Montgomery Gentry Releases EP

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Montgomery Gentry released a new digital EP titled, Friends and Family, yesterday (9/23) via Average Joe’s. The collection includes the group’s latest single, “I’ll Keep The Kids,” co-written by Eddie Montgomery, Ira Dean and Phil O’Donnell.

The single lands at No. 43 after 3 weeks on this week’s MusicRow Chart. Track listing is included below.

Additionally, Montgomery Gentry is featured on Average Joe’s Muddy Christmas album with its re-release of “Merry Christmas From The Family.”

For more information, visit www.montgomerygentry.com

Friends and Family track listing:
1) I’ll Keep the Kids
2) Where I Come From (Remix) [feat. Colt Ford & the Lacs]
3) Ain’t Out of the Woods Yet [feat. Colt Ford] (from the recent Colt Ford Declaration of Independence album)
4) Good Ol’ Boys (Dukes of Hazzard theme)

MusicRowPics: Kristen Kelly Artist Visit

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Sony’s Kristen Kelly stopped by MusicRow headquarters yesterday afternoon (10/23) to share her songs and some of the stories behind them.

“This is a song about the first time I saw my ex and finally felt nothing,” she said before playing the song “Feeling Nothing,” a co-write with Paul Overstreet. Afterwards, Kelly introduced the next song by saying, “And this is the true story of how my ex ended up being my ex.” She went on to play her current single, “Ex Old Man,” her first top 30 hit.

Her set list also included “Drink Myself Outta Love with You” and “Miss Me.”

Kelly was most recently on Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour. When asked how the tour was she laughed. “It didn’t suck,” she said.

Kelly’s comfortable being on the road, however. Prior to her country career she was in a rock-cover band for several years. In fact, she’s so comfortable with touring that while she was on tour with Paisley, she had a tattoo artist come in and ink her on the tour bus. Her most recent tattoo says, “Let It Break Your Heart,” the title of one of her songs and a reminder to feel all the ups and downs in life.

Kelly’s self-titled EP will be out next Tuesday, Oct. 30. For more information, visit kristenkellymusic.com.

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Lady A To Perform With Symphony

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Lady Antebellum will perform a special holiday concert, SunTrust Bank Presents Lady Antebellum “On This Winter’s Night,” at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 3. Lady A will offer holiday music accompanied by a symphony orchestra, as well as its biggest hits backed by a live band. On This Winter’s Night is the name of Lady Antebellum’s holiday album which was released yesterday (10/23).

Opening the concert will be a cappella group Breath of Soul which was selected by the trio through online submissions. GAC will tape the performance and air it beginning Wed., Dec. 5 at 7 PM/CT.

The ticket pre-sale is going on now, with the public on-sale scheduled for Fri., Oct. 26 at 10:00 AM/CT. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is also sponsoring the event.

Lady A is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year at the Nov. 1 CMA Awards. The group will release its first concert film, Own The Night World Tour, on Dec. 4.

Premiere Networks Presents “2012 CMA Awards Preview” Broadcast

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Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift is hosting the 2012 CMA Awards Preview Special presented by Premiere Networks. The four-hour radio special, which airs in advance of The 46th Annual CMA Awards, features music and interviews with all the top stars, including Awards co-hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton, reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland, Eli Young Band and Lady Antebellum, among others. The special is currently being broadcast to stations nationwide.

The 46th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Underwood, will air live on Thursday, Nov. 1 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.

Paisley Wraps U.S. Tour, Heads Overseas

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Brad Paisley wraps the U.S. leg of his tour at the Hollywood Bowl.

Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality World Tour played its final U.S. show Saturday night (10/20) to a sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl. He will follow the U.S. outing, which played to over one million fans, with six international shows next month including dates in Norway and Sweden.

Special guests on the Virtual Reality World Tour were The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery, with Easton Corbin on select dates. Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft performed on the “Virtual Opry” stage in “The Escape Plaza” throughout the summer. The Band Perry will continue on for the overseas concerts.

Paisley tours are known for their pranks and the last few shows are usually full of surprises. When the run stopped in San Diego Thursday (10/18) The Band Perry was taken off guard when four of Paisley’s crew guys came on stage dressed as police officers from Comedy Central’s Reno 911!.

The joke was on Paisley when his friend Jack Box, his co-star in the Jack in the Box® commercials, joined him and McCreery on stage during “Celebrity.”

Photos By: Ben Enos

Crew members in "Reno 911" costumes crash the stage during TBP's set in San Diego.

Paisley's marketing buddy Jack in the Box also made an appearance.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (10/24/12)

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Paul Sikes, Tim McDonald, A.J. Downing, Jana Kramer

Last week, I couldn’t find any newcomers to like, and this week the opposite is true.

No DisCovery Award was handed out when the pickins were slim. Now, I have three of them to bestow. They go to Sony-ATV writer Paul Sikes, rootsy Texan A.J. Downing and suburban Nashvillian Tim McDonald. Congratulations, fellows.

By contrast, all of the Disc of the Day contenders are women — Kathy Mattea, Sarah Darling, Holly Williams and our winner, Jana Kramer.

JANA KRAMER/Whiskey
Writer: Catt Gravitt/Sam Mizell; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publisher: Ink Pen Mama/Songs of Max/Tunes of R&T Direct/Razor & Tie/Be My Lamb/On Like a Neckbone/Simpleville, SESAC/BMI; Elektra/Warner Bros.
—At times, I had to strain to hear the lyric clearly, but there’s no denying the ultimate listening pleasure. She regrets the bad boy she fell for while harmony singers, fiddles, guitars, steel and mandolins chime and echo all around her.

A.J. DOWNING/My Wagon Just Won’t Roll
Writer: A.J. Downing; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Charkansas (track) (www.ajdowning.com)
—Downing’s CD is titled Good Day, and it kicks off with this ragged-but-right thumper. His country drawl is instantly engaging, and when you tune into his talent as a lyricist, you’ll be as hooked as I was. Sure, the instrumentation lacks Music Row polish, but sometimes a sound that is a little rough around the edges is just what the doctor ordered.

PAUL SIKES/My Epitaph
Writer: Paul Sikes; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys, ASCAP; 7-Layer (track) (www.paulsikes.com)
—The Sikes CD — titled Craft — isn’t due until January, but he has already created a stir with this tune from it. When Today show co-host Hoda Kotb was in town, she caught his set at The Bluebird and invited him to perform this on national TV. It is a moving, delicate elegy, a tender message to a loved one that says, basically, that after he’s gone the only thing that needs to be remembered about him is the love he gave.

HOLLY WILLIAMS/Drinkin’
Writer: Holly Williams; Producer: Charlie Peacock & Holly Williams; Publisher: none listed; HW (track) (www.hollywilliams.com)
—The forthcoming Holly Williams CD will be called Highway. On it, she is moving in an Americana direction with her talented co-producer Charlie Peacock. She is also even more startling as a singer-songwriter than she was before. This lead track spotlights her aching vocal delivery as well as her knife-sharp talent as a wordsmith. This is what modern country music ought to be doing.

STEVE LUSCOMBE/I’m a Natural
Writer: Alex Smith/Rock Carroll; Producer: Dan Drilling; Publisher: none listed; Taytown (track) (www.steveluscombe.com)
—The song is well constructed, and he sings it well. But the tempo is taken way, way too slowly. It sounds like he is trying to swim in molasses.

KATHY MATTEA/Hello, My Name Is Coal
Writer: Larry Cordle/Jenee Fleenor; Producer: Gary Paczosa & Kathy Mattea; Publisher: Wanderchord/NayerPuddingPie, BMI/SESAC; Sugar Hill (track) (www.mattea.com)
—Mattea’s latest CD, Calling Me Home, is a song cycle about her Appalachian homeland. This latest emphasis track couldn’t be more timely as it both reveres and reviles “black gold.” “Some say I’m a savior; some say death is what I bring,” rings out over a minor-key acoustic melody. Haunting.

SARAH DARLING/Home To Me
Writer: Caitlyn Smith/Bobby Hamrick; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Music of Stage Three/Songs of Carrman/BMG/EMI Foray/Turning Twenties/Dollarsandpense, BMI/SESAC; Black River
—This endearing, lilting love song compares her beau to the some of the best of America’s states. As always, her delivery is as sweet as sugar. Radio ready in the extreme.

AARON LEWIS/Forever
Writer: none listed; Producer: James Stroud & Aaron Lewis; Publisher: none listed; Blaster (track)
—The former Staind rock singer continues his bid for country acceptance with this midtempo, moody meditation on a fading romance that just might rekindle. Abundant steel guitar is a big plus here.

TIM McDONALD/Livin’ Breathin’ Havin’ Fun
Writer: Tim McDonald; Producer: Tim McDoanld & Bill Warner; Publisher: none listed; TM (track) (www.timmcdonaldband.com)
—The title tune to McDonald’s CD is a lovely, nostalgic trip down memory lane. To the accompaniment of rippling guitars and gentle keyboard work, he sings of his days of youth and innocence while visiting the Arlington grave of a buddy. His songwriting skill is outstanding, and his gently persuasive vocal is perfectly delivered. Elsewhere on the disc are such enticing titles as “Beer’s Good Food,” “I’d Be Screwed,” “Every Song Sounds the Same” and “Shit List.” Take my word for it, the guy can definitely write and sing.

SiriusXM Radio CEO to Exit Post

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Mel Karmazin

SiriusXM Radio’s CEO, Mel Karmazin, has announced he will be leaving the satellite radio service and its Board effective February 1, 2013, according to reports.

In a statement, Karmazin said:

“SiriusXM is an extraordinary company with an incredible team. It is an honor to come to work here every day where we truly deliver the best radio on radio. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished. Given where we started, it is amazing that SiriusXM has grown to become the largest radio company in the world. We continue to grow our subscriber base to record levels and our financial position has never been stronger. SiriusXM has a strong foundation to build on for the future and there is a great team in place to keep the company moving forward. I am confident that SiriusXM’s best years are ahead.”

Last month, Karmazin told conferees at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment: “My instincts today are that Liberty does not need me. I have historically been expensive, and, you know, it’s very clear to me that if I were Liberty, I would sit there and say, ‘I’m not sure we need Mel.’ And that’s OK with Mel,” referring to himself in the third person.

Karmazin’s move comes as Liberty Media seeks a majority stake in the satellite radio service operator. Currently, Liberty holds 49.5% stake in Sirius XM.

Board member Greg Maffei will chair a search committee, formed by the SiriusXM Board of Directors seeking the company’s next CEO. Considerations will be made both internally and externally.

The Swift Way to One Million

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Taylor Swift’s Red, which hit stores Monday (Oct. 22), is headed for a very big first week sales debut in excess of one million units. In doing so, Swift will become the first female in the SoundScan era to have two albums sell in excess of one million units in a week.

According to Billboard, the Big Machine star’s fourth studio album surpassed sales of 500,000 in its first day. That total includes a 160,000 unit boost from Target, which got exclusive dibs on the album’s deluxe version and set a store record in the process.

Sales for Red have been pumped up through a variety of innovative brand partnerships, including Papa John’s and Walgreens, both of whom are offering the album for sale. The iTunes store got the first week exclusive digital sales of Red, which has not yet been released to Amazon MP3 or Google Play. In contrast to Mumford & Sons’ Babel, which recently broke a one week streaming record on Spotify while selling 600k first week units, Red is not currently available on any streaming services.

Swift’s third album Speak Now debuted in Nov. 2010 with first week sales of 1.047 million. Since then, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way is the only album to hit the first week million sales mark (with 1.108 million units sold), thanks in part to a 99 cent Amazon mp3 promotion. Swift will join the Backstreet Boys, ‘NSync, and Eminem as the only artists to have had two albums eclipse one million sold in a week.

Joe Redmond Joins Bullseye

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Joe Redmond

Veteran radio promotion executive Joe Redmond has joined Bullseye Marketing Research. “We are excited to have Joe on board,” says Pres./CEO John Hart. “This business is all about relationships, and Joe’s relationships, experience, knowledge and enthusiasm will be an asset as we continue to grow our little company.”

Redmond adds, “I’ve found a home. John’s reputation is stellar in this community, and I am proud to be associated with him.”

Redmond’s other career stops include Edgehill Music and Media, Robbins Nashville, Lofton Creek, and Warner Bros. Nashville.

Reach him at 615-440-5132 or [email protected].

NATD To Honor Six Industry Leaders

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The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will salute six industry leaders at the 2nd annual NATD Honors gala on Wed., Nov. 14 at the Hermitage Hotel. Honorees include Nashville Predator and NHL Foundation Award recipient Mike Fisher, Morris Management Group President Clint Higham, CAA Nashville Agent John Huie, country music icon George Jones and Nashville Symphony President & CEO Alan Valentine.

Robert S. Williams, President of WBA Entertainment, will receive the Hubert Long Award. Named for the influential industry executive, The Hubert Long Award is presented to individuals who have made a significant and positive contribution to the music industry through artist development.

The 2012 Honorees were chosen by the NATD Board of Directors, led by President Steve Tolman of LogiCom. “Our goal is to recognize the work that these individuals have done to better the community around them. Not only are they leaders in their chosen professions but they believe in continuing and supporting education which is one of our main goals at NATD.”

The NATD Honors begins with a reception at 6:00 PM followed by a dinner and ceremony at 7:15 PM. Ticket information can be found at www.ticketfly.com.

Past honorees include Alabama, Tony Conway, Mayor Karl Dean, James H. Gosnell, Jr., and Barry Trotz.