Pinecastle Records Reopens Under New Ownership

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The bluegrass label Pinecastle Records has been reactivated by its new owner, physician Dr. Lonnie Lassiter.

One of the leading bluegrass imprints, the company was closed last February because of the health issues of its previous owner, Col. Tom Riggs. Lassiter purchased the company from the Riggs family in August, and the label began rebuilding a roster this fall.

The first new signee is the North Carolina band Nu-Blu. Pinecastle is headquartered in Columbus, NC. Award-winning, Knoxville-based Dobro player Phil Leadbetter has re-signed with the company.

In addition to Lassiter, the new Pinecastle staff includes Matt Hood as VP of Public Relations, bookkeeper Kim Jolley, Ethan Burkhardt as VP of operations and executive assistant Macy Gibbs.

Pinecastle was originally founded in 1989. Its 250 releases to date include albums by such Nashville mainstays as The Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse and Kristin Scott Benson. This year’s Emerging Artist winner at the IBMA awards is Middle Tennessean Josh Williams. When the label closed, he moved from Pinecastle to Rounder Records.

Duets for Juice, Viewer Poll at GACTV.com

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Juice Newton‘s Duets Album

Grammy and CMA award-winning artist Juice Newton will release a duets record, Duets: Friends & Memories, on November 16th, featuring a soulful twist on classic pop songs. Newton’s first single, “Funny How Time Slips Away,” with Willie Nelson, is out now.

Newton also joins forces with Glen Campbell, Frankie Valli, Melissa Manchester, Gary Morris, Randy Meisner and the late Dan Seals. “For me, it was like making three records,” Newton says.  “These singers are so wonderful and unique – I really wanted to be on my game.  I lived with my headphones on, studying the songs and preparing my interpretations.”

Newton’s noteworthy career includes multiple platinum and gold albums and 15 Top 10 hits, including “Angel of the Morning,” “Queen of Hearts” and “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known).” Newton will hit the road in support of Duets; dates to be announced.

Top 50 Viewer Poll at GACTV.com

GAC is giving viewers the chance to select their Top 50 Videos of the Year. Up until November 30th, fans can log in once day to vote for 10  of their favorites at www.gactv.com/top50. Over 130 videos from 96 artists released between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010 are eligible and listed in alphabetical order on the GAC website. Zac Brown Band and Jewel lead the pack with four nominated videos each, while Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith have three nominated videos each.

Voters can also enter for a chance to win $5,000 in cash and a trip for two to the Mississippi gulf cost.

The results from this viewer poll will be revealed in a year-end countdown special that will premiere on Monday, December 27th at 8:00 pm ET.

Rascal Flatts as “Real Heroes,” NAMM stays in Nashville

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Rascal Flatts Honored in Nashville Lifestyles

Nashville Lifestyles magazine recently honored Rascal Flatts as the cover subject for their November issue, highlighting the supergroup as “real heroes” for their considerable charitable contributions in Nashville area.

Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus serve as spokespersons for Hendersonville-based the Jason Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs. They are also celebrity ambassadors for the American Red Cross and have been recognized for their on-going work with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where the hospital recently named the pediatric surgery center for the band.

Summer NAMM in Nashville

NAMM has announced that the industry’s summer gathering will take place in Nashville throughout 2013. NAMM, a not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry, promotes music making to people of all ages through activities and programs, including this summer session.

“These past few years, even in the depths of the recession, our Members came to Nashville to network, attend NAMM U sessions and do their fall buying,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “NAMM Member companies, especially independent dealers and innovative exhibitors have told us that they want and need this show, and we’re resolved to support them.”

The summer NAMM session will take place in Nashville July 21-23, 2011. In order to provide increased value to attendees and exhibitors, NAMM will be adding new features including a full day (Saturday, July 23, 2011) that will be open to the public, introducing more people to the benefits and fun of playing music.

More information on this and other NAMM events is available here.

No. 1 Parties in Nashville, More Photos

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BMI and ASCAP joined forces to throw a party at Rooster’s in Nashville, celebrating Josh Turner’s #1 hit, “All Over Me.” The song was co-written by the “Peach Pickers”—the songwriting power trio of Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip. The Pickers have also collaborated on Joe Nichols’ “Gimmie That Girl,” and Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight.”

Pictured (L-R): Warner/Chappell’s Steve Markland; This Music’s Rusty Gaston; ASCAP’s Tim DuBois; co-writers Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, and Dallas Davidson; Josh Turner; BMI’s Jody Williams; UMG Nashville’s Royce Risser; and EMI Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran.

ASCAP hosted a celebration for Brad Paisley’s latest hit, “Water,” with a party at Watermark in Nashville. “Water,” written by Paisley, Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace, marks Paisley’s 17th chart-topper and 13th consecutive No. 1 hit. “Water” is also the fourth No. 1 from his lauded American Saturday Night album.

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, Sea Gayle Music's Liz O'Sullivan, Kelley Lovelace, Chris DuBois, Brad Paisley, ASCAP's Marc Driskill and producer Frank Rogers.

Artist Karli Whetstone recently visited the MusicRow office to play her new single, “I Didn’t” and to gift the staff with promotional mugs featuring a line from the song, “He thought that I should have a D-cup … and I didn’t.”

Pictured (L-R): Chart Director Jon Freeman, RowFax Manager Michelle Stephens, Karli Whetstone, Publisher/Editor David Ross and GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick.

Gloriana To Perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Gloriana will perform their hit single “Wild At Heart” at the 84th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The foursome will ride aboard a float and sing their R.I.A.A. Gold single for more than 3.5 million attendees and a projected TV viewing audience of 50 million.

“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is such an iconic holiday event and we are so honored and excited to be a part of it this year,” said Gloriana’s Rachel Reinert. “This is definitely going down as one of the coolest performance opportunities we have had!”

The parade will air live on NBC on November 25th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The TODAY Show’s Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Meredith Vieira will co-host the parade, which also includes performances by Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, India.Arie and Gladys Knight. This year’s event will feature 15 giant character balloons, 27 floats, 12 marching bands, and 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members.

Facebook to Offer Places Deals

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Facebook announced today it will soon update its mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, reports Mashable.com. Among the good news is that Android users will now be integrated into the Places and Groups functionality. Apple users will also soon be able to add photos.

Also part of today’s announcement, it was revealed that Deals will become part of Facebook Places. Deals–just as it sounds–is part of the new iPhone app and allows users to find special deals at nearby businesses. At first the new Deals will only be offered to iPhone users, but should soon spread to Android systems too. there are four types of Deals; Individual Deals (for discounts, free stuff or other rewards), Friend Deals (where you and a pal claim something together), Loyalty Deals (for the regulars) and Charity Deals (which allow you to donate to a cause). Early merchant deals include GAP, Chipotle and more…

Location-based marketing is expected to become a fixture in the music industry where opportunities abound to influence fans to buy and receive special offers. For example, for checking into a record store during debut week, fans might get a discount coupon to buy the CD.

Bill Anderson Salute, “My Country” Book Party, More Photos

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••••Over 30 stars turned out to honor Bill Anderson with a special episode of Country Music’s Family Reunion Show on RFD-TV. Anderson, who regularly hosts the show, found himself switching roles with Vince Gill for the salute featuring Roy Clark, Jamey Johnson, Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander, Rhonda Vincent, Con Hunley, Jeannie Seely, Jean Shepard, The Whites, T. Graham Brown, Gene Watson, Jim Ed Brown, Lynn Anderson and many more. An air date has been set.

••••Photographer Melanie Dunea celebrated the release of her book My Country with a party last week at Robert’s Western World. My Country presents photographs of stars ranging from Taylor Swift to Wynonna Judd to Little Jimmy Dickens, alongside interviews that reveal their musical roots and inspirations.

L-R: BMI's Jody Williams, songwriter Jim Lauderdale, and Melanie Dunea

••••SOLID Presents In The Round raised over $1200 for Nashville-based Sweet Sleep which helps orphans in Haiti. The sold out event, held October 6 at the Bluebird Café, featured hit songwriters Rhett Akins, Cary Barlowe, Dallas Davidson and Phil O’Donnell.

L-R: Songwriters Phil O’Donnell, Dallas Davidson, Cary Barlowe, Rhett Akins and SOLID VP Ian Wolczyk

••••James Otto visited with and played songs for the University of Florida’s Athletic Association earlier this week. An employee from the University Athletic Association won the visit from WOGK.

(l-r) Lou Ramirez (WMN SE Regional Rep), James Otto, Mr. Bob (PD WOGK) hang out on the Gator's baseball field.

Radio Use Shrinks; Concert Industry Faltering

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This slide shows that radio usage in a 24 hr. period has dropped from 2:43 in 2000 to 1 hr. 24 minutes in 2010. Conversely, Internet usage has expanded from 59 minutes, to 2:52 in 2010. Time spent reading magazines and newspapers has fallen. TV use has grown slightly.


Radio’s Future II: The 2010 American Youth Study conducted by Edison Research and sponsored by Radio-info.com contains a multitude of slides showing changes in attitude toward radio and other media since the study was conducted a decade ago in 2000. Results are based upon 1,533 interviews nationwide, split almost evenly between age 12-24 demo and age 22-34 demo. While this sequel to the 2000 study measures large changes in media and radio use there are also some interesting slides that do not concern radio.

For example, it is not surprising that cell phone ownership increased from 29% in 2000 to 81% in 2010. Of the 81%, 43% say theirs is a smart phone. When the age 12-24 group was asked how often they read a printed newspaper, 58% said, “Never” and 28% answered “sometimes.”

When asked “How many concerts you attended in the last year?” it became clear that the current economy has not bolstered attendance. In 2000 24% of 12-24s went to three or more concerts and 43% said, “none.” In 2010 only 12% said “three or more,” and 64% replied “none.” In 2000 the mean was 2.1 concerts attended, but ten years later the 2010 mean is .9.

The study also addresses the growth of Internet radio streams and apps such as Pandora. In its recommendations it suggests, “Send more stations after these demos or watch them fade away–the consumer and the advertisers still see radio as a youth medium–why don’t the owners? Claim Internet audio or lose it. It can’t be just your over-the-air product. It must be a font of innovation. Learn from what is driving Pandora.”

This graph shows the steady decline in album sales over the 10 year period, falling from 785 million to 2000 to 380 million in 2009.

Ticket Details For Garth Brooks In Nashville

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Fans who want to get in to see Garth Brooks’ first full-scale concert in 10 years will be manning their computers and phones on Saturday morning (11/6). The die-hard devotees will be hitting the box office tomorrow (11/4).

As announced last week, Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood are set for a flood relief benefit at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 17. Superstar guests are expected to perform.

Tickets will go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday morning, Nov. 6 at 10 AM/CT. They will be priced at $25 plus fees and there will an eight-ticket limit. Available at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster charge by phone at 1–800-745‑3000 or Ticketmaster Express at 1–866-448‑7849.

Here are the details on purchasing in person at the Bridgestone.

Random numbered wristbands will be given out at the outlets and the Bridgestone Arena Box Office beginning 10AM Thursday, Nov 4 through Friday, Nov 5 at 7PM or while supplies last. The wristband does not guarantee a ticket, ONLY a place in line. The wristband will be placed on your left wrist and wristband holders must return to the same location they received their wristband by or before 845AM Saturday, Nov 6th. If wristband holders show up after 845AM then they must go to the late line. Everybody with a wristband has a chance to be first in line if they arrive by or before 845AM. Those fans without wristbands will be allowed to line up behind wristband holders first come, first served. Must be at least 12 years old and able to be in line unaccompanied. 8 ticket limit. Cash only at the Bridgestone Arena and all outlets.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (11/03/10)

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There is nothing particularly earth shattering to report this week.

The column is very much a mixed bag, everything from rocking Elvis to bluegrass Rhonda. Steven Dale Jones is holding down the singer-songwriter slot. Katie Armiger is here with youth appeal. Rosehill, Lathan Moore and Bill Rice have returned and confirmed themselves as promising.

Our two contenders for Disc of the Day are both relative newcomers on major labels, Josh Thompson and our winner, Easton Corbin. He just sings so darn well.

By virtue of the fact that she’s the only complete unknown in this stack of platters, North Carolina’s Madonna Nash takes home a DisCovery Award.

KATIE ARMIGER/Best Song Ever
Writer: Katie Armiger/Amanda Flynn/Bruce Wallace; Producer: Chad Carlson; Publisher: Purple Monkeys/Miss Tomasina/Miss Shaw/Purple Cape/Ole, SESAC/BMI; Cold River ()
—Very pop, like a ‘60s “girl-group” ditty. It is a deceptively bouncy revenge fantasy, complete with cheery “Woah-Oh’s.”

STEVEN DALE JONES/Grandmother’s Song
Writer: Jones; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; SDJ (track) ([email protected])
—On his 10 Favorites CD, hit songwriter Jones offers his own takes on the Diamond Rio popularized “One More Day” and “I Know How the River Feels” plus a clutch of others just as well crafted. His singing is so fine throughout the set that you’ll wonder why he doesn’t record more. This track movingly describes an elderly musician in a nursing home, struggling to hold onto her dignity and her spirit. The sound of truth. It will touch you. I promise.

EASTON CORBIN/I Can’t Love You Back
Writer: Carson Chamberlain/Clint Daniels/Jeff Hyde; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publisher: FSMGI/WCCR/State One Music America/Sony-ATV/Mammaw’s Cornbread, IMRO/BMI; Mercury Nashville (track) ()
—CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Corbin is back with a broken-hearted ballad. It showcases what a richly textured singing voice he possesses in that the verses are hushed meditations and the choruses are high-tenor shouts to the heavens. Very effective indeed.

ROSEHILL/Midnight America
Writer: Michael Dulaney/Steven Dale Jones; Producer: Radney Foster & Jay Clementi; Publisher: Michael Dulaney/Steven Dale Jones/Mojave Rain/Full Circle/WB/, ASCAP; Cypress Creek (track) (www.rosehill-live.com)
—I like these guys. Rosehill is comprised of Blake Myers and Mitch McBain, and back in June they won a DisCovery Award in this column. They sing with gumption and drive. And get a load of the production and songwriting credits. This super-melodic and hooky thing rocks splendidly. I’m in.

BILL RICE/Friday Night
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bill Rice & Roger Blevins Jr.; Publisher: none listed; Aaron Ave (830-253-8813)
—He has his buddies, his jalopy and his poor-folks fun. A nicely drawn portrait of small-town America. His vocal is appropriately dusty and yearning.

JOSH THOMPSON/Won’t Be Lonely Long
Writer: Josh Thompson/Arlis Albritton/George Ducas; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Songs of Better Angels/Blank Sheet/Warner-Tamerlane/Salt Life/Big Hits of Amylase/Pure Blue, BMI; Columbia (track) ()
—Do not be deceived by the downbeat opening phrases. In no time, this transforms into a lively, chugging, honky-tonk, “kiss-off” number. He figures he’s lucky that she broke up with him at 7:00 on a Friday night, ‘cause that gives him plenty of time to get loaded, dance and pick up girls. Rowdy fun.

LATHAN MOORE/Love in Your Life
Writer: Matt McClure/John Paul Williams/Stan Swinarski; Producer: Rick Holt & Norro Wilson; Publisher: Bow to Stern/Blonde Leading Blind/Flatlanders, BMI; Blue Steel (track) (www.lathanmoore.com)
—This former DisCovery Award winner is back with a second single. I still like his robust singing voice, but this lyric is a little preachy for my taste.

RHONDA VINCENT/Sweet Summertime
Writer: Donna Webster; Producer: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; Publisher: Sally Mountain, BMI; Upper Management (track) (www.rhondavincent.com)
—The Queen of Bluegrass is making a couple of gutsy moves in forming her own record label and producing herself. This single from her new Taken CD features rippling banjo and guitar work from Rage members Aaron McDaris and Ben Helson, respectively, not to mention a brilliant mandolin break from the lady, herself. The lilting, wistful tune also features sterling vocal harmonies from the guys. (Could it be that this song is the single because it name-checks Martha White, which just so happens to be her tour sponsor?) Guests elsewhere on the album include Dolly Parton, Rhonda’s daughters Tensel and Sally, Little Roy Lewis and Richard Marx (!).

MADONNA NASH/Dirty Little Secret
Writer: Madonna Nash; Producer: Dave Demay & Charles Fulp; Publisher: Madonna Nash/Mad Charm, ASCAP; Mad Charm (www.madonnanash.com)
—It says here that Ms. Nash won the 2010 Female Country Artist of the Year at the Carolina Music Awards. Her roaring, rocking single doesn’t have much of a melody, but there’s plenty of space in it for her to sell it on sheer attitude.

ELVIS PRESLEY/Suspicious Minds
Writer: Mark James; Producer: Erich Von Tourneau; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; RCA (track) ()
—This song has charted country twice, once for Dwight Yoakam and even bigger as a Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter duet. But unlike many of The King’s other singles, his original 1969 version of this didn’t chart country at all. And this pounding new production of it certainly won’t. That doesn’t mean it isn’t fascinating listening. Elvis’s and the female backup singers’ vocals are retained, but the surrounding track is a crashing, bashing re-imagining of the song (although I can still hear The Memphis Horns in the mix). It is from Viva Elvis, the companion CD to the Las Vegas extravaganza by Cirque du Soleil.