Pictured (L-R): Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin and Tessanne Chin
On NBC,
The Voice earned a 3.3 for its performance finale, down two tenths from last week’s 3.5 rating for adults 18-49, earning a comparatively low rating for the performance finale. The episode featured finalists
Tessanne Chin, Will Champlin and
Jacquie Lee competing for one last time, and attracted 12.7 million viewers. Part one of last season’s finale, which aired Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, brought in a stronger audience, with 13.4 million viewers.
• • •
The Blackbird Academy, an intensive six-month professional audio program based out of Blackbird Studio in Nashville, has announced a partnership with Pensado’s Place, the Web-based series hosted by hitmaking mix engineer Dave Pensado. To launch the partnership, Pensado’s Place will be sponsoring one full-ride scholarship [$21,900 value] for the six-month Studio Engineering Program beginning Jan. 6, 2014.
“Herb and I always look for opportunity to educate people through our show,” says Pensado, referring to co-producer/co-host Herb Trawick. “This scholarship in conjunction with our partners at The Blackbird Academy is huge, and it represents education at the very highest level. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Applicants are required to submit a form and answer two essay questions relating to their passion for music and recording. In addition to the scholarship, five lucky winners will receive a “Fly Away” to Nashville to receive a private tour of The Blackbird Academy and the amazing nine-room Blackbird Studio, home to sessions by everyone from the Kings of Leon to Dave Stewart to Kid Rock, given personally by owner John McBride.
For more information, visit pensadosplace.tv/blackbird
• • •
NextMedia Radio Group will switch two signals in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington, N.C. markets to bring a new Hot Country format to eastern North Carolina on WQSL and WQZL, beginning on Dec. 16th at noon. These stations will operate on a full simulcast basis.
WQSL, at 92.3 on the FM dial, is licensed to Jacksonville, N.C. and the WQSL signal area serves the Coastal Carolina region from New Bern south to and including the Wilmington market. WQZL, at 101.1 on the FM dial, is licensed to Belhaven, N.C. and the WQZL signal area serves the northern half of the Greenville-New Bern market including the cities of Greenville, New Bern and Washington.
”NextMedia is excited to launch the WOLF in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington N.C. markets,” commented General Manager Larry Weiss. “Our two signals, at 92.3 and 101.1, will carry the WOLF’s fresh, hot new distinctive Country format to the entire coastal Carolina region. Announcements will be made following the holidays on the staff hired to fill the Program Director and air staff positions.”
• • •
Southwest will begin offering another nonstop flight from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to New York LaGuardia, beginning May 11. This mark’s Southwest’s third daily nonstop flight to LaGuardia.
“We are pleased to have Southwest add an additional nonstop flight to New York LaGuardia, one of our most popular destinations,” Rob Wigington, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said. “This is a big win for the Nashville community, since LaGuardia is a slot-restricted airport and the slots are difficult to secure. The Airport Authority is committed to growing Nashville’s air service by continuously attracting new destinations and nonstop services and delivering the Nashville Airports Experience to our passengers, business partners and employees.”
CMT To Be Exclusive Cable Partner for 2014 Country Thunder Fests
/by Jessica NicholsonGary Allan, Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Colt Ford, Charlie Worsham, Will Hoge and Chad Brownlee are also on the bill, with additional artists to be announced on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, premiering Saturday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. ET/PT. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit countrythunder.com.
“Bringing Country music to the masses, it’s important to be everywhere our fans are both on the ground and everywhere they find music. CMT has an unmatched ability to cover country music everywhere our fans are,” said Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer.
No. 1 Celebration: Tyler Farr's "Redneck Crazy"
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, front row): Songwriter Mark Irwin, Tyler Farr, and songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. (L-R, back row): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, producers Julian King and Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino, Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, Columbia Nashville’s Norbert Nix, Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace, Big Loud Shirt’s Matt Turner and Red Vinyl Music’s Eric Gallimore. Photo: Ed Rode.
ASCAP celebrated the team behind “Redneck Crazy,” the chart-topping single from Columbia Nashville recording artist Tyler Farr, during a party at the ASCAP Nashville offices on Monday, Dec. 16. Co-written by ASCAP members Mark Irwin, Chris Tompkins and ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Josh Kear, the title track from Farr’s debut album marks the singer’s first No. 1 single.
Co-writers Irwin and Tompkins celebrated their 3rd and 10th chart-toppers, respectively, while Kear celebrated his 6th. Publishers Big Loud Shirt’s Matt Turner, Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace and Red Vinyl Music’s Eric Gallimore, as well as label Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman and CEO Gary Overton and Columbia Nashville’s VP of Promotion Norbert Nix, were also on hand to honor the group. Sony Music Nashville’s Jim Catino had an additional reason to celebrate: he earned his first No. 1 song as a producer along with Julian King, who co-produced the recording to collect his second chart-topping song.
Johnny Cash's 'Bitter Tears' To Be Re-created, Released
/by Lorie HollabaughJohnny Cash
Another collection of Johnny Cash-inspired music will soon be available for purchase, according to Billboard. Producer Joe Henry (Rodney Crowell, Carolina Chocolate Drops) has signed on to produce a multi-artist project for Sony Masterworks re-creating Cash’s controversial 1964 album Bitter Tears, a conceptual collection that addresses the plight of Native Americans.
“It was much-maligned when it came out,” Henry says. “There was a very public battle with Columbia Records about the release of the record, and subsequently it was not very well promoted or very widely heard.” Henry plans to use a small group of artists on the project, but none have been announced yet. Plans are set for recording to begin on the project in late January/early February in Nashville and California.
Industry Ink (12/17/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin and Tessanne Chin
On NBC, The Voice earned a 3.3 for its performance finale, down two tenths from last week’s 3.5 rating for adults 18-49, earning a comparatively low rating for the performance finale. The episode featured finalists Tessanne Chin, Will Champlin and Jacquie Lee competing for one last time, and attracted 12.7 million viewers. Part one of last season’s finale, which aired Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, brought in a stronger audience, with 13.4 million viewers.
• • •
“Herb and I always look for opportunity to educate people through our show,” says Pensado, referring to co-producer/co-host Herb Trawick. “This scholarship in conjunction with our partners at The Blackbird Academy is huge, and it represents education at the very highest level. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Applicants are required to submit a form and answer two essay questions relating to their passion for music and recording. In addition to the scholarship, five lucky winners will receive a “Fly Away” to Nashville to receive a private tour of The Blackbird Academy and the amazing nine-room Blackbird Studio, home to sessions by everyone from the Kings of Leon to Dave Stewart to Kid Rock, given personally by owner John McBride.
For more information, visit pensadosplace.tv/blackbird
• • •
WQSL, at 92.3 on the FM dial, is licensed to Jacksonville, N.C. and the WQSL signal area serves the Coastal Carolina region from New Bern south to and including the Wilmington market. WQZL, at 101.1 on the FM dial, is licensed to Belhaven, N.C. and the WQZL signal area serves the northern half of the Greenville-New Bern market including the cities of Greenville, New Bern and Washington.
”NextMedia is excited to launch the WOLF in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington N.C. markets,” commented General Manager Larry Weiss. “Our two signals, at 92.3 and 101.1, will carry the WOLF’s fresh, hot new distinctive Country format to the entire coastal Carolina region. Announcements will be made following the holidays on the staff hired to fill the Program Director and air staff positions.”
• • •
“We are pleased to have Southwest add an additional nonstop flight to New York LaGuardia, one of our most popular destinations,” Rob Wigington, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said. “This is a big win for the Nashville community, since LaGuardia is a slot-restricted airport and the slots are difficult to secure. The Airport Authority is committed to growing Nashville’s air service by continuously attracting new destinations and nonstop services and delivering the Nashville Airports Experience to our passengers, business partners and employees.”
MusicRowLife (12/17/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonRegina, Ron and Nate Stuve
UMPG VP Ron Stuve‘s condition is improving after 10 days in ICU at Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he has been battling an extremely rare case of Strep Group A pneumonia and sepsis. His lungs, heart, kidneys and liver have been compromised and his chances of survival were very slim.
As of yesterday (Dec. 16), Ron’s wife, entertainment publicist Regina Stuve, said, “We have witnessed a miracle and every person who has prayed for Ron is part of this Christmas miracle. The odds were against us but with everyone circling Ron and lifting him up, the odds are with us now. I know our medical team AND our spiritual team working together saved Ron’s life. To God be the Glory! The doctors keep using the word ‘remarkable’ when describing his current condition.”
Music industry executives, artists, songwriters and musicians have rallied around Ron, Regina, and their son Nate. And this morning (Dec. 17), Stuve gave Cyndi Forman, his co-worker, a song pitch idea from his hospital bed for Josh Turner, who came to visit him in the hospital last week.
• • •
Brad Funk and Tiffany Dunn
Loeb & Loeb’s Tiffany Dunn wed Brad Funk in a villa chapel outside of Siena, Italy on Nov. 29. Approximately 50 family and friends attended the nuptials.
To celebrate their wedding, and in lieu of gifts, the couple is working with Blood:Water Mission to build a deep fresh water well in Lira, Uganda.
Dunn is Senior Counsel and Office Manager of Administration at Loeb & Loeb’s Nashville office. Her practice focuses on entertainment transactions in the music, publishing, television and motion picture industries. She represents publishing companies, record labels, management companies, recording artists, visual artists, producers, authors, songwriters and other parties in the music industry.
Newlyweds celebrate with guests
ACM Lifting Lives Announces 2013 Grant Cycle Recipients
/by Jessica Nicholson“We are very pleased to announce this year’s beneficiaries,” said ACM Lifting Lives Chairman Bruce Bowman, “these organizations clearly demonstrate the mission of ACM Lifting Lives and we are proud to help grow their programs through our grant cycle. We are thankful for all of the support we’ve received throughout the year that allows us to fulfill our mission of improving lives through music.”
Programs funded during the 2013 ACM Lifting Lives grant cycle include:
For information on guidelines and how to submit for the 2014 grant cycle, visit acmliftinglives.org.
Artist Updates (12/17/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughBill Frist and Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley was honored by the Nashville Symphony last Saturday night (Dec. 14) with its Harmony Award at the 29th Annual Symphony Ball, “A Midwinter’s Night’s Dream” at the Schermerhorn Center. Former Senator Bill Frist gave Paisley the award, which is presented to a person each year who exemplifies musical excellence, embodies the spirit of community, and makes a difference in people’s lives through charitable efforts.
Paisley has been involved with the Water=Hope Campaign and the Haiti nonprofit Live Beyond.
• • •
Brittney and Brian Kelley
Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley married his girlfriend of seven months, Brittney Marie Cole, in an intimate outdoor ceremony at Kelley’s new home, according to People. FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and their other bandmates were on hand for the festivities, which included a tapas-style dinner in a renovated barn and a party afterward with drinking and dancing.
• • •
Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels is releasing some rare 1979 live recordings from the fifth year of the his legendary Volunteer Jam concerts. Blue Hat Records and MRI/RED Distribution will release seven songs today as a sampler of the historic concerts created by CDB. The tunes can be purchased on iTunes.
• • •
Chris Cagle
Chris Cagle was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Greenville, Texas, last weekend, according to Herald Banner. Cagle reportedly ran a red light early Sunday morning, Dec. 15, on U.S. 69, and a Department of Public Safety officer pulled him over. He was booked into the Hunt County Jail and subsequently released.
Chris Young To Join Celine Dion's 'Home For The Holidays' Special
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Young
Chris Young is set to join Home For The Holidays With Celine Dion. The special, which features inspirational stories about children adopted from foster care into loving families, will air Wednesday, Dec. 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
“I’m so happy that I get to be a part of this TV special,” said Young. “Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of year and my Christmas traditions revolve around being with family. I’m excited that this show will enable kids to make those memories for themselves, and that I get to be a part of it.”
On the special, the singer-songwriter will debut his new single, “Who I Am With You,” which shipped to radio on Monday, Dec. 16. “From the first time I heard this song I knew I had to have it for my record and I fell completely in love with it,” said Young. “It’s a song that speaks to being totally in love with someone and the feelings you get from a connection like that. The feeling that just being around that person is all you need.” “Who I Am With You,” is the follow-up single to his gold selling hit, “Aw Naw,” from his new album, A.M..
Wednesday’s TV special tells uplifting stories of adoption from foster care in order to raise awareness for this important social issue. The inspirational stories of these American families are enhanced with performances from Young, Dion and Ne-Yo. Currently, there are more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States.
Bar Owner Charged in Wayne Mills' Shooting Released From Jail
/by Jessica NicholsonJudge Steve Dozier reduced the bond, which was originally set at $300,000, to $150,000 and set rules for Ferrell, including where he will live and how regularly he must check in with a bail bondsman. Ferrell was ordered to give up his collection of more than a dozen guns, and was released at 6:54 p.m. on Monday.
• • •
Pit and Barrel bar owner Chris Ferrell was arrested Friday (Dec. 6) on a second-degree murder charge in the death of musician Jerald “Wayne” Mills, 44, on Nov. 23, reports The Tennessean.
Ferrell told police that he shot Mills in self-defense after the two got into an argument regarding Mills smoking in the bar. Mills died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
After a police investigation, the grand jury indicted Ferrell on the murder charge.
Linda Ronstadt To Be Inducted Into 2014 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughLinda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is among the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees in the performer category. Cat Stevens, Nirvana, Hall & Oates, KISS, and Peter Gabriel are also being inducted in the performer category of the upcoming class, while the E Street Band will receive the Award For Musical Excellence. Brian Epstein will also receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award For Lifetime Achievement at the ceremonies, which will be held April 10, 2014 at the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn.
Ronstadt regularly crossed over to the country charts in the 1970s and performed a string of hits that revived interest in rock’s pioneers: Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou,” the Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Loved” and Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day” among them. Now 67, Ronstadt revealed to the world earlier this year that she is unable to sing anymore because of Parkinson’s Disease. Nearly three hundred artists or groups have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall since its opening in 1986. Inductees are chosen by over 700 members of the Rock Hall of Fame.