Around The Web: Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Kenny Rogers

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Swift's current marketing/endorsement partnerships include Wonderstruck perfume and American Greetings cards.

• Taylor Swift has signed with IMG for representation in worldwide marketing, endorsements, tour sponsorships and licensing. She remains with WME for touring, film, television and book representation. More from The Hollywood Reporter.

• Alan Jackson’s Center Hill lake house is on the market for $4.9 million. The 3.6 acre compound is on a private peninsula with a guest house, boat dock, two-story houseboat and helipad. See photos here.

• Kenny Rogers has been added to the Bonnaroo line-up. Also performing at the multi-genre festival in Manchester, Tenn. are Nashville-related acts Caitlin Rose, the Civil Wars, Needtobreathe and Ben Folds Five. Bonnaroo runs June 7-10. More on Bonnaroo here.

Kenny Rogers is also set for the CMA Music Festival on June 9, and a sold-out residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame on May 9 and 10.

BioWillie™ Fuels Nelson’s 79th Birthday

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Photo (L-R): Robert (Bob) King, President of Pacific Biodiesel and Nelson

To celebrate Willie Nelson‘s birthday today (4/30), Pacific Biodiesel’s pump on Maui has re-branded and will now be sold as BioWillie™ Biodiesel.

The branding is the brainchild of Nelson, a Maui resident who has long supported community-based biodiesel products. Nelson and his wife Annie bought their first diesel car in 2003 and filled up at Pacific Biodiesel.

Customers who fill up today between 8 am – 5:30 pm receive a free BioWillie™ bumper sticker and can enter a drawing to win a cap autographed by Nelson. The Maui store is located at 40 Hobron Avenue in Kahului and open 24 hours.

BioWillie focuses on quality and sustainability, requiring the fuel meet American Society of Testing and Materials standards and feedstock sources meet best practices established by the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (of which Nelson is a founding member). Additionally the fuel must be produced in America, from American feedstock, and used in America within a reasonable region.

Pacific Biodiesel, an advocate for sustainable community-based biodiesel, was founded in Maui in 1996 by Robert King. The company operates 13 plants in the U.S. and Japan.

Nelson will release his first album for Legacy Recordings titled Heroes, May 15 with new songs and guest artists including Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson.

Date Set for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction

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The 42nd Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony will take place Sunday, October 21 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, according to an announcement made today by John Van Mol, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

The annual event is one of the highlights of the Nashville Awards season and honors those who create the songs that define country music. This year’s inductees will be announced in the coming months. Last year’s honorees included Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, John Bettis, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin. The ceremony also features some of music’s biggest names paying tribute to the inductees and attending the event.

For more information on the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, please visit: www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com.

Yodeler Kenny Roberts Passes

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Famed country yodeler Kenny Roberts has died at age 85. His death was reported on Sunday, April 29. He was known as “Yodeling Kenny Roberts” and as “America’s King of the Yodelers.”

Roberts was a radio star at KMOX in St. Louis, the CBS Saturday morning show Barnyard Frolics, The Hoosier Hop in Ft. Wayne, IN, the WCOP Hayloft Jamboree in Boston and The Midwestern Hayride in Cincinnati. He also starred in his own television kiddie program The Kenny Roberts Show on WNEM-TV in Saginaw, MI in the 1960s, as well as earlier on WLW-TV in Cincinnati.

He was a recording artist for the Vogue, Coral/Decca, Palomino and Longhorn labels in 1945-1985. His biggest hits included “I Never See Maggie Alone” (1949), “Wedding Bells” (1949), “Jealous Heart” (1949) and “Choc’late Ice Cream Cone” (1950), all on Coral. Roberts also popularized such songs as “River of Tears,” “I’ve Got the Blues,” “Yodel Polka,” “She Taught Me to Yodel,” “Hillbilly Style” and “Cheer Up, Things Could be Worse.”

He helped launch the career of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bill Haley, who was in his Down Homers country band in 1946.

During his long career, Kenny Roberts appeared on the network television programs Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and The Today Show.

MusicRow sends condolences to his family. He is the father of music executives Bobby Roberts (The Bobby Roberts Company) and Jeff Roberts (Jeff Roberts & Associates). He is also survived by seven other children, 19 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Kenny Roberts passed away at his home in Athol, Massachusetts. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

The Band Perry Honored in Mississippi

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(L-R): Patrick Bryant, Neil Perry, Governor Phil Bryant, First Lady Deborah Bryant, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry at the Governor's mansion in Jackson, Mississippi

The Band Perry recently paid a trip to their birth state of Mississippi to visit with service men, women and their families at Kessler Air Force Base before performing in Biloxi at the 20th Annual Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and First Lady Deborah Bryant greeted the siblings with a private brunch at the Governor’s Mansion on Mon., April 23, the same day the group was  celebrated with a resolution commemorating its career success and accomplishments. The presentation was held in the Mississippi State Senate Chamber, introduced by Senator Michael Watson and was passed by both the House and the Senate.

The Band Perry’s received another accolade later that afternoon, when news was released of the group’s CMT Music Award nomination for Group Video of the Year.

“We are so thankful, and honestly, a little overwhelmed at all of the wonderful blessings we have received,” said Kimberly Perry. “Being invited to have brunch with the Governor and First Lady and to stand on the floor of the Senate Chamber in Mississippi and be recognized was such an honor. Then later to find out about our CMT nomination on the same day was incredible.”

The Band Perry then headed to New Orleans to shoot the music video for “Postcard From Paris,” the fifth single from the Platinum-certified The Band Perry (Republic Nashville). The group has also resumed opening duties on Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality World Tour in addition to headlining individual dates.

2012-2013 CRS Agenda Committee Announced

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The 2012-2013 Country Radio Seminar Agenda Committee has been announced, and 11 new members have been added this year.

“We had a great CRS 2012 earlier this year, but we’re always looking for ways to make the seminar even better,” says 2012-2013 CRS Agenda Committee Chair Annie Sandor. “We’ve put together a team that certainly has the tools to do just that!”

The 2012-2013 CRS Agenda Committee is made up of volunteers from all areas of the music industry and gathers to plan events for CRS. This year’s committee members will meet June 20-22, 2012 in Nashville to put together topics for CRS 2013, held Feb. 27 – March 1, 2013.

The complete 2012-2013 CRS Agenda Committee (* denotes new committee member):

Lee Adams / Broken Bow Records *
Daniel Anstandig / Listener Driven Radio *
Andy Denemark / United Stations
Dale Desmond / KTHK *
Ryan Dokke / Arista Records *
Greg Frey / Cumulus Media, Inc. *
Jeff Green / Country Aircheck (Agenda Committee Co-Chair)
Gator Harrison / WUSY
Andrew Kautz / Big Machine Label Group *
Judi Lakin / Cox Media Group Houston *
Stephen Linn / CMT
Nick Martin / WXFL
Lisa McKay / WQDR *
Daniel Miller / Borman Entertainment *
Mike Preston / KKWF
Ron Rodrigues / Arbitron
Sean Ross / Edison Research/Radio-Info.com *
Annie Sandor / Curb Records (Agenda Committee Chair)
Chris Stacey / Warner Music Nashville *
John Trapane / Capitol Records (Agenda Committee Co-Chair)

Lee Greenwood Authors New Book

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Lee Greenwood offers his personal insights into America’s challenges and future in his new book, Does God Still Bless the U.S.A.? A Plea for a Better America, set for release May 14 by Tate Publishing.

Available in bookstores nationwide and online, the 216-page softcover publication includes a special 30-day devotional Prayers of a Patriot, written by Greenwood’s wife, Kim. Also included with purchase are two exclusive free downloads, a brand new version of “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “Show Me the Way,” available through www.TatePublishing.com.

Endorsements for Does God Still Bless the U.S.A.? A Plea for a Better America include President George W. Bush, Charlie Daniels, Reba McEntire, Michael W. Smith, Sean Hannity, Chuck Norris, and others.

This June, Greenwood will also release a new seven-track EP entitled, I Want to Be in Your World, which will include the original track, “Here Comes Love, There Goes My Heart,” as well as a cover of the  Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins ballad, “You Can Let Go Now.”

Sheryl Crow Finishes St. Jude Country Music Half Marathon

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Sheryl Crow runs the St. Jude Country Music 1/2 Marathon. Photo: Lester Cacho/Competitor Group

Over 30,000 runners turned out for the 2012 St. Jude Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Presented by Nissan on Saturday (4/28), including St. Jude Music Gives first ambassador Sheryl Crow.

“The bands were great, they were so uplifting and fun and really help take your mind off the pain,” said Crow, who ran in support of New Hope Academy. “People lined the course the whole way, cheering you on saying ‘you can do it.’” The race was Crow’s first half-marathon and she finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 14 seconds.

Other notable runners includes radio host Dave Ramsey (2:16:15), Christian artist Toby Mac (2:18:39), GAC Nights and On The Streets host Suzanne Alexander (2:19:58), and Columbia Nashville artist Joanna Smith (2:22:33), who also sang the national anthem before the race began.

The weekend events also included over 7100 junior racers competing at ING KiDS Rock on Friday (4/27), a non-competitive, non-timed one mile run for kids grades K-7. The festivities concluded with a post-race concert Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena headlined by Rodney Atkins. The 14th Annual St. Jude Country Music Marathon will take place April 27, 2013.

Daniel Lee Joins BMG Chrysalis

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BMG Chrysalis's Nashville team. Pictured (L-R) back row: Kevin Lane, Darrell Franklin, John Allen, Daniel Lee. Front row: Taylor Lindsey, Kim Hylick, Sara Johnson.

BMG Chrysalis US has tapped Daniel Lee to serve as Creative Director at the company’s Nashville operation. He will report to Darrell Franklin, Executive Vice President, effective immediately. Lee’s responsibilities will cover the full spectrum of creative duties including signing and development talent, and songplugging.

“Daniel Lee is going to be a strong complement to our already outstanding creative team,” said Franklin. “He brings a great deal of experience and is well respected throughout the music community. Nashville is an increasingly important hub for the company and we are very excited to have him on board.”

Lee previously worked as Creative Director at Ten Ten Music, a post he held since 2007. Prior to that he spent two years at Island Bound Music.

He joins BMG’s growing Nashville team which includes Vice President John Allen, Sr. Creative Directors Sara Johnson and Taylor Lindsey, GM Kim Hylick, and Creative Manager Kevin Lane. The publisher’s recent hits include “Home” (Dierks Bentley), “Banjo” (Rascal Flatts), “A Little Bit Stronger” (Sara Evans), “Let It Rain” (David Nail), “Reality” (Kenny Chesney), and “Fly Over States” (Jason Aldean).

Industry Pics (4/30/12)

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The 13th Annual Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner was held last Monday (4/23) at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The exclusive dining experience benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation’s mission of funding innovative cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Labs at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

(L-R): Bill Hearn (Co-Chairman), Phran Galante, Joe Galante (Co-Chairman), Robin Meade, Jerrod Niemann, Chef Lidia Bastianich, Billy Ray Hearn, Nancy Hearn, Tom Black (Co-Chairman). Photo: Randi Ratcliff.

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The Country Music Association held its Membership Mixer and Open House on Thursday (4/26) in the organization’s newly remodeled atrium. Over 200 CMA members attended the event and mingled or made new acquaintances. CMA Close Up Editor Bob Doerschuk provided musical entertainment at a baby grand piano, which also served as a display for three original CMA Awards donated by winner Jack Greene.

(L-R): President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board President Troy Tomlinson; CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore; CMA Counsel Emeritus Dick Frank; and CMA Legal Counsel and Luna Law Group Attorney Horton Frank. Photo: Christian Bottorff

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ASCAP and Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) recently partnered to host an evening with songwriters Marla Cannon-Goodman, Tony Arata, Steven Dale Jones and Tim DuBois (who also moderated) to discuss a variety of topics affecting the music business.

(L-R): YEP's Andrew Cohen, ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Tony Arata, Tim DuBois, YEP's Mary Ann Keen and Steven Dale Jones.