Band Perry, Kramer Play Morning Show Concerts

Republic Nashville’s The Band Perry will perform at the Today Toyota Concert Series tomorrow morning (6/1) at 8 am on NBC in all time zones. The sibling trio will perform hits including “If I Die Young,” “All Your Life,” and current single “Postcard From Paris.” Additionally, the video for “Postcard From Paris” will make its exclusive world premiere tomorrow (6/1) at 6 am/CT on CMT.

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Also tomorrow morning (6/1), Warner Music Nashville’s Jana Kramer will be performing her single “Why Ya Wanna” on the Fox & Friends Summer Concert Series on the Fox News Channel. Kramer will be interviewed at 6:30 am/CT, and her performance will take place between 7-8 am/CT. Kramer’s self-titled debut album will hit stores on Tuesday, June 5.

Jack Lameier Passes

Respected radio promotion veteran Jack Lameier died this morning (5/31). He was 69 and had been battling cancer.

His career spanned 40 years at CBS/Sony, ending as Sr. VP of Promotion in 2001. Following that, he went on to launch his own company, Jack’s Place Consulting, and adopted the title Proprietor.

An active member of the industry, he served on the ACM Board of Directors and earned the organization’s Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the ACM. He also served on the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors, which oversees the organization’s charitable initiatives.

Lameier was on the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors and received the CRB President’s Award for significant contributions to the marketing, production, growth and development of Country Radio Seminar and the CRB.

Outside the office, Lameier was an avid golfer and Civil War buff who enjoyed collecting artifacts and participating in reenactments.

He is survived by wife Connie—the couple was nearing their 50th wedding anniversary—son Brandon, daughter Lynne and several grandchildren.

Visitation will take place Sunday, June 3rd in the Parish Hall at Holy Family Catholic Church on Crockett Road in Brentwood, TN. Additional visitation will take place 9 – 11 am, Monday, June 4th at Holy Family Catholic Church. Mass will take place at 11 am, followed by a reception luncheon at the church.

MusicRowPics: Rachele Lynae Artist Visit

Momentum Label Group’s flagship artist Rachele Lynae stopped by MusicRow headquarters yesterday (5/30). She performed her debut single “Party Til The Cows Come Home,” which is starting to climb MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart at No. 77. She also shared cuts from her upcoming album, including “Out On The Floor” and “Done Is Done,” both of which she co-wrote.

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Industry Updates (5/31/12)

Hard Rock International has launched its own record label, Hard Rock Records, and its first signing is Gulfport, Mississippi band Rosco Bandana. The company will celebrate the band and the new company with a launch party at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville on June 19. Doors will open at 6 pm, and the premiere of Rosco Bandana’s video for “Time To Begin” followed by a performance from the band will take place at 7 pm.

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Avenue Bank has announced the promotions of Jim McCann and Pete Wooten as Executive Vice Presidents, it was announced by Avenue Chairman/CEO Ronald L. Samuels. McCann has been with the bank since 2007 and will serve as Executive VP and Director of Mortgage Lending. Wooten will serve as Executive VP and Director of Commercial Banking. He started with Avenue in 2007 prior to the bank’s official opening.

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The 10th Annual Nashville Songwriters Festival gets underway tomorrow (June 1) and runs through the weekend in and around Music Row. Registration slots are still available here.

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The 2012 Bill Anderson Scholarship was awarded to Summer Ducket, a graduate of Commerce High School in Commerce, GA—which Anderson claims as his “adopted” hometown. The presentation took place in the newly-built Bill Anderson Performing Arts Theater, and Ducket plans to attend Georgia State University to major in performing arts.

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Vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams will host a one-day MiniClinic on Friday, June 22, an all-day intensive workshop with helpful training. Registration information here.

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The Belcourt Theater will host a pre-release screening of the comedy film Halloween Party on June 14 to benefit the National Coalition for the Homeless and the Songs of Love Foundation. Prior to the screening at 7 pm, there will be a soundtrack signing reception for the local musicians and businesses involved. Nashville’s CJ Watson penned six songs on the soundtrack, and Donna Britton (of Shadow Mountain Publishing) co-wrote the movie’s theme song and served as music supervisor. Tickets here.

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Nashville-based advertising agency and web development firm The Horton Group has relocated its offices as of this week. Going forward, the company can be found at 136 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. in downtown Nashville. Launched in 1996, the Horton Group provides a full range of advertising and marketing services to a diverse group of clients.

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BlueHighways TV (BHTV) will begin producing a video version of WSM Radio’s “The Music Row Show,” which will premiere on the network in June. “The Music Row Show” is hosted by Scott Southworth and Heino Moeller and heard across the country online and on WSM-AM 650.

ZBB Bringing Southern Ground Festival To Music City

Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival is expanding into Nashville. The event is scheduled for Fri. and Sat., Sept. 21-22 at The Lawn at Riverfront Park, presented by LandShark Lager and Jack Daniel’s. ZBB will play both nights. Details about other performers and food will be revealed soon.

Southern Ground Music & Food Festival is promoted by JAM, Outback Concerts, and Sound Events.

The festival debuted last year in Charleston, SC with much success and will return there in October. It was voted Best Music Concert of 2011 by Charleston City Paper readers.

Two-day festival passes start at $89. VIP options include Front Porch Stage Boxes, with on-stage seating, drinks and a gourmet meal prepared under the direction of Southern Ground Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin.

Ticket pre-sale for fan club members will begin Tues., June 5 at 12 PM/CT, and general sale opens Thurs., June 7 at 10 AM/CT at southerngroundfestival.com.

Zac Brown Band’s new album Uncaged (Atlantic/Southern Ground) is due out July 10 and features contributions from Amos Lee and Trombone Shorty. Check out a performance of “Uncaged” at JazzFest here.

Cagle Is “Back In The Saddle” With New Album

Bigger Picture Group artist Chris Cagle will release his fifth studio album, Back In The Saddle, on June 26, 2012. The album is his first since joining Bigger Picture’s artist roster.

Back In The Saddle was produced with Keith Stegall (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson) and features Cagle’s current single “Got My Country On.” Cagle wrote five of the 11 tracks on the album, which also features contributions from Danny Myric, Kim Tribble, the Warren Brothers and more.

“The experience I’ve had making this record has rekindled the passion I had for music when I recorded my first record,” says Cagle. “Back In The Saddle is my life! I wouldn’t change anything about it; it is a record that I can live or die by and be content. I have given the fans my heart and soul, if it’s not good enough, I can live with it. If it is good enough, well then, I can’t wait to see what happens!”

Cagle will be in Nashville for CMA Music Festival next week before heading back out on the road to visit radio and play concert dates. He is scheduled to host his 2nd Annual Unbridled Concert on Friday, June 8 at the Wildhorse Saloon. The event benefits Saddle Up, a therapeutic horseback riding program for physically and mentally challenged children. More info here.

Warner Music Announces Exclusive Venue at Music Fest

Warner Music Nashville will be celebrating CMA Music Fest 2012 with an exclusive residency in downtown Nashville, featuring daytime events and evening showcases.

Renamed “The Warner Sound” for the WMN live events, the celebration will take place at aVenue located at 120 3rd Avenue South from June 6 through June 10. 

Fans are welcome and invited to purchase a limited supply of tickets at warnermusicnashville.com including a three day pass.

A scheduled list of events is as follows:

Wednesday, June 6 9:30 pm – The Warner Sound / CMT Awards ‘Fan After Party’ featuring Gloriana (and special guest Charlie Worsham). Tickets here.
Thursday, June 7, 3 pmJana Kramer’s Album Release Party. Entrance is free. VIP meet & greet tickets are sold out.
Thursday, June 7, 5:30 pmMusic City’s Most Wanted Live: Hunter Hayes in Concert. Hunter Hayes will play a full 90 minute show for the first time in Nashville.  Tickets here.
Friday, June 8, 5:30 pmFrankie Ballard opens for noted parody artist Cledus T. Judd. Tickets here.
Saturday, June 9, 3 – 6 pm – TouchTunes Karaoke sing-off & Kiss My Country Ass model search. Warner Music Nashville is casting country guys and girls to model the Kiss My Country Ass merchandise line, while the TouchTunes Karaoke party is underway. Entrance is free.

Date Set For Grammy Awards

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented Sun., Feb. 10, 2013 at the Los Angeles Staples Center, and will air live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Additionally, The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!—Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night, which reveals nominations in several categories along with performances will air live on CBS Wed., Dec. 5, 2012.

The eligibility year for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards is Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012.

Grammy Week, which culminates in Music’s Biggest Night, will again feature celebrations of music, education and philanthropy, including Grammy Camp Basic Training, the Entertainment Law Initiative luncheon, the Producers & Engineers Wing event, the Grammy Foundation’s Music Preservation Event, the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute, the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, and Clive Davis and The Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards attracted 39.9 million viewers, the largest Grammy audience since 1984 and the second largest in history.

Americana Music Nominations Revealed

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch lead the nominations for the Americana Music Honors and Awards, revealed today (5/31) at a ceremony in Los Angeles. Isbell earned four nods, and Welch followed closely with three nominations.

Music aficionado John C. Reilly announced the nominations at the event hosted by Jim Lauderdale at The Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theatre. The celebration featured performances by Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne and Robert Ellis alongside the Americana All-Star band led by Buddy Miller with Lauderdale, Greg Leisz, Don Heffington and Don Was. Late artists Levon Helm, Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson were honored with a rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

Gillian Welch

The Americana Music Honors & Awards Show returns to the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 12, 2012, as part of the Americana Music Festival running Sept. 12-15. Lauderdale will once again host while Miller will lead the All-Star Band.

Americana Music Honors & Awards 2012 Nominees

Album of the Year
Here We Rest – Jason Isbell
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive – Steve Earle
The Harrow & The Harvest – Gillian Welch
This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark – Various Artists

Artist of the Year
Gillian Welch
Hayes Carll
Jason Isbell
Justin Townes Earle

Emerging Artist of the Year
Alabama Shakes
Dawes
Deep Dark Woods
Robert Ellis

Song of the Year
“Alabama Pines” – Written by Jason Isbell and performed by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
“Come Around” – Written and Performed by Sarah Jarosz
“I Love” – Written by Tom T. Hall and performed by Patty Griffin
“Waiting on the Sky to Fall” – Written and performed by Steve Earle

Instrumentalist of the Year
Buddy Miller
Chris Thile
Darrell Scott
Dave Rawlings

Duo/Group of the Year
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Civil Wars
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Punch Brothers

Elizabeth Cook Announces New EP, Plans Tour

Elizabeth Cook will release her Gospel Plow EP on Tuesday, June 12, and is hitting the road this summer to support the release.

Cook was inspired to record Gospel Plow after participating in the California-based Strawberry Music Festival’s Sunday morning gospel show in 2011 and being moved by the music. The resulting collection features six of Cook’s favorite Southern gospel songs and a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Jesus.”

On Wednesday, June 13, Cook will perform on The Late Show With David Letterman. She previously appeared on the show as a sit-down guest. Additionally, she and her band (featuring her husband Tim Carroll on guitar and Bones Hillman of Midnight Oil on bass) will be on tour throughout summer. Full dates here.

Catch Cook’s “Apron Strings” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country Mon. – Fri., 9 am – 1 pm CT