Star Percussionist Willie Ackerman Passes

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Willie Ackerman on the set of Hee Haw. He was on the show for 25 years.

Willie Ackerman, a longtime drummer on the Grand Ole Opry, on Hee Haw and on Music Row recording sessions has died at age 73.

Ackerman passed away at Skyline Medical Center last Thursday, Dec. 13. Born William Paul Ackerman, he was a Nashville native who became a professional musician at age 17.

He rose to prominence during the Nashville Sound era of the 1950s and 1960s and can be heard on records by Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Tom T. Hall, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Chet Atkins, Ray Price, Faron Young, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck, Bobby Bare, Jim Reeves and hundreds of others.

Among the hits he set the tempo for were “El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “The Grand Tour” by George Jones, “Amos Moses” by Jerry Reed, “Wings of a Dove” by Ferlin Husky, “Black Rose” by Waylon Jennings, “Walk on By” by Leroy Van Dyke, “Ahab the Arab” by Ray Stevens and “Girl on the Billboard” by Del Reeves. He was extremely active as a musician between 1957 and 1990.

Willie Ackerman was a member of the Nashville local of the American Federation of Musicians for 50 years and served on the union’s board of directors. He was also a Deputy Sheriff of Davidson County.

He is survived by his wife Jeannie, his musician son Trey, daughters Kelly Ackerman and Angela Pardaen, seven grandchildren, brother John Robert and sisters Helen Demonbreun, Sammie Guthrie and Frankie Corinne Boyle.

His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. this morning [Monday, Dec. 17] at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home, followed by burial at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison. Memorials can be made in his honor to the Opry Trust Fund.

Willie Ackerman and Jim Glazer, circa 1958.

BBR Music Group Adds Findley

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Mary Forest Findley

BBR Music Group has hired Mary Forest Findley as its new Director of National Syndication and Radio Strategy for the music group, beginning Jan. 3. In this role, Findley will oversee national radio syndication initiatives for all three labels (Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, RED BOW Records under the BBR Music Group umbrella. She will report to BBR Music Group Executive VP Jon Loba and GM Rick Shedd.

“I am so excited to be joining BBR Music Group. I have been such a fan of this company – and its amazing staff and artists – for many, many years. To have the opportunity to join this incredible group of professionals is thrilling, and I am truly thankful. I can’t wait to get started!” says Findley via a release.

Findley has spent the last six years as the VP of Sales & Marketing at Country Aircheck following her stint as the Country Record Label Sales Representative for R&R.

Beginning Jan. 3, she will be reachable at maryforest@brokenbowrecords.com. Until then, she can be reached at [email protected].

 

 

 

iTunes Reveals Best Of 2012

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Yesterday (12/13), iTunes released its 2012 Best Of lists for Music, Movies, TV Shows, Apps, Books and Podcasts. Recognitions included Editors Choice and top-selling 200 songs and albums for the store.

Adele’s 21 stands atop the top selling albums, right in front of Taylor Swift’s Red. Top selling singles were led by Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” (Top 100 Album and Single sales are listed below for Nashville notables.)

Editor’s Choice for Country music went to Little Big Town’s “Pontoon;” Swift earned a mention for her latest album Red, as did Lee Brice’s Hard 2 Love for Breakthrough Album.

Christian and Gospel categories noted tobyMac’s Eye On It for Best Album, for KING & COUNTRY’s Crave as Breakthrough Album. Jack White’s “Sixteen Saltines” earned Best Song for the Alternative Genre.

For the digital toolbox, Free iPhone App downloads saw Pandora at No. 6, Spotify at No. 18, and iHeartRadio at No. 20.

Albums in the top 100 from Nashville notables include:
2. Taylor Swift–Red
10. Jason Aldean– Night Train
12. Carrie Underwood– Blown Away
17. The Black Keys­– El Camino
19. Luke Bryan– Tailgates & Tanlines
21. Zac Brown Band­­– Uncaged
23. Lionel Richie– Tuskegee
35. Eric Church– Chief
37. Jason Aldean– My Kinda Party
38. Kelly Clarkson– Stronger
41. Jack White–Blunderbuss
42. The Civil Wars–Barton Hollow
46. Hunter Hayes–Hunter Hayes
50. Kenny Chesney– Welcome To The Fishbowl
53. The Black Keys– Brothers
60. Lady Antebellum– Own The Night
67. Zac Brown Band– You Get What You Give
75. Taylor Swift– Speak Now
76. Miranda Lambert– Four The Record
84. The Band Perry– The Band Perry
87. Rascal Flatts– Changed
93. Lee Brice– Hard 2 Love
96. Brantley Gilbert– Halfway To Heaven

Singles in the top 100 from Nashville notables include:
7. Kelly Clarkson– “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
16. Taylor Swift ­– “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
30. Luke Bryan – “Drunk On You”
34. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
35. Eric Church – “Springsteen”
48. Little Big Town – “Pontoon”
58. Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”
60. Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
67. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
68. Kip Moore– “Somethin’ ‘bout A Truck”
71. Taylor Swift– “Eyes Open”
75. Lee Brice – “Woman Like You”
77. Kenny Chesney– “Come Over”
81. Lee Brice– “Hard To Love”
82. Florida Georgia Line– “Cruise”
83. Miranda Lambert– “Over You”
87. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
89. Jason Aldean– “Fly Over States”
92. Eli Young Band– “Even If it Breaks Your Heart”

Connecticut Shooting Tragedy: Artists Respond

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Many Country music artists took to Twitter today (Dec. 14) to express their grief and disbelief surrounding the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A gunman opened fire at the elementary school, killing nearly 30 people. Some of the victims were students, as reported by CNN.com. Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, The Band Perry and Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe are just a handful of the artists whose thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

 

 

Lady Antebellum Gets Gold For The Holidays

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Lady Antebellum‘s recently released holiday album, On This Winter’s Night, has earned gold certification by the RIAA, for over 500,000 units shipped. The disc was released in October.

While it marks the first full-length holiday album for the trio, it is the latest in a long line of album successes. Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut has achieved 2x platinum status in the US, their second offering Need You Now reached 3x platinum status in the US and their most recent non-holiday offering, Own The Night, went platinum.

In 2010, the trio released the six-song holiday EP A Merry Little Christmas.

MusicRow No. 1 Song

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Zac Brown Band on set of "Goodbye In Her Eyes." Photo: Jolie Loren

Zac Brown Band’s “Goodbye In Her Eyes,” the second single from its October 2012 Uncaged release, takes this week’s No. 1 slot for our MusicRow chart.

Written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins, and Sonia Lee the Southern Ground/Atlantic single comes complete with musical styling that have given the band its signature, including a quick guitar strum, falsetto lacing and harmonious hooks.

Nothing seems to slow these guys down at radio, especially now with their own newly established Southern Ground promotion house on Music Row to work their own music. We’ll likely be seeing more and more success from these Georgia boys.

Watch the circus-themed music video below.

World Music Award Nominees Announced

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Taylor Swift

Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton are among the country artists nominated at the World Music Awards, which will take place on Thursday (Dec. 20) at Marlins Park Stadium in Miami, Fla. and will be broadcast to over 160 countries.

Nominees are selected by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), to recognize the top-selling artists in the world.

Select nominees in different categories are listed below. For a full list of nominees click here.

World’s Best Song
Carrie Underwood “Blown Away”
Justin Bieber “Boyfriend”
Jason Aldean “Take A Little Ride”
Kelly Clarkson “Stronger”
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Adele “Rumour Has It”

World’s Best Album
Carrie Underwood Blown Away
Lady Antebellum On This Winter’s Night
Jason Aldean Night Train
Taylor Swift Red
Christina Aguilera Lotus
Alicia Keys  Girl On Fire
Adele 21

World’s Best Video
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
Carrie Underwood “Good Girl”
Jason Aldean “Take A Little Ride”
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Beyonce “Run The World (Girls)”

World’s Best Group
Kings of Leon
Lady Antebellum
Zac Brown Band
U2
Mumford & Sons
Maroon 5
No Doubt
Coldplay

World’s Best Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Beyonce
Adele
Britney Spears
Kelly Clarkson
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

World’s Best Male Artist
Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean
Kid Rock
Keith Urban
Ne-Yo
Phillip Phillips

World’s Best Live Act
Brad Paisley
Jason Aldean
Aerosmith
Bruce Springsteen
Jimmy Buffett
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Tim McGraw
Van Halen
Usher

World’s Best Entertainer of the Year
Carrie Underwood
Jason Aldean
Keith Urban
Kelly Clarkson
Taylor Swift
Selena Gomez
Justin Bieber
Rhihanna
Carly Rae Jepsen
Beyonce
Adele

 

Jillian Kohr – What You’ve Done

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kohr

Nashville, breakout artist Jillian Kohr releases her newest single to Music Row and Country Radio. Kohr is best known by many for her outstanding Digital and Internet success. Her very first release, an unplugged rendition of the classic “Love Hurts,” shot to the top and charted #1 across three genres on the MySpace Music Charts, landing her the #1 Female Artist in Nashville on the ReverbNation Country Charts in 2012.

“I recorded the song in studio to enter it into a vocal competition that a friend found for me on ReverbNation. I don’t think anyone expected it to be as big as it was!” Kohr said.

Her newest single “What You’ve Done” captures the same raw and vulnerable power. Her fresh, edgy vocal draws her listeners in.

“I grew up listening to Rock N Roll and Blues music, but I have always loved the storyline in Country music and what it stands for, so my music naturally reflects all of that,” she explained.

Kohr co-penned the single with Nashville songwriters Ollie Kohr and Gary Cirimelli, with special guest Harrision Whitford on electric guitar.

As “What You’ve Done” hits the airwaves, Kohr will be setting out on a Nationwide Radio Tour and is currently planning her upcoming Live Tour scheduled for spring of 2013. Jillian is a proud member of the CMA’s, the GRAMMY’s, ICMA’s, BMI and NSAI. Follow Jillian Kohr on Facebook and Twitter too!

Radio Contact:
Sarah Reed
615-248-8105 x239
[email protected]

www.Jilliankohr.com
www.facebook.com/Jilliankohrmusic
twitter.com/Jilliankohr

Industry Ink (12/14/2012)

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GMC TV, Light Records and Roland Corporation will participate in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s 4th annual Most Powerful Voices gospel competition. The online gospel singing competition is open to independent artists, groups and choirs who sing gospel, holy hip hop, praise and worship music. Participants, who must be 18 years or older, may sign up at power.watchgmctv.com and upload a video or MP3 file by Jan. 31, 2013.

The top 10 finalists will be judged by gospel music industry leaders, including singer and songwriter Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child), James Robinson (president of A&R at Light Records) and holy hip hop artist Flame.

The grand prize winner will be announced April 30, 2013 and will receive the opportunity to perform in the Central Park Summer Stage Concert in New York City with Light Records artists, $5,000 in musical instruments, $1,500 cash and a digital single on iTunes from Light Records, among other prizes.

Light Records represents Williams, Dorinda Clark Cole, Shirley Caesar and other artists.

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CMT and MTV host Katie Cook will hold her first-ever book signing at The Beveled Edge in Nashville on Sunday (Dec. 16) from 2-4 p.m. CT. Her debut book, Little Big Benny–a three-part series for children ages 9 to 12–explores the world of colorful characters who exist within the imagination of main character, Benny Armstrong, Jr.

Cook says the series was born during long stretches on the road promoting her band’s album, prior to her television career. In Little Big Benny, she has created a character who explores some of life’s greatest mysteries while maintaining the humor essential to entertaining children’s literature.

The Beveled Edge is located at 73 White Bridge Road, Nashville, TN 37205.

 

Artist Updates (12/14/2012)

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Ashley Monroe

The release date of Ashley Monroe‘s debut album was recently rescheduled. Like A Rose will now be released March 5, 2013 on Warner Nashville in both digital and physical copies. The new date is a result of an additional song, co-written by Monroe and Vince Gill, that Monroe added to the album’s track listing.

Monroe is still set to debut two songs from Like A Rose at the Grand Ole Opry with Gill next Saturday, Dec. 22.

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Jake Owen

Jake Owen has been added to the list of country stars set to take the Country Thunder stage in Twin Lakes, Wis., on July 18-21, 2013. Sarah Darling and Dean Alexander also join the line-up, which includes previously-announced performers Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town and more. Owen recently canceled a tour date scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14 in Vero Beach, Fla. due to flu.


Aaron Lewis and Greg Bates will join previously-announced country stars Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Kip Moore for Country Thunder Arizona, to be held in Florence, Ariz. on April 11-14, 2013.

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Kimberly Schlapman

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman‘s cooking show, Kimberly’s Simply Southern, has been renewed for a second season on Great American Country. New episodes begin airing in early spring.