Nielsen Spins Off “Billboard,” “Hollywood Reporter”

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bbThe Nielsen Company is selling eight publications, including Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, to e5 Global Media LLC, a new company formed by Pluribus Capital Management and Guggenheim Partners.

Pluribus was founded earlier this year by James A. Finkelstein, George Green, and Matthew Doull. Former Bear Stearns head Alan Schwartz is running Guggenheim, a privately held, diversified financial services firm with more than $100 billion in assets.

Other brands included in the sale worth an estimated $70 million are: Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek, The Clio Awards, Backstage, Film Journal International and the Film Expo trade show business. Among the titles closing will be Editor & Publisher, which has chronicled the newspaper business for 108 years. Management of the acquired brands and their staff members will begin to transition immediately.

hr Nielsen, which quietly shopped the trades around for the latter half of 2009, has suffered with the overall media downturn, driven largely by declining ad sales. Greg Farrar, President of Nielsen Business Media, explained, “Divesting these titles allows Nielsen to focus its investment on its core businesses and those parts of our portfolio that have the greatest potential for growth, including our leading trade show group.” Nielsen also produces the SoundScan music sales charts.

Finkelstein, who will become Chairman of e5 Global Media, and Todd Boehly, Managing Partner in the Office of the CEO at Guggenheim Partners, commented, “These are unique brands that are already leaders in their respective fields and, with the additional financial and strategic resources that we will provide, they will be positioned to add enhanced content across their print, online and new media channels and to continue to deliver value to their subscribers and advertisers.”

The acquisition, which is subject to normal terms and conditions, is scheduled to close by December 31, 2009. At the conclusion of the transaction, the group’s U.S.-based publications will continue do business from their current locations at 770 Broadway in New York and at 5055 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles.

Photos: Nashville Songwriters At New Orleans Festival

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New Orleans-based Songfest Foundation, Inc., an organization founded to benefit Louisiana and Gulf Coast musicians, held its second annual New Orleans Songwriters Festival December 3-5. The event was sponsored by ASCAP, and performers included J.D. Souther, Don Schlitz, Allen Toussaint, Dennis Matkosky, and more.

J.D. Souther and Red Morgan performing

J.D. Souther and Red Morgan performing

(L-R): Don Schlitz, Greg Barnhill, Dennis Matkosky, Thom Sheppard, Allen Toussaint, Chuck Perkins, Red Morgan and Jim McCormick

(L-R): Don Schlitz, Greg Barnhill, Dennis Matkosky, Thom Shepherd, Allen Toussaint, Chuck Perkins, Red Morgan and Jim McCormick

(L-R): Don Schlitz, ASCAP's Pat Rolfe, ASCAP's Ralph Murphy, Dennis Matkosky, Bud Tower and Rusty Gaston

(L-R): Don Schlitz, ASCAP's Pat Rolfe, ASCAP's Ralph Murphy, Dennis Matkosky, Bud Tower and Rusty Gaston

Montgomery Gentry and Friends Support Martell Foundation

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Pictured (L-R) Wade Hayes, Jamie Fox Hardwick, Shane Thomas, Troy Gentry, Auction winner Mike Kimlerling, Eddie Montgomery, Chris Young and Tim Nichols. Photo by Joe Hardwick

Pictured (L-R) Wade Hayes, Jamie Fox Hardwick, Shane Thomas, Troy Gentry, Auction winner Mike Kimlerling, Eddie Montgomery, Chris Young and Tim Nichols. Photo by Joe Hardwick

Montgomery Gentry and friends Chris Young, Jon Stone, Tim Nichols, Wade Hayes, Trent Willmon and Jim Quick with Coastline raised $80,000 at the first annual Country on the Beach benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation’s fight against cancer and AIDS. The event was held Dec. 3-6 in Cancun, Mexico, and featured an all-inclusive guest package with activities such as zip line tours, snorkeling, swimming with the dolphins, and nighttime country music.

Highlights of the trip included a live auction which offered on-stage performances with Montgomery Gentry ($3,750) and singer/songwriter Nichols ($3,000), as well as private serenades by Willmon and  Hayes. GAC TV’s Headline Country Host, Storme Warren was the host and auctioneer of the event who added to the auction excitement by offering hand-written lyrics to the tune of Charlie Daniel’s “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” that were re-written by various artists from the CMA Awards red carpet in November ($7,000). Young placed the hand written lyrics to his latest No. 1 song, “Getting You Home” on the auction block, which brought $5,500.

John Rich, Rascal Flatts and Others Spread Christmas Cheer

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Country Music Star, John Rich, was the Grand Marshall for the recent 55th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade.  John, along with Two Foot Fred, Cowboy Troy, Carter’s Chord, Steel Magnolia and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean,  light the Christmas Tree at the Public Square and then kicked off the parade  spreading the holiday cheer to thousands of individuals and their families. (L-R): Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, John Rich, Cowboy Troy

John Rich was the Grand Marshall for the recent 55th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade. He joined Two Foot Fred, Cowboy Troy, Carter’s Chord, Steel Magnolia and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean in lighting the Christmas Tree at the Public Square before kicking off the parade. (L-R): Karl Dean, Cowboy Troy, John Rich

Country stars are spreading holiday cheer by participating in special Christmas tree lighting events across the nation.

Rascal Flatts are in Nashville today (12/10) to visit the kids at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt by flipping the switch on the trees lining the hospital’s Main Street. The trio has raised over $3 million for the hospital over the last few years. Closing out this week, Rascal Flatts will make their final performance of the year at the Grand Ole Opry Friday, December 11. In honor of Rascal Flatts, the Opry is donating tickets for their appearance to the patients, families and staff at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.

David Nail and Billy Ray Cyrus are part of an all-star cast performing at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) tree lighting this afternoon. The ceremony has been a New York tradition since 1923. Also on the schedule for the free, public event are The Manhattan Transfer, Collective Soul, Kate Voegele, Stryper, Twisted Sister with Broadway’s “Rock of Ages” cast and many others. The tree lighting will be available for online viewing from 4:50- 5 PM/ET.

Mac McAnally Co-Produced New Jimmy Buffett Album

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Mac McAnally and Jimmy Buffett
Mac McAnally and Jimmy Buffett

Mac McAnally probably doesn’t want 2009 to end. This year he scored his first No. 1 as an artist, and received more awards and nominations than any other time in his career. His most recent feat—yesterday’s release of Jimmy Buffett’s Buffet Hotel, which he co-produced with Mike Utley.

Mac McAnally

Mac McAnally

As a member of the Coral Reefer Band, McAnally has long been a key Buffett collaborator. He has produced a number of Buffett’s studio albums, and has writing credit on three of the new collection’s 12 songs.

McAnally is also a Show Dog Nashville recording artist, touring performer, musician and songwriter. He was most recently honored with a Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Kenny Chesney on the song “Down The Road,” and won the CMA Award for Musician of the Year in November.

Jason Aldean Extends Tour With Luke Bryan

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Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean

After selling out the entire fall run of his Wide Open arena tour, country rocker Jason Aldean has extended the tour into 2010. Rising star and fellow Georgia native Luke Bryan will join Aldean as a special guest on the nearly 30-city run, kicking off in Greenville, SC on Jan. 22 and including an already sold out hometown stop at the Macon Centreplex Coliseum.

luke-b

Luke Bryan

“Luke and I grew up playing in some of the same clubs down in Georgia, so it will be really cool to have him out with us…playing bigger rooms with bigger crowds,” said Aldean.

Aldean is hitting the road behind his latest album Wide Open, which was just certified Platinum. Bryan is touring in support of his second album, Doin’ My Thing, which was released in October.

New Exhibit Puts Reba In The Spotlight

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rebaReba McEntire is the subject of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s latest spotlight exhibit. Reba McEntire: Put On Your Red Dress, Baby offers the attention-grabbing red gown worn by the superstar on the 1993 Country Music Association Awards as the exhibit centerpiece. Designed by McEntire’s longtime stylist, Sandi Spika, the silk and jersey gown, with its plunging neckline and strategically placed sequins, shocked some fans. Reba later said, “I got more press off that dress than if I’d won Entertainer of the Year.” The exhibit will run through June 13, 2010. [See videos below.]

With a career spanning three decades, the Oklahoma native is deserving of an exhibit at the Hall of Fame. She has sold more than 40 million records and won dozens of awards. McEntire has also enjoyed a successful acting career, starring in Annie, Get Your Gun on Broadway, her sitcom Reba, and many movies. She released a new album in August and will co-headline a national tour with George Strait in 2010.

Other special events coming up at the Hall include an interview with Brenda Lee about “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” tomorrow (12/10) at noon, and an interview and performance by Bill Anderson as part of the Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters series on Sat., Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m. This program will be streaming live on www.countrymusichalloffame.org. There will also be special showings of the Johnny Cash Christmas Show, and Barbara Mandrell’s Christmas: A Family Reunion on Fridays and Sundays for the remainder of the month. Tennessee residents get $5 off admission through the end of December.

CMA Donates $1 Million Plus For Music Education

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President/CEO of the Nashville Symphony Alan Valentine, Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Dr. Jesse Register, Chairman Elect of CMA's volunteer Board of Directors Steve Moore, BNA Recording Artist Kellie Pickler, and Mayor of Nashville Karl Dean present the proceeds from the 2009 CMA Music Festival during the "Keep the Music Playing" All-Stars Concert. CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" program funds music education in Metro Nashville in partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education (NAPE).

Pictured (L-R): President/CEO of the Nashville Symphony Alan Valentine, Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Dr. Jesse Register, Chairman Elect of CMA's volunteer Board of Directors Steve Moore, BNA Recording Artist Kellie Pickler, and Mayor of Nashville Karl Dean present the proceeds from the 2009 CMA Music Festival during the "Keep the Music Playing" All-Stars Concert. CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" program funds music education in Metro Nashville in partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education (NAPE).

The CMA is donating $1,066,632 in proceeds from the 2009 CMA Music Festival to Nashville public schools music education programs, as part of the “Keep the Music Playing” campaign. The announcement came during a special concert event last night (12/8) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center to reveal the “Keep the Music Playing All-Stars,” representing the best elementary, middle, and high school performance groups selected from 137 Metro Nashville Public Schools.

To date, CMA has now donated $3,312,053 in support of music education in public schools. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase more than 2,500 instruments, and much needed supplies in Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education.

The total also includes an endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words and Music” program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting. The amount also includes a donation in July to cover travel costs for 40 students from W.O. Smith/Nashville Community School of Music to attend a Country-themed music event at the White House, hosted by President Obama and the First Lady.

Benefit News: Hit Songwriters Help Good Causes

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Wynn Varble

Wynn Varble

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) presents its Annual Tunes for Tots Benefit at 12th & Porter on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6-8 PM. Performing will be Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink”), Wynn Varble (“Waitin’ On a Woman”), Erin Enderlin (“Last Call”), artist Ty Herndon and more. Admission is free with an unwrapped new toy or monetary donation to the Toys for Tots Foundation.

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Jonell Mosser

Jonell Mosser

The Bluebird Café Holiday Bash is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15 and will benefit Happy Tales Humane. Special guests include Jonell Mosser, Lee Roy Parnell, Roger Cook, Katie Cook, Jimmy Hall, Frank Sheen, Crystal Gayle, Peggy Sue Wright, Jeremy McComb and Roberto Bianco. Also on the schedule are The Jay Patten Band featuring Toni Sehulster, Rick Lonow, Will Barrow, Mike Loudermilk, and band leader and event organizer Jay Patton. Reservations can be made online at www.bluebirdcafe.com.

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Music City Unsigned, a local music community of over 80 independent artists, is hosting a special Christmas concert to benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission, at the Bluebird Café on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 9 PM. Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan, Clay Cumbie and Bart Allmand will perform.

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Renowned impressionist painter Michael P. Maness will have a Nashville show at Richards Café, 4420 Whites Creek Pike, on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 4- 9 PM. Known for his music themed art, Maness has had three bouts with cancer and his goal with this art show is to help raise funds for anther fight with his chronic lymphoma. Maness also donates to charity and his artwork has raised over $2 million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Clay Walker’s Band Against MS, Susan G. Koman Foundation and over 100 other organizations.

Underwood’s Ratings Fare Well

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Dolly and Carrie sang "I Will Always Love You"

Dolly and Carrie sang "I Will Always Love You"

Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special scored 8.9 million viewers to lead the 8 PM/ET hour last night (12/7) among the major networks. Her FOX special slipped to second place with (8.2 million) during the 9 PM slot, getting bumped by CBS’s Two and a Half Men (15.2 million)/The Big Bang Theory (14.7 million). This is according to zap2it.com’s Fast National ratings.

The two-hour holiday variety special included numerous performances by Underwood–solo and with celeb friends like Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth, Christina Applegate and Sons of Sylvia.