Big Success For Best Cellars

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The 11th annual celebration of the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner on Monday night (426) was a great success, raising $416,000 net for innovative cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

The evening, with title sponsor Eco-Energy Inc., is one of the Foundation’s signature events that is known for pairing Best Sellers (country music’s top selling artists and other celebrities) with Best Cellars (Nashville’s top wine collectors) and a gourmet meal prepared by a world renown guest chef.

Martina McBride, Jamey Johnson, Blake Shelton, Jewel, Luke Bryan, Danny Gokey, Big Kenny Alphin, Kellie Pickler, Sarah Buxton, Mike Diamond, Whitney Duncan and Phil Vassar were in attendance to celebrate the Foundation’s annual soiree.  Guest chef Josiah Citrin, chef/owner of Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, and co-owner of Lemon Moon Café in West Los Angeles prepared the evening’s four-course meal. The multiple award-winning Citrin has been featured on various television food shows, and his restaurant and his recipes have been written up in numerous national food publications.

“After 11 years I really didn’t think it could get any better but last night was our best ever!!,” says Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville and Co-Chairman of the Best Cellars Dinner. “The evening’s food, wine and guests were incredible. We also set a record for the amount of money raised to help fund research at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.”

The major amount of income ($319,200) came from the audience, contributing to a special Clinical Impact Research Grant that was created in recognition of Best Cellars founder Billy Ray Hearn and Co-Chairmen Joe Galante, Bill Hearn and Tom Black for their dedication to the Martell Foundation’s mission of supporting innovative cancer research.  The Clinical Impact Research Grant will be given to the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Another highlight of the evening was the live auction conducted by country music artist Big Kenny Alphin that included a trip to France, three trips to the southern California Wine country and the Best Cellars Wine Collection.

For more information about the Best Cellars Dinner and the T.J. Martell Foundation, log onto www.tjmartellfoundation.org.

Finch and Glassco Depart S1/Chrysalis

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Music Row has learned more details regarding last week’s acquisition of S1 Songs by Chrysalis Music Group.

Leaving S1 Songs will be Senior VP/GM Pat Finch and Donna Glassco, Director Administration.

Staying on at Chrysalis will be VP Creative, Abbe Nameche and Catalog Manager Amanda “Jersey” Ross. Both will report to Dale Bobo, Chrysalis Music’s newly appointed Executive Vice President.

Contact information for Finch and Glassco is listed below:

Pat Finch
 patncindyfinch@comcast.net

Donna Glassco
dglassco04@gmail.com.

Artist News: Chesnutt’s “Outlaw,” Keith’s USO Tour; Rio’s Run

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Mark Chesnutt To Release Outlaw
Mark Chesnutt is getting ready to pay tribute to some of his left-of-center friends on the Saguaro Records release, Outlaw. With a release date of June 22, Outlaw finds Chesnutt working with former Dwight Yoakam producer Pete Anderson and covering the songs of Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings (for whom his eldest son is named).

“When I was first approached to record this CD, my reaction wasn’t just ‘yes,’ but ‘hell, yeah,’” Chesnutt says. “I cut my teeth on this kind of music and it’s an opportunity for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”

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Toby Keith Heads Overseas
Show Dog-Universal Music artist Toby Keith is preparing to embark on a 14-day, 4-country USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to visit and entertain troops. Keith will sign autographs, pose for photos and perform for military families in Germany and Korea, and for troops serving on the
front lines. This is Keith’s eighth USO tour.

“My songs for the troops are a little more humorous,” Keith says. “I’ve got my own little group of songs like, ‘She didn’t say, No, she said ‘Hell no!’…things like that, I try to entertain the troops with a smile.”

Since his first USO tour in 2002, Keith has traveled to more than 10 countries. He has performed for more than 140,000 service men and women, many at small remote outposts.

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Diamond Rio Runs For $135K
Diamond Rio’s Team Rio completed the Country Music Marathon in Nashville this past weekend and raised Over $135,500 For Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee in the process.

With skies threatening a severe downpour, Diamond Rio’s Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander led 175 Sixth Annual Team Rio runners and walkers across the finish line at the Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. This year the team raised over $135,500.00, surpassing the $500,00.00 fundraising mark in just six years.

Click here for more information on Team Rio. www.teamrio.org.

DISClaimer (reviews) 4/28/10

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Did somebody suddenly crank up the quality on Music Row?

I can’t remember the last time that so many singles vied for the top slot in one week. And in such a dazzling diversity of styles. There’s Jack Ingram’s sneering “Barbie Doll,” The Warren Brothers inspirational “Dear Mr. God,” Dierks Bentley’s minor-key mountaineer “Up on the Ridge,” Chelsea Field’s rocking “Things I Should’ve Said,” John Arthur Martinez’s haunting “Can’t Outdrink the Truth” and Marty Raybon’s sexy “The Heat Is On.” Any one of them is good enough to be a Disc of the Day.

In the end, I had to go with the gutsiest platter maker. That would be Dierks Bentley stepping out of his comfort zone with his boldly creative venture. Besides, he’s on the Jack Ingram single, too.

Weep not for Chelsea Field. She edges out fellow newcomers Frankie Ballard and Woody Bradshaw and wins this column’s DisCovery Award.

CHRIS HEERS/Happy Thought
Writer: Chris Heers; Producer: Pat McGrath & Chris Heers; Publisher: Saddlefarm, ASCAP; Saddlefarm (www.chrisheers.com)
—Chris goes two for two. I loved his “Dirt Rich” single, and this one is even catchier. Over an acoustic track and a steady tempo, he lends his sturdy, soulful voice to a lyric about facing hard times by gazing at the family who loves him. Very tender and winning.

FRANKIE BALLARD/Tell Me You Get Lonely
Writer: Marty Dodson/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Back to Back/Songs That Sell/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher, BMI; Reprise
—I like the little rasp in his voice and the oomphy, chunky production. Promising, to say the least.

SHAWN JENNINGS/My Desire
Writer: Shawn Jennings; Producer: Shawn Jennings & Steve Carr; Publisher: none listed, BMI; SRB (www.southernrootsband.com)
—Thin sounding. The track is little more than a steel guitar and a rhythm section. The vocal lacks passion. The melody is dull.

DIERKS BENTLEY/Up On The Ridge
Writer: Angelo/Dierks Bentley; Producer: Jon Randall Stewart; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The title tune to Mr. Bentley’s upcoming acoustic project is a moody, bluesy outing with loads of sonic atmosphere. The minor-key melody is enlivened by a jittery tempo, jazzy-captivating mandolin and ghostly backup vocals. A sound to get lost in.

CHELSEA FIELD/Things I Should’ve Said
Writer: Kelly Archer/Blair Daly/Troy Verges; Producer: Trey Bruce; Publisher: Ole, no performance rights listed; Moxy (www.chelseafieldofficial.com)
—She definitely has the vocal firepower to pull off this searing, sizzling rocker. Go, baby. You are coming in loud and clear.

THE WARREN BROTHERS/Dear Mr. God
Writer: Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Style Sonic, no performance rights listed; Bonded (track)
—Drawn from the soundtrack of Letters to God, this moving meditation perfectly captures the touching texture of the film, itself. Nicely done, boys.

WOODY BRADSHAW/The Last Thing You Do
Writer: none listed; Producer: Jeff Nystrom; Publisher: none listed; W (track) (www.woodybradshaw.com)
—“Would you be okay with the way they remember you/If the last thing you did was the last thing you do?” In other words, tell her you love her every day. Alrighty, then.

MARTY RAYBON/The Heat Is On
Writer: Marty Raybon/John Fountain/Tommy Wright; Producer: Maarty Raybon & Paul Carrol Binkley; Publisher: none listed; GrandVista (www.martyraybon.com)
—He’s working in the scorching sun, but daydreaming about an even hotter time he’ll have when he gets home. The track is appropriately steaming and sexy, and it goes without saying that his performance is perfect.

JOHN ARTHUR MARTINEZ/Can’t Outdrink The Truth
Writer: Walt Wilkins/Liz Rose; Producer: Lew Curatolo; Publisher: none listed; Apache Ranch (track) (www.apacheranchrecords.com)
—What a cool song. The deep percussion thump and swirling steel underscore a downbeat lyric of lost love. The smoky vocal has a hushed, haunted vibe that really draws you in. Radio ready.

JACK INGRAM & DIERKS BENTLEY/Barbie Doll
Writer: Jack Ingram/Todd Snider; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: Beat Up Ford/Bug/Nobody’s Collecting on These Songs, BMI; Big Machine (track)
—I am amazed that this hasn’t been a single before now. It has been a big fan favorite at Jack’s concerts for years. With its snarky, hooky chorus it practically commands you to sing along. And do they ever. Can you say, “hit?” I thought you could.

New Label, New Single For Adkins

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Trace Adkins is getting ready to release his debut single for his new label, Show Dog-Universal Music. “This Ain’t No Love Song,” written by Tony Lane , Marcel and David Lee, will be released on Monday, May 17.

“We are so pumped to have Trace join our roster, and equally as excited that he has given us such a fantastic album,” says Mark Wright, President, Show Dog-Universal Music. “The first single is a great example of how Trace can take a lyric and put the listener right in the middle of the story line. This is a perfect match of a brilliant communicator delivering an incredible piece of music.”

“Toby has said this new music has a smile on it and maybe that’s just a reflection of where I’m at right now,” says Adkins. “I have this new sense of invigoration and making this record was a lot of fun.”

Adkins will debut the new single at the 59th Annual Miss USA Pageant that airs live on NBC, Sunday, May 16 at 6:00 CT from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Adkins’ new album, Cowboy’s Back in Town hits stores nationwide August 24.

For more information, visit www.traceadkins.com.

Joe Nichols Partners With Roper

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Roper Apparel and Footwear have announced that Show Dog-Universal Music artist Joe Nichols will become the face of the brand, which, among other things, includes an extensive advertising and marketing campaign.

The advertising campaign will kick off in May with a series of magazine ads, leading up to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Additionally the artist will be featured on Point-of-Purchase marketing materials in 1,100 retail stores nationwide.

“Joe embodies the traits of tradition, hard work and family; three things we feel define the Roper brand,” says Roper Marketing Director Kerry Vastine. “We hope that this is just the beginning of a long and lasting relationship between Joe and Roper.”

“I am very excited about my relationship with Roper and like the fact that this partnership developed naturally,” Nichols says. “There are quite a few similarities in our attitudes toward our respective businesses, and I appreciate that. This partnership feels good, and I am happy to be a part of it.”

In addition, Nichols will also participate in a number of autograph signings and in-store appearances at Roper Retailers, beginning with the Roper booth at CMA Music Festival. The company also plans to offer several contest opportunities throughout the year.

Jewel Release Date, Benefit At Bluebird

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Jewel welcomed radio guests to the Valory suite at the MGM in Las Vegas recently to preview her new album "Sweet And Wild" during a Sunday morning brunch. Pictured above is Jewel with members of her Valory team (L-R): John Zarling, George Briner, Jon Loba and Chris Loss.

Jewel’s second release on Valory Music Co., Sweet And Wild, will be in stores June 8. She is taking a unique approach with the project, offering fans two different versions of the songs on the album—the full studio version, and the alternate acoustic track which showcases the songs in their original state. The acoustic set will be called Sweet And Mild.

“These are the tracks I cut at my home studio by myself,” she explains. “And these are the tracks I took to Nashville that Nathan [Chapman] and I created the album around. Here they exist in their most pure state, as they were written. They are blank canvases that can still go any which way…Sometimes we really changed the song when we dressed them up, [while] others stayed very similar to what was already there.”

Jewel will perform acoustic concerts tomorrow night (4/28) at The Bluebird Café, with shows at 6 PM and 9 PM to benefit her non-profit organization Project Clean Water. There are three tiers of seating/ticket pricing: $50, $100 and $250. The $250 tier includes a meet and greet before the show. A portion of all ticket sales is tax deductible. www.bluebirdcafe.com.

Power To The Creators

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[Nashville Post by Mark Wheeler] To Tim Smith, confusion is costly — especially when it comes to copyright management in the entertainment sector.

Smith’s MyWerx, which was founded in late 2008, applies aspects of social networking and wiki platforms to allow content creators from the music, video and film worlds to manage the copyright information of their life’s work in real time. MyWerx’s patent-pending technology organizes works by date of creation, location, inspiration, percentage splits and more.

“There are a lot of things in the industry that don’t work for the benefit of the writers. Having an industry that is very transparent in its accounting behooves everyone,” he said.

Smith has enlisted a big-name list of Music Row veterans to help MyWerx grow. Among them are Tim DuBois, who in February was tapped to lead ASCAP’s Nashville office, as well as former echomusic chief Mark Montgomery and Barry Coburn of Ten Ten Music Group.

“Ownership information changes with new deals, splits, deaths, divorces, all on one song or item,” said Smith, who helped run Copyright Management Inc., one of the first copyright administration systems, for much of the 1980s and launched Copyright.net about a decade ago. “So the big problem is, the ownership information is constantly changing. If you had to have an organization full of data-entry clerks keeping up with that information, it would cost an arm and a leg. We leverage the power of community to do the data entry.”

Read the full story…

Wynonna, Taylor Swift, Colt Ford Partner With Big Brands

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Wynonna Judd is releasing a new album through Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® to support the Wounded Warrior Project. The Curb Records artist will release Love Heals, a collection of hit singles and three other previously unavailable tracks. The new CD is available for pre-order and will arrive in all Cracker Barrel locations on May 24th.

Cracker Barrel will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every Love Heals CD to the Wounded Warrior Project which assists wounded service men and women and their families.

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Sony Electronics has teamed up with Taylor Swift to promote its latest Cyber-shot® digital cameras in an integrated marketing campaign. The ads with Swift focus on the camera’s sleek style and iSweep Panorama feature that captures shots in an easy “press and sweep” motion.

Primetime advertising spots featuring Swift discovering that she can capture the breadth of her audience with the camera are airing on NBC, FOX and CW, accompanied by digital and print ads carried out through June.

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Average Joes Entertainment and Zaxby’s have partnered to offer Colt Ford fans the opportunity to get a free Zax Meal Deal when they purchase a copy of Ford’s latest album, Chicken And Biscuits.

The first 50,000 copies of the album shipped to retail included an offer of a free Zaxby’s Meal Deal upon joining the chicken establishment’s email club.

Katie Armiger In GAC Web Documentary

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Cameras followed rising country singer Katie Armiger for a year, capturing her journey. The result is d’tour to Nashville, a web documentary which is available now exclusively on GAC.com.

Produced by Julie Dove, the movie includes Armiger’s headlining national mall tour last summer, interviews with industry professionals, and lots of behind-the-scenes footage.

Armiger has partnered with GAC several times in recent years. In 2008 the network offered her six-week webseries Kapturing Katie, it also sponsored her mall tour, and paired with her on the 2009 promotion “Kapturing A Love Song with Katie Armiger.”

Armiger’s current single “Kiss Me Now,” from her forthcoming third album on Cold River Records, is in the Top 40 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart, making it her highest charting single to date.