Miranda Lambert Starting A Revolution

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mirandaMiranda Lambert will unleash her third album, Revolution, on Sept. 29. For the project she reunited with producers Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke who are putting the final touches on the release. She wrote three songs on the album alone, and co-wrote a majority of the other tracks with writers including Blake Shelton, Ashley Monroe, Allen Shamblin and Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley who lends background vocals on “Love Song.” Also adding to the mix are songs by legendary Grammy winner John Prine and acclaimed artist Julie Miller.

Of her upcoming Sony Nashville release Miranda said, “I think this record is truly the most artistic project I have ever done. I really put my entire being into the making of it. From the writing to the recording to finding the perfect mixture of things I wanted to say. The inspiration was easy to come by, because it’s a compilation of everything I have ever listened to and fell in love with. It’s not an album where you listen from song to song, it’s a state of mind, a way of life. I hope people have as much fun getting to know me through listening as I did getting to know myself in recording it. And maybe it will do just as its title says….start a Revolution.”

The two-time Grammy nominee has seen both of her previous albums debut at No. 1 on the Country Album Chart. Her sophomore album Crazy Ex- Girlfriend won the 2008 ACM Album of the Year Award. Miranda continues to tour the country with superstar Kenny Chesney and will help closeout The CMA Music Festival on Sunday night with a performance at LP Field.

RIAA Under Fire, Beaming Up Bonnaroo, World Copyright Summit

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Minnesota lawyer Kiwi Camara and Harvard Law professor Charles Nesson have signaled their intention to file a class action lawsuit against the recording industry demanding the return over $100 million that the RIAA supposedly has collected as penalties from file-sharing cases with consumers. Camara is also in a high-profile Minnesota RIAA case later this month. According to Arstechnica.com, Camara will seek to disallow evidence from MediaSentry which tracks IP addresses of file-sharers on the basis that it is not licensed as a private investigator in Minnesota. There is also an issue regarding certified copyright registrations which the RIAA admits, “will be difficult and expensive to obtain in time for the trial.” Arstechnica says that the “Nesson/Camara tag team have a couple more eyepoppers to make: P2P file-sharing of copyrighted material is fair use and huge statutory damage awards against noncommercial users are unconstitutional.”

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Verizon Wireless technicians have deployed two COLTS (Cell On Light Trucks) for Bonnaroo Music Festival to ensure that the 80,000+ music fans can make and receive calls, send messages and stay connected during the festivities from June 11-14. COLTS have the same call capacity as a freestanding cell site and can handle both voice and wireless data service, allowing music fans and residents to rely on their phones before, during, and after the festival.
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CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) today continues the World Copyright Summit: New Frontiers for Creators in the Marketplace. The second day of the program focuses on finding common ground and new revenue streams on which to build the future of creative industries. Today’s activities opened with Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, with other segments featuring legendary singer and songwriter from the Bee Gees and President of CISAC, Robin Gibb; National Music Publishers Association President and CEO David Israelite; and chairman and CEO of EMI Music Publishing, Roger Faxon.

Country Sales Outpace Overall Industry

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SoundScan’s inner numerics held few surprises this week as sales on Country’s Current Top 75 remained flat (-2% to be precise). For the week ended 6/7/09 country sales are down 3.3% Y/Y which continues to compare favorably with the industry overall now down 14%. Lost Highway’s Ryan Bingham debuts on the country list at No. 17, scanning 7,710 units. Dave Matthews’ debut easily captured the No. 1 position on the Top 200 chart with 424,089 units sold (31.61% digital).

Jason Aldean and Keith Urban are fighting it out sales wise. Urban debuted one week before Aldean and is currently 105,308 units ahead of the Broken Bow newcomer. However, Aldean’s CD is gaining ground on the Aussie guitar master. This week Aldean moved 18,222 units and Urban sold 14,974. (Urban’s album sales are 17.75% digital; Aldean’s are 7.35%.)

Top 10 iTunes country track sales include No. 1 Kenny Chesney “Out Last Night” (71k); No. 5 Billy Currington “People Are Crazy” (30k); and No. 10 Jason Aldean “She’s Country” (25k).

New artists with a debut album in the Country Top 30 this week include Zac Brown Band (23,178 units this week), Lady Antebellum (13,533), and Universal South artists Randy Houser (3,062) and Eli Young Band (2,606).

Early Music Fest Events: Radio Remotes, Bowling, Fishing And More

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(L-R): Julie Talbott, Exec. VP of Affiliate Marketing, Premiere Radio Networks; Reba McEntire; Tammy Genovese, Chief Executive Officer, CMA

(L-R): Julie Talbott, Exec. VP of Affiliate Marketing, Premiere Radio Networks; Reba McEntire; Tammy Genovese, Chief Executive Officer, CMA

Reba McEntire was the surprise guest at last night’s (Tuesday) orientation session for the radio stations participating in the Premiere Radio Networks’ Official CMA Music Festival Radio Remote. During CMA Music Festival, McEntire will perform on the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT™ Concert Stage at LP Field on Thurs., June 11.  That afternoon she will also sign autographs in the Greased Lightning® Fan Fair Hall for the first time in 13 years.

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st-jude-bowlers-6-8-09

Photo: Alan Mayor

The fifth annual “Lonestar & Friends Strike Out For The Kids” was held Monday (6/8) at Hermitage Lanes. At the sold-out event, fans bowled alongside Country artists to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. Among the numerous celebs participating at the GAC sponsored party were Justin Moore, Bo Bice, Chris Young, Buddy Jewell and Meagan Mullins.

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(L-R): WMBA Officers: Kama Upton, Brandi Simms, Betsy Walker and Cindy Collins

(L-R): WMBA Officers: Kama Upton, Brandi Simms, Betsy Walker and Cindy Collins

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has declared today “I’m So Music Row Day.” Members and supporters of the organization will be sporting T-shirts with the slogan on the Row and throughout the CMA Music Festival Kick-off parade this afternoon.

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(L-R): Marty Smith, Bill McGuire and Eric Church

(L-R): Marty Smith, Bill McGuire and Eric Church

The Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Fishing Tournament, which pairs country music artists with professional anglers for a day of fishing, took place yesterday at Percy Priest Lake. Eric Church, ESPN NASCAR reporter Marty Smith and champion shotgun marksman Bill McGuire won the grand prize. In just its second year, the event grew from 27 to 37 boats, with other artists including Emerson Drive, Rodney Atkins,  Katie Armiger, Trent Willmon, Bo Bice and Carter’s Chord.

Kellie Pickler, Gretchen Wilson Have USA Weekend Covered

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usa-weekend-09-coverCMT has once again partnered with USA Weekend to present the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year award at the upcoming CMT Music Awards, premiering live on Tues., June 16 at 7 PM/CT. In celebration, the publication is featuring Kellie Pickler and Gretchen Wilson on its Sun., June 14 cover, because both are former recipients of the award.

In the cover story, Pickler and Wilson reveal their favorite music videos, as do other artists including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town),  Jack Ingram, Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker.

MR Launches Twitter Chart

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twitchart

Click to view

Country music trade publication MusicRow and New Media marketing group AristoWorks have formed a chart to track Country music artists’ popularity among Twitter users. Now in beta mode, the rankings are based on the number of users “following” each artist. Currently, there are 72 chart positions. Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift occupy the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, with Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Julianne Hough, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Willie Nelson rounding out the Top 10. An artist must have a minimum of 100 followers to chart.

“Today’s media landscape is becoming a highly fragmented, on-demand media world,” says MusicRow Publisher David M. Ross. “As a result, artists are using an increasingly sophisticated new tool set to reach consumers and create new fans. This Twitter chart is the first of a series of projects we are developing with AristoWorks to help our readers quantify their online efforts.”

The first of its kind charting system, developed by AristoWorks, utilizes the Active Programming Interface (API) offered by Twitter and gathers data to update the chart daily.

“This system really stems from a simple idea, but gives labels, managers and new media marketers a unique benchmark for where their brands stack up against others,” says AristoWorks New Media Director Jon Walker. “Although the Twitter chart is currently operating in beta mode, the immediate response from artists, labels and managers has been impressive.”

Additional chart features, including user trending statistics, will be implemented in the official release.

SOURCE Reveals 2009 Foundation Award Winners

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SOURCE has announced the recipients of its 2009 Foundation Awards, honoring the pioneering women of the music industry. The select list comprises Joyce Jackson (Jim Reeves Enterprises, Floyd Cramer, Dottie West, Mae Axton, Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Writer); Peggy Lamb (Music City News, Hickory Records, Inc., Acuff Rose, Opryland Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing); Pat McCoy (American Federation of Musicians, Local 257, Television Production Assistant, Charlie McCoy Enterprises); Sandy Neese (Charlie Daniels Band/Sound Seventy Productions, The Tennessean, WMAK, MTM Records, PolyGram/Mercury Records); Margaret Parker (WSM, Gaylord Entertainment); and Marion Keisker MacInnes, posthumously, (WREC Radio, WHER Radio, Memphis Recording Services, SUN Records, Captain in United States Army). They will be recognized at the seventh annual awards dinner on Thurs., July 30 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.

SOURCE, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization of executive women in all facets of the Nashville music industry. Sponsorship opportunities for the awards event are available by contacting Sarah Brosmer at sarah@lytlemgmt.com.

Republic Nashville Hires Bobby Young

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bobby_photoBobby Young has joined the newly formed label Republic Nashville as Director of National Promotion. With more than 20 years on Music Row, his stints include VP of Promotion & Artist Development at River North Nashville; VP of Promotion at Jeff McClusky & Associates, Inc; VP of National Country Promotion at Mercury Nashville; Partner/GM of Young-Olsen & Associates; as well as Southeast Regional Promotion & Marketing for Big Machine Records. Young most recently served as Sr. Vice President of Promotion & Artist Development at Graham Entertainment. In addition to his National responsibilities, Young will also cover the Southeast region.

Celebs Set For Softball Challenge

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2009_softball_logoAdam Gregory, Carrie Underwood, Chuck Wicks, Titan Craig Hentrich, Josh Turner, Justin Moore, Titan Kerry Collins, Luke Bryan, Montgomery Gentry, Carter Twins, Trailer Choir and Whitney Duncan have been drafted by the Grand Ole Opry team for the 19th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge, presented by People Country, and Gibson Foundation.

The Opry team will take on longtime rivals, the After MidNite with Blair Garner team, at the June 10th event at 7 PM at Nashville’s Greer Stadium. Playing for After MidNite are Titan Cortland Finnigan, Darius Rucker, Dean Brody, Jake Owen, Jason Michael Carroll, Jimmy Wayne, Joe Nichols, Julianne Hough, Keith Anderson, Mark Wills, Marty Roe, Titan Michael Roos, Randy Houser and Trent Tomlinson. All the good-natured competition is for a good cause—ticket proceeds will be donated to City of Hope, a leading research, education and treatment center for cancer and other life threatening diseases. Tickets are $18 at www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can also support City of Hope by visiting www.auctionsforhope.com after the game and bidding on unique items from celebs.

Wy Joins Beatles Themed Benefit For Music School

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Wynonna will appear with The WannaBeatles, former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield,  contemporary Christian artist Phil Keaggy, country singer David Ball, guitarist Jonny Lang and other celebs tonight (6/9) to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album. The “With a Little Help From My Friends benefit” will include performances and storytelling at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School from 7-9 PM. Proceeds from the event will be used to help W.O. Smith continue to provide instruments and music instruction to hundreds of children from low-income families. Admission is $20 per person. To order tickets, call (615) 255-8355.