Black River Taps New VP Promotion

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Bill Macky

Black River Entertainment’s General Manager Greg McCarn announced today (8/30) the addition of Bill Macky to the promotion staff as Vice President Of Promotion.

As a part of the restructuring, Brian Rhoades moves from NE Promotion Rep. to Sr. Director of National Promotion & Strategy, and Bill Lubitz continues on as the Director of National Promotion and is in the process of relocating to Nashville.

Officially taking the helm of Black River’s Promotion Department on Sept. 5, Macky fills the vacancy left by the resignation of VP of Promotion Rick Baumgartner who exited due to non-life-threatening health issues.

Macky joins Black River after spending over 30 years in the music industry, including 16 years programming country radio stations in Pittsburgh, San Jose, Sacramento and San Diego. Macky’s executive experience includes stops at MCA Nashville, Sony Nashville, Category 5 Records, 1720 Entertainment, Stroudavarious Records and Rodeowave Entertainment.

Upon accepting this position, Macky said, “Black River Entertainment is poised to become a major player in our industry and I am honored to have been asked to be a part of this team. The environment that Greg McCarn and Gordon Kerr have created is unlike any other I’ve been around. From the artists to the staff, this is a very special place. I’m very excited and I can’t wait to get started.”

In making this announcement, McCarn states, “I am so excited about the addition of Bill Macky to Black River. His leadership, depth and experience are a valuable addition to our promotion team as we move forward with the development of the label and our artists.”

Macky will be seeking regional candidates for the Director of Promotion – West Coast and for the newly available Director of Promotion – Northeast, resulting from the recent promotion of Rhoades. Contact Macky via macky@blackriverent.com or 615-780-3070.

Kramer’s “Why Ya Wanna” Certified Gold

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L–R: Scott Hendricks (Sr. VP, A&R WMN / album producer), Chris Stacey (Sr. VP, Promotion WMN), Jordan Pettit (National Director, W.A.R Promotion), Chris Palmer (VP, W.A.R Promotion), John Esposito (President & CEO WMN), Peter Strickland (Sr. VP, Brand Management & Sales WMN)

Jana Kramer’s single “Why Ya Wanna,” recently earned Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) which marks an exciting career first for the young artist. Kramer was presented with a plaque marking this special accomplishment at Warner Music Nashville’s Pickin’ On The Patio party Aug. 23.

Kramer has sold over 700,000 single tracks, including over half a million of “Why Ya Wanna.” Her self-titled debut album premiered at No. 5 on the Top Country Albums Chart.

Save The Date: Capitol Street Party

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Mark your calendars: the fifth annual Capitol Street Party will take place October 17, 2012. The free, open-to-the-public event is Capitol Records Nashville’s opportunity to showcase some of its hottest up-and-coming talent alongside one or more of its superstar artists.

Performers for this year’s show have not been announced, but the previous four years have featured Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson and more. Last year’s event took place September 21 and was held on Demonbreun Ave. between the Roundabout and the I-65 overpass.

IEBA Hall of Fame Names New Class

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Charley Pride

Three new inductees will join the IEBA Hall of Fame during an Oct. 9 ceremony at the organization’s upcoming conference. The new class includes Charley Pride, an artist who has sold over 70 million albums sold and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry; longtime Amusement Business writer and staffer Ray Pilszak; and the late New York State Fair executive Joe LaGuardia, who spent over three decades with the fair and passed away in May.

The 42nd conference of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) is planned for Oct. 6-9 in Nashville, where over 600 live entertainment industry executives will convene for networking and over 50 artists’ showcases.

The IEBA Hall of Fame was established in 2010 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization. To date, 41 of the most prestigious buyers, agents and live entertainment pioneers have been inducted.

Voting is currently underway for the annual IEBA Industry Awards (nominees below). Winners will be announced on Oct. 9.

Ray Pilszak

International Buyer of the Year
Johanne Bougie – Festival International de jazz de Montreal
Rob Potts – Entertainment Edge
Declan Quinn – Q&N Productions
Larry Werner – Panhandle Productions

Fair Buyer of the Year
Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
Bonnie Brosious – Great Allentown Fair
Gil Cunningham – Neste Event Marketing
RJ Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group

Joe LaGuardia

Festival Buyer of the Year
Bob Babisch – Milwaukee Summerfest
Mike Smardak – Outback Concerts
Glenn Smith – Glenn Smith Presents

Club Buyer of the Year
Roger LeBlanc – The Coach House
Ethan Levinson – AEG Live
Gary Osier – Gary Osier Presents

College Buyer of the Year
Mark Letson – EastCoast Entertainment
Ari Nisman – Degy Entertainment
Brian Waymire – The Agency Coalition / Red Gorilla Music

Corporate Buyer of the Year
Ed Bazel – The Bazel Group
Fran Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
Randy Wright – Integrity Events

Casino Buyer of the Year
Steve Bogdanovich – Romeo Entertainment Group
Kell Houston – Houston Productions
John Valentino – AEG Live

Venue Executive of the Year
Hugh Lombardi – TD Garden, Boston
Brenda Tinnen – Sprint Center, Kansas City
Sally Williams – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville

Emerging Talent Agent of the Year
Heath Baumhor – APA
Sullivan Bigg – Bigg Time Entertainment
Jeffrey Hasson – Paradigm Agency
Travis Wolfe – Paradigm Agency

To register for the conference, visit ieba.org.

Loretta Lynn to Celebrate 50th Opry Anniversary

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The legendary Loretta Lynn will celebrate her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with a star-studded special Opry show on Sept. 25. Artists scheduled to join Lynn for the celebration include her sister, Crystal Gayle, as well as Miranda Lambert (plus the Pistol Annies), Lee Ann Womack, and Trace Adkins.

“There is no one at the Opry, in country music, or on Earth quite like Loretta Lynn,” said Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry vice president and general manager. “Her influence as a recording artist and songwriter reaches across musical genres, cultures, and generations. She’s earned her place among America’s musical icons, and we look forward to celebrating 50 years of Opry membership with her next month.”

Lynn joined the Opry family on September 25, 1962. Among her numerous accomplishments are three Grammy Awards, eight CMA Awards (including being the first female Entertainer of the Year in 1972), induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Judd Resumes Touring

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As her husband Cactus Moser continues to recover following his Aug. 18 motorcycle accident, Wynonna Judd has announced she will resume touring with her band tomorrow (8/30).

“We continue to feel loved and supported by the outpouring of messages from people around the world,” said Judd, “Cactus continues to improve every day as he begins his road to rehabilitation. We are looking forward to the day when we will be back together on stage again and I believe we will be stronger than ever. Until then I will be out on the road with the rest of the band while I wait lovingly and patiently for my husband to return to The Big Noise.”

In lieu of flowers, gifts and cards, Moser is asking for family, friends and fans to make a donation in his name to Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to helping military personnel who have returned home with serious disabilities. Please visit homesforourtroops.org/cactusmoser to learn more.

For a full list of Judd’s tour dates, click here.

Snapshots (8/29/2012)

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Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher, Casey James

Columbia Nashville’s Casey James took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night (8/28) and performed several songs including his current single, “Crying On A Suitcase.”

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Pictured (L-R): Brandi Simms, Betsy Walker, Hoge, Steve Moore

Nashville artist and songwriter Will Hoge stopped by the CMA’s offices on Thursday to become an official CMA member. Hoge, along with Eric Paslay, penned the Eli Young Band No. 1 single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Hoge is currently planning an EP release of Modern American Protest Music for September 18 and headlining select dates through the end of the year.

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Picture attached of WME with first place trophy.

SOLID’s 2nd Annual kickball tournament took place on August 18 at the Boys and Girls club in South Nashville. SOLID raised over $2,000 and donated 500 pairs of shoes to Soles 4 Souls. WME were the champions, Music Row Misfits took 2nd and SESAC won 3rd.

No. 1 Party: Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl”

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L–R: (back row) producer Mark Bright, ASCAP's Marc Driskill, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing's Steve Markland, Combustion Music's Chris Farren, Sony Music Nashville's Gary Overton and Lesly Tyson, XIX Entertainment's Ann Edelblute, and EMI Music Publishing's Tom Luteran; (front row) ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, co-writer Chris DeStefano, Carrie Underwood, co-writer Ashley Gorley, and BMI's Jody Williams.

Carrie Underwood celebrated her 15th no. 1 hit “Good Girl” in Nashville yesterday (8/28) at CMA offices. Underwood co-wrote “Good Girl,” the lead single off her latest album Blown Away, with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley.

The single, which has been spun over 100,000 times, was produced by Mark Bright.

BMI’s Jody Williams, ASCAP’s Leann Phelan, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, EMI Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing’s Steve Markland, CRS’s Bill Mayne, CMA’s Brandi Simms, Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox all recognized the songwriting trio during their presentations. Cox also announced a donation would be made to Underwood’s own C.A.T.S foundation in her name and in her co-writers’ names.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world to get to do what I love and work with amazing people,” said DeStefano, who was celebrating his very first No. 1 hit. Of Underwood he noted, “It’s truly inspiring to be in the room with someone that talented. It brought me up 100 levels in my game.”

Gorley, who also co-wrote Underwood’s “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” kept his thanks short and sweet saying, “This was the ideal writing scenario… It’s the best-sounding cut of a record that I’ve been a part of.” “Good Girl” is his 8th No. 1.

But Underwood set the record straight. “What Ashley really meant to say was I totally crashed their writing session.” She went on to explain that it was kind of a funny story. “I had a rare day off,” she said. “So it was either go shopping or go write with these two. I think I made the right decision.”

Bluebird’s 30th Anniversary Continues With Special Performances

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Kathy Mattea, Shelby Lynne and The Original Women In The Round: Ashley Cleveland, Karen Staley, Pam Tillis and Tricia Walker will continue The Bluebird Café’s 2012 30th Anniversary Celebration with upcoming special performances.

“Our 30th Anniversary week in June was exceptional and yet there is no way a single week could represent 30 years of history,” said Bluebird Café COO Erika Wollam Nichols. “That’s why we’re continuing to celebrate our anniversary all year long. We are thrilled that Kathy, Shelby and the Women In The Round are all a part of these special performances.”

Mattea, who received her first record deal following a Bluebird performance, will play the famed venue September 5 in conjunction with her new Calling Me Home release for Sugar Hill Records.

Shelby Lynne will appear in a solo acoustic performance September 27, featuring songs from her new record Revelation Road. Pre-paid reservations are currently available on the Bluebird website.

The Original Women In The Round represented The Bluebird Café on the Road for a number of years at festivals and in national concerts after first appearing at the café in November 1988. Other incarnations have existed over the last 25 years, but the original Cleveland, Staley, Tillis, and Walker will perform on December 4.

Pre-paid reservations for Mattea and The Original Women in the Round will be available for $20.00 on the Bluebird website at 8:00 am CT, August 29 and November 27, respectively.

Martina McBride, Luke Bryan Line Up TV Appearances

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Robin Roberts and Martina McBride

Martina McBride will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America tomorrow (8/30) to visit her friend and host Robin Roberts before she goes on medical leave. During the 8 a.m. hour, McBride will perform her hit song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” for Roberts who announced earlier this week that she will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant and treatment for MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome). On the show, McBride will also unveil a new initiative to raise awareness about breast cancer.

“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” instantly became an anthem for cancer survivors and their supporters when it was released in August 2011, and went on to earn a Grammy nomination for McBride. Roberts appeared in the music video alongside other cancer survivors and supporters including Hoda Kotb, Katie Couric and Sheryl Crow. “It meant the world to me when Robin joined me in Nashville for the music video. She is an inspiration to me, my family and my fans. I can’t wait to see her on Thursday to give her a big hug and perform for her. It’s an honor,” said the country singer.

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Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan will head to the Big Apple next week to make appearances on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America on Sept. 5 and 6, respectively. He will perform his latest hit single “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” which he co-wrote for his Platinum-selling album tailgates & tanlines.

Bryan will also be in town promoting the ABC Television Special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock, which he co-hosts with Kimberly Perry. The special will air on Mon., Sept. 17, 8:00-11:00 PM ET.

He is currently on the My Kind of Party Tour with Jason Aldean and also headlining his own shows this summer and fall. In October, Bryan will embark on his fourth annual Farm Tour 2012 with eight concerts planned throughout the south, including five in his home state of Georgia.

Bryan recently scored his third consecutive Platinum single with “Drunk On You,” which follows “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”