Date Set for ACM Radio Categories Open Submissions

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acmBeginning Monday, Nov. 11, current Academy of Country Music radio members may submit their nominations in the Country music radio categories for the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music awards. The awards telecast recognizes winners for the previous calendar year; the radio submission period is between Jan.  1, 2013 and Dec. 6, 2013. The nominations period will end at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
Nominees in the following categories will be announced in Spring 2014:
On-Air Personality of the Year – National
On-Air Personality of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)
Radio Station of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
Radio Station of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
Radio Station of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
Radio Station of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)
Nominations may be submitted at acmcountry.com. The 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air LIVE on CBS Television next spring, date to be announced soon.

MusicRowLife: Brandon Blackstock Weds Kelly Clarkson

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Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Photo:

Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: Archetypestudioinc.com


Wedding bells have officially rung for Kelly Clarkson and Nashville manager Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson took to Twitter on Monday (Oct. 21) to announce the happening, which took place over the weekend at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. Clarkson wore a Temperley gown with a Jim Verraros & Maria Elena headpiece.
The couple was engaged in December 2012 with a yellow canary Johnathon Arndt diamond ring.
Blackstock, who manages the career of Blake Shelton for Starstruck Management, has two children – Savannah and Seth – from a previous marriage.
Clarkson’s Columbia/RCA Christmas album, Wrapped In Red, will be released Oct. 29.

Taylor Swift Recruits All-Star Backing Band for CMA Performance

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift will be backed by some serious musical muscle for her upcoming performance on the CMA Awards Nov. 6. She’s tapped Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, and drummer Eric Darken for a unique interpretation of her song “Red” on this year’s show. Swift is one of only two nominees with six nods for the upcoming awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy and Album of the Year for Red.
Swift isn’t the only artist joining forces at the upcoming CMA telecast: Zac Brown has recruited Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters to join he and the band during the awards celebration, and Hunter Hayes will team up with Jason Mraz to perform on the Nov. 6 show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Hayes and Mraz recently made a video for his new single, “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me.” The new clip includes seven aspiring YouTube stars and was filmed with one camera in one take at YouTube’s Silicon Valley headquarters.
The CMA Awards will be hosted for the sixth time by another successful collaborative duo – Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

Norman Petty Recording Studio-Nashville To Open

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norman petty recording studios111Norman Petty Recording Studio-Nashville will soon open in Music City. An open house has been set for Nov. 2 (12 noon— 7 p.m.) at 16 Ton Studio (located at 1008 16th Ave. S.) to introduce the new studio to industry members.
For nearly two years, 16 Ton Studio’s Danny White has been working with Ken Broad and Lyle Walker of the Norman Petty Estate to bring the vintage-inspired studio to Nashville.
Norman Petty’s New Mexico studio facilitated the creation of 1950’s music by artists including Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and others. The new room in Nashville will be primarily based on the equipment of Norman Petty but will also house standout pieces from Nashville’s iconic RCA Studio B. Specifically, the custom-built, Chet Atkins-ordered, API console and monitors installed in the mix room at Studio B and used on records by artists ranging from Waylon Jennings to Elvis Presley.
Walker, representative of the estate, says: “For a long time, Ken and I have wanted to put together a vintage recording studio,” Walker says. “We thought the idea of putting a significant selection of recording equipment and microphones that Norman used to cut all those rock n’ roll classics with Buddy Holly and others would be a great tribute. Nashville was the natural fit considering Norman’s influence on the city and 16 Ton was the right place to put the room.”
The new Petty room (Studio 2) will be an attractive addition to the 16 Ton facility, while Studio 1, which houses a one-off tube based Dymaxion console will not be changed.
16 Ton is going into its 10th year on Music Row. Artists to record in the facility in the past couple of years include Sheryl Crow, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Eddie Kramer and Will Hoge.

Luke Bryan Brings Musical Swagger To Nashville

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Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan


Is Luke Bryan country’s next stadium star? If the revved up crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night (Oct. 19) is any indication, the answer is a roaring “yes.” The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year had the room sizzling with energy during the second of two sold-out hometown shows.
Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour is a cowboy disco complete with neon lights and spinning mirror ball. He doesn’t need wall-to-wall production to be engaging—his Saturday show was fueled by the infallible mix of hit songs and dynamic performance. The only downside was that his dance moves swagger the line between sexy and silly (with a few too many tongue-rolling purrs thrown in).
He ushered the crowd through his catalog of hits crisscrossing from farm boy fare (“Country Man,” “Rain Is A Good Thing”) to dance-party primed (“That’s My Kind of Night,” “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”). Along the way he performed “Crash My Party,” “Someone Else Calling You Baby,” “Drunk On You,” and “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” Midway through the show he and the band slowed the tempo and gathered around a piano. They picked up the pace again by bringing back opening acts Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell for “The Only Way I Know.” Bryan even threw in a cover of the Metallica classic “Enter Sandman,” though the 1991 hit probably pre-dates his younger listeners.
Bryan’s connection to his fans is as tangible as the one staked by longtime stadium sell-out king Kenny Chesney. If the younger star can grow his repertoire by sprinkling in songs with a bit more substance, his career will continue to ripen.
At the industry-packed after party, UMG Nashville boss Mike Dungan presented a platinum plaque to Bryan for latest album Crash My Party, which moved a million units in just six weeks. The singer took the small stage in the arena’s Patron Lounge and recalled his early years driving on I-440 in Nashville and dreaming of sold out shows in Music City. This week that dream came true—twice.
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Hunter Hayes Headlines Ryman Auditorium, Twice

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HHAtlantic Records’ Hunter Hayes was one of two Nashville headliners spanning two nights in downtown venues this weekend (Oct. 18 and 19). The other was Luke Bryan at the Bridgestone, while Hayes appropriately packed the Ryman Auditorium during the Friday Hunter’s Moon for his Let’s Get Crazy Tour. MusicRow offered an early look at Hayes’ tour this month.
During intermission, post-Ashley Monroe (more on her phenom below), the backdrop partition was removed to reveal Hayes’ ramps and riser skirts covered with handwritten lyrics. The writing didn’t stop there, the piano, guitar pick guards, and (spoiler alert) oversized balloons in the finale were also covered. Those song lyrics were well received among the post-millennial female crowd, many of whom are discovering their individuality and searching for love. Here’s, a boy spilling his heart out on every co-written song to provide companionship to the developing generation. “A song will never let you down—you’re never alone,” Hayes charismatically preached from the stage.
Front-row fans stood in front of metal folding chairs, pulsing their heads to the beat of the music. The auditorium pews also carried a light load for standing patrons on the main floor, perhaps a taste of what the 1950’s music fans were like – new music giving voice to a burgeoning generation. Hayes displayed not only a buoyant stage swagger, but a certain command as he hopped on monitor stands. “This tour is my first time properly headlining,” said Hayes with a coffee cup in hand. “We’re gonna play every song from Encore – for the love of music, let’s be crazy, Nashville!”
A five-member band backed Hayes, who prepared fans for his one “costume change” where he removed his jean jacket to sport a black tee, slicked comb over, jeans and Converse kicks. For the 22-year-old talent who played every instrument on his debut record, new guitars were at his fingertips for each song; at times the savant even switched instruments in the middle of songs. For the acoustic strip-down, Hayes looped guitar rhythms and layered vocal harmony for a slow-build, solo-performance of “I’ll Find It In A Song.”
Ronnie Milsap, a confessed longtime influence for Hayes, gave a surprise performance with his 1983 hit “Stranger In My House.” “When you hear his music, mine will all of a sudden make sense,” explained Hayes who watched intently as the Country legend sat behind the keys.
Hayes kicked his production into overdrive with a succession of catchy titles for the finale, including an Imagine Dragons cover “On Top Of The World,” alongside his own “Wanted,” “You Light Me Up,” and “I Want Crazy.”

Ashley Monroe backstage for Let's Be Crazy Tour. Photo: Instagram

Ashley Monroe backstage for Let’s Be Crazy Tour. Photo: Instagram


Prior to Hayes, Monroe donned a gorgeous long sleeve, open back sparkly lace romper from Jovani. With her tan ankle boots, Hippie Annie didn’t noticeably frighten the mostly middle school attendees with her traditional sound, featuring her band’s upright bass. Her set included the Miranda Lambert cut, “Heart Like Mine,” as well as Monroe’s own “Satisfied,” and “Can’t Let Go.” Mother chaperones, too, seemed unfazed with the misdeeds in Monroe’s current single, “Weed Instead of Roses.”
Monroe additionally graced the stage with her Warner Nashville labelmate during a masterful collaboration on “What You Gonna Do,” which is featured on Hayes’ latest release Encore. The song perhaps may be the one commonality between Monroe’s twang and Hayes’ generational pop-appeal, aside from each’s giant talent.
The CMT-sponsored tour runs through December. Find your tickets at cmt.com.

Parton Announces Aussie Dates For Blue Smoke Tour

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Dolly

Dolly Parton


Dolly Parton is heading back to Australia in February as part of her upcoming 2014 Blue Smoke World Tour. She wowed the Down Under fans in 2011 on a European and Australian tour, breaking attendance records at many of the venues she visited. The Aussie leg of her new tour has her visiting fans in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Hunter Valley, and Dolly is rolling out new VIP packages for this tour that will include access to her personal wardrobe and instruments, a backstage tour, and a meet-and-greet with Dolly herself.
“Australia, here I come again,” said Parton. “We have a lot of new and exciting things for the show and can’t wait to share it with you. I love my fans in that part of the world. You’ve been so very good to me for so many years and I know that we’re gonna have a wonderful time. It’s a long way f rom home in your part of the world, but I always feel like I’m right at home. So Australia, I’m coming home. Wait up!”
Tickets for the Australian shows go on sale at 9 a.m. on Nov. 1. My Live Nation members can be among the first to access tickets during an exclusive pre-sale beginning at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28. Sign up is at livenation.com.au.
Blue Smoke Australian Dates
Feb. 11    Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
Feb. 15     Hunter Valley, Hope Estate Winery
Feb. 18     Sydney, Entertainment Centre
Feb. 21     Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
Feb. 25     Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
Feb. 27     Perth, Perth Arena

Thompson Square, Luden's Team For 'Voices Worth Hearing'

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Thompson Square

Thompson Square


Thompson Square is partnering with Luden’s cough drops on a new multi-media campaign this Winter to help find and celebrate those “Voices Worth Hearing” among their fans out on the road. The promotional campaign will include exclusive new videos and content across Facebook and other platforms, and will provide fans with a unique peek behind the scenes of the duo’s day-to-day world.
“Both Shawna and I are big fans of Luden’s and use it all the time,” said Keifer Thompson. “Since we hear from our fans so often, we also loved the idea of the ‘Voices Worth Hearing’ campaign. We look forward to working with Luden’s to find the many talented voices out there, and to share them with our fans.”
Prestige Brands, the parent company behind Luden’s, also owns the Clear Eyes, Compound W, PediaCare, Dramamine, and Goody’s brands, along with many more. The Vocal Duo of the Year-nominated Thompson Square may just need those throat drops after all the excited screaming if they take home the CMA trophy this year at the upcoming CMA Awards Nov. 6 in Nashville.

Scott Borchetta Featured in Entertainment Business Book

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blockbusters1Big Machine Label Group President and CEO Scott Borchetta is featured in a new book titled Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment, authored by Harvard Business School professor Anita Elberse. The book focuses on why Elberse believes the future of popular culture will revolve around big bets on entertainment products. Blockbusters reveals which strategies give leaders in film, television, music, publishing, and sports an edge over their rivals—even as digital technologies are transforming the entertainment landscape.
Borchetta is featured in a section of the book that explores the launch of Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album RED. With more than 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. in its first week, RED scored the highest first-week sales debut of any album in over a decade. It also marked the second biggest debut week ever for a female artist.
Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking and the Big Business of Entertainment is now available online and at major bookstores.
Elberse has published several case studies about the success of entertainment celebrities such as Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and LeBron James. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, and Fortune.

'Nashville Lifestyles' Reveals 2013 Most Beautiful People

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Bobby Bones, Ryan Beuschel. Photos: Cameron Powell

Pictured (L-R): Bobby Bones and ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel. Photos: Cameron Powell


Nashville Lifestyles has released its list of the city’s 25 Most Beautiful People. The 2013 lineup includes both music industry artists and executives, including ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel and The Bobby Bones Show’s Bobby Bones.
Celebrity picks include Warner Bros. Records’ Sheryl Crow, Universal Music Group Nashville’s Luke Bryan and Kip Moore, and ABC-TV Nashville actor Charles Esten.

The magazine recognizes each individual’s beauty, which “stems from deep within and permeates all they do.”
The magazine’s full list can also be viewed.