The 48th Annual CMA Awards Announces More Live Performers

Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean


The superstar lineup continues to grow with the announcement today that Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw are each performing during “The 48th Annual CMA Awards,” which airs live Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00 PM/CT) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Hosted for the seventh consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the show will also feature performances by Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Paisley, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Underwood, and Keith Urban.
Aldean has 13 career CMA Awards nominations and has won for Musical Event of the Year with Kelly Clarkson for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and Album of the Year for My Kinda Party, both in 2011.
Bentley has a career total of 15 nominations. He won his first CMA Award in 2005 – the Horizon Award, now known as New Artist of the Year.
Chesney, a four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, has 39 career CMA Awards nominations and eight wins.
In 2014, McGraw and Faith Hill collected two nominations each for “Meanwhile, Back At Mama’s,” which was nominated for Musical Event and Single of the Year. McGraw has 35 career CMA Awards nominations and is the reigning CMA Award winner for Music Video and Musical Event of the Year for “Highway Don’t Care” with Taylor Swift and Urban.

Benefit Roundup: Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young

Jerrod Niemann. Photo: Rebecca Clark

Jerrod Niemann. Photo: Rebecca Clark


Sea Gayle Records/Artista Nashville’s Jerrod Niemann and Corey Frizzell will produce That’s The Way Love Goes – A Benefit for Legendary Singer Songwriter Whitey Shafer. The benefit will take place Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Nashville’s Honey Tonk Central with Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch, Ken Mellons, Lance Miller, Lee Roy Parnell, Daryle Singetary, Billy Yates and more surprise guests. Tickets will be available at the door for $20, with limited seating available.
Shafer co-wrote Lefty Frizzell’s “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” in addition to George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live In Texas,” “Overnight Success,” “Lefty’s Gone,” and “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind.”

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Chris Young

Chris Young


Chris Young will headline the Nashville Basket Brigade’s Fundraising Fright Night at the Tin Roof Nashville at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, helping to raise money for families this Thanksgiving.
The Halloween-themed night will additionally feature Brandon Chase, DeeJay Silver, The Drama Kings, DJ Rod Youree and Mitchell Lee. Costume contests (Best, Scariest, Funniest/Most Clever, Best Duo, Best Twurkey), sweet treats, a silent auction and live music will be open to the public, ages 21+ with a $5 suggested donation at the door.
More information at NashvilleBasketBrigade.org.

Industry Pics: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction

Music industry members gathered Sunday evening (Oct. 5) to celebrate the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s latest inductees: Paul Craft, John Anderson, Gretchen Peters, and Tom Douglas.
Pat Higdon, Troy Tomlinson, Jack White, Ashley Gorley, Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert were also honored by NSAI during its annual Songwriter Achievement Awards, and the peer-vote “Songs I Wish I’d Written” were presented.
Click here for a recap.
NaSHOF  10.5.2014  385  Moments By Moser

John Anderson. Photo: Bev Moser

John Anderson. Photo: Bev Moser


Gretchen Peters. Photo: Bev Moser

Gretchen Peters. Photo: Bev Moser


Pat Higdon. Photo: Bev Moser

Pat Higdon. Photo: Bev Moser


Tom Douglas. Photo: Bev Moser

Tom Douglas. Photo: Bev Moser


NaSHOF  10.5.2014  605  Moments By Moser

Paul Craft. Photo: Bev Moser


Performance by Thomas Rhett. Photo: Bev Moser

Performance by Thomas Rhett. Photo: Bev Moser


Performance by Brandy Clark. Photo: Bev Moser

Performance by Brandy Clark. Photo: Bev Moser


Performance by Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Bev Moser

Performance by Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Bev Moser


Performance by Tim McGraw. Photo: Bev Moser

Performance by Tim McGraw. Photo: Bev Moser

Favorite Industry Lunch Spot To Close

substopA favorite music industry lunch spot may close its doors according to a report by News Channel 2. The owners of Sub Stop, located near Music Row at 1701 Broadway, told WKRN that they may be forced out after a proposal to rezone the area was passed by the Metro Planning Commission in September. The rezoning now goes to the Metro Council for its first reading.
In August, MusicRow reported Nashville would soon be home to a SkyHouse luxury high-rise apartment building at the current Sub Stop location. The 25-story, 352-unit building being built by Novare Group and Batson-Cook Development Company would include more than 10,600-square-feet of ground level retail.
Sub Stop has served locals for over 40 years.

A rending of the proposed SkyHouse apartment for Nashville.

A rendering of the proposed SkyHouse apartment for Nashville.

ACM Voting Timeline For 2015 Awards

acmThe ballot timeline has been announced for professional membership voting for the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Television Network.
New membership applications and existing membership renewals must be completed by 5 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 31 for members to be eligible to vote during the 2015 awards cycle.
The ballot timeline for professional members is as follows:
Nomination Round Ballot Opens – Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014
Nomination Round Ballot Closes – Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014
Second Round Ballot Opens – Monday, Jan. 12, 2015
Second Round Ballot Closes – Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015
Final Round Ballot Opens – Monday, March 23, 2015
Final Round Ballot Closes – Monday, March 30, 2015
To apply online for membership with the Academy of Country Music, please visit https://membership.acmcountry.com/individual/application.

Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Moves to June 2015

country radio hall of fame11The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards, typically scheduled in conjunction with the Country Radio Seminar, will be held June 24, 2015. The dinner will now coincide with the Country Radio Broadcasters’ annual summer Board and Agenda committee meetings.
CRS Hall of Fame Chairman RJ Curtis stated, “Due to a slightly abbreviated CRS 2015 schedule, hotel rooms and event space were not available for our Country Radio Hall of Fame event to coincide with the Seminar, as is usually the case. Nonetheless, we are excited to restore the Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner as a companion piece to the June Board and Agenda meetings. Before it served as the front-door to CRS, the Hall of Fame Dinner was the centerpiece of Summer and a successful, stand-alone event. We’re both confident and excited that our beautiful, new and soon-to-be revealed location will serve as the perfect venue to honor our deserving Class of 2015 inductees to the Country Radio Hall of Fame.”
Ticket price information and event location will be made known in coming months.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inducts Four

Pictured (L-R):  Pat Alger, Board Chair , NaSHOF Foundation; inductees Gretchen Peters, Tom Douglas and John Anderson; Mark Ford, Executive Director, NaSHOF Foundation. Front Row: Inductee Paul Craft. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): Pat Alger, Board Chair, NaSHOF Foundation; inductees Gretchen Peters, Tom Douglas and John Anderson; Mark Ford, Executive Director, NaSHOF Foundation. Front Row: Inductee Paul Craft. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


It was an all-star celebration Sunday evening (Oct. 5) at Nashville’s Music City Center, as John Anderson, Paul Craft, Tom Douglas, and Gretchen Peters were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Once again four incredibly talented songwriters have taken their rightful place as the newest members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Pat Alger, Board Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation and a member of the Hall of Fame. “John Anderson, Paul Craft, Tom Douglas and Gretchen Peters represent the best our great songwriting community has to offer. With long fruitful careers of memorable songs, they set the highest creative standard for all of us.”
Paul Craft. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Paul Craft. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


Paul Craft was inducted by Hall of Fame songwriter Layng Martine, Jr. Thomas Rhett performed a medley of songs, including “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life” and “Brother Jukebox.” Britt Ronstadt performed “Keep Me From Blowing Away” and Bobby Bare closed out the set with “Drop Kick Me, Jesus.”
Gretchen Peters. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Gretchen Peters. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


Gretchen Peters was inducted by Hall of Fame songwriter Rodney Crowell. Brandy Clark performed a medley of “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am” and “Independence Day” while Trisha Yearwood sang “On A Bus To St. Cloud.” Bryan Adams sent a congratulatory video message to Peters.
Tom Douglas. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Tom Douglas. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


Tom Douglas was inducted by his longtime publisher Troy Tomlinson. The music segment featured Collin Raye performing “Little Rock,” Hall of Fame member and co-writer Allen Shamblin singing “The House That Built Me” and Tim McGraw with “My Little Girl.” Lady Antebellum sent their congratulations to Douglas via video.
John Anderson. Photo: Moments By Moser

John Anderson. Photo: Moments By Moser


John Anderson was inducted by Big & Rich’s John Rich, who also performed a medley of Anderson penned hits, including “Wish I Coulda Been There” and “Chicken Truck.” Hall of Fame songwriter Bobby Braddock sang “Seminole Wind,” while Josh Turner performed “Swingin’.”
Hall of Fame songwriters Matraca Berg and Don Schlitz presented the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award to publisher Pat Higdon.  
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Back row (L-R): Matt Jenkins, Jessi Alexander, Brett James, Tom Douglas, Dierks Bentley, Bart Herbison. Second row (L-R): Jeffrey Steele, Chris Tompkins, Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Deric Ruttan. Third Row (L-R): Craig Wiseman, Luke Laird, Chris Stapleton, Lee Thomas Miller, Zach Crowell, Phillip Coleman, Connie Harrington, Jim Beavers. Front row (L-R): Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Don Henry, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon and Ashley Gorley. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser


The evening also featured a presentation to Troy Tomlinson, president and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville, in recognition for his efforts to raise funds for the construction of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Music City Center.
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) also presented its annual Songwriter Achievement Awards.
The organization’s professional songwriter members voted “Automatic” (written by Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert / recorded by Miranda Lambert) as their Song of the Year.
The Songwriter of the Year prize went to Ashley Gorley.  The Songwriter/Artist of the Year was awarded to Jack White.
In addition to honoring the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, NSAI presented “The 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” Awards, voted on by NSAI’s Professional Membership, to the following writers and their songs: “All Kinds Of Kinds” (Phillip Coleman, Don Henry / recorded by Miranda Lambert), “Boys ’Round Here” (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Craig Wiseman / recorded by Blake Shelton), “Cop Car” (Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Matt Jenkins / recorded by Keith Urban), “Drink A Beer” (Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton / recorded by Luke Bryan), “Drunk On A Plane” (Dierks Bentley, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins / recorded by Dierks Bentley), “Follow Your Arrow” (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves / recorded by Kacey Musgraves), “Give Me Back My Hometown” (Eric Church, Luke Laird / recorded by Eric Church), “I Hold On” (Dierks Bentley, Brett James / recorded by Dierks Bentley), “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” (Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele / recorded by Tim McGraw w/ Faith Hill) and “Mine Would Be You” (Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan / recorded by Blake Shelton).

MTSU To Host Public Seminar with Bonnaroo Co-founders

Pictured (L-R):

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Capps, Rick Farman


MTSU’s College of Mass Communication will host a daylong, open-to-the-public seminar on Oct. 8 with the co-founders and organizers of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
“Bonnaroo: The Making of a Music Festival” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Bonnaroo co-founders Ashley Capps and Rick Farman and the festival’s entire management team to discuss business models, planning, marketing and media to its community spirit, volunteerism, music and programming.
“It’s simply unprecedented for the full management team of a world-class music festival to take a full day to engage and educate the next generation of music and media professionals,” said Ken Paulson, dean of MTSU’s College of Mass Communication. “The entire organization has been generous with its time and talent.”
Scheduled sessions include:

  • “The Business of Bonnaroo,” 10:20-11:15 a.m.
  • “The Spirit and Community of Bonnaroo,” 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.
  • “The Music and Programming of Bonnaroo,” 12:40-2:05 p.m.
  • “The Marketing and Media of Bonnaroo,” 2:20-3:45 p.m.

As part of a partnership between the festival and the college, previous events have included a question-and-answer with students, and a behind the scenes look at multimedia news coverage for students for the June festival. A preview of the Oct. 8 event is available via video between Paulson and the co-founders.
Wednesday’s event will be held in the Parliamentary Room, Room 201, of MTSU’s Student Union. Printable campus map’s are available here. Off-campus visitors should check in with MTSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation. For more information, call 615-898-5171 or email.
The four-day music and arts festival launched in 2002, selling out 70,000 tickets in 11 days. Since then, organizers have continued to expand both its entertainment offerings and its 700-acre site near Manchester, Tenn. Multiple stages now draw crowds in excess of 90,000.

Little Big Town Brings 'Pain Killer' To Nashville

LBT11

Little Big Town at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. Photo: Becky Fluke


“We’ve been about to pop for this night to happen,” Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman said as the group took the stage at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium on Thursday night (Oct. 2) to introduce their new album to fans and industry VIPs.
The group will release its sixth studio album, Pain Killer, on Oct. 21 (Capitol Nashville). UMG Nashville chairman/CEO Mike Dungan reminded the crowd that Little Big Town has “sold 1.5 million albums, in a time when records don’t sell.” Praising Pain Killer, Dungan called the project “one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long time.”
While the group’s tight-knit harmonies on songs such as “Pontoon” and “Boondocks” have made them a favorite among fans and industry members alike, the new album showcases the group’s individual strengths as much as their instinctual vocal blend. Schlapman’s soulful soprano dominated on songs like “Good People,” while Phillip Sweet was highlighted on “Stay All Night.” Jimi Westbrook‘s powerful rock-drenched vocal was a perfect fit on uptempo tunes such as “Tumble and Fall.” The group’s harmonies are still the backbone of the group, and featured prominently on songs such as “Live Forever,” and “Turn The Lights On.”
From the opening notes of “Quit Breaking Up With Me” and current single “Day Drinking,” through largely rock-infused songs including “Stay All Night” and “Things You Don’t Think About,” the crowd was attentive and enthusiastic.
Photo: Becky Fluke

Photo: Becky Fluke


The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the cleverly written, sultry ballad “Girl Crush,” penned by Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey, which featured Karen Fairchild‘s powerful, soulful alto.
The group offered a round of thanks to their label, management, band, and writers on the project. “To the writers in Nashville, thanks for finding things we haven’t done before. These songs are everything and have changed our lives,” said Fairchild. Little Big Town also put their families in the spotlight (literally), shining the light on them as they waved to the group from their seats in the upper balcony.
“Whatever happens to this record, we love it,” said Fairchild who thanked producer-songwriter Jay Joyce for “allowing us to grow as artists, and chase our dreams in different ways.”
The group ended with their signature harmonies on the ballad “Silver and Gold,” sparsely backed by acoustic guitar.
Pain Killer Track Listing
1. “Quit Breaking Up With Me” (Busbee, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally)
2. “Day Drinking” (Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet, Troy Verges, Barry Dean)
3. “Tumble and Fall” (Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey)
4. “Pain Killer” (Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Blair Daley, Hillary Lindsey)
5. “Girl Crush” (Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey)
6. “Faster Gun” (Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet)
7. “Good People” (Jay Joyce, Natalie Hemby, Jeremy Spillman)
8. “Stay All Night” (Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet, Brent Cobb, Jason Saenz)
9. “Save Your Sin” (Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey)
10. “Live Forever” (Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell)
11. “Things You Don’t Think About” (Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman)
12. “Turn The Lights On” (Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Natalie Hemby,
Jay Joyce, Jeremy Spillman)
13. “Silver and Gold” (Jedd Hughes, Jay Joyce, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild)

Old Dominion Set to Release Self-Titled Debut EP on Oct. 7

lLOwIAE92r-Y0yvdcGEgb4lqENNpGLAltRFjVNBDn4w,FDTVhq1LhfWgr0-VDISjB8Dqe6ofuRekWD8BvM8EogMNew country group Old Dominion is set to release their self-titled debut EP on Tuesday, Oct. 7, on ReeSmack-Thirty Tigers records. The five-track EP, produced by Shane McAnally, includes fan favorite “Break Up With Him” as well as their current single “Shut Me Up,” which has seen success on Sirius XM’s The Highway and has also reached nearly 1.7 million streams on Spotify and is available on iTunes.
Also on release day, the band will be chatting with Storme Warren on Sirius XM’s “The Drive” about their new album and what’s in store for them this fall. Additionally, the band and its single “Shut Me Up” will be featured on ABC’s hit show Nashville on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9 p.m. CT / 10 ET.
Old Dominion is touring select dates with country maverick Chase Rice for his Ignite the Night Tour. They will also play the Grand Ole Opry stage on Oct. 14 and headline a show at Mercy Lounge on Nov. 19.