ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp

/by

Last year's ACM Lifting Lives campers perform at the Grand Ole Opry.


The 2nd Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is going on this week in Nashville, helping campers with developmental disabilities who are talented in music.
Among the fun activities on the itinerary is songwriting with Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon, and Brett James; Art N’Music with Little Big Town; and karaoke with Wynonna. The week culminates when the campers perform onstage with Darius Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Camp has a dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome and other developmental disabilities and providing music enrichment through performance and education. In 2010, ACM Lifting Lives began fully funding what was previously called the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Music Camp.

Diane Warren Teams With Universal Music

/by

Diane Warren


Revered songwriter Diane Warren has entered into a new agreement with Universal Music Group, which includes a publishing administration component, and has her working as a global A&R consultant for the company’s artists.
UMPG will handle administration of Warren’s Realsongs catalog outside of North America, while she continues to self-administer her copyrights in the U.S.
Among her evergreen hits are “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “If You Asked Me To,” “Because You Loved Me,” “UnBreak My Heart,” “How Do I Live,” “Don’t Turn Around,” and “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” She has won countless awards, including a 2001 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“On the recorded music side, she will now become UMG’s ‘go-to-creative’ person—available to our labels and artists around the globe to write songs that will help to fully realize their potential,” said UMG Chairman & CEO Lucian Grainge.
Today’s announcement was made by Grainge, Universal President & COO Zach Horowitz, Warren, and her manager Merck Mercuriadis.
Warren’s work spans genres and decades, from Beyonce’s new single “I Was Here,” to collaborations with superstars Aerosmith, Elton John, Tina Turner, Faith Hill, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears.

Chris Young's "Neon" Shining Soon

/by

Chris Young’s third studio album Neon is due for release Tuesday, July 12 and he’s giving fans some incentive to pre-order the album’s deluxe version on iTunes.
The deluxe and regular versions of Neon are available for pre-order on iTunes starting today (6/28). The deluxe version features two bonus tracks not found on the regular album– “I’m Gonna Change That” and “Don’t Leave Her (If You Can’t Let Her Go)”–as well as a photo gallery containing new images of Young. As an added bonus, fans who pre-order the deluxe version will receive an immediate download of Neon’s title track.
Neon’s lead single, “Tomorrow,” co-written by Young with Anthony Smith and Frank Myers, is the fastest-rising song of his career. Seven tracks on the James Stroud-produced album were co-written by Young. The singer will spent most of the summer on the road building his audience as part of Jason Aldean’s sold out My Kinda Party Tour.

Rucker Leads Nashville 4th of July Festivities

/by

Darius Rucker will headline Nashville’s Independence Day celebration on the downtown riverfront. The day-long event will close with a grand finale fireworks spectacular accompanied by music from the Nashville Symphony.
Lower Broad will be lined with family activities including inflatables, giveaways, food, drinks and souvenirs. The music kicks off at 1:30 p.m. with performers including Ayla Brown, The Willis Clan, The Cleverlys, The Dirty Guv’Nahs and Street Corner Symphony.
Details at musiccityjuly4th.com.

Shelton Wraps “The Voice,” Preps Album Release

/by

Blake Shelton’s coaching gig on NBC singing competition The Voice is coming to a close as the star gears up for a perfectly timed album release. The two-part season finale of The Voice starts tonight (6/28), where he will team with Brad Paisley to perform “Don’t Drink The Water,” a song written by Paisley and Tim Owens. Tomorrow night (6/29), Shelton will bring wife Miranda Lambert to the stage to sing with his team’s finalist Dia Frampton, who is competing for the crown against Javier Colon, Beverly McClellan and Vicci Martinez.
Shelton performed “Honey Bee” on the show last week, a perfect promotional push for his album set to drop July 12. The lead single is already a major hit, nearing the one million paid digital downloads mark, as the fastest selling Gold digital single from a country male.
Pre-orders for Red River Blue opened today, offering bonus and live tracks. Wal-Mart will have a CD/DVD exclusive package. Pre-sales at www.BlakeShelton.com offer consumers a range of options from the $14.99 digital download package, to an autographed plaque for $250
.
Shelton’s release is the latest in a string of projects from Warner Music Nashville that have been timed to coincide with TV coverage. John Rich’s Six Paks hit streets a week before his win on The Celebrity Apprentice, and Shelton scored big downloads when “Honey Bee” was released immediately following his performance and hosting slot on the ACM Awards.

Songwriter News: Combustion Signing

/by

Combustion Music Adds Writer
Combustion Music has signed Russell Dickerson to an exclusive songwriting agreement. The recent Belmont University graduate has been playing the Nashville scene for the last two years. He is a native of Franklin, Tenn.

Sitting: Russell Dickerson; Standing (L-R): Combustion Music’s Chris Van Belkom, Chris Farren, and Kenley Flynn; BMI’s Bradley Collins; CAA’s Jim Butler; Dennis Entertainment’s John Dennis, and Aaron Kinssies.


 
CMA Songwriter Series In Boston, New York
The CMA Songwriters Series will make its Boston debut with a performance by Kenny Chesney on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Royale Nightclub. Chesney’s songwriting credits include his hits “Beer In Mexico,” “You Had Me From Hello,” “Out Last Night,” “I Go Back,” and “I’m Alive” (a duet with Dave Matthews). Joining Chesney will be hit tunesmiths Matraca Berg, Brett James, Wendell Mobley, Craig Wiseman and host Bob DiPiero.
When the CMA Songwriter Series played at Joe’s Pub in New York City on June 21, Easton Corbin was the featured artist/writer. DiPiero hosted the event with fellow hitmakers Carson Chamberlain, and Mark D. Sanders.

Pictured in New York (L-R): Bob DiPiero, Mark D. Sanders, Easton Corbin, Carson Chamberlain. Photo: Chris Tate


 
Sandestin Songwriters Festival
The weekend of August 12-13, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will host the 2nd Annual Sandestin Music Festival on multiple stages throughout the Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Co-sponsored by BMI, the free, open-to-the-public event will feature BMI contemporary country trendsetters Jeffrey Steele and James Slater; powerhouse country vocalist and Broadway star Lari White; and promising up-and-comers Kree Harrison, Thomas Rhett, Joanna Cotten, Tyler Farr, and the Pernikoff Brothers.

Urban Tour Going Strong

/by

Keith Urban pictured June 23, 2011 on stage in Columbia, SC.


Keith Urban’s Get Closer 2011 World Tour opened in Biloxi, MS earlier this month, embarking on a 50-plus city run. He has dates scheduled through mid-October, including a stop Aug. 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
His new production features a main stage as well as four smaller platforms that bring Urban out into the audience. The design is inspired by an amusement park, including a roller coaster style backdrop.
He is touring in support of his sixth album, Get Closer, which includes current single “Long Hot Summer.”
Jake Owen will appear on all U.S. dates, while the Canadian leg in July will feature The Band Perry.
AT&T/Samsung are the presenting sponsors of the Get Closer 2011 World Tour, which plays in St. Louis, MO (6/29) and Moline, IL (6/30) this week.

Urban shows his new stage set, which is inspired by an amusement park.

Inspirational Country Awards Move To New Venue

/by

ICM Awards hosts Megan Alexander and Storme Warren.


The Inspirational Country Music Awards will be held in a new location this year, with the 17th annual event set to move to Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The awards show on Oct. 28 is the capstone of Inspirational Country Music Week, running October 24-28, 2011 at The Millennium Maxwell House Hotel.
Returning as hosts for the ICM Awards will be television personalities Megan Alexander of Inside Edition, and Storme Warren of GAC and Sirius/XM.
The Christian Country Music Association, the organization behind the ICM Awards, has also teamed with the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition for fundraising and awareness events during Inspirational Country Music Week, including a silent auction, and a Pink Carpet Gala. More here.

Joss Stone Records in Nashville, Signs With Kobalt

/by

Joss Stone


British soul singer Joss Stone recently wrapped recording of a new album in Nashville. She has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, who will represent the solo project LP1. The album is to be released by her newly established label, Stone’d Records, in partnership with Surfdog Records, on August 1 in the U.K., and July 26 in the rest of the world. Dave Stewart, known for his work with the Eurythmics, produced the project as well as contributed to the writing.
Kobalt, headed by CEO and Founder Willard Ahdritz, will also represent the works Stone has co-written for Superheavy, her new band with Stewart, Mick Jagger, A.R. Rahman and Damian Marley.
Stone is a Grammy and Brit Award winner who has sold over 11 million albums.

Artist Action: TV Spots, New Music, and More

/by

TV Appearances
Big Machine Records duo Steel Magnolia (Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones) will get a taste of late night tonight (June 27) when they make their debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11 pm CT. The duo will perform a new song from their album, which their fans have helped choose.
Marty Stuart will appear on The Late Show With David Letterman Wednesday, June 29. Stuart and his band The Fabulous Superlatives will perform “Country Boy Rock & Roll” from his album Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions).
Kid Rock recently visited Hazel Smith for an episode of CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks. The show is set to air Saturday, July 2.
Album and Single Releases
Shawna Russell has released her self-titled sophomore album (Way Out West Records), which is available at iTunes, Amazon and more. The album was produced by Julian King, Clif Doyal and Tim Russell and features the single “Get Right Or Get Left.” Russell is also set to play the Summer Oil Patch Festival July 4 in Drumright, Oklahoma with co-headliner Richochet.
Former pop star Tiffany (“I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Could’ve Been”) has returned to music with the release of her debut country album Rose Tattoo. The first single, currently going for adds, is “Feel The Music,” which Tiffany wrote with Julie Forester and Dee Briggs.
Eli Young Band’s current single “Crazy Girl” has broken the 350,000 total downloads mark, averaging weekly sales of 25,000. The group’s forthcoming album Life At Best (Republic Nashville) is due out August 16.
Guy Clark will get his own tribute November 1, but prior to that he will release his new live album Songs and Stories (Dualtone) on August 16. Recorded at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre, Songs and Stories features Clark performing works from across his career surrounded by bandmates Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Bryn Davies, and Kenny Malone.
Artist Action
Warner Bros. duo the JaneDear girls are joining with Nick Jonas and Quaker Chewy to find the first Quaker Chewy Superstar. Children ages 8-14 are invted to sing one of four songs for the contest, one of which is tJDg’s “Wildflower.” The contest winner will receive a $5000 cash prize, record a song produced by Jonas, and be signed to the Jonas Management Group. More info here.
Phil Vassar has recorded “Rattler Hum,” a custom version of his new single “Let’s Get Together” for the Arizona Rattlers arena football team, which will be used as their new fight song. “Ron Shurts, one of the owners of the Rattlers, is a friend of mine and he brought Coach (Kevin) Guy and some of the Rattlers players to one of my shows and we just clicked,” says Vassar. “Tony Mullins and I decided to write a little ‘spin off’ of ‘Let’s Get Together’ for them to play at their home games.”