Photo Spread: Octagon Ent., Bill Anderson, Edens Edge

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Octagon Entertainment and Ramblin Music hosted an open house and block party earlier this month to mark Octagon’s official Music City launch. The sports and entertainment management firm expanded into Nashville with the hiring of Sr. VP/GM Stuart Dill.

Pictured (L-R): Zac Koffler (Octagon Ent. Nashville, Manager), Stuart Dill (Octagon Ent. Nashville, SVP/GM), Brian Rabolli (Octagon Ent. LA, VP/Business Affairs), Jo Dee Messina (Octagon Artist), Kyell Thomas (Octagon Ent. LA, Manager), Laura Bell Bundy (Octagon Artist), Lo Bosworth (Octagon Ent. LA, Manager), Christianne Amodio (Octagon Ent. LA, Coordinator), Phillip de Picciotto (Octagon, President), Gene Brooks (Ramblin Muisc, Owner), Cliff Downs (Ramblin Music, President), and John Ferriter (Octagon Ent., Managing Director)

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Whisperin’ Bill Anderson celebrated the naming of a venue in his honor recently in Commerce, Ga. Plans for the center began in 1997 during a celebration for the 40th Anniversary of WJJC Radio, where Anderson once worked as a DJ. From that discussion, the City Lights Festival was created and named for the hit song Anderson wrote as a teenager living in Commerce. The event evolved into a decade of annual concerts to raise funds for a performing arts center within the Commerce High School, which is called the Bill Anderson Performing Arts Center.

Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson opens his namesake performing arts center.

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The Academy of Country Music welcomed Big Machine Records band Edens Edge to its offices while they were in Los Angeles. While at the Academy, they performed their current Top 40 hit single, “Amen” and signed up for professional ACM membership.

Pictured (L-R): Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music; Edens Edge’s Cherrill Green: R.A. Clark, Executive Producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards; Edens Edge’s Hannah Blaylock and Dean Berner. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy ACM

CMA Celebrates Country Music Month, Honors Mayor Dean

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Karl Dean (L) receives honor from CMA Pres. Steve Buchanan (R).

The Country Music Association is celebrating Country Music Month with 45 days of promotions, events, and activities leading up to the annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean issued a proclamation from the city citing the important role and tangible impact of the Country Music industry on Nashville’s economy and reputation as a center for entertainment business and global tourism.

“It is important to recognize and celebrate the numerous contributions that CMA, the Country Music industry and artists have made to our community and to the lives of millions of people around the world,” Dean said.

Dean was recognized for his contributions to the music industry during a CMA reception Tuesday night (9/20). CMA Board Chairman Steve Buchanan presented Dean with the CMA Chairman’s Award, an annual award given at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board.

“Mayor Dean has shown, and continues to show, his support of the music industry in numerous ways,” said Buchanan, Sr. VP of Media and Entertainment for Gaylord Entertainment.

In more news from the CMA, it is holding a members event on Thurs., Sept. 29 at 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Red Rooster.

The CMA Awards will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. The award-winning program book will feature cover art by local artist, Eva Oglander, who has designed the book since 1986. The book will be archived on www.CMAawards.com.

Aaron Lewis’ “Country Boy” Goes Gold

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Aaron Lewis’ debut single “Country Boy” recently went gold, selling over 500,000 copies. The song is one of seven tracks on his Town Line EP, which was produced by James Stroud and released earlier this year on Nashville’s R&J Records.

“Country Boy” also features vocals by George Jones and Charlie Daniels.

The “Country Boy” music video includes appearances by all three artists and picked up CMT nominations for Collaborative Video of the Year and USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year.

Lewis is currently touring with his acoustic show. Scheduled performance dates are as follows:

Oct. 2: The Summer Stage at Tag’s (w/ Blake Shelton) – Big Flats, NY
Oct. 5:  Bush Hall – London,UK
Oct. 27: Lumiere Place Casino – St. Louis,MO
Nov. 5: Sycuan Casino – El Cajon, CA
Nov. 11: The Oasis at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino – Maricopa, AZ

Conrad To Be Honored At Songwriters Dinner

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John Van Mol, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, announced today that music publisher David Conrad will be honored with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award. The award will be presented at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Oct. 16.

“David is everything a songwriter could want in a mentor:  honesty and integrity, character and class,” Van Mol said. “As a music publisher, he loved the songs and he loved the writers, and served as their coach, teacher, psychologist, friend and business partner.”

The award is named after Frances W. Preston, who influenced and nurtured the careers of thousands of songwriters, performers and publishers in all genres of music during her five-decade career at BMI. Previous recipients of the award include music publisher Bob Beckham (2008), music publisher Bill Hall (2009) and Preston (2010).

The induction ceremony will also feature tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. This year’s inductees include John Bettis, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.

Tickets to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony can be purchased by contacting event director Mark Ford at (615) 256-3354 or [email protected].

InstiGator Hires Quigley; Thorpe Joins Warner

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InstiGator Entertainment recently hired Brooks Quigley as Director of Promotion. Quigley will join Gator Michaels and Mallory Opheim at InstiGator Entertainment’s Nashville office.

“I’ve had the honor of working with Brooks over the last decade and am fortunate to bring someone with his blend of expertise and experience, in both radio and records, into our company,” said Michaels, president of the newly launched company.

Quigley spent seven years as SE Director of Promotion at Warner Bros. Other stops include Curb, Polydor and Nine North.

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Meanwhile, Jennifer Thorpe has recently been hired by Warner Bros. She joins the W.A.R. team under the helm of Chris Palmer, W.A.R. VP of Promotion, as the Southeast Regional Promotions Manager at Warner Music Nashville.

NBN SoundLand: Day 3

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It’s all about the music, and Day 3 of Next Big Nashville’s SoundLand offered a ton of sounds from regional and national artists.

Prior to the shows, industry movers and shakers got not one, but two, VIP parties to check out during the day: a lunch BBQ sponsored by ASCAP at the new Jackalope Brewery on 8th Ave. S. (picture included), and a Nashville Scene-sponsored party at the Gibson Showroom on Church St.

Pictured at ASCAP’s 2nd annual Beer/BBQ Lunch at Jackalope Brewery are (L-R): Marc Driskill, Jesse Willoughby, Beth Laird (Creative Nation), Evyn Mustoe (Sanctuary), Asha Goodman (Sacks & Co), Mike Sistad, Ashley Wilcoxson (Sanctuary), Jaren Johnston, LeAnn Phelan, Ryan Bueschel, and Amy Lewis. Photo: Anna Maki

There was also more music than one person without the ability to bend space and time could possibly see. Over at the Cannery Ballroom, folkie Robert Ellis laid down a quick set, followed by a soulful, guitar-heavy group of songs from Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. Singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle played the last performance slot downstairs in the Cannery Ballroom, and Nashville’s Madi Diaz closed out the night upstairs at the Mercy Lounge. Over at Jack White’s Third Man Records performance space, Detroit punk-rockers Human Eye were bashing out a noisy symphony, followed by oddball comedian Neil Hamburger.

Yelawolf. Photo: Next Big Nashville

Just past 11 pm, Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. was finishing up his fist-pumping set at the 12th Ave Block Party stage. The main event was Alabama-based rapper Yelawolf (who lived in Antioch for a stretch), who spits rapid-fire machine gun raps and has the pale, tattooed appearance of a Nine Inch Nails band-member circa 1995. Following Yelawolf, local DJ Wick-It kept the party going by spinning dance-friendly dubstep and hip-hop tracks.

One night left, and a plethora of local heroes are on the bill.

Artist Updates: Aldean, Bryan, Bentley, Kane

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Jason Aldean

• Tickets for Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party Tour stop Feb. 24 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena went on sale earlier this morning (9/23), and promptly sold out in a matter of minutes. “It feels good to sell out any venue in any city, but to sell out your hometown is just an unbelievable feeling,” says Aldean. “I can’t wait to come home for this one…you can bet me and the boys in the band will be ready to go that night!” Aldean is tied for most nominations at this year’s CMA Awards (Nov. 9, 8-11 pm/EST on ABC), including Entertainer of the Year. Capitol Records artist Luke Bryan is set to open the show.

Luke Bryan

• Speaking of Luke, he’s set to start his six day “Farm Tour” next Thursday, September 29 in Clemson, SC. Proceeds from these shows will fund a scholarship for a student from a farming family in each community. Prior to launching the tour, Bryan will head to the west coast for his first appearance on Access Hollywood Live Monday, September 26 and The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday, Sept. 28. He’s also nominated for a CMA Award for New Artist of the Year.

Dierks Bentley

• Also on television next week is Capitol Records artist Dierks Bentley, who will be performing a version of Pink Floyd’s classic “Wish You Were Here” Sept. 29 on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon as part of the show’s week-long tribute to the band. Other artists scheduled to play Pink Floyd’s songs include Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Shins, and MGMT.

Christian Kane performing during the Crockettsville I.V. 2011 Charity Concert & Trail Ride. Photo: L. Luxenburger

 

• Singer, songwriter, and actor Christian Kane launched the first leg of his Raising Kane tour September 22 at Knoxville’s Cotton Eyed Joe, alongside Bigger Picture labelmate Chris Cagle. The tour will span 16 cities nationwide, with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks. Kane’s debut country album The House Rules is currently available for purchase, and its second single “Let Me Go” is climbing the charts.

NBN SoundLand: Day 2

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Foster The People. Photo: Next Big Nashville

Day two of SoundLand, presented by Next Big Nashville presented more musical options, more musical genres, and more Nashville locations.

Following the work day, festival VIPs schmoozed at the super-swanky new location of Virago prior to the music start, where they enjoyed complimentary drinks and food courtesy of SunTrust, The Orchard, and Loeb & Loeb. As an aside, aren’t these M Street restaurants (see also: Tavern, Kayne Prime, Whiskey Kitchen) just gorgeous?

Kyle Andrews. Photo: Next Big Nashville

The crowds flocked to the 12th Avenue Block Party, where headlining bands were being featured on an outdoor stage at the end of the street. Beer vendors and food trucks were abundant. Neighboring venues 12th & Porter and Mai got in on the action as well, with sets from Nashville’s Kyle Andrews and Uncle Skeleton at 12&P and How I Became The Bomb and Boss of Nova at Mai. On the Block Party stage, Cults played upbeat, hazy pop that included the single “Go Outside.” Foster the People, enjoying a victory lap following the breakout success of their hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” delivered an energetic set of irresistibly quirky, danceable electronic pop.

Over at Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom, festival organizers had underestimated the demand for Austin, Texas-based electro wizards Ghostland Observatory and a mob had formed outside the building when the room reached capacity. By the time we were permitted entrance, Ghostland’s set was more than half finished. But for a brief, 30 minute stretch, late-arriving audience members were rewarded with pummeling, thumping electro-funk, and a seizure-inducing laser and strobe light setup. Following Ghostland’s set, downtempo musician/DJ Bonobo was playing upstairs at Mercy Lounge.

Nearby at the Station Inn, Black Crowes founding member Rich Robinson, and My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel played sets before cellist/singer Ben Sollee. Rhode Island’s The Low Anthem turned in a late set over at the Basement.

On tonight’s itinerary are two Alabama boys: Americana fixture Jason Isbell and rapper Yelawolf.

Word Entertainment Celebrates 60 Years

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Word Entertainment, the Christian music division of Warner Music Group, commemorates its 60th anniversary in the industry this year.

The label’s 60 year milestone coincides with the Sept. 20 release of Word: Six Decades of Hits, a 3-CD set including 51 songs and bonus recordings. The set is divided up into three parts: The Early Years, Yesterday’s Favorites, and Today’s Hits. Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Jaci Velasquez, Point of Grace, Francesca Battistelli and Chris August and Sidewalk Prophets are among the artists featured.

Word also released a complementary songbook called Word: The Story, The Songs. Available at Christian retailers, the book is comprised of 30 songs and a 44-page history of Word Entertainment, written by Deborah Evans Price.

Word’s celebration will culminate in a concert at Baylor University on Nov. 2 in Waco, TX, where Word Records got its start. Artists scheduled to perform include Chris August and Sidewalk Prophets.

For more information on Word’s 60 year celebration, please visit www.WordLabelGroup.com.

TV Show “Troubadour, TX” Follows Rising Singers

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Troubadour, TX, the documentary-style singer-songwriter reality television series produced by London Broadcasting and 41 Entertainment premieres Sat., Sept. 24 and Sun., Sept. 25. The show follows more than a dozen singers of various genres, including Stephanie Urbina Jones, Rick Trevino and Zane Williams.

The one-hour, high definition episodes will air in almost 40 million households and 140 U.S. markets, showing on the CW network in most markets. Twenty-two episodes are currently in production for season one and past episodes will be available for viewing at TroubadourTX.com. See trailer below.

Terry London is President and CEO of London Broadcasting Company. LBC is the parent company of 41 Entertainment, led by Wm. A. Landers, and Nashville-based BE Music and Entertainment, headed by Michael Blanton.