Rick Murray Promoted at Premiere

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Rick Murray

Premiere Radio Networks has announced that  Rick Murray has been promoted to Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Promotions, from Director of Marketing and Brand Development for After MidNite with Blair Garner. In this newly created position, Murray will be responsible for the marketing, brand development, partnerships and promotions of Premiere’s nationally syndicated country programs – After MidNite with Blair Garner, The Big D & Bubba Show and The Crook & Chase Countdown. He will also focus on client-based program integration and marketing solutions, in addition to working closely with Clear Channel Radio Digital. Based in Nashville, Murray will report to Jennifer Leimgruber, Premiere Radio Networks SVP of Programming, and Beth Tepper, Premiere Radio Networks SVP Integrated Marketing and Promotions.

“I’m very excited to expand my role with Premiere and its country properties,” says Murray. “There’s an incredible opportunity to package our assets and drive benefits for advertisers, listeners, affiliates, record labels and artists. I look forward to being a part of such an exceptional team!”

“Since joining Premiere last year, Rick’s marketing expertise and creativity have been key to the continued success of After MidNite with Blair Garner,” says Leimgruber. “We’re delighted to have Rick expand his role and confident he’ll continue to drive growth and success across our country programs.”

A former Vice President of Strategic Marketing for the Country Music Association, Murray has more than 25 years of entertainment marketing and event production experience. He joined Premiere Radio Networks last year as director of marketing and brand development for After MidNite with Blair Garner. In that position he also worked closely with record labels and handled all promotions for the program. Prior to joining Premiere, Murray was President of Greylock Entertainment, a full-service integrated entertainment marketing and promotional company which worked with such clients such as the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, actor Jason Alexander, country music artist Katie Armiger and many others.

More Stars Added To CMA Fest

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The Country Music Association has announced that Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin, Danny Gokey, Randy Houser, Justin Moore, Blake Shelton, and Josh Turner will join the star-packed artist lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2010 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13 in Nashville.

Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band. All of the announced artists will perform during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

CMAfest.com, the official website of the Festival, has been updated for 2010. In addition to up-to-the-minute information about tickets, schedules and artist appearances, there are new features to enhance interactivity on the site including CMA’s venture into the blogging world. Fans will be able to comment on blog posts such as event history, tips, and personal experiences, as well as Top 10 lists to help attendees better plan their Festival experience. Fans are able to submit their own Festival stories and photos. Accepted submissions are featured on the CMAfest.com site. Fans can also visit the “Connect” page to sign up for CMA Exclusive e-news and join the CMA MOB mobile community, plus link through to CMA’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/CountryMusicAssociation), Twitter (www.Twitter.com/CountryMusic), MySpace (www.MySpace.com/cmamusicfestival), and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/CountryMusicAssoc) pages.

Vince Gill is Belmont’s ”Best of the Best”

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On Saturday, April 24, the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will present its annual Best of the Best Showcase. This year’s show will honor Vince Gill with the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence, an annual award given to an individual who has achieved a level of excellence in the music business and entertainment industries with notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, Gill is one of country music’s best known humanitarians, participating in hundreds of charitable events throughout his career. The Vince Gill Celebrity Basketball Game and Concert began in 1990 as a simple benefit to raise funds for scholarship and program enhancement for Belmont University’s Athletics and Music Business programs. For over 12 years, the event also provided an invaluable opportunity for Music Business students to gain experience in planning and executing a music-industry event.

Co-hosted by Belmont’s Harry Chapman and Restless Heart frontman and Belmont alumnus Larry Stewart, Best of the Best will feature a tribute performance by Gill’s friend and fellow star Rodney Crowell. As always, the show will highlight some of Belmont’s remarkable student talent with performances from the winners of the CEMB Showcase series, including Miss B (Urban/Pop), Joshua Eric Wright (Christian), Cheryl LuQuire (Country), and Delta Saints (Rock), and from the ASCAP Writers’ Night series winners –Clare Dunn, Hailey Faith, Hailey Steele, Josh Johnson, Greg Bates, and Jordan Kyle Reynolds.

Over the years, Gill has established three endowed scholarships at Belmont University in the names of his loved ones: The Stan Gill Scholarship in Music Business (in honor of his father), The Robert Coen Scholarship in Music Business (in honor of his brother), and The John Hughey Scholarship in Music Business (in honor of his longtime friend and steel guitar player). To participate, you can make a secure gift online at www.belmont.edu/give or e-mail Harry Chapman (harry.chapman@belmont.edu) for more information.

Best of the Best is free to the public and is sponsored by ATT The Real Yellow Pages, ASCAP, BMI, Bandit Lites, Clair Audio, and MooTV.  For more information on the event, click here.

Country Quarter Ends Up 15%

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Followers of SoundScan, a division of The Nielsen Company, regularly note that winds of scan blow in tandem with new releases. With that logic in mind, it easily justifies the all genre uptick this week riding on the heels of three new releases, which landed in positions 1, 2 and 3 on the Top current Albums chart—Justin Bieber, Monica and Capitol’s Now33 project. Number four on that list, was Lady Antebellum, scanning another 78,000 units, boosting the trio’s RTD (release-to-date) total to 1.56 million.

Unfortunately, the new release principle didn’t augment sales on the Current Country Album chart since there weren’t any new releases this week. Lady A and Zac Brown Band (24.6k) are now ruling the top two of the country album list. Ms. Swift remains a close third (21k). Swift and ZBB have product that has been on the chart for 72 and 71 weeks respectively, however, the big difference between them is RTD numbers of 1.75 million-ZBB and 5.7 million-TS. Blake Shelton’s six-pak holds down the No. 4 position with sales slightly over 18k this week and a four-week RTD of 138.6k. Newcomer and AI alum Danny Gokey, whose regular price CD was also released four weeks ago sits in the No. 10 spot on this week’s chart with RTD sales of 111.8k.

Country YTD album sales 2010 vs. 2009 are up a healthy 15% as we complete the first quarter which compares nicely with all genre sales, down 8%—a 23 point spread! So while your Humble Scribe is pleased to report great news, one must be reminded that a quarter does not a full year make….and as noted at the top of this report, new releases going forward will determine the year’s upcoming numbers.

In the digital tracks department, witness the sudden new entry inclusion of Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” in the No. 4 position, with almost 25k downloads for the week. (“Smile,” has been on the all genre digital chart for 35 weeks and already sold over 1.1 million downloads.) Is Atlantic getting ready to work the song at country radio?

EMI Nashville Builds Promotion Staff

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Senior Vice President Promotion Steve Hodges announces three new EMI Records Nashville staffers today: Chuck Swaney (Director of Promotion, Mid/Southwest), Trudie Daniell (Director of Promotion, Southeast) and Ron Bradley (Director of Promotion, West Coast). Beginning Monday, April 5 all three will work as a liaison between the label and country radio stations across the U.S.

“Chuck brings us a wealth of valuable experience and passion,” said Hodges. “He’s developed great relationships at country radio. I’m very excited at his enthusiasm for EMI Nashville!” Chuck was most recently at Bigger Picture Entertainment where he was a promotion executive. He will be based in Nashville, TN.

“Trudie is a stalwart regional with an infectious personality,” commented Hodges. “Her work ethic is second to none. We are lucky to be able to add her to this brand new staff!” Trudie joins the label from 9 North Records where she was the director of promotion SE/SW. She will be based in Atlanta, GA.

“Ron’s wide range of experience is a huge attribute,” added Hodges. “He is very passionate and proud of our format. We’re elated to add him to our EMI Nashville team and ready to kick start this new venture!” Ron previously held the title of President at R. Bradley Artist & Project Development. He will be based in San Diego, CA.

All three Regionals will report to both Senior Vice President Promotion Steve Hodges and EMI Records Nashville Vice President Promotion Angela Lange. A Northeast regional for EMI Records Nashville will be announced soon.

Treehouse Hires Nate Ritches; Compass Adds Emilee Warner

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Emilee Warner

Compass Records Group has tapped Emilee Warner as Director of Publicity and Promotions. She started the role earlier this month and can be reached at emilee@compassrecords.com, W: 615-320-7672, or M: 615-418-4846.

Compass Records has also signed Richard Julian and will release his album Girls Need Attention May 4. The project was recorded at Norah Jones’s home studio.

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Tony Benken, VP of Promotion for Treehouse Records, has hired Nathan “Nate” Ritches for Midwest regional promotion duties. Ritches will be based out of Nashville and will start immediately.

“Nate has the kind of experience that regionals need these days…not only radio experience through a syndicator, but he’s worked for a production company, a talent buyer, and his own business,” says Benken. “He’s a tenacious self-starter that fits into what Treehouse is all about, and I’m happy to have him join us!”

The label is currently working Blaine Larsen’s single, “Chillin.'”

Ritches can be reached at 541-678-4282 or nate@treehouserecords.us.

Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan Kick-Off Party

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The Consortium’s Mike Martinovich, NSAI’s Susan Myers, Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless and hit songwriter Brian White (“Watching You”). All photos by Bev Moser

Chapter 335

A pre-party works much better.

Until a couple of years ago, Tin Pan South celebrated its successes with post-event bashes. Now it has a kick-off party that catches people while they’re still fresh for the fray. What’s more, it is a top-notch bash.

Staged by presenting sponsor Region’s Bank on Monday (3/29), the event featured yummy catering and an A-list crowd.

NSAI’s Susan Myers, ole’s Robert Ott, wife Robin, ole songwriter Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink”) and ole’s Shane Barrett gather to celebrate the start of Tin Pan South.

I met Guy Gilchrist, which was a thrill. “Guy, who?” you ask. He is the cartoonist behind Nancy, the one who puts country stars names on the fronts of Aunt Fritzi Ritz’s tight, well-endowed shirts in the comic strip. It turns out that (1) he’s a Nashville resident and (2) is a country songwriter. Who knew? Anyway, he looks kinda like a kindly country outlaw with his long hair and big cowboy hat.

When I looked at the newspaper this morning next to the comic strip, sure enough, his web address is guygilchristmusic.com. And when you go there, you can hear him singing and have the opportunity to buy his debut EP. Go for it, buddy.

Also in the crowd were such out-of-town tunesmiths as Steve Dorff (“I Cross My Heart,” “Heartland”) and Eric Kaz (“Cry Like a Rainstorm,” “Love Has No Pride”).

Another visiting from out of town was Ken Paulson, the CEO of the Freedom Forum, Newseum and Diversity Institute in D.C. Ken is preparing a gala to honor Mary Chapin Carpenter there, and he had a very good question for Erika Wollam Nichols: “How do you tell who to let in from the online/blogosphere community?” “That’s a very good question, and I don’t know the answer,” sez I. “You’ll have to ask a publicist.” Where was attendee Kay Clary when we needed her? Does anyone else know the answer to this?

We noted such stellar Nashville songwriting names as Fred Knobloch, Buzz Cason, Liz Hengber (she has the new Bucky Covington single), Wood Newton, James Dean Hicks, Tim DuBois, Todd Cerney and Liz Rose. Songwriter Jimbeau Hinson and his wife Brenda (the Midsouth Exteriors TV lady) Fielder were also working the room.

I was happy to congratulate Will Kimbrough on his super new CD Wings. Check out his highly personable EPK on his website.

Trent Summar (Jack Ingram’s “Free” and “Love You”) reports that he has signed with Universal as a tunesmith. His wife, Casey Gill Summar, is the executive director of Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which gives legal aid to underprivileged songwriters, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists and such. Isn’t that a worthy thing?

“I never see you at Music Row parties,” said Alan Rhody wryly. “That’s because you never go to any,” I replied, to which he heartily agreed, laughing.

Songwriters Trent Jeffcoat (The Writer’s Den Music Group) and Billy Worley (Memphis Music Association).

If you thought the BMI and ASCAP lobbies were echo chambers, let me introduce you to the marble-and-glass lobby of Regions Bank. As the event progressed, the place became deafeningly loud.

But there were definitely compensations. Lisa Harless informed us that the party was (brilliantly) catered by Maggiano’s. We dined on shish-ka-bobs, meatballs, prosciutto-wrapped melon, asparagus and other roasted veggies, plus lox, capers and hard boiled eggs, among more delights. One table groaned under a bounty of cookies, tortes, puddings, fruits, brownies, cakes, bon-bons and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Bart Herbison, Mark Brown, Mark Ford, Mike Sistad, Mike Martinovich, Alan Mayor, Al Schiltz, Leslie Tomasino DiPiero, Bobby Tomberlin (“One More Day,” plus singing on TV’s The Singing Bee), Sherrill Blackman, Joyce Simans, Charlie Monk, Preshias Tomes, Jim Schmidt, Jon Freeman and Trent Jeffcoat schmoozed. So now it is official: The 18th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival is off and running. Have fun!

MP3 Players Plug In To More Cars

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Listening to an iPod or other MP3 player via connection to a car stereo is growing in popularity. Just released information from an Arbitron/Edison Infinite Dial national survey shows that 24 percent of persons over age 12 have ever listened to an iPod, iPhone or other MP3 player while connected to a car stereo.

The results, which will be revealed in full on April 8, come from a national survey of 1753 Americans age 12 and up. Forty-four percent of respondents said they own an MP3 player, and 54 percent of those said they have connected their players for listening in the car. The study shows that most of those who listen by connecing in the car do so more than once a week.

Larry Rosin, President of Edison Research, says this is a significant development because he calls the car “a crucial battleground for people’s attention.”

The complete study, “The Infinite Dial 2010 – Digital Platforms and the Future of Audio,” will be presented in a webinar on April 8, details here.

Gretchen Wilson Release Via Redneck Records

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Gretchen Wilson’s first album for her recently launched Redneck Records, I Got Your Country Right Here, hits stores today (3/30). Among the promotional stops is a performance of her hit single “Work Hard, Play Harder” tomorrow on the CBS Early Show.

Wilson produced the album with Blake Chancey and John Rich. She co-wrote two songs on the project and for the other cuts she turned to Rich, Rivers Rutherford, Monty Criswell, Al Anderson, Dave Berg, Becca Bramlett, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Bob DiPiero, Tom Hambridge, Terry McBride, Vicky McGehee, Chris Stapleton, Jeffrey Steele, Sam & Annie Tate, and Bobby Terry.

Redneck Records is offering a Deluxe Edition Package of I Got Your Country Right Here at www.RedneckRecords.com, and Wilson is autographing the first 500 copies. She recently wrapped up a two-month tour.

ACM, Muzak To Host Music Camps

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ACM Lifting Lives™ and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities today announced plans for the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp. The Camp will have a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and providing music enrichment through performance and education. The camp will be located in Nashville, and will be open to individuals with developmental disabilities talented in music from around the nation.

With a $30,000 grant, ACM Lifting Lives is fully funding the first year of the camp, which was previously called the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Music Camp.

ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp will be a week-long residential camp offering participants opportunities in a songwriting and recording, culminating in a live performance at the Grand Ole Opry. There will also be visits from top country artists. Last year’s camp featured visits from LeAnn Rimes, Kix Brooks, Eddie Montgomery and more.

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The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation is partnering with Belmont University to bring its NOISE! Music Camp to the Belmont campus this summer from July 18-28. Students aged 15-17 throughout the U.S. with a passion for music who are interested in making a career within the music industry are encouraged to apply for the camp at www.heart.muzak.com. Applications must be returned by April 2, 2010.