Hirings at Webster PR, Fifth Third Bank

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Anita Mandell


Mandell, Felso Join Webster & Associates
Webster & Associates Public Relations & Marketing has hired veteran publicist Anita Mandell as Senior Dir. Media/Marketing, and added Montine Felso as publicist.
Mandell’s 20-year career in the music industry began at PLA Media working with Brooks & Dunn and more. Later she shifted to in-house publicity duties for Alan Jackson’s management team. By 1996 she joined Decca Records (subsidiary of MCA Nashville) handling publicity for Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt and Dolly Parton. Then Mandell enjoyed a seven-year tenure at Sony Music Nashville working with then Sony acts Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Gilman, Jack Ingram, Marty Stuart and Little Big Town.
Felso most recently lived in California and worked at the San Francisco Opera and at NBC Universal in Burbank, working on Days of our Lives and The Tonight Show. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Communications.
Anson Lewis Joins Fifth Third’s Music Division

Anson Lewis


Music Row banking specialist Anson Lewis has joined Fifth Third Bank as a Credit Manager. His expertise is in handling wealth management issues for artists, songwriters, producers, publishers and performing rights organizations, as well as others in the entertainment and professional sports industries.
Lewis comes to Fifth Third with 13 years of professional experience in banking, including five years exclusively overseeing underwriting and credit approval for the largest and most complex loan requests within SunTrust’s sports and entertainment group.
Fifth Third launched its music and entertainment division a year ago when it hired producer Will Byrd to lead the group.

Facebook Serves More Ads Than Any Other Website

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Facebook serves about twice as many advertisements as the next leading website according to the latest news from ComScore. In the last 15 months, Facebook served 1.37 trillion ads, more than double Yahoo, which pushed out 641.89 billion ads to come in second place.
ComScore reports that nearly 1.11 trillion display ads were delivered to U.S. Internet users during the first quarter of 2011. Facebook accounted for nearly one third of these. See the full ComScore report.
AdAge points out, “What really sets Facebook apart…is that it’s actually increased the amount of ads it’s serving per page over the past year while everybody else, from Yahoo and Google to AOL and Microsoft, has either leveled off the number of ads or stayed flat.” Facebook accounted for 346 billion impressions in Q1 2011, nearly double the number it delivered in Q1 2010. Read more and see graphs from AdAge here.
Facebook is also experimenting with new kinds of advertising. According to AdAge, users can now earn “credits” for watching video ads on the site. These ads are shown during games, or on the right-hand side of a very limited number of Facebook pages. The credits are a virtual currency used to buy virtual goods in many games and apps on the Facebook platform.
In more news from Facebook, Myspace Music users can now transfer content from their Myspace artist pages onto Facebook. It will show up on Facebook under a new “Music” tab. More here.

Craig Morgan's Hunting Show Returns To Outdoor Channel

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Craig Morgan’s hunting show has been renewed for a second season on the Outdoor Channel. The first season of Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors became one of the network’s top-rated Saturday morning hunting programs.
Season two will have 13 new episodes and is set to premiere June 25.
The reality show gives viewers an all-access pass to Morgan’s travels as he and his crew pursue the ultimate hunting adventures. Each week he is joined by fellow country music artists as well as professional athletes and motocross celebrities.
Viewers can catch Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors every Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on Outdoor Channel. Check local listings or log on to www.OutdoorChannel.com.

Jon Anthony Named WSIX PD

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Clear Channel Nashville has announced that Jon Anthony will become the new Program Director for Big 98 WSIX starting Monday, May 16. Anthony is currently Managing Partner and Program Director for Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Radio, and will continue this role going forward.
Prior to No Shoes Radio, Anthony served as VP Country Programming for Sirius/XM where he oversaw all of the sat-caster’s country channels. Before that he was Assistant PD/MD for Clear Channel’s WMZQ/Washington, DC.
“WSIX is one of our most important brands,” says Clear Channel Nashville OM Rich Davis. “Its heritage as the premier Country music station in the town where it all begins is legendary. Jon Anthony is the perfect person to lead us to even greater success. His country experience in terrestrial radio, satellite and online, in addition to his energy and passion is the perfect fit for where WSIX is headed.”
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to join such an amazing and talented team,” says Anthony. “WSIX has long been revered as one of America’s premier country radio stations and I look forward to continuing its iconic tradition and success.”

CMT Disaster Relief Concert Tonight

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[Updated 5/12: The concert will feature call to action messages from President Obama, Big Kenny, Carrie Underwood, Courteney Cox, Ellen Degeneres, University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, Nicole Kidman, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift and more.
MusicRow has the exclusive list of stars who will be manning the phone bank tonight, including Alabama, Ashton Shepherd, Big Kenny, Clay Walker, Clint Black, Crystal Bowersox, Danny Gokey, Darryl Worley, David Nail, Hank Williams, Jr., Hillary Williams, Holly Williams, Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, Randy Houser and Ricky Skaggs.
Alan Jackson will perform on the show and live stream it at AlanJackson.com.]




Robin Meade




••••
Robin Meade, CNN HLN anchor is set to co-host “Music Builds: The CMT Disaster Relief Concert.” The show will air live from the Grand Ole Opry House stage and Studio A on Thur., May 12, 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
HLN will re-broadcast the show in its entirety on Sun, May 15, 9 p.m. ET/8p.m. CT, to build additional awareness. Funds will benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief effort in the South and Red Cross and phone lines will also be open for HLN’s re-air on Sunday.
“When I anchor stories about the recent storms in the South, my mind isn’t on the statistics, or the footage, or the sound bites,” says Meade. “My thoughts are with that person who looks around and wonders, ‘what am I going to do now that everything is gone?’ I’m so touched by the resiliency of the storm victims, and the generosity of music fans and viewers to help these folks whose lives are now in disarray, and that’s what this telethon is going to be about, lifting up storm victims, letting them know, they’re not alone.”
Joining Meade as co-hosts will be ESPN’s Erin Andrews and comedian Ron White. Country artists scheduled to appear include Hank Williams Jr., Alabama, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw and Trace Adkins. All money raised will benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Highlighted regions affected by recent storm, tornado and flooding damage will include Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala.; Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss.; Vidalia, La.; Dyersburg and Tiptonville, Tenn.; and Raleigh, N.C.
Meade will also provide live reports from the Grand Ole Opry House and interviews with featured musicians on Thu and Fri for her popular HLN morning show, “Morning Express with Robin Meade” (6 a.m. – 12 noon, ET).
Information is as follows: Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts.

Shania TV Show Debuts With Solid Ratings

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Shania Twain has been making the media rounds supporting her new book From This Moment On, and her new show on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. She covers the new issue of People, appeared on Oprah, and was interviewed on Nightline.
The OWN original series Why Not? With Shania Twain, premiered Sunday, May 8 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, and debuted as the highest rated premiere to-date outside of the launch weekend for the network. The series ranked third in its timeslot in the key female demo among ad-supported cable networks.
Why Not? with Shania Twain moves to its regular time period Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT this week (May 15).

Pictured left: (L-R): Damon Moberly, Shania Twain, “Party Marty” Mitchell (WKMK/PD), Lexi Carter (WKMK APD/MD), and Sally Green at a book signing at the Barnes at the Noble in Princeton, NJ. Pictured right: Shania Twain stopped by the Premiere Radio studios in NY with (L-R): UMG’s Royce Risser, Premiere’s John Weber, Twain, UMG’s Katie Dean and Sandbox Management’s Jason Owen

Chet Atkins Exhibit Coming To Hall of Fame

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"The isolation, the poverty; that's what I came from. It's what makes you fight. It's what makes you work to develop your talent, if you have any, to get out. I picked my way out of East Tennessee." — Chet Atkins


The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is planning a cameo exhibition about revered musician and producer Chet Atkins. The Luttrell, Tennessee native, who died in 2001, made his mark as one of Nashville’s A-Team studio musicians, a performer, recording artist, producer and record executive.
“His signature guitar licks shaped recordings by scores of legendary artists, including the Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley and Kitty Wells, and his playing influenced future rock gods Duane Eddy, George Harrison, Mark Knopfler and many more,” explains Museum Director Kyle Young. “As a producer, Chet was an architect of the ‘Nashville Sound;’ he was also a brilliant record executive who signed and propelled a generation of country artists, including Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and Charley Pride, to fame.”
Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player opens in the Museum’s East Gallery on August 11, 2011, and runs through June 2012. Atkins was signed as a Gretsch signature guitar artist in 1954 and the upcoming exhibition is made possible by the Gretsch Company, with additional support by Great American Country Television Network.
Meanwhile, the Museum is preparing to dim the lights on Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music, Presented by Great American Country Television Network. In anticipation of the exhibit’s June 12 denouement, the Museum is offering a packed lineup of Wynette-themed programs including a series of film screenings and a special program starring Georgette Jones on Saturday, May 28.
In related news, the official Country Music Hall of Fame inductions will take place during the Medallion Ceremony on Sunday, May 22. The event is invitation-only, but the public is welcome to watch the red carpet.
Also, catch Rivers Rutherford at Saturday’s (5/14) Songwriter Sessions, and don’t forget the Cookin’ Out Country lunchtime series on Wednesdays in May. Details at CountryMusicHallofFame.com.

Hometowns Not Forgotten By Rising Stars

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Kimberly Perry hands out food to those affected by the tornado that hit her hometown.


Greeneville, Tennessee natives Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry (The Band Perry) visited their hometown earlier this week to help with tornado relief efforts. They joined the local Red Cross and the Greene County Disaster Relief/Donation Center to distribute food and supplies, offer solace, and express gratitude to the first responders and community volunteers.
• • • • •
The recent tornado also struck close to Chatom, Alabama, the hometown of Thompson Square’s Shawna Thompson. One of the hardest hit families in the area was the Box family of Deer Park, who lost three members. Thompson is auctioning off the dress she wore in the music video for the duo’s No. 1 hit, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” to benefit the family.
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Missouri native David Nail will headline a flood relief benefit concert in Sikeston, MO on May 27 to raise money for the thousands of residents in southeast Missouri.
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Fellow Missouri native Trent Tomlinson has recruited Uncle Kracker and Keith Anderson for a benefit concert in his hometown Kennett. Proceeds from the May 24 event will go to the Delta Children’s Home.
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Edens Edge (Hannah Blaylock, Cherrill Green and Dean Berner) returned home to Arkansas last week to perform and promote environmental awareness with stops in Fayetteville and Bentonville.

John Rich Makes "The Celebrity Apprentice" Final Four

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John Rich is one of the final four contestants on this season’s The Celebrity Apprentice. He is competing against rapper Lil Jon, actress Marlee Matlin, and actor/ singer Meatloaf for the win.
In the most recent episode (5/8), Rich recruited help from late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon, who donated $10,000 to Rich’s team. Also on Sunday’s night installment, Meat Loaf told Donald Trump that working with Rich has made him “want to be a better person.”
Rich is competing on the show to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
The season wraps with a two-part finale. Part one airs Sunday, May 15, with past winners including Piers Morgan, Joan Rivers and Bret Michaels returning to interview the remaining four. Trump will fire two contestants. The second part of the season finale airs May 22.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (5/10/11)

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You remember albums, don’t you?

They are collections of songs that ask you to experience several of a favorite performer’s thoughts of the moment. Mind you, there aren’t a whole lot of folks in Music City that you want to spend that much time with. But one of them most certainly is Emmylou Harris. So for album achievement, her Hard Bargain is a Disc of the Day.
Country music is, was and probably always will be centered on hit singles. With that in mind, hand a Disc of the Day to the fun, catchy “Take It Off” by the always listenable Joe Nichols.
I am happy to report that there are three brand-new faces in this stack of platters. One of them, Jason Jones, wins our DisCovery Award with “Ferris Wheel.”
RIDIN’ HIGH BAND/Go Crazy With My Heart
Writer: M. Jason Greene/Chris Cagle; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Anjelito/Do Write/Sony-ATV Tunes, BMI/ASCAP; Centennial Records of Texas (409-296-2953)
—There’s talent here: The lead vocalist has personality and the band plays well. My suggestion is that they hire someone to actually MIX the sound the next time they record.
DARIUS RUCKER/I Got Nothin’
Writer: Darius Rucker/Clay Mills; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publisher: Universal/Cadaja/MXC/Still Working for the Woman/EverGreen, ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
—Very cool. In a sea of happy-happy ditties, Darius puts out a defeated, dejected heartache song that captures loss beautifully. The steel playing and his soaring voice on the choruses are particularly gripping.
SHAWNA RUSSELL/Get Right Or Get Left
Writer: Shawna Russell/Keith Russell/Tim Russell; Producer: Julian King, Clif Doyal & Tim Russell; Publisher: Blue Buckaroo, BMI; Way Out West
—She’s a wailer. And this take-a-hike-buddy attitude is perfect for her rocking vocal chops.
ZAC BROWN BAND & JIMMY BUFFETT/Knee Deep
Writer: Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Coy Bowles/Jeffrey Steele; Producer: Keith Stegall & Zac Brown; Publisher: Weimerhound/Lil’ Dub/Angelika/Poppsolotamus/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ, BMI; Atlantic (track)
—As breezy as a ride on Buffett’s boat. It takes you straight to that wave-washed beach in your mind. In other words, pretty darn irresistible.
DEBORAH ALLEN/Anything Other Than Love
Writer: Deborah Allen/Gary Burr; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Delta Rock (615-476-4086)
—She’s singing as soulfully as ever. The song and production are straightforward and sturdy.
THE LUNABELLES/A Place To Shine
Writer: Natalie Hemby/Angela Lauer; Producer: Jeff Coplan; Publisher: Tiltawhirl/Carnival/Bluewater/Sophie Park/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; BNA
—It somehow manages to be both acoustic/rootsy and pop/crunchy simultaneously. The banjo licks, percussion thump and feathery femme harmonies are all ear catching. I’m in.
JASON JONES/Ferris Wheel
Writer: Kyle Jacobs/Josh Kelley/Rachel Thibodeau; Producer: Brett Beavers; Publisher: Curb/Jacobsong/Fortune Favors the Bold/Kohaw/Dudeski/Bicycle/Little Champion/Dream Rock, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
—The delicate instrumental track practically twinkles. His boyish tenor vocal matches the innocent-romance lyric perfectly. Dizzy and captivating.
JOE NICHOLS/Take It Off
Writer: Dallas Davidson/Ashley Gorley/Kelley Lovelace; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher/Songs of Southside Independent/External Combustion/Out of the Taperoom/EMI April/Didn’t Have to Be, BMI/ASCAP; Show Dog Unversal
—It’s not exactly life changing as a song. But this man’s superb voice can make even the trivial sound important. And the whole lovable thumping country thang is absolutely the Sound of Summer. I remain an enormous fan.
EMMYLOU HARRIS/Six White Cadillacs
Writer: Emmylou Harris/Will Jennings; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Poodlebone/Almo/Will Jennings/Irving, ASCAP; Nonesuch (track)
—Hypnotic. Electric guitars stutter and shuffle while percussion patters steadily behind her hushed, ghostly vocal delivery of a funeral lyric. This is the tune she chose to perform on Letterman to introduce her new Hard Bargain CD. But it could just as easily have been any of its other dozen shining gems. Jay Joyce’s minimalist sonic approach keeps you hanging on every line of this largely self-penned collection. Check out her moving odes to Gram Parsons (”The Road”) and the recently deceased Kate McGarrigle (”Darlin’ Kate”).
PHIL VASSAR/Let’s Get Together
Writer: Phil Vassar/Tony Mullins; Producer: Phil Vassar & Ross Copperman; Publisher: Phylvester/TMullins, ASCAP; Rodeowave
—Hey, everybody. There’s a party at Phil’s house, and we’re all invited.