Tommy Emmanuel Presented With CMA Global Artist Award

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(L-R): CMA CEO Steve Moore, Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel


Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel was presented with the 2011 CMA Global Country Artist Award last night (6/6) by fellow Aussie guitar slinger Keith Urban. The presentation took place during the CMA Global Artist Party at The Stage.
After dazzling the audience with selections from his own catalog as well as a Beatles medley and the Australian folk song “Waltzing Matilda,” Emmanuel was surprised when Urban joined him onstage to make the presentation. The Global Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist who has furthered country music’s popularity and brought it attention in a foreign territory. Previous winners include Paul Brandt (Canada), Troy Cassar-Daley (Australia), Lee Kernaghan (Australia), and Jason McCoy (Canada).
“This award means so much to me because I spend 90 percent of the year on the road, traveling around the world playing music,” said Emmanuel. “And I tell people about America because I love this place. I choose to live in Nashville because a lot of the roots of the music that I play are right here and in Kentucky. I’ve always seen it as not just my job but my calling to get out there and play music and show the younger generation that it’s cool to be yourself and set your mind on being the best that you can.”
Emmanuel’s set and presentation kicked off the CMA Global Artist Party, which featured nine international acts. In addition to Emmanuel, performers included Raintown (UK), Luke Dickens (Australia), Kaylee Bell (New Zealand), McAlister Kemp (Australia), Chad Brownlee (Canada), Dianna Corcoran (Australia), Marlee Scott (Canada) and Dean Brody (Canada). Aussie husband-wife duo O’Shea hosted the standing room only event.

(L-R): Top row: CMA President Steve Moore, artist Marlee Scott, artist Kaylee Bell, artist Chad Brownlee, Global Artist Party producer/director Mark Moffatt, artist Tommy Emmanuel, artist Drew McAlister (McAlister/Kemp), artist Claire McArthur (Raintown), artist Troy Kemp (McAlister/Kemp), artist Paul Bain (Raintown), artist Dean Brody, artist Dianna Corcoran, artist Luke Dickens. Bottom row: AristoMedia Director of Operations Matt Watkins, hosts Jay and Mark O’Shea, AristoMedia President/CEO Jeff Walker.

Little Big Town Lead Ride For A Cure

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Little Big Town will host the star-studded Ride For A Cure on Sun., June 12 to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation. The ride begins at Nashville’s Roundabout Plaza at 10:30 a.m. and ends at Harley Davidson of Columbia Superstore for lunch and a concert by Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jerrod Niemann, David Nail and more.
Ticket details at (615) 256-2002
 or www.NashvilleRideForACure.com
•••••
Another upcoming event benefiting TJ Martell’s fight against cancer and AIDS is the Sun., June 26 “Tennessee Meets Tuscany” dinner. Green Door Gourmet along with notable Nashville restaurants Miel, Caffe Nonna, 1808 Grille, and Dulce Desserts, will provide a sumptuous Tuscan inspired four-course feast just a few steps from the fields where the menu items were grown. Musicians Davide Facchini and Anita Camarella will bring their Italian homelands charm for the night’s entertainment.
To purchase tickets, please contact the T.J. Martell Founation Office at (615) 256-2002 or [email protected] or click here.

Calendar For Busy CMA Music Fest Week

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Email events and updates to [email protected].
Monday, June 6
Billboard Country Music Summit
8 am – 5 pm: Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
5:30 – 6:30 pm: Cocktail reception and roundtable discussions
Performances & Events
6 pm: CMA Global Artist Party at The Stage on Broadway. Performers include Tommy Emmanuel, Kaylee Bell (New Zealand), Dean Brody (Canada), Chad Brownlee (Canada), Diana Corcoran (Australia), Luke Dickens (Australia), McAlister Kemp (Australia), O’Shea (Australia), Raintown (UK) and Marlee Scott (Canada). O’Shea is hosting.
8 pm: Darius & Friends at the Wildhorse Saloon. Benefit for St. Jude featuring Darius Rucker, Rodney Atkins, Easton Corbin, Justin Moore, and Jerrod Niemann.
9 pm: Show Dog-Universal’s JT Hodges performs free show at Margaritaville.
Tuesday, June 7
Billboard Country Music Summit
9 am – 5 pm: Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Including the 3:15 pm panel moderated by MusicRow Publisher David Ross “Publishing: Red and Black Ink; Return on Investment & Entrepreneurship in a Business of Pennies—The New Roadmap.”
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Closing cocktail reception with Kellie Pickler.
Performances & Events
6 am: Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Fishing Tournament at Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville. Participants include Bryan White, Joey + Rory, James Wesley, Bo Bice, Bobby Bare, Daryle Singletary and more.
12 pm: 8th Annual AristoMedia Global Show at The Second Fiddle. High Valley (Canada), Brett Kissel (Canada), Ryan Laird (Canada), Mike & Ashley (New Zealand), Craig Morrison (Australia), Six West (Canada), Springfield (Australia), and Steve & Heather (France). Hosted by Australian sister trio The McClymonts. 12:30 pm: Ashton Shepherd lunch and performance on BMI Rooftop. Invitation only.
1 pm: Payton Rae EP Release/Fan Club Party at The Rutledge. Streaming live here.
3 pm: Aristo Summer Show at The Second Fiddle. Performances by Adam Gregory, Amber Hayes, Deborah Allen, DJ Miller, Lacy Green, Margaret Phillips, Rachel Holder and Ty Herndon. Streaming live here.
4 pm: Storme Warren’s 5th Annual Nashville Navy Celebration at Limelight. With Jimmy Wayne, Jeff Bates, Trent Willmon, Keith Anderson, Danielle Peck, Wade Hayes, Ray Scott, Jaime Fox, Memarie Gayle, Shane Thomas, Joanna Smith and more.
6 – 9 pm: 103 WKDF Country Beach Party presented by Bridgestone at The Stage. Appearances by Darryl Worley, Kellie Pickler, David Nail and Thompson Square. Benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Nashville. 7-11 pm: Music City Gives Back concert with Rodney Atkins. Between 2nd and 4th Ave. downtown, features guests Josh Thompson, Thompson Square and more. Benefits American Red Cross Relief Fund for tornado victims.
8 pm: Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert at Rocketown. Benefits Musicians On Call.
Grand Ole Opry
5 pm: Edens Edge and Jerrod Niemann perform for free at Opry Plaza stage.
7 & 9:30 pm: Two sold out Grand Ole Opry shows feature Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Jerrod Niemann, Oak Ridge Boys, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood and more.
Wednesday, June 8
CMT Music Awards
6 pm: CMT Music Awards Red Carpet
7 pm: CMT Music Awards. Performances by Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, host Kid Rock, Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland.
CMA Music Festival
11 am: The Seventh Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade with Bill Anderson and the Oak Ridge Boys as the Grand Marshals, other artists participating include Deborah Allen, Lynn Anderson, Katie Armiger, Sherrie Austin, Bo Bice, Bomshel, Ash Bowers, Crystal Bowersox, Lee Brice, Carter Twins, Carter’s Chord, Dailey & Vincent, Sarah Darling, Billy Dean, The Dirt Drifters, Eli Young Band, Tyler Farr, Ashley Gearing, Andy Griggs, The Harters, Walker Hayes, Her & Kings County, Ty Herndon, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Buddy Jewell, Jason Jones, LoCash Cowboys, Lunabelles, Miss Willie Brown, The Roys, Daryle Singletary, Stealing Angels, Josh Thompson, Tiffany, Rhonda Vincent, and Mark Wills.
1 – 4 pm: Sixth Annual CMA Music Festival Chevy Block Party at Riverfront Stage. Hosted by WSM’s Beth Brightwell and Rick Marino, performers include Josh Thompson, Lee Brice, Eli Young Band, Uncle Kracker and Randy Houser.
Performances & Events
7 am: 4th Annual GAC Kick-off Breakfast at Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Performances by Lee Ann Womack, Ashton Shepherd, David Nail and Laura Bell Bundy. Sold out.
11 am: Wild Bill’s Nashville opens for Music Fest week at 101 Broadway
1-3 pm: Craig Morgan annual Fan Club Party at 12th & Porter
2 pm: Shania Twain announcement. Invitation only.
3 pm: Tracy Lawrence Fan Club Party at Rocketown. Special performances by Lacey Brown and Rick Huckaby
7 pm: Eric Lee Beddingfield fan appreciation performance at Nashville Center Stage (514 8th Ave. S.)
7 – 10 pm: The Duets of Country Music at Al Menah Shriner’s Temple with Bill Anderson & Jan Howard, Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius, Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely, David Frizzell & Shelly West, and Jean Shepard & Harold Hawkins
10 pm: Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at the Ryman Auditorium. Benefit for MusiCares and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library features Doug Kershaw, Dolly Parton, The Quebe Sisters, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and Mel Tillis.
10 pm: Dierks Bentley Last Call Ball fan club party at Rocketown. Sold out.
10 pm: Glen Templeton performance with special guest Kelly Parkes at Cadillac Ranch
10:30 pm: CMT Awards After-Party with Chase Rice, Florida-Georgia Line, and Jesse Rice at Tin Roof.
Thursday, June 9
CMA Music Fest
9 am: Riverfront Stage. Gary Allan, Emerson Drive, Colt Ford, Sammy Kershaw, Neal McCoy, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Jake Owen, Randy Rogers Band, Steel Magnolia
10 am – 5 pm: Fan Fair Hall at Nashville Convention Center
10 am – 6 pm: Family Zone at Walk of Fame Park
10 am – 6 pm: Gildan Fun Zone. Broadway, 1st – 4th Avenues
10 am – 6 pm: Power Zone, 2nd Ave. and Church
10 am – 5 pm: Sports Zone Bud Light Stage. The Cleverlys, CMA Celebrity Close Up Hosted by Blair Garner, CMA Songwriters Series presented by ASCAP (featuring Blaine Larsen, Brad Crisler, Marla Cannon-Goodman and Brent Anderson), Due West, Ashley Gearing, Sean Patrick McGraw and Ty Stone
10 am – 6 pm: Chevy Stage. Paul Bogart, Cooking Demo with Cracker Boy, Jolie Holliday & Sonny Burgess, Sonia Leigh, Meet & Greet with Jimmy Houston and Larry Nixon, Fishing/Hunting Clinic with Bob Redfern, Skyler
11 am – 6 pm: Lays Stage, Bridgestone Arena. Blackberry Smoke, Bush Hawg, Classic Country Show (Jeannie Seely, Moore & Moore, Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent, Lynn Anderson and David Frizzell), Edens Edge, Casey James, Jason Jones, Daryle Singletary, and Joanna Smith
11 am – 8 pm: Hard Rock Cafe Stage. Carter Twins, Cross County Junction, The Davisson Brothers Band, Ira Dean, Courtney Dickinson, HER & Kings County, Captain Kid, Sunny Ledfurd, Matt Mason, Matt Stillwell, Zane Williams, Kimberly Wolff
8 pm: Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Jason Aldean, Easton Corbin, Sara Evans, Casey James, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Zac Brown Band (feat. Alan Jackson, Amos Lee, Sonia Leigh and Randy Travis)
Performances and Events
10 am: “Rise, Shine & Party Time” acoustic concert at The Rutledge with Steel Magnolia, Laura Bell Bundy, and James Otto.
11:30 am – 2 pm: SunTrust Hot Dog Day at SunTrust Music Row Branch.
1 pm: George Jones fan club party at The Palace
2 – 5 pm: Montgomery Gentry fan club party at Rocketown
4 pm: Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction and performances by Steve Wariner and Josh Thompson at Hall of Fame Park.
4 pm: Eric Church previews his new album Chief on Sirius XM’s The Highway from Music City Theater. Attendance open to fan club members
5 pm: Gloriana Line Dance Contest at Family Zone Stage. Instructional video here.
10 pm: BMI Songwriters Showcase at Hard Rock, benefiting Musicians on Call. Featuring Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Rhett Akins, and Thomas Rhett. After-party hosted by LoCash Cowboys. Tickets here.
Bonnaroo (June 9-12 in Manchester, TN) —Sleigh Bells, Deerhunter, Band of Skulls, Best Coast, Wavves, The Walkmen, Karen Elson, Band of Heathens, Hayes Carll
Friday, June 10
CMA Music Fest
9 am: Bill Anderson, Frankie Ballard, Bucky Covington, Brett Eldredge, Jo Dee Messina, Randy Montana, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, James Wesley, Darryl Worley
10 am – 5 pm: Fan Fair Hall at Nashville Convention Center
10 am – 6 pm: Family Zone at Walk of Fame Park
10 am – 6 pm: Gildan Fun Zone. Broadway, 1st – 4th Avenues
10 am – 6 pm: Power Zone, 2nd Ave. and Church
10 am – 5 pm: Sports Zone Bud Light Stage. Performers include Burns & Poe, CMA Celebrity Close Up Hosted by Blair Garner (with Ashton Shepherd), CMA Songwriters Series presented by BMI (featuring Her & Kings County, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Ray Scott and Tiffany)
10 am – 6 pm: Chevy Stage. Paul Bogart, Chevy Celebrity Outdoor Challenge (hosted by Bob Refern and Travis ‘T-Bone’ Turner, Bone Collectors, Cooking Demo with Cracker Boy, Daniel Lee Martin, Meet & Greet with Jimmy Houston and Larry Nixon, Payton Rae, Skyler
11 am – 6 pm: Lays Stage, Bridgestone Arena. Katie Armiger, Steve Azar, Laura Bell Bundy, Earl Thomas Conley, The Harters, Ty Herndon, JT Hodges, Miss Willie Brown, Kip Moore
11 am – 8 pm: Hard Rock Cafe Stage. The Band Chelli, Rachael Farley, Mickie James, Derek Joseph, The Lost Trailers with Corbette Jackson, Lunabelles, Dustin Lynch, Dave Pahanish, Matt Ramsey, Chase Rice, Scarletta, Hollywood Yates “The Wolf”
8 pm: Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Dierks Bentley, The Cleverlys, Lady Antebellum, Reba, Ashton Shepherd, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Clay Walker
Performances and Events
10 am – 1 pm: Teddy Gentry (Alabama) performs with “Best New Nashville” artists at Cadillac Ranch. Meet & Greet to follow upstairs
4 – 6 pm: Steve Holy and Mark Cooke host Double Fan Club Party at Cotton Valley Records (713 18th Ave. S.). RSVP here.
4 – 6 pm: Stephen Cochran Project fan club party at Cadillac Ranch
8 pm: Season Finale of CMT’s Next Superstar. Guest performance by Kristen Chenoweth.
10 pm: ASCAP Songwriters Showcase at Hard Rock, benefiting Musicians On Call. Featuring Dave Berg, Ashley Gorley and Clay Mills. Average Joe’s hosts after-party. Tickets here.
Grand Ole Opry—Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Roy Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus, Randy Travis, Bradley Gaskin, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, and more.
Bonnaroo—Arcade Fire, Florence + The Machine, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne, The Decemberists, Matt & Kim, Ray Lamontagne, Big Boi, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Warren Haynes Band, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Wanda Jackson
Saturday, June 11
CMA Music Fest
9 am: Riverfront Stage. Crystal Bowersox, Jason Michael Carroll, Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Holy, Lonestar, David Lee Murphy, David Nail, Corey Smith, Mel Tillis, Chuck Wicks
10 am – 5 pm: Fan Fair Hall at Nashville Convention Center
10 am – 6 pm: Family Zone at Walk of Fame Park
10 am – 6 pm: Gildan Fun Zone. Broadway, 1st – 4th Avenues
10 am – 6 pm: Power Zone, 2nd Ave. and Church
10 am – 5 pm: Sports Zone Bud Light Stage. Brother Trouble, CMA Celebrity Close Up Hosted by Blair Garner, CMA Songwriters Series presented by SESAC (featuring Margaret Durante, Tyler Farr, Matt Stillwell and Winfield’s Locket)
10 am – 6 pm: Chevy Stage. Bone Collectors, Chevy Celebrity Outdoor Challenge (hosted by Bob Refern and Travis ‘T-Bone’ Turner), Cooking Demo with Cracker Boy, Daniel Lee Martin, Russell Dickerson, Austin Dillon Q&A and Skyler
11 am – 6 pm: Lays Stage, Bridgestone Arena. T. Graham Brown, Sarah Darling, The Dirt Drifters, Bradley Gaskin, Andy Griggs, Hunter Hayes, Jennette McCurdy, Jamie O’Neal and Stealing Angels
11 am – 8 pm: Hard Rock Cafe Stage. Greg Bates, Brinn Black, Lacey Brown, Ty Brown, Buffy, Common Thread, Cowboy Troy, Tyler Farr, Martin McDaniel, Thomas Rhett, Bridgette Tatum, and Clint Wade
8 pm: Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Trace Adkins, Clint Black, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Thompson Square, Josh Turner, and Chris Young
Performances & Events
9 am: Jo Dee Messina Fan Club Party and performance with guest Crystal Bowersox at Belcourt Theatre.
9:30 am: City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge at Greer Stadium. Brett Eldredge, Chuck Wicks, Jake Owen, James Wesley, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Kerry Collins, LoCash Cowboys, Robin Meade, Denise Jones of Point of Grace and players from the Nashville Predators have expanded the team rosters and will take the field for the highly anticipated game between longtime rivals Grand Ole Opry and After MidNite with Blair Garner. American Idol alums Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina will also join.
11:30 am-2:30 pm: Gildan Activewear to break Guinness World Record for Largest T-Shirt in Centennial Park. Danny Gokey and Emmylou Harris will appear. Special Musicians Corner event in Centennial Park will feature Love and Theft, The Henningsens, Sara Jean Kelly, Heather Morgan and Andrew Combs.
11:30 am: Craig Wiseman songwriter session in CMHoF’s Ford Theater
2 pm: Gretchen Wilson fan club party at Studio Gallery/Fontanel
2 – 4 pm: Jason Michael Carroll fan club party at Whiskey Bent Saloon
6 pm: Burns & Poe perform at Whiskey Bent Saloon (306 Broadway)
8 – 10 pm: Stephen Cochran Project, Kyle Turley and Caddle perform at 12th & Porter
10 pm: SESAC Songwriter showcase at Hard Rock, benefiting Musicians On Call. Featuring Monty Powell, Rob Hatch, Brian White, and Jon Nicholson. After party to follow. Tickets here.
Grand Ole Opry
3 pm: Grand Ole Opry Matinee at Ryman Auditorium with Mandy Barnett, Thompson Square, and Anna Wilson among others.
7 pm: At Grand Ole Opry House. Roy Clark, Charley Pride, Diamond Rio, Ralph Stanley, Mel Tillis, and more.
Bonnaroo—The Black Keys, Mumford & Suns, Eminem, Girl Talk, Old Crow Medicine Show, Buffalo Springfield, String Cheese Incident, Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas, Dr. John with the original Meters and Allen Toussaint, Amos Lee, Loretta Lynn, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, Miss Willie Brown and more.
Sunday, June 12
CMA Music Fest
9 am: Riverfront Stage. The Bellamy Brothers, Roy Clark, Terri Clark, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Josh Kelley, LoCash Cowboys, Troy Olsen, and Sunny Sweeney
10 am – 3 pm: Fan Fair Hall at Nashville Convention Center
10 am – 4 pm: Family Zone at Walk of Fame Park
10 am – 6 pm: Gildan Fun Zone. Broadway, 1st – 4th Avenues
10 am – 4 pm: Power Zone, 2nd Ave. and Church
10 am – 4 pm: Sports Zone Bud Light Stage. Performers include Anita Cochran, Mark Cooke, Curtis and Luckey, Josh Hoge, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Kristen Kelly, Frank Ortega, The Roys and Bridgette Tatum.
10 am – 4 pm: Chevy Stage. Cooking Demo with Cracker Boy, Jolie Holliday, Fishing/Hunting Clinic with Bob Redfern, Skyler, Julie Roberts
11 am – 4:30 pm: Lays Stage, Bridgestone Arena. Bo Bice, Carter’s Chord, Dailey & Vincent, Foster & Lloyd, Walker Hayes, Jaron & TLRTL, Christian Kane, Robin Meade, Mark Wills
11 am – 7:15 pm: Hard Rock Cafe Stage. Alyssa Bonagura, Chris Cavanaugh, Corey Crowder, Heath Forbes, Matt Kennon, Carly Pearce, JD Shelburne, Tommy Steele, Brianna Tyson, and Mark Wills
8 pm: Nightly Concerts at LP Field. The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, the JaneDear girls, Miranda Lambert, Tracy Lawrence, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, and Jimmy Wayne
Performances & Events
10:30 am: 5th Annual Ride For a Cure benefitng T.J. Martell Foundation. With CaliRodi, Tyler Farr, Dean Alexander, Bo Bice and Eric Paslay. Performance by Little Big Town with special guests to follow.
Bonnaroo—The Strokes, Iron & Wine, Cold War Kids, Widespread Panic, Robert Plant & Band of Joy, G. Love & Special Sauce, Explosions In The Sky, Gregg Allman, Galactic, Superjam feat. Dan Auerbach and Dr. John, Robyn, Smith Westerns, Mavis Staples and more.

Stars Added To Tomorrow Night's CMT Awards

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Shania Twain and Taylor Swift recreate "Thelma & Louise" for the CMT Music Awards. Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT.com


The star lineup continues to grow for tomorrow night’s (6/8) 2011 CMT Music Awards. The Band Perry has been added to the performance schedule, and Shania Twain and Taylor Swift will join forces to open the show by recreating Thelma & Louise. Also set to appear are Glee’s Chord Overstreet, Ron White, Donald Trump, Kenny Rogers and host Kid Rock. Additional presenters on-hand at the 10th anniversary show will include Martina McBride and Little Big Town, actress Cheryl Hines, Gary Busey, and Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
Other newly announced performers set for the Nationwide Insurance stage include Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Hunter Hayes, The JaneDear Girls, Thompson Square and CMT’S Next Superstar Finalists Matt Mason and Steven Clawson.
The 2011 CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridestone Arena on CMT and CMT.com. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Big & Rich, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan.
Set to present are Shania Twain, Sara Evans, Justin Bieber, Sheryl Crow, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina, Train, Kristen Chenoweth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Melissa Peterman, Dancing With The Stars winner Hines Ward, Green Bay Packers’ Clay Matthews and actress/songwriter Mary Steenburgen.

CAA To Relocate Nashville Offices

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Creative Artists Agency has announced plans to relocate its Nashville offices to the SunTrust Building downtown. Currently located at 3310 West End Ave., CAA’s 65-person team will move to its new 23,000 square foot space once construction is completed this fall.
“This move marks a new era for us,” said CAA’s head of music and managing partner, Rob Light. “We began our Nashville office as a one-man operation nearly 20 years ago and our team here has since built it into a dominant industry force. The new office is in the heart of this dynamic city and will offer much more space for our growing operations. This will contribute to the most effective environment for continuing to deliver the best possible service to our clients.”
CAA’s Nashville operations was established in 1991 and was the agency’s first office outside of Los Angeles. The company also has offices in New York, Chicago, London, Beijing, Dubai and more.

Lady A Sets Release Date

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Lady Antebellum announced today (6/7) that their third Capitol Nashville studio album Own The Night will be released on Sept. 13, 2011. It’s the first major album release date set for the fourth quarter, hoping to score with holiday shoppers.
The project’s lead single “Just A Kiss” is the trio’s fastest rising single to date, climbing into the Top 15 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart in five weeks.
Own The Night follows the band’s monster sophomore release Need You Now. Since debuting in January 2010, that album has sold over five million copies worldwide, spawned three multi-week No. 1 hits (“Need You Now,” “American Honey,” “Our Kind of Love”), taken home five Grammys, and a dozen other trophies.
“We took more time to write and record this record than we’ve ever done before,” says Charles Kelley. “I remember looking at Hillary and Dave at the Grammy’s this year, on the wildest night of our lives, and saying ‘this is amazing…we’ll never get to experience a moment like this again, but now we have to go home and get to work.'”
“And that’s exactly what we did,” adds Dave Haywood. “We packed up and flew home from LA, cleared our calendar of everything and went into rehearsal with the musicians. I love that part of recording…taking the songs we’ve written and bringing them to life with these musicians who are so incredibly talented.”
“One of our favorite songs on the new record is called ‘We Owned The Night,’ which is about a special once-in-a-lifetime moment, and we thought that naming the album around that same sentiment was really appropriate,” says Hillary Scott. “It’s also about the experience we want to create every night in concert for our fans…together, we own the night!”

Next Big Nashville Expands With SoundLand

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Organizers of Next Big Nashville are upping the ante for this fall’s event. The annual festival is evolving under the new moniker SoundLand, a four-day, indoor/outdoor set to hit Nashville Sept. 21-24.
SoundLand will feature the usual showcases, concerts, VIP Parties and music business workshops, and will expand with the addition of outdoor stages, an arts village, local food and more.
In recent years, Next Big Nashville had combined with Leadership Music’s Digital Summit. The two organizations have parted in that respect, with LM continuing on with plans for an upcoming Digital Summit.
SoundLand will have an educational/workshop component but it will not be a traditional conference. Instead of holding events in a single location, there will be “Field Trips” and artist-led workshops.
No artist performance submissions are being accepted this year, instead the event will be purely booked by NBN organizers.
A limited number of Earlybird wristbands are available for $35. The price jumps to $55 later this month. More here.
 

Industry Ink Tuesday

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Journalism Awards Presented
The Charlie Lamb Awards for country music journalism were presented recently during the International Country Music Conference at Belmont University. Among the winners were The Tennessean’s Sr. Music Writer Peter Cooper, and journalist Colin Escott, who most recently contributed a 25,000 word essay for the packaging of the acclaimed Hank Williams Mother’s Best Box Set.

Pictured (L-R): Award sponsor Gary Walker, award winner Peter Cooper, Charlie Lamb and award winner Colin Escott. Photo: Michael Krouskop.


Redmond Reaps Great Harvest
Former radio promotion exec Joe Redmond and his wife Wanda have closed on the purchase of a Great Harvest Bread Co. location in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Redmond announced his exit from the music business earlier this year. Visit his new endeavor on the web or call him at (615) 414-5488.

(R-L): David Werner, John Esposito


Esposito Honored
Warner Music Nashville’s President & CEO John Esposito recently received the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university’s interim president, David Werner, presented Esposito with the award in recognition of significant lifetime accomplishments.
Symphony Welcomes Concertmaster
The Nashville Symphony has appointed Jun Iwasaki as the orchestra’s new concertmaster. Currently concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony in Portland, he will officially assume his post at the start of the 2011/12 season, which opens on September 9 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Rolfe Exits KWNR
Cary Rolfe has resigned from his post as PD of KWNR/Las Vegas. He joined KWNR in October 2007 and says he has “enjoyed everything that Clear Channel and Las Vegas have had to offer. I will be leaving Country radio and heading in a new direction that I will announce within the next week.”
BMI Launches Web Series, Hires Patrick Cook
BMI launched an online video series recently at www.bmi.com/behindthesong featuring award-winning songwriters/producers: Kara DioGuardi, Colbie Caillat, J.R. Rotem, Jim Jonsin, Rodney Jerkins and Jude Cole. Named “Behind the Song: The BMI Songwriter/Producer Series,” the six-week web series will offer candid, informational sit-down interviews.
Patrick Cook, noted musical theatre composer, actor and author has been appointed Director of Musical Theatre and Jazz for BMI, it was announced by Charlie Feldman, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations New York. Cook will be based in BMI’s New York office and will report directly to Feldman. Among Cook’s theatre credits is his musical Captains Courageous. An accomplished jazz pianist, Mr. Cook is well known in the New York jazz community and attended Juilliard.
HFA Rocks The Jukebox
The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), a leading provider of rights management, licensing, and royalty services for the music industry, and NSM Music, a leading digital jukebox service, have announced a licensing arrangement. Under the terms of the deal, HFA will offer its more than 46,000 affiliated publishers the opportunity to participate in NSM Music’s digital jukebox service.

Apple Unveils iCloud Service

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If good things come to those who wait, then Apple is finally ready to reward us by unveiling the long-awaited, long-speculated iCloud today (6/6). Steve Jobs led the presentation at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The iCloud service will store users’ digital files online and automatically push them to iOS-based devices such as iPhones, iPads, PCs or Macs. Apple Mail, Calendar and Contacts will now update automatically on all devices. Users automatically get 5GB of free storage, but purchased music, apps, books and photos will not count against the total.
Much of the speculation about iCloud has centered around Apple’s iTunes, which will now allow users who have purchased songs from iTunes to re-download from the cloud to other iOS-based devices at no charge. For an additional charge of $25 annually, users can try iTunes Match which scans a music library for files not purchased in the store and upgrades them to 256kbps AAC format. For tracks not matched in the store, a manual upload is available.
Additionally, the App Store will use iCloud to put all downloaded apps on every available device. Purchased books will be synced. Users will be able to create documents, spreadsheets or presentations which can then be stored and accessed via the cloud. A new application called Photo Stream will allow photos to by synced across all devices, but cloud storage is limited to the last 1000 photos.
The iCloud service will be free for use on devices running iOS5, which is expected out in fall.

Save The Dates: Awards Season Draws Near

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The CMA Awards will be presented Nov. 9.


The weather may be hot, but cool weather and cooler parties are on the horizon. Nashville’s music business is already eyeing the fall awards season, which brings numerous annual events, culminating with the CMA Awards.
Among the causes for celebration are performing rights organizations saluting the most-performed songs of the year, and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions.
All of these exclusive black-tie events are invitation only, except for the CMA Awards, which offers tickets to the public.
Here’s the list in chronological order:
Tues., Sept. 13—ASCAP Country Music Awards, venue to be announced

Sun., Oct. 16— 41st annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony. Renaissance Hotel Nashville

Mon., Nov. 7— SESAC Nashville Music Awards at the company’s Music Row offices
Tues., Nov. 8—59th annual BMI Country Awards at the company’s Music Row offices
Wed., Nov. 9—45th annual CMA Awards air live (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
MusicRow keeps a running list of industry events here.