CRS Rusty Walker Scholarship Winners Revealed

/by

CRS2014-LogoCountry Radio Seminar has announced this year’s Rusty Walker Scholarship winners, who receive an all expense-paid trip and registration to CRS 2014, held Feb. 19-21 at the Nashville Convention Center.
The three winners are: Alana Lynn (MD, AM Music Show Host, KAWO/Boise, Idaho), Katelyn Maida (Social Media Producer, On-Line Host, Station Personality, KKBQ/Houston, Texas), and Nate Chester (Production Tech Assistant, On Air Personality, KTNN-AM/KWRK-FM/Lupton, Ariz.).
The Rusty Walker Scholarship program was created in 2012 by the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. to honor Country Radio Hall of Fame member, Rusty Walker, who passed away in May 2012. Each scholarship includes a full CRS 2014 registration, airfare and accommodations for four nights (Feb. 18, 2014 – Feb. 21, 2014). Scholars will be recognized at the CRS 2014 opening ceremonies and will have the opportunity to choose a mentor, along with meeting CRS board members during the three-day seminar. All scholarship applications were reviewed for consideration by a CRS selection committee.
CRS 2014 will be held Feb. 19-21 at the Nashville Convention Center. For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Tin Pan South 2014 Dates Announced

/by

enews_news_from_nsaiThe Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will hold the 22nd Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival from March 25-29, 2014 in Nashville. Regions Bank will sponsor the event for the eighth consecutive year.
Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. Thousands of fans attended last year’s festival, which featured nearly 350 songwriters and more than 90 performances at Nashville’s top venues.
For more information, visit tinpansouth.com.

Industry Ink (12/16/13)

/by

calhoun11Calhoun Enterprises is celebrating its 17th anniversary in publishing administration, royalty accounting and back office record label administration. The company was founded by Jayme Calhoun in 1997 with the goal of assisting independent music publishers, professional musicians, and artists releasing independent projects with all the business aspects of the industry so that they could focus solely on the music and creative side.
“From licensing to royalties, I can rest assured that Calhoun Enterprises is always working aggressively for me,” said Redneck Records founder Gretchen Wilson.
Calhoun Enterprises represents catalogs that include cuts in all genres of music from George Jones (“Choices”) to Beyonce’ (“Déjà Vu”), Bonnie Raitt (“Used to Rule the World”), and everything in between. Cuts by Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Randy Houser, the current singles by Craig Morgan and Gary Allan, “Wake Up Loving You” and “It Ain’t the Whiskey,” respectively, are also administered by the company.
Additionally, the company handles licensing and royalty distribution among other services on a wide range of projects and labels including Broken Bow (Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch), Stoney Creek (Thompson Square , Randy Houser), Red Bow (Joe Nichols), Redwing (Bonnie Raitt), Redneck (Gretchen Wilson), Post Oak (Travis Tritt) and Kevin Fowler Records along with many independent projects for unsigned artists.
The company has representatives in Nashville, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

• • •

Maria Pallante

Maria Pallante


Maria Pallante, The U.S. Register of Copyrights, will present “The Next Great Copyright Act” tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 17), at 2 p.m., at The First Amendment Center, located at 1207 18th Avenue South. The event is sponsored by The Copyright Society of the South along with Nashville’s chapter of AIMP. Limited seating is still available. The event fee is $20, and registration is available at copyrightsocietyofthesouth.com.

  • • •

asg111The 10th Annual Austin Songwriters Symposium convenes Jan. 8 – 12, 2014 at the Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin, Texas. The weekend will focus on the creative side of the industry, bringing in six publishers for a weekend of networking, consulting and workshops on songwriting, publishing, co-writing, studio production, live performance, touring and more.
Six established publishers will be on hand: Bobby Rymer (The Writer’s Den), Chris Oglesby (BMG Chrysalis), Hannah Showmaker, (Parallel Entertainment), Darrell Franklin (Franklin Publishing & Writer Management), Janine Appleton (WORD Music Publishing), and Chelsea Kent (Still Working Music).
For more information, visit austinsongwritersgroup.com.

Billboard Music Awards Set To Air In May

/by

billboard music awards1The 2014 Billboard Music Awards will return to ABC and will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, according to Billboard.com.
Last year’s BMA broadcast had the highest ratings in 12 years. The awards stood as the night’s highest-rated TV show with Adults 18-49, and was also the evening’s No. 1 most social program with 4,358,169 tweets, a 182% increase year to year.
Taylor Swift was a big winner at last year’s awards, taking home eight trophies  for her CD Red.

Artist Updates (12/16/13)

/by

Chris Young Tonight Show

Chris Young


Chris Young recently made a return visit to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to perform his latest hit, “Aw Naw,” from his album A.M. To check out his performance on the show, click here.

• • •

imgres-1

Gregg Allman


 
A new biopic on the life of Gregg Allman has cast Tyson Ritter, lead singer of rock band The All-American Rejects, as the young Gregg Allman, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Wyatt Russell will play Duane Allman in the new movie, whose working title is Midnight Rider.
The story, based on Allman’s memoir, My Cross To Bear, will highlight Allman’s struggles through the death of his brother Duane, the suicides of two girlfriends, six marriages, (including one to Cher,) and years in and out of rehab.

                                 • • •

unnamed-2Ralph Stanley Jr. and Sr. have recorded a new album together, Side By Side. Co-produced by the younger Stanley and John Rigsby, (a former member of the elder Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys band,) Side By Side contains 14 new and traditional songs.
Due out Feb. 18, the CD includes classics from the pens of A. P. Carter, Charlie Monroe, Albert Brumley and Ernest Tubb, as well as two Ralph Stanley originals.

                                                                                                              • • •

lombardi111Billy Dawson has co-penned a song inspired by Vince Lombardi‘s legacy, “Born To Lead.” The tune and accompanying video aired Dec. 11 during the Rotary Lombardi Award Ceremony live on CBS Sports Network. The song is available for download on iTunes.
The video was filmed at Nashville’s LP Field and features a performance by Dawson and profiles each of the Lombardi Award finalists, Anthony Barr (UCLA), Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh), CJ Mosley (Alabama) and Michael Sam (Missouri).

Management Company Rough Hollow Entertainment Launches

/by

rough hollow entertainment111Doug Nichols has opened new management company Rough Hollow Entertainment, with offices located in both Nashville and Austin, Texas, where Nichols resides. The company’s first signing is Curb Records artist Ashley Gearing, who will debut a new single in the first quarter of next year. Joining Nichols for the management venture are Chris Alderman and Josh Pegram.
“Chris and Josh are two very creative individuals who bring an incredible skill set that encompasses all facets of artist management,” said Nichols. “Great times ahead!”
“I am so excited about joining with Doug and Josh to launch this new management endeavor in town to provide another option for the talented, creative people on Music Row,” said Alderman.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Doug and Chris, two of the most genuine, kind-hearted guys in the business,” shared Pegram. “We are all equally passionate and look forward to serving this wonderful and creative artist community. This is going to be fun!”
From 2000-2011, Nichols, along with Trey Turner, managed the career of vocal group Rascal Flatts. Nichols served on the ACM Board of Directors from 2003-2011 and was named the Chairman of the ACM Television Committee from 2005-2008, in addition to being a member of the Executive Board. Nichols also co-produced the Rascal Flatts ABC television special in March 2011.
Alderman’s music industry career includes working with Jo Dee Messina, Rascal Flatts, Michelle Branch and Dierks Bentley as a production and tour manager. His management experience includes The Wreckers and, most recently, as day-to-day manager for Easton Corbin.
Pegrams’ management experience includes signing and launching the career of The Band Perry at Bob Doyle and Associates, where he worked for four years. He also executive-produced three Video On Demand channels for Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift and Soul Train alongside Time Warner and Xfinity.
Rough Hollow Entertainment is located at 1204 17th Ave. S., in Nashville. Nichols can be reached at [email protected] and 615-394-3290. Alderman can be reached at [email protected] and 615-476-2933. Pegram can be reached at [email protected] and 615-293-4114.

CMHoF Salutes Buck Owens Autobiography

/by

Pictured (L-R): Scott B. Bomar (music historian), Poe and Jay Orr (VP of museum programs)

Pictured (L-R): Scott B. Bomar (music historian), Poe and Jay Orr (VP of museum programs)


As part of the Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit The Bakersfield Sound, the museum held a book discussion on Dec. 7 with author Randy Poe for the Nov. 19 release Buck ‘Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens. Compiled from nearly 100 hours of cassette recordings from Owens about his life, Poe put together a 334-page story in Buck’s own words. The hardcover is published by Backbeat Books.
The CMHoF’s full-day salute also included and stories from Owens’ band members, in addition to an evening CMA Theater concert that featured Owens’ hit titles, led by Owens’ son Buddy Alan Owens and a lineup that featured James Intveld, Jim Lauderdale, Angaleena Presley, stars from the Nashville TV show, and Sunny Sweeny.

2014 NAB Crystal Radio Awards To Accept Submissions in January

/by

crystal radio award111NAB will accept entries for the 2014 NAB Crystal Radio Awards, honoring outstanding community service, beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
Established in 1987, the Crystal Radio Awards bring national recognition to radio stations for their year-round commitment to serving their communities. To enter, a station must submit their online entry describing their community service efforts for the 2013 calendar year.
Fifty Crystal Radio Awards finalists and 10 winners are chosen by judges with broadcast and community service backgrounds. Entry information is available on www.nab.org/crystals or by contacting Melek Demir at 202-775-3511.
Entry submissions must be received by Jan. 31. The Crystal Radio Awards finalists will be revealed in late February. Winners will be announced, and the finalists will be honored at the NAB Radio Luncheon. The Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP, will be held Tuesday, April 8 during the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Ashley Gorley Re-Ups with Combustion Music and Warner/Chappell

/by

combustion gorley111

Pictured (L-R)-Front row: Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Combustion’s Chris Farren, Ashley Gorley, and Chris Van Belkom. Back row: Combustion’s Kenley Flynn, Warner Chappell’s Matt Michiels, Phil May, Alicia Pruitt, Blain Rhodes, Steve Markland and BJ Hill.


Chris Farren, Falcon and Kenley Flynn announced that Ashley Gorley has renewed an exclusive songwriting deal with Combustion Music and partner Warner/Chappell.
Gorley has been with Combustion since 2001, and has earned 13 chart-topping songs. Gorley currently has three singles on Country radio, with more slated for 2014. Gorley’s songs have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Joe Nichols, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery, Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, Billy Currington, and Thomas Rhett.

Carole King To Be Celebrated As MusiCares Person Of The Year

/by

MusicaresJennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Jason Mraz, P!nk, James Taylor, Steven Tyler, will.i.am, Gloria Estefan, Train, and many others will honor Carole King as the MusiCares Person of the Year during Grammy week Jan. 24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Jimmy Kimmel will host the event where King will also perform. The evening will celebrate both King’s generous heart for giving back and her immense creative talent and achievements.
The gala will include a silent auction and cocktail party, dinner, live auction, and star-studded tribute concert. Past recipients of the MusiCares Person of the Year honors include Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand, among others.
Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute, now in its 24th year, provide essential support for MusiCares and ensure that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need. MusiCares offers programs and services to members of the music community including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses, educational workshops and programs, addiction support groups, and many other services for industry people in times of need.