Artist Action (11/11/13)

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Kenny-Rogers1Kenny Rogers will perform two concerts with the Nashville Symphony on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. Rogers has sold more than 120 million records and recorded more than 65 albums during his career. His list of hit songs includes classics such as “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Lucille,” “Islands In The Stream” and “Buy Me A Rose.” Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 15. For more information, visit nashvillesymphony.org.

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FAMECARRIEUNDERWOOD1Bluewater Productions will release Fame: Carrie Underwood, a comic book about the life of the Country singer, on Nov. 13; the comic book will be available in print and digital. Loyd Gant writes the 32-page comic book with art by Manuel Diaz. The comic book will feature a cover by famed artist Nelson Hernandez.
Bluewater has focused on the country music scene before with Fame: Tim: McGraw and Fame: Taylor Swift. Upcoming FAME subjects include: Ian Somerhalder, Pink and Brad Paisley.

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craig morgan

Craig Morgan


Craig Morgan has introduced a national awareness campaign in partnership with Kidde Fire Safety and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to remind families to ‘Be a Safety Hero.’ To help families get started, Kidde will donate 5,000 of its new Worry-Free 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments at 10 stops during Morgan’s 2014 tour – a $125,000 retail value.
Kidde will donate another 1,000 Worry-Free smoke alarms to the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office smoke alarm distribution program.
Watch the television advertisement featuring Morgan below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1FaVJgVyG4

Four Exit Sony Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Tammie Cleek, Judy Blair

Pictured (L-R): Tammie Cleek, Judy Blair

Sony Music Nashville laid off four staffers last week, MusicRow has confirmed.

Among those exiting include Jill Moreland, Assoc. Creative Director Judy Blair, Manager of Web Business Development Jared Morrison, and Creative Manager Tammie Cleek.
Blair served 18 years with the label; she can be reached at 615-715-5655 or judy_blair@hotmail.com.
Cleek worked with the company for nearly 10 years, and can be reached at 615-330-4788 or cleek360@comcast.net.
Morrison can be reached at 615-268-5833 and jared.r.morrison@gmail.com.
 

Nashville New Year's Bash Adds To Lineup

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widget_background_STRIKING_MATCHES_EP_itunesStriking Matches and indie rockers the Kopecky Family Band have been added to the lineup for Nashville’s New Year’s Eve “Bash On Broadway,” which will be headlined by Hank Williams Jr. The free concert and street party will also feature performances by Brett Eldredge and Blackberry Smoke.
Striking Matches will kick off the festivities at 6:30 p.m., followed by the raising of the 15-ft. tall music note. GAC’s Storme Warren will emcee the massive block party between 1st and 5th Avenues, which will culminate with the dropping of the music note, fireworks, and confetti cannons when the midnight hour hits.
More information on the show will be released in the coming weeks. For more information on the event, go to www.visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.

Garth Brooks To Release 4-CD Box Set

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trishayearwoodgarthbrooksDuring a GAC special that aired Saturday (Nov. 9), Garth Brooks announced that he will release a four-CD box set of cover songs. Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences, will include Brooks covering 40 songs from artists who have influenced him. Each disc will feature 10 tracks from different categories, including Country Classics, Classic Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul and Melting Pot. The set will release Nov. 19, according to Music Universe.
Trisha Yearwood can also be heard on several songs as a background vocalist. She will also duet with Brooks on the 1971 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn classic “After The Fire Is Gone.” Additional covers include “Great Balls of Fire” (Jerry Lee Lewis), “Mrs Robinson” (Simon & Garfunkel), and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Marvin Gaye).

Vince Gill To Be Honored With 2014 CRB Career Achievement Award

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Vince Gill. Photo: Jim Wright

Vince Gill. Photo: Jim Wright


Vince Gill will be presented with the 2014 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 at 6 p.m.
Fellow musicians Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will perform a tribute to Gill and will honor him with the prestigious award.
The award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership, has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of Country music and Country radio. Previous winners include Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard and George Strait.
“Vince Gill is unquestionably one of the greatest artists in the country genre,” said Bill Mayne, Executive Director of CRS. “His body of amazing work continues to evolve, and his performances inspire us all. He is a remarkable ambassador for Country music with his talents, grace, class, leadership, humility, humanity, style and wicked sense of humor. We are very proud to present Vince with this richly deserved honor.”
CRS 2014 will be held at the downtown Nashville Convention Center February 19-21, 2014.

'Crazy Hearts:Nashville' Reveals Cast Member Lineup

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Crazy-HeartsA&E’s take on the Nashville music scene, Crazy Hearts: Nashville, has filmed eight one-hour episodes. The latest show to reveal a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the music business, Crazy Hearts follows several aspiring singers as they compete for their big break while dealing with the heartbreak, romance, and drama that they find along the way.
Among the cast members in this new show are Anthony Billups, an aspiring singer/songwriter from Illinois who owns the Building, an East Nashville club that brings the artists together. Journalist Heather Byrd also appears as an entertainment reporter and communications professional covering the scene and helping uncover new talent. Songwriter Wayland Holyfield’s daughter Lee stars as a singer/songwriter hopeful eager to follow in the footsteps of her successful Hall of Fame father.
Aspiring manager April Nemeth hails from Ventura County, Calif. and juggles several jobs while trying to get her management company off the ground. Leroy Powell is a rocker and country guitarist from Redlands, Calif. who joined Shooter Jennings’ band before launching his own solo career. Jimmy Stanley, a Florida native, has been pursuing a career in Nashville for the past eight years. Working at the Bluebird Café, he’s made the place his second home and befriended many of the writers who come through the legendary venue’s doors. Singer Amy Wilcox grew up in Virginia and played soccer for Vanderbilt before turning her passion towards music and a career as a singer.
Named after the Academy Award-nominated Jeff Bridges film Crazy Heart, Crazy Hearts: Nashville is set to air in 2014.

National Radio Hall Of Fame Inducts New Members

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Pictured (L-R): Reba with Blair Garner

Pictured (L-R): Reba with Blair Garner. Photo: Instagram.


The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) celebrated the 2013 induction of new members into the National Radio Hall of Fame on Saturday (Nov. 9), as they added Steve Dahl and Garry Meier, Blair Garner, John Lanigan, Paul W. Smith, Eddie Piolin Sotelo, Charlie Steiner and the late Powell Crosley, Jr.
The evening took place at Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications and featured host Larry King, along with announcer Jim Bohannon and presenters Reba McEntire, Mike Rogers and Bob Sirott.
The National Radio Hall of Fame and Museum, located at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, showcases the talent of artists, disc jockeys, announcers, journalists, program hosts, and others who have influenced American society.

Luke Bryan Sells Out Madison Square Garden Show

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luke-bryan-crash-my-party-album111It seems that 2014 is set to be fast-paced year for the Academy of Country Music’s reigning Entertainer of the Year. It only took Luke Bryan five minutes to sell out his Jan. 25 show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Due to the rising demand, the singer added a second Madison Square Garden stop on his That’s My Kind of Night Tour on Friday, Sept. 12.
Tickets for the Sept. 12 show will go on sale on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.

George Strait Helps Raise Nearly $500,000 For Troops

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61st Annual BMI Country Awards - ShowGeorge Strait helped raise $425,000 for Troops First Foundation at the Tapatio Springs Golf Resort through a golf tournament and auction this past weekend. Strait, co-owner of the resort along with Texas businessman Tom Cusick, held the third annual Vaqueros del Mar Invitational Golf Tournament; the event raised the money in only 30 minutes.
The ‘I Got A Car’ singer took off his boots during the live auction and added them to a package that was up for grabs. The package itself sold for $130,000.
The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year also entertained for the 400 guests in attendance. The event benefits David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, which offers aid to military members wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Strait led a  jam session that included special guests Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, Dean Dillon, Keith Gattis, Jamey Johnson, Jewel, Kyle Park and Randy Rogers.

Cumulus To Launch 'Nash Nights Live' with Shawn Parr

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Shawn Parr

Shawn Parr


Cumulus is set to launch Nash Nights Live, featuring KKGO/Los Angeles morning radio personality Shawn Parr. Parr has relocated to Nashville for the job. The new show will premiere Jan. 6, 2014, running from 7 p.m. through midnight on the 84 Country stations overseen by Cumulus, including WNSH/New York. The show will feature the current hit Country songs, news, artist interviews, fan/caller interactions and more.
“This latest Country music offering from Cumulus Media Networks will provide our listeners and advertisers with in-demand Nash programming and we couldn’t be more pleased to have a star of Shawn Parr’s caliber leading the way,” says Executive VP/Co-COO John Dickey.
Parr’s background also includes KZLA in Los Angeles. As part of Dick Clark Productions for the past 21 years, Parr has voiced the American Music Awards, the Golden Globes, the Academy Of Country Music Awards, and various red carpet events, among others. Nash Nights Live will precede Cumulus’ Kickin’ It With Kix.