Michael W. Smith Embarks on First-Ever USO Tour

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Michael W. Smith is visiting the Caribbean nation of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on his first-ever USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour from August 5-7.

Smith will perform a selection of his hits during a USO show, visit posts and sign autographs. His songwriting titles “Heroes” and “The Patriot” are about servicemen and women.

Last year, Smith joined the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign, which sent messages to troops downrange, and participated in Sean Hannity’s Holiday Salute to the Troops concert alongside combat-decorated Oliver North and John Ondrasik.

“Our nation’s troops and military families are among the bravest and most selfless people I know and we, as a nation, owe them not only our respect and gratitude but also our time,” said Smith.

For ways to show support, click here.

Pandora Announces July 2012 Audience Metrics

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Pandora has released new metrics for the month of July 2012 which include listener hours of 1.12 billion, an increase of 76% from 637 million during the same period last year.

Share of total U.S. radio listening for Pandora in July 2012 was 6.13%, an increase from 3.51% at the same time last year.

Active listeners were 54.9 million at the end of July 2012, an increase of 48% from 37.1 million during the same time period last year.

Last week, Digital music service Spotify revealed it now has 15 million active users and 4 million paid subscribers worldwide.

Country Weekly Adds Senior Staffers

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Tammy Ragusa

Country Weekly Editor-In-Chief Lisa Konicki has announced two new hires to the country lifestyle publication’s senior staff. Effective immediately, Joseph Hudak will serve as Deputy Editor and Tammy Ragusa will serve as Senior Writer. Both will report to Konicki and Managing Editor Ken Tucker.

Hudak most recently served as Senior Editor for TV Guide, and has experience working with National Geographic Channel, Times Leader and more. Ragusa was most recently Producer and Writer with Premiere Radio Networks, and has also worked for Capitol Records Nashville and RCA Label Group.

“Joseph and Tammy are great additions to the Country Weekly staff,” said Konicki. “They both are highly regarded among artists and in the Nashville community. I look forward to their contributions as we move Country Weekly and CountryWeekly.com forward. By adding them to a team that already includes Senior Writer Bob Paxman, I am confident that the high expectations of our readers will continue to be satisfied and exceeded.”

Hudak and Ragusa will be based at Country Weekly’s Nashville headquarters.

Americana Board Announces Business Operation Changes

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The Americana Music Association Board of Directors has announced changes to business operations including the announcement of its Executive Committee; selection of a new accounting firm; a new leadership ascension plan and changes to bylaws to allow for Board appointments.

Brad Paul (Rounder Records) has been named Board President; artist manager Holly Lowman, President-elect; Sylvia Giannitrapani, (Formerly with Ryko Distribution) Secretary; two at large Executive Committee members are Jessie Scott (Music Fog) and Amanda Hale-Ornelas (New West Records). The Association has selected KV Associates, as its new accounting firm and Kurt Vitolo, Founder and President, will serve as Treasurer on the Board Executive Committee as well. Executive Committee positions are held for one-year terms.

The Association’s executive transition structure will elect a President-elect each year. The President-elect becomes the President the following year and then serves a third term as Past-President. Effective for 2013, Lowman will assume the position of President of the Americana Music Board of Directors, becoming the third woman to hold the position and the youngest President in the Association’s 13 year history. Paul will serve as Past-President in 2013 in order to offer guidance and a sense of continuum in leadership.

“In the past our election process has provided the AMA Board with exceptional talent.” said Paul, “but with this new change to our bylaws, the board has the ability to fill specific needs that our old structure did not address.”

The Association’s first appointed Board Members include Vitolo, and Mark Moffatt, who will serve as chair of the Americana International Marketing Committee.

Currently, the Board of Directors consists of industry representatives both elected by the Americana Music Association membership and appointed by the Board. Each elected Director holds his seat for a two-year term. Each appointed Director holds their seat for one year.

The current 2012 Americana Music Association Board of directors includes:
John Allen (Bug Music)
Bob Benckert (Alternate Root)
Ashley Capps (AC Entertainment)
Rodney Crowell (Artist)
Tim Fink (SESAC)
Mary Gauthier (Artist)
Sylvia Giannitrapani (Village Real Estate)
Todd Ohlhauser (Mercy Lounge)
Amanda Hale-Ornelas (New West Records)
Wayne Halper (Attorney)
Joan Kornblith (Voice Of America)
Terry Lickona (Austin City Limits)
Holly Lowman (Ramseur Records)
Tim McFadden (Tenacity Records)
Buddy Miller (Artist)
Al Moss (Al Moss Promotion)
Brad Paul (Rounder Records)
Jessie Scott (Music Fog)
Emilee Warner (Crash Avenue)
Mark Moffatt (Producer)
Kurt Vitolo (KV Financial Services)

The Americana Music Association will celebrate the genre’s annual fundraiser including the 11th Annual Americana Honors & Awards, September 12 -15 in Nashville. For more information including showcase and conference schedules, click here.

Restless Heart to Host Second “Music With a Mission” Benefit

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For the second year, Restless Heart will host its “Music With a Mission” benefit for the Nashville Rescue Mission at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

The October 14 event begins at 7 pm and features the Nashville Symphony Orchestra backing an all-star musical guest list including Amy Grant, Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Ricky Skaggs, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Tracy Lawrence, The Booth Brothers, Alison Brown, and Karyn Williams.

Bill Cody and Demetria Kalodimos will serve as masters of ceremonies for the evening, which features a silent auction from items donated by Jack White of The White Stripes; Foster the People, Restless Heart, George Jones and Bill Anderson. Several items will be available to bid through the website only.

“The Nashville Rescue Mission has so many programs beyond just food and shelter—you can get your GED, counseling, spiritual support, plus help getting back to the work with classes in résumé writing, computer labs and so much more,” said Dave Innis of Restless Heart and co-producer/musical coordinator for the event. “We are proud that our Nashville Symphony neighbor is so generously providing the Schermerhorn for a second time along with its Grammy Award winning orchestra.”

Last year’s event raised over $70,000 for the Mission.

Tickets are available for $35. For additional information, click here.

Industry Ink (8/06/12)

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Rob Beckham, Carolyn Miller

The Make-A-Wish chapter of Middle Tennessee, has named three Nashville music executives to its Board of Directors. The new appointees are Rob Beckham, co-head of WME; Nina Hammontree, vice president of Financial Services and Operations at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; and Carolyn Miller, president of MPR Entertainment Group.

“Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee is fortunate to have the support of the generous music community in Nashville,” said Beth Torres, president & CEO of Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee. “Music and entertainment is an inspirational part of so many wish kids’ lives while they fight life-threatening illnesses.  Adding Rob, Nina, and Carolyn strengthens the community of support we can provide our amazing kids.  This trio brings business savvy and passion for the Make-A-Wish mission and that makes them invaluable to the organization.”

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Tom Long

Music industry veteran Tom Long has been elected as president of the Georgia Music Industry Association (GMIA). Long was a co-founder of the Atlanta Songwriter’s Association, which became the GMIA in 1986.

Long spent 30 years working with publishers and songwriters in Nashville before returning to his Georgia roots. The ASA, co-founded in 1978 by Long, attorney Steven Weaver and Larry Latimer, with the help of Lt. Governor Zell Miller and Bill Lowery, created a bridge between Atlanta and Nashville’s songwriting communities and introduced talents such as Doug Johnson and Tom Douglas. Long also worked for Tree Publishing, ASCAP, and headed up Anne Murray’s publishing company.

Long was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, along with Vern Gosdin. He currently serves as chairman of the Gospel Hall of Fame Committee in Nashville.

Brothers of the Sun Hits One Million Mark

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The Brothers of the Sun Tour, with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, has officially hit the one million tickets sold mark, cementing its position as the hottest tour of the year. The announcement comes just after Pollstar named it the highest-grossing of 2012 thus far, more than doubling the grosses of Roger Waters and Coldplay.

Brothers of the Sun, with Chesney and McGraw, marks the ninth consecutive tour that Chesney has reached the million-tickets milestone, following last year’s Goin’ Coastal Tour.

For more information click here.

Nashvillians Make Billboard’s “Power Players” List

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Billboard has released its annual “Power Players: Forty Under Forty list of young music executives who are re-shaping the music industry.

Nashvillians making the list include Arturo Buenahora Jr., GM Creative of ole publishing; Laura Hutfless, Music Sponsorship Agent of Creative Artists Agency; and John Zarling, VP of Promotion and Media Strategy of Big Machine Label Group.

Buenahora is credited with signing Taylor Swift to her first publishing deal, pairing Dierks Bentley with Brett Beavers and Jay Joyce with Eric Church, and developing the career of Miranda Lambert. Zarling has created promotional campaigns such as Jack Ingram’s Guinness World Record attempt for most interviews in a day, and Martina McBride’s cross-country train ride for her Eleven album release in fall 2011. Hutfless is responsible for securing brand partnerships such as Ram Trucks with Zac Brown Band, Hallmark with Demi Lovato, and the “Here’s Hope” campaign for ConAgra foods with Jewel, Jay Sean, and Owl City.

Also making the list are Spotify’s Daniel Ek, Vevo’s Rio Caraeff, Producer/Songwriter Dr. Luke, and Ryan Seacrest. See the full list here.

Friday Artist Update (8/3/12)

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Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Tony Brown, Eddy Bayers, Michael Rhodes, and Paul Franklin will reunite as the Notorious Cherry Bombs to supply a full evening of entertainment on Tues., August 21 at 3rd & Lindsley with special guests Emmylou Harris and Albert Lee supporting Rising Star Music Fund and W.O. Smith Music School.

The evening will honor the late Bob Mercer, who established himself with work at EMI in London, signing Queen, Kate Bush, Olivia Newton-John and the Sex Pistols. In later years, Mercer managed Paul McCartney and Roger Waters, relocated to Nashville to establish Margaritaville Records with Jimmy Buffett, and developed the Now CD hits collections.

An online auction including CMA Awards tickets, Autographed CD’s and more will go live on August 13. Presale for the $50 event is available here

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Pictured (L-R): Ricky Skaggs and Barry Gibb

Last Friday (7/27), pop singer Barry Gibb made his Grand Ole Opry debut alongside Ricky Skaggs. Skaggs commented to Gibb, “You’ve played all over the world,” to which Gibb replied, “Yes, but this is the center of the world – center of the universe musically, and I couldn’t be prouder. And I’m standing in the circle.”

Gibb and Skaggs performed an old Civil War song, “When The Roses Bloom Again” and two Bee Gees classics, “To Love Somebody,” and “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart.” Gibb worked with Skaggs’ on his upcoming Sept. 25 album, Music To My Ears.

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Jon Pardi

Captiol Records’ Jon Pardi appears on CMT’s Listen Up feature during August, including new videos, photo galleries, and interviews. Exclusive performances will be released throughout the month including “Chasin’ Them Better Days,” “Up All Night,” and “Happens All The Time.”

The official music video for Pardi’s debut single “Missin’ You Crazy” released last month on the site.

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Bonnie Bishop

Bonnie Bishop will release her latest 7-track album, Free, Tuesday (8/7) on her website before it is expected on iTunes in October. The lead single off the record, “Bad Seed,” is currently available on iTunes.

Bishop will celebrate the release in Dallas (8/6), Houston (8/7), Austin 8/10-11), and at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley (8/14) before heading to select dates in New York, Virginia and Washinton D.C.

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Rachele Lynae

Rachele Lynae will be among rising performers including Gwen Sebastian and Tim Dugger at 94.7-FM The Country Giant’s signature fundraiser Hot August Nights at Delmonaco Winery and Vineyards in Baxter, TN on Thurs., August 23.

The event benefits St. Jude’s cancer research, including a dinner and concert starting at 6 pm. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased from Delmonaco Winery and Duncan’s Clothing in Cookeville, TN.

Rachele is currently promoting her single, “Party ‘Til the Cows Come Home,” with radio around the country.

Snapshots (8/03/12)

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The Band Perry, Justin Moore, The Mavericks, Sunny Sweeney and Greg Bates entertained Country music and racing fans alike prior the Brickyard 400 last Sunday (7/29). Each was also showcased on the No. 38 car, driven by Front Row Motorsports’ David Gilliland. Fans have the opportunity win a race-used firesuit and a guitar signed by the artists. Visit www.RacecarsAndCountryStars.com for details. This marks the second consecutive year for the label to participate as a presenting sponsor at the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

(L-R): Sunny Sweeney; Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta; Greg Bates; Justin Moore; David Gilliland and The Band Perry’s Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry hit the track to check out the No. 38 car just before the engines start.

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Carrie Underwood made her CMA Songwriters Series debut July 31 in a sold-out performance at Royale in downtown Boston. Underwood, a respected songwriter in her own right with seven of her 15 No. 1 hits as co-writes, was joined by respected Nashville songwriters Brett James, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero. The show also streamed live on CMASongwritersSeries.com.

(L-R) BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations and CMA Board Member, Jody Williams; Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO and CMA Board Chairman, Gary Overton; CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Sheri Warnke; songwriter Luke Laird; Underwood; songwriter and CMA Board Member, Brett James; songwriter Hillary Lindsey; songwriter, CMA Songwriters Series host, and CMA Board member, Bob DiPiero; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; and XIX Entertainment Manager and CMA Board member, Ann Edelblute. Photo: Natasha Moustache/CMA

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Bucky Covington recently attended the 51st Annual International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Convention held in Philadelphia, PA, where IAFF President Harold Schaitberger surprised him with a personalized Fire Fighter helmet to thank him for his work with the organization. Over the last year, Bucky has been working closely with Help The Good Guys and the IAFF Charitable Foundation to provide financial relief to injured fire fighters and their families. Covington will be releasing his sophomore album Good Guys on September 11 with a portion of the proceeds from the first week sales benefiting the IAFF Charitable Foundation.

Covington (L) and Schaitberger (R) Photo: Jocelyn Augustino