Charlie Cook On Air: Music Row Christmas Gifts

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook


Here we are a week after Black Friday. You have finished your shopping for your spouse, children, siblings and parents. You searched and searched and finally found that perfect gift for your best friend.
Whew! You can relax. NOT! What about your favorite country music artist? What are you going to get for the person who has everything and if not can buy whatever they want?
Now, you might be asking why you should buy a superstar a gift. Well, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that sales were down for the first time in seven years. It is your duty as a good credit card carrying American to help out. This is a great solution. Here are a few ideas:
Wine of the Month Club. According to “the smoking gun” Blake Shelton’s rider on The Voice includes two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon. It also includes two cases of Light Beer so you could go that way. Beers of the Month. I also found a cocktail shaker for $1400.00. Don’t waste your money on a tie.
Celebrity Cook Book. While in New York rehearsing for The Sound of Music, Carrie Underwood had a kitchen emergency in her apartment that set off the smoke alarm and alerted her neighbors to the fact that as a cook she is a great singer. One neighbor was heard to say there was a smoking hot blonde in apartment 3D. It turned out to be the oven.
Season Tickets to the 2014 West Virginia Mountaineer Football season. Brad Paisley is the most famous Mountaineer on the chart today, so I’m sure he would appreciate this gift. Now don’t worry about the cost. The Mountaineers (4W-8L) finished the season losing to what were thought to be the two worst teams in the Big 12. It turned out the Mountaineers were the worst team, losing to both Kansas and Iowa State. On second thought, if you wait until the season starts you can probably buy them for Brad on Stub and Hub and get parking thrown in free.
You can pick up The Luke Bryan CD Crash My Party for under $12.00 at Wal-Mart for Zac Brown. For the heck of it throw in Tailgates and Tanlines for $10.00.
There really is a book called The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers. It was written by Chuck Rosciam and you can view it online for nothing. Did you know there are only 17 catchers in the Hall of Fame? I’m not sure if JC Arenciba of the Toronto Blue Jays will ever make it to the Hall, but he has already won a pretty big prize with his fiancée Kimberly Perry. I’m sure Kimberly would enjoy this gesture of holiday spirit. Here’s the link to forward to her. http://www.baseballcatchers.com
Suzanne Sommers, nicknamed Ms. Jiggly, made a great deal of money with Thighmaster and subsequently the Buttmaster exercise equipment. I searched the Internet for the best price and found the Buttmaster going for as cheap as $5.00 on Ebay. Now I cannot guarantee it is new equipment, so you’ll have to check that out yourself before you gift one to Luke Bryan who apparently has found his calling card.
Well, my credit card is maxed out, so I am going to have to hang it up but if you have any other ideas go ahead and send them to me. Remember we love all these acts so let’s not get mean.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)

Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Take Over 'After MidNite'

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after_midnite_20th_logo_0_1375348908As After MidNite’s 20th anniversary celebration comes to a close this month, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown will take over as the final guest hosts of After MidNite in December. Each artist will sit behind the mic and give fans their unique, week-long take as host of the program.
Below is the guest host schedule for December:
Florida Georgia Line: Dec. 2 – 8
Brad Paisley: Dec. 9 – 15
Zac Brown: Dec. 16 – 22
From Dec. 23 – Jan. 5, After MidNite listeners will be treated to the best highlights, guest appearances and interviews from the 20-week takeover, which began on Aug. 1. As previously announced, award-winning Country radio and CMT personality Cody Alan will sign on as permanent host of the program, which has been re-branded as CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan, on Jan. 6, 2014.

Musgraves To Debut New Video On CMT, Clear Channel Platforms

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musgraves111Kacey Musgraves, who won Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist honors at the 25th Annual MusicRow Awards, will debut her new video for “Follow Your Arrow” across CMT and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment platforms on Monday, Dec. 9.  CMT will air the video every hour during music hours from 6 a.m. ET – 1 p.m. ET on Monday, or fans can watch it on demand at Kaceymusgraves.CMT.com and iHeartRadio.com. Musgraves traveled to the High Desert in Joshua Tree, Calif., to film the video, which she co-directed with HONEY.
The video premiere of “Follow Your Arrow” will be available exclusively on CMT and Clear Channel’s Country stations websites as well as iHeartRadio for 24 hours, and promoted across their platforms including on-air, online and through social media. Combined, CMT and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment reach hundreds of millions of passionate country music fans everywhere they find music.
“I had an amazing time creating this video! It’s exactly what I envisioned accompanying such a special song,” said Musgraves. “Joshua Tree is a magical place, and I hope you can feel that energy when you see this.”
“Kacey definitely capture the spirit and meaning of this song in one of the most anticipated videos of the year,” said Leslie Fram, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy, CMT. “We’re thrilled to partner with Clear Channel on this exclusive premiere.”
“CMT and Clear Channel have created the largest country music platforms in radio and television and this is a great opportunity to leverage that partnership for the first time to shine a light on and support a bright young star that is breaking new ground and new music,” said Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President of Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. “Kacey thinks, writes and sings outside the lines — we’re excited to get her new video in the hands of her fans and Country music lovers.”

Through The Lens (12/5/13)

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Creative Nation had a show at the Basement Tuesday, Dec. 3 featuring Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Native Run and Maggie Chapman. The group played six new uncut country singles and three original Christmas jingles with help from some of their favorite co-writers including Natalie Hemby, Rhett Akins, The Warren Brothers, Josh Osborne and Dave Barnes.

Pictured, Back Row:Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Brad Warren, Ian Fitchuk, Brett Warren, Creative Nation's Julie Stuckey, Barry Dean, Josh Osborne and Bryan Dawley. Front Row: Creative Nation's Beth Laird, Maggie Chapman, Rachel Beauregard, Creative Nation's Kelsey Granda and Natalie Hemby

Pictured, Back Row: Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Brad Warren, Ian Fitchuk, Brett Warren, Creative Nation’s Julie Stuckey, Barry Dean, Josh Osborne and Bryan Dawley. Front Row: Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, Maggie Chapman, Rachel Beauregard, Creative Nation’s Kelsey Granda and Natalie Hemby.

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Monday, Dec. 2, live from the Country Music Hall of Fame, Restless Heart was the special guest on this month’s edition of WSM’s An Intimate Evening with Eddie Stubbs.  All five original members were on-hand for the full two-hour show, performing songs from their new and first-ever Christmas album, A Restless Heart Christmas.
Pictured (L-R): John Dittrich, Dave Innis, Larry Stewart, Eddie Stubbs, Paul Gregg, Billy Holland, Greg Jennings, Don Murry Grubbs). Photo credit: Eric Marcum

Pictured (L-R): John Dittrich, Dave Innis, Larry Stewart, Eddie Stubbs, Paul Gregg, Billy Holland, Greg Jennings, Don Murry Grubbs). Photo credit: Eric Marcum.

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The Academy of Country Music welcomed rising singer/songwriter Corey Smith to the office while he was in Los Angeles last month. While at the Academy, he performed his latest single, “Ain’t Going Out Tonight” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

Pictured (L-R): Elice Cuff, Publicist, Sweet Talk Publicity; Genevieve Jewell, Manager, The Collective; Corey Smith; Bob Romeo, CEO, Academy of Country Music; Brian Beckerman, Tour Manager. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

Pictured (L-R): Elice Cuff, Publicist, Sweet Talk Publicity; Genevieve Jewell, Manager, The Collective; Corey Smith; Bob Romeo, CEO, Academy of Country Music; Brian Beckerman, Tour Manager. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

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Clay Walker, along with pals Craig Campbell and Greg Bates, raised more than $12,000 during the fourth annual Chords of Hope benefit concert held at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on Oct. 30. The concert was hosted by Clay’s charity Band Against MS (BAMS) and all proceeds were donated to the MS Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to aid in MS research and awareness.

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Pictured (L-R): Craig Campbell, Clay Walker, and Greg Bates. Photo Credit: Tori McPherson

Artist Updates (12/5/13)

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift has shattered another record as the first female artist in history to sell out Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, kicking off the Australian leg of her RED tour last night to a capacity crowd of more than 40,900 fans. She is also the first female solo artist in twenty years to undertake a national stadium concert tour of Australia.
The tour continues on to stadiums in Brisbane (Dec. 7), Perth (Dec. 11), and Melbourne (Dec. 14) and will travel to the UK and Germany in early 2014. Her performance of “I Knew You Were Trouble” at Allianz Stadium will be featured on The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!, which airs Friday, Dec. 6 at 10:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

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maggie sajak1111

Maggie sajak


Maggie Sajak is currently featured on SELF.com’s “Celeb Move To Steal,” where she reveals her tips on balancing  a music career, student life at Princeton, and staying in shape. She also discusses her favorite workout, jogging with bandmates, and demonstrates a lower body exercise.

To read the interview and get Maggie’s fitness tips, visit self.com.

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Hallmark Home & Family

Pictured (L-R): Mark Steines, Cristina Ferrare, hero Timothy Medford, Lt. General (Ret.) Leroy Sisco, Clay Walker and band.

Clay Walker and the Military Warriors Support Foundation surprised US Army Soldier and Purple Heart War Hero Timothy Medford with a home on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family. Clay also performed “All American” for the crowd.

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Ryan Bingham

Ryan Bingham has written the title theme and will produce the music for a new film A Country Called Home, his first film music project since winning an Oscar and a Grammy for 2009’s Crazy Heart, according to Billboard. The film will be the full-length directorial and screenwriting debut of Bingham’s wife Anna Axster.

Bingham and Axster will announce a Kickstarter campaign this week to raise $75,000, the remaining 20 percent of the film’s financing. Bingham plans to write other songs for the film and solicit contributions from other songwriters and performers, plus score it.

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Trace Adkins recently released his first Christmas album, The King’s Gift, which infuses Celtic sounds into classic carols. He is currently on tour promoting the project.
“This is totally me getting out of my comfort zone and doing something way out of left field,” says Adkins. “I’m a five-piece honkytonk guy, so to be onstage with a 12-piece band and all these vocalists, it’s a thrilling thing to be part of.”

THiS Music Signs Yarber

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Yarber Headshot111

Chris Yarber


THiS Music has signed an exclusive songwriting deal with Atlanta native Chris Yarber.
“I first met Chris during a Barbara Cloyd songwriting workshop. His passion and work ethic are second to none, and he is a success story in the making,” said Rusty Gaston, Partner/GM of THiS Music.
THiS Music is home to songwriters including Tim Nichols, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary, Ben Hayslip, Leah Turner, Marv Green, Molly Reed and others.

[Updated]: Nearly 100 Residential Acres To Go Commercial In Oak Hill

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oakhill
[Updated, Dec. 13, 2013]
The City of Oak Hill public hearing and scheduled vote regarding the proposed commercial development district ordinance scheduled for Dec. 19, 2013 has been cancelled, according to the city’s website.
The item will still be on the agenda for discussion at the city’s regular monthly Board of Commissioners meeting on Thurs. at 5pm.; however, the commercial development ordinance cannot be approved without the required public hearing.
 
[Previous story, Dec. 5, 2013]
Only three votes separate 94.51 acres of the Southeastern portion of Oak Hill from becoming a “General Retail and Mixed-Use development area.”
The neighborhood, near the intersection of Franklin Pike and Old Hickory Blvd. in Brentwood, TN, is a sought after locale for many musicians, songwriters and industry executives. The peaceful and scenic surroundings are adjacent to Radnor Lake State Natural Area. This parcel of homes also include a residence once lived in by Country legend Waylon Jennings.
According to the City of Oak Hill website, a public hearing will be held next Tues., Dec. 10, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the City Office (5548 Franklin Pike, Suite 101) to focus on the potential commercial development district.
MusicRow has also confirmed with City Manager, Kevin Helms, that a second public hearing and expected vote on the ordinance will be held on Thurs. Dec. 19th, two business days before Christmas Eve. According to Helms, the three votes needed for the ordinance to pass will be made by Mayor Austin McMullen (Austin.McMullen@oakhilltn.us), a lawyer with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Vice Mayor Jennifer Claxton (Jennifer.Claxton@oakhilltn.us), a licensed Realtor with Pilkerton Realtors, and Commissioner Kyle Felts (kylefelts@gmail.com), owner of Felts and Jackson Real Estate.
MusicRow inquired with several of the homeowners in the area who were not aware of the pending ordinance or scheduled hearings and vote. According to the City office, officials have been working on this for two years.
Click below for more detailed information or contact City of Oak Hill office at (615) 371-8291.
General Retail and Mixed-Use Map
Ordinance No. 13-16 Commercial Zoning Document
General Retail Zoning District Document
Mixed-Use Zoning District Document

Industry Ink (12/5/13)

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photo-1Oklahoma brothers The Swon Brothers have been hard at work in the studio on their debut Arista Nashville CD, due out next year. The Voice favorites from season 4 of the popular singing competition recently gave label staffers a sample of their new song “Later On,” which the duo will perform when they return to the show on Dec. 10 on NBC.

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Brandon Lay


Jackson, Tenn. native Brandon Lay has inked a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music.
Lay has built a strong following around the SEC and is an up-and-coming artist.

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Don-Grubbs111

Don Murry Grubbs


Don Murry Grubbs has relocated his Absolute Publicity offices to 800 18th Ave S, Nashville 37203. Phone number remains the same.
 

Cumulus Refinances $2.23 Billion Debt

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cumulus-logo-222featuredYesterday (Dec. 4), Cumulus Media Holdings set terms on a $2.23 billion loan to refinance debt within the company. According to Thompson Reuters, LPC, Cumulus is marketing a $200 million five-year revolver and a $2.025 billion seven year first lien term loan.
Cumulus has set pricing of LIB +325-350 with a 1% Libor floor and 99.5 issue discount on the new loan. The company hopes to refinance its first and second lien loans. As of September’13, Cumulus owed $1.24 billion on its first lien loan due Sept’18 and $785.5 million on its second lien loan due Sept’19.
Carl Salas, VP and Senior Credit Officer at Moody’s Investors Services, commented on the company’s situation, saying, “It’s a meaningful improvement in their annual debt service. They will save upwards of $30-35 million in interest costs which adds nicely to their free cash flow generation.”
Moody’s has given Cumulus a B2 corporate family rating and the new $2.025 billion first lien term loan a B1 rating.

Luxury Apartment Development Coming To Division Street

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logoMore luxury apartments will be available in the downtown area soon when Charlotte, N.C.-based Crescent Communities breaks ground on a new 280-unit luxury apartment development off Division Street, according to the Tennessean. Crescent reportedly has plans to purchase the project’s needed properties, including a building at 1205 Division St. where property management firm First Management Services is headquartered.
The development will include five levels of residential apartments over 7,500 square feet of retail space on the first level. There will be 195 one-bedroom units, 84 two-bedroom units and one large three-bedroom apartment. The area is seemingly becoming the hot new area for housing, with several other apartment projects planned or already going up in the area. A luxury complex helmed by Ray Hensler is now under construction in the Gulch, and SoBro is getting a similar project from Tony Giarrantana as well.