SiriusXM Salutes Waylon Jennings

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SiriusXM hosted a special taping honoring the late Waylon Jennings on Tuesday (12/6) at the SiriusXM Theater inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show featured his son singer Shooter Jennings, and Shooter’s mother, singer Jessi Colter. The event celebrate the upcoming release of Waylon: The Music Inside, Vol. 2. Among the surprise guests were Josh Thompson, Jamey Johnson, Hank Williams Jr., Jack Clement and Billy Joe Shaver.

(L-R): Josh Thompson, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Jessi Colter. Photo: Alan Mayor

Curb, Atkins Renew Contracts

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Rodney Atkins has inked new contracts with longtime homes Curb Records and Curb Publishing. Since 1996, the partnership has resulted in four studio albums and six multi-week No. 1 hits.

“Mike Curb encouraged me to learn about songwriting, how to write songs, how to go in and produce those songs,” says Atkins. “He allowed me to get in the studio and experiment and learn the process. Hats off to Mike for really sticking with artist development for a long time—for believing in that.”

Curb adds, “Rodney Atkins represents everything that we believe in. Rodney worked with us for almost 10 years before his first major hit, and since that time he has had the Billboard No. 1 Record of the Year twice with ‘If You’re Going Through Hell’ and ‘Watching You,’ and his recent multi-week No. 1 record ‘Take A Back Road’ is one of the top three country records of the year in 2011.”

Owen Raises Money For St. Jude’s From His Kitchen

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Jake Owen recently played his second StageIt show to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The concerts are very spur of the moment,” he says. “There aren’t any mics or cords, just a few guitars and my MAC that has an eyesight camera on it. I Tweet about it ahead of time to let everyone know we’re doing it. The other night we raised 3K for St. Jude in just 35 minutes. I would have been playing music with my friends in my kitchen anyway, so it’s a pretty cool way to give back.”

Owen’s philanthropy continues on Dec. 10 at the Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest. Owen and his childhood friend and professional tennis player, Mardy Fish, are hosting the sixth annual event in their hometown of Vero Beach, FL. The concert will include performances by Eric Paslay, Chris Young and Owen. Owen’s portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude and The Mardy Fish Foundation, whose mission is to provide children access to after school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs. Tickets can be purchased here.

In addition, AOL’s The Boot is hosting exclusive “Behind the Scenes” footage from Owen’s newest music video “Alone with You.” Click here to view. AOL is also featuring Owen in its “Sessions” series, which includes all genres of music. His four performances from Barefoot Blue Jean Night can be viewed here.

Hank Jr. Concert Raises $75K For Hall of Fame

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Hank Williams Jr. Photo: Michael Krouskop

Hank Williams Jr. performed an acoustic benefit concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Dec. 6, marking the close of a four-year run of Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy exhibit.

Hank Jr.’s performance infused personal memories and raised $75,000 to benefit the Hall. He also announced that many artifacts he loaned for the exhibition will stay in the museum and archives.

The 90-minute show included Williams’ own hits, youngest son Sam singing “The Blues Man,” new tunes from a forthcoming CD, and classics from Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

Special guests in the audience included Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Williams’ wife Mary Jane, and children.

After the concert, Williams greeted audience members and posed for pictures in the Ford Theater. A reception followed in the Hall of Fame Rotunda, and fans received a signed poster commemorating the exhibit.

Family Tradition opened on March 28, 2008. Originally scheduled to close on Dec. 31, 2009, the exhibit became the most popular and acclaimed exhibition in the museum’s history and was eventually extended through Dec. 31, 2011.

Thursday Photos

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Brent Anderson Makes Opry Debut

Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville recording artist Brent Anderson made his Grand Ole Opry debut this past weekend from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium. Remarking on the experience, the Pascagoula, MS, native shared, “Playing at the Opry was incredible for me. To stand on that stage, where so many legends have stood, is without a doubt the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do.” Anderson is on the radio now with debut single, “Amy’s Song.” (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Steve Emley; Arista Nashville promo team members Ryan Dokke and Lauren Thomas; Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Skip Bishop; Anderson; and the Arista Nashville promo team’s Chris Waters, VP Lesly Tyson, John Sigler, Rusty Sherrill, and Tyler Waugh.

Photo: Chris Hollo

Christmas at Belmont Taped at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Laura Bell Bundy hosted “Christmas at Belmont” at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Monday night (12/5), where nearly 700 Belmont University students and faculty performed. The annual production of traditional carols, classical masterworks, world music and seasonal favorites will air on PBS stations nationwide beginning Thurs., Dec. 22. Check local listings for air dates and times. Nashville Public Television (NPT Ch. 8 ) will air “Christmas at Belmont” on Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. (CST) and re-broadcast it on Christmas Day at 7 p.m. (CST).

Nashvillians Honored As Top Women In Music

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Mary Ann McCready

Several Nashville execs appear on the new Billboard Women in Music list. Included in the 40 slots are Mary Ann McCready of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarth; Kelly Rich of Big Machine Label Group; Ellen Bligh Truley of SESAC, and Nashville native Marcie Allen of MAC Presents. Taylor Swift was named Woman of the Year, the youngest superstar to ever receive the honor. The women were celebrated recently at an event in New York City.

The Women in Music list is selected by Billboard editors based on achievements in the last 12 months from a pool of nominees sent in by readers.

• As President of business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Mary Ann McCready represents some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. FBMM’s roster includes Keith Urban, Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, and Blake Shelton. As a community leader, McCready helped found the Music City Music Council with Mayor Karl Dean and is a trustee of the Country Music Hall of Fame and an active supporter of MusiCares and the W.O. Smith Music School.

Kelly Rich

• Kelly Rich is VP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive at Big Machine Label Group. She and her team helped propel Taylor Swift’s Speak Now to more than 3.7 million in sales, and led success by The Band Perry (platinum album and triple platinum single) and Rascal Flatts (platinum album). She also handles social media and led the relaunch of BigMachineRecords.com with a sponsorship of the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ellen Truley

• Ellen Truley has been with SESAC for 15 years and currently serves as VP of Corporate Relations, overseeing marketing and sponsorship initiatives for the PRO. This ranges from the SESAC magazine and e-newsletter, to the organization’s multiple awards ceremonies. Her team also handles digital initiatives and SESAC EDU for high school and college music programs.

Marcie Allen

• At her company MAC Presents, Marcie Allen pairs brands and artists. Among her recent success stories are Keith Urban and Samsung Infuse, who teamed to host private dinners for fans on his tour. She also paired BlackBerry and the Foo Fighters, and Windows Phone 7 with Katy Perry and Maroon 5.

 

VH1 Divas Special Adds Parton, Jackson, Staples

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The latest installment of the popular VH1 Divas series, set to air Monday, December 19 at 8 PM/CT, will pay tribute to great cities of soul music including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia.

Newly added performers on the bill at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom include Wanda Jackson, Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, and Ledisi. Additionally, presenters will include Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony.

Previously announced headlining “divas” include Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + the Machine, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J., and Jill Scott. Also performing will be Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius, and Travie McCoy. Performers will be backed by hip-hop/soul band The Roots, with drummer Questlove and Adam Blackstone serving as musical directors.

For the first time, the red carpet for the event will be livestreamed on vh1.com Sunday, December 18 from 4-6 PM/CT and hosted by VH1 personality La La Anthony. As always, the event will benefit VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of music education. Special ticket packages for the event are being auctioned here.

Rock Hall Announces 2012 Inductees

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Hip hop legends Beastie Boys are among the 2012 Rock Hall inductees.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland announced its 2012 inductees today. The 27th Annual Rock Hall Induction Ceremony will take place April 14, 2012 in Cleveland and premiere on HBO in early May. The ceremony will be again be open to the public, as it was for the 2009 inductions.

Performers being inducted include some of the 1980s’ biggest rock stars, like early hip hop outfit Beastie Boys, L.A. funk rock troublemakers Red Hot Chili Peppers, and hard rock legends Guns N’ Roses (the remnants of whom just played Nashville last Sunday, Dec. 4). 1960s Scottish psychedelic folkie Donovan also made the cut, as did English rockers The Small Faces, and its later Rod Stewart-fronted incarnation known simply as Faces. The late singer/songwriter Laura Nyro, responsible for penning hits such as “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Stoned Soul Picnic” for the 5th Dimension and many more, will also be honored. Blues legend Freddie King will be inducted posthumously as an Early Influence, thanks to the impact he had on Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Jeff Beck and countless other blues-based guitar players.

The Ahmet Ertegun nonperformer induction will be presented to veteran Don Kirshner, whose work as co-owner of Aldon Music published some of the Brill Building’s biggest songwriters including Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, and more. He additionally served as producer for The Monkees, and collaborated with Bobby Darin on many jingles and songs. He passed away earlier in 2011, at the age of 76.

Inductions for Musical Excellence go to New Orleans engineer Cosimo Matassa, who engineered and recorded music by Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Professor Longhair and many of the city’s finest R&B performers at his studio; Tom Dowd, who engineered and produced albums for Atlantic Records including Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, and Aretha Franklin among others; Engineer and producer Glyn Johns, who produced the Who’s Who’s Next, Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers and Faces’ A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse, in addition to the Eagles’ first three albums.

2012 Inductees:

Performer Category:
Beastie Boys
Donovan
Guns N’ Roses
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Small Faces/The Faces

Early Influence:
Freddie King

Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award:
Don Kirshner

The Award for Musical Excellence:
Cosimo Matassa
Tom Dowd
Glyn Johns

Republic Nashville Signing

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(L-R) Front Row: BMLG Vice President, A&R Allison Jones; Greg Bates; BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta; Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen and BMLG General Manger Andrew Kautz; Back Row: BMLG A&R Coordinator Shea Fowler; Effusion Entertainment’s Martha Earls and Mike Molinar. Photo: Mike Moore

Republic Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Greg Bates. The Nashville native developed his musical talent at Belmont University and after graduation inked a co-publishing/artist development deal with Effusion Entertainment and Super 98 Music, the publishing arm of the Big Machine Label Group.

Bates, 24, is in the studio with producer Jimmy Ritchey. He is also busy co-writing and has opened for Darius Rucker, Rodney Atkins, Willie Nelson, Kellie Pickler and Randy Travis.

“We could not be more proud to add Greg Bates to our roster of top country acts. The music Greg has been creating in the studio is spectacular and everyone at Republic Nashville is excited to share it with the industry next spring,” said Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen. The label is also home to Martina McBride, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band and Sunny Sweeney.

“I am so excited to now be a part of the Republic Nashville family and thankful for Scott, Jimmy, Allison and everybody at the Big Machine Label Group. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on!” said Bates.

Cook Joins Webster & Associates Staff

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Webster & Associates Public Relations president Kirt Webster has announced the addition of music industry veteran Claire Cook as Senior Director, Publicity.

Most recently she served as an independent publicist through her own Cook Media & Marketing firm, where she worked with a variety of artists and projects such as Keni Thomas and City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge. Prior to that, she served as Director, Media/Artist Relations for Dreamcatcher Entertainment.

Cook earned a B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Northridge, and started her career at Capitol EMI/America Records in Los Angeles. She later joined Windsor Publications as a book publicist before moving to Nashville to work with Magnatone Records.

Reach her here or 615-777-6995 ext. 224.