Natalie Hemby Finds New Publishing Home

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Songwriter Natalie Hemby, with several Miranda Lambert cuts to her credit, has signed with EMI Music Publishing Nashville.

Hemby’s writing credits include the Lambert hits “White Liar,” and current single “Baggage Claim.” She’s also a co-writer of “Timing Is Everything,” recorded by Trace Adkins. Other artists who have recorded her work include Lee Ann Womack, Eli Young Band, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, and Randy Montana.

Hemby was previously signed to Carnival Music.

Bogard To Ride With Magic Mustang

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(L-R) Juli Newton-Griffith, Bogard and BBR CEO Benny Brown.

Grammy-nominated songwriter veteran Steve Bogard has signed a publishing deal with Magic Mustang Music, which is affiliated with Broken Bow Records.

“I have been a fan of Steve’s for many years,” said Juli Newton-Griffith, Sr. Creative Director of Magic Mustang Music. “He is a songwriting machine and a master at everything he does. We are honored to have him in the Magic Mustang family.”

Bogard has nine No. 1 country songs and has garnered 18 ASCAP and/or BMI awards. Some of his well known compositions inlcude “Carried Away,” “Carrying Your Love With Me,” and “Prayin’ For Daylight.” Albums containing Bogard songs have sold over 70 million units.

“I’ve admired the BBR/Magic Mustang operation from the start,” said Bogard. “Now it’s an honor and a pleasure to partner with a great independent team where music is the number one priority. It already feels like home.”

Bogard has been the President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Board since 2006. He also serves on the CMA Board of Directors, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation and MyWerx, recently voted one of Billboard Magazine’s top ten tech startups of 2010. A former Board Member of the Academy of Country Music, Steve is a 1995 graduate of Leadership Music, served on ASCAP’s Southern Writer’s Advisory Board and has hosted the ASCAP Song Seminar. He is a member of the ACM and The Recording Academy.

Magic Mustang Music represents songwriters Jason Aldean, Thompson Square, Sherrie Austin, Ash Bowers, Rob Hatch, Kristy Lee Cook, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Edwards, Rich Redmond and Westin Davis. The company is administered by Big Loud Bucks.

 

CMA Awards Will Toast Glen Campbell

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During The 45th Annual CMA Awards, reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley and former CMA Entertainers of the Year Vince Gill and Keith Urban will pay tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame member and former CMA Entertainer of the Year Glen Campbell. Show organizers expect the salutatory performance to be a highlight of Country Music’s Biggest Night.

Campbell was named both CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year in 1968, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. As a musician, Campbell was part of the Wrecking Crew, who performed on a variety of artists’ albums. His guitar prowess is featured on the Beach Boys’ seminal album Pet Sounds and on Frank Sinatra’s megahit “Strangers in the Night,” among others. He acted alongside John Wayne in the movie True Grit and hosted The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on television from 1968-1972. Earlier this year, Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He is in the midst of his successful Goodbye Tour after releasing his final album, Ghost on the Canvas.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wed., Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Thompson Square, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Zac Brown Band. Plus Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter will sing their hit collaboration “You and Tequila;” Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield will sing their current duet “Easy;” Lionel Richie will perform a medley of hits with Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker; and co-hosts Paisley and Underwood will have their first live televised-performance of their No. 1 song “Remind Me.”

Lady A Sets Nashville Date

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Lady Antebellum has revealed the location of its 2012 hometown concert. The Feb. 22 show, which was previously announced, is set for Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium with guests Darius Rucker and Thompson Square.

A block of seats at the 2012 Own the Night World Tour stop will be reserved for attendees of Country Radio Seminar, which runs Feb. 22-24 in Nashville.

Lady A is also making a donation to CRS initiatives, including its scholarship program, seminar and the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

All CRS 2012 attendees will receive a ticket to the show in their on-site registration packets. Shuttle buses will transport attendees to and from the venue following the seminar’s Artist/Attendee Welcome Reception at the Nashville Convention Center on Wednesday evening.

Concert tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 through Ticketmaster.

How To Get A Job (In The Music Business)

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Many companies in the music industry are small and those that are not, run like they are. They are efficient and lean with everyone wearing many different hats. These days, it’s not optional. I’ve learned this first-hand taking the reigns of MusicRow.

When I read an article this morning, I knew I needed to share it with you. With unemployment at 9.1% and our music industry continuing to tighten its collective belt, the following is a valuable read for both job seekers and job creators.

This is an article about getting a job. It’s not specifically about the music biz…but then again, it is.

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How to Get a Job with a Small Company

By Seth Godin (posted with Seth’s permission, of course)

Most advice about job seeking is oriented around big companies. The notion of a standard resume, of mass mailings, of dealing with the HR department–even the idea of interviews–is all built around the Fortune 500.

Alas, the Fortune 500 has been responsible for a net loss in jobs over the last twenty years. All the growth (and your best chance to get hired) is from companies you’ve probably never heard of. And when the hirer is also the owner, the rules are very different.

1. Learn to sell. Everyone has sold something, some time, even if it’s just selling your mom on the need for a nap when you were three years old. A lot of people have decided that they don’t want to sell, can’t sell, won’t sell, but those same people need to understand that they’re probably not going to get a job doing anything but selling.

Small businesses always need people who can sell, because selling pays for itself. It’s not an expense, it’s a profit center.

2. Learn to write. Writing is a form of selling, one step removed. There’s more writing in business today than ever before, and if you can become a persuasive copywriter, you’re practically a salesperson, and even better, your work scales.

3. Learn to produce extraordinary video and multimedia. This is just like writing, but for people who don’t like to read. Even better, be sure to mix this skill with significant tech skills. Yes, you can learn to code. The fact that you don’t feel like it is one reason it’s a scarce skill.

Now that you’ve mastered these skills (all of which take time and guts but no money), understand the next thing about small businesses–they aren’t hiring to fill a slot. Unlike a big company with an org chart and pay levels, the very small business is an organism, not a grid. The owner is far more likely to bring in a freelancer or someone working on spec than she is to go run a classified help wanted ad.

And many small businesses are extremely bad at taking initiative that feels like risk. They’d rather fill orders than take a chance and go out prospecting for a person who represents a risk. And that’s your opportunity.

When you show up and offer to go prospecting on spec, offer to contribute a website or a sales letter or some sales calls–with no money on the table–many small business people will take you up on it, particularly if they are cash-strapped, profit-oriented and know you by reputation. (Please don’t overlook that last one).

Hint: don’t merely show up and expect a yes. It’s something you earn over time…

The rest is easy. Once you demonstrate that you contribute far more than you cost, now it’s merely a matter of figuring out a payment schedule.

This is probably far more uncertainty and personal branding than most job seekers are comfortable with. Which is precisely why it works.

 

Country Stars To Salute McCartney At Ryman

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“Let Us In” Nashville will hold a special benefit concert on Mon., Nov. 7 at the Ryman Auditorium. The concert will benefit The Women and Cancer Fund, which was established in the memory of Linda McCartney.

The “Let Us In” Nashville event will be hosted by actor and musician Jeff Daniels, who will also perform. The concert will feature Sarah Darling, SHeDAISY, Steel Magnolia, Phil Vassar, Ricky Skaggs, Cheyenne Kimball, Juliana Cole, Jordyn Shellhart, Chuck Wicks, Blue Sky Riders and more. Each artist will sing an original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song, as well as songs from their respective catalog.

Performers for the event, along with several other artists who are unable to attend the live show, have contributed their original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song for a benefit album, “Let Us In” Nashville – A Tribute To Linda McCartney. The album will be released Monday, Nov. 21 via Reviver Music and distributed by BDG/RED Distribution. The “Let Us In” Nashville benefit event will also be filmed and recorded for a live DVD release.

Tickets for the event are available now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

The following artists and songs will comprise the tribute album:

Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr) – “Junk”
Juliana Cole – “Bluebird”
Jeff Daniels – “Heart Of The Country”
Sarah Darling – “Blackbird”
Tommy Emmanuel – “She’s A Woman”
Nikki Shannon Fernandez – “I Saw Her Standing There”
Cheyenne Kimball – “Mull Of Kintyre”
Samantha Landrum – “Pipes Of Peace”
Timothy B. Schmit, Mark Hudson, Laurence Juber, Denny Seiwell – “Every Night”
Ricky Skaggs – “Listen To What The Man Said”
SHeDAISY – “With A Little Luck”
Jordyn Shellhart – “I Will”
Nancy Siranni – “Calico Skies”
Steel Magnolia – “Maybe I’m Amazed”
Phil Vassar – “Lady Madonna”
Chuck Wicks – “No More Lonely Nights”

Making Connections Online

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Guerrilla Music Marketing Online author Bob Baker offers some informative advice on how to best communicate with fans across social networking platforms on the Hypebot.com, music think tank blog.

Baker notes that like songwriting, there is also a craft to using language with respect to “point of view.” When an artist is describing their music they should be aware of using first person, second person and third person to best effect.

“First Person is when you write about yourself: I just wrote a new song,” says Baker. “Second Person is when you speak directly to the reader: You will really enjoy this new song,” and “Third Person speaks from a more distant, observer viewpoint: Suzy just wrote a new song.”

When an artist describes his or her own music Baker suggests second person, “You will be swept away,” as opposed to third person, “The listener will be swept away.” For artist bios and quoting press stories he suggests third person point of view, “According to the the Salt Lake Tribune….,” as opposed to first person which would be awkward, “I am one of the most widely recognized experts…”

Use first person sparingly, especially for telling personal stories. To read it all click here…

CMA Ballots Due Tomorrow

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Final ballots for the 45th Annual CMA Awards are due tomorrow (11/1) at 5 PM/CT. The award show will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Bridgestone Arena. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return as hosts for their fourth consecutive year.

Here’s a recap of the final nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood
Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young

Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year (Award to Artist and Producer(s))
All About Tonight, Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville
My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records
Speak Now, Taylor Swift, Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records
This Is Country Music, Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers, Arista Nashville
You Get What You Give, Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“A Little Bit Stronger” Sara Evans, Produced by Tony Brown, RCA Nashville
“Colder Weather” Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown,
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records
“Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville
“If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Produced by Paul Worley, Republic Nashville

Song of the Year
“Colder Weather,” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles
“Dirt Road Anthem,” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford
“If I Die Young,” Kimberly Perry
“Mean,” Taylor Swift
“You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Musical Event of the Year
“As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert, Columbia Records Nashville
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Broken Bow Records
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Arista Nashville
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, BNA Records

Vocal Duo of the Year
Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square

Music Video of the Year
“Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Directed by David McClister
“Mean” Taylor Swift, Directed by Declan Whitebloom
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Directed by Jim Shea
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, Directed by Shaun Silva

Musician of the Year
Sam Bush – Mandolin
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar

Dolly Makes “Joyful Noise” on Big Screen

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Dolly Parton stars alongside Queen Latifah in the upcoming movie Joyful Noise, set to open nationwide Jan. 13, 2012. The superstar divas portray church choir leaders in a small Georgia town who are having a hard time working together to win the National Joyful Noise Competition.

The major motion picture from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures also features Kris Kristofferson and Courtney B. Vance (Law & Order).

The musically driven story brings together a cross-section of genres with songs performed by the cast as well as Michael Jackson, Usher, Chris Brown, Paul McCartney, Sly & the Family Stone and Stevie Wonder. Parton penned original songs for the film, including “Not Enough (Love)” and “From Here to the Moon.” Five-time Grammy Award winner Mervyn Warren composed the score.

Todd Graff (Bandslam) directed Joyful Noise from his original screenplay. The film is produced by Oscar® nominee Michael Nathanson (L.A. Confidential), Joseph Farrell, Catherine Paura, and Oscar® nominees Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove (The Blind Side). The executive producers are Timothy M. Bourne, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere, with Yolanda T. Cochran and Steven P. Wegner serving as co-producers.

 

Inspirational Christian Music Award Winners

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Ricky Skaggs was named Entertainer of the Year

Megan Alexander and Storme Warren hosted tonight’s (10/28) ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. Here’s the complete winners list:

Entertainer of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
Male Vocalist: Chuck Day
Female Vocalist: Kali Rose
Vocal Duo: Joey + Rory
Vocal Group/Band: Sunday Drive
Mainstream Inspirational Country Song: “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” Justin Moore
Inspirational Country Song: “I’ll Stand Up And Say So,” Chuck Day
Songwriter: Russ Murphy
Mainstream Country Artist: Jeff Bates
New Artist: Chuck Hancock
Musician: Ricky Skaggs
Comedian: Johnny Lee Cook
Video: “Hello World,” Lady Antebellum; Director, Roman White
Inspirational Bluegrass Artist: The Roys
Movie: Soul Surfer, Sony Pictures, Director: Sean McNamara
Radio Personality: JR Pitsenbarger
Radio Station: WCWV, Summersville, WV
Youth In Music Award: Renee Spencer
Music Evangelist: Johnny Lee Cook
Television Network: Daystar