John Esposito’s Sister Janis Hitchings Passes

Condolences to Warner Music Nashville Pres. and CEO John Esposito and his family on the passing of his sister Janis Hitchings last week. She had been battling cancer.

Funeral services were held today, Nov. 29, at Church Of The Annunciation in Paris, Kentucky.

Memorial donations can sent to:
St Mary’s School Scholarship Fund
St Mary’s School
1121 Main Street
Paris, KY 40361

Hospice Of The Bluegrass
1317 Kentucky Hwy 62E
Cynthiana, KY 41031

Photos: Shaffer and Cannon, Paisley and Clark, Songwriters In Florida

Late Night With David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer stopped by Vibe 56 Recording Studio last week to add keyboard overdubs to a new Willie Nelson project being produced by Buddy Cannon. Shaffer also performed with Marty Stuart on the Grand Ole Opry the following night.

•  •  •  •  •

Brad Paisley’s H2O World Tour finished out 2010 in Tulsa, OK at the BOK Center last weekend. Paisley invited CMA Entertainer of the Year Roy Clark to join him on stage and they ripped through Clark’s instrumental “Ghost Riders in the Sky” for the sold-out crowd. Paisley commented, “I learned how to play guitar with a Roy Clark songbook, so I blame all this on him.”

•  •  •  •  •

BMI recently partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to sponsor the 1st Annual Northwest Florida Songwriters Series. Held in Destin and Sandestin, the inaugural two-day event featured more than a dozen BMI songwriters from Nashville. Pictured (back row): Rodney Clawson, Aaron Barker, BMI’s Dan Spears, Bobby Tomberlin, Candi Carpenter, Jeff Cohen, Bridgette Tatum, Bill LaBounty, Tim James and Danny Myrick; (front row): BMI’s Mason Hunter, Scotty Emerick, Charlie Worsham and BMI’s Tom Annastas.

“CMA Country Christmas” Airs Tonight

Sugarland performs "Winter Wonderland" and "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel" on "CMA Country Christmas."

Martina McBride in a web cartoon promoting "CMA Country Christmas."

CMA is using funny viral videos to promote tonight’s (11/29) Christmas special on ABC. Marketers visited JibJab.com and dropped in the faces of show performers Martina McBride, Darius Rucker and members of Rascal Flatts. See the clips here and here.

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland hosts CMA Country Christmas, with performances by Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.

Some of the show’s highlights include a 12-year-old Paisley singing the first song he ever composed, “Born on Christmas Day.” Also expect Pickler in a red, satin gown singing “Santa Baby.”

The holiday special was taped on Nov. 11 at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.

Little Big Town, performing a stunning version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" as well as providing their signature harmonies to a Sugarland performance of "Winter Wonderland."

Swift’s TV Special Showcases New Album

Taylor Swift’s Speak Now television special aired on Thanksgiving night (11/25), drawing 4.4 million viewers to NBC during the 8 PM/ET block (according to Zap2it.com). It came in fourth place among the major networks, with first going to Fox’s NFL game, which ran-over into the 8 PM time slot.

Swift’s hour-long special was built around live performance segments staged in grand style. Her unlikely venues included Central Park, a New York rooftop, and a surprise performance from the top of her tour bus on Hollywood Boulevard. Interspersed into the special were clips about making her latest album, such as working in the studio with producer Nathan Chapman, and Swift writing songs at home. The television show, produced by Swift and Todd Cassetty Welding Service, also highlighted the launch of her new album, including a fan-filled airline flight where passengers enjoyed a Q-and-A with the star.

Also offering a Thanksgiving night television special was r&b/pop superstar Beyonce. And while examining these female singers is hardly an apples-to-apples comparison, they will both be vying for some of the same dollars at cash registers this holiday season. Beyonce’s 90-minute special focused on her major world tour, revolving around concert footage showcasing her excellent dance moves, and outrageous and revealing wardrobe. Beyonce has a deeper catalog of hits to draw from than Swift, since her career dates back to her days in Destiny’s Child. Starting in the 9 PM/ET time block ABC’s Beyonce: I Am… World Tour came in fourth place with 3.5 million viewers, and moved to second with 4.4 million at the 10 PM hour.

Memorial For Songwriter Linda Hargrove

A memorial service for songwriter Linda Hargrove will be held Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Douglas Corner Cafe (2106 8th Ave. S.). She died Sunday, Oct. 24.

Hargrove was one of the few female session guitar players in Nashville in the ’70s. She also recorded for three major labels (Elektra, Capitol, RCA) and wrote the hits “Tennessee Whiskey” for George Jones and “Let It Shine” for Olivia Newton-John.

If you plan to attend the service, please RSVP to Mark Ford at NSAI markford@nashvillesongwriters.com.

More about Hargrove here.

Weekend Shopping Up Slightly

Early reports from consumer marketing research company the NPD Group show that more people made purchases during the recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend than last year.

The number of survey respondents that reported making a purchase, whether in a store or online, is up almost 7 percent over last year. Almost 45 percent told NPD that they did online research before they went shopping. When asked where they did their “homework,” consumers cited TV ads, catalogs and consumer reviews.

BMG To Acquire Chrysalis

It was announced today (11/26) that BMG will acquire Chrysalis Music in a deal valued at approximately $168.6 million.

In April, Dale Bobo took office as Executive Vice President, Chrysalis Music Nashville. Among Chrysalis’s Nashville songwriters are Jim McCormick, Victoria Banks, Jeff Stevens and Shelley Skidmore.

Among the publisher’s 100,000 copyrights are songs recorded by Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Blondie, David Bowie, Sheryl Crow, and Outkast.

BMG has been steadily buying up publishers for more than a year. More from musicrow.com here.

Urban Boasts Strong Opening Week

Keith Urban’s sixth studio album, Get Closer, debuted this week with notable sales of over 165,800 units. He promoted the Capitol Nashville release with a whirlwind run including performances on The Today Show and CBS Early Show, as well as “Get Closer Moments” at NYC and Philadelphia train stations. He capped it all off with his debut on the Oprah show, airing later this month. Click here for Keith’s taped message from the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Next Urban heads to Dallas for his Thanksgiving Day halftime performance at the Dallas Cowboys v New Orleans Saints showdown. It will air live on FOX, and will also serve as the kick-off for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. The NFL Network is taping the experience for its documentary Keith Urban: Halftime in Real Time, slated to air Saturday, November 27 at 9:30PM CST.

Weekly Chart Report (11/24/10)

Stoney Creek Records duo Thompson Square has had a whirlwind month out on the road with country rocker Jason Aldean wrapping the last leg of the 2010 Wide Open Tour.

RADIO NEWS
If you can wake yourself after eating too much tomorrow, tune in and listen to Premiere Radio Networks’ After MidNite With Blair Garner. The host will play exclusive audio from his special holiday dinner at the home of CMA Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley. Audio will be available at www.BlairGarner.com.

SPIN ZONE
The Thanksgiving holiday means more frozen playlists than normal, and as a result there’s a slightly slower chart. That doesn’t keep Reba’s “Turn On The Radio” from taking over the No. 1 position after a long climb through the Top 10. Previous No. 1s “Why Wait” by Rascal Flatts and “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry are starting to fall back, as Keith Urban’s “Put You In A Song” moves up two spots to No. 3.

As predicted last week, Brad Paisley’s “This Is Country Music” made a big splash on the chart, debuting at No. 74 with a gain of 293 spins. Joining him for first chart appearances are Uncle Kracker’s “Good To Be Me” and Josh Thompson’s “Won’t Be Lonely Long.”

And though overall movement is slow, a handful of singles are still rising quickly. Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere With You” is already at No. 13 after six weeks, as it gains 302 spins. Taylor Swift’s “Back To December” moves from No. 37 to 28, with the week’s biggest spin gain of 383. And Darius Rucker’s “This” crosses the Top 40 threshold at No. 38 with a 227 spin gain.

Frozen Playlists: KCJC, KFTX, KICR, KKAJ, KNCQ, KREK, KTTI, KVOM, KWEY, KWOX, KYEZ, KYKX, KYYK, WBKR, WCMS, WJVL, WLJE, WOGT, WQNZ, WTCM

Upcoming Singles
December 6
Chuck Wicks/Old School/RCA
LeAnn Rimes/Crazy Women/Curb
The Harters/If I Run/Bigger Picture
Alan Jackson/Ring of Fire/Arista
Crossin Dixon/Goodbye To Henry/Stoney Creek
Steel Magnolia/Last Night Again/Big Machine

Holiday
Jason Michael Carroll/Christmas On The Farm/Stray Records/Quarterback
Danny Gokey/Tennessee Christmas/19/RCA
Deborah Allen Feat. Cledus T. Judd/Redneck Christmas/GMV/Aristomedia
Kenny Rogers/The Chosen One/Joy To The World (Live)/DCE
Rachel Holder/Christmas Eve
Burns & Poe/Hear The Angels Singing/Blue Steel
Rodney Carrington/Camouflage and Christmas Lights/EMI Records Nashville
Darius Rucker/Candy Cane Christmas/Capitol Nashville

•  •  •  •

New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label — chart pos.
Brad Paisley/This Is Country Music/Arista — 74
Uncle Kracker/Good To Be Me/Top Dog/Atlantic — 76
Josh Thompson/Won’t Be Lonely Long/Columbia — 80

Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label — spin+
Taylor Swift/Back To December/Big Machine — 383
Kenny Chesney/Somewhere With You/BNA — 302
Brad Paisley/This Is Country Music/Arista — 293
Darius Rucker/This/Capitol — 227
Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson/Don’t You Wanna Stay/Broken Bow — 222

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label — spins
Alan Jackson/Ring of Fire/Arista — 250
Brantley Gilbert/My Kind of Crazy/Average Joe’s Entertainment — 215
Matt Gary/I’m Just Sayin’/Quarterback Records — 214
Karli Whetstone/I Didn’t/Ohio Records — 200
Kelly Parkes/Nothing/Lofton Creek — 182

Two Week Most Added*
Artist/song/label — New adds
Brad Paisley/This Is Country Music/Arista — 22
Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson/Don’t You Wanna Stay/Broken Bow — 20
Taylor Swift/Back To December/Big Machine — 14
Alan Jackson/Ring Of Fire/Arista — 13
Sugarland/Little Miss/Mercury — 10

•  •  •  •


Cumulus Radio took home five trophies at the 14th Annual A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) Awards, held at Baptist Hospital’s G.S.O. Auditorium Monday (11/22). Presented by Curb Music, the A.I.R. Awards is the only awards program of its kind, celebrating excellence in radio, acknowledging talent and achievement on a local level to benefit the March of Dimes. (L to R): Cumulus Nashville’s Josh Connor, Mike McIntyre (aka “Mac”), Lisa Lewis.

Cumulus Nashville Awards:
Best Commercial Spot Produced by a Radio Station: 95.5 The Wolf (WSM-FM) “Green Light Car Sales,” Producer Josh Connor, Voice Talent Lisa Lewis;
Best Production Talent: Cumulus Nashville, Josh Connor;
Best Advertising Campaign on Radio: 95.5 The Wolf (WSM-FM), “HRC Medical,” Producer Josh Connor, Advertising Representative Jeff Cook, Voice Talents Charlie Chase and Charlie Mac;
Best Production/Creative Services Director: Cumulus Nashville, Josh Connor;
Best Entertainment Interview: “Ted Nugent/Flood Relief,” 97.1 Classic Hits (WRQQ), Program Director Mike “Mac” McIntyre.

On Monday (11/22) SuperTalk 99.7 WTN hosted a radiothon to benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission.  The three-hour fundraiser raised over $30,000. The show was hosted by WTN personality Michael DelGiorno and featured visits by Phil Valentine, Ralph Bristol, Dave Ramsey and call-ins from other celebrities. Left Photo:  SuperTalk 99.7 WTN vehicle arrives at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Right Photo (L to R):  “Financial Peace” Guru Dave Ramsey and SuperTalk 99.7 WTN morning host Ralph Bristol on site at the Nashville Rescue Mission radiothon.

Tracy Lawrence Turkey Fry; Judds Ride Santa Train

Tracy Lawrence and friends gathered at the Nashville Rescue Mission yesterday (11/23) for the singer’s fifth annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry. Generous donations of turkeys, clothing and cash were collected, totaling almost 800 birds. In addition to feeding those individuals in need at the Nashville Rescue Mission over the next few days, Lawrence and his family will deliver 125 cooked turkeys to a tent city near his home in Wilson County. The mission’s overall goal is to collect 1000 gobblers before the Thanksgiving week comes to a close; contributions continue to be welcomed and are appreciated.

The "group fry" from l to r: (back row) Keith Burns, Matt Kennon, Bo Bice, Lathan Moore, Jake Dillon, Michelle Poe, Matt Gary, Lee Roy, Becca Lawrence, Tracy Lawrence, Preston Brust, Glen Templeton, Chris Lucas, Brad Arnold, (middle row) Elaine Roy, Chelsea Field, (front row) Titans Cheerleaders. Not pictured: GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, LoCash Cowboys, Lorrie Morgan, Danielle Peck, and Big D & Bubba.

Wynonna and Naomi Judd returned home to Appalachia on Saturday, Nov. 20, joining Santa Claus and his helpers aboard the 68th annual Santa Train. The Judds helped Santa distribute more than 15 tons of gifts to families in 14 towns along the train’s 110-mile route through Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

Santa Claus and Wynonna and Naomi Judd toss gifts off the back of the Santa Train.