Michelle Obama To Present Taylor Swift With The Big Help Award

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First Lady Michelle Obama will be appearing on Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards for the first time to present Taylor Swift with this year’s The Big Help Award. The honor is presented in recognition of Swift’s philanthropic endeavors, including her work with tornado and flood victims in the United States. The 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards, hosted by Will Smith, will be telecast live on Nickelodeon Saturday, March 31 at 7 pm CT from USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles.

“Taylor’s dedication to helping others has encouraged her fan base to do the same, and this is the very core of what The Big Help is, inspiring others through action,” said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, Nickelodeon Group. “We are honored that First Lady Michelle Obama, a past recipient of The Big Help Award will be presenting this formidable and inspiring artist with this much deserved honor.”

Swift has dedicated herself to raising funds and awareness to benefit those affected by natural disasters. In 2011, she opened the last dress rehearsal of her Speak Now Tour to fans to raise funds for victims of tornadoes that his the Southeast. The event raised over $750,000 with 100 percent of ticket sales going to help victims via the “Speak Now…Help Now” fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. She is also actively involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude, Habitat For Humanity, T.J. Martell Foundation, The Red Cross, Nick’s Kids, The Salvation Army, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp, plus numerous libraries, schools and educational initiatives.

Swift recently scored yet another No. 1 single with her hit “Ours,” and wrapped up her 111-show Speak Now World Tour in Auckland, New Zealand. She is currently nominated for ACM Awards for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year.

Nickelodeon’s The Big Help aims to empower kids to make positive actions on issues that are important to them. Previous honorees include Justin Timberlake (2011), Michelle Obama (2010), and Leonardo DiCaprio (2009).

Montgomery Gentry Gears Up For TV Appearances

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Montgomery Gentry on The Price Is Right.

Montgomery Gentry is set for a slew of national television appearances starting Thurs., March 29 with The Price Is Right. The pre-taped special ties in with the April 1 ACM Awards, where MG is nominated for Top Vocal Duo.

On Sat., March 31 Montgomery Gentry will visit CBS This Morning and FOX News Channel’s Huckabee. They are scheduled to perform their Top 10 hit “Where I Come From,” and “Good Ol’ Boys (Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song),” from the tribute album Waylon: The Music Inside Volume II.

Other stops in NYC include the nationally syndicated The Better Show, airing April 5, as well as the syndicated health and lifestyle program, Dr. Steve. After returning to Nashville, Montgomery Gentry will join friend “Cowboy” James Storm on TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV.

“Where I Come From,” written by Rodney Clawson and Dallas Davidson, is from MG’s first release for Average Joes Entertainment, Rebels On The Run. Michael Knox produced the set.

RIAA Touts First Sales Uptick Since 2004

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Uplifting sales news arrived this week from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The trade organization reports that for the first time since 2004, U.S. music sales are up .2% vs. the previous year. RIAA sales data differs from Nielsen SoundScan’s accounting because it is based upon the dollar value of net shipments not units sold. RIAA, whose members are the music labels, also certifies Gold®, Platinum®, Multi-Platinum™ and Diamond sales awards.

For perspective, note that the 2011 total digital and physical sales of $7.007 billion is still less than half of the industry highpoint of over $14.584 billion in 1999. According to the just-released report, this is also the first year that digital sales edged out physical formats, moving from 46% last year to slightly over 50% for 2011.

Digital sales are growing. The RIAA digital categories include singles, albums, kiosk and music video which together increased 17.3% to represent a total of $2.6 billion. Digital album sales value jumped 25% to account for $1.1 billion of that $2.6 billion total.

Subscription services aka “access models” surged 13% to a new high in 2011 of $241 million. Users increased from 1.5 million to 1.8 million. Subscription revenue and its 1.8 million users is still an extremely small segment, but industry eyes are paying close attention to this category.

Digital performance distributions which includes payments to performers and copyright holders for webcasting, satellite radio, and other non-interactive digital music services, increased 17% to $292 million in 2011. Revenues from digital performance royalties for the first time surpassed the sales of ringtunes, ringbacks, and other mobile products, which fell 38% to $277 million in 2011.

Sync royalties are included for the first time this year. The sync category increased 4% this year to $196 million and its inclusion helped to push the overall total into the .2% positive territory.

Sugarland to Visit Dancing With the Stars

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Grammy-winning duo Sugarland will get some toes tapping tonight (3/27) when it performs on the results show of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars at 8 pm CT.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will perform “Run” with singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson in their first appearance tonight. Later, the duo will return to the stage to sing “Find The Beat Again” from the album The Incredible Machine.

Sugarland’s headlining “In Your Hands” tour kicks off April 5, in Toledo, OH.

The season premiere of DWTS aired last night (3/26) with contestants Donald Driver, William Levy, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Jack Wagner, Jaleel White, Katherine Jenkins, Maria Menounos, Martina Navratilova, Melissa Gilbert, Roshon Fegan, and Sherri Shepherd.

McCreery to Perform on “Idol”

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Scotty McCreery will return to American Idol this Thursday, March 29, to perform his new single, “Water Tower Town.” The single will also be released to country radio on Thursday.

The song reflects McCreery’s life in Garner, N.C. “’Water Tower Town’ is my Garner song on the album, my hometown song,” he says. “It reminds me of Garner, which has a big water tower right across from where I grew up playing ball. It has a lot of elements in there that remind me of Garner.”

The American Idol champ’s first two singles, “I Love You This Big” and “The Trouble With Girls,” have been certified Gold. McCreery has toured the nation as part of Brad Paisley’s “Virtual Reality Tour 2012” presented by Chevrolet. Since mid-January, he has performed in front of nearly 225,000 people.

McCreery has been nominated for this year’s Academy of Country Music New Artist of the Year Award, which will be given out during the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1. He will perform “Water Tower Town” on the show, which airs live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

Love and Theft Planning RCA Records Release

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ACM Vocal Duo of the Year nominee Love and Theft, will release its new album on June 5 on RCA Records.

The self-titled project, recorded with producer Josh Leo (Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), is currently available for pre-order. The album’s lead single, “Angel Eyes,” landed this week at No. 43 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Since releasing its Top 10 hit “Runaway” on Lyric Street’s Carolwood Records two years ago, the band has downsized to a duo with Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson and signed with RCA Records.

“Stephen and I have always been on the same page as far as the vision for Love and Theft and what we want it to be,” says Gunderson. “We feel like we have made the record we’ve always wanted to make.”

Love and Theft will kick off the ACM Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas this Fri., March 30.

Watch the new “Angel Eyes,” music video below.

Leadership Music Applications Due

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The deadline to apply for the 2013 class of Leadership Music is quickly approaching, with Saturday, March 31 serving as the cutoff date. Application forms, dates, and FAQs are available at www.leadershipmusic.org. The application process is online only.

The nine-month, Nashville-based, education program starts in September and is designed to foster understanding and teamwork among professionals from different parts of the industry. Participants are required to attend an orientation, all-day sessions once a month, and opening and closing retreats.

Since its formation over 22 years ago, Leadership Music has graduated close to 900 executives from the program.

Longtime Opry Background Vocalist Carol Lee Retires

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(L-R): Pete Fisher, Carol Lee Cooper and Marty Stuart. Photo: Chris Hollo

Longtime Grand Ole Opry background vocalist Carol Lee Cooper of the Carol Lee Singers marked the end of her career with the venerable show on Saturday night (3/24).

During an Opry segment hosted by Cooper’s friend Marty Stuart, Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher presented Cooper with a framed print commemorating her years of service to the Opry. Stuart and his band the Fabulous Superlatives then treated Cooper and the audience to a rousing rendition of “Carol Lee,” penned and sung by band member Kenny Vaughan. Afterwards, as Cooper sat center stage, Stuart held her hand and closed the segment with the gospel standard “The Unseen Hand.”

“For thousands of Grand Ole Opry fans over the years,” Fisher said, “the sound of the Carol Lee Singers has become wonderfully familiar over the Opry airwaves. For all of us at the Opry, Carol Lee has and always will be family. We are so pleased to celebrate her long Opry career with her tonight and look forward to hearing about her future successes.”

“This wonderful Opry family will always have a special place in my heart,” Cooper said. “I’m proud to have spent so much of my life here around the music and people I love. I am blessed to have so many good things and interesting projects in store for me, and I already look forward to sharing them with everyone here.”

Cooper first appeared on the Opry stage with her parents, longtime Grand Ole Opry members Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, in 1956. She formed and has led the Carol Lee Singers, named by Opry patriarch Roy Acuff, on Opry background vocals since 1972. The Carol Lee Singers’ other members, Norah Lee Allen, Rod Fletcher, and Dennis McCall, will continue at the Opry as “The Opry Singers.”

Clarkson Re-Records Hit Song For Country Radio

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Kelly Clarkson’s voice has graced the airwaves of country radio before, thanks to her duets with Jason Aldean “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and Reba (“Because of You”), but never as a solo artist. Until now, that is.

Clarkson, who is managed by Nashville’s Starstruck Entertainment (along with Reba and Blake Shelton), recently posted on Facebook that she has re-recorded her hit “Mr. Know It All” as a single for country radio. The original American Idol champ worked with producer Dann Huff on the song’s update.

“Hey everybody, I got to work with Dann Huff and recut ‘Mr. Know It All’ for country radio!” she posted. “I hope y’all like it!! I had a lot of fun recutting the song and getting the opportunity to work with Dann!”

The song will be available for download on iTunes April 3.

Clarkson has recently crossed the reality singing show aisle to serve as a mentor on NBC’s The Voice, and will also appear on ABC’s Duets this summer.

Photo: Razor & Tie Publishing Signs Seth Jones

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L–R: Razor & Tie’s Lisa Johnson; SESAC’s John Mullins and Shannan Hatch; Jones; Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam, Ross Asher and Beka Tischker

SESAC affiliate Seth Jones has signed an exclusive agreement with Razor & Tie Publishing for representation. Jones, a songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist proficient in many genres, stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters with Razor & Tie Publishing executives to celebrate the signing.