Lee Ann Womack To Release New Project in September

lee ann womack111Lee Ann Womack will release her first album in nearly seven years when The Way I’m Livin’ debuts on Sept. 23 on roots label Sugar Hill. The project is produced by Frank Liddell and features songs penned by Chris Knight, Mindy Smith, Buddy Miller, Mando Saenz, Hayes Carll, Neil Young, Bruce Robison and one cover song written by Roger Miller.
“I wanted songs that talked about how life really is, the raw spots, the tough places, the meltdowns and messy parts,” Womack says. “Hard, sad, rough… all the stuff people pretend doesn’t exist! Because once you embrace that, you can figure out what to do; or not do!”
“The Way I’m Livin’,” written by Grammy Country Song of the Year nominee Adam Wright (“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Any More”), will debut May 22 on the Wall Street Journal’s wsj.com.
“It feels so good to be getting new music out to the fans,” Womack. “I live to sing great songs that tear holes in life – just show living for what it is. I was fired up going into the studio, and Matt (Chamberlin), Duke (Levine), Glen (Worf, Jr), Mac (McAnally), Paul (Franklin) and all the amazing players who came by took me to an even higher place inside these songs.
“And knowing these songs were written to be performed, not pitched, sets a bar! Every songwriter wrote intending to sing ’em, to tell these stories, show these postcards, and you can feel the way they built the characters! Bringing that to music was just so incredible for everyone on the sessions.”

Curb Music Publishing Re-signs Kyle Jacobs

Pictured left to right: Drew Alexander - VP of Curb Publishing, Mike Curb - Founder of Curb Records, Kyle Jacobs, Colt Cameron - Sr. Creative Director, Curb Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Drew Alexander – VP of Curb Publishing, Mike Curb – Founder of Curb Records, Kyle Jacobs, Colt Cameron – Sr. Creative Director, Curb Publishing.


Curb Music Publishing has re-signed songwriter Kyle Jacobs to its roster. During his time as a Curb Music Publishing writer, Jacobs has penned songs for Eli Young Band (“Dust”) and Jerrod Niemann (“Donkey”). Other artists to benefit from Jacobs’ compositions include Tim McGraw, Lee Brice, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Kelly Clarkson, Thompson Square, Scotty McCreery, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan and Garth Brooks (“More Than A Memory”).
Jacobs moved to Nashville in 2000; in 2003, Jacobs’ song “8th World Wonder” became a breakthrough hit for American Idol contestant Kimberly Locke.
He soon met fellow songwriter (and artist in his own right) Lee Brice. “Meeting Lee was a big deal,” Jacobs says. “Writing with Lee helped me realize that Country music is the most free world I can write in. I can write about God, I can write about drinking, I can rock it or I can bring it back a little bit. Musically I can be creative and it’s a huge world lyrically. He helped me discover that.
“I love writing pop melodies and putting a country lyric on it with a country voice,” he continues. “It’s just cool how it comes out. I love challenging myself musically.”

Voting For CMA Broadcast Awards and SRO Awards

cma_logo_detailThe Country Music Association is now accepting online submissions for the 2014 CMA Broadcast Awards for Broadcast Personality, Station, and National Broadcast Personality of the Year at Broadcast.CMAawards.com.
Categories for submission include Broadcast Personality in four different market sizes (major, large, medium, and small) as well as CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year. To submit an entry, CMA member radio stations and broadcast personalities in the U.S. and Canada should log on to Broadcast.CMAawards.com. The site will accept submissions until Friday, June 27 (5:00 PM/CT).
All entries must reflect performances and events between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014.
CMA Broadcast Award winners will be notified in early October and recognized at “The 48th Annual CMA Awards,” which will be held later this year in Nashville. For more information about CMA Broadcast Award entries please contact Brandi Simms, CMA Senior Director of Membership and Balloting, at BSimms@CMAworld.com.
• • • •
Balloting for CMA’s popular touring industry honors known as the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards began with a nominating round on April 22. The final ballot will be emailed to eligible CMA members Tuesday, June 3. Voting for the SRO Awards final ballot ends Friday, June 20 (5:00 PM/CT).
CMA members in the following categories: Advertising/Public Relations/Media, Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, Marketing/Digital, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, Touring, and Venue are eligible to vote for the CMA SRO Awards. Ballots will be tabulated by the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The SRO Award categories will be as follows:

  • Business Manager of the Year
  • Coach/Truck Driver of the Year
  • FOH (Front of House) Engineer of the Year
  • Lighting Director of the Year
  • Manager of the Year
  • Monitor Engineer of the Year
  • Production Manager of the Year
  • Publicist of the Year
  • Talent Agent of the Year
  • Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year
  • Tour Caterer of the Year
  • Tour Manager of the Year
  • Touring Musician of the Year
  • Tour Video Director of the Year
  • Venue of the Year

As previously reported, the first ballot for the 48th CMA Awards will be emailed July 3.

Richard Conlon Exits BMI

bmi-logo1111featuredBMI Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy, Communications & New Media, Richard Conlon, has exited the company after a 20-year tenure. Conlon managed global strategy for the organization and spearheaded its digital division and global communications efforts. He was based in New York.
Conlon said, “I have enjoyed a great run at BMI creating our digital  revenue stream and positioning the company for growth and relevance in the exploding global entertainment world…I leave a team of talented professionals who are well poised to continue serving BMI’s songwriters, publishers and licensees. The decision to leave was difficult, but the current state of the market and the potential that lies ahead make this an opportune time to start a new chapter….”
BMI President Del Bryant said, “Richard has played a pivotal role in the strategic growth and positioning of BMI and the value of music for decades. We appreciate his many contributions to the company and his enduring advocacy at the negotiating table and across the entire marketplace for our songwriters, composers, publishers and licensees alike. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Big Machine's Mötley Crüe Tribute Project To Release July 8

MC_ART_ALBUM_NO_Cover_2014.05.07_FNL111Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe will be released July 8 via Big Machine Records, Motley Records and Eleven Seven Music.
The project will feature artists including Florida Georgia Line, Justin Moore, Big & Rich, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and others, giving their renditions of 15 of the band’s biggest hits.
“We did not make this record for Mötley Crüe fans, but for Country fans who are also Rock fans. I believe that there’s going to be a lot of synergy and excitement for Mötley Crüe fans hearing different artists covering their favorite songs. People will be surprised how these artists made these songs their own and we couldn’t be happier with how the album turned out. It’s been an amazing, positive experience and, as a lot of things we’ve done, a first in our career,” says Mötley Crüe bassist, Nikki Sixx.
Big Machine Label Group President and CEO Scott Borchetta says of the collaboration, “I have been a not-so-secret Crüe fan from the beginning. When manager Chris Nilsson called with the idea for a tribute album on Big Machine Records it was an immediate ‘yes’ from me! Our album will highlight just how great the Mötley Crüe song catalog is. At the end of the day, that’s what will stand the test of time.”
 Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe Track listing:
Rascal Flatts – “Kickstart My Heart”
Florida Georgia Line – “If I Die Tomorrow”
LeAnn Rimes – “Smokin’ In The Boys Room”
Justin Moore – “Home Sweet Home”
Cassadee Pope with Robin Zander – “The Animal In Me”
Aaron Lewis – “Afraid”
Big & Rich – “SOS”
Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen – “Without You”
Eli Young Band – “Don’t Go Away Mad”
Lauren Jenkins – “Looks That Kill”
The Cadillac Three – “Live Wire”
The Mavericks – “Dr. Feelgood”
Brantley Gilbert – “Girls Girls Girls”
Gretchen Wilson – “Wild Side”
Darius Rucker – “Time For Change”

John Rich & Friends Concert To Benefit St. Jude

johnrich1Singer-songwriter John Rich will again headline St. Jude Presents John Rich & Friends on Tuesday, June 3, at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tenn. Deana Carter, Clint Black, Randy Houser, Cowboy Troy, and Rich’s Big & Rich bandmate Big Kenny are set to take part in the event, which will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“I’m really honored to host the third ‘John Rich and Friends’ for the kids at St Jude,” said Rich. “I’m very blessed to have such giving friends in the music industry who continue to show up and play this incredible event year in and year out. This group represents more than 30 million record sales and countless number ones. It will be a night to remember for sure,” he said.
St. Jude partner Window World® is presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year. Through its charitable foundation Window World Cares, the company supports St. Jude and has raised more than $4 million for the kids of St. Jude.
Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster, ranging from $40-$80 per person.
“We are so grateful to our incredible friend John Rich and all of the entertainers for lending their talents to support St. Jude for this special evening,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “This annual concert is a perfect start to a week of special events and moments celebrating the hospital’s long history with the FedEx St. Jude Classic and is also instrumental in helping us to advance our work of saving the lives of children everywhere.”

Deana Carter to Play Several Hometown Shows in Nashville

DeanaCarter1

Deana Carter


Deana Carter is currently out promoting her first new album in nearly a decade, Southern Way of Life (Little Nugget Records). In support of the release, the singer-songwriter is set to play several shows in her hometown of Nashville. Carter is scheduled to play The Basement on May 21, The Grand Ole Opry on May 31, and she will join Eddie Stubbs on June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Country Music Hall of Fame for the “An Evening With Eddie Stubbs,” broadcast on WSM AM.
Southern Way of Life features songwriters Kacey Musgraves, Kimberly Perry and Tyler Hilton.
Additionally, Carter will join John Rich (of Big & Rich) in Memphis on June 3 for a performance benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Industry Ink (5/19/14)

Nashville was well represented at SESAC’s Pop Awards held earlier this month at the historic New York Public Library.
Laura Heatherly, T. J. Martell’s Chief Executive Officer, joined SESAC executives and T.J. Martell board members Ellen Truley and Dennis Lord on the event red carpet prior to the awards dinner which honored top songwriters and publishers in the Pop, Urban and Rock music genres.
The event drew over 450 writers, publishers and other music industry members.

Pictured (L-R): Ellen Truley, SESAC’s Vice President, Corporate Relations, Laura Heatherly, T.J. Martell’s Chief Executive Officer and Dennis Lord, SESAC’s Executive Vice President. Photo: Shawn Ehlers

Pictured (L-R): Ellen Truley, SESAC’s Vice President, Corporate Relations; Laura Heatherly, T.J. Martell’s Chief Executive Officer; Dennis Lord, SESAC’s Executive Vice President. Photo: Shawn Ehlers

 • • •

live nation logo111Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., has announced plans to offer $250 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2019 (the “Convertible Notes”) and $250 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes dues 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offerings to redeem, in the near future, all of its outstanding 2.875 percent Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 in order to pay related fees and expenses, to reinvest in the company’s business and for corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions.
The company is expected to grant the initial purchasers a 30-day option to purchase an additional $25 million aggregate principal amount of such Convertible notes to cover over-allotments, if any.

 • • •

 
Screen shot 2014-05-19 at 10.03.44 AM111The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Words & Music, is celebrating 35 years of connecting school children with professional songwriters. On May 21, singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cook will host 2014’s invitation-only event, which begins at 6 p.m. in the CMHoF’s Ford Theater.
“Education is our primary mission, and Words & Music is what that mission looks like in action,” said Kyle Young, museum director. “Nearly 100,000 students have passed through the program since its inception. Over the past three and a half decades, we have only seen demand and excitement for Words & Music grow—proof that this unique interdisciplinary language arts program is more relevant today than ever. We couldn’t be prouder of this unique course we’ve developed, which embodies our commitment not only to our beloved Nashville, but to the entire global learning community.”

Country Winners at The Billboard Music Awards

Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line perform at the Billboard Music Awards.

Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line perform at the Billboard Music Awards.


Photos: Getty Images via ABC
Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Florida Georgia Line were winners at last night’s (May 18) Billboard Music Awards. Bryan took home trophies for Top Country Artist and Top Country Album. The broadcast aired live on ABC from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Fans voted to honor Underwood with the Milestone Award, marking her innovation and originality. She and Miranda Lambert teamed to debut their duet “Somethin’ Bad.”
Lambert and Underwood debut "Somethin' Bad."

Lambert and Underwood debut “Somethin’ Bad.”


Bryan performed the current Country No. 1 “Play It Again” and also joined FGL for a pyro-spiked version of the No. 2 song on the country chart, “This is How We Roll.”
Justin Timberlake was the big winner scoring seven trophies including Top Artist and Top Male Artist.
The awards show also featured a performance by a Michael Jackson hologram.
Awards are based on data tracked between March 11, 2013 and March 9, 2014.
Luke Bryan won two awards last night.

Luke Bryan won two awards last night.


Select winners
Top Country Artist—Luke Bryan
Top Country Album—Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
Top Country Song—Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly, “Cruise”
Milestone Award—Carrie Underwood
Top Christian Artist—Chris Tomlin
Top Christian Album—Alan Jackson, Precious Memories: Volume II
Top Christian Song—Matthew West “Hello, My Name Is”
Top Artist—Justin Timberlake
Top New Artist—Lorde
Top Male Artist—Justin Timberlake
Top Female Artist—Katy Perry
Top Duo/Group—Imagine Dragons
Top Streaming Artist—Miley Cyrus
Full winners list.
Brad Paisley at the BBMA.

Brad Paisley at the BBMA.


Michael Jackson hologram at the BBMA.

Michael Jackson hologram at the BBMA.


Kesha on the red carpet

Kesha on the red carpet.


Lucy Hale on the red carpet.

Lucy Hale on the red carpet.


shania-twain-2014-billboard-music-awards-red-carpet-400

Shania walks the red carpet.


 

Grand Ole Opry To Salute U.S Military on May 20

Josh Turner

Josh Turner. Photo: Chris Hollo


The Grand Ole Opry will salute the U.S. military with a red carpet arrival parade and a special Opry performance on Tuesday, May 20. The MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band will make its Opry debut. Josh Turner, Darryl Worley, Craig Morgan, Lee Greenwood and Ricky Skaggs are also slated to perform.
The public is invited to be a part of the celebration outside the Opry House beginning at 6 p.m. as members of the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band and soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard enter the Opry House via a fan-lined red carpet parade. The evening’s Opry performance begins at 7 p.m.
MusiCorps is a music rehabilitation program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that helps severely wounded warriors play music and recover their lives. P
“We look forward to welcoming our nation’s heroes and some of the Opry’s favorite artists Tuesday night,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “We’d like to invite Opry fans and our Nashville neighbors to join us in showing our appreciation to these heroes as they enter the