ACM Continues Fan-Voted New Artist Noms

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acm_logoThe Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Great American Country (GAC) announced today that for the second year, the three newcomer categories for the Academy of Country Music Awards — Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo and Top New Vocal Group — will be determined through interactive fan voting at VoteACM.com. As previously announced, the Top New Solo Vocalist category will take the place of the Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist categories.

Fan voting for the three categories will begin at VoteACM.com on Friday, February 26, and will close on Friday, March 12. The winner in each category will be announced in mid-March and will move on to compete for Top New Artist. Voting for the Top New Artist category will begin at VoteACM.com on Thursday, April 1, and will close on April 18, with the winner being announced live during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

As part of this partnership, GAC will air several stand-alone specials, including a show featuring all the nominees from each of the three categories, as well as a show featuring the three winners who will compete for overall Top New Artist.

Following is the list of this year’s final nominees in the Top New categories:

Top New Solo Vocalist
Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, Chris Young

Top New Vocal Duo
Bomshel, Joey + Rory, Steel Magnolia

Top New Vocal Group
Eli Young Band, Gloriana, The Lost Trailers

Professional members of the Academy of Country Music select the final nominees in the Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo and Top New Vocal Group categories. Professional member votes will be combined with fan votes to obtain the winners of the Top New categories of the ACM Awards. The complete list of nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards will be announced in February.

Apple Unveils iPad

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ipadTech-geeks and avid fans of Apple technology were delighted after Steve Jobs’ announcement today of Apple’s new iPad tablet computer. Similar to Apple’s popular iPhone device in touch capability, the iPad offers a 9.7 inch LCD screen, a half-inch thick body and weighs only 1.5 pounds. Models will be available with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flash memory capacity.

The base-level wi-fi only models will be available in approximately two months and be available at the following price points: $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB) and $699 ($699). A 3G-enabled version of the iPad will be available a month later and for $130 more. 3G data plan rates will be $14.99/month for 250MB or $29.99/month for unlimited.

The iPad will be able to run many of the existing apps compatible with the iPhone, but will also feature device-specific applications such as a version of Apple Productivity suite iWork. Additionally, Apple’s announced the launch of iBooks, an electronic reading application and store that aims to compete with Amazon’s Kindle reader.

Lyric Street Signs Kevin Fowler

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LSRLyric Street Records has signed Texas Music stalwart Kevin Fowler to its artist roster. The label, along with Fowler’s management company, Triple 8 Management, celebrated the signing this past weekend in Waco, Texas prior to Fowler’s performance at The Heart of Texas Complex. A native of Amarillo, Texas, Fowler is already well known in his home territory for such songs as “Beer Season” and “Best Mistake I Ever Made.” His songwriting credits include Montgomery Gentry’s “Long Line Of Losers” and George Jones’ “Beer, Bait And Ammo.” With a well-established fanbase in the Southwest, Fowler has sold more than 325,000 albums, and, in 2009 alone, over 180,000 hard tickets as a headlining act. Fowler’s first music on Lyric Street Records is expected this Spring.

KevinFowlerwithL

Front row: Brian Hill (Paradigm Agency), Kelly Vermillion (Tripe 8 Management), Jenn Adams (Tripe 8 Management), Haley Elander (Tripe 8 Management), Larry Murray (Tripe 8 Management),
Middle row: Ashley Heron (Lyric Street Records), Sarah Blincoe (Tripe 8 Management), George Couri (Tripe 8 Management)
Back row: Kevin Herring (Lyric Street Records), Karen McGuire (Tripe 8 Management), John Ettinger (Lyric Street Records), Kevin Fowler, Doug Howard (Lyric Street Records), Dale Turner (Lyric Street Records), Chris Palmer (Lyric Street Records), Neda Tobin (Lyric Street Records), Cindy Heath (Lyric Street Records)

Dan Harr Benefit Set For February 2

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danA benefit for Dan Harr, owner of the online web portal, Music News Nashville, is scheduled for February 2 at Limelight, 201 Woodland Street in Nashville. The event kicks off at 6:30 PM and tickets are $15.00 at the door. The eclectic lineup includes Grand Ole Opry legend Charlie Louvin, recording artists Danielle Peck, Jeff Bates, Keni Thomas and Stephen Cochran, hit songwriters Gordon Kennedy, Tim Nichols, Chas Sandford, Gary Talley, Thom Shepherd and several others. There will also be a silent auction with autographed items from many top names in the music industry.

Harr, a tireless supporter of the Nashville music community, was diagnosed with rectal cancer in May, 2009. From June through August, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and had his first surgery in October. He has just began his second round of chemotherapy which will continue for the next 16 weeks. For more information contact Clif Doyal at CDAnashville@aol.com.

Taylor Swift Shatters Female Download Record

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tayBillboard reported today that Taylor Swift has broken Britney Spears’ 2008 record for best first-week download sales by a female artist with her current single, “Today Was a Fairytale.” The track sold 325,000 and is set to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both charts will be released tomorrow morning (1/28).

“Fairytale,” from the upcoming film Valentine’s Day, in which Swift co-stars, gives her the best Hot 100 start of her career and equals her highest peak, established with “You Belong with Me” this past August. Unlike “Fairytale’s” quick ascent, “Belong” took 16 weeks to reach the runner-up position.

Swift claims her first No. 1 on Digital Songs, having previously peaked at No. 2 with a pair of tracks; “You’re Not Sorry” (November, 2008) and “Jump Then Fall” (November, 2009). The only higher sales frame posted by one of her titles occurred during Christmas week 2008 when “Love Story” moved 360,000 downloads.

Country Music Hall Of Fame For Free

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CMHOFFor the third consecutive year, The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is partnering with Ford Motor Company Fund to offer free Museum admission on Saturday, January 30. In addition to touring the exhibit galleries, visitors will be able to enjoy two free Songwriter Sessions. The performances, which will take place in the Museum’s Ford Theater, will feature Tim Buppert and Jerry Vandiver at 11:30 AM and an artist TBD at 1:30 PM. The Museum will also offer its Musical Petting Zoo, which allows children a hands-on experience with a variety of musical instruments, at 3 PM in the SunTrust Community Room. The Museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Jim Graham, manager Ford Fund, stated, “Ford Motor Company and the Nashville Area Ford Dealers are pleased to again offer the opportunity to enjoy the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s premier educational experiences. This day is part of a long standing commitment to preserving and enhancing Nashville’s important contribution to American history.”

Turnpike Staff Revealed; Republic Nashville Adds Blythe

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turnpikemusicNine North Records President Larry Pareigis has announced a new division of the virtual label/artist services company called Turnpike Music. The new division’s focus will be promotion and marketing of artists to secondary country radio.

“Establishing Turnpike will allow an entirely new level of highly targeted service to both new and existing clients moving forward,” says Pareigis. “This will fit hand-in-glove with what we’re already doing with mainstream Country radio at Nine North.”

Nine North staffers Greg Stevens (greg@turnpikemusic.com) and Ryan Barnstead (ryan@turnpikemusic.com) will transition to National Director roles for Turnpike. Stevens will handle the West region and Barnstead has been stations in the East region. Both have been on staff with Nine North since its opening in 2007. “I’m excited about what the future will bring with Ryan and Greg superserving currently underserved indicator, activator and secondary stations with Turnpike,” Pareigis says.

Turnpike opens for business Monday, February 1. Announcements about the roster are forthcoming.

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Stacy Blythe headshot

Stacy Blythe

Republic Nashville has hired Stacy Blythe for the newly-created position of Southeast Promotion rep. She will be based in Nashville and report to Republic National Promo Dir. Bobby Young.

“Stacy’s passion, creativity and professionalism makes her the perfect addition to our amazing promotion staff,” says Young. “Hiring her is another great catch for Republic Nashville, and I’m confident it won’t take long for her to get up and running in the Southeast, becoming another key component of our organization!”

Blythe’s resume includes stops at 1720, Category 5, and most recently, Stoney Creek Records. She is a graduate of MTSU’s Recording Management program. Reach her at 615-887-9860 or stacy.blythe@republicnashville.com. 

Burns & Poe

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burnspoe“Don’t Get No Better Than That”

Blue Steel Records

“Big Blue Steel thank yous to the MusicRow Panel. 71 stations strong and growing every day. Top 20 looking good – Don’t Get No Better Than That!”

Blue Steel Records duo Burns & Poe have a new single, “Don’t Get No Better Than That” and it has already climbed to No. 28 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Keith Burns and Michelle Poe individually are no strangers to country music fans. He was a founder and vocal mainstay of the group Trick Pony, and she has been the accomplished bass player and harmony singer for the likes of Dierks Bentley and Hank Williams Jr. Producer James Stroud brought the two together, and there was an instant connection.

“She’s got these real silky vocals—real smooth and sexy,” Burns observes, “and mine are real raspy and edgy. Together, it just works.” “We realized from the beginning that we had something special to offer,” Poe adds. “We clicked in every way.” Not only did the two singers blend together musically, they also discovered a profound songwriting chemistry. Almost all the songs on their new CD, which is due out in May, were penned together.

As a songwriter Burns has had his work recorded by Joe Diffie, Hootie & The Blowfish, Sammy Kershaw, Anita Cochran and, of course, Trick Pony. Like Burns, Poe has a keen sensibility on what great country music entails. “It’s about real life,” she told one interviewer, “about honest, straight-from-the-heart emotions.”

http://www.myspace.com/burnsandpoe

Nashville Rocks: Kesha; Road To Bonnaroo

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kNashville native Kesha is raging the pop scene from her new base in Los Angeles. Her just released debut album Animal entered the Billboard Top 200 chart last week in the No. 1 slot, with 152,000 units sold, driven mostly by hit lead single, “Tik Tok.” The former Brentwood High student Kesha Sebert is daughter of local songwriter Pebe Sebert. Kesha also sings on Flo Rida’s major 2009 hit “Right Round,” and appears in the video for Katy Perry’s single, “I Kissed a Girl.”

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The Road to Bonnaroo contest is helping local rock acts vie for a coveted performance spot at Bonnaroo. Thirty-two bands—eight each night—will compete during four nights of BMI’s free 8 off 8th showcase series at Mercy Lounge. Shows are set for February 22, March 22, April 19 and May 17.

A panel of industry judges will vote for 50% of the total score, and onsite fan votes will make up the other 50%. Among the many finalists are AutoVaughn, Caitlin Rose, Cassino, Cortney Tidwell, Glossary, How I Became the Bomb, Kyle Andrews, Nobility, Space Capone and The Silver Seas.

The contest, sponsored by BMI, Mercy Lounge, Yuengling, Camping World, and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, offers four slots at Bonnaroo 2010, slated for June 10-13, in Manchester, Tennessee.
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Gibson Luthier Hutchins Passes

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gibsonOne of Gibson Guitar’s most accomplished and dedicated luthiers, James “Hutch” Hutchins, passed away last night, Jan. 25. He was 72 and had been battling an undisclosed illness.

Hutch’s career with the company spanned 45 years, two states, three changes of ownership, and thousands of guitars. He joined Gibson on March 25, 1963 in the original Kalamazoo, Michigan plant, making a name for himself there before transferring to Nashville in 1983.

The company says he worked every job from maintenance to pattern making with an unflinching attention to detail and an abiding pride in the Gibson name. Gibson says he helped define its legacy, heritage and tradition through the many guitars and people he worked with.

gibson 2Hutch became the plant’s liaison for legendary artists who wanted custom guitars. He was integral to designing the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, and became friends with Atkins in the process. Hutch retired March 31, 2008.

“Hutch was a remarkable man, with a talent all his own,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of Gibson Guitar. “His light will shine forever through every corner, every hall and with every team member of the company. His legacy will live on.”

Hutch loved to hunt and fish and spend time with his three grown sons, all of whom live in the Nashville area. He is survived by his wife his sons and wife Gail.