Entertainer Nominees To Perform at ACM Awards

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All of the ACM Entertainer of the Year nominees will be performing as part of the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Nominees Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban will all take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Entertainer of the Year will be announced during the live broadcast.
For the third consecutive year, the winner will be fan voted. Voting begins March 11 at www.voteACM.com and will conclude during the third hour of the live broadcast.

Joanna Smith Revisits Tootsie's Where She Got Her Start

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(L-R): GAC Talent Manager Shanna Strassberg; Smith and Sony Chairman & CEO Gary Overton.


Columbia Nashville’s Joanna Smith returned to her old stomping grounds recently. The rising star stopped in to perform at downtown Nashville’s famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the stage where she got her start in Music City. Smith treated onlookers to all the songs from her forthcoming album, including new single “Georgia Mud.” Smith wrote or co-wrote almost all of the songs on the project.
Next up, the singer will perform the national anthem at the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship game, on March 5 at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium.
Smith has already received rave reviews from music critics such as MusicRow’s own Robert Oermann who praises that the single is “sweetly romantic, with a cool, crunchy backbeat and a vocal performance with a built-in smile.”
Click to listen to “Georgia Mud.”

[Updated w/ Eldredge arrangements] Lifenotes/Benefit News

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Artwork up for auction at the Birdhouse Thing


>>Sympathy is extended to Terry Eldredge of The Grascals on the passing of his mother, Mary Jane Liffick Eldredge. She died February 28. Visitation will take place Thursday, March 3, from 2 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 4, from noon to 2 p.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1150 Dickerson Road, Goodlettsville, TN 37072 (615-859-5279). The funeral service will begin immediately following Friday’s visitation. Condolences may be emailed to Terry Eldredge at [email protected] or mailed to him c/o Entertainment Evolution, PO Box 23015, Nashville, TN 37202.
>>Sympathy also goes to the family of Victoria Wade Contreras, who passed away on February 17 after a long illness. She was 61 and is known to those in the music community as an active philanthropist and the wife of Juan Contreras. She was instrumental in the production of The Larry Butler Golf Tournament and The HoriPro Golf Tournament, both of which benefit Belmont University music business students. A memorial service will be held tomorrow (3/1) at Christ Church (15354 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville). Visitation will start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the service at 2 p.m.
>>The 10th Annual Birdhouse Thing, an auction of wooden birdhouses decorated by artists, is scheduled for Thursday night, March 10 at the W.O. Smith Music School, which the event benefits. The school provides music lessons to underprivileged children and is in a new facility on 8th Ave. that was built with proceeds from the Birdhouse Thing. This year’s live and silent auctions will include items such as concert tickets or meet and greet passes from Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans, Josh Turner, and Kellie Pickler. The online auction runs March 8 – 22 at www.mclemoreauction.com. Event tickets can be purchased at www.birdhousething.com, by calling the school at (615) 255-8355 or by emailing [email protected].
>>SOLID is hosting the Music Row Madness Bowling Showdown at Hillwood Strike and Spare on Tuesday, March 15 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Music businesses are encouraged to form a team or sponsor a lane. Contact Raffaella Braun ([email protected]) for details or to sign up.
>>The Third Annual John Jarrard Foundation Concert will take place at the Bluebird Cafe on Saturday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. Performing will be Alex Harvey (“Delta Dawn”), Greg Barnhill (“House of Love,” “Walk Away Joe”), Marc Beeson (“When She Cries”), and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Dickey Lee. Songwriter John Jarrard penned 11 No. 1 hits before passing away. Tickets ($15) at www.bluebirdcafe.com. Proceeds will go to a fund benefiting several charities, one of which is the Bluebird Café’s “adopt a seat” campaign. For more information on the concert, contact Jody Jackson, Executive Director of the John Jarrard Foundation at [email protected] or (770) 710-9191.

Photo Special: Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

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The Country Music Association announced yesterday (3/1) that Bobby Braddock, Reba McEntire, and Jean Shepard will become the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by Kix Brooks during a private press event in the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Reba was unable to be present, as she remains with her family at her father’s side in an Oklahoma hospital.
Induction ceremonies for Braddock, Reba, and Shepard will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum later this year. Since 2007, the Museum’s Medallion Ceremony, an annual reunion of the Hall of Fame membership, has served as the official rite of induction for new members.
Photographer: John Russell / CMA

Bobby Braddock and Jean Shepard pose in the Country Music Hall of Fame's revered Rotunda after CMA announced them as 2011 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Rotunda houses the official plaques commemorating all the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.


(L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Director Kyle Young, Kix Brooks, Jean Shepard, Bobby Braddock, and CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore at yesterday's announcement.


(Left photo): At the CMA Artist Luncheon, Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman congratulates Jean Shepard. (Right photo): Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill congratulates Bobby Braddock.

CRB Names Radio Promotion Award Winners

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced its 2011 Radio Promotion Award winners. The awards will be presented during the “90 Executable Ideas in 50 Minutes” panel on Thursday, March 3, inside the Nashville Convention Center. Winners receive a free trip to Country Radio Seminar.
Large Market Winner: KUPL / Portland, Ore.
KUPL’s “Free Money Friday” paired two of the station’s advertising clients to create a successful cross-promotion. Customers who picked up KUPL bumper stickers at one client location would receive a text message directing them to the second client’s promotion and location, where customers could win up to $500. The promotion generated increased sales for the clients and doubled the radio station’s texting database.
Medium Market Winner: WQMX / Akron, Ohio
WQMX utilized the power of social networking to conduct its “Zac Brown Look-A-Like Contest.” Listeners submitted photos through the station’s Facebook page for a chance to win front row seats and a backstage “eat and greet” with the Zac Brown Band.
Small Market Winner: KZPK / St. Cloud, Minn.
KZPK staged its biggest benefit concert ever during Central Minnesota’s summer FireFest event. The show featured performances from Little Big Town, Emerson Drive and Bomshel, raising more than $50,000 for the city of Cold Spring’s Fire and Rescue Relief Association.

Bobby Karl Works MusicRow's CRS Meet & Greet

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Chapter 359 • Photos: Alan Mayor

MR Chart Director Jon Freeman (R) presents the CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year Award to Dale Desmond (L)


The hundreds of day drinkers give it away: Country Radio Seminar is here once again.
The occasion was the 9th annual MusicRow CRS Meet & Greet CountryBreakout™ Awards, staged at Cadillac Ranch on Tuesday afternoon (3/1). And the house was rockin’.
“Hello, hello, hello,” shouted the mag’s David Ross over the din of radio merry makers. “It’s MusicRow’s 30th anniversary! A little applause is just right. And give yourselves a round of applause. It’s wonderful to have all our radio friends and our industry friends with us today.”
Many artists were there as well, working the room to better their odds with broadcasters. Jeff Cook, The Roys, Matt Bailey, Deborah Allen, Melanie Denard, Josh Thompson, Steve Holy, Andy Griggs, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Lucy Angel, Greg Hanna, Moore & Moore, Billy Block and Robert Reynolds, plus award winners such as The Band Perry and Burns & Poe were present.
“Thank you guys so much,” said Kimberly Perry when her group won the Breakout Artist award. “We’re at CRS, and we’ll see you out and about.”

The Band Perry accepting Breakout Artist of the Year (L-R): Republic Nashville's Jimmy Harnen; Neil, Kimberly and Reid Perry.


“Make some noise for MusicRow, y’all,” shouted Keith Burns. “Thank you so much to radio for playing our songs,” added Michelle Poe. Their Burns & Poe duo won the Indie Artist of the Year prize. Presenter and awards emcee Jon Freeman called them, “The Sonny & Cher of country music.”
To no one’s surprise, Lady Antebellum won Artist of the Year. Capitol Nashville earned Label of the Year honors for the sixth consecutive time.
“Thank you so much: Let’s have a good week,” said Country Breakout Reporter of the Year Dale Desmond of KTHK in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Burns & Poe accept Indie Artist of the Year. (L-R): MR Publisher David M. Ross; Keith Burns and Michelle Poe; and MR Chart Dir. Jon Freeman.


Joanna Smith


The party featured music from Joanna Smith and Colt Ford. Joanna was still all a-flutter about that day’s luncheon where new artists get to meet the just-announced Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s induction class is Bobby Braddock, Jean Shepard and Reba McEntire. The always blunt and lovable Jean told the new girls to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are as good as Dolly, Loretta, Tammy and Reba. If not, “Get out.”
After warbling “Kissing in Public” winningly, Joanna chirped, “I want to dedicate this next song to our new Hall of Fame inductee, Reba McEntire. Jean Shepard is an inductee, too. And I think she’d approve of this song, too.” Joanna offered a feisty take on “Poor Little Heart,” and then concluded her set with her single “Georgia Mud.”

Colt Ford


“It’s CRS: Here we go again,” said Tom Baldrica. “We’re happy and honored to be with you this afternoon….Let’s get this party started.” He introduced Colt, who rocked the crowd with “Every Chance I Get.” Wearing dark shades and a black hat, nice-guy Colt quipped, “Play my record every chance you get.” His set also included “Looking for a Good Time” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Thanks largely to Jon Freeman, MusicRow’s CRS bash has ballooned in size. More than 350 rsvp’d this year, including such fabulons as Mike Betten, Mike Thomas, Wynne Adams, Win Patton, Jimmy Rector (and the rest of the Columbia promo staff), Jimmy Harnen, Lee Richey, Diane Richey, Diana Henderson, Chuck Dauphin, Chuck Thompson, Don Wilson, Martha Moore, Archie Jones, Ed Salamon, Wes Vause, Kerry Hansen, Susan Collier, Barry Cown, Bill Wence, Woody Bomar and Steve Pope.

Dale Turner Teams With Skyville Records

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Dale Turner


Executive Dale Turner has joined Skyville Records as National Director, Radio Marketing and Promotion. This re-teams Turner with Skyville Pres. Kevin Herring, the two previously worked together at Lyric Street.
Turner brings to the table experience in both radio and promotion. For 14 years he served at RCA Label Group, ending as VP Promotion. In 1998 he joined Lyric Street as VP, National Promotion, where he worked for 12 years.
Skyville, launched last year by Paul Worley, Wally Wilson and Glen Morgan, is focusing on flagship act Stealing Angels.
“There is no better utility player on a record label staff than Dale Turner! He does it all,” says Herring. “We are so lucky to have him at Skyville!”
“In lieu of early retirement, I’m delaying my 139 bowling average to hook up with my former colleague Kevin Herring,” jokes Turner. “In all seriousness, I’ve worked some great music that was produced and/or written by Paul Worley and Wally Wilson over the years. This will be a fun adventure in a new business model!”
Dale Turner can be reached at 615-320-7052 or [email protected].

Bidders Eye Warner Music

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Warner Music has received more than 10 bids from entities interested in buying all or part of the company, Bloomberg reports.
Citing sources close to the negotiations, the outlet says bidders seeking Warner’s publishing division, Warner/Chappell, include Sony/ATV Publishing and BMG Right Management.
Another interested party is billionaire and former Warner Music board member Len Blavatnik, who wants to purchase the company as a whole.
Goldman Sachs is helping Warner broker the deal. Many reports say Warner wants to unload its publishing arm and then make a bid for EMI Group.

Underwood, Songwriters Cheer Charttopper

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BMI recently toasted the creative team behind Carrie Underwood’s #1 hit “Undo It” at an intimate luncheon in Nashville.
The song was co-written by a cross-genre BMI powergroup: Underwood, her frequent collaborator Luke Laird, pop-savvy songwriter Kara DioGuardi, and hard rock hitmaker Marti Frederiksen.
“Undo It” marks Underwood’s thirteenth chart-topper and is the first trip to the top of the country charts for both DioGuardi and Frederiksen.

Pictured are (l-r, seated): co-writers Luke Laird and Kara DioGuardi, Carrie Underwood, and co-writer Marti Frederiksen; (l-r, standing) BMI’s Beth Laird, producer Mark Bright, Bug Music’s Sara Johnson, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, BMI’s Jody Williams, and Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton. Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI Nashville

DISClaimer Single Reviews (3/1/11)

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Welcome to Country Radio Seminar.
You registrants are going to be hearing a lot of great new music this week. Alas, very little of it was on my desk today. There are only a few real highlights.
One of them is Little Big Town. The group’s “The Reason Why” is hands-down the Disc of the Day
And I am always happy when I find a newcomer who shines brightly. Today, the DisCovery Award goes to singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose. She positively sparkles.
KEVIN DEAL/If You Hurt The Ones You Love
Writer: Kevin Deal; Producer: Lloyd Maines; Publisher: Piedrero, ASCAP; Blind Nello (track)
—Drenched in steel guitar, this is decidedly “old school” country music. His singing voice is a mite thin, but the song is so simple and straightforward that it really doesn’t matter.
THE JANEDEAR GIRLS/Shotgun Girl
Writer: Danielle Leverett/Deric Ruttan; Producer: John Rich; Publisher: Sony ATV/Danielle Leverett, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
—The sound is rather compressed, but there’s no denying the infectious drive of this open-road bopper. A winner.
CAITLIN ROSE/Own Side
Writer: Caitlin Rose; Producer: Mark Nevers, Skylar Wilson & Caitlin Rose; Publisher: none listed; Theory 8 (track) (www.thecaitlinrose.com)
—This singer-songwriter really turned heads with her debut EP a couple of years ago. Her first full-length CD is a minor masterpiece. This title tune trembles with yearning and loneliness. Her fragile-rose delivery is completely captivating.
LITTLE BIG TOWN/The Reason Why
Writer: Karen Fairchild/Wayne Kirkpatrick/Kimberly Schlapman/Phillip Sweet/Jimi Westbrook; Producer: Wayne Kirkpatrick & Little Big Town; Publisher: Warner Tamerlane/Tower One/Mad Mother/Manatt Phelps & Phillips, BMI; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The title track to this foursome’s current album is a chugging, relentless slab of sound. It goes without saying that the stacked vocal harmonies are delicious.
JULIE FORESTER/You Only Love Me When I’m Leavin’
Writer: Julie Forester/Mark Stephen Jones; Producer: Bill Warner; Publisher: Texoma Ten/Julie Forester/Harlan Howard, ASCAP/BMI; JF (track) (www.julieforester.com)
—Recorded live and analog—with no auto tuning—this has terrific presence and audio depth. Her soulful phrasing and the lumbering low guitars contrast beautifully. Music to get lost in.
CHARLEY PRIDE/Except For You
Writer: Ben Peters; Producer: Charley Pride; Publisher: Ben Peters/Songs for the Planet, BMI; Music City (track) (www.charleypride.com)
—Are you feeling the need for an ultra romantic love ballad? Step right up. Charley’s got the goods, complete with synth strings.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS/Buttercup
Writer: Lucinda Williams; Producer: Don Was, Eric Liljestrand & Thomas Overby; Publisher: Lucinda Williams, no performance rights listed; Lost Highway (track)
—Blessed, the latest CD by this supremely gifted writer-artist, kicks off with this drawling, bluesy, cautionary ode. He’s a no-account trying to get back in her good graces, and she’s having none of it. Loaded with Southern attitude and rocking sass.
SUSAN GIBSON/Tightrope
Writer: Susan Gibson; Producer: Gabe Rhodes & Susan Gibson; Publisher: Susing Gibsongs/Bug, BMI; FoxTheRecords (track) (www.susangibson.com)
—Susan was the writer behind the 1998 CMA Single of the Year, “Wide Open Spaces,” as performed by the Dixie Chicks. The title tune to her latest solo collection is a lilting little ditty full of lightly poetic imagery. The production surrounding her breathy soprano is minimal, acoustic guitar accompaniment with a tentative-sounding mandolin solo in the middle.
SCOTT GIBSON/Just Keep Drivin’
Writer: Scott Gibson; Producer: Mac McNabb; Publisher: none listed; MMX (track) (www.scottgibsonmusic.com)
—Recorded in Austin, this has a somewhat ragged, raw sound. His plain spoken delivery is adequate, but rather passionless.
BRADLEY MATTHEW/Common Man
Writer: Adrian David Payne; Producer: Les Butler; Publisher: Dreamer’s Road, BMI; CDX (track) (www.bradleymatthewonline.com)
—The track bops and swings. The lyric is a blue-collar dandy. Unfortunately, he can just barely sing.