Hall of Fame Gears Up For CMA Music Fest

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Hall Of Fame To Host Artist Signings During Music Fest

The Country Music Hall of Fame will welcome thousands of fans during Music Fest week with tons of activities, including autograph signings, special programs, performances, and the new exhibition, Luke Bryan: Dirt Road Diary.

Among the artists slated to sign autographs or perform are Kelsea BalleriniDanielle BradberyCamAngaleena Presley, RaeLynn, Eric Paslay, Trisha Yearwood, Chase Bryant, Montgomery Gentry, Old Dominion, Charley Pride, Brenda Lee, Lonestar, Oak Ridge Boys, Will Hoge, Jason Michael Carroll, and Brandi Carlile.

A new addition for Music Fest this year is a bundled ticket option that will include museum admission and four-day access to Fan Fair X for $39.95. More information about events can be found here. 

Rogers Exhibit To Run Through Music Fest

Kenny Rogers: Through the Years, the exhibit devoted to Rogers’ impressive seven-decade career, will be open through CMA Music Fest this year so that fans can get one last look before the exhibit shutters June 15. The exhibit provides a comprehensive look at Rogers’ life and work including his awards, memorabilia, costumes, cameras and more spanning his 70-plus years as a recording artist. The same day the exhibit closes, Rogers will embark on his Farewell South Africa Tour. 

Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats Album, Panel Discussion

Legacy Recordings and Country Music Foundation Records will release Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City, a two-disc audio companion to the exhibit of the same name that is currently featured at the Country Music Hall Of Fame. The CD features 36 tracks recorded in Nashville in the 1960s and 1970s by many of the biggest names in contemporary music and will also include a previously unreleased version of the Bob Dylan song “If Not For You.”

In celebration of the CD’s June 16 release, the Museum will host a concert July 7 at 6 p.m. with the lineup and location to be announced soon. Prior to the release, fans can follow a special Spotify playlist featuring ten cuts from the collection. A new song will be added to the playlist each week leading up to the project’s release, and the featured tunes will include special commentary by Charlie Daniels, who played guitar on three of Dylan’s albums.

As part of the exhibition, the Hall will also highlight the 1972 album Kingston Springs Suite by songwriters Vince Matthews and Jim Casey. The album, which had the creative and financial support of Johnny Cash, Cowboy Jack Clement, Kris Kristofferson, and Shel Silverstein, was shelved, and became part of Nashville lore, until its recent release. The panel discussion Saturday, June 6, at 1:30 p.m. will include Casey, journalist Frye Gaillard, and Kingston Springs cohorts Danny Flowers and Chris Gantry.

The Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City exhibit will run through December 2016.

 

2015 Mayoral Music Industry Forum Showcases Candidates

Ken Paulson (far left) moderates the Nashville Mayoral Forum with candidates Linda Eskind Rebrovick, Jeremy Kane, Charles Robert Bone, Howard Gentry, Megan Barry, David Fox, and Bill Freeman at the CMA Theater. Photo: Frederick Breedon for WireImage

Ken Paulson (far left) moderates the Nashville Mayoral Forum with candidates Linda Eskind Rebrovick, Jeremy Kane, Charles Robert Bone, Howard Gentry, Megan Barry, David Fox, and Bill Freeman at the CMA Theater. Photo: Frederick Breedon for WireImage

The 2015 Mayoral Music Industry Forum was held last Thursday (5/28) at the CMA Theater for music industry members and guests to hear directly from the seven candidates running for Nashville mayor. The Forum was a collaborative project presented by CMA, Leadership Music, the Music City Music Council, and The Recording Academy (Nashville Chapter) as a benefit for their Nashville-based members.

The roundtable discussion featured mayoral candidates Megan Barry, Charles Robert Bone, David Fox, Bill Freeman, Howard Gentry, Jeremy Kane and Linda Eskind Rebrovick and was moderated by Ken Paulson.

Paulson posed a series of nine questions during the evening with each candidate allowed up to ninety seconds for their response. While the topics were not centered solely on the music industry, the forum did allow the approximately 300 industry members in attendance the opportunity to learn more about the candidates’ positions on topics such as historical preservation, transportation issues, music education in public schools and the increasing cost of housing in Nashville.

All the candidates were well prepared to discuss these topics. The evening didn’t include any stabs or measured dissension among the candidates, reminding guests that politics, at least in Nashville, can at times be very civil.

After the forum, a reception offering an open bar and hors d’oeuvres was held for attendees to meet with the candidates.

The 2015 Nashville mayoral election will take place on August 6, 2015. The election is officially nonpartisan and the Nashville charter requires a candidate to receive a majority, or 50 percent plus 1, to win. In the likely event no candidate wins a majority of the vote, a runoff will be held on September 10, 2015 between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes.

(L-R): David Fox, moderator Ken Paulson, Howard Gentry, Alicia Warwick (The Recording Academy), Charles Robert Bone, Linda Eskind Rebrovick, Sarah Trahern (CMA), Bill Freeman, Megan Barry, Ed Hardy (Music City Music Council), Debbie Linn (Leadership Music), and Jeremy Kane. Photo: Dusty Draper/CMA

(L-R): David Fox, moderator Ken Paulson, Howard Gentry, Alicia Warwick (The Recording Academy), Charles Robert Bone, Linda Eskind Rebrovick, Sarah Trahern (CMA), Bill Freeman, Megan Barry, Ed Hardy (Music City Music Council), Debbie Linn (Leadership Music), and Jeremy Kane. Photo: Dusty Draper/CMA

T.J. Martell Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fundraising Push

Pictured (L-R): Dave Rothfeld, Floyd Glinert, Clive Davis, Dick Asher, Sheila Asher, Tony Martell and Dr. Jim Holland. Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Pictured (L-R): Dave Rothfeld, Floyd Glinert, Clive Davis, Dick Asher, Sheila Asher, Tony Martell and Dr. Jim Holland. Photo: Getty Images

The T.J. Martell Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a special Top 40-themed Honors Gala and a series of inventive marketing programs and research initiatives to help boost its fundraising to support the foundation’s research and medical treatments for leukemia, cancer and AIDs.

Slated for October 15, the 40th Anniversary T.J. Martell Foundation Annual Honors Gala will be hosted this year by MTV original VJs Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood, and once again brings together music industry and entertainment execs and celebs to honor those who have helped support the foundation and its vision. In recognition of research and medical treatment advancements, the foundation will also announce the newly-created Clive Davis Research Fellow Award this year, an annual grant awarded to a person who has made innovative strides and research in cancer or AIDS. The event will be held in New York City at Cipriani on Wall Street.

Among the special 40th anniversary programs the organization is planning is “Music to Beat Cancer,” led by Brian Kaplan, an entertainment attorney diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 52. Now in full remission, Kaplan wants to help cancer patients cope through music and has created a special compilation CD of songs written by artists to instill hope and inspiration for those battling cancer.

The foundation has also commissioned London-based visual artist Tim Wakefield to create Soundwaves art works to be auctioned off. Soundwaves art is made using the actual digital sound waves of a song transferred to canvas and autographed by the musician.

CharityBuzz has also teamed up with T.J. Martell to offer a special 40th Anniversary online auction of items and unique music experiences that are one-of-a-kind opportunities. From luxury items to exotic trips, it will be the biggest single online auction the Foundation has ever offered.

The “Candles for Cancer” campaign will celebrate survivors of cancers and illuminate their inspirational stories. The program will be announced on national TV and survivors will be invited to light a virtual flame on the T.J. Martell Foundation website and donate in the name of another survivor or patient. Inspiring stories of survivors around the country will also be included in a national series of videos and a new PSA campaign that will launch later this year.

In November 2015 the foundation will also host a Celebrity Purse Auction as part of Julien’s Auctions annual Hollywood Legends auction, that will include purses used and autographed by celebrities. Over 100 purses have been collected to help raise funds for further research.

Since its formation in 1975, T.J. Martell has raised and provided over $270 million for innovative medical research in fighting cancer and AIDS and has made amazing strides in treatments for gastric cancer, sarcoma cancer, prostate cancer, neuroblastoma in children, leukemia, AIDs, breast cancer, HIV-related cancers, lung cancer and others.

For King and Country Win Artist of the Year at K-LOVE Awards

for king and country 2015

Artist of the Year For KING & COUNTRY.

For KING & COUNTRY took home three honors, including the evening’s biggest award, Artist of the Year, at last night’s (May 31) 3rd Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards at The Grand Ole Opry House, presented by Pepsi. The fan-voted CCM show was hosted by FOX & Friend’s Elisabeth Hasselbeck and actor Kirk Cameron.

Other winners included:

Male Artist of the Year: Chris Tomlin
Female Artist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli
Group/Duo of the Year: For KING & COUNTRY
Song of the Year: Newsboys “We Believe
Worship Song of the Year: Lauren Daigle, “How Can It Be”
Artist of the Year: For KING & COUNTRY
Best Live Show: For KING & COUNTRY
First Christian Artist to Appear on 7UP Can: Big Daddy Weave
Sports Impact: Benjamin Watson
Movie Impact: A.D. The Bible Continues
Book Impact: The Best Yes, Lysa TerKeurst

Francesca Battistelli wins Female Artist of the Year

Francesca Battistelli wins Female Artist of the Year

Broadcast live on K-LOVE.com, highlights included performances by Francesca Battestelli, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Colton Dixon, Crowder, Lauren Daigle, For KING & COUNTRY, Danny Gokey, Hawk Nelson, Kari Jobe, Matt Maher, MercyMe, Plumb, Sidewalk Prophets, TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Tenth Avenue North, Third Day and Matthew West.

This year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards partnered with Hands & Feet Project to build a family-style home for orphaned or abandoned children in Haiti.

The show was the pinnacle event of the K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend and Ultimate Fan Experience. There was a star-studded Kickoff Concert, featuring performances by TobyMac, Newsboys, Matthew West, Matt Maher and Sidewalk Prophets. Saturday night welcomed the Songwriters Showcase hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman and featuring MercyMe, Crowder, Colton Dixon, Nichole Nordeman and more. On Sunday, Third Day and Kari Jobe started the day off with a special Worship Service at the Opryland Resort.

The 4th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards is set to return to the Grand Ole Opry House on June 5, 2016.

Photos: Getty Images/Terry Wyatt & Rick Diamond

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Male Artist of the Year winner Chris Tomlin performs “At The Cross (Love Ran Red).”

Hosts

Hosts Kirk Cameron and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Mark Your Calendar – June 2015

Album Release Dates

Kacey-Musgraves-Pageant-MaterialJune 2
Billy Currington/Summer Forever/Mercury Nashville
Maddie & Tae/Start Here/Dot
Gloriana/THREE/Emblem Records-Warner Bros. Records
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard/Django and Jimmie/Legacy Recordings
Rainey Qualley/Turn Down The Lights [EP]/Cingle
KT Oslin/Simply/Red River
Kentucky HeadHunters with Johnnie Johnson/Meet Me In Bluesland/Alligator

June 9
Montgomery Gentry/Folks Like Us/Blaster Records
Laura Bell Bundy/Another Piece Of Me/Big Machine Records
Ashley Clark/Greyhound [EP]/I.R.S. Nashville
Various/Now That’s What I Call Country- Volume 8/Universal Music Group Nashville
Lynn Anderson/Bridges/New Center Sound Records
Sammy Kershaw/I Won’t Back Down/Cleopatra Records

June 16
Various/Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City/Legacy Recordings-Sony Music Entertainment-Country Music Foundation Records (CMF Records)
The SteelDrivers/The Muscle Shoals Recordings/Rounder Records
Big Smo/Bringin’ It Home [EP]/Elektra Records Nashville 

June 23
Kacey Musgraves/Pageant Material/Mercury Nashville
Canaan Smith/Bronco/Mercury Nashville
Sugar & The Hi-Lows/High Roller
Corey Smith/While The Gettin’ Is Good/Rounder-Sugar Hill

June 30
Easton Corbin/About To Get Real/Mercury Nashville

Single Add Dates

Kristian-Bush-Light-Me-UpJune 1
Luke Bryan/Kick The Dust Up/Capitol Nashville
The Cadillac Three/White Lightning/Big Machine
Sam Hunt/House Party/MCA Nashville
Kristian Bush/Light Me Up/Streamsound
Jeff Lionheart/Without You/Generic Records
Jason Pritchett/Good Show/BDMG
Amy Rose/Show Up Naked And Bring Beer/SMG

June 8
Hunter Hayes/21/Warner Bros.
Jake Owen/Real Life/RCA Nashville
Craig Campbell/Tomorrow Tonight/Red Bow Records
The Cains/Journey’s End/GMV Nashville
Olivia Lane/You Part 2/Big Spark Music Group
Michelle Wright/Laugh A Little/Savannah Music
Chris Hennessee/The Gospel According to Lane/Big Gassed Records
Susan Hartman/Love You Everyday/Pink Scarf Music-SDMG
Two Way Crossing/Car Trouble/JMarlowe
Cort Carpenter/Let Me See Your Koozie/

June 15
Tyler Farr/Withdrawals/Columbia Nashville
Lavendine/Maybe I Might/Nine North Records-Turnpike Music-Edgehill Nashville
JB and the Moonshine Band/Shotgun, Rifle and a .45/Light It Up Records-Thirty Tigers

June 22
Brian Collins/Shine A Little Love/Blue Light Entertainment

June 29
Stephanie Quayle/That’s What I’m Talking About/Rebel Engine
Brushville/Dangerous/Brushville, LLC.

Industry Events

MusicRow-AwardsJune 10
2015 CMT Music Awards

June 11-14

  • CMA Music Festival
  • Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 13
SOLID’s 13th Annual Music Row Yard Sale & Auction from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the George Jones Museum

June 18
Songwriter Hall of Fame Annual Awards Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis

June 19
The National Museum of African American Music’s My Music Matters: A Celebration of Legends Luncheon at 11:30am at Wildhorse Saloon.

June 23
MusicRow Awards at ASCAP [invitation only]

June 24
Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards

June 27
CMA Broadcast Awards submissions close 6:00 p.m. CT