First Performers Announced For CMT Music Awards

Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band are the first performers announced for the upcoming 2012 CMT Music Awards live show. The fan-voted awards show, now in its 11th year, will broadcast on CMT and CMT.com from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on June 6 at 7 pm/CT. Additional performers, along with host and presenters will be announced soon.

Tickets for the show will go on sale Monday, May 21 at 10 am/CT at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

Fans can vote for their favorites online at CMT.com, and on their mobile devices at CMT Mobile or the CMT Insider app available on iPhone, iPad and Android from now through June 4. The five finalists for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile, on the CMT Insider app and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

New Staffer Joins ASCAP Nashville

ASCAP Nashville has announced the hire of Alison Toczylowski as Director of Communications & Media.

A Chicago native, Alison worked in ASCAP’s Chicago Membership office before moving to New York City, where she served as Communications & Media liaison for the Nashville office, among other responsibilities. In her new role, Alison will oversee all aspects of branding and marketing for ASCAP Nashville.

“Alison has such a creative and innovative instinct and has been our go-to Communications & Media rep in New York for a couple of years,” said ASCAP Nashville VP/GM Marc Driskill. “Her time steering our marketing efforts has given her an incredible appreciation for Nashville and our one-of-a-kind creative community.  I am thrilled to welcome her to ASCAP Nashville.”

Congratulate her here.

CMA Music Fest Update: Fan Fair Hall Lines Up Fun

The 2012 CMA Music Festival merchandise is now available at CMAmusicfeststore.com.

Activities and artists are being added to the Fan Fair® Hall at the 2012 CMA Music Festival. The event runs Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10 with the Fan Fair Hall at the Nashville Convention Center opening at 10:00 AM daily.

Celebrities signing in the Fan Fair Hall include Lauren Alaina, Bill Anderson, Lynn Anderson, Laura Bell Bundy, Bucky Covington, Cowboy Troy, Billy Dean, Donna Fargo, Colt Ford, William Lee Golden, Jack Greene, Casey James, Joey + Rory, The Lacs, LoCash Cowboys, Manuel, The McClymonts, Scotty McCreery, Robin Meade, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, LuLu Roman, Matt Stillwell, Doug Stone, Two Foot Fred, Bryan White, Winfield’s Locket and Chris Young. CMA recently announced new procedures for autograph seekers. Go to www.CMAfest.com until May 28 for details.

The Fan Fair Hall also includes:
• Durango Acoustic Corner Broadcast by 650 AM WSM
• Red Carpet where fans can take photos of the stars as they arrive
• Wrangler Fashion Show Sat., June 9, 1:00-2:00 PM, hosted by GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, with additional designs by Manuel and Durango Boots
• Budweiser partnering with the Folds of Honor Foundation to honor fallen soldiers and their families
• Marketplace with vendors including Apparel, The Charleston Soap Company, Dillards for the Reba Brand, Hillbilly Brand, Manuel, Mignon’s and Twisted Sisters

Fan Fair Hall admission is included with four-day ticket packages, and also available separately at Ticketmaster.com and the Nashville Convention Center.

Tickets to the 2013 CMA Music Festival (June 6-9, 2013) go on sale Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 AM/CT at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) or Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com. The CMA’s social audience can pre-order now. The 2013 prices experienced an almost across-the-board increase from 2012.

2013 Four Day Ticket Package Prices
Gold Circle (sections A-E)—$350
Floor—$250
Lower Level Premium—$250
Lower Level—$200
Club Level Premium—$200
Club Level—$160
Upper Level Reserved—$135
Upper Level General Admission—$125

2012 Prices
Gold Circle (sections A-E)—$325
Floor—$225
Lower Level Premium—$225
Lower Level—$180
Club Level Premium—$180
Club Level—$160
Upper Level Reserved—$125
Upper Level General Admission—$115

Kenny Rogers HOF Residency Traces Decades of Success

Superstar entertainer Kenny Rogers performed two sold-out shows last week (5/9 and 5/10) at the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of the organization’s Annual Artist-In-Residence program.

Museum Director Kyle Young greeted the packed house on Wed (5/9) highlighting Rogers’ many accomplishments, which include selling more than 120 million records worldwide, recording more than 65 albums during his career and having 21 No. 1 hits.”Tonight is all about his music… and he’s about to sing just for you,” Young told the energized audience.

Rogers opened the show with hits “Something’s Burning” and “Reuben James” from his group, The First Edition. The group formed in 1967 and was later renamed Kenny Rogers and The First Edition.

After revealing his upcoming biography, Luck or Something Like It, Rogers directed the audience to watch the background video for what he jokingly called a “1967 Acid Flashback” and performed “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).”

Rogers recited some of the song’s lyrics the crowd:

I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I watched myself crawlin’ out as I was a-crawlin’ in
I got up so tight I couldn’t unwind
I saw so much I broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

He concluded with the audience, “They just don’t write songs like that anymore.”

Rogers continued tracing the path of his career performing “Walking My Baby Back Home” and “When I Fall In Love.” He shared how he got an early break from a talent show judged by Eddy Arnold and noted, “I’ve been very blessed.”

Following “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” Rogers performed a medley of his chart-toppers, “Through the Years,” “You Decorated My Life,” and “She Believes In Me.” Rogers confessed he chooses love songs that “say what every man would like to say, and what every woman would like to hear.” The audience agreed.

Rogers also brought out surprise guest Billy Currington, and the crooners performed “Standing on the Rock of Your Love,” which was written by Vince Gill.

The audience then got a double dose of surprises as Rogers then summoned Billy Dean from back stage to sing “Buy Me a Rose.”

In keeping with such a personal, intimate performance, Rogers introduced his wife, Wanda, who was sitting in the audience. He then performed the Mike Reid-penned song “To Me” while a video montage of his identical twins, Justin and Jordan, played in the background.

Following his performance of “Lucille,” Rogers shared how his 1980 hit “Lady” was originally written by Lionel Richie for the Commodores but rejected.

Rogers continued with his iconic hit “The Gambler” and expressed appreciation for the movie’s many sequels. Rogers also expressed his appreciation for his duet partner Dolly Parton before performing “Islands in the Stream.”

Closing the show with “Sweet Music Man,” Rogers left the audience feeling as if they had been in his living room listening to songs, stories and past-times. The retrospective was a fun and entertaining look back at Rogers’ remarkable six decades of success.

And fortunately, the surprise announcement of Rogers’ upcoming Warner Bros. Records album produced by Dann Huff means there will be even more to add to this Sweet Music Man’s future retrospectives.

All Photos: Donn Jones Photography

Industry Photos (5/14/12)

Pictured (L–R) backstage at the San Carlos Institute during the 2012 Key West Songwriters Festival are BMI’s Mark Mason and Clay Bradley, Bob DiPiero, Dallas Davidson, Al Anderson, Jeffrey Steele, BMI’s Jody Williams, and Key West Songwriters Festival Director Charlie Bauer.

The Better Angels Key West Songwriters Festival drew Music Row hitmakers, publishers and other key players to the Florida Keys May 2-6. Presented by BMI, the festival offered five straight days of shows at island hotspots, featuring sets that ranged from laid-back acoustic rounds by up-and-comers and hit writers alike, to sold-out full-band concerts headlined by some of the country’s top performers.

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(L–R) Dave Rowe, Diamond Rio's Marty Roe, Eric Kruse and Jeff Johnson.

Members of the Nashville music community gathered at Westhaven Golf Club in Franklin on Monday, April 30, for the 3rd Annual Bridges Domestic Violence Center Golf Scramble. Presented by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the golf scramble paired celebrities with teams of golfers for an afternoon of golf, hole-in-one contests, raffles and a silent auction. The event raised more than $26,000, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting victims of domestic violence.

• • • • •

(L–R) Keith Palmer, Development Director, WMOT; Jonah Rabinowitz, Executive Director, W.O. Smith School; Matt Whittier and Lea Maitlen, Senior Marketing Managers, Naxos of America; Henri Pensis, Director of Broadcasting and Station Manager, WMOT

Public radio station WMOT in Murfreesboro and classical record label Naxos in Franklin have teamed up to provide classical music recordings to the students of the W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville. During WMOT’s 2011 year-end pledge drive, the station asked Naxos to donate one CD to the school for every financial donation that was made during that drive. This partnership resulted in a box of 200 CDs of classical music recordings being presented to the school, mostly the music of American composers.

Zooey Deschanel to Portray Loretta Lynn on Broadway

(L-R): Zooey Deschanel, Loretta Lynn Photo: Russ Harrington

Country music legend Loretta Lynn announced Thursday evening (5/10) from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium during Opry Country Classics that she has chosen Grammy® and Golden Globe nominated actress and star of FOX TV’s New Girl, Zooey Deschanel to portray her in an upcoming Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Following the announcement, Deschanel joined Lynn on the Ryman stage for a duet of Lynn’s signature song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The announcement and performance mirrored the 1979 Grand Ole Opry appearance where Lynn invited a young Sissy Spacek onstage to announce that she had chosen the actress to portray her in the forthcoming film.

Coal Miner’s Daughter will be brought to the stage by two Tony Award-winning producers, Fox Theatricals (Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson) and Scott Sanders Productions, which have collectively brought some of the biggest hits to the stage, including Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Red, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and more.

The creative team and dates for the production will be announced in the coming months. The schedule will not conflict with Deschanel’s current commitment to New Girl, on which she stars and produces.

Chesney Debuts Single, Starts Rehearsals With McGraw

Chesney (L) and McGraw (R) start rehearsals for Brothers of the Sun run.

With the release of his next album set for June 19, Kenny Chesney is busy with a new single, rehearsing for his tour with Tim McGraw, and performing at a charity event spearheaded by Matthew McConaughey and Drew Brees.

Chesney’s 13th studio album Welcome To The Fishbowl will be available June 19 via BNA Records. The first single, “Feel Like A Rock Star,” a duet with McGraw, debuted in early April and has quickly ascended the charts. Chesney is following that with single “Come Over,” written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. The music video, directed by longtime collaborator and friend Shaun Silva, was filmed off the coast of Florida. “‘Come Over’ is the most intimate journey I’ve captured of Kenny in the 10 years we’ve been making music videos together,” said Silva.

He and McGraw recently had their first onstage, joint rehearsal for upcoming the Brothers of the Sun Tour. “Rehearsal with Tim and I and our bands was as electric and exciting as we anticipated,” Chesney reported. “It’s been a long time since we’ve played on stage together and the chemistry and excitement is just so natural. It’s going to be a dream come true to have our years of friendship come together on stage for what will be one unpredictable, loud, hell of a summer, and I can’t wait.” The tour featuring Jake Owen and Grace Potter kicks off June 2 in Tampa, Fla. and is set for more than 20 stadiums across the country, including a June 23 stop at Nashville’s LP Field.

Chesney recently performed at the House of Blues in New Orleans for the 3rd annual Amazing Race Charity Event. The fundraiser was put on by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wife Brittany, and Matthew McConaughey and fiancée Camila Alves. The three stars capped the night with a performance of "Boys of Fall." Amazing Race provides after school fitness and wellness programs.

CMA Accepting Broadcast Award Nominations

The Country Music Association is currently accepting online submissions for the 2012 CMA Broadcast Awards for Broadcast Personality, Station, and National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

The organization is in the middle of its “Year of Country Radio” campaign. During CRS in February 2012, CMA awarded complimentary organizational and two individual memberships good for one year to all 2000-plus country stations in the United States. Since the Broadcast Award contenders must be CMA Mebers, all stations are now eligible.

“The ‘Year of Country Radio’ is all about celebrating the hard work of Country radio and its importance to our format,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore. “We’re always honored to spotlight the best of the best in Country radio, and this year will be especially meaningful with so many new members in the CMA family.”

Nominations may be submitted at Broadcast.CMAawards.com until 5 pm/CT on Friday, June 29. Winners will be notified in early October and recognized during the 46th Annual CMA Awards held late in 2012 and broadcast on ABC.

Celebration of Life: Pat Harris

A private Celebration of Life for Pat Harris is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 from 2-3 p.m. at the Nature Center in the Shelby Bottoms area adjacent to Shelby Park. For more information, please contact Vernell Hackett here.

A veteran Nashville journalist, Pat Harris passed away April 14 of natural causes at her daughter Barbara’s Nashville home. She was 88. Her obituary can be read here.

Easton Corbin Joins “Road to the Ram Jam”

Mercury Nashville recording artist Easton Corbin will join previously announced artists Kellie Pickler and Brantley Gilbert for the “Road to the Ram® Jam” series and sweepstakes.

The Road to the Ram Jam, presented by the Ram Truck brand, highlights five country artists and offers exclusive video content, free music downloads and the opportunity to win prizes through participating country radio stations. Fans can enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win trips to the invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event in Nashville December 29, 2012 at www.RamTrucks.com/RoadtoRamJam or on the Ram Trucks Facebook page at www.ramjamsweeps.com.

Corbin will offer fans entering the sweepstakes a chance to win a free download of his new single “Lovin’ You Is Fun” from his forthcoming sophomore album All Over the Road. The remaining Road to the Ram Jam artists will be announced throughout the year and all five participating will receive a lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck. The trucks will then be auctioned off in early 2013 with all proceeds going to benefit a charity of each artist’s choice.

Easton Corbin