Dixie Chicks Release 2-Disc Collection

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The Dixie Chicks released a 2-disc career anthology this week. The Essential Dixie Chicks has 30 of the band’s most popular songs, including six No. 1 hits. The collection covers all four studio albums recorded for Sony Music, which have resulted in more than 30 million in career sales.

With an armful of 2007 Grammys, the Chicks decided to take a break from music in 2008. Since then sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire have formed a new duo, the Court Yard Hounds. The Dixie Chicks also briefly reunited over the summer for tour dates with the Eagles and Keith Urban. See Natalie Maines‘s photos from the road at www.dixiechicks.com.

Meanwhile, the Court Yard Hounds are set for a live web chat with fans in the coming weeks. Details will be posted soon on www.courtyardhounds.com.

USA Today reports that Maines has been filming a documentary about actor Joey Sagal and will return to the road in June.

Music City Networks Acquires Zambooie

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Lang Scott

Web agency Music City Networks, LLC, has acquired merchandiser Zambooie, which will now operate under the name MerchMo. The two companies combine expertise in digital strategies, web design, and merchandising to offer solutions for online promotion, merchandise creation, and tour merchandise management. Collectively, they serve a varied client roster, including Lady Antebellum, Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, To Write Love on Her Arms, Toby Mac, Jars of Clay, and others. Zambooie will continue to exist as a destination site for consumers in the rock, Christian rock and charity markets, and new genre-specific destinations will be created by MerchMo as well.

“Combining merchandising with our existing eCommerce capabilities is a natural fit for both our companies,” said President Lang Scott. “We fill in a lot of gaps by combining our talents and are excited to move aggressively into tour merchandising while we continue to offer the best digital services for our clients.”

MerchMo will also provide product design for entertainment and corporate clients, as well as full fashion lines and retail placement.

Swift Streaming Event; Otto Meets Green Bay Starr

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The launch of Taylor Swift’s Speak Now, included a live streaming event, Speak Now: Taylor Swift Live From New York City, hosted by CMT and MTV Networks this past Monday (10/25). Contest winners from around the globe attended the party and heard Swift perform songs from the new album.

(L-R) Jay Frank, SVP Music Strategy, CMT; Taylor Swift; Stephen Linn, Sr. Director Music Programming & Promotion, CMT

James Otto met former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr after Otto sang the National Anthem at the Packer’s game Sunday night. Starr led the Packers to victory in Super Bowls I & II, and was also named the Super Bowl MVP in both. The Packers hosted the Minnesota Vikings and former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre on Sunday night. The Packers won the game 28-24.

(L-R) Bart Starr and James Otto

Jack Ingram, Troy Olsen Offer Web Series

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Jack Ingram

Big Machine’s Jack Ingram is bringing back his “Acoustic Motel” concept by releasing weekly videos, and EMI Nashville newcomer Troy Olsen has his own webisode series “Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen” on GACTV.com.

On his videos, Ingram is offering acoustic versions of his biggest hits, and surprising covers, such as Paramore’s “The Only Exception.” See it here.

“The whole Acoustic Motel idea is a tribute to all the time I spend on the road writing songs, usually in a motel room,” explains Ingram. “With these new videos I get to play some old favorites, or new songs that I just wrote and want to test out.  I’m also having a lot of fun doing some covers…it’s nice to be able to surprise people a little bit…keep ‘em guessing.”

Ingram has also added a few more select dates to his Acoustic Motel Tour in November. The run kicks off Nov. 4 at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta.

Troy Olsen

“Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen” on GACTV.com features him talking about how he first got into music, how he accidentally discovered he could produce, and a multitude of other stories about his path to making music for a living.

Olsen has launched his new website at www.TroyOlsen.com. Fans can sign up to become a member of his fan club, the “T-Birds,” and get all the latest news and information on Troy. In addition to tour dates, news and information, the archived episodes of “Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen” can be found on TroyOlsen.com.

Olsen is currently on his headlining “Get Right Tonight Tour” in support of his release of his self-titled debut EP.

New Songwriter Show With Jewel, Kara DioGuardi

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Kara DioGuardi

Jewel

Jewel and Kara DioGuardi are the first celebrities on board for a new songwriter competition series on Bravo. Jewel will host and occasionally join DioGuardi as part of the judging panel. Going Platinum is expected to premiere in 2011.

Judging will be based more on the contestants’ songwriting ability than their singing and performance prowess.

Twelve musicians will live together in the same house and compete in songwriting challenges. The themed episodes will have the songwriters working in various genres and performing for the judges.

The winner will earn a $100,000 cash prize, a publishing deal with Sony, and a recording deal with RCA/Jive Records.

BMG US Taps Richard Blackstone

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Richard Blackstone

Music rights company BMG has hired Richard Blackstone to be the Chief Creative Officer of BMG US. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music and, more recently, has been working with the Zac Brown Band. Blackstone, who will be based in BMG’s US headquarters in New York City, also has strong ties to Nashville. In this newly created role, he will report directly to Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG.

Since its founding in late 2008, BMG has completed a number of major acquisitions including Crosstown Songs America, Cherry Lane Music Publishing Inc, Stage Three Music and Evergreen Copyrights, as well as signed a number of prominent artists and songwriters.

Blackstone will oversee the rosters of the recently acquired companies as well as direct efforts to sign new talent to continue to build on the company’s rapid growth.

Blackstone has been a respected executive in the entertainment industry for nearly 20 years. In 2005 he was appointed to the position of Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell, becoming responsible for all aspects of Warner Music Group’s worldwide music-publishing division operating in over 35 countries.

In 2007 he broke from WMG and transitioned to work in new media. He has been working with the Zac Brown Band, specifically advancing the songwriting career of Wyatt Durette, Brown’s frequent co-writer. The signing of Durette is one of his many successful signings which also include helping launch the musical careers of Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Britney Spears, and many others.

Prior to joining WMG, Blackstone was President of Zomba Music Publishing. Originally a transactional attorney, Blackstone joined Zomba in 1989 as Director of Business Affairs. Recognizing his talents in both business and the arts, he was later promoted to the dual role of Head of Creative and Head of Business Affairs, a position that included oversight of Zomba’s Country Music division located in Nashville. Once BMG acquired Zomba Publishing, Blackstone was made President and was given the additional responsibility of overseeing Brentwood Benson Music Publishing, the leading contemporary Christian music publisher.

ASCAP Christian Music Award Winners

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Pictured (L-R): Jimi Williams of ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year EMI CMG Publishing; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year (Matthew West's "The Motions") songwriter Jason Houser; ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jeremy Camp; ASCAP's Tim DuBois; EMI CMG Publishing's John Thompson and Jeremy Ash; ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Ben Glover; EMI CMG Publishing's Matt Ewald and Eddie DeGarmo; ASCAP Christian Song of the Year songwriter Sam Mizell. Click for larger photo.

ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) saluted the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most performed songs at its 32nd annual Christian Music Awards last night (10/25) at Richland Country Club in Nashville.

The evening’s top honors were awarded to the following:
ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year: Ben Glover
ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year: Jeremy Camp
ASCAP Christian Song of the Year: “The Motions,” written by Jason Houser, Sam Mizell and Matthew West; published by Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music
ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year: EMI CMG Publishing

A total of 36 song honors were handed out while interspersed with a few very special performances. Those performances included the 2010 Dove Award winner for Song of the Year, “By Your Side,” by Phillip LaRue, and “The Motions,” performed by Jason Houser and Sam Mizell. Also taking the stage was Michael Farren of Pocket Full of Rocks.

ASCAP Vice President and Managing Executive, Nashville, Tim DuBois presented Ben Glover with his first Songwriter of the Year award. Glover penned four of the most performed songs of the past year: “Before The Morning” (Josh Wilson), “Let the Waters Rise” (Mikeschair), “Savior, Please” (Josh Wilson) and “The Lost Get Found” (Britt Nicole).

Collecting ASCAP Song of the Year honors for “The Motions,” recorded by Matthew West, were writers Sam Mizell, Jason Houser and West. The publishers for “The Motions” are Word Music, Simpleville Music, Extreme Writers Group, Cedar Sides, Songs For Lulu and Wyzell Music. The song was a huge hit at radio, spending 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian charts.

DuBois also presented Jeremy Camp with the first-ever ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. In past years, he has taken home a total of eight ASCAP Most Peformed Song awards, he’s been awarded ASCAP Songwriter of the Year three times–in 2005, 2006 and 2008–and has also been honored with ASCAP’s Song of the Year award for “Take You Back,” also in 2006. This year, Camp added two more Most Performed awards to his collection for “There Will Be a Day” and “Healing Hand of God.”

ASCAP Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI CMG Publishing who had eight award-winning songs: “Before the Morning,” “Forgiven,” “Healing Hand of God,” “I Will Rise,” “Savior, Please,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “The Lost Get Found” and “There Will Be A Day.” DuBois presented the award to EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo. This is the seventh year in a row EMI CMG has received Publisher of the Year.

Among the songwriters and artists in attendance included Brandon Heath, Peter Furler (Newsboys), Bebo Norman, Allen Shamblin, Kellie Picker, Kyle Jacobs, Don Poythress, Nick DePartee and Dave Luetkenhoelter (Kutless), Phillip LaRue, Michael Farren (Pocket Full of Rocks), Britt Nicole, Michael Weaver (Big Daddy Weave), Scotty Davis, Chad Cates and Tony Wood.

Urban Launches iTunes Countdown, Sets Salvation Army Halftime Show

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Beginning today (10/26) Keith Urban is revealing a new track every Tuesday exclusively at iTunes from his new album, Get Closer, set for release on November 16. The album’s first single “Put You In A Song,” and “Long Hot Summer,” are available now and two more tracks will be released before the album comes out: “Without You” (11/2) and “You Gonna Fly” (11/9). Once the album release date arrives, fans can “complete their album” on iTunes paying only for the songs they do not already have.

In addition to the new tracks coming out each Tuesday, a free video podcast featuring Urban’s take on the song will be available on iTunes.

Get Closer follows Urban’s Platinum release Defying Gravity, which produced two No. 1 singles: “Only You Can Love Me This Way” and “Sweet Thing”, for which Urban won his third Grammy Award (Best Male Country Vocal Performance).

Urban will perform at The Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff at halftime of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the New Orleans Saints. His show will mark the 14th year that the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army have partnered to raise money for people in need. The Red Kettle campaign has raised more than $1.3 billion since the partnership began. As part of the Kettle Kickoff promotion, fans will have a chance to win a trip to the game by signing up to be an Online Red Kettle virtual bell ringer at www.onlineredkettle.org.

CMA Awards Presenters; History Book

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Tim McGraw will present at the upcoming CMA Awards.

“Country Music’s Biggest Night(tm)” continues to get bigger as The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon are announced as the first group of presenters for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards.”

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” airs Nov. 10, live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The Band Perry, Bryan, Niemann, Young and Corbin received their first nominations this year.

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Author Deborah Evans Price is making a splash with her first book, The CMA Awards Vault: Country Music’s Biggest Night! This is the first book to extensively cover The CMA Awards from its inception as a radio-only broadcast in 1967 to the glittery three-hour, network television spectacle of today.

She will have a booksigning Thursday, November 4th, 7:00 pm, at Davis Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills. The following afternoon, November 5th, Price and video director/CMA Awards Executive Producer Robert Deaton will discuss the show’s history at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The general public is invited to attend.

The coffee table book contains never-before-published photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. Tucked into dozens of pockets throughout the book are replicas of such items as a program from that first CMA Awards in 1967; a note to the CMA from the Charlie Daniels Band in 1980; a ticket to “The 40th CMA Anniversary” show; and the set-design blueprint from the 2009 CMA Awards.

Kenny Chesney has written the foreword for the book and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Mandrell has supplied the afterword.

The book is available at www.CMAawards.com, with a discount for CMA members. Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Country Hall Salutes Bonnie Garner

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Bonnie Garner

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present an interview honoring visionary music executive Bonnie Garner, as part of the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum series. The forum is set for Tuesday, November 16, at 6 p.m. in the Ford Theater. It is free and open to the public.

The interview with Garner, whose multi-faceted career has included concert promotion, label A&R work, and artist management, will be hosted by Museum Writer/Editor Michael McCall. They will discuss her 40-year career and memories of the artists, songs, issues, opportunities and challenges. The interview will be illustrated with recordings, film clips and photos from the Museum’s archives, and Garner’s personal collection.

Garner’s career began at Chicago’s Conrad Hilton hotel, and then moved on to working for Playboy Press, as a member of Hugh Hefner’s staff. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and joined Hefner’s Playboy after Dark syndicated television show as a talent coordinator. Among the artists she was responsible for booking were Joe Cocker, the Grateful Dead, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Ike and Tina Turner. Transitioning to daytime programming, Garner relocated to New York to take a similar position at ABC-TV’s Dick Cavett Show where she booked Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Janis Joplin and Frank Zappa. When legendary concert promoter Bill Graham appeared on Cavett’s show, Garner worked with his executive assistant, Dale Franklin, who persuaded Garner to take a job at Graham’s Fillmore East concert hall.

From there she joined Kip Cohen’s A&R staff at Columbia Records, as the pop department’s only female, working with Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and many others. She moved to Nashville in the ’70s and set up Columbia and Epic Records’ first Nashville pop division, with a roster including Fogelberg, John Hiatt, Tracy Nelson and others. Garner later joined the labels’ country division.

Garner’s career switched to management when she teamed with industry veteran Mark Rothbaum to run his Nashville office, managing Emmylou Harris, the Highwaymen, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, the O’Kanes and Marty Stuart. Her own Bonnie Garner Management worked with Lynn Anderson, Bonnie Bramlett, Andy Griggs, Lee Roy Parnell, Stuart and Joy Lynn White.

In 2002, with Mary Martin and Luke Lewis, Garner received a Grammy Award for co-producing Timeless, a tribute to Hank Williams. Garner retired from the music industry in 2007, and has devoted much of her free time to working with animals.

The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, made possible by the Gibson Foundation, was established in 2007 to honor music industry leaders who can be seen as the legatees of Scruggs, the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs and the first woman in country music to take on roles as a booker and manager.