Superstar members of the film, music, and sports communities are joining forces for the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) television special, which takes place Fri., Sept. 7 from 8-9 pm/ET.
Among those making appearances are Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, and SU2C Co-Founder Katie Couric. Paltrow is executive producing the event along with Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions.
Actors and personalities Simon Baker, Jordana Brewster, Diem Brown, Dana Delany, Chelsea Handler, Marg Helgenberger, Rashida Jones, Minka Kelly, Joe Manganiello, Jillian Michaels, Masi Oka, Ana Maria Polo, and Alison Sweeney are also confirmed to participate.
The event will air commercial-free simultaneously on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, as well as BIO, E!, ENCORE, HBO, HBO Latino, ION Television, LMN (Lifetime Movie Network), Logo, MLB Network, mun2, Palladia, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, Starz, Style, TBS and VH1. The program will include a celebrity phone bank that will allow users to interact. All public donations will go to cancer research.
More info here.
SoundExchange Payments Soar in 2012
/by Sarah Skates“This quarter’s distribution adds to what is shaping up to be a record breaking year for SoundExchange and reflects the continued growth of digital radio listenership and services,” said Michael Huppe, president, SoundExchange. “SoundExchange is proud to be part of this growing revenue stream for the creators of music.”
SoundExchange is the non-profit performance rights organization that helps the music and creative community thrive in the digital world. The organization collects and distributes performance royalties from non-interactive digital music services on behalf of recording artists and labels for the use of their sound recordings. To date, SoundExchange has paid more than $1 billion in royalties to the creators of music.
The organization works with more than 1,800 digital music platforms, both established and start-ups, which rely on SoundExchange for their digital sound recording licensing rights.
Swift and McGraw Join “Stand Up To Cancer” Special
/by FreemanAmong those making appearances are Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, and SU2C Co-Founder Katie Couric. Paltrow is executive producing the event along with Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions.
Actors and personalities Simon Baker, Jordana Brewster, Diem Brown, Dana Delany, Chelsea Handler, Marg Helgenberger, Rashida Jones, Minka Kelly, Joe Manganiello, Jillian Michaels, Masi Oka, Ana Maria Polo, and Alison Sweeney are also confirmed to participate.
The event will air commercial-free simultaneously on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, as well as BIO, E!, ENCORE, HBO, HBO Latino, ION Television, LMN (Lifetime Movie Network), Logo, MLB Network, mun2, Palladia, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, Starz, Style, TBS and VH1. The program will include a celebrity phone bank that will allow users to interact. All public donations will go to cancer research.
More info here.
Snapshots (8/28/12)
/by Sarah Skates• • • • On Thurs., Aug. 24 ASCAP Nashville hosted its second urban music showcase, co-presented by Big Fella of Perception Management and the TV show Cookin’ Wit Big Fella. Eight acts took the stage at 12th & Porter including Ducko McFli, Isaiah Rashad, KABY, Island Hustle Society, Jo’shua Odene, Fluid Outrage, The Lonely Biscuits and DJ CJ Da Kidd.
Pictured (center): ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan and Eyvn Mustoe with host Big Fella
• • • • Pulse Recording recently hosted a soiree at its flagship office in Los Angeles to celebrate its new partnership with Beth and Luke Laird’s Creative Nation. The party followed a week of songwriting collaborations between Creative Nation and Pulse clients including Laird, Barry Dean, Bonnie McKee, Oligee, Wrabel and Mighty Mike. Among Pulse Recording’s mega hits are Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and “The Edge of Glory;” Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” and “Part of Me;” Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite;” and Neon Trees’ “Animal.”
Pictured (L-R): Front row: Creative Nation’s Julie Stuckey and Pulse’s Lexi Ben-Meir. Back row: Pulse’s Jason Bernard, Creative Nation’s Barry Dean, Pulse’s Scott Cutler, Josh Abraham and Katie Donovan, Creative Nation’s Luke Laird and Beth Laird, Pulse’s Peter Lloyd
• • • • Sibling trio High Valley recently paid a visit to Diane Richey Promotions in Nashville in advance of the release of their U.S. debut single “Love You For A Long Time.” The song is co-written by High Valley lead singer Brad Rempel.
(L-R): Ben Kann (Diane Richey Promotions), Brad Rempel (High Valley), Diane Richey (Diane Richey Promotions), Beth Brightwell (Diane Richey Promotions), Curtis Rempel (High Valley), Bryan Rempel (High Valley)
Performers Set For Buds-n-Suds Music Festival
/by FreemanAlso performing at the event with a full band will be The Big Rock Show, Keith Anderson, El Camino (feat. Jon Nicholson and Shannon Lawson), Kelleigh Bannen, Jared Blake (from The Voice), Johnny T, and Dee Jay Silver.
Early bird tickets are available here for a discounted price of $10 until Aug. 31. Beginning Sept. 1, ticket prices will increase to $15 and then $20 day of show. VIP tickets are $50 at the early bird rate, and $60 after Aug. 31.
Hayes Earns Platinum With “Wanted”
/by Caitlin Rantala“I cannot believe I’m celebrating a Platinum single in the Top FIVE!” said Hayes when asked to describe this exciting success. “I’ve been dreaming about what this would feel like my entire life…and huge thanks to Country Radio’s support and the best fants in the world, I now know that it feels better than I ever imagined. Thank you!”
“Wanted” is also Top 20 in all genres on iTunes digital chart and to date, Hunter has sold a combined total of nearly 2 million digital singles. His first single, “Storm Warning,” is nearing Gold certification as well.
Songwriters Play Benefit For Daughter of Music Row Veteran
/by Eric T. ParkerTaliaferro Family. Photo: Shannon Jenkins
A slew of hit Nashville songwriters will perform at a benefit for Ellie Taliaferro, the 4-year old daughter of Music Row veteran Mike Taliaferro and wife Kerri who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer and is undergoing treatment at Vanderbilt.
Donations will be accepted during the event, which takes place at 5 pm tomorrow (8/28) at Loser’s Bar and Grill.
The list of performers includes Dallas Davidson, Bobby Pinson, Billy Joe Walker, Bekka Bramlett, Arlos Smith Aaron Barker, Daryle Singletary, Donny Kees, Jumbo Shrimp Band, Larry Henley, Melonie Cannon, Richard Leigh, Trent Tomlinson, Wynn Varble, and 2012 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Larry Henley.
Mike Taliaferro career includes managing artists such as Tracy Byrd, Justin McBride and more
For more information about Ellie, click here. Contact Donny Keeys for additional information.
Americana Music Awards Signs Multi-Year Agreement With AXS TV
/by FreemanThe event will feature performances from Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Alabama Shakes, Brandi Carlile, The Civil Wars, Jakob Dylan, Guy Clark, Booker T. Jones, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, The Mavericks, and more. Additionally, the late Levon Helm will be remembered will an all-star tribute.
“The Americana Music Association is home to a great community of independently spirited artists, and as an entrepreneur with the largest independently owned and operated television network, I relate to these musicians and their spirit,” says AXS TV co-founder and President Mark Cuban. “AXS TV shines a spotlight on the Americana Honors & Awards to celebrate the important history of this music genre and more importantly, to celebrate these incredibly talented artists and all they offer music fans everywhere.”
In addition to the live television broadcast, the Honors & Awards will be broadcast live on radio, satellite and the web through numerous outlets including WSM, SiriusXM’s “Outlaw Country,” and NPR.org. As usual, Austin City Limits will present an edited TV special for PBS in the weeks following.
The annual Americana Music Association Festival & Conference kicks off September 12 at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, and runs through September 15 with nightly performances in venues across town. More information here.
CRS Names Panel Moderators
/by Sarah SkatesThe core panel moderators are: Ken Boesen, Operations Manager, WKIS/Miami; Beverlee Brannigan, Operations Manager, Journal Broadcast Group/Milwaukee; Dan Halyburton, Business Development at Texas State Network, CBS Radio/Dallas; Todd Schumacher, VP/Market Manager, Cox Media Group/Louisville; and Matt Sunshine, Executive VP, The Center For Sales Strategy/Plano.
“We’re so excited to announce the five core moderators,” says CRS Agenda Committee Chair Annie Sandor. “I have the utmost respect for all of them and get more excited with each call. They bring so much to the table and will enhance the great panels the Agenda Committee has put together for CRS 2013.”
Halyburton is serving for the third year in a row, while Brannigan returns for her second year. Meanwhile, Boesen, Schumacher and Sunshine are making their debut appearances as moderators.
The $399 Early Bird registration rate for CRS 2013 is now available at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or (615) 327-4487.
Dave Stewart Film Premiere Draws Nashville Notables
/by Sarah SkatesAt the premiere of "The Ringmaster General." (L-R): Martina McBride, Dave Stewart, John McBride. Photo: Chris Champeau
Singer/songwriter Dave Stewart premiered his documentary The Ringmaster General at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre on Thursday night (8/23). The project captures the making of his two albums at Martina and John McBride’s Blackbird Studios including the acclaimed 2011 project The Blackbird Diaries, and the upcoming The Ringmaster General (Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Surfdog), set for release Sept. 4.
(L-R): Jessie Baylin, Dave Stewart, Nathan Followill. Photo: Chris Champeau
Stewart, previously of the Eurthymics and currently in Superheavy with Mick Jagger and Joss Stone, recruited Stone, Alison Krauss, Diane Birch, and Jessie Baylin to join him in the studio. Among the top musicians on the project are guitarist Orianthi, guitarist Tom Bukovac, drummer Chad Cromwell, bassist Michael Rhodes, steel guitarist Dan Dugmore and pianist Mike Rojas. Colbie Caillat, The Secret Sisters and Stevie Nicks also appear in the documentary.
Stewart spent the weekend performing three dates on the Sugarland tour.
Apple Awarded $1B in Infringement Lawsuit
/by FreemanFollowing the three week trial, the verdict was delivered Friday (Aug. 24) and found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple’s utility and design for some (but not all) products, including willful infringement on five or six patents. The jury also ruled against Samsung’s counter-claim that Apple had infringed on its patents. However, Samsung was cleared of charges of violating antitrust law and the damages are considerably less than the $2.5 billion originally sought by Apple.
The design patents and what they should cover have been a hotly debated topic since the trial began. The victory for Apple might be precedent-setting for companies with distinctive design cues. Despite the verdict, Samsung hasn’t conceded defeat, though many changes will be eminent.
Some experts predict the win for Apple could signal a showdown between Apple and Google, whose Android operating system is now the leading smartphone platform worldwide. More immediately, Apple is attempting to have a ban placed on several Samsung products found to infringe, including the Galaxy S II and the Verizon Droid Charge. Samsung is trying to overturn a previous sales ban against its Galaxy Tab 10.1, which was found in this case not to infringe on Apple’s design.