On Tour’s Eve, Rascal Flatts Reflect On 10 Years of Hits

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rascal flattsAs Rascal Flatts prepare to open the final leg of their American Living Unstoppable Tour this weekend, the group is reflecting on ten years of success. Since 2000, when Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney released their debut single “Prayin’ For Daylight” and subsequent first album, Rascal Flatts has become the top country group of the decade.

The upcoming tour sponsored by JCPenney and Hershey’s features support from Darius Rucker. It opens with two shows in Uncasville, Connecticut and closes March 10. The first leg of the tour sold 550,000 tickets for 39 shows since June 2009, including sold-out stadium concerts in Chicago and Columbus. The band’s 2009 tours sold over a million concert tickets, bringing its 4 year total to just over 4 million tickets sold.

Over the last decade, the Lyric Street act has delivered 11 No. 1 singles, and sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads. It has more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the format. And all six of its studio albums made Billboard’s Top 100 Country Albums of the Decade list.

With almost 40 trophies, Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the new millennium. And the band’s fundraising for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville has brought in over $3 million in the past few years.

Throughout 2010, Rascal Flatts will mark its 10th anniversary with special fan events, including the new 10-year anniversary web site.

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Phil Vassar Plans First Overseas Tour

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Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar will launch his first overseas tour on Jan. 26 in London, England, wrapping in Munich, Germany on Feb. 1. The Show Dog-Universal Music artist is currently touring the states to support his recent release Traveling Circus.

His overseas tour will include a full media schedule, with appearances on various TV shows in London and Ireland, as well as the BBC.

“I am thrilled to finally be on my way to share my music and show with some of the world’s most passionate music lovers,” says Vassar. “To be able to perform in four countries in one week is quite a feat, but I am ready for it. I am extremely proud of the record I have recorded with my touring band, they are my brothers, and to be able to have this experience is something we have been waiting to do for quite some time.”

Vince And Amy Mark 10 Years; News From Chesney, Sugarland

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vince amyAmy Grant and Vince Gill are on the cover of the newest issue of Good Housekeeping. The couple is celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, and reflect on the last decade in the February issue of the magazine.

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kennyKenny Chesney is balancing studio time with preparations for his upcoming 3D movie. He is the final editing stages of Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D, the film that captures several NFL stadium stops on last year’s Sun City Carnival Tour. In addition, he’s working on the follow-up his introspective Lucky Old Sun with producer Buddy Cannon and developing a couple projects that will be announced later this year. He is not mounting a major summer tour this year, but will play select dates. Chesney’s new Blue Chair Bay clothing line is out now and being sold in Nashville at Opryland Resort’s boutique, Cowboys and Angels.

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Sugarland has teamed with Dr Pepper to give one lucky fan an unrivaled experience at the 45th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas this April. The winner and a guest will enjoy a weekend of country music with tickets to the awards show, as well as passes to a special Dr Pepper Welcome Reception with Sugarland and the post awards ACM All-Star Jam. Fans can enter for a chance to win at drpepper.com now through March 31. The 45th Academy of Country Music Awards show airs Sunday, April 18 on CBS.

Conway’s New Firm Consulting For Ronnie Gilley Entertainment

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tonyVeteran Nashville talent executive Tony Conway has formed an entertainment consulting firm and will be acting as talent consultant and executive producer for Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. RGE’s live entertainment interests include the annual BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, as well as the multiplex of venues at the new multi-million dollar Country Crossing destination near Dothan, Alabama, which is having its grand opening this weekend.

This is the first of several projects and companies Conway will announce in the next few weeks.

Last November Conway left his post as CEO and co-owner of Nashville based Buddy Lee Attractions after 33 years with the agency.

Conway is currently serving as Executive Producer of RGE’s 2010 BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, running June 3-5 in Enterprise, Alabama; as well as the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 10-13.

As part of his new association, he will consult on talent and the development of additional special events, festivals and live music concert presentations in the planning stages for the Ronnie Gilley Entertainment group.

Conway is taking the talent reins for RGE’s 3rd Annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, with more than 40 artists scheduled to appear on four music stages, including Hank Williams, Jr., Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Miranda Lambert, and LoCash Cowboys. The event near Enterprise, Alabama drew in excess of 125,000 fans last year.

Conway is also overseeing this weekend’s (Jan. 15-17) Grand Opening celebration at Country Crossing. Twenty artists are set to perform at the three-day extravaganza, including Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols, Darryl Worley, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, The Commodores, and Pam Tillis. The attraction’s venues set to celebrate official openings this weekend are the George Jones Possum Holler Bed & Breakfast, Lorrie Morgan’s Hot Chicken, John Anderson’s Cafeteria, Darryl Worley’s Worley Bird Saloon, and The Grascals Bluegrass Hollow RV Park.

In his work with RGE, Conway will continue to based in Nashville. Contact information for Conway is: tconwaytn@gmail.com / 615-478-4989

Universal Music Partners With Freeallmusic.com

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famAccording to techcruch.com, Universal Music is partnering with new music download service freeallmusic.com to offer consumers legal, DRM-free, high-quality digital downloads at no charge from its massive catalog, which includes Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and more. Here’s the catch: registered users on freeallmusic.com have to sit through a 15-30 second video commercial for every download. Downloads will be offered to users 20 free per month, five per week, starting every Tuesday. Brands participating are Coca-Cola, Warner Bros, Zappos, Lionsgate, LG, and more.

“It’s iTunes meets Hulu,” says Richard Nailling, chief executive of FreeAllMusic in an article on nytimes.com. After downloading music, users will have the opportunity to post the information to their Facebook and Twitter pages in hopes of recruiting more users for advertisers.

The service is currently in private testing mode, but interested users can sign up to receive an invitation when it becomes available. Aside from Universal, one other yet-to-be-named major label has signed to provide its full digital catalog on FAM. Check out the freeallmusic Twitter for updates on the company’s launch.

Signings: Josh Gracin’s New Team; Molly Hunt

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Josh Gracin

Josh Gracin

Josh Gracin is building a new team, and has recently signed with Buddy Lee Attractions for booking representation. BLA Pres. Kevin Neal will be the responsible agent and can be reached at 615-244-4336 and kneal@blanash.com.

As a former Lyric Street artist, Gracin had hits such as “I Want To Live,” “Nothin’ To Lose,” “Stay With Me (Brass Bed),” and “We Weren’t Crazy.” The former Marine burst onto the national scene in 2003 as a finalist on American Idol.

Kevin Neal

Kevin Neal

It was previously announced that Gracin has signed with Full Scope Entertainment for management, working with Ken Madson (615-329-4762, kenmadson@gmail.com). His new label home is Average Joes Entertainment; also the home to country rapper Colt Ford. Contact Shannon Houchins at 615-329-4762 and averagejoesent@gmail.com. A new single is expected in the spring. Essential Broadcast Media’s Leigh Parr is handling publicity (615-327-3259 leigh@essentialbroadcastmedia.com).

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molly

Singer-songwriter Molly Hunt recently signed with Ann Wilson Music, Inc. The 13-year-old has been making the co-writing rounds on Music Row. Pictured at her BMI signing: Hunt, BMI’s David Preston and Ann Wilson.

Jessica Harp Releases New Video, Webisodes

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jessicaharpawomanneeds300Jessica Harp is promoting the video for her single, “A Woman Needs,” with three “making of the video” webisodes on AOL’s The Boot. The webisodes will be released in three parts, starting today (1/11), and on Jan. 15 and 22.

The video will premiere exclusively on The Boot on Jan 25, and the single will impact radio on Jan. 19.

The webisodes will run in correlation with a contest where fans will obtain a code at the end of each webisode to enter into a WBR-powered sweeps page. The sweeps page will be located at www.jessicaharp.com/awomanneeds and the winner will win a weekend getaway to Nashville and a meeting with Harp.

“A Woman Needs” is the title track from Harp’s Warner Bros. Records debut album, set for release later this year.

McGraw Starring In Gillette Series

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McGraw who stopped by CMT Radio Live studios last week.CMT RADIO LIVE WITH CODY ALAN recently kicked off 2010 by welcoming their newest affiliates, bring the total to 79 affiliates nationwide. CMT RADIO LIVE airs weeknights from 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. EST, live from CMT’s state-of-the-art radio studio in downtown Nashville. Photo credit: Dingo O'Brien

McGraw stopped by "CMT Radio Live With Cody Alan" recently. The show kicked off 2010 by welcoming new affiliates, bring the total to 79 stations nationwide. Photo: Dingo O'Brien

Tim McGraw is one of the superstar artists in Gillette’s new Uncut digital documentary series, premiering later this month. Shot by renowned music filmmaker/photographer Danny Clinch, the series shows McGraw, will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas), Mark Hoppus (Blink-182) and the All-American Rejects ft. Tyson Ritter backstage at their concerts getting ready for the show.

This kind of branded entertainment is growing increasingly popular; tying stars and stories in with products.

Gillette will also launch “Shave Like a Rock Star,” a series of tongue-in-cheek shaving tutorials hosted by each artist on its Web site. The Gillette Uncut campaign will be supported by a broadcast television partnership with Fuse TV, print ads, and web partnerships.

ACM Plans Awards, Brooks And Dunn Tribute

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brooksdoneReba McEntire will return as host of the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sun., April 18. The 45th annual event will be held at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena for the fifth year in a row and air live on CBS.

rebaThe following day (4/19) the Academy will honor Brooks & Dunn with an all-star concert special featuring Kenny Chesney, McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban, with more to be added. As country music’s best selling duo prepares for their summer farewell tour, the ACM will present Brooks & Dunn with the Milestone Award. ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn – The Last Rodeo will also be taped for television at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Both shows are produced for television by dick clark productions and will air on CBS. Nearly 15 million viewers tuned in to last year’s Awards, a 21% increase over the previous year.

Tickets for both events go on sale Jan. 15, 2010. For event and ticket information, log onto www.acmcountry.com. Tickets sales from ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn – The Last Rodeo will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, which works to improve lives through music.

Michael McDonald, Jewel, Lorrie Morgan With The Symphony

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Jewel

Jewel

The Symphony has lined up some of Nashville’s, and the country’s, biggest stars for its upcoming season. Michael McDonald, Jewel, Peter Cetera, Lorrie Morgan and Broadway star Michael Cavanaugh are all set for the Bank of America Pops Series, headed up by Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram.

lorrie morgan

Lorrie Morgan

McDonald, the distinctive voice behind some of pop music’s most unforgettable songs (“What a Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’”) will kick things off Sept. 23-25, 2010. Singer-songwriter Jewel performs her pop and country hits of the past two decades Nov. 11-13, 2010; and Country star Lorrie Morgan will close the season May 26-28, 2011.

Other highlights of the eight-part series include Gershwin “Here to Stay” (Oct. 14-16, 2010); solo artist and Chicago lead singer Peter Cetera (Jan. 13-15, 2011); Broadway Rocks! (Feb. 24-26, 2011); The Sound of Philadelphia soul in the ’70s featuring Spectrum (March 31, April 1-2, 2011); and Michael Cavanaugh (Movin’ Out) Sings the Music of Bill Joel (May 5-7, 2011).