McGraw, Curb Release Separate Singles

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In the midst of an ongoing legal battle between Curb Records and Tim McGraw, both sides have announced the release of new McGraw music.

Curb is going for adds with a new McGraw single “Better Than I Used To Be,” and has set a January 2012 release date for his album Emotional Traffic. It will be his final project released via Curb, according to a court ruling last week which states he is no longer obligated to the label which launched his career. Emotional Traffic was completed over a year ago by most reports, but never released. It has already spawned hit lead single, “Felt Good on My Lips.”

Meanwhile, 
McGraw announced a new a holiday song as well as a single in early 2012. In a Dec. 2, 2011 statement on his website he explains:

I fought very hard for the release of Emotional Traffic, it’s an album full of music of which I am very proud. It’s extremely unfortunate that it wasn’t released earlier this year in conjunction with the Emotional Traffic tour but all I want to do now is focus on the positive and look to the future. I’m really excited about the new music I’m recording. Next week I’m putting out a holiday song I’ve just recorded called “Christmas All Over The World.” After the first of the year I’ll have a brand new single which I can hardly wait to share with everyone. I am so appreciative of the support I’ve received over the years, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my career.

Lifenotes: John Lincoln Wright

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New England’s most popular country artist, John Lincoln Wright, passed away on Sunday morning, December 4, at age 64.

Wright won so many Massachusetts Music Awards that he was retired from the competition several years ago. His albums were distributed by Rounder Records.

The Boston native began his musical career when he became the lead singer of the rock band The Beacon Street Union in 1966. The group was signed by MGM Records and issued two LPs in 1968, The Eyes of The Beacon Street Union and The Clown Died in Marvin Gardens.

In 1972, Wright switched to country music and formed his band The Sour Mash Boys. The group recorded his debut solo LP, Takin’ Old Route One, shortly thereafter. Wright came to Nashville to record 1981’s You Can’t Get There From Here, which was co-produced by Pat Higdon.

Joe Sun recorded Wright’s songs “Lonesome Rainin’ City” and “Pull Away From Your Man.” Vernon Oxford also covered “Lonesome Rainin’ City.” James Talley recorded with The Sour Mash Boys in 1985, and Wright sang backup on albums by Mary Gauthier and Geoff Bartley.

His own recording career resumed with the 1990 CD That Old Mill. In 1991, Wright and the Sour Mash Boys released its follow-up CD Honky Tonk Verite.

According to Ken Irwin at Rounder Records, John Lincoln Wright had been ill for some time prior to his passing.

“His death leaves a tremendous hole in the New England country-music community,” said Irwin. “He was a great songwriter, band leader and friend, and will be missed by all.”

Glenn Meadows Joins Mayfield Mastering

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Glenn Meadows

Mastering engineer Glenn Meadows has joined Nashville’s Mayfield Mastering, bringing more than four decades of award-winning expertise to the Berry Hill neighborhood facility.

As a two-time Grammy winner and former owner and chief mastering engineer of Nashville’s Masterfonics Studios, Meadows’ resume includes engineering work on albums from some of Country and Pop music’s biggest artists, including Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, Alabama, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Steely Dan, Jimmy Buffett and hundreds more.

One of the most recent projects mastered by Meadows is Taylor Swift’s new CD/DVD package, Speak Now World Tour Live, released on Nov. 21 through Big Machine Records.

“To have someone as accomplished and respected as Glenn Meadows engineering in our facility really sets the bar high,” says Mayfield Mastering owner John Mayfield. “I tend to think it sets you apart from the competition when you have a world class talent like Glenn available day in and day out. His resume speaks for itself. I can’t say enough about how happy we are to have him here.”

Mayfield Mastering is located at 2825 Erica Place, Nashville, TN, 37204. Contact the facility at (615) 383-3708 or info@MayfieldMastering.com. For more information, visit www.MayfieldMastering.com.

Warner/Chappell Adds To Roster

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(L–R) Front Row: Chip Petree (Petree Law), Damien Horne, Steve Markland (VP A&R Warner/Chappell Music), Alicia Pruitt (Sr. Director A&R Warner/Chappell Music). Back Row: BJ Hill (Sr. Director A&R Warner/Chappell Music), Phil May (GM/VP Warner/Chappell Music), John Esposito (President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville)

Warner/Chappell Music today (12/5) announced a worldwide co-publishing agreement with Damien Horne, member of country trio The Farm.

Horne and bandmates Nick Hoffman and Krista Marie are signed to Elektra Nashville, part of Warner Music Nashville. The Farm’s new single “Home Sweet Home” is at radio now and an album is set for release in 2012.

Horne is also a solo singer/songwriter whose artistry blends elements of R&B, pop, hip-hop, soul, and rock with a uniquely uplifting message.

McCreery’s Debut Album Goes Gold

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Scotty McCreery’s debut album, Clear As Day, has recently been certified Gold for sales of more than 500,000. The album has been sitting at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart for the five weeks since its Oct. 4 release. The album’s first single, “I Love You This Big,” has also been certified Gold.

The UMG Nashville star is the youngest man in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. Clear As Day also garnered the highest first-week sales of any solo country artist this year.

McCreery will perform his current hit, “The Trouble With Girls,” on the American Country Awards, which airs live on FOX tonight (12/5) at 8 PM/ET.

Additionally, he will also be a part of Brad Paisley’s 2012 tour, which begins Jan. 12 in Grand Rapids, MI.

Seays Continue House Concerts With Christmas Benefit

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Wanda and Terry Seay

The 2nd Annual Christmas Songwriters Open House and Benefit, hosted by It’s All About Z Music’s Terry and Wanda Seay, will take place at the couple’s home on Sat., Dec. 10. Benefiting the Radnor Lake Preservation Area and the WO Smith School of Music, doors open at 1 p.m. and the event features over fifty songwriters including Tony Arata, Becky Hobbs, David Bradley, Rich Fagan, and Kasey Jones.

With over nine hours of music to enjoy, guests are asked to bring a covered dish and drinks to share, and a $25 donation. The casual dress event will take place at 106 Clyde Circle Franklin, TN 37064. To RSVP, email Terry.Seay@itsallaboutZmusic.com.

The Seays have been hosting house benefit concerts in Franklin for the past two years and were recently featured on Headline|Country with Storme Warren.

DIRECTIONS FROM NASHVILLE
Take I-65 South from Nashville (15 minutes from I-440)
To Exit #61 – RT 248 Goose Creek ByPass / Peytonsville Road
Turn Left and cross over I-65 and continue on Peytonsville Road for 1/4 mile
Turn Left on Long Lane and Pass Ag/Expo Center—continue on around
Turn Left on Alfred Ladd Rd. at Entrance to “The Highlands at Ladd Park”
Continue down the hill make first left on Rich Road and immediate Right onto Wise Lane
Travel one block and make Right onto Clyde Circle – first house on right – 106

Bobby Dean – White Lightning or Pink Champagne

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Bobby Dean is the perfect example of why you should never give up on a dream.

In January 2011, after 30 years of juggling his trucking business and singing in local bars at night, Dean released his first CD On The Radio after signing with Lamon Records Nashville. The album has already produced two singles, “Hank on the Radio” and “Rebound,” the latter of which received airplay from several MusicRow reporting stations.

Dean’s new country radio single, “White Lightning or Pink Champagne” and the accompanying music video, are about a guy who can never figure out which mood his girl is in. Does she want to go honky-tonking in her jeans or to a fine restaurant all dressed up? Either way, she’s going to have some fun!

Dean spent much of his summer in Nashville, greeting fans during CMA Music Fest.
He’s spent the fall recording a collection of new songs with producer/Lamon Records president Dave Moody which will be released in 2012. Moody, a member of the Grammy-nominated Moody Brothers band, describes Dean’s talents like this: “Bobby has a unique style voice, very traditional sounding, yet he makes it his own.”

In November, Dean was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for T.J. Martell Foundation fundraiser.

See the “White Lightning or Pink Champagne” video at http://vimeo.com/channels/lamon

Contact:
Dave Moody, Lamon Records Nashville
Phone: 615.379.2121, x101
Email: staff@lamonrecords.com
www.lamonrecords.com
www.facebook.com/bobbydean09

Gibson Guitar Creates Pro Audio Division

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Gibson Guitar announced today (12/5) the creation of its pro audio division through the acquisition of the Stanton Group, which is comprised of KRK Systems, Cerwin-Vega! and Stanton DJ.

KRK Systems provides accurate and reliable monitors and control room solutions, while Cerwin-Vega! Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of loudspeakers for the home and professional audio markets. Stanton DJ designs and manufactures professional audio products for DJs. Along with Gibson, the companies form Gibson Pro Audio division, which will be headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Right now we have an extremely powerful brand that people recognize and value, but the musical instrument category is inherently limited because people who purchase instruments also need to know how to play them,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “This new division is perfectly aligned with our core. It expands our reach to fellow music lovers and allows us access to 20 in 20 consumers instead of the one in 20 we currently hit.”

“CMA Country Christmas” Boosts ABC’s Ratings

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The "CMA Country Christmas" cast performs "Jingle Bells" (L-R) Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Karen Fairchild; Darius Rucker; and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. Photo: Donn Jones

ABC ranked as the second most watched network Thursday night (12/1), with CMA Country Christmas drawing 9.26 million viewers at the 9 PM/ET hour and 8.75 million viewers during 10 PM/ET spot.

During its time slot, CMA Country Christmas was the most-watched TV program overall. The show also topped CBS’ Grammy Nominations Concert by 3.3 million viewers from the previous night (11/30). In addition, among adults ages 18-49, CMA Country Christmas beat out NBC’s original programming (The Office/Whitney/Prime Suspect) by 11%.

Hosted for the second time by Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, the concert featured Lauren Alaina, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer, Sugarland, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. It re-airs Saturday, Dec. 17 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC.

CMA Country Christmas is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director and David Wild is the writer.

Class Action Suit Forces Ticketmaster To Offer Credits

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Ticketmaster will issue monetary credits to consumers after losing a class action lawsuit which claimed its shipping and processing fees are excessive.

Consumers who made purchases on Ticketmaster.com between Oct. 21, 1999 and Oct. 19, 2011, are eligible for credits. Email notices to these users are expected to be sent this week.

The company faces a minimum payment of $11.25 million per year over the four-year life of the settlement.

According to details of the settlement at www.ticketfeelitigation.com:

You [customers] will receive, via email, at the address associated with your Ticketmaster account, discount codes (“Codes”) which can be used for future purchases for U.S. events from Ticketmaster’s website. For each transaction (up to a maximum of 17 transactions) that you made during the Class Period, you will receive one code, via email, for a $1.50 discount off future transactions.

If you are also a member of the UPS Subclass, you will be entitled to additional discounts off future delivery fees. Specifically, for each transaction (up to a maximum of 17 transactions) made using UPS delivery, you will receive one UPS code via email, for a $5.00 discount off future expedited delivery fees.

Credits cannot be used for events at venues operated by competitor A.E.G. Live.

In a statement, Ticketmaster emphasized that it was not admitting to any wrongdoing through the lawsuit agreement. The company can continue to charge processing fees, but must now state on its website that it is profiting by doing so.