Jon Pardi To Release Debut Project in January

image0011111111Jon Pardi will release his debut album, Write You A Song, Jan. 14, 2014, on Capitol Records Nashville.
Write You A Song features Pardi’s recent singles “Up All Night,” and “Missin’ You Crazy,” plus nine more previously unreleased tracks. Pardi co-produced the album, as well as co-wrote all but one of the 11 tracks on Write You A Song.
“This album represents the last four years of my life from relationships to playing music,” shares Pardi, who co-produced the project with friend and co-writer Bart Butler. “It’s a fun, upbeat album with songs about life and love.” A natural storyteller, he writes what he knows, spinning tales born of his dues-paying days and bringing it all together into a strong, cohesive musical statement. “If you can take a piece of life and put it in a song,” says Pardi, “it’s going to be a good song—especially if it’s from the heart.”
Write You A Song Track Listing:
1. What I Can’t Put Down
2. Up All Night
3. Write You a Song
4. That Man
5. Missin’ You Crazy
6. Happens all the Time
7. Trash a Hotel Room
8. Chasin’ Them Better Days
9. Love You From Here
10. Empty Beer Cans
11. When I’ve Been Drinkin’

'MusicRow' Preps for 'No Shave November' Fundraiser

noshaveMusicRow is pleased to announce its participation in St. Jude’s No Shave November fundraiser. Beginning Friday, Nov. 1, teams will forgo shaving for the entire month, rallying friends and family (both men and women) to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A $30 fee is required to join a team, while donations will also help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.
For Nashville-area participants, a ‘before’ group photo is scheduled at Warner Music Nashville on Friday, Nov. 1 at 11:00 a.m. An ‘after’ photo will celebrate the event’s completion in addition to the annual Beard Bash event in Nashville, which will award prizes including the No Shave November Champion.
Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson has been named the 2013 Honorary Chairman Of The Beard. Participating recording artists include members of Lady AntebellumCraig CampbellRandy Houser, Benton Blount, Dylan Scott and Austin Webb. Additional companies participating include Big Machine Label Group, Blaster Records, BBR Music Group, Bigger Picture Group, Sony Music Nashville, Tenacity Records, Universal Music Group Nashville, Warner Music Nashville, Country Aircheck, All Access, Country Weekly. Radio participants include the Bobby Bones Show, KAJA/San Antonio, KTEX/McAllen, TX, WCYQ/Knoxville, WDXB/Birmingham, WKML/Fayetteville, NC, WSIX/Nashville, WUSY/ChattanoogaKFKF/Kansas City, WGH/Norfolk, WPUR/Atlantic City, WOGY/Jackson, TN, WBFM/Sheboygan, WI, and WMCI/Mattoon, IL. In addition to Jackson’s WYNU, The Morning Buzz show on Rock.
Last year, the event raised raised $138,000, this year’s goal is a to raise more than $150,000. Visit St. Jude’s website to join or support MusicRow’s team.

Luke Bryan Among American Music Awards Performers

american-music-awards11featuredLuke Bryan will perform on the upcoming 2013 American Music Awards, to be held Nov. 24 on ABC-TV. He joins Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in the latest round of performers announced for the show, which will be broadcast live from the NOKIA Theater in L.A.
Miley CyrusFlorida Georgia LineImagine Dragons and One Direction have already been announced as performers on the fan-voted awards program, which is in its seventh year. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting site AMAvote.com, and for the first time will also be able to vote for their favorite artists via Twitter.
Twitter Mirrors will be placed in select backstage areas during this year’s awards, offering “selfie stations” that provide a candid look into the backstage scene. The AMAs and Twitter will also debut the first-ever VINE 360 Fashion Booth placed right in the middle of the red carpet. Fashion buffs around the world will have a front row seat to an unparalleled close look at celebrity red carpet fashion in real time via the Vine booth.

CMA Offers Virtual Awards Experience With CMA 360

Artwork for "The 47th Annual CMA Awards"For the first time ever, the CMA Awards will offer an all-access camera experience placed directly in the fans’ hands on CMAawards.com with CMA Awards 360. The virtual backstage pass will allow fans access to 11 different camera views of the red carpet, backstage, the control room and director’s chair, the audience, and the press room before and during the awards Nov. 6. The cameras put viewers in control, giving the user a “choose your own adventure” experience, where they can watch what they want, when they want during the three-hour broadcast. 

“Today’s Country Music fans are sophisticated and tech savvy, and they crave a second-screen experience for Country Music’s Biggest Night,” said Ben Bennett, CMA Director of Digital Strategy. “We’re excited to engage the format’s passionate fans in this new way, while bringing them closer than ever before to the behind-the-scenes action at the most prestigious Country awards show.”
The live streams start at 5 p.m./ET on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the start of the red carpet, and will continue through the live, three-hour CMA Awards broadcast at 8:00 PM/ET on the ABC Television Network.

Artist Updates (10-31-13)

Kalisa Ewing

Kalisa Ewing


M.A.C. Pro Cosmetics has teamed with Kalisa Ewing, adding Ewing to the popular make-up line’s celebrity roster. Ewing plans to begin posting her favorite performance products from the cosmetic line via her social media accounts, like Twitter and Facebook.
 

• • •

Prior to a recent tour stop at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Florida Georgia Line presented MusiCares®, which helps provide medical and financial assistance to music community members in need, with a $10,000 donation to aid in their efforts.
“We first learned about the program when we visited the offices of The Recording Academy® in LA and were completely blown away by what the organization does to help support our music community,” shares FGL’s Brian Kelley. “We couldn’t think of a better way to show our support.”

 Pictured (L-R): FGL’s Brian Kelley; Executive Director of MusiCares Debbie Carroll, LCSW; FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Justin Mrusek

Pictured (L-R): FGL’s Brian Kelley; Executive Director of MusiCares Debbie Carroll, LCSW; FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Justin Mrusek.

• • •

Easton Corbin recently assisted The Ram Truck brand as they presented Clay Sapp, 2012-2013 National Future Farmers of America President, with a $1 million donation at the 2013 National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 30.
Corbin presented the donation to Sapp alongside Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. Corbin, a former FFA member, has worked with Ram Truck brand throughout 2013 to promote “Year of the Farmer.” He is visiting FFA members in 12 cities across the United States from October to February, providing private concerts and furthering the notion that FFA plays an important role in reducing hunger issues in America.

Pictured (L-R): Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC; Wiley Bailey, 2012-13 Southern Region Vice President; Lindsey Anderson, 2012-13 Western Region Vice President; Kalie Hall, 2012-13 National FFA Secretary; Joenelle Futrell, 2012-13 Eastern Region Vice President; Brennan Costello, 2012-13 Central Region Vice President; Easton Corbin; Clay Sapp, 2012-13 National FFA President

Pictured (L-R): Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC; Wiley Bailey, 2012-13 Southern Region Vice President; Lindsey Anderson, 2012-13 Western Region Vice President; Kalie Hall, 2012-13 National FFA Secretary; Joenelle Futrell, 2012-13 Eastern Region Vice President; Brennan Costello, 2012-13 Central Region Vice President; Easton Corbin; Clay Sapp, 2012-13 National FFA President. Photo: National FFA Organization

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the roys11

The Roys


Bluegrass brother/sister duo The Roys will make their Grand Ole Opry debut tomorrow, Nov. 1, when they join Little Big Town, Josh Turner, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chris Janson, Sara Haze, Jeannie Seely, Jesse McReynolds, Jim Lauderdale and others for the Opry At The Ryman show.
For more information, visit opry.com or wsmonline.com.

Mandy Barnett Goes Back Into Vault For Don Gibson Tribute CD

Mandy_Barnett_CoverMandy Barnett reaches into the rich songbook of Country Music Hall of Famer Don Gibson for her latest CD, Can’t Stop Loving You: The Songs Of Don Gibson, due out at Cracker Barrel stores nationwide Nov. 11. The album’s debut coincides with the 10th anniversary of Gibson’s passing on Nov. 17, and fulfills a promise Barnett made to the singer/songwriter before his death.
“Don, his wife Bobbi, and I became good friends a few years before he passed away,” said Barnett. “He asked me to consider recording an album of his songs, and of course I said yes.  He wrote some of the most-loved songs in country music — who wouldn’t want to record a Don Gibson song?  Well, it may have taken more than a decade, but thanks to Cracker Barrel I have fulfilled my promise to Don and I could not be more excited.”
As a singer/songwriter in the 1950s and 60s, Gibson charted more than 20 Top 10 hits and released nearly 40 albums between 1958-1978. His song “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” was a number seven hit on the chart for Gibson in 1958, a number three hit for Kitty Wells in 1958, and a chart-topper for Conway Twitty in 1972. Ray Charles also made the song a crossover smash when he took it to the top of the Hot 100, R&B, and A/C charts in 1962.
The CD will be available for release at all Cracker Barrel locations, online at crackerbarrel.com and select digital retailers.

The 12 songs featured on I Can’t Stop Loving You: The Songs of Don Gibson (all written by Gibson):
1)  “(Yes) I’m Hurting”
2)  “Too Soon To Know’
3)   “Look Who’s Blue”
4)   “Sweet Dreams”
5)   “Just One Time”
6)   “Blue Blue Day”
7)   “Oh Lonesome Me”
8)   “Oh Such a Stranger”
9)   “Far Far Away”
10)  “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
11)   “Lonesome Number One”
12)  “Legend in My Time”

Suzy Bogguss' 'Lucky' Mines Haggard Gems

Suzy Bogguss

Suzy Bogguss


Suzy Bogguss named her very first CD, 1989’s Somewhere Between, after an early Merle Haggard song, so it’s no surprise that the professed Haggard fan elected to wade deep into Haggard’s pool of songs for her latest CD, Lucky. The new collection features 12 Haggard gems performed acoustically by the singer/songwriter, who didn’t originally set out to make a Haggard tribute.
“He really is the poet of the common man,” says Bogguss. “Not every artist has music that is as universal as Merle’s. It’s pretty heavy-duty stuff, and I think that’s why to so many of us who sing and write songs, he’s such a king among us.”
The new CD, which features Haggard classics like “Silver Wings,” “If We Make It Through December,” and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink,” is due out Feb. 4, 2014.
“Lucky” track listing:
1. Today I Started Loving You Again
2. Silver Wings
3. The Bottle Let Me Down
4. I Always Get Lucky With You
5. If We Make It Through December
6. Let’s Chase Each Other Around The Room
7. The Running Kind
8. Going Where The Lonely Go
9. Someday When Things Are Good
10. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink
11. Sing Me Back Home
12. You Don’t Have Very Far To Go

Lady Antebellum To Embark On 'Golden Deluxe' Promotional Tour

ladyaAfter performing their latest single “Compass” at the Country Music Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Lady Antebellum will embark on a promotional tour for their new album GOLDEN DELUXE in New York City.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the band will perform two songs on TODAY, followed by a performance on Katie on Thursday, Nov. 14 and the Late Show with David Letterman on Friday, Nov. 15. Fans can also view the band’s full concert from the Ed Sullivan Theatre as part of the Live On Letterman concert webcast series on Thursday, Nov. 14.
“We’ve been itching to get this new material out the past few months,” said band member Dave Haywood. “It’s so great to be back on stage together after having the summer off from touring. There’s new music, new excitement and lots to look forward to in Lady A world. We can’t wait for fans to hear all the new material on the Deluxe Edition of Golden, it’s all for them!  Now fine tunsing the set list for the tour to kick off in January!”
The upcoming album includes previously released tracks as well as six new bonus tracks.
GOLDEN DELUXE Bonus Tracks:
1. “Compass”
2. “And The Radio Played”
3. “Life As We Know It”
4. “Need You Now” (an iTunes Live Session Performance)
5. “Just A Kiss” (Backstage Acoustic Session)
6. “I Run To You” (an iTunes Live Session Performance)

Brandy Clark Celebrates '12 Stories' Album Release

Pictured (L-R): Dave Brainard, Producer; Leslie Fram, SVP/Music Strategy, CMT; Emilie Marchbanks, Fitzgerald-Hartley; Brandy Clark; Shane McAnally, songwriter; Jim Burnett, Slate Creek Records; and John Marks, SiriusXMPhoto Credit: Freddy Breedon

Pictured (L-R): Dave Brainard, Producer; Leslie Fram, SVP/Music Strategy, CMT; Emilie Marchbanks, Fitzgerald-Hartley; Brandy Clark; Shane McAnally, songwriter; Jim Burnett, Slate Creek Records; and John Marks, SiriusXM
Photo Credit: Freddy Breedon


Slate Creek Records’ singer-songwriter Brandy Clark held her 12 Stories album release party Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Country Music Association (CMA). Clark honored everyone involved in the project’s creation, including the album’s co-writers Mark Stephen Jones, Matt Jenkins, Trent Jeffcoat, Mark D. Sanders, Deanna Walker, Shane McAnally and Jessie Jo Dillon. A swell of industry supporters gathered to honor one of the most celebrated releases of the year.
Clark also honored producer Dave Brainard. “I say he was the last songwriter on all these songs,” says Clark. “He loved them like he wrote them, and treated them like he wrote them. He also did so much to promote the album. When this was presented to him, I’m not sure there are a lot of producers who would have done this. He put so much into this.”
She also gave much credit to Emilie Marchbanks Glover of Fitzgerald Hartley, who heard early demos of Clark’s music and became an avid supporter. Fitzgerald Hartley later came on board to create the project.
Clark is also a co-writer behind “Better Dig Two” for The Band Perry, and “Mama’s Broken Heart” for Miranda Lambert. Clark is also featured in the current MusicRow 2013 Publisher Issue.

Primetime 'Nashville': "It Must Be You"

nashville episode 6

abc.com


Season 2, Episode 6: It Must Be You
Nashville’s Percy Warner Park serves as the setting for last night’s episode of Nashville, where Nashville’s old guard meets Nashville celebrity rich at an upscale polo match.
Juliette receives an invitation to the city polo match, though she doesn’t know who invited her. That quickly becomes clear when she sees media mogul Charlie Wentworth again; he’s riding in the match and brings along wife Olivia. Juliette spends most of her time playing hostess to Olivia and trying to escape Charlie’s advances as she tries to convince him that he was born to mingle with Nashville’s high society, while she was not. It brings one of Juliette’s best lines of the episode as she stalks away from Charlie–“According to Wikipedia, that horn means the game’s about to start!”
Charlie finds Mayor Teddy Conrad, who is also attending the match, and convinces him to ask Juliette if she will be the face of Nashville’s new music festival. He also tries to convince her that he actually does work by inviting her to hang out at the stables with his horses and crew as he tends to some of his prized stallions. Of course, this is Nashville, so even in a horse stable, instruments are never far away. Juliette serenades Charlie and crew with an acoustic version of “Hypnotizing” (written by Caitlyn Smith, Cary Barlowe and Steve Robson). She later witnesses an argument between Charlie and Olivia, which culminates in Olivia slapping Charlie and claiming she’s leaving on a jet.
Rayna and sister Tandy are also at the match, trying to drum up interest from potential (rich) investors for Rayna’s Highway 65 label. It seems that no one wants to associate themselves with Lamar Wyatt’s daughters–and, by association, with the illegal activities that recently landed him an arrest. She doesn’t have much luck with her other plan, either. Rayna’s idea to get Highway 65 artist Scarlett on an opening slot on Juliette’s tour backfires after Rayna’s motherly instincts kick in. Rayna sees Juliette and Charlie Wentworth return from the stables together, and confronts Juliette for hanging around a married man. Rayna explains that women make the bulk of Country music fans and that they don’t take kindly to an entertainer they admire getting romantically involved with another woman’s husband. Wrong move. Juliette goes on the defensive, quickly replying that Scarlett will not be joining her tour.
They aren’t the only ones attending; Megan brings new fling Deacon and they both try to pretend everything is fine when they run into Rayna. We also learn that superstar Luke Wheeler is romantically unattached after he talks with Deacon at the match.
Later that evening, Juliette meets Charlie at the hotel he’s staying at (Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel) and agrees to work with him on the festival. He makes a counter offer by slipping her a key to his hotel room. Unbeknownst to Juliette or Charlie, Olivia didn’t leave Nashville after all. She returns to the hotel room, just long enough to witness Charlie having an affair with Juliette, then slips out of the room.
Meanwhile, Scarlett O’Connor fares far better with meeting the press this time around. She performs a private industry showcase at the Bluebird, performing “Every Time I Fall In Love” (written by Al Anderson, Ken Johnson and Sarah Buxton). Prior to the performance, Scarlett turns to old flame Avery for encouragement. Tensions are high at the Bluebird performance as Gunnar, Avery and Zoe are all in attendance to cheer on Scarlett. Zoe is filled with remorse about breaking the “girl code” and sleeping with Scarlett’s ex-boyfriend Gunnar. Once Zoe discovers that Scarlett may still have feelings for ex-boyfriend Avery, all bets are off; she quickly finds Gunnar and tells him how she feels about him.
Rayna’s love life takes a new turn after the Bluebird performance as well, when superstar Luke Wheeler escorts her to her car and kisses her. He also promises to take Scarlett out on the road as an opening act–partly because he believes in her talent, and partly because he hopes to see Rayna more on the road.