Ohio Station Steps Up For Flood Victims

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Ashtabula, Ohio’s WYBL-FM, 98.3 The Bull is stepping up to help victims of Nashville’s devastating flood. After watching TV footage of the floods, station staffers decided to start the Need For Nashville Kids Toy Campaign. The station is working with area businesses to donate toys for children affected by the flood who have lost everything. They will then deliver the toys to Nashville-area charities so that “children can find a little bit of light in the darkness of despair.”

The Need For Nashville Kids Toy Campaign:

  • Will collect toys from now until May 23, 2010.
  • Will deliver the toys to Nashville from Ashtabula, Ohio (stopping along the way to pick up other available donations and locations)
  • Will deliver toys to Nashville and then get involved with HON.org to help restore Nashville.

If other station or artists would be interested in getting involved, 98.3 The Bull will promote it on the air and in any documents they release.

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Roger McCoy at (440) 993-2126 x 116 or at [email protected].

Channel 4 Air Flood Relief Telethon: Vince Gill and Friends

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WSMV-TV Channel 4 will broadcast Working 4 You: Flood Relief with Vince Gill & Friends on Thursday, May 6 in prime time from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee communities have been devastated by flood waters after the area received 15 inches of rain within a 48 hour time period. Thousands of Middle Tennesseans have been evacuated from their homes with many losing everything to the flood. Many of the victims do not have flood insurance and the demands on relief agencies are stretched to the limit.

“These are our friends and family; we always take care or our friends and family.” said Meredith Senior Vice President and WSMV-TV General Manager Elden Hale Jr. “It’s unfortunate that we’re called upon to do this again for our neighbors, but we are very proud to have the ability to reach out to so many people with Nashville’s flood relief telethon.”

All proceeds from Working 4 You; Flood Relief with Vince Gill & Friends will benefit The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, and The Second Harvest Food Bank.

For more information regarding this special prime time telethon please call WSMV-TV Programming Director Donna Sexton at 615-353-2214.

Montgomery Gentry Build a Playground

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Lexington, Kentucky is getting a new playground. 2010 ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award winners Montgomery Gentry, recently asked country music fans and consumers to help select the city where a new KaBOOM! playground will be built in their honor by The Home Depot. From April 12–30, 2010, fans voted for one of six pre-selected cities (Atlanta, Denver, Lexington, Ky., Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Toledo, Ohio) to determine the playground location. An organization in Lexington will receive a new, custom-designed KaBOOM! playground built by The Home Depot associates.

More than 54,000 votes were cast with Lexington receiving nearly 65 percent of the votes. Montgomery Gentry will attend and participate in the playground build in the fall of 2010.

The ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Montgomery Gentry received the Award on April 18, 2010 during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Gretchen Wilson Joins Dollar General in Literacy Fight

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Dollar General Corporation is partnering with British home and health care products company Reckitt Benckiser and country music star Gretchen Wilson to launch Literacy Rocks. The sweepstakes, which launched May 3 in Dollar General stores, offers customers the opportunity to win an exclusive concert experience with Gretchen Wilson or autographed CDs.

To kick-off Literacy Rocks, Reckitt Benckiser donated $250,000 to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support literacy initiatives. In addition, for every Lysol®, Air Wick® or Finish® product purchased at Dollar General, Reckitt Benckiser will donate 5 cents to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, up to $75,000.

“We are pleased to offer our customers the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Gretchen Wilson, as well as help the Dollar General Literacy Foundation,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “The funds raised through this promotion will support literacy programs in the communities we serve.”

Literacy and education are two initiatives close to Wilson’s heart. Until recently, she was one of the million Americans who hadn’t finished high school. In 2008, at the age of 34, she earned her GED. As a dedicated mother, it was important for her to earn the diploma not only for herself, but to show her daughter the importance of education. Through her participation in the Literacy Rocks sweepstakes, Wilson is helping others reach their own education dreams.

The sweepstakes begins May 3 and ends June 14. Click here for more information.

CMA Offers Chance To Win CMA Fest Lifetime Tickets

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In celebration of CMA Music Festival’s 39-year legacy, fans will be given the chance to be a part of all the great moments yet to come with the first-ever CMA Music Festival Lifetime Ticket Giveaway sweepstakes. The promotion will yield one lucky winner two seats per year to future CMA Music Festival events for as long as that winner wishes to redeem the prize. The premium-located seats in LP Field’s lower level retail for $200 each, bringing the prize value to a minimum of $400 per year.

“It’s the mother of all prizes,” says Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “In 2011, this legendary event will celebrate its 40th year of bringing artists and fans together. In celebrating the rich history of Fan Fair and CMA Music Festival, we also look ahead to the event’s next chapter, and we’re thrilled our Lifetime Ticket winner will be there for all of the exciting things to come.”

Starting this week, fans can enter the CMA Music Festival Lifetime Ticket Giveaway sweepstakes online at CMAfest.com. Helping to spread the word and drive entries at CMAfest.com will be promotional partners including Country Weekly, DigitalRodeo.com, GAC: Great American Country, Grand Ole Opry, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, MySpace Karaoke, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, NowPlayingNashville.com, Roughstock, The Country Network,103 WKDF, WKRN-TV Nashville, 95.5 The Wolf, 98 WSIX, 650 AM WSM,  and niche partner Web sites including CountryHound.com, CountryMusicIsLove.com, and CountryMusicTattleTale.com. Additionally, artists performing at 2010 CMA Music Festival will also be spreading the word to their fans through their respective digital platforms, including official websites, social media and e-mail and mobile database outreach.

“We’re reaching out to partner with our friends in the music industry,” says Ben Bennett, CMA Manager of Online Promotions and Mobile Marketing. “We invite all our partners to help get the word out about this incredible prize – everybody from the amazing artists who have helped make the CMA Music Festival what it is today to our partners at radio and our professional colleagues as well. It’s our goal to let every Country fan out there know about this prize and give each one a chance to win big!”

To enter the sweepstakes through CMA’s digital channels, fans can visit www.CMAfest.com. The contest runs now through Sunday, June 13, when one winner will be chosen from all eligible entries received online, through text message and other entry points.

Cracker Barrel Offers “Wynonna Weekend”

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National collective contesting company Free Promo Network (FPN) has joined forces with Cracker Barrel for their upcoming A Weekend with Wynonna in Music City promotion. Participating radio stations will be allowed take part in this national contest on a trade-for-mention basis, allowing their listeners the chance to win a trip for two to Nashville to meet Wynonna and see her perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

Winners will also receive a copy of Wynonna’s new CD, Love Heals, which will be available exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores on May 24. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information, or to sign up, stations can contact Corey Duke at 615-453-9115 or [email protected].

Artists Engage Fans With Contests, Websites, and More

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Keith Urban

Fan engagement is key to artist success these days. Here are some of the latest ways musicians are exciting consumers and getting them involved.

To mark next week’s release of his latest single “I’m In,” Keith Urban is asking fans to submit their favorite “I’m In” story at his website for the chance to win music, concert tickets or an autographed guitar. “I’m In” stories can include making a commitment to a significant other, dedicating oneself to a charity, or any number of interpretations.

Kenny Chesney’s online station No Shoes Radio has teamed with Hooters to launch a national sweepstakes for a trip to his July 2 show at the Joint at the Vegas Hard Rock. There is also a text-to-win component where fans text “Kenny” to 36832 to register. Fans can pick up a free 4-song Chesney compilation, produced exclusively for Hooters/No Shoes Radio, at select locations.

Randy Houser

Randy Houser is offering fans a free ringtone when they vote for him for USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year at the upcoming CMT Awards. His hit “Boots On” is in the running at CMT.com. As a thank-you, fans can opt to receive a free ringtone of Houser laughing, taken from his popular “LOL” viral video.

Wynonna Judd has launched a new online community at wynonna.com built by Nashville-based social commerce network Moontoast.com. Moontoast combines traditional social networking with commerce tools. Now Wy’s fans can communicate with each other, connect with her on Facebook and Twitter, access exclusive content and enjoy broader access to her merchandise and music.

David Bradley is challenging fans to creatively utilize the title of his new single “Soak It Up,” along with radio call letters, DJ names, or other outlet ID’s in a video. The footage will possibly be included in the song’s music video. Bradley is a staff songwriter with Wrensong Publishing in Nashville.

The Harters are blogging from the road to give fans an inside look at life on tour. The band (siblings Michael, Leslie and Scott) is currently on a rigorous nationwide radio tour in support of their debut single “Jenny” and fans can be there every step of the way by visiting their website (www.theharters.tv) and checking out their weekly blogs featuring stories, photos and video.

Swift On Time 100 List, New Face of Cover Girl

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Swift's Cover Girl photo shoot

Taylor Swift is cementing her celebrity status with news this week that she is the latest face of Cover Girl cosmetics. The brand with worldwide recognition has a long history of using only A-list females for its advertisements. Swift will be representing a new luxury product line, and joins other current Cover Girl superstars Queen Latifah, Ellen DeGeneres, Rihanna, and Drew Barrymore. The 20-year-old just finished the photo shoot for her first advertisements which are scheduled to debut in January 2011.

Swift has also been chosen as one of the TIME 100, the news magazine’s list of the people who most affect the world. Swift’s profile piece was written by Stevie Nicks, with whom Swift collaborated on this year’s GRAMMY Awards. She is on the list alongside a range of icons, celebrities and personalities including Oprah Winfrey, Barak Obama, Simon Cowell, Lady Gaga and Sandra Bullock.

Taylor Swift photo essay by Christopher Morris / VII for "TIME"

Digital Nashville Presents Tim DuBois

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As part of its Music Business Education Series, Digital Nashville will present What Have You Done To My Song?, a presentation featuring ASCAP Vice President/Managing Executive Tim DuBois.

The highly respected music industry veteran will offer insights on how technology has transformed the record business over the past decade. DuBois will talk about the positive and negative impact of technology beyond Napster, illegal file sharing and P2P and how the music industry can harness the power of the digital world.
The event is scheduled for May 12 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Averbuch Auditorium at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Admission to What Have You Done To My Song? is free for Digital Nashville members and Owen Graduate School students and $20 for non-members.

Click here for more information about Digital Nashville’s Digital Strategy Series.

Tunecore/MySpace Music Expand Offerings for Musicians

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TuneCore, the world’s largest digital distribution and promotion service, has established a marketing partnership with MySpace Music that will allow MySpace Music artists a 50% discount for TuneCore digital distribution. Registration with TuneCore will enable artists to now earn royalties on their licensed content and have any of their music and/or ringtones distributed to the iTunes Store, AmazonMP3, eMusic and many others stores while keeping all of their rights and getting all of the money from the sale and use of their music.

In addition, MySpace Music is providing a MyAds credit to market and promote themselves on MySpace as well as all the additional marketing and promotion, sales data, educational and other services of TuneCore.

In the coming months, MySpace artists will be able to log into TuneCore using their MySpace ID, providing a more seamless experience.

More details are available here.