Azar Video Offers “Sunshine”

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Steve Azar’s latest video “Sunshine” is breaking through hitting No. 8 recently on GAC and CMT countdown shows. The video was shot using hand hand-held cameras at night to give it an intimate and edgy feel. While it was filmed primarily at various locations in downtown Nashville, they were careful not to shoot any of the city’s landmarks so the viewer could feel like it could be anywhere – including their own city.

Azar co-wrote the song with Jason Young. “This is the first song since ‘Waitin’ On Joe’ where I’ve seen such an impact,” says Azar. “So many people are relating to this song and wanting to share their feelings. It means different things to different people — whether it’s a couple in love, a father and daughter, or the best of friends.”

“Sunshine” reached No. 13 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart and can be found on Azar’s latest CD Slide Over Here.

NARM/CMA Produce Entertainment Law Event

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Final programming for the Entertainment Law Conference series has been set for Nov. 9 at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. The half-day continuing legal education course will be part of scheduled events leading up to “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” which will be held Wed., Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) at the Bridgestone Arena and broadcast live on the ABC Television Network. the conference is hosted by the CMA and NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers).

The program will feature a keynote interview with the Honorable Marybeth Peters. In one of the final public events of her 16-year tenure as United States Register of Copyrights, Peters will discuss some of the remarkable policy changes that she has witnesses and influenced during her 45-year career in the Copyright Office, and her ideas about the future of copyright law.

Also scheduled are three high-level panels that will address the impact of the 2010 elections on music, media and copyright legislation; the challenges and opportunities associated with creators’ right to terminate assignments of copyright; and controversial recent court decisions that affect creators, including the YouTube and Veoh cases.

A cocktail reception to honor Peters will follow the program. The reception will allow registrants to meet one-on-one with not only Peters, but all of the speakers featured throughout the program.

“The Entertainment Law Conference is an exciting opportunity for CMA and NARM to work together to foster education and understanding of copyright law at a critical time for our industry,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “CMA is committed to being a resource for our industry by providing opportunities to explore and discuss important issues.”

Registration for the event through October 12 is $149 for NARM and CMA members,  $199 for non-members, and $69 for student. After October 12 registration rates will increase by $50 for members and non-members and $30 for students. You may register at http://musiclaw1109.eventbrite.com/.

Application for accreditation of this course or program in Tennessee is currently pending. Once approved, the course will yield 4 credits.

Blake Shelton Brings Greatest Hits

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Reprise is planning the Nov. 9 release of a Blake Shelton greatest hits package. It will be the artist’s third offering this year, following two Six Pak collections built around recent hits “Hillbilly Bone” and “All About Tonight.”

LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton is his first greatest hits release and includes all seven of his No. 1’s as well as newest single, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.”

Three pre-order options are loaded with extras like autographed CDs, exclusive downloads, a concert DVD and apparel. They are priced from $16.99 to $59.99 at blakeshelton.com.

Shelton will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry later this month and then heads into the CMA Awards where he is nominated for four awards. He already won an ACM and CMT Award in 2010, and is the only male country artist to have two No. 1 singles this year.

Track Listing for LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton
1. Austin
2. Ol’ Red
3. The Baby
4. Playboys of The Southwestern World
5. Some Beach
6. Goodbye Time
7. Nobody But Me
8. Don’t Make Me
9. The More I Drink
10. Home
11. She Wouldn’t Be Gone
12. Hillbilly Bone (feat. Trace Adkins)
13. Kiss My Country Ass
14. All About Tonight
15. Who Are You When I’m Not Looking

Country Crossing’s Ronnie Gilley Indicted

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Country Crossing owner Ronnie Gilley is among a group of 11 individuals being indicted today as part of a federal investigation into political corruption in the state of Alabama. The indictment alleges that Gilley, along with casino and racetrack owner Milton McGregor, hired lobbyists to bribe state legislators into supporting proposed pro-gambling legislation. Four state senators—Larry Means, James Preuitt, Quinton Ross and Harri Anne Smith—are charged with agreeing to accept or demanding the bribes. One of Gilley’s employees and an employee of the state legislature are also being indicted.

Country Crossing has been beset with turmoil since its opening, as Alabama Governor Bob Riley is a staunch opponent of electronic bingo. Under threat of a federal raid, the facility has been closed since January 2010. A message on the Country Crossing website says “Because of recent threats from the Governor’s task force, Country Crossing has closed its doors to protect its employees and patrons. We are working diligently to solve the issue once and for all and will release more information as we move forward.” The Country Crossing complex is a part of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment, which includes Country Crossing Records and BamaJam Records and also produces the annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music and Arts Festival.

Capitol Nashville Promotes Amanda Heinrichs

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Capitol Records Nashville has promoted Amanda Heinrichs to Marketing Manager. In her newly elevated role, she will be responsible for marketing research and analysis, budgets, coordinating album marketing plans, creating presentations for sponsorship opportunities, event logistics and coordination, advertising buys and managing marketing interns. She will report directly to Sr. VP, Marketing Cindy Mabe.

“I am so proud and excited to be able to promote Amanda to the position of Manager,” said Mabe. “She has shown what a great team player and contributor she can be to our marketing team, our artists and Capitol Records with her outstanding attention to detail and her unstoppable ‘get it done’ attitude. Amanda is truly an asset to our team.”

The Belmont graduate joined Capitol Records Nashville in 2007 as Marketing Coordinator. Her experience also includes time as an administration assistant at Cal IV Entertainment. Heinrichs enjoys working with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also coaches youth hockey and plays on ASCAP’s Hit Men Ice Hockey Team.

Trailer Choir Visits 5th Grade; Miranda Lambert Visits “Today”

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Trailer Choir closed out celebrity week on CMT’s Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader on Sept 25. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the show pits celebrities against a group of fifth graders, quizzing them on such topics as geography and social studies. Trailer Choir played for St Jude Children’s Hospital, an organization the group has supported for several years.

(L-R) Trailer Choir's Big Vinny, Crystal and Butter with host Foxworthy.

(L-R) Today co-host Meredith Vieira and Miranda Lambert.

Columbia Nashville’s Miranda Lambert appeared on the NBC Today show last week for a visit that included a performance of “Only Prettier,” the latest single from her ACM Album of the Year winner, Revolution. Later that night she kicked off her fall run, CMT on Tour: Miranda Lambert Revolution, in New York.

Grascals And Rounder Part Ways

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Two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year The Grascals have parted ways with Rounder Records, the label that has been instrumental in the group’s success since 2004.

The parting is amicable, according to The Grascals’ manager, Kirt Webster. “It was simply time for a change, and both parties realized that. We have nothing but respect for the label and the work they’ve done for us,” he adds.

“We appreciate them believing in us from the get-go,” says Grascals’ mandolin maestro, Danny Roberts. “They’ve meant so much to us and they supported us completely.” Visit www.grascals.com for more info.

Publishing News: Hunt Departs AWMG; Artist Co-Writers

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Ann Wilson Music Group Creative Director Margie Hunt has departed her position with the company after 15 months. Hunt previously spent 30 years with Sony Music, where she had instrumental roles in A&R, Marketing, Product Management, Film/TV, and in the production of compilations, re-packages and box sets. She can be reached at mhuntmusicservices@comcast.net or at 615-351-1156.

•  •  •  •  •

Songwriters Ken Johnson and Andi Zack recently spent some time at the Brown Owl Studio recording songs they wrote with Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson and Reprise/WMN’s Frankie Ballard.

(L-R): Ballard, Johnson, Zack, Thompson

Promo Vet Debbie Gibson Palmer Passes

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MusicRow extends its condolences to family and friends of veteran record promoter Debbie Gibson Palmer, who passed away in Los Angeles Friday, October 1. She was 58 years old. She is survived by her daughter Gaylene Aparicio, also in the record promotion business, and granddaughter Cassidy Aparicio.

A native of Nashville, Gibson-Palmer’s maiden name was Demonbreun and she was descended from the founders of Nashville. She was preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Ed Palmer, in December 2009.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Debbie Gibson-Palmer,” says promoter Jerry Duncan. “She was an outstanding promoter, business associate and friend. Since our days together at Nationwide Sound Distributors, where we promoted the first Alabama records, Debbie, and the rest of the Gibson family have been like family to me. She will be missed by all of us in the music business. My deepest sympathy goes out to her daughter Gaylene and granddaughter Cassidy.”

A memorial service is being planned for December in Nashville, to be followed by burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions to help with medical and other expenses be sent to:

Gaylene Aparicio (music4gaylene@aol.com)
5349 Newcastle Ave., #55
Encino, CA 91316

Bug Acquires Saban

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Bug Music CEO John Rudolph announces that the large independent publisher has acquired the worldwide rights to Saban Music Group’s extensive music publishing catalog. Saban’s extensive catalog includes material from leading children’s franchises such as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers™, Digimon™, The Addams Family™ Reunion, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Generation, Princess Sissi and Walter Melon properties, and encompasses a slate of theme songs, cues and scores from more than 90 television series, 3,700 television episodes and 100 made-for-television films and specials.

Following Saban Capital Group, Inc.’s (SMG’s parent company) recent acquisition of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers™ property, Bug Music sees significant growth opportunities in the newly acquired catalog.

“Bug is focused on opportunities that provide growth for the company, as well as best practices for our film and TV clients across the world,” said Rudolph, Bug Music CEO. “This deal falls in line with our goals and will benefit our clients in real returns. The excellent work of the Saban team in managing the catalog and completing the deal has made the transition seamless.”

Bug represents significant songwriters of today (Kara Dioguardi, Kings of Leon, Bruno Mars, Three Six Mafia, Gordie Sampson, Lucas Secon, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Pete Townshend, Paul Westerberg among others), the past (Johnny Cash, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt and Stevie Ray Vaughan) and classics such as “What a Wonderful World,” “Fever” and “Happy Together.” The company maintains eight offices in the US and Europe.

Bug’s Nashville office is headed by Sr. VP Roger Murrah and VP John Allen.