ICM Awards Mix Mainstream And Inspirational

/by

Ricky Skaggs is a performer and 4-time nominee at the upcoming ICM Awards.

The Inspirational Country Music Awards Show (ICM Awards) will take place Thursday, Oct. 14, with mainstream and inspirational stars  performing and competing for top honors. On the line-up are Ricky Skaggs, Love And Theft, Joey + Rory, The Roys, Nathan Stanley, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Katrina Elam, Steve Richard, Andy Griggs, Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling, Branded, The Springs, Tommy Brandt, Emma Jacob, Mary James, Russ Murphy and 2009 ICM Entertainer of the Year CrossCountry The Band.

Among the presenters are Leigh Anne Tuohy (of The Blind Side fame), David Nixon, Chuck Day, Rhonda Towns and Laura Dodd. Storme Warren, host of Great American Country’s Headline Country and Sirius XM’s The Highway, will co-host the award show along with Megan Alexander, Inside Edition correspondent.

Tickets for the October 14 show at the Trinity Music City USA Auditorium in Hendersonville, Tenn. are $45.00, with group rates available. Some proceeds will go to Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity. For tickets, more information and show highlights, please visit www.icm-awards.com or call 888-968-9993.

Select final nominees:

Entertainer of the Year*: Andrew Heller; Barry McGee; Jason Crabb; Point of Grace; Steve Richard; Tommy Brandt
Male Vocalist: Greg McDougal; Jason Crabb; Philip Dain Powell; Russ Murphy; Tommy Brandt
Female Vocalist: Amanda Fessant; Emma Jacob; Kathy Joy Bell; Mary James; Sandra Dee
Vocal Duo: Austins Bridge; Branded; Jeff & Sheri Easter; Joey & Rory; The Roys
Vocal Group*: Corey Brooks Band; CrossCountry The Band; Katalyst; Last Light Band; Point of Grace; The Springs
Mainstream Country Artist: Carrie Underwood; Craig Morgan; Josh Turner; Jeff Bates; Ricky Skaggs
Mainstream Inspirational Country Song:
Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice
That’s God – Jo Dee Messina
Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood
The Man I Want To Be – Chris Young
This Ain’t Nothing – Craig Morgan
Video:
All I Ask For Anymore -Trace Adkins, Capitol Nashville, Director: Deaton-Flanigen
Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood, Arista Nashville, Director: Deaton-Flanigen
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert, Columbia Nashville, Director: Trey Fanjoy
The Man I Want To Be – Chris Young, RCA Nashville, Director: David McClister
This Ain’t Nothing – Craig Morgan, BNA Nashville, Director: Steven L. Weaver
Musician: Dennis Agajanian; Gordon Mote; Greg McDougal; Ricky Skaggs; Tim Atwood

*denotes tie

See the complete list.

Opry Celebrates 85 Years

/by

Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton helped the Opry celebrate its 85th birthday.

Some of country music’s biggest stars and more than 8,800 fans packed the Grand Ole Opry House Saturday night (10/9) to celebrate the Opry’s 85th Birthday. Among the many artists marking the occasion were Trace Adkins, Roy Clark, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. A giant cake was brought onstage for the event, which occurred days after the Opry returned home to the Opry House following the devastating May floods.

Fun continues this month at the Grand Ole Opry, when the “Opry Goes Pink” on Friday, Oct. 15. Together with Women Rock For The Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Opry will join in the fight against breast cancer by turning its signature barn backdrop pink for the show. The Judds will do the honors of flipping the switch to “go pink.” Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley and FOX News anchor Greta Van Susteren will be guest announcers.  In addition to The Judds, the show will include performances by John Anderson, Joey + Rory, Marty Stuart, and others as well as special activities recognizing breast cancer survivors and the continuing fight against the disease.

Mention the code OPRYPINK when ordering tickets via telephone (800-SEE-OPRY) or when purchasing tickets online (opry.com), and $5 from the sale of those tickets will be donated to Women Rock For The Cure and the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Special VIP Pink Packages are available at opry.com and include a meet and greet with The Judds.

Music Community Lights The Night; Garth Brooks Helps Habitat

/by

Members of Nashville’s music community stepped out in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night fundraiser last week. Walkers carried lighted balloons at the event which kicked off at LP Field, looped around the Cumberland River and ended with a firework celebration outside the stadium.

UMPG Nashville walked in memory of songwriter Joshua Ragsdale, who lost his valiant fight with cancer this summer. UMPG Nashville’s team raised nearly $9,000; donations were led by Cyndi Forman who raised a whopping $3,650 on her own.

Warner Music Nashville and Word Entertainment also teamed up to walk. The team has ties to the cause through Warner/Reprise Recording artist Blake Shelton, who raised over $31,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at his annual fan club party earlier this year.

Pictured (front row l-r): Kent Earls, Bonnie Baker, Jennifer Carrington, Cyndi Forman, Gerilynn Pearce, Dave Pacula and Pat Higdon. (back l-r): Darcy Ferris, Kamari Jackson, Ray Jackson, Tammy Helm and Jan Simenson.

Warner Music Nashville and Word Entertainment Staff at the Light the Night Walk. (front l-r): Rebekah Sterk and Tree Paine. (back l-r): Sarah Lai, April Johnson, Amy Pelphrey, Jill Tomalty, Paula Eden and Danielle Taylor

•••••••

Garth Brooks working with Habitat For Humanity over the weekend.

Garth Brooks and hundreds of volunteers built and repaired houses in Birmingham over the weekend as part of the 27th annual Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

An avid supporter of Habitat, Brooks worked in the Wylam Oaks subdivision of Birmingham. He also performed for Habitat supporters on Thursday evening. Birmingham volunteers are building 10 new homes and rehabbing an additional 18.

Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, have previously volunteered with Habitat in the Gulf Coast and in Los Angeles.

Throughout the week, volunteers helped to build, rehabilitate or repair a total of 86 homes throughout the U.S. as part of the Carter Work Project.

Artist Shoots Cell Phone Video

/by

Lauren Rainey

Artists are always looking for ways to do more with less and often rely on technology to help accomplish that goal. However, when thinking Bee Productions was challenged by artist Lauren Rainey to shoot a video for her song “Crazy In Love,” using only an HTC 4G EVO cell and natural lighting, it seemed like the expectations were really too high.

“I absolutely love the song,” says Thinking Bee’s Bill Filipiak. “That alone had me in. To be able to play with new technology as well, spoke directly to the very reason we started Thinking Bee. Shooting a music video with nothing but a cell phone and a hot August sun proved challenging, but demonstrated how quickly technology is changing the way artists can promote themselves in today’s market place. Good music is good music true, but sometimes you need a creative spark that peaks an audience’s interest, especially for an indie trying to break out. Thanks to the advancement of personal video options such as Sprint’s Evo, artists now have so many more options for creating video and in turn more ways of getting their music out there with nothing more than a vision and a hand full of friends who want to help.”

According to Thinking Bee, “Crazy In Love” is the first country music video to be shot in this format and was captured in one afternoon.

“Producing a video with no crew, lighting, or soundstage was very compelling,” says Thinking Bee SVP Jo Hunt. “But we also knew going in that the camera loves Lauren and it’s a great song so we were confident it was possible with those elements as our baseline.”

Lauren Rainey came to Nashville via North Carolina in 2005, landed her own show on CMT’s broadband network “Loaded” and was a segment reporter for “CMT Insider.” Most recently she has been traveling with “Rascal Flatts” during their 2010 “Nothing Like This Tour” as the host of the show.

People Releases Nov. Country Special

/by

People’s Nov. Country Music Special reaches newsstands nationwide today (10/8) with a cover price of $3.99. Newlywed Carrie Underwood does the cover girl honors for this issue which contains an article about her new marriage to hockey player Mike Fisher, which the article calls, “a perfect fit.”

Also highlighted in this sixth and final country special of 2010 are trio Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Jimmy Wayne, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and more. The issue also contains a link to download free iTunes music from artists such as Jerrod Niemann, Josh Kelley, Joey & Rory, Katie Armiger, Chelsea Field and others. To get the music click here.

ReTune Nashville Benefit Lineup

/by

The first group of performers for the ReTune Nashville Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event have been announced. Warner Bros. Jeremy Lister, Anthony Smith, Eddy Raven and Kentucky Thunder, Jonell Mosser, Etta Britt, Sheila Lawrence and Vickie Carrico will perform at the Oct. 23 event at Nashville’s Soundcheck.

The event will help raise money for Nashville’s uninsured musicians affected by the May floods and will include an art opening showcasing more than 70 pieces of artwork created from flood damaged instruments, a full evening of live music, a live and silent auction, and complimentary beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets for the Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event are on sale now and can be purchased for $35 by visiting ReTune Nashville’s website, retunenashville.org.

Proceeds from ticket, merchandise and artwork sales will directly benefit Nashville’s uninsured musicians through MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund.

Wilson Partners With Dollar General

/by

Gretchen Wilson has partnered with Dollar General for their “Country Million” sweepstakes, where more than 5,500 prizes will be awarded. The sweepstakes, which kicked off Oct. 3, will run through Dec. 15, 2010.

The grand prize consists of a trip to Nashville  as well as $1 million in cash. Prizes such as Wilson’s CD and Dollar General gift cards will also be awarded.

This is not the first time Gretchen has partnered with Dollar General. A high school drop out, Gretchen earned her GED in 2008. She has since teamed up with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and the Ad Council to promote a PSA targeted towards other high school drop outs who are interested in information on how they can earn their GED.

Presently Gretchen is on a nationwide tour promoting her current CD, I Got Your Country Right Here.

To  enter the “Country Million” sweepstakes, visit http://www.dollargeneral.com.

Jackson Plans Aussie Tour

/by

Tickets for Alan Jackson’s first Australian tour sold out just hours after being posted online Friday morning, October 8. The tour originally spanned four dates—Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane (2)—but after an overwhelming show of support, a third Brisbane show has been scheduled for March 12th. Those tickets are set to go on sale October 14th. Jackson’s tour is the fastest selling country show or tour in Australian country music history.

“We’re looking at what may be the fastest selling country show or tour in Australian country music history,” said Rob Potts, CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and co-promoter of the tour. “The excitement level for Alan Jackson’s first tour in our country just can’t be measured. The fans can’t believe he’s really coming – and ticket sales have proven just how excited they are.”

As a successful, respected songwriter/performer, Alan Jackson is a 16-time CMA, a 16-time ACM, and a Grammy award winner.  He has sold more than 50 million albums and has 34 #1 hit singles. Jackson will release 34 Number-Ones on November 22 of this year.  The double disc collection will feature 37 songs consisting of his 34 hit singles, two rare additional tracks and his collaboration with the Zac Brown Band “As She’s Walking Away.”

New Releases: Steve Wariner and Burns & Poe

/by

Steve Wariner’s Guitar Christmas album will be released Oct. 12 on iTunes, Amazon.com and in stores. Originally released in 2003, the instrumental collection of Christmas standards arranged, recorded, and produced by Wariner was previously available only through his website.

“I absolutely loved recording this album,” Wariner says. “The initial idea came about as I was thinking of the wonderful gatherings that Chet Atkins would host in his office around the holidays. Everyone would sing and play and remember those beautiful melodies from our childhood.”

••••

Blue Steel Records’ duo Burns & Poe will release a double disc collection on Nov. 16. Their self-titled debut includes radio singles “How Long Is Long Enough?” and “Don’t Get No Better Than That” and was produced by Mark Oliverius.

Burns & Poe have been on the road performing at shows from coast to coast. They signed with Blue Steel Records late last year. Since Keith Burns and Michelle Poe came together in 2006, they’ve secured a variety of sponsors including Taylor Guitars, Peavey Guitars, Dan Post Boots, Silpada Designs and Crow’s Nest Trading Company.

Tech Bytes: Nashville Gets 4G; Apple Cloud Shopping?

/by

Nashville is on the list of 38 metro areas that will be part of Verizon’s initial launch of its new 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. “The launch of our 4G LTE network in Nashville, TN is the start of a new era in wireless communications with faster connections and endless possibilities for both consumers and businesses,” says Jerry Fountain, regional Verizon President for the Carolinas and Tennessee. “Choosing Nashville as one of the first markets to launch LTE in the United States is further proof of our commitment to and investment in the Nashville community.” The deployment of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE in Nashville provides LTE coverage to metro Nashville and the surrounding cities of Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Franklin, Dickson, Kingston Springs, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Spring Hill, Columbia, Tullahoma, Shelbyville and Manchester.

• • •

Reuters reports that once again rumors are surfacing that Apple is in discussion with record labels to provide a subscription-based music service that would allow unlimited access to music for a monthly fee. The New York Post reports that Apple iTunes boss Eddy Cue has been in recent talks with the labels.

Prices in the $10-$15/mo. range are being talked about. Actual prices might also depend upon how much music was included and for how long consumers might access the content. Apple has not commented.