HFA Supports Google Play

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The Harry Fox Agency announced it has entered into licensing and administration services agreement with Google to support promotional features for Google Play.

Google Play was introduced in March 2012 as an online store for music, movies, Android apps and games, effectively re-branding  the previous Android Marketplace.

HFA’s brings a pool of more than 46,000 affiliated publishers, flexible technology, and comprehensive rights database to the agreement.

“HFA is pleased to collaborate with Google to help encourage more consumer music purchases through innovative programs,” said Lauren Apolito, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, HFA. “We strive to support the growing digital eco-system as it evolves to meet consumer content demands with our rights management services so that companies can focus on their music initiatives.”

Diamond Rio to Host CMHoF’s Words & Music Night

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Diamond Rio will host the 33rd Annual Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music Night on Tues., April 24. The event, held at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater, will feature original songs from Nashville-area students accompanied by professional songwriter volunteers.

The program begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to performing students and their families. Students represent area schools including Battle Ground Academy, Ensworth, Glencliff Elementary, Joelton Elementary, Meigs Magnet Middle School, Mt. View Elementary, Oak Hill, Overbrook, Ruby Major Elementary, St. Joseph, Stanford Elementary and Woodland Middle.

“The Words & Music program allows students to express themselves creatively and to learn the craft of lyric writing,” said Ali Tonn, director of education and public programming. “The Words & Music Night recital showcases the breadth, depth and quality of those student compositions.”

The evening is a culmination of the year-long Words & Music program. More than 4,300 2nd through 8th grade students at 52 Tennessee schools completed a three-part, 15-lesson curriculum, developed by the museum. After students wrote or co-wrote lyrics in the classroom, the lyrics were given to professional songwriters. This year, 39 volunteers refined the students’ lyrics and added melodies.

The Words & Music program is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music.

 

Artist Updates (4/06/12)

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Alan Jackson recently visited the Tonight Show With Jay Leno to perform “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore.” Check it out at the 35:50 mark below.



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Kellie Pickler returned to her American Idol roots last night (4/5) to perform on the results show. Pickler sang the song “Where’s Tammy Wynette” off her acclaimed new album 100 Proof.

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The Band Perry recently performed a three-song set at CMT’s 2012 upfront presentation to an invitation-only crowd at New York’s Museum of Arts & Design. In attendance were Viacom execs Phillippe Dauman and Tom Dooley; Van Toffler, President, Viacom Music and Logo Group; and CMT President Brian Philips.

(L-R): Neil Perry; Philippe Dauman, President & CEO, Viacom; Kimberly Perry; Tom Dooley, Sr. EVP & COO, Viacom; Reid Perry. Photo: Picturegroup

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Trace Adkins has partnered with Louisiana-based, family-run Hightower Enterprises to create Trace Adkins Hightower’s Country Smoked Sausage exclusively for Brookshire Grocery Company. The grocery chain operates 152 stores in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. “When you think about home cooking, you think about family and tradition,” said Adkins. “The Hightower’s family business was a part of my family’s meals growing up. I’m happy to join them as they expand beyond Louisiana to all the families served by Brookshire Grocery Company stores.”

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Atlanta Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke will perform at the famed Georgia Theatre Saturday, April 7 at 9 pm/ET. MTV Network’s high-definition music channel Palladia will air the show, which will feature guest performances by Zac Brown and Clay Cook of Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie.

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Curb Records has released Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” for purchase and download in the iTunes store ahead of the April 24 release of his sophomore album Hard 2 Love. Brice’s current single “A Woman Like You” is approaching the top of all the charts, and has sold over 600,000 downloads to date.

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Country duo Miss Willie Brown (Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins) have the iTunes Free Download of the Week with “You’re All That Matters to Me” through Monday, April 9. The song was written by Robert John “Mutt” Lange and produced by Nathan Chapman. Additionally, the duo will appear on the Monday, April 9 episode of CW’s Hart of Dixie.

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Black River Entertainment’s Craig Morgan will make his debut appearance on late night show Conan on Wednesday, April 11. The show airs weeknights at 10 pm/CT on TBS.

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Congratulations to Average Joe’s artist Matt Stillwell, who married his longtime girlfriend Lindsey Crawford March 22 at the Vegas Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

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Teen sensation Payton Rae is filming the video “Stomp The Fire Out” with director Stephen Shepherd. The song (written by Pete Sallis, Karyn Williams, and Brian White) is the first single from Rae’s upcoming album project. The 16-year-old social media wiz has over 120k Twitter followers and 5.5 million YouTube views.

New Performers and Host Named For “We Walk The Line” Tribute

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The outstanding lineup for the “We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash” concert April 20 in Austin, TX is growing with the additions of Matthew McConaughey, Pat Monahan (of Train), and Shelby Lynne. McConaughey has been named as the event’s host.

“As an artist who has been doing this for awhile, I love and respect Mr. Cash more than ever,” commented Monahan.  “His music, his story and his great love for his wife and children continue to inspire me and I am honored to be a part of this beautiful tribute.”

Previously announced performers for the tribute concert include Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Dunn, John Hiatt, Amy Lee, Shooter Jennings, Lucinda Williams, Jamey Johnson, Rhett Miller, Andy Grammer and Carolina Chocolate Drops. The show takes place at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theatre, and marks the year that Cash would have turned 80.

Backing artists through their performances will be an all-star band led by Grammy-award winner Don Was and featuring Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagen, and Greg Leisz.

Tickets are on sale to the public here, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Charley’s Fund, which is helping find a cure for fatal children’s disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

39th Music City Tennis Invitational Names Celebrity Spokesperson

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MCTI’s Patsy Bradley, Greg Travis, Luann Mayer, Jake Owen, Patsy Wells and Bill Riddle

The Music City Tennis Invitational (MCTI) recently announced its 39th year and a weekend of tennis, charity, fellowship, music, and fun with country music star Jake Owen serving as the spokesperson for this year’s event. The annual tournament, scheduled for April 21-22, is the only fundraising event that directly benefits the Center for Child Development at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The Center provides screening, evaluation and referral services for youth who are developmentally delayed, intellectually disabled or suffer from ADHD or autism spectrum disorders.

“I am thrilled to be participating in this year’s MCTI, in particular because its proceeds benefit children directly who need services that are not covered by medical insurance,” Owen said. Charitable donations raised from the tournament and songwriters showcases at the Bluebird exclusively provide funding for these services.

The two-day tournament will take place on April 21-22 at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt University, where tennis players will compete with recording artists, celebrities, and other music industry insiders. The tournament is open to tennis players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Registration for one player is $235 or $195 for USTA members. More information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities or player registration can be found at www.musiccitytennis.com.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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People Country magazine recently named Blake Shelton its Hottest Guy for 2012, one more honor he can add to a growing list that includes winning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year and a judging spot on NBC’s hit show The Voice. And also, another multi-week CountryBreakout No. 1 single with “Drink On It.”

“I think it’s funny,” he tells People Country. “It’s just funny to me, because there is nothing about me, if I was a girl, that I would think is sexy. Miranda’s like, ‘Man, I can’t believe there’s actually other people out there besides me that like you! I mean, there must be something wrong with them!”

Maybe she shouldn’t be so surprised. Both Shelton and Miranda Lambert have been on star trajectory for some time, and Shelton’s impressive resume keeps growing. “Drink On It” is his latest in a series of Country radio hits, plus he has added co-hosting duties with Reba on the ACM Awards over the last two years. He also appears on Lionel Richie’s album Tuskegee, collaborating with Richie on the hit “You Are.”

Tom English Named GM at WSM-AM

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Award-winning radio veteran Tom English has been named General Manager of Nashville’s iconic 650 AM WSM radio station. English fills the vacancy created by Mike Ford who led the Gaylord Entertainent station for the previous two years.

“What an amazing honor to captain the Mother Ship of Country Music Radio,” English said.

English has served in numerous capacities during his 30 year career in broadcasting. Most recently, English served as Vice President/Market Manager for Clear Channel Radio in Nashville (including WSIX). He was with the station for eight years, and was named Clear Channel Innovation Award-winner in 2005 and 2006. He also served as chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters in 2008.

“We are all pleased to welcome Tom to 650 AM WSM,” said Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Entertainment senior vice president. “His past successes speak for themselves, and I am confident he will make immeasurable contributions to the success of this legendary station.”

Congratulate English here.

650 AM-WSM’s programming includes the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, “Coffee, Country, and Cody” and “The Eddie Stubbs Show,” hosted by Country Radio Hall of Fame personalities Bill Cody and Eddie Stubbs, respectively. Additional programming includes “Bluegrass Underground,” “Station Inn Sessions,” “An Intimate Evening with Eddie Stubbs,” and more.

Photo Roundup (4/6/12)

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SESAC hosted a celebration at MGM Grand’s Rouge nightclub after the 47th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas. A festive assortment of songwriters, publishers and music industry friends gathered to toast country music’s big night and raise a toast to the winners.

(L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Catt Gravitt (writer of Jake Owen’s current No.1 “Alone With You”) and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Randi Radcliff

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Mercury Nashville recording artist Canaan Smith recently visited CMA’s offices to perform in the newly remodeled CMA Atrium. His debut single, “We Got Us,” written by Smith, Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles, and Tommy Lee James, is currently impacting country radio. Smith’s debut album is produced by Brett Beavers and is set for a 2012 release.

(L-R) UMG Nashville Manager of Artist and Media Relations, Fount Lynch; CMA Senior Coordinator of Member Relations and Services, Betsy Walker; Canaan Smith; CMA Senior Manager of Membership and Balloting, Brandi Simms; and CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Sheri Warnke. Photo: Christian Bottorff/CMA.

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SOURCE held its monthly members’ luncheon at ASCAP on March 22. Chris Woods, COO of TuneSat, was the guest speaker. TuneSat’s unique audio fingerprint technology monitors hundreds of TV channels and millions of websites around the world, helping rights holders collect millions of dollars that would otherwise have been lost.

(L-R): Jewel Coburn (Eleven Eleven Music), Celia Froehlig (Black River Music), Chris Woods (COO TuneSat), Laurie Hughes (Hughes-Kessler Consulting) Photo: Denise Fussell

Billy Gilman to Release Single for Charity

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Billy Gilman will make his return to music with the April 16 release of “The Choice,” a charity single that will benefit Soles4Souls. In addition to Gilman, the song features 18 of country music’s top artists, including Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Josh Turner and Keith Urban. Through the strong support of CMT and Regal Entertainment Group, the song’s music video will get great national exposure with its premiere on April 16.

Gilman was in the process of writing material for his upcoming music project with two of his co-writers, Dan Murph and Philip Douglas, when the idea for “The Choice” was born. The group watched a YouTube video in which Soles4Souls challenged people from all across the country to start their own shoe drives in their communities. The trio penned “The Choice” and pitched the idea to the charity organization that every penny generated from the song, including the songwriters’ and publishers’ shares, would go to Soles4Souls.

“This pretty much started out as just a song for Billy,” said Murph. “Then he called and asked a fellow artist to sing on it with him. And that led to another artist. And before we knew it, all of these amazing iconic country artists were lining up to volunteer their time and talent to this song and this amazing cause. The support for Soles4Souls among the country music community has grown beyond our wildest expectations.”

“The Choice” was recorded in a Nashville studio one week following the meeting between Gilman’s team and Soles4Souls. It is being released on the Cotton Valley Records (CVR) label through the generous support of recording studio veteran J. Gary Smith. “Having partnered with some of the world’s finest talent, CVR is proud to participate in this amazing project,” said Smith. “Soles4Souls is a wonderful organization and The Choice a truly inspiring song. One hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to Soles4Souls.”

Vince Gill Sings at Carnegie Hall

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(L-R) Gill, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Hudson. Photo: Wire Images

Vince Gill performed at the Revlon Concert for the Rainforest on Tues., April 3, at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.

Gill joined celebrities Rita Wilson, Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Meryl Streep, Rosanne Cash, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Hudson, Esperanza Spalding and Bryn Terfel for a program titled “Songs of the Silver Screen.” Former president Bill Clinton also appeared as a special guest.

Gill performed renditions of Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” and joined Wilson for a duet on the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” Gill’s vocals can also be heard on “Faithless Love,” a track on Wilson’s album, AM/FM, due out May 8.

The entire cast encored with the Rolling Stones’ “You  Can’t Always Get What You Want.”