can’t get anywhere else,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president of merchandising at Target.

 Target has partnered with superstars such as Taylor Swift, The Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Prince and Pearl Jam, making an imprint within the entertainment and retail space by offering exclusive content for consumers at affordable prices. Target’s partnership with Urban exemplifies its commitment to provide a platform for artists to give their fans access to exclusive material.

Underwood Wows Nashville Audience

Carrie Underwood, reining ACM Entertainer of the Year, brought her Play On tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (10/13). For nearly two hours she seranaded the packed house with hits from past and present including her current single “Mama’s Song” from her CMA Album of the Year nominated CD, Play On.

To read a complete review of Underwood’s Play On tour from her April 6 show in Columbus, Ohio, click here. The photos on this page were taken last night in Nashville and show a few of the many costume changes featured throughout the show.

Photos: Jamey Walls

Live Tweets by Sarah Skates

Blake Shelton Makes First Stop on Headlining Tour

(L-R) Blake Shelton, Mark Niederhauser (WMN), Rob Beckham (William Morris Endeavor), Peter Strickland (WMN). Backstage at the famous Ogden Theatre

Blake Shelton’s first-ever headlining tour made the first stop at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado yesterday (10/13). The All About Tonight Tour will continue through October along the West Coast.

“To go out and know that the crowd is there for you – every night,” Shelton says, “that is one heck of a feeling. The best part, I get to see my fans in cities I haven’t performed in for a while.”

Already this year, Shelton has been nominated for four CMA Awards, received an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, and made another career-first with the announcement of his Greatest Hits album, LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton, available November 9.

All About Tonight Tour Dates:
Date                City, State
10/13/10          Denver, CO
10/15/10          Bakersfield, CA
10/16/10          Temecula, CA
10/17/10          Santa Rosa, CA
10/20/10          Los Angeles, CA
10/21/10          Phoenix, AZ