Brantley Gilbert Prepares For First Europe Shows and First USO Tour

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bgilbert

Brantley Gilbert


Brantley Gilbert will kick off his first shows in Europe with a performance at Glasgow’s Oran Mor tomorrow (March 15) and Manchester’s Club Academy Saturday (March 16). He will wrap the journey on Sunday (March 17) at London’s 02 Arena for the Country 2 Country Festival, which also features Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Little Big Town and more.
Following his UK trip, Gilbert will continue overseas on his first USO tour. He will perform four concerts and meet with the military troops and their families. In addition, military ID holders who attend the Glasgow and Manchester shows will have the opportunity for an exclusive meet and greet with Gilbert.
“Man you know we sing about country being country wide, but we are taking it to the next level this time,” said Gilbert. “I’m excited to meet all of the country fans in Europe. We will have a blast… and performing for the troops… man I couldn’t be more excited about that. I have so much respect for what our service men and women do every day. To have the chance to perform for them while they are actively serving our country couldn’t make me more proud to have this opportunity.”
The Georgia native continually supports the military and recently partnered with RAM Trucks as part of its RAM JAM series, auctioning off his truck in support of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). On Veteran’s Day he joined Musicians On Call at the Nashville Veteran’s Hospital and performed for patients. Watch a portion of the special visit below.

 

Hunter Hayes, Trace Adkins Launch Website Promotions

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Hunter Hayes reveals nominees. Photo: Kevin Winter

Photo: Kevin Winter

Hunter Hayes is taking part in the COUNTRY Financial Road Trips and Guitar Picks concert series. The COUNTRY Financial Trips and Picks Facebook page will allow fans to view live streaming shows, submit questions for Hayes, and get a free download of his previously unreleased song “Light Me Up.” The shows will take place on March 18 (9 p.m. EDT), March 19 (9 p.m. EDT) and March 22 (8 p.m. EDT).

COUNTRY also partnered with Hayes last fall for 15 arena dates as he toured with Carrie Underwood on her “Blown Away Tour.”

“I’m really excited to partner with COUNTRY Financial for these live stream shows,” Hayes says. “The shows broadcast on the Road Trips and Guitar Picks Facebook page are a fun way to hang with more of my fans as we’ll play some music, answer questions and talk about the stories behind the songs.”

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Trace Adkins Love WillTrace Adkins’ website is now an interactive hub for fans to earn great prizes every week. The singer’s website has been dubbed “The Big Road to NYC,” since one grand prize winner will earn a trip to New York City for the live finale of NBC’s All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
The site launched March 3 and will continue through the release of Adkins’ 11th studio album, Love Will… in the spring. Each week new tasks, new Apprentice commentary from Adkins and new “reveals” from his upcoming album will appear, for one week only.
While on the site, fans can complete tasks related to the album, the American Red Cross and All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. Each task earns points towards weekly prizes and two grand prize trips. Fans with the highest points will be recognized weekly on the site as elite members of “Trace’s Team.”
Completed tasks count as entries to win prizes like a pair of Nocona Boots signed by Trace, a year supply of Trace Adkins Hightower’s Smoked Sausage, an iPod, or an autographed Trace Adkins-branded guitar. Grand prizes include a trip to the live finale of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice in New York City (regardless of the outcome) or an all-paid cruise aboard Country Cruising 2014.
“Trace’s music and his efforts to help others have earned the loyalty and respect of so many fans,” said Sloane Cavitt Logue, Director of Digital Marketing at Show Dog-Universal Music. “We designed this site as a fun thank-you by offering access to Trace’s thoughts on the Apprentice, a sneak-peek at new songs and great prizes. We’re also especially proud, as a part of Team Trace, that we can connect people to more information about the American Red Cross.”

Artists Team For Ron Davies Tribute Album

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rondaviesAcclaimed artists recorded tracks for an upcoming tribute album to late songwriter Ron Davies. Contributing to the project are Alison Krauss, John Anderson, Dolly Parton, Jim Lauderdale, John Prine, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Delbert McClinton, Shelby Lynne, Jimmy Hall, Bonnie Bramlett, Jonell Mosser, and jazz legend Benny Golson.
All proceeds from the album will be donated to The W.O. Smith Music School. Unsung Hero: A Tribute To The Music of Ron Davies, produced by his sister Gail Davies, is set to be released on March 25. Crystal Gayle will be among those performing at the album release concert at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on March 29.
One of Davies’ best known compositions is the 1970 hit song “It Ain’t Easy,” recorded by David Bowie, Three Dog Night, Long John Baldry and more recently, The Raconteurs. Davies passed away in 2003 at age 57. He penned “Long Hard Climb” for Helen Reddy and Maria Muldaur, “Dark Eyed Gal” for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “Good Old Song” for Dobie Gray, and “Steal Across The Border” for Joan Baez. Davies’ songs have also been recorded by Anne Murray, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs and Joe Cocker.
Unsung Hero’s stand-out tracks include Crystal Gayle’s rendition of “True Lovers and Friends” with Benny Golson providing the saxophone solo, and “Good Love After Bad” recorded by Alison Krauss accompanied by Ron Davies’ nephew Chris Scruggs on slide guitar. Other top musicians included on the album are Pat Bergeson, Andy Reiss, Richard Bennett, Chris Nole, Bob Mummert and Rob Price. The production for Unsung Hero began in October 2004.

Wynonna Returns With New Music, Hour-Long Documentary

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It seems Wynonna will be everywhere on Monday (March 18). The singer returns with a new single, a slot on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars and a new hour-long documentary.
On Monday (March 18), Wynonna will release “Something You Can’t Live Without,” the first single from her upcoming full-length album, produced by husband/drummer Cactus Moser and set for release on Curb Records. The single was co-written by Moser and David Lee Murphy, and will be available digitally via iTunes and Amazon on Tuesday (March 19).  The album is her first project of all new material in over four years.
Also on Monday (March 18), “Wynonna and Cactus: The Road Back” will premiere on Great American Country at 10 p.m./9 p.m. CT.  The hour-long documentary tells the never-before-shared story of newlyweds Wynonna and Cactus Moser and their journey from fledgling crush to a motorcycle accident last year that took Cactus’ leg.
Wynonna also shares details of their life post-accident in a cover story with US Weekly, on newsstands this week.

wynonna and tony11

Wynonna and Tony Dovolani


As previously announced, Wynonna will compete on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. Her first dance with professional partner and last season’s champion instructor Tony Dovolani will air Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
“I focused on being a wife and a nurse for the last seven months and now I’m doing something for myself,” shares Wynonna. “The main word for me this year is ‘risk.’  I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something that a lot of people tell me is crazy—but they get it.”

Swift's Stylist Joseph Cassell Makes 'Hollywood's 25 Most Powerful Stylists' List

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Taylor Swift‘s stylist Joseph Cassell has been named as one of “Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Stylists” by The Hollywood Reporter. He joins the ranks of stylists Leslie Fremar (Scarlett Johannson, Reese Witherspoon), Petra Flannery (Emma Stone, Mila Kunis) and others. The list also has another Nashville connection: L’Wren Scott is stylist for actress (and wife to Keith Urban) Nicole Kidman.
Cassell is a former A&R director who left the music industry to become a stylist. What was supposed to be a one-time job turned into a long-term business relationship with Swift. “I was asked to do a basic ‘steam and press’ job for a young, rising country singer. The job wouldn’t pay much, his agent told him, but it might be good experience,” Cassell told THR.
“Joseph arrived with a full wardrobe of options and shoes, which was a good thing because the stylist at the shoot had dropped the ball,” said Swift. “He’s always two steps ahead of me with whatever I need, whether it’s a lint roller, sunglasses, shoes,” the singer says. “And he has a backup option and extra panels of material just to be safe!”

Joseph Cassell and Taylor Swift

Joseph Cassell and Taylor Swift

AIMP Music Supervisor Panel Coming in April

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AIMP LogoThe Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Chapter and Fifth Third Bank will present “Music in Film and TV – What works, what doesn’t and the latest trends in placing music”; a panel that includes an elite cast of music supervisors from Los Angeles and New York.
Music supervisors participating are: Alicen Schneider of NBCUniversal TV, Kasey Truman with Chop Shop, Jason Markey of Relativity Music Group and Maria Alonte McCoy from District Music. Randy Wachtler, Founder of 615 Music and Past Chairman of the Production Music Association and current AIMP Nashville board member will be serving as moderator.
The meeting will be held on April 3 from 2-4 p.m. at Cabana restaurant located at 1910 Belcourt Ave., Nashville, TN  37212.
All members of the music community are encouraged to register for chapter membership. The member rate to attend is $25 while the non-member rate is $45.  Please log onto www.aimp.org to join and register.

Ashley Monroe Celebrates Release at SXSW

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(L-R): Mark Robinson, VP Business Affairs, WMN; Justin Luffman, VP Brand Management, WMN; Ashley Monroe; John Grady, Manager, Crush Management; and Tree Paine, SVP Publicity, WMN

Pictured at SXSW. (L-R): Mark Robinson, VP Business Affairs, WMN; Justin Luffman, VP Brand Management, WMN; Ashley Monroe; John Grady, Manager, Crush Management; and Tree Paine, SVP Publicity, WMN


Ashley Monroe’s Warner Bros. solo debut entered the country sales chart at No. 10 today (March 13) with sales of 11k units. She celebrated the release of Like A Rose with a string of performances at SXSW in Austin, TX. Monroe performed last night to an excited crowd at the MTV/VH1/CMT Edge Stage, and made an appearance at The Warner Sound Stage earlier today. She will perform Friday, March 15 at the BMI Acoustic Brunch and the Crush Management Showcase at Vice Bar.
Monroe and Leno

Monroe and Leno


On Monday night (March 11) Monroe made the national TV premiere of her current single “Like A Rose” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. See the video here.
The critically-acclaimed Like A Rose, produced by 20-time Grammy award-winner Vince Gill and Justin Niebank, features songs written by Monroe and many of Nashville’s A-list tunesmiths.
Monroe has another new album in the hopper as part of trio Pistol Annies with bandmates Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley. Annie Up will be released May 7 via Sony Music Nashville and the lead single “Hush, Hush” was shipped to radio this week.

Performers Announced For Third Annual ACM Fan Jam

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acmlogoslider1The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced that Brad Paisley, headliner of the 3rd Annual ACM Fan Jam and Post-Award Concert, will perform at the event, with his special guests Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes joining the Fan Jam. ACM New Artist of the Year nominees Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line have also been added to the lineup.
LL Cool J, star of the CBS drama series NCIS: Los Angeles, will make a special appearance during the event. GAC’s Headline Country host Storme Warren will emcee for the first time.
The concert will also feature an additional performance in support of the ACM Lifting Lives® on-stage moment, an annual initiative that raises money for designated charities, with the artist to be announced in the coming weeks. ACM Fan Jam is the fans-only, live concert event taking place in Las Vegas during and after the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
 

No. 1 Party: Justin Moore's "'Til My Last Day"

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justin moore no111

Pictured (L-R): Tom Luteran (Sony/ATV/EMI), LeAnne Phelean (ASCAP), Michael Martin (ASCAP), Jeremy Stover (Producer/Writer), Brian Maher (Writer), Justin Moore, Perry Howard (BMI), Scott Borchetta (BMLG), Tim Hunze (Bigger Picture) and Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music). Photo Credit: Amy Fucci / BMLG

Justin Moore celebrated a No. 1 single and two Gold albums during a No. 1 party  yesterday (March 12) at Nashville’s Honkytonk Central.

The singer was honored for his third No. 1 single, “‘Til My Last Day” and his two gold albums–Justin Moore and Outlaws Like Me–which have together sold over 1 million copies to date.
Industry, family and friends gathered to celebrate songwriters Moore (BMI), Jeremy Stover (ASCAP), Brian Maher (ASCAP); publishers Big Machine Music, Sony/ATV/EMI and Bigger Picture and The Valory Music Co. promotion team. This song marks the second chart-topper for this songwriting trio – Moore’s debut single, “Small Town USA,” was the first.
The celebration was a perfect send off for Moore, who will begin his first headlining tour in Pikeville, Ky. tomorrow night (March 14).

Capitol Christian Music Group Acquires Tooth & Nail, BEC, Solid State Catalogs

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ccmg1Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has completed its acquisition of the existing Tooth & Nail recorded music catalog. This includes Tooth & Nail Records, BEC Recordings and Solid State Recordings, though it excludes catalogs of artists Demon Hunter, August Burns Red and the latest recordings from Love and Death and the Supertones. Capitol CMG will own and continue to develop products from Tooth & Nail’s catalogs, marketing and distributing them through Capitol CMG Label Group and its catalog division. Jeremy Camp‘s Reckless will be marketed by Capitol CMG Label Group.
According to Capitol Christian Music Group President and CEO Bill Hearn, “It’s been my privilege to work alongside Brandon Ebel for the last twelve years. He’s a great record man and has developed some of our industry’s best artists and music. Together we have built a strong catalog which CCMG will continue to develop and grow. I wish Brandon continued success as he re-establishes himself as one of the leaders in the independent music community.”
Brandon Ebel, Founder and president of Tooth & Nail, is set to relaunch as an independent label. “Our partnership with EMI has been very successful, and we are grateful for the opportunities we have had with Bill Hearn and his team over the last 12 years. We are confident that our artists’ back catalogs will be well served under CCMG. Moving forward we are excited to continue developing our artists on Tooth & Nail Records, Solid State Records, and BEC Recordings,” said Ebel.
Ebel will retain rights to all label names and trademarks. Forthcoming releases planned for the relaunched label include August Burns Red, The Almost, Demon Hunter, Emery, Icon For Hire, Nine Lashes, Living Sacrifice and All Things New among others.
Details of release dates and distribution for the new label will be announced soon. During the transition period, Capitol Christian Music Distribution will continue to distribute all Tooth & Nail products.