CMT Announces First Round of Performers for Artist of the Year Special

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cmtCMT has announced its first round of performers and presenters for the upcoming fourth annual CMT Artists of the Year special, airing live Dec. 3 from Nashville. Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Train’s Pat Monahan, Cassadee Pope, Lionel Richie, Travis Tritt and Dwight Yoakam have all signed on to participate in the event, which this year is honoring Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes, and Tim McGraw.

The 90-minute special will be hosted by Ron White and will air at 8 p.m. EST. Past CMT Artists of the Year include Aldean, Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

NSAI Hosts No. 1 Party

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Front Row (seated L-R): Troy Verges, Maggie Cavender Award recipient Erika Wollam Nichols, Stephen Foster Award recipient Mark Ford, Kelley Lovelace, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller. Second Row (standing L-R): Rhett Akins, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Dan Couch, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett Warren, Brad Warren

Front Row (seated L-R): Troy Verges, Maggie Cavender Award recipient Erika Wollam Nichols, Stephen Foster Award recipient Mark Ford, Kelley Lovelace, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller. Second Row (standing L-R): Rhett Akins, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Dan Couch, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett Warren, Brad Warren


The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted a No. 1 Party, sponsored by Bill Lynch of Lynch Wealth Management, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The organization presented No. 1 plaques to the writers of songs reaching the top spot between July and September 2013 and honored notable individuals for their contributions to the music industry.
The Maggie Cavender Award (in recognition of extraordinary service to the songwriting community) was presented to Erika Wollam Nichols, President and General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe and Co-Director of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. The Stephen Foster Award (in recognition of dedication to songwriters, the music industry and NSAI) was presented to Mark Ford, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF).
Songs recognized during the event include:
“Beat This Summer,” Chris DuBois, Luke Laird, Brad Paisley, recorded by Brad Paisley
“Crash My Party,” Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
“DONE.” Jacob Bryant, John Davidson, Neil Perry, Reid Perry, recorded by The Band Perry
“Don’t Ya,” Chris DeStefano, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Hey Pretty Girl,” Dan Couch, Kip Moore, recorded by Kip Moore
“I Want Crazy,” Hunter Hayes, Lori McKenna, Troy Verges, recorded by Hunter Hayes
“Little Bit Of Everything,” Kevin Rudolf, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, recorded by Keith Urban
“Point At You,” Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip, recorded by Justin Moore
“Round Here,” Rodney Clawson, Thomas Rhett, Chris Tompkins, recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace, recorded by Randy Houser
“See You Again,” David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey, Carrie Underwood, recorded by Carrie Underwood
“That’s My Kind of Night,” Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
A make-up presentation (for writers who were unable to attend previously when their songs were first honored) was given to Ben Hayslip for “Anywhere With You,” recorded by Jake Owen.

Industry Ink (11/21/13)

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Jonathan Jackson ASCAP

Pictured (L-R): Enation manager Billy Holland, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan, Jackson, ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski and The Holland Group’s Jason MacDowall . Photo by ASCAP’s Anna White


Nashville star Jonathan Jackson, aka aspiring artist Avery Barkley, stopped by the ASCAP offices on Tuesday, Nov. 19th to meet the creative team and talk about acting and music. The Emmy-winning actor/musician has fronted his own rock band, Enation, for over a decade and been a member of ASCAP since 1996.

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SIRIUSSirius XM’s Joyce Rizer has joined the board of Heart of Worship Ministries, Inc. as Director of Development.  The volunteer organization serves the Christian based Heart of Worship school in Viard, Haiti.  In addition to overseeing fundraising for the school, Joyce will be traveling to Haiti in February and is seeking musical instruments including guitars, tambourines and harmonicas to provide to the children.
“Blame Facebook,” Joyce laughs.  “Those sweet children’s faces kept popping up in my news feed, and I had to help.  And the economics of it are crazy.  What we spend on a latte will feed a child for a month! I’m looking forward to sharing some Music City joy with the children in the mountains of Haiti.”
To donate instruments or provide other ways to help, contact joyce@heartofworship-ministries.org. For more information visit http://heartofworship-ministries.org/ or search “Heart of Worship Ministries, Inc” on Facebook.

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Pictured, L-R: (back row) Dennis Cahill, Buck White, Del McCoury, Bruce Hornsby, Museum Director Kyle Young, Alison Krauss and Martin Hayes; (front row) Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs and Cheryl White

 Ricky Skaggs presented his second Artist-in-Residency show at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, “Bluegrass Rules” earlier this week. Special guests Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill,  Del McCoury and The Whites, joined Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, to illustrate the history of bluegrass from its Irish-influenced beginnings to its mainstream popularity.

BMI To Salute Coley, Smallwood at Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards

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coley111Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) will salute gospel leaders Daryl Coley and Richard Smallwood at its 15th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon in Nashville.

The event will be held Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at Rocketown in Nashville. Gospel music’s top songwriters, artists and industry execs will attend the invitation-only event. BMI will also announce the Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year at the luncheon.
Coley’s multi-decade career began as singer with Edwin Hawkins, which led to being a songwriter and musical director for Lady Tramaine Hawkins. Lead vocal appearances on recordings for James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America resulted in Coley’s solo debut, Just Daryl. Coley has recorded more than 100 studio performances and worked with Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson and Philip Bailey. Most recently, Coley received a Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Ray of Hope Theological Seminary and Bible College International School of Divinity.
Smallwood has spent more than three decades as one of the most popular inspirational artists, with songs such as “Total Praise,” “Center of My Joy,” and “I Love the Lord.” His seminal recordings with the Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision include Psalms, Adoration: Live in Atlanta and Journey: Live in New York. His songs have been recorded by Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Destiny’s Child and many others. In 2006, Smallwood was inducted into the Gospel Music Associations’ Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He is currently exploring his gift as an author, as he works on completing his autobiography Total Praise, scheduled to be released in 2014.
BMI’s roster of gospel songwriters includes Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Jessica Reedy, Marvin Sapp, Twinkie Clark, BeBe Winans, Israel Houghton, Kim Burrell and many others.

Primetime 'Nashville': "Hanky Panky Woman"

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rayna luke1111

Rayna Jaymes and Luke Wheeler perform onstage. ABC.com


“Steel is forged in a fire,” quipped Connie Britton‘s character Rayna Jaymes during last night’s episode. There were plenty of fires to make most of the characters a bit stronger. Scarlett makes a spectacular stumble in her first showing as superstar Luke Wheeler’s opening act during a concert in Tampa, Fla. After her in-ear monitors aren’t set properly, Scarlett fumbles the performance, to the disappointment of the rowdy crowd. Even uncle Deacon is convinced she’s not cut out for life on the road.
After a pep talk from Rayna, Scarlett dazzles the crowd at the next show in Dallas with a rendition of “Crazy Tonight” (penned by Chip Boyd, Jay Clementi and Kacey Musgraves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi_lydUgRx8
Rayna does some wheeling and dealing of her own after police show up at her home demanding the masters from her upcoming project. They say she is in illegal possession of Edgehill Records property.

Gunnar and Scarlett brought back their performance chemistry when Scarlett helps her ex with a song he’s trying to write for Luke Wheeler. The resulting song, “Ball and Chain,” (penned by Tammi Lynn Kidd and Paul Kennerley) is a hit with Wheeler and the perfect vehicle to get Edgehill off Rayna’s back. Luke Wheeler and Rayna perform the song during the concert, thrilling the crowd; Rayna later makes a deal with Edgehill Records’Jeff Fordham that he can release the duet as a single to increase the label’s quarterly earnings, which should be enough to buy Rayna the time she needs to finish her project.
Later, in Dallas, Juliette faces down Charlie and wife Olivia Wentworth, after she declined Olivia’s sexual advances. Juliette delivers the best lines of the episode, saying, “You know what? I’d rather spend the rest of my life in a double-wide than spend another minute around a billionaire bitch like you,” Juliette declares. “But I guess my trailer park education did let me down a little bit because I wasn’t smart enough to realize just how empty you really are.”
Juliette’s co-writing session with Avery Barkley features the song “Dreams” (penned by Cory Mayo and Jaida Dreyer).
Meanwhile, Peggy Cantor’s eyebrow-raising ways continue; in this episode, her secret non-pregnancy is almost revealed when new husband Teddy says he’d like to visit the doctor with her. She manages to find a container of pork blood and fake a miscarriage.
Watching Luke’s and Rayna’s onstage chemistry, it seems Deacon misses his role in the spotlight more than ever. “I blew every shot at being a solo artist i ever got. I ain’t dead and I ain’t done,” he says, presumably meaning he’s not done with music or his relationship with Rayna.
To see a preview of next week’s episode, watch below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJEBj9FgeSI

UMG Chairman Lucian Grainge To Be Honored At Clive Davis Grammy Bash

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grammy logo1Clive Davis’ upcoming annual pre-Grammy bash on Jan. 25 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills will honor Universal Music Group‘s Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. Grainge will receive the President’s Merit Award in recognition of his contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business. Past recipients of the honor include Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Sir Richard Branson, Clive Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, David Geffen, Berry Gordy, Doug Morris, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, and Mo Ostin.
“As we enter our sixth year of collaborating with Clive Davis, this legendary gala continues to be one of GRAMMY Week’s most prestigious events complete with unique one-of-a-kind performances,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “We are delighted and proud to pay tribute to Lucian Grainge, whose ability to spot talent and his impeccable business sense has made him one of today’s most successful leaders and a visionary Industry Icon.”
Grainge has been recognized over the course of his career with many accolades, including topping Billboard magazine’s Power 100 list as the most powerful executive in the industry. In both 2010 and 2011 he was recognized in Britain’s New Year Honors and awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He has been awarded the prestigious Music Industry Trusts’ Award as one of the most influential executives in global entertainment. Grainge was appointed by Prime Minister David Cameron as a UK Business Ambassador with special remit on global media and entertainment. Recently, he was named a trustee of the American Friends of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of Dreamworks Animation and the board of trustees of Northeastern University in Boston.

NPT To Air Americana Music Night

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AmericanaIt will be an Americana weekend this weekend on PBS as the network airs several programs around the genre. On Friday (Nov. 22), Nashville Public Television will air Music City Roots at 7 p.m., followed by a documentary called Nashville 2.0: The Rise Of Americana, featuring interviews and performances with Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, the Avett Brothers, the Alabama Shakes, and more.
At 9 p.m., NPT will air a special episode of Austin City Limits, ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013 that was recorded during the 2013 Americana Honors and Awards Show. Dr. John with Dan Auerbach, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale and more appear on that show.

YouTube Channel Made-In-Network Debuts in Nashville

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youtubeMade-In-Network showcased its debut during an event Tuesday evening (Nov. 19) at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre. The YouTube channel offers original music programming alongside content from industry partners including Noisetrade, Blackbird Academy, Infinity Cat Recordings, Renman Music, Maggie Chapman, and Ben Folds.
Founded by 24-year-old Belmont University graduate Kevin Grosch, the business is in partnership with FLO{Thinkery}, a firm focused on aiding young entrepreneurs through aiding in developing business strategies.

“Made In is television about music being made,” said CEO Grosch. “We are a network built to share a fascination with creation, exploring the creative experience anywhere and everywhere it takes us. We are building and supporting a community of the best music channels on YouTube, while simultaneously creating and releasing original programming.
“We are crazy about authenticity, originality, and creative expression, and we love stories about the moments when inspiration strikes. We want to explore the people, places, and creative processes that turn emotion into music,” continued Grosch. “We believe that people who love music want to know more about artists, their lives, and how great music happens. So that’s what we are about. We believe that capturing and sharing those stories—and creating new ones—brings music and fans closer together.”
Programming featured on Made-In-Network include “24 Hour Records,” which puts musicians from different genres together in a recording studio for 24 hours to create new songs. “Festival Junkies” visits various music festivals and “Find The Beauty” allows bands to take a former hit song and give it new life.
For more information, visit madeinnetwork.com.

Nashville's Acme Building To Be Remodeled

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Pictured (L-R): Morales, Storme Warren, George Boedecker, Butch Spyridon, Mayor Karl Dean and Steve Moore.

Pictured (L-R): Tom Morales, Storme Warren, George Boedecker, Butch Spyridon, Mayor Karl Dean and Steve Moore.


Tom Morales and primary partners Alan Jackson, Steve Moore, George Boedecker and Nancy Russell plan to revitalize Nashville’s Lower Broad neighborhood with the remodel and re purpose of the iconic Acme Building. The announcement was made during a press conference today (Nov. 20) in Nashville.
The remodeling will will feature three floors and a rooftop patio, each with its own unique style and special set of offerings that pay tribute to the past, present and future of Nashville. The Acme will elevate and at the same time honor the traditional Nashville “Honky Tonk” experience, providing both tourists and locals a place to eat, drink, listen to music, shop and hang out.
The revitalization of Acme will connect the downtown area with the Riverfront and welcoming visitors from the East Side via the Shelby Street Bridge. Tom and partners will keep the name, feel and basic layout of Acme the same, honoring the Acme’s place on the National Historic Register by renovating it to the required historic standards. The partners are working with Tuck-Hinton, the architects for the Music City Center, Frist Center, and Country Music Hall of Fame, and Crane Constructions for this project. Morales has also worked with Tuck-Hinton on past projects, The Southern Steak & Oyster, 408 Broadway and Loveless Café.
The first floor will provide a modern honky tonk and restaurant for locals and tourists alike, offering gourmet, fast-casual fare with live music, cocktails and local craft beer on tap. The second floor will feature an upscale bar/lounge with craft spirits and lounge seating, providing a space on Broadway where Nashville locals and upscale travelers can go socialize comfortably in the signature inviting hospitality that has made its sister restaurant, The Southern, famous. The third floor will be home to The Buggy Room, the largest one-level event and music venue on Broadway, hosting pre-programmed music series, catered events and concerts. It will be available year-round for music showcases and event rentals. The fourth floor of the Acme Building will be a rooftop patio that overlooks the entire downtown area, with direct views of Broadway and the Riverfront.
The Acme building is located at 101 Broadway (First & Broadway).

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean Honored By CMA

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Nasvhille Mayor Karl Dean (center) receives the CMA Founding President's Award from Ed Hardy, CMA Board President (l), and Troy Tomlinson, CMA Board Chairman and President/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, during the CMA Board of Directors meetings today in Nashville.Photo Credit: Christian Bottorff / CMA

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean (center) receives the CMA Founding President’s Award from Ed Hardy, CMA Board President (l), and Troy Tomlinson, CMA Board Chairman and President/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, during the CMA Board of Directors meetings today in Nashville. Photo Credit: Christian Bottorff / CMA


Nashville Mayor Karl Dean’s many contributions to the music industry in Music City were recognized during the CMA Board of Directors meetings in Nashville today (Nov. 20) when Dean was presented the CMA Founding President’s Award by CMA Board President Ed Hardy.
“Mayor Dean has been a constant and ardent supporter of CMA and the music industry,” said Hardy. “Music is a powerful tool and under his leadership, the Music City brand has achieved new heights as a positive, differentiating identity for our community. The CMA Board of Directors values our relationship with the Mayor, as well as his commitment to make Nashville a better place to live and do business.”
The Founding President’s Award was established by the Board of Directors in 1963 in honor of CMA’s first Board President Connie B. Gay. The Award is given in recognition of that person (or persons) who is not currently serving as a Director of the Association, and who in the Board’s opinion has rendered the most outstanding service to the Country Music Association in the current year
At the Board meeting, Hardy praised Mayor Dean’s leadership and passion for Country Music, and tireless efforts on behalf of the format in Nashville, including formation in 2009 of the Music City Music Council, which focuses on economic development by working to recruit entertainment companies and visitors to Nashville; contributing to the success of CMA Music Festival with the opening this year of the Music City Center; and his ongoing support of Music Makes Us and CMA’s Keep the Music Playing, which has donated more than $7.1 million to support music education programs in Metro Nashville Public Schools.