Shaw Produces Debut From Newswoman Robin Meade

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Victoria Shaw helmed production for a new pop/country album by CNN HLN anchor Robin Meade. The singer debuted songs from the project on Monday night (3/28) at New York City’s legendary Birdland club.
Shaw, who also produced Lady Antebellum’s debut album, joined Meade onstage for the event, bringing along fellow Nashville tunesmith Gary Burr.
For the finale, Meade recruited famous pals Joy Behar (The View) and Jane Velez-Mitchell (HLN) to join her onstage for her take on the Don Henley hit “Dirty Laundry.” The cover will be on her album, hitting Target stores in June.

Meade, Shaw, Velez-Mitchell and Behar onstage at NYC's Birdland Club. Photo credit: Derek Storm

Woods Retires, Magill To Head Sony Business Dept.

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(L-R): Kathy Woods, Angie Magill


Angie Magill has been promoted to Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs for Sony Music Nashville, where she will head the department.
This news comes following the retirement of 15-year label executive Kathy Woods, whose last day as Sr. VP at the company is today.
“Kathy has been an invaluable member of this company for the past 15 years,” says Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton. “Her enduring grace and the immeasurable respect she has earned, both among her colleagues and friends here as well as throughout the industry, may well be the truest reflection of how much she’ll be missed. We wish her much happiness in her retirement.”
In welcoming Magill to her new role, Overton praised, “Angie has very much earned this opportunity, and I have every confidence that she will lead the department with the integrity, wit, acumen, and dedication for which she has become so well known.”

Garth Brooks Salutes Late Journalist Rineke Van Beek

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Former CMA President Ed Benson and Dierks Bentley present the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award to Rineke van Beek in 2005. Photo: Dan Harr


Longtime Dutch country music journalist Rineke Van Beek passed away last month following a lengthy battle with cancer. During her 30-year career, she worked for Country Gazette in Holland, which was the recipient of the CMA’s award for international journalism. Following the closure of Country Gazette, Van Beek worked with Nashville FM.
Among the many fans of her work is superstar artist Garth Brooks. “Rineke was a true flag-bearer for country music around the world,” he says. “Country music is basically ‘American’ to everyone outside the U.S., but thank God, Rineke saw beyond the borders we build and saw the music for what it was…the voice of the common man. Country music is less today because one of its greatest fans is gone. Miss Van Beek’s family has all of our thoughts and prayers, love, and respect.”

Swift's Worldwide Sales Pass 20 Million

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Taylor Swift onstage in the UK.


Taylor Swift’s worldwide album sales total has passed the 20 million mark. This includes her three Big Machine Records studio albums, plus a holiday collection and a Walmart exclusive. In addition, Swift has sold over 33 million paid song downloads, making her the top-selling digital artist in history.
Next the star heads to Sunday night’s (4/3) ACM Awards in Las Vegas, where she is nominated in four categories including the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year. Earlier this week, the Academy of Country Music announced that she will receive their Jim Reeves International Award for her “outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.”
Swift wrapped the international portion of her Speak Now World Tour 2011 last night (3/30) with a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena. Executives from Big Machine and Universal Music International were on hand to present her with a plaque commemorating the 20 million milestone.
She launched the overseas leg February 9 in Singapore. The North American portion of the tour kicks off May 27 with two sold-out shows at Omaha’s Qwest Center, and wraps with two shows at Madison Square Garden just before Thanksgiving. By the time the tour closes, she will have headlined 97 shows.

Big Machine Records and Universal Music International executives presented Taylor Swift with a plaque commemorating 20 million album sales at a backstage event at the O2. (L-R): Kate Farmer, SVP Universal Music Group International; Scott Borchetta, CEO/Pres. Big Machine Label Group; Max Hole, CEO Universal Music Group International; Taylor Swift; David Joseph, Chairman & CEO Universal Music UK; Jason Iley, Pres. Mercury Records UK

Lori McKenna Shares New Music In Nashville

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Pictured at Lori McKenna's listening party are (l-r): BMI’s Beth Laird; McKenna’s producer and co-writer Barry Dean; BMI’s Jody Williams; Lori McKenna; and Universal Music Publishing’s Pat Higdon, Whitney Williams, and Cyndi Forman. Photo by Steve Lowry


Lori McKenna debuted music from her latest album Lorraine in Nashville this week. The Massachusetts based songwriter has been in Music City for a listening party, and Tin Pan South performance.
BMI and Universal Music Publishing partnered to celebrate the release on Tuesday, March 29 at Sambuca. McKenna delivered an acoustic performance of her intricately crafted story songs.
Later that night she offered songs from the new project at the Bluebird Cafe, in a stellar round with her producer and fellow songwriter Barry Dean, and hit tunesmiths Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird. Among the new songs she played were “Buy This Town,” a testament to her marriage and her hometown Stoughton, and “Still Down Here” about the glories of heaven, and loved ones who remain on earth.
On her sixth album, McKenna continues what she does best, illuminating and examining everyday life and ordinary circumstances, offering poignant insights about love and family. The album’s title, Lorraine, is actually McKenna’s first name. She was named after her mother who died at roughly the same age Lori is now.
Artists Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Mandy Moore have recorded her songs for their own albums.

The Consortium Inks Billy Joe Walker, Jr.

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Renowned producer, musician, artist and songwriter Billy Joe Walker, Jr. has signed with The Consortium Group for exclusive worldwide representation. He is currently working on projects with singer/songwriters Shelley Skidmore and Drew Smith as well as composer Mike Post. His guitar skills are also featured on upcoming music from Joe Nichols as well as a tribute to session drummer Hal Blaine.
“Billy Joe Walker Jr.’s multi-faceted career and talent are legendary…..his passion is contagious,” says Consortium partner Mike Martinovich. “We are excited and honored to be an integral part of Billy’s future.”
Walker’s musical journey includes production work for Bryan White, Travis Tritt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Pam Tillis, Tracy Byrd, Collin Raye and more. As a session guitarist, he has worked on recordings with a who’s who of artists and producers including The Beach Boys, Mutt Lange, Ray Charles, Sir George Martin, Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Rodney Crowell and George Strait. He also released a series of jazz instrumental albums as a solo artist for labels including MCA, Geffen and Liberty Records.

The Consortium Group made its announcement of representation of Billy Joe Walker, Jr. at a recent invitation only Music Row showcase. Pictured (L-R): Mike Martinovich, Mike Post, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Bryan White and Al Schultz. Photo credit: Sharon Eaves

T.J. Martell Honors Gala Raises $370,000

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Pictured (L-R): Joe Don Rooney, John Elway, Dr. Jonathan Gitlin, Gary Levox, Dr. Jeff Balser, Jay DeMarcus, and Kix Brooks


The T.J. Martell Foundation hosted its third annual Honors Gala on March 28 at the Hutton Hotel. The sold-out event drew 420 guests for dinner, awards presentation, live auction and entertainment by Tommy Shaw, Lorrie Morgan and Committed. The event raised $370,000 to fund innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.
Awards presented during the event included the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award to Rascal Flatts, Lifetime Humanitarian Award to K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr., Spirit of Nashville Award to Mayor Karl Dean and Lifetime Medical Achievement Award to Dr. William Schaffner.
Among those on hand to present the evening’s honors were John Elway, Kix Brooks, Dr. Jonathan Gitlin, Gov. Bill Haslam, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Judge Randall Wyatt Jr., John Seigenthaler, Dr. Julie Gerberding and actress Mary Ann Wells.

(L-R): Kitty Moon Emery, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Mayor Dean’s wife Anne Davis, Mayor Karl Dean, TJ Martell executive director Laura Heatherly, former Gov. Phil Bredesen

 

Zac Brown Fears No Endeavor

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Brown on the new show for the Outdoor Channel.


Zac Brown’s bag of tricks seems bottomless. The superstar-on-the-rise is adding a TV show to his ever-growing repertoire. Fear No Evil will begin airing next month on the Outdoor Channel, following Brown and outdoorsman co-host Chris Brackett through adventures in the woods, including one of the first episodes where they refuse to let a North Dakota snow storm deter their hunting plans.
Brown is executive producing the show through his Georgia-based production company Southern Reel. Directing the series is Darren Doane.
In recent years Brown has written a cookbook, launched his own Southern Ground Records imprint, debuted his namesake sauces and seasonings, started a leather and knife line, and started a Music and Food Festival at Clemson University. Oh yeah, and then there’s his music career, where he’ll be co-headlining stadium dates this summer with Kenny Chesney.


Soundscan: Sugarland Gets Upswing

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• Sugarland gets a sales boost
• Country absent from this week’s all-genre Top 25
• Country album sales down 12.5% YTD
• All-genre and country digital album sales up 13% YTD

Sugarland performs on "American Idol."


Sugarland’s performance of “Stuck Like Glue” on American Idol last week translated into a nice sales bump for the duo. Downloads of the track jumped 89% (16K) over last week, and album sales grew 24% (2000 units).
Meanwhile, UMG Nashville labelmate Josh Kelley is trying to gain traction with his country debut, which entered the chart this week with sales of 6000+ units. The lead single/title track “Georgia Clay” saw a 73% increase over last week, and has sold 9000+ downloads RTD.
The all-genre Top 200 saw a big 38.5% boost (1.741 million units) over last week, thanks to tons of new product. Unfortunately none of those releases were from the country camp, which isn’t represented anywhere in the chart’s Top 25. Jason Aldean, No. 1 on the Country Album Chart, comes in at No. 26 on the Top 200 with 19,000+ units this week.
On the Top 200, seven of the top 10 albums are debuts, including Chris Brown entering at No. 1 with 270,000 units, followed by Jennifer Hudson at No. 2 with 165,000.
All-genre album sales are down 5% compared to last year, while country album sales are in the hole 12.5%. Digital album sales—country and overall— are up about 13% YTD.

Songwriter Harley Allen Passes [Updated]

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Harley Allen


Harley Allen Service Scheduled
 
Respected songwriter Harley Allen succumbed to cancer early this morning, Wednesday, March 30, 2011. Known as a country traditionalist, Allen is credited with hits including Blake Shelton’s “The Baby,” Joe Nichols’ “I’ll Wait For You,” and Darryl Worley’s “Awful, Beautiful Life.” He was 55.
Allen, a songwriter at Harlan Howard Songs, has also had numerous cuts by Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Garth Brooks, Josh Turner and more.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, he was the son of bluegrass singer Red Allen, and followed in his father’s musical footsteps at an early age.
Allen’s work often came from a unique perspective, such as the compelling story song, “The Little Girl,” a No. 1 hit recorded by John Michael Montgomery, that Allen wrote alone in a matter of minutes.
Former publisher Jewel Coburn describes him as an “unbelievably prolific writer” with a heart as big as his song catalog. Jewel and Barry Coburn were early supporters of the burgeoning songwriter, first signing him to their Ten Ten Music more than 20 years ago.
They say he was a wonderful talent, whose music was always full of surprises. Aided by a sense of humor, his impact on the local music community was far reaching.
Allen had been battling lung cancer for a short time and was released from the hospital yesterday. He passed peacefully at home with his family by his side.
He is survived by wife Debbie Nims, son Aaron, and daughters Katie and Maggie.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 6 at 2 PM at Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37211.

Harley Allen was among the songwriters who teamed up for a 2009 benefit concert to help a friend in the music industry in her own battle with cancer. Pictured at the Bluebird Cafe at a benefit for longtime Warner Music Group employee Gina Hilburn, from left: Patrick Davis, Hilburn, Allen, Lisa Carver and Marv Green.


 

Tommy Boyd, Greg, Neal, Harley, Ronnie, and Red