'Celebrity Motor Homes' Premieres July 17 on GAC

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celebrity motor homesGreat American Country will take fans inside the mobile getaways of their favorite stars in the new series, Celebrity Motor Homes. Viewers will get a glimpse inside the on-the-road homes of Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Kix Brooks, Jana Kramer, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Rodney Atkins, Gretchen Wilson, Craig Morgan, Brad Pitt, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, NASCAR’s Johanna Long, golfer Steve Elkington, the Dallas Cowboys, and more. Celebrity Motor Homes premieres Wednesday (July 17) at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Host Drew Walters will tour three motor homes in each episode.
The premiere episode on July 17 features Jake Owen, Dallas Cowboys and Brad Pitt. The first stop is in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for a tour of Owen’s 52-foot mobile home, with barn floors, a leather couch, beer tap, vintage red refrigerator, master bath and a custom bunk for his daughter Pearl. The episode will also visit Arlington, Texas to tour the Dallas Cowboys bus that features nine televisions, an executive meeting room and memorabilia. Finally, they travel to Burbank, Calif. to look inside a movie trailer used by  Pitt.
Future episodes are listed below:
July 24 – Simon Cowell, Gretchen Wilson, Eli Young Band
July 31 – Heidi Klum, pro golfer Steve Elkington, Craig Morgan
Aug. 7 – Montgomery Gentry, comedian Jeff Dunham, Rodney Atkins
Aug. 14 – Florida Georgia Line, Brian Deegan, Jana Kramer
Aug. 21 – NASCAR’s Johanna Long, Kix Brooks, Justin Moore

DisClaimer: What The Indies Are Offering

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Cerrito

Cerrito


All hail the fine folks at CDX. Not only do these bi-monthly compilation discs keep us up to date on what the major labels are putting out (or aren’t, which seems to be the case lately), each one is also a smorgasbord of what the indies are offering. For me, that means the anticipation of hearing new voices. This week’s column is a sampling from that smorgasbord. Here to remind us that not everything needs to be serious is the durable Cerrito. His novelty tune is just silly enough to win the Disc of the Day prize. I have no idea who North 40 is/are. But among the many unknowns I listened to today, they were my favorites. Give ‘em a DisCovery Award.
DOUG NEWMAN & SOS RENEWAL/Gonna Give You Praise
Writers: Doug Newman; Producer: Robert Metzger; Publisher: Buddy & Billy/Sony-ATV Songs, BMI; Platinum Plus
-The track is slightly sloppy, old-time rock ‘n’ roll. The singer is righteously into it. Retro all the way.
JOE/Final Curtain Call
Writers: Gene Cash; Producer: Allen Cash; Publisher: Divison, BMI; Music Row (CDX)
-The cow is moaning in the barn. Somebody put it out to pasture.
BLACKJACK BILLY/The Booze Cruise
Writers: Noll Billings/Jeff Coplan/Chuck Jones; Producers: Jeff Coplan and Blackjack Billy; Publishers: 3rd Nineteen/Vandermont/City Angel/Ole Red Cape/Roots Three/Ole/No E No D/Big Spaces/Amplified Admin/Poppy Loppy, ASCAP/SOCAN/BMI; TTA (CDX)
-Energetic and merry, if rather melodically challenged.
KARI & BILLY/Play Me a Fiddle Song
Writers: Billy Arnold; Producers: Billy Arnold and Kari Arnold; Publisher: none listed; BMI; Applause (CDX)
-Earnest and well meaning, but thin sounding. Kari, by the way, can barely be heard. Despite the billing, this is essentially a Billy performance.
BURLY CLYDE/Living In America
Writers: Charlie Midnight/Dan Hartman; Producers; Mark Needham and Charlie Midnight; Publishers: Bay Parkway/Round Hill Works, BMI; MAN (CDX)
-That’s right: It’s the 1986 James Brown hit refashioned as a wailing country-rocker. Kinda different. Kinda cool.
CERRITO/Hot Pepper Doll
Writers: Cy Coben; Producers: Felipe De LaRosa, Bartley Pursely and Cerrito; Publisher: Delmore, ASCAP; Checo (CDX)
-This Latin bopper comes complete with staccato horn bursts as it praises the spicy culinary skills of his betrothed. They’ll be wed if his stomach can take the heat. Very cute.
north 40 hey girl heyNORTH 40/Hey Girl Hey
Writers: Paige Logan/Amber Rose; Producers: Leigh Reynolds and Mills Logan; Publisher: Molly Jack, BMI; Rhymetown (CDX)
-The lead singer has an attractively smokey, dramatic delivery, and she struts her way through this with moxie to spare. This is her night to rock.
JAY JOLLEY/God Save Us All From Religion
Writers: Doug Johnson, Charlie Daniels and Kim Williams; Producer: Chuck Alkazian; Publishers: Sony ATV Cross Keys/Triple Cross/Mike Curb/Sweet Radical/Wooley Swamp, BMI/ASCAP; Double J (CDX)
-“We’ve got Jews and Muslims and ten thousand flavors of Christians,” ponders the man at the bar while he watches a hypocrite preacher on TV. “We kill in God’s name.” Which leads to the title phrase.
JARED BLAKE/Countrified
Writers: Jared Blake, Skidd Mills, Carl Bell; Producer: Skidd Mills; Publishers: Hey Y’all Watch This/Skiddoo/Lucky Diamond, BMI; Skiddco (CDX)
-She’s a city sophisticate, but he’s going to change her by exposing her to honky-tonkin,’ drinking and brawling. Guess what? It works. The screaming guitar and his drawling, baritone, Southern-rock delivery must have done the trick.
LOGAN TUDEEN/Circles
Writers: Logan Tudeen/Kent Wells; Producer: Kent Wells; Publishers: Logan Tudeen/Creek Valley; BMI/ASCAP; Go Time (CDX)
-The track has a moody, bluesy tone. She has a penetrating voice, yet it sounds like she is trying a little too hard. Forceful, but not something I’d listen to again.

Keith Urban Launches Greeting Card Collection

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A birthday card from the Keith Urban collection that features Urban's single "Long Hot Summer."

A birthday card from the Keith Urban collection that features Urban’s single “Long, Hot Summer.”


Keith Urban fans now have a new way to give music as a gift this summer–not through an album, download or concert tickets, but through greeting cards.
Urban has teamed with Hallmark Gold Crown stores to offer a collection of Hallmark Keith Urban sound cards that includes 12 cards, ranging from celebrating birthdays and friendship, to sending love and encouragement. Priced at $4.99, each card in the line features a 15-second sound clip from some of Urban’s songs such as “Long, Hot Summer” and “Sweet Thing.”
“For me, a card, like music, has the ability to make an emotional connection,” says Urban. “I love knowing that these cards, and my music, will mark such meaningful moments in so many people’s lives!”

The Blackbird Academy to Reveal Facility with Katie Couric

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Pictured (L-R): Robert Novogratz, Cortney Novogratz, Martina McBride, John McBride and Gavin DeGraw. Photo: Brian Totoro

Pictured (L-R): Robert Novogratz, Cortney Novogratz, Martina McBride, John McBride and Gavin DeGraw. Photo: Brian Totoro


Together with wife Martina McBride, John McBride plans to reveal his recently prepared Blackbird Academy on Katie Couric’s Katie tomorrow (July 17).
Husband and wife design team Robert and Cortney Novogratz, widely known for Bravo-TV’s 9 by Design, HGTV’s Home by Novogratz and numerous publication appearances, helped prepare a 30-person “Learning Laboratory” to be revealed on the syndicated daytime TV show.
In anticipation for the audio school’s first class this fall, custom-built classrooms were constructed around the campus of the world-renowned Blackbird Studio. The Blackbird Academy will offer comprehensive instruction and virtually unlimited hands-on access for students. Co-directors and industry veterans Kevin Becka and Mark Rubel have designed a curriculum in anticipation of becoming the educational gateway to the recording and live sound industries.
“Opening a school has been a dream of mine,” said John McBride. “After talking with hundreds of Blackbird Studio interns and hearing about their experiences, I believe we can provide a better and more affordable educational solution than what is currently available.”
For more information, visit the Blackbird Academy’s official site, email, or call at 1-855-385-3251.
For MusicRow’s exclusive interview with McBride about the academy, click here.

Artist Photos (7-16-13)

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MCA Nashville singer/songwriter Drake White made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday night. The Hokes Bluff, Ala. native performed his single “The Simple Life” with the legendary Opry band and an acoustic version of “Always Want What You Can’t Have;” both songs will appear on Drake’s debut album due out early next year.

Drake White

Drake White

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Thomas Rhett was joined by Jason Aldean onstage for “Dirt Road Anthem” and “1994,” Aldean’s single that was co-written by Rhett, during Aldeans’ recent record-breaking concert at Boston’s Fenway Park.

thomas rhett1

Pictured (L-R): Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett

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Amy Grant will make a West coast media run this week, in support of the release of her best-selling and first studio record in a decade, How Mercy Looks From Here. Her trip kicks off with a visit to the highly-rated morning show KTLA on July 16, followed by an appearance on Tavis Talks, which airs July 17 . On July 19, Amy will appear on ABC’s popular lifestyle show The Chew alongside hosts Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz and Michael Symon.

Photo courtesy ABC Publicity.

Amy Grant on the set of The Chew. Photo courtesy ABC Publicity.

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Cold River recording artist Katie Armiger and Season 3 winner of The Voice Cassadee Pope meet backstage in Houston, Texas before 100.3 The Bull’s 2nd Annual Girls With Guitars show at the Arena Theater. Armiger and Pope were among 11 female performers who took part in the event.
Pictured (L-R): Katie Armiger, Cassadee Pope

Pictured (L-R): Katie Armiger, Cassadee Pope

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RCA Nashville’s Bush Hawg performed a showcase over the weekend at Boston’s House of Blues. While in Beantown the guys took a tour of the city on the famed Duck Boat and visited with Charlie Cook, Director of Programming and Brand Management for West Virginia Radio Corporation Corporate Offices and President of McVay/Cook and Associates. Cook is also a MusicRow contributor.

Pictured (L-R): Bush Hawg’s Shaun Ames, Alex Wilshire, & Craig Hand; Charlie Cook (Director of Programming and Brand Management West Virginia Radio Corporation Corporate Offices & President of McVay/Cook and Associates); Bush Hawg’s Ben Helton, Russ Caldwell & Jim Phipps. Photo: Angelynn Edwards Tinsley

Pictured (L-R): Bush Hawg’s Shaun Ames, Alex Wilshire, & Craig Hand; Charlie Cook (Director of Programming and Brand Management West Virginia Radio Corporation Corporate Offices & President of McVay/Cook and Associates); Bush Hawg’s Ben Helton, Russ Caldwell & Jim Phipps. Photo: Angelynn Edwards Tinsley.

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Kip Moore, Brett James, Miranda Lambert, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton and Bob DiPiero get together backstage during the CMA Songwriters Series event at Royale in Boston on July 11.

Pictured (L-R): WKLB Program Director, Mike Brophey; WKLB Music Director, Ginny Rogers; Moore; songwriter and CMA Board Member Brett James; Lambert; Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO and CMA Board Member, Gary Overton; and songwriter, CMA Songwriters Series host, and CMA Board member, Bob DiPiero. Photo: Natasha Moustache/CMA

Pictured (L-R): WKLB Program Director, Mike Brophey; WKLB Music Director, Ginny Rogers; Moore; songwriter and CMA Board Member Brett James; Lambert; Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO and CMA Board Member, Gary Overton; and songwriter, CMA Songwriters Series host, and CMA Board member, Bob DiPiero. Photo: Natasha Moustache/CMA

Bridgestone Arena No. 7 In U.S. For Concert Attendance

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Bridgestone ArenaNashville’s Bridgestone Arena ranks seventh in the United States (and 23rd in the world) for concert attendance, according to Pollstar’s Mid-Year Ticket Sales report. Bridgestone joins Barclays Center, Wells Fargo Center, Staples Center and other venues in the Top 10; last year, Bridgestone Arena ranked in eighth place.
Buildings in the U.S. Top 10 include:
1. Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
2. Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)
3. Philips Arena (Atlanta)
4. Staples Center (Los Angeles)
5. SAP Center at San Jose (formerly HP Pavilion) (San Jose, Calif.)
6. American Airlines Center (Dallas)
7. Bridgestone Arena (Nashville)
8. Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
9. Madison Square Garden (New York)
10. Toyota Center (Houston)

Artist Updates (7-16-13)

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Members of Way Out West Records’ group LiveWire caught up with Country Music Hall of Fame entertainer Roy Clark before their performances at the July 4 OilPatch Festival in Drumright, Okla. All artists participating in the festival, including Shawna Russell, Bo Phillips, the Red Dirt Rangers and Rick Reiley of the Tuesday Night Music Club and the Dust Bowl Brothers, signed Boulder Creek Guitars. The guitars were later auctioned with proceeds going to the Red Cross to benefit the victims of recent Oklahoma tornadoes.

livewire1

Pictured (L-R): LW’s Brad Allen; Scott Kwapiszeski and Cory Shultz; Roy Clark; LW’s Bobby DeGonia; Danny Bell; Andy Eutsler and Landon Rolfe.

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cassadee pope wasting all these tears video

Cassadee Pope


Cassadee Pope will world premiere the music video for her debut Country single, “Wasting All These Tears,” on CMT and CMT.com tomorrow (July 17). The video will air across VEVO on Thursday (7/18).

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shuggah pies

The Shuggah Pies


The Shuggah Pies, comprised of sisters Amy, Angela and Courtney Krechel, released their self-titled debut EP today in conjunction with 3 Ring Circus Music. The EP was recorded in Nashville and can be found at digital retailers including iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Play and others.
The Shuggah Pies began working with award-winning songwriter Jeffrey Steele and his publishing company 3 Ring Circus Music five years ago. Their tour calendar includes dates opening for Tim McGraw, Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Love and Theft, Jana Kramer, Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert, and others.

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dailey_vincent

Dailey and Vincent


Dailey & Vincent will celebrate the first live broadcast of “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman” during their concert on July 198 at the Ryman Auditorium. The show will air on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction channel at 7:30 p.m CDT via satellite on channel 61. The concert will be rebroadcast on Saturday, July 20 at 6 p.m. EDT and on Sunday, July 21 at 12 p.m. EDT.

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Sarah Darling 2012

Sarah Darling


 Sarah Darling has teamed up with DJ and Remix Producer, DJ DU to add an electronic dance flavor to her summertime single, “Little Umbrellas.” The dance club version marks DJ DU’s first commercial remix release and is available via iTunes and other digital retail stores. Preview here.

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Lawrence

Tracy Lawrence


Tracy Lawrence is set to perform at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, July 19 in Nashville. He will perform his new single “Footprints On The Moon” from his upcoming studio album, Headlights, Taillights and Radios.

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Darryl Worley

Darryl Worley


Darryl Worley’s Tennessee River Run, presented by Bumpus Harley-Davidson, will bring Ronnie Milsap to downtown Savannah, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. Milsap, whose hit songs include “Smoky Mountain Rain,” “It Was Almost Like a Song,” “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me,” “Stranger in My House,” “Any Day Now” and dozens more, will join Worley and special guests Brandon Lay, Jami Grooms and Donica Knight.
 
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Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby Reunite for Live Album and Tour

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Cluck-ol-henRicky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby will release 11 new tracks in a Skaggs Family Records live project titled Cluck Ol’ Hen on Aug. 20. The project (track listing below) was originally recorded when the two toured in support of their first collaborative album, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby (2007) with Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder band.
Hornsby and Skaggs plan to hit the road for 13 dates this fall on the Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder Tour in promotion of the forthcoming project (see complete list below).
The pair blends Hornsby’s piano and songwriting to Skaggs’ mandolin, guitar, bass, fiddle and banjo on traditional mountain music and classic Bluegrass represented with three Bill Monroe tunes. Providing the title track is the vintage fiddle tune “Cluck Ol’ Hen.”
Cluck Ol’ Hen is currently available for pre-sale at skaggsfamilyrecords.com. Skaggs’ autobiography is also set to be released the same month.
Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder 2013 Fall Tour:
Oct. 3 – Carmel, Ind. – The Palladium
Oct. 4 – Cincinnati, Ohio – Taft Theatre
Oct. 5 – Nashville, Tenn. – Ryman Auditorium
Oct. 18 – Los Angeles – Royce Hall – UCLA
Oct. 19 – Scottsdale, Ariz. – Virginia G. Piper Theater
Oct. 20 – Tucson, Ariz. – Fox Tucson Theatre
Oct. 24 – Broken Arrow, Okla. – Broken Arrow Performing Center
Oct.25 – Overland, Kan. – Carlsen Center
Oct. 26 – Salina, Kan. – Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Nov. 1 – Milwaukee – Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Nov. 2 – Burnsville, Minn. – Burnsville PAC
Nov. 20 – Huntington, N.Y. – The Paramount
Nov. 21 – Morristown, N.J. – Mayo Performing Arts Center
Cluck Ol’ Hen Track Listing:
1.  Intro: How Mountain Girls Can Love
2.  How Mountain Girls Can Love
3.  Intro: Toy Heart
4.  Toy Heart
5.  Intro: Bluegrass Breakdown
6.  Bluegrass Breakdown
7.  Intro: Darling Corey
8.  Darling Corey
9.  The Way It Is
10.  Intro: The Dreaded Spoon
11.  The Dreaded Spoon
12.  Gulf Of Mexico Fishing Boat Blues
13.  Intro: Sally Jo
14.  Sally Jo
15.  Little Maggie
16.  Intro: Little Maggie
17.  White Wheeled Limousine
18.  Intro: Cluck Ol’ Hen
19.  Cluck Ol’ Hen

Industry Ink (7-16-13)

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Songwriter Keesy Timmer has signed with Nashville publishing company Blue Guitar Music.

Pictured (L-R) are: Sam Ramage, Chief Creative Officer, Blue Guitar; Lori Maxwell, CFO, Blue Guitar; Danny Pool, owner of the publishing company; Mike Kraski, General Manager, Blue Guitar; Daniel Wood, President, Blue Guitar and Timmer (seated).

Pictured (L-R) are: Sam Ramage, Chief Creative Officer, Blue Guitar; Lori Maxwell, CFO, Blue Guitar; Danny Pool, owner of the publishing company; Mike Kraski, General Manager, Blue Guitar; Daniel Wood, President, Blue Guitar and Timmer (seated).

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CAA’s John Huie spoke at SOLID‘s third general assembly meeting of the year, held at BMI.

Pictured (L-R): Kate Dore, SOLID Secretary, Kent Wolfenbarger, SOLID Education Chair, Ryan Huie, SOLID Member, John Huie, Brittany Adkins Schaffer, SOLID Education Co-chair, Brian O'Neil, SOLID Vice President, Sarah McGrady, SOLID President, Michelle Kammerer, SOLID Treasurer

Pictured (L-R): Kate Dore, SOLID Secretary; Kent Wolfenbarger, SOLID Education Chair; Ryan Huie, SOLID Member; John Huie; Brittany Adkins Schaffer, SOLID Education Co-chair; Brian O’Neil, SOLID Vice President; Sarah McGrady, SOLID President; Michelle Kammerer, SOLID Treasurer.

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npg logoNPG PR has hired publicist Meg Ryan. Ryan will be based in Nashville and will aid in day-to-day public relations activities such as tour press, strategic planning, media relations and overall client management for NPG PR’s eclectic roster of music, corporate, television and event clients. Ryan’s background includes time at Sandbox Entertainment, Big Machine Label Group and most recently SunFire Entertainment.

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cmasongwriters1The CMA Songwriters Series returns to Joe’s Bar in Chicago for a special night on Aug. 1 at 8:30 p.m./CT. Celebrating its ninth remarkable year, the CMA Songwriters Series features guests Matraca Berg, Kristian Bush, Bobby Pinson and Bob DiPiero, who will also serve as the evening’s host. Tickets are on sale at joesbar.com.

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fly free festival logoTennessee will be home to a new music festival beginning in October. The Fly Free Festival 2013 will take place in Adams, Tenn. on Oct. 11-13. The lineup includes Papadasio, Moon Taxi, Cloud Cult, Jeff The Brotherhood, RJD2 and others. For more information, visit flyfreefest.com.
 
 
 
 

Ashley Monroe To Tour With Train, Hunter Hayes

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ashleymonroesliderAshley Monroe has a heavy touring schedule for the rest of 2013, joining two tours in support of her album Like A Rose, co-produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank.
Monroe began her trek with Train‘s Mermaids of Alcatraz Tour on July 11; the 25-date tour will wrap Aug. 14 in Auburn, Wash. Monroe will join Train lead singer Pat Monahan for a duet of their single “Bruises,” followed by a performance of her own material.
In October, she will join singer-songwriter-guitarist Hunter Hayes as part of his CMT On Tour: Hunter Hayes Let’s Be Crazy Tour. The outing launches with a performance in Knoxville, Tenn. on Oct. 10 and wraps on Dec. 7 in Kansas City, Mo.
Like A Rose features nine songs all co-written by Monroe; her co-writers include Hall of Famer Guy Clark, Liz Rose, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna and co-producer Gill.
For a full list of tour dates, visit ashleymonroe.com.