Patsy Cline Museum Coming To Downtown Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Museum Founders Shannon Miller and Bill Miller, Mayor Megan Barry, and Julie Fudge (Cline’s daughter). Photo: Erin Lee Allender

Pictured (L-R): Museum Founders Shannon Miller and Bill Miller, Mayor Megan Barry, and Julie Fudge (Cline’s daughter). Photo: Erin Lee Allender

Bill Miller, founder of The Johnny Cash Museum, has revealed plans for The Patsy Cline Museum in downtown Nashville. It’s his latest business venture following The Johnny Cash Museum and the future opening of Nudie’s Honky Tonk.

Construction will begin in June on the museum honoring Cline. The museum, which will be funded and operated by the Miller family organization, will take up several thousand square feet of space directly above the Johnny Cash Museum at 119 3rd Ave. in Nashville.

The exhibits will include interactive cutting-edge audio and touch screen video technology. The family of Patsy Cline is providing never-before-seen pieces from their personal archive, allowing the museum to host the largest collection of rare Cline artifacts in the world, including many of Cline’s personal possessions, costumes, awards, letters, furniture and photographs.

“Of all the artists in the history of country music, few are as recognized and as recognizable as Patsy Cline. Despite the fact that she passed decades ago, her impact and presence are every bit as big today as ever. She has transcended generations and genres and is indisputably the greatest and most influential female country music artist of all time. She’s a true icon deserving of her own museum. Her fans from around the globe will have a place to come and celebrate her life and legacy. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be working with Patsy’s children on this world-class museum project,” Miller said.

Julie Fudge, Cline’s daughter, adds, “I am very happy to speak on behalf of my brothers, Randy and Chip, and in honor of the legacy of my mother Patsy Cline. Since the passing of our father last fall, this is our first step together in continuing to share Mom’s music, life and story, as we feel Dad would have. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with and experience what Bill will present to old and new fans alike.”

“I’m grateful for Bill Miller’s leadership in helping to preserve and showcase Nashville’s history, and I’m looking forward to visiting the new museum and learning more about the remarkable life and career of Patsy Cline,” said Mayor Megan Barry.

Bobby Karl Works MusicRow’s Rising Women On The Row

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Pictured (L-R): Craig Shelburne, Amanda Cates, Leslie Roberts, Cris Lacy, Abbey Adams, Risha Rodgers, Sherod Robertson. Photo: Molly Hannula

Pictured (L-R): Craig Shelburne, Amanda Cates, Leslie Roberts, Cris Lacy, Abbey Adams, Risha Rodgers, Sherod Robertson. Photo: Molly Hannula

Rising Women on the Row has risen higher than ever.

The fifth annual breakfast celebrating female music executives was staged on Friday morning (April 8) at the Omni Nashville Hotel by MusicRow magazine. A new attendance record was set, with nearly 350 in attendance. Mickey Guyton provided superbly sung tunes. The buffet was excellent.

And you couldn’t beat the quality of the honorees. Sony/ATV’s Creative Director of A&R Abbey Adams, Maverick Nashville’s head of marketing and digital strategy Amanda Cates, Warner Music Nashville’s VP of A&R Cris Lacy, BMI’s executive director of writer/publisher relations Leslie Roberts, and WME’s first female partner in Nashville Risha Rodgers were each honored on the ballroom stage.

Featured speaker Ali Harnell was delightfully frank, honest and wise during her Q&A with host Sherod Robertson. She is the Sr. VP at AEG Live and has had a 25-year career as a concert promoter.

“Being a human being today is rough, and being a woman brings an extra dimension,” said Harnell. “I absolutely do think it is harder for a woman. Do you really want me to go into it—the misogyny, the sexism, the ageism? I do think there is a path now where we will see a change. … Never give up. Know what’s important. There is a calling and a purpose to what you do.”

Robertson told the crowd that his inspiration for creating this event five years ago came from his feisty, fearless, “bad-ass” grandma in Mississippi. He brought each honoree to the stage with words about their philanthropic activities as well as their career accomplishments. The mag’s general manager Craig Shelburne handed out the plaques.

“Thank you, MusicRow, for honoring women today,” said Adams. “I’m so very humbled to be mentioned with the women in this group. Songwriters…thank you for trusting us with your songs every day.”

“I just love so much that you’re shining the spotlight on women in this industry,” echoed Cates. “I count myself beyond blessed to live in this community. And I want to leave it better than I found it.”

Lacy became teary-eyed when she took to the podium. “It’s so humbling to look out at you and look up to you,” she said to the many females in attendance. “I know how tirelessly you work every day. And how you’re supposed to be invisible. And that’s hard. Thank you, MusicRow, for making us visible. Everybody in this room should be on this stage.”

“This is amazing,” said Roberts, who is one of the few people in the music biz who is a Nashville native. “It’s such an honor to be up here with you ladies. Mentors believed in me when I did not believe in myself.”

Rogers was also surprised to find herself weepy when she began her acceptance remarks. “It’s rewarding to be honored by your peers. … Make whoever you work for need you,” she added by way of advice. “There are many female agents in our office who are equally bad-ass.”

“I think the theme today is that we have some bad-ass women,” Robertson concluded. At the beginning of the event he brought City National Bank’s Diane Pearson to the stage to accept framed artwork as thanks for her long-term presenting sponsorship of Rising Women on the Row.

“We so appreciate being a part of this event every year,” she said. “You all inspire us on a daily basis. We’ll continue to be a part of this as long as you will have us.”

This year’s supporting sponsors included Applauze, BMI, CAA, Dickinson Wright, IEBA, The Kinkead Entertainment Agency, Martin Allbee & Associates, Maverick, Monarch Publicity, Nashville School of the Arts, The Recording Academy & MusiCares, Sony/ATV, Song Suffragettes: Let the Girls Play, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Nashville and WME.

Fittingly, this event always features female entertainment. Mickey Guyton took charge of the finale. She brought the house down with her extended vocal sustains on the power waltz “Why Baby Why” and her range-y phrasing on the ballad “Better Than You Left Me.” Afterward, she posed happily for photos with her all-female CAA team.

Other bad-ass women who RSVP’d included Debbie Linn, Debbie Carroll, Deborah Evans Price, Cindy Hunt, Cyndi Forman, Cindy Watts, Leslie Fram, Leslie DiPiero, Julie Boos, Joanna Carter, Jackie Patillo, Judi Turner, Jensen Sussman, Jill Napier, Alicia Warwick and her many female NARAS staffers, Tracy Gershon, Brandi Simms, Erika Wollam-Nichols, Sarah Skates, Paula Erickson, Carole-Ann Mobley, Katharine Richardson, Diane Richey, Rachel Whitney, Pam Matthews, Martha Ivester, Nancy Peacock, Donna Hughes, Penny Gattis, Rachel Whitney, Jennifer Danielson, Jaclyn Krimmel Jones, and Terri Grohusky.

OK, OK, many guys attended as well. Cheering their sisters in arms were Neal Spielberg, Jody Williams, Dale Bobo, Woody Bomar, Clarence Spalding, Pat Higdon, Don Cusic, Tim Wipperman, Scott Hendricks, Peter Strickland, Todd Cassetty, Chris Parr, Kos Weaver, Phil Graham, Rusty Gaston, Clay Bradley and John Zarling. And Bobby Karl, hisself.

Rising Women on the Row sponsorships

Big Machine Signs ‘American Idol’ Winner, Runner-Up

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La' Porsha Renae and Trent Harmon. Photo: American Idol

La’ Porsha Renae and Trent Harmon. Photo: American Idol

During last night’s (April 7) star-studded series finale of American Idol, 25-year-old Amory, Mississippi native Trent Harmon was crowned the American Idol, while McComb, Mississippi native La’ Porsha Renae was named runner-up.

Harmon has signed with 19/Big Machine to begin work on a country album, while Renae has signed with 19/Big Machine/Motown Records, MusicRow has confirmed. The move breaks from previous Idol seasons, where the runner-up wasn’t necessarily offered a deal.

“Because of the overwhelming fan demand and success of the Farewell Season of American Idol we have made the decision to sign both Trent Harmon and runner up La’Porsha Renae to exclusive recording agreements,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta in a statement. “I can’t think of a bigger and better way to bring this American Institution to a close. Everyone at the Big Machine Label Group, 19 Entertainment, the Universal Music Group & Motown Records are so thrilled with the outcome and can’t wait to get to work.”

American Idol judge and country artist Keith Urban co-wrote Harmon’s debut single, “Falling” with Dallas Davidson and Brett James.

Sea Gayle Music, Station West Sign Baylor Wilson

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Pictured (L-R): Driskill; Mitch Furr, Station West; Kyle Manner, Station West; Jake Gear, Sea Gayle; Wooten; Wilson; Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle; Jessica Amerson, Station West; Leslie Roberts, BMI; Mike Owens, Sea Gayle; Freeman Wizer, Sea Gayle; Jim Zumwalt, Attorney; Brandon Gregg, Sea Gayle

Pictured (L-R): Driskill; Mitch Furr, Station West; Kyle Manner, Station West; Jake Gear, Sea Gayle; Wooten; Wilson; Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle; Jessica Amerson, Station West; Leslie Roberts, BMI; Mike Owens, Sea Gayle; Freeman Wizer, Sea Gayle; Jim Zumwalt, Attorney; Brandon Gregg, Sea Gayle

Sea Gayle Records has released Baylor Wilson‘s debut EP Living Right. The project is produced by Luke Wooten.

Living Right is being released on Sea Gayle Records as part of Wilson’s recently-signed worldwide publishing agreement with Sea Gayle Music and Station West.

“We can’t wait to get Baylor’s music out there for people to hear,” said Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill. “She is such a talented singer, gifted songwriter and engaging entertainer. Her music speaks for itself and we are so proud to support her artistry.”

Keith Urban’s ‘Ripcord’ Features Carrie Underwood, Pitbull

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Keith Urban collaborates with both rapper Pitbull and country star Carrie Underwood on his upcoming May 6 release, Ripcord.

“Sun Don’t Let Me Down,” co-produced by Nile Rodgers, busbee and Urban, “was basically finished,” said Urban. “But there was this musical breakdown about half-way into the song that we were going to leave, and then I heard this Pitbull song. I’ve always loved his vocal style and swagger, and in that moment I could hear his voice in the breakdown of the song. So I called Nile (Rodgers) and asked him if he could send the song to Pitbull. Thankfully he felt it, spat out a verse, and it was the most incredible feeling hearing him on the track for the first time. It suited the spirit of the song.”

Underwood contributed her vocals to another busbee/Urban collaboration, “The Fighter.”

“Carrie and I toured together a few years ago and every night we’d do a song together,” said Urban. “I’ve always loved singing with her. We had written this song, “The Fighter,” that needed a female voice and Carrie’s voice immediately came to mind. I can’t wait for people to hear it – and hope that we get to do it live.”

Ripcord pre-orders are currently available at iTunes and Amazon.

Urban launches his “ripCORD World Tour 2016” with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris on June 2 in Kansas City and thus far will play more than 50 shows in amphitheaters and arenas through the U.S.

Ripcord Track Listing
1. Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)
2. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
3. Wasted Time
4. Habit Of You
5. Sun Don’t Let Me Down (featuring Pitbull)
6. Getting’ In The Way
7. Blue Ain’t Your Color
8. The Fighter (featuring Carrie Underwood)
9. Break On Me
10. Boy Gets A Truck
11. Your Body
12. That Could Still Be Us
13. Worry ‘Bout Nothin’

 

Martina McBride, JD Souther Slated For Grammy Salute To Music Legends

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Martina McBride. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Martina McBride. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Martina McBride and JD Souther are among the first round of performers announced for the Grammy Salute To Music Legends, slated for Saturday, April 23 at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards will honor the The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards recipients for 2016.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Ruth Brown, Celia Cruz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Jefferson Airplane, Linda Ronstadt, and RUN DMC. John Cage, Fred Foster, and Chris Strachwitz are Trustees Award honorees; and EMT and Dr. Harvey Fletcher are Technical Grammy® Award recipients. Also being honored is Phillip Riggs, this year’s recipient of the Music Educator Award.

Other performers include Lila Downs; Earth, Wind & Fire; Andy Garcia and the CineSon All Stars, and Lucrecia.

JD Souther

JD Souther

A salute to 10-time Grammy winner Ronstadt will feature pop, country, and Latin musical offerings from Lila Downs, Martina McBride and JD Souther.

Paying tribute to three-time Grammy winner and four-time Latin Grammy winner Celia Cruz — internationally known as the “Queen Of Salsa” — are Latin GRAMMY nominee Lucrecia and GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner Andy García, who will bring his Cuban musical group, Andy Garcia And The CineSon All Stars, to the stage.

Honorees and six-time GRAMMY winners Earth, Wind & Fire, one of the most important and innovative musical forces influencing music and popular culture across generations, are set to give what will be a roof-raising performance.

The event, featuring rare performances by honorees and never-before-seen renditions by those they’ve inspired, is produced in partnership with THIRTEEN as part of the “Great Performances” series on PBS, set to air later this year.

Weekly Chart Report (4/8/16)

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Tin Pan South 2016: Night 2

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Pictured (L-R): Chris Wallin, Amanda Weeks-Geveden of Regions Bank, Don Sampson, Lisa Harless of Regions Bank, and Tony Arata at the Wednesday Bluebird Cafe early show.

Pictured (L-R): Chris Wallin, Amanda Weeks-Geveden of Regions Bank, Don Sampson, Lisa Harless of Regions Bank, and Tony Arata at the Wednesday Bluebird Cafe early show.

The talk at most of the shows around town during Tin Pan South last night (Wednesday, April 6) was the passing of country legend Merle Haggard, and The Listening Room early show opened with Joe Denim, Jack Ingram, Ray Scott and Natalie Stovall singing “Are The Good Times Really Over.” Lee Roy Parnell, a friend of Haggard’s, teared up when he opened his Station Inn round with “That’s The Way Love Goes.” Jim Collins performed a touching tribute, and many of the writers relayed stories about The Hag and his influence on their songwriting.

Kelsea Ballerini, who led a sold-out show at The Listening Room Tuesday night, returned last night to sing with Dave Barnes and crew. The ASCAP early show with JT Harding, Tracy Lawrence, Hunter Phelps and Trent Willmon at The Hard Rock Café was standing room only, as were both Douglas Corner shows.

Pictured (L-R): Robert Filhart, ASCAP; JT Harding; Trent Willmon; Tracy Lawrence; Hunter Phelps; Rick Huckaby; Michael Martin, ASCAP.

Pictured (L-R): Robert Filhart, ASCAP; JT Harding; Trent Willmon; Tracy Lawrence; Hunter Phelps; Rick Huckaby; Michael Martin, ASCAP.

The Bluebird Café saw two sell-outs with Tony Arata, Larry Cordle, Don Sampson and Chris Wallin at the early show and Mac Davis, Scotty Emerick, Leslie Satcher and Bobby Tomberlin at the BMI late show. The packed out room enjoyed many hits by some of country music’s most prolific writers. BMI writer Even Stevens and ASCAP writer Allen Shamblin were also featured as guest performers, hopping up from the crowd to join the round.

During a shoulder-to-shoulder late show at The Country, a new venue near Centennial Park, the round featured Matraca Berg, Brent Cobb, Andrew Combs and Waylon Payne.

Tin Pan South official airline sponsor Southwest Airlines shocked one patron at The Country’s early show last night when attendee Jennifer Alexander won two roundtrip tickets to the Southwest destination of her choice. In a program dubbed “Surprise and Delight,” the airline is set to bring joy to Tin Pan attendees throughout the week.

Friday Night Note: Sonia Leigh has been to the 3rd & Lindsley early show on Friday (April 8) with Granville Automatic, Travis Meadows and Angaleena Pressley.

Pictured (L-R), Standing: BMI songwriter Scotty Emerick, BMI’s Phil Graham, Jody Williams and Bradley Collins, BMI songwriter Bobby Tomberlin. Seated: BMI songwriters Leslie Satcher and Mac Davis.

Pictured (L-R), Standing: BMI songwriter Scotty Emerick, BMI’s Phil Graham, Jody Williams and Bradley Collins, BMI songwriter Bobby Tomberlin. Seated: BMI songwriters Leslie Satcher and Mac Davis.

Tin Pan South 2016 4

Tracy Lawrence performed at The Hard Rock Cafe early show with JT Harding, Hunter Phelps and Trent Willmon Wednesday night.

Tin Pan South 2016 5

Tin Pan South 2016 2

Michael Ray (center) performed at the Hard Rock Cafe late show Wednesday with Jaron Boyer, Jeffrey East and Michael Tyler.

Tin Pan South 2016 3

Pictured (L-R): Jordan Reynolds, Dave Barnes, Jim Collins and Wendell Mobley performed at The Listening Room Cafe late show Wednesday evening.

Artist Updates: Lera Lynn, Tegan Marie, Brandy Clark

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BMI Celebrates Lera Lynn’s New Album, Resistor

Pictured (L-R): Perry Howard, BMI; Joshua Grange, co-producer; Lera Lynn; Lauren Branson, BMI; Jody Williams, BMI

Pictured (L-R): Perry Howard, BMI; Joshua Grange, co-producer; Lera Lynn; Lauren Branson, BMI; Jody Williams, BMI

BMI hosted a party for Nashville singer-songwriter Lera Lynn, who will be self-releasing her new album, Resistor, on April 29. Lynn wrote all 10 songs for the independent project, which was co-produced by Joshua Grange. In 2015, Lynn appeared as a barroom singer in HBO’s True Detective and contributed a handful of songs to the show’s soundtrack.

 

Tegan Marie, 12, Releasing New Single

Tegan Marie album coverTegan Marie, a 12-year-old singer-songwriter and viral star, will join Granger Smith to perform at a benefit concert for Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint, Michigan. Tegan Marie grew up in the Flint suburb of Grand Blanc and will be donating all the proceeds of her new single, “Lucky Me,” to the hospital, which is treating many of the young patients affected by the city’s water crisis.

Tegan Marie will open a show for Hunter Hayes in May in Orlando, Florida. She was discovered through her cover versions of hit country songs, including Kelsea Ballerini’s “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Ballerini and Tegan Marie later filmed a video of them performing it together. Tegan Marie’s 2015 holiday single, “A Christmas Tree,” was featured on SiriusXM, Radio Disney, Pandora, and more.

 

Brandy Clark Featured In ACM Sessions

Brandy Clark

Brandy Clark

The Academy of Country Music and CBS Digital Media currently features Brandy Clark in a new episode of online concert series, ACM Sessions, presented by RAM Trucks. The series has welcomed artists including Old Dominion, Chris Young, Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge and Justin Moore for on-demand performances and Q&A sessions hosted by ACM’s Lisa Lee. Clark’s ACM Sessions performance is now available on-demand exclusively on CBS.com and CBS Audience Network partner sites.

Clark’s ACM Sessions features “Girl Next Door,” the first single off of her sophomore album, Big Day in a Small Town, due out June 10.

Industry Ink: Edison Research, IBMA, Belmont University, MTSU

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Americans Are Radio “Button Pushers”

edisonThe average American user of AM/FM radio switches the station 22 times during a commute, while those using other platforms switch an average of 9.3 times per commute, according to Edison Research’s national survey titled “Hacking The Commuter Code.”

The survey included 1,117 adults ages 18+ who are employed full-time or part-time, and who commute 20 minutes or more daily and listen to any type of radio, including terrestrial radio, Streaming Internet Radio, CDs, digital audio files/MP3s, satellite radio, etc.

The study also found that 21 percent of users are categorized as “The Restless,” or those who switch stations constantly. Some 52 percent (“The Seekers”) switch stations occasionally during a commute, while 27 percent (“The Keepers”) mostly stick to one station.

 

Voting Schedule Released For IBMA

IBMA-AwardsThe International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards has released the voting schedule for the upcoming IBMA Awards show, which will be held Sept. 29 in Raleigh, N.C. To be eligible for voting on Ballot 1, IBMA membership must be confirmed or renewed by April 11 at 10 a.m.

2016 Ballot Schedule
Ballot 1: Apr. 15-Apri 30. Professional members establish a pool of candidates that will shape the remaining two ballots. Any entry that meets the awards criteria and receives a minimum of 10 unique write-ins for a given category will qualify as a candidate and be listed on ballot 2.

Ballot 2: June 15-June 30. Sets forth a list of candidates from which you will select the five final nominees. The top 5 vote recipients in each category become the final nominees that will appear on the third ballot.

Ballot 3: Aug, 1-Aug, 15. Includes five nominees for each category from which you will choose a single winner.

 

Music Row History Panel Set For Belmont University

Belmont logoBelmont University and the Metro Historical Commission will host a panel titled “A History of Music Row” on Mon., April 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Johnson Building at Belmont. Panelists for the event will be Bobby Braddock, author of A Life on Music Row and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame; Michael Kosser, author of How Nashville Became Music City U.S.A. and Brenda Colladay, former curator at the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman. Emcee for the event will be Don Cusic, Curb Professor of Music Industry History at Belmont and a member of the Metro Historical Commission.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held in the large theater on the first floor of the Johnson Building, located at 1909 15th Ave. S. Parking is available in the Johnson parking garage.

 

Grammy Foundation Grant Given To MTSU’s Center for Popular Music For Bluegrass Music Archival

mtsu logo111MTSU’s Center for Popular Music has been named as the recipient for another national grant from the Grammy Foundation, to digitize an extensive live bluegrass audio collection from music supporter Marvin Hedrick. Hedrick died in 1973. His sons Gary and David donated 167 open-reel tapes as well as other sound recordings and photographs to the Center last year for preservation and archiving.

The $19,537 grant will allow the center to “catalog, preserve, digitize and disseminate the tapes and their contents via a dedicated website and the center’s documentary label, Spring Fed Records,” foundation officials said. “The Marvin Hedrick Audio Collection is one of the most historically and culturally significant collections of live bluegrass recordings in existence.”

The Center for Popular Music received a similar Grammy Foundation grant in 2013 to organize and archive 3,850 cassette and open-reel tapes of music, oral histories and field recordings of Dr. Charles Wolfe, an MTSU English professor who captured musical and interview audio from hundreds of country, blues and bluegrass music practitioners over four decades.