Musicians Corner Begins Season With Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Musicians Corner will kick off its third season on Sat., May 5 with a beer & wine garden and Cinco de Mayo celebration with main stage performances from 3 – 6 pm.

May 5 will kick off with a Cinco de Mayo celebration highlighting Latin Salsa band Afinke, in addition to musical performances by Sugar & The Hi Lows, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Escondido, Anderson East, Rayvon Owen and Punchinello. Additionally, a mobile food court lunch will be offered from 11 am – 3 pm with The Dog of the Day Award presentation, Kidsville activities including decorating maracas, and giveaways.

The Musicians Corner Seasonal Beer Garden opens at 2 pm, one hour before the main stage performances each Saturday through June 30. The garden will be located next to the main performance stage for legal drinking-aged attendees. Wine is expected to become available at future date from Arrington Vineyards. Developed in partnership with R.S. Lipman, the beer garden will highlight the local brews including Yazoo and Hap and Harry’s.

The 2012 Spring Season will also include main stage performances by Capitol Records artist Lighter Ray (June 9), The Hogslop String Band (June 17), Kopecky Family Band (June 23) and The Farewell Drifters (June 30).

For more information, click here.

Apartment Complex Coming To Music Row/Belmont Area

Construction will begin this summer on an apartment complex at the southwest corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Wedgewood Avenue, according to the Nashville Post. This will be the second new residential development in and around Music Row, as construction is underway on Note 16 apartments at the corner of 16th Ave. and Horton.

The just-announced three-story, 15-unit building will have an estimated cost of $2.5 million, reports The Post.

Nashville-based Core Development Services and local real estate investor Donald Seitz are behind the as-yet-unnamed apartment building. They expect to tear down an existing building in July, begin construction in August, and finish the project in summer 2013.

Developers report the exterior will have a similar look and feel as other existing buildings in the neighborhood.

Marty Stuart’s New Album Hits Stores Today

Grammy winner Marty Stuart has released Nashville, Volume 1: Tear the Woodpile Down, his third album for Sugar Hill Records, to stores today (4/24). The 10 song collection was written almost entirely by Marty and features his touring band the Fabulous Superlatives plus guest vocals from Buck Trent, Kenny Lovelace, Robbie Turner, Hank Williams III, and Lorrie Carter Bennett. Full tracklist is below.

The collection aims to be a journey back to the traditional country music Stuart loved when he first arrived in Nashville in 1972.

“When I reconnected with traditional country music I found myself, my calling,” says Stuart. “The kind that is timeless, beautiful, beyond trend, the empowering force, the reflection of a people and a culture.  The kind of country music that the working man and scholars alike call home.  The job seemed to be to champion it, love it, protect it, care for its people, attempt to write a new chapter for it and to make sure that everybody understands that it’s alive and well in the 21st century.”

Stuart also hosts the Marty Stuart Show on RFD TV, providing a platform for some of Nashville’s classic artists on national television. Check out his upcoming tour dates here.

Nashville, Volume 1: Tear the Woodpile Down tracklisting:

1. Tear The Woodpile Down (Feat. Buck Trent)
2. Sundown In Nashville
3. A Matter Of Time (Feat. Kenny Lovelace)
4. Hollywood Boogie
5. Holding On To Nothing (Feat. Buck Trent)
6. Truck Driver’s Blues
7. Going, Going, Gone
8. The Lonely Kind
9. A Song Of Sadness (Feat. Lorrie Carter Bennett)
10. Picture From Life’s Other Side (Feat. Hank3)

CMT to Present Big New Music Weekend

Beginning Friday, April 27 at 6 am ET/PT., CMT’s Big New Music Weekend will unveil 12 brand new country music videos, paired alongside some of the biggest recent hits.

The event will include exclusive world premieres by Lady Antebellum (“Perfect Day”); Lee Brice (“Hard to Love”); Kix Brooks featuring Joe Walsh (“New to This Town”); a new version of Thompson Square’s “Glass;” Easton Corbin (“Lovin’ You is Fun”); David Nail (“The Sound of a Million Dreams”); Dustin Lynch (“Cowboys and Angels”); Aaron Lewis (“Endless Summer”); JT Hodges (“Goodbyes Made You Mine”); Casey James (“Cryin’ On A Suitcase-Live”); Thomas Rhett (“Something To Do With My Hands”) and Sonia Leigh (“Bar”). Additionally, the weekend will include the newest videos by superstars Carrie Underwood; Miranda Lambert; Jason Aldean; Rascal Flatts; Luke Bryan; Taylor Swift with The Civil Wars; Eric Church; Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw; Martina McBride and Train; and Kelly Clarkson.

Many of the featured premiere videos will include a personal introduction by the artist.  Additionally, all of the Big New Music Weekend videos will be highlighted across CMT’s digital platforms including CMT.com, Facebook and @FollowCMT on Twitter.

Radio News (4/24/12)

Susie Martin

Longtime WATZ-WRGZ/Alpena, MI Music Director and CountryBreakout Reporter of the Year winner Susie Martin is retiring from the station after 18 years. Her last day is April 27, and after that she can be reached at susie-martin@charter.net. WATZ newsman Phil Wenzel will take over Martin’s MD role with the company. Congratulate him at pgwenz@gmail.com.

• • • • •

Lee Brice’s new album Hard 2 Love hit stores today (4/24), and Premiere Radio Networks’ Big D and Bubba are among the recording credits. Brice invited the popular radio hosts to introduce the song “Parking Lot Party” on Hard 2 Love, marking the first time Big D and Bubba have appeared on a music album.

• • • • •

Mary Mac

WGSQ/Cookeville morning co-host Mary Mac has been included on Country Weekly’s “Country’s Hottest Bachelorette” contest, the first time anyone other than an artist has made a list. Mary Mac’s co-host Styckman hatched the idea to write-in Mary’s name on the ballot, and listeners made the idea a reality. “We always say we have the best listeners in the world, and for me this proves it,” said Mary Mac. “I’m so overwhelmed and humbled at their amazing response to our show.”

Belmont Presents Scholarships Endowed By Paisley, Hall

Belmont Pres. Dr. Bob Fisher, Allison Gale, Dean Wesley Bulla

Belmont University recently presented scholarships endowed by Brad Paisley and the family of William G. Hall to music business students.

Belmont University junior Allison Gale is the inaugural recipient of the scholarship endowed by Paisley. Gale is an Entertainment Studies major at the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business who was inspired to attend Belmont after seeing Paisley in concert at age 16.

The superstar is a 1995 Belmont graduate who once benefited from a scholarship supported by Vince Gill.

Gale was selected based on GPA, financial need, and university and community involvement. She is an avid entertainment blogger who aspires to work in theater tour production and music production.

•••••

Dr. Bob Fisher, Hannah Boren, Wesley Bulla

The 2012-13 William G. Hall scholarship was presented to junior Music Business major Hannah Boren. Hall was an artist manager who handled the early career of George Jones, and later ran a publishing company with Jack Clement.

The William G. Hall scholarship selection committee includes Mrs. William G. Hall, Chairman; Jan Dyer, songwriter; Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Bob McDill, Dickey Lee, Wayland Holyfield, Jack Clement and Allen Reynolds; Sarah Cates, Sr. Director of Curb College Initiatives, Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business; and Doug Howard, music executive.

Robin Mitchell Joyce Opens Law Firm

Veteran entertainment attorney Robin Mitchell Joyce has announced the launch of her full-service boutique law firm. She has over 20 years of experience representing entertainment, IP, media and technology clients across the country, handling music industry transactions, film production/financing, creation/distribution of TV projects, sports media, online/mobile space projects, and contests and games.

Joyce was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Entertainment Law—Motion Pictures and Television, Entertainment Law—Music, Copyright Law, Trademark Law, and Litigation/IP Law. She has been listed in Best Lawyers for over 10 years.

Her two decades of experience also includes lecturing at colleges, law schools, and industry conferences nationwide.

She is a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association and Founding Chair of the Nashville Bar’s Entertainment Section. Joyce is a graduate and past board member of Leadership Music, and past board member of The Recording Academy.

She can be reached at rmj@lexvi.com, (615) 476-6966, or P.O. Box 58867, Nashville, TN 37205.

Artist Updates (4/24/12)

(l-r) Sony Music Nashville Senior Director of Artist Development & Marketing, Tanya Welch; Casey James Artist Manager, Bryan Frasher; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; CMA Senior Vice President of Communications & Marketing, Sheri Warnke; Casey James; CMA EDU President (MTSU Chapter), Angela Johnson; CMA EDU President (Belmont Chapter), Lauren Klausing; CMA Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Sarah McGrady. Photo Credit: Christian Bottorff

19 Recordings/BNA Records artist Casey James performed at the CMA EDU End of Year Party last Thursday (4/19) in the CMA Atrium for students from Belmont University, Lipscomb University, and Middle Tennessee State University. CMA EDU, CMA’s education-based college initiative, gives college students a hands-on opportunity to enhance skills in marketing and promotion.

(L-R): Donald T. Floyd, Jr., President and CEO, National 4-H Council; Nate Seese, 4-H Youth, East Lansing, Mich.; Jennifer Nettles, Lead Vocalist, Sugarland; James C. Borel, Executive Vice President, DuPont; Carla Hall, Host, ABC's The Chew.

Last Tuesday (4/17), National 4-H Council hosted the third annual 4-H Legacy Awards Gala and presented the 2012 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion to 4-H alumna and Grammy Award-Winner Jennifer Nettles. Prior to leading Sugarland to fame, Nettles was a member of Coffee County, Georgia 4-H. She also served on the Junior and Senior State Boards and as camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center and won Georgia State 4-H Congress honors for her Performing Arts project.

Vince Gill and jazz trumpet player Chris Botti appeared on Good Morning America and The View on April 23. The pair performed the Randy Newman-penned song “Losing You,” which appear’s on Botti’s album Impressions.

••••

The Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett has been selected as one of the opening acts this summer on Toby Keith’s previously announced Live In Overdrive Tour Presented By Ford F-Series. The 36-city trek kicks off in Salt Lake City, UT, on June 14 and will run through September 22. A full list of tour dates and ticket information are available here.

Jaida Dreyer, the flagship artist on Streamsound Records, released her first single “Guys Girl” to radio late last month and it has become one of the most-added singles so far this month. The song was co-written by Dreyer, The Warren Brothers, and Lance Miller. Dreyer is currently out on a radio promotion tour across the country which has already made stops at about 70 stations and will continue through May.

 

Render Records artist Rick Monroe is releasing his new EP Part 1 on May 1, which features his current single “Crazy Not To.” Monroe has also been added to the 2012 Jagermeister Presents Tour in support of Randy Houser.

••••

While vacationing on the Gulf Coast, Billy Dean rescued a Great Blue Heron, a protected species, from an abandoned fishing line and lures. Dean joined a group of teenagers standing in deep water and with the bird biting him, carried it out of the water. Dean was proud the students who went out to rescue the bird. “The girls of Port St. Joe High School and a few other vacationers were the true heroes but I was fortunate to have been there to help them untangle the bird and bring it to shore,” he said. The bird is being treated for its wounds before being released back into the wild.

••••

Author and country/pop music pioneer Maxine Brown will be presented the Ella Dickey Literacy Award on April 26 at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, MO. Brown is the author of Looking Back To See, a chronicle of The Browns vocal trio, best-known for “The Three Bells.” Her country hits include “Here Today And Gone Tomorrow” and “Looking Back To See.”

Gregg Allman’s Book Launches in Nashville

Founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, will return to Nashville May 10 to promote the release of his memoir, My Cross to Bear (William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers), which hits shelves May 1.

BMI Nashville will co-host the meet-and-greet and book signing with Nashville’s independent Parnassus Books. The event will be held in the BMI’s front lobby and is open to the public from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

In My Cross To Bear, Allman discusses in his own words the death of his older brother Duane, his solo career, his string of failed marriages (including Cher), and his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Allman additionally takes readers through the formation of the band that influenced the sound of rock and roll.

As the Allman Brothers Band celebrated the 40th anniversary of live album Eat a Peach this year, it was also honored at the Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Allman himself was also nominated for Best Blues Album for his solo record, Low Country Blues.

For the latest updates on Allman’s book tour, please visit Facebook.

Gilbert’s ‘Halfway to Heaven’ Certified Gold

Brantley Gilbert’s first album with The Valory Music Co.Halfway to Heaven, has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 units.

Released in September 2011, the album originally debuted at No. 2 and featured the Gold-certified  No. 1 single “Country Must Be Country Wide,” which Gilbert co-wrote. Additionally, Gilbert has penned two No. 1 hits for Jason Aldean with “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem.”

“Man, to have ‘Heaven’ go Gold means a lot to me,” said Gilbert. “Thanks so much to the BG Nation and all y’all who bought a copy.”

Gilbert’s latest single, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” is climbing MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Chart at No. 9.

In addition to headlining his own dates, Gilbert is currently on the road with Eric Church for the Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour.