Behind-The-Scenes: Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Craig Campbell

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Xfinity Takes Fans Behind-The-Scenes With Swift

Taylor Swift is teaming up with Comcast’s Xfinity to give fans all across the country a taste of her 1989 Tour straight from their couch. As lead sponsor of the tour, Xfinity has built an On-Demand up-close look at the tour, including behind-the-scenes videos, a curated collection of movies, TV, and talk show appearances featuring Swift, and all of her music videos at the touch of a button.

In addition, at each concert stop Xfinity will host a backstage lounge called Loft ’89, where select customers can go on backstage tours.
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Urban Documents Birth of New Single

Keith Urban debuted a new short documentary on the making of his latest single from his forthcoming album. The Making Of John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 premiered on EW.com yesterday. The seven-minute piece explores the creative journey in creating the song.

Craig Campbell

Craig Campbell

Campbell Teases New Video With Behind-The-Scenes Look

Craig Campbell recently released a behind-the-scenes tease with Entertainment Tonight for his latest music video “Tomorrow Tonight.” The official video, filmed in Nashville and directed by Chris Hickey, debuted on CMT Pure.

Co-written by Campbell, Justin Wilson and Vicky McGehee, “Tomorrow Tonight” is the lead track for the star’s debut project on RED BOW Records.

Watch the official video here.

‘Split Work’ Songs May Be Licensed By One

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DeptofjusticeAccording to Billboard, multiple sources have confirmed the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has notified BMI and ASCAP (the two regulated, domestic performance right organizations) that “split work” songs — songs written by multiple writers — may be licensed 100 percent by any rights holder.

“In other words, the long-established industry practice of each rights owner greenlighting their particular portion of a song in order to establish a license — also known as fractional licensing — may no longer be allowed,” said Ed Christman in his piece for the trade publication. “As of now, a music licensee has to go to all rights owners to get a license. That’s why so many synchronizations don’t happen: because all songwriters and publishers have to sign off on a song’s use. With the possible change, it would only need one rights holder to sign off.”

These changes are pending review and approval by ASCAP and BMI rate court judges. So for now, the DoJ is simply notifying and seeking feedback from affected parties.

ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews is cited in favor of individual rights holders licensing their own portion, according to her statement: “ASCAP supports fractional share licensing coupled with transparency by all market players to effectuate digital withdrawals.”

The change may eliminate the purpose for a publisher to seek partial digital withdrawals from the PROs blanket licenses. Publishers however may push against the current proposal and concerned PROs may gain even greater clout, via market share.

According to reported data last year, Billboard notes: “Even if a songwriter was with a publisher that had withdrawn from PRO, say BMI, a music user could still license possibly as much as 93 [of the top 100 songs last year had co-writers] through another PRO, or even through the same PRO, if one of the co-writer was with a publisher still a part of the BMI.”

Music services like Pandora could welcome the move, as the result may mean Pandora could “rate shop” among the PROs, resulting in lower royalties.

ACM Lifting Lives: Hunter Hayes, Kristian Bush

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Hunter Hayes Lifting Lives

Hunter Hayes performs with the ACM Lifting Lives campers

Hunter Hayes performed with 10 ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers in front of 5000 Special Olympics athletes and family members in Los Angeles, Calif. on Tuesday, July 28.

Presented by L.A. County in conjunction with the Santa Monica Farmers Market, Family’s Picnic in the Park brought California farmers and 11 West Coast chefs for meal preparation. The private reception was held during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games (July 25 – August 2).

The ACM’s weeklong residential program for musically talented individuals with Williams Syndrome is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

“It was an honor to support such a fantastic cause and get to perform for all of these athletes and their families,” said Hayes. “I had the opportunity to meet the ACM Lifting Lives music campers earlier this summer, and it reminded me how pure and powerful music can be. Being part of this event tonight and getting to perform with them again was an experience I won’t forget.”

Kristian Bush

Kristian Bush

Kristian Bush To Perform Benefit with Rita Wilson

Kristian Bush and Rita Wilson will team to support that same organization, the ACM Lifting Lives. The two will host a special concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Calif. August 27. The show kicks off at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the benefit can be purchased online for $15 at troubadour.com.

Steel Guitar Pioneer Buddy Emmons Dies At 78

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Buddy Emmons.

Buddy Emmons.

Steel guitar pioneer Buddy Emmons died Wednesday, July 29 at the age of 78.

Emmons played with such musical legends as Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons, Ray Charles, Roger Miller, George Strait, Faron Young, Judy Collins, The Carpenters, The Everly Brothers, Nancy Sinatra and Emmylou Harris. His songwriting can be heard on Kacey Musgraves‘ latest album on the bonus track “Are You Sure.”

Born in Mishawaka, Ind., Buddie Gene Emmons (nicknamed The Big E) began playing a lap steel at the age of 11. He was professional by the age of 16. His move to Nashville in 1955 led to his joining Little Jimmy Dickens‘ band at the age of 18. He also lived in California.

He led a new style in playing, credited with the “split pedal” sound, which divided one of the instrument’s pedals in two and added strings for modified tuning.

He recorded a 1963 album with that trademark instrument titled, Steel Guitar Jazz in addition to releasing DVDs and seasonal albums. A tribute album was organized in 2013 by steel guitarist Steve Fishell featuring Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Dan Dugmore, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.

Emmons has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and events at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

He is preceded in death by his wife Peggy. Arrangements were not immediately available.

[Video] ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Reed Robertson Recalls First Performance at Ryman

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Reed Robertson

Although the Robertson name may be known best for A&E’s Duck Dynasty, Jase and Missy‘s son Reed Robertson is stepping forward with a music career of his own.

“Nobody really cared how we sounded during Duck the Halls,” recalled Missy of the family’s 2013 UMG Nashville Christmas project during a recent visit to MusicRow. “We kept saying, ‘We really do have some talent in our family.’ We want the talent to be forefront instead of just Duck Dynasty [brand] to sell some records.”

Twenty-year-old Reed brought his guitar for a two-song performance of original material for MusicRow.

He penned “Catching Light” and “I’ll Be The One” around a year ago during a month-long stay in Nashville. Recorded with Buddy Cannon—who also produced Duck the Halls, which featured Reed on “Camouflage and Christmas Lights”—Reed released an EP of his own on iTunes in early June.

“My mom was a huge influence,” said Reed. “I grew up singing, and started playing the guitar because my dad pushed me to and to write songs. I can play piano, guitar, banjo, ukulele, mandolin now. I fell in love with trying to figure out [how to play] and put songs together—I think it’s the most beautiful thing ever.”

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Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Grady, Troy Stephenson, Reed Robertson, Sherod Robertson, Sarah Skates, Eric Parker

His first public performance was on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium of all places. The young hopeful recalled how his parents hosting the K-LOVE Awards accelerated his learning of just three chords for the performance. But his guitar neck snapped during an accident right before showtime.

“We were on the bus and the guitar fell over somehow,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is terrible, I’m going to do horrible.’ And Rhett Walker offered his guitar but said it was tuned a half-step down. I didn’t know what that meant but he and I ended up becoming really good friends.

“I didn’t realize the significance of the stage until later on. One of my buddies said, ‘You know how long the list is of people that have played their first show at the Ryman? Probably one.’ It’s really humbling.”

Reed expects to be back in Nashville soon, writing and recording with Cannon.

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CMHoF To License Historical Photos With Getty

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A young Brenda Lee performs in Nashville’s Centennial Park. Photo: CMHoF/Elmer Williams Collection

A young Brenda Lee performs in Nashville’s Centennial Park. Photo: CMHoF/Elmer Williams Collection

In an effort to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum‘s ongoing digitization efforts, the Nashville museum has partnered with Getty Images to make images from its archives available for global licensing.

The museum’s Elmer Williams Collection launches the collaboration, with 3,000 images, most previously unpublished. From 1952-62, Williams was one of the busiest country music photographers in Nashville, using his Busch Pressman 4×5 inch camera to capture candid photos at music industry events and backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

This is the first collaboration of its kind for the museum, which is dedicated to preserving and teaching the evolving history of country music.

“The Elmer Williams Collection offers a right-place, right-time view into the sweet spot of country music’s classic period from the early ’50s to the early ’60s,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “The photos were added to the museum’s collection in the 1990s, and we’re excited to finally share these images as part of an ongoing effort to provide access to the unduplicated collection and to fund the museum’s massive archival digitization project.”

Minnie Pearl performs on the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: CMHoF/Elmer Williams Collection

Minnie Pearl performs on the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: CMHoF/Elmer Williams Collection

The digitization project was kick-started by over $600,000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services and the GRAMMY Foundation, among others. This funding allows five full-time staff members to work on the analog-to-digital conversion, creating preservation and access files and metadata to create an online searchable database for scholars. The project aims to digitize more than 100,000 items in the collection by 2024.

The CMHoF’s Elmer Williams Collection is available can be viewed here.

iHeartRadio Annouces Shelton, Chesney For Fifth Music Festival

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iHeartRadioKenny Chesney and Blake Shelton were announced as the headlining country acts to hit the stage at the fifth annual iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nev. from Sept. 18-19. The event will kick off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with host Ryan Seacrest.

The Daytime Village returns to the MGM Resorts Village on Saturday, Sept. 19 with performances, fan zones and interactive experiences.

The line up also includes Kanye West, Sam Smith, The Who, Coldplay, Demi Lovato, David Guetta, The Weeknd, Tove Lo, Lil Wayne, Fall Out Boy, Disclosure, Hozier, Jason Derulo, Duran Duran, Prince Royce, Diplo, Trey Songz, The Killers, Nick Jonas, Janet Jackson and surprise guests.

“What makes this show unlike all others is that every artist is a massive star and could easily headline the MGM Arena on their own,” said Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms, iHeartMedia.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival will broadcast live on iHeartMedia radio stations for fans throughout the country across 150 markets and will stream live on Yahoo Screen each night at 7:30 p.m. PT. The iHeartRadio Music Festival will also return to The CW Network as an exclusive two-night special on Sept. 29-30 from 8:00-10:00 p.m.

A pre-sale for MasterCard customers began July 30. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT via iHeartRadio.com/buytickets. Tickets for the Daytime Village can be purchased via iHeartRadio.com/village. iHeartMedia station listeners will have the chance to win all-expense-paid trips. One grand prize winner will be chosen to receive a fantasy all-access experience.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival is co-produced by John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises and Tom Poleman.

Schermerhorn To Celebrate Hank, Cash for One-Night Theatrical Concert

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hank and cash cast

Hank and Cash Legacy Cast

Studio Tenn Theatre Company and the Nashville Symphony have partnered to present The Hank and Cash Legacy, a one-night-only theatrical concert celebrating Hank Williams Sr. and Johnny Cash at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on August 14 at 7:30 PM.

“We are proud to partner with Studio Tenn to bring an all-new production to the Schermerhorn stage,” said Nashville Symphony President & CEO Alan D. Valentine. “Like so much of the programming we do here, ‘The Hank and Cash Legacy’ is both world-class and uniquely local—the kind of experience you can only have here in Music City. Great music touches everyone, and the legendary songs of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash resonate strongly with music lovers of all kinds.”

Modeled after Studio Tenn’s original productions 2013 The Hank Legacy and the 2015 The Cash Legacy (below), this combination show features singers and musicians putting stylistic spins on timeless hits. From Hank’s “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” to Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” “Man in Black,” “Ring of Fire” and dozens more.

Tickets are on sale at StudioTenn.com.

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Chris Young Named Title Sponsor of Music Row Ladies Golf Tourney

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Chris Young

Chris Young. Photo: ACM/Getty

The 29th annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament has added Chris Young as the title sponsor of this year’s event on August 17.

The tournament will once again benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee and be held at Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin, Tenn. Tim McGraw, ASCAP, City National Bank are also sponsors of the event.

“I’ve been part of the tournament for the last several years, caddying when I’m not on the road or sponsoring when I couldn’t be there in person,” Young commented. “I’m glad to support this fun event which helps benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee.”

Registration is now open and sells out quickly. To register, please contact Suzanne Lee at slee@ascap.com.

Luke Bryan to Perform Special Show for Citi Card Holders in NYC

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Luke BryanLuke Bryan will hit the bright lights of New York City to celebrate the release of his latest album Kill The Lights, performing a private concert exclusively for Citi card holders that will stream live from Irving Plaza on the Live Nation Channel on Yahoo Aug. 7.

Tickets for the special Big Apple show will be available for purchase for Citi cardmembers beginning Aug. 5. Fans can tune in to stream the concert live online on Aug. 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET here and will also be able to stream the show wherever they are through the Yahoo Screen App on mobile devices (iOS, Android) and connected devices (Apple TV, Roku and Xbox).

“Luke Bryan’s last album solidified his superstar status and we are thrilled to celebrate the release of Kill The Lights,” said Jennifer Breithaupt, Global Head of Entertainment Marketing for Citi. “Country music is a favorite among Citi cardmembers. We’ve enjoyed working with Luke on his previous tours and know this intimate concert will be a night to remember.”

“I am so excited to be getting this new music out to my fans and cannot wait to be on stage and enjoy the album release night with them!” adds Bryan about the special event.