Urban Toasts No. 1 With Steve McEwan

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Pictured are (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan, 19 Entertainment’s LeAnn Phelan, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, producer Dann Huff, co-writer Steve McEwan, Keith Urban, EMI Music Publishing’s Gary Overton, BMI’s David Preston, and Borman Entertainment’s John Grady. Photo by Drew Maynard

Pictured are (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan, 19 Entertainment’s LeAnn Phelan, Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, producer Dann Huff, co-writer Steve McEwan, Keith Urban, EMI Music Publishing’s Gary Overton, BMI’s David Preston, and Borman Entertainment’s John Grady. Photo by Drew Maynard

Songwriter Steve McEwan celebrated another trip to the top of the charts with Keith Urban yesterday (12/1) in Nashville. Urban’s rendition of “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” co-written by his fellow BMI songwriters McEwan and John Reid, marks the 12th No. 1 single for the two-time Grammy Award winner and recent AMA victor, as well as the second chart-topper from his latest album, Defying Gravity.

“It’s sometimes an intangible thing that draws me to a song,” said Urban, who also co-produced the song with longtime collaborator Dann Huff. “When I heard ‘Only You Can Love Me This Way,’ I was struck by the opening guitar riff and the beautiful sentiment. It’s certainly a song that says how I feel. I loved the melody, the simplicity and the honesty, and when a song hits me that way, I’m not likely to be alone.”

A perpetual hitmaker, McEwan is also behind Kenny Chesney’s “Young,” Brooks & Dunn’s “That’s What It’s All About,” and Carrie Underwood’s “Just a Dream,” and many more. Reid, who was unable to attend, is also a songwriting superstar: He penned Leona Lewis’s breakout smash “A Moment Like This,” as well as hits for Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, and more.

Rogers Adds Second Symphony Show

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kenny rogersCountry and pop music icon Kenny Rogers has added a second date to his scheduled appearance with the Nashville Symphony in early 2010. Rogers quickly sold out his February 5, 2010, engagement at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and – due to the high demand for tickets – he will now perform an additional concert there on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 7 p.m.

“We were expecting a great deal of excitement about our Kenny Rogers concert, but the response we’ve received has been beyond our expectations,” said Jim Mancuso, Vice President of Artistic Administration at the Nashville Symphony. “With such an overwhelmingly positive response to the first concert, we’re very pleased to be able to offer a second concert with Kenny.”

The Nashville Symphony is also celebrating the holidays with a trio of seasonal offerings. They include a holiday sing-along special, “Home for the Holidays,” on Thursday, December 10; Handel’s beloved Messiah, led by Nashville Symphony Chorus Director George Mabry, on December 17, 18 and 19; and the sold-out Ann & Monroe Carell Family Trust Pied Piper children’s concert, “Happy Holidays! A Winter Wonderland,” on December 19.

Details at www.nashvillesymphony.org.

Shelton Release Due In Early 2010

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blake shelton1“Hillbilly Bone,” the lead single and title track from Blake Shelton’s new album will hit digital retailers on Dec. 22. The song and video feature Shelton’s pal Trace Adkins, and the video is already available for paid download.

Also on Dec. 22 Blake Shelton: The Essentials, a digital compilation of his best-known tracks, including his six-week No. 1 debut single “Austin,” and the multi-week No. 1’s “Some Beach,” “Home,” “The Baby,” and “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” will be released. The Essentials collection will be available exclusively at iTunes for three weeks.

Hillbilly Bone will be his sixth album, due in early 2010 and offering six new cuts as a special at a special “six pak” value price. Hillbilly Bone will be Shelton’s first studio release since 2008’s Startin’ Fires, which spawned the No. 1 hit “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.”

Underwood Makes Big Donation To Humane Society

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Pictured (l-r): Sony Music Nashville VP, Digital Business Heather McBee and Chairman Joe Galante; Underwood; Leighann McCollum, Tennessee State Director of The Humane Society of the United States; Sony Music Nashville Executive VP Butch Waugh; 19 Entertainment’s Ann Edelblute; and Sony Music Nashville Senior VP, Sales & Operations Paul Barnabee. Photo Credit: John Russell

Animals were the big winners as superstar Carrie Underwood, together with 19 Recordings and Sony Music Nashville, recently presented The Humane Society of the United States with a check for $200,000. The check reflected the charitable proceeds from sales of Carrie’s recording of “Home Sweet Home,” which served as the contestant farewell song on the past Season 8 of American Idol. The digital single for “Home Sweet Home” was available exclusively on iTunes during its first week of release.

Gator Michaels Exits Warner Bros.

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Gator-Michaels-07After seven years with Warner Music, Sr. VP Promotion Gator Michaels exited the company today (12/1), the label has confirmed. Director of National Promotion Bob Reeves is acting in Michaels’ former role and reporting directly to new label President/CEO John Esposito, who took office in September.

Michaels is a radio vet who spent 10 years in the business, primarily in South Florida, before joining Warner. His experience also includes time as VP Promotion for DreamCatcher. He can be reached at 615-400-6957 or gator.michaels@comcast.net.

AMA Announces New Board Members

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The Americana Music Association recently held annual elections for its Board of Directors and the results are in. Nine new directors will be joining the board for 2009-2010.

New Americana Music Association Board Members:

(L-R): Capps, Kornblith, Matthews, Allen, Taylor

(L-R): Capps, Kornblith, Matthews, Allen, Taylor

(L-R): Macias, Crowell, Malo, Miller

(L-R): Macias, Crowell, Malo, Miller

Finance

Ashley Capps—President, AC Entertainment and co-creator/producer of Bonnaroo

Radio

Joan Kornblith—Correspondent and Program Host, Voice of America

Booking
Pam Matthews—Owner, DuVoyant Music

Publishing
John Allen—Vice President, Bug Music

Artist
Chip Taylor

New Media
David Macias—President, Thirty Tigers

At Large
Rodney Crowell, Raul Malo, Buddy Miller


Existing Directors with another year to serve:

Artist Management
Tim McFadden—Owner, Tim McFadden Management

Performing Rights
Kay Clary— Sr. Director Media Relations, BMI

Publications
Tamara Saviano—Owner/President, Ellis Creative

Radio Promotion
Al Moss—Owner, Al Moss Promotion

Record Label
Amanda Hale-Ornelas—Director of Media Relations, New West Records

Retail Distribution
Sylvia Giannitrappani—owner, GO2 Management

Songwriter
Tift Merritt

Talent Buyer/Presenter
Brad First—Talent Booker/Showcase Coordinator, SXSW Inc.

At Large
Fred Boenig—Partner, Artist Development Group
Jessie Scott—Owner, Music Fog

Bess Lomax Hawes Dies

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bessLifelong folk-music champion Bess Lomax Hawes died Friday, November 27 at the age of 88 in Portland, Oregon.

In 1941-43 she was a member of The Almanac Singers alongside Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. In 1948, she wrote the folk classic “M.T.A.,” which became a hit for The Kingston Trio in 1959. She moved to Los Angeles in 1952 and taught guitar, mandolin and banjo, as well as folk-song classes.

During her long and productive career, Bess Lomax Hawes taught college, produced film documentaries, launched folk festivals and wrote three books. The most recent of her books is 2008’s autobiography Sing It Pretty: A Memoir.

At the National Endowment for the Arts, she served for 16 years as the director of the Folk and Traditional Arts Program and created the National Heritage Fellowships. In 1993, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.

Bess Lomax Hawes is the aunt of Nashville journalist and Roots Music Exporters businessman John Lomax III. She is also survived by three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Underwood’s CMT Special Airs Tonight

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CMT will premiere Carrie Underwood: Invitation Only tonight at 8 pm CT. Taped before a small audience in Nashville’s Studio A, the special will feature Underwood performing her hits and music from her new album Play On, as well as candidly answering questions from fans.

In other Underwood news, our web calendar had previously listed the incorrect date for Fox’s upcoming Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special. The correct date for the show is December 7, and it will air at 7pm CT.
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Pictured at Invitation Only taping (L-R): Brian Philips - President, CMT; Joe Galante - Chairman, Sony Music Nashville; Butch Waugh, EVP, Sony Music Nashville; Underwood; John Hamlin - Senior Vice President, Production and Development, CMT; Laurissa Ryan - Senior Director, Talent Relations, CMT; Margaret Comeaux - Senior Director, Music and Events Production, CMT; Jay Frank - Senior Vice President, Music Strategy for CMT; and Ann Edelblute - 19 Entertainment; Photo credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage

Toby Keith Concludes Sold-Out European Tour

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Toby performing for the sold out crowd in Helsinki, Finland.

Keith performing for the sold out crowd in Helsinki, Finland.

Toby Keith recently wrapped his first European tour, which included a two week sold-out run of nine shows in six countries. Keith opened the tour in Glasgow, Scotland Nov. 9 before playing London’s Hammersmith Apollo (Nov. 10), Dublin’s Olympia Theater (Nov. 12), Belfast’s Odyssey Arena (Nov. 13) and jumping across the North Sea for shows in Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Oslo, Norway and, finally, Bergen, Norway.

Keith’s stop on the popular Swedish talk show Skavlan was one of the highest-rated episodes of the year. He was also the subject of cover stories or features appearing in the Irish News, Sunday World, Up Country, American, Irish Star, The Newsletter and more.

GE Sale Of NBC To Comcast Likely

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NBCA deal between General Electric and Comcast to sell TV network NBC Universal to Comcast moved a step closer to reality yesterday amid reports of a key agreement between G.E. and Vivendi, essential to complete the sale. G.E. has offered to buy Vivendi’s 20% stake in NBC Universal for a reported $5.8 billion. Vivendi had an option that might allow it to offer its stake in NBC as a public offering, which would muddy the waters and likely cool Comcast’s ardor.

These figures value the entire NBC Universal sale price at about $29 billion, somewhat less than the $30 billion that was agreed to last month by both G.E. and Comcast.

A New York Times article (12/1) reports that a completed deal could be announced as soon as Thurs., 12/3.

The deal holds great potential value for Comcast, which would become a content developer in addition to its current transmitter role. If completed, the new NBC Universal would be a Comcast/G.E. joint venture. Comcast would hold a 51% stake adding in cash and its cable channels. G.E. would retain 49%. Insiders expect G.E. to eventually sell its share to Comcast.