Miranda Lambert Added To List Of Grammy Performers

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Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert has been added to the list of performers for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Lambert is already a Grammy winner and is nominated this year in four categories. Her nominations include Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Automatic,” Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Somethin’ Bad” with Carrie Underwood, and Best Country Album for Platinum.

Also announced as performers are eight-time Grammy winner Usher, and two of this year’s leading nominees, Sam Smith, and Pharrell Williams, who have six nominations each.

They join previously announced acts Eric Church, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, AC/DC, and Madonna. That story can be read here.

Grammy winners Common and John Legend will perform the song “Glory” from the film Selma.

The event will be broadcast live from The Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS. “Music’s Biggest Night” will take place on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 8pm-11:30pm/ET.

Industry Ink: NMPA, YEP, Nashville Underground Entertainment

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Jody Gerson_UMPG (1)

Jody Gerson

Jody Gerson Named To NMPA Board of Directors

The National Music Publishers’ Association has announced that Jody Gerson, the new chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, has officially joined the NMPA Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jody,” said Irwin Z. Robinson, chairman of the NMPA Board. “Her reputation as a songwriter advocate precedes her, and we are grateful to add her expertise to our Board.”

“Jody is a rock star and I am so pleased to have her join the NMPA Board,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “NMPA’s Board, its members and its advocacy efforts will benefit greatly from her years of experience helping creators thrive.”

Formerly the co-president of Sony/ATV Publishing, Gerson fills the vacancy left by former UMPG chairman Zach Horowitz.

 

YEP Upcoming Events

yep11Nashville entertainment industry organization Young Entertainment Professionals will host several upcoming events in Nashville. On Jan. 27, BMI and YEP will co-host a night at Exit/In beginning at  6 p.m. YEP will host a mixer on Feb. 9 at the Listening Room, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 will bring a Musicpreneur No. 2 session at the Entrepreneur Center at 5:30 p.m. For more information on these events, visit yepnashville.com.

 

Nashville Underground Entertainment Expands To Include Nashville Underground Online

Nashville Underground Online2Nashville Underground Entertainment, LLC, home of Nashville Underground Radio and Nashville Underground Management has expanded to include Nashville Underground Online, a creative agency specializing in graphic and web design, viral marketing and social media, aimed specifically towards independent artists and entrepreneurs.

“I’ve said before that the Nashville Underground brand has limitless potential,” says Matt Williams, co-founder of Nashville Underground Entertainment. “This is not only proof of that, but was an inevitable next step for our company as viral marketing and design is something we make a living at anyway.”

Nashville Underground Online is a partnership between Nashville Underground Entertainment and Brand Ur Band, a digital marketing and social media company.

“This partnership with Nashville Underground will change the game,” says Damar Howard, founder and CEO of Brand Ur Band. “This is a powerhouse team of people with the goal to help artists become truly independent, as well as promote local culture and business.”

LifeNotes: Music Journalist Bill Littleton Dies

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Bill Littleton

Bill Littleton

Veteran country music journalist Bill Littleton passed away last weekend in his home state of South Carolina. He was 75 years old.

Littleton died on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. He was a native of Greenwood, S.C. who spent 47 years in Nashville.

He is probably best known as the Nashville bureau chief of Performance magazine for more than 20 years. Littleton was also an actor, a singer-songwriter and a writer of fiction. He had character roles in such films as I Walk the Line (1970), co-starring Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld; Payday (1973), starring Rip Torn; and Deadhead Miles (1973), co-starring Alan Arkan and Charles Durning.

Bill Littleton recorded several of his songs, occasionally performed in clubs and posted both audio and videos of his music online over the years. He notably accompanied Tom T. Hall on the journey that resulted in Hall’s 1971 LP In Search of a Song. Littleton wrote the album’s liner notes and his many snapshots of the trip were featured on its back jacket.

At the time of his death, Bill Littleton was residing in Boiling Springs, SC. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister and his wife, Connie Fuller Littleton. He is survived by sister Linda Griebno and several nieces and nephews. Celebration of life services are being planned for Boiling Springs as well as Nashville.

Clearview Artist Management Signs Elizabeth Lyons

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Pictured (L-R): Elizabeth Lyons & Clearview Artist Management's Steve Schweidel

Pictured (L-R): Elizabeth Lyons & Clearview Artist Management’s Steve Schweidel

Clearview Artist Management has signed Vanderbilt University graduate Elizabeth Lyons to its roster.

Steve Schweidel, Principal of Clearview, says, “This young talented artist will be the next big female star in country music and I’m just lucky to have stumbled upon her.”

“Our paths crossed after playing at The Bluebird Cafe.” Lyons said. “So thankful to be working with such an experienced manager! From the moment I met Steve we shared the same vision. I’m honored to be working with him. This #PartyRules! WOOWOO!”

Last week, Lyons released her new music video for her single, “#PartyRules,” which is being worked to country radio.

Clearview Artist Management clients have included Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, James Otto, Ty Murray, and Ocean Street.

Word Music Publishing Extends Agreement with Songwriter Justin Ebach

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Justin Ebach

Justin Ebach

Songwriter Justin Ebach has extended his publishing agreement with Word Music Publishing.

Ebach has penned the current singles for Group 1 Crew, David Dunn, Ashes Remain and OBB, as well as cuts for Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August, The Newsboys and more. Ebach has also garnered cuts recently with Josh Turner, Casey James, Ashley Gearing, and more.

“It is an honor to get to team up with such a talented and hardworking songwriter like Justin,” says Janine Appleton, Creative Director of Word Music Publishing. “It’s so impressive that he not only writes consistent radio songs in various genres, but he’s equally as talented in the studio, able to turn around a full demo quickly, on which he plays is player, vocalist and producer. His songs continue to receive positive attention from A&R and artists alike. Songwriters like him don’t come around every day.“

‘Bluegrass Underground’ Reveals Fifth Season Line Up

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Artist set to perform on Bluegrass Underground.

Artists set to perform on ‘Bluegrass Underground.’

The fifth season of Emmy-winning TV series Bluegrass Underground is packed with some of the genre’s biggest stars. The shows will be recorded in front of live audiences March 27, 28 and 29 at Cumberland Caverns’ Volcano Room in McMinnville, Tenn.

Friday, March 27: Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Hot Rize, Robert Earl Keen, Chatham County Line

Saturday, March 28: Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester, Lee Ann Womack, Amos Lee, The Quebe Sisters

Sunday, March 29: Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass

Tickets to all shows go on sale at bluegrassunderground.com on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. A limited number of all-inclusive overnight ticket packages are being offered for the first time.

The show’s fourth season is now airing on PBS stations everywhere. Check local listings.

Cumulus to Launch NashTV Programming on January 26

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nash logo11Cumulus Media and Music Choice will formally launch the NashTV on-demand video platform on Monday, Jan. 26.

Thus far, NashTV involves 12 programs, including content from radio programs America’s Morning Show, Nash Nights Live, and Kickin’ It with Kix. Other programs include style program Nash Lash, cooking shows BBQ Tricks, and Grits & Hits, as well as American Music Overseas and Real Live Performances, Proud: Everyday American Heroes, and sports programming Hick Xtreme and Picks From The Sticks.

The programming will be available on-demand via musicchoice.com, as well as Music Choice’s iOS and Android apps.

A preview video of the programming is available at nashtvpreview.com.

ACM Award Nominations To Be Revealed January 27

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acm 50th logoThe 50th Academy of Country Music Awards nominees will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The awards show will broadcast live for the first time from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/ 7:00 PM CT on the CBS Television Network. Four-time ACM Award winners Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return to co-host this year’s awards show.

Additional information on nominations will be released soon.

Last year, George Strait was honored as Entertainer of the Year, while Jason Aldean was named Male Vocalist of the Year and Miranda Lambert earned the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy. Kacey Musgraves‘ Same Trailer, Different Park took home Album of the Year honors, while Lee Brice‘s “I Drive Your Truck” (penned by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary) earned Song of the Year.

Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces Acoustic Tour

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Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Mary Chapin Carpenter has announced she will embark on a series of intimate shows this spring from Arizona to Massachusetts.

The acoustic outing launches in March 17 in New Orleans with select special guests Aoife O’Donovan and Lúnasa (full dates below). More dates are expected to be announced.

Carpenter will continue performing select orchestral concerts throughout the acoustic tour, including shows with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (March 5), the Charlotte Symphony Pops (March 7) and the Kansas City Symphony (May 8).

Last year she released orchestral reinterpretations of her own songs, including “Between Here and Gone” and “Come On Come On.” Recorded at Air Studios in London, Songs from the Movie, was arranged and conducted by six-time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza (Sting, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Elvis Costello, Björk, Joni Mitchell) and was produced by Carpenter and Mendoza along with Matt Rollings (Keith Urban, Lyle Lovett).

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER ACOUSTIC TOUR DATES

March 26 New Orleans, LA Civic Theatre#
March 27 Galveston, TX The Grand 1894 Opera House#
March 28 Fort Worth, TX Bass Performance Hall#
March 29 New Braunfels, TX Brauntex Theatre#
March 30 Oklahoma City, OK OCCC Performance Hall#
April 1 Santa Fe, NM Lensic Performing Arts Center#
April 2 Phoenix, AZ The MIM Theatre#
April 3 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater#
April 4 Tucson, AZ Fox Tucson Theatre#
April 16 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium**
April 19 Derry, NH Stockbridge Theatre**
April 20 Waterville, ME Waterville Opera House**
April 22 New York, NY Town Hall**
April 23 Troy, NY Troy Savings Bank Music Hall**
May 1 Skokie, IL North Shore Center for the Performing Arts**
June 26 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent#
June 27 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus#

#with Aoife O’Donovan
**with Lúnasa

The Listening Room To Celebrate Ninth Anniversary In February

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the listening roomNashville’s Listening Room Cafe live music club and restaurant will celebrate its ninth anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 7, with an afternoon of free live music and a brunch menu. The venue will open at 10:00 a.m. for brunch and live music will be featured from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The Listening Room is located at 217 Second Avenue South in Nashville.

“The Listening Room continues to be the place to hear not just established songwriters and artists, but those on the rise as well,” said owner Chris Blair. “I can think of no better way to celebrate our ninth birthday than with a full day of great live music and great food.”

The afternoon schedule includes Amber’s Drive, The Lookout, Carly Pearce, Elise Hayes and Smithfield. The evening entertainment starts at 6:00pm with Phil Barton (Lee Brice/”A Woman Like You”) and Friends, which has a $10 cover. At 8:30pm, Rhett Akins (“That Ain’t My Truck,” “Don’t Get Me Started”) takes the stage with Jimmy Robbins (Blake Shelton/”Sure Be Cool If You Did,” Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert/”We Were Us”); Jonathan Singleton (Billy Currington/”Don’t,” Gary Allan/”Watching Airplanes”) and Laura Veltz (Chris Young/”Lonely Eyes,” Eli Young Band/”Drunk Last Night”). This show also has a $10 cover.

Valet parking and surface lot parking is available. For more information: listeningroomcafe.com.