Star Lineup For American Country Awards

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Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner are set to perform at the first-ever American Country Awards, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on FOX Dec. 6.

The inaugural two-hour event will also feature appearances by country recording artists Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel, Lady Antebellum and Bret Michaels; rodeo star Ty Murray; comic Jeff Dunham; and NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler. Hosts, performers and additional presenters will be announced soon.

The fan voted awards will include traditional categories as well as previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring. Fans can still vote once each day for their favorite nominees in the Artist of the Year category, at www.theacas.com until December 4.

Lifenotes: Evelyn Walker Brown, mother of Allen Brown

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MusicRow extends condolences to Sony Music Nashville Vice President, Media & Corporate Communications, Allen Brown, on the passing of his mother Evelyn Walker Brown on November 12. She was 86 years old.

Services will be held Thursday, November 18 with committal at the Emmett Cemetery in Emmett, ID at 2 pm. A memorial service will take place at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Emmett at 3 pm. Visitation is 3-8 pm, Wednesday, November 17 at Potter Funeral Chapel.

Floral arrangements may be sent locally by contacting Treva at Flowerland: 208-365-2222 or on cell 208-412-7196.

Donations in Mrs. Brown’s memory can be made to Noah’s Ark Preschool c/o Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 457, 407 S. Hayes St., Emmett, ID 83617 or to a charity of choice.

Monty Powell Signs With Ole Publishing

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SESAC-affiliated songwriter Monty Powell stopped by the performing rights organization’s Nashville headquarters to celebrate his new publishing agreement with Ole Publishing.

Powell, SESAC’s 2009 Songwriter Of The Year, has been one of country’s most successful and prolific songwriters over the last few years scoring hits including “Days Go By,” “Kiss A Girl,” “Til Summer Comes Around” and 2009 SESAC’s Song of the Year, “Sweet Thing” all recorded by superstar Keith Urban. Most recently, Powell was the recipient of the CMA’s coveted “Triple Play” Award for three No. 1 hits in one year.

Pictured (left to right): Ole Publishing’s Gilles Godard, SESAC’s Tim Fink, Ole Publishing’s Michael McCarty, Powell, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Ole’s Robert Ott. Photo: Ed Rode

CMA Awards Win Week In Ratings

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The CMA Awards were the No. 1 entertainment show on television last week.

During the week of November 8, 2010, ABC’s broadcast of “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” emerged as TV’s No. 1 entertainment program in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic. In fact it represented the first-time ever for ABC’s CMA Awards to stand as the highest-rated entertainment show, during the week in which it aired.

Up against highly-competitive 2010 November Sweeps programming during the week, the CMA Awards outperformed top-rated shows on the other networks, including Fox’s “Glee,” CBS’ “Two and a Half Men” and NBC’s “The Office.

An estimated 33.8 million viewers watched at least some portion of the show during its broadcast. It was the CMA Awards’ second largest audience since 2005.

CMA Honors Lomax

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Steve Moore and John Lomax III

John Lomax III was recently presented with the CMA’s 2010 Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The honor was presented by CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore on Nov. 8 during the organization’s annual International Reception in Nashville.

“It’s a huge honor and a real thrill to be recognized after a lot of miles and a lot of nights away from home,” said Lomax. “I love taking Country Music all around the world. It’s a common language. I’ve been to countries where no one spoke English but they spoke Country Music.”

The Jo Walker-Meador International Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States. It was named in honor of former CMA Executive Director (1959-1991) and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jo Walker-Meador.

Lomax established Roots Music Exporters in 2001, selling indie artist, retail exclusive, and limited edition CDs, DVDs, and vinyl to importers in Australia, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand. He is also an internationally known music journalist whose work has been published on four continents. Currently, Lomax writes a regular column for Country Update in Australia and Country Music People in England. He has authored three books, including Nashville Music City USA, and penned numerous entries in the upcoming revised edition of the CMF/Oxford U Press Encyclopaedia of Country Music.

City Paper: CMA Awards Bring $3M Economic Impact

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A report by fellow SouthComm publication The City Paper shows that the CMA Awards generated an estimated $3 million in direct visitor spending (according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau).

In money talk, the awards are worth only about one-eighth of the CMA Music Fest. Nashville’s biggest event draws an estimated $24 million in economic impact.

Keep reading…

Video: Loretta Lynn Discusses Tribute Album

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Loretta Lynn at last week's CMA Awards.

Loretta Lynn talks about the Coal Miner’s Daughter tribute album honoring her 50-year career.

Also featured in the video are the artists from the project, including Sheryl Crow, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood, and Jack White.

Rucker Sings For PGA Tour Charity

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Darius Rucker is set to team with the PGA Tour during 2011 to raise funds for PGA Tour charities through music. Rucker, an avid golfer, has written and produced “Together Anything’s Possible,” that will be available for download starting in early January. All proceeds from the song for a full year will be donated to PGA Tour Charities, a non-profit organization.

“It’s truly an honor to partner with the PGA Tour to bring music and golf together to raise funds for charity,” said Rucker. “There’s no greater privilege to me than to have an opportunity to be the voice of this organization through my music.”

PGA Tour Entertainment is gathering content to produce a custom music video, “making of” video, “get involved” messages from Darius, and more. The PGA Tour plans to integrate Rucker, the song, and related video content within its public service advertising efforts across PGA Tour telecasts and other national media outlets. A special page on the PGA Tour Charities, Inc.’s web site, PGATour.com/together, and robust social media efforts are also in development.

Rucker, a participant throughout the years in many pro-am tournaments on the PGA Tour, plans to attend and perform at select PGA Tour tournaments throughout 2011 to promote the song’s charity message and fundraising platform.

“We are thrilled to partner with an artist of Darius Rucker’s status, as well as Capitol Records Nashville on this exciting and unique venture,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Darius’ love of golf is well documented, as are his charitable efforts. We couldn’t think of a more appropriate person to collaborate with to bring attention to ‘Together, Anything’s possible.’ We thank Darius for his willingness and generosity to write and produce this song for the benefit of charity.”

Hit Writers Pen Holiday Parody Album, Merry Ex-Mas

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Songwriters Will Robinson, Mike Reid and Don Pfrimmer have just released Merry Ex-Mas: Holiday Songs For the Divorced and Soon To Be, a tongue in cheek collection of eight Christmas parodies and two original new holiday songs. The ten tracks are performed by a group called the Irreconcilables, which includes Joanna Cotten, Perry Danos, Fred Knobloch, Paige Bainbridge, Danger Will, Fred Bogert and Oscar Franks. Songs on the album include titles such as “Frosty My Ex-Wife,” “Santa Claus Is Foolin’ Around,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas (My True Love Took From Me),” and “Hark The Hell Has Just Begun.”

Robinson, who co-wrote all of the songs with Reid and Pfrimmer, offers an explanation: “sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.”  Robinson noted the concept for this CD began back in 2002, when he was going through a divorce around Christmas time, and Reid and Pfrimmer were trying to keep his sprits up.

For more information on the CD, visit www.facebook.com/merryexmas; http://www.youtube.com/user/MerryExmas; and http://twitter.com/#!/merryexmas

The Merry Ex-Mas song list:
1.   SEE YA SANTA
2.   CHRISTMAS, EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR
3.   SANTA CLAUS IS FOOLIN’ AROUND
4.   FROSTY MY EX-WIFE
5.    I’M TAKING BACK MY NAME DEAR
6.    LET HER GO
7.    SINGLE GALS
8.    A LOT LIKE EX-MAS
9.   12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (MY TRUE LOVE TOOK FROM ME)
10.  HARK THE HELL HAS JUST BEGUN

Reba Is People Country’s December Cover

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The December issue of People Country is out today (11/12) and features photos of 2010’s biggest stars in their favorite places. Reba graces the cover and speaks about her favorite vacation place, the Ryman Auditorium.

“My family didn’t take vacations except to go to the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman,” says Reba. “It represents tradition and heritage – things I’m very proud of in country music.” She also explains what one of the format’s young superstars has taught her. “I love to look for great songs to record, and I watch and learn from everybody,” she says. “I’ve definitely learned from Taylor Swift. She really is good at communicating with her fans.”

Other artists photographed for the feature include Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban.