Weekend Pics

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Braving Friday’s storm (3/2), The Charley Foundation hosted its 8th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids at The Factory at Franklin. Emceeing this year’s black-tie boxing event was Storme Warren. Dressed in traditional ring announcer garb, Tom Baldrica handled ringside duties. The event featured gourmet dining and live performances by Tiffany, James Otto, Ira Dean, and Bridgette Tatum, as well as celebrity guests from Nashville’s NFL Alumni Association, and a live auction which led up to the main event: four professional boxing bouts sanctioned by the Tennessee Athletic Commission. The Charley Foundation provides support to charitable agencies addressing the critical needs of children in Middle Tennessee.

(L-R): Tom Baldrica, Bridgette Tatum, Charley Foundation founder/MPR Entertainment Group president Carolyn Miller, and Storme Warren. Photo: Teal Haviland

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Edens Edge has been performing across the country, gearing up for The American Band Tour with BMLG labelmates Rascal Flatts this summer. While in Akron, OH for their show over the weekend (3/2), the Arkansas-bred trio performed on Cleveland’s Fox 8 News in the Morning. They dedicated “Christ Alone” to the Chardon community, which was shocked by a recent high school shooting. Watch the segment here.

Edens Edge’s Cherrill Green, Hannah Blaylock, Dean Berner with Fox 8 News in the Morning’s anchors. Photo: Big Machine Label Group Publicity/Erik Powell

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Matt Stillwell’s tour bus was caught in the violent tornado that touched down in East Bernstadt, KY on Friday (3/2). The bus was being being serviced at Visone Automart, Stillwell and his band were not on board, nor in the area at the time. “I’ve never seen or been a part of anything like this. I feel so bad for the people of East Kentucky and all the other areas that were hit with the storms last week,” says Stillwell. “Thankfully my friends and band are all OK and our bus is completely replaceable, but lives, homes, and businesses are gone and that’s a shame. I’m praying for everyone involved.”

Average Joe Entertaintment's Matt Stillwell's tour bus.

Matt Stillwell's tour bus.

 

Vince Gill Gears Up For April Concerts

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Vince Gill has a packed schedule this April. First he will perform on the Revlon Concert for The Rainforest Fund April 3 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium in New York City. Then a week later (4/10), Gill is set to perform at Keith Urban’s We’re All For The Hall concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. That event also features Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Little Big Town, Thompson Square, Pistol Annies, Diamond Rio, Exile and The Blue Sky Riders.

Gill will also headline the 14th annual Jammin’ to Beat the Blues concert to benefit Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee on April 17 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and perform at MerleFest at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC on April 26.

Meanwhile, Gill is planning a summer European tour. Those dates will be forthcoming.

In related news, the current issue of People magazine names the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s 4-disc set These Days one of its “Top 10 Best Albums of The Century (so far).”

CRS Board and Agenda Committee Updates

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Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville) and Jennie Smythe (Girlilla Marketing) have been appointed to the 2012-2013 Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors. Additionally, Brian O’Connell (Live Nation) has been re-appointed following his one-year term in 2011-2012.

These additions follow the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. 2012-2013 Board of Directors and CRS 2013 Agenda Committee meetings held post CRS. Attendance for the seminar increased 9.6 percent over last year.

The CRS 2013 Agenda Committee includes Jeff Green (Country Aircheck) and John Trapane (Capitol Nashville) as co-vice chairs. They join chairperson Annie Sandor (Curb Records/Miami, FL). Announcements for the full CRS 2013 Agenda Committee will be made within 6-8 weeks. Interested applicants for the Agenda Committee can contact Sandor, Green or Trapane.

The CRS website has been updated to include this year’s Edison Research presentation, along with a full list of members of the CRS Board of Directors, and photo galleries from events and panels.

CRS 2013 is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1, 2013, at the Nashville Convention Center.

Cracker Barrel to Release Dolly Parton Live Set

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On April 2, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will offer an An Evening With… Dolly, an exclusive two-disc DVD and CD set retailing for $11.99. The combo pack features many of Dolly Parton’s performances from her sold-out O2 arena concert in London, including “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “Jolene.”

Classics like her first million seller, “Here You Come Again,” and “I Will Always Love You,” along with live bonus tracks “Shattered Image” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” are included as well.

The DVD captures Parton interacting with the audience, sharing stories about growing up in Tennessee, and in the “Soundcheck” feature, fans get to take a peek backstage and see the inner workings of the show.

“Cracker Barrel and Dolly Parton are a great collaboration,” says Parton’s manager Danny Nozell. “We are excited to continue our successful venture together, and thrilled to offer this live concert experience with some of Dolly’s biggest hits.”

An Evening With… Dolly CD Track Listing:
1.  Two Doors Down
2.  Jolene
3.  Coat of Many Colors
4.  Only Dreaming
5.  Little Sparrow
6.  The Grass is Blue
7.  Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
8.  Here You Come Again
9.  Islands in the Stream
10.  9 to 5
11.  I Will Always Love You
12.  Shattered Image* – previously unreleased live bonus track
13.  My Tennessee Mountain Home* – previously unreleased live bonus track

An Evening With… Dolly DVD Track Listing:
1.  Two Doors Down
2.  Jolene
3.  Backwoods Barbie
4.  Coat of Many Colors
5.  Only Dreamin’
6.  Better Get to Livin’
7.  Shinola
8.  Little Sparrow
9.  The Grass is Blue
10.  Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
11.  Here You Come Again
12.  Islandsin the Stream
13.  9 to 5
14.  I Will Always Love You
15.  Jesus and Gravity

An Evening With…Dolly will be available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations and online at crackerbarrel.com/music.

Indie Publishers Panel Set For March 26

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The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Chapter and Fifth Third Bank will present a panel conversation about how indie publishers are successfully exploiting and monetizing copyrights by adapting to changing technology and social media.

The panel discussion will be held Monday, March 26 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Cabana restaurant in Nashville.

The panel includes Keith Stegall of Bigger Picture Music Group; John Strohm of Loeb and Loeb, attorney for The Civil Wars; David Macias of Thirty Tigers; producer/publisher Frank Liddell of Carnival Music; and songwriter/publisher Chris DuBois of Sea Gayle Music. John Allen, VP of BMG Chrysalis, will serve as moderator.

Please click here to register.

Thompson Square Partners with ChildFund Int’l, Suprises Local School

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Thompson Square and ChildFund International are pleased to announce a promotional and awareness partnership for the duo’s 2012 tour dates. The partnership includes Thompson Square’s headlining performances, as well as their supporting dates on Lady Antebellum’s 2012 Own the Night World Tour.

Beginning this weekend (3/10), audiences will be treated to a video of Thompson Square discussing their ChildFund International association and describing the difference each fan can make in a child’s life through the organization. The video will be set to the music of Thompson Square’s latest hit single, “Glass.”

ChildFund International will be on site at each concert in a booth run by volunteers who each sponsor a child through the organization. Fans who visit the ChildFund International booth and sign up to sponsor a child that evening will receive an autographed copy of Thompson Square’s self-titled debut album.

“We’ve personally sponsored an adorable little girl named Lady from Indonesia and hope to make a difference in her life,” says Shawna Thompson. “Also giving away one of our signed albums to fans who want to join us and give back to a child in need is the very least we can do to help.”

The husband and wife duo also surprised a local high school today (3/5). Franklin High School, located in Franklin, TN, won the surprise when they entered a contest hosted by 102.5 FM for a chance to win $5,000 towards its music program. But instead the school was treated to $10,000 and an unexpected performance from Thompson Square.

Leadership Music Accepting Applications

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Leadership Music is accepting applications from established entertainment industry leaders for its 2013 class. Applications must be submitted online no later than March 31, 2012. 

The eight month, Nashville-based, education program begins in September and is designed to create understanding among music industry professionals and promote teamwork. Participants are required to attend an orientation, all-day sessions once a month on Fridays, plus opening and closing retreats during the program. One-time tuition for the program is $1,000.

Application forms, program dates, policies and FAQ’s are available online at www.leadershipmusic.org by clicking on the Class of 2013 link.

Leadership Music, Inc. is an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals through an annual educational program and other events. Since being founded 23 years ago, more than 900 executives have graduated from the program.

ACM Week Includes Free Concert At Fremont Street

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The Academy of Country Music is hosting two days of free concerts at Fremont Street Experience, a five-block entertainment zone in downtown Las Vegas March 30-31, during The Week Vegas Goes Country.

The weekend-long event is open to the public and leads up to the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The Fremont Street concerts will be hosted by three-time ACM On-Air Personality of the Year Award winner Blair Garner, host of After MidNite with Blair Garner.

Performers on March 30 include Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Scotty McCreery and Love and Theft and headliner Luke Bryan.

Laura Bell Bundy, Craig Campbell, Eli Young Band, Jana Kramer, and headliner Eric Church will perform on March 31.

CMA to Announce 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees

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The CMA will reveal this year’s three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame at a private event tomorrow, March 6, at 9:30 AM CT. Fans will be able to watch the live announcement online at www.livestream.com/CMA.

While viewing the event, fans logged in via Twitter or Facebook will be able to interact and discuss the announcement via the LiveStream chat box. The official Twitter hashtag is #CMHOF.

CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format with Country Music’s highest honor. Last year’s inductees were Jean Shepard, Bobby Braddock and Reba McEntire.

CMA Presents International Media Award

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(L-R): Marie Moloney and Steve Moore. Photo: Katura Jensen

London based publicist Marie Moloney, Senior Press Officer with Richard Wootton Publicity, was recently presented with the 2011 Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. The award was presented by CMA CEO Steve Moore during a BMI sponsored dinner honoring Bill Anderson, Clint Black, and Bob DiPiero. The musicians were performing in the United Kingdom and Ireland for “The BMI and CMA Presents the CMA Songwriter Series.” This was the first international session of the CMA Songwriter Series.

The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which contribute to the development of Country Music outside the United States. Moloney joined Richard Wootton Publicity in 1999, and has used her knowledge of the genre to publicize Country artists and events in the UK media. She has been involved with media campaigns for artists including Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, and Gretchen Wilson, as well as the CMA’s New from Nashville campaigns aimed at raising the profile of newer Country artists in the UK.