Nashville Underground Turns 10

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nu(Party Date updated 10/30/09; see below)

The Nashville Underground record label started by artist/songwriters Lari White and Chuck Cannon to showcase Music City’s elite group of tunesmiths is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. The occasion will be highlighted by a concert and CD release party at 3rd & Lindsley on Dec. 10 at 7 PM, featuring several Nashville Underground artists including Marshall Chapman, Gary Nicholson, Chuck Jones and Cannon.

A retrospective 4-CD boxed set is also being released called 10 Years of Nashville Underground – The Complete Sampler Series Vol. I-IV.  It is available for pre-order at www.nashvilleunderground.com for $19.95. Pre-order customers will receive a free autographed copy of Cannon’s Love and Money CD and a Nashville Underground T-shirt.

Tickets to the 10th Anniversary concert are $10 and can be purchased in advance at www.3rdandlindsley.com or at the door.

Lifenotes: Kimberly Kilgore Wilson

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Kimberly Kilgore Wilson, daughter of the late songwriter Merle Kilgore, passed away October 27, 2009 in Nashville after a battle with cancer. The 51-year-old mother of three was born in Shreveport, LA and moved to Nashville at a young age following her father’s success in the music business. Friends say Wilson was an musician, animal lover, and seamstress, with expert knowledge of furniture. She was preceded in death by husband, Jesse Wilson, and her father, Merle Kilgore.

She is survived by sons Eric Williams, Philip Pomeroy, and Seth Pomeroy; mother Dot Patrick; sister Pamela Compton; brother Steve Kilgore; former husband Dave Pomeroy and many others.

Visitation will be today (10/29) from 2-8 PM at Hendersonville Funeral Home and Memory Gardens, and tomorrow (10/30) from 12-2 PM, preceding the 2 PM funeral. Burial will immediately follow in the Memory Gardens. Donations in Wilson’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society or Alive Hospice.

Updated: Ed Salamon Exits CRB

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Ed Salamon

Ed Salamon

Ed Salamon is departing his role as Executive Director of Country Radio Broadcasters Inc., MusicRow has confirmed.

Although there has been no official report, it appears that Salamon has exited the organization effective immediately. Official CRB spokesperson, Aristomedia’s Jeff Walker noted, “CRB does not comment on employment matters,” but MusicRow has verified reports which began to surface yesterday evening (10/28) regarding Salamon’s departure.

The leadership change arrives with planning for the organization’s annual event Feb. 24-26, 2010, in full swing. Word of the Board’s decision began to spread after the adjournment of Nashville CRB Board meetings which concluded yesterday.

Salamon was responsible for production and fundraising for all CRB initiatives and also serves as an adjunct professor at Belmont University. His past posts include President of Programming for Westwood One Radio. Salamon was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2006.

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CRB President Becky Brenner

According to CRB President Becky Brenner of KMPS, “For the past 12 months, Country Radio Broadcasters has conducted an extensive review of its operations in terms of the organization’s administrative functions and the execution of its flagship event, Country Radio Seminar. As a result of this review process, the CRB Board of Directors has initiated several internal changes, which are designed to keep the organization growing in this very challenging economic climate. A number of adjustments have already been made. As we continue our ongoing effort to ensure the vitality of our organization and achieve our mission of growth through sharing, we do anticipate additional changes.”

CRS-41: The early bird registration rate of $499 for CRS 41 expires on Friday, Oct. 30. Registration is available online at www.CRB.org or by contacting the Country Radio Broadcasters at 615-327-4487.

Country Radio Seminar is packed with top-notch talent and expert speakers once again this year. Superstar Taylor Swift performs at the popular Music City Jam™ (sponsored by the Academy of Country Music), and financial authority Dave Ramsey kicks off the event with CRS 41’s Keynote Address. 

Additionally, a new, streamlined agenda delivers more universally appealing panels and research presentations for all attendees, regardless of market size. Best-selling business author and journalist Bob Rosner provides attendees the necessary skills to survive in a tough economy with his “Workplace 911” panel. Also new this year is a Friday morning focus group, titled “Normal People: From the Mouths of the Consumer.”

Brad, Reba Head To NYC For TV

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rebaReba McEntire and Brad Paisley will be making media rounds in New York City on Tuesday (11/3). The redhead’s itinerary includes a morning visit to Live with Regis & Kelly for a chat and full band performance, airing on ABC at 9 AM/CT. Later that evening, she will perform “I Want A Cowboy” during her debut appearance on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 11:30 PM/CT.

Reba, nominated for two CMA awards, will host Premiere Radio Networks’ 2009 CMA Awards Preview Special. The radio network is also planning a live broadcast of the Awards telecast, red carpet interviews, and a live post-Awards broadcast to be hosted by Craig Morgan and Premiere’s Larry Morgan.

Meanwhile, Paisely will be in New York for a Tuesday appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman to perform “American Saturday Night.” Then he and Carrie Underwood, co-hosts of the CMA Awards, will be performing on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tues., Nov. 10 live from Nashville, the day before the Awards. Paisley leads the nominations with seven.

Paisley just finished the 2009 leg of his American Saturday Night tour, after playing to more than 1.2 million fans. Following the run with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne, Paisley and crew made this thank-you video and posted it on Twitter and YouTube. The tour’s 2010 leg kicks off Jan. 7 in San Antonio with Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore.

Jimmy Wayne Reveals Album Details

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jwJimmy Wayne’s new album, Sara Smile, will land in stores Mon., Nov. 23. The lead single is his remake of the Hall & Oates pop classic and includes them as guests vocalists, adding up to the highest chart debut of Wayne’s career.

For the project, Wayne had a hand in writing four songs, and also sought out tracks from top tunesmiths including Keith Urban, John Shanks, Hillary Lindsey, Brett Beavers, Steve Robson, Bob Regan, Rivers Rutherford, and Dave Berg. Then he headed into the studio with three of Nashville’s most sought-after producers: Dann Huff, Mark Bright, and Nathan Chapman.

Sara Smile is available for pre-sale online and fans who order it ahead of time will receive a free poster along with the album.

Wayne spent part of the summer on Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night Tour alongside Dierks Bentley.

Sara Smile track listing:

1. “Things I Believe” (Keith Urban / John Shanks)
2. “All the Time in the World” (Steve Robson / Hillary Lindsey)
3. “Sara Smile” featuring Daryl Hall & John Oates (Daryl Hall / John Oates)
4. “Just Knowing You Love Me” (Jimmy Wayne / Brett Beavers / Tony Martin)
5. “Just Look at You” (Jimmy Wayne / Bob Regan)
6. “Counting the Days” (Andrea Stolpe / John Kennedy / Steve Robson)
7. “There’s a Memory” (Sean McConnell / Clint Lagerberg)
8. “Belongs to You” (Rivers Rutherford / Dave Berg / Tom Shapiro)
9. “I’ll Never Leave You” (Jimmy Wayne)
10. “Elephant Ears” (Jimmy Wayne / Don Henry)

The CO Signs With RPM Management

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TheCONashville based rock band The CO has inked a representation agreement with RPM Management. “We are excited to be working with this great young band,” said RPM President Scott Siman. “They went in our studio to cut some sides and just blew us away with the music.”

The band was founded with Collin Brace and Troy Akers who met in 2004 at Nashville’s Belmont University. The two songwriters added Will Harrison, Nate Flemming and Jordan Hester in 2007 officially becoming The CO.

RPM Management is a Nashville based management company, aligned with LA based Frontline Management.  RPM also represents soulful pop artist Shelly Fairchild (Stroudavarious) and rising country artist Matt Nolen. Former clients include Tim McGraw and Julianne Hough. Scott Siman and Johnna Jackson will be handling day-to-day responsibilities for The CO.

ABC to Air Nashville Special With Robin Roberts

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rroberts93009As part of the CMA Awards excitement, ABC will present the hour long special In The Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville Tues., Nov. 10 at 9pm CT. The Good Morning America co-anchor will spotlight some of Nashville’s biggest stars, giving viewers all-access looks into their homes and private lives.

In The Spotlight will feature visits and interviews with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Loretta Lynn, Rosanne Cash, and Vince Gill. The special will also pose the question “What’s the greatest Country song of all time?” to fans and stars alike, including Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts, and even President Barack Obama. Nashville-based, Stealing Angels (Tayla Lynn, Jennifer Wayne and Caroline Cutbirth), who will be releasing their debut CD in 2010, will also be among those featured in the upcoming country music profile.

Roberts will also be a presenter at the 43rd annual CMA Awards, which will be broadcast live on ABC Wed., Nov. 11 at 7pm CT from Nashville’s Sommet Center.

New CMT Specials: McGraw, Larry The Cable Guy

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cmt

CMT is debuting specials this month from Tim McGraw and Larry The Cable Guy.

Invitation Only: Tim McGraw premieres Fri., Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. CT on CMT. Taped earlier this year in Nashville, the show features McGraw performing before a small studio audience, and taking questions from fans. Produced by High-Five Entertainment, the one-hour special includes McGraw’s hits such as “Something Like That,” “My Best Friend,” and “Cowboy In Me,” as well as new songs from his latest release Southern Voice.

Larry The Cable Guy’s Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau holiday special premieres Fri., Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. CT on CMT. The 90-minute variety show features musical performers Billy Currington and the Zac Brown Band. Other guests include Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Caroline Rhea, George Lindsey (The Andy Griffith Show), comedians Reno Collier and Jon Reep, Peter Oldring, Sara Erikson, the MuzikMafia’s Two Foot Fred, and returning favorites Tony Orlando and Angela Little MacKenzie (Reno 911). The DVD of the Hula-Palooza will be available from Jack Records/Warner Bros. Records beginning Tues., Nov. 24. It was produced by Parallel Entertainment and Taillight TV.

McGraw Debut Tops Country Chart

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Tim

Ghosts and goblins will no doubt be out in force this weekend, but hopefully they’ll also drive consumers into their favorite stores to add Halloween music to their trick or treat treasure bags. Country sales gained momentum for the week ended 10/25/09 with debuts from Tim McGraw and Lyle Lovett who perhaps helped several other Top 10 titles to show some gains as well. According to Nielsen SoundScan a division of The Nielsen Company, McGraw topped country sales with over 136k units (12% digital), enough scans to also earn the Curb superstar a No. 2 position on the Top Current Albums all genre list. (McGraw’s last studio release generated first week sales of 325k in April 2007.) Other Current Country debuts included the irrepressible Lyle Lovett at No. 8 with almost 16k units (45% digital) and duo Bomshel which turned about 6,000 units (18% digital), enough to score No. 24.

2009 Country sales continue to keep pace with 2008, however the remaining nine weeks will pose challenges, for sure. Last year during Nov. we saw debuts from Toby Keith (91k), Rascal Flatts (89k), Brad Paisley (53k), Zac Brown Band (43k) and Trace Adkins (37k). Plus a sophmore debut from Taylor Swift that debuted with 592k units and passed the million unit mark as Nov. ended. That’s some stiff competition for this year’s Nov. debuts which will include an updated Fearless package from Swift and new releases from Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner.

The current year’s top selling country albums include Swift (1.9 million), Hannah Montana (1.6 million), Rascal Flatts (1 million) and Zac Brown Band (918k). Rascal Flatts’ Unstoppable holds the 2009 record for the largest first week country sales with 351k units sold. Of that 351k, 58k were digital—another record!

The big picture continues to show overall all-genre album sales down about 14% and country music sales YTD down a trim 1.5%. Unfortunately, based upon the release discussion above, it seems reasonable to expect the country stat will fall a bit deeper into negative territory by year end.

Gone Pink: Artists, Radio Fight For A Cure

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Troy Gentry

Troy Gentry

Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry has been sporting pink Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers all over town lately in honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. He wore them on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and in the studio where he and Eddie Montgomery are finishing up their latest album. Gentry explained, “I have three very special women in my life, my wife Angie and daughters Taylor and Kaylee, and even if it’s a small gesture, I wanted to do my part in helping spread awareness about breast cancer to hopefully keep them and all women safe from this disease. ”

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The Grenax Broadcasting staff in Flagstaff, Arizona, which includes MusicRow Country Breakout Chart Reporter KSED, dressed in pink to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation earlier this month. Money was collected in the office and around the market to be donated to breast cancer education services across Northern Arizona. Hundreds of listeners also joined in by wearing pink and spreading awareness. Operations Director Dan Baisden said, “Susan G. Komen Foundation serves thousands of women across the state every day and anything we can do to help promote their education initiatives and research is very important.”

Grenax Broadcasting staff dress in pink.

The Grenax Broadcasting staff dress in pink.

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lantana

Lantana at the State Fair of Texas (L-R): Lisa Underwood, Biz Haddock, Dalene Richelle. Photo: Mark Davis

Country trio Lantana was scheduled to perform before an estimated crowd of 100,000 at the Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 25 as the football giants kicked off their first Breast Cancer Awareness month event. The Dallas Cowboys’  “GameDay Productions” Team booked the band after seeing their recent performance before a crowd of 92,000 at the State Fair of Texas during the University of Texas vs Oklahoma University game. Lantana has spent the past year working on songs for a new CD, perfecting their new stage show and building a solid fan base in their home state of Texas.