Chris Young Hospitalized, Several Shows Cancelled

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chris young A.M1
Singer-songwriter Chris Young has been hospitalized in Denver with a leg infection. The infection, whose origin is unknown, set in while Young was en route to a show in Kalispell, Mont.
Although the artist is in stable condition, his headlining show in Kalispell has been cancelled, along with his performances on Brad Paisley‘s “Beat This Summer Tour Presented By Cracker Barrel Old Country Store” on Aug. 15 in Penticton, BC, Aug. 16 in Mission, BC and Aug. 17 in Brownsville, Ore.
“I’m so sorry to disappoint the fans but I didn’t even know I was sick,” said Young. “One minute I was fine then suddenly I’m being rushed to the hospital. I look forward to being up and around and back on the road.”
Young plans to resume touring on Aug. 21 in Redding, Calif. His latest album A.M. will be released Sept. 17 on RCA Records Nashville.

Marv Green Celebrates 20 Years of Songwriting Success

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Warner/Chappell Music and THiS Music recently celebrated songwriter Marv Green’s 20+ years of hit-making success. Green’s compositions include songs recorded by Eric Church (“Creepin'”), Dustin Lynch (“Wild In Your Smile”), Reba (“Consider Me Gone”), Carrie Underwood (“Wasted”), Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (“Let’s Make Love”), Brooks & Dunn (“Proud of the House We Built”), Rodney Atkins (“Farmer’s Daughter”) and George Strait (“True”), among others.
Green was recently feted by performing a full set of his hits and new songs during an Aug. 7 performance at Nashville music venue The Basement. Lucky attendees not only enjoyed a stellar performance by Green but left with a commemorative CD featuring both hits and future hits.
The Santa Barbara, Calif. native captured his first No. 1 hit, “True,” recorded by George Strait in 1998. The following year he scored his second No. 1 with Lonestar‘s “Amazed,” spending eight weeks at No. 1. Green was honored by BMI with Song Of The Year Award in 2000, and was awarded the BMI Songwriter Of The Year in 2001. He also claimed the ACM Song Of The Year for “Amazed” as well as a Grammy nomination. The series of hits listed above followed, making Green one of Nashville’s most sought-after writers.

Pictured (L-R): Ben Vaughn (Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music), Marv Green, Rusty Gaston (General Manager and Partner, THiS Music)

Pictured (L-R): Ben Vaughn (Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music), Marv Green, Rusty Gaston (General Manager and Partner, THiS Music)

Harlow Promoted To Director, West Coast Promotion For Mercury Records Nashville

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Summer Harlow

Summer Harlow


Summer Harlow has been named Director, West Coast Promotion for Mercury Records Nashville. Harlow will report to Damon Moberly, VP Promotion of Mercury Records and will oversee all West Coast radio promotion efforts for the label group which represents artists including Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, Jennifer Nettles, Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone more passionate about the country format,” says Moberly. “We can’t wait to turn her loose in the West to begin working on behalf of our talented artists and their music.”
Harlow, a MTSU graduate, began her career at UMG Nashville in 2009 as an assistant and was then promoted to the position of Promotion Coordinator, first for MCA Nashville and most recently for all of UMG Nashville reporting directly to Royce Risser, SVP of Promotion.
Harlow is currently based in the Nashville office and will relocate to Denver, Colo., in the coming months. She can be reached at [email protected] or (615) 524-7566.
Additionally, Ashley Laws will be joining UMG Nashville as Promotion Assistant to Risser. Starting Aug. 19, Laws may be reached at [email protected].

Musicians Corner To Kick Off Fall Season In September

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musicianscornerMusicians Corner is kicking off its fall lineup of free weekly Centennial Park lawn parties on Saturday afternoons in September and October with a special Celebration Concert Sept. 7 featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker, a Barbershop Harmony Society, and Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes.
To celebrate the start of Musician’s Corner’s Fall 2013 Season, Southwest Airlines will provide audience members with the chance to win a pair of round-trip airline tickets at the Sept. 7 event. Southwest is also hosting a national “Take The Stage” in Nashville artist promotion, where one artist will be selected to win a trip to Nashville and perform on their Southwest flight and at the Musicians Corner Fall Kick Off Celebration. Details are available at blogsouthwest.com.
Continuing every Saturday through Oct. 26, the Musicians Corner main stage shows will feature performances by artists like Shelby Lynne, Caitlin Rose, Mountain Heart, Sugar and the Hi Lows, The Vespers, The Fairfield Four, The Black Cadillacs, Donna the Buffalo, and many more.
The parties take place on the front lawn of Centennial Park from 12 to 5 p.m. Events feature a diverse lineup of performers, a sampling of Nashville food trucks, Kidsville activities, the Dog of the Day showcase, a local Beer Garden, and charity partner World Vision. Live music runs from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Track Listing Released For Cassadee Pope's Country Project

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cassadee pope frame by frame1The tracklist for Cassadee Pope‘s upcoming debut Country project, Frame By Frame, has been revealed. The album will release Oct. 8 on Republic Nashville. The 11-song project was produced by Dann Huff, with Nathan Chapman, Max Martin and Shellback contributing to selected tracks. Pope co-wrote four of the 11 tracks on the album, and is previewing tracks from the album on iTunes.
“I’m so grateful to the fans and Country radio for the amazing reaction to ‘Wasting All These Tears,’” said Pope, who previewed the track “You Hear A Song” for fans.
FRAME BY FRAME TRACKLIST:
“Good Times” (Nathan Chapman, Sarah Buxton, Blair Daly)*
“Champagne” (Hilary Lindsey, James Slater, Ben West)
“Wasting All These Tears” (Caitlyn Smith, Rollie Gaalswyk)*
“I Wish I Could Break Your Heart” (Gordie Sampson, Ashley Monroe, Jon Green)
“Everybody Sings” (Blair Daly, Troy Verges, Cassadee Pope)
“You Hear A Song” (Cassadee Pope, Nathan Chapman)*
“This Car” (Cassadee Pope, David Hodges, Gordie Sampson)
“One Song Away” (Hilary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Aaron Pearce, Mike Green)
“Easier To Lie” (Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha)**
“11” (Cassadee Pope, Nathan Chapman)
“Proved You Wrong” (Cassadee Pope, Emily Shackelton, Phil Barton)
*Produced by Dann Huff & Nathan Chapman
**Produced by Dann Huff, Max Martin & Shellback

[Updated] Artist Updates (8-14-13)

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• Broadcast Music, Inc. recently toasted Tim McGraw’s No. 1 hit “One of Those Nights” at his label home of Big Machine Records on Music Row. Co-written by Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins, the song marks McGraw’s return to the top of the charts since 2011’s “Felt Good on My Lips.”

Pictured (Back row, L-R): co-writers Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird; Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Freeman Wizer; (Front row, L-R): Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Tim McGraw, BMI’s Jody Williams and producer Byron Gallimore.

Pictured (Back row, L-R): co-writers Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird; Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Freeman Wizer; (Front row, L-R): Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Tim McGraw, BMI’s Jody Williams and producer Byron Gallimore.

 • • •

Darius Rucker and the WEZL Morning Crew. Photo: Travis Dew Photography

Darius Rucker and the WEZL Morning Crew. Photo: Travis Dew Photography


• Darius Rucker had a portion of Coliseum Drive in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. renamed Darius Rucker Boulevard Monday morning (Aug. 12) during a ceremony at the North Charleston Coliseum. With Rucker’s wife Beth looking on, City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey officially renamed the street in honor of Rucker, a proud Lowcountry native and resident.
“It’s crazy,” Rucker said. “You never do anything with the intention of getting something in return, so I never expect anything, but when I heard they wanted to name a street after me, I have to admit I was flattered. I’m truly honored that they’re doing that. It’s massive…just incredible. I’m totally over the moon about the whole thing. It’s just amazing to be recognized like that.”
The renaming of the street was initiated by country radio station WEZL 103.5 FM. Morning show co-hosts TJ Phillips and Ric Rush floated the idea on-air of naming a street after Darius back in the spring, and Mayor Summey was listening and loved the idea. The Mayor also presented Darius with a proclamation declaring Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 as “Darius Rucker Day” in the city of North Charleston.
Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood


• Carrie Underwood is getting her own line of nail polishes in the Nicole by OPI collection. Fourteen new nail lacquers inspired by Underwood will be available in January, in a collection ranging from soft pastels and dark sultry shades to playful glitters. The line will also include a signature gold textured shade called Carrie’d Away, created exclusively for Carrie.
Pictured (L-R): Sarah Darling and Alan Jackson

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Darling and Alan Jackson


• Sarah Darling served Country superstar Alan Jackson as a waitress at Nashville’s Stoney River Steakhouse prior to landing her first record deal and dreamed what it might be like to one day share a stage with him. And this past weekend, she celebrated that milestone, opening back-to-back shows for Jackson in Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Arlington, Wash.
Darling called the experience “beyond amazing” on Twitter, saying, “I was blessed to have been on tour with one of the most humble and gracious men in the music business this weekend. What an unforgettable experience. Thank you Alan!”
cmt• CMT will showcase a couple of unsigned artists through its Listen Up Program on CMT.com. Unsigned Birmingham, Ala. act John and Jacob will take part in a series of exclusive performances premiering on CMT.com throughout the month. Striking Matches, an unsigned country act, will be showcased as CMT’s Listen Up Artist for the month of September. Both John and Jacob, and Striking Matches, will have videos played on CMT. This marks the first time CMT has exposed unsigned artists through the Listen Up program. For more information on these acts, visit strikingmatches.com and johnandjacob.com.

Aussies Go Americana This September

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americana music logo1The music industry from Down Under will be well-represented at this year’s 14th Annual Americana Music Festival and Conference Sept. 18-22 in Nashville. More than 20 Australian artists, including The Bushwackers, The Hillbilly Killers, Paul Kelly, Mustered Courage, and Melody Pool will hit Nashville to perform at the roots music conference, which continues to grow in popularity.
The 2013 Americana Music Festival marks the fourth consecutive trip to Nashville by Sounds Australia, a government-supported music organization dedicated to spreading the music of Australia abroad. Since 2010, Sounds Australia has maintained a strategic partnership with the Americana Music Association that promotes the exchange of American and Australian music between the two countries. Sounds Australia produces an additional suite of networking and showcasing events for Australian artists attending, including The Aussie BBQ.
Other Aussie artists set to attend this year’s festival include Bill Chambers, The Borderers, Breaking Hart Benton, Katie Brianna, Gena Rose Bruce, Tracey Bunn, Donna Dean, Melody Feder & Michael Muchow, Sam Hawksley, Damian Howard, Anne McCue, Kelly Menhennett, Cameron Milford, Jen Mize, Tamara Stewart, Emma Swift and The Weeping Willows.
Registration for the Americana Music Festival and Conference is $350 for AMA members and $450 for non-members and includes one ticket to the Americana Honors and Awards Show. For more information visit Americanamusic.org.

The Civil Wars' Sophomore Project a Sales Success

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civil wars111The Civil Wars’ self-titled sophomore album debuted as the week’s best-selling album, with 115,878 units sold, according to Soundscan. The Civil Wars topped the all-genre chart. The album features Joy Williams and John Paul White’s current single “The One That Got Away.”
The duo was nominated for two Country Music Association Awards in 2012, including Vocal Duo of the Year and Musical Event of the Year (“Safe and Sound,” Taylor Swift Feat. The Civil Wars). The same song netted White, Williams and Swift a Grammy award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. That same year, they won Duo/Group of the Year from the Americana Music Association.
Their debut project, Barton Hollow, was released in 2011.

Outlaw Movement's Tompall Glaser Dies at 79

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Tompall Glaser 4-870011111

Tompall Glaser


Thomas Paul “Tompall” Glaser, a central figure in the Outlaw Movement of the ‘70’s, died yesterday (Aug. 13) at his Nashville home following a lengthy illness. He was 79. Glaser was featured on Wanted! The Outlaws, country’s first million-selling album, along with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Born in Nebraska, Glaser and his brothers sang on local radio and appeared in 1957 on Arthur Godfrey’s network TV show. Two years later Marty Robbins brought them to Nashville to sing harmony for him and signed them to his Robbins Records label. They also toured with Johnny Cash and lent harmonies to legendary recordings like “Ring Of Fire” and Robbins’ “El Paso.” As Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, they recorded several singles produced by Cowboy Jack Clement and penned a major hit for Bobby Bare with the 1966 song “Streets Of Baltimore,” (which would later be covered by Charley Pride, the Statler Brothers, and many more.)
In 1970 the Glasers would be named the CMA’s Top Vocal Group and with monies earned from their publishing company opened their own studio on 19th Avenue where works like Waylon Jennings’ Dreaming My Dreams were recorded. After they disbanded in 1973, Glaser embarked on a solo career. That same year he and Jennings co-produced Jennings’ landmark Honky Tonk Heroes album. The two became compadres who shared a disdain of the establishment and a vision of musicians operating independently outside of the traditional Music Row system.
They later had a falling out over a publishing dispute, and Glaser went back to his brothers and began performing as a group again in 1980 for a brief period. Signing to Elektra Records, they recorded a cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” which landed at No. 2 on the charts. By 1982 they dissolved the group once again, and Glaser recorded one final solo project in 1986 before selling the studio and disappearing from the public eye.
A private memorial is being planned.
All photos by Alan Mayor.
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ASCAP Holds Superstar Writer's Night at Bluebird Cafe

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ASCAP recently welcomed songwriters and artists Clare Dunn, Steven Clawson, JT Harding, Trevor Rosen, Ashley Gorley, Jessi Alexander, Brandy Clark and Chris DeStefano to two writer’s rounds at the Bluebird Cafe on Thursday (Aug. 8). The 6 p.m. writer’s round featuring Dunn, Clawson, Rosen and Harding was hosted by ASCAP Sr. Creative Director Mike Sistad.
The 9 p.m. writer’s round featuring Alexander, Clark and DeStefano was hosted and coordinated by Gorley, and held as a benefit for cancer survivor and family friend Tammy Akers.
Songs written by these writers include “Somewhere with You” – Kenny Chesney (JT Harding), “Better Dig Two” – The Band Perry (Trevor Rosen), “Crash My Party” – Luke Bryan (Ashley Gorley), “I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice (Jessi Alexander), “Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert (Brandy Clark) and “Don’t Ya” – Brett Eldredge (Chris DeStefano).

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Steven Clawson, ASCAP's Alison Toczylowski, JT Harding, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Trevor Rosen and Clare Dunn

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Steven Clawson, ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski, JT Harding, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, Trevor Rosen and Clare Dunn.


Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Brandy Clark, Ashley Gorley, Jessi Alexander and Chris DeStefano.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Brandy Clark, Ashley Gorley, Jessi Alexander and Chris DeStefano.