The ACM is joining forces with Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camps to present the first-ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp Goes Country, a country version of the interactive music camp where attendees write, play, and record songs in a studio alongside music industry hitmakers and then perform the tunes live onstage. The free, open-to-the-public event also offers up instrument training and sessions with various speakers from the music industry, and will conclude with a concert by Wynonna.
“Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp has a long history of making music fans dreams come true,” said Wynonna. “In country music, interacting with our fans is what we do best.  I can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like to have access, like this, to some of my musical heroes.  I would have jumped at the chance!  So, partnering with the Camp and ACM Lifting Lives is such a thrilling opportunity for me to help make dreams come true and to give back to one of our industry’s devoted charitable partners. I am really honored to be involved this year as the Camp ‘goes country’ – it’s gonna be rockin’!”
The four-day camp will take place during the week leading up to the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in the spring of 2014.

PBS is declaring Nov. 22-23 its “Americana Music Weekend” and will air two specials dedicated to the genre this month. Nashville 2.0: The Rise Of Americana, explores the melting pot of rich music Americana has become and features interviews with the Alabama Shakes, the Avett Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and others.
A second special set to air, ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013, is an Austin City Limits episode featuring highlights from the 2013 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards including performances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others.
“It’s astonishing how much vibrant, soul-shaking and exciting music is coming out right now from the Americana movement which both welcomes and blends the best of this country’s musical traditions,” said Donald Thoms, PBS Vice President of General Audience Programming and Talent Management.  “It’s doubly exciting to present ‘Nashville 2.0′, a fast-paced and comprehensive primer on Americana music, paired with the ‘Austin City Limits’ annual concert that gives viewers a closer look at these performers and the songs that are constantly redefining the genre.”
The Americana Association has set the dates for its upcoming 15th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference on Sept. 17-21, 2014 in Nashville. The annual Honors & Awards show will once again kick off the event at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

MusicRow is pleased to announce its participation in St. Jude’s No Shave November fundraiser. Beginning Friday, Nov. 1, teams will forgo shaving for the entire month, rallying friends and family (both men and women) to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A $30 fee is required to join a team, while donations will also help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.
For Nashville-area participants, a ‘before’ group photo is scheduled at Warner Music Nashville on Friday, Nov. 1 at 11:00 a.m. An ‘after’ photo will celebrate the event’s completion in addition to the annual Beard Bash event in Nashville, which will award prizes including the No Shave November Champion.
Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson has been named the 2013 Honorary Chairman Of The Beard. Participating recording artists include members of Lady Antebellum, Craig Campbell, Randy Houser, Benton Blount, Dylan Scott and Austin Webb. Additional companies participating include Big Machine Label Group, Blaster Records, BBR Music Group, Bigger Picture Group, Sony Music Nashville, Tenacity Records, Universal Music Group Nashville, Warner Music Nashville, Country Aircheck, All Access, Country Weekly. Radio participants include the Bobby Bones Show, KAJA/San Antonio, KTEX/McAllen, TX, WCYQ/Knoxville, WDXB/Birmingham, WKML/Fayetteville, NC, WSIX/Nashville, WUSY/Chattanooga, KFKF/Kansas City, WGH/Norfolk, WPUR/Atlantic City, WOGY/Jackson, TN, WBFM/Sheboygan, WI, and WMCI/Mattoon, IL. In addition to Jackson’s WYNU, The Morning Buzz show on Rock.
Last year, the event raised raised $138,000, this year’s goal is a to raise more than $150,000. Visit St. Jude’s website to join or support MusicRow’s team.

For the first time ever, the CMA Awards will offer an all-access camera experience placed directly in the fans’ hands on CMAawards.com with CMA Awards 360. The virtual backstage pass will allow fans access to 11 different camera views of the red carpet, backstage, the control room and director’s chair, the audience, and the press room before and during the awards Nov. 6. The cameras put viewers in control, giving the user a “choose your own adventure” experience, where they can watch what they want, when they want during the three-hour broadcast.