Industry Toasts Moore’s No. 1 “If Heaven…”

BMI and ASCAP teamed up yesterday afternoon (9/26) at CMA’s headquarters to honor the songwriting team behind Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore’s No. 1 “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Written by Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch, and Brett Jones, the song was originally given to Moore’s producer Jeremy Stover over five years ago. As they finished recording Moore’s second album Outlaws Like Me, Stover recommended that “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” be the first single and the rest is fairly recent history.

Pictured: BMI’s Jody Williams, Universal Music Publishing’s Pat Higdon, producer Jeremy Stover, co-writers Dallas Davidson and Rob Hatch, Valory Recording artist Justin Moore, Big Machine/Valory Music’s Scott Borchetta, co-writer Brett Jones and ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan. Photo: Eric England

Bluegrass Blooms In Downtown Nashville

This week is the 2011 IBMA World of Bluegrass conference, convention and fan festival in Music City. Collectively, more than 20,000 will attend the events.

To kick off the event, The Del McCoury Band and special guests including Dierks Bentley and Vince Gill performed today (9/27) on the grounds of the Ryman Auditorium.

World of Bluegrass week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2) includes the Business Conference, the IBMA Awards Show (Sept. 29) and Bluegrass Fan Fest (Sept. 30-Oct. 2).

Here are some of the week’s highlights. Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the Nashville Convention Center on Commerce Street. Details here.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27:
8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Educational Sessions
12:00 noon Del McCoury & Friends Salute the 100th Birthday of Bill Monroe Ryman Auditorium Patio free and open to the public
12:30 – 5:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
4:00- 5:30 p.m.  Seminars
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Attendee Happy Hour
7:15 – 7:45 p.m. Bearfoot showcase
7:45 – 8:10 p.m. The Farewell Drifters showcase
8:15 – 8:40 p.m. Nu-Blue showcase
8:50 – 9:15 p.m. Jim Lauderdale showcase
9:20 – 9:45 p.m. Town Mountain showcase
10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. IBMA Songwriter Showcases
10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. After Hours Showcases including Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst, Alan Bibey & Wayne Benson, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys, Dehlia Low
11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Songwriter Jam Session

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28:
8:00 – 10:30 a.m. Seminars
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. The Roys showcase
11:30 – 11:55 a.m. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen showcase
12:00 – 12:25 p.m. Blue Moon Rising showcase
12:45 – 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open FREE ADMISSION DAY
1:00- 3:00 p.m. Workshops and Seminars
5:00 –5:30 p.m. The Gibson Brothers showcase
5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Lonesome River Band showcase
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Ron Block showcase
5:00 – 5:20 p.m. The Ridgerunners showcase
5:20 – 5:40 p.m. Carolina Road showcase
5:40 – 6:00 p.m. Melvin Goines & Windy Mountain showcase
6:30 – 6:45 p.m. Attendee Happy Hour
6:45 – 7:10 p.m. Mountain Faith showcase
7:15 – 7:40 p.m. No One You Know showcase
7:45 – 8:10 p.m. Cumberland River showcase
8:20- 8:45 p.m. Monogram showcase
8:50 – 9:15 p.m. The April Veach Band showcase
9:20 – 9:45 p.m. Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass showcase
10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. After Hours Showcases, including Ronnie Bowman, Johnny & Jeanette Williams, Melonie Cannon, Flatt Lonesome, Travers Chandler & Avery County, Edgar Loudermilk, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Lonesome Meadow, Breaking Grass
11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Songwriter Jam Session

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29:
8:00 – 10:30 a.m. Seminars
10:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. Special Awards Luncheon
1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
1:15 – 3:00 p.m. Seminars
2:00- 4:00 p.m. Disc Jockey Taping Sessions
7:30 – 10:00 p.m. International Bluegrass Music Awards, Ryman Auditorium
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. After Party at The Hard Rock Café featuring The Boxcars, The Cleverlys, Monroeville

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30:
10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
MAIN STAGE
11:00 a.m. The Grascals
11:35 a.m. Don Rigsby & Midnight Call
12:10 p.m. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
12:45 p.m. The Larry Stephenson Band
1:20 p.m. Darin & Brooke Aldridge
1:55 p.m. Balsam Range
2:30 p.m. Grasstowne
3:05 p.m. Blue Highway
3:40 p.m. Ronnie Bowman
4:15 p.m. Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
4:50 p.m. Jim Lauderdale
5:15 p.m. intermission
6:15 p.m. The Steep Canyon Rangers
6:50 p.m. Joey + Rory
7:25 p.m. The Boxcars
8:00 p.m. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
9:40 p.m. J.D. Crowe & The New South
10:30 p.m. Marty Raybon & Full Circle
11:20 p.m. Peter Rowan’s Bill Monroe Tribute

GRAND MASTER FIDDLER CHAMPIONSHIP STAGE
10:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Grand Master Fiddling Championships
4:45 p.m. Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
5:15 p.m. Suzy Bogguss
6:00 p.m. Volume Five
8:00 p.m. Kids on Bluegrass

SATURDAY, OCT. 1:
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m. NewTown
12:00 noon Mark Johnson & Emory Lester
12:30 p.m. The Spinney Brothers
1:00 p.m. The Darrell Webb Band
1:30 p.m. Special Consensus
2:05 p.m. Jesse McReynolds & The McReynolds Tradition
2:40 p.m. Sierra Hull & Highway 111
3:15 p.m. The Josh Williams Band
3:50 p.m. New Found Road
4:25 p.m. Audie Blaylock & Redline
5:00 p.m. Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
5:25 p.m. intermission
6:25 p.m. Tribute to Harley Allen
7:00 p.m. 18 South
7:30 p.m. Presentation of the Grand Masters Fiddle Champion
7:50 p.m. Alison Krauss & Union Station
9:00 p.m. The SteelDrivers
9:45 p.m. Dale Ann Bradley
10:30 p.m. Russell Moore & 111rd Tyme Out
11:15 p.m. The Cleverlys

GRAND MASTER FIDDLER CHAMPIONSHIP STAGE
10:00 a.m.- 5:45 p.m. Grand Master Fiddling Championships
12:45 p.m. Della Mae
2:30 p.m. The Whites
4:00 p.m. The Crystal Plohman Fiddlers

SUNDAY, OCT. 2:
9:00 a.m. Bluegrass Chapel service
9:45 a.m. Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa
10:10 a.m. Mike Scott
10:35 a.m. America’s Bluegrass Gospel Show
11:20 a.m. The Isaacs

 

 

Armiger Launches Deluxe Package With Opry Performance

Katie Armiger bumped into WIVK Programmer and Hall of Fame inductee Mike Hammond backstage shortly before her Grand Ole Opry debut. (L-R) Cold River Rep, Halie Hampton, Armiger and Hammond.

Katie Armiger finally got to stand in country music’s inner circle, that is the six foot circle of dark oak wood cut from the original Ryman Auditorium and inlaid into the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House. Armiger made her debut on the coveted stage Sept. 23 and performed during the 7 p.m. show. The timing was no accident, as it coincided with the Sept. 20 release of a deluxe package to iTunes of her album, Confessions of a Nice Girl.

The deluxe package features four original songs including her current single “I Do, But Do I,” a brand new song entitled “Worth It,” a dance mix of her smash hit “Best Song Ever,” and an acoustic version of “Cry Cry Cry.” The Confessions of a Nice Girl (The True Confessional) deluxe album also includes music videos for “Best Song Ever” and “I Do, But Do I.”

Armiger wrote or co-wrote nine of the 13 songs on the disc, sharing talents and ideas with some of Nashville’s most innovative tunesmiths, such as Sarah Buxton and Blair Daly (“Kiss Me Now,” “Leaving Home,” “Scream”), Rebecca Lynn Howard (“That’s Why”) and Joe West (“Can’t Keep Myself From Loving You”).

The feisty 19-year-old singer/songwriter is currently on the road opening for Darius Rucker and has also opened shows this year for Ronnie Dunn, Little Big Town and Clay Walker. Armiger has been stoking her career fires since the release of her first album almost five years ago. In 2007 her single, “17 In Abilene” hit the MusicRow chart with a record-setting debut for a solo independent artist.

Promoting #Hashtag Happiness

Twitter is becoming a favored source for entertainment industry news and promotion, however the volume of tweets is reaching tsunami proportions.

One way to fine tune the tweet-flow, is by using hashtags, a word preceded by the poundsign, i.e. #mynews. Hypebot.com recently wrote about some of the favorite tags its readers are using to parse the news. Although the hashtag uses up some of Twitter’s precious 140 character real estate, most news stories are a headline with a shortened link to the full article, so the space taken up is less of a consideration than the increased search visibility which the tag provides.

For example, Sonicbids, a company which helps connect bands and promoters recommends #ArtistTip or #MusicNews. Music 3.0, a book by author Bobby Owsinski dedicated to how companies can use social media, provides a pretty long list of tags—#musicbiz, #musicbusiness, #musicindustry, #musicadvice, #musicmarketing, #crowdfunding, #recordlabels, #artistadvice, #majors, #musicindustrytips.

Thenextweb.com warns readers to use caution however, and be careful to not cause, “hashtag fatigue.” It suggests some pound sign Dos and Don’ts. For example Do use hashtags to keep track of communities, join a cause, run a contest or encourage topic participation. But Don’t use them on every word in your tweet or string several of them together in an effort to get picked up by more searches.

Social media still lacks the precision to allow users to pinpoint and discover specific topics. Until that search ability improves, hashtags are one way to find and be found.

 

Honky Tonk TV Acquired

Weekly country music news and entertainment television show Honky Tonk TV has been acquired by Phoenix-based Morgans Media Group, it was announced today (9/27). Morgans Media Group will retain HTTV’s current production team and hosts, who have been with the program since 2009.

“We are thrilled to welcome Honky Tonk TV to the Morgans’ family and to expand our love for music and entertainment,” says Geoff Owens, President/Chief Executive Officer of Morgans Media Group. “We’re committed to an immediate growth strategy, beginning in the 4th quarter, to help the show maximize its target audience and more aggressively establish its brand. Our plan also includes building a stronger presence in Nashville and other key markets.”

HTTV Executive Producer Chris James will become Chief Creative Officer of the new company, which recently relocated its headquarters to the back-lot of Universal Studios Orlando.

“Morgans Media Group believes in our creativity and innovation, which was important to us, ” says James. “We started the Honky Tonk brand back in July 2007 and I’m glad to say that they share our vision for building on a well-established foundation. Additionally, they have the sources and know-how to help us forge a new path in this industry and it’s exciting to know what their plans are, including who they’re bringing on board in other cities like Nashville to help us reach our goals.”

Morgans Media Group delivers entertainment content through a range of media, with brands including Chill Report, Freestyle, Blu Ink Entertainment and more. Honky Tonk started in Orlando in 2007 as a print magazine, and has evolved into a national weekly program shown in numerous markets. MusicRow Chart Director Jon Freeman also contributes special Music Row insider segments for HTTV shows.

Johnnie Wright Passes

Country singer Johnnie Wright died this morning (9/27) at age 97 following a lengthy illness. He is known as a solo artist, as husband of female pioneer Kitty Wells, and as part of the duo Johnnie & Jack.

He was born Johnnie Robert Wright in Mount Juliet, Tenn. on May 13, 1914. Wells and Wright married in 1937 when she was 18, and formed a trio with her sister Louise, known as Johnnie Wright and the Harmony Girls. Louise later married Johnnie’s duo partner Jack Anglin. Also, Wells sang with Johnnie & Jack in the early ‘40s.

By 1947 Johnnie & Jack secured a regular spot on the Grand Ole Opry and went on to join the Louisiana Hayride. Signing with RCA brought the duo its biggest hits in the 1950s including “Poison Love,” “Cryin’ Heart Blues,” “Oh, Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely),” and “Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight.” They were known for intertwining latin and calypso influences with their country sound.

At one point Wright even hired a young Chet Atkins as a fiddler, prior to his rise to fame as a guitar player.

Switching to Decca in the 1960s resulted in changing the spelling of Johnnie to Johnny. Anglin passed in 1963, and by 1965 Wright was working as a solo artist and scored the No. 1 “Hello Vietnam.”

He was a lifelong booster of his wife’s career, encouraging her to go by the stage name Kitty Wells, and guiding her business endeavors. He also steered her toward her career-making hit “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”

Later they toured with their children the late Ruby, Carol Sue, and Bobby as The Kitty Wells-Johnnie Wright Family Show.

Services will be at the Madison Church of Christ (corner of Gallatin Rd. and Old Hickory Blvd. 615-868-3360). Visitation will be Thurs., Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Funeral will be Fri., Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.

Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright. Photo: Patricia Presley

peermusic Adds Creative Manager

Kim Wiggins

peermusic has tapped Kim Wiggins to serve as Creative Manager. The announcement was made today (9/28) by Kevin Lamb, Vice President, peermusic Nashville.

Wiggins comes from Sony/ATV, where she held a similar post. Before her tenure at Sony/ATV, Wiggins was a songplugger at Blacktop Music as well as Acuff-Rose Music Publishing.

“Kim is going to be a great addition to our family,” said Lamb. “She’s well respected, and has a great way of working with and nurturing songwriters. Kim understands the creative atmosphere Michael Knox and I are developing and she will be a vital part of helping this to come together.”

Added Michael Knox, peermusic Senior Creative Director, “She is hands down one of the best songpluggers and creative minds in town and I’m very lucky to have gotten her on the peermusic/Nashville team.”

Founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928, peermusic operates 35 offices in 28 countries and has more than 250,000 titles in its catalogue.

As previously reported, Ben Strain is filling the vacancy at Sony/ATV left by Wiggins’ departure.

NBN SoundLand: Day 4

After late nights with Next Big Nashville’s SoundLand on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I spent the rest of the weekend dragging. I guess there’s always a price for pursuing good times.

But you know what? Totally worth it.

On Saturday (9/24), BMI sponsored a brunch gathering for SoundLand VIPs at the über-hip Imogene + Willie boutique on 12th Ave. S., thanks to BMI (picture included below). Riff’s and Taste of Belgium food trucks were on site to provide eats. Thank festival organizers Jason Moon Wilkins and Kevin Brown, along with “Party Czar” Emilee Warner, for putting these happenings together.

Later SoundLand turned up the volume at the Neuhoff Factory, a former meat-packing plant overlooking the Cumberland River that is being re-purposed as a mixed-use arts facility. The imposing five-stories high brick exterior enveloped festival attendees in the outdoor performance area and made for a strangely beautiful setting.

The Black Belles

Performers on the bill included Knoxville’s Royal Bangs, Ohio native Jessica Lea Mayfield, followed by Nashville’s Apache Relay and Tristen. The buzz was big for The Black Belles, an all female group discovered by Jack White who looked bewitching in black dresses and hats while concocting a strange brew of surf rock, punk, and rockabilly. Three-quarters female local faves Those Darlins were next, and raced through an energetic set of garage rock rave-ups including “Be Your Bro.” Final slot of the Neuhoff stage went to Jake and Jamin Orrall in JEFF the Brotherhood.

Over at The Basement, twin sister act The Watson Twins were on the bill, to be followed by Nashville’s Caitlin Rose, whose debut Own Side Now is out Sept. 27 via ATO Records. To finish the festivities with a bang, late night revelers got to be nostalgic and rock the night away as My So-Called Band performed all of Nirvana’s Nevermind in tribute to the legendary album’s 20th anniversary.

Pictured at the BMI and Soundland VIP Brunch at Imogene + Willie are (L-R): SoundLand/American Songwriter's Robert Clement, BMI's Jody Williams, Chancellor Warhol, SoundLand’s Jason Moon Wilkins, BMI's Clay Bradley, Matchstick Management’s Mark Hobson and BMI's Julie Stuckey. Photo: Erika Goldring

Industry Ink: Republic Nashville Hiring

Cliff Blake

Republic Nashville has tapped Cliff Blake to serve as Director of Northeast/Midwest Promotion. Based in Dover, NH, Blake will begin his new role Mon., Oct. 3, working solely with the Republic Nashville roster which includes Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney. Blake has held positions in radio as an Operations Manager, Program Director and on-air talent. After 25 successful years, he joined the label side of the industry, where he spent time as Director, Northeast Region Promotion at Columbia Nashville. This past year at CRS Cliff was one of five finalists for “Regional Promotion Director of the Year.” Blake replaces Shari Roth, who resigned, and will report directly to Republic Nashville’s National Director of Promotion Matthew Hargis. Cliff Blake can be reached at 615-324-7904 or Cliff.Blake@republicnashville.com.

• • • •

The Capitol Street Party 4 drew over 12,000 fans to Demonbreun Street last week. The free and open event was led by WSIX personalities Billy and Karla and Capitol Records President & CEO, Mike Dungan. The Street Party main stage featured performances by country superstar Alan Jackson, Eric Church and newcomer Eric Paslay.

• • • •

Paradigm Agency will be showcasing six acts from its current roster as part of the upcoming IEBA Conference. Set to perform are Reno Collier, Marlee Scott, Dean Alexander, JT Hodges, Jack Ingram and Here Come the Mummies on Sun., Oct. 2 at 9:30 pm CT at War Memorial Auditorium. Over 500 of the live entertainment industry’s top decision makers will converge in Nashville for IEBA Oct. 2-4.

• • • •

The Beveled Edge, a leading Nashville framing and gift store located at 73 White Bridge Road, will host a book signing for He Stopped Loving Her Today: George Jones, Billy Sherrill, and the Pretty-Much Totally True Story of the Making of the Greatest Country Record of All Time. Author Jack Isenhour will sign copies Thurs., Sept. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Nashvillian since 1978, Isenhour produced long-form stories for WSMV and WKRN that earned him recognition from organizations ranging from Robert F. Kennedy Foundation to the United States Industrial Film and Video Festival.

• • • •

The core panel moderators for CRS 2012, to be held Feb. 22-24, 2012, will be Beverlee Brannigan (KFDI/Wichita, KS), Marc Chase (NuVoodoo Media Services), Bob Richards (WLHK/Indianapolis, IN), Dan Halyburton (McVay Media) and Charlie Morgan (WLHK/Indianapolis, IN). Between them, the five industry pros will oversee and direct nearly 20 educational panels over three days. The $399 Early Bird registration rate for CRS 2012 remains in effect for a limited time. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com to register or call (615) 327-4487.

• • • •

The Songwriters Festival and Independent Music Fest will run Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at locations around Music Row. Details here.

Luke Bryan Launches CMT Tour With Sold-Out Show

Luke Bryan at Terminal 5 in NYC

Luke Bryan kicked-off his headlining tour earlier this month. CMT ON TOUR: Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines launched with a sold-out show at Terminal 5 in New York City, and setting an attendance record in Utica, New York.

The tour features special guests Lee Brice, Josh Thompson and CMT’s Next Superstar winner Matt Mason. Dates run through November, with a total of 22 shows along the way.

Tickets for Bryan’s Farm Tour concert in Athens, Georgia on Friday, Sept., 30 are also sold out. The benefit series will take place during a 2-week break in the CMT On Tour shows.

Photos by Scott Gries

(L-R): Lucia Folk, Sr. Director Public Affairs, CMT; Evan Farmer, Host CMT Top 20 Countdown; Luke Bryan; Anne Oakley, Director Program Enterprises, CMT; Kerri Edwards, Red Light Management.