Swift and Underwood Among Best Paid Celebs Under 30

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Ahh, to be young and wealthy beyond your wildest dreams.
Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are part of an elite group of young celebrities who know what that feels like, according to Forbes (“The Best Paid Celebrities Under 30”).
Swift’s earnings in the previous year totaled approximately $45 million, according to the feature. Her third album Speak Now was triple platinum mere weeks after its release and her live shows bring in $750k per engagement. Underwood collected $15 million, courtesy of a successful tour and her starring role in the big budget film Soul Surfer.
Topping the list is Lady Gaga, whose international touring success and massive record sales from May 2010 to May 2011 (prior to release of new album Born This Way) earned her an estimated $90 million. Seventeen-year-old Justin Bieber lands at No. 2 with a reported $53 million, thanks to his concert movie Never Say Never, platinum album My Life 2.0, and wildly popular touring base. NBA star LeBron James is at No. 3 with $48 million, followed by tennis champ Roger Federer at No. 4 ($47 million) and Swift at No. 5.
Other celebs on the list include Katy Perry ($44 million), soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ($38 million), Beyonce Knowles ($35 million), and Rihanna ($29 million).

750 Heat Sufferers • Jones House For Sale • Facebook Growth Slowing?

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>>>The Tennessean reports that 750 people were treated for the heat at this year’s CMA MusicFest, according to a spokesperson from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At last year’s festival 400 were treated. The record breaking heat wave that accompanied MusicFest this year was named as the obvious cause for the huge increase.
>>>George Jones’ home is officially on the market for sale reports Nashville Post. The 9,700 sq. ft. property sits on 78 acres and includes four bedrooms, six full bathrooms, stables and lots more. You can see photos here, or check out the real estate website. Asking price is $15 million.
>>>According to various news reports sources are claiming that Facebook traffic in the U.S. has started to fall off and stopped growing. For the inside story we suggest reading this post on Inside Facebook by Eric Eldon. Loaded with graphs and details, Eldon concludes, “There do appear to be some overriding trends here. Canada, the United Kingdom and a few other early adopting countries have alternately shown gains and losses starting in 2010. Up until then, growth had generally been much steadier. There’s an especially odd mix of data about the US. Most third parties showed Facebook with fewer monthly active users in January and February, but Facebook’s own data didn’t reflect that. Meanwhile, for May, the only third party to report numbers so far is showing growth, in contrast to the loss that Facebook is showing.”

CMA Fest By The Numbers

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The Country Music Association released its preliminary statistics on its 40th annual fan festival on Monday, and the results are impressive.
There is no official estimate on how much economic impact this year’s festival had on downtown, but it is a safe bet that it surpassed last year’s $24 million. Here is what we do know.

  • 65,000 was the average daily attendance. For the second year in a row, every night was a sell-out at LP Field.
  • 25,000 attended the concerts at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Saturday, setting a new record.
  • 16,000 jammed Lower Broadway for the CMA Music Festival Parade last Wednesday, setting a new record.
  • 14,000 was the average daily attendance at the Fan Fair booths in the Convention Center.
  • More than 770 media credentials were issued, representing more than 210 domestic and international media.
  • 30,000 unique fans texted comments to the Jumbotrons in LP Field.
  • 30,000 downloads of the CMA app for Android and iPhone took place during the festival, a 566% increase over 2010.
  • 27 nations sent fans to the fest. In addition to the U.S., these were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. All 50 states were also represented.
  • 80% of the four-day ticket holders were from outside of Tennessee.
  • More than 45 different brands participated, including Chevrolet, Gildan, Jack Daniels, Bud Light, Blue Bell, Ocean Spray, American Airlines, Roper, Waggin’ Train and Field & Stream.
  • More than 400 people volunteered to help run the various festival activities.
  • 51 Nashville music teachers volunteered to drive the press vans. For every Chevy test drive, the company donated $25 to the “Keep the Music Playing” music-education charity. To date, the fest has donated $4.7 million to this fund.
  • 43 artists performed at LP Field. An additional 35 acts played 26 hours of shows on the Lay’s Stage at Bridgestone Arena; 45 acts performed 31 hours of concerts at the Riverfront stage; 46 artists played 20 hours of music at the Durango Acoustic Corner. In addition, 443 artists and celebrities appeared at the Exhibit Hall in the Convention Center.
  • Fans camped out on the street to get into the Hall starting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, in anticipation of the building opening at 10:00 a.m. the following day. This set a record.
  • More than 70 artists participated in radio remotes, reaching 13.5 million listeners.
  • $154,000 in bids was raised at the YWCA Celebrity Auction, an increase of 50% over last year. In addition, the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund guitars auction raised $23,000.
  • The CMA’s 2011 survey indicated that the average fan age was 38.6, that 69% of the fans are college educated, and 85% are active on Facebook. The average travel party size was 3.2.
  • 94% of the respondents said they plan to return next year.

Fans watch Daily Concerts at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during the 2011 CMA Music Festival in Downtown Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Festival Fundraisers: Celeb Softball, Music City Gives Back

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Vince Gill and a City of Hope patient at the baseball game.


Saturday’s (6/11) Celebrity Softball Challenge raised big bucks for City of Hope, which fights cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. Among those going to bat at Nashville’s Greer Stadium were Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Brett Eldredge, Chuck Wicks, Jake Owen, James Wesley, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Kerry Collins, LoCash Cowboys, Robin Meade, Denise Jones (Point of Grace) and players from the Nashville Predators.
The stars played for longtime rival teams Grand Ole Opry and After MidNite with Blair Garner.

Jake Owen and contest winner.


 
 
 
 
• • • •
The First annual Music City Gives Back concert, hosted by Rodney Atkins, helped raise money and donations for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Held Tuesday, June 7 on Lower Broadway in Nashville, over $90,000 in gifts, donations and sponsorship dollars was received.
Josh Thompson, Thompson Square, Patrick Davis and Mallory Hope joined Atkins to perform for the crowd of 6000-plus fans.

Rodney Atkins onstage at Music City Gives Back.

 

"O Brother," Where Has The Time Gone?

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The tenth anniversary of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack will be marked with the release of a new two-disc set. With more than nine million units sold, the original album is among the top-10 bestselling soundtracks of all time.
On August 16, UMe will release the expanded Deluxe Edition, including a 17-track bonus disc. Thirteen of these songs were recorded during original sessions for the film, and will be available for the first time. Renowned producer T Bone Burnett oversaw the new and original releases.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Deluxe Edition Track Listing:
Disc One: The Original O’Brother Where Art Thou
1.  “Po’ Lazarus” – James Carter and prisoners
2.  “Big Rock Candy Mountain” – Harry McClintock
3.  “You Are My Sunshine” – Norman Blake
4.  “Down To The River To Pray” – Alison Krauss
5.  “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow”  – The Soggy Bottom Boys
6.  “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” – Chris Thomas King
7.  “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” – Norman Blake
8.  “Keep On The Sunny Side” – The Whites
9.  “I’ll Fly Away” – Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
10. “Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby” – Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
11. “In The Highways” – Sarah, Hannah, and Leah Peasall
12. “I Am Weary, Let Me Rest” – The Cox Family
13. “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” – John Hartford
14. “O Death” – Ralph Stanley
15. “In The Jailhouse Now” – The Soggy Bottom Boys
16. “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” – The Soggy Bottom Boys
17. “Indian War Whoop”- John Hartford
18. “Lonesome Valley” – Fairfield Four
19. “Angel Band” – The Stanley Brothers
Disc Two: Bonus Disc
1. “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” – Colin Linden
2. “You Are My Sunshine” – Alan O’Bryant
3. “Tishamingo County Blues” – John Hartford
4. “Mood Indigo” – Duke Ellington
5. “Cow Road” – T Bone Burnett
6. “I’ll Fly Away” – The Kossoy Sisters
7. ‘Big Rock Candy Mountain” – Van Dyke Parks
8. “Admiration” – Duke Ellington
9. “Tom Devil” – Ed Lewis and the Prisoners
10. “Keep On The Sunny Side” – The Cox Family
11. “Angel Band” – Sarah, Hannah, and Leah Peasall
12. “Big Rock Candy Mountain” – Norman Blake
13. “Little Sadie” – Norman Blake
14. “In The Highways” – The Cox Family
15. “That Hog’s Foot Further In The Bed” – John Hartford
16. “The Lord Will Make A Way” – Fairfield Four
17. “In The Jailhouse Now” – Harley Allen

Notable Nashville Gospel Personality Passes

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J. Harold Lane


Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame member J. Harold Lane died last week in Nashville at age 82.
His funeral was held Monday (6/13), and he was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Lane initially rose to prominence as a founder of the Gospel Harmony Boys. He is best known as a performer for his 22 years as the tenor vocalist in The Speer Family.
He wrote more than 50 songs, including the popular “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock” and “Touring That City.” He arranged songs for such prominent gospel stars as The Florida Boys, The Singing Rambos, Jake Hess, The LeFevres and Bill Gaither.
Lane also arranged and edited six books of orchestral accompaniment to congregational singing. He taught music at such gospel institutions as The Stamps-Baxter School of Music and the Ben Speer School of Music.
J. Harold Lane died on June 6. He is survived by his children Jerry Harold Lane, Rebecca Faye Linder and Judith Lane Huff, as well as by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would appreciate contributions in his name to the Ben Speer/Stamps-Baxter School of Music Scholarship Fund.

BMI Promotes Jeff Burrow

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Jeff Burrow


Jeff Burrow has been promoted to Senior Director, Business Affairs, Licensing, for Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). In his new capacity, Burrow will have greater responsibility for BMI’s infringement matters in its General Licensing area, as well as handle BMI’s negotiations with its customers and markets in the General Licensing area. He will continue to provide on-site legal advice to the Licensing team in Nashville.
He was most recently Director, Legal and Business Affairs for the company. Burrow will continue to report to Pamela Williams, Assistant Vice President, Business Affairs, Licensing, and be based in Nashville.
“Jeff is a tremendous asset to BMI and has provided invaluable counsel and guidance to our Licensing staffs in Nashville and beyond,” said Williams. “He is an integral part of the Licensing teams’ sales and customer service processes and has played an important role in BMI’s infringement process. He has worked closely with our Performing Rights department on our approved title database, and oversees BMI’s employees at the Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. Jeff is a valued member of our Business Affairs team, and we are thrilled to  announce his well deserved promotion.”
Burrow joined BMI in 2007. Prior to BMI, he worked as an attorney at the law firm of Hall, Booth, Smith and Slover, PC in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his B.A. from Western Kentucky University and his J.D. from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis.

MusicFest Sellout Sets New Attendance Record

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CMA is reporting its second consecutive CMA MusicFest sellout. The country music organizations which puts on the massive downtown event has released the following informatin. Average daily attendance over the four days was 65,000.
In 2010, Festival attendance jumped 16.7 percent over 2009 when attendance was 56,000. The 65,000 attendance in 2011 includes four-day ticket packages, promotional and single night tickets, as well as attendance in non-ticketed zones and events.
“To meet the outstanding sell out of 2010 again in 2011 speaks volumes about the strength of this event, the dedication of our fans, the support of our local community, and the popularity of our music and artists,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer.
Despite record-setting temperatures in Nashville, attendance in the numerous free Zones, public events, and concert venues was equally strong. In fact, there was record attendance Saturday at Chevrolet Riverfront Park with more than 25,000 fans attending the free concerts throughout the day on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River.
According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the direct visitor spending generated by CMA Music Festival in 2010 was approximately $24 million, about $1 million above the 2009 figure, easily the top annual generator of tourist income in Nashville. And it appears that 2011 was a boon to business again. Figures for 2011 will be released by the NCVB at a later date.
“Eighty percent of our four-day ticket holders come from outside of Tennessee,” said Moore. “And we are seeing gains with our locals who are coming out to support our free areas and purchasing a growing number of tickets to attend the single night concerts at LP Field.”
CMA Music Festival was a boon to downtown businesses, but it also benefits music education in Music City. The artists and celebrities participating in CMA Music Festival donate their time. They are not compensated for the hours they spend signing autographs and performing. In appreciation of their exhaustive efforts, CMA donates half the net proceeds from the event to music education on their behalf through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education called “Keep the Music Playing.” To date, CMA has donated $4.7 million.
Tickets for 2012 CMA Music Festival which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10, go on saleSaturday, July 30 (10:00 AM/CT). (Call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or 1-800-CMA-FEST [262-3378]). To purchase tickets online, visit www.CMAfest.com or www.Ticketmaster.com. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted free.
2012 CMA Music Festival Four Day Ticket Package Prices
Seating Level                                      Price
Gold Circle                                          $325
Floor                                                    $225
Lower Level Premium                         $225
Lower Level                                         $180
Club Level Premium                           $180
Club Level                                           $160
Upper Level Reserved                         $125
Upper Level General Admission         $115
 

Industry Ink Monday (6/13)

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Crystal Shawanda and her label, New Sun Records, have partnered with Nine North Records/Turn Pike Music to promote her new single “Love Enough.” Shawanda has been a part of the country music scene since signing her first record deal with RCA Records/ Sony Music Nashville in 2007. She achieved success with single “You Can Let Go,” particularly in her native Canada.

(L-R): Tom Moran, VP/Promotion & Marketing, Nine North/Turnpike Music; Larry Pareigis, President, Nine North/Turnpike Music; Crystal Shawanda; Jim Dorman, Director of Promotion West/Southwest, Nine North Records


• • • •

Doak Turner


Otto Printing & Entertainment Graphics has expanded into the Nashville market, and hired Doak Turner as Account Executive. Headed by Pres. Dave Otto, the company offers products for tours and events including laminated badges, stick-on passes, wristbands, holographic badges, posters, and luggage tags. With a main office in the Cincinnati area, the company has been in business for 30 years. Turner can be reached at (615) 354-6400 and dturner@ottoprint.com. www.OttoPrint.com
• • • •
A celebration of life for former music industry publicist Jolene Mercer Dakil will be held Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Berry Hill office of Luna Chica Records International, 2826 Dogwood Place, Nashville TN 37204. All who knew and loved Jolene are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Happy Tales Humane.
Dakil passed away after an extended illness with liver disease on Saturday, May 28, 2011. She had worked with Garth Brooks, Chris LeDoux, Neal McCoy, Little Texas, Delbert McClinton, and others.
• • • •
Creative Director Carol Perdew announces that Springbarrel Songwriter Services, LLC  has relocated to 1009 16th Avenue South. Springbarrel offers writer advancement, songplugging and “Star Prep” services for new and upcoming artists.
• • • •
The Steep Canyon Rangers have signed with Rounder Records. The band plans to record in October, with a release to follow in early 2012. The Steep Canyon Rangers recently joined iconic comedian Steve Martin on his sophomore album Rare Bird Alert.
• • • •
BMI’s East Side Sounds hosted an intimate, outdoor showcase at Rumours East Wine Bar on June 1, featuring an in-the-round set by Kristin Diable, Isaac Hayden, Alvin Love, and Holley Maher.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Julie Stuckey, Kristin Diable, Isaac Hayden, Alvin Love, Holley Maher, and BMI’s Beth Laird. Photo: Eric England

More Hot CMA Fest Pics

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Brantley Gilbert at the Riverfront
The Valory Music Co. artist Brantley Gilbert played the Riverfront stage on Sunday morning (6/12).

(L-R): Chris Loss, JoJamie Hahr, Andrew Kautz, George Briner, Scott Borchetta, Brantley Gilbert, Harry Lyons, Brooke Yancey and John Zarling

Surprise Guest at Joe Nichols Fan Club Party
Joe Nichols welcomed Dierks Bentley to his Fan Club Party on Sunday at The Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre. The standing room only crowd enjoyed 90 minutes of Nichols hits, Bentley’s “Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do” and a duet of Keith Whitley’s “I’m Over You.”

Photo: Kerri McKeehan Houlihan


Brad Paisley Wraps Opening Night
Brad Paisley closed the first night of this year’s LP Field stadium performances at CMA Music Festival. This is Paisley’s 13th straight year participating in the event.

Pictured (L-R): Lesly Tyson (Arista Nashville VP Promotion), Paul Barnabee (Sony Music Nashville SVP Marketing), Skip Bishop (Sony Music Nashville SVP Promotion), Paisley, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO), & Bill Simmons (Fitzgerald Hartley). Photo: Ben Enos


EYB @ LP
The Eli Young Band appeared at the nightly concerts at LP Field.

Eli Young Band backstage at the press conference at LP Field. Photo: Alan Mayor


Late Night Jammers
Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam, now in its tenth year, included performers Jacob Lyda, Kenyon Lockry, Mel Tillis, Ricky Skaggs, and many more.

(L-R): Kenyon Lockry, Jacob Lyda, Mel Tillis and Ricky Skaggs


Daytime Rockers
Country newcomer Corbette Jackson took the Best Buy Main Stage at Hard Rock Café alongside The Lost Trailers, made up of Stokes Nielson and Jason Wyatt.

Pictured (L-R): Jason Wyatt, Corbette Jackson, and Stokes Nielson