Chesney Teams with Daniel Meng for Online Training System My FitU

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myfitu logoTrainer Daniel Meng counts Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, Jake Owen and ESPN College Gameday’s Kirk Herbstreit among his clients. Now, Meng and Chesney have teamed up for My FitU, an online training system that adapts the technology Meng created for his clients when they are on tour. My FitU serves as a personal trainer, healthy eating mentor and weight loss coach by putting specific exercises and diet plans in one place.
“I’ve been training with Daniel for almost a dozen years,” Chesney says. “He changed the way I approached training, diet and getting in shape. He overhauled my every day diet, pushed me past where I thought my limits were and gave me a mental edge when it comes to working out. I wish everyone could have Daniel by their sides to create a healthy plan based on their specific challenges and goals like I do… My FitU does that.”

Daniel Meng (right) coaches Kenny Chesney through a workout.

Daniel Meng (right) coaches Kenny Chesney through a workout.


Meng creates a custom plan based on each person’s individual needs, challenges and goals. After filling out a comprehensive profile about schedules, goals and challenges, My FitU delivers a custom fitness program organized into a weekly calendar, which charts and changes with each member’s progress. Beyond monitoring and updating the clients’ progress, Meng works to increase motivation, as each achieves new levels of each aspect of his program. The program includes exercise videos, recipes, shopping lists, safety videos, educational materials and an iPhone app.
For more information, visit myfitu.com.
 

MusicRowPics: Ashton Shepherd

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ashton shepherd11
Ashton Shepherd visited the MusicRow offices on Monday (July 1) to perform songs from her upcoming project.
She introduced “This Is America,” the first single and title track from her 10-song release on her own Pickin’ Shed Records. “I was in a state of mind of how I feel as an American,” says Shepherd of writing “This Is America.” “I felt like ‘What are we going to do?’ It started off in a sad state of mind, but ended up being positive.”
She also performed “Sounds So Good” and previewed “Spinnin’,” another song from the forthcoming project. “It reminds me of John Anderson’s ‘Would You Catch A Falling Star?’ a little bit. All the instruments answered him a bit [in the track’s production].” This is America is set for a late July release.
She is also thinking of more diverse projects. “I’ve entertained putting out a gospel record, or an album of remakes,” says Shepherd. “Being independent, you feel like you have more control over things. I feel more comfortable doing it as an independent. There’s more than one way to do things in this market, the way things are changing–even down to apps that let you design your album artwork.”
In the more immediate future, Shepherd is busy with her online cooking show, Cooking Country, on Foodie Network Online EWave TV, a multi-channel online television network. The first episode is set to air Thursday (July 4). For more information, visit http://foodies.ewave.tv/.
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Big Machine Label Group Signs Laura Bell Bundy

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Laura Bell Bundy

Laura Bell Bundy


The Big Machine Label Group has added singer, songwriter and entertainer Laura Bell Bundy to its roster of artists.
Bundy is currently featured on Rascal Flatts’ LIVE & LOUD TOUR, performing as part of the Dance Y’all Experience. The summer trek allows Bundy to give fans a first-look at her forthcoming single, “Two Step,” which will officially be available on iTunes July 9 and impact Country radio on Aug. 5. CMT and CMT.com will run a 24-hour, exclusive world premiere of the brand new music video for “Two Step” on Thursday (July 4), with subsequent re-airs promoted across all of CMT’s digital platforms.
“Laura Bell is a fireball of energy and attitude with all the right moves,” said Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group. “She is a natural to lead the Country Dance Music movement that is starting to blow up and I’m confident we will find great success with her many talents.”
“I can only be grateful in this moment … for the many relationships, lessons and experiences I’ve had on Music Row that have led me here and finding a true partner in Big Machine and Scott Borchetta,” said Bundy. “Inspiration and passion breed a crazy sort of jet fuel in myself and those at Big Machine. It drives us to constantly create and work really hard to reach those we are creating for. You can call it ‘synergy’ or even ‘madness’ but I call it ‘home sweet home.’ And I can’t stop smiling.”

SiriusXM Features Independence Day Special Programming

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The Band Perry

The Band Perry


SiriusXM is getting into the holiday spirit with live performances on July 4 from The Band Perry and Jimmy Buffett, along with a several Independence Day specials across its music, talk radio and sports channels.
A few Country-related offerings include:
The Highway (channel 59):
The Highway will broadcast The Band Perry‘s concert live with the Nashville Symphony at Riverfront Park in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, July 4 at 9:25 pm ET.
Classic Vinyl (channel 26):
Classic rock icon John Fogerty will play songs by his favorite all-American classic rockers as well as songs from his latest album Wrote a Song For Everyone on Thursday, July 4 at 12 p.m. ET.
Radio Margaritaville (channel 24):
Radio Margaritaville features an encore presentation of Jimmy Buffett‘s first concert from his newest resort casino in Bossier City, La. on Thursday, July 4 at 7 p. .ET.
The entire SiriusXM July 4 programming schedule can be found at siriusxm.com/4thofJuly. SiriusXM programming is available via satellite, as well as through the SiriusXM Internet Radio app for smartphones and other connected devices as well as at siriusxm.com.

Weekly Register: Lonely Release Schedule Seeks Superstar

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dream-want-ad

If only it was this easy…


One of the music industry’s hottest topics is the fight over streaming royalty rates. The battle between webcasters (namely Pandora) and content rights holders is making headlines daily. It is a complex issue, but put simply, Pandora is seeking a lower royalty rate, while copyright owners and creators are fighting for higher payments, arguing that the current rate is already too low. Nashville tech guru Jay Frank breaks down the argument in a new blog post called Pandora Royalties: The Real Answer.
Today’s news about the stand-off includes Pandora and UMPG making a short-term deal that is reportedly the highest rate the Internet webcaster has ever paid to the music publishing sector. Meanwhile, another player in the streaming music space, Slacker CEO Jim Cady, talks about his business with the LA Times.
• • • •
Focusing on Nashville, the album release schedule is in a summer slump. With no country debuts this week, the year-to-date sales tally continued to slip, and is only up .4 percent from 2012. The next sales star on the docket is Luke Bryan’s Aug. 13 release Crash My Party (Capitol Nashville). Expect the release line-up to gain momentum this fall, as we head into the all-important holiday sales season.
On the tracks front this week, Eli Young Band flew to the top of the all-genre and country lists with new single “Drunk Last Night” selling 53k. Year-to-date, country single sales are up 10.7 percent.
FGL hangs in the top spots on the album and singles charts. With this week’s 204k in sales, the single is cruising to the 5 million mark. And 30 weeks after release, Here’s To The Good Times is still moving about 31k units per week to lead the country albums ranking. Also showing longevity is Hunter Hayes, who 90 weeks post-debut, landed at No. 3 with sales of 19k. Rounding out the top five are recent projects by Blake Shelton (No. 2, 22k), Darius Rucker (No. 4, 18k) and Lady A (No. 5, 12k).
While many Music City denizens will be high tailing it out of town this holiday weekend, those staying close to home can enjoy downtown’s 4th of July Let Freedom Sing! event tomorrow at The Lawn at Riverfront Park with The Band Perry, Keb’ Mo’ and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

CMT, MTV and VH1 To Air “Music Independence Day”

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cmt
Viacom’s CMT, MTV and VH1 networks will celebrate our nation’s birthday with “Music Independence Day,” a program showcasing established and emerging artists, set to air on July 4 from 5 a.m.–5 p.m. CST.
CMT will air several genres of music, ranging from contemporary to bluegrass, and will feature artists The Lumineers, Brandy Clark, Ella Mae Bowen, John & Jacob, Maggie Rose, Striking Matches, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood.
CMT will also introduce fans to Luella and the Sun and accept donations to help rebuild the band’s recently destroyed studio. Finally, the network will reveal breakthrough acts discovered via Artist Platform (Artists.MTV/VH1/CMT) during the 12-hour program.
Fans can follow along on Twitter via @ArtistsDot and @CMT.
 

Country's Top 10 Highest-Earning Artists

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TobyKeithForbes-782x1024Blake Shelton and Keith Urban have both gained popularity through their recent work on The Voice and American Idol, respectively. Toby Keith‘s I Love This Bar and Grill chain just keeps growing. Taylor Swift continues to rake in the awards and to criss-cross the country on her RED tour. Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley have all been touring heavily in the past year. Zac Brown Band has put a new spin on concerts with their Southern Ground Music & Food Festival.
But which country artist is raking in the most money? Forbes.com has compiled a list of country music’s Top 10 money-making artists.
1. Toby Keith–$65 million
2. Taylor Swift–$55 million
3. Kenny Chesney–$53 million
4. Tim McGraw–$33 million
5. Carrie Underwood–$31 million
6. Brad Paisley–$30 million
7. Zac Brown Band–$26 million
8. Rascal Flatts–$25 million
9. George Strait–$18 million
10. Jason Aldean–$17 million (tie)
10. Luke Bryan–$17 million (tie)
A few names that fell just short of Forbes‘ Top 10 list? Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Keith Urban.

DisClaimer: Trio Riding High

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Blue Sky Riders is made up of (L-R) Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr

Blue Sky Riders is made up of (L-R) Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr


The guys and the gals are canceling each other out this week. Jason Cassidy and Toby Keith have the two finest new male singles, and they are equally potent. Likewise, womanly Debbie Cochran and girlish Sarah Darling both have super strong singles, although in completely different ways. That leaves room for the group Blue Sky Riders to ride to the rescue with the Disc of the Day. I know you’re probably sick of reading me rave about this trio (Kenny Loggins, Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman), but I’m not going to stop until every one of you goes out and buys the album and hears what I’m talking about. So there. Nobody wins a DisCovery Award in this edition of DisClaimer.
TRACY LAWRENCE/Footprints on the Moon
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Dallas Davidson/Rhett Akins; Producers: Flip Anderson & Tracy Lawrence; Publishers: WB/Get a Load of This/EMI Blackwood, ASCAP/BMI; LMC (CDX)
-Tempo for your summer playlist, plus an ultra-romantic lyric. Soaring sonics.
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW/Carry Me Back To Virginia
Writers: Secor/Haynes/Watson; Producer: Ted Hutt; Publishers: Blood Donor/Broken Banjo/Spirit One, BMI; ATO (CDX)
-This acoustic band is currently riding high as the co-writer of Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.” This just-released, fiddle-tune pep-fest is for the frisky clogger in all of us. Folk flavored and earthy, it’s a tongue-tripping performance with a built-in smile.
TOBY KEITH/Drinks After Work
Writers: Natalie Hemby/Luke Laird/Barry Dean; Producer: Toby Keith; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Wruckestrike/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Country Paper/Pulse Nation/Twangin and Slangin, BMI; Show Dog
-He is propositioning in the nicest way in this scampering ditty. Hey, where’s the harm in a little conversation during Happy Hour? As usual, Toby sings with enormous charm and personality.
JASON CASSIDY/Blame It On Waylon
Writers: Rhett Akins/Josh Thompson; Producers: Greg Hunt and Jason Cassidy; Publisher: none listed; JC (track)
-The production rocks righteously, and his country baritone has just the right touch of “outlaw” swagger. Already a hit in Texas, I see no reason why this stomper couldn’t have much, much wider appeal.
SARAH DARLING/Little Umbrellas
Writers: Sarah Darling/Doug Johnson/Rob Crosby; Producer: Ilya Toshinsky; Publishers: Golden Vault/Wadmalaw/Black River/Sweet Conspiracy/Offer You Can’t Refuse/Little Darling/Want a Fresh One, BMI/ASCAP; 764
-Perky, pop-y, choppy, bopping. Her lilting delivery is sweetly girlish, but the lyric is about empowerment and getting over a guy. Extremely catchy.
DEBBIE COCHRAN/When You’re Loving Me
Writer: Debbie Cochran; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: DMC Anniston; BMI; Go Time (track)
-Her languid, lustrous, throaty, confident, slightly bluesy delivery is enchanting. The band locks into a steady groove behind her on this seductive, mid-tempo outing. Dreamy listening.
BLUE SKY RIDERS/Feelin’ Brave
Writers: Blue Sky Riders; Producers: Peter Asher and Blue Sky Riders; Publishers: Gnossos/Connboy/Middle Girl, ASCAP/SESAC; 3 Dream (track)
-All 15 tracks on this group’s debut CD Finally Home are so uniformly superb that choosing what to issue as a single must be insanely difficult. This throbbing, tempo-shifting, harmony-drenched choice provides moments for all three vocalists to shine. Beyond fabulous.
T.J. BROSCOFF/This Is The Moment
Writer: T.J. Broscoff; Producers: Bill Green and T.J. Broscoff; Publisher: Bill Green, BMI; BGM
-His delivery of this heartbreak toe-tapper has hillbilly soul. Punchy and potent, despite the somewhat slim production values.
ASHTON SHEPHERD/This Is America
Writer: Ashton Shepherd; Producers: Ronnie Rogers and Larry Beard; Publisher: none listed; Pickin’ Shed
-Just in time for the Fourth of July comes this patriotic number about surviving hard times. It is somewhat wordy, but she sings the fire out of it nonetheless.
AARON WOODS BAND/Hangin’ By The River
Writers: Aaron Woods/Colt Larimore; Producer: Tony Pierce; Publisher: none listed, BMI; EJP
-You can’t sing, and your song about a country party is so hackneyed it gives me a headache.

Combustion Music Lands New Chevy Truck Theme Song

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combustion logoCombustion Music has landed the coveted slot for the new Chevy truck theme song. Replacing the iconic “Like A Rock,”  Combustion’s “Strong” seems poised to follow in both its success and longevity.
Written by Ashley Gorley, Will Hoge and Zach Crowell, and produced in-house by Combustion Music’s Chris Farren along with Gorley and Crowell, the project is the result of a month-long effort by Combustion’s staff, as well as their partners at Warner/Chappell. That’s Will Hoge‘s voice you hear performing the tune in the ad campaign.
The advertising campaign introducing the 2014 Silverado kicks off on July 4, but you can check out the spots below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ngOek2J65s

MusicRowRecess: Nashville Teen Auditions for 'America's Got Talent'

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America's Got TalentA local Nashville high school graduate recently made it past the first round of America’s Got Talent.
Paul Thomas Mitchell, a 2013 graduate of Father Ryan High School, recently performed “My Life,” a song he composed. He dedicated the song to his father, a recovering alcoholic. “He changed his life around for me to have the life that I can,” said Mitchell.
He auditioned in New Orleans before judges Heidi Klum, Melanie Brown, Howard Stern and Howie Mandel, and gained a positive reaction from the judges.
“You are obviously an emotional person, and that emotion came though on the stage,” said Stern after Mitchell’s audition. “That’s what I look for in a singer. I think you have star power and I have high hopes for you in this competition.”
Mitchell will move on to the next round of the competition, which takes place in Las Vegas on July 15-16.