Big Yellow Dog Music Adds VP, Creative

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Big Yellow Dog Music has hired longtime publisher Brad Kennard as Vice President, Creative.

“Brad brings a great passion and enthusiasm for songwriters and we welcome him into the BYD HOUSE!” says Carla Wallace, GM of Big Yellow Dog Music.

He will start in the role on Monday (Dec. 10). Kennard was most recently Vice President at Full Circle Music. He also spent six years with producer Byron Gallimore at Violator Nashville Artist Management and at Red Vinyl Music. His career includes time at Curb Music Publishing, Creative Director at Carnival Music Publishing, and General Manager for Song Garden Publishing.

 

Snapshots (12/6/12)

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Casey James and his band, aka “Team Casey James,” raised $13,528.98 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by participating in the second annual No Shave November competition. St. Jude named James MVB (“Most Valuable Beard”) for the fundraiser in which his team led the competition for the majority of the month. James shaved his beard off live from the stage last Friday night in Shreveport, LA. To watch go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kgTerxd4ynU

• • •

Rodeowave Entertainment’s Phil Vassar and his band have been the “house band” on the Titans Party Stage at LP Field in Nashville for all of the Tennessee Titans home games this season, and Redneck Records’ Gretchen Wilson joined him last Sunday to perform cover hits such as Heart’s “Barracuda” and Led Zeppelin’s “Rock & Roll.”

(L-R): Wilson and Vassar

• • •

Belmont University welcomed John Oates, an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates, to The Insider’s View on Nov. 14. CEMB hosts industry professionals every week to share their stories, experience, and knowledge with students. Other recent seminar guests include John Peets and Doug Howard.

Pictured: Dwayne O'Brien, Instructor; John Oates; Mark Volman, EIS Program Chair; Wesley Bulla, CEMB Dean

 

2013 Grammy Nominations Show Nashville’s Varied Sounds

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Taylor Swift and LL Cool J host the Grammy nominations concert.

The list of 2013 Grammy nominees shines with Nashville-based artists from a spectrum of genres. Revealed last night (12/5), the nominations reaffirmed that Music City is home to quality artists of all formats, which was a major factor in The Recording Academy’s decision to bring its nominations concert here. The Grammy Nominations Live!–Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, marking the first time the show was held outside Los Angeles.

Nashville based rocker Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys earned six nominations, tying for the lead with five other stellar acts. Five of Auerbach’s noms were for The Black Keys, and he scored an additional nod for Producer of the Year, thanks to work with his band and others including Dr. John and Hacienda.

Hunter Hayes reveals nominees. Photo: Kevin Winter

Earning a substantial three nods each were Nashvillians including pop star and recent country crossover success Kelly Clarkson, revered rocker Jack White, pop/country’s unstoppable superstar Taylor Swift, country wiz kid Hunter Hayes (who could be shaping up to enjoy Swift’s cross-genre success), and CCM star Mark Hall of Casting Crowns.

This places Hayes and Swift as tied for the most nominations by a country singer. They are both in the running for overall categories: Hayes for Best New Artist, and Swift for Record of the Year for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Hayes’ other nods are for Best Country Solo Performance (“Wanted”) and Best Country Album (Hunter Hayes). Swift’s other noms come from her collaboration with The Civil Wars, “Safe & Sound,” for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written For Visual Media. The track was from The Hunger Games film.

Country stars receiving two nominations apiece were Eric Church, Ronnie Dunn, and The Time Jumpers, which includes perennial Grammy darling Vince Gill. Also scoring two nods were CCM hitmaker Matthew West, and musical mastermind T Bone Burnett, who is spending lots of time here as executive music producer for TV show Nashville. Alabama Shakes, who recorded their album in Nashville, earned two nominations.

Leading the slate with six nominations each are Auerbach, Jay-Z, fun., Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West.

A slew of country performances dotted the nominations concert. Luke Bryan performed “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” while The Band Perry and Dierks Bentley joined up for Johnny Cash’s “Jackson” in tribute to the late country legend. Hunter Hayes sang, rather than read, the nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album. Swift and co-host LL Cool J offered a version of her hit “Mean,” with Swift beatboxing. Maroon 5 scored two performance slots during the show, and stuck around after the televised portion to give attendees a full concert. fun. was joined by Janelle Monae for its megahit “We Are Young.” Ne-Yo burned up the stage with hot dance moves and The Who brought their brand of classic rock. Presenters during the telecast included Little Big Town, Sheryl Crow, The Lumineers and Chris Young.

Winners will be announced during the live Grammy telecast on Sun., Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. The eligibility period for the nominees was 10/1/11-09/30/12.

Since 2009, Nashville has been on a Grammy winning streak, started by the acclaimed Alison Krauss and Robert Plant collaboration which was that year’s top winner. In 2010, Taylor Swift racked up the most trophies and in 2011, Lady Antebellum followed suit. In 2012, Adele dominated the overall categories, but Nashville was well-represented with wins by Swift, Lady A, Alison Krauss and Union Station, and The Civil Wars.

—Sarah Skates

Select 2013 Grammy Nominations

Record Of The Year
“Lonely Boy” — The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” — Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” — FUN. Featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” — Gotye Featuring Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” — Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” — Taylor Swift

Best Country Solo Performance
“Home” — Dierks Bentley
“Springsteen” — Eric Church
“Cost Of Livin'” — Ronnie Dunn
“Wanted” — Hunter Hayes
“Over” — Blake Shelton
“Blown Away” — Carrie Underwood

Best Country Album
Uncaged — Zac Brown Band
Hunter Hayes — Hunter Hayes
Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran — Jamey Johnson
Four The Record — Miranda Lambert
The Time Jumpers — The Time Jumpers

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”–Eli Young Band
“Pontoon”–Little Big Town
“Safe & Sound” — Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
“On The Outskirts Of Town”–The Time Jumpers
“I Just Come Here For The Music”–Don Williams Featuring Alison Krauss

Best Country Song
“Blown Away”–Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
“Cost Of Livin'”–Phillip Coleman & Ronnie Dunn, songwriters (Ronnie Dunn)
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”–Will Hoge & Eric Paslay, songwriters (Eli Young Band)
“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”–Jay Knowles & Adam Wright, songwriters (Alan Jackson)
“Springsteen”–Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell, songwriters (Eric Church)

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
FUN.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Best Song Written For Visual Media
“Abraham’s Daughter” (From The Hunger Games)–T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, songwriters (Arcade Fire)
“Learn Me Right” (From Brave)–Mumford & Sons, songwriters (Birdy & Mumford & Sons)
“Let Me Be Your Star” (From Smash)–Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, songwriters (Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty)
“Man Or Muppet” (From The Muppets)–Bret McKenzie, songwriter (Jason Segel & Walter)
“Safe & Sound” (From The Hunger Games)–T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)

Album Of The Year
El Camino — The Black Keys
Some Nights — FUN.
Babel — Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange — Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss — Jack White

Song Of The Year
“The A Team” — Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
“Adorn” — Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
“Call Me Maybe” — Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” — Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
“We Are Young” — Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (FUN. Featuring Janelle Monáe)

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Set Fire To The Rain (Live)” — Adele
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” — Kelly Clarkson
“Call Me Maybe” — Carly Rae Jepsen
“Wide Awake” — Katy Perry
“Where Have You Been” — Rihanna

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Shake It Out” — Florence & The Machine
“We Are Young” — FUN. Featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” — Gotye Featuring Kimbra
“Sexy And I Know It” — LMFAO
“Payphone” — Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa

Best Rock Performance
“Hold On” — Alabama Shakes
“Lonely Boy” — The Black Keys
“Charlie Brown” — Coldplay
“I Will Wait” — Mumford & Sons
“We Take Care Of Our Own” — Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Album
El Camino — The Black Keys
Mylo Xyloto — Coldplay
The 2nd Law — Muse
Wrecking Ball — Bruce Springsteen
Blunderbuss — Jack White

Best Alternative Music Album
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do — Fiona Apple
Biophilia–Bjork
Making Mirrors — Gotye
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming — M83
Bad As Me — Tom Waits

Best Americana Album
The Carpenter — The Avett Brothers
From The Ground Up — John Fullbright
The Lumineers — The Lumineers
Babel — Mumford & Sons
Slipstream — Bonnie Raitt

Best Spoken Word Album
American Grown (Michelle Obama) — Scott Creswell & Dan Zitt, producers (Various Artists)
Back To Work: Why We Need Smart Government For A Strong Economy — Bill Clinton
Drift: The Unmooring Of American Military Power — Rachel Maddow
Seriously…I’m Kidding — Ellen DeGeneres
Society’s Child: My Autobiography — Janis Ian

Best Comedy Album
Blow Your Pants Off — Jimmy Fallon
Cho Dependent (Live In Concert) — Margaret Cho
In God We Rust — Lewis Black
Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class — Kathy Griffin
Mr. Universe — Jim Gaffigan
Rize Of The Fenix — Tenacious D

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
“Jesus, Friend of Sinners”–Mark Hall and Matthew West, songwriters (Casting Crowns)
“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”–Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)
“When Mercy Found Me”–Jeff Pardo and Rhett Walker, songwriters (Rhett Walker Band)
“White Flag”–Jason Ingram Matt Maher, Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Passion & Chris Tomlin)
“Your Presence Is Heaven”–Israel Houghton and Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
“Jesus, Friend of Sinners”–Casting Crowns
“Take Me To The King”–Tamela Mann
“Go Get It”–Mary Mary
“10,000 Reasons”–Matt Redman
“My Testimony”–Marvin Sapp

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Come To The Well–Casting Crowns
Where I Find You–Kari Jobe
Gold–Britt Nicole
Eye On It–TobyMac
Into The Light–Matthew West

Best Gospel Song
“Go Get It”–Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell and Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary)
“Hold On”–Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune and Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune & FIYA, Monica & Fred Hammond)
“I Feel Good”–Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller and Calvin Rodgers, songwriters (Fred Hammond)
“My Testimony”–Aaron Lindsey and Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvin Sapp)
“Released”–Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Bill Winston and Living Word, Featuring Donald Lawrence)

Best Gospel Album
Identity–James Fortune & FIYA
Jesus At the Center–Israel & New Breed
Gravity–Lecrae
I Win–Marvin Sapp
Worship Soul–Anita Wilson

Best Bluegrass Album
The Gospel Side Of–Dailey & Vincent
Life Finds A Way–The Grascals
Beat The Devil and Carry A Rail–Noam Pikelny
Scratch Gravel Road–Special Consensus
Nobody Knows You–Steep Canyon Rangers

Click here for the complete list of nominees.

If you know of additional Nashville-related nominations please e-mail [email protected]

Lady A’s Winter Night at The Schermerhorn

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I got to sing with Lady Antebellum Monday night! Ok, so did everyone else in the audience at the Schermerhorn, but it was still special, right?

The occasion was the band’s elegant On This Winter’s Night concert (Dec. 3), where one highlight was the crowd sing-along of “Silent Night.” The event presented by SunTrust was being taped by Taillight TV for broadcast tonight (12/5) on GAC at 7 p.m. CT and throughout the month.

Backed by the symphony, the band offered Christmas favorites and shared personal memories about the beloved songs. The set list, taken from their album On This Winter’s Night, included reverent classics such as “The First Noel,” which showcased the sweet innocence in Hillary Scott’s voice, and a an artful arrangement of “Silent Night” featuring a unique counter melody written by Charles Kelley.

The most fun was the uptempo chestnuts that inspired a sea of fans to clap in time to “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Blue Christmas.” As usual, Lady A seemed to be having as much fun onstage as the audience. The trio performed “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and be-bopped along on “A Holly Jolly Christmas.”

The holiday album was recorded this summer with producer Paul Worley. Between songs, the band members explained that because holiday music was such an important part of their youths, they took the project very seriously, hoping this album would become part of fans’ holiday traditions.

The album’s title track is an original penned by Lady A with frequent collaborator Tom Douglas. For the performance, students from the W.O. Smith School of Music joined them onstage.

The set was a twinkling winter wonderland; a mix of Christmas evergreens and bare-branched trees adorned with lights.

Dave Haywood strummed a red and white acoustic guitar, and I wondered if he spent as much time selecting that shade of red as he did choosing the color for the grand piano he took on the road this year. Joining him in the audience were several family members from Augusta, Ga., including his 91-year-old grandfather. He and new bride Kelli are starting their own traditions, including trying to perfect a family candy recipe.

“We felt like kids at Christmas all year, while we were on tour playing to our fans,” exclaimed Scott. Her family was watching in the audience too, including little sis, Rylee, who is acting in a production of Miracle on 34th Street.

Sporting spectacles and a long scarf, Professor Kelley explained that he can’t wear contacts because he is having Lasik surgery this month. He and the others good-naturedly tried to keep the audience entertained during lulls in production (where the pre-taped packages will air during the television special). Kelley recalled his cover band days and offered snippets of hits like “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Someone in the crowd suggested the band write a new song on the spot, but he quipped, “I’m pretty sure we’d have to split the publishing 2000 ways.”

Despite the band’s best efforts, the show lost significant momentum for the in-house audience during the multiple breaks. They closed the show with their biggest hits.

A four-piece a cappella group called Breath of Soul opened the evening, getting the crowd warmed up with fresh versions of hits “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Superstition”—driven by a talented beatboxing vocal percussionist.

Artist News (12/5/12)

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••• Darius Rucker will visit NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday (12/5). Other guests include Don Johnson and Julie Scardina. Rucker will also appear on The American Giving Awards, which is set to air Saturday (12/8 ) at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on NBC.

•••Billy Ray Cyrus will appear on Bravo’s Watch What Happens: Live on Wednesday (12/5). The episode will air at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT.

•••Reba will guest on CBS’ The Talk on Friday (12/7), at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.

•••Naomi Judd is set to star in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie Nearlyweds, featuring Jessica Parker Kennedy, Danielle Panabaker, Britt Irvin, Ryan Kennedy, Travis Milne and Steve Bacic. The film portrays three newlywed best friends who find that their marriages have been annulled due to a paperwork error. Judd portrays Renee, a monster-in-law to Panabaker’s character. Newlyweds will air January 12 at 9 p.m. ET.

Craig Campbell Celebrates Release of EP ‘Outta My Head’

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Photo (l-r): Michael Powers (President, Bigger Picture) and Craig Campbell. Photo: Glen Rose

Craig Campbell celebrated the release of the 5-song EP Outta My Head with a concert at Nashville’s 12th & Porter on Tuesday (Dec. 4). The singer-songwriter treated fans and friends to music from the release, as well as his hit singles including “Fish” and “Family Man.”

Outta My Head includes the following tracks:

  1. “Outta My Head” (Brandon Kinney, Michael Carter, Cole Swindell)
  2. “My Baby’s Daddy (Brandon Kinney, Cole Swindell)
  3. “That’s Why God Made A Front Porch” (Campbell, Lee Thomas Miller)
  4. “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” (Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip)
  5. “When She Grows Up” (Campbell, Alex Dooley, Arlos Smith)

Bigger Picture President Michael Powers surprised Campbell onstage with a plaque commemorating four consecutive charted hits with over 1 billion radio airplay audience impressions and more than half a million downloads.

“Outta My Head” is the lead single from Campbell’s sophomore album, which is slated for release on Bigger Picture in 2013.

BMLG Promotes Sandi Spika Borchetta, Announces Two Hires

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Sandi Spika Borchetta

Big Machine Label Group has promoted Sandi Spika Borchetta to the position of Senior Vice President, Creative. Since the company’s inception more than seven years ago, she has overseen the creative vision for the group’s three imprints, Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville. In her new role, Borchetta will continue leading design elements for album and single-related projects, as well as various tour performances, award shows, red carpets and more.

“It is an honor to be recognized in this way for a job that is always inspiring and artistically challenging,” said Borchetta. “It’s a fabulous opportunity to work with talented artists and equally talented co-workers daily. The excitement and energy level at our record label is at an all-time high.”

“Every day it is evident to me how passionate Sandi is in her work for this company,” said BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta. “Her creative vision for BMLG has played a key role in our success over the past seven years. I am so honored to be able to call her my wife, and now SVP of one of our fastest-growing departments within the company.”

•••

 

Tali Giles, Photo: Ivan Clow, BMLG

Big Machine Music has added Tali Giles in the newly created position of Publishing Coordinator. Giles will assist in all aspects of daily creative operations. Big Machine Music’s songwriters include The Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore, Republic Nashville artist Greg Bates, Broken Bow artist Dustin Lynch, Sunny Sweeney, Don Poythress and Aaron Scherz.

“On behalf of our whole team, we are excited to have Tali join Big Machine Music. Her experience with songwriters and Nashville’s creative community will be a tremendous asset to the company,” said Big Machine Music Vice President Mike Molinar.

Most recently, Giles served as Membership Director at the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Her previous music industry experience includes work as a Creative/Administrative Assistant at Full Circle Music and internships at Full Circle Music Publishing, Killen Music Group and Lyric Street Records. Giles is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.

Giles will report to Molinar and Martha Earls. She can be reached at [email protected].

•••

Ashley Sidoti

Ashley Sidoti has been added as Promotion Coordinator at The Valory Music Co. Sidoti will assist the label’s radio promotion staff and artist roster, which includes Reba, The Mavericks, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett.

Sidoti, a Belmont University graduate, interned with Big Machine Label Group in 2008. She formerly served as a Creative Assistant with Better Angels Music and as a Client Manager for Harris Business Management.

“Ashley learned a lot during her internship with The Valory Music Co. and she returns with that knowledge and a great passion for music. Her personality and creativity make her a great addition to the team,” commented George Briner, VP of Promotions for The Valory Music Co.

Sidoti can be reached at 615-574-7827 or via [email protected].

 

Weekly Register: Vetting ‘The Voice’ Sales

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The Voice—soap opera or talent incubator? Final four contestant Cassadee Pope.

Country sales continue to outpace the overall industry with only four weeks remaining in the 2012 sales calendar. This week albums with the Music City Made moniker increased Y/Y from 3.9% to 4%, while all-genre slid from -3.9% to -4% Y/Y. Country needs to sell a total of 42.923 million albums or 1.2 million per week to break even with 2011. (This post-Thanksgiving week, country album sales totaled 1.12 million.)

The 3-car holiday choo-choo continues to ring registers as Lady A (59k), Blake Shelton (53k) and Scotty McCreery (41k) chug into this week’s No. 2, 3 and 4 country album positions.

At the top of the list is Taylor Swift’s Red (137k) which after six weeks has total sales of 2.216 million. It may seem almost unbelievable, but the Big Machine elves and Santa Scott are celebrating as Red sales outpace Swift’s previous Speak Now outing which hit week six on 12/5/10 with 2.147 million in sales. (Dear Santa, I’d like a Macbook Air for Christmas.)

As we lunge into seasonal sales, the popularity of plastic over digital grows as evidenced by the W/W decline for both country and all genre in the Digital Album Sales % of Total Album Sales. One possible explanation is that some gift buyers are not regular music purchasers and still conditioned to buying something they can wrap and place under the tree (which outweighs a gift card).

Over in the Tracks Trenches, the Digital Country Chart shows Florida Georgia Line and The Band Perry in the top positions with “Cruise” (67k) and “Better Dig Two” (53k). Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever…” (40k) and Hunter Hayes “Wanted” (39k) fill spots No. 3 and 4.

Vetting The Voice
Country Tracks position No. 5 brings us to an interesting bend in the road filled by The Voice contestant Cassadee Pope, who last night was voted to move into the final four. Pope’s version of “Over You” topped the country digital tracks chart last week with sales of 152k! This week it added 39k downloads for a two-week total of almost 200k.

Regular readers will note that Pope is coached by Voice judge Blake Shelton and the CMA Song of the Year she performed was written by Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert. A careful chart search shows that Pope also has a self-titled EP on the Top New Artist Albums chart (No. 80) that scanned 462 units this week and digital track “Are You Happy Now?” which entered the Digital Tracks list at No. 27 with 43k downloads. A spectacular showing by anyone’s yardstick, but is this art or commerce? Are we seeing the birth of a new superstar or merely the careful cultivation of this year’s crop of contestants? Pope’s version of “Over You” truly connected with TV viewers, but this morning, after her lackluster showing last night, she fell outside of iTunes Top 10 and behind fellow contestants Terry McDermott and Nicholas David.

Now in its third season, The Voice has had excellent ratings, been a springboard of media exposure for its judges (especially Mr. Shelton), but has utterly failed to launch any new artist careers. Frankly, it looks like this year’s final four might again prove the rule. And the rule is that TV talent shows have become more like soap operas than talent incubators. Contestants are artfully showcased amid lavish sets, state of the art lighting and with the benefit of high-dollar hair, makeup and styling. But listen carefully to details like vocal mixes and how instruments and backup voices are being used to find clues as to what the future might really bring for each performer. It’s a rare moment when a Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood steps out on the TV stage.

In the meantime, stay tuned as we count down the final four—not the final four contestants of course—the final four sales weeks!!!

Chris Young Cancels Weekend Shows

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Chris Young has been placed on precautionary vocal rest, forcing the postponement of his Liquid Neon Tour shows this weekend in Huntsville, Ala. (12/6), Savannah, Ga. (12/7) and Chattanooga, Tenn. (12/8).

Tickets for the canceled run, which includes special guests Thomas Rhett and Joanna Smith, will be honored during forthcoming rescheduled dates. If ticket holders are unable to attend the rescheduled dates, refunds are available at the point of purchase.

“I hate to disappoint everybody but my voice is pretty ragged out,” said Young via a statement. “Thanks for understanding and I look forward to seeing y’all next year.”

Young is slated to present during tonight’s (12/5) Grammy Nominations concert in Nashville.

Swift’s ‘Red’ Certified Triple Platinum; Adds Appearances

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Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album, Red, has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA for three million U.S. shipments.

International sales have exceeded 1 million units to date, pushing the singer’s overall worldwide numbers past 26 million albums and 75 million song downloads.

For Swift’s North American tour, tickets continue to be a hot commodity, having sold-out Philadelphia’s July 20 Lincoln Financial Field stop in five minutes. Due to the demand, an additional date at the stadium has been added for the night prior (7/19). A complete listing of tour dates and on-sale information, is available here.

On Monday (12/3), Swift received The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ Ripple of Hope Award in New York, recognizing her international leadership for social change. Twenty-two-year-old Swift is the youngest winner of the prestigious award, alongside other recipients Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bono and George Clooney.

Tonight, Swift will co-host The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night, with LL Cool J, airing from Nashville at 9 p.m. CT on CBS. At the end of the year (12/31), she will headline New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2013, live from Time Square in New York.