Americana Series Set For Bluebird

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The Americana Music Association will host a new “Live at The Bluebird Cafe” concert series every Thursday beginning Feb. 19 and running through March 26.

Celebrating some of the genre’s best-loved and most influential performers, the six-show series sponsored by the Gibson Foundation will feature Jim Lauderdale (2/19), Sam Bush (2/26), Nanci Griffith (3/5), and Foster & Lloyd (3/26). Surprise performers are likely to sit in during many of the dates. Artists for the March 12 and 19 shows will be announced soon. A series pass is $125 and available through Feb. 11 by calling the AMA at 615-386-6936. Reservations for individual shows ($25) can be made at www.bluebirdcafe.com a week before each show.

Urban Planning To Defy Gravity

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Keith Urban’s new album Defying Gravity will be released March 31 on Capitol Records Nashville. The project’s lead single “Sweet Thing” has already reached No. 3 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart and is still climbing.

“Defying Gravity comes from the lyrics of a song on the album and it just struck me at the time as a phrase that really defined the joyous, optimistic and uplifting spirit that seemed to show itself while making the album,” Urban explains.

In May he’ll launch the Escape Together World Tour, which will visit 58 cities across North America. Urban will team with a different touring partner in each city, with guests including Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, and The Zac Brown Band.

Nashville Screenwriters Conference Returns In 2009

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The eleventh annual Nashville Screenwriters Conference (NSC) is set to take place May 29-31 at the historic Union Station hotel. The open-to-the-public conference will bring some of Hollywood’s top writers, producers, directors, managers, agents and studio executives to Nashville to network and share their experiences with local aspiring screenwriters and other interested individuals.

The popular “Music in Film & TV Luncheon” is returning to give songwriters, composers and artists an opportunity to learn how to place their music in films and TV.  Attendees can purchase to tickets to all or just some of the conference’s events. More details will be announced soon.

New Hiring At NSAI

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Erin Burr

NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) has added Erin Burr as Communications Director. She most recently spent more than three years handling publicity for the Colgate Country Showdown talent competition. At the new gig, Burr will report to NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. She can be reached at [email protected] or (615) 256-3354, ext. 233.

Next up: NSAI hosts Spring Training, a songwriter’s symposium, running April 3-4 at Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville. There will be panels, seminars, and performances, with songwriters including Ray Stevens, Kelley Lovelace, and Kye Fleming.

Little Big Town Lets Fans Pick Opening Act

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Little Big Town has partnered with Web site Eventful to find aspiring country artists to open its upcoming A Place to Land tour. Starting today, fans can use Eventful’s “Demand” service to vote for artists they think should open the shows. The four performers with the most Demands will perform at different stops on the March tour. Little Big Town has already recruited Zac Brown Band, Ashton Shepherd and Kate & Kacey for support on its first headlining outing. The competition will continue through Feb. 27.

Strait Adds Shelton To Tour

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Blake Shelton will join George Strait on the road this summer, along with previously announced opener Julianne Hough. Shelton’s latest Warner Bros. single “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” recently spent two weeks at No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart.

The Strait tour opens May 9 in Hidalgo, TX, and hits numerous amphitheaters and festivals across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping in late July.

Strait is up for four Grammys at the Feb. 8 awards, and will receive the ACM’s Artist of the Decade honor in April.

Clear Channel Cuts Official

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Clear Channel Communications has officially confirmed cuts that reduced its workforce by approximately 1850 employees or 9%.

CC CEO Mark Mays wrote in a company-wide email:
“As I’ve mentioned previously, we are facing an unprecedented time of distress in the general economy—and the ripple effects have hit some of our largest customers hard.
Today, we had the unpleasant task of bringing our Outdoor and Radio businesses’ staffing in line with these challenging economic conditions. In doing so, we enter 2009 as a solid company and in the most competitive position possible.
We have thought carefully and at some length about the steps we need to take as a company to succeed during this unprecedented downturn. As a result, we have eliminated approximately 1,850 positions across Corporate, Outdoor and Radio. While a significant portion of these positions represent a realignment in our sales departments, the positions span all departments and represent approximately 9% of the total Clear Channel Communications workforce.
One of the things that has kept Clear Channel strong throughout our history is a willingness to deal with difficult situations in an immediate way—to make the tough decisions today in order to secure a strong future. It is this trait that has gone furthest in enabling us to weather many difficult downturns in our 37-year history. It always requires clarity, collaboration and courage.
Please know that these have been difficult decisions—yet necessary ones. We will miss those who are departing—even as we renew our shared commitment to success among all of us who will stay.
Everyone in our investor group, on the Board, and in the executive leadership team remains bullish about the long-term growth prospects for Clear Channel. We continue to believe that the Outdoor and Radio businesses offer excellent opportunities.
We need to remain highly entrepreneurial and innovative. We also need to remain focused and compassionate. If we continue to manage our business carefully, and invest with discipline in the right strategic opportunities, we will navigate this downturn effectively and emerge even stronger and better positioned when things improve.
Starting now, it is our ability to bring creative thinking to the current business climate—to focus on the benefits we deliver for customers – to show extreme focus and commitment—that will create results.
Clear Channel Communications has more resources than any of our peers. The tools are here. The support is here. It’s time to use them to create lasting competitive advantage for our customers—and for our company.
Please know that we continue to be extraordinarily appreciative of all of the passion and hard work that each of you continues to commit to this phenomenal business. We will get through this together.
We’re in this together. We have the best team. And we all have important work to do. As we head into the New Year, I know we will meet the oncoming challenges with focus, determination and grace.“

Country Thunder Adds Markovchick

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Kim Markovchick

Kim Markovchick

Kim Markovchick has joined Country Thunder as VP Sales and Marketing. Her more than 20 years of experience most recently included three years as Sr. Director of Marketing at Sony Nashville/Sony BMG. Previously Markovchick spent 17 years at Mercury Nashville, ending as VP/Marketing.

Country Thunder General Manager Craig Morris says Markovchick will work to “utilize the synergy between this label and the other components of Graham Entertainment.” He adds, “Kim, along with last year’s addition of former Big Machinist Bobby Young as SVP/Promotion and Artist Development, are only the beginning of the rebuilding and reorganization of Country Thunder.”

Markovchick can be reached at [email protected] and (615) 438-7537.

Jo Dee Welcomes Baby Boy

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Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee pictured during pregnancy with husband Chris. Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh were thrilled to welcome their first child, a boy, on Mon., Jan. 19 in a Nashville-area hospital. Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born at 1:01 PM, and weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. Noah, mom and dad are all doing very well. The couple was married in October 2007.

Messina is readying her sixth studio album, Unmistakable, for Curb Records and will begin a solo tour in April. Deffenbaugh owns and operates Deffenblaster Enterprises, which builds custom road cases.

Nashville Goes International

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Numerous Nashville artists and songwriters are planning trips overseas in the coming months. Representing Music City to the international community will be a wide mix of artists and songwriters from a variety of genres.

For the fifth year, Nashville songwriters will share their talents at Ireland’s Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival & Song Writing Convention. Going overseas for the Feb. 18-22 event will be Nanci Griffith, Josh Rouse, Raul Malo, Tift Merritt, Tia Sillers, Mark Selby and Steve Harley, who will play alongside numerous Irish artists. More than 100 musicians are set to participate in 30 concerts and 20 workshops at the festival celebrating the art of songwriting and the Sister Cities link between Belfast and Nashville.

Country artist Charlie Allen is on a two-week media tour of France, England and Scotland to promote his single, “Proof,” which recently hit No. 1 on Europe’s Hotdisc “Independent Top 20” chart and No. 3 on its “Top 40” radio chart. While in France, the River Run Records artist will attend MIDEM in Cannes, which brings together 9,000 professionals from over 90 countries.

John Oates will headline three shows in Japan, Feb. 2-5, as his first solo concerts in the country. His performances will spotlight his new solo album, 1000 Miles Of Life, which features guest artists Jimmy Wayne, Blues Traveler’s John Popper, Bonnie & Bekka Bramlett, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas.

Here in the states, international participation at SXSW is way up this year. Forty percent of the bands invited to perform at SXSW 2009 hail from outside the US, with a majority coming from UK, Canada, and Mexico, respectively. The total number of countries with invited acts stands at 52 as compared with 43 countries represented at SXSW 2008. Perhaps even more significant than the number of international bands that apply and perform at SXSW, is the number of international business people who continue to flock to Austin. International registration is already up 33% for 2009.