Music Mastermind Intros Unique Online Recording Tool

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Independent music entertainment and technology company Music Mastermind has announced its SoundBetter cloud-based technology that, “let’s anyone create studio-quality music.”

SoundBetter provides a creative solution that lets users enhance their voices, transform their voices into instruments, create pro-sounding beats, add studio-quality backing tracks, and even generate and add adaptable licks to collaborate with friends and famous artists. The technology’s entertaining, game-like elements utilize simple visual cues to make the creative process fun and accessible to all. SoundBetter produces truly individualized music that can be shared and discovered across a broad array of social networks.

“We’re at the forefront of the next evolution of music entertainment, and it’s time to break down the barriers that prevent people from expressing themselves musically,” said Matt Serletic, CEO of Music Mastermind. “This company is all about fun and easy music creation for everyone. All people love music, and now absolutely anyone can produce great sounding songs to enjoy and share with the world.”

Serletic, a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and former Virgin Records Chairman and CEO, founded Music Mastermind in 2007 with his partner, Bo Bazylevsky, a veteran Wall Street bond trader, senior hedge fund portfolio manager, and former Global Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Trading at J.P. Morgan. The company successfully raised its first round of funding in February 2010 with nearly $5 million from angel investors, and is currently in the process of closing its second investment round. Serlectic also owns Emblem Music Group whose roster includes Gloriana, Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty.

Media Appearances; “Greater Together Nashville” Concert Tonight

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Trace Adkins appeared as a special guest on Fox & Friends this morning (11/18). The show was broadcast live from the newly refurbished Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center as part of the hotels reopening celebration.

Tonight, Adkins will co-headline the “Greater Together Nashville” fund raising concert with Craig Morgan. The concert, hosted by The Gaylord Entertainment Foundation, will benefit local nonprofit agencies Hands On Nashville, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Tickets are available only through those outlets and will serve as a direct contribution to that organization.

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Beladroit/Universal Republic’s The Secret Sisters will join Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra to perform on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman Friday (11/19) with a performance of their self-penned “Tennessee Me” from their current self-titled release.

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Capitol Records Nashville’s Little Big Town and Show Dog-Universal Music recording artist Randy Houser were recently featured on NBC’s Weekend TODAY in a special segment titled “Secrets of Songwriters.” Little Big Town joined co-anchor Amy Robach to discuss the journey of a song and describe the writing process behind their new album, The Reason Why. Later in the segment Robach joined Houser inside the “Man Cave” at his Nashville home where he often writes.

The Roys Sign With Rural Rhythm

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Brother-sister duo The Roys (Lee and Elaine) has signed with Rural Rhythm Records and plans to release a new album in 2011.

“We are thrilled. The Roys are a perfect fit for our Rural Rhythm family,” says label President, Sam Passamano, Jr. “Lee and Elaine have a true love and respect for Bluegrass music and its traditions, alongside a deep appreciation for traditional Country and a strong faith that will help Rural Rhythm to expand their musical boundaries. We can’t wait for Bluegrass lovers to experience The Roys and their band live.”

“Rural Rhythm has a great reputation and we are honored that they believe in our music and believe in who we are as artists,” says Lee Roy. “We are extremely blessed to be joining their roster,” adds Elaine. “We are looking forward to a long journey with them and creating great music in the future.”

The Roys join a roster that includes bluegrass favorites Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Bobby Osborne, Grasstowne, Michael Martin Murphey, Lou Reid, Rodney Dillard, Carrie Hassler, Blue Moon Rising, Audie Blaylock, Bill Emerson, Randy Kohrs and many more.

Hailing from Fitchburg, MA, The Roys have been named the Inspirational Country Music Duo of the Year for 2009 and 2010. They also made their television debut on the most recent Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Las Vegas.

Awards: Dollywood, Sierra Noble, Bonnie Garner and Amanda Baker

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Photo: Curtis Hilbun

Dollywood received the 2010 Applause Award at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 16. The award honors a park whose management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with its foresight, originality and sound business development. The award is presented every other year by Liseberg amusement park located in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Dolly Parton accepted the award for the park. “We are so honored to win this award. Our success over the last 25 years is because of the great team at Dollywood that I lovingly call my other family,” Parton said.

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Moraine Music Group’s writer/artist Sierra Noble was named International Winner in New York’s “SongCircle 5th Annual Songwriter’s Contest” with her breakthrough single, “Possibility.” The song was also featured this fall in CW hit series Life Unexpected and One Tree Hill. Noble will perform “Possibility” on Nov. 19 at City Winery in New York City at SongCircle’s Live Finals where the American Grand Prize Winner will be chosen. Chris Burke-Gaffney and Keith Macpherson are co-writers on “Possibility” which appears on Noble’s debut EP available on Itunes.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Fourth Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Presented by the Gibson Foundation honored long-time record company A&R executive Bonnie Garner Tuesday night (11/16) during a special interview in the Ford Theater.

(L-R): VP Museum Programs Jay Orr, CMHoF member Earl Scruggs, Garner and Museum Editor/Writer and host Michael McCall. Photo: Donn Jones

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Australian Singer/Songwriter Amanda Baker won top honors at the 2010 Show Me The Music songwriting contest for her song “The Fool.” As part of her prize Amanda is being flown to Nashville in the first week of December to record the winning song at Omni Studios with Steve Tveit and some of Nashville’s A-list musicians. Baker will be playing acoustic shows in Nashville and L.A.

Alan Jackson Releases 34 No. 1’s

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Alan Jackson is set to release a career-spanning double-disc collection, 34 Number Ones on November 22.

With 37 songs in all, the collection will include every #1 hit to date from his more than 50 million albums sold, plus three additional tracks featuring the recent collaboration with the Zac Brown Band, “As She’s Walking Away,” “Look at Me” from the 2008 soundtrack Billy [Graham]: The Early Years, and his current single and remake of the Johnny Cash classic, “Ring of Fire.”

Rascal Flatts Donates 100k to Salvation Army

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Photo credit Zach Henderson

Rascal Flatts appeared in New York City’s JCPenny store yesterday (11/17) to announce the JCPenney Online Angel Giving Tree Program, to host a toy drive, and to present a check $100,000 to the Salvation Army on behalf of JCPenney. The band also adopted their own online angels and encouraged everyone this holiday season to do the same at www.jcp.com/angel. The Angel Giving Tree Program provides clothing, gifts and other wish list items to kids and seniors throughout the U.S.

The first 100 fans who donated a new, unwrapped toy received an autographed copy of Rascal Flatts new CD Nothing Like This. For every CD sold at JCPenney stores throughout the country, $1 will be donated to the Salvation Army through March 15. The $100,000 donation from JCPenney to the Salvation Army will provide gifts for 1,000 children this holiday season.

Burns & Poe Preview New Album

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L to R: Kat Atwood (Music City Media), John Mullins (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Michelle Poe, Keith Burns, Shannan Tipton Hatch (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Steve Pope (Blue Steel Records)

Burns & Poe officially introduced the new music from their upcoming self-titled CD at the SESAC offices on Music Row yesterday evening (11/16) during a celebration with friends, family and industry execs.

Produced by Mark Oliverius, the 2-disc project contains 13 original songs penned by Keith Burns and Michelle Poe. A special autographed LP/CD package is exclusively available via the Burns & Poe web site, with the official release set to hit retailers in late February 2011.

Photos by: Bev Moser

L to R: Tim Fink (VP Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC), Keith Burns, Michelle Poe, John Mullins (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, SESAC)

Burns & Poe with MusicRow Country Breakout Chart Director Jon Freeman

ACM Lifting Lives Board Announced

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ACM Lifting Lives has announced its new board of directors. The board is made up of ACM board members, called representative directors, as well as leaders in non-profit and corporate affairs, called public directors. Four new public directors will serve until their term ends in 2013. They include Mark Bloom, Ellen Lehmen, Tree Paine and Jonathan Reinsdorf. Five new representative directors will serve until their term ends in 2012, including Mike Dungan, Rod Essig, Scott Francis, Greg Hill and Ken Robold.

The ACM Lifting Lives Executive Committee has added an Advisory Committee to the organization. “The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to create a team of liaisons between ACM Lifting Lives and the community, and to enhance our philanthropic activity,” said Erin Spahn, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “With our goals of continued national expansion and capital growth this year, this committee will be a great addition.”

The four inaugural members of the Advisory Committee are Walt Brown, Jr., Ricky Kelly, Kimberly Schlapman and Troy Vollhoffer.

The full lists of board of directors and the advisory committee are below. Also, visit www.acmcountry.com/liftinglives/ for more details.

ACM LIFTING LIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS

Chairman of the Board—Gayle Holcomb, WME

President—Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley

Vice President— Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips

Treasurer—Tiffany Moon, Academy of Country Music

Secretary—Erin Spahn, ACM Lifting Lives

PUBLIC DIRECTORS

Lori Badgett, Sun Trust Bank

Mark Bloom, UBS Financial Services, Inc

Bruce Bowman, KaBOOM!

Debbie Carroll, MusiCares

Ann Edelblute, 19 Entertainment

Ellen Lehmen, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Jack Lameier

Beth Moore

Tree Paine, Warner Bros. Records

Jonathan Reinsdorf, Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group

REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS

Mike Dungan, Capitol Records Nashville

Rod Essig, CAA

Scott Francis, Warner Chappell

Gary Gilbert, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips

Gary Haber, Haber Corporation

Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley

Greg Hill, Red Light Management

Gayle Holcomb, WME

Ken Robold, Universal Music Group

Dwight Wiles, Smith, Wiles & Co., PC

ACM LIFTING LIVES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2010-2011

Walt Brown, Jr., Diversified Partners, LLC

Ricky Kelly, Cool Springs Harley Davidson

Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town

Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Productions

Darius And Brad Celebrate “Unfriend Day”

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“National Unfriend Day starts tomorrow,” said Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night. “It’s gonna be bigger than Easter they say and all big holidays have holiday music to go with them.” Then the cameras joined Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley in Rochester N.Y. singing, “To All The Friends I’ve Un’ed Before.”

The lyric started, “To all the friends I’ve un’ed before….you made my life a hell with your stupid LOL…” It was all so funny until I got one minute 43 seconds into the video below, and shockingly heard Brad and Darius telling America they’d un’friended me. Talk about pain and suffering. As Brad sang my name with his innocent sounding voice I thought about the turtle on the fencepost that he talked about when he accepted the CMA Entertainer of the year Award last week. “I was helped up there by all the little people,” he said. Little people, that’s me alright, but now with my Facebook ambitions traumatized, I saw my Friends list evaporating right before my eyes.

Of course I’m totally kidding, and truthfully, I’m not even sure Brad is actually referring to me. But when we saw the video everyone at MusicRow started laughing so hard, we wanted to share it. Brad and Darius, we love you both, but to make amends please follow @MusicRow on twitter and Facebook.

Gordon Kerr To Run Black River, Jimmy Nichols To Focus On Production

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Jimmy Nichols

Producer Jimmy Nichols has left his post as Black River Music Group President/Director of A&R to return to full-time work as a producer. Nichols joined the company in 2007. He is also an active session player and has been Faith Hill’s Musical Director for five years.

Gordon Kerr, COO of Black River Entertainment, the parent company of BRMG, will handle the day-to-day operations.

Gordon Kerr

Kerr was named COO in early October to oversee Black River Entertainment and its subsidiaries which include the label, publishing company, Ronnie’s Place Studio and the newly acquired Sound Stage Studios. He divides his time between Nashville and Orchard Park, NY, and reports to Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of Black River’s parent company East Resources, Inc.

Black River is home to Sarah Darling, Due West and others.