DISClaimer (single reviews) 4/21/10

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Let’s hear it for the seniors.

Merle Haggard, age 73, and Willie Nelson, who will be 77 next week, both released new albums on Tuesday. And both of them are showing the kiddies how to do country music correctly.

Willie’s collection is called, appropriately, Country Music. It is also appropriately the Disc of the Day.

Also worth your spins this week are new singles by The LoCash Cowboys and Chely Wright. Both are produced and performed with extra panache.

Leah Seawright goes home with a DisCovery Award for her classroom antics on “Country Girl 101.” a single that is as clever as it is rocking.

MARK WAYNE GLASMIRE/You Opened My Eyes
Writer: Mark Wayne Glasmire; Producer: John Albani & Mark Wayne Glasmire; Publisher: Traceway, ASCAP; Traceway (www.markwayneglasmire.com)
—He sings in a clear, strong, pleasing tenor, which suits the uplifting song nicely.

CHELY WRIGHT/Broken
Writer: Chely Wright; Producer: Rodney Crowell; Publisher: Painted Red, BMI; Vanguard
—This moody, minor-key outing muses on the difficulty of learning to love anew. Her performance of it is marvelously nuanced. The deep-down rhythm track, gently strummed guitar work and whispery backing vocals all make the production a shimmering gem. A terrific listening experience.

AARON EINHOUSE/Catch A Glance
Writer: Aaron Einhouse; Producer: Walt Wilkins; Publisher: none listed, BMI; AE (www.aaroneinhouse.com)
—While sloshed on Jack Daniels, he has a roll in the hay with his best friend’s girl. They never speak of it again. But he knows she remembers it, because every now and then, “I catch a glance.” Hmmmm.

FAST RYDE/Top Down
Writer: James Harrison/Jody Stevens; Producer: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens & James Harrison; Publisher: OMG/Jody Stevens/Songs of One/Mailbox Dance, BMI/SESAC; Republic Nashvillle (www.fastryde.com)
—It’s fairly straightforward, a simple ditty about riding in the sunshine, singing along to a loud radio in a convertible. Harmless summertime fun.

LEAH SEAWRIGHT/Country Girl 101
Writer: Leah Seawright/Frank Green; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Ineylue/Frank Thomas Green, ASCAP; SkyTone (www.leahwright.com)
—She rocks with plenty of sass on this feisty list of lessons on how to treat a country girl right. Listen up, boys. Or she just might kick your tail.

LoCASH COWBOYS/Here Comes Summer
Writer: Jeffrey Steele/Shane Minor/Chris Lucas/Preston Brust; Producer: Jeffrey Steele; Publisher: Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/Sony-ATV Tree/Code Six Charles/Sony-ATV Cross Keys, BMI/ASCAP; Stroudavarious (www.locashcowboys.com)
—It is everything the title suggests, and then some. Relentlessly upbeat, impossible to ignore, eager to please, wildly engaging and completely winning.

KATIE ARMIGER/Leaving Home
Writer: Katie Armiger/Sarah Buxton/Blair Daly; Producer: Blair Daly; Publisher: Lily Road/Were Going to Maui/Internal Combustion/Southside Independent/Kickin Girls, BMI; Cold River (www.katiearmiger.com)
—She’s graduating and leaving home while the power chords crash around her vocal. Effective and emotional.

GARY P. NUNN/Taking Texas To The Country
Writer: Gary P. Nunn/Levi Mullen; Producer: Gary P. Nunn; Publisher: Nunn, BMI; Gaucamole/Campfire (track) (www.garypnunn.com)
—This is the rollicking title tune to this perennial Lone Star State favorite’s 15th studio album. He is still singing powerfully, and the lyric drops all the right names. For those of you not already fans, Nunn is the tunesmith behind “The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning” (Willie Nelson), “Couldn’t Do Nothing Right” (Rosanne Cash) and “London Homesick Blues” (the Austin City Limits theme song often referred to as “Home with the Armadillo”).

MERLE HAGGARD/I Am What I Am
Writer: Merle Haggard; Producer: Merle Haggard & Lou Bradley; Publisher: Merle Haggard, BMI; Vanguard/Hag (track) (www.merlehaggard.com)
—His golden voice pours warmth all over this meditative ballad that serves as the title tune to a dandy CD that came out yesterday. It is almost entirely self composed, proving that he’s still got it as a song craftsman, as well as sounding as cool as ever. The original is still the greatest.

WILLIE NELSON/Man With The Blues
Writer: Willie Nelson; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Publisher: Glad/Pappy Daily, BMI; Rounder/
Shangri-La (track) (www.willienelson.com)
—Also dropping yesterday was the simply titled Country Music, the latest album by the Red Headed Stranger. Produced by noted alchemist Burnett, it finds our hero warbling classics by Ernest Tubb, the Louvin Brothers, Merle Travis, Al Dexter, Porter Wagoner and other greats. The one original is a reworking of his honky-tonking debut single, recorded for D Records in 1959. Like everything else on this collection, it is a spell binding performance. Buy this record.

Leibovitz Shoots Swift For “Vogue;” Chesney Flick Opens Tomorrow

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Photo by Annie Liebovitz for "Vogue"

Taylor Swift appears in the May 2010 issue of fashion magazine Vogue. In the article titled “The Dazzler,” she poses for famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, and discusses her tour, upcoming fall release, and new condo.

Swift tells the magazine, “Looking back on what these past two years have been for me, it feels like this magical dream of, Really? We toured all over the world? We played an arena in London? This is happening? Readjusting my goals and dreams has been something I’ve had to do a lot lately.”

In more Swift news, American Greetings has expanded the star’s line of greeting cards to include e-cards featuring her music. American Greeting is also a sponsor of her sold-out Fearless 2010 concert tour.

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After almost a year and half from conception to the final edit, Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D is set to open nationwide April 21 for a limited run. To celebrate the film, which captures 6 NFL stadium dates on his 2009 Sun City Carnival Tour, the star returned to his native Knoxville to team with Regal Cinemas for a charity preview screening to benefit Variety: The Children’s Charity of Eastern Tennessee.

The preview screenings ultimately sold more than 1100 tickets and raised close to a quarter of a million dollars.

Whitney Duncan Debut Out Today; Jaron Album Coming In June

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Reprise recording artist Whitney Duncan’s debut album Right Road Now is being released today (4/20) on www.Whitneyduncan.com and iTunes. The project features eleven tracks, including her singles, “When I Said I Would” and “Skinny Dippin’.” It was produced by Mark Bright and John Shanks.

AOL’s The Boot exclusively premiered the video for the title track and it is now available to all digital partners including iTunes.

Duncan’s fans had a hand in selecting a song to complete the album via her web site, and they picked “Comin’ Home To You.”

She has penned songs for Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, Crystal Shawanda and Lee Ann Womack to name a few.

Track Listing for Right Road Now:
1. When I Said I Would
2. Right Road Now
3. Little By Little
4. Skinny Dippin’
5. Bed That You Made
6. Burn It Down
7. Open Road
8. So Sorry Mama
9. Kinda Crazy
10. Comin’ Home To You
11. Away

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Jaron And The Long Road To Love’s debut single “Pray For You” is doing so well at radio, Jaronwood/Universal Republic/Big Machine has moved up the release date for his debut album, Getting Dressed In The Dark, to June 22. The singer-songwriter has been busy completing the project and explains, “I think when people hear the album they will understand the “band name” better. People are a bit confused by ‘The Long Road to Love.’ At first, they think it is my band name, but when I walk out on stage by myself, people quickly realize that it’s not my band. I tell them it’s my journey.” A handful of Jaron’s songs are available now on his MySpace page, iTunes and Amazon.

Roy Orbison Salute; Stars Support Children’s Theatre; Reading Writing Rhythm

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April 23, 2010 would have been Roy Orbison’s 74th birthday, and the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville is celebrating the late musician with a benefit for Musicians On Call. Orbison’s wife and local music publisher Barbara Orbison will host the event with a line-up including Harold Bradley & Mallary Hope, Rodney Crowell, Chris Rodriguez & Eden’s Edge, Jeffrey Steele, JD Souther, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, and surprise guests performing songs spanning Roy’s five-decade career. This is just one of the late star’s birthday week events, which also includes the Orbison themed Nashville Sounds game on April 22.

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The Nashville Children’s Theatre’s 13th Annual Dragon’s Concert will feature Jamie O’Neal, Minnie Murphy, Lari White, and Viktor Krauss & Angel Snow. The fundraiser is set for Sunday, May 9th and will be hosted by country comedy favorites Doyle & Debbie, who will also perform. Tickets start at just $30, or VIP admission ($125) includes the patron’s reception, priority seating, live auction and free food and drink
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The 10th Annual Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit concert will be held on June 8 at TPAC’s James Polk Theater in Nashville. The concert will be raising money to benefit music education programs nationwide. Serving as an unofficial kick-off to the CMA Music Festival, the event will feature Rodney Crowell, Bucky Covington, Justin Moore, Sarah Buxton, Jann Arden, and Reading, Writing & Rhythm’s Founder Chely Wright. Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase here.

CMT Music Awards Announces Performers

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Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are the first performers announced for the 2010 CMT Music Awards, set for Wednesday, June 9 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The first round of voting for the fan-voted show has already begun and runs through Monday, May 3, only at CMT.com, where fans will select from the top nominees in each category to become finalists. On Tuesday, May 11, CMT will announce the four finalists in each category, except Video of the Year. Fans can then vote online at CMT.com through June 8 to determine the winners of the 2010 CMT Music Awards. The final nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com and via text message throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

Tickets to the ninth annual awards show are sold out, but CMT will be offering opportunities to win tickets through artist fan clubs and partnerships, including the current sweepstakes promotion with the CMA Music Festival, for more information visit CMT.com.

Local Songwriters Headed To Key West Festival

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Tons of Nashville tunesmiths will be headed south for The Key West Songwriters Festival, running Wed., April 28 through May 2. The 15th annual festival will offer acoustic songwriter sets at venues all over the island, featuring over 150 top songwriters. In fact, half of the songs on the current Top 10 country singles chart are represented in this year’s roster.

Better Angels Music Group is sponsoring the event which will benefit the Muzak Heart and Soul Foundation.

Among the many top-tier writers attending this year are BMI’s 2009 Songwriter of the Year Bobby Pinson, Nashville Songwriter Association Hall of Fame members Bob DiPiero, Paul Overstreet, Hugh Prestwood, tell-it-like-it-is icons Robert Earl Keen and Jamey Johnson, hitmaking heavyweight Tom Douglas (Lady Antebellum’s “I Run To You,” Tim McGraw’s “Grown Men Don’t Cry”), Taylor Swift’s go-to co-writer Liz Rose, Dallas Davidson (Billy Currington’s “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” Brooks & Dunn’s “Put a Girl in It”), Luke Laird (Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” “So Small,” “Last Name”), Chuck Cannon (Martina McBride’s “I Love the Way You Love Me,” Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now”), James Slater (McBride’s “In My Daughter’s Eyes,” Rascal Flatts’ “Unstoppable”) George Ducas (Eli Young Band’s “Always the Love Songs,” Sara Evans’ “A Real Fine Place to Start”), and too many more to list.

Respected artists like Raul Malo will appear, as will rising stars such as Randy Houser and Joey + Rory. Also on the line-up are artists Jerrod Niemann, Brett Eldredge, Adam Hood, Dave Pahanish, Bridgette Tatum, Kip Moore, Blake Wise and Thompson Square, as well as pop stars Kim Carnes, Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), and Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra).

Visit www.kwswf.com for details.

Rascal Flatts Plan Tour; Underwood Extends Run

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Rascal Flatts will launch a new tour this summer, the “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour.” The first leg will open June 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and will continue with 26 shows through September 19 at Boston’s Comcast Center. Kellie Pickler and Chris Young will open.

Rascal Flatts recently wrapped its “American Living Unstoppable Tour,” which played 57 shows between June 2009 and March 2010, with attendance near 800,000. This total also includes the two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Columbus’ Crew Stadium last summer. The band spent their time off this spring recording new music, expected out this fall.

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Carrie Underwood will continue her highly successful “Play On Tour” through the end of this year. “Hydrated by vitaminwater®,” the outing launched March 11 and is now slated to run through December 19, 2010, for a total of more than 100 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. Billy Currington and Sons of Sylvia will appear this fall as special guests. The “Play On Tour” is Presented by AEG Live.

Thirty-six cents of every ticket sold for the fall tour dates will go to Save the Children’s United States Programs. This initiative was inspired by a lyric about “36 cents” from her song “Change,” addressing how the smallest bit of spare change can add up to make a difference. Fans can see Underwood perform “Change” tomorrow (4/21) on Idol Gives Back on FOX.

Tickets for the newly announced fall dates will go on sale beginning Saturday, April 24th at 10am – please see local venues for specific information.

[Updated 4/20] ACM Photos: Backstage, After-Parties

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Jimi Westbrook & Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, Jennette McCurdy, Emily West, Walker Hayes, Capitol Nashville President & CEO Mike Dungan, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban & Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman & Phillip Sweet. Photo: Rick Diamond

BEFORE: Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum and Luke Bryan decide it’s time for Capitol Nashville President & CEO Mike Dungan to take a dip in the pool. Photo: Rick Diamond

AFTER! Photo: Rick Diamond

Jason Aldean in Las Vegas for the ACM Awards. Pictured (L-R) – Carson James, Dawn Ferris, Jason, WCOL’s John Crenshaw, and Lee Adams

Backstage at the ACM Awards show are (l-r): John Esposito, President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville; Diarmuid Quinn, COO & Pres. Reprise; WMN artist Blake Shelton; SDU artist Trace Adkins; Lyor Cohen, Vice Chairman of Warner Music Group, Chairman & CEO of Recorded Music-Americas & UK; Narvel Blackstock, Starstruck Management Group, Brandon Blackstock, Starstruck Management Group

SESAC hosted an intimate gathering of songwriters and publishers plus various music industry friends at a post-ACM Awards party at MGM Grand’s Rouge nightclub. It was a celebratory evening as SESAC affiliate Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum was one of the night's big winners. Pictured (l-r): SESAC’s John Mullins & Pat Collins; Cary Barlowe, co-writer of Lady A's No. 1 “American Honey;" and SESAC’s Shannan Tipton-Neese. Photo: Randi Radcliff

Sony Music Nashville artists and executives in Las Vegas celebrated wins by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, and Montgomery Gentry at a post-awards gathering. Pictured (back row, l-r): Sr VP Sales & Operations Paul Barnabee; Chris Young; Marketing VP Tom Baldrica; and Jerrod Niemann. (center row, l-r): Jake Owen; Exec VP A&R Renee Bell; Jordyn Shellhart; Danny Gokey; VP Promotion Skip Bishop; and Troy Gentry. (front row, l-r): Eddie Montgomery; Kenny Chesney; Miranda Lambert; Carrie Underwood; Chairman Joe Galante; Brad Paisley; and recently retired Exec VP Butch Waugh. Photo credit: Christie’s Photographic Studios

Pictured at last night’s Warner Music Nashville ACM Awards post-reception. (l-r): Lyor Cohen, Vice Chairman of Warner Music Group, Chairman & CEO of Recorded Music-Americas & UK; Randy Travis; John Esposito, President & CEO, Warner Music Nashville

Country music fans jammed into Toby Keith's I Love this Bar & Grill at Harrah's over the weekend as Randy Houser & Friends hosted the "I Love This 'Open' Bar Blowout," a special night of music that streamed live on CMT.com. Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, and Trailer Choir were among the country stars in attendance. (l-r): Joe Nichols, Randy Houser, and Trace Adkins. Photo: Tom Donoghue

CRB Session, CMA InSite Focus On Radio Programming

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® is planning the “CRS: One on One” mentoring session, to be held May 7 in Nashville, Tenn. KYGO Program Director, Joel Burke, and president of Rusty Walker Programming, Rusty Walker, will be the featured speakers at the one-day session. Only twelve applicants will be accepted, in order to encourage candid, one-on-one interaction and discussion between participants about the current issues and challenges faced by those working in the Country Radio industry.

“As we continue the evolution of Country Radio Seminar, the idea to bring a select group of radio programmers together to learn and exchange ideas in an intimate setting is a logical step in the process,” explains CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne. “Much like ‘Inside the Actors Studio,’ this will give upcoming programmers an amazing opportunity to gain perspective and specific feedback on issues shaping the course of their career. With candid conversation being the only agenda at CRS: One on One, we are eager to gauge the response from this event for consideration towards future endeavors.”

Programmers interested in attending must submit the application found on www.CRB.org before Friday, April 23 at 5 p.m. CST. Eligible applicants must have radio programming experience (any market size) and pay a $59 participation fee, which includes lunch during the session. A random lottery system drawing will determine the 12 accepted applicants. Those accepted will be notified and listed on the CRB website no later than Monday, April 26.

The CRB offices are located at 819 18th Ave. S., Nashville, TN, 37203.  For more information, visit www.CRB.org or contact the CRB office at 615.327.4487.
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The functions of syndicated radio programming is the focus of the latest installment of CMA Industry InSite, an online educational series, posted today. The twelfth episode, “Taking Syndication to the Nation,” features interviews with Blair Garner, Host, “After Midnite with Blair Garner”; Bryan Switzer, VP Programming/Distribution, Citadel Media Networks; and Rosemary Young, Senior Producer, Premiere Radio Networks.

This latest installment discusses the ways in which syndicated programming are used by local radio stations as well as ways in which recording artists can use syndicated programming for marketing and promotion. It can be viewed by CMA members here.

Episodes are posted on the third Monday of the month. With each new episode, CMA members are able to submit questions to the panel of experts.

Non-CMA members will be able to view the first four episodes in the series on CMA’s consumer Web site, CMAworld.com. Episode four, “The Music Rule of Law,” will be posted today. The series is produced by digital marketing firm Hi-Fi Fusion.

ZBB Secures Ram Trucks Partnership

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ZBB missed last night's ACM Awards because they are overseas on a USO tour. Pictured playing for soldiers at Camp Buehring in Kuwait on April 14, 2010. USO photo by Erick Anderson

A new partnership between Zac Brown Band and Ram Truck Brand will offer free music to fans and boost the morale of U.S. soldiers. Starting in May, the nationwide “Letters for Lyrics” campaign will give participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier a compilation CD titled, “Breaking Southern Ground,” featuring three new ZBB songs, and tracks from Brown’s Southern Ground Records artists Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey. The goal is to send 1 million letters, in exchange for 1 million CDs.

Viewers will be able to see behind-the-scene footage taped by the band as they document their current visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. Documentary-style segments and concert footage will premiere on RamTrucks.com.

An exclusive live version of the band’s latest single, “Free,” will also be available for download for the first 100,000 fans, only at the RamTrucks.com. For each download, Ram will make a donation to a designated charity on behalf of the brand and Zac Brown Band.

The Ram Truck Brand also joined with the Academy of Country Music to sponsor the first-ever text-to-vote initiative for last night’s fan-voted Entertainer of the Year award.

At Camp Buehring in Kuwait on April 14, 2010. USO photo by Erick Anderson