Yoakam Offers Exclusive Debuts of Tracks From ‘3 Pears’

/by

Dwight Yoakam’s highly-anticipated new album 3 Pears hits retail Sept. 18 via Warner Bros. Records and fans now have the chance to check out the collection in advance.

Beginning today (9/11), one new track per day will be released every day this week through AOL, GAC, Taste of Country, Yahoo, and CMT. Head over to the newly-launched CMT Edge today to hear Yoakam’s “It’s Never Alright.” Visit www.dwightyoakam.com for updates on where the next song can be heard.

3 Pears is Yoakam’s 12th studio album, which the artist self-produced along with two songs co-produced by Beck. One of those tracks– “A Heart Like Mine”– was premiered by Rolling Stone back in August. Also included in the diverse collection is a cover of the Bee Gee’s hit “To Love Somebody.”

Bucky Covington’s “Good Guys” Album Out Today

/by

Bucky Covington’s new album Good Guys is being released today (9/11) by his label home eOne Music. Produced by Mark Miller and Dale Oliver, the sophomore project features 12 tracks including “I Wanna Be That Feeling” and Shooter Jennings duet “Drinking Side Of Country,” which Covington co-wrote and co-produced.

As part of the launch week, fans can hear the full album starting today at AOL and catch him live on FoxNews.com Thursday (9/13) at 2:40 p.m. ET. Covington will also perform “Drinking Side Of Country,” on new late night program The Nick & Artie Show (DirectTV and SiriusXM) on Sept. 13. Other upcoming appearances include ABC News Now, USMagazine.com and People.com.

Today he will join the New York Fire Department’s Pipes and Drums band at dusk to perform “God Bless The U.S.A.” and join the procession to FDNY Engine 10/Ladder 10 in remembrance of 9/11. He’ll also take part in the Fallen Fire Fighter’s Memorial on Sept. 15 in Colorado Springs.

A portion of the proceeds of the album’s first week sales will benefit the International Association of Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation. His work with the organization is highlighted on CNN’s Impact Your World this week. Over the last year Covington has been working closely with Help The Good Guys and the IAFF Charitable Foundation to provide financial relief to injured fire fighters and their families, hosting benefit events, visiting burn centers and burn camps and making donations from his music and merchandise sales. A special IAFF version of the Good Guys album, featuring bonus tracks “Evil Knievel” and “Ole Kentuck,” can be ordered here for a limited time.

Dierks Bentley Adds to ‘Miles & Music’ Lineup

/by

Dierks Bentley's Miles and Music for Kids has raised over $2 million for children

Kix Brooks is the latest artist to join the lineup of Dierks Bentley’s 7th annual “Miles & Music for Kids,” which includes previously announced participants Sheryl Crow, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, The Cadillac Black and Craig Campbell.

The celebrity motorcycle ride and concert, scheduled for Sun., Oct. 14, begins in Columbia, TN and concludes at the ACM Lifting Lives main stage for performances in Nashville’s Downtown Riverfront Park.

Bentley will once again team up with CMT One Country and Harley Davidson of Columbia to donate all proceeds from the ride and concert to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Since hitting the pavement in 2006, “Miles & Music for Kids” has held 12 events in seven US cities to raise over $2 million for charity.

Tickets for the ride, concert and VIP packages are available at Ticketmaster.com. For more info, visit www.dierks.com.

CRS Battle of the Bands Lineups Revealed

/by

Some of our music industry colleagues will come together as performing groups for the inaugural CRS Battle of the Bands, featuring representatives from Broken Bow, Capitol Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, UMG Nashville, and Warner Music Nashville.

The private, industry only event will be held Thursday, Sept. 27, from 6 – 9 pm at 3rd & Lindsley. Proceeds will raise money for the CRS Scholarship Fund and The Country Radio Hall of Fame by making our music industry peers show off their musical chops.

CRS Battle of the Bands teams:

Broken Bow Records – Band: “The One Night Stand Band” (Lineup and Artist Coach TBA).

Capitol Nashville – Band: “Capitol eMERGing Artists” (feat. Shane Allen, Jeremy Ash, Tom Becci, Danny Berrios, Michael Brian, Rachel Dobson, Sarah Edmonds, Tony Grotticelli, Allison Hardy, Steve Hodges, Donna Hughes, Brent Jones, Brad O’Donnell, Jimmy Rector, Melissa Spillman, Josh Wilson).  Artist Coach: TBA

Sony Music Nashville – Band: “Bushido” (feat. Matt Adams, Nick Barnes, John Fox, David Friedman, Norbert Nix, Chris Waters).  Artist Coach: Tyler Farr

UMG Nashville – Band: “Tiny Huge City” (feat. Dottie Chamberlain, Katie Dean, Sally Green, June Hammet, Cole Johnson, Tom Lord, Royce Risser, Pam Russell, Jen Schaaf, James Stewart, Amy Weatherholt).  Artist Coach: Laura Bell Bundy

Warner Music Nashville – Band: “The Almighty Warner Band” (Lineup TBA, band leader John Esposito).  Artist Coach: TBA

Original Sony/Columbia Team Reunites for Wade Hayes Single

/by

Wade Hayes

Members of the team that helped launch Wade Hayes’ career have reunited to release his latest single. Hayes penned the song “Is It Already Time” about his experience undergoing successful cancer treatment in the last six months. The single is available on digital outlets, with all proceeds going to the Colon Cancer Alliance. Hear it at wadehayes.com.

Spearheaded by former Columbia Nashville promotion vet Jeri Cooper, she and Hayes’ longtime manager Mike Robertson have brought together former Sony/Columbia staffers Allen Butler, Craig Campbell (Campbell Entertainment Group), Blake Chancey, Jack Christopher (RPM Entertainment), Debi Fleischer, JR Hughes (Quarterback Records), Bob Mitchell (Big & Rich/The Farm Management), Jennifer Shaffer and Scott Siman. The single will be released on Siman’s RPM Entertainment label. Publicity duties will be shared by Campbell and Hayes’ longtime indie publicist Ronna Rubin.

Hayes brought hit producer Don Cook, who was at the helm for his six Top 15 singles and the gold-selling albums Old Enough To Know Better and On A Good Night, out of retirement to produce “Is It Already Time.” Plans are in the works to record an album for release in 2013.

Play MPE has donated digital distribution of the single to country radio stations, and Dale Turner and Radio Informer have agreed to include the single free of charge on their September 17, 2012 Country Sampler CD. Audio PSAs are available to radio stations.

Cooper said, “It’s really amazing to see all of these people come together for the love of an artist and the sole purpose of helping him realize a simple dream of letting the world know the importance of getting tested for colon cancer.”

[Updated] CCMA Industry And Musician Awards

/by

The Canadian Country Music Association recently presented industry and musician honors at the Industry Brunch Awards, CCMA Gala Awards and CCMA All-­Star Band Awards.

Open Road Recordings took home the title Record Company of the Year, while EMI Music Canada’s Ron Harwood celebrated a win in the Record Company Person of the Year category.

Gord Bamford, Roger Brown and Byron Hill took home the award for Songwriters of the Year for Bamford’s 2012 nominated track, “Is It Friday Yet?” Additionally Hill and Bamford won Producer of the Year honors for the track.

Johnny Burke and Ralph Murphy were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

2012 Industry Brunch Award Winners

Record Producer(s) of the Year Gord Bamford/Byron Hill (“Is It Friday Yet?” Gord Bamford)

Management Company of the Year RGK Entertainment Group Inc.

Country Club of the Year Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall – Calgary, AB

Album Design of the Year Mitch Nevins/Mark Maryanovich/Jill Snell – Dirt (Dean Brody)

Recording Studio of the Year Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK

Retailer of the Year iTunes Canada

Booking Agency of the Year The Agency Group

Music Director of the Year– Major Market Scott Phillips – CKRY FM/CISN-FM – Calgary, AB/Edmonton, AB

Music Director of the Year– Secondary Market Tim Day – CKGY FM- Red Deer, Ab

On-Air Personality of the Year (Major Market) Toff And Melissa Of the Morning Ride – CHKX FM, Hamilton

On-Air Personality of the Year (Secondary Market) KG Mornings With Greg, Tera Lee & Al – CKGY FM, Red Deer

Video Director of the Year Stephano Barberis (“Is It Friday Yet?” – Gord Bamford; “Somebody Somewhere” – Dallas Smith)

Country Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB

Country Music Program or Special of the Year Employee of the Week (CMT)

2012 Gala Dinner Winners

Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year Lindsay Ell/Rod Tate (Calgary Stampede)

Music Publishing Company of the Year ole

Record Company of the Year Open Road Recordings

Record Company Person of the Year Ron Harwood (EMI)

Station of the Year (Major Market) CISN FM, Edmonton

Station of the Year (Second Market) CJKX FM, Oshawa

Artist Hall of Fame Inductee Johnny Burke

Builder Hall of Fame Inductee Ralph Murphy

Roots Artist or Group of the Year Jimmy Rankin

Slaight Music Humanitarian Award Tenille

Songwriter(s) of the Year
“Is It Friday Yet?” (Written By Gord Bamford/Roger Brown/Byron Hill; Performed By Gord Bamford)

Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year (Canadian sales only) Johnny Reid, Fire It Up

Top Selling International Album of the Year (Canadian sales only) Lady Antebellum, Own The Night

Interactive Artist or Group of the Year Gord Bamford

Hank Smith Award of Excellence Larry Delaney

2012 All Star Band Award Winners

All Star Bass Lisa Dodd (Gord Bamford)

All Star Drums Chad Melchert (Gord Bamford)

All Star Fiddle Denis Dufresne (Pear/Deric Ruttan)

All Star Guitar Ryan Davidson (Gord Bamford)

All Star Keyboards Rob Shapiro (Hey Romeo)

All Star Special Instrument Shane Chisholm, Gastank Bass (Shane Chisholm)

All Star Steel Guitar Jeff Bradshaw (session)

Matthew Hargis Promoted at Republic Nashville

/by

Matthew Hargis

Republic Nashville President/Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen announced today (9/10) the promotion of Matthew Hargis to Republic Nashville Vice President of Promotion.

Hargis will continue to spearhead the radio promotion department (a.k.a. “The Apes”) for the entire Republic Nashville roster, which includes Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Greg Bates, RaeLynn and Jackie Lee.

“Matthew is one of the hardest working, most-driven and caring executives I have ever known,” said Harnen. “What he has successfully done in a short amount of time at Republic Nashville is nothing short of spectacular. He is a fantastic leader who always does the right thing, and it gives me great joy to present him with these very well deserved VP stripes!”

Hargis added, ”I cannot thank Scott and Jimmy enough for their leadership, coaching and mentoring. The culture they have built at BMLG is outstanding. I am so proud to come into work every day and fight like an ape with all of my brothers and sisters in the Republic ape den!”

Hargis’ other career stops include All Access and Capitol Records Nashville. He can be reached via 615-324-7902 or [email protected].

Aldean Partners With Coors Light

/by

Jason Aldean has landed a partnership with Coors Light, which will become Aldean’s exclusive alcohol sponsor and launch a national retail promotion around the singer.

“Coors Light is associated with so many of my favorite experiences… tailgating before University of Georgia games, vacations to the beach with my friends, playing bars and clubs when I was coming up in my career,” said Aldean. “This was a no-brainer partnership for me, and I’m especially looking forward to the fridge full of Coors Light they promised all of us for the road.”

Included in the partnership are retail promotions to support the Oct. 16 release of Aldean’s fifth album Night Train. Point-of-sale materials found at outlets like Walmart will feature Aldean’s image and Coors Light Brandling.

In other Aldean news, the young star was recently nominated for three CMA Awards for the Nov. 1 show, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year (for “Dirt Road Anthem”). His new single “Take A Little Ride” is zooming toward the tops of all the charts after its release in July.

SOLID September Marks 15 Years of Success

/by

The Society of Leaders In Development (SOLID) is celebrating its 15th anniversary during “SOLID September” with events highlighting its most important initiatives: education, outreach, and networking.

Networking
“SOLID has been growing leaps and bounds since it started in 1997,” explained SOLID Pres. Jon Romero during a recent interview. “It has evolved every year with different groups of members, but its goal has always been the same, to bring together young industry professionals.”

Founding member Chris Neese recalled the meetings that led to the organization. “A small group of friends gathered to discuss our future. We saw a need to bring aspiring music industry professionals together to create strong social networks, provide education training, promote leadership, and inspire community involvement. Our solution was SOLID.” The group debuted with a party at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Accordingly, the 15th Anniversary Reception will be held at the Hall of Fame on Tues., Sept. 25, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., where highlights will include interviews with SOLID alumni and an awards ceremony.

Most SOLID events combine networking with education or outreach, as is the case with tomorrow’s (Tues., Sept. 11) Food Truck Frenzy. Running from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the SESAC parking lot, 10% of the profits will benefit the charity Linda’s Hope, which fights pancreatic cancer.

Education
Anniversary events kicked off on Sept. 4 with a Conversation with Gene Simmons and Doc McGhee. “Every year we set the bar higher and higher,” said Romero, who works at Vector Management. “It was the biggest panel we’ve put together and it happened thanks to our members’ hard work and connections.”

Throughout the year, the group’s education initiatives include quarterly SOLID After-Work Shops. “We are always bringing in industry leaders for direct dialog with our members,” explained Romero of the panels. “We try to put them in a small setting so our members can ask questions and bounce ideas off of them.”

Outreach
Outreach opportunities focus on serving the community at large, as well as music business college students. To that end, this month SOLID is organizing a Job Shadow Day on Thurs., Sept. 20, and a Habitat For Humanity Build on Sat., Sept. 15.

SOLID is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with annual fundraisers including Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake, and the SOLID Yard Sale held during CMA Music Festival. “This year we’ve given away $50,000 to different charities,” said Romero. “That’s leaps and bounds over last year’s $18,000. We want the industry to know we are doing a lot for the community with our sweat and action by our members. There are a lot of legs coming out of SOLID, such as Women Rock For The Cure, and Buds-N-Suds for Crohn’s and Colitis.” Both groups have roots among SOLID members and have since become stand alone charities.

“We set the bar and then reach over it,” summed Romero. “In the next 15 years I hope that we continue to build our reputation on Music Row and that the executives continue to seek our members and know the value of the organization.”

Visit SOLID online, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Lady Antebellum Announces Christmas Album

/by

Lady Antebellum has announced plans for a Christmas album called On This Winter’s Night, which will be available in stores on Oct. 22.

“We recorded this album in two sections, but both times were in the summertime,” noted Dave Haywood. “It is always weird to be in the studio working on Christmas music in June and July, so we decorated the entire studio, we really did. We brought out lights, fake trees and decorated the place to get in the Christmas spirit. You’d leave the studio, and it’d be 100 degrees out in Nashville, but nonetheless, a great experience.”

Between legs of their Own The Night 2012 World Tour earlier this year, Lady A hit the studio in Nashville to record the holiday collection which they co-produced alongside Paul Worley. For the festive release, the trio penned the album’s title track and created their own arrangements for two of the disc’s additional 11 holiday classics.

On This Winter’s Night Track List:
1. A Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
5. This Christmas
6. The First Noel*
7. On This Winter’s Night
8. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night (Lord Of My Life)*
11. Blue Christmas
12. Silver Bells
*Arranged by Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott