ACM, Muzak To Host Music Camps

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ACM Lifting Lives™ and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities today announced plans for the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp. The Camp will have a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and providing music enrichment through performance and education. The camp will be located in Nashville, and will be open to individuals with developmental disabilities talented in music from around the nation.

With a $30,000 grant, ACM Lifting Lives is fully funding the first year of the camp, which was previously called the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Music Camp.

ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp will be a week-long residential camp offering participants opportunities in a songwriting and recording, culminating in a live performance at the Grand Ole Opry. There will also be visits from top country artists. Last year’s camp featured visits from LeAnn Rimes, Kix Brooks, Eddie Montgomery and more.

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The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation is partnering with Belmont University to bring its NOISE! Music Camp to the Belmont campus this summer from July 18-28. Students aged 15-17 throughout the U.S. with a passion for music who are interested in making a career within the music industry are encouraged to apply for the camp at www.heart.muzak.com. Applications must be returned by April 2, 2010.

Josh Turner And Team Toast No. 1

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BMI and ASCAP co-hosted a spirited celebration at Cabana on Tuesday, March 23 to honor the four-week #1 smash “Why Don’t We Just Dance.” Recorded by Josh Turner and co-written by Jim Beavers, Darrell Brown, and Jonathan Singleton, the song marks Turner’s third chart-topper and is the debut single off his February 2010 release, Haywire.

Pictured are (l-r): ASCAP’s Tim Dubois, co-writer Jonathan Singleton, Crosstown Songs’ Megan Galbraith and Darrell Franklin, MCA Nashville’s Van Haze, Kobalt Music Publishing’s Whitney Daane, MCA Nashville’s Royce Risser, co-writer Darrell Brown, Josh Turner, co-writer Jim Beavers, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, producer Frank Rogers, and BMI’s Jody Williams.

Jackson’s “Freight Train” Runs Today

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The Big D and Bubba Show kicked off a week-long series of interviews with Alan Jackson yesterday in conjunction with the release of "Freight Train." Pictured left to right: Bubba, Alan Jackson and Big D

The latest album from superstar Alan Jackson comes out today (3/30) and he’s marking the release with street-date performances on NBC’s Today show and CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman. Freight Train has already produced the hit single “It’s Just That Way,” currently No. 15 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart.

During his time in New York, Jackson is also set to tape A&E’s acclaimed interview and performance series, Private Sessions with Lynn Hoffman. It will premiere Sunday, April 11, at 9 AM ET.

Upcoming television visits also include NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 14, and the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 16. Jackson’s summer tour opens April 8 and he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a public ceremony on April 16.

Lambert, Shelton Benefit Raises $70,000

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Lambert and Shelton at the benefit.

For the second year in a row, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton performed at a benefit concert in Tishomingo, OK to help local charities. Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation hosted the event which raised nearly $70,000. There were acoustic performances from Lambert, Shelton and Shelton’s cousin Clancy Davis, as well as a cocktail party, dinner and live and silent auctions. Tickets sold out well in advance, drawing attendees from all over Oklahoma and Texas. Proceeds went to causes in Tishomingo, OK and surrounding areas, with specific attention to the local Veteran’s program and the Tishomingo Animal Shelter.

Lambert with her dog Delilah

Lambert’s Third Annual “Cause for Paws” Benefit in Tyler, TX is coming up on Saturday, May 15, 2010 with proceeds going to The Humane Society of East Texas. Special guests include Whiskey Myers, Kacey Musgraves and Nan Kelley for an intimate evening of music and cuisine in the serene setting of Villa Di Felicita.

Thanks to Miranda’s loyal Ran Fans and the East Texas Citizens, The Humane Society of East Texas has become a no kill sanctuary since the fundraiser began three years ago.

CRB Board Update; 615 Music Expands

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® President Mike Culotta has finalized the CRB Board of Directors for 2010-2011 with three one-year term, At-Large appointments. This year’s appointees are: Johnny Chiang (OM, Cox Radio Houston), Dan Halyburton (President, RadioTime) and Clarence Spalding (President, Spalding Entertainment).

In addition to the 27 elected CRB Directors and Director Emeritus Charlie Monk, the three board appointees join the CRB Board immediately and will serve through the completion of next year’s Country Radio Seminar 2011, to be held March 2-4, 2011.

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615 Music has launched Song Street Records focusing on licensing music from emerging artists for film, TV, new media and more. Pres. and CEO Randy Wachtler describes it as a “virtual record label for a virtual world.”

The Song Street model is different than many similar services because it will represent artists on an exclusive basis.

Leveraging 615 Music’s sales, marketing, A&R and production teams, Song Street Records will identify up and coming artists, secure placements, and do all of the licensing legwork. Clients will also have the ability to find music themselves via the Song Street Records search engine.

Free Downloads From CMA Music Fest; Celeb Softball Challenge

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It’s hard to believe the CMA Music Festival is only a few months away. As line-ups are finalized, the CMA is working to get fans excited about the event running June 10-13 in Nashville. The Country Music Association and iTunes® have teamed up to offer a free digital music sampler, available through May 1 here.

The sampler includes Trailer Choir “Rolling Through the Sunshine,” Burns & Poe “Don’t Get No Better Than That,” Ash Bowers “Stuck,” Derek Sholl “When They Come Back,” and Veronica Ballestrini “Don’t Say.”

Plans are also underway for the 20th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge. Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan have already signed on to play in the fundraiser for City of Hope which unofficially kicks-off the 2010 CMA Music Festival. The game is Monday, June 6, 2010, 7 PM at Greer Stadium  in Nashville. A special package via Ticketmaster offers four tickets for $60. To date, the Celebrity Softball Challenge has raised over $2 million, with all proceeds benefiting City of Hope.

Show Dog-Universal Moves Under One Roof

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The Show Dog – Universal staff is now united under one roof. The label is operating out of offices at 2303 21st Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37212. See the updated contact information below. Email addresses for out-of-state Regionals Greg Sax and Lisa Owen are unchanged.

The two labels announced plans to merge in December 2009.

Lambert, Lady A To Headline ACM Fremont St. Experience

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The Academy of Country Music is hosting two days of entertainment leading up to the April 18 ACM Awards in Las Vegas, with Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert set to headline the Fremont Street Experience.

Two stages will be set up to offer fans free concerts on April 15-16 as part of “The Week Vegas Goes Country!” Scheduled to perform on April 16 are Lady A, Emily West, The Band Perry, Danny Gokey, and David Nail. The following night offers Lambert with Randy Rogers Band and ACM top newcomer category award winners Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory, and Gloriana.

The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS.

Local Experts Weigh In On “Idol”

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Fox reporter Stacy McCloud with Mansfield, Kennedy and Freeman

For all you American Idol junkies, Nashville’s Fox 17 is hosting a panel of music biz experts each Tues. night after the show to weigh in on what happened that evening. On the panel each week until the end of the season are MusicRow Chart Director Jon Freeman, USA Today Nashville correspondent Brian Mansfield and Cherry Heart Sr. VP Shelby Kennedy, all returning for the second year in a row to offer thoughts and analysis. See the clip from week 1 here, and tune in tomorrow night (3/30) during the 9 PM news.

Mansfield, who also writes USA Today’s Idol Chatter blog, posted an interesting thought over the weekend: “The doomsday scenario: How Tim Urban wins ‘American Idol'”

By all rights, this ought to be the week that Tim Urban finally goes home. The dreamy-eyed, questionably talented 20-year-old from Duncanville, Texas, who owes his American Idol spot to Chris Golightly’s dodgy interpretation of contract questions, has made the bottom three the first two weeks of the finals. The other contestants in the initial trio — Lacey Brown and Paige Miles — already have sung their farewell songs. Logic says, then, that this should be the week Tim’s luck finally runs out.

But what if it’s not?

What if Tim’s repeated brushes with obscurity have served only to energize his fan base? And what if a week of Disney Channel stars on Idol actually expanded that base?

What if 12-year-old girls — you remember, the ones that supposedly mass-texted Kris Allen to victory last season — actually exist in the numbers Kris’ detractors imagined? And what if they’ve formed some unholy alliance with a more-powerful-than-expected Vote for the Worst faction?

What if Tim can ride that bottom-three wave all season long, managing to eke out a few more votes each week than just one other contestant until, finally, there are no other contestants left?

Finish reading.

Carpenter To Be Honored By AMA, Play Schermerhorn

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The Americana Music Association and Washington D.C.’s Newseum will present Mary Chapin Carpenter with the “Spirit of Americana” Free Speech in Music Award on April 27. The heralded singer will be honored during the “Freedom Sings” event in the nation’s capital, which will include a conversation with Carpenter, and performances by Grammy winners Judy Collins and Rodney Crowell.

“Ms. Carpenter is an artist in the truest sense of the word,” said Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly. “With her live performance and studio albums, her music has touched and inspired so many. We are honored to bestow this prestigious award on her.” The Newseum is presenting the honor via its First Amendment Center, which also has an office at Vanderbilt University. Past recipients include Collins, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle. Ticket details at www.newseum.org.

Carpenter is a fitting honoree because in addition to her Grammy winning music career, she is a dedicated supporter of Campaign for a Landmine-Free World, Artists Against Hunger and Poverty, Voters for Choice, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and other groups.

She has been making music consistently since her breakthrough to mainstream country in the ’90s with such memorable hits as “Down at the Twist and Shout,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” Now she is planning the April 27 release of her album The Age of Miracles on Zoe/Rounder Records. Carpenter will perform at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on July 16. Tickets start at $27.50 and may be purchased online at NashvilleSymphony.org.

In more Americana Music Association news, the organization is about to begin the nominations process for its annual Honors & Awards. Only eligible members can vote. This year’s Awards show will take place on Thurs., Sept. 9, as part of the festival and conference running Sept. 8-11, 2010.