Performers Named For Americana Awards

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Emmylou Harris is among the performers slated for the Americana Music Awards.

Organizers of the 9th Annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony have announced a stellar performance line-up for the Sept. 9 show at the Ryman Auditorium, including Emmylou Harris, the Avett Brothers, Rodney Crowell, Wanda Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Patty Griffin, Sam Bush, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ryan Bingham, Corb Lund, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Joe Pug, and Will Kimbrough. Many more artists are expected to be added in the coming months. Tickets are $55 and go on sale Saturday, July 24.

Jim Lauderdale will continue his tenure as master of ceremonies, joined for another year by Buddy Miller and his all-star house band. More than 2,000 artists, music lovers and industry executives attend the annual show, which is the capstone of the Americana Music Festival & Conference.

Slated for September 8-11, the conference offers seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Downtown Nashville Sheraton Hotel by day, and numerous showcases each evening.

The Honors & Awards are presented by the Gibson Foundation. Details about the conference and awards show here.

Idol Hopefuls Gather In Nashville

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Thousands of star-hopefuls braved the heat outside the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville this morning (7/15), as registration to audition for season 10 of American Idol got underway. Many of those waiting to register for a time to sing arrived the night before, sleeping on the sidewalk outside the arena to be the first in line. Contestants will have to return to the arena on Saturday (7/17), when the actual singing auditions begin, in front of producers. The show’s celeb judging panel won’t be present for this early round of the competition.

Idol Season 10 auditions will also take place in Milwaukee, New Orleans, East Rutherford, Austin, and San Francisco. Season Nine was the final one for show co-creator Simon Cowell, and there is no word yet on who will replace him in the upcoming season.

Songwriting Legend Hank Cochran Passes

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Hank Cochran, the songwriter who touched the world with classics like “I Fall To Pieces,” has passed away. He died peacefully at home in Hendersonville, Tenn., this morning (7/15) surrounded by family and friends. Earlier this year the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee underwent surgery for an aortic aneurysm; he had also been treated for pancreatic cancer in recent years. He was 74.

Last night Cochran visited with friends Jamey Johnson, Billy Ray Cyrus and Buddy Cannon, who dropped by to sing songs with the ailing musician.

Garland Perry “Hank” Cochran was born August 2, 1935 in Isola, Mississippi. Following his parents’ divorce at age 9, he was shuffled between an orphanage and relatives, eventually landing in Nashville in 1959. The Encyclopedia of Country Music says he “defined country songwriting in the 1960s, and continued to be a major creative force in Nashville into the 1990s.”

Cochran’s influence persevered for the remainder of his life. In June 2009, BMI toasted his six decades of success, which included penning Cline’s “She’s Got You,” Eddy Arnold’s “Make The World Go Away,” George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property” and “The Chair,” and Ronnie Milsap’s “Don’t You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me.”

Cochran is survived by wife Suzi, daughter Booth Calder and sons Garland Perry Cochran Jr., James Lee Cochran and Daniel Cochran. A private, family memorial will be held in the near future, and a public service will follow. Details will be forthcoming. The family asks for privacy at this time and, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

Pictured at the BMI reception held Monday, June 15, 2009 in Nashville to honor legendary songwriter Hank Cochran are Bobby Bare; BMI Assistant Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley; Theresa & Merle Haggard; Hank Cochran; songwriter Dale Dodson; BMI Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams and BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. (Photo by Peyton Hoge)

Signings: James Wesley, Due West

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Broken Bow Records artist James Wesley has signed an exclusive booking agreement with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. Joey Lee in the Nashville office will be the responsible agent. Wesley is currently traveling nationwide on his radio tour in support of the new single, “Real,” written by Neal Coty and Jimmy Melton. “Real” debuted on the MusicRow Country Breakout chart last week.

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Black River Music Group has signed vocal group Due West to a recording contract. They are putting the finishing touches on their new album which is being produced by Jason Deere and Jimmy Nichols. Their first single from the project Bible and the Belt is currently climbing the MusicRow chart and was co-written by Due West lead singer Tim Gates, and hit songwriters Marc Beeson and Billy Austin.

Pictured front row (L-R): DW’s Matt Lopez, Tim Gates, Brad Hull and BRMG’s Jimmy Nichols. Back row: BRMG’s Tonya Ginnetti

News From Swift, iPhone, And Sony

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Those awaiting word of Taylor Swift’s upcoming third album will finally get to hear details when she hosts a live webcast July 20 at 4pm CT. “I’ve spent the last two years out on the Fearless tour and working on my new record,” says Swift. “I’ve gotten so many questions from fans — on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, my website, everywhere really, and it’s so incredible to see how excited everybody is about what’s next. I want them to be the first to know about my new music, and I can’t wait to talk to everybody as directly as I can!” Fans can check out the webcast at Taylorswift.com, MySpace.com/TaylorSwift, Facebook.com/TaylorSwift, and Ustream.tv/taylorswift.

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Responding to growing controversy around its popular but troubled iPhone 4, Apple has scheduled a press conference at 10am PT tomorrow (7/16) to address problems with the device. The computer manufacturer has been beset by complaints about the phone’s antenna since its launch, with speculation about a hardware design flaw causing the issues. No information has been given about who will speak at the press conference.

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The New York Post is reporting that Sony Corp. has begun a search to replace Sony Music CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz. There has been speculation lately about his departure, and his current contract runs through March 2011. The Post article also notes that some sources close to the search have not ruled out keeping Schmidt-Holtz in charge for another term.

Knox Peers Into The Future

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(L-R): Kevin Lamb and Michael Knox

Producer and music executive Michael Knox has joined peermusic as Senior Creative Director. Following his string of recent successes in the studio, Knox will maintain his role as a producer, in addition to his new publisher duties. For peermusic, he will focus on identifying and signing songwriters, and working closely with other staffers in sourcing and developing talent globally.

Knox’s career includes ten years (1992-2002) at Warner/Chappell publishing where he signed artist/writers John Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Emily West and Jason Aldean. Knox has scored several major hits as a producer for Aldean, and has credits on numerous recent singles: Aldean’s “Crazy Town,” Josh Thompson’s “Way Out Here,” Montgomery Gentry’s “While You’re Still Young,” Trace Adkins’ “This Ain’t No Love Song,” Chuck Wicks’ “Hold That Thought” and Frankie Ballard’s “Tell Me You Get Lonely.”

Peermusic VP Nashville, Kevin Lamb, announced the company’s latest hiring. “We are thrilled to have Michael on board,” he says. “Michael and I have been talking about this for some time.

While he’s enjoying great success as a producer, he’s a publisher at heart; he loves working with writers and developing talent. This plays well into our overall strategy for growth as well as Michael’s vision for artist development. More than ever before, it is taking every piece of the artist puzzle to break an artist, or to get a hit on an established artist.”

Peermusic/Nashville has recently purchased several catalogs including Malaco Music, Route Six Music, GrangeHill Music and James Strouds’ WS Music Publishing. They have been honored with SESAC’s Christian Publisher of the Year award for the past three years and received two Dove Awards. Peer’s Nashville based advertising division, overseen by Craig Currier, has provided music for major campaigns with Lincoln, Chrysler, GE, Guitar Hero and Levi’s. Television advertisements currently airing include Volvo and Tostitos.

“Certainly Michael will be a key piece to this puzzle for us,” adds Lamb. “But just as importantly Michael, Craig and I are hoping to utilize our relationships and past successes in the area of advertising to help put this puzzle together.”

“I truly believe,” says Knox, “that the best music out there is music that normally doesn’t get heard. There’s a generation of brilliant talent out there that’s not sure yet where to go or where they fit. Those are the people I want to work with.”

BMG Acquires Stage Three Music

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Lionel Conway

Stage Three Music announced it has signed an agreement that will move its copyrights to Berlin-based BMG Rights Management.

Stage Three is a leading independent publisher run by ex-Virgin and Chrysalis CEO, Steve Lewis. The business is headquartered in London, with offices in Los Angeles and Nashville run by Lionel Conway, former President of Island Music, Polygram Music Inc. and Maverick Music Inc. The Nashville office was headed by Tim Hunze. Ingenious Corporate Finance advised the shareholders of Stage Three on the sale.

Stage Three holds the rights to a variety of contemporary compositions performed by Aerosmith, David Essex, Duffy, The Eagles, Eminem, Eric Clapton, Inner City, James Morrison, Johnny Hates Jazz, Mike Oldfield, Rascal Flatts, Take That and ZZ Top. Music rights include well-known compositions “Walk this Way”, “You Get What You Give”, “Gimme All Your Lovin’”, “La Grange”, “Baker Street”, “Dream On”, “Good Life”, “Sing For The Moment” and 60 country music number one singles. The writer roster includes leading Nashville songwriters Brett James and Bobby Pinson and superstar writer producers Steve Robson, Bernard Butler and Andrew Frampton.

Stage Three is BMG’s third investment of significant size made in 2010 and follows the acquisition of Cherry Lane and the Adage IV catalogue in the US. BMG is a joint venture between the international media company Bertelsmann and an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a leading global alternative asset manager.

“It is tremendously important to us to increase our foothold in the UK – the hottest and most competitive music market in the world,” Hartwig Masuch, CEO BMG, said upon signing of the transaction. “Stage Three Music is an iconic music publishing business and one we are very pleased to be buying, not only because of its elite roster of writers but also due to its pro-active approach towards licensing, which perfectly supports our thinking and growth strategy.”

Steve Lewis, CEO Stage Three Music added: “It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented group of colleagues and writers. I’m grateful to our investors for their support and very proud of our achievements and the catalog we’ve assembled over the past seven years. BMG have been very professional purchasers. I’m confident the company is in good hands and I look forward to seeing continued growth under their ownership”.

Sam Bush Keynote To Open IBMA Conference

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Sam Bush

Renowned musician Sam Bush will deliver the keynote address at the International Bluegrass Music Association Business Conference on Monday, September 27, 2010. The acclaimed mandolin player and seminal newgrass star is expected to focus his speech on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe, coming up on Sept. 13, 2011. Bush will talk about what that milestone means to the bluegrass music community and industry, and how to celebrate a century of Monroe’s influence.

Bush has been honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s the co-founder of the genre-bending New Grass Revival and an in-demand musician who has played with everyone from Emmylou Harris and Bela Fleck, to Lyle Lovett and Garth Brooks. His latest solo album, Circles Around Me, (Sugar Hill) is an inspiring mix of bluegrass favorites and new songs.

The IBMA Business Conference is part of the organization’s annual World of Bluegrass convention, running Sept. 27-Oct. 3 in Nashville, which also includes Fan Fest (Oct. 1-3), and the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show (Sept. 30). The theme for World of Bluegrass 2010 is “Face Time. It Matters,” highlighting the importance of relationship building.

Tickets to all World of Bluegrass events are available at IBMA.org, or by calling 1-888-GET-IBMA.  For discount rates on accommodations, call the event housing bureau at 1-877-259-4716.

Clif Doyal Promoted; Martha Moore Signing

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Martha Moore

Updates from indie publicists Martha Moore and Clif Doyal.

Longtime industry publicist, Martha “skates” Moore, President of so much MOORE media, has signed former Gaither singer Guy Penrod. Moore will handle all aspects of public relations efforts for Penrod’s new country disc, Breathe Deep (Servant Records/Gaither Music Group). Penrod is a 14-year veteran of the GRAMMY ® and Dove Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band.

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Clif Doyal

Clif Doyal has been promoted to Strategic Business Development executive for AirPlay Direct, as well as Editor of the Direct Buzz, the company’s digital / interactive publication. Robert Weingartz, CEO of AirPlay Direct, announced the promotion. In the new roles, Doyal will oversee both existing and new business development for the global digital-to-radio delivery platform and manage content for their digital publication. He remains in charge of media relations for the firm. Doyal’s 37 years of experience includes booking, artist management, audio/video production, publicity and marketing.

Armiger Fans To Name Album

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Sarah Buxton and Katie Armiger in the studio.

Katie Armiger is teaming with GACtv.com to let fans select the name of her new album. Through July 28 fans can go here and cast their votes for one of three possible album titles— Guitar Picks & Lipstick, Confessions Of A Nice Girl, or High Heels & No Expectations. Due out Oct. 5, it will be the rising artist’s third studio effort on Cold River Records.

Armiger wrote nine of the thirteen tracks on the project that will include her hit singles “Kiss Me Now” and “Leaving Home.” The latter was chosen by over twenty high schools across the country as the 2010 graduation song (see video below). She penned the track with Sarah Buxton and Blair Daly.

“I’m really excited about the new music. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with so many truly amazing and inspiring people,” Armiger says. “I thought this was a great way to get everyone who has helped get me where I am today involved in the process by helping to choose my album title. I cannot wait to see what they pick!”

The track listing:

1. Kiss Me Now
2. Best Song Ever
3. Cry Cry Cry
4. Nice Girl
5. Scream
6. That’s Why
7. Ain’t Gonna Happen
8. I Will Be
9. Can’t Keep Myself From Loving You
10. Ain’t So Sweet
11. Leaving Home
12. Can You Handle It
13. Strong Enough