Strait/Reba Tour Opens, Shows Selling Out

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caption captionOpening weekend on the Strait/Reba run at Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena. Pictured (l-r): WPOC/Baltimore APD/MD Justin Cole, Valory’s JoJamie Hahr, Valory’s Jon Loba, WGTY/York PD Scott Donato, WGTY/York on-air personality Dan Douglas, Reba, Valory’s John Zarling, Valory’s Scott Borchetta, Valory’s Andrew Kautz, WMZQ/Washington DC & WPOC/Baltimore PD Meg Stevens, WXCY/Wilmington PD Dave Hovel and Valory’s Kelly Rich.

The George Strait/ Reba co-headlining tour opened in Baltimore over the weekend with special guest Lee Ann Womack. At the show Womack joined Reba onstage for a duet of her 1993 smash “Does He Love You.” Comedian Melissa Peterman, who costarred with Reba on her namesake sitcom, also made a special appearance.

Tickets to the Feb. 20 tour stop in Tulsa, OK went on sale Saturday (1/23) and were gone in less than an hour, marking the first time in the history of the Bank of Oklahoma Center that over 18,000 tickets have been sold for one event. It will be Strait’s first appearance in the city in more than 13 years.

Reba is celebrating her No. 1 hit “Consider Me Gone” with a party for industry friends today (1/25), and will join fans for a live video chat immediately afterward at 7 PM/CT. In more Reba news, she has launched a new line of fine gifts at Dillard’s called Studs & Stitches.

Ticketmaster/Live Nation Merger To Get US Approval

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lnThe US Department of Justice plans to approve the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Regulators are demanding that the companies make a few concessions to ensure fair competition, including licensing its Ticketmaster Host ticketing software to concert promoter and venue manager Anschutz Entertainment Group, and divesting its self-ticketing subsidiary Paciolan to promoter and manager Comcast-Spectacor.

For the next decade, the new Live Nation Entertainment will be barred from taking retaliatory action against venues that choose to use another ticketing company.

The merger will create a “big three” in the touring world, made up of the new Live Nation Entertainment, AEG and Comcast-Spectacor.

Live Nation’s Michael Rapino will act as Pres./CEO, Irving Azoff will be Executive Chairman, and Barry Diller will serve as chairman. Former Live Nation shareholders will have a 49.99 percent in the new company, with former Ticketmaster shareholders holding a 50.01 percent stake.

The UK Competition Commission approved the merger on Dec. 22. UK clearance followed regulatory approval in Norway and Turkey. Canada is expected to follow suit.

Live Nation announced plans to buy Ticketmaster Entertainment for about $400 million in stock in February 2009. This news came not long after Live Nation launched its own ticketing service, and signed multimillion dollar 360 deals with superstars including Jay-Z and Madonna.

Opponents of the merger argued that Live Nation Ticketmaster would have a monopoly on the touring industry. They believed the combined company would have control over a large share of the ticketing market, many of the country’s major venues, and would have ties to numerous superstar artists.

Ticketmaster holds a majority stake in Front Line Management which, in turn, has partnerships with several top Nashville managers, including Dale Morris & Associates (Kenny Chesney), DS Management (Alison Krauss), and Spalding Entertainment (Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean).

Chesney Sets Four Summer Shows In Vegas

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kenny chesneyKenny Chesney keeps adding to his summer schedule but, as promised, isn’t mounting a full-scale tour. He has just announced four dates at the Hard Rock Las Vegas, on May 14 and 15, and July 2 and 3. The performer will take over the hotel’s venue called the Joint, and says audiences in the 4000-seat room can expect a show in the style of his Keg In The Closet tours.

Chesney’s Keg In The Closet shows are usually held in college town bars, with he and his band promoting a party atmosphere driven by his hits, cover songs from U2, Steve Miller, Van Halen, Tom Petty, and more, in a 3-hour set.

“The beauty of the Joint is that not only is it a great rock and roll room, but they’ll let us get up there and play… and play… and play,” says Chesney. “We have so much fun, because we can throw in all kinds of stuff we don’t get to play in our regular show, and the audiences are diverse enough that no matter what we throw at them, they know the songs!”

The superstar is playing a few major outdoor festivals this summer, and is anticipating the April 21 release of Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D, the concert film which captures five of his stadium shows.

Chesney has played at the Joint before, when he was part of the grand opening in April 2009 along with Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi and the Killers.

Signings: Max Barnes; Lorrie Morgan; 615 Music

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Pictured: Ray Stevens, Max T. Barnes, Perry Howard (BMI), Sabrina Shelfer (Creative Director, Ray Stevens Music). Photo: Ben Surratt

Pictured: Ray Stevens, Max T. Barnes, Perry Howard (BMI), Sabrina Shelfer (Creative Director, Ray Stevens Music). Photo: Ben Surratt

Max T. Barnes has signed a publishing deal with Ray Stevens Music. The chart topping songwriter has an impressive list of hits, including six No. 1 singles, nine Top 10’s and a Song of the Year Nomination for the career launching hit “Love Me” by Colin Raye. Barnes recently penned the current Ray Stevens single, “We the People,” which has received over 2 million YouTube views in just 30 days. Throughout his career, Barnes has written over 30 charting singles recorded by artists such as Randy Travis, John Anderson, Vern Gosdin, Diamond Rio, Montgomery Gentry, Jo Dee Messina, Billy Dean and George Jones, among others.

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The Bobby Roberts Company, Inc. has signed Lorrie Morgan for exclusive Booking Representation. Morgan’s hitmaking career has resulted in 14 top ten hits, seven gold or platinum albums and four Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Her string of hits include “Five Minutes,” “Something in Red,” “Watch Me” and “What Part of No.” The Bobby Roberts Company can be reached at 615-859-8899.

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615 Music, under the direction of Pres. and CEO Randy Wachtler, has signed the U.K.-based “In-spired” production music catalog and will be representing it exclusively in the US and Canada. The “In-spired” catalog is comprised of 16 virtual CDs, with new music being released quarterly. The catalog is available online, and via hard drive. 615 will be pitching the catalog for use in feature films and trailers, and television programs and promos.

Lady A Sells Ryman 2X; Strait/Reba Tour; Hope For Haiti

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Lady A's Hillary, Charles and Dave are the guest hosts on this week's installment of "CMT Top 20 Countdown," premiering today (1/15). Photo (l-r): Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley. Photo Credit: Brian Bayley

Lady A's Hillary, Charles and Dave are the guest hosts on this week's installment of "CMT Top 20 Countdown," premiering today (1/15). Photo (l-r): Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley. Photo Credit: Brian Bayley

Due to the sell-out success of Lady Antebellum’s upcoming March 11 concert at the Ryman Auditorium, another show has been added on Wed., March 10. Tickets available via ryman.com and Ticketmaster outlets.

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The George Strait/Reba tour kick-offs next weekend in Baltimore, MD with guest Lee Ann Womack. After Baltimore, the tour continues to Greensboro, NC with additional dates coast to coast through March…Reba also has a new DVD coming out. CMT Invitation Only: Reba will be released Tuesday, Feb. 9 via CMT and the Valory Music Co.

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In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, MTV Networks is presenting Hope for Haiti, a global telethon to air commercial-free across ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, and CMT on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and 7:00 p.m. CT. Leading the charge will be George Clooney in Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean in New York City and CNN’s Anderson Cooper from Haiti. Musical performances and celebrity appearances are yet-to-announced. Proceeds will be split evenly among Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF and Yele Haiti Foundation. Facebook and MySpace have also signed on as official social media partners.

Westerman Follows Hill To Red Light

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Sandra Westerman

Sandra Westerman

MusicRow has learned that Sandra Westerman will be leaving her VP position at Borman Entertainment to move to a similar role at Red Light Management in Coran Capshaw’s Nashville office starting Jan. 19. Westerman spent over 17 years with Borman Entertainment. She can now be reached at [email protected]

Westerman was active in the day-to-day role for former Borman client Faith Hill who recently joined the Red Light roster.

According to a MusicRow story on Jan. 8, Hill’s career will be overseen by Red Light principle Coran Capshaw and President Will Botwin from the firm’s New York offices. Earlier last year, Hill’s superstar husband Tim McGraw also signed with Red Light for career management after leaving his long time association with RPM Management.

Aldean Adds Ash To Tour

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Ash Bowers

Ash Bowers

Stoney Creek Records artist Ash Bowers has been added to Jason Aldean’s upcoming Wide Open tour set to launch Jan. 22. Bower’s first Wide Open appearance begins 1/28 in Austin, TX.

“I was lucky enough to open a few dates for Aldean in November last year and had a blast playing for those big crowds,” says Bowers. “When I was told I was going to join in on the fun again I was thrilled. What a great way to kick off a new year!”

Bower’s debut single “Stuck” never charted on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, but hopes are high for his second attempt, “Ain’t No Stopping Her Now” set to ship on Jan. 15. The new song was written by Bowers and Kyle Jacobs, who co-wrote “More Than A Memory” for Garth Brooks. Other Stoney Creek artists include Megan Mullins and Crossin Dixon. Stoney Creek is part of the Broken Bow Records family, Aldean’s label home.

As previously announced Capitol’s Luke Bryan (“All My Friends Say”) is also part of the tour for most of the dates. For more info visit www.jasonaldean.com

2010 WIDE OPEN TOUR DATES w/ASH BOWERS
1/28 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
1/29 Beaumont, TX Ford Park Arena
1/30 Tyler, TX Oil Palace 2/4 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
2/5 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
2/18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
2/19 Highland Heights, KY Bank of Kentucky Center
2/20 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
2/25 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
2/26 Univ. Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
3/10 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum
3/12 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center
3/18 Broomfield, CO The Odeum
3/19 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
3/20 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena
3/21 Pocatello, ID Holt Arena
3/25 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
3/26 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
3/27 St. Charles, MO Family Arena

On Tour’s Eve, Rascal Flatts Reflect On 10 Years of Hits

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rascal flattsAs Rascal Flatts prepare to open the final leg of their American Living Unstoppable Tour this weekend, the group is reflecting on ten years of success. Since 2000, when Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney released their debut single “Prayin’ For Daylight” and subsequent first album, Rascal Flatts has become the top country group of the decade.

The upcoming tour sponsored by JCPenney and Hershey’s features support from Darius Rucker. It opens with two shows in Uncasville, Connecticut and closes March 10. The first leg of the tour sold 550,000 tickets for 39 shows since June 2009, including sold-out stadium concerts in Chicago and Columbus. The band’s 2009 tours sold over a million concert tickets, bringing its 4 year total to just over 4 million tickets sold.

Over the last decade, the Lyric Street act has delivered 11 No. 1 singles, and sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads. It has more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the format. And all six of its studio albums made Billboard’s Top 100 Country Albums of the Decade list.

With almost 40 trophies, Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the new millennium. And the band’s fundraising for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville has brought in over $3 million in the past few years.

Throughout 2010, Rascal Flatts will mark its 10th anniversary with special fan events, including the new 10-year anniversary web site.

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Phil Vassar Plans First Overseas Tour

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Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar will launch his first overseas tour on Jan. 26 in London, England, wrapping in Munich, Germany on Feb. 1. The Show Dog-Universal Music artist is currently touring the states to support his recent release Traveling Circus.

His overseas tour will include a full media schedule, with appearances on various TV shows in London and Ireland, as well as the BBC.

“I am thrilled to finally be on my way to share my music and show with some of the world’s most passionate music lovers,” says Vassar. “To be able to perform in four countries in one week is quite a feat, but I am ready for it. I am extremely proud of the record I have recorded with my touring band, they are my brothers, and to be able to have this experience is something we have been waiting to do for quite some time.”

Conway’s New Firm Consulting For Ronnie Gilley Entertainment

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tonyVeteran Nashville talent executive Tony Conway has formed an entertainment consulting firm and will be acting as talent consultant and executive producer for Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. RGE’s live entertainment interests include the annual BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, as well as the multiplex of venues at the new multi-million dollar Country Crossing destination near Dothan, Alabama, which is having its grand opening this weekend.

This is the first of several projects and companies Conway will announce in the next few weeks.

Last November Conway left his post as CEO and co-owner of Nashville based Buddy Lee Attractions after 33 years with the agency.

Conway is currently serving as Executive Producer of RGE’s 2010 BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, running June 3-5 in Enterprise, Alabama; as well as the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 10-13.

As part of his new association, he will consult on talent and the development of additional special events, festivals and live music concert presentations in the planning stages for the Ronnie Gilley Entertainment group.

Conway is taking the talent reins for RGE’s 3rd Annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival, with more than 40 artists scheduled to appear on four music stages, including Hank Williams, Jr., Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Miranda Lambert, and LoCash Cowboys. The event near Enterprise, Alabama drew in excess of 125,000 fans last year.

Conway is also overseeing this weekend’s (Jan. 15-17) Grand Opening celebration at Country Crossing. Twenty artists are set to perform at the three-day extravaganza, including Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols, Darryl Worley, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, The Commodores, and Pam Tillis. The attraction’s venues set to celebrate official openings this weekend are the George Jones Possum Holler Bed & Breakfast, Lorrie Morgan’s Hot Chicken, John Anderson’s Cafeteria, Darryl Worley’s Worley Bird Saloon, and The Grascals Bluegrass Hollow RV Park.

In his work with RGE, Conway will continue to based in Nashville. Contact information for Conway is: [email protected] / 615-478-4989