Linda Ronstadt Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

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Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt


Linda Ronstadt, 67, has revealed that she “can’t sing a note” due to suffering from Parkinson’s disease, according to AARP. The singer was diagnosed eight months ago, though she says she began showing symptoms approximately eight years ago.
Ronstadt has won two Academy of Country Music awards, including 1974’s Best New Female Artist and 1987’s Best Album honors, for her work with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the album Trio. She earned a Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You)” from Heart Like a Wheel, in 1975. Another Grammy nod followed in 1987, this time for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the album Trio (with Parton and Harris). Her album Simple Dreams topped the Billboard Country charts in 1977.
trio album1“I couldn’t sing and I couldn’t figure out why,” says Ronstadt. “I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn’t occur to me to go to a neurologist. I think I’ve had it for seven or eight years already, because of the symptoms that I’ve had. Then I had a shoulder operation, so I thought that’s why my hands were trembling. Parkinson’s is very hard to diagnose, so when I finally went to a neurologist and he said, ‘Oh, you have Parkinson’s disease,’ I was completely shocked. I wouldn’t have suspected that in a million, billion years.
“No one can sing with Parkinson’s disease,” Ronstadt says. “No matter how hard you try.” According to the singer, she uses a wheelchair when she travels.
Her memoir, Simple Dreams, will appear on Sept. 17, though the book does not reveal details of her diagnosis, or the loss of her voice.

No. 1 Celebration: Kip Moore's "Hey Pretty Girl"

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Photo (L-R):: Dan Couch, Kip Moore, Brett James, Mike Dungan. Photo: Rick Diamond

Photo (L-R): Dan Couch, Kip Moore, Brett James, Mike Dungan. Photo: Rick Diamond


A line in Kip Moore‘s previous chart-topping hit “Beer Money” has proved prophetic: this newcomer certainly has his foot on the gas and his career is taking off at rocket speeds. He celebrated his third consecutive chart-topping single, “Hey Pretty Girl,” yesterday (Aug. 22) at the Flying Saucer in Nashville, Tenn., along side co-writer Dan Couch. “Hey Pretty Girl” follows Moore’s previous chart-topping songs “Beer Money” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck,” Moore’s debut single which he also co-wrote with Couch.
Among those who gathered to congratulate Moore on the feat were BMG Chrysalis’ Kos Weaver, Cornman Music’s Nate Lowery and UMG’s Mike Dungan. Avenue Bank’s Cooper Samuels announced that Avenue Bank would make a contribution to the Muscular Dystrophy Association on behalf of the songwriters.
Many in the throng of supporters, including UMG’s Dungan (pictured above), donned Moore’s signature red hat for the party. In addition to commemorative plaques, trophies and Dungan’s well-known accolade affectionately known as the “Impaler Award” that were given to the songwriters and publishers, Moore also received three Oakley black and gold Offshoot sunglasses.
Pictured (L-R): Corn Man Music's Brett James, co-writer Dan Couch, Corn Man Music's Nate Lowery, Kip, MCA Nashville's Miranda McDonald, BMI's Perry Howard, BMG Chrysalis' Kos Weaver and Capitol Records' Mike Dungan.Photographer: Rick Diamond

Pictured (L-R): Corn Man Music’s Brett James, co-writer Dan Couch, Corn Man Music’s Nate Lowery, Kip, MCA Nashville’s Miranda McDonald, BMI’s Perry Howard, BMG Chrysalis’ Kos Weaver and Capitol Records’ Mike Dungan. Photographer: Rick Diamond


Moore was the first songwriter signed to Cornman Music, the publishing company founded and owned by singer-songwriter Brett James (“The Man I Want To Be,” “Get Off On the Pain,” “Blessed”). During the celebration, James recalled how early on, before Moore released a single, the singer-songwriter held a solid confidence in his musicianship and star potential. “Four years ago,” said James, “Kip and I were in my office. I had a ’64 Hummingbird [Gibson guitar]. Kip said, ‘If I get three No. 1 songs in a row, you have to give me that guitar.'” Given the steep odds of any new artist amassing three consecutive No. 1 songs, James agreed. During the celebration, James held up his end of the bargain, gifting Moore the prized instrument before the industry crowd.
“Brett James is the ultimate believer,” said Moore. “He thought I was a rock star from day one and would not waver. That’s what it’s about, having faith and not wavering from it. It doesn’t matter how much talent you have, you can’t do it alone…I realize how many hands it takes, from my truck driver to me and the band, engineers, merchandise people.”

MusicRow Pics: Maggie Sajak

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maggie sajak111Maggie Sajak visited the MusicRow offices on Tuesday (Aug. 20) to preview songs from her upcoming project.
She performed her current single, “Wild Boy,” along with “If I Was Gonna Go,” and “Pretty On The Inside.” A video for “Wild Boy” was filmed at ACME Studios in Brooklyn and was directed by Tom Betterton and Jenny Gage. “It combined art and fashion, two things I’m pretty passionate about,” says Sajak.
Sajak, the daughter of Wheel of Fortune host, and former WSM-TV Nashville news reporter Pat Sajak and photographer, Lesly Brown Sajak, is currently in the studio in Nashville, working on a full-length album set for release in Spring 2014.
In addition to focusing on a music career, Sajak is entering her sophomore year as a student at Princeton University.
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'MusicRow' No. 1 Song

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Chris Young

Chris Young


Only five days after his hospital stay in Denver, Chris Young’s “Aw Naw” takes the No. 1 position on our MusicRow Chart. Although the admittance was for something much more serious than the repercussions of an “Aw Naw” hangover, Young was able to resume his party with Brad Paisley last night (Aug. 22) in Mountain View, Calif., which featured a guest appearance from John Fogerty and the headliner.
Since his infirmed condition began last week (Aug. 13), the RCA Nashville team was able to leapfrog the Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley and Young-written title to this week’s peak position.
“Aw Naw” is the first single from Young’s forthcoming album, A.M. which will be released Sept. 17 on RCA Records Nashville.
Here’s to wishing Chris a full recovery and a hearty congratulations on his most recent No. 1 from MusicRow!

Industry Ink (8-23-13)

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tri star logo1Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group will soon relocate to 11 Music Circle S. Tri Star closed on the property that was previously owned by businessman and real estate investor Ted Welch on May 31. The company’s current offices are located at 1222 16th Ave. S. Tri Star Sports and Entertainment’s client list includes Mat Kearney, RedFoo, Nicole Scherzinger, Casey James, Delta Goodrem, Jack Huston, Steel Magnolia, Kenny Britt, Gabriel Douglas, Tate Stevens, Niki Taylor, Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, Les and Kara Snead, Jeff Fisher and many more.
“We are so excited to be closer our fellow entertainment community colleagues and look forward to moving into our new building and continuing to deliver the same outstanding services,” said Lou Taylor, CEO of Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group.

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Thompson Square was surprised during their recent appearance on the FOX & Friends All American Summer Concert Series with a double platinum plaque commemorating two million in sales for their chart-topping smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.” FOX & Friends host Ainsley Earhardt presented the duo with the hardware on stage at the FOX News Channel Plaza in front of hundreds of fans who had braved the early morning hours to enjoy the free concert from the two, who are currently touring with Luke Bryan through October.

Pictured (L-R): FOX & Friends' Ainsley Earhardt and Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square celebrate over two million in sales forThompson Square’s hit, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”

Pictured (L-R): FOX & Friends’ Ainsley Earhardt and Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square celebrate over two million in sales for Thompson Square’s hit, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”

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A portion of the proceeds from Lee Brice’s headlining show at Chicago’s Joe’s Bar on Aug. 16 benefited the Academy of Country Music‘s Lifting Lives charity. The show raised more than $28,000 for the cause – a record amount for the concert series — which will go to help fund organizations that are improving lives through the power of music. This is the third Joe’s Bar performance that has supported Lifting Lives; the first, in 2011, featured LeAnn Rimes and Crystal Bowersox, and the second, in 2012, was headlined by Gary Allan.

Pictured (L-R): Tommy Disanto, Joe’s Bar Co-Owner; Lee Brice; Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar Co-Owner and ACM Lifting Lives and ACM Board Member).

Pictured (L-R): Tommy Disanto, Joe’s Bar Co-Owner; Lee Brice; Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar Co-Owner and ACM Lifting Lives and ACM Board Member).

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Clear Channel Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman kicked off the Country Music Association’s quarterly meeting Wednesday, Aug. 21, with a speech at the opening session. Several Clear Channel execs were in the attendance during the address.

Pictured (L-R): Clay Hunnicutt, CMA Board member and Clear Channel Executive Vice President of Programming; Bob Pittman, Clear Channel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, CMA Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ed Hardy, CMA President of the Board of Directors; Tom Poleman, Clear Channel President of National Programming.Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Clay Hunnicutt, CMA Board member and Clear Channel Executive Vice President of Programming; Bob Pittman, Clear Channel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, CMA Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Ed Hardy, CMA President of the Board of Directors; Tom Poleman, Clear Channel President of National Programming. Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA

After Midnite Welcomes Male Country Artists To The Mic

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image002Premiere Networks’ After Midnite continues its anniversary celebration next month with more artist guest hosts appearing to celebrate the show’s 20-year mark. Stepping up to the mic in September to host the show will be a slew of male artists, including Craig Morgan (Sept. 2-8), Dierks Bentley (Sept. 9-15), Justin Moore (Sept. 16-22), and Chris Young (Sept. 23-29). The hosting duties shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for Bentley, who hosted his own radio show on WSM-AM, The Thread, a few years back.
The celebrity takeover kicked off in August with Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, and Jake Owen, and will run for 20 weeks through the end of 2013.
 The long-running radio show is nationally syndicated by Premiere Networks and can be heard on more than 230 affiliates by 2.7 million weekly listeners.
 
 

Johnny Cash Museum Teams With 650 AM WSM

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Pictured: Bill Miller (L) and Eddie Stubbs (R).

Pictured: Johnny Cash Museum founder Bill Miller (L) and WSM’s Eddie Stubbs (R).


The Johnny Cash Museum and 650 AM WSM will continue the legacy of Johnny Cash, 57 years after Cash’s distinct voice was heard over the radio airwaves as he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. The museum and 650 AM WSM have solidified an agreement for live endorsements for The Johnny Cash Museum to be heard on Sunday broadcasts of the Opry on 650 AM WSM, beginning Aug. 31.
“We are honored to help introduce our worldwide audience to the amazing Johnny Cash Museum,” says 650 AM WSM General Manager Tom English. “Our listeners will be excited about the museum just as they are about calling and emailing us every day to request their favorite Cash songs.”
“650 WSM and Johnny Cash have a long history together,” says Bill Miller, founder of The Johnny Cash Museum. “He was a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry through much of the 60’s; he first met June Carter backstage at the Opry years before they would marry, and 650 has never stopped playing Johnny’s records. I’m proud to be part of extending and carrying on the Cash tradition by partnering with this iconic station.”

Pandora Lifts 40-Hour Free Mobile Listening Cap

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pandora-radio-iphone-application
Internet radio service Pandora will lift its 40-hour a month cap on free mobile listening, effective Sept. 1, 2013. The company previously instated and lifted a cap on mobile listening in September 2011, according to TechCrunch.com.
Pandora CFO Mike Herring explained the decision to lift the cap, saying the company will use skip limits and other “surgical techniques” to control costs and manage user experience. He also stated that improvements in business would allow Pandora to make more money off of 40-plus hours of listening.
Additionally, the company is removing the mobile cap because it contributed to a 10 percent decrease in useage, and they do not expect a corresponding jump in usage once the cap is removed, due to the aforementioned limits in place. “We don’t expect a big spike in hours. We do expect the hours to go up,” said Herring.
Although Pandora continues to pull in major earnings, the company faces competition with Apple’s launch of iTunes radio in September.

Charlie Cook On Air: Doing Good With Good Fortune

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


We can all agree, as I wrote last week, this was a summer to beat all summers (thanks Brad!) for country music. The radio stations have enjoyed a surge and the concert season was bigger than ever. Country music is bigger and better than it has been in years.
What some of you might not know though is Country music is also the most generous of all of the genres. If you listen to country radio, or are involved with the format, you know about all of the time and money given to St. Jude. God said of St. Jude, “He will show himself most willing to give help.” Country music, its advocates, artists and radio stations have stepped up to do that. Over 200 country radio stations have participated in fund raising for St. Jude hospital and have raised over $400M through Country Cares.
Many of you reading this attend the Academy of Country Music Awards show in Las Vegas each year, and the Country Music Association Awards show in Nashville. These are great events celebrating the accomplishments of the format. These events generate some serious money for the ACM and the CMA. I use the term serious on purpose because this money is then handed over to do some serious work.
The Tim McGraw TV special, that was taped the Monday after the ACM show, and aired twice on CBS-TV this year generated $700,000 for the organization, who promptly gave the money to Lifting Lives, the ACM’s charitable arm. I cannot do the organization justice trying to explain all the good it does but I encourage you to go to acmliftinglives.org and see for yourself. Go to the site with a need because the giving cycle is starting now.
I don’t even want to start on the Lifting Lives Music camp. I cannot hold it together when I see the joy it brings to the kids and their families. Kudos go to the Grand Ole Opry, too, on this project. Pete Fisher, Sally Wilson and Steve Buchanan step up big time for this event.
The devastation done on Moore, Okla. this year was eased a bit when superstar Toby Keith stepped up and organized a fund-raising event that collected money for the residents there. The total raised will impress you and will be announced in the coming weeks. Toby’s efforts will repairs homes…but more importantly people’s lives. Almost immediately following the storms Blake Shelton, another Oklahoma native, leveraged his relationship with TV and raised millions for the people affected by the tornados. Toby and Blake could have written checks and left it at that but instead they worked to bring attention to a need and gave back because that’s what country folks do.
Earlier this year an economic study found the music industry has an almost $10 billion impact on the Nashville region. To make sure the mid-south stays strong in its Music City roots, the CMA through The CMA Foundation (cmaworld.com), raises money at the CMA Music Fest—which by the way, all of the artists do for free knowing the monies raised go to charity—has chosen music education as the recipient of half of the proceeds each year. The “Keep the Music Playing” cause lights up the lives of youngsters hungry for musical expression not available today through the school system. Do you think the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum could have been built and operate without CMA money? No way.
I can’t leave my brothers and sisters at the Country Radio Broadcasters off this list of givers. Their mission is to educate and bring country broadcasters together where they learn to give back to the communities they live and work in. I can tell you firsthand how committed to this mission the board and officers are to education and outreach.
This is not about how good everyone in the industry is, but sometimes we get caught up in the parties and music, and fail to understand that underneath there are many people trying to do good with their good fortune.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

Weekly Chart Report (8/23/13)

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SPIN ZONE

Tyler Barham (L) recently visited with WCYQ’s Mike Hammond (R) in promotion of his No. 66 single “17 & Young” during the station’s listener appreciation party with Tate Stevens on August 8 in Knoxville.

Tyler Barham (L) recently visited with WCYQ’s Mike Hammond (R) in promotion of his No. 66 single “17 & Young” during the station’s listener appreciation party with Tate Stevens on Aug. 8 in Knoxville.


Chris Young’s release from the hospital isn’t his only reason to celebrate this week. The singer’s hit “Aw Naw” has taken the No. 1 spot on MusicRow’s chart with 3251 spins. Meanwhile, Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” moves up two spots, landing at No. 2. Billy Currington’s “Hey Girl” begins to lose staying power, falling to No. 3. Jason Aldean’s “Night Train” jumps to No. 4, while Toby Keith’s “Drinks After Work” climbs to No. 5. Rounding out the Top 10 this week are Tim McGraw’s “Southern Girl” at No. 6, Miranda Lambert’s “All Kinds Of Kinds” at No. 7, Blake Shelton’s “Mine Would Be You” at No. 8, Taylor Swift’s “Red” at No. 9 and Eric Paslay’s “Friday Night” at No. 10.
Jake Owen put on a Nashville concert that drew 20,000 fans earlier this week, and his latest single “Days Of Gold” continues to gain spins, landing at No. 24 with another 462 spins. Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” edges closer to the Top 10, sitting at No. 14 with an extra 432 spins. The Band Perry’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” debuts at No. 51 with 412 spins, while Brad Paisley’s “I Can’t Change The World” rises to No. 34 with 324 more spins. Finally, Young’s “Aw Naw” tops the chart with another 317 spins.
MusicRow’s Chart welcomes five debuts this week with The Band Perry’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely” debuting at No. 51, Jennifer Nettles’ ‘That Girl” at No. 74, Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On” at No. 75, Alabama’s “All American” at No. 79 and Ash Bowers’ “Shake It Off” at No. 80
Frozen Playlists: WMEV, WAKG, KSMA, KYEZ
Before Taylor Swift headed to Los Angeles to perform four sold-out Staples Center shows on her Red Tour, the Big Machine star visited with Vanessa Valli (PD/MD) and Rachel Smith of KWEY at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK in promotion of her No. 9 single, “Red.” Pictured (L-R): Vanessa Valli, Swift, Rachel Smith

Before Taylor Swift headed to Los Angeles to perform four sold-out Staples Center shows on her Red Tour, the Big Machine star visited with Vanessa Valli (PD/MD) and Rachel Smith of KWEY at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. in promotion of her No. 9 single, “Red.” Pictured (L-R): Vanessa Valli, Swift, Rachel Smith.


Cole Swindell continued his radio tour with a stop in Oklahoma City, OK to meet with KJKE in support of his debut No. 49 Warner Bros. single “Chillin' It.” Pictured (L-R): Owen Pickard (KJKE MD), Mark Niederhauser (WMN), Cole Swindell and Kevin Christopher (KJKE PD).

Cole Swindell continued his radio tour with a stop in Oklahoma City, Okla. to meet with KJKE in support of his debut No. 49 Warner Bros. single “Chillin’ It.” Pictured (L-R): Owen Pickard (KJKE MD), Mark Niederhauser (WMN), Cole Swindell and Kevin Christopher (KJKE PD).


Upcoming Singles
August 26
The Band Perry/Don’t Let Me Be Lonely/Republic Nashville
Dierks Bentley/I Hold On/Capitol
Breelan Angel/Halway To Wasted/MisBehavin’ Records
September 2
Steve Holy/Radio Up/Curb
September 3
Tim Sweeney/Baby I Try For You/Oil House Records
Jared Daniels/Foot On the Dashboard/Shade Records
Hunter Hayes feat. Jason Mraz/Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me/Atlantic-WMN
September 9
American Young/Love Is War/Curb
September 16
Derek Anthony/Cowboy Way/B L U A N T Music Group
Jamie Stever/Make My Day/Tri-Mount Entertainment
September 23
Sara Evans/Slow Me Down/RCA Nashville

Joanna

BD-TheDash-080913-PP

TN-Playlist-080113-PP

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
The Band Perry/Don’t Let Me Be Lonely/Republic Nashville – 51
Jennifer Nettles/That Girl/Mercury – 74
Dierks Bentley/I Hold On/Capitol – 75
Alabama/All American/Show Dog-Universal – 79
Ash Bowers/Shake It Off/Wide Open Records – 80
Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
The Band Perry/Don’t Let Me Be Lonely/Republic Nashville – 33
Brad Paisley/I Can’t Change The World/Arista Nashville – 22
Alabama/All American/Show Dog-Universal – 18
Zac Brown Band/Sweet Annie/Southern Ground-Atlantic – 18
Dierks Bentley/I Hold On/Capitol – 17
Jake Owen/Days of Gold/RCA Nashville – 16
Jennifer Nettles/That Girl/Mercury – 14
Josh Thompson/Cold Beer With Your Name On It/Show Dog-Universal Music – 11
Cole Swindell/Chillin’ It/Warner Bros. – 10
Kellie Pickler/Little Bit Gypsy/Black River – 8
Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Jake Owen/Days of Gold/RCA Nashville – 462
Luke Bryan/That’s My Kind of Night/Capitol – 432
The Band Perry/Don’t Let Me Be Lonely/Republic Nashville – 412
Brad Paisley/I Can’t Change The World/Arista Nashville – 324
Chris Young/Aw Naw/RCA Nashville – 317
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Chelsea Bain/James Dean/Jobe Entertainment – 204
Vince Hatfield/World Goes Round/Blue Moon – 202
Andy Gibson/Best Thing/Curb – 193
Clinton Gregory/You Smile/Melody Roundup Music – 190
Joanna Mosca/I Guess That Says It All/Dolce Diva Music – 183

MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Michael Smith recently visited with Renegade Radio’s Joyce and Jack Aponte and Diane Richey Promotion’s Beth Brightwell and Diane Richey. Pictured (L-R): Joyce Aponte, Jack Aponte, Beth Brightwell, Sherod Robertson, Diane Richey, Michael Smith

MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and Michael Smith recently visited with Renegade Radio’s Joyce and Jack Aponte and Diane Richey Promotion’s Beth Brightwell and Diane Richey. Pictured (L-R): Joyce Aponte, Jack Aponte, Beth Brightwell, Sherod Robertson, Diane Richey, Michael Smith.


Sugar Money Records artist Skylar Elise recently visited with WDKN’s Dale Turner in promotion of her current single “Gypsy Soul.” Pictured (L-R): Turner, Elise, and D. Scott Miller

Sugar Money Records artist Skylar Elise recently visited with WDKN’s Dale Turner in promotion of her current single “Gypsy Soul.” Pictured (L-R): Turner, Elise, and D. Scott Miller