Bigger Picture Group Promotes Powers, Cahill

President, Bigger Picture Artist Ventures Michael Powers

Bigger Picture Group today announced the promotions of founding partners Michael Powers and Bob Cahill. The industry vets head up the Bigger Picture Artist Ventures division which includes the promotion team and recorded music departments, where Powers is now president, and Cahill is appointed executive vice president/general manager.

In addition, Matt Corbin was promoted to vice president of promotion, and radio exec Allen Mitchell was hired to the promotion team.

Powers and his team were instrumental in the promotion of Zac Brown Band’s highly successful two albums and nine consecutive No. 1 singles.

Exec. VP/GM, Bigger Picture Artist Ventures Bob Cahill

“Both Michael and Bob bring years of experience, credibility and sensibility to our partnership,” says Keith Stegall, chairman and chief creative officer of Bigger Picture Group. “As we continue to distill the essence of Bigger Picture Group, we’re blessed to have such an amazing executive talent pool.”

Dungan Gets UMG Start Date, Lewis Plans New Venture

(L-R): Mike Dungan, Luke Lewis

Universal Music Group officially announced today (2/29) the appointment of Mike Dungan to Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Nashville Entertainment. The move was first reported by MusicRow on Feb. 24. He will succeed current Chairman & CEO Luke Lewis, who has decided to focus on launching a new music venture in partnership with UMG, with details to be announced shortly.

Lewis will continue to lead UMG Nashville until Dungan takes office starting May 1. The announcement was made today by Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of UMG, and Zach Horowitz, President & COO of the company, to whom Dungan co-reports.

“UMG is committed to expanding opportunities for artists on Music Row and Mike’s appointment is testament to that fact,” stated Grainge. “He is one of music’s most formidable creative executives, whose determination, talent and passion for music have given rise to the careers of countless superstar artists. We’re delighted to welcome him to the UMG  family.”

“I am thrilled to join the Universal team, honored to represent the fine roster of artists under the storied MCA, Mercury, and Lost Highway labels, and proud to have the opportunity to expand on the great legacy that Luke Lewis has built,” said Dungan.

“Mike is one of the best music executives in the business, with a great eye for talent, great ear for songs and great instincts for artist development,” commented Horowitz. “We’re thrilled he has chosen to make UMG his home.”

“During his long, successful tenure leading our Nashville family of labels, Luke has been a bold maverick in applying fresh new approaches to nurture and break country artists,” added Grainge. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with him.”

Credited as one of the leading executives behind country music’s broadening appeal, Dungan has for the last twelve years served as President & CEO of Capitol Nashville, where he assembled a stylistically diverse roster of superstars, including Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan.

Dungan joined Capitol following time as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Arista Nashville. He was instrumental in developing the careers of artists including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Diamond Rio, and BlackHawk. Prior to that he held a variety of promotion, sales, and marketing positions with Arista, RCA Records and BMG Distribution.

Little Big Town Previews New Album Via Livestream

Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town will be hitting the studio this week with new producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Wallflowers) to record their fifth studio album.

Karen, Kimberly, Jimi and Phillip will be giving fans a glimpse inside the studio and the recording process tonight (Feb. 29) via Livestream. The band will give fans details on the new record with a live chat beginning at 5:45 PM/CT and then leave the stream open for the rest of the night. Use the following link for access to the live feed (compatible with most smartphones): http://new.livestream.com/littlebigtown/studiocam.

Baby Boom: Randy Montana, Matt Kennon, Jay DeMarcus

Matt Kennon with daughter

Big congratulations go out to a few country singers who are adding to their families.

Matt Kennon (“The Call”, “You Had To Pick On Me”) and wife Tisha proudly welcomed their daughter Shayne Matisse on Thursday, Feb. 23. “I knew the second I saw her, I was a goner,” says Matt. “A beautiful little gift has entered our lives.”

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More recently, Mercury Nashville’s Randy Montana and his wife Montgomery announced the birth of their daughter, Sullivan Mae, on Monday, Feb. 27. She is the couple’s first child, and weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Mother, daughter, and father are all doing well.

• • •

Jay and Allison DeMarcus

Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison will soon be adding to their family as well. The couple recently announced they are expecting a second child, due this summer. The couple’s daughter, Madeline Leigh, was born in December 2010. “This was definitely a huge surprise, but we’re so thankful and excited that Maddie is going to have a brother or sister,” says Jay. “We’re really gonna have our hands full!”

MusicRowPics: Thomas Rhett Artist Visit

Valory Music Co. artist Thomas Rhett stopped by MusicRow headquarters yesterday (2/28) with Valory VP Promotion, George Briner, to share his music and visit with the staff. Rhett, who joked about his grade school nickname “T-Rhett,” is no stranger to Country music. The young musician grew up immersed in it, often hitting the road with his father, country artist Rhett Akins. But it wasn’t until he was in college that Rhett decided to pursue a Country music career for himself. He signed his first publishing deal with EMI in 2010 and landed his first cut, “I Ain’t Ready To Quit,” on Jason Aldean’s multi-platinum album, My Kinda Party. A year later, he signed a record deal with Valory.

The Georgia native played “What’cha Got In That Cup,” an up-tempo number co-written with his father. Rhett then confessed the favorite song he’s ever written was his follow-up performance, “If I Could Have A Beer With Jesus.”

He also performed his new single, “Something To Do With My Hands,” which is now available on iTunes, and currently climbing MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Rhett is currently scheduled to appear on select dates with Miranda Lambert‘s On Fire tour, and his debut album is expected later in 2012.

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Swift Extends ACM Invitation to Teen Battling Cancer

It looks like Taylor Swift won’t be single at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. The ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee has a date: 18-year-old Kevin McGuire. According to a Facebook event page, “Taylor Swift Take Kevin McGuire To Prom!” created by McGuire’s sister Victoria, the New Jersey teen was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 13. McGuire beat the illness in April 2010 but recently relapsed, prompting Victoria to start petitioning Swift to take Kevin to prom.

Upon seeing the petition, Swift intervened. While she regretfully told the teen that she would be unable to attend his upcoming prom, she said she would do him one better. “The ACM Awards are coming up.. Would you be my date?” she countered.

“Taylor, I would l love to go with you. Thank you!” McGuire said on Philadelphia’s CBS 3.

“Thank you so so so so so much!” McGuire’s sister recently posted to Facebook. “The McGuire family could never show how grateful we are to all of you! We have won in more than one way.. we got Taylor to take Kevin on a date, and we have made so many good friends along the way!”

The 47th annual ACM Awards air Apr. 1 on CBS. Swift is nominated for Female Vocalist, Video of the Year (“Mean”), and Entertainer of the Year.

Anne Sarosdy-Yarbrough Joins Tenacity Promotion

Nashville’s Tenacity Records recently announced that Anne Sarosdy-Yarbrough has been hired as its newest National Director of Promotions. The announcement was made last week during the label’s CRS showcase that included performances by Tenacity artists Darryl Worley and Bill Gentry.

“Anne is well-respected in the industry, and knows her music,” said label president Mike Kraski. ” We are honored to have her join the Tenacity team.”

Sarosdy-Yarbrough comes to Tenacity with over 25 years of experience, including time radio (in the DC market) and promotion gigs at Capitol/Liberty/Patriot, Curb Universal, Magnatone and Audium.

Congratulate her here.

Ticketmaster Debuts iPhone App

The app alerts users of upcoming events.

Ticketmaster has released an iPhone app that allows users to find events and purchase tickets. As an extension of Ticketmaster.com, the app allows users to log into their MyTicketmaster account for a seamless purchasing experience on their iPhone.

The app scans users’ iTunes music library to learn his or her music preferences. Users can activate the iPhone’s built-in location services to automatically recommend relevant upcoming local events. Fans can further personalize the recommended shows by using more than 40 preset filters.

The app also offers social media connections, allowing fans to Tweet and Facebook during the discovery phase, as well as after purchasing tickets. It also allows check in on Foursquare during the event.

Screenshot shows how users search for tickets.

Scotty McCreery Gets Gold For His “Trouble,” Pranks Paisley

McCreery dressed like Paisley, complete with goatee, and surprised him onstage.

Scotty McCreery’s second single, “The Trouble With Girls,” has been certified Gold for reaching sales of 500,000 units, becoming his second single release to receive a Gold or higher certification by the RIAA.

McCreery’s platinum debut album Clear As Day debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, making him the youngest man in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. It also garnered the highest sales of any country solo album released last year and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks.

For 2012, McCreery has been on the road with Brad Paisley‘s Virtual Reality Tour 2012 and the tour mates have been scheming pranks. During Paisley’s show, he projected doctored photos of McCreery’s head on the body of a muscular man in a bathing suit, and when he sings “Celebrity,” the screens flash fake tabloid headlines “Is Scotty McCreery Brad Paisley’s Love Child?”

McCreery capitalized on the publicity by dressing up like Paisley and surprising him onstage.

“Apparently Brad leaves his hat backstage at every show, but I didn’t find out until last week,” McCreery says. “I was going to take the hat out onstage that day and poke fun, but we decided it would be too early in the tour because it would leave too much time for him to prank me back. He loved it! He was cracking up. So now I am sleeping with one eye open.”

McCreery is also nominated for ACM New Artist of the Year, along with Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes. Voting runs March 19 through April 1 on the ACM site, and GAC will premiere its ACM New Artist of the Year special on March 19.

“We Walk The Line” Concert Pays Tribute To Cash

On Apr. 20, music stars and friends will join together to celebrate the life of Johnny Cash in Austin, TX with tribute concert “We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash.”

In the year that would mark Cash’s 80th birthday, the concert at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre will pay tribute to Cash’s musical legacy. Performers at the event include Carolina Chocolate Drops, Kenny Chesney, Chris Cornell, Ronnie Dunn, Jamey Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Ray LaMontagne, Amy Lee and Lucinda Williams, Brandi Carlile, Andy Grammer, John Hiatt, Shooter Jennings and Rhett Miller. More performers will be announced shortly.

An all-star band led by Grammy Award-winner Don Was – which includes Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagen, and Greg Leisz– will back these performances. The concert event will be produced by Keith Wortman. Was, who worked with Cash on an album for The Highwaymen, will serve as musical director. Tisha Fein and Chantel Sausedo will serve as talent producers. A percentage of the net proceeds will be donated to Charley’s Fund, to help in the fight to find a cure for the fatal children’s disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

“Our family is honored to know that this amazing line-up of artists will gather together on one stage to pay tribute to the music and history of my father,” said John Carter Cash. “There is no doubt in my mind that, although he is no longer with us in body, his spirit will shine true on this night thanks to these inspired artists.”

Cash’s 80th Birthday celebration kicked off on Sunday (2/26) with the ground-breaking of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Project in Dyess, AR. The house that Cash grew up in will become a permanent tribute to him and his family’s early life, as well as reflecting a historical slice of American life during the 1930s’ Great Depression. In addition, Legacy Recordings is set to celebrate this landmark year with a full slate of projects to be released throughout the next 12 months. First up is Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul of Truth, a 2-CD, 51-track collection which comprises gospel and spiritual recordings made by Cash in the 1970s and ‘80s, to be released on Apr. 3.

“We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash” will be produced and distributed in conjunction with Legacy Recordings, the division of Sony Music Entertainment that serves as the home of Johnny Cash’s catalog. Tickets will go on-sale to the general public on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 10 a.m. CST and are available at www.acl-live.com, at Waterloo Records or charge by phone 877-4-FLYTIX.

For more information about “We Walk The Line” please visit www.johnnycash80.com.