Steve Wariner Plans New Album, Local Concert

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swariner-playlistSteve Wariner is set for a Friday, Sept. 20 performance at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., where he will play music from It Ain’t All Bad, his first non-instrumental album in more than eight years. The self-produced project will be released Sept. 10 and offers 12 songs written or co-written by the artist.
In recent years the acclaimed guitarist has released three successful instrumental albums: Guitar Christmas, Steve Wariner c.g.p….My Tribute to Chet Atkins (which includes the Grammy winning “Producer’s Medley”), and Guitar Laboratory.
Wariner has won four Grammys, four CMA Awards, and one ACM Award. His 14 chart-toppers include “Holes in the Floor of Heaven,” “Tips of My Fingers,” and “The Weekend.”
In addition to writing many of his own songs, Wariner has written hits for other artists including Garth Brooks (“Longneck Bottle”), Keith Urban (“Where the Blacktop Ends”), Clint Black (“Nothin’ But the Taillights”) and Bryan White (“One Small Miracle”). Fifteen of his compositions have earned BMI Million-Air Awards.
Tickets for the show at the Franklin Theatre range in price from $39-55 and go on sale on Thursday, July 11 at 10:00 AM/CDT at www.franklintheatre.com.

'Nashville' To Get $12.5 Million from State of Tennessee

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nashville-abcThe state of Tennessee is slated to contribute up to $12.5 million to ABC’s production of Nashville‘s second season, in order to keep the show’s production and crew in Music City. Metro government will also chip in $500,000, pending council approval, according to The Tennessean. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and Metro’s Event Marketing Fund also will contribute $125,000 each.
“Nashville offers a valuable international platform to showcase our state’s dynamic entertainment industry, while providing a confluence of film and music that is unique only to Tennessee,” said Bill Hagerty, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “Promoting and assisting this thriving business sector is an integral part of our state’s economic development efforts.”
Principal photography on 24 new episodes will start in mid-July. Nashville recouped 32 percent of its productions costs during the first season, in the form of a grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development, which reimbursed 17 percent of costs along with a 15 percent refundable tax credit from the state Department of Revenue.
Under current law, reimbursement would be limited to a grant covering 25 percent of costs. The new state budget previously included $11.25 million in one-time nonrecurring funds “in anticipation of renewing the incentive specifically for Nashville at the 25 percent level,” state officials said.

Farm Aid 2013 Is Sold Out

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Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves


All available tickets for Farm Aid 2013, the family farm benefit festival scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., have been sold.
“We are honored that upstate New York has embraced Farm Aid in this way,” said Carolyn Mugar, executive director of Farm Aid. “Your enthusiasm is a clear sign that people here and across the Northeast value family farmers and the work they do to grow strong and healthy communities for all of us.”
Farm Aid 2013 sold slightly more than 25,000 available tickets andwill feature Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, as well as Jack Johnson, Amos Lee, Kacey Musgraves, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Bahamas, JD & The Straight Shot, Carlene Carter, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and The Blackwood Quartet. The event is an all-day music and food festival featuring Homegrown Concessions® and Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village.
For concert updates, visit farmaid.org/concert.

'MusicRow' No. 1 Song

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chart
Keith-Urban-Little-Bit-of-Everything-2013-1200x1200Keith Urban’s summer jam, “Little Bit of Everything,” made the climb to No. 1 on this week’s MusicRow Chart.
The release, written by Kevin Rudolf and Warren brothers Brad and Brett, marks the first co-production effort with producer Nathan Chapman.
Urban premiered the first single from his forthcoming Sept. 10 album, Fuse, on American Idol’s finale in May. Take a peek at a video from the performance below.
Urban will launch his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013” on July 18 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The trek features Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch.

Ticket Scalpers Pass On Keith's Oklahoma Benefit Concert

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Toby Keith

Toby Keith


A concert with superstar names including Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Dunn, Mel Tillis, John Anderson and Carrie Underwood (performing via satellite)–all of whom will be appearing at Toby Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday (July 6)–would typically be a big draw for ticket scalpers.
But given the charitable nature of the concert, it seems the Twister Relief Concert is not attracting secondary ticketers.
“What I’ve heard from the industry … is that it would be taboo on this particular event,” Brad White, an independent concert promoter from Norman, told TulsaWorld.com. “Even the secondary ticket guys are avoiding this.”
In fact, some companies are encouraging people to donate. “This has been our policy with all Oklahoma relief events,” Emma Leggat, StubHub’s head of corporate social responsibility, said in an email to the AP. “Beyond this, StubHub is currently moving toward a model whereby we will enable nonprofits to benefit directly from secondary ticket sales for charity events through donated fees.”
The money raised from ticket sales will benefit the United Way of Central Oklahoma, which has established a fund specifically to aid victims of the tornadoes that hit Oklahoma in May. A separate benefit concert last month hosted by fellow Oklahoma native Blake Shelton and televised live on NBC raised more than $6 million in donations and pledges.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nashville's Live On The Green To Begin in August

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live on the greenMatt Nathanson, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Delta Saints, Moon Taxi, The Weeks, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Local Natives are all slated for this year’s Live On The Green concert series, which will run from Aug. 8 through Sept. 12 at Nashville’s Public Square Park. Duo Matt & Kim, along with ZZ Ward and Gin Wigmore, will launch this season’s series on Aug. 8. The concerts are free and open to the public. Each Thursday night concert is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The performance dates and lineups are as follows:
August 8: Matt & Kim, ZZ Ward, Gin Wigmore
August 15: Matt Nathanson, TBA, Erin McCarley
August 22: Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Delta Saints, Luella & the Sun
August 29: Robert Randolph and the Family Band, TBA, Joe Robinson
September 5: Local Natives, Leagues, Lulu Mae
September 12: Moon Taxi, The Weeks, The Wild Feathers
VIP passes granting complementary food and beverages, seated viewing areas and more are on sale at liveonthegreen.net.

Weekly Chart Report (7/5/13)

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Frankie Ballard visited with WXCY/Wilmington Program Director Dave Hovel, during a trip to Wilmington, MD.

Frankie Ballard visited with WXCY/Wilmington Program Director Dave Hovel, during a trip to Wilmington, Md.


SPIN ZONE
Keith Urban’s “Little Bit Of Everything” has received a lot of love from country programmers this week, topping the MusicRow chart with 3,091 spins. Kip Moore’s “Hey Pretty Girl” lands at No. 2, with Justin Moore’s “Point At  You” at No. 3. Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy” comes in at No. 4. Lady Antebellum’s “Goodbye Town” says hello to a higher ranking, earning the No. 5 spot this week. Rounding out the Top 10 this week is Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” at No. 6, Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” at No. 7, Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed” at No. 8, Kacey Musgraves’ “Blowin’ Smoke” at No. 9 and Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” at No. 10.
Taylor Swift’s “Red” is the week’s greatest gainer, landing at No. 39 with an additional 353 spins.  Tim McGraw’s “Southern Girl” makes great strides, jumping from No. 80 to No. 53 with an added 314 spins. Kenny Chesney’s “When I See This Bar” reaches the No. 17 spot with another 249 spins. Eli Young Band’s “Drunk Last Night” takes hold of the No. 47 with an extra 243 spins. Finally, Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds of Kinds” rises to No. 29 with another 224 spins.
MusicRow’s chart welcomes two debuts this week, with Frank Ortega’s “Two Places At Once” debuting at No. 79 and Randy Rogers Band’s “Fuzzy” at No. 80.
Frozen Playlists: KTTI, WEIO, KFTX, KXIA, WEZJ, WBYZ, WLJE, KVWF, WTHO, WTCM, WXMM, KTHK, Sirius XM, KICR, KYYK, WKTT
Upcoming Singles
July 8
Downday/Back In The Day/Render
Denae Gardner/Sound Of A Woman Sayin Goodbye/4D
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA/Columbia Nashville
Craig Morgan/Wake Up Lovin’ You/Black River
Gretchen Wilson/Crazy/Redneck
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine
July 15
Old Crow Medicine Show/Carry Me Back To Virginia/ATO Records
Blackberry Smoke/Ain’t Much Left Of Me/Southern Ground
Kayla Taylor/See You In Summer/Go Time
Uncle Kracker/Blue Skies/Sugar Hill
July 22
North 40/Hey Girl Hey/RHYMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT
Jay Jolley/God Save Us All From Religion/Double J Records
Jason Sturgeon/Angel Eyes/Toolpusher
Bush Hawg/Crushin’/RCA Nashville
July 29 
Jared Blake/Countryfied/Skiddco Records
Blue Sky Riders/Brave/3 Dream Records
The Henningsens/I Miss You/Arista Nashville
August 6
Brett Eldredge/Bring You Back/Atlantic

KSWeb-Trophy-070313

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Frank Ortega/Two Places At Once/Villa One – 79
Randy Rogers Band/Fuzzy/UMG Nashville – 80
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 353
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 314
Kenny Chesney/When I See This Bar/Blue Chair-Columbia Nashville – 249
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 243
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 224
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Tim McGraw/Southern Girl/Big Machine – 20
Eli Young Band/Drunk Last Night/Republic – 17
Taylor Swift/Red/Big Machine – 17
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA-Columbia Nashville – 10
Cassadee Pope/Wasting All These Tears/Republic Nashville – 9
Miranda Lambert/All Kinds Of Kinds/RCA – 9
The Henningsens/I Miss You/Arista Nashville – 8
LiveWire/Whiskey Sunday  – 7
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Kelly Clarkson/Tie It Up/RCA-Columbia Nashville – 204
Casey Donahew Band/Whiskey Baby – 201
Bobby Dean/Kiss My Doublewide/Lamon Records – 170
David Shelby/Kick A Little Dirt/Highway South Records – 155
JB & The Moonshine Band/The Only Drug/Average Joe’s – 145

Columbia Nashville singer-songwriter Tyler Farr made his first ever visit to New York City’s WNSH-FM to promote this week’s No. 7 single, “Redneck Crazy.” Pictured (L-R): Farr; John Foxx (PD, WNSH-FM) and RJ Meacham (Columbia Nashville’s Director of National Promotion).

Columbia Nashville singer-songwriter Tyler Farr made his first-ever visit to New York City’s WNSH-FM to promote this week’s No. 7 single, “Redneck Crazy.” Pictured (L-R): Farr; John Foxx (PD, WNSH-FM) and RJ Meacham (Columbia Nashville’s Director of National Promotion).


Rodeowave Entertainment artist Phil Vassar visited with Knoxville’s WCYQ/Q93 Program Director Mike Hammond about his latest single "Love Is Alive." Pictured (L-R): Mike Hammond (WCYQ); Vassar; and Jennifer Shaffer (Rodeowave Entertainment)

Rodeowave Entertainment artist Phil Vassar visited with Knoxville’s WCYQ/Q93 Program Director Mike Hammond about Vassar’s latest single “Love Is Alive.” Pictured (L-R): Mike Hammond (WCYQ); Vassar; and Jennifer Shaffer (Rodeowave Entertainment).

Artist Updates (7-5-13)

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Alison Krauss celebrated her 20th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member during a recent Wednesday Night Opry with performances by Krauss and Union Station, bluegrass performer Larry Sparks, Jamey Johnson and more. Krauss was inducted as an Opry member on July 3, 1993. Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher honored the singer with a commemorative print and spoke about her career.
“Alison truly is the artist’s artist,” Fisher said. “She is looked up to by some of the finest performers in the music industry as truly the best. … For those of us who are destined to go to heaven, you give us a sneak peek of what an angel sounds like.”

 “A fallen angel!” Krauss quipped before recognizing the members of Union Station. “We all feel so lucky to get to do this together,” she said. “And I feel the luckiest of all to get to play with these guys.”
Alison Krauss and Union Station with Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. Photo: Chris Hollo

Pictured: Alison Krauss and Union Station with Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. Photo: Chris Hollo

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craig morgan 2013 photo1

Craig Morgan


The 19th Jack Daniel’s/USO “Toast to the Troops” Care Package Stuffing Party will hit Jacksonville, Fla., on July 11 for a fun-filled day at The Jacksonville Landing where dedicated volunteers and the general public will fill 7,500 care packages for servicemen and women serving overseas. Following the event, Craig Morgan will lead an open-to-the-public concert at The Landing’s Courtyard at 7 p.m. Since the first Toast To the Troops event in 2005, 18 stuffing events have created more than 165,000 Operation USO Care packages for troops serving overseas.
“I’ve said it before, but being part of every Toast event over the past eight years has been a really rewarding experience for me,” said Morgan. “Our nation’s service members and their families sacrifice so much for us on a daily basis and I hope everyone will come out and join us for what promises to be a great day to honor and support these heroes.”

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Ross Coppley

Ross Coppley


Ross Coppley recently kicked off the “Alive After 5” Summer Concert Series in Lexington, N.C., in an appearance that set an all-time event attendance record. The Lexington, N.C. Chamber of Commerce reports that the event reached an unprecedented growth this year and attribute it to the popularity of this rising country star.
“We were extremely pleased with Ross and his band,” stated Burr Sullivan, President of the Lexington, NC Chamber of Commerce. “Ross put his heart and soul into every song and the crowd loved him! We had the largest attendance we have ever had in the sixteen year history of this event and his fans certainly came out to support him!”
“I had a blast,” exclaimed Coppley. “Kicking off the “Alive After 5″ concert series was the perfect way to start my summer! The thing I love most is performing in front of a crowd – and this crowd was on fire! Special thanks to Mr. Burr Sullivan and the Lexington, N.C. Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to play.”
 
 

Charlie Cook On Air: Connecting With Millennials

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


Well, the world as we know it is changing. Soon a new female singer might remake Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take the Girl.” Soon an illegal alien is really going to be someone from Mars, not Mexico. Soon healthcare is going to make you sicker than coughing in an elevator.
A lot of the change is coming because the largest generation in U.S. history is entering adulthood and these Americans were raised under different circumstances than their elders. I am from the Baby Boom Generation. We were associated with a rejection and redefinition of traditional values but we look like amateurs compared to the Millennials.
A lot of this has to do with technology. I was an early adopter with computers and cell phones but I gave all of that up when I passed the Samsung delivery guy bringing in the newest phone as I was leaving with my purchase. There is no way to keep up. That realization comes with experience and Visa bills that look like the national debt. Millennials don’t yet know that.
A recent study by Fizziology and Horizon Media broke the generation into four groups:
Youthful Pursuits (18%)
Confident and Connected (32%)
Creatures and Comfort (25%)
Indie Dreamers (25%)
Without stating the obvious, this is a group both the radio and music industry needs to appeal to every day. Understanding these groups should help. What I love, when looking at the characteristics of each group, is with some planning and focus each of the segments has a window of opportunity for our industries.
The Youthful Pursuits are image-seeking and live in the “Now.” This is the kind of person who wants to be on top of everything new, and it is important to their self image. Identifying this group with new music and a “hip” station is an opening.
Confident and Connecteds are social and knowledge-seeking. Providing the C&C with information about the artists and their communities is something that might appeal to this group. Having them on your team will help because they are likely to talk about you. They will tell their friends about their favorite artists.
Creatures and Comfort enjoy the simple life and are unmotivated. Okay, I am not touching those descriptions. Let’s just say they should be easy to manipulate with programming and hit makers.
Indie Dreamers are ambitious, creative and individualistic. This is the kind of person we definitely want in our fan base and as radio station listeners. This group is unhappy with their standard of living (as many young people are as they grow their careers) but these folks feel like they can change things when or if they want.
Your best opportunity to impact this generation is with Confident Connecteds as they talk most actively about brands and share promotions with a sense of pride. If you have something that you’re promoting like a new station, a new act or a new song, these are the people that you need to be talking to. The other groups tend to mock those who do not agree with their opinions and can be negative influencers if you do not fit in their lifestyle.
You can guess the Youthful Pursuits are a prime target for new product lines in fashion, beauty and entertainment. They tend to brag about what they have and this helps to spread the word fast. The hard part is not identifying these four groups but finding them in your base. Once you do, you will know each of them needs different nurturing and attention. When you engage a listener or a fan, ask them about their likes and dislikes. Ask them how they feel about other media, including social media and work them towards your goals by knowing their goals.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)
 

MacNeil, Harris Named To Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame

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Rita MacNeil

Rita MacNeil


The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame has announced two new inductees for 2013. Rita MacNeil will be inducted in the Artist category. High Note Marketing president Ed Harris has been chosen as the 2013 inductee in the Builder category.
MacNeil released more than 20 albums during her 30+ year career (with eight of those projects earning platinum status), becoming one of Canada’s most loved stars. MacNeil passed away in April 2013.
Harris is the president of High Note Marketing, which he started in 1999. After launching his career at Universal Music Canada in 1986 as a marketing manager, Harris has become an entertainment consultant for the Calgary Stampede and has served on the CCMA Board of Directors, as well as the Alberta Recording Industry Association. Harris was named CCMA Record Industry Person of the Year twice.
“Both Ms. MacNeil and Mr. Harris have made huge imprints on country music in Canada and we are delighted to have them enter the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame,” says CCMA President Don Green. “I would like to thank our Hall of Fame Electors Committee for recognizing these two outstanding industry leaders.”
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during a private event held during Country Music Week, which runs from Sept. 5-8 in Edmonton, Alberta.