Universal Music Nashville’s Jason Owen has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Artist Development and Marketing for the label. In his new position, Owen will wear many hats. In addition to directing all publicity, creative and video activities for MCA and Mercury Nashville, he will also oversee the digital and marketing departments for both […]
The Academy of Country Music has announced winners of awards that will not be televised during the live telecast of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on April 5. Dolly Parton will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout […]
The New Zealand government has rejected legislation that would have required Internet service providers to terminate accounts of chronic copyright offenders. In a defeat for content owners, the government announced that they would scrap a key section of the legislation, which was due to be implemented this Friday (3/27). Although both the copyright owners and […]
Universal Records South artist Phil Vassar will be featured on Feed The Children’s one-hour special on Hallmark Channel’s Americans Feeding Americans this Wednesday (3/25) at 6 PM/CT. Americans Feeding Americans reaches out to viewers to help Feed The Children in their ongoing effort to get emergency food to families caught in the current economic crisis. […]
The ever-youthful Dolly Parton is no stranger to magazine covers, but the singer’s appearance on the cover of the May/June issue of AARP Magazine may turn a few grey heads. In the cover story, Parton, 63, is candid about growing up poor, never having children, and clearing up rumors about her closest relationships. She also […]
U.S. music rights licensing organization The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), announced today that its 2008 royalty collections from all sources was $307.1 million, a 22% decline from 2007. Also in 2008, HFA issued over 2.44 million mechanical licenses, a 62% increase over 2007. Digital downloads also increased, by almost 47% over 2007, bringing the […]
EMI Music announced today (3/23), that its President of Digital Music, Douglas Merrill will leave the company as its digital unit is integrated into its main operations. Formerly with Google, Inc., Merrill has been with EMI less than a year. EMI has promoted Cory Ondrejka to the newly created title of Executive Vice President of […]
East Tennessee native Dolly Parton, official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has released a new eight-song CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies. The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton will donate to the nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting the Smokies. The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! […]
Sony/ATV Nashville has signed hit songwriter/producer Keith Stegall to a multi-year publishing deal. The co-writer of the pop standard, “We’re in This Love Together,” Stegall is also the writer of nine No. 1 country singles, including “I Hate Everything” by George Strait and “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. As Jackson’s longtime producer, Stegall […]
William Donald “Bill” Johnson, acclaimed pedal steel guitarist for artists including Red Sovine, George Jones and Marty Robbins, died March 17 in Tallassee, Alabama. In addition to his steel playing, Johnson made his mark as a songwriter, most notably with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” which was recorded by over 150 artists, including Jack Greene, […]