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.“

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.

BMI Honors Gospel In Nashville

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BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Fri., Jan. 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, and 2008 Trailblazers honoree Vanessa Bell Armstrong were among the artists who paid homage to the honorees. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant also presented an award for Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year to Marvin Sapp and his esteemed collaborator Matthew Brownie in recognition of their co-written hit “Never Would Have Made It,” which was recorded by Pastor Sapp.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Pictured at the event are, left to right: VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Catherine Brewton; gospel music legend Dorinda Clark-Cole; BMI executives Wardell Malloy and Malik Levy; BMI President/CEO Del Bryant; Sherri Shepherd from The View.

Chesney Set For Grammy Performance, Adds Tourmates

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Kenny Chesney is among the first performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards telecast, where he is nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, for “Shiftwork” with George Strait. Also performing on the Sun., Feb. 8 telecast from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles are Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, and Katy Perry. With eight nominations, Lil Wayne has the lead going into the night.

Today (1/14) Chesney also revealed that Sugarland and Montgomery Gentry will join him for stadium dates on the upcoming Sun City Carnival tour. Both have been on the road with him before. Though most of the stadium stops on the Corona Extra sponsored outing haven’t been announced, 2008 saw Chesney visiting 14 major stadiums. As previously announced, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum will join him for the entire 2009 tour.

2009 Tour Circuit Heats Up

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Now almost two weeks into 2009, artists are heading back out on the road and MusicRow has a run down of the latest touring news.

Kenny Chesney today (1/12) revealed his full itinerary for the previously announced Sun City Carnival tour, currently slated for 50 dates across the nation. Kicking off April 17-18 in Uncasville, CT, Chesney will be on the road through the middle of September with guests Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. The Carnival is scheduled for many football stadiums, amphitheaters, arenas, and maybe even a honky-tonk or two.

Rascal Flatts will kick-off the final leg of its Bob That Head Tour this weekend in Kansas City, MO. Opening Jan. 17, the leg will run for 20 dates with guest Jessica Simpson.

Toby Keith kicked off the second leg of his Biggest & Baddest Tour Saturday (1/10) in Biloxi, MS, and has invited Jack Ingram to return for a series of shows in February. Ingram appeared on Keith’s previous Big Dog Daddy Tour.

George Strait is hosting guest Julianne Hough on his summer outing, with an additional opening act to be announced soon. The tour opens May 9 in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Brad Paisley has asked Gene Watson, the acclaimed artist who is also the subject of a current spotlight exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, to open The Paisley Party show on Thurs., Jan. 15 in Southaven, MS. As previously announced, Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley are the tour’s guests.

Known for non-stop touring, Willie Nelson has dates booked through late March. His first show of the year was Friday (1/9) in West Wendover, NV, and he will spend the month touring the West Coast. Included is a five-night stand in San Francisco. In February, Nelson has scheduled two nights in New York City with Wynton Marsalis and special guest Norah Jones, followed by a 10-show East Coast run with Asleep at the Wheel.

Merle Haggard, who has reportedly received a clean bill of health following surgery for lung cancer in November, is planning a busy 2009. Among the more unusual stops on his tour itinerary are churches, hospitals and women’s prisons.

Another hard touring artist, Gary Allan has shows booked through next fall. He spent most of 2008 on the road and will resume his tour Jan. 30 in Bossier City, LA. Most of his dates are casino, fair, club and theater venues.

After just wrapping their 2008 Long Road Out of Eden Tour in January, The Eagles open the 2009 leg today (1/12) in Hampton, VA. They are set for a dozen stops in the east and south this month, followed by many more dates in March throughout the Midwest and Canada. Then in May, the band heads overseas for a 6-week run in Europe. Ticketmaster is selling tickets to some Eagles shows with no additional convenience fees as part of a new “all-in ticketing” program.

Lambert and Lady A Join Chesney Outing

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Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum will join Kenny Chesney for his entire Sun City Carnival 2009 Tour. Known for numerous guest artists and a party atmosphere, Chesney is expected to announce more openers and a complete schedule soon. A few tour dates have been revealed and tickets have already gone on sale for stops including Boston’s Gillette Stadium, which sold out in less than 10 minutes. Chesney’s Poets & Pirates Tour was the most attended tour in any genre of music for 2008, according to Pollstar.

Country 2008: A Year End Report

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Click to download report.

The country music record business was especially hard hit as the previous year’s drop of 16.3% rose to 24% in 2008. Actual country album sales (physical and digital) toppled from 62.7 to 47.6 million, a new all time low under the SoundScan era.

Country 2008: A Year End Report asks questions and presents much of the past year’s key data.

Urban Maps 2009 Tour

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Keith Urban has firmed up stops on his 2009 tour, which will hit 58 North American cities such as Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver. The outing kicks off in May, and will likely go through summer and into the fall. A video for his new single “Sweet Thing” is due this month, and his as-yet-untitled new album is set for release on March 31. On the road, a changing cast of supporting acts will include Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Glen Campbell and The Zac Brown Band.