Songwriter Larry Jon Wilson Passes

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Songwriter Larry Jon Wilson died yesterday (6/21) at age 69. The Georgia native was recognized for his songs about rural life and for his association with contemporaries such as Townes Van Zandt, Mickey Newbury, Guy Clark, John Prine, and Kris Kristofferson.

Wilson didn’t start writing songs until age 30, but within a few years he had signed with a Nashville label and publisher. Monument released four of his records in the ‘70s (New Beginnings, Let Me Sing My Song To You, Loose Change, and Sojourner), but by the ‘80s he was disillusioned with the music business and returned to Augusta, GA.

Wilson’s career was mostly quiet for the next twenty-five years, but he still performed at listening rooms like Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA , the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and the Flora-Bama Lounge, in Perdido Key, FL. In recent years his music career saw a revival, spawning a new self-titled album, an overseas tour, and new fans.

Rascal Flatts Embarks On New Tour

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Top ticket seller Rascal Flatts will launch a new tour Friday, June 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The first leg of the JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour is scheduled for 28 shows, running through September 19. On board are opening acts Kellie Pickler and Chris Young.

The recently wrapped Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour, played 57 shows between June 2009 and March 2010 with a fan attendance near 800,000. This total includes two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Columbus’ Crew Stadium.

Golden Music Nashville Closes

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Golden Music Nashville is closing up shop, the latest music company to fold in today’s difficult climate. The label opened three years ago with flagship act Williams Riley, and eventually added Benton Blount to the roster.

A rep for the company says the publishing division, Wide Open Music, is still in business.

Lisa Strickland served as Executive Vice President of Promotion & Marketing. She can be reached at 615-289-2319 or lpstrick@gmail.com. Brad Howell, former VP of Promotion and Marketing, can be contacted at bradhowell615@gmail.com or 615-500-2246.

It was a sign of things to come when Pres./CEO Brinson Strickland exited his post in April. He can be reached at brinson@262five.com or 615-969-0334.

CEO Noel Golden started the label in 2007 with offices in Nashville, and Greenville, SC. He had more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, including work with artists such as matchbox twenty, Edwin McCain, Tom Cochrane, Sister Hazel, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack.

Google Music To Debut This Year

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The Wall Street Journal has the latest scoop on Google’s upcoming music service. The paper reports that Google is set to roll out a download service later this year—though still several months away—and follow that with a subscription offering in 2011. Of course, the service will be linked to the Google’s ubiquitous search engine.

Google Music is expected to integrate with the company’s Android mobile phone operating system. WSJ sources say that the download store would be the first step toward Google’s launch of a cloud-based subscription service which lets users stream music online via the Android system, without having to store it on their phones.

With Apple’s iTunes store accounting for 28% of all U.S. music purchases in the first quarter (NPD Group), some in the entertainment industry are hoping Google will be iTunes’ first viable competitor. After all, the Android is being called the first true competitor to the Apple iPhone.

Meanwhile, rumors abound that Apple has its own cloud-based version of iTunes in the works.

Nashville Rising Concert Sold Out

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Tomorrow night’s (6/22) Nashville Rising benefit for flood relief is sold out, but a few VIP ticket packages are still available. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spearheaded the concert event at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, recruiting a superstar line-up including Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Michael W Smith, Amy Grant, Montgomery Gentry, Luke Bryan, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, ZZ Top, Julie Roberts, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Brooks & Dunn, and Toby Keith. Special guests will include Governor Phil Bredesen, Mayor Karl Dean, and entertainment journalist Nancy O’Dell.

The Diamond VIP Package ($1000) includes a premium reserved seat in the first 13 rows of the floor, entrance to post show artist reception at The Palm, signed memorabilia, a Hatch Show print, and a VIP commemorative laminate.

Nashville Rising will benefit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The event is being presented by AEG Live/The Messina Group, Live Nation and Outback Concerts.

VIP packages and details at www.nashvillerising.org.

WDHR’s Randy Jones Passes Away

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Pictured (L-R): Randy Jones, promoter Regina Raleigh, promoter Christina Bear, and KMGO's Russ Ocker

MusicRow is saddened to report that Randy Jones, PD of East Kentucky Broadcasting’s WDHR/Pikeville, KY passed away at his home yesterday (6/20). He was 59 years old. A beloved local radio fixture, Jones was the longtime announcer for Pikeville High School basketball and football games and the voice of WDHR radio. He was born in Pike County, Kentucky, and graduated from Pikeville High School and the Emory Riddle Pilot School. Along with his parents, Jones was preceded in death by one son, Randall Corey Jones, and one brother, John Paul Jones. He is survived by his wife Paulette, son Austin and brother David.

Visitation will be held at 6 pm at the J.W. Call Funeral Home Chapel in Pikeville on Tuesday (6/22), with Masonic services at 7 pm. Funeral services will take place at 1 pm on Wednesday (6/23) at the J.W. Call Funeral Home Chapel and burial will follow at the Annie E. Young Cemetery in Shelbiana, Kentucky. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Randy’s memory to Hillbilly Christmas in July, PO Box 4333, Pikeville, Ky. 41502 or the Randy and Corey Jones Scholarship Fund, c/o Pikeville High School, 148 2nd St., Pikeville, KY 41501.

Jaron Debut Out Tomorrow

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Jaron joined Chuck Wicks for a performance for Wounded Warriors at CMT recently. Pictured above following the event (l-r): Rick Autry, Director of Special Projects, CAMMO (The Center for American Military Music Opportunities) who organized the event; Lucia Folk, Sr. Director/Public Affairs-CMT; Jay Frank, SVP/Music Strategy-CMT; John Zarling, Sr. Director/New Media & National Promotion Strategy-Big Machine; Chuck Wicks; Jaron; Stephen Linn, Sr. Director/Music Programming & Promotion-CMT; and Laura McKinley, Associate Director/Marketing & Artist Development-RCA.

The debut album from Jaron And The Long Road To Love will be released tomorrow (6/22) on Jaronwood/Universal Republic Records in association with Big Machine Records. The first single from Getting Dressed in the Dark is “Pray For You,” currently at No. 7 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart. The “Pray for You” video features Jaime Pressly of My Name Is Earl fame and is getting strong airplay of CMT and GAC.

Among the promotions surrounding the album is an iTunes pre-sale, going on now. Single digital sales have passed 400k and are growing.

Jaron first found fame with his twin brother as the pop duo Evan and Jaron and their hit “Crazy For This Girl.”

Paradigm agent Brian Hill put his son Jack to "work" shredding photos of client Jaron....Hill and Jaron share a running series of practical jokes.

Music City Roots Salutes IBMA

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Music City Roots, the weekly show at the Loveless Barn, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the IBMA with a special installment Wednesday night (6/23). This jam-packed night features nine bands spanning the history of bluegrass, from the mountain-influenced early days to the young standouts of tomorrow. On the line-up are Jesse McReynolds, The Whites, Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band, Dale Ann Bradley, The G2 Bluegrass Band, The Farewell Drifters, Sierra Hull, The Rockin’ Acoustic Circus, and Alison Brown & Fair Weather Friends. The show starts at 7 PM and is hosted by Jim Lauderdale.

A special $25 ticket includes a reception, food and an early evening hang with IBMA members and artists. Regular tickets are $10 or $5 with college ID. Ticket info and live streaming at www.musiccityroots.com.

In more MCR news, the show has started using NewTek TriCaster for live streaming. Last Wednesday was the first time fans could watch the weekly concert online. The radio show is broadcast on legendary WSM/650 AM.

Jason Blume Songwriters’ Workshop

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BMI Nashville will once again host the Jason Blume Songwriters’ Workshop Series. The 2010/2011 season kicks off July 20 with hit songwriter and best-selling author Blume offering creative tips and business counsel.

Each session will conclude with either a one-song pitch to an established music publisher or a thorough critique from Blume. Individuals who wish to participate in the pitch or critique option are encouraged to bring a recording or lyric sheet, or to be prepared to perform the song live. The series is open to all songwriters. Register online at BMI.com/events.

2010/2011 Schedule:
July 20 – Hit Lyric Analysis
August 24 – The Secrets of Successful Demos
September 21 – How to Publish or Self Publish Your Songs
October 26 – Writing Memorable Melodies
January 11 – Song Rodeo (In-Depth Critiques)
February 8 – How to Publish or Self Publish Your Songs
March 8 – Writing Hit Lyrics
April 5 – The Secrets of Successful Demos
May 10 – Creating Melodies Listeners Can’t Forget
June 21 – Song Rodeo (In-Depth Critiques)

Pat Finch Representing Big Borassa Music

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(L-R): Brett Jones and Pat Finch

Hit songwriter Brett Jones has recruited publishing veteran Pat Finch to represent his catalog and publishing company, Big Borassa. Finch was most recently Senior Vice President/General Manager of S1 Songs in Nashville, where the company’s latest achievements included No. 1’s by Easton Corbin (“Little More Country Than That”), Rascal Flatts (“Unstoppable”), and George Strait (“I Gotta Get To You”).

Big Borassa is home to songwriters Jones, Dallas Davidson, Joanna Smith, and Martin McDaniel. Among Jones’ recent charttoppers are Billy Currington’s “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and Jason Aldean’s “Crazy Town.”

Finch and Jones first worked together on the late ’90s hits “A Little Past Little Rock,” “Better Man, Better Off” and “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely.”

Finch can be reached at patrickfinchmusicpublishing@gmail.com or 615-400-3197.