John Rich Eyes Win on "The Celebrity Apprentice"

/by

John Rich has made it to the final two contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice, and many observers say he is headed for the win. With perfectly orchestrated timing, he also has two new music releases out today (5/17), and a slew of promotional TV appearances this week. As the show’s season comes to an end, he will be visiting The View, the Today show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight.
The Celebrity Apprentice season finale airs Sun., May 22 on NBC, where Rich is competing against actress Marlee Matlin. The show pits celebs against each other to raise money for charity and Rich is working on behalf of St. Jude.
One of his new Six Pak albums also supports the research hospital. For The Kids pays tribute to the families and friends of St. Jude with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the cause.
Warner Bros. Records is also releasing the more commercial Six Pak, Rich Rocks, featuring lead single “Country Done Come To Town.” Guests on the offering include Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr. and Lil Jon.
Rich has also re-teamed with former Big & Rich bandmate Big Kenny for a tour and new single, “Fake ID.”

Benefit News: Bama Rising Details Coming Today

/by

Bama Rising
Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama are expected to announce the details of BAMA Rising today (5/17), a benefit concert for Alabama tornado recovery to be presented by Verizon.
Team Rio
Diamond Rio’s Team Rio raised $110,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters by running in the recent Country Music Marathon. Bandmates Jimmy Olander, Marty Roe and Gene Johnson presented a check to the charity at the 7th Annual Team Rio Finish Line Party. Team Rio 2011 had over 120 adult runners and 80 Team Rio Kids participants from several local schools. Olander accomplished his goal of finishing the half marathon in less than two hours.

(L-R): Lisbeth Couser of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Renee Behrman-Greiman of Modern Management, and Jimmy Olander and Marty Roe of Diamond Rio present a check for $110,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.


Celeb Softball
The City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge annually marks the unofficial kick-off of CMA Music Festival. This year Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Brett Eldredge, Chuck Wicks, Jake Owen, James Wesley, Josh Gracin and Point of Grace are set to take the field on Saturday, June 11, at 9 a.m. at Greer Stadium in Nashville. For the first time in the game’s history, two City of Hope supporters will hang out in the dugout (visit www.cityofhope.org/connected to enter). The Celebrity Softball Challenge has raised more than $2 million for City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education institution for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
Jars of Clay Benefit Concert
Blood: Water Mission—the organization that began as the vision of Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine to impact Africa with safe water in the fight against HIV/Aids—had reason to celebrate recently in Nashville. A concert at the Ryman called the “Well: Done Celebration” was held in honor of the successful completion of the ‘1000 Wells Project’ to provide fresh water wells to 600,000 people. The event raised over $100,000 and brought praises from Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam who was on hand for the celebration.

Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine joins in the 'Well: Done Celebration' with (L-R) Rich Hoops, Chairman of the Board of Blood: Water Mission; BWM Director Jena Nardella; Haseltine; Governor & Mrs. Bill Haslam; Mike Hamilton, Althletic Director at the University of Tennessee and BWM Board member.

Josh Turner Surprises Scotty McCreery Onstage

/by

Scotty McCreery and MCA's Josh Turner


American Idol hopeful Scotty McCreery got the surprise of a lifetime when he performed in his hometown of Garner, NC on Saturday (5/14).
As he was starting into Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” which has become one of his signature songs from the season, Turner himself appeared onstage and shocked the young singer. The two performed Turner’s “Your Man” and “Long Black Train” together.
“I think he was surprised,” laughs Turner. “He didn’t see me until we were almost face-to-face. I think I almost gave him a heart attack.”
• • • • •
In other Idol news, recently ousted James Durbin returned to his hometown of Santa Cruz, CA for a special celebration that included a procession with the Santa Cruz High School marching band and a performance with his friends The White Album Ensemble. Traditionally only the final three Idol contestants get to make the trips home, but the show reportedly made an exception in Durbin’s case.
 

Tube Time: Music Videos and TV Visits

/by

Jerrod Niemann Visits Hazel Smith
Jerrod Niemann recently paid a call on the always fabulous Hazel Smith for a little fun in the kitchen on her CMT show, Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith. Niemann’s next single, “One More Drinkin’ Song,” will be out soon.

Pictured (L-R): Smith, Niemann. Photo credit: Jimmy Corn


The Roys on RFD-TV
Bluegrass brother/sister duo The Roys recently brought their down home sense of fun and unique sibling harmonies to the RFD-TV show Larry’s Country Diner.

(L-R): Clint White, LCD's Renae Johnson, Lee Kaufmann, Elaine Roy, Tom D'Angelo, LCD's Nadine, Lee Roy, Chad Jeremy and host Larry Black. Photo credit: J. Westby


Amber Hayes Shoots Video In LA
Amber Hayes debuted the music video for her single, “Wait,” Friday (5/13) exclusively on Yallwire.com. Shot and directed by award-winning producer/director Steven Goldmann (Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson), Hayes traveled to Los Angeles to film the video in Simi Valley.

(L-R): actor Spencer Lee, Amber Hayes, director Steven Goldmann, and stylist Jamie Ford


Jacob Lyda On Location of Debut Video
Jacob Lyda recently spent two days taping the video for his debut single, “I’m Doing Alright,” on location in Springfield, TN and Nashville. Directed by Mitchell Stuart of HQ Productions, the video is scheduled for release in the coming weeks.

Pictured (L-R): Davis Music Group GM Gator Michaels, Jacob Lyda, and Director Mitchell Stuart



LBT Heads To Craig Ferguson
Little Big Town will perform current single “The Reason Why” on CBS’ The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Wednesday, May 18 at 12:35/11:35pm CST. The band will continue on the road with Sugarland until the end of this month and then begin touring in support of their critically-acclaimed album The Reason Why.
 
 

Lady A's "Just A Kiss" Enters Record Books

/by

The lead track from Lady Antebellum’s upcoming new album has just gone into the record books.
“Just A Kiss” debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the highest debut by a country group in the chart’s 52-year history. The single also sold over 211,000 downloads in its first week earning it the top position on the iTunes country singles chart.
Driving the excitement was the song’s unprecedented radio acceptance making the track the trio’s highest charting radio single debut to date and fastest gainer, earning Top 20 status in only two weeks.
Lady A’s appearance on American Idol set in motion a wave of fan discussion along social networks reflected in all the above sales and airplay statistics. And it has been announced recently that they will appear on the 2011 Billboard Music Awards which air live from Las Vegas on May 22.
The new album, scheduled for release later this year, follow’s Lady A’s Need You Now, which has sold over 5 million units worldwide.
 

Chambers Wins ISC Grand Prize

/by

Kasey Chambers


Australian native Kasey Chambers has been awarded the 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Grand Prize for her song “Beautiful Mess” entered in the Folk/Singer-songwriter category. Chambers also won first place in the Americana Category for “Devil On Your Back” and Second Place in the Performance Category for “Little Bird.” Chambers wins $25,000 in cash and $20,000 in merchandise and services for her Grand Prize award.
Winners were selected from over 15,000 songs by judges who included Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, Jeff Beck, Robbie Williams, McCoy Tyner, Kelly Clarkson, Train, Michael W. Smith, Robert Smith (The Cure), Wynonna, plus five record label presidents.
Candace Avery, the Founder and Director of ISC, says this of Chambers, “Kasey is that rare artist whose beautifully crafted songs cross over into such a wide variety of genres, including Country, Americana, Pop, Folk, and AAA. She has even put out an album of children’s music. But, it is the authenticity and sincerity of her music and lyrics that make her songs resonate so strongly with her fans – and also with the ISC judges. We are proud to have her as the 2010 ISC Grand Prize winner.”
To sample some of the winning songs and see a complete list of winners click here.

Laura Heatherly Promoted To CEO of TJ Martell Foundation

/by




Laura Heatherly




Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the T.J. Martell Foundation Southern Region, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the nationwide organization. Heatherly, who has been with the Martell Foundation for over seven years, has a background that includes twenty-five years of experience in non-profit fundraising.
“We are very fortunate to have someone from within our ranks who is qualified for this position,” explained Founder and Chairman Tony Martell. “Laura has done a phenomenal job for us in Nashville and other parts of the south. I am sure she will do an equally fine job on a national level. Laura will take the place of Peter Quinn, who will be retiring early next year. Peter did an outstanding job as CEO of the Foundation, and we’re going to miss him.”
Prior to the non-profit sector, Heatherly followed a sports marketing path with companies such as Texas Rangers Baseball, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. “I am honored to have this wonderful opportunity with such a fine organization that focuses on the mission of funding innovative research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS,” said Heatherly. “My immediate focus is to cultivate new relationships with corporate America and create new out-of-the-box ideas that will combine the music, medical and business communities with our fundraising initiatives.”
The T. J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation funds eleven top research hospitals in the United States and has raised more than $250 million since its inception in 1975.
The Foundation currently has offices in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles, and raises funds through special events, private and corporate contributions. Laura Heatherly can be reached at (615) 256-2002 or email Lheatherly@tjmartellfoundation.org.
www.tjmartellfoundation.org

Mike Carpenter Named Cumulus Nashville GM

/by

Mike Carpenter


Radio veteran Mike Carpenter will take the helm as General Manager of Cumulus Radio’s Nashville stations on May 23. With over two decades of radio experience, Carpenter makes the move from Clear Channel where he served as General Sales Manager for many years.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity and the challenges that lie ahead,” states Carpenter. “I look forward to working with this incredibly talented staff and making our stations No. 1 in the market.”
Carpenter replaces the exiting Senior Vice President Mark Sullivan, who is transferring to Kansas City take over the General Manager and Mid-West Market Manager duties.
Cumulus Nashville is a radio conglomerate consisting of five stations: SuperTalk 99.7 (WTN), 92Q (WQQK), 95.5-FM WSM, Classic Hits 97.1 (WRQQ) and i106 (WNFN).

Industry Pics

/by

Music City Walk of Fame Inductions
Bill Anderson and Keith Urban are the newest inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar. The honorees were recognized at a public ceremony yesterday (5/15) where commemorative sidewalk markers were unveiled in Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville on Demonbreun St. between 4th and 5th Aves. S. This induction brings the total number of stars along the Walk of Fame to 50.

Bill Anderson (L) and Keith Urban (R) were inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame yesterday (5/15). Photo: Alan Mayor


RCA Studio B Honored
RCA Studio B was given the “Commissioner’s Award” by the Metro Historical Commission in a ceremony at the downtown Nashville Public Library on May 11. Linda and Mike Curb accepted the award from Commission member Don Cusic on behalf of the Mike Curb Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb College at Belmont University.

Pictured (L-R): Don Cusic, Mayor Karl Dean, Mike and Linda Curb, and Tim Walker, Executive Director of the Metro Historical Commission


Chicken Soup for the Country Music Soul
Writer Randy Rudder interviewed the songwriters of 101 classic country songs for his new book Chicken Soup for the Soul / Country Music edition. ASCAP recently hosted a party to celebrate the release which includes the stories behind “Green, Green, Grass of Home,” “Delta Dawn,” “Long, Black Train,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “The House That Built Me.”

Standing (L-R): songwriters Dickey Lee, Archie Jordan, Jeff Black, author Randy Rudder, Pat McManus, and Jim Janosky. Seated (L-R): Jamie Teachenor, Joie Scott, Rory Feek, Rand Bishop and Tia Sillers. Photo: Alan Mayor

Triple 8 Management Expands

/by

There has been recent expansion at Triple 8 Management, which handles the careers of Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Joe Nichols, and Kevin Fowler.
Owner George Couri announced today (5/16) the addition of two employees as well as several in-house promotions, for a total of eight full-time team members.
Jenn Poppe has joined the company as Day-to-Day Manager for Eli Young Band and Joe Nichols. Poppe previously enjoyed an eight-year stint at GHM/Red Light Management where she worked with artists such as Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, and The Warren Brothers. Reach her at jennpoppe@triple8mgmt.com.
Karen McGuire has been hired as Director of Radio Promotions. Her experience is in regional radio promotions, most recently with Universal South, and previously with Curb Records for 16 years. She can be contacted at karen@triple8mgmt.com.
Promotions include Larry Murray rising to lead the New Media and Tour Marketing department. He will be supported by Jenn Adams who has been in that department since 2009.
Other staffers include Sarah Blincoe, Day-to-Day-Manager for Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler; Merchandising head Kelly Vermillion; and Office Coordinator Haley Elander.
Triple 8 can be reached at (512) 444-7600 or www.triple8mgmt.com.