Jerrod Niemann Frees The Music

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Jerrod Niemann unveiled the album artwork for his October 2 release, Free The Music, featuring actual photographs from instruments used when recording.

The Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville release, which Niemann co-produced and contributed co-writing credits to every track, is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

“This album is my interpretation of how I feel about country right now,” said Neimann. “The pedal steel guitar has come to define country music, but there were years and years of country being made before that instrument was even invented. Horns have been in country going back to the 1920s, and fiddles and other string instruments date back even further.”

In other Niemann news, the singer recently visited Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to help launch Musicians on Call’s 11th Weekly Bedside Performance Program, celebrating five years of service in Nashville. The singer performed his latest single, “Shinin’ On Me” (photo below).

Free The Music track listing (Track/Title/Songwriters):
01-“Free The Music” (Niemann)
02-“Whiskey Kind of Way” (Niemann, Randy Boudreaux)
03-“Get On Up” (Niemann, J.R. McCoy, Jesse Clingan)
04-“I’ll Have to Kill the Pain” (Niemann, J.R. McCoy, Arlos Smith)
05-“Only God Can Love You More” (Niemann, Jon Stone, Lee Brice)
06-“Shinin’ on Me” (Niemann, Rob Hatch, Lee Brice, Lance Miller)
07-“Honky Tonk Fever” (Niemann)
08-“Guessing Games” (Niemann, J.R. McCoy)
09-“It Won’t Matter Anymore” (Niemann, Rob Hatch, Lance Miller)
10-“I’m All About You” [featuring Colbie Caillat] (Niemann, Richie Brown)
11-“Real Women Drink Beer”(Jerrod, Houston Phillips)
12-“Fraction of a Man” (Niemann)

Jerrod Niemann with hospital staff at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital.

Survey Reveals Music Discovery Habits

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Radio remains the dominant form of music discovery in the United States, unless you happen to be a teenager.

According to Nielsen’s recent “Music 360” report, 48% of those surveyed said radio was how they found new music, followed by recommendations from friends/family (10%), and YouTube (7%). But the teenage results show they listen to new music mostly through YouTube (64%), then radio (56%), iTunes (53%) and CDs (50%).

“The accessibility of music has seen tremendous expansion and diversification,” said David Bakula, SVP Client Development, Nielsen. “While younger listeners opt for technologically advanced methods, traditional methods of discovery like radio and word-of-mouth continue to be strong drivers. With so many ways to purchase, consume and discover great new music, it’s no wonder that the consumer continues to access and enjoy music in greater numbers.”

There are approximately 42.7 million individuals between the ages of 10-19, or 13.8% of the country’s total population, according to US Census Data from 2010. People ages 20-29 account for roughly the same percentage as teens, with 30-39 year olds slightly less at 12.9%. People ages 40-49 years make up the largest slice at 14.1%, and those 50-59 years of age amount to 13.6%. There are an additional 40.5 million people below the age of 10 who will grow up with a multitude of discovery options at their fingertips, from YouTube to traditional radio to Spotify and beyond.

Young consumers who purchase digital tracks are also more likely to download a song soon after release. Thirty-three percent of teens reported buying a digital track within one week of release, versus only 21% of those ages 18 and above for the same period.

And while 18-24 year olds are most likely to attend live events, 54% of teenagers who go to concerts will purchase t-shirts, versus 46% of 18-24 year olds.

Other interesting findings from the Nielsen study show 54% of respondents are more inclined to purchase something if a friend gives it a recommendation, and 25% are more likely to purchase something hyped in the blogosphere. Of smartphone users, 54% report having some kind of music player app, and 47% have a radio app.

Jones Announces Farewell Tour

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In 2013, George Jones will mark the end of an era with a farewell tour for his fans called The Grand Tour. After over 50 years of touring, Jones has decided he is ready to slow down and spend more time with family.

“It is tough to stop doing what I love, but the time has come,” said Jones in a statement.

The Grand Tour will visit approximately 60 cities in 2013. The star will perform many of his hits such as “White Lightning,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.” 

Jones also plans to record a new studio album, and Dolly Parton has been writing songs for him. There is no scheduled release date for the project at this time.

After a brief bout with an upper respiratory infection earlier this year, Jones was forced to cancel several tour dates. However, he is currently back on the road and dates can be found here.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/15/12)

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Tiffany Houghton, Clayton Gardner

Ask and you shall receive.

In last week’s column, I bemoaned the lack of a DisCovery Award contender. So this week, I got two of them.

Both are Texans. Our Male winner, Clayton Gardner, plies his trade in Lone Star State roadhouses. Our Female winner, Tiffany Houghton, has moved to Music City to record her debut, six-song EP.

Eli Young Band

The Disc of the Day goes to Eli Young Band for its warmly romantic “Say Goodnight.” Kudos for another job well done.

CLAYTON GARDNER/I Won’t Settle Down
Writer: Clayton Gardner/Mack Damon; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CG (www.claytongardner.com)
—This breezy bopper with a touch of twang comes from a Texas newcomer with a smooth, confident, easy-going baritone. Promising.

ALI ISABELLA/Say You’ll Be Mine
Writer: Josh Foster/Julie Downs; Producer: Gregory Lattimer & Josh Foster; Publisher: Alisma, BMI; Alisma (track) (www.aliisabella.com)
—She sounds very young and quite pert. You wouldn’t call her a vocal powerhouse by any means, but this lightweight, up-tempo ditty doesn’t require her to be one. Peppy. Innocent.

KATHY MATTEA/West Virginia, My Home
Writer: none listed; Producer: Gary Paczosa; Publisher: none listed; Sugar Hill (track) (www.mattea.com)
—Mattea has scheduled a trio of Music City appearances next month to celebrate the imminent release of her Calling Me Home CD — Sept. 5 at The Bluebird Cafe, Sept. 7 at The Station Inn and Sept. 8 at the Opry House gift shop. In the meantime, this lilting, sweetly sung, acoustic track is doing the advance work on her website. The wafting, guitar-fiddle-mandolin picking by the CD’s all-star band is as heavenly as the singing.

RODNEY HAYDEN/Buckaroo Man
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Palomino
—A single with a built-in identity crisis. The band thinks it is a Southern-rock outfit. He thinks he’s a cowboy.

JERRY KILGORE/Telephone, TX
Writer: Kilgore/Guess; Producer: Jerry Kilgore & James Mitchell; Publisher: none listed; Nic Nic Neer (track)
—I have enjoyed this fellow’s work many times in the past. The title tune of his new CD is a dark and bluesy lament that showcases both his creativity as a songwriter and his charismatic vocal ability. Another winner from a man who seems fully loaded with them.

TIM DUGGER/(I Called Her) Tennessee
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb (www.timdugger.com)
—Talk about drawling — you could cut this guy’s Dixie accent with a jack knife. He falls for a college girl who teaches him a thing or two, except her name. The track is your typical rock ‘em, sock ‘em type.

TIFFANY HOUGHTON/Only One
Writer: Tiffany Houghton; Producer: Tiffany Houghton; Publisher: none listed; TH (www.tiffanyhoughton.com)
—She is a true Triple Threat. Her singing is forceful and expressive. Her song writing is solid. Her production finesse on the pulsing, dynamic track is exemplary. She’s Dallas gal who has moved to Music City to make it big. Keep your eyes and ears on her.

NAT STUCKEY/A Hurt as Big as Texas
Writer: Nat Stuckey; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Music Roow Talent (track)
—Nat Stuckey (1933-1988) was a country hit maker who died too soon. His widow, Ann, has been keeping his memory alive with reissues of his works. The latest, Words and Music by Nat Stuckey and Friends, includes his three best-known compositions, “Pop a Top,” “Sweet Thang” and “Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line.” Its lesser known tunes include this lively western swinger that will set your toes to tapping. Recommended listening.

ELI YOUNG BAND/Say Goodbye
Writer: Katrina Elam/Melissa Pierce/John Paul White; Producer: Mike Wrucke; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Kreative/Music of Stage Three/Gutter-N-Grace/Roger’s Dream/BMG Chrysalis/EMI Blackwood/Mr. Bright Side, BMI; Republic Nashville (track)
—The Eli Young Band is going from strength to strength. This soaring power ballad wears its ultra-romantic heart on its sleeve. Soul-tugging in every respect. You’re also going to be hearing more from its previous chart topper, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” It plays during the opening montage of the TV series Nashville on Wednesday nights this fall on ABC.

DAVID ANDERSEN/Malaguena
Writer: none listed; Producer: David Andersen; Publisher: none listed; Andersongs (track) (www.davidandersenmusic.com)
—Thanks to his daily strolls, strumming in the Conservatory of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, guitarist David Andersen is probably the most famous “unknown” musician in Nashville. He has two new CDs, Vituoso and Virtuoso II. The latter contains his deft, easy-listening run through this classical Spanish instrumental standard.

CMT.com Launches “Southern Ground Live” Series

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CMT.com and Landshark Lager have joined forces to present musicians from Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Artists label in a three-part, online performance series, Southern Ground Live. The series launched today with Blackberry Smoke, the Georgia-based Southern rock band.

Blackberry Smoke performed selections from its  new album The Whippoorwill, including “Six Ways to Sunday,” “Pretty Little Lie,” “Everybody Knows She’s Mine” and “Ain’t Got the Blues.” Jamey Johnson joined the group onstage and contributed vocals to a medley of “Yesterday’s Wine” and “Still Doin’ Time.”

New episodes of Southern Ground Live will feature performances from Sonia Leigh (Aug. 29), and Nic Cowan (Sept. 13) on CMT.com. The series, which can be viewed here, follows Southern Ground artists as they make music on their own terms.

Margaritaville in Nashville serves as host to the  Southern Ground Live performance series, which is produced by Lewis Bogach.

Ricky Skaggs’ New Album is ‘Music To My Ears’

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Ricky Skaggs will release his Country and Bluegrass album, Music To My Ears, September 25 on Skaggs Family Records.

The 11-tracks were produced by Skaggs and Gordon Kennedy, with all-new songs and fresh takes on older Bluegrass standards including “Soldier’s Son,” co-written by and featuring Barry Gibb. Also on the album, is “Tennessee Stud,” a special tribute for the late Doc Watson; “New Jerusalem,” a new instrumental written by Skaggs; and “You Can’t Hurt Ham,” with lyrics inspired by Bill Monroe, co-written by Kennedy and Skaggs.

Music To My Ears is available for pre-order here.

Skaggs is set to be inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame tonight (8/14) and will receive the Pioneer Award from the ACM on September 24. He has 14 Grammy Awards to his name and has release more than 30 albums.

Music To My Ears Track Listing:

1.  Blue Night
2.  Things In Life
3.  You Can’t Hurt Ham
4.  Music To My Ears
5.  What You Are Waiting For
6.  New Jerusalem
7.  Soldier’s Son
8.  Tennessee Stud – Tribute to Doc Watson
9.  Loving You Too Well
10.  You Are Something Else
11.  Nothing Beats A Family

Snapshots (8/14/2012)

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Pictured (L-R): Billy Swan, Jerry Chesnut, Dallas Frazier, Mac Davis and Museum Editor Michael Gray. Photo: Larry McCormack

The Country Music Hall of Fame presented Songs Fit for a King: Top Songwriters Remember Elvis on Saturday (8/11). Songwriters Jerry Chesnut, Mac Davis, Dallas Frazier and Billy Swan performed a selection recorded by Presley and discussed his influence on their lives and careers.

Producer Chips Moman will deliver an interview this upcoming Saturday (8/18), continuing the Celebrate the King Series.

••••

Pictured Above, L-R: Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP/GM and Maggie Rose

Maggie Rose made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage Friday, August 10 where she performed “Preacher’s Daughter” and closed with, “I Ain’t Your Mama.”

“My performance went by in a flash and I woke up the next morning still smiling,” said Rose. “It was a magical night for me.”

••••

(L-R): Philip Craighead, Mayor of Lebanon and Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Alex Torrez

The hometown Mayors of Lebanon and Wilson County proclaimed September 25 as Tracy Lawrence Day in Wilson County. Tracy Lawrence will be recognized for his philanthropy and charitable work, during the inaugural day celebration and Humanitarian Award Gala (9/25), at Legacy Farms in Lebanon, TN.

The open-to-the-public Gala will feature dinner, entertainment, special guests, and auction to benefit New Leash On Life, a charity for stray and abused animals. Tickets can be reserved by phone: 615-364-9082.

Artist Updates (8/14/12)

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Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw’s recent Brothers of the Sun tour stop at NJ’s MetLife Stadium set the record for the largest ticketed country event in NYC/NJ history, with 56,285 tickets sold. The show broke the previous record, set by Chesney during his 2011 Goin’ Coastal tour.

“The excitement and buzz for this show was through the roof since the day it was announced,” said Interim MetLife Stadium President Ron VanDeVeen. “We couldn’t imagine how last year’s ‘Goin’ Coastal’ show could be topped, but this truly was the biggest country show we’ve ever seen.”

The show included a special appearance by Grace Potter on the duet “You & Tequila,” as well as a full cast encore of Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty.”

• • • •

Kellie Pickler will join celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon, and Carla Hall, as well as style expert Clinton Kelly and health enthusiast Daphne Oz on ABC’s The Chew Thursday, August 16 to create some summer dishes with farm fresh fruits and veggies. The episode airs at 12 pm/CT.

(L-R): Carla Hall, Michael Symon, Kellie Pickler, Mario Batali, Daphne Oz and Clinton Kelly.

• • • •

(L-R): President Grand Ole Opry Group Steve Buchanan, Watkins, Buckley and Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. Photo: Chris Hollo, Hollophotographics for 2012 Grand Ole Opry.

A&M Octone Records’ Miss Willie Brown made their Grand Ole Opry Debut on Saturday (8/11).  The duo, which consists of Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins, performed “Bonafide” and the ballad “Let Me In.” “I remember being a little girl and taking a tour of the Opry with my parents, so to be standing on that stage was beyond humbling for me. It was a moment I’ve dreamed about since I was 10 years old,” said Watkins.

• • • •

Nashville singer Etta Britt will appear on NBC’s The Today Show on Saturday, August 25. Britt’s new release Out of the Shadows gained national attention following a recent piece about the artist on The Huffington Post.

• • • •

Streamsound Records flagship artist Jaida Dreyer has released her new single “Confessions,” which is available today (8/14) at all digital retailers. The song was written by Dreyer with Angelo and Robert Ellis Orrall. Dreyer is currently working on her debut album with producer and Streamsound co-founder Byron Gallimore.

• • •

Following Exile’s recent appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, the band met up backstage with the members of Rascal Flatts, who were also performing. Exile recently released People Get Ready, its first studio album in 15 years.

CMA Promotes One, Hires Two

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Keris Patton

The Country Music Association has announced the promotion of Melissa Maynard to Manager of Operations, and the additions of Staff Accountant Keris Patton and Membership and Balloting Assistant Brenden Oliver.

As Staff Accountant, Patton will perform a variety of accounting activities and assist with other Finance and Administration Department functions. She joins CMA from Rochford Realty and Construction Company where she served as Accountant and Property Manager. Patton’s accounting experiences also extends to Tyson Foods, Wright CPA Firm, Desoto Family Medical Center, and Property Assessment Services. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Brenden Oliver

“We are thrilled to have Keris join the Finance and Administration team at CMA and value the skills that she brings,” said CMA Sr. VP of Finance and Administration Amy Smartt. “Her broad work experiences and accounting education will make Keris a real asset to CMA.”

Oliver, a May 2012 Vanderbilt University graduate, will assist the Membership and Balloting Department with membership recruitment, applications, payment processing, and inquiries. He will also assist with CMA Awards, CMA Broadcast Awards, and Country Music Hall of Fame balloting. Oliver interned in that department as well as at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Aldredge Law.

Melissa Maynard

“Responding to the needs of our membership as well as maintaining the integrity of our Awards processes has always been vitally important for CMA,” said CMA Senior Manager of Membership and Balloting Brandi Simms. “With the addition of Brenden, our membership and balloting department is at full strength and we look forward to taking all of the member initiatives to the next level.”

Maynard was hired in 2006 as Administration Assistant. She was promoted to Administration Coordinator in 2009 and then to Operations and Administration Coordinator in 2011. In her new role as Operations Manager, she will primarily be responsible for all aspects of operations including CMA’s building and grounds maintenance as well as security. Maynard also organizes events to recognize and celebrate CMA staff successes

“Melissa demonstrated excellent design and management skills during the oversight of the recent remodeling of CMA’s atrium space,” said Smartt. “She has the keen ability to see what needs to be done and the creative ability to find a way to take care of it efficiently and cost effectively.”

 

McBride to Headline ‘Hymns Hams & Jams’ Benefit

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Martina McBride will perform a special concert at Nashville’s Loveless Barn on August 21 to benefit The Shalom Foundation.

The Hymns, Hams & Jams concert, hosted by Storme Warren, will feature McBride as well as a live auction with songwriter Bob DiPiero. Auction items include tickets to the 2012 World Series, Garth Brooks and Sugarland autographed guitars, concert tickets, backstage VIP experiences and more. Proceeds benefit The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center, The Shalom Foundation’s medical program in Guatemala.

Tickets are $500 and available through The Shalom Foundation at 615-595-5811 or emailing [email protected]. More on the organization here.