Gibson Guitar’s Flood Relief

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Gibson Guitar and its philanthropic division, the Gibson Foundation, have announced a series of programs to help aid the victims of the recent Nashville floods. The Gibson Foundation, which is based in Nashville, will spearhead an initiative with landmark venues and businesses throughout the city including the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitor’s Center, Gibson Café, and Diana’s Sweet Shoppe to place Gibson Guitar banks created from actual Gibson guitar cases for visiting patrons to make a donation. The guitar case banks will be placed in area establishments in Nashville through June 18, when the initiative will culminate in a final push to raise funds through a sponsored event titled Night Out for Nashville – An Evening for Music City Flood Relief. Participating Clubs and venues around the city will host simultaneous music events with all donations made to the guitar case banks going directly to the Gibson Foundation Flood Relief Programs. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau is supporting the effort and will be helping to spread the word on where donations are being accepted, along with having a guitar case bank set up at their downtown Visitor Center. 100% of all proceeds will benefit the flood victims in Nashville and surrounding affected areas.

Austin, TX, sister city and home of Gibson Guitar Austin, has also pledged its support with special events being planned with a host of celebrity musicians. Gibson Guitar case banks will be set up in area establishments throughout Austin during the popular Memorial Day weekend, again with 100% of the donations collected going for flood relief.  For many years Austin and Nashville have competed for the title of “world’s greatest music city.” But now, the two cities have come together in an effort to spearhead events across their markets in an effort to garner proceeds to support the flood relief programs initiated by the Gibson Foundation. Landmark venues across Austin, including Antone’s Home of the Blues in downtown Austin and Maggie Mae’s on 6th Street, are participating. At select locations, each donation of $20 or more will automatically enter the patron into a sweepstakes to win an exclusive Gibson or Epiphone guitar. The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau has volunteered to help spread the word through social media and several local marketing company resources.

Gibson Foundation has also launched a series of Public Service Announcements by such popular Gibson and Epiphone artists such as Slash, Zakk Wylde, Peter Frampton, Luke Bryan, Keb Mo, Heart, Sammy Hagar, Corey Taylor, JT Hodges, Honor Society, Rev Theory, Gloriana,  Paulie Z, Billy Morrison, Ray Benson, Austin City Limits’ Terry Lickona, Jonathan Singleton and others. All PSAs have been donated by the artist. Gibson Foundation will also place the series in a viral campaign via YouTube in an effort to bring attention to the current need for donations for Flood Relief.  The Jonas Brothers, a signature Gibson band known for their sold-out tours and No. 1 hits, have also been tweeting  and asking their Twitter followers to support Gibson Foundation’s request for donations.

Click here for more information on the Gibson Foundation’s flood relief efforts.

Americana Assn. Names Nominees

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As previously reported in this morning’s @musicrow, The Americana Music Association announced nominees for the organization’s 2010 Honors and Awards ceremony today (5/12) during a reception hosted by BMI at the W.O. Smith School of Music. The show, in its 9th year, will be held September 9th at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Longstanding Americana supporters Emmylou Harris and Todd Snider read the list of award candidates to a crowd of industry executives, artists and tastemakers. Dave Rawlings received four nominations, Texas songwriters Ray Wylie Hubbard and Ryan Bingham received three and Patty Griffin, The Avett Brothers and Hayes Carll garnered two nominations.

Selected by members of the Americana Music Association, the 2010 nominees reflect the genre’s affection for innovative and inspiring artistry. The nominees’ eligibility is based on work released between May 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

(l to r): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Will Kimbrough, AMA Executive Director Jed Hilley, Todd Snider, Emmylou Harris and the Carolina Chocolate Drops (with baby!). Photo: Drew Maynard

The 2010 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards nominees are:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The List, by Rosanne Cash
A Friend of a Friend, by Dave Rawlings Machine
Downtown Church, by Patty Griffin
A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no c), by Ray Wylie Hubbard

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ryan Bingham
Patty Griffin
Levon Helm
Steve Earle
Ray Wylie Hubbard

DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Avett Brothers
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Band of Heathens
Dave Rawlings Machine

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Dave Rawlings
Will Kimbrough
Sam Bush

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST
Sarah Jarosz
Ryan Bingham
Hayes Carll
Corb Lund
Joe Pug

SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Weary Kind”
Written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett-performed by Ryan Bingham
“Drunken Poets Dream”
Written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard performed by Ray Wylie Hubbard
“Ruby”
Written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch-performed by Dave Rawlings Machine
“I and Love and You”
Written and performed The Avett Brothers

The winners will be announced September 9 at the  Ryman Auditorium during the 9th Annual Americana Music Association’s Honors and Awards Show. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by Buddy Miller, the Honors & Awards ceremony will also recognize Lifetime Achievements and bestow awards in Performance, Songwriting and Instrumentalist and other important categories. Additional honorees and performers will be announced in the coming months.

“Very quietly, Americana has become the fastest rising music community today,” said AMA executive director Jed Hilly. “The nominees represent the elite of the elite, and we could not be more proud to work with and for such provocative creators.”

Slated for Wednesday, September 8 through Saturday, September 11, the 11th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel.  The event brings more than 100 stacked musical showcases to key venues throughout Nashville. Approximately 1,000 industry professionals attended the 2009 conference and more than 12,000 fans experienced the Festival’s musical events.

DISClaimer (reviews) 5/12/10

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Everybody wins this week.

There are no stinkers here. In fact, there are so many cool performances that I’m tossing out the weekly honors left and right.

The female Disc of the Day belongs to Jewel. Wait until you hear what producer Nathan Chapman has surrounded her lovely song with.

Our male Disc of the Day comes from the always reliable Darren Kozelsky. If my memory serves me correctly, I have liked just about everything he has put out. And this time, he has found himself a sturdy winner of a song.

The group Disc of the Day is by Court Yard Hounds. Everything you have read and/or heard about this project is true. In addition to “The Coast,” check out “See You in the Spring,” which is a collaboration with Jakob Dylan. While you’re at it, pick up a copy of Jakob’s new Women + Country collection. Produced by T Bone Burnett, it will knock your socks off.

Let’s see, that leaves us with this week’s DisCovery Award. And goes to a dandy outfit, a California-based group called Truth & Salvage Co. The album isn’t due until May 25, but if this single is any indication, it is going to be just great.

THEA WESCOTT/Santa Ana Wind
Writer: Thea Wescott; Producer: Bruce Watkins; Publisher: Timberland Ridge, BMI; Timberland Ridge (track) (www.timberlandridge.com)
—Dobro, mandolin and fiddle dominate the lilting track. Her delivery is fairly straightforward, so the thing doesn’t really take off until the celestial harmonies by Dale Ann Bradley and Steve Gully kick in. Incidentally, those dobro notes come courtesy of Rob Ickes, the fiddler is Stuart Duncan, and the mandolin is Adam Steffey’s. Need more star power? How about Bryan Sutton on guitar and banjos by Ron Block and Scott Vestal?

JEWEL/Satisified
Writer: Jewel/Liz Rose; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Publisher: none listed; Valory
—She’s her usual breathy and sweetly folkie self, vocally. The real magic here is in shimmering production. It caresses every note of this pretty melody with washes of strings, shuddering percussion and chiming keyboards. In a word, gorgeous.

TRUTH & SALVAGE CO./Call Back
Writer: none listed; Producer: Chris Robinson; Publisher: none listed; Megaforce
—Count me in! Produced by Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, this has a nicely crunchy quality. The six-man band has a twin-guitar attack and rousing group harmonies. The song is quite infectious. Catch them at Bonnaroo (June 11) or on tour with the marvelous Avett Brothers or at 3rd & Lindsley (June 3).

COURT YARD HOUNDS/The Coast
Writer: Emily Robison; Producer: Emily Robison, Martie Maguire & Jim Scott; Publisher: FUFF/Words & Music, BMI; Columbia (track) (www.courtyardhounds.com)
—This is the side project by Dixie Chick sisters Emily and Martie. Little sis Emily really has come into her own as a writer. This hand-clapper celebrates the Texas gulf coast. It is completely sunny and irresistible. Let these ladies take you on a little trip to heaven.

AUSTINS BRIDGE/Mercy Never Leaves
Writer: Barry Weeks/Joel Lindsey; Producer: Jay DeMarcus; Publisher: Back in the Saddle/Danny Orton/Universal, ASCAP; Daywind (track)
—I loved this act’s last CD. Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts produced this one with a bit more pop bite and edge. Formerly a trio, Austins Bridge is now a duo, but its sound remains just as big here and on the rest of the Times Like These CD.

BRUCE ROBISON/Heartache To Houston
Writer: Bruce Robison/Miles Zuniga/Gary Massey; Producer: Miles Zuniga; Publisher: Tiltawhirl/Bruce Robison/Zunitunes, BMI/ASCAP; BR (972-800-0004)
—I have made no secret of my admiration for this Texas tunesmith. His catalog already includes “Angry All the Time,” “Desperately,” “Wrapped” and “Traveling Soldier,” all of which he originated. Add this loping, wistful gem to his hit list. His soft, dry delivery is supported by jaunty-jangling guitar work, sighing organ and a chugging rhythm track.

MERLE HAGGARD/Pretty When It’s New
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producer: Merle Haggard & Lou Bradley; Publisher: Merle Haggard, BMI; Vanguard/Hag
—I raved about Hag’s new I Am What I Am collection a couple of weeks ago. Now Vanguard has issued this gently swinging number as a single. It sways like a hammock in summertime.

DIAMOND RIO/This Is My Life
Writer: Marty Roe/Jimmy Olander/Matthew West; Producer: Mike Clute & Jimmy Olander; Publisher: Roe Hoe/Taxicaster/Word/Songs for Life, BMI/ASCAP; Word (CDX)
—This seriously rocks. Crank it up, and let it rip. Marty remains a terrifically involving singer, and Jimmy’s guitar work is genius. If there’s any justice, this will be massive.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER/I Put My Ring Back On
Writer: Mary Chapin Carpenter; Producer: Mary Chapin Carpenter & Matt Rollings; Publisher: Why Walk, ASCAP; Rounder (CDX) (617-218-4413)
—It is very much a return to her classic sound. The lyric of rebuilding a relationship is set to a rolling melody embellished by a steady tempo and some juicy electric guitar lines.

DARREN KOZELSKY/Somebody Find Me A Preacher
Writer: Shane Minor/Wendell Mobley; Producer: J.R. Rodriguez & Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: EMI Blackwood/Shane Minor/Warner Tamerlane, BMI; Spinville (CDX)
—There is something instantly likable about this man’s singing. He always sounds like he really means it, and this time is no exception. He swoons over the sight of her and is ready to say those vows right here and now, with her in cut-off jeans and him in his old t-shirt. Kudos to the writers for such a fine job, to the producers for creating such a cool track and, of course, to Darren, who sells it. Big time.

Holidays Drive Sales For Week Ended 5-9-10

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According to Nielsen SoundScan, the week ended 5-9-2010 saw country sales jump 12% from the previous seven days thanks to the Mother’s Day holiday, a new Zac Brown Band live offering (26k) and the Courtyard Hounds debut (61k). Country debuts usually boast a digital percentage of 20% or less, but ZBB fans downloaded 43% of those 26k sales!

The Hounds, whose members include two thirds of the Dixie Chicks, were not admitted to SoundScan’s country sales list, but iTunes seemed quite comfortable highlighting the project in its country area and giving it strong visibility.

Lady Antebellum continued to pace the pack staying on top of the Current Country Top 75 with 97k units, a jump of 28%. Other Top Ten CDs enjoying a holiday surge were newly engaged Miranda Lambert (No. 4;+27%; 23k), Carrie Underwood (No. 5; +32%; 19k), Taylor Swift (No. 6; +14%; 16k), Lady Antebellum’s debut CD (No. 7; +32%; 12k), and Alan Jackson (No. 9; +22%; 10k).

Digital country tracks showed few surprises with Lady A., Miranda and ZBB getting many of the downloads. Jaron and the Long Road to Love’s “Pray For You,” however climbed from No. 4 to No. 3 getting over 37k downloads for the week. Other’s in the Top Ten include Joe Nichols, Luke Bryan, Uncle Kracker and Jerrod Niemann all of whom downloaded from 20-25k units for the week.

The industry overall was up 11% offering a bouquet of new releases designed to attract holiday shoppers—in fact, half of the Top 20 all genre Current Albums contained new debuts. Country YTD sales remain off from last year 3.9%, however, digital country album sales are up 25.6%. Last year at this time the percentage of country album sales that were digital downloads was 6.5%. This year the number has risen to 7% of the approximately 13.8 million country units sold YTD.

Swift To Receive Hal David Starlight Award

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Hal David, Chairman/CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has announced that Taylor Swift will be the recipient of the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award, to be presented at the 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards dinner on Thursday June 17 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.

At the young age of 14, Swift signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music and in 2006 she released her self-titled debut CD on Big Machine Records. At the age of 17, with “Our Song,” she became the youngest person to ever single-handedly write and sing a No. 1 country single entirely on her own. With her debut, she also became the first female solo artist in country music history to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. In addition, Swift wrote or co-wrote every song on her blockbuster Fearless album, released in 2008. Fearless has sold more than 5 million copies, fueled by the multi-genre domestic and international success of chart-topping singles including “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.”

Swift has sold more than 13 million albums and has numerous awards and accolades to add to her long list of accomplishments, including being the top-selling digital artist in music history, receiving the Artist of the Year Award at the American Music Awards, having the No. 1 best-selling album in any genre of music in both 2009 and 2008, and to be the first female solo country artist to ever win the all-genre Grammy award for Album of the Year. This year alone she took home four Grammy awards. In addition to Album of the Year, she was honored for Country Album of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Country Female Vocal Performance.

“Taylor Swift is one of the brightest musical talents to emerge in recent years, and represents the true epitome of the Starlight Award,” said David. “She possesses an undeniable talent as a songwriter, expressive singer and performer, and we are proud to present her with this well-deserved honor.”

The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was renamed in honor of the SHOF Chairman for his longtime support of young songwriters. Award recipients are gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs. Swift joins the prestigious company of Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, John Legend, John Rzeznik, and Jason Mraz – the past recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award.

Inductees at this year’s event include Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay. The prestigious Johnny Mercer Award will be presented to Phil Collins and the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award will be presented to Phil Ramone.

Guitar Center Launches “Operation High Ground” Flood Relief

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In direct response to the devastation from the recent floods in Nashville, musical instrument retailer Guitar Center has launched a dedicated initiative titled Operation High Ground for Nashville Flood Relief, to help musicians, songwriters, recording studios and audio professionals re-build their lives. The goal of the program is to help Nashville’s music community get back on its feet as quickly as possible to keep the music going in Music City. Guitar Center’s President, Greg Trojan, made the announcement.

As the events of May 1 unfolded, Guitar Center management was kept apprised of the Nashville storm situation as the unprecedented floods destroyed several communities. Immediately, the company began to formulate a strategy to take advantage of its extensive resources, both locally and nationally, and put into place a comprehensive, multi-tiered plan that addresses the various musical instrument and professional audio needs of the flood victims.

Key elements of Operation High Ground include the following:

• Dedicated team specialists from both Guitar Center and GC Pro are on the ground in Nashville to interface with and advise flood victims on the best way to either repair or replace their musical instruments and recording gear as quickly as possible.

• Guitar Center has mobilized its distribution network to capitalize on the nearby Indianapolis warehouse, to ensure that if a replacement instrument, recording product or piece of audio equipment is not in stock in Nashville, it will be expedited to arrive as quickly as possible.

• A special toll-free Tennessee direct hotline (877-687-5405) to the High Ground Emergency Team has been established for customers who have experienced catastrophic loss. Callers can use this number to get rush access to musical gear purchases, along with personalized priority shipment and delivery logistics.

• Guitar Center is partnering with MusiCares® to assist the Nashville area music community by providing emergency financial assistance to help those affected get through this crisis. Donations can be made here or at any of Guitar Center’s 214 stores.

• TimePayment Corporation, an equipment leasing provider, is working with Guitar Center and GC Pro to develop a lease offering that will help the victims of the floods replace their equipment.

• Guitar Center has partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 104.5, The Zone, to help musicians rebuild their devastated communities. Beginning in May, for a six-week period, 104.5 will be holding live broadcasts from storm-damaged areas. Guitar Center representatives will be on-site to evaluate damaged gear and provide advice and assistance.

• Guitar Center has also partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 103 WKDF and 3rd and Lindsley to host a charity country music show titled Putting The Music Back in Music City. The show will be broadcast nationwide, and listeners will be solicited for donations to aid flood victims. Guitar Center will donate guitars that will be signed by the various performing artists and give one lucky listener in each market a signed guitar for donating to this event.

“Nashville has the greatest concentration of musicians, recording studios and audio professionals anywhere in the world,” says GC Pro Director Rick Plushner. “The entire community has banded together to rebuild Music City, and Guitar Center and GC Pro are proud to be a resource for those players and studios that have suffered a loss. We look forward to helping everyone get back on their feet and keeping the music alive in Nashville.”

Keith Urban Rocks “Jimmy Fallon”

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Keith Urban closed out Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night (5/11) with a barn-burning version of the Rolling Stones’ classic, “Tumbling Dice.” Joining Urban and his band on Hammond B3 was Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, with producer/pianist Tony Brown pounding the keys and stellar background vocals provided by Sarah Buxton and Little Big Town’s Kimberly Roads and Karen Fairchild. Urban even gave Nashville a big, post-flood shout-out. It was great. Check it out here.

Live Nation; EMI/Terra Firma

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Live Nation Entertainment today (5/11) released financial results for the first quarter of 2010, the first earnings report since completing its merger with Ticketmaster on Jan. 25. The company reported a loss of $112 million (76 cents/share) in the quarter that ended March 31, which was more than the prior-year Q1 loss of $102.7 million ($1.29/share). The first quarter in 2009 had fewer shares outstanding, prior to the Ticketmaster deal.

Revenue grew 49% to $723 million, mainly thanks to the merger. Concert attendance fell 3% to 6.8 million from 7.1 million a year ago, while the total spending per concertgoer grew 2% to $59.71 from $58.57.

Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment, said he expects the combined company to save at least $40 million during 2010 as operations between Live Nation and Ticketmaster are streamlined.

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EMI parent company Terra Firma has successfully raised 105 million pounds ($155.4 million) to stay in the good graces of lender Citigroup, according to a report today in the Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the situation.

Meanwhile, the New York Post says Queen is the latest act planning to leave EMI, which has been its label home for four decades. An in-depth Business Week piece also reports contracts with Pink Floyd and Robbie Williams are coming up for renewal and could be in jeopardy. Paul McCartney, Radiohead and the Rolling Stones already exited the label.

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The New York Times looks at the royalty issues surrounding websites like Metrolyrics.com, which made almost $10 million in revenue last year.

Country’s Newest Acts Debut Music

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EMI Records Nashville’s flagship artist Troy Olsen released his self-titled EP today (5/11). Among the four tracks is his debut single, “Summer Thing,” for which the singer recently taped the music video in his home state Arizona. Olsen has been visiting radio stations across the country promoting the song, co-written with Ben Hayslip and Jimmy Yeary. Olsen hits the road Thurs., May 14 in Tampa, FL as part of the multi-stage Country Throwdown tour.

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Jennette McCurdy, known to fans of the Nickelodeon show iCarly,  is trying on her cowgirl boots with debut country single “Not That Far Away.” The 17-year-old Californian penned the song with Rachel Proctor and Blair Daly. McCurdy’s fans helped pick it as the first single via a poll on AOL’s The Boot. McCurdy’s album follows this fall on Capitol Records Nashville and was produced by Paul Worley. She’ll spend the summer on a radio tour and filming another season of iCarly.

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Katie Armiger’s new song “Leaving Home” is generating a big response from high school seniors as graduation draws near. The song was written by Armiger with Sarah Buxton and Blair Daly. An enhanced version of the “Leaving Home” CD was serviced to high schools, including a message from Katie, the music video, and footage of the singer’s journey over the last year. She is working on her third album for Cold River Records and has teamed with the “Hear The Music Live” organization to give youth in foster homes and orphanages a chance to attend a live concert.

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Susan Hickman with KITX/Paris, TX's Shane Oats and Chad Lindsey

Country newcomer Susan Hickman has wrapped up the second leg of a radio promotion tour for her current single, “Hell Still Ain’t Frozen Over.” The petite blonde from Texas visited a total of 24 stations and traveled over 1400 miles during the combined outings, visiting numerous stations which report to MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart.

Blackberry Smoke

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BamaJam Records’ southern rock band Blackberry Smoke is prepping the June release of single “Good One Comin’ On.” The group made an accompanying music video combining footage from the stage  with scenes from life on the road. A new version of their album Little Piece of Dixie will be released this month, containing the bonus track “Yesterday’s Wine.” The song, a cover of the Willie Nelson tune, features guests George Jones and Jamey Johnson. Blackberry Smoke is on their Jim Beam-sponsored tour throughout the summer, including a May 13 stop at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge.

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Chelsea Field’s debut single, “Things I Should’ve Said” is garnering praise from radio and reviewers. The song was produced by Trey Bruce, and the video was directed by Jeff Johnson. Two dance remixes of the track are being shipped to DJs and dance clubs across the country. Field, whose Nashville home suffered significant damage in the recent floods, is on a 12-week radio tour in support of the new single. Her full-length album is due out on Nashville-based independent Moxy Records this summer.

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Stoney Creek Records’ husband-wife duo Thompson Square has released its debut single, “Let’s Fight,” and is on radio tour promoting it. The up-tempo song was co-written by Thompson Square’s Keifer Thompson.

Shelton, Lambert Announce Engagement

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Lambert and Shelton at her black and white, '40s themed No. 1 party for "White Liar."

People.com reports that one of Country music’s favorite couples got engaged over the weekend. Blake Shelton surprised his girlfriend of five years, Miranda Lambert, with a diamond and platinum engagement ring on Sunday, May 9.

He popped the question near her home in Oklahoma, after receiving her father’s blessing, Lambert tells People. Get the full story here. More details and a photo of the ring will be in the upcoming issue of People, on newsstands Friday.

It’s already been a big year for the stars. Both racked up at the recent ACM Awards, and Lambert scored her first No. 1 hit “White Liar,” while Shelton released a new six-pak album and had the hit “Hillbilly Bone.”