CMA To Reveal 2014 Music Fest Performers Via Social Media

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cma fest1The Country Music Association will utilize social networks to announce LP Field performers for the 2014 CMA Music Festival starting Monday, March 3. Every weekday from March 3-18, CMA will post clues on its social media platforms allowing fans to speculate and anticipate who will be performing during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.
A full announcement of the LP Field lineup will follow the #CMAFestGuess social media campaign on Wednesday, March 19.
“We have a very strong, dedicated, and loyal social media audience,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “They are the ones who are constantly engaged with the Festival, so of course we want to let them be the first to find out who will be performing this year. Their passion for the music makes CMA Music Festival the world’s premier Country Music festival.”
A mock movie trailer announcing the campaign will be released on CMA’s social pages Sunday during the Oscars ceremony. “As the Oscars will be one of the largest nights of the year for social engagement, we felt it the perfect time to announce this innovative social campaign to our fans,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships.
Followers can use #CMAFestGuess to track the virtual clues, or follow CMA’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Underwood, Shelton, Bentley To Headline Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

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Country superstars Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley will headline the second annual Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam festival. The festival will take place in Panama City Beach, Fla. from Aug. 29-31st. Underwood will perform on Aug. 29, while Bentley will perform on the Aug. 30 and Shelton on Aug. 31.

Fans can purchase condo packages now; tickets will go on sale Friday, March 28 at 10 a.m. CST. Last year’s festival attracted thousands of Country fans, and featured performances by Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert and Trace Adkins, among others.
The festival’s Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady expects 2014 ticket sales to exceed last year’s numbers. “I promised everyone that the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam lineup would be huge, and I think we delivered,” said Lovelady.
For more information, visit gulfcoastjam.com.

Industry Pics (2/27/14)

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Interscope/19/Mercury Records Nashville country artist Scotty McCreery earned his third RIAA-certified Gold record with current Top Ten single, “See You Tonight.”  McCreery and the UMG Nashville staff celebrated the occasion by hitting the lanes at Pinewood Social in Nashville, Tenn. Earning his first Gold record as a writer, McCreery admits, “This is the one I’m most proud of!”
Written by McCreery, busbee and Frank Rogers, “See You Tonight” is the lead single and title track of McCreery’s latest album. McCreery’s See You Tonight Tour continues through the end of summer and will cross the country making stops in more than 50 U.S. markets.

Pictured (L-R): Royce Risser - UMG SVP Promotion, Cindy Mabe - UMG SVP Marketing, Scotty McCreery, Tom Becci - UMG SVP & COO, Brian Wright – SVP A&R, Damon Moberly – VP Promotion, Mercury Records. Photo Credit: Alan Poizner

Pictured (L-R): Royce Risser – UMG SVP Promotion, Cindy Mabe – UMG SVP Marketing, Scotty McCreery, Tom Becci – UMG SVP & COO, Brian Wright – SVP A&R, Damon Moberly – VP Promotion, Mercury Records. Photo Credit: Alan Poizner.

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Nashville hosted the 2014 Country Radio Seminar last week and BMI continued their support of the seminar that connects the country music industry with country radio. On Friday, Feb. 21, BMI teamed up with Warner Music Nashville and presented their BMI Legends Session with iconic songwriter John Oates of Hall & Oates.

Pictured (L-R): CRB’s Charlie Morgan, CRB Board Member Mike Culotta, BMI’s Dan Spears, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, John Oates, BMI’s Jessica Frost, XM Sirius’ Charlie Monk, and Clear Channel Media’s Clay Hunnicut.Photo by Rick Diamond

Pictured (L-R): CRB’s Charlie Morgan; CRB Board Member Mike Culotta, BMI’s Dan Spears; Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito; John Oates; BMI’s Jessica Frost; XM Sirius’ Charlie Monk; and Clear Channel Media’s Clay Hunnicut. Photo by Rick Diamond.

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BMI attends the CRS New Faces show in support of their rising superstars.

Pictured backstage (L-R, back row): BMI’s Jody Williams, Tyler Farr, and BMI’s Penny Everhard and Dan Spears; front row: Thomas Rhett, BMI’s David Preston, Brett Eldredge, Charlie Worsham, and BMI’s Jessica Frost. Photo by Shea Haliburton / (c) Country Radio Seminar

Pictured backstage (L-R, back row): BMI’s Jody Williams, Tyler Farr, and BMI’s Penny Everhard and Dan Spears; (front row): Thomas Rhett, BMI’s David Preston, Brett Eldredge, Charlie Worsham, and BMI’s Jessica Frost. Photo by Shea Haliburton / (c) Country Radio Seminar

Gerry House To Hold Nashville Book Signings

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country music broke brain1 Legendary radio personality Gerry House will promote his new book, Country Music Broke My Brain: A Behind-The-Microphone Peek At Nashville’s Famous & Fabulous Stars, with two Nashville book signings in March. The book features never-aired, never-before published conversations with some of Country’s biggest names, including Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley, and Reba McEntire.
On Friday, March 7, House will be at the Grand Ole Opry, signing copies of his book in the Opry store at 9:15 p.m. following the show.
On Saturday, March 8, House will be signing at Barnes & Noble Cool Springs (1701 Mallory Lane, Brentwood) beginning at 2 p.m.
House hosted his nationally syndicated morning show on Country radio for more than 25 years. He has also penned more than 50 songs, including “Little Rock,” “On The Side of Angels,” “The River and the Highway,” and “The Big One.”

Josh Turner Authors First Book

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turner1Josh Turner has penned his first book, Man Stuff: Thoughts on Faith, Family, and Fatherhood, which will be released on April 29 with Thomas Nelson, an imprint of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
“I was raised in a strong Christian family in a tight-knit community in rural South Carolina,” said Turner in the book’s introduction. “I was taught essential life lessons, like the value of a dollar, what hard work feels like, and how important an education is. I was taught why being thoughtful, respectful, and considerate of others makes life more fulfilling, and why trusting God with your life’s decisions is wise. If all that sounds a little old-fashioned, well, that’s because it is. And I’m okay with that.”
He continues, “In this book you’ll learn a little bit more about how God has shaped and continues to shape me. You’ll also learn about my wife, my boys, and the family I grew up in. I hope you see that the everyday small things in this life really do add up to matter a great deal in the long run. And I hope you’ll smile—even laugh—and gain a little wisdom along the way. Maybe even a lot.”
Jase Robertson, star of A&E’s television series Duck Dynasty, will provide the forward for Man Stuff.

$6.25 Million Music Row Building To Break Ground in March

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Childress Klein upated111Childress Klein Properties aims to break ground on an 18-story mixed-use building at Music Row’s roundabout in late March, according to the Nashville Post. Childress Klein, which is based in Atlanta and Charlotte, paid $6.25 million for the 1.56 acre piece of land that sits just off the Music Row roundabout between Demonbreun and Division streets.
The building will include 431 apartment units and is said to be ready for residents beginning in early 2016. The building will offer an additional 8,000 square feet of street-level retail space for two businesses. According to Childress Klein partner Kelly Dunbar, the company wants a restaurant to be one of the businesses occupying the retail space, as well as a coffee shop or lunch location.
“We are gauging the demand for a restaurant and it should be very strong,” said Dunbar. “We would like something compatible with the [restaurant] and an amenity for the residents.”
Nashville-based Littlejohn Engineering Associates and J.E. Dunn Construction of Brentwood have been enlisted for the project, while Atlanta-based architect Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio has designed the roundabout tower.
The 1515 Demonbreun St. address will be located next to the seven-story, currently under-construction 1505 Demonbreun apartment building.

MusicRowPics: Leah Turner

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Leah Turner visit

Leah Turner visit


Columbia Nashville artist Leah Turner visited MusicRow‘s office yesterday (Feb. 26) to showcase her unique, smoky voice, smart songs and charming onstage persona.
Turner launched her three-song acoustic performance with her spunky debut single, “Take The Keys.” “I wrote it about letting go of all the demands of everyday life and remembering what started the fire between you and your significant other,” said Turner. “It’s about falling in love with that person all over again.”
Her rich, raspy voice shone on songs such as “Beat Up Bronco.” Perhaps her strongest performance was “Here’s My Finger,” a sassy, quirky kiss-off to an engagement gone sour, where Turner deftly reminds her cheating lover of all the things he will miss out on.
The California native’s career kicked into high gear when she met singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins during one of her college classes; he encouraged her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career. There, she worked with David Foster and other industry execs, but Turner said her heart was in Country music. “Roots run deep, you know? My roots were in Country music, so I prayed about it and felt I needed to move to Nashville.” Once in Music City, Turner began meeting and co-writing with songwriters and eventually met Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino. “I played him a worktape, and he said he wanted to sign me to a deal. I was so excited; I couldn’t believe it,” said Turner. “That was a year ago.”
It’s been a fast ride for this singer-songwriter ever since. Turner released her debut single, and is preparing to hit the road with Brad Paisley for several shows starting in May.
“I want to be on the same Country highway, just driving in my own lane,” said Turner.
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Hall of Fame To Open Miranda Lambert Exhibition

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miranda lambert 2014The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will explore a year in the life of Grammy Award-winning superstar Miranda Lambert with the exhibition Miranda Lambert: Backstage Access, which opens May 16, 2014, and runs through November 9, 2014.

The exhibition will include gowns, stage costumes, awards and much more from the reigning and four-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year. Lambert’s own Tweets will provide the narrative thread of this journey through the artist’s life in 2013.
“Miranda Lambert is one of contemporary music’s most popular and acclaimed artists, and for good reason,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “She’s a dynamic performer; an emotive and powerful vocalist whose voice is equally at home with lyrics tough or tender; and a songwriter with a deft touch for feeling and place. Her numerous hits, from empowering anthems like ‘Gunpowder and Lead’ to introspective set pieces like ‘The House That Built Me,’ are rich contributions to country music’s storytelling tradition. We are looking forward to taking our visitors behind the scenes with Miranda during her amazing successes in 2013.”
Lambert recently released the song “Automatic,” the first single from her highly anticipated fifth album, which will be released later this year.

NASH Announces Hirings, Promotions

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Suzanne Alexander

Suzanne Alexander


Cumulus today (Feb. 27) announced four key NASH talent and programming appointments for the popular syndicated radio programs “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown,” hosted by Kix Brooks. Suzanne Alexander will Co-Host “Kickin’ It with Kix” and serve as substitute host of “American Country Countdown” while continuing her role with Great American Country. She has extensive Country radio experience and has been in Nashville more than a decade. She currently serves as host of Great American Country’s The Playlist.
Lonnie Napier is promoted to Executive Producer of “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown” after serving as Associate Producer of “American Country Countdown” for four years. Prior to joining Cumulus, Napier spent more than 20 years as Producer for the legendary DJ Wolfman Jack and 10 years as VP of Wolfman Jack Entertainment. He has also served as Executive Producer for Jones Media Networks’ “Bill Cody’s Classic Country Weekend” as well as Producer for Great American Country’s video request show, CRL.
Holly Ennen is promoted to Head Writer of “Kickin’ It with Kix” and “American Country Countdown” after serving as Associate Writer for “American Country Countdown.”
Nikita Palmer joins NASH programming as NASH Network Producer. She was previously in the Cumulus Digital Division, where she served as a Producer, Content Manager and most recently, Social Media Director of “American Country Countdown” and “Kickin’ It with Kix.”
Cumulus launched the NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle in January, starting with the flagship NASH FM 94.7 in New York City. In addition to radio stations, the NASH brand will include a NASH magazine, concerts/events, online content and television programming. WKDF/Nashville is a NASH station.

Bluebird In The Boro To Benefit Alive Hospice

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alive hospice111Songwriters will bring the Bluebird Cafe experience to the stage in Murfreesboro on March 3-5 for the inaugural Bluebird in the Boro: A Benefit For Alive Hospice. The music-filled evenings will take place at Mayday Brewery; the event starts each evening at 6 p.m., with the music performance starting at 7 p.m. Among the songwriters taking part are Murfreesboro’s own Tim James (Toby Keith’s “My List” and Bucky Covington’s “It’s Good To Be Us”), Dan Couch (Kip Moore’s “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck”), Marshall Altman (Cheryl Cole’s “Parachute”), Dylan Altman (Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride”), Danny Myrick (Craig Morgan’s “International Harvester”), Billy Montana (Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory”) and more.
Monday, March 3 – Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Matt Warren
Tuesday, March 4 – Tim James, Danny Myrick, Dan Couch 
Wednesday, March 5 – Jeff Cohen, Billy Montana, Kendall Marvel, James T. Slater
Tickets, which include food and drinks, are $100 and proceeds benefit Alive Hospice’s pediatric program. Tickets are available online at http://www.alivehospice.org/boro