ACAs Air Tonight, New Performers Added

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Toby Keith and Chris Young have been added to the performance lineup for the American Country Awards, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 5 (8-10 PM/ET) on Fox. Keith will perform his current single (and viral sensation) “Red Solo Cup,” while Young will perform his recent No. 1 hit “Voices.” Young is currently nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Male Single of the Year (both for “Voices”).

Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band lead the nominations with eight apiece, followed by Thompson Square with seven. Taylor Swift and The Band Perry are next with six nominations each. Voting for most categories wrapped on Nov. 11, except for Artist of the Year, which closed on Friday, Dec. 2.

Additionally, the show will count down the Top 10 Artists of the Decade, based on Mediabase monitored spins from Jan 1, 2001 through Dec. 31, 2010. At the end of the presentation one artist will be named Artist of the Decade. Possible contenders include Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, George Strait and Keith Urban.

Young and Keith join a performance lineup that includes show co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, along with Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry. Scheduled to appear are Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery and the men of Pawn Stars (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell).

Arista Adds New Regional Promotion Manager

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Arista Nashville VP National Promotion Lesly Tyson has announced the hiring of Andy Elliott to the position of Regional Promotion Manager. He officially starts his new gig Dec. 12 and will report to Tyson.

“We are thrilled to have Andy join the Arista Nashville family,” said Tyson. “Some people are just born to do promotion and Andy is one of those people. His innate promotion ability coupled with his awesome understanding of radio make him the perfect addition to our team.”

“The opportunity to work at Arista is beyond my wildest dreams,” shares Elliott. “The caliber of talent from the artists to the staff is amazing. I’m honored and thrilled to join the team.”

Elliott brings 18 years of radio experience with him, including time as PD for KJJY and KHKI in Des Moines. Most recently he was Director of Promotion for the Midwest and Southwest at New Revolution Entertainment. Starting Dec. 12, reach him here.

Mark Your Calendar: Holiday Benefits

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December 6 – WMBA Presents Annual Tunes for Tots
WMBA (Women’s Music Businness Association) presents their annual Tunes for Tots in the round benefiting the Toys for Tots Foundation at the Listening Room Café, Tuesday (12/6). The lineup includes Tiffany, Margaret Durante and Bobby Pinson performing. Suggested donation is $5.

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December 8 – Unwrapped Toys for Admission to Writers Round
On Thursday, December 8, songwriters Lisa Carver, Shane McAnally, Mike Reid and rare-to-perform KT Oslin will appear in the round at the Troutt Theater on the campus of Belmont University to benefit Toys for Tots.

The show is sponsored by ASCAP and presented by local non-profit Generosity, founded in early 2010 by Nashville natives Shaun Daugherty and Bethni Hemphill to fund raise for hand-picked charities and to volunteer. Generosity’s principal mission is to ease the suffering of others by responding to crises as well as serving the ongoing needs of the community.

Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm. Admission to the event is a new unwrapped toy or a $10 donation.

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December 11 – 12Th Annual Christmas Bluegrass Benefit Concert for Homeless
Eddie & Martha Adcock, Donna Sonner, and Gene & June Johnson will host the 12th Annual Bluegrass Christmas benefit at The Station Inn at 7 PM.

Artists expected to perform include Joe Zauner, Mark Newton, Valerie Smith, Jesse McReynolds, Roland White Band, Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe, Claire Lynch and Matt Wingate, Alan Sibley & the Magnolia Ramblers, and Tom Gray plus surprise guests.

Suggested donation at the door is $15 as well as donations of soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, shave cream, combs, personal-size tissues, new socks & underwear, sewing kits, pens, pencils and small notebooks. All proceeds and gifts will be distributed through Room In The Inn.

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December 12 – Christmas 4 Kids Tour Bus Show
Barry Michael, Adam Fisher, Jessica Frech and Lynn Anderson will help Christmas 4 Kids give the joy of Christmas to thousands of Middle Tennessee children through the Tour Bus Show on 5-9 PM Monday (11/12) at the Hendersonville Wal-Mart.

Christmas 4 Kids has assisted families throughout Middle Tennessee since 1992 hosting fundraisers each year to buy presents for households that cannot afford to provide Christmas memories.

“Fans will see over 50 tour buses from top artists. For a small donation, fans can see what the artists’ home-away-from-home is really like and meet with artists and get their autographs,” said PLA Media’s CEO and President Pam Lewis. Artists who participated in the past include Chris Young, Taylor Swift, Trace Adkins and Trisha Yearwood.

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December 17 – 2nd Annual Holiday Pet Adoption Event
O.live body spa will announce the 2nd Annual Miracle on Music Row pet adoption and awareness event hosted by Emmylou Harris, Saturday (12/17), 10:30 AM- 2:30 PM at O.liv in Edgehill Village.

The event benefits Bonaparte’s Retreat, an organization in Nashville dedicated to providing nurturing foster care and homes for shelter animals. Though the event is free and open to the public, a suggested donation of $10 will be taken at the door.

Special guests The Civil Wars, Mike Farris and Buddy Miller will perform with Emmylou Harris.

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December 5 – Oak Ridge Boys Chattanooga, TN
December 21 – Oak Ridge Boys Knoxville, TN
December 7 – December 21 Oak Ridge Boys TV Special
The Oak Ridge Boys are teaming with Save the Children to kick off the a 31-city holiday tour, and have recorded a half-hour Christmas Special set to begin airing on Friday, (12/7).

Check local listings this holiday season through 12/21 or log on to Save the Children’s YouTube Channel for a chance to catch the blend of yuletide favorites, Oak Ridge Boys hits, and their newly-released single, “What’cha Gonna Do” from their Cracker Barrel exclusive CD, It’s Only Natural.

“We take pleasure in announcing that our group is partnering with Save the Children during this year’s Christmas tour,” Oak Ridge Boys member Duane Allen says. “There’s no need for any child to suffer from poverty, but in reality, there are millions who need our help.”

The Band Perry’s Debut Album Goes Platinum

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This week marks significant milestones for The Band Perry. Following their performance on The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!, the sibling trio received its first Grammy nomination in the all-genre Best New Artist category, and now the group’s debut album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

“We are excited and honored beyond belief. A Grammy nomination is like a gold star from the people you most look up to. As we begin our next album, this is a great vote of confidence…we promise not to let you down,” said Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry.

The Grammy contenders, already the reigning ACM and CMA New Artists award winners, show no signs of slowing down after coming off Reba‘s All The Women I Am Tour as well as headlining their own concert dates (including a sold-out Ryman show in February 2012). They’re set to join Brad Paisley’s Camobunga! 2012 World Tour in January and will continue working on their second album.

“In this environment, it takes something amazing to break through and The Band Perry has done just that with some extraordinary feats,” said Jimmy Harnen, Republic Nashville President. “There has always been something uniquely special about their music and them as individuals. On behalf of Republic Nashville, we couldn’t be prouder of Kimberly, Reid and Neil, who accolade after accolade, continue to be dedicated and humble,”

The Band Perry’s self-titled debut album features the No. 1, triple-Platinum smash “If I Die Young;” Gold-certified single “You Lie,” and their current single “All Your Life.”

Photo Friday (12/2/2011)

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The Academy of Country Music recently sponsored Rock the Cradle, a Nashville benefit for the Baptist Hospital Foundation. The event, co-chaired by Connie Bradley and Troy Tomlinson, featured Big & Rich and raised over $325,000 for babies born in the Beaman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

(L-R): Troy Tomlinson, Alison DeMarcus, Ken Robold, Butch Waugh, Big Kenny, Teresa George, Tiffany Moon, John Rich, Amy Cannon, Paul Barnabee, and Connie Bradley

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BMI writer/artist Preston Leatherman recently signed a management agreement with James Lucente and Chris Keaton. The Houston native and multi-instrumentalist recently released a live EP titled Live From The Basement: Vol. 1 featuring both old and new songs.

(L-R): James Lucente, Preston Leatherman (seated), BMI’s David Preston, and Chris Keaton

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Nashville restaurant proprietor and Sony Music Nashville Assoc. Dir., Artist Development & Marketing Rachel Fontenot recently filmed an episode of Food Network’s Heat Seekers from her East Nashville restaurant Mad Donna’s. The episode will feature the restaurant’s Habanero Mac & Cheese and ghost pepper-infused Vodka of Doom. Heat Seekers from Mad Donnas is set to air in January, 2012.

Rachel Fontenot (center, in black) prepares her spicy foods during the Food Network taping.

CMHOF Promotes Ali Tonn And Nathalie Lavine

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce two promotions in its education department. Public Programs Coordinator Ali Tonn has been promoted to Director of Education and Public Programming, while School Programs Coordinator Nathalie Lavine has been promoted to School Programs Manager. Tonn joined the museum staff in August 2005 and Lavine joined in October 2010.

Reporting to Vice President of Museum Programs Jay Orr, Tonn will direct all of the museum’s education and public programming, including the museum’s flagship educational program, Words & Music; all exhibit-related programming; monthly film screenings and family programs; the museum’s annual Artist-in-Residence concert series; and more. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum presents more than 200 education programs and more than 200 public and outreach programs annually.

Prior to joining the museum’s staff, Tonn worked at the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community Music School as a program and development assistant; and at the Manhattan School of Music as the orchestral performance program and community outreach associate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Music History from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Arts in Business and Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tonn is a native of Haven, Kansas.

Reporting to Tonn, Lavine will manage the museum’s education programming, facilitating both onsite and distance learning programs. Lavine previously worked at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Haverford College, and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from George Washington University. Lavine is a native of Nashville, Tennessee.

Warner Music Nashville To Release Fallon Comedy Album

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Jimmy Fallon of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has joined the Warner Music Nashville roster and is scheduled to release a comedy record through Warner Bros. in summer 2012.

The record will include music, parodies and other impresario compositions that have been performed by Jimmy and his guests. Due to high demand and requests, the record is offering fans this previously unreleased content as seen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

“Warner Music has a long and proud tradition of comedy excellence,” said Peter Strickland, Warner Music Nashville SVP of Brand Management / A&R Comedy. “Its illustrious roster has been home to Bob Hope and Steve Martin and more recently, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy, Katt Williams and Lisa Lampanelli, among many others. It is with great pride that we welcome Jimmy Fallon to our comedy family!”

For more information on Jimmy Fallon’s release on Warner Music Nashville, visit www.WarnerMusicNashville.com.

Artist Round-Up (12/2/2011)

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Ronnie Dunn with Dr. Phil

Ronnie Dunn’s latest single “Cost of Livin’” reflects on the current economic struggle across the nation, which has generated an overwhelming amount of feedback. To continue the conversation, Dunn recently taped episodes of Dr. Phil and The Doctors, both of which were themed around the “Cost of Livin’.”  The episode of The Doctors will air Monday, Dec. 5, with the Dr. Phil airdate set for Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Co-written by Dunn and Phillip Coleman, “Cost of Livin’” appears on Dunn’s self-titled album which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart this summer.

Brent Anderson Photo: Jeremy Cowart

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Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville’s Brent Anderson will make his Grand Ole Opry debut tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Ryman Auditorium. Anderson will perform his debut single, “Amy’s Song,” which he co-wrote with Pure Prairie League founder/singer Craig Fuller and Chris DuBois. Fuller and Vince Gill (who also sang in Pure Prairie League) provided background vocals on the recording, which was inspired by PPL’s smash “Amie.”

“I’ve dreamed about playing the Opry since I was a kid,” said Anderson. “To get the chance to play it now, especially while the Opry is back home at The Ryman, is an incredible feeling. I feel so lucky and blessed for the opportunity. I can’t imagine what it will feel like to stand on that stage, but I’m excited to find out.”

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Big & Rich

Big & Rich will host Christmas in the Black Hills, a holiday special which premieres Monday, Dec. 12 at 8 PM/ET on GAC. Set against the backdrop of Deadwood, SD, Big & Rich will be joined by Thompson Square, Bradley Gaskin, Tracy Lawrence, Andy Gibson and The Farm.

Performances include: Big & Rich, “Blue Christmas” and “Drunk on Christmas” (an original tune by Jimmy Fallon); Gaskin, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”; Thompson Square, “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,”and “Christmas in Dixie”; Lawrence, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; Gibson, “The Christmas Song” and “Feliz Navidad”; and The Farm, “Oh Holy Night.”

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Marlee Scott

BigRide Entertainment artist Marlee Scott will perform the national anthem at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship college football game on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Clemson and Virginia Tech are the 2011 ACC Championship participants. Kick off is 8 p.m. ET. Dierks Bentley and David Nail are also set to appear as part of the ACC FanFest presented by AT&T.

Scott currently has a Christmas single out at Country radio titled “Someday At Christmas.” She is releasing her new single “Trainwreck,” in January 2012.

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Lorrie Morgan

Lorrie Morgan will perform at Christmas Concert For The Troops, an annual holiday concert in honor of active duty military. Morgan, among others, will entertain an intimate crowd of invitation-only guests at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Washington, DC.

Hosted by Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan and actor John Stamos, Christmas Concert For The Troops is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Morgan will perform three song selections: “My Favorite Things,” “America The Beautiful” with Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young and “In My Room” alongside legendary recording artists The Beach Boys.

All performances will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by American composer Marvin Hamlisch. Christmas Concert For The Troops presented by D.C. residents Suzy and Bob Pence along with the USO of Metropolitan Washington

Charlie Cook On Air

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Evolution.

I was having a conversation this morning about the technological changes taking place in radio. Being able to re-broadcast an AM station on an FM translator is a huge jump forward for increased access to the listener. Without question any form of programming that requires high fidelity is challenged on the AM band. So allowing the programming to be heard on FM is a real advantage for the station.

When I was young, AM radio dominated the ratings. I grew up in Detroit and CKLW, WXYZ and WKNR were the popular stations among my peers. We had no problem listening to these stations (WKNR was a little tougher as its signal was on the Downriver side of town). Generally their signals covered the metro area. The fidelity was good enough for my transistor and car radio.

Today the extraneous sound from things like street lights, neon signs, computers and monitors, florescent lights, microwave ovens, cell phones and many more everyday sources cause problems with AM radio reception.

Who knew that George Martin was such a genius listening to the Beatles on AM radio?   Who knew that Motown was as fabulous instrumentally as it is lyrically listening to AM radio?

Today CKLW, as important a station in the Midwest as WCFL, WLS and WOWO, is referred to as the Information Station. WXYZ, now known as WXYT is Talk and Sports and WKNR is now Keener13.com and not a terrestrial signal.

That is your tour down memory lane with Charlie. Normally, I would charge you a nickel for that but there is nothing you can do with a nickel these days.

This is not a discussion of music moving to FM. This is more a discussion of evolving and using your strengths to keep viable.

Would we all agree that Rush Limbaugh has kept AM radio viable? Certainly sports have helped, as most Major League Baseball teams and NFL teams remain on AM. The AM station operators were smart enough to see that they were not going to compete on a level playing field with FM stations when it comes to Taylor, Toby and The Band Perry.

If AM radio has figured out where they can play on a more level playing field, has FM radio? Yes and no.

Some stations and companies have chosen to engage the Internet on a very large level. Clear Channel has bet big with iHeartRadio. CBS has Radio.com. This may be a great business model if you have hundreds of stations across the entire country.

But other smart FM broadcasters have decided that not only is the model iffy but the expense is huge and going up.

The self-proclaimed king of the Internet music scene does not look like it will turn a profit until the 3rd quarter of 2013, at the earliest. Apparently Pandora can live a few years underwater.

Many and more radio stations are deciding that they already have the best distribution system and it does not cost $15 a month or $50 a month and is delivered over devices already in place.

These FM stations are already playing fees to publishers for the terrestrial rights. I know that there may someday be a fee tacked on to stations that stream music, on top of the fees already paid for this service. Then many are going to decide that there is no business model and we’ll see music stations stop streaming.

Believe me, that will not be the end of radio. It is not like the physical radio is going away. Why not own a distribution system instead of paying additional fees to fight dedicated music services, personal music libraries and national platforms that provide out of market radio?

Broadcasters are asking where are the benefits for a radio station in Ashtabula, Ohio having someone in Ashwood, OR streaming the station all day. Those fees add up.

Had AM radio sat still and tried to force mono music programming on a stereo world, there would be a lot of foreign language radio stations up and down the dial.

Will the failure to move assets to the Internet spell doom for FM broadcasters? Or will the financial burden of doing something that puts you in an arena stacked against you stifle your primary business?

Definition of evolution: The gradual development of something, esp. from a simple form to a more complex form.

Definition of a bad business model: the inability to get customers to follow you from one brand to the next. If your brand is abstract and scattered and your secondary brand fails to your meet competitor’s strengths, that is a bad business model.

Lifenotes: David Sanjek, Willard Mack Scott Jr.

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David Sanjek in 2008.

Music educator Dr. David Sanjek passed away Tuesday, November 29 in New York City following a heart attack. He was 59. An authority on music archiving, Sanjek had served as head of the Popular Music Research Centre and as a professor in the School of Media, Music and Performance at Salford University in England. He had previously served as Director of the BMI Archives in New York for 16 years, and had a Ph.D. in American Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. He also served as an advisor to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, The Blues Foundation, The Experience Music Project Museum and on several committees for the Recording Academy. He is survived by brothers Roger (Lani) of New York City and Rick of Nashville (also a former BMI employee). Plans for a memorial service have not been finalized at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MusicCares.

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Willard Mack Scott Jr., father of MusicCityNetworks Managing Partner Lang Scott and grandfather of Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott passed away on November 11. He was 75, and had been battling acute leukemia. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 15 at Elmore McCreight Funeral Home in Sumter, SC. In addition to Lang and Hillary, he is survived by his wife Rose, daughter Cindy, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Attn: Kathleen Murphy, 2410 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203.