United Way Seeks Entries for 2013 United Live Song Contest

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United-WayThe United Way has begun its search for songs with a positive message for use in its Stuff the Bus campaign.
The 2013 Live United Song Contest will accept entries through June 12, to be judged by an industry panel for lyrics, melody, production and relevancy to United Way’s mission to advance the common good.
Judges include Randy Brown (Artist Manager at Borman Entertainment), Bradley Collins (Sr. Director of Writer-Publisher Relations at BMI), Stevie Erickson (Song Plugger at Patrick Joseph Music Publishing), Randy Goodman (Co-chair of the Music City Music Council) and Marty Slayton Jordan (George Strait backup vocalist).
Top ten finalists will be selected to perform at The Listening Room Café during United Way’s Stuff the Bus Launch Concert on Thursday, June 20 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. A winner will be chosen at the event for inclusion in an upcoming United Way Day of Action video, which will be featured on unitedwaynashville.org and emailed to partners across the city.
Each song requires an entry fee of $10, which will benefit United Way’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive to benefit at-risk Nashville students. All finalists must be available to attend and perform at the June 20 event.
To submit an entry for the contest, click here.
For more information or to volunteer at one of the Stuff the Bus Days of Action, click here.

McGraw, Chesney, Gilbert Set For Craven Country Jamboree

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craven country jamboree logo111Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, The Dixie Chicks, Randy Travis, Brantley Gilbert, Scotty McCreery and Phil Vassar are among the artists confirmed to play the Craven Country Jamboree in Craven, Saskatchewan. The festival takes place July 11-14, 2013. Long-time weekend hosts Williams and Ree will serve as festival ambassadors.
“This may be the lineup to end all lineups,” says Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer of the event. “We are always proud to bring the biggest and the best acts that are available, but this year I think we’ve outdone ourselves. The lineup is deep with a great mix of young, classic, and a trio of superstars. There is definitely something here for everyone. It’s going to be an explosive show in 2013.”
Tickets are available at $179, and prices will increase to $199 on June 1. For more information, visit cravencountryjamboree.com.
 Craven Country Jamboree lineup:
Thursday, July 11 (Beer Garden kick-off party)
8:00 p.m. – Williams & Ree
9:00 p.m. – Phil Vassar
Friday, July 12
4:00 p.m. – Small Town Pistols
5:30 p.m. – Sawyer Brown
7:00 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert
9:00 p.m. – Tim McGraw
Saturday, July 13
2:30 p.m. – High Valley
4:00 p.m. – Williams and Ree
5:30 p.m. – Randy Travis
7:00 p.m. – Doc Walker
9:00 p.m. – The Dixie Chicks
Sunday, July 14
1:00 p.m. – CKRM Big Talent Contest Winner
2:30 p.m. – Bill Anderson
4:00 p.m. – Gloriana
5:30 p.m. – Chad Brownlee
7:00 p.m. – Scotty McCreery
8:30 p.m. – Kenny Chesney

Artist Updates (5-28-13)

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After wrapping her 110-city “Blown Away Tour” in Abbottsford, B.C. on Thursday night, Carrie Underwood joined rock legends The Rolling Stones during their concert in Toronto on Saturday (May 25) as a surprise guest. Underwood and The Rolling Stones performed “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It).”

Carrie Underwood performs with The Rolling Stones. Photo: Christopher Wahl/Getty

Carrie Underwood performs with The Rolling Stones. Photo: Christopher Wahl/Getty

• • •

Sweetwater Rain recently stopped by Curb Records to present ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy, with a $10,000 donation. ACM Lifting Lives board members, President Bill Mayne and Vice President Lori Badgett, were on hand to accept the generous contribution.
The music video for the group’s single “Starshine” can be seen on GAC, CMT, and TCN and has garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube. The trio is gearing up to release their sophomore single, “Pray For Me,” in the summer of 2013.

Pictured (L-R): Fred Stallcup, ACM Lifting Lives President Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Vice President Lori Badgett, Danny Rivera, Thomas Hewlett

Pictured (L-R): Sweetwater Rain’s Fred Stallcup, ACM Lifting Lives President Bill Mayne, ACM Lifting Lives Vice President Lori Badgett, Sweetwater Rain’s Danny Rivera and Thomas Hewlett

• • •

alabamaofficial111 Alabama‘s Back to the Bowery Tour two-night stop in Atlanta marks the highest-grossing run for a country artist in Fox Theatre history, with over $498,000 in ticket sales. The legendary group performed for sold-out houses on both nights with over 8,500 in attendance – a new house record. The two-night engagement was the first time Alabama had ever played the Fox Theatre.
“We had two amazing nights. More amazing than I ever dreamed they would be,” says Alabama frontman Randy Owen. “It was great to finally play the Fox, and thanks to the fans and all involved for turning it into a very special memory for us.”
“We could not be more pleased with the outcome of the ALABAMA performances,” said Allan Vella, President and CEO of the Fox Theatre. “They are an exceptional band and we hope that they will visit Atlanta and the Fox again soon.” Promoter Steve Litman of Steve Litman Presents added, “ALABAMA proved once again that they undeniably deserve their legendary status with two amazing SRO shows that thrilled Atlanta.”

 • • •

best of bluegrass logo11The first-ever Best of Bluegrass festival has confirmed a solid lineup of artists for its inaugural event, to be held June 3-8 in Lexington, Ky. Dailey and Vincent, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Cleverlys and Lonesome River Band are a few of the performers that have been named as part of the lineup, along with Masters of Bluegrass, featuring Del McCoury, JD Crowe and Bobby Osborne.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray reflected on both the short-term and long-term benefits of the event. “Both tourism and economic development will be byproducts of festivals like this and we remain convinced that Lexington should play a major role in the bluegrass industry’s big events, including their two-day convention and awards show,” says Gray.
 
 

Hit Singer-Songwriter Lorene Mann Passes

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Lorene-MannLorene Mann, a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), died Friday, May 24.
The singer-songwriter was 76 years old. While serving as the organization’s secretary in the early 1970s, she came up with the slogan “It All Begins With a Song.” This remains the motto of the NSAI to this day.
Mann was a native of rural Tennessee, born in Huntland, near the Alabama border, on Jan. 4, 1937 as the youngest of 10 children. She began playing guitar at age 12 and moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career in 1956.
She wrote such notable successes as the 1960 Kitty Wells top-10 hit “Left to Right,” the 1962 Rex Allen smash “Don’t Go Near the Indians,” Skeeter Davis’s 1962 hit “Something Precious” and the 1974 Jerry Wallace top-10 charting “My Wife’s House.”
Other Lorene Mann songs recorded include “I Wanna Go to Heaven” (Jerry Wallace), “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me” (Norma Jean, Koko Taylor), “I Loved You Then” (The Wilburn Brothers) and “Beautiful Junk” (Vernon Oxford). She also wrote the “answer” song to Johnny Tillotson, “It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’ Since I Left.” Her Rex Allen hit “Don’t Go Near the Indians” was also recorded by Marvin Rainwater, Walter Brennan, The Indians Showband and Ben Colder, the comedic alter ego of Sheb Wooley.
Signed to RCA Records in 1964, Mann initially made her mark as the duet partner of Justin Tubb with 1965’s “Hurry Mr. Peters” and 1966’s “We’ve Gone Too Far Again.” Their 1966 LP, Together and Alone, included both duets and solo performances, such as her self-composed “Please Don’t Take the Children From Me.”
Her solo RCA singles included her self-written “Have You Ever Wanted To,” “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me,” “You Love Me Too Little” and “Hide My Sin.” The last-named is one of the only country-music abortion songs ever issued by a major label.
She also co-wrote her 1970 single “The Apron Tree.” Three years later, its exact plot was lifted by the massive pop hit “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree.”
Her 1969 RCA LP, A Mann Named Lorene, include such striking, self-penned songs as “Stranger at the Funeral,” “So I Could Be Your Friend,” “Stay Out of My Dreams,” “You Used to Call Me Baby” and “One of Them,” as well as several of her singles.
Lorene Mann scored her biggest hits singing with Archie Campbell on 1968’s “Dark End of the Street” and “Tell It like it Is.” Their duet LP, Archie and Lorene Tell it Like it Is, also appeared in 1968.
She appeared as herself in the 1966 movie Music City U.S.A. In the 1975 Burt Reynolds film W.W. and The Dixie Dance Kings, she portrayed one of “The Delores Sisters” singing group.
Her television credits in the 1960s included The Bobby Lord Show, Opry Almanac, American Swing-a-Round and The Stu Phillips Show.
In 2011, the NSAI gave Lorene Mann its Maggie Cavender Award, a lifetime-achievement honor to recognize her “extraordinary service to the songwriting community.”
Lorene Mann is survived by husband Freddie Clay, daughter Karen Clay, two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life will be conducted at noon today (Tuesday, May 28) in the chapel of Spring Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison.

Keith Urban's New Album, 'Fuse,' To Release in September

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urban101111Keith Urban is set to release Fuse, his first new album in nearly three years, on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The project, Urban’s seventh studio release (Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville), has been nearly a year in the making.
“I really wanted to challenge myself musically,” says Urban. “…expand the boundaries of my sound, rhythm and melody, while still remaining true to who I am. Working with various co-producers while making Fuse, has been so inspiring and liberating – and we ain’t even done yet!”
The first single from Fuse, “Little Bit of Everything,” was released to country radio on May 13. “On the song I was able to take elements of sound that I’ve used before and blend them together into a fusion of spirit and energy,” says Urban.
Urban will launch his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013” on July 18 in Cincinnati. The trek features Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch.
 
 

MusicRow No. 1 Song

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Jake Owen

Jake Owen


Jake Owen makes his mark this week standing atop our MusicRow Chart with his single, “Anywhere With You. ”
The optimistic lyric, written by David Lee Murphy, Ben Hayslip and Jimmy Yeary, kicks off this summer season for country radio fans.
“You” is the fourth single from Owen’s RCA Nashville project, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, which has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles; “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Alone With You,” and “The One That Got Away.”
Catch all these tunes during Owen’s live show; the singer-songwriter is currently on tour with Jason Aldean’s Night Train Tour. Buckle up for new music from the star, according to publicity, Owen is currently working on a full-length studio album with producer Joey Moi in between live shows.

Industry Ink (5-24-13)

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CMT-Music-AwardsFans who are still hoping to secure tickets for the 2013 CMT Music Awards will have the opportunity to be a part of the live event beginning Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m. CT at the Bridgestone Arena, as 500 standing mosh pit tickets are being released for sale. Tickets are $75 each, with a maximum purchase of four tickets per person, and will only be available for purchase through the Bridgestone Arena box office.
The 2013 CMT Music Awards air live from Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m., CT on CMT and CMT.com.

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americana cross countyPatron tables have been added to the Americana Music Association’s Cross County Lines, featuring Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas, with special guests Shawn Colvin, Amos Lee, Teddy Thompson, Sarah Jarosz and Angel Snow. All general seating has been sold for the event, but patron tables are available for $3,000; each table seats eight.
Included in the cost of the table are access to the VIP bar with complimentary beverages, one commemorative laminate pass per guest, one autographed and seven non-autographed limited edition show posters. All proceeds go to the Americana Music Association. To purchase a table, call 615-386-6936.

• • •

YEP classic country revivalNashville’s Young Entertainment Professionals organization (YEP) will host the YEP Classic Country Revival on Wednesday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley. The show will feature Jerrod Niemann, Sarah Darling, James Otto, Striking Matches, Drake White, Tyler Reeve, Brinley Addington, Westbound Rangers, Ben Danaher and Two Story Road. All proceeds will go directly to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For more information, visit ticketweb.com.

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bigmachineBig Machine Records will sponsor four-time IndyCar Series and three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti‘s No. 10 car for the second consecutive year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26. The Indianapolis 500 will air nationally on ABC at noon EST.
“The month of May is always about racing for me,” says Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta. “For as long as I can remember, the buzz of the Indianapolis 500 has been ringing in my ears. I’m so thrilled that we once again get to join Dario Franchitti & Target Chip Ganassi Racing as Dario chases a fourth Indy crown on Sunday.”
The bittersweet weekend marks wins and losses for Borchetta, who was a sponsor (and friend) of the late Dan Wheldon’s winning car in 2011.

• • •

Atlantic Records artists The Railers were the first act featured for the 4th season of Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ on the Patio celebration. Pickin’ on the Patio is held the fourth Thursday of every month from May through September on the WMN patio. The next event will be held June 27.

Pictured (L to R): Tyler Oban, John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Jonathan Lawson, Cassandra Lawson, Jordan Lawson, Rebekah Sterk (Director A&R, WMN), Scott Hendricks (SVP A&R, WMN)

Pictured (L to R): Tyler Oban, John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Jonathan Lawson, Cassandra Lawson, Jordan Lawson, Rebekah Sterk (Director A&R, WMN), Scott Hendricks (SVP A&R, WMN)

CMA Music Fest News

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Sara Evans

Sara Evans


Sara Evans has partnered with Bandpage and AXS TV giving one of her fans the opportunity to sing onstage with her during Evans’ Fan Club party on June 6 in Nashville. The contest winner will also receive flights for two from a major airport to Nashville, two nights of lodging at a Nashville-area hotel and two tickets to the Fan Club party. AXS will be onsite at the Fan Club party to film the winning fan’s experience as well as to interview them for a promotional piece.
To enter, fans should submit a video of themselves singing their favorite Evans song at the official contest website. On May 27, five finalists will be chosen and announced on SaraEvans.com, as well as Evans’ social media outlets. Then, online fan voting will begin. On May 31, the voting will be closed, the votes tallied and the winner will be announced.

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cma-global_category111The CMA Global Artist Party will be held Monday, June 3 at The Stage on Broadway from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. CT. Hosted by David Bradley (UK), the show will feature Richard Smith (UK), Kaylee Bell (New Zealand), Jill Johnson (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Small Town Pistols (Canada), Natalie Howard (Australia), Jason Blaine (Canada), Jody Direen (New Zealand), Baylou (Australia), Michelle Wright (Canada) and the Wolfe Brothers (Australia). This marks the event’s 10th anniversary.

• • •

aristo global show111The Aristo Global Show will take place Tuesday, June 4 at The Second Fiddle from 6:15 p.m. until 10 p.m. Hosted by one of Australia’s disc jockeys, Ben Sorensen. The lineup includes Madison Kozak (Canada), Hicks (Sweden), Jason Hastie (Canada), Richie Scholl (Australia), Ward-Thomas (UK), Two Rocks Band (Switzerland), Morgan Evans (Australia), Greg Hanna (Canada) and David Bradley (UK).  AristoMedia and the CMA sponsor the event. The Second Fiddle is located at 420 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203.

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happy racersHappy Racers, a Nashville-based indie band for kids, will perform several shows in the Family Zone at the CMA Music Festival on June 7-8. Four of the band’s songs from their debut CD Ready Set Go have been adopted as the musical companion to four different children’s books from author Barbara Joosse. For more information, visit thehappyracers.com.

Artist Photos (5-24-13)

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Cassadee Pope was already scheduled to be in Oklahoma City, Okla. as part of her Midwest radio tour. The The Voice winner rescheduled her radio station visits so she could volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. In addition to volunteering, Cassadee was able to get two truckloads of food delivered to the Oklahoma food bank today through her partnership with Outnumber Hunger.

Cassadee Pope in Moore111

• • •

Shawna Russell used her tour bus (formerly owned by country legend Willie Nelson) to help with the collection of supplies for tornado victims in Shawnee, Okla. After spreading the word through social media, Russell, her family and band members gathered volunteers to help accept donations and load them onto the bus. By day’s end, donated items filled most available space on the bus and required three additional vehicles to help deliver the supplies to Dale Middle School, a distribution point for Shawnee and surrounding communities. Cash donations were also deposited at local banks where accounts have been established to help disaster victims.

Shawna Russell (third from right) is joined by volunteer relief workers and contributors.

Shawna Russell (third from right) is joined by volunteer relief workers and contributors.

• • •

Josh Turner was a guest and performer at PGA golfer Bubba Watson’s 2nd Annual Bubba’s Bash in Orlando, Fla. recently. He was joined by Justin Martin, Jase Robertson and Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, along with former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. Funds raised from Bubba’s Bash ase used to partner with Unreined Ministries to continue furnishing The Bubba and Angie Watson Hospital on the five acres of land they purchased in Liyavo, Kenya. The hospital is currently under construction.

Pictured (L to R): Duck Dynasty’s Justin Martin, Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson, Josh Turner, Bubba Watson, Jordin Sparks and Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson

Pictured (L to R): Duck Dynasty’s Justin Martin, Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson, Josh Turner, Bubba Watson, Jordin Sparks and Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson. Photo: Stanley Tongai

 • • •

Brenda Lee, Jan Howard, Kristen Kelly, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis performed their favorite Patsy Cline songs during a presentation of Always: Singing the Legacy of Patsy Cline at the Country Music Hall of Fame on May 11.

Pictured (L-R): Kristen Kelly, Emma Shudde, Brenda Lee, Jan Howard, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis and Lisa Brokop.

Pictured (L-R): Kristen Kelly, Emma Shudde, Brenda Lee, Jan Howard, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis and Lisa Brokop.


 
 
 

Blake Shelton Oklahoma Benefit Concert Set for May 29

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blake shelton111Blake Shelton‘s “Healing in the Heartland” benefit concert is set for May 29 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. The event will be aired live on NBC beginning at 9 p.m. ET. It will also air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis. Premiere and Cumulus will also simulcast the concert.

“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” says Shelton. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”
The event will raise money for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Working with their local community partners, United Way of Central Oklahoma will use the Fund for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma, following the tornadoes that devastated Moore earlier this week.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. CT on May 25. Tickets are $25 and are limited to eight per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.
Oklahoma native Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert performed Lambert’s single “Over You” on last week’s episode of The Voice, in dedication to those affected by the recent tornados that swept through Oklahoma.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V_UPbe8XgGE