Rimes To Release New Album With A New Perspective

In her upcoming album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes puts a feminine twist on songs previously recorded by male artists. Slated for release Sept. 27, Rimes covers country artists such as Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Merle Haggard.

“This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country music and in reflecting, I realized that almost all of my favorite country songs from back then were sung by men,” says Rimes. “I am honored to take a step back in time and sing these songs from a woman’s perspective and hopefully help reintroduce them to a new audience.”

For those who want a first listen, the album will stream online 48 hours prior to its release at www.LeAnnRimesWorld.com. The album is also available for pre-order through iTunes.

Lady & Gentlemen will also feature several bonus tracks along with two new songs, including “Give.” Rimes recently performed the televised debut of the song on the finale of America’s Got Talent.

“‘Give’ is a song with a message about how if we want love, kindness and happiness in our lives, then we need to give some of that back,” Rimes says. “I believe that message needs to be shared with the world.” Rimes blogs about the life-changing experience of shooting the music video for “Give” here.

Lady & Gentlemen tracklist:

1. Swingin’ (originally recorded by John Anderson, released in 1982)
2. Wasted Days And Wasted Nights (originally recorded by Freddy Fender, released in 1975)
3. Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line (originally recorded by Waylon Jennings “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line”, released
in 1966)
4. I Can’t Be Myself (originally recorded by Merle Haggard, released in 1970)
5. 16 Tons (originally recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford, released in 1955)
6. Help Me Make It Through The Night (originally recorded by Kris Kristofferson, released in 1970)
7. Rose Colored Glasses (originally recorded by John Conlee, released in 1978)
8. Good Hearted Woman (originally recorded by Waylon Jennings, released in 1972)
9. When I Call Your Name (originally recorded by Vince Gill, released in 1990)
10. He Stopped Loving Her Today (originally recorded by George Jones, released in 1980)
11. Blue (originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996)
12. Bottle Let Me Down (originally recorded by Merle Haggard, released in 1966)
13. Crazy Women (bonus track – original new song)
14.  Give (bonus track – original new song)

Hank Williams Box Set Released

Time Life and the Estate of Hank Williams released Hank Williams: The Legend Begins earlier this month as a 3-CD box set. The newly-released material features previously unreleased recordings from Hank Williams when he was fifteen and seventeen years old, including the songs “Fan It” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” The set also features recordings of Williams’ first radio series, “Health & Happiness,” which are fully restored in sound.

“Hank continues to speak to and entertain us across the generations,” says Mike Jason, Senior Vice President of Retail, Time Life. “These recordings give us a rare and special insight as this American music giant begins his career.”

Hank Williams: The Legend Begins is available online at www.amazon.com and at other online and retail stores.

Hall Of Fame Exhibit To Feature Owens And Haggard

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opens a new exhibit, The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country, on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Slated for a two year run, the exhibit will explore the significance of the Bakersfield Sound and follow the timeline of its development. The exploration is specifically geared toward the careers of Country Music Hall of Fame members Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.

Narrated by Dwight Yoakam, the exhibit is an exploration of how Owen, Haggard, the Buckaroos and the Strangers played a significant role in developing the Bakersfield sound. The exhibit will additionally focus on publishing houses, recording studios, booking, management agencies, performance venues and Bakersfield’s music businesses. Ken Nelson’s role will also be a focal point, as the Capitol Records producer recorded many of Owen’s and Haggard’s songs. Key musicians include steel guitar innovator Ralph Mooney, Telecaster ace Roy Nichols and lead guitarist/harmony vocalist Don Rich.

“Long before the Outlaws or alternative country, the Bakersfield Sound evolved specifically to suit a time and a place, made an indelible mark on popular music, and spawned two of the most charismatic stars in the firmament.” said Museum Director Kyle Young.

The Bakersfield Sound will be a part of an ongoing series of school and family programs. The series involves live performances, panel discussions, films, instrument demonstrations and more. The exhibit will run from Mar. 24, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2013.

Party Pics: Leadership Music Reunion

Leadership Music hosted an Alumni Reunion at the Noah Liff Opera Center last week (9/13). See party pics below and full Bobby Karl coverage here (subscribers only).

Leadership Music’s Karen Oertley and City National Bank's Diane Pearson

(L-R): R&J Records’ Tim McFadden, musician Jonathan Yudkin, songwriter Fred Knobloch

(L-R): producer Garth Fundis and Curb’s John Ozier

(L-R): publicist Cathy Gurley, CMA’s Sheri Warnke, CMA’s Tammy Donham

Weekly Chart Report (9/23/11)

SPIN ZONE

Crosswind recording artist Teea Goans (R) recently visted with Larry Moffit from KDKD/Clinton, MO at the "Music on Main Street" Festival in Teea's hometown Lowry City, MO. Teea’s current single "Letter From God” is at No. 48 on the CountryBreakout Chart.

George Strait gets a second turn in the CountryBreakout Chart’s No. 1 spot with “Here For A Good Time,” as Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You” starts to put on a little pressure at No. 2. Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl” moves up to No. 3 with a gain of 119 spins, inching ahead of Thompson Square’s “I Got You.” New to the Top 10 is Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim,” which lands at No. 8 ahead of Darius Rucker’s “I Got Nothin’” at No. 9.

In the spirit of George Strait’s No. 1, Texas makes a strong showing elsewhere on this chart. Sunny Sweeney’s latest, “Drink Myself Single,” notches the week’s highest debut at No. 64. Kevin Fowler’s “That Girl” also debuts admirably at No. 70, following a triple-digit spin increase. Texan hitmaker Tracy Lawrence is releasing music independently these days, but his latest “The Singer” is up to No. 37.

On his radio promo tour, Tyrone Vaughan stopped by WQHK/Ft. Wayne and performed an acoustic mini-concert which included his single, "Downtime." Vaughan’s debut album is due for release in early 2012. (L-R): Vaughan, WQHK PD Rob Kelley

Other new tracks on this chart include American Idol champ Scotty McCreery’s “The Trouble With Girls” at No. 71, Patrick Davis’ “Lucky” at No. 77, Jimmy White’s “Forever And A Day” at No. 78, Madonna Nash’s “Dirty Little Secret” at No. 79 and JaneDear girls’ “Merry Go Round” at No. 80.

Frozen Playlists: KMOK, KTWI, KYEZ, KYKX, YYK, WAXX, WBKR, WCJW, WCMS, WDHR, WJMQ, WTCM

Upcoming Singles
September 26
Coy Taylor/Fall For You/Twang City/Flying Island Ent.
Bobby Dean/White Lightning or Pink Champagne/Lamon
Crystal Shawanda/Love Enough/Sun/Nine North
Kip Moore/Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck/MCA

October 3

Brent Anderson/Amy’s Song/Sea Gayle/Arista
Corey Smith/Maybe Next Year/Average Joe’s
Sunny Sweeney/Drink Myself Single/Republic Nashville
Trent Tomlinson/A Man Without A Woman/Skyville Records
Blake Wise/Can’t Live Without/Broken Bow

• • • • •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Sunny Sweeney/Drink Myself Single/Republic Nashville — 64
Kevin Fowler/That Girl/Average Joe’s — 70
Scotty McCreery/The Trouble With Girls/19 Ent./Mercury — 71
Patrick Davis/Lucky/BOC Records — 77
Jimmy White/Forever And A Day/Tone Box — 78
Madonna Nash/Dirty Little Secret/Mad Charm — 79
JaneDear girls/Merry Go Round/Warner Bros./WMN — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Zac Brown Band/Keep Me In Mind/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 328
Luke Bryan/I Don’t Want This Night To End/Capitol — 317
Jason Aldean/Tattoos On This Town/Broken Bow — 282
Lady Antebellum/We Owned The Night/Capitol — 281
Chris Young/You/RCA — 219

Most Added
Artist/song/label — New Adds
Zac Brown Band/Keep Me In Mind/Southern Ground/Atlantic — 16
Sunny Sweeney/Drink Myself Single/Republic Nashville — 16
Kevin Fowler/That Girl/Average Joe’s — 12
Luke Bryan/I Don’t Want This Night To End/Capitol — 12
Chris Young/You/RCA Nashville — 10

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Erica Nicole/Shave/Heaven — 150
Luke Pilgrim/Sweet Tea/MM/Southern Tracks — 146
Brett Eldredge/It Ain’t Gotta Be Love/Atlantic/WMN — 134
Casey James/Let’s Don’t Call It A Night/BNA — 133
Clay Dustin/I’ll Take That Job/Pure Heart — 127
Attwater/Never Gonna Happen/Twenty Ten — 127

Montgomery Gentry recently helped WKKT morning personality Paul Schadt celebrate his 30th anniversary of waking up Charlotte. MG’s latest single “Where I’m From” is climbing the CountryBreakout Chart at No. 22. (L-R): Schadt, Troy Gentry, WKKT MD Tyler Reese, Eddie Montgomery and Average Joe’s Jay Cruze.

BNA Records artist Wade Bowen recently made a visit to K102 in Minneapolis before his show at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar & Grill." (L-R): KEEY PD Gregg Swedberg, Bowen, and KEEY MD JD Green

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

Words you’ll never hear an artist say: “Aw man, do I have to be No. 1 again?”

That’s right, George Strait’s “Here For A Good Time” is the CountryBreakout No. 1 song for a second consecutive chart. So apparently a “good time” lasts, at a minimum, two weeks. The track is Strait’s 89th (!) career single, from his 24th (!!) album of the same title. Strait is also the most-nominated country artist in CMA Awards history, with 81 career nominations, as well as the most-awarded with 22 wins. Suffice it to say, we think he’s got a pretty good shot at making it in this crazy country music business.

In addition to Here For A Good Time, Universal Music also recently issued George Strait – Icon, an 11 track collection highlighting his signature hits. Nine of his No. 1 singles are present, including “All My Ex’s Live In Texas,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Check Yes or No,” “Give It Away” and more.

Charlie Cook On Air

Cost Of Livin’ High And Goin’ Up

I attended the National Association of Broadcasters meeting in Chicago this month and a lot of the meeting was really good. There were great panels, great food, and good networking. But some of it was upsetting.

The networking is what I want to talk about. We also saw it this year at the Country Radio Seminar. I used to be the research committee chairman for the CRB and every year “networking” came back as the most important feature of the Seminar.

But networking has gotten desperate in the last few years.

“Everythin’ to know about me is written on this page
A number you can reach me, my social and my age.”

You can see it in a guy’s eyes. There is still a good degree of pride but there is also fear—not that the business has passed them by, but that others may think that of them. Fear that they still have two kids in high school and college is right around the corner. Fear that the longer away from the only thing they know, knows no mercy.

“I work weekends if I have to. Nights and holidays.
Give you forty and then some. Whatever it takes.”

It’s not just the radio side of the business that is suffering. Record sales have taken terrible hits in the last five years. Staffs and labels are impacted to their core. These are good people who believe deeply in their artists and love the music. But there is no longer room for them on the promotion and marketing side.

“Gave my last job everythin’ before it headed south.
Took the shoes off my children’s feet and food out of their mouths.”

The bad economic news is all over the radio and TV. Our nation’s unemployment rate has been over 9% for what feels like forever now. I don’t know what the real damage is in our industries. I know that a lot of emails have gone from corporate to Yahoo and that is sad.

“I work sunup to sundown. Ain’t too proud to sweep the floors
and the bank started callin’ and the wolves are at my door.”

I am not smart enough to have a solution to this. Unless President Obama’s jobs plan mandates that consumers have to buy physical CDs and automobiles (radio’s number one sponsor), I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Savings aren’t supposed to save you—they are supposed to soften the landing.

Consumers have decided to add 30,000 miles to their odometer and continue to buy single cuts…when they buy them at all. A lot of the conversation at the NAB was about digital: how great digital is, how to use digital, and why digital is our salvation.

Well ask Sony, Universal, EMI and WB how much they love digital and downloading. Ask Cumulus, CBS and Entercom how much they love digital (read: Pandora, Spotify, etc.)

I am not a Luddite about the Internet. I know that the business is evolving and that we all have to keep up with it. We have to learn how to take advantage of it in everything we do but that pain in the eyes of guys who have worked at five stations or four labels and don’t see a bright future are not at fault for not staying up to date. They are just the consequences of this progress.

I am not saying that you take in an unemployed radio family. You don’t have to send money to out of work label people. But you can think of them. You can pray for them and you can keep your eyes open for them in your company.

“Three Dollars and change at the pump.
The cost of livin’ high and going’ up.”

[Songwriters: Philip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn]

By the way, Ronnie sang this song at the Marconi dinner and received a standing ovation. How often do you see that from a crowd of broadcasters?

Photos: Capitol Street Party, ACL, Gloriana, BJE Conference

Last night’s (9/21) Capitol Street Party drew a crowd of over 12,000 fans to Demonbreun Street to watch as artists Eric Paslay, Eric Church and headliner Alan Jackson perform. New EMI Nashville recording artist Jon Pardi kept the party going into the late hours of the night after the show at the Tin Roof.

(L-R): Capitol Records Nashville SVP of Promotion Steve Hodges, SVP Cindy Mabe, Pardi, Capitol Records Nashville President and CEO Mike Dungan, Jackson, Paslay, Capitol Records Nashville COO Tom Becci.

Eric Church onstage at the Capitol Street Party. Photo: Christie King

• • • • •

BMI’s songwriter stage during Austin City Limits Sept 16-18 drew large crowds and showcased artists from across the nation in a variety of genres such as blues, folk-rock, hip-hop and country. Performers from Nashville, the U.K., the Midwest, New York, and Texas all took turns sharing songs for the large live music event.

(L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley; BMI stage performers James Guldry and Matthew DeMaio of the Kingston Springs, Chancellor Warhol, Jon Pardi and Ian Ferguson and Alexander Geddes of the Kingston Springs; and BMI’s Mark Mason. Photo: Erika Goldring

• • • • •

Emblem/WMN’s Gloriana gathered for a photo following the group’s performance before the CRS board members in Nashville on September 15.

(L-R): CRS' Bill Mayne; Emmis/Indianapolis' Charlie Morgan; Gloriana's Tom Gossin, Rachel Reinert and Mike Gossin; WQYK/Tampa's Mike Culotta; WMN's Chris Stacey and John Esposito. Photo: Kristen England

• • • • •

Belmont University recently held its 2011 Best Job Ever conference, an annual event focusing on music and entertainment trends, evolving job opportunities, and industry networking. This year’s conference featured Emmy Award winning video director George J. Flanigen giving the keynote speech. Flanigen encouraged the audience of aspiring professionals to “get out into the mix and get to work!”

George Flanigen (center) with student organizers.

NBN SoundLand: Day 1

Taylor Goldsmith/Dawes. Photo: Next Big Nashville

SoundLand, presented by Next Big Nashville kicked off last night (9/21) with an opening VIP reception at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall. Complimentary beverages were provided by Starr Hill brewery and Firefly Skinny Vodka.

The first series of musical performances were held across the courtyard at War Memorial Auditorium. Sometime Nashville resident Jonny Corndawg began the proceedings with a set of good-humored, frequently filthy country songs reminiscent of the Tom T. Hall era. Los Angeles folk-rockers Dawes played the middle set, showcasing soaring melodies and Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith’s instrumental chops.

M. Ward. Photo: Next Big Nashville

In addition to its own set, Dawes served as the backing band for Corndawg and the evening’s closer M. Ward. The Portland-based folkie (also known for being one-half of She & Him with Zooey Deschanel) played solo tracks including “Sad, Sad Song” and “Poor Boy, Minor Key” before being joined for a full band setup with Dawes. Guests during the evening included Deer Tick singer John McCauley, fiddle player Josh Hedley, and members of Nashville’s own Lambchop.

There’s a lot more to come. We’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, check out more pictures from last night here.

 

Jonny Corndawg. Photo: Next Big Nashville

Industry Ink (9/22)

Pictured seated (L-R): Razor & Tie’s Beka Tischker and Catt Gravitt. Standing: Razor & Tie’s Ross Asher & Lisa Johnson; SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

SESAC songwriter Catt Gravitt has signed with Razor & Tie Publishing. Gravitt has writing credits on the current singles from Eden’s Edge (“Amen”) and Jake Owen (“Alone With You”). The Coal Valley, Pa. native has written songs recorded by Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Kenny Rogers. Gravitt is also a successful songwriter in the Christian Music genre having written “In Better Hands,” which Natalie Grant took to No. 1.

• • • • •

Tiffany Bearden

Tiffany Bearden is launching Evolution PR, offering full-scale publicity campaigns as well as individual services including press releases, tour press and social media marketing. Bearden previously spent four years at FrontPage Publicity working with clients Martina McBride, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and more. FrontPage Publicity owner Kathy Best praises, “I consider anyone very lucky to have her on their team.” Contact Tiffany Bearden at tiffany@evolutionprnashville.com or (615) 852-6076 www.evolutionprnashville.com.

• • • • •

Sue Fabisch and Ilene Angel won the Avon Voices songwriting competition. They will receive a trip to New York City in November, and attend the Avon Foundation for Women Gala where their winning songs will be performed in front of a tastemaker audience.

(L-R): Sue Fabisch and Ilene Angel

• • • • •

Melissa Schleicher

Make-up artist Melissa Schleicher, with clients including Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts, is opening a full-service salon and make-up boutique this fall. Parlour 3 will be located at 144 Franklin Rd, Brentwood, TN.

• • • • •

Sugar Hill Records released Kenny Vaughan’s solo debut V earlier this month. Vaughan is a member of Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives, who also play on the album. Vaughan is a 2006 Instrumentalist of the Year award winner from the Americana Music Association. Veta Cicolello and Theo Antoniadis of Ovvio Arte created the album artwork for V.

Celebrating Vaughan's album release at Earnest Tubb Record Shop (L-R): Vaughn, Stuart and Manuel