Chesney Tour In “Pollstar” Top 10

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kenny-chesney-coronaKenny Chesney is the only country act in the Top 10 of Pollstar’s annual Midyear Report of tour rankings. His Corona Extra Sun City Carnival tour lands at No. 7 behind Britney Spears, Fleetwood Mac, Celine Dion, Elton John/Billy Joel, the Eagles, and Bruce Springsteen.

Rascal Flatts are at No. 17 on the list, followed by George Strait at No. 29.

Chesney and Dave Matthews had the cheapest ticket prices of any music acts in the Top 10, reflecting a commitment to fans. “We’ve really tried to keep the prices reasonable…to put on a good show,” Chesney says, “but especially to give people for those few hours a reason to just have a good time!”

Joining Chesney on the road are Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. The mix of football stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters includes several sold-out shows.

APA Welcomes Darren Kozelsky

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dkAgency for the Performing Arts (APA) has signed country singer Darren Kozelsky for representation, with Clint Wiley and Scott Galloway acting as the responsible agents.

Kozelsky joins artists Tanya Tucker, Collin Raye, David Lee Murphy, Kingbilly, Little Texas, Lee Roy Parnell, Cross Canadian Ragweed and more at APA.

He is a Texas native who first carved a successful career on the competitive Lone Star music circuit. The title of Kozelsky’s current album, Arrivals & Departures, seems apropos for an artist who performs 200 shows a year from Dallas, Texas to Crappone, France and all points in between. The album’s current single is the hardcore country anthem “Seven Vern Gosdins Ago.”

“WSJ” Highlights Compass Records; NaFF Entries; Etc.

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bluegrassGrammy award winning banjoist Alison Brown, two-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year  Dale Ann Bradley, and seven-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Missy Raines are featured in The Wall Street Journal in an article written by Barry Mazor entitled “The Sisterhood of Bluegrass.” The article focuses on the tradition of women in bluegrass and how Brown, Bradley and Raines have each forged unique career paths in a traditionally male dominated musical genre. All three have released albums on Compass Records this year, and each new release is highlighted in the article, as is the 15th anniversary of Compass Records, which was co-founded by Brown in 1994.

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The Nashville Film Festival (NaFF), an Academy Award qualifier for short films and a showcase on the festival circuit for renowned World and U.S. premieres, is currently accepting entries for the 2010 edition of the Festival, scheduled for April 16-23, 2010 at the Regal Green Hills Cinemas. NaFF, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009 with record attendance, gives filmmakers the opportunity to compete in close to a dozen categories. Early bird deadline is July 15, 2009 and regular deadline is October 15, 2009. For a complete list of deadlines and fees and an entry form, please visit nashvillefilmfestival.org.

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This Wednesday (7/15) Live Nation is expanding its “No Service Fee Wednesday,” promotion to include select $49.99 All-In reserved seats for hundreds of concerts across the country. These All-In prices include a ticket, parking, all fees, a hot dog and a soda. The company is also offering the All-In $29.99 lawn ticket. The special offer, which is good at Live Nation ticketed amphitheaters, runs for 24 hours beginning on Wednesday, July 15 only at LiveNation.com. Among the Country concerts included in the bargain are Brad Paisley with Dierks Bentley, George Strait with Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough, Kid Rock & Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rascal Flatts with Darius Rucker, and Toby Keith with Trace Adkins.

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EMI owners Terra Firma is pushing Citigroup for a 250-300 million pound injection into the struggling record company, the Sunday Times reports.

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Sony Music Nashville is seeking a Manager for Web Business Development…interested parties can check out the Careers section of sonymusic.com or make a beeline for the posting here.

The Farm Aid Concert Location Mystery

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farm_aid_logoOrganizers of Willie Nelson‘s annual Farm Aid concert are keeping fans guessing about where the 2009 Farm Aid event will take place by giving one hint per day for seven days.  The organizers started posting hints for fans yesterday (7/9) on Twitter and followed with a second hint today (7/10).

Concert hint #1: Your state feeling left out? This year’s concert will be in a city & state where Farm Aid has never been held! via @FarmAid

Concert hint #2: This year’s concert will be in a state that is in the top 12 for number of farms! (via @FarmAid)

Willie is joined by Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews on the Farm Aidboard. Each year, artists come together to perform and help raise money and awareness for America’s family farms. Farm Aid has raised $33 million for farmers since its inception in 1985.

Click here to follow Farm Aid on Twitter.

Dailey & Vincent Sign With Columbia Artists

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dvColumbia Artists Management, Inc. (CAMI) has signed Rounder Records bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent to represent them for bookings in North American performing arts venues. Don Light Talent will continue to manage Dailey & Vincent and book them for all other venues, including bluegrass festivals.

The duo is made up of Jamie Dailey, former lead singer and guitarist for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; and Darrin Vincent, who most recently was guitar and mandolin player and harmony vocalist with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Joined by band members Jeff Parker, Joe Dean, and Adam Haynes, the group is in the midst of its 2009 Rolling Your Way Tour, which includes over 130 dates.

Dailey & Vincent took home an unprecedented seven honors at the most recent International Bluegrass Music Awards. They also accomplished a feat no other artist has done—winning Entertainer of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year in the same year.

Glamorous Tidbits

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cover_glamour_190Taylor Swift is on the cover of the August issue of Glamour magazine. In an article titled Taylor Swift: Bomb-Shell in Blue Jeans, she dishes on her favorite career moments (Saturday Night Live, Rolling Stone cover), future goals (a world tour, moving out of her parents’ house), and where she sees herself in the future.

Toby Keith recorded his new single “American Ride” last week and following extreme demand, rushed it to radio in time for the Independence Day weekend.

Blake Shelton will be on Good Morning America on ABC on Mon. July 6.

Check out the music/film industry gossip site of Nikki Finke at www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com.

Nashville pop/folk songstress Madi Diaz, signed to Cherry Lane Publishing, recently received the Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting.

Comedian Rodney Carrington’s new all-music album, El Niño Loco, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Comedy chart last week, as well as at No. 19 on the Country chart.

Rascal Flatts is the first country act set to participate in the iTunes Pass program which allows fans access to exclusive content like live recordings, demos, and more. After the program launches on July 21, new audio will be released each week for the remainder of the summer.

Emerging singer Shawn Mayer is gearing up for her summer tour kicking off in Nashville at Cadillac Ranch on July 7. Show starts at 6:00PM and is a benefit concert for Spinal Muscular Atrophy presented by singer/songwriter Warren Silvers. From there, Shawn will travel to the Midwest for upcoming dates in Iowa and the surrounding areas opening for Josh Gracin, Jamie O’Neal, John Michael Montgomery and Andy Griggs.

Digital distribution label GMV Nashville has announced the addition of several new titles to their online catalog, including the epic This Is My America set, out-of-print titles from the Charlie Daniels Band and Toy Caldwell, and more. This Is My America is a three-disc compilation of original material that chronologically recounts the history of America through songs from 58 of Nashville’s finest award-winning singers and songwriters.

Rising country singer-songwriter Shane Wyatt has entered into a sponsorship with Farm Boy & Farm Girl brands, which makes clothing and accessories that capture the heartfelt pride of the farming lifestyle.

Williams Riley Celebrates William Morris Endeavor Signing

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L-R): Brinson Strickland, Pres./CEO Golden Music Nashville; Tinti Moffat, WME; Rob Beckham, WME; Paul Moore, WME; Steve Williams, Williams Riley; Rick Shipp, WME; Steve Hauser, WME; Charlie Hutto, Williams Riley; Lane Wilson, WME; and Derek George, Williams Riley. Photo: Bev Mosser

(L-R): Brinson Strickland, Pres./CEO Golden Music Nashville; Tinti Moffat, WME; Rob Beckham, WME; Paul Moore, WME; Steve Williams, Williams Riley; Rick Shipp, WME; Steve Hauser, WME; Charlie Hutto, Williams Riley; Lane Wilson, WME; and Derek George, Williams Riley. Photo: Bev Mosser

An industry crowd gathered at Nashville’s 12th & Porter yesterday (7/1) for a Cajun lunch and showcase hosted by Golden Music, William Morris and Jim Havey PR on behalf of new band Williams Riley. The seven piece outfit, fronted by singer/songwriter Steve Williams, charged through an energetic set including its current single “I’m Still Me,” “I Wish I Would Have Said That” and possible next single “(All About) Country Livin’.” The band is back on the road over the holiday weekend with an appearance in Cincinnati scheduled today and another in Frederick, Maryland on July 4. Kix Brooks even offered a video intro. WME’s Rob Beckham commented, “I was immediately a big fan of Williams Riley after seeing the ‘I’m Still Me’ video on GAC. Great song, great harmonies. I was drawn in immediately. I have known and worked with the band’s Derek George for years, and am proud to be a part of any project he is associated with.”

Photo Ops: Costco Queen, Winans, Walker, and Wayne

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"Costco Queen", from the hit show, Motherhood: The Musical, is now available for download on iTunes.  Get the mp3 for 99 cents or go for the FULL, never-before-seen Music Video for $1.49.   The music video was filmed inside Costco #386 in Brentwood TN and features real Costco employees, as well as the original Nashville cast of  Motherhood: The Musical Costco is using the video for their marketing events nationwide..pictured l-r: Jaclyn Brown, Janna Landry, Sue Fabisch (co-writer), Gerry D'Arco (mgr Costco #386), Ilene Angel (co-writer), Ruth Rosen and Gina D'Arco) 

"Costco Queen," from the hit show, Motherhood: The Musical, is available for download on iTunes as a song or music video. The video was filmed inside the Brentwood Costco and features the cast of Motherhood. The retailer is using the video as part of its national marketing. (L-R): Jaclyn Brown, Janna Landry, Sue Fabisch (co-writer), Gerry D'Arco (Costco Mgr.), Ilene Angel (co-writer), Ruth Rosen and Gina D'Arco

Jeff Foxworthy who performed at the 2nd Annual Clay Walker Charity Classic Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach Resorts on June 30, during the tournament’s evening Gala event to raise money for Walker’s charity, Band Against MS. The Gala event raised more than $56,000 from live and silent auctions which will be used to fund education for those living with MS, research and to further support the goals of BAMS. To date, BAMS has raised more than $2 million to fight MS. Photo: Christine Bush

Jeff Foxworthy performed at the 2nd Annual Clay Walker Charity Classic Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach Resorts on June 30, at the tournament’s gala to benefit Walker’s charity, Band Against MS. The event raised more than $56,000 from live and silent auctions which will be used to fund education for those living with MS, research and more. To date, BAMS has raised more than $2 million to fight MS. Photo: Christine Bush

Coffee Talk attendees recently met at the Stillwater Café to hear featured guest, national gospel artist CeCe Winans discuss her Always Sisters/Forever Brothers organization which will hold its Youth Conference at Belmont University in July. The conference’s goal is to educate, motivate and re-direct the life choices of teens and young women and men. Coffee Talk unites business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for the purpose of effective networking. Pictured: Connie Kinnard, SVP Convention & Visitors Bureau with Ms. Winans

Coffee Talk attendees recently met at the Stillwater Café to hear gospel artist CeCe Winans discuss her Always Sisters/Forever Brothers organization which will hold its Youth Conference at Belmont University in July. The conference’s goal is to educate, motivate and re-direct the life choices of teens and young women and men. Coffee Talk unites business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for the purpose of effective networking. Pictured: Connie Kinnard, SVP Convention & Visitors Bureau with Winans

Jimmy Wayne takes a camera with him everywhere he travels, and this week his label Valory Music Co.  launched a weekly series spotlighting some of his favorite photos from the road. See below.

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Wayne and Dierks Bentley having a blast on Brad Paisley’s "American Saturday Night Tour."

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Also, a few shots from Eldon, Iowa where Wayne visited the American Gothic House, home of the famed painting, and while there dressed up in garb worn by the dentist in the picture.

Lady A Added To Now! 31 Pop Comp

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e1246301407Lady Antebellum’s current Top 5 single “I Run to You” has been added to the upcoming Now! 31 compilation disc scheduled to be released June 30. The Capitol Nashville trio is the only country act on this latest in a series of discs, part of the long-running Now That’s What I Call Music series that has sold over 75 million units worldwide.

“It is hard to describe what it feels like for me to see our name on the same CD package as Beyonce,” says lead vocalist Hillary Scott. “I’m seriously pinching myself.”  Other artists with tracks on Now! 31 are Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Jamie Foxx and Nickelback.

Lady Antebellum is currently on the road playing arenas and stadiums across the country opening for Kenny Chesney. They are also scheduled to pair with Keith Urban in the fall for a series of dates that will take them across Canada.

Revolving Door: Stoney Creek, Sony, LifeNotes

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ash

Ash Bowers

Stoney Creek Records, the new label founded by Broken Bow owner Benny Brown, has signed Ash Bowers. and is planning the release of his first album. The Buddy Cannon produced project contains seven songs penned by Bowers, as well as the new single, “Stuck,” which was written by Billy Montana and Frank Myers and goes for adds Aug. 17. Bowers is managed by Shawn Pennington of Matchless Management.
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Sony Music Nashville announces that Jon Elliot, VP, Artist Development & Marketing, and Christian Svendsen, Director, Strategic Marketing, are departing the company to form a new venture. Exact exit dates are pending. Interested persons may submit resumes at www.sonymusic.com once the position is posted.
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The Lost Trailers’ Stokes Nielson and his wife Maria are proud parents of a healthy baby boy born Mon., June 22 in Nashville. Weighing in at 7.7 lbs, both the little one and his mom are doing well. He is also happily welcomed by a big sister.

Cindy Watts, entertainment writer at The Tennessean, and her husband Richard Kimzey welcomed their first child together on Thurs., June 25. Kansas May Halcyon Watts-Kimzey weighed 7 lbs 12 oz, and was 21 inches long. Baby and mother are happy and healthy. Kansas joins nine-year-old half-sister Madison.