House Foundation Signs Off Tomorrow

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Faith Hill and Tim McGraw bid adieu to the House Foundation.

Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Gerry House ends his venerable show, “The House Foundation,” tomorrow (12/15). During its 22 years on-air, the program on Clear Channel’s WSIX has become a Nashville institution. “The House Foundation” has been counting down the 12 Days of Christmas in celebration, featuring tons of celebrity guests leading up to tomorrow’s final sign-off on the twelfth day. Send well-wishes and see all the stars who have stopped by to visit House here, including Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Rascal Flatts.

Current “House Foundation” members include Mike Bohan, Richard Falklen and Katie Bright, though many others have been involved through the years.

House’s 30-year career has lead to four CMA Awards, seven ACMs, eight Billboard Awards, and being the only country DJ in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Nashvillians Score Golden Globe Nods

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Two songs written by Nashville songwriters and with ties to the Sony Music Nashville label group earned Golden Globe nods this morning (12/14) for Best Original Song—Motion Picture.

One nominee is “Coming Home,” performed by Gwyneth Paltrow for the Country Strong soundtrack and written by Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, and Troy Verges.

Also nominated in the category is “There’s A Place For Us,” performed and co-written by Carrie Underwood, with David Hodges and Hillary Lindsey for the soundtrack to Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.

The 68th Annual Golden Globe® Awards will air live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, January 16, 2011 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. (EST) on NBC.

Other Best Original Song nominees are from Burlesque “You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me” (Diane Warren) and “Bound To You” (Samuel Dixon, Christina Aguilera, Sia Furler); and from Tangled “I See The Light” (Alan Menken, Glenn Slater).

Lady A, Corbin and Brice Lead Recent Lists

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Lady Antebellum will close out a huge 2010 atop several of Billboard’s year-end charts. The Capitol trio earned the No. 1 spot on the Top Country Album Artists chart, the Top Country Albums chart for Need You Now, the Hot Country Songs Artists recap, the Country Digital Songs list with “Need You Now” and overall Top Country Artists.

Easton Corbin was named Top New Country Artist of the Year in Billboard’s year-end charts, followed by The Band Perry and Lee Brice. Top Country Male honors go to Jason Aldean and the Top Female Country artist is Taylor Swift.

Brice’s record-breaking “Love Like Crazy,” which spent 56 weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart, ended up as the most heard song of 2010 in the Hot Country Songs recap. He is followed by Luke Bryan’s “Rain Is A Good Thing” and Josh Turner’s “Why Don’t We Just Dance.”

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According to a Harris Interactive survey commissioned by Reader’s Digest, American mayors picked two songs with optimistic messages more than any other to describe their mindsets. Getting the highest percentage of votes with 47% was Easton Corbin’s “Roll With It.” In second place with 41% of the vote was Eminem’s “Not Afraid.”

The survey included mayors of 200 cities with populations of 30,000 or more. In addition to questions on economic issues, participants were presented with four song choices and asked which best captured their current attitudes. Rounding out the choices were Maroon 5’s “Misery” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”

Garth Concert Update

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On Thursday, Dec. 16 Garth Brooks will open his string of shows in Nashville to benefit flood relief. He has announced plans for a press conference at 3 PM on Thursday to discuss the event which sold out in record breaking time. Brooks will talk to reporters at the Bridgestone Arena, which will host the nine shows.

Brooks has partnered with the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program and is asking fans to bring a new, unwrapped toy to his concerts in Nashville. The gifts for children in need will be collected upon entry and will be distributed throughout Middle Tennessee.

Among Brooks’ guests will be performers Trisha Yearwood and songwriter Karyn Rochelle. Rochelle has penned hits including “Georgia Rain” and “This Is Me You’re Talking To” (Yearwood); “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder,” and “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” (Kellie Pickler); and “A Table Away” (Sunny Sweeney).

For concert arrival times see the box below. For a recap on parking, click here.

Joe Nichols “Greatest Hits” In The Works

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Joe Nichols is planning the January 25, 2011 release of a greatest hits package on Show Dog-Universal. The set dates back to his early career hits such as “Brokenheartsville,” and goes through his newest single, “The Shape I’m In.” Also, the album will include his recent major hit “Gimmie That Girl,” which spent multiple weeks at No. 1, ending 2010 as one of the year’s most played songs.

Nichols will wrap touring in December and take a short break for the holidays before gearing back up in 2011, when he will be busy promoting the Greatest Hits release.

Track Listing
Gimmie That Girl
The Shape I’m In
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
Brokenheartsville
Size Matters
The Impossible
What’s A Guy Gotta Do
It Ain’t No Crime
Cool To Be A Fool
I’ll Wait For You

George Jones At The Ryman; Little Jimmy Dickens Turns 90

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George Jones

George Jones will perform at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium next year. The show is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster.com, Ryman.com, and the Ryman box office. Tickets prices are $49.50 / $39.50 / $29.50.

More upcoming shows at the Ryman:
Amy Grant and Vince Gill • Dec 21 and Dec 22
Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith • Feb 22, 2011
A Prairie Home Companion • Mar 26, 2011
Amos Lee with The Secret Sisters • April 8, 2011
Always…Patsy Cline • Jun 17 – Jul 24, 2011

••••••

Little Jimmy Dickens

Little Jimmy Dickens will celebrate his 90th birthday with an invitation-only party on Saturday, December 18.

The performer and Grand Ole Opry star will greet industry guests and close friends at Rippy’s Bar & Grill in downtown Nashville.

BMI Hires Nada Latto

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Nada Latto has joined BMI’s Nashville office as Vice President, Human Resources, where she will be responsible for leading all aspects of human resources for the company. She will report directly to Bruce Esworthy, BMI Sr. VP of Finance/Administration and CEO.

“Nada is a veteran HR executive with over 20 years of well-rounded leadership experience in a number of broad and progressive HR environments,” says Esworthy. “Her valuable experience, insight and leadership will help us guide the human resource element of BMI to higher levels of achievement.”

Latto was previously employed with the Oreck Corporation, where she was involved with all HR functions. Prior to Oreck, Latto was Sr. VP of HR at Ozburn-Hessey Logistics in Brentwood. She holds a BS in Consumer Services from Middle Tennesse State University and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Terra Firma Could Default on EMI Loan

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News sites including London’s Sunday Times, are buzzing today (12/13) with reports that EMI Music Group may soon end up in the hands of Citigroup. The bank funded a more than $4 billion loan for Guy Hands’ private equity firm Terra Firma to purchase the record company in 2007.

Sources told the New York Post that Terra Firma investors refuse to put any more money into the record label. Earlier this year Hands convinced them to plow $156 million into EMI to keep it from defaulting on the Citigroup loan.

Last month, Hands and Citigroup met in the courtroom, and Hands lost the lawsuit in which he claimed Citi convinced him to overpay for EMI.

Among EMI’s Nashville labels are EMI Christian Music Group and Capitol Records Nashville.

Jim Lauderdale Re-ups With Bug

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Bug Music has renewed its multi-year publishing deal with Jim Lauderdale. The singer-songwriter has worked with and written songs recorded by Elvis Costello, George Strait, the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, and many more. Among his recent hits are Strait’s “I Gotta Get To You.” Lauderdale was honored with the career achievement “Inspiration Award” at the 2010 SESAC Awards.

Bug Music CEO John Rudolph made today’s announcement. “We are thrilled to renew our deal with Jim—a talented writer and dynamic performer who has achieved great success in both country and Americana music—and honored to represent his body of work,” Rudolph said. “Jim’s genre-breaking contributions to music are immeasurable, and we look forward to more successes.”

Among the other songwriters signed to Bug are Kara Dioguardi, Luke Bryan, members of Kings of Leon, Gordie Sampson, and Ryan Adams, as well as songs by Johnny Cash.

Montana’s “1000 Faces” Video; Riversong Signs Hess

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Randy Montana Stars in “1,000 Faces”
Mercury Nashville artist Randy Montana recently shot a video in downtown Nashville for his upcoming single, “1,000 Faces,” written by Montana and Tom Douglas. The video, directed by Robert Deaton and George Flanigen, utilized over 60 extras to convert the closed city streets into a swarm of bustling pedestrians around Montana and his band. Photo: Alex Ferrari


(L-R): Stephen Hoell, Judd Sulcer, Homeland Ent. Group VP/GM Scott Godsey, and Steve Hess.

Riversong Records Signs Steve Hess and Southern Salvation
Riversong Records (a division of Homeland Entertainment Group) announces the recent signing of  Steve Hess and Southern Salvation. The Nashville trio is comprised of baritone vocalist and pianist Steve Hess (nephew of Gospel Music Hall of Famer Jake Hess), lead singer Stephen Hoell and tenor singer Judd Sulcer. Their first project, Straight From The Heart, is set to be released the first week of January 2011.