ACAs Announce Show Performers

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Co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, along with country music’s Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry, are set to perform at the American Country Awards. The second annual ACAs will air live on FOX from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Mon., Dec. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed.)

The two-hour event will also feature appearances by Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery and the men of “Pawn Stars” (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell.)

Voting for all categories remains open for fans until Friday, Nov. 11 at www.theacas.com. Voting for Artist of the Year continues until Friday, Dec. 2.

American Country Awards is executive-produced by Bob Bain (Teen Choice 2011, Kids’ Choice Awards). Fletcher Foster, Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

New Gig For Jules Wortman

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Jules Wortman

Jules Wortman has been named VP of Public Relations for TNA Entertainment, home of TNA Impact Wrestling. With almost two decades of experience, she operates her namesake company, Wortman Works Media & Marketing.

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, the top-rated program on Spike TV, airs in over 120 countries worldwide. It is the home to such well-known professional wrestlers as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Sting, as well as Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, and James Storm.

Wortman’s career includes time at Warner Bros. Records, and MCA Records, as well as work with CMT, Chevrolet, Sony Music, ACA Awards, Billy Ray Cyrus, Blake Shelton, Rodney Atkins, Big & Rich, and Red Light Management.

In the new role, Wortman reports to TNA President Dixie Carter. “Jules is one of the most talented PR executives in the business today,” explains Carter. “In addition to her media skills, her creativity and strategic thinking is what really sets her apart from the rest. I am so excited about the exposure I know she will bring to Impact Wrestling, our talent, as well as TNA’s other ventures.”

“I have been watching the trajectory of TNA Entertainment for several years,” adds Wortman. “I love entertainment, period. But to be involved in such a creative force coupled with extremely talented and gifted athletes, as well as a staff full of energy and the knowledge of how to grow a unique and very popular brand, is something I am ready to sink my teeth into.”

Wortman Works will remain available for special projects, with Lindsey Bynum still on board.

Wortman is involved with the T. J. Martell Foundation, Gallatin Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Middle Tennessee, and is the founder/owner of Jewelweed Design Studio and Mercantile in Gallatin, Tenn.

She can be reached at [email protected].

Bentley Announces International Tour

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Dierks Bentley announced today (10/31) that his Country & Cold Cans Tour will go international during 2012. International dates are scheduled to kick off in Vancouver, BC on Feb. 15. Following the Canadian leg of the tour, Bentley will travel Down Under for five headlining shows with Australian country star Lee Kernaghan.

Bentley’s current single “Home” is off his upcoming sixth Capitol Nashville studio project that is slated for release in early 2012. Fans can catch the Country & Cold Cans Tour in the states this weekend in Kent, OH (11/3), Danville, IL (11/4) and Springfield, IL (11/5). For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

Of Bentley’s two sold out Country & Cold Cans shows in NYC, the New York Times said, “Mr. Bentley was master of the party, the musical equivalent of buying a round for everyone in the bar.”

International Country & Cold Cans 2012 Tour Dates:
2/15   Vancouver, BC
2/16   Kamloops, BC
2/17   Prince George, BC
2/18   Dawson Creek, BC
2/19   Edmonton, AB
2/21   Calgary, AB
2/22   Saskatoon, SK
2/23   Winnipeg, MB
3/9     Toowoomba, QLD
3/10   Brisbane, QLD
3/13   Melbourne, VIC
3/15   Canberra, ACT
3/17   Hunter Valley, NSW

Artists Reflect On New RFD-TV Show

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Eddie Stubbs and Trace Adkins on set. photo: Chris Hollo

New television show, Reflections From The Circle, premieres on RDF-TV Sunday, Nov. 6. The series will give an exclusive look into the personal lives of country artists Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Kellie Pickler and Josh Turner. In their individual episodes, each artist will reflect on their careers through interviews on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with TV and WSM radio personality Eddie Stubbs.

The famous Opry House circle holds personal significance for all the artists appearing on the show. Turner was officially welcomed to the Opry family there by Gill, who says he’ll always remember singing “When I Call Your Name” while Roy Acuff looked on just a foot away. Meanwhile, Adkins took the opportunity during his Opry debut to propose to his wife and, years later, announced from the circle that he and his wife were expecting a baby. Bentley celebrated his official Opry induction inside the circle with his beloved dog, Jake. And Daniels invited one of his favorite acts, Montgomery Gentry, to join the Opry family while they stood on the circle of wood. Following last year’s Nashville flood, Daniels later returned with the duo to sing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” on the Opry House’s re-opening night.

Reflections From The Circle is scheduled to air Sundays at 7:00 PM/EST. The show’s first season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Nov. 6 – Vince Gill
Sunday, Nov. 13 – Trace Adkins
Sunday, Nov. 20 – Dierks Bentley
Sunday, Nov. 27 – Josh Turner
Sunday, Dec.  4 – Kellie Pickler
Sunday, Dec.  18 – Charlie Daniels

Faith Quesenberry-Malloy Launches New Venture

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Craig Morgan recently stopped by the RED distribution offices in NYC to play new music from his upcoming release, including current single "This Ole Boy.” (L-R): Greg McCarn, GM, Black River Entertainment; Faith Quesenberry-Malloy, Honor Music Ent.; Craig Morgan; Bob Morelli, President, RED.

Longtime artist manager Faith Quesenberry-Malloy has launched her own outfit, Honor Music & Entertainment. Joining her at the new company is client of ten years, Craig Morgan.

Quesenberry-Malloy has more than 20 years experience, including most recently a partnership with Vector Management.

Morgan is signed to Black River Entertainment and is busy promoting his current single and upcoming album.

Quesenberry-Malloy is based in Nashville and can be reached at [email protected] or (615) 668-9720.

Natalie Hemby Finds New Publishing Home

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Songwriter Natalie Hemby, with several Miranda Lambert cuts to her credit, has signed with EMI Music Publishing Nashville.

Hemby’s writing credits include the Lambert hits “White Liar,” and current single “Baggage Claim.” She’s also a co-writer of “Timing Is Everything,” recorded by Trace Adkins. Other artists who have recorded her work include Lee Ann Womack, Eli Young Band, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, and Randy Montana.

Hemby was previously signed to Carnival Music.

Bogard To Ride With Magic Mustang

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(L-R) Juli Newton-Griffith, Bogard and BBR CEO Benny Brown.

Grammy-nominated songwriter veteran Steve Bogard has signed a publishing deal with Magic Mustang Music, which is affiliated with Broken Bow Records.

“I have been a fan of Steve’s for many years,” said Juli Newton-Griffith, Sr. Creative Director of Magic Mustang Music. “He is a songwriting machine and a master at everything he does. We are honored to have him in the Magic Mustang family.”

Bogard has nine No. 1 country songs and has garnered 18 ASCAP and/or BMI awards. Some of his well known compositions inlcude “Carried Away,” “Carrying Your Love With Me,” and “Prayin’ For Daylight.” Albums containing Bogard songs have sold over 70 million units.

“I’ve admired the BBR/Magic Mustang operation from the start,” said Bogard. “Now it’s an honor and a pleasure to partner with a great independent team where music is the number one priority. It already feels like home.”

Bogard has been the President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Board since 2006. He also serves on the CMA Board of Directors, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation and MyWerx, recently voted one of Billboard Magazine’s top ten tech startups of 2010. A former Board Member of the Academy of Country Music, Steve is a 1995 graduate of Leadership Music, served on ASCAP’s Southern Writer’s Advisory Board and has hosted the ASCAP Song Seminar. He is a member of the ACM and The Recording Academy.

Magic Mustang Music represents songwriters Jason Aldean, Thompson Square, Sherrie Austin, Ash Bowers, Rob Hatch, Kristy Lee Cook, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Edwards, Rich Redmond and Westin Davis. The company is administered by Big Loud Bucks.

 

CMA Awards Will Toast Glen Campbell

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During The 45th Annual CMA Awards, reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley and former CMA Entertainers of the Year Vince Gill and Keith Urban will pay tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame member and former CMA Entertainer of the Year Glen Campbell. Show organizers expect the salutatory performance to be a highlight of Country Music’s Biggest Night.

Campbell was named both CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year in 1968, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. As a musician, Campbell was part of the Wrecking Crew, who performed on a variety of artists’ albums. His guitar prowess is featured on the Beach Boys’ seminal album Pet Sounds and on Frank Sinatra’s megahit “Strangers in the Night,” among others. He acted alongside John Wayne in the movie True Grit and hosted The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on television from 1968-1972. Earlier this year, Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He is in the midst of his successful Goodbye Tour after releasing his final album, Ghost on the Canvas.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wed., Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Thompson Square, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Zac Brown Band. Plus Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter will sing their hit collaboration “You and Tequila;” Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield will sing their current duet “Easy;” Lionel Richie will perform a medley of hits with Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker; and co-hosts Paisley and Underwood will have their first live televised-performance of their No. 1 song “Remind Me.”

Lady A Sets Nashville Date

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Lady Antebellum has revealed the location of its 2012 hometown concert. The Feb. 22 show, which was previously announced, is set for Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium with guests Darius Rucker and Thompson Square.

A block of seats at the 2012 Own the Night World Tour stop will be reserved for attendees of Country Radio Seminar, which runs Feb. 22-24 in Nashville.

Lady A is also making a donation to CRS initiatives, including its scholarship program, seminar and the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

All CRS 2012 attendees will receive a ticket to the show in their on-site registration packets. Shuttle buses will transport attendees to and from the venue following the seminar’s Artist/Attendee Welcome Reception at the Nashville Convention Center on Wednesday evening.

Concert tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 through Ticketmaster.

How To Get A Job (In The Music Business)

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Many companies in the music industry are small and those that are not, run like they are. They are efficient and lean with everyone wearing many different hats. These days, it’s not optional. I’ve learned this first-hand taking the reigns of MusicRow.

When I read an article this morning, I knew I needed to share it with you. With unemployment at 9.1% and our music industry continuing to tighten its collective belt, the following is a valuable read for both job seekers and job creators.

This is an article about getting a job. It’s not specifically about the music biz…but then again, it is.

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How to Get a Job with a Small Company

By Seth Godin (posted with Seth’s permission, of course)

Most advice about job seeking is oriented around big companies. The notion of a standard resume, of mass mailings, of dealing with the HR department–even the idea of interviews–is all built around the Fortune 500.

Alas, the Fortune 500 has been responsible for a net loss in jobs over the last twenty years. All the growth (and your best chance to get hired) is from companies you’ve probably never heard of. And when the hirer is also the owner, the rules are very different.

1. Learn to sell. Everyone has sold something, some time, even if it’s just selling your mom on the need for a nap when you were three years old. A lot of people have decided that they don’t want to sell, can’t sell, won’t sell, but those same people need to understand that they’re probably not going to get a job doing anything but selling.

Small businesses always need people who can sell, because selling pays for itself. It’s not an expense, it’s a profit center.

2. Learn to write. Writing is a form of selling, one step removed. There’s more writing in business today than ever before, and if you can become a persuasive copywriter, you’re practically a salesperson, and even better, your work scales.

3. Learn to produce extraordinary video and multimedia. This is just like writing, but for people who don’t like to read. Even better, be sure to mix this skill with significant tech skills. Yes, you can learn to code. The fact that you don’t feel like it is one reason it’s a scarce skill.

Now that you’ve mastered these skills (all of which take time and guts but no money), understand the next thing about small businesses–they aren’t hiring to fill a slot. Unlike a big company with an org chart and pay levels, the very small business is an organism, not a grid. The owner is far more likely to bring in a freelancer or someone working on spec than she is to go run a classified help wanted ad.

And many small businesses are extremely bad at taking initiative that feels like risk. They’d rather fill orders than take a chance and go out prospecting for a person who represents a risk. And that’s your opportunity.

When you show up and offer to go prospecting on spec, offer to contribute a website or a sales letter or some sales calls–with no money on the table–many small business people will take you up on it, particularly if they are cash-strapped, profit-oriented and know you by reputation. (Please don’t overlook that last one).

Hint: don’t merely show up and expect a yes. It’s something you earn over time…

The rest is easy. Once you demonstrate that you contribute far more than you cost, now it’s merely a matter of figuring out a payment schedule.

This is probably far more uncertainty and personal branding than most job seekers are comfortable with. Which is precisely why it works.