By The Numbers: The Week Vegas Goes Country

2012 was the first year of the ACM Experience.

A breakdown of The Week Vegas Goes Country.

ACM Awards
• 2 hosts
• 2 venues MGM Grand Garden Arena and Mandalay Bay Events Center
• 3 hours
• 24 performances
• 26 acts
• 36 special guests
• 100+ musicians and background singers
• 1,320 Tweets per minute during the show
• 676,000 social media comments during the telecast

The Week Vegas Goes Country
• 5 days
• 50 volunteers
• 61 hours of live music
• 80 staffers
• 84 artists
• 107 media outlets
• 150 separate performances
• 214 members of the media
• 700+ production personnel
• 6,121 credentials issued
• 20,000 attendees at the ACM Experience
• 45,500 attendees per night at the ACM Concerts on Fremont Street Experience, the most ever
• 108 million media impressions about the ACM Experience

Facts released by the ACM, according to market research firms including Precision Opinion, Trendrr, and BlueFin.

Chesney Recruits “Guitarist of the Year” For Summer Tour

Chesney (L) and McGraw (R)

Kenny Chesney has added guitarist Kenny Greenberg to his touring band for his Brothers of the Sun Tour with Tim McGraw. Greenberg is the Academy of Country Music’s 2012 “Guitarist of the Year” and is a veteran Nashville session musician who has previously collaborated with Bob Seger, Willie Nelson, and Etta James.

After moving to Nashville at age 21, Greenberg began writing, producing, and recording for artists in a wide range of genres, including folk, gospel, pop, and country. Between producing several Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated songs, Greenberg has frequently collaborated with Chesney, including on his upcoming album, Welcome To The Fishbowl and 2010’s Hemingway’s Whiskey.

“Kenny is one of the best guitarists out there today, period,” Chesney said. “He’s been a great friend and collaborator over the years, right through Welcome To The Fishbowl, and it’s going to be amazing to have him at the party each night this summer.”

In addition to Greenberg, Chesney’s band features Wyatt Beard (keyboards), Sean Paddock (drums), Steve Marshall (bass), Clayton Mitchell (guitar), Jim Bob Gairrett (steel guitar), and Jon Conley (guitar/fiddle). The coast-to-coast Brothers of the Sun Tour, with Chesney and McGraw, kicks off June 2 in Tampa, Florida.

For tour dates, click here.

Starlite Nightclub Founder Passes

Mary King

Mary King, the founder of Nashville’s oldest continuously operating nightclub, has died at age 91.

Known as “Sis,” Ms. King was the owner and manager of The Starlite Dinner Club. She built it on a former cow pasture in East Nashville and opened it on Christmas Eve, 1952. The nightclub is still going strong, having entertained generations of Nashvillians with its country-dancing format and hearty dinner menus. The Starlite remains at its original location, 3976 Dickerson Pike.

Mary Frances Garner King was a native Nashvillian. She is survived by her sons Roger Keefer and Lonnie Dale Garner and daughter Patricia Garner Frensley. She was preceded in death by her fourth child, son Timothy Joseph King.

Other survivors include six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Ms. King died of complications from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, May 9. Her Starlite Dinner Club will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Dec. 24, 2012.

A celebration of Mary King’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the chapel of the Spring Hill Funeral Home, and interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation hours with the family are on Thursday, 4-8:00 p.m. and on Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery are at 5110 Gallatin Pike. Memorial contributions should be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alzheimers.org.

Kenny Rogers Working on New Album For Warner Bros.

Kenny Rogers has reunited with former longtime label home Warner Bros. Records and is working with award-winning producer Dann Huff on a new album scheduled for release later in 2012.

Rogers made the announcement last night (5/9) during the first of his two sold out Artist-in-Residence performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater.

“I’m looking forward to returning home to Warner Bros. Records after all these years,” he commented. “Our history together, combined with the incredible team that’s in place now, provides the catalyst for a great new relationship going forward.”

Rogers first worked with the label in 1967 when he was part of First Edition and released the hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).”

“With his unique storytelling ability and soulful voice, Kenny Rogers’ music has touched generations across all musical formats. He has not only had a remarkable career but is truly an American icon,” said John Esposito, President & CEO of Warner Music Nashville. “Warner Music Nashville looks forward to continuing his musical legacy but more importantly, having him back home at Warner Bros. Records.”

Rogers celebrated his 50th year in show business in 2008. During his career he has amassed more than 120 million is worldwide record sales, driven by timeless classics including “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Lucille,” “She Believes in Me,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “We’ve Got Tonight.”

Herring Joins EMI Records Nashville

Capitol Records Nashville has announced that promotion veteran Kevin Herring will be joining the company as VP Promotion for EMI Records Nashville. He fills the role recently vacated by Angela Lange, and will be reporting directly to Capitol Records Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Steve Hodges.

Over Herring’s 30 years in the business, he has promoted a wide variety of artists including Aaron Tippin, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain and Toby Keith. His career began in radio at WWWW/Detroit, and he also worked with Polygram and Mercury Records. He spent 13 years with Lyric Street Records, nine of which he served as VP of Promotion. Most recently, he served as President of Skyville Records.

“Kevin brings a wealth of experience to the table,” says Steve Hodges. “His extensive professional background and relationships at radio are two metrics that are key to success in the promotion world.  I’m delighted he is joining our EMI team in a leadership role!”
Herring begins his new job May 16 and can be reached at kevin.herring@emicap.com or 615-269-2085.

The EMI Records Nashville roster includes Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, and Kelleigh Bannen.

Heidi Newfield – Why’d You Have To Be So Good

Heidi Newfield’s voice and presence in country music first established her as the center stage rock star of Trick Pony’s emergence in 2001. Armed with a collaborative history of platinum selling albums, Top 20 singles, ACM and AMA awards to her credit, her distinctive voice and high-octane energy launched forward into a much-anticipated solo career. She was soon back with the 2008 release of her debut solo album, What Am I Waiting For, which birthed her memorable, self-penned solo hit single “Johnny & June.” The song achieved RIAA certified gold status and has sold 700,000 copies.

Newfield is now poised with a fresh round of new music as the flagship artist on Sidewalk Records.

Written by hit makers Jeffrey Steele and Jeremy Popoff (lead vocalist for heavy metal band, Lit) and produced by Blake Chancey (The Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry), “Why’d You Have To Be So Good,” unfolds a true story of love found and tragically lost; a theme Newfield feels will move listeners and strike a deeply universal emotional chord, as it did for her upon first hearing. “I was so touched when I recorded this song. It was all I could do to hold back a flood of emotions of most loved ones, including the untimely passing of both my Mother and my Father. I can’t help but think the beautiful message this song conveys is totally relatable to almost everyone out there listening.”

“I’ve always believed that if I just follow my heart and my instinct…I will make records that are interesting, dynamic, real and relatable. People want to FEEL something!” says Newfield. For her, the new single holds deep personal meaning. “Why’d You Have To Be So Good” leaves a strong emotional vibe in the air…just like when I first heard it. The following day, I found it was on hold for Tim and Faith…and later, other great acts…I was heartbroken!! I remember thinking, ‘maybe this song will come back around to me one day and find its way home’…now here we are!”

Thursday Photos (5/10/12)

Martina McBride recently appeared on ABC’s The Chew and invited correspondent Daphne Oz into her kitchen to prepare her original recipe “Zucchini, Sun-Dried Tomato and Cheese Tart.” The cooking segment and interview appeared on the daytime cooking lifestyle show on May 9. For more information please visit McBride’s blog here.

Martina McBride (L) and Daphne Oz (R) Photo: Republic Nashville

• • •

Black River Entertainment recording artist Sarah Darling spent time backstage with the cast from Rain – A Tribute To The Beatles at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). The show, which recently completed 11 months on Broadway, came to Nashville for a one week performance run. Sarah’s cover of the Beatles classic “Blackbird” recently debuted at No. 1 on CMT pure and spent four consecutive weeks there. Two additional versions of the “Blackbird” video are currently being played on GAC and TCN and the video has been picked up internationally on CMT Canada and CMC Australia. Darling is currently in the studio with Dann Huff recording new music for her upcoming release and will be hitting the road on a radio tour later this month

(L-R): Black River's John Alexander - Black River Management; Mark Beyer - Keyboard Player Rain; Steve "John" Landes ; Chris "Ringo" MacBurney; Sarah Darling; Mac "Paul" Ruffing; Joe "George" Bithorn; John Marks - Sr. Director Country Programming Sirius XM Radio

• • •

Big Loud Mountain’s duo Florida Georgia Line visited BMI’s Nashville headquarters on May 8 to give a special preview of the new EP, It’z Just What We Do. Produced by Joey Moi (Jake Owen, Nickelback), the five-song collection will be released on May 15 to all digital retailers and features the duo’s debut single “Cruise.” The single is currently available at iTunes and will be hitting country radio airwaves later this month. For more information visit www.FloridaGeorgiaLine.com.

 

(L-R): Jake Kennedy (Buddy Lee Attractions), Seth England (Big Loud Mountain), Brian Waymire (Buddy Lee Attractions), Joey Moi (Big Loud Mountain), Craig Wiseman (Big Loud Mountain), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, David Preston (BMI), Penny Everhard (BMI), Clay Bradley (BMI), Cass Scripps (Buddy Lee Attractions) and Perry Howard (BMI) Photo: Amy Allmand (Courtesy of Big Loud Mountain)

Industry Ink (5/10/12)

Belmont University’s experiential learning offerings are growing to include touring, as 10 juniors and seniors from the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will join professor Mark Volman, a founding member of the Turtles, on part of the band’s “Happy Together Tour.” Students will spend two and a half weeks on the road in a tour bus, working with live music professionals on each stop of the band’s journey, and will receive a grade at the end of the experience. The tour begins June 8 in Columbus, GA and also features popular ‘60s artists Gary Puckett & the Union Gap and Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz.

• •

The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) announced its 2012-2013 board of directors during Music Biz 2012, which wraps up today (5/10) in Los Angeles. Rachelle Friedman has been re-elected Chair of the board, and joining her are new Vice Chair Brent Muhle (iTunes), Secretary Craig Pape (Amazon), and new Treasurer John Trickett (immergent). The board also welcomes new members Jonathan Dworkin (Nokia) and Steve Savoca (Spotify).

Other 2012-2013 NARM board members include:
Len Cosimano, Director at Large
Mike Davis, Alliance Entertainment
Steve Harkins, Baker & Taylor
Adam Klein, eMusic
Mike Fratt, Homers
Christina Calio, Microsoft
Alyssa Vescio, Target

• • •

The Americana Music Association has partnered with Sound Healthcare to offer all domestic AMA members health insurance coverage at affordable prices. Known as Americana South Healthcare, the program will address the needs of members who are self-employed or involved with small businesses that can’t easily offer coverage. Sound Healthcare has also partnered with the Country Music Association, the Musicians Union, the IBMA and more for similar offerings. More info here.

• • •

Bill Cody, host of WSM radio’s mornings, GAC TV’s Master Series, and Tennessee’s Wild Side on PBS, recently spoke at the monthly luncheon for SOURCE members.

(L-R): Lainee Allbee (SOURCE President), Bill Cody, Margie McGahey (Senior Account Executive WSM), Barbara Turner (Freelance TV Production). Photo: Denise Fussell

• • •

Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman

Congratulations to songwriters Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr, who were recently married in a private ceremony at their home in Nashville. Burr and Middleman are also (along with Kenny Loggins) two-thirds of the new group Blue Sky Riders.

• • •

Popular rock group The Wallflowers is back in the studio recording a new studio album that will be released in fall by Columbia Records. Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Emmylou Harris) is producing the album, which is being recorded at Black Keys leader Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville. The band also has a few live dates scheduled starting in July.

• • •

ONErpm, a global digital music distribution company and social commerce platform, provides a way for labels and artists to sell music on Facebook. The growing company recently inked deals with INgrooves, Naxos, and IRIS Distribution. INgrooves manages a catalog of one million tracks. Naxos is the world’s largest record label specializing in classical music with 35,000 albums. And IRIS is a top tier distribution company serving the independent label community.

• • •

Online retailer CD Baby has announced a partnership with Alliance Entertainment, the United States’ largest wholesale distributor of home entertainment audio, video and software. Alliance will be able to offer CD Baby’s catalog of nearly 400k titles to all affiliated online and brick & mortar outlets such as Best Buy, Overstock.com and more.

Lipton Unveils Lady Antebellum Ad Campaign

Lipton has unveiled its national ad campaign starring Lady Antebellum to introduce the beverage company’s new product offerings.

The celebrity partnership was reported in early March and will extend to the trio’s May 16 tornado benefit for Henryville, IN. The campaign will also include print, radio, digital, and retail integrations.

One of the TV spots has the group members transforming into translucent silhouettes before hitting the stage. In another, the band takes the Lipton to-go powders to a park for an impromptu concert.

Fans also have a chance to win a visit with the band in Nashville as part of the “Drink Positive Sweepstakes with Lady Antebellum” on Facebook.

Tuesday night (5/8) on NBC’s The Voice, Lady Antebellum debuted a new single, “Wanted You More.” The group performed just before Blake Shelton‘s teammate, Jermaine Paul was chosen as the Season 2 winner.

Bluegrass Pioneer Everett Lilly Passes

Charley Edwin “Everett” Lilly, who was a bluegrass pioneer along with brother Bea Lilly as part of the The Lilly Brothers, died on May 8, 2012 at home in Clear Creek, West Virginia. He was 87.

The Lilly Brothers were inducted into IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Everett Lilly also played with Flatt & Scruggs and the brothers found success introducing bluegrass to new territories including Boston and Japan. They also played at the Newport Folk Festival and at New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall.

Bea Lilly died in 2005. In recent years Everett Lilly performed with sons Mark and Daniel as Everett Lilly and the Lilly Mountaineers.

The AP reports a wake is planned for Saturday (5/12) and the funeral will be held Sunday (5/13).