R&J Adds To Radio Team

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Chris DeCarlo

R&J Records has tapped Chris DeCarlo to head southeast promotion duties for its roster which includes Aaron Lewis, Andy Gibson, Margaret Durante, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Lane and Alexa Carter.

DeCarlo brings over 20 years of music business experience to the role. Her career began with Pittsburgh radio heavyweights WDVE and WDSY, then moved to promotion stints at A&M and RCA Records. Most recently, DeCarlo has run a voiceover and production house, DeCarlo-Mitchell Productions.

“We are so excited to have Chris on our team here at R&J,” says National Head of Promotion Tim McFadden. “We looked long and hard to find a professional with Chris’ credentials. I have known her since her very successful radio days and have watched her strong career in promotion. Chris is exactly who we needed to take charge in the Southeast.”

DeCarlo joins Bill Catino, Jon Conlon (West Coast), Bill Heltemes (Midwest), David Shaw (Northeast) and coordinator Kelsey Lantrip on the label’s promotion team. R&J Records was launched in June by acclaimed producer and label executive James Stroud.

DeCarlo can be reached at (412) 398-1212 or [email protected].

Strong Ratings For CMA Fest Special

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Zac Brown Band and special guest Alan Jackson perform during "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Photo: Donn Jones / CMA


Last night’s (8/14) CMA Music Festival television special drew an average audience of 7 million viewers, about one million more fans than last year’s broadcast. CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock aired 8:00-11:00 p.m. on ABC. It came in second place most of the night, and moved into first place during the final hour. Leading the night was CBS with Big Brother and Same Name.
This was the CMA Music Festival special’s second largest audience in six years.
TV ratings aren’t the only indicator of a successful broadcast…stay tuned for news from Soundscan.
TV Ratings courtesy of Nielsen.

Dierks Bentley Announces Fall Tour

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Dierks Bentley is gearing up for the first leg of his Country & Cold Cans Tour, which launches Oct. 6 in Lacrosse, WI. Guests Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band will join Bentley for the 22 city run that ends Nov. 19 in Denver, CO.
Fan club members can begin purchasing tickets tomorrow at www.dierks.com, and the general public sale begins Friday, August 19. Full dates will be announced soon.
“It’s been a killer summer playing festivals all over the country and partying with the most die-hard country music fans out there,” says Bentley. “We’re going to crank up the ‘Country & Cold Cans’ tour in the Fall and keep it going. I can’t imagine that I’ll have to convince Jerrod or EYB to have a cold beer or two…they are always up for the party.”
Bentley is currently finishing his sixth album for Capitol Nashville, and its first single “Am I The Only One” is scaling the charts.

Yandell Joins CGP Elite

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(L-R) Steve Wariner, Merle Atkins Russell and Paul Yandell


During his lifetime Chet Atkins bestowed the title of Certified guitar Player on just four guitar pickers; Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, the late Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner. At a program Saturday marking the opening of the new Chet Atkins exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum®, Atkins’ daughter Merle asked Steve Wariner to help her continue the tradition and read a proclamation that officially conferred the last and final “c.g.p.” title on Paul Yandell, the master guitarist who had been Atkins’ bandleader and confidant for over 30 years.
“I was thrilled to be invited to help honor Paul like this,” said Wariner. “He’s an incredible player and a dear friend to me, as he was to Chet. What a cool class thing for Merle and the Atkins family to do. So completely right!”
Paul Yandell was an accomplished player by the time he left high school in western Kentucky, arriving in Nashville in 1955. He began his career with The Louvin Brothers, working with them until 1959 and playing on many of their greatest hits. After serving in the Army, Paul joined the Kitty Wells show, where he stayed from 1961-1970. He joined Jerry Reed in 1970, and as Paul says, he “went to college” learning from Jerry. Paul joined Chet Atkins in 1975 and supported Chet in his career for the next 25 years. In 2009, he performed at the ceremony during which Atkins was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Urban, Andersons Donate Habitat House

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Charlie and Moll Anderson, and Keith Urban present Regina Olum and her family with their new Habitat for Humanity home. Olum lives in the four-bedroom home with her son and her mother.


Keith Urban joined Moll and Charlie Anderson in Knoxville Friday (8/12), where they gave new meaning to the term “urban renewal” by presenting the keys to a new Habitat for Humanity home.
The house is the second of what will be 10 homes planned for “Music Row” in Knoxville. The houses are underwritten by the Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation from an annual benefit concert featuring a country music act. Urban performed at the fundraiser last fall that netted $250,000 for the cause.
The Andersons have confirmed longtime Habitat for Humanity supporter Reba McEntire as the entertainer for the private fundraiser in their home this year.
In lieu of a down payment, Habitat for Humanity homeowners are required to complete 500 hours of sweat equity, mostly in the form of budgeting and homeowner classes. In addition, the family pays a mortgage on the home at zero-percent interest over 25 to 30 years. The mortgage payments go back into building more simple, decent and affordable homes.
 

Vince Gill Celebrates Opry 20th Anniversary [video tribute]

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(L-R): Steve Buchanan, Pres. Grand Ole Opry Group, Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Pete Fisher, VP and GM Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo


Vince Gill was surrounded by family, loved ones and fellow artists as he celebrated his 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night (8/13). Among those joining Gill on stage throughout the show were wife Amy Grant, daughter Jenny Gill, Jimmy Dickens, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, and The Time Jumpers.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member opened the show before a sold-out crowd by performing “Gotta’ Travel On” in honor of Opry member Billy Grammer, who passed away this week. Gill played the 1959 hit on a Grammer Guitar he’d purchased just weeks ago.
He teamed with Harris on her hits “Two More Bottles of Wine” and “If I Needed You.” He joined McBride for her take on his first No. 1 single, “Take Your Memory With You,” and accompanied Grant on her song “True Love.” Jenny saluted her dad with a performance of his hit “If You Ever Have Forever In Mind.”
Gill spoke candidly with the audience, sharing that more than 20 years earlier he hadn’t been able to accept the Opry’s very first invitation to play the show because it conflicted with accompanying Jenny at her grade school talent show. “The friendships I’ve built here mean more to me than every song I’ve ever sung out here on this stage,” added Gill. “I wouldn’t know how to do [music] without this place.” Fittingly, he closed the evening by coming full-circle, with a performance of the first song he ever sang on the Opry, “When I Call Your Name.”
During the show the fans were treated to the following video salute.

Sugarland Forced To Cancel Date Following State Fair Tragedy

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Sugarland is dealing with the tragedy that occurred at the Indiana State Fair Saturday night (8/13). Just before the duo was scheduled to perform, high winds caused the stage to collapse, killing five people. [See previous report below].
The band, who is touring with opener Sara Bareilles, was forced to cancel its show the following night (8/14) at the Iowa State Fair. According to the Iowa Festival: “Aside from coping with the magnitude of the accident, the ongoing investigation prevents the band from getting what may remain of their stage equipment.”
In the wake of the disaster, Jennifer Nettles posted this statement on the band’s official website:

I am so moved. Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families. Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured. There are no words to process a moment of this magnitude and gravity. There are only prayers for peace in the hearts of the bereft, and prayers of thanksgiving for those who were spared or safe. A piece of our heart is left in that grandstand. May God provide peace and healing to the people of Indianapolis.
We wish to pass along our most sincere thanks for the messages of love, prayer, and support from our fan family. We’ll post any further updates here as they become available.

[Original post 8/14] Five people were killed and more than 40 others were injured Saturday (8/13) at the Indiana State Fair’s Sugarland concert. [Photos here.]
The stage collapsed during heavy rain and high winds before the start of the concert. The winds were estimated at between 60 and 70 mph.
“We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you’ll join us. They need your strength,” was Tweeted on Sugarland’s Twitter account after the accident. According to Sugarland reps, the band and its crew are safe.
A memorial service was scheduled for today (8/15) for those who died during the tragedy. The state fair was to re-open following the service.

Friday Artist News (8/12/11)

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CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airs at 8 pm ET this Sunday (8/14) on ABC. The two hour special features performances from country music’s biggest including Keith Urban, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band and many more. CMA will also feature a Tween ‘n’ Greet Sunday with members of the media and fans can follow along using #CMAfest on Twitter.
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Jamey Johnson is set to appear at Farm Aid 2011 in Kansas City tomorrow (8/13) along with concert founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. “Farm Aid is set up to look after the family farmer, the ones that actually take part in the same crops that they produce for other people,” he says. “They are not just growing food to send down the line; their family eats the same foods that they sell.” The Alabama-born singer is also writing and recording songs for the followup to his acclaimed album The Guitar Song.
• • •
Chris Young’s star is quickly rising, and GAC will document his journey when it airs Origins: Chris Young on Sunday, August 21. Fans will get to hear from Young’s favorite teacher, his parents, his best friend, fan club president, and his reps in the music industry, as well as be treated to five acoustic performances. The performer just released his third album Neon, which features his No. 1 hit “Tomorrow”
• • •
Country artist and U.S. Military Veteran Keni Thomas will be able to add author to his resume on October 1, when B&H Publishing releases his book Get It On! What It Means To Lead The Way. A personal account of his experience in the 1993 Black Hawk Down battle in Somalia, Get It On! also details a set of leadership lessons learned in the line of duty. Thomas will share his message of leadership along fellow U.S. Army rangers Danny McKnight, Charlie Manis and Howard Mullen Jr. as part of the Black Hawk Down Tour running Sept. 27 – Oct. 7. Details on his website.
• • •
Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke will make its debut on the Grand Ole Opry September 13, where they will join a who’s who of country legends in an important rite of passage. “To quote Minnie Pearl, we are ‘tickled’ to do it and hope we make Hank proud,” says lead singer, Charlie Starr. The Atlanta-based band is currently opening shows on Zac Brown Band’s summer tour and is recording its third studio album for Southern Ground Artists.

Photos: Bryan, Brett, Bundy

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Luke Bryan made an appearance on the Today Show earlier this morning to perform his hit single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and promote his new album, tailgates & tanlines. Fans can also catch him on Sunday’s ABC CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock television special.

(L-R): Bryan, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb. Photo Credit: Naomi Heilmann.


• • • •
Atlantic Records’ artist Brett Eldredge could not resist showing his appreciation to Brad Paisley for having him on this summer’s H2O II: Wetter & Wilder tour with a good old fashioned prank. At a recent show in Columbus, OH, Eldredge had Paisley’s Chevy Corvette moved, and parked a yellow, child-sized Camaro donning a “Paisley” license plate in its place. Much to Paisley’s surprise, when he came off the bus to jump in his wheels, he found the toy car. Known for his onstage pranks, Paisley congratulated Eldredge with a handshake on a job well done.
• • • •
Laura Bell Bundy, who appears with Ricky Schroder in CMT’s first original television movie To The Mat airing Aug 17, stopped by CMT this week to chat with host Evan Farmer. Her interview, along with Ronnie Dunn, appears in this week’s CMT Top 20 Countdown.

Evan Farmer and Laura Bell Bundy

 

Combustion Promotes Chris Van Belkom

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Chris Van Belkom


Combustion Music announces the promotion of Chris Van Belkom to VP. Van Belkom formerly served as Sr. Creative Director and has been with Combustion since 2004. Working directly with company President, Chris Farren, Van Belkom will oversee all aspects of the creative department and manage the writing staff, which includes songwriters Ashley Gorley, Brett James, Blair Daly and Matthew West.
“Chris has been a trusted and integral part of Combustion’s growth and success over the past 6 years,” says Farren.  “I couldn’t be happier about this partnership and know that he will continue to bring exceptional instincts, leadership and musicality to the Combustion team.”
Combustion Music is an independent publishing and production company which opened its doors in 2002.  They have represented the catalogs of: Ashely Gorley, Kings of Leon, Brett James, Blair Daly, Gordie Sampson, Matthew West, Drew Ramsey, and many others. Van Belkom can continue to be reached at 515-5490.