Alive at The Bluebird Series Returns

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Amy Grant

Amy Grant

More than 70 songwriters are set to perform in the 17th annual Alive at The Bluebird concert series this January. Many artists and writers who have long supported the benefit for Alive Hospice are returning in 2010, including Amy Grant, Suzy Bogguss, Doug Crider, Kathy Mattea, Jon Vezner, Kim Carnes, Matraca Berg, Becky Hobbs, Benita Hill, Kent Blazy, Gary Burr, Jim Photoglo, Kasey Jones, and Allen Shamblin.

The series will run Tuesdays through Saturdays in January at the Bluebird Café. Opening night is Jan. 2 at 9:30 p.m. with performances by Tony Arata, Pat Alger, Ralph Murphy and Bat McGrath.

Alive Hospice provides end-of-life care and bereavement support services in 12 Middle Tennessee counties. Funding from this concert series will help the nonprofit agency provide comfort to uninsured and underinsured patients who face life-threatening illnesses and limited life-expectancies.

Admission to most shows will range from about $8-20, depending on the show. Schedule, prices and reservations at www.bluebirdcafe.com or by calling The Bluebird Café at 615-383-1461.

Swift, Lady A Set For Grammy Performances

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taylor_swift_13557Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum are among the first performers announced for the Grammy Awards airing Sun., Jan. 31, 2010. They will join fellow nominees Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas, and Maxwell, in performing at the 52nd Annual event, taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The show will air on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Swift will vie for eight awards that night: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year (with Liz Rose), and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “You Belong With Me”; Album Of The Year and Best Country Album for Fearless; Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for “Breathe” (with Colbie Caillat); and Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song (with Liz Rose) for “White Horse.”
lady-a

Lady Antebellum is nominated in two categories: Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and Best Country Song (with Tom Douglas) for “I Run To You.”

Ten-time Grammy winner Beyoncé leads with 10 nominations. Three-time winners the Black Eyed Peas are up for six awards, as is Maxwell.

Music fans can upload a 20-second video of themselves singing along to a portion of the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” for a chance to have their video appear as part of the Peas’ performance on Music’s Biggest Night®. Videos may be uploaded here through Jan. 15, 2010.

Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.

The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Break-In at Charlie Daniels Museum

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From the City Paper:

Metro Police are continuing their investigation into an early morning burglary at the Charlie Daniels Band Museum downtown on Second Avenue.

Thieves grabbed $200 from the museum’s cash register but did not steal any of the band’s memorabilia, police said. Click here for more.

Ticketmaster-Live Nation Merger Gets UK Approval

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live nation TMThe UK Competition Commission today (12/22) approved the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, propelling the deal one another step closer to completion. Amid antitrust inquiries, the United States and Canada have yet to sign off on the merger. However, both companies remain optimistic there will be a successful outcome.

A statement from the U.K. Competition Commission said, “the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in the market for live music ticket retailing or in any other market in the U.K., including live music promotion and live music venues.” UK clearance follows regulatory approval in Norway and Turkey.

Live Nation announced plans to buy Ticketmaster Entertainment for about $400 million in stock in February. This news came not long after Live Nation launched its own ticketing service, and signed multimillion dollar 360 deals with superstars including Jay-Z and Madonna.

Ticketmaster holds a majority stake in Front Line Management, which in turns has partnerships with several top Nashville managers, including Dale Morris & Associates (Kenny Chesney), DS Management (Alison Krauss), and Spalding Entertainment (Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean).

Opponents of the merger argue that Live Nation Ticketmaster would have a monopoly on the touring industry. They say the combined company would have control over a large share of the ticketing market, many of the country’s major venues, and would have ties to numerous superstar artists.

Underwood Gets Engaged, Earns Top Country Album of Decade

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carrie uCarrie Underwood is engaged to hockey player Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators. He shared the news with his hometown newspaper the Ottawa Sun today (12/21), adding that he proposed yesterday. Underwood’s publicist Jessie Schmidt says the news is true: “I’m happy to confirm Carrie Underwood is engaged to Mike Fisher, and the couple couldn’t be happier. No wedding date has been set at this time.”

mikeThe Sun reports that Underwood was in Ottawa through the weekend and cheered on Fisher’s team as they beat the Minnesota Wild Saturday. The couple has been dating for approximately a year.

Also this week, Billboard named Underwood’s Some Hearts the Top Country Album of the Decade.

The 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville hit-maker’s TV appearances this week include an encore airing of Carrie Underwood: An All-American Holiday Special on Fox, Tuesday, December 22, 8-10 pm/7-9 pm Central and A Home For The Holidays on CBS, Wednesday, December 23, 8-9 pm/7-9 pm Central. On both shows, she will perform her current single, “Temporary Home,” which she co-penned with Luke Laird and Zac Maloy.

CMT Wraps Most-Watched Year Ever

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cmtCMT reports its most-watched year ever during 2009, and its ninth consecutive year of primetime growth. Meanwhile, CMT.com is headed for its most-streamed year in history.

The fourth quarter is on pace to become the network’s most-watched quarter. Viewing is up 43% over last year, which it says was driven by cross-promoting music specials, stunts and new originals across all of CMT’s properties.

Driving rating were the CMT Music Awards, which were the highest-rated telecast of the year. The network also launched new franchises CMT Summer of Music and Big New Music Weekend, featuring nine superstar world premieres and increased music hours; CMT.com streams were up 45% for that weekend. The Singing Bee became the channel’s highest-rated series debut of all time.

The year also included new business ventures for the network, which debuted CMT Radio Live With Cody Alan in January. The network’s first live nightly radio broadcast now boasts 78 affiliates in such top country markets as Nashville, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Denver.

Rimes To Host Colgate Country Showdown

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leann rimesAmerica’s largest country music talent search will hold its National Final at the Ryman Auditorium on January 14th, 2010 with LeAnn Rimes hosting for the fourth consecutive year. The 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown will have five regional winners competing for $100,000 and the title “Best New Act in Country Music.”

The finalists have competed in numerous local and regional events to make it to the National Final. Representing their hometown radio stations are Karla Davis (Southeast Region), Kendall Phillips (Midwest Region), Terry Lee Spencer (Northeast Region), Whisky Row (West Region), and Casey Lee Smith (Southwest Region).

The one-hour special will be taped for television and nationally syndicated to air in spring 2010. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the Showdown starts at 7:30 p.m. For free tickets, call the Ryman Box Office at 615-889-3060.

CRS Offers Special Rate For Unemployed

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crs 2010 logoUnemployed members of the radio and music industries will be able to attend CRS 2010 for a special discounted rate of $99 when the conference is held Feb. 24-26, 2010 in Nashville.

The Unemployment Rate provides attendees access to educational events only, including more than 20 seminars, panels and exhibits. Notable agenda item highlights included in the discounted rate are the CMA Research Presentation, Dave Ramsey’s Keynote Address, Bob Rosner’s Workplace 911 panel and the current-events Hot Topic panel. Tickets to the Music City Jam™, New Faces of Country Music Show® and daily luncheons must be purchased separately.

CRB President Becky Brenner says of the discount, “First, it gives those without work a financial break so that they can still afford to attend CRS 2010, and second, it provides them with the tools and networking opportunities to help them in their job search.”

The Unemployment Rate is available through Jan. 31, 2010. Contact Kristen McCrary at 615-327-4487 or Kristen@CRB.org for registration materials. Proof of unemployment will be subject to verification by CRB, Inc.

The Regular Rate of $599 is in effect through Jan. 31, 2010. For more information, a detailed schedule and descriptions of CRS 2010’s panels and confirmed panelists can be viewed at the Country Radio Broadcasters website: www.CRB.org.

Lifenotes: Ralph Meacham, Kim Markovchick’s Husband

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Ralph Meacham, husband to longtime music industry executive Kim Markovchick, has died. He passed away at home in Leiper’s Fork, Tenn. after a battle with Lou Gehrig Disease. Loved ones say he was a “farmer, photographer, and storyteller.” Meacham was a veteran of the United States Navy and was an active volunteer in the local agriculture community. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Kim Markovchick; daughters, Mary Katherine and Hannah; and many others.

Visitation is tonight (12/21) 4-8 p.m. at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, at St. Matthew Church, 535 Sneed Road, Franklin, TN. Interment at Leiper’s Fork Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Williamson County 4-H, c/o Williamson County Extension, 4215 Long Lane, S-200, Franklin, TN 37064; ALS Association (Nashville Chapter), PO Box 40244, Nashville, TN 37204; or MDA, 3343 Perimeter Hills Drive, Suite 118, Nashville, TN 37211.

CMA Assembles Exec. Dir. Search Team

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cma-logoCharlie Anderson, President/CEO of Anderson Merchandisers and former Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors, has been tapped to lead the committee responsible for defining the role of CMA executive director, and hiring a national search firm to fill the vacancy. Former  CMA head Tammy Genovese resigned from the company on Dec. 2.

The committee will convene and the search will begin in January, according to Randy Goodman, Chairman of CMA’s Board of Directors. The search committee consists of current members of the CMA Board of Directors who have served as Chairman.

The collective experience of the group dates back to 1975. The group is charged with defining the duties and establishing the necessary qualifications for potential applicants. The committee is also charged with hiring a national search firm to identify and vet qualified applicants. A process for submitting applications will be announced at a later date. At this time, no applications are being accepted. Search firms should contact Anderson at ExecutiveSearch@CMAworld.com.