Jillian Kohr – What You’ve Done

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kohr

Nashville, breakout artist Jillian Kohr releases her newest single to Music Row and Country Radio. Kohr is best known by many for her outstanding Digital and Internet success. Her very first release, an unplugged rendition of the classic “Love Hurts,” shot to the top and charted #1 across three genres on the MySpace Music Charts, landing her the #1 Female Artist in Nashville on the ReverbNation Country Charts in 2012.

“I recorded the song in studio to enter it into a vocal competition that a friend found for me on ReverbNation. I don’t think anyone expected it to be as big as it was!” Kohr said.

Her newest single “What You’ve Done” captures the same raw and vulnerable power. Her fresh, edgy vocal draws her listeners in.

“I grew up listening to Rock N Roll and Blues music, but I have always loved the storyline in Country music and what it stands for, so my music naturally reflects all of that,” she explained.

Kohr co-penned the single with Nashville songwriters Ollie Kohr and Gary Cirimelli, with special guest Harrision Whitford on electric guitar.

As “What You’ve Done” hits the airwaves, Kohr will be setting out on a Nationwide Radio Tour and is currently planning her upcoming Live Tour scheduled for spring of 2013. Jillian is a proud member of the CMA’s, the GRAMMY’s, ICMA’s, BMI and NSAI. Follow Jillian Kohr on Facebook and Twitter too!

Radio Contact:
Sarah Reed
615-248-8105 x239
sarah@hmgnashville.com

www.Jilliankohr.com
www.facebook.com/Jilliankohrmusic
twitter.com/Jilliankohr

McBee Exits Sony Music Nashville

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Heather McBee has exited Sony Music Nashville after 20 years with the label group as the company’s VP, Marketing & Web Initiatives to pursue her next opportunity.

She joined BNA Nashville in 1991 as an intern and over the years brought her interest and expertise in digital marketing to the forefront helping grow the careers of such artists as Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Chris Young, Love and Theft, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Lonestar, Sara Evans and others.

McBee can be reached at 615-584-8741 or at hmc@heathermcbee.com.

NATD Preps for 2012 Award Honors

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The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will recognize six entertainment industry professionals during its sold-out 2nd Annual NATD Honors gala tonight (11/14).

Artists Béla Fleck, Michael W. Smith, and Tanya Tucker join Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz, and industry mainstays Bob Kinkead and Dale Morris to honor NATD’s selected honorees: Mike Fisher, Clint Higham, John Huie, George Jones, Alan Valentine, and Robert S. Williams.

Co-hosted by the voice of the Nashville Predators Pete Weber, and TV Reporter/personality Stephanie Langston, tonight’s event begins at 6 pm with a reception, dinner and honors held at Nashville’s downtown Hermitage Hotel.

For more information on the organization, visit www.n-a-t-d.com.

Benefit News (10/26/12)

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Singer-songwriter Mindy Smith has joined forces with Women Rock For The Cure to release a special “Pink” edition of Mindy Smith, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and her upcoming performance on “Opry Goes Pink.” A portion of the sales proceeds will benefit the charity.

A live rendition of “One Moment More,” will be available exclusively here through Oct. 31. The track will be available as a single song download and as a bonus track within the special “Pink” version of Mindy Smith. Written for her mother Sharron, whom she lost in 1991 to breast cancer, the song was the title track to her debut album.

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Bucky Covington is teaming up with local and national fire officials and residential fire safety product manufacturer, Kidde, to promote safety awareness. Covington, Kidde President Jim Ward, and fire officials, will launch the campaign, “Be a Hero, Save a Hero” on Thurs. Nov. 1 at 10:30 am at the Nashville Fire Dept., Station #9, located at 601 2nd Ave S.

Built upon the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (NFFF) original program, this campaign urges Americans to pledge to take some simple home fire safety steps. Kidde will also donate 500 of its new Worry-Free smoke alarms to the Nashville Fire Department. For each person who takes the pledge and shares their support through social media, Kidde will donate $1 to NFFF and Help the Good Guys, organizations dedicated to helping the families of injured and fallen firefighters. Kidde expects to donate up to $10,000 to each organization.

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Collin Raye has started a new foundation that will kick off following the CMA Awards next week. Country artists Jamie O’Neal and John Berry among others are scheduled to perform with Raye after the CMA Awards at aVenue in downtown Nashville on Nov. 1. The event will include a premium bar and gourmet food and serve as the official launch for The Haley Bell Blessed Chair Foundation.

The Haley Bell Blessed Chair Foundation is in memory of Raye’s granddaughter and helps families purchase expensive motorized wheelchairs for their children who have special needs. The newly formed foundation is named from lyrics in the song “She’s with Me,” a song Raye wrote about Haley when she was alive. Collin sings about her “Blessed Chair” which carried Haley everywhere with the family and greatly improved the quality of her life.

Visit here for more information.

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Alabama‘s Randy Owen joined other top songwriters earlier this month at Lucy’s Country Café in Blue Bar to benefit the Charley Foundation, the Nashville-based non-profit organization that provides support to charitable agencies addressing the critical needs of children. The event took place during songwriter Bobby Pinson‘s weekly “Sing for Your Supper” acoustic show.

Performers included Owen who played a round with Bridgette Tatum, Marc Beeson, Lisa Carver, Sarah Davidson, David Lee, LoCash Cowboys, Danny Myrick, Bobby Pinson, Jon Stone, Adley Stump, Chad Warrix, Trent Willmon and others.

(L-R): Chad Warrix, Bobby Pinson, Carolyn Miller (MPR Entertainment head and Charley Foundation founder), Bridgette Tatum, Randy Owen, Kelly Owen and John Oates. Photo: Karen Will Rogers

 

First Performers Revealed For CMA Awards

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The star-packed lineup for The 46th Annual CMA Awards launches with today’s (9/26) announcement that Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, and Little Big Town are the first performers confirmed for “Country Music’s Biggest Night™.” Hosted for the fifth year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the show airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Thurs., Nov. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Aldean holds the current title for CMA Album of the Year for My Kinda Party and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Clarkson. This year, he picked up nominations for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, and Single of the Year for “Dirt Road Anthem,” produced by Michael Knox.

Bentley received three nominations for Album of the Year for Home, produced by Brett Beavers, Luke Wooten, and Jon Randall Stewart; Single of the Year for “Home,” produced by Beavers and Wooten; and Song of the Year for “Home,” written by Bentley, Beavers, and Dan Wilson, lead singer of Semisonic.

Clarkson makes her debut in the Female Vocalist of the Year category this year.

Vocal Group nominee Little Big Town made a splash this year with “Pontoon,” which is in the running for Music Video (directed by Declan Whitebloom) and Single of the Year (produced by Jay Joyce).

The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thurs., Oct. 4. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Mon., Oct. 22 (5:00 PM/CT).

Lizzie Sider – “Butterfly”

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Lizzie Sider’s debut single, “Butterfly,”  is a whole lot of country with a hint of pop. It’s available on CDX 555 and Play MPE. The single is available for download on iTunes, while her in-studio “Butterfly” music video is currently being played on GACtv.com and TCN (The Country Network television station). Her debut album will be released in 2013.

“I draw a great deal of inspiration from the artists I’ve always looked up to and admired, both as musicians and as people. My songs come from my personal experience,” said Sider.

Sider has opened shows for Jamie O’Neal and Aaron Tippin, among others. She recently performed as the featured artist at the Ocala, FL Rodeo, and will perform at the upcoming Inverness, FL Rodeo. Additionally, Lizzie has played writer’s nights at Nashville venues such as both Hotel Indigo, The Red Rooster, Rooster’s BBQ and was a featured artist at the Commodore Lounge this summer. Lizzie recently performed at the Waldorf Astoria at Couture Fashion Week in NYC. She has hosted two episodes of Breaking Out, TCN’s show that showcases up-and-coming country artists. Sider will open for Big & Rich in November 2012 in Davie, FL and is slated to play a writer’s round at the Bluebird Café in early 2013.

The industry loves working with Lizzie. She is clean cut, a breath of fresh air, a little old fashioned in certain ways, wholesome, fun loving, and very respectful of others. Lizzie is a genuine sweetheart.

Steve Luscombe – “I’m A Natural”

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Taytown Records is proudly releasing “I’m a Natural,” the first single from up-and-coming artist Steve Luscombe’s debut EP, to country radio. The song was written by Alex Smith and Rock Carroll and produced by Dan Drilling (one of Randy Travis’ first guitarists).

Luscombe was born outside of St. Louis, MO. After being adopted, he spent the next 12 1/2 years growing up in Sikeston, MO. The son of a Church of Christ minister, Luscombe has always been around music. Gospel music has been a constant in his life and continues to be important to him to this day. From a very early age, Luscombe was singing which only made his love for gospel harmony grow even greater.

As his love for music was sprouting, Luscombe also began to take an interest in secular music. The small town where he grew up held a rodeo every year with nightly concerts, featuring artists like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Wille Nelson, and Ricky Skaggs. Seeing his favorite artists perform live only made him want to be a singer even more. Luscombe developed an appreciation for country songs drenched with passion and heartache, humor and life. It was real life to him and he wanted nothing more than to find a way to pass his feelings along through his music.

Luscombe’s debut EP contains impressive instrumental arrangements and he is excited to share “I’m A Natural” with his fans.

Steveluscombe.com
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Photos: Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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The GMA Foundation (GMAF) inducted Aretha Franklin, Dallas Holm, The Hoppers, Rex Humbard, Love Song and Ricky Skaggs as the newest members of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 during a gala at Trinity Music City in Hendersonville, TN.

Those honoring the careers of the new Hall of Fame members were Dailey & Vincent, Dottie Peoples, Gordon Mote, Greg Long, The Isaacs, Jamie Grace, Michael W. Smith and The Talleys. The evening was hosted by Jason Crabb and Jaci Velasquez. The ceremony was taped by Trinity Broadcasting Network for future broadcast.

Pictured: The family of Rex Humbard, Dallas Holm, Love Song, Ricky Skaggs and The Hoppers. Photo by Gretchen Demonbreun / The Judy Nelon Group / GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Hosts Jaci Velasquez (L) and Jason Crabb (R). Photo by Michael Ernst / The Judy Nelon Group / GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame

The Talleys and The Hoppers perform during the induction of The Hoppers. Photo by Jim Sulcer / The Judy Nelon Group / GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Gordon Mote (L) and Dallas Holm (R) perform during the induction of Dallas Holm. Photo by Jim Sulcer / The Judy Nelon Group / GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Snapshots (8/03/12)

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The Band Perry, Justin Moore, The Mavericks, Sunny Sweeney and Greg Bates entertained Country music and racing fans alike prior the Brickyard 400 last Sunday (7/29). Each was also showcased on the No. 38 car, driven by Front Row Motorsports’ David Gilliland. Fans have the opportunity win a race-used firesuit and a guitar signed by the artists. Visit www.RacecarsAndCountryStars.com for details. This marks the second consecutive year for the label to participate as a presenting sponsor at the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

(L-R): Sunny Sweeney; Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta; Greg Bates; Justin Moore; David Gilliland and The Band Perry’s Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry hit the track to check out the No. 38 car just before the engines start.

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Carrie Underwood made her CMA Songwriters Series debut July 31 in a sold-out performance at Royale in downtown Boston. Underwood, a respected songwriter in her own right with seven of her 15 No. 1 hits as co-writes, was joined by respected Nashville songwriters Brett James, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero. The show also streamed live on CMASongwritersSeries.com.

(L-R) BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations and CMA Board Member, Jody Williams; Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO and CMA Board Chairman, Gary Overton; CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Sheri Warnke; songwriter Luke Laird; Underwood; songwriter and CMA Board Member, Brett James; songwriter Hillary Lindsey; songwriter, CMA Songwriters Series host, and CMA Board member, Bob DiPiero; CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; and XIX Entertainment Manager and CMA Board member, Ann Edelblute. Photo: Natasha Moustache/CMA

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Bucky Covington recently attended the 51st Annual International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Convention held in Philadelphia, PA, where IAFF President Harold Schaitberger surprised him with a personalized Fire Fighter helmet to thank him for his work with the organization. Over the last year, Bucky has been working closely with Help The Good Guys and the IAFF Charitable Foundation to provide financial relief to injured fire fighters and their families. Covington will be releasing his sophomore album Good Guys on September 11 with a portion of the proceeds from the first week sales benefiting the IAFF Charitable Foundation.

Covington (L) and Schaitberger (R) Photo: Jocelyn Augustino

Aaron Lewis to Host Charity Golf Tournament

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The inaugural Aaron Lewis Invitational Charity Golf Tournament is set for Saturday, August 11, at the award-winning Crumpin-Fox Golf Club in Bernardson, MA.

The event is hosted by It Takes A Community Foundation, the charitable 501c3 organization started by multi-Platinum recording artist Aaron Lewis and his wife Vanessa, along with Crumpin-Fox Golf Club and Zeke’s Smokehouse Grill. All the proceeds will benefit the R.H. Conwell Community Education Center in Worthington, MA.

The tournament entry fee includes a round of golf with cart, a tee gift package, contests, lunch, a cocktail and dinner reception plus an evening concert featuring a performance from Lewis. Sponsorship packages are available. Please visit www.itacf.org for more information.