Hunter Hayes Breaks Guinness World Record

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Hayes celebrates breaking a Guiness World Record.

Hunter Hayes celebrates breaking a Guinness World Record.


Hunter Hayes teamed up with ConAgra Foods to end child hunger and celebrate the release of his brand-new album Storyline this week by breaking the Guinness World Records® record for Most Concerts Played in multiple cities in 24 hours.
The “24 Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger” kicked off Friday, May 9 on Good Morning America in Times Square and hit Boston; Worcester, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; New London, Conn.; New Haven, Conn.; Stamford, Conn.; South Orange, N.J.; Asbury Park, N.J. and culminated in Philadelphia.
The multi-talented entertainer played 10 shows in 10 cities in 24 hours, breaking the Flaming Lips’ world record of eight shows in 24 hours.
Support acts that helped keep the momentum going included breakout country duo Dan + Shay, critically-acclaimed newcomer Charlie Worsham, up-and-coming country band The Railers, and singer/songwriters Dean Alexander and Matt Sucich, with the official music playlist powered by “The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver.”

ABC's 'Nashville' Renewed for Season Three

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nashville
ABC’s Country music-centric drama Nashville featuring Connie Britton and Hayden Pannettiere has been renewed for a third season. ABC’s co-president Ben Sherwood made the announcement late Friday (May 9) via Twitter.
The renewal will bring back the characters of Nashville for a full 22 episodes in season three.
Nashville cast members Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack and Will Chase recently hit the road for a brief multi-city tour in support of multiple soundtrack releases.

Lambert To Give 'Platinum' Album Preview To Fans in Seven Cities

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Miranda Lambert is giving fans a chance to listen to her forthcoming album in Platinum style. Lambert’s vintage 1954 Flying Cloud Airstream will visit seven cities across the country on the “Platinum Across America” tour, offering listening sessions for select fans to preview her fifth studio album, Platinum.

Those fans will be chosen through a sweepstakes via Lambert’s online community and through Country radio. Additionally, all fans are invited to join the complimentary Platinum Park activities in each city that will include a platinum hair salon, sun tea stand, corn hole, a leather workshop, vintage postcard photo ops and more activities. Fans who pre-order Platinum onsite (or provide proof of their previous Platinum pre-order purchase) will also be invited to tour the airstream trailer and listen to the album’s title track.
Fans who aren’t able to make it to a “Platinum Across America” date can follow the airstream’s journey online, where they can also register to win a trip to see the singer-songwriter in concert, with a meet and greet that includes a private tour of the airstream trailer.
“Platinum Across America” launches May 20 in Los Angeles and wraps in Philadelphia on May 31, before heading to Nashville for CMA Music Fest and release week for the album.
Platinum Across America stops include:
May 20 – Los Angeles
May 23 – Denver
May 26 – Dallas
May 27 – Oklahoma City
May 29 – Chicago
May 30 – Indianapolis
May 31 – Philadelphia

Education Notes (5/9/14)

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Reba


Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire will participate in a special Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum educational program for Middle Tennessee middle and high school students on Tuesday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. All Access: Reba McEntire will take place in the museum’s CMA Theater. Students will have a chance to ask Reba questions about her rise to stardom, her business enterprises, and her career.
Although the program is not open to the public and the school registration period is closed, the event will be live-streamed at: countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming on May 13.
The 75-minute program will be moderated by WSM-AM’s Bill Cody.
 

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MercyMe’s Bart Millard


Grand Canyon University is teaming with MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard to offer a Worship Arts program to prepare students for careers ranging from national recording artist to church worship leader. The program will combine a ministry component and a performance component and will be based in the University’s College of Theology.
The bachelors program will include 32 credits of theology, and will offer four emphases including digital media, worship production, worship ministry and worship management.
“Anyone can sing the message, but first you have to get the message right,” said Millard, who will serve as Director of the Center for Worship Arts and expose GCU students to some of the top influencers in the music industry. “Parents who might be concerned their son or daughter wants to perform for a living will know that they will be able to follow their dream and still earn a four-year degree. We will equip students for worship leadership that is relevant and theologically sound.”
The program will welcome its first class in fall 2014.

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 mi1Musicians Institute (MI), the College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, has announced a variety of academic initiatives to update its curriculum for Fall 2014. The school’s newly named Vice President of Academic Affairs, Donny Gruendler, will oversee efforts to convert the school to a flipped classroom pedagogical model, and fully integrate MI’s Performance and Industry Studies divisions beginning this October.
In addition, MI will begin to deliver more study materials digitally, with the institution of a paperless “Bring Your Own Device” (B.Y.O.D.) policy.
MI’s 360-degree approach to music education will include revised certificate and degree programs for bass, drums, guitar, keyboard technology, and vocals. The program is centered on harmony, theory and ear training as well as core subjects in reading, technique and performance, which will be synchronized on a weekly “micro” basis.
Students will utilize the latest mobile phones, tablets and laptops on any platform of their choosing (iOS, Android, OSX, or Windows) to foster an efficient, 24/7 learning environment.

Nashville Artists Ready for GMA Summer Concert Series

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SummerConcertGood Morning America’s 2014 “Fun in the Sun Summer Concert Series” returns for the sixth year to New York City’s Central Park with a slew of Nashville entertainers, including Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Paramore and Kings of Leon.
On May 23, Lady Antebellum will kick off the multi-genre events, which are planned in Rumsey Playfield each Friday through the end of August. Paisley will wrap the summer series on Aug. 29.
Additional superstars booked for the ABC-TV events include Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Robin Thicke, and more. Full line-up below.
Concerts are free and open to the public and will take place live during ABC-TV’s Good Morning America broadcast, from 7-9 a.m. ET.
Concert Schedule:
May 23: Lady Antebellum
May 30: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson*
June 6: Demi Lovato
June 13 Paramore
June 20: Jennifer Lopez*
June 27: Afrojack
July 4: Jason Derulo
July 11: Keith Urban
July 18: Zedd
July 25: Kings of Leon
Aug. 1: Enrique Iglesias
Aug. 8: Luke Bryan
Aug. 15: Florida Georgia Line
Aug. 22: Robin Thicke
Aug. 29: Brad Paisley
*Requires free, advance tickets to become available closer to the performance date

Artist Pics (5/9/14)

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CMT Radio’s Cody Alan chatted with Dierks Bentley at his last Riser Tour rehearsal in Nashville, Tenn. The Riser Tour kicks off today (May 9) in Charlotte, N.C., and will continue through the summer with special guests Chris Young, Chase Rice and Jon Pardi.

Pictured (L-R): Dierks Bentley, Cody Alan

Pictured (L-R): Dierks Bentley, Cody Alan

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Natalie Stovall and The Drive made their Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday (May 6). Lead singer Stovall first graced the Opry stage for the first time in the Spring of 1995 at the age of 12.

Natalie Stovall and the Drive at the Grand Ole Opry

Pictured (L-R): Natalie Stovall and the Drive at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Rachel Black, Hollo Graphics, Inc.

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The cast of ABC’s Nashville completed its four-city concert tour Tuesday evening (May 6) in New York City. The performance included Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack, Will Chase and Chaley Rose. Previous tour stops included sold-out shows in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Scott Edwards, tour manager; Gary Craig, drums; Colin Linden, guitar; Steve Buchanan, President Opry Entertainment Group; Tim Lauer, keyboard, Jim Hoke, steel guitar/harmonica;guitar; John Dymond, bass. (Middle Row, L-R): Chris Carmack, Sam PalladioFront Row: Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Will Chase, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson Photo By ©2014 Heidi Gutman/ABC

Pictured (L-R, back row): Scott Edwards, tour manager; Gary Craig, drums; Colin Linden, guitar; Steve Buchanan, President Opry Entertainment Group; Tim Lauer, keyboard, Jim Hoke, steel guitar/harmonica/guitar; John Dymond, bass. (middle row, L-R): Chris Carmack, Sam Palladio. (front row, L-R): Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Will Chase, Chaley Rose, Jonathan Jackson. Photo By ©2014 Heidi Gutman/ABC

Dot Records Adds Promo Staff

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DOT_LOGO_Label_2013.3.24Dot Records’ General Manager Chris Stacey has unveiled seven staff members who have been hired for the iconic label’s promotion efforts. Remaining in Nashville, Stacey reports to Big Machine Label Group President and CEO Scott Borchetta and can be reached at 615.846.7745.
“I look at the team that we have assembled here at Dot and the entire Big Machine Label Group and I know that we cannot only compete, but win. Newly named Director of National Promotion Kris Lamb is such a perfect fit to spearhead this team, where we have such an amazing balance of experience, relationships, intelligence, promo skill and hustle. I cannot wait to unleash this team on our first single!” exclaimed Stacey.
Under Stacey’s leadership, the Dot Records’ team will consist of staff members with multi-genre backgrounds as well as internal hires within the Big Machine Label Group:
Kris Lamb (Director of National Promotion) is upped in the label group family, where he most recently served as the West Coast Regional for Big Machine Records and was integral in the careers of Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery and The Cadillac Three. He will relocate to Nashville and can be reached 615.846.7750.
James Marsh (Director of Southwest Promotion) joins the team from Warner Bros. Records, where he served as Southwest Regional Promotions Manager. Based in Dallas, TX, he is available at 615.846.7747.
Bill Lubitz (Director of West Coast Promotion) will remain based in Las Vegas, Nev., where he was most recently at Black River Entertainment in National Radio Promotion and West Coast Regional. He can be contacted at 615.846.7752.
Michelle Tigard-Kammerer (Director of Midwest/Northeast Promotion) previously Sr. Director of Brand Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Country Radio Broadcasters and will be located in Nashville. She can be reached at 615.846.7751.
EJ Bernas (Director of Southeast Promotion) comes from Curb and Universal, where he served as Sr. Director of Promotion. Remaining in Nashville, he can be contacted at 615.846.7749.
Rachel Dobson (Promotion Manager) joins the label from Capitol Records Nashville & EMI Records Nashville, where she served as Promotion Coordinator. She will be based in Nashville and is available via 615.846.7748.
Garrett Hill (Executive Assistant) previously interned with the company and is working as the Traffic Coordinator for the label group. He can be reached at 615.846.7746.
Comparably, Dot Records will be headquartered in Nashville and will utilize the combined resources of Big Machine and Republic Records.
No artist signings have been announced.

Weekly Chart Report (5/9/14)

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Screen shot 2014-05-09 at 9.52.22 AM111Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

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Apple Close To Acquiring Beats Electronics For $3.2 Billion

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applebeatsThe Financial Times is reporting Apple is close to acquiring Beats Electronics for an estimated $3.2 billion and the acquisition could be announced as early as next week.
If the deal closes, this would be Apple’s largest acquisition and would position the company in the music streaming subscription arena competing with rivals such as Spotify.
Beats Electronics produces audio products and equipment and is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. The company was founded by rapper and hip-hop producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine.
Beats Music‘s streaming service launched January 2014. The service was spun out of Beats Electronics, receiving a $60 million investment to bring the product to market. The core of the streaming service was formed by Beats’ $14 million acquisition of digital music company MOG in 2012.

LifeNotes: Butch Carr

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Butch Carr announcement1111Celebration of life arrangements have been made for the late engineer Butch Carr. The event will take place Saturday, May 10 at 1 p.m. at Brentwood Cumberland Presbyterian, located at 516 Franklin Road in Brentwood. In lieu of flowers, it has been requested that donations be made in Butch’s name to MusiCares or Nashville Engineer Relief Fund.
Carr died April 18 at age 62.
Carr has been an engineer and songwriter in Nashville more nearly 40 years. His most recent engineering credits include work for Kenny Chesney (Life On A Rock), Willie Nelson (To All The Girls…), Sammy Kershaw (All In The Same Boat), Tracy Lawrence (Headlights, Taillights and Radios), among many others.