TV/Film News: Trace Adkins In New McConaughey Movie

Trace Adkins in The Lincoln Lawyer


>>Trace Adkins has a role in the new Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer. The movie opens March 18 and features Adkins playing the leader of a biker club, and McConaughey as the lawyer who tries to get the bikers out of trouble. Starring as another client is Ryan Phillippe.

>>Rascal Flatts’ upcoming television special will feature guest appearances by pop stars Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield. The concert performance show, Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This Presented by JCPenney is set to air Saturday, March 12, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on ABC. More on the Flatts and the Bieb here.
>>A new documentary is out about the making of the Waylon Jennings tribute album, The Music Inside. The film Breaking the Myth: Waylon Jennings includes interviews and footage of artists on the tribute project such as Shooter Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams Jr., Dierks Bentley, Alabama, John Hiatt, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Pat Green, Patti Griffin and Sunny Sweeney.
>>Jennifer Nettles shows up in the new music video from pop songstress Sara Bareilles, “Uncharted.” She is one of the celeb guests including Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Josh Groban, and Ben Folds.
>>Nashville’s own Leon Russell continues to ride high on his acclaimed collaboration with Elton John. The music vets teamed up on 2010′s The Union. The recording process of that project was captured in the new documentary of the same name from director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous). It will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, followed by a performance from John. The pair will perform April 2 on Saturday Night Live; John is also hosting the show.
>>Fellow Nashville native Miley Cyrus will make her SNL-hosting debut on March 5. Cyrus is also set to star in the new flick So Undercover as a street-smart private eye hired by the FBI to go undercover at a college sorority. Coming in October, the project also stars Jeremy Piven, Mike O’Malley and Kelly Osbourne.
>>Speaking of Nashvillians turned actresses, Ashley Judd has been tapped for ABC’s action drama series Missing. It is reportedly about a mom searching for her 18-year-old son who is missing in Italy.

Photos From Aldean's Platinum Party

Jason Aldean and producer Michael Knox. Photo: Chris Hollo


Jason Aldean celebrated the platinum certification of his fourth studio album My Kinda Party with an event at Nashville’s Terrazzo on Tuesday (3/1). This is his third Platinum platter, and it got its award in just 11 weeks.
The 15-track disc brings the country rocker to five million total albums sold since his debut five years ago.
Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown surprised Aldean with keys to a new pickup truck in celebration of the event. Plaques were presented to all the reporting radio stations who play Aldean’s songs.
Since his latest single, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (w/Kelly Clarkson) hit No. 1 on Aldean’s birthday (2/28/77), revelers sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
He was Billboard’s Top Male Artist of 2010 and has two ACM nominations, Male Vocalist and Entertainer.

Benny Brown hands Aldean the keys to a new truck. Photo: Chris Hollo

CRS 2011 Photos: UMG, Big Machine, Sony Music Nashville

Radio guests enjoy special label events hosted by UMG Nashville, Big Machine, and Sony Music Nashville as part of Country Radio Seminar 2011.

Special radio guests in town for CRS 2011 visited UMG President Luke Lewis’ home last night (3/1) for an evening of musical entertainment. Pictured (L-R): MCA’s Michelle Tyrrell, MCA’s David Nail, WKLB’s Ginny Rogers, MCA’s Josh Turner and Mark Anderson WDSY Pittsburgh OM PD.


Fresh off her Asian tour, Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance last night (3/1) at the CMT/Big Machine CRS party held at Cellar One. The night included performances from Edens Edge, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore and Martina McBride (who offered three new songs), and was hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan and Melissa Peterman. Steel Magnolia, The Band Perry and Sunny Sweeney were also seen hanging in the crowd. Pictured (L-R): Lori Megown, VP Radio, MTV Music Group; Jean Williams, Director, CMT Radio Network; Martina McBride; Taylor Swift; Scott Borchetta; Cody Alan, Host CMT Radio Live; Melissa Peterman. Photo: Brian Bayley


In an unofficial kick-off to CRS 2011 last night, RCA Nashville artist Jake Owen and BNA Records newcomer Casey James performed new music from their forthcoming albums for a crowd of country radio programmers and music industry guests at Margaritaville. This will be the third studio album for Jake and debut album for Casey—both set to release later this year. Pictured (L-R): RCA Nashville VP National Promotion Keith Gale, Sony Music Nashville Senior VP Promotion Skip Bishop, Academy of Country Music CEO Bob Romeo, Owen, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, James, BNA Records VP National Promotion Bryan Frasher.

Shania Twain Pens Autobiography

Shania Twain’s autobiography, From This Moment On, is set for release May 3. The singer will be back with a bang this summer, as her new docu-series for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will also debut in May.
Twain has experienced monstrous career success, combined with personal highs and lows, but there is no word on what the book will delve into.
The five-time Grammy winner has sold over 75 million albums worldwide. She also triumphed over a painful divorce from husband and producer Mutt Lange. On New Year’s Day 2011 she married Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico, escorted down the aisle by nine-year-old son Eja.
The autobiography is her first book and will be published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

Bobby Karl Works The DJ Hall of Fame Dinner, Aldean Party


(L-R) back: Bill Payne, Charlie Cook, Joe Galante, Naomi Judd, Barry Kent, Dale Carter and Lee Rogers. Front: CRB board member RJ Curtis; Samantha, Hayleigh and Elizabeth Hallam; CRB Pres. Mike Culotta and CRB Exec. Dir. Bill Mayne.


Chapter 360
The “official” kick-off of Country Radio Seminar is the annual presentation of the Country Radio Hall of Fame honors at the Convention Center (3/1).
To start things off, the attending living members of the Hall gathered on stage for a massed portrait. Then Mike Culotta gave the President’s Award to Joe Galante. “Joe epitomizes the criteria set forth for this award,” said Mike. “This barely scratches the surface of the gratitude this organization has for this man.”
“I think this award was given to me because, ‘This guy isn’t going to be calling for adds anymore,’” Joe wisecracked. Turning serious, he added, “Everything I have accomplished, I have accomplished because I was surrounded by great people.”
The 2011 Artist Achievement Award was presented to The Judds. “I was 38 years old when we walked into RCA on March 4, 1983,” recalled Naomi Judd. “We were two scared kids.
“Our whole life has really been about friendships, relationships with you characters. Wynonna thinks you are her uncles. She’s grown up with you. I’m just overflowing with gratitude.”
“I’ve known just about everybody in this room since I was 18 years old,” confirmed Wynonna Judd. “One of my goals this year is to get back on country radio. I have come back home. God has orchestrated this. I am ready. This is only the beginning for me. I look at you, and I feel like you are family.”
Mike Borchetta inducted Bill Payne into the Radio Hall of Fame. “I’m humbled,” said Payne. “I’m grateful to God. Today is a fulfillment of my dream.” He has spent his career owning various stations in Oklahoma.
Bobby Kraig inducted Barry Kent as an on-air personality. “I have worked my entire career in my hometown, which is pretty unheard of,” stated Kent, who is still on the air in Terre Haute, Indiana at age 71. “I’m truly blessed to go to work every day and do what I love to do.”
CRB executive director Bill Mayne did the honors for Lee Rogers, who was also inducted as an on-air personality. “Lee Rogers lives life large – he always has and always will,” said Mayne.
“They don’t usually honor you with things like this until you’re dead,” Rogers responded. He suffered two strokes in 2008. “I learned in that instant to never take anything for granted in this life.”
Rogers was the only inductee to salute country music’s artists. Perhaps not coincidentally, he was also the only one who was a musical performer, himself. He has shared stages with Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Don Gibson, Keith Whitley, Minnie Pearl, Dwight Yoakam and Charlie Daniels, among others
“I never thought I would be at a loss for words,” Rogers continued. He wasn’t. Nor was anybody else that night. We are, after all, talking about radio people. “Believe in yourself,” he concluded. “Believe in God. And don’t give up until the competition across the street gets fired on Christmas Eve!” Then he tossed his cane aside.
Joel Rabb inducted the late Dene Hallam. “I still ‘talk’ to Dene,” Rabb said. “We have ‘conversations.’ He had great ears.” Hallam’s three daughters accepted.
“Wow, what a night,” said Jaye Albright. She introduced the Hall’s youngest inductee in its history, Dale Carter. “It’s my hope that one day, our plaques will be at the Country Music Hall of Fame,” stated Carter. Good luck with that.
Lon Helton inducted the widely loved Charlie Cook. “Charlie Cook was destined for this Hall,” said Helton. “All you have to do is look around this room. His mark upon this business is going to last for a long time.”
“I want to thank Chuck Chellman, who was the father of all of this,” said Cook. “No one has less talent in this Hall of Fame than I do, so I must have a guardian angel.”
Working the room were The Doobie Brothers, Radney Foster, John Cowan, Josh Thompson, Jack Lameier, Eddie Mascolo, Tom Baldrica, Charlie Monk, Mike Dungan, Ron Huntsman, Allen Butler, Bob Kingsley, Bob Paxman, Coyote McCloud, Deborah Evans Price, Vernell Hackett, Gary Greenberg, Paul Barnabee, Phyllis Stark and a throng of others.
On a culinary note, the dinner was rubber-chicken banquet perfection. As someone who has covered hundreds of such occasions, I can expertly attest to this.
• • • • •
It was chips and dips at the Jason Aldean Platinum Record party at Terrazzo (3/1), held just prior to the awards banquet. Aldean’s My Kinda Party is his third Platinum platter, and it got its award in just 11 weeks. He was Billboard’s Top Male Artist of 2010 and has two ACM nominations, Male Vocalist and Entertainer.
Broken Bow hosts Rick Shedd and Benny Brown welcomed a crowd that included Chris Parr, Jason Sellers, Michael Knox, Clarence Spalding, Tom Roland, Terry Bumgarner, Chuck Aly, Mary Hilliard Harrington, Kevin Neal, Carson James, Lee Adams, Rac Clark, Debbie Carroll, Scott Kiley and Hunter Kelly.
One wall held 140 plaques for all the reporting radio stations who play Aldean’s songs. A big group photo was snapped. Since “Don’t You Wanna Stay” hit No. 1 on the star’s birthday (2/28/77), we all sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

Tour News: Paisley Plots H2O II


Brad Paisley


>>Brad Paisley wrapped his H20 World Tour last weekend in Nashville, and the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year didn’t waste any time announcing his next run. The H2O II World Tour presented by Chevy opens May 28 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. The 33-city trek includes five stadiums and an international run through London (O2 Arena), Dublin, Stockholm, Oslo and more. Joining him will be special guests Blake Shelton and Jerrod Niemann.
The new outing will incorporate elements of the previous H2O Tour, such as the “Water World Plaza,” offering water activities and music from emerging artists Brent Anderson, Edens Edge and Sunny Sweeney.
The H20 World Tour played to over 879,000 fans in 2010 and was Pollstar’s the most attended country tour. Paisley’s current single “This Is Country Music” is the title track from his next album which will be in stores May 24. Read more about his Nashville show here (subscribers only).
>>Joe Nichols will journey Down Under this year. The Show Dog-Universal Music artist will headline Australia’s CMC Rocks the Hunter music festival on March 5, and will return in May for a multi-city tour. Nichols’ Greatest Hits CD was released January 25, and his current single, “The Shape I’m In,” is climbing the country charts.
>>Ricky Skaggs has announced the first dates of his 2011 Treasure Chest Tour. It kicks off in Prestonsburg, Ky. on March 18.
>>Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Williams has announced his 2011 concert appearances. There are more than 30 dates on the schedule, including a run through Canada.
>>Innovative acoustic guitar virtuoso and two-time Grammy nominee Leo Kottke will play TPAC’s Polk Theater on Wednesday, March 16. The show is produced by The Messina Group/AEG Live. Tickets are on sale at TPAC’s Box Office, TPAC.org or 615-782-4040.
>>BMI and the Mercy Lounge kicked off the third annual Road to Bonnaroo competition on Monday, February 28, with Chancellor Warhol winning a performance slot at the upcoming music festival. The contest is staged during designated nights of BMI’s free 8 off 8th showcase. The remaining 2011 Road to Bonnaroo dates are March 21 and April 18.

Pictured are (l-r): The Kicks’ Adam Stark, BMI’s Mark Mason, The Kicks’ Jordan Phillips, BMI’s Jody Williams, The Kicks’ Gabe Anderson and Lucas Cummins, and BMI’s Clay Bradley.

Jobs Unveils iPad 2

Apple’s visionary genius, Steve Jobs made an unscheduled appearance at today’s unveiling of the iPad 2 (3/2) at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Jobs, who has been on leave for health reasons, received a standing ovation.
Among the many technical announcements concerning the updated device, Jobs also noted that Random House was the most recent publisher to add its books to the iTunes digital storefront—more than 17,000 titles. Apple has sold over 100 million iPhones and in the past 9 months delivered over 15 million iPads.
The iPad operating system is also being updated to IOS 4.3 which will include face time video calling between mac computers, iPhones, iPads and the new iPod Touch.
iPad 2 will ship on March 11. It is one-third thinner than the original model and weighs 1.3 pounds. (iPad was 1.5 pounds.) Prices will be the same for the Wi-Fi and 3G models as with the previous models. Added features include front and rear facing cameras, a new A5 dual-core processor which greatly speeds graphic processing without draining battery additional power (10-hour life between charges). The iPad 2 will be available in black and white and work with both the AT&T and Verizon networks.
A new output cable allows mirrored HDMI video to be output to TVs for 1080p high-def output.

2011 CRS Edition—On The Cover Blake Shelton

Click Here to Order the 2011 CRS

Blake Shelton

Label: Warner Bros. Records
Current Album: Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton
Current Single/Video: “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
Current Producer: Scott Hendricks
Hometown: Ada, Oklahoma
Management: Starstruck Management Group
Booking: William Morris Endeavour
Recent Hits: “All About Tonight,” “Hillbilly Bone,” “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” and “Home”
Awards: CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year; ACA for Music Video of the Year and Music Video: Male; ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year; and CMT Award for Collaborative Video of the Year
Special TV/Film Appearances: Co-hosting the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (April 3rd)
Birthdate: June 18, 1976
Interesting Facts: I love “Words with Friends” on my iPhone; I’ve only ever owned trucks; I love log furniture and I have had three pet raccoons.
Outside Interests: Hunting; Gardening – growing watermelon, squash, sweet corn and potted tomatoes.
Musical Influences: Earl Thomas Conley, Bellamy Brothers, Conway Twitty, John Conlee
Favorite Record: Somewhere Between Right & Wrong (Earl Thomas Conley)
Things have never looked better for the young man who left Ada, Oklahoma, at 17 to pursue a career in Nashville. The going was slow initially, but Blake Shelton finally signed with Warner Bros. and launched with an impressive debut. Now, with his first ACM, CMA and CMT Award wins in 2010, the release of two SIX PACKS, a greatest hits album and his induction into the Grand Ole Opry, Shelton is on his best roll yet.
The SIX PAKS are two of Shelton’s most recent CD’s, innovative ways to get music into the hands of his fans more often. The first, Hillbilly Bone, included a title track that sped to the No. 1 spot on the singles charts and won Shelton three major awards including Vocal Event of the Year from the Academy of Country Music; Musical Event of the Year from the Country Music Awards; and the Collaborative Video of the Year (with his partner in crime Trace Adkins) from CMT. His follow-up release, All About Tonight, debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan Top Country Albums chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, making it Shelton’s highest charting record-to-date.
In his third 2010 release, Shelton pulled out his first ever greatest hits album with, Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton, which debuted in the Top 10 on the SoundScan Top Country Albums charts. The release added Shelton to an elite group of artists who have charted three records in one year–among those are Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson.
Shelton is making music that is resonating with a wide and rowdy country audience. He’s also exploring new ways to connect with fans via social networking. His irreverent, edgy, timely and hilarious tweets have become the talk of fans and industry alike. At a time when economics and political correctness are putting a squeeze on the average blue-collar American, he is holding aloft a bright torch of freedom, fun and music.
“The crowds are great,” he says, flashing his characteristic grin, “but, then again, we’re there for the same reason—to have a great time and share music that tells our stories and celebrates our lives.”

Doug Morris Named Sony Chief

Doug Morris


Doug Morris, one of the most influential executives in the global music industry, has officially exited his post as Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group to join Sony Music Entertainment in the same role. He will be in office at Sony effective July 1, 2011.
Morris will succeed Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, who will be departing the company concurrent with the end of his contract on March 31, 2011.
Until July, Sony Corporation Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Sir Howard Stringer will oversee the executive decision-making at SME.
Morris, who became Worldwide Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UMG in 1995, revealed last year that he would step down from that role at the end of 2010.
Today’s announcement was made by Stringer. “I have known Doug Morris for many years, and am delighted that he has agreed to lead Sony Music Entertainment,” he said. “At this critical time in the evolution of the music industry, I can think of no one more qualified as a proven executive, an innovator, a music impresario and a statesman than Doug Morris. I welcome him to the Company and look forward to our working together to drive Sony Music to preeminence in the industry.
“I also want to thank Rolf Schmidt-Holtz for his tremendous contribution to Sony Music,” Stringer continued. “From his time as Chairman of the Sony BMG Music Entertainment joint venture in 2004, through his operational role as CEO beginning in 2006, Rolf has been a courageous, candid and forward-thinking executive, and our entire Company has benefited greatly from his leadership. We wish him great success as he undertakes new challenges upon his return to Europe.”
“I’m delighted by the opportunity to work with Howard and the entire Sony Music team,” commented Morris. “At such a pivotal time for music, it’s more important than ever to develop a fertile, creative environment that generates the highest quality of  artists and music, while seeking to fully exploit the many opportunities that new digital services and products provide in reaching audiences around the world.”
Morris began his music career as a songwriter with credits including the Chiffons’ 1966 hit, “Sweet Talkin’ Guy,” and as producer of hits including Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boys Room.” He transitioned to the label world, joining Laurie Records in 1965 and later launching his own Big Tree Records. His career has gone on to include top-tier executive positions at Warner Music, Atlantic Records, MCA Music Entertainment Group and Universal Records.

Do Artists Need A Combined Sales Chart?

Grammy fever has cooled, Valentine’s ardor has calmed and [ouch] Top 75 country album sales are down 32% compared with last week. Adding to the somber report, YTD country album sales are off 12.4%. But wait. Are we missing something?
Let’s consider the concept of combined revenue—money an artist earns from both album and track sales. For an individual artist it seems an obvious measurement to sample, but in years past track revenue was dwarfed by albums and therefore made little difference. (Jay Frank discusses this idea with added detail on page 18 of the newly released Feb./March MusicRow print issue. He says, ”We may soon reach a week…when according to SoundScan, the No. 1 track will eclipse the top album in terms of retail value and profitability.”)
While this week’s data doesn’t completely fulfill Frank’s vision, it’s close. The No. 1 all-genre track, Lady Gaga “Born This Way” (286K downloads) is more profitable and has a higher retail value than the No. 1 country album, Lady Antebellum Need You Now (28k). Here’s how the math works:

Needed: A New “Combined Value” Yardstick?
The dollar value of album and track numbers continues to rebalance in our new industry environment. Therefore, a SoundScan sales chart ranking combined value (and/or wholesale profitability) could prove valuable. Frank adds, “Been saying this is needed for years.” And this writer agrees.

A weekly combined value chart which accounted for the retail value of all tracks and albums sold by a particular artist would be a more accurate measure of success than looking at albums alone.

Thoughts comments? Leave them below, please.