Music Memorabilia Store Opens At Loveless Cafe

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The Rock-N-Roll Pitstop will open its doors Oct. 1 at the Loveless Cafe. This unique retail shop is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience for collectors of music memorabilia. Formed by Stephen M. Shutts and Robert Reynolds, formerly of the Mavericks, the shop will rotate acquisitions that range from affordable to very high end. Additionally, formal appraisals, brokering and walking buyers through the authenticity process to educate new collectors will be provided.

Under the moniker, Honky Tonk Hall of Fame, Shutts and Reynolds have toured their collections of pop culture for the past decade at state fairs, malls and casinos. They successfully marketed Elvis Presley’s Audubon Drive Home to a world record audience via Ebay, purchased the Zippin Pippin (Presley’s favorite roller coaster) and rescued, with a purchase, Hank Williams’ handwritten notebook at a garage sale, launching a monumental legal battle over ownership of the holy grail of country music.

Acquiring for themselves and other collectors, the two entrepreneurs pride themselves on finding the “unfindable” pop culture relics such as Patsy Cline’s airplane wreckage, Elvis Presley’s baby shoes and unseen film footage of an early Rolling Stones Tour.

The wealth of stories attached to the various items has attracted Taillight Productions’ Thom Oliphant who has signed a TV series development deal, “chronicling the super heroes of memorabilia, pursuit of all things pop culture.”

The Loveless Cafe is located on Highway 100 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Northern Terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Its quaint country charm and good cooking has made it a landmark in the South since its doors opened over half a century ago.

 

Bug, EMI Still on Auction Blocks

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Bug Music is on the auction block with second-round bids due tomorrow (9/9), according to national news sources including the New York Post and Reuters. Bug’s sale is expected to fetch $300 million or more for publishing rights to 250,000 songs, including classics recorded by Iggy Pop (“Lust for Life”), the Drifters (“Under the Boardwalk”) and more.

Reportedly in the running to purchase the major music publisher are Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment, Ole Music, Dutch firm Imagen, and BMG, which has been on a buying spree in recent years.

Meanwhile, final bids for EMI Music, which includes the publishing and label group, are due at the end of September. Len Blavatnik, who purchased Warner Music Group earlier this year, is said to be among the bidders. Sony/ATV has also shown interest.

Terra Firma boss Guy Hands played a wild card this week, which could affect the EMI transaction. Citigroup took control of EMI earlier this year, claiming that Terra Firma couldn’t meet its loan requirements. Now Hands is asking London’s High Court for access to bank documents about the loan in attempt to regain control of EMI.

Photo Spread: Stuart Dill, Brent Maher, Jack Greene

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Dill Pens Murder on Music Row
Artist manager Stuart Dill is releasing his debut novel, Murder on Music Row. He’s making the promotional rounds, including a recent visit to WSMV’s More at Midday. The book is available now via e-commerce sites and will be in stores Oct. 1.

Stuart Dill with WSMV's Kacy Haggerty

 

Moraine Music Makes Big Donation
Producer Brent Maher hosted the Cowboy Golf Tournament over Labor Day weekend in Nashville, where players hit the homemade seven-hole course with just a 7-iron and pitching wedge. At the event, Maher’s Moraine Music donated $5000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The proceeds were from the Maher-produced Keni Thomas album Flags of our Fathers: A Soldier’s Story. Thomas also has a new book, Get It On!, set for release Oct. 1 to benefit the SOWF.

(L-R): Producer Brent Maher, Davis Music's Jacob Lyda, producer Jeremy Stover, artist Keni Thomas

 

Jack Greene Donates First CMA Trophies
Jack Greene, who was CMA’s first CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1967, presents CMA with his original trophies for Male Vocalist, Single of the Year for “There Goes My Everything,” and Album of the Year for There Goes My Everything, released on Decca Records.

(L-R): Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO, and CMA Board President Gary Overton; Greene; Gaylord Entertainment SVP of Media and Entertainment, and CMA Board Chairman Steve Buchanan. Photo: John Russell / CMA

 

 

 

Publishing Signing Pics

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Vandermont Music Inks Blackjack Billy
Industry vet Doug Howard, owner of the Vandermont Music Group, has signed Noll Billings and Rob Blackledge to exclusive co-publishing agreements and a production/development deal. The singer-songwriters make up the Nashville duo Blackjack Billy and are currently in the studio with producer Jeff Coplan (Love And Theft, The Lunabelles).

(L-R): Rob Blackledge, producer Jeff Coplan, Vandermont’s Doug Howard and Noll Billings. Photo: Alan Mayor

 

Owen Opens At No. 1 On Country Albums Chart

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Jake Owen and The Band Perry, in the midst of strong sales weeks, announce nominees for "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" yesterday (9/6) live on "Good Morning America" in New York City. Pictured with ABC's Robin Roberts. Photo: ABC/Ida Mae Astute

Jake Owen’s third album Barefoot Blue Jean Night is shaping up to be his biggest yet, debuting at No. 1 on the Country Albums chart (SoundScan) this week with 55K units sold. Sales were fueled largely by the charttopping title track, which has moved over 900K downloads to date. The album scored 34% digital sales.

“I’ve never had a No. 1 anything before,” says Owen. “This is an amazing feeling that is hard to describe. I’m just so grateful that I was able to record a song like ‘Barefoot Blue Jean Night’ that truly represents who I am and I’m even more grateful that people liked it.”

Yesterday (9/6), he performed “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” live on ABC’s Good Morning America following the announcement of final nominees for the CMA Awards.

Also on hand to make the announcement was The Band Perry, whose monster hit “If I Die Young” shows no signs of passing. For weeks it’s been sitting firmly at No. 1 on the Digital Country downloads chart, selling 68K this week, and heading beyond the 3 million mark next week.

Elsewhere in download-land, Lady A’s new single “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” danced away with fans to the tune of 57K units.

Country digital sales are burgeoning, with albums up 38% YTD, and tracks passing the 100 million milestone. This is part of country’s 7% YTD album sales bump.

Entering the country chart this week are releases from Glen Campbell (14K), Stoney LaRue (8K) and Robert Earl Keen (7K).

Outside the Country

By comparison, pop/rock/hip-hop albums still move more units than country. The new album from Lil Wayne almost reached the 1 million mark (964K), followed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers with 229K.

Adele offers further proof of the immediate impact of television exposure, as her track “Someone Like You” scored almost a 200% week-over-week increase (275K) after her performance on the MTV VMAs.

IBMA Awards Performers Revealed

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Initial performers for IBMA’s 22nd International Bluegrass Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium Thursday, Sept. 29 have been confirmed.

The event will feature performances from Balsam Range, The Boxcars, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, The Gibson Brothers, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Sierra Hull & Highway 111 and Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers. Show host Sam Bush, who just received his first CMA Award nomination, will also perform. More performers, as well as award presenters, will be announced soon. The show will be broadcast live on Sirius XM (Bluegrass Junction, Ch. 61) and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets.

“Stephen Ruffo and I are thrilled to be working with host Sam Bush and with the team of professionals in place for the biggest night in bluegrass,” says Claire Armbruster, who is co-producing the Awards Show with Ruffo. “Our main focus will be honoring the nominees but we’ll also pay homage to Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass, on the 100th anniversary of his birth.”

“Both Claire and I are excited to produce the Awards Show during the year of this important Monroe anniversary,” agrees Ruffo. “The artists that we have invited to perform on the Ryman stage all recognize the importance of this celebration, and they are as honored as we are to be part of that.”

The International Bluegrass Music Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass Week, which runs September 26-October 2 in Nashville and includes the IBMA Business Conference and Fan Fest. See a complete list of the nominees here.

Artists Mark 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

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Numerous artists are commemorating the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 with patriotic music and fundraisers to benefit members of the armed forces.

• On Sunday, Sept. 11, the United We Sing fundraiser will feature performances by Jamie O’Neal, Buddy Jewell, Bo Bice and many more at Nashville’s Tin Roof. Proceeds will benefit The Fisher House at Fort Campbell, Ky. and the Nashville Fire Department. Items being collected that night include new and used clothing, old cell phones, and personal hygiene products for Operation Stand Down Nashville. The Tin Roof will donate 10% of sales to the cause. Doors at 5:30 p.m., with a $5 donation, and military/emergency personnel admitted free.

• Alan Jackson will perform his now-classic song about the tragedy, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” at A Concert For Hope on Sept. 11. The event at Washington National Cathedral will also feature a speech by President Obama.

• Katie Armiger compiled a tribute video to mark the anniversary (embedded below). She explains, “The tragedy of 9-11 was the defining moment of my generation. I wanted to pay tribute and respect to the Responders, the Victims, their Families and the Soldiers that went to war because of these attacks. Thank you and God Bless you!!”

Curtis and Luckey sending cigars and CDs to troops.

• Curtis and Luckey are shipping copies of debut album The Hard Way, along with Palma Cigars to US military serving overseas.

• Singer and active-duty U.S. Marine Mike Corrado is raising awareness with his latest single and video, “Still In The Fight.” Corrado wrote the song to draw attention to the struggles of those wounded in combat, and tapped injured Marines for the video. Proceeds from the song benefit the USO’s Wounded Warrior Family Centers initiative.

• Mark Wayne Glasmire celebrates the safe return of a soldier in his newest single, “Going Home.” The track is from his upcoming self-titled EP, which was co-produced by Glasmire and John Albani (Steve Azar, Monty Holmes, Randy Boudreaux).

 

Mark Willis visits a soldier at Fort Hood.

• Mark Wills, the son of a Vietnam veteran, has made more than seven trips to entertain troops overseas, and continues a slew of recent stateside appearances. His new single “Crazy Being Home” is a tribute to military, and he also started CrazyBeingHome.com to foster support for America’s post-9/11 veterans.

• Eddie Money is giving all proceeds from new single “One More Soldier Coming Home” to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit organization which pays tribute to those who have sacrificed for the United States.

Michaels Launches InstiGator

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Gator Michaels

Longtime music industry executive Gator Michaels has opened full-service radio promotion company InstiGator Entertainment. “As I look to the future, I have decided to get back to what I do best,” he says. “Radio airplay is crucial for an artist’s career, and InstiGator will be the key to making that happen.”

Michaels’ extensive background includes a decade in country radio, followed by a long tenure in radio promotion. He spent eight years in the promo team at Warner Bros. Nashville, orchestrating hits for Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, The Eagles, Big & Rich, Kid Rock, The Wreckers and many more. Michaels began his promotion career working as an independent promoter with Young-Olsen & Associates. While VP of promotion for Dreamcatcher Entertainment, his success included driving Kenny Rogers’ single “Buy Me A Rose” to No. 1, the first for an independent country act in over 15 years.

Mallory Opheim

Mallory Opheim will join InstiGator Entertainment as promotion coordinator, with more staff announcements expected to follow.

Contact them at [email protected] and [email protected].

InstiGator Entertainment
205 Powell Place
Suite 215
Brentwood, TN 37027

Office: (615) 312-8284
Fax: (615) 312-8285
www.musicinstigator.com

Swift to Receive Symphony’s Harmony Award

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Taylor Swift will receive the Nashville Symphony’s 2011 Harmony Award during the Symphony Ball on Sat., Dec. 10 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The honor is bestowed on an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community.

“We are proud to call our home Music City, and Taylor Swift is the perfect person to receive this award, because she has contributed so tremendously to promoting this amazing community of which we are all a part,” says Nashville Symphony CEO and President Alan Valentine. “From classical to country to pop, a wide variety of genres of music thrive in Nashville, and Swift embodies the all-encompassing spirit that makes our city such a uniquely special place.”

Now in its 27th year, the Symphony Ball is Nashville’s premier winter social event and one of the Nashville Symphony’s two annual fundraisers. Since its inception in 1985, the ball has raised a total of more than $6.5 million for the Symphony. This year’s event is chaired by Laurie Eskind and Vicki Horne.

Past recipients of the prestigious Harmony Award include Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Mike & Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Chet Atkins, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Marty Stuart.

Signings: Odie Blackmon, Garret Noel, Coy Taylor

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MPR Entertainment Group subsidiary Root Forty-Nine Music has signed Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon to a multi-year publishing and songwriting agreement. “We could not be more excited to have Odie join us here at Root 49 Music,” says MPR COO Matthew Beckett. “He brings a talent and a reputation that is second to none. We look forward to a lasting and successful relationship.” Blackmon wrote Lee Ann Womack’s 2005 CMA Single of the Year and No. 1 “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” co-wrote George Strait’s “She’ll Leave You With A Smile,” and co-wrote Gary Allan’s “Nothing On But The Radio.” His songs have also been recorded by Martina McBride, Del McCoury, Tracy Lawrence and more. He recently released his instructional DVD The Craft of Writing Hit Songs and is a music lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

(L-R) Front: Root Forty-Nine creative director Mark Brown; Odie Blackmon; and MPR Entertainment Group president Carolyn Miller; Back: attorney Chip Petree; ASCAP’s Leann Phelan; and MPR Entertainment Group chief operating officer Matthew Beckett

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Actor/director Garret Noel and actress Terin Alba have signed with BMI for performance representation. Noel’s onscreen credits include Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and this summer’s Cowboys Vs. Aliens. As a director, he has finished a documentary called Desert Saints which will be released internationally. He also wrote and directed feature length drama Promised Land, which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Noel has been in Nashville working on post production and the soundtrack with BMI writer/associate producer Paul Reeves, who has been working with female lead Terin Alba on songs for the soundtrack.

(L-R) Seated: Jody Williams, BMI; Garret Noel; Standing: David Preston, BMI; Terin Alba; Paul Reeves

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Coy Taylor

Country artist Coy Taylor has signed with Flying Island Entertainment to promote his single “Fall For You” at country radio. The song was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with an all-star cast of session players and the accompanying video was shot by director Thien Phan. Since arriving in Nashville two years ago, Cincinnati native Taylor has worked with Brady Seals and Little Jimmie Dickens and opened shows for Jason Aldean, Mark Chesnutt, Craig Morgan and Joe Diffie.