Montgomery Gentry – Where I Come From

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Average Joe’s Entertainment is pleased to announce “Where I Come From,” the new country radio single from multi-platinum hitmaking duo Montgomery Gentry. The pair signed with Average Joe’s in March 2011 and are at work on their first album project with the label.
“We couldn’t be happier to be signing with the guys at Average Joe’s,” says Eddie Montgomery.  “Those guys are cut from the same cloth we are and man, they are so creative. We can’t wait to get this new project out there to our fans!” Troy Gentry adds, “Eddie and I are really excited about this new partnership with Average Joe’s. We love the team they have in place and the passion and excitement that they bring. We look forward to going in and making a project we’re all proud of.”
Montgomery Gentry first hit big on Columbia Records in 1999 with “Hillbilly Shoes.” They followed with numerous hits, including “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,” “My Town,” “Hell Yeah,” and “Roll With Me.” In 2000, they nabbed the CMA Duo of the Year Award and the ACM Top New Group/Duo honor.
http://montgomerygentry.com/
http://www.facebook.com/montgomerygentry
http://twitter.com/#!/mgunderground
http://www.averagejoesent.com
Montgomery Gentry – Where I Come From

Darren Warren – Cowboy Up and Party Down

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NuCorp Entertainment recently shipped the debut single from flagship artist Darren Warren to country radio. The rollicking, uptempo “Cowboy Up and Party Down” was written by Eddie Kilgallon and produced by Doug Grau. Darren’s self-titled EP is due in stores soon.
“It’s a dream come true for any artist to release a single but for me, it’s a dream come true to be able to release something that is so much a part of who I am,” says Darren. “‘Cowboy Up and Party Down’ is just me! It’s the way I talk and the life I love, and I feel so blessed to have the chance to share a little part of myself with the world.”
NuCorp was started by industry veteran Jeff Carver and businessman Joe McDaniel. Chuck Rhodes has been tapped to oversee the company’s promotion, marketing, and distribution efforts. Nine North/Turnpike will handle national promotion efforts and Regina Raleigh will conduct promotion to MusicRow and small market radio stations.
A native of the Paducah, Kentucky area, Darren’s Warren has one of the most unique stories in country music. At age 16, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and spent the better part of the next three years receiving treatment at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He has now been in remission for over nine years. In keeping with his vow to raise awareness for the hospital and the care he received, Darren has called or visited over 80 radio stations hosting Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothons this year alone.
http://www.darrenwarren.com
http://www.facebook.com/DarrenWarrenFans
http://twitter.com/darrenwarren
Darren Warren – Cowboy Up and Party Down

Bobby Dean – Rebound

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Modern traditionalist Bobby Dean’s new country single is “Rebound,” which was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Dave Moody for Lamon Records Nashville.
Dean, who owns Edgmon Trucking in Kent, Washington has juggled running a trucking business with singing in local bars for many years. He never really pursued his longtime dream to become a country singing star as he focused on work and raising two children. But he kept on singing.
“A lot of people ask me why I didn’t quit or give up and I always say that dreams come true… when I signed that record contract I thought I was still dreaming,” says Dean from his home near Seattle.
Label owner and producer Moody recently described Dean’s style. “Bobby has a unique voice, very traditional sounding, yet he makes it his own… None of that vocal-tuning trickery was used to make his album,” he continues. “What you hear is what he sounds like, which is refreshing today in a musical world where you can’t tell what’s real from fantasy.”
See the “Rebound” video at http://vimeo.com/channels/lamon
Contact:
Dave Moody, Lamon Records Nashville
Phone: 615.379.2121, x101
Email: staff@lamonrecords.com
www.lamonrecords.com
www.facebook.com/bobbydean09
Bobby Dean – Rebound

MusicRow Awards Issue—On The Cover

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Led by industry veteran Tim DuBois, the ASCAP Nashville regional office serves a broad array of members across all musical genres and a multi-state geographic footprint while bolstering its services to new and existing members. This focus is testament to ASCAP’s emphasized investment in the evolution of Nashville as a vibrant musical mecca.
The vision of ASCAP Nashville reflects the city’s growing importance as a global music capital that is a magnet for songwriters and publishers in a spectrum of genres. ASCAP has responded to this growth and change in the marketplace through a regional approach to its core mission in Nashville. The geographic region the office serves includes other parts of Tennessee, as well as Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia, among other areas.
The ASCAP Nashville creative team, which includes DuBois, Marc Driskill, Michael Martin, LeAnn Phelan, Mike Sistad, Ryan Beuschel, Jessica Draper, Robert Filhart, Jesse Willoughby and Anna Maki, is dedicated to deeply investing in the development of songwriters, as well as serving the needs of its publisher members. This is a team whose diverse and dynamic backgrounds and experiences cover every area of the industry, merging in the most complementary way by combining a natural enthusiasm for music and the songwriters who create it with practical knowledge from years in the music business. There is also a focused emphasis in three areas of visionary service, education and opportunities for its members: Performance, Creative and Business.
In the area of Performance, ASCAP Nashville has a focused array of strategic opportunities for members in varying genres and stages of their careers to showcase their craft in series including ASCAP Presents at the Bluebird Café, ASCAP Rocks at the Mercy Lounge, the New Crew Show (highlighting unsigned writers) and a special quarterly series, ASCAP Presents.
Within the Creative emphasis, opportunities beyond the performance series are offered through unique events and festivals including the ASCAP Music Lounge at the Nashville Film Festival, Nashville in Napa, the 30A Songwriters Festival, ASCAP’s incredibly successful “We Create Music” EXPO, ASCAP’s GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) Program, ASCAP/Belmont Writers Night Series, the Key West Songwriters Festival, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Songwriter Workshop (as part of its cumulative educational outreach in high schools and colleges in Texas and the rest of ASCAP Nashville’s geographic region of service). Other special events that ASCAP Nashville participates in include the Sundance ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW and CMJ, among others. Songwriting workshops are also an essential element of the Creative focus, with ASCAP Nashville offering four different workshops with genre emphasis in pop, country, Christian and film/TV.
ASCAP is proud to partner with organizations including Nimbit, AirPlay Direct, MyWerx, Limelight and many others that address the growing needs of both the songwriters and business professionals who represent all genres of music here in Nashville. These partnerships further the goal of the Business emphasis in equipping ASCAP members with information, skills and knowledge they need to be and remain competitive in this industry. Programs including ASCAP’s DIYU educational workshops are offered for guidance and to facilitate an informational forum between these organizations and their core market: writers and artists.
The ASCAP Nashville office, while continuing to serve the needs of country and Christian music’s greatest writers and publishers, has expanded its vision and strategy to also meet the needs of the pop, international, urban and folk writers, as well as film, television and symphonic composers, who work, live and thrive in this region. ASCAP’s recognition of the influx and development of other successful genres of music in Nashville demonstrates not only the Membership group’s dedication to a substantial investment in the development of songwriters and support of publishers, but also the organization’s commitment to the community as a whole.

(L-R): Tim DuBois, VP/Managing Executive; Mike Sistad, Dir. Membership Relations; Jessica Draper, Mgr. Creative Services; Michael Martin, Sr. Creative Director; Robert Filhart, Creative Manager; Marc Driskill, VP/GM; Jesse Willoughby, Membership Representative; LeAnn Phelan, Sr. Creative Director; Ryan Beuschel, Creative Manager; and Anna Maki, Creative Assistant. Photo: Jeff Venable

Keith Bryant – Can't Tell Somebody (Who To Love)

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This guy is a stand-up country singer, and I’ve always liked him. This time around, he has a dandy tale of a strict daddy who tries to stand in the way of True Love. So the kids sneak around behind papa’s back to that stretch of road, “Where the moon is willing, and the river don’t mind.” The song soars like an eagle, and so does its vocalist. Absolutely and definitely a winner.
—Robert K. Oermann, MusicRow
Keith Bryant is proud to present his second single for Jordash Records, “Can’t Tell Somebody (Who To Love),” to country radio. The song, from Bryant’s self-titled album release, was written by Wendell Mobley, Mike Mobley and Shane Minor.
Most will be familiar with Bryant from the success of his 2004 song “Ridin’ With The Legend.” A tribute to NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt, the song experienced sustained airplay after its release and rotation on GAC. The song has since become a sort of rallying anthem for NASCAR and country fans alike.
http://www.keithbryant.com/
Keith Bryant – Can’t Tell Somebody (Who To Love)

Review: Sherrie' Austin Performs On StageIt

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This week, Sherrie’ Austin performed on StageIt.com promoting her independent CD, Circus Girl, coming out in the fall. The June 15 performance was one in a series, as part of her “Jumpstart” campaign to help fund her new independent venture.
Accompanied by Will Rambeaux who was out of view, Austin performed with her guitar from the living room couch and offered an interactive connection with her fans. Viewers simultaneously chatted online. In between songs, Austin read and responded to many of the comments.
She told us this was the first time she has co-produced a record and is very excited about the songs on the upcoming CD.
After a couple of songs, she brought out on stage (i.e., her couch), Shane Stevens, who co-wrote the No. 1 hit by Lady Antebellum, “American Honey.” Both Stevens and Austin performed the song and thanked the audience for their “tips.” (Viewers purchase credits online and award performers by tipping them during the show.)
After I chatted “How did you write that song?” Shane saw the comment and shared the story of how he, Hillary Lindsey, and Cary Barlowe got the idea from a bottle of whiskey bearing the same name.
Although performances usually broadcast “one to many,” this was the definitive “one to one.”
Throughout the show, Austin teased us with a “big announcement” coming soon. Viewers tried to get it out of her, but her lips were sealed. One thing viewers did get from her was another show. After fans chatted they wanted to do this again, she spent a few minutes with Shane checking their schedules, and set her next date on StageIt for June 28, 8pm. She even asked the fans if that date worked for them and solicited song suggestions she should sing next time.
She ended the show with a haunting acoustic version of “Streets of Heaven” and gave viewers a true interactive experience.

Vicki Vann – This Is Where I Get Off

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Newcomer Vicki Vann’s debut country radio single is “This Is Where I Get Off,” which was written by top Nashville tunesmiths Casey Beathard, Michael Heeney and Rebecca Lynn Howard.
The song was originally a part of a demo collection for the California native to record when she visited Nashville for the first time. Her debut album Reckless Heart (Red Canyon Records) features 13 tracks and showcases a broad range of influences including Crystal Gayle, Karen Carpenter, The Eagles, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.
Born and raised outside Los Angeles, Vann grew up on a small farm and fell in love with country music at an early age. Her father, a Baptist preacher, was also an original founding member of Grammy award-winning gospel group The Mighty Clouds Of Joy. Vann has spent the last several years honing her live performances with her band and garnering fans from all over.
“I feel like I really didn’t go out and just choose to sing country music,” says Vann. “I believe country music actually chose me!”

Contact:
Steven Kline, Red Canyon Records
951-272-4138

http://www.vickivann.com
Vicki’s Facebook
Vicki’s Twitter
Vicki’s YouTube
Vicki Vann – This Is Where I Get Off by musicrow

ReTune Donates $50k To MusiCares

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(L-R) ReTune Nashville Board Members Dina D'Gerolamo and Allison Thompson, MusiCares Executive Director Debbie Carroll, ReTune Nashville Founder Sheri O'Neal, ReTune Nashville Board Member Janis Ehrat, and Publicist Becky Lynn Street. Photo: Jason Delkou


ReTune Nashville presented a $50,000 check to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief today (6/8) at the MusiCares Nashville office. In one year, ReTune Nashville has activated 81 visual artists, received flood damaged gear from more than 25 donating musicians and companies, experienced the generosity of 18 music artists with accompanying musicians and crew, welcomed the support of roughly 80 sponsoring businesses and individuals, and completed two highly successful fundraising events to help uninsured musicians with their flood recovery efforts.
This donation supplements the initial $12,000 previously donated to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund in December 2010, bringing the total to $62,000 donated by ReTune Nashville for musicians’ flood relief.
MusiCares Executive Director Debbie Carroll commented on the donation and importance of monetary support,“Without the generosity and support of individuals and organizations such as ReTune, our work in providing support to the music industry after the devastating Nashville flood of 2010, would not be possible. ReTune’s donation will make a tremendous difference in the lives of many music people and their families who are still struggling from this disaster.”

Lisa Matassa – Me Time

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It Is What It Is recording artist Lisa Matassa presents her new country radio single, “Me Time.” Nine North Records has signed on for national promotion efforts, and the single goes for adds June 13.
Matassa’s life is a comeback story, a fairytale that has yet to have its ending written. From a little girl with a big voice to an emerging signed dance pop sensation by the age of nineteen, Lisa eventually put her music career on hold to become a wife and mother on Long Island. That fire inside her to perform and record never died, and now Lisa is ready to conquer the music scene once again with her own unique style that she lovingly calls Long Island Country. “I bring a unique perspective to my music now,” asserts Lisa. “Not many mothers with teenagers embark on a recording career later in life.”
With two-time Grammy nominated Executive Producer and writer, Bobby Guy Graziose at the helm and collaboration by producer Joey Sykes (Meredith Brooks, Third Eye Blind, Don Henley), Lisa released her EP Me Time. “The songs that we recorded and the songwriters I collaborated with, it gives me chills!” exclaims Lisa. The album title Me Time reflects the notion of a woman owning her power and making her own happiness and fulfillment a priority, something that every woman, wife or mother can relate to.
Lisa is embarking on this chapter of her music career on her own terms, explaining, “I feel like I have unfinished business to do. I want to bring this dream of music to the forefront because I know my time is coming. There is such a positive energy around this project and so many people who want to get behind it.”
Lisa Matassa – Me Time

Church Finds Gold In Carolina

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Eric Church’s recent album, Carolina has just been Gold certified by the RIAA for sales over 500,000 units. Carolina features “Smoke A Little Smoke” and “Love Your Love The Most” which have also been certified Gold, having sold over 500,000 digital copies each.
“It’s always been my goal to make records that are a complete body of work and not just random songs strung together,” Church shares. “Personally, I still love to put on a record and let it play top to bottom. This Gold record is a dream come true and proof there are still people out there who think about music the same way I do. I owe this to every fan that told someone about this record, and to them I say ‘thank you!’”
Church recently earned a trophy for New Solo Vocalist of the Year at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. His third EMI studio album Chief is scheduled for a July 26 release. “Homeboy,” from the upcoming album is his fastest rising radio single to date sitting at No. 9 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart.