Lady Antebellum Sells Out Opening Night

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Lady Antebellum performing at the Knoxville Coliseum.

CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum kicked off the headlining Own The Night 2011 Tour sponsored by GAC this weekend with a sold out concert at the Knoxville Coliseum.

“Lady A has taken their tour to the next level,” said WIVK/Knoxville PD Mike Hammond. “Their energy, enthusiasm, stage presence, big screens, the music, the stage, etc. This is definitely on the must see list this fall.”

Lady A is currently nominated for Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group for the 2011 American Music Awards and will be honored as one CMT’s five Artists of the Year December 13.

The Own The Night 2011 Tour continues this week in El Paso, TX (11/16), Phoenix, AZ (11/17) and Las Vegas, NV (11/18).

UMPG Shuffles Top National Execs.

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(Top) UMPG EVP/Head of Pop & Rock Music, Creative, Monti Olson. (Bottom) UMPG Head of Business & Legal Affairs/Business Development, David Kokakis (Photos: PRNewsFoto/Universal Music Publishing Group)

Monti Olson and David Kokakis both received promotions today (11/14) from Universal Music Publishing Group, North America’s President, Evan Lamberg. Olson to Executive Vice President/Head of Pop & Rock Music, Creative and Kokakis to Senior Vice President, Head of Business & Legal Affairs/Business Development.

Both positions report directly to Lamberg and will be based in the company’s world-wide headquarters in Santa Monica. These promotions follow today’s exits of Tom Sturges, EVP/Head of Creative, and Robert Allen, SVP/Head of Business and Legal Affairs.

Olson will oversee the Pop and Rock creative operations as he co-leads U.S. creative teams in Los Angeles and New York with Ethiopia Habtemariam, Executive Vice President/Head of Urban Music. Olson previously served as VP of A&R. His career also includes a similar post at BMG.

Kokakis’ newly appointed position will head UMPG’s Business Affairs operations in North America, which includes overseeing all contract negotiations and legal matters concerning new and existing songwriter signings, monitoring all copyright infringement matters, and negotiating new digital media agreements.

CRS Early Bird Registration Ends Tuesday

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Only one day remains before the $399 Early Bird registration expires for CRS 2012. The event will be held Feb. 22-24 in downtown Nashville. Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16, the CRS 2012 registration price increases to the $499 Regular Rate.

Country Radio Seminar continues to improve the CRS experience for its attendees with this year’s addition of a new Internet café, after-hours songwriters in the round and an updated, professionally redesigned lounge.

For the first time ever, Country Radio Seminar is offering free, on-site Internet with its new St. Jude Internet Café. Sponsored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the café serves coffee and beverages and provides free wireless or wired Internet access for all CRS attendees. Cell phone charging stations are also available in the café.

On the Wednesday and Thursday night of the seminar, Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will be open for after-hours acoustic entertainment. Hosted by radio legend Bob Kingsley, the venue will showcase performances from some of Nashville’s top songwriters.

The private CRS Badge Bar has been expanded and completely redesigned for CRS 2012 by nationally recognized Nashville party planner Randi Lesnick. Featuring new décor and furniture, a fully stocked bar and a modern, relaxed atmosphere, the Badge Bar is open to CRS attendees only.

“These new destinations at CRS 2012 were created to provide greater conveniences and more entertainment options for our attendees. People no longer have to go back to their room at the hotel to charge their phone or get online,” says CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne.

The limited time, $399 Early Bird registration expires Nov. 15. Register at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or by calling (615) 327-4487.

Garth & Trisha Rebuild In Haiti

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Country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood joined Habitat for Humanity in Haiti this month to help build 100 homes during the 28th Annual “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.”

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010 caused widespread devastation, destroying 105,000 homes. This project is being held in Haiti in 2011 and 2012 to build homes and raise awareness of the need for ongoing support for Haiti’s recovery.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org.

 

LEOGANE, HAITI—Trisha Yearwood (right) works alongside Rosalynn Carter in the Santo community in Haiti. Photo: Gregg Pachkowski

EOGANE, HAITI—Garth Brooks helps move a wall into place in the Santo community in Haiti. Photo: Gregg Pachkowski

Singled Out (11/14/11)

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Following her acoustic performance of the song on the CMA Awards, Taylor Swift’s “Ours” will be the newly crowned Entertainer of the Year’s next single. The track is available on the Target exclusive version of Speak Now, and ships to radio Nov. 28. Swift is also currently nominated for Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Country Artist and Favorite Tour Headliner at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards.

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Love and Theft (Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson) is releasing “Angel Eyes,” the duo’s debut single for RCA today (Nov. 14). Interestingly, today is also the birthdate of both band members’ mothers. “You can’t make this up,” says RCA VP National Promotion Keith Gale. “When Stephen and Eric told me that November 14 was the birthday for both of their moms, I thought that was cool. But when they told me their moms were also born the same year, I thought, ‘this is a really cool and authentic story.’ We didn’t have any idea that November 14 was such a special day for Love and Theft until after we had chosen their add date. The guys told me about this while we were driving around the country on their radio promo tour.”

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Ty Herndon has released “Stones” (FUNL Music/Flying Island Entertainment), the lead single from his upcoming 2012 studio album. Herndon originally recorded the song for a project several years ago that was never released. While searching for songs for the new album, Herndon rediscovered the song and decided to record it again. “Stones” is the first new music released since Herndon’s Grammy-nominated 2010 album Journey On. “The song ‘Stones’ is really a metaphor for all of those defining moments in our lives that we are faced with,” says Herndon. “Like the lyrics say, ‘from the cradle to the grave, our lives are paved with stones.’ I’ve always felt it was such a remarkable and thought-provoking song, and it’s really stuck with me through the years. I’m just thrilled that I’m finally able to share it with my fans.”

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Trailer Choir has released “Love Me First,” its first new single since the departure of Crystal Hoyt and move to a new label home (Hollaville Records). “Our decision about this song was to first make it available to the fans who have stuck with us through so much this year, as well as the new fans who have come to know Vinny through his ongoing appearance on The Biggest Loser,” explained duo member Butter. “We have been getting some really good feedback – NBC even made the song available for people to hear on nbc.com.” Biggest Loser airs Tuesdays at 7 pm CT. Big Vinny is still among the competitors in the show’s ninth week. Check out “Love Me First” here.

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Teen sensation Payton Rae is getting in the holiday spirit with the release of “Christmas Time With You,” a video directed by Stephen Shepherd. Fans will be able to view the clip at 12 am Tuesday, November 15 (in other words, midnight tonight) on the Payton Rae YouTube Music Channel. The song will also be available on iTunes and other online outlets. “I co-wrote ‘Christmas Time With You’ with Bruce Wallace, Karyn Williams and Brian White – who also produced the track – and they all brought amazing ideas to the table,” says Payton. “One of my favorite parts about Christmas is baking my Mema’s homemade cookies with her – so I had to put that in this song!”

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Jerrod Niemann is also getting in the holiday spirit–or maybe that should be spirits–with the Mistletoe Mix of his current hit single “One More Drinkin’ Song.” Reasons to stay home and drink egg nog include long checkout lines, the insanity of the mall, and yellow snow (ew!). Drink up, and happy holidays!

Hall of Fame To Honor Wayne Carson

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Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wayne Carson will take a seat at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, Dec. 3. He is the latest honoree of the quarterly series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters. The session, which will include an interview and performance, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Held in the Museum’s Ford Theater, the show is included with Museum admission and free to Museum members. The program will be streamed live at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

Known as a musical triple-threat, Carson is an award-winning songwriter, producer and musician. His songs span the R&B, pop and country charts with hits such as “Always on My Mind,” “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles),” “Soul Deep” and “The Letter.” Artists including Brenda Lee, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Ike and Tina Turner and many more have recorded Carson’s compositions.

The 90-minute program, hosted by Museum Editor Michael Gray, will include recordings, photos and film clips from the Museum’s Frist Library and Archive. Carson will sign autographs immediately following the program.

The Poets and Prophets series honors songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous Poets and Prophets honorees have included Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Jerry Chesnut, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, John D. Loudermilk, Bob McDill, Roger Murrah, Dan Penn, Curly Putman, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Jeffrey Steele, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman.

Photo Spread: Artists Around Nashville

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(L-R) Ben Kitterman (Lewis’ band), Bill Catino (R&J Records), Lewis, Stroud & Derek Simon (R&J Records)

Aaron Lewis celebrated his gold-selling debut country single “Country Boy” in style the night of the CMA Awards (11/9). Lewis remains in Nashville to work on a follow-up album with producer James Stroud, expected in early 2012.

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(L-R) Nick Paranjape (Fox 17 Morning News Anchor), Alex Denis (Fox 17 Traffic Reporter), Wicks, Kelly Sutton (Tennessee Morning Host) and Craig Edwards (Fox 17 Morning Meteorologist)

Chuck Wicks visited local Nashville affiliate Fox 17 “Tennessee Mornings” to talk about his St. Jude concert at Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley tonight (11/14). Wicks also treated viewers to two previously unreleased songs, “Whole Damn Thing” and “She Gets To Me.”

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(L-R) Blaine Bishop, Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan with Tennessee Titans Legend Blaine Bishop before singing the national anthem at the Titans game on Sunday, Nov. 6.

 

Bentley Sets Album Release Date, Hometown Show

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Dierks Bentley announced today (11/14) that his sixth Capitol Nashville studio album Home will be released on Feb. 7, 2012. “Home,” the title track off the album, was released as a single last week on iTunes.

Bentley will play a special album release show in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 2. Fans can purchase tickets beginning this Friday, Nov. 18 at 10:00 AM/CT at the Ryman box office, on ryman.com and through all Ticketmaster locations.

“My home is in Nashville with my family, my home is on the road with our fans and my home is definitely in country music,” said Bentley. “This album is more than a year’s worth of writing, recording and testing out material on the road in front of our hard core fans. The end result is an album that runs through all the types of country songs and sounds I enjoy singing and playing. I can’t wait to share it with the fans!”

Bentley will perform “Home” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this Thursday, Nov. 17 at 11:35 PM/CT. “Home” follows the album’s first single, “Am I The Only One,” which recently became Bentley’s eighth career number one hit.

Bentley wraps the first leg of his headlining Country & Cold Cans Tour this weekend with shows in Nampa, ID (11/16), Bozeman, MT (11/17), Rapid City, SD (11/18) and Denver, CO (11/19). The tour will pick up in Feb. 2012 with dates already scheduled in Canada and Australia. For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

Hirings: Mullins, DeSalvo, Brown

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Shelly Mullins

Shelly Mullins has joined Webster & Assoc. Public Relations as Sr. Director/Media & Marketing, where she will oversee corporate brand management, publicity and marketing. Most recently Marketing Director for Cumulus Nashville, Mullins previously worked with Webster & Associates in 1999 before leaving to work with Shop At Home television in 2003. She later moved on to work as a publicist for Kaleidoscope Media before she joining Cumulus. Congratulate her here.

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Nashville School of Law (NSL) has added music industry veteran Ramona P. DeSalvo to its faculty as an intellectual property law instructor. Most recently, her varied experience includes running a private practice, operating her own Vision Management, working for firm King & Ballow, and teaching law at Middle Tennessee State. She is a graduate of UC-Berkeley and obtained her doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Cincinnnati College of Law.

“Nashville School of Law is delighted to welcome such a dynamic attorney to our faculty,” said Judge Joe Loser, Jr., Dean of Nashville School of Law. “Ms. DeSalvo’s vast expertise in intellectual property and entertainment law, along with her diverse roles in the music business, will bring invaluable insight to our students.”

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Darin Lashinsky, CEO of National Shows 2 (NS2), has announced the addition of Tahnee Brown to the team’s marketing department, where she will promote NS2 shows. Her previous work experience includes time with AEG Live, Knitting Factory Entertainment and House of Blues.

“I am very excited to have Tahnee working with us. Tahnee is bringing a wealth of marketing experience that covers all genres and crosses the entire US,” says Lashinsky.

A Washington native, Brown graduated from Central Washington University in 2005 with a degree in Business Administration. Reach her here.

Events: Pinsons Open Cafe; Whitelaw’s Music Placement Session

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Jimi Whitelaw of Nashville Demo Studio is holding a free industry-only event today (11/14) at 5:30 p.m. Whitelaw will speak on the process of placing music in film and television.

The following topics will be covered: Overview, Do You Qualify, Copyrights, Publishing, Master Rights, Splits, Broadcast Quality, Mixes You Need, Film and TV Lingo, Who’s Who, Contracts, Synch Fees and Money Generated, What’s Realistic to Expect, Buy Outs, Instrumentals vs Songs with Vocals, Movie Showings, Re-Runs, Foreign Country Placements, DVD Sales, Soundtracks, How to Pitch Your Songs to Film and TV, Pitch Communications, The Best and Most Lucrative Time to Pitch to Film and TV, Where to Start and Sharing Contacts.

The casual event will also be complimented with finger foods and drinks. It will be held at Nashville Demo Studio, located on 515 East Iris Drive Nashville, TN 37204.

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Songwriter Bobby Pinson and wife Lucy Pinson will open Lucy’s Cafe Express tomorrow (11/15). The grand opening will take place between noon and 2 p.m.

Their new snack shack, located at 30 Music Square West Suite 101, will be open regularly from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Lucy’s will serve fresh soups, stews, homemade sandwiches, entree specials and a variety of other snacks.

Lucy’s also delivers to Music Row and caters events. To place a future order with Lucy’s call 615-410-1311.